Digital Commons Network^™

Integration And Testing Of A Quadruped Robot With Ros2, Jeremy S. West

Master's Theses

The Cal Poly Legged Robotics Group has been developing research and teaching platforms for agile legged robotics since 2020. These platforms are expected to provide students with opportunities to develop complete legged-robot systems from low-level control to advanced robotics tasks such as motion planning and decision making. However, the current prototyped quadruped robot lacked the software and sensing capabilities for high-level quadrupedal gaits and advanced robotic research.

To address these challenges, this project developed Switch, a robotic platform that builds upon the previous BRUCE platform with significant hardware and software upgrades. Switch features a modular design that allows individual software …

Community Directed-Based Approaches To Promote Uptake Of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine For Intermittent Preventive Treatment Of Malaria In Pregnancy: Endline Findings From Kisumu And Migori Counties, Dennis Matanda, Zoe Nakuya, Stephen Kizito, Francis Obare

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

No abstract provided.

Sexual And Reproductive Health Is Inadequately Addressed In Climate Change Actions In Sub-Saharan Africa, Jacinter Amadi, George Odwe

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

No abstract provided.

Changes In Social Attitudes And Behavioural Intentions Related To Female Genital Mutilation In The Context Of Community-Based Interventions In Isiolo And Narok Counties In Kenya, Dennis Matanda, Francis Obare, Stephen Kizito, Stella Muthuri, Chi-Chi Undie

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

While evidence on the drivers of female genital mutilation (FGM) has been expanding, programmes implementing interventions designed to end FGM have had challenges in measuring social change. Gaps exist ranging from the documentation and description of how change occurs to reducing the effect of social desirability given the illegality of FGM and the stigma associated with the practice. This study aimed to assess shifts in social attitudes/beliefs and behavioural intentions related to FGM and gender in the context of The Girl Generation support to – Africa-Led Movement (TGG-ALM) programme in Isiolo and Narok counties using public opinion poll and vignettes. …

Evaluation Of Real-World Evidence To Assess Health Outcomes Related To Deprescribing Medications In Older Adults, Kaleen N. Hayes, Joshua David Niznik, Danijela Gnjidic, Frank Moriarty, Nha Tran, Antoinette B. Coe, Andrew R. Zullo, Sirui Zhang, Matthew Alcusky, Dimitri Bennett, Sirpa Hartikainen, Marie Laure Laroche, Xiaojuan Li, Joshua K. Lin, Jennifer L. Lund, Maurizio Sessa, Shahar Shmuel, Caroline Sirois, Denis Talbot, Miia Tiihonen, Xuerong Wen, Mouna J. Sawan, Daniela C. Moga

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Observational studies using real-world data (RWD) can address gaps in knowledge on deprescribing medications but are subject to methodological issues. Limited data exist on the methods employed to use RWD to measure the effects of deprescribing. To describe methodological approaches used in observational studies of deprescribing medications in older adults, we conducted a systematic review in Medline for observational studies published in English (January 1, 2000, to September 14, 2023) that examined the health effects of medication deprescribing in older adults. We described study characteristics and methods, focusing on the operationalization of deprescribing as an exposure and potential time-related biases. …

Impact Of Manganese And Metal Mixtures In Blood, Hair, And Soil On Child Adaptive Behaviors In Southeast Side Chicago, Christine Kim, Timothy J. Hilbert, Kelly J. Brunst, Anthony A. Mangino, W. Jay Christian, Patrick J. Parsons, Christopher D. Palmer, Julio Landero, Susan Westneat, Ian Papautsky, Kim N. Dietrich, Erin N. Haynes

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Manganese (Mn) is essential in growth and development, yet higher levels of Mn are associated with deficits in neurodevelopment. Elevated air Mn was identified near Mn alloy processing facilities in Southeast Side Chicago resulting in community concern about child exposure and health. Methods: Blood, hair, and soil samples were collected and analyzed for multiple metals for children ages 7–17 years and a parent/primary caregiver completed surveys. We used generalized estimating equations to assess associations between metals and the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System 3rd Edition (ABAS-3) scores. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to determine effect modification by child sex on associations …

