Digital Commons Network^™

Promoting Influenza Vaccination Among College Students, Wajeeha Khan Valley

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Influenza remains a significant public health concern on college campuses, where high population density, shared living environments, and frequent social interaction increase the risk of viral transmission. Despite the availability of safe and effective influenza vaccines, vaccination rates among college-aged students remain consistently low. Many students underestimate their personal risk for influenza and hold persistent misconceptions regarding vaccine safety, effectiveness, and side effects. The widespread use of social media further influences these attitudes, as misinformation can rapidly spread while credible health messaging often struggles to gain visibility. It is important to eliminate vaccine hesitancy among college students through innovative, behavior-focused …

Improving Learning Habits In High School Ela, Alexander Sinn

Masters Projects

Students lack the habits and skills to process and apply what they have learned. In their secondary education, they are not developing the traits that help them succeed in college courses. Students are not explicitly taught note-taking and other study skills needed to succeed in core academic areas, English Language Arts (ELA) in particular. To address the needs of students, curriculum must incorporate expectations for students in self-efficacy and self-regulatory areas of learning. In the secondary ELA classroom, students should be provided opportunities and experiences to develop good habits. These should be requirements of 9th and 10th grade curriculum. The …

College Student Coping And Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Trinka Peer Pape

Dissertations

The isolation experienced by college students during the COVID-19 pandemic led to numerous issues and increased stress. The purpose of this study was to examine the coping mechanisms that college students utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore the impact of the pandemic on how these students coped and their overall lived experiences. Participants were juniors and seniors graduating between May 2023 and May 2024 from a university in the southern Midwest. The researcher employed a mixed methodology approach, consisting of a quantitative survey, followed by qualitative interviews with students who completed the survey. Based on the results of the …

Perseus Interim Evaluation Report, Data Innovation Project, University Of Southern Maine

Publications

The Data Innovation Project (DIP) from the University of Southern Maine’s Catherine Cutler Institute serves as the external evaluator for the USDA NIFA SAS-funded Promoting Economic Resilience and Sustainability of the Eastern U.S. Forests (PERSEUS) project. This project is a joint effort between Purdue University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Maine. The DIP supports the project in assessing its progress, implementation, and emerging impacts through data collection from project participants and systematic document review (i.e. annual USDA reports, personnel lists, and meeting notes). This includes synthesizing quantitative and qualitative data and incorporating these metrics into independent evaluation …

The Trade-Off Between The Fear Of Judgment (Stigma) And The Intention To Engage With Ai-Driven Hiv/Aids Information: Evidence From Bangladesh And Nigeria, Abdullah Mohaimen

Masters Theses

This study explores the relationship between Fear of Judgment (FOJ), understood as perceived stigma, and Intention to Engage (EI) with an AI-driven chatbot providing HIV/AIDS information. Stigma often discourages individuals from seeking information or discussing sensitive health issues, creating barriers to prevention and education. AI chatbots offer a potential solution by enabling anonymous, accessible, and non-judgmental interactions. This study examines whether FOJ reduces users’ willingness to engage with such technology and whether cultural context shapes this relationship. Data were collected from young adults in Bangladesh and Nigeria (N = 56) through an anonymous online survey using a simulated chatbot, Lifeline. …

Does The Party Label Matter? Partisanship, Election Timing, And Ballot Drop-Off In Municipal Elections, Joelle Francis Whitaker

Masters Theses

This project examines if party labels drive participation in municipal elections. Progressive Era reforms removed partisan labels in attempts to weaken party machines and simplify local governance. Many cities continue to implement these reforms today. However, existing research suggests that party labels provide important informational and mobilizing cues that should increase turnout, especially in low-information elections. Using a comparison of four Michigan municipalities, this paper evaluates how partisan and nonpartisan systems shape local election turnout. The results show that the relationship is more complicated than expected. While party labels will still matter for how voters make decisions, election timing emerges …

The Role And Professional Obligations Of Crown Attorneys In Disposition Hearings For Not Criminally Responsible Accused At Provincial Review Boards, Andrew Flavelle Martin

Dalhousie Law Journal

Crown attorneys perform several different roles, each accompanied by a set of professional obligations. R v Boucher makes it clear that the role and professional obligations of the Crown attorney at trial are to pursue justice, not to win. Much less clear are the role and professional obligations of Crown attorneys at review board disposition hearings for not criminally responsible (NCR) accused under Part XX.1 of the Criminal Code. In this article, I do two things. First, I canvass and synthesize the case law, legislative proceedings, and literature to identify the correct role of Crown attorneys at disposition hearings. I …

Accessibility On Campus: How Universal Design Can Make A Difference, Samantha Wittenberg

Honors Projects

This research is meant to showcase how survey those who self-identify as having a disability so see how feedback they provide can help guide changes to make to the Maurer Center on Bowling Green State University’s campus. By utilizing principles found in Universal Design, much of the feedback was able to be applied. Much of what was found are small modifications to help with general accessibility such as visualization to help with navigation.

