Digital Commons Network^™

Silence Or Self-Disclosure? Examining The Psychological And Relational Factors Shaping Political Communication Between Gen Z And Their Families, Bradford E. Netherton

Communication (PhD) Dissertations

This dissertation examines the psychological and relational factors shaping political communication between Generation Z and their families. Using Communication Privacy Management (CPM) and Family Communication Patterns (FCP) theories as a dual framework, the study investigates how emotions, relational turbulence, and family orientations influence political self-disclosure during face-to-face gatherings. Data were collected via an online survey of 488 Gen Z participants (ages 18–28) following the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday. The results reveal a critical distinction between negative and positive privacy boundary strength. Negative boundary strength, characterized by defensive and restrictive regulation, was consistently associated with heightened experiences of fear, anger, frustration, and …

2026 Spring Commencement Program, The University Of West Alabama

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Shark Size And Species Responsible For Bite Marks On Sarasota Bay Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus), Sydney Haas

Theses & ETDs

No abstract provided.

Between The Excel Sheets And The Eight Counts: A Case-Study On Theatrical Production Management Through Dance On Campus, Madison Noud-Carroll

Theses & ETDs

This thesis explores the role of Production Management in theater, synthesizing the literature on this topic with insight and reflection by way of a first person case study account. The case study is the New College of Florida's presentation of Dance on Campus, an event offered over consecutive dates at the Black Box Theater that brought together professional and student choreographers, lighting and costume designers, and student dancers. While Production Management has often been understood as a primarily administrative and logistical role, this thesis refines that understanding to emphasize facilitation, adaptive problem-solving, and the underlying need to sustain the systems …

Effects Of Environmental Factors, Predation Risk, And Population Density On Neuromast Morphology And Distribution In Heterandria Formosa, Brielle Spencer

Theses & ETDs

Sensory systems play a crucial role in how fish respond to the environment, however variation in these systems are not well studied. This study examined how ecological factors influence neuromast morphology and distribution in the least killifish, Heterandria formosa. I tested the hypothesis that individuals from low density, high predation, low vegetation environments would show larger neuromast number and size than fish from high density, low predation, high vegetation populations. Neuromasts were stained and imaged in 140 fish, 10 males and 10 females from 7 different populations from northwest Florida. I stained the neuromasts using 4-Di-2-ASP and used a fluorescent …

Biblioteca: A Full-Stack Social Reading Platform For Spanish-Language Book Discovery And Community Engagement, Bilge Akyol

Theses & ETDs

Social reading platforms combine book cataloging with social networking features, enabling users to engage with literary content and other readers. While global platforms such as Goodreads dominate the market, platforms that foster a community around a shared language and culture gain readers' interest by offering a meaningful experience. Despite the large Spanish-speaking audience, there is a lack of digital platforms that effectively cultivate this type of culturally cohesive community. Existing Spanish-language platforms often suffer from outdated interfaces, cluttered layouts, and limited user experience, which can reduce engagement. This thesis represents Biblioteca, a web application built with React, Typescript, and Supabase …

Descriptive Analysis Of E-Commerce Sales Performance: An End-To-End Analytics Dashboard Using Postgresql, Machine Learning, And Natural Language Querying, Bruno Valdez

Theses & ETDs

E-commerce businesses collect large amounts of transaction data every day, but most companies do not have the right tools to turn that data into useful decisions. Managers either rely on intuition or need a data scientist to answer every question. This thesis presents the design and development of an analytics dashboard that tries to close that gap. The platform combines descriptive analysis, predictive modeling, and natural language querying in a single interactive application built with Streamlit and PostgreSQL. The dashboard has five analytical modules. The Sales Overview and Category Explorer shows high-level business metrics alongside customer demographics and channel performance. …

A Step Into The Field Of Education : Sneak Peek Into My Career, Emma Reiser

Theses & ETDs

This senior project explored and reflected on my development as an aspiring educator through academic research and hands-on classroom experience. The goal of this project was to gain a deeper understanding of the teaching profession and to better prepare for a future career in education. To accomplish this, I combined a literature review of key educational concepts with an internship at an elementary school, where I observed and participated in classroom instruction under the guidance of a mentor teacher. The literature review focuses on the foundational components of effective teaching in education, including, teacher responsibilities, classroom management, parent–teacher relationships, pedagogy …

