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Grand Valley Magazine, Vol. 25, No. 1, Fall 2025, Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley Magazine

Grand Valley Magazine is a quarterly publication about Grand Valley State University produced by University Communications since 2001.

What About Us? The Exclusion Of Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities In The Disaster Planning Process., Elizabeth Ogorek

Honors Theses

Intellectual/Developmental disabilities, or I/DDs, refers to a wide variety of conditions that can affect a person’s ability to process information and their environment. Individuals with I/DDs have a plethora of unique vulnerabilities before, during, and after major disasters. Some of these include difficulty understanding instructions, a tendency to become more easily overwhelmed by external stimuli, and reliance on 1-1 support. Despite this, very little evidence exists both in the research and the practice of emergency management to demonstrate that they have been included in meaningful ways. Many state Emergency Operations Plans, or EOPs, fail to acknowledge intellectually/developmentally disabled individuals as …

Mapping Social Vulnerabilities: Importance And Relevance In Disasters, Madelynn H. Linet

Honors Theses

This report provides a comprehensive overview of disaster management, socially vulnerable populations, and geographic information systems. Mapping at-risk populations using GIS shows promise for improving decision making across all phases of emergency management. The paper describes the context of each of these concepts, including national policies that lay the foundational framework for this thesis. These include multiple documents from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and other governmental partners and agencies that aim to provide guidance for disaster planning purposes, especially relating to socially vulnerable populations. The next section explains the methodology for the accompanied …

Level Up: How Video Games Can Be Beneficial And Spark Creative Imagination In Players, Makendra M. Phipps

Honors Theses

Since the 2010’s, a technological trend has been flourishing: the development and enhancement of video games across different platforms. The early 1970s began the evolution of video game systems, from Atari and Magnavox Odyssey (1972) to Game Boy (1989) to Nintendo Switch 2 (2025) today. Video games themselves have also evolved, from the first basic computer games of the 1950s (such as OXO and Tennis for Two), to the introduction of arcade games in the 1970s (Pong, Space Invaders, PAC-Man), to the popular video games of today (Grand Theft Auto, Minecraft, Fortnite, R.E.P.O., to name …

Good Intentions Gone Wrong: The Hidden Consequences Of Benevolent Sexism For Women Seeking Justice, Mia Thomas

Honors Theses

Sexism and gender-stereotypes have long impacted societal and criminal justice system responses to victims of violent crime. Scholarly research has demonstrated that sexism is complex and takes varying forms (i.e., ambivalent, hostile, institutional, internalized and more). Of particular interest here is benevolent sexism, which is broadly defined as holding attitudes towards women that are seemingly positive, but which ultimately increase the patronization of women and reinforce their subordination. Such examples include the cultural customs of chivalry or the act of maintaining sexist attitudes with “good intentions.” Drawing on media case studies and scholarly literature, I examine the influence of benevolent …

Double Lenses: Understanding Adhd–Autism Comorbidity Across Gender And Pathways To Intervention, Grace A. Peak

Honors Theses

Each year, the number of people diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) rises. This rising number is due to the abundance of research done on each disorder. Because of this increase in information, many adults and children are getting a comorbid diagnosis, meaning that they are being diagnosed with both disorders at the same time. There is one catch, however; research has shown that ADHD and ASD are spectrums, meaning that they have symptoms that can range in frequency and severity while also affecting each person differently. A large portion of the research conducted …

Maternal Nutritional Status And Immune Regulation In Early Offspring Development, Caroline C. Pagan

Honors Theses

Maternal nutrition, immune function, and microbiome health work together to shape fetal development in ways that influence health across the lifespan and even into future generations. This paper synthesizes evidence from molecular biology, nutrition science, immunology, and public health to show that essential nutrients-such as omega-3 fatty acids, folate, iron, zinc, and vitamin D-directly affect fetal immune programming, neurodevelopment, placental function, and metabolic regulation. Research on the maternal microbiome further demonstrates that microbial diversity and metabolite production modify nutrient absorption, inflammatory balance, and fetal gene expression, underscoring the microbiome’s role as both a mediator and amplifier of nutritional effects. At …

