Digital Commons Network^™

Blame In The North Korean Famine, 1994-1998, Zoe Ngan

BYU Asian Studies Student Journal

This paper intends to analyse blame for the North Korean famine through Amartya Sen’s entitlement theory, which suggests that the North Korean state was largely to blame. The collapse of the public distribution system (PDS), as well as the North Korean government’s misallocation of aid, were most significant in obstructing North Koreans’ ability to access food, and can be interpreted as severe entitlement ‘failures’ that were directly facilitated by the state.

Surficial Geologic Map Of The Smiths Grove 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Kentucky, Meredith Swallom, Bailee Nicole Hodelka, Matthew Massey, Hannah Hayes, Charles Wells Iii, Emily Morris

Contract Reports--KGS

The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS), a state-supported independent research center within the University of Kentucky, is committed to providing accurate and unbiased geologic information on natural resources, environmental issues, and natural hazards in Kentucky. While Kentucky boasts complete coverage by 1:24,000-scale geologic bedrock maps, surficial materials have been largely overlooked, except in regions with thick deposits obscuring the bedrock. Given the increasing trends in economic development and urbanization, detailed surficial geologic mapping has become crucial for supporting geotechnical planning, environmental management, and hazard assessment. In response, KGS has prioritized new, detailed surficial geologic mapping since 2004, specifically targeting areas anticipated …

Two Perspectives On Immigrants In The Labor Market: The Immigration Act Of 1990, Shria Holla

Gaines Fellow Senior Theses

When evaluating the impact of immigration, extant economic literature has overwhelmingly focused on natives and men. The widely accepted methodology in the literature usually segments by education and by experience. Segmenting by education has been found to not be viable for immigrants due to immigrant downgrading, and experience is not conducive for women since it is calculated based on age. Through both an empirical analysis and an ethnography, this study takes the initial steps to include existent immigrants and women in the discussion. The economic empirical analysis evaluates the impact of immigration on existent immigrants, a growing portion of the …

Discovering Previously Overlooked Sets Of Piano Compositions In 24 Major And Minor Keys By Four Russian Composers At The Turn Of The 20th Century, Eri Nakagawa

Journal of Urban Culture Research

At the turn of the 20th century, Russian composers Felix Blumenfeld, Anton Arensky, César Cui, and Reinhold Glière crafted sets of piano character pieces, notably the 24 Preludes op. 17 (1892), 24 Morceaux caractéristiques op. 36 (1894), 25 Préludes op. 64 (1903), and 25 Preludes op. 30 (published in 1906 - 1908), respectively. Blumenfeld mirrors the tonal organization of Chopin’s 24 Preludes, op. 28, while Arensky and Glière draw inspiration from Johann Sebastian Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier. Cui innovatively differs from Chopin’s scheme by sequencing minor key works before relative major ones. Both Cui and Glière’s sets encompass 25 preludes, …

Local Content And Placemaking In Small And Medium-Sized Towns (Smsts) : A Tale Of Two Cities In South Korea, Dongsuk Huh

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study aims to explore the process of sustainable placemaking in small and medium-sized towns utilizing local cultural resources and examine the characteristics of their local content. A qualitative analysis is conducted on two cases, namely, Gongju and Buyeo in South Korea, which are experiencing depopulation and regional shrinkage. These two cases emphasise the local content and placeness that can be subjectively experienced in small towns and villages instead of focusing on the creation of large-scale landmarks and iconic artefacts. By highlighting connectivity and unified storytelling amongst various places in their neighborhoods, these cases were able to stimulate the cultural …

Media Art Community Festival Based On Local Culture In Indonesia : An Ethno-Pedagogy Perspective, Jeong Ok Jeon, Juju Masunah, Tri Karyono

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study reviews the Indonesian government-led Festival Komunitas Seni Media (FKSM) or Media Art Community Festival in English from an ethno-pedagogical perspective to uncover its strategies for enhancing local cultural values. Using descriptive and historical approaches, data were collected through literature studies, participatory observation, document studies, and personal reflection, and analyzed thematically. The findings are: First, FKSM provides artists with opportunities to learn about the local host city’s culture as their creative inspiration (value of locality). Second, FKSM facilitates knowledge sharing between curators and local management for future festivals (value of continuity). Third, FKSM promotes inclusiveness by selecting host cities …

