Digital Commons Network^™

The State And Erosion Of The Civic Space In Nigeria’S Democracy, 1999–2023, Al Chukwuma Okoli, Elias Chukwuemeka Ngwu, Francisca Nkemdilim Onah

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Nigeria’s experience with democratic rule since 1999 has been somewhat contradictory. Rather than a widening of the civic space for robust citizen participation, there have been sustained attempts by the state to suffocate the civic space by stifling differing viewpoints. The government has led the process by securitizing the civic space, criminalizing civil dissent, and politicizing civil society platforms. Although there appears to have been a global trend towards the shrinking of the civic space, the situation in Nigeria has been typically enervating for fostering the democratic culture. Sequel to this, this paper examined the state of the civic space …

The Development And Psychometric Properties Of Climate Change Awareness Scale Among Higher Education Students, Şuay Nilhan Açikalin, Şefika Şule Erçeti̇n, Nihan Potas, Mehmet Sabir Çevik

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Higher education has a pragmatic and educational approach to mitigating climate change and solving environmental challenges by enhancing awareness. Therefore, the study aims to develop a scale in a survey model to measure higher education students' awareness of climate change. The study group comprises higher education students enrolled at Public Universities in Ankara during the 2023-2024 academic year. For data analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, convergent and divergent (discriminant) validity, item analysis, and reliability analysis were employed. The scale was rigorously validated through exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and other measures. As a result of the exploratory …

Prediction, Comparison And Visualization Of Premium Pricing Using Machine Learning Methods, Lal S Jan, Farzan Tashfeen, Mohid Hussain, Nadi M Alresheedi, Syed Muhammad Hassan Ahmer, Nahla M Albarkati

Yanbu Journal of Engineering and Science

This study investigates the efficacy of machine learning in forecasting and comparing health insurance premiums. The all-inclusive goal line is to improve the accuracy of premium pricing and minimize the manual labor associated with the traditional methods and present data trends in a logical manner. An open-source dataset of US medical premiums has been utilized and a systematic machine learning model in python programming language has been developed. This model took into account factors like age, bmi, smoking habits, and geographical location. The XGBoost model excels other models with an RMSE value of 0.349 and an adjusted R2 of 90.1% …

An Efficient Deepfake Detection System Using Convoreinautonet And Geofishernet, Azan Hamad Alkhorem

Yanbu Journal of Engineering and Science

This research proposes an efficient deepfake detection system using a hybrid optimization model and a new deep learning approach. This system is divided into two phases: (i) the training Phase and (ii) the detection Phase. The decision phase is the ultimate decision maker, wherein a new deep learning approach referred to as ConvoReinAutoNet(CRAN) is introduced by levering the layers of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL), and Autoencoders, respectively. The training phase is enriched with new feature fusion and a hybrid optimization-based optimal feature selection approach. The extracted temporal and texture features (newly introduced Improved Local Ternary Patterns …

The Perception Of Ai Impact Of Academic Processes: A Study Of Student Perspectives, Nora Murphy, Lana Perkovic, Andzelika Wyka

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionise education. This research aimed to comprehensively explore students’ perspectives on the integration of AI in educational settings, focusing on understanding its role, advantages, challenges, and expectations. The study analysed responses from a sixteen-question survey created through Google Forms administered online to 196 students from diverse academic backgrounds and educational levels enrolled across two Cork third-level institutions.

