Digital Commons Network^™

Alcohol Awareness, Prevention, And Education In Greek Life, Vivian J. Mcmechen, Kara Ann Lasater, Page Dobbs

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Alcohol consumption is normalized in Greek Life culture, and this social standard can lead to risky health behaviors and overconsumption. At the University of Arkansas, approximately one-third of students are members of Greek Life; there is a need for prevention methods that understand students’ lived experiences. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine students’ experiences with alcohol prevention, awareness, and education as current members of Greek Life at the University of Arkansas. Through student interviews and surveys, this project aims to inform and provide recommendations for relatable and student-centered alcohol prevention and education efforts. Methodology: This study …

Exploring Exercise Motivation And Mental Well-Being In College Students, Elaine M. Lindesmith, Anqi Deng Dr

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examined the relationship between physical activity, exercise motivation, and mental well-being among 48 undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas. Guided by Self-Determination Theory, the study used survey data to measure depression, anxiety, physical activity, and open-ended exercise motivation responses. Motivation responses were coded as autonomous or controlled.

Results showed that physical activity was weakly and negatively related to depression and anxiety, but these relationships were not statistically significant. There were also no significant differences in mental health between autonomous and controlled motivation groups, and motivation did not significantly predict mental health outcomes in regression analyses. Overall, the …

Exploring Sexually Explicit Material Literacy In Compressive Sex Education, Ashton Payne

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Adolescents increasingly encounter sexually explicit material (SEM) through digital media, often before receiving formal instruction about sexuality, relationships, or consent. This early and unmediated exposure has prompted growing interest in pornography literacy as a necessary component of comprehensive sex education (CSE). Purpose: This literature review synthesizes empirical research published between 2015 and 2025 examining pornography literacy pedagogy, its implementation within CSE, and its documented impacts on adolescent knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Methods: The University of Arkansas’s OneSearch served as the primary search engine, drawing from major academic databases including ProQuest, PubMed, Web of Science, JSTOR, and …

'Haven't You Heard? I'M The Internet Girl': Katseye Fan Discussions And Parasocial Relationships On Tiktok, Kristin Tuttle

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examines how fans of the girl group KATSEYE interact with each other on TikTok and explores how their discourse may reflect indicators of parasocial relationships. The study is guided by parasocial relationship literature, participatory culture theory, and the Celebrity Attitudes Scale (McCutcheon, Lange, & Houran, 2002), which identifies varying levels and intensities of celebrity worship and emotional investment. The study addresses two research questions: RQ1: How do KATSEYE fans talk about the group and interact with one another on TikTok, and RQ2: How are indicators of parasocial closeness expressed in KATSEYE fan discourse? To answer these questions, a …

Stories That Persuade: The Impact Of Pleasure-Based And Pressure-Based Prosocial Appeals On Charitable Support For Sexual And Reproductive Health Nonprofits, Tyler Outhouse

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study investigates how different narrative framing strategies, and corresponding sources of motivation, influence donors’ willingness to support a sexual and reproductive health nonprofit. A nationally representative sample (N = 205) completed an experiment embedded in an online survey. Participants were randomly assigned to read either a pleasure-based or pressure-based story about reproductive healthcare. Participants then reported their reactions, motivations, and willingness to support the nonprofit. Results indicated no significant difference in charitable support intentions across the two conditions, instead finding that partisan identification and value alignment were the key predictors of charitable support. The results also indicated that …

Learning Never Retires: A Fundraising Plan For The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute At The University Of Arkansas, Olivia C. Boykin

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

This professional strategic communication project uses contextual framework of fundraising methods and audience research to develop a strong justification for donor support to programs at The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arkansas (OLLI) (Jalali et al., 2024). This work models theoretical perspectives of interdisciplinary motives for charitable giving to institutions of higher education and applies them to OLLI 's unique needs. The deliverables of this project will be (i) a scholarly applied research manuscript that provides a background for a fundraising plan; (ii) the fundraising plan, and (iii) evidence-based creative communication concepts, such as print-ready postcards, flyers, …

The Impact Of Ai-Generated Celebrity Endorsements In Political Advertising, Ryann M. Richards

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examines how celebrity endorsements and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) influence voter perceptions in elections. To study the relationship between celebrity endorsements and AI, I used an experiment embedded in a survey with two conditions: one AI-generated celebrity endorsement and one AI-generated non-celebrity endorsement. Both endorsements were for a fictional candidate running for office on a platform of supporting maximum age limits of elected officials. In the celebrity condition, an AI-generated version of Dolly Parton’s voice was used. Participants then reported their perceptions of favorability, trustworthiness, recognition, fandom, and policy support. The results showed that participants who …

