Digital Commons Network^™

Social Determinants Of Hiv/Hcv Co-Infection: A Case Study From People Who Inject Drugs In Rural Puerto Rico, Roberto Abadie, Melissa L. Welch-Lazoritz, Bilal Khan, Kirk Dombrowski

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Worldwide there are an estimated 130 million people infected with hepatitis C (HCV), 40 million living with HIV, and between 4 and 5 million co-infected with HIV and HCV (Alter, 2006; Perz, Farrington, Pecoraro, Hutin, & Armstrong, 2004; WHO. AIDS epidemic update, 2004). In Western Europe and the United States, co-infection tends to concentrate among people who inject drugs (PWID) mainly driven by blood contained in shared syringes and contaminated injection equipment (Hahn, Page-Schafer, Lum, et al., 2002; Doerrbecker, Behrendt, Matheu-Gelabert et al., 2013). Epidemiological data shows wide discrepancies in HIV/HCV prevalence among PWID across the world (Bao & Li, …

Increasing Burden Of Complex Multimorbidity Across Gradients Of Cognitive Impairment, Siran M. Koroukian, Nicholas K. Schiltz, David F. Warner, Kurt C. Stange, Kathleen A. Smyth

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Introduction: This study evaluates the burden of multimorbidity (MM) across gradients of cognitive impairment (CI). Methods: Using data from the 2010 Health and Retirement Study, we identified individuals with no CI, mild CI, and moderate/ severe CI. In addition, we adopted an expansive definition of complex MM by accounting for the occurrence and co-occurrence of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and geriatric syndromes. Results: In a sample of 18 913 participants (weighted n = 87.5 million), 1.93% and 1.84% presented with mild and moderate/severe CI, respectively. The prevalence of most conditions constituting complex MM increased markedly across the …

Book Review: Some Men: Feminist Allies & The Movement To End Violence Against Women, By Michael A. Messner, Max A. Greenberg, And Tal Peretz, Trenton M. Haltom

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

In their book, Some men: feminist allies & the movement to end violence against women, Michael A. Messner, Max A. Greenberg and Tal Peretz outline the history and contributions by men to feminist, gendered, anti-violence activism. As empirical research, Some men is a formative work in two key ways: it is a historical overview of men’s place in feminist activism, and an inspiration for men looking into how to get involved.

The authors provide an in-depth examination of the kinds of anti-violence work men do and how that work has shifted over time, by relying on 64 life history interviews …

Aging And Disability Among Hispanics In The United States: Current Knowledge And Future Directions, Marc A. Garcia, Brian Downer, Michael Crowe, Kyriakos S. Markides

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Background and Objectives: Hispanics are the most rapidly aging minority population in the United States. Our objective is to provide a summary of current knowledge regarding disability among Hispanics, and to propose an agenda for future research.

Research Design and Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify major areas of research. A life course perspective and the Hispanic Paradox were used as frameworks for the literature review and for identifying future areas of research.

Results: Four research areas were identified: (1) Ethnic disparities in disability; (2) Heterogeneity of the U.S. older Hispanic population; (3) Risk factors for disability; and …

Complex Multimorbidity And Health Outcomes In Older Adult Cancer Survivors, David F. Warner, Nicholas K. Schiltz, Kurt C. Stange, Charles W. Given, Cynthia Owusu, Nathan A. Berger, Siran M. Koroukian

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Objective: To characterize complex multimorbidity among cancer survivors and evaluate the association between cancer survivorship, time since cancer diagnosis, and self-reported fair/poor health, self-rated worse health in 2 years, and 2-year mortality. Methods: We used the 2010–2012 Health and Retirement Study. Cancer survivors were individuals who reported a (nonskin) cancer diagnosis 2 years or more before the interview. We defined complex multimorbidity as the co-occurrence of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and/or geriatric syndromes. In addition to descriptive analyses, we used logistic regression to evaluate the independent association between cancer survivor status and health outcomes. We also examined whether cancer survivorship …

The Religious And Political Origins Of Evangelical Protestants’ Opposition To Environmental Spending, Philip Schwadel, Erik Johnson

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Evangelical Protestants are less likely than most other Americans to support environmental policies and spending to protect the natural environment. We use almost three decades of repeated cross-sectional data to examine the factors that promote evangelicals’ opposition to environmental spending. Mediation models with bootstrapped standard errors show that affiliation with the Republican Party, biblical literalism, and religious service attendance mediate differences in support for environmental spending between evangelical Protestants and other Americans. The importance of these mediating variables, however, varies over time and by the group evangelicals are being compared to. Differences in support for environmental spending between evangelical and …

Making News: Balancing Newsworthiness And Privacy In The Age Of Algorithms, Erin C. Carroll

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

In deciding privacy lawsuits against media defendants, courts have for decades deferred to the media. They have given it wide berth to determine what is newsworthy and so, what is protected under the First Amendment. And in doing so, they have often spoken reverently of the editorial process and journalistic decision-making.

