Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Predictors Of School Lunch Completion: Taste, Time, And Student Preferences, Bhanoday Boda

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Sanando La Herida Abierta: The Open-Borders Debate, Latinx Feminist Voices, And Spiritual Activism, Amely Logan

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

This thesis addresses the current discourse in philosophy—specifically, immigration ethics—that harms migrants, would-be migrants, and Latinx people in general. It proposes that these harms can be healed by taking seriously the contributions of Latinx feminists and paying special attention to spiritual activism. The thesis first introduces the open-borders debate in the philosophical literature and the harmful language and framing that affects migrant autonomy within the debate, specifically by looking at the work of Christopher Heath Wellman as a representative example. It reveals how, while border enforcement often results in literal mass casualties among immigrants, the language and framing around immigration …

Control + Alt + Redesign: Ai, Teaching, And The People Who Do Both, Devon Cadwell Bazata, Danielle Pratt, Amanda Pacheco, Karen Haslett

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

Students are allowed to select their own AI tool to use. We tell them in our module that “The most well-known AI tools are text-generating AI tools, like OpenAI: Chat GPT, Bing, Google Bard/Gemini, Co-Pilot, etc.” We also include our own narrative in the module, each as a separate page in Canvas with faculty-generated examples. These include: AI for BGS Students; What is Generative Artificial Intelligence?; Ways that AI Can Help You; Selected AI Options; Prompt Engineering 101; AI Playground assignment.

Advancing Sustainable Co2 Mitigation: Experimental And Computational Analysis Of Thermal Carbon Chitosan Sorbent For Automotive Exhaust Capture, Dalia A. Ali Dr., Amir Ahmed Elgamal Eng., Rania Rushdy Moussa Dr.

Chemical Engineering

This study investigated the efficiency of thermal carbon chitosan (TCCS) sorbent for CO2 capture from vehicle exhaust emissions within a designed adsorption system. TCCS was synthesized and meticulously characterized using a series of analytical techniques, including Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Ther- mogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and Differential Scanning Calo- rimetry (DSC). The TCCS adsorbent showed high thermal stability and a heating value (HHV) of 23.5 MJ/kg. Adsorption isotherm study demonstrated that the maximum capacity of CO2 adsorption is 0.084 kg.CO2/kg. TCCS, as well …

Clemson University Board Of Trustees Minutes, 2025 December 10, Clemson University Board Of Trustees

Minutes

No abstract provided.

Research And Innovation Update, December 10, 2025, Office Of The Vice President For Research And Innovation

Office of Research, Economic Engagement and Outreach

No abstract provided.

The Elements Necessary For A Successful Startup, Ciaran Mcgurran

Faculty Curated Undergraduate Works

This paper seeks to uncover what really goes into a startup company to get it off the ground, keep it afloat and growing, and mitigate competition through a case study focus on a software-aided investment-strategy building company. Through an interview of the founder and CEO of the case company as well as first-hand experience working in the company, this paper will seek to gain an understanding of the necessary elements and planning that must go into a startup company for it to have success. Additional online texts also provide supplementary general information on startups and how the planning process is …

Ripe, Ann Grigsby

Undergraduate B.F.A. Theses in Studio Art

No abstract provided.

The Lumberjack, December 10, 2025

Cal Poly Humboldt's Student Newspaper

The student newspaper of Humboldt State University.

“Sport-Extortion:” Causes, Consequences, And Solutions, Jack Berger

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

The modern U.S. stadium-development model enables “sport-extortion,” a phenomenon in which franchise owners leverage artificial scarcity, antitrust carve-outs, and credible relocation threats to extract public subsidies that deliver negligible public benefits. Owners use the league’s monopoly power and superior negotiating leverage to pit cities against one another and extract public money for new stadiums or upgrades to their existing stadiums. The owners and community leaders who support using public money to finance these projects promise huge economic returns and development for their communities. However, a survey of the empirical literature and examination of recently approved stadium projects reveal that these …

Who Gets Remembered? Structural Barriers In The National Register Of Historic Places, Yuha Jung, Lauren Smith Madden

