Digital Commons Network^™

Caste As Practice, Analogy, And Metaphor, Mark A. Graber

Maryland Law Review

No abstract provided.

Under What Circumstances Is “Caste” Likely To Be Useful As An Analytic Concept (And Should We Care)?, Sanford Levinson, Robert L. Tsai

Maryland Law Review

No abstract provided.

Homemade For Change: Addressing The Barriers To Home Cooking Among Emerging Adults For Better Health, Finances, And Well-Being, Sarida Smitthimedhin

Masters Theses

This study investigates how a visual approach—combining design, photography, and illustration with nutrition—can encourage home cooking. In today’s fast-paced society and overabundance food culture, many emerging adults struggle to prepare meals at home. This study examines how food industry practices and cultural trends shape the eating habits of emerging adults by exploring the reasons behind the decline in home cooking and its adverse effects on health, finances, well-being, and the environment.

Although research indicates that most adults recognize that home cooking is the healthiest choice, they often do not practice it, citing time and lack of cooking knowledge as their …

Grounding Human Value: A Critical Evaluation Of Naturalism And A Defense Of Christianity As The Basis For Human Value And The Moral Status Of The Unborn, Jacob Vazquez

Masters Theses

This thesis will explore the grounding of personhood and seeks to convince atheist readers who adhere to naturalism that abortion is wrong because human beings are made in the image of God, as the Christian doctrine of the Imago Dei teaches. This will be done by taking the reader on a journey or a map, in which various secular (non-religious) destinations are visited before finally reaching the final theological conclusion as presented above. The evidence culminated from each of the secular stops will end up supporting the argument from the Imago Dei against abortion.

For instance, Chapter 1 will consist …

Gospel-Centric Liturgy For Contemporary Worship: A Biblical Basis For Locally Crafted Worship Songs, Adriane M. Blanco

Masters Theses

Despite a cultural shift toward creating original worship music in churches today, there remains a need for new songs that reinforce biblical theology and foster spiritual formation through an intentional gospel-centric liturgy contextualized for the local congregation. Such a gospel liturgy consists of a cycle of songs that, with each weekly gathering of the church body, reiterates the revelation of God's presence, humanity’s sinful nature, Christ’s work of salvation, and the believer’s response in worship. At the same time, it is essential to emphasize spiritual songs that express the heartfelt emotions of the worshiper, maintaining a balance in properly worshiping …

A Search For Serotyping Candidates In The Streptococcus Sobrinus Genome, Ryan Schwendel

Theses

Streptococcus sobrinus (SSO) is a pathogenic microbe native to the human oral microbiome. SSO is historically implicated in carie formation, and may be involved in neurodegenerative disease progression. The study of SSO is challenged by a lack of access to a serotyping assay. This study aims to identify sero-specific candidates from available SSO genomes using sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Three candidate genes were found that may be sero-specific: putative quinol monoxygenase, a hypothetical protein, and elongation factor Tu. To further assess the candidates the original antibodies or a list of proteins involved is required. Alternatively, a new classification system …

Spatial Ecology And Population Dynamics Of Chukar Partridge, Jacob Taft Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

Chukar (Alectoris chukar) are a non-native bird that has naturalized in North America following its introduction over a century ago. Today, the species supports hunting opportunities in 11 U.S. states and one Canadian province. Despite its wide distribution and recreational value, key aspects of chukar ecology remain poorly understood. Limited information is available on the species' spatial ecology, including patterns of space use. Likewise, information regarding the influence of weather on population dynamics of chukar has not been formally conducted. As part of our investigation, we evaluated the space use of chukar in western Utah, USA utilizing GPS transmitters (Chapter …

Understanding Medication Adherence Among American Indian/Alaska Native People With Type 2 Diabetes Within A Commercial Health System, Leandra Bitterfeld

Dissertations

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults experience higher rates of type 2 diabetes and worse glycemic control than non-Hispanic White Americans. Despite the importance of medication adherence for T2DM management, there is only one study in the last 15 years examining the relationship between medication adherence and A1C among AI/ANs. Furthermore, T2DM research among AI/ANs has largely been conducted within Indian Health Service and Tribal healthcare systems, though most AI/ANs live outside of reservations, meaning many use commercial health systems. The purpose of this dissertation is twofold. We sought to first understand the experience of AI/AN people accessing T2DM in a …

Energy Input–Output Meta-Analysis Reveals Algal Diesel Struggles To Break Even, Michelle M. Arnold, David J. R. Murphy, Christopher L. Lant

Environment and Society Student Research

Algal biofuels have been investigated as an alternative to fossil fuels and first-generation biofuels for transportation in the United States since the 1970s. Yet after five decades of development, scalability and implementation remain limited—largely due to persistent barriers such as low biomass productivity, modest lipid yields, and energy-intensive processing methods. These technical challenges significantly constrain the feasibility of large-scale commercialization despite substantial research and investment. To evaluate progress toward commercial viability, this study harmonized energy inputs and outputs across 508 observations on the production of algal biofuel energy return on energy investment (EROEI) in the United States. While bioethanol achieves …

Mae Enewsbrief July-Sept 2025, Department Of Mechanical And Aerospace Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Conducting A Historical Map Collection Condition Assessment Survey At The Rochester Public Library, Ron Martin-Dent

Library Faculty Publications

Historical maps retain tremendous research value in the digital era. While many libraries have digitized their maps to expand research access, challenges remain for preserving physical maps. This project report describes a collection condition assessment survey at a public library using free online tools and volunteer hours to identify preservation issues and develop strategies to improve collection care. Collection condition surveys can serve as a road map for further preservation, conservation, and digitization projects.

