Digital Commons Network^™

Introduction, Amanda Koziura, Amy Tureen

Library Faculty Research

Introduction to the book Making Values-Based Decisions in the Academic Library.

Barriers To Transfer: Navigating The Obstacles Community College Students Face When Moving To Four-Year Universities, Tirth Desai

A with Honors Projects

Research project, analyzing and examining the social, financial, and institutional problems community college students face while preparing to transfer to a four year university.

From Code To Motion: Adventures With Wall-A Robot, Simon Sarah Mampouya-Balende

A with Honors Projects

This essay is about the author's experience working on a robot and programming, and what they learned from the project.

Artificial Intelligence In Society: Transformations And Ethical Paradigm, Yashoda Urmilla Itwaru

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

The recent advancement and adoption of AI (Artificial Intelligence) make it vital to study the effects it has on individuals and communities. Adopting AI into daily life changes interactions such as the decision-making process and task performance. AI algorithms can shape a user’s online experiences, influence their preferences, beliefs, and behavior. However, people raised concerns regarding privacy, autonomy, and manipulation. For these reasons, debates regarding the ethical aspects of AI arose.

AI provides society with more tools to complete tasks. AI can automate data intensive jobs and physical tasks. This brings a sense of job insecurity, which affects the mental …

Beyond Entertainment – An Analysis Of Minecraft: Education Edition As An Inclusive Educational Platform For Diverse Learners, Herschel Meusa

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

Minecraft: Education Edition is examined as an interactive and educational media object and art form. Through an analysis of its game's UI, interactive design, and user-friendliness, players are immersed in the game. Although Minecraft provides an open-ended design that fosters creativity, freedom, and collaborative learning, its structured instructional scaffolding, adaptive difficulty, and comprehensive accessibility features make it less inclusive for all learners. This thesis argues that these gaps serve as warnings to educational Media Arts practitioners working on interactive media design and lessons about interface design, user agency, and inclusion in game mechanics. This research examines the structure of Minecraft …

Edge-Enhanced Yolo V8 Architecture For Accurate Kl Assessment In Knee Osteoarthritis Imaging, Meghana Arikilla

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint condition characterized by the progressive narrowing of joint space and structural deterioration. The structural degradation of the joint space is evaluated using the Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grading system, and accurate classification across all grades, specifically in the early stages, remains a challenge owing to subtle radiographic differences. This study presents an automated KL-grade classification framework that integrates joint edge enhancement with deep learning to improve KOA grading using radiographic images.

Edge detection filters, namely Sobel, Scharr, and Canny, were applied to X-ray images to enhance the joint space boundaries and osteoarthritic features. These preprocessed …

Saving Tomorrow: The Triumphs And Tribulations Of Innovational Behavioral, Social-Emotional, Or Mental Health Support In A Rural Public School, Andrea Powell

Dissertations and Theses

Although some research has established the use of diffusion of innovation in technical fields, few studies show its utilization in public schools. This qualitative case study aimed to understand the trials and tribulations associated with implementing behavioral, social-emotional, or mental health support in a rural K–12th public school. Further, this study sought to understand how innovation diffuses throughout public school districts. Specifically, this qualitative study analyzed the perception of innovation through survey data collected from teachers and administrators in a rural K–12th grade public school district. When implementing behavioral, social-emotional, or mental health supports in a rural school, five themes …

Upward Distortion And Organizational Culture, Benjamin Gellerman

Dissertations and Theses

The “MUM effect," a social phenomenon in which people prefer to avoid sharing bad news, can cause “upward distortion,” as employees give incomplete information to their supervisors to avoid reprisal. Organizations require upward communication to transmit critical information, and disruptions to this process have implications for both workplace efficiency and job satisfaction. Strauss (2011) developed the Upward Communication Distortion Index (UCDI) to measure the propensity of individuals to distort upward organizational communication. The UCDI was compared with the subscales for LMX (leader-member exchange) and Locus of Control. This project analyzed upward distortion in American businesses, specifically how four different organizational …

