Digital Commons Network^™

Unraveling Snow And Rain Contributions To Streamflow Through A Methodological Investigation On Cold And Warm Season End-Members, Rachel Grena

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Water supply and demand are encountering unique challenges in the western United States as climate change impacts the availability of water resources. Much of the west relies on high mountain snowpack to maintain consistent streamflow throughout the dry, warm season months. Temperatures often rise above freezing in the cold season, diminishing the snowpack size, and altering the timing of snowmelt. As droughts become more frequent, water managers are increasingly concerned about the risk of reduced summer streamflow. To understand changing hydrologic patterns, this study utilizes phase changes in precipitation, specifically the distinction between cold and warm season precipitation, and their …

Identification Of Anti-Inflammatory Pathways Induced By Enterotoxin B Subunits For Use As Therapeutics In Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Hannah Juel Hedelius

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Vibrio cholerae’s AB5 enterotoxin, cholera toxin (CT), has a homopentameric, non-toxic B subunit (CTB). CTB is a well-known vaccine adjuvant used for its ability to create a strong immune response, however more recent studies have shown its ability to also behave in an anti-inflammatory manner, performing as a protective agent in a variety of different inflammatory diseases. Escherichia coli (E. coli) produces a heat-labile AB5 enterotoxin (LT) that is very homologous to CT, with its B subunit (LTB) being used in a similar manner as a vaccine adjuvant. There have been many studies comparing LTB to CTB due …

Soil Carbon Storage And Its Relation To Abiotic And Biotic Factors In The Boise Foothills, Richie William Holder

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Terrestrial soil sequesters a significant amount of carbon (C), and changes to this pool can impact atmospheric CO2 concentrations and climate change. Thus, it is crucial to understand the drivers of the size of this pool. Changes in plant community composition in semi-arid ecosystems can impact soil C storage. However, little is known about the impact of plant functional type on the quantity and distribution of soil C on a landscape scale relevant to ecosystem management. I conducted a study in the City of Boise’s Open Space Reserves located north of Boise, Idaho to evaluate how plant functional type affects …

Cultivating Care And Resilience: The Contributions And Challenges Of Women Farmers In Hawaii’S Agricultural Landscape, Olivia Manley

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation examines the multifaceted experiences of women farmers in Hawaii, focusing on their motivations, community contributions, and engagement with agricultural programs. Using a semi-grounded theory approach and drawing on feminist political ecology and care work lenses, this study centers on the lived realities of women farming in Maui County. Through in-depth interviews, it explores how these farmers navigate challenges, build resilient food systems, and uphold cultural and environmental stewardship. Findings reveal that women farm not solely for economic gain but as an expression of care for ʻāina (land), family, and community. Their work makes a significant contribution to …

Social And Economic Gradients Of Resource Transfer Behavior In Gorongosa, Mozambique, Karl J. Mertens

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Why do people who experience the same environmental and social conditions vary so much in their resource transfer behavior? This dissertation addresses that question through examination of behavioral variation in subsistence horticulturalists in the dry tropical forest bufer conservation area of Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. In this region of moderate and acute food shortages at both household and regional levels, individuals face similar challenges of addressing social and resource uncertainty yet respond with marked behavioral variation that cannot be explained solely by diferences in wealth, kinship, or reciprocity patterns.

Using a Behavioral Reaction Norms (Dingemanse et al., 2010) (BRN) …

How Plant-Soil Feedbacks At Varying Levels Of Plant Species Diversity Influences The Reestablishment And Performance Of Native Sagebrush Steppe Species, Sierra Santosuosso

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Increased frequency of wildfire has become a significant problem in the sagebrush steppe, altering soil biogeochemical properties that promote the establishment of invasives at the expense of native species. To reduce annual grass invasion, restoration efforts often include seeding with non-native bunch grasses such as Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn (crested wheatgrass [AGCR]) that outcompete cheatgrass; however, this strategy does not lead to the return of a native sagebrush steppe ecosystem. Restoring ecosystems to higher levels of native species diversity may reduce invasion and promote sustained success of restoration efforts since biodiversity can improve ecosystem functioning and promote resilience. In 2019 …

Preparing Pre-Service Teachers For Writing Instruction: Best-Practices And Insights Into Self-Efficacy, Lindsey Wiggins

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Many pre-service teachers (PSTs) report feeling under-prepared to teach writing, a challenge often linked to limited attention to writing instruction in teacher preparation programs (TPPs). While writing methods courses offer opportunities to build PSTs’ self-efficacy and pedagogical skill, questions remain about how to best structure these experiences and measure their impact. This three-article dissertation examines how PSTs develop self-efficacy for writing and writing instruction during teacher preparation and how those beliefs relate to instructional practices.

