Digital Commons Network^™

Table Of Contents

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

Reimagining International Investment Law For The Age Of Minerals, Taylor Nchako

Washington and Lee Law Review

New technologies––from artificial intelligence (AI) and electric vehicles to medical devices and consumer electronics––demand an ever-increasing amount of minerals like lithium, cobalt, and copper. The United States requires these aptly named “critical” minerals to develop AI infrastructure, advance the clean energy transition, and remain economically competitive. As technology continues to advance at an astonishing pace, the U.S. has grown increasingly interested in securing critical minerals from sources in Africa. To obtain critical minerals, the U.S. must utilize investment treaties in its business dealings with African countries. At the same time, international investment law has garnered increased attention due to a …

Fur, Feathers, And Frameworks: The Federal Legal Landscape Of Animal Welfare In The United States And Switzerland, Michael Melch

Washington and Lee Law Review

The United States relies on a predominantly utilitarian, welfarist framework that regulates certain uses of animals while preserving their status as property. Switzerland embeds the concept of animal dignity in its constitutional and statutory law, formally recognizing animals as beings with intrinsic worth. This foundational divergence produces significant doctrinal and practical differences, including the breadth of species covered, the structure of legal obligations, and the normative goals of regulation.

This Note provides a comparative analysis of animal welfare laws in the United States and Switzerland, exploring their philosophical, legal, and practical dimensions. It examines the U.S.’s utilitarian approach, exemplified by …

Enhancing Virtual Reality Cockpit Procedure Training With Haptic Feedback, Christian K. Jaedicke

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Pilot training is time-consuming and costly, and not all phases require full-flight simulators or actual aircraft. Virtual reality (VR) offers a potential means to reduce cost and duration while supporting practical cockpit procedure training. While prior research in the VR domain suggests that providing haptic feedback can support training of muscular control and increase perceived immersion, it remains unclear whether haptic feedback improves spatial cognition in an unfamiliar VR environment. This study examined whether haptic feedback and cockpit complexity affected response time and position error under limited-visibility, time-constrained conditions in a VR cockpit environment (i.e., a quasi-blindfold cockpit check).

Grounded …

Analyzing The Benefits Of Artificial Intelligence To Racially Inclusive Democracy, Spencer Overton

Utah Law Review

Over the past two decades—as the United States has grown more ethnically diverse—the U.S. Supreme Court has dismantled key voting rights protections, and state legislatures have erected a record number of voting restrictions. Largely oblivious to this growing gap in legal protections, several artificial intelligence (“AI”) optimists have claimed that AI can help usher in a more inclusive, participatory, and unbiased democracy. Such an outcome, however, is far from guaranteed. This Article is the first to comprehensively examine the extent to which AI—and the legal frameworks that regulate it—can advance racially inclusive democracy. It responds to the AI optimism literature …

Animal Science Research And Extension Report 2026 (Complete Report), Department Of Animal Science

Animal Science Research Report 2026

This is the 2026 Animal Science and Extension Report. This highlights the research being generated within the department over the previous year.

Fungal Diversity In Lespedeza Cuneata Roots, Gwendolyn Happ, Sophia Mcdade, Anthony Yannarell

MICRO-CCS student projects

Background

• Plants form a relationship with fungi that can be beneficial or harmful
• Fungi may grow on the plant surface, within plant tissues, or around roots
• Plants release compounds that invite fungi to their roots and chemicals  that can diminish unwanted fungi

Why Lespedeza cuneata? 

• Invasive that competes with native plants and damages biodiversity within plant and animal communities
• Alters soil microbiome
• Expansive seed bank and deep root system
• Understanding its microbiome can help in understanding invasive species success and ecology

Cross-Ancestry Polygenic Risk Scores Enhance Alzheimer's Disease Risk Prediction In Multiethnic Cohorts, Meri Okorie, Caroline Jonson, Alexis Oddi, Patricia Castruita, Brian Fulton-Howard, Kristine Yaffe, Jennifer Yokoyama, Chinedu Momoh, Shea Andrews

Brain and Mind Institute

INTRODUCTION Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 80+ genetic loci associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), enabling the development of polygenic risk scores (PRS). However, the predictive accuracy of PRS in diverse populations remains low. Here, we evaluated the predictive accuracy of single-, multi-, and cross-ancestry AD-PRS models across multi-ancestral populations.

