Digital Commons Network^™

Nigerian Terror: The Rise Of Boko Haram, Kelly Moss

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria was the world’s deadliest terrorist group of 2014, second deadliest in 2015, and is one of the most perplexing terrorist groups to arise in the past 50 years. This study sought to identify how Boko Haram rose to power in Nigeria, and found the following factors to be explanatory: Nigeria’s weak state capacity stemming from colonialism and poor post-colonial governance, the politicization of religion, and Boko Haram’s relationship with other terrorist organizations such as Al-Shabab, Al-Qaeda, and Daesh. This study further analyzed domestic and international responses to Boko Haram, up to present day, and …

Enduring Music: Migrant Appalachian Communities And The Shenandoah National Park, Madeline Marsh

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This paper is an archival study of the displaced children of families formerly living in the Shenandoah National Park which spans from Strasburg to Waynesboro, Virginia. The study looks at interviews, from the JMU Special Collections archives, of these children in the 1970-80s, nearly fifty years after their forced migration from the 197,438 acres that comprised the park. Change and pressure during the 1930s-40s combined with national policy began the nostalgic preservation and veneration of the culture of these people of the Blue Ridge Mountains; through the archives, a clear and diverse picture of the perspectives and lifestyles of people …

Of The Silmarils And The Ring: J. R. R. Tolkien's Fiction And The Importance Of Creation And Art, Michael Hartinger

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

J. R. R. Tolkien embodies the opposing ideals of Enchantment and the Machine in the Silmarils and the One Ring respectively. These created objects oppose each other just as Tolkien’s ideals of art do. Enchantment is art’s ideal, it's purpose is to glorify and enrich the beauty of reality through subcreation. The Silmarils exhibit the delight of making and perceiving beauty. Whereas the Machine is art’s shadowy reflection that utilizes apparatuses or devices rather than personal talent in order to coerce others and reality itself. Overall Tolkien's aesthetic theories reflect many fears surrounding modern attitudes toward weaponizing art. Tolkien supplies …

This Is Not A Memorial, Kaitlin Burger

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

After the Vietnam / American War, both lives

and land were left devastated and still remain

scarred, acting as a tangible memory of the

violence that occurred on Vietnamese soil.

Craters the size of lakes cover the countryside.

People live daily with the injuries and birth

defects resulting from malicious warfare. Though

the fighting is over, the suffering is not. Also

left behind were thousands of pounds of unexploded

ordinance embedded into the landscape, waiting to

resurface. In many unfortunate cases, the

curiosity of children has lead them to these

brightly-colored objects and, thus, their death.

My architectural installation will …

International Post-Conflict Peacebuilding In Bosnia And Herzegovina And Cambodia, Mia Fisher

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The end of the Cold War brought many changes to the international system, including a rise in intrastate armed conflict and violence against civilians. Consequently, the international community performed increasingly complex and multidimensional peace support operations, and peacebuilding advanced onto the international agenda during the 1990s. Despite the increased attention on peacebuilding in recent decades, most operations have been relatively unsuccessful, and local and international actors continue to struggle with how to implement effective policies to rebuild post-conflict states. The purpose of this research paper is to examine how the international community contributes to post-conflict peacebuilding efforts and to better …

An Exploration Of Community Mural Making In The Context Of Art Therapy And Social Action: A Literature Review, Sarah Wilkie

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Abstract

This literature review examines and discusses the various aspects of mural making in the context of both traditional art therapy and social action art therapy. The goal of this literature review is to explore and examine the therapeutic benefits of the artistic medium of mural making within the context of art therapy. In the context of traditional group art therapy, research indicates that mural making can assist in developing social and communication skills, conflict resolution skills and result in a sense of accomplishment and enhanced self-esteem. Including a brief introduction and history of mural making in America, key themes …

A Race Of Angels And Their Nameless Longings, Andrew Van Dinh

Theses and Dissertations

I use drawing methods to navigate my diasporic perception and conjure narratives of displacement. This indecipherable distance between self and Other, Vietnam and I, has formed into enigmatic desires, which informs the use of the imaginary in my works as temporary solutions to issues of self-hood and nameless longings.

