Digital Commons Network^™

Food Waste Renaissance: From The Table, For The Table, Yasamin Shaikhi

Theses and Dissertations

What if waste could be seen as a valuable resource rather than a burden? Food Waste Renaissance (FWR) explores innovative ways to transform excess food and byproducts into sustainable design materials. In Qatar, where food waste constitutes approximately 60% of urban waste, FWR promotes a shift in perception rather than attempting to resolve large-scale waste management issues. By fostering a culture where surplus becomes a resource, it inspires individuals, designers, and communities to embrace and contribute to a circular economy. FWR examines rice and date byproducts as biodegradable raw materials for lamps, bringing material from the table back to the …

Existing In The Context: A Conjunctural Analysis Of Kamala Harris Memes, Amaya Mcneal

Theses and Dissertations

Political memes have become a common way for people to express their political views online, helping politics reach young adults who weren’t previously interested. Consequently, politicians have begun sharing and creating memes themselves. The memeification of American politics has diminished debate about ideas, ideals, issues, and people’s vital interests, debasing voters by treating them not as citizens but as passive “consumers” and “spectators” of mediated politics. This paper helps make sense of this crisis, focusing on the example of former Vice President Kamala Harris. Vice President Kamala Harris' memeified presidential campaign during the 2024 U.S. election targeted voters through a …

You Go, I Will Wait, Rasim Bayramov

Theses and Dissertations

On the other side of the coast, a hand is waiting. On the other side of the shore, someone is waiting for you to come. This space between you and them is an asymptote. The more you wait, the colder the pan is to the hand. But the salt of the sea will cover and warm your hand. There’s much to play with while you wait. The destination is only a promise, a figure disillusioned. Waiting spaces are enchantingly altering

in their premise. A bureaucratic fantasy with no avail and no ending. Systematically accumulated levels of power and control lies …

Orb Weaver, Quinn Standley

Theses and Dissertations

Orb Weaver is a 24-minute experimental video/lm. This essay does not explain its meaning, as viewers should feel the power to trust their own interpretations. Instead, it reflects on the process of making the lm interwoven with autobiographical thoughts.

The Bacteriostatic, Regenerative, And Immunomodulatory Properties Of Extracellular Matrix Particles For Lung Injury, Keera P. Rhoads

Theses and Dissertations

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a prevalent, life-threatening lung condition, affecting nearly 200,000 Americans annually, with a 40% international mortality rate. There is no cure for ARDS, and current pharmacological treatments have limited effectiveness. Symptoms can be mitigated with mechanical ventilation, though this often leads to ventilator-induced lung injuries (VILI) and puts critically ill patients at risk of infections, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). A promising therapeutic is the extracellular matrix (ECM), a complex network of structural proteins and bioactive molecules that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and prevent fibrosis. We aim to utilize the regenerative and immunomodulatory …

Hafnium Oxide-Based Nanoheterostructures For Catalytic Radiosensitization And Enhanced X-Ray Radiotherapy, Marlen Dariela Calix Quezada

Theses and Dissertations

Orthovoltage X-ray beams are attractive for surface and intra-operative radiotherapy. Yet, their clinical utility is constrained by rapid attenuation and the limited dose that can be delivered without harming healthy tissue. High-Z hafnium oxide (HfO₂) nanoparticles can boost local energy deposition through the photoelectric effect, while catalytic surface defects accelerate water radiolysis. Harnessing both mechanisms in a single nano-heterostructure could enable potent radiosensitization at diagnostic-range energies.

This thesis develops and evaluates HfO₂-based nanoheterostructures, both bare and Au-decorated, as catalytic radiosensitizers.

Two types of HfO₂ were evaluated, one was synthesized following a specific route and the …

Buried In Pixels, Aya Khalife

Theses and Dissertations

This book is an accumulation of design fragments, personal memory, research, and reflection. It explores how design participates in shaping what is seen and unseen—especially in contexts of war, media, and displacement. Through image, text, and installation, the work questions representation, visibility, and the aesthetics of documentation. The book does not follow a fixed narrative structure; instead, it invites nonlinear reading, mirroring the fractured nature of memory and the politics of archival form.