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

This article examines the systemic barriers within the National Register of Historic Places, established under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, that have contributed to the underrepresentation of marginalized communities in historic preservation. Despite the United States’ diverse cultural heritage, only an estimated 3% to 10% of sites listed on the National Register reflect histories associated with racial and ethnic minority groups. Through a qualitative analysis of legislative history, federal regulations, nomination processes, and governance structures, this study identifies how key criteria such as “significance” and “integrity” have reinforced exclusionary practices. These criteria consistently prioritize architectural and tangible heritage …

Bridging The Rural Justice Gap: A Scalable Solution Rooted In Clinical Legal Education, Michelle Paxton

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

The rural justice gap significantly impacts child welfare legal representation, exacerbating the challenges families face when navigating juvenile courts in rural America. Attorneys in these communities frequently encounter geographic isolation, limited access to specialized training, professional burnout, and inadequate resources, all of which hinder effective advocacy for vulnerable children and families.

This article argues that clinical legal education, when paired with structured post-graduate training and multidisciplinary consultation, offers a replicable model for addressing the rural attorney shortages in juvenile court advocacy. The Nebraska Children’s Justice and Legal Advocacy Center (NCJC) illustrates how this model can be designed and scaled to …

The Effect Of Cultural Myths On Oceanic Art, Derek Mcfarland

Honors Projects

Oceanic artworks are interesting in their purpose of connecting with and influencing the spiritual world. As such, Oceanic artworks are largely affected by the spiritual beliefs of the cultures producing them. Outsiders may have trouble understanding and tastefully depicting artworks from these cultures, as information about them is largely limited or misrepresented. This Honors Project aims to develop a clearer understanding of northern Melanesian artwork by investigating how the spiritual and societal beliefs of certain cultures affect the artwork they produce, with the intention of appropriately depicting them in an independent artwork. Through my research, I find that northern Melanesian …

Development Of Microcrystalline Tests For Fentanyl, Clonazepam, And Diazepam Identification, Karis French

Honors Projects

Microcrystalline tests are chemical tests that involve the mixing of a substance with a specific reagent resulting in the formation of a crystal structure. Currently, microcrystalline tests are used as presumptive tests in forensic drug chemistry laboratories to provide the suspected identity of unknown substances. There is, however, a limited amount of research on this use of microcrystalline structures. Additionally, this existing research is outdated and does not include some of the newer commonly encountered controlled substances including fentanyl, clonazepam, and diazepam. This literature-based review attempts to identify reagents that could be used in microcrystalline tests for the identification of …

Time Series Modeling Of Land Use And Land Cover Classification Using Remote Sensing, Ahmed A. F. Abd El Hamed, Fawzi H. Zarzoura, Mahmoud El-Mewafi

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Understanding land use / land cover changes is essential for planning sustainable development. It represents the transformation of the land due to human activities, which is related to sustainable development that aims to achieve the needs of the present generations without affecting the future. Land use / Land cover is studied in Al Alamein region, northern Egypt, with supervised classification methods using satellite images from Landsat 8 and Sentinel - 2A in 2023 and analyzes the accuracy assessment, which shows Maximum likelihood is better in both sensors achieving overall accuracy (91.80% and 91.02%) and kappa coefficient (0.814 and 0.8799). Then …

Nonlinear Excitation Control Of Multimachine Systems Via The Invariant-Set Design, Ehab Bayoumi

Mechanical Engineering

Power grids are inherently vulnerable to many uncertainties. All power networks are prone to instability because of the uncertainties inherent in the operation of power systems. Rotor-angle instability is a challenging issue, and if not properly managed, could give rise to cascading failures and even blackouts. This paper addresses the generator excitation system’s state feedback sliding mode control (SMC). The global system is divided into multiple subsystems to achieve decentralized control. A disturbance is defined as the influence of the system as a whole on a specific subsystem. The state-feedback controller is to be designed taking into account the disturbance …

Patient Preferences When Selecting Their Total Joint Arthroplasty Surgeon: A Multicenter Survey Study, Jake Laverdiere, Danielle Lonati, Swaroopa Vaidya, Gregory Panza, Antonia Chen, Mary Morcos, Yale Fillingham, Jessica Leipman, Molly Hartzler, Jenna Bernstein

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Surgeon selection can influence patient satisfaction, outcomes, and access in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Awareness of patient preferences enables practices to enhance trust, optimize communication, and improve adherence. While referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations often outweigh online marketing, prospective multicenter research exploring how patients choose their TJA surgeon is limited. The aim of this study was to identify key decision-making factors and how they vary by demographics.

