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Resilience Redefined: Exploring the Impact of Childhood Trauma on the Value Systems of High-Achieving Corporate Men
No full textThis qualitative study employed Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore how childhood trauma influences the value systems of high-achieving corporate men. In contemporary corporate culture, where stoicism, performance, and independence are often rewarded, little attention is paid to how early adversity informs internal frameworks of meaning, leadership, and success. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six high-achieving men, all executives and leaders in high-performing industries, who self-identified as having experienced childhood trauma. Data were analyzed using a six-step IPA process and interpreted through the lens of Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Human Values and social constructivism. Findings revealed that childhood trauma deeply shaped participants’ held values around control, success, self-sufficiency, and integrity. Participants described formative messages of scarcity, conditional love, and emotional suppression that fueled a relentless drive for achievement. While many externalized successes as a form of redemption and protection, they also reported internal struggles with isolation, unmet emotional needs, and difficulty sustaining interpersonal relationships. Key themes emerged, including the impact of childhood adversity on value formation, financial security and fear of loss, resilience and drive to succeed, authenticity, integrity and empathetic leadership, work-life balance and personal wellbeing, and lastly, interpersonal relationships and the “Tribe” mentality. This study provides insight into how trauma-informed values manifest in corporate leadership and personal identity. It challenges traditional narratives of masculinity and success by illustrating how resilience is often rooted in unprocessed pain. Implications are offered for mental health professionals, counselor educators, and leadership development programs to better recognize achievement as a potential coping mechanism and support healthier models of masculinity and value integration. Keywords: childhood trauma, high-achieving corporate men, value systems, masculinity, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, leadership, resilienc
Understanding Bias and Fairness in Large Language Models: An Empirical Study
No full textThis thesis investigates demographic bias in large language models (LLMs) through the use of evaluating outcome disparities when utilized in decision making tasks as well as underlying associations that could contribute to furthering these disparities. Using profiles from the Adult dataset, we analyze how Gemini 2.0 Flash performs in an income prediction task using zero-shot and few-shot prompting methods. Our findings show that models exhibit measurable differences in demographic parity and false positive rates, with the use of few-shot prompting reducing these disparities. Alongside this line of testing, we tested associational bias in Qwen 2.5 using probability based association tests that compare log probabilities of occupations and adjectives in prompts that contain gendered pronouns. These tests revealed measurable gender-linked associations, with male prompts more probable to display high status occupations and competence based adjectives. Female prompts were found to be more likely to show caregiving occupations as well as warmth based adjectives. Using both tests, we see that outcome disparities and internal associations of the model align which suggests that these patterns could affect downstream decision based tasks that these LLMs are used for. While the difference in prompting strategies helped mitigate some bias, the persistence of gender based patterns helps highlight the importance of evaluating LLMs for fairness as they become heavily utilized within applications that could have social consequences
Impact of Lighting Wavelength on Broiler Behavior, Health, and Performance
No full textLighting influences broiler production, health, and behavior. Due to their advanced visual system, avian species perceive a wide spectrum of light. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of white (W, 350 to 780 nm) blue (B, 450 nm), and green (G, 560 nm) light on broiler production, processing performance, activity, fear, stress, blood cell profiles, tibiotarsi (tibia) morphology, and depth perception. Day-of-hatch by-product chicks from a Cobb 500 female line (N=600) were randomly assigned to 12 pens (N=4 treatment replicates). Body weight and feed consumption were recorded on day (D) 0, 14, 28, and 41, and feed conversion ratio was calculated. Depth perception was assessed using the Visual Cliff (VC) test (D1, D7, and D26), and fear was measured using the Tonic Immobility test (D12 and D33). Blood was drawn for leukocyte and plasma corticosterone concentrations (D21 and D41). On D41, thermal images of the head were taken to measure surface temperatures (eye and beak), and the bursa of Fabricius (bursa) was extracted for relative bursa weight. Accelerometers were adhered to birds Week 2 (D11 to D14) and Week 5 (D38 to D41), and left and right tibiotarsus (tibia) were extracted (D41) for morphology. After sampling, the remaining broilers were processed. Minimal differences were found for live production, stress, fear, or tibia morphology. Broilers in W were more likely to cross the depth line on D1 than B and G broilers during the VC test (P\u3c 0.0001), indicating poorer depth perception. Broilers in B had reduced lymphocyte (P=0.01) and T cell concentrations (P=0.009), suggesting poorer immune function. Activity was greatest for G broilers at Week 2 and lowest for W in Week 5 (P=0.0005). Broilers in the B group had the greatest rack and skin yields (P\u3c 0.0001), had the lowest fat pad yields (P=0.02) and greatest leg quarter yields (P=0.01), and W had the greatest breast (P=0.01) and white meat yields (P=0.001). These results suggest that light color can be strategically used to target production and welfare goals, with green light stimulating activity and white light improving processing yields
Prone to Prejudice: Trans Experiences and Structural Harm in the U.S. Prison System
