Digital Commons Network^™

Dead Men Tell No Tales: How The British Empire Destroyed Pirates With Monstrous Legal Rhetoric, Ashley L. Nef

Theses and Dissertations

The state often enacts violence against marginalized groups by rendering them monstrous. The early eighteenth century saw early and stellar instances of this phenomenon in the way the British Empire pursued and executed pirates. These "golden age" pirates represented an extraordinary cross-section of marginalization politically, economically, socially, and otherwise, all of which threatened the political and social mores of Imperial Britain. In order to implement a policy and practice of pirate annihilation, British authorities constructed pirates as monstrous by racializing, dehumanizing, and emphasizing the supernatural quality of pirates. This study analyzes three eighteenth-century piracy trial transcripts--those of William Kidd, Stede …

"What Would It Mean For Us To Seem 'Good' To Each Other?": Contemporary Black Women+ On Fat Phobia And Misogynoir, Devon Ariel Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

White supremacy's impact on Black bodies is well-known. Starting with the enslavement of millions of Africans and their descendants, to Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, the race-based War on Drugs, mass incarceration, police murders--and now, through fat phobia. Fat phobia--the hatred of and discrimination against fatness--is problematic for all bodies because it limits basic opportunities and privileges. However, it becomes particularly dangerous at the intersection of structural racism and misogyny. Francis Beale argues that as both Black people and women+, Black women+ carry a "double strike" against them; consequently, they experience both racism and misogyny, termed "misogynoir" by Moya Bailey. Language …

Developing Genotypic And Phenotypic Systems For Early Analysis Of Drug-Resistant Bacteria, Yesman Akuoko

Theses and Dissertations

Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria is a global health challenge with a projected fallout of 10 million deaths annually and cumulative costs of over 1 trillion dollars by 2050. The currently available tools exploited in the detection of bacteria or their DNA can be expensive, time inefficient, or lack multiplex capabilities among others. The research work highlighted in this dissertation advances techniques employed in the phenotypic or genotypic detection of bacteria and their DNA. In this dissertation, I present polymethyl methacrylate-pressure sensitive adhesive microfluidic platforms developed using a time-efficient, inexpensive fabrication technique. Microfluidic devices were then equipped with functionalized monoliths and …

Coaching Elementary Teachers In Literacy: Does Feedback Type Matter To Low And High Implementers?, Elizabeth Cutrer, Erica Ellsworth Miller, Erjola Gjini, Melia Fonoimoana Garrett

Faculty Publications

For literacy coaches and teachers, feedback is an integral component of effective coaching. Yet, little is understood

about the interaction between feedback and high/low implementing teachers within coaching sessions. This multiple

case study explored the types of feedback literacy coaches provided both high and low implementing teachers over a

two-year period. In the first year, the literacy coaches provided at least twice as much instructional feedback as

emotional feedback to low-implementing teachers. Those teachers not only received more feedback in general, but the

feedback they received was primarily what they needed to do to improve. In contrast, during the same …

The Facilitative Role Of Workplace Anxiety In Increasing Motivation And Preparation Fueled By Self-Regulation, James Hayes

Student Works

As anxiety in the workplace continues to affect a substantial percentage of employees, an understanding of the facilitative aspects of anxiety may become increasingly relevant (American Psychological Association, 2009, as cited in Cheng & McCarthy, 2018). Anxiety in the workplace is generally disadvantageous, but significant evidence supports the idea that anxiety may benefit employees in various ways (Chandra et al., 2020). Notably, anxious feelings may spark increased motivation within employees, unlocking a greater focus on future goals (Spielberger, 1985, as cited in Cheng & McCarthy, 2018). In pursuit of these goals, anxious employees may find a greater capacity for self-regulation, …

