Digital Commons Network^™

Decomposition Study Using Pigs In Southeastern Nebraska During The Fall And Winter Seasons, Ryan Bodine

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

When an individual is found deceased, one of the tools used in the identification process is estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI). This estimate is used to determine how long an individual has been deceased once their remains are found. To estimate an accurate PMI, knowing how decomposition is affected by external factors is key. The transition period from fall to winter in southeastern Nebraska consists of fluctuating temperatures as the seasons transfer from fall to winter. This thesis investigates how decomposition is affected during this transition period while also looking at two different environments that are common in Nebraska, prairies …

"Am I A Man Or A Muppet": A Rhetorical Analysis Of Generative Ai’S Representation Of Gender, Jessica Boaz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how generative artificial intelligence constructs and performs gender roles through a rhetorical analysis of the fully AI-generated podcast Fairytale Forensics. Drawing on theories of constitutive rhetoric, stereotyping, and McLuhan’s approach to the medium, this thesis investigates how AI-generated hosts interpret classic fairy tales while simultaneously reproducing and negotiating gender norms through the lens of prosopopoeia, metonymy and synecdoche. These performances rely on normative gender stereotypes that align with broader societal expectations, thereby potentially reinforcing existing cultural assumptions about masculinity and femininity. Ultimately, it demonstrates that AI-generated discourse does not merely reflect human biases but actively participates in …

Microplastics And Generational Harm, Sara Najafi

Anthropology

Microplastics are persistent environmental contaminants increasingly detected in ecosystems and the human body, raising concerns about their effects on health and future generations. This paper examines the environmental pathways, biological mechanisms, and reproductive consequences of microplastic exposure, with particular attention to female reproductive health and fetal development. Current evidence indicates that microplastics can contribute to oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption, DNA damage, and cellular dysfunction, while also accumulating in reproductive tissues, follicular fluid, placental tissue, and breast milk. These exposures may impair ovarian function, fetal development, and long-term health outcomes. The paper also considers environmental inequalities that may increase exposure …

A Behavior Analytic Blueprint For Rapport-Building: Investigating The Key Elements For Success, Nelmar Jacinto Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

Rapport can be defined as a positive relationship between people built through specific actions. Building rapport can benefit organizations by improving performance and increasing work satisfaction. Despite these benefits, research on rapport remains scarce. Curry et al. (2019) completed the most recent rapport study and found that rapport-building led to increased productivity and discretionary effort. The present study replicated and extended Curry et al. (2019) and addressed three limitations of their research: the lack of a control group, the large disparity in time spent with the experimenter, and the rigidity of their rapport conversation script. The study was completed in …

Stories That Persuade: The Impact Of Pleasure-Based And Pressure-Based Prosocial Appeals On Charitable Support For Sexual And Reproductive Health Nonprofits, Tyler Outhouse

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study investigates how different narrative framing strategies, and corresponding sources of motivation, influence donors’ willingness to support a sexual and reproductive health nonprofit. A nationally representative sample (N = 205) completed an experiment embedded in an online survey. Participants were randomly assigned to read either a pleasure-based or pressure-based story about reproductive healthcare. Participants then reported their reactions, motivations, and willingness to support the nonprofit. Results indicated no significant difference in charitable support intentions across the two conditions, instead finding that partisan identification and value alignment were the key predictors of charitable support. The results also indicated that …

Academic Summaries - Philanthropy, Erica Jensen, Sebastian Dorantes, Faith Manchester, Isabelle Stoddard

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Some Promises Are Worth More Than Others: How “Free Community College” Programs Impact Postsecondary Participation, Destinations, And Degree Completion, David Monaghan, Elizabeth Hawke

Journal of Student Financial Aid

“Free college” programs are widespread in American higher education.  They are discussed as addressing college access, affordability, inequality, and skills shortages.  Many are last-dollar tuition guarantees restricted to use at single community colleges.  Using student-level data spanning the transition to college, we investigate how two similar local community college tuition guarantees in Pennsylvania affected college-going outcomes.  We estimate that the Morgan Success Scholarship has large impacts on any college enrollment, community college attendance and associate degree attainment, but also diverts students from four-year colleges and reduces bachelor’s attainment. Meanwhile, we find scant evidence that the Community College of Philadelphia’s 50 …

