Digital Commons Network^™

Player 2 Has Entered The Culture War: Discourse, Ideology, And Narrative In Gamergate 2.0, Ashley C. Mccann

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

My thesis addresses the ever-evolving landscape of Gamergate 2.0. Once a reactionary misogynistic harassment movement dedicated to attacking women in video games, the new iteration of Gamergate has evolved into an entirely new community. In its new iteration, Gamergate is even less ostensibly concerned with video games and more with reactionary content, mixing together nerd media, general pop culture, and right-wing politics. To study this community, I approach the Gamergate 2.0 community as an anti-fandom and reactionary affinity space. I argue that GamerGate 2.0 exists as its own powerful reactionary community that creates a worldview consisting of the desired destruction …

Globally Cross-Examining Case Studies Of Refugee Resettlement: How Do These Help Us Understand “Successful” Refugee Integration? A Look At Refugees And How They Are Resettled In The Usa, Canada, And Italy., Elyssa Parker

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The world’s refugee crisis is ongoing and increasing in severity. By employing a thematic analysis this thesis seeks to center refugee perspectives to define success in resettlement. Through comparative analysis, commonalities and differences are found within the resettlement practices and policies of the USA, Italy, and Canada. The Integrated Threat and Cultural Adaptation theories are utilized to help understand the actions of both the receiving society and the refugees themselves. Canada remains a top destination for refugees; however, the worsening housing crisis is proving to put significant hardship on refugees. The US refugee resettlement program is contradictory in that it …

I Roll To Attack The King: An Examination Of Far-Right Dissent And Ttrpgs In The Contemporary Age, Jenna C. Johnston

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Far-right ideologies have become more prevalent, both in the political sphere as well as fictional and fantasy spaces. This project analyzes the rise of far-right ideology within tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) and offers potential reasons as to why this shift is occurring. Through the analysis of three Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) campaigns from TTRPG show Dimension 20, combined with psychological and sociological research, this work highlights the importance of actions within TTRPGs and their impact on our actual reality. Many may act within the confines of fantastical worlds such as TTRPGs in a way that aligns with far-right ideology because …

Master Of Social Work Portfolio, Kinley Mae Pope

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Exploring Comparative Media Analysis And Its Application To Ghana, Eric Asiedu

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This paper analyzes how Ghana’s media system (newspapers, radio, TV, and online news)works and compares it to Hallin and Mancini’s 2004 influential model, “Comparing Media Systems”. Their study mainly focused on Western countries like the United States and Europe. This paper tests its applicability to Ghana, located in West Africa. The paper examines four main areas of Ghana’s media: how media industries are set up and run, journalistic professionalism, how closely media outlets are connected to political parties, and how much the government controls or influences the media. The research found that Ghana’s media system has unique characteristics that differs …

The Impact Of Teaching Students Stress And Trauma Alleviation Techniques For Coping With Distressing Materials In First-Year Composition, Faye Monique Scott

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Trauma can impact the way a student learns and focuses. In higher education, without instructors realizing it, classes may retraumatize or trigger students with the texts, media, or materials utilized. Research suggests that little attention is given to helping students deal with potentially traumatizing course materials and students inside the classrooms may be impacted by trauma whether the teacher is aware or not. This dissertation examined the effects of teaching students specific coping strategies—Trigger Warnings (TWs) and Stress and Trauma Alleviation Techniques (STATs) —while reading, writing, and reflecting on possibly distressing materials in First-Year Composition courses through a mixed methods …

Functional Characterization Of The Hdt5 Gene In Aspergillus Flavus Morphogenesis, Mycotoxin Production, And Fungal Phytopathogenicity, Brenda Omburo

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The present study aimed at elucidating the role of hdt5 in fungal morphology, mycotoxin production and in plant virulence in Aspergillus flavus. Currently, methodologies to prevent the negative impact of A. flavus are insufficient. It is known that expression of the hdt5 gene is dependent on hbx1, a master regulatory gene that affects expression of hundreds of genes in the A. flavus genome, controlling both development and secondary metabolism. However, while the aflatoxin gene cluster has been elucidated, the genetic regulatory mechanisms controlled by hdt5 are not fully understood. For this study, therefore, a complete strain set composed of a …

