Digital Commons Network^™

2024 Klatsky Endowed Lecture In Human Rights, Andrew Cayley

Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

Development Of Welfare Assessment Strategies For Indonesian Zoos, Yonathan Yonathan

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Animal welfare assessment is a core element of zoo management, helping zoos achieve positive welfare state for their animals. Welfare should be assessed regularly to evaluate, monitor, and improve the standards of care. The research on welfare assessment and its development process increased after the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) launched the 2023 Animal Welfare Goals, which include mandatory welfare assessment process for national and regional zoo associations. In Indonesia, many zoos don’t have their own welfare assessment and find it difficult to adapt generic tools due to variation in husbandry, resources, and facilities. This project aims to …

Maine Law Magazine - Issue No. 99, University Of Maine School Of Law

Maine Law Magazine

• A Letter from the Dean
• Alaskan residents granted resident tuition status at Maine Law
• ‘I wasn’t doing it alone’: Students find mentorship and direction in Maine Law’s 3+3 Program
• A Place to Call Home: Three journal symposium addresses housing crisis in Maine and beyond
• Maine Law community honors founding Dean Edward Godfrey’s lasting legacy
• How Maine Law’s Economic Justice Fellowship is Shaping the Next Generation of Advocates
• New fellowship broadens scope and reach of Maine Law’s Refugee and Human Rights Clinic
• The Clinics at Maine Law: Renamed to Reflect Our Expansive Reach
• Prisoners’ Assistance Clinic - Providing Much Needed Access …

Teacher Becoming Of Alternatively Licensed Teachers, Erin Summerhays

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In the 2023-2024 school year, the Iowa Department of Education listed 21 teaching shortage areas. One way that more teachers can enter Iowa’s classrooms is through alternative licensure pathways. But these alternative programs need students who are willing to pursue the teaching profession, even knowing all of the challenges that today’s teachers face. The purpose of this study was to investigate why people choose to become teachers at a later point in their lives/careers, and to explore the mindsets of alternatively licensed teachers. The theoretical framework for this study includes Bakhtin’s theory on ideological becoming, interanimated discourses (Bakhtin, 1981; Gee, …

Robert O'Neil Bristow Papers - Accession 1719, Robert O'Neil Bristow

Manuscript Collection

The Robert O’Neil Bristow Papers document the literary career of Robert O’Neil Bristow (1926-2018), a distinguished writer and professor of journalism at Winthrop College from 1962 to 1987. The collection includes drafts, revisions, galley proofs, publication notices, book reviews, promotional materials, and both personal and business correspondence. Notably, it contains original manuscripts for Season of Glory and Rebel in Darkness, as well as a galley proof of Rebel in Darkness with edits. The collection also features correspondence from family, friends, editors, and publishers, primarily from 1966 to 1971. Researchers interested in the creative process of a successful author will …

Kinetic Model Of Glycolysis And Glutaminolysis Interplay Developed In Matlab Simbiology, Zohreh Mirveis, Hugh J. Byrne, Nitin Patil

Datasets

This dataset contains a kinetic model developed in MATLAB SimBiology to simulate the metabolic dynamics of glycolysis and glutaminolysis and their interconnection. The model was used in the study ‘Experimental and computational investigation of the kinetic evolution of the glutaminolysis pathway and its interplay with the glycolysis pathway’ (Mirveis et al., 2024). The dataset includes the original SimBiology project file together with the experimental data used for model training. These resources enable reproduction of the simulations reported in the publication and provide a reusable framework for further computational exploration of metabolic pathway kinetics.

