Digital Commons Network^™

Rooted In Wonder: Cultivating A Connection To The Environment Through Nature-Based Learning In Central Mexico, Mikaela Tennis

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Children are spending less time outdoors and feeling increasingly disconnected from the natural world. This reduced exposure and lack of interaction limits opportunities to form early connections with nature, which have lasting benefits into adulthood. Nature-based learning approaches have been proven to increase a sense of nature connectedness, which in turn strengthens one’s environmental attitudes and behaviors while supporting mental health and well-being. To address limited access to nature-based learning experiences in Central Mexico, this capstone draws from research on nature connectedness, nature-based learning, and nature center design to answer the question, How can a nature-based learning center be designed …

Effective And Appropriate Reading Interventions For Upper Elementary Students, Casey Orr

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

With more students falling behind in their reading skill development, and staying behind as they continue into older grades, this project was created to answer the question; what reading interventions are most appropriate and effective for upper elementary students? Recently, reading instruction has shifted to follow the body of research known as the science of reading. Much of the literature surrounding this topic centers around students in kindergarten through second grade, leaving teachers and reading specialists of upper elementary students without the same information or support for their students. This project reviews the existing literature on the history of reading …

The Impact Of Teachers Providing Home-Based Literacy Resources To Families Of Emergent Readers, Hannah Brown

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Many primary teachers often hear from parents that they want to help their child learn to read and write at home but do not have tools or resources to do so. Parents of young children are often left wondering how they can help their child be successful in the literacy classroom and create meaningful practice opportunities at home. This capstone project addresses the research question: How can primary elementary teachers support early literacy development by providing families with home-based literacy resources? A literature review revealed that family literacy resources should be focused on emergent literacy skills such as phonological awareness, …

Upporting Residential Camp Counselors: “Wellness Workshops” To Mitigate Staff Stress, Aimee Doyle

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has demonstrated that residential camping holds tremendous value in the life of a young person. A child’s participation in the “Radical Utopian Experience” provided by a typical summer camp has been shown to increase independence, confidence, perseverance, responsibility, empathy, compassion, and an affinity for nature, often with life-long effects. Yet, while camps focus heavily on the growth and development of campers, the needs of counseling staff are sometimes overlooked. Young counselors themselves are still developing emotionally and socially, while they often shoulder significant responsibilities throughout the summer. This capstone project focused on the wellness needs of residential camp counselors …

From Pages To Parks: Connecting Children’S Literature And Place-Based Learning For Family Environmental Education In Minnesota State Parks, Taylor Kasprzak

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Place-based environmental education offers rich opportunities for family engagement, yet children’s literature remains an underutilized tool in supporting these outdoor experiences. Grounded in Vygotsky’s social constructivism theory and place-based pedagogy, this research capstone examines how children’s literature and place-based learning experiences can support environmental education for families visiting Minnesota State Parks. To address the gap, this project presents a ten-unit family guide focused on specific state parks, with introductory information for new visitors. Utilizing Minnesota Department of Natural Resources materials and local library collections, this project combines purposeful family activities with meaningful anchor texts. Each unit includes a guiding environmental …

Encouraging Pollinator Friendly Behaviors Among Urban Residents, Addison Motta

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Pollinator decline is a significant issue which threatens biodiversity, global food systems, and the stability of ecosystems. There are numerous resources available that address pollinator friendly behaviors, but many assume that the audience has access to private land in a suburban or rural area. The recommendations in these resources may be inaccessible to apartment dwellers, renters, and other urban residents with limited control over outdoor spaces. This capstone explores the guiding question: how can an interactive pollinator education kit increase awareness and encourage pollinator-friendly behaviors among urban residents. A review of literature related to pollinator ecology, urban ecosystems, environmental education, …

Teaching Environmental Justice In Middle School: A Unit Plan For Middle School, Aiesha Osman

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project focuses on the different environmental justice challenges faced by different communities. Many middle school students learn about environmental concepts without specifically learning about different environmental benefits and risks. This capstone project involves developing a curriculum unit for middle school students which introduces environmental justice concepts and helps students recognize that environmental benefits and burdens are not evenly distributed. This project was influenced by environmental justice theory, culturally responsive teaching, socioscientific issues, place-based learning and Understanding by Design. This unit design uses a backward design approach where the outcomes are identified first, then followed by goals based on …

Authentic Material Use In English Language Development Classrooms, Kenneth Fields

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

With attention on the topic of globalization at an all time high, more and more focus has been shifted towards student-centric, evidence-based approaches for second language education. In order to address the perceived need of more culturally-centered content, this project attempts to answer the question: What are the benefits of using authentic materials over grammar-based texts and how can authentic materials be implemented into low-proficiency ELD classrooms? Authentic materials, or materials created by native language speakers not for the purposes of L2 education, have been gaining more popularity among educational researchers as second language acquisition theories have begun to favor …

