Digital Commons Network^™

Representing Middle-Earth: Tolkien, Form, And Ideology (2024), By Robert T. Tally, Jr., Andrew Higgins

Journal of Tolkien Research

Nook review, by Andrew Higgins, of Representing Middle-earth: Tolkien, Form, and Ideology (2024), by Robert T. Tally, Jr.

Natural Language Processing Pipeline For Assessment Data: An R-Based Tutorial, Constanza Mardones-Segovia, Shiyu Wang, Allan S. Cohen

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

Natural language processing (NLP) has become an increasingly popular approach for analyzing textual responses in educational assessments. An important part of NLP involves cleaning and structuring examinees' written responses to create input data that conserves the syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of the words, thereby enabling the extraction of these features. This paper provides foundational knowledge on the steps needed for using NLP in educational measurement tasks, guiding researchers and practitioners through text preprocessing, feature extraction, and analyzing textual data from constructed response items. Additionally, an R-based example using Latent Dirichlet Allocation is provided, illustrating each step in the pipeline.

Editorial: Special Issue On Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning In Educational Measurement (Part 3), Okan Bulut, Yi Zheng

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

This editorial introduces the third and final installment of the \textit{Special Issue on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Educational Measurement}. Building on the first two parts, which explored AI-driven innovations in assessment design, scoring, learning analytics and their ethical challenges, this issue features two papers that offer timely and extensive insights into the integration of natural language processing (NLP) and generative language models in educational measurement --- a tutorial on building an NLP pipeline in R for analyzing constructed-response data, and a systematic review of generative language models for automated writing evaluation. With this third installment, we bring to …

Grundnorm, Pure Theory Of Law, And Monism In The Dynamics Of International Law, Fx Adji Samekto, Muh. Afif Mahfud, Adya Paramita Prabandari

Indonesian Journal of International Law

The Grundnorm is Hans Kelsen’s teaching that was integrated into his theory known as the Pure Theory of Law. The Grundnorm is the highest source of legal imperative, which is accepted by every individual human being, based on his free will to submit orders that are no longer debated because they are accepted as truth. The Grundnorm being the source of the validity of legal imperatives, it means that is the highest source of the validity of regulatory law within the scope of national and international law. This is the background of the justification of the Monism school, which is …

Public Policy And The Refusal To Enforce Foreign Arbitral Awards: A Comparative Analysis Of France, Singapore, And Vietnam, Phan Hoai Nam

Indonesian Journal of International Law

The multilateral frameworks governing the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards, such as the 1958 New York Convention, along with the domestic laws of most states, are generally designed to promote the efficient enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. However, practical experience reveals inconsistencies in its application. While many states adhere to international principles, some - despite being signatories to the Convention - have exploited the broad concept of public policy to unjustifiably refuse enforcement within their jurisdictions. Conversely, other states have adopted a more restrictive approach, limiting the public policy exception to ensure predictability in enforcement. This article focuses on …

Learning From Evidence: Assessing Progress And Impact. Proceeding Of The 2024 International Conference On Assessment And Learning, Biyan Iskandar

International Conference on Assessment and Learning (ICAL)

No abstract provided.

Genomics-Based Taxonomic Refinement Of Emesis Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

Insecta Mundi

Expanded genomic sequencing of Emesis [Fabricius], 1807 (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae Grote, 1895) reveals additional taxonomic insights. As a result of this study, one subgenus and 10 species are proposed as new (type species or type localities in parenthesis): Sinuata Grishin, new subgenus (Emesis sinuatus Hewitson, 1877) of Exoplisia Godman and Salvin, 1886; Emesis (Mandania) mandaca Grishin, new species (Mexico: Oaxaca); Emesis (Mandania) mantunga Grishin, new species (Ecuador: Tungurahua); Emesis (Tenedia) hidalga Grishin, new species (Mexico: Hidalgo); Emesis (Tenedia) vera Grishin, new species (Mexico: Veracruz); Emesis (Tenedia) nica Grishin, new species …

Erratum To Golovatch Et Al. (2025): Contributions To The Taxonomy Of The Neotropical Millipede Genus Iulidesmus Silvestri, 1895 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae: Catharosomatini), Sergei I. Golavatch, Juan Romero-Rincon, Nesrine Akkari, Santiago Alvear

Insecta Mundi

After publication of Golovatch et al. (2025), it was noticed that Figure 3 was accidentally omitted. The authors and the Insecta Mundi editorial staff apologize for this error. Figure 3 is reproduced here. Insecta Mundi has also released a revised version of the Golovatch et al. (2025) manuscript, with this error corrected. However, the revised version is not an official version of record, and anyone wishing to reference the findings of Golovatch et al. (2025) should cite the original manuscript or this erratum.

