Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Luminous Night Of The Soul: The Relationship Between Lucid Dreaming And Spirituality, Tadas Stumbrys

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Lucid dreams, in which the dreamers are aware that they are dreaming, can be a source of spiritual and mystical experiences. This empirical study aimed to explore the relationship between lucid dreaming and spirituality, taking into account the role of mystical lucid dream experience, in an online sample of 471 respondents, 95% of whom had lucid dream experience and 65% were frequent lucid dreamers. The findings support the relationship between lucid dreaming and spirituality: spiritual transcendence was positively associated with both lucid dream frequency and mystical lucid dream experiences. Thus having recurrent lucid dreams and mystical experiences in them may …

Well-Being In Metropolitan Nebraska: 2021 Nebraska Metro Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyer, Steven A. Schulz

Nebraska Rural Poll

Most metropolitan Nebraskans believe they are better off than they were five years ago, are better off compared to their parents when they were their age and will be better off ten years from now. However, certain groups are more likely to be optimistic about their current situation and their expected future. Persons with higher household incomes are more likely than persons with lower incomes to think they are better off compared to five years ago, are better off compared to their parents when they were their age and will be better off ten years from now. And, persons with …

The Politics Of Women's Presence On High Courts: Bias And The Conditional Nature Of Cultivating Legitimacy, Christopher Shortell, Melody E. Valdini

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

While we know that women's presence in the legislature positively impacts how citizens view the institution, little is known about the impact of women's presence on the legitimacy of high courts. We argue that despite differences in public expectations for courts, women's presence on the high court does impact citizen perceptions of legitimacy. However, this effect is dependent on both the level and the type of bias held by citizens. That is, when a person feels hostile bias toward women, the bias disrupts the potential legitimacy that the court could gain. On the other hand, we argue that benevolent sexism …

Going Berserk, Running Amok, And The Extraordinary Capabilities And Invulnerability Of Battle Trance, Jenny Wade

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Battle trance, which evolved from instinctive defensive and offensive behaviors for close combat, involves socially transgressive processes like becoming-intense and becoming-animal that produce non-ordinary psychophysical states useful in fighting. Berserkergang (going berserk) is one of the best attested types of battle trance and the latest in a long history of Indo-European ecstatic warrior cults, but the state has been identified cross-culturally in consecrated holy amok warriors and in juramentado. Colonial interpretations for centuries have tended to denigrate such fighting styles, even though they involve discipline, spiritual dedication, and altruistic self-sacrifice, especially by falsely attributing such states to intoxication or insanity. …

Going Vegan Or Vegetarian: Motivations & Influences, Faunalytics, Jo Anderson, Marina Milyavskaya

Diet

After studying hundreds of U.S. and Canadian consumers during their transition to vegetarianism or veganism (collectively referred to as veg*nism), a new report from research organization Faunalytics found that 42% of people’s veg*n journeys were motivated by health, 20% by animal protection, and 18% by environmental concern. For animal advocates interested in helping new vegans and vegetarians maintain their change of lifestyle, study results suggest a focus on self-driven motivations (like personal values or moral identity) and experiences with animal advocacy.

Risk Perception And Response Among International Students Of The University Of Southern Mississippi, Elida Lopes Souza Rocha

Master's Theses

Given the exposure of university campuses to hazards, disaster mitigation is a critical element of higher education policy. Although U.S. higher education institutions are leaders in the global education market, emergency warning systems give little consideration to how international students perceive risk, prepare for hazards, or access warning technologies available to them. This poses several questions regarding the suitability of hazards mitigation practices and the welfare of international students.

This thesis investigates the relationship between USM international students and natural hazards. Responses from online surveys and semi-structured interviews data were analyzed through qualitative and quantitative methods to document the extent …

Early Protein Intake Predicts Functional Connectivity And Neurocognition In Preterm Born Children, Emma G. Duerden, Benjamin Thompson, Tanya Poppe, Jane Alsweiler, Greg Gamble, Yannan Jiang, Myra Leung, Anna C. Tottman, Trecia Wouldes, Steven P. Miller, Jane E. Harding, Jane M. Alsweiler, Janene B. Biggs, Coila Bevan, Joanna M. Black, Frank H. Bloomfield, Kelly Fredell, Greg D. Gamble, Jane E. Harding, Sabine Huth, Yannan Jiang, Christine Kevan, Myra Leung, Geraint Phillips, Tanya Poppe, Jennifer A. Rogers, Heather Stewart, Benjamin S. Thompson

