Digital Commons Network^™

“Some Rise, Some Fall, Some Climb”: Three Ways Of Looking At Robert Hunter’S The Giant’S Harp, Janet Brennan Croft, David L. Emerson

Journal of Tolkien Research

In this presentation we explore the world of the late Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter’s unpublished novel The Giant’s Harp. We will bring some of the tools we use in fantasy literature criticism and Tolkien studies to bear on this intriguing but sometimes problematic work. First, we want to look at the deep world-building behind the novel and related song cycles: does it create what in fantasy studies we call a legendarium, like the world J.R.R. Tolkien built? Second, how does it stack up as a mythology? What do we see when looking at it through the lenses of …

The Fantasy Of J.R.R. Tolkien: Mythopoeia And The Recovery Of Creation By Robert J. Dobie, Hayden Bilbrey

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

A chapter by chapter review of Robert J. Dobie's 2024 book The Fantasy of J.R.R. Tolkien: Mythopoeia and the Recovery of Creation. The review gives a chapter by chapter breakdown and asserts that though the book is more likely for academics, its approachable coverage of Tolkien's work and philosophical ideas also makes it a great read for anyone who is a fan of Middle-earth.

Public Budget Laws And Economic Performance In The Uae, Carole Ibrahim

Proche-Orient, Études juridiques

This paper aims to examine the impact of the public budget laws implemented in the UAE on the country’s economic performance, by studying the relationship between government spending and the country’s economic activity during the last four decades. The results show that since 2001, government spending has strongly impacted the non-oil economic growth. These results can be explained by the implementation of the “Program and Performance-based Budgeting” method, the medium-term budget cycle, and the functional classification of the government expenditures.

Crusade Doctrine-Inspired Multi-Agent Workspace Governance (Cd-Mawg): A Futuristic Framework For Post-Orchestration Ai Workspaces, Johny Manuel-Devadoss

Defensive Publications Series

Contemporary multi-agent workspace managers rely heavily on centralized orchestration, graph-based execution models, and static role assignment. While effective for bounded workflows, these paradigms exhibit structural limitations when extended to long-horizon, adaptive, and adversarial environments. This paper introduces Crusade Doctrine–Inspired Multi-Agent Workspace Governance (CD-MAWG), a novel architectural framework that reconceptualizes multi-agent coordination through the lens of crusade-era military organization, logistics, and distributed authority.

Rather than treating computation as a sequence of tasks, CD-MAWG models it as a persistent campaign sustained by evolving agent societies. Core innovations include relic-based authority propagation, campaign-state memory structures, emergent agent castes, and dual-constraint scheduling grounded …

Endowmentball, Doron Narotzki

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

This Article presents a policy and a structural response to a national capacity failure in American higher education: the concentration of endowment wealth in a handful of elite institutions, while most colleges, those that educate the majority of Americans, including most low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students, operate under permanent financial constraint, and remain drastically underfunded. This imbalance carries a profound social cost. It weakens equity, limits inclusion, and undermines the promise of upward mobility that higher education is supposed to deliver.

The proposed framework introduces a progressive excise tax on endowment investment returns, scaled by per-student wealth. Universities with excessive …

“As Though You Could Never Sink”: Gender Euphoria Through Aquatic Embodiment In The Sun Also Rises, Devan Edwards

Honors Theses

Recent scholarship in disability studies and queer theory (2007-2024) reveals that Jake Barnes's war wound in Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises functions as something more complex than tragic loss. This paper argues that Jake's swimming and fishing scenes constitute moments of gender euphoria, a term borrowed from contemporary transgender studies, enabled specifically by aquatic embodiment. In these scenes, water functions as the physical and symbolic medium through which Jake's war-wounded body transcends the performative demands of 1920s heteronormative masculinity. Building on Michael Anesko's provocative reading of Jake as "accidentally transgendered" (Literature and Medicine, 2015) and Martina Kübler's argument that impotence …