Digital Interactions And Audience Dynamics : Analyzing Youtube's Role In Indonesian Performance Arts, Gabriel Roosmargo Lono Lastoro Simatupang, Muchammad Bayu Tejo Sampurno

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This study draws on the framework of mediatization to analyze how YouTube, as a digital entity, facilitates and transforms audience relations and participation in performances. It employs a literature review to explore the intricate dynamics of audience interaction and performative presence on YouTube within the Indonesian context. The findings from engagement metrics powerfully suggest interaction that exceeds traditional audience participation, signaling a shift towards more immersive and interactive consumption of performance arts. The results underline a shift in audience roles from passive receivers to active participants empowered by the mediatization process with YouTube. This transformation strongly impacts cultural production as …

Reimagining The Music Industry: In Search Of A More Perfect Union, Loren E. Mulraine

Law Faculty Scholarship

This Article critiques the entrenched business practices of the modern music industry and argues that its prevailing contractual and financial structures disproportionately disadvantage artists. Focusing on ownership of master recordings, unilateral option clauses, controlled composition provisions, recoupment practices, and copyright termination rights under the Copyright Act of 1976, the Article demonstrates how industry norms undermine the economic interests of creators despite rising industry revenues. It contends that artists should receive equity ownership in master recordings, benefit from shorter and more balanced contract terms, obtain full statutory mechanical royalties, and have recoupment calculated at net receipt rates rather than on their …

Tracheostomy Decision Making And Counseling: Comparing Providers' And Caregivers' Perspectives And Perceptions, Andy Liu, Catherine Hammack-Aviran, Jessica Turnbull

Law Faculty Scholarship

Background: The decision to place a tracheostomy in children is complex and involves factors beyond the medical procedure, including quality of life, values, and goals. Providers play an important role in counseling caregivers and guiding them through the decision-making process. There are no established guidelines for tracheostomy counseling, leading to variations in practice. Additionally, how caregivers receive information differs from how providers believe they deliver it. Although studies have explored caregivers’ and providers’ viewpoints, none have examined them concurrently.

Background: The primary aim of this exploratory study is to investigate differences between providers’ and caregivers’ perceptions …

Advancing Genomics To Improve Health Equity, Ebony B. Madden, Lucia Hindorff, Vence Bonham, Tabia Akintobi, Esteban Gonzalez Burchard, Kellen E. Baker, Rene L. Begay, John D. Carpten, Nancy J. Cox, Valentina Di Francesco, Denise Dillard, Faith Fletcher, S. Malia Fullerton, Nanibaa' Garrison, Catherine Hammack-Aviran, Vanessa Hiratsuka, James E.K. Hildreth, Carol Horowitz, Chanita A. Hughes-Halbert, Michael Inouye, Amber Jackson, Latrice Landry, Rick Kittles, Jeff T. Leek, Nita A. Limdi, Nicole Lockhart, Elizabeth Ofili, Eliseo Perez-Stable, Maya Sabatello, Lorjetta Schools, Jennifer Troyer, Ben Wilfond, Genevieve Wojcik, Judy Cho, Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, Eric Green

Law Faculty Scholarship

This perspective article examines the relationship between human genomics research and health equity, highlighting persistent disparities in the design, participation, and implementation of genomic science. Although genomics has substantial potential to improve disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, the benefits of genomic advances have not been equitably distributed across populations. Historically, genomic research has disproportionately relied on datasets derived from individuals of European ancestry, resulting in limited generalizability of findings and the risk of exacerbating existing health disparities. Drawing on insights from a National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) workshop and a targeted literature review, the authors identify key challenges and …

Heresies, Heretics, And Hermeneutics: The Battle Of Textualism Against Pragmatism--And Itself--On The Robert Court, Jeffrey A. Van Detta

Belmont Law Review

This Article examines the deepening jurisprudential conflict on the Roberts Court over statutory interpretation, framing the contest between textualism and pragmatism as analogous to theological disputes over orthodoxy and heresy. Drawing on the interpretive writings of Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen Breyer, as well as the scholarly work of William Eskridge, the Article argues that contemporary textualism—particularly in its more rigid forms—risks distorting statutory meaning when divorced from broader contextual and purposive analysis. Through an eclectic examination of three statutory battlegrounds—the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, Reconstruction-era civil rights legislation and its modern successors, and the Alien Tort Statute—the Article demonstrates …

Eliminating Tennessee's Parental Bill Of Wrongs In Favor Of A Children's Bill Of Rights, April Carroll Meldrum, Bruce L. Beverly