Behavioral Bottlenecks In Belizean Smallholder Farming: An Action Plan, Mckinley A. Almeida

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

Behavioral Bottlenecks in Belizean Smallholder Farming: An Action Plan investigates why Belizean smallholders hesitate to adopt new practices informed by a two-month internship with the Ministry of Agriculture at the Stann Creek branch. During the internship, a seventeen-page bilingual farm plan outline integrating SMART goals, a standard business plan, and farming essentials relevant to the local culture and environment was designed and developed. The Farm Plan Outline is grounded in observations in goal-setting theory, risk aversion under price uncertainty, and knowledge gap literature (AKIS/AKAP) tailored by smallholder Belizean contexts. Farmers were assisted with the Sustainable & Inclusive Belize Program grant …

Income Distribution And Poverty Rate Changes In Hurricane Katrina-Affected Parishes: A Case Study Of Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, And St. Bernard, 2000-2023, Carly L. Day

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

On August 28^th, 2005, the National Hurricane Center announced that a category five hurricane sustaining over 160-mile winds was cruising through the Gulf of Mexico, headed straight for the coasts of Louisiana and Alabama. By August 29^th, 2005, Katrina made landfall in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana as a category three hurricane. After surviving a significant amount of rainfall, the levee system in New Orleans failed, putting over 80% of the city of New Orleans underwater and leaving many residents without homes (“Hurricane Katrina”, 2025). Despite a mandatory evacuation order, many people were forced to take shelter in …

May 2026 Library & Learning Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library & Learning Dean's Office Communication Team

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the May 2026 (Volume 4, Issue 10) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Host Families’ Perspectives Of The Impact Of The Commodification Of Education On The Student-Host Family Relationship In Study Abroad, Guadalupe Bustamante

Dissertations

The growing commodification of education has reshaped study abroad in ways that extend beyond marketing and program design. While homestays have traditionally been viewed as the ideal format for cultural immersion and language acquisition, research has largely overlooked how these trends affect the student-host family relationship from the family's perspective.

This study examines whether, and, if so, how Spanish host families perceive their roles and relationships with the American students they host have been impacted by these trends. Using a qualitative exploratory case study design, the research focused on representatives from eight families in Madrid, who have hosted U.S. students …

When Optimal Therapy Becomes High Risk: A Risk-Benefit Framework For Beta-Lactam Desensitization In Life-Threatening Mssa Infection, Rana Amoush, Aaron Kobernick

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Background Beta-lactam antibiotics are preferred for invasive methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections, especially those involving prosthetic material. Management is challenging in patients with severe beta-lactam hypersensitivity, as alternative agents may be less effective or poorly tolerated. Limited guidance exists on reassessing desensitization risk when second-line therapies become untenable. Purpose To present a case-based risk-benefit framework for evaluating beta-lactam desensitization in medically complex patients with life-threatening MSSA infections. Methods We retrospectively reviewed a patient with recurrent MSSA prosthetic graft infection and severe beta-lactam hypersensitivity. Clinical decision-making was analyzed using a structured risk–benefit framework incorporating infection severity, therapeutic superiority of beta-lactams, tolerance …

Against Their Own Interests? Latinos And The Rightward Shift, Marianna S. Visbal

Honors College Theses

This study examines whether Latino voters in the United States are acting against their self-interests when supporting right-wing Republican candidates, particularly in recent elections characterized by increased Latino support for figures like Donald Trump despite harmful rhetoric. While existing literature and public discourse often assume that Latino voters share a clear set of interests aligned with progressive politics, this research questions that assumption. Motivated by underrepresentation in political research and personal observations within Latino communities, I explore how political self-interest is defined and understood. Using qualitative expert interviews with Latino elected officials, journalists, and political professionals based in New York …

Some Things Never Change, Ryely Rogers

Honors College Theses

Some Things Never Change is a coming-of-age play that explores the intersection of memory, identity, nostalgia, faith, and the process of growing up. The play follows two versions of the same character: Young Ryann and Older Ryann. Young Ryann is the eleven year old version of Older Ryan, the young woman she grows to become. This play was born from my own interest in how identity evolves and continues to shape us through adulthood. Some Things Never Change is the culmination of my own experiences, broader themes of self-discovery, and the science behind nostalgia. Through this play I uncover the …

Unmasking Emotional Labor: Visualizing The Challenges Experienced By Human Resources Professionals, Abigail (Abby) Leff