Ntegrating Digital Tools Into English Instruction For Fulbright English Teaching Assistants In Taiwan, Alexandra Rankin

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project examines how digital tools can be integrated into elementary-level English instruction by Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in Taiwan. The project was guided by two questions: How can Fulbright English Teaching Assistants effectively integrate digital tools into elementary school level English instruction, and what are the perceived benefits and challenges for teachers using these tools? A review of literature on the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program, Taiwan’s Bilingual 2030 policy, and technology integration in English language instruction informed the development of a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Advisor professional development workshop for ETAs and their Local …

A Genre-Based Approach To Teaching Employment Interview English For Adult English Learners In The United States, Caitlin Schueler

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Employment interviews represent high-stakes communicative events that can present particular challenges for adult English learners (AELs). Despite this, existing interview preparation materials often emphasize rehearsal of common questions, memorization of responses, and adherence to cultural norms instead of an intentional focus on the linguistic resources characteristic of employment interview discourse. This capstone project addresses that gap through the design of an eight-week curriculum for intermediate-level AELs. The curriculum is informed by Systemic Functional Linguistics, the Sydney School approach to genre pedagogy, Interactional Sociolinguistics, the Teaching and Learning Cycle, and Understanding by Design. Together, these frameworks guided the development of a …

Teaching Through Turbulence: Social-Emotional Learning Resources For Students Experiencing Civil Unrest, Callista Pugh

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began operating in Minnesota in early 2026; this paper provides evidence that educators saw immediate negative impacts on students' academic performance and overall well-being. This capstone project investigated the question: What social-emotional learning (SEL) resources can teachers implement during times of community unrest that affect students' emotional regulation and sense of safety? The research examined the immediate and lasting impacts on students who experience and/or witness unrest in their community, analyzed the use of popular SEL curricula as interventions for civil unrest, and identified specific intervention areas useful for students experiencing civil unrest. …

Environmental Impact Of Preventative Fire-Retardant Products On Soil Chemistry, Elisabeth Kraycik

Master's Theses

Human-caused ignitions account for most wildfires in the United States, particularly along roadsides, utility corridors, and other high-risk infrastructure where fine fuels are abundant and ignition sources are concentrated. These settings are often embedded within grassland and shrubland ecosystems, where fires spread rapidly and can threaten nearby communities and assets. Preventative fire-retardant products (PFRPs) have emerged as a promising strategy for reducing ignition likelihood in these environments. Unlike traditional aerial retardants applied during active suppression, PFRPs are designed for annual, pre-season application to ignition-prone locations. Despite their growing use, the environmental consequences of repeated PFRP applications remain poorly understood, especially …

Evaluating The Impact Of Region, Vintage, And Carbon Dioxide-Based Winemaking Techniques On Wine Quality Of Mediterranean Varietals, Coleman R. Imrisek

Master's Theses

Changing Vitis vinifera ripening patterns as a result of increasing climate variability has provided challenges against the production of wines with a balanced sensory profile, with adequate acidity, color, aroma, and texture. This thesis aimed to evaluate the ripening patterns and wine profiles of potentially climate-adaptive Mediterranean varietals in two different California Central Coast climates. Additionally, different carbon-dioxide based winemaking techniques were also assessed. Viognier and Grenache Noir grapes were sourced from the warmer, diurnal Paso Robles AVA and the cooler, marine Santa Maria AVA during the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons, with Syrah and Grenache Blanc grapes being only …

Toward A Didactical Phenomenology For The Completeness Axiom, Sean Larsen, Tenchita Alzaga Elizondo, Kristen Vroom, Stephen Strand Ii

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The study is part of an instructional design project focused on introductory real analysis. The goal of the project is to develop a theoretically grounded and empirically supported instructional approach that builds on students’ experiences in the calculus sequence to engage them in the reinvention of the rigorous foundations of the calculus. An essential aspect of this foundation is the completeness of the real numbers. Drawing on the didactical phenomenology heuristic from the theory of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME), we conducted an iterative instructional design study focused on the completeness axiom. The work proceeded in two phases. First, we conducted …

Flow Conditioning And Vortex Reduction For Vertical Pump Inlets, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

There are 3 general hydraulic problems for vertical pump inlets. All can cause problems with pump impeller cavitation, reduced flow rates, lower pump efficiencies, and vibrations.

