Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Social Media On The Growth Of Animal Shelters And Rescue Programs, Viktoria Schmidt

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The landscape of animal welfare in the United States is currently navigating a period of structural transformation, moving from a reactive “holding” model toward a proactive “community resource” model. They are becoming an assistive safety net rather than just a physical “cell” for these animals. They had no choice but to focus on space, however they’ve transitioned towards open communication to create a relationship with onlookers. As of 2026, the industry faces a complex capacity crisis; while 2025 marked the first significant decrease in shelter euthanasia since the pandemic, an 8.1% drop, approximately 5.8 million animals continue to enter the …

Gencode: A Generic Data Augmentation Framework For Boosting Deep Learning-Based Code Understanding, Zeming Dong, Qiang Hu, Xiaofei Xie, Maxime Cordy, Mike Papadakis, Yves Le Traon, Jianjun Zhao

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Pre-trained code models lead the era of code intelligence, with multiple models designed with impressive performance. However, one important problem, data augmentation for code data that automatically helps developers prepare training data lacks study in this field. In this paper, we introduce a generic data augmentation framework, GenCode, to enhance the training of code understanding models. Simply speaking, GenCode follows a generation-and-selection paradigm to prepare useful training code data. Specifically, it employs code augmentation techniques to generate new code candidates first and then identifies important ones as the training data by influence scores. To evaluate the effectiveness of GenCode, we …

Greek Basileus "King" As A Possible Borrowing From Semitic Mšl "To Rule’", Gerald Leonard Cohen

Arts, Languages and Philosophy Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Causality-Driven Test Case Minimisation For Cyber-Physical Systems, Michael Foster, Christopher M. Poskitt, Nicholas R. Latimer, Neil Walkinshaw, Richard Somers, Robert M. Hierons

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Cyber-physical systems allow digital control systems to interact with the physical world using sensors and actuators. They are increasingly being used to automate critical infrastructure, where software faults can have dire consequences. Due to the complex nature and unpredictability of these systems, their resilience is often tested using a technique called fuzzing, which generates quasi-random sequences of sensor and actuator manipulations with the goal of forcing a system into unsafe states. However, there is currently no way of determining which manipulations of a test case cause a failure without systematically removing each one and re-running the test, which can be …

Func: Reducing The Impact Of Android Framework Evolution On Malware Detection, Hailong Yu, Tiantian Wang, Lwin Khin Shar, Hanmeng Li, David Lo

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Android malware detection approaches commonly use APIs and permissions as features for classifying malware. However, since the release of the first Android operating system in 2008, the Android framework has undergone numerous version updates. The evolution of the Android framework over time has led to changes in APIs and permissions, including deprecations and replacements. These changes can result in inaccurate characterization of Android malware, thereby affecting performance of malware detectors. There is a lack of methods to mitigate the impact of Android framework evolution on malware detection. To fill this gap, we conduct a systematic study of the impact of …

The Impact Of Esg Performance On Cost Of Capital: Evidence From U.S. Public Firms, Abdur Rehman

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper examines whether firms with higher MSCI ESG ratings face lower costs of capital. Using a panel of U.S. public firms from 2013 to 2023, we test whether ESG scores predict three separate measures: market beta, implied cost of equity capital (ICC), and corporate bond credit spreads. Credit spreads are measured as the yield premium over a duration-matched Treasury bond. ICC is estimated using analyst earnings forecasts from I/B/E/S and the Easton (2004) PEG model, which measures the cost of equity directly from market prices without requiring an assumed equity risk premium.