Three Bacterial Endophytes Enhanced Plant Growth And Yield And Reduced The Severity Of Phytophthora Capsici In Bell Pepper And Tomato Plants In The Field, Daniel Ambachew, Margaret T. Mmbaga Mmbaga, Richard Hall, Peter Eyegheleme, Mustapha Olawuni, Jamille Robinson, Emily Rotich

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Naturally abundant endophytes colonize plants internally without causing harm to their host plants. Endophytes are likely to occupy the same ecological niches as phytopathogens and thus have a high potential to be effective biological control agents. Their demonstrated ability to suppress more than one plant pathogen suggests that they can offer a viable alternative to chemical fungicides and a strategy for decreasing the inoculum potential of soil-borne pathogens. Some biocontrol endophytes are also known to improve soil health and the overall health of plants. However, the results in greenhouse studies do not always translate to consistent field efficacy. In this …

Currents Of Culture: Exchange And Interaction In Early Cycladic Greece, Megan Garrett

Honors Theses

In this paper, trade networks and cultural exchange during the Greek Late Neolithic, Final Neolithic, and the Early Bronze Age will be tracked to better understand cultural interaction, seen through material parallels and synchronicities. Dating between the 5th and 3rd millennia BC, cultural practices will be traced geographically and through material cultures around the Cycladic islands, mainland Greece, and into the Aegean, specifically the exchange networks that include Euboea across each of these periods. Euboea is the second largest island in the Cyclades and is directly east of mainland Attica. Based on previous research, the Early Bronze Age material in …

Walking Through The Alleys Of Motza (Moẓa): Early Evidence Of Settlement Planning And Urban Organization, Dmitry Yegorov, Anna Eirikh-Rose, Hamoudi Khalaily

'Atiqot

Recent excavations at the Final Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) mega-site of Motza revealed the earliest evidence of settlement planning in the Southern Levant to date. The size of the site and the layout of its architectural units indicate that planning decisions were made throughout the settlement establishment and development, beginning with the choice of its location and extending to the organization of intra-site space. This is evident from the presence of central alleys connecting neighborhoods and open areas, alongside smaller roads and passageways linking private and communal structures, and courtyards. The high level of internal organization implies coordinated decision-making by …

Elevational Patterns Of Microplastic Density In The Surface Water Of Remote Mountain Lakes In The Swiss Alps, Nora Gutzwiller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This novel study investigates the presence, distribution, and possible drivers of microplastic (MP) pollution in 15 alpine and subalpine lakes in the Swiss Alps. A total of 35 surface water samples were collected and analyzed under a microscope to identify and classify MPs by size, shape, and color. MPs were found in all lakes, with small fibers being the most abundant type, suggesting that atmospheric processes are a key transport pathway. Contrary to expectations, MP levels showed no significant relationship with elevation, temperature, pH, or distance to anthropogenic features, indicating that broader environmental processes likely control their distribution. However, clear …

Kenyon Collegian - April 23, 2026

The Kenyon Collegian

No abstract provided.

Canndor Herbarium: A Comprehensive Herbarium Resource For Cannabis Identity, Diversity, And Botanical Research, Nick Batora, Laura Klein, Kerin Law, Eleanor Kuntz

Oxford ICSB

Decades of cannabis prohibition have created major gaps in our understanding of cannabis biology, especially with regard to the genomic, phenotypic, and germplasm resources that are standard in other agriculturally and medicinally important crops. Herbarium collections, which serve as archival specimens that preserve plant material for long term study, are no exception. Although herbarium specimens are meant to document plant diversity, most collections contain only a narrow sampling of cannabis and do not reflect the extensive variation present in commerce or this species at large. To address this need, the Canndor Herbarium was established in 2016 as the first dedicated …

