Digital Commons Network^™

Out In The Arena: Examining The Lgbtq+ Experience In Ihsa, Katharine C. Didier

Honors College Theses

This study investigated factors influencing Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) LGBTQ+ riders’ perceptions of inclusion, safety, and belonging, with the hypothesis that teams with diversity and inclusion policies would be perceived as more accepting. An online survey was developed to gather information from self-identified LGBTQ+ IHSA students. Questions covered demographics, team environment, and perceived inclusivity within their equestrian programs. Question types included multiple choice, Likert-type, short answer, and open-ended. IHSA coaches were asked to share the survey link with team members. Students were able to respond anonymously. The survey was open for 8 weeks. Reminders were sent out at 3 …

Genetic Counselors With Doctorate Degrees: Career Profiles Based On Level Of Education, Alise Kathleen Blake

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Although genetic counseling is a health care profession requiring a terminal master’s degree, 4 to 6% of genetic counselors (GCs) hold a doctoral degree. The literature lacks information on how GCs who have doctorate degrees professionally differ from those who do not. Drawing from Cultural Historical Activity Theory, this quantitative study examines how post-secondary education, as a primary mediating tool, shapes career profiles within genetic counseling. Three research questions guided this study: (1) To what extent is the distribution of work environment, job title, and professional responsibilities different between GCs who have a doctorate degree and GCs who do not …

Positive Youth Development In Practice: National, Systematic, And Community-Level Insights Into Youth Empowerment And Behavioral Outcomes, Pamela Nicole Graham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Behavioral outcomes in adolescents and youth reflect broader patterns of mental health and community support. Violent behaviors, substance misuse, and poor mental health disproportionately impact those living with unmet needs in settings concentrated with structural marginalization. These contexts often limit youths’ access to supportive systems that improve their alignment with prosocial outcomes. Local agencies and governments could encourage empowerment based programming to promote healthier developmental trajectories. This dissertation applies the Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework, integrated with Social Disorganization and Social Control theories, to examine how youth empowerment programs moderate the relationship between youths’ structural contexts and their subsequent developmental …

Effects Of Personalization On Student Retention In Online Data Science Learning, Farshid Farzan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The present study examined whether static personalization strategies can reduce dropout in short-duration online data science learning. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, 98 undergraduate participants completed an online learning activity that either (a) aligned instructional materials with their learning preference (sequential vs. global) or (b) included a personalized non-interactive pedagogical agent. Retention was operationalized dichotomously (completion vs. dropout). Logistic regression analyses indicated that learning preference personalization significantly increased the odds of completion, whereas the pedagogical agent alone did not show a reliable main effect. However, the interaction between learning preference personalization and agent presence was statistically significant, suggesting …

Ryan Anthony And The Concerto For Hope: An Application Of Symbolism And Performance Guide To The Third Trumpet Concerto By James Stephenson, Brandon Tyler Helms

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study is a performance guide to Concerto for Trumpet #3 – Concerto for Hope by James Stephenson. Biographical information on James Stephenson and Ryan Anthony, the subject of the concerto, is also provided. It examines the work for trumpet, its origin, symbolism, compositional approach, elements of theoretical analysis, and proper application of style based on the subject matter. Pedagogical advice is also provided throughout the guide to help musicians preparing this piece prepare efficiently and effectively for a successful performance. Additional material is provided discussing differences between ensemble instrumentations, as well as performance suggestions regarding antiphonal instruments as they …

Geographic Variation In Adrd Prevalence And Mortality And Their Association With Social Vulnerability Across Us Counties: A Spatial Epidemiological Analysis Using Norc And Cdc Svi Data, Dean Kyne

Sociology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Geographic disparities in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) remain insufficiently understood at the national scale, limiting efforts to address inequities in dementia burden across USA communities. This study examined county-level variation in ADRD prevalence and mortality and evaluates the association between social vulnerability and these outcomes.

