Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Psychometric Properties Of A Set Of Local Stem Literacy Instruments In Rasch Model, Lijun Shen

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This study investigates the psychometric features of the See Blue STEM literacy inventories (SBSTEMs, including the elementary version SB-E and the middle school version SB-M) to determine their validity in measuring STEM literacy. Using data from elementary and middle school students participating in the See Blue STEM camp in 2019 and 2021-22, this research employed the Rasch Partial Credit Model (PCM) to analyze item-level performance and identify DIF items across various demographic subgroups (race, gender, free-lunch status, and potential first-generation status) and camp delivery modes (online versus in-person). Results indicated that both the elementary (SB-E) and middle school (SB-M) versions …

From Ads To Enrollment: Understanding How Targeted Marketing Affects College Choice, John W. Roberts

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the perceived impact of targeted marketing on college choice. Research on college choice is an established area of scholarship that explores the variables that are at work when a student chooses to attend a college or university. Given that the enrollment landscape for higher education continues to be competitive, colleges and universities are doing what they can to “stand out” among the competition in a crowded marketing and advertising space. And, as technology improves, segmenting and personalizing marketing to reach the right students at the right time is becoming more commonplace …

Competent Readers’ Online Multimodal Reading Strategies Use, Hyoju Ahn

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

As reading spaces evolve, it is imperative to identify and describe the strategies and skills used in constructing meaning. I examined online multimodal reading strategies, those used in constructing meaning from multimodal information sources (e.g., images, audio, written words) on the Internet. Participants read online multimodal texts from a laptop screen and provided verbal reports as they read to learn a scientific topic. Through verbal protocol analysis, I cataloged and described their multimodal reading comprehension strategies. Complementing retrospective interviews, reader-computer interaction videos, and written pre- and post-knowledge reports accounted for how they read strategically. Strategies were coded to provide insights …

Understanding High School Students’ Identities In Stem Through Video Elicitation, Andrea N. Perrin

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

Understanding how high school students develop their STEM identities is essential for creating inclusive and engaging learning environments that foster persistence in STEM fields. This qualitative study explores the experiences of high school seniors in an engineering capstone course within a diverse Midwestern high school, utilizing video elicitation as the primary research method. Through video interviews, transcript reviews, and thumbnail selections, students provided firsthand insights into their evolving STEM identities, sense of belonging, and the factors influencing their persistence in engineering.

Findings reveal that social interactions, autonomy in learning, hands-on experiences, and real-world applications of engineering concepts shape students' STEM …

Examining The Professional Noticing Skills, Attitudes Toward Mathematics, And Elementary Math Content Knowledge Of Preservice Elementary School Teachers Through The Noticing Numeracy Now Intervention, Johnathan T. Rogers

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

Abstract: This quasi-experimental study examined the impact of the Noticing Numeracy Now intervention, an intervention focused on professional noticing of children’s conceptual development in whole number and arithmetic reasoning, on preservice elementary teachers’ professional noticing skills, attitudes toward mathematics, and elementary math content knowledge. This study was based off of a previous study and intervention created by Molly Fisher, Jonathan Thomas, Edna Schack, Cindy Jong and Janet Tassell. This study used a video-based professional noticing module, consisting of four lessons, situated in the pedagogies of practice framework. Within this study, 10 students (all preservice elementary teachers) at Kentucky State University …

Investigation Of Subsurface Thermal Radiation Phenomena In Fibrous Thermal Protection Systems, Colby L. Gore

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

Atmospheric re-entry induces intense thermal stress upon vehicles through a high-enthalpy boundary layer that encompasses the craft. To protect these vehicles, numerous insulative methods, known as thermal protection systems (TPS), are deployed to protect the craft during re-entry. The TPS materials insulate the craft from intense thermal transmission that would terminate a mission. In hypersonic environments, vast temperature gradients exist, enforcing the exponential effect of thermal radiation. However, TPS materials are commonly low-density fibrous materials that allow for the potential to be penetrated by thermal radiation. A series of arc-jet tests was completed to replicate enhanced radiative conditions in a …

Black Women, Bold Science: Navigating Race, Gender, And Identity In Science, Mia L. Brown

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

This research study examines the challenges Black women encounter when in predominantly white, male academic and professional science settings, where they experience dual discrimination because of their race and gender. These biases perpetuate the negative stereotype that Black women are less competent than white men. This mixed methods study examines how Black women navigate their race, gender, and science identities within predominantly white institutions through their doctoral programs and professional science careers. The study implements Critical Race Mixed Methodology to combine survey data for a wide reach with interview data for detailed exploration. The study involved eight Black women science …

