Digital Commons Network^™

Mal-Information, The Anatomy Of An “Information Disorder”, Susan Maret

Secrecy and Society

Mal-information is a fairly recent addition to federal policy and the lexicon of political communication with implications for understanding censorship and secrecy during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper reviews documents authored by IGOs, NGOs, and the US government that mark the evolution of mal-information as true information intended to cause harm. The term, as it is currently employed, is now associated with misinformation and disinformation to create a complex of “information disorders” known as the acronym MDM. In this paper, the creep of the term mal-information and its use by federal agencies such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency …

Program Review Report 3-18-25, Angela Brock

Program Review Committee

No abstract provided.

Ucc Minutes 3-18-25, Angela Brock

UCC Agendas/Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Metaphysics Of Frank Herbert's Dune And God Emperor Of Dune: On Time And Language, Garrett J. Busshart

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation studies the metaphysics of time and rhetoric in the science fiction novels Dune (1963) and God Emperor of Dune (1981) by Frank Herbert. The first chapter critiques the protagonist’s sense of temporality, an ideology in which the future consists of multiple possible choices while each decision of one forecloses a still larger set. Jean-Pierre Dupuy calls this a “supermarket” model of temporality, as if the future were a contingent-free menu of possibilities a subject is free to pick between. My assertion is that this sense of temporality—the Western norm—matches the protagonist’s, Paul Atreides’s, rhetoric. In disclosing Paul’s sense …

“Burned At The Stake”: Unpacking Disinformation In The Story Of A Coach Allegedly “Terminated” For Expressing Anti-Transgender Women Athlete Beliefs, Ellen J. Staurowsky

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

On August 29, 2023, a video testimony entitled ‘Burned at the Stake’: One NCAA Coach’s Battle to Protect Women’s Sport was released. The film was part of a “female athlete storytelling series” developed and funded by the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) designed to support the IWF’s stated agenda to “fight to save women’s sports and counter the radical agenda that seeks to erase women” by allowing transgender girls and women on teams that match their identities. The central figure in the video is Kim Russell, then head women’s lacrosse coach at NCAA Division III Oberlin College, who claimed her right …

Independent- Mar. 17, 2025, Leslie Lozada

The Independent (1988-present)

No abstract provided.

Three-Way Decision Clustering Algorithm Fusion Of Mutant Fireflies Algorithm, Zhaobin Li, Jun Ye, Haoyan Zhou, Yixin Wang, Yuzhen Han

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address problems such as the premature phenomenon in the three-way clustering algorithm caused by the random selection of initial cluster centers and the need for repeated experiments to determine the value of q in the q-nearest neighbor concept, a three-way clustering algorithm optimized by a variant of the firefly algorithm is proposed. The firefly algorithm is employed to solve the problem of sensitivity to initial cluster centers. The target function value is taken as the brightness intensity of firefly to search the clustering center point, and the optimal solution is taken as the clustering center of the algorithm …

Churches Becoming Models Of Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion, Iris Jasmin Phd

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

The historical and ongoing trauma from the marginalization of various identities within churches has resulted in a rift that can be seen within and outside of the congregational walls. Some churches are attempting to bridge this divide with diversity, equity, and inclusion values to cultivate meaningful connections that address past marginalization and establish practices that embrace an intersectional theology. Transitioning church communities into diverse, equitable and inclusive spaces where all feel a sense of belonging can be challenging. Most of the prior research has focused on diversification from a racial and/or ethnic standpoint. This multi-case study examined integrative efforts by …

Language In Context: Exploring The Learning Experiences Of Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students In Stem After-School Program, Gulnara Kussainova

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This study examines how language shapes interactions and learning outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse middle school girls and their facilitators in an after-school STEM program. Grounded in the multiple identities approach, it explores how participants navigate hierarchies, build relationships, and engage through their multiple identities. Using Systemic Functional Linguistics, it analyzes linguistic strategies to reveal how language empowers or marginalizes. Focusing on interpersonal meanings of tenor, it examines expressions of authority and autonomy. The findings emphasize how participants’ multiple identities—such as gender, race, language, and cultural background—shape their STEM learning experiences. By exploring the intersection of linguistic and social …

Reliability And Validity Of Thai Version Genital Appearance Satisfaction (Gas) Questionnaire, Suvit Bunyavejchevin, Thanawat Sangnucktham, Purim Ruanphoo

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: GAS questionnaire is constructed to measure feelings towards women’ own genitals in a broader spectrum. Thai language GAS questionnaire will be useful for clinical and research purpose.