METHODS: This prospective, multicenter cross-sectional survey study included patients undergoing elective total joint arthroplasty at 4 high-volume institutions from January 2024 to 2025. Participants completed a survey on surgeon selection, including how they …

Addressing Nursing Shortages In Rural Hospitals: Strategies For Recruitment And Retention, Harrison Efosa Omoruyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract The shortage of nursing staff in rural hospitals has created a critical workforce challenge in the United States, negatively affecting patient care, organizational performance, and community health. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify evidence-based strategies to improve the recruitment and retention of nurses in rural hospital settings. A search of literature published between 2021 and 2025 yielded 20 high-quality and good-quality studies that addressed the problem. Guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory, thematic analysis revealed six overarching themes: (a) strategic improvements, (b) system efficiency and effectiveness, (c) service availability, (d) care models, (e) organizational support, and (f) …

Evaluation Of A Food Distribution Center, Antonia Danielle Bates-Ford, Darlene Showalter

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Food insecurity in the United States is experienced by one in seven American households. In 2023, the food insecurity rate for the U.S. was 13.5%, which was 6% higher than the prior year. As a result of these rising numbers, emphasis has been placed on food insecurity as a social determinant of health that, on its own, serves as a contributing factor and predictor of patient outcomes. The food distribution center is crucial in alleviating food insecurity in Madison County. This program evaluation assesses the efficacy and operational efficiency of the center, providing insights for strategic enhancements and informed policy …

Fsec Meeting Minutes December 10, 2025, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

From Liahona To Talk: An Inspired Method 1, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

If our past series, Actionable Insights from the Liahona, laid out essential principles like a detailed instruction manual, this time, I'm shifting gears into a softer narrative.

The core question is: "How do we make sure these essential principles stick?"

To answer that, I've sprinkled in approachable metaphors and a bit of humor that will make you want to slap your knee and exclaim, "That's exactly my story!" My goal is that, once you've finished reading or listening, these vital principles will adhere to your mind like a magnet on a refrigerator door.

Reading Between The Lines: The Influence Of Financial News On Investor Decision-Making, Kalia Noble

Honors College Theses

This thesis investigates how financial media narratives shape investor sentiment and short-term market behavior. Drawing on behavioral finance and narrative economics, it examines whether the framing and tone of market news correlate with intraday volatility in the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average. By pairing quantitative price data with contemporaneous headlines from major outlets such as Bloomberg, Yahoo! Finance, and CNBC, the study shows that emotionally charged or speculative narratives are closely associated with sharp market swings, even when fundamentals remain unchanged. These findings highlight the influence of media framing on investor decision-making and underscore the importance of financial …

Self-Efficacy And Knowledge Of Uindy Pre-Licensure Nursing Students Caring For The Lgbtq+ Population, Alyssa Blue, Sarah Holmes

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Research has shown that LGBTQ+ identifying people face not only socio-political discrimination but also disproportionate healthcare disparities. Additionally, studies have found that LGBTQ+ identifying patients are burdened with the responsibility of educating healthcare providers about their identities. Multiple studies have shown that nursing students are underprepared by their academic programs to care for people who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. The resulting lack of knowledge and self-efficacy that nursing students experience may affect their care of LGBTQ+ patients and contribute to health disparities. The purpose of this project is to explore University of Indianapolis nursing students’ self-efficacy and …

Language Of The Law: Understanding The Impact Of Code-Switching Within Legal Fields Through Legal Blog Analyses, Kira A. Johnson

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Code-Switching is a linguistic phenomenon that can occur between different languages, cultures, or dialects. This study focuses on code-switching within the legal field, specifically through an analysis of legal blog websites. Through searching the terms, “code-switching” and “foreign language”, this study will compare legal blog websites in their coverage of the phenomenon. The various websites’ definitions of code-switching, how the topic is written with context, and what implications are suggested in the writing will be considered when crafting a comparative analysis. Individuals who communicate using different languages or dialects depending on situations and interactions are important to understand within the …

