Digital Commons Network^™

Drawing Lines In The Sand: Armed Conflict, Climate Damage And Setbacks To Climate Action, Beatrice L. Hamilton

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

Armed conflicts have a significant and detrimental effect on the climate system, with considerable implications for efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change and the civilian population. Yet the environmental provisions under the law of armed conflict (LOAC), drafted some half a century ago, struggle to adequately address these concerns. This article assesses the capacity of LOAC to address conflict-driven climate damage and its cascading impacts by characterizing these harms as environmental damage and as injury to civilians. The analysis highlights opportunities for broadening LOA C's scope and offers recommendations to enhance its capacity to address climate damage and …

Inked Insight: A Consensual Qualitative Research Study Exploring The Perspectives Of Visibly Tattooed Counselors, Megan Ashley Lalonde-Pittman

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the experiences of visibly tattooed mental health counselors (VTMHC) through consensual qualitative research (CQR), examining how visible tattoos were perceived to have impacted the participants (N=14) professional experiences, development, and relationships within the counseling field. Seven domains arose from the data: Prejudices experienced by VTMHC, VTMHC Interactions with others, Culture experienced by VTMHC, Appearances of the VTMHC, Professional therapeutic work of the VTMHC, Workplace environment of the VTMHC, Processing the experience of being a VTMHC The implications for multicultural education and future research are explored.

Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Gendered Happiness: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Oecd Countries, Anusha Khan

Empirical Economic Bulletin, An Undergraduate Journal

This paper explores how socioeconomic factors influence life satisfaction across OECD countries and how these effects vary by gender. Using a cross-sectional dataset, the study runs three separate regressions, total, men’s, and women’s happiness to test whether factors like health, education, safety, and support networks impact life satisfaction differently for men and women. A Random Forest model is also used to validate the robustness of selected predictors. Findings show that health and support matter universally, but men’s well-being is more closely tied to educational attainment, while women’s happiness is more sensitive to feelings of safety.

Investigating Gender Differences In Intimate Partner Violence Using Gendered General Strain Theory, Stephanie Victoria Dragon

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health concern impacting communities and criminal justice systems. Nationwide IPV prevention and reduction policies were emphasized in the media during the aftermath of COVID-19 specifically regarding the identification of IPV offending behaviors through law enforcement screening tools. Research on IPV offending has clearly established a link in offenders exerting methods of power and control to harm an intimate partner through verbal abuse, coercion, sexual violence, and physical violence. Further, research also identified significant disproportional experiences of lethality in female victims at the hands of an intimate partner. However, criminological theories outside of control-based …

Modeling The Impacts Of Disruptive Events On Driving Behaviors, Transportation Safety, And Equity: Advanced Statistical Insights From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Xiaomeng Dong

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation aims to understand how disruptive events —particularly the COVID-19 pandemic—affect driving behaviors, transportation safety and equity by leveraging advanced statistical modeling techniques and data from Virginia. This research pursues three overarching objectives. First, it employs multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) to uncover the complex interrelationships among risky driving behaviors, injury severity, and pandemic-related factors, delineating the mechanisms through which COVID-19 has impacted crash outcomes via changing risky driving behaviors. Second, it leverages hidden Markov models to trace shifts in safety states over the pre-, during-, and post-pandemic periods, determining whether and when safety conditions return to pre-pandemic norms. …

Black Students With Disabilities In The Virginia Community College System, David Jerome Sultzer

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The advancement of policies and laws to support students with disabilities has increased the roles of students with disabilities in post-secondary institutions. There remains a significant disparity between the population of abled and disabled students and even a more significant disparity between Black and other students with disabilities on post-secondary campuses in the United States. Research has uncovered a fair amount of qualitative literature that speaks to the disparity between Black and other students with disabilities on post-secondary campuses with most of the qualitative literature from the perspective of the Black student with disabilities.

This study examined the perceptions of …

Compulsory Sterilisation And Reproductive Injustice In India: The Global Impact Of The American Eugenics Movement, Marina Cortez

Institute for the Humanities Theses

On 8 November 2014, Dr RK Gupta performed eighty-three tubal ligations at a makeshift clinic in Bilaspur, India — thirteen of which resulted in death. The women, most of whom belonged to the Dalit or “untouchable” caste, were recruited by family planning agencies, lured in by cash incentives or other gifts in exchange for sterilisation. Sadly, however, the Bilaspur tragedy does not exist in isolation — but rather belongs to an extensive history of government-sponsored abuse, the majority of which has been directly led by white, Western powers. Funded by the New York-based Population Council, India was one of the …

