Digital Commons Network^™

From Bystanders To Upstanders: A Multi-Level Strategy To Combat Human Trafficking In Hospitality, Aili Wu, Wei Wei, Lu Zhang

ICHRIE Research Reports

Human trafficking, a prevalent hidden crime, continues to be a pressing concern in the hospitality industry. However, the effectiveness of existing anti-human trafficking programs in improving employee response behaviors remains unknown. This report evaluates the effectiveness of training messages to capture hospitality employees’ attention, facilitating empathy and willingness to help the victims. It further explores the facilitators and barriers influencing employees’ responses to human trafficking after training. The findings from this report provide a practical guide for hospitality practitioners to develop and refine ongoing training programs, strengthening employees’ commitment to combating human trafficking. Beyond general training, this report offers a …

Determining Diagnostic Criteria To Define Infant Swallowing Through Dyad Interviews With Experts, Evon Youkhana

Speech and Hearing Sciences ETDs

INTRODUCTION: With the increasing incidence of pediatric dysphagia, understanding what constitutes normal swallowing is essential to identifying aberrant swallowing. The purpose of this investigation is to understand how expert clinicians define swallowing disorders in infants and young children through a qualitative analysis of clinical decision-making processes.

METHODS: Data collection occurred in two phases. Phase I consisted of an online survey, which gathered demographic information and expert opinions on pediatric feeding and swallowing assessments. Phase II consisted of two dyad interviews to discuss key clinical and instrumental components important in determining the presence or absence of swallowing problems in infants and …

Using Natural Materials In Art Therapy To Address Accessibility And Well-Being In Low-Income Older Adults, Ahlyana J. Richardson

Expressive Therapies Theses

This study investigated the implementation of natural materials during the artmaking processes in an older adult art therapy group (eco-art therapy), and its effects on their well-being and the role of accessibility in their lives. An open-studio approach was applied to emphasize the artmaking process being driven by the participants independently, while also sharing a collaborative space and creating community with each other. There was an exception to this condition in this study, being that the participants were encouraged to ask for assistance in using unconventional materials in their artwork if they felt they needed it. The participants were older …

Literature Review: Drama Therapy As A School-Based Intervention For Military-Connected Adolescents, Katherine E. Dooley

Expressive Therapies Theses

The following literature review will review current research surrounding military-connected adolescents mental health and the viability of utilizing drama therapy as a school-based intervention to improve their mental health. Military-connected adolescents are an invisible minority who experience a unique set of stressors. This population experiences frequent relocation, parental deployment, and the impact living this way can have on the entire family. The current research shows that military-connected adolescents are more likely than their civilian peers to experience mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety. School-based therapeutic interventions have been shown to help decrease symptoms. School-based interventions allow for the therapist …

A Novel Approach To Competency-Based Education For Pediatric Nurse Practitioners: Bringing Clarity To Competencies, Kristina L. Banks, Carol L. Savrin

Faculty Scholarship

Introduction: Guidance for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) competency-based education (CBE) is provided by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (“Essentials”). The 2021 AACN Essentials update prompted a significant shift from traditional to (CBE)for Nurse Practitioner (NP) faculty. NONPF has responded, updating its NP Role Core Competencies and domains to be congruent with the AACN 2021 Essentials, but NONPF's population-specific competencies remain unchanged since 2013. Methods: Two PNP faculty conducted a multistep crosswalk between the NONPF 2013 population-based competencies for Primary and …

Examining Factors That Shape The Perspectives Of Afro-Caribbean Parents On The American Special Education System, Eldine Beaubrun Montauban

Educational Studies Dissertations

Cultural beliefs of disabilities and education can impact parents’ perspectives of special education. There are pertinent concerns over the cultural factors shaping the perspectives of Afro-Caribbean parents on the American special education system. This qualitative case study explored the perceptions of six parents of children with special needs who identify as Afro-Caribbean living in Massachusetts. Applying a theoretical/conceptual framework that includes acculturation, assimilation, social identity, and school family partnership, this study reveals challenges Afro-Caribbean parents and their children encounter in the U.S. special education system. The analysis of the data yielded seven findings. The findings detail parents’ negotiations of their …

