Digital Commons Network^™

Disempowered And Disappointed Locals: The Impact Of Negative Hybrid Peacebuilding On Sociocultural Transformation Of Afghanistan, Seyed Ali Hosseini

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation conceptualizes peacebuilding in Afghanistan (2001-2021) as facilitation of sociocultural transformation of the country towards accepting the international norms important for sustainable peace, such as democracy, human rights, and gender equality. Hence, peacebuilding was highly normative and required enormous changes promoted by key peacebuilding actors to transform Afghan politics, society, and culture from a traditional society marked by fragmentation and radicalization to one that embraced these values.

The dissertation proposes that the peacebuilding effort that took place in post-2001 Afghanistan was hybrid, as the international community pursued the goals of building a state committed to these liberal principles, as …

Language Acquisition, Mental Health, And Acculturation Among Migrants In Canada, Ali Jasemi

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation examines the integration of first-generation migrants in Canada, focusing on the constructs of acculturation, language proficiency, and mental health. With nearly a quarter of Canada's population comprising migrants (Statistics Canada, 2022), understanding their adjustment is critical. Acculturation, language proficiency, and mental health can all have an impact on the success of migrants in their new country (Balidemaj et al. 2019; Brance et al. 2023; Iversen et al. 2014; Rousseau et al. 2019; Rashtchi et al. 2012; Salami et al. 2019). There are a limited number of studies examining these variables in relation to certain migrant groups, such as …

“You Do Not Need To Be Skinny Or Look Like An Athlete To Still Live A Healthy Life”: Exploring Anti-Fat Bias Within Health-Related Undergraduate Programs, Maddie Katz

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Anti-fat bias negatively influences well-being, particularly for fat people. This bias is present in healthcare and fitness contexts, where emphasis on bodies and weight are salient. Healthcare and fitness professionals often re-learn anti-fat bias in their education through a weight-centric paradigm of health, which frames weight as a primary indicator of health (good or bad), an individual responsibility, and a direct reflection of individual behavioural choices (i.e., diet and exercise). The failure to control one’s weight within societally acceptable levels is seen as a moral failure rather than resulting from complex factors relating to the social determinants of health (i.e., …

Queer Liberation In Young Adult Fantasy: An Analysis Of Rainbow Islands, Sydney Brouillard-Coyle

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of this study was to explore how the theme of queer liberation can be represented in young adult fantasy novels. I conducted an in-depth analysis of the novel Rainbow Islands (Devin Harnois) utilizing the lenses of queer, transgender, intersectional, and narrative theory. In the novel Rainbow Islands, Harnois presents a utopia in which queer people are able to counter their oppressive realities by building systems of community that support one another; yet, the novel ends up replicating systems of oppression. Thus, Rainbow Islands offers a complex opportunity for analysis when considering the theme of queer liberation and how …

Parental Evaluations And Choice Of Math Apps For Their Young Children: Exploring The Impact Of Individual Differences, Nicola Urquhart

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Well-designed math apps can have positive effects on young children’s math abilities (Bang et al., 2023; Griffith et al., 2019; Outhwaite et al., 2023), but research indicates that many commercially available math apps are not well designed (Dubé et al., 2019; Meyer et al., 2021). Studies also find that parents struggle to identify relevant features from app store descriptions (Montazami et al., 2022; Pearson et al., 2023). The purpose of the present research was to investigate how parents evaluate the apps themselves, and to test whether individual differences can affect parental app evaluations and decisions. In two parts of Study …

Cyberbullying: Media Construction And Framing Tactics In Pakistan, Asma Jamal

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis critically examines the portrayal of cyberbullying within Pakistan's top three newspapers, focusing on how these media outlets shape public discourse over the past five years. Employing an integrated approach using framing analysis and Fairclough’s Three-Dimensional Model, my research deconstructs how these newspapers utilize specific framing strategies to construct a narrative that not only informs but also subtly influences public perception and policy responses. The findings show that while the media highlights the roles of parents, educators, and law enforcement in combating cyberbullying, it also tends to reinforce traditional gender roles and overlook systemic solutions. I argue that the …

