Digital Commons Network^™

Donald Griffin: A Visionary In Science And Consciousness, Brock Fenton

Animal Sentience

I share some reflections on a sabbatical with Donald Griffin a half-century ago, with fieldwork on bats and echolocating swiftlets in Australia and our discussions of animal behavior and consciousness. Griffin's influence has been vast, from recent advances in bat research, including learning, navigation, and longevity, to his enduring legacy as a pioneer in animal cognition.

Impact Of Safety Training On Employee's Perceptions Of Organizational Safety Culture, Brooke Reid-Graves

Dissertations

Workplace safety and well-being are vital for all workers, regardless of their profession (Young et al., 2022). Studies show that providing employees with training focused on recognizing hazards and implementing safety practices is essential for reducing occupational risks (Namian et al., 2020; Rose & Rae, 2017). Research underscores the importance of fostering a positive organizational safety culture for risk reduction (Berry et al., 2020; Downey, 2019). Understanding the impact of safety training on shaping an organization’s safety culture is key to promoting safe working environments (Mahjoub, 2013).

This study utilized the perspectives of high school staff regarding safety training and …

Subconcussive Impacts And Their Effect On Attention, Scott York

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In recent years, concussions have become a focal point for athletic competition and athletes beginning in grade school. The long-term implications of concussions are becoming more widely known and accepted; however, there are still areas of literature that are lacking. One of these areas is subconcussive impacts. Subconcussive impacts are defined as impacts that do not meet the threshold for diagnosed concussion but may still have clinical impact. While concussions and their effects on cognition have been examined heavily, these subconcussive impacts, and their effects, have been studied less so. The purpose of this study is to examine the possible …

Everyone Brings Something To The Table: A Culturally Sustaining Analysis Of Teacher Candidates’ Mixed Reality Teaching Simulations, Erin Scott

Faculty Publications

Discussions of HBCU students’ content knowledge have centered around developing high impact, asset-based approaches to learning (Williams et al, 2022). So, HBCU teacher preparation providers (TPPs) can also focus efforts on culturally sustaining approaches to developing candidates’ content knowledge and researching how high impact practices, like teaching simulations, can help prepare candidates for classrooms. This exploratory case study uses critical cases (n=2); findings suggest candidates have a developing understanding of content, which forms a solid basis for increasing their knowledge. MRTSs are addressed as a potential high impact, culturally sustaining practice for building candidates’ content knowledge. Further, HBCU TPPs can …

Influences Of Social Media On Nutrition Perceptions And Body Image Among Female College Students: A Study Of Health Impacts And Behavioral Responses, Kerri Mcclanahan

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social media use is increasing among young adults with an average use of over four hours per day. The validity of dietary content on social media is questionable and can cause impacts on several factors. This research focused on exploring how female college students' social media use impacts their nutrition knowledge, diet choices, and body image. Through the use of a survey, 332 participants completed this research. It was found that social media can cause changes in body image, both positive and negative. Additionally, the results showed that social media impacted the participants’ dietary decisions. It was also found that …

A Revolution Deferred: Polycrisis And The Failures Of Incremental Change In South Africa, Geoffrey Schneider

Working Papers

No abstract provided.

The Guardian The Month Of December 2024, Wright State Student Body

The Guardian Student Newspaper

News articles from The Guardian for the Month of December 2024. The Guardian is the official student-run newspaper for Wright State University. It has been published regularly since March of 1965.

Exploitative Labor In Los Angeles' Fashion Industry: A Path Towards Ethical Supply Chains, Magali Rodriguez

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This chapter explores exploitative labor practices within Los Angeles' fashion industry and proposes pathways toward ethical supply chains. The fashion industry, particularly in Los Angeles, relies on labor-intensive production, which often leads to low wages, unsafe conditions, and systemic inequality. The complexity of global supply chains, power imbalances, and consumer demand for cheap clothing contribute to the persistence of exploitative practices. More than half of garment contractors in Los Angeles fail to meet minimum wage standards. The chapter emphasizes the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and ethical sourcing, which includes accountability, transparency, and respect for human rights. It examines …

Assessing The Potential For Soil-Mediated Transmission Of Symbiotic Bacteria In The Leaffooted Bug (Leptoglossus Phyllopus), Armeen Nasir

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Recent evidence suggests insects might indirectly provide symbionts to their offspring by releasing them into the soil via feces. We investigated whether this is occurring in the Eastern leaf-footed bug, Leptoglosuss phyllopus. We hypothesized that if adults release viable symbiont cells into their environment, then nymphs will have a higher survival rate, develop faster, and be larger at adulthood when exposed to soil that has been in contact with adult insects for longer. To measure the rate and whether the bugs acquired Caballeronia from the soil, insect nymphs were exposed to soil that had been exposed to a lab colony …