Ethnic Insurgency Of Myanmar: Resilience And Fragility, Lei Tong

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This research studies insurgent resilience in the context of Myanmar’s civil conflicts. In the face of repression, some ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) continued to mount significant resistance to the state and even grew their territorial control and capacities. Others merely survived, but lost their operational functionality, while others still were forcibly disarmed and disbanded. What explains this variation in the resilience of Myanmar’s EAOs? To answer this question, I build on conflict scholarship that highlights the importance of lootable resources to armed insurgent organizations. However, I extend this work by showing that access to resources alone is insufficient. To maintain …

Water Quality And Microplastic Contamination In An Urbanizing City Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, Boonyarak Chuanchit

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Microplastics (MPs) are synthetic polymer particles less than 5 mm in size that originate from both primary manufacturing and the breakdown of larger plastics. Extensive studies have examined their occurrence in other environments, while little is known about their presence and behavior in groundwater, especially in urbanizing regions in Southeast Asia. This study investigates the occurrence and abundance of microplastics within groundwater systems of Nakhon Pathom, an urbanizing province in central Thailand.

Groundwater was collected representing shallow and deep aquifers between May 2023 and May 2025. The analyses included physical-chemical parameters, major ions, heavy metals, and microplastic abundance and composition. …

Comparing Elements Of The Community Of Inquiry Framework In An Asynchronous And Synchronous Student Success Course In Nursing School, Megan Mcinnis

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the impact of course delivery modality—asynchronous versus synchronous—on students’ perceptions of Teaching, Social, and Cognitive Presence as outlined in the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework. Conducted at a nursing college, the study involved students enrolled in a student success course offered in both formats. Quantitative data, using the CoI Survey Instrument, were collected through pre- and post-course surveys and analyzed with independent t tests to determine whether statistically significant differences existed within and between modalities. Results indicated that both course formats supported high levels of perceived presence across all three domains. In the asynchronous section, a statistically …

An Exploration Of Social Isolation’S Effects On The Gastrointestinal And Metabolic Health Of A Social Mammal, Daniel Adam Nuccio

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Human health can be impacted considerably by subjective feelings of loneliness, resulting in mental illness and the dysregulation of normal cardiovascular, immune and endocrine functioning. This occurs because social isolation serves as a form of chronic stress for social mammals, spurring physiological responses akin to those associated with more standard forms of stress. On account of their highly social nature, prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) subsequently have become one of the model organisms of choice for investigating the effects of social isolation on the development of disease in social mammals.

This dissertation seeks to expand the scientific community’s understanding of the …

Bytes, Banter, And The Bible: An Interdisciplinary Account Of Objective Meaning, Cameron Bonin

Senior Honors Theses

The claim that the Bible has objective meaning is contested in a postmodern world. This claim can be more persuasively defended when it is addressed by insights from multiple disciplines. In particular, the field of computer science is apt to illuminate the concept of meaning through its reflection on the nature of languages and its concern with the accurate transmission of information. By synthesizing insights from the field of computer science, such as that of Claude Shannon, with Nicholas Wolterstorff’s use of speech-act theory, the concept of meaning can be understood more clearly. Consequently, this synthesis assists in answering questions …

Communicating The “Already, Not Yet” Through The Visual Arts, Hadley Jacobs

Senior Honors Theses

The “already, not yet” is a theological concept that addresses the tension of Christian living. Although believers are free from sin’s power, they are not free from its effects. This thesis examines the “already, not yet” through a series: one graphite drawing, one colored pencil drawing, and one oil painting. The graphite drawing depicts a ruined building, the colored pencil drawing depicts a building being rebuilt, and the oil painting depicts a restored building. They represent the fallen state of man, the state of believers on earth, and the state of believers after being restored, respectively. Together, these pieces create …