Language As Power: How Lgbtqia+ Gen-Z Use Language For Identity And Liberation, Kayci Resende-Abbott

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Generation Z LGBTQIA+ individuals are tasked with challenging and overcoming generations of social and systemic oppression related to their identities. One of the primary methods they use to achieve this is through the language and labels they use in their daily lives. From the inception of new acronyms to new labels and language, this new generation of LGBTQIA+ individuals is looking to break out of the mold that was set for them by past generations. This study aims to investigate how LGBTQIA+ Gen-Z individuals utilize language in their everyday interactions to articulate and affirm their gender and sexuality. Through qualitative …

The Torch: College Of Arts & Sciences Program Newsletter, Spring 2024, College Of Arts & Sciences Honors Program

Torch Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Toward A More Inclusive English Major: Current Realities, Especially For Students From The Black Diaspora In The United States, Isabelle L. N. Belice

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This paper aims to research the inclusivity of the English major. This paper will answer whether the major is inclusive, specifically for students from the Black diaspora in the United States, through the use of multiple sources. My paper focuses on four subtopics: the lack of diversity among materials used in English courses, the treatment of Black culture in the classroom, projected salaries after graduation, and lack of general knowledge about the English major. Through my research, my paper will assess the inclusivity of the English major and propose solutions to this problem based on my personal experiences and the …

Empowering Latino Immigrant Parents: Navigating Challenges And Fostering Child Well-Being Ina New Culture, Alexandra M. Vera

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This study aims to investigate the challenges faced by Latino immigrant parents in facilitating the adaptation, mental health, and educational success of their children in the United States. The research will also explore what support or resources would be helpful and empowering for these parents as they navigate raising their children in a new cultural environment. Particular attention will be given to understanding how cultural values and norms between the home environment and the new society create complex dynamics that affect child development and well-being. The findings from this research will inform the development of culturally sensitive interventions and support …

Generational Trauma And Its Effects On Newer Generation Parents, Hailey I. Bravo

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Generational trauma, stemming from historical events such as systemic injustices, wars, genocides, displacement, and migration, has been shown to influence the newer generation of parents. This literature review explores how such trauma affects parental behaviors, emotional well-being, and relationships between parents and their children. Also, exploring how unresolved trauma from past generations manifests in parenting styles and responses to their own children. By analyzing these dynamics, the review contributes to a deeper psychological understanding of how generational trauma shapes parenting practices and family dynamics, along with examining the intergenerational transmission of trauma, highlighting its implications for parental mental health and …

Holding States Accountable: An Analytical Review Of Reintegrative Laws, Policies And Programs For Felons And Ex-Offenders, Samira Kerkach

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

It is past due that states and the federal government take accountability for the gaps in reintegration of felons into society and begin seeking justice for these communities. In an overview of the political marginalization of criminal felony offenders, Leonor (2022) asserts that because of the significant impact of felon disenfranchisement laws on Black Americans, it is evident that this issue is complicated and proportions on racialized lines, meaning that modern felon disenfranchisement laws disproportionately affect communities of color, and therefore dilutes the political power of these underrepresented communities. There are more barriers to the successful reintegration of felons besides …

The Chinese Tax System: Where It Stands And How We Should Study It, Wei Cui

All Faculty Publications

This book chapter offers an overview of where China’s tax system stands, critically assesses recent scholarship on Chinese taxation, and urges researchers to attend more to normative questions of tax design (e.g., economic efficiency and redistribution). After surveying major tax instruments deployed in China today, the chapter reviews recent studies of taxation’s impact on the Chinese economy, arguing that such scholarship often falls short of providing systematic support for policy analyses, and that ignoring normative questions in tax design leads to poor conceptual framing in positive analyses. The chapter then considers some themes at the intersection between Chinese political institutions …

Gender And Nostalgia In Period Drama: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel And Mad Men, Deidre Pribram

Communications: Faculty Publications

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-2023) and Mad Men (2007-2015) share a common genre, location, and era.  Both are period dramas, set in New York City, as the waning 1950s transition into the 1960s.  Additionally, both television serials address changing cultural conditions, especially surrounding gender.  Yet, when analyzed through the prism of nostalgia, the two programs deviate in significant ways.  This essay uses Grainge’s (2000) distinction between nostalgia as mood and nostalgia as aesthetic style, applying it to the two television serials.  It also incorporates concepts of nostalgia as critique (Cook, 2005), as well as imagined nostalgia as the longing “for …

Introduction (To Emotional Expressionism), E. Deidre Pribram Ph.D.

