Digital Commons Network^™

An Analysis Of Artificial Intelligence Systems On The Teaching Of Music Improvisation, Composition, And Instrumental Pedagogy, Carter K. Murphey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Artificial intelligence (AI) has experienced a significant boom in the first half of the 2020s and has significant implications for the fields of music composition, music production, and music education. AI Large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT are frequently used sources for students on a wide range of academic subjects, and can provide in-depth, well-informed and eloquently written explanations in a matter of seconds. Music generative AI programs such as Suno and UDIO can almost instantaneously compose and produce musical recordings from word-generated prompts from users. Noise cancelling AI software such as Moises can create isolated instrumental tracks from …

Exploring How School Leaders Support The Academic Resilience Of Foster Youth: A Case Study, Melissa Gasser Myers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the resilience of foster care students in Oklahoma public schools. The study was guided by Garmezy’s resilience theory, which highlights the critical role of resilience in helping children recover from past trauma and thrive in academic settings. The central research question was: How do school leaders nurture academic resilience in foster children? This study was conducted using qualitative research methods. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, physical artifacts, and journal prompts. The data first underwent analysis through open coding, followed by a round of axial coding and finally selective coding. Informed …

Forbear That Wicked Cant: Malthusian ‘Zero Sum’ Theory, Eugenics, And World Population Control, Aidan Grogan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation traces the history of an idea: the “zero-sum” theory of human nature and humanity’s relationship with the natural world that lies at the core of the Malthusian worldview. Grounded in the belief that life is a ruthless struggle over scarce resources and that human beings are destined to reproduce beyond the earth’s “carrying capacity,” Malthusianism provided the key intellectual foundations for Darwin’s theory of evolution, which later informed the rise of eugenics. Although eugenics lost much of its scientific legitimacy and moral authority after the Holocaust and the Nuremberg Trials, many American eugenicists and eugenics organizations remained committed …

Comparative Analysis Of Metabolic Vulnerability In The Standard American And Carnivore Diets Using The Mvx Plus Biomarker Panel, Susan E. Fitzgerald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Poor diet is a leading cause of mortality, contributing to an estimated one million deaths in the United States and eleven million deaths annually worldwide, with diet-related chronic disease accounting for approximately 85% of U.S. healthcare spending. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is widely recognized as causing systemic inflammation, while the carnivore diet is under-researched with unknown long-term effects. The purpose of this cross-sectional secondary analysis was to examine the impact of these two dietary patterns on metabolic vulnerability using the Metabolic Vulnerability Index Plus (MVX Plus), a multidimensional biomarker panel that quantifies systemic inflammation, metabolic malnutrition, and metabolic resilience …

Interstellar Faith: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Christian Reconciliation With Uaps And Nonhuman Intelligence, Christian Pedersen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The researcher examined how Christian leaders interpret, respond to, and navigate questions surrounding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) and nonhuman intelligence (NHI) within their theological and ministerial contexts. Despite growing cultural and governmental attention to these phenomena, little empirical research has explored how Christian leaders engage these questions pastorally or theologically. Using a transcendental phenomenological design informed by Moustakas (1994), the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with twelve Christian leaders across multiple traditions. Analysis produced ten major themes organized around three research questions addressing theological interpretation, pastoral ministry, and lived experience. Findings revealed a participant group marked by intellectual humility, theological seriousness, …

Building Sustainable Ministry Through Leadership Development: Evaluating A Biblically Grounded Leadership Model, Christopher David Brisco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many churches face declining participation, leadership fatigue, and inadequate succession planning, often due to a lack of intentional, structured leadership development systems. Although research indicates that mentoring, leadership training, and supervised ministry experiences strengthen leadership capacity and organizational sustainability, many congregations struggle to implement leadership development models that effectively integrate biblical principles with strategic organizational practices. This researcher examined the implementation and effectiveness of a biblically grounded leadership development model within The Church of the Redeemed of the Lord in Baltimore, Maryland, a multigenerational church with diverse ministry departments that provided an appropriate context for evaluating intentional strategic leadership development. …

