Digital Commons Network^™

Breaking Apartheid With Interractial Friendships, Izzy Maire

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

In August 1956, thousands of South African women marched in front of the Union Building in Pretoria, South Africa. In their arms they carried petitions that demanded the abolishment of apartheid era pass laws, which required non-white South Africans to carry passbooks. The photo above depicted four women that lead this united legion of women. The white woman in this picture, Helen Joseph, commented on the racial identity of these leaders. She wrote, “Four women had been chosen as leaders for the day, Lillian Ngoyi, the African, Rahima Moosa, the Indian, Sophie Williams, the Coloured and I, the white.”1 As …

The Civil War And The Apocalypse Insights From The Millennial Sta, Megan Mcconnell

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

An editorial published in the Millennial Star on May 11, 1861, almost exactly one month after the start of the American Civil War, declared that the war that had broken out on the American continent was part of the “signs of the times” and that it “should be an incentive to diligence and faithfulness” to the European members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The war would be a calamity to a degree that had never before been seen on the Earth and one which the “nations of Europe cannot escape from.”1 The editor pronounced that the …

“To Inherit God Himself?” The Metaphysical Transformation Of Man As Theorized In Cotton Mather’S Biblia Americana, Michael Green

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

The tumult of the Enlightenment was enormous, not least in its impact on theologians of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Biblical exegesis (explanation of a scriptural text based on its own historical and cultural circumstances) of the Reformation that idealized interpretations grounded in unerring prophetic figures were suddenly and forcefully subjected to the tide of historical literalism propagated by major intellectual figures such as Hugo Grotius and Baruch Spinoza. They and their cohort believed that the Bible should be treated as a historical source and its merits scrutinized based on its literal accuracy

The Disrupted Symphony Of Speech: A Lesion Network Mapping Analysis Of Apraxia Of Speech, Payton Harris, Harrison Moore, Milija Grotenhuis, Jared Nielsen, Michael A. Ferguson

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

Apraxia of Speech (AOS) is a motor speech disorder that causes difficulty planning and coordinating the movements necessary for speech. This study uses lesion network mapping to identify the neural connections of AOS by tracing lesion data and analyzing their functional connectivity patterns. Our data indicates strong connectivity between the left primary motor cortex and right premotor cortex. The findings of the left primary motor cortex differ from most AOS research but still correlate with regional functions found in healthy populations. However, results related to the right motor cortex were much less expected, and suggested a larger, understudied role in …

The Design Of The Edtech Books Student Facilitator Boot Camp, Nathan P. Standing

Instructional Psychology and Technology Graduate Student Projects

The purpose of the EdTech Books Student Facilitator Boot Camp is to help student facilitators fulfill their responsibilities as content creators by producing high-quality, impactful content on EdTech Books (ETB). ETB is a web-based platform where Open Educational Resources (OER)—such as textbooks, academic journals, and other materials—can be developed and published. Undergraduate and graduate students often assist professors in creating content on this platform. The Boot Camp was designed to guide these student facilitators in creating content that adheres to copyright laws, is accessible, and is optimized for search engines. It also helps students improve the structure of their publications …

Reconstruction From Variable Aperture Measurements Using Band-Limited Inversion Algorithms, Harrison C. Garrett

Theses and Dissertations

The signal reconstruction process from discrete samples is inherently band-limited due to the limited amount of spectral content in the discrete set of measurements. In the case of 1D sampling using ideal measurements, the maximum bandwidth of regular and irregular sampling is well known using Nyquist and Gröchenig sampling theorems and lemmas, respectively. However, determining the appropriate reconstruction bandwidth becomes difficult when considering 2D sampling geometries, samples with variable apertures, or signal to noise ratio limitations. Instead of determining the maximum bandwidth a priori, this thesis introduces the use of a bandlimited inverse to simultaneously reconstruct a signal and determine …

Social Belonging In Post-Resettlement Refugees: The Role Of Aid Organizations In The United States, Jessica Jean Byers

Theses and Dissertations

Since 1975, an estimated 3.6 million refugees have entered the United States (USA Facts, 2024). The months and even years following resettlement can be difficult and isolating for refugees. Previous research has shown that creating connections with others can enhance well-being, feelings of security, and self-reliance, all of which are especially needed for vulnerable populations such as refugees (Archambault et al., 2022; Giovanetti et al., 2022). Using the theory of social network analysis and semi-structured, in-depth interviews with aid organization leaders, this study seeks to understand the relationship between refugees and aid organizations during the post-resettlement phase. It also explores …

Designing A Student Success Course For First-Generation Low-Income College Students, Susannah P. Kearon Hogan

Instructional Psychology and Technology Graduate Student Projects

No abstract provided.

