Digital Commons Network^™

Limitations Of Signature-Based Network Intrusion Detection Under Modern Traffic Conditions, Henry Guidry

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Network Intrusion Detection Systems are tools used to monitor network traffic and alert to suspicious or harmful activity before it can cause harm. Signature-based versions of these systems are a foundation for intrusion detection, operating by finding common patterns and forming malicious signatures. However, three developments in modern network environments have greatly impacted the significance of Network Intrusion Detection Systems. These three developments are the near-complete adoption of end-to-end encryption, the use of sophisticated packet fragmentation techniques, and the processing demands of high-throughput networks. Encryption makes deep packet inspection practically infeasible by transforming inspectable payloads into ciphertext, forcing NIDS to …

2026 Kutztown University Composition Conference Program, Engtlish Department,Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania

KUCC -- Kutztown University Composition Conference

The annual KU Composition Conference is sponsored by the Department of English, and includes student presentations from across campus.

Yellowjackets And White Hoods?!: The Mistreatment Of Bipoc Characters, Suki Shepherd

KUCC -- Kutztown University Composition Conference

In 2021, a psychological horror television series inspired by Lord of the Flies, reimagined as a high school girls' soccer team, was released. The highly skilled team from Wiskayok High School is on the way to the national championship game when their plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness. With both a teenage timeline and an adult timeline, the show switches between the girls' desperate survival and descent to madness in the woods and modern times, where the truth of how they made it out starts to be revealed.

Artificial Intelligence Moderation In Online Gaming: A Cybersecurity Analysis Of Risks And Defenses, Labib Khan

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

This research paper will examine the role of artificial intelligence (AI) moderation systems in enhancing cybersecurity within online gaming environments. As multiplayer platforms increasingly rely on real-time text, voice communication, and user-generated content, developers have implemented AI-driven tools such as natural language processing (NLP), speech recognition, and behavioral analytics to detect harassment, toxic behavior, cheating coordination, and other malicious activity. These systems enable gaming companies to efficiently monitor large volumes of player interactions, improving response times and helping maintain safer and more controlled digital environments for users across global gaming communities of varying sizes and activity levels.

While these technologies …

Procedural Guarantees For Disciplining Federal Employees, Khalifa Abdullah Al Mulla

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Procedural disciplinary guarantees aim to protect public or federal employees from being penalized for violations without following specific procedures. Such violations could invalidate or taint administrative decisions. This thesis aims to ensure public employees are protected from penalties through legislation and legal texts that achieve this objective. In the United Arab Emirates, regulatory legislation exists that aims to establish effective procedural guarantees for employee discipline, whether through local legislation or other means. The study addressed the procedural safeguards for disciplinary investigations, which are essential at the outset of the investigation process. These safeguards allow the competent disciplinary authorities to initiate …

Regime Change In Iran, Evan T. Connolly

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

On February 28^th, 2026, the United States and Israel attacked Iran, which is an ongoing war with one of their objective's being a regime collapse.  Iran was facing several internal and external pressures that threatened their theocracy prior to the start of this war. The likelihood of a regime collapse and /or change has increased in Iran based on the events that have transpired during this war. Two other cases of foreign regime changes are presented one being the successful 1953 coup in Iran, as well as the failed US regime change during in Afghanistan. The Iranian regime …

Keynote Address: The Dangers Of Institutional Silence In The War On Words, Hadley Drodge

Public History Symposium

No abstract provided.

Mister President & May It Please The Executive: Causal Barriers To Court-Packing, Mason Smith

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

As attacks on democracy have become increasingly ubiquitous, scholarship has begun to shed light on a common, effective, and inimical means of subverting governments accountable to the masses: court-packing. So, how can democracies prevent court-packing? Among many implicit causal theories taken from the extant research, which hasn’t directly tackled this problem, two seem the most plausible and ripe for analysis, suggesting that court-packing’s success turns on either the strength (i) of institutional constraints or (ii) of domestic judicial norms. To see which theory works better in practice, I use a narrowly tailored iteration of comparative process tracing, as it best …

Contesting Imaginaries In The Digital Age: Considering Internet History, Cristian Dominguez

Public History Symposium

No abstract provided.

