Digital Commons Network^™

Research On Text Translation Model Based On Large Language Model And Knowledge Enhancement Framework, Chuanming Yu, Haoxuan Li

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] This paper aims to improve the translation quality of large language models and effectively alleviate the translation illusion problem, thereby enhancing cross-linguistic information retrieval capabilities. [Method/process] A translation generation method based on a knowledge enhancement framework is proposed. This framework optimizes the translation process from multiple dimensions, such as style, focus, and cultural adaptability, by combining external knowledge provided by the translation context building module and the knowledge base building and retrieval module, and then utilizing the guidance of the text attention module. [Result/conclusion] Experimental results show that the proposed method effectively enhances model performance. Specifically, on the WikiLingua, …

Research On The Expansion Effect Of Interdisciplinary Knowledge Integration On The Discipline Knowledge System:Taking Domestic Library And Information Science As An Example, Lin Jiang, Cheng Chen

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] Under the context of New Liberal Arts construction, the resolution of many major scientific and technological issues requires transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries. By identifying and integrating interdisciplinary knowledge, it becomes possible to grasp the direction of disciplinary development and predict emerging innovative trends. [Method/process] This study takes the full-text information of articles from six academic journals in China's library and information science (LIS) from 2017 to 2021 as its research object. Drawing on the kinetic energy theory from physics, it constructs a kinetic energy model for interdisciplinary knowledge integration from the dual dimensions of quoting scholars driving force and …

The Bonds Of Family: A Case Study On Interconnectedness In The Prison-Industrial Complex, Cameron Stone

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Beginning in the 1960s, a rightward shift in politics and “War on Drugs” policies propelled the United States toward mass incarceration. The result was a prison population of around 2 million people, in which minority groups have been disproportionately imprisoned. While historians and legal scholars have examined the policies and legal structures behind mass incarceration, oral historians working in the tradition of social history emphasize the importance of narratives of those most impacted yet traditionally neglected. This paper specifically examines the relatively unstudied Columbia University's 2019 Mass Incarceration oral history collection, which explores the interconnected perspectives of one family’s experience …

An Increased Understanding Of Political Sociology Would Create A More Pluralistic Society, Mariam H. Jabbar

Thinking Matters Symposium

What are we socially lacking in relation to our current social

identity, based on political and historical events, to create a pluralistic society?

What do we need to prioritize socially to bring awareness for a more

contemporary social construct? My points as a political sociology student will be

focused on how society applies political association to power through unity by

division of society.

Gendered Socialization Of Comfort With Risk And The Selection Of A College Major, Eliza S. Staton

Sociology and Criminology Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study investigates the potential relationship between the gendered socialization of risk preferences and the selection of a college major. Women are underrepresented in many fields of study, but especially in those related to science, technology, engineering, and math (S.T.E.M). Careers in STEM fields tend to require degree paths that require difficult classes, with lower average grade points, and a high chance of failure. As of 2023, only 24% of the student body in the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas was composed of women (Uark 2023). These high-pressure, male-dominated environments have been found to lose women at …

Men’S Courts Or Women’S Laws? Domestic Violence, Men’S Rights Activism, And The Specter Of False Cases, Arushi Gupta

LL.M. Essays & Theses

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Indian newspapers and magazines began reporting stories of domestic abuse in matrimonial homes ranging from women subjected to dowry demands, beatings, everyday mistreatment, financial control, expulsion from the home, and even being burnt to death. Feminists recognized this as an urgent issue to respond to as these reports highlighted that domestic violence is endemic. Everybody knew a victim. Their own mothers, sisters, friends and, in some cases, they themselves were facing violence within marriage. The lobbying of women’s groups helped prompt the passage of Section 498A in 1983, which criminalized cruelty against women …

Trust And Legitimacy In Police Public Encounters: An Analysis Of The 2018–2022 Police Public Contact Survey, Brooke Campbell

Masters Theses

This study examines how interaction-level characteristics in police-public interactions shape perceptions of trust and legitimacy. Using the Police Public Contact Survey (PPCS), interaction characteristics were investigated to see if they shaped perceptions of legitimacy and trust that the public has toward policing. Logistic Regression was used to see if factors such as contact duration, contact type, and time of day were associated with perceptions of police behavior, satisfaction, bias, future willingness to contact the police, and adequacy of the time spent. Drawing on legitimacy as the guiding framework, the PPCS years 2018, 2020, and 2022 (United States Bureau of Justice …

Understanding How Latinx Millennials Attend To Their Mental Health And Emotional Well-Being: A Phenomenological Study, Natalie A. Nieves

