Digital Commons Network^™

Misusing Mariátegui: The Strategic Use Of José Carlos Mariátegui By Peru’S Sendero Luminoso, Shaylee Luedders

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Peruvian Communist Party - Sendero Luminoso (SL) was a violent communist guerrilla group that was active in Peru in the 1980s and early 1990s. SL’s guiding ideology was “Gonzalo Thought,” named for the Party’s leader, Abimael Guzmán, who was known to his followers as Presidente Gonzalo. Greatly inspired by Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, Gonzalo Thought also drew heavily from the work of José Carlos Mariátegui, an early 20th-century socialist Peruvian intellectual. One of Mariategui’s key ideas held that the Inca Empire was communist and that living Indigenous Peruvians retained this pre-modern “communist spirit.” For him, this meant that authentic Peruvian institutions and …

Unveiling Factors Influencing Extract Yield From Milled Rice In Brewing, Matthew Aitkens

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) presents a locally sourced, climate-resistant starch source for the brewing industry. As barley faces increased uncertainty due to rising temperatures, Arkansas-grown rice offers a more stable and cost-effective alternative starch source. However, the use of milled adjunct rice by brewers has remained limited, largely due to knowledge gaps about cultivar-specific properties relative to brewing. Chapter 1 provides an overview of rice as a brewing adjunct, reviewing the physiochemical properties important to brewing success. These properties include kernel size, kernel breakage, amylose content, and gelatinization temperature. Mashing strategies for multiple different brewing layouts are overviewed, showing practical …

From Phenology To Yield Zones: Functional Clustering Of Satellite Time Series For Crop Growth Monitoring, Ikram Morso

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Remote sensing and land surface phenology provide a strong basis for characterizing crop development, but their usefulness for within-field yield-zone delineation depends on whether crop development is analyzed as a phenological trajectory and whether the resulting zones are evaluated with spatially defensible statistics. These questions are especially relevant in soybean production because soybean is one of the most important row crops in the United States and the country’s dominant oilseed crop. This relevance is strong in Arkansas, where soybean is a major component of agricultural production. In soybean production, within-field yield variability reflects the combined influence of soil properties, stand …

From Classroom To Courtroom: How Educational Strains Shape Juvenile Delinquency, Hailey Elizabeth Houston

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Juvenile delinquency is a significant social issue with consequences that extend into adulthood and impact future success of youth. Although prior research has explored various factors that affect juvenile delinquency, notable gaps remain – notably a lack of literature on how educational strain effects juvenile delinquency with a focus on rural areas. This study addresses these gaps by examining the effects of educational strain, such as poor academic performance and lack of teacher support, on rural adolescents’ engagement in juvenile delinquency. Data for this study was obtained from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an online …

Effects Of Wetting And Drying On Nutrient Mobilization In Aquatic Systems, Karessa Grace De La Paz

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Wetting and drying cycles are a fundamental, but underexplored, control on nutrient mobilization and transport in aquatic ecosystems. Such intermittency impacts approximately 60% of the world's streams and rivers, and the extent is expected to increase with future climate change. Additionally, aging reservoir infrastructure is driving restoration efforts, like large-scale drawdowns, that can expose benthic sediments to extended dry periods before refilling. Despite the prevalence of wet-dry cycles, how they influence nutrient transport and mobilization across different aquatic ecosystems remains poorly understood. To address this gap, this thesis presents two complementary studies exploring nutrient dynamics in Arkansas aquatic ecosystems that …

Analyzing Educators’ Roles In Preparing Students For Civic Engagement In Arkansas Communities, Mia L. Hastings

Curriculum and Instruction Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study identifies practical strategies educators can implement in their instruction to strengthen students’ political efficacy and civic engagement in Arkansas communities. This qualitative research study sought to answer the question, “How do educators prepare students for civic engagement in Arkansas?” The research was conducted within the framework of a practice-based experience with the Arkansas Collegiate Civic Leadership Academy (ACCLA), a seven-month program hosted by the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. I participated in five seminars on topics such as public service, journalism, and local governance, to analyze how engagement with these experiences can inform educators’ roles in promoting civic engagement. After …

Dungeons And Dragons As Game-Based Learning, Moses Allen

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This phenomenological qualitative study explored the use of the Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Role-Playing Game as a Game-Based Learning (GBL) model, measuring middle school student perceptions of engagement, motivation, and skill development through interactive storytelling. The study used a Practitioner Research theoretical framework and Thematic Analysis to identify emergent themes from the collected data. The study included gameplay of D&D after school with a small group of participants grades 6-8. Results indicated that participants reported consistently high levels of motivation and engagement. Participants perceived that D&D gameplay promoted the development of 21st Century Skills and middle school curricula skills, specifically …

Exploring Policy Change To Support Early Diagnosis Of Congenital Heart Defects (Chd) In New Mexico, Kelsey Carson Leibenhaut

