Digital Commons Network^™

Optimisation Of Sampling For A New Skin Microbiome Assay Pilot Study, Anita Smith

Theses

Recent interest in the diverse ecosystem of bacteria, fungi and viruses that make up the skin microbiome has led to numerous studies investigating the microbiome in healthy skin and in dermatological diseases. An imbalance of the normal skin microbial flora can cause some skin diseases, and current culture techniques are often unable to detect a microorganism to further our understanding of the clinical–microbiological correlates of disease and dysbiosis. Atopic dermatitis and rosacea are presentations that General practitioners (GPs) often manage that may have an infective or microbiological component and can be challenging to treat. Further research using culture-independent techniques is …

Monopolizing The Harvest: Corporate Influence And Regulatory Gaps In Global Seed Governance, Mia Mahmudur Rahim

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

No abstract provided.

Numerical Analysis And Simulation Of Enhanced Performance In Nanowire Cds/Cdte Solar Cells: A Pathway To Greater Than 25% Efficient Cdte Solar Cell, Riasad Badhan

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

This Thesis finds a pathway to a significantly high-efficient CdTe based solar cell by demonstrating and harvesting the advantages of a nano-structure configuration in CdTe based solar cells. Nanowire CdS window layer and the “control”, planar CdS window layer films were fabricated in the laboratory and compared for their optical transmission and other characteristics affecting the performance of the CdS-CdTe solar cell. Numerical simulations were performed for a comparative evaluation of the embedded nanowire CdS-CdTe solar cell device and the traditional planar CdS-CdTe solar cell device. Experimentally measured spectral transmission of nanowire CdS film was used in the simulation environment. …

The World Of Magic Suite: The Emergence Of A Light Novelist, Frederick A. Drayton The Third

Master's Projects

This Master’s Thesis, "THE WORLD OF MAGIC SUITE: THE EMERGENCE OF A LIGHT NOVELIST," is a collection of loosely related fictional works rooted in a seven-year-old promise made by the author to a family member. The project serves as an exploration of the author’s evolving voice and approach to writing fiction, using the unifying theme of "The Personal is The Political is The Supernatural" to build immersive fantasy worlds. The suite contains three distinct narratives. "Apathy’s Reward," a dark fantasy short story, follows Calrie DuNacht, the Apathetic Exorcist of the Golden Cathedral, as she confronts grief and the discomfort of …

Documenting Sustainable Social Media Workflows: Supporting Student Professionalization In Faculty-Student Teams, Jenny Rissen

Master's Projects

This capstone project, Documenting Sustainable Social Media Workflows: Supporting Student Professionalization in Faculty-Student Teams, examines how departmental social media teams serve as informal training grounds where students build professional identities through collaborative, often undocumented communication work (Buck; Leon & Pigg). Addressing writing studies concerns about experiential learning gaps (McNabb; Carr et al.), the project creates a handbook offering practical guidance for onboarding, workflow continuity, accessibility, and ethical social media practices. It shows how mentorship and structured documentation turn everyday digital work into meaningful professional development. Situated in technical communication and rhetoric, the project demonstrates how social media teams help …

Life Story Work With A Person Living With Dementia: From Theory To Practice In The Informal Setting, Laura M. Fortenberry Ms

Master's Projects

When a family member is diagnosed with dementia, care often replaces relationships. Family members other than the primary caregiver question how they can help and contribute to care. Life story work (LSW) provides a way for family other than the primary caregiver to support care. While the approach results in a life story product (memory book, memory box, even a digital memoir), the process of having helpful conversations to create the person’s life story matters as much as the product. It enhances relationships and communication between the person with dementia and the LSW facilitator. The sense of wellbeing is improved …

Philosophical System Of General T-Continuity As The Base Of Culture-Space Economics, Victor L. Tonn

Faculty and Staff - Articles & Papers

This paper presents a holistic philosophical system based on systric forms, operational transformors, and T-Continuity, aiming to establish cultural foundations for Type I and II Economies. Culture-space economics bridges Earth and space, initiating universal economics for the Great Space Era. The Comprehensive Universe (『SELF』) comprises three systems supporting mutual-central, micro-private, and macro-collective economies. Humanity’s spaceward journey advances T-Continuity, with human creativity—not just technology—as the primary driver, offering hope for cosmic peace through ideal cultural-spatial economies. This paper presents a holistic philosophical system based on systric forms, operational transformors, and T-Continuity, aiming to establish cultural foundations for Type I and II …

Impacts Of Spatial Intensity Policies On Jakarta Property Prices, Stevanus J. Manahampi, M. Halley Yudhistira

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

This study examines the effects of floor area ratio (FAR) and building coverage ratio (BCR) on property prices in Jakarta. Using a hdonic price mdel with data from property listings and a geographical information system (GIS) analysis, it explores how these regulations influence values across regions and property types, accounting for access to amenities and infrastructure. Results show FAR lowers prices in dense areas like Central Jakarta but raises them in less developed regions like East Jakarta. BCR effects are mixed, positive where infrastructure is strong but negative where it is weak, underscoring the need for context-specific urban planning.

