28653 research outputs found
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An analysis of female Division I student-athlete expenditures and athletic success
No full textThere is a prominent arms race that is occurring in the ever-changing intercollegiate athletics space. While athletic departments sponsor both men’s and women’s programs, female athletes are faced with many difficulties when it comes to achieving equality to their male counterparts in many areas such as scholarships, recruiting expenses, and head coaching salaries for their teams. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between three areas of female athletic expenditures and the likelihood of
earning Director’s Cup points. The study drew on the Critical Feminist Theory as a lens for examining why females are continually disadvantaged in college athletics. Findings suggested women’s athletic expenditures were impactful, particularly with regard to the sport of gymnastics and power conference affiliation and may lead to an increase in the odds of earning Director’s Cup points.M. S
App data for detecting changes to marine recreational fish assemblages andspecies distributions
No full textMonitoring how marine fish respond to dynamic oceanographic conditions is essential for understanding assemblage shifts and supporting sustainable fisheries management. Conventional survey methods offer valuable long-term data but often lack the spatial and temporal resolution to capture near real-time changes, particularly for non-commercial species. This study explores the potential of recreational fishing app data as a complementary source for monitoring spatial and temporal patterns in marine fish distributions along the U.S. Atlantic coast from 2015 to 2023. To assess assemblage-level responses, we calculated the mean temperature of the catch (MTC) within 100×100 km grid cells and tested correlations between MTC and oceanographic variables including sea surface temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll-a concentration. Results revealed spatial patterns in assemblages that reflected broad-scale environmental gradients, though temporal changes within individual cells were not strongly tied to oceanographic variability. In addition, we compared distributional shifts of three focal species between fishing app records and NOAA trawl surveys: Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata), and Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). These species trends were analyzed with center of gravity and both northern and southern range limits. While spatial patterns, particularly for center of gravity and northern range limits, were often consistent across data sources, app data showed broader southern extents and no significant temporal correlations with survey data. These findings highlight the potential for fishing app data to enhance fisheries monitoring by providing high-resolution, near real-time insights into fish distributions, while also acknowledging the limitations of non-random sampling and short time series. Overall, this work supports the integration of the use of app data into marine recreational fishing research and management frameworks.M. S
Biophilic design preferences to imporove the quality of life for older adults
No full textThis creative project explores the interior design of residential living spaces for older adults and presents a creative design solution that enhances the quality of life for older adults using biophilic design. There are many factors that can contribute to a lower quality of life for older adults: loneliness, depression, chronic disease, and the natural aging process all contribute to a lower quality of life. Biophilic design, which incorporates nature and natural elements into the built environment, contributes to positive health and well-being for humans and increases quality of life.
The problems and challenges that come with living alone, old age, chronic health conditions and the resulting lower quality of life for many older adults have led the researcher to explore how to improve the quality of life for older adults in Central Indiana. As this population is rapidly growing, this is a pertinent area of study. Given the positive effects that biophilic design has on the health and well-being of humans, particularly older adults, this research explores a specific implementation of this in a residential setting. This addresses a gap in the literature as most other studies involve institutional or healthcare settings.
