Digital Commons Network^™

The Florida Highwaymen: Race And Entrepreneurial Art In Jim Crow Florida, Brecken Fair

Theses & ETDs

This paper introduces the Florida Highwaymen, a collective of African American landscape painters who emerged in mid-twentieth century Florida. Previously, the Florida Highwaymen have been viewed primarily as commercial artists producing decorative art for profit. By examining their artistic techniques, cultural context, and the socio-economic challenges they faced, this paper argues that the Highwaymen’s work represents a form of entrepreneurship and artistic innovation. Their paintings not only document the unique landscapes of Florida but their achievements reflect issues of mobility, entrepreneurship, and resilience within the African American community during the Jim Crow Era Florida. This paper also recognizes the talent …

A Structure–Conduct–Performance Analysis Of Nike: Market Power, Consumer Behavior, And Strategy In The Global Sportswear Industry, Leticia Guimaraes

Theses & ETDs

No abstract provided.

Socrates’ Anabasis: ‘Breaking In From Above’ Italian Neorealism And The Socratic Myth, Joshua Janniere

Theses & ETDs

No abstract provided.

Safer Software, Safer People; Contributing To A Rust Tor Implementation (Arti), Sam Kellam

Theses & ETDs

This thesis presents my experience contributing to the Arti (A Rust Tor Implementation) open-source project. It describes The Onion Router (Tor), a volunteer-run network that provides anonymity to all kinds of people, and the Rust programming language, a language that brings significant safety improvements over languages like C, which the original implementation of Tor is written in. It describes my experience breaking into the project, starting with the Google Summer of Code program, and my contributions to the project over the course of several months.

The Evaluation Of Immune Dysregulation Detection In Individuals With Psychiatric Conditions, Alyssa Kiel

Theses & ETDs

32 studies were evaluated in determining detection of immune dysregulation, derived from monocyte, T-cell, B-cell, and protein panels, and identifying trends in disorder-specific biomarker data for different psychiatric conditions including, ASD, schizophrenia, MDD, bipolar disorder, GAD, OCD, ADHD, and C-PTSD. The studies selected reporting significant immune abnormalities from biomarker data, with observed findings of immune dysregulation in psychiatric populations frequently coincided with the prevalence of comorbid physical issues, such as metabolic imbalances, cardiovascular conditions, and gastrointestinal issues. These observations highlight the intersection of altered biomarker variation and comorbid disease outcomes present in individuals (including their sex) with psychiatric conditions compared …

Ptap Online Municipal Tracking Tool Instructions, Unh Stormwater Center

UNH Stormwater Center

No abstract provided.

It Lurks Within: An Rpg Exploring Uncanny Familiarity & Facing The Truths We Hide Within Ourselves, Lance Galleher

Theses & ETDs

In this thesis, I will discuss the creation of a 2D psychological horror role-playing game demo made using the Godot engine. I draw inspiration from games such as Slay the Princess, Look Outside, and DREDGE. I also take influence from artists such as Zdzisław Beksiński and H. R. Giger, as well as literary works including House of Leaves and A Short Stay in Hell. I also use the concept of uncanny familiarity in my artwork and storytelling to explore themes of existentialism and identity, especially in the context of grappling with one's perceived place in our world. Through this, the …

Diagnosed By Assumptions: A Critical Analysis Of Bias Against Black People In Clinical Assessment And Treatment, Natalia Knox

Theses & ETDs

Racial bias and discrimination established the healthcare system. Although the system exists to help all who are sick, there are many instances in which people are treated unfairly. The consequences of bias in healthcare are not merely theoretical—they are measurable, persistent, and, in many cases, life-threatening. This study investigates perceptions of fairness, experiences during treatment, and attitudes toward racial bias in healthcare among adults in the United States. 250 participants were recruited through the online research platform Prolific who completed an anonymous Qualtrics survey addressing these biases. Chi-square tests of independence were conducted to examine associations between demographic variables and …

The Impact Of Sports Betting On Major League Baseball, Matthew Macgregor

Theses & ETDs

No abstract provided.