Separating And Identifying Delta-8-Thc And Delta-9-Thc On Gc/Ms, Ann Schmidt

Honors Projects

Delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC are two psychoactive compounds found in marijuana products which are only distinguishable from each other by alternating the location of a single double bond.  This makes them a challenge to separate and identify as different compounds using the GC/MS.  These isomers are legally recognized as the different compounds, so being able to identify delta-8 and delta-9 THC separately is crucial to forensic analysis. The goal of this research project is to optimize an Intuvo 9000 GC connected to a standard MS to be able to separately and prominently identify delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC in a sample.  This was …

Taking A Deeper Look: Attributing Tonal Values Of Photolumens To Their Emulsions Using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Anna M. Moore

All Theses

This thesis examines whether tonal variation in photolumens made with historic silver gelatin photographic papers can be linked to differences in elemental composition. Photolumens are cameraless photographic images created by placing objects directly on light-sensitive paper and exposing them to ultraviolet light. Because expired and historic darkroom papers often produce unpredictable colors and tones, this study asks whether visually defined tonal groups also show measurable chemical differences.

Twenty historic paper samples were exposed, documented, and sorted into five tonal groups based on visible image characteristics. Each sample was then analyzed using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) …

Developing A Decision-Making Tool For Breast-Feeding Mothers Whose Babies Have A Cow's Milk Protein Allergy, Rachel M. Griffith

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is one of the most common food allergies in infancy, affecting an estimated 2–3% of infants, including those who are breastfed. Many symptoms of CMPA overlap with gastrointestinal disorders and lactose intolerance, leading to frequent misdiagnosis and unnecessary maternal dietary restriction. Breastfeeding mothers who eliminate dairy to manage suspected CMPA often face nutritional deficiencies, emotional strain, and financial burden, while infants risk poor growth if symptoms are not properly addressed. Breastfeeding is viewed as the optimal source of nutrition for infants providing many cognitive benefits and positive maternal effects like decreased stress and risks of …

Prospective Memory Skills Of College Students With And Without Adhd, Nicole Llamas-Carrillo

Theses & ETDs

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with impairments in executive functioning (EF), working memory, and time related processing. These deficits create challenges in prospective memory (PM) which is the ability to remember a future task. PM is essential for everyday functioning, and prior research has shown that adults with ADHD already experience PM difficulties, and expands on the difficulties ADHD individuals have with planning. It has been suggested that temporal myopia (TM), a cognitive bias prioritizing immediate goals rather than future goals, is expanding on explaining why individuals with ADHD are vulnerable to PM difficulties. The higher the TM (also …

Keeping It Conservative (Under The Sheets): Conservative Political Ideology And Its Impact On Intimate Relationships, Amirah Harris

Theses & ETDs

This study examined the relationship between conservative political ideology and key aspects of romantic relationships, including gender role attitudes, expressions of intimacy and affection, communication styles, and partner preferences. Based on prior research suggesting that conservatism is associated with traditional social values and relationship behaviors, four hypotheses were proposed predicting significant associations between political conservatism and these variables. A sample of 334 adults in the United States completed an online survey consisting of the Attitudes Toward Women Scale, Index of Sexual Satisfaction, Affectionate Communication Index, Communications Patterns Questionnaire, and the Ideal Partner and Ideal Relationship Scale. ANOVA analyses were conducted …

Notes For The Stalled, V18n08, May 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. Rod Library.

Rod Library newsletter: Notes for the Stalled

Contents:

--- Extended Hours
--- Duck Hunt
--- DeStress Days
--- Congratulations!
--- Upcoming Events

Kapwa Across Contexts: Acculturation And Enculturation In Filipino American Identity At Home And In School, Jared Jamias

Education (PhD) Dissertations

Kapwa Across Contexts: Acculturation and Enculturation in Filipino American Identity at Home and in School examines how Filipino American identity is shaped across two primary sites: K–12 schooling and the Filipino American home in Southern California. Centering first-generation Filipino immigrant parents and their U.S.-born second-generation children, this qualitative study is guided by AsianCrit, Culturally Responsive Methodologies (CRM), and Nadal’s Filipino American Identity Model. Using narrative inquiry, six Filipino American family units (6 children; 8 parents) participated in individual and joint dyad interviews and Culturally Responsive Musical Inquiry (CRMI), in which families co-composed an original song. Findings indicate that K–12 schooling …

Comparatively Exploring Journalism And Oral Histories As Modes Of Advocacy For Marginalized Communities, Miceala R. Morano

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this study, four oral history interviews produced at the Pryor Center and news stories produced by four local media outlets were comparatively analyzed using software program MAXQDA. Each was qualitatively coded for expressions of identity, community and advocacy. These three key themes were determined through bottom-up processing, meaning the overarching themes were selected after each interview was listened to twice.

