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Historic Patterns Of Growth And Destruction In Nj Seagrass Meadows, Masen Eck May 2026

Historic Patterns Of Growth And Destruction In Nj Seagrass Meadows, Masen Eck

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Seagrass meadows are one of the many habitats worldwide under threat from human disturbance and worsening climate conditions. This habitat provides many critical ecosystem services to coastal environments, which is why conserving and restoring seagrass meadows is critical. This study investigates the long-term success and failures from several eelgrass restoration sites in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. Aerial imagery from multiple years were digitized in ArcGIS to assess restoration trajectories over time. Three of the sites were assessed over a period of twelve years (2012-2023), and one site was assessed twice (2021 and 2023). Results from these time series analyses showed …

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"Some Women Make It Look So Easy": An Analysis Of Jenny Offill's Fragmentary Novels And Their Critique Of Postfeminist Sensibility, Kimberly Crooks May 2026

"Some Women Make It Look So Easy": An Analysis Of Jenny Offill's Fragmentary Novels And Their Critique Of Postfeminist Sensibility, Kimberly Crooks

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Jenny Offill’s novels Dept. of Speculation and Weather are each narrated by a woman who exists in a postfeminist era that insists upon the achievability of a happy work-life balance. Despite the lofty career aspirations now afforded to women, the protagonists find themselves burdened by the gendered responsibilities that disproportionately hold them responsible for domestic duties, childcare, and emotional labor. Both protagonists use a fragmented narrative style to convey their consciousness, and the texts are composed of hundreds of short fragments that include memories, self-reflections, philosophical musings, lines of poetry, fun facts, questions, and more. While the narratives do not …

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Shape Variation In The Mandible Of The Borophagine Canids And Implications For Predatory Behavior, Benjamin Neavear May 2026

Shape Variation In The Mandible Of The Borophagine Canids And Implications For Predatory Behavior, Benjamin Neavear

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The borophagines are an extinct lineage of canids that inhabited North America for more than 20 million years. This group included genera such as Aelurodon, Borophagus, and Epicyon. Borophagines are commonly referred to as “bone-crushing dogs” because their skull morphology converged with that of extant hyenas, predators capable of consuming bone. The purpose of this study was to determine whether convergence was present in the mandible, an anatomical structure strongly correlated with feeding behavior, particularly in the genera Aelurodon and Borophagus. It was hypothesized that most borophagine taxa possessed mandibular shapes similar to those of hyenas. Numerous mandibular characters were …

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Words And Phrases That Matter: A Corpus Analysis Of Vocabulary And Phraseological Coverage In Myanmar's High School English Textbooks, Kaung Hla Zan May 2026

Words And Phrases That Matter: A Corpus Analysis Of Vocabulary And Phraseological Coverage In Myanmar's High School English Textbooks, Kaung Hla Zan

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

"Myanmar’s high school education relies on centralized EFL textbooks as the primary source of English input for a significant population of Myanmar youth. Following curriculum reforms aiming for communicative competence, this study provides a corpus-based evaluation of the lexical and phraseological composition of Grades 10 to 12 (high school) textbooks. Using a multi-list approach, this study profiled the textbooks against the New General Service List (NGSL) and the Academic Vocabulary List (AVL) for vocabulary coverage. To determine the frequency and coverage of academic phrases, the textbooks were profiled against three lists of academic bundles identified by Simpson-Vlach and Ellis (2010), …

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Inertial Dynamics Of Non-Spherical Particles In Fluid Flows, Takashi Yashiro May 2026

Inertial Dynamics Of Non-Spherical Particles In Fluid Flows, Takashi Yashiro

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

We investigate the dynamics of small inertial spherical and non-spherical particles in fluid flows. We consider the Maxey-Riley-Gatignol (MRG) equation, which models well the motion of spherical inertial particles in low Reynolds number flows. To study how shape affects the dynamics, we implement a corrective factor on the Stokes drag term in the MRG equation. This corrective factor, or shape factor, is based on the geometric properties of the particles. The Basset-Boussinesq history term in the MRG equation is often neglected to simplify analytical and computational studies involving the equation. We include this history term and implement a multi-step integration …

