Digital Commons Network^™

Lexical Selection And New Word Formation In Apex Legends, Genevieve Dickerson

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This research observes the use of language within FPS gaming. Data was collected by solo queuing into the battle royale FPS, Apex Legends, and analyzing the way the player group develops different verbiage to meet the communication needs of the game. Four forms of word-formation mechanisms were observed: compounding (hitbox), borrowing (heaven), noun-verb conversion (spawn), and new-word formation (int-ing). This work supports the hypothesis that the lexical formations which are most-opted for within these games result from noun-verb conversion, due to the fact that these formations are typically monosyllabic and thus more efficient within time-sensitive gameplay. This research explores …

Entiscum Yrfe Ealdniflunga: Meter And Poetic Style In Tolkien’S Old English Attila, Galen Miller-Atkins

Journal of Tolkien Research

Tolkien famously wrote several poems in Old English and Gothic; however, these remain understudied for their philological and poetic qualities relative to his modern English poetic corpus. In the Old English Poem of Attila Tolkien adapts the Old Norse poem Atlakviða into Old English. This essay analyzes the meter and poetic techniques in Old English Poem of Attila, especially in relation to the closely related, Eddic poem Atlakviða. The Old English Poem of Attila exhibits verse patterns and vocabulary from the Old Norse original, but it is firmly rooted in the Old English poetic tradition. Tolkien deliberately blends …

The Association Of Having Physician Parents With Medical Students’ Intention To Pursue Ophthalmology: An Aamc Analysis, Shamila Ladak, Anam Akhlaq, Rahel M. Imru, Laura K. Green, Ambar Faridi, Grace Sun,, Fasika A. Woreta

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: Having a physician parent may influence a medical students’ career choices. However, limited data exists regarding the relationship between having a physician parent and medical students’ intention to pursue ophthalmology, which remains a highly competitive specialty.

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of physician parents among U.S. medical students intending to pursue ophthalmology and identify associated demographic and socioeconomic factors.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using deidentified data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Graduation Questionnaire (GQ) administered between 2016 and 2022. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine associations …

Impact Of Letter Writers On Ophthalmology Residency Match Success, Simran Ohri, Iden Amiri, Daniel E Rubinstein, Alice Yang Zhang

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: Ophthalmology residency applications have surged in recent years, and with USMLE Step 1 now evaluated on a pass/fail basis, program directors increasingly rely on subjective metrics. Letters of recommendation (LOR) offer valuable insight into applicants’ interpersonal skills and are among the most important selection factors. This study investigates how characteristics of LOR writers influence residency match outcomes.

Purpose: To examine how the characteristics of LOR writers affect success in the ophthalmology residency match.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of San Francisco (SF) Match application data for United States allopathic seniors from 2023 and 2024. Reapplicants, international medical graduates, …

Exploring Gender Bias In Ophthalmology Clerkship Evaluations: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of Student And Evaluator Interactions, Anagh Kulkarni, Jullia A. Rosdahl

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: Although the proportion of female medical trainees has grown in recent years, disparities related to sex and gender persist, especially among students and physicians in surgical specialties. With clinical evaluations increasingly influencing residency selection, understanding potential gender bias is essential to fostering equity in ophthalmology training.

Purpose: To investigate potential gender bias in ophthalmology clerkship evaluations by examining both quantitative scores and narrative feedback for second- and fourth-year medical students, with attention to the influence of student and evaluator gender.

Methods: This was a retrospective mixed-methods study analyzing 643 ophthalmology clerkship evaluations from the Duke University …

Federated Learning With Deep Learning: A Comprehensive Survey, Sarah H. Mnkash, Faiz A. Alawy, Israa T. Ali

Iraqi Journal of Computers, Communications, Control and Systems Engineering

Federated Learning (FL) introduces a decentralized machine learning paradigm where model training occurs directly on user devices, ensuring data privacy by keeping sensitive information local. This approach ensures data privacy and security by keeping all sensitive or personally identifiable information local to the device, thereby eliminating the need to transfer or centralize raw data. In this survey, we examine federated deep learning — its challenges, recent developments, application domains, privacy preservation strategies, and future trends. We will give some primitive reference papers of the heterogeneity of statistics and systems, communication cost, fairness, and trust. Applications in health, Internet of Things …

Barriers And Facilitators To Lung Cancer Screening In Arab/Middle Eastern And North African (Mena) Communities, Sara Komaiha, Mustafa Sharba, Ahmad Dulli, Faten Abda, Rawan Antar, Dana Sunbulli, Jad Fawaz, Ragad Almsaddi, Jawad Saad, Yasmin Snounu, Morhaf Al Achkar

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: Lung cancer remains the second most prevalent cancer worldwide, with an estimated 2.21 million new cases in 2025. Screening rates for colorectal and cervical cancers are consistently lower among Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) populations compared to White populations, suggesting similarly low participation in lung cancer screening (LCS). This study explores multilevel determinants of LCS engagement.