Beyond The Hype: The Fundamental Challenges Of Machine Learning-Based Android Malware Detection In Cybersecurity, Guojun Liu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning (ML) algorithms have achieved remarkable success across various domains, including cybersecurity. Inspired by these advancements, the academic security community has explored numerous ML-based approaches for Android malware detection. While ML holds significant promise in this domain, its practical deployment faces substantial challenges, including data collection, feature selection, app representation across different models, performance instability across datasets, and inherent limitations of learning-based malware detection. These challenges can lead to overly optimistic detection results and weaken the reliability of malware detection frameworks.

Android malware detection has been extensively studied using both traditional ML and deep learning (DL) approaches. Although many …

Chemical And Physical Characterization Of Verbenaceae Essential Oils Using Modern Analytical Methods And Chemometrics, Aleksandra N. Hilliard

Master's Theses

Essential oils have been used for generations to treat various health issues, including mitigating insomnia, reducing stress, inflammation, and preserving foods, to mention a few. Essential oils have complex chemistry, which defines the essence of the host plant. Recently, increased commercial uses of essential oils have prompted attention at the governmental level to monitor the chemical, physical, or biological activity of essential oils. This study is an attempt to add new information for consumers to the understanding of the composition of essential oils.

Modern analytical techniques including FTIR-ATR, GC-MS, LC-MS-MS, multivariate analysis statistics, and physio-chemical techniques (electrochemistry, DPPH, TRC, and …

Bench Strength: How Powerful Are Supreme Courts In Common Law Countries Really?, Nilesh Sinha

Dissertations - ALL

This thesis examines the extent of judicial power exercised by the top constitutional courts in common law countries, using judicial review as a proxy for this power. I analyze three apex constitutional courts—the supreme courts of the United States, India, and Canada—as they all engage in strong-form judicial review and have been referred to at different times by various scholars as “the most powerful court in the world.” To frame my analysis, I explore how these courts have evolved in power throughout their histories. I employ comparative historical analysis (CHA) and construct a typology that accounts for how these courts, …

Enhancing Security And Healthcare Through Continuous Monitoring On Wearable Devices, Sicong Chen

Dissertations - ALL

Wearable and mobile devices are becoming deeply embedded in daily life, supporting a growing range of tasks - from communication and entertainment to health monitoring and productivity. As people increasingly rely on these devices, it is essential to ensure both the protection of the sensitive data they store and the ability to derive meaningful insights that enhance users’ well-being. This dissertation investigates how wearable and mobile devices can be leveraged to provide robust and user-friendly solutions through continuous monitoring across two critical domains: security and mental health. The foundation of this dissertation is the development of a security infrastructure, as …

Online And Offline Learning For Embodied Ai In Autonomous Systems, Kun Wu

Dissertations - ALL

Embodied Artificial Intelligence (AI), which integrates physical embodiment with intelligent decision-making, is increasingly critical in advancing autonomous systems across diverse domains such as autonomous driving and robotic manipulation. This dissertation presents a comprehensive exploration of online and offline learning approaches for Embodied AI in autonomous systems, addressing both algorithmic innovations and dataset construction to overcome fundamental challenges in perception, decision-making, and control. Through five interconnected studies, we systematically advance the state of the art in deep reinforcement learning (DRL) and imitation learning for embodied control. First, we introduce CADRE, a cascade online DRL framework for vision-based autonomous urban driving that …

On Uses For And Constructions Of Differential Graded Algebras, Henry Potts-Rubin

Dissertations - ALL

This thesis is comprised of two projects (in reverse chronological order) with the unifying theme of differential graded (dg) algebras. The first is a collaborative effort with Hugh Geller and Desiree Martin, in which we completely classify the trees and cycles whose edge ideals are minimally resolved by dg algebras. To do this, we pull from discrete Morse theory and homological algebra to give descriptions of the dg algebra structures at play. We also use a "pruning" technique due to Boocher to give a combinatorial obstruction to the existence of dg algebra structure on minimal free resolutions of edge ideals …

Advancing The Sensitivity And Precision Of Overhauser Dynamic Nuclear Polarization With A Foundation In The First Principles Of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Physics, Alexandria Guinness

Dissertations - ALL

Overhauser Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (ODNP) analyzes the translational dynamics of hydration water surrounding macromolecules as well as water in confined or tight porous environments. It requires instrumentation comprising an Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer, an Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectrometer, as well as a microwave power source that are not currently available as an integrated commercial system. It analyzes the translational motion of water passing through the magnetic field generated by a spin label, which lasts for tens to hundreds of picoseconds. ODNP most sensitively detects these motions when the magnetic field is chosen such that the ESR resonance frequency …