Communications: Faculty Publications

The primary purpose of Emotional Expressionism: Television Serialization, The Melodramatic Mode, and Socioemotionality is to explore the forms, functions, and nuances of emotions in popular, mediated narratives. Clearly, emotions constitute a key means by which audiences experience and make sense of narrative media, in that mediated stories make compelling arguments or take up resonant positions through their emotional methods and meanings. The value of developing an emotional template for screen media lies in generating new analytical and interpretative approaches to narrative aesthetics, especially in terms of their pains and pleasures. As this study seeks to demonstrate, emotional analysis opens up …

Education And Religion In Shaping Support For Same-Sex Relations: Considering Differences Over Time And Across Geographical Areas, Amy Adamczyk, Ashely French

Publications and Research

Across the world, attitudes about same-sex relationships have become rapidly more supportive. While education is typically viewed as a liberalizing force, religious beliefs are often seen as restricting more tolerant perspectives and contributing to more conservative attitudes in general. Focusing on the United States this study examines the roles of religion and education, as individual and group properties, for understanding disapproval of same-sex relationships. Drawing on restricted information that makes it possible to identify where General Social Survey respondents lived, we find that graduating from college is associated with more support, but has less of an effect on Evangelicals and …

Development Of The “Laser Surgical Skills Evaluation For Residents” (Laser) Scale Through A Modified Delphi Method, E Sédillot-Daniel, A Melkane, C Chiesa, N Fakhry, V N Young, L J Smith, J R Lechien, L Guertin, M J Olivier, A Maniakas, R Jun Lin, E Bissada, A Christopoulos, T Ayad, Andrée-Anne Leclerc

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The CO2 laser is frequently used during microlaryngeal surgery (MLS) for a variety of pathology including laryngeal malignancy and stenosis. Learning how to use the laser safely is part of the curriculum for every otolaryngology resident. However, assessment of laryngoscopy technical skills can be challenging for supervisors, making it difficult to adequately provide feedback to trainees.

Objectives: "LAser Surgical skills Evaluation for Residents" (LASER) Scale aims to facilitate the evaluation of residents' performance and promote constructive feedback.

Methods: The initial evaluation grid was based on a literature review of CO2 laser laryngoscopy (with an emphasis on indications, technique, safety, …

Antiangiogenic Therapy Combined With Immune Checkpoint Blockade In Urothelial Cancer: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mohammad Jad Moussa, Iuliia Kovalenko, Emanuele Crupi, Ekaterina Proskuriakova, Yimin Geng, Giuseppe Fallara, Raed Benkhadra, Daniele Raggi, Matthew T. Campbell, Pavlos Msaouel, Omar Alhalabi

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Antiangiogenic therapy had been tested in urothelial cancer (UC) without reaching the clinic.

Objective: We provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials to assess efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) combined with antiangiogenic agents in UC.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched for trials with at least one arm of patients with UC treated with ICI plus antiangiogenics. Data were analyzed with the "meta" package from R using a one-staged frequentist meta-analysis.