Preschool Teachers' Perceptions In Supporting Students Experiencing Trauma, Ann F. Gorbett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early childhood teachers are often the first to observe behaviors that could be a result of trauma. The problem that was addressed in this study is that preschool teachers are not adequately trained to effectively address the social, emotional, and academic needs of children who have experienced trauma. Framed by Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore preschool teachers’ preparedness and training needs to effectively respond to children who have experienced trauma. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 general education preschool teachers, who have at least 2 years of teaching experience. …

Policy System Of Us Bioeconomy Based On “3ms” Framework, Jingyan Zhou, Nianping Tian, Xuehui Jin, Cuijuan Yin

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The United States is a dominant power in the global bioeconomy. An in-depth analysis of its policy system characteristics holds significant reference value for China to further formulate China’s bioeconomy strategy and drive the development of China’s bioeconomy. This study employs the “3Ms” policy analysis framework to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the US bioeconomy policy from three dimensions: macro strategy, meso architecture, and micro structure. The research reveals that the US bioeconomy policy demonstrates the following characteristics in the macro strategy: being systematic, comprehensive, and scientifically decision-making; in the meso architecture: forming government-congressional cooperation and multi-party collaboration; and in …

Bridging The Gap: Enhancing Sixth Grade Beginning Band Rhythm Pedagogy Through Second-Language Education Strategies, Eliú Nolberto Santos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation investigated the implementation of second-language education strategies by middle school band directors, drawing on the theories of Jean Piaget, Noam Chomsky, Benjamin Bloom, Howard Gardner, and Lev Vygotsky, among others. This study sought to examine participating band directors' perceptions regarding the implementation of second-language education practices for beginning band students. In parallel, this dissertation sought to quantify the competition results of the surveyed middle school band directors, particularly in sight-reading competitions. The study employed a robust mixed-methods design, commencing with a qualitative survey of middle-school band directors to gather data on the implementation of various second-language acquisition strategies, …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of The Effect Of Developmental Education Courses On College Persistence In Higher Education Among First-Year College Students, Tosha J. Mobley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine differences in institutional integration scores among first-year college students based on enrollment status and gender assigned at birth at a public southern university. This study was important because previous reform efforts intended to improve college persistence and graduation rates have not eliminated the need for developmental education or learning support courses within higher education. The independent variables included enrollment status and gender assigned at birth. Institutional integration was measured using the Institutional Integration Scale–Revised (IIS-R). The sample was composed of 107 first-year college students enrolled in developmental (support) and traditional …

The Intersectionality Of Juvenile Justice And Education: A Comparative Study Of Educational Governance Typologies Within The Juvenile Justice System, Domonique Mckenzie-Charles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Each year, a number of youths find themselves at an intersection between the school-to-prison pipeline (SPP) and the criminal justice system. This research study examined the relationship between educational governance typologies of juvenile justice systems and juvenile recidivism in 10 U.S. states, with a centralized focus on the model of internalized governance. The purpose of this research study was to develop a comparative typology of educational governance through the evaluation of leadership structures, to assess the association between educational governance typologies and rehabilitative outcomes. The following comparative study discovered how educational governance typologies differ across states and whether these differences …

The Giant Antarctic Amphipod Paraceradocus Miersi Will Not Fare Well If Freshening Continues In The Southern Ocean, John I. Spicer, Simon A. Morley, Katie N.G. Thiessen, Lloyd S. Peck

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Sea water provides a stable environment for marine animals. Most oceanic invertebrates have body fluids similar in ionic composition to sea water. However, Antarctic coastal ecosystems are increasingly exposed to freshening—a reduction in salinity driven by glacial melt, increased precipitation, and extreme weather events. Such changes can cause mortality in Antarctic invertebrates, which generally are intolerant to reduced salinity. This study investigated osmotic and ionic regulation of the Antarctic amphipod Paraceradocus miersi exposed to simulated freshening. When salinity was reduced (from S = 34.6 to 28.0) for 12–48 h, haemolymph osmolality and sodium concentration declined, while calcium remained stable; magnesium …

