Digital Commons Network^™

Land Access As Liberation: A Qualitative Study On Faith, Food, And Farming Of Urban And Rural Black Land Stewards In The United States, Dominique Edwards

Dissertations

Since 1920, Black farmers in the United States have held less than 2% of the nation's farmland, a direct result of race-based discriminatory policies embedded within federal, state, local, and county-level institutions (Daniel, 2013). Structural barriers—ranging from exclusionary lending practices by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the systematic dispossession of land through legal loopholes, heirs’ property laws, and violent racial terror—have contributed to this staggering decline in Black land ownership (Gilbert et al., 2002). The erosion of Black agrarian landholdings intensified in the latter half of the 20th century, as government programs, civil rights legislation, and technological advancements, …

The Day You Begin: A Case Study Of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy In Early Childhood Classrooms, Kim Shelton

Dissertations

Culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) has garnered growing attention in early childhood education due to its potential to cultivate inclusive and equitable learning environments for increasingly diverse student populations. This qualitative case study examines how early childhood educators perceive and implement CRP in classrooms with high concentrations of immigrant and culturally diverse students. Additionally, it explores the perceived impact of these practices on instructional effectiveness, classroom climate, and teacher-student interactions.

Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. Thematic analysis yielded four central findings: (1) teachers’ understandings of CRP varied considerably, with some demonstrating strong intentionality and others …

Seen And Heard: A Visual Testimony Of Purity Culture Using Qualitative Photovoice Methodology, Amanda Brown

Dissertations

Purity culture, rooted in Christian teachings, has profoundly shaped individuals’ identities, relationships, and perceptions of sexuality, gender, and faith. While popular culture is talking about the effects of purity culture, scholarly literature is lacking. This study employed photovoice methodology to center the voices of those who grew up in purity culture, using photography and personal narratives to explore its long-term effects. The study focused on how individuals who have experienced purity culture articulate and visualize their stories, revealing nuanced insights across seven thematic domains: gender expectations, romantic relationships, faith, mental health, identity formation, sex and sexuality, and healing and …

Agricultural Research Facilities And Equipment, Brad Joyce, Purdue University Office Of Research

University General Facility Boilerplate Descriptions

This overview document describes Purdue University’s on and off-campus research facilities and key equipment related to agriculture, air and water quality, agronomy, and environmental regulation.

Research Brief – The Abcs Of Learning The Abcs, Catherine Mcbride, Jennifer Schumaker

Science of Reading

Mastering the alphabet is a foundational step in learning to read; yet not all letters are equally easy for children to learn. This research brief explores the cognitive and perceptual factors that influence letter name and sound acquisition, including familiarity through personal relevance (e.g., letters in a child’s name), visual distinctiveness, memory accessibility, and confusability. It also examines how phonological characteristics of letter names affect sound learning, highlighting the fact that letters whose names begin with their sounds (e.g., B, D) are easier to learn than those with no phonetic connection (e.g., W, Q). Practical recommendations are offered for educators …

A Case Study Of Leveraging Auxiliary Data To Improve Treatment Effect Estimation Precision In An Hiv Clinical Trial, Lana Mai Huynh

Master's Theses

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are typically the gold standard for evaluating treatment efficacy in the medical field, yet they can have small sample sizes due to logistical, ethical, and financial constraints. This limitation can result in imprecise treatment effect estimates. Recent methods have sought to enhance the precision of RCT estimates by incorporating information from large, observational, “auxiliary” datasets. An auxiliary dataset includes units that were not randomized in the trial itself, but may be similar to the RCT sample. By leveraging predictive models trained on these auxiliary data, researchers can adjust for potentially more powerful covariates, thereby reducing variance …

Catalyzed Chemical Recycling Of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) For Enhanced Sustainability, Gilberto J. Hernandez-Leypon Jr.