Moving Toward Unworthy Life: German Eugenical Views Before 1933, Dylan Cumbo

Liberty University Research Week

The Nazi's campaign against the disabled was not spawned independently. Instead, they were the result of the continuous eugenic efforts under the Weimar republic. Influenced by the theories of Charles Darwin and Francis Galton, German biologists and eugenicists advocated for the implementation of these into German policy. With the collapse of living conditions after World War I and the subsequent rise of disability justified this expansion. Attempts to educate the population and integrate eugenic policies into German law formed the backbone of this period. Publications, such as those by Karl Binding and Alfred Hoche influenced Germans to operate within the …

Frankincense (Boswellia Spp.) Essential Oils: Chemistry-Driven Authentication, Chemotype Discovery, And Sustainability Insights Across My Published Studies, Prabodh Satyal

Oxford ICSB

Frankincense, which comes from the oleo-gum resins of Boswellia species, is one of the most important botanicals in global trade. However, its essential oils often face issues like variations in chemical makeup, mislabeling, and adulteration. This presentation summarizes findings from ten peer-reviewed studies conducted between 2016 and 2023. These studies create a chemistry-based framework for authenticating frankincense and ensuring sustainable sourcing.  Research on various Boswellia species, including B. sacra, B. carteri, B. papyrifera, B. frereana, B. occulta, B. ogadensis, and B. rivae, shows strong patterns in volatile profiles at both the species and tree levels. This supports distinguishing between species …

To Loot Or Not To Loot: The Rise And Fall Of The Louvre (1793-1815), Rebecca Felton

Liberty University Research Week

The recent break-in at the Musée du Louvre resurrected centuries-old questions having to do with conquest, colonialism, and—above all—culture. The ease with which a group of criminals walked into the Galerie d’Apollon and walked out again with priceless artifacts in tow undercuts one of the primary justifications for the creation of the museum in the first place—that only a nation as civilized as France could safeguard the cultural inheritance of the West. The robbery thus begs the question: if France cannot even do that, why should she be allowed to keep the artwork she acquired through dubious means in the …

Beyond Memorization: Ai Chatbots For Smarter Retrieval Practice, Marcy A. Faircloth, Patrick G. Paulson, Lawrence Schrenk

Essays in Education

This paper explores the integration of artificial intelligence chatbots as tools for implementing retrieval practice – an evidence-based learning technique that significantly enhances long-term memory retention – in business education contexts. We present four distinct implementation strategies that vary in sophistication and resource requirements: the standard AI model approach, which allows students to upload materials and use custom prompts for flexible, self-directed practice; the course-specific chatbot, which provides immediate access to preloaded curriculum content; the dedicated retrieval practice chatbot, which incorporates systematic algorithms for spaced repetition and interleaved practice; and the course-specific chatbot with integrated retrieval practice module, which combines …

These Wretched Waters: A New Perspective On The Myth Texts And Visual Adaptations Of The Danaids, Tessa Haney

Theses and Dissertations

Both Greek and Latin texts regarding the Danaids are rife with gestational imagery and vocabulary. This textual focus on chthonic, symbolic aparturience coheres with both Greek and Roman perceptions of femininity. Women in both cultures were socially mandated to marry, have children, and confine themselves to the domestic sphere. The Danaids’ refusal to participate in this system would have been viewed as a breach of cosmic order, and a punishment that grounded the sisters in their 'traditional’ femaleness would have been viewed as a solution to such a breach. While early modern visual adaptations of the Danaid myth lack gestational …

Robust And Interpretable Cross-Domain Arabic Readability Prediction Using Hybrid Modeling: Evidence On The Limitations Of Transformer-Based Classifiers, Sarah Alzu'bi

Theses and Dissertations

Automatic readability assessment aims to predict how difficult a text is for readers to understand. The concept of readability has been widely studied across languages due to its significant impact on reading comprehension, leading to the development of various methods and approaches. In this study, I addressed two key challenges in readability assessment. First, I examine the performance of statistical classifiers and transformer-based models, including CAMeLBERT(Inoue et al, 2021.) with a focus on their ability to generalize under domain, genre, and stylistic shifts. Second, I investigate the interpretability of transformer performance in readability task, which are often criticized for their …

