Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Exploring Emotion Classification Of Indonesian Tweets Using Large Scale Transfer Learning Via Indobert, Connor Shaw, Phillip M. Lacasse, Lance E. Champagne

Faculty Publications

Business, political, and other social structures create strong motivation to understand the attitudes, motivations, feelings, and emotions of a population of interest. Social media is a rich source of self-disclosed information by individuals from all walks of life about virtually every domain of the human experience, but the vast quantity of data is impossible to effectively analyze without advanced natural language processing algorithms. This research creates a transfer learning based emotion classification model for Indonesian language Twitter data. Transfer learning consists of two steps: pre-training and fine tuning. Three variations of Indonesian Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (IndoBERT) are tested …

Ukraine’S Not-So-Whole-Of-Society At War: Force Generation In Modern Developed Societies, Ilmari Käihkö, Jan Willem Honig

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that Ukraine offers a cautionary tale regarding the two main modern models of force generation. Neither the professional high-tech war model, favored by Western militaries, nor the whole-of-society war approach, said to have saved Ukraine in 2014 and 2022, proved successful formulas for Ukraine. Considering that Ukraine is fighting for survival, with Russian forces inside the country, the failure of both models in action has serious implications for NATO member states as they deliberate their choices regarding future force generation.

Measuring Interoperability Within Nato: Adapted Off-The-Shelf Or Bespoke Solution?, John R. Deni, Matthew R. Macleod, Sarah E. Stewart, Katherine M. Banko, Adrian Jones

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Despite decades of work on interoperability, NATO Allies cannot measure, assess, and build upon it fully and accurately. The lack of agreed formats or standards for collection, management, and the communication of findings have prevented the Allies from developing common interoperability measurement and assessment tools. Nonetheless, NATO could adopt extant standards, methodologies, processes, or tools to achieve its interoperability objectives. Testing this notion through use cases, the authors identify practical and conceptual hurdles to adopting an off-the-shelf solution. They conclude that the Alliance may need to create assessment standards, methodologies, processes, and tools from scratch, despite the difficulties of doing …

By All Means Available: Memoirs Of A Life In Intelligence, Special Operations, And Strategy, Todd Greentree

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Todd Greentree examines By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy by Michael G. Vickers, who Greentree views as an exemplar of strategic leadership for current and future leaders.

Synthesizing Metoo: A Meta-Analysis Of Workplace Sexual Harassment In Hospitality And Tourism, Yunxuan Carrie Zhang, Cass Shum

Hospitality Faculty Research

Purpose – Despite increasing research attention on hospitality and tourism workplace sexual harassment, there is a lack of holistic understanding of its nomological networks. This meta-analysis aims to synthesize the antecedents and consequences of workplace sexual harassment in the context of tourism and hospitality.

Design/methodology/approach – A total of 184 effect sizes from 39 independent hospitality and tourism studies (N=12,093) were included in this meta-analysis. Comprehensive MetaAnalysis software was used to analyze the results.

Findings – The results supported victim age and work environment as antecedents of workplace sexual harassment. Workplace sexual harassment affects work-related (job attitudes and job performance) …

Use And Benefits Of A Therapeutic Hypnosis Interactive Media Program For Chronic Pain Management: A Pilot Study, Mark P. Jensen, Joy F. Chan, Owen Gottlieb, Laurence I. Sugarman, Emily Stensland

Articles

Chronic pain is a common condition that has significant negative effects on individuals and society. Opioids continue to be the primary treatment provided to the billions of individuals with chronic pain, despite their general lack of efficacy and significant negative side effects. A growing body of research supports the potential of therapeutic hypnosis for helping individuals better manage their chronic pain. However, access to this treatment is limited. The availability of a hypnosis digital therapeutic has the potential to address this access problem. The current study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of a digital therapeutic hypnosis prototype (not yet …

Women's Empowerment In Apcnf: A Critical Examination Of Feminist Goals In Agroecology, Anvitha Ravipati

Student Scholarship

This paper delves into the critical issues surrounding agroecology, with a specific focus on the intersection of ecology, polity, society, and economy. In the context of the Anthropocene era, the global threat of climate change poses significant challenges such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and disruptions in food production. The paper highlights the predicted impacts of climate change on food security, particularly in the tropics, emphasizing the need for social and environmental justice in mitigation and adaptation efforts. Furthermore, it discusses the concept of political agroecology as a lens to address sociological and political aspects within the realm …

