Digital Commons Network^™

From Frontier To Folk: Changes In Canadian Identity Through Constructions Of Land In Canadian Crusoes And Anne Of Green Gables, Aibhlin Janicki-Zeballos

Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts

No abstract provided.

What To Do With An Improper Woman: Gender Roles And Their Repercussions In Great Expectations, Abby Shaver

Laurier Undergraduate Journal of the Arts

No abstract provided.

A Transnational Feast Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe: Globalization, Identity, And Collective Memory In Dodge City, Kansas, David A. Solis-Enriquez

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

This work examines the transnational connections of Dodge City’s Mexican immigrants and their celebration of the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe and how their cross-border activity were parts of larger systems like globalization, identity, and collective memory. With migration into Southwestern Kansas and the Oklahoma panhandle increasing intensely in the 1980s, because of the economic opportunities that the livestock and meat manufacturing industries offered, Dodge City’s Mexican population reached unprecedented heights. These migration waves mark the starting point of this thesis.

The incoming Mexican population flooded the city’s Catholic facilities, which prompted the community and the local diocese …

Automated Pill Dispenser, Ryan Oderkirk, Connor Beaven, Rachelle Labrie, Josue Panchana

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The project we propose is an automated system for dispensing dosages of medication throughout the day. It will be able to alert a user when their pills need to be taken and give them the correct dosages of up to four different medications. These dosages are configurable as well as the scheduled time they are to be taken. In addition, the pill dispenser will alert users when they are low on medications and need to refill the machine.

A Strategic Analysis Of Project Learn Of Summit County, Alex Kennedy, Tyler Hutchinson, Haley Guest, Zach D. Thomas, Lizzie Sisler

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Our group is working with Project Learn of Summit County, a GED and ESL assistance program located in the Akron Public Library. Our group will be performing a strategic analysis and providing them with a strategic plan, to be presented to them at the end of the term. We aim to increase awareness for the program, point out areas of growth, and increase functionality.

Project Learn Strategic Analysis Project, Isabel Ladaika, Kalpana Ghimire, Noah Johnson, Caleb Keiper

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This honors project involves working in a team to conduct a comprehensive strategic analysis of Project Learn of Summit County. We will evaluate the organization’s external environment (such as industry trends, competition, and community factors) and internal operations (including strengths, weaknesses, resources, and capabilities). Using strategic management frameworks, as a team we will develop actionable recommendations to strengthen the organizations marketing, financial sustainability, and community outreach efforts. Throughout the semester, we will engage directly with the client organization to gather data and insights that inform our analysis. Final deliverables include a formal written strategic analysis paper and a professional presentation …

Project Learn Strategic Analysis, Kendall Hegan, Hunter Kay, Abigail Miller, Rina Xayasy

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The strategic analysis of Project LEARN seeks to analyze the background, purpose, internal structures, and external factors of the organization. After further analysis the team will propose strategic recommendations backed by academic research and concepts learned throughout the strategic management course. Through consistent personal communication and documents provided by the Project LEARN staff the team will develop an in-depth analysis that seeks to add creative new initiatives as well as highlighting the current core competencies of the organization.

Front Matter, Editors

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

No abstract provided.

Treading Water: Why The U.S.-Mexico Stalemate Over Transboundary Waters Necessitates Amendment Of The 1944 Water Treaty, Candace Dasanna

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

No abstract provided.

The 1923 Hague Rules Of Air Warfare: Can Interwar Aerial Bombardment Rules Work In A 21st Century War?, Alec R. Casey

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

No abstract provided.

The Monist Doctrine As A Catalyst For Integration In Africa, Rose Rameau, Abdul Baasit Aziz Bamba

Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vols. 28:2 onward (2019-present)

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aspires to establish a unified market across Africa, integrating approximately 1.2 billion people and generating a cumulative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeding US $3.4 trillion. A key challenge in this endeavor is the legal divergence among African nations, particularly the coexistence of monist and dualist legal systems, which affects the domestication and implementation of international treaties.

