Digital Commons Network^™

Death In The Family, Maria Botero

Animal Sentience

Barbara King presents grief as the result of the capacity of human and non-human animals for social and affectionate bonds. This is a novel approach that provides a context for interpreting behavioral evidence of grief. The book also offers thought-provoking insights into the relationship between emotion and the expression of emotion. The most surprising element of King’s approach is that, throughout the book, her account of non-human animal grief forces us to reassess the way we treat them.

Modulation Of Behavior In Communicating Emotion, Martin Gardiner

Animal Sentience

King discusses many examples where two animals, as they bond, behave in ways we interpret as expressing love for one another. If one of the bonded animals then dies, signs of loving are replaced by signs we interpret as expressing grief by the animal who remains. I propose a pathway for emotional communication between an animal and an observer that can have a central role in these and other observations by King and in our overall ability to interpret observed behavior in relation to emotion. This pathway provides evidence of emotion in an observed animal by communicating evidence of emotion’s …

The Object Of Grief, Clark Glymour

Animal Sentience

King’s new book is a wonderful collection of diverse anecdotes illustrating the variety of animal practices that are convincing illustrations of grief. Those who want scientific arguments for that conclusion should, however, read elsewhere.

Evidence For Animal Grief?, Carolyn Ristau

Animal Sentience

The nature of evidence appropriate to the study of animal emotion (and cognition) is discussed in this review with reference to Barbara King’s book. How Animals Grieve is beautifully written, but it intermixes examples meeting King’s criteria for evidence of grief with other poignant but far less convincing examples. Yet, as noted earlier by Griffin (1958/1974), “Excessive caution can sometimes lead one as far astray as rash enthusiasm.” King cites strong evidence from long-term scientific field studies, often involving known individuals; from videotapes; from convergent evidence in neurophysiological studies; and, notwithstanding possible emotional bias, from animals living closely with humans. …

Understanding Emotional Suffering, Barbara J. King

Animal Sentience

In responding to insightful commentaries from 7 scholars, for which I am grateful, I offer new thoughts on whether animals can conceptualize and express signs of grief. I also discuss why I included both weak and strong examples of animal mourning, and how this work may help us think about enhanced welfare for animals, including freedom from emotional suffering.

Blended Learning Citation Patterns And Publication Networks Across Seven Worldwide Regions, Kristian J. Spring, Charles R. Graham

Faculty Publications

The field of international blended learning (BL) is primed to benefit from stronger communication and collaboration. Collaboration is currently limited, and regions vary greatly in terms of citations. However, BL is growing worldwide and each region is an important part of the community. The goal of this research is to explore where the most impactful conversations about BL worldwide are occurring and how, if at all, are they connected to one another in terms of citations and publications. We present here the most cited BL articles from each region, the journals that publish these articles, and citation and publication patterns …

Optimization Of Electroencephalograph-Based Classification For Imaginary Motion Brain Computer Interface Study, Sylvia Bhattacharya

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Using Electroencephalography (EEG) to detect imaginary motions from brain waves, to interface human and computer is a very nascent and challenging field that started developing rapidly in the past few decades. The technique involves some electrodes attached on the scalp of the patient and the signals generated by the brain while the thought process of the patient is captured and recorded in a computer. This technique of human and computer interfacing is termed as Brain Computer Interface (BCI). Disability is a serious problem of our nation and hence BCI is extremely important in case of people who are incapable of …

Court-Appointed Special Advocates In The Rural South: A Fidelity Assessment, Shanna N. Felix

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Children in the court system who are abused or neglected are mandated by the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to have special legal representation in the form of a Guardian ad Litem (GAL). A GAL can be a staff attorney or he or she can be a volunteer layperson (known as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA) who has undergone the GAL training. In some states, the CASA volunteer can be a substitute for the GAL, while in other states (like Georgia) the CASA is appointed by the judge as a complement to the staff attorney. To …

The Nutritional Value Of Fecal Sacs: Testing The Parental Nutrition Hypothesis, Amanda W. Burns