The Importance Of Keeping The Constitutional Foundation Strong, Ellie Shoemaker

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

A house with a weak foundation will inevitably fall. Foundations are essential to the rise and longevity of everything built. From architecture to ideas, governments are no different. They need strong foundations to guide laws and to shape the nation’s future. America’s foundation is its Constitution; it is the cornerstone for the Liberty American citizens enjoy and the Justice system that maintains law and order, it outlines what the founding fathers desired for the country, laying down the framework for the rights of citizens for generations to come. Every law must align with the Constitution as it continues to provide …

5 Keys To Global Dominance: ​ Examining China's Strategic Resources​, Zachary Renner, Grace Marie Farina, Grant Alexander Fellers, Jolie B. Hewitt, Samuel Truth Lemire, Reagan Grace Jones, Madolyn Sara Moore, Anya Veinberg, Gavin Dawit Sweeney

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

The People’s Republic of China has become a significant international power by waging a form of unrestricted warfare on the United States and other Chinese competitors. Admiral John Arbuthnot Fisher believed controlling five key straights would give a nation global dominance. In the 21st century, international cooperation has created an environment where a nation must possess more than a geostrategic monopoly to control the world. Following Admiral Fisher’s philosophy, this paper looks at five key areas of interest that a nation would need to control to secure dominance. Simultaneously, it will discuss how the PRC attempts to control these areas …

A Modern Strategy To Combat Pornography, Dennis Izhboldin

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

In keeping up with 2025’s Public Policy Conference theme, “Legacy of Freedom,” it would be beneficial to discuss the importance of freedom from addiction, especially related to pornography. The purpose of this essay is to assess the political feasibility of sweeping prohibitions on the access of pornography. To aid in the development of the essay, research was conducted which consisted of utilizing academic reports documenting the consequences of pornography on both its consumers and those featured in sexual scenes to set a background for the paper as well as survey data exploring public sentiment towards pornography and potential restrictions on …

Reigning In The Federal Reserve, Dylan Coombs

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

Since the inception of the Federal Reserve Bank in 1913, the United States economy has experienced a cycle of “booms and busts,” periods of expansion and periods of contraction. Inconsistent monetary policy on the part of the Fed has led to both record inflation, and at times, dangerous deflation. Though these cycles persist, congress has continuously expanded the Federal Reserve’s authority to combat the very phenomena it created. The Feds current mandate, under the Federal Reserve Act instructs the bank to, “promote effectively the goals of maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates.”[1] The statutes vague language …

China’S Infiltration Of The U.S. Higher Education System, Joshua Harden

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

The People’s Republic of China has established numerous methodologies for power projection. A portion of this process is its assertion and coercion of higher education to spread communist ideology and Sino-centric narratives to either directly or indirectly press the goals of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). China’s assertion of soft power in higher education highlights an acute risk to the stability of a democratic government as its principles are slowly eroded. The CCP utilizes the internationalism of higher education, foreign exchange students, and the development of higher education institutions abroad to facilitate the ideological change of a nation’s image. The …

Eastern Strategic Thought And Its Connection To Confucianism, Taoism And Chinese Buddhism Compared To Christianity In Western Strategic Thought, Joshua Harden

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

Belief, whether religious in origin or the culmination of experiences and wisdom is part of the foundation for strategic intent. Personal decisions, situational leadership, and character are derived from the foundational worldview of the individual and this individual is characterized by a multitude of principles that make up their worldview. This can be extrapolated to explore the philosophical underpinnings of eastern strategic thought in comparison to that of western strategic thought. Eastern strategic thought is heavily influenced by Taoism, Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism but to what degree and to what end have these mechanisms influenced eastern strategic thought. On the …

Sex And Labor Trafficking In Cambodia, Kaeli Rasnake

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

Human trafficking affects some forty-nine million men, women, and children, with twenty-nine million within the Asian and Pacific region trapped in a web of forced labor, sexual exploitation, and coerced marriage. Human trafficking is now one of the world’s most lucrative organized crimes, generating more than $150 billion a year. Southeast Asia is a particularly vulnerable region, where weak enforcement mechanisms, poverty, and cross-border mobility create fertile ground for trafficking networks. Cambodia has been designated as a tier 3 nation in this region by the U.S. Department of State due to widespread issues of labor and sex trafficking. Tier 3 …

Verify And Protect: Guarding Children From Online Pornography, Adam Opp

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

The growing rate of children in the United States being exposed to pornography and its negative consequences on their development necessitate action to protect them from the evils of pornography. While federal and state governments have legal barriers surrounding pornography and obscenity, options remain for children to access pornographic content. Research suggests that more children are viewing pornography at younger ages, which has detrimental effects on their development and holistic well-being. Several policy options exist to mitigate pornography access to children, and this paper will specifically analyze options to be implemented by the state of Maryland, which could serve as …

