Digital Commons Network^™

How Did We Get Here? Mental Health Accessibility For Adults In Alabama, 1819-Present, Juliana Sea

ETDs from 2020-2029

Alabama remains one of the worst states in the nation for adult mental health access despite decades of reform and explicit commitments to improving care. Framing access as the ability to recognize need, locate services, reach them, enter care in a reasonable time, and continue or adjust care, this mixed-methods, three-paper dissertation examines how Alabama’s adult mental health system structures those pathways and how adults and providers navigate its constraints. It argues that inadequate access in Alabama contributes not only to suicide, psychiatric hospitalization, and disability, but also to shortened lifespan in the context of high burdens of chronic disease, …

Recognizing Patients In Places: A Multilevel Analysis Of Severe Heat-Related Illness Risk In Birmingham, Al, Andria Cimino

ETDs from 2020-2029

Socially marginalized people face a higher risk of adverse health outcomes from extreme heat—as many as 12,000 U.S. deaths a year are attributable to heat-related illness (HRI), a preventable but multifactorial condition. Where one lives plays a critical role in HRI incidence, with evidence linking historically segregated and disinvested urban environments to a higher risk. The literature also suggests that Black adults experience worse HRI outcomes than non-Hispanic White adults, and that men are often, though not always, at higher risk than women. Individuals with heat-sensitive conditions and socially isolated adults also face elevated risk. Yet the mechanisms by which …

Book Review: The New Calculus Of Escalation: Avoiding Armageddon In Great Power Conflict, Darren W. Buss

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Martin C. Libicki

Reviewed by: Colonel Darren W. Buss, faculty instructor, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College

In The New Calculus of Escalation, Martin C. Libicki redefines how we understand the thresholds between peace, conventional war, and nuclear conflict in an era shaped by cyber warfare and emerging technologies. Drawing lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war and Cold War doctrines, he offers a fresh framework for managing escalation to prevent catastrophic outcomes. This timely and thought-provoking book is essential reading for strategists, policymakers, and anyone concerned with the future of great power conflict.

Rehabilitation Or Retribution? A Socio-Legal Comparison Of Criminal Sanctions And Social Reintegration In Indonesia And Spain, Ridwan Arifin, Izan Mateo Cassandro

The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies

This study examines the legal, institutional, and socio-cultural mechanisms influencing the social reintegration of ex-offenders in Indonesia and Spain. Despite a global trend toward rehabilitative approaches, practical implementation reveals significant divergence due to structural, cultural, and economic factors. Indonesia’s penal system, guided by Law No. 22 of 2022 and the new Criminal Code (KUHP), emphasizes statutory rehabilitation and vocational and spiritual programs. However, challenges such as prison overcrowding, limited post-release support, and societal stigma constrain effectiveness. Judicial decisions indicate cautious application of restorative provisions, reflecting both public expectations and institutional limitations. In Spain, rehabilitation is constitutionally entrenched under Article 25(2) …

Bridging The Diagnostic Gap: Expanding Dementia Care Navigation For Timely Diagnosis, Lucille Carriere, Morgan Minyo, David Bass, Katherine L Possin, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Joel Salinas, Nicole Deaner

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Over half of dementia cases remain undiagnosed, with persistent disparities across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Dementia care navigation (DCN) has demonstrated value in post-diagnosis settings. If implemented earlier, DCN could address diagnostic delays and care gaps. We define the diagnostic window as the period from initial symptom awareness through diagnosis and early care planning. Drawing on deliberations from the Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Navigation Roundtable, we present a pre-diagnosis DCN framework organized across six domains and describe navigator roles across three phases: pre-evaluation, diagnostic assessment, and immediate post-diagnosis and transition. We address special considerations, including people without a care …

Legends, Lies, & Rewritten Lives: After The Little Bighorn: Forgotten Struggles Of Those Who Walked Away, 2nd Edition, Thomas B. Davidson

DU Textbooks

This Story surrounds an event that occurred one summer on June 25, 1876, along the banks of the Little Bighorn River in what is now the state of Montana. Seen from a 21st century perch, it is a story of a collision between two very different civilizations or empires. Both empire’s military fought in the manner of their society. This narrative will attempt to balance the believable truth of what happened in that contest between the military representatives of both societies while also trying to tell an engaging story, without drifting into naked partisanship, purple prose, or sensationalism. The narrative …

Language Attitudes And Stereotypes Condition The Processing Of Contact-Induced Linguistic Variants, Sonia Barnes, Whitney Chappell

Spanish Languages and Literatures Research and Publications

This study examines the effect of language attitudes and stereotypes on vowel perceptions by two groups of listeners from Asturias, Spain that differ in their relationship with the languages present in their communities: Spanish, the national majority language, and Asturian, the regional minority language. The responses of 165 participants from the Nalón Valley (a mining area in the region) were compared with those of 156 listeners from Gijón (the largest urban area) as they categorized words containing synthesized productions of Spanish [o] and Asturian [u] in a task that combined binary forced-choice identification and visual priming. The results of a …

Dental Care Utilization Among Sexual And Gender Minority Individuals, Ishita Singh, Oladipo Afolayan, Sarah S Jackson, Irene Tamí-Maury

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals can experience notable health disparities, including higher HIV prevalence, social isolation, substance abuse, lack of culturally competent providers, and poorer health outcomes compared to heterosexuals due to stigma and discrimination. This study aims to identify predictors of dental care utilization across sexual minorities using the 2023 TEXAS PRIDE Survey.

