Digital Commons Network^™

Illuminating Those Who Lurk In The Shadows: An Examination Of The Use Of Psychological Profiling In Identifying Violent Criminals In The Modern Age, Skylar R. Holmes

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines the role of psychological profiling in apprehending violent criminals. Psychological profiling involves analyzing behavioral patterns at crime scenes, exploring the relationships between victims, and identifying characteristics and tendencies of offenders. It is currently used by many law enforcement agencies across the country to narrow down a pool of potential suspects and direct researchers, making the most of the limited manpower available. There is, however, a significant limitation in the literature and available evidence that suggests its tenets may be based on intuition and anecdotal evidence purported by investigators, subject to internal bias and thus should not be …

Perceptions, Expectations, And Attitudes About Adolescent Telepsychiatry Among Indian American Family Caregivers, Udayvir Jalf

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Adolescent mental health concerns have risen sharply in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a significant turning point in mental health care access, with telehealth having become a central mode of care delivery. With adolescent telehealth, caregiver involvement has shown to improve treatment adherence and outcomes. Little is known, however, about how Indian American caregivers experience and navigate their adolescent’s virtual mental health care. This qualitative study investigated the perceptions, expectations, and attitudes of Indian American family caregivers regarding adolescent telepsychiatry and caregivers’ involvement. In depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with Indian American caregivers of adolescents who completed at …

Task-Aligned Knowledge Transfer For Vision-Language Models Across Diverse Visual Challenges, Dongyoun Kim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pretrained vision–language models (VLMs) encode broad visual and semantic knowledge, but this knowledge does not always translate into reliable performance on specialized visual tasks. Multi-object region understanding requires fine-grained relational alignment, scientific document question answering requires structured reasoning over tables and charts, and robotic manipulation requires task-relevant perception to influence action generation. This dissertation studies these gaps as a problem of knowledge utilization: helping a pretrained model use available knowledge in a form aligned with the target task. Its central claim is that effective adaptation depends not only on model scale, data volume, or full-backbone fine-tuning, but also on three …

Bridging Language And Game Worlds: Semantic Representations And Text-Driven Terrain Generation For Procedural Content, Zhongyu Xie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Procedural Content Generation (PCG) systems produce vast quantities of game levels, terrain, and environments, but lack semantic interfaces: no shared vocabulary exists between natural language, designer intent, and the structured representations generators operate on. This thesis addresses the language-content grounding gap in PCG through two complementary studies spanning semantic analysis and semantic synthesis. The first study introduces a group-supervised contrastive learning framework for semantic representation of symbolic PCG maps under many-to-one semantics, where visually distinct maps may share the same design intent. The framework combines parameter-guided semantic grouping, LLM-based caption augmentation, and a multi-positive contrastive objective that aligns language with …

Sustainable State: A Location-Based Analysis Of Recycling Habits On A University Campus, Valentyna Labrie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Universities are mini communities for the younger generation. Their role in advancing sustainable waste management practices is very valuable. That is why it is crucial to promote pro-environmental behavior, monitor consistent sorting accuracy, and maintain positive recycling indicators such as contamination and diversion rates. The research aim was to explore the impact of spatial context and visual communication strategies on recycling accuracy, contamination, and diversion rates at South Dakota State University (SDSU). The research analysed the impact of proximity to food service areas on waste composition. Another research interest was the impact of educational signage and stickers on recycling behavior …

Addressing Barriers To Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome In Low-Income Populations: A Pediatric Nursing Approach To Advocacy And Education, Deborah Fayomi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a serious issue that affects infants, especially in low-income communities. This paper examines ways to prevent SBS through education, advocacy, and nurse-led interventions. Fifteen articles published between 2001 and 2025 were reviewed, with a focus on risk factors, prevention programs, and the role of health visitors in the United Kingdom. The research shows that poverty, parental stress, and low social support increase the risk of abusive head trauma. The thesis explores the range of intervention measures that have been successful to prevent SBS. Health visitors play a critical role, providing community-based support, culturally sensitive guidance, …

Convergencias Y Divergencias: Un Estudio Comparativo De Lenguas Y Literaturas Española Y Portuguesa En España Durante La Temprana Edad Moderna Europea, Eduardo A. Rodrigues D'Abruzzo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines the literary and linguistic relationships between Spain and Portugal during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries through literary works and their translations. A period characterized by the Iberian Union, vernacularization, and the consolidation of early modern literary systems. It explores the interaction of Spanish and Portuguese texts within a shared yet asymmetrical cultural space shaped by translation, genre adaptation, and hierarchies of linguistic prestige. The research employs comparative textual analysis grounded in historical sociolinguistics, philology, and translation studies. Key works analyzed include Alfonso X’s historiography, Francisco Rodrigues Lobo’s Corte na aldeia and its Spanish translation, and Luís de …

