Digital Commons Network^™

Type 2 Diabetes And Marital Quality Declines Moderated By Positive Health Behaviors, Rebekah Case Fankhauser

Theses and Dissertations

Type 2 diabetes affects more than one-quarter of older adults in the United States. Many older adults manage type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the context of marriage, although few studies have acknowledged the effect the illness has on marital quality. The current study examined how the presence of T2D in later life relates to marital quality, and how positive health behaviors--diet, physical activity, and sleep--can moderate the relationship between T2D and marital quality. Data from the 1,200 married older adults in the Life and Family Legacies study were used to estimate moderation models using structural equation modeling in Mplus. Results …

The Effects Of Adverse And Positive Childhood Experiences On Childhood Mental Health And Behavior Problems, Jane Grace Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic childhood events with enduring repercussions on child well-being, while positive childhood experiences (PCEs) have been identified in emerging research as capable of offsetting the effects of ACEs. However, little research investigates the combined impact of ACEs and PCEs on child outcomes, which can inform better aid for children exposed to ACEs. The purpose of this study is to address these important gaps in existing ACE literature. Using data from the National Survey of Child Health (NSCH) 2020-2021 (N = 60,809), I examine the individual and interactive effects of ACE, PCEs, and gender on childhood …

Lessening Lacunas: A Genetic Critique And Literary Analysis Of Female Indigenous Characters In Maria Firmina Dos Reis's Gupeva, Xana Furtado

Theses and Dissertations

One year after publishing Úrsula (1860), Maria Firmina dos Reis (Brazil’s first female novelist) published Gupeva, a novella that acts as a continuation of José de Santa Rita Durão’s Caramurú: Poema épico do descubrimento da Bahia (1781). Gupeva depicts the ultimately tragic love between Épica, an indigenous woman, and Gastão, a French sailor. The novella was published twice more during Reis’s lifetime—once in 1863, with minimal orthographic changes, and again in 1865, this time with quite drastic modifications. The editors of Echo da Juventude, where the 1865 version was published, acknowledged these changes by asking readers to be "indulgentes para …

Visualizing Intergenerational Kinship: Humor, Grief, And Youth-Led Resurgence In Reservation Dogs, Emily Catherine Huillet

Theses and Dissertations

Audiences have been drawn to Reservation Dogs (2021-2023) because of its life-giving humor and portrayal of contemporary Indigenous realities. Yet the series truly gains its rhetorical power as the creators pair humor with intergenerational kinship to process diverse forms of unresolved grief. In fact, through narrative, the filmmakers map out processing grief and bonding through humor as healthy components of intergenerational kinship, and they position Indigenous youth as leading that balanced approach to kinship. I refer to this artistic rhetorical mapping as visual kinship mapping and I view it as a filmic manifestation of cultural mapping processes described by Leanne …

Conservation And Management Of Greater Sage-Grouse In Strawberry Valley: Quantifying Influences On A Traditional Capture Method And Long-Term Trends In Clutch Size, Janae Radke

Theses and Dissertations

The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a species of conservation concern that has undergone serious declines in the last century. The Strawberry Valley sage grouse population in Utah underwent such a decline from an estimated 3,500 sage grouse in the 1930s to 150 sage grouse in the early 2000s. This decline initiated a long-term conservation and monitoring project in Strawberry Valley with the goal of preserving the sage grouse population. As part of this ongoing conservation project, we investigated factors that impact the success of capturing sage grouse using the night-lighting method (Chapter 1). We found that capture success is …

The Advancement Of Experimental And Computation Tools For The Study Of Molten Salt Chemistry To Facilitate The Extraction Of Strategic Elements In Nuclear Applications, Michael Stoddard

Theses and Dissertations

Nuclear energy presents environmental benefits, yet the challenge of radioactive waste management persists. Advanced solutions, such as Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs), require a more profound understanding of molten salt chemistry. This research aims to develop tools, including a depletion simulator, molten salt electrochemical simulator, and a fluoride-based thermodynamic reference electrode for electrochemical purification. The computationally inexpensive depletion simulator allows for exploration into extraction and processing strategies for molten salt reactors. An illustrative case study on Mo-99 production from MSRs demonstrates the practical application of the theoretical framework, emphasizing the need for optimization in extraction effectiveness and separation difficulty. The electrochemical …

Arthur Is Only Sleeping: A Reawakening Of John Steinbeck's The Acts Of King Arthur And His Noble Knights, Caroline J. Raines