Hubungan Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Dengan Inflasi Di 90 Kabupaten-Kota Indonesia, Samsul Arifin, Hermanto Siregar, Lukytawati Anggraeni, Yeti Lis Purnamadewi

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

This study aims to explain the relationship between economic growth and inflation in 90 Indonesian cities during the period 2018–2022 using the GMM estimator with Windmeijer - Sigmund robust standard errors. The author’s findings reveal that the two-way relationship between the two is that economic growth has a significant positif effect on inflation, while inflation has a negatif but insignificant effect. Through the results of this study, policymakers and stakeholders can consider priority objectives, namely achieving economic growth targets compared to inflation problems during the COVID-19 crisis and economic development during the future economic recovery.

Dampak Kebijakan Hilirisasi Nikel: Kuasi-Eksperimen Di Sulawesi, Siddiq Robbani, Uka Wikarya

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

Studi ini menganalisis dampak kebijakan larangan ekspor bijih nikel (2014–2016) dan pembangunan smelter (2009–2021) terhadap PDRB per kapita dan konsumsi rumah tangga per kapita menggunakan data panel seimbang dari 81 kabupaten/kota di Sulawesi periode 2006–2021. Dampak kausal dan efek spillover dianalisis menggunakan metode Difference-in-Difference (DiD) dan Spatial Durbin Model (SDM). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kebijakan larangan ekspor tidak berdampak pada kedua variabel. Pembangunan smelter justru berdampak negatif terhadap PDRB per kapita, tetapi menghasilkan efek spillover positif pada PDRBperkapita daerah tetangga dan efek spillover negatif terhadap konsumsi rumah tangga per kapita di daerah non-smelter.

Strafford County 2025 Annual Report Of The Commissioners, Treasurer, Other County Officers, And The Strafford County Delegation For The Year Ending December 31, 2025, Strafford County Representatives

Strafford County, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report for 2025 containing vital statistics for Strafford County in the state of New Hampshire.

Age, Law, And Political Economy, Alexander Boni-Saenz

Articles

This Article examines the intersection of age, class, and the law. Its central claim is that age is an essential dimension for the analysis of law and political economy. There are two primary reasons why. First, age is embedded in a large body of legal rules that structure the labor market and address vulnerabilities associated with particular life stages. Child labor laws set minimum ages for entry into the workforce, while social welfare laws use age eligibility criteria to shape the material conditions for older adults. Second, age and its sibling concept, generation, indirectly shape economic and political relations by …

Urbst 103 Urban Diversity Syllabus, Padmini Biswas

Open Educational Resources

This course introduces the study of urban diversity in the United States. It explores the different forms of identity, community and cultural belonging that dot the urban landscape, and analyzes the historical, social, political, and economic forces that shape the everyday lives of diverse urban populations.

Info 7000: Fundamentals Of Library And Information Science, S E. Hackney

Open Educational Resources

This course is designed to serve as a broad introduction to the field of Library and Information Science, to give you a general idea of the history, norms, prevailing trends, and future directions of the field and the professions associated with it. This includes ‘traditional’ librarianship, archives, museums, and other cultural heritage institutions, as well professions in the information, data, and technology sectors. This course will delve into the labor that the people in these professions do, and introduce some of the skills and knowledge needed to do that work.

In Re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, Northern District Of California

Historical and Topical Legal Documents

No abstract provided.

