Digital Commons Network^™

Associations Between Mental Health Outcomes And Discrimination And Victimization Among Adult Lgbtq+ Community Members Or Guardians Of Lgbtq+ Children, 2023-2024, Perla Gisel Mercado

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND: LGBTQ youth face unique challenges and experiences that can significantly impact their mental well-being. Discrimination, stigma, prejudice, and struggle for self-acceptance contribute to increased rates of mental health issues within this population. Almost one in 8 people, or 970 million individuals worldwide, were living with a mental disorder. PURPOSE: Assess the relationship between discrimination and victimization and mental health outcomes among sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) in the Paso del Norte Region. METHODS: Data was collected through a cross-sectional needs assessment survey among adult LGBTQ+ community members or parents/guardians of LGBTQ+ children/youth living in New Mexico or Texas in …

Perceptions Of Healthcare Students And Educators On Ai And Ar In Immersive Learning: A Phenomenological Study Of Empathy And Self-Efficacy Development In Palliative And End Of Life Care, Thomas Joseph Soto

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As healthcare education evolves to address emotionally complex scenarios such as palliative and end-of-life care, there is an increasing need to integrate both technical and emotional competencies into training. This interpretive phenomenological study explored how artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR)-enhanced immersive simulations shape healthcare students' empathy and self-efficacy. Grounded in Rogers' Client-Centered Theory and Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, the research investigated the lived experiences of healthcare students and educators who participated in emotionally realistic simulations using AI-driven manikins and auditory AR features. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a hybrid inductive-deductive coding framework, incorporating in-vivo …

Taming The Wild Tongue Of Frida Kahlo: An Analysis Of Translation As Adaptation In Personal Narratives, Alyse K. Deatherage

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis discusses topics of adaptation and translation theory by looking at the way Frida Kahlo’s diary has been transformed through both adaptation and translations of it in the texts The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait and The Diary of Frida Kahlo: A New Perspective. Scholars have paid much attention to the connections between Kahlo’s diary and her portraits, focusing on artistic critique and the painter’s diary as a drafting space for what eventually became her famous self-portraits. Researchers have also documented Frida Kahlo’s artistic and cultural influences in Mexico and abroad. However, none have addressed the …

Predicting Music Origin With Deep Learning, Fruzsina Ladanyi

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This project explores the usage of a late fusion deep learning architecture to predict the geographic origin of music. Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) and the language of the music sample are used as features. MFCCs were extracted from audio files to capture sound features. The language was identified using OpenAI’s Whisper model to provide additional context. A late fusion neural network architecture combining Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) layers for sequential MFCC input and dense layers for non-sequential language features were employed to support both classification and regression tasks. The classification model achieved an accuracy of 33.03% across 56 countries or …

Internalized Heterosexism Through Intersectionality: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Devon Alexandra Monica Bortfeld

Dissertations

While the impact of LGBQ+ individuals experiencing overt, interpersonal discrimination (i.e., heterosexism) is well-documented, the propensity for stigmatization, invisibilization, and violence to be internalized by LGBQ+ has only recently been examined as a factor contributing to poorer health outcomes. Internalized heterosexism (IH) was defined as the consumption and internalization of negative societal attitudes, assumptions, and beliefs towards homosexuality by LGBQ+ individuals and was linked to multiple forms of psychological distress. However, the methodological and clinical gaps in the research contributed to a clinical utility that was lacking for multiply marginalized LGBQ+ individuals. The purpose of this study aimed to understand …

A Formative Evaluation Of A Combined Reading And Emotional-Behavioral Intervention, Katlyn Fowler Frey

Dissertations

The current study is a formative evaluation of an intervention that combined reading instruction with exposure therapy strategies, with the goal of teaching avoidant readers how to engage with learning through their own volition. The purpose of the current study was to assess the potential efficacy of a reading intervention with an emotional-behavioral adaptation on reading and emotional-behavioral outcomes. Specifically, the researcher sought to determine whether the adapted intervention could improve readers’ reading achievement, reading self-efficacy, and reading-related emotions at a faster rate than treatment as usual. Additionally, teachers of the participating readers were surveyed for social validity purposes. The …

