Digital Commons Network^™

Moving Beyond Willpower: A New Direction For Media Literacy Instruction, Mandi Goodsett

Michael Schwartz Library Publications

Academic librarians and others often engage with media literacy instruction by promoting fact-checking strategies, such as lateral reading or Mike Caulfield’s SIFT. Evidence shows that these strategies are valuable and can be effective, but they all ultimately rely on individual students to use willpower to overcome cognitive habits, biases, strong parasocial relationships with content creators, the power of algorithms, and other challenges to fact-checking content in the moment. This paper offers an alternative approach that instead encourages librarians to support students in intentionally redesigning their information environments to improve the quality of information that they encounter in the first place.

Annual Report 2025 Oah, Office Of Allied Health

Office of Allied Health (OAH) Archives

• Dean’s Message
• Associate Dean’s Message
• Flagship Initiative
• Departmental Highlights Across Allied Health
• Educational Offerings and Capacity Building
• Programme Standardisation and Structured Learning
• Research Capacity and Scholarly Development
• Leadership, Policy and Institutional Development

Un-Packing The Pantry: Evaluating And Addressing Nutritional Gaps In Full Circle Food Pantry Service, Gweneth J. Keith-Powell

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Arkansas has the highest food insecurity rate in the U.S., and college students are disproportionately food insecure. Food insecure populations tend to have worse nutrition and face poorer health outcomes, exacerbating the economic disparities they already face. The purpose of this study was to analyze specific food pantry usage trends, healthy diet access barriers, and processed food consumption drivers of Full Circle Food Pantry clients at the University of Arkansas as they related to food insecurity and nutrition disparities, as well as design a targeted project to improve nutation in an underserved client demographic. Findings supported existing literature regarding lower …

The Influence Of Additional Zinc Supplementation During Gestation On The Trace Mineral Concentrations Of Tissues, Milk, And Calf Serum At Birth, Hunter Miller

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Minerals are known to play a key role in the immune system, growth, and development of animals. An important part of a calf's life is receiving colostrum immediately after birth, which provides the calf with immunoglobulins and necessary nutrients that are required. Furthermore, the gestation period is another very important aspect of the calf's life where they can take in the necessary nutrition. This study compared how two different supplements fed during the gestation period ultimately affected the mineral concentrations of the colostrum, placenta, calf plasma, and cow liver. The supplements that were provided were a 1) control that provided …

The Effect Of Blue-Green Light On Behavioral Repertoire And Fear Responses In Broiler Chickens, Addie Walker

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The broiler chicken industry has increased the number of birds produced each year,

making the mitigation of stressors that affect broiler health and meat quality increasingly

important. New management strategies, like lighting protocols, could help combat stressors and

promote behavioral indicators of positive welfare. This study compared the effects of blue-green

and white light on broiler fear response using a tonic immobility test and behavioral repertoire in

the home pen using continuous focal sampling. Day-of-hatch male broiler chicks (N=600) were

randomly divided into 12 pens (n=50 chicks/pen). The pens had either a white LED light

(control, n=6) or a blue-green …

Plan To Develop A Theory-Based Diabetes Social Media Campaign For Spanish-Speaking Adults In Finney County, Ks: Integration Of A Promotora, Focused Discussion Groups, And Community Feedback To Ensure Cultural Appropriateness, Julevi P. Bernido

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) shows that over 11% of adults in Finney County, Kansas, have diabetes, which surpasses both state and national averages. Census data from 2016-2020 indicate that 42.6% of residents ages five and older speak a language other than English at home, and 36.1% speak Spanish (United States Census Bureau, n.d.). The CHNA further highlights concerns about language and cultural barriers to care, especially among the Spanish-speaking population. Notably, 21.74% of residents have limited English proficiency—much higher than the state’s 12.1% (CHNA, 2025).