An Analysis Of Psychological Concepts In Interactive Media, Kieryn Funk

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

An analysis of how video games display psychological concepts and facilitate psychological experiences. Video games are an extremely competent medium for experiences and learning psychology due to the manner in which they elicit emotions and teach procedurally. Psychological concepts are explained in a brief way, then specific examples are brought up from video games connecting the concept to an element in the game, specifically in gameplay mechanics, narrative story, or aesthetics and elements in the game world. Behavioral science is examined both on a conceptual level and on a technical level showing how video games, in general, display the theories …

Toward An Urban Food Commons: Participatory Action Research On Food Apartheid And Community-Based Agrifood System Governance In Louisville, Ky., Mary Abigail Rudolph

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the structural inequities fueling food apartheid in Louisville, Kentucky’s agrifood system and explores community-based governance as a path toward food justice. Through a participatory action research (PAR) framework, this study combines participatory geographic information systems (PGIS), focus groups, and autoethnography to engage directly with affected community members and collaborate with the Food in Neighborhoods (FIN) coalition. By prioritizing the voices of those most impacted by food insecurity, this research offers contributions to the fields of food justice, participatory governance, and urban food commons. The study situates Louisville’s food access issues within the broader neoliberal global agrifood system, …

The Restorative Design Scale (Rds) An Assessment Guide: Measuring The Potential For Mental Restoration In Urban Green Spaces, Corinne Bahr

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Mental health is a growing national priority, and green space has been proven to benefit mental health. There is a massive amount of recent research studying the influence of green space characteristics on mental health improvement and restoration. However, professional landscape architects, designers, and planners involved in creating physical spaces have not been able to assess and therefore prioritize mental health in their designs due to the sheer quantity of information that has not yet been synthesized and applied efficiently. The Restorative Design Scale (RDS) Assessment condenses this material into a scientifically inspired resource for professionals to easily understand and …

Ties That Bind: The Long Emancipation And Status Ambiguity In Early 20th-Century Southwestern Tanzania, Lydia (Wilson) Marshall, Thomas John Biginagwa

Sociology & Anthropology Faculty publications

In the 1890s, the slave and ivory trader Rashid bin Masoud established the settlement Kikole deep in what is now southwestern Tanzania. Kikole was strategically located near Lake Nyasa, a major slaving region. Masoud's followers residing at Kikole were typically referred to as his slaves by German colonists and missionaries. Local oral histories today, however, define these followers as askari (soldiers or guards) or mafundi (technicians or specialists; in this case, in using weaponry). This article considers how recent expanded excavations at Kikole can help us better understand Masoud's followers. Differences in housing investment and material access suggest status differences …

Wine-Rs Or Losers: Assessing Socio-Economic Impacts Of Eu Regulations On Climate-Exacerbated Plant Diseases And Pests Within Northern Italian Viticulture, Kyley N. Fishman

Undergraduate Honors Theses

As climate change furthers weather events and unprecedented hot and wet seasons, European farmers are amongst those challenged by these threats. Balancing sustainable and traditional practices while maintaining socio-economic stability can be difficult, especially under European Union (EU) agricultural regulations. A key area of concern for some agro-regulations is viticulture, or grape growing, which is amongst the most climate-sensitive agricultural sectors. These agro-regulations address multiple goals, including sustainability, exports, and cultural heritage protection. Yet, to what extent EU climate-driven agricultural regulations influence regional wine-growing operations’ socio-economics remains unclear, particularly in managing climate-aggravated pests and plant diseases. My thesis aims to …

Pokémon Go: Fostering Community In Location-Based Augmented Reality, Miranda Ward

Communication Studies

While most modern video games are played from the comfort of one's own home, Pokémon GO (2016) is a game that requires people to leave their homes and interact with other people in the real world. Pokémon GO contains community-building mechanics that reward players for interacting with each other and catching Pokémon. Due to this, players use third-party applications to organize meetups, particularly through Campfire, which is an app owned by the same company who created the game, Niantic. Uses and Gratifications Theory can be applied to understand why players choose to play Pokémon GO and what needs the game …

Prioritizing The Parent Perspective: A Mixed Methods Approach To Deconstructing Learning Deficiencies Within Marginalized And Underserved Communities, Zea Wallace

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Household Vegetable Gardening In Quezon City, Philippines: Practices, Benefits, And Constraints, John Luis D. Lagdameo, Angelica Nicolette B. Dejaresco, Ma. Cecilia M. Gonzales, Liz Ignowski, Pepijn Schreinemachers, Arma R. Bertuso