Guidance On Minimum Information Requirements (Mir) From Designing To Reporting Human Biomonitoring (Hbm), Maryam Zare Jeddi, Karen S. Galea, Jillian Ashley-Martin, Julianne Nassif, Tyler Pollock, Devika Poddalgoda, Konstantinos M. Kasiotis, Kyriaki Machera, Holger M. Koch, Marta Esteban López, Ming Kei Chung, Jihyon Kil, Kate Jones, Adrian Covaci, Yu Ait Bamai, Mariana F. Fernandez, Robert Pasanen Kase, Henriqueta Louro, Maria J. Silva, Tiina Santonen, Andromachi Katsonouri, Argelia Castaño, Lesliam Quirós-Alcalá, Elizabeth Ziying Lin, Krystal Pollitt, Ana Virgolino, Paul T.J. Scheepers, Lisa Jo Melnyk

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Human biomonitoring (HBM) provides an integrated chemical exposures assessment considering all routes and sources of exposure. The accurate interpretation and comparability of biomarkers of exposure and effect depend on harmonized, quality-assured sampling, processing, and analysis. Currently, the lack of broadly accepted guidance on minimum information required for collecting and reporting HBM data, hinders comparability between studies. Furthermore, it prevents HBM from reaching its full potential as a reliable approach for assessing and managing the risks of human exposure to chemicals. The European Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science HBM Working Group (ISES Europe HBM working group) has established …

Reentry For Formerly Incarcerated Individuals: A Focus On Workforce Reentry And Recidivism In Appalachia, Margaret E. Francisco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Formerly incarcerated individuals face challenges to successful reentry, a critical component of reducing recidivism and improving public health outcomes. These challenges are particularly acute in rural Appalachia, where structural disadvantages such as limited economic opportunities, healthcare access, and public transportation intersect with stigma and systemic barriers related to prior incarceration. This dissertation addresses these gaps through a mixed-methods examination of reentry and recidivism, grounded in public health frameworks and focused on the unique context of rural Appalachia.

This work includes three studies. First, a PRISMA-guided systematic review synthesized qualitative research on barriers and facilitators to employment following incarceration. Findings highlighted …

August 2025 Annual Report, Perlmutter Center For Legal Justice At Cardozo Law

Perlmutter Center Reports

The August 2025 Annual Report documents the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice’s work at Cardozo Law during Spring and Summer 2025, highlighting major legal victories, partnerships, student clinical programs, policy advocacy, community outreach, and staff achievements. Prepared for The Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Foundation, it details the Center’s efforts to address wrongful convictions, challenge flawed forensic science, expand pro bono collaborations, and advance criminal justice reform, while also providing staff updates, financial information, and program impact summaries.

From The President, Ben Carter

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Machine Learning And Clinical Eeg Data For Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review, Badr Mouazen, Ahmed Bendaouia, El Hassan Abdelwahed, Giovanni De Marco

Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS) in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers, leading to a wide range of debilitating symptoms and causing disruption of axonal signal transmission. Accurate prediction, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment (PDMT) of MS are essential to improve patient outcomes. Recent advances in neuroimaging technologies, particularly electroencephalography (EEG), combined with machine learning (ML) techniques — including Deep Learning (DL) models — offer promising avenues for enhancing MS management. This systematic review synthesizes existing research on the application of ML and …

A Trauma-Informed Analysis Of Legal Intervention In Cases Of Child Emotional Maltreatment, Judith G. Mcmullen

University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy

Child emotional maltreatment (CEM) has been recognized as a widespread, serious social problem that is linked to a variety of adverse physical and mental effects that follow affected children into adulthood. The justice system has responded to calls to action by mental health professionals, and for more than two decades, federal and state laws have included child emotional maltreatment on the list of caretaker behaviors that can trigger child protection action. Despite the potential for meaningful action, recent data shows that occurrence rates of CEM are quite high, while rates of official reporting and intervention remain low. This Article examines …