In Study I, I conducted a systematic literature review to examine how researchers measure the effects of effective writing and writing instruction interventions with elementary …

Owl Integrations Soil Monitor, Derek Chau, Armaan Kahlon

Electrical Engineering

This paper examines the design process and results concerning the OWL Integrations soil monitor. Disaster relief relies heavily on digital communications, especially in environments where conventional methods (e.g. Wi-Fi, cellular, fiber optics) are unusable. To help emergency services assess disaster-stricken areas, a soil monitoring system was developed using LilyGo T-Beams (ESP32), programmed with specialized firmware known as the ClusterDuck Protocol to collect data pertaining to moisture and temperature. The project is sponsored by OWL Integrations, with help from the Cal Poly Electrical Engineering (EE) Department. Results show positive prospects, with the product able to make 4 km transmissions, operate for …

International Legal Guidelines For Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Governance Under The London Convention And London Protocol, Korey Silverman-Roati, Romany M. Webb

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

For the past two decades, parties to the London Convention and Protocol have negotiated rules, decisions, and amendments related to climate change. These efforts have principally focused on two sets of technologies – sub-seabed carbon dioxide storage and marine geoengineering. Initial discussions regarding marine geoengineering focused specifically on ocean fertilization but, more recently, the parties have considered an expanded array of marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) approaches, including ocean alkalinity enhancement and ocean sinking of biomass. Throughout these discussions, the parties have invoked legal principles and guidelines, like the precautionary approach, to inform their assessment of how to apply the …

Producing A Map Of Political Advocacy – Locational Difference And Interconnectedness In West Michigan Lgbt Advocacy, Samuel J. Darnell

Masters Theses

This study examines, through a qualitative lens, the influence of a local environment upon the operations, messaging, and perspectives of individuals within LGBT advocacy organizations and broader LGBT advocacy efforts. This was achieved via analysis of in-person and verbal interviews with individuals involved in the operation of these advocacy organizations. Interviews were analyzed with a focus on political perception, organization structure and history, funding sources, and challenges faced in operation such as political conflicts or harassment. Initially focusing on a comparison of the advocacy environment of Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, the study expanded to several neighboring towns that hosted advocacy …

University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga Faculty Handbook, 2025 August 1, University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga. Office Of Academic Affairs, University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga. Faculty Senate

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Faculty Handbooks

Governance, policies, guidelines, services, and resources managed by and for the faculty at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Synthesis Of Novel Derivatives From Machilin C/D As Antiproliferative Agents Against Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Alyson M. Ackerman, Chibuzor Olewele, Bert C. Lynn, Samuel G. Awuah

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Lignans are small polyphenolic compounds that play an active role in plant defense against pathogens and predators. Recently, lignan machilin D was reported to be effective as an anti-tumorigenic agent in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) tumor-bearing mice. Previous studies have relied on plant-extracted material limiting scalability and diversification of the natural scaffold. Herein, we describe a generalizable one-pot synthesis of machilin D and its derivatives via an iron chloride-induced dimerization of isoeugenol. Employing this synthetic methodology allowed for a robust diversification campaign to access seven (7) new lignan derivatives of the machilin D family with superior anti-proliferative properties in …

Invisible Algorithms, Visible Outcomes: Roles Of Emotional Labor And Work Gamification In Gigs, Yali Zhang, Liaoliao Li, Xiaoyu Ma, Jun Sun, Yifei Dong, Zhaojun Yang

Information Systems Faculty Publications

As algorithm governance becomes increasingly crucial in gig economy ecosystems, understanding the behavioral impact of algorithmic transparency remains a key research gap. Using the stimulus-organism-response framework and uncertainty management theory, this study examines how platform algorithmic transparency affects gig workers’ in-role and extra-role service behaviors, with emotional labor acting as a mediator and work gamification as a moderator. Analyzing survey data from 325 ride-hailing drivers using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), the findings reveal that greater algorithmic transparency enhances both in-role and extra-role behaviors. Emotional labor mediates this relationship: deep acting strengthens both behaviors, while surface acting primarily …