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Latinx millennials represent over half of the millennial population in the United States. Yet, existing research on how this population attends to their mental health and emotional well-being remains largely absent from the counseling literature. This descriptive phenomenological study asked: How do Latinx millennials attend to their mental health and emotional well-being? Twelve participants, identifying as Latinx millennials born between 1981 and 1996, residing in the United States, and actively engaging in practices supporting their mental health and emotional well-being, participated in a two-part, semi-structured interview process. Data were collected and analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological data analysis method. The findings …

Splitting Shores: Comparative Analysis Of Italy’S And Spain’S Reactions To Immigration, William E. Montgomery V

International and Global Studies Undergraduate Honors Theses

The divergence in public immigration sentiment between Italy and Spain, two countries with striking historical, geographic, and demographic similarities, is seen as a mystery for popular theoretical frameworks. Although both nations transitioned from net emigration to net immigration beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, Italy has consistently exhibited more negative attitudes toward immigration relative to the European average, while Spain has seen sustained improvement in immigration sentiment despite receiving immigrants at historically unprecedented levels. Employing a Most Similar Systems Design and drawing on quantitative demographic and survey data, primary legislative texts, and secondary scholarly literature, this thesis tests Group Threat …

Limerence, Social Media, And The Reinforcement Of Romantic Obsessions Across Online Contexts, Lily Lawson

Honors Projects

This project examines limerence from both a psychological and sociological perspective. The psychological component aimed to investigates whether higher limerent scores predict greater engagement in social media monitoring behaviors related to a romantic interest, and whether these monitoring behaviors are associated with increased interpretation of ambiguous social cues-failure to obtain IRB approval resulted in limitations in completing the study. The sociological component uses qualitative observational methods to examine how two Reddit communities,  r/NevilleGoddard and r/ShiftingRealities,  reinforce limerent and parasocial romantic behaviors. Findings from the qualitative analysis reveal patterns of emotional attachment, ritualized obsession, perceived reciprocation, self-insert fantasy, and escapism across …

The Moral Influences On Non-Denominational Christian Students’ College Major Decision And Future Career Outlook, Makayla Frame

Honors Projects

This is an undergraduate research project for the Honors College. A qualitative research project in the form of case studies was conducted on the influence of Non-Denominational Christian morals and values on how college students decide college major and future career. Non-Denomination students in particular were chosen for this study because of the recent rise in popularity of the Non-Denominational belief in the US, especially among young adults.

The study outlines previous research on the Christian religion, the history of Non-Denominationality, and how typical college students decide their major. The conclusions of the study are that Non-Denominational Christian college students …

Seats At The Roundtable: Guidance On The Training And Resource Priorities Of Rural Cils, Jeff Gutierrez, Luke Santore

Independent Living and Community Participation

In October 2025, RTC:Rural staff hosted a roundtable session in Portland, OR, at the annual APRIL (Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living) Conference. The session, Collaborating for Rural Outreach and Assessing the Resource and Training Needs of Rural CIL Staff and Consumers, provided participants with the opportunity to inform future research, training, and development projects and build partnerships for future collaborations.This factsheet provides a synthesized synopsis of the roundtable discussions.

Protecting Access To Rural Community Living For People With Disabilities, Rtc: Rural

Independent Living and Community Participation

RTC:Rural's 2026 research, policy, and practice summit, exploring rural home health care and ways to strengthen the direct care workforce. The summit includes a presentation by RTC:Rural researchers and a panel discussion.

Masculinity And Guns: What Is The Big Deal?, Mackenzie D. Sizemore

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Masculinity is perceived internally and by others, often leading those who feel they lack masculinity to compensate for it, especially in a society that often reinforces attributes associated with masculinity. One of the ways to compensate for a lack of masculinity is to own guns. The dominant reason for this avenue is that guns are symbols of power and are wielded by those who have a lot of power, prestige, and knowledge. Previous research has drawn this connection between perceptions of masculinity throughout history and how people display their masculinity by analyzing various surveys, past events of mass shootings and …

You've Got It All Wrong: Constructions And Discussions About Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion On Reddit, Hailey I. Palomo

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Within the context of a particularly polarized time-period in the U.S., this project aims to better understand the public sphere’s ability to converse, debate, and rationalize beliefs in online discussion spaces that are designed to invite opposing viewpoints. Epistemic structures, feedback loops, and a growing animosity toward one’s political opponents have crafted an environment in which right-wing and left-wing individuals have developed incompatible constructions of reality, thus eliminating the possibility of compromise. As the public sphere attempts to engage in their civic duty to debate and come to a collective agreement, the hindering effects of polarization are visible though online …

Utilizing A Social-Ecological Approach To Understand Healthcare Professional's Ability To Identify Child Sexual Exploitation, Vanessa Gudiel, Alyssa Fierro

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC) are an underrecognized population who face barriers when receiving healthcare services in emergency settings. A common theme that prevents them from receiving services is the healthcare professionals' (HP) inability to recognize warning signs and engage with victims. This stems from an absence of CSEC-focused curriculum in institutional settings, leading to a lack of education and confidence in identifying CSEC. CSEC screenings are not mandatory in most healthcare settings, leaving the discretion to the HP and enabling the continued missed opportunity to identify victims. The proposed study will utilize an exploratory design to conduct qualitative interviews …

