Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Cmu Construction Sequencing Through Scheduling Application, Tristan J. Roberson

Construction Management

Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) wall systems are used very often in all types of construction including commercial and residential. With this said, the scheduling logic behind their installation can often be unclear for students and people new to the industry. The purpose of this project is to analyze CMU construction sequencing and demonstrate how it integrates within an overall project schedule. This study was conducted using interviews with industry professionals, review of CMU manufacturing processes, and development of a simplified Critical Path Method schedule in Microsoft Project. Information from CMU professionals regarding manufacturing processes and lead times were incorporated based …

The Impact Of Religious Behaviors, Islamophobia, Gender Roles, Language Proficiency, And Education Levels On Mental Illness Stigma And Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Arab Women In The U.S., Rima Muhsen

Dissertations

The official U.S. census does not provide data on the number of Arab Americans in the United States, which hinders studies that focus on this population group to explore their needs and improve access to mental health services. Arab women in America represent a subgroup that has received insufficient attention from researchers, particularly regarding culturally sensitive topics such as mental health problems and their associated stigma. The influence of cultural, social, and religious factors on self-stigma associated with mental illness has not been adequately studied among this marginalized group. While previous research has suggested a relationship between self-stigma, social stigma …

From Campus To Community: The Role Of Higher Education In Strengthening Regional Entrepreneurial Ecosystems In Appalachia, Anne M. Montgomery

Dissertations

This study addresses a gap in understanding how small, rural liberal arts higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Appalachian College Association Entrepreneurial Alliance (ACAEA) support regional entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs), and how, if at all, those strategies vary across Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) county economic classifications. Using a qualitative multi-case design, the study examined 10 ACAEA institutions and drew on semi-structured interviews, site observations, institutional documents (including strategic plans), and ARC county-level economic data. The analysis produced five cross-case themes describing how these institutions support entrepreneurship: (a) strategic leadership and institutional culture, (b) experiential and embedded entrepreneurial education, (c) community-driven partnerships …

Well-Being, Resilience, And Trauma During Migration: A Mixed Methods Study Of Venezuelan Migrants In Transit, Margaret S. Port

Dissertations

A substantial body of research has examined the psychological impact of experiences preceding and following migration, yet comparatively little attention has been given to the psychological toll of the migration journey itself. Moreover, due to the relative novelty of the Venezuelan migrant crisis and the community’s arrival in the United States, the psychological impact of Venezuelan migrants’ unique migration experience has been underexamined. This study utilized an explanatory sequential mixed methods design to investigate the relationships between well-being, resilience, and trauma among Venezuelan migrants in Chicago, Illinois, while also exploring their lived experiences of the migration journey. Study participants (n …

Long-Covid And Cognition, Mychael Bruce

Dissertations

COVID-19 is an evolving virus that can harm the body’s respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Directly related to COVID-19 are individuals who do not recover from their initial infection, making them long haulers. Long-COVID is transitioning from a range of isolated phenomena to higher prevalence rates in patients who contracted COVID-19. Many individuals report issues with cognitive function, referred to as ‘brain fog’, that affect memory, attention, and even language skills. This literature review addresses the available research on Long-COVID and how persistent infection correlates with cognitive difficulties. It aims to explain the neurobiology of Long-COVID and how Long-COVID interacts within …

Holding Space: How Caregivers Narrate Support, Stress, And School Partnership, Celia D. Davenport

Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation examined how caregivers of students with low-incidence disabilities experienced and interpreted school support within the context of daily family life. Grounded in the social model of disability, the study was designed to explore the nature of meaningful school-based support, the limitations caregivers encountered, and the ways school-family relationships shaped these experiences over time. The overarching research question asked how caregivers of students with low-incidence disabilities perceived the school’s role in supporting their families. A qualitative research design was selected to center caregiver voice and allow for in-depth exploration of lived experience. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews …

The Impact Of Reliable Backup Childcare Services On Work-Life Balance And Stress Levels Among Working Parents, Christiana Arhin

