Digital Commons Network^™

Barriers To Spiritual Growth, Brian A. Brunke

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined the barriers to spiritual growth among believers, analyzing biblical and theological sources alongside perspectives from additional literature. The study identified significant obstacles to spiritual development, including persecution, cultural and religious differences, conflict, lack of understanding, and worldly influences, as illustrated in the Book of Acts. Furthermore, modern challenges, such as the implications of neuroscience for spiritual formation, lifestyle choices, and cultural shifts, also contribute to these barriers. A quantitative approach was employed, utilizing an online survey to assess spiritual growth across six dimensions: commitment to God, evangelism, engagement in spiritual disciplines, pursuit of intentional relationships, stewardship, and …

Student Behavior In The Special Education Setting, Ashley Ila Gilbertson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The implementation of positive reinforcement in special education settings plays a crucial role in shaping and modifying student behavior. This approach involves rewarding desired behaviors, thereby increasing the likelihood of their recurrence. Research indicates that positive reinforcement not only enhances academic performance but also fosters social skills and emotional well-being among students with diverse needs. By providing immediate, specific feedback and rewards, educators can create a supportive environment that encourages engagement and participation. Furthermore, positive reinforcement helps build self-esteem, as students experience success through consistent acknowledgment of their achievements. Overall, the strategic use of positive reinforcement proves to be an …

Understanding Free Speech Values At The Supreme Court, Noah C. Chauvin

Faculty Articles

This essay is a book review of The Supreme Court and the Philosopher: How John Stuart Mill Shaped US Free Speech Protections, by Professors Eric Kasper and Troy Kozma. The book argues that John Stuart Mill had an indelible impact on the Supreme Court's free speech jurisprudence, and that through the power of precedent, we have come to have a "Millian "First Amendment. As I explain in the review, Kasper and Kozma have made a compelling case. However, because Mill offered an expansive defense of freedom of expression, it is not enough to say that the Court's free speech jurisprudence …

Enhancing Irs Localization Via Ml-Driven Aoa And Distance Estimation, Nikhila Kotlapara Surendran

Theses and Dissertations

Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRSs) are transforming next-generation wireless networks by enabling dynamic control of the propagation environment for improved localization and security. This thesis advances Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) and distance estimation in IRS-assisted systems using a hybrid architecture with active sensing and passive reflecting elements. A modified MUSIC algorithm, optimized for near-field localization, decouples 2‑D AoA and 1‑D range estimation using a grid-and-peak pseudo-spectrum scan, achieving sub-degree AoA (0.003 rad) and sub-meter range (0.05 m) accuracy with over 100× lower complexity than classical 3D MUSIC.

The study further applies the algorithm to the DeepMIMO dataset (O1_28 scenario, 3.5 GHz) using …

Beyond Homogeneity: Exploring Causal Heterogeneity In Psychopathology, Philip B. Vinh

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional models in psychiatric research often impose assumptions of causal homogeneity, treating population-level associations as reflective of uniform underlying mechanisms. This dissertation challenges that assumption by introducing statistical and machine learning frameworks designed to detect and model causal heterogeneity in the development of psychopathology. Central to this approach is the advancement of finite mixture structural equation modeling (FM-SEM) to identify latent subgroups characterized by distinct, and sometimes opposing, causal pathways.

The dissertation comprises three integrated empirical studies. The first introduces mixDoC, a finite mixture extension of the classical Direction of Causation (DoC) model applied to twin data, enabling the detection …

Investigating Tree Diversity And Structure Across Varying Land Cover Classes And Altitudes In The Savanna Woodlands Of Sudan, Nasradeen Adam Hamed Gadallah, Zoro Bertin Gone Bi, Victor Ongoma, Ali Omer, Abdelhakam Esmaeil Mohamed Ahmed, Ahmed M. M. Hasoba, Ahmed A. H. Siddig

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Climate and land use changes significantly endanger tree species’ structure and diversity in savanna woodlands. The destruction of these ecosystems hinders the achievement of several global environmental and development targets, notably SDGs 2, 13, and 15, which underscores the need for continuous tree monitoring to inform decision-making on biodiversity conservation. This study aims to characterize the relationships between tree diversity and structure across different land cover (LC) classes—Dense tree cover (D), Sparse tree cover (S), Grasslands (G), and Wetlands (W)—and altitudinal gradients (AGs) in Alain forest, located in Sudan’s savanna woodlands. A systematic sampling was used across varying AGs and …

The Impact Of Continuing Nursing Education On Nurses’ Knowledge And Quality Of Practice: A Systematic Review, Areti Stavropoulou, Martha Kelesi, Marianthi Baltagianni, Evangelia Sigala, Eleni Tsapnidou, Georgia Gerogianni, Georgios Katharakis

Health Professions Education

Purpose. To explore the impact of continuing education on nursing knowledge and quality of practice.

