Digital Commons Network^™

Adolescents And Technology - The True Impact Of Tech, Paige A. Schaefer

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

With the rapid advancement and increasing accessibility of technology, research has begun to focus on the impacts technology use can have on adolescents. Many young people think they understand how to use technology, but they may not understand the impacts it can have on their life. By having an understanding of these implications, both positive and negative, they can adjust their technology habits to increase their quality of life and set themselves up for success in the future. This paper begins with a review of the literature about the relationship between adolescents and technology followed by a training made for …

Path To Empowerment: A Trauma Group Of High School Students, Megan Cowden

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Knowledge of the implementation of trauma interventions within the school environment can be crucial for academic and lifelong success. The literature review portion will define trauma, examine the prevalence among high school students and explores the impact trauma can have on mental health, academic performance and their social-emotional well-being. It discusses the significant number of students entering high school with traumatic experiences and emphasizes the need for trauma-informed approaches that can be used in schools. The effectiveness of group versus individual therapy is compared, along with an analysis of school-based and social-emotional curriculum. Based on this information, there is a …

First Annual Advances In Business Education Conference 2025 Proceedings, Kelsey Metz, Joshua Ray

Advances in Business Education (ABE) Conference Proceedings

Conference Overview: The First Annual Advances in Business Education (ABE) Conference was held on May 16, 2025, at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Hosted by the LMU School of Business, the ABE Conference was established to promote teaching excellence through innovation and collaboration in business education. With a focus on fostering meaningful dialogue among educators, researchers, and students, the conference welcomed participants from across disciplines and institutions. The event was structured around three key tracks:

Pedagogy & Teaching Excellence: Showcasing innovative teaching methods and strategies for enhancing student learning and engagement.

Business Research: Presenting research focused on advancing knowledge …

Reason And All My Senses: Surveying The Post Enlightenment Frame Of Reason Through Contemporary Philosophy, Cognitive Psychology, And Cognitive Linguistics, Joshua T. Lowe Rev. Dr.

Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation

This dissertation argues that Christian theology and practice are aided and enriched by a more complete understanding of reason by surveying recent studies and views in theology, philosophy, cognitive psychology, and cognitive linguistics. Since the Enlightenment, Christian theology has assumed widely the Enlightenment model of human reason as ideally acontextual, that is, free from constraints of contexts, and therefore universal, that is, applicable in all contexts. Recent developments from a variety of perspectives challenge this model of rationality. Some challenge the acontextualism of the Enlightenment understanding by showing how it arose from and depends on a context, and that context …

Pierce V. Society Of Sisters At 100: Reflections On Parental Rights In Transition, Charles J. Russo

University of Dayton Law Review

No abstract provided.

California Kelp Forests: An Analysis Of Macrocystis Pyrifera And Nereocystis Luetkeana Restoration After Decades Of Decline, Gabrielle K. Farrer

Master's Projects and Capstones

California’s kelp forests are some of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on the planet. Centuries of anthropogenic degradation via habitat destruction and climate change have culminated in decreased kelp forest habitat at an accelerated rate since at least the 1850s (Scarborough et al. 2022; Rogers-Bennett & Catton, 2019; Kumagai et al. 2024; Smith et al. 2023). This study synthesizes major threats, past and present, to California’s kelp forests, including the overharvesting of multiple species, pollution from coastal development, and climate change impacts. I also examine current management practices regarding kelp forests such as the use of marine protected areas …

A Roadmap For Greywater Reuse At The University Of San Francisco Hilltop Campus: A Financial, Regulatory, And Technical Feasibility Study, Apama'bo Anand Oszkar

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Water scarcity is increasing in California, so we need strategies to reduce potable water demand. Decentralized greywater systems offer promising solutions to this problem. This study provides a roadmap for successfully implementing greywater reuse at the University of San Francisco (USF) by addressing financial, technical, and regulatory considerations. By deploying a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative expert interviews and quantitative water usage analysis, policy review, cost analysis, and case studies, this study established USF’s annual recycled water demand as 8 million gallons, with two primary uses: irrigation, which accounts for 67% of the demand, and toilet-urinal flushing, which represents …

