Digital Commons Network^™

Queer Convergence: Figurative Abstraction In Contemporary Art., Vincent Young

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an exhibition text for the exhibition of the same name held in Schneider Hall Galleries from May 15 to August 21st, 2025. This exhibition explores the work of three contemporary artists – Joshua Jenkins, Drew Scanlon, and Lalana Fedorschak – and analyzes their artwork through the lens of Queer Convergence. Queer Convergence is an exploration of abstracted images of bodies and how we can read these bodies through a queer lens, arguing that the visual language of bodily overlap, melding, and transformation shows the physical form as a site of continual change shaped by shared experience and …

Optimization And Simulation Models For Integrating Social Determinants In Assessing And Optimizing The Accessibility And Efficiency Of Community Pharmacy Networks., Md Morshedul Alam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Community pharmacies are essential components of the healthcare system, serving not only as points of medication access but also as providers of health consultations and preventive care. However, disparities in pharmacy access persist due to a combination of geographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors. This dissertation develops a comprehensive methodological framework to evaluate and improve accessibility to community pharmacies, integrating optimization, choice modeling, and discrete event simulation. First, we develop an Optimal Community-Pharmacy Assignment (OCPA) model to quantify geographic accessibility across a regional population network. The model minimizes risk-adjusted travel distances between population centers and pharmacies, incorporating social determinants of health …

Dust Observations Of Occulting Galaxy Pair Vv 191., Clayton Robertson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The presence of dust grains as part of the the interstellar medium (ISM) in galaxies is an all-impactful entity in astronomy due its influence on light, and therefore observations. Unlike a true blackbody, dust absorbs, reflects, reddens, and scatters light within a line of sight. We quantify this phenomena with attenuation: the difference between the observed and true magnitudes of an astronomical object due to dust. Therefore, to map dust attenuation, one needs a known background source of light. In the serendipitous case of partially overlapping –occulting– galaxies, the background galaxy serves as the known light source and the transmission …

Mental Health Service Utilization Among Arab/Middle Eastern In The Us: Structural Disparities, Digital Access, And Stigma-Related Barriers., Fatima M. Aldarweesh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arab Middle Eastern (AME) United States (US) college-attending students are more susceptible to disproportionate mental health problems and underutilization of mental healthcare services due to cultural, structural, and psychosocial barriers. The study examines mental health service utilization and mental health outcomes among AME, particularly focusing on the impact of structural, cultural, and psychosocial determinants grounded in Andersen and Aday’s Health Services research model and Corrigan’s stigma framework. The three interconnected aims use secondary nationally representative data from the Healthy Minds Study (HMS) 2019-2024. The study was analyzed using logistic regression and generalized structural equation modeling across three aims to identify …

Predictor-Informed Bayesian Nonparametric Clustering., Md Yasin Ali Parh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we performed clustering of observations such that the cluster membership is influenced by a set of predictors. To that end, we employ the Bayesian nonparametric Common Atom Model (CAM), which is a nested clustering algorithm that utilizes a (fixed) group membership for each observation to encourage more similar clustering of members of the same group. CAM operates by assuming each group has its own vector of cluster probabilities, which are themselves clustered to allow similar clustering for some groups. We extend this approach by treating the group membership as an unknown latent variable determined as a flexible …

The Influence Of Psychological, Biological, And Social Determinants On Disordered Eating Behaviors Among U.S. Young Adults: Evidence From Nhanes 2015-2018., Samantha Kaye Gerbine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) are influenced by biological, social, and psychological factors, yet research often narrowly focuses on White, college-aged women. This study assessed the predictors and prevalence of DEBs in a nationally representative sample of U.S. young adults using data from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Survey weights were applied to generate national estimates. Descriptive statistics characterized the sample, and logistic regressions tested biological, social, and psychological predictors of DEBs. A composite risk score was developed using variables retained in the final model. The unweighted sample (n = 1,062) represented 64 million U.S. young adults. …

Crossed Stitches: Tension And Transformation In Nineteenth-Century Embroidery Samplers., Hayley Salo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Originally designed as practice pieces, embroidery samplers have long been studied as domestic objects and part of sewing history. Interpretations of the material and textual significance of individual samplers is less common. However, recent scholarly attention has turned to using sewing practices and objects as a means for understanding individual stitchers and their contributions to public discourse. As such, a focused study of the material and textual content of embroidery samplers furthers our understanding of the genre on its own and as a wider textile practices. Crossed Stitches is interested in the production, portability, circulation, and reception of embroidery samplers …

