Integrated Primary Care And Mental Health In Rural Communities: A Comprehensive Literature Review To Understand Barriers, Zinab Alaskar

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

This comprehensive literature review capstone project identifies structural barriers to integrating primary care and mental health services in rural areas. It examined reliable literature and validated research articles to determine challenges and barriers to the adoption and expansion of integrating primary care and mental health services in rural communities. The hypothesis of this work is that the issues of workforce shortages, financial constraints, technological limitations, and stigma in a society limits the development and viability of integrated healthcare models. These structural limitations must be addressed to address issues related to access to health care, costs and patient well-being. As it …

Environmental And Societal Impacts Of Agricultural Land Abandonment In Indonesia: A Bibliometric Review, Jane A. Landrum

Geosciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the past decades, Southeast Asia has faced one of the highest urbanization rates globally, with land conversion, agricultural land abandonment, and deforestation occurring simultaneously. High population growth rates and migration away from rural areas have also led to increased food insecurity, which has increased the need for agricultural production. In Indonesia, high rates of urbanization on the island of Java have historically prompted governmental policy solutions aimed at population redistribution and agricultural extensification (rather than intensification). The cost of this conversion of lands to agriculture often falls on the environment, with peatlands and forested lands being converted to large-scale …

A Rude Awakening : Divine Disruption And Human Dynamics In Revival And Spiritual Renewals, Ruben Cervantes Jr.

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

What Shapes The Political Worldview Of The Preacher?, Randy Saultz

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Other Others At The Border: An Autoethnographic Inquiry, Clover Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation critically examines the concept of multiple otherness in online learning environments in Hispanic Serving Institutions. Hispanic Serving Institutions may unintentionally perpetuate practices and curricula that exclude and decenter the needs of older, disabled, or geographically diverse black women who may not identify within the university’s focus. Despite their missions to servingness of a stated population, Hispanic serving institutions must examine existing curricula that primarily cater to the dominant minority group they have tasked themselves to serve. By investigating existing curricular practices, this research seeks to maintain the integrity of minority-serving institutions while encouraging inclusivity for all students. By …

Translanguaging As A Cultural Bridge: Entretejiendo Voces Bilingües En La Frontera [Translanguaging As A Cultural Bridge: Interweaving Bilingual Voices At The Border], Gloria Sarahi Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

El presente estudio cualitativo explora las autohistorias de cuatro maestras bilingües que viven y enseñan en el Valle del Sur de Texas, una región fronteriza entre Estados Unidos y México. A través de pláticas íntimas, tejimos juntas narrativas que revelan la complejidad de ser mujer, ser educadora, ser transnacional, y ser bilingüe en un espacio donde las lenguas, culturas e identidades se cruzan, se fracturan y se reconstruyen. “Pláticas can provide a space of healing as the platicadoras release past trauma and current struggles rigged with sexism, racism, classism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism” (Morales et al., 2023). Utilizando un …

Criminal Activity Monitoring System: Targeting Africans And East Asian Communities In Dubai, Hamdan Kalantar

Theses

This dissertation investigates crime patterns among African and East Asian communities in Dubai, focusing on geographic hotspots, temporal trends, victim demographics, and the use of machine learning for predictive crime modeling. The research addresses the challenges faced by these communities, including labor exploitation, financial fraud, and human trafficking, within the socio-economic context of a rapidly growing urban city. Building on existing studies of urban crime, this research aimed to explore the spatial, temporal, and demographic dynamics of crimes and assess the potential of predictive models to assist law enforcement in crime prevention and resource allocation. A mixed-methods approach was employed, …

Designing For Diaspora: A Culturally Inclusive Landscape Celebrating Filipino Heritage In Winnipeg, Mb, Oakley Gray

Landscape Architecture Theses

Winnipeg, Manitoba, has a diverse population and a special relationship and rich history with the Filipino community and the Philippines. Filipinos have supported Canada through economic and cultural contributions, such as working as medical experts or contributing to political milestones. Contemporary parks and open spaces often do not represent minority communities and their contributions to society. The goal of this thesis is to create an open space, characterized by plazas, pedestrian corridors, and streetscapes, that acknowledges the Filipino community. Additionally, the goal of the design is to promote interaction and cultural expression through site elements, research of case studies and …

Reclaiming The Street: Designing Suburban Regional Corridors For Public Life And Multimodal Transit In Mounds View, Mn, Brayden Michael Kirk

Architecture Theses

In the United States, and overdependence on private vehicles has led to an urban landscape that hasn’t prioritized other modes of transportation. This thesis seeks to address the entrenched overdependence on the car, and the separated land uses it encourages, by rethinking the role that regional transportation corridors play in suburban development. An investigation of suburban development patterns, the historical and cultural evolution of streets, and contemporary trends in planning and design highlights the need for alternatives to existing suburban regional corridors. The resulting design aims to address car dependency by offering flexible, context-sensitive alternatives that emphasize the importance of …

