Leveraging Citizen Science To Advance Environmental Justice In Climate-Vulnerable Communities Post-Loper Bright, Lauren Valli

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

The Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v.

Raimondo removed the judicial obligation to defer to the Environmental

Protection Agency’s statutory interpretations, overturning forty years of

Chevron v. NRDC jurisprudence. Now, generalist judges must

independently evaluate complex scientific data when determining

statutory meaning, creating the risk that well-resourced industry parties

will use their litigation advantages to secure pollution-permissive statutory

interpretations. Without deference to EPA’s technical understanding and

public welfare considerations, environmental litigation outcomes

increasingly depend on which party can most persuasively present

environmental data in court. This interpretation shift widens the

environmental enforcement gap and disproportionately harms historically …

Practitioners’ Experiences Of Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-Based (Dir) Approach In Their Professional Practice With Neurodivergent Clients: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Ekaterina Sidor

Educational Studies Dissertations

This phenomenological study explores how professionals experience integrating the developmental, individual-differences, and relationship-based (DIR) framework in their work with neurodivergent clients. Although DIR is recognized as an evidence-based developmental approach in the field of autism support, little is known about how its integration affects practitioners themselves. Grounded in relational-cultural theory and transformative learning theory, the study examines how engagement with DIR influences practitioners’ professional practice and development. Using a qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological design, data were collected through open-ended questionnaires and in-depth interviews with multidisciplinary professionals from diverse international contexts who completed DIRFloortime training and actively implement DIR in their work. …

The Efficacy Of Emotional Reframing As An Intervention To Promote Adult Transformational Growth, Linda Rossetti

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study investigates the underexplored relationship between adult developmental growth and emotions. Developmental growth requires an individual to respond to self-concept instability by adopting new meaning structures and navigating oppositional emotions. This quantitative study examined the relationship between an emotional reframing intervention and perspective shifts, an indicator of developmental progression. Data collected on three college campuses in the 2024-2025 academic year revealed a strong positive relationship between the intervention and perspective shifts, as evidenced by differences in pre- and post-assessment responses within the studied population, both in aggregate and in specific use cases. The findings contribute to three academic arenas: …

We Need To Do Better: Exploring Educators’ Perspectives Of Transformative Trauma-Informed Social-Emotional Learning, Heather Stay

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This qualitative, descriptive case study examined educators’ understandings, enactment, and professional learning related to transformative, trauma-informed social-emotional learning (SEL) practices in a center-based emotional support school setting. Data were collected through semi-structured educator interviews and classroom observations to capture a holistic view of pedagogical practices. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of Dis/Crit, Transformative Learning Theory, and Foucault’s Theory of Power, the findings illuminate how educators leverage trauma-informed SEL strategies to support students affected by trauma as they navigate structural and systemic constraints within a normative educational system. Results highlight both effective cultural-sustaining and trauma-responsive practices already in place, as well …

Leadership Regarding The Support And Implementation Of Collaborative Teacher Teams To Advance District Equity Goals, Deborah Holman

Educational Studies Dissertations

Educational leaders increasingly prioritize equity reform processes; however, many struggle to enact sustainable change that addresses persistent disparities in student outcomes. Existing research on district effectiveness identifies key improvement practices but offers less insight into how leaders operationalize these practices effectively. The growing body of research on professional learning communities (PLCs) offers emerging evidence that job-embedded, focused PLCs are a mechanism that can positively impact student outcomes. This study addressed the connection between the improvement practices and PLCs by exploring how school and district leaders leverage collaborative teacher teams as a mechanism for equity-minded reform. Using a constructivist grounded theory …

Educated Sons And Evolving Traditions: A Qualitative Exploration Of Male Family Roles, Inheritance Customs And Cultural Identity In Matrilineal Meghalaya., Boby John

Educational Studies Dissertations

Abstract

This study examines how increased access to higher education among Khasi boys reshapes family roles, inheritance customs, and cultural identity within the matrilineal society of Meghalaya, India. While matriliny has often been portrayed either as empowering women or disadvantaging men, limited scholarship has explored how access to higher education interacts with gendered inheritance structures and moral responsibility within such systems. This research addresses that gap by investigating how educated sons, youngest daughters (Ka Khadduh), and elders experience continuity and change in contemporary Khasi families.

