Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Haunting Of Alejandra [Book Review], Amanda Boyer

Disability in LIS (DisLIS)

This review explores V. Castro’s The Haunting of Alejandra as a powerful portrayal of postpartum depression and generational trauma through the lens of horror and magical realism. Drawing on personal experience, the review highlights how the novel offers an unflinching look at the emotional weight of motherhood and the lasting impact of inherited pain.

Family-Based Health Promotion To The Early Phases Of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment: A Qualitative Review, Anna Van Asselt, Renee Gilbert, Hide Okuno, Ann M. Davis, Keith J. August, Carolyn R. Bates, Robert C. Gibler

Research Days

Introduction: Excessive weight gain during early phases of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) treatment elevates risk for long-term morbidities, late effects, and secondary cancers. Behavioral factors including physical inactivity and poor diet quality play a significant role in weight outcomes. Existing health behavior and obesity interventions do not address challenges that children and families face during cancer treatment. The current study qualitatively investigated caregiver, child, and multi-disciplinary expert perspectives on health behavior engagement and intervention content for the future adaptation of NOURISH-ALL.

Method: Caregivers (N=11) and youth with ALL (N=6) in the first year of treatment completed semi-structured interviews …

Using Neural Networks To Better Understand Static And Dynamic Components Of Facial Expression Recognition, Yi-Fan Li, Anne Bibiana Sereno

MODVIS Workshop

Facial expressions are crucial social information for human communication. In the real world, facial expressions are dynamic; however, much of existing research in facial expressions relies on static stimuli. This static approach may limit the ecological validity of our understanding of the emotional information on faces. Our study aims to investigate the dynamic and static information contained in different emotional categories of facial expressions (e.g., happy, sad). Four convolutional neural networks are introduced as models to be trained with a large-scale dynamic facial expression dataset (short videoclips of 16 frames of 7 different emotional categories) in four different ways: ordered …

Bilateral Symmetric 3d Reconstructor (Biased): A 3-Dimensional Object Re- Construction Model Demonstrating Human-Like Shape Constancy, Doreen Hii

MODVIS Workshop

No abstract provided.

Modeling Effects Of Edge Classification And Perceptual Organization On The Appearance Of Disk/Annulus Stimuli, Michael E. Rudd

MODVIS Workshop

In classical theories of sensory psychophysics, appearance matches conducted with simple stimuli consisting of disks surrounded by annuli were posited to probe low-level contrast mechanisms in the visual pathways that computed the approximate luminance ratio between the disk and annulus for the purpose of achieving lightness constancy (Wallach, 1948). Subsequent models have explained such matches on the basis of neural edge integration (Shapley & Reid, 1985; Rudd & Zemach, 2004). Here, I demonstrate that appearances matches made in the disk/annulus paradigm are influenced by at least two types of top-down effects involving edge classification and perceptual organization. I present a …

Toward Discussion Facilitation That Enacts Collective Care. A Response To “Teaching Dobbs Where Divisive Concepts And Abortion Are Restricted”, Jenni Conrad

Democracy & Education

For both teacher candidates and teacher educators, facilitating discussions of contested issues in hyper-polarized climates remains a heavy lift. This response to “Teaching Dobbs…” celebrates the successes apparent in Geller’s team’s work and identifies key features that supported it. While cautioning readers against adopting avatar rehearsals elsewhere, I distill four themes of planning and enactment that show clear promise for broad transference in teacher education. Drawing from research exploring the interfaces of justice-oriented, practice-based, and democratic social studies scholarship, I offer pedagogical and logistical considerations for other teacher educators and researchers engaged in this ambitious and necessary work to sustain …

Productive Discussion Across Political Differences: Understanding Students’ Experiences With Comfort And Discomfort Within Structured Discussions Of Public Policy Issues, Gregory E. Mcavoy, Paula Mcavoy, Rachel Waltz, Emily Grace

Democracy & Education

This study investigates the effectiveness of two pedagogical strategies—deliberation and debate—in fostering productive political discussions among high school students, with a focus on overcoming affective polarization. Paying attention to students’ comfort, engagement, and willingness to participate, this study employs a mixed-method approach using data from surveys, observations, and interviews with students participating in a civic immersion program in Washington, DC. Using deliberative theory and the concept of “productive classroom discussion across political differences,” the research explores the extent to how students perceive each strategy as productive, as well as their experiences of comfort and productive and unproductive discomfort. Additional attention …

Fixational Eye Movements Shake Up The Stationary View On Pattern Vision, Lynn Schmittwilken, Marianne Maertens

MODVIS Workshop

No abstract provided.

