Digital Commons Network^™

Globalizing The Factory Farm: International Organizations And The Spread Of Industrial Animal Agriculture, Zach Wulderk, Allison Troy Phd

General – Farm Animal Issues

This Faunalytics study explores the ways that development finance institutions, United Nations agencies, and others directly and indirectly support factory farming in low- and middle-income countries. With key insights from people working in and alongside these international organizations, advocates can ensure they are equipped with the most effective outreach strategies.

Globalizing The Factory Farm - International Organizations And The Spread Of Industrial Animal Agriculture, Zach Wulderk, Allison Troy Phd

General – Farm Animal Issues

This Faunalytics study explores the ways that development finance institutions, United Nations agencies, and others directly and indirectly support factory farming in low- and middle-income countries. With key insights from people working in and alongside these international organizations, advocates can ensure they are equipped with the most effective outreach strategies.

Response: Foreign Affairs Prosecutions And Cybercrime, Mailyn Fidler

Law Faculty Scholarship

A response to Professor Steven Koh's new article on how the U.S. makes global criminal justice policy. Prof. Fidler examines what a decade of cybercrime indictments reveals about America's approach to prosecuting foreign hackers. Three things stand out: * Beyond Attribution - These indictments aren't just about naming and shaming, or about the typical dimensions of criminal alw. They're sophisticated foreign policy tools that coordinate and moderate international sanctions and global norms. * Intertwined with Cooperation - The indictments alternately create space for and slow the tempo of international cooperation on this issue, according to U.S. interests. * Power Projection …

From Static Prediction To Mindful Machines: A Paradigm Shift In Distributed Ai Systems, Rao Mikkilineni, W. Patrick Kelly

Barowsky School of Business | Faculty Scholarship

A special class of complex adaptive systems—biological and social—thrive not by passively accumulating patterns, but by engineering coherence, i.e., the deliberate alignment of prior knowledge, real-time updates, and teleonomic purposes. By contrast, today’s AI stacks—Large Language Models (LLMs) wrapped in agentic toolchains—remain rooted in a Turing-paradigm architecture: statistical world models (opaque weights) bolted onto brittle, imperative workflows. They excel at pattern completion, but they externalize governance, memory, and purpose, thereby accumulating coherence debt—a structural fragility manifested as hallucinations, shallow and siloed memory, ad hoc guardrails, and costly human oversight. The shortcoming of current AI relative to human-like intelligence is therefore …

Esteban Salinas: Reworking Mono-Epistemological Thought In The Borderlands Through Local Leadership And Legacy, Jose M. Escobedo, Juan Salinas Jr., Griselda Salinas

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

This article examines an ethnographic case study of Esteban Salinas, a local teacher beloved by communities across the mid-Rio Grande Valley. By reconstructing his story and critically examining his legacy, we can achieve a better understanding of the monocultural narratives imposed on the borderlands in his time and seek to challenge them through the examples and legacies of individuals like Esteban Salinas. We also seek to further add contextualization over the Western colonial institutions implemented in the 20th century in the borderlands through which we are still confined, and which require reevaluation and rework and how aspects of his legacy …

The Price Of Priorities: How Human Choices Fuel Climate And Ecological Decline, Keisha Hickman

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the ways in which human priorities and behaviors contribute to the escalating climate crisis and ecological systems. We will first analyze the role of social media in shaping public discourse on climate change and critically evaluate the priorities of institutions that have the means to assist in wildlife conservation. Both speak to the current behaviors of humankind prioritizing their own entertainment over meaningful efforts to mitigate climate change and preserve biodiversity. We will then shift to exploring the profound impact of human population growth and its associated activities on other species and ecosystems. Finally, the thesis will …

Examining Social Determinants Of Perceived Discrimination Among Refugees In The United States, Macy M. Hoff

Sociology and Criminology Undergraduate Honors Theses

Refugees face a range of challenges as they integrate into a new culture, which can significantly impact their individual lives. This paper examines the impact of discrimination on refugees and how these experiences shape their rights, opportunities, and overall integration. It explores how institutional practices and public attitudes contribute to unequal treatment in employment, housing, education, and overall health. Consistent with previous studies, the study highlights the connection between perceived discrimination and negative outcomes for refugees, including social exclusion, limited participation within their new society, and poorer mental health. Results reveal that discrimination acts as a barrier to successful assimilation …

A Mixed-Methods Design-Based Research: Study Of Teacher Self-Efficacy And The Implementation Of Social Emotional Learning In The High School Classroom, Avia Brown

Dissertations

The escalating mental health crisis among adolescents, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, positioned schools as critical intervention sites for supporting student well-being (K. McNamara, 2020). However, teacher capacity and self-efficacy in implementing social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies remain significant barriers to effective, sustainable practice. This mixed-methods design-based research study examined the efficacy of professional development and instructional coaching in enhancing teacher self-efficacy and supporting the implementation of SEL competencies in high school classrooms.