"That’S Not A Meal, Bestie”: Humor, Identity, & Feminized Consumption In “Girl Dinner”., Claire Tudor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the viral “Girl Dinner” trend as a case study in how gendered consumption, digital identity, and feminist humor intersect in digital spaces. Using “Girl Dinner” as a rhetorical artifact, this thesis explores how women use gendered trends to navigate visibility, labor, and autonomy in online spaces. Through thematic analysis of TikTok content, media coverage, and branded adaptations, the research traces the evolution of the trend from a lighthearted joke to a site of cultural negotiation. This study reveals that while “Girl Dinner” may appear empowering and relatable on the surface, it often reinforces traditional gender expectations under …

Rhetorical Analysis Of Kristen Bell's Articulation Of Imperfect Motherhood On Armchair Expert., Sarah J. Neff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how Kristen Bell’s articulation of imperfect motherhood, as heard on the popular podcast Armchair Expert, contributes to broader social discourses surrounding motherhood, empowering some mothers while inadvertently constraining others. Using rhetorical analysis grounded in Goffman’s dramaturgical approach, facework theory, and McGee’s theory of fragments, this study explores Bell’s discourse and performance of motherhood within the podcast medium. The podcasting medium provides a rich source for rhetorical analysis due to the long form interview content, and emotionally nuanced content, leading to a stronger connection with the audience. This is evident with the new headlines that follow Bell’s appearance …

The Substance Of Reality: Moral Perfectionism In Shakespeare's Hamlet., David Wright

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Through a selection of and close reading of key passages, I offer an interpretation of Hamlet that seeks to illuminate the play as an important work of moral philosophy, and to situate the play within a strand of moral philosophy named moral perfectionism by Stanley Cavell. Indeed, Hamlet is a masterpiece of Renaissance drama, but when read with attention to moral perfectionism, the play yields additional layers of meaning. Hamlet is a “philosophical drama” that navigates the “moral calling of philosophy”—a text that seems to, almost uncannily, elicit the audience to think reflectively, to ask fundamental human questions along …

Bleeding Out From The Redlining: An Autoethnographic Study Of Racial Equity Policy Enactment In A Large, Urban School District., Anderson Aven Cook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic study investigates the enactment and impact of racial equity policies within Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), a large urban school district in Louisville, Kentucky. The research is motivated by the ongoing challenges of achieving true educational equity for Black and Brown students, a struggle rooted in historical injustices such as redlining. Despite over seven years of policy implementation aimed at promoting racial equity, academic and behavioral disparities between Black and Brown students and their White counterparts have shown little improvement. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, this study employs autoethnography to intertwine personal narrative with scholarly analysis, exploring the lived …

Incarcerated Women: Gendered Rhetoric From The Outside And Reality Inside Prison Walls., Taylor Riley Geiser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines how formerly incarcerated women navigate and resist gendered media portrayals through digital platforms, focusing on the “mad” and “bad” woman tropes that shape public perceptions. Drawing on feminist rhetorical theory—particularly Royster and Kirsch’s methodological practices and Ratcliffe’s concept of rhetorical listening—this study combines Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of mainstream headlines with Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA) of TikTok content. CDA of media coverage surrounding Lori Vallow Daybell, Casey Anthony, and Andrea Yates reveals how language, imagery, and cultural logics sustain harmful binaries that portray women who commit crimes either as depraved or as excused by madness, obscuring the …

Polymathy: The Foundational Source Of Creativity And Innovation., Michael Araki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In an era of mounting complexity and a growing need to transcend siloed thinking, this dissertation advances polymathy as a critical yet underexplored construct in the management and behavioral sciences. Polymathy is framed as an expansive approach to the pursuit, development, and application of knowledge, marked by the conjunction of breadth, depth, and integration. Building on a thought lineage that stretches from Ancient Greece through the Renaissance to the present day, this work shows that polymathy is neither a relic of the past nor an achievement reserved for a few—but a mode of being, thinking, and acting in the world …

