Digital Commons Network^™

Usa V. Edwin Williams

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

In Re: Kudzai Shonhai

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Addressing Interoperability Issues In Employment For Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Teaching Self-Determination Skills In Conjunction With Early Exposure To Work Experiences, Matthew Husband

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

Youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who graduate from high school face higher rates of unemployment, lower wages than their neurotypical peers, and lower levels of self-determination, which is crucial for autonomy and positive adult outcomes. Early exposure to work experiences, whether paid or voluntary, has been identified as a key predictor of post-school success. However, there is a significant gap in services when students graduate from high school, and parents often lack the preparation to navigate transition-related resources related to their child’s employment, transportation and independent living.

To address these challenges, this project provided early exposure to work experiences, …

The College Voice, Vol. 62, No. 9 [April 23, 2025], Connecticut College

2024-2025

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Post-Exercise Hot Or Cold Water Immersion On Blood Pressure Regulation In Men And Women, Roberto Samano Cruz

Health Sciences Student Scholarship

Roberto Samano Cruz ’25, Health policy and management major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Brett Romano Ely, Health Sciences

"She Could Worship Now Even In The Desert": The Monastic Life As An Escape To Higher Consciousness In The Works Of Henry James, Tabetha A. Madsen

Theses and Dissertations

Stephen Koch has argued that Henry James is a writer that is deeply concerned with consciousness (93). Many critics acknowledge James's attention to the metaphysical. What fewer critics have observed is that the study of the metaphysical was not simply an intellectual process for James. Instead, James's study of consciousness often reads like the private experiences of the mystic. Much of the mysticism in James's work comes from his frequent use of monastic images and values. James's use of the monastic image--characterized by the qualities of obedience, silence, celibacy, and escape--explores the limitations and possibilities of consciousness in a more …

Gnn Convergence And Accuracy Analysis On Contextual Stochastic Block Models, Trevor Garrity

Theses and Dissertations

Contextual Stochastic Block Models (cSBMs) are simple generative graph models commonly used to benchmark the performance of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs). In this thesis, I prove how inducing symmetries on general, nonlinear GNNs improves their cross entropy on cSBMs, and I derive the limiting accuracy of linear Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) on cSBMs. I use these results to derive the functional form of cross-entropy optimal GCNs on cSBMs and compare them to accuracy optimal GCNs.

A Unique Light: The Presence, Salience And Portrayal Of Unique Religious Values On College Football Television Broadcasts, Joseph Bradford Hovey

Theses and Dissertations

A mixed-methods content analysis case study of BYU football broadcasts (2023-2024), guided by agenda setting and framing theories, was conducted to determine to what extent the unique Latter-day Saint religious values of BYU were present and salient, as well as how they were framed, on BYU football television broadcasts. Using the university's 2024 brand messaging guide as a standard for topics indicative of such religious values, the 25 game broadcasts were analyzed and coded for presence or absence of religious values along with sentiment valence in each case. Frequency tests determined that 56% of games over the two seasons included …

Isolation Structure Simulation And Measurement To Reduce Transmit-Receive Coupling In Compact X-Band Fmcw Radar, Bruce E. Averill

Theses and Dissertations

Transmit-receive isolation in a compact X-band FMCW radar antenna system is critical for system performance. A set of candidate isolation structures are explored. In the process, performance of a commercial FDTD EM simulation software package is evaluated for antenna array modelling. Noise parameters of receiver electronics on a prototype radar processing front-end are tested. Improvements to the BYU Microwave Lab RF anechoic chamber are also reported, with a focus on measurement repeatability and antenna pattern angular resolution.