Legislatively Inhibiting Children's Development Of The Mens Rea To Commit Genocide During Adulthood, Susan H. Bitensky

University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy

This Article concerns how legislatures in America are stanching development of the criminal intent to commit genocide. Lawmakers have taken aim at genocide, not through the barrel of a gun, but, rather, by imbuing schoolchildren with values and psychological attributes that gradually counteract development of a génocidaire’s mens rea. Of course, sans mens rea, sans perpetration of this, the “crime of crimes.”

The counteractant process is the result of joining a substantively targeted pedagogy with the force of law so as to create state genocide-education mandate statutes. There has been a certain prescience in this. Accumulating expert opinion, studies, and …

Uni Impact: Faculty/Staff Scholarly Publications And Featured Awards Newsletter, V3i2, 2024, Rod Library. Research & Sponsored Programs. Uni Foundation. University Of Northern Iowa.

UNI Impact: Faculty/Staff Scholarly Publications and Featured Awards Newsletter

Highlights the scholarship, research, and other scholarly work produced by University of Northern Iowa faculty, students, and staff.

This issue covers the period of July - December 2024.

Use Of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy In A Nation-Wide Veterans Health Administration Sample: The Role Of Clinic, Therapist, And Patient Factors., Alan Mcguire, Mindy Flanagan, Madison E Stout, Jessica Coffing, Marina Kukla, Morgan Traylor, Laura Myers, Nancy Henry, Jessica Carter, Marianne Matthias

Health Services and Informatics Research

OBJECTIVE: To examine the use of CBT-CP (Cognitive-behavioral therapy for chronic pain) by CBT-CP-trained therapists to treat patients with pain over a five-year period (October 2015-February 2020).

DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: CBT-CP is a core evidence-based practice that is central to multidisciplinary chronic pain care. However, research suggests that CBT-CP is underused. The current study used national Veterans Health Administration data to examine the use of CBT-CP by CBT-CP-trained therapists to treat patients with pain over a five-year period.

STUDY DESIGN: Multilevel modeling was used to evaluate clinic, therapist, and patient-level factors as predictors of CBT-CP receipt.

DATA COLLECTION: …

Objective Phone Use During Time With One’S Partner: Associations With Relationship And Individual Well-Being, Brandon T. Mcdaniel Phd, Sabrina Uva, Victor P. Cornet, Michelle Drouin

Health Services and Informatics Research

When a person chooses to interact with their phone instead of their partner (e.g., technoference, phubbing), it may diminish interactional quality, relationship satisfaction, and well-being. However, much of the research on technology use in relationships has utilized self-reports. We extend prior work by objectively measuring smartphone use in a sample of 247 adult participants (75% women; mean age = 30.87 years) to better understand the extent of use around one’s partner and the connection between this use and relational and personal well-being. Participants completed an online baseline survey and 8 days of phone tracking and nightly time diaries. On average, …

Cultural Considerations And Efficacy Of Mindfulness-Based Practices For Hispanic/Latinx Immigrant Youth In Schools: A Systematized Review, Lisandra Artiles Suarez

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have gained attention as promising tools for improving student well-being, yet their effectiveness and cultural relevance for Hispanic/Latinx immigrant youth remain underexamined. This Systematized Review evaluates the current literature on school-based MBIs targeting this population, with a focus on their cultural considerations, efficacy, and participant acceptability. Using PRISMA guidelines, studies were identified across research databases and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria required that interventions involve mindfulness practices, take place in school settings, and include Hispanic/Latinx immigrant youth. Findings from the limited number of eligible studies suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma while …

Design That Builds Communitites: An Evaluation Method For Analyzing, Assessing, And Improving The Way We Plan And Design The Places Around Us, Devine Karas-Gonzalez

