Digital Commons Network^™

When Mac Shouldn’T Smile Back: Anthropomorphic Logo And Effect On Consumer Perceptions Of Generative Artificial Intelligence, Ainsley E. Ballard

Honors Scholar Theses

Drawing on prior research suggesting that anthropomorphic design can increase trust, liking, and perceived competence, this research investigates whether these effects extend to generative artificial intelligence logos. A three-group between-subjects study was conducted to examine how varying levels of logo anthropomorphization influenced consumer perceptions of an artificial intelligence brand. In being assigned to one of three logo conditions, humanoid (high anthropomorphism), animalistic (moderate anthropomorphism), or nature/geometric (low anthropomorphism), participants evaluated the new logo across multiple dimensions, including liking, brand fit, trustworthiness, and willingness to buy. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, the low anthropomorphism condition consistently received the most positive ratings, …

Building Collaborative Capacity For Coexistence With The Montana Beaver Working Group, Shane Randle

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Despite beavers’ recent surge in popularity, prevailing negative attitudes and the persistence of beaver removal practices remain obstacles for those advocating living with beavers. The Montana Beaver Working Group (BWG) advances beavers’ role in ecological and community resilience through members’ collaborative efforts, including beaver-related restoration and conflict resolution projects. Bringing together people with diverse values and perspectives, the BWG builds collective understanding, develops a holistic vision for beavers in Montana, and supports members in pursuing it. As the group’s impacts and membership have grown, so too has their need to adapt. For my Civic Engagement Project, I strengthened the BWG’s …

The Smallholder’S Dilemma In Agroecological Transitions: The Diseconomy Of Agroecology For Small Farmers In Industrial Agriculture, Qian Forrest Zhang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

A scalar contradiction exists between agroecology's three goals: while ecological sustainability is best pursued at the landscape scale, social equity and livelihood goals often require organizing production at the small scale of family farms. In China's ‘industrial agriculture of small farmers’, ecological farming practices became economically unviable at small farmers' minuscule scales. Agroecological transitions almost always first go through a scale expansion, a process fraught with tension. The empirical analysis focuses on three ‘ecological farms’ that enjoyed favorable conditions unattainable to smallholders. Yet, lock-ins across five dimensions have either made their operations economically unsustainable or forced compromises in agroecological principles.

2026 May, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for May of 2026.

From Clicking To Committing: Psychological Distance And Persuasion In Online Animal Adoption Platforms To Enhance Shelter Visitation, David Goodweather

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Online animal shelter platforms have become a primary channel through which potential adopters view and evaluate adoptable animals, yet many users do not progress from online engagement to visiting a physical shelter. The dissertation examines how online pet viewing translates into intention to book a shelter visit by focusing on the roles of psychological distance and persuasive influence cues within a high-involvement decision context. Drawing on Construal Level Theory and persuasion research, a sequential process is proposed in which sustained interaction with pet profiles reduces distance-related abstraction, increasing receptivity to influence cues that facilitate movement from initial assessment to action. …

Analyzing The Effects Of Message Testing On The Public's Opinion About Gene Editing In Agriculture And Medicine, Luke Sanford Wimpy

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper will present results from the final survey of a multi-stage project examining factors that influence opinions about gene editing in agriculture and medicine. In this final survey, 3,200 U.S. respondents were recruited and randomized to view one of eight videos that communicated the safety of gene editing to determine which factors are most influential in changing opinions. The eight videos were designed based on data collected from focus groups and three previous surveys in this multi-stage project. The eight videos varied by three attributes: messenger, message, and application. The messenger in the videos was either a researcher or …

Intraday Cotton Futures Price Responses To World Agricultural Supply And Demand Estimates (Wasde) News, Owen Mclane Tyrone

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Price discovery in agricultural futures markets is augmented by information about supply and demand, leading markets to react when public reports are released. Effective price discovery in futures markets is vital to allocate physical commodities across time, synthesize information, and provide hedging tools. Price discovery in cotton markets is unique because it is less liquid than many other commodity markets. Therefore, our objective is to measure the initial price response in the cotton futures market to unanticipated ending stocks information in the WASDE report; then determine if markets continue to adjust after the initial price change. To meet our objective, …

