Digital Commons Network^™

Ultrasound Neuromodulation Reveals Distinct Roles Of The Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex And Anterior Insula In Learning, Nomiki Koutsoumpari, Johannes Algermissen, Siti Yaakub, Hanneke E. M. Den Ouden, Nadège Bault, Elsa Fouragnan

School of Psychology

Pavlovian biases reflect how evolutionarily hard-wired tendencies—automatic approach toward reward cues and withdrawal from threat cues—can interfere with flexible, goal-directed action. Such biases arise through three mechanisms: (a) anticipated rewards energize action while anticipated punishments suppress it (response bias), (b) agents learn differently from actions than from inactions (learning bias), and (c) reward/punishment cues themselves drive repetitive behavior, independent of outcomes (perseveration bias). The neural origin of these biases is unclear. Past evidence suggests dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and anterior insula (aIns) as part of a “reset network” that rapidly responds to salient information and might contribute to these …

The Effects Of Stimulus Disparity On Acquisition Of Chinese Language Learning, Siyi Duan

Thesis Projects

This study examined the effects of stimulus disparity on Chinese characters. Participants were taught Sets of similar and dissimilar characters using a Pre-test–teaching–Post-Test format with stimulus fading supports. Acquisition was measured by sessions to mastery. Results showed that dissimilar Sets were learned more efficiently than similar Sets. Error patterns include repeated use of the same responses across stimuli, and errors within sets. These findings suggest that similarity may slow acquisition and more errors may occur during early learning.

Jtc 26: A Mother And Daughter Support Team, Pam Starling

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2026 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

Cystic Fibrosis Mental Health And Wellness Questionnaire - Factors And Properties Of A Comprehensive Cf-Specific Self-Report Measure, C. Virginia O'Hayer, Patrick J. Smith, Max J. Genecov, Christopher F. Drescher, Heather Bruschwein, Chelsi N. Nurse, Katherine Lawliss, Darcy C. Esiason, Gunnar H. Esiason

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Existing mental health self-report measures have been criticized for over-simplification, lack of CF-specific focus, susceptibility to measurement reactivity bias, and conflation of symptoms of anxiety and/or depression with CF-related symptoms and/or treatment side effects. The CF Mental Health and Wellness Questionnaire (CFMHWQ) is a 25-item measure assessing CF-specific mental health burden symptoms.

METHODS: To examine common underlying factors contributing to scores on the CFMHWQ, principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted of all 25 items. We conducted cross-validation of CFMHWQ principal components, examining unadjusted correlations between each principal component, demographic characteristics (age and biological sex), negative affect (mean rank global …

The Changing Landscape Of Artist Success: Evaluating Independent And Label-Signed Career Paths, With A Focus On The Christian Music Industry, Nicholas Ty Brueggemann

Senior Honors Theses

Traditionally, record labels have propelled the music industry (Christian and secular). They established themselves in the late 19th century, allowing artists to accumulate acclaim more efficiently. Since their inception, labels have connected artists to a support network that delegates career-related tasks. Getting signed to a label has historically been the industry standard career path for artists wanting to become successful enough to live off making music full-time. However, with the recent emergence of the digital landscape, more promotional methods, opportunities, and tools have become available to artists. Through this study, insights will be gained into the necessity of signing with …

Descriptive Analysis: Effects Of Insufficient Sleep Among College Students Ages 18-22, Divine Ighalo

Honors Theses

Background: Not getting enough sleep is common among college students and is often linked to habits such as screen time, caffeine intake, stress, and irregular routines. This study examined how these lifestyle factors are associated with insufficient sleep among college students ages 18-22 and how poor sleep affects their overall wellbeing. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey design and collected data through an anonymous 25 question online Qualtrics questionnaire. This was completed by 150 participants. The survey was designed to be completed in about 5-7 minutes. It included a mix of multiplechoice questions, frequency-based responses and select all that …

Complexity And Usability Of Digital Healthcare, Theresa Haas

Theses

Digital services, ranging from online shopping and banking to government services and healthcare, are rapidly taking over human-provided services. The accessibility and usability of such digital services may not allow older adults to make use of them, making automation a barrier to access societal services. This is especially critical with many healthcare-related services and apps. This research is framed around two interrelated constructs, task complexity and individual complexity, the latter influenced by cognitive decline in older users. The experiment has three representative tasks of different task complexity and the measure of individual complexity which is understood through previous knowledge of …

