Digital Commons Network^™

Mythic Criticism Of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, Grace Cushing

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

Clandestine Captains Of Culture: How Making Music For Your Community Can Influence Global Culture Explored Through The History And Legacy Of Dj Screw, Aristides Estevao

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

Nine Dragons, Bailey Fraser

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

A Feminist Critique Of Promising Young Woman, Farrell Hoffman

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

The Pussyhat And Performative Activism: What Happens When Protest Becomes Fashionable?, Layla Hanissian

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

Stakeholder Perspectives On The Status And Conservation Management Of Critically Endangered Nassau Grouper In The Bahamas, Krista D. Sherman, Lester Gittens

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Ensuring the sustainability of marine resources that provide food, economic security and other critical ecosystem services is a major challenge globally. Assessing stakeholders’ knowledge and perceptions of the status of fisheries and how they should be managed can yield important insights to facilitate the development of management frameworks that are likely to assist with achieving sustainability. As a socioeconomically and culturally important and critically endangered species, evaluating stakeholder perspectives on the status of the Nassau Grouper fishery is critical to help inform policy. Knowledge and perceptions of stakeholders working in The Bahamas were assessed using voluntary participatory approaches, including a …

Navigating The Digital Frontier: New Perspectives On Cybercrime And Governance, Christopher S. Kayser, Thomas Dearden, Katalin Parti, Sinyong Choi

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

No abstract provided.

Modus Operandi And Blockchain Analysis Of Romance Scams: Cryptocurrency-Driven Victimization, Amy Lim, Kyung-Shick Choi

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

No abstract provided.

The Legal Response To The Intrusion Into Digital Identity In Social Media, Maria González-García Vinuela

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Pattern Of Cybercrime Abuse Of Individual Internet Users In Umuahia North Lga, Abia State Of South-Eastern Nigeria, Ogochukwu Favour Nzeakor, Rita Ngozi Okafor, Chibuike Ndubuisi Nwoke

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

Although a number of studies exist on cybercrime and its abuses, little is known about the pattern of cybercrime abuses individual Internet users experience in Nigeria, especially the south eastern region. Using data collected via various methods, this study examines the pattern of cybercrime abuses of individual Internet users in Umuahia, Abia State, of South Eastern Nigeria. The result of the analysis of 1,067 samples drawn from 223,134 Internet users in Umuahia North LGA of Abia Sate showed that: while most users are victims of stolen ICT-gadgets (19%), fraud related offences (17%), and hacking (15%); they rarely fall victims of …

The Impact Of Caffeine On Neurotransmitter Production By Lactobacillus Spp., Angela Caruso

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

Caffeine, a prevalent stimulant, has inconclusive effects on the gut-brain axis. Key probiotics such as Lactobacillus play a chief role in gut health and neurotransmitter production. These bacteria are able to effectively influence brain function and overall health. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of caffeine on Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus reuteri to determine antagonistic or synergistic effects on the bacteria’s gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production and synthesis of serotonin-related metabolites.

The methodology for this work begins with treating bacterial cultures with varying concentrations of caffeine and then incubating at 37ºC for 48 hours. Supernatants …

Gaba And Dopamine Dual Therapy: A Potential Treatment For A549 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Ahmed Abdalla, Jemimah Olajide

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

Lung cancer is the deadliest and second most prevalent cancer in the United States, with approximately 230,000 new cases and 125,000 deaths reported yearly, according to the American Cancer Society. Annually, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Recent research has shown that GABA and dopamine independently induce apoptosis in lung cancer cells. Parameters such as LD50 and IC50 are essential to determine optimal concentration for human toxicity and CI analysis can be utilized to understand the synergistic interactions between two agents. In this research project, the relative effectiveness of GABA and dopamine …