Eating Trees To Save The World, Belle Breyanna Li

Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research

This essay posits that all climate solutions will require change, an important one being eating more trees. While our current crisis is the result of indifference and inaction, we must consider innovative solutions. Like all the other possibilities, investing in more trees will require the joint efforts of our communities. As we allocate effort, time, and resources to climate solutions, the benefits will return tenfold in numerous ways. By prioritizing trees as a food source, we can empower our communities and increase their resilience. At the same time, we will positively contribute to the global climate by sequestering carbon. This …

Three Hundred Years In New Mexico’S La Cienega Valley: An Archaeology Of Hispano Occupation From The 17th Through 19th Centuries, Heather Trigg

Anthropology Faculty Publication Series

Beginning in the late 16th century, Hispanic settlers colonized New Mexico’s upper Rio Grande Valley, establishing farms and the village of Santa Fe amid Pueblo peoples. Colonists demanded tribute and labor from the Pueblos, enslaving some and suppressing religions. Less than a century later, Pueblo and Plains peoples rebelled and forced the settlers from the region. Twelve years after the Revolt, settlers returned, but they could not legally collect tribute or force labor. This project explores the changes in labor and land allocation between the Pre-Revolt and Post-Revolt periods.

Three Hundred Years In New Mexico's La Cienega Valley: An Archaeology Of Hispano Occupation From The 17th Through 19th Centuries, Heather Trigg

Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research Publications

Beginning in the late 16th century, Hispanic settlers colonized New Mexico’s upper Rio Grande Valley, establishing farms and the village of Santa Fe amid Pueblo peoples. Colonists demanded tribute and labor from the Pueblos, enslaving some and suppressing religions. Less than a century later, Pueblo and Plains peoples rebelled and forced the settlers from the region. Twelve years after the Revolt, settlers returned, but they could not legally collect tribute or force labor. This project explores the changes in labor and land allocation between the Pre-Revolt and Post-Revolt periods.

Zooarchaeological Analysis Of A Spanish Late Colonial And Territorial Periods Site In Northern Rio Grande, New Mexico, Sara Jaramillo

Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research Publications

This poster examines faunal remains from El Rancho de las Golondrinas (LA 127375) to investigate animal production, consumption, and labor practices in northern New Mexico during the Late Colonial and Territorial periods. By applying standard zooarchaeological methods and comparing the assemblage to an earlier Spanish Colonial site (LA 20,000), the study explores changes and continuities in regional ranching economies under shifting political and economic conditions. Results indicate that sheep/goats (Ovis/Capra) and cattle (Bos taurus) remained the dominant domesticated animals, demonstrating the long-term importance of pastoralism in New Mexico. Variations in the relative abundance of livestock through time may reflect changes …

Comment Sections As Counterpublics; Negotiating Public Discourse In Indonesia’S Digital Media Sphere, Leon Woltermann

Wacana, Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia

This article examines the potential of YouTube comment sections as spaces of commoning in Indonesia’s digital media sphere. Drawing on the concept of counterpublics – that is, parallel discursive arenas where marginalized groups circulate counter discourses and voice their interests – it explores how users negotiate access to the digital public sphere and oppose dominant narratives. The article employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods into the analysis of the data, to investigate both the structural features (based on comment metadata) and the discursive content of comments. I argue that the comment sections’ dynamic, non-binding structure facilitates open …

Negosiasi Diplomasi Budaya K-Pop Di Indonesia: Studi Kasus Boikot Penggemar Ateez, Dhannya Febryana

Multikultura

This study examines the boycott by Indonesian fans against the K-pop group ATEEZ as part of the dynamics of South Korea’s cultural diplomacy in Southeast Asia. Building on the understanding of K-pop as an important instrument of soft power in South Korea’s cultural diplomacy strategy, this research highlights how regional audiences do not always passively accept such practices. Using a qualitative approach with digital discourse analysis, the study analyzes boycott-related discourses circulating on social media and in online news coverage to explore the narratives, meanings, and cultural implications of this action. The fan boycott is not merely an expression of …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 20 - April 30, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 20 - April 30, 2026. 32 pages.