Thermal Atomization Of Impinging Drops On Superheated Superhydrophobic Surfaces, Eric Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Drop impact on a surface has an effect on nearly every industry and this impact may have adverse effects if not controlled. Superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces have been created with the extreme ability to repel water. These surfaces exist in nature but may also be fabricated using modern techniques. This thesis explores heat transfer from these SH surfaces to drops impacting them. This thesis is devoted to increasing the breadth of knowledge of thermal atomization during drop impingement on superheated SH surfaces. When a water drop impinges vertically on a horizontal superheated surface, intense atomization can occur. The atomization is caused …

Dendroctonus Ponderosae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Observations From Wheeler Peak Campground, Great Basin National Park, Justin P. Williams, Danielle Malesky

Western North American Naturalist

Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, 1902; MPB) has been causing limber pine (Pinus flexilis E. James) mortality at Great Basin National Park, Nevada, including at Wheeler Peak Campground, for many years. Research has shown that MPB voltinism and phenology are strongly influenced by climate and can vary by location and elevation, indicating the need for localized observations to inform treatment recommendations in some cases. We used emergence cages on infested tree boles, baited Lindgren funnel traps, and ambient air temperatures to describe MPB adult flight timing over 2 years. Adult MPB flight at this high-elevation site occurred …

Distribution Of Astragalus Amnis-Amissi (Fabaceae), A Plant Endemic To East-Central Idaho, Michael Daines

Western North American Naturalist

Astragalus amnis-amissi (Fabaceae), or Lost River milkvetch, is a plant endemic to east-central Idaho for which no published surveys have been completed in the last 18 years. A search for several previously documented populations in canyons of the southern Lemhi Range and the Lost River Range, in Butte and Custer Counties, Idaho, documented the species in 4 canyons. However, it was not relocated in an unnamed canyon in the southern Lemhi Range, indicating potential extirpation of 1 of 2 previously known populations documented on land managed by the USDI Bureau of Land Management. No new populations of A. amnis-amissi were …

Channel Island Foxes (Urocyon Littoralis) Are Viable Seed Dispersal Agents Of Toyon, Savannah L. Bartel, Juliann T. Schamel, Bridget A. Parrino, Melissa K. Marshall, John L. Orrock

Western North American Naturalist

Mammals that consume fleshy fruit and deposit viable seeds in their scat can be important agents of seed dispersal for plants. Despite the knowledge that the island fox (Urocyon littoralis) consumes large quantities of fleshy fruits, it is unknown whether seeds survive digestion by island foxes and are able to germinate. In order to evaluate whether island foxes are agents of viable seed dispersal on the Channel Islands, we collected island fox scat on Santa Cruz Island in February 2021 and conducted germination assays on digested seeds found in scat. We compared the germinability and germination rates of …

Protections And Liabilities: Parental Attributes Of Lynch Victims, Peter Shumway Polhill

Theses and Dissertations

Minimal research has focused on how lynching was not purely an individual-level event but, at times, was a family-level process. Prior research has focused on the economic forces, social factors, and individual level attributes that changed the probability of being lynched. Research studying these topics has identified that marginalization, status, distinctiveness, and the racial threat hypothesis contribute to lynching. However, this research has not studied child victims and how parental level attributes may intersect differently with these theoretical perspectives. Using machine-learning tools, I created census linked data which identifies the families of child lynch victims and other non-victim families in …

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Adolescents And Young Adults In Brazil, Sabrina Ruiz

Ballard Brief

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that are mainly transmitted through sexual contact. These infections are typically caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites and can affect anyone who is sexually active. Some of the most common types of STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and human papillomavirus (HPV). STDs pose a significant global health problem, with young people in Brazil being particularly vulnerable. They are at a higher risk of contracting STDs due to several factors, including risky sexual behavior, substance abuse, and sexual violence. The consequences of contracting STDs in this population include cervical cancer, chronic pelvic pain, and pelvic …