Interparental Relationship Quality Reduces Parental Stress And Subsequent Family Dysfunction Across Pregnancy And Early Childhood, Rachel Clara-Beth Beck

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

In this multiple paper dissertation, I found that a higher quality interparental relationship, characterized by more emotional intimacy, support, responsiveness and better conflict management skills, plays a key role in reducing stress and its subsequent impact on family dynamics. Aims and hypotheses were tested using longitudinal data collected from mixed-sex couples during the pregnancy-postpartum transition and into early childhood. In study #1, higher quality interparental support during pregnancy was associated with lower postpartum stress which, in turn, predicted fewer parent–infant bonding impairments. In study #2, a mutually responsive orientation in the couple relationship during pregnancy interacted with intrapersonal regulatory resources …

Irregular Warfare, Part One: Updating The Term And The Toolkit, Jocelyn Garcia, James Giordano

Strategic Insights

Irregular warfare (IW) is evolving in response to advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies. This commentary is about how IW should no longer be understood solely as violent conflict between state and non-state actors, but as a broader spectrum of kinetic and non-kinetic activities operating across cognitive, informational, cyber, and sociopolitical domains. AI is amplifying influence operations, disinformation campaigns, cyber activities, and cognitive targeting by increasing their speed, scale, accessibility, and deniability. AI-enabled irregular warfare can also degrade public trust, weaken decision-making, and undermine military readiness and allied cohesion. There is a need for updated definitions, clearer strategic …

The Meaning Of Physical Activity In The Context Of Health Sciences: A Concept Analysis, Martín G. Farinola

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Physical activity has been defined in numerous ways. Thus, this study aimed to conduct a concept analysis of the existing physical activity definitions in the health sciences literature to evaluate its conceptual precision and assess the need for a revised or novel concept better suited for this domain. The concept analysis was accomplished using tools derived from philosophical semantics. The analysis identified six definitions that explicitly state what physical activity is with sufficient clarity to allow for conceptual examination. The findings indicated that these definitions frequently merge the concept of physical activity with its contextual attributes. To address these semantic …

Feasibility Of A Culturally Tailored Teacher Workshop For Equitable Physical Activity Opportunities, Stacy Imagbe, Senlin Chen

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of a culturally tailored pedagogical workshop, as a pilot intervention, designed to prompt in-service physical education (PE) teachers to offer equitable physical activity opportunities (PAOs). Participants were two certified middle school PE teachers and 175 students. Using a mixed-methods descriptive study design, the PE teachers received workshop sessions and took part in semi-structured interviews. The adapted Student Measure of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children was administered to measure students’ perceptions and physical activity (PA), respectively. Qualitative data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic …

Estimator And Reflector Variables In Eyewitness Recall, Sakshi Mundra

Student Theses

Eyewitnesses are frequently asked to describe culprits following a crime, but how accurate and complete are such descriptions? This study examined eyewitness description completeness and accuracy by investigating estimator variables (Race and Gender), reflector variables (Confidence and Response Time), and elicitation methods (Free Recall and Prompted Recall). Participants viewed one mock-crime video featuring a culprit who varied in race (White or Black) and gender (Female or Male), then provided free recall descriptions followed by prompted descriptions of facial features. Prompted recall improved completeness beyond free recall, though with a minor reduction in accuracy. Descriptions were more complete for same-race and …

The Prospector, May 5, 2026, Utep Student Publications

The Prospector

No abstract provided.

An Integrated Framework For Information Security Risk Management: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Literature Review, Biju Varghese, Quang "Neo" Bui

Articles

Driven by escalating threats and regulatory scrutiny, information security risk management (ISRM) is now a strategic imperative for organizations across the industrial spectrum. Although prior literature reviews offer valuable insights into ISRM subdomains, they remain fragmented and overly reliant on manual methods, limiting their scope and scalability. Additionally, only limited reviews have been able to comprehensively synthesize ISRM literature across its three foundational pillars: processes, governance, and strategy. To address this gap, we conduct a large-scale systematic literature review of 623 ISRM-related articles using a mixed-methods approach which combines natural language processing techniques with thematic analysis. We identify 22 thematic …