Methods: This cross-sectional ecological study analyzes 2020 county-level ADRD prevalence and all-cause mortality among Medicare beneficiaries from the NORC Dementia DataHub. The analytic sample included 3,108 USA counties in the contiguous USA and the District of Columbia. ADRD outcomes included (1) prevalence of highly likely ADRD and (2) prevalence of all determinations, …

Empirical Benchmarks For Interpreting Effect Sizes In Violent Crime Interventions, Kohta James Matsukawa Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

Criminal justice researchers apply Cohen’s (1988) benchmarks to classify effect sizes as small, medium, or large, despite these standards never being meant for broad, decontextualized use (Cohen, 1988; Gies et al., 2024; Goulet-Pelletier & Cousineau, 2018; Lakens, 2013; Milner et al., 2023). Repeatedly doing so may weaken statistical validity, distort findings, and impede effective policymaking. This study introduces the first effect size benchmarks specifically designed for violent crime interventions.

Using a quasi-meta-analysis framework, 1,605 effect sizes from 104 violent crime intervention studies from the CrimeSolutions clearinghouse were converted to Cohen’s d. Three new discrete benchmarking methods were created using a …

Beyond The Certificate: Why Real Expertise In Investigative Interviewing Comes From Practice, Alan Saquella

Publications

In today’s professional environment, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, training and certifications are often treated as the gold standard of competence. Profiles are filled with credentials, badges and completed courses that signal expertise. But in fields like investigative interviewing, there is a critical distinction that too often gets overlooked: the difference between being trained, being certified, and being truly effective.

This is a message to colleagues across security, law enforcement, corporate investigations, and intelligence: training is only the beginning. Certificates validate exposure. Application, repeated, disciplined, and ethical application is what creates mastery.

From Street Level To Science: Advancing Methods For Climate Walks To Improve Human Thermal Comfort, Kevin Lau, Cho Kwong Charlie Lam, Eduardo Krüger, André Santos Nouri, Zhikai Peng, Daniele Santucci, Andreas Matzarakis

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Urban heat risk is increasing, while fixed monitoring networks remain too sparse and coarse to resolve the pedestrian-scale variability, especially radiative loads, that governs outdoor thermal stress. This short communication advances the concept of climate walks, defined as route-based, human-centred field campaigns that build on earlier work on “thermal walks”, and presents them as a practice-ready methodology for design-relevant evidence. We define climate walks as structured, route-based, georeferenced assessments that pair high-resolution mobile microclimate measurements with synchronous in-situ human responses to capture transient, spatially heterogeneous conditions along actual walks. We synthesize key methodological features, such as dynamic, stop-and-go protocols; human-centred …

Everyday Tracking And Extraordinary Harm: Item Finder Misuse In Digital Coercive Control, Vivian Hocking, Shirley Atkinson, Hai-Van Dang, Nathan Clarke

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

PurposeWhere one in three women worldwide experience some form of intimate partner violence, the rise of technology facilitated abuse means that abusers have increased access and control over their victims. This extension paper aims to examine the threat potential for technology misuse as pertains to item finder devices that make up part of the Internet-of-Things. Item finders have increasingly become the weapon of choice for abusers leveraging technological advantages against their victims.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining digital ethnography with 12 individuals engaged in a participant study to evaluate the misuse potential of Apple AirTag, Chipolo …

Implementation Of Differentation Learning Based On Vark Learning Styles To Improve Dance Element Learning Outcomes Of Grade Vii Students, Bilqis Zainab Mujahidah, Agus Budiman, Beben Barnas

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The low learning outcomes of grade VII students in the three domains in learning dance elements are one of them due to the dominance of conventional methods. This type of research is Kemmis and McTaggart Class Action Research (CAR) which consists of planning, implementation of actions, observation, and reflection. The research ran for two cycles with the subjects of grade VII students of SMPN 14 Bandung City for the 2025/2026 school year. Data collection techniques through observation and learning outcome tests. Data analysis used descriptive statistics in the form of average values and classical completeness. The application of VARK-based differentiation …

Photogrammetric Analysis Of Porites Lobata And Pocillopora Spp. Live Coral Cover At Devil's Crown, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Katherine Whitehouse, Preston Toutant

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Porites lobata and Pocillopora spp. are predominant scleractinian corals at Devil's Crown, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador that have been monitored for 48 years. Fluctuations in colony abundance and live tissue surface area of both taxa are associated with environmental variability driven by El Niño-Southern Oscillation. To better quantify colony number and live tissue cover of the two taxa, photogrammetry was utilized during a research expedition in May 2025. Two GoPro cameras were used during snorkel transects in the northwest (Porites) and northeast (Pocillopora) sectors of the shallow (2-3 m depth), elliptical submerged caldera to produce overlapping digital …