Pedaling Toward Justice: Exploring The Role Of Community Advocacy In Shaping Bicycle Policy In Oakland., Claire Farrell Lowe

Master's Projects and Capstones

The way people move through a city fundamentally shapes their access to jobs, essential services, and economic and social opportunities. While Oakland’s bicycle infrastructure has improved over the past decade, vehicle-centric planning has historically sidelined cycling, creating mobility inequities. This thesis examines the role of community advocacy in advancing equitable bicycle planning and prioritizing cycling infrastructure as a core element of urban development. This thesis project follows the question: what role do advocacy groups play in addressing the gaps between the Oakland Bicycle Plan and its implementation? Through policy analysis, community engagement, and interviews with key informants from Bike East …

Watching The Tide Roll Away: Looking Forward After Fifty Years Of The Coastal Area Management Act, Julia Furr Youngman

Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Perioperative Education On Postoperative Digestive Restoration, Christian Cedeno

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

The human body often needs encouragement to return to its natural state of functioning following intraoperative and postoperative drug therapy. Anesthesia can sedate the gastrointestinal tract and frequently requires medical and physical interventions to allow the body to return to full functionality. There are several methods thought to be beneficial in overcoming of this condition, and some have proven their significance more so than other methods. This project seeks to measure the power-of-knowledge methodology via a chart review of individuals specifically educated on what they can expect in the postoperative phase of care compared to those that receive routine education. …

A Qualitative Look At Relationships From A Teacher’S Perspective, Shayna Vastila

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study examines the role of teacher-student relationships grounded in the Social Learning Theory, Social Support Theory, as well as the Attachment Theory. The research explored how teachers perceive, establish, and maintain supportive relationships with their students, and how these relationships contribute to student engagement and academic motivation. Fifteen first-grade teachers from elementary schools participated in semi-structured interviews, sharing personal insights and practices around relationship building. Using key factors that foster positive relationships, including empathy, active listening, individualized support, and culturally responsive communication. Findings also highlight systemic barriers such as large class sizes, behavioral challenges, and the emotional …

A Correlational Study Of The Relationships Between The Big Five Aspects Of Personality And Career Interest: Practical Implications For Teachers In Guidance Counseling Roles, Mary J. Haberman

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Classroom teachers are often required to teach advisory courses that include career counseling and social emotional learning components. The author used a combination of personality and career assessments to guide students into careers that were a good fit, not only for their interests but their temperaments as well. This holistic approach to advising allowed the author to address a wide variety of personal issues (e.g., unmet needs) that students were having and help them to discover their own motivations for approaching these issues. While the study is focused on collecting information from working adults, the results of this study could …

Emergency Medicine Residency Website Wellness Pages: A Content Analysis, Alexandra Sappington, Brian Milman

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the way medical students seek residency positions. In 2020, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education advocated for virtual interviews. Most emergency medicine (EM) interviews in 2023 remained virtual, and this format will persist for the foreseeable future. Since students are not evaluating programs in person in most cases, residency websites are crucial for prospective residents. Resident wellness is critical for resident training and important to prospective residents; it follows that programs must be transparent about resident wellness on websites. In this study we aimed to quantify the number of EM programs with wellness pages …

Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion-Weighted Imaging In Acute Stroke: A Comprehensive Review And Meta-Analysis, Hayder Jasim Taher, Ali Ameer Hadi, Yass Bader Kalfah, Zaineb Nazar Mohsin, Argwan Rafad Abed Alkhaliq

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background and objective: Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) has the potential to provide both diffusion and perfusion information without an exogenous contrast agent, its application for the brain is promising, however, feasibility studies on this are relatively scarce. The present study aims to assess the evaluate the feasibility of using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) to measure diffusion parameter variations in stroke.

