Digital Commons Network^™

Optimization In The Synthesis Of Dual Ionic-Liquid-Functionalized Cellulosic Materials, Megan L. Franke

Honors College Theses

There is a growing urgency to develop sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based materials as concerns about environmental impact and resource depletion intensify. Among renewable biopolymers, cellulose stands out as one of the most abundant and versatile organic compounds on Earth. As the structural backbone of plant cell walls, it provides rigidity and mechanical strength, while its abundance, biodegradability, and tunable chemistry make it an attractive candidate for sustainable materials. Beyond its traditional uses in textiles, paper, and food additives, cellulose has been increasingly investigated in polymer chemistry for advanced

applications. The present study aims to optimize synthetic routes to dual ionic …

Maria Gaetana Agnesi And The Proto-Feminist Movement, Katherine D. Wahnsiedler

Honors College Theses

Maria Gaetana Agnesi, a mathematician and scholar from the 18 th century, is an important historical figure who received a position at the University of Bologna. She is the second woman ever to be appointed to a University professorship, laying the foundation for other women in academia later to come. Many historians interpret Agnesi’s life to be representative of early feminist ideas and would therefore be an example of a proto-feminist. However, this is not accurate, nor is it an ideology Agnesi likely would have subscribed to. Analyzing primary sources written by Agnesi and her contemporaries helps provide insight into …

From Houston To Hamilton: A Cultural Comparison Of Texas And New Zealand, Kaela Towry, Cain Camarillo, Julian Moore, Melvin Melly, John-Luke Chidgey

Sociology and Anthropology Student Research - Archive

As a group we were tasked with creating a digitally formatted zine that draws comparisons between our own culture living in Texas and the culture of our peers at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand. Our group chose to illustrate the similarities of the livestock industries that are prevalent in our respective home locations. For Texas, we explored the cattle industry and the cowboy lifestyle. For New Zealand, we explored the sheep farming industry and the native Maori culture of the nation. We also highlighted the ways in which media has altered or projected these cultural images (i.e. …

Interview With Orca Award Winner Karen Kunc, Unl Art; Abstract Print Artist, Mark Griep, Karen Kunc

UNL ORCA Interview Series

Emeritus Prof. Karen Kunc the Outstanding Research and Creative Activities Award in 1998. She was born in Ralston, Nebraska, in the Omaha Metro Area. Something in her youth must have sparked an interest in art because she earned her bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1975. Next, she ventured 800 miles east to Ohio State University in Columbus, where she earned a master of fine arts. For the next six years, she enhanced her teaching credentials as a printmaking instructor at the Columbus College of Art & Design. From there, she joined the University of …

Lend Me A Soprano, Lynn University

Drama Programs

Sponsored by: Al Zucaro

It's 1934, and the clever and combustible Lucille Wiley, manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, is ready to welcome world-class soprano Elena Firenzi for her one-night-only starring role in Carmen. Alas, Elena arrives late, her impassioned husband Pasquale has a fit of jealousy, and it remains to be seen whether Mrs. Wiley's mousy but determined assistant Jo can save the day. Based on Ken Ludwig's Tony Award-winning Lend Me A Tenor, this madcap screwball comedy features ladies in the leading roles and is guaranteed to leave audiences teary-eyed with laughter.

By: Ken Ludwig …

Beyond The Aid Paradigm: Neocolonialism, Recolonisation And The Future For Africa’S Development, John Ringson, Manamela Johannes David Matshabaphala

Southern African Journal of Policy and Development

The persistence of poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment in Africa, despite decades of foreign aid and assistance, has raised fundamental questions about the efficacy and sustainability of the aid paradigm. This qualitative desktop research study, employing discourse analysis, critically examines the complex relationships between aid, neocolonialism, and recolonisation in Africa, exploring the implications for the continent's future development. Drawing on a critical discourse analysis of existing literature, policy documents, and online archives, this study reveals how the aid paradigm has perpetuated neocolonialism and recolonisation in Africa, undermining the continent's sovereignty, agency, and self-determination. The study illuminates the power dynamics and relationships …

