Digital Commons Network^™

The Ethical Balance Between Individual And Population Health Interests To Effectively Manage Pandemics And Epidemics, John Mary Mooka Kamweri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is no overlapping criterion providing a basis for attaining balance between individual and population oriented ethical concerns generated in the pandemic and the epidemic interventions. The shortfall leads to competing individual and population interests that hamper the effective management of pandemics and epidemics. The libertarian model focuses on advancing individual rights. The epidemiological model focuses upon population health. The social justice model focuses on a broader perspective than individual rights and population health to include universal human rights.

This dissertation suggests a Mixed Interests Ethics Model (MIEM) to ethically negotiate a balance between the individual and population interests in …

The Impact Of Undocumented Immigration On Unfunded Mandates And Government Effectiveness, Mary Elizabeth Mendolia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of undocumented immigration on the United States, specifically the economic implications they may carry and the government effectiveness in managing this population. Utilizing the method of qualitative content analysis, this study examined the various aspects of the U.S. economy affected by this population and the nation's past and current immigration policies. The research found the undocumented population to be an expense on the host economy through their use of social and public services, with expenses even higher in the Southwest Border States. It is important to note, however, that there …

Advocacy Networks In The Marcellus Shale Area: A Study Of Environmental Organizations In Northeastern And Southwestern Pennsylvania, Erin Pischke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research identifies and analyzes the breadth and depth of the network of non-profit environmental organizations, sportsmen-oriented conservation groups, county conservation districts and state parks that advocate for or against Marcellus Shale drilling within northeastern and southwestern Pennsylvania where drilling occurs. The purpose of this study is to identify where resources are being mobilized and where environmental activities that focus on Marcellus Shale issues are underrepresented in the state. Results show that the counties with a higher number of gas wells do not necessarily have a higher level of environmental advocacy and that a lack of resources is a common …

A Mixed-Methods Approach To Examining The Memphis Crisis Intervention Team (Cit) Model: An Exploratory Study Of Program Effectiveness And Institutionalization Processes, Megan Magers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study utilized a mixed-methods strategy to examine the effectiveness, diffusion, and institutionalization of the Memphis Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model. To evaluate the effectiveness of the training component of the CIT model, a panel research design was employed in which a sample of 179 law enforcement officers and 100 correctional officers in nine Florida counties were surveyed on the first day of training (pretest), the last day of training (posttest), and one month following their completion of CIT training (follow-up). These surveys measured the extent to which CIT training achieved several officer-level objectives, including increased knowledge of mental …

An Investigation Of Boaters' Attitudes Toward And Usage Of Targeted Mobile Apps, Kamra Bowerman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand boaters’ adoption and usage of smartphones and mobile apps as well as to obtain their opinion on potential features of a targeted mobile app being developed as part of a broader interdisciplinary Florida Sea Grant outreach project. Data were gathered from an online survey of a sample of 164 boaters from the surrounding Central Florida area. In contrast with previous empirical mobile app studies, many respondents reported using mobile apps for information-seeking versus escape gratifications. Further more than half of the respondents’ age sixty-five and over indicated using smartphones and mobile apps. …

Tracking Violence: Using Neighborhood-Level Characteristics In The Analysis Of Domestic Violence In Chicago And The State Of Illinois, Rachel Morgan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social disorganization theory proposes that neighborhood characteristics, such as residential instability, racial and ethnic heterogeneity, concentrated disadvantage, and immigrant concentration contribute to an increase in crime rates. Informal social controls act as a mediator between these neighborhood characteristics and crime and delinquency. Informal social controls are regulated by members of a community and in a disorganized community these controls are not present, therefore, crime and delinquency flourish (Sampson, 2012). Researchers have focused on these measures of social disorganization and the ability to explain a variety of crimes, specifically public crimes. Recently, researchers have focused their attention to characteristics of socially …

Black Male Incarceration And The Preservation Of Debilitating Habits Of Judgment: An Examination Of Mississippi, Teah Monique Hairston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: the purpose of this research is to discover how mass incarceration and other historical methods of racialized social control in the south have preserved and reinforced habits of judgment that adversely affect the social mobility of black males in Mississippi. A historical research method was employed to locate and analyze recurring themes of habitual judgment patterns justifying age-old systems of social control and how those patterns have influenced the current trend of black male incarceration at disproportionate rates. Questionnaires were administered to professional employees from the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) in attempt to gather useful data about the …