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

© 2021, The Author(s). Nutritional intake can promote early neonatal brain development in very preterm born neonates (< 32 weeks’ gestation). In a group of 7-year-old very preterm born children followed since birth, we examined whether early nutrient intake in the first weeks of life would be associated with long-term brain function and neurocognitive skills at school age. Children underwent resting-state functional MRI (fMRI), intelligence testing (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 5th Ed) and visual-motor processing (Beery-Buktenica, 5th Ed) at 7 years. Relationships were assessed between neonatal macronutrient intakes, functional connectivity strength between thalamic and default mode networks (DMN), and neuro-cognitive function using multivariable regression. Greater functional connectivity strength between thalamic networks and DMN was associated with greater intake of protein in the first week (β = 0.17; 95% CI 0.11, 0.23, p < 0.001) but lower intakes of fat (β = − 0.06; 95% CI − 0.09, − 0.02, p = 0.001) and carbohydrates (β = − 0.03; 95% CI − 0.04, − 0.01, p = 0.003). Connectivity strength was also associated with protein intake during the first month (β = 0.22; 95% CI 0.06, 0.37, p = 0.006). Importantly, greater thalamic-DMN connectivity strength was associated with higher processing speed indices (β = 26.9; 95% CI 4.21, 49.49, p = 0.02) and visual processing scores (β = 9.03; 95% CI 2.27, 15.79, p = 0.009). Optimizing early protein intake may contribute to promoting long-term brain health in preterm-born children.

Deaf Catholic Newsletter, Advent-Christmas 2021

Deaf Catholic Newsletter

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Philapelphia, PA

Deaf Catholic Newsletter Finding Aid

Black Narratives Zine, Mariana Aboumrad, Elisa Jiménez Calisti, Vanessa Keeley

Student Zines

The articles will analyze different dimensions about thecultural, social and economic policies that revolvearound the American Black community.

It will shed light on the obstacles African Americans must face in a society builtupon systemic racism, consciously or unconsciously determined to not allow them to forget their Blackness.

The line between black and white yet stark in a minority Anglo society. First, we will examine the recent phenomenon of Black Excellence, where the case of John Lewis will be presented followed by an analysis on the 'hunch' of Black exceptionalism.

Second, it will examine the three dimensions no person can escape …

Ua45/6 Commencement Program, Wku Registrar

WKU Administration Documents

Commencement program for fall 2021.

Robo-Ump: A Study Of The Prospective Impact Of Automated Strike Zone Use In Major League Baseball Games From The Perspective Of Broadcasters And Media, Bob Greene

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Theses

A qualitative analysis of the Major League Baseball industry’s perspective on the use of technology within the game, specifically the incorporation of an automated strike zone in place of traditional umpires, through targeted survey results from current MLB broadcasters and journalists or media members. Evidence from the research suggests that though those who are in favor of umpires being replaced by technology within the game, at least in some fashion, there are concerns that the technology in place is currently ready to provide the type of experience desired for MLB play when it comes ruling on balls and strikes with …

Studies Of Avian Nasal Mites (Acari: Rhinonyssidae And Ereynetidae) And Their Interaction With The Brood Parasite Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus Ater: Icteridae) And Phylogenetic Inferences Of The Genus Ptilonyssus (Rhinonyssidae) On Different Passerine Hosts Associated To Three States In The Us, Alexis D. Hilario Perez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nasal mites are endoparasites that spend their entire life cycle inside the nasal cavities and respiratory passages of birds. The Brown-Headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) (BHCO) is an icterid bird that uses brood parasitism as a reproductive strategy in which it lays an egg in the nest of a different bird species and allows the host to raise its young. Interestingly, nasal mites reported from cowbirds represent the same species found infesting other icterids and other common host groups. In the first study, I examined how diversity and host prevalence might change in a large sample size of BHCO associated with …

Retrospective Analysis Of Impacts Of Highway Bypass And Widening Projects, Sanjeev Bhurtyal

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Community members often worry that highway projects may have negative impacts on their local economies. This is typical for highway bypass and widening projects in small cities (population less than 50,000). It is a challenge for planners to balance public concerns of economic decline with desired project outcomes of mobility and safety. Much of this challenge stems from a lack of information on post-project outcomes related to economic and safety impacts of new construction projects. Thus, there is a need for an evidence-based framework to help planners with the decision-making process and better inform the community on potential outcomes. This …

Investigating Depth Estimation To Archaeological Magnetic Source Bodies, Jeremy G. Menzer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Magnetometry is the most widely applied archaeo-geophysical technique. Current practice standards employ the technique to map only in a two-dimensional plan view fashion, but in deep geologic studies depth estimators are routinely applied to magnetic datasets. These estimators provide three-dimensional information to magnetic source-bodies. There are many different depth estimators employed in geologic study that all require various degrees of processing complexity. This study investigates two mathematically simple techniques, half-width rules and multi-height methods. Half-width rules are likely the oldest depth estimators within the field while multi-height techniques are but a minor footnote in the literature. The applicability of these …

Community Perceptions And Aesthetic Valuation Of Remediation Gardens, Rachel Bechtold