Molecular Classification And Association With Survival Outcomes In High-Intermediate And High-Risk Early-Stage Endometrial Cancers: Ancillary Analysis Of Gog-0249., Lindsay M Kuroki, Danielle M Enserro, Heather A Lankes, Kyle C Strickland, Rebecca Previs, Aine Clements, Matthew A Powell, Ann Klopp, Elena Ratner, Paul Disilvestro, Casey Cosgrove, Guilherme Henrique Cantuaria, Nicola M Spirtos, Michael Carney, Mitchell Edelson, Gottfried Konecny, Penny Anderson, Christopher Tarney, Britt K Erickson, Meredith Newton, Krishnansu S Tewari, Premal H Thaker, David Warshal, Amy Armstrong, Xun Clare Zhou, Angeles Alvarez Secord

Women’s Health Articles

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether mismatch repair (MMR) and p53 expression predict recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in early-stage endometrial cancer (EC) patients treated with vaginal cuff brachytherapy plus chemotherapy (VCB/C) versus pelvic radiation therapy (RT).

METHODS: In the GOG-0249 trial, 601 patients with high-intermediate risk (HIR) early-stage EC were randomized to VCB/C (carboplatin/paclitaxel for 3 cycles) or pelvic RT. Molecular subgroups, deficient MMR (dMMR), p53 wildtype (p53wt), p53 abnormal (p53abn), were determined by immunohistochemistry. Five-year RFS and OS were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for lymphadenectomy, planned VCB, and treatment group.

RESULTS: Among 315 …

Replies To Gasdaglis, Tarver, Conway, And Fullarton, Mariana Alessandri

Philosophy Faculty Publications

I am grateful to the four commentators for taking time to read Night Vision with care, and for providing their insights in the form of thoughts, questions, and challenges. Themes in this response include shame, emotional work, compassion, scarcity, sharing pain as gift vs. burden, our nonideal world, ableism, love, and justification. There are countless other topics that merited a thorough response, such as distinguishing between types of light, eros, verticality vs. horizontality, the lessons of suffering, teaching and humility, and a deeper analysis of the cost of compassion.

Précis: Night Vision, Mariana Alessandri

Philosophy Faculty Publications

Night Vision is a book about pain in five chapters. It’s about T-shirts that say “No Bad Days” or “Be Like a Proton: Always Positive.” It's about how the attempt to shed light on our dark moods often backfires, and it suggests that learning to see in the dark would help us feel more human and less broken. Night Vision describes the metaphors we use to convey our faith in the light: “love and light,” “lighten up,” “look on the bright side,” have a “lightbulb moment,” strive to “see the light at the end of the tunnel,” and try to …

Supporting Rather Than Substituting: Enhancing Healthcare Through Ai, Kayley Nguyen, Michele Shaw

NURS 404/406 Research & Info Management

How does the use of artificial intelligence and artificial intelligence related technology affect the nursing profession?

Determinan Fungsi Intermediasi Bank Kbmi 4 Di Indonesia, Friestha Sari Putri, Telisa Aulia Falianty

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

This study examines the effects of bank-specific characteristics and macroeconomic variables on the intermediation function of KBMI 4 banks in Indonesia during 2014–2023. The variables include NPL, BOPO, CAR, bank size, ROA, GDP, BI Rate, and pandemic and recovery dummies. Secondary data from four KBMI 4 banks were analyzed using a panel-data Fixed Effect Model. The results show that NPL has a negative effect, while BOPO, CAR, ROA, GDP, and BI Rate have significantly positive effects on LDR. Bank size is insignificant. The pandemic and recovery dummies reduce LDR by 10.43 percent and 10.33 percent, respectively.

Mengukur Capaian Dan Identifikasi Konvergensi Pembangunan Infrastruktur Antarprovinsi Di Indonesia, Ressa Isnaini Arumnisaa', Aisyah Fitri Yuniasih

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

Indonesia’s economic challenges are characterized by stagnant economic growth and regional development disparities. This study analyzes the achievement and convergence of infrastructure development across provinces in Indonesia during 2011–2021 through the construction of an Infrastructure Development Index (IPI). The study employs panel data from 33 provinces, using factor analysis to construct the IPI and the First Difference Generalized Method of Moments (FD-GMM) to examine convergence and its determinants. The results show that many provinces still have IDI scores below the national average. Furthermore, the FD-GMM model shows that σ-convergence and β-convergence occur in Indonesia. In addition, GRDP per capita, inflation, …

Food Insecurity, Economic Shocks, Poverty, And Inequality In Nigeria, Ibrahim Tijjani Salihu, Jahen F. Rezki

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

Drawing on the 2018/2019 Nigeria General Household Survey — a nationally representative sample of 5,000 households across six geopolitical zones obtained using multi-stage stratified sampling — this study applied linear probability and probit models to examine poverty’s socioeconomic drivers. Findings show food insecurity and economic shocks worsen poverty, while remittances, credit access, employment, safety nets, and education help reduce it. Using poverty indices and the Gini coefficient, the analysis found rural households face greater poverty incidence, depth, and severity than urban households, despite urban areas showing marginally higher income inequality. Inequality among lower-income households, however, was nearly identical across both …

