Digital Commons Network^™

Wild Rice Life Cycle: An Integrated Science, Social Studies, And Ela Lesson, Rhett Zima, Lily Deming

OER Materials

This lesson is designed to deepen students’ understanding of wild rice, a plant native to Minnesota, by integrating life science concepts such as structure, function, life cycles, and seed dispersal with prior knowledge from English Language Arts and Social Studies. Using the 5E instructional model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate), students participate in a structured, inquiry-based learning experience. They begin by connecting to prior knowledge and generating questions, then investigating the life cycle and growth patterns of wild rice through hands-on exploration. As students build their understanding, they analyze how the plant’s seed dispersal supports its survival and reproduction. …

Z Variant Heterozygosity In Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Disease Risk And Treatment Implications, Craig P. Hersh, Jeffrey H. Teckman, Pavel Strnad, Aaron Hakim, Tomás P. Carroll, Ian P. Hall, Auyon J. Ghosh, Igor Barjaktarevic, Noel G. Mcelvaney, Joseph E. Kaserman, David A. Lomas, Charlie Strange, M Bradley Drummond, Stephen I. Rennard, Kathi E. Hanna, Virginia C. Clark, Monica P. Goldklang, Peg Iverson, Andrew A. Wilson

Journal Articles: Pulmonary & Critical Care Med

BACKGROUND: Individuals heterozygous for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) have one copy of the normal "M" allele and one copy of an abnormal allele ("Z", "S", or another variant) in the SERPINA1 gene. Historically, evidence has been lacking to support the concept that heterozygotes are at increased risk for liver and/or lung complications compared to individuals homozygous for the M allele. However, growing evidence suggests that inheritance of a single Z allele increases the risk of disease in some individuals. The Alpha-1 Foundation convened a workshop on October 27, 2023, in Bethesda, Maryland that included stakeholders from the research, pharmaceutical, and …

Followership In Leadership Education: It's High Time We Embraced The F-Word, I. Dami Alegbeleye Phd., Osahenrumwen Ofumwengbe Ms

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Historically, followership has been one of the most overlooked topics in leadership education,  despite its crucial role in leader development. While interest in followership has grown in recent  years, there is still limited information about its current state. Consequently, this paper examines  the extent to which leadership educators and trainers incorporate followership into their  programs and how it is represented in their curricula. A qualitative research method, specifically  a document analysis approach, was employed. The data consisted of curricula from 85 leadership  education programs in the United States, as presented on their websites. A thematic analysis of  the data revealed …

Closing The Literacy Gap: Comparing Student Outcomes Based On Three Phonemic Awareness Programs, Juanita Diaz

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The nationwide literacy crisis has been in existence for decades. Numerous governmental acts, research, and studies have yet to positively affect the nationwide literacy policies and instruction in schools. The Science of Reading, a body of research from many disciplines inclusive and exclusive of education, has illustrated how structured literacy can positively affect reading outcomes. One of the skills under literacy, phonemic awareness, is an instrumental foundational reading skill that researchers have identified as critical to early literacy and eventual reading proficiency. Historically, many districts have not been mandated to utilize instructional tools or practices grounded in research or evidence. …

Inclusion Meets Innovation: Exploring Vr Technological Acceptance And Accessibility Barriers For People With Physical Disabilities, Andrew E. Bedard

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The central goal of this work was to examine the usability barriers Middle School and High School students encountered while using VR during an educational learning activity. 20 Middle and High School students aged 11–21, with little or no prior VR experience, participated in a set of explanatory VR activities, after watching instructional videos. After the activity, students completed a brief survey on their ease of setting up the headset, using the controllers, and managing both devices during gameplay. This study used a mixed-methods approach, combining descriptive survey results with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), which was ultimately framed in the …

Teacher Burnout In 2026 - Context, Student Effects, And Interventions, Colin David Thies