Cognitive Crossroads : A Dual Task Validation Study, Saiyid "Ali" Shariq

Theses & ETDs

The modern environment places constant demands on human attention, yet cognitive capacity remains fundamentally limited. This study investigated whether combining a visual memory task with a concurrent auditory vigilance task in the Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL) platform would function as a valid dual-task paradigm capable of producing measurable divided-attention costs. Thirty college students (ages 18–22, M = 20.47) completed three counterbalanced conditions: a memory automaticity task, an auditory vigilance task requiring spacebar responses to irregularly timed tones, and a dual-task condition combining both. Reaction time and accuracy served as dependent measures, analyzed using four paired-samples t-tests. Results revealed significant …

The Dual Erosion Of Political Identity: Nationalism And Cosmopolitianism In Transition, Jaylen Turner

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines how nationalism and cosmopolitanism have changed as political identities under intensified globalization, treating them not as opposites but as overlapping, variably activated networks of belonging. Drawing on constructivist theory and debates on universalism, it analyzes World Values Survey data from Waves 5–7 (2005–2022) using repeated-measures ANOVAs on indicators such as national pride, willingness to fight for one’s country, national-citizenship identification, immigration attitudes, world-citizen identification, cross-national trust, and confidence in the United Nations. The findings show a dual erosion of both national and world-citizen identifications in the late 2010s and early 2020s, alongside stable or improving pragmatic orientations …

Inflation Determinants In Brazil, Mariana Andrade Da Rocha Saba

Theses & ETDs

This thesis examines the determinants of Brazilian inflation in the context of demand-pull and cost-push dynamics. The study aims to assess whether inflation in Brazil is primarily driven by demand-side pressures, supply-side factors, or a combination of both. For the empirical analysis, three ARDL models are estimated using quarterly data from 2006 to 2025. The first model includes only demand-side variables, the second focuses on supply-side variables, and the third incorporates both demand and supply factors. The results indicate that inflation in Brazil cannot be fully explained by either demand or cost pressures in isolation; rather, it arises from the …

Exploring Athlete Satisfaction Through The Lens Of Selfdetermination Theory: Motivation Profiles In Collegiate Athletes Outside Division I, Madison Garcia

Theses & ETDs

The expectations to perform both academically and athletically can be overwhelming for collegiate student-athletes. As proposed by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the fulfillment of the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness fosters intrinsic motivation, which is positively associated with performance and overall satisfaction. The present study surveyed 202 lower-level collegiate student-athletes to examine the relationship between SDT motivation profiles and organizational satisfaction. Results indicated no statistically significant relationship between the variables, although a trend toward significance was observed. These findings suggest that the relationship between motivation and satisfaction is more complex than initially hypothesized. Future research should continue to …

Enhancing Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Efficiency Through Thin-Layer Chromatographic Fractionation Of Calathea Kennedy Dyes, Anthony Nong

Theses & ETDs

Natural Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (NDSSCs) derived from various plant sources have garnered attention for their simple, cost-effective, and eco-friendly extraction methods, which are more scalable than those of their synthetic counterparts, which often utilize rare or toxic inorganic metals. NDSSCs utilize the photosynthetic properties of the plant extracts to generate electricity. Raw Delonix regia flower pigments are rich in carotenoids, anthocyanins, and polyphenols. However, the direct use of the flower extract that contains so many pigments could reduce the capacity of the dye molecules to bind with TiO2 due to the aggregation of pigments. Calathea Kennedy extracts are also …

An Examination Of Rejection Sensitivity In Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; An Erp Cyberball Study Of Social Exclusion, Jordan Cohen

Theses & ETDs

Attention Defi cit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is commonly associated with emotional dysregulation, including rejection sensitivity (RS). Despite qualitative evidence supporting this comorbidity, few studies have examined the neurophysiological relationship between ADHD and RS. The current study used event-related potential (ERP) techniques to examine electrophysiological responses to social rejection in individuals with ADHD using an adapted version of a Cyberball social exclusion task. Fourteen participants (ADHD: N=8, Control: N=6) completed the task while EEG was recorded from 32 active electrodes. Grand averages were calculated at frontal midline electrode sites Fz and Cz, to identify a feedback related negativity (FRN) for four conditions: …

