Digital Commons Network^™

The Dead Still Walk: White Masculinity And The World Of The Walking Dead, Connor Knowlan

Theses - ALL

In this thesis, I explore how the television program The Walking Dead discusses white masculinity in a variety of contexts. Through a reading of the character of Daryl Dixon and the actor who portrays him, Norman Reedus, the thesis examines how the construction of white masculinity animates both fictional character and star persona. The study reveals that television programs like The Walking Dead can help to discuss larger social issues, such as white masculinity, in a fictional setting to highlight themes such as redemption and the postracial fantasy in a way that challenges traditional social understandings of the world. The …

Toys And Gems, Neil Mattern

Theses - ALL

This thesis presents an overview of the body of work I have developed during my time at Syracuse University, along with the concepts, motivations, and experiences that inform it. It examines how my education has shaped both my artistic voice and technical approach, tracing the influence of key mentors, historical and contemporary artists, and personal experiences. The document also provides detailed descriptions of my process, with particular attention to copperplate etching and the integration of commercial aesthetics into fine art practice. Finally, it outlines the future trajectory of my work through the lens of NeilMart LLC - my evolving platform …

Cinema’S Impact On Black Society, Home Movies, And Documentaries, Kai Bason

Theses - ALL

Cinema’s Impact on Black Society, Home Movies, and Documentaries explores the devastating and long lasting impact of Hollywood's stereotypes on young Black children growing up in America. Heavily impacted by the picture on the screen, early films like The Birth of a Nation shaped the way Black people are seen by society and how they see themselves. This paper dives into my deeply personal storytelling of my own journey of unlearning self-hatred, rediscovering myself through old family home movies my grandfather left me before passing away, and finding peace in continuing his legacy by documenting my own journey through life. …

Board Of Trustees Minutes, June 27, 2025, Coastal Carolina University

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Indoor Airborne Pathogen Transmission And Control: A Role Of Environmental Factors And Material Properties, Eloise Eyo Parry-Nweye

Dissertations - ALL

The transmission of infectious airborne pathogens has severe implications on human health and economic stability. This is evidenced by the re-emergence of global pandemics with high mortality rates, various respiratory diseases, crop damage, incurred nationwide financial costs, etc. These causative pathogens, encompassing viruses, fungal spores, etc., attach to aerosol and droplet particles, enabling their aerial dispersal and leading to a cascade of detrimental events. Developing interventions to control pathogenic transmission requires an in-depth understanding of the various modes of disease transmission. However, existential gaps within the respective disease transmission modalities remained. For instance, while viruses are predominantly transmitted via aerosols, …

A Customizable Ligand-Conjugate System For Investigation And Detection Of Ghrelin O-Acyltransferase, Amber Ford

Dissertations - ALL

Ghrelin is a 28 amino acid peptide hormone responsible for a variety of physiological functions. Ghrelin signals these functions via its cognate receptor, GHSR, after an essential post translational modification which acylates its third serine. The acylation of ghrelin is facilitated by the enzyme ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) for which ghrelin is the only known substrate. Canonically, GOAT acylates ghrelin in the endoplasmic reticulum before it is further processed and secreted in circulation. Recent studies, however, have detected GOAT in the cytoplasm, plasma membrane, and in circulation in extracellular vesicles. Furthermore, GOAT has been identified as a potential prostate cancer (PCa) …

Anhydrous Ammonia As A Hydrogen Carrier Fuel For Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Cole Anthony Wilhelm

Dissertations - ALL

In the years since humans realized that our actions could have profoundly harsh effects on the environment, we have been searching for ways to minimize our impacts, while also maintaining the same standard of living. One of the actions with such effects is power generation using fossil fuels, which has long been the largest source of energy. While efforts should be made to improve the efficiency of these power generation plants, we should also work to identify alternative opportunities for power generation without the use of fossil fuels. Some of these opportunities include hydroelectric, photovoltaic, wind, nuclear, and the combustion …

The Association Between Dyadic Stress And Relationship Quality Among Couples In Vietnam: The Mediating Role Of Compassion, Khoi Nguyen Anh Le

Dissertations - ALL

The current study explored the dyadic relationships between dyadic stress, different forms of compassion, and relationship quality in a cross-sectional sample of heterosexual, cisgender couples in Vietnam. Data were collected from December 30, 2024, to February 9, 2025, and out of 435 complete data entries, 99 couples (198 partners) were identified. Data was analyzed using Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediated Model analysis within a Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling framework (BSEM) in Mplus 8.8 (Asparouhov & Muthen, 2023; Muthen, 2010). Multiple path APIMeM models were tested to address the research questions. The main findings were: Dyadic stress was directly and negatively associated with …

