Digital Commons Network^™

Privacy In Flux: A 35-Year Review Of Trends, Legal Evolution, And Emerging Challenges, Kong Phang, Jihene Kaabi

Research & Publications

Privacy harms have expanded alongside rapid technological change, challenging the adequacy of existing regulatory frameworks. This systematic review (1990–2025) systematically maps documented privacy harms to specific legal mechanisms and observed enforcement outcomes across jurisdictions, using PRISMA-guided methods and ROBIS risk-of-bias assessment. We synthesize evidence on major regimes (e.g., GDPR, COPPA, CCPA, HIPAA, GLBA) and conduct comparative legal analysis across the U.S., E.U., and underexplored regions in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Key findings indicate increased recognition of data subject rights, persistent gaps in cross-border data governance, and emerging risks from AI/ML/LLMs, IoT, and blockchain, including data breaches, algorithmic discrimination, and …

Daniels Distinction Portfolio By Maggie Schoeny, Maggie Schoeny

Finance: Undergraduate Distinction Portfolios

A Daniels Distinction Portfolio of experiential education by Maggie Schoeny

Stars And Shapes: An Investigation Of Stripped Envelope Supernovae Structures Using Spectropolarimetry Observations And Hydrodynamic Models, Sabrina Desoto

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Supernovae (SNe) are the energetic deaths of massive stars, dispersing heavy elements throughout the galaxies and shaping cosmic evolution across the universe. However, understanding the connections between the evolution of massive stars, their catastrophic demises, and the myriad of observed SNe, remains a fundamental challenge in astrophysics. My work aims to narrow this gap by integrating extensive observational data with advanced hydrodynamical simulations to better interpret SNe observations and understand the origin of their geometry. The observational component utilizes the largest spectropolarimetry dataset of stripped-envelope (SE) core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) gathered by the SNSPOL project. Analyzing nine Type Ib and eleven …

Islamic Political Anti-Theology: A Discursive Practice Of Contingency Beyond Sovereign Politics, Jason Andrus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Contributing to the field of political theology from outside the European Christian tradition, this dissertation develops a description of the distinct logics that Islamic theology generates from its metaphysical assumptions. These logics in turn make possible a discourse of political anti-theology where politics operates through contingency rather than sovereignty. Political theology scholarship has excavated how modern politics derives from secularized Christian theological concepts—particularly transcendent sovereignty. This study demonstrates that Islamic theology's absolute insistence on divine transcendence (tawhid) produces something fundamentally different: a politics that renders sovereign authority conceptually impossible. I identify this discursive practice of political anti-theology through …

Mechanisms Of Correlated Neuronal Activity In The Globus Pallidus, Hamza Albawaliz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the mechanisms of correlated neuronal activity in the globus pallidus externus (GPe), a key structure in the basal ganglia. Neuronal activity in the GPe is reportedly decorrelated in healthy subjects but can become highly correlated in Parkinson’s disease. However, high-density neuronal recordings in the GPe of healthy rats reveal a surprising degree of correlated activity. This raises the question of whether intrinsic properties or network connectivity alone can account for such patterns. To explore this, a computational model was developed in which GPe neurons are represented as coupled phase oscillators influenced by experimentally derived phase-response curves and …

Principal Quandles, Jesse Parrish

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis concerns principal quandles and, as a special case, Alexander quandles. A principal quandle is a coset quandle, Q(G,H, f), in which the subgroup H is trivial. If in addition the group G is abelian, then the coset quandle is called an Alexander quandle. The isomorphism types of Alexander quandles were classified [16], and some progress was made on describing the isomorphism types of principal quandles in [14] and [13]. The first part of this thesis applies the ideas used in Holmes’ paper to give a classification of the isomorphism types of principal quandles. The second …

Development Of A Non-Faradaic Impedimetric Biosensor Based On Reduced Graphene Oxide For The Detection Of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Bdnf), Mariana N. Martins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neurological disorders affect millions of people worldwide. In the case of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the rising number of cases significantly increases global healthcare costs. Therefore, early detection of biomarkers at the onset of the disease is essential for early diagnosis. This study presents an electrochemical biosensor designed for the detection of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in human plasma, incorporating reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to enhance signal sensitivity. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) was employed to deposit rGO flakes on the electrode surface, improving conductivity and sensor performance. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to monitor changes in impedance associated with BDNF binding events, …

