Digital Commons Network^™

Cyberattacks On Port Infrastructures: A Decade Of Trends, Incidents, And Mitigation Strategies (2011-2024), Minodora Badea, Olga Bucovetchi, Adrian V. Gheorghe, Gabriel Raicu

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Port infrastructures are critical to global trade, handling over 80% of the world's cargo by volume. However, their increasing reliance on digital technologies has exposed them to a wide range of cyber threats. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of cyberattacks targeting port infrastructures from 2011 to the present. We examine the types of attacks, geographical distribution, notable incidents, and underlying vulnerabilities. Additionally, we discuss mitigation strategies and future directions for enhancing cybersecurity in the maritime sector. Our findings highlight the urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks, advanced technological solutions, and collaborative efforts to safeguard critical port operations.

The Militarization Of Space: The Cold War And The Space Race, Malin Wahl

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

The weaponization of space during the Cold War would have posed a significant threat to global security if left unchecked. The Cold War showcased the ideological rivalry between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and their development of a nuclear arsenal. Space was an unexplored domain that actors thought could be weaponized and even become a strategic advantage if a war between these superpowers broke out. The decision to not militarize space, not place orbital weapons in space, and not utilize weapons of mass destruction came from a standoff in which both parties could …

An Analysis Of The Russo-Ukrainian War, Daniel Braslavsky

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is a deep analysis of Russia’s aggression against and full-scale invasion of Ukraine, commonly referred to as the Russo-Ukrainian War. This is the largest conflict in Europe since WWII with devastating implications for Europe and the world. First it examines the root causes and political ideologies at play to understand why Vladimir Putin decided to launch his invasion in the first place. Then it puts together a chronological history of the war broken up into the post-Euromaidan period including the Russian annexation of Crimea and war in the Donbas (2014-22), and Russia’s full-scale invasion (2022-present). Next it reviews …

Developing An Ethics Curriculum For Humanitarian Research And Practice: A Special Project Mph Thesis, Nour Nedal Al Zouabi

Public Health Theses

Despite increasing ethical challenges in humanitarian crises, most Master of Public Health (MPH) programs offer limited, focused ethics training. Humanitarian emergencies, including armed conflict, mass displacement, pandemics, and climate-related disasters, challenge traditional ethical frameworks, exposing gaps in law, codes of conduct, and philosophical models. This thesis proposes a 13-week graduate course that integrates public health, international humanitarian law, field-based humanitarian practice, research methodology, and moral philosophy to equipe future public health leaders with ethical decision-making processes and skills to navigate complex dilemmas. Through critical engagement with scholarly literature, case studies (Ebola vaccine trials, refugee-camp research), simulations, and guest-speaker dialogues, students …

Social Media, Populism, And Militant Democracy: An Argument For A Change In First Amendment Doctrine, Arvid Kerschnitzki

Chapman Law Review

The First Amendment is often hailed as the cornerstone of American self-government, but the digital age has transformed the public discourse it was meant to protect. Social media platforms, once envisioned as a modern marketplace of ideas, now amplify misinformation, entrench echo chambers, and enable mass manipulation, threatening the democratic ideal of an informed citizenry.

While the current First Amendment doctrine rightly emphasizes the importance of public discourse, that discourse must be inclusive, rational, and reliable to serve its democratic function. Drawing on the concept of militant democracy, this Article argues that contemporary doctrine has lost sight of free speech’s …

Secured Communication And Coexistence For Efficient Spectrum Utilization, Xue Wei

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Over the years, the demand for wireless communications has grown exponentially, resulting in a scarcity of available spectrum. This scarcity leads to the need for efficient spectrum utilization, a key factor in ensuring reliable and uninterrupted communications. One of the key challenges in achieving reliable communication is ensuring secure transmissions to protect the privacy and integrity of data for active users. Wireless communications are vulnerable to eavesdropping, interception, and unauthorized access, which can compromise the confidentiality and integrity of transmitted data. The coexistence of multiple wireless communication systems is another challenge to be addressed for passiver users. In many cases, …

Listening, Looking, And Learning: An Exploration Of Musical Influence On The Narratives And Characters Of Call The Midwife, Mary Claire Buchanan

Theses and Dissertations

Call the Midwife has distinguished itself among British period dramas through its commitment to telling women’s stories with emotional depth, historical and medical accuracy, and nuanced character development. Unlike many period dramas based in the United Kingdom that center on the aristocracy, Call the Midwife connects the audience with ordinary people, particularly women, navigating life post-World War II and the early days of government healthcare by portraying their struggles, triumphs, and evolving identities. One of the most compelling ways the series achieves this is through its use of music, particularly recurring motifs that signify personal growth and transformation. This thesis …