Crossing Borders: Ways To Address Oral Health Disparities In Guatemala And U.S. Latinx Communities, Yeimi Bartolon Perez

Honors Theses

Oral health disparities remain a significant global public health concern, particularly among economically and socially marginalized populations. This study investigates the structural, socioeconomic, and cultural determinants that influence access to dental care across these two populations. Guatemala represents a context where poverty, limited healthcare infrastructure, and geographic isolation restrict access to preventive dental services, often resulting in treatment-seeking only during advanced stages of disease. In contrast, Hispanic/Latinx communities in the United States encounter barriers shaped by language differences, lack of dental insurance, immigration-related concerns, and systemic inequities within the healthcare system. This research employs a mixed-methods approach that integrates secondary …

Strategies Case Managers Use To Communicate With Limited English Proficient Patients, Joel Cruz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) face ongoing communication barriers that heighten medical errors and health disparities because nurse leaders in acute care settings lack empirically informed guidance on leadership practices that effectively implement language services. Grounded in transformational leadership (TL) theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore how nurse leaders perceive, experience, and enact strategies to address the language access needs of LEP patients. The participants were six nurse leaders from across the Midwest region, who successfully led nursing teams to improve communication with LEP patients. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, government proactive …

People Who Moved In The Mountain West, 2024, Anthony Arroyo, Sydney Mitchell, Maisoon Faris, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Cities & Metros

This fact sheet presents 2024 data on state and city-level mobility rates across the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. Point2Homes’ “Mobility Rates Reach Record Low: In 2024, Americans Moved Less Than Ever” report provides data on mobility rates within states, as well as the rate of new residents moving into states and cities across the U.S. This fact sheet highlights mobility rates within Mountain West states, the rate of new residents moving into Mountain West states, and the rate of new residents moving into 63 Mountain West cities. This fact sheet also includes national …

From Cowboys To Corner Crossers: Reviving The Unlawful Inclosures Act To Protect Public Land Access, Brittany Kjerstad Mcknight, Ryan Mcknight

Cleveland State Law Review

As disputes over public land access intensify, “corner crossing” (the act of stepping from one parcel of public land to another at a shared corner with private property) has ignited legal and political battles across the West. At stake is not just the meaning of trespass, but the public’s right to enjoy land it lawfully owns. This Article argues that corner crossing is lawful and should be recognized as such under existing property law principles. It situates the modern corner-crossing controversy within a broader historical and doctrinal framework, tracing its roots to the Unlawful Inclosures Act of 1885 and the …

China Maritime Report #52: Everything Everywhere All At Once: The Growing Complexity Of Pla Amphibious Exercises, Jason Wang, Marvin Hamor Bernardo, Pei-Jhen Wu, Andrew S. Erickson

CMSI China Maritime Reports

Main Findings

• In August 2025, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) conducted a large-scale exercise to simulate an invasion of Taiwan. This “capstone” amphibious exercise suggests that People’s Liberation Army (PLA) training and preparations for a future Taiwan campaign are becoming more focused, realistic, and sophisticated.
• The exercise consolidated elements from previous years into a single simulated operation. It integrated a floating causeway system, anti-landing barriers and obstacles, and amphibious Landing Craft Tank (LCT) vessels that landed forces directly onto beachheads.
• For the first time observed, the PLA conducted a phased exercise with simultaneous amphibious landings in three distinct locations. …

Cameras Or Divers? How Baited Remote Underwater Videos And ‘Long Swims’ Underwater Visual Census Complement Each Other On Coral Reefs, Kennedy Osuka-Edeye, Melita Samoilys, Bryce D. Stewart, Colin J. Mcclean, Peter Musembi, Saleh Yahya

