Digital Commons Network^™

Developing And Mobilizing A Ttrpg Experience: Season D6, Jacob Woodrow Horne

Master of Fine Arts in Digital Media Culminating Experience

Season D6 is a game that will be developed as an attempt to refine certain issues seen in popular games. These shared problems include allowing players to become self-sufficient in a way that clashes with a team-based mindset, and a lack of flexibility and accidental antagonism placed upon the storyteller. To remedy these issues, Season D6 will break up the statistics that players use to calculate their in-game abilities into three separate groups, employ an experience system used to purchase abilities at a controlled, exponential rate and to calculate encounters, and uses a “Dabble” system intended to specify the roles …

"It's A Book You Grab And Squeeze, And Blood Comes Out.” Modernization Of The Colombian Army's Training During U.S.- Funded Plan Colombia And Security Policies: Falsos Positivos And Bodies As Merchandise (2002–2008), Maria Isabel Palacio Cano

ELIN Graduate Theses

No abstract provided.

Queer Placemaking, Rebranding, And Place Attachment In Northalsted: A Sociological Analysis Of Neighborhood Identity, Inclusion, And Urban Change, Matthew Grydzuk

University Honors Program Senior Projects

This study examines how online discourse reflects public negotiation of neighborhood identity through a qualitative content analysis of Reddit discussions about the renaming of Chicago's Boystown neighborhood to Northalsted. Prior research on LGBTQ neighborhoods has emphasized gayborhoods as sites of safety, identity formation, political mobilization, commercialization, and uneven inclusion. This project builds on that scholarship by examining digital discourse as a site where place attachment, queer placemaking, and urban branding are debated in everyday language. The study asks why people continue to use the name Boystown after the official rebranding and how online participants interpret, resist, or reinterpret the name …

Abigail Sarai: A Neuroaesthetic Approach To Fashion Brand Development, Abby Martos

Theses

This thesis project presents a comprehensive direct-to-consumer business plan for an independent women’s fashion brand, Abigail Sarai, strategically positioned around the commercial value of aesthetic design. The project is grounded in an interdisciplinary theoretical framework integrating neuroaesthetics and consumer behavior research. Existing literature demonstrates that visual principles such as symmetry, harmony, and proportion activate neural reward systems associated with pleasure, while consumer research identifies happiness and emotional well-being as central drivers of purchasing behavior. Building upon these findings, this project proposes that aesthetic beauty can function as a deliberate and measurable value proposition within fashion entrepreneurship. By aligning brand design …

The Outsider And The Enemy: Colin Wilson On Wyndham Lewis, Luke Gilfedder

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

No abstract provided.

Mentor Circle: A Proposal, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

This proposal introduces Mentor Circle, a structured, time-limited peer mentoring program designed to enhance the intellectual productivity of university faculty. Based on a successful pilot and supported by ten foundational theories in learning science, organizational behavior, and social psychology, Mentor Circle is a low-cost, high-impact intervention that can be embedded into existing faculty development infrastructure with minimal administrative burden.

The program pairs faculty members in assigned dyads for three-week cycles. Within each cycle, the pair meets for just ten minutes per week, alternating between Mentor and Mentee roles, or, if preferred, remaining in the same roles across subsequent cycles. Pilot …

The Unfairness Of Fairness: Legal Architecture For Polarized Media, Alim Ulbashev

Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review

No abstract provided.

Does Self-Compassion Buffer Against The Potential Effects Of Perfectionism And Psychopathology On Non-Suicidal Self-Injury?, Natasha Bourgoin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

University students with increased rates of reported perfectionism, anxiety, and depression, are vulnerable to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, not all students with psychological distress engage in NSSI, suggesting protective factors may help to mitigate this risk. The present study examined the relation between perfectionism and NSSI, via the mediating effects of anxiety and depression, and the moderating role of self-compassion. Participants were 338 university students (67% female; 87% White) who completed several self-report measures. Students with greater perfectionism reported higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and, in turn, more NSSI engagement. Self-compassion and several self-compassionate domains attenuated connections between …

Analyzing Professional Development To Foster Agency And Professional Growth Among Educators, Kameron Kimbrough