In dualist jurisdictions, international treaties require domestic legislative enactment before assuming legal force, a process that often results in delays and inconsistencies. Conversely, under the monist doctrine, international agreements acquire immediate domestic applicability, eliminating the need for …

Development Of A Hypersonic Aerodynamic Analysis Methodology For Conceptual Design, Stephen Atkins

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses

This research promotes the advancement of the Aerospace Vehicle Design Synthesis (AVDS) system through the development of a low order numerical hypersonic aerodynamic analysis methodology. The AVDS methodology outlines how to utilize disciplinary tools and relies on the careful selection or development of those tools to carry out the aerospace vehicle sizing and evaluation processes. An overview of the aerodynamic analysis process from both industrial and academic perspectives is presented to provide context for the present work. The different philosophies of design are discussed insofar as they dictate how aerodynamic tools are used in the design process. Next, a literature …

“Who Am I Now As A Mother?” Maternal Identity Negotiation During Children’S College Transition, Si Wang

School of Professional Studies

This study employs narrative positioning analysis to examine how two Chinese mothers in transnational contexts discursively negotiate their maternal identities during their children’s transition to college. Drawing on longitudinal narrative interviews, the analysis advances three interrelated theoretical propositions. First, maternal identity work is revealed as a process of selective cultural bricolage, wherein mothers strategically blend elements from competing scripts of child-centered sacrifice, filial reciprocity, and autonomous individualism to construct a hybrid, workable parental logic. Second, the liminality of this transition precipitates a crucial recentering of the self, a core psychological process as intensive child-focused demands recede. Third, the transnational context …

Constitutionalizing Parents’ Rights, Akshat Agarwal

Case Western Reserve Law Review

No abstract provided.

Call For Return: Does The Fourth Amendment Resolve Retentions?, Owen Stickney

Case Western Reserve Law Review

No abstract provided.

Exploring How Yoga Affects Embodiment In Female Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence: A Scoping Review, Kenzie R. Albers

Social Work Theses

Introduction: With violence against women continuing to rear its ugly head across the world, it remains imperative for helping professionals and researchers to continue advocating for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Yoga shows promising results for people who have experienced trauma and have depressive or anxious symptoms. One area of research not explored is the effect of yoga on female IPV survivors’ feelings of self-embodiment and bodily autonomy.

Methodology: This scoping review was conducted based on the five-step framework created by Arksey and O’Malley. The guiding research question was: What does the current literature suggest about the effects of …

A Hierarchical, Data-Driven Analytical Paradigm For Strategic Planning, Operational Decision-Making, And Resilience Enhancement In United States Electric Power Systems Under Extreme Demand Conditions, Anyama Hanson Tettey

Dissertations

Historical evidence indicates that the United States electric power grid continues to face persistent criticism for reliability challenges during peak demand conditions. Extreme ambient temperatures are a primary driver of such peaks, rendering the grid most vulnerable precisely when electricity demand is highest. These demand surges are largely driven by coincident operation of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems across customer classes, a trend expected to intensify as sectors such as transportation increasingly rely on electrification. Efforts to mitigate demand related unreliability have traditionally focused on system-level demand forecasting and planning, typically at the scale of cities or entire utilities. However, …

Threatened To Testify : Juror Perceptions Of Coercive Eyewitness Interviews, Alexa A. Mecikalski

Dissertations

The effects of coercive investigative questioning techniques have been extensively studied in the context of suspect interrogations; however, few studies have evaluated outcomes related to coercive questioning of eyewitnesses. Therefore, the present study investigated mock juror perceptions of the use of interrogation tactics during eyewitness questioning. Participants read a trial summary and provided trial judgments (e.g., verdict, eyewitness credibility, perceived coerciveness of the interview) pertaining to a case in which an eyewitness is questioned using either (1) maximization tactics (e.g. high pressure questioning, threats), (2) minimization tactics (e.g., minimizing severity or consequences), or (3) no tactics (e.g., statement provided voluntarily). …

Human Rights On Pause: Assessing The Cbp Digital Metering Process And Obligations Of Non-Refoulement Beyond Borders, Brandon Delia