Conversations In The Classroom: Increasing Dialogic Inquiry To Dismantle Compliance-Based Teaching And Learning, Jill Rivera

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Verbal interpersonal communication has been diminishing from the teaching and learning process over the past decade in public-school classrooms. School district administrations mandate teachers to utilize digital learning platforms and standardized tests due to the ease at which this technology can quickly gather data. While the transition to digital platforms and test-based education may be well-intended, the result has often been a decrease in dialogic inquiry-based pedagogy which removes teacher autonomy, student agency, and has negative effects on students’ ability to critically think and effectively engage in communication and instruction. The over-emphasis on collecting data based solely on a digitized …

Pecto-Intercostal Fascial Plane Block With Or Without Rectus Sheath Block In Cardiac Surgery, Anne L. Castro, Hemanckur Makker, Laura S. Gonzalez, Audrey Jensen, Sergey S. Tarima, Adam Pagryzinski, Rozalin Thapa, Ali Qureshi, Christopher Fadumiye, Krystal Weierstahl, Paul Pearson, Julie K. Freed

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Background Median sternotomy and chest tube sites drive pain following cardiac surgery. Prior research has demonstrated that pecto-intercostal fascial plane blocks (PIFBs) reduce median sternotomy pain after cardiac surgery. Prior studies examining the addition of a rectus sheath block (RSB) to localize the insertion site of subxiphoid chest tubes have had mixed results. Methods In this single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 62 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with median sternotomy and subxiphoid chest tubes were randomized to receive PIFB and RSB with local anesthetic versus PIFB with local anesthetic and RSB with saline placebo. The primary outcome was pain at rest …

Echando Raíz In Humboldt County: Stories From Our Latine And Indigenous Immigrant Community, Andrea Delgado, Cinthya Ammerman Muñoz

Humboldt Journal of Social Relations

"Centro del Pueblo (CDP) is a local grassroots organization dedicated to empowering the undercounted and underserved Indigenous migrant population in Humboldt County and uplifting their cultural practices, ecological knowledges, and languages. In 2020, CDP established the Jardín Santuario (Sanctuary Garden)..."

Exploring Creative Processes In Elementary Art Education: Memory, Observation, And Imagination, Angela Steuer

Graduate Research Papers

This study explores the factors influencing idea generation and creativity in young students, focusing on 4th graders' engagement using comics as a motivational tool. It examines the roles of memory, observation, and imagination in shaping artistic choices, as well as the impact of teaching strategies, such as structured challenges and personal storytelling, in fostering creativity. This research offers insights into how tailored instructional practices and cognitive processes support the artistic development of elementary students, empowering them to generate original ideas and create meaningful artwork.

Intergenerational Arts In The Classroom: A Win-Win, Audrey Klunenberg

Graduate Research Papers

This paper suggests that intergenerational arts programs, particularly those conducted in public schools, can help participants build empathy, a sense of community and belonging. Evidence of these changes was collected through informal observations during three intergenerational art classes in a first grade classroom, as well as through discussions with participants before and after their participation in the intergenerational arts programming. Empathy and community can be built through carefully planned collaborative art-making opportunities and the effect can be evidenced in the forming of relationships, the absence of behavioral problems, and the building of the facilitator’s personal network. The paper concludes that …

Graduate Portfolio, Amber Ellen Hoodjer

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Graduate Portfolio, Cody Miller

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Healthcare Access, Kyla M. Frost

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and healthcare access, and ACEs and healthcare access among people of color. The current study is a secondary data analysis of the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A disproportionate stratified sample (DSS) design and a simple random sample design were used to collect data. The current study examined 48,865 participants who completed ACEs through telephone surveys. The results showed a statistically significant negative relationship between ACEs and healthcare access. The results also showed …

Recovery Rate For Adolescents With Concussions That Participate In Aerobic Exercise, Katrina Cooper

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of Sexual Assault On Mental Health In Adolescents, Nicole Trip

Graduate Research Papers

The current study focuses on the impacts of forced sexual activity on mental health among high school students. This study is a secondary data analysis, using the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), which is nationally representative data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A total of 19,945 high school students with an average age of 15.89 years, and about half of the students were White and male. This study found that experiences of sexual assault are associated with increased depression and suicidal ideation. This study also found that female youth experienced a higher level …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Chronic Health Conditions In Black Individuals, Emily K. Etringer

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and chronic health conditions among Black individuals of different genders. The study employs quantitative research methods and utilizes secondary data analysis on the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percent, mean, standard deviation, range, and inferential statistics, such as correlation analyses, independent groups t-tests, ANOVA, and Chi-square tests. This research revealed a statistically significant finding that Black individuals with an ACE score of 4+ have more chronic …

