Digital Commons Network^™

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (Ai) For Competency-Based Course Design: A Quality Improvement Project In Nursing Education, Lesslie Bull

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement project addressed inefficient, manual course design processes contributing to faculty workload and declining National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rates at a rural Texas university’s baccalaureate nursing program. Guided by the Roy Adaptation Model and the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework, the project evaluated the effect of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools on faculty perceptions of technology adoption, specifically perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), and behavioral intention (BI). Using a quasi-experimental pre-/post-intervention design, twelve faculty members completed a one-hour, evidence-based training using the Generative AI for Instructional Development and Education (GAIDE) framework, and eight faculty participated in …

An Examination Of Student Adherence And Intervention Complexity Within A Class-Wide Cover-Copy-Compare Intervention, Kaytlin Ann Nelson

Dissertations - ALL

Cover-Copy-Compare is a self-management intervention strategy developed to improve students’ academic performance, particularly in spelling. In academic intervention research, it is often assumed that students are completing the intervention as intended, yet this is seldom examined during intervention implementation or subsequent data analysis. The purpose of the present study was to extend the empirical literature on students’ intervention adherence by examining Cover-Copy-Compare permanent products to assess whether the complexity of the intervention (i.e., targeting six versus nine spelling words) contributed to a student’s ability to adhere to core intervention components. For the purposes of the present study, data from one …

A Model Of Blind Quantum Diffusion, John Carver Vining

Dissertations - ALL

We introduce the Blind Quantum Diffusion Network (BQDN), a quantum computational framework designed for distributed systems operating under conditions of partial observability and asynchronous communication. BQDN generalizes the structure of Generalized Boolean Networks (GBNs) by replacing classical multivalued logic nodes with quantum registers, enabling the use of superposition, entanglement, and unitary evolution to model distributed computation and state propagation. Building on the properties of W-states and quantum teleportation protocols, the BQDN leverages entangled coin registers and a token-based control mechanism to implement blind diffusion across a graph. The system achieves synchronization-free evolution without classical coordination by embedding decision-making within quantum …

Lattice And Continuum Anomalies : Bridging The Gap, Arnab Pradhan

Dissertations - ALL

In this thesis, we explore anomalies both in the continuum and on the lattice, and attempt to establish a connection between the two frameworks. In the continuum limit, we work with Kähler-Dirac fields, while in the discrete setting, we focus on staggered fermions. To facilitate insights relevant to the growing field of quantum computing, we consider a Hamiltonian formalism in addition to the path integral. Anomalies offer a concrete bridge between ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) physics, understanding how anomalies manifest on the lattice versus in the continuum provides a powerful predictive framework. By numerically studying lattice gauge theories, we …

The Antelope, University Of Nebraska At Kearney

The Antelope

The Back to Campus edition of The Antelope - Fall 2025.

Engineering Protein Linkers For Optimized Telsam-Darpin Fusion And Crystallization With Electric Field-Based Polymer Orientation, Maria Jose Pedroza Romo

Theses and Dissertations

Fusing a variant of the sterile alpha motif domain of the human translocation ETS leukemia protein (TELSAM) to a protein of interest significantly enhances crystallization and diffraction quality. TELSAM is a pH-dependent, polymer-forming crystallization chaperone that, when covalently fused to a protein, forms a well-ordered crystal lattice. However, the success of this method depends on two factors: 1) the design of the linker connecting TELSAM to the target protein, which influences both crystal packing and target orientation, and 2) the prevention of TELSAM polymer flipping, a phenomenon that disrupts lattice periodicity and impairs structure determination. To address the first challenge, …

Barriers And Enablers Of Early Health-Seeking Behaviour Among Women With Preeclampsia And Eclampsia: A Qualitative Study At A National Referral Hospital In Uganda, Shirley Moore, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Globally, 2–8% of women experience hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDPs), including preeclampsia and eclampsia, which are the second leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. According to the management protocol for preeclampsia in Uganda, weekly follow-up is recommended for women with preeclampsia without severe features who are below 37weeks of gestation; however, this has not been feasible to most cases of preeclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E). There is still limited information describing barriers and enablers of early health-seeking behaviour amongst women with PE/E, yet this is needed to improve their healthcare. This study explored the barriers and enablers of early health-seeking behaviour …

Designing A Data Collection And Visualization Toolkit For Scalable Tensor Algebra In Quantum Chemistry Applications, Epiya J. Ebiapia

LSU Master's Theses

Large-scale quantum chemistry computations, such as those executed with the Tensor Algebra for Many-body Methods (TAMM) framework, require careful configuration of runtime parameters to achieve high performance and cost efficiency in high-performance computing (HPC) and cloud environments. Without effective performance analysis tools, researchers risk inefficient use of computational resources, leading to longer runtimes and higher costs.