Objectives: The aim of this study was study the reliability and validate the Thai version GAS questionnaire.

Materials and methods: Ninety Thai women attending the gynecologic outpatient clinic at King Chulalongkorn Memorial hospital were recruited between July 2017 to June 2018 in this study. Ten participants dropped out because they did not answer the second questionnaire. The original English-version of GAS questionnaire was translated into Thai version and backward translated …

Eng 5022-600 Grammar Linguistics And The Teaching Of Writing, Timothy Taylor

Fall 2024

No abstract provided.

Aiding Counseling Services To Increase Cultural Knowledge About Black And Lgbtq+ Populations, Brianna L. Walden

Public Health Capstone Projects

OBJECTIVES: The capstone project I would like to undertake is the creation of a quality improvement plan for the counseling and social work department of The Children’s Home to help them expand to reach vulnerable populations. A quality improvement plan, along with graphics reflecting the current data about mental health, will be delivered to The Children’s Home which they will be able to use in future projects and grant applications.

METHODS: The methods and research will be based on the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Community Counseling Needs Assessment conducted by The Children’s Home in August 2024 to …

Eng 5022-001 Grammar Linguistics And The Teaching Of Writing, Timothy Taylor

Fall 2024

No abstract provided.

A Preventionist Framework For Reducing Drowning: A Case For Parenting Interventions, Miriam G. Clark, Linda Quan, Patricia Chamberlain

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning is preventable but still claims the lives of over 300,000 people worldwide every year. The purpose of this theoretical review paper is threefold: 1) discuss the theoretical framework for a multi-faceted system of prevention; 2) discuss the importance of parenting, a crucial area where current drowning prevention research is falling short in this multi-faceted approach; and 3) discuss how evidence-based practices from psychosocial parenting research could be used to create drowning prevention interventions that support parents to implement water safety practices in their families. Practical ideas for integrating psychosocial parent interventions with drowning prevention knowledge are discussed. Such interventions …

Neurosymbolic Knowledge-Grounded Planning And Reasoning In Ai Systems, Amit Sheth, Vedant Khandelwal, Kaushik Roy, Vishal Pallagani, Megha Chakraborty

Faculty Publications

To build AI systems capable of decision-support assistance, such as AI-assisted healthcare, it is essential to develop user-centric decision-making processes that are robust, interpretable, and capable of effectively processing and acting on natural language interactions. Instruction-based prompting of large language models has demonstrated considerable success in supporting humans with information assistance tasks, including creative writing and content generation. However, recent studies reveal that language models exhibit limitations in performing complex reasoning and planning tasks, such as constructing compositional or hierarchical plans involving multiple reasoning steps. To address these challenges, we propose a neurosymbolic framework that integrates large language models with …

The Extent Of Achieving Life Satisfaction For Families Of Children With Multiple Disabilities In Tubas Governorate In Light Of Some Variables, Atef Sabri Awad

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

This study aimed to identify (The extent to which life satisfaction is achieved for families of children with multiple disabilities in Tubas Governorate in light of some variables), and after enumerating the study population, the researcher selected the study sample by a simple random method, and it consisted of (50) families who have children with multiple disabilities in Tubas Governorate. The researcher also prepared the study tool (the questionnaire), and then verified it by reviewing it linguistically, and presenting it to a group of reviewers specialized in this field at Al-Quds Open University, in order to ensure its validity, …

The Concept Of Journey: A Semiological Study Of Joan London’S Novel Gilgamesh, Jinan Abdullah Shafiq

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Joan London (born in 1948) is an Australian author of novels, plays and short stories. She is the author of two collections of stories, Sister A-Ships (1986) and Letter to Constantine (1994). In 2001, she published her novel which is inspired by the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh which is a saga novel covering three generations of a family. Mrs. London, however, does not hold her to that epic, she offers it a new reading, she pours a new wine in an old bottle.

