Digital Commons Network^™

This Moon In Your Throat, Hankyung Ryu,

Theses

This Moon in Your Throat examines the concept of Han, a haunted and inherited Korean affect that moves across bodies, generations, and diasporic life. Rather than treating Han as a fixed emotion, this thesis understands it as a lasting force shaped by historical trauma, family memory, and the unfinished effects of colonialism, war, capitalism, and displacement. Drawing on hauntology, the project asks how the past remains present through sensation, habit, bodily tension, and emotional atmosphere, especially in the lives of Koreans living in the United States. Night serves as the project’s spatial, temporal, and emotional ground, a setting in which …

Ai In Action: Redefining Loan Default Prediction For The Digital Lending Era, Joe Vinson Ukken

Theses

Credit risk assessment remains a very important part of financial institutions, particularly within the rapidly evolving digital lending environment. The research explores the effectiveness of five machine learning models—Logistic Regression, Decision Tree, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and Support Vector Machine—in predicting loan default using both financial indicators and categorical borrower attributes. The study is motivated by the growing availability of structured borrower data and the need to evaluate whether advanced machine learning algorithms can be implemented over conventional credit scoring methods. A publicly available L&T Vehicle Loan Default Prediction dataset comprising 233,154 borrower records and 41 structured attributes, the CRISP-DM …

Subject. Object. Thing., Cristin Hand

Theses

Subject. Object. Thing. is part of an accumulating record of self-construction and self-reflection. The work considers the complications of visibility through self-portraiture, how the desire to be seen exists alongside the impulse to withhold, obscure, and substitute. Working across photography, performance, collage, and sculptural constructions made for the camera, I fragment, disassemble, and reconfigure my body as photographic subject and material. This exploration is structured around a series of oppositions; concealment/exposure, anonymity/specificity, subject/object, naked/nude, and destruction/reconstruction. I do not attempt to resolve these oppositions. Instead, I consider where these categories blur, contradict themselves, and become unstable. Central to this inquiry …

The Emergent Wild, Allen Douglas

Theses

This thesis investigates a shift from the structured, approval-driven process of illustration to a more exploratory and intuitive painting studio practice. While my training has emphasized careful planning and technical precision, it has also limited spontaneity and material engagement. In response, I adopt a process-driven approach that privileges improvisation and material agency, repositioning painting as a site in which control is negotiated rather than maintained. This change marks not only a methodological departure but an internal reorientation—from adherence to external standards toward a more self-directed and responsive mode of making. The expansion of my visual universe—through expressive mark-making, increased ambiguity, …

From There To There, Daniil Kolchanov

Theses

From There to There is a semi-fictional journey, an attempt to figure out what home is, that uses photography as the main medium. It started with the physical act of leaving my country, but quickly turned into an internal journey. In this project, I am interested in themes of displacement, lack of belonging, and home as a utopian idea. Combining different ideas of home, metaphors, symbols and everyday moments, I talk about an idealized home, ideas of stability, connection, and a sense of belonging in an ever-changing environment. From There to There questions the internal relationship between identity, memory, community, …

I Like The Color Pink Because It Is Pretty, Jennifer Smyczynski

Theses

This thesis investigates what it means to be hyper-visible yet completely overlooked in relation to appearance, gender, and intellect. The work embraces the decorative as it appears in visual art and in the surrounding domestic environment, as well as the often-dismissed aesthetics of girlhood—including the glitter, rebellion, and contradictions that accompany its cultural formulation. My intention is to navigate the expectations placed on femininity and its representation in both art and society. This includes the concept of feminized labor; the ways in which work associated with women is treated and valued; and how pop culture catered toward women is more …

Perceptual Evaluation Of Deep Learning Models For Hdr Reconstruction Under Severe Overexposure, Alireza Rabbanifar

Theses

Overexposure in imaging systems leads to irreversible loss of scene information due to sensor saturation, resulting in degraded perceptual quality and limited dynamic range. While recent deep learning approaches have shown promising results in correcting mild to moderate overexposure, their performance under severe overexposure and their perceptual quality in HDR image generation remain less understood. In this work, a comparative evaluation of four representative models—Multi-Scale Exposure Correction (MSEC), Illumination-Adaptive Transformer (IAT), LEDiff, and X2HDR—is conducted across multiple scenes and levels of overexposure, with particular emphasis on severe overexposure conditions. The evaluation focuses on the perceptual quality of the reconstructed HDR …