Guided by Cultural Capital Theory, Social Role Theory, and Cultural Modernization Theory, the study employed …

Harnessing Mechanobiology Of Resident Stem Cells To Refine Cell Based Therapeutics, Dakota R. Kamm

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are resident cells residing with many adult tissues such as adipose tissue and bone marrow that have the potency for multiple lineage differentiation as well as the capacity to secrete a litany of beneficial factors to maintain homeostasis and promote tissue repair. Since 1995, MSCs have been used therapeutically to treat a variety of conditions from osteoarthritis to heart disease to muscle pathologies. Great leaps have been made in improving MSC-based therapies through optimization of culture methods and select enrichment of cellular subpopulations. More recently, the physical microenvironment of tissue in vivo and culture conditions in …

A Phenomenological Study Of Elementary Educators’ Experiences Identifying And Responding To Student Asocial Evidence Associated With School Violence Risk, Karen Elizabeth Mcdavitt

Educational Studies Dissertations

The phenomenon of school shootings is a frightening reality for parents, teachers, and students. Schools should be safe spaces for children; instead, classrooms are spaces in which acts of horrific violence in classrooms occur far too often. Perpetrators of school violence almost always leave a destructive path of warning signs. These warning signs are often exhibited through asocial evidence identifiable in their early years. This phenomenological study examined ways that elementary educators have identified and intervened with students exhibiting asocial evidence associated with school violence risk. An online survey collected qualitative and quantitative data from forty-four elementary educators. Eight of …

Nurtured Meaning: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Tree Of Life In Contemporary Women's Art, Christina A. Defilipp

Educational Studies Dissertations

The Tree of Life has historically flourished across cultures as an archetypal image of interconnection, regeneration, and continuity. In the Anthropocene, however, its symbolic vitality is reframed by the realities of environmental crisis. This study investigates how contemporary women artists across the globe sustain and reinterpret the Tree of Life’s meaning to express themes of ecological, spiritual, and cultural relevance. Employing a qualitative design grounded in hermeneutic phenomenology, the study analyzes publicly available artworks and published reflections, including interviews, catalog essays, and artist statements. A purposive sample of twenty women artists from diverse cultural traditions forms the dataset, each represented …

Oxidized Lipids Are Inflammatory Danger Signals. The Hydrolytic Enzyme Carboxylesterase 1 Regulates Their Metabolic Fate, Thereby Shaping Macrophage Phenotype., Oluwabori Adekanye

Theses and Dissertations

Macrophages originate from hematopoietic progenitors they are immune cells, part of innate immunity. They patrol tissues to identify damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) from microorganisms. Macrophage pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) detect these signals, and respond by secreting lipid mediators, cytokines, and chemokines, thereby initiating the inflammatory response. Carboxylesterases (CES) belong to the α/β-hydrolase fold family of proteins and catalyze the hydrolysis of ester-containing substrates into alcohols and carboxylic acids. CES1 is one of the six CES identified in the human genome. They are localized in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen and cytosol of cells, primarily expressed in …

Effects Of Different Heat Treatment Methods On Physical Properties And Freeze-Dried Quality Of Tremella Fuciformis, Fan Yufei, Wu Bingbing, Shi Nengpai, Zhang Yuanhui, Lin Xiangyang

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To determine the optimal pretreatment method that preserves the colloidal structure of Tremella fuciformis and ensures shelf-life stability via systematic comparison between hot-water blanching (80 ℃) and steam blanching (about 100 ℃). [Methods] A series of time gradients is set for each blanching treatment. Then, the effects of the two blanching processes on the water absorption and swelling ratio, microstructure, and texture profile (TPA) of fresh T.fuciformis are evaluated. Furthermore, the whiteness, rehydration ratio, and water activity of the freeze-dried products are measured to comprehensively evaluate the modulating effects of different heat media on the quality of T.fuciformis. [Results] …

Red, Blue, And Bordered: Factors Influencing Immigration Attitudes, Estefania Morales Vilchis

Political Science Student Papers and Posters

The paper will explore the various social and individual variables that will impact how people perceive immigration as either beneficial to society or a societal threat. Some of the primary variables that will be examined in detail are one’s political affiliation, age, and geographical location; this will address the profound "why" behind our current beliefs on newcomers. The study will particularly address the "Contact Hypothesis" versus "Group Threat Theory" through the lens of how one's personal experiences with immigrants, or lack of, will shape public opinion. The study will focus on the rising psychological issue of "demographic anxiety", specifically, fears …

