Digital Commons Network^™

Career Development And Trajectories: Women In Senior-Level Management Positions In Nonprofit Organizations And Government Agencies, Jennifer Diane Stevens

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Lighting the way for women today, pioneers like Jane Addams and others have helped women make gallant strides in the field of human and leisure services for the past 50 years. These women took necessary steps towards equality, which ultimately led to changes in attitudes of women, attitudes towards women, and gender roles. Women now make up half of the workforce and are accepted in all sectors today.

However, inequality still exists through transparent barriers that keep women from advancing to senior-level management and decision-making positions. Elements such as family, education, and organizational and personal factors can positively or negatively …

Analyzing Rana Plaza Crisis Discourse From A Postcolonial Perspective: Implications For Identity And Crisis Communication Studies, Mir Ashfaquzzaman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

An inherently managerial commitment, functionalist/positivist theoretical orientation, and Western/U.S. bias characterize the dominant stream of crisis communication research and scholarship in the United States. These characteristics render analysis and assessment of crisis and crisis communication especially in nonWestern settings somewhat limited in scope and coverage. This limitation becomes all the more apparent when crisis is conceptualized as a social phenomenon, not merely an organizational one. Such conceptualization decenters the organization as the sole source of power to initiate crisis response and management, foregrounds the discursive terrain related to a crisis whereby multiple sources compete with their respective realities about the …

Cops And Pleas: Police Officers' Influence On Plea Bargaining, Jonathan Abel

Faculty Scholarship

Police officers play an important, though little-understood, role in plea bargaining. This Essay examines the many ways in which prosecutors and police officers consult, collaborate, and clash with each other over plea bargaining. Using original interviews with criminal justice officials from around the country, this Essay explores the mechanisms of police involvement in plea negotiations and the implications of this involvement for both plea bargaining and policing. Ultimately, police influence in the arena of plea bargaining -long thought the exclusive domain of prosecutors -calls into question basic assumptions about who controls the prosecution team.

"Hail Mary, Full Of Haze": Physicalism And The Knowledge Argument, Jesse R. Powell

Honors College Theses

This project aims to provide a clear and compelling reason for rejecting dualism with respect to the mind, by undermining the support dualist positions receive from so-called knowledge arguments. In particular, I will show the error present in the many forms of what is variously called the “Mary’s Room” or “Mary the Brilliant Color Scientist” thought experiment.

The Effect Of Stretching The Gastrocnemius On Electromechanical Delay And Decreased Muscle Power Production, Kolyse E. Wagstaff

Honors College Theses

Previous studies in the field of biomechanics have determined that statically stretching muscles before explosive athletic events decreases muscle power production during performance. However, current research does not explain why muscle power production is lessened due to static stretching. Electromechanical delay (EMD) is the delay between muscle stimulation and force, and the purpose of this research is to determine if the decrease in muscle force production is due to a lengthened EMD of the muscle, potentially caused by static stretching. To test this, participants jumped on force plates and jump power produced by the gastrocnemius was calculated, with stretching and …

Individual Domestic Terrorism: An Analysis Of The Motivations And Radicalization Of Terrorism In The United States, Tony Hudson Jr.

Honors College Theses

Individual terrorist events have increased in the United States. What are the motivations behind these attacks and what led these individuals to participate in this form of political violence? In this paper, I provide a case study analysis of four domestic terrorist attacks in the United States that have been executed by individual perpetrators. I combine rational choice, sociological, and psychological theories in order to show a similar path of radicalization taken by each of the terrorists involved in these attacks. I build upon previous research on the importance of studying terrorism from an individual- analysis perspective.

Effects Of Mortality Salience On Anti- Atheist Prejudice: A Terror Management Perspective, Cassidy J. Keim

Honors College Theses

Terror Management Theory argues that mortality salience is an important motivator in how people behave throughout their lives, and can influence how prejudiced individuals become. In this study we triggered participants’ mortality salience to test this claim, as well as measured the attitudes of prejudice have for atheists compared to homosexuals to see if they differ. Mortality salience did not have an effect on prejudice in this experiment, but anti-atheist prejudice was significantly higher than anti-homosexual prejudice. Although these findings are small, they confirm a need for continued research on prejudice against religious minorities, such as atheists, and how to …

Harnessing The Power Of Cell Transplantation To Target Respiratory Dysfunction Following Spinal Cord Injury., Brittany A. Charsar, Mark W. Urban, Angelo C. Lepore

