Digital Commons Network^™

Beyond The Price Tag: Unveiling The Hidden Impacts Of Tariffs On Businesses And Consumer Behavior, Jacob D. Haas

Honors Theses

In an era marked by global trade disruptions and rising protectionist policies, firms must navigate the complex interaction between tariffs, supply chain strategy, pricing decisions, and marketing communication. This thesis investigates how three multinational corporations Walmart, Nike, and Apple responded strategically to shifting tariff environments and trade restrictions between 2018 and 2025. Drawing on primary data from corporate 10-K filings and secondary analyses from recent economic and management literature, the study examines how each firm’s decisions regarding sourcing diversification, cost management, and consumer engagement contributed to long-term resilience.

Findings reveal that companies integrating supply chain adaptability with coherent pricing and …

A Closer Look At Your Closet: An Analysis Of Consumer Desires, Fast Fashion’S Negative Harms, And Sustainable Solutions For Change, Sarah Hallman

Honors Theses

This thesis serves as an in-depth analysis of the fast fashion industry as it relates to consumers and seeks to identify and promote changes to enhance sustainability with a focus on reusing and repurposing secondhand clothing. The fast fashion industry is unique in its business model, means of production, and harm associated with it. It thrives on the exploitation of consumer desires that silently influence what and how consumers purchase clothing. Through an analysis of consumer desires and the harms associated with the industry through a literary discussion of scholarly articles previously written on these topics, solutions for both businesses …

Look For Opportunities To Increase Continuity Of Care In Medical Education, Hannah Ward Md

Faculty Development Tips

No abstract provided.

Differences In Total Daily Energy Expenditure Across Field Sports: A Narrative Review, Brenen Skalitzky, Jennifer Fields, Margaret T. Jones, Chad Kerksick, Andrew Jagim

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Differences in total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) across sports, sex, and skill level support the need for sport- and athlete-specific energy intake recommendations. The purpose of the current review was to examine TDEE and related markers of energy expenditure across field-based team sports. A secondary aim was to evaluate physical activity levels (PAL), calculated as TDEE divided by resting metabolic rate (RMR), and their utility in estimating energy needs within team sports.

Methods: The review was limited to studies that included the field-based team sports of rugby or soccer and reported energy expenditure data using doubly labeled water …

Synthesis Of Antibody Functionalized Polyaniline/Polystyrene/N-Gqds Composite Fibermats For Sweat Based Cortisol Biosensing Applications, Ashwin James

Honors Theses

Noninvasive, wearable biosensors capable of detecting stress biomarkers in sweat require electrodes that are flexible, conductive, insoluble in water, and highly sensitive at low concentrations of analyte. In this work, bovine serum albumin blocked and anti-cmab immobilized nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots integrated polyaniline/polystyrene composite fibermat electrodes (BSA/Anti-Cmab/N-GQDs/PANI/PS electrodes) were synthesized and evaluated as a potential platform for an electrochemical cortisol biosensor in sweat based systems. Polyaniline was utilized in order to provide electrical conductivity, while polystyrene served as a carrying polymer for mechanical support and its hydrophobicity. Composite fibermats were manufactured through Forcespinning™, followed by a secondary polyaniline graft …

Comparative Analysis Of Machine Learning Models For Spam Email Detection, Rashed Almarri

Theses

The current research examines one of the most effective approaches to spam email detection based on machine learning and natural language processing (NLP). The study is placed in the context of the rising cyber threats and the influx of emails, where the spam/ham data is to be classified correctfully using the combination of the Logistic Regression, NLP (including tokenization, lemmatization, and TF-IDF vectorization). The questions of the research were devoted to the efficiency of such an approach and the interpretation of its results. The data used are obtained by a publicly available Kaggle data set that contains 5,572 labeled email …

The Role Of Technology In Modernizing Prison Management Systems, Essa Anwahi

Theses

This thesis examines the role of technology in modernizing prison management systems and improving operational efficiency, security, and decision-making. It explores how digital technologies and data analytics can address challenges in traditional prison management, such as inefficient processes and limited data utilization. The study highlights the potential of technology-driven solutions to enhance system performance and support more effective management practices within correctional facilities.

Next-Generation Terrorism: Understanding Agentic Ai Systems And Potential For Malign Use, Alexis D'Amato, Ares Boira-Lopez, Emma Theobald, Meg Shercliffe, Jack Rygg, Samuel Hunter, Joel Elson

Reports, Projects, and Research

The call for an increased understanding of artificial intelligence in the U.S. AI Action Plan (The White House, 2025), in tandem with the growing use of AI by terrorist organizations (see Theobald et al., 2025), motivates our effort to provide clarity around the emerging technologies. In doing so, we define and distinguish the features of agentic AI and provide several case studies to illustrate the nefarious use of these tools. Although the current base rate for this type of use is low, we forecast hypothetical use cases given previous examples of terrorists adopting technology and outline the malign use of …

Associations Between Trait Mindfulness And Distress In Fertility Patients: Evidence From Two Clinical Samples, Amanda Dillard, Brian Meier, Todd Williams, Michael Wolfe, Mili Thakur

Psychology Faculty Publications

Women who experience fertility problems often report high levels of distress. Trait mindfulness, or the tendency to be present-minded and accepting of one’s thoughts and feelings, could offset this distress. Aims: In two cross-sectional studies, we tested if fertility patients who were higher in trait mindfulness were lower in psychological distress as measured by anxiety and depressive symptoms, fertility-specific distress, and anticipated negative emotions. Method: Study 1 (N = 324; Age M = 34.3; 90% White) included women who had recently sought treatment for fertility problems, and Study 2 (N = 102; Age M = 32.9; …

Table Of Contents - Jaepl - Volume 30, Wendy Ryden

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

No abstract provided.