Clinical Service Providers’ Perception Of Trauma Symptoms Among African Americans, Sam D. Alemayheu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Lived Experiences For Family Caregivers In The Cayman Islands After A Loved One Has Attempted Suicide, Pamella Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Designing The Spaces In Between: How Transitional Spaces In Elementary Schools Shape Clarity, Well-Being, And Belonging, Cristin Witcher Siegel

Theses

This thesis investigates the role of transitional spaces in elementary schools and their impact on students’ experiences of clarity, well-being, and belonging. While educational design often prioritizes classrooms as primary sites of learning, this study argues that the spaces between them, including corridors, stairwells, and entry zones, play a critical role in shaping daily experience and supporting student development. Using a comparative case study methodology, three elementary schools in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago were analyzed, each representing a distinct architectural era and educational philosophy: Crow Island School (1939), Wilmette Junior High School (1958), and Sunset Ridge School (2018). …

Trends In Trauma: Increasing Rates Of Sexual And Domestic Violence Among Female Latin American Asylum Seekers, Alfonso Mercado, Andy U. Torres, Francisco Banda, Amanda Venta, Luz M. Garcini, Alejandro Luis Vázquez, Aldo Barrita, Oswaldo Moreno

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

The last 10 years of scientific research analyzing asylum-seekers’ mental health has established high rates of trauma exposure throughout the migratory trajectory. However, limited studies have identified gender-based violence among Central American asylum-seeking women. The purpose of this study was to identify the frequencies of gendered-base violence among asylum-seeking women from Central and South America at a humanitarian respite center (USA) and a tent encampment (Mexico) on both sides of the United States–Mexico Border using data from three independent studies in 2016, 2019, and 2023, respectively. Visual trend analysis identified a peak in domestic violence in 2019, a stable frequency …

Consumer Evaluations Of Corporate Generosity, Yanyi Leng

Olin Business School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

How do consumers evaluate corporate generosity? This dissertation examines how both the structure and communication of firms’ charitable initiatives shape consumer judgments, revealing that consumers are highly sensitive to cues about consistency, authenticity, and responsibility embedded in corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. In Chapter One, “Consumers Prefer that Corporations Donate Periodically,” I examine how the temporal consistency of corporate giving influences consumer evaluations. Across seven preregistered studies (N = 150,563), including two large-scale field studies and five online experiments, I demonstrate that making a series of periodic contributions, e.g., donating $20,000 per month for 12 months, rather than donating an …

The Relationship Between Evidence-Based Coaching And The Decision-Making And Cultural Responsiveness Of Child Welfare Professionals, Kenisha Coon-Santiago

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Perceived Communication Barriers Between Different Generations In The Workplace, Bryan Anthony Whiteside

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Perceptions And Factors Influencing Middle School Teachers’ Use Of Gamification, Crystal D. Purvis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Practicing A Pedagogy Of Slow Resistance In The Writing Classroom, Kathleen Rose Dillon

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Especially during and following the ‘lockdown era’ of the COVID-19 pandemic, college writing instructors have sought ways to mitigate the harms of neoliberal and capitalist practices in the academy and writing classroom. Incorporating elements of Slow Pedagogy, Disability Studies, Anti-Capitalist Composition, and Participatory Action Research methodology, this dissertation argues for practicing a Pedagogy of Slow Resistance, centering co-creation and relationship-building, to resist neoliberal and capitalist values, and promote student belonging and well-being. This dissertation highlights a classroom study in which two undergraduate students in the TRIO program, which serves students who are first in their family to go to college, …

Developing Play-Based Curriculum Implementation Guidelines As A Tool For Teachers’ Pedagogical Awareness: A Case Study At Tk Alam Jingga, Febi Robianti, Mufutau Oyedapo Raufu, Anis Ulfiyatin

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

This study aims to analyze the structure, content, and integration of a play-based learning implementation guide as a pedagogical instrument to support reflective learning in early childhood education at TK Alam Jingga. A descriptive qualitative approach with document analysis was employed. The primary data source was the Play-Based Learning Implementation Guide, which integrates operational guidelines, technical procedures, instructional planning tools, and a monitoring and evaluation system. Data were collected through intensive and iterative document review and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The findings indicate that the guide is systematically integrated and functions as a comprehensive pedagogical system rather than merely …