Suicide Among Adolescents In South Korea, Alyssa Kang

Ballard Brief

Suicide is a prevalent issue that widely affects all demographics in South Korea. Among adolescents, it is the leading cause of mortality with an average rate of 7 deaths per 100,000 people. Some of the most significant factors that influence the risk of suicidal ideation and attempts are cultural stigma and academic stress. Other factors, such as bullying and family structure, also increase the likelihood of suicide. There are also specific characteristics which predict suicide, including internet addiction, socioeconomic status, and substance abuse. Adolescent suicide attempts in Korea also increase the individual's risk for future attempts. Additionally, completed suicides can …

Pornography Use Among Young Adults In The United States, Samantha Smith, Jamie Lesueur

Ballard Brief

Pornography exists in many forms across the internet including pictures, videos, audio, written materials, video games, and social media posts. A majority of the US population has intentionally viewed pornography before, with an even larger majority of US young adults viewing pornography regularly. Despite the widespread use of and support for pornography, viewing sexually explicit media can have many negative consequences. For example, pornography use has been shown to correlate with decreased sex-life satisfaction, lack of positive self-image, and increased chances of divorce. Research also shows that both pornography viewers and pornography actors are likely to experience emotional health consequences. …

Water Waste And Mismanagement In Yemen, Haile Terry

Ballard Brief

The water crisis in Yemen is caused by three main factors: the breakdown of the national government due to a civil war, the increasing prevalence of weaponization of water as a war tactic, and the domination of the agricultural sector by a plant, known as qat (which has no nutritional value or export potential, requiring a disproportionate amount of water year-round). The crisis has led to a number of devastating and life-threatening consequences, including poor WASH practices and the worst cholera outbreak in human history; some of the worst malnutrition rates in the world, particularly in children; and a general …

Lack Of Women In Government In The Mena Region, Emma Cummings

Ballard Brief

Only 24.3% of parliament seats globally are held by women, and an even lower 10.4% of parliament seats in the MENA region are held by women. With proper representation in government positions, it can be easier to further political positions such as human rights, education, and the overall development of a country. This is due in part to some of the top government positions in the family, social welfare, and gender equality areas being held by women. There is a lack in the MENA region due to popular social perception, the lack of education and experience, and limited support for …

The Homeownership Gap Between Black And White Families In The United States, Hanna Chugg

Ballard Brief

The black and white homeownership gap in the United States is the difference in the percentage of black and white households that own homes. In 2020, the homeownership rate for black households was 43.4% while the homeownership rate for white households was 72.1%. The housing gap developed due to discriminatory housing practices such as redlining and the subprime crisis. As a result, black households faced high barriers to homeownership and were unable to transfer the benefits of homeownership to future generations. While white households entered homeownership and provided assets for themselves and their posterity, black households fell further behind. The …

Semejanzas Y Diferencias Entre El Español Canario Y El Dominicano, Orlando Alba

Faculty Publications

Esta presentación intenta destacar similitudes y discrepancias entre el español de Canarias, especialmente el de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, y el de la República Dominicana. En otras palabras, el objetivo consiste en hacer una descripción parcial de la identidad de ambos modos de hablar con el apoyo, cuando es posible, de ilustraciones orales. En la exposición se comentan, en plan divulgativo, rasgos fonéticos (principalmente la variación de la /s/), algunos hechos sintácticos, y datos del léxico disponible en varios centros de interés.

Childhood Obesity In The United States, Emma Stohl

Ballard Brief

Childhood obesity has been a problem in the United States for decades. The rate of childhood obesity has tripled since the 1970s. As of 2023, 1 in 5 children in the US are obese, with this number rising yearly. Childhood obesity is exacerbated by the lifestyle of children, where their attention is consumed by technology use at the expense of consuming nutritious foods and participating in physical activities. The lack of physical education in schools influences children’s health education and is partly responsible for childhood obesity. Genetics also play a role in childhood obesity depending on the characteristics of a …