Investigating The Topic, Impact, And Resource Gap Between Academia And Industry In The Field Of Artificial Intelligence, Lizhen Liang

Dissertations - ALL

Artificial intelligence (AI) has seen fast development in industry and academia. Striking advancements from industry companies have stunned the research field, inviting a fresh perspective on the relationship between industry and academia. Industry research teams have played a critical role by developing large-scale computational infrastructure, curating extensive datasets, and publishing impactful AI research. As a result, industry-led AI research has impacted both fundamental and applied AI, blurring the distinction between academic and industrial research. Concerns have arisen regarding the growing resource gap between industry research teams and academia research teams. While some AI research topics remain accessible, research in areas …

Ai‐Assisted Integration Of Computational Thinking: Pre‐Service Teachers’ Experiences In Early Childhood Mathematics Education, Hae Min Yu, Seung Kim, Hyeseong Lee

Education Department Faculty Articles

This study examined how pre-service teachers utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools to integrate computational thinking (CT) in early childhood mathematics education. Through a qualitative case study guided by the TPACK framework, we examined 24 early childhood pre-service teachers enrolled in a mathematics methods course as they developed CT-integrated math lesson plans using AI assistance. Data sources included pre- and post-course open-ended questionnaires, CT exploration assignments, AI interaction documentation, lesson plans, and reflection papers. The findings revealed three patterns in how pre-service teachers leveraged AI as a scaffold: generating initial ideas for CT integration, refining these ideas for specific teaching contexts, …

Poly(Pyridinium Salt)S Containing 9,9-Bis(4- Aminophenyl)Fluorene Moieties With Various Organic Counterions Exhibiting Both Lyotropic Liquid-Crystalline And Light-Emitting Properties, Pradip K. Bhowmik, David King, Haesook Han, Andras F. Wacha, Matti Knaapila

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

Main-chain conjugated and non-conjugated polyelectrolytes are an important class of materials that have many technological applications ranging from fire-retardant materials to carbon-nanotube composites, nonlinear optical materials, electrochromic materials for smart windows, and optical sensors for biomolecules. Here, we describe a series of poly(pyridinium salt)s-fluorene containing 9,9-bis(4-aminophenyl)fluorene moieties with various organic counterions that were synthesized using ring-transmutation polymerization and metathesis reactions, which are non-conjugated polyelectrolytes. Their chemical structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), proton (1H) and fluorine 19 (19F) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers, and elemental analysis. They exhibited polyelectrolytic behavior in dimethyl sulfoxide. Their lyotropic liquid-crystalline phases were …

Re: Comment Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Josephine Shaft (Ir-37) Remedial Action Work Plan (Rawp) (Dated February 6, 2025), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Refinement Or Disruption: Patterns Of Critical Inquiry In Computing Ethics Assignments, Vincent Barfield, Charles Wallace

Michigan Tech Publications

Ethical inquiry in computing has an evolving nature, where repeated critical questioning may lead to a series of reframings of the problem. Since many computing students have experience with agile project-based courses, an iterative approach can provide a familiar entry into ethics. Agile development, however, is typically oriented around satisfaction of customer goals, while ethical inquiry requires constant questioning that may cast those goals into doubt. Does the similarity between critical ethical inquiry and iterative development provide a helpful model or breed a false familiarity? To address this question, we examine student work in a computing ethics course, involving iterative …

Grades Are Bugs, Jordan Freitas

Computer Science Faculty Works

This paper argues that grades are bugs in our educational system, undermining desired behaviors and outcomes. Grades were introduced into higher education for purposes directly at odds with the goals of inclusive pedagogy today, as well as the neuroscience of human motivation and learning. Students enter computer science programs from increasingly varied backgrounds and experiences, and face a rapidly evolving landscape of prospective career paths while higher education costs in the United States are ever increasing. Computer science educators have a responsibility to adapt and carefully re-examine typical approaches to all aspects of the learning environments we build and curricula …

Reparative Justice In Late Twentieth Century Africa: The O.A.U, Durban, And Accra Reparations Conferences, Franklin Donudenu Adorsu

Theses - ALL

This thesis explores the evolution of African-led transnational reparations campaigns from the final decade of the twentieth century through the early decades of the twenty-first. It examines how reparative justice initiatives have emerged in response to the enduring legacies of slavery, colonialism, and systemic racial oppression, and how these campaigns reflect both historical memory and contemporary demands for justice by Africans and people of African descent worldwide. While early reparations discourse often centered on the diaspora, this research argues that recent mobilizations on the African continent in attempts to seek redress for historical injustices, particularly the 1993 Abuja Conference, the …