Assisting Orlando Health With Patient Experience & Logistics, Usman S. Ahmed

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

This showcase is a narrative of my experience as a volunteer for the Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, operated by Orlando Health. Orlando Health is a non-profit organization that operates a network of general and specialty hospitals across Orlando. Their stated mission is “To improve the health and quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve”. One of their largest clusters of healthcare facilities by far is located in the Doctor Phillips area of Orlando, which includes the hospital where I volunteered. As a volunteer, my job was to improve the background operations of the fifth floor. More specifically, …

Sharing Your Science: Special 2025 Edition, Wilson Gonzalez-Espada

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

The Sharing your Science stories were completed as part of a 2025 Science Communication Summer Internship (COMM 647), a collaboration between the Kentucky Academy of Science and the Departments of Engineering Sciences and Communication, Media, Art & Design, Morehead State University, KY. This work was made available as an Open Educational Resource thanks to the Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning, the Camden-Carroll Library, and the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs, Morehead State University.

Shadows From The Double-Wide: A Reflection On Home, Brittani K. Brown

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

My studio practice acts as a personal anthropological investigation into my upbringing in the rural South. I utilize photographic, textile, print, and virtual mediums that have a unique historical and/or modern connection with the South. Almost a decade after deciding to leave my Southern Baptist religion behind and even longer after covering up my Southern accent, I find myself in a place of tension-ridden nostalgia for the place I grew up.

The community of artists in the Southeast region of the United States continues to grow and create a more cohesive picture of the South and Southern identity through their …

Evolving Perceptions Of Self And Others: The Effects Of Communing With Nature While Thru Hiking The Florida National Scenic Trail, Stella P. Arbeláez Tascón

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This body of artwork comprises a thesis that documents and exposes the artist’s inner workings as she regained balance after experiencing deep emotional trauma. This individual’s healing transformation was prompted by her immersion in nature while walking the Florida National Scenic Trail in its entirety, 1,130 miles (or 1,818 km), from the Everglades to the panhandle, in three and a half months. The artistic research conducted, and autobiographical body of work created from it, aims to help others reconnect with their own strengths and to seek wellness in the restorative properties of Nature, while advocating for an empathetic approach to …

Catalytic Interfaces Of Earth-Abundant Metals Copper And Nickel Chalcogenides For Hydrogen Evolution Catalyst, Manuel Alejandro Ramirez Ubillus

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation establishes design principles for earth-abundant catalysts used in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), showing that electroactivity is primarily controlled by structural features such as surface facet exposure, dopant content, and dynamic phase transformations. These factors influence conductivity, active site density, and stability, as demonstrated through three model systems: Cu₂O, NiSe₂, and Cu₂S. Cu₂O particles with controlled shapes were synthesized to explore the relationship between facet exposure and catalytic activity. Octahedra dominated by the facet 111 performed better than cubes rich in the facet 100. Combining Cu₂O with reduced graphene oxide further improved conductivity, dispersion, and stability, leading to …

A Greener Way To Synthesize Biodiesel: Mechanochemistry With No Added Catalyst, Amanda S. Tanner

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Biodiesel production is currently energy-demanding and produces large volumes of waste despite being marketed as a greener approach to fuel. Here, we report the development and analysis of a more environmentally friendly way of producing biodiesel via mechanochemistry. In as little as one hour, biodiesel can be produced by ball milling intact oilseeds with methanol and no added catalyst. The catalyst for transesterification of oilseeds and methanol via mechanical milling comes from within the seed shells, rather than needing to be added from a separate source. The metals found in the milling media interact with lignin in the seed shells, …

Unraveling The Impacts Of Online Secondhand Resellers On Brick-And-Mortar Thrift Stores, Neely Connor

Honors Theses - Providence Campus

The purpose of this study is to provide insight into the current online controversy debating the effects of online secondhand resellers on brick-and-mortar thrift stores. While this debate has been featured in consumer media sources (e.g., Heydari, 2022), there is a lack of scholarly research on this topic. This study seeks to fill that gap by examining the effects of online secondhand resellers on brick-and-mortar thrift stores, particularly concerning price increases, product availability, and quality of items. Online qualitative surveys and interviews were conducted to develop an understanding of the perceptions on this topic held by both online resellers and …