Journal of Law, Technology, & the Internet

Migrants are once again being told to wait in line before seeking their right to the asylum process. In 2023, the Biden administration introduced the CBP One app as a new requirement for asylum seekers approaching the US-Mexico border. Not long after, it evolved into a strict legal prerequisite where without a CBP One appointment, migrants faced either immediate turnbacks or, if they nonetheless attempted to seek asylum defensively after entry, expedited removal and a potential five-year bar on reentry. Those who managed to register often waited months in cartel-controlled border towns, risking extortion, kidnapping, or worse. Paired with CBP’s …

Artificial Intelligence And Automated Decision-Making In Employment: The Future Of The Embattled Disparate Impact Theory Of Discrimination Under Title Vii, Daniel S. Alcorn

Journal of Law, Technology, & the Internet

Artificial intelligence now makes core employment decisions—from resume screening and video interviews to promotion and termination—yet Title VII’s disparate impact doctrine was built for paper tests, not black-box models. This Article argues that, while under attack by the Trump Administration and a minority of the U.S. Supreme Court, disparate impact remains indispensable but increasingly inadequate without adaptation. We show how algorithmic opacity frustrates causation, vendor delegation diffuses liability, predictive-accuracy claims distort “business necessity,” and trade-secret barriers impede proof of less-discriminatory alternatives. Drawing on emerging U.S. and comparative regimes, we propose a practical toolkit: (1) treat the algorithmic system as the …

Mental And Physical Humanlikeness In Artificial Intelligence Influencers: Effects On Humanness, Eeriness, And Consumer Responses, Terry Kim Ph.D., Hyunjoo Im

Faculty Publications

Artificial intelligence (AI) influencers, nonhuman characters powered by AI, have garnered a significant following on social media in recent years. Through two between-subjects online experiments (n = 957), this study investigates the impact of AI influencers' appearance realism and self-disclosure on consumer perceptions (humanness and eeriness) and their downstream responses (intention to self-disclose, intention to follow the advice, and brand attitude). Drawing from anthropomorphism and theory of mind, this study emphasizes the distinction of two dimensions of AI influencers' humanlikeness (physical and mental) which differently affect the humanness and eeriness of the AI influencer. Results indicate that the AI …

Template For A Lab/Group/Team Manual, University Of New Hampshire (Unh) Responsible Conduct Of Research & Scholarly Activity (Rcr) Committee

Integrity in Research and Scholarship

Lab/group/team manuals or handbooks are becoming more common in academic research settings as the research environment grows in complexity. Explaining in writing expectations for how a research group operates as well as providing resources for group members can be invaluable.

The University of New Hampshire (UNH) Responsible Conduct of Research & Scholarly Activity (RCR) Committee developed these templates to help researchers convey important and useful information to their research groups in a consistent manner. Each Principal Investigator (PI) and research group can choose the preferred version template (abbreviated or long) and customize the information to address topics relevant for their …

Northeastern Illinois University, Academic Catalog 2026-2027, Northeastern Illinois University

Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Massachusetts Community Mediation Center (Cmc) Grant Program: Fiscal Year 2025 Evaluation Report, Madhawa Palihapitiya, Karina Zeferino

Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration Publications

The CMC Grant Program remains a vital statewide investment in equitable access to justice and community well-being in Massachusetts. In FY2025, the Commonwealth allocated $3,100,202 to the Program, with $2,376,002 awarded directly to 12 community mediation Centers for operational support, technical assistance, and participation in statewide initiatives. These funds continued to serve as the financial foundation of the community mediation system, accounting for half of Centers’ collective revenue and enabling them to leverage an additional $2,435,797 from private, municipal, state, and federal partners—demonstrating strong public return on state appropriations. Despite a funding reduction in FY2025, the Program generated …

The Speculative Mode Of The Image: Destabilizing Reality In Crash, Invisible Man, And Beloved, Steven Connors