This capstone will develop a theory-based social media campaign plan to support …

Gestational Diabetes And Social Determinants Of Health In Black Women, Darianne Greenwood

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) poses significant health risks, specifically increasing the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes post-delivery, as well as increasing the risk of adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes. Black women, in particular, experience disproportionately higher rates of GDM incidence, severity, and complications in comparison to White women. Biological factors alone do not account for these disparities, necessitating a deeper examination into how systemic factors, particularly the social environment, influence these inequitable health outcomes. The purpose of this comprehensive literature review is to answer the question: “How do the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), such as residential segregation, food …

Corporate Giving In Shifting Political Winds: A Case Study Of Walmart Philanthropy, 2022–2026, Victoria F. Hudson

Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Venture Innovation Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is to study whether and how Walmart's philanthropic efforts have shifted amidst the recent turbulent political atmosphere in the United States, specifically. It concludes that the shift in political ideals during the relevant time period has an important impact on Walmart’s communication strategies and frequency. I evaluated Walmart’s philanthropic decisions through its press releases from 2022 to 2026, spanning the transition between the two most recent presidential administrations.

Evaluating Management Strategies And Technology To Improve Grazing Efficiency, Thomas E. Aquino

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Increasing land costs and labor constraints continue to challenge beef producers. More intensive practices can increase harvest efficiency; however, many producers are deterred from implementing them due to increased labor and management considerations. Virtual fencing (VF) may provide a reduced labor alternative to traditional fencing for managing intensive grazing. This dissertation evaluated management strategies and VF technology to improve grazing efficiency of stocker cattle systems. In Experiment 1, VF was used to effectively manage groups of steers grazing in adjacent paddocks separated by only virtual boundaries. There was no difference in VF containment (99%) when steers were grazing co-fenced, with …

Evaluation Of Palm Oil As An Ingredient In Finishing Beef Cattle Diets On Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Meat Quality, And The Composition Of Spayed Heifers To Intact Heifers Fed Melengestrol Acetate On Feedlot Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Tate S. Johnson

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Heifers represent a large proportion of cattle placed in feedlots, making pregnancy management an important consideration for maintaining performance and carcass value. Melengestrol acetate (MGA) is commonly included in feedlot diets to suppress estrus and prevent pregnancy in intact heifers during the finishing period. Alternatively, spaying has historically been utilized as a management practice to allow heifers to graze alongside breeding cattle without the risk of pregnancy. Despite its historical use, there is limited contemporary research comparing the growth performance and carcass characteristics of spayed heifers with intact heifers managed with MGA under modern feedlot conditions. Therefore, a commercial study …

Assessing The Mental Wellness Of Professional Pilots And Their Willingness To Seek Professional Help, Bill Deng Pan, Flavio A. C. Mendonca Ph.D.

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Professional pilots face distinct mental health challenges arising from irregular schedules, fatigue, high responsibility, and the need to maintain medical certification. These factors contribute to elevated stress, anxiety, and depression, while concerns about stigma, confidentiality, and potential career consequences often discourage pilots from seeking professional psychological support. As a result, barriers to early identification and intervention of mental health challenges remain a persistent concern within the aviation industry. This ongoing study utilizes a non-experimental, survey-based design to examine the mental wellness of professional pilots worldwide and their willingness to seek mental health support. The survey includes demographic items, standardized mental …

Exploring Predictors Of First-Time National Council Licensure Exam For Registered Nurses Next Generation Success In Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Program To Determine The Need For Remediation, Ashton Clarkson

Dissertations

Passing the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) on the first attempt is crucial not only for nursing students but also for nursing programs and employers. Nursing programs’ reputations rest on their first-time NCLEX pass rates for incoming students and for national accreditation (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, 2023; Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 2024; Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation, 2021). Also, the United States is experiencing a nursing shortage that could be alleviated by more nurses passing the NCLEX-RN on the first try. This quantitative study aimed to determine whether there is predictive ability between the …

Exploring The Biocultural Profile Of The Undocumented Populations Of The Sonoran Corridor: A Skeletal Assessment Of The Prevention Through Deterrence Strategy, Mary A. Vaughn

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Over the last thirty years the mortality rate of the undocumented population at the US-Mexico border has risen, requiring methods distinguishing US-born individuals from immigrants to improve the likelihood of identification and repatriation through foreign consulates. Forensic anthropologists with the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (PCOME) have advocated for the use of the biocultural profile, combining the biological profile with factors including oral health, osteological stress, and personal effects. The biocultural profile serves two purposes, functioning both as a tool for identification and with which to document structural inequality within communities of origin.