The Hidden Map Of Women's Health: Predictors And Protectors Across Our Lives, Tasfia Howlader

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Women's health has constantly been changing-from public health infrastructure to health policies, and even medical advancements. Yet, the struggles are persistent within the gaps present in women's health. The Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) explains interactions between different levels of relationships, which result in health outcomes that vary from individual factors to environmental factors. Applying the SEM to describe health disparities can help explain how the relationships an individual has influenced their health. This project serves to exemplify these different levels while discussing the tailoring of services to the needs and the importance of populations based on their experiences. Specifically, adhering to …

Fostering Ubuntu In Countering The Spread Of Terrorist Ideologies In Africa: A Case Study Of The East African Community (Eac), Paul Aginnah

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Beyond Therapy Culture: Solutions For Our Digital Hubris, Spiritual Bankruptcy, And The Moral Imperative Of Humility, Giancarlo Newsome, Andrew Bibb, Merrick Davis

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Parental Perceptions About Crispr And Other Biological Treatments For Fragile X Syndrome Compared With Sickle Cell Disease (2000-2025): Systematic Review Protocol, Ethan Hunter, Lukah Varghese, Mohit Belur, Prathiv Raj Ramesh Babu

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a genetic condition associated with intellectual disability, while Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) comprises inherited red blood cell disorders. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) gene-editing therapies are currently being implemented for SCD but remain experimental for FXS. Understanding caregiver perspectives on CRISPR-based therapies is crucial because families play a central role in weighing risks/benefits during treatment decision-making. Synthesizing evidence on caregiver attitudes toward CRISPR-based therapies for FXS and SCD can help determine if perceptions observed with SCD can inform expectations for FXS. This systematic review will include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies published between …

Creatine: More Than Just A Gym Bro Supplement? An Evidence-Based Review Of The Safety And Efficacy Of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation, Lara Kotak

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Creatine monohydrate (CrM) is an extensively researched supplement that has been used to enhance athlete performance, muscle mass, recovery, and even improve health span beyond athletes. Despite the plethora of reasearch supporting creatine supplementation at recommended dosages, misconceptions and further questions regarding its safety and effectiveness remain. Examples of existing concerns include the potential effects of creatine on hydration levels, renal and liver function, fat mass, hair loss, muscle cramping, and fertility. Additionally, there are questions regarding the safety and effectiveness of creatine across populations of such as children, adolescents, females, older adults, and pregnant individuals. Furthermore, inquiry about the …

Predicting Alzheimer's Disease Via Machine Learning Through Adni Data, Sahana Reddy

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Since the neurological pathology, including protein deposits and neurodegeneration, starts a decade before cognitive, memory, and behavioral symptoms, AD development should be predictable from physical biomarkers. This study investigates how patients' memory and cortical brain thickness at baseline can predict their likelihood of developing AD through supervised machine learning. From baseline visits, 205 participants' data were extracted from the ADNI database, all designated as healthy control in the first visit, but some converted to AD or Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in later visits (Group 2), and some remained healthy (Group 1). The …

Time-Dependent Modulation Of Isr And Upr In Glioblastoma Stem Cells Using A Curcumin-Inspired Bis-Chalcone Analog, Abby Morrill, Carleigh Miller

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor driven by therapy-resistant GBM stem cells (GSCs). GSC's rely on adaptive stress pathways like the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) and Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). Curcumin modulates these pathways but has poor bioavailability. We developed curcumin-inspired bis-clacone analogs with improved potency and selectivity against GSCs and tested efficiency using a time-course study. A series of bis-chalcone analogs were synthesized and tested against three patient-derived GSC lines using MTS assay (0.1-10 μM, 72 h). A lead derivative compound compatible with carbon dot nanoparticle conjugation was synthesized and evaluated for mechanistic consistency and GSC cytotoxicity. ISR/UPR …

Marine Biodiversity Monitoring And Community Engagement On The Boulder Reefs Of Peanut Island, Sophia Oliveira, Luke Mckeon, Josie Larson, Raymond Hernandez, Triumph Perry, Lianna Rasimowicz