Practical Strategies For Instructional Faculty And Librarians Designing Accessible Instructional Materials, Rachel E. Trnka

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

While discussions of the accessibility of instructional materials are not new, librarians and instructional faculty are facing increased pressure to ensure the accessibility of their materials in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic’s rapid shift to online education. Many faculty and librarians, however, do not receive adequate training and support in the area of accessible design. In addition, there is often confusion about who is responsible for ensuring the accessibility of instructional materials in higher education environments. This paper presents practical strategies for librarians and instructional faculty to identify readily available resources, create inventories of their own instructional materials, identify …

From Compliance To Connection: Advancing Authentic Community In Vcu Residence Halls, Sarah M. Ramkey, Keon Nesmith, Carly Croft

Doctor of Education Capstones

This capstone project examines challenges to authentic community building within Virginia Commonwealth University’s Residential Life and Housing (RLH) department. Although the Community Development Model (CDM) was originally designed to foster belonging through structured engagement, it has increasingly been perceived by frontline staff as a compliance-driven checklist rather than a tool to develop community. Using improvement science principles, this case study identifies outdated curriculum, misalignment with student needs, and disconnect between senior leadership and frontline staff as systemic barriers to building authentic community in RLH, including student residence halls.

We used a single-institution case study design. We conducted empathy interviews with …

An Ecological Systems Perspective On Chronic Absenteeism: The Role Of Family Engagement In Virginia Secondary Education, Jenna Conlee, Joel W. Fravel, Bryan M. Hannun, Imani K. Hinson, Erika R. Napolitano

Doctor of Education Capstones

Chronic absenteeism has emerged as a significant challenge for schools across the United States, particularly following disruptions associated with the COVID-19 global pandemic. This capstone project examined how school leaders in Virginia understood and navigated the relationship between family engagement and chronic absenteeism. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, the study addressed two research questions focused on identifying family engagement practices perceived as effective in improving attendance and examining the barriers schools encountered when engaging families to address chronic absenteeism. Data were collected through nine semistructured interviews with school leaders and observations of two high school attendance team meetings. Using …

Understanding Student Non-Use Of Vcu's Cabell Library Through Ecological Systems Theory: A Mixed-Methods Study, Tracy D. Booker, Ethan L. Carter, Joshua C.J. Lockhart, Margaret E. Mcdearmon, Jessica S. Watson

Doctor of Education Capstones

This study examined undergraduate students’ non-use of physical spaces and services within Cabell Library at a large, urban public university. While academic libraries are widely associated with student success, patterns of engagement remain uneven, with a subset of students not utilizing these resources at all. This study sought to understand which students do not use the library and why, with particular attention to identifying systemic barriers and opportunities to improve equitable access and engagement. Grounded in Ecological Systems Theory and informed by improvement science, the study employed a mixed-methods research design to capture both patterns of behavior and lived experiences. …

Redeveloping Underutilized Faith-Based Properties For Affordable Housing Through Education And Engagement Strategies, Ananya Joyita

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

Across the United States, many faith-based institutions are confronting declining attendance, underused property, and growing financial strain while their surrounding communities face severe affordable housing shortages. This plan explores how structured education and engagement strategies can help congregations redevelop underutilized land for affordable housing, using Trinity Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia as a pilot site for a model that can be adapted by other churches across the Diocese of Virginia.

Trinity’s 1.2-acre campus along Columbia Pike presents both urgent challenges and strong redevelopment potential. The church operates at a financial deficit, uses only a small portion of its facilities, and …

Quantifying Parkland: Data-Informed Classification System Recommendations For Chesterfield County, Megan F. Negri

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

This plan evaluates and redefines the park classification system for Chesterfield County Department of Parks and Recreation to improve how parks are understood, managed, and planned over time. It responds to limitations in the County's existing acreage-per-capita level of service (LOS) standard, which does not accurately account for park function, provision of amenities, or equitable distribution in relation to population density. Using a comprehensive park inventory and SPSS two-step fixed cluster analysis, the study developed and evaluated three alternative classification models consisting of four, five, and six park categories. Findings indicate that park function is strongly defined by amenity composition …

Peer Mentorship Among Women Staff In Higher Education Organizations: A Phenomenological Study, Katherine Marie Booher

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The role of higher education within U.S. society has broadened. As colleges and universities expand their work beyond the core teaching and research functions, staff become more involved in mission-delivery than they have been historically. In the past, staff primarily served in supportive roles, but now also lead initiatives such as outreach and community engagement, workforce and economic development, international programs, and more. This broadening mission underscores the importance of staff within the higher education organizations’ mission-delivery functions. However, the execution of this work is hindered by staff attrition in positions primarily filled by women. The current literature on mentorship …

Reframing The Sec’S Disqualification Waiver Decision-Making Process To Protect The Public Interest, Kayla A. Winters