A Behavior Analytic Blueprint For Rapport-Building: Investigating The Key Elements For Success, Nelmar Jacinto Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

Rapport can be defined as a positive relationship between people built through specific actions. Building rapport can benefit organizations by improving performance and increasing work satisfaction. Despite these benefits, research on rapport remains scarce. Curry et al. (2019) completed the most recent rapport study and found that rapport-building led to increased productivity and discretionary effort. The present study replicated and extended Curry et al. (2019) and addressed three limitations of their research: the lack of a control group, the large disparity in time spent with the experimenter, and the rigidity of their rapport conversation script. The study was completed in …

Sectoral Differences In The Role Of Aggregate Corporate Earnings In Predicting Gdp, Aleeza Reich

Business/Business Administration

This paper provides empirical evidence on aggregate corporate earnings growth as a predictor of gross domestic product (GDP) growth at the sectoral level in the US. We explore how sectoral earnings predict sectoral GDP with and without controls to examine more accurate methods of GDP forecasting. Utilizing panel data for fifteen sectors from 2005 to 2024, we examine this predictive relation on a quarterly basis. Our results show that sectoral earnings can predict sector GDP in seven of the fifteen sectors either contemporaneously or with a lag. These results can aid policymakers as well as investors in making more accurate, …

Public Art And The Future Of Remembrance In Contested Spaces, Rebecca Ann Munoz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the memorial landscape of El Paso, Texas as a contested site of public memory, cultural identity, and community representation. Situated at the U.S.-Mexico border, El Paso functions as a palimpsest of layered histories shaped by colonization, militarization, and ongoing negotiations of belonging. Drawing on memory rhetoric and composition studies, and art history, the paper raises critical questions about community engagement, representational equity, and the politics of visibility in public art processes. The paper ultimately calls for a deeper examination of the rhetorical strategies and institutional frameworks that shape memorial meaning-making at the local level, with broader implications …

Academic Summaries - Philanthropy, Erica Jensen, Sebastian Dorantes, Faith Manchester, Isabelle Stoddard

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Board Effectiveness In Shaping The Influence Of Esg Disclosures On Financial Performance: The Case Of Tanzanian Listed Companies, Emmanuel Christopher

Business Management Review

This study examines the moderating role of board effectiveness in the relationship between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures and the financial performance of firms listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) in Tanzania. Drawing on stakeholder and agency theory perspectives, the study posits that ESG disclosures create value for stakeholders while effective boards enhance oversight and ensure that sustainability initiatives translate into firm performance. Using secondary data from firms’ annual reports for 2016–2024 (198 firm–year observations), the study applies random effects panel regression guided by the Hausman test. Robustness checks were performed using an alternative financial performance …

Faith, Culture, And Transformation: A Case Study Of Tumane Monastery Visitors, Danijel Pavlović, Marija Bratić, Anđelina Marić Stanković, Ivan Kosta (Hieromonk Ilarion), Dimitrije Plećević

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study examines the experiences of visitors to Tumane Monastery, one of the most significant Serbian religious and pilgrimage destinations. Located in a peaceful natural setting, Tumane Monastery is renowned for its spiritual significance, rich history, and connection to miraculous events, making it a key religious and cultural destination in the Braničevo District of Eastern Serbia. Its unique blend of sacred heritage and natural beauty attracts pilgrims and tourists seeking spiritual and cultural enrichment. Using a survey-based approach, the research analyses the demographic characteristics, motivations, behaviours, and perceptions of visitors, as well as the personal and spiritual effects of their …

The Path To Impulse: A Cognitive-Affective-Conative Model Of Live E-Commerce Behaviour Across Southeast Asia, Any Urwatul Wusko, Aminullah Aminullah

The South East Asian Journal of Management

Research Aims: This study investigates how cognitive and affective mechanisms jointly shape impulse buying intentions in live e-commerce environments, using the Cognitive-Affective-Conative (CAC) model, with a focus on Southeast Asian consumers.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted with 430 respondents from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Data were gathered from participants with recent live-shopping experience on platforms such as TikTok Shop and Shopee Live. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using SmartPLS was employed to test the proposed relationships.

