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Addressing Work-Related Traumatic Stress Nebraska - Needs Assessment Summary, Quality Improvement Center For Workforce Development

Other QIC-WD Products

Exploration of Needs

The Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD) worked with the Nebraska Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to conduct a needs assessment. The team leveraged: (1) administrative data, primarily from the Nebraska Department of Children and Family Services’ Human Resource department (DCFS-HR); (2) formal surveys of child welfare staff and supervisors; (3) QIC-WD team expertise; and (4) subjective perceptions and expertise from the Nebraska Workforce Project Team members.

DCFS-HR data included metrics and processes related to recruitment, hiring, and retention; culture and climate; and other workforce processes and initiatives, such as onboarding, mentoring, supervision, …

Monetary Policy And Banking Sector Stability In Nigeria, Didigu Chizoba E., Joshua Nsikak J., Okon Joel I., Eze Annette O., Gopar Jurbe Y., Oraemesi Charles N., Udofia Blessing-Oxford U., Yisa Daniel N., Ejinkonye Jude C., Ette Victoria E.

CBN Journal of Applied Statistics (JAS)

This study investigates the impact of monetary policy on banking sector stability in Nigeria, utilizing quarterly data for the period 2007Q1 to 2021Q4. The study employs the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration. Results show that a long run relationship exist between banking sector stability and monetary policy in Nigeria. Furthermore, monetary policy rate, liquidity ratio, and cash reserve ratio are found to enhance banking sector stability. The study recommends, among others, that cash reserve and liquidity ratios should be kept at levels that will prevent excess liquidity in the system.

The Comparative Effects Of Three Virtual Nature Exposure Methods On State Social Motivation: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Samantha A. Castelblanco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is well established in the research literature that exposure to nature positively affects physical and mental health. However, research regarding the effects of nature exposure on social health is less developed. Prior research found that watching a video of nature improved state social motivation. Building on this research, the current study compared the effects of three methods of virtual nature exposure on state social motivation in a randomized controlled trial. In this 3X3 between-subjects experiment, participants (N = 426) 18 to 73 (M_Age = 27.69, SD = 12.19) were randomly assigned to experience 3-minutes of nature …

Operatic Mysticisms: Mountains, Deserts, Waterscapes, Andrew Demczuk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Operatic Mysticisms: Mountains, Deserts, Waterscapes examines the ways we encounter environments as readers/viewers of operas, literature, film, and sound recordings, and how each medium requires different detail-gathering techniques. Respective to the previously mentioned mediums, Sun & Sea (2017), Mount Analogue (1952), El Mar La Mar (2017), and Energy Field (2010) are analyzed by engaging with environmental media studies and invention. Reflecting the nature of each landscape—summits of mountains, aporias of deserts, and mysteries of waterscapes—an elemental approach is taken in investigating how these spaces may be noticed, internalized, recorded, and traversed by both the artist and viewer. …

Servant Leadership Oriented Leadership Development For Leaders On The Autism Spectrum : An Exploratory Study, Nikita Elizabeth Williams

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

As autistic individuals are increasingly joining the workforce, there is a need to better understand leadership development in autistic individuals as they progress through organizational hierarchies. This thesis introduces a servant leadership component to a traditional leadership development model and conducts a needs assessment for tailoring this model to a neurodiverse population. The servant leadership oriented assessment challenge support (SLO-ACS) is a model of leadership development that utilizes the popular Assessment Challenge Support model of leadership development with a focus on developing another individual and practicing servant leadership. Qualitative interviews were conducted with autism SMEs in leadership roles, a majority …

Memorial Craze: How War Memorials Have Been Changed By War, Jillian Bass

War, Diplomacy, and Society (MA) Theses

This thesis project argues that memorials constructed after 9/11 were designed specifically in a way that privileged and focused on the dead individually. By taking a look at memorials throughout American history, the study of memorialization sets up the stage for the way the lives of ordinary people have been memorialized throughout history. 9/11 is one of the most memorable days in the history of the world in the 21st century. However, the academic world has generally ignored the study of war memorials throughout American history as a subset of memorials. Chronicling memorials from the Civil War period to present …

2022 Staff Bios, Author Bios, And Abstracts Brochure

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

Is Being A Social Media Influencer A Sustainable Career?, Mya Sanders

Comm-entary

Being a social media influencer in today’s world has its stereotypes: that it is not a real job which one can have for their whole lives, that it does nothing useful for society, or that people get paid to take videos of themselves and nothing more. While that argument has valid points for individual people, I discuss in this paper the idea that being a social media influencer can be a sustainable career path. I mention the positives of the career path: how influencers have the power to change their followers’ minds on a topic, how they can be a …

Pragmatics Paper: The Real Housewives Of New Jersey, Madeline Graf

Comm-entary

Reality television has brought viewers into the lives and homes of many different families across the country. While people question the ‘reality’ aspect of reality TV, the interpersonal conflict amongst families, friends, and loved ones is definitely far from scripted. Shows such as The Real Housewives franchise allow viewers to see many patterns of human communication on their screen, even if they are unaware of it. Using the theories discussed in the Pragmatics of Human Communication by Watzlawick, Beavin and Jackson, this paper analyzes the family systems and interpersonal relationships within The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Applying the concepts …