Monastic Botanical Gardens: Medicinal Plants, Cultural Heritage, And Tourist Routes, Polyxeni G. Moira Dr, Dimitrios Mylonopoulos

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

in the natural environment. The natural environment, of which humans are an integral part, served as the first laboratory for the production of medicines. Medicinal botany can be traced back to ancient Greece, continued through ancient Rome, was closely linked to Islamic tradition, and persisted through the rise of Christianity in monasteries, enduring to the present day. Monastic botanical gardens serve as living proof of the relationship between humans, nature, healing, and spirituality. These gardens, which for centuries cultivated plants for medicinal, nutritional, and functional uses, can now be leveraged to promote tourism, cultural heritage, and environmental awareness.

This study …

Feast And Faith: An Ethnographic Study Of Communication And Culture In Noemuti's Fole Mako, Inosensius Enryco Mokos

Paradigma: Jurnal Kajian Budaya

This article investigates Fole Mako, a significant traditional communal feast in Noemuti, North Central Timor, Indonesia. The event is analyzed in the context of its deliberate timing to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish and the consecration of a new church. Using the Ethnography of Communication framework, a detailed analysis is provided of the intricate communication practices, profound cultural meanings, and vital social functions embedded within this elaborate feast. Data for the study were meticulously collected through direct observation and engaged participation. The findings reveal that Fole Mako is much more than a mere …

Utilization Of Visual Metaphors For Improving Health Literacy, Kadir Alp Özler, Morgan Dressel, Madeline Weiner, Robert D Lucito, Alice Fornari

Patient Experience Journal

Health education is practiced in patient encounters via verbal communication and educational pamphlets. However, these techniques are faulty and do not provide true patient comprehension of their conditions and treatments reform is necessary to prevent the mortality and hospitalization rates that are linked to poor health literacy. Visual aids and metaphors are individually known to be powerful educational tools. A student organization at Stony Brook University, Artists in Medicine, has sought to synergize these tools to create visual metaphors artwork that links everyday concepts to patient illnesses to facilitate comprehension of this information. For example, one project “Aortic Dissections” depicts …

Cartoon-Printed Uniforms: A Strategy To Ease Pediatric Hospital Anxiety, Karnellya R. Ohol, Janaki P. Shinde

Patient Experience Journal

This quasi-experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of cartoon-printed nurse uniforms in reducing anxiety among hospitalized children aged 3–12 years. Conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Maharashtra, India, the study included 100 participants (50 intervention, 50 control) who received care from nurses wearing either cartoon-printed uniforms or traditional clinical attire. Anxiety was assessed at baseline and on hospital days 2, 3, and 4 using validated age-appropriate scales: the modified Faces Anxiety Scale (ages 3–6) and the STAI-C short form (ages 7–12). Mixed-effects repeated-measures ANOVA demonstrated a significant group × time interaction (F(3,294) = 42.67, p < .001, partial η² = .304). Children cared for by nurses in cartoon uniforms showed a 48.8% reduction in anxiety compared to 14.7% in controls. Between-group effect sizes increased progressively across days (d = 0.87 to 2.13), indicating cumulative benefit rather than transient novelty. Clinically meaningful improvement (≥30% reduction) was achieved by 76% of intervention participants versus 24% of controls (NNT = 1.92). Staff acceptability was high (95%). Findings indicate that cartoon-printed uniforms are a simple, low-cost, high-impact environmental intervention that significantly enhances pediatric patient experience. Their strong clinical utility, ease of implementation, and alignment with child-centered care principles support adoption across pediatric healthcare settings.

