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 …

Correlates Of School Absenteeism: A Systematic Review Of What We Know And What We Don’T, Samantha C. Maguire

Dissertations - ALL

School absenteeism has been referred to as a hidden educational crisis by the United States Department of Education. National data show that chronic absenteeism has doubled since pre-pandemic rates, increasing from about 16% of school students to nearly 30% during the 2021-22 school year. To understand this widespread issue, I conducted a systematic review of the available literature on potential risk factors or correlates associated with school absenteeism. A total of 106 studies published between 2000 and 2023 were included in this review. Coding was completed by me and advanced research assistants to determine how school absenteeism has been defined …

Bench Strength: How Powerful Are Supreme Courts In Common Law Countries Really?, Nilesh Sinha

Dissertations - ALL

This thesis examines the extent of judicial power exercised by the top constitutional courts in common law countries, using judicial review as a proxy for this power. I analyze three apex constitutional courts—the supreme courts of the United States, India, and Canada—as they all engage in strong-form judicial review and have been referred to at different times by various scholars as “the most powerful court in the world.” To frame my analysis, I explore how these courts have evolved in power throughout their histories. I employ comparative historical analysis (CHA) and construct a typology that accounts for how these courts, …

Enhancing Security And Healthcare Through Continuous Monitoring On Wearable Devices, Sicong Chen

Dissertations - ALL

Wearable and mobile devices are becoming deeply embedded in daily life, supporting a growing range of tasks - from communication and entertainment to health monitoring and productivity. As people increasingly rely on these devices, it is essential to ensure both the protection of the sensitive data they store and the ability to derive meaningful insights that enhance users’ well-being. This dissertation investigates how wearable and mobile devices can be leveraged to provide robust and user-friendly solutions through continuous monitoring across two critical domains: security and mental health. The foundation of this dissertation is the development of a security infrastructure, as …

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 …

Composing Songs For Dead Sailors, Toby Wren

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

Toby Wren discusses his latest creative work, the Songs for Dead Sailors song cycle, a psychological exploration of love and loss in the time of tall ships. This project was conceived as creative practice scholarship. In this presentation, Toby explains the creative processes and influences behind the work.

The Default Option As A Nudge In Shaping Individual Decisions Under Competitive And Cooperative Conditions: An Experimental Study, Marta Sylwestrzak

Studia i Materiały Wydział Zarządzania Uniwersytet Warszawski

Purpose: Overbidding in competitive settings leads to resource wastage and limits potential social benefits from cooperation. This study examines how the prize structure of two types of tournaments, winner-take-all (WTA) and proportional prize (PP), and default options as behavioural nudges influence expenditure levels among paired participants. The obtained results can have practical applications in designing competitive mechanisms, such as incentive programs in organizations, to minimize resource waste and promote more efficient participant behaviour.

Methodology: The laboratory experiment involved 78 participants competing in pairs across four conditions: WTA and PP, with or without default options. Data were analyzed regarding expenditures.

Results: …

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 …

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 …

From Descent To Creation – Women Descenders In Katabasis Stories, Ruilin Shi

Theses - ALL

Katabasis, the journey to the underworld and back, is a classic narrative in mythologies and modern literature around the world. However, the uniqueness of the women descenders and the connection between the underworld and femininity remain underexamined. This thesis examines the differences between men and women descenders in Katabasis narratives, including their different narrative structures, relationship with the underworld, and psychological needs in this journey. Using a comparative analysis of classical and modern katabasis narratives, this study employs a feminine perspective to examine the classic descent stories across different cultures and time periods. The student reveals the unexamined reasons why …

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 …

Lives And Dreams: A Study Of The Entrepreneurial Journeys Of Bosnian Immigrants In The Startup World, Elvis Avdic

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation explores how Islamic faith, moral endurance, and community-based values shape the entrepreneurial practices of Bosnian immigrant entrepreneurs in the United States. Through three interrelated qualitative studies, it challenges dominant models of individualistic, profit-driven entrepreneurship by centering faith-informed ethics, relational motivation, and structural constraint. The first paper draws on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Islamic ethics, and critical theories of endurance to examine how entrepreneurs navigate their motivations across the business lifecycle. It finds that religious duty, family obligation, and social responsibility often blur the line between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, giving rise to a distinct moral logic of endurance grounded …

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 …

Demanding More From Distance Learning: The Virtual & Democratized Futures Of Legal Education, Antonio M. Coronado, Gabriela Elizondo-Craig

