Digital Commons Network^™

Groove ‘N’ Grow: Promoting Social Participation Through Dance And Movement, Juliana N. Ward, Karen Park

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Groove ‘n’ Grow is a structured pediatric occupational therapy group program designed to improve social participation, engagement, and sensory regulation in children with developmental and sensory processing differences through dance and movement-based activities. The program was developed as part of an occupational therapy doctoral capstone project and implemented within a pediatric outpatient therapy clinic. The purpose of the program is to provide children with developmental and sensory processing differences opportunities to practice peer engagement, cooperative participation, emotional regulation, and emotional awareness in a supportive small-group environment.

Intelligent Competition Platform And Mode Driven By Cloud-Native Simulation, Long Qin, Hesong Huang, Lujia Yin, Chuan Ai, Qi Zhang, Xinmeng Li

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To solve the problems faced by the adversarial competition mode of agents, including difficult development and deployment, low resource utilization, poor reusability, and difficulty in accessing reinforcement learning algorithms, a new agent simulation training platform was designed. The software components of the competition platform were decoupled based on cloud-native technology; a high-performance simulation engine for the competition environment was proposed; a new method of an embedded reinforcement learning model for an intelligent control terminal was designed, with multiple online and offline policy-based reinforcement learning algorithms set. The experiment demonstrates that the development and deployment of the system is efficient, …

Shame On You! The Socialization Of Self-Conscious Emotions In Early Childhood, Ashton K. Allen

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how parents and children discuss self-conscious emotions across early childhood. Self-conscious emotions such as shame, guilt, embarrassment, awe, and pride play a critical role in children's social and emotional development. Although prior research has demonstrated links between parent and child emotion talk about basic emotions such as happiness, anger, disgust, fear, sadness, less is known about how parents and children talk about self-conscious emotions. Participants for the current study were 247 parent-child dyads. The dyads completed a wordless storybook task designed to elicit discussion of five self-conscious emotions (shame, guilt, embarrassment, awe, and pride) annually across three …

Impact Of Provider Self-Efficacy On Caring For Patients With Prediabetes, David R. Knight

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Prediabetes affects millions of adults in the United States, yet inconsistent provider knowledge and confidence limit evidence-based screening and management in primary care, a gap well-documented in the literature. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether a structured educational intervention improved provider self-efficacy related to prediabetes identification and management. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory and the Transtheoretical Model, with implementation guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle, this project asked: among family practice providers, how does prediabetes education affect provider self-efficacy over four weeks? A quasi-experimental pre/post design was used. Four asynchronous educational modules focused on evidence-based screening, …

Quality Improvement Project: Faculty Preparedness For Recognition, De Escalation, And Reporting Of Violence In Clinical Education Settings, Dawn "Deedee" D. Moline

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Violence and aggression in healthcare settings present ongoing safety concerns for nursing faculty supervising students during clinical education, particularly when teaching occurs in hospital environments where faculty are not employed. Faculty often rotate across multiple clinical sites and may lack consistent preparation or access to standardized safety education and reporting systems. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project was to evaluate the effect of a targeted educational intervention on nursing faculty perceived preparedness to recognize, de escalate, and report aggression encountered during clinical instruction. Guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and Lewin’s Three Stage Change Model, …

Meenakshisundaram To Give Student Address At Umn Morris Commencement, Communications And Marketing

Campus News Archive

No abstract provided.

Building Understanding: Developing A Mental Health Literacy Scale For Teacher Preparation Faculty, Jesse Mossholder

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study aimed to create a valid and reliable Teacher Preparation Faculty Mental Health Literacy Scale. Current literature consistently indicates that traditional undergraduate college students experience high rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. Teacher preparation programs often lack systematic approaches to supporting student mental health or to preparing faculty to respond effectively. While the literature, resources, and institutional support regarding college student mental health have increased, a significant gap remains in understanding faculty mental health literacy within the context of teacher preparation programs. This mixed-methods sequential exploratory study utilized non-discriminative snowball sampling to recruit preservice educators and teacher preparation …

Shu World Review- April 20th 2026, Diplolab, Seton Hall University

SHU World Review

No abstract provided.