Clawing Our Way To Inclusion: Identifying Minority Students’ Barriers To Entering The Veterinary Medicine Profession, Danielle Reeves

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Veterinary services are being utilized more each year as pet owners are increasingly viewing and treating their pets like family members. Due to this changing perspective, the veterinary profession has grown significantly. Yet, despite this change, there is a lack of ethnic/racial diversity within the veterinary field. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors and/or barriers associated with minority students' desire or lack of desire to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. This study used an online survey tool to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 423 undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas during the spring …

Treatment And Interventions For Sexual Assault In Humanitarian Contexts: Addressing Gaps In Refugee And Idp Camp Care In Myanmar, Erin Nash

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) remains a pervasive yet under-addressed issue in humanitarian settings. Refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) camps along the Thai– Myanmar border represent a complex nexus of protracted displacement, ethnic conflict, and limited access to medical and psychosocial care. Although the prevalence of sexual assault in these contexts is well-documented, there is a critical gap in the literature regarding effective, context-specific treatment and intervention strategies. This capstone project conducts a comprehensive review of existing research on sexual assault care in humanitarian crises worldwide and assesses its applicability to displaced ethnic minorities from Myanmar. The analysis considers …

Queer Placemaking, Rebranding, And Place Attachment In Northalsted: A Sociological Analysis Of Neighborhood Identity, Inclusion, And Urban Change, Matthew Grydzuk

University Honors Program Senior Projects

This study examines how online discourse reflects public negotiation of neighborhood identity through a qualitative content analysis of Reddit discussions about the renaming of Chicago's Boystown neighborhood to Northalsted. Prior research on LGBTQ neighborhoods has emphasized gayborhoods as sites of safety, identity formation, political mobilization, commercialization, and uneven inclusion. This project builds on that scholarship by examining digital discourse as a site where place attachment, queer placemaking, and urban branding are debated in everyday language. The study asks why people continue to use the name Boystown after the official rebranding and how online participants interpret, resist, or reinterpret the name …

2nd Place Research Paper: Shaping The Ape: Storytelling, Cultural Reflection, And Boundary Negotiation In Human-Ape Zoo Encounters, Abigail Bond Halling

Kevin and Tam Ross Undergraduate Research Prize

The typical Western zoo functions as a unique environment in which animals are frequently positioned as subjects of education and entertainment through the medium of storytelling. In this sense, the zoological institution can also be read as an extension of popular Western constructions surrounding nonhuman animals, particularly those who are symbolically charged characters in our collective imaginary– the great apes. Given the morphological, behavioral, and psychological similarities between humans and other great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans), nonhuman great ape enclosures at the Western zoo become spaces where humans are most radically confronted with navigating the boundaries of the “human-animal …

The Use Of An Escape Room As A Learning Tool, Margaret Trnka

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The use of escape rooms as an active learning strategy in nursing education promotes student engagement, clinical reasoning, and teamwork. By integrating unfolding patient scenarios with time-sensitive problem-solving tasks, escape rooms align with the principles of game-based learning and the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM). This approach encourages students to recognize cues, prioritize interventions, and apply evidence-based practice in a collaborative environment. Incorporating escape rooms into nursing curricula has been associated with increased student satisfaction, improved knowledge retention, and enhanced readiness for clinical practice and Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) expectations.

Service-Informed Pathways Proposal, Joshua Works

UNLV Transfer Student Seminar Poster (COE 303)

This project explores how food insecurity affects UNLV students’ nutrition and proposes practical ways to strengthen the UNLV Food Pantry. Through six hours of volunteer service and a review of research, I identified key barriers, including stigma, limited access to fresh food, and low awareness. The proposal recommends three actionable improvements: simple nutrition handouts, peer-led outreach to reduce stigma, and stronger partnerships to ensure consistent access to fresh produce. These steps aim to improve daily nutrition, increase pantry usage, and support better academic outcomes. This work combines hands-on service experience with research to offer realistic, low-cost solutions that can help …

Volume 17, Christian O’Neill, Kyara Greene, Savva Sidorov, Laura Bisaillon, Luke Clemmer, Hannah Gordon, Kitt Benson, Taylor Blount, Rachel Danzitz, Nicholas Duellman, Chase Gionis, Hima Fernando, Seth Franzyshen, Onyx Gonzalez, Bryan Lin, Samantha Start, Ysabel Wells, Maggie Duncan

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Amorette Barber, Director, Office of Student Research