Instructional Coach Evaluation: Co-Refining An Evaluation Tool For Improved Feedback, Charles Folsom

Dissertations and Theses

As instructional coaching roles have evolved, many school districts continue to rely on teacher-based evaluation tools, creating a gap in the effective support and development of instructional coaches. In the Franklin Ridge Community School District (FRCSD), a pseudonym, both instructional coaches and their supervisors reported that the existing evaluation tool was misaligned with role expectations. This study examined how instructional coaches and their evaluators collectively co-refined the New Evaluation Tool (NET) to provide more role-specific and meaningful feedback. Guided by qualitative action research, this study engaged 12 participants through document analysis, qualitative surveys, and focus groups. Using Braun and Clarke’s …

Sptiotemporal Changes In Aboveground Biomass, Canopy Cover And Livestock Movements Across Mongolia Grasslands, Abhinav Chandel

Dissertations and Theses

This study presents an integrated geospatial framework for understanding grassland productivity dynamics and livestock movement behavior across the Mongolian steppe. Mongolia’s grasslands constitute one of the world’s largest pastoral ecosystems, yet they face increasing vulnerability due to climate variability, overgrazing, and land degradation. To quantify vegetation change and grazing responses, this research combines multi-decadal remote sensing with high-frequency GPS-based livestock movement tracking. Using Landsat imagery from 1990 to 2023, Aboveground Biomass (AGB) and Canopy Cover (CC) were estimated through Random Forest regression models integrating key spectral vegetation indices (e.g., NDVI, OSAVI, CTVI, TNDVI, IPVI) and climatic predictors such as summer …

The Effects Of A Game-Based Social Skills Intervention On Social Skills Acquistion For Autistic Youth In Training And Generalized Settings, Sales Libby Ann

Dissertations and Theses

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly have difficulties with social communication which is often targeted using social skills teaching (SST) (Mikami et al., 2014). These programs are effective, however, many lack evidence of social validity measures or procedures as well as generalization of the skills targeted in intervention. The current study investigated the skill acquisition of three participants through the use of social skills teaching embedded within a role-playing game. The primary dependent variable was the skill acquisition of each participant within the RPG setting. Immediate increases in level and trend were noted across participants for most skills following …

An Introduction To Cultural Anthropology: What Does Anthropology Offer The Current World?, Kristina Baines, Victoria Costa, Baird Campbell

Open Educational Resources

This Open Educational Resource (OER) is designed to be used as a textbook to accompany an introductory course in Cultural Anthropology. The chapters can, however, stand alone or be expanded and be used in courses with units on Medical Anthropology, Ethnographic Methods, Race and Gender Studies, Climate and Environmental Anthropology and others. Please feel free to use all or part of the textbook and supplemental materials provided. This resource is published under a creative commons license. Use and modify as you wish for non-commercial use only with attribution to Cool Anthropology.

Deriving Nonlinearity Coefficients From Changing Background, Mark Esplin, Deron Scott, Bryce Walker, Ben Esplin

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Contents

• Quadric Nonlinearity
• Nonlinearity Model and Sensitivity Studies
• Application to CrIS Sensor
• Check Method with Stepped Blackbody Data
• Conclusions

Guidelines For Radiometric Calibration Of Electro-Optical Instruments For Remote Sensing, Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

SDL Presentation on Radiometric Calibration of Electro-Optical Instruments for Remote Sensing

Cold War Karl Mundt: The Utility Of Anticommunism During The Eightieth Congress, Wattier Zachary

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines South Dakota House Representative Karl Mundt during the Eightieth Congress and his role in helping to build a movement and consensus over domestic and international communism. I argue that not only did Mundt help facilitate the Second Red Scare that allowed for the “McCarthyism” of the 1950s to thrive, but Mundt also aided in selling a combative diplomacy towards the USSR which intensified relations into a Cold War. As a ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mundt advocated for the use of soft power, education, information, and propaganda to sell his idealized Americanism to …

