Digital Commons Network^™

March 31, 2025

The Gavel Gazette

No abstract provided.

Addressing Diabetic Retinopathy Prevalence In Low-Income Communities: Barriers To Quality Healthcare And Strategies For Equitable Treatment Access, Morkeia A. Mutchelknaus

Honors Thesis

Studies have shown a strong correlation between diabetes and individuals in low-income communities, which often lack access to equitable healthcare for a variety of reasons. This honors thesis will focus on diabetic retinopathy, its prevalence, prevention, and treatment strategies in both low- and high-income communities. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to define diabetic retinopathy, assess its prevalence, and review past and present approaches to its treatment and prevention. This paper aims to identify strategies to improve healthcare accessibility in low-income communities by analyzing current strategies in place to prevent and treat diabetic retinopathy and proposing potential solutions that will …

Beyond Empire: Spain's Contemporary Relationship With Latin America, Gage Groeteke

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The relationship between Spain and Latin America demands critical attention, not only due to its colonial past but also in light of shifting global power structures and growing generational demands for accountability from historically oppressive states. This study takes its form in a literature review to synthesize the evolving postcolonial dynamic between Spain and the Latin American region—whose long-run development and capacity for economic independence have been fundamentally shaped by colonization. Drawing on postcolonial theory, historical context, international relations, foreign policy, and primary sources, this paper argues that Spain’s modern entanglement with Latin America reflects a neocolonial pattern. Spain’s economic …

Radical Resistance In The Penumbra Of The Law: Legal Mobilization For Migrant Farmworkers Under Neo-Colonial Racial Capitalism, Vasanthi Venkatesh

Journal of Law and Social Policy

Workers from the Global South with temporary immigration status provide a transitory, cheap, exploitable workforce that is responsive to economic vicissitudes and supremacist anti-migration discourse. They are created as an exceptional category of persons “essential” for their work but with no right to remain and claim citizenship-type entitlement to the Global North. The programs in agriculture are rooted in the legacies of indentureship, plantation, and other forms of racialized coerced labour. These programs continue to entrench a neocolonial racial capitalist global order where “unfree labour” is sanctified by contemporary liberal laws. Caught in the vice of a hegemonic, racial, state-governed …

Workplace Stress For Licensed Practical Nurses And Registered Nurses In The Hospital Setting: A Quantitative Review, Dakota Zerman

Honors Projects

Nurses often work in stressful environments. These stressors can have many causes and may vary between specialties. Some examples of stressors are death and dying, conflict with others, and workload. One scale that analyzes these stressful factors is the Expanded Nursing Stress Scale (ENSS). This survey uses the ENSS to examine stressors experienced by Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses who work in a hospital setting and continues by asking nurses if these factors cause continued stress at home. A survey was distributed online through social media to nurses who reside within the United States. The survey used a Likert …

Bridging The Gap: Stress And Support Systems For Underrepresented Students Pursuing Graduate Education, Carlos A. Tavira-Villegas

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Embedded within the United States educational system lies a history that is marked by centuries of exclusion, where students of color were denied the right to an equal education. Despite this legacy of injustice, a story of resilience and bravery also exists, as countless individuals fought for the right to access and succeed in an equal education. This literature review examines the historical exclusion of Mexican American, Asian, and Black students in the United States. Important legal cases will be explored to trace the progression of educational equity in America. Several theories will be reviewed, including social identity theory, ecological …

Empowering The Future: The Role Of Women Landowner Networks In Succession Planning, Charlotte Brockman, Andrea Basche Dr., Brooke Mcwherter Dr.

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Women non-operating landowners play a critical yet often overlooked role in agricultural land management and decision-making. This study examines the intersection of emotional, economic, and social factors influencing their land tenure decisions, particularly in the context of succession planning and tenant relationships. Through qualitative analysis, findings reveal that women landowners navigate unique challenges, including limited access to tailored resources, legal and financial barriers, and gendered dynamics in agricultural advising. Participants expressed strong emotional attachments to their land, influencing their stewardship goals and interest in conservation practices. Additionally, the study highlights the need for increased support structures, such as legal guidance, …

ปัญหาการวินิจฉัยคดีพิพาทเกี่ยวกับสิทธิชุมชนตามรัฐธรรมนูญของศาลปกครอง (Judgment Issues Of The Administrative Court In Community Rights Cases Under The Constitution Of The Kingdom Of Thailand), Adisorn Kongphunpin

