Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding And Managing Stress In The Public Sector: A Focus On Municipal Government, Emmanuel N. Asante

Master of Public Administration for Senior Leadership

This Capstone examines workplace stress among municipal government employees, using the City of Worcester, Massachusetts, as a practical case study. Municipal employees play a critical role in delivering essential public services, yet they often work under challenging conditions, including heavy workloads, limited resources, strict rules, and high public expectations. Over time, these pressures can negatively affect employee well-being, job performance, and the quality of services provided to residents.

The purpose of this project is to understand better the causes and effects of workplace stress in local government and to identify practical ways municipalities can address it. The study uses an …

The Future Of Sustainable Fashion: How Vr Can Transform Retail Into An Eco-Friendly Shopping Experience, Kaeleigh G. Stroud

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

Exploring the influence of virtual reality (VR) on consumer behavior highlights its potential as a powerful tool for facilitating sustainable fashion practices. The primary focus of this research is to examine how VR technology affects consumers’ hedonic (enjoyment-driven), utilitarian (function-driven), social (connection-driven), and symbolic (meaning-driven) values, and how these values impact consumer satisfaction. While VR can be used as a tool to enhance consumer engagement, its potential to create a more sustainable shopping experience in fashion makes it essential for facilitating eco-friendly fashion consumption.

To understand how VR impacts consumers’ shopping behaviors, this study explores how sustainable shopping shapes consumer …

Social Media Marketing In The Fast Fashion Industry: Influence Of Influencers And #Ootd Campaigns On Brand Equity, Ashley Ninkham

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examines the impact of influencer marketing and #OOTD (Outfit of the Day) campaigns on brand equity in the fast fashion industry. It primarily focuses on consumer behavior, brand loyalty, and sustainability awareness. As social media continues to grow, it plays a significant role in shaping the consumption of fashion. This research aims to understand the effects of social media marketing strategies on brand image and purchasing behaviors.  A quantitative method was used through a survey with a 5-point Likert Scale (ranging from strongly disagree (1) - Strongly agree (5)). A total of 203 participants completed the survey via …

Cultural Authenticity And Commercialization: The Journey Of Southwest Indigenous Jewelry, Kaytlin M. Dwyer

Anthropology Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction Today, Southwest Indigenous jewelry exists at the intersection of cultural expression and commercial exchange. Drawing on interviews with Native artists, this study focuses on the lived experiences of those who design, produce, market, and curate Indigenous jewelry to argue that authenticity is not defined by visual appearance alone, but by the cultural knowledge, community relationships, and generational practices embedded in each piece. As Native silversmiths navigate increasing pressures from mass production, appropriation, and global markets, they actively work to maintain both artistic integrity and cultural authenticity. At the same time, this paper explores the tension between appreciation and appropriation. …

Reporting The Unverifiable: Ethical Journalism And Disinformation About North Korea, Alexandra M. Pasto

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Journalists face significant challenges reporting on North Korean information due to restricted access, state-controlled media, and pervasive amounts of disinformation. This study includes a qualitative content analysis of journalistic practices and existing academic frameworks related to verification and reporting in highly restricted information ecosystems. The findings suggest and recommend that competitive media pressures often encourage the circulation of sensational or unverified claims, particularly in coverage of highly controlled media states like North Korea. In response, this argues that journalists must adopt a verification-centered approach to reporting that prioritizes accuracy, minimizes sensationalism, and clearly communicates uncertainty. This research highlights the growing …

The Portrayal Of Caseworker Turnover In New York State Foster Care Assessment Documents, Shelby S. Cover-Lapomarede

Student Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines how caseworker turnover is portrayed in New York State foster care assessment documents published between 2014 and 2024. Utilizing a qualitative content analysis (QCA) approach informed by Margrit Schreier’s methodology, this study evaluates publicly available government reports, assessment documents, policy documents, and audit reports to identify how turnover is represented, what causes are highlighted, and what consequences are downplayed. The data reveals that turnover is often framed as an administrative issue rather than a workplace welfare crisis with extensive emotional and relational impacts on caseworkers, children, and families. Burnout, heavy caseloads, inadequate mental health care, low pay, …

