Digital Commons Network^™

“The Least You Can Do Is Start A Meeting With A Karakia”: Challenging The Culture Order In A New Zealand Cricket Organisation, Stephanie Foxton, Tame Pere

Journal of Global South Sport Studies

Previously, it was documented that cricket operated as a tool of colonisation, serving to spread British culture and values across the empire, reinforcing British identity and asserting cultural superiority (Baucom, 1999). In places like Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), cricket became a cornerstone of colonial social life, solidifying the dominance of British culture. Employing the Colonial Matrix of Power framework (Mignolo, 2007; Quijano, 2007) alongside the concept of the culture order (Holmes, 2018), this article aims to understand how Aotearoa NZ’s ever-evolving cricket culture sustains, and in some cases challenges, the dominance of Pākehā/British norms. By weaving these theoretical …

Human Rights Deferred: The Carter Administration And Continuity Of U.S. Policy Regarding Western Sahara, Adrienne Kinne

Theses - ALL

“Human Rights Deferred: The Carter Administration and Continuity of U.S. Policy Regarding Western Sahara” examines Western Sahara as one of the most enduring cases of unfinished decolonization in the postwar international order, focusing on U.S. policy during the Jimmy Carter administration. Despite clear legal affirmation of Sahrawi self-determination through the United Nations and the 1975 International Court of Justice advisory opinion, its implementation was persistently deferred. Drawing on declassified documents and congressional hearings, I argue that this outcome reflects a broader pattern of institutionalized deferral, in which normative commitments are formally recognized while their enforcement is postponed through procedural and …

Apparatus Of Relief: On Sustained Exhaustion, Jiayue Yu

Theses - ALL

This thesis examines how contemporary capitalism manages a shared condition of exhaustion—the accumulation of stress, alienation, and mental fatigue—by offering calibrated forms of relief that leave its underlying causes intact. Approaching exhaustion as a collective and structurally produced condition, I make photographs that trace how it is softened and normalized within the spaces we inhabit and move through in our daily lives. Central to the project are what I describe as “apparatuses of relief”: infrastructural features embedded in public and semi-public spaces that are designed to regulate affect and soothe nerves. Operating beneath the surface, these elements promise momentary relief …

Agency At The End Of History: Time, Terrorism, And Technologies Of Innocence In Engaging The Far Right, Gabriel Gr Herring

Theses - ALL

This thesis explores the way political rhetorics of time, morality, and political violence play out in visual representations of the far right in the United States via maps. In Out of Joint: Power, Crisis, and the Rhetoric of Time, Nomi Claire Lazar argues that governments and political movements use temporal-rhetorical frameworks to generate political legitimacy by associating their movement with time, which is generally understood as natural. I argue that every temporal-rhetorical frame also implies a set of moral codes which are understood to be materially true, despite the fact that our experiences of time are only ever aim-dependent and …

Systems Thinking And Satire, David Kossack

Theses - ALL

In this thesis, I explore the relationship between satire and systems thinking, drawing on the DSRP (Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, Perspectives) theory of Systems Thinking developed by Dr. Derek Cabrera as a lens through which to examine satire as both a creative and cognitive phenomenon. In my view, satire functions not merely as a tonal mode of storytelling but as a deliberate cognitive engagement that operates on the audience's preexisting mental models, subverting and reorganizing them to generate new meaning. Referencing well-known satirical works of cinema, including Dr. Strangelove and Brazil, I aim to articulate how satire uses humor and absurdity …

'Realizing' Information Literacy: A Philosophical Argument, Jeongbae Choi

Dissertations - ALL

Despite more than half a century of scholarship, the information literacy (IL) field continues to face unresolved tensions over its definition, theoretical foundations, disciplinary boundaries, and relationship to power and social structure. This dissertation argues that these tensions are not isolated problems but interconnected aporias that reveal constitutive features of the field, and that resolving them requires a philosophically grounded reconceptualization. The dissertation proceeds across three phases. Study A conducts a comprehensive critical review of over 600 publications in the IL literature, adopting an aporetic lens to identify six constitutive aporias: truth, knowledge and data, information behavior, genericism versus contextuality, …

Identity-Based Philanthropy In Higher Education: Investigating The Information Contexts Of Black Greek Letter Organization Collective Giving, Rachel Elizabeth Vassel

