Digital Commons Network^™

Clustering Of Internet Behaviors And Associated Mental Health Outcomes Among U.S. Adolescents, Aakansha Singh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In recent years, the Internet has become an integral part of daily life, influencing education, work, and recreation. As of 2024, approximately two-thirds of the global population is online, with an estimated one-third of users under the age of 18. Given the potential long-term effects of excessive Internet use on health and well-being, adolescents represent a critical population for monitoring online behaviors. This study used baseline data from the SHARE project and conducted a latent class analysis (LCA) to identify patterns of Internet use among a sample of adolescents and the relationship of class membership with mental health outcomes, including …

Passive Envelope Retrofits As Climate Justice Infrastructure Against Extreme Heat: A Gis-Guided Approach For Outdated Single-Family Homes In Urban California, Mert Oztekin Mr.

Master's Projects and Capstones

I examined the opportunities to enhance equity in energy performance, climate resilience, and environmental adaptation through climate-resilient envelope retrofitting and spatially guided implementation strategies (via mappings of the Urban Heat Island -UHI- and socio-economic vulnerability indicators). Passive envelope retrofits of attic insulation; high-performance windows; cool roofs; and green roofs / walls, are examined across multiple climate zones of California' aged single-family housing stock, focusing on the Disadvantaged Communities (DACs). Through spatial analysis, strong overlap between Urban Heat Island(UHI) exposure; pre-1980 housing; socioeconomic disadvantage, and thus the need for spatially-directed action is underlined. The policy landscape analysis provides confirmation of the …

Shifting Us Strategies: Preventing China’S Continued Military Aggression Through Unrestricted Warfare Tactics Targeting Supply Chains, Andrew P. Downs

Master's Projects and Capstones

Strategic competition between the United States and the People's Republic of China (PRC) has developed into a complex multi-domain struggle encompassing military, economic, and trade aspects. This research demonstrated that the current U.S. deterrence strategy is mismatched in its ability to engage with the PRC and its use of asymmetric tactics. While the US continually depends on technological advantage through expensive platforms, the PRC is developing more subtle ways in which to subvert the US' ability to respond to an expanding China. While the US response has focused on conventional means, the PRC has adopted Unrestricted Warfare as a counter …

The Hidden Logic Behind Migration And Success, Elsa Russom

Master's Projects and Capstones

This research paper explores the hidden drivers of financial success among Eritrean migrants navigating uncertainty, displacement, and limited institutional access. Drawing on original survey data collected from diaspora communities across East African host countries, I apply a mixed-methods framework combining ordinal and binary logistic regression, random forest classification, bootstrapping, and Bayesian causal mediation; to identify the structural and cultural variables most predictive of financial stability. The findings reveal that participation in Ekub, a traditional rotating savings association, and engagement in communal support systems are the strongest predictors of financial success, outperforming conventional factors such as age, education, or employment status. …

Targeting The Beiging Of Muscle-Associated Adipose Tissue To Promote Muscle Regeneration, Jacob C. Parson

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

The expansion of intra-muscular adipose tissue (IMAT) between myofibers and epi-muscular adipose tissue (EMAT) outside of the muscle boundary accompanies numerous pathologies including diabetes, muscular dystrophy, and aging. IMAT and EMAT are anatomically juxtaposed to myofibers. Some evidence supports that IMAT and EMAT impede muscle function. This is potentially due to paracrine factors that are secreted by IMAT/EMAT. Different adipose depots can be classified in numerous ways including where they are located anatomically as well as the factors in which they secrete. Unlike classical white fat, adipose depots classified as brown or beige, noted by the marker uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) …

The Argument For Lobbyists: How Lobbying Brings Policy Experts Back Into The System, Luke Cambra

Washington Semester Program

No abstract provided.