Yet, in just the last several years, news production and consumption has changed dramatically. As we get more of our news from digital and social media sites, the role of information gatekeeper is shifting from journalists to computer engineers, programmers, and app designers. The algorithms that the latter write …

La France Contemporaine Face Au Défi De La Créolisation, Nathalie Etoke

Publications and Research

Inspired by Jane Gordon's book, Creolizing Political Theory: Reading Rousseau through Fanon, this article examines the paradoxes of Creolization within the French context. How do post-colonial French identities of Maghrebi, Sub-Saharan African or Caribbean descent Creolize French society? Instead of being an opportunity that must be seized by the Nation, why is creolization perceived as an imminent threat to the Republic? How can one think of Creolizing politics in the former colonial power? How does Creolization compel us to rethink how we live together? And how does it require us to rethink freedom and equality for all? These are …

The Role Of Spirituality In The Reconstruction Of Identity In Older Women, Elin Hardenberg

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study examines whether spirituality plays a role in how older women integrate changes in their identity as they age. The research questions guiding this study are: 1) how do women navigate changes in identity in older adulthood; and 2) what role does spirituality play in the reconstruction of a woman’s identity in older adulthood? Erikson’s stages of development are used as a framework for understanding where participants are in their developmental process. The study was conducted by interviewing six women between the ages of seventy and ninety who self-identified as having an opinion about their relationship to spirituality. It …

Understanding And Negotiating Access To Preventative Sexual Health Care Biotechnology In Online Communities : A Thematic Analysis Of The Facebook Group ""Prep Facts: Rethinking Hiv Prevention And Sex, Dorothy Manley

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This thesis seeks to understand how access is being negotiated between the U.S. health care system, resources, and institutions by locating conversations about access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) within the lay led Facebook group PrEP Facts: Rethinking HIV Prevention and Sex. The study offers insight into the fault lines within the health care system and how men who have sex with men (MSM) are managing these fault lines, and providing mentoring and guidance to each other, when seeking access to preventive care. Narratives in the Facebook group illustrate who is accounted for and who falls between the gaps within …

The Evaluation Of Ensemble Sentiment Classification Approach On Airline Services Using Twitter, Zechen Wang

Dissertations

In the field of sentiment classification, much research has been done on reviews of topics such as movies, software and books. Little research has been done in the airline service domain. In the airline industry, the use of social media as a customer service tool has become a growing phenomenon. The research conducted by Wan and Gao (2015) has proposed an ensemble classification approach for airline service sentiment classification using Twitter data. In accordance, the objective of improving the performance of ensemble classification approach is the primary consideration. This research proposed new hybrid classification approach that uses the state-of-art approach …

Strangers In Our Midst: The Political Philosophy Of Immigration, Paulina Ochoa Espejo

Political Science Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Political Communication In The Online Era: Moral Psychology Of News Media Consumption, New Forms Of News Media, And Political Communication, J. L. Watts

Honors Theses

Drawing on data from the moral psychology of political communication and literature on news media consumption, this thesis explores the relationships between new forms of news media and longstanding trends in the moral psychology of political communication. By discussing dynamic changes in the form and content of news media, as well as the new venues through which it is experienced, this thesis highlights three areas in which new forms of media place pressure on existing literature. Namely, it holds that the ways in which individuals experience new forms of news media place pressure on existing literature centering around the homogeneity …

Loneliness, Meaning In Life, And Depressive Symptomology In College Students, Abigail Oehler

Honors Theses

The present study aimed to better understand the relationship between loneliness, meaning in life, and depressive symptoms in college students. Two-hundred and forty-seven participants, ages 18-37, completed self-report measures about their experience with depressive symptoms (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale), loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale- Version 3), and meaning in life (Meaning in Life Questionnaire). The following was hypothesized: 1) symptoms of depression, loneliness, and meaning in life will be significantly related; 2) meaning in life will mediate the relation between loneliness and depressive symptoms. Results demonstrated all constructs were associated as expected (ps<.001). Contrary to hypothesis, meaning in life did not mediate the relation between loneliness and depressive symptomatology. However, post hoc regression analysis illustrated that loneliness was the only unique predictor of depressive symptoms. This study suggests more research is warranted on understanding specific mechanisms relating loneliness to depressive symptoms in college students.

