Digital Commons Network^™

Full Issue, Kritika Kultura

Kritika Kultura

Brina (2016), Chhorii (2021), and Jayeshbhai Jordaar (2022).

Double-Edged Sword: Opec Production Catalyzing Alternative Energy Development, Daniel P. Sloan

Venture: The University of Mississippi Undergraduate Research Journal

This paper explores how cartel operations may create a longterm paradox of selfharm because research and development into substitutes becomes incentivized. OPEC is used as the case study, and I hypothesize that the intensity of quotas is directly proportional to research and development spending in alternative energy sources, over time diminishing global dependence on oil. To test this, I gathered data from 1965 until 2023 on the global energy market. In conclusion, the data suggested alternative explanations: oil boasts a tenacious price inelasticity of demand, OPEC has foreseen the paradox and counters with moderate quotas, or a combination of the …

Microbiome–Immune Interaction And Harnessing For Next-Generation Vaccines Against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza In Poultry, Yongming Sang, Samuel N. Nahashon, Richard J. Webby

Food and Animal Sciences Faculty Research

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) remains a persistent threat to global poultry production and public health. Current vaccine platforms show limited cross-clade efficacy and often fail to induce mucosal immunity. Recent advances in microbiome research reveal critical roles for gut commensals in modulating vaccine-induced immunity, including enhancement of mucosal IgA production, CD8+ T-cell activation, and modulation of systemic immune responses. Engineered commensal bacteria such as Lactococcus lactis, Bacteroides ovatus, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis have emerged as promising live vectors for antigen delivery. Postbiotic and synbiotic strategies further enhance protective efficacy through targeted modulation of the gut microbiota. Additionally, artificial …

Activation Or Deactivation? Rethinking Ferrate(Vi) Reactivity Within A Broader Modulation Framework, Zepei Tang, Yang Deng

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Gnsi Decision Brief: Building Trust In Digital Response: The Role Of Chatbots In Cybercrime Prevention Open-Source Tools For Safer Digital Reporting And Public Trust, George Burruss, Loni Hagen, Ly Dinh, Lingyao Li

GNSI Decision Briefs

Cybercrime poses a growing global threat, inflicting financial harm on individuals, businesses, and governments. In 2024 alone, the FBI's Internet Crime Complain Center (IC3) received over 800,000 complains, with reported losses exceeding $16.6 billion, a 33 percent increase from the prior year. The damage extends beyond financial loss: cybercrime undermines trust in digital systems and can cause psychological harm. Its anonymous and complex nature makes detection and prosecurtion difficult, creating low-risk, high-reward conditions for offenders.

Understanding, Deterring, And Preparing For A Great-Power War In The Twenty-First Century, Antulio J. Echevarria Ii, Larry P. Goodson, Brennan Deveraux

Integrated Research Projects

The US government and the US Army are unprepared for a great-power war. This integrated research project (IRP), sponsored by Vice Chief of Staff of the Army General James J. Mingus, is a critical first step in helping senior US Army leaders increase their knowledge of, and preparations for, deterring or fighting a great-power war in the twenty-first century. No one knows how long the US government and the US Army have to prepare for a future conflict. Consequently, the US Department of Defense faces difficult decisions as it balances preparing for a future war with maintaining readiness to address …

Latticeanalytics: Strut-Level Visualization And Inspection Of Additively Manufactured Lattice Structures, Haichao Miao, Saurabh Narain, Vuthea Chheang, Garrett Hooten, Raiyan Seede, Pavol Klacansky, Kaila Morgen Bertsch, Gabe Guss, Brian Giera, Peer Timo Bremer

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Additive manufacturing (AM) is revolutionizing the production of custom components with complex internal geometries, essential for high-performance applications in diverse fields such as medicine and defense. These AM parts optimize strength while minimizing weight by utilizing internal lattice structures consisting of large quantities of small interconnected struts. However, the complexity of these structures, combined with the challenges of using X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) data, makes validation of part reliability difficult. This ultimately inhibits the development of novel parts for our collaborating material scientists. We introduce LatticeAnalytics, a novel framework specifically designed for visual inspection of defects in these lattice structures. …