Sub-Cycle Nonlinear Optics In Solids, Dipendra Khatri

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The rapid advancement of digital electronics and telecommunication systems necessitates processing information at increasingly higher speeds. However, modern semiconductor technology faces fundamental physical limitations in transistor miniaturization and clock frequency due to quantum mechanical constraints. To overcome these barriers, ultrafast optoelectronics, leveraging light-matter interactions, offers a promising alternative. Light, as the fastest carrier of information, enables signal processing at frequencies far beyond conventional semiconductor technology. Advancements in laser technology have enabled stable and reliable ultrashort light pulse sources, lasting only a few femtoseconds at optical wavelengths. When utilized for signal processing, they could enable clock frequencies over 1000 times higher …

Ab Initio Studies Of Electrochemical Processes: Insights Into Co2 Reduction And Hydrogen Evolution Reactions, Theodoros Panagiotakopoulos

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has spurred intense interest in sustainable technologies that enable both carbon dioxide (CO2) utilization and hydrogen production. This thesis explores these challenges through a combination of electrochemical simulations, surface science, and experimental validation. Central to the study is the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), which offers a promising route for converting CO2 into fuels and chemicals using renewable electricity. We begin by addressing the limitations of traditional modeling approaches for electrochemical systems. A hybrid explicit-implicit solvation model (SOLHYBRID) and an electrode potential control algorithm (TPOT) were developed to simulate the electrochemical interface …

Optomechanical Interactions And Dynamics In Nanoparticle Systems, Sohila Abdelhafiz

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation investigates the coupling between optical forces and the dynamics of nanoparticle systems. Using theoretical models, simulations and experiments, we explore how light mediates interactions between nanoparticles leading to optical binding, nonreciprocal forces, and collective behavior in colloidal suspensions.

We first examine the dynamics and interactions of particles under illumination due to complex electromagnetic forces. Of particular interest are interparticle forces between particles with specific optical properties such as those satisfying the Kerker scattering conditions. We demonstrate the wavelength-dependent dynamics of such Kerker dimers and establish conditions required for their stable longitudinal binding. We also describe a one-way non-reciprocal …

The Impact Of Virtual Backgrounds In Video-Mediated Selection And The Role Of Candidate Qualifications, Mira Gruber

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Videoconferencing allows users to manage their self-presentation through virtual backgrounds that mask their immediate physical environment. Prior research suggests that backgrounds depicting professional home spaces (e.g., bookshelves) elicit more favorable impressions than those that depict personal home spaces (e.g., bedrooms). Expectancy Violations Theory (EVT) provides a framework for understanding such effects. The present dissertation applied EVT to video-mediated selection interviews, that have become increasingly popular since the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the strict expectations for professionalism in interviews, virtual backgrounds that deviate from such expectations may negatively impact hiring decisions. Consequently, this work examined the impact of two virtual background types, …

Sexual And Gender Minority Identity Acceptance And The Role Of Florida Legislation Perception On Medical Disclosure And Risky Health Behaviors, Aubrianna L. Stuckey

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Recently, across the United States, efforts have been made to remove protective legislation and resources surrounding the sexual gender minority (SGM) community (Woodford et al., 2018). Given how quickly Florida’s HB 1557 legislation was passed and the corresponding, ongoing attempts to expand the bills, there is limited research exploring the role of legislative change on SGM communities. Newer literature indicates that discriminatory laws or bills have impacted the mental health of the SGM community, especially among SGM adolescent and young adults ; however, research exploring the role legislation has on SGM individual’s physical health, requires further investigation(American Psychological Association, 2023; …

Impacts Of Susceptibility To Peer Influence And Fomo On Viewing Alcohol-Related Content On Social Media, Alcohol Expectancies, And Alcohol Use, Callie L. Wang