METHODS We used AD GWAS summary statistics from European, African, Admixed American, and East Asian populations to construct AD-PRS for each target population. Model performance was assessed by estimating odds ratios, R2, and area under the curve.

RESULTS The cross-ancestry Bayesian PRS model demonstrated the highest predictive performance in non-European …

Scott H. Moore, How To Burn A Goat: Farming With The Philosophers, B. Keith Putt

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

David Edmonds, Parfit: A Philosopher And His Mission To Save Morality, T. J. Mawson

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

How Can Bison Conservation And Reintroduction Onto Native Prairie Habitat Increase Land Health And Restore Indigenous Cultural Importance?, Malaney Peterson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

For millenia, bison roamed the native prairie by the millions, stretching from the rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River, and from Canada down to Texas. This once thriving ecosystem quickly went from thriving to near extinction within a few decades after the arrival of Europeans in North America. The downfall of the bison was a strategic plan devised not only to eliminate bison, but also indigenous peoples and the prairie on which they lived. According to research, both bison and the native prairie are considered to be ecologically extinct, meaning they will never be able to …

Hmong Cultural Literacy Curriculum To Preserve The Hmong Language And Culture, Pa Kou Vang

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The Hmong language is considered a dying language as Hmong youth feel the pressure to assimilate into American culture and language while adapting to economic and survival needs in the United States. The curriculum designed for this project uses the concept of culturally sustaining pedagogy, which provides a theoretical framework for designing an instructional unit focused on Hmong language, history, and cultural identity. The purpose of this capstone was to develop an instructional unit that supports Hmong language and cultural preservation among Hmong students at the secondary grade level. To inform the curriculum’s development, a comparative study was conducted in …

Supplementing Middle School Students’ Science Education With A Unit Design That Incorporates Outdoor, Nature-Based Programming, Tasha Sopp

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project seeks to address the research question: how to develop a standards-aligned, nature-based field trip program that promotes authentic scientific inquiry for middle school students and supplements their learning? This project consists of a five-week ecology unit designed for 7th grade students that incorporates a nature-based field trip component as an anchoring phenomenon. Key influences of the curriculum from the literature review include the integration of inquiry-based instruction alongside the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), three-dimensions of science learning, and influences of nature-based, place-based programming throughout the unit and within the field trip component. Research suggests that hands-on, explorative, …

Moving Minds: Regulation Through Rhythm A Cross-Cultural Exploration Of Movement, Music, Wellbeing, Learner Voice, And Inclusion In Elementary Education In Wales And The United States, Steven Nasshan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project explored how movement, music, wellbeing, learner voice, and inclusive educational practices observed in Wales can inform classroom instruction in the United States. Originally conceived as a project to develop movement-based interventions for students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the study evolved into a cross-cultural qualitative exploration following participation in a study abroad experience in Wales. The guiding research question asked: How are movement-, music-, and wellbeing-based practices used in elementary classrooms in Wales compared with the United States, and how can these findings inform the development of practical resources that support student …

Read. Click. Grow: Comparing Digital And Traditional Print-Based Approaches To Support Foundational Reading Development In Elementary Classrooms, Carla Pliego-Java

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Early literacy instruction provides an essential foundation for children’s long-term academic development, while the increasing presence of digital technology has changed how young students encounter and interact with text. This capstone examines how early literacy instruction supported by digital tools compares to traditional print-based instruction in supporting foundational reading development in elementary classrooms. The project was informed by research on early literacy development, evidence-based literacy instruction, digital literacy, traditional print-based instruction, technology integration, and equity and access. The research process also included qualitative observations and conversations with educators during a study abroad experience in Aberystwyth, Wales, which were compared with …

From Avoidance To Proud Ownership: Cultivating A Passion For Reading Through Project-Based Learning, Jessica Miller

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project examines how structured student choice embedded within a project-based reading curriculum can support engagement and comprehension among reluctant elementary readers. The curriculum was developed in response to the challenges experienced by students who disengage from reading or develop negative perceptions of themselves as readers. Instead of viewing reading reluctance as a fixed characteristic, this project explores how instructional decisions, student autonomy, reading identity, and meaningful opportunities to demonstrate learning may impact students’ relationships with reading. The development of the curriculum was guided by a research-informed design process rooted in literature on reluctant readers and reading identity, reading …