John Brown, Martyer For The Cause Of The Blacks: John Brown, The Haitian Revolution, And The Death Of American Slavery, Wes Trueblood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Haitian Revolution changed John Brown to a degree not recognized by scholars. Brown lived in an America largely shaped by the revolt, and it is no surprise that it shaped him as well. While preoccupied with debt, Brown did not consider the Haitian Revolution at length. Released from debt in 1842, however, Brown began reflecting on the revolt and, consequently, on his pacifism. Brown could not reconcile the two. Less than five years after his insolvency Brown had abandoned pacifism, and, in 1847, he revealed to Frederick Douglass that he planned to employ the bloody lessons of the Haitian …

Applying A Mixed Methods Approach To Understanding And Evaluating The Effects Of Family Treatment Among Sexually Abusive Youth, Jamie R. Yoder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Families are frequently identified as a risk for supporting and perpetuating sexually abusive behavior among youth. Traditionally, the field has focused on deficits of families rather than considering them as a resource to promote change. Although emerging literature strongly argues the need to target families in the healing process, treatment initiatives rarely follow suite, and research has failed to comprehensively document the effectiveness of family-inclusive treatment. Knowing there are several gaps in literature, the current study was conducted to investigate the process of engagement in treatment, understand the nuances of family treatment, and to uncover positive outcomes associated with family …

Moving Beyond Title Ix: An Evaluation Of The Comprehensiveness And Accessibility Of Policies And Procedures For Preventing And Responding To Gender Based Violence, Alyssa Mullins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study examines the gender based violence policies and programs of large, public universities in Florida. Current literature argues that preventing and responding to gender based violence in institutions of higher education requires comprehensive and ecological techniques at the individual, interpersonal, community, and societal level. In recent years, various institutions and agencies have showed increasing administrative commitment to addressing these issues. Futures Without Violence, formerly named Family Violence Prevention Fund, is a private organization that has established a set of guidelines and recommendations to aid IHEs in their response and prevention of gender based violence, intended to exceed federal …

Human Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation In Southeast Asia, Nodwarang Niamvanichkul

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study centers on the political aspects of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Southeast Asia. Specifically, the human trafficking is a security studies concern because it is not only a social issue, but also a security threat. Just as with drug trafficking, human trafficking has security consequences. The study analyzed human trafficking issues in the following three countries in Southeast Asia: Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. These three countries were chosen due to the high levels of human trafficking. In each of the chosen cases, there is an examination of human trafficking issues in terms of political structures, political policies, …

Intimate Partner Kidnapping: An Exploratory Analysis, Lindsey Blumenstein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The following study is an exploratory analysis of intimate partner kidnapping. The current study will give a descriptive picture of the victim, offender, and incident characteristics of a form of intimate partner violence that has never been studied before, intimate partner kidnapping, as well as a form of physical violence often seen in the literature, intimate partner assaults. The study will use a combination of the National Incident Based Report System (FBI, 2009), and the American Community Survey (Census, 2012) to identify these characteristics and also to identify any potential relationships between structural-level correlates and rates of intimate partner violence. …

Public Perceptions Regarding Sex Offenders And Sex Offender Management, Jessica Duncan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was an observation of the public's knowledge and perceptions on sex offenders, sex offenses, and sex offender management policies. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 282 students at East Tennessee State University. Along with the basic demographic variables, respondent's field of study was measured as a main independent variable. For example, it was hypothesized that students studying within the criminal justice field would hold more accurate beliefs concerning the sex offender population. Overall, the study proved to be statistically insignificant. Multivariate analysis did show, however, that certain demographic variables were more predictive in determining an …

Restorative Justice And Recidivism: A Meta-Analysis, Kristin Bain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Restorative Justice is an approach to resolving conflict that has become increasingly relevant as both financial and social costs associated with crime have continued to rise. As alternative methods of managing crime are being considered and implemented there is a call from policy makers for evidence that those programs are indeed the best practice. Although there is a significant amount of research on restorative justice, synthesis of that information is lacking which impedes full understanding of the potential of the impact and role of this approach. A central argument is that restorative based programs produce benefits because they reduce recidivism …

Nonprofit Marketing Education In The United States: An Examination And Interpretation Of The Prevalance And Nature Of Curriculum, Theresa Meier Conley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The nonprofit sector is a large, growing, and essential part of the United States economy. There is a history of inspired ideas and complex change in the nonprofit sector that marketing educators and business school administrators must understand if they are to be leaders in the continuing evolution of nonprofit marketing education.