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An Invasion Of The Intimate Sphere: The Manipulation Of Libido Under Totalitarian Regimes, Elyssa Lucero May 2026

An Invasion Of The Intimate Sphere: The Manipulation Of Libido Under Totalitarian Regimes, Elyssa Lucero

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This paper examines the temporal nature of libidinal control in the totalitarian systems represented in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. Arguing that the most enduring forms of domination operate through the reorganization of desire, the essay explores how regimes intervene in familial, romantic, and social attachments to redirect affective energy towards the state. Orwell depicts a primitive, reactive phase of control in which attachments are violently ruptured, whereas Huxley imagines an advanced system that operates through preemption, never allowing attachments to form. Drawing on Freud’s theory of redirected libido, Berlant’s theory of Cruel Optimism, Marxist …

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Constant Connectivity To Work, Health Behaviors, Physical Symptoms: Exploring Boundary Management Practices That Can Help, Christina Christodoulou May 2026

Constant Connectivity To Work, Health Behaviors, Physical Symptoms: Exploring Boundary Management Practices That Can Help, Christina Christodoulou

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The workday inevitably exposes employees to numerous demands that induce stress reactions. Without sufficient recovery (i.e. returning stress reactions to baseline), individuals risk experiencing chronic psychological, behavioral or physical strains. With the rise of constant connectivity to work, recovery is becoming more of a challenge. However, research on the recovery-related consequences of constant connectivity, particularly its impact on health behaviors and physical health outcomes, remains scarce. To fill this gap in the literature, this research explored the relationship between constant connectivity, boundary management practices, health behaviors, and physical symptoms using a mixed-methods, multi-study design. A mixed methods pilot study (N …

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Performative Racial Allyship And Ally Ambivalence: A Qualitative Study, Peter D. Goldie May 2026

Performative Racial Allyship And Ally Ambivalence: A Qualitative Study, Peter D. Goldie

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Racism is rampant in and outside of higher education institutions (HEIs). Preliminary research has found that white allyship--or white people's efforts to dismantle racism by partnering with People of Color--can be beneficial to Black communities when done authentically and in ways that center Black voices, perspectives, and liberatory goals. However, a growing body of scholarship has found that white people seldom show up as allies in meaningful ways. Instead, they frequently resort to performative racial allyship (PRA), or behaviors that are meant to signal solidarity with a marginalized racial group yet are superficial and self-serving. To support effective antiracism efforts, …

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Navigating Reentry: A Life Course Inquiry Into The Structural And Personal Dimensions Among Returning Citizens, Julie Chowdhury May 2026

Navigating Reentry: A Life Course Inquiry Into The Structural And Personal Dimensions Among Returning Citizens, Julie Chowdhury

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This qualitative study explores how returning citizens experience incarceration and reentry across the life course, focusing on the interplay of structural conditions, relational contexts, and human agency. Guided by Life Course Theory (LCT), reentry is conceptualized not as a discrete post-release transition but as a developmental process shaped by cumulative disadvantage, institutional stratification, and linked lives. Data were drawn from in-depth semi-structured interviews with formerly incarcerated adults in the northeastern United States and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings show that incarceration and reentry are experienced as relational and multigenerational processes embedded within family systems and constrained opportunity structures, rather …

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Exploring Student Feelings, Knowledge Related To Menstruation And Menstrual Education: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Ella A. Handel May 2026

Exploring Student Feelings, Knowledge Related To Menstruation And Menstrual Education: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Ella A. Handel

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Menstrual, reproductive, and sexual health education in the United States remains inconsistent in both content and delivery. This inconsistency often leaves adolescents underprepared for developmental milestones such as menarche and contributes to ongoing stigma and discomfort surrounding menstruation. This study examined participants’ feelings and perceptions related to menstruation and menstrual education. Using a cross-sectional descriptive survey design, a mixed-methods approach was employed to collect data from 29 college students aged 18 to 19 years at a large public university in Arkansas. Quantitative data from Likert-scale items were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative open-ended responses were reviewed and organized into …

