Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Bank Consolidation On Small Business Lending In Mississippi, Matthew R. Johnson

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the effects of bank consolidation on small business lending at the county level in Mississippi. Throughout the last few decades, there have been many mergers and acquisitions within the U.S. banking industry. These mergers and acquisitions have caused concerns over access to credit by small businesses, especially in rural and under-served markets. To analyze these issues, this study constructs a county-year panel database that combines bank merger data provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) with small business lending data from the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) disclosures. Using a difference-in-differences framework, this paper analyzes how exposure …

The End Of Amateurism: Title Ix Challenges In The New Ere Of College Athletics, Georgia G. Kemmett

Honors Theses

This thesis examines whether emerging revenue-sharing models in intercollegiate athletics following the House v. NCAA settlement can be reconciled with Title IX’s mandate of sex-based equity. While antitrust law has accelerated the collapse of NCAA amateurism by dismantling restrictions on athlete compensation, the resulting revenue-sharing framework risks concentrating financial benefits in male-dominated sports, particularly football and men’s basketball, thereby raising significant legal and policy concerns under federal civil rights law.

Through analysis of Title IX doctrine, antitrust jurisprudence, OCR guidance, NIL regulation, congressional reform proposals, and emerging litigation involving gender identity and athlete eligibility, this thesis argues that commercialization and …

Theories Of Time And Free Will, Sarah Otto

Honors Theses

This paper examines the intersection of the philosophy of time and the philosophy of free will, asking whether theories of time, such as the B-Theory or presentism, have an impact on free will beyond what they suggest about the truth or falsity of determinism. It first discusses common connections made between free will and time in past literature and dismisses determinism as a connection. The paper proceeds to provide three conditions for free will: the existence of a self, the ability of that self to inform decisions, and the ability of that decision to adequately participate in the causal chain. …

Curated Realities: Algorithmic Media And Cultivated Identity Among Gen Z, Terrell Atkins

Honors Theses

As media environments evolve, so does the process through which individuals form identity and understand social reality.  This study explores how algorithms within media influence identity and worldview, with a particular focus on Generation Z; the first generation born alongside the development of modern media systems.

A mixed-method approach was used with survey data and focus group discussions to better understand how repeated exposure to personalized feeds impact user’s perspectives and sense of self.  This research aimed to investigate how Gen Z users interact with and interpret their social media feeds, with attention to perceived alignment between media content and …

Inherited Strategies: Why The U.S. And France Pursued Different Counterterrorism Approaches In The Horn Of Africa And The Sahel, Matthew B. Blackwood

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the counterterrorism strategies employed by the United States and France in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Somalia, the United States utilized a remote warfare centric strategy, precision drone strikes and limited special operations raids, in an attempt to degrade the Somali groups al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia. In the broader Sahel, France utilized large ground operations in Operation Serval and Operation Barkhane fighting various groups such as AQIM and JNIM. The thesis aims to explore why the United States and France, both Western countries, who fought similar non-state actors decided to employ drastically different strategies. Through process tracing and comparative analysis, …

Quantifying Black Carbon Concentrations In Georgia And Analyzing Associated Public Health Risks, Khloe R. Osborne

Honors Theses

Quantifying Black Carbon Concentrations in Georgia and Analyzing Associated Public Health Risks

One of the most daunting challenges of the industrial world is air pollution. Within this broad spectrum, there is an inhalable particle group named PM2.5, which contains black carbon. Black carbon has evidence that supports the generation and worsening of adverse health impacts, which may include birth complications, cognitive deficits in children, pulmonary aggravation, asthma, cardiovascular issues, neurological degenerative patterns, and cancer risk. This is especially seen in vulnerable populations, like children, elderly, and those who already suffer from weakened health, many of which reside in the southern …

Ecological And Social Determinants Of Nestling Sex Ratio In A Cooperatively Breeding Species, Makayla M. Veld