Scb252 Fundamentals Of Biotechniques Laboratory Manual, Na Xu, Hanqi Ye

Open Educational Resources

This laboratory manual for SCB252: Fundamentals of Biotechniques provides an integrated, hands-on introduction to core concepts and methods in modern biological research using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. The manual emphasizes laboratory safety, research integrity, and responsible conduct of research, alongside foundational experimental skills. Students are guided through key biological techniques including fly husbandry, genetic crosses, mutant analysis, microscopy, DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gel electrophoresis, sequencing technologies, and bioinformatics tools such as BLAST and genome databases. Advanced modules introduce gene structure annotation, RNA-seq data analysis, and primer design, while fluorescence microscopy and protein analysis techniques further expand …

What Impact Might The Coatt Model Have On Those Recovering From Spiritual Disconnect? A Community Engagement Project, Fiona A. Doyle

Expressive Therapies Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether or not the CoActive Therapeutic Theater (CoATT Model) may be applicable to individuals that identify as in active recovery from spiritual disconnect. The importance of spirituality as a factor in mental health counseling has been identified repeatedly, and while there is currently some literature exploring the intersection of the use of drama therapy to treat spiritual concerns, there is a need for a larger body of research to be generated in service of understanding how drama therapy may be of service to those who are recovering from a spiritual disconnect.  As …

Holding Museums Accountable: Utilizing Criminal Sanctions To Support Repatriation Of Illegally Acquired Cultural Property, Mary Jane Apostle

Washington and Lee Law Review Online

Antiquities trafficking is the third largest form of illegal trade in the world after arms and drugs. In 2020, over 850,000 stolen or looted antiquities were seized worldwide, with the illegal trade growing significantly due to the rise of social media and online platforms. International law, federal agencies, and civil liability have not been successful in curtailing the illegal antiquities trade.

This Note traces New York’s legal evolution from protecting museums that displayed looted artifacts to mandating greater transparency through origin and ownership disclosures. Central to this shift is the creation of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU) by the Manhattan …

Sesquicentennial Commencement [Program], May 15-16, 2026, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

Contents:

Brief History of UNI --- 2
Board of Regents --- 3
Institutional Leadership --- 3
Ceremony Symbols & Traditions --- 4
Commencement Over the Years --- 6
University Honors Program --- 8
Graduation with Honors --- 8
Legacy Graduates --- 8
Military Science --- 9
Merchant Scholarship --- 9
Outstanding Student Leader --- 9
Commencement Student Speakers --- 9
Purple and Old Gold Awards --- 10
Lux Service Award --- 11
7 p.m. Program --- 13
College of Education --- 15
David W. Wilson College of Business --- 22
10 a.m. Program --- 29
College of Humanities, Arts & …

Ud In The News May 8-15, University Of Dayton

News Releases

Students took top billing as media highlighted the UD Sinclair Academy, graduates and another who surprised her mother by being featured on a UD billboard. The Conversation, The National Desk and Catholic World Report also tapped faculty expertise.

There Was Time And Place, Mary G. O'Connor

Graduate Artistry Projects and Performances

There was Time and Place is body of work that explores the relationship between reality and imagination as it relates to themes of creativity and transformation through time and place. Inspired by surrealism, automatism, science fiction, and poetic theory, the exhibited drawing-centered lithographs create encounters with fictional designs of rendered objects, machinery, and architecture. These encounters estrange us from monotony and banality of the current moment, reminding us that there is time and place for imagination in our routines.