The researcher employed a comprehensive, five-stage design thinking framework (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test) to develop and evaluate a structured eight-week professional development and coaching intervention targeting SEL …

Full Issue, The Mcnair Team

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Bridging Disability Studies And Nursing Education: A Curricular Intervention, Serena Karim

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

Although one in four Americans experience disability in their lifetimes, the majority of nurses and other healthcare professionals feel ill-prepared to care for patients with disabilities (PWD). Factors such as inaccessible healthcare facilities, insufficient clinical knowledge, and biases about the quality of life of PWD contribute to mounting health inequities between PWD and non-disabled people. To further understand how education can impact nursing students’ comfortability and confidence toward caring for PWD, a 30-minute disability studies lesson was implemented for junior-level nursing students. 51 students who attended the lecture provided anonymous pre- and post-lecture surveys, which contained Likert scale and free …

Rotunda - Vol 105, No 3 - Dec 1, 2025, Longwood University

Rotunda

No abstract provided.

A Content Analysis To Investigate The Evidence Of National And State Health And Physical Education Curriculum Standards In Illinois High Schools, Amber Lyn Stewart

Dissertations

Does curriculum in Illinois high schools have evidence of National and State Health and Physical Education Standards? This study consisted of a quantitative descriptive content analysis to examine the extent to which Illinois high school curriculum material included National and State physical education and health standards. The researcher utilized a rubric that was aligned to the three sets of standards: SHAPE America’s National Physical Education Standards; the National Health Education Standards; and the Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health. The primary aim was to thoroughly examine how the standards are currently integrated. Research Question 1 (RQ1) asked, “What …

The Path To Better Always Requires Something Different, An Nguyen Dds, Mph

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

Dr. An Nguyen examines dentistry’s shift toward the Complete Health Era, where oral health is fully integrated into chronic disease management and whole-body wellness. She outlines the interdisciplinary skills, including medical mindset, behavioral science, quality improvement and meaningful measurement, needed for dental teams to thrive in this new landscape. The article makes a compelling call for embracing fresh approaches, partnerships and mindsets to advance dentistry’s role in comprehensive health care.

Beyond Implants: Dr. Rahim Karmali Rediscovering Our Roots, Rahim Karmali Dds

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

This article highlights the ethical and clinical value of prioritizing natural-tooth preservation over dental implants and calls for a balanced, patient-centered approach to care.

Staff Education To Implement Phq-9 Depression Screening Among Adults, Sharon C. Nwanne-Temple

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Depression remains one of the most prevalent and underdiagnosed mental health conditions globally, resulting in substantial morbidity, diminished quality of life, and increased healthcare costs. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to improve early detection of depression among adults in a primary care setting through a structured staff education program on the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) screening tool. A mixed-methods quality improvement design guided implementation over a six-week period with nine clinical staff participants, including nurses, medical assistants, and providers. The educational intervention comprised a PowerPoint presentation, interactive discussion, and post-training …

Improving Patient Access To Providers By Optimizing Message Center Workflow, Serena Valino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project was an evaluation of a quality improvement initiative that addressed the practice problem of having large volumes of unanswered messages within the patient portal. To increase patient access to the healthcare provider, a literature search was conducted using the practice-focused question: Can standardization of patient portals improve the message turnaround time? In January 2024, a scoping review of nursing message center pools determined 79 pools lacked standardized names and established workflows for 37 ambulatory clinics. Pool names were identified for each clinic and listed using an Excel spreadsheet. Clinic pool members were isolated, and it was determined by …

Explainable A.I. For Analysis And Interpretation Of Heterogeneous Crime Data., Sadaf Ahmed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the problem of fragmented data in the context of crime and cybercrime analysis. While both domains generate substantial public data, these sources vary widely in format, structure, and coverage, making it difficult to perform consistent inference or develop reliable predictive models. To address these limitations, this work proposes a layered integration framework grounded in ontology-driven modeling and data fusion. The approach is applied to two distinct but related case studies, each focused on constructing a coherent representation of criminal activity from heterogeneous sources. The first case study explores the integration of drug and human trafficking data from …

