Digital Commons Network^™

Growing Up Under Mao And Deng: On Politician Ideology And Corporate Policies, Hao Liang, Rong Wang, Haikun Zhu

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

We provide firm-level evidence on how politicians’ ideologies shape economic outcomes, using a unique setting of ideological discontinuity in China, transitioning from Maoism to Dengism around 1978. We find that ideological exposure during a politician’s early adulthood has a lasting impact on contemporary firm policies in their city. Firms governed by “Maoist mayors” show greater stakeholder spending, lower pay inequality, and less internationalization compared with those governed by “Dengist mayors.” Further evidence suggests that politicians’ ideologies influence corporate behaviors through nonpolicy channels, and these results cannot be fully explained by selection bias, endogenous matching, or the age of the mayor.

Overdose Education And Naloxone Distribution In Jails, Timothy Hunt, Carrie B. Oser, Peter D. Friedmann, Nicole Mack, Peter Balvanz, Bridget Freisthler, Redonna K. Chandler, Karli Hochstatter, Daniel R. Harris, La Shawn Glasgow, Lauren D’Costa, Mary R. Russo, Barry Eggleston, Arnie Aldridge, Paul Bellair, Allyson G. Cogan, James L. David, Nabila El-Bassel, Dawn Goddard-Eckrich, Steve Gomori, Holly Hagan, Steve Hanson, Ja Nae Holloway, Elizabeth N. Kinnard, Charlie Knott, Michael W. Konstan, Sharon L. Walsh, Patricia A. Lebaron

Sociology Faculty Publications

Background: Opioid-related overdose is the leading cause of mortality among individuals recently released from incarceration in the U.S. Naloxone is an FDA-approved opioid antagonist medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. Despite evidence of its acceptability and effectiveness at reducing the risk of opioid overdose death after release from incarceration, only an estimated 25% of US jails provide naloxone upon release. This study examines the effectiveness of the HEALing Communities Study (HCS) Communities That HEAL (CTH) intervention on enhancing access to overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) in participating jails in Kentucky, New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio. Methods: Communities were …

Lynk Labs: How The Least-Vetted Documents Destroy Issued Patents, Dennis D. Crouch

Faculty Publications

The Lynk Labs petition presents the Supreme Court with an opportunity to restore the temporal coherence that Congress built into § 311(b)'s evidentiary framework. By treating "printed publication" as synonymous with any reference that eventually becomes public, the Federal Circuit has transformed IPR into a forum where unexamined, abandoned patent applications can destroy patents that survived the very scrutiny those applications failed to complete. The Court should grant certiorari and hold that a printed publication must be printed and published before the critical date to serve as the basis for an IPR challenge.

Solving Professors' Dilemmas About Prohibiting Or Promoting Student Ai Use, John Lande

Faculty Publications

Faculty face difficult dilemmas as law students increasingly use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT.  Should faculty prohibit student use of AI in course work, allow it within limits, or actively encourage it to build professional skills?  Because students already use AI tools, faculty must respond.  Doing nothing can undermine core educational goals.

This article offers practical strategies for addressing these dilemmas.  These strategies are designed to promote learning, uphold academic integrity, and prepare students for an evolving legal profession.  This article outlines two broad approaches:  restricting unauthorized AI use and promoting responsible, supervised use.  It provides concrete suggestions …

Book Reviews Introduction: Is It Just Me?, Curtis Porter

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Each of the reviews in this issue of JAEPL focus on a book that was published long before this particular crisis. The books span very different academic fields and very different research methodologies. Yet each reviewer gives a glimpse of how the research behind each book emerged from lived challenges and illustrates how that research sheds light on the daily work and daily struggle that we collectively face.

Improving Data Quality In Survey Research: The Role Of Machine Learning In Handling Inconsistent Responses, Patrick Ndungutse

Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

This project aims to strengthen Gallup’s survey data preprocessing by integrating machine learning methods to detect inconsistent responses, complementing existing rule-based checks. The study benchmarks techniques such as Isolation Forest, clustering-based outlier scores, and autoencoders against current approaches to spot inconsistencies more efficiently and with reduced manual effort.