Examining Executive Functions In Adhd Students During Explicit Sequence Learning: An Erp Study, Kayla Eve Henson

Theses & ETDs

Executive functions (EFs) have been found to be impaired in individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is characterized by inattention, inhibitory difficulties, and hyperactivity which impair social, professional, and academic functioning. EFs are commonly understood as the skill set necessary for carrying out goal-directed behavior, this includes inhibition, working memory, attention, and performance monitoring. Performance monitoring consists of immediate error detection, denoted by the ERN, and conscious error detection in which the error is fully recognized and processed as an error to then improve behavior, denoted by the Pe. This improvement in behavior can manifest as post-error slowing. …

The Integrity Paradox: Reflections On Epistemic Substitution And The Ethical Failure Of Plagiarism Detection Systems, Elliott Ostler, Jeanne Surface

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

This article critiques the ethical authority granted to AI plagiarism detection systems, using humor to expose a serious contradiction in these algorithms. Through a case in which an original ethics manuscript is labeled 40.7% “non-original,” the authors argue that similarity scores are mistaken for judgments of misconduct. They introduce the concept of “epistemic substitution” to describe how tools that both judge originality and offer AI rewrites replace human authorship while mandating human accountability. The paper contends that this collapse of roles undermines scholarly integrity, conflates disciplinary fluency with plagiarism, and shifts ethical responsibility from humans to procedures. The authors call …

Digital Orientalism: Examining Eastern Practices In The Wellness Industry, Celia Golden

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

As popularity rises for global and domestic wellness retreats as tourist destinations, their predominantly Western audience invites an American offshoot of Orientalism that commodifies Asian names and practices into “mindfulness.” This paper examines the guest guide of the Miraval Berkshires wellness facility and its treatment of Eastern practices. Findings revealed 55.6% of the specialists at the Miraval Berkshires employ Eastern techniques, and 74.14% of those offerings are restricted to paid and private sessions to create exclusivity. The word “ancient” is disproportionately leveled against Eastern practices in the guest guide to further cement them as relics of the past. Alongside minimalist …

Eat, Move, Sleep: How Everyday Habits Support Your Mental Health, University Of Dayton

University Libraries Blog Archive

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Learn about some of the science behind three fundamental habits of everyday life that can make a difference in how you feel, plus resources to help.

The Effect Of Including A Yeast Culture Containing Essential Oils In Receiving Cattle Diets On Growth Performance And Health, Taylor Deanna Foster

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Due to the increased risk of bacterial populations developing resistance to current antibiotics, consumer perceptions surrounding the utilization of antibiotics use in cattle, and the endemic incidence of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) among growing and finishing cattle, alternative management strategies to improve the health of cattle must be developed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of a supplement containing a yeast culture and an essential oils blend (YEO) on the health and growth performance of stocker calves at high-risk for BRD. Crossbred male beef calves (n = 185) received on two separate dates were used in …

Influence Of Increased Supplementation Of Organic-Complexed Zinc To Beef Cows During Gestation: Effects On Preweaning Health Of Offspring, Naija N. Sharpley

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of increasing zinc supplementation from organic-complexed sources to beef cows during gestation on calf performance. In May 2025, during gestation, Angus crossbred cows were confirmed pregnant with female sexed semen (n = 83) and enrolled in the current study. Cows (4.7 ± 2 years of age and 531 ± 84.4 kg body weight, mean ± standard deviation) were allotted to 4 groups (20 to 21 cows/group) based on, sire of heifer calf, cow age, and cow body weights taken at weaning. Assigned groups received 1 of 2 treatments (2 groups/treatment): …

The Impact Of Anti Lgbtqi+ Legistlation On Diplomacy And Economy In Africa: A Case Study Of Ghana, Hunvilla Agyemang

Master of Public Administration for Senior Leadership

This  research  examines  the  impact  of  anti LGBTQI+  legislation  on  diplomacy  and  economy in Africa, using Ghana as a case study. The study is motivated by the renewed wave of  anti-LGBTQI+ legislative activism across parts of Africa and the significant domestic and  international debate surrounding Ghana's Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. The paper  asks three central questions: what drives the rise of anti-LGBTQI+ legislation in Ghana, what  economic consequences are associated with such legislation, and what diplomatic implications  follow when a state adopts or advances laws widely perceived as discriminatory. To answer these  questions, the study employs a …

