Digital Commons Network^™

Ppe, Sdgs, Csr, Esg: Untangling Acronyms, Politics, And Corporate Futures, Brooke G. Ulicny

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Campbell At 30: A Retrospective Appreciation, Michael W. Carroll, Peter Jaszi

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

This Article traces the intellectual history of copyright law’s fair use doctrine at the Supreme Court from its first encounter with fair use to its landmark decision slightly more than three decades ago in Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. Campbell provided courts with a coherent, user-centered theory for applying the four statutory fair use factors provided under 17 U.S.C. § 107, a standard the Court recently ratified in Google LLC v. Oracle Am., Inc. and Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts v. Goldsmith. As one of three related articles, this Article advances two principal claims to contribute to …

Looking Well: Art Historical Interventions For A More Equitable Medicine, Kathleen Pierce

Art: Faculty Books

Book Abstract:

This agenda-setting edited volume makes a forceful case for the contribution that art – its practices and its histories – can make to debates and developments in critical medical humanities today.

Whilst medical humanities previously emphasised an instrumental attitude towards art and art-making, recent work has opened up a dynamic space in which art can critically and imaginatively operate. With urgent attention paid to constructions of race, gender, class, sexuality and disability, the artists, art historians, and scholars in related fields represented within this volume address new and pressing questions about structures and experiences of health, medical knowledge, …

Celebrities, Personalities, And Drinking Styles, Madeleine Krueger

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study replicated and extended the findings of Hill et al. by examining the influence of sociocultural factors, vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, and related psychological variables on drunkorexia behaviors. The replication was expanded to include body dissatisfaction and celebrity worship, as prior literature suggests these variables may be strongly associated with disordered eating and alcohol-related compensatory behaviors. Results indicated that body dissatisfaction emerged as a significant predictor of drunkorexia, supporting previous research that links negative body image with maladaptive weight-control behaviors surrounding alcohol consumption. Several limitations should be noted, including the use of a single-university sample, reliance on a cross-sectional …

Security-Oriented Voice Authentication Using Machine Learning, Ifeoluwa Stella Elegbe

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study develops and evaluates a machine learning and deep learning-based voice authentication system for secure identity verification. As traditional authentication methods such as passwords, PINs, and security tokens continue to face challenges, including identity theft, forgetting, and unauthorized access, voice biometrics offers a more secure, convenient, and user-friendly alternative, especially for remote, hands-free, and accessibility-focused applications. The study adopts a closed-set speaker identification framework, where the system determines the most likely speaker from a predefined group of enrolled users. A structured methodology is implemented, beginning with audio preprocessing and feature extraction. Key acoustic features, including Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs), …

Federated And Explainable Spiking Neural Networks For Fair And Privacy-Preserving Nail Disease Diagnostics, Ch Pavani Reddy, Krishnanaik Vankdoth

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Automated nail disease diagnostics provide a non-invasive pathway for identifying underlying systemic health conditions; however, conventional centralized deep learning approaches often raise concerns related to privacy, fairness, and interpretability. Although the original NeuroNail-SNN framework demonstrated an energy-efficient and edge-ready diagnostic solution, its broader clinical adoption remained limited by unresolved trust, transparency, and ethical considerations. In this study, we propose the Federated and Explainable NeuroNail-SNN, which extends the original spiking neural architecture by integrating federated learning (FL), explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), fairness evaluation, and uncertainty quantification within a unified framework. Federated learning enables decentralized model training across hospitals and mobile clinics …

Sustainable Cloud Operations For Research (Score): A Guideline For Cost-Efficient And Carbon-Aware Data Pipelines Design In Low- And Middle-Income Countries Research, Nigel Thuku Kamotho, Allan Zablon, Stephen Wong, Amos Bunde, Antony Kagure, Thembi Kiiru, Anthony Ngugi, Amina Abubakar, Akbar Waljee, Farhana Alarakhiya

Research projects, including grant records

As cloud computing becomes a growing pillar for modern data intensive research, especially in fields like global health, many organizations across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain hindered by operational constraints. These include limited DevOps capability, unreliable internet connectivity, fixed grant ceilings, and growing demands for environmental sustainability. Standard cloud architecture is based on stable infrastructure and high technical ability, making them neither viable in terms of cost nor sustainability within LMICs environments.

