Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Polite But Simple: Social Perception And Morphosyntactic Variation In Southern American English, Jamie Forgey

Liberty University Research Week

Southern American English (SAE) occupies a unique sociolinguistic paradox: it simultaneously evokes warmth and regional identity while serving as a target for stigma tied to perceived lack of education. This mixed-methods study examined whether morphosyntactic variation in SAE functions as a strategic response to that stigma. Combining diachronic and synchronic corpus analysis — drawing from COHA, LAMSAS, and CORAAL — with a between-subjects matched-guise perception survey of 36 participants, this study investigated both the structural integrity of SAE and listener attitudes toward its speakers. Corpus data revealed near-total erasure of high-frequency nonstandard features such as leveled was/were and completive done …

Shadow Networks The Hidden Infrastructure Behind Global Cyber Attacks, Pranav Bhatnagar Mr

Defensive Publications Series

Beneath the visible layer of the internet that supports communication, commerce, and daily digital interaction exists a far more complex and less understood ecosystem of interconnected systems, covert infrastructures, and distributed networks that enable, sustain, and amplify modern cyber operations, forming what can be described as shadow networks, an invisible backbone of global cyber conflict where attacks are not simply launched but orchestrated, routed, disguised, and sustained across borders, jurisdictions, and technological layers, and these networks are not confined to isolated hacker groups but are often embedded within legitimate infrastructure, cloud environments, compromised devices, and anonymization frameworks that make attribution …

Scientific Research In Cuba: A General Analysis With A Special Focus On Energy, Agriculture And Technology, Henri Dou, Pierre Fournie

International Journal of Islands Research

An analysis of science in Cuba is carried out using data from the OpenAlex database. Examples are developed: agriculture, rice, technology in relation to the current situation: national food supply, energy and medicine. The predominance of research in biology and medicine and the low commitment in the fields of agriculture, energy, medicinal plants and technology are highlighted. Various development schemes are proposed. The conclusion is that research must be directed towards strategic areas: food and energy, must be less dispersed and that technology must be better taken into account. Three proposals are made: the development of a chemical analysis platform …

Effective Courts Of Last Resort: The Supreme Court’S Limited Docket And The Rise Of The Courts Of Appeals As Final Arbiter On Minors’ First Amendment Rights, Lillian Powers

Honors Theses

This thesis explores how the Supreme Court’s power of selecting its own docket has resulted in fewer cases being addressed annually and its effect on minors’ First Amendment rights. Minors’ First Amendment rights is one of the many niche areas of law that do not receive hearings in front of the Supreme Court. My research shows that the Supreme Court’s neglect of these issues led to Court of Appeals taking on the role of a court of last resort. As precedent from select Supreme Court cases such as Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969), Bethel School District …

Fhss Collaborations: Departmental Cohesion And Inter-Departmental Ties, Sydney P. Goodson, Alexandra Williams, Aaron Hunter, Salem Hansen

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This project analyzes patterns of faculty collaboration within the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences (FHSS) at BYU using social network analysis of co-authorship data. As part of this research, we compiled data from Google Scholar on the 216 publishing faculty members within FHSS and their co-authorship connections. The study evaluates both internal cohesion and inter-departmental collaboration. Key measures include clustering coefficients to assess within-department cohesion, and degree and strength to capture the breadth and volume of collaborations across departments. Findings indicate that departments such as Sociology, School of Family Life, and Geography exhibit relatively high internal cohesion, suggesting …

Using Geospatial Environmental And Income Variables As Predictors Of Diabetes In Appalachia, John Kunicki Huth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes remains disproportionately prevalent in Appalachia, and macroenvironmental contributors remain poorly understood. Guided by spatial epidemiology, this quantitative, cross-sectional ecological study examined whether county-level environmental factors including distance to mine, distance to landfill, distance to water, mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, forest classification, distance to impervious surface, and median income were independently and collectively associated with diabetes cases per capita in West Virginia, used as a surrogate for Appalachia. Research questions addressed environmental predictors of diabetes cases per capita with and without controlling for median income. Publicly available county-level data from 53 West Virginia counties representing adults aged 20 …

2026 Undergraduate Research Symposium Program, Coastal Carolina University

Undergraduate Research Symposium Programs

17th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 21-22, 2026.

The 2026 CCU Undergraduate Research Symposium included 72 oral presentations, 127 poster presentations, and 22 team pitch presentations comprising 50 students who participated in the Wall College’s Chant’s Tank Pitch Competition.

