Digital Commons Network^™

Commitment Problems In Political Situations Involving Multiple Strategic Actors And How Actors Try To Overcome Commitment Problems, Mohamud Ajama

Political Science Theses, Dissertations and Student Creative Activity

Commitment problems explain why multiple parties cannot agree on issues of concern due to a lack of trust, even when cooperation would benefit all parties involved. These problems take place when actors cannot make credible commitments about future behavior because of mistrust, uncertainty, or the absence of neutral enforcement mechanics, leading to delays, lack of cooperation, and sometimes conflict or war. Scholars have approached commitment problems from multiple angles. Fearon (1995) identifies them as empirically observable mechanisms that prevent states from reaching peace agreements. Powell (2006) extends this framework, arguing that commitment problems are due to the inability to bind …

Task-Based Language Teaching For Afghans Resettled In The United States Since 2021: Meeting Integration And Employment Needs, Madison E. Wilhelm

Senior Honors Theses

In the aftermath of the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the United States military evacuated tens of thousands of Afghans, many of whom were resettled in the United States. This population has faced many challenges in their resettlement, including barriers to language learning and difficulty finding skilled employment. There is great diversity within this population, including individuals with limited schooling and those with valuable employment skills.

This integrative literature review explores how Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) can be used as a strategy for Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) with the post-2021 Afghan population in the United States. It …

Story Processing Eliminates Collaborative Inhibition, Brady Keller

Honors Theses

This present experiment investigated the encoding effect when creating or processing stories and pleasantness conditions for participants in both nominal and collaborative groups (dyads). A brief literature review explored the background on research done highlighting collaborative inhibition and story processing is included. Amongst nominal groups there was no significant difference between story processing and pleasantness conditions. However, participants in storytelling remembered more words than the participants in pleasantness conditions in collaborative groups. Furthermore, story processing dyads had no identifiable collaborative inhibition, rather supporting evidence to a robust collaborative facilitation. Potential reasons for this unique result are related to everyone’s expertise …

Bridging Theory And Application: Case Studies In Financial Reporting, Regulation, And Ethics, Keili Cm Ikemori

Honors Theses

This thesis explores the intersection of financial reporting, regulation, and ethics through a series of applied case studies designed to bridge theoretical accounting concepts with real world application. The case studies focus on how accounting principles are implemented in corporate environments, how regulatory frameworks influence business operations, and how ethical considerations shape financial decision making. During the fall semester of Accy 420, we were tasked with case studies that increased our knowledge in financial statement literacy, accounting concepts, relevant accounting regulations, and ethics. During the spring semester of Accy 420, we used the knowledge gained from the prior semester in …

Examining The Rural Workforce: Comparing Admissions Strategies And Training Pathways In U.S. Medical And Dental Education, Charolyn A. Harris

Honors Theses

Access to healthcare in rural and underserved communities remains a significant challenge in the United States, particularly in dental care, where workforce shortages are more pronounced. This study examines how medical and dental education programs develop rural healthcare providers, focusing on admissions strategies and training pathways. Using a structured scoping review and secondary data analysis, this research compares how each field incorporates known predictors of rural practice, such as rural background and training experiences, into workforce pipeline development. Findings indicate that while both medical and dental education recognize rural background as a strong predictor of rural practice, medical education more …

Pop Prophets: How Celebrity Culture Shapes Gen Z'S Worldview, Olivia G. Usie

Honors Theses

Generation Z has grown up in a social environment shaped by constant connectivity, digital communication, and immediate access to the lives of others. Because of this, celebrity culture and pop culture may play a larger role in shaping attitudes, behaviors, and identity than they did for previous generations. This study explores how celebrity culture shapes Gen Z’s worldview through four areas: pop culture, celebrity, herd mentality, and cancel culture.