Emory Law Journal

Federal securities law aims to protect investors and the public from fraudulent securities transactions. If an actor violates these laws, the public bears the costs through investor losses, market volatility, reduced economic activity and growth, and general distrust in the market. Entities that face securities enforcement for violations bear sanctions like civil monetary penalties and disgorgement of ill-gotten gains. They also experience collateral consequences, such as disqualifications, that are automatically triggered by the imposition of sanctions or criminal conduct. The purpose of disqualifications is to enable the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to safeguard investors and capital markets from issuers …

A Compulsory License Is Not Enough: How Implementing A Statutory Limit Can Reduce Costs And Increase Creativity In Music, Muntasir Ali

Emory Law Journal

Music sampling has been a staple in the hip-hop and electronic genres for decades, yet artists continue to struggle with legal and economic barriers to sampling others’ works without facing copyright infringement liability. Because copyright law recognizes two distinct types of copyrightable works for music—musical compositions and sound recordings—artists must clear both copyrights to have a legal sample. The existing sample licensing regime is prohibitively expensive, time-consuming, and convoluted, often creating a “holdout” problem where just one party can prevent the release of new, creative music. This has led to “cultural erasure” in the digital streaming era, where seminal works …

Esg Is Not Libertarian: A Response To Jonathan Macey, Allen Mendenhall, Daniel Sutter

Emory Business Law Review

Investing, like any market activity, is voluntary. Investors may invest however they wish, whether to maximize returns, minimize risk, or support what they view as good causes. Is the current Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) movement a libertarian embrace of socially responsible investing, as Jonathan Macey has argued? We answer with a definite no for several reasons. Government policies impel much ESG investment, most prominently through clean energy transition and financial regulations. Most ESG investment dollars stem not from investor decisions but from potential opportunism by managers of public pensions and sovereign wealth funds. Much investor activism for ESG results …

Summoning Firms: Promoting Democratic Stability And Economic Prosperity In Times Of Constitutional Crisis, Jon D. Michaels

Emory Business Law Review

No abstract provided.

Illiberal Democracy, Merger Regulation, And Corporate Culture, Brian Jm Quinn

Emory Business Law Review

This Essay examines how the second Trump Administration has weaponized merger regulation and regulatory approval processes as tools of corporate capture in service of democratic backsliding toward an illiberal regime. Drawing on theoretical frameworks of competitive authoritarianism and illiberal democracy, this paper demonstrates how discretionary regulatory authority combined with weakened enforcement mechanisms creates opportunities for grand corruption that systematically undermines liberal democratic institutions.

This Essay accomplishes three primary objectives. First, it establishes the essential characteristics of illiberal regimes which maintain the facade of democratic institutions while systematically skewing the political playing field through selective enforcement and regulatory capture. Second, it …

Nostalgic Rhetoric: Unraveling An "Authentic" Past, Quinn Thomas Gienapp

Dissertations and Theses

Our changing awareness of time and memory can generate feelings of nostalgia that impact perceptions of the past, present, and future. Nostalgia should not be described as inherently good or bad. In certain contexts, nostalgia can be used as a positive or negative tool to convey values, arguments, and reactions to the past that are much more than simply appealing to feelings of longing. In this thesis, I examine how nostalgic rhetoric is used to convince individuals of various ideas surrounding memory, culture, and politics. In particular, I identify and describe three modes of nostalgic rhetoric: gratification, denial, and subversion. …

Determinants Of Digital Piracy: An Integrated Model, C. Christopher Lee, Peiyao Chen

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Digital piracy is a form of copyright infringement, and challenges persist in addressing it effectively. Accordingly, understanding why people engage in digital piracy is crucial. Although prior studies have examined digital piracy from multiple perspectives, existing studies on the explanatory factors of digital piracy remain fragmented. To address this research gap, this study develops an integrated model that incorporates key theoretical perspectives, neutralization theory, social learning theory, and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), along with key determinants including gender, age, and the technology factor. Rather than conducting a meta-analysis of previous studies, this study adopts a survey-based approach to …

Too Warm To Win Big? Unpacking The Backer Dynamics Behind Female Crowdfunding Success Using A Warmth And Competence Perspective, Dan Liu

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

While crowdfunding is often heralded as a democratized funding avenue that empowers women with higher success rates, this study reveals a more nuanced picture of gender dynamics. The Stereotype Content Model suggests that women are often perceived as warmer but less competent. Using a large dataset from Kickstarter, we find that female-led projects can attract more backers, likely due to warmth-driven appeal, but receive smaller average contributions, potentially due to concerns about risk linked to lower perceived competence. However, the total funding raised by female-led campaigns is comparable to that of male-led ones, showing no clear advantage or disadvantage. This …