Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Critical Media Literacies In Youth Media Production: Tackling Falsehoods Through Media Creation, Oluwadara Abimbade

All Dissertations

This Mixed Method Research (MMR) study, using a convergent parallel design, explores the practices of middle school students as creators and consumers of false information-free media. It investigates their ability to identify falsehoods, explores the impact of false information on various aspects of their lives, and introduces an innovative media production boot camp to foster awareness, detection, and prevention of false information dissemination in their media creations. The research, conducted with six participants, employs a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, including video and in-person observations, interviews, surveys, and artifacts. Integrating quantitative and qualitative data enables a comprehensive …

Ability Of Detecting And Willingness To Share Fake News, K. Peren Arin, Deni Mazrekaj, Marcel Thum

All Works

By conducting large-scale surveys in Germany and the United Kingdom, we investigate the individual-level determinants of the ability to detect fake news and the inclination to share it. We distinguish between deliberate and accidental sharing of fake news. We document that accidental sharing is much more common than deliberate sharing. Furthermore, our results indicate that older, male, high-income, and politically left-leaning respondents better detect fake news. We also find that accidental sharing decreases with age and is more prevalent among right-leaning respondents. Deliberate sharing of fake news is more prevalent among younger respondents in the United Kingdom. Finally, our results …

Navigating The Stem Landscape: Exploring The Challenges And Opportunities For Latinas In Pursuit Of Representation And Inclusion, Ana B. Mendieta

Education Doctoral

This phenomenological study delves into the underrepresentation that Latinas experience in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) industry, a notable disparity given their increased enrollment in higher education, revealing a significant concern within the STEM educational pipeline. Utilizing the core components of the STEM identity framework (competence, performance, and recognition) in conjunction with the cultural value of familismo, which emphasizes strong familial bonds, the research seeks to illuminate the complexities Latinas navigate as they strive to carve a pathway within the STEM education to workforce pipeline. Using a qualitative approach, the study identifies that the timing of participants' initial …

The Mindful Way: An Explorative Case Study Of The Transformative Effects Of Afro Flow Yoga A Culturally Adapted Mindfulness Intervention On The Health And Well-Being Of Black Women, Danielle A. Jones

Education Doctoral

This qualitative phenomenological exploratory case study explored Afro Flow Yoga to evaluate its potential as a culturally adaptable mindfulness-based intervention for enhancing the health and well-being of Black women while addressing the historical ills and adverse effects of intersectionality. From its beginning, the United States has discriminated against and defeminized Black women while profiting from all aspects of their lives. To be Black and female in America is to experience perpetual racism, sexism, and other "isms" as forms of harm and oppression. Therefore, culturally adapted mindfulness interventions are essential to cater to the unique needs of Black women. The mindfulness …

Dying With Dignity: An Exploration Into The Lived Experiences Of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Facilitating End-Of-Life Care, Dianna Lewis-Brewster

Education Doctoral

This study explored the lived experiences of advanced practice registered nurses caring for dying patients in the acute care hospital setting and how they perceive their role in the discharge process to allow for patient and family autonomy. It explored transitioning patients from the hospital to the community with an interdisciplinary team and the utilization of care homes in the community. The methodology used was a qualitative descriptive phenomenological research design. The study utilized the caring framework theories of Jean Watson’s caritas processes. The study included nine licensed advanced practice registered nurse participants from upstate New York, actively working in …

The Influence Of Advanced Math Course Enrollment In Potential First-Generation Students, Marian N. Jackson

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

There is limited research on potential first-generation college students’ K12 experiences. The enrollment in advanced math coursework while in high school is a crucial factor for such prospective college completion and success. Potential first-generation students, however, are more likely to enter college without advanced mathematics coursework. This grounded theory study utilized math literacy (Moses & Cobb, 2001) and notions of additive schooling (Valenzuela, 1999) to explore the reasons behind potential first-generation students’ enrollment decisions in advanced math courses. Data collection included semi structured interviews and demographic survey data of potential first-generation students. Findings indicate that the school counselor functions as …

Advancing Additive Manufacturing For Biomedical Applications: Antimicrobial And X-Ray Absorptive Composite Filaments For Fused Filament Fabrication, John M. Arnold Jr

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to investigate the use of nano- and microparticle amendments for the creation of Poly-lactic Acid composite materials for use in biomedical applications using the Fused Filament Fabrication process of Additive Manufacturing. Composites were created with the goal of imparting the useful properties of antimicrobial activity and x-ray absorption to the material. In addition to testing the efficacy of the particle amendments in achieving the desired properties, the thermal and mechanical properties of the composite materials were tested to ensure that the composites would be compatible with the Fused Filament Fabrication process and would produce …

Using Explicit Instruction And Frequency Building To A Performance Criterion To Teach Writing To College Students With Disabilities, Alyssa R. Mcelroy