Classification Of Hif Detection In Nev Profile Using Wavelet Transform And Convolution Neural Network, Abdul Hafiz Kassim, Mohd Abdul Talib Mat Yusoh, Aster Smith Valentinie Wilson Nottelmarc, Ahmad Farid Abidin, Sim Sy Yi, Daw Saleh Sasi Mohammed

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

High impedance faults (HIFs) present a critical challenge in power systems due to their subtle signal characteristics, which often remain undetected by conventional protection methods. These faults typically do not produce significant phase disturbances, making reliable detection difficult. However, analysis of the neutral-to-earth voltage (NEV) profile under fault conditions provides a promising alternative for fault identification. Existing approaches for detecting and classifying HIFs using NEV signals remain limited and may result in inaccurate maintenance decisions. This paper proposes a fault classification framework for multiple fault types, including HIF, three-phase fault, three-phase fault to ground, double line, double line to ground, …

Complex-Valued Convolutional Neural Network With Time-Frequency Representation For Electrocardiogram-Based Arrhythmia Detection, Kajeeth Kumar Gurusamy, Muthurajkumar Sannasy

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

This research proposes an end-to-end procedure for arrhythmia detection based on electrocardiogram (ECG) signals using complex-valued convolutional neural network (CVCNN) incorporated with time-frequency representation. The proposed model leverages complex numbers to capture amplitude and phase information that enhances the ability of the model for detecting time-frequency variation in cardiac signals. First, signal preprocessing techniques---including normalization, wavelet denoising, and R-peak detection---are applied. Subsequently, the model extracts complex features from raw ECG data by employing the Hilbert transform to derive the analytic signal and the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) to generate a time–frequency representation. The proposed CVCNN framework effectively learns spatial-temporal features …

Accurate Diagnosis Of Diseases By A Novel Ai Pipeline Based On Feature Extraction, Feature Ranking, And Feature Selection From Medical Images, Tuğba Nur Bozkurt, Mehmet Emi̇n Yüksel

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

The rapid growth of the global population has led to a substantial increase in the number of patients, while the availability of healthcare professionals has not expanded at a comparable rate. This imbalance highlights the urgent need for efficient and reliable computer-aided decision support systems that can reduce clinical workload while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy. In this study, a novel and systematically integrated artificial intelligence-based pipeline is proposed for medical image classification, combining statistical significance-driven feature ranking with evolutionary feature selection in a unified framework. The proposed pipeline consists of four sequential stages: feature extraction, ranking, selection, and classification. Features …

Adapting Independent Large-Scale Pretrained Models For Human Action Recognition, Selen Pehli̇van

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Transferring knowledge from large-scale, independently pretrained image and text models to video understanding requires addressing several challenges, including maintaining generalization capabilities of models, integrating them into multimodal architectures, and fine-tuning with temporal dynamics. This study evaluates the effectiveness of parameter-efficient fine-tuning (PEFT) techniques in transferring pretrained knowledge from two independent models for video action recognition within a simple, streamlined multimodal fusion pipeline. Specifically, we adapt CLIP as the text branch and DINOv2 as the image branch, keeping both backbones frozen to preserve their pretrained robustness, while introducing lightweight, task-specific modules to adapt and fuse the branches with temporal dynamics. A …

Adaptive Backstepping Nonsingular Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Control For Robotic Manipulators Based On Disturbance Observer, Xin Zhang, Xu Wang

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

This paper presents an adaptive backstepping nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode controller integrated with a nonlinear disturbance observer to achieve precise trajectory tracking of robotic manipulators subject to model uncertainties and unknown time-varying disturbances. A dead-zone–based adaptive gain mechanism is introduced to dynamically adjust the control gain according to the deviation of the sliding surface, thereby enhancing robustness and reducing chattering. The proposed reaching law ensures fast, nonsingular, and adaptive convergence, suppressing high-frequency oscillations without compromising stability and the nonlinear disturbance observer enables real-time estimation and compensation of modeling errors, friction, and external disturbances for superior rejection. The semiglobal uniform …

Chaotic Artificial Bee Colony-Optimized Stacking Ensemble For Robust Multifault Diagnosis Of Wind Turbines, Veilraj Revathi, Solaimalai Jeyadevi, Madasamy Sudalaimani

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

The complex electromechanical structure of wind turbines, along with harsh operating conditions, poses significant challenges for precise and robust fault diagnosis. To address this challenge, an ensemble multifault diagnostic framework based on an adaptive chaotic artificial bee colony (C-ABC)-optimized support vector machine (SVM) and gradient boosting machine (GBM) is proposed. In the proposed framework, data redundancy and overfitting are reduced through a two-stage hybrid filter-transformer-based feature reduction approach using ReliefF, followed by Principal Component Analysis. The chaos function of the proposed C-ABC maintains an adaptive balance between the exploration and exploitation phases, thereby preventing premature convergence, which is a common …