Ai-Thropology: A Study Of Artificial Intelligence Use In Anthropology, Carly R. Junod

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines how undergraduate anthropology students utilize Artificial Intelligence tools in their coursework and the impact on perceptions of learning. As the use of AI becomes more commonplace, I investigated whether it has been integrated into the praxis of undergraduate anthropology students. Using a Likert-scale survey distributed to 26 anthropology students across multiple subfields, I investigated AI usage patterns, perceptions of academic integrity, and correlations with demographic factors. The results reveal that anthropology students exhibit conservative AI usage patterns, with the majority rarely using AI for core academic tasks such as drafting papers. ChatGPT and Grammarly emerged as the …

Breaking The Resistance: A Narrative Review Of The Evolution From Traditional Drugs To Precision Therapies In Epilepsy, Tirath Patel, Fathimathul Henna, Ashfaq Ahmed, Ayesha Ahmad, Noor Ul Huda, Syed Aaraiz Ul Hassan, Aiman Muhammad, Amna Javed, Maryem Filal, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, affecting approximately 50 million individuals globally. While conventional antiseizure medications (ASMs) control seizures in 70-80% of patients, about 30% experience drug resistance or intolerable side effects, necessitating alternative approaches.

Objective: To critically compare the efficacy, safety, and accessibility of conventional and emerging therapies for epilepsy, particularly in the context of treatment-resistant cases and global disparities in care.

Methods: This narrative review synthesized evidence from 120 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025. Literature was retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus using predefined search terms related to epilepsy …

Corporate Climate Litigation In Europe: Scaffolding From State Obligations And The Rise Of Polluter-Pays, Joana Setzer, Nina Koistinen, Catherine Higham, Lucas Biasetton

Lewis & Clark Law Review

Over the last decade, Europe has been the crucible of path-defining climate cases. Across the region, courts have been asked to define the limits of public and private responsibility. This Essay argues that corporate climate litigation in Europe has developed along two intersecting trajectories that together define an emerging framework of climate accountability. The first extends public-law standards to corporations, translating human rights and carbon-budget principles into private-law duties of care, due diligence, and disclosure that reach across entire value chains. The second trajectory sees the emergence of polluter-pays litigation, which seeks to proportionate damages and adaptation costs from major …

Regulated Victimization: The Rise Of Human Trafficking Within The Oregon Massage Industry, Hannah Beaulieu

Lewis & Clark Law Review

Illicit massage businesses are massage spas that appear to operate as legitimate businesses but facilitate commercial sex acts behind closed doors. Recent law enforcement investigations in Oregon have revealed that some illicit massage businesses have facilitated the human trafficking of multiple victims. The illicit massage industry has steadily grown across the country but has especially boomed in recent years in Oregon. This Note investigates how the illicit massage industry has evolved to be so prevalent in our communities and what factors have contributed to the growth. It goes on to recommend ways to protect victims, to prevent further harm, and …

Evaluation Of Multiple Generative Large Language Models On Neurology Board-Style Questions, Mohammad Almomani, Vijaya Valaparla, James Weatherhead, Xiang Fang, Alok Dabi, Chih Ying Li, Peter Mccaffrey, Dan Hier, Jorge Mario Rodríguez-Fernández

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Objective: To compare the performance of eight large language models (LLMs) with neurology residents on board-style multiple-choice questions across seven subspecialties and two cognitive levels. Methods: In a cross-sectional benchmarking study, we evaluated Bard, Claude, Gemini v1, Gemini 2.5, ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, ChatGPT-4o, and ChatGPT-5 using 107 text-only items spanning movement disorders, vascular neurology, neuroanatomy, neuroimmunology, epilepsy, neuromuscular disease, and neuro-infectious disease. Items were labeled as lower- or higher-order per Bloom's taxonomy by two neurologists. Models answered each item in a fresh session and reported confidence and Bloom classification. Residents completed the same set under exam-like conditions. Outcomes included overall and …

Artificial Intelligence-Powered Chatbots’ Responses To Orthodontic Questions From The Dentistry Specialization Examination: Accuracy And Source Evaluation, Berrak Çakmak, Tevhide Sökmen, Burcu Balos‚ Tuncer

