Digital Commons Network^™

A Case Of Racialized Organizations: Black-Owned Vegan Restaurants In St. Louis, Missouri, Antonia M. Roach

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

How does functioning as a racialized organization impact a restaurant’s ability to advance the goals of a social movement? This paper highlights the role organizations play in the vegan social movement. In recent years, veganism has developed into a social movement with purported health and ethics benefits, though one in which Black members are not necessarily widely represented. The research that exists on Black veganism focuses on the ideological reasonings behind why some make the decision to adopt a plant-based diet, or spell out the fact that community and culture rank as top priorities when considering what foods to eat …

Full Issue

Criterion: A Journal of Literary Criticism

No abstract provided.

Interest Groups And Intra-Party Conflict On Scored Votes, L. Harbridge-Young, Warren Snead

Political Science Faculty Works

While inter-party conflicts and polarization are central for understanding policymaking, salient intra-party conflicts remain. We explore one lens into these conflicts—interest groups scoring votes at odds with party leaders. We examine how often and under what conditions party-aligned interest groups oppose the positions of party leadership and whether this disagreement is associated with heightened intra-party conflict. We find that disagreement is more common for the majority party compared to the minority party and, for both parties, disagreement is associated with reduced voting cohesion. We also identify salient differences between Democrats and Republicans during this time period. Disagreement on scored votes …

When Passion Hurts: The Psychological Cost Of Dance, Deborah L. Winer

Honors College Theses

Dancers’ performance is influenced by factors such as low self-esteem, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, anxiety, and rejection. Personally, when I feel down or do not get enough sleep, my dancing suffers. The vulnerability inherent in dance, coupled with the possibility of praise or rejection, affects emotional well-being, in addition to issues like injuries, sleep deprivation, and disordered eating. Mental health is a significant concern in dance culture, impacting performance. My research focuses on identifying the factors that harm collegiate dancers’ mental health and how to address them for healthier careers. This interest stems from my own struggles throughout my …

Sound Of The Circuit: Ferrari X Spotify’S Sponsorship Strategy To Engage The U.S. Formula 1 Market, Gabrielle Vullings

Honors College Theses

This thesis explores the effectiveness of cross-industry partnerships as a strategic marketing tool through the case study of Spotify and Ferrari Formula 1’s collaboration, Sound of the Circuit. The central research question investigates how such a partnership can expand Formula 1’s reach within the U.S. market, particularly among millennial and Gen Z audiences. With growing interest in Formula 1 driven by cultural phenomena such as Netflix’s Drive to Survive, and the continued dominance of Spotify in youth-centered audio streaming, this thesis examines how these two global brands can align to engage a shared audience and generate mutual commercial value. Using …

Cgas/Sting-Independent Induction Of Type I Interferon By Inhibitors Of The Histone Methylase Kdm5b, Monica M. Montano, I. Ju Yeh, Wannarasmi Ketchart

Faculty Scholarship

Studies support the role of hexamethylene bis-acetamide [HMBA] induced protein 1 (HEXIM1) as a tumor suppressor. We previously reported that the histone demethylase, KDM5B, inhibits the expression of HEXIM1, and KDM5B inhibitors (KDM5Bi) upregulate HEXIM1 expression. As a consequence, KDM5Bi inhibited cell proliferation, induced differentiation, potentiated sensitivity to cancer chemotherapy, and inhibited breast tumor metastasis. HEXIM1 is crucial for the regulation of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) phenotype by KDM5Bi. Type I Interferon (IFN-I) employs the immune system in the tumor microenvironment to restrict tumor growth. Moreover, therapeutic approaches (including mainstay chemotherapy) engage IFN-I signaling. We report herein that HEXIM1 and …

Resale Revolution: Trend Implications From Media Presence Transcended To Luxury Retail Markets, Penelope Prochnow

Capstone Projects

This study aims to deepen understanding of fashion trend decline from peak popularity to obsolescence, with implications for sustainability and producer profit margins. It investigates how the attributes and media presence of fashion items influence their journey from high-end editorial coverage to resale platforms. Using survival analysis to model trend lifetimes and cosine similarity metrics to compare resale and magazine keyword frequencies, alongside machine learning for price prediction, the study uncovers critical temporal patterns. Results show that resale trends reflect magazine content with a lag of approximately 18 to 30 months and draw from long-wave revivals spanning 6 to 14 …

Inpatient, Anna Schmalz, Rob Bragin, John Strauss

Honors Thesis

A suicide attempt lands a golden-boy tennis prodigy in an upscale Malibu rehab. There, he must survive the dysfunctional owner and his coke-snorting son, an eccentric mix of troubled teens, and a manipulative ex hellbent on sabotaging his last shot at recovery.

