Digital Commons Network^™

Sustainability: Buzz Word Or Future Of Fashion? Measuring The Feasibility Of Outright Sustainability Among Fast Fashion’S Biggest Agents, Ryan Miller

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

The fashion industry is currently experiencing unsustainable rates of pollution within its supply chains. The rapid increase in demand for short lead times perpetrated by large-scale retailers has led to hazardous practices negatively affecting both the environmental conditions and working conditions of producing countries. With this increased pressure, relationships between brands and suppliers have become untenable. Limited transparency and imbalanced power dynamics at the hand of the industry’s leading retailers require restructuring in order to build more sustainable and equitable supply-chain practices. Further, governmental regulation is currently limited in its capacity to enforce sustainable business practices on a global …

Measuring The Accuracy Of Hierarchal Linear Models And Visual Analysis For Evaluating Single-Case Designs, Justin Myers

Dissertations

Behavior analysts often use single-case experimental designs to evaluate behavioral interventions. Data are typically analyzed through the visual analysis of graphs. Visual analysis has several limitations, however. Visual analysis has only moderate inter-rater reliability and small effects can be difficult to detect, especially if data are variable. Hierarchal Linear Models (HLMs) have been proposed as method for quantifying results of single-case designs. HLMs are a type of statistical model that can evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with nested data, whereby sessions are nested within treatment conditions. An advantage of HLMs over other statistical tests is that they do not require …

Examination Of Caregiver Supervision Practices And Beliefs Among Caregivers Of Children With Bleeding Disorders, Sophia Noelle Prokos

Dissertations

Abstract: Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for young children in the United States, and children with chronic medical conditions such as bleeding disorders are at elevated risk for injury and more severe outcomes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021; Mayes et al., 2009; Shen et al., 2016). While caregiver supervision is a known strategy for injury prevention (Damashek & Corlis, 2017; Morrongiello et al., 2011), limited research has examined how supervision beliefs and practices differ for caregivers of children with bleeding disorders. The present study compared caregiver supervision, injury attitudes, and injury history between …

Perceptions Of National Identity And Government Trust: The Effects Of Migrant Education Policies In Thailand, Kathryn Creglow

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study looks at how government policies that shape national identity influence people's trust in the federal government. Using Thailand as an example, it focuses on immigration policies and their effect on public trust, especially in a country with a strong sense of national identity. This research study specifically examines Thailand’s 2005 “Education for All” policy, which allowed immigrant children to attend public schools. This policy was seen by some as a challenge to national identity. The study investigates whether such policies impact how much people trust the government.

To measure this, the study compares changes in trust over for …

"Why Does Coach Do That?" Exploring Influences Of Coach Behavior In Non-Elite Women's Artistic Gymnastics, Katherine Vernay Adams

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This two study dissertation explores coaching in women's artistic gymnastics, as the sport has been criticized for harsh and controlling coaching methods. The first study investigated whether coaches who experienced mistreatment as young gymnasts were more likely to adopt controlling coaching practices. While there was no direct link, those with a history of mistreatment tended to struggle more with managing their emotions. The second study tested whether coaches view controlling coaching as more acceptable for younger or more advanced gymnasts. The results showed that neither age nor skill level made a difference—controlling coaching was generally viewed as unacceptable, while supportive …

“I Wish These Damned People Would Stay Put”: The Political Ambivalence Of Us Archaeologists In Guatemala, 1931–1956, Fernando Armstrong-Fumero

Anthropology: Faculty Publications

This article traces the history of how two generations of US archaeologists navigated their relationship with the Guatemalan government, from the Jorge Ubico dictatorship in the 1930s through the democratic opening of the 1940s and 1950s and the subsequent CIA-sponsored coup. Critiques of modern archaeology have focused on the discipline’s history of ideological and material collusion with different projects of US and European imperialism in the Global South. While the archaeologists discussed here benefited from US hegemony in the region, their own correspondence reflects an ambivalent relationship to formal frameworks of international law and a desire to function as autonomous …

How Do Homeschool Parents In South Carolina Select Curriculum And Make Pedagogical Choices To Support Their Children’S Early Reading Development?, Lauretta O. Osho

All Dissertations

Early Childhood Education (ECE) is a period of growth and development for young children as they begin their educational journey. The need for a high-quality early childhood learning experience is necessary for the child’s holistic development, without which children may grow up with learning challenges that could negatively impact their adult life. Each child's early learning experience must begin with a good and deliberate reading foundation. Therefore, understanding the best methods of instilling strong reading skills in children from an early age sets the foundation for lifelong learning and success.

