Digital Commons Network^™

Parent-Child Relations, Ego Identity Exploration, And Self-Esteem In Emerging Adulthood, Japji Madan, Amala Vadakumcherry, Vivan Majumdar

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Self-esteem has long been a central focus of psychological research, with positive development linked to factors such as academic achievement, peer relationships, and parent-child bonds. Sub-optimal parent-child relationships, however, can negatively impact self-esteem. While prior studies have largely emphasized extrinsic buffers (e.g., peer support) that mitigate these effects, less is known about intrinsic factors that may promote adjustment in the context of sub-optimal parenting. Emerging adulthood, a period characterized by identity exploration, may provide such intrinsic resources. This study examines whether ego identity exploration moderates the relationship between parent-child relationship quality and self-esteem in emerging adults. Participants were 132 emerging …

Determining The Life Cycles Of Gordonia Rubripertincta Phages, Joshua Yue, Aron Balazs, Jenny Cristina Gallardo Arauz, Akshaj Gandra, Yuktha Milukuri, Suhani Ketan Pothiwala

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Antibiotic resistance continues to rise globally, increasingly limiting the effectiveness of conventional antimicrobial treatments and prompting the exploration of alternative therapies. Bacteriophages are viruses that can specifically infect and kill bacteria, and have emerged as a promising solution, particularly for infections resistant to antibiotics. This study is part of the Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program, which aims to isolate, characterize, and catalog bacteriophages for research and potential therapeutic use. We focused on bacteriophages infecting Gordonia rubripertincta, an actinobacterium with growing clinical relevance as an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised patients and catheter related infections. …

Reconsidering The Take It Down Act, Cate Thorpe

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

In the past decade, there has been an increase in digital forgeries leading to the phenomena many have called “revenge porn.” This form of Nonconsensual Intimate Imagery (NCII) has been facilitated by AI-models that allow users to create false images or videos of someone’s likeness, often referred to as deepfakes. In an attempt to combat the dissemination of such forged NCIIs, Congress enacted the TAKE IT DOWN Act. The Act institutes a notice-and-removal procedure for victims to request the removal of  NCIIs depicting their likeness on covered platforms. While the TAKE IT DOWN Act sufficiently addresses some concerns, certain aspects …

The Inapplicability Of Government Speech Doctrine In School Libraries, Dallyn Edmunds

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

Since 2021, the number of books removed from school libraries has risen dramatically. These removals have led to lawsuits and questions surrounding the control a state may exercise over the school library. In almost every current case, the government has argued these cases should be dismissed because of the government speech doctrine. A fairly recent creation, the government speech doctrine is the understanding that the government, in order to accomplish its purposes, may at times exercise viewpoint discrimination and regulate speech in ways that perhaps seem prohibited by the First Amendment. Evaluation in government speech cases has typically undergone a …

Fluctuating Hallucinations: On The Boundaries Of Immigration Judges’ Discretion In The Determination Of Asylum Based On Political Opinions, Yan Zhang

Immigration Law Blog

This article examines the enigmatic nature and blurred boundaries of the discretionary power exercised by immigration judges in asylum cases, highlighting how the scope of such discretion—whether broad or narrow—proves decisive for the applicants and their families. Through a comparative analysis of specific cases, the article underscores the critical importance of immigration judges seeking to discern and follow the true intent of the law—specifically, by deeply understanding and defining the threshold of “persecution,” delineating the boundaries of “political opinion,” and appropriately weighing and prioritizing immigration policies within their specific historical contexts. Furthermore, it is essential that judges conduct a comprehensive …

Physiological Correlates Of Health-Related Anxiety - An Investigation Between Heart Rate Variability (Hrv) And Blood Pressure Reactivity In Clinical Settings, Alvaro Villarreal, Sarah Headapohl, Chase Parks, Melanie Gonzalez, Sage Olsson, Mounyjwok Odhong

