Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Cardiac Patient Beliefs And Experiences With Insurability And Their Decisions On Whether Or Not To Pursue Genetic Testing, Julia Schoeni

Theses and Dissertations

Since the enactment of the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) in 2008, genetics providers have been incorporating conversations about GINA in pre-test counseling. There is currently limited evidence of the effects of personal or family histories of cardiomyopathy or aortopathy and associated genetic testing on patients seeking insurance policies not protected by GINA, including life, long term care, and disability insurance. This study aimed to determine whether individuals with a personal or family history of cardiomyopathy or aortopathy are having conversations about future insurability with their healthcare providers and how they perceive their ability to get these insurances when deciding …

Novel Redox Oxygen Active Materials For Solid Oxide Cells And Thermochemical Hydrogen Production, Jiaxin Lu

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates novel materials designed to significantly enhance the performance and durability of oxygen electrodes for solid oxide cells and redox active materials for thermochemical hydrogen production. The first part of this work evaluates Ta-doped BaCoO₃₋δ (BCT) and its structural analog SrCoO₃₋δ (SCT), focusing on their catalytic performance in oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. Among BCT compositions (x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5), the BCT10 (x = 0.1) composition exhibited the highest oxygen vacancy concentration, electronic conductivity, and lowest polarization resistance. However, SCT10 surpassed BCT10 in these critical performance parameters and also demonstrated greater stability over extended operational periods. Notably, …

Knowledge And Ontology Enhanced Approach To Natural Language Understanding (Koe-Nlu) In Computational Social Media And Healthcare, Naga Usha Gayathri Lokala

Theses and Dissertations

Natural Language Understanding (NLU) faces both opportunities and challenges as the amount of social media and healthcare data grows. This is particularly evident in context-sensitive applications such as evaluating cognitive health, identifying mental health symptoms, and monitoring drug abuse. Even though traditional NLU models work well for processing language in a wide range of areas, they often lack the ability to understand language in a specific domain, reason in context, and incorporate structured external knowledge. This dissertation talks about the Knowledge and Ontology Enhanced Approach to Natural Language Understanding (KOE-NLU), a new framework that is meant to make NLU systems …

Invention Beyond The Author, Jonathan Brent Butler

Theses and Dissertations

The following dissertation examines how what Michel Foucault calls the “author function” affects contemporary students of writing and examines some historical alternatives to this way of conceptualizing the writing process and the writer’s role in it. Chapter 1: Author (Dys)function describes the author function and its discontents, the problems of the Romantic conception of “genius,” and summarizes the following chapters. Chapter 2: Early Writing Instruction focuses on classical approaches to rhetorical instruction that emphasize habit and aim at the cultivation of a particular subjectivity characterized by the capacity to respond to shifting rhetorical situations; this chapter draws on the work …

Emotions And Cognition, Krystal D. Becks

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Cognitive functioning is linked to emotional processes, with this relationship shaped by various biological (e.g., age, sex, diseases, and genetics), psychological (e.g., emotional well-being, coping strategies, mental health), and sociological (e.g., income and education) factors. Understanding these interactions is critical for advancing research on cognitive-emotional health across diverse populations. Purpose: To examine the relationship between positive and negative emotions and cognitive functioning among healthy adults. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Aging Brain Cohort (ABC) study (n=434). The independent variables were subsets from the NIH toolbox emotional battery. The dependent variables were from the NIH …

Intimate Partner Violence Victims' Experiences With Civil Legal Interventions, Jessica Brooke Pomerantz

Theses and Dissertations

The court system has become a central part of the societal response to intimate partner violence (IPV) and is a frequently used as a source of help for victims (Cattaneo et al., 2013). Despite the importance of a justice system response to IPV, it is not always accessible or helpful to victims. Past research has demonstrated barriers to IPV victims seeking legal intervention including mistrust of the court system generally, extensive and confusing legal processes and procedures, and failure of the courts to assess more invisible forms of abuse (Calton et al., 2017; Cerulli et al., 2015; Cuomo & Dolci, …

Self-Regulation In Children With Fragile X Syndrome: Biobehavioral Underpinnings, Familial Predictors, And Outcomes, Erin Evelyn Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

Self-regulation is a multifaceted construct that occurs on biological, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral levels. Self-regulatory abilities typically emerge in the first years of life and continuously develop through early adulthood. There is considerable interindividual variability in developmental trajectories of self-regulation which are associated with numerous adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. Factors influencing the development of self-regulation include interacting genetic and social environmental factors. Given the high heritability of self-regulation, within-family associations are common.