Entire Volume Journal Of Banking And Financial Economics 2025, 1(23)

Journal of Banking and Financial Economics

Entire Volume Journal of Banking and Financial Economics 2025, 1(23)

Quick And Easy Method For The Determination Of Cocaine And Six Metabolites In Postmortem Hair, Samantha C. Mulkeen

Student Theses

Hair testing is increasing in popularity in toxicology because of its long window of detection and ease of collection and sample storage. However, it has its limitations largely due to external contamination of drugs. In particular, cocaine (COC) is a common offender of this as it has several routes of consumption. Analyzing metabolites of COC may be the key to distinguishing between consumption and external contamination. The aim of the present study was to develop a quick, easy, and sensitive method for the detection and quantification of COC, benzoylecgonine (BE), norcocaine (NCOC), cocaethylene (CE), anhydroecgonine methyl ester (AEME), meta-hydroxy-cocaine (m-OH-COC), …

When Poison Is On The Menu: Proposing The Adoption Of Ireland’S Stricter Allergen Regulations In America’S Food Establishments, Katherine Fitzgerald

Journal of Law and Policy

In the modern era, a growing number of children and adults have been diagnosed with deadly food allergies. For the approximately 33 million Americans who have at least one food allergy, restaurants, aside from the home, are the most likely place where deadly reactions could occur. In order to adapt to this expanding and sensitive population, the federal government should pass legislation that protects these citizens from suffering a preventable, untimely death. Luckily, the legislators of the European Union, and specifically Ireland, have already put food labeling legislation in place that serves to protect those with food allergies. This Irish …

America’S Rampant Gun Epidemic: How 3d Printers Are Only Adding Fuel To The Fire, Haley Lustbader

Journal of Law and Policy

The assassination of the United Healthcare CEO in December of 2024 captivated national attention, specifically over the killer’s use of a homemade three dimensional (“3D”) printed gun. The use of 3D printing poses a breadth of opportunity for useful and valuable innovation across a variety of fields, such as allowing advancements in medical technology. However, with technology expansion comes associated risk and, in this case, that risk is the potential for increased presence of illegal firearms. Anyone with access to a 3D printer can download the necessary files and print weapon parts to create their own unregistered, untraceable firearms, including …

Unveiling The Underbelly Of Artificial Intelligence: The Inadequacies Of The Legal System With Regard To Victims Of Nonconsensual Sexual Deepfakes, Zilana Lee

Journal of Law and Policy

Artificial intelligence-powered deepfake technology has ushered a new era of digital sexual abuse, allowing for the seamless fabrication of explicit images that violate bodily autonomy with alarming realism. With little more than a photograph scraped from social media, individuals can use AI tools to fabricate hyper-realistic nude images and pornographic videos of people without their consent. These nonconsensual sexual deepfakes are rapidly spreading online, often going viral before victims are even aware of their existence. The technology can affect anyone, but women and girls remain disproportionately targeted. Recent incidents involving minors highlight both the reach and severity of this harm. …

Shaping A More Equitable Election System: A Canadian Approach To Solving The Voting Rights Crisis In America, Michelle Gutowski

Journal of Law and Policy

In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed, ushering in a new era of voting freedom. The Act brought an end to many of the overtly discriminatory practices that had persisted for nearly two centuries. Over time, however, states began to introduce more subtle and complex voting regulations that gradually undermined the gains achieved through the civil rights movement. In 2021, the Supreme Court dismantled an essential safeguard for voters, significantly weakening the protections the Act once guaranteed. This erosion of protections is largely attributable to a single doctrinal standard within the Act, known as the totality of the circumstances …

The Jack Pine And Four Other Solo Piano Works Composed By Five Canadian Women In The Twenty-First Century, Huanwen Wang

Dissertations, 2020-current

This document aims to shine a light on five distinctive piano works by five twenty-first century Canadian women composers. The pieces are Minute Etudes (Book Two) (2002) by Emily Doolittle, From Wapta Ice (2003) by Diana McIntosh, The Jack Pine (2010) by Jocelyn Morlock, Smoke Darkened Sky (2021) by Kelly-Marie Murphy, and …our inner lives were entwined… embroidered with the same pattern... (2021) by Karen Sunabacka. The main objective of this document is to identify stylistic traits in the selected pieces, discuss the source of inspiration of each piece and illustrate how the musical elements reflect the source of …

Elements Of Greek Identity In The Eight Dances From The Greek Islands By Yiannis Constantinidis, Afroditi Mitsopoulou