Chemoproteomic Profiling Of A Carbon-Stabilized Gold(Iii) Macrocycle Reveals Cellular Engagement With Hmox2, Sailajah Gukathasan, Chibuzor Ngozi Olelewe, Libby Ratliff, Jong H. Kim, Alyson M. Ackerman, J. Robert Mccorkle, Sean Parkin, Gunnar F. Kwakye, Jill M. Kolesar, Samuel G. Awuah

Chemistry Faculty Publications

In this work, we discovered a novel organometallic gold(III) macrocycle, Au-Mac1, that demonstrates anticancer potency in a panel of triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBC), and based on this complex, a biotinylated-Au-Mac1 probe was designed for target identification via chemoproteomics, which uncovered the engagement of HMOX2 of the heme-energy metabolism pathway. Using orthogonal chemical biology and molecular biology approaches, including immunoblotting, flow cytometry, and cellular thermal shift assays, it was confirmed that Au-Mac1 engages HMOX2 in cells. Downstream effects of Au-Mac1 on the depletion of mitochondrial membrane proteins and bioenergetics point to the potential role of HMOX2 in cancer. Importantly, Au-Mac1 …

Iodinated Disinfection Byproduct Formation From Iohexol In Sunlit And Chlorinated Urban Wastewaters, Reagan Patton Witt, Marcelo I. Guzman

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Iodinated disinfection by-products (I-DBPs) are of growing concern due to their elevated toxicity compared to their chlorinated counterparts, with links to adverse health effects such as bladder cancer and miscarriages. Medical imaging agents like iohexol, commonly used in healthcare facilities, introduce iodine into wastewater systems. This study investigates the photodegradation of iohexol and the subsequent formation of products, including I-DBPs, during simulated final wastewater treatment under chlorination and sunlight exposure. Experiments were conducted with solutions containing 30 μM iohexol, 3 mg L⁻¹ humic acids, and 5.5 mg L⁻¹ hypochlorite. Samples were irradiated at λ ≥ 295 nm and …

Improving Proteostasis Of Trafficking-Deficient GabaAReceptor Variants By Activating Ire1, Xu Fu, Ya Juan Wang, Kyung A. Lee, Lucie Y. Ahn, Xi Chen, Brock T. Harvey, Meng Wang, Hailey Seibert, Pei Pei Zhang, Adrian Guerrero, Ashleigh E. Schaffer, Christopher I. Richards, R. Luke Wiseman, Jeffery W. Kelly, Ting Wei Mu

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABA_ARs) are essential for maintaining the excitation–inhibition balance in the central nervous system. Genetic variations of GABA_ARs result in a variety of neurological disorders, such as epilepsy. A key pathogenic mechanism involves protein misfolding and defective assembly of GABA_ARs in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), resulting in impaired surface expression and loss of function. Here, we investigated three trafficking-deficient variants of the GABA_AR α1 subunit (GABRA1), including D219N (ClinVar Variation ID: 127232), G251D (Variation ID: 419523), and P260L. We demonstrated that selective pharmacological activation of the IRE1/XBP1s signaling …

The Legacy Of Dobbs: How The Supreme Court’S Decision To Review Gender- Affirming Care Bans Signals Its Intent To Eliminate The Protections Of Bostock And Obergefell Against Laws Designed To Discriminate Against Lgtbq+ Individuals, Jennifer S. Bard

Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality

No abstract provided.

Zaasijiwan: An Indigenized Health Communication Framework For American Indian And Alaska Native Communities, Jennifer Wolf

Theses and Dissertations

The Zaasijiwan Framework represents an Indigenized health communication model developed to enhance the cultural relevance, trust, and effectiveness of public health messaging for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. This qualitative study integrated Indigenous and Western public health knowledge to inform the development of the framework. A comprehensive literature review and two rounds of key informant interviews with health communication professionals informed the design of the framework. Findings emphasized the importance of community co-creation and strengths-based narratives, along with other framework elements, in overcoming medical mistrust and improving health outcomes. The final framework offers public health professionals, Tribal, and …

Machine Learning-Guided Discovery Of Metal-Ligand Catalysts For Affordable Green Hydrogen Produced Via Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers, Achouak Benarbia