Method. In compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic review was conducted in January 2024 using the PubMed, Trip, Science Direct and Scopus databases. The inclusion criteria comprised original research studies, published between 2018 and 2024.

Results. The results of 14 research studies that met the inclusion criteria, yield that continuing nursing education significantly contributes to the enhancement of nurses’ knowledge and skills. Through continuing education, nurses may develop high levels of self-confidence and proficiency in …

The Art Of Masking And Performing For The Perfect Marriage In William Shakespeare’S The Taming Of The Shrew, Rita Oliva

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis explores how William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew exaggerates the art of masking and performing as necessary social techniques for women surviving the patriarchal culture of Padua. Through close analysis of Katherine and Bianca Minola, both sisters adopt performative identities, the “shrew” and the “ideal woman,” that reflect, resist, and expose the restrictive gender norms governing female behavior, qualifications for marriage, and worth. While Bianca’s apparent passivity and rhetorical femininity promote her to manipulate societal expectations to her advantage, Katherine’s refusal to submit to the societal and cultural standards of Padua results in her categorization of a …

Cather, Silko, Hunt: Rethinking Prosperity Twentieth-Century Explorations Of Interiority, Materiality, And Transcendence, Aileen Montoya

Dissertations and Theses

• Interiority
• Materiality
• Transcendence
• Prosperity
• Modernism
• Subjectivity
• Narrative Identity
• Spiritual Landscapes

Delays, Disruptions, And Diminished Margins: Reassessing Loss Claims In Indian Construction Law, Gautam Mohanty Mr, Gaurav Rai

National Law School of India Review

Loss of Profit claims by a contractor are premised on the assertion that the contractor has incurred financial losses due to the act of illegal and premature termination of the contract by the employer. Loss of profitability, on the other hand, is a claim made by the contractor of a decrease in the profit percentage in a contract on account of delays and disruptions in the work due to the actions attributable to the employer. Due to the homonymic nature of the terms, several judgments in India confuse one with the other and misunderstand the underlying principles of law applicable …

A Comparative Study On The Originality Of Ai-Generated Artworks: What Can Copyright Laws Learn From Refik Anadol?, Söğüt Atilla

National Law School of India Review

Originality is a fundamental requirement for works to receive copyright protection. However, as the term lacks a universally accepted definition, interpretations of originality vary across jurisdictions. This article first examines key theories underpinning copyright law to justify the necessity of an originality threshold. It then analyses how the United States, the United Kingdom, India, China, and the European Union define and apply this criterion. In the final section, the article argues that, these jurisdictions, when applying their well-established principles and case law consistently, can accommodate findings of originality in AI-generated artworks. The article critiques the misconception shared by some jurisdictions …

Unmasking The Rhetoric Of Reform – The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 In Context, Pranav Verma

National Law School of India Review

This legislative comment is a critical analysis of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 (‘BSA’), which has replaced the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (‘IEA’). It analyses the major changes brought in by the BSA and discusses their implications. It further highlights the existing interpretive disputes within the IEA that the BSA leaves unaddressed. The BSA makes only a few substantive changes in improvement to the IEA, such as streamlining the rules on electronic evidence and expanding the scope of secondary evidence. Apart from this, most changes pertain to the renumbering of existing provisions and the deletion of obsolete colonial references. These …

Evolution Of Privacy Jurisprudence In The Supreme Court Of India: Evaluating The Impact Of Puttaswamy, Vrinda Bhandari, Rishab Bailey

National Law School of India Review

This paper studies the Supreme Court’s landmark privacy judgment in K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India and, through an empirical analysis of 53 judgments, analyses the record of the Supreme Court in applying, rather than simply citing, the judgment in decisions from 2017 to early 2023. Puttaswamy is widely seen as a transformative decision, as it recognised privacy as a fundamental right and tied it to dignity, autonomy, bodily integrity, consent, and choice. Yet it did not arise from a lis involving a concrete factual dispute over the application of privacy rights. The Court was therefore not dealing with a …