We will evaluate models using a dataset of survey responses previously flagged for inconsistency by Gallup, focusing on accuracy, coverage, and efficiency validated through expert review. The goal is to automate response classification into pass, review, or fail stages, aiming to reduce manual review time by about 25%, or 15 hours weekly, …

English Grammar Foundations, Salvatore Attardo

CHSSA Open Educational Resources (OER)

English Grammar for Undergraduate and Graduate students (Open Access)

The Fungal Microbiota Modulate Neonatal Oxygen-Induced Lung Injury, Isaac Martin, Mary Silverberg, Ahmed Abdelgawad, Kosuke Tanaka, Brian A. Halloran, Teodora Nicola, Erin D. Myers, Jay P. Desai, Catrina T. White, Ibrahim Karabayir, Oguz Akbilgic, Laura Tipton, Samuel J. Gentle, Namasivayam Ambalavanan, Brian M. Peters, Luan D. Vu, Viral G. Jain, Charitharth V. Lal, Stephania A. Cormier, Joseph F. Pierre, Tamás Jilling, Ajay J. Talati, Kent A. Willis

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Background: The immature lungs of very preterm infants are exposed to supraphysiologic oxygen, contributing to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease that is the most common morbidity of prematurity. While the microbiota significantly influences neonatal health, the relationship between the intestinal microbiome, particularly micro-eukaryotic members such as fungi and yeast, and lung injury severity in newborns remains unknown. Results: Here, we show that the fungal microbiota modulates hyperoxia-induced lung injury severity in very low birth weight premature infants and preclinical pseudohumanized and altered fungal colonization mouse models. Instead of fungal communities dominated by Candida and Saccharomyces, the first stool …

Narrative Economics Of Sports Gambling Legalization: A Case Study Of The United States, Tyler John Hajek

Dissertations

Following the end of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, legalized sports betting has become prevalent in the United States (U.S.). Most states legalized the activities due to consumer interest and financial potential for tax revenue generation. The purpose of this study was to explore how legalized sports betting influenced tax revenues in the initial years of expanded adoption in the U.S. To address this purpose, the research questions were structured to uncover if states collectively benefited from the introduction of legalized sports betting, what states have financially benefitted from the implementation of legalized sports betting, and …

Media Bias Explained: Its Impact On Political Opinions, Janae Joachim

Senior Honors Theses

Even though the media does not maliciously warp public opinion, it can distort the public understanding of reality. Journalists desire to educate the people but are powerless against their own bias. Complicating matters is that they recklessly seek to increase engagement, exacerbating political polarization and a negative view of government. Factual reporting is more important with the rise of social media as a news source because Gen-Z’s political opinions are informed by social applications. While media bias existed before social media, it now remains mostly unchecked. Political reporters must be cognizant of the impact they have on voters and subsequently …

Comparative Study Of Worship Practices In Alexandrian And Syriac Traditions, Chinsangmuan Guite

Senior Honors Theses

This study examines the comparative development of worship practices in the Alexandrian and Syriac Christian traditions during the period of the early church. It focuses on how each community integrated their own respective cultural elements while preserving a strong theological foundation, without compromising on the teachings of Christ. Drawing on liturgical texts, hymnography, theological writings, and historical analyses, the study explores the ways in which Alexandrian worship reflected Egyptian and Hellenistic linguistic, musical, and ritual traditions, while Syriac worship was shaped by Semitic poetic forms, Aramaic language, and regional symbolism. Despite these cultural differences, both traditions remained united in their …

Best Practices For Local Law Enforcement In Counterterrorism: Enhancing Interagency Communication & Developing Modern Information Sharing Systems, Michael G. Fitterman

Master's Theses

Local law enforcement agencies play a critical and increasingly central role in the United States’ domestic counterterrorism architecture. While federal agencies possess sophisticated intelligence capabilities, local officers are often the first to encounter early indicators of radicalization, pre-operational planning, and suspicious behavior. Despite this frontline role, communication between local, state, and federal agencies remains fragmented, inconsistent, and sometimes informal. These gaps weaken national situational awareness and limit the ability of agencies to identify emerging threats.

