Digital Commons Network^™

Racial Disparities And Its Impact On Areas Of Adolescent Development, Kimberly Garcia

Psychology Student Publications

This paper focuses on the influence racism has on adolescents and their development. It highlights areas of development that are affected by racism, such as health and wellness, academic performance, and identity and perception.

Kuleana Mākua: Native Hawaiian Parents' Exercise Of Agency In K-12 School Selection, Joseph Piikeha Kahaka`Ulamaikalaniki`Eki`E Hao

Theses and Dissertations

In this qualitative study the author investigates how Native Hawaiian parents on Hawai`i Island navigate educational choices for their children amidst a history of centralized, Western-dominated schooling and systemic cultural suppression. Grounded in Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), the research explores parent perceptions of different K–12 school types and the complex factors that drive their selection. Through semi-structured interviews and a card sort activity with sixteen Native Hawaiian parents (n = 16), the study confirms that parental choice is fundamentally an act of indigenous self-determination defined by Kuleana Mākua (parental responsibility, authority, and privilege). The findings reveal that parents’ choices …

Cv: Bruce Law (Educational Leadership), Bruce Law

Education Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

That’S Not Art! Artificial Intelligence And Its Role In The Arts, Molly Katherine Horn

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been deeply integrated into our modern lives; from social media algorithms, to email summaries, to software that will write your essays, and even tools to photoshop relatives out of family photos. AI software is trained on countless data points. Famous artwork, philosophical texts, TikTok trends, movies, wars, and star-crossed stories. It is steadily becoming a collection of human history; learning and growing alongside us. Art, too, is a reflection of society; it informs us of our history, our cultures, our desires and dreams. Thus, it is only fitting that AI has become a tool to create …

Gauss’S Method For Orbital Determination, Milagros Tamara Giraldo

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Accurately predicting the orbital trajectory of celestial objects is essential for precise spacecraft navigation, planning planetary missions, avoiding potential collisions with space debris, and studying the long-term stability of planetary systems. Gauss’s method for orbital determination provides a way to predict the path of a celestial body accurately using only a small number of observations. In this project, we create an implementation that is not just a tool for executing Gauss’s method, but also an opportunity to study the formulation of the method itself. It allows for a practical and detailed examination of how different inputs, assumptions, and numerical choices …

Three-Year Life Safety Construction Project Underway At Pcac, Meredith Hohnbaum

Digital Edition

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of Ukrainians' Language Attitudes And Ideology: A Conflict-Catalyzed Language And Identity Shift, Kateryna Kravchenko

Theses and Dissertations

On February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine. According to Vladimir Putin's speech, the main goal of the war was to protect the Russian-speaking population of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Many Ukrainians indeed speak Russian on a daily basis, largely due to the long and complicated history between the two countries. Recently, there has been an increase in pro-Ukrainian ideologies (Kulyk 2016); however, as the full-scale invasion began, people started advocating for Ukrainian usage in all public domains, and many even vowed to never speak Russian again. Since then, there has been a profound change in language …

Postoperative Anaemia: The Unseen Challenge In Cardiac Surgery, Matthew A. Warner, Jacob Raphael

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Postoperative anaemia is an overlooked complication of cardiac surgery that is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Although small clinical trials suggest that postoperative treatment with i.v. iron improves haemoglobin recovery and reduces transfusion utilisation, appropriately powered randomised controlled trials are necessary to definitively evaluate the efficacy of treatment on clinical outcomes of importance to patients, clinicians, and healthcare systems. A comprehensive approach to perioperative anaemia management demands a renewed focus on both prevention and treatment to improve patient outcomes.

多忙な大学教職員のためのユーピ概要, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

複数の役割に追われ、疲弊していませんか？ 博士論文から生まれた実証済みの5原則が、あなたの限られたリソースを最大化し、劇的な飛躍（ダイナマイト効果）をもたらします。その全容を３ページに概要をまとめました。

Upi 1 Page Intro For Academia, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

🔬 Maximize Your Potential: The UPI Method

Struggling with the heavy demands of research, teaching, and service? The UPI Method (Universal Performance Improvement), rooted in doctoral research, is a principle-based framework designed to elevate your productivity and character growth.

