Digital Commons Network^™

Total Resistance: The Conditions For Non-State Actors In Colonial States, Devin Walker '26

Honor Scholar Theses

If one can pardon the hyperbole, the argument that colonialism was one of the defining eras of human history is one that comes with a notable amount of merit. From the 1600s to the late 1990s and beyond, colonial empires that spanned the globe were engaged in a seemingly endless competition driven by a mixture of desire for resources and an intense battle for prestige on a truly global stage. Countless people were subjugated, exploited, oppressed and exposed to all manner of injustices that have had long lasting effects on their native populations, even into the modern day. However, to …

Unequal Recovery: Climate Gentrification And The Marginalization Of Southern Urban Communities In Disaster Relief, Ryan Simone Anderson '26

Honor Scholar Theses

Increases in the severity and frequency of natural disasters in the United States have highlighted the vast inequalities that low-income communities must be prepared to face and rapidly recover from. In the Southern US, this dilemma is prevalent, with a higher risk of flooding, hurricanes, and tornadoes due to increased exposure to natural disasters and climate-related events. These climate-induced issues have revealed a connection between environmental risks and socio-economic vulnerability. Climate gentrification occurs when lower-income communities are displaced to hazardous or vulnerable areas, while wealthier communities relocate to safer, more protected areas. Well-documented, large-scale disasters such as Hurricane Katrina (2005) …

Knightly Arts For Modern Audiences: Faithfully Portraying Historical European Martial Arts In Contemporary Media, Justus (Isaiah) Morgan '26

Honor Scholar Theses

The ahistorical spectacular stylization of medieval and Renaissance European martial arts, which is common in modern artistic media, is flawed. In at least some cases a historically informed approach is preferable. This thesis describes how one might take such a historically informed approach to writing a fight scene. It examines the martial arts practiced by elite members of society through the medieval poems Beowulf and The Song of Roland, and through martial arts manuals including Fiore de’i Liberi’s Flos Delatorum, the glosses of Johannes Liechtenauer’s Zettel, and the rapier manuals of Camillo Agrippa and Girard Thibault d’Anvers. It considers audience …

Playing Hard To Get: Limerence And The Psychology Of The Amator In Latin Love Elegy, Carson Carpenter '26

Honor Scholar Theses

This thesis seeks to further bridge the gap in the literature between the fields of psychology and Latin literature. Specifically, it examines Latin love elegy through modern psychological frameworks of limerence. Limerence is a descriptive psychological condition in which an individual experiences an involuntary, often uncontrollable obsessive attachment to another person known as the limerent object. Drawing from the works of Ovid, Propertius, Tibullus, and Catullus, the thesis argues that the elegiac amator consistently parallels the cognitive andemotional patterns associated with limerence, including idealization, uncontrollable ruminative thinking, emotional volatility, and fixation on reciprocated attention. Using Verhulst’s five stage model and …

Adopting Artificial Intelligence: Cross-Sector Analysis Of Ai Adoption Risks, Brandon Saari, Yona Berger, Yanett Munoz, Alex Agnick, Paul Wagner, Robert J. Honomichl

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly being adopted across public and private sectors. This offers significant gains in efficiency, decision making, and access to information. At the same time, AI introduces complex risks related to cybersecurity, privacy, bias, transparency, accountability, and equity that existing governance and security frameworks do not fully address. This paper presents a cross-sector literature review and comparative analysis of AI adoption risks and mitigation strategies across four critical domains: the federal government, libraries, K–12 education, and healthcare. Drawing on peer-reviewed research, institutional frameworks, and policy guidance, the study identifies sector-specific challenges alongside shared systemic gaps, including insufficient …

A Place To Breathe: High School Students’ Perceptions Of A School-Based Wellness Center, Devan Clayton, Elizabeth Cutrer, Paul Caldarella, Michael Richardson, Jared Warren