Disinformation Attacks And Nonprofit Communication Strategies, Elise Lael Kieffer, Kevin M. Carr

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

This study explores how disinformation attacks on social media can affect nonprofit organizations, a topic that has received limited scholarly attention compared to similar impacts in the for-profit sector. Through a review of existing literature and two in-depth case studies—Save the Children and the American Red Cross—this research analyzes how nonprofit organizations are uniquely vulnerable to reputational damage in the face of disinformation. The case studies highlight different motivations behind disinformation campaigns, including political agendas and deliberate efforts to harm brand credibility, and assess the effectiveness of various response strategies, including denial, debunking, attacking the source, and public education. Findings …

Demanding More From Distance Learning: The Virtual & Democratized Futures Of Legal Education, Antonio M. Coronado, Gabriela Elizondo-Craig

Seattle University Law Review Online

Antonio M. Coronado and Gabriela Elizondo-Craig examine the transformative potential of online legal education through their work at Innovation for Justice, where they lead virtual legal training programs for community-based justice workers. They trace the development and limitations of ABA Standard 306, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed both the rigidity of traditional legal education and the possibilities of technology-enabled learning. Drawing on adult education theory and best practices in online pedagogy, Coronado and Elizondo-Craig challenge prevailing critiques of distance legal education and advocate for a learner-centered, accessible, and inclusive model. Their experience demonstrates how online legal education, when intentionally …

Leaning In: Diversity, Dialogue, And Whiteness At A Quaker Independent School, Mauricio Thomas Torres

Dissertations - ALL

Diversity has emerged as a hallmark of institutional excellence in several fields. At the same time, it has been vilified and maligned by conservative pundits and politicians as Donald Trump has worked to frame diversity as un-American and unmeritocratic. This tension makes diversity worthy of sociological analysis. Though there is an emerging critical sociology of diversity, much of that work has been primarily concerned with the discursive, ideological, and symbolic dimensions of diversity. In contrast, this dissertation examines how diversity moves through and is contested and supported within the organization and cultural context of Friends Prep (FP), a progressive Quaker …

Landowners And Class Struggle: Life, Law And The Social Rent Relation In North Dakota, Chad Chambers

Dissertations - ALL

In the United States, land may be owned by governments, private landowners, corporations, tribes, etc. The rent relation involved in oil and gas extraction on private lands, however, remain largely unexplored in energy geography, and geography more broadly. In this dissertation, I explore the rent relation between the landowning class and oil capital in North Dakota. I argue rent is a class struggle where the interests of oil capital collide with the private landowning class over the capture of surplus-value. My analysis of class struggle is grounded in the social-historical relations that shaped private property and the rent relation in …

Advancing Situation Awareness In Safety-Critical Systems: The Role Of Multi-Modal Wearable Augmented Reality, Jean-Philippe Rancy

Dissertations - ALL

Augmented Reality (AR) is emerging as a transformative tool for enhancing multi-modal interaction and situational awareness in safety-critical environments. This dissertation investigates the impact of wearable AR interfaces on maritime navigation, examining their effects on operator performance, cognitive workload, and operator communication. This research evaluates AR’s role in supporting multi-modal information processing and decision-making in high-risk operational contexts. This work is structured around three studies. The first study quantifies how wearable AR displays influence navigational accuracy, cognitive load, and situation awareness, revealing both efficiency gains and cognitive trade-offs. The second study explores multi-modal AR’s impact on operator mobility and communication, …

253 Holdings Inc. V. Jones

All Decisions

The tenant's motion to amend the answer and dismiss the nonpayment proceeding was granted. The court found the landlord failed to comply with the Williams Consent Decree by omitting NYCHA's objection from pleadings and improper service. The tenant's breach of warranty of habitability counterclaim for an abatement was granted a hearing, while the order to correct counterclaim was held in abeyance. The proceeding was dismissed without prejudice due to the landlord's non-compliance, allowing the tenant to pursue her counterclaims.

Why Deliberate Practice Is Not A Basis For Teacher Expertise, Jim Hordern, Nick Pratt, Peter Kelly, Katherine Evans

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

In this paper we examine the notion of ‘deliberate practice’, which has formed the basis of several teacher education programmes in England and the United States and promises to improve the quality of teaching via highly structured training programmes. We identify early criticisms of deliberate practice and unpack the assumptions embedded in its underpinning thinking. We demonstrate that deliberate practice is insufficient as a basis for teacher expertise as teaching is not a ‘performance profession’, the activities of teachers cannot all be easily or meaningfully decomposed, and the ‘goals’ of teaching are not solely geared towards maximising measurable student attainment. …

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Revised Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Quality Assurance Project Plan (Dated May 27, 2025), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.