Microplastic Exposure Alters Tubulin Leading To Alterations In Insulin Secretion By Pancreatic Beta Cells, Anakaren Garcia

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels due to impaired insulin secretion or diminished cellular response to insulin (resistance). Pancreatic β-cells depend on a well-organized cytoskeleton, particularly microtubules composed of α- and β-tubulin heterodimers, to transport insulin granules to the plasma membrane during glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Disruption of microtubule organization can impair granule trafficking and reduce insulin release. However, emerging environmental toxicants such as microplastics that interfere with β-cell cytoskeletal function remains largely unexplored.

Microplastics (MPs) are small plastic particles (< 5 mm) that have become widespread environmental contaminants and can enter biological systems. Previous studies have shown that MPs can induce cellular stress and protein misfolding, but their effects on microtubules in pancreatic β-cells are not well characterized. This study investigates whether exposure to fluorescent polystyrene microplastics alters microtubule organization and insulin secretion in βTC-6 cells.

βTC-6 cells were treated with 10 µg/mL of fluorescent polystyrene microplastics for …

Value Creation For Target Firms In M&A Transactions, Joshua D. Amaru

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis explores the means by which mergers and acquisitions (M&A) create value for target, or acquired, firms in the transaction. This contradicts the commonly held belief that M&A deals harbor disproportionate benefits for acquiring firms, with the general assumption being that the acquirer gains the most created value from the formed synergies. Seeking to combat this belief, a comprehensive framework for assessing target firm value creation is established, built upon research of corporate strategy concerning market expansion, economies of scale and scope, and enhanced competitive advantage. Most importantly, the formation and valuation of synergies is covered extensively, expanding on …

Effective Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies That Small Business Leaders Use To Improve Brand Reputation, William Cativo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in small businesses can damage brand reputation, reduce employee retention, and hinder sustainability. Small business leaders are concerned about these risks, as a large majority of consumers expect companies to act on environmental, social, and governance issues. Grounded in Carroll’s CSR pyramid, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies small business leaders in the Western United States use to enhance brand reputation. The participants were six small business leaders with effective strategies to enhance brand reputation. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of 10 CSR reports. Thematic …

Moral Injury In Helping Professions Psychoeducation Group, Website, & Outreach Campaign, Garrett Schwanke, Liz Greene, Natalie Brown

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Abstract Text: Moral injury is a chronic emotional and psychological syndrome from actions or experiences that transgress deeply held moral beliefs (Rosen et al., 2022). Potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) are abundant in the helping professions (e.g., teaching, healthcare, and social work) and include dilemmas such as difficult decisions to ration or withdraw medical care and harmful clinical and administrative practices.

Symptoms of moral injury include guilt, shame, anger, disgust, and moderate to severe social and occupational impairment (Rosen et al., 2022). This syndrome imparts a high risk for depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Moral injury erodes care …

Sonrisas Por Millas/Smiles For Miles, Kristi K. Westphaln, Carol Lynn Cunningham

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Hispanic/Latine children experience greater oral disease burden than other groups of US children. Attendees at the session will learn about the Sonrisas por Millas/Smiles for Miles program, within which UCLA School of Nursing faculty and nurse practitioner students will partner with the Refugee Children's Center (RCC) to provide and evaluate a novel community-based intervention to promote oral health for refugee children and their families.

Designing A Qi Initiative: Preoperative Bathing In The Ed For Adult Hip Fracture Patients, Mihyun Jang, Susan Maynard, Sheri Matter, Andrea Sillner

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Surgical site infections (SSIs) following hip fracture surgeries in adults are severe complications that increase morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Preoperative bathing, particularly with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), reduces the risk of surgical site infection after hip fracture surgery by decontaminating skin flora, such as Staphylococcus aureus. Compliance with preoperative bathing protocols remains low, especially among adult patients admitted through emergency departments. To address the gap in preoperative bathing compliance, a quality improvement initiative will implement a preoperative bathing protocol using CHG wipes in the emergency department for adult hip fracture patients. Currently, there is a lack of evidence regarding the …