Making Headway On Sports Concussion: Sport-Specific Strategies For Concussion Prevention, Marcus Moore

All Faculty Publications

Concussions in sports are a significant public health concern worldwide. Concussion is a traumatic brain injury (‘TBI’) resulting from biomechanical forces transmitted to the head that disrupt normal neurological function. Globally, an estimated 69 million TBIs occur annually. Concussive effects can persist as long-term syndromes (post-concussion syndrome), or compound themselves into life-threatening emergencies (second-impact syndrome). Chronic, even subconcussive, impacts can ultimately lead to degenerative neurological conditions (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). Troublingly, to date, there remains no medical cure for concussions. Prevention is thus paramount, as well as management, to avoid the compounding of injury or dangerous complications, as noted. Sports and …

The Statewide Standard, 2025, Illinois State University

The Statewide Standard

Annual newsletter of the Illinois State University College of Education

Can Organs Be Generated From A Patient’S Own Stem Cells?, David Heimowitz

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The global shortage of transplantable organs represents a critical medical challenge, with current organ donation systems meeting less than 10% of the worldwide need. This situation has spurred intensive research into regenerative medicine, particularly focusing on the potential of generating organs from a patient’s own stem cells. This review examines the current state of stem cell research and its applications in organ generation, analyzing both the progress made and the challenges that remain. Through a comprehensive analysis of recent literature and clinical trials, the study explores the fundamental principles of stem cell biology, current therapeutic applications, and the role of …

Implant Alternatives: The Advancements Of Stem Cells In Regenerative Dentistry, Akiva Goldschmidt

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

This research paper explores the potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) within the realm of dentistry, focusing particularly on their ability to repair tissues and regenerate entire teeth. MSCs are significant as they can send differentiation signals to nearby cells and release growth factors such as TGF-β and VEGF, which promote cellular activities necessary for dental repair and regeneration. The paper discusses the traditional methods of dental restoration, such as fillings and implants, and their inherent limitations. It then transitions to exploring innovative strategies that utilize MSCs to overcome these challenges and regenerate tooth structures including enamel, dentin, and periodontal …

Can Cystic Fibrosis Be Treated With Genetic Therapy?, Steve Silverberg

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

This paper discusses the current and prospective treatment options for the fatal genetic disease cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a rare recessive genetic disorder that is caused by a mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which codes for a protein that is on the surface of a cell. This protein allows for the flow of chloride, bicarbonate, and sodium ions to pass through the cell wall, bringing water with it. When this protein doesn’t work, the lack of ions and water in extracellular fluid becomes too thick, causing a multitude of problems. The most common …

Disability In Exile: The "Union Of Russian Invalids" In Interwar Bulgaria And Yugoslavia, Evguenia Davidova

History Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article examines the post-war experience of a specific group of war veterans: the Russian refugees after the October Revolution in 1917. What happened when disabled veterans were stateless and dispersed among several foreign states? The focus is on comparing interwar Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, two countries on opposite sides of the Great War. There the refugees established various societies, mostly dominated by the military. Drawing on unpublished archival sources, this article investigates how the Russian societies for disabled persons functioned at four levels: amid the other Russian associations in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia; among the greater diaspora known as “Russia Abroad”; …

Does Coil Build Social Capital? Trust, Tolerance, And Political Engagement Among Students In The Usa And Uae, Lindsay J. Benstead, Kristina Katsos, Sally S. Mudiamu, Corinne Hughes

Politics and Global Affairs Faculty Publications and Presentations

Despite technological innovation and the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a dearth of experimental research on the effects of virtual instruction. Using an original field experiment conducted among 100 UAE and USA students, we investigate how a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project on international development shapes social trust, tolerance, and political engagement. In an experimental design, UAE-based students were randomly assigned to a group with either their classmates or, through online interaction, with USA-based students, while in a quasi-experimental design, USA-based students collaborated online with UAE-based students. UAE-based COIL students developed greater interpersonal trust of others in their society, but …

