Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparison Of Regional Food Systems And Food Security In Rural Mississippi And Italy, Reinhard Matthew Knerr

Honors Theses

Food insecurity has strong links to worsened overall health outcomes, specifically, increased prevalence of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity. Food insecurity in developed nations is primarily characterized by reduced access to nutritionally dense foods. This problem is especially prevalent in the Mississippi (MS) Delta region, where greater than two in five people are food insecure and community health outcomes are among the worst in the nation. Recent literature has placed emphasis on solutions to urban food insecurity, but urban resolutions cannot be fully extrapolated to rural food systems, where insecurity is characterized by a multifactorial lack …

The Past Close Behind Us: A Comparison Of Anti-Integrationists’ Rhetoric From The 1960’S With Anti-Critical Race Theory Rhetoric Today, Te'keyra Shelton

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research study is to analyze whether there are similarities and differences between how conservative organizations and leaders against integration in the 1960’s and Critical Race Theory today discussed and reacted to these advances for civil rights. While there are drastic differences in the context of both eras, arguments used to justify segregation are still used to justify banning Critical Race Theory. Through research on social movements, rhetorical framing, and white racial and conservative ideology, I was able to understand how these movements are structured to best gain success. And, through a comparative, content analysis of rhetorical …

Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences, Child Mental Health, And The Mediating Effect Of Maternal Depression: A Cross-Sectional, Population-Based Study In Rural, Southwestern Uganda, Christine E. Cooper-Vince, Bernard Kakuhikire, Charles Baguma, Justin D. Rasmussen, David Bangsberg, Multiple Additional Authors

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the intergenerational effects of maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and child mental health outcomes in rural Uganda, as well as the potentially mediating role of maternal depression in this pathway. Additionally, we sought to test the extent to which maternal social group membership attenuated the mediating effect of maternal depression on child mental health.

Methods

Data come from a population-based cohort of families living in the Nyakabare Parish, a rural district in southwestern Uganda. Between 2016 and 2018, mothers completed surveys about childhood adversity, depressive symptoms, social group membership, and their children's mental health. …

The Eunuch: Understanding The Term In Light Of Gender Diversity, Christy-Lynne Lapine

USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

This thesis examines the historical and cultural meanings of the term eunuch and challenges its common definition as simply a castrated cisgender male. Through a comparative analysis of examples from ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, Byzantium, Europe, and colonial India, the study demonstrates that the label has been applied to a diverse range of individuals, including castrated men, third-gender identities, gender-variant religious figures, intersex individuals, and people assigned female at birth who adopted alternative gender roles. By exploring the intersections of gender, biological sex, religion, politics, and colonialism, the thesis argues that the term eunuch functions as an overly broad and …

Pandemic Produce: Impacts Of Covid-19 On Florida's Fruit And Vegetable Industries, Christa D. Court, David Outerbridge, Lauri Baker, Laura Birou, Catherine Campbell, Gigi Digiacomo, Sebastian Galindo, John Lai, Alexandre Magnier, Michelle Miller, Gustavo De L.T. Oliveira, Eyrika Orlando, Hikaru Hanawa Peterson, Xiaohui Qiao, Fritz Roka, Andrew Ropicki, Bijeta Bijen Saha, Andrew W. Stevens, Li Zhang

Geography

Florida has one of the most diverse agricultural economies in the United States, producing several dozen types of fruits and vegetables that are consumed within the state, across the country, and around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting policy responses occurred during the peak of spring harvest season for many crops in Florida, abruptly removing market demand from the food service industry and shifting consumer purchasing habits, which enabled insights into several aspects of the fruit and vegetable supply chain. This article examines how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted fruit and vegetable industries in Florida, how these industries responded to …

Experiences Of Violence And Captivity: Labor Divisions At La Plata (Ad 600-1250), Kathleen D. Stansbury

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The La Plata Population represents a series of Ancestral Puebloan sites along the La Plata River outside Farmington, New Mexico dating from 600-1200 CE. Past research has argued that several captive females in this population experienced impairment due to illness or trauma. Entheseal changes can reflect experiences of hard labor, and so provide insight into adaptations to mobility impairments as well as the physical impacts of captive labor on the body (Henderson et al 2013). Measurement of entheseal changes utilizing the Coimbra method has demonstrated that sexual and class divisions of labor existed in the La Plata community, with captive …

The Influence Of K9 Partners On Law Enforcement Officers, Sydney Schultz

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to examine if and how the personal and professional lives of K9-handling officers and their police department are impacted by having access to and working alongside K9s. It also considers the possible variation in degrees of attachment to one’s dog between K9-handling officers and members of the general public. Through an online survey, questions from the Perceived Stress Scale and the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale were asked to better understand how working alongside dogs can change levels of stress. It was found that K9-handling officers experience significantly lower levels of stress compared to non-K9-handling officers. Further, …