Honors Thesis

Understanding the ecological conditions under which parents, particularly mothers, adjust offspring sex ratios is important for predicting how environmental variation shapes population dynamics, sexual selection, and long-term evolutionary trajectories. Cooperative breeding is a social system where non-breeding individuals, called helpers, assist in raising another individual’s offspring. In birds, helpers tend to be males. As such, the fitness returns of male and female offspring in cooperative species depend on local social structure and future helping needs. Differences in sex can arise through either pre- or post-hatching variation. Pre-hatching variation is the result of physiological or genetic manipulation of offspring sex, whereas …

Exploring The Stress Coping Strategies Of Indonesian Elementary School Teachers: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Anak Agung Gede Agung, I Ketut Gading, Basilius Redan Werang, Ni Luh Putu Agetania

The Qualitative Report

Teachers play a pivotal role in delivering quality education and shaping students’ future lives. The growing demands and responsibilities on teachers can lead to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, which threatens their well-being—a condition commonly referred to as work stress. Our study aimed to explore the strategies used by elementary school teachers in Bali Province to cope with work-related stress. This study adopts a qualitative research approach with elementary schools in Bali Province, Indonesia, serving as the research setting. A phenomenological research design was employed, involving 25 purposively selected teachers as participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed …

Making Sense Of Hospitalization: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Covid-19 Patients’ Psychological Experiences In Indonesia, Mira Wahyu Kusumawati, Heni Dwi Windarwati, Setyawati Soeharto

The Qualitative Report

While previous research has probed into the experiences of COVID-19 patients during isolation in hospitals, little is known about their psychological experiences and the meaning of such experiences. To address the gap,this study was designed to explore the psychological experiences of patients who were confirmed positive for COVID-19 while undergoing isolation in hospitals. Using a phenomenological approach, we recruited 19 COVID-19 survivors who were confirmed positive for COVID-19 in the first six months of the pandemic entering Indonesia, located in Madiun Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia. We conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with health protocols and analysed the data using the …

Optimizing Copper Slag As A Sustainable Precursor For Iron Phosphate Cement: Hydration Mechanism, Phase Transformation, And Environmental Safety, Wei Wang, Hongyan Ma, Xiunan Cai, Dan Luo, Zhicheng Xu, Zhongqiu Luo, Xintao Zhou

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Iron-rich copper slag (CS) has significant potential as a precursor for the synthesis of sustainable acid-base cement (AB). However, the roles and transformation behaviors of the diverse iron phases in CS during hydration remain unclear. In this study, the preparation conditions, early hydration behavior, transformation processes of iron components, and environmental safety of CS-based iron phosphate cement (CS-IPC) were systematically investigated. Under optimized conditions, with a CS/ADP mass ratio of 3.0 and a grinding time of 1.5 h, CS-IPC exhibited an initial setting time of 27.6 min and a flowability of approximately 159 mm. After curing for 3 and 28 …

Within Stillness, Yitian Chen

MFA in Visual Art

This thesis explores how photography can make ongoing processes perceptible. Here, ongoing processes refer to the continuous shaping of landscape through the interaction and temporary balance of different forces, rather than a fixed or static condition. Through photographic series my work focuses on subtle traces left by different forces, including natural growth, gravity, environmental conditions, and human intervention. By introducing the concept of “trace,” the image is no longer understood as a static record of a single moment, but as a manifestation of a temporary balance among multiple forces. Rather than relying on event-based or linear narratives, my thesis artwork, …

Multi-Focal Ultrasound Neuromodulation To The Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex Disrupts Behavioural And Neural Pain Processing, Sophie Clarke, Samuel Mugglestone, Mathilde Lojkiewiez, Joshua Marquez, Nadège Bault, Elsa Fouragnan, Sam Hughes

School of Psychology

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a promising non-invasive neuromodulation technique for pain-related deep brain regions. This study aimed to investigate neural mechanisms underlying TUS effects on pain processing using neuroimaging. Thirty-two healthy participants underwent two double-blind, randomised sessions (active or sham). A tonic cold stimulus was applied during multifocal TUS applied to the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). While no significant main effect on pain intensity was observed, active TUS showed a significantly greater reduction in pain ratings between 28- and 55-minutes post-stimulation, suggesting a delayed analgesic effect. …