Methods: To this end, we searched international databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus) and extracted related studies using the appropriate keywords. Collected data were analyzed with the aid of the random-effects model and STATA (version 15).

Results …

Assessing One-Year Health Impacts From Wildfires In Rural Communities: Roles For Extension In Promoting Wildfire Preparedness And Recovery, Marc T. Braverman, Sandi Cleveland Phibbs, Emily Jane Davis, Amanda Rau, Elijah Penner

Journal of Extension

Wildfires can produce health impacts that persist for years in affected communities. This article describes an Extension-led study of health impacts in rural Oregon communities one year after a destructive wildfire. Data collection included key informant interviews (n=36), an online survey (n=80), and three focus group interviews with survivors (n=23). Mental health, exposure to contaminants, physical stress, food insecurity, and other issues were frequently identified health concerns. Survivors’ difficulties in dealing with housing displacement significantly exacerbated health challenges. We describe potential roles for Extension in addressing wildfire risk and mitigating health impacts, including a description of the Oregon Fire Program.

Market Days For Older Adults: Addressing Healthy Aging Among A High-Risk Population At The Downtown Farmers’ Market, Allyson Brothers, India Luxton, Cheryl Noble, Sue Schneider, Alison O'Connor, Yuqin Jiao

Journal of Extension

Market Days for Older Adults is a Colorado State University Extension program that supplies low-income older adults with fresh produce purchased from market vendors at the local farmers’ market. Designed for low-income seniors, this program aims to enhance nutrition while building a sense of community and connection. Program evaluation data from the first four years of the program demonstrate evidence of program feasibility, including high levels of participant satisfaction and program utilization. We also assessed a set of healthy aging indicators (diet quality, social connection, functional health, and well-being) to drive future work. Implications for Extension professionals are discussed.

Natural Resource Enterprises - Income Diversification And Conservation Practices Implemented On Private Lands In The United States, Daryl Jones

Journal of Extension

Wildlife-related recreation is popular with Americans spending over $150 billion dollars annually. I have conducted educational workshops (>100 events) to train U.S. landowners in natural resource enterprises development offering recreational hunting, angling, and nature tourism excursions along with conservation management practices to enhance wildlife habitats on their lands. To measure impacts, I conducted a comprehensive mail survey study with participants since 2010. Findings revealed that landowners who initiated these enterprises earned annual incomes and implemented conservation practices on properties. More training for landowners is recommended to increase income diversification and conservation of wildlife habitats and stewardship on private lands.

From Data To Action: An Adaptable Crosstabs Template For Participatory Survey Data Analysis, Natalia Pinzon, Vikram Koundinya, William O'R Dowling, Ryan Galt

Journal of Extension

We present a practical and accessible template for quantitative survey data analysis designed for non-academic researchers in order to facilitate engagement from community collaborators. The template, created in Google Sheets, is mainly for computing cross-tabulations, but it also displays frequency distributions and p-values for determining statistical significance. The template allows collaborators to record their observations and questions, promoting an efficient yet interactive review process and fostering a democratic analysis environment. Based on our own experience using this template for a data party, we highlight its effectiveness in promoting collaborative data interpretation, decision-making, and the actionable use of survey findings.

Cannabis Impacts On Native Lands: On The Need For Inclusion Of Native Perspectives In Extension Work, Jeremy Sorgen, Seth Larosa, Jennifer Sowerwine, Van Butsic, Peter Nelson, Melanie Mccavour, Shasta Gaughen, Anna Starkey

Journal of Extension

This article highlights the need for Cooperative Extension to increase awareness of Tribal concerns around activities that impact land, natural resources, and water. A research team at UC Berkeley worked with a Tribal Advisory Committee to conduct a survey of Tribal representatives’ perceptions of cannabis impacts on Native lands and cultural resources. The results show that there is widespread concern among Native communities about the environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation, especially to water quality, access, and availability. These concerns underscore the need to include Native communities in Extension’s agricultural and natural resource activities across all regions and sectors.