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Artificial boulder reefs were constructed along the shoreline of Peanut Island in Palm Beach County, Florida to enhance habitat complexity and provide a safe, accessible snorkeling experience for the island's many visitors. These nine boulder reefs support a diverse assemblage of marine organisms and offer an ideal setting for ecological monitoring. This project documents the fish, invertebrate, and coral species that utilize these structures and provides the public with accurate, easily accessible information about the organisms they may encounter while snorkeling. Monthly GoPro surveys employing a roving fish sampling technique were conducted on each reef to record new species observations …

Evaluation Of The Use Of Longitudinal Data For Depression Research And Antidepressant Drug Discovery, Rojie Ekanayake, Niousha Mousavi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders, affecting over 280 million people globally. Diagnosis of depression remains limited, and treatment is complicated due to the subjectivity of using psychometric scales for diagnosis. This has created a need for more objective methods for the diagnosis of depression and the assessment of the outcome of various treatment/management methods. These methods should consider a holistic approach encompassing biochemical, mental, and socioeconomic factors of patients. Longitudinal datasets, in the age of AI, offer an unprecedented opportunity for such an approach. Thus, it is hypothesized that the application of machine learning to …

Investigating Oct3-Mediated Buprenorphine Transport As A Mechanism For Salivary Accumulation And Oral Toxicity, Laasya Vemparala, Veda Pesala, Sydni Gunpath, Mehtab Singh

Undergraduate Student Symposium

In this study we prepared a 3D printed model to better understand OCT3-mediated buprenorphine transport. Buprenorphine is a high affinity partial agonist at the mu-opioid receptor (μ-OR) and main component of Suboxone. It has a unique pharmacological profile that makes it effective for treating both pain and opioid use disorder (OUD) but has been linked to oral health issues such as dry-mouth and tooth decay. The exceptionally tight binding of suboxone to μ-OR allows for sustained receptor occupancy and reduced opioid misuse potential by patients. Recent evidence suggests that the Organic Cation Transporter 3 (OCT3), a membrane transporter expressed in …

Comparative Evaluation Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Implications For Active Learning And Assessment In Global Stem And Health Sciences, Vinay Munlapudi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Today's all-pervasive emergence of Artificial intelligence (AI) necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of its role in education, especially for occupational disciplines in healthcare and STEM. AI has reshaped student learning and instructors' navigation of the evolving, post COVID-19 global academic landscape. This study aimed at encapsulating evidence-based AI implications for student-centered, active learning and assessment of STEM and health-science education in developed countries versus underprivileged communities. An exploratory, scoping review of 50 recent, scholarly journal-publications was conducted over six months through diverse search engines (Pub-Med, Google Scholar, and library databases) using keywords such as "Active learning with AI" and "Assessment of …

Invisgrid: Invisible Ai Embeddings In Human-Machine Collaboration For Smart Grid Energy Optimization, Nikunj Doshi, Kavach Shah, Shikhar Patel

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) Conference

AI advisory tools for smart grid management face a persistent and widely recognized problem. Operators frequently ignore recommendations surfaced through separate AI dashboard panels. This rejection arises from alert fatigue induced by disrupted SCADA workflows and heightened cognitive load. Operators managing complex real-time systems already carry a substantial mental burden throughout their shifts. Adding a new panel to monitor compounds that burden rather than alleviating it meaningfully. This paper proposes invisible AI, a paradigm that resolves this adoption problem differently. Instead of introducing new interface components, AI intelligence is embedded into existing visual elements. We present InvisGrid, which fine-tunes a …

Integrating Domain Knowledge And Machine Learning In Rice Cultivation: A Case Study Of Algeria, Sara Faruqui, Jane Krivosheev, Jenna Handal

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Research has highlighted Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a promising solution to mitigate the threat of food insecurity. Rice, a staple in the global diet, is particularly vulnerable to heat stress caused by climate change. The challenges of climate change, population growth, and increased famine risk may be alleviated through the implementation of AI models in rice cultivation. For decades, agricultural workers have faced the dilemma of needing to increase crop yields while dealing with dwindling resources and the need for more efficient practices. AI models, however, are limited by the quality and scope of the data they receive. Integrating domain …

