Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling U.S. Corn Production Archetypes In The Agricultural Policy/Environmental Extender Model To Generate Life Cycle Assessment Inventory Data, Brandon Taylor

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Corn (Zea mays) is an important crop grown across the US for many uses such as grain for animal feed, bio-ethanol production, food products, and industrial products. Corn is produced in almost every state in the US, but most corn production is concentrated in the Corn Belt Region including Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Although technologies and production practices are improving corn production efficiency primarily through increased yields (improved land use), corn production at this scale greatly impacts the environment through emissions from fertilizer and pesticide runoff and leaching, soil degradation due to improper field practices, as well …

Multivariate Optical Imaging Of The Oxygen-Metabolism Axis, Jesse D. Ivers

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Metabolic reprogramming is a characteristic hallmark of multiple pathologies and promotes disease progression, survival, and severity. Current methods to investigate metabolic reprogramming, however, require reductions of dimensionality both because of instrumentation limitations and analysis tools. This work aims to define a blueprint for high dimensional study of the oxygen metabolism axis to enable more sensitive study metabolic reprogramming. We hypothesized (1) multivariate imaging of metabolic and oxygenation metrics in ex vivo tissue sections would elucidate differences in resistant and sensitive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) xenografts that traditional uni-variate methods miss and (2) an engineered hyperspectral darkfield microscopy …

Bibliography For "Ai 2.0: Is Ai A Tool, A Threat, Or A Teammate?", Annikah Carpio, Sally Park, Melody Madrigal

Library Displays and Bibliographies

A bibliography created to support a display about AI 2.0 in August 2025 at the Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University.

Targeting Mmp-9 Activation After Early-Life Seizures Reduces Seizure Susceptibility And Memory Deficits In A Larval Zebrafish Model., Christopher Stegmuller, Alfonsina Ramón, Kasulul Melissa Bhuiyan, Nat Berk, Rebecca Han, Faisha Salami, Marina D'Angelo, Jocelyn Lippman-Bell

PCOM Scholarly Works

One in 26 Americans experience seizures, with a high incidence occurring in the first years of life. Chronic consequences of prolonged early-life seizures (ELS) in humans and rodent models vary, but can include the development of epilepsy (spontaneous, recurrent seizures) and cognitive impairment. Because it is not clear how seizures might lead to these consequences, no therapeutic strategy exists to prevent or predict them. Here, we optimized a larval zebrafish ELS model to assess a therapeutic approach targeting post-ELS sequelae. Using increased seizure susceptibility as a readout of the epileptogenic process and a novel object recognition task to assess memory, …

Controlling Electroless Deposition On Polymer Interfaces Towards Discrete Functional Particle Synthesis, Grecia Pierina Alvarado Munoz

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Electroless deposition is a process that facilitates the formation of metal layers on surfaces through the reduction of metal ions onto a surface in the presence of a sacrificial reducing agent. This process can be applied to synthesize conductive metal layers on insulators such as glass or polymers. The kinetics of heterogeneous deposition depend on the interfacial surface chemistry, including the presence of added catalyst materials, as well as the bulk chemical environment, such as the concentration of metal ions and sacrificial reductants. Furthermore, the homogeneous formation of metal nanoparticles may compete with the deposition reaction, adversely affecting the control …

Revealing Hidden Patterns: The Impact Of Toxic Course Combinations On Gpa Using Tableau, Zhen Zhang

Student Success Analytics

Presentation about using Tableau to explore the impact of different course combinations on student GPA in those courses

Evaluating What Works: A Comparison Of Five Diabetes Prevention Programs For Latino Children, Ruchi Patel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Background: Children in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) are at increased risk of diabetes due to limited access to effective, culturally appropriate prevention programs. Existing programs are often time-intensive, require transportation, and lack cultural relevance, reducing participation and impacting outcomes. This project aimed to evaluate diabetes prevention programs (DPPs) in the literature and identify five that may benefit children in the RGV by reducing diabetes risk.