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In order to aid teachers in 2026, this paper aims to identify what teachers and administrators can do to protect against and treat teacher burnout in K-12 schools. To achieve this, research was conducted on the post-pandemic context of teacher burnout, the secondary effects of teacher burnout on students, individual and organizational interventions. Teacher burnout is a multifaceted ailment, and many of the factors behind burnout can be beyond one’s control. There is no single answer, though there is an emphasis on emotions, as research suggests emotions may be greatly important to both succumbing to and treating teacher burnout. Thus, …

Integrating Discipline-Specific Literacy In Business Education: Implications For Skill Development, Katherine M. Mitzner, Quinn J. Longueville

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Literacy is a vital part of a students’ education. Not only is it important to know how to read, but it is also important for students to comprehend what is read. There are many aspects of literacy, including content area literacy and disciplinary literacy. This thesis explores the importance of disciplinary literacy in the context of a business education lens and how business literacy impacts the success of a secondary student. It explores disciplinary literacy, the impacts of business literacy on other fields, implementation in the classroom, and professional development for literacy strategies. Application materials related to the findings are …

Music-Based Interventions And Social Communication Outcomes For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tom M. Coughlin

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent differences in social communication, social interaction, and ritualistic and repetitive behaviors. This thesis examined participation in music-based instruction and intervention to support social communication outcomes for students with ASD. Literature studies included systematic reviews, empirical interventions, and music-based approaches, including improvisational music therapy, song-based instruction, classroom-based music intervention, and technology-mediated music-making. Across the literature, music-based practices were analyzed considering engagement, joint attention, emotional understanding, initiation, reciprocal interaction, and expressive communication. The literature reviewed suggests that music-based instruction and intervention provide meaningful contexts to support social communication skills for ASD students, highlighting the …

Beyond Permissions: A Privacy And Security Analysis Of Sensor And Network Activity On Xr Devices Using Xrmonitor, Gayatri Sravya Siripurapu

Computer Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

Standalone virtual reality headsets integrate multiple sensors and cameras whose runtime behavior is not transparently documented, creating potential privacy and security risks that are difficult to audit using existing tools. The relationship between software feature activation and the underlying hardware engaged at runtime remains opaque, limiting the ability of users and researchers to assess what data is being collected and when.

This thesis presents XRMonitor, a unified framework for monitoring and analyzing sensor activation behavior and network traffic on Meta Quest devices. The framework is motivated by the lack of transparency in how standalone XR devices engage their hardware sensors …

Differentiating Blunt Force Trauma Fractures From Thermal Fractures In Fleshed And Skeletal Deer Heads, Alyssa Ranney

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Blunt-force trauma deaths are one of the most common cases encountered by forensic anthropologists because they involve accidental, suicidal, and homicidal deaths (Batalis 2025). In forensic cases, blunt force trauma is sometimes concealed by thermal alteration to cover evidence. Because of the mechanical and chemical properties that influence thermal and blunt-force trauma, distinguishing between them becomes difficult (Raniero et al. 2024). Previous literature discussing thermal alteration after blunt force trauma has typically focused on either fleshed or skeletal remains. This study uses both fleshed and skeletal deer heads under the same conditions to determine if: 1) Thermal trauma can be …

Health Behaviors Of First-Generation College Students Affected By Acculturation, Angel Castro

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

The purpose of this qualitative narrative ethnographic study was to understand how acculturation affects health behaviors and wellness of first-generation college students at a state university on the West Coast of the United States. The theory guiding this study was social constructivism theory, proposed by Lev Vygotsky, who claimed behaviors are constructed by social interactions around social settings. This research focused on how students navigated the changes in inherited cultural values of health behaviors and wellness practices affected by mainstream and college cultures. The dissertation investigated challenges first-generation college students faced in an environment that often conflicted with family values …

Lyell, Elizabeth Interview 21 November 2025, Elizabeth Lyell, Maughn Rollins Gregory, Megan Jane Laverty