Homeschooling is the practice of educating, instructing, and tutoring children …

Data-Driven Koopman Theory For Transient Stability And Safety Analysis Of Power Systems With Renewable Penetration, Bhagyashree Umathe

All Dissertations

This dissertation presents a novel approach to analyzing and controlling nonlinear systems using the Koopman operator framework and data-driven methods. Nonlinear power systems, characterized by complex behaviors and sensitivity to initial conditions, pose significant challenges for stability and safety assessment, especially during transient events.

The first part of this work focuses on reachability analysis using the spectral properties of the Koopman operator. By leveraging eigenfunctions extracted from sampled trajectory data, the approach computes forward and backward reachable sets efficiently, even in high-dimensional nonlinear systems, without requiring dense state-space sampling. This method is validated through numerical examples, demonstrating its ability to …

Complex Factors Impacting Smoking Behavior In Cancer Survivors With Food Insecurity, Madeline C. Castele, Kareena Shah, Avianna Thompson, Jin E. Kim-Mozeleski

Faculty Scholarship

Objectives: Tobacco use remains prevalent among people with social needs, such as food insecurity. In this study, we aimed to understand the complex experiences of low-income cancer survivors with food insecurity who smoke tobacco, to identify the unique smoking cessation needs for this group. Methods: We conducted in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews with 40 adults experiencing food insecurity who continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis. Interviews focused on smoking behaviors, cessation interest, cancer experiences, and financial circumstances. We analyzed the data using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: In this sample of cancer survivors (50% female, mean age 42 years, 60% black/African American, …

Effects Of Training With Different Set-Repetition Configurations On High-Intensity Exercise Endurance And Acute Recoverability, Wesley Gawel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to evaluate how high- (3x10) versus low-repetition (3x2) resistance training affects (1) muscular strength-endurance and (2) immediate recovery after a high-intensity exercise effort (HIEE). Fourteen college-aged participants (10 males: 24.5 ± 4.9 yrs, 1.76 ± 0.05 m, 86.56 ± 6.90 kg; 4 females: 23.0 ± 2.8 yrs, 1.58 ± 0.09 m, 62.19 ± 5.96 kg) completed a 4-week training program and were divided into two groups: G2 (3x2; 5 males, 2 females) and G10 (3x10; 5 males, 2 females). All subjects performed back squats to failure at 67.5% of baseline 1RM. Repetitions (REPS) and volume load with …

Pre-Service Teacher Perceptions Of An Outdoor Learning Experience Within A Science Methods Course, Steph Dean, Summer Landreth

Publications

Given the challenges currently facing early childhood science education, this exploratory study investigates the advantages of outdoor learning as part of a teacher preparation program. A group of 49 pre-service early childhood education teachers participated in a day-long outdoor learning experience embedded within their science methods course. Guided by the theoretical lens of embodied cognition, we employed a case study approach to collect and analyze qualitative survey data, using both categorizing and connecting strategies to explore participants’ experiences. The findings reveal four key themes related to pre-service teacher perceptions, in that outdoor learning: (1) represented an engaging experience, (2) contributed …

Apoe4 Reshapes The Lipid Droplet Proteome And Modulates Microglial Inflammatory Responses, Cassi M. Friday, Isaiah O. Stephens, Cathryn T. Smith, Sangderk Lee, Diksha Satish, Nicholas A. Devanney, Sarah Cohen, Josh M. Morganti, Scott M. Gordon, Lance A. Johnson