From Assessment To Action: The Role Of Data In Shaping Tiered Literacy Instruction, Trisha J. Uebele

Masters Projects

Abstract

This project supports educators in identifying students’ literacy needs and implementing targeted, evidence-based interventions through a user-friendly, data-driven approach grounded in the Response to Intervention (RTI) framework and the Science of Reading. By enabling educators to input and analyze commonly available assessment data, the project aims to make data-informed instruction accessible even to those with limited training in data literacy. A digital tracking tool will monitor individual student progress across key reading domains (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension), allowing for the creation of flexible, skill-based instructional groups. The project includes an intervention guide with links to research-based activities …

Immersive Insights: A Phenomenological Lens To Unveil The Lived Experiences Of Educators In Virtual Reality-Based Professional Development: A Phenomenological Study, Manjeet Kaur

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological research is to understand the lived experiences of secondary educators who have participated in VR-based professional development programs in the southeastern United States. Using Kolb’s (1984) experiential theory, the study answered the central research question: What are the lived experiences of educators who have participated in VR-based professional development programs at urban middle schools in the southeastern United States? The sub-questions addressed educators' experiences with VR professional development regarding engagement, immersion, and perceptions to enrich their teaching practices or professional growth. Purposive, maximum variation, and snowball sampling were used to secure 10 educators who …

Dynamic Mutational Profiling Of Binding Interactions And Allosteric Networks In Conformational Ensembles Of The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Protein Complexes With Classes Of Antibodies Targeting Cryptic Binding Sites: Confluence Of Binding And Allostery Determines Molecular Mechanisms And Hotspots Of Immune Escape, Mohammed Alshahrani, Vedant Parikh, Brandon Foley, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants has underscored the need to understand not only the structural basis of antibody recognition but also the dynamic and allosteric mechanisms that could underlie complexity of broad and escape-resistant neutralization. In this study, we employed a multi-scale approach integrating structural analysis, hierarchical molecular simulations, mutational scanning and network-based allosteric modeling to dissect how Class 4 antibodies (represented by S2X35, 25F9, and SA55) and Class 5 antibodies (represented by S2H97, WRAIR-2063 and WRAIR-2134) can modulate conformational behavior, binding energetics, allosteric interactions and immune escape patterns of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Using hierarchical simulations of the …

Emergence Of Norms In The Presence Of Social Network Structure In A Stochastic Evolutionary Game Theory Model, Parker Foresman

Dissertations and Theses

In their 2000 paper, The Emergence of Classes in a Multi-Agent Bargaining Model, Axtell, Epstein, and Young introduced an agent-based bargaining model to study how social norms can emerge and persist from the decentralized, asynchronous interactions of individual agents in the presence of noise, even when these agents have no predefined preferences or advantages. This thesis extends their model by incorporating structured interaction networks, allowing us to investigate how the topology of agent interactions influences long-run dynamics and norm formation. Using a custom simulation package built in the Julia programming language, we replicate the original results under a complete …

Seasonal Variation In Modulus Of Cement-Treated Base Layers And Untreated Base Layers In Utah, Mason Robert Kessler Millard

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to compare the stiffness of cement-treated base (CTB) layers and untreated base course (UTBC) layers in a cold region through a typical year. The scope of work included testing of three residential pavement segments comprising CTB layers and two comparable pavement segments comprising UTBC layers in northern Utah. Design thicknesses were verified through drilling and dynamic cone penetrometer testing in September 2024. Following 3 to 15 years of service, the sites were evaluated using portable falling-weight deflectometer (PFWD) testing in May 2024, July 2024, September 2024, November 2024, January 2025, and March 2025. After …

Can The Government Control Hurricanes? New Survey Results On Conspiracies And Science, Lawrence C. Hamilton

Carsey Publications

In this brief, author Lawrence Hamilton explores the results of a nationwide 2025 survey that asked over 1,000 people whether they agreed with conspiratorial claims such as government control of hurricanes, flat Earth, or faked Moon landings. Mixed in with the conspiracy questions were others asking about agreement with basic scientific facts such as Earth orbiting the Sun. Nine to 38 percent agreed with the conspiracies whereas 40 to 75 percent agreed with the science; many others were unsure.