Resilience In Recreation: Stories Of A Changing Climate, Casey L. Auberle

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

As the impacts of climate change become increasingly prevalent, the outdoor activities that bond us to our local communities and environments are under threat. In Missoula, MT, drought, rising temperatures, and wildfire smoke change what it means to fish, ski, run, and recreate in our town. In a series of Q&A style podcasts, environmental philosophy graduate student Casey Auberle creates a platform to share stories of a changing climate through the lens of local recreators and climate activists. Capturing these voices invites us to consider our relationship with nature on both an individual and communal scale, to find unity in …

Msw Portfolio, Ellen Mittlestadt

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio describes how I have developed strengths, skills, values, and cognitive and affective processes through the ten competencies of the Master of Social Work program at the University of Montana. Through attending classes, engaging with professors and my cohort, and continuing to strengthen all I've learned in my practicum, I feel confident that these skills and strengths have grown tremendously, and I'll continue to grow through my practice. The following portfolio describes progress over the past years.

Standing In The Middle: Planting Seeds Of Liberation, Halle V. Smith

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio documents the development of an ecologically grounded and theoretically integrated social work practice across two years of practicum with the Crime Victim Advocate (CVA) program in Missoula, Montana. Drawing on ecofeminism, Indigenous Cultural Responsiveness Theory (ICRT), and trauma-informed practice (TIP), the author frames healing, justice, and liberation as ecological processes rooted in the conditions that surround people rather than the deficits within them. Cherokee teachings on ayetli, or standing in the middle, and a seeds of liberation metaphor serve as orienting frameworks throughout, guiding critical self-reflection, survivor-centered advocacy, clinical practice with domestic violence survivors, and policy engagement. The …

Msw Portfolio, Sara J. Murphy

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio presents a comprehensive reflection of my development throughout the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the University of Montana. It highlights the integration of knowledge, skills, values, and cognitive and affective processes across ten core social work competencies. Through critical self-reflection, I examine my positionality, biases, and professional identity while emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning and accountability in social work practice. Overall, this portfolio reflects my commitment to providing equitable, client-centered care while advocating for systemic change that supports individuals, families, and communities.

Reimagining The Urban Neighborhood Library: A Sanctuary For Restoring Human Connection In The Tenderloin, Ahmed Shaker

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Childhood in the United States, aged 3-14, today is increasingly defined by social disconnection and digital saturation. Environmental pressures, political instability, and especially the pervasive presence of screens and AI tools are displacing tactile, imaginative, and relational experiences that once nurtured connection and play (Erstad 2024; Costanza et al. 2023; Turkle). Families, too, feel this rupture: parents and children may sit side-by-side, yet remain socially worlds apart. Public libraries have historically served as civic anchors: equitable access points for knowledge, safe gathering spaces, and trusted social infrastructure supporting health equity and civic engagement (Mersand et al. 2019; Philbin et al. …

Oral Desensitization Therapy For Poison Ivy Urushiol Contact Allergy: A Systematic Review, Natasha Barton, John Meisenheimer, Dakota Hitchcock, Parks Juels, Olivia Ueltschi, Emily Woolhiser, Elizabeth Lamberty, Robert Dellavalle, Cory A. Dunnick

Student Publications

Oral desensitization is a promising approach to reduce the frequency and severity of allergic contact dermatitis reactions to poison ivy. Rhus dermatitis, characterized by itching, redness, and blistering, can appear up to three weeks post-exposure in first-time sufferers and after 1-2 days in those previously exposed. Bentoquatam cream can serve as a barrier to protect the skin from contact with urushiol resin, but it must be applied before exposure to the plant. Current treatments focus on relieving symptoms and managing inflammatory reactions with topical therapies such as calamine lotion and corticosteroids. Oral desensitization involves administering small amounts of urushiol orally …

Fragments, Editors Of Fragments

Fragments

No abstract provided.

Fragments, Editors Of Fragments

Fragments

No abstract provided.