(N)Ostalgic Consumption And The Former German Democratic Republic, Savannah Coleman

Honors Theses

This study examines the consumer psychology of nostalgia. It specifies, focusing on consumer products that are associated with the former German Democratic Republic. My research studies the Ostalgie phenomenon through the lens of nostalgic consumption. The study is focused on understanding the relationship between the consumer psychology of nostalgia and the theory of 'Ostalgie' and what implications such a relationship could have. I took previously discussed concepts and theories of nostalgic consumption and observed if they played a role in the consumption of East German goods. I conducted and distributed surveys to eighty-eight Germans above the age of twenty-eight. Both …

Eta In Spain: Explaining Basque Violence, Jenny Kern

Honors Theses

My thesis focuses on Euskadi ta Auskatasuna (ETA), a terrorist group in País Vasco, Spain and attempts to determine the causes behind ETA's violence. I focus on three areas of study: the political situation of País Vasco, the public opinion, and the economic situation of País Vasco. Data is collected from the Basque government, the EuskoBarómetro, and World Bank, and showed in correlation with ETA attacks to discern patterns. Due to limited data, my area of study focuses mainly on ETA's later years, when they were less active. This allows me to focus on the periods of the ceasefires in …

Re Magazine And The Politics Of The Little Magazine, Jesse Webb

Honors Theses

The little magazine played a widely significant role in the political and cultural history of Western civilization. Literary and ephemeral in nature, the little magazine gave birth to Modernism in the early 20th century by publishing the works of little known authors such as William Carlos Williams, Ezra Pound, and T.S. Eliot to name a few. Later, the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States of America recognized the influential role of the little magazine and began funding magazines that spoke to the anti- communist left in Europe and in the Americas at the beginning of the Cold War. While …

Water Policy In Chile And Bolivia: A Comparative Case Study, Margaret Cartner

Honors Theses

This thesis addresses three questions: why has universal potable water access not been achieved with the water policy changes made in Bolivia between 1990 and 2000? What can be learned from the water policy changes implemented in Chile between 1980 and 1999? Finally, what changes can be made to both countries' water policies to ensure the sustainable use of water resources? To answer these questions, this thesis reviews water policy changes in Chile as a result of World Bank loans before privatization in the 1980s and compare them to the water policy changes in Bolivia as a result of World …

History And Heritage Made Accessible: The Lee County, Virginia Story, Martha Grace Mize

Honors Theses

This thesis creates a digital space to preserve the heritage of Lee County, Virginia through community input of stories, values, and beliefs, loosely based on the concept of an eco-museum as described by Corsane, Davis, and Murtas (2009). The virtual museum space includes a history of Lee County, Virginia, and the community's heritage ideals, as identified through local interviews, research, and stories. The results of the research created www.theleecountystory.com, a community-based website centered on heritage preservation that incorporates regional values identified through ethnographic research and educational information from local organizations and the University of Mississippi. The digital community space includes …

The Grove: Stories Of Cultivating Connections, Mitchell A. Dowden

Honors Theses

This thesis studies the University of Mississippi's tailgating area known as the Grove. While it explores the logistics and preparation for home game activities, this thesis looks beyond the image and into aspects not so obvious to the weekend visitor: its history, its environmental impact, the economics, and even its reflection of the progress and challenges surrounding race. This is not intended to be a supreme authority or academic analysis of the Grove, but instead a journalistic piece reflecting the stories and personal anecdotes I encountered. To gather information, I conducted live interviews with people familiar to the Grove in …

Psychosocial Care In The Syrian Refugee Crisis, Miller Richmond

Honors Theses

The Syrian civil war created millions of refugees who are internally displaced across Syria and in surrounding host countries. The use of violence and forms of warfare against the Geneva Convention make this crisis particularly traumatic for civilians, leading to high rates of PTSD and depression among the refugee population. Relying on concepts of structural violence and the ecology of health, I justify the use of a psychosocial framework to build refugee crisis response in Jordan. I performed ethnographic fieldwork to collect data in the form of stakeholder and care provider interviews and training manuals, and I analyzed and critiqued …

Cross-Cultural Comparison Of Cosmetic Procedures In Latin America And East Asia, Rebecca Vorisek

Honors Theses

This paper explores the factors that influence women's decisions to undergo cosmetic procedures, including: globalization, westernization, patriarchy, empowerment, and endogenous factors. It specifically focuses on East Asia and Latin America focusing on South Korea, China, Brazil, and Argentina and offers a cross-cultural comparison between these regions and countries as well as between the world and the West. I compiled and analyzed data from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) 2011 annual report to create profiles of the most common cosmetic procedures performed for each region and country, and these profiles were then compared to one another. Through my …

Comparative Analysis Of Hong Kong And Taiwan's Independence Movements: A Case Study Of Identity And Politics Using Social Movement Theory, Sarah A. Hasselle