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

The study collected a wide range of information from respondents. It included details about their identities, such as names, ages, and genders. Additionally, it examined household characteristics, including house size, sources of income, and the number of floors in their homes. The research also explored urban food production and planting practices, identifying the types of vegetables grown, the locations of these planting activities, and the technologies used. Moreover, it investigated food acquisition and meal preparation, focusing on sources of food, safety concerns, and the challenges faced in obtaining these items. Diet diversity was assessed through a one-month recall of food, …

The Interplay Of Covid 19, Organized Religion, And Social Media: “How Can I Be The Person I Feel I Need To Be?”, White Dove Bryant Beethoven Keith Short

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Young adults are disaffiliating themselves from organized religion (Hout & Fischer, 2014). This study investigates the impact of social media use on religious identity, teaching, and learning. Social media use is changing young adults as individuals in worldview and perspective, spirituality, religion, and personal lifestyle (Schaeffer, 2019). Messages devised for young adults by Christian ministers for discipleship in teaching and instruction are inharmonious with young adults and their personal views of the world, how to live, and religion (Pew Research Center, 2019). The continued existence of religious teaching, congregant replenishment, and practice of the organized institutional Christian church within society …

Victory Gardens: Helping On The Home Front, A Curriculum Outreach Project, Kelly Hoomes

Master's Theses

The Victory Garden: Helping on the Homefront traveling trunk outreach project links past, present, and future by introducing students to the historical significance of World War II victory gardens and emphasizing the continued relevance today. Partnering with Kennesaw State University’s Museum of History and Holocaust Education (MHHE), the traveling trunk focuses on a fifth-grade audience, aligning with Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies, Health, and Science. The traveling trunk designed as a “museum-in-a-box" includes primary sources, artifacts, and a practical gardening activity that fosters critical thinking and analysis. By encouraging an understanding of the past and the connections to …

Perceived Barriers And Facilitators Of Behavioral-Health Modality Change Adoption During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review, Nicholas Sims-Rhodes, Hannah E. Cornwell, Emily Barena, Vandy C. Dubre, Kimberly S. Elliott, Eman H. Nabulsi, Nelly Yuen, Sarah Sass, Anastasia Miller, Yordanos M. Tiruneh, Karan P. Singh

Presentations and Publications

Introduction: During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, there was a surge in demand for mental health services worldwide, presenting challenges for healthcare institutions as they navigated changes in policy and safety regulations. In the United States, this resulted in many behavioral health modality changes to remain in compliance with the Center for Disease Control guidelines. A growing body of literature has documented these, yet few explored barriers and facilitators affecting the adoption of these modality delivery changes. The researchers conducted a systematic review using the PRISMA method, focusing on service delivery changes across healthcare systems in the United States from …

Tikking The Tok And Leading The Way: Teacherpreneurs Leading On Tiktok, Jori S. Beck, Derrick Riddle

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Teacher shortages in the United States have increased the need for resources for teachers just learning to teach. The purpose of this study was to explore how teacherpreneurs, a type of teacher leader, are leading on TikTok. We grounded this study in the research on teacher leadership, including the five waves of teacher leadership and the most recent development of teacherpreneurship, as well as social media influencers. We qualitatively analyzed 300 videos from 30 different teacherpreneuers to determine the following themes: diverse narratives, entertainment, instructional resources, and advocacy. We describe implications for practice, including teacher preparation, as well as future …

Predicting Agricultural Sciences Students’ Media Literacy In A Post-Truth Era, Abigail Durheim, Kasey Harmon, Taylor Ruth, Cara Lawson

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

As more individuals turn to various forms of online media to seek information, misinformation and skepticism are on the rise when considering news media. Media literacy, or how individuals evaluate information they see in the news media, is critical to addressing this growing problem. This study aimed to explore the predictors of agricultural sciences students’ perceived news media literacy to gather preliminary data around this topic. Through an online survey, students enrolled in an agricultural communication class at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln completed a literacy reflection assignment. Students were asked to answer questions about their news media use, perceived media …

Exploring The Role Of Mass Media In Enhancing Farmer-To-Farmer Extension Activities In Bosomtwe District, Ghana, Anthony Kwame Appiah, Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum, Fred Nimoh, John-Eudes Andivi Bakang, Fred Ankuyi

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Farmer-to-farmer extension has always existed among farmers. It helps to strengthen information flow, reduce extension costs, and empower farmers playing a crucial role in enhancing their livelihoods. Currently, scanty information exists on the role of mass media in enhancing farmer-farmer extension activities. It is against this background that this study was carried out. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data from 400 farmers who were selected using the multi-stage sampling technique. The results show that, compared to newspapers, books, TV, radio, computers, and social media, the mobile phone is the most accessible and most used mass media tool …

