Digital Commons Network^™

Assessment Of Carbon Capture Potential In Rubber Plantations Via Landsat 9 Imagery Analysis, Ade Fitria, Rahmawaty Rahmawaty, Razali Razali, Jamin Saputra, Seca Gandaseca

Baghdad Science Journal

Indonesia is a significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter, contributing 12.3% of carbon dioxide (CO₂) of total emissions. Carbon dioxide (CO₂), a major GHG, is increasing in the Earth’s atmosphere. The CO₂ absorption can be increased through rubber plantations because rubber plants, such as forest plants, can process CO₂ as a carbon source for photosynthesis. This research aims to analyze carbon uptake in relation to tree density, biomass of rubber vegetation, and soil organic carbon (SOC) content, as well as to map the distribution of carbon potential using remote sensing. This research was conducted in …

Simplified Function For Predicting Superconducting Critical Temperature, Pakin Tasee, Nattawut Natkunlaphat, Udomsilp Pinsook

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Currently, there is intense competition to develop models that can accurately estimate the critical temperature across a wide range of superconductors, while striving for straightforward derivations and comprehensive predictions. In this work, we present an approach to determining the critical temperature based on the linearized Eliashberg gap equations employing the bandwidth model. To verify the accuracy of our model, we collect Eliashberg spectral functions from various independent studies, compute the necessary parameters, and solve the Eliashberg gap equations numerically to obtain the exact solutions, along with utilizing the modified Allen-Dynes equation. The findings suggest that both models are in good …

An Integrated Experimental–Numerical Approach For Characterizing Deformation Behavior Of High-Strength Steels, Weerapong Julsri, Apichat Sanrutsadakorn, Vitoon Uthaisangsuk

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study aims to establish an integrated experimental–numerical framework for characterizing the deformation behavior of DP590 high-strength steel sheet. The framework combines experimental uniaxial tensile and Nakajima tests with finite element (FE) simulations to provide a comprehensive assessment of forming limits and fracture behavior. Forming limit curves (FLCs) and forming limit stress curves (FLSCs) were determined with the integrated approach and then validated numerically using the Hill’48 yield criterion together with both Swift and Voce hardening laws. Model calibration incorporated experimental data on directional mechanical properties to ensure that material anisotropy was accurately represented. The FE simulations demonstrated strong agreement …

No Exception For Ultra Vires Discrimination, Rev. James Deboer

American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law

The Ministerial Exception (“the Exception”) is an affirmative defense that religious institutions may use to obtain dismissal of discrimination claims brought by current and former ministerial employees.The Exception rests on the seemingly straightforward premise that churches and other religious institutions must be free to select and remove their own ministers without interference from secular laws.  It applies with equal force to any kind of discrimination; extends to harassment and retaliation; and is not confined to forms of alleged discrimination motivated by religious belief.

The Supreme Court has only addressed the Exception twice. First, in 2012, through Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church …

The Ambiguity That Isn’T: Why Same-Sex Marriage Is Legal In American Samoa, Dante Cade Harootunian, Sammi Lawrence

American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law

After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that prohibitions on same-sex marriage violate the equal protection guarantees of the U.S. Constitution, several government officials in American Samoa issued statements claiming that the decision had no effect in American Samoa, and, to date, no same-sex couples have

applied for a marriage license in the territory. This Article analyzes the Obergefell decision in light of other federal and territorial court decisions that determined the applicability of constitutional rights to U.S. territories and concludes that, despite the statements of local officials, the Obergefell decision applies in American Samoa, and the …

Why Dobbs Is No Roadmap For Deciding State Constitutional Abortion Issues, Daniel A. Small

American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law

In deciding that Fourteenth Amendment “liberty” does not protect a woman’s decision to end her pregnancy, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization sought to distinguish the precedent that Roe and Casey relied on to recognize an abortion right. The Dobbs majority claimed that this precedent did not support a right to abortion because, in its view, destroying a fetus is more immoral than the conduct at issue in those earlier cases. However, moral concerns about fetal destruction shed no light on the nature or characteristics of a woman’s liberty interest in an abortion decision. These concerns, therefore, cannot show whether …

Extending Appellate Immigration Jurisdiction: Providing Additional Pathways Of Review For Discretionary Determinations Regarding Extraordinary Circumstances For Victims Of Spousal Abuse, Ayashah Anwar

American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law

INTRODUCTION: Lucila Magana-Magana lived a life marked by tragedy. At the age of fifteen, Lucila was sexually assaulted and became pregnant. As a young pregnant woman with no ability to leave, Lucila was forced to live with her assailant and had more children with him until his death. After several years on her own, she entered another relationship with her work supervisor, Rafael Camacho, but that relationship soon turned abusive. Camacho became addicted to drugs and alcohol, and eventually Lucila was forced to escape the relationship. Out of fear, Lucila fled Mexico to the United States. Once again, Lucila found …

