Pacific McGeorge School of Law
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Automated Hydroponics Monitoring and Control System
No full textThis project is an automated hydroponics system designed to maintain optimal growing conditions using real-time monitoring of solution pH for nutrient uptake; electrical conductivity for nutrient concentration; temperature, for plant health; and water level to ensure consistent hydration. This system is meant to address growing global concerns in food and resource scarcity. With less clean water, declining soil quality, and an increasing demand for food by an ever growing population, the world needs to pivot from traditional means of agriculture to exploring modern, resource-efficient alternatives.
The main body of the system is extremely simple consisting of a light source for photosynthesis, a two gallon nutrient reservoir that suspends the roots, and a clay pellet growing medium that would give the plants some needed structural support. The controller architecture of the system, however, is not as simple. It utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller that integrates various sensors to collect environmental data and transmits it to a Raspberry Pi. Here, the Raspberry Pi hosts a database to store historical data, executes an automated dosing response program, and provides an Ignition gateway for real-time visualization.
This project showcases how modern technology could be integrated into agricultural sectors around the world. By leveraging low-cost, accessible hardware and pairing it with open-source tools and software, food production could start expanding into new areas previously unseen, supporting more resilient, sustainable, and conscientious growing practices worldwide
Bridging oral and systemic health: exploring pathogenesis, biomarkers, and diagnostic innovations in periodontal disease
No full textPurpose This narrative review explores the multifaceted links between periodontal diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis) and systemic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, Alzheimer’s disease, cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, and respiratory infections. It aims to synthesize evidence on how local oral infections exert systemic effects and evaluate the potential of diagnostic technologies to monitor these interactions. Methods This narrative review synthesizes current scientific literature on periodontal disease pathogenesis, focusing on key pathogens (e.g., Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum) and their roles in driving local and systemic inflammation via virulence factors and microbial dysbiosis. It examines biomarker-based diagnostic approaches (e.g., IL-1β, TNF-α, microbial DNA) in saliva, blood, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and evaluates current and emerging diagnostic tools (e.g., ELISA, PCR, lateral flow assays, biosensors, microfluidics). Results The review highlights that periodontal pathogens contribute to systemic disease through complex mechanisms including persistent inflammation (driven by cytokines like IL-1β, TNF-α), endotoxemia (via LPS, noting pathogen-specific structural variations impacting immune response), molecular mimicry, and immune modulation. Current diagnostic methods provide valuable information but often face limitations in speed, portability, and multiplexing capability needed for comprehensive point-of-care assessment. Emerging technologies, particularly multiplex platforms integrating biosensors or microfluidics, demonstrate significant potential for rapid, user-friendly analysis of multiple biomarkers, facilitating earlier detection and personalized risk stratification, especially in high-risk populations. Conclusion Periodontal diseases significantly impact systemic health via intricate microbial and inflammatory pathways. The complexity of these interactions necessitates moving beyond conventional diagnostics towards integrated, advanced technologies. Implementing rapid, multiplex biomarker detection platforms within a multidisciplinary healthcare framework holds the potential to revolutionize early detection of linked conditions, improve personalized management strategies, and ultimately reduce the systemic burden of periodontal disease
Envelopes from Henry C. Robinette to Theodore J. Robinette
No full textHenry Clay Robinette, attended the Delaware Military Academy (1857-1860) and joined the Union Army at the outset of the Civil War. H.C. Robinette fought at the battles of Corinth and Vicksburg (1862) and was later on the General Grant\u27s staff (1864-1865). After the war he was court-martialed for cursing an officer in a barroom brawl (1867)but his father petitioned President Andrew Johnson on his behalf with the result that his sentence was commuted and he was promoted to brevet major for gallant and meritorious services at the Battle of Corinth and the siege of Vicksburg.https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/civil-war/1026/thumbnail.jp
Design and Sustainability of a Collective Impact Model for Closing Opportunity and Achievement Gaps for African American and Latino Students