The Social Life Of Free Speech: Who Gets To Speak And Express?, Anurag Bhaskar

National Law School of India Review

The interdisciplinary scholarship on free speech, though developed outside the Indian context, underscores the necessity of re-examining free speech not just as an individual right against the State, but as a socially embedded phenomenon, conditioned by historical inequalities and prevailing systems of power. Building on this framework, this article advances an anti-caste perspective on freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution. It examines the contours of free speech in a heterogeneous and hierarchically structured society, interrogating how caste hierarchies have shaped the boundaries of acceptable speech, and determining whose speech is heard and whose is …

The Authenticity Trap: Political Deepfakes And The Limits Of Current Regulation, Akriti Gaur

National Law School of India Review

This paper examines the emerging regulatory challenge posed by political deepfakes, with a particular focus on India’s 2024 elections and the legal responses that followed. It argues that regulatory responses that directly prohibit or remove political speech risk collapsing questions of authenticity into questions of legality. Using India as the central case study, and drawing comparative lessons from recent developments in the United States, the paper argues for a regulatory approach focused less on banning synthetic political content and more on provenance, disclosures, and institutional preparedness. Deepfake regulation, if poorly designed, risks strengthening state control over political discourse. The paper …

‘What Can A Comma Do?’: Re-Examining Victorian Criminalisation Of Obscenity Through The Flawed Interlinking Of ‘Decency Or Morality’ Under The Strain Of Modern Liberal Consciousness, Ratika Gaur

National Law School of India Review

This paper argues that the rhetorical nature of India’s post-independence obscenity jurisprudence stems from the interlinking of two distinct (behavioural v. normative) categories into the singular provision of ‘decency or morality’ under Article 19(2). This interlinking emerged amidst the socio-economic and cultural upheavals in Victorian England, wherein moral anxieties around the ‘visibility’ of obscenity reflected a crisis of political obligation within the modern liberal consciousness. Operating through the logic of deterrence, this consciousness criminalized obscenity due to its ideationally incapacity to accommodate liminal expressions—acts that were neither neatly civil, nor outright criminal, even when offensive. In this regard, one substantive …

Bulletin Ninth District Ny November 2025

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

In the November 2025 issue, the reader will find the following feature articles:

• "Some Thoughts about AI in Dentistry," reprinted with permission from the Arizona Dental Association
• "ADA Trustee Corner - Ninth Letter from the ADA Second Trustee District to the NYSDA Components"
• "Message from the ADA President: A Year of Building Our Catherdral Together"

Also included are your monthly President's Message, event updates, continuing education opportunities, membership news and classifieds.

Conservation Easements: An Advantageous Tool For Local Governments As East Tennessee Continues To Grow And Develop, Jacob Manning, Blythe Faris, Cliff Robbins

Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law

No abstract provided.

Gamification And Geography Education: A Survey And Typology Of Games, Ruth Ohaka

Graduate Research Papers

Gamification in education transforms traditional, non-gaming contexts (i.e., classrooms) by incorporating challenges and scenarios with their own rules, stories, and stakes. In geography education, teachers have sought ways to gamify the classroom, develop students’ spatial reasoning, and develop place-based capabilities for critical thinking and problem-solving, making complex geographical and environmental concepts more relatable and accessible to the students. Regardless of the documented achievements with gamification, such as more engagement, deeper understanding, and increased motivation, there remains a lack of a comprehensive typology of games used within geography education. This paper aims to develop a typology of games used in education …

Bulletin Ninth District Ny March 2025

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

In the March 2025 issue, the reader will find the following feature articles:

• "ADA President-Elect Message from Dr. Renuka Bijoor"
• "ADA Trustee Corner - Seventh Letter from the ADA Second Trustee District to the NYSDA Components"
• "Removal of Fluoridation Caused 700% Increase in Serious Dental Infections"

Also included are your monthly President's Message, event updates, continuing education opportunities, membership news and classifieds.

Ada Trustee Corner - Seventh Letter From The Ada Second Trustee District To The Nysda Components, Brendan Dowd Dds

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

A regular column from the trustee of the Second Trustee District of to NYSDA Components.