This thesis examines the structural, technological and cultural challenges hat impede effective information sharing among law enforcement agencies. It outlines best practices that local departments …

Naam, Amna Haider

Graduate Thesis Collection

This thesis is a collection of short stories that blends realism, speculative fiction, and South Asian folklore to examine how identity is negotiated through belief, culture, and survival across borders. The stories center characters who must continually interpret the worlds they inhabit in order to sustain self identity. Names in this collection function as sites of power and vulnerability: they are inherited, altered and concealed, shaping how characters are seen and how they see themselves. Alongside names, the supernatural and myth emerges not only as metaphors, but as lived forces, drawing from Islamic folklore and mythic traditions to articulate experiences …

Multi-Cater Pack Heat Sealer, Ivan Medina-Zepeda, Laurent Hirakata, Donovan Furtado, Cody Ngan

Mechanical Engineering

The Multi-Cater Pack Heat Sealer was developed to support Achievement House, a non-profit organization that employs adults with intellectual and physical disabilities and is facing increasing demand for sealed cater packs. Existing single-pack sealers limited both throughput and accessibility, which led to the creation of a 3D printed attachment for a 40-inch impulse heat sealer. The attachment allows nine packs to be sealed at the same time and includes a tray-style trapdoor that allows for quick unloading. The need for accessibility and usability guided the design throughout the process. Alignment guides improve placement consistency, and the ergonomic layout accommodates both …

Educational Ai Agents In Vr, Jake Eichenseer

Graphic Communication

AI powered educational agents are programs that are capable of interpreting their environment and then making decisions based on that (Cordova-Esparza, 2025). Agentic programs like these can be helpful in an educational setting because they can be used to provide personalized feedback to students, assist instructors with grading, and adapt learning materials in real time to match each student’s progress. However, there are a multitude of concerns raised by agentic programs as well, causing experts to consider the ethical implications of integrating them into school curricula. The Cal Poly Graphic Communication Department wanted to study how participants would respond when …

Geometric Deviation Prediction In Additively Manufactured Parts Using Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks Under Varying L-Pbf Process Parameters, Subigyamani Bhandari

Theses

The progress in metal AM technology has enabled printing parts with thin features and intricate geometries. Predicting and reducing metal AM part geometrical deviations to narrow down the difference between printed and designed structure still poses a problem. This work explores changes in laser speed, laser power, and hatch spacing affecting geometrical deviations in parts made using laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) and places an emphasis on how to predict geometrical defects in the AM parts. Sliced images obtained from CAD designs and printed parts to capture the effect of various L-PBF process parameters are utilized to create a dataset. …

Exploring The Adoption Of Quality 4.0: A Qualitative Study Of Industry Practices And Barriers, Tama Rani Sarker

Theses

The emergence of Industry 4.0 has revolutionized quality management, introducing Quality 4.0 as a framework that integrates digital technologies with established quality principles. Despite its potential to enhance operational efficiency and decision-making, many organizations face challenges in adopting Quality 4.0, including skill gaps, resource constraints, and cultural resistance. This qualitative study explores industry practices, barriers, and enablers of Quality 4.0 implementation through surveys and interviews with quality professionals in southern Illinois manufacturing companies. Using a phenomenological approach, five major themes emerged: employee skillset, training, technology integration, quality tools, and supply chain management. Findings reveal that successful adoption depends on workforce …

Beyond The Mozart Effect: How Musical Experience And Emotional Response Shape Individual Differences In Spatial Reasoning, Connor Watkinson