El Salvador’S Cultural Memory And María De Baratta’S Piano Music: Kushkatan, Nahualismo, And The Representation Of Indigeneity, Alejandro Jose Arroyo Alberto

Dissertations

Following independence from the Viceroyalty of New Spain between 1821 and 1823, the United Provinces of Central America entered a period of cultural redefinition, as emerging national frameworks sought to integrate diverse ethnic and historical legacies. After a century, in early twentieth-century El Salvador, a revival of Kushkatan—a pre-Hispanic Indigenous territory within present-day El Salvador—gained symbolic traction among intellectual elites during a politically volatile era marked by social upheaval and cultural realignment. Within this historical context, Cuzcatlán Típico (1951) by María de Baratta, published by the Ministry of Culture, stands as the first ethnomusicological study dedicated to Indigenous music in …

Consideration Of A Vehicle Miles Traveled Tax In Michigan, Lindsay D. Reed

Master of Public Administration Capstone Papers

Gasoline tax revenue is becoming increasingly insufficient to fund road repairs and maintenance nationwide due to the increased fuel efficiency of gasoline-powered vehicles, increased sales of electric and hybrid alternatives, and overall construction cost inflation. Michigan’s solution to this problem, until now, has been to continually increase existing fuel taxes, which does little to address the aforementioned issues. Alternative policy options to supplement and eventually replace these traditional taxes include bridge and highway tolls, higher licensing and registration fees, and the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT). Several states in various stages of VMT tax implementation are examined through the lens of …

Sediment And Debris Flows Resulting From The 2020 El Dorado Wildfire, San Bernardino Mountains, California, Andrew Suarez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The Yucaipa Ridge is a section of the San Bernardino Mountains within the Transverse Ranges of Southern California. During the summer and early fall of 2020, Yucaipa Ridge experienced severe vegetation damage from both the Apple and El Dorado wildfires. Burned slopes exhibit a higher susceptibility to geomorphic change within several years of burning from the introduction of meteoric water onto the slope. Yucaipa, Oak Glen, and other nearby communities are currently at risk of damage by hyperconcentrated flows and debris flows during the seasonal rainy season.

Debris flows and hyperconcentrated flows (a.k.a. mudflows; are grouped and referred to in …

Ethnic Studies For Secondary Schooling: Collaborative Curricular Insights From A Working Collective, Kelly León

Dissertations

The rapid expansion of policy-mandated ethnic studies (ES) in U.S. schools suggests the need to reconceptualize the field of ES for the school curriculum. This exploratory case study sought to contribute to a better understanding of the ways in which secondary ES curricula can be negotiated and made by teachers and their collaborators, illuminating its future possibilities in public schools. The research explored how teachers, academics, and ES graduate students collaborated in a Collective to use and relate various knowledge resources, including local oral histories, to develop community-focused ES curricular guidance. Little is known about the type of knowledge work …

A Dutch Approach To Charleston’S Water Management, Noor Hooijmaijers

All Theses

Coastal cities across the world face increasing threats from climate change impacts such as flooding, drought, and sea level rise. The East Coast of the United States, including Charleston, South Carolina is among the most vulnerable cities due to its low elevation and exposure to extreme weather events. The Netherlands, with a big part of its country below sea level, have become accustomed generating solutions to mitigate climate change impacts.

This thesis examines how elements of Dutch water management, which is known for its multi-layered, proactive, and integrated governance system, can be adapted to improve Charleston’s resilience against climate change …

Berm-Leveling Machine For Peach Orchards: Incorporation Of Tree-Sensing Feature And Profitability Study, Shubham Singh

All Theses

Root collar excavation extends the productive life of peach trees in Armillaria root rot-infested soil, but the process requires trees to be planted on berms. Berm-planted peach orchards restrict the mobility of workers and machinery and can lead to increased erosion in furrows on either side of the berms. The current inter-tree berm-leveling machine depends on the driver's command to dodge the peach trees. The objectives of this thesis were to (1) integrate the feeler, infrared, and LiDAR-based tree sensing systems in the berm-leveling machine to make the soil excavating head's movement independent, (2) measure the impact of finger weeder-based …

Soil-Based Emissions And Context-Specific Climate Change Planning To Support The United Nations (Un) Sustainable Development Goal (Sdg) On Climate Action: A Case Study Of Georgia (Usa), Davis G. Nelson