Generation Of A Transgenic Vector For The Purpose Of Transforming Charcoal Rot Resistance Into Soybeans (Glycine Max), John M. Bear Jr

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Charcoal rot, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, is among the most devastating fungal pathogens affecting G. max, particularly in drought-susceptible regions such as the midwestern United States. Traditional agricultural practices have included crop rotation and irrigation, which have proved ineffective or economically unfeasible. Charcoal rot infects over 500 other species of plants and can overwinter as dormant sclerotia which can germinate once soybeans are re-planted and infect young plants. As a result, transgenic solutions have offered a promising alternative for the development of disease-resistant soybeans. This thesis documents the construction of a transgenic vector to express BOZO, a …

Improvement Of Natural Environment Teaching Using Behavioral Skills Training, Josephine E. Elliott

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects individuals through persistent deficits in social communication and excesses in restricted and/or repetitive behaviors (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the only evidence-based treatment for ASD and uses behavioral and learning principles to shape behavior change (Ferguson et al., 2022; Lax et al., 2023; National Autism Center, 2015). ABA has many teaching methods, one being discrete trial training (DTT; Smith, 2001). DTT is a highly structured method of teaching in which the instructor provides clear instructions, the learner responds in some way, and then the instructor gives a consequence for the response …

Fe/Co/Ni-Doped Mos2 An Electrocatalyst For Overall Water Splitting, Himanshi Lnu

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Electrochemical water splitting is a promising method for sustainable hydrogen production, addressing global energy challenges. However, its practical application is limited by the need for efficient and durable electrocatalysts for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, MoS₂ was doped with Co, Ni, and Fe at varying concentrations (5:0.5, 5:1, and 5:1.5) using a hydrothermal synthesis method to evaluate their potential as electrocatalysts for water splitting. Characterization revealed that metal doping significantly altered the electronic and morphological properties of MoS₂, enhancing its catalytic performance. Electrochemical evaluations in alkaline media demonstrated that Co-doped MoS₂ …

The Effects Of Reprocessing, Post-Processing Conditions, And Environmental Exposure On The Physical Properties Of Post-Industrial And Post-Consumer Polyethylene, Grant M. Howard

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

THE EFFECTS OF REPROCESSING, POST-PROCESSING CONDITIONS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE ON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF POST-INDUSTRIAL AND POST-CONSUMER POLYETHYLENE

An Abstract of the Thesis by

Grant Howard

Plastic pollution is a rapidly growing problem. Globally, millions of tons of plastic waste are produced, and that amount is projected to increase each year. To address this, recycling of commodity thermoplastics like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate, have become a point of emphasis in industry. Companies have started to investigate the use of recycled plastics instead of virgin plastics in their products. The advantages of using recycled material are to receive tax breaks, …

Epoxidized Castor Oil Based Thermosets With Reprocessable And Non Reprocessable Properties, Vaibhav Patel

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Castor oil-based polymers have gained significant attention due to their renewable nature, low cost, and ease of processing, making them ideal for various applications, including biofuels and the petrochemical industry. Among these, epoxidized castor oil (ECO)-based thermosets have been extensively studied for their promising mechanical and thermal properties. This study focuses on recent advancements in ECO thermosets synthesized with 4,4-dithiodianiline (DTDA) which has aromatic disulfide bonds and 4,4-ditaminodiphenylmethane (DMPM) which has methylene bridge. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the successful incorporation of epoxy functionalities into castor oil. The structure-reactivity relationship was examined through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which reveals that ECO_DMPM based …

Zn–Assisted Synthesis Of M (Mn/Fe/Co/Ni)-N-C Catalysts For Multifunctional Electrochemical Activity, Kemila A. Chaudhary