Exploring The Impact Of Statistics Course Modality On Student Learning: A Mixed Methods Approach, Becky Kelleman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The importance of statistical literacy has become increasingly evident, as individuals grapple with interpreting statistics to inform critical decisions. Despite the recognized significance of statistical literacy, challenges persist in both educators’ and students’ efforts to navigate the complexities of statistics education. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of different course modalities on undergraduate students’ academic performance in introductory statistics courses. Using Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) as a theoretical framework, this research aims to shed light on the complex dynamics influencing statistical literacy attainment. By addressing gaps and inconsistencies in the current literature, this study seeks to …

Frameworks For Repatriation: Moving Beyond Nagpra, Ashley Joplin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Museums and similar federally funded educational institutions have been collecting human remains since the Enlightenment era in the 1800s. Since then, these institutions have developed various collections practices that have encouraged the collection of human remains. Often unethical in nature, these collections have harmed historically marginalized communities, such as Indigenous and African American communities. While the ethics of collecting have been under scrutiny for decades, it was not until 1990 under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) that mainstream attention was drawn to the ethics of collections practices.

This thesis explores these collections practices and the repatriation …

High Frequency Dc-Dc Converter Design Optimization, Modeling And Control Based-Wbg Technology., Salah Ahmed Abdullah Eltief

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The performance of DC-DC power converters is a cornerstone of modern electric vehicle (EV) powertrains, directly governing overall system efficiency, size, cost, and reliability. This dissertation presents a comprehensive performance analysis and optimization of DC-DC converter topologies to determine the most suitable design for high voltage EV applications. The evaluation rigorously compares efficiency, power losses, and physical size under a range of harsh operating conditions. A primary objective is to leverage Wide Bandgap (WBG) semiconductors, specifically Silicon Carbide (SiC), to push the performance boundaries of power conversion. While SiC devices are known for their superior material properties, a clear understanding …

Household Food Insecurity And Its Impact On Feeding Practices In Hispanic Families Of Young Children: A Scoping Review, Miriam Alvarez

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Household Food Insecurity and Its Impact on Feeding Practices in Hispanic Families of Young Children: A Scoping Review Abstract: Household food insecurity disproportionately affects Hispanic families in the United States and may influence parental feeding practices associated with early childhood obesity. While existing research suggests a relationship between food insecurity and non-responsive feeding practices, the specific impact within Hispanic households is limited. This scoping review explores this gap in the literature and synthesizes current evidence on how current food insecurity impacts the feeding practices among Hispanic parents of children aged 0-5 years old in the United States. Following the PRISMA-ScR …

The Digital Economy And Equitable Access To Jobs In The Mountain West, 2023, Isabelle Graham

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

This fact sheet presents data from a Brookings Institution report, “The future of the US digital economy depends on equitable access to jobs,” which compares the share of 2023 employment in highly digital jobs among women and minority groups for select U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). This fact sheet reports data for nine Mountain West MSAs: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV; Albuquerque, NM; Colorado Springs, CO; Denver-Aurora- Lakewood, CO; Tucson, AZ; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT; Provo-Orem, UT; and Ogden- Clearfield, UT.

Perception Of Emotion In Autism With Controlled Elicitation (Peace), Austin Gillespie, Rachel E. Dewald

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

It is possible that autistic people find it easier to socialize within their own peer group (Beaupré & Hess, 2006), by recognizing socio-emotional nonverbal cues, due to a shared neurodivergence. To assess this, it would be helpful for researchers to have a database of emotional stimuli, validated for use with autistic individuals. Unfortunately, this does not exist. This current study’s objective is to create such a database that evokes natural emotion, rated by autistic individuals to be used in future research. All participants completed the Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) which measures the participants’ ability to identify and describe their own emotions …

Immigrant Population Inthe Mountain West, 2023, Maisoon Faris, Yiselle Olivas Ruiz, Kian Parikh

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Our presentation, based on research conducted with Brookings Mountain West here at UNLV, will focus on the economic and workforce contribution of immigrants and international students. We will present data from our recently published fact sheet, “Immigrant Population in the Mountain West, 2023”, which derives data from the 2025 American Immigration Council (AIC) report “Map the Impact.” Our presentation will include state-level data on immigrant population, labor force participation, and economic contributions as of 2023. We will present three data tables that highlight data on each Mountain West State: Table 1 provides the number of Immigrant Residents, Immigrant Share of …

Controls On Speleothem Carbon Isotopes, Paloma Marcos

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

The Sistema Huautla cave system is the deepest known in the Western Hemisphere. It is located in the Sierra Mazateca Mountain Ranges near Jiménez de Huautla, Oaxaca. There are over 29 separately discovered entrances into this karst environment making it the 28th longest cave system in the world. It can be considered by some as one of the most complex vertical drainage systems on Earth. This extensive study site has been an area of interest among cavers and scientific researchers for nearly 6 decades. Speleothem samples from the study sites have been found to be over 433,000 years old. The …