No full textThis qualitative study examines transgender individuals\u27 experiences within the justice system. This study seeks to illuminate the complex realities of incarceration using social constructionism and reflexive thematic analysis. The social constructionist perspective offers a framework for understanding how gendered identities are shaped, constrained, and policed within institutional contexts. The analysis of narratives from Large Reddit communities allows this study to examine how transgender individuals make sense of and survive correctional environments. A comprehensive analysis of the data generated the following six major themes: (1) Solitary Confinement Universally Induces Horror, (2) Discriminatory Treatment Leads to Disillusionment with the Criminal Justice System, (3) Purposeful Endangerment by Authority, (4) Paranoia and Hypervigilance, (5) Crash Course in Navigating Prison, and (6) Resilience as a Coping Mechanism. Ultimately, this study contributes to a growing body of scholarship advocating for the rights and dignity of transgender individuals in the justice system. This research provides critical insight into the intersection of gender, power, and institutional violence in the lives of incarcerated trans people. It additionally discusses the implications for correctional reform and mental health interventions
Minor League: The Journey to the Show
No full textWhen thinking about the path an athlete takes to get to the major leagues, many think of the same process: High School, College, Professional. However, the professional level includes is more than just the MLB or NBA that people would assume. Almost all professional U.S. sports leagues have a minor league system associated with them that nearly all players pass through at one point or another. Through the lens of a documentary, this portion in an athlete’s journey will be spotlighted to show what these leagues do for them, how they help them improve, and how they prepare them to take the final step to playing on sporting’s’ biggest stage. This research will be used to bring attention to this crucial stage of every athlete journey
High-Resolution Energy Efficient Selective Laser Sintering of Copper Nanoparticles
No full textCopper (Cu) is widely utilized in electronics and photonics applications due to its outstanding electrical and thermal conductivity. With increasing demand for miniaturization and higher precision in modern manufacturing, traditional selective laser sintering (SLS) techniques designed primarily for high-throughput production are becoming insufficient. These conventional methods struggle to deliver the resolution required for micro-scale fabrication and often cause thermal damage to sensitive substrates. Therefore, there is a growing necessity to develop compact and high-resolution laser sintering systems capable of precise microfabrication with minimal thermal influence. This study addresses this challenge by investigating nanosecond pulsed laser sintering as a method to achieve precise and energy-efficient fabrication of copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) structures. Specifically, 70 nm Cu NPs were uniformly deposited onto aluminum foil substrates using a dry electrostatic powder coating method, avoiding solvent-related complications common in ink-based printing. A UV laser with a fixed wavelength of 355 nm was employed, and systematic experiments were conducted by exploring multiple key variables, including laser average power, repetition rate, scanning speed, focal spot location, and powder packaging density. Through careful optimization of these parameters, appropriate laser fluence conditions were identified, enabling effective sintering with minimal thermal damage and improved control over the morphology and quality of the fabricated microstructures. Experiments were conducted to selectively sinter Cu NPs into 2D microstructure. The sintered samples were thoroughly analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate their microstructure and porosity. Results indicated that optimized parameter control enabled the formation of dense, smooth copper features with linewidths below 20 µm and minimal thermal impact on surrounding areas. Furthermore, short-wavelength UV laser processing showed significantly enhanced absorption by copper nanoparticles compared to conventional infrared lasers commonly used in commercial metal 3D printing, thereby improving overall energy efficiency. This work provides insights into the fundamental mechanisms underlying UV nanosecond laser-matter interactions during metallic nanoparticle sintering. By establishing optimized processing conditions, our findings support the advancement of precise and energy-efficient additive manufacturing techniques for copper and other metal nanopowders. The outcomes hold promises for broad applications, including flexible electronics, biomedical sensors, aerospace components, and microscale devices, ultimately contributing to innovation in precision manufacturing
Cultural Vibrations: Student Power, International Exchange, and Black America in Mai 1968
No full textAbstract This thesis examines the prominence of Black Americans in the 68’ student movement in France. May 68’ incorporated a diverse and global network of social movements and political organizations, and had a notable connection to the American student movement. Black Americans had formed a large expatriate community in France which overlapped with many of the transnational connections forged by the student movements of 68’. This community was extremely notable in the French public sphere for popular works of literature and music, but its political contributions have been minimized or understudied. By utilizing student accounts, state and organizational records, and media archives, this thesis highlights the role of Black Americans as prominent and vital participants in the French student movements. Student accounts and the records of international exchange programs such as the Fulbright program are of exceptional importance to this study, as they provide for both American perspectives of their participation and how organizations responded to it. This thesis seeks to contribute to the scholarship of France Noir and Transatlantic history by showcasing how they have become intertwined. The scholarship of ‘Black France’ has noticed the socio-political role of Black Americans in France, and Scholarship about the 1968 Student movements have identified the transatlantic connections of the student movements, but both have yet to engage with the other. This work puts forward that these distinct studies are evidence towards the growing historical development of a ‘Black Atlantic’ and a new form of Black internationalism
Understanding Paradoxical Dynamics in Online Communities: The Role of Governance and Community Characteristics
