6834 research outputs found
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Loving the bomb : the nuclear situation examined.
No full textMy thesis explores the modern geopolitical landscape in light of the reality of nuclear weapons and Mutually Assured Destruction. Nuclear weapons have, so far, led to notable peace in the world with their possession by the great powers of the world, who wield them responsibly. However, they are also meaningful deterrents and status symbols that any would-be great power will seek to acquire if and when they find themselves on the rise, jostling the fragile world order. This is called nuclear proliferation, and the thesis considers carefully the implications of this proliferation. My thesis explores this fundamental incongruity within the reality of nuclear weapons: while they create and maintain peace between great powers, they can become ticking time bombs when the geopolitical climate grows restless. Ultimately, I conclude that there is no good solution, and that the best the world can hope for is that the careful protocols and behavioral norms of the nuclear states of the 20th century will continue to be followed
Psychological perspectives of juvenile delinquency.
No full textJuvenile delinquency is a multifaceted issue influenced by psychological, social, and environmental factors. This paper explores the intersection of psychological theories, psychopathology, and social theories in understanding juvenile delinquent behavior. Psychological theories such as moral development theory, behavioral theory, and psychodynamic perspectives provide insight into individual-level risk factors, including cognition, moral disengagement, and early childhood trauma. Additionally, the role of psychopathology, including conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and antisocial tendencies, is examined as a contributing factor to delinquent behavior. From a sociological perspective, theories such as social learning theory, strain theory, and labeling theory highlight the impact of peer influence, socioeconomic status, and systemic biases in shaping delinquent pathways. This paper argues that an integrated approach that combines psychological and social frameworks is essential for effective intervention and prevention strategies. By addressing both individual and environmental factors, a more comprehensive understanding of juvenile delinquency emerges, paving the way for policies and programs that promote rehabilitation
How Kwame Nkrumah’s presidency and deposition affected foreign aid in Cold War Ghana.
No full textAs Ghana became the first European colony in sub -Saharan Africa to achieve independence under its leader, Kwame Nkrumah, it was thrust into the world of Cold War politics. Kwame Nkrumah's political career led him to pursue policies centered around Socialism, Non-Alignment, and cooperation between African nations. Receiving aid from both the United States and Soviet Union, he sought to modernize Ghana's economy. After being deposed during a coup, believed by many to be influenced by the CIA, Ghana went under new leadership. This thesis argues that, despite the removal of a legitimate President of an independent nation in order to sway Soviet influence, Soviet interactions with Ghana did not significantly decrease
Biochemical interactions and pharmacodynamic effects of intravenous anesthetic agents in cannabis users.
No full textPain is a universal experience that plays a critical role in human survival and perception. Throughout history, civilizations have discovered ways to manage pain -anesthesia. For centuries, people used herbs and other natural remedies to help manage pain; however, in 1799, Sir Humphrey Davy discovered an inhaled remedy, nitrous oxide, thus transforming the field of anesthesia. In the 19th century, several drugs were created, most notably propofol, ketamine, and fentanyl, which became core pharmaceuticals for the maintenance and induction of anesthesia for surgery. Propofol and ketamine are GABAA inhibitors, while fentanyl primarily affects opioid receptors. In the late 20th century, marijuana rose in popularity and quickly became the most used illicit drug in the United States. Marijuana as of 2025 is legalized for recreational use in 24 states including Washington, D.C and medicinal use in 34 states. With its use being more prevalent in society, it is important to understand how its active components, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), interfere with anesthesia. Marijuana, propofol, ketamine, and fentanyl are metabolized through the same class of CYP-P450 enzymes in the liver. Propofol, THC, and CBD are metabolized by the same enzyme, CYP3A4, thus frequent cannabis users often require higher dosages of Propofol when undergoing surgery, which can increase surgical risk. As cannabis continues to be legalized, it is crucial for healthcare professions to remain vigilant in understanding cannabis9 interaction within the body
Humanity in Darwin's world : evolution and human nature in Victorian literature.