Infrastruktur, Kelembagaan Tani, Kemandirian Ekonomi Desa: Geografi Dan Paradoks Kepemimpinan Di Indonesia, Tri Wahyu Cahyono

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

This study examines determinants of village economic independence (PADes) in Indonesia, focusing on infrastructure, social capital, and leadership. Using 2024 PODES census data (N=84,240) and clustered logistic regression, results show road infrastructure as the strongest factor (OR: 2.27). A “leadership paradox” emerges, where higher education of village heads negatively correlates with PADes formation. Geographic analysis reveals infrastructure effectiveness depends on topography, with lowland areas gaining the greatest structural advantage. Findings highlight the need for topography-based policy differentiation to strengthen fiscal independence in rural Indonesia.

Analisis Environmental Kuznets Curve Dan Foreign Direct Investment Di Sulawesi, Fadel Firmansyah, Meity Ferdiana Paskual, Laendatu Paembonan, Musdayati Musdayati, Muhammad Ichsan

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

This study examines the relationship between economic growth, foreign direct investment (FDI), and environmental quality across the six provinces of Sulawesi within the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework. Using panel data for 2015–2024, the study applies the Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (Panel-ARDL) model with the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimator. The results confirm a long-run EKC relationship, indicating that environmental quality initially deteriorates and subsequently improves as income increases. Meanwhile, FDI has a negative but statistically insignificant effect, while short-run dynamics remain heterogeneous across provinces due to differences in economic structures, investment characteristics, and environmental management

“We're Just Relics Of A Bygone Era!”: The Portrayal Of Librarians In Short Films, Alessandro Camarra

Staff publications

While on the hunt for examples of "librarian" characters portrayed in popular culture, it can be thrilling when said characters make an appearance in feature length films or Hollywood blockbusters. However, sometimes a higher level of satisfaction can be found when examples come from smaller, more personal, projects.

One person films a three-minute clip of their friend wearing glasses and a fake "bun" wig, then uploads it to YouTube. Another person works all semester on a half-hour documentary of their university library, then submits it as the final project for their Film Studies class. Not to mention examples that go …

Study Of Onshore And Offshore Upwind And Downwind Wind Turbine Configurations: Performance Differences And Aerodynamic Characteristics, Ahmed Ismail

Mechanical Engineering Theses

The aerodynamic performance and loading behavior of large- scale wind turbines depend heavily on atmospheric inflow conditions and rotor orientation. While upwind turbines remain the most common design in the industry, recent progress in materials, aeroelastic modeling, and control systems has sparked renewed interest in downwind configurations. This study aims to assess how ABL characteristics and rotor orientation affect the aerodynamic performance of a utility- scale wind turbine. A CFD framework was built in ANSYS Fluent to model the NREL 5 MW Reference Wind Turbine. Transient simulations employed the SST k–ε turbulence model under various inflow conditions: uniform, onshore, and …

Alumni Journal - Volume 97, Number 2, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
8 | School of Medicine News
10 | Alumni News
14 | Students: AI-HEAL
15 | Paying It Forward Scholarship
16 | This & That
18 | Department Report: Cardiothoracic Surgery
20 | AIMS Report: Gleaning Missions Blessings at Hôpital Adventiste d’Haïti
22 | AIMS News

Graduation 2026
24 | Graduation Feature: A celebration of the class of 2026

Features
42 | By the Graduates: Stories and reflections
48 | Richard H. Hart '70, DrPH: Reflections on Hart's Legacy Upon Retirement
53 | …

Public Perceptions Regarding Fire And Fuel Mitigation, Jennifer Schmidt, Kathryn Davis, Nicholas Link, Joseph Little

ISER Reports

In fall 2025, UAA researchers held focus groups to talk to Anchorage municipality residents about their attitudes towards a wildfire mitigation technique called fuel treatments. Findings indicated residents support fuel treatments, but had questions about aesthetic and environmental implications, financial barriers, and the policy process.

“A Place For Every Book, Every Book In Its Place … ”: The Portrayal Of Librarians In Video Games, Alessandro Camarra

Staff publications

The role of "librarian" can follow several well-worn tropes within the world of interactive media. These can be referred to as:

*The All-Knowing Guide (teaches the player how to actually play the game, i.e. accessing the inventory menu or revealing which button combination will unlock the ability to cast spells)

*The Lore Keeper (provides exposition and backstory about the game world to the player)

*The Clueless Collector (begs the player for help recovering lost/overdue books)

*The Secret Sexpot (an object of desire for the player to romance/seduce)

*The Unforgiving Tyrant (demands silence at all costs)

And then we have those …

Kristen Rowlett, Kristen Rowlett

Faculty CVs

No abstract provided.