Presentations at the Undergraduate Research Symposium were judged by almost 90 faculty and staff, and prizes were awarded in three categories: Best Oral Presentation, Best Poster Presentation, and Best Chant’s Tank Pitch Presentation. Here are the following award winners and their mentors in their respective categories:

Best Oral Presentation:

• 1st Place: Ryan Ryan Avallone, Applied Mathematics. Faculty Mentor: Bong Jeong (Management …

Three Papers On The Impacts Of Electoral Rules On The Behavior Of Politicians, Jordon Tyler Newton

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is composed of three papers that examine the ways that electoral rules may provide elites incentives that cut against citizen interests. In the first, titled ``Maybe Later: Term Limits and Strategy Behind Candidate Entry," I use the context of term limits to reexamine conditions for candidate entry. I argue they reduce the number of candidates who challenge incumbents, leading to a lock-in effect. By increasing the frequency of open races, term limits incentivize potential challengers to wait for an open race. To demonstrate this, I analyze primary data from 85 legislative chambers in 44 states over a two-decade …

Create @ State 2026, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro

Create@State

Proceedings for 2026

Before The Flood: A Theoretical Research Proposal On Prediluvian Traditions And Göbekli Tepe, Donald Thomas

Liberty University Research Week

This theoretical research explores whether the prediluvian “Pillars of Knowledge” described in ancient Jewish traditions may correspond to the archaeological site of Göbekli Tepe. By comparing early textual sources referencing preserved antediluvian knowledge with current archaeological findings and interpretations of Göbekli Tepe, this study evaluates whether meaningful parallels exist or whether similarities are coincidental. Using interdisciplinary historical and textual analysis, the project seeks to contribute to ongoing discussions about the relationship between mythological memory, flood traditions, and prehistoric monumental architecture.

Breastfeeding And Infant Health In Guatemala: A Systematic Review (2015–2025), Haley Gebhard, Alexandra Mixan, Manasvi Shiyani, Shaira Neupane

Liberty University Research Week

Breastmilk provides ideal nutrition for infants during early life, supporting physical growth, development, and long-term health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding protects against infant illness and child malnutrition by ensuring a consistent source of energy and nutrients.1 The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding, which means no other liquids or solids except medicines or supplements, for the first six months of life to reduce negative health outcomes for infants and children.1 Only about 44% of infants worldwide are exclusively breastfed through six months of age, well below the WHO global nutrition target of 70% by 2030. In Guatemala, chronic …

Breastfeeding And Infant Health In Virginia: A Systematic Review (2015-2025), Haley Gebhard, Rebecca Martha Nantale, Tahirou Diallo, Treasure Nkemdilim James, Yiwei Huang

Liberty University Research Week

Breastfeeding has long been recognized as the optimal nutritional option for infants due to its extensive health benefits for both infants and mothers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding serve as protective factors infant morbidity and mortality.1 Despite the knowledge on breastfeeding and its significance to infant growth and development, breastfeeding rates remain suboptimal worldwide. Even in the U.S., public health has identified increasing breastfeeding rates as a national goal, especially targeting low-income areas. The purpose of this study is to systematically identify and evaluate studies examining breastfeeding practices and infant outcomes among the …

The Ethnic And Cultural Amalgamation In Buenos Aires And The Evolution Of Argentine Tango, Damien N. Ehie

Create@State

Ethnic and Cultural Amalgamation in Buenos Aires and the Evolution of Argentine Tango

Argentine tango is widely recognized as a national symbol of Argentina, yet it did not originate as a unified cultural expression. This project examines how large-scale immigration and urban geography in Buenos Aires between approximately 1880 and the mid-twentieth century shaped tango’s musical language and social meaning. During this period, the city absorbed massive numbers of Italian and Spanish migrants alongside existing Afro-Rioplatense communities, creating dense neighborhoods where diverse populations lived in close proximity. Shared housing, informal performance spaces, and working-class leisure environments produced sustained cultural interaction. …

Variation In Infection Prevalence Of Splendidofilaria Pectoralis Across Alaskan Grouse Populations, Anahi Garcia Valdez, Diego Martinez

Create@State

In recent years, rapid climate change has altered species distributions worldwide and influenced parasite transmission dynamics in wildlife systems. Parasite infections play an important role in shaping patterns of disease distribution across species and populations. Understanding variation in infection prevalence across geographic regions and host demographic groups is essential for interpreting these patterns. Splendidofilaria pectoralis is a filarial nematode that infects the connective tissues of grouse (Aves: Tetraonini) in Alaska and has been moving northward as the climate warms. However, relatively little is known about the variation in prevalence of the nematode across geography and demography. This project examines variation …