The backbone in Mrs. London’s novel is the journey that Edith, the heroine takes in search for …

Rooting Of Structures By Muhammad Al-Aboudi In (Dictionary Of Eloquent Origins Of Colloquial Terms): Analysis And Evaluation., Riyadh Mohammad Odeh Hamad, Ahmed Ashour Jaaz

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, and May blessings and peace be upon the Imam of the pious, his good and pure family, and his chosen companions, and after: Authors of Arabic colloquial language have always sought to search for the eloquent origin from which colloquial words derived their structure and meaning. Al-Abode’s approach in rooting colloquial words in Najd does not deviate from this approach. In this research, I will look at words in which Muhammad Nasser Al-Abode did not succeed in knowing their eloquent origin, or what is possible with more than one origin to which …

The Phenomenon Of Deletion In Linguistic Structures And Its Impact On Semantic Diversity: The Diwan Of Suraqa Al-Barqi As A Model, Samar Hassan Yassin

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Suraqa Al-Barqi is considered one of the poets whose poetry was rich in Linguistic and pictorial styles, and one of the poets who left their mark in ancient poetry. Therefore, the research chose to apply the study to his poetry to determine the positions of his ellipsis and their necessity in textual study and formation of meaning. The research aims to shed light on Sarraqa Al-Barqi’s poetry and his creative methods Based on the importance of the deletion method in the grammatical and semantic lesson, and on the role of the deletion method in the context of connotation and expression …

The Effect Of The Guided Reciprocal Questioning Strategy On The Expressive Performance Of Second-Grade Intermediate Female Students., Enas Faseeh Ali Daoud

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

This paper aimed to identify the effect of the directed exchange questions strategy on the expressive performance of second-year middle school female students. The researcher followed the experimental research approach and adopted the experimental design with the experimental group, the control group, and sequential expressive tests. The experimental group consisted of (26) female students and the control group (26) female middle and high school students. Adhamiya District, Rusafa First. She rewarded the two research groups with variables (chronological age, previous year’s grades, and intelligence test scores). She prepared the research requirements, including defining the study material and preparing behavioral goals …

Analyzing The Novel » Small Death« Through Claude Bremond's Theory, Ahmad Abed Mirza, Yahya Yahya Ma'ruf, Touraj Ziniwand, Ali Salimi

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

The study of the novel "Mawt Sagheer" (2016) by Mohammed Hasan Alwan, according to the literary theory of French critic Claude Bremond, focuses on analyzing the novel through the framework of his reception theory. The novel portrays the historical life of Ibn Arabi, from birth to death, blending reality with elements of fantasy. Set in Andalusia, the narrative immerses the reader in a journey through time, experiencing that historical period with its palaces, gardens, and landscapes. The author weaves two stories simultaneously, which intertwine at the beginning of the novel, alternate over more than 530 pages, and later merge again …

Representational And Interactional Meanings Of Unhcr Reports On Displaced Iraqis, Sahar Abdulrazzaq Fattah, Ahmed Sultan Hussein

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

The use of appropriate and accurate language is of utmost importance when describing people on the move and their dilemma, particularly refugees and displaced persons who have unique legal protection, so there are a lot of scholars who have investigated the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) reports, but no one has examined representational and interactional meanings of UNHCR reports on displaced Iraqis. Accordingly, this research aims to explore the role of UNHCR reports in enhancing the value of the humanitarian, which is attributed to the uniqueness of its use of language. This study investigates the manner in which …

The Echo Of The Egyptian Countryside In The Stories Of Yusuf Idris, Elaf Muhammad Abbas, Yahya Ma'ruf, Ali Akbar Mohseni

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Yusuf Idris, born in 1927, was greatly influenced by the countryside. In his first story from "Arkhass Layali", he tells of a poor farmer struggling to survive while still fathering children. In "Al-Murjihat", he describes a farmer, who tries to make money, but falls ill, is imprisoned, and dies. In "Al-Omniya", Idris blends humor to depict rural life, telling the story of a farmer who sees a telephone for the first time. In "Tabeliya Min Al-Sama", a farmer burdened by life refuses to ask for help from the villagers. In "Fi Al-Layl", the author comments on societal flaws through a …

Al-Marfu‘At In Al-Qanuji: Grammatical And Semantic Dimensions, Alyaa Yahya Oreetha Almaliky

Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences

Grammar is one of the pillars of the Arabic language, which specialises in the study of the rules that govern the structure of a sentence and its parts. This science is of great importance in maintaining the integrity of the Arabic language and the correct use of it, as it is a solid foundation for understanding and accurately interpreting various texts. Grammar is one of the most important sciences of the Arabic language, as it regulates speech styles and patterns, and enables the speaker to produce sound speech free of errors In the Arabic language, a raised noun is one …

Being The Beloved: Cultivating A Head To Heart Journey Of Identity For Emerging Adults In Ministry And Leadership, Jennifer Clark

Doctor of Ministry

NPO Statement

Emerging adults in ministry without a deepening awareness of being God’s beloved may struggle to flourish and lead in their given contexts.