Generation and political identity both correlate with conspiracism. Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z respondents more often agreed with conspiratorial statements; …

At The Putting Green: The Economic Impact Of The Augusta National, William Lee Chomskis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation investigates the multifaceted economic impact of the Augusta National Golf Club on the city of Augusta, Georgia. Through a comprehensive historical, biographical, and economic analysis, the study explores how a single sporting institution has transformed a mid-sized Southern city into a globally recognized epicenter of elite sport and cultural capital. Drawing on archival research, interviews with local stakeholders, and economic data, the dissertation traces Augusta’s evolution from a strategic Confederate industrial hub to a modern city whose identity and economy are inextricably linked to the Augusta National and its flagship event, the Masters Tournament.

The research is structured …

Dosimetric Comparison Of Organ-At-Risk Constraints Across Multi-Resolution Levels In Eclipse Planning Optimization, Ji Hyun Jeon

Masters Projects

Background: In inverse treatment planning, the timing of applying organ-at-risk (OAR) constraints during the optimization process can influence dosimetric outcomes. This study investigates the effects of introducing OAR constraints at different stages of the multi-resolution optimization process within the Eclipse Treatment Planning System (TPS).

Purpose: To determine the optimal resolution level for applying OAR constraints that achieves the best dosimetric balance between target coverage and normal tissue sparing.

Methods: Thirteen prostate cancer treatment plans were generated using an anonymized pelvic CT dataset from The Cancer Imaging Archive. All plans were developed in GVSU Virtual Eclipse TPS using the Photon Optimizer …

An In-Depth Exploration Into College Students’ Information Acquisition And Evaluation Behaviors During The Covid-19 Infodemic, Nien-Tsu Nancy Chen, Kimmy Kee, Bianca T. Villalobos, Miriam Ortiz, Hyesun Lee

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Introduction: This study examines how vaccination-inclined and vaccination-hesitant U.S. college students acquired and evaluated COVID-19 vaccination information.

Methods: In 2021, we conducted 26 focus group discussions and used thematic analysis to identify patterns in information acquisition behaviors and trust in information sources.

Results: Findings revealed mismatches between frequently used and most trusted sources. Public health agencies were highly trusted but not commonly consulted first. In contrast, social media were frequently used for information scanning despite being the least trusted. Interpersonal sources (e.g., family) were identified as both a most and least trusted source. They were trusted for their good intention …

Office Of Research, Economic Engagement And Outreach Update, August 6, 2025, Office Of Research, Economic Engagement And Outreach

Office of Research, Economic Engagement and Outreach

No abstract provided.

An Assessment Model For Linking Changes In Pelagic Habitat State To Impacts On Human Wellbeing, Matthew P. Faith, Siân E. Rees, Angus Atkinson, Mike Best, Eileen Bresnan, Michelle J. Devlin, Matthew M. Holland, Holly J. Niner, Clare Ostle, Paul Tett, Abigail Mcquatters-Gollop

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Plankton monitoring datasets help inform indicators for marine biodiversity assessments under the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive and United Kingdom Marine Strategy. These indicators are used to assess long-term changes in the state of the pelagic habitats of the Northeast Atlantic which then guide policy formation and implementation to achieve Good Environmental Status. Across all ecosystems, environmental change has the potential to impact upon human wellbeing by changing the quantity and quality of ecosystem services. Here, we develop a socio-ecological assessment model that can describe how variations in pelagic habitat state, evidenced by plankton indicators, can impact human wellbeing. …