All IAPC Oral Histories

In this IAPC Oral History Interview, Dr. Elizabeth Lyell reflects on her participation in the first cohort of the Master of Arts in Teaching degree with a Concentration in Philosophy for Children at Montclair State College during the 1981–1982 academic year. Lyell recounts her introduction to philosophy for children, her intensive year of study with Matthew Lipman, Ann Margaret Sharp, and Phil Guin, and teaching philosophy in public school classrooms in Montclair, New Jersey and Harlem. Lyell offers vivid memories of Lipman as a teacher, mentor, and moral presence, highlighting his pedagogical generosity, seriousness, and commitment to grounding philosophy in …

An Evidence-Based Approach To Standardizing Occupational Therapy Services For Functional Neurological Disorder: Protocol Development And Provider Education, Kimberly Yuen

OTD Capstones

Functional Neurological Disorder is a complex neurological condition that continues to be misinterpreted and stigmatized by healthcare practitioners. Occupational therapists play a vital role in the care team for an individual with FND, as their scope of practice helps to empower individuals with this condition to return to daily, meaningful occupations. However, there remains a lack of evidence-based protocols and resources for occupational therapists to utilize when treating functional neurological disorder (FND), resulting in minimized confidence and understanding of how to treat this population. This capstone project addressed these concerns through the creation of multiple deliverables to help improve clinician …

Preparing For Change: Supporting Dementia Transitions Through Occupational Therapy And Caregiver Education, Kelly Ann Mooney

OTD Capstones

This capstone project focused primarily on supporting caregivers of individuals living with dementia within a continuing care retirement community (CCRC). Caregivers of spouses with dementia often experience increased burden, stress, and difficulty navigating the transition from independent living to higher levels of care. Guided by principles of occupational therapy, this project aimed to enhance caregiver knowledge, confidence, and overall well-being through the development and implementation of targeted educational resources and support strategies. 

Interventions included the creation of evidence-based educational handouts addressing common challenges for caregivers such as activities of daily living (ADLs), sleep, mealtime, and behavioral changes. Additionally, a structured …

Effectiveness Of Aromatherapy And Non-Pharmacological Interventions, Madison Irfan North

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Lifestyle And Medication Adherence On Type 2 Diabetes Management In Hospital Patients, Mohammed Irfan Lari

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

The Utilization Of Uv-C Devices To Improve Cleaning And Disinfection In The Operating Room For Reduction Of Infection Rates: An Integrative Research Review (Irr), Kathrina Joyce L. Manalo

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

Teamwork Enhanced With Digital Technology To Augment Bedside Shift Report: An Integrative Research Review (Irr), Daniel Everard Hronek

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

Caterpillar's Spatial Metamorphosis: Heavy Equipment Manufacturing In The 21st Century, Utkarsh Kumar, Michael L. Dougherty

Faculty Publications – Sociology and Anthropology

Caterpillar Inc., the world's largest heavy equipment manufacturer, grew rapidly in the 20th century before a crisis of overproduction in the early 1980s threatened its survival. In response, it launched the $2.8 billion “Plant with a Future” (PWAF) program, a sweeping material and ideological overhaul that remade the firm for the post-Fordist global economy. This article advances three interventions. First, it shows how post-Fordism as a spatial and ideological project emphasized decentralization, accountability, and customer orientation, which helped legitimize and institutionalize corporate restructuring. Second, it demonstrates that flexibilization operated as a spatial strategy, implemented through four interrelated processes: bureaucratic restructuring, …

A Regional Multimethod Study On The Impact Of Identification Practices For Diverse Populations In Academically Gifted Programs During The 2022-2025 Aig Plan Implementation, Stephanie G. Revis

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Historically, many North Carolina Local Education Agencies (LEAs) have not prioritized diversity in Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) programs, and local control over funding and policies has led to wide variations in how identification and services are implemented. As a result, persistent equity gaps exist between the proportion of culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse (CLED) students in the overall population and their representation in AIG programs. The purpose of this study was to examine identification practices implemented by LEAs and determine their impact on the Relative Difference in Composition Index (RDCI), as well as to identify which practices contribute to …