All Theses

Soil-based emissions from land conversions are often overlooked in climate planning. The objectives of this study were to use quantitative data on soil-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the state of Georgia (GA) (USA) to examine context-specific (temporal, biophysical, economic, and social) climate planning and legal options to deal with these emissions. Currently, 30% of the land in GA has experienced anthropogenic land degradation (LD) primarily due to agriculture (64%). All seven soil orders were subject to various degrees of anthropogenic LD. Increases in overall LD between 2001 and 2021 indicate a lack of land degradation neutrality (LDN) in GA. …

Designing For Dignity: A Model For Women And Newborn Healthcare Settings In Honduras, Ana Sandoval Aguilar

All Theses

Many women and infants in Honduras, primarily those from low-income and minority populations, lack access to dignified healthcare spaces that support the provision of quality care. Whether it is due to an unreasonable distance to the nearest healthcare facility or poor quality of the infrastructure that results in bypassing behavior, women and infants in Honduras face serious barriers to accessing quality services. This, in turn, results in adverse outcomes such as maternal mortality, low patient and staff satisfaction, and low utilization. This thesis proposes that the culturally relevant, patient-centered, and efficient design of maternity and newborn centers in Honduras can …

Sacred Grounds: A Risk Assessment Framework Developed For Historic African American Cemeteries Threatened By Sea Level Rise In Georgetown, Sc, Jocelyn Patterson

All Theses

ABSTRACT

This study acknowledges historic African American cemeteries as vital cultural and historical landmarks that preserve the stories and traditions of often overlooked communities. However, coastal cemeteries, particularly in Georgetown, South Carolina, face increasing environmental threats. These burial sites risk severe damage or complete loss as climate change accelerates from sea level rise, flooding, storm surges, neglect, development pressure, and land development.

This research develops and considers a risk assessment framework to address the risks of cemeteries proximity to water, elevation, flood risk, and cultural significance. The research employs Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, historical records, and site analysis to …

“Just Broken Rocks” The Lower Colorado River Through The Lens Of The Coastal Migration Theory, Ruth Musser-Lopez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

My thesis is that archaeological evidence from the Havasu Landing Site (CA-SBR-1456) in San Bernardino County, California, supports the Coastal Migration Theory (CMT) proposed by Davis and Madsen (2020). The CMT suggests that humans followed the Pacific coastline to America during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), approximately 24,000 years ago (Erlandson 2024). I examined the site’s minimally modified cobbles, described as “just broken rocks,” confirming them to meet the definition of “creative minimization tools,” a criterion of the CMT. I found clustering of the minimization and other atypical stone tools with siliceous blade cores representing a 30,000-year-old East Asian technology …

The Proverbial Milk And Honey: Frontier, Racial Lines, And The Development Of California Foodways, Ahlys Gandara

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis proposes that the development of foodways in the state of California occurred concurrently with the development and failures of Americanization and the American frontier. This is done with respect to the fact that California has a much longer history than that of the United States. While foodways are often discussed and examined within the ideas of nationalization, this becomes harder to do within the United States as there is no unifying idea of a national identity and any attempts to do so were hampered by the lack of consensus as to a singular identity. This is especially true …

Urban-Rural Dynamics And Dui Fatalities In The Inland Empire: A Neural Network Analysis Of Traffic Safety Disparities, Armando Ceja-Lua

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines the disproportionately high traffic fatality rates in California's Inland Empire region through neural network analysis of over 500,000 accidents (2013-2022). We argue that the Inland Empire's unique hybrid urban-rural landscape creates a multiplicative risk environment unlike other California regions. Our analysis reveals that San Bernardino County's fatality rate (1.920 per 100 million VMT) significantly exceeds neighboring regions, with alcohol-impaired driving fatalities (0.586) substantially higher than California's average (0.390). Neural network models (92% validation accuracy) identify pedestrian-involved collisions (correlation value 0.164) and alcohol involvement (0.075) as the strongest predictors of fatality in urban areas, while rural crash patterns …

Pedro Aceves Mfa Thesis, Pedro M. Aceves

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

My Work is about looking at Cruising through a queer decolonial lens. Using multiple mediums such as photo, glass, Augmented reality, and film, I explore these queer histories and aesthetics through not just an anthropological approach but also an artistic epistemological approach weaving together narratives of prehispanic and modern queer Latinidad.