Theses

Research on the Mozart effect (the short-term enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning after music listening) has yielded inconsistent results, often due to overlooking individual differences and using limited stimuli. This study examined multiple musical conditions (popular lyrical, classical, and white noise control) while considering the moderating roles of musical experience and the mediating influence of emotional responses. Undergraduate participants (N = 162) completed spatial reasoning assessments before and after an eight-minute listening session, alongside measures of musical background, listening habits, mood, and music-evoked emotions.Analyses revealed no overall difference in spatial reasoning improvement between music and white noise conditions. However, substantial individual …

Action Research: Improving Literacy With Tracker Systems For Students With An Iep, Annamaria Weigel

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This action research study examined the effectiveness of the Prescribed Tracker System and structured literacy instruction on improving reading proficiency among elementary students with individualized education programs. The purpose of the study was to determine whether systematic phonics instruction, combined with data-driven progress monitoring, could increase decoding accuracy and oral reading fluency for students performing below grade level. The research was grounded in the science of reading framework and zone of proximal development, emphasizing explicit instruction, guided practice, and scaffolded learning within a supportive environment.

Five students in Grades 3 through 5 participated in a 6-week intervention, conducted twice a …

Debating Process: Assessing Recurrent Themes In Recent Supreme Court Confirmation Debates, Stuart Chinn

Penn State Law Review (2003 - Present)

No abstract provided.

Field Goals, Carolyn Young Larmore

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

Externship faculty agree that goal setting is a key part of the externship learning experience, for example, helping students to become self-directed learners by deciding what they want to get out of a learning experience and then taking an active role in working toward that end. But while the literature advocating goal setting is based on years of experience and anecdotal evidence, one thing it is lacking is empirical support. In this paper, I report on my study of the pedagogical tool of student goal setting. This study included the review and coding of hundreds of student reflective journals in …

Proverag: Provenance-Driven Vulnerability Analysis With Automated Retrieval-Augmented Llms, Reza Fayyazi, Stella Hoyos Trueba, Michael Zuzak, Jay Yang

Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology Scholarship

In cybersecurity, security analysts constantly face the challenge of mitigating newly discovered vulnerabilities in real-time, with over 300,000 vulnerabilities identified since 1999. The sheer volume of known vulnerabilities complicates the detection of patterns for unknown threats. While LLMs can assist, they often hallucinate and lack alignment with recent threats. Over 40,000 vulnerabilities have been identified in 2024 alone, which are introduced after most popular LLMs’ (e.g., GPT-5) training data cutoff. This raises a major challenge of leveraging LLMs in cybersecurity, where accuracy and up-to-date information are paramount. Therefore, we aim to improve the adaptation of LLMs in vulnerability analysis by …

An Analysis Of Policies Impacting Ex-Offenders And The Barriers Created In Their Transition Into Society: A Qualitative Metasynthesis, Thomas A. Ayala

Theses & Dissertations

In 2018, more than six million people in the United States were under correctional supervision, including incarceration, probation, or parole, equivalent to 1 in 40 adults (Maruschak & Minton, 2020). While this reflects a decline from previous years, prison populations reversed course in 2022, increasing by 2% nationwide, with 36 states and federal facilities reporting higher inmate counts (Nellis, 2024). Since 1973, policy shifts have fueled the rise of mass incarceration (Nellis, 2021; O’Brien, 2020). According to the Pew Center, the United States remains a global outlier, holding 5% of the world’s population, but incarcerates 25% of the 9 million …

Position Sensor Offset Fault Calibration In Speed-Regulated Pmsm Drives, Ujala Anuradhi Maha Gamage

Masters Theses

Speed regulation of electro-mechanically actuated systems is common across broad application segments, including industrial and residential sectors. The increasing demand for efficient energy conversion has made permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSM) a preferred choice in modern applications. Vector controlled PMSMs in speed regulation mode being the dominant form of control, accurate speed and position measurement is crucial. However, a misalignment in the position sensor with respect to the true rotor zero position in speed regulated PMSM drives leads to inefficient energy conversion with the possibility of unstable motor behavior. The considered position sensor offset error fault, under severe fault modes, …

The Application Of Evidence-Based Practices In Diverse Environments, Emily R. Simon

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Much research supports the argument that students and educators perform better when evidence-based practices are used in the classroom. However, applying these practices across diverse environments can be a challenge. Each class and school is unique, and these differences affect the transferability of these methods in the classroom. This thesis examines how research-based methods on relationship building and instructional practices are implemented and/or modified across different school settings: suburban, urban, special education, general education, and multicultural/multilingual spaces.