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between access to reliable backup childcare services, work-life balance, and stress levels among working parents. Building on Arhin’s (2025) research, this study seeks to address limitations in sample diversity and incorporate qualitative methods to gain deeper insight into these variables. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study will examine how access to backup childcare services influences work-life balance and stress levels, with a focus on capturing both quantitative trends and qualitative perspectives of working parents. By exploring these relationships, the study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the role …

Improving The California Boulevard Railroad Underpass: A Feasibility Study Of Persistent Barriers And Practical Improvement Strategies, Jacee D. Carpenter

Construction Management

The California Boulevard railroad underpass in San Luis Obispo has served as an informal pedestrian route for Cal Poly students since pedestrian access across the adjacent railroad tracks was restricted in 2009. Despite its frequent use, the underpass presents challenges related to lighting, drainage, surface conditions, and seasonal flooding that affect safety and accessibility. Previous studies documented these concerns and proposed improvement concepts; however, no significant physical improvements have been implemented. This project evaluates the factors contributing to the lack of improvements and examines practical strategies for enhancing the underpass within existing regulatory, environmental, and jurisdictional constraints. Methods included a …

Effects Of Overcorrection On Mitigating Uncontrolled Tipping During Incisor Retraction Using Clear Aligners: Finite Element Analysis And In Vitro Experiment, Jianing Wang, Niko Burger, Bo Wang, Linxia Gu, Pengfei Dong

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Uncontrolled tipping during incisor retraction with clear aligners continues to limit orthodontic treatment. Different countermeasures have been proposed to improve the predictability of aligners, such as power ridges and attachments, while their efficacy requires further investigation. This work investigated the biomechanics of the overcorrection in reducing the tipping angle and moment during incisor retraction with a clear aligner, through in vitro experiments and finite element analysis (FEA). Specifically, the influence of overcorrection angle (1 deg), retraction distance (0.15 mm), and the combination of both were assessed through in vitro experiments and the finite element simulation. Further computational simulations were conducted …

Artificial Personhood: The Implications Of Recognizing The Legal Personhood Of Artificialintelligence, Daniel C. Borges

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

Artificial intelligence (AI) is here in a big way. As society grapples with the implications of this profound new technology, the question of whether AI entities should be granted independent legal recognition, akin to human personhood, has emerged as a pivotal topic in jurisprudence. This Article explores the foundations, evolution, and implications of AI personhood, addressing philosophical perspectives, the development of personhood as a legal fiction (with specific emphasis on corporate personhood), and the need for AI personhood to counter the risks posed by rapidly developing AI technology. It defines the "AI person" as one whose legal recognition furthers a …

Developing A Preparation Manual For The Asc Region 6 & 7 Reno Competition, Addyson Mae Demasters

Construction Management

The Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 6 & 7 Competition is one of the most prestigious student construction management competitions in the United States. Success in the competition requires technical knowledge, effective communication, time management, and strategic preparation. The purpose of this senior project was to develop a comprehensive Competition Preparation Manual for future Cal Poly Construction Management students competing in the ASC Reno Competition. The manual was created through the collection and analysis of information from previous competitors, team captains, competition retrospectives, and the author's personal experience participating in ASC Reno competitions. Surveys were sent to students in …

Small-Scale Rainwater Harvesting: A Sustainable Practice For Single-Family Homes In Southern California, Azzah R. Bensrhir

Construction Management

Southern California is prone to drought and struggles with low water supplies. Los Angeles and San Diego County have enacted outdoor water regulations that aim to reduce the overall reliance on municipal and groundwater supplies. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is a feasible way for single-family homeowners in Southern California to contribute to water conservation efforts. To determine the feasibility of installing, maintaining, and understanding overall challenges and costs of small-scale rainwater harvesting systems, four interviews were conducted with residents of Los Angeles and San Diego County who have owned and operated a RWH system for more than five years. The results …