Theses and Dissertations

John Steinbeck, known for his descriptions of the American West, maintained a fascination with the Arthurian legend throughout his life and literary career. Through comparative analysis of Cup of Gold, Tortilla Flat, and The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights, we can see Steinbeck's recurring interest in the Arthurian legend which is often overlooked by scholars. Steinbeck's initial interest in strict translation which evolved into adaptation over the course of his work on The Acts shows his developing interest in Arthurian themes which he enhanced with his own creative abilities as a world-renowned author. By highlighting the gap …

Psychotherapy Outcomes Of Sexual Minority College Students: A Comparison Of Religiously-Affiliated And Non-Religiously Affiliated U.S. Universities, Elise Burton Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This study compares U.S. university counseling center therapy outcomes of Sexual Minority (SM) students who attend religiously-affiliated compared to SM peers who attend non religiously-affiliated institutions. Using archival data from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH), we examined psychotherapy outcomes of 4257 SM student clients.We analyzed pre-treatment symptoms and post-treatment outcomes based on differences in Distress Index (DI) scores. We used the reliable change index (RCI) to separate outcomes into four groups based on the change in distress index level: no change, deteriorating, reliably improved, recovered from pre-treatment to post-treatment. Our participants (n = 4257) attended 34 religiously and …

Development Of Deployable Arrays For Satellites Through Origami-Pattern Design, Modeling, And Optimization, Nathan Mckellar Coleman

Theses and Dissertations

This research presents methods for modeling and optimizing an origami design using compliant mechanisms, improving origami design processes, modeling and analyzing rolling behavior of compliant designs, and an antenna design for SmallSats. A framework for the optimization of the origami Flasher pattern to mitigate issues with rigid-foldability is shown, and several optimization solutions are presented to overcome these issues. An alternative design method is presented which allows designers to more accurately predict the characteristics of a design in the deployed state, and configurations are shown for an example use case. A model for rolled gossamer structures is presented which predicts …

Manuel Ponce: Father Of Mexican Nationalistic Music, Guillermo Sanchez Gutierrez

Theses and Dissertations

The influence of Manuel Ponce (1882-1948) in early 20th-century Mexico serves as a precursor to the emerging nationalistic sounds sought after the 1910 revolution. Despite the challenges posed by Mexico's music education system, Ponce's private tutelage enabled him to achieve European standards, marking a significant progress in the broader efforts of 19th-century Mexican musicians to attain proper musical training. Ponce's method of creating an authentic Mexican sound involved reconstructing folklore music, blending it with European styles, and aligning himself with the Indigenismo movement. His compositional trajectory, marked by trips to Europe and distinct musical periods such as Romanticism, Nationalism, and …

"A Ghostly Roll Of Drums Remorselessly Beat The Measure Of Life": Mrs. Ramsay's Mediation Of Time And Memory In Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse, Kirsten Walker Burningham

Theses and Dissertations

Virginia Woolf declares she was "obsessed" with her mother's presence. Though Julia Stephen died when Woolf was only thirteen, Woolf spent years negotiating her mother's astonishing influence, culminating in her novel To the Lighthouse. How does one square Woolf's obsession with her Victorian mother considering Woolf's progressive and feminist ideologies? I argue that Mrs. Ramsay--and by extension Julia Stephen--mediated time for their children as a byproduct of their role as maternal caregivers. This mediation is presented as an atmospheric quality or ambience as well as an intervention between subjective experiences and objective measures of time. The measurement and psychology of …

Student Driven Feedback: A Study In Self-Efficacy, Jennifer L. Dunn

Theses and Dissertations

In this mixed methods research study, I use student survey and interview data from English 11 students at a suburban, public high school to analyze the ways in which students' self-efficacy is impacted when a feedback intervention is introduced that creates the opportunity for students to ask questions about their writing. In this study, I found that as a result of the intervention students showed an increase in their writer-centered efficacy beliefs, reported an awareness of the control and autonomy the intervention provided, and expressed an appreciation for the ways in which teacher feedback can be useful in helping them …

O Processo De Escrita Para Uma Audiência Autêntica: As Reações De Aprendizes Intermediários Da Língua Portuguesa Como Terceira Língua, Marcos Paulo Barboza

Theses and Dissertations

Este estudo investigou as reações, sentimentos e pensamentos dos alunos sobre a diferença entre escrever em um segundo idioma para uma tarefa em sala de aula e escrever para um público autêntico fora da sala de aula. O estudo foi aplicado em uma aula de português para falantes de espanhol. Oito alunos foram inicialmente solicitados a escrever diversas redações curtas para seu professor e, posteriormente, escolher uma das redações para reescrever para um público autêntico de leitores do blog. Os textos foram comparados e os resultados indicam que quando escreveram para o público externo à sala de aula, ficaram mais …

Improving Hpv Vaccination Rates In A Pediatric Group: A Pilot Project, Jason Warhurst, Karlen Beth Luthy, Michael S. Robinson

Student Works

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. HPV vaccines are both safe and effective, providing long-lasting protection. Some organizations recommend the HPV vaccine should be initiated at age 9 years.