Improving Hiv Pep Patient Follow-Up Appointment And Laboratory Testing In A Telehealth Setting: A Quality Improvement Project, Ralston Lockett

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The ongoing HIV epidemic in the United States highlights the need for innovative prevention strategies, including non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP). This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project evaluated a telehealth-based intervention aimed at increasing HIV PEP follow-up appointments and laboratory completion rates, while also enhancing provider knowledge. Dual interventions included a patient reminder system and provider education. While provider knowledge significantly improved post-intervention, based on Cohen’s d effect size of 0.62, clinical significance was demonstrated by follow-up appointment rates declining from 44% pre-intervention to 41% post-intervention. Laboratory completion rates also decreased, with 53% of patients completing labs pre-intervention compared to …

Beyond The Degree And Financial Obligations: An Examination Of Generation Z (1995-2010) Perspectives, Attitudes, And Motivations On Giving To American Higher Education, John R. Steger

Education Doctoral

Four-year higher education institutions rely heavily on donations from external sources, including alumni. As Generation Z begins to enter the next phase of their lives after college, these institutions need to understand this generation's perspectives, attitudes, and motivations regarding giving back to their alma mater. Known for its distinct traits that set it apart from previous generations, Generation Z is the focus of this quantitative study, which uses a screening questionnaire and a cross-sectional survey to examine their activities and behaviors related to philanthropy toward higher education. The questionnaire was hosted on Amazon Mechanical Turk and analyzed using SPSS. The …

Islamism And Women’S Movements In Iran: Hijab As A Burden Of Representation, Samah Ahmed

International Studies (MA) Theses

Throughout history, Islamic discourse, political Islam, and the status of Muslim women have been subjects of study. Still, few research efforts have concentrated on the changes and dynamics between Islamic discourse and feminist resistance. Particularly in Iran, attention has primarily been given to the Islamism project, often treated as separate from social movements in post-Islamism. This thesis explores how social movements have used the symbolism of the veil in their resistance, focusing specifically on the women's social movement during the Islamic Revolution. Drawing on Assef Bayat's approach of Islamism and social movements and Gender and power dynamics theory, the main …

Misinformation, Disinformation, And The Erosion Of Institutional Trust: The Role Of Social Media In Democracy, Andres Murillo

International Studies (MA) Theses

In recent years, social media-driven misinformation and disinformation have helped erode public trust in democratic institutions. This thesis examines how constant exposure to false online content correlates with declining confidence in democracy and evaluates the roles of platforms, influencers, and mechanisms. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, this thesis pairs a quantitative survey with a qualitative analysis of three disinformation case studies: the 2020 U.S. election and the “Stop the Steal” movement, the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar crisis, and Russian denial of wartime atrocities in their invasion against Ukraine. Drawing on classical and modern propaganda theories (Lasswell, Herman & Chomsky, RAND’s …

The Collapse Of Negara Hukum: How Indonesia’S Rule Of Law Has Been Shaped By Embedded Oligarch Politics?, Herlambang Perdana Wiratraman

The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies

This article argues recent performance of the rule of law in the 25-years period after Soeharto’s authoritarian regime. Why has there been a weakening of civil liberties, while on the other hand the oligarchic power and authoritarianism strengthens the current Indonesia’s politics. This article examines the prevalence of arbitrary practices, not only in the fair procedural process of law enforcement, but also why it is so easy to pass anti-democratic laws that contradict the principles of the rule of law. By referring to three specific case studies: free expression, academic freedom and press freedom, this article found that politics in …

The Petrological And Geochemical Analysis Of The Grant Intrusive Breccia And Vaughn Intrusive Within Hicks Dome, Hardin County, Illinois, Aaron Michael Beirl

Theses

Hicks Dome is a crypto-volcanic feature found in the southeastern corner of Hardin County, Illinois. The dome formed around 270 Ma (late Permian), as part of the Permian Wauboukigou Igneous Province (PWIP), through a series of explosive igneous intrusions that caused uplift and clear structural deformation to the area. There was not enough magma feeding the intrusions to breach the surface, but due to the unique geochemistries of the magma(s), these intrusions formed amalgamations of alkaline, carbonatitic, and ultramafic gabbros. The overall geochemistry of these intrusions have high amounts of iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca), with relatively low amounts of …