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is not a new or rare problem; it has likely always been a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality and clocks in today as the most frequently occurring birth defect, affecting an estimated 1 in 100 newborns (CDC, 2025). Prior to the middle of the 20th century, there was little to be done about CHD, as no treatments existed. Everything changed with the advancement of options for surgical repair of CHDs, significantly prolonging lifespans and improving quality of life for affected individuals. Despite these incredible advancements, babies are born with CHD every day, leading to …

Increasing Accuracy Of Mapping Local Climatic Zones Using Building Height And Spectral Unmixing, Ian Douglas Stauffer

Masters Theses

Local climatic zone (LCZ) classifications are traditionally done using reflectance, population data, and often climatic data. The goal of this research is to utilize Google’s new “Open Buildings Temporal v1” building data set as well as “spectral unmixing”. With the objective of testing, assessing, and implementing this data set into the workflow of LCZ mapping. After testing the quality of the data against a validated LiDAR data set from the same year as a given “Open Buildings Temporal v1” band, I implemented it into the Random Forest machine learning process. Secondly, I justified the use of spectral unmixing as a …

Re:Grain: Elevating Community Through The Adaptive Reuse Of Grain Structures As A Catalyst For Downtown Development And Cultural Identity In Horace, North Dakota, Gracie Mae Erickstad

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores how the adaptive reuse of wooden grain elevators can preserve living heritage, sustain cultural identity, and anchor downtowns in small towns facing rapid suburban expansion. Centered on Horace, North Dakota, the study positions grain elevators as evolving typologies that respond to contemporary community needs while maintaining symbolic and material ties to the agrarian landscape. Through design research, site analysis, and comparative case studies, it develops strategies that integrate preservation, sustainability, and public engagement. Findings demonstrate that reimagined grain elevators can serve as multi-use civic anchors, fostering social cohesion, economic activity, and a sense of place amid dispersed …

Curating Sense-Of-Place In Residential Development: The Development Of A Strategy For Residential Construction, Ryan Anthony Calhoun

Architecture Theses

This thesis addresses the dual-faceted United States housing crisis, characterized by economic inaccessibility and a deteriorating sense-of-place due to urban sprawl and homogenous tract housing. The research investigates how architectural intervention can create a profound sense-of-place within the contemporary residential landscape despite escalating construction costs. By synthesizing phenomenology, housing economics, and urban planning, the study develops a new residential construction stratagem. This strategy utilizes social, economic, and ecological optimizations, such as shared liminal spaces, mass customization, and vernacular design, to foster community and identity. The research culminates in the design of "Prairie Haven,” a 174-lot medium-density neighborhood in Forest Lake, …

Cycles Of Work And Shelter: Adaptive Architecture For The Rhythms Of Rural Labor, Gabriel Ketcham

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores temporary modular housing as a flexible, context-driven solution for North Dakota’s rural agricultural communities. As a land grant university, North Dakota State University carries a mission to address state needs, yet many small farming towns face growing challenges in providing seasonal and affordable housing for agricultural workers. By examining regional farm labor patterns, harvest seasonality, and construction logistics, this project proposes a modular housing system adaptable to various rural conditions. The design emphasizes mobility, adaptability, and durability, enabling North Dakota’s farming communities to reduce operational costs, minimize worker transportation demands, and lower carbon impacts associated with daily …

Trump Opportunity Zones In Louisville, Kentucky: A Look At The Results So Far., Thomas E. Lambert

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

In 2017 the US Congress passes and President Donald J. Trump signs the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Part of the legislation allows states to create opportunity zones (OZs), census tracts which will be targeted for business investment and economic development through federal tax incentives. In Louisville, Kentucky, as in other jurisdictions throughout the US over the last several decades, special district “zones” have been used by local, state, and/or the federal government(s) to try to revive low-income, deteriorated, and blighted areas. These have been typically urban areas but sometimes have included semi-rural and rural areas. Whether named enterprise …

Recruiting And Retaining Teachers In A Rural School District: A Case Study, Gerald J. Bavero

Dissertations

         This exploratory case study aimed to understand the specific strategies that rural school leaders employ to address the challenges associated with recruiting and retaining teachers in rural schools.  It sought to understand the effectiveness of these strategies within the unique economic and cultural landscape of South West County and to identify practices that could inform broader educational policy and practice in this and similar rural settings.  A qualitative case study approach utilizing semi-structured interview questions was conducted to discover what teacher recruitment and retention strategies school leaders implement and how teachers perceive these strategies.  Findings indicate both formal and informal …

Restorying The Reader: Adolescent Narratives Of Identity, Context, And Motivation, Jennifer R. Gardner

