Digital Commons Network^™

The Impossibility Of Love: The Difficulty Of Establishing Family Behind Prison Walls, Samantha Carrington Balcanoff

Undergraduate Review

No abstract provided.

Cristina "La Veneno" Ortiz: A Transgender Icon Of Spain And The Fight For Transgender Rights, Hannah Flockton

Undergraduate Review

Although Spain has taken steps to protect transgender people at a policy level, transgender individuals continue to face systemic victimization and unequal access to fundamental human rights. Historically, they have been absent, misgendered, or reduced to negative stereotypes in the film, music, and television industries. Nevertheless, over the last ten years, and in response to the growing transphobic rhetoric and hate prevalent worldwide, numerous transgender women artists and allies have created or participated in artistic projects that not only challenge these stereotypes but also provide new and more inclusive representations and definitions of “women” and “feminine.” One of those artistic …

The Lasting Scars Of Sex Trafficking: An Exploration Of The Long-Term Psychological And Physical Effects Of Trafficking, Norda Lino-Kelly

Undergraduate Review

This article explores the long-term physical and psychological effects of sex trafficking on survivors. Using a qualitative research approach based on the feminization of poverty and life course theories, and through a lengthy interview with an activist and survivor, the study demonstrates the long-term effects of sex trafficking on physical health, mental health, and access to healthcare. The main takeaways call attention to PTSD and other major mental health issues, chronic health conditions, and financial barriers that survivors have while trying to access healthcare. The study emphasizes the necessity of improved healthcare procedures, the significance of trauma-informed care, and the …

The Power Of Language To Devastate Or Restore The Environment In Atwood’S Oryx And Crake And Kimmerer’S Braiding Sweetgrass, Allison Marchand

Undergraduate Review

No abstract provided.

Hidden Box Of Beating Hearts: A Collection Of Poems, Katie Johanson

Undergraduate Review

No abstract provided.

"Not A Woman's Comedy": Gender Performance And Genre Defiance In “A White Night”, Hannah Murphy

Undergraduate Review

No abstract provided.

Victim Worthiness: How Demographics Impact The Search For Missing Children, Rory O'Connor

Undergraduate Review

No abstract provided.

Resurrecting Poe: Tales Of Terror & Politics, Olivia Timberlake

Undergraduate Review

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Town Management And University Partnership Impact On Community And Economic Development In Bridgewater, Massachusetts, David German Alatorre

Undergraduate Review

This research investigates the town of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, using a mixed approach. It explores the underlying elements of community and economic development and Bridgewater's efforts to improve these factors. A key cornerstone of this study is analyzing the Town of Bridgewater Master Plan (2022) to explore what Bridgewater prioritizes and has provided efforts for community and economic growth while highlighting barriers and opportunities the town has encountered. In addition, the unique characteristics of Bridgewater, being a university-town, will be examined to understand how this relationship affects its community. Moreover, small local businesses are provided with a platform to discuss their …

Little Fish, Big Pond: Are Micro Influencers Worth The Catch? Analyzing The Difference And Effectiveness Between Micro And Macro Influencers, Kimberly T. Salla

Undergraduate Review

As social media has grown in popularity and influence, its users have become persuasive leaders in marketing products to their audiences. Originally celebrities, models, and artists were key influencers, able to market products to their millions of followers. With the growth of TikTok, users now have the opportunity to become micro-influencers. With the rise in influencer marketing, companies are spending significant amounts of money trying to reach a larger audience on social media. Research has shown that influencers can be effective. However, with micro and macro influencers now being utilized, it is important to look at who is using which …

In Right Relationship: Practicing And Teaching Trauma-Responsive Restorative Advocacy, Amy Dallas

Fordham Urban Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Design Of Chinese Medicinal “Curcumin” Ointment And Study Its Anti-Oxidant Or Anti-Bacterial Properties Compared With A Commercial Product, Mei Tsz Lai, Siu Kan Law, Sze Wing Ng

THEi Student Research Output

Background: Many cosmetic products possess anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. However, they are chemically synthesized products. This research project focuses on “organic” and “natural” for skin care products. “Organic” is derived from living matter, such as the Chinese medicinal plant, “Curcuma longa L.” “Natural” exists in or is derived from nature, and is not made or caused by humankind, as these have some advantages. Purpose: The research aimed to design and develop a Chinese medicinal ointment using “natural curcumin extract powder (NCP)” with 98% purity of a bioactive ingredient, “curcumin,” as well as evaluate its anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. The NCP …

"I Wish I Knew That”: Understanding And Bridging The Gap Between Public Health, Stem, And The Cooperative Extensions National Framework For Health Equity And Well-Being, Brione Lockett, Lisa Krajecki