Open Access Dissertations

In an exploration of the dimensions of speculative fiction, which is a prominent cultural and academic apparatus wanting definition in the twenty-first century, this dissertation examines the speculative mode of the image in various transatlantic novels, ranging from J. G. Ballard’s Crash to Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man to Toni Morrison’s Beloved. The image in itself is a multivalent term that warrants analysis. As a concept, the abstract nature of the image serves to destabilize reality. It is always in conversation with the notions of reality. Indeed, images inform our senses of reality. In part, they constitute our social forms. …

Dosage Sensitivity And The Evolution Of Dosage Compensation: Tests Of The Insensitive Sex Chromosome Hypothesis In Flour Beetles, Shana Pau

Biology Dissertations

Sex chromosome evolution generates imbalances in gene dosage that can disrupt gene expression and organismal function. These imbalances are often resolved through dosage compensation mechanisms, yet the factors that drive the emergence and diversity of these systems remain poorly understood. This dissertation addresses a central question in evolutionary genomics: what governs the evolution of dosage compensation?

Focusing on dosage sensitivity as a potential driver, I evaluate the Insensitive Sex Chromosome Hypothesis (ISCH), which predicts that chromosome-wide compensation is more likely to evolve in genomic contexts that are not depleted of dosage-sensitive genes. Using flour beetles (Tribolium spp.) as a …

Coordinating The Layers: Regulation Of Peptidoglycan Synthesis And Cell Wall Assembly In Mycobacterium Smegmatis By Murj And Pgfa, Karen Emmanuella Samaga-De-Tembiwa

Biology Dissertations

The mycobacterial cell envelope consists of three covalently linked layers whose synthesis must be coordinated to maintain structural integrity during polar growth. While the biosynthetic enzymes for each layer are well characterized, the molecular mechanisms that coordinate synthesis across layers have remained poorly understood. This thesis investigates two essential transmembrane proteins, PgfA and MurJ, that regulate peptidoglycan metabolism in Mycobacterium smegmatis and provide new insight into how mycobacteria synchronize cell wall assembly.

We present evidence that PgfA functions as a bifunctional regulator that links peptidoglycan metabolism to the availability of trehalose monomycolate (TMM), a key mycolic acid precursor. Through epistasis …

Investigating Speech-Language Pathologists’ Perception On Bilingual/Multilingual Aac Intervention And Quality Of Care., Lillian Griffith

2026 Research Poster Competition

In recent decades, the caseloads worldwide of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have become increasingly linguistically diverse (Soto & Yu 2014). However, current research in the field of communication sciences and disorders is primarily focused on monolingual populations, with a similar lack of research in the field regarding bilingual/multilingual Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) (Tönsing & Dada 2022). AAC refers to methods of communication other than spoken language and can augment existing speech or serve as an alternative to speech (ASHA n.d.). Although advancements in the field regarding AAC use for monolingual/English-speaking clients have been made, there is a lack of research …

Bridging Gaps, Empowering Futures: Transforming Reproductive Counseling For Women In Primary Care, A Quality Improvement Initiative, Brianna Clark

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

In the US, unintended pregnancies are associated with poorer maternal and fetal outcomes, especially among marginalized groups. Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended, raising a significant need for proactive interventions. Authoritative bodies now view the incorporation of preconception care as an essential intervention. Many pregnancy intention screening tools are available, but there are no standard practice guidelines or recommendations. Providers experience challenges due to time constraints and ongoing changes inherent in reproductive goals that make pregnancy intention screening complex. To address this, this project implemented an in-person educational training session using a screening tool, the One Key Question, along …

Disrupted Circadian Rhythms Affect Hallmark Pathologies In Alzheimer’S Disease-Related Mouse Models, Valeria Buzinova

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease with two hallmark pathologies: extracellular amyloid-b (Ab) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Ab is proteolytically processed from amyloid precursor protein (APP) by b-secretase and g-secretase as a monomeric peptide prone to aggregation. Eventually, the aggregate-prone monomers will form dense plaques that are difficult to break down and remove. These plaques begin to deposit into the cortex decades prior to the formation of NFTs and the onset of cognitive decline. NFTs are comprised of hyper-phosphorylated tau. Tau is a protein that serves to promote and stabilize the formation of microtubules. The formation of …