This study examines changes in …

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Food Access, Housing, Religious Community, And Health Care Access Reflection, Celene Philip, Michaela Kizy, Haley Montgomery, Akash Dantuluri, Josh Hailo, Abdel Kareem Hilo, Shadi Charara, Sarah Schenck

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Financial And Transportation Barriers, Hassan Hachouche, Matthew Spaulding, Mark Garmo, Michael Hwang, Alondra Prado, Abigail Margolis

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Employment, Education, Fitness, Healthy Food, Pharmacies, And Reflection, Annika Tekumulla, Vamsi Gollapalli, Sebastian Reczek, Alston Prabhu, Matthew Haerens, Ashna Mehra, Susan Dong, Madison Martin

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Education, Access To Healthy Foods, Neighborhood & Physical Environment, Economic Stability, Taylor Brown, Tanya Bhardwaj, Sara Komaiha, Duncan Mcleod, Jonah Harman, Jai Kukreja, Dominic Marsalese, Elizabeth O'Brien

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Income, Education, Food Insecurity And Reflection, Tonia Jones, Habib Serhan, Shriya Karmarkar, Arham Kaiser, Mohammad Turaani, Andre Yazhbin, Jacob Kroll, Jennifer Park

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Social Determinants In Action: A Field Reflection On Community Health, Jamaica Jordan, Razanne Zaghloul, Raj Khuperkar, Lissette Valdez, Nathan Morren, Cole Duvall, Alexis King

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: 48219 Beyond The Zip Code, Justin Darragh, Adhithi Keerthana Athikumar, Muaaz Akhtar, Dania Zeidan, Nathaniel Edwards, Trina Alimi, Jonah Brand, Beatrice White

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Access To Education And Nutritious Foods, Maurgan Lee, Kailey Carner, Tarek Atasi, Michael Mclellan, Alec Brook, Ashley Schehr, Namitha Bhat, Syed Kaushik

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Observation And Reflection Of Education, Transportation, And Food Insecurity At Detroit, Sindi Roko, Kaylee Chan, Sarah Noonan, Alfonso Vaziriyan-Sani, Jelani Shadd, Ritika Tiwary, Samir Khan

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Reflection On Neighborhood Environment And Economic Instability As Barriers To Health, Charity Godbold, Sarah Syeda, Zachary Houslander, Sydney Kelly, Jason Fahmy, Eliezer Ponce De Leon, Jessica Wang, Omar Tayeb

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Systemic Barriers In 48203—Poverty, Food Deserts, And Inadequate Infrastructure—Directly Impact The Health And Futures Of Its Residents., Kerestin Aziz, Sanjana Aiella, Brady Bak, Maanas Sharma, Catherine Hofley, Silas Stewart, Ahmed Marabeh, Samantha Hoey

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

High Throughput Phenomics Pipeline For Pulse Crop Nutritional Breeding, Amod Udayanga Madurapperumage

All Dissertations

Dry pea (Pisum sativum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) are major pulse crops valued for their high nutritional composition and importance to global food systems. Pulses are rich in carbohydrates, protein, and essential minerals, making them ideal whole foods and critical contributors to food and nutrition security. Due to these advantages, pulse breeding programs are increasingly focusing on enhancing nutritional traits, such as protein quality, amino acid balance, and micronutrient density, through the process of biofortification. However, improvement of agronomic traits remains equally essential. Characteristics such as plant height, standability, stress tolerance, …

Beyond Home And Child Care Centers: Reimagining Affordable Child Care Through Pod Design In East Grand Forks, Minnesota, Kassidy Allard