What Is Screen Apnea And How Does It Affect You?, Kristi M. Soileau

New Orleans Dental Association News

Screen apnea is a modern epidemic of significant proportions. Research suggests that nearly 80% of people unconsciously alter their breathing, often holding their breath or breathing shallowly, while working on digital devices. This subtle shift in respiration, sometimes called “email apnea,” can place the body into a low-grade stress response without being noticed by the individual at the screen. When breathing becomes restricted from poor posting or content anxiety, the nervous system enters into a sympathetic response, much as it interprets signs of threats to that person. The resultant physiological response may be exhibited by muscle tension, mental fog, increased …

Trauma-Informed Care (Tic) In Dental Settings, Kristi M. Soileau, Angeline Lee

New Orleans Dental Association News

Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach that recognizes the impact of trauma on patients, considering trauma to better utilize methods for more effective patient care. This approach contains the following ten implementation domains that serve as a guide in organizational change:

1. Governance and Leadership
2. Policy
3. Physical Environment
4. Engagement and Involvement
5. Cross-sector Collaboration
6. Screening, Assessment, and Treatment Services
7. Training and Workforce Development
8. Progress Monitoring and Quality Assurance
9. Financing
10. Evaluation

Implementing TIC will ensure that patients feel safe and autonomous in dental clinics, which results in increased trust between patient and provider, reduced patient anxiety during office visits, and therefore better oral …

Noda News April 2026

New Orleans Dental Association News

New Orleans Dental Association (NODA) News includes regular columns with regional news impacting the New Orleans membership including: columns from the President and Executive Director, feature articles relating to the field of dentistry, association events and upcoming activities, component news, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.

Enhancing Pediatric Resident Trauma Education In The Pediatric Emergency Department, Dina Nassar, Elizabeth Kurian

St. Chris Research Day

No abstract provided.

Producing Oral Medicines In Lettuce To Fight Chronic Diseases, Carlos E. Balmaceda, Megha Goyal, Anubhav Pal

Create@State

Chronic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, require patients’ commitment to their treatment, which can be challenging over time. Edible plants could help address this challenge by acting as living factories that produce a range of drugs, including medicinal proteins. Patients could eat the plants because their cells have a sturdy outer layer that protects and helps deliver the medicine. Lettuce is an example of a common vegetable that can serve this purpose. The main goal of this project is to develop a medicinal protein production and oral delivery system using lettuce plants. We will build a small version of …

‘Lucy Ngarbal Marshall Oration By The Nulungu Chair Of Indigenous Research’, Stephen Kinnane

Workshops and Presentations

In the fourth Lucy Ngarbal Marshall Oration, Chair of Indigenous Research, Steve Kinnane, will explore one of the central tenets of the Uluru Statement of the Heart, ‘Truth Telling,’ within a framework of Reckoning.  Having been engaged in truth telling as researcher, an oral historian, author, film-maker, curator and documenter of cultural rejuvenation on Country for almost 40 years, this idea, ideal and ethic of Truth Telling has underpinned his work. In sharing stories and investigating shared histories through collaborations guided by Elders, witnesses and Countrymen, and interrogating the archives, this work has involved coming to terms with our …

Be Aware Of Antitrust Laws- Know The Facts And Stay Out Of Trouble, Daniel J. Schulte Jd

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

President’S Message, William V. Dougherty Iii, Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Va Dent J July, August And September 2017

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Scorpions In Brazilian Caves And Other Subterranean Habitats, Jonas E. Gallão, Bruno D, Lenhare, Misael Oliveira-Neto, Maria E. Bichuette

Euscorpius

Arachnids have successfully colonized subterranean environments. Compared to spiders, harvestmen, and pseudoscorpions, scorpions have a moderate number of subterranean species, including troglophiles and troglobites. Among the four families and 184 species and three subspecies of scorpions found in Brazil, three families and at least 33 species and one subspecies have been documented in subterranean habitats. This study presents a faunistic list of scorpion occurrences in caves and other types of subterranean habitats in Brazil, along with distribution maps and an attempt to classify species based on their use of and dependence on subterranean environments.