Don't Say You Love Me, Breanna Dunwell

Masters Theses

Teen dating violence is a silent epidemic that is not talked about enough or taken seriously. This shows that age does not matter when it comes to any type of abuse or harassment – physical, emotional, sexual, stalking, etc. The household that the victim lives in, race, parents marital status, and financial situation do not play a role into who is a victim versus someone who is not. The perpetrator does not care about those kinds of details. They only care about needing to be in control of the other person. Even though this is a snippet, the story shows …

Sustaining The Score: A Narrative Inquiry Comparing California Teacher Induction And Adult Ensemble Participation For Music Educator Longevity And Growth, David Haley Green

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The relationship between music educators' participation in adult ensembles and any perceived benefits to their teaching careers remains underexplored. At a time when teacher recruitment and retention rates are unsustainable, this information can help provide ways to engage educators in a way that benefits both themselves and the academic success of their students. This qualitative study examines the perspectives of music educators across a wide variety of ages and grade levels. This study compares explicitly the formal, mandated support of California’s teacher induction program with the informal, voluntary support found in adult ensembles. Many music educators in California began their …

Childhood Adversity And The Development Of The Imposter Phenomenon, Elissa M. Jeter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The imposter phenomenon comprises a set of emotions, cognitions, and behaviors occurring throughout the lifespan of an individual to protect against feelings of inadequacy. The consequences of the imposter phenomenon are significant to both individuals and the organization they work for, as it can cause significant emotional fatigue and burnout. These consequences include anxiety, depression, isolation, burnout, and job abandonment. Throughout decades of research, there have been mixed results regarding the causes of the imposter phenomenon. A possible commonality among these causes of the imposter phenomenon is childhood adversity. The sample used in this study was adults between the ages …

Changing Hearts And Minds: Educating Medical Students To Transform Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Organ Donation, Matilin G. Rigsby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The national organ shortage is exacerbated by physicians who, contrary to federal mandates, do not refer patients with organ donation potential in a timely fashion. Whereas United States medical school curricula widely omit organ donation-related topics, literature demonstrates that educating future physicians significantly improves those students’ ability to understand and positively perceive donation, influencing their willingness to refer donor candidates. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if an educational module among fourth-year medical students at Texas A&M University College of Medicine Dallas Campus affects those students’ perceived knowledge and attitudes toward organ donation. The researcher administered a …

Understanding Educators’ Experiences With Chronic Student Absenteeism In Rural High Schools In Southwest Virginia: A Phenomenological Study, Tina Louise Dean

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand educators’ experiences and the influences chronic absenteeism has on low-income rural high school students in Southwest Virginia. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s social cognition theory on learning, which develops through interaction and modeling. The central research question was, “How do teachers describe their experiences with chronic student absenteeism in rural high schools in Southwest Virginia?” A hermeneutic phenomenological design was used, and the researcher focused on 10 educators from rural high schools in southwest Virginia who had experienced student chronic absenteeism and/or truancy. Data for this study was collected …

Relativistic Quantum Kinetic Theory: Higher Order Contributions In Assisted Schwinger Pair Production, James P. Edwards, Naser Ahmadiniaz, Sebastian M. Schmidt, Christian Kohlfürst

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Quantum kinetic theory is an important tool for studying nonequilibrium, nonperturbative and nonlinear interactions within an open quantum system, and as such is able to provide an unprecedented view on particle production in the relativistic, ultrahigh intensity regime of quantum electrodynamics. By reorganizing the relativistic quantum transport equations for Abelian plasmas and integrating them with a perturbative expansion, we significantly expand the scope for kinetic theories to further elucidate the peculiarities of particle production at a spectral level.