Dissertations

This study explores how professional development (PD) and leadership systems influence teacher agency and instructional coherence at a high-poverty, predominantly Black K–8 school in Chicago. Midwest Elementary Academy has faced persistent achievement gaps and systemic instability that hinder collaboration and teacher growth. Guided by three research questions, this exploratory case study used a mixed-methods design to examine educator perceptions of PD quality, instructional autonomy, and leadership structures. Data were collected through anonymous surveys, semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document reviews with four educator participants. Qualitative data were coded using open and in vivo methods, and survey responses were analyzed descriptively …

Perceived Fiscal Exchange And Tax Compliance: Evidence From Large Corporate Taxpayers In Tanzania, Susan Kiyenze, Mariam Nchimbi, Said Suluo

Business Management Review

This paper examines the relationship between perceived fiscal exchange (PFE) and Tax Compliance (TCO) among large corporate taxpayers in Tanzania while drawing on the Fiscal Exchange Theory (FET). The study on which this paper is based employed a quantitative research design and analysed data using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with a sample of 215 large corporate taxpayers in Tanzania. We find that the FET framework has modest explanatory and predictive power. Perceived Fiscal Exchange (PFE) has an insignificant effect on tax compliance of large corporate taxpayers. This suggests that perceptions of fiscal exchange do not necessarily drive …

The Push-Pull Model's Function In Understanding Public Sector Workers' Inter-Organisational Labour Mobility: The Views Of The Herzberg Two-Factor Theory, Rosemary Selestine Massae

Business Management Review

In the modern world, one of the challenges managers have in maintaining their talented staff is labour mobility. Inter-organisational labour mobility (ILM) has been found to be significantly influenced by co-worker relationships, work-family conflict, monetary compensation, and training and development. The pull-push paradigm was inspired by human migration. Since migration not only symbolises movement across physical locations but also encompasses other routine duties, theory is essential to comprehending ILM. However, to date, no existing study has tested the model under the influence of Herzberg’s Two-factor Theory, in explaining ILM uses the public sector as a major setting of the question …

The Impact Of Quantum Computing And Distributed Ledger Technology On Accounting/Auditing/Finance Systems, Ulingeta O. L. Mbamba

Business Management Review

The integration of Quantum Computing (QC) and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is poised to fundamentally reshape modern accounting by transforming how financial data is processed, secured, and verified. QC, utilising qubits, will exponentially enhance data analytics, risk assessment, and real-time financial forecasting, accelerating complex auditing tasks far beyond the capabilities of classical systems. In parallel, DLT, such as blockchain, provides a decentralised, immutable record of transactions, significantly increasing transparency and trust. This synergy may enable real-time analysis, continuous auditing, and intelligent automation, converting traditional static, centralised processes into dynamic, transparent ecosystems. Together, this convergence may redefine accounting, auditing, and finance, …

Construction Workers Noise Exposure And Hearing Conservation Program Needs, Quinn Noelle Overlin

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

Noise exposure among construction workers is a pervasive occupational hazard with serious implications for long-term hearing health and overall well-being. This literature review examines the extent of noise exposures in the construction industry and the long-standing need for implementation of effective hearing conservation programs (HCPs). It synthesizes current evidence on exposure levels, health outcomes, and the effectiveness of existing interventions. Findings reveal that construction workers are routinely exposed to noise levels that exceed occupational safety standards, resulting in a heightened risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and associated health consequences. Despite regulatory frameworks and available intervention strategies, substantial gaps persist …

An Empirical Study Of Malingering In Insanity Cases Across Twelve Decades, Deborah W. Denno

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Moral Crisis In American Public Life, Robert N. Bellah

eJournal of Public Affairs

No abstract provided.

How Does Five Days Of Tapering Effect Rates Of Fatigue And Recovery In Collegiate Male Swimmers?, Riley Yerks

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

This study was conducted on the members of the 2025-26 St. John's "Johnnies" swim and dive team. This study used both subjective surveys and objective HRV readings that the swimmers took before and after practice. The first day of testing occurred on the last day of the regular training season, and the second day of testing occurred on the last day of tapered training. Results of the surveys and HRV readings were compared between pre and post-practice, and pre and post-taper. The subjective surveys showed how the swimmers themselves felt in terms of physical and mental energy and fatigue, and …

Service Through Empowerment, Emma Schuele, Faith Robak, Samantha Oritz Perez

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

As our community-engaged learning project for our Community Psychology class, we volunteered at the Overcomers International Fellowship (OIF) Dream Center. The OIF Dream Center is a nonprofit organization that provides previously incarcerated men with resources and programs to help them as they enter back into society. Among these resources are housing, food, medical care, support groups, and treatment. Additionally, the Dream Center helps men overcome mental health obstacles, disabilities, and chemical dependencies. These programs enable residents to prepare for life outside of prison. They are given opportunities to further their education, find jobs, attend therapy, and reconnect with their families. …

Volume 12, 2024/2025, Full Issue

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

No abstract provided.