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Biologically Relevant Interfaces: From Tear Film Lipid Layers To Rna Adsorption On Silica Surfaces., Mahbuba Khanom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is an important tool in biochemical sciences for studying complex molecular processes and interfacial interactions at the molecular level. Biological interfaces play key roles in processes such as ocular lubrication and biomolecular adsorption. This dissertation studies interfacial phenomena involving two distinct yet conceptually related systems: the tear film lipid layer (TFLL) at the air–water interface at the surface of the human eye, and RNA adsorption on silica surfaces. These studies provide insight into how interfacial composition, structure, and environmental conditions affect larger-scale behavior. Atomistic MD simulations were used to model the TFLL. The TFLL is essential …

“The Moment You Are Disabled; You Are Cut Off From Society.” Assessing The Experiences Of Disabled Ghanaians And The Rights Enshrined In The United Nations Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities (Crpd)., Solomon Sackey Amoatey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As Ghana continues to pursue inclusion and equality for disabled citizens, considerable tension remains between international human rights frameworks and local social, legal, and cultural practices. Guided by social constructionism and Critical Disability Theory (CDT), this qualitative, chapter-based study examined how disability is constructed through law, policy, and culture in Ghana. It also explored how these constructions influence the interpretation and implementation of disability rights. To achieve this, the study employed semi-structured interviews and document analysis to examine how law, policy, and cultural beliefs intersect to influence the implementation of the CRPD and lived experience of disabled Ghanaians.

Findings show …

Experiences Of Research Administrators With Faculty Researchers In Sponsored Project Compliance., Adrienne M. Lindsay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how central office research administrators perceive and describe their professional interactions with faculty researchers, and how those relationships may impact compliance with sponsored project requirements in United States higher education institutions. Cohen et al.’s (1972) organized anarchy theory and Schein’s (2010) organizational culture theory provided a foundational context for understanding research systems within higher education institutions and the social environment in which research administrators navigate potentially contentious roles, both facilitating research and stewarding compliance for the institution and the sponsor. Findings emerged around specific challenges faced by research administrators, which included role …

A Persistent Homology Framework For Scrna-Seq: Assessing Clustering Robustness And Quantifying Preprocessing And Integration Effects On Topological Features., Jonah Daneshmand

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data expands, robust methods for integrating diverse datasets are critical. This dissertation applies Persistent Homology (PH), a technique from Topological Data Analysis (TDA), to a collection of scRNA-seq datasets spanning eight tissue types to quantify how data integration affects topological features and biological interpretability. We assessed global topological structure using Betti curves, Euler characteristics, and persistence landscapes across raw, normalized, and integrated data representations. Our analysis revealed a performance inversion: while conventional methods excelled on unintegrated data, high-granularity topological methods, particularly those sensitive to global data structure, became superior after integration. This suggests a synergy …

Controlling Selectivity In Electrocatalytic Co2 Reduction With An External Magnetic Field., Nawaraj Karki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

My dissertation describes how to alter the speciation and concentration of molecules at the electrode-electrolyte interface, and how those alterations affect reactivity and selectivity. This dissertation presents two distinct approaches to control the mass transport of neutral molecules such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) at the electrode-electrolyte interface by using an external magnetic field. The first finding demonstrates that magnetic fields indirectly affect the mass transport of target analytes such as CO₂ molecules by selectively interacting with charged species, such as hydroxide ions (OH^-). Such interaction induces magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects, which generate localized hydrodynamic flow and …

Risk And Protective Factors For Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors For Black Adolescent Males With Exposure To Adverse Experiences Post-Covid 19 Pandemic: Findings From The 2023 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey., Amanda Minogue

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents aged 10-24 in the United States. In 2022, 784 Black adolescent males died by suicide. Recent studies have found that traditionally common associations of risk factors of suicidal thoughts and behaviors are not experienced by Black adolescents, challenging how to determine and detect risk. This dissertation reviewed the variables in the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey that closely align with risk and protective factors of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and the interaction between these and adverse experiences in Black adolescent males. Results of this study found that among the 9 …

The Role Of Fast-Food Consumption, Residential Fast-Food Exposures, And Urinary Essential Trace Heavy Metals In Colorectal Cancer (Crc) Outcomes., Jeevan Adhikari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a public health concern. Within the United States (US), fast-food consumption and environmental exposure to heavy metals have increased. The impact of fast-food consumption frequency from fast-food restaurants, residential fast-food exposures, and urinary essential trace heavy metals in relation to CRC outcomes have not yet been rigorously evaluated in the US. Methods: Within the LEAPS-CRC study, we used geographic information systems (GIS) and logistic regression to study the association of fast-food consumption, residential proximity to a fast-food outlet, and urinary essential trace metals with CRC incidence. Additionally, within Kentucky Cancer Registry (KCR) CRC cases, the …