Reply Stop To Stop, Molly A. M. Garrett

Theses and Dissertations

Over the course of 8 years working in progressive political strategy, 2015–2023, I became increasingly critical of the systems, formulas and tools we were using to communicate with voters. Reply STOP to Stop is documentation of my time at graduate school, of wrestling with ideas of political design, language, communication and distribution. I analyzed my past work — all the texts, emails, social media posts, print ads, web banners, videos and other miscellaneous scripted content — and wondered if we would all be better off without it. Would elections be fairer, would there be less fake news, more community building? …

Mementos, Zixuan Guo

Theses and Dissertations

Relevance:

Personal Relevance: This project merges my passion for film photography and modern technology, aiming to create a design that bridges traditional and modern practices.

Local Relevance: Richmond’s rich historical context provides an ideal setting to illystrate that traditional arts like analog photography can be preserved while integrating modern digital technology.

Global Relevance: Globally, there is an increasing trend toward combining traditional and modern design approaches, particularly in architecture and interior design. Synthesizing analog and digital means is used to meet the balance between materiality and modern technology (Rose, 2014; Pelizzari & Scrivano, 2011). Designers balance tactile materials like wood …

Dickkopf1(Dkk1): A Novel Endogenous Ligand To Prime Nlrp3 Inflammasome Via Tlr4, Theingi Aung

Theses and Dissertations

Dickkopf1(DKK1) is a quintessential Wnt antagonist and immunomodulator in various inflammatory diseases. The underlying molecular mechanisms of DKK1-mediated immunomodulation remain elusive. Here, we identified TLR4 as a new receptor for DKK1 to activate NFκΒ pathway-mediated gene expression and pyroptosis via NLRP3 inflammasome in human and mouse macrophages.

DKK1 employed TLR4 to initiate NFκB signaling cascade via MyD88. MyD88-TAK1-NFκΒ pathway activation by DKK1 increased HIF1α, NFκB, and NLRP3 protein expression levels, leading to pyroptosis. Unlike LPS, DKK1 did not induce IRAK4 phosphorylation, while the interaction between MyD88 and IRAK4 was maintained for downstream signaling activation. DKK1 did not induce IRF3 phosphorylation …

Using A Dimension Reduction Approach To Parse Heterogeneity In Dietary Restriction, Amanda Makara

Theses and Dissertations

Dietary restriction, the problematic reduction of caloric or macronutrient intake, is a critical eating behavior occurring transdiagnostically across eating disorders and subclinical disordered eating. The definition of dietary restriction is highly heterogeneous, and restriction is often conflated with other distinct constructs, such as dietary restraint. The current practices related to the definition and measurement of dietary restriction have notable flaws, negatively impacting the ability to identify and establish risk, diagnosis, and treatment of eating disorders. There is also limited evidence that commonly-used dietary restriction measures can validly predict food choice and objective intake. These issues raise questions about whether dietary …

Beliefs Related To Diagnosing Bpd And Complex Ptsd, Bailey Pascuzzi

Theses and Dissertations

There has been speculation that Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (Complex PTSD) are the same disorder or represent separate disorders on a broader trauma spectrum (Frost et al., 2020; Lewis & Grenyer, 2009). BPD and Complex PTSD share several symptoms but differ in their presentation (Ford & Courtis, 2021). Because the two disorders present so similarly, it could be that clinicians have difficulty differentiating them, leading to misdiagnosis (Miller, 2014). This study examined clinicians’ diagnostic decision-making and stigma toward BPD and Complex PTSD. Participants (N = 426) completed an online survey where they diagnosed a written …

“Some Vague Utopia”: Searching For Urania, Moira L. Neve

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the global pendulum swing of gender trouble marked by the United States’ President’s declaration that there are only two sexes, activists have been rejecting assimilation (ie. defining equality as gay marriage or queer people in the military) within queer studies long before 2025. In the first half of the 20th century, a journal by the name of Urania (1916-1940), privately published and circulated to their home base in the United Kingdom and beyond, five editors (Esther Roper, Eva Gore-Booth, Jessey Wade, Dorothy Cornish, and Irene Clyde/Thomas Baty), challenged the gender binary and the resulting assumptions of heterosexual marriage. This …

News Mediated Reporting And Governmental Narratives About The Enforcement Of Elite Criminality: Exploring The Social Construction Of Financial Frauds And Discrepancies In Punishment, Dominic J. Zicari