To address this challenge, this thesis presents the design and implementation of a performance profiling and visualization toolkit for TAMM, developed as part of the DOE TEC4 project in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Microsoft, and Louisiana State University. The toolkit collects detailed …

Effects Of Polyethylene Films With Different Uv-A Transmittance On Quality Parameters And Physiology Of Greenhouse-Grown Tomato, Nefi̇se Yasemi̇n Tezcan, Mustafa Erkan, Ahmet Kurunç

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In this study, the effects of three different polyethylene (PE) greenhouse covering materials (CMs) with varying thicknesses and ultraviolet-A (UV-A) transmittance on greenhouse microclimate, plant growth, yield, fruit quality, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Chl FPs) in tomatoes were investigated. The CMs used in the study were 180 μm thick ultraviolet (UV) + ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) + long-wave infrared (IR) + light diffuser (LD) + antifog (AF) added PE (CM1), 160 μm thick PLUS UV + EVA + IR + LD + AF added PE (CM2), and 200 μm thick UV + EVA + IR + LD added PE (CM3). …

Marine Heatwaves Detected By A Network Of Buoys Along The Entire Us West Coast Shelf, Gavin Plume, Ryan K. Walter, Piero L.F. Mazzini, Michael Dalsin

Physics

Marine heatwaves (MHWs), prolonged periods of anomalously warm waters, pose an increasing threat to marine ecosystems globally. While satellite-based data offer insights into MHW patterns, coastal upwelling regions are prone to satellite biases and require long-term in-situ datasets for accurate characterization. Using two decades of temperature data from 22 surface buoys distributed along the US West Coast continental shelf (10–50 km offshore) spanning nearly 2000 km of coastline, we investigated, for the first time, coast-wide patterns of MHWs in this valuable region. The spatial extent of MHWs varied from 100% of buoys during the 2014–2016 North Pacific MHW, to less …

California Utility-Scale Solar Energy Land Use Impacts On Species And Ecosystems, Ingrid Salazar

Master's Theses

Utility-scale solar energy (USSE), defined as projects of at least 1 megawatt, is rapidly expanding in California, which generated 37.5% of its electricity from renewables in 2023, with 24% coming from solar. While USSE supports decarbonization, it can also cause environmental harm, including biodiversity loss, habitat fragmentation, and land conversion. This study uses ArcGIS Pro 3.4.0 and public environmental data to analyze the spatial distribution of USSE projects, land use changes from 2013 to 2023, and occurrences of at-risk species across California’s bioregions. USSE development is heavily concentrated in the Mojave Desert, San Joaquin Valley, and Colorado Desert, which are …

The Hydro-Geomorphic Response Of The Ephemeral Lower Nahal Tzalmon Stream To Experimental Flow Releases Towards Replenishment Of The Sea Of Galilee, Ne Israel, Nathaniel Bergman, Noam Greenbaum, Eyal Weinberg, Iyad Swaed

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Study region:

The Sea of Galilee’s western watershed includes the Lower and Upper Galilee subregions in northern Israel. Nahal Tzalmon stream (110 km2) is one of the major gravel-bed channels draining those subregions into the lake. Study focus: The study focus was to monitor the immediate effects of introducing “hungry water” from the newly mega-project of the “Reverse National Water Carrier” (RNWC). The project was designed to convey desalinated water from the Mediterranean coastal desalination plants through a 5 km open channel into the lower Nahal Tzalmon stream in order to replenish the Sea of Galilee. During a 2-day experimental …

Prediction Of Drug-Induced Cardiotoxicity Using Machine Learning Analysis Of Hipsc-Cm Contractile Profiles, Anthony Allan Watt

