Digital Commons Network^™

Law In Bloom: The Roots Of Legal Consciousness And Negotiation In Philadelphia Community Gardens, Vanessa Amsinger , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

This thesis examines how legal consciousness, self-governance, and social networks shape power, participation, and belonging in the Southwark Queen Village Community Garden in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I draw on theories of legal pluralism and network theory to analyze archival documents, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews with garden members and leadership. I show that gardeners navigate overlapping formal rules and informal hierarchies, appearing in the form of bylaws, land trust agreements, social ties, and embodied practices, that together produce a complex web of legal consciousness inside the space. Mechanisms of self-governance, like plot assignments and leadership elections, often reinforce social hierarchies …

Disease And Deprivation: Care, Medical Pluralism, And Healthcare Experiences Of Diabetes Patients In Liberia, Prince U.D. Tardeh , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Equal access to healthcare continues to be a problem across the globe, with people from colonized nations suffering at an even higher rate. Infrastructures and healthcare resources’ limitations in developing nations like Liberia continue to limit how much care citizens, especially low income people can receive for their illnesses. This thesis combines ethnographic fieldwork, history, and quantitative data analysis to describe the issues of access to healthcare in Liberia and the circumstances that have shaped Liberia’s inability to provide adequate care for its citizens. The analysis in this thesis is rooted in weeks long in-depth interviews with healthcare professionals, herbalists, …

You Thought You Ate: How Capitalism Constructs Black Women’S Body Image And Relationship To Food, Nia Y. Todd , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Exploitation On The High Seas: Transnational Capital And Workers Rights In The Global Cruise Industry, Kyle A. White , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Sculpting A Program On Unsteady Ground: Tensions, Issues, And Possibilities In Theimplementation Of Spanish-English Dual Language Immersion In Georgia, Andrés Villalba , '25

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

“Then We Would Know, And Then We Could Help The World:” Exploring The Multidirectional Relationship Between Young Children, Families, And Social Movements, Carrie Ryter , '26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

This study began with the researcher’s noticings and wonderings about young children’s understanding and impact in family activism spaces and broader social movements. Thus, the overarching research question was born: what is the multidirectional impact of young children on social movements? Secondary questions tackled children’s agency, families’ negotiation of activism at home and in the streets, and the rhetorical impact of children’s involvement. The bulk of the data was conducted via semi-structured interviews with young children (aged 3-8), caregivers, and educators. Qualitative thematic coding and analysis was conducted. A number of themes emerged, including: 1. Children make social movements more …

The Experiences Of Disabled People In Physical Education, Wesley J. Wilson (Editor), Justin A. Haegele (Editor)

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Books

Bringing together a set of first- person accounts of physical education from the perspectives of disabled children and adults, this book puts disabled people’s voices in the foreground.

The book provides a rich set of case study material that deepens our understanding of the experiences of disabled people and challenges students, researchers, and practitioners to reflect critically upon their own positionality. The first part of the book discusses the ways in which disability has been conceptualized, how the voices of disabled people have sometimes been marginalized, and how nondisability power has historically framed the narratives of disabled people in physical …

Against Criminalizing Wage Theft: Lessons From The Antitrafficking Movement, Stephanie Richard

Cardozo Law Review

Criminalizing wage theft is a popular idea. This Article argues that--based on practitioners' experience with human trafficking--workers' rights groups, legislators, and prosecutors should reconsider embracing the criminalization of wage theft as an effective response to preventing this form of abuse. Twenty years of experience with trafficking cases and data show that criminalizing wage theft is likely not only to be ineffective but also to cause further harm to the victims and vulnerable communities who suffer the most from wage theft. A review oflabor trafficking cases and data shows the frequent negative impacts on victims from criminal prosecutions that would be …

Black Women In Stem Fields: The Impact Of Culturally Responsive Mentoring Programs In Stem Academic And Career Success, Tarawhona Bellevue

Education Doctoral

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of Black women who attained academic and career success in STEM pathways and their perceptions of culturally responsive mentoring (CRM) programs. Despite comprising 7% of the U.S. population, Black women remain disproportionately underrepresented in STEM fields.

This study aimed to increase knowledge of the perceived value of CRM programs in increasing Black women's representation, recruitment, and retention in STEM leadership positions. Nine Black women at the director level or higher in STEM organizations participated in semi-structured interviews.