Extension Publications

In his essay “The Creative Process” writer and activist James Baldwin notes, “It goes without saying . . . that if we understand ourselves better we would damage ourselves less” (Baldwin, 1985). This quotation reflects Baldwin’s viewpoint that often individuals knowing and learning about themselves and what impacts them (e.g., education, employment, social environments, policy) and their quality of life is compromised by the action of seeking to know others instead. This paper meets at the intersection of Baldwin’s profound words and the ways health equity and wellness conversations complement rather than compete with STEM fields. The National Framework for …

Multiobjective Optimal Design Of Hierarchical Control Architectures For Quadcopter Systems: Linear And Hybrid Approaches, Xinhuang Wu

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This thesis investigates the design of many-objective optimal controllers for quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), focusing on both linear and hybrid control structures. In Chapter 2, a multi-input–multi-output (MIMO) optimal control system is developed for a six-degree-of-freedom UAV actuated by four brushless DC motors. The UAV dynamics are first derived and linearized around an operating point, and then organized into a three-loop nested control structure. The outer loop computes the roll and pitch angles required to maneuver the vehicle in the global X and Y directions, the middle loop regulates attitude and altitude, and the inner loop controls the angular …

Behavioral And Physiological Responses Of Heifers With No Prior Exposure And Those Adapted To Grazing Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue, Tyler A. Purvis

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Data from year one of a three-year experiment was used to determine behavioral and physiological responses of heifers adapted to grazing endophyte-infected fescue (E+TF) compared to heifers naïve to grazing E+TF. In May, yearling beef heifers from KY (n=15) and MT (n=30) were stratified by body weight, hair coat score, and disposition into nine pastures and assigned to one of three treatments: KY grazing E+ (KY-E+), MT grazing E+ (MT-E+), or MT grazing endophyte-free tall fescue (E-TF) (MT-E-). Prior to grazing, two heifers per pasture were selected to be outfitted with a RumiWatch® halter (Itin+Hoch GmbH, Liestal, Switzerland) for monitoring …

Sites Of Planet Formation In Binary Systems. Ii. Double The Disks In Df Tau, T. Kutra, B. M. Tofflemire, R. Akeson, G. H. Schaefer, S.-Y. Tang, D. Segura-Cox, C. M. Johns-Krull, A. Kraus, S. Andrews, Eric L.N. Jensen

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

This article presents the latest results of our Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) program to study circumstellar disk characteristics as a function of orbital and stellar properties in a sample of young binary star systems known to host at least one disk. Optical and infrared observations of the eccentric, ∼48 yr period binary DF Tau indicated the presence of only one disk around the brighter component. However, our 1.3 mm ALMA thermal continuum maps show two nearly equal-brightness components in this system. We present these observations within the context of updated stellar and orbital properties, which indicate that the inner …

The Copd Caregiver’S Toolkit

United States Natonal Institutes of Health: Materials

Information, advice, and tools from Learn More Breathe Better® and Respiratory Health Association to help care for someone with COPD.

Taking Care Of Our Hearts Together In The Hispanic/Latino Community Fact Sheet

United States Natonal Institutes of Health: Materials

Heart disease is largely preventable, yet many people will likely develop coronary heart disease, the most common form of it. The disease affects millions of Americans.

Taking Care Of Our Hearts Together In The American Indian/Alaska Native Community Fact Sheet

United States Natonal Institutes of Health: Materials

Heart disease is largely preventable, yet many people will likely develop coronary heart disease, the most common form of it. The disease affects millions of Americans.

Taking Care Of Our Hearts Together In The African American Community Fact Sheet

United States Natonal Institutes of Health: Materials

Heart disease is largely preventable, yet many people will likely develop coronary heart disease, the most common form of it. The disease affects millions of Americans.

Taking Care Of Our Hearts Together In Asian American, Native Hawaiian, And Pacific Islander Communities Fact Sheet

United States Natonal Institutes of Health: Materials

Heart disease is largely preventable, yet many people will likely develop coronary heart disease, the most common form of it. The disease affects millions of Americans.

A Short History Of The Calvin University Department Of Physics And Astronomy (1952 – 2025), Calvin University

University Histories

No abstract provided.

