Digital Commons Network^™

From Orwel’S 1984 To Assad’S Syria: When Dystopian Fiction Turns Political Reality, Shahd Gadallah

The World Research of Political Science Journal

As we approach the 76th anniversary of George Orwell’s 1984 on June 8th, the novel is a critique of tolerationism, illustrating a fictional world where propaganda, surveillance, and political repression sustain an all-controlling regime. The novel’s theme resonates with real world authoritarian governments, particularly the recently disposed Assad regime in Syria. This article explores how the governance tactics of the Assad regime such as historical revisionism, mass surveillance, state-controlled propaganda and the cult of leadership mirror the Orwellian fictional dystopian mechanisms. By comparing key elements of Orwell’s 1984 with the political atmosphere under decades of Assad regime, the article argues …

Social Media As A Political Actor: Analyzing Their Roles During Conflicts, Mohammed Wahhab Abbood

The World Research of Political Science Journal

The research explores the complex roles that social media play as political actors during conflicts, focusing on their influence on public opinion, mobilization efforts, and information dissemination. This study addresses three main research questions related to the mechanisms of public opinion influence, the role of social media in mobilizing social movements, and their impact on information dissemination in conflict scenarios in the Middle East and the war in Gaza. Using a qualitative methodology grounded in theoretical analysis, it uncovers critical insights into how algorithmic amplification shapes public discourse, the diverse effectiveness of digital mobilization, and the challenges of misinformation. The …

Scientific Research In The Arab Countries - Reality And Challenges, Issam Iyrot

The World Research of Political Science Journal

The main objective of this study is to identify the reality of scientific research in the Arab world, and the crises related to it in all aspects compared to developed countries, and to identify the factors driving scientific research, such as spending on scientific research and the number of published research in addition to the number of researchers and the scientific research environment that Arab countries have worked on. A stimulus and encouragement for scientific research, or is it an obstructing and frustrating environment for scientific research? It also aims to present some proposals that can contribute to the development …

Looking South The Moroccan Dream: Foreign Policy Theoretical Perspectives And Morocco’S Turn Towards Mother Africa, Mariam Bensaoud

The World Research of Political Science Journal

This work examines Morocco’s unprecedented foreign policy choice toward sub-Saharan Africa under the auspices of liberalism and realism in foreign policy analysis frameworks. It argues that while Morocco’s foreign policy toward the region is one of liberal character, that is market and business oriented, it is still aimed at realist grounds. In other words, while liberalism helps extract Morocco’s liberal motives for choosing Sub-Saharan Africa, it does not provide the whole picture. Considering Morocco’s national integrity and security objectives, the Western Sahara issue provides explanation for the geopolitical and strategic motives behind this foreign policy for which the realist model …

Cyberterrorism: A New Form Of Terror, A Misunderstood Crime Or A Free-Pass For Privacy Invasion? Morocco As A Case Of Study, Nada Naji

The World Research of Political Science Journal

The phenomenon of cyberterrorism remains a contentious topic among scholars, with ongoing debates regarding its very existence. Questions arise as to whether cyberterrorism constitutes a distinct crime or if it is merely an exaggerated and politically manipulated form of cybercrime. This discourse introduces several critical issues, the first being the challenge of defining terrorism itself, a concern that has persisted since the inception of the term. Additionally, there exists a significant distinction between cyberterrorism and cybercrime, necessitating a clear understanding of the boundaries that separate the two. Another pressing inquiry involves evaluating the potential threats posed by cyberterrorism and the …

Diplomacy Of Palestinian Civilizational Confrontation In Light Of A Changing World, Morsi Abdel Al Kareem Abdel Razeq

The World Research of Political Science Journal

This study aims to clarify the current changing global situation with its composition, complexities, details, daily crises, and its repercussions on the Palestinian issue, which requires Palestinian civilizational diplomacy to review the Palestinian struggle path, evaluate its performance and results, and review its work methods and strategies to deal with the dynamics of transformations and complex interactions, in a way that protects legitimate Palestinian rights. And it contributes to preserving the specificity of the Palestinian issue by preserving peace, peace and coexistence between religions, protecting cultural and religious property, and rejecting terrorism regardless of its perpetrators, in order to achieve …

Enhancing Law Enforcement Skills: A 2-Year Report On Level 3 De-Escalation Training From The National De-Escalation Training Center, Morgan Steele Ph.D., Tamara J. Lynn, Laurelle Augustine, Abigail A. Hayes

