Digital Commons Network^™

Cheshire 4-H Presents 2025 Action Exhibit Info, Extension

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Environmental And Climate Change Dictionary: Part Ii, Fozia Parveen

Books

When we published our first environment and climate change dictionary in 2023 at IED (https://ecommons.aku.edu/books/117/), I was surprised by the response we received. Many people reached out to us to tell us how they hear these terms in their workplaces and how our dictionary helps them understand the words better. I wanted to make sure that we continue to add words to the dictionary in order to increase the understanding of others but also our own understanding of many terms we hear on a day-to-day basis. This year with the participants of “Introduction to Climate Change” course at FAS we …

Virtual Personalities And Smart Analytics In The Digital Environment: Legal And Applied Framework For Big Data And Financial Transaction, Hazim Akram Sallal, Faris Kamil Mihna, Lobna Abdalhusen Al-Seedi, Mustafa Abdulfattah Habeeb, Yahya Layth Khaleel

Mesopotamian Journal of Big Data

The rapid progress of artificial intelligence (AI) has altered the very nature of the digital systems that ground today's legal and financial institutions. This study is cross-discipline research that constructs an integrated framework that connects digital identity, AI-based digital wallets, and information governance across a singular legal-technological approach. It considers the consequences of AI reshaping economic exchange, digital identity management, and communication and its mediation by autonomous virtual identities that can carry out actions characteristic of observable real-world social and economic experiences. The study uses a comparison of the regulatory mechanisms in Iraq, Europe, and the US context to convey …

Assessing Reproductive Health In Zoo-Managed African Elephant Bulls (Loxodonta Africana), Kaitlyn Marie Campbell

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Populations of zoo-managed African elephant (Loxodonta Africana) exhibit substantial individual- and population-level variation in reproductive success, yet research has largely focused on females, leaving male fertility poorly understood. Subfertility in bulls, characterized by low libido and inconsistent semen quality, poses significant challenges to genetic management and long-term population sustainability. This study a) systematically evaluates semen quality, b) identifies physiological, behavioral, social, and environmental determinants of fertility, and c) advances ex situ conservation through the expansion of the African elephant sperm bank. Between January 2023 and July 2025, 209 semen collection events were conducted from 13 sexually mature bulls …

Leaf-Based Varietal Categorization Of Sweetpotato (Ipomoea Batatas L. Lam.), A Potentially Healthful Vegetable, Using Image Processing And K-Means Clustering, Shahidul Islam, Md Towfiqur Rahman, Md Hamidul Rahman, Abdul Momin

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas Lam) leaves contain higher concentrations of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and carotenoids that are remarkable in health promotion. However, the nutrient content in sweetpotato leaves varies from variety to variety, and leaf shape and color are the key identifying factors for the varietal classification of sweetpotatoes. So, detecting sweetpotato leaves is essential for the in-situ identification of sweetpotato varieties and for developing intelligent agricultural systems. This study aimed to create a leaf-shape-based varietal classification technique for sweetpotato using image processing techniques coupled with a K-means clustering algorithm. 38 leaf images (RGB) of two sweetpotato cultivars were collected …

Supporting English Language Learners In Agricultural Education: A Document Analysis, Ellie Chitwood

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In Nebraska’s rural agricultural education classrooms, increasing numbers of students learn English as a second language, yet support tailored for these learners remains limited. This study explores how English Language Learner (ELL) resources are organized, accessed, and utilized within Nebraska’s agricultural education system. Drawing on Bandura’s Social Learning Theory and leadership education frameworks, a qualitative document analysis examined state policies, Educational Service Unit (ESU) supports, and professional development materials. Findings reveal a coherent statewide policy overshadowed by uneven regional implementation and limited agricultural contextualization. Despite resource disparities and technological constraints, agricultural educators demonstrate leadership by innovating bilingual supports and fostering …

Effect Of Integrated Neuromuscular Inhibition Technique On Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome, Esraa Tarek Farouk Ahmed, Amir Mohamed Saleh, Hassan Hussien Ahmed, Doaa Rafat El Azab

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background: It was reported that, 25% of adults experience limited mobility and a diminished quality of life due to knee pain. The iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS) is a frequent overuse injury that causes lateral knee pain. It is marked by recurrent lateral knee pain as well as motor impairment in the lower extremities. Pain worsens with exercise and weight-bearing activities, especially at 30° of knee flexion, and patients usually have a history of overuse caused by knee flexion and extension.Objective: To determine the impact of the integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique on pain intensity, knee range of motion and knee …

Bait, Code, And Censor- Queer Representation In Animation Through Queercoding, Queerbaiting, And Effects Of Censorship, Link Bertrand

Capstone Showcase

This paper talks about how queerness has been portrayed in media, with a specific focus on animation. This paper includes discussions on queer theory, and the ideas of censorship and representation. Creative themes include film history, animation, and show production. The shows mentioned in detail as examples are The Owl House, Voltron: Legendary Defenders, and Gravity Falls, with other mentions of DeadEnd: Paranormal Park and Heartstopper.