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Conventional methods for surveying coral reefs, such as underwater visual census (UVC), often underestimate large-bodied, mobile, or cryptic fish species due to limitations in diver mobility and visual detection. To address these limitations, rapid timed ‘Long Swim’ (LS) UVC protocols have been developed to better capture large predator assemblages, yet their performance relative to baited remote underwater videos (BRUV) remains poorly evaluated in topographically complex oceanic reef environments. This study provides the first site-specific comparison of BRUVS and LS-UVC protocols for predatory reef fish from nine selected families on the reefs of Pemba Island, Tanzania. To ensure robustness, we implemented …

It Strategies Used To Implement Enterprise Resource Planning Systems, Michele Doverspike

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system implementation represents a significant challenge for small businesses, with failure rates that can lead to substantial financial losses and operational disruption. Information Technology (IT) managers in small businesses face a gap in evidence-based strategies tailored to their organizational context, increasing the risk of implementation failure and its associated financial and operational consequences. Grounded in general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multicase study was to explore the strategies IT managers use to implement ERP systems in small businesses in central Pennsylvania. The participants were six IT managers from small businesses in Pennsylvania who had …

Contesting Protection: Digital Moral Discourses On Child Marriage In Bangladesh, Mashaekh Hassan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This thesis examines how child marriage is represented and morally negotiated on the official Facebook page of UNICEF Bangladesh. Drawing on transnational and Third World feminist critiques of development, it uses feminist content and discourse analysis to analyze twenty-five campaign posts and 2,677 comments (May–July 2025) to trace patterns of representation and moral reasoning. The analysis identifies three dominant representational patterns: child marriage as a rural girls’ issue, rural girls as constrained and victimized, and education as a universal solution, collectively producing a homogenized image of vulnerable girlhood. Two clusters of moral discourse emerge: pro–child marriage (privileging religious morality, critiquing …

Lists Of Selected Full-Text Databases By Subscription In East Asian Studies, Anlin Yang, Michiko Ito, Ellie Kim, Jian P. Lee

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

The 2025 Japanese Rare Book Workshop On The Bibliographical History Of Japanese Rare Books From An International Perspective: A Report, Setsuko Noguchi, Toshie Marra

Journal of East Asian Libraries

The report on the 2025 Japanese Rare Book Workshop on Japanese Rare Book Workshop on the Bibliographical History of Japanese Books from an International Perspective, held at Princeton University Library Special Collection from August 19–21, 2025. The workshop was organized by the Subcommittee on Japanese Rare Books, Committee on Japanese Materials (CJM) within the Council on East Asian Libraries (CEAL) in collaboration with Princeton University Library, Department of East Asian Studies, Program of East Asian Studies, and Professor Takahiro Sasaki of Shido Bunko, Keio University, as the instructor. The three-day workshop was followed by a symposium Case Studies on …

Profanity In Public Address And Its Influence On Audience Perception, Emma Witler

Liberty University Research Week

Profanity is not a novel addition to the context of language and communication. While words themselves or the connotation and severity surrounding them has assuredly evolved, the presence of profanity in society is just as significant now as it has always been. Geography, culture, religious beliefs or affiliations, politics, and even age can be determining factors of what is considered “too far” and when or where this boundary has been crossed. Due to the nature of profanity and its inherent impact on society, it is essential that the use of profanity is analyzed contextually with the intent of increasing communicative …

The Role Of Actuarial Discretion In Discrimination In Auto Insurance, Michael Abrams

Proceedings of GREAT Day

In today's auto insurance industry, rate discrimination against people of color and lower-class individuals is rampant, but unseen by those outside of the industry. This is due to the proliferation of individualist perceptions of the operations of the auto insurance industry among social scientists and legal scholars in calculating insurance rates. It operates on the basis of risk calculation, backed up by actuarial measures that serve to single out minorities living in low-income areas. Driving history, insurance history, zip code, homeownership, and credit are among the most common measures used by insurance companies to calculate insurance rate, are shaped by …