Research Findings: Perceived authenticity and interactivity significantly influence emotional arousal and fear of missing out, which in turn predicted impulse …

Transparency And Personalized Feedback Curb Ai Misuse In Asynchronous Online Biology, Elana A. Paladino

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The rapid expansion of generative AI (Gen-AI) has reshaped teaching and assessment in online, asynchronous introductory biology courses, creating new challenges for academic integrity and meaningful learning. This poster examines practical strategies to promote ethical AI use while maintaining student engagement. Transparency of instructions and timely, personalized feedback were found to curb AI misuse in online discussion posts. Structured use of AI tutors encouraged responsible engagement with Gen-AI, and surveillance methods for summative exams had mixed effects.

Monastic Botanical Gardens: Medicinal Plants, Cultural Heritage, And Tourist Routes, Polyxeni G. Moira Dr, Dimitrios Mylonopoulos

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

in the natural environment. The natural environment, of which humans are an integral part, served as the first laboratory for the production of medicines. Medicinal botany can be traced back to ancient Greece, continued through ancient Rome, was closely linked to Islamic tradition, and persisted through the rise of Christianity in monasteries, enduring to the present day. Monastic botanical gardens serve as living proof of the relationship between humans, nature, healing, and spirituality. These gardens, which for centuries cultivated plants for medicinal, nutritional, and functional uses, can now be leveraged to promote tourism, cultural heritage, and environmental awareness.

This study …

Ai-Based Environmental Economic - Modeling: A Case Of Germany (1994–2024), Zahraa Taha Naqee

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This research aims to analyse the impact of economic and energy variables on carbon emissions in Germany during the period (1994–2024), within the framework of environmental economic modelling based on artificial intelligence techniques. The study is based on the hypothesis that the nature of the energy structure and the level of economic activity contribute to explaining changes in carbon dioxide emissions to varying degrees. To verify this hypothesis, an artificial neural network model was adopted to analyse the relationship between a set of independent variables represented by total energy consumption, total energy production, the proportion of renewable energy in total …

The Influence Of Relationship Marketing On Customer Satisfaction In The Jordanian Banking Sector, Balqees Almestareehi, Seyfettin Ünal

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This Paper aims to analyze the impact of relationship marketing dimensions on customer satisfaction in the Jordanian banking sector. It uses a comprehensive measurement model based on confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). The study's problem stems from the need to understand how relationship-marketing practices affect customer satisfaction in rapidly changing and highly competitive banking environment. The research relied on a field survey of 677 Jordanian bank customers. A standardized questionnaire measured the seven dimensions of relationship marketing and customer satisfaction. The results showed statistically significant positive effects for all dimensions on customer satisfaction. Customer bonding strengthening …

Combined Hybrid Ardl-Garch-Bigru Model In Analyzing And Forecasting Currency In Circulation Issued By The Central Bank Of Iraq, Abdulrazzaq Tallal Akram, Omar Abdulmohsin Ali

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This research examines the dynamics and forecasting performance of currency in circulation (CIC) in Iraq. It uses a theoretical framework that recognizes long-run equilibrium relationships, short-run adjustment, volatility clustering, and nonlinear patterns. These complexities limit the adequacy of traditional linear models and motivate hybrid approaches. Accordingly, a triple hybrid model is employed. This combines autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL), Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) with Generalized Error Distribution (GED) to capture heavy-tailed behavior, and Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (BIGRU). Stationarity is assessed using ADF tests. Residual diagnostic tests confirm heteroskedasticity, thereby justifying the inclusion of a GARCH component. The proposed model …

The Impact Of Forensic Accounting On The Effectiveness Of Fraud Detection In Private-Sector Banking And Merchandising Companies: Evidence From Sulaymaniyah City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, Barham Khalid Hassan