Methods: Using the Socio-Ecological Model and the Health Belief Model frameworks, this qualitative study examines how individual, interpersonal, and community factors shape screening behaviors. Screening-eligible adults and key LCS stakeholders, including clinicians, administrators, and community leaders, are recruited for focus groups and …

Outreach Challenges And Strategies For Educating Arab/Mena Community On Colorectal Cancer Screening, Rawan Antar, Faten Abda, Dana Sunbulli, Ahmad Dulli, Mustafa Sharba, Sara Komaiha, Jad M. Fawaz, Ragad Almsaddi, Jawad Saad, Yasmin Snounu, Morhaf Al Achkar

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: Arab/MENA communities in Michigan face unique cultural, linguistic, and structural barriers that contribute to lower colorectal cancer (CRC) screening awareness and uptake. “Trimming the Risks” was a community-engaged educational project designed to reach Arabic-speaking men through trusted social spaces, particularly barbershops, and through community-based Lunch and Learn sessions. This project assesses engagement patterns from this initiative to identify effective strategies and challenges to improve future MENA engagement.

Methods: Our educational initiative implemented two main interventions. Pilot A trained barbers on CRC screening information through a structured 2-hour session, provided iPads with bilingual educational videos, and equipped barbers to guide …

Patient-Provider Communication Among Deaf English Users: Disparities And Implications For Cancer Screening, Ciara Luttrell

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

Early detection is one of medicine's powerful tools; routine cancer screenings can help diagnose cancer early and enable immediate treatment. Cancer screening and prevention efforts have accounted for 4.75 million (80%) cancer deaths averted between 1975 and 2020 for five major cancer types (NIH, 2025). Nevertheless, this powerful tool is not shared equally. Many deaf adults who use English still experience barriers and disparities. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to investigate how deaf English-using individuals in the United States interact with their healthcare providers and whether these interactions are associated with cancer screening interest among these populations. The …

Relational Histories: Exploring The Transmission Of Ceramic Technology In The Norton Sound Region Through Petrographic Analysis, Laurel Michelle Diciuccio

Dissertations and Theses

Ceramic technology in the Bering Strait region of the North American Arctic dates to approximately 2,500 BP and is broadly divided into two traditions: the Early Arctic (Norton, pre-1,500 BP) and the Late Arctic (Thule, post-1,500 BP). While Arctic ceramic studies have focused on raw material sourcing, vessel use, and cooking performance, this research investigates forming methods and ceramic fabrics to better understand their place in the technological behavioral chain. This approach fills a gap in the literature by centering on vessel construction and offers new insights from Norton Sound sites, including type sites Iyatayet and Nukleet.

Macroscopic and petrographic …

The Myth Of The Immigrant As A Criminal: Rhetoric, Otherness, And The Legal Construction Of Danger, Katerina Fernandez

Immigration and Human Rights Law Review

The figure of the “criminal immigrant” occupies a central place in contemporary U.S. immigration discourse, shaping public perception, enforcement priorities, and legal doctrine. Yet a substantial body of empirical research consistently demonstrates that immigrants—both documented and undocumented—commit crimes at lower rates than native-born citizens. This Note examines why the narrative of immigrant criminality persists despite this evidence and how it influences the development and operation of immigration law. It argues that “immigrant” functions not only as a legal category but also as a socially constructed marker of Otherness, encompassing perceived differences in race, language, culture, and religion. Through this lens, …

The Expanding Digital Border: Ai, Surveillance, And The Fight For Justice, James Chesser

Immigration and Human Rights Law Review

As artificial intelligence transforms the mechanisms of immigration control, the modern border has become a digital filter—one governed less by geography and more by code. This Article examines the legal, technical, and ethical implications of AI-driven systems now central to global border enforcement, including biometric surveillance, algorithmic risk scoring, and predictive profiling. It explores how states use these technologies not only to manage irregular migration, but to compete for global talent—constructing migration regimes that reward capital and compliance while eroding transparency, due process, and equality.