Cultural Considerations And Efficacy Of Mindfulness-Based Practices For Hispanic/Latinx Immigrant Youth In Schools: A Systematized Review, Lisandra Artiles Suarez

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have gained attention as promising tools for improving student well-being, yet their effectiveness and cultural relevance for Hispanic/Latinx immigrant youth remain underexamined. This Systematized Review evaluates the current literature on school-based MBIs targeting this population, with a focus on their cultural considerations, efficacy, and participant acceptability. Using PRISMA guidelines, studies were identified across research databases and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria required that interventions involve mindfulness practices, take place in school settings, and include Hispanic/Latinx immigrant youth. Findings from the limited number of eligible studies suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma while …

Promoting Better Dispute Decision-Making With An Ai Tool Built On Rps Theory, John Lande

Faculty Publications

Traditional theories of negotiation and mediation rely on rigid models, false dichotomies, and confusing terminology that fails to reflect the complexity of real practice. This article critiques those theories and introduces Real Practice Systems (RPS) theory as a more accurate and practical alternative.

RPS theory conceptualizes negotiation and mediation as sequences of professional judgment shaped by context, experience, and goals, rather than as idealized or linear processes. It promotes a realistic and ethically responsible practice by encouraging reflection, intentional process design, and adaptability.

The article introduces “RPS Coach,” a free artificial intelligence tool built on the ChatGPT platform. It is …

The Use Of Ai In Canadian Courts, Shaughnessy Dow

Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies

Like many other fields, there has been growing discussion about the potential benefits of AI for the law. In light of the Federal Court’s interim principles and guidelines on the use of AI, this paper considers whether AI applications can assist the judiciary with its decision-making function. In doing so, it starts by considering the role that judges play in our legal system, finding that they are often called upon to consider and weigh information with human, emotional qualities and to assess the broader policy implications of their legal rulings. This paper concludes that the optimism of proponents of AI …

A Framework For Interpreting Emojis In Legal Contexts, Anne Merritt

Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies

In the 2023 case of South West Terminal Ltd. v. Achter Land & Cattle Ltd., a Saskatchewan court found that a thumbs-up emoji, as a standalone item of communication, constituted the acceptance of a contract between a buyer and seller. The trial judge noted that such communication was “the new reality in Canadian society” for which courts should be prepared to interpret novel units of language arising in the digital age. However, an analysis of recent Canadian cases involving emojis shows that courts have not been prepared, with inconsistencies in how emojis are represented in evidence, how they are …

Supporting Cultural Capital In Undergraduate Biology: Instructor Roles And Practices, Lydia Nicole Mayo

Dissertations

Undergraduate biology students must navigate complex academic environments that require more than content mastery alone. Increasing evidence shows that students’ attitudes, beliefs, and values—such as motivation, confidence, and a sense of belonging—are critical to student engagement, persistence, and success, especially among first-generation college students and those from historically marginalized backgrounds. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation is to use cultural capital theory to explore how instructor practices in college biology classrooms support these non-content resources, framed as three forms of cultural capital: aspirational, navigational, and emotional capital for college biology.

To investigate this phenomenon, the dissertation integrates three complementary studies. …

Through Their Eyes: A Photovoice Study Of Mental Health And Well-Being Among Rural-Dwelling Latina Adolescents, Ashley Marie Coburn

Dissertations

Latina adolescents are more prone to depressive symptoms, less likely to receive mental health services, and face higher rates of suicidality compared to their non-White peers. This population becomes more vulnerable to adverse outcomes when their problems are compounded by barriers to mental health care common in rural communities such as limited resources, stigmatization, and systemic inequities related to race/ethnicity, income, and insurance status. Despite Latinx youth representing the fastest growing racial or ethnic group in rural areas across the United States, there is limited research on the distinct factors shaping mental health outcomes for this population. Guided by an …

The Automation Of Aesthetics: Artificial Intelligence And Commercial Artists In North Brooklyn, Devin Sudweeks

Theses and Dissertations

Corporate elites expect generative AI to replace commercial artists but overlook their social and aesthetic expertise. This ethnographic study explores how Brooklyn-based commercial artists narrate their value amid automation, emphasizing embodied presence in cultural scenes, visual language, style, and authenticity, skills not easily mechanized but vital to aesthetic economies.