Investigating The Topic, Impact, And Resource Gap Between Academia And Industry In The Field Of Artificial Intelligence, Lizhen Liang

Dissertations - ALL

Artificial intelligence (AI) has seen fast development in industry and academia. Striking advancements from industry companies have stunned the research field, inviting a fresh perspective on the relationship between industry and academia. Industry research teams have played a critical role by developing large-scale computational infrastructure, curating extensive datasets, and publishing impactful AI research. As a result, industry-led AI research has impacted both fundamental and applied AI, blurring the distinction between academic and industrial research. Concerns have arisen regarding the growing resource gap between industry research teams and academia research teams. While some AI research topics remain accessible, research in areas …

Stepping Into Who I Fully Am: A Creative Exploration Of Autistic Menopause, Mx Rose Matthews, Christine A. Jenkins, Margaret Janse Van Rensburg, Miranda J. Brady, Rachel L. Moseley, Julie M. Gamble-Turner

Faculty and Staff Publications

Research suggests that perimenopause can compound existing struggles for some Autistic people, with potentially catastrophic consequences. Barriers to self-expression due to communication differences are also well-documented. Acknowledging this, our neurodiverse research team invited creative submissions themed around Autistic experiences of menopause, receiving works from six Autistic participants including paintings, poetry, and graphic works. Engaging with the six creative submissions, Autistic Community Researchers on our team produced reflexive, polytextual response works. Creative exploration of Autistic menopause encouraged emotional catharsis, self-understanding, and activism/artivism. Autistic Community Researchers noted transcendent, almost “magical” dimensions of connecting with other Autistic people’s lived experiences. Our creative emancipatory …

Ud In The News June 21-27, University Of Dayton

News Releases

In a Dayton Daily News Ideas and Voices piece, UD President Eric F. Spina writes how 'working side by side is how we build community.' Spectrum News 1 Ohio, The Christian Science Monitor and local media highlighted faculty expertise.

Poly(Pyridinium Salt)S Containing 9,9-Bis(4- Aminophenyl)Fluorene Moieties With Various Organic Counterions Exhibiting Both Lyotropic Liquid-Crystalline And Light-Emitting Properties, Pradip K. Bhowmik, David King, Haesook Han, Andras F. Wacha, Matti Knaapila

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

Main-chain conjugated and non-conjugated polyelectrolytes are an important class of materials that have many technological applications ranging from fire-retardant materials to carbon-nanotube composites, nonlinear optical materials, electrochromic materials for smart windows, and optical sensors for biomolecules. Here, we describe a series of poly(pyridinium salt)s-fluorene containing 9,9-bis(4-aminophenyl)fluorene moieties with various organic counterions that were synthesized using ring-transmutation polymerization and metathesis reactions, which are non-conjugated polyelectrolytes. Their chemical structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), proton (1H) and fluorine 19 (19F) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers, and elemental analysis. They exhibited polyelectrolytic behavior in dimethyl sulfoxide. Their lyotropic liquid-crystalline phases were …

Ddx323.1 Speculative Futures Example 5, Sae University College

Exemplars

This project reimagines our relationship with the ocean by exploring speculative design to envision a future that caters for more-than-human.

Stress And Seizures: The October 7th Experience, Alon Doron, Firas Fahoum, Lilach Goldstein

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Stress is a frequently self-reported seizure trigger in patients with epilepsy (PWE), with studies regarding this issue having conflicting results. On October 7th, 2023, a large-scale military invasion accompanied by massive rocket launches against Israel, including Tel Aviv, occurred, providing an opportunity to investigate the role of acute stress in provoking seizures.

METHODS: All adults who presented to the emergency department (ED) of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center between January 1st, 2017, and February 29th, 2024, and were diagnosed with seizures were included. Data were collected using MDClone, a data acquisition tool. The overall seizure-related ED admissions were compared …

Refinement Or Disruption: Patterns Of Critical Inquiry In Computing Ethics Assignments, Vincent Barfield, Charles Wallace

Michigan Tech Publications

Ethical inquiry in computing has an evolving nature, where repeated critical questioning may lead to a series of reframings of the problem. Since many computing students have experience with agile project-based courses, an iterative approach can provide a familiar entry into ethics. Agile development, however, is typically oriented around satisfaction of customer goals, while ethical inquiry requires constant questioning that may cast those goals into doubt. Does the similarity between critical ethical inquiry and iterative development provide a helpful model or breed a false familiarity? To address this question, we examine student work in a computing ethics course, involving iterative …