“Um Mundo Novo2” Or Just More Of The Same For Brazil Post-Olympics?, Emily Desormier

Comm-entary

This paper uses the photographic record to examine how well Brazil fulfilled its promises to improve the lives of its citizens via its preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Shein: How Immaterial Labor Fuels The Capitalist Fast Fashion Industry, Sara Donatello

Comm-entary

This paper highlights the consumption of fast fashion products by consumers as immaterial labor. The industry runs not only on the production of goods, but the consumption and advertising done by influencers and everyday consumers alike. The research explores romantic individualism as a way to advertise products to followers and how the global apparel industry works. Research is supported by surveys completed by SHEIN consumers ages 18-25. The sustainability of the fast fashion industry is also a factor explored in this paper.

Grace Helbig Will Never Be A Hollywood Star, But David Dobrik Will Be, Julia Gomes

Comm-entary

The balance of internet celebrities' careers and the limitations that they are put on due to the pressure of parasocial relationships has changed over time within the world of mainstream media and the internet. In this paper, I explore parasocial relationships and their effects on internet professions. I start by focusing on an early Internet/YouTube star Grace Helbig and discuss how the internet and parasocial relationships affected her career and changed the shape of the internet. I then transition into talking about a newly successful Internet/Youtube star, David Dobrik, and discuss how he faced an opposite journey to Helbig to …

The Bipartisan Media Strategy: How Three Ideologically Different Candidates Found Success, Madeline Graf

Comm-entary

This essay analyzes the social media strategies used by three very different candidates who have all run for presidential office. Using Joshua Meyrowitz’s application of Erving Goffman’s The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, we can see the ‘middle region’ performances politicians use to seem approachable and relatable to their target audience. With the transition from print media, to the early stages of electronic media, to social media, the barrier between a politician and the public has broken down to the point where the American public has the illusion of a personal connection with these political figures. It is hard …

A Response To Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, And Rage; Recontextualizing Editorial Biases In Nu Metal, Samuel Graff

Comm-entary

Nu metal, the oft-maligned subgenre of heavy music which reached massive commercial heights around the turn of the millennium, has long been a pop cultural punching bag. With recent media trends retrospectively framing past movements along ill-defined identity lines, the 2021 HBO documentary “Woodstock 99: Peace, Love and Rage” takes a close look at the ill-advised late-90s festival and does so by condemning Nu metal as staunchly consumerist, misogynist, and racist. These characteristics are generally held across the few pieces of media scholarship on the genre. In this paper, I analyze and rebuke the documentary and in doing so, provide …

Are Humans An Invasive Species? How The Development Of Our World Has Continuously Encroached On Wildlife, Madeline Graf

Comm-entary

Through the development of our society mankind has adversely impacted the species that existed long before humans did. Humans have effectively become an invasive species, taking over the homes and resources of animals across the globe. People continue to expand into new lands and territories to compensate for an ever-growing population, converting natural land into cities with homes, offices, shopping centers, and more. Through urbanization we are displacing countless species from their natural habitats or forcing them to adapt to a new environment. As our world grew, so did our economies and trade market, creating the issue of global shipping …

A Manufactured Culture: A Look Into How U.S. Imperialism Coerced The Philippine Economy Into A Culture Of Migration, Gio Ramos

Comm-entary

In this research paper, I investigate the origins of labor brokerages in the Philippines. The Philippine economy heavily relies on remittance which is when temporary overseas Filipino workers and emigrants send money back to their families in Philippines. This money is then flushed back into the local economy and keeps it running. Throughout this essay, I find that United States imperialism is a root cause for early labor systems in the archipelago. I analyze historic books and other expert studies on this topic to come to a final conclusion that illuminates my primary research question. How has US imperialism coerced …

How The Media Frames Mental Health And Social Media: A Case Study Of The Facebook Whistleblower, Meghan Switzgable

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

The Orgasm Gap: What Role Does The Patriarchy Play In The Bedroom?, Merrimac Moran

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No abstract provided.

Comm-Entary, Spring 2021 - Full Issue

Comm-entary

No abstract provided.

Racial And Ethnic Differences In Health Insurance Coverage Among Workers In Texas, Trenton P. Overstreet

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of race and ethnicity on health insurance coverage for working age (18-61) adults in Texas. I focus on Texas for three reasons. First, Texas is the second largest state in the United States. Second, Texas is a majority-minority state where Hispanics are the largest ethnic group. Finally, Texas has not yet expanded Medicaid eligibility to individuals with family incomes under 138% of the federal poverty threshold. In this analysis, I use data from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) to the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is a …

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 21: Wallace & The Doorway To The Universe, Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

An important yet largely unrecognized theme in the thought of Alfred Russel Wallace (1823−1913) was his insistence that all dependably-reported phenomena, even those of aberrant nature, were worthy of a respectful kind of attention: that is, a kind which did not automatically banish difficult subjects to the realm of myth or superstition. In this work, Wallace’s philosophy in this direction is documented, and linked to the world of post-Age-of-Enlightenment revisionism.

