Digital Commons Network^™

Responsible Great Power Or Threat? Chinese Involvement In 21st Century United Nations Peacekeeping Operations And Peacebuilding In Africa, Victoria Savage

International and Global Studies Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper examines why China pursues its peacebuilding agenda and participation in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in the African continent in the twenty-first century and evaluate whether China poses a threat or is a responsible great power in Africa in this context. Through the lenses of theories of international relations, historical analysis, and human rights, this study finds that China is unsuccessful in being a responsible great power and poses a threat to the stability and agency of African states with which it engages.

Building Bridges: An Improvement Science Approach To Fostering Cross-Group Connections And Friendships Among Elementary School Students, Cody Russelburg

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The persistent issue of limited cross-group connections and friendships among diverse elementary school students is addressed, specifically in a district with five elementary schools that converge into a single middle and high school. The tendency for students to maintain selfsegregated social circles from their zoned elementary schools into middle and high school highlights the need for an intervention designed to foster cross-group connections. Utilizing the Improvement Science framework, this research incorporates two intervention cycles to refine and enhance outcomes related to cross-group connections. Fifth-grade students from two distinct elementary schools had intentional and direct intergroup contact utilizing an adapted version …

Illuminated Magazine, School Of Graduate Studies, East Tennessee State University

Illuminated: Graduate Student Research Magazine

From the Graduate School; Connecting Cultures and Overcoming Adversity through Art: One Artist’s Perspective, [Akintayo Akintobe, Studio Art, MFA]; Where Are They Now? [Featuring Emily Lu]; Bridging the Gap in Patient Self-Care: The Lived Experiences of Young Adults with Type 2 Diabetes, [Holly Berry-Price, Nursing, PhD]; Where Are They Now? [Featuring Oluwafisayo Ogundoro]; Examining the Causes of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among People Living with HIV, [Charles Olomofe, Public Health, DrPH]; Where Are They Now? [Featuring Julianna Cole]; Uncovering East Tennessee’s History through a Material Lens, [Slade Nakoff, History, MA]; Where Are They Going? [Featuring Tess Ann Simpson]; Filling the Gaps: …

Healthcare Social Network Research And The Echo Model™: Exploring A Community Of Practice To Support Cultural Brokers And Transfer Cultural Knowledge, Phil Nixon, Chiara Broccatelli, Perrin Moss, Sarah Baggio, Angela Young, Dana Newcomb

Project ECHO Bibliography

BACKGROUND: Project ECHO

METHODS: Social network theories and methods informed the collection of network data and analysis of advice-seeking relationships among ECHO network members and their nominees. Registered members from two ECHO networks were invited to complete the Qualtrics survey. Networks analysed comprised 398 professionals from mainstream health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisation, education, disability and child safety service settings.

RESULTS: Brokers were well represented, both those who hold knowledge brokerage positions as well as cultural brokers who incorporate clinical and cultural knowledge enabling holistic care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients (38 individuals, 17% …

Porous, Janice A. Agustin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Porous presents sensory modalities to convey the theme of memories, creating an active site that resists erasure as an immersive art installation. Through a collage of multichannel video performances, Porous is an assemblage of fragmented, abstract, and non-linear aspects of memory. These videos are portals to sites of resistance, collaged and entangled as the essence of memories. All videos touch slightly on the wall, displaying their interconnectedness. The videos coexist with layered audio and live water ambient noise.

Border Queer Narratives: Exploring Lgbtq+ Experiences On The Us-Mexico Border, Eva L. Millan

ANTH 4306/6306 Anthropology of Borders

This project seeks to document and elevate the voices of queer and LGBTQ+ individuals who call the RGV home. In a region often marked by its complex cultural intersections, this endeavor aims to weave together a mosaic of narratives that are too often relegated to the margins.

Recipes - Caldo, Alejandra Gomez, Rebekah Gomez

ANTH 4306/6306 Anthropology of Borders

No abstract provided.

Leading In White Spaces: The Experience Of African American Pastors As Leaders In The Christian Reformed Church In North America (Crcna), Colin P. Watson Sr.

CTS DMin Dissertations

The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) has had mixed results in attracting and maintaining Black leadership. This research seeks to identify the reasons for this mixed record by examining the experiences of nine current and former Black and African American CRCNA leaders.