Dissertations - ALL

There is a need to increase philanthropic donations at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) to remain competitive and meet increasing operational costs. Diverse and underrepresented alumni of these institutions are a growing constituency of potential donors who are not always cultivated through the traditional fundraising pipeline and efforts. To address the need to increase institutional donations, it is incumbent upon advancement operations in higher education to consider incorporating identity and culturally based strategies as part of their cultivation efforts. Building upon identity-based philanthropy theories, particularly Drezner’s Philanthropic Mirroring Framework, I extend prior work in this space by examining the information contexts …

“The Fluid Archive” Innovating The Past, Protecting The Future (Virtual Reality And Cultural Preservation), Umar Bashir

Theses - ALL

ABSTRACT This thesis repositions cultural preservation as an experiential and interpretive practice rather than a purely documentary one. Centered on selected Mughal-era monuments of the Walled City of Lahore—structures increasingly affected by environmental decay and urban transformation—it investigates how the sensory and atmospheric dimensions of heritage can persist beyond material deterioration. Rather than reconstructing these sites through strict architectural fidelity, the project proposes The Fluid Archive, an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) environment that prioritizes embodied experience, spatial perception, and memory-driven reconstruction. Acknowledging that history is a constructed narration of the past, the project engages digital technologies as active agents in …

Rewriting The Script: Representations Of Virginity In Teen Dramedies (2019-2025), Sophia Elizabeth Condemi

Theses - ALL

Over the past three decades, youth sexual activity has steadily declined, with members of Generation Z (those born between 1997 to 2012) reporting lower rates of sexual activity than previous generations, and in many cases, delaying their first sexual experiences. This shift raises the question of whether contemporary teen television reflects these changes in sexual behavior. This thesis examines ten popular teen dramedies that aired between 2019 and 2025 on streaming video services to see whether new scripts surrounding virginity emerge or if traditional narratives persist. Using qualitative textual analysis guided by sexual script theory and relational dialectics theory, the …

Cell Cycle Inhibition: Illudin S And Its Effects On Cdk2 In Ewing Sarcoma, Stephanie Diez, Natalie Flores, Alexandria Hernandez, Viviana Palacios, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing Sarcomas are aggressive round cell mesenchymal neoplasmas that have a high occurrence in children and young adults. CDK2 is a protein that is involved in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, which promotes the transition to the S phase. CDK2 kinase activation is mainly observed in the G1/S-phase transition.3 CDK2 binds to Cyclin proteins is responsible for entry and progression, thereby leading to maximal apoptosis activity in the S-phase. Illudin S is a drug that has been known to target cancer-specific cells, such as leukemia. Illudin S, in general are a cytotoxic metabolite that comes from plants, specifically …

Yap1 Knockdown And Panobinostat Treatment Increase Apoptotic Response And Decrease Gene Expression In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Luna Collazo-Garcia, Alejandra Favela Santos, Madeline Torres-Salazar, Isabella Toscano, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is considered to be one of the most aggressive pediatric malignancies, often characterized by its dysregulated gene expression driven by oncogenic fusion proteins. The Hippo signaling effector Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) has been known in promoting cell proliferation, survival, and therapeutic resistance in multiple cancers. However, its role in Ewing sarcoma response to treatment remains unclear. This study investigated whether YAP1 knockdown enhances the sensitivity of Ewing sarcoma cells to the histone deacetylase inhibitor Panobinostat. Ewing sarcoma, ES8, cells were transfected with a YAP1-targeting siRNA (siYAP1) or a non-targeting control (siControl) and treated with DMSO, 0.1 μM, …

Everolimus Treatment Combined With Akt1 Knockdown Increased Apoptosis And Decreased Cell Proliferation In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Arisha Arif, Alfie Barcenez, Sophia Ruter, Nicole Vanegas-Riddick, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

The purpose of this study is to use the gene AKT1, due to the interest in AKT1’s role in cancer cell proliferation, and the drug Everolimus, to determine if combined targeted therapy works as a more efficient therapeutic approach. Ewing Sarcoma has been connected to chromosomal translocations and is most common in pediatric patients. It is most often treated with chemotherapy and local treatments. It may be connected to the gene AKT1 due to how it regulates cell metabolism, growth, and proliferation. The gene mTOR is similarly connected to cell metabolism and proliferation, and is inhibited by the drug Everolimus. …