Chulalongkorn University Law Journal

แม้สิทธิชุมชนจะเป็นสิทธิระดับรัฐธรรมนูญมากว่าสองทศวรรษก็ตาม แต่การขาดความชัดเจนในรายละเอียดของสิทธิ นับเป็นอุปสรรคสำคัญต่อการที่ศาลปกครองจะวินิจฉัยรับรองสิทธิชุมชนให้เกิดผลในทางปฏิบัติ จากปัญหาดังกล่าวจึงเป็นที่มาของงานวิจัยฉบับนี้ที่มุ่งศึกษาแนวคิดและทฤษฎีเกี่ยวกับสิทธิชุมชน และคำวินิจฉัยคดีปกครองเกี่ยวกับสิทธิชุมชนของต่างประเทศ เพื่อนำมากำหนดเป็นแนวทางทางกฎหมายในการวินิจฉัยคดีพิพาทเกี่ยวกับสิทธิชุมชนในศาลปกครองของไทย ผลการศึกษาพบว่า “สิทธิชุมชน” เป็น “สิทธิเชิงกลุ่ม” ซึ่งมีพัฒนาการมาจากกฎหมายสิทธิมนุษยชนและกฎหมายสิ่งแวดล้อมระหว่างประเทศ โดย “ชุมชน” สามารถใช้สิทธิทางศาลได้โดยการมอบหมายให้ปัจเจกบุคล และ/หรือ นิติบุคคล ที่เป็นตัวแทนหรือผู้แทนของชุมชนนำคดีไปฟ้องต่อศาลในนามของชุมชน และในกรณีที่ศาลปกครองพิจารณาแล้วเห็นว่า ผู้ฟ้องคดีเป็นผู้ทรงสิทธิชุมชนตามรัฐธรรมนูญและมีสิทธิในการเข้าถึงและใช้ประโยชน์จากทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม เช่น มีสิทธิในการดำรงวิถีชีวิตในพื้นที่ป่า เป็นต้น แม้ว่าจะมีข้อจำกัดที่ทำให้ศาลไม่สามารถออกคำบังคับให้ผู้ฟ้องคดีเข้าไปดำรงวิถีชีวิตอยู่ในพื้นที่ป่าได้ก็ตาม หากแต่ผู้ฟ้องคดีฟ้องขอค่าสินไหมทดแทนจากการที่ต้องสูญเสียสิทธิในการกำหนดเจตจำนงของตนเอง และ/หรือ สิทธิในการเข้าถึงและใช้ประโยชน์จากทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อมมาด้วย ศาลปกครองย่อมสามารถกำหนดให้ฝ่ายปกครองชดใช้ค่าสินไหมทดแทนให้แก่ผู้ฟ้องคดีจากการที่ต้องสูญเสียสิทธิดังกล่าวในการดำรงวิถีชีวิตตามจารีตประเพณี ตามบรรทัดฐานคำวินิจฉัยของศาลต่างประเทศได้

Mothers’ Characteristics And Children's Diarrhea Between 2010-2020 In Rwanda, Amans Ntakarutimana Dr., Patrick A. Tschida Dr.

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Mothers’ characteristics influence children’s health and development. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the influence of mothers’ education level, employment status, and exposure to domestic violence on diarrhea among children under 5 years old using secondary data from 2010, 2015, and 2020 Rwanda Demographic Health Surveys. We used stratified descriptive statistics, pairwise comparisons, and logistic regression designs to assess (a) the prevalence of mothers per education level, employment status, and exposure to domestic violence; (b) their variation over time; and (c) their influence on diarrhea among children under 5 years old between 2010 and 2020 in Rwanda. According to …

The Influence Of Selected Demographic And Academic Factors On The Persistence To Degree Completion Of Military Veterans At A Research University In The South, Damon L. Ploger

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A large number of veterans leave the military each year, hoping to reacclimate successfully to civilian society while utilizing the knowledge and skills they acquired in the military to assist in their pursuit of gainful employment. Many wish to enhance this process by earning a college degree. Unfortunately, various barriers and other random personal hurdles can impede the progress of the now-veteran student toward degree completion. The lack of knowledge about these barriers and the factors that support a veteran student’s persistence to complete a college degree has created the need for this investigation. The primary purpose of this study …

How Many Ways Are There To Measure A Tree? – An Experiment In Cross-Disciplinarity, Kate Pahl, Samyia Ambreen, Khawla Badwan, Simon Carr, David Cooper, Elizabeth Curtis, Ian Davenport, Abigail Hackett, Peter Kraftl, Peter Lawrence, Emily Lines, David CườNg Nguyễn, Caitlin Nunn, Steve Pool, Jennifer Rowntree, Ed Schofield, Johan Siebers, Jo Vergunst