Reverse-Chinoiserie: Qing Imperial Porcelain And The Reappropriation Of European Rococo, Yifan (Mia) Ye

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces “reverse-chinoiserie” to describe the Qing court’s reappropriation of European Rococo aesthetics in imperial porcelain. Through case studies of 18th-century ceramic diplomacy and design, it reveals how cultural imitation was reengineered into visual sovereignty. It examines how China responded to, absorbed, and redirected European fantasies of empire.

Application Of Machine Learning In Early Childhood Development Research: A Scoping Review, Faith Benson, Daisy Chelangat, Willie Brink, Patrick Mwangala, Akbar Waljee, Cheryl Moyer, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Early childhood development (ECD) lays the foundation for lifelong health, academic success and social well-being, yet over 250 million children in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential. Traditional measures fail to fully capture the risks associated with a child’s development outcomes. Artificial intelligence techniques, particularly machine learning (ML), offer an innovative approach by analysing complex datasets to detect subtle developmental patterns.

Objective: To map the existing literature on the use of ML in ECD research, including its geographical distribution, to identify research gaps and inform future directions. The review focuses on …

Analysis Of Popular Songs In The Us Market, Michael Myers

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In today’s digitally driven music landscape, understanding what drive’s a song’s popularity requires insight not only into its acoustic and lyrical content, but also into patterns of listener engagement across platforms. This thesis explores the predictive and descriptive dimensions of song popularity by applying supervised and unsupervised machine learning models to a multi-source dataset integrating audio features, sentiment analysis, and temporal consumption behavior. Drawing from a novel, multi-platform dataset that includes Billboard Hot 100 rankings, Spotify acoustic features and popularity scores, streaming, airplay, and sales metrics as reported on Luminate’s Music Connect, and lyrics from AZLyrics, the study investigates the …

The Legal Framework Of Smart Contracts In The Arabian Gulf, Ilias Bantekas, Ameneh Yousuf Saif Al-Hosseini

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

New tools have aided contractual transactions, particularly so-called smart contracts. Such tools have an impact on the formation of contracts and the implementation of the parties’ mutual obligations. Entities in the Arab world have generally hesitated to apply smart contract technology to high-end transactions out of fear that at some point these will not sit comfortably with existing legislation. The civil law landscape is still blurry. This article focuses on analyzing the legal framework of smart contracts in selected Arab countries and uses English smart contract regulation in order to compare how their regulation was tamed there and whether the …

Empowering Writers: Integrating Digital Prewriting Tools In The Research Writing Process, Heather A. Rundo

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

This practitioner article explores the integration of digital prewriting tools, specifically MindMeister and VoiceThread, in a high school sophomore honors English class during a research writing unit. The author, a classroom teacher, discusses the challenges students face in research writing and seeks to enhance their confidence and organization skills. Drawing insights from student and teacher perspectives on writing strengths and weaknesses, the article delves into the significance of prewriting as a fundamental component of the writing process.

76 | Maresha Iv: The Subterranean Complexes Of The Hellenistic City, Ian Stern

IAA Reports—Monograph Series of the Israel Antiquities Authority

This volume provides an archaeological study of 152 subterranean complexes at ancient Maresha, including an overview of the site, geological background, typological analysis of chamber types, and documentation of all surveyed installations. Two brief excavation reports offer insights into material culture and daily life during the Hellenistic period. Carved decorative elements—such as niches, altars, reliefs, and betyls—highlight religious diversity and cultural syncretism among Maresha’s residents. Twenty-one inscriptions, mostly Greek with three Semitic, provide rare direct evidence of the activities, identities, and experiences of individuals who used these underground spaces, adding a human dimension to the material findings. Special attention is …