Reframing Alpha-Gal Syndrome As A One Health Oral Health Risk: A Theoretical Model For Dental Safety And Policy Reform, Oyebolu Aderinola Akinkugbe, Akuchinyere Titus-Okpanachi, Oluwatosin Marylyn Oduneye

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Vol. 1 Full Issue

V Music Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Prospector, April 20, 2026, Utep Student Publications

The Prospector

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Zomi Pentecostalism In Its Social, Cultural, And Political Context: A Pentecostal Quest For The Lost Paradise, Thang San Mung

College of Theology and Ministry Dissertations, Projects, & Theses

This dissertation examines the paradisal quest of the Zomi people, an ethnic Christian minority in Myanmar, through the lens of Pentecostal spirituality. Historically, the Zomi have experienced political displacement, loss of their ancestral homeland (Zogam), and ongoing marginalization. While existing scholarship has primarily interpreted Zomi struggles in terms of ethnic identity, nationalism, and socio-political resistance, this study offers a theological reorientation by interpreting Zomi paradisal longing through the Spirit-Restored Paradise framework, a Pentecostal theological model developed here. Employing a qualitative ethnographic methodology grounded in contextual theology, the research draws on semi-structured interviews with twenty-four Zomi Pentecostal participants from Myanmar and …

An Etruscan Life And Death: 2025 Findings From The Valle Gianni Archaeological Site, Skye Mccord

Exceptional Scholarship & Artistry

The site of Valle Gianni, part of The Northwest Bolsena Archaeological Project, is located on the northwest lakefront of Lake Bolsena, and harbors many Roman and Etruscan archaeological findings dating back to the late Iron Age. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the cultural traditions of the Etruscans, their place in the wider Mediterranean during the late Iron Age into Classical antiquity, and the changes to both physical landscapes and cultural landscapes after their conquest by the Romans. The site of Valle Gianni acts as a case study in the dynamics of colonization and the repurposing of sacred …

Building Resilient Cities: Strategies For Sustainable Urban Development In Response To Climate Change In Uae, Thekra Hattawi

Theses

This thesis discusses the way cities may grow and adopt resilient urban measures to incorporate sustainability, technological advancements, governance systems, and financial systems in order to reduce the effects of climatic changes. Cities across the globe are being threatened by the effects of climate change due to the growing number of threats to humans, which include global temperatures increasing, marine level rising, droughts due to water shortages, and extreme weather patterns. This thesis will discuss ways in which the city centers of cities particularly in the UAE can strategize and embrace a holistic resiliency planning to address these multidimensional problems. …

Impacts Of Climate Change On China’S Agricultural Production And Proposed Countermeasures, Yaning Chen, Yanjun Shen, Ming Jiang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Climate change is among the most severe global challenges today. It directly impacts agricultural production, which is highly dependent on climatic conditions, imposing multi-dimensional and systemic risks and challenges on China’s agriculture. Drawing on observational data and analysis of the literature, this study systematically examines the impacts of climate change on agricultural production in China. Over the past half century, China’s annual mean surface temperature has risen significantly at a rate of 0.31℃ per decade, exceeding the contemporaneous global average. This trend has intensified climatic variability and extremes, disrupted the prior balance of agricultural water resources, and led to the …

Impact Of Climate Change On Agricultural Production In The North China Plain And Adaption Strategies, Yanjun Shen, Ying Guo, Chuanwei Zhang, Yaning Chen

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Over the past century, global warming has posed significant challenges to the North China Plain (NCP), a core region for grain production, where resource-induced water scarcity now coincides with complex meteorological disasters. In recent years, the NCP has exhibited new climatic characteristics, notably the transition from a “warm-dry” to a “warm-wet” pattern accompanied by asymmetric warming, leading to an increased frequency of extreme events such as droughts, abrupt dry-flood alternations, and temperature extremes. These shifts pose a grave threat to regional grain stability. Currently, critical gaps remain in the understanding of the underlying disaster mechanisms, as well as in predictive …

Gathering Places: Indigenous Resources, Economies, And Diplomacy In The Northeastern Great Plains, 1650 – 1806 Ce, Matthew D. Busch

History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Centuries before European arrival in the Great Plains region of North America, Indigenous exchange networks connected people within the continental interior to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the Gulf Coast. Throughout this vast Native Space, Indigenous peoples sought new resources and opportunities to create sustainable and successful lifeways by harnessing the spiritual, economic, and political power of place as they journeyed across the landscape.