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

This article takes a transdisciplinary approach to a relatively simple-sounding task – tree measuring. It asks the question, ‘How many ways are there to measure a tree?’, in order to provoke a discussion of our different ways of knowing. It attempts to engage a reader in thinking about disciplines and what they do. It does so by sharing insights from a project in which diverse scholars, practitioners and children came together for the common purpose of producing engaged knowledge. The experience of reading the article should prompt questions about whose knowledge counts and why, and the value of university research …

Latest Research (Academic Summaries): Partnerships And Collaboration, Erica Bassett, Lakell Archer, Sumaya Ali, Emma Indart

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

This section focuses on summarizing the latest research in partnerships and collaboration in the nonprofit sector. This section can be considered a literature review of the latest studies.

Full Issue: Joni March 2025, Partnerships And Collaboration, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Rethinking Hope In Dystopian Times: A Critical Assessment, Gerard Delanty

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

I begin by discussing the salience of the idea of hope for the present day with some examples which illustrate its strong political and cultural resonance. However, the now very extensive literature on hope, mostly in moral and political philosophy, is somewhat diverse and unclear as regards how it should be understood in ways that make it meaningful for the present day. While some of the most important perspectives are in the political philosophy of hope, there is almost no discussion of its sociological significance. I offer a brief critical strand of the main themes in recent writing on hope …

The World Is A Wasteland: Living In An Age Of Diminishing Expectations, Thiago Canettieri

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

Building on Hu Bo´s film “An elephant sitting still”, this paper examines a specific condition in contemporary society, in which expectations about the future are declining. This situation is interpreted as a consequence of the progressive collapse of modernisation. The diminishing expectations, I claim, are related to capital´s internal crisis, which erodes the very fabric of social mediation; in its place, arise all kinds of atavistic forms of violent desocialisation. I intend to recognize and examine a new condition of historicity in which time is no longer productive. Society experiences history as a dead time of dilated presentism. With this …

Leading Nonprofit Success Through Collaboration And Partnerships, Lakell Archer, Erica Bassett

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Abstract

Nonprofit organizations play a crucial role in addressing societal challenges, yet they often operate in a competitive environment with limited resources. To maximize impact and long-term sustainability, strategic partnerships and cross-sector collaborations have emerged as essential approaches. This paper explores the benefits of nonprofit collaboration, emphasizing its role in creating strategic advantages, improving service delivery, fostering innovation, and ensuring long-term resilience. The discussion highlights how collaborative leadership is key to overcoming barriers such as competition for funding, misaligned objectives, and trust deficits among partners. By examining real-world examples, the paper illustrates how effective partnerships enhance resource sharing, streamline operations, …

Enhancing Accountability And Transparency In Nonprofit Organizations: Examining The Impact Of Limited Regulatory Oversight In Africa Sub-Saharan Africa, Barnabas Iwia Suva

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Nonprofit organizations continue to positively impact society by playing a vital role in addressing social, economic, and humanitarian challenges worldwide. Governments in sub-Saharan Africa attract nonprofits by having less strict regulatory requirements. One of the unintended outcomes of operating in a less stringent regulatory framework is that transparency and accountability standards may be compromised. Inadvertently, having less stringent regulatory requirements may create governance gaps, information asymmetry, mission drift, donor mistrust, and sustainability challenges. Accountability and transparency are essential for fostering trust, continuous improvement, measuring impact, gaining stakeholder confidence, and achieving sustainable impact even with the scarcity of resources. Transparency can …

Poor Cancer Prevention And Detection In Zimbabwe, Kenyon C. Chipman

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Abstract

In the aftermath of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Zimbabwe, has witnessed a surge in noncommunicable diseases such as cancer. Despite the decline in HIV/AIDS and other cancer-associated illnesses like HPV, these diseases have set the stage for a growing cancer epidemic. Key contributing factors to this rise include a lack of knowledge about cancer among both patients and health professionals, the prevalence of cancer-associated communicable diseases, and limited accessibility to early detection and prevention services and resources. These factors have led to late diagnoses, increased burden on the healthcare system, and adverse effects on individuals and families. …

Ballard Brief And Joni: A Collaborative Partnership, Becca Linford

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Child Malnutrition In Argentina: An Examination Of It Root Causes, Effects, And Innovations To Intervene, Brooklyn Richins

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Abstract:

Child malnutrition rates in Argentina have been on the rise, driven by factors such as income inequality, harsh climatic conditions, and geographic isolation, leading to an increased reliance on highly processed, nutrient-poor foods. This escalating issue has wide-ranging health and educational implications, including poor neurocognitive development, higher rates of hypertension, and greater risks of obesity and diabetes. Particularly in impoverished regions, like Jujuy, malnutrition exacerbates disparities in child health outcomes and educational achievement. Though international organizations like UNICEF and Bountiful Children’s Foundation are working to address malnutrition through supplements, education, and screenings, gaps in program implementation persist, especially in …

What If..., Anna R. Harris

SPARK Symposium Presentations

I will be speaking about my art thesis I have been working on this whole semester. I will be talking about how I have been working with choices, with decisions, reflections, projections for this semester, and how I have been working in a social practice model by engaging the public in the process of your work, gathering data from a public, and sociological strategies.