Master's Theses

Plastics are ubiquitous in the production of consumer and industrial products; their chemical stability, low cost of production, and performance versatility make them the best option for many industries. Their inherent benefits, specifically durability, is the basis for the negative environmental impact of polymers. Improper containment of endof-life polymer products causes unintentional migration into the environment. The monomers for many common polymer types are also fossil fuel based further increasing the environmental impact of the plastic lifecycle. Recycling is a possible method of closing the loop of the plastic lifecycle. Currently most recycling is physical, thermally reprocessing used plastics into …

Why English Matters: The Case For Majoring In It, John J. Han

KAUPA Letters

No abstract provided.

Unlocking Private Equity Investing: A Primer, Yin Wang, Steve Balaban

Asian Management Insights

Private equity might provide higher returns, but investors should be aware of the associated risks.

Building Urban Resilience, Winston T. L. Chow

Asian Management Insights

Cities can lead on services, resources, and partnerships.

University Leadership, Singapore Management University

Asian Management Insights

The future belongs to institutions that advance impact and prepare minds for lifelong learning. An interview with Dr Andrew Hamilton, President Emeritus of New York University and former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University.

Building Confidence, Building Careers: An Industry-Informed Evaluation Of A High School Aec Camp, Madisen Berube

Construction Management

This study assesses the effectiveness of the Girls Build Summer Academy, an architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) summer camp for high school girls, and similar programs by gathering and analyzing feedback from industry professionals. The research aims to identify which program elements most successfully inspire interest and build foundational skills for young women considering careers in architecture, engineering, and construction. An anonymous survey was distributed to AEC professionals, some who were familiar with the program. The survey included multiple choice, rankings, and open-ended questions to evaluate areas for improvement and future curriculum development. Findings revealed strong support for interactive learning …

A Review Of Work-Life Balance Among Recent Cal Poly Graduates, Max Murphy

Construction Management

Work-life balance has been a heavily debated topic in the construction industry, especially post-COVID. Due the popularization of the topic as well as the introduction of “hybrid” work schedules among multiple industries the idea of work-life balance within the construction industry has become prevalent. This paper aims to gather data about work-life balance and stress among the construction management industry. A survey was distributed to recently graduated construction management students from California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo to gather quantitative data regarding work-life balance, commuting, work hours, stress, and mental health. This survey also features a voluntary section …

Discovering The Effective Actions Of Upstanders And Tackling Implicit Bias In The Workplace: Findings From A Workshop, Jacob H. Defreeuw

Construction Management

This project focused on exploring how both university students and construction industry professionals recognize and respond to opportunities to act as upstanders in workplace settings, particularly in support of underrepresented groups. The research aimed to bridge the gap between current industry practices surrounding implicit bias and the practical realities of advocating for inclusiveness on construction sites and in office environments. To achieve this, surveys were distributed to industry professionals, an in-depth literature review of modern upstander and implicit bias training strategies was performed, and a student-centered workshop was held at the Cal Poly Women in Construction Symposium. The workshop featured …

Pacific Rxtracts - June 2025, Pacific Rxtracts

Pacific RxTracts

Articles:

• Atzumi Receives FDA Approval as First Nasal Powder DHE for Migraine Treatment
• IMAAVY: First and Only FDA-approved Neonatal Fc Receptor Inhibitor for gMG
• New Prophylactic Treatment Approved for Hemophilia A or B, With or Without Factor Inhibitors
• Cytisinicline: The Next Smoking Cessation Aid
• FDA Approves Dupilumab for the Management of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
• Study Shows Promise in Combining Behavioral Treatment with Phentermine
• Metformin for Osteoarthritis
• A New Direction in Atopic Dermatitis Treatment
• Orforglipron: A Potential Oral Alternative to Injectable GLP-1 Agonists
• Beyond GLP-1s: MariTide’s Dual Mechanism in Weight Loss Therapy
• Atrasentan Gains FDA Approval to Combat Proteinuria in Primary …