A mixed-method approach was used. Quantitative data was collected through a 28-question survey of 202 participants ages 18–25. Qualitative data was gathered through one focus group of eight participants and three …

Neuroprotective Effects Of Estradiol And Genistein And Interactions With Aromatase Inhibitions Post Cerebellar Lesion In Male Zebra Finches, Grace E. Thompson, Anthony P. Irovic

Honors Theses

Across vertebrates, peripheral and brain-derived estradiol (E₂) promotes neuroplasticity. After injury, E₂ can be derived locally from testosterone via aromatase (AROM), an enzyme that is upregulated in glia at the site of neural injury. E₂disrupts testicular function and elevates cancer and stroke risk, primarily via binding to estrogen receptor alpha (ER α). Genistein (GEN), a phytoestrogen, is similar to E₂ but binds preferentially to estrogen receptor beta (ER β). It may offer neuroprotection without adverse effects of E₂. We used adult male zebra finches (ZF) to model neuroprotective effects of E_{2 …}

Financial Reporting, Strategy, And Legislation: A Study Of Post Holdings And Relevant Accounting Topics, Noah Harkins

Honors Theses

This thesis examines multiple areas of financial reporting, business strategy, and legislation. This was performed through a series of case studies completed in Accounting 420, where the purpose of the class was to apply accounting concepts to real-world business situations. The cases cover multiple areas of financial reporting, including asset theory, 10-K analysis, audit risk assessment, corporate legislation, business strategy, data analytics, economic policy, and professional leadership. The main analysis focuses on Post Holdings, with supporting cases involving Tyson Foods, the Corporate Transparency Act, Thomas Sowell, Ronald Reagan, and broader accounting theory.

The research process used throughout the thesis consisted …

Beyond The Ivory Tower: Perceptions, Practices, And The Institutionalization Of Community Engagement At St. Augustine University Of Tanzania, Delphine Kessy

Journal of Management for Global Sustainability

This qualitative study provides a comprehensive analysis of academic staff perceptions and practices of community engagement (CE) at the Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT). Framed by Boyer’s theory of the scholarship of application and contemporary models of university engagement, both a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design and thematic analysis of open-ended responses from 14 academic departments at SAUT were used, with a total of 35 participants informing this study. The findings revealed a robust, practice-driven understanding of CE as a collaborative and reciprocal partnership, widely regarded as a core university function alongside teaching and research. Staff reported a rich spectrum …

Beyond The Rally Effect: U.S. Military Deployments And Their Independent Impact On Presidential Approval, Griffin M. Petersen

Honors Thesis

This thesis examines the relationship between the United States military and presidential job approval ratings from 1955 to 2021 through a mixed method approach. Using a multiple regression analysis, the study tested the independent effects of total active-duty troop levels and the frequency of active overseas conflicts while controlling for economic variables such as GDP and unemployment. The quantitative results indicate that while military variables are significantly correlated with approval in isolation, these effects diminish or disappear when analyzed alongside economic indicators. Specifically, the size of the military was a weak predictor of public approval, potentially due to low public …

Barriers And Opportunities In Women-Led Dental Entrepreneurship, Eliza Grace Ulmer

Honors Theses

Barriers and Opportunities in Women-Led Dental Entrepreneurship

This research examines the barriers that women encounter when attempting to open their own business. Specifically, this research will concentrate in the dental field and health care industry. Attaining the education, skills, knowledge and criteria to become a licensed dentist is extremely difficult. Adding the licensed dentist opening their own practice adds another layer of difficulty. These challenges are further compounded when the practitioner is a woman.

This research interviewed women dentists in the business as well as entrepreneurs that opened their own health practice. These interviews showed the process and requirements needed …

Digital Transformation And Adaptive Capacity Of Banks In Tanzania: The Mediating Effect Of Knowledge Sharing, Sospeter Muchunguzi, Ulingeta O. L. Mbamba, Victor G. Wilson

Business Management Review

Amid rising competition and uncertainty, banks are increasingly adopting digital technologies to sustain adaptive capacity and competitiveness. This study examines the mediating effect of knowledge sharing in the influence of digital transformation on adaptive capacity. Drawing on an integrative theoretical framework combining the Dynamic Capability Theory, the Affordance Theory and the Adaptive Structuration Theory, a deductive approach was used, involving a sample size of forty-three (43) banks in Tanzania. Data were collected using a questionnaire administered through a drop-off and pick-up-later method and analyzed with PLS-SEM using SmartPLS software. We found that digital transformation of customer touchpoints makes banks more …

The Influence Of Digital Audit Capability On Tax Compliance In Tanzania, Henry Zeno Chalu, Daudi Deokari Mtena