This research employs a qualitative research method to gather data on the biophilic design preferences of older adults aged 55 and older in two senior apartments, one in Muncie and one in Indianapolis. A Qualtrics survey gathered demographic data and biophilic design preferences
through different rendered images of biophilic design applied in the home. Participants chose their preferred option for each space. The most preferred options are presented along with insights as to why older adults choose these options. This research shows how biophilic design can be seamlessly integrated into senior housing environments by revealing the biophilic design preferences of older adults in their living spaces.M. A
Role of microplastic composition and surface properties on molecular adsorption
No full textMicroplastics are a category of pollutants that are currently gaining attention due to their
emergence in various ecosystems. MPs have the potential to serve as a medium for the
transportation of organic contaminants in both terrestrial and marine environments. The surface of these microplastic exhibit varying functional groups and a diverse array of chemical composition. The main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of the aqueous/MPs interfacial environment in the adsorption behavior of organic contaminants. By employing the in situ second harmonic generation technique, we investigated the impact of MPs surface charge on the adsorption of charged and neutral organic dyes. We find that microplastics with varying surface functional groups such as styrene, carboxylate, aliphatic amine, and amidine, have different degrees of affinity for positively and negatively charged SHG dyes, as demonstrated by SHGbased adsorption isotherms. Additionally, we characterized the surface composition of pristine microplastics using infrared spectroscopy and determined their size and zetapotential via dynamic light scattering method. Results indicate that Coulombic interaction is the main driving force for the MPs and dye interaction. Furthermore, our temperature dependent studies of DASPI on polystyrene, polystyrene carboxylate, and polystyrene aliphatic amine, provide additional
thermodynamic parameters (Δ and Δ), with respect to the potential mechanisms of binding.M. S
Vertical farming and the skyscraper
No full textVertical Farming and the Skyscraper focuses on challenging both the future of
the skyscraper, and how vertical farming is its future. With hybrid work, and few
commuting. The traditional office building is being phased out. Looking ahead
there are many ways in which the skyscraper can be revitalized. An efficient
solution was to create a large-scale vertical farming and goods manufacturing
program.
The place chosen to house such an immense skyscraper was Detroit Michigan.
Given its industrious past, size, and potential for revitalization. Detroit provides
positive potential for such an industry to be successful.
Vertical farming on a large scale has many benefits. It brings in new industry
which will create new jobs, it has the potential to grow all manner of crops,
therefore eliminating large imports, and it will eliminate food deserts within
the city. In addition, the skyscraper then becomes a beacon of industry and
trade. With the use of drones, automation, and Detroit’s light rail system,
the skyscraper will become self-sufficient. In the end this project’s success
becomes a springboard for cities around the world to take advantage of and
benefit from.Thesis (B. Arch.)College of Architecture and Plannin
Modified care: the impact of parasocial interaction on adherence intentions and knowledge acquisition in unguided digital interventions for socially anxious individuals
No full textSocial Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a prevalent and impairing condition, yet many individuals forego treatment due to stigma, financial barriers, and fear of negative evaluation. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) provides an accessible alternative, but unguided programs suffer from high attrition rates. This study examines whether incorporating parasocial interaction (PSI)-inducing videos into an ICBT framework improves treatment engagement and knowledge acquisition. Participants (N = 254) were randomly assigned to view either a PSI-inducing or a non-PSI-inducing psychoeducational video. The study hypothesized that PSI-inducing videos would increase self-reported intent to pursue online and in-person therapy and enhance declarative knowledge retention. Results indicated that PSI scores predicted higher intent to engage in online therapy (p = .013) but were negatively associated with knowledge gain (p = .004). The PSI-inducing video manipulation was successful (p = .040), yet no significant differences emerged for treatment adherence or knowledge retention based on video type. Additionally, social anxiety was negatively correlated with PSI scores (p < .001), challenging the parasocial compensation hypothesis. Findings suggest that while PSI can enhance engagement, its effects on face-to-face treatment adherence and learning may be limited. Future research
should explore sustained PSI exposure and its integration with other engagement strategies in digital therapy.M. A.M. S
The perception of paternal vocational behaviors by Mexican college students
No full textThe purpose of this study is to examine how Mexican college students perceive their paternal
figures’ vocational behaviors. Research on family of origin, parenting style/perceived parental
vocational behavior, parental vocational influence, and SCCT, along with research on Mexican
cultural values, provide a theoretical framework to investigate paternal influence on Mexican
college students. One hundred seventy-eight participants met the criteria to be administered three
measures via a Qualtrics survey. The participants were administered the Mexican American
Cultural Values Scale (MACVS), Parental Career-Related Behaviors (PCB) scale, and a
demographics questionnaire. Chis-square, point-biserial correlations, and hierarchical multiple
regression modeling were implemented to test the study’s four hypotheses. The current research
supports paternal figures who rigidly adhere to traditional Mexican values can be perceived as
more authoritarian and those who adhere to some but not all values as supportive. Moreover,
when individual scales of the instruments were taken into consideration, a blended model of
American and Mexican values emerged to explain Mexican college students’ perceived
supportive and interferential paternal behaviors.Ph. D
Essays for concert band
No full textEssays for Concert Band is an original three-movement composition for wind ensemble
that engages with underutilized parameters in wind literature through targeted compositional
experimentation. Each movement functions as a self-contained “essay” that explores specific
musical techniques drawn from diverse musical traditions and composers, including African bell
patterns, rondo form, call and response, data sonification, Joan Tower, John Luther Adams, Igor
Stravinsky, and Paul Hindemith. My project seeks to address gaps in the wind ensemble repertoire by incorporating
constantly changing meter, asymmetric meters, and flexibility in performing movements
separately or together. The composition is written at a Grade 5 difficulty level and is intended for
performance by advanced high school or collegiate wind ensembles.