Juvenile Justice, Kayla Baptiste

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2020 - Present

When a minor fatally shoots their classmate, the justice system faces a harrowing question: does this child deserve the same death sentence as an adult murderer? While most instinctively answer ‘no,’ the philosophical ‘why’ remains complex. Juvenile courts were founded on the principle that young offenders are developmentally distinct, possessing limited decision-making capacity and a unique potential for reform. Some argue that punishing juveniles identically to adults harmfully ignores these developmental limits, while others contend that exempting them from adult sanctions disregards the cruelty and intent present in their crimes. Ultimately, however, no philosophical justification for punishment—neither utilitarian nor retributive—justifies …

Contemplative Classrooms For Ecological Wisdom: Reimagining K-12 Education In Pakistan, China, And Beyond, Maha Shoaib, Jing Lin, Yueyue Wang

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

This paper explores the transformative potential of contemplative environmental education in addressing the growing disconnection between humans and the natural world, particularly within K-12 education systems shaped by anthropocentric and capitalist paradigms. Modern schooling often frames nature as an object of study, rather than a sacred, living presence, contributing to ecological alienation amid intensifying environmental crises. We propose a radical shift toward contemplative, holistic education that draws on spiritual, Indigenous, and ecological knowledge systems. Grounded in Daoist philosophy, Islamic teachings on stewardship, Hindu ethics, and Indigenous worldviews, we reimagine education as a relational and sacred engagement with the Earth. We …

Reimagining Masculinities Through Australian Indigenous Pedagogies, Ben Campbell, Anna Rumjahn

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

In the face of intersecting ecological crises and persistent gender inequality, this paper explores how dominant norms of masculinity—marked by control, detachment, conquest, and other ideals rooted in Western, hegemonic paradigms—contribute to environmental degradation. Drawing on ecofeminist theory, Australian Indigenous pedagogies, and contemplative education, we examine how relational, place-based approaches may offer transformative alternatives for boys in schooling contexts. Central to this inquiry is the Learning from Country framework, which positions land as teacher and emphasizes practices of deep listening, reciprocity, and ethical engagement with the more-than-human world.

We argue that this pedagogical approach challenges dominant masculinities by fostering care …

Challenging Stem Learning Spaces: The Paradigm Of Contemplative Traditions As The Bedrock Of Creativity And Healing, Raaghav Pandya, Christopher Emdin

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

As the post-pandemic classroom and pedagogy evolve to remedy oppressive norms, young people’s mental health and alienation has taken front stage (Rahmani & Zitouni, 2022). Traditional STEM learning spaces often teach inquiry as a linear, non-deviated approach to problems about self and nature (Hrisa & Psillos, 2022). Furthermore, because our classrooms often strip students and educators of their inherent creative abilities through constant assessments, improvement scales, and market-driven expectations, classrooms cease to become places of healing (Pandya, 2021). Eastern wisdom traditions and their associated philosophies provide a unique pedagogical lens that emphasizes a deep inquiry into self, empathy, and creativity …

Journeys Of Two Children From West To East: Notes Of A Teacher-Parent, Katherine E. Khan Dr

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

This essay, explores the transformative educational journeys of two children across five countries, viewed through the dual lens of a teacher and parent. Grounded in the principles of Contemplative Education (CE), it draws on over two decades of the author’s experience in global education, weaving personal and professional insights into a narrative that examines how context, culture, and pedagogy intersect in shaping young learners.

The journey begins in the inquiry-rich, nature-based kindergartens of Germany and the nurturing early primary years of the United Kingdom, moves through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary and Middle Years Programmes, and Big Picture education in …

Teachers As Wisdom Workers Of Love: A Radical Reconceptualization Of Teacher Education Centering Wholeness, Compassion, And Interbeing In A Fractured World, Yueyue Wang, Jing Lin, Maha Shoaib, Anna Lytkina

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Amid global crises and rising teacher burnout, current teacher education often prioritizes technical skills and standardized competencies while neglecting the inner life, relational presence, and spiritual vitality essential for sustaining educators. This article reconceptualizes teacher preparation by envisioning teachers as “wisdom workers of love” -- healers, guides, and community nurturers grounded in wholeness, compassion, and interbeing. Drawing from Daoism, Ubuntu, contemplative pedagogy, and Indigenous epistemologies, this study employs collaborative autoethnography as contemplative inquiry, weaving narratives from educators in China, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States. Through mutual witnessing and collective reflection, we identify five interrelated dimensions for cultivating love-based education: …