Quixotes, Quacks, And Laughing Philosophers: Humor And Intellectual Authority In The Long Eighteenth Century, Macklin Fanning

English Theses and Dissertations

Quixotes, Quacks, and Laughing Philosophers: Humor and Intellectual Authority in the Long Eighteenth Century recovers the fascinating and forgotten story of John Elliot (1747–1787), a novelist, physician, mad scientist, pioneering optical theorist, criminal lunatic, and Gothic antihero whose life and work illuminate a strange new history of science, medicine, law, and literature in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Asymmetric, Carboxy And Ester Functionalized Fluorophthalocyanines: Synthesis, Adsorption, And Reactivity, Sean J. Scally

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Strong electron-deficient compounds, fluorinated metal phthalocyanines (F_xPcM), exhibit enhanced photosensitizing properties, making them optimal candidates for photocatalytic studies. Perfluoroalkyl-substituted phthalocyanines are notably thermally robust materials that are chemically inert and resistant to electrophilic, nucleophilic, and radical, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) attacks. These properties can be attributed to their ‘Teflon-like’ inert organic shield that surrounds a reactive metal center, as well as their complete (x = 16, 40, 64), or almost complete (x = 48) lack of C-H bonds. Third-generation, functionalized, asymmetric phthalocyanines are of interest due to their ability to bind to oxidic supports via a carboxyl …

A Novel Approach To Model The Pion Structure Using Advanced Polynomial Functions, Lucas Kotz

Physics Theses and Dissertations

In the coming years, new experiments at the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will provide unprecedented insight into the building blocks of matter. To make the most of these opportunities, scientists must reduce uncertainties in the theoretical models that connect what we observe in experiments to what is happening inside particles like protons and pions. A critical part of these models involves describing how a particles momentum is shared among its internal components – quarks and gluons.

This work focuses on improving how we model the internal structure of the pion. We propose a new approach …

Physiological Regulation And Paths To Social Status In Chimpanzees, Megan F. Cole

Anthropology ETDs

In this dissertation, I leverage longitudinal comparative data from naturalistic chimpanzee populations to examine the evolutionary context for healthy aging and cooperative leadership. First, I use health data from semi-free-ranging chimpanzees living at African sanctuaries (2012-2023) to demonstrate that the effects of diet and exercise that promote healthy aging in humans are shared with chimpanzees. Semi-free-ranging chimpanzees exhibit a slower pace of biological aging compared to sedentary laboratory chimpanzees (Chapter 2). Sanctuary chimpanzees also have healthier inflammatory profiles, with no evidence of chronic inflammaging (Chapter 3). Second, I use hormonal and behavioral data from wild chimpanzees at Kanyawara (2005-2019) to …

Women In The Traditional Gender System Through Sexualized And Inappropriate Performances In The Modern Advertisements, Ruoning Xia

Communication ETDs

This study examined the body and gender identity performances and narratives of women in different Chinese advertisements, and deconstructed the motivation and representation of humiliation, sexual harassment, and gender offside toward women in public spaces. The study takes feminism, patriarchal capitalism, and rhetorical criticism to analyze the situation of Chinese women’s identity and gender in the traditional gender system, as well as the status of women’s situations with patriarchy and capitalism discourses. Through the analysis of the advertisements, the study criticized the gender (mis)representation of women’s gender identity and bodies among women's identities, bodies, and patriarchy, and deconstructs the gender …

Collective Action In Marine Mammal Co-Management: Relationships As Tools Of Cooperation, Joseph E. Ransdell-Green

Arctic and Northern Studies

Collective action has great importance in solving many socio-ecological issues because the sustainable management of natural resources requires that different people and institutions cooperate with one another to contribute to a collective good. Over the past sixty years, two general theories of collective action have formed. These theories continue to influence debates about what factors drive collective action. In the 1960s, first-generation collective action scholars proposed that laws from centralized governments or privatization were needed to combat collective action problems such as overpopulation and overexploitation of resources. Second- generation scholars argue that groups can self-organize to solve collective action problems. …