Architecture Theses

Due to rising operational costs, increasing regulatory pressures, and a steady decline in home-based providers, Minnesota is facing a child care shortage. In turn, the state has adopted community-based family child care, or pod model. A majority of the existing facilities are retrofitted spaces that neglect essential design considerations affecting the daily experiences of children and the well-being of the child care provider. This project explores how architectural design can strengthen and reimagine the emerging pod model by creating an affordable facility designed to prioritize daylight, spatial flexibility, comfort, and safety. This research aims to create a shared environment where …

Farming The Future: Urbanizing The Naturhus For Small Scale Food Cultivation, Madysen Brooke Rath

Architecture Theses

Modern urban centers face the pressures of rapidly rising populations and food insecurity, leaving a landscape of “urban voids”-underutilized lots that remain dormant and unproductive. While the Naturhus typology offers a potential solution for symbiotic, glass-encased green living and food production in rural settings, it has yet to be adapted as a viable infill solution for the American urban grid. This thesis investigates the potential for urbanizing the Naturhus concept by reinterpreting a row-house typology as an infill strategy to create “greenhouse villages,” where residents actively participate in their own food production. It focuses on the cold-climate urban fabric of …

Re-Barn: Adaptive Barn Reuse As A Model For Aging In Place And Multigenerational Living On A Rural North Dakota Farmstead, Jared Eggermont

Architecture Theses

Across rural landscapes, agricultural buildings are increasingly left vacant as farming practices evolve, while a growing senior population remains in homes ill-equipped to support aging, often facing challenges with daily needs, health, and social connection as younger generations leave for urban areas. These underutilized farmsteads present an opportunity to support multigenerational living through the reuse of existing structures, allowing families to remain rooted while adapting to changing needs. This thesis explores how rethinking agricultural buildings can sustain social and physical continuity, drawing on research into adaptive reuse, aging in place, multigenerational households, and rural living. It proposes design strategies on …

Living Shorelines: A Regenerative Landscape Approach To Coastal Protection And Community Resilience In Bhasan Char, Bangladesh, Anamul Hoque Mojumder

Landscape Architecture Theses

Bhasan Char is a newly formed, unstable silt island in Bangladesh which is home for more than one million Rohingya refugees—an ethnic Muslim minority from Myanmar who have fled decades of systematic persecution and violence—suffering from an ecological and humanitarian crisis. This community faces extreme vulnerability from cyclones and sea-level rise on a landscape of profound precarity.

Traditional hard-engineered defenses are costly, ecologically damaging, and ineffective against the island’s dynamic geomorphology. This research proposes a regenerative "Living Shorelines" model, intersecting coastal resilience with refugee empowerment through Blue-Green Infrastructure. Drawing on successful global precedents in Vietnam and the USA, the study …

Prevention Of Dementia Using Mobile Phone Applications (Prodemos) – A Health-Economic Cost-Utility Analysis In People Aged 55–75 Years With Low Socio-Economic Status, Ron Handels, Marieke Hoevenaar-Blom, Manshu Song, Carol Brayne, Eric Moll Van Charante, Fiona E. Matthews, Junfang Xu, Linus Jönsson, Nicola Coley, Rachael Brooks, Xuening Jian, Tingting Qin, Youxin Wang, Wei Wang, Edo Richard, Anders Wimo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction We aimed to explore the potential incremental cost-effectiveness of the PRODEMOS coach-supported mobile health intervention for primary prevention of dementia versus standard of care provided to people aged 55–75 years with low socio-economic status (SES) in the United Kingdom (UK), and any SES in China. Methods 12–18-month PRODEMOS trial (ISRCTN15986016) efficacy outcomes on hypertension, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, physical inactivity and smoking were extrapolated to lifetime impact on dementia onset, myocardial infarction, stroke and death using a health-economic open-source simulation model. Results Simulated outcomes showed dementia cases were avoided (UK = -206 (-658 to 281), China = -140 (-456 to 205) …