Understanding The Ideological Transformation Of Farc In Colombia, Savannah Grier

CMC Senior Theses

In 2016, the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) agreed to a peace deal that led to their disarmament. The former guerrilla group, FARC, integrated into Colombian politics by forming a new party called Comunes. FARC, thus, has taken a similar route to other former rebel groups in Latin America by pursuing its agenda as a political party after demobilizing. This thesis examines the ideological transformation and political evolution of FARC, analyzing its transition from a Marxist-Leninist insurgent group to a political party within Colombia’s democratic system. By exploring FARC’s historical role in the Colombian conflict …

Russia’S Involvement In Mali: Strategic Opportunism, Madeline Dornfeld

CMC Senior Theses

This paper examines the motivations behind Russia’s involvement in Mali, focusing on the interests of both the Russian and Malian states. This analysis is complicated by the presence of Wagner Group, a semi-state security force whose ties to the Russian government have been officially denied until recently. The paper situates Russia’s engagement within a broader geopolitical context, highlighting pivotal events such as the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It argues that Russia’s engagement in Mali is part of a strategic effort to counter international isolation, expand geopolitical influence, and promote a multipolar world …

Invisible No More: Looking And Listening Locally To Build Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Resilience, Anjali Thakore

CMC Senior Theses

The ubiquity of sexual violence, with its devastating physical and psychological consequences, has rendered conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) one of the most effective and enduring “invisible crimes” of war. Despite receiving growing attention across academic, political, and activist circles, wartime sexual violence remains pervasive in contemporary conflict zones. Against the backdrop of these frequent and recurring violations, this thesis explores the dissonance between high-level rhetorical commitments to preventing and punishing CRSV and on-the-ground realities. What soon emerges is a troubling pattern in which gendered violence—and women’s lived experiences more generally—while increasingly visible in theory, remains marginalised in practice. By investigating …

Land Back To Right Of Return: Proposing Paths Forward In Palestine, Melanie Kallah

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis presents a parallel case study of the settler colonial histories of Canada and Palestine. The Land Back Movement was first analyzed to determine what conditions enabled the success of Indigenous land restitution in Canada. Subsequently, a cross-analysis with Palestine was conducted to ascertain whether the same enabling conditions could facilitate Palestinian land restitution, known as the Right of Return.

The Impact Of Technology And Social Media On The Expansion Of Mexican Cartels' Power, Salvador Leon

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis examines how Mexican cartels, particularly the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel, use technology and social media to expand their operations and influence. As these cartels evolve into more sophisticated criminal organizations, they leverage tools like encrypted messaging, drones, and social media to enhance recruitment, surveillance, intimidation, and propaganda. Through an analysis of news articles, government reports, social media content, and academic studies, the research focuses on two key areas: digital media manipulation and military-grade technology. The findings show that social media has become a powerful tool for cartels to assert dominance and instill fear, …

Robert Frost And The Myth Of Adam And Eve, Theo Johnson

CMC Senior Theses

What exactly it is about the story of Adam and Eve that fascinated Robert Frost is hard to say. Of course, he is not the first to engage with it in writing – for much of recorded human history, the Genesis account of man’s creation has held a place of unparalleled importance in our understanding of what it is to be human, provoking innumerable exegetic responses. In popular literature, too, it has served as inspiration for some of the most celebrated English and American poems. From the “bloodless myth” of Geoffrey Hill’s “Genesis” to the great theodicy of John Milton’s …

Alliance In Flux: Oil And The Us-Saudi Strategic Bargain Reconsidered, Austin Andersen

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis examines the historical development and future trajectory of the longstanding relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It traces its roots back to the early twentieth century, during which the Kingdom was established officially and the United States was on the hunt for a substance that quickly became one of the world’s most precious commodities–oil. Since then, oil has both acted as a binding force and a point of contention between the two nations. However, through ups and downs in the partnership, oil has remained at the heart of the arrangement. This study follows …

Isegoria In Crisis: Hong Kong's Innovation System And Articulating The Right To Be Heard Using Deliberative Democratic Theory, Bhanu Cheepurupalli

CMC Senior Theses

I argue that Hong Kong maintains democratic deliberation through its innovation policy apparatus despite lacking traditional democratic processes. Using deliberative democratic theory and the concept of isegoria (speech of equals before equals), I demonstrate how Hong Kong's innovation governance sustains meaningful consensus outside conventional democratic frameworks.

My analysis shows that while Hong Kong lacks free elections, democratic deliberation persists through alternative channels within science and technology governance. Innovation policy functions as a vehicle for justice-advancing deliberation despite institutional constraints, as deliberative bodies operate within limited time, authority, and resources.