Belmont Law Review

In Eliminating Tennessee’s Parental Bill of Wrongs in Favor of a Children’s Bill of Rights, April Carroll Meldrum and Bruce L. Beverly critically examine Tennessee’s Parental Bill of Rights (PBOR), codified at Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-101(a)(3), and argue that it has become outdated, counterproductive, and misaligned with modern family law policy. The authors trace the legislative history of the PBOR from its 1997 enactment through subsequent amendments, demonstrating how a statute originally intended to ensure access and informational parity for noncustodial parents has evolved into a rigid and litigation-fueling mechanism. They contend that the PBOR conflicts with Tennessee’s …

Integrating Sustainable Development Goals In The Law Curriculum: Legal Education For "People, Planet, And Prosperity", Md Saiful Karim, Abdullah-Al Arif, Andrew Garwood-Gowers, Fran Humphries, Md Mahtab Uddin, Afshin Akhtar-Khavari, Rowena Maguire, Bridget Lewis, Lucy Cradduck, Lachlan Robb, Tina Cockburn, Kelly Purser, Sam Boyle, Anne Matthew, Brydon Wang, Alex Deagon

Belmont Law Review

This article argues that meaningful integration of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the law curriculum is essential to preparing future lawyers to address contemporary global challenges. Drawing on the historical evolution of sustainable development and its embedding in international and domestic legal systems, the authors demonstrate the multifaceted relationship between the SDGs and diverse areas of law, extending well beyond environmental regulation to encompass economic, social, and human rights dimensions. Focusing on professional law degrees such as the LLB and JD, the article presents targeted case studies illustrating how SDG awareness can be incorporated into core and …

Deepfakes: Identity Misappropriation In The Digital Age, Benjamin Tandy

Belmont Law Review

This Note examines the rapid emergence of deepfake technology and its growing threat to individual identity, reputation, and democratic processes. Tracing the technological development of synthetic media—from “cheapfakes” to AI-driven deepfakes—the author highlights how generative adversarial networks and machine learning tools have enabled the creation of highly realistic, nonconsensual visual and audio fabrications. The Note documents the predominance of deepfake pornography and the increasing use of synthetic media in political misinformation campaigns, emphasizing the reputational and dignitary harms suffered by victims. After surveying state-level legislative responses, including both criminal prohibitions and civil causes of action, the author evaluates the limitations …

Notorious: John Singer Sargent's Madame X, Frankie M. Smith

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The meaning and controversy behind John Singer Sargent's Madame X painting.

Athletic Trainers' Perceptions Of Salary Negotiation Decision-Making During The Hiring Process, Julie M. Cavallario, Kim Detwiler, Leanne Jones, Indigo White, Cailee E. Welch

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: Appropriate salaries for athletic trainers (ATs) have been a contentious topic for decades. While professional advocacy efforts to increase ATs' salaries have gained traction, little is known about ATs' experiences with negotiation during the hiring process.

Objective: To explore the reasons, influences, and factors influencing ATs' negotiation decisions.

Design: Qualitative study.

Setting: Individual video interviews.

Patients or other participants: 28 ATs who participated in a previous study and indicated a willingness to participate in the qualitative follow-up were interviewed (17 women, 10 men, 1 non-binary individual; age = 37.8±8.9 years; athletic training experience = 15.1±8.3 years). Of the 28 …

Effect Of Family-Centered Care Interventions On Well-Being Of Caregivers Of Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review, Deepalaxmi Paresh Poojari, Shashikiran Umakanth, G. Arun Maiya, Bhamini Krishna Rao, Sonia Khurana, Senthil Kumaran D., Radhika Attal, Marie Brien

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Caring for a child with long-term functional limitations can have a negative impact on the physical and psychological well-being of the caregiver. Family-centered care (FCC) interventions have the potential to empower caregivers and contribute to their well-being. This systematic review aimed to synthesize existing evidence on the effectiveness of FCC interventions in improving the well-being of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP), and identify the key components of such interventions that are most commonly practiced and deemed effective.

Methods: This review systematically searched seven databases for randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of any FCC intervention on …

Disparities In Low Birthweight And The Influence Of Access To Food, Maternity Care, And Medicaid Coverage Of Doula Services, Marissa Ann Beldon

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the ways in which access acts as both a barrier and facilitator to healthy birth outcomes. In particular, access to food, maternity care, and Medicaid coverage of doula services are explored alongside low birthweight in this dissertation through both population health and health disparity lenses. Low birthweight is a leading cause of infant mortality and thought to reflect nations’ long-term public health problems such as maternal malnutrition and inadequate receipt of maternity care. As such, sufficient access to healthy food and maternity care is essential for healthy birth outcomes.