Methods: We analyzed data from 517 SGM individuals, assessing sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and recent medical and dental visits. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of dental care utilization (i.e., a dental visit in the past year).

Results: Among sexual orientation groups, reported dental care …

Improving Workplace Satisfaction And Staff Retention Among Nurses In A Staffing Resource Pool, Amy Harper, Amy Roscher

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

This quality improvement project assessed how simple engagement strategies impacted job satisfaction and retention rates among resource nurses. Results showed exceedingly positive feedback, improved satisfaction, and a remarkable decrease in turnover. Findings suggest simple, low-cost interventions can enhance connection and retention among staffing resource nurses.

Research Matters: Problem-Setting: A Research Reflection Process, Merinda Kaye Hensley

Communications in Information Literacy

In this inaugural “Research Matters” column, Merinda Kaye Hensley introduces problem-setting as an intentional research reflection process inspired by instructional design. This three-pronged approach invites librarians to examine their research agendas by surfacing prior knowledge, identifying bottlenecks, and creating an assumptions inventory. By interrogating what we think we know and where we struggle in doing research related to information literacy, problem-setting reframes our research processes as a generative, inquiry-driven practice. Drawing on an example from her own research agenda, investigating undergraduate researchers’ understandings of the publication process, Hensley demonstrates how reflective problem-setting can unstick thinking, sharpen questions and energize scholarly …

Marketing As Practice: Resolving The Hunt-Anderson Stalemate Through Practice Theory, Stephen A. Lemay, Martin Svendsen

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

This paper revisits methodological debates in marketing theory, tracing the progression from Sidney Levy’s work on symbolic consumption to the Hunt–Anderson empiricist–relativist debate. We argue that this debate rests on a category error: marketing has been misclassified as either a science or an interpretive discipline. Drawing on contemporary practice theory, we reconceptualize marketing as a professional practice oriented toward creating and managing exchange relationships within cultural contexts. This perspective resolves the Hunt–Anderson stalemate, clarifies the epistemological foundations of Consumer Culture Theory (CCT) and Transformative Consumer Research (TCR), and generates distinct research questions and methods. Through comparative exemplars, we show how …

“I” Or “We” In Times Of Crises: Should Marketers Use Individualist Or Collectivist Language When Times Are Tough?, Milad Hour, Golshad Parsimoghadam, Ali Jamei

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

During the pandemic, as people dealt with fatalities, lockdowns, and the psychological impact of reduced social interactions, some marketing messages still captured significant public attention. What was the key element contributing to the success of these communications during such challenging times? This study focuses on the role of collectivism as a stress-coping mechanism included within marketing communications. Analyzing approximately 56,000 brand-generated posts on Platform X, the research examines how the use of collectivist language (e.g., we, us, etc.) relates to message likability, particularly as the pandemic nears its peak. The findings reveal that collectivist terms are positively associated with the …

The Martha Wright-Reed Act: How The Fcc Took One Step Forward For Communication Equality For Deaf Individuals In Correctional Facilities And How It Could Be Expanded, Ashley Seebold

Seattle University Law Review

For decades, phone companies preyed on incarcerated individuals and their loved ones due to the lack of regulation of jail phone calls.2 In 2021, the average cost of a fifteen-minute jail phone call was about $3.3 In 2022, the average cost rose to $5.74, while some individuals faced an extreme charge of $24.82 for the same amount of time.4 In the early 2000s, consumer advocate and concerned grandmother Martha Wright-Reed called upon the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to fix the imbalance so she could speak to her incarcerated grandson.5 Eventually, in 2023, the FCC answered her call to action and …

Cal Poly Rodeo Program, Keith J. Johnson

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

The purpose of this project was to evaluate and improve livestock welfare practices within the Cal Poly Rodeo Program while supporting the program's core values of student success, western heritage, and program excellence. Livestock play a critical role in collegiate rodeo by providing educational opportunities, athletic competition, and hands-on learning experiences for students. As public awareness of animal welfare continues to increase, rodeo programs must demonstrate responsible stewardship and ethical animal management practices.