The Role Of Stigma In Help-Seeking Strategies Among African Migrants In Australia: A Qualitative Study, Agness Tembo, Kathomi Gatwiri, Obed Adonteng-Kissi, Nnaemeka Meribe, Lillian Mwanri, Frank Darkwa Baffour, Edith N. Botchway-Commey, David Chisanga, Ahmed A. Moustafa, Samara Kim, Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

African migrants living in Western countries often report experiencing high levels of stress, trauma and mental health conditions due to migration-related challenges, including racial discrimination, social exclusion and economic hardships. This mixed-method study that sought to explore to This mixed-method study explored the help-seeking behaviours of Africans in Australia. The quantitative study engaged 167 participants, who completed an online survey, and the qualitative aspect involved an in-depth interview with 12 participants. This paper reports on the qualitative aspect of the study, which was seen as essential to gaining deep, rich insights into the everyday meaning-making processes of how African migrants …

Aeroallergen Exposure As Short-Term Predictor Of Respiratory Viral Infections In Two Health Regions (Caguas And San Juan) In Puerto Rico: A Seasonal And Machine Learning Approach, Félix E. Rivera-Mariani, Armando J. Borrero-Aponte, Benjamín Bolaños-Rosero

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

In this late-breaking abstract, we investigated whether seasonal and short-term variations in airborne fungal spores and pollen are associated with, and predictive of, influenza and COVID-19 incidence in the San Juan and Caguas health regions of Puerto Rico from 2022 to 2024. Using correlation analyses, lag modeling, logistic regression, and machine learning approaches, the study found that fungal spore concentrations—but not pollen—were consistently associated with and predictive of high-incidence influenza and COVID-19 days, particularly during the fall season. Peak associations occurred at short lags of 2–4 days, and random forest models demonstrated strong predictive performance for both influenza and COVID-19 …

The Right To Exit Religion, Zalman Rothschild

Articles

This Article argues that just over fifty years ago, in Wisconsin v. Yoder, the Supreme Court recognized what might be called a right to exit religion. In this decision, the Court expressed appreciation for preserving insular religious communities, while simultaneously articulating the principle that accommodations for such communities must not unduly restrict community members’ ability to exit should they wish to do so. Yet courts and scholars have largely overlooked Yoder’s recognition of a right to exit religion. To make this “right” more concrete, the Article examines impediments to it through a case study of one large insular religious community—the …

Associations Between Vitamin D Deficiency And Sociodemographic Factors, Lifestyle Behaviors, And Metabolic Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study From The Hnnhs In Greece, Asmae Mohamad Sadek

Theses

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a widespread global health concern associated with various sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary, and metabolic factors. While previous studies examined VDD in Greece, few provided a comprehensive analysis across multiple determinants using representative national data. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of VDD among Greek adults and to examine its associations with sociodemographic, dietary, behavioral, and metabolic variables using data from the Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey (HNNHS). A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 978 adults (≥19 years) from the HNNHS. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations < 20 ng/mL were defined as deficient and ≥20 ng/mL as normal. The median age of participants was 40.2 years, and 62.0% were female. The overall prevalence of VDD was 46.0%, with the highest rate observed among adults aged ≥60 years (62.2%). VDD was significantly associated with older age (p < 0.001), retirement status (62.9% among retired; p < 0.001), low and sedentary physical activity (32.7% and 32.6% vs. 50.8% among highly active; p < 0.001), higher HDL (median 52.0 vs. 49.0 mg/dL among VDD vs Normal; p = 0.001), elevated serum calcium (median 9.4 vs. 9.2 mg/dL among VDD vs Normal; p = 0.020), and lower insulin levels (median 7.5 vs. 8.0 μIU/mL among VDD vs Normal; p = 0.044). Dietary intake (total energy and macronutrients) and body composition were not significantly associated with VDD. In the multivariate model, significant independent predictors of VDD included being retired (AOR = 2.383; 95% CI: 1.596–3.558; p < 0.001), having higher serum calcium levels (AOR = 1.563; 95% CI: 1.078–2.266; p = 0.019), and higher HDL levels (AOR = 1.016; 95% CI: 1.005–1.027; p = 0.001). Physical activity level was also a key determinant; participants classified as sedentary or low active had significantly higher odds of deficiency compared to highly active individuals (AOR = 0.468; 95% CI: 0.319–0.690; p < 0.001). This counterintuitive result may be influenced by factors such as increased indoor physical activity, and warrants further investigation. Dietary intake and body composition were not significantly associated with VDD. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating sociodemographic and lifestyle factors into prevention strategies. Interventions should particularly focus on older adults, retired individuals, even if they have higher HDL and calcium levels, and are physically active.