Voicing The Margins: Contemporary Chicana Autobiographical Writing, Veronica Morales

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Chicana literature's emphasis on personal and collective narratives provides an essential critique of societal norms and injustices, illustrating how the intersections of gender, ethnicity, and class shape the lived experiences of Mexican American women in a rapidly changing world. This study analyzes nonfiction autobiographical narratives by three Chicana writers—Ana Castillo, Cherrie Moraga, and Sandra Cisneros—and the historical contexts of their production and reception. These texts focus on different aspects of Chicanismo, and when placed in conversation with each other they illuminate the multifaceted experiences of Chicanas from diverse backgrounds. All three writers have become well established in Chicana studies and …

Understanding Household Financial Stability: Examining The Effects Of Inflation And Income, Cyndy E. Gutierrez-Fierros

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study aims to investigate the impact of inflation on US household financial stability from 2013 to 2023. As inflation rises, individuals’ purchasing power erodes leading to influence economic behaviors. Behaviors such as spending, saving, and borrowing should be a priority concern in the US economy. Results of this study reveal that inflation does not affect financial well-being and its direct impact on household stability is statistically weak. Regression testing shows that income emerges as the most significant factor. Most noticeably income influences savings and debt management in a positive way. As per these results, economic policies should be focused …

King Stephen's War: Military Strategy In A Time Of Anarchy, Keith Sloan

Master's Theses and Capstones

This paper examines military strategy during the mid twelfth century civil war in England, the so-called “Anarchy.” It demonstrates that King Stephen and his Angevin opponents both employed what would be recognized today as strategy in their conduct of the war. It posits that the two largest factors influencing their respective strategies was the permeability of the English countryside, allowing the easy movement of military forces, and the expensive and time-consuming necessity of besieging castles to gain control of territory, the latter a reality of contemporary technology. Using concepts from the field of strategic studies, it demonstrates that, rather than …

Effects Of Silvicultural Burns On Quercus Rubra Regeneration Near Its Northern Range Limit, Khanh Ton

Master's Theses and Capstones

Northern red oak (Quercus rubra) is predicted to expand its range northward in the northeastern United States with climate change and could greatly improve resilience of managed forests by expanding the functional diversity. However, red oak regeneration across its range currently faces many challenges including predation, pathogens, and consequences of forest mesophication such as insufficient light and competition with more mesic species. The latter challenges are potentially caused by the near absence of fire in most northeastern forested landscapes since the early 1900s. Therefore, prescribed burns may help address these challenges and hence promote oak recruitment and establishment. We studied …

Post-Fire Debris Flow Initiation Potential Based On Forensic Analysis Of Debris Flow Occurrence From The 2020 El Dorado Wildfire On Yucaipa Ridge, San Bernardino County California, Seth Clemen D. Saludez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study focuses on the potential debris flow initiation and effect in areas affected by the El Dorado Fire in the Southern San Bernardino Mountains. It uses novel technology combining drone-based photography and LiDAR imaging to create surface models of areas where potential debris flows could initiate, flow, and be deposited. The scans were repeated as geomorphic change occurred through the wet season to document spatial and volumetric changes resulted from the flows. These measurements were combined with traditional fire assessment and observational methods to characterize pertinent conditions.

As we investigated potential debris flow risk in this study area, we …

The Evolution Of India’S ‘Counter-Terrorism (Ct)’ Policy In The 21st Century, Mule Rohit Ashok

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The changing nature of modern terrorism has proved a major threat to the global security architecture. The 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States of America, the world's ‘Police State’, is apparent. Consequently, the international community launched collective fights at different levels to deal with it. However, the nation-state at the individual level also designed a ‘Counter-Terror (CT)’ policy mechanism within the scope of the foreign policy paradigm to safeguard national security. India, since its independence, has consistently faced security challenges from terrorism from its neighbours, and has followed the same suit. The major CT policy was grounded in the …

Emerging Technologies In Boko Haram's Operations And Counter-Terrorism Efforts In Central Africa, Abraham Ename Minko

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The interplay between terrorism and technology in Central Africa has intensified, particularly with Boko Haram’s rise. This research explores how emerging technologies enhance Boko Haram's operations and the corresponding counter-terrorism efforts. It examines Boko Haram’s use of social media for recruitment, encrypted messaging for secure communication, and advanced weaponry like drones and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These technologies have expanded Boko Haram’s reach and operational efficiency, challenging security forces. The study also evaluates technological countermeasures implemented by Central African governments and international bodies, including surveillance, cyber intelligence, and data analytics. It assesses the effectiveness of these measures, noting successes and …

Automated Radiotherapy Treatment Planning For Breast Cancer: A Robust To Ol For Global Deployment, Hana Baroudi

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Breast cancer incidence continues to rise worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where limitations in resources already constrain access to timely care. Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of breast cancer management, proven to significantly lower both recurrence and mortality. However, a growing shortage of radiation staff worldwide threatens the prompt delivery of these treatments.This thesis proposes an automated solution to address the limited accessibility of radiotherapy planning in breast cancer management by developing an end-to-end automated treatment planning model and evaluating its performance and limitations across diverse patient populations.

An automated contouring model was trained using data from 104 whole-breast …