Physiology Faculty Publications

Excess lipid droplet (LD) accumulation is implicated in various diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet the mechanisms underlying this accumulation remain unclear. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a droplet-associated protein, and its E4 variant confers the greatest genetic risk for late-onset AD while also being linked to increased neuroinflammation and LD accumulation. In this study, we compared the lipid and protein composition of hepatic LDs in targeted replacement mice expressing human E3 (neutral) or E4 (risk variant), under both baseline conditions and following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. Lipidomic analysis revealed that E4 LDs exhibit a shift in glycerophospholipid distribution, with an increase …

Making Sense Of Myc In Skeletal Muscle, Ronald G. Jones, Sebastian Edman, Nathan Serrano, Yuan Wen, John J. Mccarthy, Christopher S. Fry, Ferdinand Von Walden, Kevin A. Murach

Physiology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Microrna-1 Regulates Metabolic Flexibility By Programming Adult Skeletal Muscle Pyruvate Metabolism, Ahmed Ismaeel, Bailey D. Peck, Mclane M. Montgomery, Benjamin I. Burke, Jensen Goh, Abigail B. Franco, Qin Xia, Katarzyna Goljanek-Whysall, Brian Mcdonagh, Jared M. Mclendon, Pieter J. Koopmans, Daniel Jacko, Kirill Schaaf, Wilhelm Bloch, Sebastian Gehlert, Kevin A. Murach, Kelsey H. Fisher–Wellman, Ryan L. Boudreau, Yuan Wen, John J. Mccarthy

Physiology Faculty Publications

Objective: Metabolic flexibility refers to the ability of tissues to adjust cellular fuel choice in response to conditional changes in metabolic demand and activity. A loss of metabolic flexibility is a defining feature of various diseases and cellular dysfunction. This study investigated the role of microRNA-1 (miR-1), the most abundant microRNA in skeletal muscle, in maintaining whole-body metabolic flexibility. Methods: We used an inducible, skeletal muscle-specific knockout (KO) mouse model to examine miR-1 function. Argonaute 2 enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation sequencing (AGO2 eCLIP-seq) and RNA-seq analyses identified miR-1 target genes. Metabolism was investigated using metabolomics, proteomics, and comprehensive bioenergetic and …

Transferrin Receptor 1 Deficiency In Smooth Muscle Cells Attenuates Vascular Remodeling In Hypertensive Mice, Yoshiro Naito, Hisashi Sawada, Tetsuo Horimatsu, Masaki Ohmuraya, Masanori Asakura, Masaharu Ishihara

Physiology Faculty Publications

Transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), a crucial cellular iron receptor, has a variety of biological functions. We have previously reported that TfR1 abundance increases in the aortic media of hypertensive rat models. However, its role in vascular diseases remains unknown. In the present study, we generated smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific TfR1 deficient mice and examined the impact of its deletion in mouse models of hypertension induced by angiotensin II or deoxycorticosterone acetate/salt administration. SMC-specific TfR1 deletion attenuated medial thickening and elastin fragmentation in both mouse models of hypertension. These results indicate that TfR1 in SMCs exerts a role in vascular remodeling …

Biojardineras In Monteverde: A Mixed Method Approach To Examine Greywater Treatment, Elyssa Allen, Jackson Anderson, Brayden Dostal, Alan Hernandez, Kacy Moe, Facundo Pereya-Kluser

Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Rural and semi-rural regions around the globe often struggle with inadequate wastewater treatment infrastructure, thereby negatively impacting the public and environmental health of the region. Due to its rural nature and current infrastructure, the Monteverde Zone (MVZ) in Costa Rica lacks a centralized wastewater system, with many homes relying on septic tanks for wastewater treatment. To prevent overloaded flows to septic tanks, greywater from kitchens, laundry, showers, and sinks is often discharged separately to the environment with no treatment. This pollutes the surrounding water bodies and streets with pathogens, soap, excess nutrients, as well as fats, oils, and grease (FOG). …

The Lived Experiences Of Fathers With Postpartum Depression: A Qualitative Study, Rachael Elizabeth Schmitz

Nursing and Health Sciences

Background:

Although parents may joyfully anticipate the birth of a child, it's impossible for them to know ahead of time just how profoundly their lives will change. Postpartum depression (PPD) can result. While there is a substantial body of research regarding maternal PPD, paternal PPD has received far less attention and is neither adequately understood nor diagnosed. This is exacerbated by outdated but persistent sociocultural masculinity norms and the stigmas around mental health issues.

