Digital Commons Network^™

Inflating Your Success: An Algorithmic Approach To Improving Outcomes In Pediatric Tissue Expansion, Jackson C Green, Samuel G Ruiz, Kylie R Swiekatowski, Ellen B Wang, Paul Won, Chioma G Obinero, Tien Do, Danielle Sobol, Matthew R Greives

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Tissue expanders (TEs) are vital for creating soft tissue for reconstruction. This study examines the challenges of pediatric TEs and proposes an algorithm to minimize complications and optimize outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective review (2014-2024) included patients younger than 18 years with TEs, excluding breast reconstruction cases. Initial TE fills were performed in-clinic 2 weeks postoperatively with parent education, whereas subsequent expansions were managed at home. Parents monitored for complications, started antibiotics, and scheduled urgent visits if needed. Data collected included demographics, TE characteristics, indications, defect size, and outcomes.

Results: Forty pediatric patients (median age: 5.2 y) had 96 TEs …

White Matter Microstructure Alterations In Social Anxiety Disorder: A Mega-Analysis Across Twelve Cohorts In The Enigma-Anxiety Working Group, Eline F Roelofs, Nynke A Groenewold, Kinga Farkas, Alyssa H Zhu, Si Gao, Tiana Borgers, Udo Dannlowski, Kira Flinkenflügel, Dominik Grotegerd, Tim Hahn, Andreas Jansen, Elisabeth J Leehr, Tilo T J Kircher, Hannah Meinert, Igor Nenadić, Frederike Stein, Benjamin Straube, Tamer Demiralp, Raşit Tükel, P Michiel Westenberg, Jochen Bauer, Anna Kraus, Alexander G G Doruyter, Christine Lochner, David Hofmann, Thomas Straube, André Zugman, Monica E Calkins, Raquel E Gur, Ruben C Gur, Bart S Larsen, Theodore D Satterthwaite, Theresa M Slump, Roman A Vogler, Suzanne N Avery, Jennifer U Blackford, Jacqueline A Clauss, Su Lui, Sophia I Thomopoulos, Robert R J M Vermeiren, Neda Jahanshad, Peter V Kochunov, Paul M Thompson, Daniel S Pine, Dan J Stein, Nic J A Van Der Wee, Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Studies investigating social anxiety disorder (SAD) have reported inconsistent alterations in white matter (WM) microstructure. The ENIGMA (Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics through Meta Analysis)-Anxiety Working Group investigated differences in the microstructure of 25 WM tracts between individuals with SAD and healthy control (HC) participants in a mega-analysis.

Methods: We analyzed data from 487 individuals with SAD and 1604 HC participants (ages 8-65 years) from 12 cohorts worldwide. Analyses and quality control were performed using standardized ENIGMA diffusion tensor imaging protocols. We primarily examined fractional anisotropy (FA) as the main parameter of WM microstructure. Linear mixed-effects analyses were conducted to …

56-Year-Old Man With Dyspnea And Volume Overload, Altamish Daredia, Han Yu, Ryan Walsh, Benjamin Karfunkle

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

A Set Of Grading Protocol Implementation Tools For A Unit Project In A High School Visual Arts Classroom, Brie-Anna Cabrera

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone explores the question: How can high school educators promote equity through their grading protocols? Realizing there is a gap in research combining the ideas of equity and grading, this paper uses culturally relevant pedagogy, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and cultural and linguistic responsiveness as a lens to determine effectiveness of promoting equity through a variety of grading protocols. Using the concluding evidence and honing in on Guskey's idea of multiple grades, the research was organized into a framework for more equitable grading that can be translated to the visual arts. This research resulted in the creation of a set …

Place-Based Environmental Education: Forming Connections To Your Local Environment And Community, Deanna Grelecki

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Growing research shows that engaging children in environmental education produces a myriad of benefits, such as improved social, physical, mental, and cognitive aspects of children' s wellbeing. Even with these beneficial outcomes, researchers find that a disconnect between youth and the natural world exists and is growing. This capstone answers the question, How can educators create place-based environmental education opportunities for middle school students?, and ultimately help students build positive relationships with the environment. Grounded in place-based environmental education and created for a rural community in Northern Illinois, this capstone project centers on a field study situated in a local …

Voices From Beyond The Grave: Protecting The Audio Of Murder Victims Through (Intellectual) Property Law, Alexandra M. Hudson

Washington and Lee Law Review

For most, the audio of a deceased loved one is a treasured keepsake. For the families of violent crime victims, it can be a harrowing reminder of their loved one’s death. And it can also be a source of content for true crime podcasters.