Dissertations, 2020-current

The purpose of this research is to present elements of Greek style and identity in the composition for solo piano, Eight Dances from the Greek Islands (Οκτώ Νησιώτικοι Ελληνικοί Χοροί, για πιάνο) (1954) by Yiannis Constantinidis. What is regarded as Greek national identity? How was it formed and developed throughout the centuries, and what compositional techniques did Greek composers before Constantinidis use in their works to define Greek identity? A topic examined in this document was the construction and deconstruction of Greek identity, and the question addressed was whether Greek identity can ultimately be defined. Constantinidis (1903-1984) was …

Unmasking Masculinities In Counseling: From Conformity To Connection, Kyle R. Rose

Dissertations, 2020-current

This dissertation explored the entanglements of professional counseling and masculinities across three manuscripts, to contribute to (1) healthier forms of gender expression within and beyond the spectrum of masculinities for individuals, (2) the counseling profession’s role in transforming hegemonic masculinity within communities, and (3) larger movements to subvert the patriarchy throughout society. The first manuscript is a conceptual article that presented the Relational Cultural Privileged Identity Counseling (RCPIC) model, an integrative framework designed to help counselors address hegemonic masculinity within the therapeutic relationship. Drawing from Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) and Privileged Identity Exploration (PIE), this model provided a roadmap for compassionate …

The Dynamics Of Us-Bangladesh Relations: Before, During And After The 1971 War Of Liberation, 1947-1975., Mdaminul Islam

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This thesis traces the dynamics relations between Bangladesh and the United States before, during and after the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. The thesis argues that during the Cold War era the US wanted to build good relations with Pakistan to curb communism in the Middle East and the South Asia. As a result, during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, the Nixon administration did not support Bangladesh’s independence, even though US diplomats and other officials reported the ongoing genocide. Despite this fraught history and Bangladesh’s pro-Indian, pro-Soviet leanings, relations formed between independent Bangladesh and the United States …

The Performance Of Gender In Sound And Screen: Unpacking And Countering The Double Standards Of Women In Taylor Swift’S “The Man,” Brienne Of Tarth, And The Substance, Alexandra C. Ali

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This rhetorical analysis examines how femininity is constructed, policed, and resisted in popular culture through three case studies: Taylor Swift’s “The Man,” Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones, and The Substance, using the lens of Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity. “The Man,” both the song and the music video, reveals the double standards working against women, incorporating an additional layer of analysis through Kenneth Burke’s perspective on incongruity. Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones defies gender expectations, blurring the line between the performance of masculinity and femininity. Additionally, this analysis embodies archetypes of women, such …

Confronting The Postcolonial Condition: A Study On The Blesser-Blessee Phenomenon In South Africa, Thandwa Maphalala

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Age-disparate relationships are causing a public health threat in South Africa and the region at large. However, these relationships and their effects are not unique to South Africa. There has been substantial research conducted to explore the social, cultural or economic meaning of this relationship type, its causes and effects in sub-Saharan Africa or in the interest of individual countries in the region. However, South Africa presents a special case for further study because the older men that adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) date and have sex with are commonly referred to as blessers.

The purpose of this …

Apartheid In Israel: An Analysis Of Israel’S Laws And Policies And The Responsibilities Of Us Academic And Other Institutions, Susan Akram

Faculty Scholarship

This report analyzes the crime of apartheid and its application to Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) before and after October 7, 2023. Our analysis relies on a close examination of more than 25 credible human rights reports and judicial opinions from institutions and individuals with expertise in the region. Consistent with the findings of these experts, we conclude that Israel has committed and continues to commit the crime of apartheid as defined by the 1973 United Nations International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (Apartheid Convention). Although Israel is not …

Facial Dermatoses In E-Cigarette Users And The Role Of Nicotine-Induced Oxidative Stress, Kaitlyn Miner, Paige Daly, Alexander Torres, Corinne Rutkowski, Olivia Penela, Louis Falk, Madeleine Dumke, Kelly Frasier