Methodology: The Eightfold Path policy analysis approach guided this project. A literature review identified DPPs for children, and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used to assess study quality. Limitations included difficulty finding …

The Lasting Impact Of Childhood Maltreatment On Parenting: A Qualitative Study, Leslie K. Moorman

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This qualitative study explored how Child Protection Service (CPS)-involved parents made meaning of their parenting and what informed their meaning making. Bronfenbrenner’s Person Process Context Time (PPCT) framework was utilized to examine the context of parenting within the CPS system. The PPCT theoretical assumptions were used to discuss the results of the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants, from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All but one returned for a second interview. The CPS-involved parents disclosed childhood experiences that were consistent with childhood maltreatment. The participants were preoccupied with stories of their own childhood and not wanting to parent like …

Analysis Of Popular Songs In The Us Market, Michael Myers

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In today’s digitally driven music landscape, understanding what drive’s a song’s popularity requires insight not only into its acoustic and lyrical content, but also into patterns of listener engagement across platforms. This thesis explores the predictive and descriptive dimensions of song popularity by applying supervised and unsupervised machine learning models to a multi-source dataset integrating audio features, sentiment analysis, and temporal consumption behavior. Drawing from a novel, multi-platform dataset that includes Billboard Hot 100 rankings, Spotify acoustic features and popularity scores, streaming, airplay, and sales metrics as reported on Luminate’s Music Connect, and lyrics from AZLyrics, the study investigates the …

Assessing The Impact Of Pll And Ple Concentrations And Aging On Protein Condensates Formation Via Llps, Nabil Harche

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Protein droplets, also referred to as condensates, are membrane-less organelles formed through a biophysical process known as liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). These structures play an indispensable role in a wide range of cellular functions, including compartmentalizing biochemical reactions, regulating gene expression, and responding to cellular stress. Unlike traditional membrane-bound organelles, these condensates form dynamically and reversibly within the cytoplasm or nucleus, without the need for lipid membranes. The formation of these protein droplets is affected by several physicochemical factors, including pH, temperature, ionic strength, concentration of biomolecules, and specific molecular interactions such as electrostatics and hydrophobic forces. LLPS results in …

Human-Ai-Collaboration-For-Coding, Siddhardha Ravi

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

AI-generated code, while rapidly producing functional solutions, often falls short in aspects like comprehensive error handling, robust documentation, and optimal architectural design, areas where human expertise excels. Conversely, humans can greatly benefit from AI's rapid code generation capabilities. This project proposes and evaluates "A Framework to Improve Code Quality by Utilizing Generative AI Coding Along With Human-Written Code", designed to create a synergy between AI and human intelligence for enhanced software development. Conducted over four weeks, the research leverages BigCodeBench as its core dataset to rigorously investigate how human intervention can improve AI-generated code quality, identify the most effective human-AI …

Sports Teams As Multiteam Systems, Frederic Vinal

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

A multiteam system (MTS) is a unique and complex organizational form consisting of two or more distinct component teams which interact interdependently in pursuit of a shared goal. In many contexts, such as emergency response teams military operations units, disaster relief task forces, and collaborative scientific efforts, MTSs are easily and intuitively identifiable as distinct entities. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding boundary conditions of MTSs, and classification of an organizational form as an MTS in novel contexts. This study addresses that gap by examining whether and how sports teams can be conceptualized as MTSs. Using a …

Crustose Coralline Algae Accretion In A Kelp Forest Ecosystem In Southern New England, Usa, Ruimeng Liu

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Temperate reef ecosystems are experiencing rapid canopy loss of kelp and the proliferation of algal turf. However, the consequences of these changes for crustose coralline algae (CCA)— a key but often overlooked benthic calcifier—are poorly understood. Here, I study CCA recruitment patterns in southern New England, USA, using standardized settlement tiles at two field sites over 12 months (September 2023 – August 2024). I measure CCA accretion rates and the associated biological and environmental correlates of CCA recruitment. At the two sites, CCA accretion rates ranged from 0.0259 to 1.215 mg CaCO3 cm⁻² yr⁻¹, with an average of 0.441 mg …