Advancing Fake News Detection With Graph Neural Network And Deep Learning, Haji Gul, Feras Al-Obeidat, Muhammad Wasim, Adnan Amin, Fernando Moreira

All Works

In the modern era of digital technology, the rapid distribution of news via social media platforms substantially contributes to the propagation of false information, presenting challenges in upholding the accuracy and reliability of information. This study presents an updated approach that utilizes graph neural networks (GNNs) alongside with advanced deep learning techniques to improve the identification of false information. In contrast to traditional approaches that primarily rely on analyzing text and assessing the credibility of sources, our methodology utilizes the structural information of news propagation networks. This allows for a detailed comprehension of the interconnections and patterns that are indicative …

A Novel Fractional Order Model For Analyzing Counterterrorism Operations And Mitigating Extremism, Mutaz Mohammad, Isa Abdullahi Baba, Evren Hincal, Fathalla A. Rihan

All Works

This study examines the profound impact of terrorism on individuals and society by developing a fractional-order mathematical model to analyze and enhance counterterrorism efforts. The model accounts for the persistent and complex nature of extremist behavior, particularly emphasizing the importance of preventing violent extremism before it escalates into terrorism. Real-world data on terrorist activities in Nigeria – specifically from the Boko Haram insurgency – was used to calibrate and validate the model, ensuring its relevance and accuracy. The model reveals that the basic reproduction number (R0) plays a decisive role in determining the long-term success of counterterrorism strategies. Numerical simulations …

What Is Known About The Psychological Impacts Of Acting, And Where Are The Gaps?, Elizabeth Blaydoe

University Honors Theses

Acting has been a profession since before 400 BCE, and still is to this day through theater, television shows, movies, voice acting, and more. While studies consider the impact of acting on the audience, there are significant gaps of information for the psychological impacts this profession has. This thesis conducts a literature review of topics such as pretend play, role-play, drama therapy, and acting, to examine what is known about the topic, and a thematic analysis of fifteen publicly available interviews with a total of twenty-two actors to investigate what is known of the experience of actors. Six themes highlighted …

Gianjara's Ribs: The Ecosystem, Body, Animalia, And Politic, Linus Gomez Ellis

University Honors Theses

This work is a series of four six foot tall full-body portraits of people, which are displayed alongside an actual, physical item or garment present in the associated painting. The purpose of this is to blur the line between the fiction of the individuals depicted and the viewer. By creating "portals" through which to view them as equals in stature, Linus Gomez Ellis is taking something that can be seen in the ecosystem of this fiction and making it into an objective reality. The most enduring, well preserved, and eternal pieces of history and anthropology are tall tales. This ecosystem, …

The Relationship Between Perceived Stress, Psychological Distress And Thwarted Belongingness Among Military Service Members, Isaac Greenblatt

University Honors Theses

Suicide remains a leading cause of death among members of the military, with psychological distress, perceived stress and thwarted belongingness emerging as key variables which impact this behavior. This thesis aimed to investigate the relationship between perceived stress, psychological distress and thwarted belongingness in a population of Active Duty Army Service Members (ADASM) at baseline and longitudinally. The Resilience-Supportive Leadership Training (RESULT) dataset was originally collected to assess the effectiveness of an intervention in the military. However, this thesis is a secondary data analysis of this dataset, including 273 ADASM participants. The K6 psychological distress test was used to measure …