This manuscript includes a summarized historical perspective, a selective review of literature from existing nonprofit management and marketing education, a discussion of relevant contemporary issues for consideration, and mixed-method research results regarding the prevalence and nature of nonprofit marketing education. The mixed-method research strategy includes three phases; the …

Healthcare Technology: A Strategic Approach To Medical Device Management, Chad A. Kinley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The constant evolution of medical technology has increased the demand for managing medical devices to ensure safety and effectiveness. In this paper I will investigate how biomedical engineering has addressed the issue of equipment management and identifies strategies to successfully maintain an inventory of medical devices. Through research, on-the-job experience, and in-depth discussions with various biomedical engineering managers, I have been able to document possible equipment strategies and best practices for managing medical devices. There is really no "one size fits all" to medical equipment management due to the various clinical environments, but there are many aspects that remain necessary …

An Analysis Of Restorative Justice In Vermont: Assessing The Relationships Between The Attitudes Of Citizens And The Practices Of The Department Of Corrections, Dustin Robert Melbardis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the attitudes of citizens in Vermont and the newly instated restorative justice programs of the Vermont Department of Corrections. To complete this task, 601 Vermont residents were contacted via telephone interview and asked a series of questions concerning their opinion about 3 restorative justice programs, namely reparative boards, the diversion program, and the furlough program. Bivariate analysis determined if a relationship exists between the dependent variables, restorative justice programs, and independent variables, demographic characteristics such as age and gender. Results of the analysis revealed several factors contributing to attitudes …

Open Fire: A Portrait Of Gun Control In U.S. And International Newspaper Articles After The 2011 Arizona Mass Shooting, Heidi L. Smathers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research sought to explore media framing theory, first introduced by Erving Goffman, which asserts that the media portray certain items in a way that affects awareness, salience and tone of those items. There has long been debate about media framing especially as it pertains to the framing of violent events. Mass shootings are of particular interest because of the graphic and often senseless nature of the crime. This study looked particularly at the 2011 Tucson, Arizona mass shooting.

A content analysis of articles between February 7, 2010, and November 8, 2011, was conducted to explore media framing of gun …

Fear Of Criminal Victimization In Relation To Specific Locations On A College Campus., Nancy M. Steinmetz 1955-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Feelings of fear on a college campus are driven by physical characteristics of a specific location as well as the demographics and past experiences of those visiting these locations. Factors such as gender, residency, race, age, class status, and other demographics, play a key role in a person's perception of their safety in a given space. Humans intuitively assess the spaces for prospect, refuge, and escape and intuition further add to the level of fear they may experience. Using a sample of students from a public university, this study examined how these factors worked together to form students' overall perceptions.

Prison Wardens' Perceptions Of Sex Offenders, Sex Offender Registration, Community Notification, And Residency Restrictions., David Patrick Connor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is relatively little known about how criminal justice system actors perceive sex offenders and the fairness, efficacy, and scope of policies aimed at sex offenders. Similarly, there is sparse research that specifically examines the attitudes, beliefs, and experiences of prison wardens. Following in the footsteps of earlier research (Tewksbury & Mustaine, 2011; Tewksbury, Mustaine, & Payne, 2011, in press), the present study addresses these gaps by considering the attitudes and beliefs toward sex offenders held by wardens. This examination includes perceptions about sex offenders as prison inmates, sex offender registration, community notification, and residency restrictions. Further, this research assesses …

Mad At Miles : A Black Woman's Guide To Truth : Theatre Building Using Myths, Motifs, And Archetypes., Triza Triza Cox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis chronicles my journey within the framework of a hero's journey, as a theatre artist in the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Louisville's Theatre Arts Department. This thesis is divided into six chapters that explore the importance of using and understanding myths, motifs, and archetypes for character development in general and specifically for building the ensemble production from Pearl Cleage's collection of essays: Mad at Miles: A Black Woman's Guide to Truth. The Introduction explores the origins of the drive for humans to create art. Chapter One investigates my attraction to theatre through my personal …

Cross-Sector And Inter-Organizational Collaborative Capacity In Community Disaster Resilience And Sustainability: Evidence From Central Florida Counties, Fatih Demiroz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationships between interorganizational network development and sustainability, organizational capacity for emergency management, technology utilization, and community disaster resiliency. It is proposed that cross sector and interorganizational collaboration (i.e., network development and sustainability), information communication technology (ICT) utilization, and organizational capacity have a positive impact on disaster resiliency. Disaster resiliency is measured with a three dimensional metric which includes effectiveness of disaster response, effectiveness of disaster recovery, and adaptive capacities. A questionnaire was sent to organizations that are part of the emergency management system in 11 counties in Central Florida. These organizations were identified by each county's …