Comparative Phylogeography Of Three Widely Distributed Amazonian Poison Frogs, Sofia Del Milagro Granados Martinez

Theses

Amazonia has gone through extensive changes in its climates, geology, hydrology and drainage systems over the past 10 mya; these processes have been postulated as key drivers of diversification. Contrary to the trend where species once broadly distributed are subdivided into several species with restricted distributions, many taxa span the Amazon basin without noticeable genetic differentiation. In my thesis, I studied the phylogenetic and phylogeographic patterns of three widely distributed Amazonian poison frogs: Ameerega hahneli, Ameerega trivittata and Ranitomeya variabilis. I examined phylogenetic relationships based on two different types of genomic data—nuclear and mitochondrial—and I carried out population structure analyses. …

Layer-Wise Prediction Of Overhang-Related Geometric Deviation In Metal Additive Manufacturing With Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks, Himal Sapkota

Theses

Ensuring dimensional precision in parts with complex overhangs is a significant concern in Metal Additive Manufacturing (MAM), as undetected geometric deviations can compromise functionality and reliability. This research introduces a Conditional Generative Adversarial Network (cGAN), specifically the Pix2Pix framework, to predict layer-wise geometric deviations in Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) printed parts with overhang geometries using paired 2D CAD slices and corresponding X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) based ground truth images. A key innovation is using RGB color-coded CAD slices to encode overhang angle information, enhancing feature distinction and prediction accuracy compared to non-color-coded inputs. Eighteen Pix2Pix models were trained across …

Climate Drives Genetic Diversity Loss In American Pika (Ochotona Princeps) Populations In The Great Basin, Emily N. Kulig, Jane Van Gunst, Michael J. Hernandez, Yvonne Luong, Monica Villaseñor, Rachel S. Crowhurst, Clinton W. Epps, Jessica A.Castillo Vardaro

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

American pikas (Ochotona princeps) are small, thermally sensitive mammals that primarily live in montane and alpine environments. The Sierra Nevada lineage (O. p. schisticeps) has experienced numerous local extinctions, most of which occurred in hotter, drier regions such as the Great Basin. Few genetic studies have assessed these at-risk populations. This study aims to fill that gap by conducting fine-scale genetic analyses on populations in low-elevation Great Basin habitat in northwestern Nevada. Specifically, we: (i) quantified genetic diversity and structure among populations within O. p schisticeps, with particular focus on northwestern Nevada; and (ii) assessed the influence of primary productivity …

How Are Teachers Leading Now? From Access To Activism: An Introduction To The Special Issue, Kaavonia Hinton, Jori S. Beck

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

In this introduction to a special issue on teacher leadership (TL), the editors argue that recent attacks against antiracist teaching have influenced TL. Thus, we offer an overview of several issues these collected authors explore related to TL, including access to TL for teachers of color; advancing equity through leadership teams; self-care for teacher advocates; and TL as advocacy, activism, and antiracist work.

Ai-Enhanced Structured Literacy Intervention For Secondary Students: A Case Study Of Science Of Reading, Jennifer Bird

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This study examines the effectiveness of Lexia PowerUp, an AI-powered literacy program, for sixth-grade students requiring Tier 3 reading intervention. Seven sixth-grade students (six boys, one girl; five African American, two Caucasian; all qualifying for free/reduced lunch) participated in a six-month intervention combining 50 minutes of daily small-group instruction with individualized Lexia PowerUp usage. Researchers measured progress through Achieve 3000 Lexile assessments and Lexia PowerUp performance data across three skill strands: Word Study, Grammar, and Comprehension. All participants demonstrated Lexile level improvements from beginning-of-year to mid-year assessments, though students remained below sixth-grade benchmarks (925-1070L). Analysis of Lexia PowerUp progression showed …

The Silent Grief Of Grandmothers After An Out-Of-Order Death—An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Jordan Robertson, Elizabeth Cutrer, Paul Caldarella, Jeremy B. Yorgason, Terrell Young, Erjola Gjini, Sarah Stuart, Savannah Tueller

