Digital Commons Network^™

Minor Exploitation And Regulatory Shortfalls: Safeguarding Children’S Data In The Age Of Modern Technology, Kaylee Lahti

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This paper looks into the issue of minors in the era of social media and seeks to answer the question: how can regulations help to protect children’s privacy in the age of social networks? To do this, this paper will start by exploring the privacy issues that have arisen amongst minors in the modern age and the lack of accountability for social networking companies. It will then look at the current regulations related to this issue and see where these regulations have fallen short. Next, possible regulatory solutions to this issue will be explored, including looking at current laws that …

The Impact Of Healthcare Interprofessional Education On Collaboration., Mya Winjum

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Interprofessional relationships are important to the productivity of healthcare teams, especially as collaborative approaches become increasingly common in the healthcare setting. This paper focuses on the impacts of interprofessionalism and interprofessional education on healthcare teams collaborations. Drawing from a mixed-methods approach, data was gathered through an online survey and interviews conducted at the UNMC GOODLIFE Clinic, a student-run clinic. Findings reveal differences in perceptions between post-graduate professionals and students regarding the role and importance of interprofessionalism. While professionals demonstrate an understanding of IP collaboration, students express a need for more comprehensive IPE. Barriers to effective teamwork, such as professional hierarchies …

Advent Children: Union Worx Threat Hunting, Olukunle Amoo, Joshua Hutfless, Adam Stemmler

Interdisciplinary Informatics Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

ABSTRACT Security in the digital realm, once (and sadly for some continues to be) a mere afterthought, has been propelled to the forefront of even the most digitally disconnected person’s mind. With daily headlines publicizing new cyber-attacks and the ever-encroaching tendrils of nation state cyber power projection, it is no surprise that many large companies and the United States government have placed a premium on cybersecurity capabilities. And while this increased focus has brought with it standardization, automation, and price reduction, tailored security solutions continue to be cost and expertise prohibitive to small and medium size businesses (SMBs). To explore …

The Effects Of Untreated Reflux On The Incidence Of Feeding Difficulties In Neonates, Anne Grossbauer, Anya Costeloe, Prasad J. Thottam

Posters

• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is the involuntary regurgitation of gastric contents into the esophagus and commonly occurs in infants.
• It is associated with various consequences related to feeding difficulty, such as feeding resistance, oral aversion, dysphagia, laryngomalacia, and failure to thrive.2
• There is a paucity in the literature regarding the incidence rate of feeding difficulties in latepreterm and full-term neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
• Many NICUs employ the use of anti-reflux medications, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2As), to treat GERD.3
• The use of these medications is debated and variable due to perceived …

Mate Guarding Against Strong Men Displaying Affiliative And Aggressive Humor, Jacob Pauley

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mate retention behaviors serve to discourage partner defection from a current pairbond. Such behaviors are oftentimes more prevalent toward intrasexual rivals exhibiting physical and behavioral cues implicating that rival as an optimal mate. Among these features in men are their upper body strength, a feature diagnostic of heritable fitness, and men's ability to produce humor, a cue to their social competence. This study considered the intersection of these desirable features in shaping men's mate retention behavior toward an intrasexual rival. After learning of a hypothetical interloper exhibiting high or low upper body strength while similarly using humor in an affiliative …

Effect Of Progesterone On Cognition Among College Aged Women, Katelyn Helberg

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Women who have a reoccurring menstrual cycle and do not take hormonal birth control naturally experience changes in the amount of sex hormones that their body produces. These sex hormones help promote sexual development, fertility, and mood regulation, but can be hard to study due to their conflicting effects on each other. One such hormone, progesterone, is produced in different concentrations throughout the menstrual cycle to prepare the uterus for a potential pregnancy. However, it also may have secondhand effects on how well women can complete everyday tasks involving memory, attention, processing speed, and more which is what we measured …

A Meta-Analysis For Laboratory Diagnostics For Coccidioidomycosis, Mary C. Cowen

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Coccidioidomycosis, commonly referred to as Valley Fever, is a fungal infection found in arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Infection occurs through inhalation of airborne spores from Coccidioides species, Coccidioides immitis and/or Coccidioides posadasii, and proceeds in both pulmonary and disseminated fashions. Approximately 60% of patients with coccidioidomycosis remain asymptomatic, while 40% will experience symptoms. Within the literature, there are no papers that summarize sensitivity and specificity values between different tests; therefore, this paper presents sensitivity and specificity results across different tests and companies (Meridian, IMMY, and MiraVista).