Genes That Matter: Survival Modeling In Tcga-Brca With Treatment Interactions., David Pratt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High-dimensional genomic data offer both promise and challenges for identifying clinically relevant biomarkers. This study developed a parallelized survival modeling pipeline to identify genes associated with overall survival in breast cancer, with a focus on gene-by-treatment interactions and patient heterogeneity. RNA-Seq data from female patients in the TCGA-BRCA cohort were analyzed. Univariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to screen genes, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, treatment status, and cancer stage. A LASSO-penalized Cox regression was fit across 2000 random seeds to assess feature stability. Genes were filtered by expression level, statistical significance, and hazard ratios (effect sizes) in either direction, …

Engaging In Movement At Work: Exploring Engagement And Physical Activity., Spencer A. Cavan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High levels of employee engagement provide organizations competitive advantages such as increased customer satisfaction, profits, and employee productivity. Despite potential benefits, the number of engaged employees is declining and organizations need to find innovative ways to enhance engagement. Emerging evidence suggests workplace physical activity may generate organizational benefits extending beyond health improvement. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of engagement among employees participating in a physical activity intervention at work. A qualitative design, guided by phenomenology, examined perceptions of workplace physical activity and perceived levels of engagement, as well as constraints related to involvement among university …

Why Are Parents Choosing Forest Preschool? A Look Into Parent Choice And Outcome Expectations In A Forest Preschool Setting., Victoria M. Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As interest in alternative early childhood education settings continues to grow, Forest Preschools—programs emphasizing immersive outdoor, nature-based learning—have gained increasing attention from parents across the United States. This qualitative research study explores the underlying motivations and decision-making processes that lead families to choose Forest Preschool settings. Guided by Kurt Lewin’s Field Theory, which examines behavior as a function of person and environment, the study investigates the dynamic interplay of personal beliefs, social influences, and contextual factors that shape parental choice. Specifically, this study addresses four key research questions: (1) How do families who choose Forest Preschools gain information about preschool …

Owl Integrations Soil Monitor, Derek Chau, Armaan Kahlon

Electrical Engineering

This paper examines the design process and results concerning the OWL Integrations soil monitor. Disaster relief relies heavily on digital communications, especially in environments where conventional methods (e.g. Wi-Fi, cellular, fiber optics) are unusable. To help emergency services assess disaster-stricken areas, a soil monitoring system was developed using LilyGo T-Beams (ESP32), programmed with specialized firmware known as the ClusterDuck Protocol to collect data pertaining to moisture and temperature. The project is sponsored by OWL Integrations, with help from the Cal Poly Electrical Engineering (EE) Department. Results show positive prospects, with the product able to make 4 km transmissions, operate for …

International Legal Guidelines For Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Governance Under The London Convention And London Protocol, Korey Silverman-Roati, Romany M. Webb

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

For the past two decades, parties to the London Convention and Protocol have negotiated rules, decisions, and amendments related to climate change. These efforts have principally focused on two sets of technologies – sub-seabed carbon dioxide storage and marine geoengineering. Initial discussions regarding marine geoengineering focused specifically on ocean fertilization but, more recently, the parties have considered an expanded array of marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) approaches, including ocean alkalinity enhancement and ocean sinking of biomass. Throughout these discussions, the parties have invoked legal principles and guidelines, like the precautionary approach, to inform their assessment of how to apply the …

Improving Antipsychotic Compliance By Addressing Client Experience Of Metabolic Syndrome, Lurinda N. Paulsen

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Abstract

Purpose: This project was undertaken to increase medication adherence in clients diagnosed with mental illnesses that necessitate the use of antipsychotic (second generation, atypical or first generation, typical) medications.

Background: Medication compliance in the treatment of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder is essential to ensure consistent medication levels and symptom stabilization. There are many reasons clients stop taking their medications, and symptoms of metabolic syndrome are often a cause for self-discontinuation. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms including obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypoalphalipoproteinemia, and/or hypertriglyceridemia, which increases risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Methods: This project was completed …

Exploring The Effect Of Social Determinants Of Health (Sdoh) Factors On The Time To Kidney Transplant Evaluation Completion For African American End Stage Renal Disease (Esrd) Patients, Kesha Levesque

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Purpose – The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the relationship between demographics and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) variables on diagnostic testing time completion in patients being evaluated for kidney transplant waitlisting.