No full textEvolutionary theory, and particularly Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, largely transformed and shaped Victorian culture. This new conception of biological life was used by many to overturn religious authority in matters of knowledge and morality. In the wake of evolutionary theory, many viewed humans as placed among other species as equals, rather than being uniquely designed and endowed with the Image of God. Fiction became a space where this view of humankind was tested to see the implications of this new place in nature. This thesis explores the implications of evolution on human nature in Victorian literature through the close reading of two novels. Erewhon by Samuel Butler and The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells present human nature as both animal-like and machine-like, being formed by nature and pursuing the purpose of survival and domination. Both authors depict humanity as subject to evolution and therefore fully understandable and material, leaving morality to be defined by themselves
Ancient notions with new manifestations : a historical and scientific analysis regarding the societal acceptance of birth control.
No full textOne dilemma that women in our 21st century society face can be summed up with the following set of questions: what is birth control, why is everyone using it, and should I use it? This thesis stems not only in determining the physical application of these questions to any woman's life, but also in searching for the origins of the desire to separate reproduction from sexual intercourse. Throughout the pages of this project, we will delve into the history of birth control and the evolution of how attitudes towards contraception have changed over time, as well as an analysis of the physiological process of hormonal birth control and its impact on the female body. We will see how the pagan idea of marriage and motherhood influenced the Early Christian Church; this is necessary to understand the true evolution of birth control under the influence of Christianity. Following, we will understand how the Catholic Church establishes its strict condemnation of contraception and how other nonreligious figures prescribed remedies for preventing conception. The discussion around Margaret Sanger follows, specifically in her influence on the development of hormonal contraception and the new ideas around voluntary motherhood. In a practical sense, we will see how hormonal contraception, also known as 'the pill', affects a woman's typical menstrual cycle and the side effects, some not as commonly known, of this prescription. We will spend all this time in order to understand the path to societal acceptance of birth control and whether the modern reader should be convinced of this popularity: this project is structured to ultimately answer this question with a ‘no.
Black male college students' eudaimonic well-being : a qualitative single-case study exploring self-determination for mindfulness practices.
No full textStudies on mindfulness and eudaimonic well-being's impact on Black male college student success are limited, with much of the current literature on this demographic primarily focusing on its challenges and deficits. Research supports mindfulness as beneficial for Black Americans, rendering it an appropriate approach for Black male college student success initiatives (Watson-Singleton et al., 2019). This research underscores the necessity for a shift towards asset-based approaches to better support the eudaimonic well-being of Black male college students. Alarmingly, studies indicate that without a significant decrease in attrition rates, Black male college students face extinction by the year 2070 (Cross & Slater, 2000). The urgency to address this deficit emphasizes the importance of exploring factors that contribute to the well-being and success of Black male college students. The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of Black male college students' mindfulness and eudaimonic well-being to support their student success. The research design in this study, grounded in Deci and Ryan's (1980) Self-determination (SDT) theory and a transformative worldview, created a framework for the exploration of the ways mindfulness practices influence the eudaimonic well-being of Black male college students. The data revealed that the participants achieved their goals by self-regulating through the tenets of SDT. The participants' perceptions displayed a spectrum of positive interpretations of how they practice and view mindfulness as a reflection of their success. The findings show that Black male college students have favorable perceptions of self-determination through mindfulness practices and offered critical insights, informing the development of targeted interventions to support these students' academic and personal success. Additional insights expand the understanding of mindfulness among Black males and offer practical, replicable implications for stakeholders in higher education and wellness landscapes of practice. The findings emphasize the need for tailored interventions and support systems to uplift Black male college students in their academic journeys toward student success
Examining the effect of motivational intervention on reading expectancies for success and task values of rural high school students : a quantitative study.
No full textAs a result of digital displacement, adolescent recreational reading is declining (Twenge et al., 2019). According to a recent Pew survey, 96% of teen respondents reported daily online engagement, and close to 50% described that engagement as almost constant (Faverio & Sidoti, 2024). Meanwhile, survey data also indicates that fewer than 25% of teens read for pleasure on a regular basis, much less daily (Institute of Education Sciences, n.d.; National Literacy Trust, 2024). The simultaneous rise in teenage digital consumption and pleasure reading rejection has negative implications for a range of outcomes. Reading habits impact cognitive development (Li et al., 2023; Sun et al., 2023), social-emotional growth (Jiménez-Pérez et al., 2023; van der Kleij et al., 2022), academic achievement (Institute of Education Sciences, n.d.; National Literacy Trust, 2024; OECD, 2023), and social mobility (Reardon et al., 2012; Sullivan & Brown, 2013).