Transitioning Out Of A 4-Year Non-Degree-Seeking Program For Emerging Adults With Neurodiversity, Ashlyn Walker

Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

There are an increasing number of emerging adults with neurodiversity entering higher education. However, little is known about benefits and barriers to programs designed to aid in student success for neurodivergent emerging adults. The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of neurodivergent emerging adults enrolled in a non-degree-seeking 4-year program. Participants were recruited to complete an interview assessing their lived experiences, the benefits and barriers, and the transition out of the program and into adulthood. Important themes emerged including the importance of mentors and program staff, the role of identity/confidence, development of life and social skills, the …

Paleoenvironments In Late Pleistocene Sicily, Danielle C. Falci

Honors Scholar Theses

This thesis explores eleven archaeological sites on the island of Sicily to further understand the paleoenvironment of the island at the time of early human occupation. Utilizing faunal records, we have analyzed the indicator taxa at each site, conducted a habitat weighting analysis, and performed several multivariate tests to determine what the paleoenvironment of Late Pleistocene Sicily may have looked like. Based on the taxa that existed on the island during the Late Pleistocene, we have determined that Sicily likely had a temperate environment and contained habitats that are no longer abundant in the present day.

Nepantla – Examining The Sacred Middle Ground Of Syncretism, Jose Luis Garcia Iii

Theses and Dissertations

As a result of historical traumas caused by the Spanish invasion of Mexico, the autonomy of its Indigenous peoples has been replaced by a Eurocentric identifier based on a colonial language and theologies. Because of the vastness surrounding the Nahua pantheon, Spanish and Church officials relied on guided syncretism as means of correcting their methodologies in converting Mexico’s Indigenous population. This thesis examines syncretism as a process of religious mixing and its residual cultural changes that affected Mexico’s Indigenous populations. This ethnographic research argues that syncretism as an overarching, universalized term is insufficient to describe this process in the Chalma …

Teachers’ Perspectives On Multimodal Texts In Middle School Reading Language Arts Classrooms In The Rio Grande Valley, Angelica Montoya Ybarra

Theses and Dissertations

Literacy in the 21st century includes multiple modes of communication that include culturally and linguistic diverse representation. It also includes multimodal texts that use visual, audio, and technological elements to create meaning. The new changing technologies have expanded literacy to more than print and written forms. Literacy instruction has seen pedagogical changes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators need to explore new literacy practices that benefit the growing diversity in societies along with the fast-growing technologies. Students need skills and mentoring to navigate digital learning platforms. Literacy in the 21st century includes multimodal texts, technology, nontraditional literacy skills, and multiliteracies. …

The Modern Classrooms Project: Student Efficacy And Achievement, Rhiannon Dunn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quasi-experimental, quantitative study was completed to determine if a Modern Classroom approach to teaching had a significant relationship with student self-reported efficacy measures and end-of-course test data when compared to classrooms taught with traditional instructional methods as well as if there was a difference in results for Honors and College Prep-level students. Participants were students enrolled in a ninth-grade English classroom in a suburban school in East Tennessee. The study focused on survey data collected from both types of classroom at the mid-point of the semester and then from the Modern Classrooms participants at the end of the semester, …

Cultural Lag Does Not Exist: An Exposition And Critical Evaluation Of W.F. Ogburn’S Hypothesis, Heather L. Osborne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite a century of scholarly critique, William Fielding Ogburn’s cultural lag hypothesis (CLH) endures. The inclusion of Ogburn’s hypothesis in introductory sociology textbooks, reference books, and histories of technology lends an unwarranted authority to its scientific credibility. I critically assess Ogburn’s CLH and find that it is neither scientifically nor theoretically sound. Specifically, I discover presumptions of cultural integration and normative progressivism, the fallacy of ambiguity, problems of causal explanation, operationalization, and selective bias, which renders the CLH unmeasurable, unfalsifiable, and non-replicable. Finally, I briefly discuss the implications and make suggestions for future research.

