Digital Commons Network^™

Increasing Access To Rural Resources: A Spatial Exploration Of The Social Implications Of Mobility In Appalachian Kentucky., Anna Morris

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Mobility and accessibility are key predictors in the way that people navigate their communities. However, many rural areas lack holistic transportation systems that support the needs of a diverse range of users. As a result, rural residents, especially rural non-drivers, often face barriers to equitable mobility and access to necessary resources, like healthcare. This study examines the role that mobility plays in facilitating access to healthcare facilities for driving and non-driving populations in Appalachian Kentucky. The study pairs the Enhanced 2-Step Floating Catchment Area method with a demographic index to evaluate mobility equity through spatial accessibility to primary care facilities. …

Spatial Memory And Context Change In The Figure Eight Puffer (Dichotomytere Ocellatus), Madison Lloyd

Theses & ETDs

It's been more than 100 years since radial mazes have been used for rodent research, and more recently, fish research. No experimentation has been done on the figure eight puffer (Dichotomytere ocellatus) in relation to the cognitive processes or maze tasks, however, there have been zebrafish, bettas, stickleback and wrasse to base research off. There have been many experiments on fish behavior regarding salinity changes, yet, none have used salinity as context towards altering cognitive abilities. The current study tested 11 figure eight puffers on their ability to solve an eight-arm radial maze in different contexts. The puffers were split …

Should We Be Concerned About Demographic Decline? An Economic Analysis, Collin Gates

Theses & ETDs

This thesis uses economic theory to examine the causes and consequences of falling fertility rates around the world. It examines contributions to economic theory on population given by economists such as Thomas Malthus, Gary Becker, Paul Heyne, Paul Ehrlich and Julian Simon. Next, it analyzes what the externalities of falling fertility rates could be to the world’s economies, environments, workforces, and individual people through economic models such as the Solow growth model. The thesis concludes by looking at three countries–Japan, South Korea, and Italy– who have been experiencing fertility rates below the replacement level for over 20 years, relating relevant …

Modeling Career Longevity For Position Players In Major League Baseball Using Survival Analysis, Avery Bishop

Theses & ETDs

This thesis develops a survival analysis framework for modeling career longevity and exit risk for specifically position players in Major League Baseball using historical player performance and injury data. Utilizing longitudinal player-season observations from the Lahman Baseball Database alongside external injury and retirement records, the study constructs a time-to-event modeling framework centered around the Cox proportional hazards model with time-varying covariates. Offensive performance metrics, aging effects, workload measures, missed-season indicators, and injury severity variables are incorporated to evaluate how player characteristics influence the likelihood of MLB career continuation. To account for nonlinear aging and performance relationships, natural spline transformations and …

When Fame Sells: Understanding The Psychology Behind Celebrityendorsed Product Purchases, Szayanna Cuavers

Theses & ETDs

The present study examined the psychological and demographic factors that influence willingness to spend on celebrity-endorsed products, with a particular focus on celebrity worship, attachment style, age, gender, and race and ethnicity. By using preexisting frameworks, the study investigated how consumer responses can be swayed by emotional and relational factors. Participants completed a survey measuring celebrity worship, attachment style, hypothetical situations about willingness to spend on celebrity-endorsed products, along with demographics. As predicted, there was a significant positive correlation between celebrity worship and willingness to spend. Although avoidant attachment was uncorrelated with key outcomes. Anxious attachment was associated with greater …

Eco-Efficiency: Assessing The Impact Of Sustainable Retrofit Upgrades On Energy And Water Consumption In Sarasota’S Non-Profit Organization Sector, Ashley Petsanghan

Theses & ETDs

This thesis evaluates the environmental, operational, and financial impacts of sustainable retrofit upgrades implemented through the GoodUse program by Southface Institute on three Sarasota-based non-profit organizations: Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties, Suncoast Blood Centers, and Easterseals Southwest Florida. By using a mixed-methods approach, this study integrates quantitative data from Energy Star Portfolio Manager with qualitative insights from oral, on-site interviews. Analysis from quantitative data examines changes in electricity use, water consumption, and utility costs before and after implementation of retrofit upgrades, with attention to seasonal patterns and Florida’s climate-driven variability. Qualitative findings explore how …