Pilot Study: Consistency Matters: Session Frequency And Body Weight Loss Outcomes In Outpatient Nutrition Care, Christopher D. Boss

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The current study examines the association between number of counseling sessions and weight change over a 14 month period in overweight and obese adults as seen by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in an outpatient, insurance-based, telehealth, private practice setting. The  aim of this research is to contribute evidence on frequency of care recommendations to help guide policy. It is hypothesized that the most effective weight-loss outcomes can be achieved when counseling is delivered consistently and frequently. The impact of this study has potential to support the expansion and coverage of Registered Dietitian Nutritionist services to address a population with rising …

Patriotism, Philia, And Stereotyping During World War Ii: Correspondence Between Black Composers, Selise Phillips, Joi Carr

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The 20th century was a monumental time for Black composers, especially for those in the UK. Rudolph Dunbar was the first black musician to perform at Royal Albert Hall in London, England. During this time, correspondence between him and William Grant Still, a famous black composer based in America, exists. Still’s rhetorical choices in these letters demonstrate the attitudes of these composers, specifically Still, and how these choices reflect the success of Dunbar’s career. Still, whose compositions started gaining traction in the 1930s, often praised Dunbar for his achievements. These letters all take place during World War II and during …

Learning To Be Heard, Hannah Stroh

Research Days

I am one of 8957 people globally born in 2006 with the condition Microtia Atresia which is a deformity of the ear. My research inspiration stems from reading the different stories of other microtians on social media who have very different experiences than me. I dug deep into how the self-esteem and social experiences of individuals with my condition are affected. I related to a lot of my findings, making connections to my own life. I will discuss how social media and parental influence have impacted my life; and the challenges I've faced with my balance and hearing in dance …

Soil Organic Carbon Stocks And Vertical Distribution In Upland And Floodplain Forests Of Thorn Creek, Northeastern Illinois, Xiaoyong Chen, Krystilyn Bauske, Christopher Groesbeck, Eric Nelson

Research Days

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key indicator of soil health, fertility, and ecosystem productivity. It plays a central role in nutrient cycling, water retention, soil structure formation, and microbial activity, while also contributing to climate regulation through carbon sequestration. Increasing SOC enhances soil resilience to erosion and drought, making it essential for sustainable land management. In forest ecosystems, understanding SOC dynamics is critical for developing science-based policies and management strategies aimed at climate change mitigation and sustainable resource use. However, comparative information on SOC stocks between upland and floodplain forests remains limited. In this study, SOC stocks and their …

The Right Hand Of Allah: Slavery, Mobility, And The Dispersion Of Islam In The Indian Ocean World, Ellery Johnson

Public History Symposium

No abstract provided.

Brave, Faithful, And Reckless: The Horse Of The U.S. Marines, Alondra Mallia

Public History Symposium

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of Glp-1 And Gip/Glp-1 Receptor Agonists On The Body Weight Management Of Obesity, Paige D. Timbrook

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Obesity is a major epidemic across the United States, and weight loss through diet and physical activity alone is not sustainable. Treatment with tirzepatide and semaglutide have proven to be effective for obesity management in the short-term, but more research is needed to understand how certain types of medications impact weight loss over time. In this study, we recruited 42 adult participants with or without Type II diabetes who were 21 years and older, taking only one GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist at a time, had a beginning body mass index of 30 or greater or a beginning body mass …

Not So Glamorous: The Downsides Of Fame, Kaylee Piszro

Research Days

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be famous? The money, adoration, and opportunities all sound exciting; however, they come with drawbacks that might poison your idea of fame. In my poster, I investigate why people want to be famous and the psychology behind it, as well as the downsides of fame, such as privacy invasion, mental health struggles, and mistreatment of celebrities. I did this by consulting research articles, celebrities’ public interviews, and pieces detailing their stories. This investigation led me down a rabbit hole of heartbreaking stories and difficult struggles, revealing a hidden side of …

An Abundance Of Activities: Public History Projects At The Heritage Center Of Clark County, Part Ii, Elizabeth Day

Public History Symposium

No abstract provided.

An Abundance Of Activities: Public History Projects At The Heritage Center Of Clark County, Part I, Ellen Moore

Public History Symposium

No abstract provided.