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Police officers must approach volatile situations that may escalate on a frequent basis. As first responders, they often do not have the luxury of ignoring conflict in public and must work to resolve the situation. However, officers’ presence may inadvertently escalate situations, leading to coercive responses, injury, or worse. The National De-Escalation Training Center (NDTC) has received $4.75 million dollars to provide de-escalation training that incorporates rapid personality assessment, mental health issue recognition, and situational awareness built on a procedural justice foundation. Using data from the first 2 years of trainings conducted across the United States, we have found that …

Does Reliance On Kin Erode With Market Integration? A Social Network Perspective, Ruizhe Liu

Anthropology ETDs

Kinship has long shaped human societies. Yet globalization and market integration (MI) are reshaping social structures. This dissertation investigates how kinship-based networks persist, adapt, or erode amid rapid socioeconomic change. It draws on ethnographic and social network data from 229 Mosuo households in southwest China, a matrilineal society experiencing increasing MI, to examine shifts in everyday cooperation.

The first study analyzes fixed name-generator data and finds a general decline in kin support as MI increases, though with considerable variation. The second study uses count models to explore unbounded support networks, showing that kin ties remain central in reproductive contexts, while …

Engaging For A Sustainable Manufacturing: The Power Of Adaptive Leadership In Industry 5.0, Rizwana Rasheed, Aamir Rashid, Abdul Hafaz, Rashid Hashmi

Publications and Research

In today’s highly competitive and rapidly evolving business environment, organizations must continuously adapt to technological advancements and market volatility. This study examines how adaptive leadership influences sustainable manufacturing through employee engagement, with employee wellbeing as a mediator and mindfulness as a moderator. Using data from 1,388 U.S. manufacturers and PLS-SEM analysis, the research confirms that adaptive leadership positively impacts sustainable manufacturing through engaged employees and enhanced wellbeing. Additionally, employee mindfulness significantly strengthens the relationship between adaptive leadership and engagement. These findings highlight the importance of leadership styles that foster employee participation and mental wellbeing in achieving long-term manufacturing sustainability. The …

Culturally Inclusive End-Of-Life Simulation For Undergraduate Nursing Students, Jodi Olson

DNP Projects

Background
End-of-life (EOL) care is a challenging yet essential aspect of nursing practice. Nursing students often report low confidence and competence in managing culturally and spiritually diverse EOL scenarios. Simulation-based learning has proven to be effective in enhancing students' preparedness for complex clinical situations.

Purpose
This project aimed to evaluate the impact of a high-fidelity, culturally, and spiritually diverse EOL simulation on undergraduate nursing students’ perceived competence in delivering culturally sensitive EOL care.

Methods
A quantitative pre/post design was used with a convenience sample of 50 junior-year nursing students enrolled in a chronic care management course. Students participated in a …

Silent Misplacement: Leadless Pacemaker In The Left Ventricle Discovered Over A Year Later-How Did It End Up There? Could It Explain The Stroke?, Abdalhakim Shubietah, Amir Singh, Qutaiba Qafisheh, Pouyan Razminia, Muath Baniowda, Abdalrahman Assaassa, Hosam I. Taha, Roaa Aljunaidi

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Introduction: Leadless intracardiac pacemakers (LICPs) reduce lead-related complications but may be malpositioned in patients with unrecognized structural defects. We report a 69-year-old man with high-grade AV block whose LICP, intended for right ventricular placement, was found in the left ventricle via an undiagnosed ostium secundum ASD after presenting with multifocal embolic strokes 16 months later. Case Presentation: Stroke workup for acute right-sided symptoms revealed the LICP in the LV and a large, previously undiagnosed ASD with bidirectional shunting and severe pulmonary hypertension. Embolic infarcts were attributed to either paradoxical embolism or device-related thromboembolism. Due to high surgical risk, …

Estimating Galactic Structure Using Galactic Binaries Resolved By Space-Based Gravitational Wave Observatories, Shao-Dong Zhao, Xue-Hao Zhang, Soumya Mohanty, Màrius Josep Fullana I Alfonso, Yu-Xiao Liu, Qung-Ying Xie

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Space-based gravitational wave detectors, such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) and Taiji, will observe GWs from O(108) galactic binary systems, allowing a completely unobscured view of the Milky Way structure. While previous studies have established theoretical expectations based on idealized data-analysis methods that use the true catalog of sources, we present an end-to-end analysis pipeline for inferring galactic structure parameters based on the detector output alone. We employ the GBSIEVER algorithm to extract GB signals from LISA Data Challenge data and develop a maximum likelihood approach to estimate a bulge-disk galactic model using the resolved GBs. We introduce …

The Pressures Experienced By First-Generation Students With Afro-Diasporic Migrant Parents In The University Setting, Bryanna M. Larnyoh

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Guided by a life-reflectance perspective, this thesis investigates the academic and emotional experiences of BYU students with Afro-Diaporic immigrant parents, focusing on how they navigate familial expectations, cultural brokering, and identity formation.