Creating A Data Processing Pipeline With Mne-Python, Lesly Vazquez, Ananda Liz Peixoto Couto

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

The UNLV Psychophysiology of Emotion and Personality Lab (PEPLab) utilizes a MATLAB based pipeline to process electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. MATLAB is a proprietary software package, which limits the ability to analyze psychophysiological data and increases the financial burden of research. To increase the accessibility of data reduction skills, we have created and tested a new pipeline utilizing MNE-Python, an open source software package (Gramfort et al., 2013). In this pilot study, we utilized existing EEG recordings and examined the relationship between the Triarchic Model of Psychopathy and Error-Related Negativity (ERN) responses across incorrect and correct trials during a Letter Shock …

Examining The Relationship Between The Initial Level Of Learning And The Rate Of Forgetting, Lex De Asis, Justin Mykovich, Rhiannon N. Soriano Smith

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

It has been widely contested whether the rate of forgetting is connected to the initial degree of learning. While recent studies suggest that forgetting occurs at a consistent rate regardless of how well material was initially learned, other studies argue that this conclusion depends heavily on the analytical approach and the operational definition supplied. Additionally, emerging frameworks, such as the Representation Theory of Forgetting (Sadeh et al., 2014, 2016), propose that different brain regions support distinct types of memory representations, with each governed by separate forgetting mechanisms. This study seeks to examine how the degree of learning affects the rate …

The Fitness Cost Of Rifampicin-Resistant Rpob Mutations On Mfd-Mediated Processes In Stationary Phase Bacillus Subtilis, Amber Callaway, Jessica Grifaldo

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Rifampicin is a potent antibiotic that tightly binds to the ꞵ-subunit of RNA polymerase and blocks initiation of transcription. Bacillus subtilis cells that acquire rpoB mutations that confer resistance to rifampicin also exhibit decreases in transcription and fitness. Mutation frequency decline (Mfd) is a global transcription regulator that interacts with the ꞵ-subunit of RNA polymerase, and our RNA-seq showed that it had profound effects on the expression of motility genes. We hypothesize that the rifampicin-resistant rpoB: I681T mutation alters Mfd-mediated gene regulation of motility in Bacillus subtilis. Therefore, we will construct mfd- rpoB: I681T double mutants via natural competence and …

Dorsal/Ventral Orientation Of Dentate Granule Cells And Its Impact On Electrophysiology In Mice, Jacob Prince, Savannah Sampson, Alyssa Marron

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

The hippocampus has known roles in memory formation, learning, and spatial mapping. There are defined physiological differences between CA1 neurons based on their dorsal to ventral position within the 3D hippocampus (Malik et al., 2015). Given the varying functions of the dorsal and ventral hippocampus in cognitive processing and the role of the dentate gyrus as the entry point for information into the hippocampus, it will be interesting to determine if there are differences in the properties of granule cells across the dorsal and ventral axis. We explore the potential topographic specialization of dentate granule cells. This study examines the …

Enhancing Student Success Prediction With Multimodal Machine Learning Models, Senay Berhe

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

This project explores how multimodal, fairness-aware machine learning models can enhance early prediction of student success while promoting equity in higher education. Traditional prediction models often rely on static academic or demographic data, which can unintentionally reinforce bias and overlook the complex, behavioral aspects of learning. Our approach integrates engagement metrics from learning management systems, academic performance data, and motivational survey responses to capture a more holistic view of student learning. The predictive framework emphasizes behavioral and psychological features that are both actionable and ethically sound, supporting real-time intervention through the iTOOLS platform. By focusing on engagement consistency and motivational …

Women’S Lived Experiences With Harassment In Gaming, Angelo Cordero, Alejandra Santos, Claudia Q. Luu

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Background and objectives: Women in gaming communities face discrimination due to their gender; however, gaps exist in the literature in understanding how allyship helps mitigate harassment’s harmful effects. To address this, we conducted a qualitative study exploring women’s lived experiences of sexual harassment in gaming and how women perceive allyship in gaming communities. Methods and approach: We used an inductive thematic analysis to identify patterns in participants’ experiences. Our sample (N = 165) included adult women who identified as gamers, recruited from a university and various Discord gaming communities. Results: We uncovered six main themes regarding women’s harassment experiences in …

The Bison, November, 21, 2025

The Bison Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Using Fluency-Building Approach To Increase The Knowledge And Fluency Of Signing With Preschool Teachers: A Pilot Study, Angel Jia Yiuen Tan, Bryan Wen Xiao Tang, Gray Atherton, Liam Cross, Bethan Mair Williams