Impacts Of Climate Change In The United States, Nathan Thompson

Ballard Brief

While every country both contributes to and feels the effects of climate change, the United States' heavy influence and high rates of contribution make this problem even more acute domestically. Climate change is primarily driven by human emission of greenhouse gases through the burning of fossil fuels and from mass-scale agriculture. Because climate change can be a polarizing issue, passing legislation to slow the harmful contributing factors has proven difficult. The effects of climate change have worsened in the past few decades, with increased instances of wildfires and extreme shifts in weather patterns. These negative consequences disproportionately affect vulnerable people …

The Underreporting And Dismissal Of Sexual Assault Cases Against Women In The United States, Jacey Passmore

Ballard Brief

Sexual assault is a highly prevalent yet rarely addressed issue within the United States. It is considered the most underreported and dismissed crime. There are a plethora of variables contributing to the underreporting and dismissal of sexual assault cases. The most prevalent factor appears to be the various understandings of sexual assault. The United States has no standard definition of rape or consent due to rape myths, victim blaming, disproportionately high perceptions of baseless allegations, and high-profile cases that are unrepresentative of the more common details of sexual assault. Other major contributing factors include knowing the perpetrator, victims’ pre-existing and …

Physiognomy And Emotional Abuse In Elizabeth Gaskell's "The Grey Woman", Natalie Ann Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Perrault's Bluebeard tale is a story of domestic abuse: Bluebeard tries to control his wife's movements by prohibiting her from entering a specific room in their chateau and attempts to kill his wife as punishment when she ultimately disobeys him. Bluebeard's violence towards his wife clearly marks him as an abuser. There have been countless other versions of the Bluebeard tale including Elizabeth Gaskell's short story "The Grey Woman." Unlike other versions of the tale that emphasize Bluebeard's physically abusive behavior, Gaskell's version focuses on a more subtle form of abuse: emotional abuse. Emotional abuse has remained an obscure topic …

Caveat Emptor: Scan Quality Of Elsevier’S Digital Backfile Pdf Collection, Gregory M. Nelson, Paul Kj Robbins, Dennis L. Eggett

Faculty Publications

Scans of journal articles originally published in print, otherwise known as digital journal backfiles, benefit library patrons by providing near instantaneous access to important older information and full-text searchability. Digital backfiles can serve as a reliable surrogate for their corresponding print journals which could be removed from the library, freeing up space for other patron services. Both benefits are realized when the scanned articles are of sufficient clarity to replace the print versions. Several studies have analyzed small and subject-narrow sections of Elsevier’s digital backfile. This article contains a scan-quality analysis from 1578 journals that contain nearly four million articles …

Assessing The Role Of Hybridization In The Evolution Of Two Common Lineages Of Lichen-Forming Fungi, Rachel Keuler

Theses and Dissertations

Once thought to be an evolutionary dead-end, hybridization is now being detected in genomes across kingdoms, perhaps even playing an integral role in evolution. In chapter 1, I investigated the potential influences of hybridization on the evolution of a group of vagrant, asexual species in the Rhizoplaca melanophthalma species group. I sequenced the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes of 55 specimens and found well-supported nuclear phylogenies of both datasets. There were, however, multiple instances of discordance between the mitochondrial and nuclear trees, which can be caused by hybridization. PhyloNet and ABBA-BABA also detected widespread hybridization among this group. In chapter 2, …

"Very Beautiful And Very American": A Multicultural Analysis Of Florence B. Price's Quintet In A Minor For Piano And Strings, Taryn Jane Carvajal Harding

Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines the Quintet in A Minor for Piano and Strings by Florence B. Price (1887-1953). One of Price's latest compositions (with final revisions dated January 21, 1952), the Quintet is a masterful example of what is possible when using a multicultural lens to approach the making of American music. This paper exposes the insufficiency of examining (and assessing) multicultural composers and their works only with traditional Western European analytical views, when an expanded approach is needed to explain many of the non-European musical influences and phenomena. While more complex and challenging, this expanded analytical approach sheds added light …