A Comprehensive Review Of Frugal Artificial Intelligence: Challenges, Applications, And The Road To Sustainable Ai, Nancy Girdhar, Aditya Raj, Deepak Sharma, Vinay Singh, Antoine Doucet, Matthias Renz

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has demonstrated its transformative impact in creating learning models, processing extensive datasets, and executing intricate calculations rapidly. Nevertheless, achieving optimal performance with AI models demands substantial investment in powerful and expensive high-end hardware. The learning models running on the hardware are complex, requiring massive data and huge training time. However, the race to achieve higher accuracy and computational limitations of AI further poses a threat to the environment and thus provides motivation to develop AI technology that is cost-effective, scalable, and suitable for resource-constrained environments, Frugal Artificial Intelligence, or Frugal AI. The objective of this paper is …

Effect Of Synthetic Data On The Performance Of Neural Networks For The Acoustic Localization Of Multirotor Uav Targets, Noah David Wargo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The application of neural networks has demonstrated significant potential in the field of acoustic source localization. This thesis investigates the deployment of such advanced neural network models for the specific challenge of uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) localization. A persistent obstacle in training deep learning models for this purpose, however, is the considerable effort required to collect and curate sufficiently large real-world datasets, which is both time consuming and resource-intensive. To address this limitation, this research incorporates synthetic data augmentation using a synthetic source sound generation script and the pyroadacoustics simulation environment. These synthetic sources, when processed through the pyroadacoustics simulator, …

Plasma Based Synthesis Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles And Their Characterization, Vedant Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Titanium dioxide has peaked significant interest due to its unique physical and chemical properties, making it highly valuable in a range of applications such as photocatalysis, solar energy conversion and biomedical devices. The use of plasma-based synthesis techniques offers several advantages over conventional methods such as higher purity, precise control over particle size and the ability to tailor phase composition. This study presents the successful design, construction and operational validation of a custom-built Inductively Coupled Plasma reactor (ICPr), tailored for gas phase nanoparticle synthesis, under low pressure conditions. The reactor’s ability to generate stable plasma in both E- and H-modes …

A Diversity Dilemma: A Qualitative Research Study On The Past And Present Racial And Cultural Demographics Of Formal Music Education Students, Destiny Deberry Stone-King

Masters Theses

This thesis study examined the relationship between the preference for popular music, racial identity, and the decision to participate in school music courses and ensembles, aiming to understand how the interaction of these factors influences the demographics of music students. The researcher analyzed previous research on music preference, the history of music education in the United States, commentary on the music education system, and personal accounts of music educators and former music students. The researcher used a historical qualitative research design and meta-analysis to answer three research questions: 1) How does a musician’s racial identity, musical preference, and musical training …

The Lived Experiences Of African American First-Generation Higher Education Students In The Artificial Intelligence Chatbot College Admissions Process: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Felecia M. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of African American first-generation higher education students as they navigate the AI chatbot college admissions process at universities throughout the United States. The theory guiding this transcendental phenomenological study is Rawl’s theory of social justice, as it explained the equal distribution of social values such as wealth, income, opportunity, and liberty. Van Manen's thematic analysis is used to explore the lived experiences and perspectives of the participants. The central research question for this study was, “What are the lived experiences of African American first-generation students who use …

Differentiated Instructional Practices In Gifted And Talented Elementary Classrooms In Central Georgia: A Holistic Multiple-Case Study, Olethia Marie-White Calhoun

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the factors influencing teachers' attitudes toward gifted education among elementary gifted-endorsed teachers at schools in central Georgia. Gifted education remains an underexplored and underfunded area within the United States (U.S.) educational system, leaving many high-ability students without the support they need to thrive. This researcher investigated the factors influencing elementary teachers' attitudes toward gifted education and how these attitudes, along with teachers' sense of self-efficacy, affect the implementation of differentiated instructional methods in central Georgia schools. Grounded in Gagné's differentiated model of giftedness and talent (DMGT), a gap in the literature …