Grades Are Bugs, Jordan Freitas

Computer Science Faculty Works

This paper argues that grades are bugs in our educational system, undermining desired behaviors and outcomes. Grades were introduced into higher education for purposes directly at odds with the goals of inclusive pedagogy today, as well as the neuroscience of human motivation and learning. Students enter computer science programs from increasingly varied backgrounds and experiences, and face a rapidly evolving landscape of prospective career paths while higher education costs in the United States are ever increasing. Computer science educators have a responsibility to adapt and carefully re-examine typical approaches to all aspects of the learning environments we build and curricula …

The Accessibility Of Traditional Medicinal Food By Thais In Syracuse, New York, Siwapon Chotikasatein

Theses - ALL

Access to traditional medicinal food can be a challenge for immigrants and refugee populations. This study looks at how and where Thai immigrants and refugees in Syracuse, New York access Thai medicinal food and the challenges if any, that they have when attempting to access Thai medicinal food. Although the definition of traditional medicinal food is not strongly established, in this study I proposed that traditional medicinal food refers to food shaped by the sum total of knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, can relieve hunger once consumed and, at the …

Green Roots In The Grassroots: Conceptualizing Eco-Conservation And Eco-Funding For Women In Vihiga, Kenya, Phylis Musimbi Orado

Theses - ALL

Women’s grassroots ecological activism significantly influences environmental conservation in Vihiga County, Kenya. These women’s labor, expertise, and organizational skills are essential for addressing environmental degradation and resource scarcity. This study examines how rural women, through community-based organizations (CBOs), address the intersection of environmental issues and gendered socioeconomic hierarchies to promote ecological balance and community well-being. Recognizing that environmental crises disproportionately affect rural women due to their greater involvement in water collection, food production, and caregiving, the research situates women’s activism within a broader context of environmental justice, community ecology, and equitable development. This study examines the various goals, adaptive approaches, …

Illustration As Analysis: Discussing Gender Bias And Stereotypes In The Design Of Female Characters In Chinese Video Games, Hanyu Shi

Theses - ALL

This research is dedicated to examining gender bias in the design of female characters in Chinese video games, and exploring how illustration strategies can effectively promote the transformation of female characters from stereotypical and one-dimensional to more diverse and three-dimensional representations.Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, this research synthesizes and applies a multifaceted research approach that includes a literature review, sociological and feminist theoretical frameworks, semi-structured interviews, in-depth case studies, and visual cultural analysis. By combing the existing literature and several computer game cases on the market, this research reveals the profound influence of traditional cultural concepts …

Exploring Self-Narratives Through Visual Art: How Young Female Artists Form Their Identity, Jingyang Zhou

Theses - ALL

This paper focuses on exploring how female artists are able to develop their identity from research on self-narratives in their work. Many artist with a strong and unique voice incorporates aspects of their personality and perspective into their work (Robinson, 1985). Among them, I have observed that contemporary female artists in their twenties have navigated social changes and experienced psychological struggles while striving to understand themselves and find their role in the society. In this process, self-narratives have emerged as a vital and indispensable tool. In this paper, I will study the related theories, study the work of historical and …

Reparative Justice In Late Twentieth Century Africa: The O.A.U, Durban, And Accra Reparations Conferences, Franklin Donudenu Adorsu

Theses - ALL

This thesis explores the evolution of African-led transnational reparations campaigns from the final decade of the twentieth century through the early decades of the twenty-first. It examines how reparative justice initiatives have emerged in response to the enduring legacies of slavery, colonialism, and systemic racial oppression, and how these campaigns reflect both historical memory and contemporary demands for justice by Africans and people of African descent worldwide. While early reparations discourse often centered on the diaspora, this research argues that recent mobilizations on the African continent in attempts to seek redress for historical injustices, particularly the 1993 Abuja Conference, the …

Independent Horror Video Games As Modern Zines, Kevin J. Wade

Theses - ALL

Video games are typically perceived as expensive projects requiring hundreds of specialized employees to produce. However, they can serve as a potent medium for personal expression and collaborative storytelling, especially in the realm of Independent games. This paper will examine video games as modern illustrated zines, particularly their role as tools for socially transgressive expression. To provide a baseline for understanding how horror games engage players through polished, more mainstream narratives, we will first examine Triple-A horror games with professional staff and publisher financing. We will use this as a stepping stone to delve into independent horror games, we will …

A Future Better Than The Familar: Development From A Passive Observer, Monae Kyhara Sims