This report introduces the Sustainable Cloud Operations for Research (SCORE) guidelines. It is a guideline for context-specific cloud architecture models for LMICs research groups to optimize architecture …

Surviving Leadership Change Within A Collegiate Athletic Department, Anna Flores

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

Turnover rates in college athletics occur for a multitude of reasons, often leading to changes in leadership (Pack & Won, 2017). Poor working conditions, low salaries, and overall employee burnout are just a few of the reasons why people leave their roles in college athletics, according to Pack and Won (2017). This phenomenon affected me deeply in the fall of 2025, but not in the way one might think. My long-time boss and mentor, Taylor Jefferson, stepped away from his role as Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Brand Enhancement at Bowling Green State University, leaving me blindsided. Since then, …

Sport Injuries And The Impact On Athlete Mental Health, Chloe Crompton

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

Over the last decade, there has been an increased focus on athlete mental health (Wiese, 2010). More studies have focused on why athletes struggle with mental health and how mental health can significantly impact athletic performance. According to research, “Across mental health disorders, injury is frequently identified as a sport-specific risk factor for mental health conditions and is one of the most frequently researched risk factors for mental health concerns in elite athletes” (Haugen, 2022, p.4). Considering the inherent risk of injury with athletic participation, the impact of sport-related injuries on individual athletes’ mental health remains an important area for …

Marketing Plan For Community Service Initiative L.A.C.E.S. (Limitless Accessibility For Children To Experience Sports), Grace Bryant

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

I. Executive Summary

L.A.C.E.S. (Limitless Accessibility for Children to Experience Sports) is a community-based initiative focused on increasing access to youth sports for children in underserved communities. The mission of L.A.C.E.S. is to ensure that every child can experience the joy and benefits of sport by addressing barriers such as cost, transportation, lack of resources, and limited awareness. While youth sports are widely known to support physical health, mental well-being, and social development, access to these opportunities is not equal. Research shows that participation rates are significantly lower among children from low-income households and marginalized communities, largely due to structural …

Facility Development And Its Effect On Performative Outcomes In Ncaa Division I Hockey, Luke Bodeis

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

This study was designed to compare the performative outcomes two years before the construction of a new facility against the outcomes 2 years after the opening for NCAA Division 1 Men’s Ice Hockey Programs. Using historical performance records of wins, losses and ties, a Chi-Square test of independence was chosen to analyze and determine if there was a significant relationship between new construction facilities and the on-ice performance of 15 programs. Facility quality is often cited as a key factor in the decision-making process for high performance athletes when determining school of choice. This study found that when looking at …

The Contributors, Marites Tiongco

DLSU Business & Economics Review

No abstract provided.

Say Gay: Increasing Preservice Teacher Confidence Using Participatory Theatre, Sarah Maxime Hyson

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Research Design: Research shows a lack of LGBTQ+ instruction in teacher preparation programs. This social justice mixed methods study evaluates effectiveness of participatory theatre for increasing confidence in preservice teachers. Research Questions: RQ 1: How does student self-rating of confidence change after participatory theatre experiences that examine issues concerning LGBTQ+ individuals and materials? RQ 2: What do preservice teachers’ writing, sketching, and discussion about their participatory theatre experience reveal about their evolving confidence regarding LGBTQ+ individuals and issues? RQ 3: What do the instructor’s experiences and reflections reveal about the effectiveness ofparticipatory theatre pedagogy to increase confidence in preservice teachers …

Leading Schools Effectively During A Crisis: Lessons Learned From The Covid-19 Pandemic, La Tonya Elizabeth Overton