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Nest sanitation is an important aspect of parental investment in birds with altricial nestlings. Passerine nestlings produce fecal matter that is encased in a mucous membrane for easy disposal. These fecal sacs are either removed from the nest and transported a distance away or they are ingested by the adult. A decline in fecal sac ingestion rates as nestlings age has been observed in several species. The parental nutrition hypothesis posits that this pattern can be attributed to increasing digestive efficiency as nestlings age. The parental nutrition hypothesis makes three predictions: fecal sac consumption rates should decrease as nestlings age, …

Validation Of B-Mode Ultrasound Imaging As A Body Composition Measurement In Division I Football Players, Keagan Kiely

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to validate the use of B-mode ultrasound as a method to estimate body composition in Division I football players. Body composition was estimated using ultrasound, 7-site skinfold and a 4 compartmental model (4C) using Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) to estimate total body water (TBW) and air-displacement plethysmography (BODPOD®) to determine body density (Db) and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for bone mineral content. Pearson’s product-moment correlation analyses were run to determine if there was a correlation between ΣSkinfold and ΣUltrasound and between ΣUltrasound and criterion 4C model. Strong positive correlations were observed between ΣSkinfold and …

Combined Effects Of Tetrakis Hydroxymethyl Phosphonium Chloride And Ammonium On Plankton Community Structure In Blackwater Pond Mesocosms, Marina N. Osier

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Flame retardant chemicals enter aquatic systems through municipal and industrial wastewater, and despite being detected in surface waters, most have not been thoroughly assessed for environmental risk. Halogenated flame retardants, known to be persistent and highly toxic to aquatic organisms are being phased out, and replaced with new or under-tested organophosphorus flame retardants. Organophosphorus flame retardants, such as tetrakis hydroxymethyl phosphonium chloride (THPC), often have similar applications to and are generally not as persistent as halogenated flame retardants. Single-species toxicity tests of organophosphorus flame retardants reveal a wide range of toxicity values within the range of environmentally relevant concentrations in …

Small Molecule Disruption Of Ros-Regulating Pathways In Human Carcinoma, Rebecca E. Mccall

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Gold (I) coordinated N-heterocyclic carbenes containing appended redox cycling moieties were designed and analyzed for their ability to target the antioxidant network via multiple mechanisms in various human cancer cell models. Complexes containing either ferrocene or naphthoquinone redox cycling moieties were screened for inhibition of cell growth, inhibition of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), and accentuation of exogenous ROS. The cell death pathway employed was determined by flow cytometry via detection of Annexin-V FITC. Furthermore, differential gene expression between treated cells and untreated cells revealed the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response pathways.

The Perspectives Of School Resource Officers On Job Responsibilities And Training, Sarah Parker

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

As school security measures are increasing, including the use of school resource officers (SRO) throughout the United States, there is a concern that these officers are being used as disciplinarians rather than being in the schools to ensure student safety. There is very little research that looks at the job expectations for SROs and if the training they receive reflects what is required of them. To address this issue, this study will provide the perspectives that SROs have on their job responsibilities, what they believe their responsibilities should be, and if the training they received reflects those responsibilities. This study …

Analyzing Predictors Of Drinking And Driving Among Gender Cohorts Within A College Sample, Justin Hoyle

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The current study focuses on predominant predictors associated with each gender cohort’s engagement in driving under the influence (DUI). Aker’s social learning theory, Gottfredson and Hirshi’s low self-control theory, and Agnew’s strain theory are utilized to explore differences within two separate step-wise logistic regressions; one set of regressions contain a male only sample (n = 855), while the other model contains a female only sample (n = 968). This study uses self-report measures of DUI from a survey administered at a large Southeastern university focusing on risk-taking behaviors. Results indicate that social learning variables differential association and imitation are significant …

Surviving At The Top: A Critical Case Study Of Female Administrators In Higher Education, Renanda Wood Dear