Stochastic Auditory Noise And Relaxation, Quentin Voccia

Theses & ETDs

Stochastic auditory stimuli, characterized by the random distribution of their power spectral density, have been implicated in modulating relaxation and sleep. This study investigated the differential effects of pink, brown, and white noise on frontal lobe electroencephalography (EEG) activity in 22 healthy adult participants. Brainwave activity, specifically alpha, theta, and beta frequencies, was recorded while participants were exposed to each noise type in a counterbalanced, palindromic design. While alpha wave activity showed no significant differences across conditions, ANOVA revealed significant effects of noise type on both theta (F(2,21) = 24.055, p < 0.05) and beta (F(2,21) = 13.146, p < 0.05) wave power. Post-hoc t-tests indicated that brown noise elicited the highest theta wave activity and the lowest beta wave activity, suggesting a greater induction of deep relaxation and reduced alertness compared to pink and white noise. Pink noise demonstrated intermediate levels of theta and beta activity, indicating a moderate relaxation effect. Conversely, white noise resulted in the lowest theta wave activity and the highest beta wave activity, suggesting a less relaxed and more alert state. These findings challenge the conventional emphasis on white noise for relaxation and highlight the potential of brown noise as a more effective auditory stimulus for promoting deep relaxation. Future research should explore the mechanisms underlying these differential effects and investigate the potential therapeutic applications of brown noise.

Major Financial Crises And Regulations In The United States, Hailey Martinez

Theses & ETDs

The financial system in the United States has often swayed between periods of rapid growth and financial crisis, resulting in a reactive regulatory framework. In this study major financial regulations that have been implemented in the United States are explained. Following is an analysis of financial crises that in the United States and the cyclical pattern that happens once one has begun. When a crisis occurs, there is an overhaul of the financial system and new regulations are introduced, there is then a period of deregulation once the system is stable and secure, and then crisis once again due to …

Synthetic Approaches Towards Bn2tcma For The Modeling Of Oxalate-Degrading Enzymes, Olivier Servius

Theses & ETDs

Oxalate is a naturally occurring compound that can be toxic to humans at high concentrations as humans lack the oxalate degrading enzymes found in plants, fungi and bacteria. Key enzymes involved in oxalate metabolism are oxalate oxidase and oxalate decarboxylase, both of which are manganese based metalloenzymes. Due to limited research, much is unknown regarding their mechanism of action ,with multiple proposals reported, but no unified consensus. Synthetic model complexes are commonly used to probe the function of metalloenzymes by replicating structural and electronic features in simplified systems. In biomimicry, 1,4,7,-triazacyclononane (TACN) has attracted attention for its N3O donor set …

Designing Ai For Wellbeing, Emily Corrigan-Kavanagh

DRS Summer Meetings

No abstract provided.

Factors Associated With Stunting And Underweight Indices Among Children 0–3 Years In Nairobi, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study, Eunice Njoroge, Kevinson Mwangi, Esther Chongwo, Martha Kaniala, Kevin Wekesa, Isaac Lihanda, Vibian Angweny, Rachel Odhiambo, Margaret Kabue, Japhet Adina, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background:Childundernutritionremainsoneofthemostpressingglobalpublic health challenges, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Most studies focus broadly on children under five, potentially overlooking the unique vulnerabilities a ecting children in the first 1,000 days of life. This study investigated potential factors associated with stunting and underweight malnutritional presentation among children aged 0–3 years in Nairobi City County, Kenya.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 2903 caregiver-child dyads living in Nairobi City County to assess stunting [Height-for-Age Z-scores (HAZ)] and underweight [Weight-for-Age Z-scores (WAZ)] using the World Health Organisation (WHO) growth standards among 0–3-year-olds. Child, caregiver, and householdcharacteristicswereincludedinthelinearmixede ects regression models …

Ada Lobby Day 2026

Bulletin of the Ninth District Dental Association

Dr. Renuka Bijoor recounts her experience representing the Ninth District as part of NYSDA’s delegation for Lobby Day 2026. She expresses her gratitude for the opportunity to "advocate for ourselves, our profession, our team members and our patients" and makes particular note of the engaged and excited students that attended.

2026 Lobby day legislation and issues included:

• ERISA and the Improving Dental Administration Act, H.R. 7931
• Student Loans and Postgraduate Educational Debt, H.R. 2028/S.942
• Protect and Restore the Federal Oral Health Infrastructure

The article discusses to whom and how each topic was presented and concludes with one-page fliers for each.

May 2026, Robert Kelly

Robert Kelly Manuscripts

No abstract provided.