Water’S Effect On The Decomposition Of Baptisia Australis, Jackson Whiteside, Adeline Beckham, Jeremy Little, Reese Cobb, Darlene Panvini

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Detritus, dead organic matter, is an essential part of nutrient cycling in Earth’s ecosystems. If dead organic matter could not be decomposed, dead matter would be amassed everywhere, and its nutrients could not be returned to the soil to nourish living species. Detritivores decompose this dead matter and return its nutrients to the soil. How quickly matter decomposes is influenced by a variety of abiotic factors. One abiotic factor which is of interest to decomposition is water quantity and frequency. This study aimed to test if Baptisia australis decomposes faster in dry or wet conditions. The expected results are that …

Potential Impacts Of Construction On Bat Populations In Warner Parks, Nashville, Tennessee, Jackson Whiteside, Wyatt Fooks, Jeremy Little

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Human development continues to alter natural landscapes, often with significant consequences for wildlife populations. Among the most sensitive taxa to such disturbances are bats, which serve vital ecological roles as insect predators, pollinators, and seed dispersers. Because bats depend on specific roosting and foraging habitats, even minor environmental changes can strongly influence their activity and diversity. A new road is proposed through an area of Warner Parks, Nashville, Tennessee which is otherwise untouched. This may affect the biodiversity and the populations of bats as a result. Wildlife Acoustic MiniBat 2 acoustic monitoring equipment was used to gather echolocation calls of …

The Relationship Between Trait Empathy And The Involuntary Mimicry Of Emotion: An Electromyographical Study Of Facial Suppression, Madison E. Dawes, Karlie Souder, Eddie Broad, Htoo Aye, Sian Huai

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Abstract

Facial expressions are one of the main communication styles that signify emotion and meaning across cultures and individuals. Despite it being one of our main forms of communication, in many social situations, people are required to suppress or control their emotional expressions to act in a socially acceptable manner. However, research has shown that a person’s facial muscles continue to exhibit subtle muscle and move in expressivity even when attempting to suppress emotions from others. To support this, Dimberg et al. (2002) found that electromyography (EMG) technology can detect these subtle facial movements even if they may be invisible …

Functionalizing Silver Nanoparticles With Histamine, Noah J. Deblanco

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are of increasing interest in biomedical research due to their antimicrobial properties, biocompatibility, and high surface-area-to-volume ratio. A major challenge, however, lies in stabilizing AgNPs under physiological conditions and understanding how their surface interactions influence potential medical applications. This project explores the synthesis of AgNPs using the Turkevich method and investigates their behavior when exposed to varying biological conditions, including changes in pH and temperature. In addition, preliminary efforts are being made to functionalize AgNPs with small biological signaling molecules to evaluate their effects on nanoparticle stability and surface interactions. Characterization is performed primarily through UV-Vis spectrophotometry, …

A Teacher Preparation Program's Stakeholders' Perceptions Since Campus Closure Due To Covid-19, Laurie J. Mccormick

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

COVID-19 closed colleges and forced faculty and students to learn a new way of teaching and learning. Like most institutions, Marshall University’s College of Education and Professional Development struggled to provide the practicum experience required for teacher preparation when most public schools shifted to remote learning. This qualitative study investigated the reactions of, and ongoing impact on, a university’s college of education’s administrators, faculty, undergraduates, the institution’s instructional designers, and the Counseling Center’s director when the campus closed spring of 2020 due to the pandemic. Initial and ongoing challenges faced, and strategies implemented were categorized by the four themes that …

The Dynamics Of Popularity In Edm: A Detailed Analysis, Owen Yanevich

Theses & ETDs

The music industry is continuously evolving, with lower barriers to entry intensifying competition among artists. This thesis explores key factors influencing the popularity of EDM tracks, including production quality, genre deviation, and melodic structure. By integrating data from Spotify, the research develops a quantitative formula to objectively evaluate song popularity, accounting for variables such as total streams and time since release. The results highlight strategies for artists to stand out in an oversaturated market, offering a thorough guide to understanding Spotify consumption trends, in an industry undergoing rapid innovation and increased competition. Additionally, this research sheds light on how songs …

Digital Identity Negotiation: How International Students Balance Home And Host Country Ideals On Social Networking Sites, Oluchi Ikwuakam

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Minority groups, including people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, various ethnicities or races, gender non-conforming individuals, and others who are not part of the societal majority, face daily challenges due to unequal access to digital technology. From elementary school through college, the gap between students with better access to digital tools and those without becomes evident in how these technologies are used in classrooms. International students, who may be a majority group in their home country, become part of a minority in their host country as they seek better educational opportunities. These technologies, such as social networking sites, often reflect the …

Effects Of In-Stream Large Woody Debris Management On Riparian Salamander Population Dynamics, Sydney Hermann

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The addition of large woody debris (LWD) into streams is an increasingly common habitat restoration method used to support brook trout populations and other sensitive freshwater species. Wood jams create localized reductions of water velocity, increase organic matter retention, intensify overbank flows, and promote habitat heterogeneity. These changes enhance interaction between the floodplain and the stream which can influence forest habitat variables such as leaf litter, soil pH, moisture, and invertebrate abundance. Salamander demographics reflect the stability of these forest habitat variables, and population declines can be indicative of environmental disturbance, stress, or change. Evaluating how this trout-targeted management effects …