Digital Commons Network^™

Explaining The Decline In Fertility Rates In Post-War Italy, Susanna Rychlak

Honors Theses

The aim of this thesis is to examine the decline in fertility rate in post-war Italy and identify its causes. Fertility rate in Italy dropped dramatically across 1970-2010 in a stark departure from the nation's previous reproductive patterns. This has led to an increasingly aging population, and holds important implications for Italy's future. This study demonstrates that there has been a meaningful shift in cultural values that has led to fertility decline in Italy since 1970. In order to provide historical context for the importance of this cultural shift, the thesis first presents the Italian culture and familial structure of …

Continuous Monitoring Of Turning In Patients With Movement Disability, Mahmoud Ahmed El-Gohary, Sean Pearson, James Mcnames, Martina Mancini, Fay Horak, Sabato Mellone, Lorenzo Chiari

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Difficulty with turning is a major contributor to mobility disability and falls in people with movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). Turning often results in freezing and/or falling in patients with PD. However, asking a patient to execute a turn in the clinic often does not reveal their impairments. Continuous monitoring of turning with wearable sensors during spontaneous daily activities may help clinicians and patients determine who is at risk of falls and could benefit from preventative interventions. In this study, we show that continuous monitoring of natural turning with wearable sensors during daily activities inside and outside the …

Women, Law, And Human Rights In Cameroon: Progress Or Status Quo?, Victoria M. Time

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

This paper assesses what progress there is in Cameroon regarding women’s statuses. Based on a qualitative strategy, the paper examines laws that are in place to address women’s plight in the country. The paper argues that while progress is being made on some levels, the status quo, that is, female marginalization is still entrenched in other facets. The paper advances recommendations for creating an egalitarian society.

Beyond The Strait And Narrow: The Import Of Queer Criminology For Criminology And Criminal Justice, Vanessa R. Panfil, Jody Miller

Sociology & Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

[Introduction] In March 2014, as part of its community relations service, the U.S. Department of Justice held a community service training for police officers that focused on developing strategies to better prevent and respond to bias crimes against transgender citizens. While the impetus for the training was recognition that this group is disproportionately affected by hate violence (see NCAVP, 2013), attendees of the training also highlighted the tumultuous relationships transgender individuals have had with law enforcement as another impetus for change. Transgender activists and the DOJ lauded the event as an important step for improved relationships between law enforcement and …

The Sociocultural Basis Of Epidemiology Of Hypertension Among Residents Of Ogun State, Vernon E. Norman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a high prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria. Limited knowledge of hypertension, how to prevent it, its outcomes, rapid urbanization, and the adoption of Western eating habits are implicated. Hypertension is an important issue because chronic disease places economic, social, and disease burdens on society. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate lifestyle practices, knowledge, and attitudes on risks and prevention of hypertension among residents of Ogun State, Nigeria (N = 79). The conceptual framework for this study focused on how knowledge, attitudes, and practices influence the dietary habits, behaviors, and ultimately blood pressure . The PEN-3 …

Teaching Gaby Brimmer: A Disability Studies Approach, Beth Jörgensen

Diálogo

Gaby Brimmer (1979), the collaborative “autobiography” of the Mexican disability rights activist, narrates her childhood and young adulthood through the voices of Brimmer herself; her mother, Sari Dlugacz Brimmer; her caregiver, Florencia Morales Sánchez; and Elena Poniatowska. This article presents ideas and resources for teaching Gaby Brimmer from a disability studies perspective, in courses on contemporary Spanish-American literature, women writers, genre theory, human rights and activism, or in a disability studies course.

Laboring Histories: The "Reconciliation" Of Maternity In The Poetry Of Laurie Ann Guerrero, Larissa M. Mercado-López

Diálogo

Drawing on Gloria Anzaldúa’s concept of “facultad,” this study of poetry by Laurie Ann Guerrero identifies an emergent “maternal facultad,” a consciousness honed through the bodily and social experiences of mestiza maternity. Guerrero’s poems, “Babies Under the Skin” and “Reconciliation,” reveal how such consciousness is ignited through the mother’s body; her transformed body and subjectivity implicate her in multiple histories and violences of colonization and the medical/birthing industry. This study argues for the need for mothers to continue writing their bodies—to speak the “mess” of the body and of mother-work—creating an epistemically fertile site of knowledge production.

