Digital Commons Network^™

Anti-Consumption: A Preliminary Examination Of A Set Of Social Considerations That Impact A Consumer’S Decision To ‘Punish’ Marketers Deemed To Be Engaging In Irresponsible Behavior, Tammy Mccullough, Ania Izabela Rynarzewska, Sam Fullerton

AMTP Proceedings 2022

A sample of 175 students from two universities provided insight regarding the rationale for engaging in anti-consumption behavior. A review of the literature identified myriad reasons why consumers engage in personal boycotts. This study examines 12 of these reasons: environmental concerns, political stance, religious orientation/affiliation, country-of-origin (COO), attitudes towards the LGBTQ community, the size of the marketer, the use of disliked celebrity endorsers, the use of offensive marketing tactics (e.g. advertising), animal cruelty including the use of live animal testing, perceived violations of basic human rights, employing a nonunionized workforce, and employment-related discrimination based on the gender, age, race, religion, …

Awareness Marketing: Cause Marketing Without Contribution, Elizabeth A. Minton, Frank Cabano

AMTP Proceedings 2022

Much research has examined the benefit of brands that participate in cause marketing initiatives and give a portion of proceeds or product to a charity. However, what has been lacking from this investigation is how consumers respond when brands raise awareness for a cause but do not take any further action to contribute resources to the cause – what we term awareness marketing. Through five studies, we examine awareness marketing specifically among the potentially divisive context of social justice causes. We show that consumers with higher levels of religiosity are more likely to support products marketed with awareness marketing, that …

Can Californian Households Save Money On Transportation Costs By Living In Transit-Oriented Developments (Tods)?, Hongwei Dong

Mineta Transportation Institute

Many residents in large Californian metropolitan areas are heavily burdened by housing costs. Advocates, researchers, and elected officials in California are debating whether transit-oriented development (TOD) could be an effective tool to mitigate the housing affordability problem by increasing housing supply and reducing transportation costs in transit-rich neighborhoods. This study contributes to this debate by estimating how much Californian families can save on transportation costs by living in transit-oriented developments (TODs). By utilizing the confidential version of the 2010–2012 California Household Travel Survey, this study evaluates the impact of TOD on household transportation expenditures by comparing TOD households with two …

The Fluidity Of Gender Roles On The Northern Great Plains 1890-1950, Stefanie Michele Pililani Aulner

History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies

The relative infancy of the Northern Great Plains social environment compared to the well-established social systems of the United States east of the Mississippi fostered growth and allowed the redefinition of women’s gender roles. Without the strict social policing of women’s roles within the frontier society, women could redefine their gender roles. Women not only redefined their gender roles but made independent decisions based on their current situations and navigated within the already assigned societal gender roles. In this instance, women, often oppressed and constrained by societal expectations and obligations, simultaneously possessed the choice to navigate and make decisions within …

In Situ Treatment Technologies For Pit Latrines To Mitigate Groundwater Contamination By Fecal Pathogens: A Review Of Recent Technical Advances, Shray Saxena, Walter Den

Water Resources Science and Technology Faculty Publications (Archived)

On-site sanitation systems such as pit latrines are extensively used around the world, while there is a growing number of evidence documenting the impact of pit latrines on groundwater quality that may affect human health. Hence, this paper summarizes the various safe-sanitation technologies by broadly categorizing them into fecal pathogen disinfection methods (anaerobic digestion, chemical disinfection, biological additives, solar pasteurization and vermicomposting) and capturing methods (pit lining and permeable reactive barriers, the latter of which simultaneously capture and sanitize fecal sludge in pit latrines). While some of the reviewed technologies have been widely practiced for mitigating microbial contamination of the …

Review Of Innovative Rehabilitation Techniques For Reinforced Concrete Buildings, Demetrius Karoubas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Building rehabilitation encompasses the act of repairing damaged structural elements, as well as the upgrading of older buildings to bring them up to modern standards. In recent years, due to the extreme economic and environmental cost of new construction, building rehabilitation is gaining ground as the most viable solution to the problem posed by damaged or substandard buildings. With the constant development of new materials with favorable properties and the improvement of our understanding of earthquakes, new rehabilitation techniques are being developed, improving on the efficiency and effectiveness of older ones. Reinforced Concrete (RC) buildings are a type of building …

Predictions Of Produced Water Quality And Recycled Water Optimization For Spatially-Distributed Wells In Point Pleasant Formation, Armel Quentin Mbakop