Revisiting A Historical Material: Casein As A Case Study, Evan Gerstein

Theses

The goal of this project is to use casein as a case study to explore historical methods of making and to show that these have uses for today. In the first half of the 20th century, casein, a milk protein, was a widely-used industrial material. Buttons, buckles, glue, and clothing, among other products, were made from it. The use of casein declined in the post-World War II economy because of reputational damage done by its association with Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime and the rise of petroleum plastics. This project argues that casein deserves to be revisited. Specifically, this project offers …

Asobi: Play In Every Language, Jeffrey Gibbs

Theses

In the era of iPad kids and screenagers, toys are struggling to engage children. The modern toy industry prioritizes eye-catching designs over meaningful stimulation, choosing to profit off of media franchising rather than encourage creative expression. Toys are too often designed in a way that limits the scope of play, forcing kids down a specific path rather than opening a world of creative possibilities. This narrow scope prevents imagination and decreases the overall lifespan of the product by encouraging product turnover. All of this contributes to an abundance of toys in the home, a reality linked to negative development outcomes. …

Urban Illumination And Circadian Disruption: Examining Artificial Light At Night, Caitlin Mcmasters

Theses

Artificial light at night is increasingly prevalent in dense urban environments, yet it remains unclear how often typical city lighting conditions likely exceed recommended nighttime limits for residential circadian health. This thesis evaluates nighttime light exposure in two contrasting urban districts, Back Bay in Boston and Times Square in New York City, using satellite derived nighttime radiance, GIS based urban morphology, and documented lighting infrastructure characteristics. Rather than relying on calibrated photometric simulations, the study employs a qualitative, evidence based comparative approach to assess relative façade exposure and interpret conditions against established benchmarks, including the WELL Building Standard and ILP …

Adaptive Insider Threat Detection With Graph-Based Models, Rashed Hassan Nasser Alrazooqi

Theses

Insider threats represent one of the most challenging categories of cybersecurity risk facing modern organizations. Traditional detection approaches based on fixed rules, static thresholds, and signature databases are not effective for capturing the subtle and evolving nature of insider behaviour. This work proposes and implements a multi-stage unsupervised analytical framework for insider threat detection based on large-scale NetFlow telemetry. The framework operates through five interconnected stages: memory-efficient chunk-based streaming ingestion of raw NetFlow records, hourly temporal segmentation of host-level traffic statistics, composite anomaly scoring combining logarithmically scaled byte volume and flow frequency, weighted host-to-host communication graph construction with greedy modularity …

Weathered, Haylee A. Dyess

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Weathered focuses on themes of change, accumulation, time, and acceptance. Each artwork holds layers of information and experiences that form a unique narrative for all its viewers. The construction of each piece is a symbol of the physical ability it takes to create each painting. After my mobility was hindered due to my medical conditions, a new appreciation for physical health and the world I live in was gained. Striving to pack this sense of appreciation into my work, my method became a way for me to cope with my illness and to enjoy being creative, freely.

My art is …

The Relationship Between Social Support And Social Negativity On Social Media For Virtual Socializing And College Students’ Anxiety Levels During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ni Zhang, Hsin Yi Tseng, Yijia Guo, Jasmine Thai, Alida Thao, Tripti Ghanghas

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Objective During the COVID-19 pandemic, people were forced to socialize virtually. As virtual socializing proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic, both social support and social negativity for virtual socializing on social media increased. This study examines how social support and social negativity on social media for virtual socializing are related to college students’ anxiety level during the pandemic. Methods Some 772 college students from a university on the west coast of the United States responded to an online Qualtrics survey from December 2020 to May 2021, when students were required to take all classes online. Descriptive analysis and multiple regressions were …

A Covalent Allosteric Molecular Glue Suppresses Nrf2-Dependent Cancer Growth, Nilotpal Roy, Ilah Bok, Harit Panda, Dhaval P Bhatt, Emily M Wilkerson, Soma Saeidi, Paul Zolkind, Michael B Major, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

UNLABELLED: The NRF2 transcription factor is constitutively active in cancer, in which it functions to maintain oxidative homeostasis and reprogram cellular metabolism. NRF2-active tumors exhibit NRF2 dependency and resistance to chemotherapy/radiotherapy (RT). In this study, we characterize VVD-065, a first-in-class NRF2 inhibitor that acts via an unprecedented allosteric molecular glue mechanism. In the absence of stress or mutation, NRF2 is rapidly degraded by the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)-cullin3 (CUL3) ubiquitin-ligase complex. VVD-065 specifically and covalently engages Cys151 on KEAP1, which in turn promotes KEAP1-CUL3 complex formation, leading to enhancement of NRF2 degradation. Previously reported Cys151-directed compounds decrease KEAP1-CUL3 interactions …