Time And The Small Man: Lewis's Early Democratic Tendencies, Alexander Alfred Scott

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

No abstract provided.

Stromal Interaction Molecule (Stim) Proteins In Microglia And The Impact On Store-Operated Calcium Entry (Soce) And Spinal Cord Injury Recovery, Norah G. Hill

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

In spinal cord injury (SCI), worsening functional outcomes are largely because of secondary injury processes and prolonged chronic inflammation. A major contributor of secondary injury is overload of intracellular calcium, causing neuronal overexcitation and persistent inflammatory responses. One of the primary mediators of calcium entry into the cell is store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). In SOCE, sensors detecting calcium depletion from the endoplasmic reticulum stores are called STIM proteins (1-2). When calcium is low in the cell, STIM proteins will activate Orai channels to open, allowing for the influx of calcium into the cell. The purpose of this study was to …

The Influence Of Valence On Action Control: A Comparison Of Simon Effects In The Extrinsic Affective Simon Task (East) And The Spatial Simon Task, Yaara Aleissa

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

People adjust their thoughts and actions in response to a changing environment every day and emotions may influence these actions. Understanding how emotion impacts action control in situations where emotion is central to the action (task-relevant) compared to when it is present in the environment as distracting information (task-irrelevant) is essential. Currently it is unclear when emotion most significantly modulates action control. This study seeks to compare how valence (positive versus negative emotion) impacts action control performance when valence is task-relevant and task-irrelevant by using two modified versions of the Simon conflict task.

The Simon task is a paradigm to …

Creating Experiences That Drive Profit: How Leadership Style, Servicescape, Menu Design, And Break-Even Point Shape Business Performance In The Case Of Amoranto, Sofia Hernandez Cruz

Theses & ETDs

The present study aimed to determine the extent to which leadership style (transformational vs. transactional) and the perception of the servicescape influence business outcomes, particularly when integrated with menu engineering analysis (popularity and profitability) and break-even analysis, in the case of Amoranto. Amoranto is a concept house located in Cali, Colombia, composed of three sectors: restaurant, flower shop, and boutique, situated in the upper sector of the city. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining psychological and economic factors, the study demonstrates that these dimensions are complementary when analyzing overall business performance. The first study showed that transactional leadership is positively associated …

Understanding Barriers To Breast Cancer Screening Among Rural Women In South Carolina: A Qualitative Study Using The Idea Model, Israt Jahan

All Theses

Breast cancer screening rates remain low among rural women in South Carolina, leading to higher incidences of late-stage cancer diagnosis. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to investigate reasons why many women delay or avoid screenings, even when free screening programs such as the Best Chance Network are available in South Carolina. Guided by the IDEA model, the study explored how women interpret cancer risk, how they seek and trust cancer information, how they understand screening explanations, and what barriers affect their ability to take action. Participants described fear of pain, fear of diagnosis, personal relevance, confusion about the screening …

The Burnout Machine: Finding The Guide Between Burnout And Meaning Making Using Ifs And Role Theory For Mental Health Professionals (An Integrative Literature Review), Jade Ahneman

Expressive Therapies Theses

Burnout is a syndrome in which compounded stress leads sufferers to feel physical and mental exhaustion, mental distancing, cognitive and emotional impairment, depressed mood, psychological distress, and psychosomatic complaints. Originally thought of as a phenomenon affecting only individuals in helping roles (i.e., mental health workers, teachers, nurses, and police officers), research on burnout and its effective management has become increasingly important since the 1980s, highlighting its pervasiveness across occupational and personal realms. This integrative literature review focused on understanding the effects of burnout on master 's-level counseling students, investigating how Internal Family Systems theory (IFS) and drama therapy’s role theory …