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

The therapeutic benefit of cell transplantation has been assessed in a host of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including disorders of the spinal cord such as traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). The promise of cell transplantation to preserve and/or restore normal function can be aimed at a variety of therapeutic mechanisms, including replacement of lost or damaged CNS cell types, promotion of axonal regeneration or sprouting, neuroprotection, immune response modulation, and delivery of gene products such as neurotrophic factors, amongst other possibilities. Despite significant work in the field of transplantation in models of SCI, limited attention has been directed at …

Aerocom: Winter 2017, John D. Odegard School Of Aerospace Sciences

Aerocom: John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences Alumni Magazine

No abstract provided.

Jurisdiction And Its Effects, Scott Dodson

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Acute Thermal Stress On Gene Expression Levels Of Hsp70 In The Antarctic Notothenioid, Notothenia Coriiceps, Eudiah Ochieng

Honors College Theses

The waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula are known as one of the most cold, stable environments on earth and organisms living within, such as the fish Notothenia coriiceps, have become highly specialized over evolutionary time. However, water temperatures in this environment have been steadily warming over the past two decades due to global climate change. In addition to the challenges created by increasing temperatures N. coriiceps will also be faced with difficulty meeting oxygen demands to carry out metabolic processes due to the decrease solubility of oxygen in warmer environments. Heat stress proteins (Hsps) are critical molecules that …

The Biological Stress Response In Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis Macrochirus) To Variations In Environmental Temperature And Dissolved Oxygen Content., Monique Kellman

Honors College Theses

With the predicted increase in global water temperature and acute hypoxic episodes, knowledge of the effects these stressors can have on local aquatic life is extremely valuable. This study thereby quantified the change in metabolic rate in Bluegill sunfish, in response to increased temperature and low dissolved oxygen concentration, by utilizing intermittent flow respirometry. Both maximum metabolic rate (MMR) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were determined in response to variations in dissolved oxygen content, specifically > 95% O₂ and 40% O₂. Additionally, three temperature treatment groups were established, with temperatures of 20, 25 and 30°C in order to …

Blow Fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Responses To Different Colors Of Baited Traps, Oluwadamilola Olufunso Oke

Honors College Theses

Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are usually the first insects to colonize human remains. By determining the time of colonization, a postmortem interval (PMI), or “time of death”, can be estimated. To develop more accurate PMI estimates, it is important for forensic entomologists to understand the cues that Blow flies use to locate vertebrate remains. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Blow flies use visual cues, in addition to olfactory cues, to locate carrion. Two colors of fly traps, clear and green, were constructed and chicken gizzard used as bait. Three Blow fly species exhibited a significant preference …

Testing The Optomotor Response In Sepia Bandensis, Lauren E. Thompson

Honors College Theses

Cephalopods (octopus, squid, and cuttlefish) have commonly been used as models to test visual function and camouflage due to their similarity in eye morphology with humans and because of their readily observable changes in body color in response to visual stimuli. Most studies have used a single species, Sepia officinalis, to make broad conclusions about camouflage and vision. However, these generalizations may not be applicable to all species. Here, I have examined visual function of the dwarf cuttlefish (Sepia bandensis), which differs from S. officinalis in habitat, geographic range, and size. Using the optomotor response, I quantified …

The Effects Of Elevated Co2 Levels On Broad Bean, Vicia Faba, Growth/Defense Tradeoffs, Harley B. Kitching

Honors College Theses

Atmospheric changes, associated with global climate change, are increasing at an unprecedented rate. Plants generally display higher rates of growth in response to elevated CO₂ levels, but this response varies among species. In addition, very little is known about how plant growth/defense tradeoffs will be altered by increasing CO₂ levels. By raising Broad bean, Vicia faba L., plants under ambient (400 ppm) and elevated (900 ppm) levels of CO₂, it was shown that atmospheric composition directly altered plant growth/defense tradeoffs. Plants grown under elevated CO₂ had lighter stem weights but greater numbers of extrafloral nectaries …

A County By County Analysis Of Poverty In The State Of Georgia, Derrick S. Ramage, William Levernier Dr.