Specific Aims: The purpose of this pilot project was to improve HPV vaccination rates by 10% in patients ages 9-10 years at a large pediatric group. This purpose was accomplished through pediatric healthcare provider (HCP) education.

Methods: A quantitative and open-response questionnaire was used to determine HCPs’ confidence levels regarding the HPV vaccine at baseline. HCPs attended one evidence-based …

Full Issue

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

No abstract provided.

The Other American Revolution: Catalyzing The Virginia Statute For Religious Freedom, Amberlee Hansen

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

The American colonies were on the verge of revolution and the Commonwealth of Virginia was in turmoil, but the John and Elizabeth Semple family in King and Queen County, Virginia, had reason to celebrate. On that day they welcomed the family's youngest son, Robert Baylor Semple, into the world. As his mother lovingly examined his tiny features, myriad thoughts may have run through her mind-thoughts about her child's future in a world that seemed so politically uncertain. There would still be peace in the American colonies for several more years before the political explosion of revolution rocked the colonies, but …

"Many Hearts Yet Beat With The Hurt Of A Wounded Past:" Miss Indian Byu, Lamanite Identities, And The Subversive Potential Of Pageants, Jennifer Duque

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

The theme of Brigham Young University's 1972 Indian week, an annual event set apart for Native guest speakers, Lamanite Generation performances, and the Miss Indian BYU pageant, was "New IndianNew Commitments." This might have well been the theme of Mormonism's oft-ambivalent relationship with Native Americans. The "new Indian" that the Mormon leadership celebrated was "modernized," "civilized," and, of course, Mormonized. The Miss Indian BYU pageant provides a compelling site in which to investigate the tension between new and old, the contemporary and the traditional. Although Miss Indian BYU existed within an oppressive neocolonial framework, it is reductive to see the …

Choiceless Choices: The Sonderkommando Of Auschwitz As Victims, Taylor Rice

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

To undertake the Extermination of Europe's Jews, the Nazis needed more manpower than the ranks of the SS could provide. The Germans relied on the constant supply ofJewish prisoners to meet their need for a large labor force in the concentration camps themselves. At its highest rate of extermination, more than one hundred inmates were assigned to work in each crematorium at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Sonderkommando (special detachment) at Auschwitz was composed of prisoners selected by the Nazis to participate in extermination work. As a result, members of this special detachment had an incredibly intimate view of the inner workings of …

The Monkey On America's Back: The Fears Of 1960s America As Seen In The Film Planet Of The Apes, Grant Reynolds

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

Few movies with blatant socail messages are both entertaining and profitable, but 1968's Planet of the Apes is an historic exception. The launching point for a franchise that included seven additional films, Planet of the Apes became a box office financial success and a cult classic, perhaps because of its social message. Planet of the Apes was released during one of the most stressful periods of American history and was written to shine a spotlight on the fears of the times, especially fears about the issues of the Red Scare, race relations, Vietnam, and nuclear war.

"American And British Spoken Here": American Servicemen In Cambridge, 1942-1945, Jordan Meservy

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

During the 1940s, troops from the United States of America marched through parts of the world they had never before imagined, such as the dry heat of North Africa, the humid climate of the South Pacific islands, and the snow-clad forests of Belgium. & the troops interacted with different cultures, they made a deep impression on these countries and were impacted in their turn, forming new international relationships. One such interaction took place between British citizens and American troops, as Great Britain became the staging ground for the invasion of Europe, a giant aircraft carrier of sorts for the men …

A Precious Privilege, A Fragile Experiment: The Massachusetts Bay Colony, Rebecca Johnson

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

Empowered by a royal charter, the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony seized the opportunity to organize a pure society unencumbered by the corruption of Old England. Anticipating the blessings of God on their covenant pursuit, but perhaps naive about the extreme challenges awaiting them, they embarked on their experiment full of confidence that a solution to their oppressive situation in Old England lay beyond the ocean in New England. Discounting the native population, they viewed the land as vacant, a virgin environment where the solution to the Puritan dilemma of doing what is right in a world that does …