Misused And Misunderstood: Examining The Inappropriate Use Of Stimulant Medications, Connor Dains, Madilyn Paphanchith, Makayla Eversole, Chaehyeon Jin, Minhwan Yang, Joshua Honaker, Samantha Mccord, Kayla Petkus

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children, characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) endorses stimulant medications as the first-line treatment option. When combined with behavioral therapy, this pharmacologic class can improve focus, executive functioning, and the overall quality of life. While stimulant prescriptions can have a positive effect when used as directed, there is concern for the potential of provider overprescription and patient misuse related to these medications. Consequently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revised the boxed warning and prescribing information for stimulant medications. Healthcare providers must educate …

The Theology Of Home: Cultivating Faith And Belonging Through Community And Hospitality As A Reflection Of God’S Presence In The Community And Church, Carrie C. Teller

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

This dissertation examines the essential human need for belonging and its theological significance in shaping faith, identity, and community. Drawing on biblical texts, historical theological perspectives, and contemporary ecclesiological discourse, this study explores the church as a spiritual home—a sacred space of belonging where relationships foster deeper engagement with God and one another. This study contends that the modern church is in decline, and to revitalize it, we must reclaim the ecclesial essence of home. Rather than relying on institutional structures or programming strategies, churches must prioritize relational engagement and radical hospitality and cultivate authentic communities. Organizations like Mission Waco …

A Real-Time Animation Toolkit With Blending, Root Motion Control, Interruption, Events, And Layering, Lechen Gong

Programming Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a real-time animation toolkit designed for interactive 3D applications, with a focus on games. The toolkit integrates advanced features including animation blending, root motion control, interruption handling, event systems, and layering to achieve fluid and responsive character movement. Built around a quaternion-based math library, the system ensures smooth transitions between animations, eliminates joint snapping, and avoids gimbal lock. Root motion extraction and application enable physics-accurate movement driven by animations. The artifact—a third-person action game—demonstrates the toolkit's efficacy, showcasing seamless animation transitions, efficient GPU-based vertex updates, and good performance (0.56–1.25ms per frame). Results confirm the system's ability to …

Procedural Terrain Generation With Biome Ecosystem And Dynamic Weather, Yanyan Zhou

Programming Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces a procedural terrain generation tool, inspired by immersive game environments such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Ghost of Tsushima. It combines procedural terrain and biome generation algorithms with dynamic weather transitions, allowing user customization through editing and importing heightmaps and biome maps. The system employs procedural functions like Perlin and fractal noise to generate realistic, varied landscapes and ecosystems, with vegetation distributed according to biome-specific parameters. Terrain mesh creation leverages detailed heightmap information, enhanced by advanced rendering techniques including normal mapping via central difference calculations, mip-mapping, and anisotropic filtering. Additionally, the tool features GPU-based …

Molecular Dynamics Study Of Phase Change And Interfacial Behavior In Nanoconfined Argon, Ying-Chu Chen

Mechanical Engineering Research Theses and Dissertations

As electronic devices continue to reduce in size, effective thermal management becomes increasingly critical. Thin-film evaporation offers a promising solution due to its high heat flux capacity and passive nature. However, the applicability of continuum theory to thin-film evaporation becomes uncertain at the nanoscale. This work presents a two-phase Molecular Dynamics(MD) study of liquid argon confined within two parallel platinum walls, focusing on both equilibrium and non-equilibrium phase change behavior under nanoscale confinement.