Dissertations

Proficient writing skills are critical for academic, vocational, and social outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). However, many individuals struggle to develop proficient writing repertoires. Explicit Instruction (EI) and Frequency Building to a Performance Criterion (FPBC) are two effective teaching strategies. EI is comprised of clear, direct instructions and scaffolding to support a gradual release of responsibility from teacher to student, and follows a model, lead, test format. Once a skill is mastered, it should be built to fluency. FBPC is method that uses timed practice and feedback to build skills to …

The Effect Of A Specialized Training Program On The Knowledge And Attitudes Of First Responders About People With Communication Disabilities, Mariesa Rang

Dissertations

Individuals with disabilities experience emergencies more often than those without disabilities, and individuals with complex communication needs (CCN) are even more likely to have these experiences. As a result of experiencing both medical and legal emergencies, individuals with CCN have frequent encounters with emergency first responders (i.e., firefighters, EMS, and police officers; EFR). Despite being well-trained in many facets of their occupation, EFRs are not adequately trained for working with this vulnerable population. This may lead to less-than-optimal outcomes for individuals with CCN.

To better equip EFRs in their efforts to assist individuals with CCN, a 90-minute training session was …

Influence Of A Multicultural Counseling And Psychology Course On Counseling Psychology And Counselor Education Master’S Students Color-Blind Ideologies And Ethnic Identity, Rebecca Tuinstra

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether ethnic identity awareness mediates the relationship between completion of a Multicultural Counseling and Psychology Course and color-blind ideology endorsement. The participants included 93 master’s level counseling psychology and counselor education trainees attending a predominantly White university in the Midwest region of the United States. The study used a quantitative, pre- and post-test descriptive research design. Using mediation analysis, this study estimated the influence of completing a Multicultural Counseling and Psychology Course on awareness of ethnic identity and use of color-blind ideology while controlling for social desirability among master’s level counseling …

A Pursuance Of Self, Kassidy Albert

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The self portrait is a consistent aspect of art history, with many artists returning to it again and again across their lives. This project intends to explore the function of the self portrait. Through research and execution of artwork, the artist has found that the self portrait has multiple functions, including: a practice of anatomy; a display of status, skill, and likeness; an outlet for emotion; and a place for psychological confrontation. Across the life of this project, the artist completed twenty-two self portraits in a variety of styles and materials.

Navigating Through Narratives: The Development Of Opening Cinematics, Jacob Q. Stewart

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This project demonstrates opening cinematic design from conceptualization to final composition. Using Unreal Engine 5, I created an opening cutscene using Unreal’s sequencer editor to film and edit my shots. This document presents the steps I took to create my sequence from the writing process to the final layout. Starting as a written story, I worked my way to the final project by creating a mock scene and storyboarding. After this, I built my scene using assets from the Unreal marketplace and lit my scene with HDRI and dynamic lighting. I encountered many new programs such as Cascade and Mixamo …

Emg Activation Of The Upper Extremity During A Standing Backhand Disc Golf Throw, Levi Holcomb

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

EMG Activation of the Upper Extremity During a Standing Backhand Disc Golf Throw

by

Levi Holcomb

Introduction: Disc golf is a sport that has grown increasingly popular in recent years. However, there is a lack of research pertaining to electromyography in a disc throw. Purpose: To analyze the muscle activation of upper body musculature during a standing backhand disc golf throw. Methods: Five male recreational disc golf players performed a maximal effort standing backhand disc golf throw with EMG electrodes placed on the posterior deltoid, extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU), and triceps brachii. The subjects performed a …

Traumatic Consequences In Native Hawaiians After Colonization, Andrea Morland-Tellez, Elizabeth Drummond

Honors Thesis

The Native Hawaiian population is a marginalized group that has endured cultural trauma due, in part, to their history of colonization by Europe in 1778. This colonization has contributed to the Native Hawaiian’s loss of cultural identity, land, native language, and their way of life. As a result, many Native Hawaiians are left questioning their cultural identity. This project sought to better understand the impact of colonization on the Native Hawaiian people, specifically on their experience of homelessness, substance use, and overall disempowerment over time. A systematic review of multiple literary and anecdotal sources was conducted including peer- reviewed articles …

Captain America: The Delicate Masculinity Of An American Icon, Lauren Rezac

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

What makes a good man? For this research, I examine the ways that Captain America, also known as Steve Rogers, portrays masculinity in the highest grossing movie franchise of all time — The Marvel Cinematic Universe. I propose that the ways in which an American icon who represents the ideal man behaves reflects larger cultural expectations of masculinity, specifically the expectations for white men. In addition to holding up a mirror to society’s expectations for a ‘good man’, the social messaging about masculinity in these films should be examined to understand what American men of every generation are idolizing. I …

Let’S Give Digital: How Louisiana’S Laws Governing Inter Vivos Donations Are Unequipped To Handle The Growing Popularity Of Digital Assets, Zack Crawford

Louisiana Law Review

No abstract provided.