Through an international and comparative lens, the piece highlights the expansion of algorithmic decision-making across …

Review Of Christian Conversion And Mission: A Brief Cultural History. By Andrew F. Walls., Misael Cornelio

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

A review of Christian Conversion and Mission: A Brief Cultural History. By Andrew F. Walls.

The Modern Shift In The Roman Catholic Understanding Of Speaking In Tongues, John Gresham

Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology

Over the course of the twentieth century, the Roman Catholic understanding of speaking in tongues shifted from viewing the gift as always and exclusively xenolalia (infused knowledge of foreign languages) to a view of tongues as primarily glossolalia (inspired praise not in any known human language). This theological shift is reflected in standard Catholic reference works and in the ordinary teachings of the Catholic magisterium. This shift was a result of Catholic acceptance of historical-critical study of Scripture, a new understanding of charisms, ecumenical openness to the gifts of other Christian traditions, and most significantly, the rise of the Charismatic …

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence For Transformative Education: Challenges And Recommendations, Papia Bawa

Journal of Research Initiatives

The sheer force with which GPT models are inundating business, education and economic fields speaks to its ability to not only transform the ways in which we interact and act but also disrupt these ways. This systematic literature review applies the PSALSAR method to synthesize findings from 72 articles on AI applications in education, emphasizing its transformative potential across various domains. AI is transforming personalized learning by customizing content and feedback to individual needs, addressing challenges like data privacy and ethical concerns. It enhances administrative efficiency through automation and data-driven decision-making, improving institutional performance while managing biases and maintaining human …

Preschool Special Educators' Perceptions On Using Role-Play To Improve Language Development For Preschoolers With Autism, Ini Udosen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that preschool special educators are not consistently integrating role-play strategies when teaching language development to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at ABC district (a pseudonym), a district in the southeastern United States. Grounded in Vygotsky’s social learning construct, the purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of preschool special educators on using role-playing exercises to model proper communication behaviors and to improve learning skills as well as other advantages of role-play activities for children with ASD at ABC district. For this basic qualitative study, semistructured interviews were conducted …

Building A Bridge To African American Student Success: A Quantitative Study At A Community College In Central Kentucky, Kauai R. Thurman

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Kauai R. Thurman on April 2, 2026.

The Effect Of Cerebral Somatosensory Network Priming On Language Function In Chronic L-Mca Ischemic Stroke: A Companion Case Study, Mandelin E. Wollesen

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Chronic aphasia following a left middle cerebral artery (L-MCA) stroke is often associated with limited recovery beyond the acute phase, necessitating interventions that target neuroplastic mechanisms. This study examined the effects of somatosensory pneumotactile stimulation paired with cognitive-linguistic tasks on functional language performance in an individual with chronic aphasia. Using a single-subject pre-post design, the participant completed a 10-week intervention protocol involving repeated pneumotactile stimulation via the GALILEO system combined with language and motor tasks. Outcomes were assessed using standardized measures, discourse-based language samples, oral reading, repetition, and phonemic verbal fluency. Discourse was analyzed using Correct Information Units (CIUs), words …

A Qualitatively Driven Approach Integrated With Quantitative Analysis Applied To Decision Making In Institutional Administration Of Higher Education, Cristo Leon Ph.D., James Lipuma Ph.D., Michelle Kudelka

STEM for Success Resources

A qualitatively driven mixed methods study on decision-making in higher education administration. The article integrates Constructivist Grounded Theory, thematic analysis, participatory design, and quantitative dashboard analytics to examine interdisciplinary collaboration, institutional research management, and user-centered data visualization. It offers a practical framework for designing accessible and context-sensitive academic dashboards that support evidence-informed governance, resource allocation, and research strategy in universities

Historical Facts And Constitutional Law: New Challenges For Lawyers, Judges, And Scholars, Joseph Blocher, Brandon L. Garrett, H. Timothy Lovelace Jr.

Duke Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Unwanted Histories, Christen Hammock Jones, Karen M. Tani

Duke Law Journal

The Supreme Court’s turn to history as a method of constitutional decisionmaking has both intrigued and alarmed professional historians, for reasons now well-rehearsed in the literature. This Article takes as a given that history is now part of judges’ work. It then invites judges to think more expansively about the type of history they could—and perhaps should—be producing. This task, in turn, means engaging with some of the central questions about methodology and sources that preoccupy professional historians.