Faculty Publications

Adolescents face significant academic and emotional stressors, underscoring the need for accessible school-based mental health support. This qualitative study examined high school students’ (N = 17) perceptions of a school-based wellness center, including both users and non-users. Four focus groups were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore experiences, perceived benefits, and barriers to use. Students described the center as a calming, supportive space that aided emotional regulation, short-term recovery, and readiness to return to class. Users emphasized relational connection, belonging, and managing stress and anxiety in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. Students also viewed the center as fostering early …

Effects Of Three-Month Fartlek Training On Resting And Dynamic Blood Pressure In Adolescents: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Fatoni Fatoni, Bilal Ahmad Qureshi, Agam Akhmad Syaukani, Bekir Erhan Orhan, Hasbi Asyhari

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Blood pressure regulation is an important indicator of cardiovascular function, which is influenced by physical activity. Aerobic exercise has been shown to lower blood pressure. However, studies on the effects of varying intensity training, such as fartlek, on resting blood pressure and dynamic responses during physical activity are limited, particularly in younger populations. Objective: This study aimed to analyze resting blood pressure adaptation and the dynamic blood pressure response after participation in a 3-month fartlek training program. Methods: This quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study involved 59 male adolescents (13-14 years) selected through purposive sampling. A three-month fartlek program was conducted. Blood …

Cardiovascular Adaptation To Whole-Body Vibration Exercise In Obese Young Adults: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, And Exploratory Analysis Of Sex Differences, Rafiu Okuneye, Abdulkareem Taiwo, Fatai Akinola Apalara, Okechukwu Kingsley Oforka, Isaiah Whenayon Ajoseh, Ogar Emmanuel Ekawu

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Obesity is strongly associated with hypertension and autonomic dysfunction. Whole-body vibration exercise (WBVE) has been proposed as a low-impact intervention for improving cardiovascular function in obese adults, but sex-specific responses remain unclear. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of whole-body vibration exercise on blood pressure, autonomic function, and cardiac output in adults with obesity, and to explore potential sex differences in cardiovascular adaptations. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies examining the effects of WBV on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate variability (HRV), and …

Physical Fitness, Body Mass Index, And Physical Activity Among Senior Secondary Students: A Cross-Sectional Study In An Indonesian Islamic Secondary School, Ilona Pratiwi Hutabarat, Acep Rohmat Nurhidayat, Aprizal Fikri, Teguh Andi Prabowo, I Bagus Endrawan

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Physical fitness is a fundamental component of adolescent health and contributes to academic performance, mental well-being, and lifelong health outcomes. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in sedentary behavior, evidence on the fitness profiles of Indonesian senior secondary students—particularly in Islamic secondary schools (Madrasah Aliyah)—remains scarce. Objective: To assess the physical fitness level of Madrasah Aliyah students and to examine its association with body mass index (BMI) and self-reported physical activity. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 35 students (18 male, 17 female; aged 15–19 years) at MA Raudlatul Irfan, South Tangerang, using purposive sampling. Physical fitness …

The Influence Of Lower-Body Explosive Power, Speed, And Eye-Foot Coordination On Long Jump Performance: A Path Analysis Study, Alwi Fahruzy Nasution, Imanuddin Siregar

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Long jump performance is influenced by various physical and coordinative components, particularly lower-body explosive power, running speed, and eye-foot coordination. However, limited studies have simultaneously examined the predictive relationships among these variables using a path analysis model among university students in physical education programs. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the direct and indirect predictive relationships among lower-body explosive power, speed, eye-foot coordination, and long jump performance. Methods: This study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design with path analysis. The sample consisted of 30 students selected using a total sampling technique. Data were collected using standardized physical performance tests, …

Dietary Patterns And Nutritional Status In Soccer Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study From An Ergonomic Perspective, Rina Mayangsari, Ravi Masitah