Fort Hays State University Tiger Weekly, May 01, 2026, University Relations

Tiger Weekly Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Optical Coherence Tomography As An Emerging Technique For Identifying Pediatric Middle Ear Effusion, Roger Neuberger, Jeffrey Carter, Adriana Dives, Ana Sofia C Ibarrola, Maritsa Ixba, Elton Lambert, Yi-Chun Liu, Anna H Messner

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME) rely on accurate characterization of middle ear effusion (MEE). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a potential modality for noninvasive analysis of MEE, thereby assisting with otitis media diagnosis. This study aims to compare the diagnostic performance of OCT with otoscopy and tympanometry in pediatric patients.

Methods: A prospective convenience sample of 164 pediatric patients aged 6 months to 12 years was recruited from two tertiary care pediatric otolaryngology clinics. During their visit, each child underwent otoscopy, tympanometry, and OCT evaluation. Scans were reviewed by both a fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologist …

Development And Pilot Testing Of Transdiagnostic Exposure Therapy/Behavioral Activation For Autistic Adolescents With Internalizing Disorders, Andrew G Guzick, Elizabeth A Kaplan-Kahn, Jessica Szu-Chi Cheng, Callie Murphy, Ogechi C Onyeka, David Riddle, Tracy Dibbs, Leandra N Berry, Robin P Goin-Kochel, Eric A Storch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Internalizing disorders disproportionately affect autistic adolescents, though limited research has focused on tailoring therapy for this population. The purposes of this paper were (1) to describe the development of a transdiagnostic exposure therapy/behavioral activation intervention for autistic adolescents with internalizing disorders, and (2) to present a pilot test of feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of the intervention. The development of this therapy is described in detail, which prioritized the following domains: (1) building on the existing evidence base of exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy for autistic youth with anxiety disorders, (2) involving caregivers considerably, (3) incorporating autism-specific considerations into case conceptualization and …

Stance And Gait Analysis Of Apollo Astronauts On The Moon, Faye Y Chiou-Tan, Conrad Li, Jason P Caffrey, Millard Reschke, Timothy R Macaulay

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction/aim: As humans return to the Moon, safe efficient ambulation and fall prevention on the lunar surface are key concerns. The analysis of gait from archived Apollo mission video footage is now possible with pose estimation video analysis software. Thus, this study aims to retrospectively quantify parameters of Apollo astronauts' stance and gait on the Moon.

Methods: Publicly available National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) footage of astronauts ambulating on the Lunar surface was examined using body pose analysis software. Goniometric lower limb joint/torso angles and width of base of stance and gait were derived. Gait cycle stance phase, swing …

Mif-Cd74 Signaling Drives Immune Modulation In Medulloblastoma, Benjamin Draper, Zhen You, Dean Thompson, Xu Guo, Alaide Morcavallo, Diego Chillon Pino, Carlos Lorenzo Gido Nery, Sumana Shrestha, Chantelle E Bowers, Courtney Himsworth, Alberto Delaidelli, Bethany Remeniuk, Sonia Morlando, Brandon Wade, Freya Gordon, Yara Sanchez-Corrales, Bei Hopkins, Natalie Monteiro, Darren Locke, Miao Liu, Jacob Torrejon Diaz, Kevin Greenslade, Barbara Martins Da Costa, Karen Barker, Colin Kwok, Olumide Ogunbiyi, Anya Fletcher, Stacey Richardson, Carlos Custodia, Rafael Roque, Thomas Jackson, Regan Barfoot, Sergi Castellano, Rebecca M Hill, Olivier Saulnier, Thomas S Jacques, Michael D Taylor, Claudia C Faria, Olivier Ayrault, Poul H Sorensen, John Anderson, Louis Chesler, L Frank Huang, Steven C Clifford, Laura K Donovan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Relapsed medulloblastoma remains a significant therapeutic challenge as it is near universally fatal. The tumor microenvironment of medulloblastoma plays a critical role in tumor progression, influencing tumor growth, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance. We hypothesized that defining tumor-immune interactions in diagnostic and relapsed medulloblastoma may uncover mechanisms of immune evasion and identify novel therapeutic targets.