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This study examines the impact of forensic accounting techniques, challenges, and accountants' skills on fraud detection effectiveness in the private sector of Sulaymaniyah City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The study employed a quantitative research design, with preliminary semi-structured interviews conducted to inform questionnaire development. In the qualitative phase, purposive sampling was used to interview eight forensic accountants with experience handling multiple fraud cases in Sulaymaniyah. Insights from these interviews guided the creation of a structured questionnaire, which was subsequently distributed to Seventy-four accounting professionals from private banks and merchandising firms for the main data collection. Data were analysed using SPSS …

Utilization Of Visual Metaphors For Improving Health Literacy, Kadir Alp Özler, Morgan Dressel, Madeline Weiner, Robert D Lucito, Alice Fornari

Patient Experience Journal

Health education is practiced in patient encounters via verbal communication and educational pamphlets. However, these techniques are faulty and do not provide true patient comprehension of their conditions and treatments reform is necessary to prevent the mortality and hospitalization rates that are linked to poor health literacy. Visual aids and metaphors are individually known to be powerful educational tools. A student organization at Stony Brook University, Artists in Medicine, has sought to synergize these tools to create visual metaphors artwork that links everyday concepts to patient illnesses to facilitate comprehension of this information. For example, one project “Aortic Dissections” depicts …

Cartoon-Printed Uniforms: A Strategy To Ease Pediatric Hospital Anxiety, Karnellya R. Ohol, Janaki P. Shinde

Patient Experience Journal

This quasi-experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of cartoon-printed nurse uniforms in reducing anxiety among hospitalized children aged 3–12 years. Conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Maharashtra, India, the study included 100 participants (50 intervention, 50 control) who received care from nurses wearing either cartoon-printed uniforms or traditional clinical attire. Anxiety was assessed at baseline and on hospital days 2, 3, and 4 using validated age-appropriate scales: the modified Faces Anxiety Scale (ages 3–6) and the STAI-C short form (ages 7–12). Mixed-effects repeated-measures ANOVA demonstrated a significant group × time interaction (F(3,294) = 42.67, p < .001, partial η² = .304). Children cared for by nurses in cartoon uniforms showed a 48.8% reduction in anxiety compared to 14.7% in controls. Between-group effect sizes increased progressively across days (d = 0.87 to 2.13), indicating cumulative benefit rather than transient novelty. Clinically meaningful improvement (≥30% reduction) was achieved by 76% of intervention participants versus 24% of controls (NNT = 1.92). Staff acceptability was high (95%). Findings indicate that cartoon-printed uniforms are a simple, low-cost, high-impact environmental intervention that significantly enhances pediatric patient experience. Their strong clinical utility, ease of implementation, and alignment with child-centered care principles support adoption across pediatric healthcare settings.

No One-Size-Fits-All: Patient Perspectives Of Key Factors Influencing Their Inpatient Rehabilitation Experience, Mirline Milien, Megan Bewernitz, Katherine Stallings, Mary Ellen Young

Patient Experience Journal

Although patient experience in healthcare settings has historically been an ambiguous concept, it has received increasing recognition as a measure of healthcare quality. Despite this growing recognition and efforts to define patient experience, few studies have explored patient perspectives on the key factors driving this quality indicator. This study aimed to explore the core elements patients view as influencing their experiences in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. This was a single-visit, cross-sectional qualitative interview study. Thirteen patients with diverse diagnoses who received at least one week of rehabilitation services were recruited from a single inpatient rehabilitation facility. Purposive sampling was employed …

Capturing Patient-Centered Quality Of Life: Usability And Initial Validation Of The Pediatric Patient-Generated Index Following Esophageal Atresia Repair, Zanib Nafees, Julia Ferreira, Elena Guadagno, Nikki Ow, Nancy Mayo, Jean-Martin Laberge, Dan Poenaru