The Romance Novel Cover, Jessica D. Spears

Theses and Dissertations

Romance novel covers dating from the 1980s and 1990s reflect complex and contradictory ideas about gender, power, and sexuality. The covers overflow with stereotypes of what women are attracted to such as enormous pink roses, lush folds of silk, and hair long enough for Rapunzel. To this socially acceptable women’s imagery, the covers add two less reputable aspects: sexual imagery and, occasionally, suggestions of female submission. Since the association of romance and conventional femininity is so strong, the covers make a visual argument that submission and sexuality are things that a conventional woman wants. Readers have to deal with what …

A Phenomenological Study Of Junior Enlisted Marine Corps Veterans’ Career Transition And Organizational Attachment: From The Military To Civilian Work Environment, Kevin R. Sanford

Human Resource Development Theses and Dissertations

Military service is a transformative experience that leaves an indelible mark on all who serve. Once separated from the military way of life, many veterans find that they yearn for the structure, camaraderie, and discipline they experienced while in the military. These feelings of attachment to the military can make the transition back to civilian life difficult and pose a barrier to success in a civilian workplace. As military service members separate from their military service obligation and transition to the civilian workforce, they experience numerous challenges leaving behind the culture of the military and adapting to the civilian way …

Explaining Anthropophagy And Social Violence In The Mesa Verde Region Of The American Southwest, Riley Smith

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This thesis is an examination of a controversial problem in anthropology and archaeology – the motives and cultural context of anthropophagy, or cannibalism. Views that the practice was a reflection of a primitive state of humanity have given way to a more ethnographically-informed appreciation of the practice as culturally situated with a diverse set of potential motives. Claims of anthropophagy in the ancient past influence perceptions of both prehistoric and modern groups. Because of the wealth of information gathered from recent excavations, it is now possible to explore the context of, motives for, and consequences of anthropophagy in the American …

Dancing In The Airfield: The Women Of The 46th Taman Guards Aviation Regiment And Their Journey Through War And Womanhood, Yasmine L. Vaughan

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

During the Second World War, the Soviet Union became the first country in the world to allow women to join the Air Force. Three regiments were formed, comprised of all female personnel. The three regiments flew over 30,000 combat missions and produced thirty Heroes of the Soviet Union (HSUs) in their three years of service. The 588^th, later renamed the 46^th, was the most successful and well-known of the female regiments, famous for its combat record and stunning achievements.This paper seeks to put into context the unique social constructions that allowed for the recruitment, training, and …

An Analysis Of Murals Painted By Students At Intermountain Indian School In Brigham City, Utah, Carlos Junior Guadarrama

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

My plan B thesis argues that Intermountain School in Brigham City, Utah was a progressive development, especially when placed within the context of other Native American boarding schools. I argue my point by conducting a close examination and analysis of several murals painted by prominent indigenous artist Allan Houser and students at the school as well as several other forms of art from Intermountain. In the first chapter of my thesis, I present evidence that demonstrates how damaging Native Boarding schools were for generations of students. I then present evidence which showcases how certain changes paved the way for Intermountain …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Using Geomorphology As A Surrogate To Benthic Habitat On The Miami Terrace, Kim D. Smith

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

The deep-sea is a vast and relatively sparsely characterized domain. As little as 0.01% of deep-sea benthic habitats have been characterized in detail. Characterizing the distribution of organisms and environmental components of the deep-sea is pivotal to the creation and implementation of successful resource management. Benthic habitat maps are a good method to inventory and characterize deep-sea habitats. Recent advances in technology, such as multibeam sonar and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), have allowed for greater understanding of these ecosystems. As it is difficult and expensive to collect data deep-sea benthic community composition, environmental surrogates of biological data would be economically …

A Critical Analysis Of Mystery In Videogames, Ali Alkhafaji

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

Historically, videogame research has focused on how different videogame attributes (like challenge, fantasy, control, goals, etc.) impact the player experience. This type of research is important because it can provide insight into how to design more enjoyable videogames. However, very little exists within the current literature that focuses on mystery and its impact on the player experience. This dissertation is concerned with providing the research community with a better understanding of how mystery manifests in videogames and consequently impacts the player experience, specifically curiosity and motivation. To this end, the research questions are: 1. How do players experience mystery in …