Student And Faculty Outcomes And Experiences In High School Career And Technical Education: A Vocational Program Evaluation, Ayana E. Moore

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive program evaluation of vocational schools in Duval County, with the goal of laying the groundwork for assessing effectiveness of vocational education. This study utilized exploratory mixed-methods approach, gathering quantitative and qualitative data about high school graduation rates, career readiness, college enrollment, experiences, and satisfaction levels from students and faculty at fully accredited vocational high schools. By synthesizing findings from existing literature and analyzing data, the study sought to elucidate the impact of vocational high school programs and offer insights into the benefits and areas for improvement in vocational programs. Ultimately, the research aims to inform …

Rethinking Writing Assessment In The Age Of Generative Ai: Toward A Conceptual Framework For First-Year Writing, Abeeb Hammed

English Faculty Research Publications

Emerging technologies have changed the dimensions of the first-year writing classroom. Before AI, assessment focused on traditional rubrics that emphasized arguments, rhetorical strategies, and language conventions. While this traditional checklist remains important for assessing student writing, it is also necessary to argue that the traditional rubric is insufficient for evaluating student performance in the current age of AI. We acknowledge that a rubric is not necessarily designed to detect AI use. However, there is a growing need for AI-informed assessment. A final-product rubric alone may provide insufficient evidence about the student’s writing process, decision-making, and authorship when AI is involved. …

Designing Presence Together: A Coi-Guided Summit And Accountability Approach, Latisha D. Haag, Rachel Dolechek, Janet Stramel, Jessica Heronemus-Claiborn

Teaching Online Pedagogical Repository

This strategy, developed as part of a Digital Teaching Champions initiative at a regional comprehensive university, describes an Engage & Elevate summit and accountability model that helps faculty implement small, presence‑focused changes in their online courses using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework. In two synchronous Zoom summits, faculty cohorts completed a brief CoI self‑assessment, explored discipline‑neutral examples of social, cognitive, and teaching presence, and analyzed low‑, moderate‑, and high‑presence versions of common online activities. Guided by summit worksheets and templates, each instructor selected one existing activity (such as a discussion, peer review, or feedback workflow), identified one “small teaching” …

Increasing The Efficiency Of Screening For Severity Level Of Neurocognitive Impairment In The Corrections Sample: An Exploratory Study, Kelly Denton

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a serious and potentially devastating health condition that can cause several lasting deleterious consequences affecting many domains of life. Difficulties are commonly reported in cognition, emotional, and social functioning, in addition to physical impairment. ABI disproportionally affects different groups, including the corrections population, which is five times more likely than the general population to have an ABI. However, there is limited research on the severity of neurocognitive impairment after an ABI for inmates in a correctional setting. It was hoped that the current study would help clarify the characteristics of ABI that result in different …

The Influence Of Parental Attitudes On Perceptions Of Gender Socialization In Their Children, Tareva Cortes

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Gender socialization begins early in childhood and plays a significant role in shaping children's beliefs, behaviors, and perceptions of themselves and others. Parents serve as primary agents of gender socialization and contribute to children's understanding of gender roles through attitudes, expectations, and reinforcement of gender-related behaviors. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine parental attitudes regarding traditional gender roles, modern sexism, and children's gender-related behaviors. Participants included 163 parents and legal guardians residing in the United States who had at least one child under the age of 18. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Child Gender Socialization Scale, …

Improving Scoliosis Screening Protocol And Outcomes, Beverly R. Jordan

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

The purpose of this Quality Improvement (QI) project was to address outdated scoliosis screening protocols and guidelines by identifying barriers and improving outcomes. Current protocols and guidelines are not current with evidence-based practices. School nurses are mandated to conduct scoliosis screening on 6^th & 7^th graders annually using Adam’s forward bend test and a second screener for failed screens. Although this guideline attempts to use a 2^nd screener as another tool to reduce false positives, it does not address the barriers school nurses may have with these older guidelines and protocols. Scoliosis screening has fallen out of …

College Students’ Use Of Cell Phones And Their Level Of Attention To Academics, Social Relationships, And Health, Nicole L. Istvan

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This research utilized a single case study design to examine how college students, ages 18–24, perceive their attention in relation to cell phone use within academic, social, and health-related contexts. The case was bound by undergraduate students enrolled at a public university in the northeastern United States, referred to as Tapaton University. The study employed multiple sources of data to support triangulation and credibility, while providing an in-depth exploration of a complex, real-world phenomenon.