The researcher conducted qualitative research in the form of interviewing five BYU students, born in the United States of America, with Afro-Diasporic migrant parents. By identifying positive and negative effects of their experiences on their socio-emotional health, the results identified commonalities and deviations in the students’ experiences that affect their overall BYU experience and cultural identity awareness.

Analysis Of The Impact Of Transfer Funds And Local Revenue On Government Capital Expenditure In Regencies/Cities In West Java: Testing The Existence Of The Flypaper Effect, Maulani Dwi Asmarawati, Ismail Marzuki Randos

Journal of Accounting Auditing and Business

This study analyzes the impact of transfer funds (General Allocation Fund and Special Allocation Fund) and Local Revenue on Capital Expenditure in Regency / City of West Java Province during the period 2018 2022, as well as testing the existence of the flypaper effect phenomenon. Using secondary data from the Local Government Financial Statements and BPK Audit Reports of 18 Regencies and 9 Cities in West Java, this study uses panel data regression analysis with the Random Effect Model (REM). The results show that the General Allocation Fund has no significant effect on Capital Expenditure, although it has a positive …

Multitasking While Walking: How Green Noise And Texting Alter Gait, Kirstin Merrill, Kyle Navarro, Raymond Ngu, Nathan Nguyen, Alex Owyang, Anthony Prajin, Karli Slater, Uyen Truong, Ryan Ye, Eileen Zhu, Sebastian Herrera Vargas, Raj Kumar Chauhan, Sivakumar Rajagopal, Seong Hyun Moon, Michael Shiraishi, Rahul Soangra

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

This study examines the combined effects of green noise and texting on gait to understand how multitasking and auditory stimuli affect walking stability. Green noise, associated with relaxation, was the environmental stimulus; texting the cognitive distractor. We hypothesized texting would reduce cadence and stride length, with green noise either stabilizing or disrupting gait. Ten participants walked on a treadmill under five conditions: normal walking (NW), no texting/sound (WNTNS), sound only (WNTS), texting only (WTNS), and texting with sound (WTS). Gait parameters—step length, step width, single support time, and terminal double support time—were analyzed. Step length decreased in WNTS (p …

Career Counseling With Foster Adolescents Transitioning To Adulthood: A Phenomenological Study Using A Psychoeducation Group Counseling Approach, Carly Paro-Tompkins, Elda Veloso Ph.D., Galaxina G. Wright, Jennifer Reeves, Samantha Both

The Qualitative Report

Young adults who age out of the foster care system face a unique set of challenges including increased risk of homelessness, substance use, mental health problems, and difficulty with employment. The current phenomenological study aims to understand participants’ experiences of Project P.A.T.H., a group psychoeducational group intervention aimed at improving self-efficacy, employment hope, and job search knowledge in individuals who were unemployed or underemployed and actively seeking employment. Participants were recruited through the FLITE Center, a nonprofit organization providing services supporting individuals transitioning out of the foster system. A total of 23 participants aged 18-26 participated in this study. The …

Exploring Giftedness And The Gifted Learner In Education And Beyond: An Autoethnographic Study With Critical Friends, Katrina Reynen-Woodward, Penny N. Round Dr, Pearl Subban, Edwin Creely

The Qualitative Report

The concept of giftedness is complex, contested and evolving and may be thus frustratingly challenging to apply in practice. One area of emerging research is understanding the personal experiences of those who identify as gifted in order to better represent the myriad culturally diverse conceptions of giftedness that evolve over a lifetime. In this article, I employ an autoethnographic approach to explore aspects of my adult identity as an atypical learner. This journey unfolds in crafted vignettes that reveal the complexities and multi-dimensionality of my learning and are analysed using Gagné’s Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT). As I …

Road To Recovery: Understanding The Personality Typology, Clinical Features, And Risk Of Relapse In Filipinos With Substance Use Problems, Marc Angelo Ronquillo, Marc Eric Reyes, Ryan Francis Cayubit

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Knowing the patient’s personality can assist the clinician in improving their relationship and tailoring the interventions for the patient. Several studies have reported that treatment and prevention programs must be tailored to an individual’s social and cultural attributes to facilitate continuous recovery and prevent relapse. This study aimed to develop a deeper understanding of the personality typology, clinical features, and risk of relapse in Filipinos with substance use problems in rehabilitation centers. We used a sequential-explanatory mixed-method approach with two phases (Phase 1: descriptive, cross-sectional design; Phase 2: phenomenological design) to provide an evidence-based framework to tailor treatment according to …