Student Publications

Facial dermatoses in e-cigarette users arise from nicotine-induced oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, and barrier dysfunction, contributing to an increased prevalence of acneiform eruptions, perioral dermatitis, and rosacea exacerbations. E-cigarette aerosols contain nicotine, volatile organic compounds, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that disrupt cutaneous homeostasis by impairing antioxidant defense mechanisms and promoting lipid peroxidation in the epidermis. Nicotine exposure induces mitochondrial dysfunction in keratinocytes and sebocytes, leading to dysregulated sebum production, enhanced Cutibacterium acnes colonization, and increased susceptibility to inflammatory acne. Additionally, nicotine-mediated vasoconstriction and endothelial dysfunction reduce dermal microcirculation, compromising oxygen delivery and delaying wound healing, while heightened expression of …

From Starfleet To Space Law: Science Fiction And The Future Of Colonization Law, Abigail Coffey

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

As humanity approaches the threshold of space colonization, legal scholars and policymakers are faced with unprecedented challenges in crafting frameworks that govern off-Earth settlements. This article explores how science fiction—a genre long preoccupied with the social, legal, and ethical dimensions of space habitation—can serve as a vital resource for shaping contemporary space law. Drawing on narratives from the minds of George Lucas, Robert Heinlein, Frank Herbert, and more, this article examines how science fiction anticipates legal dilemmas surrounding sovereignty, privatization, environmental stewardship, and human rights in extraterrestrial contexts. By analyzing these fictional projections, this article argues for a proactive, imaginative …

E-Waste In Washington: A Looming Threat To Washington's Climate Future And Legal Solutions, Ibrahim Badawi

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

This paper explores the escalating issue of electronic waste (e-waste) in Washington State, examining its root causes—including manufacturer practices, consumer behavior, and the lack of strict regulations—and its profound impacts on the environment, human health, and climate change. While Washington State’s 2006 Electronic Product Recycling Law (EPRL) marked an important first step, the current measure is insufficient to address the growing crisis. This paper argues that the true solution to the e-waste crisis requires not only recycling regulations but also addressing the root causes to prevent e-waste before it is created by focusing on extending the lifespans of electronics. This …

Hybrids As Undeserving And The Enduring Legacy Of Eugenics In Modern Conservation Policies, Maria-Vittoria Carminati, Andrew Martin

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

This article explores the overlooked legacy of eugenics at the root of modern conservation, tracing how early conservationists—many of whom were also vocal eugenicists—shaped our definitions of species, purity, and protection. By examining the deep entanglement of racialized science and environmental policy, I argue that hybrids have been systematically excluded from protection, not because of well-founded scientific reasoning, but because of a century-old ideology rooted in the fear of impurity. It's time for conservation to evolve beyond these outdated frameworks and embrace a future-forward, adaptationist approach—one that recognizes hybrids not as mistakes, but as natural responses to a changing world …

Comparing The Evolution Of Lobbying Legislation In Lithuania And Ireland, Whither Regulatory Robustness?, John Hogan

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This paper compares the amendments introduced by the Regulation ofLobbying and Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) (Amendment) Act 2023with the original regulations of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. Thestudy was conducted using the Hired Guns Method for assessing therobustness of lobbying legislation, developed by the Centre for Public Integrity(CPI), allowing findings to be compared with lobbying regulationsinternationally. The 2015 legislation was introduced after years of tribunals,scandals, unfulfilled political promises, and economic crisis, in an effort toincrease the public’s trust in politicians, representative institutions, democracyand the wider bureaucracy. The 2023 Amendment came in the wake of a 2020lobbying scandal. The paper …

Navigating The Labyrinth: Transition Planning Process For Reintegration Of Inmates With Chronic Illnesses And Disabilities, Courtney Ashley Dean

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most offenders face challenges with successfully reintegrating, especially those living with chronic illness and/or disabilities. Transition interventions employed by mental health professionals are not universal and vary from facility to facility. While recidivism, community stigmatization, reoffending, and reconviction are explored in extant literature, little has been done to examine the difficulties faced by the professionals who work with this population as they get ready to plan for transitioning this disenfranchised group back into society. This study is an exploration of the role of professional counselors in facilitating successful transition planning for inmates living with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities. Guided by …