No One-Size-Fits-All: Patient Perspectives Of Key Factors Influencing Their Inpatient Rehabilitation Experience, Mirline Milien, Megan Bewernitz, Katherine Stallings, Mary Ellen Young

Patient Experience Journal

Although patient experience in healthcare settings has historically been an ambiguous concept, it has received increasing recognition as a measure of healthcare quality. Despite this growing recognition and efforts to define patient experience, few studies have explored patient perspectives on the key factors driving this quality indicator. This study aimed to explore the core elements patients view as influencing their experiences in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. This was a single-visit, cross-sectional qualitative interview study. Thirteen patients with diverse diagnoses who received at least one week of rehabilitation services were recruited from a single inpatient rehabilitation facility. Purposive sampling was employed …

Capturing Patient-Centered Quality Of Life: Usability And Initial Validation Of The Pediatric Patient-Generated Index Following Esophageal Atresia Repair, Zanib Nafees, Julia Ferreira, Elena Guadagno, Nikki Ow, Nancy Mayo, Jean-Martin Laberge, Dan Poenaru

Patient Experience Journal

The Patient-Generated Index (PGI) is an individualized measure that allows patients to define the domains most important to their quality of life (QoL). This study evaluates the usability and preliminary validity of the pediatric Patient-Generated Index (pPGI) in children who previously underwent esophageal atresia (EA) repair. We conducted a mixed-methods study including the pPGI, EuroQol-5D-Youth (EQ-5D-Y), and PROMIS Life Satisfaction Short Form-8a. Children aged 7–17 years completed self-reports, while parents served as proxies for younger children. Cognitive interviews explored how children understood and completed the pPGI, and clinician interviews assessed clinical usability. Among 25 participants, the pPGI generated 104 text …

Minecraft: A Retrospective, Kylie Salinger

Pepperdine Journal of Communication Research

This speech explores Minecraft as more than a popular sandbox video game, framing it as a creative, narrative-rich, and culturally influential platform that has shaped how players interact with virtual worlds. Beginning with the game’s simple mechanics and origins, the work examines Minecraft’s deeper lore, including its progression through multiple dimensions and the philosophical implications of the End Poem. It also highlights fan-driven theories suggesting a complex, hidden history within the game’s world-building. Finally, the piece analyzes the reasons behind Minecraft’s enduring success, emphasizing its multiplayer connectivity, resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic, and immersive musical design. Ultimately, the essay argues …

Hidden Barriers: Enforcement Asymmetry And The Political Economy Of U.S.–Mexico Food Trade And The Cattle Industry, Sabina Prieto, Chris Jackson

Honors Thesis

This project examines how enforcement irregularities in Mexican food safety regulation affect small exporters’ ability to access U.S. markets. On paper, agricultural trade is regulated by laws on food quality, certification, and logistics. In practice, it is how those rules are enforced. In Mexico, big firms and producer associations tend to gain steady support and easier certification, while smaller producers face delays, rejections, or inconsistent oversight that make it much harder to compete. This study uses a comparative case study approach to analyze how similar industries produce different outcomes in market access. By tracing key events such as disease outbreaks, …

Cross-Cultural Neuropsychological Testing: A Behavioral Item Analysis Of The Party Subtest From The Muns Battery Administered To Argentinian And U.S. Participants, Arwen A. Miranda, Alberto Luis Fernandez

Honors Thesis

In response to prevalent cultural bias in neuropsychological testing, cross-cultural tests (CCTs) were developed for accessibility across cultures through the use of “universal” stimuli. The Multicultural Neuropsychological Scale (MUNS) is a CCT developed to be appropriate across education levels, cost-effective and capable of assessing cognitive functions. The MUNS consists of seven subtests, including the Party subtest, which measures executive functioning by instructing participants to organize a party on a map. During this activity, participants purchase items such as food while remaining mindful of a 100-coin budget and minimizing travel distance. The present study examined whether the Party subtest functions comparably …

Pastors’ Children’S Stress In Evangelical Church In Java, Indonesia: A Phenomenological Study, Daniel Trihandarkha