The Impact And Perceptions Of Open Educational Resources And Oer-Enabled Pedagogy On Affordability, Enrollment, And Student Success In Undergraduate Anatomy And Physiology, Justin Burr

Dissertations and Theses

Open educational resources (OER) can help improve the affordability of higher education. While the impacts of OER on student success and cost savings have been studied in some areas, the literature lacks evidence for undergraduate anatomy and physiology. Additionally, the potential impact OER has on student enrollment choices in undergraduate anatomy and physiology remains unstudied. The cost of textbooks has been a notable hurdle to higher education participation and success, particularly among minority and underserved populations. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of OER on affordability (cost), access (enrollment), and student success. A mixed-methods approach was used to answer …

Personality Functioning And Sexual Aggression: How Criterion A Of The Alternative Model Of Personality Disorders (Ampd) Relates To Sexually Aggressive Cognitions In Men, Ryan Van Fossen

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigated how personality functioning and maladaptive traits contribute to sexually aggressive cognitions (SAC) in men, extending existing research on personality pathology. Three primary aims were examined. Aim 1 explored the relationships between SAC and the four components of personality functioning (identity, self-direction, empathy, intimacy). Aim 2 evaluated the structure of personality functioning as measured by the Levels of Personality Functioning Scale-Self Report (LPFS-SR). Confirmatory factor analyses tested four competing models: unidimensional, two-factor, four-factor, and bifactor. Aim 3 assessed the combined influence of maladaptive traits and personality functioning on SAC. Participants included 469 heterosexual cisgender men, ages 18–24, drawn …

Least Tern Abundance, Nesting Productivity, And Dispersal Between Nesting And On- And Off-River Foraging Sites In The Missouri National Recreational River, Kyle Jorgensen

Dissertations and Theses

The Interior Least Tern (Sterna antillarum athalassos) has experienced significant conservation success, culminating in its removal from the federal endangered species list in 2021. However, the species remains state-endangered in South Dakota, and knowledge gaps persist regarding its foraging ecology and population dynamics along the Missouri National Recreational River (MNRR). This study aimed to address these gaps by quantifying Least Tern abundance, nesting productivity, and movement patterns between nesting and foraging sites during the 2024 and 2025 breeding seasons. We conducted surveys of Least Terns on riverine sandbars and off-river wetlands within a 30-km radius of the MNRR, employing both …

A Phenomenological Study Of Hispanic And Latinx Community Mental Health Care Providers, Sara Zare

Dissertations and Theses

Despite experiencing similar rates of mental health disorders, Hispanic/Latinx individuals are less likely than other ethnic/racial groups to access mental health services. There is a growing need for culturally responsive mental health services that address the unique barriers to access and unmet needs faced by Hispanic/Latinx communities. Community mental health organizations are critical to providing care to underserved populations who experience a wide range of resource-related barriers. The representation of bilingual and bicultural Hispanic/Latinx providers within these settings has become invaluable to addressing unique barriers not historically addressed by community mental health organizations. The present study utilized a phenomenological approach …

Building Healthcare Students’ Research Skills Through Co-Creating A Game To Teach Research: A Qualitative Study, Lise Johns, Leanne Bisset, Stacey Weightman, Gary Grant, Mary-Ann Shuker, Thea Van De Mortel

Health Professions Education

Purpose. Healthcare students may lack the knowledge and confidence to apply research. This study evaluated the impact of immersion in student-academic co-creation and evaluation of a gamified resource on healthcare students’ research knowledge, and confidence.

Method. A qualitative descriptive design was utilised. Student partners contributed to all aspects of design, implementation, and evaluation of the game. Students’ perceptions of this process were evaluated via a group interview and thematic analysis.