School of Psychology

Keyword signing, an augmentative communication strategy, is known to promote language acquisition in young children, yet staff in educational settings often receive insufficient training, leading to low retention and usage rates. This pilot study examined the feasibility and impact of a Precision Teaching-based intervention designed to improve preschool teachers’ proficiency and fluency in Makaton signing. Eleven teachers from a mainstream preschool in North Wales, with limited prior training, participated in a six-week intervention involving fluency training with 238 Makaton signs. Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured knowledge acquisition, and post-intervention tests evaluated fluency through retention, endurance, and application. Results demonstrated significant …

Assessing The International Students’ Engagement Associated With The Student Government Organizations: “Bridging” The Gap In Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary, Laura Alzmeter, Rejubi Peter Enim, Zoltán Rónay

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

The growing interest of students in participating in higher education has contributed to several declarations claiming the importance of engagement in university life and university governance. Following this pattern, with more international students on higher education mobility, previous researchers have primarily relied on studying those patterns correlated together. At Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), the International Strategy Office has conducted quantitative research examining the significant problems that the international students identify at the host institution, focusing on the ways of improvements, and finding out how could international students bridge the gap in a representative body that includes them in the decision-making. …

The Minutes Of The Marshall University Graduate Council Meeting, November 21, 2025, Marshall University Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

From Potholes To Perceived Social Support: Community Influences On Individuals With Mobility Disabilities And Their Care Teams In New Orleans, Kelsey Witmeier, Gabrielle Gonzalez, Michael Norman, Mary Delahoussaye, Phil Wilson, Tung-Sung Tseng

Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association

Background: Little is known about the role of community in influencing the experiences, needs, and well-being among individuals with mobility impairments and disabilities (IMIDs), caregivers, and service providers in New Orleans. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 individuals who identified as IMIDs, caregivers, and service providers, who were recruited using convenience sampling. Transcripts were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes. Results: Three themes were found: 1) community barriers and facilitators, 2) the community’s role in perceived belongingness, and 3) the unique influences of the community on caregivers. Conclusion: Community influences the experiences of IMIDs …

School Shooting Drills Across Grade Levels: What We Know And Don't Know About Student And Teacher Experiences, Katherine Cutié

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

School shooting drills have become a standard component of school safety procedures in U.S. K–12 education, yet their psychological effects remain under-researched. This literature review synthesizes findings from 39 studies published between 1999 and 2025 to describe patterns in how students and teachers experience these drills across grade levels and drill types. Across the literature, anxiety and fear were the most frequently examined student outcomes, while teachers commonly reported stress, concerns about developmental appropriateness, and increased emotional labor during drills. Lockdown procedures were most frequently examined in the reviewed studies, with less research addressing ALICE, Run–Hide–Fight, and simulation drills. Few …

The Beacon, November 21, 2025, Beacon Staff

The Beacon, 2025-2026

Thanksgiving traditions around campus; NC/DC spotlight: A-Line advances to Dordt; Danny Brown album hopeful amidst addiction battle; “Sarah’s Oil” a story of strength and courage; NW students attend Mumford & Sons concert; “Stranger Things” season five is promising to fans; Gift shopping: poor deals and low funds; Dining room history: the cafeteria; Willful ignorance and complacency; England: from monarchy to liberty; Volleyball comes out on top of GPAC tournament; Raider football season comes to an end; Men’s basketball narrowly loses winning streak; AI therapy chatbots lack humanity; An aging congress and the shutdown

Exploring The Stability Of Misophonia And Other Auditory Affective Experiences Throughout Development, Erika Foregard, Rose De Kock, David Vollweiler

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Sounds can give rise to powerful affective experiences, both positive and negative. Misophonia is an intensely negative response to sounds such as chewing, whereas autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) and musical chills result are experiences as positive and pleasant. Anecdotally, all of these experiences occur as early as childhood, but we know relatively little about how they develop. We investigated this question longitudinally.

Extremely Low-Income Renter Households In The Mountain West, 2023, Anthony Arroyo, Yiselle Olivas Ruiz

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Our presentation, based on research conducted with Brookings Mountain West here at UNLV, will focus on the number of extremely low-income renter households, affordable and available rental homes, and associated cost burdens that renters face in the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. We will present data from our recently-published fact sheet, “Extremely Low-Income Renter Households in the Mountain West, 2023,” which derives data from the 2025 National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) report, “The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Rental Homes.” which reported annual rental housing shortages in the United States. We will …