The study utilized a conceptual framework for CRM with nine benchmarks to guide the analysis. …

An Analysis Of The Mental Health Of Private School Teachers, Caitlin R. Frederick

Leadership Education Capstones

This capstone study investigates the mental health of private school teachers, focusing on how access to professional development resources and support systems influences their well-being. Grounded in Maslach and Jackson’s Burnout Theory, the research explores emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished personal accomplishment as critical components of teacher burnout. A mixed-methods approach was used, incorporating pre- and post-surveys alongside a mental health presentation delivered to staff at a small Christian school in Minnesota. Of the 45 invited participants, 26 reported implementing new strategies—such as gratitude practices and emotional regulation—into their personal and professional lives. Findings reveal that while professional development can …

State Of Women In The Media: A Look At Kenya, Tanzania, And Uganda - Policy Brief 2025, Hesbon Owilla, Nancy Achieng' Booker, George Nyabuga, Shitemi Khamadi, Alykhan Peermohamed, Clare Mogere, Pauline Muriuki

Graduate School of Media and Communications

In 2023, Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications (AKU-GSMC) undertook a study examining the representation of women in East African news media organisations with a focus on the coverage and portrayal of women in prominent newspapers, television, and digital news platforms across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The study specifically sought to assess gender representation within the media workforce, the distribution of leadership roles and responsibilities in media companies, and the way women are covered and portrayed in the media. Using content analysis, the study reveals that women are frequently underreported in news stories and disproportionately portrayed in …

The Transition Process Of Syrian Refugee Families Separated By U.S. Immigration Law, Firas Aljijakli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Refugees are regarded as one of the most pressing humanitarian issues worldwide due to intricate social, economic, and demographic factors. Changes in U.S. immigration policy across successive administrations, particularly regarding the refugee ban and the duration of the resettlement process, have significantly impacted admission procedures. Consequently, family separations occur during the resettlement process, compelling families to navigate immigration policies while managing the challenges of being apart. This separation from their children greatly affects refugees’ ability to integrate into American society.

The research examines how Syrian refugee families cope with the separation resulting from U. S. immigration law. An important lens …

Forests And Cycles Of Agrarian Sustenance: Time-To-Event Analysis Of Ecosystem Provisioning Services And Seasonal Food Insecurity, Kamaldeen Mohammed, Daniel Kpienbaareh

Faculty Publications - Geography, Geology, and the Environment

In Savanna ecosystems, cycles of sustenance include periods of food abundance and deficits. In rain-fed agricultural systems, forests are a vital food source that helps households close this cycle. This paper uses cross-sectional data to explore the association between provisioning ecosystem services and timing to food insecurity in forest fringe communities (N = 500). The time to food insecurity analysis revealed a significant difference in the onset of food insecurity among households with varying levels of access to forest provisioning services. Households with access to more than four forest products experienced a slower timing to seasonal insecurity. In contrast, …

Adaptability Evaluation Of Vocational Education And Economic Development Under The Bipolar Neutrosophic Sets, Chen Yuan, Yongye Chen

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study suggests a decision-making methodology to evaluate the risks in vocational education and economic development. This problem has different criteria and alternatives which must be evaluated. This evaluation can include uncertainty in the evaluation process. So, we use the bipolar neutrosophic sets (BNSs) to deal with uncertainty and vague data. The BNSs are extensions of the neutrosophic sets. We used two decision-making methods for the evaluation of risks in vocational education and economic development such as BWM to compute the criteria weights and the COPRAS method to rank the alternatives based on a set of criteria. This study uses …

Rising From The Ashes : How African American Women From North Tulsa Overcame The Oppressions Of Race, Gender, And Class And Achieved Success, Cynthia A. Talley

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Book Of Amos In Its Israelian Context : A Contextual Rhetorical Analysis Of The Book Of Amos And Its Northern Provenance, Aaron R. Woods

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Modeling Droplet Levitation Over A Heated Liquid Surface, Jacob E. Davis

