Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Not a member yet
77577 research outputs found
Sort by
The Bonding Project: Addressing Mental Health Issues in the Older LGBTQ+ Community in Sacramento
No full texthttps://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/nursing-portfolios/1023/thumbnail.jp
Title: Effects of MTHFR and RFC1 polymorphisms on multiplication rate of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSC)
No full textIntroduction: Orofacial clefts, including non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCLP), are among the most common congenital anomalies affecting approximately 1 in 700 live births. The etiology of NSCLP is multifactorial involving both genetic and environmental factors. MTHFR C677T and RFC1 G80A polymorphisms belong to candidate genes affecting folate metabolism. Compromised neural crest cell proliferation and migration are known to contribute significantly to NSCLP development. This study investigates the combined effects of MTHFR and RFC1 polymorphisms on multiplication rates of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSC), which serve as a model for neural crest-derived cells. Materials and Methods: hPDLSC were isolated from extracted teeth of 8 patients and cultured for 4-5 weeks. MTHFR C677T and RFC1 G80A polymorphism genotypes were identified using real-time PCR. Cell multiplication rates were measured over 4 days and compared across different genotype combinations. Experiments were performed in sets of three. Results: Results from 8 patients demonstrated clear genotype-dependent differences in hPDLSC multiplication rates. Wild-type homozygotes (MTHFR CC/RFC1 GG) demonstrated the highest multiplication rate (4.1), while double-mutated homozygotes (MTHFR TT/RFC1 AA) showed the lowest rate (0.3), representing only 7% of the wild-type rate. Heterozygous combinations showed intermediate multiplication rates. Conclusion: MTHFR C677T and RFC1 G80A polymorphisms differentially influence hPDLSC 3 multiplication rates in a genotype-dependent manner. The dramatic reduction in cellular proliferation observed in patients with combined polymorphisms provides mechanistic insight into how folate metabolism gene variants may contribute to NSCLP development through compromised neural crest cell proliferation during embryogenesis. These findings support the importance of adequate folate supplementation, particularly for individuals carrying genetic polymorphisms that compromise folate metabolism
Neural Oceans: AI-Powered Remote Sensing for Ocean Plastic Pollution; A Deep Learning Approach for Global Marine Conservation
No full text
Exploring race and gender through selected excerpts from Shakespeare: Spiraling upward from the elementary grades
No full textIn the US, the works of Shakespeare are often limited to high-school English language arts (ELA), with some students not encountering Shakespeare until college-level English courses. His works are often considered “the mother lode of complex texts” (Thompson & Turchi, 2016, p. 6), which may discourage teachers—particularly those working with younger students—from including them in their curricula. Introducing Shakespeare in elementary classrooms, however, constitutes an opportunity for younger audiences to be acquainted with early modern English literature, making Shakespeare’s work potentially more accessible and familiar when it is revisited in later grades (high school and beyond)...https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/ed-facbooks/1086/thumbnail.jp
Addressing Nursing Student Burnout through Mindfulness and Zen Den at University of the Pacific
No full textBackground:
Burnout among nursing students is a critical issue that negatively impacts academic performance, mental well-being, and long-term professional retention. Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing students at University of the Pacific experience heightened stress due to rigorous coursework, clinical demands, and underdeveloped institutional mental health support.
Aim:
This Quality Improvement project aimed to reduce stress and strengthen emotional resilience among nursing students through Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction education and the creation of a peer-supported wellness space, the “Zen Den.”
Methods:
A pre- and post-intervention design was implemented, utilizing surveys to measure mindfulness knowledge, attitudes toward self-care, and stress awareness. Zen Den utilization was tracked weekly through QR codes to assess engagement with the wellness space.
Results:
Post-intervention findings demonstrated a 5% increase in mindfulness knowledge, with Likert scale scores showing improved attitudes toward stress management and self-care (pre-intervention M = 3.56; post-intervention M = 4.38). Qualitative feedback emphasized the value of accessible wellness spaces and mindfulness practices as effective coping strategies during program demands.
Conclusions:
Integrating structured mindfulness education and wellness resources into nursing curricula provides a sustainable, low-cost strategy to address student burnout. These interventions successfully increased confidence in self-awareness, emotional resilience, and ability to cope. Long term these outcomes can support academic success and long-term professional retention.https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/nursing-portfolios/1031/thumbnail.jp
Minigame Rumble
No full textMinigame Rumble
By Matthew Maragos, Sagar Mathur, and Soojal Kumar
This project presents a local multiplayer video game that features a collection of minigames designed for quick and party-style gameplay. The game focuses on entertaining, fun, and accessibility, supporting up to four players using Xbox controllers with an intuitive input system. Each minigame offers distinct mechanics, including a card-matching game and reflex-based runner game. All minigames have a major focus of social gameplay, hence the local multiplayer, but each minigame offers its own unique challenges. Our card matching offers memory and some quick thinking, while our endless runner offers quick thinking and action-oriented reflex challenges. Each minigame is designed to encourage competition, while enabling and maintaining a lighthearted, enjoyable, fun, and engaging atmosphere that appeals to casual and competitive gamers alike.
Developed in Unity, the game uses both the old Input System and the new Input System that ensures seamless controller integration for dynamic and competitive play. Players will interact with our flashy and retro style user interface (UI), interact with procedurally spawned objects, navigate and jump through a game environment, and compete in skill-based (and some luck) challenges. The mechanics of the minigames are built around procedurally spawned objects that the players can select, avoid, or interact with in real time. This game focuses on multiplayer, so the absence of a single-player mode reinforces the game’s social focus, fostering engagement through local multiplayer dynamics where players directly influence each other’s experience. The design prioritizes replayability, fair competition, and quick, engaging rounds that cater to all casual and competitive players alike.
Through iterative playtesting and feedback, the game has been constantly improved to enhance user experience, responsiveness, and balance. Playtesting sessions provide major insights into responsiveness, fairness, and overall player enjoyment, enabling continuous improvements to mechanics and UI elements. The technical aspects of the project also highlight key challenges in local multiplayer development, such as the synchronization of player inputs of controllers, designing UI navigation for multiple users, and optimizing performance for a seamless experience. This game also explores how procedural content generation can increase engagement by preventing repetitive gameplay patterns and maintaining freshness across multiple play sessions. The project includes key aspects of game design, including controller support, local multiplayer, UI accessibility, and procedural content generation. This work contributes to the field of game development by demonstrating effective techniques for implementing local multiplayer mechanics and creating an enjoyable party game experience
What\u27s My Research? with Drs. Maryam Heidaripour and Traci Roberts-Camps
No full textPlease join us on November 17th, 2025, from 12-1pm in the DeRosa University Center, room 211 A&B, for What’s My Research?, featuring Drs. Maryam Heidaripour (Engineering Management) and Traci Roberts-Camps (Modern Language & Literature). Dr. Heidaripour will reflect on the experience of submitting her first National Science Foundation proposal, which explores participatory AI prototyping with local enterprises. Dr. Roberts-Camps’ research uses an intersectional lens to examine how Latin American and Latinx directors visually represent female adolescence and young adulthood as a metaphorical site of violence, oppression, and possibilities for agency. Her research and teaching affirm that film and television can be powerful tools for social change and a catalyst for self-awareness, empathy, and empowerment.
A light lunch will be served