Theses

The places around us shape and impact on the way we interact and live within our communities. As such, it is important to place greater emphasis on designing spaces which are meant to better respond to the needs and functions of a place. With an architectural design process this will result in the use of design strategies which will inform much of the design. In this research, multiple design strategies (Smart Growth, Placemaking, Place Value, and Street Experiments) are evaluated and compared using four regionally similar cities to analyze and assess how the different strategies impact the design process by …

Predicting Hollywood Movie Success Using Predictive Machine Learning Algorithms, Saeed Alghabshi Hathboor

Theses

The Decision Trees are always simple to understand and interpret techniques, a single tree may not be enough for the model to learn the characteristics from. In this IMDb movie review prediction problem, evading all other simple mechanisms, the Random Forest, on the other hand, is a "Tree"-based algorithm that makes judgments by combining the attributes of numerous Decision Trees is used. The primary goal of this work is to evaluate the predictive performance of a random forest model with various parameters used for forecasting numerical user ratings of a movie based on pre-release data such as actors, directors, profit, …

Fouling Community Assessment On Anthropogenic Structures In Barnegat Bay, Nj: Who's Fouling With Our Lagoons?, Jesi Herterich

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Biofouling communities consist of both mobile and non-mobile species which settle and attach themselves to both natural and artificial substrata. With increased construction of lagoon communities and marinas in Barnegat Bay, NJ utilizing PVC material, it allows space for invasive and generalist species to recruit. This study examines the impacts of man-made structures and abiotic factors on the distribution of recruiting fouling organisms in coastal lagoon communities in Barnegat Bay, NJ. Polyvinyl chloride settling plates were deployed in late May of 2024. Settling plates were retrieved and replaced at one month intervals to assess monthly settlement patterns, while a second …

Empowering Teacher Retention: Informing Leadership Strategies For Educational Leaders Based On Research And Exemplary Practices, Jessica Sanchez, Ranada Rainey-Reese

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Leadership practices that foster teacher commitment remain underexamined in empirical literature, despite their documented influence on educator stability and school performance (Berry et al., 2021; Flores & Shuls, 2024). Guided by Bolman and Deal’s (2017) Four-Frame Model, Herzberg’s (1959) Motivation-Hygiene Theory, and Rock’s (2008) SCARF framework, this mixed-methods study explored how leadership behaviors influence teacher retention in K–12 contexts. The research was framed by four questions: (1) What leadership practices are perceived as contributing to teacher retention? (2) How do educational leaders describe the implementation of these practices? (3) How do K-12 public school leaders implement effective leadership practices to …

Relationship Between Proximity To Harm Reduction Programs And Social Stigma Against People Who Use Drugs, Mark Vasilchenko

Student Theses

Social stigma against people who use drugs (PWUD) is incredibly common and has a negative impact on quality of life and recovery. PWUD that are subjected to stigma from their community are at higher risk of homelessness, overdose, and other drug-related health issues. Harm reduction programs encourage PWUD to use safely with a variety of services, including but not limited to drug testing, needle exchange, and professional supervision during drug use. These services are empirically proven to decrease drug use, overdose, and crime as a whole within the communities where they are implemented, but they often appear counter-intuitive to the …

From Diversity To Novelty: Unsupervised Learning For Novel Transposon Identification And Evolutionary Mapping For Large-Scale Genomic Datasets, Rabeya Nazara

All Theses

Transposons play a pivotal role in genome evolution and contribute to genome expansion, with novel transposon discovery offering valuable insights into genetic function and its implications for health and diseases. This study focused on identifying novel transposons within a large-scale genomic dataset using unsupervised machine learning approaches to uncover hidden patterns and detect elements that deviated from known transposon groups. To address the challenge of data scale and to deal with the computational complexity, two complementary approaches were adopted: first, analyzing the entire dataset to picture the broad spectrum of diversity; second, a strategic reduction and filtering method to produce …

Promoting Better Dispute Decision-Making With An Ai Tool Built On Rps Theory, John Lande

Faculty Publications

Traditional theories of negotiation and mediation rely on rigid models, false dichotomies, and confusing terminology that fails to reflect the complexity of real practice. This article critiques those theories and introduces Real Practice Systems (RPS) theory as a more accurate and practical alternative.