Acute Nitrate Ingestion On Blood Pressure And Lower Body Power In Healthy Females, Sydney N. Brennan, Ryan Tran, Logan J. Dore, Henry C. Nafzger, Justin M. Foster, Kyle S. Geppert, Trevor J. Molnar, Renee M. Skiera, Rylee M. Perlmutter, Mikayla A. Yue, Michael Egiazarian, Christopher B. Sottile, Graciela K. Simpson, Layla A. Busquets, Abigial F. Ballhagen, Adam Pennell, Rachel Tan

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Dietary nitrate supplementation can improve blood pressure and contractile function of type II (fast twitch) muscle fiber contraction and force production. However, limited data are available for  women and dosing guidelines for women. The purpose of this study is to investigate if nitrate ingestion, provided as nitrate-rich beetroot juice, improves blood pressure and countermovement jumps and cycling sprint performance compared to nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo in women. Eight recreationally active women have been assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to three experimental conditions to receive: (1) 2 x 70 ml of concentrated nitrate--depleted beetroot juice placebo (PL; 0.10 mmol …

Evaluating Elisa-Based Domoic Acid Detection Methods In Fetal And Maternal Samples Of California Sea Lions (Zalophus Californianus), Deanie Woodruff, Emily Lickiss, Samuel Gardiner, Mia Gastile, Elizabeth Sandoval, Florybeth La Valle

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Harmful algal blooms produced by the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia regularly expose marine mammals along the California coast to domoic acid (DA), a neurotoxin that bioaccumulates in marine food webs. In California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), domoic acid exposure is associated with seizures, hippocampal injury, and maternal-fetal transfer of the toxin that can result in abortion. Bloom events have led to large numbers of stranded sea lions along the California coast. Although some clinical and neurological effects of domoic acid toxicosis have been documented, especially with regard to the hippocampus, there is limited understanding of how domoic acid concentrations fluctuate over the …

Identification Of Covalent Catechin Adducts Of Enoyl-Acp Reductase (Fabi) From E. Coli Using Mass Spectrometry, Francisco G. Atwi, P. M. Joyner, Rustin Ghidari

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Enoyl-ACP reductase (FabI), an enzyme which is inhibited by catechin, is essential for lipid biosynthesis in bacteria (E. coli). Another FabI inhibitor, triclosan, has strong antibacterial effects,1 but overuse can be detrimental to the environment. Flavonoids, a class of dietary compounds, are known to have potent inhibitory effects on FabI and other kinases.2,3,4 Adducts form as a result of the biochemical reaction between flavonoids and cysteine, a modification which can be verified by m/z shifts on the mass spectra.5 Samples of E. coli protein with overexpressed FabI are utilized: the wild type with ordinary primary structure, and mutant type lacking …

Dramaturgical Research On Studs Terkel's “The Good War”, Emma K. Mcangus

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

This presentation reflects in-depth dramaturgical research and archival curation developed in support of Pepperdine University’s fall production of “The Good War.” Adapted from Studs Terkel’s oral history of World War II, the production uses verbatim theatre to stage lived experience with historical and ethical complexity. Grounded in Terkel’s interview-based methodology, the project examines not only wartime testimony but also the post-war trajectories of the individuals represented in the script, revealing the long aftermath of conflict and its enduring effects on personal and collective memory. A key component of the project involved compiling biographical information for each interview subject and transforming …

How To Effectively Trap Invasive Crayfish: A Discrete Life Stage Mathematical Model, Rini Pattison

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The red swamp crayfish is an invasive species introduced into several streams within the Santa Monica Mountains (SMM). Crayfish predation decimates native aquatic species. The Mountains Restoration Trust (MRT) has worked to remove crayfish through regular trapping in Malibu Creek.