This quantitative study examined changes in recreational reading motivation among honors-level English I students at a rural Central Texas public high school after an expectancy-value intervention. I used the Adolescent Motivation to Read Profile (AMRP) survey to obtain pre- and post-test measures of participants’ recreational reading expectancies for success and task values. The outcomes of dependent samples t-tests comparing pre- and post-test values on the AMRP scale and subscales were not statistically significant and showed small or minimal effect sizes. Therefore, there was not a statistically significant difference in 9th grade, honors-level English students’ expectancy-value motivations for recreational reading.
The results of this study, in conjunction with reading motivation research in general, hold implications for secondary English language arts and reading teachers, as well as parents of adolescents. First, there is a need for refined teaching practices around independent reading. These refinements include explicit reading expectations combined with increased choice support. Second, there is a need for increased parental involvement in building adolescent recreational reading habits
Understanding environmental influences on bioaccumulation of contaminants of emerging concern among fish species.
No full textBy 2050, ~ 70% of the global population will live in urban areas. Concurrently, chemical pollution presents risks to humans and the environment around the world, and chemical production exceeds interventions in many regions. Pharmaceuticals and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are two groups of chemicals receiving attention due to their presence in the environment and potential to negatively affect human and environmental health. These chemicals have physicochemical properties which make traditional tools for assessing bioaccumulation, like log KOW, difficult, as both groups can be ionized at environmentally relevant pHs. Therefore, I aim to better understand how the environment influences bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals and PFAS among fish species. First, I conducted a field study examining uptake of pharmaceuticals by rainbow trout in an urban river, influenced by snowmelt, during summer and fall seasons. I found pharmaceutical concentrations in fish corresponded to levels in surface water, but uptake kinetics for study pharmaceuticals did not differ among sites or seasons. These observations suggest inhalational exposure from water governed accumulation and uptake rate is independent of surface water concentrations. I then tested a human to fish biological read-across hypothesis for pharmaceutical disposition by examining tissue-specific accumulation in three understudied fish species, from an urban river. Pharmaceutical concentrations paralleled human disposition patterns, but differential accumulation was observed. This research supports prioritizing pharmaceuticals for future comparative bioaccumulation, biotransformation, and toxicology studies among potentially susceptible fish species. Next, I examined uptake of a mixture of PFAS by Pimephales promelas over 7 days, under laboratory conditions. I then identified significant relationships between different physicochemical properties and bioaccumulation, including the apparent volume of distribution, which shows promise for assessing PFAS bioaccumulation. Finally, I examined influences of pH and salinity on PFAS uptake and elimination by Pimephales promelas in 21-d bioaccumulation experiments, under laboratory conditions. I observed no influence of pH nor salinity on bioaccumulation, rapid uptake, and limited elimination of PFAS, highlighting needs to consider elimination in bioaccumulation studies, especially among fish species, to develop a comparative understanding of PFAS bioaccumulation. This dissertation integrated diverse approaches for assessing bioaccumulation of contaminants of emerging concern among fish species
"We are simply Filipinos" : gendered, sexual, and religious scripts in the making of the Philippine nation.
No full textIn 1898, the United States became a global empire and annexed the Philippine archipelago. To “prepare” Filipinos for eventual independence, American annexationists sought to engender among Filipinos specific scripts related to gender, sexuality, and religious practice. Central to these scripts was the notion that the patriarchal, heterosexual, nuclear family was key to the survival of the nation. Vices such as gambling, prostitution, and alcohol abuse also took on gendered dynamics as they posed a threat to this familial construct. Before annexation, Filipino revolutionaries were already exploring with notions of citizenship where the patriarchal, heterosexual family was foundational to the survival of the nation. Utilizing archival material left behind by Filipino revolutionaries and American Protestant missionaries, this project highlights that despite similarities between the gendered and sexual scripts they constructed, Filipino scripts remained irreconcilable to American missionaries because the latter were certain of their racial and religious superiority over the people of the Philippines