Honors College Theses

The field of human resources (HR) requires a complex balance of advocating for others and enforcing organizational policies, all the while managing its own emotional challenges. This dynamic demands that HR professionals engage in intense emotional labor without sufficient organizational support, the burden of which can lead to burnout, decreased job satisfaction, and psychological consequences. Despite the prevalence of these dynamics, the emotional experiences of HR professionals are under-researched. This literature review explores emotional labor and burnout HR professionals face, evaluates available resources in the field, and examines coping strategies that HR professionals use. The research is applied to an …

Segmented Correlation Consistent Basis Sets For The S-Block, Alexis Ung

Honors Thesis

In the present work, segmented correlation consistent basis sets for the s-block were developed, which can be used to perform quantum calculations exponentially faster compared to the existing general contraction while retaining comparable accuracy. For example, computing the energy of a cesium atom using the largest basis set developed (quadruple-zeta, QZ) can see an 86 times faster calculation of the Fock matrix per iteration going from the general to the segmented contraction. In addition, the first ionization energies obtained for developed basis sets were on average found to be within 2 kcal/mol of the results obtained with the existing generally-contracted …

What We Can Glean From The Book Of Ruth: A Novel Approach To Keeping The Schoolhouse Doors Open To All Children, Summer Basham Todd

Vanderbilt Social Justice Reporter

No abstract provided.

Computer Vision And Machine Learning Approaches For Defect Detection In 3d-Printed Cementitious Materials: A Systematic Review, Muhammad Ali Musarat, Ruben Paul Borg, Jingjie Wei, Carl James Debono, Kamal Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

3D printing is evolving at a fast pace in both the manufacturing and construction sectors. These advancements can greatly benefit these industries. However, the 3D printing of concrete structures presents some challenges due to defects in the 3D concrete printed elements. Hence, this study systematically reviews Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven techniques, such as Computer Vision and Machine Learning, to identify surface defects that can occur in 3D-printed cementitious material structures. The adopted methodology was the PRISMA statement with the aim of reporting the systematic review and meta-analysis. Two well-known databases, Web of Science and Scopus, were utilised for data extraction of …

One Step At A Time: Duquesne University's Thirteenth Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, Marie Ferrick, Sydney Stahl

Duquesne University Greenhouse Gas Inventories

The thirteenth greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory was conducted for fiscal year 2025 (FY25), which began on July 1, 2024, and ended on June 30, 2025. Assembled by graduate assistants Marie Ferrick and Sydney Stahl at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Science, these findings were compared with those derived from the previous inventories to assess trends in Duquesne University’s GHG emissions. Furthermore, this inventory discusses options for reducing Duquesne’s carbon footprint in future years. Duquesne University’s total market-based GHG emissions were 83,848.97 MT eCO2 for FY25. After calculating the full-time student equivalent and the full-time faculty/staff equivalents, …

The Effectiveness Of Local Historic Place-Based Educational Programs: A Scoping Review, Danielle Bellantoni

Master's Theses

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of local place-based history education programs on adolescents aged students in 6th to 12th grade in the United States public school system. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) to summarize key research findings and identify gaps in the literature. Through thorough evaluation, three studies were included based on the eligibility criteria and each study showed that local place-placed history education programs are effective in the cognitive and affective domains. Although there is a gap in research, it is believed that …

Predicting Intraday S&P 500 Returns Following U.S. Monetary Policy Announcements

Gabelli School of Business Honors Thesis Collection

This study explores the impact of monetary policy announcements by the U.S. Federal Reserve on the intraday returns of the SPY ETF – an exchange-traded fund that tracks the S&P 500 index (the 500 largest U.S. companies). This paper specifically focuses on the predictability of those intraday returns after the announcements. Using Tick Data 1-minute SPY ETF prices from February 1997 to September 2025 and regressing 1-minute price returns between 1:59 pm and 4:00 pm on monetary policy announcement days, we found that return predictability is highest 26 minutes after the announcement. This price reaction trend lasts approximately 49 minutes, …

The Course Of Empire Causes Us Much Grief: Imperialism, Slavery, And Genocide In The Theological Education Of Berkeley Divinity School, The Episcopal Seminary At Yale, Alden Fossett

Yale Divinity School Theses

The history of Berkeley Divinity School, the Episcopal seminary at Yale, traverses centuries and thousands of miles between Ireland, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Abundant institutional narratives concerning Berkeley Divinity School’s origin and development over time rehearse a mythology connecting the Anglo-Irish philosopher and bishop George Berkeley (1685–1753) and the establishment of Berkeley Divinity School in 1854 by Massachusetts-born professor and bishop John Williams (1817–1899). This thesis intervenes in the historiography of Berkeley Divinity School by situating John Williams’s allusion to George Berkeley’s unfulfilled dream to establish a college training Anglican missionaries on the island of Bermuda within a British imperial …