Carbon Sequestration: A Pipedream Or The Solution To Global Warming?, Caroline Mccullars

Louisiana Law Review

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Therapeutic Potential Of Cannabigerol (Cbg) In Female Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (Nash) Mouse Model, Raznin A. Joly

Master's Theses

Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, steatosis, and oxidative stress, in addition to excessive fat accumulation in the liver. Cannabigerol (CBG), a precursor molecule of Cannabidiol (CBD), has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects in various studies. Our previous data showed that a low dosage of CBG reduced inflammation and fibrosis in male NASH mice. However, the impact of CBG on female mice remains unknown. Recent studies have identified changes in immune cell populations in NAFLD patients. The goal of this project was to test the impact of CBG treatment …

The Creation And Application Of A Fundamental Hip-Hop Curriculum: What Are The Benefits And Drawbacks Of Codifying Classic Hip-Hop Technique?, Julie Wolfrum

Master's Theses

In this study, the researcher proposed using knowledge collected of hip-hop dance experts and pioneers to create a curriculum applicable for the youth. Using interviews with various experts and research on hip-hop pioneers, the researcher tested the proposed curriculum on third, fourth, and fifth grade participants in a Colorado private school. The curriculum was tested over a span of five weeks with seventy-four participants. Within the study, the participants were given historical knowledge, various vocabulary, creative prompts, and were introduced to different hip-hop musical artists. The participants were required to participate in cyphers, Battles, various hip-hop dance exercises, and create …

Beaches, Bumps, And Milkshakes: A Humanizing, Open, And Dialogic, Postformal Autoethnographic Study Of An Experiential Learning Academy, Eric Anthony Karahalis

Theses & Dissertations

The dominant educational paradigm is rooted in a Platonic, Cartesian, and Piagetian mind-supremacist epistemology that subordinates the body and experience to the mind, ideas, and objective concepts. This reduces students to cognitive receptors of information in a detached, decontextualized, and dehumanizing classroom, i.e., the banking educational model (Freire, 2018; hooks,1994). Students are forced to sit at desks for several hours a day and expected to open their minds and ignore the body’s needs. This educational model is dehumanizing because it only approaches students and learning through one epistemological lens and separates learning from the world. On the other hand, experiential …

The Use Of Stem Gaming To Promote Hearing Health In Youth, Catelyn D. Tweeten

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

Hearing loss prevention programs targeting youth have been implemented in many forms to teach younger populations about hearing health to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. Some hearing loss prevention programs, such as Dangerous Decibels®, are based on health communication science and aim to not only increase youth’s knowledge about noise-induced hearing loss, but positively change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors towards safe listening practices. The purpose of this project was to investigate how an educational computer game called Song of the Starbird could potentially be used as an effective hearing health promotion tool for students with normal hearing and students with …

Exploring The Impact Of Discussion Interfaces On Diversified Interconnectivity In Online Learning Communities, Hoda Harati, Eri Ono, James K Ingram, Nesma Ragab Nasr, Cherng-Jyh Yen, Chih-Hsiung Tu

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Asynchronous online discussions are widely recognized as potent pedagogical practices for actively involving learners in the process of constructing knowledge and cultivating a thriving learning community. This study examined how the types of online discussion threads (i.e., student-based vs. topic-based) moderate diverse of social interconnection in discussions and how it changes over time. An upward trajectory in the diversification of interconnectivity was discerned. In spite of the shift from student-based to topic-based, students continue valuing the power of diversified interconnecting with their classmates. The significant drop, but transitory, from Week 3 to 4 can be explained by the switch to …

Dental Caries Screening For Food Insecure Children, John Joseph Kane

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background. Dental caries is the most common childhood disease, disproportionally impacting minorities, and socio-economically disadvantaged children. Food insecurity impacts 23.6% of children in Texas; the majority being African American and Hispanic. Food insecurity screening rates are abysmal. Dental caries and food insecurity are significantly correlated and likely syndemic. Purpose. Implement oral examination and the “Hunger Vital Sign” screening tool in detecting dental caries and food insecurity at an urban pediatric urgent care center. Evidence. Food insecure children experience adverse health outcomes, impaired long-term health outcomes, developmental and cognitive delays, psychosocial delays, and oral health deficiencies including caries and malabsorption of …

Critical Race Theory: Counter-Storytelling The Case Of ‘Old Frank’ And The Daniel Family Cemetery, Mark C. Grafenreed