Toward Design-To-Fabrication Continuum For Open-Source Computational Robotic Ecologies In The Post-Anthropogenic Era, Celso Urroz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Computational design and robotic fabrication have expanded architecture’s capacity to coordinate geometry, material behavior, machine operation, and environmental performance. Yet many design-to-fabrication workflows remain structured by industrial logics of separation, standardization, and control. Design is often abstracted from material execution, fabrication is treated as a downstream phase, and robotic systems remain concentrated within specialized or proprietary infrastructures. This dissertation addresses this problem by proposing the design-to-fabrication continuum as an open, transferable, and ecologically situated framework in which computation mediates among design intent, matter, machine, environment, and shared technical knowledge.

The research uses a practice-based methodology combining computational workflow development, material …

Developing Field And Spaceflight Microscopy, Nikki Johnston

Dissertations and Theses

Designing for spaceflight favors the reduction of unnecessary features and cost-cutting, whether thisbe computation, hardware, or procedure. Resources are spent toward fortification and mission success over convenience. Such design goals paired with the relatively smaller budgets of academia lead us to do as much as we can in-house and use open-source as much as we can without compromising mission success. We also believe that thoroughly testing technology in extreme environments on earth is necessary for the success of a flight instrument. We focus on microscopy for life detection. I have spent my time here learning methods of hand-building microscopes to …

Trauma-Informed Coaching: An Application Of Catholic Social Teaching To Formation And Healing Through Sport, Kristin K. Sheehan, Peter Piscitello, Elaine Cassidy

Journal of Catholic Education

Mission-driven athletic programs aim to form the whole athlete—physically, emotionally, socially, morally, and spiritually. A critical component of this mission is equipping coaches to serve as ministers of the Church while embracing trauma-informed practices. This paper introduces the rationale, process, and techniques for trauma-informed coaching as a research-based approach to supporting athlete mental health. Grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, this framework emphasizes community, participation, and the dignity of the human person, particularly care for the vulnerable. Drawing on neuroscientific and psychological research on trauma alongside Church documents and papal pronouncements, the paper demonstrates how trauma-informed coaching fosters healing and resilience …

Investigating The Effects Of Urbanization On Winter Avian Diversity In Tennessee: A Community Science And Gis Approach, Caryn D. Ross, David A. Aborn, Mark S. Schorr, Azad Hossain

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

As the human population increases, habitat transformation due to urban expansion is inevitable, affecting many wildlife species. Birds are frequently used as model species to study the effects of urbanization on wildlife populations due to their environmental sensitivity and ease of observation. While previous studies have investigated changes in species richness and abundance related to urbanization, there is a need for broader-scale, geographically explicit studies associating changes in bird diversity with urban expansion. Using extensive bird census data and high-resolution digitized land use data, this study revealed that species richness, diversity, and evenness within count areas all showed significant positive …

Multi-Agent Autonomous Laboratories, Xavier Pillet

Defensive Publications Series

This document, produced with the assistance of ChatGPT o3, Claude Opus 5 and Gemini 3.6 Reasoning, is released under the Apache License 2.0. It is a voluntary defensive publication (prior art) and therefore enters the prior art upon release under the applicable patent statutes : EPC Art. 54(2) (European Patent Convention), French IPC Art. L 611-11 (French Intellectual Property Code), 35 U.S.C. §102(a) (United States Patent Act), Chinese Patent Law Art. 22(5) (両匡丢氡儡吡嘡丣刡氢), and Japanese Patent Act Art. 29(1) (闘旧避). It releases into the public domain 113 inventions covering autonomous laboratories and their multi-agent artificial intelligence systems: hardware safety and …

The Effect Of Anthropogenic Food Subsidies On Coyote (Canis Latrans) Territory Size, Numi Mitchell, Kyle R. Hess, Michael W. Strohbach, Ralph Pratt

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Context. Coyotes have confounded lethal-control efforts for over a century, initially as they preyed on livestock the Midwest rangelands in the early 1900s. In the past century, coyotes have expanded their range across the US into rural, suburban, even urban areas in the eastern US where populations are increasing along with calls for management from communities.  Here we examine anthropogenic food subsidy reduction as a possible management tool for coyotes. Compelling explanations for coyote territory-size variation have both a food-availability component and a contender pressure, or competition, component. These factors also influence pack group-size. Ultimately, competition for limited food resources …

Promoting Scientific Impact At The Nih, Fred D. Ledley M.D.