Business Management Review

The research evaluates the effects of digital audit capacity on tax compliance in Tanzania, focusing on challenges such as tax avoidance and administrative inefficiency. It applies the Task-Technology Fit Theory and Deterrence Theory in tax audit to examine the relationship between digital audit capability and tax compliance. The findings show that digital audit capability has significantly enhanced tax compliance through data integrity, security, and analytical capability. These features minimize misreporting, secure financial information, and build trust while uncovering predictive insights. The current study also has implications for tax policy by highlighting the promise of digital audit capability in enhancing both …

Staff Education Project To Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections, Andre Augustin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Relationship Between Judges’ Gender And Caseload Clearance In Jamaica’S Parish Courts, Sonia Bertram Linton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education On The Phq-9 Tool And Its Use, Claudine Agwi Mbah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Collaborative Intercultural Transdisciplinary Communication As Infrastructure For Collaborative Innovation, Cristo Leon Ph.D., James Lipuma Ph.D.

STEM for Success Resources

This book chapter introduces Collaborative Intercultural Transdisciplinary Communication (CITC) as an infrastructure for collaborative innovation. It examines how teams can improve alignment, traceability, and interoperability across cultural, disciplinary, and organizational boundaries.

Hotspot Analysis Of Nitrate And Arsenic Concentrations In Minnesota Well Water, Jadyn Keeler

Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Showcase

Water contamination is one of the biggest threats to water supply and can have long term human health consequences. It is key to identify vulnerable regions to develop better management strategies. This project utilizes hotspot and outlier geospatial analysis to locate areas across Minnesota with elevated levels of nitrate and arsenic in well water and better understand potential factors that might be influencing this. Statistically significant hotspots and cold spots were identified with up to 99% confidence. Hotspots of nitrate were located mainly in the south-central region while hotspots of arsenic were located primarily in the western and south-central portions …

Testing And Qualification Of Low-Voltage Power Supplies For The Atlas Tile Hadronic Calorimeter Phase-Ii Upgrade, Justice A. Jones

2026 Spring Honors Capstones Projects

The High Luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) places increased thermal and operational demands on detector electronics, requiring highly reliable power systems. The ATLAS Tile Hadronic Calorimeter (TileCal) uses low-voltage power supply (LVPS) bricks to power front-end electronics, but these units operate in inaccessible regions, making failures difficult to repair. Therefore, rigorous qualification procedures are essential. This work focuses on improving LVPS reliability through a structured burn-in process. Each unit undergoes pre-burn-in electrical verification using a Single Test Stand (STS), followed by sustained operation under load and elevated temperature, and post-burn-in requalification. Standard cooling conditions limit temperatures to …

Systemic Α₂-Agonist Use And Lower Hazard Of Glaucoma Compared With Β-Blockers: A Cohort Study, Ibrahim Abboud, Amin Z. Khudari, Abdelaziz Abdelaal, Amr Almobayed, Subhi J. Al'aref, Jonathan S. Myers, Richard K. Lee, Abdelrahman M. Elhusseiny

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

OBJECTIVE: Systemic antihypertensive medications may influence glaucoma-related outcomes through intraocular pressure-dependent and vascular mechanisms. While topical α₂-agonists are established glaucoma therapies, the association between systemic α₂-agonists and glaucoma hazard remains unexamined; we compared their hazard with systemic β-blockers in adults with hypertension.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We conducted a multicentre retrospective cohort study using deidentified electronic health records. Adults aged ≥40 years with hypertension and chronic exposure to systemic α₂-agonists or β-blockers were included. Patients with pre-existing ocular hypertension (OHT), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), concomitant comparator use, or inadequate ophthalmic follow-up were excluded. We balanced cohorts using propensity score matching (PSM) …

Measuring Effectiveness Of A Mobility Aide On A Medical-Surgical Unit, Jamie L. Granatowicz, Laura N. Rogers, Leeza A. Struwe

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a mobility aide on a medical-surgical inpatient unit to improve patients’ surgical outcomes, decrease hospital length of stay, and decrease the number of falls.

Design: A retrospective review was conducted to determine the effects of a mobility aide implemented on a medical-surgical unit. The intent was to ensure the utilization of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol for early mobilization before and after implementation. Two-month periods were analyzed before and after implementation.