When a person dies from a violent crime and their killer is prosecuted, the audio associated with the crime (body camera footage, 911 calls, surveillance footage, etc.) frequently becomes public record. Public record laws vary greatly across the United States but typically err toward disclosure to promote government transparency. Broad public record laws benefit the public …

Avoiding Misleading Estimates Of Among-Individual Variance Caused By Non-Random Sampling Of Individuals In A Changeable Environment, Denis Réale, Hassen Allegue, Yimen G. Araya-Ajoy, Ned A. Dochtermann, Shinichi Nakagawa, Joel L. Pick, Holger Schielzeth, David F. Westneat, Niels J. Dingemanse

Biology Faculty Publications

Animal ecologists frequently quantify variance in hierarchically structured traits in wild populations. Importantly, phenotypic plasticity within the period of measurement can modify the trait of interest in response to various unmeasured, temporally or spatially changeable, environmental conditions. Non-random sampling among units of the random effect (e.g. individuals) regarding the environment at issue may lead to estimates of the variance among ((Formula presented.)) or within ((Formula presented.)) such units that conflate several types of processes. This mixing of underlying biology can affect interpretations of the random effect variance. Here, we explore the conditions leading to this situation and assess potential solutions …

Who I Am And Who I Am Becoming: An Analysis Of Self, Bailey A. Greene

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

This paper is a self-analysis that delves into the development of my personal identity and my emerging counseling identity. Throughout this paper, you will see how my early childhood experiences, relationships, and family dynamics have influenced my values, personality, and professional orientation. To capture the full picture, I incorporated Adlerian Theory and Rogers’ Person-Centered Theory. I also drew on the results of the Enneagram and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessments. Incorporating these theories and assessments into my self-analysis allowed me to combine who I am as a person with my theoretical orientations. The other part of this self-analysis was …

Materials Testing Furnace 2026, Austin Gregson, Lucas Lafayette, Mekhi Hale

Mechanical Engineering Senior Theses

This thesis presents the design, analysis, manufacturing, and testing of a material testing furnace for its intended use at Santa Clara University. The goal of this project is to develop a cost-effective and adaptable furnace capable of providing a controlled hightemperature, inert environment for material characterization. The furnace incorporates welded aluminum chambers, stainless steel load-transfer rams, an argon-based atmospheric control system, and planned tungsten heating elements for reaching temperatures up to 2000 ◦C. Trade-off analyses were conducted on the ram cooling channel geometry as well as the choice of coolant through both plates and rams. Manufacturing efforts were focused on …

Private Coverage, Public Risk: The Role Of Cyber Insurance In National Security Governance, Deborah L. Johnson

Faculty Publications

This Article explores the growing yet underexamined role of the commercial cyber insurance market in shaping the United States' approach to cybersecurity readiness. It argues that, as cyber threats against U.S. critical infrastructure and essential services increase, commercial cyber insurance has quietly come to function as a de facto governance tool in national cybersecurity. In hospitals, water and energy systems, and other public-facing sectors, policy language, underwriting questionnaires, and post-breach claims practices help define what counts as "reasonable" security, influence how organizations plan for and respond to incidents, and affect the pace and scope of recovery after an attack. Yet …

A Dataset Of Precipitate-Containing Multi-Principal Element Alloys, Anshu Raj, Xin Wang, Matthew Luebbe, Haiming Wen, Kun Lu, Shuozhi Xu

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We report a curated dataset that brings together composition, processing conditions, microstructural details, and mechanical properties for 396 combinations of alloy composition and processing condition drawn from 100 peer-reviewed research articles on precipitate-containing multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs). The dataset was created by first utilizing a generative large language model for information extraction, followed by expert review to ensure accurate recovery of materials data. Compositional information was taken directly from tables and text, while processing routes — including homogenization, rolling, recrystallization, and aging — were converted into uniform temperature and time metrics. Microstructural descriptors, including precipitate phases and sizes, were consolidated …

Wage Gap Disclosure In The Tropics, Pablo Castro, Mayara Felix, Ieda Matavelli, Bobak Pakzad-Hurson

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

We evaluate the effects of mandatory disclosures of firm-specific gender wage gaps in Brazil—the first developing country to enact a large-scale pay transparency law. The mandate took effect in 2023, automatically releasing to the public government-curated reports showing firm-specific gender wage gaps, separately by major occupational groups, for formal sector firms with 100 employees or more. Regression discontinuity estimates on outcomes one year after the release show that the mandated disclosures had no effects on the gender wage ratio, average wages for men or women, or the number of occupations within firms. We document that gender wage gaps persist in …

How Wasteful Is Signaling?, Alex Frankel, Navin Kartik

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

Signaling is wasteful. But how wasteful? We study the fraction of surplus dissipated in a separating equilibrium. For isoelastic environments, this waste ratio has a simple formula: β/(β + σ), where β is the benefit elasticity (reward to higher perception) and σ is the elasticity of higher types’ relative cost advantage. The ratio is constant across types and is independent of other parameters, including convexity of cost in the signal. We show that the directional effects of β and σ on waste extend to non-isoelastic environments.