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Creating successfully remediated landscapes may rely on both natural resources and human perception in landscape design. Urban areas present a dynamic environment wherein communities and nature compete for resources and space. This dissertation study was designed to better understand aesthetic perceptions of native plants capable of land remediation in midwestern communities. Findings from this study show the importance of aesthetic perceptions of stakeholders towards rehabilitated landscapes and the importance of organizing indicators for future design decisions in an interdisciplinary fashion. Recommendations include continued evaluation of aesthetic perceptions for plant species in urban landscapes and modeling a more consistent framework for …

Factors Influencing The Usage Of Shared E-Scooters : A Case Study Of Chicago, Farzana Mehzabin Tuli

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rapid popularity growth of shared e-scooters creates the necessity of understanding the determinants of shared e-scooter usage. This thesis estimates the impacts of temporal variables (weather data, weekday/weekend, and gasoline prices) and time-invariant variables (socio-demographic, built environment, and neighborhood characteristics) on the shared e-scooter demand by using four months (June 2019- October 2019) period of data from the shared e-scooter pilot program in Chicago. The study employs a random-effects negative binomial (RENB) model that effectively models shared e-scooter trip origin and destination count data with over-dispersion while capturing serial autocorrelation in the data. Results of temporal variables indicate that …

Supporting Online Doctoral Student Socialization Through Talk About Writing: A Case Study Of The Short Life Of A Graduate Writing Center, Maureen J. Barney

Faculty & Staff Publications

This dissertation project was a qualitative case study of one writing center for online graduate students, the Graduate Writing Center at Concordia University–Portland. This study focused on synchronous interactions between peer writing consultants and online doctoral students to determine if the synchronous writing support sessions were a space where online doctoral students experienced affective support and socialization experiences. In this research, I analyzed four document sets: seven transcripts of synchronous sessions conducted via Zoom, interviews with three writing consultants and six online doctoral students, anonymous responses to appointment feedback surveys, and my fieldnotes.

Maternal Self-Care Beliefs In Relation To Emotion Regulation Difficulties And Coping Skills, Chloe Poole

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This project is part of a community-based intervention research project in rural Appalachia called Mom Power. Mom Power is a trauma-informed parenting intervention developed to improve mental health and parenting among high-risk mothers with young children. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between maternal self-care beliefs, and maternal emotion regulation and coping skills. It was hypothesized that self-care beliefs would be negatively associated with emotion regulation difficulties and positively associated with coping skills. To date, 53 mothers oversampled for psychosocial stressors (e.g., low income, mental health difficulties, trauma histories) have completed self-report questionnaires on self-care, emotion …

Growth Likely In A Time Of Uncertainty, Eric Thompson

Business in Nebraska

The United States economy continues to recover from the recession which occurred during March and April of 2020. Demand has been strong for both goods and services. At the same time, supply constraints are a concern in the economy, contributing to both higher prices and in some cases lost production within industries. Supply constraints are evident in both inputs (supplies) and labor. Labor force growth has been anemic in the last two years given slow population growth and a roughly 2 percent decline in the labor force participation rate. Looking forward, the baseline outlook is for the U.S. economic recovery …

(R1523) Abundant Natural Resources, Ethnic Diversity And Inclusive Growth In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Mathematical Approach, Juliet I. Adenuga, Kazeem B. Ajide, Anthonia T. Odeleye, Abayomi A. Ayoade

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

The sub-Saharan African region is blessed with abundant natural resources and diverse ethnic groups, yet the region is dominated by the largest number of poor people worldwide due to inequitable distribution of national income. Existing statistics forecast decay in the quality of lives over the years compared to the continent of Asia that shares similar history with the region. In this paper, a-five dimensional first-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations was formulated to give insight into various factors that shaped dynamics of inclusive growth in sub-Saharan Africa. The validity test was performed based on ample mathematical theorems and the model was …

Paso Del Norte Economic Indicator Review, December, Hunt Institute For Global Competitiveness

Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Examining The Current Role Of Out-Of-State Buyers In The Tri-Cities Within The Confines Of Residential Real Estate, Paul Arrowood

Undergraduate Honors Theses

We are seeing an influx of out-of-state buyers into Tennessee, and the Tri-Cities area specifically. As a major emerging housing market in the US, the Tri-Cities is being inundated by people from all states and walks of life seeking a better life in Appalachia. Although the reasons vary by person, many agree that political alignment, taxation levels, and the quietness of this area lends itself to population growth. While most members of the housing industry have noticed this uptick in out-of-state buyers, few have taken the time to analyze their own records or review the empirical evidence that is present …

Black And Bold Zine, Ramsey Bennani, Mariela Mariano, Britaney Mckinney, Natalia Muro

Student Zines

Two years into the pandemic caused by COVID-19, an unprecedented health crisis that has caught us al l off guard, we look back at how the world has changed since then and in what direction we are moving now.