The accompanying lecture explains the compositional process, formal design, and
aesthetic considerations that shaped my work. Movement I employs a double rondo structure
where each refrain is transformed throughout the movement while integrating African bell
patterns. Movement II sonifies a historical timeline of ancient Middle Eastern kingdoms, using a
“single complex sonority” influenced by John Luther Adams. Movement III explores motivic
fragmentation and transformation, drawing from twentieth-century contrapuntal and harmonic
practices. The lecture concludes with reflections on my compositional growth and future directions,
particularly in the continued exploration of timeline-based structures, asymmetric meter, and
African Bell Patterns. By combining rigorous analysis with an artistically unified body of work,
my dissertation contributes to the ongoing discourse on the evolution and expansion of wind
literature.D. A
Sexual violence prevention program for college women in India
No full textAccess to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only.Asian Indian women, especially on college campuses, are at heightened risk of experiencing
sexual violence. Research-driven interventions are essential to promote social justice and foster
safer college environments for these women. To address this need, the researcher collaborated
with experts in sexual violence prevention (SVP) and gender-based violence prevention from
India and the United States to develop culturally tailored SVP programs for these individuals.
Guided by feminist-liberation and peace psychology frameworks, the researcher engaged key
stakeholders, including Indian female college students and faculty, and Indian community
organization personnel to conduct a needs assessment. Stakeholder interviews confirmed a
strong demand for SVP programs, leading to the creation of two versions (i.e., 6-hour, 11-hour)
of the Prevent and Protect comprehensive SVP program. Additionally, by relying on the
Systematic Test of Equivalence Procedure, culturally valid instruments for measuring the impact
of the program were developed. The program was conducted at a university in Pune, India, with
117 female students randomly assigned to a 6-hour or 11-hour program, or a waitlist control
group. Surveys at pretest, posttest, and six-week follow-up measured key constructs including
gender-equitable attitudes, bystander attitudes and behaviors, self-defense self-efficacy,
attitudes towards communication with partners, sexual violence victimization, and
emancipatory sexuality education. Multivariate and univariate analyses revealed significant
time effects across constructs, with the 6-hour program participants reporting more bystander
behaviors at follow-up. While the quantitative results did not yield significant differences
between groups, qualitative data indicated increased participant empowerment. Findings
underscore the importance of culturally responsive SVP programs and highlight opportunities
for future research to refine interventions that promote justice, peace, gender equity, and
safety for Indian college women.Ph. D
"What if a boyish lover had found his way into the house?" Lesbian masculinity in Carmilla
No full textIn this essay, I will investigate the ways in which the titular character of the vampire novella Carmilla is masculinized within the text—both by adhering to and going against—Victorian standards of masculinity. I will also view Carmilla’s hybridized, masculine and feminine gender through the lens of Judith Butler’s theory of gender performance. Carmilla’s hybridized performance of gender would have made Victorian readers very uncomfortable due to strict gender roles in the period, and therefore, Carmilla perfectly embodies Butler’s idea that performing one’s gender incorrectly creates change. Finally, I will incorporate lesbian scholarship from the twentieth century into my essay to demonstrate how the stereotyping of masculine women as predators still haunts masculine women today just as it did in the nineteenth century. Like Carmilla, many masculine women today are punished in various ways—including by being pushed out of spaces for women and even sometimes through their deaths—for their “incorrect” performance of gender.M. A