Identifying The Role Of Human Dna Polymerase Delta During Human Cytomegalovirus Genome Synthesis, Rachel Laree Dansereau

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a large double stranded DNA virus and member of the Herpesviridae family. Like all herpesviruses, HCMV presents with characteristics of persistent, lifelong infections that transition between lytic and latent states. The replication of the viral genome is traditionally thought to occur by a rolling circle mechanism, but this model is supported by little evidence. It is known that HCMV actively recruits several host proteins to viral replication compartments (RCs), including proteins involved in the DNA damage response (DDR). The exact mechanisms of how these proteins are used and in what ways they help the virus remain …

An American Railroad Revival: A Proposal For Train-Reliant Music Touring, Abigail Waisler

Standard Theses

A proposal for train reliant music touring for environmental resilience and a cultural deceleration of the music industry.

Design Research For Sustainable Worlds, Dan Lockton

DRS Summer Meetings

No abstract provided.

Perspectives On Design Education, Object-Based Learning, And 4e-Cognition, Arlene Oak

DRS Summer Meetings

No abstract provided.

How Can Design Education Support And Contribute To The Advancement Of Doctoral Design Research?, Violeta Clemente, Derek Jones

DRS Summer Meetings

No abstract provided.

Sound-Driven Design, Stefano Delle Monache, Nicolas Misdariis, Elif Özcan

DRS Summer Meetings

No abstract provided.

Open Repository @ Binghamton Monthly Additions And Top Downloads - April 2026, Caitlin Holton

Library Created Resources

Newly added work in the Open Repository @ Binghamton (ORB) from 4/1/2026-4/30/2026. Top downloads from same time frame.

Tech Note 01: Financial Technology (Fintech) And Digital Remittances, Sean T. Sithole

International Migration Research Centre

No abstract provided.

Geographic Bias In Ai: How Llm Outputs Vary By Location, Alekya Bongu

RhetTech

This paper explores the inherent biases present in Large Language Model (LLM) outputs. As AI use becomes more widespread, it is extremely important to examine the implicit biases in these models, as AI will only perpetuate inaccuracies. By understanding the implications of using AI, we can use it in a way that causes the least harm. Using Hofstede’s cultural onion to structure research questions, I tested four LLMs—ChatGPT, Pi.ai, Qwen, and DeepSeek—across three different geographic locations: the United States, India, and Ireland. The findings demonstrate that while LLMs can adjust some content based on a user’s location, they frequently default …

How Astroworld’S “Blame Game” Prevented The Formation Of Institutional Public Memory, Vedant Patil

RhetTech

This paper looks at why the 2021 Astroworld tragedy in Houston did not become institutional public memory despite its scale and impact. Institutional public memory refers to the formal recognition of collective trauma through memorials. Drawing on media analysis and Vilanova’s (2025) study, this paper argues that the absence of an official memorial stems largely from racialized media narratives that placed disproportionate blame on the predominantly Black audience and hip-hop culture. This framing took attention away from structural failures such as poor crowd control and event planning, which reduced institutional pressure to memorialize the victims. While spontaneous community memorials demonstrated …

Structure-Conduct-Performance Analysis Of The Contract Catering And Institutional Hospitality, Sibelle Dias

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the industrial organization and competitive dynamics of Aramark Corporation within the global contract catering and institutional hospitality industry. Using the Structure–Conduct–Performance (SCP) framework alongside transaction cost economics, this study evaluates how market concentration, labor investment, long-term contracting, and pricing strategies influence Aramark’s behavior and performance relative to its primary competitors, Compass Group and Sodexo. Financial data from Statista and company annual reports are used to construct concentration measures, including the three-firm concentration ratio and the Herfindahl– Hirschman Index, in order to assess industry structure. The analysis also incorporates operating profit margins and explores the role of demand …