Moments, Movements, And Manifestation Disrupting Neoliberal Ideologies Through Documentation In Collaborative Arts Partnerships, Geralyn Schroeder Yu, Juana M. Reyes, Teju Adesida, Noé Cuéllar, Mark Diaz, Brandon Phouybanhdyt

Education Department Faculty Articles

For over three decades, Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) has challenged neoliberal approaches and classroom hierarchies through arts integration inquiry practices involving students, teachers, and teaching artists. The authors emphasize a two-year study of CoLab, a CAPE initiative that fosters new public-school partnerships. Using narrative inquiry, the researchers highlight the documentation practices described by CoLab teaching artists as they collaborate with teachers and students. The research results reveal how documentation in collaborative arts integration serves as a process of meaning-making, characterized by moments, movements, and manifestations that spread and grow, much like ripples in water after a stone’s disruption.

The Echo: May 12, 2025, Taylor University

2024-2025 (Volume 112)

No abstract provided.

Connections, Peter Froehlich

LSU Master's Theses

A definitive shift in American social interaction has been taking place far longer than most realize. It is easy to point the finger at the prevalence of technology and social media, this has been a trend that has been going on since the mid to late twentieth century. Stemming from changes in design, the breakdown of scheduled social outlets, and shifts in technology have led to what some writers and sociologists are calling “The Anti-Social Century.”

Working through a making practice to promote the building of connections through social interaction, three different types of spaces were targeted for the exploration …

Myths, Music, And Misconduct: A Lyrical Analysis Of "Epic: The Musical: And How It Bridges The Gap Between Criminology And A Contemporary Audience, Gabriel Simpson

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

This thesis explores the modern interpretation of Homer’s Odyssey through Epic: The Musical, examining its viability as a bridge between Criminological scholars and a contemporary audience. Epic: The Musical, a musical retelling of The Odyssey created by Jorge Rivere-Herrans, begins with Odysseus and his crew at the end of the Trojan War and ends with Odysseus arriving home at Ithaca. The musical consists of 40 songs and 9 Sagas, or albums, each focused on a different part of Odysseus’ journey. The focus of this thesis is in the relationship between Calypso and Odysseus. The two songs, “Love in Paradise” and …

Modeling Cross-Platform Narrative Templates: A Temporal Knowledge Graph Approach, Ridwan Amure

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decade, social media platforms have rapidly evolved in scale, functionality, and user engagement, encouraging individuals to maintain active presences across multiple networks. This complex, interconnected ecosystem has also enabled information actors to exploit cross-platform dynamics to amplify the reach of their content and strategically target diverse audiences. Recognizing the persistence and adaptability of such actors, this research emphasizes the need for robust models that can effectively capture and analyze cross-platform narrative diffusion. To this end, we propose a framework that utilizes temporal knowledge graphs to model the evolution and relationships among narratives across platforms. We extract temporal …

Hierarchical Log Bayesian Neural Network For Enhanced Aorta Segmentation, Delin An, Pan Du, Pengfei Gu, Jian-Xun Wang, Chaoli Wang

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Accurate segmentation of the aorta and its associated arch branches is crucial for diagnosing aortic diseases. While deep learning techniques have significantly improved aorta segmentation, they remain challenging due to the intricate multiscale structure and the complexity of the surrounding tissues. This paper presents a novel approach for enhancing aorta segmentation using a Bayesian neural network-based hierarchical Laplacian of Gaussian (LoG) model. Our model consists of a 3D U-Net stream and a hierarchical LoG stream: the former provides an initial aorta segmentation, and the latter enhances blood vessel detection across varying scales by learning suitable LoG kernels, enabling self-adaptive handling …

In-Hand Singulation, Scooping, And Cable Untangling With A 5-Dof Tactile-Reactive Gripper, Yuhao Zhou, Pokuang Zhou, Shaoxiong Wang, Yu She

School of Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Manipulation tasks often require a high degree of dexterity, typically necessitating grippers with multiple degrees of freedom (DOF). While a robotic hand equipped with multiple fingers can execute precise and intricate manipulation tasks, the inherent redundancy stemming from its high-DOF often adds complexity that may not be required. In this paper, we introduce the design of a tactile sensor-equipped gripper with two fingers and five-DOF. We present a novel design integrating a GelSight tactile sensor, enhancing sensing capabilities and enabling finer control during specific manipulation tasks. To evaluate the gripper's performance, we conduct experiments involving three challenging tasks: 1) retrieving, …