Fostering The Success Of Indigenous Students: How Educators Can Address Systemic Barriers In Schools, Samantha Hamlin

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This qualitative study sought to gain information into the connection that Indigenous students have with education and the ways that educators can work to make education more accessible. The study gave background knowledge as to the history of Indigenous people and the greater implications of colonization. It explores ways that educators could incorporate Indigenous knowledge into curriculum to uplift and engage Indigenous students. The accompanying project is a compilation of ideas for lesson plans across subject areas that teach through an Indigenous lens, rather than a white centered one. In the conclusion, implications and limitations of the study are discussed …

Decolonizing Minnesota Mathematics: Incorporating Indigeneity Into Middle School Mathematics, Tia Ahmed

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The invisibility of Native Americans in mainstream mathematics education has contributed to the academic underachievement and cultural disconnect experienced by Native American youth. Grounded in the frameworks of Tribal Critical Race Theory (TribalCrit), culturally relevant teaching, and ethnomathematics, this project investigates: How can the historical and current cultural contexts, mathematical understandings, perspectives, and issues relating to Dakota, Anishinaabe, and Urban Indigenous communities be incorporated into Minnesota middle school math curriculum in a way that fosters strong math identities among Native American students and supports the needs of Minnesota’s American Indian tribes and communities? Along with research on the intersectionality of …

Learning Across Landscapes: An Interactive Minnesota Ecology Book, Blake Berney

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project focused on the development of an educational book introducing elementary-aged readers to Minnesota’s native trees and the biomes in which they may be found. The project was influenced by teachings from the Dakota, Ojibwe, and current work from the Minnesota DNR. The book explores Minnesota’s major biomes and highlights native trees through accessible descriptions, photographs, activities, and connections to the landscapes and communities where these species are found. Information was then adapted for an elementary-school audience and organized into a cohesive educational resource. Design work included creating the book’s layout, incorporating original photographs and interactive activities, and …

Encouraging Pollinator Friendly Behaviors Among Urban Residents, Addison Motta

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Pollinator decline is a significant issue which threatens biodiversity, global food systems, and the stability of ecosystems. There are numerous resources available that address pollinator friendly behaviors, but many assume that the audience has access to private land in a suburban or rural area. The recommendations in these resources may be inaccessible to apartment dwellers, renters, and other urban residents with limited control over outdoor spaces. This capstone explores the guiding question: how can an interactive pollinator education kit increase awareness and encourage pollinator-friendly behaviors among urban residents. A review of literature related to pollinator ecology, urban ecosystems, environmental education, …

Upporting Residential Camp Counselors: “Wellness Workshops” To Mitigate Staff Stress, Aimee Doyle

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has demonstrated that residential camping holds tremendous value in the life of a young person. A child’s participation in the “Radical Utopian Experience” provided by a typical summer camp has been shown to increase independence, confidence, perseverance, responsibility, empathy, compassion, and an affinity for nature, often with life-long effects. Yet, while camps focus heavily on the growth and development of campers, the needs of counseling staff are sometimes overlooked. Young counselors themselves are still developing emotionally and socially, while they often shoulder significant responsibilities throughout the summer. This capstone project focused on the wellness needs of residential camp counselors …

Ntegrating Digital Tools Into English Instruction For Fulbright English Teaching Assistants In Taiwan, Alexandra Rankin

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project examines how digital tools can be integrated into elementary-level English instruction by Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in Taiwan. The project was guided by two questions: How can Fulbright English Teaching Assistants effectively integrate digital tools into elementary school level English instruction, and what are the perceived benefits and challenges for teachers using these tools? A review of literature on the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program, Taiwan’s Bilingual 2030 policy, and technology integration in English language instruction informed the development of a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Advisor professional development workshop for ETAs and their Local …

From Pages To Parks: Connecting Children’S Literature And Place-Based Learning For Family Environmental Education In Minnesota State Parks, Taylor Kasprzak