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Performance Of Large Language Models In Answering Orthodontic Questions: A Scoping Review, Tu Manh Nguyen, Fang-Yu Fan, Ying-Sui Sun, Yang-Che Wu, Sheng-Wei Feng, Hao-Ting Chen, I-Ta Lee, Pao-Chang Chiang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly explored as novel platforms for delivering orthodontic information. Although their capacity to generate rapid, structured, and accessible responses has been widely recognized, concerns persist regarding performance variability and the risk of generating inaccurate outputs. Given the heterogeneity of existing evidence, this scoping review aimed to systematically map the current research landscape and synthesize findings on the application of LLMs in addressing orthodontic queries. This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library up to November 30, 2025. Twenty-six studies met the eligibility criteria …

International Comparison Of Oral Hypofunction Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults In Three Asian Countries: A Cross-Sectional And Multi-National Study, Ryosuke Yanagida, Kohei Yamaguchi, Kazuharu Nakagawa, Chantaramanee Ariya, Patcharaphol Samnieng, Megan F Liu, Nai-Chia Teng, Ting-Yi Renn, Rieko Moritoyo, Sirinthip Amornsuradech, Kanako Yoshimi, Haruka Tohara

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: In aging Asian societies, oral hypofunction among older adults has gained importance, with most epidemiological studies conducted in Japan. We aimed to compare oral function in community-dwelling older adults in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Materials and methods: Community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 60 years who participated in Yokohama, Taipei, and Phitsanulok health surveys (May 2022–September 2024) were included. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and denture use data were recorded. Using the Japanese Society of Gerodontology diagnostic framework, seven oral hypofunction components were evaluated: oral hygiene, oral dryness, occlusal force, tongue–lip motor function, tongue pressure, masticatory function, …

Artificial Intelligence In Dentistry: A Cross-Domain Bibliometric Analysis Of Technologies, Functional Applications, And Dental Specialties, Yinghui Yang, Cheng-Chia Yu, Min Yee Ng

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Artificial intelligence is increasingly applied in dentistry across diagnosis, prediction, treatment planning, education, and patient communication. This study aimed to provide a structured cross-domain overview of dental AI research by integrating AI technologies, functional applications, and dental specialties within one bibliometric framework.

Materials and methods: AI-related dental publications from 2016 to 2026 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Original and review articles were screened and classified by AI technology, functional application, and dental specialty. Bibliometric mapping, collaboration analysis, keyword co-occurrence, and heatmap-based cross-domain visualization were performed.

Results: A total of 920 publications were included. Publication …

Oral Health Knowledge Across Cultural Boundaries: A Physiology And Hygiene Textbook From The Tamsui Middle School During The Japanese Colonial Period, Hung-Lun Pan, Feng-Chou Cheng, Chun-Pin Chiang

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Matusiflute: Exploring Intercultural Collaboration Through Timbral Dízi Emulation Within An Australian-Chinese Orchestral Performance Setting, Gabriel Mcmahon

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research investigates how the Matusiflute can potentially promote intercultural Sino Western collaboration within solo, chamber and orchestral settings by consciously applying technical and stylistic codes attributed to the dízi (traverse Chinese bamboo flute). Using an autoethnographic approach, I reflect on my engagement with the dízi, its morphology, timbre and stylistic interpretation, and how my pedagogical flute context impacted this approach. These learnings were then applied to the Matusiflute through two premiere performances of a commissioned intercultural work by Nicholas Ng, The Secret of the Golden Flower (2024) for Matusiflute and Chinese Orchestra. The latter being performed in a solo …

A Stylistic Analysis Of Abu Tammam's Poem "Aya Wayla Al-Shaji Min Al-Khali", Fatimah Abdullah Al Shammry

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

This research undertakes a stylistic study of Abu Tammam's poem "Aya Wayl al-Shajiyy min al-Khaliyy," seeking to reveal the aesthetic and semantic characteristics that distinguish the stylistic structure of his poetry. The study adopted the stylistic approach as a theoretical and analytical framework for examining the poetic text through its phonetic, syntactic, semantic, and rhetorical levels, based on a perspective that views language as a tool for generating both meaning and emotion. The research consists of two main sections: the first addresses the theoretical framework, including the definition of stylistics, its origins, methods, and trends, alongside a biographical overview of …

Play-Based Learning In Private International Preschools In Cairo: Teachers' Perspectives, Kesha L. Stovall

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how play-based learning is practiced and contextualized in private, international preschools in Cairo, Egypt through the perspective of teachers. It calls upon both historical and contemporary theories of play and play pedagogies ranging from the times of Plato and Al-Farabi to the 21st century with Montessori and Dewey. Using a contemporary theory of play presented by Stuart Lester and Wendy Russell as a guiding framework, it examines how play and play-based learning are implemented, shaped and even challenged in a Cairene context. These contexts include sociocultural factors such as parents’ expectations and aspirations, institutional barriers, teacher development …