CISI Publication

We are honored to offer our comments on Promoting Scientific Impact at the NIH in response to NOT-OD-26-087: Request for Information on Measuring and Rewarding Scientific Impact.

These comments are informed by my professional experience as the founding director of the Center for Integration of Science and Industry at Bentley University, which has a mission to “advance the translation of scientific discoveries for public value by engaging science, business, and policy in transdisciplinary dialogue, scholarship, and education.” Our approach is to bring together the perspectives of natural science, business, analytics, economics, law, and policy to better understand, and advance, the …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Stemmed Polypore (Xeroceps Skamania), Nora Dunkirk

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Stemmed Polypore (Xeroceps skamania) using NatureServe methodology, 2026.

Assessment Of The Radionuclide Concentration Levels Of Water And Sediments Along The Mara River, Gasper Kachenge, Abubakary Salama, Abdalah Kileo, Furaha Chuma

Tanzania Journal of Science

For many years, several factors have impacted the water quality of the Mara River, including population growth, agricultural expansion, livestock keeping, mining, and industrial activities. These factors have intensified water pollution and climate change effects around the river. While previous studies have mainly focused on assessing heavy metal pollution risks on the Mara River, this study evaluates the concentration levels of radionuclides in boreholes, water, and sediments along the river and its tributaries. Naturally occurring radioactive materials, including 226Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K, were evaluated. A high-purity germanium radiation detector (HPGe) with a coaxial detector system coupled with Gamma Vision software …

The Effect Of Distributed And Intensive Practice With Audio-Visual Feedback On 100 M Sprint Skill Learning And Motor Response Time, Mayada Hassan Hamza Hassan

Modern Sport

and the increasing use of audio-visual feedback in motor learning, limited studies have investigated their combined effect on learning the technical phases of the 100m sprint and motor response time among university students. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of distributed and intensive practice schedules supported by audio-visual feedback on sprint skill learning and motor response time among first-year students at the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Babylon. The study addressed the need for organized practice methods and modern feedback strategies that consider practice distribution, rest intervals, and sensory feedback in motor learning …

Wille Zum Wald: Nietzsche’S Discovery Of Forest Bathing, Gary Shapiro

Philosophy Faculty Publications

In the fourth part of our “The Forest as a Living Foundation” series, the distinguished American Nietzsche scholar Gary Shapiro investigates new angles on Nietzsche’s bonds to the woods: the philosopher’s personal enthusiasm for what is increasingly called “forest bathing,” the science behind how this practice benefits body, mind, and spirit, and the sheer pleasure of breathing fresh air, in woodland and wherever else we can find it. Shapiro’s essay showcases why this particular Lebensraum matters, not just for our individual well-being, but for the health of the entire planet.

Combined Estimation Of Herpetofauna And Avian Detection Frequency In A Suburban Ecosystem In As A Function Of Land Use Development, Isabelle L. Barnes, Jake Gerardi, John E. Quinn

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Biodiversity is under threat as natural and semi-natural ecosystems continue to decrease in frequency and extent as a function of increased urban development, among other drivers. However, it has become clear that some levels of urban development can continue to support some biodiversity. However, it is not clear how species within different taxonomic groups may respond to similar types and extents of development. Thus, data are needed to assess relationships between urban development and multi-taxa detection patterns. To begin to address this gap, we conducted a concurrent analysis of anuran and avian diversity along an urban-to-peri-urban transect in Greenville, South …

Nascent Adam17 Synthesis Potentiates Gpibα Cleavage In Resting And Stimulated Stored Platelets, Shayan Askari, Harriet Ghansah, Christopher D. Mansi, Timothy J. Stalker, Lawrence E. Goldfinger