Findings: The results demonstrated clinical significance for patients when implementing a mobility aide. The mean length of stay was 1.044 days …

Reducing Emergency Department Overuse Through Patient Education, Maddie Pieper, Joshua Heuertz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Background/Introduction

Emergency departments (EDs) are designed to provide rapid evaluation and management of acute, life-threatening, and time-sensitive conditions. However, EDs are frequently used for nonemergent or low-acuity concerns that could be managed in primary care or urgent care settings. This overuse contributes to rising healthcare costs, resource strain, longer wait times, and overcrowding. Underserved populations may rely more heavily on ED services because of barriers such as limited primary care access, language differences, low health literacy, restrictive work schedules, transportation challenges, and difficulty navigating the healthcare system. These factors can make the ED seem the most accessible source of care. …

Masthead, Cleveland State Journal Of Law And Health

Journal of Law and Health

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents, Cleveland State Journal Of Law And Health

Journal of Law and Health

No abstract provided.

Examining Data Quality Management Practices In Light Of The Adoption Of Llms And Genai: Closing The Gap Between Iq Theory And Iq Practice, Venant Habamungu

Theses and Dissertations

The rapid adoption of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) has intensified longstanding data quality concerns while exposing important gaps in current Data Quality Management (DQM) practice. This dissertation examines whether widely used DQM frameworks sufficiently address semantic data quality dimensions that are critical for trustworthy GenAI and LLM applications. Guided by Information Quality (IQ) theory, particularly the Wang and Strong conceptualization of data quality, the study evaluates selected DQM frameworks used in practice to determine the extent to which they emphasize semantic dimensions such as accuracy, value-added, relevancy, objectivity, reputation, believability, security, and appropriate amount of …

Storytelling As A Pedagogical Tool For Improving Memory In Lectures, Sydney E. Rutter

Honors Theses

The purpose of the study was to examine if utilizing storytelling in lectures caused a positive effect on students' memory over a week-long period. Storytelling has been used as a mnemonic device to improve memory, however its benefits have not been experimented much in higher education. In this study, 53 undergraduate psychology students were placed into two groups: traditional lecture or storytelling lecture. Students then watched the lecture they were assigned, both lectures discussed the ASURE model. A week later, students returned and took a 17 question memory test. Results indicated that students who watched the storytelling lecture performed significantly …

The Myth Of The Italiani Brava Gente In Cinema Since 1945, Bradley P. Reimer

Honors Theses

The myth of the italiani brava gente has been intertwined with cinema since the end of the Second World War. This thesis aims to examine the ways in which these movies, from neorealist classics to disregarded comedies, are influenced by this myth.

By analyzing thirteen films of both Italian and American origin, clear trends begin to emerge between the socioeconomic state of Italy and the ways in which the myth is manifested on the silver screen. When Italy emerges from the war a rebuilding country, the films focus on the futility of war and the evil of Nazi Germany. During …

An Evaluation Of Modern Accountancy: Insights On Regulatory Change, Corporate Behavior, And Financial Reporting, Cade S. Black

Honors Theses

The purpose of the course was to develop a series of case studies across various areas of financial reporting. These cases covered a broad range of accounting topics, including research on enacted reporting laws to the financial impact of potential regulations on global food companies. To build these cases, we were assigned to teams to research our topics and accumulate credible information to answer the questions given for each case. We also pursued individual cases in which the course had the opportunity to express their opinions as the assigned case was being built. This process ultimately required thorough research of …

Beyond The Bricks: The Friends Of The Burns-Belfry Online, Madeline M. Webb

Honors Theses

This capstone project was completed to offer a new website to the members of the Friends of the Burns-Belfry Museum and Multicultural Center. This project entailed research into the importance of a museum’s digital presence, the significance of community and cultural spaces for historically marginalized groups, and the role of community engagement initiatives for students and community leaders. All findings were considered and implemented into the website and website manual deliverables.

Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Identity Strongly Influences Soil Properties Relative To Pine Presence And Soil History In A Pine–Eucalyptus System, Braedan Watters

Honors Theses

Invasive Pinus radiata has increasingly spread into native ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere, including Eucalyptus forests in Australia, where it forms novel hybrid forest systems in which invasive and native tree species coexist. The success of these invasions is closely tied to ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) such as Rhizopogon spp., yet the relative roles of pines versus their fungal symbionts in altering soil properties remain poorly understood. This study investigated the independent and interactive effects of soil history (Pinus or Eucalyptus), EMF identity, and pine presence on soil properties using a controlled factorial experiment. Soil from beneath either Pinus …