This Article focuses on a source base that historians routinely rely upon but that courts have shied away from: personal accounts of …

Falsifying Tradition, Darrell A. H. Miller

Duke Law Journal

From cases spanning gun rights, reproductive freedom, religious liberty, and personal jurisdiction; to separation of powers and other structural features of the Constitution, courts increasingly rely on tradition to guide their decisions. Often, judges appeal to tradition in a vaguely empirical way, as “facts to study, not convictions to demonstrate about,” in the words of Justice Antonin Scalia. Yet, for a claim that purports to be factual, there’s very little agreement, or even analysis, about what renders this factual assertion—tradition—true or false. This Article tackles that basic issue.

Part I surveys the ways in which courts use tradition in different …

Early Childhood Pre-Service Teacher Interns’ Experiences In Building Relationships With Students’ Families, Fungayi Madzonga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Strong relationships between educators and students’ families are essential for fostering learning environments to meet the needs of early childhood students. The problem that was addressed through this study is that many early childhood preservice teacher interns (ECPTIs) experience challenges in building relationships with students’ families during the internship phase of teacher preparation in Alberta. Framed by ecological systems and self determination theories, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore ECPTIs’ experiences building relationships with students’ families and to understand the resources needed to strengthen those relationships in Alberta. Semi structured interviews were conducted with 12 ECPTIs …

Ais26s: Genai And Llms For Cybersecurity, Political Sciences, Transportation Security, And Resiliency, Latifur Khan

Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute Publications

This presentation examines the role of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and large language models (LLMs) in addressing complex challenges across cybersecurity, political science, and transportation security. Dr. Latifur Khan discusses how advanced AI methods can be applied to threat detection, data analysis, and decision-making in high-risk and data-intensive environments. The talk highlights interdisciplinary applications of LLMs, emphasizing their ability to extract insights from large-scale data, improve system resilience, and support intelligent infrastructure. Emerging research directions and practical implications for real-world deployment are also discussed.

A Hybrid System For Multi-Stage Generation Of Contextual Translation Variants, Leonid Kuligin, Thomas Zettl

Defensive Publications Series

Some automated translation systems may be limited by producing a single, high-probability output, which can lack the linguistic diversity beneficial for certain applications. A hybrid, multi-stage workflow can generate multiple contextual translation variants by utilizing a probabilistic generative model, such as a large language model, to produce an initial set of translation candidates based on specified constraints. These candidates may then be programmatically refined, rated for quality, and deduplicated using deterministic and semantic techniques. By producing a curated list of distinct translation options instead of one output, this process can provide broader linguistic coverage to improve the performance of dependent …

Energy, Computation, And The Nuclear Renaissance: Material Foundations Of The Data Economy, Apolo Fernandez

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Multimodal Speech-Based Dementia Detection Using Wav2vec2 And Demographic Features, Carlos Blanco, Prajwal Shetty, Tyler Hood

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) Conference

Early detection of dementia is essential for timely clinical intervention, yet existing diagnostic procedures remain costly and resource-intensive. Speech-based analysis has emerged as a promising non-invasive alternative due to its sensitivity to cognitive decline. In this work, we propose a multimodal framework that integrates self-supervised speech representations from wav2vec2 with demographic metadata, including age, gender, and ethnicity. We evaluate our approach against a strong audio-only baseline under a controlled experimental setup. Results demonstrate a +12.5% improvement in validation accuracy and consistent gains in macro F1-score. These findings indicate that demographic information provides complementary predictive signals beyond acoustic features alone, highlighting …

Voice As A Bio-Marker Of Surgical Recovery: Classifying Post-Operative Ent Patients Using Vowel Acoustics, Habeeb Kotun Jr., Shumit Saha

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) Conference

Voice has garnered significant interest as a biomarker for diagnosing and managing neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases. However, upper airway surgeries such as septoplasty, tonsillectomy, and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) can substantially alter vocal tract anatomy, thereby changing vocal acoustics and potentially confounding voice-based diagnostic systems. This study investigates whether acoustic features from sustained vowels can differentiate between these procedures and a control group. Audio was collected from 105 Spanish-speaking participants 15 days pre surgery and 15 days post surgery. For each vowel, 121 chroma, cepstral, spectral, and temporal features were extracted and then reduced to 90 longitudinally responsive …

Ccp Political Warfare Campaigns Against The U.S., Naomi Park, Rael Worrhen, Hannah Worthen

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Manipulation Behind The Pro-Choice Movement, Madeline S. Schlautman

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.