Theses and Dissertations

The rising demand for clean and sustainable energy sources has underscored the critical role of hydrogen in the global energy transition. However, the widespread adoption of green hydrogen remains constrained by the high cost and scarcity of platinum-based electrocatalysts used in Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. This dependence inflates production costs and poses long-term risks related to supply security and scalability. While numerous studies have explored alternative materials, the discovery of efficient and stable non-platinum catalysts remains a major bottleneck due to the vastness of chemical space and the resource-intensive nature of experimental screening. To address this challenge, this study …

All Set For Next Week: Reorienting Domesticity, Gendered Labor, And Collective Mourning, Kayla Lockwood

Graduate & Professional Student Association Research Forum

All Set for Next Week (2024) was a coffin‐shaped coffee table that formed the focal point of my Honey, I’m Home! Midway Exhibition—a core requirement for my advancement to candidacy, which I successfully completed. Revisiting the nostalgic domestic imagery of mid‐twentieth‐century sitcoms like The Honeymooners and I Love Lucy, this piece examined the precarious nature of home, shifts in gender roles, and the collective reshaping of mourning rituals during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Made from red oak, a wood historically linked to coffin‐making, the table evoked the memory of my grandfather’s passing while probing deeper questions surrounding inherited skill sets and …

The Impact Of Technological Innovations On Consumer Behavior In E-Commerce: A Systematic Review, Yue Wang, Jianzheng Shi, Terence T. Ow, Jia Yun, Yuanyu Yang

Management Faculty Research and Publications

This study systematically reviews the literature on the impact of technological innovations in e-commerce on consumer behavior, using the SPAR-4-SLR methodology and TCCM framework. It consolidates research across various technologies, including websites, social media, live streaming, AR/VR, and AI. The analysis reveals a growing interest in this field post-2017, with a focus on websites and social media, but highlights a research gap in emerging technologies. Key theoretical frameworks are identified, emphasizing the need for integration to comprehensively understand consumer behavior. The review maps out antecedents, mediators, moderators, and outcomes, stressing the importance of longitudinal studies and advanced analytics. This approach …

Gadd34 And Crep Regulation In The Unfolded Protein Response, Comparing Molecular Mechanisms In Humans And Zebrafish, Angela Adams

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

In eukaryotic cells, many newly synthesized proteins are sent to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of a cell to be folded into the proper conformation for functionality. When proteins get misfolded, or cannot be folded fast enough, these proteins accumulate in the ER which causes the cell to become stressed. This leads to a process known as the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). Once UPR has been initiated, the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) becomes phosphorylated to inhibit global protein synthesis within the cell, while simultaneously activating the expression of several genes to either aid in cell recovery or …

Effects Of Cross-Sex Hormone Therapy (Csht) On Aortic Reactivity And Metabolic Parameters In Gonadectomized Male And Female Rats, Rifat Ara Islam

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

With the rising awareness, the number of individuals identifying themselves as transgender in the US is increasing over the years. Cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT) may alter cardiometabolic parameters leading to the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in transgender population. However, the underlying mechanisms of impaired cardiovascular functions in transgender female (male to female, MtF) or transgender male (female to male, FtM) individuals are not well documented. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2)- and testosterone propionate (Tes)-treatment on key cardiometabolic parameters and aortic reactivity in castrated (CAS) male and ovariectomized (OVX) female Sprague Dawley (SD) …

And Yet She Persisted: An Autoethnographic Exploration Of A Mature Doctoral Student Experiencing Grief And Loss During The Doctoral Journey, Jenny Masterman Abbott

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This evocative autoethnographic study explored the lived experiences of a mature doctoral student navigating grief and loss while progressing through a doctoral program. The research connected the personal narrative of the author a nurse, educator, wife, mother, and widow to broader themes of resilience, identity, and persistence in higher education. Using narrative inquiry and self-reflective vignettes, this dissertation sought to illuminate how grief intersects with academic life, shaping both personal meaning and scholarly perseverance.