Individuals with Fragile X syndrome (FXS), an inherited, single-gene neurodevelopmental disorder, have heightened vulnerability for self-regulation deficits that are evident in early infancy; however, the developmental trajectories and …

Choice Overload In The Digital Age: A Cognitive Neuroscience Approach, Jacob Matthew Stanley

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the neural mechanisms of value-based multiattribute decision making through the lens of choice overload during consumer choice. Two behavioral experiments established that choice sets of a moderate size with nine options were perceived as most optimal compared to choice sets with three and 24 options, and options chosen from the largest set size were judged to be the least satisfying. A functional MRI study then examined how the brain responds to choice sets varying in size and complexity by manipulating the number of options presented as well as the presence of asymmetrically dominated decoy alternatives during a …

A Math Teacher’S Reflexive Journey Into The Opportunity Gap, Richard A. Ball Iii

Theses and Dissertations

This multiple case study sought to determine what educational factors, if any, impacted Black students in a public school located in the South-eastern United States, to enroll in a lower-level math course. The study also aimed to view the mathematical identities of these students and have myself reflect on my practice both locally and globally. This, however, is a result of the Problem of Practice, the opportunity gap. H. Richard Milner’s (2012) opportunity gap framework served as the theoretical framework for this study and for which all findings were situated. The data was analyzed using deductive coding, with the elements …

Seismic Constraints On Long Period Moment Release In Cascadia Slow Slip Events, Jordan M. Pentzer

All Master's Theses

Non-volcanic tremor, a low-amplitude, 1-5 Hz long-duration seismic noise signal easily resolvable by short-period seismometers of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, is the canonical seismic signature observed during Cascadia Episodic Tremor and Slip (ETS) Events. Whether significant energy is released at periods longer than 1 Hz has not been systematically searched for but nonetheless may exist and if so, could represent both a significant portion of the Cascadia moment budget as well as a mechanism by which slow slip and regular seismicity interact. The August 2010 ETS event beneath Puget Sound was well-recorded by a wide range of instruments that …

Origen Of Alexandria On Cancticles: Exegeses And Homilies As Forming Christian Identity, Annaline Bethany Cely

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on how Origen of Alexandria, through both homilies and exegetical commentary practice, presents Canticles as a piece of literature fittingly understood as Scripture. For Origen, Scripture is the source text by which Christians can engage with God and mold their lives upon Christ. This dissertation mimics Origen's own methodology by performing a line-by-line reading of his work, which allows the reader immediate access to Origen's work while also acting as a commentary of Origen's commentary. As of Fall 2025, there are no commentaries in English on any Church Father (only translations) which is concerning as the reading …

Influence, Confidence, And Interest In Mathematics: The Route To Increasing Female Participation In Stem, Lisa Galbreath Neaton Black

Theses and Dissertations

Women are underrepresented in STEM professions despite initiatives to encourage young women to pursue these financially rewarding careers. Studies show this divide is not due to inability or lack of female participation in higher education, as women tend to outscore their male counterparts on standardized tests and make up approximately 59% of the postsecondary student population. Rather, the disconnect in the high school-to-college STEM pipeline for young women seems to center on mathematics. In response, this action research study focused on addressing societal influence and mathematical confidence and interest using a constructivist approach in an honors Algebra 2 class.Hands-on activities, …

Cerebral Polyopia Due To Paraneoplastic Monoclonal Igg4-Related Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis, Tejasvi Paturu, Ashish Lal Shrestha Md, Ajay Menon Md, Negar Moheb Md, Casey Judge Do

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Governors State University College Of Business Annual Report - 2024-2025, College Of Business

Annual Reports

A report of the accomplishments of College of Business faculty, staff, students, and alumni in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Vulnerability To Stability: Scalable Large Language Model In Queue-Based Web Service, Md Abdul Barek, Bajlur Rashid, Mostafizur Rahman, A.B.M. Kamrul Islamc Riad, Guillermo Francia, Hossain Shahriar, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

Large Language Models (LLMs) have demonstrated exceptional capabilities in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and are now widely used in various applications globally. However, one of their major challenges is handling high-concurrency workloads, especially under extreme conditions. When too many requests are sent simultaneously, LLMs often become unresponsive which leads to performance degradation and reduced reliability in real-world applications. To address this issue, this paper proposes a queue-based system that separates request handling from direct execution. By implementing a distributed queue, requests are processed in a structured and controlled manner, preventing system overload and ensuring stable performance. This approach …