Ndls Communicator: Week Of 04.20.26, Notre Dame Law School

NDLS Communicator

The Latest News

• Notre Dame Law School hosted the annual Champions for Justice Public Interest Recognition Ceremony
• Notre Dame Law School hosted its second Affinity Alumni Weekend
• Notre Dame Law School’s Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic filed an amicus brief on behalf of Associate Professor of Law Rev. Patrick Reidy, C.S.C. in St. Philip Neri Catholic Church v. Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission.
• The Notre Dame Law School Program on Church, State & Society has awarded 2026 summer fellowships to Steph Luiz, Christian Baldari, Angela Rauch, and Paul Sheehan

Student News

• Matilda Koduh, 2L
• Grace Yeo, 2L
• Steven …

Competition And Community In Marx’S Alienation Theory: Addressing 21st Century Social Isolation Through A Laclauian Lens, Brett J. Zimmerman

Theses

Capitalism reorients human priorities by necessitating socio-economic competition and tying the preeminent priority of survival to the rate at which one accumulates material resources. The orientation of wage as the only means to survival has replaced the need for the working class to form tribes, build inter-group solidarity, and engage in their communities, resulting in a less fulfilling society. Marx is traditionally conceptualized as a political or economic thinker, and while much of his political and economic thought will be useful supplementary material, in Section I, I will be viewing Marx through a more interpersonal lens. The section will take …

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 …

Raman Spectroscopy And Optical Properties Of Ceo2:Al2O3 Nanocomposites Synthesized By Pulsed Laser Deposition, Alaa Nazar Abd Algaffar, Noha H. Harb, Sabah N. Mazhir

Baghdad Science Journal

This study investigated the effects of laser energy on the phase-change mechanism, optical properties, and structure of CeO₂:Al₂O₃ nanoparticles synthesized via pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The study employed Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The process techniques were compared at different laser pulse intensities (530, 730, and 930 mJ). Porous silicon (PS) substrates have been created using the photoelectrochemical etching of n-type silicon. The XRD results for CeO₂:Al₂O₃ nanoparticles indicated a polycrystalline cubic phase. Raman spectroscopy of CeO …

A Phenomenological Study Of Digital Divide In Rural Philippines, Dennis Dizon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The digital divide reflects policy relevant disparities in access to and effective use of internet based information resources, as experienced and interpreted by individuals navigating regulatory environments and governance conditions in the rural Philippines. Policymakers need to understand how the digital divide affects business owners and working-class people, with the impact of high costs and poor internet infrastructure in remote areas of the Philippines. Many of these business owners and working-class people lack access to the privileges and benefits of high-speed internet access. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of these business owners …

Effective Strategies Used By Small U.S. Technology Business Leaders To Reduce Turnover And Improve Productivity, Iesha Tyrie Hayes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover in small U.S. technology firms undermines productivity and disrupts workforce stability. Small U.S. technology business leaders are concerned with employee turnover because persistent workforce attrition weakens operational continuity, increases organizational strain, and limits the ability to sustain a stable and effective workforce. Grounded in psychological capital (PsyCap) theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore leadership strategies used by small U.S. technology business leaders in North Carolina to mitigate negative employee experiences that contribute to turnover and reduced productivity. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and publicly available organizational documents. Using thematic analysis, three themes emerged: (a) …

Digital Twins For Sustainable Smart Cities: Applications In Urban Design And Energy Optimization, Hamda Bukhatir Al Shamsi

Theses

Digital Twins (DTs) have been found to be a revolutionary tool in developing smart cities sustainably. The dissertation is a critical analysis of the designs, strategies, and real-world uses of Urban Digital Twins (CDTs) in city buildings and energy efficiency. It investigates the transformation of the fixed 3D models into dynamic and real time virtual simulations that are a combination of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Internet of Things (IoT) sensor networks. The article covers the applications based on multi-scale, building, district and city scales and the role of the CDTs in visualization, stakeholders’ engagement, city …

Isu Philharmonia String Orchestra: April 20, 2026, Samuel Chen, Jayce Milburn, Julia Stowell

School of Music Programs

This is the one hundred and eighty-first program of the 2025-2026 season.