Patient Experience Journal

The Patient-Generated Index (PGI) is an individualized measure that allows patients to define the domains most important to their quality of life (QoL). This study evaluates the usability and preliminary validity of the pediatric Patient-Generated Index (pPGI) in children who previously underwent esophageal atresia (EA) repair. We conducted a mixed-methods study including the pPGI, EuroQol-5D-Youth (EQ-5D-Y), and PROMIS Life Satisfaction Short Form-8a. Children aged 7–17 years completed self-reports, while parents served as proxies for younger children. Cognitive interviews explored how children understood and completed the pPGI, and clinician interviews assessed clinical usability. Among 25 participants, the pPGI generated 104 text …

Barks And Beans: A Place To Enjoy Two Things You Love, Erika Davis

Honors Projects

This project explores the necessary steps that need to be taken in order to have a successful and impactful pet cafe. "Barks and Beans" is a pet cafe created to enhance the community and benefit societies mental health and social wellbeing while operating as a successful business. This project is guided by the research questions "How does integrating dogs into a coffee shop environment influence factors such as customer attraction, retention, and overall brand identity?” and “What impact do dogs in a coffee shop have on a customer's emotional/mental well-being, satisfaction of experience, and likelihood of returning?”. Given the research …

Hidden Barriers: Enforcement Asymmetry And The Political Economy Of U.S.–Mexico Food Trade And The Cattle Industry, Sabina Prieto, Chris Jackson

Honors Thesis

This project examines how enforcement irregularities in Mexican food safety regulation affect small exporters’ ability to access U.S. markets. On paper, agricultural trade is regulated by laws on food quality, certification, and logistics. In practice, it is how those rules are enforced. In Mexico, big firms and producer associations tend to gain steady support and easier certification, while smaller producers face delays, rejections, or inconsistent oversight that make it much harder to compete. This study uses a comparative case study approach to analyze how similar industries produce different outcomes in market access. By tracing key events such as disease outbreaks, …

Platform Affordances, Produsage, And The Attention Economy: From Red (Taylor’S Version) To The Life Of A Showgirl, Angela Rose Asuncion

The Manuscript: Journal of Taylor Swift Studies

Social media platforms increasingly operate as infrastructures of visibility, shaping the conditions under which cultural content is produced, circulated, and recognised (van Dijck et al.; Nieborg and Poell). This article examines Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version) and The Life of a Showgirl as two distinct visibility configurations emerging from the affordances and algorithmic logics of TikTok and Instagram. Drawing on platform studies (Abidin), celebrity theory (Dyer; Marshall; Marwick), and participatory culture and produsage (Jenkins; Bruns), the study employs a QCA-inspired configurational approach (Ragin) to analyse how clusters of affective cues, aesthetic strategies, parasocial signals, and circulation patterns generate contrasting visibility …

Copyright On Stage: Protecting The Directions Behind The Performance, Eliana Sakin

The Journal of Business, Entrepreneurship & the Law

In this comment, the author argues that theatrical stage directions should be recognized as copyrightable material under the U.S. Copyright Act, primarily by categorizing them as "choreographic works". Sakin highlights that while the 1976 Copyright Act explicitly protects choreography and pantomimes, stage directions—which serve as the "blueprints" for a production's blocking, technical cues, and artistic mood—currently exist in a legal gray area. Through an analysis of historical context and industry disputes, such as the Urinetown and The Most Happy Fella settlements, the author illustrates a growing industry recognition of a director’s staging as a protectable, original contribution, despite the lack …

Americana Marketing Campaign, Shaela O'Keefe

Undergraduate Theses

Americana World Community Center has served as a beacon of hope and justice within the Louisville, Kentucky community for over 30 years. The nonprofit organization provides “holistic services to Louisville's refugee, immigrant and underserved population to build strong and healthy families, create a safe and supportive community and help every individual realize their potential” (Americana, 2024). Americana creates opportunities for families to thrive through “education, family support, youth achievement, and career & financial development” (Americana, 2024). To further Americana’s mission and assist immigrant families, the organization is currently undergoing the process of gathering narratives of Americana’s impact on their staff, …

2026 - The Thirtieth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the 30th Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 22-24, 2026. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.