Predicting Risk To Reoffend: Establishing The Validity Of The Postive Achievement Change Tool, Julie H. Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, there has been increased reliance on the use of risk assessment in the juvenile justice system to predict and classify offenders based on their risk to reoffend. Over the years, the predictive validity of risk assessments has improved through the inclusion of actuarial assessment and dynamic risk factors. The predictive validity of certain assessments, such as the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI), has been well established through numerous replication studies on different subgroups of the population. The validity of other instruments, such as the Positive Achievement Change Tool (PACT), is in its infancy having only …

Examining Cross-Cultural Counseling Competencies Of Substance Abuse Counselors In The Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania, Abdelhadi Elamin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With minority Americans expected to comprise more than 40% of the U.S population by 2035 and 47% by 2050 and substance abuse epidemic with 23.5 million nationwide in need for treatment, there is a growing need for cross-cultural counseling competence among substance abuse counselors. This study examined substance abuse counselors' level of cross-cultural counseling competence in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The research method used was quantitative in nature. Substance abuse counselors were asked to self-assess their level of competence by completing a questionnaire and modified Cross-Cultural Counseling Inventory Revised (CCCI-R) subscales to determine whether counselor's gender, level of education, field …

Study Of Human Activity In Video Data With An Emphasis On View-Invariance, Nazim Ashraf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The perception and understanding of human motion and action is an important area of research in computer vision that plays a crucial role in various applications such as surveillance, HCI, ergonomics, etc. In this thesis, we focus on the recognition of actions in the case of varying viewpoints and different and unknown camera intrinsic parameters. The challenges to be addressed include perspective distortions, differences in viewpoints, anthropometric variations, and the large degrees of freedom of articulated bodies. In addition, we are interested in methods that require little or no training. The current solutions to action recognition usually assume that there …

The Federal Workforce Development Program: An Analysis Of Probationers And Characteristics Associated With And Predictive Of Successful Reentry, Kelley Mcnichols

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With years of research focusing on soaring incarceration rates, the phenomena of prisoner reentry has been largely overlooked. The majority of incarcerated people will return to the community setting. In fact, millions of recently released offenders are on some form of community based supervision. Today, recidivism is a problem that plagues prisoner reentry. In order to address the challenge of prisoner reentry successfully, reentry initiatives have been established in an attempt to change the way corrections is conceptualized. The purpose of this study was to examine characteristics of probationers that are associated with and predictive of successful reentry. The data …

Experimental And Numerical Analysis Of Nano-Enhanced Polymer Coated Steel Plates Subjected To Ballistic Loading, Miles Coleman Fowler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The following is a summary of research for a portion of the project titled Nano-Enhanced and Bio-Inspired Composite Materials for Mitigation and Protection of TIH Railcars and Stationary Tanks Against High Power Impact. This research investigated several nano-enhanced polymers for their suitability in high-speed impact protection applications. The polymers were tested mechanically to find ideal nano-particle additive percentages then coated onto steel substrates. These coated substrates were impacted using 0.50-caliber projectiles in order to find the ballistic limit (V50) for each combination. Computer modeling in ANSYS AUTODYN was undertaken to calculate a numerical ballistic limit for each plate configuration. The …

A Look At Jail-Based Reentry Programs, Mindy Weller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the years correctional-based reentry programs have gained the attention of academics and government officials alike. Academic research has focused primarily on programs implemented in prisons and juvenile facilities. Reentry programs operating out of jails have been vastly under represented amongst these studies. This research study works towards closing this gap by examining jail-based reentry programs by observing the influences of age, race, gender, level of offence (misdemeanor/felony), and program completion on recidivism. Findings were measured for both those who participated but did not complete the programs and those who successfully completed the programs. Data from three jail-based reentry programs …

Plume Dispersion Modeling Of Chlorine Gas Released Due To Ballistic Attack On Chlorine-Carrying Railway Tanker, Anna Claire Chapman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hazardous dense gases such as chlorine are often transported throughout the United States in their liquid form in pressurized railway tankers. These tankers can hold up to 90 tons of liquid chlorine. A high-powered, ballistic attack on a chlorine-carrying tanker could cause devastating outcomes for the surrounding population and environment. This particular terrorist attack was modeled and analyzed by varying a large number of weather parameters and by varying terrain in order to provide specific concentration data at different distances from the source. Data was compiled to provide first responders with a reliable reference for such an emergency so that …

Johnson & Johnson's Recall Debacle, Lashonda Louallen Eaddy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been viewed as a role model by many organizations for its successful handling of a 1982 crisis involving cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules that resulted in seven deaths. The public relations community applauded J&J for a swift response and for promptly implementing actions to prevent a similar crisis from occurring in the future. However more recently, J&J has become a poster child for poor crisis communications amidst a flood of recalls that started in November 2009. The present study used concepts from Coombs’ (2004) Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) and media framing research to develop a coding …