From Conversations To Mechanisms: Aligning Advertiser Incentives In Ai-Powered Product Recommendations, Dirk Bergemann, Marek Bojko, Paul Dütting, Renato Paes Leme, Haifeng Xu, Song Zuo

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

We study the design of efficient dynamic recommendation systems, such as AI shopping assistants, in which a platform interacts with a user over multiple rounds to identify the most suitable product among those offered by advertisers. Advertisers have multi-dimensional private information: their private value from a purchase and private information about the user’s preferences. In each round, the platform displays recommendations; the user learns product characteristics of the shown items and then chooses whether to purchase, exit without purchasing, or submit a new query. These actions generate a stream of feedback—purchase, exit, and follow-up queries—that is informative about the user’s …

Cross-Border Product Adoption: Individual Imports, Migrant Networks, And Domestic Retailers, David Argente, Esteban Méndez, Diana Van Patten

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper studies how new varieties enter markets and become locally available. We provide causal evidence of demand externalities that operate in two steps. First, information about new varieties diffuses directly through real-world social ties among consumers. Second, early purchases generate an indirect spillover to firms: local retailers learn from 'pioneer' consumers which new varieties are most likely to succeed and adjust their product offerings accordingly. We study this process in the context of direct-to-consumer imports. Using customs records on individuals' purchases matched to population-wide social networks, international migrant links, and retailer catchment areas, we document economically meaningful demand externalities. …

The Scoop, Vol. 13 Issue 1, April 2026, Health Sciences Library

Volume 13

Latest news and updates from the Health Sciences Library in our monthly newsletter for April 2026. Please see page 2 for a text-only version of this issue!

Peruanidad, Food Memory And Cultural Capital In Connecticut Peruvian Restaurants, Crystal Aylin Elescano

ELIN Graduate Theses

No abstract provided.

A Single-Dose Intravenous-Contrast Enhanced 4-Dimensional Computed Tomogram Facilitated Accurate Delineation And Tracking Metastatic Tumor Motion Within A Cardiac Chamber In All Breathing Phases For Cardiac Metastasis-Directed Radiation Therapy., Whoon Jong Kil, Wyatt Smith, David Cousins, Eugene Muchnik, Renee Muchnik, Craig Herndon, Haejin Kang

Oncology Articles

No abstract provided.

End-Of-Life Pathology In Um-Het3 Mice Treated With 16 Α‑Hydroxyestradiol Or Late‑Start Canagliflozin., Jessica M Snyder, David E Harrison, Ron Korstanje, Brett Ginsburg, Peter C. Reifsnyder, James Nelson, Scott Leiser, Catherine Kaczorowski, Denise M Imai, Adam B Salmon, Randy Strong, Warren Ladiges, Richard A Miller

Faculty Research 2026

Canagliflozin (Cana) started  at 16 months of age and 16-hydroxy-estradiol (OH_Est) started at 12 months each led to significant increases in lifespan in male UM-HET3 mice but significant decreases in female lifespan. To seek insights into the basis for these sex-specific effects, we performed end-of-life histopathological analyses of control and treated mice for all three interventions testing program sites. There were no significant drug-induced alterations in inferred cause of death, although statistical power was low for such comparisons. Tabulation of incidental lesions (i.e., combining lethal and non-lethal lesions) revealed a complex set of significant and near-significant changes caused by each …

04-21-26 Bor Hsc Committee Notice Of Meeting Cancellation, Patricia Serna

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

04-21-26 BOR HSC Committee Notice of Meeting Cancellation

Toward A Neuroleadership Framework, Bryan G. Wood

PhD in Organizational Leadership

Neuroleadership is an emerging field that seeks to connect neural mechanisms, psychological processes, and leadership behaviors within organizational contexts. Despite continued scholarly interest, the literature remains conceptually fragmented and lacks a coherent framework for organizing its recurring themes and constructs. The purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual framework for neuroleadership through a quantitative analysis of records retrieved from the PsycINFO database and interpreted through qualitative synthesis. The findings revealed recurring themes related to core leadership processes, applied contexts, and associated outcomes while also indicating thematic convergence without full conceptual integration across the field. These patterns were organized …

Military Recruiting Crisis: A Qualitative Study On The Motivation Of Generation Z, Ruth D. Kane

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This qualitative study investigates the declining motivation of Generation Z to join the U.S. military, using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a framework. Despite significant investments in recruitment, enlistment rates continue to decline, revealing a gap between military structures and the psychological needs of potential recruits. SDT provides a useful perspective by emphasizing the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in motivating and promoting well-being. Through in-depth interviews with eight Gen Z individuals eligible for service, this study explores how social, cultural, and institutional factors influence perceptions of military service and career decisions. Results indicate that motivation to enlist increases when …