Evowiki: Evaluating Llms On Evolving Knowledge, Wei Tang, Yixin Cao, Yang Deng, Jiahao Ying, Bo Wang, Yizhe Yang, Yuyue Zhao, Qi Zhang, Xuanjing Huang, Yu-Gang Jiang, Yong Liao

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Knowledge utilization is a critical aspect of LLMs, and understanding how they adapt to evolving knowledge is essential for their effective deployment. However, existing benchmarks are predominantly static, failing to capture the evolving nature of LLMs and knowledge, leading to inaccuracies and vulnerabilities such as contamination. In this paper, we introduce EvoWiki, an evolving dataset designed to reflect knowledge evolution by categorizing information into stable, evolved, and uncharted states. EvoWiki is fully auto-updated, enabling precise evaluation of continuously changing knowledge and newly released LLMs. Through experiments with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and Continual Learning (CL), we evaluate how effectively LLMs adapt …

Colloquial Singaporean English Style Transfer With Fine-Grained Explainable Control, Jinggui Liang, Dung Vo, Yap Hong Xian, Hai Leong Chieu, Kian Ming A. Chai, Jing Jiang, Lizi Liao

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Colloquial Singaporean English (Singlish) is an informal English marked by a unique blend of languages reflecting Singapore’s multicultural identity. Style transfer between Singlish and Standard (formal) English is vital for various applications, yet existing methods often lack explainability and fine-grained control. To fill this gap, we contribute in two key ways. First, we construct a large, high-quality dataset of formal and informal sentences, annotated across six linguistic aspects—Syntax, Lexical Borrowing, Pragmatics, Prosody/Phonology, Emoticons/Punctuation, and Code-Switching—with detailed explanations. Starting with manually annotated cases, we scaled the dataset to 140K with ensured quality. Second, inspired by the “Society of Mind” theory, we …

Cultivating Identity, Workforce Readiness, And Heutagogical Lifelong Learning: The Case For Student-Trained Ai Agents In Postsecondary Education, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

The accelerated integration of human-centered artificial intelligence and human-computer intelligent interaction (HCII) into postsecondary education has inaugurated a paradigm shift in how learners develop cognitive, socio emotional, and professional competencies. This article argues that requiring students to iteratively build and refine custom AI agents—digital “clones” or GPTs trained on their evolving beliefs, knowledge, values, and interests addresses three pressing challenges facing contemporary higher education. First, the process of self-modeling via agent training compels deep self-reflection, fostering socio-economic development and identity formation during the critical neurodevelopmental period that extends into the mid-twenties. Second, as industry trends increasingly prioritize the creation of …

Adaptations To Family-Based Treatment For Medicaid-Insured Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa, Renee Borges

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Family-based treatment (FBT) is the leading intervention for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN), however it is under researched in socioeconomically disadvantaged and racially diverse youth.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were completed with ten FBT clinicians who practice in publicly-funded settings. Interview questions were focused on implementation challenges, overall acceptability and appropriateness of FBT, and naturally-occurring treatment adaptations.

Results: Content analysis revealed common themes relating to the implementation of FBT in publicly-funded, community-based settings: acceptability and appropriateness, complexity and learnability, perceived core components of FBT, cultural adaptations, socioeconomic factors, logistical considerations, organizational and systemic barriers, training acceptability, participant’s self-efficacy, and telehealth …

The Psychological Constructs Of International Graduate Students Transitioning To A University In America: A Thematic Analysis, Umadevi Ramesh

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation employed a qualitative analysis methodology to explore the experiences of first-time international graduate students during their transition to university, focusing on initial adjustment, perceived support, perceived discrimination, and mental well-being. Previous studies about international student experience have mainly focused on undergraduate students. Furthermore, few have examined the initial transition period to university and factors involved in both positively and negatively impacting students’ adjustment process as well as overall psychological well-being. Nine participants qualified for inclusion in the present study and participated in semi-structured interviews, which the researcher analyzed using a thematic analysis framework. Participants expressed a strong need …