The demographic distribution of the respondents showed 44.4% aged 18-20 years old, 43.9% aged 21-23 years old, and 11.7% aged 24 and above, with 67.9% female respondents and 32.1% males. …

The Attitudes And Knowledge Of Organ Donation And The ‘Opt Out’ Consent System Among Irish Third Level Students., Rachel Webster, Emma Flynn, Tara O'Brien

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Currently there are approximately 500 people in Ireland waiting for an organ donation while only approximately 280 transplants are carried out per year. While close to 80% of Irish people support organ donation it is estimated that only one-third of those are registered donors. This is the basis for the new ‘Opt Out’ policy within the ‘Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024’ that has recently been signed into law (as of 28^th February 2024). This study aimed to investigate third-level students’ awareness of this new legislation and to determine if there would be an …

Audit Of The Impact Of The Pause In The National Screening Service For Breast Cancer During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ava Coakley

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

In Ireland there is a free national screening service for breast cancer called BreastCheck. BreastCheck invites women aged fifty to sixty-nine to have screening mammograms once every two years to detect any densities in their breast mammogram which could indicate breast cancer. If densities are seen on a mammogram a breast core is sampled and sent to a histopathology laboratory where a part of the tissue is examined by a consultant pathologist using a microscope. Further tests can then be performed on this sample if it is diagnosed as breast cancer. Tests include immunohistochemistry and dual in-situ hybridisation (DISH). BreastCheck …

A Review Of Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (Bia-Alcl) In The Histopathology Laboratory In Cork University Hospital (Cuh), Ruth Purcell

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Breast implantation is a common procedure for either breast reconstruction, following a mastectomy or for cosmetics. Approximately 10 million individuals have breast implants worldwide. Breast implants are composed of an outer silicone layer that are filled with either silicone gel or saline and have a lifespan of approximately 16 years (Quesada et al., 2018). When the implantation occurs, a fibrous capsule is naturally formed around the implant. However, it has become apparent in recent years that there is a link between the use of textured implants and a rare type of lymphoma. Breast Implant Associated- Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) …

Full Issue: The International Undergraduate Journal Of Health Sciences, Volume 5, Issue 1, July 2025

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Full Issue: The International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences, Volume 5, Issue 1, July 2025.

Evaluation Of A Behavioral Response Team To Decrease Use Of Violent Restraint, Katherine Skrade

Dissertations

Abstract Introduction: The purpose of this Quality Improvement project was to evaluate the implementation of the Behavioral Assessment and Response Team (BART) and evaluate its effect on occurrence and duration of violent restraints on non-psychiatric floors in a pediatric hospital. This QI project also aimed to correlate the use of the Broset Violence Checklist (BVC) to the utilization of the BART as a means of predicting patient escalation, as well as to assess the effect of booster education on the BVC and BART on bedside staff confidence in utilization of these resources.

Methods: Data was collected across three time periods: …

From The Sidelines To The Courtroom: Nfl Coaches And Anti-Tampering Policy In Wake Of Ftc's Non-Compete Ban, Ruslan Aminov

Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal (1994 - )

No abstract provided.

Ldt Fda Ruling: A Conundrum For Laboratories Across The Usa, Charma Henry

MSMLS Capstone Projects

Abstract

In the article “The Future of Laboratory Medicine Understanding the New Pressures," author Mauro Panteghini expresses that the clinical laboratory has always undergone significant changes due to technological advances and external economic pressures. “Laboratories are indeed an easy target for economic restrictions and limitations due to their technological characteristics.” (Panteghini, 2004, pg. 205) Though these words were written over 20 years ago, no more valid words have been spoken in light of the newest pressure all laboratories face with the new LDT regulation set by the FDA.

This regulation places drastic economic pressure on laboratories to pay the FDA …

Increasing Access To Asthma Education Through Digital Technology And Surveying Preferences Of Children And Families, Corrin E. Brockschmidt

Dissertations

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition impacting approximately 4.6 million children, with high rates of uncontrolled cases in Missouri. This quality improvement project aimed to explore the use of a digital media system to provide asthma education to children and families receiving care in a rural pediatric pulmonology clinic aged 6 months- 21 years of age; and to assess preferred media format, priority topics, and knowledge gained from exposure to digital educational materials. Utilizing a prospective cohort design, families completed a pre-survey to identify educational preferences and tailored digital asthma education through the use of Patient Education Genius (PEG). …

Implementation Of A Nurse-Driven Process To Decrease Npo Times In A Geriatric Emergency Department, Luke D. Little