Pulmonary Embolism In Pregnancy And Early Postpartum – Identifying Significant Variables To Improve Risk Stratification, Nida Haider, Bhavinkumar Dalal

Posters

• Pulmonary embolism (PE) resulting from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in developed countries1
• The causative Virchow triad (venous stasis, endothelial injury, and hypercoagulable state) is enhanced in pregnancy making pregnancy an independent risk factor1
• Due to significant overlap between normal physiological changes in pregnancy and clinical symptoms of PE, the threshold for CTPA, confirmatory imaging for PE with potentially harmful effects due to ionizing radiation, is low with increasing incidence of false positives2

The Effect Of Hormonal Contraceptive Use On Dominance And Prestige Tactics, Carson Chappell

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between hormonal contraceptives and prestige and dominance status-seeking tactics. Existing literature has examined how the hormones estrogen and progesterone, especially in relation to the fertile window of the menstrual cycle, are associated with prestige and dominance but has yet to look in depth at how hormonal contraceptives might alter this impact. The current study asked participants to complete a 22- item questionnaire assessing dominance and prestige. I hypothesized that women on hormonal contraceptives would have lower scores for prestige and dominance compared to women who are naturally cycling. The results did not …

Exploring Genomic Convergence For Adaptations To Freezing Environments In Polar Fish, Ethan Talley

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Convergent evolution provides valuable insights into how natural selection shapes species traits. Genomic analysis of lineages that display convergent traits has the potential to identify candidate genes for environmental adaptations across the scope of entire genomes. One remarkable example of convergent evolution is the independent development of antifreeze proteins (AFPs) in phylogenetically distant polar fish lineages. While AFPs themselves are relatively well studied, the full genomic context of adaptation to freezing conditions in these fish lineages remains largely unexplored. Leveraging the whole genome sequences previously assembled in our lab, along with other high-quality genomes available in GenBank, I examined the …

The Impact Of Brain Cholesterol (24-Hydroxycholesterol (24-Hc) And 27- Hydroxycholesterol (27-Hc)) On Invitro Phenotypes Of Brain Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells, Cherish Iroabuchi

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: Brain metastases is one of the leading causes of breast cancer mortality and rates continue to increase. It has been previously shown that cholesterol metabolism is an important regulator of cancer progression. 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol (24-HC) and 27- hydroxycholesterol (27-HC) are cholesterol derivatives primarily found in the brain but their role in regulating oncoprotein expression remains unclear. The goal of this thesis was to determine the effect of 24-HC and 27-HC on in-vitro metastatic phenotypes of breast cancer cells previously shown by the Bailey laboratory to metastasize to the brain in a hematogenous metastasis xenograft model.

Materials and Methods: Western blot …

Characterizing The Influence Of Depth And Glacial Drift On Microbial Community Diversity And Potential Carbon-Cycling Enzyme Activity In Permafrost Soils, Dana Victoria Bakke

Master's Theses and Capstones

Microbial communities in permafrost soils play an important role in breaking down organic matter and cycling nutrients. Despite difficult environmental conditions including below-freezing temperatures, yearly freeze-thaw cycles, and short growing seasons, these microbial communities remain active year-round. To better understand the microbial community diversity and potential activity across environmental gradients in northern Alaska, I sequenced the microbial community and measured the potential enzyme activity of three carbon-cycling enzymes at 5-centimeter increments in 60-centimeter soil cores spanning active layer and permafrost at three moist acidic tundra sites located on landscapes with different glacial histories in northern Alaska. I found that microbial …

Exploring The Role Of Recreation In Rural Nh Youth's Engagement With Master Narratives, Katelyn A. Moscouver

Master's Theses and Capstones

Rural youth often feel compelled to leave their home communities to seek new opportunities, especially at the secondary-postsecondary educational transition. These decisions are driven in part by perceived developmental imperatives to leave rural hometowns given messages that success is best achieved elsewhere. The present study used the framework of identity master narratives to explore recreation's role in facilitating youth postsecondary planning in rural northeastern state of New Hampshire. The study extends and deepens prior research seeking to understand some of the structural-psychological factors connecting recreation involvement in adolescence, postsecondary decision making, and broader demographic patterns among the 15-19 and 20-24 …

A Novel ‘Adjacent Mycorrhizal Symbiosis’ In Invasive Garlic Mustard, Joshua A. Trombley