The results of this process were then used to determine the key similarities and differences between oral history and journalism, and how both practices can be used to accurately capture the narratives of marginalized communities. These findings were combined …

Sex Differences In How Celebrity Crushes Bolster Self-Perceived Mate Value, Madyson M. King

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Previous research indicates that parasocial relationships provide surrogate connections for individuals to where they offer various psychological benefits. Some benefits include self-esteem and improved body image, which may be connected by such relationships facilitating attainment of one's ideal self. Given this benefit of social surrogacy, it could be possible that a vicarious romantic connection with a parasocial figure may similarly bolster one's mate value if that relationship were to move an individual closer to a personal ideal. We predicted that engagement with a celebrity crush would be associated with a heightened mate value. A community sample of men and women …

Negation And The Backfire Effect, Caden Fowler

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Quick! Do not think of a polar bear. Did you think of a white bear? As Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote in his 1863 essay “Winter Notes on Summer Impressions,” “[when tasked to not think of a polar bear] you will see that the cursed thing will come to mind every minute.” The consequence of negation without context (i.e., unlicensed negation; Levine & Hagaman, 2008) is what has come to be referred to as the “backfire effect,” a phenomenon where correcting misinformation strengthens belief in that information rather diminishing it (Ecker, et al., 2020). Fake news and misinformation in …

The Effects Of Cannabidiol (Cbd) On The Social, Cognitive, And Physical Facets Of Anxiety Sensitivity, Ezri Rathbun

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The current study investigated how repeated administration of 300mg of cannabidiol (CBD), when compared to a placebo, affects the social, cognitive, and physical facets of anxiety sensitivity (AS), a characteristic that reflects fear of the consequences of anxious arousal. Prior work suggests CBD may have anxiolytic effects that may be specific to the social aspects of anxiety. Thus, it was hypothesized that, that, relative to placebo, CBD would reduce self-reported AS-social concerns, but not AS-cognitive or AS-physical concerns, compared to baseline. Participants (N= 79; 52 women; M_age = 22.06) with elevated perceived stress were randomly assigned to 14 …

Amusement In The Absence Of Empathy: Psychopathy In Relation To The Use And Appreciation Of Dark Humor, Jolie A. Brewer

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Although humor functions to foster integration between individuals, not all types of humor are equally appreciated by everyone. Some forms of humor are controversial, which limits their appreciation to specific contexts and potentially to specific people. One form of humor that may meet this definition is dark humor. Production of dark humor could imply that the humorist is disinterested in conventional social situations while similarly conveying an exploitative intention. Given that individuals who exhibit heightened levels of psychopathic personality traits also have a relative disinterest in adhering to social norms, it could be possible that psychopathy is associated with a …

The Effect Of Self-Disclosure To Dogs On Stress, Coping, And Emotional Well-Being, Lilian Crawford

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Self-disclosure has been defined as the voluntary sharing of personal thoughts and experiences with another individual, and in recent years, it has been associated with improvements in psychological and physiological well-being. Recent research into animal-assisted therapy has also demonstrated the emotional benefits of interacting with dogs. However, the current research has not yet explored how the specific act of self-disclosure to dogs affects emotional well-being. The present study explored the effects of self-disclosure to dogs on stress, ability to cope, and emotional well-being. Participants (N = 113) included dog owners who were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: self-disclosure …

The Relationship Between Media Use, Identity, And Attitudes Towards Women, Kelly A. Summers

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Pornography’s popularity among college men is widespread, with degrading content being common in top-selling pornography (Bridges et al., 2010; Foubert et al., 2011). Research has shown higher consumption of degrading pornography is associated with more negative attitudes towards women, greater acceptance of rape culture, more sexist beliefs, and greater likelihood of engaging in aggressive and dominant behavior during physical intimacy (Bridges et al., 2023). “Incels” (a term meaning involuntarily celibate) are individuals who have not yet had a sexual debut despite an interest. Relatively little research exists on this population, but the little that has been conducted suggests incels have …