Empowering Local Water Resources Managers With Global Hydrological Model Information Through Bias Correction Of Their In-Situ Data Using Saber, Yubin Baaniya

Theses and Dissertations

There is an increase in the frequency and intensity of water related natural disasters driven by climate change and human activities. While satellite data provides extensive coverage of many climatic variables, streamflow monitoring remains inadequate for effectively responding to water-related hazards, particularly in developing regions that lack integrated gauge networks. This study evaluates how incorporating local streamflow gauge data enhances bias correction of the GEOGLOWS Hydrologic Model (RFS) in gauged and ungauged basins using the Stream Analysis for Bias Estimation and Reduction (SABER) method. We analyzed approximately 19,200 gauge stations globally, using machine learning, spatial analysis and Flow Duration Curve …

The Problem With “More Is Better”: An Assessment Of The “New” Contract Grading, Ian Barnard

Journal of Response to Writing

In this article I discuss some of the issues that scholars are and aren’t writing about in relation to the recent resurgence in contract grading, and reflect on my own experience using contract grading in composition and other classes. I come to the topic as a scholar and university teacher in rhetoric and composition, though my discussion certainly is relevant to teachers in many disciplines and institution types. My aim is to offer an analysis of the benefits and drawback of the “new” contract grading, with special attention to what I call the “more is better” mantra that informs many …

Two Sides Of The Same Coin: Efl Students’ Emotions Towards Teacher Written Feedback On L2 Writing, Hieu Manh Do, Han Nguyen

Journal of Response to Writing

L2 writing, known as a cognitively demanding process, has also been perceived to encompass emotional aspects for L2 writers, as they tend to exhibit various feelings towards teacher feedback on their writing performance. The current study therefore explored EFL Vietnamese students’ emotions toward teacher-written feedback and how their emotions were perceived to impact their engagement and writing performance during the writing process. Data was obtained through semi-structured interviews with the involvement of college Vietnamese students after their essays and teacher feedback were collected. The results showed variations in students’ emotions were found at different rounds of teacher-written feedback, which were …

New Appointments

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

Lists Of Selected Full-Text Databases By Subscription In East Asian Studies, Michiko Ito, Ellie Kim, Jian P. Lee, Anlin Yang

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

Council On East Asian Libraries Statistics 2023-2024 For North American Institutions, Michiko Ito, Ellie Kim, Jian P. Lee, Anlin Yang

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

Celebrating 25 Years Of Partnership: The Library Of Congress And Council On East Asian Libraries Internship Program, Jessalyn Zoom, Ann Roddy, Youngsim Leigh, Wen Lin, Kumiko Reichert, Jee-Young Park, Yan He

Journal of East Asian Libraries

This article examines the development and impact of a carefully planned 25-year collaboration between the Library of Congress (LC) and the Council on East Asian Libraries (CEAL). Established in 2000, the LC-CEAL Internship Program has provided professional training for career advancement to numerous East Asian librarians, playing a pivotal role in the growth of East Asian librarianship. This article reviews the program’s history, its evolution over the past 25 years, and explores its future trajectories.

Elucidating The Antibiofilm Characteristics Of A Carbon Infiltrated Carbon Nanotube Surface And A Copper-Coated Carbon Infiltrated Carbon Nanotube Surface, Lucy Christena Bowden

Theses and Dissertations

Post-surgical implant-associated infections cause considerable patient morbidity and mortality. These infections are often caused by biofilm-forming bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacterial biofilms are resistant to immune clearance and are a reservoir of antibiotic resistance. Implant materials that resist bacterial colonization may be able to improve patient outcomes. Carbon infiltrated carbon nanotubes (CICNT) are a potential surface modification for medical implants. The work presented in this dissertation focuses on characterizing the antibiofilm effect of the CICNT surface, better understanding its mechanism of action, and characterizing the enhanced antibiofilm effect of a copper-coated CICNT surface. S. aureus biofilms …

Enhancing Eye Anatomy Education: Integrating 3d Models In Open Educational Resources, Hayley Nickels Yancey