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Normal nutritional status has been established as one of the principal determinants in an athlete's performance. Dietary quality plays a critical role in optimizing athletes' physical fitness and performance outcomes. Objective: To examine the associations between dietary patterns on the MacPersona System and nutritional status of soccer players (energy, protein, et cetera, fat, and carbohydrates). Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted involving 21 soccer players (total sampling). Dietary patterns were assessed using a validated Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQ-FFQ). Nutritional status was measured using Body Mass Index(BMI) based on anthropometric data. The chi-square test was used for statistical …

Development And Validation Of A Basic Skill-Based Swimming Training Model For Beginner Athletes: An Addie Approach, Martinus Martinus, Hilmy Aliriad, Karmila Utari, I Bagus Endrawan, Muhamad Rohadi

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Mastery of basic swimming skills is foundational for the development of beginner athletes, yet structured, validated training models tailored to the Indonesian context remain scarce. Objective: This study aims to develop a basic skill-based swimming training model that is content-valid, practical, and effective in improving swimming technical ability in beginner athletes aged 8-12 years, through systematic, staged development procedures. Methods: The research used the Research and Development (R&D) ADDIE model approach with staged procedures: (1) drafting the initial model based on needs analysis, (2) expert validation by four active swimming coaching validators using the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) instrument …

Global Trends And Research Directions Of Augmented Reality In Sports: A Bibliometric And Scoping Review, Novri Gazali, Ahmad Rahmadani, Romi Cendra, M. Fransazeli Makorohim, Syed Kamaruzaman Syed Ali, Joseph Lobo, Edi Setiawan

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Advances in digital technology have accelerated the adoption of augmented reality (AR) in sports, enhancing training quality, performance analysis, and learning experiences. However, comprehensive studies that systematically map global research trends and sport-specific applications remain limited. Objective: This study aims to analyze global trends and applications of augmented reality (AR) in sports using a mixed-method approach combining bibliometric analysis and a scoping review. Methods: Bibliographic data were retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases, covering the period 2016–2025. Following a PRISMA-ScR-based selection process, a total of 520 articles were included. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer and …

Graduate Council Minutes 2026-04-06, Northern Illinois University

Graduate Council Archives

No abstract provided.

Psychosocial Mediators Of A Physical Activity And Dietary Intervention In Pregnant Women With Overweight Or Obesity, Meghan Baruth, Sarah Wilcox, Jihong Liu, Rebecca Schlaff

Faculty Publications

Background

Mediation analyses provide insight into both ‘pieces’ of the mediation chain; they allow us to look into the ‘black box’ that is behavior change. They allow researchers to better understand the ‘how’ of an intervention’s effects and/or the ‘why’ behind why an intervention worked or did not work. The lack of publications in pregnant populations highlights the need for additional studies to be conducted and published. The purpose of this study is to examine the psychosocial mediators of physical activity and dietary outcomes in a sample of pregnant women with overweight or obesity participating in the Health in Pregnancy …

Wired Youth: How Technology Shapes Adolescent Minds And Behavior, Kimario Davis '26

Honor Scholar Theses

Social media and digital technology are a huge part of adolescent life, and people worry a lot about how they affect mental health, behavior, and brain development. It’s easy to think technology is either “good” or “bad,” but the reality is more complicated. This thesis looks at social media’s evolution from early platforms controlled by users to today’s algorithm driven, highly visual environments and how these spaces interact with the developing adolescent brain, which is especially sensitive to social feedback and reward. These features make online interactions feel more intense and harder to step away from. At the same time, …

The Life And Legacy Of Sherwood Fiske Brown: A Case Study In The Evolution Of American Higher Education, Alden Small '26

Honor Scholar Theses

This thesis pursues various avenues of inquiry. I analyzed a multitude of primary sources related to Sherwood Fiske Brown, including his undergraduate thesis, master’s thesis, and doctoral dissertation. I visited Colby College over the summer of 2025 and uncovered many biographical documents and papers related to his time at Colby, as well as his sabbatical at MIT in 1957. Of particular interest is a biographical information packet completed by Brown upon his date of hire, which provides his occupational and familial history. I also obtained information from St. Lawrence University, MIT, UMass Lowell, and the Framingham Historical Society. These sources …