Theses - ALL

Drug-induced cardiotoxicity remains a critical concern in pharmaceutical development as failed drug candidates result in lost time and resources that could be better spent on viable candidates. We believe that a robust in vitro model that accurately captures human cardiac physiology is an applicable model for examining drug candidates. In addition to those models, there is a need for quick and effective predictive models to analyze data obtained from the model to classify drugs based on their potential for cardiotoxicity. In this study, we conduct a functional analysis of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and pass the data collected …

A Morpho-Kinematic Model Of Molecular Line Emission In Planetary Nebulae, Diana E. Ryder

Theses

Planetary nebulae (PNe), the late-stage remnants of low- to intermediate-mass stars, offer valuable insights into the final phases of stellar evolution and the enrichment of the interstellar medium via intermediate-mass star ejecta. Molecular emission from these objects serves as a powerful diagnostic for probing physical conditions, chemical composition, and kinematics of these ejecta. In this thesis, we describe the flexible, modular modeling framework we are developing to analyze high spatial and spectral resolution molecular emission-line data for planetary nebulae, as obtained by modern mm-wave interferometers such as the Submillimeter Array (SMA) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The Python- …

An Anesthesia Informed Consent Checklist And Ahrq Share Decision-Making Model For Labor And Delivery Patients: A Quality Improvement Project, Katherine C. Burnett

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Abstract

Background and Significance: Informed consent is the disclosure of all benefits, risks, and alternatives to patients for a given intervention. Recalling all important details during the consenting process can prove difficult for providers. The process is further complicated for obstetric patients since healthcare decisions also have consequences for the fetus. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee (ACOGC) (2021) recommends shared decision-making models (SDMs) for the obstetric patient population. SDMs engage patients in healthcare decisions by reaching a decision through provider expertise, best evidence, and patient values. In addition, surgical informed consent checklists have emerged as useful …

In Defense Of Metaphysics: A Defense Of The Value And Methodological Soundness Of Metaphysics Understood As Structural Modeling, Sean Nalty

Dissertations - ALL

The aim of this dissertation is to provide a defense of the value and methodological soundness of contemporary analytic metaphysics against a variety of recent anti-metaphysical and scientistic critiques. In Chapter 1, I attempt to answer (at least provisionally) a surprisingly difficult question: what is metaphysics, anyway? I suggest seven adequacy constraints on an answer to this question, and then test five historically and contemporarily influential candidate characterizations of metaphysics against these constraints. Finding each candidate lacking, I close by proposing an ecumenical conception of metaphysics — what I call the structural modeling conception — according to which metaphysics aims …

Fertile, Social, Dangerous, Sacred, Gift, And System: Religion, Salt City Harvest Farm, And The Future Of Human Shit, Sarah Elizabeth Nahar

Dissertations - ALL

Shit, the taboo term for the human excreta that exits the anus, can be understood as sacred. Shitting, the vulgar verb to describe the act of discarding solid excreta, can likewise be understood as religious ritual activity. This counters the Dominant Social Paradigm (DSP) in the United States (US) of the placement of shit as profane, and shitting as unceremonial. An aim of this dissertation is to reclaim the word shit from the realm of what the DSP has rendered invisible and unspeakable, and spark rigorous academic discussion about it in the context of Religion and Environmental Studies. The DSP …

Re: Comment Letter For Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Notice Of Intent To Abandon Bps07-05a And Bps07-05b (Dated July 14, 2025), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Superfund Operation And Maintenance (O&M) Request For Maintenance – Kelley Stormwater Channels (Revised On July 23, 2025), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Retrieval Augmented Generation And Large Language Model Complexity On Undergraduate Exams Created And Taken By Ai Agents, Erick S. Tyndall, Colleen Gayheart, Alexandre Some, Joseph Genz, Torrey J. Wagner, Brent T. Langhals

Faculty Publications

The capabilities of large language models (LLMs) have advanced to the point where entire textbooks can be queried using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), enabling AI to integrate external, up-to-date information into its responses. This study evaluates the ability of two OpenAI models, GPT-3.5 Turbo and GPT-4 Turbo, to create and answer exam questions based on an undergraduate textbook. 14 exams were created with four true-false, four multiple-choice, and two short-answer questions derived from an open-source Pacific Studies textbook. Model performance was evaluated with and without access to the source material using text-similarity metrics such as ROUGE-1, cosine similarity, and word embeddings. …