Honors College Theses

The state of Georgia has one of the highest poverty rates of all the states in the United States. This study examines the causes of poverty in Georgia, using county-level data. The state of Georgia is one of the largest states in the Southeastern U.S. and is very diverse in terms of its mix of metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties, and its mix of agricultural and non-agricultural counties. The major focus of the paper is determining the effect that demographic, educational attainment, labor force, government assistance, and transportation characteristics of a county have on its poverty rate. The major findings of …

The Moral-Hazard Effect Of Liquidated Damages: An Experiment On Contract Remedies, Ben Depoorter, Sven Hoeppner, Lars Freund

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Photodynamic Cancer Therapy A Study Of The Photochemical Properties Of Meso-Tetra (2,3,4-Trifluorophenyl) Porphyrin And Meso-Tetra (2,3,5,6-Tetrafluorophenyl) Porphyrin, Delanie L. Newberry

Honors College Theses

Photodynamic therapy(PDT) is a type of cancer treatment that utilizes photosensitive molecules that absorb photons and use that energy to create cytotoxic molecules. Porphyrins are photosensitive compounds that can be used selectively at the site of cancerous tumors. Their selectivity is due to the fact the porphyrins are generally not toxic in absence of light; in the presence of light, the drug will be activated to produce the cytotoxic molecule, singlet oxygen(1O2 ). 9,10 diphenyl anthracene(DPA) was used to simulate the cancer cells and monitor how effective the porphyrin was in creating 1O2, because DPA reacts with 1O2 form diphenyl …

Reported Self-Care Practices And Perceptions Of Well-Being In Caregivers Of Children With Cancer, Rachel S. Siclare

Honors College Theses

Thousands of American children are diagnosed with cancer annually. Cancer does not only affect these children, but also those that care for them. This study examined quality of life issues facing caregivers of children with cancer as a beginning effort in the investigation of this ongoing problem. Caregivers were surveyed at a pediatric hematology-oncology clinic. The surveys assessed caregiver burnout and level of self-care. Data was assessed using IBM SPSS software to determine signs of distress and decreased well-being in these participants. The results of this project will hopefully inspire other individuals to continue research in this field of study.

Perceptions And Knowledge Of Influenza Vaccination Amongst University Students, Christian M. Martinez

Honors College Theses

Commonly known as “the flu”, influenza is a contagious respiratory infection that causes mild to severe illness. The CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination as the best method for prevention of the illness. This study was conducted to analyze university students’ perceptions and knowledge of influenza as well as influenza vaccination. A survey was completed by 284 Georgia Southern University students. This research found university students to possess basic knowledge of influenza and its implications for one’s health. However, the study found that university students lack some knowledge of influenza vaccination, and many university students did not seem to perceive influenza …

Jewish Resistance In World War Ii & Zionism: Making Aliyah In The Death Camps, Cierra Tomaso

Honors College Theses

My thesis examines the contributions of Jewish resistance fighters in Europe during World War II. The sources used are primarily memoirs of resistance fighters, primary documents from resistance groups, and secondary articles related to Zionism during that time period. The resistance movement began because there was a need for dismantling the Third Reich from within the bounds of the ghettos, the death camps, and the killing fields. This thesis will show that Zionism played a key role in the motivations of the Jewish resistance fighters in World War II. Additionally, it will examine how as Jews found that their home …

Comparative Floristic Studies Of Georgian Sandhill Ecosystems Reveals A Dynamic Composition Of Endemics And Generalists, James M. Long, John Schenk

Honors College Theses

Sandhill habitats are characterized by sandy, xeric soils that contain a unique assemblage of plants and animals. Similar to the broader long-leaf pine (Pinus palustris) and wire grass (Aristida stricta) ecosystem that sandhills are a subset of, agriculture, development, and habitat modifications have caused sandhill ecosystems to become degraded, putting many species at risk of extinction. Previous studies have focused on diversity within individual sandhills, leaving us with an incomplete understanding of how these communities form, what species are endemic, whether endemics are widespread across sandhills, and how species have adapted to these communities. To gain a more comprehensive understanding …

Gloria Anzaldúa’S El Mundo Zurdo: The Necessity Of A Historical Assessment, Malik Raymond

Honors College Theses

This thesis revolves around Chicana lesbian feminist Gloria Anzaldúa and one of her more important theories, El Mundo Zurdo. El Mundo Zurdo was a theory that focused on the marginalized people and the need for unity amongst them; however, up to this point, no historical analysis has been done on this theory. Through piecing together information from interviews and Anzaldúa’s literature, this thesis serves as a biography of her first forty years of life to address from where the theory came and becomes a bridge to link Anzaldúa to the wider Chicana, Third World feminist, and gay and lesbian …