Analyzing Food Sources And Food Insecurity Of Kichwa Farming Families In The Ecuadorian Amazon, Reina Watanabe

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

While the right to food is internationally recognized and the United Nations established the sustainable development goal to end hunger and achieve food security by 2030, many households remain without consistent access to food in 2024. In Latin America, approximately 4 in 10 households were reported as food insecure in 2020 with higher rates in rural and indigenous communities. Rural areas, which have great overlap with indigenous communities in Ecuador, experience disproportionately high levels of poverty and food insecurity compared to urban areas. The most populous indigenous nationality in the Ecuadorian Amazon and the participants of this study are the …

Religious Affiliation And Alcohol Use Amongst The College Population At The University Of Northern Colorado, Cassandra H. A. Higgins

Undergraduate Honors Theses

A rampant problem growing globally is the issue of substance use disorders, especially that of alcohol abuse. As the problem of alcohol abuse spreads, finding tactics to mitigate this issue or discover what aspects are causing this issue is important to decrease the threat of a further problem developing. Prior research on different religious groups has shown that people who identify as highly devout in their religion are often less likely to exhibit signs of alcohol abuse. This study examined students at the University of Northern Colorado with the goal of comparing their levels of religious affiliation with their levels …

The Inclusion Of Behavioral Healthcare Providers In Primary Care Settings: A Phenomenological Study, Janette A. Hernandez

Dissertations

With the shift toward integrated care, Behavior Healthcare Providers (BHPs) play a crucial role in improving patient outcomes and accessibility to mental health services. However, challenges such as time constraints, role ambiguity, and limited understanding of BHP contributions persist. This qualitative phenomenological study explores the experiences of BHPs in integrated primary care settings. Using semi-structured interviews with eight BHPs, the study examines their roles, challenges, and contributions within healthcare teams. Findings indicate that BHPs enhance collaboration with medical staff and facilitate timely mental health interventions. Yet, barriers such as inconsistent role recognition and workflow inefficiencies hinder full integration. This study …

Literature Review: Parkinson's Disease And Non-Motor Symptoms, With A Focus On Constipation And Potential Therapeutics, Daria Smirnova

ALL - Honors Theses

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that tends to affect elderly individuals and is most commonly associated with the emergence of motor symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, and bradykinesia. However, non-motor symptoms (NMS), such as gastrointestinal (GI) issues, namely constipation, are also prevalent, and deeply affect the lives of individuals suffering with the disease. Among these, constipation stands out as one of the most common and frustrating problems for patients, typically arising from a variety of interrelated factors including disruptions in the autonomic nervous system (ANS), diminished dopamine activity, gut microbiota imbalances, inflammation, and side effects from PD …

The Successes Of Rotuman Women In The Modern World, Alan Howard, Makereta Mua

Pacific Studies

Inspired by Ester Boserup’s 1970 thesis regarding the role of indigenous economies in promoting the success of women in the modern economies, this article explores aspects of Rotuman culture that have led to the considerable success of Rotuman women in various contemporary occupations. Our analysis is based on multiple sources implicating the socialization of women that promote a self-confidence conducive to accomplishments. This article also includes reflections by seventeen interviewees on the sources of their success

Agriculture In The Urbanizing Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Views On Water Quality, Agricultural-Related Conflicts, And The Adoption Of Nutrient Management Plans, Edem Avemegah

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This dissertation analyzes Chesapeake Bay Watershed (CBW) agriculture by exploring residents' views on water quality issues, agriculture-related conflict, and farmers' adoption of nutrient management plans. The following questions were asked: What is the level of concern among non-agricultural and agricultural residents about water quality issues in local streams and waterways and the CBW, and to whom do the two groups attribute water quality problems? What are nonfarming residents' and farmers' levels of support for various interventions outlined in previous research on water quality issues in local streams and waterways and the CBW? What is the level of nonfarming residents' and …

December 2024 Table Of Contents Newsletter - Science Librarian / Google Lens, Kayla Birt Flegal

Table of Contents Newsletter

After many years of animal cams, unwavering support of all the science departments, and the best laugh on campus, the DePauw Libraries are saying merry retirement to Caroline Gilson! Caroline made an indelible mark on students and faculty through her work in science librarianship at DePauw. You can write a thank you to Caroline by stopping by TheDesk at Roy O. West. Join the celebration for Caroline on Thursday, December 5, 1:30-3pm in Roy O. West’s Laptop Lab (119).