Karyotyping As A Method To Verify Phylogenetic Relationships Among The Enneacanthus Species, Ophelia A. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The Enneacanthus genus consists of three species of freshwater fish endemic to eastern North America: E. obesus (Banded Sunfish), E. gloriosus (Blue Spotted Sunfish), and E. chaetodon (Black Banded Sunfish). Previous studies using molecular data suggest that E. obesus and E. gloriosus are more closely related, with E. chaetodon as the most distantly related species in the genus. This study investigates the phylogenetic relationship among the Enneacanthus species, using karyotype characteristics - chromosome number, morphology and fundamental number - as comparative metrics. Chromosome spreads were obtained from scale and gill epithelium samples collected between 1993 and 1994. Prepared slides …

Art As The Prosecutor’S Weapon: The Use Of Rap Lyrics Evidence At Trial, Thompson, Mikah K., Raheem, Sierra

Santa Clara Law Review

Are rap lyrics worthy of the same protections that other forms of creative expression enjoy, or is there something inherent to rap lyrics that renders them autobiographical, confessional, and reflective of the author’s true intentions and desires? This Article will attempt to answer that question. In doing so, the authors will take the reader on a voyage through a history that is not widely known among the attorneys, judges, expert witnesses, and jurors who are frequently called upon to interpret the art form known as Hip Hop.

This journey requires an exploration of our country’s history of chattel slavery, for …

Ground Rules: Giving Meaning And Effect To Key Contested Terms In The California Racial Justice Act, Bazelon, Lara, Redbird, Dr. Beth, Yan, Belle

Santa Clara Law Review

The California Racial Justice Act (RJA), which applies to all pretrial, trial, and post-conviction defendants,

prohibits any state actor from relying upon racial bias to seek or obtain a conviction or sentence against a defendant. In a state where racial disparities in incarceration have been growing for decades, the law, which became retroactive in 2024, has the power to create a sea of change across California criminal institutions. Using the power of state constitutional law and relying upon the principles of comity and federalism, the California Racial Justice Act explicitly rejects the intent-to-discriminate standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court …

Empirical Analysis Of Racial Disparities In Policing, Premkumar, Deepak, Lofstrom, Magnus, Hayes, Joseph, Martin, Brandon, Cremin, Sean

Santa Clara Law Review

Racial disparities within the criminal justice system continue to be a pressing issue, especially after the recent passage of California’s Racial Justice Act, which allows for a broader set of legal challenges based on racially disparate treatment. In this article, we analyze data for almost four million stops by California’s fifteen largest law enforcement agencies in 2019, examining the extent to which people of color experience searches, enforcement, intrusiveness, and use of force differently from white people. Black Californians are more likely to be searched than white Californians, but searches of Black civilians reveal less contraband and evidence. Black people …

The New Atrocity In International Law, Natalie R. Davidson

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

No abstract provided.

Recommendations For Diagnosis And Treatment Of Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea In Females Of Reproductive Age, Monica Foster

Capstone Showcase

Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) accounts for approximately 30% of total cases of secondary amenorrhea in women of reproductive age. HA is defined as the absence of menses due to inadequate secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by the hypothalamus leading to lack of secretion of gonadotropins from the anterior pituitary gland and steroid hormones from the ovaries. This feedback loop, called the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, regulates reproductive activity in animals and humans. When this system is disrupted in females due to a hormonal imbalance, menstrual abnormalities may emerge. Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is defined as the absence of menses in which anatomic …

Caspases Protect Against Hyperglycemia Induced Necroptosis-Like Cell Death In Brain Endothelial Cells, Aleena S. Mathew

Theses and Dissertations

Acute diabetes characterized by high spikes in blood glucose levels in association with severe hyperglycemia can lead to an increased risk of ischemic stroke in the brain. To better understand high blood glucose levels, hyperglycemia, in the brain we explored its effects on endothelial cells. Endothelial cells line the inner walls of blood vessels and are directly impacted in hyperglycemia. Brain endothelial cells are a major component of the blood brain barrier (BBB) which tightly regulates the brain’s microenvironment. The type of cell death such as apoptosis, caspase dependent, or necroptosis, caspase independent, can exacerbate diabetes associated complications. There is …

El Maíz Del Abuelo: Fidel Márquez Sanchez’S Legacy And Mexico’S Historical Maize Agriculture, Lucia Marquez-Uppman