This project assessed current livestock management procedures, identified areas for improvement, and implemented educational and operational strategies designed to enhance animal health and welfare. Key performance indicators …

Here, There, And Absent From The Film: Carving Out A Protection For Trailers In California’S Anti-Slapp Statute, Zach Cogan

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

California’s anti-SLAPP statute is designed to encourage free speech and to prevent litigation that chills participation in public discourse, including the creation and promotion of media. It is a standard industry practice for filmmakers to use trailers to promote their films before the final cut and to gauge the success of certain cinematic elements—such as characters, plot points, and overall tone—so the necessary adjustments can be made before the film is released to audiences. Subjecting studios and filmmakers to litigation for adjusting these relatively minor elements that were present in the trailers will chill this beneficial and standard industry practice. …

Global Youth Development: Challenges And Remedies, Raymond Chimezie

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Young people have enormous potential for growth and innovation, but not all have access to resources and opportunities to explore, achieve their dreams, and contribute immensely to society. Absence or limited opportunities and resources pose great challenges to young people’s aspirations. Through a review of literature and study of some countries young people globally face challenges, though at varying degrees like unemployment, limited access to healthcare, social services, and education; lack of professional support, skills acquisition and retraining, and political exclusion; judicial inequity, loneliness, and poor parenting. There still exist policies, structures, or regulations that encourage racial and ethnic or …

Monika Leszczynska, Monika Leszczynska

Faculty CVs

No abstract provided.

Addressing The Stale Line Of Sports-Betting Behavior: Examining The Economic Shortfalls And Tax Solutions In Legalizing Sports Betting, Peyton Rameas

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

Sports betting is a form of gambling that does not suffer from the same negative social stigma as casino gambling despite its equally addictive properties and damaging impact on household consumption. While sports betting was previously banned in most of the United States, following the Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association decision, which empowered states to regulate sports betting within their borders, a wave of states that previously banned all forms of sports betting legalized the practice. Unsurprisingly, this rapid legalization of sports betting was accompanied by a flurry of statewide regulations, leading to disparate consumer protection across the states. …

The Five Cs Of Positive Youth Development In Singapore: Building Adolescent Resilience, Teresa Theodora Jing Yi Tan, Li Neng Lee

Journal of Youth Development

The Five Cs of Positive Youth Development (PYD) model is one of the most empirically discussed frameworks on youth thriving. Generalisability of the model was investigated among 210 middle (15-18 years old) and 250 late (19-25 years old) adolescents in Singapore. The Five Cs of PYD was evaluated as a mediator between intentional self-regulation, social-emotional competencies and family functioning, and the outcome of adolescent resilience. Results validate the model among youths in Singapore and show that the Five Cs of PYD positively predict adolescent resilience. The study extends the global application of the model while highlighting the need to consider …

Strategic Sustainability In Fast-Fashion: Consumer Responses To Green Collections, Caroline Le Bon

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

The fashion industry has long been criticized for its detrimental environmental impact. As awareness grows, consumers acknowledge that their demand for variety at low prices has fueled the industry’s unethical practices, making sustainability a key concern for them and for companies. Although fast-fashion brands introduce sustainable collections, they continue to face criticism for prevalent greenwashing practices. Our research explores how integrating such collections into fast-fashion assortments influences consumer perception and purchase intention, depending on their involvement in both fashion and sustainability. Through our quantitative study, we find that implementing strategic sustainability through green collections alone is insufficient to convince environmentally …

How The Dod Discourages Military Families From Seeking Mental Health Counseling, Christina Welch

Seattle University Law Review

The Department of Defense’s (DoD) administration of the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) presents significant barriers to mental health care access for military spouses and children. This paper explores how the EFMP, though designed to support military families with special needs, inadvertently creates barriers to mental health treatment. Military family members often do not seek mental health treatment to avoid the program's mandatory enrollment requirements. Military family members often view enrollment in the program undesirable because enrollment can restrict the pool of potential future duty assignment locations that are available to service members.

The lack of comprehensive data collection by …

2025, Richard Delgado

Seattle University Law Review

"In a cutting and provocative social critique in one of the more extended Rodrigo Chronicles, Richard Delgado in 2025 employs skillful narrative—one of CRT’s many contributions to legal scholarship —to tell a gripping story of just how far the nation has descended into darkness with President Trump’s re-election. In Delgado’s vision, law professors—along with other political opponents of the President: immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, women, the underserved—have targets on their backs."

-excerpt from Kevin Johnson's review of 2025

The Preventative Care Gap: Completing The Aca’S Vision For Health, Abby Nagaich

Seattle University Law Review

This Note examines the preventive care mandate under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the legal, political, and practical challenges that threaten its effectiveness. While the ACA significantly expanded access to no-cost preventive services, gaps remain—particularly in behavioral health, obesity management, and equitable service delivery. Ongoing litigation, potential administrative rollbacks, and shifting political leadership further destabilize this critical component of public health policy.