Significant inclusion of Black and African-American leadership in the CRCNA is not only possible, but desired by the individuals interviewed. This work examines various challenges experienced by the pastors that were interviewed, and then provides potential next steps that address these challenges and increase the longevity and success of Black leadership in the CRCNA.

The Framing Of Authority In The Acrl Framework On Information Literacy: Multidisciplinary Perspectives On Truth, Authority, Expertise And Belief., Lisa M. Rose-Wiles

Library Publications

Purpose This paper engages multidisciplinary perspectives on truth, authority, expertise and belief to unpack and better understand the underlying epistemology and implications of the ACRL frame “authority is constructed and contextual”.' Design/Methodology/Approach Following an overview of the issues confronting us in a “post-truth world”, the paper reviews critiques of the ACRL frame “authority is constructed and contextual” and examines the related concepts of truth, authority, expertise and belief from multidisciplinary perspectives. Findings While the frame acknowledges the limitations and biases of current scholarly publishing and implicitly supports social justice, it runs the danger of promoting relativism and is ambiguous regarding …

Daily Announcements May 2024, Wofford College. Office Of Marketing And Communications

Communications Office Daily Announcements

No abstract provided.

Interview With Gloria Chavez, Gloria Chavez, Ashley Mariscal

ANTH 4306/6306 Anthropology of Borders

Narrative of Gloria Chavez's journey from her upbringing in a border community to her current role as Chief of the Border Patrol in the Rio Grande Valley sector. Chavez reflects on her 29-year career in law enforcement, starting from humble beginnings. She discusses her family dynamics, the influence of her siblings and cousins, and pivotal moments that shaped her career trajectory. The interview underscores the importance of hard work, mentorship, and personal resilience in achieving success. Chavez's experiences living in a border area and being a Latina in a predominantly male agency highlight the unique challenges and opportunities she has …

Understanding Student Perspectives On Higher-Level Mathematics Courses At A Higher Level Institution On The U.S.–Mexico Border, Diego Rivera

ANTH 4306/6306 Anthropology of Borders

This project explores students' perspectives on mathematics courses at a higher-level institution along the U.S.–Mexico border. Traditional mathematics instruction is often delivered from an objective standpoint, but this study investigates how students perceive courses like college algebra and calculus when taught using a practical approach that incorporates their cultural background and personal knowledge. The study involves interviews with three students from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), majoring in Statistics, Biomedical Science, and Engineering. The paper includes detailed descriptions of the students and their responses, concluding with insights derived from the interviews.

Ethnographic Survey - Mitchel J., Mitchel J., Julio Jasso

ANTH 4306/6306 Anthropology of Borders

Ethnographic survey for a resident living in Cameron County, Texas, on the topic of COVID-19.

Connecticut Law Review Masthead & Table Of Contents 56-4

Connecticut Law Review

No abstract provided.

"Old Cod": The Power Of Storytelling In Conor Mcpherson's The Weir, Sarah Johnson

English (MA) Theses

This paper examines the representation of Irish storytelling in Conor McPherson’s 1997 play The Weir. Drawing on postcolonial theory as well as the historical context of Ireland during the play’s release, I argue that The Weir is uniquely positioned at the intersection of traditional and modern values. Further, I assert that fairy legend is a tool used by the play’s characters to both understand and escape a fluctuating cultural landscape, and ultimately, a way to articulate their own values. Using textual analysis, I examine the rhetorical choices of the play’s storytellers and compare it with established conventions of Irish …

Review: A Brick And A Bible: Black Women’S Radical Activism In The Midwest During The Great Depression, By Melissa Ford, Brent M. S. Campney

History Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Putting Forward Sustainability As A Model For Journalism Education And Training, Nancy Booker, Bruce Mutsvairo, Dinesh Baliah, Theodora Dame Adjin-Tettey, Lars Tallert, Jean Mujati

Graduate School of Media and Communications

African journalism practice presents unique opportunities and challenges that require journalists to be equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and values to engage in sustainable journalism. Training institutions play a critical role in ensuring that journalists are not only professionally-ready to execute their mandate but also that they can safeguard and promote ethical values in their everyday work. Some of these values include “truth telling, independence, objectivity, fairness, inclusivity and social justice” (Gade, Nduka, and Dastger 2017, 10). Africa, like other regions of the Global South, has several journalism training institutions that provide an opportunity to challenge “hegemonic epistemologies and …