Scripps Senior Theses

The Green Revolution was an era of scientific development in productive agricultural methods and technologies in the mid-twentieth century. High-yielding seed varieties, artificial fertilizers, irrigation infrastructure, pesticides, and herbicides all developed from this period. Texcoco, Mexico was the center of much of the Green Revolution's education and research from the 1940s onward at the Autonomous University of Chapingo, a prestigious agricultural school, with funding from the US-based philanthropic Rockefeller Foundation. Powerful consequences in the globe's agriculture emerged from the Green Revolution, including the production of maize, a staple crop in Mexico, especially for Indigenous and campesino populations. My abuelo, Fidel …

Social Rejection, Isolation, And Substance Use Disorders: A Neurobiological Defense Of Social Network Intervention In Single-Site Housing First, Victoria Eichel

Scripps Senior Theses

Abstract

Introduction: Rising rates of homelessness in the United States demand not only increased housing efforts but also comprehensive strategies addressing the underlying causes of chronic homelessness. Among the most prevalent factors is substance use disorder (SUD), which both contributes to and results from housing instability. Conventional abstinence-based treatment models often fail to address the root causes of substance use, particularly the chronic social isolation and rejection experienced by the unhoused. This thesis argues for the adoption of a neuroscience-informed model of recovery rooted in community reintegration and low-barrier housing with on-site support services.

The Neuroscience of Substance Use Disorders …

Weathering And Beyond: Leveraging Mathematical Modeling To Simulate Erosion In Digital Media, Fiona Irving-Beck

Scripps Senior Theses

How might we bring an idea to life from both a mathematical and an artistic perspective? Within Weathering, I use imagery of environmental erosion to explore the differences between physical and digital forms of representation. I created a physical painting of an abandoned copper mine, digitized the work, and then used a mathematical model to digitally “erode” it, which I re-translated into paintings. While the explicit texture present in physical work speaks best to my practice/intent, the mathematical framework that is the basis for my digital work affords a powerful mode of temporal flexibility. Used in conjunction, these two …

Finding Futures: Refusing Canva And The Homogenization Of The D.I.Y. Political Post(Er), Cassidy Bensko

Scripps Senior Theses

The convergence of corporate technology and subversive political expression is not new. Canva, like Xerox, is but another made-for-the-office technological innovation employed to political ends. Its ease-of-use has made it a staple tool for students, office workers, event planners, and political organizers alike. However, it is easy to use because it eliminates the need for creative decision-making, empowering users to quickly and easily produce designs that all look the same. This paper asks: Is the homogenization of D.I.Y. political posters, a medium that has historically been characterized by design elements that are as subversive as the politics they represent, indicative …

Preserving The Stolen: Cultural Appropriation And The Case Of Seattle's Totem Pole, Olga S. Koutroulis

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis investigates the cultural appropriation and conservation of the Chief-of-All-Women totem pole, originally stolen by Seattle businessmen from the Tlingit village of Tongass in 1899 and later reinstalled in Pioneer Square as a symbol of the city. By framing the totem pole as a site of both physical and cultural displacement, I trace its journey from sacred object to public monument, and ultimately to federally funded replica. Drawing on conservation theory, oral history, archival research, and an interview with Haida artist Sondra Segundo, I argue that the pole’s removal, replication, and continued display reflect broader patterns of settler colonialism …

My Grandpa: How One Man Changed Our Life, Jada Shavers

Scripps Senior Theses

My thesis uses argumentation, personal essay, letters, and writing about feelings to recount stories of three generations of women (my grandmother, my mom, and myself) to ultimately explore the controversies of sexual violence. To establish this point, I use a combination of writing techniques to challenge the typical framework of a memoir and destabilize a linear retelling of events. I also complicate the narrative to allow the reader to question their own understanding of sexual violence; ultimately defining sexual violence as a loss of autonomy, a feeling that extends far beyond any single or recurring event, and something that never …

Globalization In Fashion: Organizational Strategies For Cultural Adaptation While Maintaining Core Identity, Karina Klein

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis examines how fashion brands can effectively maintain their brand identity while expanding into international markets with diverse cultural landscapes. Addressing the fundamental tension between standardization and localization in global fashion marketing, this research investigates when brands should maintain consistent approaches versus adapting to local cultural contexts. Through a comprehensive literature review of global branding theory, historical patterns of fashion globalization, and cultural dimensions affecting fashion consumption, the study establishes foundational principles for strategic international expansion. The research presents Burberry's successful entry into the Chinese market as a case study, analyzing how the luxury brand effectively balanced standardization of …

Selling Egg-Cellence: An Exploration Of Commercial Oocyte Donation And Genetic Determinism In 21st Century America, Abigail C. Oswald

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis examines the impact of genetic determinism on commercial egg donation in the United States. Through critical analysis of social media advertisements, online forums, and interviews, it argues that reductionist, genetically deterministic thinking drives the commodification of oocytes. Fertility agencies exploit assumptions about heritable traits (health, ethnicity, intelligence) to market "desirable" donors, influencing intended parents' choices and compensation hierarchies. Then the research explores how these same ideas shape perceptions of familial closeness in donor-conceived individuals and their parents, revealing mixed feelings surrounding genetic ties. This study highlights the complex interplay of biology, technology, and social constructs in defining family …

2025-2026 Risd Course Catalog, Risd Registrar's Office, Risd Archives

RISD Course Catalogs / Announcements

No abstract provided.