Community Engaged Research To Optimize Cancer Prevention Strategies: A Look At Amplifying Voices Within Community Based Organizations To Impact Cancer Outcome In Utah, Crystal Y. Lumpkins, Denise Elbert, April Barber-Law, Olamide Comfort Ogundare, Queenie Mckenzie Aydelott, Sandra Buabeng, Whitney Maxwell, Kim Kaphingst

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

Black Americans (BA) continue to experience cancer disparities nationally and regionally. Although only 2% of BA reside in the state of Utah, this population shoulders a larger cancer burden. Further, BA women have one of the highest incidence of breast cancer and also an increased risk for other cancers (e.g. colon). The cancer burden and changing demographics within the state warrant focus on these under-represented groups as those moving within the area are increasing. This project details Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) between the University of Utah, the Huntsman Cancer Institute and a community advisory board (CAB) who have collaborated on cancer …

Mutual Teaching, Learning, And Action In Community-Engaged Research, Polly Parkinson, Fawn Groves, Emma Mecham, Amy Wilson-Lopez

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

As USU’s Electrified Transportation Planning Team looked ahead to deploying technical pilot projects near Utah population centers, the team prioritized local community engagement for purposes of trust-building and dialogue. This poster highlights participatory community research designed to build from local knowledge, operate through local partnerships, refine responsive approaches, and disseminate results within the community. In continuing responsiveness, the team developed and disseminated a relevant workforce resource booklet and currently supports two local community organizations as they stand up a collaborative model of career training, coupled with childcare, to open low-barrier pathways into electrified transportation-related careers.

Planning And Facilitating Hybrid Meetings To Support Relationality During Coalition Building, Luettamae Lawrence, Maureen Boyle, Moira Ross

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

Hybrid events where communities are connected through both in person and online spaces have simultaneously grown in popularity and gotten a bad reputation. While hybrid events have been around for decades, they gained significant traction with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to increase accessibility for attendees to accommodate diverse needs. Although hybrid events can be beneficial to many, they are not simple to execute. With the increase in hybrid events has come frustration with the low quality interactions between in person and online attendees leading to isolation, technology challenges, and low productivity. We argue the positive affordances of hybrid …

Mourning And Melancholia In The Lord Of The Rings, Ali Mirzabayati

Journal of Tolkien Research

This paper analyzes how Denethor and Théoden respond differently to the deaths of their sons in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Initially consumed by grief, Théoden embraces hope with Gandalf's support, while Denethor descends into despair. Employing Freud's essay "Mourning and Melancholia" (1917), we examine how Théoden and Denethor illustrate differing reactions to mourning and melancholy in the face of loss. Recognizing developments in psychoanalytic theory, the paper moves beyond simple binaries to offer a nuanced exploration of grief and attachment in Tolkien's narrative.

Perceiving The Perceiver: “Viewing” Sauron Through The Gestalt Theory Of Perception, Cameron Bourquein

Journal of Tolkien Research

This paper uses Gestalt theory, the Gestalt laws of perception, and the reception theory of Wolfgang Iser to elucidate the character “Sauron” as he appears in The Lord of the Rings, The Rings of Power, and Tolkien’s wider legendarium. It argues firstly that Sauron’s high degree of indeterminacy and ambiguity suggests he can be read as a gestalt entity, one the reader creates by mentally constructing a whole from (seemingly) disparate parts. Building on the semiotics work of Nagy (2013), it argues that Sauron in The Lord of the Rings can be read as gestalt across the spatial, …

How The United States Has Failed To Enact Competitive And Stable Energy Policy Through Federalism, Matthew James Marcaccio

Washington Semester Program

This research focuses on the effects of energy policy in the United States. Because of the impacts of energy production and transmissions emissions, energy policy has become synonymous with climate policy. As such, there seems to be two schools of thought regarding energy policy. On the one hand, “green” energy policies have been endorsed for their potential to reduce carbon emissions and dependence on non-renewable resources. On the other, continuing to use legacy energy sources, namely fossil fuels, has been endorsed for its affordability and ease of use through existing infrastructure. At the federal level, green policies have been embraced …