Communication During Perimmigration: A Life-Line Interview Method Study, Giada Roberta Rossi

Communication & Theatre Arts Theses

This thesis examines the communication challenges faced by migrants and their impact on acculturation using a new approach. The study analyzed autobiographical memories of immigrants’ communication to explore both positive and negative experiences over time. The study extends previous intercultural communication research by using the Life-Line Interview Method (LIM) (Assink & Schroots, 2010) to collect autobiographical narratives from twelve participants about their communication journeys. The findings reveal consistencies with past intercultural communication research insofar as uncertainty and identity problems were pervasive, but also positively extends past research arguing that supportive environments, characterized by culturally responsive educators and peer networks, play …

Understanding The Stereotypes, Emotions, And Behaviors Towards Introverts In The Workplace, Kristen M. Fisher

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The present study utilizes the SCM and the BIAS Map to understand perceptions of introverts within the workplace and highlight potential approaches to mitigate introversion mistreatment. It was hypothesized that, when compared to extraverted employees, introverted employees would be perceived as lower in warmth and competence, receive more emotional responses of contempt, more behavioral responses of passive harm, and that contempt would mediate the relationship between competence and passive harm. Conversely, it was hypothesized that extraverts would be perceived as higher in warmth and competence, receive more emotional responses of admiration, more behavioral responses of active facilitation, and that admiration …

Electronic Resources Updates - 2025 Q1, Brigitte Galauner, Gregg Harris

Electronic Resources Quarterly Updates

No abstract provided.

College Of Natural Sciences Newsletter, Spring 2025, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

Page 1 Dean's Message from Dr. Sen Subramanian
Page 2 Student Spotlights
Page 3 Kaushik honored, Three-Minute Thesis, & Ice Cores revealed
Page 4 Alumni Spotlight
Page 5 Day of Scholars
Page 6 Cyanide research, Record Research Expenditures, Adhikari awarded Miller Research Award
Page 8 Hanson Receives NSF Grant
Page 9 Snow Lab Research Team
Page 10 Faculty Awards
Page 11 Drone Day
Page 13 Khalaf Awarded Presidential Award

The Relationship Between Precision Strikes And Terrorist Activity, Connor A. Joyce

Student Publications

Precision warfare is intended to reduce the human costs for allied combatants in conflict. However, as this new form of fighting becomes increasingly central to modern military campaigns, its impact on terrorist activity warrants close examination. This paper explores the psychological effects of trauma on terrorist behavior, engages with scholarly debates on the outcomes of precision tactics, and presents statistical analysis to argue that the United States’ use of precision warfare, from 2000 through 2019, contributed to increased amounts of terrorist activity. Empirical findings in Somalia, Yemen, and Afghanistan support this claim. Precision tactics have been known to save American …

Tracking Phenological Shifts Of Black Guillemots Cepphus Grylle In The Gulf Of Maine, Jocelyn L. Little

Student Publications

Rapid warming in the Gulf of Maine has coincided with changes in phenology across trophic levels. Phenological change has yet to be studied in black guillemots (Cepphus grylle), a widely distributed benthic forager that is showing population decline in the region. Because black guillemots nest in burrows, their phenology can be challenging to study. I developed methods to track black guillemot phenology on Petit Manan Island, a seabird breeding colony in the Gulf of Maine. Specifically, I asked Q1) Can daily tower count data be used to predict black guillemot breeding phenology? Q2) How is black guillemot breeding phenology shifting …

Common Terns (Sterna Hirundo) As Bioindicators For Atlantic Herring (Clupea Harengus) Distribution In The Gulf Of Maine, Logan R. Becker

Student Publications

Effective fisheries management is increasingly challenged by climate-driven shifts in species distribution and by a lack of data on early life stages of key forage fish species. In the Gulf of Maine, Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), a once economically dominant fishery species and a key prey species for many dependent predators, has declined due to poor early-stage recruitment and warming waters. Despite this decline, current trawl surveys do not inform early-stage Atlantic herring distribution due to mesh size limitations, leaving critical gaps in our knowledge. To address this knowledge gap, I used common terns (Sterna hirundo) …

A Research Proposal: The Scapegoating Of Transgender Americans By Us Presidential Candidates From 2016 To 2024, Savannah Torres