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Spring 2026 Title Of Blueprints For The Mind: How The Design Of Public Built Environment Impacts The Mental Health Of Youth, Faith Holton May 2026

Spring 2026 Title Of Blueprints For The Mind: How The Design Of Public Built Environment Impacts The Mental Health Of Youth, Faith Holton

Interior Design Capstones

Blueprints for the Mind investigates how public built environments influence the mental health of youth, with attention to rising rates of anxiety, depression. Through a multidisciplinary approach bridging environmental psychology, public health, interior architecture, and usercentered design, this project identifies the environmental factors shaping young people’s emotional well-being. Findings reveal that sensory conditions such as lighting, acoustics, layout, materiality, and predictability directly affect youth comfort, focus, and emotional regulation. Field research with students (ages 13–15) and an expert interview with licensed social worker Carmen Ortega-Cline further demonstrate that overstimulating, crowded, or unclear environments heighten stress, while semi-private, naturally lit, and …

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Through The Lens Of Zoology, Madalyn Haun May 2026

Through The Lens Of Zoology, Madalyn Haun

Interior Design Capstones

Current zoo and sanctuary models often fail to meet the complex psychological, behavioral, and spatial needs of endangered and rehabilitated wildlife, resulting in chronic stress and welfare compromises. Beyond the Cage presents a transformation approach to zoological design, shifting the paradigm from entertainment-based displays to a “welfare-first” philosophy. This book argues that effective captive care requires expansive, species-appropriate habitats that facilitate natural behaviors, rather than merely simulating natural aesthetics. Through the lens of modern zoology, this work explores the implementation of groundbreaking exhibit re-creation, focusing on habitat enlargement, precise climate change control, and innovative environmental enrichment. A central pillar of …

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The Physical, Chemical, And Emotional Discourse Of Hormonal Disruption By Microplastics And Nanoplastics, Lily Warken May 2026

The Physical, Chemical, And Emotional Discourse Of Hormonal Disruption By Microplastics And Nanoplastics, Lily Warken

Theses & ETDs

Microplastics (MPs)1 and nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging as a growing concern within the health field as plastic use continues to rise. These particles have been increasingly recognized for their potential to act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), interfering with normal hormonal signaling and receptor function. This study examines the molecular, hormonal, and reproductive impacts of MPs and NPs on the human body, with particular attention to the importance of endocrine homeostasis and its sensitivity to disruption. In some cases, MPs and NPs and their adsorbed contaminants may mimic endogenous hormones and interact with hormone receptors, further complicating regulatory processes. Special emphasis …

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(De)Composing Transhumanisms: Fungal And Trans Ecologies In Jeff Vandermeer's Annihilation, Miles Nives Qapevewni Enriquez-Morales May 2026

(De)Composing Transhumanisms: Fungal And Trans Ecologies In Jeff Vandermeer's Annihilation, Miles Nives Qapevewni Enriquez-Morales

English (MA) Theses

This thesis project analyzes the novel Annihilation (2014) by Jeff VanderMeer and situates the biologist’s transformation and transition in the book in a trans ecological framework. By expanding on foundational texts such as Jackson Jesse Nash’s “‘I Am Not Returning Home’: A Transgender Reading of Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation”, this paper argues that representations of fungus in Annihilation present a possibility for trans futurity rooted in transformation, ecological entanglement, and a rejection of binary thought. Additional articles from Transgender Studies Quarterly and A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies orient this fungal transformation in the larger framework of rejecting normative …

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Himmelfarb Headlines - May/June 2026, The George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library May 2026

Himmelfarb Headlines - May/June 2026, The George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Headlines (2009 - present)

News, information, and resources relating to the Himmelfarb Library that is of interest to patrons.