The findings reveal an important distinction. In …

The Eating Patterns Of College Students In Appalachia, Corinne A. Geffen

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Historically, the Appalachian region of the United States has higher levels of poverty than other areas of the country. Food insecurity rates are highest for households with incomes below the poverty line. Americans with food insecurity who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) consume more ultra processed foods (UPFs). Higher rates of UPF consumption can lead to an increased risk of noncommunicable diseases. The production of UPFs is a trillion-dollar industry that puts profits over public health. This is now a global health concern as noted by the World Health Organization. An ethnographic investigation was conducted to understand …

Smart Medical Support System And Swin Transformer Framework For Breast Cancer Detection And Segmentation In Mammograms, Ahed Abugabah, Prashant Kumar Shukla, Piyush Kumar Shukla, Abhishek Dwivedi

All Works

Accurate and reliable breast cancer detection from mammographic images remains a critical challenge due to subtle lesion appearance, high intra-class variability, and class imbalance inherent in clinical datasets. To address these issues, this study proposes Swin-BreastNet, an explainable and optimization-driven deep learning framework for binary classification of benign and malignant breast lesions from full-field digital mammograms. The proposed approach leverages the hierarchical Swin Transformer model to effectively capture fine-grained local texture patterns and long-range contextual dependencies through Shifted Window Multi-head Self-Attention (SW-MSA). A key novelty of this work lies in the integration of Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) for automated hyperparameter …

Neuropsychological Functioning And Coping Strategy Intervention Approaches In Youth With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Kalliopi Megari, Dimitra V. Katsarou, Georgios A. Kougioumtzis, Evangelos Mantsos, Maria Sofologi, Agathi Argyriadi, Alexandros Argyriadis, Efthymia Efthymiou

All Works

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in ages 3–18 is associated with disturbances in attention, working memory, processing speed, and executive control, as well as persistent difficulties in affect regulation. These neuropsychological vulnerabilities might interfere with learning, peer relationships, and the consolidation of age-appropriate developmental skills. Methods: We conducted a narrative review informed by a structured literature search in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Embase, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. English-language publications from 1990 to 2025 were considered if they examined (1) neuropsychological outcomes of trauma exposure or PTSD in youth and/or (2) interventions with potential to modify neurocognitive or affective …

Demographic Patterns In The Aesthetic Acceptance Of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics In Apartment Housing: Implications For Solar Energy Design And Policy, Jenan Abu Qadourah, Saba Alnusairat, Rund Hiyasat

All Works

This study examines how demographic and socioeconomic characteristics shape the aesthetic perception of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) in apartment housing. A survey of 418 respondents was conducted using visual scenarios showing PV integrated into rooftops, facades, balconies, and windows. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Scheffé post hoc tests, multiple regression, and thematic analysis of open-ended responses. The results indicate that aesthetic responses to BIPV are not uniform across user groups. Younger respondents, participants with higher educational attainment, and respondents working in energy or technical fields tended to be more receptive to certain …

Public Health Responsible Ai Capability (Ph-Raic) Framework: A Conceptual Model For Integrating Ai Into Public Health Agencies, Arnob Zahid, Ravishankar Sharma, Rezwan Ahmed

All Works

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is transitioning from experimental pilots to core public health functions such as disease surveillance, resource planning, and analysis of social and structural determinants of health. Yet, health data collection and stewardship remain fragmented across the globe; some jurisdictions still rely on paper-based systems, while others operate noninteroperable digital systems that can exacerbate inequities. Treating health data as a global good therefore requires governance that enables innovation while protecting rights, safety, and trust. This study aims to develop a conceptual meso-level capability framework that translates responsible AI principles into organizational practices for public health agencies. Methods: We …

Population Pharmacokinetics And Dosing Simulations Of Pentobarbital In The Pediatric Population, Victoria Etges Helfer, Lorena Medina-Aymerich, William J. Muller, Marisa Meyer, Amira Al-Uzri, Russell Mcculloh, Chi D. Hornik, Stephen J. Balevic, Rachel G. Greenberg, Daniel K. Benjamin, Sarah G. Anderson, Daniel Gonzalez