Mathematics Theses and Dissertations

Research into the interactions between droplets and liquid surfaces is of importance for a number of practical applications. These applications range from spray cooling techniques in engineering, to infectious disease transmission, to the distribution of aerosolized pharmaceuticals and various challenges in particle transport in multiphase flows. In this study, we focus on the dynamics of a slowly condensing droplet, suspended above an evaporating liquid layer. The key objective of the present study is to formulate comprehensive mathematical models that describe the phenomena of diffusion and heat transfer occurring within this system. Using this, we model the flow around the droplet …

Serum And Cord Blood Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin Levels In Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus And Its Association With Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha: A Cross-Sectional Study From Tripura, India, Bidhan Goswami, Sumit S. Das, Partha S. Pal, Partha Saha, Shauli Sengupta, Manti Debnath

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To examine the significance of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their correlation with insulin resistance and metabolic markers. Methods: Blood samples from maternal and cord sources were obtained from 289 pregnant women, divided into GDM, prediabetic, and normal pregnancy groups. Serum levels of NGAL, TNF-α, insulin, fasting blood sugar (FBS), homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides, cholesterol, and so on were measured. Statistical analyses, including the Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test, were used to compare NGAL levels across patient groups and ethnicities. Results: Women …

Comparative Study Of Pregnancy Risks In Different Maternal Age Groups, Amala Sunder, Yusuf Khaled Hadi, Noor Ammar Alkhuzaei, Nayla Jamal Bushaqer, Basma Darwish, Nawal Dayoub

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate and compare pregnancy complications associated with varying maternal age groups. Methods: A retrospective analysis of singleton pregnancy outcomes at Bahrain Defense Force Hospital from January to December 2022. The study population was divided into 4 age groups: <25 years, 25-29 years, 30-34 years, and ≥35 years. Data on demographics, maternal and fetal characteristics were collected, and statistical significance was set at p <0.05. Univariate logistic regression was performed to analyze maternal and neonatal outcomes, adjusting for maternal factors. Results: The study included 2,972 women aged 17-55. Significant associations were found between maternal age and outcomes. Body mass index (BMI) was significantly linked to age ( p <0.01), with younger women having lower BMI. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was more common in women ≥35 years (11.5%) vs. those <25 years (6.6%, p =0.027). Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was more prevalent in the <25 years age group ( p =0.041).Logistic regression showed women 30-34 years had a lower risk of GDM compared to 25-29 years (odds ratio [OR]: 0.544, CI: 0.365-0.811), and women <25 years had a higher risk of preterm delivery (OR: 1.365, CI: 1.015-1.837). Conclusion: Maternal age is an independent risk factor for various adverse outcomes. Younger women (<25) are at higher risk for preterm delivery and IUGR, while older women (≥35) have higher rates of GDM.

Do Lifetime Body Weight Patterns Affect Kidney Cancer Risk?

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

A Collective Approach: Enhancing Population Health And Social Drivers Of Health Through Interprofessional Education And Collaboration, Arvie Vitente

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

No abstract provided.

Hbv Transmission Knowledge Among Korean-American Chronic Hepatitis B Patients In The United States, Giyoung Lee, Hee-Soon Juon, Eunji Kim, Katherine C Smith, Hie-Won Hann, Mimi Chang, Ann C. Klassen

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a condition that disproportionately affects Asian Americans in the United States. Knowledge of transmission is crucial for CHB patients to practice prevention methods to limit the spread of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), but also live their lives free from unwarranted fears or restrictions. Among Asian CHB patients, several misperceptions about HBV transmission have been identified. This analysis aims to assess the current state of HBV knowledge among a cohort of Korean-American CHB patients. This mixed-methods study includes 363 respondents who completed a survey in either Korean (N = 298) or English (N = 65) …

Valuing Worker Authenticity, Dallan F. Flake

William & Mary Law Review

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects workers from discrimination because of their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Controversially, courts do not typically extend this protection to individual expression tied to a protected trait, such as a Black employee who wears their hair in dreadlocks or a Latino employee who speaks Spanish on the job. Judicial unwillingness to protect employee self-expression tied to a protected trait causes employees who identify with marginalized groups to suppress their identities to conform with mainstream culture—often at tremendous costs to themselves and the organizations they work for.