No full textOnline knowledge communities have become critical arenas for information exchange, collaborative problem-solving, and the co-construction of expertise in the digital age. As these platforms expand and mature, they increasingly face design tensions that challenge their ability to remain inclusive, participatory, and high in quality. Institutional rules aimed at fostering content standards may reduce engagement, while features intended to promote openness can unintentionally reinforce ideological conformity. This dissertation adopts a two-essay structure to examine the paradoxical dynamics that emerge in the design and functioning of online communities. Each essay investigates a distinct but interconnected aspect of how institutional structures and communicative patterns shape participation, discourse, and broader community outcomes. Together, they offer complementary perspectives on the structural tensions that often undermine the participatory ideals of digital platforms. The first essay explores how institutional constraints, particularly rules that govern user behavior and content, influence participation and community sustainability. It uses agent-based modeling to simulate how different configurations of rules interact with user preferences to produce patterns of engagement, contribution, and withdrawal. The findings show that content- focused rules tend to improve discourse quality and responsiveness. In contrast, behavior- focused constraints often suppress participation and accelerate user turnover, especially when community engagement is already low. These results highlight the importance of adaptive and context-sensitive governance that aligns rule design with community conditions. The second essay turns to the communicative layer of community dynamics. It examines how emotional and rational discourse styles contribute to the emergence of ideological alignment and discursive closure over time. Drawing on a large dataset of user interactions, the study uses natural language processing techniques, including sentiment and argumentation analysis, alongside panel data regression, to analyze how discourse patterns evolve. The results indicate that emotional expression is linked to greater ideological homogeneity, particularly in fast- growing communities with high interaction volume. Rational discourse, by contrast, is associated with increased openness and cognitive diversity. The effects of responsiveness depend on its distribution. When broadly shared, responsiveness can mitigate emotional polarization. When concentrated among a small number of active participants, it amplifies the impact of rational dialogue. Together, these essays demonstrate that the paradoxes observed in online community design are not incidental but reflect structural tensions embedded within platforms. Rules created to improve quality can discourage contribution. Features that promote openness may lead to ideological silos. Discourse patterns that boost engagement may weaken deliberative depth. This dissertation contributes to institutional and communication theory by uncovering non- linear and context-dependent relationships between platform design and user behavior. It also offers practical guidance for developers, moderators, and policymakers seeking to design online environments that are more inclusive, sustainable, and ideologically diverse
Compositions Comprising Peptides that Block Transmission of Orthotospoviruses
No full textOrthotospovirus virions travel through the thrips foregut and enter midgut epithelial cells through the interaction between virus glycoproteins and cellular receptors with several protein motifs thought to be involved in the interaction. Single, double and triple mutant polypeptides in the soybean vein necrosis virus (SVNV)/Neohydatothrips variabilis system are provided herein and several are shown to block viral transmission from the thrips to the soybean plants. Methods for inhibiting viral transmission using these polypeptides or constructs comprising polynucleotides encoding peptides are also provided herein
Plowing with a Pencil: Policy Approaches for States Squaring Agricultural Interests with Select Public Interests
No full textFrom a fifth-generation wheat farmer on the Kansas plains to a cattle rancher in Montana to a beginning peach producer in Georgia, American agriculture produces, provides, and protects sources of food, fiber, fuel, and shelter. American agriculture, once solely supported by rural family farmers and steeped in an agrarian system, now relies heavily on industrialized operations, creating an arena ripe for the clash of diverse policy perspectives. As farmers produce the food enjoyed at dinner tables across the country, the inevitable impacts of agriculture production on the environment have led to policy and legal arguments surrounding the regulation of agriculture. Concerning the promulgation and implementation of regulatory measures, two unique perspectives color the majority of policy approaches. The first perspective focuses on protecting the interests of the agriculture industry by virtue of special treatment, exemptions, and exclusions, while the second perspective focuses on regulating harm from agricultural production through policy or law.
The guiding question of this Note considers how to best advocate for agricultural interests in the promulgation and enforcement of regulations that will inherently impact aspects of the agricultural industry. Part II, and the subsequent sections focus on agency oversight of the agriculture industry at the intersection of agricultural law, environmental regulations, and farmland ownership laws. Additionally, subsection E explores two applicable theories, agricultural exceptionalism and regulatory capture, underpinned with agrarian and industrialized views, considering certain sectors of agriculture. Part III studies the policy actions of several states concerning environmental regulation, right-to-farm statutes, and foreign ownership of U.S. farmland. After exploring the motivations for implementing each policy tool, Part IV dissects each tool in relation to the state’s action or inaction to offer examples of the approach’s alignment with agricultural values to determine the motivations for utilizing each tool. Finally, Part V offers a discussion of the concerns and alter- native solutions following implementation of each policy tool to offer the most collaborative, efficient, and effective actions a policy- maker may make when attempting to balance agricultural values with other values