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how financial crime enforcement decisions are socially constructed through a qualitative content analysis of news articles and government communications pertaining to two specific cases: the Enron scandal of 2001 and the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008. The study was guided by a theoretical framework that utilizes Barak’s (2017) theory of state-routinized crime control. The rigorous analysis of 394 news articles and government communication documents revealed that the media and the state rarely framed the subprime mortgage crisis as a criminal issue. Although the Enron scandal was frequently described as financial crime, journalists and government communicators were often …

Prosecuting Families, Anna Arons

Faculty Publications

Hundreds of thousands of parents are prosecuted in the family regulation system each year. Their cases are investigated by family regulation agencies and prosecuted by lawyers employed by the government—family regulation prosecutors. Like police and prosecutors in the criminal legal system, this family regulation prosecutorial team wields immense power, particularly over race–class subjugated communities. Yet even as scholarship on criminal prosecutors and on the family regulation system has proliferated, the role of family regulation prosecutors has gone underexamined and undertheorized.

This Article offers a critical examination of the role of these family regulation prosecutors. Drawing on a variety of primary …

The Impact Of Key Audit Matters On Earnings Quality: The Moderating Role Of Ownership Structure In Egyptian Listed Companies., Dina Hassouna, Rasha Elhaddad, Rasha Elbolok

Business Administration

This study investigates the influence of key audit matters (KAMs) on earnings quality, measured by earnings per share (EPS), in Egyptian listed companies, with a particular focus on the moderating role of ownership structure. To address potential endogeneity concerns, the study employs the generalized method of moments (GMM) for panel data analysis. The findings indicate that KAM disclosures have a significant negative impact on EPS, suggesting that increased disclosure of critical audit matters is associated with a decline in earnings quality. However, this relationship is moderated by ownership structure, as concentrated ownership helps mitigate the adverse effects of KAMs on …

The Impact Of Using Artificial Intelligence (Ai) On Employer Branding, Doaa Ayoub, Sherine Fathy El-Fekey, Malak Walid

Business Administration

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing Human Resource Management, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and strategic capabilities as companies want to stay competitive in the global market. In recent years, AI has transformed numerous facets of business operations, especially in the development of employers’ branding strategies. Additionally, one-third (36%) of HR professionals anticipate a high use of AI in the next two years, while 61% expect at least moderate use within a year. AI enhances employers’ branding - fostering a work culture that attracts and retains top talent in the global market. Furthermore, the contribution of AI in improving employers’ branding strategies has …

Towards Understanding Thermal Management In Unsteady Boundary Layer Flow With Ac/Dc Electric Fields, Sara Abdelsalam, M. A. Dagher, Y. A. Elmaboud, A. I. Abdellateef

Basic Science Engineering

Unsteady boundary layer flow induced by alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) electric field through a porous layer is investigated numerically. The finite difference method based on Crank-Nicolson is applied to solve the nonlinear system. The governing equations are built with fractional shear stress and the Cattaneo heat flux model, and time fractional derivatives are computed using the Caputo fractional derivative. The numerical results are presented to demonstrate the effects of varying parameters on momentum and thermal boundary layer. The results reveal that the time delay in the velocity profile occurs for larger values of both the velocity fractional …

Semi Analytical Solution Ofmhd And Heat Transfer Of Couple Stress Fluid Over A Stretching Sheet With Radiation In Porousmedium, Sara Abdelsalam, M. Khairy, W. Abbas, A.M. Megahed, M.S. Emam

Basic Science Engineering

This comprehensive research examines the dynamics of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow and heat transfer within a couple stress fluid. The investigation specifically focuses on the fluid’s behavior over a vertical stretching sheet embedded within a porous medium, providing valuable insights into the complex interactions between fluid mechanics, thermal transport, and magnetic fields. This study accounts for the significant impact of heat generation and thermal radiation, crucial factors for enhancing heat transfer efficiency in various industrial and technological contexts. The research employs mathematical techniques to simplify complex partial differential equations (PDEs) governing fluid flow and heat transfer. Specifically, suitable similarity transformations are …

Numerical Simulation Via Homotopy Perturbation Approach Of A Dissipative Squeezed Carreau Fluid Flow Due To A Sensor Surface, Sara Abdelsalam, W. Abbas, A.M. Megahed, H. M.H. Sadek, M.S. Emam