Dissertations

This present study examined how adolescents narrate their reading experiences and what those narratives reveal about reading identity, motivation, and engagement. This study responds to a persistent problem in literacy education: adolescent reading is often framed through disengagement or reduced to isolated constructs, while students’ lived reading experiences across school, home, digital, linguistic, and social contexts remain underexamined. Guided by Self-Determination Theory, Intersectionality, and Reader Response Theory, this study centers on adolescent voices and treats these participants’ stories as the primary avenue of understanding how they experience and interpret their reading lives and selves. Data were collected through narrative interviews, …

Chilling Or Galvanizing: Perceptions Of Controversial Issues In The Social Studies Classroom, Patrick Leahy

Dissertations

This study explores social studies teachers' perceptions of the use of controversial issues in their content and classrooms. Through a case study approach, it explores the decision-making process of social studies teachers in Georgia, contextualized by the current political environment, including the enactment of divisive concepts laws such as Georgia’s HB 1084, the Protect Students First Act, and increasing scrutiny over what is taught in public schools. Findings reveal that while the literature and advocates critical of divisive concepts laws tend to argue that these laws have a chilling effect on the discussion of controversial issues, the reality is more …

The Making Of Shi'a Resistance In Afghanistan: Historical Roots, Communist Rule, And Soviet Occupation, 1978–1989, Sayed Sajjad Hojet

Theses

This thesis examines Shi'a political mobilization in Afghanistan from the 1978 Saur Revolution through the Soviet occupation, ending in 1989. It argues that Shi'a resistance was not simply a religious reaction to Marxist rule but a complex movement shaped by long-term marginalization, influenced by rival political ideas, and connected to cross-border networks in Iran. It traces how persecution under Amir Abdurrahman Khan created a system of political exclusion that shaped Shi'a collective identity before the communist takeover, and how ideologies such Marxism and Political Islam further politicized Shi'a youth in the mid-twentieth century. The PDPA's coercive policies after 1978 helped …

Bridging Culture And Education To Enhance Cherokee Student Health And Wellness, Lindsey Hammer

Theses and Dissertations

Indigenous populations face ongoing health disparities, often worsened by a lack of culturally relevant and Indigenous-led programs and interventions. This dissertation in practice was inspired by the need for community-driven, culturally grounded approaches that address these disparities for Cherokee Nation in Northeastern Oklahoma. Each of the three products are inspired by and aligned with the principles of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), the Cherokee value of gadugi, and the concept of relationality, offering a holistic approach to community health and well-being. Not every product represents a fully implemented CBPR process but rather a CBPR-informed approach. Future stages will emphasize more meaningful …

A Systems Engineering-Based Method For Enabling Digital Transformation In A Binational Small Healthcare Enterprise, Manuel Adrian Alvarez Ramirez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The year 2020, often described as "the great accelerator" for emerging technologies, marked a period of significant transformation in lifestyles, work patterns, and business strategies. For instance, online meetings have become more convenient than in-person interactions, even with colleagues in neighboring offices. For small businesses, rapid regulatory and technological changes required swift adaptation, including the acquisition of new technologies, tools, and software to ensure survival. This transition also necessitated adopting indirect engagement, revising communication protocols, and digitally transforming information. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in essential service sectors face also a fundamental paradox: their dependence on the skills, relationships, and …

Public Art And The Future Of Remembrance In Contested Spaces, Rebecca Ann Munoz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines the memorial landscape of El Paso, Texas as a contested site of public memory, cultural identity, and community representation. Situated at the U.S.-Mexico border, El Paso functions as a palimpsest of layered histories shaped by colonization, militarization, and ongoing negotiations of belonging. Drawing on memory rhetoric and composition studies, and art history, the paper raises critical questions about community engagement, representational equity, and the politics of visibility in public art processes. The paper ultimately calls for a deeper examination of the rhetorical strategies and institutional frameworks that shape memorial meaning-making at the local level, with broader implications …

State-Level Policy And Nursing Workforce Development: A Cross-State Study Of Nurse Faculty Capacity, Jamie Ann Elizabeth Kerestes

Theses and Dissertations

The persistent shortage of nurses in the United States continues to challenge healthcare systems, workforce stability, and access to care. While many states have invested in strengthening clinical workforce pipelines, the nurse faculty shortage remains a primary constraint on nursing programs’ ability to expand enrollment and graduate enough nurses. State-level approaches to addressing nurse faculty recruitment, preparation, and retention vary widely and are shaped by distinct regulatory, educational, and workforce contexts. This research study examines how state-level policies, regulations, and workforce initiatives address nurse faculty capacity within broader nursing workforce development efforts. Using qualitative document analysis, policy documents regarding nursing …

The Effects Of Geography, Forage Sources And Seasonality On Microbial Communities In Honey Bees, Adam Pachl