Strength And Conditioning As A Physiological Strategy For Injury Prevention In Competitive Sports, Gabriel Mocco

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the relationship between strength and conditioning and injury risk in competitive sport, with a focus on collegiate soccer. The motivation for this study grew from four years of personal experience as a student-athlete, during which multiple injuries and a growing engagement with structured strength training led to a deeper understanding of how physical preparation influences the body's ability to handle the demands of competitive sport. The Literature Review covers nine key areas, including neuromuscular and biomechanical factors, strength training and injury prevention, training load management, previous injury as a risk factor, specificity of training, energy availability and …

Manufacturing Global Citizens: An Analysis Of Unesco’S Social Emotional Learning Network Topology, Gabriel Ruiz

Theses & ETDs

This thesis project aims to determine whether or not UNESCO’s Social Emotional Learning (SEL) network, structured in terms of its global and regional topology, is positioned to facilitate the diffusion of SEL frameworks and practices. In recent history, a new, competing paradigm of global citizenship, facilitated through UNESCO’s SEL frameworks, has made waves within the international society. UNESCO’s goal is to transform the ontologies of billions of people through education, by utilizing its extensive, global networks. As a result, UNESCO’s global, regional and national partnerships and networks provide the structure, and a varied enough approach to impacting educational policy and …

Kazakhstan And The Middle Corridor Initiative: Assessing The Influence Of China And Türkiye, Delaney Staples

Theses & ETDs

China seeks to change the world by becoming the new global hegemon in the face of waning U.S and Western dominance. The PRC’s primary function to achieve this is its Belt and Road Initiative that commenced in 2013. This global infrastructure project seeks to spread China’s economic model while increasing Chinese bilateral agreements with other developing countries. Turkiye and Kazakhstan as discussed in this thesis are two key components of this initiative, specifically crossing the routes of the Middle Corridor (MCI) that passes from China, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and into Turkiye to reach European markets. These land routes call back …

More Than The Game: How Digital Storytelling Constructs Community And Identity In College Athletics, Katrina Wolfe

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the role of digital storytelling in shaping athlete identity, institutional branding, and social interaction within college athletics. Through the analysis of social media content, personal experience as both a student-athlete and athletic media intern, and research on digital culture and sports media, this study explores how athletic programs construct public identity through online platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and live-streaming media. Drawing from theories of identity performance, visibility, and networked communication, the thesis argues that digital storytelling functions not only as a promotional tool but also as a cultural practice that influences belonging, representation, and team dynamics. …

Warning Signs In Disguise: Narcissism, Communication, Attachment, And Relationship Quality, Andrea Beyra Estrada

Theses & ETDs

This study examined how narcissistic admiration and rivalry are associated with relationship satisfaction and attachment, and whether these relationships are reflected in communication patterns and maladaptive behaviors. Participants (N = 143) completed measures of narcissism, communication styles, relationship satisfaction, attachment, and conflict behaviors. Results showed that narcissism was not directly associated with relationship satisfaction. However, narcissistic rivalry was significantly related to maladaptive communication patterns and a range of harmful behaviors, including verbal aggression, physical conflict, and coercive behaviors. In turn, these maladaptive communication patterns and behaviors were strongly associated with lower relationship satisfaction and greater attachment insecurity. Regression analyses further …

Beyond Skrmetti: A Constitutional Case For Gender-Affirming Care, Mateo-Luis A. Planas, Evan Gerstmann

Honors Thesis

In 2025, roughly 2.1 million adults in America identify as transgender, making up around 1% of the country’s total population. Despite this, the transgender identity has become a focus of political debates and made its way onto the U.S. Supreme Court’s docket in U.S. v. Skrmetti. The issue is not whether transgender people exist, but rather, how they ought to exist legally: if and when one can access medical care to pursue a gender transition. While many American doctors agree that these treatments are life-saving, since 2021, a slew of legislation has limited access for adults 18-21 (AMA, 2021). This …

Music & Emotion: Matching Neurobiological Proxies To Affect Components Induced By Music Modality, William Lopez

Theses & ETDs

The United States struggles with high rates of mental health conditions and their misdiagnosis. Both major diagnostic manuals used in mental health rely solely on behavioral and self-reported measures for their diagnostic criteria. Differential diagnosis could be supported by implementing non-invasive neurophysiological and neuroendocrinological measures. Regarding the treatment aspect of healthcare, music therapists can be equipped with additional tools by understanding how individual manipulations of musical components directly influence emotion. Many music studies examine the general effects of music or conduct correlation analyses of songs that share musical components, rather than employing a controlled paradigm in which near-identical pieces are …

College Of Natural Sciences Spring Newsletter, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