Social Drivers Of Health: Shifting The Focus Of Health Indicators From The Biological Code To The Zip Code, Jenna M. Barlage

Honors Theses

This study explored how healthcare facilities in Kentucky and Ohio are adapting to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2024 mandate requiring the collection and reporting of Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) data. Through literature review and interviews with healthcare administrators responsible for SDOH screening, documentation, and reporting, the research evaluated the central hypothesis: while the mandate has expanded the amount of available SDOH data, healthcare organizations continue to face substantial financial, technological, and organizational barriers in addressing identified patient needs. Findings indicated that many facilities have broadened and standardized their screening practices, leading to clearer early trends …

The Leap Through Reality: The Connections Between Quantum Leap’S Tropes Within Natural Science, Annamarie G. Seamans

Honors Theses

Quantum Leap aired in 1989 and became known for the show's combination of science fiction tropes. The combination of switching consciousness and time travel was an uncommon method for storytelling and stood out among the many science fiction shows released in the 1980s. Time travel has been a storytelling tool for centuries and many scientists have developed theories that allow time travel to be possible in the natural world. Many of the theories developed become improbable due to causality. However, if causality is no longer maintained there are models of time travel that become more likely. Similarly, the science behind …

“Toward A World Where Many Worlds Fit”: Thinking-Feeling Our Way In The Pluriverse, Michael Burns

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Dr. Michael Burns, English, shares "Toward a 'World Where Many Worlds Fit': Thinking-Feeling Our Way into the Pluriverse" Recording shares the lecture portion. Following the lecture participants shared their thoughts with one another.

Mechanical Distention Of Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Culture Membranes For High-Throughput In Vitro Modeling Of Traumatic Brain Injury, Julia Jagielo-Miller, Caleb Bailey, Samir Patel, Paresh Prajapati, Cassidy Leibold, Patrick Sullivan, Mark Prendergast

Biology Faculty Publications

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from impact to the head that induces both primary and secondary injuries. Secondary injuries are characterized by downstream inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and cell death manifest from the inflicting primary injury to the head. Secondary injury offers a window for therapeutic interventions, but the multifaceted nature of secondary injury is complicated, necessitating mechanistic tools to screen the efficacy of such interventions. As such, utilizing animal models to define the features of secondary injury mechanisms is critical for medications development. Various animal TBI models employ specialized equipment to recapitulate both primary and secondary injury aspects of human …

Jetstream Fall 2025, Nancy Anzalone, Courtney Dalfonso, Susan Bloom, Genesis Nieves, Brianna Paoli, Donna Headley

JETstream: Library Newsletter

The October 2025 Edition of JETstream highlights the new Writing Center location, test prep support, new research tools and databases "Trends & Policy: U.S. Criminal Justice" and the "Hispanic American Periodicals Index" (HAPI), as well as newly accessible digital archives collections, staff art exhibitions and upcoming JET Library Events.

The Case For Racial Literacy, Joni Schwartz

Publications and Research

Racial literacy is widespread in America, and as adult literacy educators our mission is to address illiteracy in all its manifestations. We teach literacies in reading and writing, numeracy, computer, speaking, listening, visual, health, and media, each vital to making sense of our world and functioning effectively in it. Racial literacy is just as vital and should be taught as well. I argue that racial literacy is critical to a meaningful civic and community life. Some scholars believe it is critical to the perseverance of democracy. At the very least, many adult learners do not possess an understanding of what …

Urinetown: The Musical, Otterbein Theatre And Dance Department

2025-2026 Season Productions

No abstract provided.

Swosu Fact Book Fall 2025, Joel Harrel Kendall, Diane Fitzsimmons, Kelsi Burghardt

Fact Books

The 34th annual Southwestern Oklahoma State University Fall Fact Book provides a ready source of information to answer frequently asked questions about the University and its operations. The Fall Fact Book is compiled annually by the Office of Institutional Research to assist the university with strategic planning, academic program reviews, grant writing, accreditation, and institutional information to help guide decision-making. The report uses data collected from 2016 to 2025 and is designed to help faculty, staff, administrators, and external stakeholders better understand the student body and university trends.