Legal Precedents For Slavery And Manumission In Colonial Virginia, Sydney Gilbert

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

Legal precedence played a significant role in the development of Virginia’s slave and manumission laws. Virginia’s society and government is derived from English legal traditions and common law; however, as the colony developed, the Virginia courts and General Assembly produced their own traditions and precedents in response to its growing society. Similarly, the colony’s slave system initially relied on principles from English law but was established in response to Virginia’s unique societal and economic developments through court rulings and laws by the General Assembly. In addition to the laws passed by the Virginia General Assembly, the status of Africans and …

Is Direct Democracy A Friend Or A Threat To America’S Pursuit Of Individual Liberty?, James Black

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

In this politically charged and polarized climate, we see many individuals in America advocating for an increased focus on “democracy”, claiming that the nation is on the road to fascism in the rise of recent political movements. An examination of the writings of America’s own Founding Fathers, however, indicates a deep skepticism for a “pure” or direct democracy. Framers such as John Adams argued that a “direct democracy” was a self-destructive form of government, and Alexander Hamilton believed that such a democracy represented an extreme form of government directly across the ideological spectrum from an authoritarian monarchy, believing that America’s …

The Reapplication Of Natural Law, Dylan Coombs

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

This research seeks to analyze the constitutional crisis our nation is facing and provide a specific remedy. More precisely, this paper will examine what the public policy implications are of Judges returning to natural law originalism. The two policy recommendations that will be argued for are stronger natural law jurists picked by the President, and a more rigorous confirmation process by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The central research question is, will nominating judges who hold a natural law jurisprudence produce a more logically consistent jurisprudence than originalism when interpreting the constitution?

Energy Security: Exploring Opportunities For The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (Imec) And Italian/Eu/Nato Efforts To Foster Collaboration With Africa, Devin Burnat, Mary Prentice Ph.D., Umberto Bosna

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

This research demonstrates the strategic importance of the port of Trieste located in northern Italy, overlooking the Adriatic Sea to energy security, trade, global infrastructure investments, and international collaborations. This port has become an important maritime gateway of Central and Eastern Europe and it can serve to connect India in Asia, and the Middle East. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), connects India, the Middle East, and Europe, in Northern-Eastern Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni envisions Trieste as a strategic hub to advance Italy’s interests across the Mediterranean and Europe, aligning with the Mattei Plan for Africa and potential ties …

Manumission In Virginia: A Christian Witness, Venture Ciccarelli

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

While uncommon, slave manumissions occurred in the United States of America. Manumissions were voluntary releases of slaves through legal documents such as wills and deeds. While manumissions happened in many states prior to and during the Civil War, the Commonwealth of Virginia had the most manumissions. Varied reasons were given for the freeing of slaves, some of them religious. This article explores many of the explicitly Christian reasons given for the freeing of slaves, seeking to illustrate the connection between people’s political and legal action and their identities as followers of Christ, doing all things before the face of God. …

Preventing Inevitable Decline: The Message Plato And The Roman Empire Send To The American People, Emma G. Dayton

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

Plato’s Theory of Inevitable Decline outlined heavily in his Republic provides the basis for this paper. One can compare his theory to several governments throughout history, such as the Roman Empire. By examining the Roman Empire, one identifies three areas where the republic erred: education, military defenses, and economic flourishing. Mistakes in these areas led to the country’s downfall. Taking Plato’s theory and drawing from Rome’s example, Plato’s Theory of Inevitable Decline can be tested against several independent variables in present-day America. The state of American decline can be studied by examining her education system, military defenses against outside threats, …

Readings From The Kenyan Constitution: A Critical Discourse Analysis On Legacy And Freedom, Sarah Marjie

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

One of the most important documents about historical realities is the Constitution. It establishes the principles of fundamental human rights and institutional provisions for governing a country. Given the above, the study explores the aspects of the 2010 Kenyan Constitution, focusing on the themes of legacy and freedom. It aims to explore the relevant articles and chapters to show how the principles of legacy and freedom are articulated. It does this by paying attention to the language employed, the historical and cultural contexts adopted, and the power dynamics at play in the Constitution. The purpose of the study is to …

Comparing Modern Scottish And Indigenous North American Political States In Relation To Their Colonizers, Katrina Jorquez