Intouch Week Of May 12, 2025, New York Medical College

InTouch

• Commencement Speakers Set to Inspire Class of 2025
• Students Express Gratitude to Their First Patients During Convocation of Thanks
• Harnessing Digital Innovations in Ophthalmic Surgery
• TCDM Hosts Sixth Annual Convocation and Induction Ceremony
• TCDM’s Fourth Annual Research Day and Poster Competition Recognizes Student Researchers and Faculty Mentors
• Student Spotlight: Lynne MacFadyen Aspires to Help Others Find Their Voice
• Student Spotlight: Callie Hollander Finds Her Rhythm in Neuroscience Research

Moments, Movements, And Manifestation: Disrupting Neoliberal Ideologies Through Documentation In Collaborative Arts Partnerships, Geralyn Schroeder Yu, Juana Reyes, Teju Adesida, Noé Cuéllar, Mark Diaz, Brandon Phouybanhdyt

Education Department Faculty Articles

For over three decades, Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) has challenged neoliberal approaches and classroom hierarchies through arts integration inquiry practices involving students, teachers, and teaching artists. The authors emphasize a two-year study of CoLab, a CAPE initiative that fosters new public-school partnerships. Using narrative inquiry, the researchers highlight the documentation practices described by CoLab teaching artists as they collaborate with teachers and students. The research results reveal how documentation in collaborative arts integration serves as a process of meaning-making, characterized by moments, movements, and manifestations that spread and grow, much like ripples in water after a stone’s disruption.

Board Of Directors Meeting Minutes (May 12, 2025), Dmacc

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Decoding Symbolic Influence On Youtube Engagement, Emotion Resonance And Trust In Information Campaigns, Diwash Poudel

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how symbolic images in YouTube videos influences viewers’ emotions, trust, and engagement with political content online. Approximately 2,000 videos were collected and analyzed, with a focus on both thumbnails and standout frames. The findings revealed that cultural symbols were particularly effective at capturing attention and evoking strong emotional reactions—especially anger and disgust. Notably, these same symbols also enhanced viewer trust, making audiences less susceptible to misinformation. Statistical tests confirmed that these effects were consistent and significant. To ensure the validity of these results, additional analyses were conducted to assess potential biases in YouTube’s recommendation algorithm, as well …

Method Development For The Analysis Of Drugs Of Abuse Using Solid Phase Extraction And High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, Sangeeta Kurre

Theses and Dissertations

The accurate detection and quantification of drugs of abuse and their metabolites for HPLC analysis is key in the medical, forensic, and environmental sectors. Additionally, the detection of compounds related to substance use disorders in clinical settings can play a crucial role in effective treatment decisions by healthcare practitioners. The ability to detect these compounds at trace levels in any given sample matrix is a known challenge. Coupling a reliable sample preparation method to HPLC analysis for matrix interference reduction and the preconcentration of species for enhanced detection limits may provide a preferred solution to the analysis of drugs of …

Be Ready For What's Next: A Reflection On My Internship With Kpmg, Megan L. Bundren

Honors Theses

During my audit internship with KPMG in Dallas, I had the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge from the Patterson School of Accountancy to real-world client engagements across a variety of industries. I participated in substantive testing, financial statement tie-outs, depreciation analysis, and internal control evaluations, which deepened my understanding of audit standards and procedures. My training at KPMG’s Lakehouse in Orlando and use of tools like KPMG Clara Workflow and Microsoft Excel’s DataSnipper enhanced my technical skills and audit efficiency. I also gained insight into global collaboration through KPMG’s Global Delivery Center in India. Through engagements such as Seaport Entertainment …

Early Childhood Educators’ Experiences Facilitating Learning Of Noncognitive Skills, Amanda Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that early childhood educators need help supporting young children in learning noncognitive skills, such as socialization, perseverance, and self-efficacy. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood educators’ experiences facilitating the learning of noncognitive skills, specifically socialization, perseverance, and self-efficacy. The study was grounded in the conceptual frameworks Nagaoka et al.’s noncognitive framework and Stingher’s learning to learn in early childhood framework. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with eight local early childhood educators who teach 3- and 4-year-olds, who were contacted via email, word of mouth, …

Beyond Boundaries: A Comprehensive Survey Of Transferable Attacks On Ai Systems, Guangjing Wang, Ce Zhou, Yuanda Wang, Bocheng Chen, Hanqing Guo, Qiben Yan

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems increasingly underpin critical applications, from autonomous vehicles to biometric authentication, their vulnerability to transferable attacks presents a growing concern. These attacks, designed to generalize across instances, domains, models, tasks, modalities, or even hardware platforms, pose severe risks to security, privacy, and system integrity. This survey delivers the first comprehensive review of transferable attacks across seven major categories, including evasion, backdoor, data poisoning, model stealing, model inversion, membership inference, and side-channel attacks. We introduce a unified six-dimensional taxonomy: cross-instance, cross-domain, cross-modality, cross-model, cross-task, and cross-hardware, which systematically captures the diverse transfer pathways of adversarial strategies. Through …