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The treatment of produced water as a fracturing fluid is becoming an increasingly important aspect of water management surrounding the booming of the unconventional oil and gas industry. Two main problems facing the oil and gas industry are the availability of water for well drilling and completion and disposal of the produced water. Unconventional well drilling and completion in the Utica shale requires large amounts of water. The wastewater that results after production—containing high levels of organic and inorganic matter— is usually disposed of through deep well injection. A new approach reuses this produced water as part of subsequent fracturing …

Framing Fashion Sustainability In Fashion Magazines, Kristen Ann Mohammadi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study explores the framing, dominant frame, story focus, and tone of sustainable fashion coverage in prominent fashion magazines, Vogue and Refinery29, seeking to understand if the publications frame their coverage differently and if the framing changes after the emergence of COVID-19. To do so, this study uses a sample consisting of articles from summer months (May-August) spanning three years (2019, 2020, and 2021), as COVID-19 was first discovered in the United States in 2020. This study uses content analysis methodology to analyze a total of 206 articles. This kind of research is important, as environmental and social issues stemming …

Red Spruce Ecological Sites, Ecological States, And Restoration Pathways Quantified Through Soil Organic Carbon, James Edward Leonard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Tools used by agencies and organizations like the Forest Service (FS), the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (CASRI) to help guide red spruce (Picea rubens) ecosystem restoration within Central Appalachia could better address outcomes from management practices implemented in terms of soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes. These high-elevation landscapes have a natural capacity to produce diverse ecosystem services that affect humans, animals, and plants alike. Ecological site descriptions (ESD) are an important tool used to restore impacted landscapes and provide detailed management prescriptions specific to red spruce ecological …

Enhancing Natural Capital To Improve Mental Health And Well-Being In Rural Communities In Minnesota, Ashley Zidon

Sociology and Anthropology

This paper explores how green space can aid in improved mental health outcomes for individuals who live in rural communities in greater Minnesota. The mental health landscape across the state is complex and layered, complicated by access, insurance, broadband, and employment. At the local level, built and natural policy have the ability to directly impact physical and mental health outcomes for people; positively or negatively. Unfortunately, little literature exists in rural context; shadowed by its urban counterpart. By exploring how broader partnerships and policy can be strengthened, local and county government play a critical role in how communities can support …

Growing Green Finland: A Short-Term Study Abroad Program With A Sociological Focus, Natasha Ann Cary-Waselk

Sociology and Anthropology

This paper is an example of theory-based practice in the field of international education through program and course design. Environmental sociology will be the focus of the class readings, discussions, and course work as well as on-ground programming. This topic ties specifically to the on-ground programming in Finland. Students will take the knowledge learned in the course surrounding sustainability, wellbeing practices, and sociology and learn more about these topics through immersion and community interaction. Through specific course design, students will not only learn about environmental sociology, but will have continuous learning experiences through course work, excursions, reflection, peer-to-peer learning, and …

Machine Learning Based Real-Time Quantification Of Production From Individual Clusters In Shale Wells, Ayodeji Luke Aboaba

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over the last two decades, there has been advances in downhole monitoring in oil and gas wells with the use of Fiber-Optic sensing technology such as the Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS). Unlike a conventional production log that provides only snapshots of the well performance, DTS provides continuous temperature measurements along the entire wellbore.

Whether by fluid extraction or injection, oil and gas production changes reservoir conditions, and continuous monitoring of downhole conditions is highly desirable. This research study presents a tool for real-time quantification of production from individual perforation clusters in a multi-stage shale well using Artificial Intelligence and Machine …

Short-Term International Sport For Development And Peace Programs: A Retrospective Analysis And Critique Informed By Stakeholders’ Perspectives In A Two-Year Follow-Up, Adam Hansell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) programs are a popular approach to promoting positive development throughout the world, spanning health, education, peace, and social issues. However, scholars have identified critical shortcomings of SDP work, including the potential to reinforce neoliberalist tendencies and values imposition from the Global North to the Global South. Deporte y Cambio Social was a short-term SDP program established through partnership between American and Mexican constituent groups with aims to empower girls and women through soccer. Through six semi-structured, two-year retrospective interviews, the purpose of the present study was to explore cross-cultural understandings of power and intercultural …

A Practice Improvement Project Incorporating Tobacco Cessation Education Into A Doctor Of Nursing Practice Program, Jillian Doan