The purpose of our magazine in the fol lowing pages is to delve into the social, political and economic dimensions of the coronavirus crisis, with special emphasis on the effects this devastating pandemic has had on the African-American community in the United States.

The future will depend on how we react to this event. Solidarity, leadership and generosity as an effective …

Social Media Politics Zine, Emma Beach, Mahagani Campbell, Nate Crystal, Brianna Sanchez

Student Zines

This magazine forefronts the intersection of social media, politics and race. Over the course of you reading this magazine you will learn about the different aspects of these intersections and as well as some people who are worth checking out. If you want to know about different Black owned businesses, people who are involved in promoting different issues such as the climate crisis, BLM, indigenous rights, reproductive justice and more, this magazine will help inform you. Be on the lookout for some creator spotlights and advertisements. We hope you enjoy the magazine and learn something new.

Accessibility And The Implementation Of The Americans With Disabilities Act In Small And Medium-Sized Municipalities In The Dallas/Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, John C. Powers

Public Affairs Dissertations - Archive

People with disabilities face daily physical challenges posed by inaccessible buildings and unsafe sidewalks or public parks. These barriers prevent millions of people from enjoying resources provided by municipalities across the countries, such as public parks, libraries, and community centers. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, later amended in 2008, was designed to guide municipalities in the removal of those barriers to offer a more inclusive living environment for people with disabilities. Title II of the ADA requires municipalities to ensure that their sidewalks, public parks, and public buildings are accessible. Additionally, public programs such as city council …

From Support To Solidarity: Recognizing The Nonhierarchical Mentoring Environment Within, Bridgette Flamenco, Wendy Lee Spaček, Erin A. Sulla

Library Scholarship

The 2021 Washington Library Association (WLA) Conference’s shift from in-person to virtual was a decision that felt appropriate and not at all surprising, given the uncertainty surrounding large in-person events due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We, a group of three early-career librarians at Central Washington University (CWU), had been eager to set off on a mini road trip together to bond, gain insight into the field of librarianship, and network with our peers at other institutions. When the conference changed to a virtual format, we decided to make a collaborative document to share our notes on the conference sessions, …

Pets And Problems: Exploring Community Patterns In Calls For Animal Services, Paige Dejarnett

Sociology and Criminology Undergraduate Honors Theses

Pets have historically been viewed as family members, children, property, or economic resources. However, research surrounding animal maltreatment has expressed this issue as an individually-based problem, rather than a community-based phenomenon. Correlations have been found between animal cruelty, antisocial behaviors, and future interpersonal violence, whether this correlation be a predictive relationship, or a resultant relationship. Past research has also found correlations between animal treatment practices and the rural/urban differences of this behavior. However, there are many community-based indicators that have not been explored to understand the distribution of animal maltreatment. This study aims to explore these ideas by analyzing the …

Carrying Accessibility Forward, Katie Quirin Manwiller

University Libraries Faculty Publications

Recording, presentation slides, script, and follow-up questions of the December 1, 2021, ACRL Distance and Online Learning Section Instruction Committee: Carrying Accessibility Forward with speaker, Katie Quirin Manwiller. This past year certainly cast a spotlight on the importance of accessibility in online teaching and learning. Accessibility, however, is more than best practice checklists, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), or legalities. In this forum, Katie Quirin Manwiller, Education Librarian and Assistant Professor at West Chester University, shares her knowledge of disability and accessibility, addressing what the future could hold for universal design for learning (UDL) and practical ways to implement UDL …

How Name, Image And Likeness “Fit” In Sport Partnerships, Lane Wakefield, Kirk Wakefield, Jonathan A. Jensen, Greg Bennett

Journal of Applied Sport Management

Sponsorship opportunities in college athletics have shifted dramatically as athletes have rights to name, image and likeness (NIL). NIL assets, once illegal for college athletes, are prime avenues for brands to reach college sports fans, the largest and most avid sports fan base in the US (Dosh, 2021). Our purpose is to evaluate how these changes “fit” into the overall sponsorship landscape and what will come next. With the impact on brands, properties and consumers over time, we narrow our discussion around “fit,” the most prevalent factor in academic sponsorship research (Wakefield et al., 2020)

Show Me The Money! A Review Of Current Issues In The New Nil Era, Windy Dees, Beth Cianfrone, Damon Andrew

Journal of Applied Sport Management

On July 1^st, 2021, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) approved an interim policy that would allow college athletes in every state to monetize their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This meant student-athletes could accept money for sponsorships and endorsements and maintain their eligibility, which was previously prohibited by the intercollegiate sports governing body (The Athletic Staff, 2021). The change is positive for student-athletes and the brands looking to market through them and their active social media platforms, but it does not come without issues or challenges. The purpose of this study is to, (a) review the theory …