Project Choices: An Experimental Serious Video Game For Performance-Based Risk Assessment, Rachel Bomysoad

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Risk assessment for future criminal conduct currently relies on evaluator ratings or self-report measures, with imperfect predictive utility. A new serious (clinical) video game, Project Choices, was developed for assessment and treatment purposes with persons involved with the criminal legal system. Project Choices offers performance-based measurement of individuals’ responses to realistic scenarios relevant to overall criminogenic risk and individual risk factors. The current study aimed to pilot test the newest version of Project Choices (Version 2) using a sample of university students (N = 100), examining gameplay performance metrics (number of risky decisions overall and within individual risk domains) for …

Electrophysiological Markers Of Emotion Dysregulation In Autistic Youth, Rachel G. Mcdonald

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Emotion dysregulation (ED) is a transdiagnostic mechanism that is conceptualized as difficultly regulating emotions and deploying appropriate regulation strategies in response to environmental stimuli. Meta-analyses suggest that autistic people, across the lifespan, experience more severe ED as compared to both neurotypical people and those with mental health conditions. Despite elevated risk and evidence linking ED to disruptions in neural mechanisms, no studies to date have examined neural markers of ED in autistic populations. The current project uses multi-method and multi-informant measurement to examine similarities and differences in neural mechanisms of ED in autistic and non-autistic populations. Forty-four youth aged 11—17 …

Seeing Students For Part Of Who They Are: High School Counselors' Experiences Broaching, Jessica M. Miserentino

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Broaching is raising issues of race, ethnicity, and culture (REC) in the counseling setting. Day-Vines and colleagues (2007) introduced this skill that involves counselors bringing topics of identity into the counseling space intentionally. This phenomenological study, guided by intersectionality, aimed to explore the experiences of high school counselors broaching REC. This study provided a further understanding and definition of broaching. Five main themes emerged to describe their experiences: 1) What is Broaching? 2) Broaching Strategies, 3) Broaching with Students and Various Stakeholders, 4) Systems of Power Impact Broaching, and 5) Professional Trajectory, Training, and Counselor Identity Impact Broaching. The findings …

Mind Mentor, The Workplace Mental Health Navigator: Evaluating The Utility Of A Self-Paced Web-Based Mental Health Awareness Training For Supervisors, Lauren Offermann

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The growing prevalence of mental health challenges in the workplace – such as anxiety and depression, burnout, suicide, and substance abuse – has increased demand for evidence-based supervisor training programs that promote psychological well-being. This study evaluated the effectiveness of Mind Mentor: The Workplace Mental Health Navigator, a 1.5-hour, web-based, self-paced adaptation of the Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT; Dimoff, 2016) for supervisors. The training aimed to enhance mental health knowledge, awareness, self-efficacy, and supportive behaviors among U.S.-based supervisors with at least one direct report. Using a pre/post/follow-up design (baseline N = 51, immediate post-test N = 35, and 4-week …

An Examination Of The Lived Experiences Of Community College Students Of Color Who Utilize On-Campus Food Pantries, Maria Luisa Marte

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In this dissertation, I present the findings of a descriptive phenomenological study I conducted focused on examining the experiences of community college students of color who utilize on-campus food pantries, aiming to understand how these resources impact their well-being. Through in-depth interviews, two central themes emerged. The first theme, Introduction to the On-Campus Food Pantry, highlights the accessibility of the service, with participants emphasizing the simplicity and efficiency of the registration process as a key factor in their initial engagement. The second theme, Experiences Using the Pantry, reveals that students found the pantry environment to be welcoming and non-stigmatizing, fostering …