Office Of Research, Economic Engagement And Outreach Update, October 1, 2025, Office Of Research, Economic Engagement And Outreach

Office of Research, Economic Engagement and Outreach

No abstract provided.

International Panther Monthly, October 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of International Engagement.

Office of International Engagement newsletter

Contents:

--- From the Director’s Desk
--- October Recap
--- Student Spotlight - Nashiru
--- World Window - Finland
--- CIEP Spotlight
--- Did You Know? - Fulbright
--- Did You Know? - Pathway Program
--- Behind the Scenes - Kaitlyn
--- November Activities
--- Additional Opportunities
--- Volunteer With Us

Torque-Speed Characteristic Estimation Based On Gaussian Processes And Adaptive Sampling Strategy For Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines, Marcelo D. Silva, Pedram Asef, Oluwaseun A. Badewa, Rosemary E. Alden, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

Internal Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines (IPMs) are widely used and typically optimized to meet specific performance requirements. Parameters such as base speed, maximum torque, and maximum speed commonly define the torque- speed characteristic of a given design. This study introduces a novel machine learning approach for statistically estimating the torque-speed characteristics of IPMs using Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), which models predictions as random variables. By leveraging uncertainty quantification, the study explores sampling strategies that enable the construction of a high-precision meta-model with minimal error and uncertainty. The proposed adaptive sampling strategy, combined with GPR, accurately estimates torque-speed characteristics and associated …

Degradation Minimization Of Utility-Scale Li-Ion Bess Through Operational Optimization Employing An Equivalent Circuit Model, Kwabena A. Kyeremeh, Grant M. Fischer, Donovin D. Lewis, Aron Patrick, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

The increasing deployment of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) necessitates effective strategies for supporting grid services while minimizing degradation that may compromise system longevity. High charge/discharge rates (C-rate) and imbalanced operation of multi-unit BESS configurations may accelerate degradation. This paper proposes a degradation-aware operational optimization based on Model Predictive Control (MPC) for coordinating multiple BESS units under physical and operational constraints. The multi-objective optimization model imposes penalties on C-rate magnitude, operational state-of-charge (SoC) disparity, and battery internal resistance modeled using an equivalent circuit model. A case study conducted for a fleet of BESS units over a one-week load profile …

Code^Shift Newsletter Fall 2025, Srividya Ramasubramanian, Manaswini Pillai

CODE^SHIFT Research

No abstract provided.

Silver Linings 2025, Tower Health

Silver Linings

No abstract provided.

Targeting Ribosome Biogenesis In Cic-Dux4 Sarcoma Treatment By Using Rna Polymerase 1 Inhibitors, Hema Sri Kambala

Theses

CIC-DUX4 sarcoma (CDS) is a rare, aggressive round-cell tumor that primarily affects children and young adults and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Current treatments borrow from Ewing sarcoma regimens but offer limited benefit, underscoring the need for targeted therapeutic strategies. Transcriptomic analysis of CDS cell lines revealed a striking overrepresentation of ribosome biogenesis genes, indicating that CDS relies heavily on hyperactive RNA Polymerase I (Pol I)–driven rRNA synthesis. To evaluate this vulnerability, the Pol I inhibitors CX-5461 and BMH-21 were tested across multiple functional assays, including rRNA transcription, proliferation, migration, and 3-dimensional spheroid growth. Both inhibitors reduced rRNA synthesis …

Decolonizing Community Re-Entry: Effective Case Studies Of Community-Led Programs And Services To Support Formerly Incarcerated Individuals In Canada, Ardavan Eizadirad, Rai Reece

Education Faculty Publications

Decolonizing re-entry programs require rethinking traditional approaches in supporting formerly incarcerated individuals and challenging colonial and deficit frameworks embedded in the criminal legal system, which often has an exclusive focus on punishment. This article names the risk factors and systemic barriers faced by equity-denied individuals during reintegration with a focus on the Canadian context. Two community-led programs in Ontario are highlighted as innovative case studies for effectively supporting reintegration of individuals exiting carceral institutions. Key characteristics of these programs which are offered by the Youth Association for Academics, Athletics, and Character Education (YAAACE) and Walls to Bridges (W2B) are outlined. …