The Impacts Of A Problem-Based Learning Unit On Computational Thinking Skills In A 7th Grade Lego Robotics Classroom, Madison Beeler

Graduate Research Papers

The primary focus of this study was to determine what impact problem-based learning (PBL) has on developing computational thinking skills, self-efficacy, and earth science understanding in a middle school robotics classroom. Twenty-eight students took part in a 36-day instructional unit based on the 5E Learning Cycle. Students explored Martian geology, analyzing rock data collected by the Perseverance rover mission to make connections between landforms, integrating Earth science with computational thinking tasks. Pre and post-test data assessed growth of computational thinking and self-efficacy. Statistical analysis showed significant growth in student self-efficacy, while gains in computational thinking were not statistically significant. Students …

Citizen-Centric Building Energy Retrofits: Understanding And Supporting Citizens As Occupants, Participants, Decision-Makers, And Learners In Home Energy Retrofits, Nikhil Singh Yaduvanshi

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Residential building retrofits remain significantly under-adopted despite substantial technological advances, economic incentives, and policy efforts, creating a critical gap between technical potential and actual implementation in achieving climate goals. Assessment of citizen involvement in building retrofit processes plays a critical role in formulating effective home retrofit program designs to ensure maximum adoption rates and avoid energy waste. Although, existing retrofit programs and decision-making models recognize the importance of citizen involvement, the extent of citizen capabilities and the effects of citizen-centered approaches on retrofit adoption and building performance has not been comprehensively examined. The adoption and success of retrofit programs depends …

Assessment Of The Feasibility Of Utilizing Plastic Waste In Infrastructure To Promote Circular Economy In Bangladesh, Md Lutfor Rahman

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of municipal solid waste (MSW) and plastic waste characterization across Bangladesh, with a focus on circular economy opportunities and the long-term economic viability of plastic road. Using on-site waste characterization data for 13 major cities from four geographic zones of Bangladesh —Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast—the research identifies food waste as the dominant component of the national waste stream (67.3%), followed by plastic (12.4%), textiles (7.8%), and paper (4.7%). Among plastics, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) overwhelmingly dominates (89.7%), highlighting the continued prevalence of single-use flexible plastics.

A life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) was conducted comparing …

Implementation And Performance Evaluation Of Plastic Road Mix Design In Parking Lot, Ishraq Faruk

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The uncontrolled proliferation of plastic waste has emerged as a global environmental crisis, with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) constituting a substantial fraction of the waste stream due to its extensive use in packaging and its resistance to degradation. In parallel, asphalt pavements particularly in urban infrastructure such as parking lots experience accelerated deterioration from raveling, rutting, and cracking as a result of thermal cycling, repetitive loading, and inadequate drainage. These converging challenges present an opportunity for innovative, circular-economy-based sustainable pavement technologies that simultaneously improve surface durability and mitigate plastic waste accumulation.

This research investigates the full-scale implementation and monitoring of HDPE …

Premier League Results Predictions, Laura Consuegra

ICT

This project applies machine learning techniques to predict outcomes in the English Premier League, one of the most prestigious and widely followed football competitions worldwide. By analysing historical and real-time match data, including performance metrics such as goals scored, shots on target, and cards received, predictive models are developed to forecast match results with higher accuracy. The study evaluates the effectiveness of these models and explores the influence of key statistical features on team performance. The findings aim to provide strategic insights for fans, bookmakers, and coaching staff, supporting performance evaluation, tactical decision-making, and a deeper understanding of the factors …

Simulación Clínica En La Formación De Psicólogos Organizaciones: Burnout Y Acoso Laboral, Patricia Vizuete Escobar, Sara Uceda Gutiérrez, Esther Martínez Miguel, Irene Morueco Moreno

Capítulos de libros

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Fake News And Rumor Detection Using Metadata, Context, And User Interaction With A Hybrid Gcn-Transformer., Lucas Romulo Zuin Gigli