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract This qualitative study explored the successes, challenges, and lessons learned by elementary principals serving systemically marginalized communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through in-depth interviews with nine principals across multiple school districts, the study identified three overarching themes that characterized effective crisis leadership: relationships, well-being, and innovation. Principals described how sustaining strong relationships, prioritizing humanity, and centering trust were essential for navigating trauma, uncertainty, and rapid change. They emphasized meeting basic needs such as food, technology access, health supports, and housing stability as foundational to school continuity. Principals also demonstrated equity-driven responsiveness by removing systemic barriers, adapting communication to diverse …

The Need To Identifying An Assessment Method To Evaluate Narcissistic Leadership Traits In Christian Churches In The Minneapolis Area And Determining Their Impact On Assemblies From The Perspective Of Congregants, Rita Lekova

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the need for effective assessment methods to evaluate narcissistic leadership traits in Christian congregations in the Minneapolis area and the consequential effects of these traits on assemblies, as perceived by the congregations. This study addressed growing concerns about destructive leadership behaviors that compromise spiritual well-being, organizational trust, and biblical paradigms of servant leadership, as exemplified by Jesus. Employing an interdisciplinary framework that includes the theological, psychological, and leadership studies literatures, the research examined the expression of narcissistic traits by ecclesiastical leaders and ministers and how these tendencies are perceived by congregants and attendees. Qualitative and quantitative research …

Mind The Gap: A Synthesis Of Research On The Theory Of The Mind Differences In Autism And Educational Bridging Strategies, Christopher K. Hansen

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This master’s thesis analyzes “Theory of the Mind” (how we understand other people’s thoughts) through a neurodiversity affirming lens. Rather than looking at autism as a one-sided social flaw, this paper explores the idea that communication gaps occur because neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals naturally speak different social languages. This literature review examines how forcing autistic students to mask their natural traits causes academic frustration and emotional and mental exhaustion. This can also cause anxiety and lead to depression. Part of this paper focuses on translating these findings into practical bridging strategies for the classroom, using a variety of approaches to …

Strengthening Literacy Outcomes For Students With Severe Disabilities: The Impact Of Teacher Preparation, Evidence-Based Approaches, And Learning Environments, Kallie Casale

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review thesis examines factors influencing literacy instruction for students with severe disabilities, focusing on evidence-based approaches, educator training, and learning environments. The findings highlight that systematic instruction and specialized training, such as online modules, eCoaching, and practice-based feedback, significantly improve educator knowledge and student skill acquisition. The review demonstrates that comprehensive curricula, such as the Early Literacy Skills Builder (ELSB), yield greater gains in phonics and decoding than traditional sight-word approaches. The review of research also illustrates that inclusive settings promote academic progress through peer modeling and higher learning expectations than traditional self-contained environments. However, some educators prefer …

Supporting Success In Collegiate Student-Athletes With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Coaching, Accommodations, And Mental Health Supports, Sharon Marcella Miller

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review examines the support needed to promote the academic, athletic, social, and psychological success of collegiate athletes with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—research related to autism in higher education, mental health, and sensory processing disability accommodations. New diversity and coaching practices will be synthesized to identify common barriers and effective support strategies. Findings indicate that successful outcomes are less focused on the autism diagnosis itself and more focused on accessibility, communication, relationships, organizational culture, and practices surrounding the athlete. Direct communication, individualized accommodations, psychological safety, predictable routines, sensory-informed practices, and collaboration among coaches, disability service professionals, athletic trainers, mental …

From Implementation To Impact: Schoolwide Mtss Systems And Student Growth, Amanda Kay Reinarts