By mastering five core principles—Ownership, Locality, Chaos, Cycles, and Reflection—you can transform complex challenges into "Dynamite Effect" breakthroughs. This is not a quick fix, but a scientific approach to realizing your highest aspirations.

Upi Intro For College Student, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

🚀 Hack Your Potential: Level Up Your GPA, Career, and Life with the UPI Method

Struggling to balance grades, clubs, and career prep?

Meet the UPI Method (Universal Performance Improvement)—a scientific framework born from PhD research to accelerate your success. By mastering five core principles—Ownership, Locality, Chaos, Cycles, and Reflection—you can transform daily tasks into a high-growth "Spiral" and turn setbacks into your strongest interview stories.

Experience the "Dynamite Effect"—a massive boost in self-efficacy and results. Stop just "getting by" and start dominating your future. Access my free toolkits and videos today to unlock your strongest self!

Upi Intro For Busy Faculty & Staff, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

🚀 From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Master Your Academic Mission and Reclaim Inner Peace with the UPI Method

Overwhelmed by the heavy lifting of research, teaching, service, and family? The UPI Method (Universal Performance Improvement) offers a scientific framework—rooted in doctoral research—to master these multi-layered responsibilities. By applying five core principles—Ownership, Locality, Chaos, Cycles, and Reflection—you can shift from surviving to thriving.

Transform stressors into wisdom and accelerate your professional output with the "Dynamite Effect," achieving breakthrough results while maintaining deep tranquility. Access our free toolkits and videos today to fulfill your mission with renewed energy and purpose. Stop managing time—start …

Upi Intro For Elderly, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

🌟 The Confidence Switch:

Activate Your Inner Strength and

Make Your Second Act Shine with the UPI Method

You have spent your life working hard for others—now it is time for your happiness to take center stage. The UPI Method (Universal Performance Improvement) is a gentle, scientific framework designed to help you rediscover your hidden strengths and pursue what you’ve always wanted to do.

By mastering five simple keys—Ownership, Locality, Chaos, Cycles, and Reflection—you can turn new challenges into lasting confidence.

Experience the "Dynamite Effect"—a burst of joy and fulfillment in your daily life. Access my free tools and videos …

ユーピ概要の各種とQrコード和英両方あり, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

ユーピ概要の各種とQRコードのリストです。和英の両方のバージョンがあります。これを使って、ユーピについて様々な対象者に対して使い分け、チラシも簡単に作ることができるでしょう。各言語で５種類の対象者にユーピメソッドとは何かをイントロとして理解してもらえます。

Ratio Quantification Of Geranium And Rose Essential Oil Mixtures Via Leep Learning Analysis Of Complex Raman Spectra, Jia Wei Tang, Yong Xuan Hong, Jie Chen, Yun Yun Xie, Zhang Wen Ma, Qing Hua Liu, Liang Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Due to their high economic value, essential oils (EOs) are increasingly subject to adulteration, posing significant challenges for quality assessment and control. Owing to its excellent molecular specificity, Raman spectroscopy has been widely employed for the analysis and evaluation of EO products. In this study, we collected a total of 2700 Raman spectra comprising rose essential oil (REO, n = 900), geranium essential oil (GEO, n = 900), and their mixtures (n = 900). We first constructed a conventional convolutional neural network to distinguish spectra corresponding to varying EO mixing ratios. Interpretability analysis revealed that spectral peaks at 800, 1000, …

Recent Advancements Of Applied Robotics In Construction Project Management: A Life Cycle Perspective, Yifan Wang, Xiaoyu Hou, Tan Chen, Bo Xiao

Michigan Tech Publications

Robotic applications in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation (AEC/O) industry have advanced rapidly, driven by innovations in sensing, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation. Yet, despite notable progress, existing studies are often confined to isolated systems, specific technologies, or individual project phases. This fragmentation has resulted in a diverse but disjointed body of knowledge, underscoring the need for a comprehensive synthesis that connects emerging practices into a holistic perspective. This study presents a systematic review of 315 peer-reviewed publications from 2016 to 2025, examined through a life cycle lens. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative analysis with qualitative discussion is employed …

