Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating Bilingual Non-Selective Lexical Access Within A Reading Comprehension Framework, Justin Gerald Lauro

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This Thesis examines the role of bilingual non-selective lexical access on sentence comprehension. According to the BIA+ model of lexical access, bilinguals have an integrated lexicon with, and activation flows automatically across both languages. This model assumes that the bilingual lexicon is fundamentally non-selective. Previous research shows that cognates, words that share form and meaning across languages, are processed faster relative to non-cognates, even in sentence contexts. However, previous research focuses primarily on processing of single lexical items. The structure building framework of reading comprehension states that readers initially lay a foundation for subsequent information to be mapped on to. …

In Search Of Refuge: Mexican Refugees And Asylum Seekers To The U.S. From 1980 To The Present, Taylor Kristine Levy

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

An estimated 130,000 Mexicans have been murdered since 2006, with another 27,000 having been officially "disappeared;" approximately 2-3% of the adult Mexican population has been forced to leave their homes due to this violence, many of whom have entered the United States seeking refuge (Molloy, 2013; Olivares, 2012). These refugees have emigrated using a variety of both authorized and unauthorized channels, with a significant (and increasing) number applying for political asylum in the United States (Lyst, 2013). This Thesis seeks to provide a historic background and comprehensive analysis of the identity and struggles of the four types of modern Mexican …

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 …

Association Between Hepatitis C Virus Knowledge And Drug Use Risk Behaviors Among People Who Inject Drugs, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, 2012, Leah Nicole Morgan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Needle sharing during injection drug use is the most common mode of transmission for the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the U.S. The scientific literature on the relationship between knowledge and risk behaviors for HCV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) is minimal. Evidence-based and harm reduction programs (e.g., needle exchange programs; reducing needle and works sharing) exist to reduce the risks of HCV and other blood-borne pathogens, however these programs are not widely available. Solutions to reduce HCV transmission in the general population involve changes at the individual level as well as at the policy level. On …

The Effects Of Word Frequency And Language Proficiency On Repetition Priming And Picture Naming, Renee Michelle Penalver

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Frequency is known to modulate outcomes on tasks like picture naming. According to the frequency lag hypoThesis there is a common mechanism for the effects of word frequency, language dominance and bilingual and monolingual differences in picture naming (Gollan, Montoya, Cera, & Sandoval, 2008; Gollan, Slattery, Goldenberg, Van Assche, Duyck, & Rayner, 2011). English monolinguals and English-Spanish bilinguals were tested on a picture naming task with pictures that had high and low frequency names. Response times, priming scores, and error rates were assessed. Response times indicated that monolinguals, and bilinguals were slower to respond to for low frequency picture names …

Cross-Validation Of The El Paso Risk Assessment Of Juveniles At Intake Scale (El Paso Raji), Dilata Ranadive

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

No published risk assessment instrument is designed for the specific purpose of identifying high risk first-time juvenile offenders at their first contact with the juvenile justice system. The El Paso Risk Assessment of Juveniles at Intake (El Paso RAJI) was developed by Valenzuela (2011) for this purpose. The current study had three aims: i) to assess the validity of the RAJI as a predictor of recidivism among first-time juvenile offenders, ii) to compare the predictive power of RAJI items with the predictive power of similar items from another risk assessment instrument, the Pre-Positive Achievement Change Tool (PrePACT), and iii) to …

Design And Development Of Implantable And Remote Controlled Distraction Osteogenesis Device For Limb Lengthening Practice In Children, Mario Eduardo Rodriguez De La O

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Recent technology improvements have been positively affecting medical industry in recent years since procedures and equipment are more precise and reliable. Nevertheless, there are still surgical procedures and medical devices that not fully address specific needs according to medical experts. One of those necessities is focused on options available for children patients when subjected to a surgical procedure named distraction osteogenesis. In general, distraction osteogenesis is performed when skeletal deformities need to be corrected or when bone lengthening is required, typically a mechanism is utilized to elongate bone at a controlled rate. The existing osteodistraction methods for limb lengthening and …

Effects Of East Los High, An Entertainment-Education Web Series, On Sexual Decision-Making Of Young Latino/A Couples, Anu Sachdev

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Involving multiple actors and critical decisions, the phenomenon of early, unintended pregnancies, single parenthood, and sexually transmitted infections have grave consequences for the life trajectory of a youth. In the U.S., the highest sexual risks are borne by Latino/a youth. Often their life, career, and well-being outcomes are a function of the quality of their sexual decision-making. This study was designed to investigate the process of sexual decision-making among Latino/a couples who were exposed to a web-based narrative called East Los High (ELH). The program, originally screened on the Hulu web-channel was designed specifically to promote sexual responsibility among Latino/a …