Satellite-Based Identification Of Mesoscale And Submesoscale Eddies And Fronts In The Gulf Of Mexico, Ethan Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

Mesoscale and submesoscale processes in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) are fundamental in shaping the region’s physical and biogeochemical ocean dynamics. Advances in high-resolution satellite observations now allow detailed detection of submesoscale (< 25 km radius) and mesoscale eddies and ocean fronts, which drive heat, nutrient, and carbon fluxes. This dissertation integrates two complementary investigations: (1) a comparison of eddy-tracking algorithms: Contour Tracing (CT) and Temperature Thresholding (TT), applied to Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature (OISST, 1/4°) and Operational Sea Surface Temperature and Ice Analysis (OSTIA, 1/20°) products; and (2) a comparative evaluation of three ocean front detection algorithms: Canny Edge Detection (Canny), the Cayula–Cornillon Algorithm (CCA), and the Belkin–O’Reilly Algorithm (BOA), across multiple satellite-derived parameters, including sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface salinity (SSS), chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), and altimetry-derived absolute dynamic topography (ADT). The eddy-tracking analysis shows that the higher-resolution OSTIA consistently detected more eddies than OISST, with TT performing best during winter when SST gradients were strongest. The front detection analysis, incorporating datasets from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) and Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) missions, was evaluated under diverse conditions, including flood and drought periods, Loop Current phase changes, and extreme weather events. A machine learning–based Gaussian Mixture Modeling (GMM) approach was also developed, providing a novel framework for dynamic front detection. By benchmarking traditional and machine learning methods, this integrated study identifies optimal algorithm–dataset combinations for resolving submesoscale and mesoscale features in the GoM, with applicability to other regions.

Oxidation Resistance And Osmotic Energy Harvesting Applications Of Reduced Graphene Oxide Forward Osmosis Membranes, Michael Appiah-Kubi

Theses and Dissertations

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) forward osmosis (FO) membranes have emerged as promising candidates for efficient wastewater management and osmotic energy harvesting, due to their enhanced chemical stability and superior FO performance for low-energy waste brine treatments, such as volume reduction of oxidative chromium brine for cost-effective disposal. This dissertation first examines the oxidation resistance of RGO forward osmosis membranes against chromate Cr (VI). Our findings reveal that both the water flux and the reverse salt flux of RGO membranes are suppressed, accompanying an enhanced reverse flux selectivity after exposure to an acidic medium of Cr (VI) (pH 2.0-7.0). Meanwhile, the …

Assessment Of Bat Species (Mammalia: Chiroptera) In Canubas Cave, Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines, Jurriel Mari D. Alce, Jasmine Rouida M. Abenes, Leo Gabriel Cervantes, Matthew Eli K. Llacer, Von Zhyrus P. Oche, Ian Jay P. Saldo, Jhovel Roy D. Calo

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Bats, flying mammals, are essential to ecosystems, playing vital roles in pollination, seed dispersal, and insect control. Despite their ecological importance, no prior bat research exists for Canubas Cave, Kibawe, Bukidnon. This study aimed to assess the bat species at the site, documenting their morphometric data, diversity and richness indices, and conservation statuses. A purposive sampling design was implemented by setting up mist nets inside and outside the cave. A total of 13 individuals were identified, comprising three species from two families: Rousettus amplexicaudatus and Eonycteris spelaea (family Pteropodidae, fruit bats), and Miniopterus schreibersii (family Miniopteridae, bent-winged bats). Based on …

Milkfish (Chanos Chanos) Bones As A Biosorbent For Mercury (Ii) Contamination In Water, Seth Uriel K. Neri, Ethan Kyle Mangao, Christian Kevin F. Redoblado, Anthony Cesar Y. Ponce, Roby Boy P. Riego, Jupiter O. Yap

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Heavy metals, such as mercury contamination in water sources are a major environmental and public health issue in many countries. Traditional methods for removing heavy metals from water are effective but often costly and unsustainable and may produce secondary waste. Recent trends favor more sustainable alternatives, such as biosorbents in treating water with heavy metals. Milkfish (Chanos chanos), a common fish in the Philippines, contains hydroxyapatite in the bones that can bind with heavy metals through physical and chemical adsorption mechanisms. This study aims to evaluate the mercury (II) reduction capacity of biosorbent derived from milkfish bones in water, specifically …