Results: After screening 13,708 titles and abstracts, 9 studies were selected for analysis with 14 identified cohorts comprising 621 patients: 448 were ICI-naïve (ICI-N) and 173 …

Wise Blood Through The Lens Of Reader Response Theory, Hannah Rose Horton Stewart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Flannery O’Connor’s 1952 novel, Wise Blood, is a frequently misunderstood classic. While O’Connor is very rarely associated with reader response theory, its framework offers a way to more fully appreciate O’Connor as an author and Wise Blood as a novel while addressing aspects of critics’ confusion. The objective of this study is to consider a previously under-researched area of O’Connor scholarship while offering greater clarity to Wise Blood. By considering O’Connor’s personal nonfiction writing and the text of her first novel through the lens of reader response scholars such as Wolfgang Iser, this study offers a call towards viewing …

Prevalence Of Food Insecurity Among Caregivers Of Young Children During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Ireland, Elizabeth J. O'Sullivan, Caoimhe Daly, Aileen Kennedy

Articles

Our objectives were to explore the prevalence of food insecurity in primary caregivers of young children in Ireland and to compare two tools for measuring food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among caregivers of children aged <2 years in Ireland in May/June 2020. Relevant survey questions were closed-ended using two established tools for measuring food poverty/insecurity; the Irish Food Poverty Indicator and the Food Insecurity Experience Scale, developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the prevalence of food poverty/insecurity. To explore agreement in the classification of food insecurity by the Food Poverty Indicator and the Food Insecurity Experience Scale, Cohen's κ was used. Analyses are based on 716 participants; most had a 3rd-level education and were married or in a partnership. Per the food poverty index, Ireland's national measure of food poverty, 3.9% (n = 28) of our sample were experiencing food poverty. This rose to 10.5% (n = 75) experiencing food insecurity when using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale, which also measures worry/anxiety around access to food. There was low agreement between the tools, with 11.3% of the sample classified as food secure by one tool and food insecure by the other. Our current measure of food poverty in Ireland may not be sufficient to describe the food-access struggles or worry/anxiety about food access, experienced by the population, particularly during an emergency like COVID-19.

Multicomponent Perinatal Breastfeeding Support In Women With Bmi >25: The Latch On Multi-Centre Randomised Trial, Sharleen L. O'Reilly, Catherine Mcnestry, Denise Mcguinness, Sarah Louise Killeen, John Mehegan, Barbara Coughlan, Eileen C. O'Brien, Denise O'Brien, Marcelina Szafranska, Mary Brosnan, Lucille Sheehy, Rosie Murtagh, Lorraine O'Hagan, Marie Corbett, Michelle Walsh, Regina Keogh, Paula Power, Marie Woodcock, Mary Phelan, Amy Carroll, Stephanie Murray, Charmaine Scallan, Elizabeth Dunn, Fionnuala M. Mcauliffe

Articles

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a multicomponent breastfeeding support intervention on breastfeeding prevalence at 3 months among women with a body mass index (BMI) >25 kg/m2. Design: Multicentre multicomponent randomised controlled trial. Setting: Four maternity centres in Ireland. Population: A total of 225 primiparous women and their nominated support partners. Participants were aged 18 years and over, with BMI ≥25 kg/m2, carrying a singleton pregnancy and without contraindication for breastfeeding. Methods: The intervention included an antenatal group breastfeeding education session for participants and their support partners, followed by a planned postnatal breastfeeding assessment and telephone support for up to …

Determining The Impact Of The U.S. Foreign Military Sales Program On The Proliferation Of Democracy, Matteo Garofalo

Journal of Strategic Security

The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program is one of two systems by which foreign nations can purchase U.S. military technologies, and it is additionally the largest component of U.S. foreign security cooperation assistance. As such, it functions as a key tool in the arsenal of U.S. foreign policy, and is therefore tasked with supporting foreign policy objectives, such as the promotion of democracy abroad. This study analyzes all nations to have received FMS sales (for which data has been made available) to determine if either the receipt of FMS contracts impacts their level of democracy, or, alternatively, if changes in …

Asymmetry In The Digital Age: Cyber Deterrence Strategies For Small States, Tony Yuan Li

Journal of Strategic Security

In an era where cyberwarfare poses an invisible but potent threat to national security, traditional deterrence theories fall short in providing nations with a viable strategy to defend themselves. This is especially the case for small states, where limited national resources and cyber capabilities prevent them from effectively deterring larger powers. This paper investigates whether small states can achieve cyber deterrence, and the means to do so. This research challenges the preconception that small states are at a disadvantage in cyber contestation, and instead proposes that their small size offers unique defensive benefits. A smaller attack surface, faster incident response …

China’S Assertive Escalation In The Indo-Pacific Region And Its Repercussions On India-Us Relations, Pooja Devi, Jyoti Singh Dr.