Posters - 2025

This study will employ a qualitative content analysis to analyze the scapegoating of transgender Americans by U.S. presidential candidates from 2016 to the 2024 elections. This approach will allow for an in-depth exploration of political rhetoric, policy proposals, and public discourse regarding the trans community. In doing so, this study will highlight the lived experiences of transgender Americans in which they have faced both support, indifference, and marginalization from candidates. The content analyzed will include political rhetoric expressed by the candidates through their campaign and administrations. This analysis is with the intent to find recurring themes relating to the scapegoating …

Heartbeats And Algorithms: Black Pre- Med Students At The Crossroad Of Cardiology And Ai, Shuri Magdalene

Posters - 2025

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the healthcare landscape. • The underrepresentation of Black/African American (BAA) doctors is alarming with recent data of active physicians from the Association of Medical Colleges in 2021 has highlighted this underrepresentation of Black/ African American physicians in the U.S., with only about 5.7%1 of doctors belonging to this demographic, and cardiologists making up a mere 4.2% of this group1 .

The Silent Pandemic: Link Between Depression, Marijuana Usage And Mental Health Services After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Elias Ciudad, Lori Boies

Posters - 2025

The National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) measure substance use, mental illness, and treatment in the civilian noninstitutionalized population 12 or older. Depression is a public health epidemic that disproportionately affects young adult populations aged 18-25. At the same time, the consumption of marihuana is on the rise and more popular in this demographic group.

This statistical study aims to identify and model predictors of major depressive disorders (MDE) and marijuana abuse among populations older than 18 via standard tests, modeling, odds ratios, and epidemiological approaches for 2023 NSDUH data.

The Presence Of Substance Use In Individuals From A Non-Traditional Family Structure, Manuel Lastra-Cruz, Isac Perez, Mariana Torres, Cayla Travers

Posters - 2025

This study will analyze the relationship between family structure and substance use behaviors among young adults aged 18 to 25. The aim is to compare substance use between participants raised in nontraditional family structures (foster care or adoptive families) and those raised in biological families. The study will use a cross-sectional design where 200 participants will be recruited (100 from each family structure group). Data collection included the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), an Intake Form Assessment, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The participants will complete these surveys that will be used to measure the relationship between substance …

Cultivating Compassionate And Inclusive Care For People With Disabilities, Evelyn Echevarria Cruz, Aila Cordero, Maria Fioletova, Amanda Escudero

be Still

The disparity between physicians' preparedness to treat people with disabilities (PWD) and the prevalence of disabilities is a critical healthcare issue. The 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System reported that over 25% of U.S. adults have a disability, yet many healthcare providers feel unprepared. A poll found that only 40.7% of 714 physicians were confident in providing quality care to PWD, while 61% of 600 surveyed PWD indicated that their providers needed more training. Additionally, only 36% of medical schools included disability education in their curricula, often focusing on brief simulations rather than immersive experiences. To effectively address the diverse …

The Guardian The Month Of April 2025, Wright State Student Body

The Guardian Student Newspaper

News articles from The Guardian for the Month of April 2025. The Guardian is the official student-run newspaper for Wright State University. It has been published regularly since March of 1965.

Gender Differences In Perceived Organizational Support Among Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Elizabeth Gomez

Dissertations

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a well-studied issue within the U.S. military, with data showing military personnel face a higher risk of trauma than the civilian population. Many veterans and service members suffer from PTSD related to their military experiences (Renshaw, 2011). As research has largely focused on protective factors such as social and familial support, little attention has been given to organizational support (Meredith et al., 2011). Perceived organizational support (POS) refers to how individuals perceive the support they receive from their employers, with the military as the primary employer for veterans. This study was designed to explore whether …

Counseling In The Space Between: Counselor Perceptions Of Empathy And Therapeutic Alliance During Videoconferencing-Based Teleplay Therapy Sessions, Robert M. Lima Jr

Dissertations

Children and adolescents experienced a significant increase in mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic (Czeisler et al., 2020; Hertz et al., 2022; Mpofu, 2023; Oberg et al., 2022; Wilkins et al., 2023). With health facilities closed for non-emergent patients, telemental health therapy offered the possibility of support for those experiencing mental health challenges (Chiauzzi et al., 2020; Cooke et al., 2020; Karimi et al., 2022; E. C. Lee et al., 2023; Racine et al., 2020). While numerous past studies conducted over several years confirmed the efficacy of telemental health counseling (e.g., Feijt et al., 2020; Gloff et al., 2015; …

A Phenomenological Study Of Licensed Social Workers’ Conceptualization Of Shame In Adolescents With Substance Use Disorders, Brent A. Basile