The Implementation And Effect Of An Guided Inquiry Based Lab Within An Introductory Lab, Gwendelyn Tran

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Microbiology lab is a foundational course within microbiology, biology, and nursing students’ education at many colleges. Overall, while microbiology lab pedagogy within upper level courses has shifted from a cookbook style lab to favor more inquiry based labs, there is a lack of introductory level microbiology inquiry based labs. This study aims to both introduce an easily adaptable one week guided inquiry based lab to an introductory microbiology lab curriculum and assess the effects of this pedagogy change on the students. To analyze the impact of this shift, student attitude and success within UT Arlington’s undergraduate microbiology labs were assessed …

The Costs Of Convenience: A Case For Regulating Online Food Marketplaces In The Public Interest, Angela Lee

Journal of Food Law & Policy

As digital platforms have become more popular, including those relating to food ordering and delivery, the range of both their positive and negative impacts have become more apparent. In response, governments in various jurisdictions have made efforts at regulating such platforms, as part of their mandate of balancing complex and often competing goals in the public interest. Unfortunately, attempts at governing digital platforms to date have largely proven ineffective at checking the power of the large corporations that are behind their growth and expansion. I argue that a critical assessment of these new forms of online food marketplace further supports …

Tongue-Tie: Impact On Oropharyngeal Function During Swallow., Kolbie A. Vincent

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Swallowing is an intricate process involving over 50 muscle pairs and numerous nerves, with dysphagia resulting from deficits in various stages (Hennessy & Goldenberg, 2016). Lingual restriction may adversely impact swallowing function, affecting bolus preparation, size, and overall efficiency. Tongue-tie can pose challenges to speech, chewing, and swallowing (Becker & Mendez, 2022; Chaubal et al, 2011; García-Pola, M. J., et al., 2002). This pilot study seeks to determine how tongue-tie affects swallowing function in an adult male, and whether surgical revision of a submucosal lingual tether leads to measurable changes in oropharyngeal swallow function. Results showed inconsistent changes in diameter …

Origin Stories., Danielle Deeley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an investigation into the Peruvian pre-Columbian collection at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. The Speed Art Museum acquired this collection in 1934 and it has largely remained unresearched for nearly a century after acquisition into the museum’s collection. This investigation is not an attempt to make broad characterizations of pre-Columbian ceramics. Nor is its goal to fill in all the gaps of the collection’s history. Instead, this thesis follows the evidence the collection presents: the physical attributes of the ceramics, the donor’s history, U.S. history, and information from the collection file provided by the Speed …

Preserving Archaeology In The Digital Age: Evaluating Strategies For Effective Curation And Database Management., Cenetria Leshun Crockett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The “curation crisis” is a dark cloud that consistently looms over the archaeological discipline, affecting the ways we plan, execute, and curate research projects. It is especially prominent within curation facilities and institutions that have the duty to preserve archaeological collections. The development of digital curation presents an avenue through which curators and collection managers can combat the crisis. Digital curation grants collection managers the ability to manage and ensure archaeological collection accessibility. Digital collection databases, particularly, have grown to become a significant component of collection management as it permits collections to be easily preserved, managed, saved, and accessible at …

Educators Reimagining The Experiences Of Multilingual Learners In The Classroom: A Practitioner Action Research Study, Donna Volpe

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

One of the most complex student populations are those whose first language is not English. As such, multilingual learners (MLLs) are often disproportionately referred to special education. Educators cultivating equitable practices for MLLs is imperative, given many educators do not have adequate training or knowledge. Drawing on social learning theory, critical education, intersectionality, and raciolinguistics, this study seeks to understand how seven elementary educators and two district administrators in an NJ school district shifted to inclusive and equitable practices for MLLs who otherwise faced systemic challenges due to differing language and comparison to standards. This study employed Practitioner Action Research …

Energy Efficient Development: A Comparative Life Cycle Analysis Of Retrofitted And New Housing In Lewiston, Maine, Martin Carriere, Jack Lacasse, Ned Farrington