In the first phase, Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics (EMD) simulations investigate the influence of channel height (4, 8, and 16 nm) and wall-fluid interaction strength on bulk and …

Potential Association Between The Incidence Of Breast Cancer In Female Iraqi Patients And The Rs861539 Polymorphism, Vitamin D, And Antioxidant Vitamins, Iqbal Hanash Dhefer

Baghdad Science Journal

Breast cancer is the main cause of mortality for females. Variations in DNA repair capacity and consequent hereditary predisposition to certain malignancies may be attributed to polymorphisms in DNA repair genes. There have been few and inconclusive studies on the relationship between blood levels of vitamins and minerals and food and the genesis of breast cancer. We explored correlations between polymorphisms (rs861539) and vitamin D. In addition, the effects of vitamins D, E, C, and iron on breast cancer were examined. The study population consisted of thirty healthy normal persons and sixty breast cancer patients. For the purpose of estimating …

Evaluation Of Dpp4, Tnf, And Lipid Profile Levels As Early Indicators In Infertility Among Iraqi Women, Kadhim K. Ghudhaib, Fayhaa M. Khaleel, Farah E. Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

Infertility is one of the problems facing women and men. Obesity, lipid level disorders, and insulin resistance are among the risk factors that cause infertility, in addition to other relevant factors. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of obesity and lipids imbalance, together with studying the relationship for each dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) and tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α) infertile women compared to healthy women, to determine the possibility that they are being diagnostic and indicative factors of the disease. The study included 50 participants, age range (15–34) years, who attended Kamal Al-Samarai Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. …

Searching For Seismic Precursors: The Barry Landslide Hazard, Gabrielle Davy

Geosciences

Landslides pose a serious geohazard, particularly when they occur in steep coastal or fjord environments where they can generate tsunamis. Barry Arm, located in Prince William Sound, Alaska, exemplifies this threat. The unstable slope, with an estimated failure volume of 500-700 million cubic meters, could produce a tsunami capable of devastating communities such as Whittier, Valdez, and Cordova. Recognizing the potential consequences, the region has been intensively monitored since 2020, providing a valuable opportunity to study the interactions between seismic activity, environmental drivers, and slope stability. Monitoring landslide-prone regions with seismic and geophysical instruments can offer insights into the processes …

Migrant Women Along The Us-Mexico Border: Femicide And Gender Based Violence, Rylee Bondeson

Senior Theses

This paper examines the social and political factors that affect the rates of gender based violence against migrant women in areas around the US-Mexico border.

Towards Inclusive Advocacy: Addressing Colonial Legacies, Evangelical Influence, And Nationalism In Uganda’S Lgbtqi+ Rights Movement, Rodrigo Pedraza Calleja

Senior Theses

This thesis explores Uganda’s homophobic legislation and attitudes, rooted in colonial morality codes and reinforced by U.S. evangelical campaigns. It critiques Western advocacy approaches and emphasizes grassroots efforts rooted in Uganda’s indigenous values. The research offers a framework for advancing LGBTQ+ rights that balances cultural sensitivity with universal human rights.

#Justicepouradama : The Problem Of Police Brutality With French Police Targeting Former French African Colony Immigrants, Madalyn Von Hassel

Senior Theses

There is an urgent need to address systemic police violence and racial profiling in France, particularly against Black and African communities. It poses a critical question: how do instances of police brutality reflect and reinforce systemic discrimination in French society, and what can be done to dismantle these structures? To answer this, the analysis begins with the 2005 riots, a landmark moment of collective outrage triggered by police actions, which set a precedent for future protests and highlighted the grievances of marginalized communities in the banlieues. It then shifts to the death of Adama Traoré in 2016, whose case became …

A Tale Of Two Chinatowns: Development Projects And Their Effects On Diasporic Communities, Gemma Oshiro

Senior Theses

Urban change as initiated by a municipality has ramifications on the communities and neighborhoods found in the urban area. Development plans greatly affect vulnerable migrant populations who rely on their neighbors for economic and social support. These development plans in urban areas are widely discussed in academic literature because of pervasive processes such as gentrification. While most people agree that processes such as gentrification are harmful to communities, I am interested in exploring urban development plans on a larger scale and who these projects most benefit in order to better understand why they are commissioned. In this thesis I perform …