More Than An Athlete: Exploring Mental Health Concerns Among Student-Athletes, Callista Rochon-Baker, Hillary Wehe

Modern Psychological Studies

Within the United States, student-athletes experience the psychological and physiological effects of collegiate sports; however, student-athletes may not feel comfortable accessing mental health care resources or there may be inadequate resources available. This study sought to assess personal and environmental deterrents to the well-being and athletic performance of collegiate athletes. Through a series of qualitative interviews with 11 student-athletes from a small, Midwestern university, researchers investigated mental health stigmas in athletics, barriers to psychological resources, and the necessity for sports psychology interventions on-campus. The interview questions focused on student athletes’ level of perceived mental health support from campus and coaches. …

Adding A Data Disclosure Requirement To The Faa: An Overdue Reform, Richard Frankel

American University Business Law Review

Artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics are transforming almost every sector of society. The field of dispute resolution is no exception to this trend. Lawyers in emerging disputes are hungry for data about arbitrators and judges, prior decisions, similar disputes, and anything else they can get their hands on.

Towards The Faa's Next Century: Clarifying Disclosure Requirements In Arbitration, Andrea K. Schneider, Brian Farkas

American University Business Law Review

In the summer of 2024, all eyes were on Paris. Thousands of athletes from over 200 countries competed in over 300 sports. The Olympics is nationalism at its healthiest: cheering for one's own nation, while recognizing the fundamentally transnational human values of pluralism, diversity, and aspiration.

Facilitating Trust Arbitration By Amending The Federal Arbitration Act, S. I. Strong

American University Business Law Review

Over the last few years, a new dispute resolution procedure has burst onto the domestic and international stage: trust arbitration, which allows an arbitration provision located in a trust to trigger arbitration of "internal" trust disputes arising either between trust beneficiaries or between beneficiaries and the trustee.

Certainly Uncertain: An Analysis Of The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act Of 2023, Charles Duan

American University Business Law Review

Patentable subject matter eligibility has been a topic of major policy debate over many years, culminating in the recent introduction of a bill that would entirely overhaul current law. This article reviews the proposed legislation in view of its historical context, the purported need to reduce uncertainty, and the likely effects of the bill. Based on this analysis, the article concludes that the legislation is unnecessary, ill conceived, and likely to be harmful to scientific research, a variety of industries, and the public good.

Trademark Proprietors' "Moral Right" As An Exception To The Doctrine Of Exhaustion Of Rights In Trademarks, Sahana Simha, Ram Mohan M P

American University Business Law Review

Trademark law is primarily viewed as a consumer protection law. Proprietary and consumer interests are not always balanced. This is especially the case with the doctrine of exhaustion of rights in trademarks, where the trademark owner loses control over the further distribution of their trademarked product once sold. Existing statutory exceptions to this doctrine allow the proprietor to take action against resellers only when the product has been impaired or changed. The exceptions do not account for harm or damage to the reputation and goodwill associated with a trademark as a ground to override exhaustion. This article analyzes legislative and …

The Death Of Amateurism: How A Vertical Restructuring Of The Ncaa Could Preserve Its Role As The Governing Body Of Collegiate Athletics, Miles M. Mcdonald

American University Business Law Review

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is struggling to survive as an organizational entity because of near-constant litigation over university and student-athlete rights. As we enter an era of “amateur” sports where student-athletes can earn unrestrained financial compensation for their efforts, the NCAA is struggling to convince stakeholders that it has a worthwhile plan for the everchanging landscape of collegiate athletics. The NCAA retained a purpose as a governing entity when its rules relating to financial inducements and transfer eligibility were enforceable. Now, stakeholders look to separate themselves from the NCAA. To maintain a purpose and survive as the governing …

The Evolving Landscape Of European Security: An Assessment Of Nato’S Posture And Deterrence Strategies In Response To The Russia-Ukraine War, Goddy U. Osimen, Oluwakemi Fulani, Nesochi Mogbolu

Journal of Strategic Security

The Russia-Ukraine War has reshaped Europe’s security landscape, leading to NATO’s most significant transformation since the Cold War. This study explores how the conflict has prompted NATO to realign its deterrence and defence strategies in response to Russia’s violations of international norms and changing battlefield dynamics. Employing a qualitative analysis of academic literature, official documents and credible reports, this study argues that NATO has shifted from assurance to a more assertive deterrence approach, enhancing its forward presence, increasing defence spending, and adopting effective new technologies. Key findings reveal important lessons about modern warfare, particularly the roles of artillery, unmanned systems, …