I trace how Hong Kong's innovation policy apparatus developed through the …

The Inextricable Link Between Gendered Security And State Stability: Strategic Costs Of U.S. Humanitarian Retrenchment, Kirby Eh Kimball

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis examines the strategic consequences of the 2025 U.S. foreign aid freeze on gendered security in conflict-affected states, focusing on Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine. It argues that gendered security—the protection, empowerment, and rights of women and girls—is not a peripheral humanitarian concern but a foundational determinant of state stability, development, and democratic resilience. Through a qualitative comparative case study methodology, the research synthesizes empirical literature, United Nations reports, human rights documentation, and cross-national statistical analyses to demonstrate how the collapse of gender-focused humanitarian programs following the aid freeze will critically exacerbate conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), weaken state institutions, and …

Embracing The Unmanageable: The Critique Of The Everyday And The Postwar Condition In Wallace Stevens’ And Robert Duncan’S Works Circa 1950, Kazuma Morita

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

My thesis is designed as an investigation of the ethical and political implications of the everyday in postwar American poetry. While recent scholarship of everyday life studies has clarified the centrality of the everyday or the ordinary to modernism and postwar literature, it does not elaborate enough on the impact of the political condition on literary expressions of everyday life in post-1945 period. Given U.S. military’s infiltration into everyday life of people living inside and outside the country after World War II, it is an important task to spotlight the way American postwar poets tackled U.S. war culture through their …

Characterization, Imaging, And Modeling Of Thermal Dynamics And Failure Mechanisms Of Quantum Cascade Lasers, Alejandro M. Villalobos Meza

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

As advancements in Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) technology continue to push the upper limits of continuous-wave performance, effective thermal management remains at the forefront of design considerations. The compact and highly tunable active region that has made QCL technology so attractive also imposes challenges to heat dissipation during continuous wave operation. To address this ongoing challenge, this work demonstrates a set of characterization and modeling techniques which can be used to interrogate different aspects of the thermal and structural properties of QCLs. Emphasis is placed on a suite of electron microscopy techniques and their role in providing a window into …

Correcting Course: How Congress Can Streamline U.S. Engagement With The International Criminal Court, Sophia N. Ramcharitar

Cardozo Law Review de•novo

Since its participation in the 1998 Rome Conference, the United States has vocalized opposition to key components of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) jurisdiction. This opposition has informed longstanding positions taken by the executive branch and motivated anti-ICC legislation passed by Congress. Support for the ICC’s investigation in Ukraine challenged these narratives across the legislative and executive branches, but the ICC’s arrest warrants of Israeli officials in 2024 renewed Congress’s heightened skepticism of the court and sowed political divisions on efforts to sanction the ICC. Congress’s oscillation on the ICC within the past several years prompts a larger question of …

The Third Revolution: How The Haitian Revolution Redefined The Age Of Revolution, Cedric Rule-Becker

History - Master of Arts in Teaching

I. Synthesis Essay.................................2

II. Primary Source Documents............15

III. Textbook Critique...........................25

IV. New Textbook Entry.......................28

Multilevel Network Governance For United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: The Role Of European Subnational Entities In Urban Resilience, Hasan Isgandar

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation investigates the role of subnational actors in European Union (EU) multilevel governance networks focused on reducing urban poverty and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Focusing on the SDG #1 (No Poverty), SDG #11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG #17 (Partnerships for the Goals) it examines the participation and impact of subnational actors in two case studies: Naples, Italy and Krakow, Poland. Using Social Network Analysis (SNA), the research investigates the configuration and performance of the networks created within the framework of the URBinclusion projects, which are part of the URBACT and Urban Innovative Actions …

The Long Walk And Beyond: Navajo Resilience And The Journey From Displacment To Resurgence, William A. Alvarado

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis, The Long Walk and Beyond: Navajo Resilience and the Journey from Displacement to Resurgence: A Study Exploring the Unique Late Nineteenth-Century Navajo Odyssey During United States Expansion, examines the profound impact of U.S. territorial expansion on the Navajo people during the mid-to-late nineteenth century. Central to this narrative is the tragic experience of the Navajo Long Walk (1864), which led to the forced relocation of thousands of Navajos to Bosque Redondo. The thesis explores the complexities of this relocation, emphasizing the cultural, social, and economic devastation it caused. Despite these challenges, the Navajo people demonstrated remarkable resilience, using …

Voices From Within: Understanding Native American Student Journeys In Predominantly White Institutions: A Phenomenological & Autoethnographic Study, Collette Bowman