Center for the Performing Arts

April 20, 2026

Monday Evening

7:00 p.m.

Memory Processes In Older Adults With Hearling, Camryn L. Kirkham

AuD Capstone Projects - Communication Sciences and Disorders

Emerging research has shown links between hearing loss in older adults and memory declines; however, findings remain mixed. The present study examined differences in memory performance between older adults with hearing loss and normal-hearing peers, as well as associations between hearing ability and memory. An exploratory analysis of associations between high-frequency hearing ability and memory performance was also conducted. Participants included 38 older adults with hearing loss (n=20) and normal hearing (n=18) who completed audiologic testing and memory tasks assessing working, semantic, and episodic memory. Contrary to expectations, no significant group differences in memory performance were observed between the hearing …

The Impact Of State And Federal Policies On Academic Researchers: Findings From A National Survey, Dylan Ruediger, Chelsea Mccracken, Jonathan Barefield

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

Key findings

● State and federal policies targeting divisive concepts or DEI are shaping research agendas at scale and across disciplines. Twenty percent of all respondents, and 29 percent of researchers working in states with divisive concepts or similar laws, reported having avoided certain research topics because of state laws and policies.

● Eight percent of respondents representing a wide range of disciplines reported having had a federal grant cancelled in 2025.

● Eleven percent of respondents reported that federal and state policies restricting research activities are compelling them to seek employment out of state, to leave the academy, or …

“I Hope This Letter Finds You Well,”: The Good Life Through Letters 1940s-1980s, Taylor Koet

Comm-entary

Taylor is majoring in History and Law 3+3 major with a double major in Philosophy, from Long Beach, CA. She loves to bake and try new coffee and boba spots.

This piece explores the importance of stationery and letter writing in maintaining family connection across distance and time. This essay uses the Sinclair family papers which show how letters from Clayton Sinclair junior and Clayton the third preserved relationships, personal growth, and created a tangible record of their family history. Ultimately this piece argues that even as technology has changed, handwritten letters represent effort, emotion, and a main connection as …

An Analysis Of Setting –State Theatre At Thompson’S Point, Ruby Prentiss

Comm-entary

Ruby Prentiss is a Sophomore History and Communication student from Falmouth, Maine who is Editor in Chief of Comm-entary. She also is a member of the University’s track and field team as a thrower. In her free time, Ruby enjoys fly fishing, spending time outdoors, and reading.

This piece analyzes Thompson’s point in Portland, Maine to be a meaningful community shaped by music, public gathering, and local history. It explains how the venues physical design, restored pavilion, local food trucks, waterfront location, affordable concerts, and free seasonal events reflect the value of the State Theater and the broader main community. …

Do We Even Know What ‘Even’ Does? A Ca Investigation, Emily Johnson

Comm-entary

Emily is a Senior communication major with a Business Administration minor. She is originally from Merrimack, NH, and is planning on working in PR or something similar when she graduates in May.

What does “even” do in conversation? This study shows that when used mid-turn, “even” functions as a systematic device for intensifying stance. Analyzing naturally occurring interactions, I demonstrate how speakers use “even” to upgrade assessments, noticings, and complaints, making them more extreme or noteworthy. Recipients consistently orient to this intensification through agreement, accounts, or escalation. Even when the upgrade is left incomplete, others step in to realize it, …

Encouraging Fitness For Women In United Kingdom- How This Girl Can Organization Tackled The Gender Activity Gap, Ruby Prentiss

Comm-entary

Ruby Prentiss is a Sophomore History and Communication student from Falmouth, Maine who is Editor in Chief of Comm-entary. She also is a member of the University’s track and field team as a thrower. In her free time, Ruby enjoys fly fishing, spending time outdoors, and reading.

This paper offers and analysis of the Sport England public relations campaign entitled This Girl Can, detailing the PR strategy of the organization and campaign from the initial market research to the post-campaign efficacy analysis. This Girl Can is examined using historical and cultural scholarly sources with a critical communication lens to prove …

Language Deprivation In Deaf Children, Kaleb Holske

Comm-entary

Kaleb is an American Sign Language English Interpreter with a double major in Linguistics, from Chester, NH. He’s also a professional balloon twister!