Nursing

Tobacco use is a global epidemic and is one of the largest public health threats the world has faced killing over eight million people annually. Smoking-related illnesses cost the United States $300 billion annually. Unfortunately, only 31% of those attempting to quit smoking in 2015 used evidenced-base cessation treatments. When behavioral and pharmacotherapy are combined, cessation rates increase by 82%. With tobacco use being the leading cause of U.S. preventable death and with 70% of tobacco users visiting a primary care facility annually, it is essential that providers appropriately and accurately address tobacco use and cessation. This practice improvement project …

Student Research Symposium Schedule 2022, Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Student Research Symposium 2022 (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Promoting Confidence In Pressure Injury Management In Rural Long-Term Care, Leah Radke

Nursing

Despite prevention efforts, pressure injuries (PIs) remain prevalent across care settings and impose significant burden on affected individuals and the entire healthcare system. Many individuals, including those who live rurally and in long-term care (LTC) facilities, face challenges when accessing specialty care, leaving PI management to primary care providers (PCPs) and nursing staff. Minimal training and the myriad of commercially available wound care products contribute to lack of confidence in PI management. This quality improvement project aimed to promote confidence in management of PIs in LTC residents, through development of a product selection guide, example orders, and separate education for …

Aspirin And Statin Use For Primary Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease, Natalie Jean Carriveau

Nursing

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and aspirin and statins are well-known medications associated with CVD prevention. There are well-known benefits of aspirin for secondary prevention of CVD, but aspirin’s role in primary prevention remains controversial. The decision to start aspirin for primary prevention is individualized to the specific patient and situation. Statins are a drug used as first-line therapy in cholesterol management, though there is a complicated relationship with adherence due to real and/or perceived safety issues associated with statin use. The decision to start statins needs to be determined …

Screening For Noise Induced Hearing Loss In Agricultural Workers And Farmers, Erin Dewitz

Nursing

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health hearing loss is the third most prevalent condition after high blood pressure and arthritis in the United States (U.S.) (NIOSH, 2019). An estimated 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous noise, making noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) the second most self-reported occupational disease or injury. Although most industries are regulated by government organizations such as NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, agriculture does not fall under regulations and policies enacted through these groups. The incidence of hearing loss is high in farmers and agricultural workers, reflecting an …

Barriers To Seeking Preventative Care For Men Living In Rural North Dakota, Stanley Johnson

Nursing

The purpose of this evidence-based practice improvement project (PIP) was to identify perceived barriers to seeking primary and preventative healthcare by males living in a rural North Dakota community. Research has shown that men in the United States live shorter lives and are more likely to die of many common causes of death than females. These facts may be partially explained by the idea that men are less likely than women to regularly see a healthcare provider. Health disparities also exist between rural and metropolitan communities as well. Individuals living in rural areas have been found to die more frequently …

Food Safety In The Us: Regulation, Liability, And Tracing, Marziyeh Bahalou Horeh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation addresses three issues related to food safety. First, it examines the economic efficiency of irrigation water quality guidelines of Food Safety Modernization Act. Second, it estimates the value of traceability in the U.S. lettuce supply chain. Third, it uses state-level data and panel regression models to examine the relationship between product liability laws and reported foodborne illnesses in the U.S.

The second chapter develops a theoretical framework and a corresponding empirical analysis to analyze the Food and Drug Administration's irrigation water quality regulatory standard pursuant to the Food Safety Modernization Act. We develop a stochastic, price endogenous partial …

Optimization And Analytics Of Decarbonized Forest And Biomass Supply Chains, Xufeng Zhang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

First, a data-driven holistic analysis framework was developed to aid the industrial development of forest biomass for bioenergy to promote the regional bioeconomy. Leveraging the existing but fragmented multi-source data, four components of industrial bioenergy development were integrated into the framework including spatial statistical analysis of biomass feedstock and bioenergy production, machine learning-based suitability assessment, bioenergy plant sites identification and ranking, and socio-economic impacts assessment. A case study was conducted for forest biomass to pellet fuel in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Our results indicate that the great potential of forest biomass with high variation at the county level is primarily …

Sex Differences In Response To A Large 200-Person Audience Using The Trier Social Stress Test In Pre-Recorded Virtual Reality, Garrett Byron