Chapter 1 of this dissertation contains an introduction …

Effect Of Relationship Motivation On Cnm Relationship Satisfaction, Keigan Clark

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This paper explored the impact relationship formation motivation had on the satisfaction of consensual non-monogamous (CNM) relationships. Using the Self Determination Theory (SDT) concept of autonomy this study tested if more intrinsically motivated open and polyamorous relationships had higher levels of relationship satisfaction compared to more extrinsically motivated relationships. A total of 564 participants completed a web survey distributed through social media and snowball sampling. Participants filled out basic demographical data as well as completing the Couples Satisfaction Index and the Couples Motivation Questionnaire. There was no difference found in relationship satisfaction in polyamorous or open relationships based on intrinsic …

A Sampling Strategy For Longitudinal And Cross-Sectional Analyses Using A Large National Claims Database, Timothy L. Mcmurry, Jennifer M. Lobo, Soyoun Kim, Hyojung Kang, Min-Woong Sohn

Health Management and Policy Faculty Publications

Importance: The United States (US) Medicare claims files are valuable sources of national healthcare utilization data with over 45 million beneficiaries each year. Due to their massive sizes and costs involved in obtaining the data, a method of randomly drawing a representative sample for retrospective cohort studies with multi-year follow-up is not well-documented.

Objective: To present a method to construct longitudinal patient samples from Medicare claims files that are representative of Medicare populations each year.

Design: Retrospective cohort and cross-sectional designs.

Participants: US Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes over a 10-year period.

Methods: Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary Files were used to …

Comparing Corequisite And Prerequisite Models For Supporting Underprepared Students In Higher Education, Sara Hendricks

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

This dissertation investigates the impact of two prevalent types of developmental education (DE) courses—prerequisite and corequisite—on student retention in higher education. As institutions increasingly address concerns over the academic preparedness of first-year students, many implement remedial education courses to support those who are underprepared (National Center for Education Statistics, n.d.). However, these courses disproportionately affect students of color and often contribute to higher dropout rates (USG, 2021; Bailey & Jaggars, 2016). While previous research indicates that corequisite courses, where students enroll in standard courses with additional academic support, can positively impact retention, there is limited knowledge on their effect on …

"And I / Am The Arrow": The Narrative, Personae Construction, And Language Ideology Of Confessional Poets' Identity Performance, Madison Fuchs

Theses and Dissertations--Linguistics

This thesis argues for consideration of linguistic features in service of raising the postmodern confessionalist poet identity as an utterance and an act of loyalty to performance. The embodiment of the confessionalist identity, attributed to the features used to adhere to the confessional mode, is realized through the invention of confessional personae. These confessional personae merge the responsibilities of the speaker and the narrator to convey a pseudo-autobiographical utterance to a designated audience. In this thesis, I analyze a sequence of poems that either possess taboo subjects or utilize linguistic functions, like indexicality and audience design, that mark its mode. …

Deep Learning Applications On Ionospheric Studies, Yang Pan

Physics Dissertations - Archive

Machine learning techniques, particularly deep learning techniques, have been vigorously pursued to tackle space physics problems and achieved some impressive results recently. The growth of deep learning technologies in different domains enables innovative solutions to those problems compared to conventional methods. Filling data gaps in instrumental observations is among the demanding issues, which benefits space physicists to study ionospheric phenomena with complete data coverage. Global total electron content (TEC) and regional ionospheric electron density (Ne) are among important physical parameters in ionospheric studies. Due to the limited coverage of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) ground receivers and sporadic …

Next-Generation Alpha Irradiation Platform: Design, Development, And Applications In Radiobiological Research, Harsh Arya

Physics Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation unveils the innovative design, development, and application of a next-generation alpha irradiation platform, specifically crafted for pre-clinical and university-level radiobiological research. Driven by the quest to overcome the inherent limitations of existing alpha particle irradiators, this study explores the profound therapeutic potential of alpha particles in cancer treatment. Known for their exceptional high linear energy transfer (LET), alpha particles exhibit a unique prowess in inducing clustered DNA damage, sparking intriguing possibilities for highly targeted cancer therapies. Yet, their application has been historically constrained by their limited range of biological tissues and the absence of precise delivery systems.