Idiosyncratic Deals To Employee Outcomes: Mediating Role Of Social Exchange Relationships And Social Comparison And Moderating Role Of Unit Climate, Satvir Singh

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The individualized work related agreements known as idiosyncratic deals (i-deals), that are negotiated between the employee and the employer has been shown to affect employee outcomes. Researchers have used social exchange theory to explain the relationship between i-deals and outcomes. In this study, I suggest that social comparison theory, in addition to social exchange theory, can be used to explain the effect of i-deals on employee outcomes. Because i-deals are different for each employee, the social comparisons employees make, affect their work attitudes and behaviors. This study explains the process through which i-deals lead to positive employee outcomes in the …

Perspectives On The Nature Of Science From A Group Of Students Attending Predominantly Hispanic West Texas High School, Cameron King Wilson

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The United States is falling far behind the rest of the world in its ability to fulfill its needs for qualified workers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The Hispanic population is now the largest minority in the United States but is proportionally underrepresented in the STEM fields today. It is shown that students who have a good understanding of the Nature of Science (NOS) are far more likely to be interested in science which may lead to an interest in careers in STEM fields. There is very little if any research identifying Hispanic high school students' view …

The Effects Of Cognates On Receptive And Expressive Language Among Typically Developing Preschool Second Language-Learners, Jesica B. Zavala De Guerrero

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This exploratory study considers the facilitating effects of cognates across language of intervention, seeking to assess potential cross-language generalizations among typically developing preschool bilinguals. Nine bilingual, English-Spanish speakers of preschool age were assigned to one of three experimental groups (an English only group, a Spanish only group, and a bilingual group) or to a control condition. Children in the experimental groups were introduced to a vocabulary intervention that incorporated cognates and non-cognates. Analysis of data suggests the absence of a cognate advantage among preschool age children; furthermore limiting any possible cross-language generalizations. It is plausible to suspect that age may …

A Study Of Self-Concept In At-Risk Middle School Children Related To Behavior And Academic Performance, Tara Wade Franklin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that are associated with the development of self-concept and how self-concept influences or interacts with academic performance and behavior. This research study asked two questions: (1) what assists in the development of self-concept, and (2) how does self-concept impact academic performance and behavior in at-risk middle school students? Using evidence-based research, parental involvement, gender, and ethnicity were selected as key factors associated with the development of self-concept in adolescence. This study proposed that students with high self-concept would have positive academic and behavioral performance. Consequently, students with low self-concept would …

Taking Race Out Of The Picture: Health Communication And Disease Prevention For Black Americans, Amanda Lee Almond

Open Access Dissertations

The dissertation being presented in the following chapters represents an examination of philosophy of science, underlying theory, empirical evidence, and research design targeted at understanding the relevance of race when communicating stroke prevention to Black Americans. In the introduction is a description of previous research and relevant course work pertaining to the construction of the research question: Is it a good practice of science to communicate race as a disease risk in attempts to modify health behaviors of Black Americans? The work begins with a description as to how race became a construct of interest in American science and demands …

Evaluating The Role Of Hypoglycemia & Comorbid Illness On Diabetes Management Behaviors, Saumitra Vijay Rege

Open Access Dissertations

Over the recent years, the incidence of diabetes has significantly increased. Use of preventive services and treatment with oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD) has remained cornerstone in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Despite strong evidence that treating diabetes using these disease management strategies decreases morbidity, mortality and complications, glycemic control as well as other diabetes related outcomes remain unsatisfactory. The prevalence of diabetes in the United States has grown vastly in proportion over the last few years with the American Diabetes Association estimating that 9.3% of the population suffered from diabetes in the year 2012. These estimates are expected …

Assessing Engagement And Satisfaction In Two Relational Agent Interventions For Physical Activity And Sun Protection, Marie Aline Sillice

Open Access Dissertations

Relational agent (RA) health interventions are slowly becoming part of the health behavior change field. The current assessed participants’ experience in a 12-month long internet and RA intervention for physical activity (PA) and sun protection, using primarily a qualitative approach. Two groups were recruited. Group 1 consisted of participants who completed the intervention. Group 2 consisted of participants who accessed the intervention only two or three times. Thirty-four participants were recruited for group1 and eight participants for group 2. A standardized semi-structured open-ended interview was used for data collection. Two interview scripts were developed and consisted of twenty-five questions (group1) …