Multiplexed Fabry-Pérot High-Temperature Sensing Based On Dispersive Microwave-Photonic Frequency-Time Domain Analysis, Ruimin Jie, Chen Zhu, Bohong Zhang, Koustav Dey, Jie Huang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a multiplexed high-temperature Fabry-Pérot (FP) fiber sensing system interrogated by dispersive microwave-photonic frequency-time domain analysis (DM-FTDA). In the proposed architecture, incoherent broadband probing light is modulated by radio-frequency (RF) signals and then reflected by a parallel network of hollow-core photonic crystal fiber FP (HCPCF-FP) sensors. A chirped fiber Bragg grating provides strong dispersion to map the composite FP spectral response into a well-defined microwave transfer function. Unlike conventional optical Fourier-domain multiplexing that requires deliberate cavity-length allocation, the proposed approach achieves multiplexing via delay-dominated discrimination. Distinct delay fibers are assigned to each sensor branch, and an …

Tempus Est Philippine Madrigal Singers, Arwin Q. Tan

Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities Asia

No abstract provided.

Provider And Patient Perspectives On The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease, Philippe Amouyel, Sandrine Andrieu, Angela Bradshaw, Ralph C. Carmona, Magali Dumont, Lea Tenenholz Grinberg, Takeshi Iwatsubo, Oskar Hansson, Clifford R. Jack, Gregory A. Jicha, Simin Mahinrad, Eric Mcdade, Catherine J. Mummery, Ronald C. Petersen, Shelagh Robinson, Julie A. Schneider, Lenny Shellcross, Amanda G. Smith, Heather M. Snyder, Beth Tapply, Charlotte Teunissen, Wiesje M. Van Der Flier, Bruno Vellas, David Wallon, Jeff D. Williamson, Donna Wilcock, Maria C. Carrillo

Neurology Faculty Publications

Since 2016, the Alzheimer's Association and the Fondation Alzheimer have hosted Global Alzheimer's Leadership Series (GoALS) global think tanks, with world-leading experts for innovative discussions to advance Alzheimer's disease (AD) research and care. The second GoALS think tank, held in June 2024 in Paris, focused on the relationship between biological changes and clinical manifestations of AD in the context of the evolving therapeutic landscape. Discussions spanned real-world experiences of providers, patients, and their families, theoretical considerations, and health system challenges. The lived experience perspective was central to these discussions. The importance of shared decision-making, clear and transparent communication, and the …

Frequency Of Mixed Neuropathologies In Individuals With Down Syndrome With And Without Alzheimer's Dementia, Lisi Flores-Aguilar, Thomas D. Zaikos, Isabel Rivera, Sierra T. Wright, Jerry Lou, Brianna Gawronski, Lourdes Gonzalez, Jillian V. Berry, Jeremy Rouanet, Natalie C. Edwards, Dan K. Hoang, Kevin Wood, Ann Charlotte Granholm, Elliott J. Mufson, Edwin S. Monuki, Milos D. Ikonomovic, Julia Kofler, Eric W. Doran, Ira T. Lott, Minodora O. Totoiu, Christy L. Hom, Florence Lai, William H. Yong, Frederick Schmitt, Jordan Harp, Peter T. Nelson, Jose Gutierrez, Patrick J. Lao, Donna Wilcock, Adam M. Brickman, Elizabeth Head

Neurology Faculty Publications

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) develop Alzheimer's disease neuropathological change (ADNC) by the age of 40 years, and most develop dementia by their early 50s. The frequency of co-pathologies in clinically and neuropathologically characterized adults with DS has not been systematically characterized. We characterized the frequency of ADNC and common co-pathologies, including cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), Lewy pathology (LP), limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathological change (LATE-NC), hippocampal sclerosis (HS), and other cerebrovascular and macroscopic findings reported in standardized National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) neuropathology forms in 63 adults with DS over 40 years. A secondary exploratory objective was to …

Neuropathological Measures Of Increased Tau Phosphorylation Across The Down Syndrome Lifespan, Jesse R. Pascual, Isabel Rivera, Halyma Nguyen, Phong T. Ngo, Alan Hoang, Elizabeth J. Andrews, Jeremy Rouanet, Sierra T. Wright, Lorena Sordo, Julia Kofler, Milos D. Ikonomovic, Florence Lai, Mark Mapstone, Bradley T. Christian, Benjamin L. Handen, Ira T. Lott, Eric Doran, Christy L. Hom, Jordan Harp, Frederick Schmitt, Dana L. Tudorascu, Beau M. Ances, Michael Phelan, Lei Liu, Lisi Flores-Aguilar, Elizabeth Head, Fan Zhang, Shahid Zaman, Michael A. Yassa, Badri Varadarajan, Rameshwari Tumuluru