Theses - ALL

Not only are humans disconnected from each other, they are even more so disconnected from themselves. Now more than ever the progression of technology, anti-progressive ideology and policy has impacted modes of communication, community, and our consciousness. Using empirical research based on self-experience and evaluation, mass social studies, and reviewing media such as The Body Keeps the Score, The Black Ball, Casablanca, and many other articles and short form videos, this writing argues that capitalism is the true puppet master of the growing failures in our communities; outside of the known financial struggles that come with it. Dating apps and …

Disinformation Attacks And Nonprofit Communication Strategies, Elise Lael Kieffer, Kevin M. Carr

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

This study explores how disinformation attacks on social media can affect nonprofit organizations, a topic that has received limited scholarly attention compared to similar impacts in the for-profit sector. Through a review of existing literature and two in-depth case studies—Save the Children and the American Red Cross—this research analyzes how nonprofit organizations are uniquely vulnerable to reputational damage in the face of disinformation. The case studies highlight different motivations behind disinformation campaigns, including political agendas and deliberate efforts to harm brand credibility, and assess the effectiveness of various response strategies, including denial, debunking, attacking the source, and public education. Findings …

Leaning In: Diversity, Dialogue, And Whiteness At A Quaker Independent School, Mauricio Thomas Torres

Dissertations - ALL

Diversity has emerged as a hallmark of institutional excellence in several fields. At the same time, it has been vilified and maligned by conservative pundits and politicians as Donald Trump has worked to frame diversity as un-American and unmeritocratic. This tension makes diversity worthy of sociological analysis. Though there is an emerging critical sociology of diversity, much of that work has been primarily concerned with the discursive, ideological, and symbolic dimensions of diversity. In contrast, this dissertation examines how diversity moves through and is contested and supported within the organization and cultural context of Friends Prep (FP), a progressive Quaker …

Landowners And Class Struggle: Life, Law And The Social Rent Relation In North Dakota, Chad Chambers

Dissertations - ALL

In the United States, land may be owned by governments, private landowners, corporations, tribes, etc. The rent relation involved in oil and gas extraction on private lands, however, remain largely unexplored in energy geography, and geography more broadly. In this dissertation, I explore the rent relation between the landowning class and oil capital in North Dakota. I argue rent is a class struggle where the interests of oil capital collide with the private landowning class over the capture of surplus-value. My analysis of class struggle is grounded in the social-historical relations that shaped private property and the rent relation in …

Curating Climate Change: Information Flows Across And Within Social Media Platforms, Yiran Duan

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation explores how climate change information spreads on X (formerly Twitter) and what content from YouTube travels to X, focusing on climate change related tweets posted during November 2022. Using content analysis, machine learning, and case studies, about 114,000 tweets and their embedded YouTube videos were analyzed. The findings show that not all climate-related content is equally shared, some information is more likely to spread than others. The findings also indicate that users with a moderate number of followers are the ones connecting YouTube and X, rather than those with the highest follower counts on X. The findings are …

The Problem Of Staffing In Employment, Karolina Czapska-Małecka

Studia i Materiały Wydział Zarządzania Uniwersytet Warszawski

Purpose: The main goal of the research is to attempt to comprehensively present the problem of staffing, which is the least common form of mobbing. The publication includes legal, psychological and managerial aspects of this phenomenon, as well as methods of counteracting this form of violence.

Methodology: The research scope of the article is the problem of mobbing and its variety, i.e. staffing. The source material consisted of the case law of the Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeal in the field of mobbing and staffing. The article also used statistical data, commentaries on the Labor Code, as well …

Sustainable Advertising And Brand Engagement: The Role Of Consumer Minimalism And Scepticism, Hesham O. Dinana, Donato Masi, Reza Marvi, Farbod Fakhreddin

Faculty Journal Articles

Recognizing the significance of sustainable advertising practices and their influence on consumer behaviour, this study explores their capacity to not only enhance consumer engagement with the brand but also strengthen brand reputation. Additionally, it examines how these practices can promote more conscious consumption patterns, contributing to broader sustainability goals. In this line, we propose a theoretical conceptual model highlighting how customers perceive sustainability-related activities and how these perceptions can influence brand engagement, ultimately enhancing brand reputation and fostering mindful consumption. Furthermore, we also investigated the moderating roles of consumer minimalism, scepticism towards advertising, and brand value congruence in relation to …

Ddx323.1 Speculative Futures Example 8, Sae University College

Exemplars

A branding project for an imaginary clothing company that uses fungi derived fabrics.