The Role Of Emotion Dysregulation In The Relationship Between Anhedonia And Opioid Craving, Rachelle Kromash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research on factors that predict opioid cravings is lacking. Anhedonia may be a predictor of cravings and particularly relevant to cravings when people struggle to regulate emotions but has yet to be examined among justice-involved populations. This study aimed to examine the relationship between anhedonia, opioid cravings, and emotion dysregulation (ED) in this population. Participants completed several measures. The results showed that anhedonia and opioid cravings were significantly related at the bivariate level, but not in moderation models. The DERS-36 total score and ‘DERS Impulse’ subscale had a significant, positive effect on cravings in moderation models. In a higher severity …

Contributing Factors To Drug Abuse In The Appalachian Region, Will Holcombe

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Appalachian region faces wide scale drug use and opioid addiction that exceeds the national average, and the crisis needs more attention in order to properly address the epidemic. Many previous studies have documented the problems Appalachian residents face regarding opioid addiction and other diseases of despair. However, this study focuses on two specific contributing causes of the opioid crisis: a lack of access to medical care and over-prescription of opioids. Additionally, while the problems of substance abuse, particularly opioid abuse, are well represented in media accounts, there is an under-representation of drug recovery and the positive aspects of the …

Assessing Perceptions Of Disability Knowledge Of Campus Police At Inclusive Universities, Hannah Shultz

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to analyze the perception of knowledge of campus police on intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including autism, in inclusive college programs. A survey was sent to both campus police and representatives of 50 inclusive higher education programs across the United States. These questions involved perceptions of campus police knowledge, training, and the safety of students with I/DD.

College Students’ Perception Of Law Enforcement, Joseph Lyon

Undergraduate Honors Theses

There are many ways that people can form an opinion about law enforcement even if they have had a personal interaction with someone who works in the field. This idea has always been interesting as there needs to be some type of understanding when it comes to this certain viewpoint. There can be many factors that result in having a certain perspective on law enforcement in general like their background growing up, hearsay from close relatives, friends, and whatever they have seen up close in person. This study is going to aim at a specific area of how people view …

The Effects Of The Transition From Pre-Nursing To Nursing On Mental Health, Andrew J. Davis, Paige R. Mullins, Kimberly A. Sell

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mental health is an ever-growing crisis among adolescents and young adults, with suicide as second leading cause of death and the number of those negatively affected continually on the rise. Transitions are one of the major stressors prevalent among these age groups, placing individuals at risk for mental health deficits. This quantitative voluntary response comparative study assesses the transitional mental health of pre-nursing students and students in the nursing program at East Tennessee State University. Emailed to all with a declared major of pre-nursing or nursing, this study measured mental health using evidenced based assessment tools. The PHQ-9 for depression …

The Environmental And Nutritional Dilemma Of Beef Production And Consumption, Hannah A. Swilling, Stefano De Rosmini, Brooke Lovan

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Based on previous studies, it has been stated that beef production and consumption in the United States is detrimental to the environment. However, in depth studies analyzing the change of beef production and consumption, the environmental impacts, the external costs, the lifestyle implications as well as the nutritional, the social and the cultural aspects of beef have not been conducted. The goal of this study is to analyze the multiple aspects of the dilemma over beef production and consumption. This was done through an analysis of beef production and consumption data over the past 60 years to determine how it …

Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault At The University Of Arkansas, Barrett Weidman

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This work was written to fulfill two main purposes. First, to help survivors of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) process their experience by compiling the toxicological, pharmacological, and distribution of the three most used date-rape drugs. Second, to gauge the knowledge and interest of University of Arkansas students regarding drug impairments, sexual assault education, and bystander intervention training. A survey was conducted for the latter and revealed that 91.6% of students believe the University’s existing sexual assault prevention education and bystander intervention training have room for improvement. Also, 37.1% of students who have received this education report that the programming does …

Free Convection Heat Transfer From Plates, Alexa Moreno

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this honors thesis is to create an experiment for the CHEG Lab I course. This report explains the motivation for creating this heat convection experiment, the results of performing the experiment, and provides recommendations for future work on this experiment. Multiple experiments were performed to assess materials and parameters to be investigated. It was determined that a 0.5” plate has smaller percent error and accommodates for the desired timeframe for a Lab I experiment compared to the first plate used (1.5” thickness). Recommendations for expanding on this project include adding experiments using vertical geometry for heat convection …

Quantification Of Slit-Like Pores Through Using Liquid Crystals As A Template, Dominique Savage

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this research is to manufacture a membrane with slit-like pores to achieve particle filtration. Slit-like pore membranes are preferred over conventional membranes with cylindrical pores since slit-like pores have two length scales that can be manipulated to better control cut off and flux through the membrane. This project focuses on manufacturing slit-like pore membranes through the use of two liquid crystals, 1,4-bis[4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoyloxy]-2-methylbenzene (RM257) and 4-Cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl (5CB). This method for making slit-like pores has not been widely investigated nor has the morphology of the membrane pores and mechanical properties of such a membrane been addressed. It was found …