Diabetes And Hypertension Frequencies And Trends In The Health Districts Of Sololá, Alejandro Cerón, Sophie Perfetto, Ana Textor, Sidona Alemayehu, Emilia Alvear Escobar, Adele Beard, Sarah Berson, Rachel Bryant, Jennifer Calzontzi, Rylee Castro, Eva Cress Palencia, Jake Czarnecki, Jordyn Epstein, Nikki Harris, Patience Hinojos, Max Hippisley, Erin House, Jackson Hullett, Nathan Johnson, Amelie King, Saule Lankelyte, Juan Loya, Ashley Mackenzie, Ilana Mighdoll, Molly Morrill, Maria De Jesus Ramos Jimenez, Lilly Teklemedhin, Joseph Trujillo, Lauren Verachtert, Nathan Verachtert, Violet Vreeland, Alex Welch, Jada Wright

Anthropology: Undergraduate Student Scholarship

This report was prepared by the students, Graduate Teaching Assistants, and instructor of “The Social Determination of Health” class taught in the fall of 2025 at the University of Denver. The report was prepared for Dr. Luis Pablo Méndez, of the Vice Ministry of Health Regulation, Surveillance and Control, of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance of Guatemala. The work used the following guiding question: How can available data about service production can be used to inform the planning process for the implementation of the Global Hearts Initiative’s HEARTS technical package in the Distrito de Redes Integradas de …

Examining The Contextual Factors Influencing Self-Efficacy Of The 21st Century School Principal: A Phenomenological Study, Jessica J. M. English

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the contextual influences contributing to principals’ sense of self-efficacy. This research study addressed the research questions, "What contextual conditions currently influence principal self-efficacy?” and “Do contemporary challenges impact principal self-efficacy?” The themes that emerged from the research could help stakeholders such as school districts, policymakers, and principal preparation programs create programs, policies, resources, and support to enhance the development of principal self-efficacy. The study participants were all current public-school principals with five or more years of experience as a principal. The study participants served in school districts across the United States, with …

(R2125) Impact Of Convective Condition And Inclined Magnetic Field On Casson Nanofluid With Bioconvection In Porous Medium, Touseef Fayaz, O. Otegbeye, Md. Sharifuddin Ansari

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This paper presents an analysis on steady magnetohydrodynamic boundary layer flow of Casson nanofluid with microorganisms near an expandable boundary in a porous medium. The flow behaviour is analysed by incorporating impacts of magnetic field applied in a direction which makes an angle α∗ with the boundary and convective conditions in temperature, nanoparticle concentration and microorganism density at boundary. Non-dimensionalised nonlinear and coupled system of ordinary differential equations are solved by exercising a numerical algorithm termed as spectral local-linearization method. The considered numerical algorithm is found to be convergent and capable of yielding accurate results. Graphical sketches of solutions obtained …

December 2025 Library & Learning Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library & Learning Dean’S Office Communications Team

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the December 2025 (Volume 4, Issue 5) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Bridging Conservation And Disaster Recovery: A Dual Study On Wetland Program Plans Evaluation And Midwest Post Disaster Recovery Assessment, Rao Nargis Jahan

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

Wetlands provide essential ecological, social, and economic benefits for our society. In the United States, states and tribes play crucial roles in wetland protection, restoration, and management. However, no research has systematically measured state-level wetland planning efforts towards national conservation goals. This study is the first to comprehensively evaluate how state-level Wetland Program Plans (WPPs) align with national missions, particularly the "no-net-loss" of wetlands goal. Our research assesses the EPA-approved state-level WPPs from 42 out of 50 states in the United States during the period from 2015 to 2024. Using a protocol of 30 indicators across five categories, this study …

Telford, Tennessee: The Evolution Of An Agrarian Community, Jeffrey D. Banks

Master of Arts in Appalachian Studies Applied Projects

This qualitative paper explores the overlooked history of Telford, Tennessee, a small unincorporated Appalachian community confronting the erosion of its distinctive identity. Drawing from oral history interviews with lifelong elder residents and newly unearthed archival materials, the study complicates the prevailing narrative of 20th-century decline. Instead, it reveals a more nuanced evolution, where diminished local commerce and fading social cohesion were offset by expanded regional access and emergent forms of civic engagement. Among the study’s most significant discoveries is the rediscovery of Franklin Academy--a nearly forgotten 19th-century institution whose advanced debates on Native American rights illuminate an unexpectedly progressive intellectual …