This piece examines how language deprivation affects deaf children when they don’t necessarily receive early access to natural language, especially during the most critical developmental years. It further explains how the medical model of deafness, reliance on cochlear implants or hearing aids, schooling, and limited sign language access can negatively impact the emotional, social, and academic growth of these children. This piece argues that early access to sign language and deaf centered support is essential for preventing …

Conventions Of Photography As Means Of Social And Technological Critiques, Ava Lannery

Comm-entary

Ava is a Communication major with a specification in Business Applications. She’s an Irish dual citizen from Newton, MA.

This piece looks  at how photography can be used as a form of Social and technological critique. Through Mark Peterson’s ICE’s Spectacle of Intimidation and Jack Latham’s Beggars Honey, this essay argues that photographers can manipulate composition, technology to create deeper meanings about power, style, social stage agency, immigration enforcement, and modern digital manipulation. Ultimately, this writing piece shows how photography depends on audience context and literacy to be fully understood. 

Knowledge, Skills, And Attitudinal Gaps In Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Diagnosis And Management In The United States, Patrice Lazure, Matthew Drake, Michelle Davis, Corrie Crowe, Zvi Grunwald, Lu Fan, Suzanne Murray

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an ultra-rare and disabling disease. Preventing unnecessary and/or harmful medical procedures to patients requires early and accurate diagnosis, multidisciplinary care, and access to specialists with FOP expertise. This study aims to assess the needs of healthcare providers (HCPs) when providing care to patients with FOP. Knowledge, confidence, and management practices were measured through a short awareness survey, completed by 400 HCPs from different specialties who may encounter patients with FOP. Complementary qualitative data were obtained from a dialogue session about FOP. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis, while qualitative data underwent thematic …

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 …

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 …

Challenges In Strategic Exploitation Of Deep-Sea Minerals And China’S Countermeasures, Chang Wang, Xiaojie Shu, Siyuan Zhou, Huiling Song, Shaojun Liu, Xiangxin Xu, Tao Dai, Tao Zhang, Peng Wang, Zheng Li, Jinhua Cheng

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Facing the new stage of strategic mining of deep-sea minerals and the long-term pressure of supply of critical minerals, China urgently needs to seize the window of opportunity for the strategic exploitation of deep-sea critical minerals and open up new sources of supply of critical minerals. Having analyzed the new global situation and challenges of the strategic exploitation of deep-sea critical mineral resources, the study attempted to clarify the supporting role of deep-sea mining in securing critical mineral supply, as well as the actual conditions and main obstacles for the strategic exploitation of deep-sea critical mineral resources in China. Based …

Current Situation, Problems, And Countermeasures Of Science And Technology Societies In China Under Global Technology Governance, Yangyang Li, Yaoyu Nie, Xiaoxiao Xiong, Guangxi He

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The “15th Five-Year Plan” period presents both opportunities and challenges for scientific and technological societies in China, meaning that they shall further refine their functional positioning beyond traditional academic exchanges and provide full-chain services. Since the reform and opening up, the development of science and technology societies in China has flourished, and their governance capacity has been continuously enhanced, playing a sustained role in gathering scientific and technological talent, participating in national and social governance, and driving multi-dimensional innovation. Nevertheless, there are also problems such as low management efficiency, insufficient integration into the national innovation system, and overall low level …

Risks And Challenges Under Approaching Climate Tipping Points And Governance Recommendations, Chengdong Huang, Xiaohong Chen, Zhifang Zhou

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Climate tipping points represent critical thresholds at which Earth’s climate subsystems undergo abrupt transitions, characterized by irreversibility, self-perpetuation, and complex interconnections, posing severe challenges to global climate governance. This study systematically elucidates the scientific implications and key features of climate tipping points, with a focus on analyzing the multifaceted risks triggered by their activation, including climatic physical risks, socio-economic systemic risks, and national security risks. To address these challenges, the research proposes a governance framework centered on “preventing abrupt changes—maintaining resilience—actively adapting”, emphasizing pathways such as enhanced monitoring and early warning, cultivating new quality productive forces, and constructing a global …