Dissertations and Theses

This study explored the lived experiences of Native American undergraduate students at a small Midwestern university, with particular attention to how identity development, systemic challenges, and culturally grounded support systems shape their academic and personal paths. Using a phenomenological approach paired with an autoethnographic lens, this research amplifies Native student voices while drawing on the reflections of the Indigenous researcher who shares similar lived experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and field notes. Three major themes emerged from the analysis: Identity Development, which captured how students negotiated cultural identity, intergenerational impact, and a sense of belonging; Barriers and Challenges, …

Quantifying The Effectiveness Of Dynamic Response In Web Application Honeypots, Luke Constantino

Honors

This research quantifies the effect dynamic response has on the effectiveness of web application honeypot systems. While much academic effort has been directed toward honeypot development, few scholars have measured the effect of various honeypot tools and compared them against each other. This research measured the effectiveness of honeypot dynamism through a standardized experiment between a Tanner/Snare honeypot system, a Glastopf honeypot system, and a static honeypot system. Using the T-Pot framework, this study analyzed the duration of attacker engagement and their actions across various honeypots. Results show that the Tanner/Snare honeypot engages attackers in a fundamentally different way than …

China Vs Democracy: The Strategic Use Of Cyber Influence Campaigns, Alexander Deak

Honors

The People's Republic of China (PRC) has increasingly expanded its cyber influence campaigns against democratic states. Scholars largely agree that these campaigns align with the PRC’s broader goal of regional and global hegemony and that the PRC employs a range of cyber strategies to target democratic rivals. However, little research has examined what drives the PRC to adjust its online influence operations. This paper addresses that gap. Specifically, I compare the PRC’s cyber influence campaigns between two democracies to identify the demographic factors shaping its strategic choices. Using a comparative case-study approach, I analyze the PRC's influence efforts in Canada …

Acting Quickly: Determining Urgency In Phishing Messages, Patrick Rau

Honors

In the modern cyberscape, phishing serves as a useful means for attackers to gain access to their victims. Creating the best phishing message is a sophisticated art form, with one common tactic involving asking the victim to follow through on an action with great haste. Through the utilization of sentiment analysis, or weighing how much of a certain emotion is conveyed in text form, classifying this sense of urgency becomes relatively trivial. The research done in this project attempts to create a working machine learning model that can categorize the urgency value of a body of text. The data gathered …

Nuclear Disarmament And The Erosion Of Deterrence Effectiveness Case Study: Ukraine, Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

The invasion of Ukraine demonstrates an interesting security paradox between nuclear disarmament norms, territorial integrity and deterrence in a self-help unpredictable international environment. Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons under the Budapest Memorandum in order to receive security guarantees resulting in brutal betrayal by nuclear armed Russia. The research investigates how Russia maintains an effective nuclear deterrence capability against other nuclear powers in the region through threats despite challenges on the battlefield. Through the combination of military resistance, strategic partnerships and robust combat methods, Ukraine has established an unmatched ability to deter a nuclear-armed enemy - Russia. This research ponders …

Cannabinoid-2 Receptor Activation Attenuates Sulfur Mustard Analog 2-Chloroethyl-Ethyl-Sulfide-Induced Acute Lung Injury In Mice, Gregory Nicholson, Nicholas Richards, Janette Lockett, My Boi Ly, Raj V. Nair, Woong-Ki Kim, K. Yaragudri Vinod, Nagaraja Nagre

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Exposure to sulfur mustard (SM; 2,2′-dichlorodiethyl sulfide) causes toxicity in the human body, particularly the lungs. The molecular mechanisms of SM-induced lung damage are elusive, and no effective treatments exist. This study explores the anti-inflammatory potential of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) activation in mitigating acute lung injury (ALI) and inflammation induced by 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a structural analog of SM. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were exposed to CEES via intratracheal administration to model ALI. CB2R activation was achieved through the intraperitoneal administration of HU308, a selective synthetic agonist. ALI and inflammation were evaluated at 48 h post-exposure to CEES. …

Zaasijiwan: An Indigenized Health Communication Framework For American Indian And Alaska Native Communities, Jennifer Wolf

Theses and Dissertations

The Zaasijiwan Framework represents an Indigenized health communication model developed to enhance the cultural relevance, trust, and effectiveness of public health messaging for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. This qualitative study integrated Indigenous and Western public health knowledge to inform the development of the framework. A comprehensive literature review and two rounds of key informant interviews with health communication professionals informed the design of the framework. Findings emphasized the importance of community co-creation and strengths-based narratives, along with other framework elements, in overcoming medical mistrust and improving health outcomes. The final framework offers public health professionals, Tribal, and …

Poison! An Africana Legal Studies Investigation Into Enslaved Africans And Their Deadly Roots, Angi Porter

Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality

No abstract provided.