Through research on current educational practices, this thesis identifies commonly used evidence-based practices for building relationships between teachers, students, and families, as well …

Let’S Talk Mental Health: An Assessment Of Oregon Agricultural Stakeholders Discussing Mental Health, Whitney Stone, Lauren Chase, Taylor Foerster

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Working in agriculture presents some unique mental health stressors, including financial difficulties, climate variability, and isolation. Currently, Extension offers mental health literacy programming addressing mental health and suicide in agricultural communities; however, some of the programming is underattended, and resources are underutilized. We sought to find out how communicating about mental health resources was perceived by agricultural stakeholders who work closely with farmers and ranchers, including agribusiness employees, leaders in the community, and pre-service agriculture teachers. Through this mixed-method study using focus groups and a survey, we wanted to find out the perceptions of mental health resources to help inform …

Contextualization Of Best Practice Guidelines For Managing Postoperative Pain In Children In Ghana, Sylvia Oger Ofosu Dwamena, Carin Maree, Seugnette Rossouw, Varshika Bhana

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Acute postoperative pain is a prevalent surgical symptom that affects a significant proportion of patients, ranging from 40% to 80% (Skervin & Levy, 2020). Management of postoperative pain is critical for all groups of people, especially children. Various stakeholders are involved in postoperative pain management among children to be effective. Among these stakeholders, much of the concentration is on nurses and caregivers. Best practice guidelines are recommended for effective postoperative pain management among children. There are numerous best practice guidelines for managing postoperative pain among children globally (Cettler et al., 2022; Smith et al., 2022; Trottier et al., …

The Interpretation And Historical Performance Practices Of Black Choral Music: The Spiritual And Gospel Music, A Comparative Study, Travis Terrence Kornegay

Dissertations

African American spirituals and gospel music are two foundational folk traditions that have profoundly shaped the American musical landscape and continue to influence cultural identity and sacred expression. Emerging from the resilience and faith of enslaved African Americans, spirituals often carried coded messages of liberation. Meanwhile, gospel music developed in the early twentieth-century urban Black church, blending elements of spirituals, blues, and jazz to communicate collective and personal religious experiences. Although linked by shared cultural lineage, the genres diverge in their historical development, linguistic expression, and performance practices, necessitating comparative scholarly inquiry. This dissertation investigates the similarities and key differences …

Teaching Literacy Foundations (2nd Edition), Debra D. Murphy

ATU Faculty OER Books and Materials

Goals and Objectives of the Textbook

This textbook aims to equip educators with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to create rich and inclusive literacy learning environments for all students. The specific objectives of the textbook are:

1. To present a historical and theoretical framework for understanding literacy development and instruction.

2. To explore the essential components of literacy instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, reading comprehension, and writing instruction.

3. To provide practical strategies and activities for teaching and assessing literacy skills.

4. To discuss differentiated instruction and inclusive practices that address the diverse needs of …

Prediction Equations For In Vitro Nutrient Utilization Of Bakery Byproducts For Pigs, Junghyun Oh, Hansol Kim, Yoon Soo Song, Noa Park, Youl-Chang Baek, Chung Hyun Kim, Beob Gyun Kim

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study aimed to develop equations for predicting the in vitro ileal disappearance (IVID) of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) and in vitro total tract disappearance (IVTTD) of DM and organic matter (OM) in bakery byproducts based on their chemical composition, including neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Ten sources of bakery byproducts were tested for IVID and IVTTD of nutrients using a 2-step procedure simulating the digestion and absorption in the stomach and small intestine and a 3-step procedure simulating the digestion and absorption in the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine of pigs. The prediction models for IVID …