Understanding And Managing Stress In The Public Sector: A Focus On Municipal Government, Emmanuel N. Asante

Master of Public Administration for Senior Leadership

This Capstone examines workplace stress among municipal government employees, using the City of Worcester, Massachusetts, as a practical case study. Municipal employees play a critical role in delivering essential public services, yet they often work under challenging conditions, including heavy workloads, limited resources, strict rules, and high public expectations. Over time, these pressures can negatively affect employee well-being, job performance, and the quality of services provided to residents.

The purpose of this project is to understand better the causes and effects of workplace stress in local government and to identify practical ways municipalities can address it. The study uses an …

From Time-Series Generation And Model Selection To Transfer Learning: A Review And Comparative Analysis Of Pixel-Wise Approaches For Large-Scale Crop Mapping, Judy Long, Tao Liu, Sean Alexander Woznicki, Miljana Marković, Oskar Marko, Molly Sears

Michigan Tech Publications

Accurate and timely large-scale crop mapping is essential for crop management and food security. Over the past decade, a wide range of pixel-wise crop classification approaches have emerged for workflow elements including image preprocessing, sampling methods, feature selection, model architectures, and transfer learning strategies. To guide users in constructing robust workflows, we reviewed methods for supervised and transfer-learning-based workflow elements and propose selecting a crop-mapping workflow based on target-site sample size and domain shift from a sample-abundant source site. To comprehensively evaluate the reviewed approaches, we systematically analyzed how different time-series construction strategies, training sample sizes, variable sets, model architectures, …

Bounded Transformation: From Static Readiness To Trajectory Based Change Viability, Mary Piecewicz, Manjari Gupta

Master of Public Administration for Senior Leadership

Most organizational transformations do not fail loudly. They fade, fragment, and quietly exhaust the people expected to sustain them. What practitioners often diagnose as resistance, poor adoption, or weak execution may begin earlier, with an untested assumption that the organization is stable, coherent, and capable enough to absorb planned change. Existing change frameworks offer useful guidance for implementation, but they do not formally ask whether the organization is currently moving in a direction, and with enough stability, to make planned change viable.

This capstone introduces Bounded Transformation: From Static Readiness to Trajectory-Based Change Viability, a trajectory-based pre-condition framework for …

May 2026, Volume 22, Number 1, Winthrop University Archives And Special Collections

Retrospect: News from the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University

No abstract provided.

Historical Comparison Of Bridal Fashion Symbolism: Contrasting Queen Elizabeth Ii, Princess Diana, And Catherine, Princess Of Wales, Rebecca O'Dea

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to gain understanding and insight into the profoundness behind the practice of dress. Throughout history, royal attire has been used to demonstrate aspects about the individual and regency. Royal fashion served as an excellent area to narrow in on, due to the influential status, and high standards expected of their appearance and actions. This research project studied members of British royal family, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, and analyzed fashion elements of their wedding dresses. The examination of bridal fashion was conducted through thematic framework determining if the concepts …

Social Media Marketing In The Fast Fashion Industry: Influence Of Influencers And #Ootd Campaigns On Brand Equity, Ashley Ninkham

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examines the impact of influencer marketing and #OOTD (Outfit of the Day) campaigns on brand equity in the fast fashion industry. It primarily focuses on consumer behavior, brand loyalty, and sustainability awareness. As social media continues to grow, it plays a significant role in shaping the consumption of fashion. This research aims to understand the effects of social media marketing strategies on brand image and purchasing behaviors.  A quantitative method was used through a survey with a 5-point Likert Scale (ranging from strongly disagree (1) - Strongly agree (5)). A total of 203 participants completed the survey via …

Needle In A Haystack; Cog In A Machine, Meredith Byrd

The Prairie Light Review

No abstract provided.

Junk, Finn Geissal

The Prairie Light Review

No abstract provided.

Mailbox, Victoria Starshinova

The Prairie Light Review

No abstract provided.