This Note argues that for the ACA to fulfill its original promise—and for any health framework to succeed—preventive care must be redefined as a comprehensive, early intervention approach grounded in both systemic access and patient education. It …

Analyzing A Hot Player: A Holistic Approach To The Hot Hand, Faran Igani

Master's Theses

This paper develops a continuous-time, continuous-state framework for studying “hot hand” performance within NBA games. Rather than defining performance in terms of discrete shot outcomes or short streaks of makes and misses, it tracks a player’s contribution using John Hollinger’s Game Score continuously throughout the game. The Game Score metric aggregates multiple on-court contributions through weighted in-game statistics, evolving as play progresses. This approach allows for the construction of a single metric that indexes a player’s performance over the course of the game. To evaluate whether observed within- game surges reflect genuine “heat” rather than random variation, a simulation-based null …

Hot Hands Or Chance Happenings? A Simulation-Based Approach For Wnba Teams, Ruben Jimenez

Master's Theses

The hot hand is a polarizing topic in basketball analytics: fans, stakeholders, and even players themselves assert confidently their belief or disbelief in the idea that players who perform well will continue to do so over an extended period of time. Statistical research has been conducted since as early as 1985 to attempt to disprove or prove the existence of this phenomenon. More recent works have refuted the earliest objections to the hot hand’s existence, with conclusions aided by robust simulation techniques. In this work, we compare hypothesis tests using multiple simulation techniques to explore the hot hand at the …

Is The Hot Hand Real? Evidence From A Permutation And Hierarchical-Based Analysis, Cameron Z. An

Master's Theses

The hot-hand phenomenon, often described as the tendency for individuals to experience prolonged streaks of success that exceed what would be expected under random performance, has been widely studied across many disciplines, particularly basketball. Early studies attempted to evaluate this effect through various techniques, often concluding that the hot-hand phenomenon was largely a myth. However, recent studies have begun to revisit previous analyses using improved statistical techniques, with some claiming evidence of a discernible hot-hand effect. This study examines the presence of the hot-hand effect in the modern NBA by testing whether observed shooting patterns deviate from those simulated under …

Challenges And Opportunities Of Mastery-Based Learning: A Student-Centered Analysis In An Upper Division Programming Languages Course, Parshana Sekhon

Master's Theses

Traditional grading structures in computer science courses reward performance on a few high-stakes assessments that may not accurately reflect a student’s mastery of concepts. Mastery-Based Learning (MBL) offers students multiple opportunities to demonstrate understanding through iterative feedback and reassessment, promoting their persistence and self-regulation. However, MBL can promote student behaviors like procrastination, “minimal effort” attempts, or de-prioritizing the course in favor of other courses with inflexible deadlines, which may undermine its effectiveness. This case study investigates how students navigated MBL in an upper-division computer science course at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. The course explores the fundamentals of programming …

Pedagogical Perspectives Of Practitioner-Turned-Instructors In Upper-Division Computer Science Courses, Sinchana Shivaprasad

Master's Theses

Computer science and software engineering are disciplines in which a substantial proportion of graduates enter software engineering careers immediately after completing their undergraduate degrees. However, research continues to highlight a persistent gap between the knowledge acquired in university settings and the practical skills necessary to succeed in industry. Faculty who bring prior industry experience may be well-positioned to help bridge this gap by integrating applied perspectives and real-world problem-solving into academic instruction. As professors with practitioner experience are being hired into computer science departments, there remains limited research exploring how their professional backgrounds influence teaching approaches and shape computing education. …

Controllable Tile-Based Level Generation For Vertical Platformers, Aiden P. Smith

Master's Theses

Procedural Content Generation (PCG) has had much research poured into it in recent years, as it is a way to more easily create content and levels for player replayability. Historically, this type of level generation has been done by algorithms with strict rules and black-and-white decision making. However, in recent years Large Language Models (LLMs) have been fine-tuned for this task in research in games such as Super Mario Bros and other 2D platformers. In this thesis, we apply a similar approach to level generation for a vertical platformer called Kid Icarus. We create a tile-based level generation system that …

Neuron Notes, Araceli Franco, Ethan Diec, Max Blennemann, Shibo Cong

Computer Science and Engineering Senior Theses

Mainstream digital note-taking tools such as Notion, Microsoft OneNote, and Evernote organize knowledge around linear documents and rigid folder hierarchies, a structure that strays from the associative, graph-like nature of human semantic memory. Mind-mapping and linked-note systems such as XMind, Obsidian, Roam Research, and Logseq move closer to that associative model but still constrain users to short labels, automatic layouts, or page-centric workflows that underutilize spatial and visual recall. This thesis presents Neuron Notes, a spatial, graph-based note-taking system designed to align digital organization with how people actually form and retrieve ideas. The system is implemented as a three-tier web …