Will Malaysia Become An Active Middle Power?, Bruce Gilley

Politics and Global Affairs Faculty Publications and Presentations

Malaysia’s economic growth and democratisation since 2003 have vaulted it into the ranks of the middle powers in the international system. However, Malaysia remains hesitant about its middle power status. It has assumed a counterhegemonic or pro-multipolarity role; it has supported some new international rules and institutions; it leads regional governance institutions; and it advocates for small countries on development issues. However, these middle power behaviours are countered by a continuation of traditional Malaysia diplomacy which is inactive in shaping the emergence of superpower China as well as being disruptive and personalistic, most recently because of its embrace of radicalisms. …

Capital Structure And Business Failure: The Collapse Of Canada’S Dome Petroleum, Bruce Gilley

Politics and Global Affairs Faculty Publications and Presentations

In popular lore, the failure of Canada’s once-biggest company, Dome Petroleum, was caused by the interventionist policies of the federal government or its misadventures drilling for oil in the Arctic. But these factors acted in varied ways on the company. Rather, corporate finance theories offer more insight into the dynamics that led to Dome’s takeover by the American oil major Amoco in 1988. Dome was unique in its unwillingness to issue new share capital during its growth phase and instead relied on easy debt financing. This in turn was a result of both insider preferences as well as capital market …

The Little Book Of Joy: Tiny Ways To Infuse Delight Into Teaching And Learning, Eugene Korsunskiy

Dartmouth Scholarship

We do our best work when we're having fun. And the world needs our best work, so we owe it to the universe to bring joy into what we do.

As teachers, we know that a joyful learning environment helps students thrive. We know that fun is an important catalyst of-not a distraction from-the rigorous work of teaching and learning.

A growing body of research supports this intuition, showing that joy helps with focus, creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, perseverance in the face of challenges, and much more. By inducing the release of "happy hormones" (endorphins, dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin), activities and …

Post-Prohibition Changes In Cannabis Genetics, Caleb Y. Chen

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This research examines changes in Cannabis genetics with a focus on Cannabis genetic bottlenecking. Significant knowledge gaps exist in the study of how and why Cannabis genetics have changed over time. To fill these gaps, a series of semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with self-identified Cannabis breeders around the world. Previous qualitative Cannabis research has centered around users, growers, and dealers with few studies looking exclusively at Cannabis breeders. Results include insights into becoming a Cannabis breeder, Cannabis ideotypes, as well as Cannabis genetic bottlenecking due to unanticipated genetic linkages combined with the emphasis on breeding for agronomic factors such …

Language, People, Classrooms, World: Blending Disparate Theories For United Language Education Practices, Masatoshi Sato, Steven L. Thorne, Marije Michel, Theodora Alexopoulou, John Hellermann

World Languages and Literatures Faculty Publications and Presentations

With a forward‐looking and problem‐solving mindset, this article aims to combine theoretical knowledge and empirical evidence from different schools of thought in the field of second language (L2) learning and teaching—namely, instructed second language acquisition, generative linguistics, and an ecological perspective that includes multiple frameworks. Acknowledging numerous fundamental differences in our theoretical and methodological perspectives on how to conduct research, we are united on two fronts: First, we believe that researchers with differing theoretical commitments can and should work together to advance L2 research. Second, differing theoretical beliefs are potentially of limited relevance to those who will implement our pedagogical …

Rising From The Ashes: Reading Impacts And The Effects Of Recovery Educational Services Following A Major Natural Disaster, Tiffanie Lousia Lambert

Educational Leadership Professional Doctorate Dissertations

This Improvement Science Dissertation examined solutions to improving literacy outcomes for students in an elementary school that experienced a wildfire during the pandemic. School data revealed lagging reading growth among students displaced by the wildfire despite educational recovery efforts. A root cause analysis to understand students' limited reading recovery led to more global concerns about school-wide literacy programming and the limited use of evidence- based approaches. School-wide data revealed that fewer than 30% of students in the school met literacy benchmarks since the wildfire. Though the fires disproportionally impacted low-income neighborhoods with higher representation of English Learners and students receiving …

Aquatic Invasive Species Survey And Treatment On Lake Umatilla And Lake Celilo 2023-2024 Report, Garbiel E. Campbell, Jacob Rose

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) is an invasive aquatic plant in the Pacific Northwest that threatens salmon habitat. The Center for Lakes and Reservoirs staff surveyed for this and other aquatic species from 2023 and 2024 in the Columbia River in Lake Umatilla and Lake Celilo. This document summarizes their survey efforts including their protocols, data, and small-scale removal efforts.