Pardoning Corporations, Brandon Stras

University of Chicago Law Review

In 1977, a company convicted of conspiring with the mob asked President Jimmy Carter for a pardon. Government officials speculated that the President could grant the request, but ultimately the President decided that the company did not deserve clemency. Nearly fifty years later, President Donald Trump pardoned a company and commuted the sentence of another. People are again wondering whether the pardon power covers companies, but no one can offer evidence either way.

History shows that the pardon power covers companies. Before the Founding, the King would often pardon corporations. Both the City of London and the Massachusetts Bay Company …

Applied Project Management Methodologies To Create A Volunteer Engagement Guide For New Hope Nonprofit Organization's Volunteer Program, Carlos San Miguel

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) rely on volunteers to sustain operations and fulfill their missions, yet many realize persistent challenges in recruiting, training, and keeping them. New Hope Compassionate Ministries (NHCM), a nonprofit organization in Alaska, has struggled to attract and keep volunteers for inventory and restock days—limitations that directly impact its ability to combat food insecurity. This project applies structured project management methodologies to find and address NHCM’s volunteer engagement gap. Through mixed-methods research, including surveys and interviews, the project analyzes current volunteer recruitment and retention practices to uncover underlying barriers. Findings inform the development of a Volunteer Engagement Guide designed …

Earnings, Ethics, And Fast Fashion: How Does Income Affect Consumers’ Decisions?, Ava M. Minton

All Theses

This thesis examines if annual earnings influence consumers’ likelihood of avoiding clothing brands associated with labor exploitation. To examine this question, the study draws on four major U.S. datasets that together capture two decades of consumer attitudes and self-reported behaviors. The results show that income has a strong and statistically significant effect: household income increases the odds of avoiding exploitative brands by roughly 27 percentage points. Education, ideology, and gender also exhibit meaningful positive associations with ethical consumption, while age slightly reduces the likelihood of boycott participation. Overall, the analysis provides evidence that ethical consumption behaves like a normal good …

Capillary Imbibition Of Shear-Thinning Xanthan Gum Solutions, Aimee Sayster

All Theses

Capillary rise in confined geometries plays a critical role in numerous natural and industrial processes. While classical models such as the Lucas–Washburn equation accurately describe the dynamics of Newtonian fluids, they fail to capture the complex behavior of shear-thinning, non- Newtonian fluids whose viscosity varies with shear rate. This research investigates the capillary rise dynamics of shear-thinning xanthan gum polymer solutions in capillary tubes. The rheological behavior of each fluid is characterized using the Ellis model, which accounts for shear-thinning effects through three key parameters: zero-shear viscosity μ0, characteristic shear stress τ1/2 and viscosity index α. Experimental data was collected …

Integrated Phenotypic And Proteomic Screening Identifies Top-Tier Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutic Targets., Gregory Cary, Qianjin Li, Jesse C Wiley, Carolyn Paisie, Yuhong Du, Elizabeth L Zoeller, Duc Duong, Haian Fu, Nicholas T Seyfried, Allan I Levey, Ranjita Betarbet, Gregory W. Carter, The Emory-Sage-Sgc-Jax Treat-Ad Center

Faculty Research 2025

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder. Hundreds of therapeutic targets have been nominated through genetic and multi-omic studies, but effective prioritization remains a major bottleneck.

METHODS: We applied an integrative screening framework to assess 29 candidate targets from risk-enriched biological domains. Using disease-relevant murine BV2 microglial cell lines with stable Psen2 knockdown, we performed small interfering RNA-mediated perturbations followed by cellular phenotypic assays and quantitative proteomics.