Gary John Previts [Inducted 2011], American Accounting Association

Accounting Hall of Fame Brochures

No abstract provided.

Intradistrict Inequality: Examining Educational Opportunity In Richmond Elementary Schools, Tara Sheehan

Honors Theses

Educational inequality in the U.S. is often discussed across district lines, but differences between schools within the same district are just as significant. This paper examines intradistrict disparities in Richmond Public Schools (RPS) by comparing William Fox Elementary and Broad Rock Elementary. Although both schools operate under the same district, they serve very different student populations and produce markedly different outcomes. William Fox serves mostly White and economically advantaged students, with higher test scores, lower absenteeism, fewer behavioral incidents, and access to a wide range of enrichment programs. Broad Rock, on the other hand, serves predominantly Hispanic and Black students, …

The Scotus Tournament: Winning Isn't Everything, Tracey E. George, Mitu Gulati, Albert H. Yoon

Duke Law Journal Online

Litigation at the U.S. Supreme Court is a tournament of champions. This Essay presents an empirical analysis of Supreme Court advocacy over time (1970-2023), examining how the elitification of the legal profession has transformed Supreme Court oral arguments. Drawing on a dataset of 7,077 cases and 4,599 private attorneys, we analyze the rise of repeat players and their litigation success. Our findings reveal a transformation. In the 1970s, most Court advocates were rookies: first-time advocates from various backgrounds. Today, a small number of superstars dominate: attorneys with extensive experience, elite law school degrees, Supreme Court clerkships, and stints in the …

Hollywood, Ai, And The Moral Universe: An Analysis Of The Terminator And Battlestar Galactica, Lara Sumera Samms

Masters Theses

This thesis defends the argument that depictions of artificial intelligence in Hollywood film and television point to a moral universe. Films The Terminator (1984) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), as well as the television series Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009) are analyzed to find clues of moral facts. This research paper submits that these stories add weight to the moral argument and provide evidence that humans implicitly recognize a moral universe. Such acknowledgment of moral structures cannot be adequately explained within a secular framework such as utilitarianism or evolutionary ethics. However, the Christian worldview frames reality around the existence of God, …

Writing A Phd Thesis In Counterpoint To Its Traditional Map: Writing To And With Theories And Concepts Encountered In The Doing Of Doctoral Studies, Mary Catherine Garland

Professional Services

This article offers insights into challenges encountered in the landscaping of a doctoral thesis written in counterpoint with its traditional map. The inspiration behind the author’s thesis is a sixteen-year-old withdrawn from an English Further Education college on her first day. Consequently, the thesis troubles seemingly rigid orthodox academic structures and writing conventions, which potentially act as a barrier to learning. Animating the (non)methodological approaches of a PhD thesis written for everyone denied the opportunity of fulfilling their academic potential, this paper engages with speculative and experimental approaches to research, asking not ‘what is’, but ‘what if’.

Cloud-Top Entrainment Instability In Marine Stratocumulus Clouds: Observational Evidence From Collocated Microphysical, Turbulence, And Radiation Measurements, Inyeob La, Raymond Shaw, Holger Siebert, André Ehrlich, Jae Min Yeom, Seong Soo Yum

Michigan Tech Publications

Marine stratocumulus clouds (MSC) strongly influence Earth's radiation budget, yet the mechanisms governing the descent of entrainment-affected (diluted) parcels, and the relative roles of cloud-top entrainment instability (CTEI) and longwave radiative cooling (RC), remain debated. Using helicopter-borne observations from the ACORES campaign that combine high-resolution in situ vertical profiling with co-located remote sensing, we examine vertical variations of microphysics, thermodynamics, and the entrainment interfacial layer (EIL). When CTEI conditions were strongly met, inhomogeneous mixing (IM) traits appeared near cloud top and transitioned to homogeneous mixing (HM) traits deeper in the cloud layer, accompanied by localized elevations of cloud base, signatures …

The Truth Effect And Divided Attention By Picture Memorization, Aedan D. Erickson, Caitlin G. Tjeerdsma, Jacob D. Ostergard

Student Work

The truth effect examines an individual’s likelihood to believe new information with repeated exposure. This study analyzed the effects of a secondary memorization-distraction task on the truth effect and whether familiarity with the subject matter increases the impact of the truth effect. We recruited 95 undergraduate, college students to view a slideshow containing four trivia statements under conditions of repeated or single exposure and assignment or no assignment of a secondary memorization-distraction task. The results showed no effect of a secondary memorization-distraction task on the truth effect and no relationship between repeated exposure and validity scores. Participants’ familiarity of subject …