Dissertations

Prolonged nil per os (NPO) status for geriatric patients in the emergency department is a critical safety issue, leading to increased rates of delirium, hypoglycemia, and perioperative complications. A quality improvement project was designed to address this problem through a targeted, nurse-driven intervention. In geriatric patients (age ≥70) in a geriatric emergency department, this project aimed to determine if implementing an electronic health record (EHR)-prompted nursing workflow to obtain a diet order would reduce the length of time patients were kept NPO compared with standard practice. An EHR documentation tool was designed and implemented along with targeted nursing education sessions …

A Chat Room In A City Of Missouri's Public Safety Answering Point, Rochele Wynee' Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite new and emerging communications technologies to improve access to 911 emergency services for people with speech, hearing, and cognitive disabilities, there continue to be access barriers for those who may require silent communications due to the nature of the emergency. Chat rooms in 911 communications present a promising solution to this challenge. However, the current literature has inadequately examined the use of chat rooms in 911 communications, mainly due to the nascent nature of this technology. This study aimed to fill that gap by providing valuable insights to enhance access to 911 emergency services for individuals who may require …

Implementation Of A Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Toolkit Postpartum, Emily R. Leone

Dissertations

Problem: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually acquired infection in the world (DeCherney et al., 2018). Even a single dose of the HPV vaccine can provide up to 97% protection against HPV 16 and 18, which are the strains that cause 70% of all cervical cancers (Barnabas et al., 2022). Missouri ranks 35th in the country for HPV vaccination (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2020).

Methods: This quality improvement project implemented an HPV toolkit consisting of: 1) staff nurse education in the form of a written presentation 2) patient and provider education in the form of …

Secrets, Secrets Are No Fun: The Knicks V. Raptors Trade Secrets Dispute And The Implications Of New York's Non-Adoption Of The Utsa, Vanessa Wydeven

Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal (1994 - )

No abstract provided.

Righting Sports Law: The Contribution Of The United Nations, Ariel E. Dulitzky

Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal (1994 - )

No abstract provided.

Agriculture And Natural Resources Committee Minutes, Clemson University Board Of Trustees, 2025 July 16, Clemson University Board Of Trustees

Minutes

No abstract provided.

"...Anything My Friend Shares, I Would Want To Support Them By Clicking On It": Co-Designing Story-Based Interventions Against Clickbait For Teenagers, Ankit Shrestha, Audrey Flood, Bryson Hackler, Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen

Computer Science Student Research

Teenagers' lack of digital sophistication and cyber hygiene makes them vulnerable to social engineering attacks, especially as they start using social media. Clickbait, one of such attacks, is primarily performed through social media to trick users into clicking on malicious links. With teenagers' increasing use of social media, clickbait poses a substantial threat to their online safety. The existing online safety measures for teens mainly focus on parental mediation, which can be perceived as restrictive and privacy-invasive. To this end, researchers recommended empowering teens to deal with online risks. In order to design such interventions for clickbait, we conducted co-design …

Integrating Digital Archives And Scholarship: Raising Awareness Of Library Historical Collections, Alice W. Sherwood

Library Staff Publications

The Texas Medical Center (TMC) is home to the largest concentration of medical professionals and experts anywhere in the world. Collectively, the Texas Medical Center is the largest employer in Houston and the 8th largest business district in the United States. The TMC includes 50 medicine-related institutions, including 21 hospitals and two specialty institutions, two medical schools, six nursing schools, and schools of dentistry, public health, and pharmacy. The TMC Library plays a vital role for the institutions inhabiting the 2.10 square mile campus that is the TMC. The Texas Medical Center Library has been around since 1915, way before …

False Starts & Finish Lines: Youth Sports, Coaching, & The Crisis Of The American Dream, John S. Lammert Jr

Master's Theses

False Starts & Finish Lines: Youth Sports, Coaching, & the Crisis of the American Dream examines how the American youth sports system reflects, reproduces, and at times resists the evolving contradictions of the American Dream. Drawing on a comparative analysis of institutional documents from public high schools, travel clubs, and recreational leagues, this thesis interrogates how youth sports have shifted from inclusive spaces of play and character-building to stratified marketplaces governed by the Athletic Industrial Complex (AIC). It argues that rising costs, performance pressures, and privatized structures have transformed access to sport—and, by extension, to the Dream itself—into a function …

Financing The Future: Sports Investing And Name, Image, And Likeness, Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Symposium

Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal (1994 - )

No abstract provided.