The Functional Significance Of Plk1 Phosphorylation Of Nrf2 In Prostate Cancer Progression, Maria Nur

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Prostate cancer progression and therapeutic resistance are closely linked to alterations in redox homeostasis and cell cycle regulation. Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2) is a master regulator of antioxidant responses, yet the mechanisms integrating cell cycle signaling with NRF2 activity in prostate cancer remain poorly defined. In this study, we identify polo‑like kinase 1 (PLK1) as a novel regulator of NRF2 through direct phosphorylation at serine 253 (S253). Using bioinformatic prediction, mass spectrometry, in vitro kinase assays, and cell‑based analyses, we demonstrate that PLK1 phosphorylates NRF2 at S253 in a cell cycle–dependent manner, with maximal phosphorylation during mitosis. …

A Place At The Table: A Story For Invisible Girls And Invisible Educators, Ariella Hakim

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The research collected in this study explores how care, relationships, and daily moments in schools shape the experiences of neurodivergent girls.

Preface, C.J. Box

Wyoming Law Review

No abstract provided.

Masthead And Table Of Contents, Vol. 26 No. 2, Wyoming Law Review Editorial Board

Wyoming Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Extreme Risk Protection Orders On Homicide And Suicide: Are There Any Red Flags?, K. Alexander Adams

Wyoming Law Review

Twenty-two states have instituted Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws, also known as red flag laws. These laws allow law enforcement, family members, and others to petition courts to temporarily seize firearms from an individual believed to be a danger to themselves or others. These laws have been passed with the goal of reducing firearm-related homicide and suicide. This Article tests whether these laws save lives by using a generalized synthetic control model, improving upon the previously used difference-in-difference and standard synthetic control models. This preliminary study suggests ERPOs, as currently written, fail to statistically significantly reduce total homicide, total …

From "Amateurs" To Employees: How Nil Has Reshaped The Employment Status Of College Athletes, Joey Griesinger

Wyoming Law Review

The emergence of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation has fundamentally reshaped college athletics, exposing a growing disconnect between the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) “student-athlete” model and the economic reality of modern-day college athletics. While courts have historically deferred to the principle of amateurism, this Comment argues that NIL has eroded the factual and legal foundations underlying that deference.

This Comment reframes the employment-status inquiry through the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) economic-reality test, arguing that many college athletes today meet the statutory definition of “employees.” Drawing on Johnson v. NCAA as a structured articulation of longstanding FLSA principles, …

C.J. Box And The Yellowstone Zone Of Death, Brian C. Kalt

Wyoming Law Review

C.J. Box’s novel Free Fire incorporated the theory, first published in the Georgetown Law Journal article The Perfect Crime, that there is a 50-square-mile swath of Idaho where criminals might evade punishment because of an unfortunate oversight in the law. Part II of this Article summarizes this “Yellowstone Zone of Death” theory and examines its treatment in Free Fire. Part III discusses why the loophole still has not been closed. Part IV summarizes the public attention the theory has received. Last, Part V addresses some new counterarguments to the theory that arose out of this public attention, and …

Pesos For Pesos And No One Feels At Home: Gentrification And Displacement In Mexico City, Sophia L. Castellanos

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis investigates how gentrification and displacement have affected Mexico City, providing historical context and reasoning behind current policies for digital nomads and tourists. It examines policies enacted in similar cities such as Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Venice, which face challenges from increased tourism and short-term rentals like Airbnb. The thesis also reviews these regulations, highlighting their successes and limitations, and offers recommendations for integrating some of these strategies into Mexico City’s 2024 Tourism Law. Additionally, it explores public innovation strategies that could promote collaborations between the government and communities rather than complete government control. Finally, the paper discusses the challenges …

Andrews Hall Staff, Housing & Dining

Andrews Hall

No abstract provided.

Dining Supervisory Staff, Housing & Dining

Dining Supervisory Staff Lists

No abstract provided.