Exploring Representations And Inductive Bias For Machine Learning Tasks In Knot Theory, Nathaniel Driggs

Theses and Dissertations

Knot theory is a branch of mathematics that studies embeddings of the circle in $\mathbb{R}^3$ that are equivalent up to ambient isotopy. A link is a knot with one or more component. Knots and links have invariants, or functions from each knot to a set such as the integers or a family of polynomials. Predicting invariants can help us approximate them, understand them better, and find useful ways of representing knots and useful models for other machine learning tasks in knot theory. I perform many supervised learning experiments, predicting signature on a large, wide-ranging dataset using 5 different models and …

Power Series Rings Over Noncommutative Rings: Symmetry, Reversibility, And Semicommutativity, Nolan Ison

Theses and Dissertations

Let R be an associative, unital ring. One topic of interest is to assert R has some property, then determine what properties the polynomial ring R[x] and the power series ring R[[x]] are guaranteed to have. There are many relaxations of commutativity in rings. For example, a ring is said to be symmetric if abc = 0 implies acb = 0 for all a, b, c ∈ R. We discuss a certain construction of symmetric rings that we hope will yield the existence of a symmetric ring R such that the set of nilpotent elements in the power series ring …

Testing The Feasibility, Acceptability, And Preliminary Impact Of A Brief Behavioral Sleep Intervention To Improve School-Aged Childhood Sleep Behaviors, Isabella Delores Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: Parent knowledge of what healthy sleep looks like in their children has scarcely been evaluated, and little is known as to whether improving child sleep through a brief behavioral intervention that emphasizes mastery, personalization, motivation, and modeling will enhance sleep outcomes in children. As a result, we designed this study with the following aims in mind: 1) determine existing parental knowledge of healthy child sleep practices of parents; 2) test the impact of a personalized, brief parental sleep intervention aimed at increasing parental self-efficacy and parent behaviors; and 3) determine preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and impact of this personalized intervention …

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, April 23, 2025, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Lindenwood Co-Hosts St. Louis Regional Collegiate Pickleball Tournament, Lindenwood University

Archived Lindenwood Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Spring 2025 Excellence In Research And Creative Inquiry And Incite Award Ceremony, Office Of Student Research, Longwood University

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

No abstract provided.

Spring 2025 Student Showcase For Research & Creative Inquiry Program, Office Of Student Research, Longwood University

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

No abstract provided.

Emdr Therapy Booth, Angela Reyes, Ana Ledezma, Kinsley Eiserloh, Coello Jimenez, Christian Rivera

Psychology Student Research - Archive

Our booth will provide an explanation of the lesser-known therapy known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which is designed to alleviate psychological trauma. This therapy is particularly relevant for individuals affected by traumatic events that have caused distress in day-to-day life. We will offer a demonstration of the therapy session, inclusive of the equipment utilized during the process. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage with a qualified professional in the field who possesses relevant experience, allowing for a Q&A session.

Reality Therapy Booth, Emily Herrera, Kay Cedano, Genevieve Martinez, Gisselle Landeros, Laura Aguirre

Psychology Student Research - Archive

Our booth focuses on Reality Therapy, which is centered around fulfilling five basic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun while encouraging individuals to make effective choices. To demonstrate these concepts, we created a role-playing game using the mobile app Episode. The game is based on the Twilight movie series and incorporates the five basic needs to show how players can apply Choice Theory to take responsibility for meeting their own needs.

In the game, players take on the role of “Trella” (a parody of Bella), and can choose between Schmacob (Jacob), Fredward (Edward), or themselves as a …

Exploring The Role Of Azoreductase Enzymes In Drug Metabolism: Implications For Personalized Medicine, Najoude Claude, Robert Ghergurovich

Chemistry & Biochemistry Student Scholarship

Najoude Claude ’26, Biology major

Robert Ghergurovich ’26, Biochemistry major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Tyler Stack, Chemistry and Biochemistry

The gut microbiome hosts trillions of microorganisms that metabolize xenobiotics such as drugs and food dyes. Individual differences lead to variable drug metabolism. We studied two azoreductases: E. coli’s P41407 and Alistipes sp. CHKCL003’s A0A143XFE8. Enzyme P41407 acted on methyl red and ethyl red, while A0A143XFE8 acted on these and also on phenol blue, HMND, and sunset yellow. We propose these enzymes function as quinone reductases, requiring a quinone-like intermediate. Three synthesized compounds confirmed similar kinetics. In conclusion, these insights significantly advance …