SMU Law Review Forum

The Texas Historical Commission (“THC”), a legislatively enacted agency of the State of Texas, has erected and disseminated nearly 17,000 historical markers across the state’s vast 268,596 square miles and 254 counties with one express purpose: “To protect and preserve the state’s historic and prehistoric resources for the use, education, enjoyment, and economic benefit of present and future generations.” Unfortunately, the histories of both the United States and Texas are under siege. Politically charged and fear driven constituents have fully devoted their collective time, energy, and financial resources to destroying the perceived new boogeyman, Critical Race Theory (“CRT”). Since January …

College Athletes As Endorsers: A Study Of Nil Advertising, Zach Johnson

Master's Theses

The objective of this study is to determine how effective the newly enforced NIL deals among college athletes are in terms of social media advertising. With the rise of social media and the amount of people using social media daily, it is imperative for advertisers to understand various ways of promoting brands on social media. A 2x2x2 mixed experimental design was used to investigate the effects of college athletes-sponsored Instagram posts among college students, specifically source relevance, product relevance, and message authenticity. Findings suggested positive effects of using college athletes as sponsors. Source relevance, product relevance, and message authenticity played …

How Sewage Pollution Affects Distribution And Life History Traits Of The Southern House Mosquito, Culex Quinquefasciatus, Catherine Dean Bermond

Master's Theses

Eutrophication from wastewater can cause fluxes of nutrients like and carbon and nitrogen in urban waters. One source of nitrogen in freshwater is from untreated sewage discharging from septic tanks. This causes a variety of environmental issues including harmful algal blooms, harming natural predators, and increased production of mosquitoes. Culex quinquefasciatus is the vector of West Nile Virus in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. St. Tammany Parish has over 600 miles of septic ditches, which receive effluent directly from aerated treatment units. Culex quinquefasciatus oviposit in polluted waters, and larvae perform well in water with high levels of decomposing organic matter. …

How Societal Forces Of Change Are Transforming Youth Physical Activity Promotion In North America, Jacob Szeszulski, Jamie M Faro, Rodney P Joseph, Kevin Lanza, Lucie Lévesque, Courtney M Monroe, Elsa A Pérez-Paredes, Erica G Soltero, Rebecca E Lee

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Climate change, increasing recognition of institutionalized discrimination, and the COVID-19 pandemic are large-scale, societal events (ie, forces of change) that affect the timing, settings, and modes of youth physical activity. Despite the impact that forces of change have on youth physical activity and physical activity environments, few studies consider how they affect physical activity promotion.

Methods: The authors use 2 established frameworks, the ecological model of physical activity and the youth physical activity timing, how, and setting framework, to highlight changes in physical activity patterns of youth in North America that have resulted from contemporary forces of change.

Results: …

The Association Between Parent-Adolescent Communication About Sex And Risk-Aware Sexual Health Knowledge In Latino College Students, Jacquelyn Rodriguez

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Timing and Content of Parent-Adolescent Sex Communication: Puberty discussions as gateway to sex discussions (Miller et al., 2009; O’Sullivan et al., 2001), Abstinence-based (Grossman et al., 2013; Guilamo-Ramos et al., 2006), Shame, embarrassment, or fear (Goldfarb et al., 2015; O’Sullivan et al., 2001), Information guarding (Guilamo-Ramos et al., 2006; Rouvier et al., 2011).

Gender, Cultural, and Religious Influences on Communication: Marianismo: “pure and asexual” (Wood & Price, 1997); Sex-negative talk vs. sex-neutral or positive talk (Evans et al., 2019; Guilamo-Ramos et al., 2019; Sevilla et al., 2016); Mothers are main communications with all genders (Guilamo-Ramos et al., 2019; Goldfarb et …

Emotional Health And Climate-Change-Related Stressor Extraction From Social Media: A Case Study Using Hurricane Harvey, Thanh Bui, Andrea Hannah, Sanjay Madria, Rosemary Nabaweesi, Eugene Levin, Michael Wilson, Long Nguyen

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Climate change has led to a variety of disasters that have caused damage to infrastructure and the economy with societal impacts to human living. Understanding people's emotions and stressors during disaster times will enable preparation strategies for mitigating further consequences. in this paper, we mine emotions and stressors encountered by people and shared on Twitter during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 as a showcase. in this work, we acquired a dataset of tweets from Twitter on Hurricane Harvey from 20 August 2017 to 30 August 2017. the dataset consists of around 400,000 tweets and is available on Kaggle. Next, a BERT-Based …

Duties For Datasets, Jerrold Tsin Howe Soh

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Machine learning (ML) systems are increasingly being deployed in contexts, such as law, medicine and finance, where system errors present serious and foreseeable risks. As ML system behaviour is largely determined by their training inputs, should dataset providers owe duties of care to victims? Using the ImageNet dataset and the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) models as case studies, this chapter argues that the conventional approach of centralising duties on system providers alone yields insufficient safeguards. Dataset-specific duties should also be considered to incentivise precaution in the preparation of crucial ML input. The chapter analyses how dataset duties may be encompassed …