Bluegrass Grays: Confederate Sons And Unionist Fathers In Civil War Kentucky, Elise Petersen

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

After clinging for four months to a futile neutrality policy, the Commonwealth of Kentucky officially pledged loyalty to the Union in September 1861. Though Federal officials welcomed the state with enthusiasm, expecting her to provide significant aid to the Union army, state commanding officer William T. Sherman was soon frustrated by the astonishing one-quarter of Kentucky volunteers who flocked, instead, to the Confederacy. Hardly lonely in his disappointment, Sherman's woes were echoed by thousands of fathers across the Bluegrass State-for these Kentuckian Confederates were, overwhelmingly, young sons of men who passionately supported the Union.

Preface, Cameron C. Nielsen

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

It has become a truism that research is a lonely understaking. This is particularly true for undergraduates, as very few people are likely to read the results of our work: our professors, our parents, maybe a couple of friends. Considering our learned shyness, relative ignorance, and lack of experience with the academic world, it can take some courage for us students to put our work out for the whole world to see. Within these covers, then, can be found the work of a brave few. These authors had the foresight to put more care into their writing than was required …

Front Matter

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

No abstract provided.

Automating Verification Of Bpmn Workflow Functional Correctness Using Model Checking, Bryce Mckay Pierson

Theses and Dissertations

Many critical systems industry-wide demand fail-safe process execution. Many of these systems are beginning to use low-code or no-code (LC/NC) solutions to their problems. Mechanisms for verifying the integrity of LC/NC solutions are extremely limited in comparison to traditional code. One solution exhaustively searches the execution state space for undesirable behavior, but it requires expertise in model checking and extensive manual labor. Additionally, error output from that method is exclusively text-based and demands time and familiarity to comprehend. We introduce a tool for automating model checking of LC/NC solutions. Participation in the automation process requires very little knowledge of the …

"Pasted Up And Printed Out": Watchmen As Ontographic Network, Thomas B. De Groff

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' 1986-87 comic book series Watchmen according to its network structure, paying particular attention to page layout and the establishment of or deviation from the nine-panel "waffle iron" grid. This reading aims to better understand the comic book form, connecting the work of comics theorist Theirry Groensteen to certain elements of actor-network theory and Ian Bogost's notion of the ontograph--a map of being that emphasizes the interobjectivity of networked nodes. This thesis explores the ontographic nature of the comic book form more generally before tracing the meta-textual ontograph in Watchmen. The thesis then …

Head Tail Open: Open Tailed Classification Of Imbalanced Document Data, Chetan Joshi

Theses and Dissertations

Deep learning models for scanned document image classification and form understand- ing have made significant progress in the last few years. High accuracy can be achieved by a model with the help of copious amounts of labelled training data for closed-world classification. However, very little work has been done in the domain of fine-grained and head-tailed(class imbalance with some classes having high numbers of data points and some having a low number of data points) open-world classification for documents. Our proposed method achieves a better classification results than the baseline of the head-tail-novel/open dataset. Our techniques include separating the head-tail …

Subversive Compliance In A Precarious Nation: Camp In The Skopje 2014 Project, Lila Rice

Theses and Dissertations

To promote their desired national identity, the North Macedonian government funded the Skopje 2014 Project––an initiative including abundant statues, architectural façades, and other structures that depict Ancient Macedon as North Macedonia’s heritage. This project received copious amounts of criticism on two central fronts: first, that its allusions to Ancient Macedon are a false depiction of history; second, that its aesthetic is tacky. While valid arguments are made on each of these fronts, I argue that the latter complicates the former when analyzed in the context of North Macedonia’s precarity. In this analysis, I employ the work of Judith Butler and …

Full Issue

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

No abstract provided.

Ever-Advancing To World Revolution: Soviet Children's Literature From 1925 To 1927, Amy Daniel

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

During the third all-Russia congress of the Russian Young Communist League in 1920, speaking to revolutionary youth, Vladimir Lenin laid out what he saw as the mission of the youth leagues and described his new vision of children's education: "The entire purpose of training, educating and teaching the youth of today should be to imbue them with communist ethics . . . [which] stems from the interests of the class struggle of the proletariat." Even before the end of the Russian Civil War, Lenin was conscious that to build communism, he first had to teach it to the youth. In …