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The Rise Of Romantasy: Female Desire, Monstrous Feminists, Fairy Tale Ideology, And Societal Panic, Rachel Stucki May 2026

The Rise Of Romantasy: Female Desire, Monstrous Feminists, Fairy Tale Ideology, And Societal Panic, Rachel Stucki

English (MA) Theses

This thesis argues that the contemporary rise of Romantasy is not merely a publishing trend but a significant literary and cultural development through which female desire, agency, and subjectivity are being renegotiated. Tracing a historical continuum across Gothic horror, fairy tale discourse, and contemporary fantasy romance, I contend that patriarchal ideology has long constructed women according to a restrictive binary: either silent and compliant, or monstrous and punishable. Drawing on theorists including Jack Zipes, Barbara Creed, Cristina Santos, Maria Tatar, Louis Althusser, and Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock, this project examines how literary forms have both reflected and reinforced cultural anxieties surrounding …

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A Plague On Both Your Houses: Archetypes Of Political Choice, Martin Zwick May 2026

A Plague On Both Your Houses: Archetypes Of Political Choice, Martin Zwick

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

In times of political polarization, we are well-advised to heed Spinoza’s injunction, “Not to lament, not to curse, but to understand.” Understanding can be facilitated by ideas about the archetypal structures of political choice. This paper offers a systems theoretic analysis of a set of such archetypes focusing solely on their structures and not advocating any specific political positions. The primary question that must be answered is whether available or desirable political choices are dyadic or triadic, and if dyadic, whether the two alternatives of the dyad should be viewed as good versus bad or as complementary.  Various modes of …

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Elizabeth Gibson Drinko Honors Convocation, Honors College May 2026

Elizabeth Gibson Drinko Honors Convocation, Honors College

Honors Convocation

The Elizabeth Gibson Drinko Honors Convocation Awards Program for Spring 2026, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia.

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Evaluation Of Flt3 Inhibition With Quizartinib During Busulfan Conditioning For Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Catherine Jankovic May 2026

Evaluation Of Flt3 Inhibition With Quizartinib During Busulfan Conditioning For Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Catherine Jankovic

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is one of the only curative therapy options for many hematologic malignancies. HSCT relies on effective conditioning regimens to deplete host hematopoietic cells and enable donor engraftment. The alkylating agent Busulfan is widely used in myeloablative conditioning strategies due to its potent cytotoxic effects on hematopoietic cells and ability to clear the bone marrow. However, optimization of conditioning strategies remains an important area of investigation to improve transplant outcomes and reduce toxicity. Preliminary studies have shown that the FLT3 inhibitor Quizartinib synergizes with some chemotherapeutic agents, suggesting that targeted inhibitors may enhance conventional conditioning regimens. …

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Biopsychosocial Mechanisms And Management Of Pain And Emotional Health In Fibrous Dysplasia/Mccune-Albright Syndrome, Camryn Berry May 2026

Biopsychosocial Mechanisms And Management Of Pain And Emotional Health In Fibrous Dysplasia/Mccune-Albright Syndrome, Camryn Berry

Doctoral Dissertations

Fibrous Dysplasia (FD) is a rare disease where healthy bone is replaced by lesions of fragile, porous tissue. FD lesions may affect a single bone or occur throughout the entire skeleton and can grow rapidly. A diagnosis of McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) is made when FD is accompanied by endocrinopathies and skin hyperpigmentation. FD/MAS can cause debilitating complications, including disabilities, deformities, fractures, and chronic pain. Pain is one of the most common symptoms of FD/MAS and can have a profound impact on patients’ quality of life. However, FD/MAS pain is complex and varies substantially between patients. This complexity and a lack …

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Navigating Departure: Understanding Factors Influencing Professionals Of Color In Student Affairs, Darnelle Bosquet-Fleurival May 2026

Navigating Departure: Understanding Factors Influencing Professionals Of Color In Student Affairs, Darnelle Bosquet-Fleurival

Doctoral Dissertations

Student Affairs Professionals of Color (SAPOCs) at predominantly white institutions (PWIs) navigate complex institutional environments shaped by racialized expectations, leadership structures, and systemic inequities. While existing research documents high turnover and burnout within student affairs, less is known about how mid-level to senior SAPOCs make meaning of their decisions to stay in or leave leadership roles over time. This qualitative study examines how institutional, interpersonal, and systemic dynamics shape professional sustainability and exit among SAPOCs in the Northeastern United States.Grounded in Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Thought and informed by narrative inquiry methodology, this study draws on in-depth interviews …