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) are widely used in schools to organize academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support for students. Although MTSS is intended to function as a comprehensive schoolwide framework, implementation often becomes fragmented when schools treat it as a standalone tiered-intervention model rather than an integrated system of support, instruction, assessment, and intervention. This fragmentation can limit the effectiveness of MTSS and reduce its impact on student achievement and organizational improvement. This literature review examines how school leaders leverage MTSS as a dynamic, schoolwide system to improve student achievement and organizational effectiveness. This review focuses on leadership structures, organizational …

Toward A Transformative Church: The Role Of Elders In Church Growth In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Brian Kwalela Mungandi

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addressed the need for a transformational leadership strategy that engages elders in membership retention and church growth for a Seventh-day Adventist Church. This mixed-method study aimed to identify factors contributing to declining membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, with the goal of informing strategies for improved member retention and potential church growth. A survey involving 30 active members was administered to gather insights into the target church’s profile. Additionally, interviews were conducted with 18 elders across four churches to evaluate leadership perspectives concerning membership retention and church growth. These data sources offered a snapshot of the target church's …

The Impact Of Special Education Inclusion On The Academic And Social Development Of Students With Disabilities, Sarah Phoebe Phelps

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research of special education inclusion in mainstream classrooms indicated that it can enhance the academic and social development of students with disabilities, and that it could also make a positive impact on the peers without disabilities. However, there is continued concern regarding teacher readiness, resource limitations, and the appropriateness of full inclusion for students with significant disabilities. To create a successful inclusive classroom, teachers need support, proven strategies, and the implementation of the strategies. This literature review will look at the successes and challenges of inclusive education as a whole, and highlight the evolution of exclusive practices to the current …

Analysis Of The Functional And Acoustical Comfort Of Earplugs Experienced By A Group Of Workers In Canadian Companies And Identification Of The Influencing Variables, Bastien Poissenot-Arrigoni, Olivier Doutres, Alessia Negrini, Djamal Berbiche, Franck Sgard

Études primaires

Earplugs are essential for hearing protection in noisy workplaces, but their effectiveness depends heavily on user comfort, which influences proper and consistent use. This study explores functional and acoustical comfort experienced by 173 workers across Canadian companies, each testing different ’disposable or reusable’ earplug models over seven weeks. Comfort is assessed using detailed questionnaires covering six subdimensions: ease of insertion and removal, noise protection, impact on work, and discomfort related to internal and external noise perception. Linear mixed-effects models are applied within a triad framework encompassing person-, earplug-, and environment-related characteristics in order to identify those with a significant influence …

Lung Inflammation From Daily Exposure To Airborne Particulate Matter In A Trade School, Kynda Tinawi, Céline Plante, Alan Da Silveira Fleck, Édith Giasson, Isabelle Valois, Caroline Couture, Eva Suarthana, Maximilien Debia, Audrey Smargiassi

Études primaires

Background Workers are exposed daily to various airborne chemical agents, however, associations between daily exposures to particulate matter and lung inflammation in occupational settings have been little explored. Objective To estimate the association between daily occupational exposure to respirable (PM4 and PM2.5), ultrafine particles, their oxidative potential, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide within apprentices in a school of construction trades. Methods We used a repeated measures design over 5 consecutive days in 56 apprentices from 3 construction trade sectors (bricklaying, welding, and carpentry). Fractional exhaled nitric oxide was measured each day post-work. Personal and work area daily PM4 were collected …

Infection Control Across Clinical And Laboratory Dental Settings Protocols, Risks, And The Role Of Emerging Technologies, Khrystyna Vyprynyuk, Laura Andreesku

Publications and Research

This article explores infection prevention strategies and disease transmission pathways in dental settings, emphasizing the critical connection between clinical practice and dental laboratories. It highlights the risks of cross-contamination, disinfection and sterilization challenges, and the growing role of technology in enhancing infection control.