Theses and Dissertations

There has been growing research examining the effects on honey bee nutrition through their gut microbial communities. While there is some consensus about the core composition of the honey bee gut, there has been very little work to examine if regional or seasonal differences affect the microbiome. To examine if seasonal or regional differences have any impact on the composition of the gut microbiomes on North Dakota honey bees, worker bees were sampled from commercial honey bee colonies both pre and post honey flow in 2022 in six different regions of North Dakota. The gut bacteria from the bees were …

Reducing Structural Barriers In Teacher Preparation: An Improvement Science Study Of A Year-Long Residency Model In Rural Nevada, Brian Zeiszler

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher shortages in Nevada, particularly in rural school districts, have been exacerbated by structural barriers within teacher preparation programs that limit candidate progression to graduation and licensure. This study examines the Teacher Education Program (TEP) at Great Basin College (GBC) as a case to identify these barriers and evaluate the implementation of a year-long teacher residency model as a strategy for improvement. Guided by institutional theory, situated learning theory, and constructivism, this study conceptualizes candidate challenges as systemic rather than individual, focusing on how program structures influence access, persistence, and readiness for licensure.Using a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods case study design, Artifact …

Unraveling The Evolution Of Customer Perspectives In Ride-Hailing And Ridesharing: A Bibliometric Analysis, Arga Hananto, Rhenald Kasali Ph.D, Sri Rahayu Hijrah Hati Ph.D

International Conference on Business and Management Research (ICBMR)

Ride-sourcing services (i.e., ride-hailing and ridesharing)—represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the sharing economy. Although their success fundamentally depends on customer engagement, scholarly reviews have often focused more on operational and technical developments than on customer behavior, satisfaction, and loyalty. This study examines the evolution of ride-sourcing research during the COVID and post-COVID period (2020–2025) through a bibliometric and content analysis of 297 journal articles retrieved from Scopus. While earlier reviews often emphasized operational and technological aspects, this analysis focuses on customer-centered perspectives such as adoption, satisfaction, loyalty, and attitudes.

The findings show a substantial increase in research output …

Decolonising Narratives Through Sonic Artistry And Weaving Dialogues: A Trans-Indigenous Exploration, Adam Manning, Sara Motta

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

As a First Nations artist walking and working in collaboration with other Indigenous creatives, in this piece I explore in dialogue with my sister Sara, the reinterpretation of Beethoven's fifth symphony, seeking to address and alter the colonial narratives linked to a Beethoven sculpture accessed via a QR code. The Beethoven sculpture serves as a means for cultural reinterpretation and decolonisation through modification of Beethoven’s Fifth, Movement One. This exploration extends beyond aesthetic expression evolving into a creative, disruptive and potentially generative intervention. This sonic intervention-disruption questions established ideas and encourages a dialogue that surpasses temporal boundaries, offering a new-ancient …

Forcing The Issue: Nebraska’S Collective Bargaining Stand-Off, Shannon Cummins

Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy

This paper describes the unusual collective bargaining landscape for public academic institutions in the state of Nebraska where state legislation has mandated both pay transparency and limits to the collective bargaining process. Specifically, it explores the unprecedented 2024-2025 bargaining cycle which relied on innovative union tactics of nationwide freedom of information requests (FOIA) to reach contract agreement in the face of twelve years of administration stonewalling tactics. The case study of Nebraska is important as it provides an actual account of negotiations where state limits on collective bargaining have yet to be tested in the courts.

Academic Summaries - Philanthropy, Erica Jensen, Sebastian Dorantes, Faith Manchester, Isabelle Stoddard

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Philanthropy - Joni Full Issue April 2026, Angie Holzer, Erica Jensen

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Blueprints Of City Planning: How Function And Symbolism Have Shaped Our Cities, Elinor J. Stoll

Young Historians Conference

Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in cities. While that wasn’t always the case, cities have existed for millennia, and humans have been planning them for just as long. This paper examines the history of urban planning, from the Indus Valley civilization to Washington DC and New Orleans, into the future of planned cities like the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia. It examines the commonalities between cities across time and establishes a timeline of the emergence of different patterns in city planning history. Among the examples discussed are the Indus Valley civilization, the Ancient Greek city of …

Little Africa In Global China: Transnational Nigerians In Guangzhou And The Making Of Xiaobei, Tess L. Nestel

Young Historians Conference

This paper will examine the history and development of transnationalism fostered by Nigerians in Guangzhou, China, after the late 1990s. Spurred in part by the Asian Financial Crisis, Nigerian men flocked to Guangzhou’s thriving import-export economy. They established the ethnic enclave of Xiaobei, where many lived and engaged in the informal wholesale economy. Nigerians existed between the cultural boundaries of Xiaobei and Lagos, where they constantly returned. Both the export economy in Guangzhou and the resale economy in Lagos’ street markets were deeply influenced by one another through entrepreneurial migrants. This paper will provide a general overview of the many …