Master's Theses and Capstones

Invasion of temperate forests by Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) may be affected by interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Although AMF are generally mutualists of land plants, they suppress the growth of close relatives of garlic mustard1–3. Garlic mustard produces indolic glucosinolates, a class of organic compounds known to suppress AMF4,5 and which may protect the plant from AMF antagonism. We would therefore expect a negative interaction between these organisms. Contrary to this expectation, we show that AMF inoculation promotes garlic mustard growth, and this effect is influenced by investments in plant defense. AMF inoculation and subsequent colonization increased plant …

Quantitative And Comparative Analysis Of Dream Content In Parkinson’S Disease Patients Pre- And Postdeep Brain Stimulation, Sarvar Oreizi-Esfahani, Michael Staud

Posters

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder stemming from the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in impaired neuronal activation which primarily affects the body’s motor function1. Common symptoms include tremor, rigidity, akinesia and loss of balance.

PD also exerts significant effects on sleep patterns. The Default Mode Network (DMN), a series of hubs in the brain with increased metabolic rate during rest, are implicated in the process of dreaming2. Differential activation of these regions may alter the content and quality of one’s dreams2. PD has been shown to impact the function of the DMN and as …

Investigating The Relation Between Family Income And Barriers For Black Caregivers Of Autistic Children, Leah Gelfand

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Black caregivers and families of autistic youth experience racial barriers (e.g., racial microaggressions, stigma;) and practical barriers (e.g., cost of treatment, long waitlists), when seeking treatment and diagnostic services (Lovelace et al., 2018). The current study aimed to ascertain whether family income influenced the racial and practical barriers experienced by a sample of Black caregivers of autistic youth (N = 101). Overall and item-level analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between racial and practical barriers experienced across Lower (below 39,693; n=32), Lower-Middle ($39,693-$59,540; n=28), Middle-Upper ($59,540 to $119,080; n=21), and Upper income groups ($119,080 and …

Front Matter, North Carolina Journal Of Law & Technology

North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology

No abstract provided.

Mining For Answers: Decrypting The Securities Puzzle Of Cryptomining Hosting Contracts, Waleed Alkoor

North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology

No abstract provided.

A Noisy Debate: Should The Law Require The U.S. Census Bureau To Sacrifice Accuracy For Privacy?, Justin Giles

North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology

No abstract provided.

Fair Admissions, Fair Decisions, And Fair Outcomes: An Analysis Of Algorithmic Bias In Education, Employment, Healthcare, And Housing, Mclean Waters

North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology

No abstract provided.

Storytelling For Social Change: Using Victim Narratives From Social Media To Disrupt Rape Myth Acceptance Among College Students, Grace Carmack

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study employed a narrative intervention experiment aimed at challenging college students' acceptance of rape myths (RMA). Rape myths are erroneous beliefs that shift blame for sexual violence (SV) from perpetrators to victims and encompass stereotypical misconceptions about women. Three authentic narratives, shared anonymously on social media by college victims of sexual violence, were selected for their varying levels of graphic detail and situational context. The study's objective was not only to interrogate RMA among college students but also to discover which of the three narratives was most effective in reducing RMA among readers, utilizing the Transportation Theory as a …

Artscape: Canvassing The Ozarks, Noah D. Kim

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper focuses on the impact of public art in regards to the overall quality of life within a city. The findings are localized to Northwest Arkansas, a region densely populated with public art installations. This thesis is non-traditional and it focuses more so on the coinciding project. The topic was covered in depth by a 26-minute long documentary that uncovers the impact of one local public artist. Through an examination of historical accounts and qualitative assessments, this paper and accompanying project both showcase public art's innate ability to benefit encompassing communities. The study also focuses on how the presence …

Improved Hydrologic Modeling And Geophysical Imaging Of Critical Zones: Incorporating Structural And Temporal Constraints, Hang Chen

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The Earth's critical zone (CZ) is a life-sustaining layer extending from the canopy of the tree to the bottom of the active groundwater circulation, providing valuable resources to terrestrial life, including nutrients, minerals, and fresh water. There are many challenges in studying various processes within and the function of the CZ. This dissertation addresses two common challenges in studying the CZ hydrology and watershed function, which are critical for a predictive understanding of the water dynamics in mountainous terrain and for an informed management of future water resources under rapid climate change. These challenges include (1) accurate quantification of hydrological …