Neurology Faculty Publications

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD), with nearly all individuals exhibiting AD neuropathology, including amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), by age 40 years. Fluid AD biomarker studies highlight an increase in several phosphorylated tau (p-tau) epitopes in DS. However, neuropathological measures of p-tau epitopes in DS have not been examined. Therefore, our main objective was to characterize p-tau epitope burdens across the DS lifespan at autopsy. We analyzed postmortem brain samples of 98 individuals with late-onset AD (LOAD), DS with AD neuropathology (DSAD), young DS (below 40 years of …

Integrating Science Of Reading Principles Into Mathematics Instruction In Early Education, Sarah Eason

Science of Reading

Educator preparation programs have an opportunity to help future teachers understand how literacy and mathematics domains support one another. Language and literacy are foundational to mathematical thinking, communication, and problem solving. Integrating science of reading (SOR) principles into mathematics instruction can strengthen children’s learning across domains while helping educators maximize instructional time. This brief reviews research connecting language and mathematics learning and highlights practical strategies for incorporating SOR-aligned practices into early childhood mathematics instruction and teacher preparation.

Draft Final Quarterly Operations And Maintenance Report: Butte Treatment Lagoon System – First Quarter 2026, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Redesign And Flow Characterization Of Microcapsules Through Hollow 3d-Printed Microneedles, Ryan Lang

Bioengineering Master's Theses

Traditional bulk cavity microneedles suffer from stagnant zones and internal wall collisions that damage suspended cell carriers. This research computationally optimized and experimentally validated a novel multi-planar, branched hollow microneedle chamber to minimize dead volume and protect sensitive payloads. By replacing the traditional bulk cavity with a symmetric six-peripheral nozzle architecture, COMSOL simulations confirmed the elimination of central stagnation zones. Low fluid velocities (0.05 m/s) maintained streamline alignment, while higher velocities (0.32 m/s) induced wall impacts, a drift completely mitigated by high-viscosity fluids.

Arrays fabricated via SLA 3D printing demonstrated consistent cross-unit nozzle diameters, despite a 27.8% average print shrinkage. …

La Evolución Del Estilo De Naoko Takeuchi En Las Ilustraciones De Personajes Femeninos De Sailor Moon, Manuela Elizabeth Rodríguez González

GDI. Revista de investigación de Género, Diseño e Innovación

Este estudio analiza la evolución técnica y estilística de Naoko Takeuchi en sus representaciones femeninas presentes en las ilustraciones de Sailor Moon, mediante su transición y combinación con técnicas digitales, dentro del contexto de la industria del manga, anime y merchandising en diferentes desde su creación en los años noventa hasta su actualización más reciente en 2023. A partir de un análisis comparativo de artbooks, ilustraciones de alta resolución y notas de la autora, complementado con fuentes secundarias como artículos, libros y blogs especializados, se organizaron los materiales en tres períodos cronológicos para estudiar su evolución artística. Los …

Light & Faith: June 2026, Taylor University

Light & Faith

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Sleep And Mental Health, Lily Faucher

Psychology Student Publications

This paper looks at the relationship between sleep and mental health across the lifespan. Sleep is an essential process for our bodies to function. Understanding this relationship between sleep and mental health can help individuals to choose healthy habits and prioritize sleep as it is an important part of overall wellbeing.

Salary Report, June 2026, Eastern Michigan University

EMU Salary Reports

No abstract provided.