Delusion Or Faith? Exploring Religious Delusions In Individuals With Schizophrenia Within The Banjar Culture, Nabila Regita Putri Mustafa, Nur’Aulia Maisyarah, Aulia Maulidina, Muhammad Reza Aditya, Muhammad Abdan Shadiqi

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Schizophrenia is often characterized by delusions and hallucinations, which often appear as manifestations of religious delusions in the Banjar cultural context. This phenomenon can be understood through the hyper-religiosity theory, which explains excessive religious behavior in individuals with schizophrenia. This qualitative case study aims to identify the forms of religious delusion in individuals with hyper-religiosity and the underlying causal factors. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations with 10 informants, comprising four individuals with religious delusions selected using purposive sampling based on their experience of studying Tasawwuf and experiencing religious delusions and six significant others. The findings show that …

The Psychological And Social Experiences Of Hospitalized Patients With Covid-19: A Qualitative Study, Fatma Kantaş Yılmaz, Zeynep Koca, Zuhal Kunduracılar

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Individuals infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have experienced torrents of problems associated with the pandemic, impairing their health, mental, social, and economic conditions. This study aimed to determine the psychological reactions and emotions of patients with COVID-19 infection and the social consequences during hospitalization. The current study used a qualitative and phenomenological design at a training and research hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. The study sample included 17 patients (41.6 ± 16.5 years) who had been discharged after COVID-19 treatment. The gathered information was classified into two main domains (social and psychological) and relevant themes and subthemes using a content …

Brain Donation Programs Now Perhaps At Risk Of Losing Funding Are Key To A Huntington's Disease Cure A Family's Story, Kenneth P. Serbin Phd

At Risk for Huntington's Disease

No abstract provided.

Rural Hospital Philanthropy: Community Awareness And Willingness To Donate To The Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit Program, Linda Kimsey, Bettye A. Apenteng, Samuel Opoku, Charles F. Owens, Angela Peden, Aishat Adewoye, Foram Patel

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The Rural Hospital Tax Credit program, legislated by the Georgia General Assembly, provides financial support to rural hospitals by allowing Georgia taxpayers to contribute to eligible rural hospitals, receiving a 100% tax credit for their donation. While the policy aims to improve hospital financial stability, little is known about public awareness of the program or factors influencing willingness to donate. This study examines community members’ awareness of the Georgia rural hospital tax credit program and their willingness to donate to it to better understand donor perspectives in underserved areas.

METHODS: The study analyzed secondary data obtained from surveys completed …

Translation, Adaptation, And Validation Of Player Experience Of Need Satisfaction Scale (Pens) Modified Version In Malaysian Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (Moba) Players, Soo Ting T'Ng Dr, Khee Hoong Ho, Wen Sam Leong, Poh Chua Siah, Nurul Iman Binti Abdul Jalil, Kee Pau

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

This study aimed to translate, adapt, and validate the modified version of the Player Experience of Need Satisfaction (PENS) for Malaysian Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) players. The translation and adaptation process involved a rigorous procedure with nine mental health and linguistic experts. A non-probability sampling method was applied by recruiting 491 participants from the MOBA Facebook groups. The parallel analysis indicated a two-factor structure (autonomy and competence as one factor and relatedness as another factor). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a better model fit for the translated version compared with the original English version, with satisfactory psychometric properties. Future studies …

Body Acceptance, Body Dysmorphia Symptoms, And Selfie Behavior: Unpacking Their Relationships Among Filipinos, Marc Eric S. Reyes, Alyssa Ashley O. Ang Tong, Sherry Lyn H. Cada, Raymond Nathan A. Lopez, Jv Louise D. Natividad

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

The emergence and proliferation of social media gave rise to “selfitis,” an obsession-compulsive engagement in photo selfie-related activities. This phenomenon raises a problem, especially for people experiencing body acceptance concerns and body dysmorphia symptoms, as both of these variables may be linked with photo selfie-taking behavior. With the Philippines having the second-highest average daily social media usage globally, this study explored the association between body acceptance, body dysmorphia symptoms, and selfie behavior. We utilized a cross-sectional explanatory design and investigated the possible mediating and moderating role of body dysmorphia symptoms in the relationship between body acceptance and selfies among 506 …

Gait Adaptations Under Cognitive And Motor Dual-Task Conditions, Gabriel Coutinho Gazio, Denise Litonjua, Alex Omaszta, Lindsey Perry, Sophia Tsotras, Mason Salazar, Julie Woo, Alicia Qiu, Julian Palmer, Emma Rogers, Christopher Sagahon, Ethan Parker, Ray Kasama, Joonsuk Choi, Raj Kumar Chauhan, Sivakumar Rajagopal, Seong Hyun Moon, Michael Shiraishi, Rahul Soangra