RESULTS: Twenty-five candidate targets significantly altered at least one phenotype, with stronger effects in Psen2 knockdown cells. Integrated proteomic analyses identified several perturbations that reversed AD-associated molecular patterns. Five targets-Ap2a2, Pdhb, …

An Exploration Of Enablers, Barriers, And Strategies Influencing Black College Alumni's Sense Of Belonging Through The Lens Of Cultural Competence, Marc' C. Bady

Dissertations

According to Pew research, 53% of Black students in the United States are enrolled in predominantly White institutions, or PWIs (Hatfield & Anderson, 2024). Black alumni who attend PWIs are one among many marginalized and underrepresented vulnerable populations (Tucker, 2021). The purpose of this study was to engage with Black alumni who attended and graduated from PWIs to learn about their experiences with academic enablers, barriers, and strategies for success as a PWI student. The researcher interviewed six alumni who graduated from a Southeastern research one institution to explore their lived experiences at a PWI. The researcher chose to use …

Motivators And Work Role Satisfaction Among A Post-Pandemic Multi-Generational Sports And Entertainment Industry Workforce, Christopher J. Kinnan

Dissertations

This quantitative causal-comparative study explored intrinsic and extrinsic motivators and work-role satisfaction among a post-pandemic, multigenerational workforce in the North American sports and entertainment industry. Using an adapted version of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority’s (SGSA, 2022) Evaluation of Systematic Stewarding Challenges instrument, the study analyzed data from 560 participants representing safety, security, and service roles across sports and entertainment venues. The research examined generational differences in motivation, satisfaction, and barriers to retention within the framework of Human Capital Theory, Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, and Self-Determination Theory.

Principal component and confirmatory factor analyses verified the reliability and validity of the adapted …

Do They Matter? What Role Do 5th-12th Grade Teachers' Attitudes Have In The Academic Success Of Black Girls In Classrooms?, Kamita R. Thigpen

Dissertations

There is a recognized need to focus on the intersectionality of race and gender to determine the specific needs of Black girls in education and for them to gain more academic success. This study set out to determine teachers' attitudes towards Black girls in the post-racial era. A combined quantitative and qualitative methodological approach was used to determine if the attitudes of teachers towards Black girls maintain racial barriers that have been found in education.

Across The Pond, Across The Waistline: A Comparative Look At The Childhood Obesity Crisis In The United States And United Kingdom, Samantha N. Eales

Honors College Theses

Childhood obesity is no longer just a local concern; it’s a global epidemic shaping the health of future generations. This paper compares how two similar nations with drastically different healthcare systems, the United States and the United Kingdom, tackle this growing crisis. Although both countries struggle with fast food culture, sedentary lifestyles, and targeted marketing, their health policy strategies differ dramatically. The U.S. leans on community programs and education, while the U.K. enforces stronger national regulations and advertising restrictions. By examining nutrition, physical activity, and policy, this thesis explores what each country does well and where they fall short. It …

Evaluation Of Food-Safe Silicone Rubber Containment For Seedling Emergence, Yield, And Reusability, Claudia Garrido-Ruiz, Juan D. González-Teruel, Bruce Bugbee, Scott B. Jones

NASA

Flexible containment materials are essential for repeated planting cycles in the Utah Reusable Root Module (URRM), a zero-discharge system developed for space-based crop production. In previous trials, a vinyl top cover provided effective evaporative control and media retention but could not meet flight certification. To identify a suitable alternative, this study evaluated food-safe, flight-qualifiable silicone rubber sheets as an impermeable top cover for a wedge-based seeding system. The silicone rubber was tested at three thicknesses (1/32", 2/32", and 3/32") in combination with three linear fringe lengths (1.0", 1.5", and 2.0") and two fringe widths (0.25" and 0.5") and compared with …

Ground-Based Evaluation Of The Utah Reusable Root Module: Summary Of Three Crop Cycles With Mizuna, Tomato, And Lettuce, Claudia Garrido-Ruiz, Juan D. González-Teruel, Chihiro Dixon, Sarah Schreck, Bruce Bugbee, Scott B. Jones