A prior student created a crayfish life cycle model with trapping, which we expand to better predict the efficacy of crayfish removal efforts in the SMM. We separate crayfish based upon life stages and sizes. We construct and parameterize this discrete crayfish population model with and without trapping. We use literature and crayfish removal data from MRT to fit the …

The Moderating Role Of Sadism And Psychopathy In The Relationship Between Stress And Malevolent Creativity, Kaitlin A. Dixon, Dr. Elizabeth Mancuso, Dr. Janet Trammell

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Malevolent creativity is creating original ideas with an intent to harm others. It is also associated with aggression and anger-inducing situations. To date, no research has examined stress as a potential trigger for malevolent creativity. We hypothesized higher stress would increase malevolent creativity (H1). Malevolent creativity is associated with the personality traits of the dark triad, psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism. The dark tetrad expanded the dark triad by adding sadism. Sadism and psychopathy are often considered the most aggressive dark tetrad traits. We hypothesized sadism and psychopathy would separately moderate the relationship between stress and malevolent creativity (H2, H3). Participants …

Counting Hamiltonian Cycles In Quartic Circulant Graphs, Allison Hilliard

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

We consider the problem of counting Hamiltonian cycles in circulant graphs $C^K_n$ where $n$ is the number of vertices and $K$ is a set containing elements that correspond to the allowed edges in the circulant graphs. After sorting the cycles by a topological invariant called the winding number, we use a modified transfer matrix method to convert local data into global structures. The result is a generating function that counts the number of Hamiltonian cycles in a circulant graph with $n$ vertices. The results for $K=\{1,2\}$ and $K=\{1,3\}$ have been found by previous authors. We focus on the case where …

The Role Of Political Orientation In The Relationship Between Masculinity Threat And Pain, Bethany Kronlund, Randy Corpuz Ph.D., Dr. Elizabeth Mancuso

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

This experimental study aimed to explore whether political orientation might moderate the relationship between threatened masculinity and pain tolerance among 128 college men. Research has shown that the manipulation of gender stereotypes and how it affects pain tolerance in men has yielded mixed results. We administered a bogus gender knowledge test with fake feedback placing participants into either a masculinity threatening condition or masculinity affirming condition. This was followed by a pain tolerance test using a pressure algometer, where pain tolerance, pain threshold, perceived unpleasantness, and perceived painfulness were recorded. We hypothesized that men in the threatened masculinity condition would …

Sense Of Social Belonging, Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help, And Psychological Distress Among Sexual And Gender Minority Students At Christian Colleges And Universities, Alethia Winley, Elizabeth Mancuso, Steve Rouse

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Sexual and gender minority individuals (SGMs) often report more mental health struggles than their cisgender and heterosexual (cis-het) counterparts, as described by minority stress theory. At the same time, research shows that religiosity is associated with fewer mental health struggles. This study examined one intersection of these topics among SGM students at Christian institutions of higher learning by testing if religiosity moderated the relationship between SGM status and psychological distress, social belonging, and attitudes toward seeking help. The sample consisted of 203 students, including 70 SGMs, from 38 American Christian institutions of higher learning. Consistent with past research, SGMs reported …

Evaluating Brief Intervention Effectiveness On Sexual Assault Stigma And Empathy Considering Culture Of Honor, Hannora Race, Dr. Elizabeth Mancuso, Randy Corpuz Ph.D.

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Sexual assault stigma remains a barrier to reporting and help-seeking. This study examined whether culture of honor predicts sexual assault attitudes and whether brief interventions could reduce stigma. Participants (N = 189) completed measures before and after watching educational, empathy, or control videos. Social honor predicted lower stigma and rape myth acceptance, while family and feminine honor predicted greater rape myth acceptance. Only the education condition significantly reduced self-stigma. Culture of honor did not moderate intervention effectiveness. Brief educational interventions can reduce self-stigma but may be insufficient to shift broader attitudes, suggesting the need for more intensive, culturally-tailored program research.

Tipping Points In Crayfish Management: Exploring Population Dynamics With The Bifurcations Activity In Slopes, Evan Inrig, Benjamin Lucas

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Slopes is an interactive environment for exploring numerical methods and graphical solutions to ordinary differential equations. The app launched with five activities for exploration: slopefields, phase planes, oscillations, solutions to systems, and numerical methods for approximation. Bifurcations is a new sixth activity that we designed to investigate changes in the long term behavior of solutions to autonomous differential equations. This activity displays a slopefield and implements the ability to add solutions, but also introduces two new views that show how varying a single parameter impacts the values and stability of equilibrium solutions. We demonstrate the value of the new bifurcations …