Examining The Relationship Between Teacher Characteristics And African American Vernacular English (Aave): A Quantitative Study, Mary Michelle Porter

Theses & Dissertations

African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is a distinct linguistic variety characterized by unique grammatical and phonological features. Despite its linguistic legitimacy, AAVE is often subject to negative perceptions that can adversely affect the educational experiences of students who speak it. The purpose of this study is to examine elementary school teachers’ attitudes toward AAVE and how these are influenced by demographic factors. Forty-eight teachers from Suffolk, New York, and Houston, Texas, participated in a survey that included demographic questions and the Language Attitude Scale (LAS), a validated instrument for assessing attitudes toward AAVE. Demographic variables included age, race, years of …

Narratives Or Not? Examining The Roles Of Message Format And Individuals' Stages Of Change In The Context Of Hpv Vaccination Promotion, Mengfei Guan, Shawn C. Chiang, Regan M. Murray, Wen-Juo Lo, Larry T. Hill, Ann C. Klassen, Jennifer A. Manganello, Amy E. Leader, Philip M. Massey

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Narrative persuasion has been widely used in health communication campaigns and persuasive message design. However, several meta-analyses showed that the relative effectiveness of narratives in promoting behavior change was not consistently observed in the existing literature. With the goal of exploring boundary conditions of narrative effects, this study investigates the interaction effects of narrative persuasion and stages of change on promoting behavior change in the context of encouraging parents to vaccinate their children against human papillomavirus (HPV). Findings from an online experiment (N = 593) showed that non-narrative messages were more effective in bolstering behavioral intention than narrative messages among …

Accuracy Of Race And Ethnicity Data In The Pediatric Electronic Health Record: A Concordance And System Adequacy Study, John D. Cowden, Rachel Drake, Jessi Johnson, Katiana Kelty, Mehwish Ahmed

Student Publications

Introduction: Conventional race and ethnicity categories and analysis are reductive and prone to inaccuracy. Because race and ethnicity data validity is essential to health equity efforts, we measured the accuracy of race and ethnicity data in a pediatric electronic health record (EHR) to identify areas for improvement in data collection and use. Methods: Patients and their caregivers reported patient race and ethnicity via in-person survey in four pediatric settings (inpatient, emergency room, urgent care, and primary care). Race and ethnicity data from the EHR were compared with survey data to calculate four measures of EHR data accuracy. The U.S. Census …

Navigating Accountability: The Role Of Paradata In Ai Documentation And Governance, Scott Cameron, Patricia C. Franks, Isto Huvila, Norman Mooradian

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Purpose: The increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has prompted governments internationally to provide guidance and legislation to maximize the benefits of AI while minimizing the risks to humans and organizations. This paper explores how published requirements for documentation in a sampling of authoritative texts address the challenges of creating, capturing and preserving records of the design, implementation and use of AI tools for accountability and transparency, and how the analytical concept of paradata can help to meet the recordkeeping challenges presented by the design, development and implementation of AI systems. Design/methodology/approach: Inductive reading and conceptual analysis of a set …

Finnish Fashion Lessons For The Creation Of A Sustainable Textiles Industry, Susanna Monseau, Kaisa Sorsa, Heidi Salokangas

Pace International Law Review

The detrimental effects of textiles and the fashion industry on the planet are well-known.
In its 2022 Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles (the EU Textile Strategy) the EU proposed aggressive actions to transform the textile industry to implement the commitments of Europe’s Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan. The Textile Strategy’s aim is simple but ambitious: to end fast fashion. Its proposals will regulate textile businesses along the whole supply chain, but the views of the smaller enterprises that make up the majority of the supply chain have been overlooked, even as larger players lobby for policy changes. …

Small Things / Bigger Picture: Foucault, Vygotsky And Exclusionary Practices In Schools, Elizabeth Done, Vicky Bamsey

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This conceptual paper seeks to identify resonances between the theorising of Vygotsky and Foucault that can explain how events which may not be perceived to be exclusionary by educators may contribute to school exclusion or the self-exclusion of students through home education. We explore the subjective conditions of actions that deviate from the normative standards enshrined in school behaviour policies, drawing on Vygotsky’s concept of perezhivanie which, following Chisholm, we situate in an ars pathetica derived from Foucault. The small things of our title refers to incidents, interactions or micro-practices that may be perceived as insignificant by educators but which, …

Draft Final 2025 Residential Metals Abatement Program (Rmap) Non-Residential Daycare Soil Sampling: Field Sampling Plan (Fsp) Submittal #15 [Mini Scholars Discovery Academy, Hands On Learning Childcare, Kidz Konnection, Young Explorers, & University On Princeton], Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.