Results. Six undergraduate students from five healthcare disciplines participated. Two overarching themes were identified. The first related to impacts of the immersion process on students’ own research knowledge and confidence, …

Town Of Surry Annual Report, Town Officers And Inventory Of Ratable Property Of Surry, New Hampshire For The Year Ending December 31, 2024 And School District Officers For The Year Ending June 30, 2024, Surry Town Representatives

Surry, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

Rethinking Retained Earnings In The Additional Funds Needed Formula, James E. Larsen

Finance and Financial Services Faculty Publication

This paper critically re-evaluates the traditional application of the Additional Funds Needed formula by analyzing alternate interpretations of retained earnings. It illustrates how definitional shifts influence capital forecasts with a more nuanced approach to financial modeling in growth scenarios. The approach emphasizes numerical clarity, policy realism, and adaptability for financial planning. The paper challenges conventional AFN usage by embedding definitional flexibility and temporal awareness, offering decision-makers clearer visibility into funding sensitivity. It reframes AFN as a dynamic planning tool rather than a static formula, with implications for forecasting, policy-setting, and strategic finance.

Integrating Rock Climbing Into The Mathematics Curriculum - An Enactive Affordance-Based Approach, Gabriela Hernandez, Christian Kronsted

Philosophy Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Forage News [2025-08], University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Forage News [2025-04], University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Current Practices In Training Paraeducators: A Literature Review, Rebekah Pearson

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

I conducted a brief literature review to examine current practices for training paraeducators in school settings. I reviewed literature published after 2010 using an online database. Using an author-made inclusion criterion, 13 articles were considered for review. Findings suggest that behavior skills training (BST), brief performance feedback, didactic training, and a strategy instruction framework are currently being used to train paraeducators. These trainings have yielded positive results in increasing desired paraeducator behaviors. I conclude by discussing the limitations and directions for future research.

Influence Of Naturalistic Language Intervention On Child Communication And Engagement, Olivia R. Abate

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this study is to parallel naturalistic instructional contexts that often occur during caregiver-child interactions (e.g., one-to-one arrangement during play) to learn more about how children respond when prompting is introduced compared to responsive interaction strategies alone or with environmental arrangement strategies. This exploratory study was designed to evaluate the potential differential effects within an ATD, comparing RI alone, RI + EA, and RI + MP on joint engagement, communication acts, and interfering behaviors. This study is ongoing and lacks results for communication acts. Preliminary results supported and contradicted aspects of the hypothesis: joint engagement would occur at …

Jasmine Mata Diaz Honors Portfolio, Jasmine Mata Diaz

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Jasmine Mata Diaz's honors portfolio captured in May 2025.

Portable Multi-Parametric Microscopy For Noninvasive Metabolic And Vascular Imaging Of Orthotopic Tongue Cancer Models In Vivo, Pranto Soumik Saha, Jing Yan, Caigang Zhu

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Significance: Precise imaging of tumor metabolism with its vascular microenvironment becomes emerging critical for cancer research because increasing evidence shows that the key attribute that allows a tumor to survive therapies is metabolic and vascular reprogramming. However, there are surprisingly few imaging techniques available to provide a systems-level view of tumor metabolism and vasculature in vivo on small animals for cancer discoveries.

Aim: We aim to develop a new multi-parametric microscope that can faithfully recapitulate in vivo metabolic and vascular changes with a wide field of view and microscope-level resolution to advance cancer-related investigations. To maximize the ease and accessibility …

Discovering My Sonic Identity Through Intent And Self-Belief: A Portfolio Of Compositions, Addison J. Bird

Theses and Dissertations--Music

An analysis and overview of a master’s degree electroacoustic composition portfolio. These works represent significant benchmarks in terms of musical development and composer intent. Each piece is analyzed for its musical methods and inspirations as well as the non-musical ideas surrounding them. The pieces covered are a mixture of fixed media electroacoustic works and live electronic works incorporating popular and folk music influences.