Purpose:

This study sought to explore the lived experiences of new fathers with PPD in order to provide greater insight into their experiences.

Methods:

This qualitative …

Diagnostic Accuracy Of The Stopbang Questionnaire Against Polysomnography For The Screening Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea In A Tertiary Hospital In Kenya., Sandra Obaje Maseno

Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea is a syndrome of upper airway and neuromuscular dysfunction during sleep that subsequently causes interruption of normal breathing. Polysomnography is the reference test for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea can be categorised as mild, moderate or severe based on an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) on polysomnography. The recommended treatment using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure lowers morbidity and mortality rates. The STOPBANG questionnaire has been used as a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea due to its easy and concise approach. However, even with the increasing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea and its risk …

Perception And Experiences With Telemedicine Among Caregivers Of Children Requiring Outpatient Chronic Care, Maureen Wambui Kigara

Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction Telemedicine is an expanding healthcare modality with potential to enhance access to paediatric specialist care, reduce healthcare costs, and minimize school and work disruptions. However, little is known about caregiver perceptions and experiences with telemedicine in low- and middle-income countries, especially in the context of chronic paediatric care.

Objectives This study explored how caregivers of children with chronic health conditions perceive and experience telemedicine, and what factors influence its adoption. The findings aim to inform the design of patient-centered paediatric telemedicine services.

Methodology A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted at the Paediatric Specialist Clinics of Aga Khan University Hospital. …

Dominican Republic Medical Mission Trip 2025, Julianna Wolff, Carla Kosorog

HLTHS 1800 Global Healthcare Initiatives: Dominican Republic 2025 Documents

This medical mission trip was located within the Dominican Republic in the

La Ciénaga area.

- The predominant language spoken is Dominican Spanish. However, many

students learn a combination of French and English throughout their

schooling.

- As explained throughout this presentation, access to healthcare ranges

from minimal to none within this region of the Dominican Republic.

Autonomous, Yet Anchored: Exploring The Interplay Of Self-Reliance And Personal Spirituality On Employee Outcomes, Alexander Schad

All Dissertations

The modern workplace increasingly requires employees to function autonomously while managing limited psychological resources, presenting a tension between the benefits of self-reliance and its potential costs to well-being. This dissertation examined how self-reliance simultaneously influences task persistence and emotional exhaustion, and explores whether personal spirituality moderates these relationships. Drawing on the Strength Model of Self-Control (SMSC), I develop and test a theoretical framework investigating the relationships between self-reliance, work overload, task persistence, emotional exhaustion, and workplace spirituality.

Through a time-lagged field study with 453 working professionals across three measurement waves, I found that self-reliance positively predicted task persistence, supporting the …

Bringing Life To Our Mission And Vision: A Problem Of Practice, Jessica Preisig

All Dissertations

This study leveraged principles of improvement science and a mixed methods approach to evaluate the impact of an intentionally designed professional learning cohort for teachers. The intended aim of this study was to equip teachers with the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy necessary to effectively utilize instructional technology to meaningfully engage all learners. As one part of a collaborative dissertation in practice, this study explored the broad impact of teachers’ participation in a cohort implementing the seven elements of effective professional development (Darling-Hammond et al., 2017) and framed around the ISTE Standards for Educators (Crompton, 2017). The companion study (Britton, forthcoming) …

Drawing On The Past: Understanding Japanese American Internment Through Camp Newspaper Comics, Rory Olsen

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

When studying the past, what artifacts are left behind for us to study? In understanding Japanese American internment in the United States during WWII, camp newspapers help give a look at the reality of camp life, which included the ongoing issues of a lack of supplies,, the generational divide between older and younger Japanese Americans, and even the racist leanings of some members of the camp. With a balance of humor and seriousness, as well as reality and the abstract, three artists - Roy Kawamoto, Harry Kuwada, and Michiko "Rosie" Arima - who were interred in Camp Jerome (located near …

Development Of A High-Performance, Cost-Effective Architecture For Real-Time Fourier Transform Analysis On An Efinix Trion Fpga, Luke Cashwell