Following Institutional Review Board approval, participants were recruited through community flyers, social media outreach, and snowball sampling. Data collection included observational field notes, a quantitative survey, …

Politics As Usual: Racial Pay Inequity And The Illusion Of Inclusion In The Rise And Fall Of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Accessibility Executive Orders, Francois C. Melville

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This research examines pressing moral policy questions of our time: who determines when the United States of America has fulfilled its broken promise of equality for all, and what constitutes an appropriate measure of reparative justice. It interrogates why the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Executive Orders (EOs) implemented across presidential administrations, intended to advance social equity, were grounded in conflict and symbolic gestures rather than scientifically evidenced issues such as wage inequality directly linked to upward career mobility. Race conscious policy generates cultural clashes centered on the perception that gains made by Black and Brown Americans come at the …

Why Is It Always The Boys?: Evaluating Disciplinary Issues Within The Classroom, Brian P. Lynch

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This thesis explores the concept of discipline in the classroom and the overrepresentation of male students in disciplinary action.  American public schools are nearly equally represented with male and female students, yet disciplinary action is taken far more frequently toward male students.  Throughout the course of this paper, a history of disciplinary action in America is relayed.  Psychological and social factors are acknowledged to explain the differences of actions in the classroom between male and female students.

To best impact students in the classroom and relieve the overrepresentation of male disciplinary issues, a community program should take place throughout the …

Negating Capitalist Forms Of Life And Subjectivities Through An Ontological Exploration Of Education And Pedagogy, Shannon Gallagher

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Capitalism is not solely an economic system but is a particular form of life. Its pervasive effects have defined what it means to be human, live, and exist within the capitalist reality we inhabit. Education has been carefully curated with its formative potential in mind to form subjects who embody and act upon capitalist ontological assumptions. By doing so, education has been employed to constrain individuals to this reality with no possibility of any alternative way to be and become. This thesis argues that for education to be humanizing and liberating, there must be a critical examination of how capitalist …

A Theory Of Major Questions, Nicholas Almendares

Cardozo Law Review

The major questions doctrine has been fiercely criticized as an example of the Supreme Court’s “imperial” turn where it concentrates ever more power in its own hands. The doctrine is sweeping, vague, and lacks a clear justification. Not only does the Court get to decide when the doctrine applies and when the heightened standard is satisfied, but it has also not offered good reasons behind this rule. A well-defined theory would give the doctrine structure, clarity, and consistency. While majority opinions have been conspicuously quiet on the theory behind the major questions doctrine, concurrences, namely by Justice Gorsuch, have argued …

Residence Hall Directors: Make A Difference, Paul M. Martin, Paul M. Martin

Written Testimonials

Residence Hall Directors can have a significant effect on a students life.

Virtue Development A Christian Perspective On Character Formation In Community, Rebecca Konyndyk Deyoung

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

How do we become people of good character? Our default answer might include individual practices or a new program of self-discipline. This white paper will challenge that answer by introducing a more complex framework. For the Christian, spiritual maturity (“being sanctified through and through,” 1 Thess. 5:23) requires the development of virtue, empowered by the Holy Spirit, for life within the kingdom community.

• We are created for love and belonging in a life of communion with the Trinitarian God and with our neighbors. The goal of cultivating virtue is to be fitted for good community and to function well within …

Culturally Grounded Interventions Within Natural Settings: An Investigation Of How Cultural Learning Within Place Can Lead To The Enhancement Of Well-Being, Dean Masaji Tanikawa

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This study examines the impact of Culturally Grounded Interventions within Natural Settings on participants’ health and well-being, using Wilson’s (2008) Indigenous Paradigm to counter the limitations of past positivist approaches used by non-Native researchers. Culturally Grounded Interventions incorporating traditional Hawaiian practices such as mahi ‘āina (farming), koa ‘āina (reforestation), and Lā’au Lapa’au (herbal therapy) were performed at Ho’oulu ‘Āina, a nature preserve in Kalihi Valley, Hawaiʻi,  Ho’oulu ‘Āina, sits on a wahi pana (sacred site), and serves the Kalihi community with cultural education and healing. The study highlights, how relationships, including connections to land (‘āina), …

Improving Parental Self-Efficacy In An Integrated Primary Care Setting, Leo Parini

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

A pediatric mental health crisis in the United States has strained integrated primary care, leaving providers with high volumes of requests for psychotherapy. Low parental self-efficacy (PSE)—reduced caregiver confidence in supporting children's emotional and behavioral needs—may contribute to this demand. This study examined whether a brief, 4-week parent training curriculum informed by Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), targeting child anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and delivered by a clinical psychologist within an integrated primary care setting, would increase PSE. Using secondary, de-identified data, PSE was measured before and after the course with the Brief Parental Self-Efficacy Scale; 19 …