Neurodiversity Among Nurses: Consequences For Wellbeing And Burnout, Megan Pohlmann

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Background/Introduction – Current research highlights three critical aspects of nurse wellbeing: the subjective personal perspective, multifaceted complexity, and variation across individuals. A particular gap in past research is a lack of understanding of how neurodivergence may impact nurses’ workplace wellbeing. Neurodiversity is the variation in human minds and neurocognitive functioning, and neurodivergence is the divergence from what society would consider the norm. Like wellbeing, it is difficult to capture, recognize, and define, which causes confusion among neurodivergent individuals and employers alike. With up to 20% of individuals displaying neurodivergent traits in the workplace, it is important to recognize that those …

Pediatric Trauma Trends Before And After Recreational Cannabis Legalization In Nevada: A Retrospective Repeated Cross-Sectional Study, Jenna Serr, Vidhani Goel, Roberto Sagaribay, Kavita Batra, Ami P. Shah

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Background: Cannabis legalization has raised concerns regarding its potential influence on injury patterns, particularly among children. However, evidence on pediatric trauma remains limited. Objective: To examine trends in pediatric trauma incidence, injury mechanisms, healthcare utilization, and socioeconomic characteristics before and after recreational cannabis legalization in Nevada. Methods: A retrospective repeated cross-sectional study of trauma registry data was conducted using pediatric trauma activations recorded between 2013 and 2023. Incidence rates per 100,000 population were calculated using census data. Pre-legalization (2013–2016) and post-legalization (2017–2023) periods were compared using incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and bivariate tests. Socioeconomic status was assessed using the Distressed …

Welcome Tilly Norwood: Forecasting Hollywood’S Ai Policy Futures, Samuel P. Rooker

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

In late 2025, weekly trade publication Variety Magazine reported on the announcement of a new acting talent in Hollywood: Tilly Norwood. Norwood is an industry outsider and the pet project of Eline Van der Velden, who unveiled the actress’ existence to the world at the Zurich Film Festival. The announcement quickly gained media coverage while Van der Velden has since faced cyclical backlash from Hollywood trade unions, which does not seem entirely without reason. Tilly Norwood is a digital persona, a generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) program, designed by Van der Velden’s novel AI talent studio, Xicoia, to become the next …

Degrees Of Access: The Role Of Family Education In Applying To Graduate School, Emma Tweed

Math and Computer Science Honors Theses

Access to graduate education in the United States remains heavily stratified by structural, financial, and informational barriers. While undergraduate first-generation student outcomes are widely studied, fewer structural analyses examine how graduate-level “educational inheritance” shapes prospective applicants' navigational capital, particularly within competitive STEM fields like mathematics. Drawing upon theories of social capital and the “hidden curriculum,” this study investigates the relationship between an individual's knowledge of the graduate school application process and the highest level of education attained by an immediate family member.

Using the Knowledge-GAP survey instrument funded by the National Science Foundation, data were collected from a diverse sample …

The Extraction And Chemical Characterization Of The Avian Pigments Turacin And Turacoverdin, Sarah R. Bekkali

Honors Scholar Theses

Bird coloration is a trait that extends beyond mere aesthetics as it has an extensive range of biological significance. Plumage patterns and hues can influence camouflage, mate choice, social dominance, and physiological performance. Bird fitness, their ability to survive and reproduce, is greatly dependent on color. Melanins, carotenoids, and pterins are well-studied pigment systems that are commonly found across many avian species’. Alternatively, porphyrin-based pigments are rare and less-studied as they only found in turacos a sub-Saharan African bird belonging to the family Musophagidae. This thesis focuses on two pigments of interest: turacin, the deep crimson-red pigment found in …

Proximal Stress And Gender Identity: The Role Of Internalized Transphobia In Future Expectations, Maribelle Almonacy

Student Theses and Dissertations

Transgender and non-conforming (TGNC) youth and young adults are more likely to experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress due to identity-specific abuse. Studies on the impact of trauma on negative expectations in high-risk youth show a high association between pessimism, nihilism, and instability. Internalized transphobia, similarly, is correlated with negative mental health outcomes, such as depression and anxiety, and the internalization of social messages and discrimination. These studies are not specific to the experiences of gender minorities and do not explore the intersections of internalized stressors or trauma in young adults. To address this gap in literature, this study sought to …