The Dragon’S Flight To The Tropics: China’S Involvement In The Caribbean, Kellie O'Boyle

Honors College Theses

In 2008, the United States experienced an economic crisis that ultimately caused it to take a step back from its involvement in the Caribbean, in particular. This vacuum left by the United States was swiftly filled by China, which shifted the balance of power in the region and provided China a strategic foothold. This event allowed China to expand its influence, as well as challenge US interests through the use of soft power such as trade and investments in infrastructure. While this symbiotic relationship benefits both parties, there is usually a trade inequality in China’s favor. China’s traditional use of …

Full Circle: The New Deal And The Great Recession, Donald Lewis Roberts

Honors College Theses

In this paper I will show how the mindset of liberalism has evolved since the Great Depression. It merged with progressive movement of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries to become a politically left ideology that intertwined with power hungry politicians who perverted liberalism and used sudden economic and social phenomena to engineer a new type of American government. One that has constantly expanded, reaching and entrenching itself further and further into the lives of Americans, starting with President Franklin Roosevelt. Roosevelt’s work would be expanded in the name of progress and equality by several of his …

Lost Boys And Girls: Navigating Experience And Identity During Operation Pedro Pan, Caleb M. Still

Honors College Theses

Over 14,000 unaccompanied children came from Cuba to the United States during Operation Pedro Pan. Once they arrived they were faced with an entirely new living situation and were forced to adapt. One of the remaining similarities to their Cuban home was the Catholic Church. The Church played a significant role in shaping these children’s fluid concept of their ethnic, national, and religious identities. Previous scholarship has not addressed the role of the Church in the program or the issue of the fluidity of identity among these children. This study builds on the existing scholarship and aims to fill in …

Investigation Of The Thermal Performance Of Sierpinski Carpet Fractal Fins In A Natural Convection Environment, Jennifer P. Shaffer

Honors College Theses

This experimental investigation studies the thermal performance of the first four iterations of the Sierpinski carpet pattern in a natural convection environment. This particular fractal geometry is promising in that it increases the available surface area for heat transfer while simultaneously decreasing the mass of the system. This makes it a potentially advantageous design for fins or heat sinks, especially in aerospace applications where minimizing mass of the system is essential. The thermal performance was evaluated by comparing the efficiency, effectiveness, and effectiveness per unit mass for each fractal iteration. The results indicate that efficiency decreases with each fractal iteration …

Technology And Student Achievement In Stem Subjects: Perspectives From Teachers In Grades 3rd-5th, Kayleigh D. Hunter

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study is to research teachers’ perspectives of their role and responsibilities of integrating technology in the classroom and the influence of technology on student achievement. The participants involved in the qualitative research process included seven in-service professional public school teachers. The thirty minute to an hour interviews were piloted using researcher created interview question constructed from previous research on teachers’ perceptions of technology. The questions used were created to specifically answer the researcher’s topic of study; some questions are regarding whether teachers believe success is technology driven and what benefits they think technology brings. The teachers …

Resolving Disputes And Improving Security In Post-Conflict Settings: An Example From Liberia, Jessica Vapnek, Alfred Fofie, Peter Boaz

Faculty Scholarship

Countries emerging from civil conflict in the developing world face numerous challenges that hinder reconstruction and peace building. These hurdles, many of which existed before the war and may have contributed to the civil strife, include poverty, unequal distribution of political and economic power, land disputes and exploitation or exclusion of groups on social, cultural, tribal or religious bases. Liberia emerged from 14 years of conflict in 2003 urgently needing to address many of these concerns, in particular the burgeoning number of land disputes and the looming threat they posed to peace, security and national reconstruction. A joint effort by …

The Mobius Strip Of Total Health: Manipulation Of Thinking Prior To Exercise Activity, Joseph A. Schenk

Honors College Theses

Research shows mental and physical health are interdependent. We sought to test various methods of external motivation to effect change in the physical performance and mental health of students enrolled in walking classes. We hypothesized that if there was a correlation between physical exercise and mental health and we could motivate individuals to exercise, then that motivation would in turn result in better mental health. Participants, 19 in the pilot and 320 in the main study, were randomly assigned into three groups to receive messages prior to conducting physical activity: those who received neutral messages about exercise, those who received …