Setting Standards For Engineering Writing. Supplementary Information [Data], Hidden For Review

Higher education research

We present an approach to defining minimum standards of written communication for engineering graduates based on the evaluation of writing samples by industry personnel. Communication skills are widely recognised as core graduate capabilities; however, universities often lack explicit, evidence-based standards aligned with industry expectations. This study applies the borderline group method of empirical standard setting to elicit judgement from industry professionals who supervise graduate engineers. Participants evaluated samples of student writing in two common engineering genres, technical report executive summaries and emails, using dichotomous acceptability judgements supported by evaluations of structure, content and expression. We present a validated framework, supported …

Exploring Excessive Absences In An Urban School Setting: Implications For Student Academic Success And High School Graduation, Tamieka Mclaughlin

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the perspectives of parents and teachers regarding excessive student absenteeism in an urban high school setting and the implications of persistent absences for students' academic success and high school graduation. Excessive absenteeism remains a major challenge for schools in urban communities where children experience multiple personal, family, school and community factors that may influence attendance. Understanding how parents and teachers perceive these factors can provide insight into the experiences and challenges associated with chronic absenteeism, as well as the strategies they believe may support improved student attendance, academic success, and progress towards high school graduation. …

Teachers’ Perceptions Towards The Impact Of Reading Plus On 10th-Grade Intensive Reading Students, Melvia Williams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ experiences and perceptions regarding the impact of the Reading Plus program on 10th-grade students in intensive reading courses. The research was aimed to understand how teachers perceive the program’s effectiveness in enhancing reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary, as well as their reports about student engagement and the challenges and successes encountered during implementation. The data was gathered from semi structured interviews with 8 teachers with at least 2 years of experience teaching with Reading Plus in intensive reading programs. Themes for teachers' experiences were generated by inductive analysis.

Findings …

Low Early Reading Skills In Children Entering Kindergarten In An Urban K-8 Center, Shelly D. Smith-Harding

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to investigate the preparedness of kindergarten children in early reading skills, drawing comparisons from their experiences in comparable preschool programs and to gain insight about how to address the problem of low early reading skills among children entering kindergarten. Using archival data from i-Ready reading diagnostic tests over a 4-year period (2021-2022 to 2024-2025), the researcher compared students who attended an urban K-8 Center Head Start program (n=47) with students from other preschools (n=33).

The researcher conducted an independent t-test with SPSS, version 30 software, to analyze differences at the baseline (Assessment Period 1) and …

Evaluating The Potential Of Genomic Selection For Grain Yield And Yield Component Traits In South Dakota Winter Wheat, Dante Koupal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major cereal crop worldwide, but recent gains in grain yield (GY) have not kept pace with projected demand. GY is a highly quantitative trait with low heritability that requires multi-year, multi-location phenotyping, limiting selection efficiency. Targeting higher heritability yield component traits, such as kernel size and weight, and incorporating them into the genomic selection (GS) pipeline has the potential to accelerate genetic gain for GY. The objectives of this study were to (i) understand the relationship between GY and the kernel-size traits, including thousand kernel weight (TKW), kernel length (KL), kernel width (KW), and …

Butting Heads With Respiratory Disease: Post-Epizootic Demography And Movement-Driven Spillover Risk In A Badland’S Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis) Meta-Population, Sean P. Ryder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Respiratory disease caused by Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is among the most significant threats to bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) conservation in North America. In July 2021, contact between bighorn sheep rams and domestic sheep north of Badlands National Park (BADL), South Dakota, USA introduced M. ovipneumoniae into the Badlands bighorn sheep meta-population, triggering an epizootic that reduced the population by approximately 80%. I evaluated the post-outbreak status of this population through two complementary studies conducted from 2023 to 2025. In Chapter 1, I quantified disease prevalence, adult survival, lamb recruitment, and population growth rate (λ) using serial quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) …

Transcriptomic And Epigenetic Analysis Of Dormant Grape Buds During Chilling Fulfillment, Imasha Thilakarathna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Spacetime Finite Element Method For Investigations Into Physics Ghost Systems And Time Parallel Preconditioning, Jax Wysong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work operates on two fronts, focusing on interesting physical phenomena before turning our attention to an interesting numerical math problem. First, using the spacetime finite element method (FEM), we investigate a PDE system consisting of two Klein Gordon equations, which are coupled nonlinearly through the potential energy. The system contains a ghost (negative kinetic energy term). Systems such as these are generally deemed physically unstable, resulting in infinite energy in finite time. However, recent work has shown that this is not always the case. We investigate multiple scenarios arising from different initial conditions to characterize if/when a ghost system …