Ai Art And U.S. Copyright Decisions: What The U.S. Can Do Differently Than China And The E.U. To Efficiently Promote Balance Between Ai Innovation And Copyright Regulation, Adam Pycior

Loyola University Chicago International Law Review

The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence ("Al") in recent years has spurred a plethora of discussions concerning ethical boundaries, government regulations, and more. Thaler v. Perlmutter highlights a unique one: the challenging question of if, and how, AI generated artworks may be copyrightable. The court denied copyright to plaintiff Stephen Thaler's work "A Recent Entrance to Paradise" generated by his AI system, "The Creativity Machine," holding that autonomously generated works cannot be copyrighted under the existing precedent. However, the court failed to answer, though it acknowledged, the pressing question as to the degree of human input necessary to copyright such …

Cold Water Immersion: Communal Intimacy And Embodied Wellness, Clara R. Louden

Scripps Senior Theses

On the shores of Lake Superior, many residents of Duluth engage in cold water immersion, or as many call it, "dipping." Through the lenses of embodied experience, magical language and modes of storytelling, and communal intimacy, dipping emerges as a uniquely bonding practice. Dippers cite cold water immersion as an immune-boosting ritual, drawing on biomedical and non-biomedical conceptions of health. Immersion in cold water, especially in nature, requires a strong sense of communal trust. By deliberately encountering danger in their day to day lives, dippers' relationships with each other and with the lake often deepen over time, hinging on the …

Constructing Bodies Of Subversion And Resistance: The Carceral Quarantine Of Hiv-Positive Haitian Refugees At Guantanamo Bay Under U.S. Imperialism, Isabelle E. Oringer

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis investigates the detention of HIV-positive Haitian refugees at Guantánamo Bay in the early 1990s as a case study of medicalized racism and U.S. imperialism. It explores how U.S. public health policy, immigration law, and Cold War-era foreign interventions converged to criminalize and confine Black Haitian bodies, constructing them as threats to national security and public health. By analyzing primary testimonies and media coverage alongside the works of scholars such as Paul Farmer and Naomi Paik, the project reveals how racialized conceptions of disease and subversion informed discriminatory practices that disproportionately targeted Haitian refugees. Furthermore, it examines how the …

Influencias Intergeneracionales De La Italianidad En La Vida Doméstica Y En La Esfera Pública De Argentina: Un Análisis De La Lingüística, La Comida Y La Identidad, Sage A. Wong-Davies

Scripps Senior Theses

In Argentina there are many people of Italian heritage due to the large wave of Italian immigration at the end of the 19^th century and beginning of the 20^th century. Through personal interviews and analyses of preexisting research, this thesis examines how the Italian influence has become incorporated in Argentinian culture on a national level and in the family culture of Argentinians with Italian heritage. This thesis specifically considers the Italian influence in Argentina through the lenses of linguistics and language, food, and identity. It determines that “italianidad” is very integrated in Argentinian culture in all of these …

Recovering Twice: An Autoethnographic Account Of Healing As An Injured Athlete, Aleksa Allen

Master of Liberal Studies Theses

This autoethnographic thesis explores the deeply personal and culturally embedded experience of injury, recovery, and identity as a collegiate athlete. It foregrounds the psychological toll of physical injury, the silence around disordered eating in athletics, and the gendered dynamics that render certain injuries and bodies invisible. This narrative is not meant to stand in for every athlete’s experience, but to ask what one individual experience reveals about the broader systems collegiate athletes inhabit. These systems are shaped by performance-based expectations, disposability, and silence. Drawing from lived experience, I trace my own trajectory as an athlete through the tightrope of recruitment, …

Behavioral Observations And Analysis Of Twix: The Cape Porcupine At The Lake Superior Zoo, Erin Davidson

Scripps Senior Theses

The three main goals of zoos are outlined as: education, conservation, and research. In our modern world, the focus of zoos has shifted away from simply housing animals, and towards how we can best promote proper animal welfare for individuals in human care. Animal welfare can be defined as the “mental health” of non-human species of fauna, and is greatly influenced by the stressors within the environment, as well as the option of choosing how to interact with and respond to the environment. Animals housed in zoos are presented with unique stressors that they often do not choose to experience, …