[Page 1] Dean's Message
[Page] 2 Awards & Recognitions // Student Spotlights
[Page] 3 Zhang Named to Landsat Science Team // The Power of Teaching
[Page] 4 “Science as Art” Competition Welcomes High School Artists
[Page] 5 Testing for “Forever Chemicals” in Surface Water // New Faculty Spotlight
[Page] 6 Ambassador Initiated Outreach
[Page] 7 57th Annual Geography Convention
[Page] 8 Twice the Impact on On Call with the Prairie Doc
[Page] 9 Making Staple Foods Healthier // Halaweish & Cole-Dai Retire
[Page] 10 Drone Day 2026
[Page] 11 Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Day (SRSCAD)
[Page] 12 Ceremony …

Red 40 Riot: An Interdisciplinary Perspective On The Fight For Food Additive Regulation, Margaret Q. Gray

Honors Theses

This paper explores the chemical, business, and governmental influences that impact the perception and future of Red 40. This inquiry was inspired by the increasing trends towards health-conscious consumer preferences and the 2025 Red 3 ban. This thesis examines foundational research, modern sources, and public-facing articles to create a comprehensive understanding of both sides of the argument in support of and against regulation. The paper concludes that a three-pronged approach would be ideal to target each key perspective included: chemistry, business, government. The approaches include confirming chemical research method validity, encouraging governmental regulation, and corporate accountability and enforcement. The paper …

National Assessment Program – Ict Literacy 2025. Technical Report., Kate O'Malley, Steven Kambouris, Dulce Lay, Amira Mahmood, Frances Eveleigh, Jorge Fallas

ICT - Digital Literacy

The primary purpose of the NAP–ICT Literacy 2025 technical report is to detail the technical aspects of the assessment. It outlines the key activities undertaken in the design, sampling, data collection, analysis, and reporting phases of the national sample assessment. The 2025 cycle marks the seventh national assessment of ICT literacy. Notably, the 2025 assessment was administered in May, a shift of 5 months from previous cycles, which were held in October. For this reason, changes in achievement between 2025 and previous cycles of the NAP–ICT Literacy assessment should be interpreted with some caution. The NAP–ICT Literacy 2025 assessment was …

National Assessment Program – Ict Literacy 2025. Public Report, Tim Friedman, Kate O'Malley, Frances Eveleigh, Wolfram Schulz

ICT - Digital Literacy

This report presents the findings from the seventh National Assessment Program – Information and Communication Technology Literacy (NAP–ICT Literacy) assessment cycle. The assessment was conducted in May 2025 with representative samples of Year 6 and Year 10 students across Australia. The report includes comparisons, where appropriate, with findings from previous NAP–ICT Literacy assessment cycles. NAP–ICT Literacy assesses students’ ability to use ICT and digital tools appropriately, safely and effectively across a range of real-world contexts. The assessment evaluates a broad range of skills, including: accessing, managing and evaluating information, developing new understandings, applying computational, design and systems thinking, communicating and …

From Taboo To Treatment: A Trip Through A State-Based Roadmap To Psychedelic Rescheduling, Logan P. Doughty

Northern Illinois University Law Review

Psychedelics, a class of psychoactive substances that profoundly alter perception, mood, and cognition, show significant promise as a treatment option for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, under the current regulatory framework of the Controlled Substances Act, these substances remain classified as Schedule I, the most restrictive category of federal control. This classification has made research and clinical access nearly impossible, largely due to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s insistence on randomized control trial evidence to satisfy the evidentiary standard of “currently accepted medical use” (CAMU). This evidentiary burden reflects more than a veneer of …

Flipping The Format: A Comparative Analysis Of Pedagogy’S Performance On Comprehension In Introductory Financial Accounting Education, Allison Drozd

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Education is an ever-evolving field, and accounting education is no different. Introductory financial accounting is a required business course at universities that is characterized by high failure rates (Kealey et al., 2005). Evidence suggests that active learning and constructivist approaches improve comprehension of introductory financial accounting concepts as measured by exam performance. All methods studied produced statistically significant positive results on comprehension learning outcomes. Many professors' experiences support the studies' sentiment that active learning is important for teaching course concepts. The evidence reviewed in this thesis supports positive learning outcomes for comprehension of accounting concepts through active learning and constructivist …

Are They Really Safe? The Impact Of The Safe-T Act On Victims Of Crimes, Brianna Reed

Northern Illinois Law Review Supplement

Within the past few years, Illinois has gone through a bail reform that has changed how a defendant’s pretrial custody status is determined. This reform has negatively impacted victims, resulting in more safety risks, judicial interpretation, and a decrease in resources. These issues are emerging as practitioners work with victims constantly and information becomes more available to the public. This Article, based in part on interviews with attorneys and victims’ services advocates, proposes remedies that legislators and counties can adopt to help balance the rights of defendants and victims. Some of these remedies include modifying the legislation, adopting different procedures, …