Implementing Narrative Family Art Therapy To Address Trauma And Conflict Resolution, Haley Elizabeth Watson

Expressive Therapies Theses

This study explored the implementation of principles and approaches from a complementary framework of narrative therapy, art therapy and family therapy using a trauma-informed approach with clients and their families receiving in-home therapy (IHT) services. Existing research demonstrates that narrative approaches and techniques support clients to identify alternative perspectives to their reality to promote a more empowering narrative. The intention of this research was to identify themes and possible areas of exploration for future research about how trauma-informed narrative family art therapy may be a suitable and beneficial framework for addressing conflict within the family system and healing from traumatic …

Art Therapy And A Strength-Based Approach For Working With Children With Emotional And Behavioral Challenges: A Qualitative, Arts-Based Study, James D. Wyld

Expressive Therapies Theses

Abstract

            Children with emotional and behavioral challenges represent a vulnerable population that needs more attention and innovative forms of treatment. The behavior of these young people is often marked by impulsive behaviors and intense emotions in the process of getting their basic needs met. The current study explores how a combination of art therapy and a strength-based approach is beneficial and appropriate for children in a behavioral based therapeutic school. Progress was traced through one singular client in both group and individual settings over the course of 6 months. Interventions varied with the goals of increasing self-awareness, fostering autonomy, increasing …

Menstrual Awareness & Symptomology: A Social And Biological Exploration Of Cycle Experiences, Perceptions, And Meaning-Making, Abigail Pratt

Theses & ETDs

The present study is an exploratory mer ger between sociology, psychology, behavioral endocrinology, and cognitive neuroscience, all with a focus on menstrual studies. Past research regarding menstrual impact, attitudes, transdiagonstic pathology, and clinical cognitive reframes have inspire three research objectives: 1) Examine how the transdiagnostic Dimensional Affective Sensitivity to Hormones across the Menstrual Cycle (DASH-MC) framework is represented across the hormonal patterns of two consecutive cycles, 2) Investigate how perceptions of menstruation relate to these observed fluctuations, and 3) Utilize a gratitude intervention to try and promote positive menstrual meaning-making. Six female participants completed the study, providing insightful, valenced trends …

The Epic Work Of Grief: Loss And Narrative Evolution From Classical Epic To Beloved, Marie Manassee

Yale Divinity School Theses

This thesis examines the evolution of the epic tradition through Virgil’s Aeneid, Dante’s Purgatorio, and Toni Morrison’s Beloved, arguing that grief functions as the central force through which epic form is continually reshaped across historical and cultural contexts. While epic is often associated with heroic conquest, divine destiny, or national foundation, this project contends that the genre is equally structured by acts of loss, mourning, and departure. In the Aeneid, grief becomes the condition of imperial becoming, as Aeneas’s movement toward Rome depends upon the relinquishment of personal attachments and the transformation of loss into historical action. Dante’s Purgatorio inherits …

Linking Urban Forest Ecosystem Services With The Sustainable Development Goals: A Bibliometric And Thematic Synthesis (2008–2022), Whisnu Febry Afrianto, Muhammad Ilham

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Despite growing recognition of urban forests as vital providers of ecosystem services (ES) that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), existing scientific literature remains fragmented and lacks a comprehensive synthesis. This study addresses that gap through a systematic bibliometric analysis of global research on urban forestry ecosystem services published between 2008 and 2022, encompassing 229 articles. The analysis examined the three main classifications of ecosystem services and all 17 SDGs. Publications on urban forestry ecosystem services have shown a steady increase since 2008, peaking between 2018 and 2022, while citation counts reached their highest point in 2012 and gradually declined …

Exploring The Transformative Effects Of Executive Coaching On Leaders: A Qualitative Study, Dwayne Norman

Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation examines the transformative effects of executive coaching on leaders’ development, personal growth, decision-making, and overall effectiveness across varied organizational contexts. Grounded in authentic leadership theory and employing a generic qualitative inquiry design, the study investigated how leaders who completed executive coaching describe changes in their behavior and mindset. Eleven experienced leaders participated in semi-structured interviews selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis, guided by the cyclical and inductive coding methods of Saldana (2021), generated 187 initial codes, which were distilled into 72 final codes. These final codes were then further refined into twelve categories and four overarching themes: …