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Modern walking often involves secondary tasks that may increase fall risk, especially in older adults. About one-third of adults aged 65+ fall annually, with dual-tasking further elevating this risk. This study examines how cognitive and motor dual-tasks affect gait variability. Ten healthy young adults completed baseline and three dual-task conditions: (1) walking with a Stroop test, (2) walking while carrying a tray with water, and (3) both tasks combined. Gait parameters—including step length, step width, stride length, and double support time—were analyzed. Significant alterations were observed with P-values of 0.0019 (right step length), 0.004 (step width), 0.0007 (stride length), and …

The Operational Performance Of Buildings In A Humid Subtropical Climate: Insights From Empirical Data And Assessment Models, Oluwafemi Awolesi

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis evaluates the operational performance of residential and non-residential buildings in a humid subtropical climate, emphasizing Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and energy performance through empirical data and assessment models. Motivated by the increasing need for integrated sustainability evaluations, this study combines a systematic review with multi-method field investigations to advance understanding in this domain. The systematic review critically analyzed 99 case study articles, identifying dominant IEQ assessment methodologies and highlighting methodological inconsistencies that hinder cross-study comparability. Emerging computational approaches, although promising, remain underutilized. The review advocates for standardized, climate-responsive, and feedback-oriented evaluation frameworks. Field investigations assessed IEQ and energy …

Adaptive Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning For Electric Vehicle Charging Optimization Under Dynamic Traffic Conditions, Shaghayegh Rabbanian

LSU Master's Theses

Electric vehicle (EV) charging optimization is a critical challenge in sustainable transportation. This study focuses on three fundamental questions: (1) when is the best time to charge an EV, (2) where is the optimal charging location, and (3) how should charging be planned considering navigation and routing decisions. Our primary objective is to determine the optimal time and location for EV charging while accounting for key factors such as real-time traffic conditions, spatial distribution of charging stations, and EV-specific attributes such as state of charge (SOC), driving range, and efficiency. To develop a robust and adaptive EV charging recommendation system, …

Dietary Lipids Induce Ppard And Bcl6 To Repress Macrophage Il-23 Induction After Intestinal Injury And Lps Exposure, Ashleigh M Gil, Daniel F Zegarra-Ruiz, Wan-Jung Wu, Kendra Norwood, Adrien Assie, Buck S Samuel, Angela M Major, Gretchen E Diehl, Andrea A Hill Mcalester

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Unresolved tissue damage is a common feature of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that facilitates disease progression. Here, we showed that high animal fat diets (HFD), an environmental risk factor associated with IBD pathogenesis, suppress intestinal macrophage production of critical tissue repair responses after damage. This includes reduced IL-23 production, which drives downstream production of IL-22, which is needed for barrier repair. Indicating that dietary lipids interfere with responses to microbial molecules needed to induce barrier protective functions, we found oleic acid could directly suppress macrophage Il23a induction after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. Deleting the lipid transporter CD36 on macrophages restored the …

Factors Influencing Successful Community Reentry For Formerly Incarcerated Men Who Have Received Supportive Services: A Qualitative Study, Ryan W. Fechner

Theses and Graduate Projects

The current study examined reentry experience among men following incarceration to determine salient protective and risk factors. The study reviews the impacts of incarceration, previous factors of recidivism identified in research, and qualitative research conducted on justice-involved individuals. Using a grounded theory qualitative approach, nine men recruited from a substance use treatment program who were released from prison within the past five years were interviewed to explore protective and risk factors. Findings from the current study were consistent with previous research in identifying barriers to reentry, such as difficulties finding housing, employment, and transportation. Additional findings indicate the importance of …

The Influence Of Internal Control Systems, Whistleblowing Systems, And Organizational Culture On Fraud Prevention At Pt Triana Harvestindo Nusantara, Linda Linda, Farah Latifah Nurfauziah, Sri Suharti

Journal of Accounting Auditing and Business

The increasing frequency of fraud cases in the industrial sector, including textiles, reflects the insufficient implementation of internal controls, whistleblowing mechanisms, and ethical organizational culture. Internal actors both individuals and groups are often responsible, underscoring the need for a systematic approach to prevention. This study examines the influence of internal control systems, whistleblowing systems, and organizational culture on fraud prevention at PT Triana Harvestindo Nusantara. Using a quantitative, causally associative method, data were gathered from 200 employees through structured questionnaires and analyzed via SPSS version 25. Results indicate that all three variables significantly contribute to mitigating fraud risk. The findings …