This Article …

Four Ways To Deconstruct Regulation And Undermine Democracy In The States, Glen Staszewski

William & Mary Law Review

A few years before the Supreme Court formally overruled Chevron, anti-administrative activists successfully prohibited judicial deference to reasonable exercises of interpretive discretion by regulatory agencies in a handful of receptive states. State governments’ treatment of this issue is likely to generate even more attention in Loper Bright’s wake. This Article presents novel case studies of four different ways in which state governments have prohibited deference to state agencies by state courts: (1) judicial decisions in Mississippi and Ohio, (2) a constitutional amendment proposed by an appointed commission and adopted pursuant to the initiative process in Florida, (3) statutes …

Evidence-Based Practices And Us State Government Civil Servants: Current Use, Challenges, And Pathways Forward, Yuan (Daniel) Cheng, Leslie Thompson, Shuping Wang, Jules Marzec, Chengxin Xu, Weston Merrick, Patrick Carter

Center for Policy Design and Governance

This brief summarizes "Evidence-based practices and US state government civil servants: Current use, challenges, and pathways forward," co-authored by Yuan (Daniel) Cheng, Leslie Thompson, Shuping Wang, Jules Marzec, Chengxin Xu, Weston Merrick, and Patrick Carter in Public Administration Review.

Seeing Is Believing: Exploring The Mechanisms Of Lens Regeneration, Jenna Loporcaro

Inquiry Journal Spring 2025

Regeneration in Iberian ribbed newts provides hope for researchers to study the fundamental pathways of elaborate tissue renewal, especially within eye lenses. These newts maintain a rare capability to fully regenerate destroyed body parts including limbs and eye lenses, giving them a reputation as an ideal organism for regenerative studies. Completed in Dr. Sousounis’s lab at the University of New Hampshire, this investigation focuses on the cellular processes of newt lens regeneration, particularly with the impact of Yamanaka factors. Through cellular development observation, along with gene expression and signal pathway analysis, this research aspires to recognize crucial factors that drive …

Using Rna Sequencing To Investigate Cerebral Gene Expression In Cactus Mice, Sarah Nicholls

Inquiry Journal Spring 2025

As extreme environments like deserts expand due to global climate change, biologists are looking to the weird and wonderful creatures that live within them to instruct conservation efforts. The cactus mouse is one of the most hardcore desert specialists: It has adapted to be able to live its entire life without drinking water, and the MacManes evolutionary genomics lab at UNH, where I’ve worked for the past three years, is dedicated to finding out how. For my Honors senior thesis in biochemistry, supported by a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, I conducted a transcriptomic study to investigate the root instigator of …

Low-Cost Lidar Lens Autofocus System For Cinema Cameras, Nolan Juneau

Inquiry Journal Spring 2025

In the motion picture industry, one of a cinematographer’s jobs is to move the plane of focus of the camera’s lens to line up with a subject so that it is sharp and “in focus.” This job is usually fulfilled manually by an assistant cameraperson (or “focus puller”), but sometimes, manual focus pulling is impractical. This is especially true for extremely technical shots on high-end shoots or for lower-budget shoots that cannot afford extra crew members. In recent years, systems have been created to pull focus automatically (known as “autofocus”), but many of the technologies that exist for cinema equipment …

Stress, Mental Health, And Their Role In Reward-Based Decision-Making, Amanda Wittemann

Inquiry Journal Spring 2025

People tend to prefer immediate rewards over rewards available only in the future, even when the latter rewards are larger. This phenomenon is known as temporal discounting. In this study, we examined how temporal discounting relates to both acute and trait level stress as well as mental health related distress (e.g., anxiety and depression symptom severity). Participants (N=120) were randomly assigned to listen to either a calming piece of music or a stress-inducing piece of music while making a series of choices between immediate and delayed rewards (e.g., $10 now or $20 in a month). After, participants completed self-report questionnaires …

Mane Pulling And Stress Response: Investigating The Welfare Impact Of An Equine Husbandry Practice, Rowan Grzeszkiewicz-O’Neill

Inquiry Journal Spring 2025

This study assessed stress response in horses during mane pulling, a practice that involves using a metal comb to tear out hairs in order to create an even and thin mane for horse showing. Seven horses from the UNH equine program were tested under three conditions: the experimental condition, during which they had their manes pulled; the baseline condition, in which they were not handled during testing; and the control condition, where the horse’s manes were brushed using a hairbrush. I collected data on heart rate, how frequently horses showed certain behaviors, and the temperature of a structure of the …