Policing Post-Overdose: Multidisciplinary Teams Are Key To Addressing Illinois’S Opioid Crisis, Natalie B. Thirtle

Northern Illinois Law Review Supplement

The opioid epidemic remains one of Illinois’s most pressing public health and safety crises, with thousands of overdoses reported annually. Illinois’s current State Overdose Action Plan (SOAP) relies on law enforcement to administer naloxone and refer people who use drugs (PWUD) to treatment. Yet, there is research that indicates Illinois police are opposed to these responsibilities due to personal bias, workplace culture, and a lack of training in the science of drug addiction. Some advocates call for decriminalization of drug use, pointing to models in Portugal, Oregon, and California. However, these approaches have struggled in the United States due to …

Mischaracterizing Officer Self-Defense Doctrine In Use Of Force Cases Will Have Catastrophic Effects On Fourth Amendment Analysis, Caleb Sook Yoon

Northern Illinois Law Review Supplement

As raised in Barnes v. Felix, the moment of threat doctrine was coined by the Fifth Circuit’s majority and concurring opinions written by Judge Higginbotham as being a test that only looks to the preceding moments that led to officers’ use of deadly force. This is a mischaracterization of the officer self-defense doctrine under the “totality of the circumstances” test established by Graham v. Connor when evaluating police use of force. Unfortunately, this mischaracterization has been reinforced by SCOTUS during oral arguments and through SCOTUS’s ruling. As the Supreme Court has remanded the case back to the district courts, this …

Model Stormwater Standards 2026, Unh Stormwater Center

UNH Stormwater Center

The purpose of post-construction stormwater management standards is to provide reasonable guidance for the regulation of stormwater runoff to protect local natural resources from degradation and prevent adverse impacts to adjacent and downstream land, property, facilities, and infrastructure. These standards regulate discharges from stormwater and runoff from land development projects and other construction activities to control and minimize increases in stormwater runoff rates and volumes, soil erosion, stream channel erosion, and nonpoint source pollution associated with stormwater runoff.

Having Our Say: A Sociological Examination Of English Instruction In Urban High Schools And Effects On Black And Latino Identities, Jena Marie Escareno

Dissertations

This interdisciplinary study integrates a macro‑sociological perspective on language bias with an examination of English language instructional policies and practices that shape the identities of Black and Latino former urban high school students. Its purpose is to apply a sociological framework capable of illuminating the intersections of language, race, and social justice. By bridging linguistic, sociological, and educational theories, the study seeks to explain why current approaches to language instruction remain ineffective for urban learners and may inadvertently harm minority cultural identities.

Persistent disparities in urban academic achievement often highlight race and ethnicity as explanatory factors without acknowledging how these …

Transitioning From The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit To The Home Environment: An Occupational Therapy-Led Educational Module Supporting Safe Sleep, Tummy Time, And Feeding After The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Jordan C. Austin

OTD Capstone Projects

Infants admitted into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and their caregivers experience significant stress, which can negatively impact both infant development and caregiver confidence during the transition to the home environment. Despite the established role of occupational therapy (OT) in supporting infant development and caregiver education, OT services are not consistently provided across all levels of the NICU. This gap highlights the need for accessible, caregiver-focused educational resources. 

The purpose of this capstone project was to improve caregiver understanding of the role of OT in the NICU setting while supporting a smooth transition to the home environment through the …

Strengthening Fieldwork Mentorship: A Ceu-Based Approach To Supporting Occupational Therapy Educators, Michelle Bryant

OTD Capstone Projects

This project addresses a persistent gap in fieldwork education by developing a mentorship‑focused continuing education unit (CEU) for practitioners serving as fieldwork educators. Inconsistent preparation for mentorship has been identified as a barrier to effective supervision and student growth. Using a program-development approach, the project involved a literature review, expert consultation, and feedback from volunteer practitioners to shape the CEU’s structure, content, and clarity.

This CEU equips both Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants and Occupational Therapists with evidence‑supported strategies to strengthen core mentorship skills, including approachability, communication, adaptability, and therapeutic relationship‑building. Real‑life scenarios, guided reflection, and expert commentary help bridge theory …

Exploring Occupational Therapy’S Role In Post-Secondary Student Mental Health, Anneilise C. Dunderdale

OTD Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.