Methods: We analyzed paired primary and recurrent RNA-sequencing data from 140 medulloblastoma patients to profile immune cell composition and validate spatial relationships within the TME. To identify key tumor-immune interactions, we developed a novel algorithm to detect receptor-ligand pairs using single-cell RNA-sequencing data. These …

Dolutegravir Developmental Toxicity Is Mitigated By Magnesium And Folate In Zebrafish Embryos, Robert M Cabrera, Ahmed Mohamed, Ryoko Minowa, Katheryn A Neugebauer, Daniel A Gorelick

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors have transformed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy, yet the widely prescribed drug dolutegravir (DTG) has been linked to developmental toxicity, and its teratogenic mechanism remains unclear. Here, we used zebrafish to dissect DTG toxicity during early vertebrate development. DTG exposure from 2-4 h post-fertilization (hpf) to 24 hpf produced high mortality and abnormal morphology. Co-treatment with folates partially restored normal morphology, whereas calcium had no effect. Strikingly, supplementation with magnesium (Mg) partially rescued DTG-exposed embryos, implicating Mg availability in protection. In competitive binding assays, Mg increased binding of folate to purified folate receptor (FOLR1) by 30% …

Generative Ai To Support College Students During The Writing Process, Damionie Vernon

Theses

The growing integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) in higher education raises important questions about its role in supporting college students during the writing process. I used a mixed-methods approach, with a focus on quantitative questionnaires and qualitative written artifacts, to analyze patterns of GAI usage and perceptions by testing 34 college students. My thesis will explore these questions: (1) How do college students approach writing tasks in college?, (2) How do college students utilize generative AI to assist with writing tasks?, (3) What are the perceptions of college students on the use of generative AI to assist with writing …

Propagation And Cultivation Of Sarracenia Species, Kathryn M. Huether

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluates the effectiveness of seed treatments on Sarracenina species to overcome seed dormancy; as well as evaluating fertilizer concentration and substrate mixture impacts on the growth of Sarracenia × wrigleyana, ‘Scarlet Belle’. The first portion of this study evaluated the effects of cold stratification and chemical treatments (smoke water and gibberellic acid) on the germination rates of Sarracenia alata and leucophylla. The primary objective was to determine whether increasing concentrations of these treatments paired with or without stratification could significantly enhance germination and serve as viable seed treatments for horticultural use. Germination did occur within all the …

Bass And Drum Grooves In R&B: Analysis And Composition, Hugh Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The term “R&B” has existed within the musical lexicon for nearly eighty years. It was first introduced in 1949 to replace the label “race music,” and was a combination of blues, jazz, gospel, and rock. Since then, the genre has transitioned from swing-based, live instrumentation toward straight-eighth backbeats and electronically produced sounds. Despite these shifts, contemporary R&B continues to borrow from its ancestral roots while maintaining a modern aesthetic. A primary feature that has persisted through this landscape is the “groove,” specifically defined here as the rhythmic layer created by the drums and bass. In R&B, the bass provides both …

Thinking Beyond Bias: The Confirmation Bias Index And The Cognitive–Motivational Predictors Of Accurate Headline Evaluation, Anthony Cantu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Confirmation bias — the tendency to favor belief-consistent information over contradictory evidence — represents a central challenge in contemporary misinformation research, yet its behavioral measurement has remained inconsistent across studies. This study introduced the Confirmation Bias Index (CBI), a preregistered behavioral measure defined as the difference in accuracy between ideologically congruent and incongruent headline evaluations. Using a 3 (headline slant: Conservative, Neutral, Liberal) × 2 (veracity: True, False) within-participants design, 198 participants evaluated 36 validated news headlines for accuracy. Results supported a veracity main effect and a reliable group-level confirmation bias effect indexed by the CBI. Headline slant alone did …

Preterm Birth Increases Susceptibility To Hyperglycemia-Induced Kidney Injury With Sex-Specific Differences In Structural And Molecular Responses, Rachel K Dailey, Aleksandra Cwiek, Logan C Hamil, Sage Timberline, Ayyappa Kumar Sista Kameshwar, Masako Suzuki, Jaya Isaac, Kimberly Deronde, Mark Conaway, Kevin M Bennett, Edwin J Baldelomar, Matthew R Hoch, Kimberly J Reidy, Jennifer R Charlton

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth increases the long-term risk of diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), yet its impact on diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is unclear. We previously showed that male preterm mice with diabetes develop early features of DKD, including reduced podocyte density, decreased renin expression, activation of angiogenesis pathways, and impaired endothelial-podocyte signaling. Here, we examine whether preterm birth similarly accelerates DKD progression in female mice and compare structural and transcriptomic outcomes in the females to the prior male cohort to assess sex-specific differences.