Rosemary’S Baby Is Immaculate, Alana L. Lee

RhetTech

This essay examines the legacy of Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby (1968) and its influence on modern horror media, specifically Michael Mohan’s Immaculate (2024). Cinematography, plot devices, and thematic parallels in both films depict the ritualization of women’s bodily autonomy within religious and patriarchal power structures. While Immaculate effectively draws on its predecessor's inspiration, its reliance on poor-quality horror tropes negates its critical perception and originality. This essay examines the films’ various portrayals of reproductive abuse, such as marital rape in Rosemary’s Baby, and forced in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Immaculate. These abuses are explored as different methods …

I Wrote Myself Awake: A Personal Encounter With A/R/Tography, Michelle Geipel

Theses

This project and its accompanying short story function as visual and narrative representations of a/r/tography, demonstrating how creative practice can be used to explore and construct personal meaning through writing and art-making. The co-written story exists alongside the altered book as evidence of how the creative process not only engages the brain through neuroplasticity, but also supports meaning-making and the formation or discovery of identity. Through the integration of life writing, visual art, and reflective inquiry, this work illustrates how understanding can emerge from within the act of creation itself.

The Investigation Of The Digital Divide: Government Literacy With African American Seniors, Jenettie Pirtle

Theses

My thesis, The Great Divide: An Investigation of Digital Literacy with African American Seniors, explores how race, age, and income shape access to technology and digital learning. Many African American seniors continue to face barriers to digital literacy due to limited resources, lack of exposure, and social inequalities. Using a qualitative approach, I conducted a focus group to hear directly from seniors about their experiences with technology, what challenges they face, how they feel about using it, and what support they need. Guided by Critical Race Theory and the concept of digital inequality, my analysis highlights the gap between access …

Reclaiming Suppressed Symbols: Yoruba Iconography And Nuyorican Identity In The Art Of Nitza Tufiño, Ariana Williams

Theses

This thesis examines the work of Afro-Puerto Rican artist Nitza Tufiño through Yoruba iconography, diasporic memory, and gendered Nuyorican identity. Grounded within the cultural and political context of the Nuyorican Movement of the 1960s and 1970s and, this study argues that Tufiño’s visual practice reframes suppressed African spiritual symbols through a woman-centered perspective, positioning Black femininity and spiritual labor as sites of resistance to colonial erasure and racial marginalization. Drawing upon Yoruba-derived cosmologies, Santería, and processes of visual syncretism, Tufiño integrates African, Indigenous Taíno, and Caribbean traditions to articulate a gendered visual language rooted in care, ritual, and collective memory. …

User-Centered Design For Public Financial Services: A Federal Student Loan Management App Case Study, Carmen River Christopher

Theses

Researchers have studied several facets of federal student loans, such as the impacts it has on borrowers’ finances, mentality, and life goals, plus the history of the federal student system and potential changes. There has been little research conducted on how borrowers make decisions regarding repayment, including choosing plans, navigating the repayment system, and understanding the long term implications of their choices. Since this research largely does not exist, there are few tools and resources to help guide borrowers as they manage the large, complex, and dynamic landscape that is navigating the federal loan system and repaying their debt. I …

Anastasis: Slow Fashion, Barbara Bultman

Theses

This thesis explores how slow fashion principles contribute to the longevity and cultural significance of iconic garments. Using qualitative research methods, including historical analysis, literature review, and practice-based design research, this project analyzes and recreates six iconic garments: the little black dress, trench coat, wrap dress, shift dress, wide-leg trouser, and women’s suit. The research investigates couture-level construction techniques, sustainable materials, and timeless silhouettes, demonstrating how these strategies can extend garment lifespan and foster emotional attachment between consumers and clothing. Ultimately, the research concludes that slow fashion provides a practical framework for creating durable, meaningful garments that support both environmental …

The Judicial Subjectivity In The Fair Use Analysis Of Andy Warhol Foundation For The Visual Arts, Inc. V. Goldsmith And Its Implications, Donna Khademi