Corporate Social Responsibility In The Nigerian Banking Sector, Cecily Joy Adeleke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Corporate social responsibility is presently defined by the World Business Council of Sustainable Development as persistent commitment by businesses to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while also increasing the quality of life of employees, their families, and the community. Guided by Freeman's stakeholder theory, this study examined the relationship between corporate social responsibility and the Nigerian bankers' reported satisfaction with the Nigerian banking sector. Survey data were collected from a convenience sample of 99 Nigerian bankers, including branch managers, zonal managers, tellers, marketers, and investors. A single-stage sampling procedure was used to elicit their satisfaction with the Nigerian …

Experiences And Perceptions Of Pregnant Unmarried Adolescents In Nigeria, Priscilla Ndidi Asonye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual activity among unmarried adolescents is a major public health problem in Nigeria, because unmarried pregnant girls are more likely to have multiple sex partners and are less likely to use contraceptives, putting them at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STD), unplanned pregnancy, abortion, social isolation, and poverty. Teen pregnancy and STD rates are on the rise in Nigeria, yet few data exist on the experience of the adolescents themselves. This phenomenological study was designed to explore the in-depth experiences of 10 pregnant, unmarried adolescent girls aged 16-19, including the factors contributing to their sexual activity. An ecological model …

Business Drivers For Environmental Regulations Compliance In Ghana's Mining Sector, Georgina Angorkor Ahorbo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ghana's mining sector is a significant contributor to the national economy; however, environmental degradation continues to stigmatize the sector. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore experiences and perspectives of middle managers on how to drive compliance with EPA regulations and standards in Ghana's mining sector. Ajzen's theory of planned behavior was the conceptual framework for this phenomenological study. A purposive sample of 20 middle managers from Ghana's mining sector participated in interviews, which were transcribed and then coded to generate common themes. The primary research question involved exploring factors that promote employee compliance in Ghana's mining sector. …

Coercive Assimilationism: The Perils Of Muslim Women's Identity Performance In The Workplace, Sahar F. Aziz

Faculty Scholarship

Should employees have the legal right to "be themselves" at work? Most Americans would answer in the negative because work is a privilege, not an entitlement. But what if being oneself entails behaviors, mannerisms, and values integrally linked to the employee's gender, race, or religion? And what if the basis for the employer's workplace rules and professionalism standards rely on negative racial, ethnic or gender stereotypes that disparately impact some employees over others? Currently, Title VII fails to take into account such forms of second-generation discrimination, thereby limiting statutory protections to phenotypical or morphological bases. Drawing on social psychology and …

Urhobo Culture And The Amnesty Program In Niger Delta, Nigeria: An Ethnographic Case Study, John Oghenero Tobor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite abundant oil resources, the residents of the Niger Delta endure extreme poverty, polluted environments, poor infrastructure, and high unemployment. In the early 1990s, these problems led to a violent uprising against oil exploration. In 2009 the government of Nigeria attempted to end the uprising by implementing an amnesty program for the militants that was designed to address the region's problems. The amnesty program resulted in suspending the violence but so far has not resolved the region's problems. If these problems are not addressed, the uprising may resume. Although the Urhobo people comprised the largest number of militants from the …

The Effect Of Macroeconomic Variables On Stock Market Returns In Ghana (2000-2013), Charles Barnor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Variations in macroeconomic indicators affect the performance of the stock markets. In Ghana, although the performance of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) has been affected by macroeconomic variables from January 2000 to December 2013, the mechanisms of these relationships have not been studied. The purpose of this research was to examine the relationships between selected macroeconomic variables and their effect on the stock market returns on the Ghana stock market. The research questions addressed whether macroeconomic variables had significant effect on stock market returns in Ghana within the specified period. The target sample was all 36 listed firms on the …

Biologics Price Competition And Innovation Act: Striking A Delicate Balance Between Innovation And Accessibility, Ude Lu

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Sustainable Communities And Wind Energy Project Acceptance In Massachusetts, Mariateresa A. Petrova

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Introduction: Envisioning Legal And Policy Pathways For Energy Innovation, Hari M. Osofsky

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

The Role Of State Antitrust Law In The Aftermath Of Actavis, Richard A. Samp

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

The Fifth Dimension: Legal Infrastructure, Cracks, And Governance, Steven Ferrey

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Faculty Masthead, Mjlst Editorial Board

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

A Spoonful Of Sugarcane Ethanol: A Green Tax Medicine For The Cellulosic Ethanol Industry, Ke M. Huang

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Comparative Law Study And Analysis Of National Legislation Relating To Crimes Against Humanity And Extraterritorial Jurisdiction, Arturo J. Carrillo, Annalise Nelson

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

This report has three main objectives. The first is to conduct a rigorous quantitative survey of national legislation worldwide to determine the extent to which States have prohibited crimes against humanity (CAH) under domestic law. The second is to engage in a limited but illustrative qualitative analysis of CAH laws where they do exist. And finally, for those States identified as having per se CAH legislation, this report seeks to establish the extent to which it is paired with the extraterritorial jurisdiction provisions necessary to make the CAH norms most effective.