Instructional Psychology and Technology Graduate Student Projects

This project explores how interactive 3D models can enhance eye anatomy education within the framework of open educational resources (OER). Recognizing that students in anatomy and physiology courses often struggle to recognize anatomical structures from multiple perspectives—and frequently lack access to high-quality, low-cost study tools—this project addressed these gaps by designing and developing a custom, interactive 3D model of the human eye. Created using Blender and embedded into a web interface via Verge3D, the model allows users to rotate, zoom, highlight, and isolate structures of the eye, including both external and internal components. The tool was designed specifically for students …

Security Or Suppression? Rethinking U.S. Policies Regarding Foreign Tech Firms And National Security, Gordon Mccreadie, Cade Morris

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

Increasingly adversarial relationships between the United States and countries such as China, Russia, and Iran have resulted in legislative efforts to ensure the National Security of the United States by banning foreign technology firms deemed to pose a threat. Certain high profile bans, such as the ban of Huawei and potential ban of Tik Tok, have raised concerns that these bans are motivated by factors other than a legitimate national security threat. Failure to protect the rights of affected foreign firms could result in an anticompetitive, isolated U.S. market. This paper will analyze the legality of different efforts to ban …

Profits And Paramilitaries: The Kiobel Conundrum And Corporate Liability, Ben Duffield, Mark Norton

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

In 2013, the Supreme Court severely limited the extent to which U.S. courts could adjudicate on international human-rights violations with their ruling in the landmark case Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. (2013). This change has led to strong divisions among lower courts about how to determine whether a foreign-based tort may “touch and concern” the territory of the United States with sufficient force to allow the case to have standing. This is especially true for foreign-based torts brought against corporations. This division has had a substantial impact on the ability of foreign citizens to find legal redress for human …

Fences, Fields, And Fourth Amendment Rights: Limiting The Powers Of Game Wardens, Ryder Schone

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

Since the establishment of the Open Fields Doctrine in 1924, both private and public lands not immediately surrounding a home or commercial building have been open to search and seizure by U.S. game wardens. Owing to a century of access without judicial supervision, the powers of game wardens have expanded to a state of overreach which violates the Fourth Amendment rights and privacy of citizens. This paper proposes a federal statute that clearly delineates the circumstances under which game wardens can enter private property. Legal scholars generally agree on the need for reform; however, current discussions often fail to address …

Too Much Time Alone: Disciplinary Segregation As A Cruel And Unusual Punishment, Elijah Swolgaard, Spencer Schlag

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

Disciplinary segregation has historically been used as an arbitrary form of punishment in American prison systems. The severe psychological effects of this confinement allow it be classified as a cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment and generally lead to higher recidivism rates. This Note argues that in order to prevent these effects from occurring, disciplinary segregation should be ruled unconstitutional. Previous scholarship has argued for removal of solitary confinement generally. In contrast, this Note argues for the removal of disciplinary segregation specifically, while maintaining the use of necessary forms of solitary confinement such as administrative segregation. This will …

Abuse, Neglect, And Abandonment: The Need To Protect Immigrant Minors Through Standardized Definitions, Bailey Morris Gurr, Lila Bird Williams

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) applications are inconsistently adjudicated across states due to varying definitions of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. This inconsistency creates geographic disparities in protection, leaving vulnerable immigrant minors at risk of deportation; in the worst-case scenario, children who meet the criteria in one state may be denied in another and sent back to unsafe or life-threatening conditions. This paper argues for federal oversight to standardize SIJS criteria by amending the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to establish unambiguous definitions of abuse, neglect, and abandonment, ensuring fair and consistent adjudication nationwide. Legal scholars widely recognize the …

Full Issue

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

No abstract provided.

Exploring Teacher Perspectives Of Literacy Instruction For Students With Behavioral Needs, Lauren Dalton Astle

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the perceptions of elementary teachers who have implemented effective literacy instruction strategies to enhance the reading skills of students with significant behavioral challenges in general education classrooms. Recognizing that students with behavioral issues often face amplified academic and social difficulties, the study highlights the necessity of robust literacy instruction to foster academic success. Nineteen teachers, whose students achieved at least 85% student progress in reading as assessed by the Acadience Learning assessments, were interviewed to gather their perceptions of effective instructional practices. The findings identified four critical themes: teacher efficacy, instructional design, an intentional learning environment, and …

Evaluating And Improving U.S. National Water Model Evapotranspiration Estimates Through Eddy-Covariance Flux Tower Observations And Machine Learning Post-Processing, Abin Raj Chapagain