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Women encounter significant barriers as it relates to their gender and leadership traits. The strong patriarchal system has made it more difficult for women to advance in higher education. Research has previously examined a number of factors, including characteristics, institutional influences, and practice efforts to increase the representation of women in leadership in higher education. However, exploring the persistence of gender inequality at the highest ranks of executive leadership is essential to understanding the underrepresentation of women in executive leadership positions in higher education (Bonebright, Cottledge & Lonnquist, 2012; White, 2012). Even though women have been a part of higher …

Becoming Opianchoctalirican: A Black Man In A Multiracial World, Michael Williams

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This inquiry explores my journey of understanding my multiracial identity. Being multiracial by heritage, but identified and labeled Black socially and governmentally, contradicts my racial identities. Who am I? What am I? These are the questions that have plagued the back of my mind as I become multiracial, more accurately, Opianchoctalirican. I am mixed with racial heritages, partially Ethiopian, partially Native American, partially Italian, and partially Puerto Rican. I am OpianChocTaliRican.

Theoretically, I draw upon many theorists’ work on the fluidity, complexity, and dynamics of racial identities (e.g., Baldwin, 2008; Bhabha, 2004; Coates, 2015; Fanon, 2004, 2008; Gaztembide-Fernandez, 2009; Ibrahim, …

Developing The Whole Teacher: A Phenomenological Case Study Of Student Teachers' Emotional Experiences In One Teacher Education Program, Kathleen M. Crawford

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Student teaching serves as the culminating field experience in the majority of teacher education programs, and studies have revealed the need to investigate the connection between pre-service teachers and the emotions they experience, express, and manage. Therefore, the overarching purpose of this phenomenological case study was to examine how one Early Childhood (PreK-5^th) Education Program addressed and prepared teachers for the emotional dimensions of teaching, as well as to examine the emotional experiences of the student teachers. The results of this study revealed the need for teacher education programs to amend the ways in which they prepare pre-service …

The Muzzled Hope: Utilizing Black Protest Thought To Examine African American Males' Identity Development And Academic Success In The Rural U.S. South, Latoya D. Jenkins

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The problems faced by African American males in the United States is often the result of misconstrued images and stereotypes that present this segment of the population in a distasteful manner. If one chimes in to various circuits of popular culture, glances over the latest headlines of newspapers, and/or listens to the confluent lyrics of hip hop that, eloquently, bridges life struggles with melodic hooks to expose the oppression faced by people of color, one thing becomes apparent: Social progression is dependent upon society’s ability to magnify, listen to, and incorporate the voices of marginalized groups.

With the majority of …

Notice Requirements: Employee Wellness Program, John Dumnich

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Probating Prince’S Estate: Who Will End Up With The Singer’S Substantial Intellectual Property?, J. Gordon Hylton

Cybaris®

No abstract provided.

Treading The Path Of Least Resistance: Fda's Regulation Of The Subtherapeutic Use Of Antibiotics In Animal Agriculture, 1970-2015, Colleen Flynn

Harvey M. Applebaum ’59 Award

No abstract provided.

Notice Requirements: Employee Wellness Program, John Dumnich

Student Works

No abstract provided.

The White-Nose Syndrome Transcriptome: Exploring The Putative Fungal Virulence Genes Of Pseudogymnoascus Destructans., Sophia Marie Reeder

Honors Theses

White-nose syndrome (WNS) in North American bats is caused by an invasive cutaneous infection by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (P. destructans). In a previous study, we used a dual RNA-Seq approach, which allowed us to gain insight into the gene expression of both the host and the pathogen simultaneously, and we observed differences in P. destructans gene expression that suggest host-pathogen interactions that might determine WNS progression. More recently we compared transcriptome-wide changes in gene expression levels in P. destructans grown on and actively infecting the wing of a bat (infecting pathogen) with P. destructans grown in culture (free …

Never Look Away: Changing Societal Norms To Eradicate Domestic Violence In Tamil Nadu, India, Adrienne P. Johnson