ICT

The increasing influence of social media has significantly impacted how news spreads among users, making the detection of misinformation, including fake news and rumours, a critical task. Previous research has explored content-based and metadata-driven approaches, while recent advancements have leveraged Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) such as GCNs, GATs, and SAGE to analyse user interactions and propagation patterns. This thesis investigates the effectiveness of a Hybrid Graph-Transformer Convolutional Neural Network (GCN-Transformer) for fake news detection, combining graph-based learning with Transformer attention mechanisms. Through in-depth data analysis and advanced detection techniques, this model aims to enhance predictive performance and mitigate the spread …

Discovering Latent Themes: Mixed-Methods Comparative Analysis Of Topic Extraction And Clustering., Laura Byrne

ICT

This study investigates whether clustering and topic modeling can uncover themes within the 167 verses of the King James Version of the Book of Esther. A standardized preprocessing pipeline was applied, and TF-IDF and sentence-embedding feature spaces were used to evaluate topic extraction (NMF, GSDMM, BERTopic, Top2Vec) and clustering (HDBSCAN, DBSCAN, Gaussian Mixtures, Agglomerative) using coherence, cluster validity, lexical distinctiveness, and cross-model similarity metrics. NMF provided the most interpretable topics, GSDMM yielded compact low-overlap topics, BERTopic offered entity-centered groupings, and Top2Vec highlighted broad thematic regions. Cross-model analysis revealed overlapping motifs, notably decree and banquet themes, but clusters and topics did …

Distributing Composition: Rhetorical Agency In First-Year Writing, Elizabeth Novotny

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This project centers on engaging students in class lessons related to rhetorical agency. Typically understood as the capacity to act, within rhetoric, I define agency as the capacity to make meaning. In most traditional Western conceptions, agency is primarily located with the individual rhetor. However, these views were increasingly challenged throughout the later twentieth century as theorists from various traditions came to understand that discussing our agency as solely our own doing was insufficient. In contrast to an individualistic understanding of agency, theories that characterize rhetorical agency as more fragmented have evolved, where, instead of writing and rhetoric being …

Investigating Dimensions Of Social Vulnerability To Wildfire: A Case Study Of Western Montana, Ella Brodowski

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Communities across the US are facing increased wildfire risks due in part to historic fire suppression efforts, a warming climate, and an influx of people residing in wildland urban interface (WUI) landscapes. Because of these increasing risks, there have been growing concerns about the social factors that can increase individual and community vulnerability to wildfires. This research adds to the discussion of social vulnerability by examining how people living in a geographic area with heightened wildfire risk think about the ways in which people can be more or less vulnerable to wildfires. Using semi-structured interviews, round table discussions, and field …

The Animated Frontier: Fluctuations Of Power Across Time And Space In Flows Of U.S. And Japanese Animated Media, Kendall Belopavlovich

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This project critiques the historical and contemporary relationships between the U.S., Japan, and marginalized groups through the lens of animation. The U.S. and Japan share a complex history, from the opening of Japan during the Edo period to events like Pearl Harbor and the atomic bombings, which shaped their present-day alliance. Furthermore, the U.S. and Japan are the central nodes in flows of animation, where both nation states have dominated the global market at various points in animation’s history. Today, Japan's soft power in media is significant, and the flow of power between these nations has influenced media forms and …

Examining Video-Based Learning In Higher Education, Kay (Catherine) L. Tislar

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Instructional video has proliferated recently due to the explosion in popularity of TikTok and YouTube. However, most videos are not developed using principles derived from research and instructional design theories that have been tested with content presented in other types of media (de Konig et al., 2018). Many of these principles are based on the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning, including research on the seductive detail effect; seductive details are “interesting but irrelevant details that are added to a passage to make it more interesting” and have been shown to harm learning (Harp & Mayer, 1997). This has motivated the …

Patient Handling Interventions And Their Role In Reducing Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Healthcare Workers, Ashley L. Hawke

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are prominent among healthcare professionals, especially those who perform manual patient handling tasks. Assistive devices (e.g., slider sheet, gait belt, mechanical lift) have been used for patient handling. However, the effectiveness of these devices in reducing MSD risk factors is varied. Additionally, the relationship between healthcare workers’ acceptability of patient handling devices and organizational policies that facilitate or hinder widespread implementation is not well understood. The goal of my dissertation was to conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing patient handling devices and their role in mitigating MSD risk among healthcare workers. For Study 1, I conducted a …