Theses and Dissertations

Despite ET's critical importance in the hydrological cycle, very little has been done to provide ET forecasts at a national level. This study comprises two research chapters examining the National Water Model's (NWM) evapotranspiration (ET) simulations. In Chapter II, we conducted the first comprehensive NWM ET model performance assessment by comparing simulations to eddy-covariance flux tower measurements across the Continental United States (CONUS) on a high-resolution, 1 KM square grid. We clustered results by National Weather Service (NWS) River Forecast Centers (RFCs), land cover classifications, elevation bands, and Köppen-Geiger Climate Zones. The NWM performs best in the Northeast and Ohio …

Child Malnutrition In Argentina: An Examination Of It Root Causes, Effects, And Innovations To Intervene, Brooklyn Richins

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Abstract:

Child malnutrition rates in Argentina have been on the rise, driven by factors such as income inequality, harsh climatic conditions, and geographic isolation, leading to an increased reliance on highly processed, nutrient-poor foods. This escalating issue has wide-ranging health and educational implications, including poor neurocognitive development, higher rates of hypertension, and greater risks of obesity and diabetes. Particularly in impoverished regions, like Jujuy, malnutrition exacerbates disparities in child health outcomes and educational achievement. Though international organizations like UNICEF and Bountiful Children’s Foundation are working to address malnutrition through supplements, education, and screenings, gaps in program implementation persist, especially in …

Comparing The Effects Of Square, 4-7-8, And 6 Breaths-Per-Minute Breathing Conditions On Heart Rate Variability, Co2 Levels, And Mood, Joshua Marchant

Theses and Dissertations

Background and Hypotheses: Square and 4-7-8 breathing are popularly promoted by psychotherapists but have little empirical support. We hypothesized that breathing at 6 breaths per minute (bpm) would improve HRV, reduce blood pressure, and improve mood more than either square or 4-7-8 breathing. We also hypothesized square and 4-7-8 breathing would increase end-tidal CO2 (PETCO2). Methods: Eighty-four college students (60% female) had HRV measured at baseline and during 1) square breathing, 2) 4-7-8 breathing, 3) 6 bpm with a 4:6 inhale-to-exhale ratio, and 4) 6 bpm with a 5:5 ratio. We used a 3-lead electrocardiogram to measure HRV and a …

"Very Important Stuff For The Ladies": Examining Gender Differences In Celebrity Journalism, Payton E. Pingree

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores gender differences in celebrity journalism by analyzing 44 YouTube video interviews from the Oscars red carpet between 2014 and 2024. Using framing theory and feminist theory, the study examines how interviewers interact with male and female celebrities, focusing on four key behaviors: infantilizing, ambivalence, sexualization, and heteronormativity. Through qualitative thematic analysis of interview transcripts, the research reveals that female celebrities are often sexualized through questions about their appearance and subjected to heteronormative expectations when discussing their fashion choices and familial roles. These patterns suggest persistent sexism in celebrity journalism, potentially influencing public perceptions of women in the …

Characterizing The Effects Of Rage Upregulation In Lung Development, Derek Michael Clarke

Theses and Dissertations

The Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-products (RAGE) is a transmembrane, multi-ligand cell surface receptor highly expressed in pulmonary tissue, where it plays a critical role in mediating inflammatory responses. Under chronic toxicant exposure, often associated with cigarette, e-cigarette, and diesel particulate, RAGE transitions from a protective to a deleterious state, contributing to pathological processes. In adult models, RAGE's role in the development of lung disease has been well studied, yet in the context of lung development RAGE has not been well studied with a small number of clinical papers finding increased levels of RAGE in bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD) and respiratory distress …

Imu-Mechanized Discrete Error-State Kalman Filtering With Lie-Group Pose Representations, Daniel P. Koch

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates methodologies for consistent Kalman filtering with Lie-group based representations of the vehicle pose. Early results are centered around the relative navigation framework, which maintains filter observability and consistency by only tracking the state relative to the latest keyframe of an odometry system such as visual odometry or laser scan matching. A detailed derivation of a relative multiplicative extended Kalman filter, using a quaternion parameterization of the attitude state, is presented for application to multirotor vehicles. The remainder of the dissertation focuses on Kalman filtering using a Lie-group SE(3) pose representation, which improves filter consistency by correctly modeling …