Basic Science Engineering

This study rigorously examines the interplay between viscous dissipation, magnetic effects, and thermal radiation on the flow behavior of a non-Newtonian Carreau squeezed fluid passing by a sensor surface within a micro cantilever channel, aiming to deepen our understanding of heat transport processes in complex fluid dynamics scenarios. The primary objective is to elucidate how physical operational parameters influence both the velocity of fluid flow and its temperature distribution, utilizing a comprehensive numerical approach. Employing a combination of mathematical modeling techniques, including similarity transformation, this investigation transforms complex partial differential equations into more manageable ordinary ones, subsequently solving them using …

Volume 28, Issue 1 Full Contents

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Role Of Pluralistic Ignorance In Biodiversity Conservation: A Research Agenda, Sandra J. Geiger, Hirotaka Imada, Carya Maharja, Nattavudh Powdthavee, Valeria Vitale, Lei Zhang, Claudio D. Rosa, Zenith N. C. Delabrida, Kristian S. Nielsen, Franz Essl, Mathew P. White

School of Psychology

Most people believe that biodiversity loss is human-caused, yet they may not realize how many others share this belief. Such collective misperceptions—known as pluralistic ignorance—may hinder individual and system changes required to address biodiversity loss. At the same time, reducing pluralistic ignorance may promote positive change. In this Perspective, we provide a brief overview of existing work on pluralistic ignorance about environmental topics and propose an agenda for impactful pluralistic ignorance research in the biodiversity domain. We highlight several research gaps and offer recommendations, including (a) investigating different forms of pluralistic ignorance, (b) improving our understanding of consequences and determinants, …

การศึกษาสมรรถนะพยาบาลผู้ประกอบการโรงเรียนบริบาล โดยใช้เทคนิคเดลฟาย, กัลย์ญาณ์มาส ศรีสุวรรณ, ยุพิน อังสุโรจน์

Journal of Nursing Research, Innovation, and Health

วัตถุประสงค์:เพื่อศึกษาสมรรถนะพยาบาลผู้ประกอบการโรงเรียนบริบาล
รูปแบบการวิจัย:การวิจัยครั้งนี้เป็นวิจัยเชิงบรรยายโดยใช้เทคนิคแบบเดลฟาย
วิธีดำเนินการวิจัย:กลุ่มผู้ให้ข้อมูลเป็นผู้เชี่ยวชาญจำนวน 19 คน แบ่งเป็น 3 กลุ่ม ได้แก่ ผู้ประกอบการโรงเรียนบริบาล 5 คน คณาจารย์ทางการศึกษา 5 คน และพยาบาลผู้ประกอบการโรงเรียนบริบาล 9 คน เครื่องมือที่ใช้ในการเก็บรวบรวมข้อมูลเป็นแบบสัมภาษณ์และแบบสอบถาม 3 รอบ วิเคราะห์ข้อมูลโดยใช้ค่ามัธยฐาน (Md) และค่าพิสัยระหว่างควอไทล์ (IR)
ผลการศึกษา:กลุ่มผู้เชี่ยวชาญมีความคิดเห็นสอดคล้องกันเกี่ยวกับสมรรถนะพยาบาลผู้ประกอบการโรงเรียนบริบาล ประกอบด้วย สมรรถนะพยาบาลผู้ประกอบการโรงเรียนบริบาล มีทั้งหมด 9 ด้าน รวม 55 รายการ ประกอบด้วย ด้านธุรกิจการจัดการศึกษา จำนวน 4 ข้อ ด้านกลยุทธ์เชิงธุรกิจการจัดการศึกษา จำนวน 7 ข้อ ด้านการบริหารองค์กรสถานศึกษา จำนวน 8 ข้อ ด้านการบริหารจัดการทรัพยากรสถานศึกษา จำนวน 7 ข้อ ด้านการจัดการส่วนผสมการตลาดทางการศึกษา จำนวน 5 ข้อ ด้านสัมพันธภาพระหว่างบุคคล จำนวน 5 ข้อ ด้านภาวะผู้นำและคุณลักษณะส่วนบุคคล จำนวน 8 ข้อ ด้านจริยธรรม กฎหมายธุรกิจ และกฎหมายที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการศึกษา จำนวน 6 ข้อ และด้านการบูรณาการวิชาชีพทางการพยาบาล จำนวน 5 ข้อ โดยสมรรถนะทุกด้านมีระดับความสำคัญตั้งแต่มากถึงมากที่สุด (Mdn = 4.60 , IQR = 0.26-1.10)
สรุป:ผลการวิจัยสามารถใช้เป็นแนวทางในการพัฒนาสมรรถนะการจัดทำหลักสูตรและการกำหนดมาตรฐานพยาบาลผู้ประกอบการโรงเรียนบริบาลอย่างมีคุณภาพและยั่งยืน