Black Mothers' Adhd Experiences, Attitudes, And Support-Seeking Decisions, Catherine L. Montgomery

Dissertations - ALL

Background: ADHD, particularly when left untreated, is associated with significant impairment in several domains. Black youth may still be under-diagnosed with ADHD, resulting in symptoms going untreated. Black mothers may determine non-professional delivered supports to be more appropriate and acceptable than medication for their children with ADHD. As they tend to be the primary healthcare decision makers, it is important to develop a greater understanding of Black mothers’ ADHD support-seeking decision making for their youth. Method: The present study used semi-structured interviews guided by Kleinman’s Explanatory Models of Illness to discuss Black mothers’ decision making for their youth with ADHD. …

Pain Intensity And Alcohol Use Behavior Among Veterans With Chronic Pain: The Moderating Role Of Chronic Pain Acceptance, Kyle White

Dissertations - ALL

The co-occurrence of chronic pain and unhealthy alcohol use is common among veterans and associated with worse treatment outcomes and greater functional impairment relative to either condition alone. Accordingly, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has underscored the importance of addressing co-occurring medical conditions in their clinical practice guidelines for substance-related disorders. Recent legislation has also oriented the VA towards complementary and integrative health therapies to minimize opioid prescriptions for chronic pain. Thus, identifying malleable psychological factors linking pain to alcohol use is a vital step in the development of tailored interventions for veterans. The goal of the current …

The Impact Of Adhd On Entrepreneurship Through A Gender Lens Three Essays, Mi Hoang Tran

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation investigates how neurodiversity, specifically attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), relates to entrepreneurial behaviors and outcomes, with a specific attention to gender as a moderating factor. The first essay provides a comprehensive meta-analytic review of 44 empirical studies, synthesizing 261 effect sizes to assess the relationship between ADHD and different stages of the entrepreneurial process: attitudes, behaviors, and post-launch outcomes. Results reveal that hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms are positively associated with entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviors but unrelated to post-launch outcomes, while inattention symptoms are negatively associated with outcomes. These findings offer evidence that ADHD’s impact is phase-specific and contingent. The second essay draws …

Betti Numbers For Modules Over Artinian Local Rings, Kaiyue He

Dissertations - ALL

We study the behavior of Betti growth of modules over Artinian rings under some $\Tor$ vanishing conditions. Let $(R,\fm)$ be a local Artinian ring with a fixed ideal $I$, and $M$ a finite module. We extend the framework developed in \cite{huneke2014vanishing} by introducing and analyzing a new invariant, $\gamma_I(M)$ (see Definition \ref{definition}), associated with the ideal $I$ of the ring $R$ and a finitely generated $R$-module $M$. It turns out that this invariant $\gamma_I(M)$ provides an upper bound for the ratio of certain consecutive Betti numbers of the finitely generated modules $N$ such that $\Tor_i(M,N) = 0$ for some $i …

Mental Health, Physical Activity, And Cardiovascular Disease Risk In International Migrant Populations, Andrew Rodriguez Heckel

Dissertations - ALL

International migrant populations, including immigrants, refugees, and international students, are a growing population worldwide that may be vulnerable to a heightened cardiovascular disease risk. Lifestyle factors, such as poor mental health and physical inactivity, may worsen cardiovascular disease risk factors that, in turn, increase cardiovascular disease risk. We sought to examine measures of cardiovascular disease risk and the lifestyle factors that may be affecting these measures in international migrant populations. In study 1, we compared hypertension prevalence between adult immigrants and non-immigrants in the United States. We found a lower hypertension prevalence in immigrants, which was mediated by their lower …

Geochemical And Thermobarometric Constraints On Granite Crystallization, Glenn Tristan Thompson

Dissertations - ALL

Granite is ubiquitously recognized by many people due to its common use as a building material and its abundance in the Earth's continental crust. From countertops to library steps, and as a source of economically important elements, granitic rocks are deeply intertwined with human development. Defining the pressure and temperature (P– T) conditions under which granitic composition magmas crystallize is critical for understanding their petrogenesis. This dissertation explores granite petrogenesis across three chapters, utilizing detailed analysis of rock-forming minerals, associated fluids, and geochemical variations to understand how compositional variability influences the lowest possible crystallization conditions. Chapter 1 investigates the physical …