Roll Me A History Check: Role-Playing Games In Education, Andrew Thede '26

Honor Scholar Theses

Roll Me a History Check explores the use of Role-Playing Games (RPGs)—a style of narrative game where players create and pilot distinct characters and play through a storyline run by a Game Master (GM)—in education. The primary goals of the project align with its three principal parts. First, a brief review of the existing literature on the benefits of both purely educational and purely entertaining RPGs, with Reacting to the Past and Pathfinder first edition serving as respective examples, will demonstrate the merits of a hybrid system. Next, the rules for the new system, Ludus, will be presented to bridge …

University Of New Hampshire 2025-2026 Faculty Senate Xxx - April 6, 2026 Minutes Summary, Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Agendas & Minutes

No abstract provided.

Bgc-Argo Float Reveals Shifts In Nitrogen-Carbon Cycling In An Oxygen-Deficient Zone, Mariana B. Bif, Colette Kelly, Mark A. Altabet, Annie Bourbonnais, Claire Elbon, Edgart Flores, Alanna Mnich, Josh Plant, Kenneth S. Johnson

Faculty Publications

Oxygen-deficient zones are hotspots of marine fixed nitrogen loss, but the temporal dynamics of their microbial processes remain poorly resolved. Here we present a nearly three-year high-resolution record from a Biogeochemical Argo float in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific that captures a decline in nitrite concentrations, reflecting a shift in nitrogen redox balance. Using a stoichiometric mass-balance model, we quantify nitrogen transformations, including dissimilatory nitrate reduction to nitrite, denitrification, anammox, and nitrite oxidation, and their coupling to carbonate chemistry. The model shows that dissimilatory nitrate reduction to nitrite dominates nitrogen transformations, while denitrification and anammox vary over depth, biogeochemical transition, …

Systemic Poverty Amongst Puerto Ricans In New Jersey, Karen M. Acevedo-Quintana

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Puerto Ricans account for over 20% of Hispanics in New Jersey. It is estimated that 27.8% live below the poverty line. The poverty rate amongst this community is higher than the state average. Prior to this study, no known study examined what advocates for improving socioeconomic conditions amongst Puerto Ricans in New Jersey believed were the barriers to and/or facilitators of reducing poverty. The purpose of the generic qualitative study was to identify and analyze the perceptions of expert advocates regarding the current barriers to and/or facilitators of reducing poverty amongst Puerto Ricans in New Jersey using interpretivism through the …

Fast-Food Consumption And Metabolic Syndrome Risk In African Children And Adolescents, Norkinsha Willis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity and excessive fast-food intake represent a significant public health concern among African American children. Grounded in the social-ecological model, this quantitative, cross-sectional study examined whether frequency of fast-food or pizza meal consumption and reliance on low-cost food was associated with total cholesterol (mg/dL) and waist circumference among African American children and adolescents aged 6–15 years while controlling for key sociodemographic factors (age, gender, parental education status, and annual household income). Secondary data from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed (N=184). Descriptive statistics, nonparametric analyses, and a multiple linear regression model were used to analyze …

Are You There Judy?: A Critical Content Analysis Of Judy Blume's Representation Of Female Puberty, Audrey E. Gilbert

Undergraduate Theses

This study uses a critical content analysis methodology to examine four Judy Blume novels (Johnson et al). Using a lens of gynocriticsm (Showalter) and mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors (Bishop), power and representation of female puberty are analyzed in Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, Deenie, Forever, and Just As Long As We’re Together to understand how Judy Blume pushes the bounds of content in young adult literature through depictions of thelarche, menarche, and sexarche. Through the critical content analysis, the role of group interactions and individual experiences are shown as the conductors for power, …