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Leveraging Dna Intercalation For The Development Of Tunable, Versatile Supramolecular Hydrogels, Shaina Marlene Hughes May 2026

Leveraging Dna Intercalation For The Development Of Tunable, Versatile Supramolecular Hydrogels, Shaina Marlene Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations

Supramolecular hydrogels have emerged as a versatile class of biomaterials capable of mimicking the dynamic behavior of natural tissues due to their inherent hydrophilicity, stimuli-responsiveness, and viscoelastic behavior. However, achieving both biocompatibility and mechanical tunability remains a challenge. This work utilizes DNA intercalation to create a programmable, sustainable hydrogel platform. By utilizing the reversible insertion of planar aromatic molecules between DNA base pairs, we demonstrate that the network’s dissociation kinetics and thermodynamic response are directly governed by the intercalator structure, offering a highly tunable strategy for stimuli-responsive biomaterials.To demonstrate the versatility of double stranded DNA (dsDNA) intercalating supramolecular hydrogels (DISHs), …

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Linking Environmental Change, Microbial Community Assembly, And Function During A Novel Marine Phytoplankton Bloom Using Multi-Omics, Madison Renée Hurley May 2026

Linking Environmental Change, Microbial Community Assembly, And Function During A Novel Marine Phytoplankton Bloom Using Multi-Omics, Madison Renée Hurley

Doctoral Dissertations

Phytoplankton are central to marine ecosystem functioning, driving primary production, nutrient cycling, and higher trophic level dynamics. In the spring and summer of 2023, the Gulf of Maine experienced an unprecedented bloom of the dinoflagellate Tripos muelleri, reaching densities exceeding 50,000 cells L-1, an order of magnitude higher than previously recorded, and disrupting the region’s typical spring diatom-dominated succession. This bloom provided a unique opportunity to examine the metabolic strategies, ecological interactions, and environmental drivers underlying the bloom persistence and decline. An integrative approach was used, combining 18S and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, pigment and image analysis, network modeling, functional …

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Building The Foundation For Equitable Diabetes Education: Examining Trust And Digital Access In Rural And Unreserved Population, Niasia Hazelton Smalls May 2026

Building The Foundation For Equitable Diabetes Education: Examining Trust And Digital Access In Rural And Unreserved Population, Niasia Hazelton Smalls

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Disparities in patient portal use undermine equitable chronic disease management, particularly for adults with diabetes in rural and historically underserved communities. This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study examined the associations among trust in the healthcare system and patient portal use among U.S. adults, using nationally representative data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2023 (N = 3,711), supplemented by semi-structured interviews with frontline healthcare providers. Bivariate analyses revealed that adults with diabetes reported lower trust (83% vs. 86%, p = 0.003) and lower portal use (62% vs. 66%, p = 0.014) compared to those without a diagnosis. Multivariate logistic …

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Exploring Social Emotional Learning Competencies In Middle School Theatre Education, Katherine J. Mullins May 2026

Exploring Social Emotional Learning Competencies In Middle School Theatre Education, Katherine J. Mullins

Honors Theses

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is a method of education in which students are taught to grow in multifaceted ways. Students learn and grow as more than just students in their respective subjects, they grow in emotional intelligence, empathy, and interpersonal skills as well. SEL is not always easy to incorporate into teaching practices, but it tends to lend itself well to a theatre education setting. In a middle school specific setting, SEL and theatre-based activities yield positive results in student competencies both in and out of the classroom. In this research, through comparative analysis and reflective inquiry, I aim to …

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Equal Protection Under The Law: Constitutionality Of Current And Proposed Anti-Lgbtq+ Legislation In Tennessee And Its Potential Impact On Business, Henry J. Kalla May 2026