Improving Regulatory Notice, Joshua Ulan Galperin, E. Donald Elliott

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

Effective notice of law is the cornerstone of any legal system, and yet many federal administrative agencies do not give small businesses, NGOs, and interested citizens notice of the vast amount of new or modified law they produce. They merely publish the text in the Federal Register, which works tolerably well for larger enterprises but not their smaller competitors and citizens' groups. Despite these facts, few scholars have explored how agencies provide notice of the law. Even fewer have proposed ways that agencies could improve the methods they use for giving more effective notice of significant regulatory changes and thereby …

Hedonic And Utilitarian Products For The 21st Century: Classification Of Modern Product Categories, Jin-A Choi, Sufyan M. Baksh, Hyuk Jun Cheong

College of Communication and Media Scholarship and Creative Works

Consumer purchasing behavior varies according to the type of product being considered. Notably, these behavioral differences become more salient depending on whether a product fulfills a utilitarian function or offers hedonic gratification. The present study aims to develop a novel product classification model that categorizes contemporary goods and services based on the extent to which they possess hedonic or utilitarian value. Methodologically, the study employed a two-stage approach. In the first stage, to identify appropriate products for inclusion in the classification model, the researchers conducted focus group interviews, a comprehensive literature review, and an analysis of major retailers’ websites. In …

Aging In America: Implications For Family Resource Management, Becky Smith, Portia Johnson, Brandan Wheeler, D E Kiss, Ann A. Berry

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The Stanford Center on Longevity reports life expectancy has surged over the last 120 years. Unfortunately, living longer may not equate to living with a higher quality of life without considering the amount, type, and uses of all resources available to individuals and families as they age. Family Resource Management (FRM) is the science and art of how individuals and families make decisions to develop and allocate resources, including money, time, energy, space, material, and health assets, and networks of support to meet their goals. Living longer means making more decisions and developing and allocating more resources to enhance the …

Community Partnerships To Address Social Determinants Of Health Among Older Adults, Cory Bolkan, Raven Weaver, Cheryl Eschbach, Erik Geissal, Breanne Wise-Swanson

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Focusing on social determinants of health (SDOH) among older adults is key to addressing health disparities, maintaining independence in their homes/communities, improving health outcomes, and avoiding high-cost institutional care. While primary care settings are equipped to meet older adults’ physical health needs, the network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) is designed to meet social needs (e.g., transportation, nutrition, caregiver support). Yet, cross-sector community partnerships between AAAs and primary care are rare. This article shares an evaluation of one such partnership, where SDOH screenings were routinely implemented in primary care, yielding social prescribing and direct referral to AAA’s support services. …

Salary Report, 2025 October, Eastern Michigan University

EMU Salary Reports

No abstract provided.

The Future Of Virtual Proceedings In The Federal Courts, Jeremy Fogel, Mary S. Hoopes

Indiana Law Journal

The federal courts are notoriously hesitant to modify their procedures and policies. Much of this “small c” conservatism is driven by a concern that their rules be “trans-substantive” and suited to a wide range of circumstances. For years, they stubbornly resisted allowing remote proceedings and similar uses of technology in the courtroom because of concerns that permitting them could affect the quality of lawyering and decision-making, compromise the safety of jurors and witnesses, and diminish the public’s perception of the courts. The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly changed this, forcing judges to alter radically the way they conducted proceedings.

Nearly five years …

Cross-Cultural Validity Of The Ppi-R In U.S. College Students, Cassidy Liang

Student Theses

Psychopathy has traditionally been studied using Hare's Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) but self-report measures like the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R) have gained popularity due to comparative ease, speed of administration, and its broader applicability to the general population. However, the validity of the PPI-R across cultures has produced mixed results, particularly in non-Western and non-English speaking participants. This study examined racial/ethnic and gender differences in the PPI-R in a diverse sample of 536 college students. The internal and external validity of the PPI-R was good. The PPI-R correlated with the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM), as well as trait anxiety, and empathy …