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

Shame is a self-conscious emotion that has been referred to as both a master and a hidden emotion. Sociological and psychological researchers have neglected shame, although it has seen a resurgence in the past 20 years as a topic for research. Shame heightens during adolescence, a transitional period that bridges childhood and adulthood and involves psychological, social, physiological, and neurobiological changes. Adolescent substance use leads to academic, health and mental health, peer, and family difficulties. Additionally, adolescent substance use is associated with the leading causes of death, including suicide, unintended injury, and violence. Adolescent substance use disorders impact the individual, …

College Students And Families Navigate Recovery From Alcohol And Other Drugs, Leah Pylate, Alisha M. Hardman, Lori Staton, Laura Downey, Joe D. Wilmoth

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Rural universities provide unique opportunities for public health services. For some college students, the environment may threaten a person’s recovery from a substance use disorder, yet navigating college, relationships, and recovery is manageable through supportive initiatives funded by higher education. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to gather a family system perspective on the recovery process from alcohol or other drugs. Recruited through a southern university-sponsored Collegiate Recovery Program, interviews were conducted with 5 individuals in recovery and 14 of their family members. The findings of this exploratory study suggest that families need support in different ways, including building a …

Investigating Appalachian Medical Students’ Perceived Supports And Inhibitors To Their Aspirations Using Habitus And Capital, Jason Hedrick, Erin Mchenry-Sorber

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This study examined Appalachian medical student aspiration facilitators and impediments. Using semi-structured interviews from ten medical students, findings were analyzed with habitus, and cultural and social capital, with an emphasis on Appalachia as place. Parents established postsecondary expectations early. Family circumstances were influential, including relatives in healthcare, or attending private school. Success with STEMM and haphazard healthcare interactions stoked further interest. However, families approached medical school from a risk narrative, reconsidering what was a part of their child’s imagined future. Physician interactions often provided mixed guidance and resulted in students questioning their career trajectory. Findings confirm and highlight the value …

Forests And Cycles Of Agrarian Sustenance: Time-To-Event Analysis Of Ecosystem Provisioning Services And Seasonal Food Insecurity, Kamaldeen Mohammed, Daniel Kpienbaareh

Faculty Publications - Geography, Geology, and the Environment

In Savanna ecosystems, cycles of sustenance include periods of food abundance and deficits. In rain-fed agricultural systems, forests are a vital food source that helps households close this cycle. This paper uses cross-sectional data to explore the association between provisioning ecosystem services and timing to food insecurity in forest fringe communities (N = 500). The time to food insecurity analysis revealed a significant difference in the onset of food insecurity among households with varying levels of access to forest provisioning services. Households with access to more than four forest products experienced a slower timing to seasonal insecurity. In contrast, …

Physiotherapy In Community-Based Rehabilitation In Middle And Low-Income Countries: A Scoping Review, Er D. Petil Jr., Napoleon R. Caballero

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction: Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is a widely recognized approach to address the rehabilitation needs of individuals with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Physical therapy (PT) plays a crucial role within CBR programs. This study aimed to synthesize the current state of literature regarding the integration of PT in CBR programs in LMICs across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, examining key characteristics, reported outcomes, and challenges to implementation.

Methods: A comprehensive review of literature was conducted, focusing on studies published in the past decade. Data were extracted and synthesized in matrix format to compare and contrast findings across the …

Grief Into Growth: Msw Portfolio, Shelby Ann Lampi

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

How Does Adult Foster Care Affect Mental Health Outcomes In California?, Christopher A. Stanley

Master of Public Administration Capstone Papers

Mental health in adult foster care is an important threat to the overall mental health of the citizens of California. Mental health has challenged professionals and recipients of adult foster care. Although mental health and adult foster care have had some connections (i.e., people with mental health issues typically live in adult foster care), the mental health effects of living in an adult foster care have been overlooked. In particular, mental health has been separated from general medical issues and has been overlooked as a necessary part of a person's overall health. This capstone paper will draw upon the literature …

Changes In Household Composition And Their Effects On The Academic Achievement Of Orphans And Vulnerable Children Affected By Hiv In Rural Zambia, Mei Tan, Nan Li, Ackim Mungo, Philip E. Thumac, Elena L. Grigorenko

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

The African kinship system facilitates the movement of children and adults between households to mitigate hardship, yet few studies have documented membership changes in rural African households over time and addressed the effects of these household dynamics on the developmental outcomes of children. We used a household inventory instrument to document the number of changes in household membership experienced by 93 households in rural Zambia between two timepoints (∼2 years apart). We then used multilevel models to evaluate the effects of migration and household change on the academic learning of the children affected by HIV residing in these households, positing …