Mars: Where Humans Become Martians, Briana G. Keith

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

What qualities will influence the culture that a Martian architecture responds to? Soon enough, as dwellers begin to influence this barren habitation, a new and divergent society will soon cultivate in response to the environment of The Red Planet. These changes will bloom in accordance to Mars’ Seeds of Culture- one that reinvents the connection between the inside and outside world. These “seeds” are defined by the atmospheric and geographic conditions that we will be susceptible to everyday: rusty red days and calming blue sunsets, powerful dust storms that encompass the entire planet, no vegetation to speak of, and low …

Novel Optimization-Based Algorithms For Dynamic Resource Management In Complex Systems, David Sidoti

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation contains several foci in which optimization-based approaches are developed to obtain optimal or near-optimal solutions to NP-hard dynamic resource management problems that require the integration of spatio-temporally evolving intelligence and weather (meteorology and oceanography) data. Three primary topics of research are addressed: (i) asset allocation for counter-drug trafficking, (ii) multi-objective (ship) path planning, and (iii) fastest-path sailing boat routing. We approach all three problems in a general way for application to multiple domains, while utilizing domain-specific knowledge available in order to help condense the complex problem and decision spaces. The first two topics involve multiple, often competing, objectives …

Perceived Spiritual Competency Of Master's-Level Clinical Mental Health Students Enrolled In Cacrep Accredited Counselor Education Programs: An Investigation Of Variables, Anna Marsh Selby

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship among strength of religious faith, a set of demographic variables, and self-perceived spiritual competence of master’s-level clinical mental health counseling students enrolled in CACREP accredited programs. The study methodology was a quantitative correlational survey research design using multiple linear regression analysis. Data were collected from 178 participants through an online survey comprised of three instruments: the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Scale (Plante & Boccaccini, 1997), and the Revised Spiritual Competency Scale (Dailey, Robertson, & Gill, 2015), and a demographic survey developed by the researcher. Results of the …

The Effect Of Displacement: Living As A Refugee: An Exploration Of Displaced People In Refugee Camps In Greece, Kim Martin Parrish

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized a phenomenological approach to describe the experience of displaced individuals and families in a condition of statelessness in a refugee camp and their experiences prelight, translight, and postlight. Topics addressed included the conditions that led to flight from the country of origin and the individual and family experiences in the country of origin prior to flight and during flight, the experiences of living as a refugee in a refugee camp in Greece, and the hopes and dreams of the future for the individual and the family. Fourteen individuals, including five children in seven families were interviewed in …

President's Notes, Joseph C. Strasser

Naval War College Review

I am a Surface Warfare Officer primarily, but also a political­ military subspecialist. The latter indicates that when l am not at sea, l am normally assigned to billets requiring some skill and experience in strategic planning, pol-mil affairs, or international relations. Most of my naval career has been spent in thinking about and training for a war at sea against the Soviet Navy. Shipboard exercises during department head, executive officer, commanding officer, and squadron commander tours were designed and carried out to ensure that the combatants to which I was assigned were prepared to defeat Soviet nuclear submarines, supersonic …

Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems, Frank C. Mahncke, Anthony J. Watts

Naval War College Review

No abstract provided.

Fifteen Years Experience Of Managing Penetrating Extra-Peritoneal Rectal Injuries, Tanzeela Gala, Noman Shahzad, Ahmed Ibrahim Edhi, Fareed Ahmed Shaikh, Hasnain Zafar

Section of General Surgery

Background: Although civilian injuries are generally less severe, they nevertheless remain a challenging problem for the surgeons. In isolated rectal injury patients, though proximal diversion, pre-sacral drainage, distal rectal wash-out and wound debridement are the various surgical options employed in various combinations, the optimum strategy especially for civilian injuries remains unknown. We reviewed our experience of managing penetrating extra peritoneal rectal injuries.
Methods: We conducted a Retrospective review of Adult patients with penetrating extra-peritoneal rectal injuries. Follow-up information of at least one month was needed for early post-operative complications.
Results: A total number of fifteen patients met …

Arab Nationalism In A Francophone Country: The French Language And Moroccan Identity, Jewan Attallah

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

This paper examines French colonization in Morocco (1912-1956) and the formation of Moroccan national identity. After gaining independence in 1956, the Moroccan government implemented a language policy that aimed to reconstruct Arab-Moroccan national identity by only allowing standard Arabic in public education. As a legacy of the French protectorate, French became the language of aristocrats and upper classes. Currently, the linguistic split between Arabic and French makes students unemployable and illiterate because schools are not adequately preparing them for Morocco's workforce. French language fluency is required in political, economic, and academic sectors. While most scholars focus on contemporary debates, my …

The Greek Civil War, Curtis Baker

Tenor of Our Times

This article reviews A War Like No Other, Hanson's well-read account of the Peloponnesian war. Emphasis is given to the topical rather than chronological nature of the book, the continuity of the work as a whole, and Hanson's subtle messages underlying the primary narrative.