Independent Vs. Signed Musicians: Does Thier Status Affect Their Success?, Zachary Vincent

Honors Projects in Mathematics and Economics

As technology has advanced and become more widely available, and as the public learns more about the recording industry and its workings, more musicians are choosing not to sign with record labels, becoming independent musicians. This now raises the question: does a musician’s status of independent or signed determine their level of success? It has been previously found that independent musicians have a more difficult time competing with signed musicians due to the resources provided by record labels and the way labels negotiate with large streaming platforms, giving signed labels more opportunities to be seen in the public eye, but …

Mental Health And Law: How Can Attorneys Improve Their Wellbeing?, Matthew P. Ruble

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Mental health is a concern for attorneys that affects elements such as well-being and performance. Poor mental health results in various risky behaviors such as substance abuse, depression, stress, vicarious trauma symptoms, and other issues. The legal profession requires tremendous commitment to the discipline’s work, and poor mental health prevents attorneys from achieving this outcome. Much research about the nature of mental health and law focuses on data prior to or during COVID-19. Literature is analyzed to provide a framework about the current knowledge of mental health in the legal profession. The literature discusses research studies about depression, secondary trauma, …

Life Cycle Assessment Of Co-Located Floating Solar And Offshore Wind, Danela Sadikaj, Meghann Smith

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Is combining floating solar and offshore wind platforms feasible for increasing energy capacity while displacing the environmental impacts that each of these systems has independently? In recent years offshore wind has become a very popular option to decarbonize the energy sector without overtaking valuable land. While floating solar is not a new technology, using solar in a marine environment is still in an experimental phase. This research proposes a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model of co-located solar technology within the proposed offshore wind farms near New Jersey’s coastline. While both technologies themselves are zero-emission while operating, they each require a …

Advancing Supply Chain Sustainability Through Circular Economy Principles, Adeyinka Adimula

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Explore how circular economy principles can significantly enhance supply chain sustainability by reducing waste, optimizing resource use, and improving both environmental and economic outcomes. By shifting from traditional linear models to circular systems, businesses across industries can redesign processes to extend product life cycles, foster resource efficiency, and create closed-loop supply chains.

History Internships In The Library: A Multiple Modules Model, Karen Glenn, Rebecca A. Wiederhold, Valerie Buck, Nicole Lewis, Katie Yeo

Faculty Publications

The BYU Library became aware of the history department’s need for internship opportunities that were on campus, paid, and relevant to historical research and potential employment opportunities. This presentation outlined how our library team developed internships to meet the needs of the history and family history majors, integrating into their larger, coordinated internship program. Students can select up to three modules to work on during their internship, giving them experience with multiple types of history related work done in libraries. We identified existing projects in our department to meet both the needs and interests of students in the history major …

Reducing Emissions And Increasing Resource Efficiency In Offshore Wind Turbines: Insight From Life Cycle Analysis, Jean Claire Pineda, Meghann Smith

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Globally, offshore wind (OSW) has been identified as a key technology for decarbonization. While OSW’s development timeline remains uncertain in the United States, New Jersey has set the ambitious goal of 11 GW by 2040. OSW produces zero carbon emissions; however, it relies heavily on resource-intensive materials like steel, rare earth elements, and copper, and manufacturing those materials have numerous environmental impacts, including carbon emissions. Supply chain disruptions—from COVID-19, rising material costs, and geopolitical challenges—add further complexity. Previous research modelled the environmental impacts of Atlantic Shores OSW South Project with an established domestic supply chain, producing 0.013kg CO2 per kWh. …

Lindenwood Digest, May 14, 2025, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

The Lindenwood Digest has been a digital employee newsletter since 2009.

Joy In Lifelong Learning: An Introduction To Planning For Learning Disabilities In Museum Education, Elaine L. Davis

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

For over a century, the role of museums as learning institutions has been considered alongside that of schools. However, special education practices are rarely adapted for museum education, requiring educators in museum contexts to undertake extra work to accommodate those with learning disabilities. This thesis used Qualitative Comparative Analysis and Textual Analysis to review pedagogical white papers and academic research on museum programs aimed at neurodivergent audiences. The findings were used to create a professional development guide for museum educators at a range of different types of museums.