Psychology

The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) induces stress in the lab by having participants complete challenging tasks in front of an audience. The TSST has been adapted to virtual reality (VR), eliminating in-person audience variability that could explain sex differences in stress responses. Furthermore, the VR-TSST facilitates the examination of factors difficult to investigate in person, such as the effect of a large, 200-person audience. This study compared male and female physiological and psychological responses to an in-person 2-person TSST and a prerecorded VRTSST with audience sizes of 2 and 200 persons. Results indicated that only males had statistically significant …

Longitudinal Examination Of Sleep And Chrononutrition, Allison Christine Veronda

Psychology

Chrononutrition (i.e., circadian timing of food intake) offers promising opportunities to improve weight management strategies, but many fundamental aspects of chrononutrition are still unknown. While research to date has suggested that unhealthy chrononutrition behaviors are linked to weight gain, chrononutrition preferences are markedly understudied, and research has not yet determined whether chrononutrition preferences and behaviors are variable or stable over time in the natural environment. Potential mechanisms underlying chrononutrition’s impact on weight are still being explored. Recent evidence suggests that weight gain is the result of an imbalance of energy consumption and expenditure that is influenced by sleep duration. Though …

Development Of Quantification And Diagnosis Methods For Cereal Bacterial Leaf Streak Pathogens, Eunhye Hong

Plant Pathology

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) has been a major disease on wheat and barley in the Northern Great Plains. It is caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtu) on wheat and X. translucens pv. translucens (Xtt) on barley. Many questions remain unclear on pathogen biology and BLS epidemiology. Based on previous study, I identified an Xtu/Xtt specific region and established a qPCR quantification method for the bacterial pathogens. The method was shown to be effective to detect and quantify the bacterial pathogen in seeds and leaves. In addition, molecular markers were developed to differentiate Xtu and Xtt. Those markers were successfully …

Historias De Una Pandemia: Documenting Latina/O/X Stories During Covid-19 Through Performed Storytelling, Elena Foulis

Spanish Faculty Publications (Archived)

Using oral histories and narratives collected during the Covid-19 pandemic, a student-led performance invites consideration about the role of language, cultural, and social pluralities in creating a socially just world.

Privacy And Online Social Networks: A Systematic Literature Review Of Concerns, Preservation, And Policies, Damion Mitchell, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

Background: Social media usage is one of the most popular online activities, but with it comes privacy concerns due to how personal data are handled by these social networking sites. Prior literature aimed at identifying users’ privacy concerns as well as user behavior associated with privacy mitigation strategies and policies. However, OSN users continue to divulge private information online and privacy remains an issue. Accordingly, this review aims to present extant research on this topic, and to highlight any potential research gaps. Method: The paper presents a systematic literature review for the period 2006 - 2021, in which 33 full …

Privacy And Security Concerns Associated With Mhealth Technologies: A Computational Social Science Approach, Mitchell Damion, Omar El-Gayar

Research & Publications

No abstract provided.

Interoperability In Healthcare Using Fhir: A Systematic Literature Review, Madhu Gottumukkala, Omar El-Gayar, Cherie Noteboom

Research & Publications

No abstract provided.

Championing The Lives And Works Of American Women Artists: A Performance Guide To Libby Larsen’S Song Cycle Mary Cassatt (1844-1926): Seven Songs For Mezzo-Soprano, Solo Trombone, And Orchestra (With 15 Projections Of Cassatt’S Paintings) (1994), Catherine Tlusty

Music

Libby Larsen (b. 1950), one of America’s leading composers, has written in nearly every genre of classical music. Among her catalogue of vocal music are choral works, operas, art song, and song cycles. Larsen’s song cycles are known for their texts that portray strong women and are written by female writers. Larsen’s declamatory text settings, which are influence by her training in Gregorian chant, capture the struggles and triumphs of these strong female figures. Her recitative-like melodies bring to life these women such as the artist Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) in Larsen’s song cycle Mary Cassatt (1844-1926): Seven songs for mezzo-soprano, …

Understanding The Role Of Soils In Decision Making: Urban Agriculture And Septic Systems, Hannah Marissa Ohm

Soil Science

Rural and urban dwellers frequently face decisions relating to human health. Among these are issues pertaining to water quality, and the availability of safe and nutritious food. Rural septic systems treat household wastewater which could contaminate surface and near surface waters if left untreated. In urban areas and food deserts the quality of the locally sourced food may be of concern. Many of these issues can be resolved with access to current soils information and interpretations, and an understanding of how the soil functions in the user’s area of interest. From planting a community garden to replacing a failing septic …