Honors Theses

This project presents the development of a high-performance, cost-effective, and powerefficient pipelined architecture designed to execute 10,000 Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs) per second on an Efinix Trion T120 FPGA. Each FFT processes 4096 signed 13-bit elements, facilitating real-time data analysis for a Time-Domain Impedance Probe (TDIP) operating at a maximum data rate of 490 Mbit/s. The algorithm utilizes the built-in multipliers and dual-port memory cells of the FPGA to optimize data storage, transfer, and processing. It achieves this high performance while only using approximately 4% of the Look-Up Tables (LUTs), 7% of the integrated RAM cells, and 15% of the …

Funded To Win? Super Pacs And Electoral Advantage In The Southeast, Kyle Winstead

Honors Theses

2010 saw the introduction of a new player on the field of electoral finance, the super PAC. This introduction came with much controversy due to the widespread fear that super PACs could undermine the election system by giving wealthy individuals or organizations an undue influence. The literature on super PACs influence on the electoral system is inconclusive, with different studies having mixed results, meaning more information needs to be gathered. In this paper, I attempt to learn more about super PACs influence, particularly on congressional elections, by examining the results of congressional elections across three states: Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. …

Reducing Suicide Ideation Through Healthcare Provider Training In The Use Of The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-Ssrs) In A Rural Community Mental Health Clinic, Lashunda R. Lewis

Doctoral Projects

This doctoral project aimed to address the inconsistent and inadequate assessment of suicide risk by healthcare professionals in a Rural Community Clinic. Staff members do not comprehensively understand the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale and vary in how they screen patients before the intervention. When we looked at the baseline, we found that only 45% of charts contained suicide risk screening, and C-SSRS was used in only 5% of cases. Some of the main obstacles reported were not properly training staff and keeping patients from sharing their thoughts on this subject.

The main objective of the doctoral project was to test …

Parenting For Wellness: Positive Parenting Factors As Predictors Of College Student Physical Health, Mental Health, And Social Connectedness Through The Lens Of Self-Determination Theory, Mary E. Lamkin

Dissertations

Research suggests that the transition to college can impact college student well-being across the domains of physical health, mental health, and social connectedness (Frech, 2012; Pittman & Richmond, 2008; Xiao et al., 2017). As parents are more heavily connected to their college-aged students when compared to years before cell phones and social media, they likely continue to play a significant role in their child’s well-being, even while they are in college (Wartman & Savage, 2008). Therefore, the aim of this dissertation was to investigate positive parenting behaviors as predictors of wellness in college-aged participants using Self Determination Theory (Ryan & …

Titer-First Vaccination Protocol In An Employee Health Clinic, Obehi Dickson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose:

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the clinical and financial outcomes of implementing a titer-first vaccination protocol for new employees at an Employee Health Clinic. This project sought to improve cost-effectiveness and reduce unnecessary vaccinations.

Background:

This project was conducted at a large healthcare organization in Houston, Texas, to address the cost burden of traditional vaccination protocols. Pre-vaccination serologic testing helps identify existing immunity, reducing unnecessary vaccinations and overall clinic costs.

Methodology:

The titer-first vaccination protocol includes serologic testing for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella, and hepatitis B, followed by vaccine administration for those without immunity. Data …

Coyote (Canis Latrans) And Non-Target Wildlife Responses To Livestock Guardian Dogs At Sheep Grazing Sites On The California Central Coast, Tricia T. Nguyen

Master's Theses

Livestock depredation is one of the oldest and most widespread forms of human-wildlife conflict. The coyote (Canis latrans), a midsized canid, represents a significant proportion of domestic sheep depredations in the United States, costing livestock producers an estimated 24.6 million dollars annually. Management strategies for coyote-sheep depredation vary widely in their effectiveness and in their level of public support. Identifying appropriate strategies for farms, ranches, and other sheep grazing sites remains a pressing need due to the potentially negative consequences for surrounding ecosystems and socioeconomic outcomes for sheep producers. The livestock guardian dog (LGD) is a nonlethal control …

Student Handbook 2025-2026, Saint Mary's College Of California

Student Handbook

No abstract provided.