Geophysical, Archaeological, And Geospatial Investigations At Presidio Los Adaes, 18th Century Capital Of Spanish Texas, Robert Linam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Presidio Los Adaes (16NA16), located in present day northwest Louisiana, served as the capital of Spanish Texas for much of the 18th century. Maps and historical documents provide architectural plans for the fort and other buildings on the site but differ in the size and location of several buildings. In 2009, a geophysical survey of the site with ground penetrating radar, magnetometry, electrical resistance, and electromagnetic induction showed good preservation of architectural foundations. Visual assessment of the maps and geophysical data, information from archaeological excavations, and spatial statistics suggests that the fort was originally built as specified by the architect, …

The Six Emotional Dimension (6de) Model: A Multidimensional Approach To Analyzing Human Emotions And Unlocking The Potential Of Emotionally Intelligent Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Via Large Language Models (Llm), Jay Ratican, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) research, particularly in training large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI's ChatGPT 3.5 and 4, hold significant potential for future applications in education, healthcare, and assisted living. Emotionally intelligent AI systems can provide personalized and adaptive educational experiences, enhancing engagement and educational outcomes. In healthcare, they can offer empathetic mental health support, augmenting existing resources. In assisted living, AI companions can provide emotional support, cognitive stimulation, and monitoring services, promoting independence and safety. However, ethical considerations and privacy safeguards are crucial to ensure responsible deployment. Integrating emotionally intelligent AI in these domains has …

With Liberty And Justice For All? Examining The Role Of Hegemony Throughout U.S. History In Influencing Multilingual Discriminatory Practices Within Academic Policies And Legislation, Katie Olivia Wallen

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The discriminatory systems that multidialectal and multilingual users experience in the United States have historically influenced how educators and policymakers approach the construction of academic policies and curricula. These hegemonic systems shape and inform linguistic attitudes that have continually imparted prejudice against non-White language users, resulting in a gap of inclusivity for diverse student populations. Research aiming to address this gap has traditionally approached linguistic discrimination by specifically examining the use of dialects or non-English languages in the classroom rather than the underlying systems that affect both multidialectal and multilingual users similarly. Through the lens of policy and social construct …

Experimental Methodologies In Assessing Ceramic Shrinkage In Residual Fingerprints For Archaeological Application, Luke Aaron Burnor

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research evaluates the extent of ceramic shrinkage using a natural clay source that was locally available and known to be used by native populations in the American Southwest. The experiment took into account variables of temper mixture and firing temperature to assess the extent and potential need for shrinkage calibration in archaeological biometric research (specifically fingerprints). An experimental design was employed to test shrinkage rates while accounting for natural temper materials found frequently in the archaeological record including sand, grog, and quartz. The experiment evaluated whether shrinkage rates may have skewed data collected in previous studies regarding sex and …

The Role Of Sharks In The Human Ecological Systems Of Isla Cedros, Baja California, Alyssa Canoff

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Remains of sharks are found worldwide in various archaeological contexts, but generally, the relationships between humans and sharks have been rare research topics. This thesis will present and discuss the shark remains found during the archaeological investigations at Isla Cedros, an island off the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula. I will discuss the distinct species of sharks in the assemblage, the types of remains, the contexts they were found in, and incorporate what is known about each species to interpret the diverse types of relationships humans have with sharks at Cedros. By incorporating human-behavioral ecology and symbolic behavior …

Through The Kaleidoscope, Andrea Simpson

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Andrea Simpson, a California-based artist with a BA and MA from the California State University of San Bernardino, draws inspiration from the transformative power of psychedelics. Her artistic style merges vibrant colors, rhythmic patterns, and abstract forms, showcased across diverse mediums including ceramics, glass, and painting. Simpson's dynamic and experimental approach to art invites viewers on a mesmerizing journey that merges music, psychedelia, and contemporary art, providing a unique and immersive encounter.

The Effects Of Social Media On Mental Health And Career Planning, Spencer A. Rowan

Honors Theses

Social media use is prevalent and necessary in society—nearly anything can be accomplished with a mobile device or smartphone. Among the US population, two thirds of American adults admit to using social media (Perrin, 2015) and in 2022, Georgiev (2023) found Americans spent an average of two and a half hours daily on social media. Furthermore, social media use is tied to mental well-being, work confidence levels, and feelings of being an imposter (Johnson et al., 2020; Uram & Skalski, 2022; Hernandez & Chalk, 2021; Myers, 2021; Ramm, 2019).

This project examined the role of social media use among college …

An Exploration Of The Correlation Between Body Mass And Skeletal Measurements Of The Long Bone Joints And Diaphyses, Caroline Genius

Honors Theses

Body mass is a characteristic of the human body that can aid in narrowing down potential identifications of unidentified individuals. However, when faced with skeletal remains, body mass is not easily ascertained, especially when the remains are incomplete. This research explores the potential correlation between body mass and long bone dimensions in order to aid in identification efforts. The limited research done prior has been conducted almost exclusively on the lower limbs—therefore, one of the primary foci of this study is to assess the efficacy of using the joint surfaces and shaft measurements of the upper limbs. Five long bones …