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Place-based environmental education offers rich opportunities for family engagement, yet children’s literature remains an underutilized tool in supporting these outdoor experiences. Grounded in Vygotsky’s social constructivism theory and place-based pedagogy, this research capstone examines how children’s literature and place-based learning experiences can support environmental education for families visiting Minnesota State Parks. To address the gap, this project presents a ten-unit family guide focused on specific state parks, with introductory information for new visitors. Utilizing Minnesota Department of Natural Resources materials and local library collections, this project combines purposeful family activities with meaningful anchor texts. Each unit includes a guiding environmental …

Karmic Theodicies, Justin Mooney

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

Decoration Of Lactic Acid Bacterium By Exploiting In Vitro Sortase A Transpeptidase, Faisal Hamd Alqhtani

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Attaching a drug module to the surface of lactic acid bacteria was the main aim of this dissertation, and it was achieved. By using the Sortase A mechanism, the drug module (green fluorescent protein fused to the LPETG motif) was anchored to the LAB surface. To reach the final results, this dissertation will describe the process that I undertake to achieve the end goal. Modifying media, producing pure enzymes with less impurity, and reducing the protease activity in E. coli BL21 were all described in this five-chapter dissertation. Keywords: drug delivery, lactic acid bacteria, green fluorescent protein, sortase A, fusion …

The Gravity Of The Ukraine War: Measuring Conflict Impacts On European Grain Trade, Stefan Bonchis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the heterogeneous structural disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine on the European Union’s agricultural trade architecture, focusing on three critical commodities: wheat, maize, and sunflower seeds. Employing a structural gravity model framework across all 27 EU Member States, the study evaluates two conflict episodes, the 2014 Crimea annexation and the 2022 full-scale invasion, to identify the net beneficiaries and heavily impacted nations within the EU agricultural trade network. The empirical strategy utilizes a dual-test design to capture the full scope of the disruption. Test A (Ukraine towards the EU trade) reveals a distinct geographic logic in …

Latina Representation In Children’S Literature: A Content Analysis Approach., Vanessa Varela

Dissertations (1934 -)

This quantitative content analysis investigates the representation of Latina girls and women in children’s books across two distinct publishing periods. Drawing on foundational scholarship in gender and racial representation in children’s literature (Casey, 2021; Hamilton et al., 2006; Leslie, 2021; Pérez Huber, 2018; Paynter, 2011; Weitzman et al., 1972), and informed by the emergence of multiracial feminism in the 1990s, the study examines a total of forty books, using the book as the unit of analysis (20 published in 1995 and 20 in 2025). A comprehensive 60-item coding instrument was used to generate descriptive statistics, conduct inferential testing, and support …

Color Shift: A Graphic Design Process Book Exploring How Color And Motion Influence Emotional Perception And Brand Connection In Affordable Women's Fashion Jewelry, Elizabeth Voight

Theses

This study examines how manipulating color and motion within a single brand identity system influences consumer emotional response and brand consistency. Using a fictional modern jewelry brand, Quanta & Co., the research isolates color as the primary variable by applying nine distinct mid-range color palettes to identical layouts, logos, and structures across both print and digital touchpoints. These collateral assets include jewelry packaging, vehicle wraps, digital advertisements, and an animated logo. A quantitative survey was executed to capture real-time audience impressions regarding brand traits, perceived quality, and the overall alignment of each color variation with the brand's identity.

The findings …

Nbc Peacock North Summer 2026 Newsletter, Peacock North Staff

NBC Peacock North Newsletter

Highlights include: What's Now! Advice to the Class of 2026 -- Peacock Family -- Spring Luncheon Photo Gallery -- Tributes to Silent Microphones

The Impact Of The Design Characteristics Of Media Architecture On The Activation Of Urban Space, Hanan Dhiyaa Hussein, Inaam A. Al-Bazzaz, Ammar Salim Dawood

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

The research explores the relationship between the design characteristics of media architecture and their impact on activating urban space, focusing on the role of interactive technologies and the extent to which they enhance visual comfort and stimulate social interaction. The research problem was represented by (the lack of a clear conception of the impact of the design characteristics of media architecture on activating urban space). The research objective was to develop an integrated theoretical model to identify indicators of how media architecture's design characteristics influence the activation of urban space. The research relied on a descriptive-analytical-comparative approach to compare selected …