CMC Senior Theses

The objective of this thesis is to explore causes of domestic violence in Tamil Nadu, India. Despite Tamil Nadu's economic development and relatively high levels of female empowerment, it ranks 28th out of 29 states in India for physical domestic violence. Clearly other important factors affect the prevalence of domestic violence rates in Tamil Nadu. This thesis explores already developed theories about domestic violence, the history of Tamil Nadu, as well as the data published from the National Family Health Survey-3 to solve the paradox of Tamil Nadu. Slowly evolving societal norms and the lack of a widespread stigma against …

A Studio Model For Academic Data Services, Samantha Guss

University Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

This book serves as proof that there are plenty of effective ways to provide data services in an academic environment and that there can never be a one-size-fits-all approach. It is still valuable, however, to look closely at other's service models--to learn from successes, to borrow concepts and metaphors from other realms, and to think about one's own services through new lenses. A service model is a framework used to describe and understand the "who, what, where, when, and how" of a service from different stakeholders' perspectives; it can serve as a useful tool for developing and improving data services …

Why Life Now?, Ladelle Mcwhorter

Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Faculty Publications

As we struggle to understand and prepare ourselves for climate change, the effects of globalized neoliberal capitalism, and violence (both govenmental and extra-governmental) on a planetary scale, we also struggle to name what it is that we cherish and hope to foster and protect as well as what it is that, of itself opposes the forces that may well destroy us. One of the words that has emerged in this context is life.

Philosophers do well to pay close attention to any concept that attains such centrality and exercises such power in our thinking, which is one reason to be …

Sea Turtle Response To Climate Change: Analyzing Current And Predicting Future Impacts On Populations, Habitat, And Prey Populations, Eva J. Golden

Honors Theses and Capstones

With the prediction of devastating global climate change effects for the near future, scientists are expanding their research and understanding of some of the most severely affected organisms. Because sea turtles rely on both marine and terrestrial habitats for survival, and because coastal areas are already experiencing great losses due to sea level rising, human development, and pollution, all seven species are already listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. In this literature analysis, I examined the many factors that contribute to a sampling of the current sea turtle population status as well as scrutinized turtle adaptability to the …

Workplace Access To Journals: Is It Sufficient To Support Quality Healthcare Practice In Medical Imaging Workers?, Madeleine C. Shanahan

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: Journals are important tools for disseminating new knowledge to health professionals. The purpose of this study was to investigate workplace access to journals. Medical imaging workers (MIWs) were the allied health professional group studied. Methods: A two phase sequential exploratory mixed methods design was adopted to collect data from MIWs to develop a list of professionally relevant journals and to examine accessibility of journals across the profession. In addition, the derived list of journals was further examined to determine open access and open article availability. Results: Twenty-seven percent (n=88) of survey respondents (N=362) reported that they have access to …

Values For Recreational Beach Quality In Oahu, Hawaii, Jerrod M. Penn, Wuyang Hu, Linda Cox, Lara Kozloff

Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Pristine coastal environments are the key to Hawaii’s worldwide fame and attraction to tourists, yet their economic value remains understudied. This article examines preferences for characteristics associated with beach recreation in Oahu, Hawaii, among residents and tourists. Consideration is given to sand quality, water quality, congestion levels, and swimming safety conditions in the context of a choice experiment. The choice experiment conveys attribute levels almost entirely through pictures, and results suggest that this novel portrayal is well understood by respondents. Excessive congestion and water quality are regarded as the most important beach attributes, specifically the avoidance of poor water quality …

Thecla Penetrates The Popular Perception, Leah Jo M. Shelton

Audre Lorde Prize

This paper analyzes The Acts of Paul and Thecla, an early Christian writing, within the framework of gender in antique Rome. Roman gender was based on performance, which is the basis of each character's gender construction in this story. Thecla undergoes a radical transformation from a passive female, preparing to be wed, to an active, ideal male who controls her independence and performs public oratory. In contrast, Paul, who appears as an ideal male at the beginning of the story, is "unmanned" by Thecla when she ultimately defies her female categorization. The Acts of Paul and Thecla exhibits the …