Equal Protection Under The Law: Constitutionality Of Current And Proposed Anti-Lgbtq+ Legislation In Tennessee And Its Potential Impact On Business, Henry J. Kalla

Honors Theses

In recent years, the Tennessee General Assembly has become a battleground of sorts for bills attempting to police the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals. Multiple laws that impact LGBTQ+ citizens have sparked debate as interested parties on all sides seek to clarify the scope of equal protection, religious freedom, and free expression in this evolving age. Federal law has statutes in place that prohibit discrimination against individuals based on certain protected characteristics, but sexual orientation or transgender status are not explicitly among them. The states have interpreted this ambiguity as providing them the freedom to pass their own civil rights legislation …

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Implementation Of A Droplet Interface Lipid Bilayer System For Electrical Characterization, Olivia J. Ziemer May 2026

Implementation Of A Droplet Interface Lipid Bilayer System For Electrical Characterization, Olivia J. Ziemer

Honors Theses

Lipid bilayers are the fundamental structural framework of cell membranes, providing cells with both protection from the environment and interaction with the surrounding environment. Experimental investigation of lipid bilayers and embedded protein channels often involves the formation of an artificial membrane within an electrical circuit. The focus of this project is to implement and verify the functionality of a lipid bilayer characterization technique known as the droplet interface bilayer (DIB), with emphasis on cost-effective system design. To achieve this, the amplifier and software from the ELEMENTS black lipid membrane (BLM) kit were repurposed to reduce the cost of implementing a …

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Transformation Efficiency And Gfp Expression In E. Coli, Jessica H. Hobbs May 2026

Transformation Efficiency And Gfp Expression In E. Coli, Jessica H. Hobbs

Honors Theses

Genetic transformation of bacteria is a foundational technique in molecular biology and biotechnology, enabling the introduction and expression of foreign genes for research, industrial, and educational applications. This thesis investigates the transformation efficiency and green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in Escherichia coli using the pGLO plasmid system, with the primary objective of supporting the development of a graduate-level laboratory course focused on bioprocess engineering and molecular biotechnology. The pGLO plasmid contains a GFP reporter gene regulated by an arabinose-inducible promoter and an ampicillin resistance gene that allows for selective growth of transformed cells. Competent E. coli HB101 K-12 cells were …

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Salt-Dependent Purification Of Green Fluorescent Protein Via Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography, Katie L. Collins May 2026

Salt-Dependent Purification Of Green Fluorescent Protein Via Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography, Katie L. Collins

Honors Theses

Green fluorescent protein, GFP, is a widely used fluorescent reporter, and its purification provides a clear model for studying downstream bioprocessing. This thesis investigates how binding-buffer salt strength affects GFP retention and elution during hydrophobic interaction chromatography, HIC, by comparing three conditions (1.0×, 0.8×, and 0.6×). GFP-expressing E. coli were lysed and clarified, and the lysate was purified on HIC columns; collected fractions were evaluated qualitatively under UV illumination to track fluorescence distribution. Results showed a salt-dependent trend in which higher salt improved retention and shifted fluorescence toward later elution fractions, while reduced salt weakened hydrophobic interactions and increased earlier …

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Community Resilience And Response To Salinity Gradients In Streams Flowing Into Biscayne Bay, Florida, Sebastian M. Jimenez May 2026

Community Resilience And Response To Salinity Gradients In Streams Flowing Into Biscayne Bay, Florida, Sebastian M. Jimenez

Honors Theses

Salinity is a shaping force of aquatic biodiversity, and ongoing climate change and unsustainable water-management practices are causing salinity-induced stress across coastal ecosystems. Meiofauna are small (45-1000 μm), taxonomically diverse aquatic invertebrates that are vital to ecosystems and highly responsive to environmental disturbances, making them ideal for assessing the effects of changing salinities on community structure. This study investigated how meiofaunal biodiversity (ASV richness, Faith’s phylogenetic diversity, and community composition) responded to natural salinity gradients along streams flowing into Biscayne Bay, South Florida, which is a region particularly vulnerable to salinization due to sea-level rise, altered hydrology, and watershed modification. …

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