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Pentobarbital is a barbiturate with sedative and anticonvulsant properties, occasionally used in pediatric patients for preoperative sedation, deep sedation during mechanical ventilation, and seizure control. Despite its long-standing clinical use, age-appropriate dosing remains challenging due to variability across studies and limited pediatric pharmacokinetic (PK) data. This study (NCT01431326) aimed to characterize the population pharmacokinetics of pentobarbital in pediatric patients (birth to 21 years) and evaluate dosing strategies using model-based simulations. A two-compartment population PK model, allometrically scaled to total body weight, adequately described pentobarbital plasma concentrations, with no additional covariates identified as significant. Simulations were conducted across four age groups: …

Albany City As A Case Study In Language Mapping, Storm Pupina

Linguistics

This thesis uses Albany, NY, as a case study in urban language mapping, following the example of many other language mapping projects, most notably the NYC Language Mapping Project. Albany's languages and linguistic features were analyzed to better understand the area's linguistic ecology and ongoing heritage-language maintenance efforts. Various types of American Census data were compared to reach the conclusions. Despite not being a major city, Albany is bustling with both new and old language communities. Similar efforts with more varied data-gathering tactics would greatly benefit other American urban landscapes.

Low-Cost Rf Exposure Monitoring With Tinyml Prediction, Sanad Sahawneh

Nanoscale Science & Engineering (discontinued with class year 2014)

The proliferation of wireless technologies has produced a dense, increasingly heterogeneous radio-frequency (RF) environment that surrounds modern life. While regulatory bodies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) maintain exposure guidelines, the tools that ordinary people, educators, and small institutions can use to actually observe RF exposure in their own spaces remain expensive, specialized, and largely confined to professional laboratories. Spectrum analyzers and calibrated field probes routinely cost between five hundred and one hundred thousand dollars per unit, placing continuous local monitoring out of reach for most environments where exposure questions are most natural …

The Concentration Controversy, Matthew Urquiaga

Business/Business Administration

This thesis examines how U.S. equity market concentration affects investment performance. Using CRSP data from 1999 to 2024, we construct monthly concentration measures, including the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), the adjusted HHI, the Top 20 market share, and each month’s expanding-window concentration quintiles. We document subsequent stock returns by quintile and find weak evidence of higher stock performance in Quintile 3 conditions. A second part of the analysis uses Morningstar’s universe of actively managed U.S. equity funds to evaluate benchmark-adjusted returns (BARs) across the full equity style box. The results show that active managers deliver their highest BARs in moderate concentration …

An Experimental Study Of The Morphology Of Dna-Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Structures In Direct Dna Sequencing, Avery P. Davis

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hybrid structures formed between single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) have emerged as promising components in future direct DNA sequencing technologies due to their unique morphological and electronic properties. The nanoscale configuration of these hybrids, including the DNA wrapping angle, pitch, and contour behavior, directly influences their potential for stable electronic readout. This thesis presents an experimental study of DNA-SWCNT hybrid morphology using a fixed, reproducible wrapping protocol designed to minimize environmental variability and isolate the influence of DNA nucleotide sequence on hybrid structure. As described in prior work, this protocol produces well-dispersed hybrids suitable for high-resolution imaging. …

Long-Term Stimulant Use Is Associated With Normalized White Matter Integrity In The Vta-Nacc Pathway In Adolescents, Isaac T. Arsenault

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Medical practitioners are diagnosing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at a high and ever-increasing rate. The use of stimulant medication to treat ADHD is also increasing and is associated with changes in the brain. Past research found that children with ADHD have lower volume in reward neurocircuitry, such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). Research has also found that stimulant usage in those with ADHD might “normalize” the reward circuits. However, few longitudinal studies have directly tested the long-term effects of stimulant medication on brain development. Here we tested whether long-term stimulant use is associated with changes …

Host Families’ Perspectives Of The Impact Of The Commodification Of Education On The Student-Host Family Relationship In Study Abroad, Guadalupe Bustamante

Dissertations

The growing commodification of education has reshaped study abroad in ways that extend beyond marketing and program design. While homestays have traditionally been viewed as the ideal format for cultural immersion and language acquisition, research has largely overlooked how these trends affect the student-host family relationship from the family's perspective.