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the pastors’ children's experience with stress in the evangelical church on the island of Java, Indonesia. The theory guiding this study is the self-determination theory developed by Richard Ryan and Edward Deci, as it explains the existence and absence of psychological needs of organisms to grow and thrive. The theory describes the struggle of the pastors’ children in environments where the relationship with the caregivers is fundamental in determining the growth of the pastors’ children and their well-being. The theory where relatedness, autonomy, and competencies, will examine the lived life of …

Phenomenological Study Of Counselors Working As Community Response Team (Crt) First Responders For Mental Health And How They Cope With Stress And Burnout, Modupe Adekunbi Olaniyan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of counselors working as Community Response Team (CRT) first responders for mental health crises and to describe how they cope with job stress and burnout. The study involved 12 participants who were interviewed via Zoom. Participants were selected using criterion sampling, and the research sites were located in the Metropolitan area of the east-central United States (Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia). The theoretical framework guiding this study was the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC) developed by Lazarus and Folkman (1984). Recent literature on job stress and burnout, …

Unleashing Stress: The Effects Of Training, Bond Strength, And Stress On Pet Dog Behaviors And Health, London Maria Wolff

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Humans and dogs have formed a unique ability to communicate with each other through evolutionary and developmental mechanisms. This increased communication serves to form dynamic interspecies bonds by facilitating learning and training over the lifetime of a dog. However, it is not known what factors permit the unique capacity of dogs to form bonds with, and learn from, their human companions. Odor is a notable candidate for interspecies communication about emotional states, with studies showing that both dogs and humans use odor information to detect human emotions (Calvi et al., 2020). Possibly, this may include detection of both acute and …

Life Lessons In Goodbye: Exploring Family Communication And End-Of-Life Depictions And Messages In Disney And Pixar Films Through A Content Analysis, Vanessa A. Gordon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Death is a friend of ours said Francis Bacon, and Hargarten stated that death has an inevitable arrival. This research aimed to explore the depictions and messages of death in Disney and Pixar films. The qualitative content analysis research methodology coded 267 deaths in Disney films (1937–2003) and Disney and Pixar Films (2003–2024). The study centers on replicating the scholarship of three prior works, while extending the research by incorporating more recent films into the analysis. Additionally, this current study applies a new theoretical framework, family communication patterns, to all films, including those previously reviewed solely for depictions of death, …

A Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experiences Of Military Spouses With Secondary Traumatic Stress Who Are Married To Veterans Diagnosed With Ptsd, Trisha R. Perry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) in military spouses whose partners have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The theory guiding this study was Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC). The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of STS in spouses married to a service member with PTSD? Additional sub-questions addressed changes in worldview, marital satisfaction, and daily functioning. Criterion and snowball sampling were used to select participants who were married to service members with PTSD for the study. Following the hermeneutical phenomenological …

Development And Validation Of The Organizational Humanization Scale, Kevin Stroop

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research on humanization is fragmented, generally focuses on dehumanization, and prior to this study no validated measure of humanization existed. To fill this gap, I developed and validated the Organizational Humanization Scale (OHS), a nine-item measure defining organizational humanization as the perceived affirmation of autonomy, individuality, and dignity. Items for the OHS subscales were adapted from established measures of work autonomy, work-group uniqueness, and workplace dignity. Using a cross-sectional survey of full-time employed adults in the United States (N = 427), I evaluated the OHS’s internal consistency reliability and evidence of structural, convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity. Results supported a …

The Interactions Of Faith Development, Attachment With Relational Authenticity, And Theory Of Mind In Children With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Lisa Haley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Early exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) interrupts typical spiritual, socioemotional, and cognitive developmental trajectories. Faith Development (FD), attachment with Relational Authenticity (RA), and Theory of Mind (ToM) may serve to provide positive coping strategies for children with ACEs. Few studies explored the interactions of FD, attachment with RA, and ToM in children. Additionally, sparse research involved RA independently or in relation to attachment formation. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how FD, attachment with RA, and ToM interact in children with ACEs. The lived experiences of children with ACEs and the interactions of FD, attachment with …