The Enterprise Work Management Framework’S Impact On Organizational Effectiveness, Jessica J. Crowley

JWU Dissertations & Theses

Organizations need to be effective to stay relevant in a constantly changing environment (Mergel et al., 2019). No pre-existing theoretical frameworks provide leaders with a tested, holistic work management strategy that is proven to positively impact organizational effectiveness (Mergel et al., 2019). Without structured work management practices, organizations experience low levels of work visibility which translates into reactive decision-making and decreased organizational effectiveness (Burke, 2024).

The newly created Enterprise Work Management (EWM) framework provides leaders with a holistic work management strategy that is proven to positively impact organizational effectiveness. The findings from this study address a gap in organizational effectiveness …

Beyond The Horizon: A Comprehensive Study On The Evolution And Application Of Machine Learning Techniques In Diverse Fields, Rabia Aslam Khan, Hafiz Burhan Ul Haq

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

In the past few decades, Machine Learning (ML) has become the most popular area for research. Many business entities have realized that the machine would help in increasing calculation potential. This main contribution is that it provides a systematic literature review, which gives details of machine learning approaches in various fields. Moreover, it provides a taxonomy of machine learning approaches. In this paper, a review of machine learning techniques and approaches has been discussed that are used in various fields such as, Bioinformatics, Intrusion Detection, using the approach “Systematic Literature Review”. In primary search, 7856 papers were retrieved and appraised …

Shifting Social Identities In The Iron Iia: A Household Perspective From Tel Gezer, Charissa D. Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations

Recent archaeological excavations have gathered a significant amount of data from which to view the regionality that still existed in the Jezreel Valley, the Yarkon Basin and at several Shephelah sites in the Iron Age IIA as a continuation of what has been termed “Canaanite enclaves” from the previous period. It had previously been assumed that Canaanite social traditions had diminished by the 10th century B.C. or had fallen by the wayside due to new economic and political systems from emerging states in the southern Levant. Tel Gezer, a once powerful Canaanite stronghold, was a city on the edge of …

Examining Gender And Race/Ethnicity Differences In Self-Esteem: A Birth Cohort Analysis Spanning 46 Years, Ella M. Donnelly

Honors Theses

Self-esteem refers to the overall evaluation–positive or negative–that people have about themselves. Researchers have reported self-esteem to be increasing generationally among the general population. The purpose of the proposed study was to examine the association between race, gender, and self-esteem, to test whether levels of self-esteem vary based on one’s identity. Data from the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future study was analyzed to test for race and gender differences in self-esteem across generational cohorts. The Monitoring the Future Study questionnaire includes elements of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Over 120,000 responses were collected from 12th graders between 1976 and 2022. …

Investigating Macrophage Interactions With Listeria Monocytogenes Grown Under Different Conditions, Patrick J. Hurst

Honors Theses

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive, intracellular pathogen responsible for the deadly foodborne illness listeriosis. It is known to express different virulence factors in response to different environmental factors, influencing how the pathogen interacts with the host immune system. From food packaging to digestion, L. monocytogenes is exposed to many different environmental conditions. My honors thesis research focused on two conditions—cold storage and the presence of antimicrobial food additives—and how these conditions affect immune responses against L. monocytogenes. One of the first immune defenses that L. monocytogenes encounters in the body is the phagocytic macrophage. Macrophages can exhibit different shapes or …

Observations Of Memristive Behavior For Ba0.6Sr0.4Tio3 And Ba0.7Sr0.3Tio3 Through Iv Curve Analysis, Tristan D. Quach