Popr: Probabilistic Offline Policy Ranking With Expert Data, Trevor F. Schwantes

Theses and Dissertations

While existing off-policy evaluation (OPE) methods typically estimate the value of a policy, in real-world applications, OPE is often used to compare and rank policies before deploying them in the real world. This is also known as the offline policy ranking problem. While one can rank the policies based on point estimates from OPE, it is beneficial to estimate the full distribution of outcomes for policy ranking and selection. This paper introduces Probabilistic Offline Policy Ranking that works with expert trajectories. It introduces rigorous statistical inference capabilities to offline evaluation, which facilitates probabilistic comparisons of candidate policies before they are …

授業で育てたい“Hope”, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

日本ではまだほとんど知られていないが、Hopeの高い人は、将来学業に優れ、職業においても優秀な成績を上げる可能性が高いことが証明されてきた。５００以上の文献がHopeの持つ可能性と、それを教え、育てることができ、測定方法も確立していることを示している。このドキュメントは、４０の論文をまとめ、授業の中で取り入れやすい実践的なポイントを収録している。まだ、ポイントの列挙という状態の資料であるが、これをもとに多くの議論がなされ、より具体的なアイデアを出すために、ケーススタディを含む研究開発が望まれる。

Trauma Team Communication During Trauma Resuscitation: A Literature Review, Paula Barney

Student Works

Trauma teams nationwide are tasked with stabilizing and treating severely injured patients. Their work is unpredictable and must be carried out quickly to improve patient outcomes. Effective team communication is imperative. Team members communicating to form shared understanding of patient status and care goals supports high-level team function. Clear communication is essential. Team members should use closed-loop communication when appropriate, use brief and direct statements, and limit noise in trauma rooms. Team leaders support trauma team performance by providing updates on patient status and plans of care and fostering a culture of collaboration between team leaders and team members. Team …

Superabsorbent Polymer Use In Rangeland Restoration, Shannon V. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

Soil moisture deficits often hinder rangeland revegetation efforts. Due to sheer numbers and germination timing, invasive annual species can easily outcompete those of desired seeded species for resources, including water. One way to increase seedling establishment may be to increase the amount of water available to seeded species. Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) can absorb and release hundreds of times their weight in water and slowly release it. Concentrated SAP bands at or near seedling rooting depth may act as a soil water reservoir for germinating seedlings and increase rangeland seedling establishment. The objective of these studies was to evaluate the effect …

A Longitudinal Look: How Sleep Impacts Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors In Autism And Social Anxiety, Lindsay Jacalyn Regehr

Theses and Dissertations

Crucial research about suicidal thoughts and behaviors is often done in a cross-sectional manner that only considers limited risk factors. This research is limited in scope and rarely produces meaningful results to inform treatment. This study uses a longitudinal design to follow 93 participants over approximately 6 months. Participants are individuals with autism and social anxiety who were part of high-risk groups for suicidality, sleep problems, and social isolation. Participants recorded their sleep patterns and suicidal thoughts daily via the phone app MetricWire and continuously wore a GENEActiv actigraphy device to tract their objective sleep patterns. The Columbia Suicide Severity …

Social Media's Impact On The Puerto Rican Diaspora After Hurricane Maria, Heidi Lynn Steidel Ii Camacho

Theses and Dissertations

Puerto Rico has belonged to the United States for more than a century. In 1898, more than two decades after the Spanish American War, Spain formally ceded the island to the United States. Just over 20 years later, islanders officially became American citizens. Since then, the 100-mile-long by 35-mile-wide island has experienced economic and political crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, and life-threatening natural disasters. These events provoked a vast fluctuation in its population. After Hurricane Maria unfolded in September 2017, more than 200,000 Puerto Ricans moved to the continental United States to start new lives (Schwartz, 2018). This qualitative study sheds …