Standard Theses

In response to aging residential buildings in Lewiston, Maine, a choice must be made between retrofitting existing residential buildings or building new homes. Renovating existing residential buildings decreases construction and material emissions, however, there are significant limitations to the energy efficiency of retrofitting residential buildings. Working through a community-engaged research approach with Raise-Op, a local housing cooperative in Lewiston, Maine, this study seeks to understand the environmental impact of retrofitting existing residential buildings in comparison to building new energy efficient homes. Employing a life cycle CO₂ assessment, this study calculates the embodied carbon of a retrofitted residential building model …

Diversifying The Archival Record Through Community Archiving, Natalie Pan

Library Research Scholars Pilot Program Spring 2024

Archives have long marginalized the narratives of oppressed American populations, owing to their lack of representation in mainstream archiving. In turn, communities have opted to create their own archives that become the catalyst for more dialogue surrounding their histories, called community archives. This study looks at how other universities have partnered with their local communities to document richer local histories that help maintain partnerships between the two. Conversing with other community archivists helps to realize the process of making a community archive in their respective institutions, which furthers the relationships between the university and local communities and institutions. By generating …

Educational Influences On Environmental Perception: A Semester Analysis Of The New Ecological Paradigm Scale In Undergraduates, Zoe Zingler

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

This study evaluated the impact of a geography course, GEOG 181: Global Environmental Issues, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on students’ endorsement of the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) using a pre-course and post-course NEP scale survey. Analyzing paired responses (n = 40) through t-tests and z-scores, only four of 15 statements had statistically significant shifts observed for the entire sample. However, a targeted analysis of students initially possessing lower endorsement of the NEP—early deniers—revealed significant paradigm shifts post-course. While women initially showed stronger NEP endorsement, men demonstrated notable changes following the course towards endorsement of the NEP. Academic majors, whether …

Establishing An Objective, Quantifiable Method For Detecting Erosive Tooth Wear, Camille Kita

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study aims to monitor and evaluate erosive tooth wear (ETW) by measurement of enamel surface thickness and texture in a clinical setting. The objective approach is fundamentally different from the standard subjective visual assessment that professionals in the dental field using the Basic Erosive Wear Evaluation (BEWE) method.

Twenty-nine hyposalivation and three control subjects were used in this longitudinal study, for a total of 597 samples (only 577 teeth were eligible for surface texture analysis) evaluated in a longitudinal study including both baseline and 12 month follow up surfaces. Each participant’s buccal surface of the tooth was first analyzed …

Christian Innovation Communities: A Wicked Problem Framework For Church Innovation, Leslie Stewart

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

ABSTRACT

Leslie A. Stewart

Mar 11, 2024

Christian Innovation Communities: A Wicked Problem Framework for Church Innovation

This dissertation uniquely proposes a “Wicked Problem” approach to Church Innovation. It introduces the term Christian Innovation Communities to the Church Innovation discussion advocating for a local and regional innovation ecosystem. The framework for Christian Innovation Communities uses a cross-discipline approach combining adaptive leadership principles, a collaborative systems design approach, asset-based community development principles, pastoral discernment, and missional theology. These are synthesized into a visual, action-driven, practical guide. It shows adaptive leaders how to lead a leadership team through an innovation process. A …

Division-I Student-Athletes’ Socialization Out Of Sports: The Role Of Exit Circumstances And Interpersonal Support On Wellness, Hannah J. Gertz

All Theses

Student-athletes who compete at the Division-I level typically receive much public exposure and attention during their athletic careers, often leading them to form a high athletic identity. As such, they often need help transitioning away from the athletic competitor role following their retirement. This process, known as socialization out of sport (SOS), is characterized by a loss of purpose and identity for student-athletes and can harm their overall well-being and quality of life. Establishing the empirical associations between SOS's proposed characteristics/features (e.g., the impetus of SOS, educational status, athletic identity, and sense of closure) and former student-athletes’ subsequent life experiences …

The Female Werewolf: The Wolf, The Woman, And The Dunce Outcast, Melina Wallace

All Theses

This creative thesis blends literary theory, popular culture, and personal anecdote to create an analysis of feminist and disability rage through recent narratives of female werewolves. The form consists of paragraphs cycling among these three categories in a way that aims to be disruptive and without rhythm to create the sensation of transformation. These stylistic choices work together with the contents of the thesis to push thought forward regarding the absence of women’s presence within the depiction of the werewolves, which has traditionally been a male-focused image. The thesis aims to analyze not only the absence of women from the …