Increasing Lead (Pb) Screening Participation Rates In The Pediatric Patient Population At The Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine Lancaster Avenue Community Healthcare Center, Jacob Varrato

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) are an ongoing public health crisis predominantly affecting children under six in low-income communities located in major cities across the United States (Zartarian et al. 2024). Chronic lead exposure due to outdated housing, polluted water, and contaminated soil is especially harmful in early childhood. Frequent hand to mouth contact at this age increases the risk of ingesting particulate matter containing lead (CDC). EBLLs can predispose children to neurocognitive deficits, cardiovascular disease, and epigenetic modifications to gene expression patterns (Collin et al. 2022). While precautionary measures and timely screening protocols greatly reduce the risk of developing …

Effects Of Mitoquinone On Doxorubicin-Induced Cytotoxicity In H9c2 Cardiac Myoblasts And 22rv1 Prostate Cancer Cells, Tia Patrick

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Introduction:

Although Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely prescribed chemotherapeutic agent, its clinical use is limited by cardiotoxicity (DIC) caused by oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cardiac apoptosis. Dexrazoxane (DEX) is the only FDA-approved cardioprotective agent to prevent DIC. However, DEX may induce secondary malignancy. Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants (MTAs), such as mitoquinone (MitoQ) and 10-(6′-plastoquinonyl) decyltriphenylphosphonium (SKQ1), selectively accumulate within mitochondria to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) at their primary site of production. Our previous findings demonstrated that MitoQ and SKQ1 prevented the reduction in cell viability caused by DOX treatment in H9c2 myoblasts. However, it remains unclear whether MitoQ can selectively …

Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Kenyan Adolescents: Psychometric Properties, Prevalence Rates And Correlates, Tom Osborn, Rosine Baseke, Faith Kamau, Winnan Munyasa, Christine Wasanga, Maureen Ngesa, Victoria Mutiso, Moses Nyongesa, Jasmit Shah, Zul Merali

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been consistently linked to poor mental health outcomes, yet research on their impact in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) settings of Africa, remains relatively unexplored. In Kenya, where childhood adversity is widespread, there is a critical need to examine the validity of ACE measures and their associations with mental ill health. This study aimed to validate the Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire (ACE-10) in a Kenyan adolescent sample and assess its associations with symptoms of depression and anxiety, bullying, and sociodemographic factors.

Methods: Data was collected from N = 2,842 adolescents and young …

Cathedral Park Strategic Action Plan: Guiding Community Development With Actionable Advocacy Strategies, Travis Mauzy, Dagny Daniel, Samuel Goldberg, Samantha Ishihara, Jacob Hagen

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association (CPNA) is interested in adopting a Community Plan. Area-specific plans are addendums to the City of Portland Comprehensive Plan which give a neighborhood the opportunity to identify issues and priorities for long-range planning in their community.

Cathedral Park is currently a part of the St. John's/Lombard Plan (2004), but the neighborhood has experienced many changes since then, including new housing development, shifting demographics, and awareness of environmental threats such as the Critical Energy Infrastructure hub.

Reimagining The Cully 5 Corners, Samuel Anderson, Noah Brown, Kaitlyn Cook, Nicholas Pelster, Michael Wickham, Steven Yee

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

Reimagining the Cully 5 Corners is a project spearheaded by the Cully Coalition and Confluence Planning + Design, aiming to create a vision and plan for a centralized, connected, resilient hub for this area of NE Portland, Oregon.

The Cully Coalition envisions Cully as an equitable and socially just neighborhood that enriches and uplifts all community members while minimizing displacement, improving community cohesion, and supporting economic vitality.

Like many Portland areas annexed in the late 20th century, the Cully neighborhood has experienced decades of relative underinvestment in terms of public services, urban design, and business development.

Uplifting Cully starts with …

Rooted In Hillsboro: An Urban Tree Protection Project, Leandre Mills, Aidan Mcclinton, Aria Shopbell, Karl Coppock, Wally Mcallister

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Workshop Projects

The Canopi team and the City of Hillsboro Urban Forestry Program completed this project to evaluate and strengthen municipal tree protection policies. Current regulations rely heavily on tree replacement rather than retention, contributing to loss of mature canopy and reduced climate, infrastructure, and equity benefits. In many cases, mature trees removed during development or infrastructure projects are replaced with small-caliper plantings that do not provide equivalent environmental or community value for decades.

As Hillsboro grows, the city faces increasing climate pressures, including urban heat island effects, stormwater impacts, invasive pests, and uneven canopy distribution across historically underserved neighborhoods. These challenges …