Our report concludes that the prevailing panorama of domestic …

Organic Farming In France: À La Mode Or A Mode Of Life?, Ellen L. Mallette

Honors Theses

Organic farming, as opposed to conventional or traditional farming that employs the use of chemicals, is a method that was begun in the middle of the twentieth century, shortly after the end of World War II. In many ways it is a return to farming practices that were conducted for centuries until about the late 1800's when pesticides and fertilizers were introduced. The rise of organic farming has been occurring all over the world to varying degrees over the past few decades. The French have always had a strong connection to agriculture, food, and the preservation of tradition, so organic …

Integrated Conservation And Development Projects (Icdps): Characteristics Of Success And Recommendations For Implementation, Emory Smith

Honors Theses

The aim of this study is to investigate integrated conservation and development projects (ICDPs) and to help improve their future implementation by identifying the underlying philosophies that make ICDPs successful. Conserving natural ecosystems in developing regions is important, but it is difficult because local people use those ecosystems for their sustenance and are not capable of forgoing that use unless some other means exists for them to earn a living. Consequently, ICDP emerged in the early 1990's as a means to both conserve natural resources and provide economic development for the local people. This thesis provides an in-depth analysis of …

Collaborations Of Hope: Network Theory And The Assessment Of Anti-Human Trafficking Nonprofits' Relationships, Gabrielle Barrientos

Honors Theses

My research utilizes network theory to assess nonprofits' relationships in the anti- human trafficking sector. I explore nonprofit relationships with other anti-human trafficking nonprofits and governmental agencies through a survey I developed and administered to anti-human trafficking nonprofits and coalitions. I selected all survey recipients because of their focus on addressing human trafficking. Out of 50 organizations, 16 participated in the survey. I found that all of these organizations collaborated with other nonprofits and all but one with government. All organizations valued nonprofit collaboration and all but one valued government collaboration. The majority or organizations valued both collaborations equally, which …

Correspondence, Conferences, Documents, Volume Xiv. Index., Vincent De Paul, Pierre Coste C.M.

Saint Vincent de Paul / Correspondence, Conferences, Documents (English Translation)

Translated, edited, and annotated from the 1920 edition of Pierre Coste, C.M.

Edited by Sr. Marie Poole, D.C., Sr. Ann Mary Dougherty, D.C.

Translated by Sr. Marie Poole, D.C.

Annotated by John W. Carven, C.M.

After more than 40 years devoted to the preparation of the English edition of the correspondence, conferences, and documents pertaining to Saint Vincent de Paul, this cumulative Index marks the culmination of the entire series.

To facilitate research, each entry in the alphabetical index is accompanied by a brief annotation of how it is used on the page or pages given. Place names are printed …

Effects Of Globalization On The Use Of The Mediterranean Diet In Spain, Jacob J. Mcgee

Honors Theses

Spain is known for its sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and incredible foods. The Mediterranean diet of Spain is praised for its health benefits, but recently it appears that the population has begun to turn away from their original diet. Studies have shown that the Spanish have been experiencing a constant culture change due to globalization since the 1950s when the General Francisco Franco allowed the technocrats to have some control over the government. With a new economic policy, new people and their new ideas flooded the country bring with them their cultures. These cultures influenced the Spanish life changing many …

We Live Like The Poor, But We Die Like The Rich: Cuban Biomedical Implementation And Its Implementation Within Ecuador, James Drew Toppin

Honors Theses

Shortly following the Cuban Revolution in 1959, communist leaders Ernesto Che Guevara and Fidel Castro made it a top priority to address the poor health of the country's citizens. By developing a large pool of physicians, Cuba instituted groundbreaking approaches to biomedicine that emphasize prevention and the physiciancommunity relationship. The high physicians per capita ratio also permitted Cuba to develop its now famous system of international biomedical diplomacy. Cuba's successes domestically and abroad occur within the context of the regional geopolitical environment, in which Cuba is subjugated to extraordinary economic pressures from the U.S. embargo. The superior health of the …

Investigation Of Bax Vdac Interactions And Their Relationship Regarding Apoptosis In Drosophila Melanogaster, John Sullivan

Honors Theses

Cell mediated death, or apoptosis, is a critical biological process that once fully understood could unlock a potentially new understanding of the mechanisms of both cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The general mechanism of apoptosis includes cytochrome c being released from the mitochondrial membrane through a channel created by an activated pro-apoptotic BH123 protein. Once the cytochrome c leaves the mitochondrial membrane it goes on to ultimately activate a caspase cascade, which results in cell apoptosis. Similar to BH123 channels, VDACs (voltage-dependent anion channels) are also pore-forming proteins that regulate the intake and output of metabolites from the mitochondrial intermembrane space …

Influence Of Whole-Body Vibration On Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, Cecilia Drennen

Honors Theses

Exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD) results in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Whole body vibration (WBV) may be a method that can be implemented to allow a subject suffering from DOMS to recover more quickly. The purpose of this study was to determine if WBV aids in managing symptoms of EIMD over a recovery period of 72 hours and to determine the effects of WBV on jumping performance following exercise-induced muscle damage. Measurements of performance like vertical jump height, peak-Z force, and pain pressure threshold were recorded. Twenty-seven recreationally trained females participated, and were damaged by performance of the eccentric …

The Smoke Free Campus Movement, Daniel Roberts

Honors Theses

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the rising number of smoke free college and university campuses in the United States and to identify the mechanisms that can be used to implement a national policy requiring all colleges and universities to be smoke free. To fully investigate this topic, I utilized qualitative research through analyses from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, reports from the Surgeon General, a tobacco control legal consortium, newspaper articles, television news reports, websites of colleges and universities with smoke free policies, to consolidate the research into an overarching picture of the current climate …