Assessing Experiential Learning In A K-12 Afterschool Makerspace: Using The Beyond Rubrics Toolkit, Stacy L. Dzbenski

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the efficacy of the Beyond Rubrics Toolkit (BRT) as an embedded assessment instrument within makerspaces. Conducted as a pilot study at two Boys & Girls Club sites during afterschool programming, the research aimed to address the following research questions: (1) What skills are Youth Development Professionals teaching and assessing through makerspace programming? (2) How is learning currently assessed in the BGCS makerspaces? (3) What is the Youth Development Professional's perception of the Beyond Rubrics toolkit as a method to assess learning in the makerspace? (4) How would the Youth Development Professionals characterize the student learning being assessed …

Assessment Of Western Farmers’ Use, Knowledge, And Acceptance Of Cover Crops And The Agri-Environmental Schemes That Support Their Use, Lauren Golden

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Agri-environmental schemes (AES), which pay farmers to adopt conservation practices, are increasingly important environmental and agricultural policy tools. Despite large budgetary shares allocated to these programs, studies identify lower-than-expected environmental outcomes. In the U.S. reasons for low environmental outcomes include low participation rates, lack of program awareness, and poor targeting levels. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the largest conservation program in the U.S. highly promotes cover crops, as this practice has many benefits to water, air, and soil quality. The Western U.S.is a large cropping region where data on cover crop use and AES participation are lacking. Using a …

Promoting Successful Industry Academic Partnerships For Curriculum Development: Integration Of Multiple Streams Framework And Stakeholder Theory, Jennifer D. Gudapati

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

There is a widening gap between traditional higher education and the needs of the industry workforce. Higher education has lately been criticized for having too few voices playing a role in most curricula development, with the voices being used consisting largely of career academics (Nature Editorial, 2023). Both industry and academia have found a disconnect between academic training and preparedness to enter the labor market (Jackson et al., 2016). Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) and Stakeholder Theory (ST) have been offered as potential frameworks for guiding elements of policy or strategy development and implementation in this context. However, in this dissertation, …

An Analysis Of Instructor Feedback, Olga Hawranick

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Carless & Boud (2018) capture the definition of feedback best as “a process through which learners make sense of information… use it to enhance their work or learning strategies (p.1).” This definition goes beyond feedback solely being the role of instructors and highlights the student component in making sense of the feedback which we reference in this study as “actionable feedback.” Are instructors providing meaningful feedback to their students to encourage revision? Past studies offer inconsistent results on most features of feedback and little is known about how some of these factors benefit students’ interactions with feedback.

This study aims …

Triggers Of Rapid Change In Glacier Dynamics, Jukes Liu

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The loss of land ice has become the greatest contributor to global mean sea level rise since 2006 (Oppenheimer et al., 2019). Glaciers have contributed ∼20% to global sea level rise over the last ∼2 decades (Oppenheimer et al., 2019; Hugonnet et al., 2021), while the ice sheets have contributed 33% (Oppenheimer et al., 2019). For the outlet glaciers and ice streams that drain the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, changes to their dynamics (flow speed, thickness, and length) dominate their present and future mass loss (King et al., 2020; Diener et al., 2021). One of the main limitations in …

Witnessing Bullying And Defending Behavior Among Elementary And Middle School Students, Matt Peck

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation includes three individual articles that explore the relationship between witnessing bullying and defending behavior among students who are bystanders of bullying. Chapter One provides the rationale and purpose of this dissertation and an overview of the three articles that comprise it. Chapter Two employed a cross-sectional analysis to examine the moderating effect of gender on witnessing bullying, defending behavior, and internalizing symptoms while controlling for previous experiences with bullying perpetration and victimization. Results indicated that students who witness bullying and utilize defending behavior exhibit different internal symptoms based on gender. In a longitudinal study, Chapter Three expands this …

Preservice Teachers’ Self-Efficacy For Technology Integration And Levels Of Planned Technology Integration: A Mixed-Method Study, Marielle Portaro

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Teacher education programs have a responsibility to prepare preservice teachers for the demands of teaching, including how to integrate educational technology into lessons. The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods approach study is to understand the relationship between preservice teachers’ self-efficacy for technology integration and their level of planned technology integration. Self-efficacy is the belief in one’s ability to complete a task and self-efficacy for technology integration is specific to teacher’s beliefs in their ability to integrate technology in their lessons.

Participants in this study were 9 preservice teachers who were enrolled in a university-based preservice teacher education program …