Journal of Strategic Security

In recent decades due to the shift in power balance in the Indo-Pacific region, the region has gained attention from all over the world. The tremendous rise of China, economically and militarily, has altered the status quo in South Asia and raised security concerns in different countries, including India. Moreover, China’s massive growth has also threatened US hegemony in the Western Pacific Region and globally. The paper analyzes China’s recent policies, i.e. String of Pearls and Belt and Road Initiative and their consequences on India’s strategic interests in the Southeast Asian Region and Indian Ocean Region. China’s assertive escalation on …

A Review Of Frank Mckenzie's The Melting Point By Adib Farhadi, Adib Farhadi

Journal of Strategic Security

The Melting Point by General (Ret.) Frank McKenzie provides an authoritative, first-hand examination of the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), chronicling its historical evolution, key operational engagements, and future prospects within the broader context of the Great Power Competition (GPC). Drawing on his experience as a combatant commander, McKenzie provides insights into U.S. military strategy in the Central Region, focusing on civilian oversight, the combatant commander’s unique role, and leadership's impact on strategic decision-making. The Melting Point significantly contributes to scholarship on recent U.S. military interventions and the evolving global geopolitical landscape This review identifies five significant contributions of the …

Navigating The Nuclear Horizon: Japan’S Yin-Yang Duality In Threshold Statesmanship, Prachi Lokhande

Journal of Strategic Security

The discourse concerning global nuclear issues amidst the escalation of geopolitical crises, particularly the Russia-Ukraine conflict, underscores the complex and multifaceted nature of nuclear dilemmas. The perception that nuclear weapons are indispensable for assuring survival in an unstable international environment generates increased concern. Aggression or the threat to the existence of a nation may motivate nations to construct nuclear arsenals. As a result of discontent with existing non-proliferation mechanisms and the conviction that proliferation is inevitable, discussions concerning nuclear alternatives are propelled. Diverse considerations, including security, prestige, and politics, motivate nuclear pursuits. Probing the nuclear intentions of states is a …

The Security Dilemma And Conflict In Space: Impossible Or Inevitable?, Mackenzie Enholm

Journal of Strategic Security

Space has been identified as the next warfighting domain. With tensions simmering between the great spacefaring nations amid a space arms race, or at the very least a race for superior space technology, this article will examine such tensions through the lens of the security dilemma. Do the technology escalations between the great space powers and dual-use space technologies make space conflict inevitable? The United States, China, and Russia continue to develop advanced counterspace capabilities with the ability to target other space systems and satellites. Given the nature of states to maximize their own security amid uncertainty in space, physical …

It Is Possible: A Future Without Nuclear Weapons. By Ward Hayes Wilson. New York: Avenues The World School Press, 2023., Abhishek Verma

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Girt By Sea: Re-Imagining Australia’S Security. By Rebecca Strating And Joanne Wallis. Collingwood: La Trobe University Press, 2024., Chris Bronk

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Variability In Semidiurnal Surface And Internal Tides In Global Ocean Model Simulations, Harpreet Kaur

Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on semidiurnal (D2) surface and internal tides. Chapter 2 investigates the transition of M₂ barotropic Kelvin waves into Hybrid Kelvin-Edge (HKE) waves and the associated generation of internal tides at widening shelves using theory and a realistic global baroclinic Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) simulation. To understand the effect of complex, realistic bathymetry on the HKE wave transition, we perform quasi-realistic barotropic HYCOM simulations of the Celtic Sea/Bay of Biscay shelf areas. We conclude that the HKE wave transition is most likely masked by the effects of complex bathymetry and offshelf baroclinic fluxes cannot be exclusively …