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

Colonization has had a major impact upon the formation and relationships of the vast majority of current countries. While much of colonization happened at a geographical distance from the conquering country this was not the case for Scotland or the majority of Indigenous North Americans. Both were geographically close to their colonizers (or inhabiting the same land, in the case of Indigenous Americans), but still maintained strong separate cultures that persist in spite of forced assimilation. As acts of colonization became more politically distasteful, the respective colonizers have both changed their relationships to the colonized state to allow for greater …

Tribal Sovereignty And Citizenship: From Independent Nations To U.S. Citizens, Travis Younce

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

Since the 1980s, when President Ronald Regan began to address illegal immigration, citizenship has taken to the forefront during the presidential election cycles. During the 2016 and 2024 election cycle, Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump made campaign promises to stop illegal border crossings by building a wall. Additionally, during the recent campaign, now President-elect Trump stated that he would remove birthright citizenship from children of parents who are here illegally and not United States citizens, also known as anchor babies.

Citizenship has played a significant role in the last 248 years of the United States, from the Founding Fathers' discussions …

Philosophy, Power, And Morality: Towards A Better Haiti By Forging And Wielding Biblical Moral Sword, Cedrick Albert Saint-Elien

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

21^st century Haiti, it is the worst of times, an age of foolishness, an epoch of incredulity, a season of darkness, a dry season of despair, and a century of contaminated moral atmosphere. This gradation explains the rationale behind the self-exile of a great number of Haitians to other countries where life is not as invaluable as it is in the poorest country of Central America. This paper is an attempt to mainly pose solutions to the problems of impunity, unauthorized power, and transparent corruption. How does a nation go up after hitting rock bottom repeatedly? Does a “failed …

An Overview Of Ghana’S Investment Opportunities For Virginia Businesses, Ben Ellis

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

Ghana and the US have a strong history of partnership in trade and investment. Ghana’s economy has faced some challenges, but the country is on a positive trajectory of growth. To foster trade between the US and Ghana, both countries must work together to identify viable opportunities and recognize potential risks. In addition, the US and Ghana must find common ground and build local partnerships to ensure mutually beneficial trade agreements. Specifically, there are investment opportunities in the real estate, energy, agriculture, and education sectors. Several VA-based businesses could take the first step by investing in these opportunities on a …

A More Perfect Disunion: Warning Signs Of Revolution And Regime Collapse, Elena Mccloy

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

In the 14^th Century, the late European Latin lexicon had a new word to describe the cyclical nature in which regimes found themselves moving from periods of prosperity to periods of discontent, with each revolution fueled by the belief that radical change was necessary for survival. History rewards us with the opportunity to examine each cycle of revolution for distinct patterns of recurrence, so that we may be better prepared for the next stages of change. This paper outlines the most common trends indicating political upheaval, studying current and historical examples from The United States, the Middle East, and …

Nuclear Weaponry & The International System, Shannon Morlock

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

The invention of nuclear weapons has majorly impacted the international system, altering the dynamics of warfare, diplomacy, and national security. Tensions within the international system only grow as more and more countries develop their own nuclear weaponry. With this, nation leaders have had to become more rational in order to prevent mutually assured destruction, a political phenomenon that has fostered global stability. Historical events such as World War II, the Cold War, and in recent events, the Russia-Ukraine War showcase the nuanced role nuclear arsenals has taken in military strategies and diplomatic negotiations. With these rising tensions, international actors have …

Education Standards In The Us Military, Makayla Donnelly

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

The United States military has been observed by many conservative and libertarian thinktanks, such as The Heritage Foundation and CATO, as losing strength and effectiveness. Many outside of these major thinktanks are concerned about why defense takes up so much of the discretionary budget when the military seemingly continues to decline as majority of military branches fall short on their recruitment quotas. To boost recruitment and bolster the US military several branches have reexamined policies and altered them to expand the recruiting pool. One policy that is being investigated for reexamination is education standards. Education standards in some branches may …

Assessment Of The Effect Of Classic Sports Massage On The Reduction Of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness In The Rectus Abdominis, Dariusz Boguszewski, Cezary Kaaroud, Jakub Grzegorz Adamczyk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of classic massage on the reduction of post-exercise pain in the rectus abdominis muscle. Twenty-eight people between 20 and 43 years of age (mean age 27.4) were qualified for the study. There were nine women and six men in Group 1 (experimental) and six women and seven men in Group 2 (control). All participants of the study qualified after in the initial interview they performed sit-ups, according to the guidelines of the International Physical Fitness Test. Group 1 was subjected to the convergence of classical sports massage (3 treatments). The …