The Silent Killer In Women's Prisons, Samantha Boman

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

If present in the body for an extended period, the human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause aberrant cells to develop in the cervix. Left undetected, these abnormalities can manifest into cancer. Incarcerated women are among the highest demographic to be diagnosed with cervical cancer - diagnoses that could be averted through HPV vaccinations, regular cervical cancer screenings, Pap smears, and comprehensive sexual education. The lack of these preventative measures points to an insufficiency of reproductive healthcare within women’s prisons. In its early stages, cervical cancer is asymptomatic. Once symptoms appear, damage to the body is irreparable. The absence of symptoms before …

The Identification Of Xpr1 As A Voltage- And Phosphate-Activated Phosphate-Permeable Ion Channel, Hongjiang Wu, Liang Sun, Tong Huo, Theodore G Wensel, Frank T Horrigan, Zhao Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Maintaining a balance of inorganic phosphate (Pi) is vital for cellular functionality. Proper phosphate levels are managed through Pi import and export; and the processes governing Pi export remain the least understood. Xenotropic and Polytropic retrovirus Receptor 1 (XPR1) has been identified as the only known Pi export protein in mammals. In this study, we introduce the cryogenic electron microscopy structure of human XPR1 (hXPR1), unveiling a structural arrangement distinct from that of any known ion transporter. Our structural results suggest that hXPR1 may operate as an ion channel, a hypothesis supported by patch clamp recordings revealing hXPR1's voltage- and …

Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme Ube2n Modulates Proteostasis In Immunoproteasome-Positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Chiharu Ishikawa, Laura Barreyro, Avery M Sampson, Kathleen M Hueneman, Kwangmin Choi, Sophia Y Philbrook, Issac Choi, Lyndsey C Bolanos, Mark Wunderlich, Andrew G Volk, Stephanie S Watowich, Kenneth D Greis, Daniel T Starczynowski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Altered protein homeostasis through proteasomal degradation of ubiquitinated proteins is a hallmark of many cancers. Ubiquitination, coordinated by E1, E2, and E3 enzymes, involves up to 40 E2-conjugating enzymes in humans to specify substrates and ubiquitin linkages. In a screen for E2 dependencies in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2 N (UBE2N) emerged as the top candidate. To investigate UBE2N's role in AML, we characterized an enzymatically defective mouse model of UBE2N, revealing UBE2N's requirement in AML without an impact on normal hematopoiesis. Unlike other E2s, which mediate lysine-48 (K48) polyubiquitination and degradation of proteins, UBE2N primarily synthesizes …

G-Quadruplex Stabilizer Cx-5461 Effectively Combines With Radiotherapy To Target Α-Thalassemia/Mental Retardation X-Linked-Deficient Malignant Glioma, Sharvari Dharmaiah, Prit Benny Malgulwar, William E Johnson, Brandon A Chen, Vladislav Sharin, Benjamin T Whitfield, Christian Alvarez, Vasudev Tadimeti, Ahsan S Farooqi, Jason T Huse

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Inactivation of α-thalassemia/mental retardation X-linked (ATRX) represents a defining molecular feature in large subsets of malignant glioma. ATRX deficiency gives rise to abnormal G-quadruplex (G4) DNA secondary structures, enhancing replication stress and genomic instability. Building on earlier work, we evaluated the extent to which pharmacological G4 stabilization selectively enhances DNA damage and cell death in ATRX-deficient preclinical glioma models.

Methods: Using the G4 stabilizer CX-5461, we treated patient-derived glioma stem cells (GSCs) in vitro and GSC flank and intracranial murine xenografts in vivo to evaluate efficacy as both a single agent and in combination with ionizing radiation (IR), the …

Secondary Educators’ Knowledge And Perceptions Of Their Own Self-Efficacy As It Relates To 504 Plan Accommodations For Students Diagnosed With Adhd, Anne Richardson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study investigated the role of Section 504 accommodations in meeting the needs of secondary students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the United States. While legislation requires equitable education for students with disabilities, gaps remain in understanding how educators perceive their own abilities in implementing Section 504 plans for students with ADHD. The study used a qualitative research design to explore the academic and organizational challenges faced by secondary school students with ADHD, specifically examining the knowledge, perceptions, and self-efficacy of secondary educators regarding ADHD strategies and 504 plan accommodations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom with 11 educators from …