SPARK Symposium Presentations

White coat syndrome – also known as white coat hypertension –  consists in a sharp increase in blood pressure as a result of increased underlying anxiety (Mancia et al. 1677) in clinical and health settings. White coat syndrome has had conflicting results surrounding it, with early research suggesting it requires no serious clinical attention or diagnosis, while more recent research suggests the contrary, that white coat syndrome is clinically problematic and associated with increased cardiovascular risk, metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular fatalities, and asymptomatic organ damage. This study aims to fill a gap in literature by investigating the impact of induced white …

Preservice Teachers’ Knowledge, Skills, And Perceptions Related To Data-Based Decision Making In Elementary Reading Instruction, Erin K. Washburn, Samantha A. Gesel, Miranda S. Fitzgerald, Corinne R. Kingsbery

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Teachers’ knowledge of and ability to use reading assessments and assessment data to inform instruction has long been recognized as a core teaching competency. Data-based decision making (DBDM) is a process by which educators examine assessment data to identify student strengths and needs and apply those findings to their practice. DBDM has been linked to student achievement/engagement and positive teacher self-efficacy. However, DBDM, specifically in reading, is a complex process for teachers. Preservice teacher preparation has been deemed a space for the introduction of DBDM in reading. However, few studies have explored how targeted instruction in reading-related DBDM may impact …

An Eschatological Investigation Of Fatherlessness Through A Christological Lens: Exploring Identity, Hope, And Restoration In A Fatherless Generation, Derrick Marshall

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

This dissertation analyses the relationship between fatherlessness across generations and selected indicators of cultural development and social stability in contemporary society. It also evaluates how a local church context may function as a site of intervention to address the relational, emotional, and spiritual consequences associated with father absence. The study is conducted within LIFEchurch in El Paso, Texas, and is situated within theological reflections on sonship, identity, and restoration. The research employed a multi-method descriptive design and utilized a single Qualtrics survey instrument comprising both structured quantitative items and open-ended qualitative questions. Participants were adults affiliated with the LIFEchurch community. …

Collaborative Ministry Leadership: A Mixed-Methods Study Into The Application Of Collaborative Leadership In United Pentecostal Churches In The Southeastern United States., Omar A. Williams

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

This dissertation examines how collaborative leadership, grounded in theological and practical applications, impacts ministry effectiveness in United Pentecostal Churches (UPCI) in the Southeastern United States. It employed a mixed-methods design, with in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with twelve senior UPCI pastors, and quantitative surveys administered to 63 members of their core leadership teams. Although collaborative leadership is a widely held ideal in ministry, a gap often exists between its theory and its practical implementation. The findings reveal a significant convergence in the relational, visionary, and developmental dimensions of collaboration. The pastors are theologically committed to rejecting autocratic models. They are perceived …

Partisanship And Patriotism: How Political Parties Influence Citizen Perceptions Of American Symbols And National Unity, Carl Picerno

Political Science Undergraduate Theses

Over the past decade, there has been an increase in political polarization across the United States. National symbols such as the American flag, the national anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the military have become disputed markers of unity and identity. This study explores the following research question: How does political party affiliation influence Americans’ perceptions of key symbols of American pride and patriotism, and further, what do these perceptions reveal about national unity and political polarization? This study examines the following hypotheses more specifically: first, Republicans are more likely to associate national symbols with unity and patriotism and therefore …

To Compete Or Noncompete: Lessons On The Impact Of Unenforceable Noncompete Agreements In The Entertainment Industry, Guy Mannick

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

Economic and legal literature has increasingly focused on how the American legal system fails workers. One way it does so is through employee noncompetition agreements (“NCA” or “noncompete”) that limit a worker’s ability to join another company, often for better compensation and/or more responsibility. Some states enforce NCAs if they are reasonable in scope, geography, and duration; others either prohibit their application to certain types of workers or (as in California) outright prohibit them in most circumstances. More narrowly, new empirical literature about the behavioral effects of unenforceable noncompete agreements raises new questions about the behavioral impact on workers.