Sirna Knockdown Of Rptor Reduces Rptor Expression, Increases Brd4 Expression, And Alters Proliferation And Apoptosis In Ewing's Sarcoma Cells, Sergio Cipriano, David Leavitt, Michael Olivia, Liam Valdez, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing sarcoma is a highly aggressive cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. Although treatment options exist, many patients do not respond effectively, showing the need for improved targeted therapies. RPTOR is a key in mTORC1 complex which regulates cell growth, proliferation, and survival. LY2874455 is a selective pan-FGFR inhibitor that targets growth factor signaling pathways involved in tumor progression, and FGFR signaling interacts with pathways such as mTOR, making it a potential target for combination therapies. We hypothesized that silencing RPTOR in Ewing sarcoma cells would disrupt mTOR signaling and alter expression of genes linked to cell survival …

Everolimus And Sirna-Mediated Mtor Inhibition Reduces Proliferation And Promotes Apoptosis In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Dylan Calvert, Malorie Martinez, Alexa Miner, Ellis Quiroga, Terry Jo Shackleford

Cell and Molecular Methods

Ewing Sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive pediatric bone cancer characterized by rapid cell proliferation and poor prognosis, making the identification of therapeutic targets critical. One of  the mechanistic targets is rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, which is critical for regulating cell growth, proliferation, and survival. Abnormal activation of the mTOR signaling pathway has been linked to the progression of ES, as it drives uncontrolled cell growth and apoptosis resistance. Because mTOR represents a promising therapeutic target for ES treatment, we hypothesized that inhibiting mTOR activity through an siRNA-mediated knockdown or through Everolimus drug treatment, would reduce cell proliferation and promote ES …

Three Essays On Trust In American Society, Devin Caramma

Dissertations - ALL

Social and political trust are paramount for healthy, democratic functioning, with social trust mattering for cooperative behavior or political action and political trust weighing more heavily for policy compliance, democratic satisfaction, and political participation. Across the last half century, trusting attitudes between citizens and towards government declined precipitously, but this decline has been less dramatic among partisans. What drives the relationship between partisan identification and social trust? Does perceived value congruence with a group cause social trust to increase? Do objective signals of ambient air pollution affect trust in state government? These questions are interrogated and tested across three papers …

High Courts During Democratic Decline, Alice Cho Timken

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation is a collection of three papers that explore the roles that high courts play during democratic decline and the incentives and conditions that explain them. Each uses a different methodological approach to address this central question. Paper 1. “The Political Foundations of Independent Judicial Review Revisited: Modeling Political Insurance” Episodes of democratic decline routinely feature reductions in judicial independence. Which mechanisms connect these phenomena? I model political insurance theory to explore how the internal workings of a foundational theory may help explain the nature of judicial independence during threats to democracy. I find that political competition must be …

Ecofeminist Entanglements, Rachel Benbasat

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2020 - Present

I discuss the environmental philosophical framework known as Ecofeminism and its approaches to challenging patriarchy. The discussion includes its conceptualization of women and nature focused on women’s potential to produce life as well as conceptions of power dynamics related to the aversion of women in society and history. I discuss ecological activism associated with women and its relation to different forms of Ecofeminism. I compare Ecofeminism to other approaches to feminism and to other ecological philosophies, such as deep ecology. I conclude by sharing the present status of Ecofeminism and where it may be heading, addressing questions about how it …

Exploring The Benefits Of Yoruba Indigenous Knowledge And The Herbal Medicine System, Sunday Opene Ozonuwe 7317673, Ayobami Aderonke Ogungbade, Faith Ohwofasa

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The Yoruba people are one of the West African's main ethno-linguistic or ethnic groups. They have an impressive indigenous knowledge and herbal medicinal system. They pre-occupied Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo, Lagos and Koji state. The researchers developed seven (7) research objectives and seven (7) research questions to investigate the nature, forms, benefits and methods of preparing and administering Yoruba Herbal Medicine. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study, interviews and observations were the instruments used for data collections. Eight (8) herbal medicine practitioners were interviewed in Oyo and Ogun state. The result of the interviews was also presented …

Ethical Issues In The Use Of Emerging Technologies In The Library, Funmilola Olubunmi Omotayo