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

Platelet concentrates stored at room temperature have a shelf life of 5 to 7 days. During storage, platelets undergo glycoprotein cleavage by metalloproteases, notably cleavage of glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) by a disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17), which leads to decreased posttransfusion reactivity and recovery. To investigate the putative roles of nascent synthesis of ADAM17 in GPIbα shedding and platelet function during room temperature platelet storage. Human platelets maintained in autologous plasma were treated with naked endonuclease-resistant ADAM17 or control short inhibitory RNA (siRNA) and monitored for molecular and cellular effects during storage. Platelet-specific Adam17-deleted mice were generated, and the dynamics …

Food Insecurity Among Freshman Male Collegiate Athletes At A Historically Black University In Maryland, Petita Cue Rentz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Food insecurity is an emerging public health issue impacting collegiate student-athletes enrolled at Historically Black Universities (HBUs). Recent research revealed that 63% of football players have reported some form of food insecurity which disproportionately impacts Black athletes at higher rates. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences and dietary behaviors of freshman male collegiate student-athletes who lacked access to food despite receiving athletic scholarships in a publicly funded HBU in Maryland. The research questions for this qualitative study focused on exploring the lived experiencing of Black male athletes who were experiencing food insecurity at an …

The Invisible Crop: Harnessing Root System Architecture In Heirloom Collards For Climate-Resilient Urban Agriculture, Vincent Antonio Brazelton

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Growing food in urban spaces often means working within variable, resource-limited environments, creating a need for crops that can withstand heterogeneous growing conditions. Heirloom collards (Brassica oleracea var. viridis) are known for their aboveground diversity and cultural importance, but much less is known about the variation that exists belowground. This dissertation examines root system architecture (RSA) diversity across 19 historically underutilized heirloom collard accessions using a multi-scale phenotyping approach that includes controlled gel-based imaging of seedlings and 2D imaging of mature field-grown root systems. Across both seedling and mature stages, heirloom collards showed substantial variation in RSA. These differences revealed …

How Adults With Fasd Describe Spiritual Experiences And Faith Formation, Emily Hargrove

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) has been extensively studied in childhood and, more recently, in adulthood. However, little is known about how adults with FASD experience faith formation and spirituality. Spirituality has been recognized as a coping resource that promotes resilience and psychological well-being, yet these experiences remain largely unexplored among adults with FASD. The purpose of this study was to explore how adults with FASD describe their faith formation and spiritual experiences. Two research questions guided the study: How do adults with FASD describe their faith formation? and How do adults with FASD describe their spiritual experiences? James Fowler's …

Implementing A Structured Lifestyle Counseling Program To Improve Weight Management In Obese Adults Ages 18–65 Within The Private Primary Care Setting, Ntoge Sone Penda

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a major public health concern that affects millions of adults. As a chronic, progressive disease, obesity increases the risk of developing several medical conditions. Although evidence-based clinical practice guidelines recommend comprehensive lifestyle modification as a first-line treatment, implementation of structured lifestyle counseling in primary care remains inconsistent. The practice-focused question guiding this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project was: Among obese adults aged 18–65 years in a private primary care setting, does implementing a structured lifestyle counseling program improve body weight and body mass index (BMI) outcomes over an 11-week period? An organizational change process guided …

Anthropogenic Food Subsidies And Pack Counts Of Coyotes (Canis Latrans) In Rhode Island: Implications For Long-Term And Non-Lethal Population Control, Numi Mitchell, Kyle R. Hess, Michael W. Strohbach

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

Coyotes regulate fertility, population recruitment, and territory size, based on food competition, all characteristics that might be leveraged for population management initiatives. In Rhode Island, US, anthropogenic food subsidies provide important resources for coyotes. Prior work has shown that when large reliable subsidies are absent or removed, resident coyotes increase territory size. This is potentially significant to management if the expansion does not cause increases in pack size.

We used video camera traps, opportunistic photography, and observation, to make group-size counts. We looked at the influence of levels of anthropogenic food subsidization on pack size. Adult group sizes were smaller …