Archives And Children's Knowledge, Elliott Kuecker, Ashley Rockenbach

Publications and Research

This article argues for the importance of collecting works created by children—not just about and not just for—in formal archival collections. Framed through the ideas of legitimate knowledge and epistemic injustice, this piece combines notions important to children’s rights activists and childhood studies scholars with the role archives can play in preserving children’s knowledge through child-created materials. The authors describe how researchers struggle to find work created by children within archives, impacting the ability to create child-centered research that centers children’s views of the world as prominently as adult views of the world. Some collections that do include child-created materials …

High-Resolution Mapping Of Soil Moisture Variation Using Uas Thermal And Multispectral Imagery, Jackline Amma Timah

Theses and Dissertations

In agricultural landscapes, soil moisture regulates hydrologic partitioning, nutrient transport and water quality, land-atmosphere energy exchange that shapes local climate, and ecosystem resilience. However, traditional monitoring approaches, such as in-situ sensors and satellite imagery, often lack the spatial resolution required to capture fine-scale soil moisture variability. This study evaluated whether unmanned aerial system (UAS)-derived thermal, multispectral, and terrain variables can capture fine-scale spatial variability in volumetric water content (VWC) within an SRB in central Illinois.

High-resolution imagery was collected and paired with 50 field-measured VWC observations. Land surface temperature (LST), vegetation indices (NDVI and NDRE), spectral bands, and slope were …

What Does It Takes To Develop Game Changers? An Evaluation Of Sport-Based Youth Development Program, Jorge Adriel Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined mentor development within the Game Changers program, a sport-based youth development (SBYD) intervention designed to promote emotional flexibility, mental fitness, and personal growth among young men. Grounded in mentorship theory and positive youth development frameworks, the purpose of this study was to evaluate how participation in the program influenced mentors’ psychological development, perceptions, and leadership approaches.

A mixed methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through repeated surveys administered across four time points to assess changes in mentors’ knowledge, self-awareness, confidence, emotional awareness, mental health, and masculinity ideology. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured focus group …

Between Stigma And Strength: How Ghanaian Mothers Navigate Societal Judgement And Build Resilience While Raising Children With Disabilities., Vera Bonku Turkson

Theses and Dissertations

The study explores the lived experiences of mothers raising children with disabilities in Ghana, West Africa. The purpose of the study is to understand mothers’ everyday caregiving realities, their experiences with social stigma, and the ways they build resilience. A semi-structured interview was conducted where a total of eleven Ghanaian mothers/caregivers were interviewed through phone calls, WhatsApp calls, and Zoom. The data were then analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis guide, which resulted in the development of five themes. The findings reveal that mothers’ experiences are shaped by continuous caregiving demands, financial strain, and deeply embedded cultural beliefs …

The Role Of Non-Academic Staff In First-Year Retention At Regional, Comprehensive Universities, Marco A. Krcatovich Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Regional comprehensive universities (RCUs) serve a large share of U.S. undergraduates, yet the role of non‑academic staff in shaping first‑year retention remains understudied. This dissertation examines how staff diversity and staffing structures relate to student persistence using seven years of IPEDS panel data and Linear Mixed‑Effects Models. Analyses were conducted separately for residential and commuter RCUs to reflect their distinct engagement environments. Findings show that staff diversity is significantly associated with retention, though the direction and magnitude vary by campus type and staff role. Staffing structure also matters as higher proportions of full‑time staff are positively associated with retention at …

Refusing To Die On The Vine: Black Women's Survival, Resistance, And Dei Labor In Historically White Institutions, Senesta D. Howard

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the lived experiences of Black women in non-diversity, non-faculty roles at historically White institutions (HWIs) who engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) advocacy beyond their formal job responsibilities. Grounded in Black Feminist Thought and guided by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, the study explores how race and gender shape invisible labor expectations, emotional and psychological burdens, and strategies for safety and meaning-making. Semi-structured interviews with 12 Black women staff members yielded seven interrelated themes, including invisible DEI labor, hypervisibility, emotional exhaustion, sisterhood as a form of resistance, respectability politics, self-constructed safety, and purpose rooted in legacy and spirituality. …