Overview: Neuroscience And The Law, John M. Conley, Rami Major

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Neural Implants: The Promise, Peril, And Regulatory Challenges, Richard S. Saver, Jeffrey L. Saver

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Memoir: The Brain, Neuroethics, And Bioethics, Leslie C. Griffin

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Clinical And Demographic Characteristics Of Hospitalized Patients With Xylazine-Related Wounds, Elizabeth Novick, Nikhil Seval, Dagan Coppock, Mollie Tucker, Daniel Taupin, John Zurlo, Carolyn Kramer

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the demographic and clinical features of patients with xylazine-related wounds. We sought to characterize hospitalized patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and xylazine-related wounds seen for infectious diseases consultation.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 193 patients diagnosed with SUD at 3 Philadelphia hospitals between October 2023 and January 2024. Patients were identified as either being diagnosed with (n=73) or without (n=120) xylazine-related wounds. We compared the demographic and clinical features between the 2 groups.

RESULTS: Patients diagnosed with wounds were younger ( P < 0.001), more likely to be White or Hispanic and less likely to be Black/AA ( P < 0.001), more likely to have tested positive for fentanyl ( P < 0.001), amphetamines ( P < 0.001), and cocaine ( P 0.001), more likely to acknowledge injection ( P < 0.001), and more likely to leave the hospital by patient-directed discharge (PDD) ( P < 0.001). Most patients had multiple wounds (75%), and more than half (53%) had at least one wound greater than 10 cm at its widest dimension. Although most patients diagnosed with wounds received antibiotics, many did not have symptoms or signs of infection.

CONCLUSIONS: Xylazine-related wounds are highly associated with illicitly manufactured …

Climate Lies And Unjust Profits, Vanessa Casado-Pérez, Yotam Kaplan, Yael Lifshitz, Niv Meyerson

Faculty Scholarship

The climate crisis has reached a perilous tipping point. Our entrenched reliance on fossil fuels remains unchecked, as fossil fuel corporations wield their power to block meaningful reform and entrench their profits. The political horizon offers little relief—an incoming administration is poised to dismantle vital environmental protections, stripping away the few safeguards that stand between us and climate catastrophe.

In this grim landscape, communities across the nation are turning to the courts with renewed urgency, seeking justice and reform through climate litigation. Yet past efforts have fallen short, stymied by two formidable barriers. First, by centering on greenhouse gas emissions …

Identification, Pathogenicity, And Fungicide Sensitivity Of Itersonilia Perplexans Associated With Petal Spot Of Gerbera Cut Flowers In Colombia, Matheus Beger

All Theses

Petal diseases significantly affect gerbera cut flower production, as minor visual damage renders flowers unmarketable. Among those pathogens causing petal spots, Itersonilia perplexans affects some Asteraceae plants. However, this pathogen's impact on Colombian gerbera remains poorly studied. This study was designed to fill four gaps: molecular identification of Colombian isolates, confirmation of pathogenicity, standardized culture media, and fungicide sensitivity data. Four objectives were pursued: (i) isolate and identify the causal agent through sequencing the Internal Transcribed Spacer, Small Subunit and Large Subunit from the rDNA; (ii) evaluate pathogenicity on detached gerbera petals; (iii) identify optimal culture media for I. perplexans …

Developing Aero-Floating Treatment Wetland (Aeroftw) Scaffolds: A Non-Plastic Alternative To Conventional Plastic-Based Ftws, Ada C. Montoya Gomez

All Theses

This research was conducted to explore the possibility of constructing floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) without using plastic materials. FTWs are floating platforms that hold plants on the water’s surface, letting roots dangle within the water column, to help remove contaminants from contaminated water, especially in stormwater ponds. Many conventional FTWs are made with plastic components, such as mats and plastic cup containers, which can release microplastics into the environment over time. The goal of this project was to design and test a new type of FTW that does not depend on plastics to support FTW flotation. The study took place …

Connection Through Crisis: A Thematic Analysis Of Dialogic Public Relations And Renewal In Social Media Posts From Nonprofit Organizations During Hurricane Helene, Cassidy L. Gruber

All Theses

During a crisis, nonprofit organizations must communicate quickly and ethically with their stakeholders to maintain a good relationship. Data was collected from nonprofit organizations’ Instagram and X accounts during a one-month period surrounding Hurricane Helene in 2024 to see how organizations were communicating with their stakeholders during a crisis. This study found that nonprofit organizations were implementing elements of dialogic communication and renewal into their social media messages. It was also found that national and global organizations were more vocal than local and regional organizations during the crisis. This research highlights the importance of communicating ethically with stakeholders during a …