The Implications Of A Competitive Athletic Season For Lower Limb Musculoskeletal Health, Benjamin Walker

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the implications of a competitive athletic season on lower limb musculoskeletal health in collegiate athletes. Through an organized narrative literature review, this study synthesizes biomechanical, epidemiology, and clinical research to evaluate how cumulative seasonal loading influences joint, bone, tendon, and soft tissue. Findings that indicated lower extremity injuries account for the majority of sport-related musculoskeletal conditions, with overuse injuries being a dominant role due to inadequate recovery and repetitive mechanical stress. Key evidence shows that rapid increases in training load, distinctly during preseason periods, significantly raises injury risk by surpassing tissue adaptive capacity. In addition, subclinical changes …

Transferring To The Workplace From The Game: How Transferable Athletic Skills, Workplace Adaptation And Mental Health Intersect, Maria Luiza Barreis De Araujo

Theses & ETDs

The shift from collegiate athletics to working life is a significant growth challenge that could affect mental health and professional adaptation. The current study investigated the connections between mental health, workplace adaptation and transferable athletics skills. It also explored whether workplace adaptation mediates the relationship between transferable skills and well-being. An Online survey measuring transferable skills, workplace adjustment and mental health was completed by 181 current and past collegiate student-athletes. The findings showed that workplace adaptation was positively associated with mental health and that transferable skills were significantly correlated with workplace adaptation. The relationship between transferable skills and mental health …

Emotion Regulation And Pretend Play In Preschool-Aged Children, Alyssa Dolphin

Theses & ETDs

The current study included only well-established, high-fidelity Montessori programs to explore differences in children’s emotion regulation levels across varying preschool contexts (Montessori, traditional, and at-home/no preschool), the relationship between time spent in a Montessori program and emotion regulation, and the potential moderating role of preschool environment in the relationship between pretend play and emotion regulation. Seven parents of children enrolled in a Montessori program, seven parents of children enrolled in a traditional preschool program, and 21 parents of children not currently enrolled in preschool completed an online survey consisting of an emotion regulation scale, a pretend play scale, and demographic …

The Heart Of Care: Perceptions And Management Of Pediatric Cancer Across Cultures, Kit Lamison

Theses & ETDs

The current study aimed to determine the interaction between cultural background, perceptions of illness, and family management in Chinese American and White American caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer. The current study was conducted to gain knowledge on how families from different backgrounds respond to the devastating experience of having a child diagnosed with cancer. To achieve this goal, participants were recruited through online communities focused on pediatric cancer and traditional Chinese medicine. A 135-item online survey containing the revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (Moss-Morris et al., 2002) and the Family Management Measure (Knafl et al., 2011) was distributed to participants …

Exploring Sarasota’S Local Theatre And Its Historical Structure, Cayla Schimmel

Theses & ETDs

This thesis argues that Asolo Repertory Theatre may not be the only single foundation for other existing and future theaters in Sarasota to exist but serves as a central model due to its unique historical layer, institutional structure, and lasting artistic influence which have helped modern day theaters like Urbanite Theatre to exist in a coexistent city. What originally began as a comparative project focused on identifying the differences between Asolo’s multiple performance venues, including its expansive proscenium Mertz Theatre and Urbanite’s concentrated black box space, led to a shift in perspective. It became an exploration of meaningful relationships that …

Unamuno, Agon, And Communication: Outlines Of A Quixotic Philosophy, Christopher Rodriguez Cristobal

Theses & ETDs

The purpose of the present thesis is to comment on the philosophy of Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo as presented in The Tragic Sense of Life in Men and Peoples, and to propose a possible line for its systematization focusing on the themes of selfhood and communication. I endeavor to do so, on the one hand, by contrasting the articulation of certain lines of thought in the text to their appearance in other of the author’s major works such as Agony of Christianity and Life on Don Quixote & Sancho; and, on the other hand, elaborating on some of the …

Wyndham Lewis's "Most Active Colleague": William Harcourt's 1917 Diary, Jim Beach, Rod Rosenquist

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

No abstract provided.

Market Structure And Strategic Conduct In The U.S. Life Insurance Sector, Kaja Szuba

Theses & ETDs

This thesis applies the Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) model to conduct an industry analysis of the United States life insurance sector, integrating foundational economic theory to explain observed market behavior. The U.S. Life Insurance Industry exhibits oligopolistic characteristics, high regulatory barriers to entry, moderate product differentiation, and disciplined pricing behavior. Market share data is drawn from NAIC reports, supplemented by surveys conducted through LIMRA, and company-level financial data. The analysis examines seven key areas: the definition of the industry, the structure of the industry, the conduct of firms within the industry, the performance of the industry, the linkage of SCP constructs to …

New Leader Perspectives On Caring Communications, Miah Graczyk, Dorothy Moore, Andrew Peine, Russell Zwiers, Robert Whisler, Barbara Holmes

Leadership Education Books

This is an ebook project created by the Leadership Education graduate students in the  LDRS 615 Leadership Communication spring 2026 course.