Sandag’S Regional Climate Action Planning, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, Brenda Castruita

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is the regional planning agency responsible for transportation planning, public transit development, and environmental planning in the San Diego metropolitan area.1 Beyond these focus areas, SANDAG aims to promote sustainable growth, enhance mobility, and improve the quality of life of local citizens through comprehensive planning and collaboration with local governments, communities, and various partners. SANDAG is governed by a Board of Directors made up of elected officials from each of the region's local city councils and County Board of Supervisors. In addition to developing plans for how people and goods will move …

Rethinking Dual-Task Training In Parkinson’S Disease: Engaging And Innovating For Inclusive Access To Rehabilitation, Nesibe Cakmak, Jennifer Freeman, Lisa Bunn, Camille Carroll

School of Health Professions

Dual-task training helps improve balance and cognitive function in people with Parkinson’s disease, but existing clinician-led, clinic-based programmes lack standardization. This qualitative study aimed to inform new programme designs by exploring the experiences and needs of individuals with Parkinson’s disease, their supporters, and physiotherapists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten participants–six with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease, two supporters, and two physiotherapists. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and independently analysed by two researchers using framework analysis. Three main themes emerged: what comprises “An Engaging Dual-task Training,” emphasizing enjoyment, daily life integration, and the need for a balance between challenge and reward as well …

Harriet Hosmer: Femininity And Stone, Savannah V. Parrish

Undergraduate Theses

Harriet Hosmer was an American woman sculptor who studied in Rome, Italy, from 1853 to 1900. Hosmer led her own cohort of women artists and inspired other artists in Rome. Hosmer’s sculptures and the controversies surrounding them exemplify her experiences as a career woman of her time. Hosmer made sculptures of women who defied the will of men, both mythical and historical. Hosmer’s sculptures show how she felt restricted in the world, particularly in the field of sculpture as a woman and how like the figures of her sculptures she found freedom in stone, where she could tell the stories …

Odysseus: From Homer To Sophocles, Jonas Hammond

Undergraduate Theses

In two of his plays, the Ajax and Philoctetes, the tragedian Sophocles uses and alters Homer’s Odysseus to augment the moral message he is trying to instill in his audience. His use of Odysseus changes between these two plays as his moral outlook shifts in the face of changing Athenian fortunes. As the focus of his praise moved away from guiles and sophia to focus more on the “noble ideal,” the ubiquity of Homer’s version of Odysseus meant that Odysseus’ character had to be actively altered when Sophocles wished to encourage the Athenians to follow the noble ideal instead of …

Quality Improvement Project: Educating Nursing Faculty On Animal-Assisted Therapy: Enhancing Knowledge And Confidence To Improve Program Outcomes, Sarah J. Whitwell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether an educational intervention on animal-assisted therapy (AAT) improved nursing faculty perceived knowledge and confidence in using AAT to improve program outcomes. The problem addressed was the limited knowledge and confidence among nursing faculty regarding the use of non-traditional, evidence-based strategies to support student mental health. This project was guided by the Stetler Model of Evidence-Based Practice and Lewin’s Change Theory and used a quasi-experimental, one-group pre–post design. The project was conducted with nursing faculty teaching in a baccalaureate program at a four-year public university in Oklahoma. A 10-item Likert-scale …

Cardiomyopathy In Children: What Pediatricians Need To Know, Michael Smith, Brian Birnbaum

Pediatrics in Practice: A CME Podcast

Cardiomyopathy in children can present with subtle signs but serious consequences if missed. In this episode, Brian Birnbaum, MD, Interim Co-Director of the Ward Family Heart Center at Children’s Mercy, shares practical insights for pediatricians on recognizing early red flags, knowing when to refer, and understanding how diagnosis and management of pediatric cardiomyopathy are evolving.

Click here to stream the podcast episode.

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Louisiana Law Review

No abstract provided.