Critical Environmental Communication Framework, Shumaila J. Bhatti, Srivi Ramasubramanian, Andrea Feldpausch-Parker, Bruno Takahashi, Silje Kristiansen

Media Studies - All Scholarship

This study develops a Critical Environmental Communication (CEC) framework to assess the landscape of Environmental Communication research and to what extent and in which ways critical and justice-oriented perspectives are included. The CEC framework consists of four interconnected themes: (a) Marginalized Ecocultural Identities, (b) Context and Scale, (c) Power and Agency, and (d) Justice, Equity, Diversity, Access, and Inclusion (JEDAI). Using this framework in a bibliometric analysis examining 1,297 Environmental Communication publications, we assess the occurrence of these themes in the scholarship. Our analysis found that Marginalized Ecocultural Identities, and Context and Scale were most frequently occurring, while Power and …

Towards A Companion Robot: A Cognitive Agent Model Of The Dynamics Of Loneliness, Hayder M. A. Ghanimi, Shaymaa H. Nowfal

Warith Scientific Journal of Engineering and Technology

Loneliness is a prevalent and global problem for all people, and it can adversely affect their quality of life. Many research investigations have confirmed the negative psychological impacts of loneliness on people’s the unwanted impact of loneliness. Yet, these interventions are missing the power of reasoning to predict the onset of loneliness. Consequently, this paper presented the work of developing a computational cognitive agent model of loneliness using a causal networking modeling approach by relying on discrepancy model as a benchmark to serve as analytics engine for a companion robot design. Loneliness determinants and their causal relationships were identified from …

Educ 3410/Envi 3410: The Natural Environment And Well-Being, Laura Van Zandt Allen, Courtney Crim

Trinity Syllabi Collection

Course Description

The course introduces students to the benefits of natural environments on human health and well-being. Topics of study include the historical and cultural traditions of human’s connections to nature, theoretical frameworks and mechanisms of human/nature connections, implementation of interdisciplinary research agendas, as well as implications for education, diversity, health policy, and urban planning. A significant portion of the course will take place in the field, where students will explore local and regional parks, nature-based educational settings, and the practice of forest therapy. While most field work will take place during the 3-hour course time frame, there will be …

That’S Using Your Head! Head Shaking, Nodding, And Smiling As Evidentiary Admissions, Marc Ginsberg

UIC Law Open Access Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Green Cities Conference Proceedings-2025, Minoo Tehrani

Business Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Revolutionising Indoor Air Quality To Stop Pandemics With Germicidal Ultraviolet (Guv) Technology, P. Jacob Bueno De Mesquita

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

This exclusive interview with Assistant Professor of Public Health and leader of TheHuman Health and Harmony Lab (H3) Jacob Bueno de Mesquita explores the hiddendangers of shared air, the transformative potential of Germicidal Ultraviolet (GUV)technology, and the vision for a future where indoor spaces contribute to healthier, moreresilient communities.

Informative Jury Disagreement, Roy Baharad

Coase-Sandor Institute for Law & Economics Research Paper Series

The article introduces a counterintuitive argument, contending that jury disagreement on the defendant’s guilt—a nonunanimous conviction—may well provide a more informative signal, compared to consensus. Because stronger consensus implies higher likelihood of herding, it is shown that beyond some threshold, further accumulation of votes to convict would carry negligible epistemic contribution, barely enhancing the posterior probability of guilt. On the other hand, while dissenting votes provide a direct signal of innocence, they indicate that herding has not been involved in the decision-making process, hence increase the epistemic contribution of any vote generated by said process— including votes to convict—and may …

Can Ai Hold Office Hours?, Lisa Larrimore Ouellette, Amy R. Motomura, Jason Reinecke, Jonathan S. Masur

Coase-Sandor Institute for Law & Economics Research Paper Series

Rapid improvements in AI tools offer transformative opportunities in legal education, including the possibility of students using AI tools to answer questions that students might otherwise ask during office hours. But a critical challenge is the accuracy of these tools’ responses. Both general-purpose and law-specific AI models have been shown to “hallucinate” incorrect responses to a range of legal questions. Here, we evaluate the current capabilities of AI models when given the more constrained task of answering questions about a specific legal text. We provided three AI tools—OpenAI’s GPT-4o, Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and Google’s NotebookLM—with the text of Masur …

Taxing Corporate Payouts, Neil Dokurno, David A. Weisbach

Coase-Sandor Institute for Law & Economics Research Paper Series

Corporate distributions total about $1.5 trillion per year, yet the system for taxing distributions is a mess. It favors buybacks over dividends, and therefore is a possible cause of the growth of buybacks in recent years. It is almost comically complex. And even with its fantastic level of complexity (or perhaps because of the complexity), it provides opportunities for egregious shelters.

Congress has repeatedly attempted reforms to fix these problems, with at best mixed success and often outright failure. Numerous commentators have proposed reforms but all either fail to eliminate the tax differential between buybacks and dividends or require significant …