Our …

The Death Of Slim Shady: Eminem’S Lyrical Life Course Trajectory, Anthony Raul Rosales, Anthony R. Rosales

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses - Archive

Eminem's lyrical life course trajectory helps provide insight into hip-hop and rap music's arguably criminal social stigma. Previous studies have examined Eminem's songs, but these topics focused on singular songs and themes rather than a lyrical life course. This study fills the gap by providing a content analysis of Eminem's solo studio albums, where it identifies themes and patterns that appear in the album's lyrics. The purpose of this study was to use research questions based on theory and previous research to examine Eminem's lyrics and personas. Using Eminem's thirteen solo studio albums consisting of two-hundred-nine songs, this study focused …

A Comprehensive Exploration Of Fundamental And Experimental Characteristics Of Nanophotonic Metasurfaces, Nasrin Razmjooei

Electrical Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The advent of diffraction gratings with periodic unit cells has led to numerous advancements in theoretical studies and practical applications. Recently, these structures have been recognized as subsets of “meta-surfaces” or “meta-materials”, employing periodically aligned features at the wavelength scale to manipulate electromagnetic wave properties for diverse applications. This manipulation extends to controlling amplitude, phase, spectral distribution, polarization state, and the local mode structure of light across various spectral expressions. A significant characteristic of these metasurfaces is their ability to couple incident light to laterally propagating leaky Bloch modes in the subwavelength regime, resulting in resonance at specific wavelengths known …

A Wearable Sensing System For High-Speed Interface Of Wide Range Electrochemical Sensor Array, Shanthala Lakshminarayana

Electrical Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Electrochemical sensing systems have emerged as indispensable tools in various fields due to their remarkable sensitivity, selectivity, and versatility. They play a pivotal role in modern research, industry, environmental monitoring, and healthcare devices. In environmental monitoring, these systems are deployed for detecting pollutants, heavy metals, and toxic gases, facilitating real-time monitoring, and ensuring environmental safety. Whereas, in the biomedical field, electrochemical sensing systems play a crucial role in diagnosing diseases, monitoring biomarkers etc, thereby revolutionizing healthcare practices.

Cost-effective wearable electrochemical sensing devices are significant for democratizing healthcare and improving public health outcomes. These devices enable continuous monitoring of physiological parameters, …

Pulsed Dielectric Breakdown And Permittivity Characterization Of Composite Solid Insulators In Pulsed Power Systems, Shawn T. Scoggin

Electrical Engineering Dissertations - Archive

In high voltage pulsed power systems, liquids and gases are often used as insulating materials because they offer high breakdown strengths, conform around complex geometries, and are self-healing, but they can introduce significant engineering challenges and restrictions when it comes to implementing them. Solid dielectrics can be desirable for improving the maintenance requirements, shelf life, and power/energy density metrics associated with insulating high voltage pulsed power systems, however they possess design challenges of their own. Solid dielectrics are not self-healing and can be difficult to manufacture, especially around complex geometries. Epoxy dielectrics are of high interest because of their naturally …

When Brain Meets Artificial Intelligence, Lu Zhang

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

When we review the history of development of artificial intelligence (AI), we will find that brain science plays a pivotal role in fostering breakthroughs in AI, such as artificial neural networks (ANNs). Today, AI has made remarkable strides, particularly with the emergence of large language models (LLMs), surpassing expectations and achieving human-level performance in certain tasks. Nonetheless, an insurmountable gap remains between AI and human intelligence. It is urgent to establish a bridge between brain science and AI, promoting their mutual enhancement and collaborations. This involve establishing connections from brain science to AI (brain-inspired AI), and reversely, from AI to …

Exploring Machine Learning Techniques For Embedded Hardware, Neel R. Vora

Computer Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

This thesis delves into the intricate symbiosis between machine learning (ML) methodologies and embedded hardware systems, with a primary focus on augmenting efficiency and real-time processing capabilities across diverse application domains. It confronts the formidable challenge of deploying sophisticated ML algorithms on resource-constrained embedded hardware, aiming not only to optimize performance but also to minimize energy consumption. Innovative strategies are explored to tailor ML models for streamlined execution on embedded platforms, with validation conducted across various real-world application domains. Notable contributions include the development of a deep-learning framework leveraging a variational autoencoder (VAE) for compressing physiological signals from wearables while …