This …

Deep Learning Frameworks For Biological Data Integration And Generation, Alexa Beachum

Statistical Science Theses and Dissertations

Data integration represents a key area of research for analyzing the rapidly growing volume of high-dimensional biological data across sources, stages, and modalities. To model and understand these complex, often non-linear relationships, deep learning has become an increasingly powerful tool. Here, we present two novel deep learning frameworks that address distinct but complementary integration challenges. The first framework aligns single-cell omics data across temporal stages, and the second bridges imaging and omics modalities to generate patient-level molecular profiles.

In Chapter 1, we briefly summarize existing approaches---both statistical and deep learning-based---for single-cell omics data integration and discuss their limitations for handling …

Unl Emeriti And Retirees Association Newsletter, Spring 2019

UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association: Newsletters and Other Materials

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Emeriti and Retirees Association Newsletter, Spring 2019

Best Practices Of Designing Transitions Into Combat-Focused Gameplay That Encourage Player Commitment, Movement, And Flow, Xun Yang

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

This research addresses the “door problem” in FPS games, where poorly designed transitions cause player hesitation and camping, disrupting game pacing. By reframing this issue as a challenge of transition design, this study explores how movement into gameplay spaces determines player commitment and flow. Through a Fallout 4 artifact, this project implements best practices focused on clarifying objectives, balancing risk and reward, optimizing information and flow, and integrating diverse challenges. Playtest results from twelve participants show that transitions built on these practices did not produce widespread camping or stalling at combat entries, while two encounter-internal areas remained as friction points …

A Player Centered Design Method For Spatial Reuse, Franklin (Yuhao) Wu

Level Design Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates spatial reuse in single-player level design through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), addressing two core challenges: excessive repetition and player disorientation. To resolve these challenges, five best practices are proposed: mixing new and reused content at a macro level, establishing clear spatial identities, varying gameplay upon revisits, altering flow within reused spaces, and leaving visible signs of player impact. These practices were applied in a custom-built quest level for Starfield and evaluated through playtesting combining behavioural observation and surveys. Results suggest that distinctive spatial identities and varied combat encounters were the most effective in creating meaningful …

Who Votes Yes For Local Solar Energy? Evidence From An Exit Poll, Vasundhara Gaur, Corey Lang

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Working Papers

Social acceptance of solar energy is critical to understand as society broadly wants to transition to renewable energy, but specific projects face significant hurdles. We study a municipal referendum that decided the fate of a particular utility-scale solar project and take advantage of this consequential setting to better understand how individual beliefs and socioeconomic factors affect support. On Election Day, we conducted an exit poll survey and collected responses from 504 voters. Regression results indicate that trust in government, belief in anthropogenic climate change, and positive attitudes about solar energy in general are all strongly and positively related to approval. …

Piercing The Algorithmic Fog Of War: Ai-Enabled Decision-Support Systems And The Responsibility Gap For War Crimes Under The Rome Statute, Karen H. Cho

UC Law SF International Law Review

This article examines how the integration of artificial intelligence-enabled decision-support systems (AI-DSS) into military conflict complicates the attribution of individual criminal responsibility for war crimes under the Rome Statute. Unlike lethal autonomous weapons systems which are intended to supplant human agency, AI-DSS augments human decision-making across the targeting cycle while simultaneously introducing opacity and bias. These characteristics risk facilitating indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, undermining t4he principles of distinction and proportionality under international humanitarian law. Through a case study of Israel’s deployment of systems such as “the Gospel,” “Lavender,” and “Where’s Daddy?” in Gaza, this article illustrates how algorithmic mediation obscures …

From Fear To Emotion: Monsters, Moral Ambiguity, And The Evolving Dracula, Gabrielle Thompson

Hare & Bell Writing Contest

In his editorial introduction to the second chapter of Monsters, Andrew J. Hoffman argues that monsters function as embodiments of cultural fear, reflecting societal anxieties about the unknown, outsiders, and moral transgression (Hoffman 67). Monsters have existed alongside humanity since the earliest attempts to make sense of the natural world and human experience, carrying messages about morality, survival, and what it means to be human. Historically, monsters served as cautionary figures, projecting collective unease while encoding lessons about behavior and social boundaries. While Hoffman’s framework explains the historical role of monsters, modern reinterpretations expand this function by exploring emotional complexity …

Securing Safe Transitions: A Policy Argument For Sb 434’S Strengthened Eviction Safeguards, Eric Brown

University of the Pacific Law Review

No abstract provided.