From the Editor Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell

Cover Artist’s Statement Maggie Duncan

On Mentoring Dr. Yulia Uryadova

Ukrainian Resistance in the Face of Russification: Nestor Makhno and Anarchism

by Christian O’Neill

Life Vest by Kyara Greene

Isolation and 16S rRNA Identification of Bacteria from Fire Department Connection Pipe by Savva Sidorov

The Effectiveness of Planned Exercise in Reducing ADHD Symptoms in Children by Laura Bisaillon & Luke Clemmer

Linguistic Analysis on Confidence and Communication Strategies with Disparities Between Sign Fluency and Hearing Impairment by Hannah Gordon

Freedmen in Indian Territory by Kitt …

Understanding First-Name Diversification In The United States, 1910-2020, Riley Nicole Mehall

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This study investigates how demographic and cultural changes influenced first-name diversification in the United States between 1910 and 2020. Three main explanations are proposed: Solidarity and Diffusion, Multiculturalism, and Familial Modernization. The normalized Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) was employed to track name diversity for each state–year–sex group. Then, statistical analysis, including two-way fixed-effects linear regression, was completed. This analysis finds a clear correlation between first-name diversity and measures of population density, ethnoracial diversity, and household structure. This supports the conclusion that shifts in socio-demographic composition and cultural values over time played a significant role in shaping naming practices. Ultimately, this study …

Partners In Pilgrimage: Transforming The Journey Of Adolescence By Guiding Teenagers Toward Faithful Lives, Redefining Success, And Cultivating Connection To God, Abigail R. Weaver

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Adolescence is a formative period in which young people seek meaning, identity, and belonging while navigating a complex array of cultural, social, and developmental pressures. In suburban American contexts, these pressures are intensified by competitive academic environments, demanding extracurricular commitments, and pervasive societal expectations that equate worth with achievement. Drawing from my experience as a youth minister in suburban United Methodist churches, this dissertation examines how such forces shape the spiritual and personal development of 15- to 18-year-olds and explores the Church’s role in guiding adolescents through this landscape with wisdom and care.

Grounded in the Christian tradition and informed …

Sense Of Belonging And Self-Efficacy Of Women In Stemm At The University Of South Alabama, Emilie Dedeaux

Honors Theses

Despite decades of calls and initiatives to diversify science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEMM) disciplines, females are still more likely to leave STEMM career paths compared to their male peers, which is often depicted as a 'leaky pipeline'. Females in STEMM often report greater social alienation, greater selfdoubt, lower sense of belonging and academic satisfaction due to a mismatch in values in STEMM disciplines. STEMM values have traditionally been normed by cisheteronormative, white, male ideologies . While extensive research has focused on the barriers females experience in STEMM that reduce sense of belonging , less research has focused on …

Substance Use And Childhood Environment In Adolescent Head Injury: Examining The Effects Of Race, Jessica A. Phelps

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Adolescents participating in sports are at an increased risk of concussion, which is particularly important given the difficulties with cognitive function, emotion regulation, and impulsivity that may occur as a result of this brain injury. These symptoms can predispose adolescents to subsequent concussions, leading to further damage during a critical time in neurodevelopment which can result in mental health disorder development in adulthood. It is crucial to understand what factors may predispose youth to increased rates of concussion for these reasons. As such, this paper explored whether race/ethnicity, gender, grade in school, childhood environment, and risk-taking behaviors were associated with …

Social Bonds And Dynamic Risk In Predicting Juvenile Recidivism Among Florida Probation Youth, Shadrach Sackey

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Juvenile recidivism remains a persistent challenge within the United States juvenile justice system, particularly among youth supervised in community-based probation programs. This study examines how family context, school engagement, peer associations, antisocial beliefs, and overall dynamic risk are associated with recidivism among juvenile probation youth in Florida. Drawing on social bond theory and social learning theory, the analysis uses administrative data from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ) Juvenile Justice Information System, including 6,215 youth who completed community-based probation supervision between 2015 and 2018. Recidivism was measured using two outcomes within a 365-day follow-up period: rearrest and readjudication. Descriptive …

National Center For Children In Poverty Releases 2025/2026 Tanf Cash Assistance Policy Series, Karen Chatfield, Sydney Elltringham

All Faculty and Staff Papers and Presentations

The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) at Bank Street Graduate School of Education has released its 2025/2026 TANF Cash Assistance Policy Series to help support policymakers and advocates in strengthening these vital supports.

Creating A "Good Person": Netiquette And Instagram, Melissa S. Danai-Nolder

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This project aimed to ask the question, “How does digital etiquette, or netiquette, lead to socialization of self-presentation on Instagram?” I interviewed 15 students classified as "Generation Z" who attend a northeastern university and have an Instagram account. This was done using a convenience sample of participants who were asked to participate in the interview. Done by the convenience of the individuals who were at the location at the time. The results indicate a disconnect between wanting to be seen as a “good person” and the means used to paint this image. Netiquette plays a role in crafting self-presentation, as …