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Digital tools and emerging technologies are transforming our world, including library settings. Libraries are shifting their collections from predominantly print publications to digital resources. Librarians have turned from an ethos of ownership and authority to service, guidance, and collaboration. From pedagogy to resource sharing, the success of many libraries relies upon diverse technologies and their widespread adoption. Librarians create technological processes, design resources, manage resources, and make use of diverse technologies to support library administration. Emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and Data mining and analytics tools are now being adopted for library administration. …

Muth's Law: Anticipating Ai Model Collapse, Karl T. Muth

The University of Cincinnati Intellectual Property and Computer Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Molecules And Monoclonals: The Two-Tiered Patent System, Candi L. Lasarge Ph.D.

The University of Cincinnati Intellectual Property and Computer Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Against The Whistle: How Congress Can Stop Sports Piracy, Julianna Kapovic

The University of Cincinnati Intellectual Property and Computer Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Click To Agree: Reassessing Minors' Persona Rights In The Age Of Monetized Social Media, Mackenzie Custer

The University of Cincinnati Intellectual Property and Computer Law Journal

No abstract provided.

When Knowledge Isn't Free: Legal And Ethical Imperatives Of Protecting Indigenous Intellectual Property, Claire Courter

The University of Cincinnati Intellectual Property and Computer Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Policing The Perils Of Online Dating: Harassment, Scams, Dark Patterns, Monopoly, And Perverse Incentives, Kevin Chamow

The University of Cincinnati Intellectual Property and Computer Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Value Of The Non-Enhanced Cardiac Computed Tomography Scan Analysis In Determination Of The Appropriate Coronary Ct Angiography Scan Protocol Improving Image Quality While Minimizing Radiation, Osama A Smettei, Sawsan A Sayed, . Fatin M Ahmed, Tawfeeq H Alharbi, Mohammed Saied, Rami M Abazid

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Objective: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a cornerstone in the assessment of coronary artery disease. Despite technological advancements, balancing radiation does with diagnostic image quality remains a challenge. This study evaluates whether assessing preliminary non-enhanced CT scans allows for the optimization of CCTA gating protocols to enhance image quality and minimize radiation exposure.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed 150 patients undergoing CCTA on a 256-slice scanner. Non-enhanced scans were used to identify motion artifacts or anatomical challenges. Based on these findings, a specific gating protocol (prospective, prospective with padding, or retrospective) was selected. This cohort was compared to a …

University Of Minnesota Morris Commencement 2026, Communications And Marketing

UMM Commencement

The University of Minnesota Morris's sixty-third commencement, Saturday, May 9, 2026, 1:30 PM.

Fighting Like A Girl: The Trauma, Power, And Resistance Of Heroines In Young Adult Fantasy, Sara L. Chappell

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

This thesis examines the evolution of female rage in young adult fantasy literature, focusing primarily on Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series while drawing comparisons to other contemporary heroines. It argues that female rage is not a sign of instability but a politically meaningful response to trauma and systemic oppression. Using trauma theory, affect theory, and narrative identity theory, this project traces how Aelin Ashryver Galathynius’s rage develops from a physiological survival response into protective care, political resistance, and ultimately reclaimed agency. Early in the series, her anger emerges as dissociation and emotional shutdown shaped by trauma and institutional …

Spring Commencement, 2026, Marshall University

Marshall University Commencement

Program for the Commencement of Marshall University, Saturday, May 9, 2026 held at the Mountain Health Arena in Huntington, West Virginia.

The Role Of Teacher Education Programs In Shaping Tennessee Novice Secondary Social Studies Teachers’ Civic Education Ideologies, Clarence Dean Burress

Ed.D. Dissertations

Researchers documented how American students often received minimal exposure to democratic knowledge and practices necessary for meaningful civic participation, particularly justice-oriented civic learning. Teachers played a central role in shaping civic instruction, as their civic beliefs and ideologies, personally responsible, participatory, or justice-oriented, influenced how civic content was interpreted and enacted in classrooms. Prior research on civic education ideologies focused largely on preservice teachers or veteran educators. Accordingly, this interpretive qualitative study explored how teacher education programs influenced the civic education ideologies of novice secondary social studies teachers in Tennessee, as framed by the typologies of personally responsible, participatory, and …