Seattle University Law Review Online

Antonio M. Coronado and Gabriela Elizondo-Craig examine the transformative potential of online legal education through their work at Innovation for Justice, where they lead virtual legal training programs for community-based justice workers. They trace the development and limitations of ABA Standard 306, highlighting how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed both the rigidity of traditional legal education and the possibilities of technology-enabled learning. Drawing on adult education theory and best practices in online pedagogy, Coronado and Elizondo-Craig challenge prevailing critiques of distance legal education and advocate for a learner-centered, accessible, and inclusive model. Their experience demonstrates how online legal education, when intentionally …

Facial Sexual Dimorphism And Attractiveness Perception In High Autistic Trait Individuals, Farid Pazhoohi, Leilani Forby, Alan Kingstone

School of Psychology

Perceiving and recognizing faces are vital components for social interactions among humans. Extensive prior research has shown that facial sexual dimorphism, a nonverbal social signal, contributes to perceived facial attractiveness for neurotypical individuals. However, there has been no research investigating if that might also be true for high autistic trait individuals. The current study investigates the facial qualities that high autistic trait individuals find attractive in others. In Study 1, faces with altered levels of sexual dimorphism were presented for five seconds, and the gaze behaviour of high and low autistic trait participants was recorded while they rated the attractiveness …

Advancing Situation Awareness In Safety-Critical Systems: The Role Of Multi-Modal Wearable Augmented Reality, Jean-Philippe Rancy

Dissertations - ALL

Augmented Reality (AR) is emerging as a transformative tool for enhancing multi-modal interaction and situational awareness in safety-critical environments. This dissertation investigates the impact of wearable AR interfaces on maritime navigation, examining their effects on operator performance, cognitive workload, and operator communication. This research evaluates AR’s role in supporting multi-modal information processing and decision-making in high-risk operational contexts. This work is structured around three studies. The first study quantifies how wearable AR displays influence navigational accuracy, cognitive load, and situation awareness, revealing both efficiency gains and cognitive trade-offs. The second study explores multi-modal AR’s impact on operator mobility and communication, …

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 …

Why Deliberate Practice Is Not A Basis For Teacher Expertise, Jim Hordern, Nick Pratt, Peter Kelly, Katherine Evans

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

In this paper we examine the notion of ‘deliberate practice’, which has formed the basis of several teacher education programmes in England and the United States and promises to improve the quality of teaching via highly structured training programmes. We identify early criticisms of deliberate practice and unpack the assumptions embedded in its underpinning thinking. We demonstrate that deliberate practice is insufficient as a basis for teacher expertise as teaching is not a ‘performance profession’, the activities of teachers cannot all be easily or meaningfully decomposed, and the ‘goals’ of teaching are not solely geared towards maximising measurable student attainment. …

First Opinion: A Flicker Of Hope: A Story Of Migration, Carla Clayton

First Opinions, Second Reactions

No abstract provided.

A Sem Study Of The Three Domains Of Religious Experience, Mediated By Intellectual Humility And Cognitive Flexibility, Predicting Religious Tolerance Among Christian University Students, Conrad Dioniz Zygmont, David Dioniz Bolton

Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association

The present study extends an existing mediation model of religiosity and socio-cognitive variables influence on religious tolerance by considering three religious co-variates (informal religion/personal spirituality, formalised religiosity, and God image) as antecedents. The sample for this study is recruited through university Christian student associations. The results will be discussed from an Adventist perspective challenging contemporary discourse of religiosity vs spirituality, and image of God.

"I Wasn’T Believed": The Aftermath Of Psychological And Sexual Abuse From Former Seventh-Day Adventists, René Drumm, Thomas Arcaro, Duane Mcclearn, Jeff Wright, Petr Cincala

Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association

This presentation features data from a study of over 1,000 former Seventh-day Adventists. The analysis reveals the prevalence of psychological and sexual abuse that respondents experienced or were aware of, as well as the aftermath of the church’s response to the abuse.

Stigma Towards Depressive-Like Symptoms Across Academic Disciplines, Audryl Jo Anne B. Opao, Chamique Carthy Gay H. Aguillon, Rubon Eve C. Cruzada, Jana Cassandra M. Ondap

Adventist Human-Subject Researchers Association

This study explores how undergraduate students’ academic specializations influence their perceptions and stigma toward mental illness. It examines the relationship between educational background and attitudes, highlighting differences in understanding and empathy. Findings aim to inform strategies for reducing stigma and promoting mental health awareness across diverse academic fields.