Honors Theses

As indicated by the consistent validation of Moore’s Law, decreasing the size of electronics has been a perpetual goal for decades. Memristors have a unique way of decreasing the size of devices by performing the functions of what would normally need a group of devices. This is done by making use of the multiple states of a memristor. Additional useful qualities of memristors include ultrafast switching, low power consumption, and nonvolatile memory. There are many possible dielectrics that can be used for memristive devices, but barium-based dielectrics show promise. Sixty-forty and seventy-thirty compositions of strontium barium titanate (BST) are dielectrics …

Shelving Stigma: A Grocery Store Client Choice Pantry Model - A Solution To Food Insecurity In Young Adults Of Marginalized Communities While Eradicating The Stigmatization Of Food Pantry Services, Anna C. Buckley

Honors Theses

An increasing number of young adults, age 18 to 35, are becoming food insecure across America, but disproportionately in urban and people of color communities. However, food pantries have remained a social stigma causing food insecure persons to avoid using a food pantry for hunger relief. Research has shown that the grocery store model for food pantries is most beneficial for staff, while also minimizing the stigma and increasing accessibility for pantry clientele. The purpose of this program proposal is to highlight the feasibility of implementation of a client choice grocery store pantry model at the NY Common Pantry (NYCP) …

Sleep Deprivation Increases Mortality Risk Among Older Adults With Epilepsy, Srikanta Banerjee, Jagdish Khubchandani, Stanley Nkemjika

Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Faculty Papers

Introduction: Among U.S. adults, over 3 million report a history of epilepsy, accounting for nearly 1.2% of the population. Sleep deprivation is a well-known risk factor for increased likelihood, intensity, and length of seizures. However, the long-term impact of sleep deprivation on people with epilepsy is not well explored. The purpose of this study was to assess mortality risk among individuals with epilepsy based on sleep duration.

Methods: Data from the 2008–2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were linked with mortality data from the National Death Index (NDI) for US adults aged 65 years and older. Survival curves showed the …

Using Generative Artificial Intelligence To Improve Software-Defined Network Security: A Brief Survey, Anthony Smith

Honors Theses

This paper aims to explore various approaches to using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to improve network security in software-defined networking. While software-defined networks provide a more programmable infrastructure, they are not immune to network security threats. Through a combination of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) technologies and generative AI, it is possible to facilitate improved SDN security approaches that promise enhanced network efficiency and protection. Among these approaches, generative adversarial networks (GAN) based models can be employed to generate adversarial traffic samples to train the proposed AI engines proven to be effective in detecting malicious network traffic. Additionally, generative artificial intelligence can …

The Interaction Between Parenting Styles, College Adjustment, And Decision Making In Undergraduate Freshman And Sophomores, Taylor Phillips

Honors Theses

Although considerable research has investigated how parenting styles impact child development, little is known about how parenting styles correlate with young adults’ adjustment to college. Parenting styles children are raised with may impact the development of skills such as resilience, problem-solving, and emotional regulation that influence how they react to difficult life transitions. Parenting styles may also impact a person’s decision making, including in situations involving self-control. Thus, the goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between parenting style, college adjustment, and self-control. This study used the Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire- Short Version, the Student Adaption to …

Health Workforce Issues And Recommended Practices In The Implementation Of Universal Health Coverage In The Philippines: A Qualitative Study, Veincent Christian Pepito, Arianna Maever Loreche, Ruth Shane Legaspi, Ryan Camado Guinaran, Theo Prudencio Juhani Z. Capeding, Madeline Mae A. Ong, Manuel Dayrit

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background

The transition towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in a devolved healthcare system such as the Philippines is beset by health workforce issues considering that it is among the world’s leading source countries for health workers. This study aims to document health workforce issues and recommended practices in the implementation of UHC in the Philippines.

Methods

We conducted focus group discussions and key informant interviews with health policymakers and UHC implementers in the national, regional, and local levels. Participants included local chief executives, healthcare facility administrators, and healthcare providers at tertiary, secondary, and primary levels, as well as patients. We …