Faculty Publications

This study delves into the lived experiences of grandmothers grappling with grief following the “out-of-order” death of a child, child-in-law, or grandchild, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis grounded in the Dual Process Model-Revised. With 70% of U.S. adults over 65 being grandparents, the research highlights their often-invisible role as both grievers and caregivers amid family loss. Findings reveal three key themes: navigating personal grief, intergenerational support dynamics, and reconstructing family identity. Grandmothers oscillate between loss-oriented and restoration-oriented coping, with grief intensity varying by relational proximity—most profound when losing their own child. They provide emotional and practical support to surviving grandchildren, …

B.R. Wells Arkansas Rice Research Studies 2024, J. Hardke, X. Sha, N. Bateman

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Research reports contained in the publication may represent preliminary or only a single year of results; therefore, these results should not be read as a basis for long-term recommendations.

Several research reports in this publication will appear in other University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station publications. This duplication is the result of the overlap in research coverage between disciplines and our effort to inform Arkansas rice producers of all the research being conducted with funds from the rice check-off program. This publication also contains research funded by industry, federal, and state agencies.

Use of products …

Visual Analog Of Temporal Envelope Benefits Speech Processing In Cochlear Implant Users: A Pilot Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study On The Associations Between Audiovisual Benefit, Listening Environment, And Peripheral Neural Health, Zi Gao, Yi Yuan, Christopher R. Mueller, Ross A. Aiello, Yingying Wang, Shuman He

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Objectives: This study compared the benefit of visual analog of temporal envelope for speech processing across listening environments in postlingually deafened adult cochlear implant users. Associations between cortical activities and peripheral neural health were explored. Design: Speech perception was measured using Harvard/IEEE sentences in quiet and noise with a visually presented sphere whose size was synchronized with the temporal envelope of the sentences. Cortical activities were recorded concurrently using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Audiovisual benefit was evaluated using sentence scores, activation additivity, and functional connectivity. Peripheral neural health was measured using electrically evoked compound action potentials. Results: Behavioral results showed the …

Optimal Quantization For Nonuniform Discrete Distributions, Russel Cabasag, Samir Huq, Eric Mendoza, Mrinal Kanti Roychowdhury

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

This paper explores the process of optimal quantization for several types of discrete probability distributions. Quantization is a technique used to approximate a complex distribution with a smaller set of representative points, which is important in fields such as data compression and signal processing. We begin by examining two specific nonuniform distributions over a finite set of values and identify the best representative points for different levels of approximation. We then extend our analysis to two infinite discrete distributions: one supported on the reciprocals of natural numbers and another on the natural numbers themselves. For these distributions, we compute the …

Night-Time Warming And Prey Availability Interact To Influence Physiology In Prairie Lizards (Sceloporus Consobrinus), Allison R. Litmer, Morgan K. Pelley, Steven J. Beaupre

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Among ectotherms, temperature and food availability are drivers of individual and population characteristics. Increasing night-time temperatures due to climate change can increase energetic demands, potentially amplified or mitigated by prey consumption. Few studies examine night-time temperatures specifically, and consequences of co-occurring changes in the abiotic and biotic environment. Thus, we examined interactions between warming night-time temperatures and prey availability (as a proxy of foraging time and effectiveness), and how they affect food consumption, digestive passage time, metabolizable energy intake (MEI), assimilated energy, and fecal and urate production in a model organism, prairie lizards (Sceloporus consobrinus). Three temperature treatments (current conditions, …

Temporal Disparities In Diagnosis: The Critical Impact Of Laboratory Workflow Inefficiencies On Outcomes In Metabolic And Cardiovascular Disorders, Evans Dzreke, Celene Dzreke, Ramseyer Adekorang Asamoah, David Kanze

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Diagnostic delays and laboratory process inefficiencies constitute a common but unaddressed dilemma in contemporary healthcare, quietly undermining patient outcomes in metabolic and cardiovascular illnesses where immediate intervention is critical. This seminal work goes beyond traditional operational viewpoints to demonstrate diagnostic inefficiency as an independent, adjustable risk factor with far-reaching implications. We rigorously quantified the impact of delayed test processing and reporting on clinical outcomes using a comprehensive mixed-methods approach that included multi-center retrospective cohort analysis (N=128,743 patients), real-time workflow mapping across 37 laboratories, in-depth case reviews, and economic modeling. Our findings challenged conventional wisdom by indicating that each 24-hour increase …