How Racism Affects Attitudes About Post-Secondary Education, Anne Duong

Masters Theses (Archived)

As the number of students of color in America continues to increase each year, these minority groups remain underrepresented in higher education. The educational system must adapt and make changes to better serve the diverse cultures and backgrounds of new students. Recognizing the presence of structural and systemic racism in American history, this research aims to explore whether racism affects students' learning experiences in K-12 schools and how this, in turn, influences their attitudes toward pursuing post-secondary education. The study focuses on high school students in 12th grade from a Texas public school, representing the backgrounds of students of color. …

What Are The Effects Of Implementing Effective Restorative Practices In The Classroom?, Liana V. Rios

Masters Theses (Archived)

This qualitative case study examines the implementation of restorative practices in an elementary classroom, focusing on their impact on students’ social, emotional, and academic development. Data was gathered through observations, student journals, surveys, and feedback from school administrators. Five themes emerged from the analysis: improved emotional regulation, increased student voice, relational changes, academic gains, and a supportive environment. The results indicate that restorative practices effectively reduce conflicts, empower students, and foster positive teacher-student relationships, while also increasing academic engagement. Parental feedback further supported these findings, highlighting increased confidence and more positive attitudes toward the school environment. While external variables influenced …

Regio- And Stereoselective Halogenation By An Iron(Ii)- And 2-Oxoglutarate-Dependent Halogenase In The Biosynthesis Of Halogenated Nucleosides, Philip M. Palacios, Xiaoyun Li, Simahudeen Bathir Jaber Sathik Rifayee, Haoyu Tang, Tatyana Karabencheva-Christova, Christo Christov, Wei-Chen Chang, Yisong Guo

Michigan Tech Publications

Iron(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent (Fe/2OG) enzymes have garnered strong research interest in past decades due to their ability to catalyze regio- and stereoselective C-H functionalization via a single reactive intermediate, the oxyferryl species. In addition to the hydroxylation reaction that is commonly observed, other reaction outcomes have also been discovered in Fe/2OG enzymes. Among them, halogenation has attracted much research effort with the goal of revealing the molecular determinants to favor halogenation over hydroxylation however, a full mechanistic picture is still missing. In this study, by investigating a recently identified Fe/2OG halogenase, AdeV, from the biosynthetic pathway of Adechlorin, we show, …

Aeolian Tones: A Book Of Minor Poetry About Isolation And The Space Between Disconnection And Connection, Thaddeus Tague

Masters Theses

This is the artistic statement for Aeolian Tones, the poetry chapbook that will serve as my thesis. In this accompanying paper, I explore the vision, process, and inspiration behind the various themes in the chapbook, as well as the overall goal. I hope to provide personal context for the writing's purpose, as well as offer reflections and interpretive guidelines for how the poetry can and should be understood. In this work, I aim to provide a space for readers seeking reflections on loneliness, healing, profound pain, and disconnection.

Next, the literature review will examine ten modern works of minor non-epic …

Archetypes: Angels Of Literary Art; Demons Of Science, Ronald A. Davidson

Masters Theses

This Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing thesis focuses on archetypal literary theory and criticism and their application to Bushido of the Cur, a novella by Ronald A. Davidson. The critical analysis will evaluate the characters in the novella and identify how their roles in the story align with everyday human experiences, suggesting the existence of a literary collective unconscious. The creative manuscript, Bushido of the Cur, exploits the craft of character development to present a storyline that feels authentic, even though it is a work of historical fiction in the western noir genre. The goal of the manuscript is …

The Ultra Dilemma: Understanding The Impact Of Ultra-Processed Food, Cassia Elizabeth Brenning

Masters Theses

Ultra-processed food dominates the market, making up an estimated 73% of the national food supply and costing 52% less than healthier, minimally- processed alternatives (Ravandi et al). With such a large supply, there is a great demand to sell these products to consumers. Major food corporations rely on misleading labels, heavy marketing, and industry-funded research to manipulate consumers into buying more of their products. While these products are cheap, quick, convenient, and delicious, they are not components of a healthy diet.

This thesis argues that the best way to tackle the issue of ultra-processed food is by redirecting focus from …

History Happenings, Georgia Southern University

History: News & Publications

• Editorial - Max Besselman: Internet Histories
• Our Students
• Preserving Community Memory at Willow Hill
• Exhibitions
• Fairs
• Faculty Spotlight
• Alumni Stories

William Welling Werntz [Inducted 1968], American Accounting Association

Accounting Hall of Fame Brochures

No abstract provided.

Yuji Ijiri [Inducted 1989], American Accounting Association

Accounting Hall of Fame Brochures

No abstract provided.

Norton Moore Bedford [Inducted 1988], American Accounting Association

Accounting Hall of Fame Brochures

No abstract provided.

Philip Leroy Defliese [Inducted 1987], American Accounting Association

Accounting Hall of Fame Brochures

No abstract provided.

Oscar Strand Gellein [Inducted 1985], American Accounting Association

Accounting Hall of Fame Brochures

No abstract provided.