Front Matter - Jaepl - Volume 30, Wendy Ryden

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

No abstract provided.

Full Issue Of The Journal Of The Assembly For Expanded Perspectives On Learning Volume 30, Wendy Ryden, Jonathan M. Marine

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

No abstract provided.

Writing Without Peter: Reflections On Peter Elbow And His Legacy: Peter Elbow The Philosopher, Irene Papoulis

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

On the occasion of Peter Elbow’s passing, we read many tributes and praises commemorating him and the foundational contributions he made to the multi-faceted field of writing studies. But as we know, even as Peter’s ideas were lauded and embraced, they were also questioned by many, including other renowned members of our profession.

“Narrative Medicine Saved My Life”: Writing Is A Verb As Well As A Noun, Marian M. Maccurdy, Sarah Robinson

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Dedicated to Professor Peter Elbow 4/14/1935 – 2/6/2025

I, Marian, began my career as a graduate student in medieval literature who had a teaching assistantship to fund her degree. As a graduate student I lived in a world that saw writing as a noun, something done and finished, not as a verb, a process that shows us a world that is as ever-changing as we are. But as a writing teacher I found myself sliding into the world that writers inhabit, and

The Giving And The Receiving: Spiritual Traditions And Teaching, Aepl Summer Conference 2025, Estes Park, Co., Bhushan Aryal, Beverly Brannon, Geri Deluca, Nate Mickelson, Laurence Musgrove, Kristin B. Rajan, Adrian Matt Zytkoskee

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Editor’s note: This past year, AEPL held its first full, in-person conference since the pandemic at our beloved Estes Park location in the Rockies. To commemorate the return of this staple event for our organization, here’s a snapshot of one of the workshops, led by immediate past AEPL Chair, Geraldine DeLuca, “Writing Our Spiritual Autobiographies,” in which DeLuca asked attendees to consider, where and how did we begin, spiritually? What sustains us now? Deluca provided three prompts by Wallace Stevens, Karen Armstrong, and Audre Lorde to aid attendees in their reflection and writing processes. These prompts appear at the end …

Review: Williams, Bronwyn T. Literacies In Times Of Disruption: Living And Learning During A Pandemic., Ashna Singh

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

This review is structured around three central concepts that Williams develops throughout this book: affect, assemblages, and the connection between memory and identity. In Literacies in Times of Disruption: Living and Learning During a Pandemic, Williams focuses on the narratives of over thirty university students at the University of Louisville to examine how their literacy practices and emerging identities were influenced by physical, emotional, and structural crises.

Bringing Mindfulness Into First-Year Composition, Matt Lemas

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

I first stumbled upon the relationship between mindfulness and writing sometime after college. I had been meditating for a few years—not perfectly, but enough to notice the way it softened the inner critic and procrastinator that usually accompanied me to the page.

James Moffett’S Basic Principles, Jonathan M. Marine, Stephen Lafer

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

The tricky part about trying to distill James Moffett’s basic principles is that there are so many of them. In literature, the “major” poets are separated form the “minor” for a number of reasons, but one critical criteria is development; major poets have to develop across the span of their careers, either writing in new forms, or about and with new ideas or themes. Suffice to say, Moffett developed a great deal across his career, from a focus on pedagogy to a focus on spirituality and mindfulness along with increasing consideration of educational assessment and policy. Of course, I’m overgeneralizing …

Book Reviews Introduction: Is It Just Me?, Curtis Porter

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Each of the reviews in this issue of JAEPL focus on a book that was published long before this particular crisis. The books span very different academic fields and very different research methodologies. Yet each reviewer gives a glimpse of how the research behind each book emerged from lived challenges and illustrates how that research sheds light on the daily work and daily struggle that we collectively face.

Contributors: Jaepl - Volume 30, Wendy Ryden

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Contributors: JAEPL - Volume 30

Review: Cope, Emily M. Evangelical Writing In A Secular Imaginary: The Academic Writing Of Christian Undergraduates At A Public University., Kelly M. Sauskojus

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Emily Murphy Cope’s Evangelical Writing in a Secular Imaginary: The Academic Writing of Christian Undergraduates at a Public University (2024) empirically considers how evangelical students negotiate their identities in their academic writing.