As I Remember Your Tears: A Biblically Grounded, Integrated Ecosystemic Model For Mentoring Ministers In Distress, John R. Dingle

PhD in Organizational Leadership

This study addressed a gap in the literature concerning how mentoring supports ministers who are experiencing distress and turnover intention. The purpose of this dissertation was to develop a biblically grounded model for mentoring ministers in distress. This qualitative study employed a two-phase design consisting of a sociorhetorical analysis of 2 Timothy and a phenomenological study of four Assemblies of God ministers who experienced turnover intention but remained in ministry because of a mentor’s intervention. The biblical text was analyzed using the sociorhetorical textures of inner texture, intertexture, and sacred texture. The phenomenological data were analyzed using open, values, and …

An Evidence-Based Educational Intervention To Enhance Nurses' Knowledge Of Metabolic Syndrome In Residential Care Facilities, Marie Tanyi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The project addresses a critical gap in nursing education by implementing a structured, evidencebased educational intervention led by an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) to improve nurses’ knowledge of metabolic syndrome in residential care facilities. The purpose was to determine whether this intervention could significantly enhance nurses’ understanding and management of metabolic syndrome, a complex cluster of disorders present in adult populations. Nine nurses participated in targeted educational sessions focusing on definition, diagnosis, complications, and evidence-based prevention and management strategies. Each participant completed the Metabolic Syndrome Knowledge Scale (MSKS) questionnaire before and after the intervention to assess changes in knowledge. …

Cryptocurrency Integration As A Response To Financial Innovation And Regulation, Emmy Rogers

2026 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents & Media

Integrating cryptocurrency has become a key management challenge in increasingly digital and regulated financial environments. This paper argues that digital asset adoption should be understood not simply as technological disruption, but as an adaptive strategic response to regulatory transformation, institutional uncertainty, and competitive pressure. Drawing on financial innovation theory, dynamic capabilities, and institutional theory, the research develops conceptual propositions explaining when and how firms should integrate decentralized assets. Through a strategic, non-empirical analysis of regulatory developments and governance shifts, the paper presents a framework for aligning cryptocurrency adoption with firm performance, risk management, and compliance.

Butterflies & You: Considerations Of Human Relationships With The Natural World (Paper), Madison Colby

2026 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents & Media

Science communication only accounts for approximately 2% of the entire scientific output of 2017-2022 (Parejo-Cuéllar et. al, 2024). It is an under-researched and under-valued field, especially in an age that has devalued science as a whole. The delicate art of explaining complicated ideas to people who are unfamiliar with scientific jargon is vital to humans’ understanding of the world. Butterflies & You is a documentary film exploring the relationship between humans and the many different butterfly species that call Illinois home. Video-based science communication is important to research and practice because of its impact on environmental advocacy and the growing …

Challenging Patriarchy: Female Agency Through Religious Roles In Ancient Babylonian Societies, Emily Wilson

2026 Awards for Excellence in Student Research and Creative Activity - Documents & Media

In ancient Babylonian societies, gender roles were shaped by patriarchal structures that prioritized male authority in just about every sector. However, women created spaces for themselves that gave them influence and autonomy, particularly through religious institutions. Temple complexes like the Shamash temple in Sippar and the Esagil temple in Babylon were not only centers of worship but also powerful economic and administrative hubs, and women who served them occupied positions of privilege. The nadītu of Sippar, for example, lived in separate quarters where they were not only expected to remain celibate but were also allowed to own property, lend money, …

April 1, 2026 Blazer Weekly, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

Blazer Weekly (student newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Emc Testing Apparatus, Madison Randle

Honors Capstones

Common-mode current is a critical diagnostic parameter for predicting radiated electromagnetic emissions in variable-frequency drives (VFDs). At Danfoss, these measurements have traditionally been performed manually by sliding a current transformer along a mains cable—an approach that is slow, operator-dependent, and prone to inconsistent sensor positioning. As regulatory standards tighten and development cycles accelerate, the limitations of 6 this manual process create risks: longer test times, higher labor costs, and an increased likelihood of failing expensive anechoic chamber compliance tests. This project set out to design an automated measurement apparatus capable of improving repeatability, reducing operator workload, and supporting both continuous …

The Use Of Teacher-Student Check-In's And How It Affects Behavior, Cristina Doty

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

Inside the classroom, personalities differ from student to student, which results in behavioral challenges for learners. The tier 2 interventions are known and used widely for individual students who are more at risk. Tier 2 interventions provide additional support for students who need more support to meet their goals socially, emotionally, and/or academically. The objective of Tier 2 is to provide students with the tools to self-govern, allowing them to move back into Tier 1. (Epperson, A, 2018). The objective of this research is the use of Positive Behavioral Intervention Strategies, PBIS, tier 2 interventions using the daily check in …