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The design and development of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts (metal (M) supported on an nitrogen-carbon (NC) matrix with high multifunctional electrocatalytic performance is desirable but proved to be very challenging. Herein, we synthesized M-N-C catalysts (M = Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni) using Zn-assisted high temperature treatment and characterized using various techniques. The prepared catalysts were tested for their electrocatalytic performance towards oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (OER and HER) as well as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. The results indicated that Mn-N-C catalyst showed higher performance towards both the ORR (E_1/2 = 0.90 V) and …

High-Entropy (Feconimnal)3o4/Cnt And (Feconimnal)3o4/Rgo Hybrid Bi-Functional Catalyst For Hydrogen And Oxygen Evolution Reactions, Bhumikaben V. Makawana

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Developing efficient and durable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for advancing sustainable energy conversion technologies. In this study, high-entropy (FeCoNiMnAl)₃O₄ and its hybrid forms supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were synthesized with varying carbon concentrations (5 mM, 10 mM, and 15 mM) and evaluated for their bifunctional electrocatalytic performance in alkaline media. The rGO-supported catalyst with 10 mM concentration exhibited the best HER performance, achieving a low overpotential of 162 mV at 10 mA/cm², followed by rGO (15 mM) and rGO (5 mM) …

Trade-Off Between Limonene & Geraniol-Based Reprocessable And Non-Reprocessable Epoxy Thermosets: Role Of Aliphatic Diamines In Polymer Networks Design, Priyankkumar Kanubhai Patel

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The growing demand for sustainable materials, driven by environmental concerns and the rapid depletion of fossil fuels, has garnered significant attention in the fabrication of bio-based epoxy thermosets as renewable alternatives to petroleum-derived thermosetting polymers. The present study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of epoxy prepolymer resins derived from limonene and geraniol via a two-step process, followed by the fabrication of thermally cross-linked flexible epoxy thermoset films using various traditional aliphatic diamine curing agents, namely 1,2-ethylenediamine (EDA), 1,4-butylenediamine (BDA), and 1,6-hexamethylenediamine (HDA). Additionally, the incorporation of cystamine, a disulfide-containing diamine, enabled the formation of a covalent adaptable network through …

The Politics Of Being Heard: Communication And Power Struggles In Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Caroline Trejo

Master's Projects and Capstones

The environmental and public health challenges in Bayview-Hunters Point have catalyzed widespread community activism, as residents and advocates respond to the ongoing fallout from radiological contamination at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Communication plays a vital role in bridging the gap between affected communities and government entities throughout the cleanup process. This research asks: how have the communication strategies of advocacy groups influenced government actions and policies during the Bayview-Hunters Point Shipyard cleanup? To explore this question, I conducted semi-structured interviews with three community advocates, two former members of a non-partisan civil jury, one independent researcher, and one government official. …

An Attention-Based Deep Learning Model For Remaining Useful Life Prediction Of Aero-Engine, Ahmed Darwish, Karam M. Sallam, Ibrahim Alrashdi

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

The prognosis of remaining useful life (RUL) for the aero-engine plays an indispensable role in enhancing the safety of aircraft and diminishing maintenance expenses. Several deep learning (DL) methods have been recently employed to handle this prediction problem due to their adaptable architectures and superior performance in handling the nonlinear characteristics of prediction problems. However, those models still need further improvement to better predict the status of aircraft engines. Therefore, this paper presents a new DL model, dubbed attention residual block-adaptive long short-term memory (ARB-ALSTM), based on integrating the attention mechanism with the long short-term memory network (LSTM) model and …

Having A Home To Come Home To: How Subsidized Housing Impacts Unhoused Pregnant Women, Stephanie O. Porvaznik

Master's Projects and Capstones

Community based organizations (CBOs) lead the charge in the fight to end housing insecurity and often must make up where local governments fall short. San Francisco is an example of a municipality that has a long history of addressing instances of housing insecurity for its residents, and where CBOs step in to provide housing support for populations with unique and special circumstances. One CBO that operates in San Francisco that I was interested in studying was the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP), and the Jelani House, a housing subsidy that is funded and operated by the HPP for pregnant women who …