Participatory Community Archiving To Preserve And Sustain North Georgia Appalachia’S Language, Literacy Practices, And Histories, Leah Panther Dr., Lindsey Walker, Presley Dyer, Tyler Osborn, Kerri Abernathy

Georgia Library Quarterly

This case study presents Swappin’ Stories, a community-based archiving event that serves as a model for public and participatory archiving. The event aimed to address gaps and misrepresentations of southern Appalachia by gathering the voices, artifacts, and stories of Towns County residents. By centering local narratives, it sought to foster a sense of community identity and offer an authentic portrayal of North Georgia, distinct from the narratives shaped by popular media and political figures. This case highlights the potential of community-driven archives to reclaim and reshape regional histories.

Multimodal Deep Learning For Enhanced Breast Cancer Diagnosis On Sonography, Ting-Ruen Wei, Aileen Chang, Young Kang, Mahesh Patel, Yi Fang, Yuling Yan

Bioengineering

This study introduces a novel multimodal deep learning model tailored for the differentiation of benign and malignant breast masses using dual-view breast ultrasound images (radial and anti-radial views) in conjunction with corresponding radiology reports. The proposed multimodal model architecture includes specialized image and text encoders for independent feature extraction, along with a transformation layer to align the multimodal features for the subsequent classification task. The model achieved an area of the curve of 85% and outperformed unimodal models with 6% and 8% in Youden index. Additionally, our multimodal model surpassed zero-shot predictions generated by prominent foundation models such …

Empathetic Differentiated Instruction In Deaf Education: Examining Influencing Factors And Experienced Educator Practices, Laura A. Blackburn

STEMPS Master's Level Projects and Papers

This mixed-methods study investigated how experienced K–12 deaf educators implement empathetic, differentiated instruction (EDI) to support the academic and linguistic needs of deaf students who use American Sign Language (ASL) as their language of learning. Guided by Tracey and Baaki’s instructional design empathy model and grounded in constructivism, the study explored how teachers navigated the tension between standardized, English (sound-based) curriculum demands and the need to make instructional decisions aligned with signed language modalities and responsive to students’ real-time learning needs.

A custom electronic survey was distributed to a national sample of experienced educators, with 19 respondents completing Likert-scale items, …

How Developers Use Type-System Related Programming Language Features, Samuel W. Flint

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Optional type annotations are a popular feature of programming languages that allow developers to omit explicit type information in code while, in some cases, retaining many of the benefits of static typing, such as in-code documentation, improved detection of type errors, or enforcement of code properties. However, how developers use and understand optional type annotations is not clear. The focus of this dissertation is to understand the use and comprehension of optional type annotations.

Optional type annotations are examined through four lenses: first, by examining the evolution of usage in a statically typed programming language (Kotlin, the default language for …

Modifying Italian Consonants In The Voice Studio: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Elisa Ramon

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The body of lyric diction literature, particularly on Italian, has grown substantially in the second half of the twentieth century. Lyric diction courses are now a required part of many voice programs across the United States. The widespread use of International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions and transcription rules has significantly contributed to the field. However, relatively few sources focus on the pedagogical strategies needed to teach and modify Italian consonants effectively.

This two-phase exploratory sequential mixed methods study identifies the features of Italian consonants that differentiate the lyric diction of novice singers from that of native speakers. It also proposes …

Characterization Of Undergraduate Biology Instructors’ Goals And Strategies For Implementing Quantitative Reasoning, Anum Khushal

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Quantitative reasoning (QR) is the application of mathematics and statistics to real-life and scientific contexts. It is essential for understanding complex biological phenomena and analyzing large datasets in both academic and professional settings. In response to the growing demand for QR skills, biology educators and researchers have engaged in curricular reforms and education research. This qualitative study explores how undergraduate biology instructors integrate QR into their teaching using a framework informed by pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and QR. The study involved 21 biology faculty from various U.S. institutions who intentionally incorporated QR in their instruction. Data was collected through semi-structured …