The Impact Of Cultural Cringe On Consumer Behavior In China, Yue Hu

Open Access Master's Theses

China’s market with huge demand and limited supply has become attractive to many international companies since 1976. This study examines the impact of cultural cringe on consumer behavior in China by using Nike, an American sports brand, and Li-Ning, a Chinese sports brand as examples. An online questionnaire survey with 36 questions is conducted in a comprehensive college in the People’s Republic of China. Participants are 314 students from different majors. Results show that the increase of cultural cringe leads to the increasing likelihood of buying Nike’s products. Limitations of the study and the direction for future research are also …

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of The Activity Analyzer For Guided Independent Living Environments, Gabriel Ausfresser

Open Access Master's Theses

Exercise is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, it is becoming more of a challenge for people to break from their busy lives to take the time to do some physical activity. This is a problem that is experienced by all different age groups, for various different reasons. For younger people, it is difficult to find motivation to take time out of the day for exercise. For the elderly population, it is difficult to find the energy to exercise. One way to facilitate physical activity for people is to increase motivation to do so. This study is designed …

Nonword Repetition Performance Patterns In English - Spanish Bilingual Adults And English And Spanish Monolingual Adults, Nadia Arriazola Flores

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Nonword repetition (NWR) is known to be a less biased measure for assessing language abilities of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) children (Dollaghan & Campbell, 1998). NWR is used to examine phonological short-term memory mechanisms (also called working memory), because the tasks require the capability to discriminate, store, remember and reproduce phonological sequences (Baddeley, 1989; Braddeley 1974). The purpose of this study was to collect normative data on the NWR performance of bilingual and monolingual adults. This may contribute to the interpretation of performance in bilingual children by providing the standard of adult-like performance. This study examined the performance patterns …

Contemporary Aesthetics: Perspectives On Times, Space And Content, Ossi Naukkarinen

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

What is contemporary aesthetics? The answer to this question is often simply stated rather than carefully elaborated, even if the current nature and scope of the discipline is far from self-evident. To examine how both the concept and the field of contemporary aesthetics can be understood, I suggest that it is useful to consider three themes: the time, space, and content of aesthetics, i.e., the questions of when, where, and what contemporary aesthetics is. Through this, it is possible to construe a conceptual space of contemporary aesthetics and to compare different instantiations of it with each other.

The Point Of Everyday Aesthetics, Kevin Melcionne

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

The point of everyday aesthetic activity is well-being

Nancy And Neruda: Poetry Thinking Love, Joshua M. Hall

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

My intention in this paper is to respond to Jean-Luc Nancy’s claim that poetry, along with philosophy, is essentially incapable of what Nancy describes as “thinking love.” To do so, I will first try to come to an understanding of Nancy’s thinking regarding love and then of poetry as presented in his essay “Shattered Love.” Having thus prepared the way, I will then respond, via Pablo Neruda’s poem “Oda al Limón,” to Nancy’s understanding of poetry vis-à-vis “Shattered Love.” This response, in acting out Nancy’s thinking regarding love, will suggest a greater plurality within poetry than Nancy acknowledged

Defensible Data Deletion: A Practical Approach To Reducing Cost And Managing Risk Associated With Expanding Enterprise Data, Dennis R. Kiker

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

Modern businesses are hosts to steadily increasing volumes of data, creating significant cost and risk while potentially compromising the current and future performance and stability of the information systems in which the data reside. To mitigate these costs and risks, many companies are considering initiatives to identify and eliminate information that is not needed for any business or legal purpose (a process referred to herein as “data remediation”). There are several challenges for any such initiative, the most significant of which may be the fear that information subject to a legal preservation obligation might be destroyed.

Cyborgs In The Courtroom: The Use Of Google Glass Recordings In Litigation, Kristin Bergman

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

The future is now. Wearable computers such as Google Glass (Glass) have begun entering society—we see people wearing these devices on the streets, in classrooms, at parties, and elsewhere. Though most of these devices are not yet available to the public at large, there has been much hype over the impact Glass will have on our interactions, privacy, safety, and more. Although this Article will briefly address such controversial aspects, it will focus more narrowly on the potential utility of Glass in litigation.

International Criminal Trials And The Disqualification Of Judges On The Basis Of Nationality, Milan Markovic

Faculty Scholarship

Judges who sit on the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) and other international criminal tribunals (“ICTs”) are nationals of particular states and are elected to serve largely on the basis of nationality. Since the advent of the Nuremberg Tribunal, however, ICTs have perpetuated the notion that national identity is irrelevant to a judge’s performance of his or her duties.

This Article will contend that judges at the ICC and other ICTs should not preside over trials concerning crimes allegedly committed by or against their fellow nationals. Judges should also consider recusing themselves from cases that strongly implicate the interests of their …