Graduate students enrolled in Leadership Education 615 (Spring 2026) focused their final writing project on the role of caring communication in effective leadership. Drawing from personal leadership experiences, students examined critical gaps in current practices and identified areas in need of growth and refinement.

LDRS Education 615 students argue that emerging leaders play a crucial role in strengthening organizational environments by promoting safety, collaboration, and mutual respect. Thus, New Leaders Perspectives on Caring Communications reinforces the importance of developing …

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Graduate Commencement: May 2026, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Undergraduate Commencement: May 2026, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Bard Observer Vol. 24 No.7 (May 2026), Bard College

Bard Observer, 2020 - 2029

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Nicotine On Muscle Stem Cell Growth And Differentiation, Annaka M. Clark

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nicotine exposure has significantly increased due to the rising use of e-cigarettes, posing potential health risks not only to users but also to animals exposed to nicotine vapor. While nicotine has been extensively studied for its effects on human health, its impact on animal muscle cells remains largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate the effects of nicotine on muscle cell cultures, specifically focusing on morphological changes, gene expression, and differentiation. Using C₂C₁₂ myoblasts as a model system, the experiment evaluated how varying concentrations of nicotine influence muscle stem cell growth and regeneration. Findings show that lower …

Exploring The Quality-Of-Life Impact Of Driving For People With Aphasia, Kaleigh Welch, Emily Huddleston

Appalachian Student Healthcare Research Review

Purpose: This study explored how driving ability or loss affects the social, emotional, and practical quality of life of people with aphasia (PWA). Given that driving is a key marker of independence, identity, and community participation, the study aimed to understand how individuals with aphasia experience driving resumption or cessation and how these experiences shape daily functioning and psychosocial well‑being.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven adults with aphasia recruited from a university-based aphasia group. Interviews were completed in a private university clinic room. Open-ended questions elicited participants’ feelings, experiences, and perceptions regarding driving or not driving after aphasia. …

A Multi-Objective Optimization Framework For Equitable Stormwater Management In Urbanizing Rural Communities, Harry L. Wilson

Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Due to limited technical and financial resources, urbanizing rural communities often face growing stormwater management challenges while undergoing rapid development. This thesis proposes a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) framework that integrates topography-driven stormwater flow behavior, infrastructure placement constraints, and multiple planning objectives to support cost-effective stormwater infrastructure decisions. Our model accounts for budget constraints, gravity-driven surface water flow, infiltration capacity, and spatial contiguity requirements to determine optimal pond placements that balance flood reduction and implementation costs. A synthetic discretized grid representing a small municipality is used to demonstrate model behavior under varying rainfall and topographic conditions. Results demonstrate the framework's …

Investigating The Effects Of Stress On The Passive Transfer Of Antibodies From Colostrum To The Newborn Calf, Audrey F. Dykes

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The objective of the current study was to examine passive transfer of immunoglobulins A (IgA) and G (IgG) to the calf in relation to dam’s fecal cortisol and lactoferrin. In July 2024, late-gestation, Angus crossbred heifers pregnant by artificial insemination (n = 30) were moved to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Stocker Unit and housed in 0.42-ha grass paddocks for each heifer. Calving began in mid-August. Heifers were observed routinely throughout the workday and then at 8 p.m., 12 a.m., and 6 a.m. After calving, the calf was allowed to stand and suckle once then dam sample collection …

The Megachurch As An Idol: How The Church Replaces God With Itself, Meredith Scheiner

Honors Projects

Megachurches in the United States draw massive crowds, bring in swaths of wealth, and are the locations of many controversies within and outside of the Christian faith. As demonstrated by two theologically divergent megachurches, Lakewood Church run by the Osteen family and First Baptist Church of Dallas lead by Robert Jeffress, the growth and current state of these megachurches is preeminently built upon the marriage of the American Dream and Christianity: resulting in overt or subtextual prosperity theology elements. The rise in Christian book and music industries, and advertising and marketing of products within the church are examples of these …