Molecular Consequences Of Pcos-Linked Aromatase Variants: Structural Modeling And Inhibitor Docking, Kiran Sajnani, Bharath Kumar Reddy Burry, Yuktha Milukuri, Preya Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects approximately 10% of reproductive-age women and involves hormonal imbalance partly driven by impaired estrogen synthesis. Aromatase (CYP19A1) catalyzes conversion of testosterone and androstenedione to estrogen, but structural consequences of PCOS-associated variants remain unclear. We investifated Val161Asp (V161D), a PCOS-linked substitution that replaces a nonpolar valine with a negatively charged aspartate in a hydrophobic helical region. Using the wild-type structure (PDB 3EQM), we generated a 3D-printed model highlighting the mutation and key catalytic features (heme, substrate-binding channel, conserved monooxygenase motifs). We then produced an AlphaFold V161D model and compared it with wild type in Jmol to …

From Bedtime To Bacteria: A Sleep Extension Pilot Study Revealing Gut-Linked Pathways, Maya Totev

Undergraduate Student Symposium

While the gut contains trillions of bacteria that influence the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, its implications in health interventions and wellness are often underappreciated. Lifestyle factors, including sleep duration and quality, influence gut microbiome composition and are linked to adverse health outcomes. While sleep extension is known to benefit health, emerging evidence suggests the gut microbiome and inflammatory pathways may help clarify these underlying mechanisms. This pilot study examined the effects of a two-week sleep extension on the gut microbiome composition in healthy adult females as part of a larger investigation of sleep, stress, and systemic inflammation. Participants completed …

The Association Between Ultra-Processed Foods And Inadequate Sleep In Us Adults From Nhanes, 2005-2018, Seema Rajper

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Ultra-processed food (UPF), rich in sugar and fat, could affect sleep quality due to inflammation and hormonal imbalance. However, the population level data is scarce, and the findings are mixed, especially in adult populations. We examined associations between UPF consumption and odds of inadequate sleep (characterized by sleep difficulty and/or inadequate sleep duration: short sleep (<7h) or long sleep (≥9 hours)) among U.S. non-pregnant, non-lactating adults using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with a 14-year span. We assessed 33,156 adults (aged ≥ 20 y) using up to two 24-hour diet recalls from the NHANES (2005 to 2018). UPF intake was calculated using the NOVA classification system, and inadequate sleep (specifically sleep difficulty, short sleep, long sleep) was ascertained from the self-reported sleep disorder survey. Odds of inadequate sleep (aORs) were compared across the quartile intakes of UPF using population weights-adjusted multivariable general logistic regression. Of the 33,156 adult participants, 34.9% had short sleep (n=11,576), 11.9% had long sleep (n-3,937), and 24.7% had sleep difficulty (n=8,199). We also found that the highest quartile of UPF, relative to the lowest quartile, is significantly associated with 23% increased odds of short sleep (aOR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.07-1.41; p=0.023), after adjusting for all covariates. The dose-response relationships between higher UPF intake and higher risk of short or long sleep were determined, respectively (both p <0.05). However, no association was found with sleep difficulty (aOR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.95-1.26; p =0.6185). We found the dose-response relationship between higher UPF intakes and higher risk for inadequat sleep …

Building A Successful And Innovative Mass Appraisal Modeling Team Part 2, Jennifer Rearich Mas, Cae, Res

GIS Technology Conference 2026

This presentation, Part 2 to the 2023 Presentation with the same title, delves into the management of Maricopa County’s mass appraisal modeling team. It is a deeper dive into training, remote work, and project management aspects. The management of valuation modelers presents unique challenges due to the project-based nature of their work, which contrasts with the production-focused tasks of appraisers or GIS technicians. Training is a critical aspect to the success of a modeling team given the specific skill sets required. In the past two years, we have developed a training library and will discuss our ongoing efforts to meticulously …

Energy Drinks Are Bad... Or Perhaps Not? A Comprehensive Evidence-Based Review Of Energy Drink Safety And Performance Effects, Saanvitha Rajendara

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Energy drinks rank as some of the most widely consumed functional beverages. However, they still cause controversy, confusion, and strong public opinions. Although many assume that these products are inherently harmful, a growing amount of research is constructing a different understanding. In reviewing the comprehensive analysis conducted by Dr. Jose Antonio, this presentation examines the scientific evidence behind the more common questions and misconceptions about energy drinks. These include rols of key ingredients like taurine and B-vitamins, as well as the energy drinks' influence on performance, metabolism, and overall health. The review also looks at sleep, cardiovascular function, and cognitive …