Demigod And Delinquent: Percy Jackson And The American Teenager, Katie Weber

Honors Theses

Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief, the first novel in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, has achieved tremendous success with adolescent audiences nationwide since its original publication in 2005. Despite the widespread success of the books, the critical conversation about the novel and subsequent series remains fairly sparse. The existing critical literature on the series addresses its mythological aspects and adolescents’ reactions to the novel but does not analyze Percy’s status as an adolescent or what the novel suggests about adolescents as a whole through its portrayal of Percy. This thesis first provides an overview of the history of …

Shallow Geothermal Energy Systems In The Northeastern United States: System Distancing And Policy Considerations, Aeowyn Kendall

Master's Theses and Capstones

Climate change is an existential threat to human society, and mitigating some of the worst impacts will require electrifying the energy sector and reaching net zero emissions by mid-century (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2018). Geothermal energy, specifically ground-source heat pumps, can help to meet winter heating demand in the Northeastern United States. This technology, as well as the various mechanisms that would aid its expansion, are still underdeveloped but have vast potential. A central factor to consider in energy transition work is how energy decisions are made by people within the context of both social and physical system constraints …

Remote Sensing Of Riparian Areas And Invasive Species, Molly E. Yanchuck

Master's Theses and Capstones

Riparian areas are critical landscape features situated between terrestrial and aquatic environments, which provide a host of ecosystem functions and services. Although important to the environmental health of an ecosystem, riparian areas have been degraded by anthropogenic disturbances. These routine disturbances have decreased the resiliency of riparian areas and increased their vulnerability to invasive plant species. Invasive plant species are non-native species which cause harm to the ecosystem and thrive in riparian areas due to the access to optimal growing conditions.Remote sensing provides an opportunity to manage riparian habitats at a regional and local level with imagery collected by satellites …

San Pasqual Valley; Reexamination Of An Archaeological Collection Using Non-Invasive And Invasive Techniques, Ariana Yanez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis will focus on re-evaluating the CA-SDI-09674 collection at San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park. The purpose of the research is to provide more evidence that supports the preservation of the archaeological and indigenous record within archaeological sites. Research with noninvasive techniques will include macro botanical analysis, re-examination of archaeological collections, and if permitted, invasive techniques such as radiocarbon c-14 dating. The purpose of analyzing charcoal samples is to comprehend a chronology of occupation within SPB-SHP. The macro botanical analysis would provide insight into the natural resources that were available within the area during the precontact habitation of the …

Man's Best Friend Finally Talks Back: Bunny The "Talking" Dog, Maeve Griffin

Scientific Kenyon: The Neuroscience Edition

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Personal, Familial, And Socioeconomic Factors On The Return Of Remotely Collected Samples For Genetic Testing, Jordan Zeiger

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

There are a multitude of barriers known to impact access to medical care in the United States. COVID-19 has changed and compounded these barriers and led to a shift in the setting of the genetic counseling (GC) appointment, and in sample types used for genetic testing, specifically with use of telemedicine and remotely collected saliva kits. Previous studies have described lack of patient follow-through in returning these kits. Though the understanding of barriers to medical care, including access to genetics services, is well described, there is little in the literature for how these barriers impact the return of remotely collected …

Investigating Effect Of Seed Source And Developing Germination Protocols To Improve Success In Restoration Of Arkansas Tallgrass Prairies, Rhiannon Spencerosa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

American tallgrass prairie has faced losses estimated at 87-98% of original land area since European settlement. Native seeds are often used to supplement struggling or extinct plant populations in tallgrass prairie restoration and establishment sites. Two main considerations in restoration and establishment are from where to source seed and how to obtain high germination rates. In order to determine the effect of seed source, a common garden experiment was performed in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2022 with five prairie species: Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem), Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama), Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), and Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass). Seed was …

Returning For A Better Life: The Habitus Of Temporary Senegalese Male Migrants, Sophia Margaret Patterson

Sociology and Anthropology Honors Theses

In this thesis, I study the narratives and practices which maintain Senegal’s temporary migration regime. This form of migration functions not as an individual endeavor, but rather as a family and community project which provides its participants—migrants and others—with cultural capital and prestige. I consider how the cultural imaginary of Senegalese male migration encourages young men to migrate in search of masculine social adulthood. I ultimately examine the habitus of temporary Senegalese male migrants in order to understand how their migration projects are oriented towards return to Senegal.

Jinn Discourses In America, Gwen Kaliszewski

Sociology and Anthropology Honors Theses

The scholarly literature shows that jinn are important in the analysis of the formation of Islam in Muslim diasporas in the West. Jinn discourses in America reveal how American Muslims negotiate their religious beliefs in relation to American conceptions of modernity and secularism, as well as highlights competing Islamic epistemologies that result from these negotiations. Imams emphasize the Qur’an and the Sunnah as the only sources of legitimate knowledge, while lay American Muslims and scholars of Islam see personal experience as a way to approach Islam.