Fishing For Empathy: Fishbowls And Neurorhetorics For Mitigating Bias, Prejudice, And Hate In Human Relations, Shalina Jasmine Akins, Steven Ray Krivanek

Educational and Organizational Learning and Leadership Dissertations

This study explored bias, prejudice, and hate from anthropological, neurobiological, and social-cognitive psychological lenses to better understand dehumanization of the “other.” The concept of neurorhetorics was introduced as a framework for understanding and mitigating our natural propensity to disparage and ridicule that which is not us. Neurorhetorics was explored as a means to mitigate bias, build bridges, and promote empathy and understanding across any and all differences. The Fishbowl model of communication was used as an intervention framework and this study examined its efficacy as an alternative to traditional rhetorical methods of discourse such as interviews, debates, and focus groups …

Recognition Policies, Self-Determination, And Access To Legal Redress For Indigenous Peoples In The United States, Australia, And Canada: A Comparative Study, Christian Zavardino

Cardozo International & Comparative Law Review

The note examines recognition policies and self-determination frameworks for Indigenous Peoples in the United States, Australia, and Canada, arguing that the U.S. federalist system of tribal recognition offers a potential model for addressing Indigenous rights in other countries, particularly Australia. It emphasizes the importance of international law, such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), in guiding domestic policies and promoting Indigenous sovereignty.

Scaling 'Reverse Cfius': A Comparative Review Of Outbound Foreign Investment, Hannah Pérez

Cardozo International & Comparative Law Review

The note examines the evolution of U.S. regulations on outbound foreign investments, particularly under Executive Order 14105, known as "Reverse CFIUS," aimed at mitigating national security risks by restricting investments in critical industries in countries like China. It explores the legal, economic, and geopolitical implications of these regulations and compares them with similar measures in the EU, Japan, and Australia, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to effectively address these security concerns.

Harmonizing Copyright: Navigating Pop Music's Creative Landscape In The Era Of Arnstein And Krofft, Evan Joseph

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

This Note explores how the Arnstein and Krofft tests negatively impact pop music in an age where pop music is constantly evolving. It discusses the specific ways in which the tests can discourage creativity, innovation, and fair competition in the pop music industry. It also argues for reform of copyright law to address the shortcomings of the Arnstein and Krofft tests. Part I defines and provides a brief overview of the history of pop music and copyright infringement, while also discussing the importance and economic value of pop music in society. This Part also explains the gravity behind these claims, …

Al Assisted Inventing And Its Impact On The Patent System, Ben Gross

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The note examines the challenges posed by AI-assisted inventing to the patent system, particularly focusing on the "black box" nature of AI, which obscures the inventive process and complicates patent requirements such as inventorship and disclosure.

Antitrust And Console Gaming: Preventing Macrocompanies With Microtransactions, Cameron Brody

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The note examines antitrust concerns in the console gaming industry, focusing on corporate consolidation and the impact of microtransactions. It argues that traditional antitrust strategies, such as foreclosure arguments, have proven ineffective in addressing these issues. The analysis suggests that microtransactions, particularly their role in exploiting consumers and consolidating market power, should be a focal point for new antitrust enforcement strategies. Regulators are urged to consider the broader implications of microtransactions on market structure and consumer welfare to develop innovative approaches to antitrust law.

Time For A Clean Finish? Analyzing A New Path To Collective Bargaining At The Wwe, Paige Green

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

The note argues that professional wrestlers in the WWE face significant challenges in achieving fair compensation and better working conditions due to their classification as independent contractors, which denies them protections under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). It proposes that leveraging antitrust law could provide an alternative and effective strategy for wrestlers to collectively bargain and improve their circumstances, drawing parallels to successful efforts by UFC fighters.