METHODS: Preterm mice were delivered by Caesarean section at 19 days post conception (dpc) and term …

Use And Awareness Of Online Resources In University Libraries, Rudraksha Gouridevi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study of the use and awareness of online resources in university libraries. The study used a survey to collect primary data. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data from library users (undergraduate, postgraduate students, and research scholars) in selected university libraries, both public and Deemed University libraries, in Andhra Pradesh. The study covered four university libraries. Out of the total number of students and research scholars (25266) from the four universities. In this study, only 10 percent of the respondents were selected as the survey sample. The study indicated that the highest rate of users are accessing the …

One For All, All For Innovation: Transforming The Indonesia’S Public Sector Through Ambidextrous Leadership, Dian Mulia Sari, Elok Savitri Pusparini

International Conference on Business and Management Research (ICBMR)

In an era defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), public sector organizations face increasing pressure to innovate. This study examines how ambidextrous leadership influences innovative work behavior (IWB) among civil servants, with psychological ownership (PO) serving as a mediator. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 152 structural and functional officials within Indonesia’s State Finance Organization (OKN) and analyzed using PLS-SEM. The results indicate that ambidextrous leadership has a significant direct effect on IWB. More importantly, psychological ownership mediates this relationship through two distinct pathways: promotive PO strengthens IWB by fostering confidence and proactive contribution, while preventive …

3t Of Tech, Taste, And Transformation In Coffeepreneurship, Razinda Tasnim Abdul Rahim, Mohd Faizuddin Muhammad Zuki, Nur Syamilah Md Noor

International Conference on Business and Management Research (ICBMR)

The global coffee industry is rapidly transforming due to digitalization, evolving consumer preferences, and sustainability trends. Coffeepreneurship, blending entrepreneurial innovation with coffee culture, has emerged as a competitive business model. This study applies the 3T- Technology, Taste, and Transformation to assess digital innovation, consumer experience, and business adaptation in coffee entrepreneurship. Despite opportunities in digital transformation, coffeepreneurs face challenges such as market saturation, financial constraints, and regulatory barriers. Limited access to fintech solutions and supply chain inefficiencies further hinder scalability. This study addresses these gaps by analyzing how technology, branding, and financial literacy influence coffeepreneurs' long-term sustainability using the VRIO …

Sharia Compliance And Stock Price Crash Risk: Evidence From Indonesia, Asty Khairi Inayah Syahwani, Arief Wibisono Lubis, Dwi Nastiti Danarsari

International Conference on Business and Management Research (ICBMR)

This study examines the impact of sharia compliance on stock price crash risk, controlling for company fundamental characteristics, among firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2021 to 2024. Panel data was analyzed using a dynamic panel model (System GMM) and crash risk is measured using NCSKEW and DUVOL. The results show that Sharia compliance significantly reduces stock price crash risk when measured using NCSKEW, while its effect on DUVOL is insignificant. This finding is consistent with the robustness check using the two-step System GMM, suggesting that Sharia principles can be a mitigating mechanism for extreme crash risk. These …

Fintech Innovation And Strategy In Islamic Financial Services In Indonesia: Mapping Trends And Correlations Through Digital Content Analysis, Faisal Binsar S.T., M.M.S.I, Dr., Muhammad Bayu Drs., M.M., Dr., Arif Budiman S.Kom, M.Kom, Lisa Puspitasari S.E., M.Si., Dr.

International Conference on Business and Management Research (ICBMR)

This study explores the impact of fintech innovations and strategies on the operational efficiency and service quality of Islamic financial services in Indonesia, emphasizing their alignment with Islamic financial principles. Using a descriptive quantitative methodology, the research employs digital content analysis of online reviews and social media discussions to uncover key themes. Advanced analytic techniques, including topic modeling with Gibbs Sampling for Dirichlet Multinomial Mixture (GSDMM) and cosine similarity for inter-topic correlation analysis, are applied to data sourced from various digital platforms. The findings reveal three dominant themes: media and community interaction, the performance and services of Islamic financial institutions, …