No full textAttempts to frame the causes of and efforts to close racial achievement gaps have been major goals of education policymakers for decades. Historically, education reform efforts over the past 5 decades have produced notable legislation and landmark Supreme Court decisions aimed at closing achievement gaps among African American and Latino students and their White counterparts. While much effort has been invested in closing academic achievement gaps, some scholars have posited that the real issue lies in a lack of opportunity. These opportunity disparities are manifested in the ways race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, English proficiency, community wealth, familial situations, and other factors contribute to or perpetuate lower educational aspirations, achievement, and attainment for certain groups of students. Responses to narrowing the divide between the two gaps, achievement, and opportunity, have positioned attempted reforms primarily within insulated private and public organizations, as well as state and federal legislation that has asserted schools alone can close these gaps. However, over half a half-century of isolated legislation resulting in marginal improvement suggests otherwise. These fragmented educational reform approaches have sufficiently addressed the contributing factors, such as the effects of generational poverty, family mobility, community wealth, and parental education status, nor have they seriously considered alternative strategies. One such alternative is a collective impact approach involving community multi-sector partnerships that coalesce around a common agenda to address and close achievement and opportunity gaps. The purpose of this single case study was to examine and understand a community multi-sector organization’s structural design that operationalized and sustained, beyond 5 years, a collective impact initiative focused on closing opportunity and achievement gaps for underrepresented students, primarily African American and Latino. A collective impact conceptual framework guided this analysis, combined with an interpretivist epistemology that emphasized understanding and meaning making through the lived experiences and interpretations of interview participants. This framework highlighted the importance of context in shaping knowledge, rather than attempting to establish universal or objective truths. Data sources primarily included semi-structured interviews, supplemented by reports, planning documents, and media. Data analysis involved both descriptive and process coding, using NVivo qualitative research analysis software to identify emergent themes
From Street Codes to School Codes: Transformative Educational Intervention for Gang Affiliated Student. An Active Research Study
No full textGang-affiliated youth face significant challenges in educational and community settings, often resulting in lower graduation rates, limited career opportunities, and an increased risk for behavioral problems. While gang activity on school campuses has increased in recent years, there is limited research and little effort specifically tailored to meet the needs of this vulnerable population. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the WhyTry intervention, a resilience-focused program designed for at-risk populations, modified with additional counseling and a gang-intervention emphasis to address the unique challenges gang-affiliated students face. The study explores whether the modified WhyTry program can improve academic performance, attendance, and school behavior among gang-affiliated youth, as well as increase their internal locus of control.
A pre-experimental case study design was used, with data collected from four gang-affiliated students over an eight-month period. Quantitative data including GPA, attendance records, disciplinary records, MeasureR questionnaire scores, and the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control assessment, were supplemented by a qualitative interview from the school resource officer. While statistical significance was limited due to the small sample size, participants showed growth in various areas, including GPA and reductions in disciplinary actions. However, there were no significant changes in internal locus of control and decision making (MeasureR), suggesting that additional counseling focused on self-efficacy may be needed.
These findings emphasize the importance of more interventions for gang affiliated youth like the WhyTry program to support this vulnerable group, but also highlight the need for tailored interventions that can support their specific needs. Recommendations for future studies include incorporating career planning sessions, expanding sample size, and forming smaller, safer group dynamics to improve engagement. This study contributes to the limited body of research with a focus on gang-specific interventions within educational settings, demonstrating the potential benefits of programs like WhyTry
Fostering Community to Promote Health and Wellness Amongst LGBTQ+ School of Health Sciences Students
No full textProblem Statement: Lack of resources, programming, and supports for queer-identifying graduate students in health science focused programs
Growing Through The Senses: A Sensory Garden Approach to Support Emotional Regulation and Sensory Awareness in Young Adults with Visual Impairments
No full textYoung adults with visual impairments are at a greater risk of experiencing mental health challenges. Encounter unique challenges that impact emotional, social, and personal development
Helping Prepare Young Adults with Disabilities for Successful Employment
No full textProblem Statement: Young adults with disabilities are at a higher risk of unemployment and typically don\u27t receive the career development and employment readiness training needed to attain employment (Lindsay et al., 2015). In turn, young adults with disabilities struggle to transition into the workforce and can benefit from life skills and work-related skills in which occupational therapy (OT) can help with providing valuable insight and helping with identifying and selecting work opportunities, employment seeking and acquisition, and developing needed work-related skills and patterns (Occupational therapy practice framework, 2020)
Mindfulness, Meaning, and Mental Health: Occupational Therapy at the Heart of Community Wellness at ACC
No full textDespite growth, limited research exists on culturally sensitive healthcare interventions and utilization patterns in this group. Aimed to increase awareness and support older adults in accessing mental health services, promotes mindfulness and highlights the role of occupational therapy in community wellness by addressing cultural and generational barriers through workshops