Penalty On The Play: The Problematic Contract Binding Clemson And Fsu To The Acc For The Foreseeable Future, Justin Aglow

Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal (1994 - )

No abstract provided.

Redefining Child Pornography In An Age Of Technological Advancement: The Concept Of Avoidable Harm, Debra D. Burke, Christopher N. Doval

Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts

In 2020, Netflix released on its streaming service the movie Cuties, a coming-of-age story about an 11-year-old Senegalese immigrant who joined a dance group. The film is a commentary against the hyper-sexualization of children and the pressure young girls face from social media and society and received a director’s award at the Sundance Film Festival. Its release, however, kicked off a culture war, prompting a movement to cancel Netflix subscriptions in response to the film’s sexually provocative imagery of young girls. The movie’s award-winning director defended the film’s message, explaining that the film was her own story, struggling as a …

Stolen Humanity On Display: Lacking Legislation For Human Remains In U.S. Museums, Sarah M. Fassio

Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts

In museums across the United States, displays of human remains are not rarities. Yet few attendees stop to consider the provenance behind those once-living parts of our ancestors. To do so, one would have to contend with an unpleasant history rife with scientific racism and graverobbing for the personal collections of society’s upper crust. Considering the origins of such displays reveals that the labels and names attached to human remains in museums often serve more to alienate them from their humanity than they do to connect or contextualize.

Legal regulations pertaining to displayed human remains are piecemeal. There are federal …

Tailoring The Law: Protecting Fashion In The Future, Imaad Huda

Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts

This article identifies how the current legal system in the United States harms fashion designers and the art they produce. It explains how fashion as an industry lacks a system of law that best fits the issues posed by design theft due to fast fashion. Fast fashion companies, through modern technology, are able to reproduce stolen designs with haste. Currently, there are a few notable cases that have spawned from design theft, but their verdicts may be limited in their ability to change policy or raise significant legal issues. This article analyzes both current federal enforcement mechanisms and design practices …

Lindenwood Digest, July 16, 2025, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

The Lindenwood Digest has been a digital employee newsletter since 2009.

China Maritime Report #48: Great Inspectations: Prc Maritime Law Enforcement Operations In The Taiwan Strait, Julia Famularo

CMSI China Maritime Reports

Main Findings

• People’s Republic of China (PRC) law enforcement operations function as forms of cognitive and legal warfare. They represent a clear effort to undermine international maritime law as well as Taiwan’s sovereignty.
• The PRC asserts that the Taiwan Strait comprises multiple “zones,” to include “internal waters, territorial sea, [the] contiguous zone, and the Exclusive Economic Zone.” While China does not explicitly claim that the waters of the Taiwan Strait wholly constitute PRC sovereign territory, it clearly implies that it has the self-defined right to exercise distinct forms of control over different zones of the Strait.
• While stressing that China …

Religious Freedom As Freedom, Helen M. Alvaré

BYU Law Review

In recent decades, the exercise of religious freedom is increasingly associated with oppression. This is not only due to the disagreement between religions and some governments concerning sexual expression matters—contraception, abortion, same-sex relations, and transgender identity—but is also due to diverging convictions about the substance and sources of freedom. This Article will examine a current and highly visible set of convictions about the contents of human freedom, which together suggest that a thriving religious witness threatens freedom itself. These convictions often surface in the context of laws touching upon sexual expression. It will then contrast these convictions with those found …