"It's A Calling That Won't Let You Rest": The Experiences Of Counselor Educators Of Color Who Teach Social Justice, Sunanda M. Sharma

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Social justice advocacy has been described as a foundational ethical duty for all professional counselors (American Counseling Association, 2014). Counselor educators of color (CEOCs) have advocated for the advancement of multiculturalism and social justice in counseling (Sue et al., 1992; Vera & Speight, 2003). However, their lived experiences are not well-accounted for in the counseling literature. Grounded in critical race theory (CRT) (Delgado & Stefancic, 2017), this phenomenological study sought to explore the lived experiences of CEOCs who teach students to engage in systemic social justice advocacy (SSJA). Eleven participants described the essence of their experiences and four themes emerged …

The Lived Personal History Of Queer Teachers Engaged In Queer Pedagogy, Michael C. Shera

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study examines a group of five queer teachers of varied ages and genders who discussed their lived experiences navigating the heteronormativity of public school structures in conjunction with their work using queer pedagogy to support students. It answers the research question: How does the lived personal history of queer educators influence how, when, and in what ways they take up queer pedagogy? Employing a life history interview methodology, along with queer theory as a theoretical framework, this study explores intersections of the participants’ life history and their engagement in queer pedagogy to examine why and how they are driven …

Comparative Expression Of Cgmp-Dependent Protein Kinase G (Pkg) From Plasmodium And Toxoplasma, Tsopmo Asaah

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Malaria and Toxoplasmosis are life threatening diseases to humans. The search for a cure and control of these diseases is still one of the major challenges of scientists worldwide. In this research we focused on two Malaria species; Plasmodium bergei² (Pb) and Plasmodium falciparum¹ (Pf) and also on Toxoplasma gondii. Part of the life cycle of these organisms is regulated by the enzyme cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase G (PKG)⁴. This is our drug target in this research. We believe that inhibiting this enzyme will be a great step in fighting these diseases. In this research, we devised a comparative study …

Not Just A White People's Book Club: The Participatory Action Research Of An Educator Collaborative, Jessica E. Smedley

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This participatory action research (PAR) study investigated the learning and action of a racial and social justice book club composed of educators within a public school district. Over several years, the group engaged in collaborative cycles of inquiry, reflection, and systemic action to deepen understanding of racism, power, and equity in education. Framed by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, Relational-Cultural Theory, and Transformative Learning Theory, this study explored how learning in community supported both personal and collective transformation. Findings highlight that the book club functioned as a relational and intellectual space where vulnerability, critical reflection, and mutual accountability fostered growth-fostering relationships …

A Collaborative Teaching Approach: Teaching Emergent Bilinguals In Higher Education, Erika Oliveros

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation examines the collaboration between two college instructors, one in writing and one in psychology, to enhance support for emergent bilinguals at a private university in the northeastern United States. While collaboration among educators is widely encouraged in K–12 settings, it is far less common and studied in higher education, particularly in relation to language-minoritized students. Through an action research model, this study examines how our informal exchanges evolved into a more intentional and reflective collaboration over time. Grounded in the frameworks of translanguaging (García, 2009) and community cultural wealth (Yosso, 2005), the study traces the evolution of our …

Regulation Of Icer Degradation And Its Role In Melanoma, Justin Wheelan

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, with 100,640 new cases and 8,290 deaths estimated in the United States in 2024. While targeted therapies and immunotherapy have improved patient outcomes, resistance remains a major challenge, necessitating new therapeutic approaches. Approximately 50% of melanomas harbor BRAFⱽ⁶⁰⁰ᴱ mutations, leading to constitutive MAPK pathway activation. Targeted small molecule therapies such as BRAF and MEK inhibitors are available and initially reduce tumor burden, however resistance frequently occurs, likely through many pathways including compensatory activation of cAMP signaling. ICER (Inducible cAMP Early Repressor), a transcriptional repressor of CREB-mediated gene expression, is absent in melanoma …