Aims - Compared to White Americans, African Americans who are eligible to receive a kidney transplant are less likely to complete the required testing in order to be placed on the kidney transplant waiting list which puts African Americans at risk for morbidity and mortality due to prolonged exposure to dialysis. The COVID-19 pandemic was directly associated with a decrease in the number of patients placed …

The Effects Of Hunger, Starvation, And Famine On Certain Eating Habits: A Cross-Cultural Study, Robert Dirks

Faculty Publications – Sociology and Anthropology

This paper examines the impact of starvation and famine on certain eating habits. These include commensal relations within households, dispositions towards eating with strangers and modes of appetite expression. It tests the proposition that much of the variation seen in these aspects of eating behavior worldwide can be explained by societal experiences with hunger. The study analyzes data from 124 societies and finds significant associations between episodes of food insufficiency and non-inclusive, uncongenial eating practices. This research contributes to the understanding of how food supply and nutritional circumstances shape cultural arrangements and offers insights into the broader implications of food …

Graphsoft Set And Neutrosophic Context-Based Assessment Of Instructional Quality Under Uncertainty In University Badminton Classes, Xiaoshi Bo

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Family And School Engagement: Educators’ Behaviors And Practices That Effectively Engage Families To Benefit Historically Underserved K-8 Students, Germaine Smith

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Decades of research affirm that family-school partnerships are essential to students’ academic and social-emotional success. Researchers have uncovered barriers, identified solutions, and developed frameworks and models to assist schools in improving their family partnerships. Despite legislation to foster family engagement, schools’ development of parent engagement policies, adoption of proven engagement programs, and investment in training to improve family connections, historically underserved students continue to fall through the cracks. This study aims to identify and quantify the behaviors and practices most effective in engaging families of historically underserved elementary and middle school students. Grounded in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Bronfenbrenner’s …

Is There Something Schools Can Learn From Black Churches?, Samantha Marie Smith

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate and gain meaning of the experiences of families with school aged children and why they trust and value Black churches versus the school education system and if there is anything that schools can learn from roles that Black churches play in families’ lives. The research was guided by the following questions: (1) How do Black churches build relationships with families, consistently and effectively engage children, and teach children? (2) How do schools build relationships with families, consistently and effectively engage children, and teach children? (3) Is there anything that schools can …

An Examination Of Teacher Perceptions Of Middle School Behavior Management And Intervention, Raechel Brianne Roberts

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that behavior management and intervention is a complex experience in school settings. Middle school students, in particular, must contend with physical, social, and educational changes and responsibilities, which may impact their behavioral responses and relationships with their teachers. The literature suggests that teachers often report that there are limitations to support for behavioral management in regards to pre-service training, access to research-based practices, and barriers to successful intervention implementation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to privilege the lived experiences of middle school teachers and their needs for working with students with challenging behaviors. The study included …

Life Cycle Assessment Of Sustainable Wastewater Systems - Algae-Based Wastewater Treatment, Harish Lakshmi Srinivasan

All Theses

This thesis studies the integration of an algae-based membrane bioreactor (MBR) and photobioreactor system into a domestic wastewater treatment facility, using the Clemson University WWTP as a reference plant. The proposed system replaces the conventional sequencing batch reactor and aerobic digester with a microalgae-bacteria symbiosis process, coupled with submerged ceramic membranes, an algal photobioreactor and anaerobic digestion for enhanced nutrient and energy recovery, which paves the way for water reuse and increased biological capacity in the future.

The study shows that overall energy consumption is reduced by approximately 18% compared to the existing conventional configuration. Further, methane production from anaerobic …

“Foreign-Related Rule Of Law” And The Belt And Road Initiative: A Chinese Legal- Economic Synergy, Sungmin Kim

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Shielding From Culpability: The Responsibility System In Eu’S Asylum And Migration Policy, Bjarne Bachmann

UC Law SF International Law Review

No abstract provided.

Bruce Norton V. Joseph Adams

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

The Bandages Problem, James E. Marengo, Joseph G. Voelkel, David L. Farnsworth

Articles

A new probability problem, named the Bandages Problem, is described and solved. The problem involves repeatedly selecting and removing an item at random from a finite population that initially consists of a known configuration of single and paired items. For each selection, the probability that the chosen item is single is found. Generalizations are suggested.