Key Benefits

Being the Beloved: Cultivating a Head to Heart Journey of Identity for Emerging Adults in Leadership and Ministry is a curriculum created to ground emerging adults in the love of God as they transition into adulthood and emerge as the next generation of Church leaders. Developmental psychology labels emerging adulthood as a time of significant change, instability and transition, while having to navigate key life decisions regarding education, career, and relationships. Identity formation is …

Mirrors For Pacific Islander Children: Teaching Resilience Through Culturally Adapted Bibliotherapy, Isabel Medina Hull, Elizabeth Cutrer, Paul H. Ricks, G. E. Kawika Allen, Kendra M. Hall-Kenyon, Lorena Seu, Kristopher J. Urbina, Melia Fonoimoana Garrett

Faculty Publications

Pacific Islander youth face disproportionately high rates of suicide and mental health challenges, yet culturally appropriate interventions remain scarce. This study investigated whether culturally adapted bibliotherapy could effectively promote resilience in American Samoan children by incorporating culturally relevant stories and coping strategies. Through collaboration with on-island Samoan cultural brokers, we developed and implemented culturally adapted stories and lessons designed to resonate with the experiences of children in American Samoa. The study employed a mixed-methods approach with 34 American Samoan children aged 5–13 years, using observations, adapted card sorts, and forced-choice procedures to measure responses to the intervention. The results demonstrated …

Vietnam Syndrome And The Genetic Consequences Of Agent Orange Poisoning: A Materialist Approach, Moriah M. Haley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this thesis was to propose and apply a materialist approach to “Vietnam Syndrome” found at the intersection of masculinity, disability, and state power as it manifests in modern military strategy. Through an analysis of the physical veteran body rendered infertile from Agent Orange poisoning during the Vietnam War, the material conditions of infertility are found to have threatened the hegemonic masculinity on which the military relied for its justification and continuation amongst young American men. The turn to technological warfare was intended to remedy the insufficiency of the military body, but the solution was costly and ineffective …

The Sustainability Stones: Culturally Embedded Conservation Strategies And Their Vulnerability In Maupiti, French Polynesia, Russell Fielding, Fiona Gimenez

Honors College Faculty Publications

This paper explores culturally embedded conservation strategies through the lens of the traditional agroforestry and fisheries cycles in Maupiti, French Polynesia. By pairing certain breadfruit cultivars with specific fish species, the island’s community created a culinary system that regulates the seasonal consumption of marine resources, making the sustainable use of those resources more likely. While modern pressures such as reduced breadfruit diversity, competition with imported foods, and climate change have weakened these traditional practices, they remain an example of local ecological knowledge guiding conservation. The study highlights the threat of losing sustainable resource-use practices and biodiversity as both biodiversity and …

Examining Intersectional Queer Biases In Large Language Models: A Combined Statistical And Visual-Qualitative Approach For Quantification And Explanation, Huu Duong (Chip) Nguyen

Computer Science Senior Theses

Despite significant advancements in research on (intersectional) social biases in Large Language Models (LLMs), intersectional biases affecting subgroups within the LGBTQ+ community remain critically understudied. Existing bias detection methodologies often prioritize quantification but lack depth in explaining the specific stereotypes/biases that shape evaluation metrics. To address these gaps, this study proposes a combined statistical and visual-qualitative approach to quantify and identify persistent intersectional queer biases in five recent, state-of-the-art LLMs through a downstream story generation task. Findings from analysis uncover substantial evidence of stereotypes that perpetuate harmful, reductive narratives against intersectionally marginalized groups within the LGBTQ+ community. To promote public …

Seeing The Storm: Leveraging Multimodal Llms For Disaster Social Media Video Filtering, Holden Clark

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Emergency management relies on the rapid triage of information to respond appropriately to disaster events. Social media platforms can provide emergency managers with ground-level insights, and videos, in particular, offer an immersive medium for understanding public responses and on-the-ground conditions. However, the overwhelming volume of irrelevant or redundant videos complicates their use for emergency response. This paper investigates the use of multimodal large language models (MLLMs)–specifically the Gemini 1.5 flash model–to automate the identification of relevant videos shared on X (formerly Twitter) during hurricanes. We develop and evaluate a framework to test the accuracy of different prompting styles and question …