Honors Theses

This thesis is a comparative study on the Taiwanese and Hong Kongese independence movements. Structured by social movement theory, this study focuses on how each movement evolved after a central cause and focuses on the different components of the social movements. This paper also includes an analysis on national pride in Taiwan and Hong Kong, tested by using SPSS and data from Asian Barometer. The two independence movements can both be understood through its supporters' concerns, and in both cases, identity is described as something culturally distinct from the mainland. As for determining national pride, my analysis indicates that, in …

Initial Findings Of A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Program, Hesper B. Nowatzki

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the emphasis of benefits on preventive health, many older adults are not receiving the recommended age specific, evidence based screenings and vaccinations. The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is designed to address modifiable risk factors with aging adults and close gaps in care not captured in routine office visits. Although a free Medicare benefit to patients, and a reimbursable service to health care providers, participation in the AWV is low nationwide. The purpose of the project is to introduce an AWV program to a rural health clinic in Northwest Illinois that has a population consisting of over 25% of …

Quality Of Sibling Relationship And Age Spacing In Single-Parent Households Versus Two-Parent Households, Mari Varga Overlock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sibling relationship quality is affected by several variables, such as gender, age spacing, marital conflicts, parenting, and parent-child relationship, which simultaneously influence personality and developmental outcomes. Furthermore, sibling relationships can significantly influence the social climate of the family and vice versa. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of household composition (1-parent home vs. 2-parent home) and the number of years between siblings ages on sibling relationship quality, and to determine whether parental conflict response management strategies differ between single-parent and 2-parent homes. The participants were 124 adult mothers with at least 2 children. Participants provided demographic …

Strategies To Expand The U.S. Automated External Defibrillator Market, Arturo Cervantes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite defibrillation as the only effective treatment for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), less than 15% of homes and public facilities have access to an automated external defibrillator (AED). In the United States, ineffective response to SCA cases occurring each year classifies it as a business problem for medical device manufacturing leaders, emergency responders, and bystanders. The purpose of this multicase study was to explore the marketing strategies AED manufacturing leaders use to expand their consumer customer base. Data were collected via in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of participants from 2 U.S. AED manufacturers on the east coast, 2 AED …

Static-99, Mnsost-R, And Pcl-R In Predicting Recidivism Among Texas' Sexual Violent Predators, Diana Jefferson Jefferson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recidivism within the sexually violent predator (SVP) population has gained worldwide attention because of the lack of protection offered to the victims that may lead to loss of life. Behavioral theory suggests that accuracy of predictive behaviors based on empirical judgement is more reliable than that based on clinical judgement. The purpose of this research was to see whether three actuarial assessment tools, Static-99, PCL-R, and MnSOST-R, could predict recidivism and whether the combination of the three-increased predictive value in the Texas SVP population. As yet, the literature provides no evidence. The Texas Open Record System provided assessment scores and …

Developing A Vision And Strategy For Multicultural Ministry: Woodburn Community Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Eduard Daniel Ciobanu

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The City of Woodburn, OR is home to a population of 24,223. Over half of the residents are Hispanic, while 1/4 to 1/3 are Russian Orthodox Old Believers. Adding to its diversity, 35.4% of the total population of Woodburn is foreign born. Started as a church plant 30 years ago, the mostly White, non-Hispanic Woodburn Community Seventh-day Adventist Church has traditionally kept a membership of around a 100, with a current membership of 101 and an average attendance of 38 in 2011. Despite an ideal, central location in town, an ability to embrace and support new members and attendees, …

A Singles' Ministry Project At The Mt. Rubidoux Seventh-Day Adventist Church In Riverside, California, Ekele Nwankwo

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The purpose of this study was to discover, develop, evaluate, and implement a supportive singles’ ministry at the Mt. Rubidoux Seventh-day Adventist church by way of planned activities and educative programs designed to serve the needs of singles in that congregation. The study was designed to determine the impact the singles’ ministry has on the church and how to shape the ministry in the future. Although society has viewed singles in different ways, depending on time and place, in traditional societies, women and men who did not marry were viewed as imperfect and lacking. Singles battle with strong expectations …

Patterns Of Crop Rading By Wild Ungulates And Elephants In Ramnagar Forest Division, Uttarakhand, Ankur Kumar, Harendra Singh Bargali, Ashish David, Advait Edgaonkar

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Crop raiding is a major form of human–wildlife conflict that not only affects livelihoods of farmers living close to forest areas but also jeopardizes the objective of wildlife conservation. In this study, we report patterns associated with crop raiding based on periodic fi eld inspections of 95 crop fields spread across 16 villages in India. Average raided area of the fi eld was highest in seedling stage (21%). Fields closer to the forest edge incurred higher damage in the seedling (22%) and mature stages (7%) than fields farther from the forest edge, although this was not statistically significant. Guarding was …