Examining Long-Term Care For Ncaa Student-Athletes: Improving Concussion Protocols And Healthcare, Sydney Watson

University Honors Theses

Sports-related concussions (SRC) are a significant issue in collegiate athletics, particularly in high-impact sports. While the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has protocols for immediate injury management, they don't fully address the long-term effects retired athletes experience. This paper examines whether former NCAA athletes who suffered from SRC should receive more comprehensive concussion-related healthcare. Findings reveal that current NCAA measures, such as baseline assessments and return-to-play protocols, fall short in addressing the lasting physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges of student-athletes who suffered multiple SRC. Protocols and procedures set by professional leagues like the NFL and NHL highlight the NCAA's gaps …

The Necessity Of Improved Pica Assessment Tools And Screening Practices For Harm Reduction, Deborah Arakelian

University Honors Theses

Pica disorder refers to the consumption of non-food items, and has historically been understudied. Dangerous medical complications often arise as result of this behavior, making this a critical area of continued research. This paper reviews literature on the prevalence of pica disorder, as well as its etiologies and risk factors with the intention to identify at-risk groups who would benefit from increased screening. The current assessment tool used for screenings and research is vague and insufficient, and the development of a more comprehensive tool is critical to reduce harm. This paper discusses what should be included in an improved questionnaire, …

A Comprehensive Literature Review Of Gender Differences In Perception And Response To Stress, Zoe M. Shankland

University Honors Theses

It is well established that psychological stress, whether acute, chronic, or recurring, creates an imbalance in the body’s ability to regulate itself, leading to the potential for long-term disease. This paper looks at the possibility that women (anyone who identifies as a woman) experience more general mental stress than men (anyone who identifies as a man) due to women experiencing unique stressors under a patriarchal society. Men and women live different lives in modern society due to differing societal expectations and biological processes for women (menstruation, pregnancy, menopause). These extra feelings of stress may be tied to traditional gender roles …

Indigenous Language Revitalization: The Klamath And Cherokee Tribes, Josephine Stapleton

University Honors Theses

In recent decades, there have been initiatives to revitalize Indigenous languages all across the globe. This paper explores the efforts of two Native American tribes to revitalize their Indigenous languages in the face of historical and ongoing colonial pressures. Models for language revitalization necessarily differ based on an Indigenous group’s specific historical, cultural, and even geographical contexts, which makes the development of standardized models for Indigenous Language Revitalization challenging. This literature review will examine how the Cherokee Nation and the Klamath Tribes are implementing language revitalization on a tribal level in ways that address each tribe’s unique historical successes and …

"It Had To Stop": Content Analysis Of Fox News Library Censorship Discourse, Lex Faller

University Honors Theses

Library censorship poses a threat to inclusive communities by foreclosing the possibility of finding diverse representations through media. Certain demographics are more dependent on libraries for media access than others. Censorship is therefore especially concerning for those who cannot purchase media or afford subscriptions themselves. The most vocal proponents of contemporary library censorship are ideologically conservative; therefore, conservative media ecosystems play a key role in library censorship discourse. Fox News television is the most watched television news channel by a wide margin in the U.S. and therefore has an outsized influence on U.S. adults. This research involved a qualitative content …

Discovering Sri Lanka: Examining The Marketing Strategies Behind Successful Tourist Destinations, Victoria Powell

University Honors Theses

Building on the observation that Sri Lanka is emerging as a tourist destination, this thesis compares the national destination marketing campaigns of Thailand, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka to identify how their strengths have contributed to their success. Using a comparative analysis, the research examines each destination’s brand positioning, distribution channels, campaign messaging, visual identity, and brand consistency. A deeper analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) is conducted on Sri Lanka's destination marketing campaign to present the study's findings and communicate recommendations. Ultimately, the analysis is used to recommend strategies for Sri Lanka's destination marketing efforts to …