Poverty Elimination Action Plan, University Of Nebraska At Omaha, City Of Omaha

Reports

This document fulfills the legislative requirements of LB 840, the Poverty Elimination Action Plan, aimed at reporting on Omaha efforts to eliminate poverty and developing a comprehensive strategy to eliminate poverty in Omaha, NE. It reviews research and policy interventions addressing poverty, incorporates community-driven and secondary data for a needs assessment, and offers actionable recommendations for poverty alleviation. The report also provides guidance on implementation, sustainability, and progress tracking. A brief conclusion at the end of this report is followed by appendices detailing supplementary data and analysis.

Trailblazing Woman Sailor Cole Brauer To Deliver Roger Williams University Commencement Address 4-9-2025, Jill Pais, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Generative Ai: Cultural Shift Towards The Machine, Barbara Gilman, Damon Willick

Honors Thesis

No abstract provided.

Making Sense Of All Your Data: Working With Statistics Across Systems, Tokunbo Adeshina, Silvia Cho

Publications and Research

The City University of New York (CUNY) relies on multiple resource sharing solutions to meet user information needs. How library users interact with resources and submit information requests helps shape library processes for interpreting statistics, ensuring that resource sharing services remain accessible, discoverable, and user friendly. With 21 library institution zones sharing collections and operating a robust inter-campus lending system within its consortium, ensuring uniformity in data reporting is essential. This session presents an overview of how we reconcile data from all our resource sharing programs to get a more accurate and descriptive picture of all our resource sharing activities. …

Complaints Against Police Officers, Allegation Dispositions, And Suspension Length In New York City, Nathan Michael Hunter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Extant literature on police officer misconduct has shown that it was possible to identify problem officers in a proactive manner. Yet serious misconduct incidents continued to occur that strain the relationship between the public and police, including the government serving both entities. The New York Police Department was the largest city police force in the United States, with approximately 33,475 full-time sworn officers, and in 2023, New York City (NYC) paid $298 million in settlements related to claims against police officers. Considering this, further research into police officer misconduct was warranted to fill a gap in the literature that can …

Successful Psychopathy: Trait Expression, Construct Validity, And Career Differences Among Lawyers, Law Students, And Pre-Law Undergraduate Students, Jessica Rush

Student Theses

Psychopathy is a multidimensional personality construct traditionally studied in offender populations but increasingly recognized in high-functioning, nonclinical groups. This study examined the expression of psychopathic traits—Fearless Dominance, Self-Centered Impulsivity, and Coldheartedness—among legal professionals at various career stages, including pre-law students, law students, and practicing attorneys. Using the Psychopathic Personality Inventory–Revised (PPI-R) alongside validated measures of related constructs (e.g., narcissism, aggression, affect, behavioral activation/inhibition), the study assessed trait distribution, construct validity, and contextual influences in a sample of 82 participants. Results provided partial support for the PPI-R’s construct validity in this population. Total psychopathy and Self-Centered Impulsivity were positively associated with …

The Fundamentals To Reintroducing Fun At Work: A Collaborative Team Approach To Addressing Library Staff Dissatisfaction, Unhappiness, And Burnout, Chereeka Garner, Cynthia Dancel, Jason D. Phillips, Christopher Saclolo

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

"Having fun isn't hard when you've got a library card" (Arthur Read) but can be quite a challenge when you work at the library. Check out this session to discover ways an employee driven, administration supported library committee has worked to increase employee morale, build community among new and veteran library staff members, and provide off campus networking opportunities with minimal planning, building wide collaboration, and budget limitations.

Content That Connects: Enhancing The Social Media Practices Of Small Businesses To Promote Organizational Growth, Noelle Vacca

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The vast majority of businesses in the United States are classified as small businesses and are vital to the U.S. economy and culture. To remain competitive, they must utilize social media marketing effectively. This study analyzes the Instagram practices of small business districts and existing training programs to understand how small businesses are guided in enhancing their online presence. By identifying existing processes and gaps, the study establishes key opportunities for growth. Based on the findings, the study offers actionable and practical recommendations for small business owners, training programs, and business districts to strengthen social media effectiveness and support business …