This study examines whether, and, if so, how Spanish host families perceive their roles and relationships with the American students they host have been impacted by these trends. Using a qualitative exploratory case study design, the research focused on representatives from eight families in Madrid, who have hosted U.S. students …

Examining The Relationship Between Active And Passive Screen Media Design, Engagement, And User Motivation And Impacts On Mental Health In Emerging Adults, Susan Richey

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Rates of depression among adolescents and emerging adults have increased in recent years, with screen media use identified as a potential contributing factor. Prior research links passive screen use to poorer mental health outcomes, while active engagement shows mixed effects; however, many studies overlook differences between platform design and actual user behavior, as well as the role of notifications. This study examined how screen media habits, platform design, user motivations, and notification settings relate to mental health among emerging adults. A sample of 399 participants (ages 18–29) from a large southeastern U.S. university completed a survey assessing screen use, engagement …

Bridging The Gap: Educating Students On The Neurodiverse Experience, Riley Axtell

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Neurodivergent students face misunderstanding, stigma, and systemic barriers that impact academic and emotional well-being. The purpose of this study was to develop and implement a curriculum-based project designed to educate college students about neurodiverse experiences and improve knowledge, empathy, and understanding. The curriculum was administered in two formats: an in-person format with pre- and post-survey measurements and an online “choose your own adventure” implementation utilizing post-survey measurements. Participants engaged in simulated cognitive and sensory activities that represented experiences associated with dyslexia, ADHD, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Although limited by a small sample size, reliance on self-report measures, lack of a pre-survey …

Perceived Campus Safety And Psychological Flexibility As Moderators Of Posttraumatic Stress And Anxiety Following Indirect Exposure To School Gun Violence, Samara Trout

Honors Theses

The growing prevalence of gun violence in school settings within the United States, combined with extensive media coverage of these events, has heightened concerns regarding the psychological impact of indirect trauma exposure among students. The present study examined associations between indirect exposure to gun-based school violence and symptoms of posttraumatic stress and anxiety among undergraduate students at Western Michigan University (WMU). A secondary aim was to explore whether perceived safety and psychological flexibility/inflexibility moderated associations between indirect exposure and psychological distress. Using a cross-sectional correlational design, undergraduate students (N = 33) completed a self-report survey containing screening assessments, attention …

The Relationship Between Academic Stress And Sleep Quality Among University Students, Braden C. Baker

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research explores the significance of the question of whether academic stress affects the quality of sleep among university students across the globe. The following research will explore what can cause university students to experience high levels of academic stress, as well as explore ways that universities as a whole can assist with this stress. The research will also dive deeper into what actually causes these students to experience different qualities of sleep and whether high levels of academic stress are actually what causes low quality of sleep.

Throughout this research, a wide variety of studies and data from these …

Martha Mitchell: Loud Mouth Of The South, Emma Bernice Kolker

History Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this paper, I will argue how Martha‘s Arkansas identity presents itself as a double edge sword, with her personality attracting the attention of the public with the consent of powerful men in the Republican party, while at the same time her comments and actions were the very reason she was blamed and marginalized by the same men who allowed her to speak in the first place.

Dfend: A Nutrition Education Intervention To Improve Food Budgeting, Shopping, And Meal Preparation Skills Among Adults In Arkansas, Samantha K. Edwards

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Preventive strategies targeting modifiable lifestyle factors related to food, nutrition, and health are needed as chronic health conditions continue to rise. Nutrition literacy refers to having the knowledge and skills needed to obtain, understand, and apply nutrition information to make informed dietary decisions. Without adequate nutrition education and food security, vulnerable populations are at risk of malnutrition and poor dietary behaviors. Educational interventions that increase food literacy can help improve dietary choices and food selection skills.