Depersonalization/Derealization Symptoms And Their Association With Relationship Functioning In College Students, Edgar Silva

University Honors Program Senior Projects

Depersonalization/derealization disorder (DPDR) is a dissociative condition marked by persistent feelings of detachment from one’s thoughts, body, or external environment. Although DPDR most commonly emerges during late adolescence and early adulthood, it remains relatively understudied within college student populations, despite its potential consequences for psychological well-being and interpersonal functioning. The present study examines the association between depersonalization/derealization symptoms, mental health, and relationship functioning among university students. Specifically, this research investigates whether students reporting higher levels of depersonalization/ derealization symptoms differ from those with lower symptom levels in depression, anxiety, stress, and perceived social support. Participants will be undergraduate students recruited …

Shale Investment Dashboard In Ohio Q1 And Q2 2025, Andrew R. Thomas, Mark Henning, Tessa Rosenberger

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

This report presents findings from an investigation into shale-related investment in Ohio, looking at up, mid, and downstream activities. The investment estimates are for January through June of 2025. The report also includes an estimate of cumulative investment into shale in Ohio from 2012 through December 2024. Prior biannual investments are included in previously posted reports that are available from Cleveland State University.

Biodiversity Mutual Funds And Etfs: Characteristics, Performance, Risk, And Fees, Fei Fang, Di Luo

School of Business

This paper provides an exploratory analysis of biodiversity-themed funds and offers early evidence on their characteristics, performance, risk, fees, and sustainability metrics. Using a sample of 24 open-end biodiversity funds (18 mutual funds and 6 ETFs), we find that these funds are predominantly European-domiciled equity funds, recently launched, small in size, and generally receive high sustainability ratings. However, both active and passive funds underperform their benchmarks over their short track records and charge higher fees than comparable funds, consistent with the early-stage development of this segment. We also examine fund manager characteristics and find no consistent relationship with performance. Our …

An Investigation Of The Restrained Expansion Behavior Of Bcsa And Sbcsa Concretes And Their Chemical Prestress Potential, Adhish Paudel

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement, an alternative cement, is increasingly used in the United States for its fast-setting and rapid strength gain characteristics, particularly for rapid pavement construction and repair. In addition, BCSA exhibits some early age expansion when moist cured due to the formation of ettringite. Under restrained conditions, expansive cements can be used to generate chemical prestress in reinforced concrete or to offset prestress losses in prestressed concrete. This study investigates the restrained expansion of concrete made from traditional BCSA and a new BCSA cement formulation intended to provide increased initial expansion behavior. Concrete samples were tested using …

Enhancing Methods For Load Rating Bridge Timber Piles, Aashish Ghimire

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Timber piles are widely used in bridge foundations across the United States due to their low cost and ease of installation. The strength of a timber pile is dependent on many factors including wood species, unbraced length, support conditions, age and cross-sectional properties. Cross-sectional properties are highly impacted by the progression of biological deterioration which often is undetected when using standard DOT inspections methods. Current inspection practices rely primarily on subjective methods that provide limited quantitative information about a pile’s existing load-carrying capacity. Consequently, timber piles are inaccurately assessed and prematurely replaced. In response, this thesis investigates the relationship between …

Assessing Diffusive Gradients In Thin Films Passive Samplers For Pfas Quantitation In Aqueous Systems, Brianna Harris

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) passive samplers are an alternative to grab sampling for quantifying time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aqueous systems. DGTs may enable long-term PFAS site characterization in a more time and cost-effective manner compared to grab sampling, but critical information is lacking in PFAS diffusion coefficient (DGel) uncertainty, PFAS quantitation limits, and environmental impacts on DGT performance. This work provides a thorough evaluation of DGT performance for a suite of 32 PFAS through (i) determining gel-layer PFAS diffusion coefficients and their associated error (i.e., 95 % confidence intervals (CIs)), (ii) assessing …

May 2026, Office Of Research

Research Update

No abstract provided.

An Evaluation Of Leading Indicators In The Construction Industry And Their Relationship With Incident Rates, Kitti Miller Whalen

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Improving safety programs has been a focus of organizations for decades. Historically, focus has been directed towards lagging indicators such as recordable incident rates and experience modification rate (EMR). While these remain beneficial, they are only one component of the broader framework. In recent years, companies have started to examine what occurs prior to an incident, which are known as leading indicators. The research into leading indicators is promising, however research into the area is limited. The focus of this study is to identify which leading indicators are most strongly associated with improved incident rates in the construction industry specifically. …