Reconsidering Life Without Parole: How Sb 672 Reshapes Extreme Sentencing For Youth Offenders, Karina Cardenas

University of the Pacific Law Review

No abstract provided.

Essays Of Culture Economics: The Economic Consequences Of Cultural Change, Javier Gonzalez

Economics Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation contributes to the field of Cultural Economics by exploring the relationship between cultural transmission and economic outcomes. Across three distinct essays, this research investigates how mass media narratives shape economic preferences and labor decisions, and conversely, how economic fundamentals drive the evolution of cultural markers like language.   The first two chapters focus on the cultural and economic impact of television in Latin America, utilizing a novel dataset of telenovelas aired between 1960 and 2024. Chapter 1 extends the analysis of media influence to labor economics, studying the effect of televised female empowerment on female labor market outcomes. By …

A Therapy Dog Intervention For Elementary School Teachers' Well-Being: Using Action Research To Bridge The Research-Practice Gap In Hrd, Kelly F. Moore

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research (AR) study was to explore how AR can serve as a participatory research design for bridging the research–practice gap in Human Resource Development (HRD) by collaboratively designing, implementing, and evaluating a therapy dog intervention to enhance teacher well-being. One primary research question guided this study: How can action research serve as a participatory research design for bridging the research–practice gap in HRD through the collaborative design and implementation of a therapy dog intervention for elementary school teachers? I conducted a two-phase AR study consisting of a pilot study followed by a full-scale intervention. Data …

Smokejumper Magazine, April 2026, National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper and Static Line Magazines

This issue of the National Smokejumper Association (NSA) Smokejumper Magazine, contains the following articles:

Message from the President; What Would Life Be Without Electricity?; "Mighty Mouse": How a Man I Never Met Helped Me Shatter the Glass Ceiling; Richard Kathe and His Incredible Unforgettable Slogan; Smokejumpers and Healthcare; The War on Rural America; Mann Gulch: The Mother of All Wildland Fatality Fire Cover-Ups; My Friend Larry Cravens; I Must Have Done Something Right; Warren Downs Got His Dream Job Then the Magic Happened; The "Woos"--Matthew D. Woosley; 2025 NSA Scholarship & Educational/Training Grant Awardees; A Memory of Mark Motes; Sounding …

Fear, Parties, And The 2024 General Election: A Review Of Exit Poll Information From Missouri Voters, Jacob H. Tengelsen, Bronson P. Herrera

Missouri Policy Journal

Increased emotions mark current elections. Particularly, election-related anxiety has risen over the years, causing health and social concerns. Despite studying the risks of election-related fear, researchers have yet to delve into the existing partisan contrasts. We hypothesize that there will be a partisan difference in levels of fear in the 2024 election. We rely on exit poll data collected by the Northwest Center of Policy and Civic Engagement. We find more increased levels of fear among Democrats about the election of Donald Trump than we do among Republicans about the prospect of a Kamala Harris presidency. We reflect on the …

Next-Generation Democratic Cyber Statecraft - Balancing The Signal: Shutdown Shocks And Democratic Digital Governance, Scott M. Di Panni