Osteoprogenitor Cells From Non-Regenerative Bone Show Greater Resistance To Cellular Stress Than Those From Regenerative Bone, Joshua Broussard, Sylvia Culpepper, Tyrel Long, Alexander J. Trostle, Robert J. Tower, Mimi C. Sammarco, Jennifer Simkin

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Bone regeneration following injury depends on osteoprogenitor cells derived predominantly from the periosteum. Incomplete regeneration has been attributed to both cell-extrinsic factors (e.g., environment, inflammation, mechanical instability) and cell-intrinsic factors (e.g., impaired proliferation or differentiation of stem cells). In the digit amputation mouse model, amputation through the third phalanx (P3) supports complete regeneration, while amputation through the second phalanx (P2) results in callus formation and scarring. Periosteal cells are known to be the major contributing cell source for repair and regeneration. Yet the healing outcomes of P2 and P3 amputations are significantly different. This study tests whether P2 and …

Enhancing Silicon Sampling In Large Language Models: Fine-Tuning Techniques Using Survey Data, Davis P. Forster

Theses and Dissertations

Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used to simulate responses of human demographic groups, a task known as silicon sampling. This paper investigates whether supervised fine-tuning can improve algorithmic fidelity in such settings. We construct a dataset from the General Social Survey (GSS), converting demographic attributes into natural-language backstories and randomly selecting one attribute as a held-out target. Fine-tuning a LLaMA-3.1-70B model on this dataset yields significant improvements on two tasks: (1) imputing missing attributes at the individual level, and (2) reproducing response distributions for demographic slices, such as racial and age groups. Notably, these improvements are achieved with minimal …

Fsec Meeting Minutes December 17, 2025, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Exploring Anxiety And Noticing Within Virtual Reality Nursing Simulation, Janet M. Reed

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

The overall objective of this pilot study was to explore how anxiety affects students’ noticing of key information within a virtual reality nursing simulation. The aims of this study were to 1) distinguish simulation anxiety into facilitating and debilitating components by using the Alpert and Haber (1960) Achievement Anxiety Test (AAT) for novel use in VR simulation for undergraduate nursing students; 2) Describe the relationship between debilitating and facilitating anxiety and noticing in VR simulation; and 3) Describe the psychometric properties for the AAT when used to describe anxiety in nursing simulation.

Cosmic Legends, Neha Ravindra Hiremath

Theses

Cosmic Legends is a touchscreen-based interactive kiosk that invites users to explore how different cultures interpret the same star—Betelgeuse. Designed for public educational settings, it blends visual storytelling, mythology, and voice interaction into a cohesive learning experience. This project challenges the Eurocentric approach of most astronomy tools by introducing global narratives rooted in Navajo, Tupi, and Japanese sky traditions. Users begin by tapping a glowing version of Betelgeuse, which transforms the night sky into a new cultural context. Each sky shift is paired with narrated myths, synchronized captions, and celestial motion design. The interface prioritizes accessibility with dyslexia-friendly text, high-contrast …

Integrating Chatgpt Voice To Enhance German Language Communication, Michael B. Dettinger

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

In this course, students were required to write four essay topics, and in turn were assigned to use ChatGPT Voice in a task prior to each essay in order to assist them in framing their argument, as well as to practice working through their essay and presentation topic verbally in advance.