NASA

The Utah Reusable Root Module (URRM) is a zero-discharge plant-growth system designed for microgravity. We evaluated its performance across four consecutive ground-based crop cycles with mizuna (Brassica rapa var. nipposinica), dwarf ‘Rejina Red’ tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and ‘Outredgeous’ lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Five root modules (RMs) used distinct top-cover/containment designs with peatmoss medium. Growth conditions were 23–28 ^°C, 16/8 h photoperiod, PPFD ≈ 800 µmol m^⁻² s^⁻¹, RH ~ 50– 60%, and air velocity ~ 0.8 m s^⁻¹. Redundant moisture sensing (upper CS650, lower TEROS ONE) enabled accurate water-use accounting; slopes …

Nymc Synapse Issue 56, School Of Medicine Student Senate, New York Medical College

The Synapse

No abstract provided.

A Journey And A Roadmap: Lessons Learned From Co-Creating An After-School Art Program With/For Newcomer Youth From Refugee Communities., Sally Anne Ball

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on my participation in a project developed in collaboration with a non-profit organization, Canopy NWA, with a goal to design and implement an after-school art program for newcomer youth from refugee communities that Canopy serves. This research inquiry is a self- study supported by observation, reflexive practice, and the use of a critical friend for mentorship, collaborative planning, group reflection, and co-developing and co-teaching curriculum. Through investigating my current teaching practices and my lack of experience teaching students from refugee communities, I set out to answer the following two questions: How will my art teaching practices develop, …

Spiral, William Edward Krauland

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Spiral is an audio programme comprised of six individual, but related, parts. Installed in Rogers, Arkansas at the historical Rogers Milk Processing Plant, colloquially known as “The Creamery”, on the evening on November 7th, Spiral presented the audience with complex entanglements of noise, both gentle and harsh, field recordings, feedback, and synthesized melody. Built in parts, each section of the audio programme used elements from the others, spiraling on itself, attempting a deeper understanding of its own structure and meaning through both moments of centrifugal and centripetal force. Let us consider the following “thesis” a supplement or a reflection on …

Icipe Monthly Digest – Volume 1, Issue 12, December 2025, International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology (Icipe)

icipe Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Teaching Methods That Promote Medical Student Attendance: A Scoping Review, Jenny Mills, Sarah Keil, Pat W. Whitworth, Jamie Wiesmueller, Jeff L. Jackson

Library Faculty Scholarship

Background 

Medical student class attendance, especially traditional lectures, is on the decline. As faculty explore a variety of pedagogical approaches, understanding how to encourage attendance and engagement is critical. The purpose of this scoping review is to explore the literature to better understand the teaching methods that promote attendance.

Methods 

This scoping review was conducted as advised in the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis. Five databases were systematically searched for primary studies on teaching methods that motivated undergraduate medical students to attend or not attend in-person or online synchronous class sessions. A total of 1,313 articles were …

Balancing Growth And Identity: Tourism, Culture, And Economic Development In Dangriga, Belize, Tristan M. Eddy

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the interplay between tourism development and cultural preservation in Dangriga, Belize. Dangriga is a town with a rich Garifuna heritage, and its residents take great pride in maintaining and sharing their traditions with both future generations and visitors. However, Dangriga remains relatively underdeveloped as a tourist destination. By conducting interviews with community stakeholders, my team and I created a needs analysis focused on the most prominent concerns voiced by residents, while offering an outside perspective. In addition to our experiences in Belize, I conducted independent research on the potential impacts of cruise tourism, the benefits of community-based …

Integrating Data Analytics: Exploring The Best Methods To Evaluate Players’ Performance To Help Gain A Competitive Advantage On The Football Field, Tanner F. Fountain

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

To succeed in the world of sports, leaders need to uncover and utilize any advantage possible in order to gain a competitive advantage over their competition. I discuss how leaders of a sports organization, specifically within the Arkansas Razorback football program, implement the use of analytics on and off the field, as well as how they use their data to create visuals, find potential strengths and weakness, and ultimately help them be more prepared for gameday. Using my personal experience as a Student Analyst for the Razorbacks, along with supplementary information, I share the latest tactics and the strategies for …