The Coteau des Prairies centrally located between the Missouri, Mississippi, and Hudson's Bay watersheds within the Northeastern Great Plains represents a unique place of power. This imposing glacially modified landscape characterized by numerous lakes, fertile …

Exploring Alternate Methods Of Flood Output Estimation During Natural Disasters, Finley Gardner

Honors College Theses

In April of 2025, extreme flooding damaged many homes and buildings of people across Kentucky. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) produces maps that show the potential for flooding in areas around water bodies, but many of the April flooding damaged areas were well outside of the FEMA classification zones. The main purpose of this thesis research was to create an accurate model of potential flood extent in Kentucky and compare it to FEMA maps. This model did not require extensive computing power and produced a map that accurately depicted flood extent through the use of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) …

Fostering A Sense Of Belonging Through Culturally Engaging Campus Environments, Rebeca Barajas-Juarez

Masters Projects

Latinx college students are the fastest growing student population, enrolling into college at higher rates than any other group, yet their retention rates are concerningly low (Almanzar & Ruedas-Gracia, 2024). Research has shown that Latinx students disproportionately experience hostile campus climates and feel the negative effect on their sense of belonging (Hurtado & Carter, 1997). Additionally, Latinx students at predominantly white institutions regularly encounter challenges that lead to feelings of isolation and a higher likelihood of departing from college (Benavides et al., 2024). This project uses Samuel D. Museus’ (2014) Culturally Engaging Campus Environment (CECE) Model as the main framework …

Sustainability, Culture, And Higher Education: An Autoethnographic Sustainability Comparison Of The Sustainability Initiatives At The University Of Salzburg And Bowling Green State University, Madison Alt

Honors Projects

Human activity is already triggering damaging environmental tipping points (Lenton, 2020), emphasizing the need for sustainability in all aspects of development. Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs) have the power and responsibility to contribute to a more sustainable world (Parr et al., 2022). Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio, United States, and the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS) in Salzburg, Austria are two IHEs with multifaceted sustainability programs. While living and studying at BGSU and PLUS, I used autoethnography, a personal narrative approach, combined with public sustainability information to compare the sustainability initiatives at each university, and determine what …

Impacts Of Climate Change On Agricultural Production And Adaptation Strategies In Northeast China, Ming Jiang, Aizhen Liang, Peng Qi

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

As the “stabilizer” of national food security, Northeast China is highly sensitive to climate change. Over the past 60 years, the regional temperature has risen significantly at a rate of 0.034℃/a, which is much higher than the global average of 0.0074℃/a. The improvement of thermal resources has driven a significant northward expansion of high-yield and heat-demanding crops, such as maize and rice. Nevertheless, increased warming has enhanced evapotranspiration demand, which, combined with the expansion of planting scales, has led to a 19.8% increase in agricultural irrigation water consumption over the past 20 years, resulting in a prominent contradiction between supply …

Cosmopolitical Trans-Temporalities: Relational Landscapes, Shamanism And Indigenous Futurism In Southeast Asia, Ivan Tacey

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

In Southeast Asia, Indigenous worlds have long been shaped through entanglements with outsiders. But how do such relations intersect with shamanic, place-making, and mythopoetic practices? This paper explores how the cosmopolitical engagements of the Batek of Malaysia unsettle colonial mappings of land, history, and identity, while creating space to contest environmental degradation, economic marginalisation, and political exclusion. It traces how origin myths are tied to land claims, how animist imaginations echo pre-colonial and colonial encounters, and how cosmopolitical practices appropriate foreign imagery and transform traumatic histories. Rather than viewing Indigenous actors as locked in the past–or cosmopolitics as a clash …

Decolonizing The Academic Library: Examining The Successful Indigenization Of Ubc And Unm’S Library Services, Emily T. Villars

School of Information Student Research Journal

This article examines decolonization and indigenization initiatives at two academic libraries: the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of New Mexico (UNM). It asks how these institutions have implemented indigenization in their libraries and what lessons can inform broader reconciliation work across North America. Through a comparative lens, it analyzes how national and organizational frameworks, such as the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA-FCAB) Truth and Reconciliation Report and Recommendations and the American Indian Library Association’s (AILA) organizational goals, can shape these efforts. The study highlights three core strategies: decolonizing access and classification, transforming library spaces, and expanding …