Has Russian Electronic Warfare Underperformed In The Ukrainian Conflict?, Guillem Colom Piella, Cristina Marzal Ruano

Journal of Strategic Security

In what has been referred to as a “War of Drones”, the ongoing Ukrainian conflict has contributed to shed light on electronic warfare as a key capability in modern military operations. The capacity to trace, deny, detect and collect intelligence from enemy communications has become a crucial asset as combat systems become highly interconnected and small, commercial drones storm in as strong alternatives to traditional, more expensive and less versatile unmanned systems. In this regard, much has been discussed about whether Russia, a perceivably dominant EW power, lived up to expectations regarding its performance in the electromagnetic domain. Through the …

Millions Of Tons, Billions In Dollars: Unexploded Ordnance In Ukraine, Russell Glenn

Journal of Strategic Security

Mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Ukraine had killed over 400 civilians and wounded nearly 1,000 more as 2024 approached its final weeks. Late 2023 estimates pegged the cost of neutralization at $37 billion. Addressing the lingering dangers posed by mines, artillery and tank rounds in abandoned depots, dud missiles and rockets, and the occasional unexploded drone munition presents Kyiv with one of its most difficult and costly recovery challenges. Problems include identifying which areas are, in fact, contaminated and the extent of the hazard, measuring and maximizing the effectiveness of decontamination rather than merely gauging the effort expended on …

Russian Resilience: Sanction Elusion Mechanisms Utilized During The Russo-Ukrainian War, Ivan Siffredi Santa Ana

Journal of Strategic Security

Since the 2022 invasion, the United States and the European Union have imposed a wide range of sanctions, including those directed to Russia’s financial industry, central bank, and hydrocarbon exports, among many others. Even though these restrictive measures implied a severe hindrance for the Russian State apparatus, it has been able to sustain both its economic resilience and its war effort in Ukraine. The present article aims to identify and analyze the economic and logistical mechanisms that allowed Russia to elude Western sanctions and sustain its abovementioned dimensions. In this sense, the reach of support of the strategic relations will …

Legal Framework For Counterintelligence Activities In Ukraine, Viktor Tyshchuk

Journal of Strategic Security

The legal framework governing counterintelligence activities in Ukraine is one of the key elements in ensuring national security and protecting state interests, particularly in the context of modern challenges, as this article analyzes the current legislation and normative acts regulating the activities of counterintelligence agencies while evaluating their impact on the effectiveness of combating potential threats; a notable aspect is the change in the criminogenic situation, specifically the increase in crimes against the foundations of national security in 2022, which coincided with the onset of a full-scale invasion and significantly affected the investigative process due to difficulties associated with martial …

Brutal Catalyst: What Ukraine’S Cities Tell Us About Recovery From War. By Russell W. Glenn. Boulder, Colorado: Keypoint Press, 2024., Daniel Weisz Argomedo Phd

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Association Of Prenatal Exposure To Phthalates And Phenols With Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, Misa Hayasaka, Diana Aboukhater, George Saade, Tetsuya Kawakita

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the association between prenatal exposures to phthalates and phenols and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB), small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth weight, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS:

This study analyzed data from the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes consortium, which harmonized longitudinal data on more than 30,000 pregnancies and 57,000 children from 69 cohorts across the United States and Puerto Rico. Pregnancy outcomes included PTB, SGA, and GDM, identified from medical records or self-reports. Generalized estimating equations models with Poisson distribution and robust variance were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs per interquartile …

Racial Disparities In Maternal Mortality Before, During, And After The Covid-19 Pandemic In The United States: A Difference-In-Difference Analysis, Kyosuke Kamijo, Misa Hayasaka, Tetsuya Kawakita

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Background

This study aimed to examine changes in racial disparities in pregnancy-related and maternal mortality before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Methodology

This was a cross-sectional study using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) data from January 2018 to June 2024. We focused on pregnancy-related and maternal mortality among Black and White individuals to examine racial disparities. The study periods were defined as pre-pandemic (January 2018-March 2020), pandemic (April 2020-March 2022), and post-pandemic (April 2022-June 2024). We applied interrupted time series analysis and difference-in-difference (DID) models …