School of Public Policy Capstones

This paper develops Next-Generation Democratic Cyber Statecraft (NG-DCS), a unified strategic doctrine for democratic governments to contest the cognitive domain against authoritarian adversaries. Drawing on twenty-six years of cross-national panel data (1999–2024) spanning 213 countries, game-theoretic modeling, and qualitative case analysis, the paper establishes three interconnected empirical and theoretical foundations. First, cross-national OLS regression across 160+ countries demonstrates that regime type is the dominant structural determinant of internet freedom (R²=0.615, β=2.513, p< 0.001), explaining more than twice the variance attributable to per-capita wealth (R²=0.268). Democratic governance, not economic development, produces open digital environments. Second, a two-way fixed effects (TWFE) difference-in-differences study exploiting government-ordered internet shutdowns as discrete policy interventions finds that digital restrictions causally degrade V-Dem governance quality by 0.21–0.38 standard deviations (p< 0.001 across all specifications). Treatment effects are immediate (β=−0.302 at k=0) and persist through five post-treatment years (β=−0.246 at k=+5), indicating structural rather than transitory governance damage. Parallel trends validation (p=0.352) and Callaway–Sant’Anna heterogeneity-robust estimation (ATT=−0.230, SE=0.077) support causal identification. Instrumental variable triangulation (2SLS β=−0.949, p=0.005) confirms that simultaneity was attenuating, not inflating, the primary estimates. Third, formal game-theoretic analysis reveals that the current U.S.–adversary equilibrium is (Restrain, Escalate)—the risk-dominant but Pareto-inferior outcome of a Stag Hunt structure. China, Russia, North Korea, and Venezuela each occupy structurally distinct positions (Stackelberg commitment, asymmetric two-level, autarky, and reactive trigger, respectively), requiring differentiated doctrinal responses rather than a uniform strategic playbook. Generative AI and algorithmic governance are shown to accelerate cognitive vulnerability by collapsing influence operation costs and exploiting engagement-optimized platform architectures that systematically degrade deliberative capacity in democratic populations.

Traditional Masculine Ideology And Transphobia: An Examination Of A Predictive Relationship, Nikola Jensen

Psychology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

This paper examines the role of traditional masculine ideology in the continued prevalence of transphobia.  Drawing on established research, it follows the development of traditional masculinity in critical social and emotional aspects of men’s lives and explores the predictive relationship between endorsement of traditional masculinity and transphobic attitudes.  It emphasizes solution-based psychological research in addressing and challenging this belief system, particularly gender-transformative programs for boys and young men, where supportive role models and healthy representations of masculinity are presented. Overall, it investigates both the consequences of traditional masculinity, including harmful expectations for men themselves and transphobia, as well as mitigation …

Who Is A Champion Teacher? A Comparative Longitudinal Analysis Of Teacher Practices In Teacher Professional Development Programmes In East Africa, Jane Rarieya, Esther Kibga, Omari Abunga, Fredrick Mtenzi, Nyagwegwe Wwango

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

This comparative mixed-methods study defines and profiles the “champion teacher” by synthesising primary longitudinal and cross-sectional data from two complementary teacher professional development (TPD) initiatives implemented across East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda): the long-term, pre-service teacher-oriented Foundations for Learning (F4L) programme and the short-course, in‑service teacher Strengthening Education Systems East Africa (SESEA) programme. The champion teacher construct is operationalised through a Champion Teacher Index (CTI) comprising three integrated domains: head (cognitive pedagogical knowledge), hands (psychomotor instructional practice), and heart (affective, leadership, and gender-responsive dispositions). Quantitative analysis revealed statistically significant longitudinal differences between the programmes. F4L teachers demonstrated higher mean …

Virtual Reality As Pedagogical Space: A Usability Study Of An Interactive Exhibition For Culturally-Based Design Education, Abdul Bashiru Yussif

MFA Theses Exhibitions Final Papers

View the Digital Exhibition of Virtual Reality as Pedagogical Space

This research presents an immersive, culturally grounded pedagogical framework that integrates Virtual Reality (VR) with experiential and project-based learning. Despite the potential of immersive technologies to enhance engagement, contemporary design curricula often exhibit a disconnect between theoretical instruction and embodied practice. This study addresses that gap by aligning virtual reality and emerging technology with design theories, culturally responsive pedagogies and localized knowledge systems.

Drawing upon David Kolb’s experiential learning cycle, the research validates active engagement and reflection into interactive, three-dimensional environments. The research also adopted two other frameworks in the …

The Impact Of Sense Of Belonging And Christian Identity On Retention Intentions At Evangelical Christian Colleges And Universities, Corey R. Ross

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

From Discipline To Discipleship: Reframing Student Conduct As Spiritual Formation In Christian Higher Education, Andrew Degroot

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.