Streaming, Copyright And Creators: A Canadian Perspective, Graham Reynolds

All Faculty Publications

This paper will provide an introduction to streaming and copyright in Canada. It will proceed in five parts. Following this introduction, Part 2 of this paper will define streaming, discuss some of the benefits that flow from the widespread use of streaming services, and outline the extent to which streaming technologies are in use in Canada today. In so doing, this paper will distinguish between three types of streaming services: streaming services that secure authorization from rights-holders before making content available; streaming services that rely on technological measures or liability exemptions in order to host content in a non-infringing manner; …

Policy Forum: Are Carbon Contracts For Difference Well Suited For Canada?, Wei Cui

All Faculty Publications

At least up to the release of the federal 2024 budget, many Canadian politicians, climate policy think tanks, and industry groups promoted carbon contracts for difference (CCfD) to complement carbon pricing. This commentary urges caution against the broad adoption of CCfDs. The author begins by noting that the current designs of provincial output-based pricing systems (OBPS) are not consistent with the expectation of the systems delivering robust price signals. He argues that CCfDs depend on such price signals, and they are not a plausible policy for encouraging the emergence of such signals. The author then argues that it is hard …

Machine Learning Applications In Epigenomics And Its Association With Health And Disease, Trevor Doherty

Doctoral

Epigenetic modifications can lead to altered phenotypes without a change in the DNA sequence itself. Disrupted gene expression regulated by epigenetic processes can result in cancers, autoimmune diseases and various other maladies. Machine learning (ML) involves the use of algorithms and models which are trained to learn patterns in data, and has demonstrated remarkable success in solving diverse, complex challenges. Epigenomic studies, such as those that use DNA methylation (DNAm) data, increasingly make use of ML techniques to process extremely high dimensional data obtained from high throughput platforms e.g., DNAm arrays. These datasets suffer from the curse of dimensionality, increased …

Artificial Intelligence And Music Mash-Ups: Monetizing An Opt-In Closed Universe Database To Preserve Royalties And Credit For Composer And Sound Recording Rights Holders, Michael M. Epstein

Marquette Law Review

This Article charts the development of an opt-in database of music publishing and sound recording catalogues that would allow music industry stakeholders to profit from those who use artificial intelligence to generate new creative content from existing intellectual property. The database would be a portal to content that rights holders would consent to include in a library made available to the public. The database could be advertiser-supported, allowing for no-cost access by the public, or users could pay for a blanket license or per- search fee. Proceeds from the database would be distributed to rights holders based on the content …

Remedies For Decades Of Hbcu Underfunding: Can Coalition V. Maryland Serve As A Model, Or Is Government “Persuasion” Needed?, John K. Pierre, Gail S. Stephenson

UC Law Journal of Race and Economic Justice

No abstract provided.

Daca Beyond Boundaries: Employment-Based Strategies, Jaclyn Kelley-Widmer

University of San Francisco Law Review

No abstract provided.

2025 Document For Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day Soirée, Stacy Penk, Diana Symons

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

No abstract provided.

Heuristic Approaches For Coordination Of Heterogeneous Robotic Systems In Harvesting Automation With Size Constraints, Hyeseon Lee

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This thesis presents the development of path planning algorithms for the coordination of heterogeneous robotic systems while considering size constraints. The objective is to generate practical and efficient solutions for real-world applications. The use of heterogeneous collaborative robots is beneficial in many applications, such as transportation operations in warehouses or manufacturing environments, surveillance, and monitoring, and task allocation and path planning are critical techniques that need to be addressed to deploy in real-world applications. This research focuses on automating lavender harvesting, where robots with varying capabilities must collaboratively navigate complex field layouts to efficiently complete harvesting tasks.

The problem considers …

Interactions And Applications Of Optical Angular Momentum In Magneto-Optical Material, Seth R. Nelson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation explores the interactions and applications of optical angular momentum within magneto-optical materials. Beginning with a theoretical and experimental analysis of multiple reflection and refraction phenomena within magneto-optical material. We derive and verify the dependence of refractive indices on optical spin angular momentum and magneto-optical magnetization, resulting in nonreciprocal elliptical and linear polarization beam splitting effects and wavevector discretization. We fabricate a magnetless slab waveguide isolator with minimal optical loss. Extending our study to optical orbital angular momentum, we introduce a perturbation to the electronic transition model in bismuth-substituted iron garnets. We demonstrate that this perturbation leads to nonreciprocal …