Hell On Earth: An Exploration Into What Drives Evil, Samuel Taylor Hogan

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

Evil abounds. Even the most cursory glance at the news yields harsh headlines about bombings, school shootings, acid attacks, murder, rape, sex slavery, torture, and the occasional mass genocide. The 20th century alone featured roughly 135 million military and civilian deaths due to war and democide (White & Pinker, 2013). Recently, a cultural narrative has emerged proselytizing that evil is an aberrant, caustic mutation of the otherwise unsullied human soul. Philosophers and sociologists, among others, contend that “civilization needs to believe that it does not have an inhumane or barbaric side, leading members of the mainstream to constantly project unacceptable …

Our Holy Grail: States, Power, And Networks In The Stymied Global Quest To Define Terrorism, Erika Mae Lorenzana Del Villar

Doctoral Dissertations

The absence of a comprehensive, universal and legally binding definition of terrorism has characterized the international terrorism discourse for decades. Scholarship on the interplay between states, discourse, and power in shaping this dilemma has been largely absent. This project is an attempt to sociologically examine this theoretical relationship by primarily looking at the role of the state in producing, framing, and otherwise manipulating the definition of terrorism, and consequently, the global terrorism discourse within the United Nations. Applying the sociological concepts of states, discourse, and power, while drawing on the theoretical lens of Bob Jessop’s (1990) strategic-relational approach to examining …

Diagnostic Platform For Current Health Status Monitoring, Albert S. Benight, Megan M. Koslen, Matthew W. Eskew

Student Research Symposium

Our approach is based on physical measurements of blood plasma and exploits the plethora of information contained in the human plasma proteome, as a reporter of human health status. The assay involves collection and analysis ofthermograms of plasma from human blood measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Plasma thermograms arise from the temperature-induced denaturation profile of proteins within blood plasma measured by DSC. This insightful measurement thereby provides a snapshot of the current state of the human plasma proteome which directly informs on overall systemic health. Such measurements have been shown to be highly accurate and sensitive indicators of health …

Stealth: A Revolutionary Change In Air Warfare, Kevin J. Kennedy

Naval War College Review

While many may argue over whether stealth is revolutionary or evolutionary in its attributes, the real issue is not an academic one of semantic correctness but rather an operational one with far-reaching implications.

Pragmatic Faith: An Epistemic Link Between Religion, Science, Mathematics, And Philosophy, John Benjamin Willis

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

There exists a conflict between the fields of religion on science. This conflict exists, according to Gregory Dawes, on the grounds that these disciplines share no common epistemic norms, and therefore this conflict is "ineradicable." An epistemic norm describes the way that someone goes about the pursuit of knowledge. I disagree with Dawes' assertion that this conflict is, in fact, "ineradicable." Pragmatic faith, first posited as "sub-doxastic faith" by F. R. Tennant, expresses values found in both religion and science, as well as in other "reason-based" disciplines like mathematics and philosophy. This work uses examples from each discipline to demonstrate …

Study Of Prussian Blue And Its Analogues As Mediators In Supercapacitors, Chen Zhang

Open Access Dissertations

The present PhD dissertation reflects research efforts on Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) enhanced mediator supercapacitors(SCs). Two effects of PBAs were studied: (1) mediators provide extra capacitance to the electrodes of SCs; and (2) mediators provide extra free ions to the electrolyte in the SCs. In the first part of this dissertation, sixteen PBAs were synthesized and characterized by using proper methods. Respectively, PBAs-based supercapacitors were fabricated and analyzed by electrochemical characterization methods. The results of experiment showed that with doping 9% mediators in the electrodes the specific capacitance of the SCs increased by 85%. The correlation between capacitance increment and …

Division Of Research And Economic Development Monthly Report For May 2018, Uri Division Of Research And Economic Development

Reports (Research and Economic Development)

The monthly reports include statistics for project proposals and awards received by individual academic and administrative departments at the University of Rhode Island.