Characterizing Hexavalent Chromium Neurotoxicity Across Laboratory Models., Samuel Thomas Vielee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant and potent toxicant. Exposure to Cr(VI) in drinking water is primarily associated with cancers, inflammation, and hepatotoxicity; however, recent studies have identified Cr(VI) as a neurotoxicant in rodent and cell culture models. The literature suggest chromium accumulates in the brain, induces widespread neurodegeneration, and alters rodent behaviors. Despite these data, we lack a detailed and consistent assessments of Cr(VI) neurotoxicity across models, and interactions between aging and Cr(VI) neurotoxicity are not reported in the literature. In this dissertation, we characterize Cr(VI) neurotoxicity across 3 laboratory models: Sprague-Dawley rats, Caenorhabditis elegans, and …

Exposure To Pm2.5 And Aging., Daniel Chris Gomes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inhalation of fine airborne particulate matter (PM_2.5) is an environmental risk factor for numerous health disorders, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). While several studies have shown that PM_2.5 exposure can induce oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation, the underlying mechanisms that translate these effects into systemic pathology remain poorly understood. Some recent studies have shown that PM_2.5 exposure can lead to telomere shortening in leukocytes, but the generality of this outcome and contribution to endothelial dysfunction has not yet been fully explored. We hypothesized that PM_2.5inhalation accelerates cellular aging and senescence in both circulating peripheral …

Residential Segregation And Breast Cancer In Louisville: Impact Of Race And Contextual Factors On Advanced-Stage Diagnosis, Delayed Treatment, And Disease-Specific Mortality., Toheeb Ajani Mustapha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Female breast cancer (BC) remains the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women. Despite advances in detection and treatment, substantial inequities in BC outcomes persist, driven in part by structural forces such as residential segregation. This dissertation examined the relationship between residential segregation, BC outcomes, and key contextual factors in Louisville, Kentucky. Using data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry, American Community Survey, CDC’s Population-Level Analyses and Community Estimates, and the National Neighborhood Data Archive, the study tested two hypotheses: (1) higher Black/low-income segregation is associated with elevated risks of adverse BC …

Increasing Histidyl Dipeptides In Skeletal Muscle Preserves Muscle Mass And Function In Heart Failure., Mamata Hiraman Chaudhari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Heart failure is a systemic disease associated with multiple comorbidities, such as skeletal muscle wasting and cardiopulmonary disease. Muscle wasting in heart failure patients is a severe comorbidity associated with decreased exercise capacity and poor quality of life. Previous reports show that oxidative stress is increased in the skeletal muscle of heart failure patients, which can directly lead to muscle wasting. However, antioxidant intervention in these patients was unable to improve cardiac function and consequently had no effect on muscle wasting. Although oxidative stress is the primary driver of skeletal muscle atrophy, no attempt has been made to examine …

A Multilevel Analysis To Evaluate Variability In Sdoh Clusters Within Rurality And Its Effects On Cancer-Specific And All-Cause Mortality In The Us., Stephie Ann Abraham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social determinants of health (SDOH) factors have consistently been shown to impact all-cause and cancer-specific mortality. Area-level SDOH factors that coexist to form “high-risk” clusters are more prevalent in rural than urban areas. However, heterogeneity within rural and urban areas may contribute to variations in SDOH factors that could influence higher mortality rates and is not considered in other studies. The primary objective of this study was to utilize ecological and individual-level data to determine if the composition of SDOH clusters within counties in the rural-urban continuum contributes to differences in all-cause (AC) and cancer-specific mortality rates of lung and …

Perceived Organizational Support Of High-Performance Support Staff Members In Professional Soccer Organizations., Erica B. Thompson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore perceived organizational support among high-performance support staff (HPSS) within professional soccer organizations. Specifically, this study examined how HPSS define organizational support, identified factors that shape their perceptions, explored organizational challenges they experience, and analyzed how those challenges intersect with their perceptions of support. Organizational Support Theory (OST) and its central construct, Perceived Organizational Support (POS), served as the theoretical framework guiding this study. OST assumes employees form global beliefs about the extent to which their organization values their contributions and cares about their well-being. To address the study’s purpose, a basic interpretive …