A Multi-Proxy Approach For Understanding The Chicxulub Asteroid Impact (Cretaceous / Paleogene Boundary) And Its Aftermath, Hermann D. BermúDez

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The Chicxulub asteroid impact in what is now the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexican Caribbean, coincides with the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (K/Pg boundary ~66Ma) and marked the extinction of three-quarters of the species, including the iconic non-avian dinosaurs. The collision created a massive crater, releasing enormous amounts of energy and expelling millions of tons of molten and vaporized materials into the atmosphere. Chicxulub is an ideal case study for massive impact events since it is the only recognized asteroid impact on Earth's history that preserved a globally traceable ejecta layer representing a precise time-stratigraphic marker. Although numerous studies have examined the consequences of …

The Cost Of Strength: Navigating Systemic Racism And The Strong Black Woman Stereotype In The Workplace, Krystle M. Davis

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This research defined and explored the lived experiences of Black women in leadership and the role of systemic racism on the performance of the strong Black woman stereotype in the workplace. Grounded in Black feminist thought, epistemology, and phenomenology, this qualitative study seeks to deepen understanding the lived experiences of Black women. This manuscript-style dissertation comprises two studies: Study 1 consisted of nine participants who contributed through Sista Circle focus groups and Study 2 consisted of fourteen participants who engaged in semi-structured interviews to defined and examined their workplace experiences. Situated at the intersection of race and gender, this research …

Ocean-Ice Sheet Interactions During Super-Interglacial Mis 31: Comparison Of Rock Magnetic Records From The Scotia Sea (59.1°S) And Fram Strait (76.5°N), Olga Libman-Roshal

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The mid-Pleistocene transition (MPT) was a period spanning ~1.2-0.7 Ma when glacial-interglacial cyclicity changed from 41 kyr obliquity paced to 100 kyr eccentricity paced cycles with increased glacial-interglacial contrast post-MPT. Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 31 was a “super-interglacial” within the MPT and occurred in the recent geological past (1.08-1.06 Ma). During MIS 31, the tectonic configuration resembled the present day, but Earth’s orbital parameters were marked by maximum values of eccentricity and obliquity while atmospheric CO2 remained at pre-industrial levels (below 280 ppm). MIS 31 therefore offers a valuable baseline for testing the impacts of modern anthropogenic CO2 levels combined …

Elements Of Creative Writing, Second Edition, Grant Tracey, Rachel Morgan, Jeremy Schraffenberger

Faculty Book Gallery

This free and open access textbook introduces new writers to some basic elements of the craft of creative writing. The authors—Rachel Morgan, Jeremy Schraffenberger, and Grant Tracey—are editors of the North American Review (NAR), the oldest and one of the most well-regarded literary magazines in the United States.

We’ve selected nearly all of our readings and examples from writing that has appeared in our pages over the years. This 2nd edition includes several new topics and some new pieces from the NAR. Because we had a hand in publishing these pieces originally, our perspective as editors permeates this book. As …

08-19-25 Hsc Committee Meeting Agenda, Patricia Serna

HSC Committee (A subcommittee of the UNM Board of Regents)

08-19-25 HSC Committee Meeting Agenda

Aligning Remote Work Preferences With Workplace Outcomes: Investigating The Impact Of Person-Environment Fit, Sandylane Y. Oquendo

All Dissertations

Remote work gained steady popularity in all sectors after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined how matching employees' preferred remote work setup with their actual work environment affected job satisfaction, engagement, stress, and the desire to leave the company. Framed by Person-Environment Fit, the research examined how the match between individual preferences and work arrangements influenced these outcomes. Participants were surveyed using a 4x4 factorial design to capture responses across various remote work scenarios. Data regression analyses indicated that alignment between remote work preferences and actual work arrangements significantly improved job satisfaction and reduced stress and turnover intention. The expected …