RPS theory conceptualizes negotiation and mediation as sequences of professional judgment shaped by context, experience, and goals, rather than as idealized or linear processes. It promotes a realistic and ethically responsible practice by encouraging reflection, intentional process design, and adaptability.

The article introduces “RPS Coach,” a free artificial intelligence tool built on the ChatGPT platform. It is …

Thinking Like Mediators About The Future Of Ai, John Lande

Faculty Publications

Some public discourse about artificial intelligence (AI) reflects the uncertainty and tension typical of high-stakes conflicts, where differing perceptions and strong emotions shape how people respond to change. This short essay suggests that dispute resolution professionals are well-positioned to apply our tools to this emerging and complex issue, though we don’t always do so.

The essay calls for a balanced analysis of AI’s risks and benefits, drawing on familiar dispute resolution practices like careful consideration of situations, interests, and options. It highlights the differences between individual and societal impacts of AI use on the environment and education. It encourages the …

Louisiana's Ten Commandments Statute: With Litigation Updates From Arkansas And Texas, Carl H. Esbeck

Faculty Publications

Legislators in conservative states are drawn to a belief that the Ten Commandments [“10/Cs”] underscore American’s moral, jurisprudential, and historical heritage. First the State of Louisiana, and thereafter Arkansas and Texas, enacted legislation requiring the posting of the 10/Cs in every public school and university classroom in the state. This quickly brought on legal challenges by students and their parents, along with a smattering of local clerics, together contending that these laws were unconstitutional, most prominently violations of the Establishment Clause. State attorney generals leaped to defend these statutes making the facial assertion that the 10/Cs are not so much …

A Video Guide For Teaching Law Students To Use Ai Wisely, John Lande

Faculty Publications

This article introduces a video that provides practical guidance about using artificial intelligence (AI) in legal education.  It presents a basic introduction to AI and describes how law students and faculty can benefit from tools like ChatGPT.  Because many students already use AI on their own, the video emphasizes the need to teach them how to use it wisely and responsibly.  The video also includes demonstrations showing how faculty can use AI to develop new simulations and how students can use it to prepare for them.  This article provides links to the video, PowerPoint slides, the chat transcript, and related …

Information Technology Services Fy2025 - Winona State University, Minnesota, Information Technology Services-Winona State University

Information Technology Services Annual Reports

Information Technology Services (ITS) provides the technology-based foundation to support and empower the Winona State University (WSU) community to meet and exceed their educational and business needs. This is the ITS report for the fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025).

Research On The Use And Effects Of Freezing In Controlling Clothes Moth Infestations In A Contemporary Art Collection, Sara Thornburg

Art Conservation Master's Projects

This study investigates the efficacy and implications of low-temperature pest eradication— specifically freezing—as a method for managing clothes moth infestations in museum collections, with a focus on contemporary and composite artworks. Prompted by the evolving needs of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), this research explores current best practices, material vulnerabilities, and institutional approaches to freezing treatments. A literature review was conducted alongside a global survey of 40 museum professionals to assess how freezing protocols are implemented, what materials are considered safe, and what challenges arise in real world applications. Results show that while freezing remains a widely …

The Use Of Ai In Canadian Courts, Shaughnessy Dow

Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies

Like many other fields, there has been growing discussion about the potential benefits of AI for the law. In light of the Federal Court’s interim principles and guidelines on the use of AI, this paper considers whether AI applications can assist the judiciary with its decision-making function. In doing so, it starts by considering the role that judges play in our legal system, finding that they are often called upon to consider and weigh information with human, emotional qualities and to assess the broader policy implications of their legal rulings. This paper concludes that the optimism of proponents of AI …