Peace On Earth, Joseph Khabbaz

The Main Thing Devotional

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14

God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there.[1]

Trauma-Informed Training And Practices For Elementary School Lunchroom Supervisors, Heather C. Kostohryz

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

School lunchrooms often see behavior disruptions at a higher rate than other areas within a school. Of the numerous reasons as to why, the inadequate training of those who supervise the lunchroom can be remedied easier than other factors (Wheatley et al., 2009). Over the past ten years a growing recommendation is for all staff to be included in school-wide behavior management and training, and that the training be focused on trauma-informed practices as a way to aid all students (Nealy-Oparah & Scruggs-Hussein, 2018). As 68% of children will experience some form of trauma during childhood, it stands to reason …

Trauma Informed Education Practices: A Guide For Implementation For High Schools, Angie Byzewski

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Trauma has an impact on all schools. Ignoring this fact can have serious implications for staff and students. School Counselors are Highly Educated and Licensed mental health professionals who understand how to safely implement a Trauma Informed Practices (TIP) model in schools. This training aims to improve safety and security among students and staff at the high school level. All schools in the Grand Forks Public School District implement Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for students. Utilizing these practices can be made more effective by setting up a foundation of Trauma Informed Practices. Several sources have stated that a …

Equipping The Church For Inclusion: Developing Training Strategies To Implement Accessible And Disability-Inclusive Ministry Practices, Allison Weinand

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Individuals with disabilities are active and present members of society and deserve to be included in faith communities. One in four Americans and nearly one billion individuals worldwide are impacted by a disability (World Health Organization, 2023). Despite this, churches often fail to provide meaningful inclusion, as 90–95% of individuals with disabilities have no access to the gospel through in-person church services (Scheuermann, 2021). While many congregations intend to be welcoming, they frequently lack the training, resources, and adaptable materials necessary to implement inclusive ministry practices. Research highlights persistent barriers, including limited leader preparation, insufficient volunteer guidance, and inaccessible …

Implementing Controls To Mitigate The 2013 Target Data Breach: A Cost Benefit Analysis, Pricilia R. Fajong

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

In 2013 Target had a data breach, which compromised 40 million credit/debit card accounts and 70 million customer records. The attackers exploited a vulnerability in a third-party vendor (Fazio Mechanical Services), to gain access to Target's systems. The breach cost Target over $250 Million (USD) in legal fees, investigation expenses, and reputational damage (Jones, 2025). Based on inflation rate, the 2013 Target data breach would cost over $340 Million (USD) today. In this study, a cost-benefit analysis was done to determine whether it would have been more cost-effective for Target to have invested in security controls rather than paying for …

The Challenges Of International Maritime Treaty Enforcement: Examining Outcomes Of The South Sea And Red Sea Dispute, Sofia Roshan Hope Gellada

Senior Theses

The challenges of enforcing international treaty obligations are explored through the lens of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its newly introduced addendum, the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. Through a detailed analysis of two case studies—the South China Sea Dispute and the Red Sea Dispute—this paper highlights the significant obstacles to treaty enforcement, particularly in contexts of power imbalances. Both disputes, arbitrated by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, reveal a troubling pattern of non-compliance by stronger states, such as China and Eritrea, despite legally binding rulings. These findings underscore the limitations of …

A Hybrid Deterrence Model For Countering China, Lucas Ziller

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that the United States deterrence-by-denial strategy is insufficient to deter China from attempting forcible unification with Taiwan, due to its neglect of ideological and psychological drivers in the Chinese Communist Party’s decision-making calculus. Unlike existing military-centric models, it introduces a hybrid deterrence framework that integrates denial and punishment across domains, coordinated by a Joint Interagency Organization. The article offers a practical model for deterring ideologically motivated adversaries through synchronized, multidomain planning based on coercion theory, behavioral deterrence literature, and strategic documents from US and Chinese sources.

China’S Securitization Of Agricultural Imports: A Case Of Economic Statecraft Mixed Successes, Gustavo Ferreira, Bert Cramer

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that the People’s Republic of China’s agricultural import diversification from 1995–2023 reflects a strategic effort to reduce reliance on US and allied suppliers while prioritizing national food security. Unlike prior studies focused on production or consumption, this analysis centers on trade patterns of high-value, strategically critical commodities. Using trade data and policy documents, it assesses shifts in supplier dependency, notably toward Brazil. This research offers policy and military practitioners insights into how food security intersects with economic statecraft, revealing vulnerabilities and strategic choices in global supply chains relevant to deterrence and resilience planning.