Transformative Outcome Of Correctional Education On Ex-Offenders In Mzimba, Malawi, Rajab Philip Mota, Mavuto Tembo

Journal of Prison Education Research

Prison service offers correctional education programs to the incarcerated individuals as a vital component of crime fighting strategy. Although the role of correctional education is to fight crimes, relapse in criminal behaviour which results in the re-incarceration of ex-offenders continues to be a predicament, thereby questioning the relevance of correctional education programs after imprisonment. Therefore, this mixed methods study analysed the transformative outcome of correctional education programs on ex-offenders in Mzimba, Malawi using the empowerment theory. The study utilized questionnaires, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews as data collection tools, whereby quantitative data was analysed using SPSS version 20 while …

Becoming A Network Of Networks: G20 Interfaith Forum, Marianna Richardson

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Do Nursing Students Perceive That They Are Educationally Prepared To Care For Minority And Ethnically Diverse Populations Upon Graduation?, Trinity T. Brisbane, Trinity T. Brisbane

Honors College Theses

Every individual has the right to receive safe and efficient care in the healthcare setting. As healthcare grows and demographics evolve rapidly, it is crucial that frontline workers, especially nurses, are adequately prepared to address the unique needs of minority and ethnically diverse populations. However, a significant gap exists in understanding how effective current nursing school curricula is in preparing students for this critical aspect of patient care. This research utilizes a quantitative survey methodology to address the central question: “Do Nursing Students Perceive That They Are Educationally Prepared to Care for Minority and Ethnically Diverse Populations upon Graduation?” The …

Slipping Off The Sealskin: Exploring The Nuances Of Intimate Partner Violence In Selkie Mythology, Alexa Keough

Oral Presentations

Myths of selkies in various cultural contexts have long been used to address both environmental concerns and the ever-perilous nature of gender relations; an additional feminist reading of popular selkie folklore also reveals deeper dialogue about the issue of intimate partner violence (IPV) present in many narratives that feature them. A hallmark of the selkie story is to have one’s sealskin stolen and held hostage by a lustful fisherman--is this trope an archaic attempt at romance, or a signifier of a deeper conversation about partnership and pain to be beheld within the scope of the fable? Both readings raise questions …

A Case Study On Institutional Response To Strike Activity And Its Relationship To Strike Length, Autumn Kearney

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Between 2022 and 2023, labor union and strike activity on college campuses increased to represent over 35,000 new workers, with many of these workers being graduate students (Herbert, 2023). As strike activity has continued into 2024 and beyond, it is necessary to understand how institutions responded to strikes to consider how their response may impact strike length. In this paper, I utilize the University of Michigan’s (U-M) response to the Graduate Employees organization strike of 2023 as an instrumental case study to explore the relationship between institutional response to strike activity and strike length. I use Cohen and colleagues (1991) …

‘I Flip The Switch’: Aboriginal Entrepreneurs’ Navigation Of Entrepreneurial Imperatives, Admiral Manganda, Tanya Jurado, Jason Mika, Farah Palmer

Indigenous Business & Public Administration

Culture is integral to Indigenous entrepreneurs, but how culture manifests in their entrepreneurial processes is understudied. This paper explores how Aboriginal entrepreneurs in Perth, Australia navigate cultural and commercial imperatives in their entrepreneurial practice. The study uses an interpretive lens and thematic analysis based on Altman’s hybrid economy model (HEM) to explore how ten Aboriginal entrepreneurs managed commercially viable enterprises while meeting their cultural obligations and aspirations. The focus is on the convergence of the customary and market economies and entrepreneurs’ experiences of navigating the hybridity of that space. We find that Aboriginal entrepreneurs iteratively assess the complementarity of cultural …

Review Of In A Human Voice, Jean Keller

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Katharine Drexel And The Sisters Who Shared Her Vision, Annie Huey

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Laboratories Of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call From Behind The Lines, Neal Allen, Philip Pfeiffer

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.