Mexico's Gender Violence Alerts: Ambiguous, Under-Resourced, And Uneven Impacts On Women’S Human Rights, Molly Ewing

Senior Theses

Mexico has some of the highest rates of violence against women and femicide in the world and these numbers continue to rise. Over the past few decades, Mexico has attempted to address this issue through a series of penal code reforms, social campaigns, and comprehensive legislation, but the impacts of such measures are undercut and unevenly felt due to a series of under looked contributing factors. Mexico is the first in the world to implement the Gender Violence Alert Mechanism (AVGM), which was established under the General Law on Women’s Access to a Life Free from Violence (LGAMVLV) of 200. …

“I’M Not Belgian, I’M European”: Ontological Security, Common Security & Defense Policy, And Evolving Identity Dynamics Within The European Union, Madeleine Bamford

Senior Theses

Identity dynamics worldwide continue to impact global integration and defense policy. This study aims to fill a gap in scholarship: how political science research can zoom in on the individual and produce effective research at the singular level through ontological security theory. Drawing on Eurobarometer studies and social media comments, this study delineates the evolution of European identity dynamics from 1975 to 2024. The study considers how the idea of ‘Home,’ the othering of outside peoples, and perceived physical security contribute to the constituent perception of defense policy. Furthermore, this study examines various European Union policies that have impacted collective …

Immigrants’ Inhumanity To Immigrants: The Failings Of Modern Us Immigration Policies Through The Lens Of Mauritanian Asylum Seekers, Karuna Kayembe

Senior Theses

By analyzing firsthand accounts of Mauritanian migrants gathered at The Migrant Center of St. Francis Church of Assisi, this paper explores the systemic inequities of U.S. immigration law and enforcement, particularly its impact on African migrants. The research argues that these lived experiences expose the disconnect between official narratives of welcoming migrants and the harsh realities of the immigration system, making a case for a more humane and equitable framework. This will be accomplished by first setting the scene on Mauritania and the culture and history that backs up how the migrants act and why they chose America to emigrate. …

Revolution Beneath The Burqa: Afghan Women’S Grassroots Resistance And A Goal Of Sustainable Change Under The Taliban (1990s-2000s), Ava Stover

Senior Theses

This case study examines two juxtaposing initiatives; The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) and Beauty Without Borders, and their differing approaches to addressing systemic oppression and empowering Afghan women post-Taliban takeover in 1996. RAWA employs a grassroots model while Beauty Without Borders, a Western-led initiative, emphasizes beautification. The study considers RAWA’s effectiveness in addressing structural inequalities while highlighting the limitations of externally driven programs like Beauty Without Borders. This analysis contributes to understanding how grassroots movements can achieve sustainable systemic change, while the West’s continuous misinterpretation of cultures and lifestyles different from their own has perpetuated failed …

France’S Exclusion Politics: Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric And Political Capital (1972-2002), Alicia Strader

Senior Theses

This thesis explores the politics of exclusion in France, focusing on how immigrants have been marginalized due to politicians' strategic use of anti-immigrant rhetoric. The study examines the rise of Jean-Marie Le Pen, and the increasing political capital gained through his xenophobic platform, highlighting the pivotal moment when other politicians began to adopt similar tactics to secure their own electoral success. By examining secondary sources and magazine articles from 1972 to 2002, this research investigates how the politicization of immigration issues contributed to the marginalization of immigrant communities in France. It argues that the exploitation of anti-immigrant sentiment, particularly after …

"War In Kyrgyzstan And Tajikistan: Freshwater Scarcity And The Path To Peace", Ava Janelle Leonard

Senior Theses

As climate change intensifies, its effects on the natural environment are becoming increasingly visible. Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. This transformation of the environment threatens access to natural resources, limits economic growth, and increases the vulnerability of a nation’s ecological, political, and social stability. Freshwater is one of the most essential natural resources. This paper addresses how inadequate access to freshwater in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has impacted stability within and across borders. Chapter one introduces freshwater as a limited resource, highlighting how the scarcity of it threatens environmental sustainability and …