The purpose of this creative project was to develop a nutrition education toolkit for Extension agents to implement among rural populations with low health …

Leveraging Historic Collections: Investigating Morphometric Differentiation In Members Of The Arisaema Triphyllum (L.) Schott (Araceae) Species Complex, Morgan Bradley Russell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Schott) is an herbaceous perennial herb of North America, and its taxonomic history is full of confusion and rank shifts. Now split into six species, the A. triphyllum species complex consists of morphologically similar taxa that have differing ploidy levels. In Chapter I, I compiled a detailed introduction and history for these taxa, focusing on their taxonomic complexity and morphological ambiguity in herbarium specimens and immature plants. I also presented their ploidy distinctions and how the implications of polyploidy may hold answers to parsing them apart, especially in dried herbarium specimens where defining characteristics are …

Impact Of Salt Block Utilization During Dry-Aging On Pork Loin Microbial And Meat Quality, Cason H. Frisby

Food Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dry-aging and salt block utilization during dry aging on pork loin quality attributes. Pork loins were collected at 7 days postmortem, cut into three equal sections, and randomly assigned to wet aging (WA), traditional dry-aging (DA), and salt block dry-aging (SDA) groups to be aged for 28 days. During the dry-aging period, SDA cabinet exhibited lower humidity fluctuation (Avg. 71.52, St. Dev. 4.7) compared to DA cabinet (Avg 70.76, St. Dev. 7.9). Following the aging period, no differences were found in pH or Warner Bratzler shear force values between treatments (P>0.05). …

Precision To Protein: Comparative Characterization Of Printability, Physicochemical, And Nutritional Properties Of Cricket, Pea, And Whey Proteins In 3d-Printed Nutrition Bars, Sophia Hinkebein

Food Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Protein is a priority nutrient in the American diet, being fueled by the demands of weight loss drugs, diet culture, and new dietary guidelines. However, meeting these elevated protein goals sustainably requires diversifying beyond standard sources like whey protein isolate. 3D printing offers an opportunity to present a variety of protein sources in a palatable, customized, and consumer-acceptable format. In this study, 3 protein sources (cricket, whey, and pea), were optimized within food inks for 3D printing. Optimization involved different hydration levels, with whey requiring 7 grams of added water, cricket 22 grams, and pea the most at 47 grams. …

Mammalian Biodiversity Of The Easley Conservation Stewardship Area, Grayson C. Belt

Honors College Theses

Monitoring wildlife is an important part of conservation and is particularly vital for newly acquired conservation areas to provide a baseline of what is present. In 2025, the 22 ha Murray State University Easley Conservation Stewardship Area (MSU ECSA) was established following a donation to the university by Melissa Easley. I conducted a survey using trail cameras at the ECSA in fall 2025 and winter 2025/26 to record mammalian diversity. The survey consisted of two subprojects: a mesomammal subproject of 18 knee height trail cams and a small mammal subproject using 15 custom small mammal bucket cameras. I uploaded all …

Exploring The Effects Of Protein Intake On Mood And Sleep Quality In Post-Menopausal Women, Deborah Crouch

General Human Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

 Background: Menopause is a phase of life that roughly half of the world’s population will go through. Although research looking into how the body changes and is impacted by menopause, studies relating to how diet can affect the aging body of post-menopausal women is limited. The objective of this study was to gain insight into how mood and sleep are affected by increasing protein intake in the diet.

Methods: 29 participants were assigned to either a control group (n=20) or a treatment group (n=9). The treatment group was assigned to consume 1.6 g/kg/day of protein, including 7 servings of beef …

Relationship Between Disordered Eating Behaviors And Sport In Female Collegiate Athletes, Elizabeth Files

General Human Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Disordered eating behaviors and body image concerns remain prevalent among collegiate athletes, yet the role of sport type and sport-related environmental factors, such as uniforms, is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sport type, uniform perception, and disordered eating behaviors among female collegiate athletes at the University of Arkansas. A quantitative, non-experimental design was used, with 36 athletes completing an anonymous Qualtrics survey incorporating demographic questions, uniform perception items, and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short Form (EDE-QS).

Descriptive analyses indicated a predominantly young (ages 18–21), White, and underclassman sample. Chi-square analyses …