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

PURPOSE: Young adult (YA) alcohol use remains a significant public health problem, and may be influenced by alcohol expectancies developed through exposure to peers’ alcohol related content (ARC) on social media. This study examined the associations among ARC exposure, alcohol expectancies and alcohol use among YAs, and how susceptibility to peer influence and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) may influence these relations. METHOD: YAs in the United States who endorsed consuming 1-2 standard drinks per month (N=371) completed surveys measuring ARC exposure, alcohol expectancies, susceptibility to peer influence, FoMO, and alcohol use at baseline and at 4- and 8-week follow …

The Role Of Social Media On Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Self-Esteem Imposter Phenomenon, And Identity Distress, Julie Hall

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis explored the relationships between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), self-esteem, masking, Imposter Phenomenon (IP), and identity distress, along with the role in which social media integration plays in these relationships. Participants (N = 500) were recruited through SONA, a research recruitment database, and completed an anonymous online survey for course credit. Those who met the DSM-5 -TR criteria for ADHD had higher levels of IP, integration of social media, and Identity Distress, but lower levels of self-esteem compared to students who did not meet criteria for ADHD. This study is the first to explore the link between ADHD and …

Men’S Aggressive Responses To Sexual Rejection: The Roles Of Rejection Sensitivity, Alcohol Use, And Perceived Injustice, Cameron A. Davis

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

PURPOSE: Sexual rejection can be often associated with an aggressive response. Prior research has identified rejection sensitivity as a risk factor for aggressive behavior, however, it has not been investigated in the context of sexual rejection. Highly rejection sensitive men may attend to negative cues, feel “betrayed,” and respond aggressively, especially after consuming alcohol.Thus, the goal of this study was to investigate the perpetration of aggressive responses to sexual rejection by examining the roles of rejection sensitivity, perceived injustice, and alcohol use in a sample of young adult men. METHOD: Men (n = 447) who endorsed one lifetime …

Digital Biomarkers Of Usability, Steven Ford

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Usability, the extent to which a product can be used with satisfaction and efficiency, is critical for its success, yet traditional assessment methods are often subjective or resource-intensive. This dissertation adapts the concept of digital biomarkers—objective, quantifiable data typically used to inform health outcomes—to summative usability assessment. By examining passively collected mouse and eye movement data, this research pinpoints reliable digital biomarkers that forecast subjective usability ratings, effectively assessing the 'health' of digital systems. Three studies were conducted to demonstrate that metrics based on eye and mouse-cursor movements can accurately predict standard usability survey scores across a wide array of …

Examination Of Driving Experience, Hazard Perception & Distracted Driving: Going Beyond Individual Factors By Using A Social-Ecological Framework, Alejandro A. Arca

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This research included two studies that examined the roles of nomophobia, driving experience, distraction presence, and hazard presence on driving behavior. In Study 1, a hazard perception task was used to assess participants’ hazard perception accuracy rate and reaction time. Results showed that novice drivers displayed significantly higher levels of nomophobia and lower self-efficacy scores, divided attention, and working memory scores compared to their experienced counterparts. Furthermore, the results also showed that novice drivers reported faster reaction times to hazards, which may be associated with poor impulse control as previously reported in the literature. Study 2 was conducted to further …

The Role Of Substance Use And Objectification On Bisexual Women’S Sexual Violence Experiences, Rachel Cooper

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Bisexual women experience the highest rates of sexual violence victimization, across all tactics, compared to all other gender and sexual orientation groups. Bisexual women’s higher rates of substance use puts them at greater risk for substance-facilitated sexual violence, however this does not account for higher rates of sexual violence that happen through other tactics. Objectification theory states that people learn to view women as sexual objects, whose value derives from their bodies’ sexual utility and this view increases the likelihood of sexual violence. Bisexual women experience an additional form of objectification in the form of bisexual stigma which is characterized …