Quality Improvement Project: Enhancing Learning Through Structured Debriefing In Simulation, Catherine Jones

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement (QI) project examined the impact of structured debriefing training on nursing faculty perceptions of confidence, competence, and skill in simulation-based education (SBE) at a northeast Texas community college. The problem addressed was the lack of a standardized debriefing process, leading to inconsistent faculty practices and variable student learning outcomes. The QI project, guided by the National League for Nursing (NLN) Jeffries Simulation Theory and Lewin’s Change Theory, used a one-group pretest–posttest design to evaluate faculty outcomes following training in Debriefing for Meaningful Learning (DML) and guided self-evaluation using the Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare (DASH) Instructor …

Integrating Sbirt Training Into The Family Nurse Practitioner Curriculum: A Pilot Dnp Project, Fiji Simmons

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) are major public health concerns, particularly in underserved populations. Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is evidence-based models that promote early detection and care. Integrating SBIRT into Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) curricula prepares future providers to address substance use in primary care. Local Problem: Despite the effectiveness of SBIRT, its use in primary care remains inconsistent. Barriers, including limited training, low confidence, and unfamiliarity with referral resources, hinder implementation. Structured education and protocols are needed to support provider readiness. Methods: SBIRT was integrated into the FNP curriculum of …

Exploring The Integration Of Social And Emotional Learning In Chinese High School Music Courses, Yao Lu

Dissertations

Social and emotional learning has become increasingly important in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health and emotional well-being of students have received unprecedented attention. However, in China, social and emotional learning is still a relatively new concept. High school students are in a critical period for self-identification and the development of values. Academic competition and peer comparisons have increased significantly, making them more in need of systematic, operational SEL support. Music, as a “natural carrier” of emotions, can externalize, identify, and regulate individual emotions, and can also cultivate empathy and relationship skills in collaborative settings such …

Revolutionizing Teacher Preparation Through Gender- Responsive Pedagogy In Tanzania’S Teacher Education System, Jane Rarieya, Mary Oluga, Nyagwegwe Wango

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

This study investigates the revolutionization of teacher preparation throughthe integration of Gender Pedagogy within a Teacher Training College inTanzania. Recognizing the urgent need for teachers equipped with gender-responsive skills, this initiative seeks to establish effective teaching methods,enhance student motivation, and cultivate gender-sensitive educationalleadership. The core objective is to understand how this pedagogical shiftcan create a community of educators capable of significantly improvinglearning outcomes across diverse educational contexts. Employing aqualitative research design, this study explored the insights and experiencesof participants regarding the implementation of the revolutionized teachereducation program. Findings indicate the practical application of Gender,Diversity, and Inclusion Pedagogy by student teachers, …

The Equity Implications Of Pecuniary Externalities On An Electric Grid, Charles Sims, Gasser G. Ali, J. Scott Holladay, Tim Roberson, Chien Fei Chen, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The adoption of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems can create upward pressure on retail electricity rates as utilities are forced to spread their fixed costs of generation and transmission across a smaller customer base. Since high-income households are more likely to purchase PV systems, low-income households may be disproportionately impacted by these rate increases. Using a novel combination of agent-based computational economic modeling and a choice experiment of rooftop solar adoption, we show how this pecuniary externality between low- and high-income customers increases low-income electricity bills by 10% in an area with some of the highest poverty rates in the United …

Louisiana Children's Trust Fund: Annual Report 2024-2025, Elizabeth Winchester, Jada Thomas-Smith, Quynh-Tram Tran, Aimee Moles, Judith L. F. Rhodes

Reports

LCTF makes annual grant awards to aid in the prevention of child abuse and neglect in the state. Grant awards fund programs and conferences, which are implemented in five LCTF identified areas of intervention, namely: 1) Teaching children personal safety and life skills; 2) Education and support services for parents; 3) Hospital and/or home visitation and support services to families; 4) Public awareness and education programs for adults; and 5) Training and education of teachers, professionals, and volunteers.

To ensure accountability for grant funding, an annual review of funded proposals assesses program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The annual review involves …

Sexual Selection Creates Status-Seeking Males And Unsustainable Economic Growth, Brian Snyder

Faculty Publications

The Neolithic Transition altered the social ecology of humans. Prior to the Neolithic Transition, individual males could not defend territories, but in its aftermath, farming and land ownership allowed for the development of male territoriality. This, coupled with the ability to inherit land, increased wealth inequality, increasing the variance in males as potential mates. This may have altered sexual selection by increasing the fitness payoff of female mate choice (or arranged marriages) based on male status. Here, I hypothesize that female preferences for status created a selective pressure on males favoring greater territoriality, competitiveness, and resource extraction and that this …

2025 Fall Commencement, Tennessee State University

TSU Commencements 2025-Present – Mr. Dwayne Tucker, President

No abstract provided.

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Living Learning Communities On Student Success, Retention, And Belonging, Jason D. Harville

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This project of practice evaluated the impact of Living Learning Communities (LLCs) on student success, retention, and sense of belonging at a regional public university. The program evaluation includes quantitative data comparing GPA and retention rates of LLC and non-LLC students, a sense of belonging scale, and qualitative data gathered from interviews and surveys with LLC participants and program partners. Findings indicate that LLC participation positively correlates with increased student retention and a stronger sense of community, though academic performance differences were not statistically significant. Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews revealed that intentional faculty-student interaction, tailored academic support, and early …