The study was guided by four research questions: (1) What does it mean for the mature doctoral student to be successful in negotiating the doctoral journey …

A Look Into A Great Coach: Qualitative Study Of Post-Game Talks Of A Highly Successful Volleyball Collegiate Coach, Daniel Nobuo Llarenas

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to explore the post-game talks of a highly successful collegiate coach. A total of 19 post game talks were audio recorded during the 2012 championship season of the University of California Irvine (UCI) Men’s Volleyball team. Coach John Speraw; an American Caucasian Division I Men’s Collegiate Volleyball coach and was the Head coach during the 2012 season. Post game talks were recorded with intentions of assessing content and transcribed verbatim with the average length of each talk was 7 minutes and 23 seconds (4:36 – 23:04 mins). Analyses of the transcripts revealed 2 …

The Federal General Counsel, Law, And Our Democracy At A Crossroads, Seth Frotman

Michigan Law Review Online

This speech, given by the general counsel of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on January 7, 2025, examines how federal government lawyers can help ensure that laws are faithfully administered to address the contemporary challenges facing American citizens. Despite the CFPB’s successes in protecting consumers from predatory financial practices—particularly amid the rapid digital transformation of the economy—undemocratic forces have increasingly rigged the legal system to serve as both sword and shield for the powerful. The speech describes how judge-made doctrines like “major questions” have been weaponized to disempower Congress from writing statutes with enduring relevance. These challenges represent an …

The Perceptions Of Principals And Faith Leaders Regarding The Transmission Of Presentation Charism In Australian Presentation Schools, Gemma Louise Thomson

Theses

This purpose of this research was to explore the perceptions of Principals and Faith Leaders regarding the transmission of Presentation charism in Australian Presentation schools. In particular, the study investigated how Principals and Faith Leaders perceive the nature of Presentation charism, as well as how it is evidenced in their leadership approaches in Catholic schools in the Presentation tradition. Furthermore, the study explored the perceptions of Principals, Faith Leaders and Presentation Sisters of what is required to formally and informally transmit the Presentation charism in Australian Presentation schools. The study’s review of literature identified four areas of literature that formed …

The Changing Nature Of Outdoor Play Spaces In West Australian Primary Schools: An Exploratory Case Study. Exploring Play Opportunities, Design And Utilisation Of An Intentionally Designed Nature Play Space (Idnps)., Catherine Fitzhardinge

Theses

The development, wellbeing and learning of children is of global importance; opportunities that promote healthy childhood development have long lasting social and economic impacts. Play is the primary occupation through which children develop; nature play provides opportunities for physical, cognitive, social and emotional skill development. West Australian (WA) schools are installing intentionally designed nature play spaces (IDNPS) to support outdoor play opportunities and connection to nature. However, there is little contextual evidence regarding how these spaces are designed and utilised to support child development, wellbeing and learning.

This exploratory, mixed methods case study examined how children aged 4-7 years old …

The Effects Of Email Advertising On Consumer Response In Australian Online Fashion., Trent Curtis

Theses

Email advertising continues to grow as an essential card in the playbook of current day digital marketers, especially within the hyper competitive world of online fashion. This thesis examines the multifaceted effects of email advertising on consumer response within Australia, drawing new insights from the recent influence of personalised email advertising content.

Employing a mixed methods approach, qualitative analysis first utilises thematic coding to uncover key insights drawn from interviews with current day fashion marketing professionals. These interviews explore the perceptions of email advertising effectiveness, preferences in personalised content, and the behavioural trends of online fashion shoppers.

The quantitative analysis …

Exploring The Perceived Impact Of Hearing Impairment On The Mental Health And Well-Being Of Adults, Jacinta Ruth Marks

Theses

This thesis explores the perceived impact of hearing impairment on the mental health and well-being of Australian adults, responding to a growing need to understand how hearing challenges affect people beyond clinical or audiological measures. While hearing impairment is commonly framed through medical or functional models, its psychosocial effects remain underexplored, particularly in relation to stigma, identity, and mental well-being. This study addresses that gap by centring lived experience and examining how adults with hearing impairment navigate everyday life, social expectations, and systemic barriers. Grounded in a constructivist-interpretivist paradigm and informed by a disability studies lens, the research investigates the …