Theses

The case of Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith demonstrates the subjective nature of the fair use doctrine. Scholars suggest that judges are often forced to interpret expressive works without specialized training in art, leading to inconsistent rulings. These discrepancies can lead to legal ambiguity and potentially weaken First Amendment protections. A deeper understanding of authorship, appropriation, and contemporary art highlights their crucial role in evaluating expressive works. By examining current legislation and judicial precedents, this paper shows the subjective and inconsistent nature of the present legal framework and offers a set of related proposals. It …

Staging Collapse: Anita Berber’S Cocaine And Morphium As Disability Aesthetic Performance, Blair Summers

Theses

This thesis examines Anita Berber’s performances Cocaine and Morphium within the cultural climate of Weimar Germany, where the body became closely tied to ideals of health, productivity, and national renewal. Through the framework of disability aesthetics as defined by Tobin Siebers, this study argues that Berber transforms addiction, collapse, and bodily decay into a visual and affective language of artistic and political critique. Rather than present the body as disciplined or morally ideal, Berber stages instability, excess, and death through gesture, costume, set design, and music. In doing so, she reimagines the stigmatized female body as a site of agency …

Analyzing Comparisons Of Seascapes By Caspar David Friedrich And Fitz Henry Lane Through A Digital Gallery Show, Adrianna Murphy

Theses

This project focuses on a comparative digital exhibition and analysis between Caspar David Friedrich and Fitz Henry Lane’s seascape artwork. Both artists have not been shown together in a gallery; thus this research into common themes in their works reveals a new perspective on early- to mid-19th-century seascape art. This perspective shows how their different geographies and historical contexts converge through the shared visual language of contemplation, morality, and reflecting in the mystery of life through nature. The project aims to create a digital gallery that showcases an ideal layout and a comparison of the artists, with curated works that …

An Introduction To World Art History: Course Curriculum, Skyler M. Bancroft

Theses

Art history as a field has inherent biases that are primarily rooted in Western traditions. A majority of the content which students are exposed to focuses on regions such as Europe and the Americas, with less focus on Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. The purpose of this thesis project is to develop a secondary school curriculum that approaches art history from a world perspective to foster students’ sense of cultural awareness and empathy, as well as the development of skills such as critical thinking and visual literacy. Students will leave this course with a greater understanding of art from various …

Unveiled Voices: An Ode To Black Brides A Digital Resource Guide For Black Brides And Inclusive Bridal Design, Jaslyn A. Banks

Theses

This project examines the lack of inclusivity within the bridal industry, with a specific focus on the absence of skin-tone appropriate illusion mesh and diverse representation for Black brides. Through a combination of scholarly research and visual analysis, this study identifies how Eurocentric design standards continue to influence fabric development, marketing practices, and overall bridal aesthetics.

In response to these findings, this project introduces a digital lookbook titled Unveiled Voices: An Ode to Black Brides A Digital Resource Guide for Black Brides and Inclusive Bridal Design, which serves as a curated resource highlighting Black bridal designers who prioritize inclusivity, cultural …

International Panther Monthly, May 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of International Engagement.

Office of International Engagement newsletter

Contents:

--- From the Director's Desk
--- Last Month With OIE
--- Student Spotlight
--- UNI's World Window
--- Did You Know?
--- Behind the Scenes
--- Next Month's Activities
--- Additional Opportunities
--- Find Connection at OIE
--- Get Involved

Gli2-Mediated Regulation Of Immunoglobulin Class Switching And Heavy Chain Locus Activity, Casey Paige Baumann

Master's Theses and Capstones

Class switch recombination (CSR) enables B cells to generate antibodies with diverse effector functions through recombination at the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) locus. This process requires coordinated transcriptional activation and DNA repair, yet its regulation remains incompletely defined. The transcription factor GLI2, a mediator of Hedgehog signaling, has been implicated in transcriptional control, but its role in CSR and IGH regulation is not well understood. To investigate the contribution of GLI2 to CSR, splenocytes from WT and hematopoietic-specific Gli2-deficient (H-Gli2-/-) mice were stimulated ex-vivo to induce switching to IgG1. Analysis of germline transcription, DNA repair enzyme expression, and post-switch transcripts …