Shared Stories, Diverse Settings: A Podcast Analysis Of Stakeholder Experiences In Rural, Remote, And International Professional Experience, Marnie Harris, Narelle Lemon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study explores the experiences and perspectives of individuals involved in rural, remote, and international professional experience, with a particular focus on the support provided to pre-service teachers. Drawing on data generated through a series of in-depth podcast interviews, the research foregrounds the relational and contextual dimensions of teacher preparation across rural, remote, and international settings. Rural and remote communities face ongoing challenges in attracting and retaining teachers; therefore, this study explored the vital role that partnerships and supportive networks play in preparing pre-service teachers to succeed in these and other unfamiliar professional experience contexts. Through thematic analysis, the research …

Iberoamerican Neomedievalisms: “The Middle Ages” And Its Uses In Latin America, Edited By Nadia R. Altschul And Maria Ruhlmann, Emily Francomano

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

White Before Whiteness In The Late Middle Ages, By Wan-Chuan Kao, Thelma Trujillo

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Empirically Evaluating The Accessibility Of A Pon-Enable Feature Diagrams Notation By The Red-Green Colorblind Community, Mohamed El-Attar, Sarah Kohail, Rima Grati

All Works

In 2016, an enhanced version of a feature diagram notation developed using the Physics of Notations (PoN) framework was introduced. Empirical evidence demonstrated that this revised notation was more cognitively effective than the original. However, the new notation relies on color, specifically red, which poses accessibility challenges for individuals with red–green color vision deficiency, as they cannot perceive the notation as originally intended. Consequently, the cognitive effectiveness of a red–green–deficient (RGD) version of the new notation relative to the original notation remained unknown. Although the PoN framework specifies several principles that may be satisfied with or without the use of …

Introduction: Intersections Of Gender And Genres In Medieval Judaism, Christianity, And Islam, Linda G. Jones

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

The introductory essay describes the aims of this special volume, which are to analyze the intersections between religion and gender in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic cultures, as reflected in diverse pre- and early modern textual genres, and to explore the relationships between gender and genres. Toward these ends the authors interrogate how a given textual genre, as well as the gender of the author/compiler and the intended audience, might influence the representations of gender. The introductory essay summarizes the seven articles constituting the volume, highlights the points of contact and differences among them, and reflects upon their broader significance to …

“Be Only A Man": Authority, Dependency, And Masculinity In Geniza Letters Of Mothers To Their Sons, Oded Zinger

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

One of the most exciting discoveries among the Cairo Geniza, a rich trove of ancient manuscripts discovered in the Ben Ezra Synagogue at Fustat (Old Cairo), is women’s letters. Up until the early modern period, we have no text written by a Jewish woman preserved in traditional channels of transmission—that is, manuscripts copied by scribes and preserved in libraries or personal collections. Yet the Geniza documents preserve over two hundred letters written by women in different languages and spanning several centuries. Twenty-nine of these letters are from mothers to sons. Letters from mothers to sons have some distinctive characteristics when …

Gender And Genres In The Ādāb-I Menāzil, Özgen Felek

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

Gender and gender roles routinely appear across different genres of Islamic literature. Since each genre’s handling of the subject of gender is evaluated within the borders of that genre, studies in the field have been based on specific texts or genres. The Ādāb-ı menāzil (“Manners of the Household”), written by ʿAbdü’l-Laṭīf ibn-i Ṭurmış Ḳaramānī (d. 1516), is a unique Ottoman Turkish text that brings together the perspectives of different genres. It is a book of morals, advice, and religious knowledge written for women, as Ḳaramānī explicitly declares in the preface. The work includes Qur’anic verses, hadiths, stories, and legends …

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal Of Gender And Sexuality 61.2 (2026)

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

The Other Faces Of Arthur: Chivalric Whiteness In The Global North Atlantic, By Nahir I. OtañO Gracia, Coral Lumbley

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Per My Last Email: Analyzing Social & Emotional Cues In Digital Workplace Communication, Lauren Hunt

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

As virtual work arrangements expand and email becomes an increasingly central workplace communication tool, the function of virtual communication norms provide valuable insight into workplace email dynamics. This study draws from social information processing theory, expectancy violations theory, and channel expansion theory to model how behavioral and linguistic features associated with virtual communication norms shape email perceptions and downstream conflict. The present research examines key communication features from real workplace email threads. Specifically, I extracted response time, sentiment, and linguistic mimicry (e.g., text length, word use), using Natural Language Processing techniques. Data was collected from 461 participants, resulting in 245 …