Digital Commons Network^™

Affinity: A Celebration Of Community Through Poetry, Evan A. Gates

Student Scholar Showcase

The language of poetry extends far beyond the creative writing classroom; song lyrics, Bible verses, instruction manuals, and even advertisements utilize the power of words to portray a message. Like an art portrait, everyone’s unique perception helps to create a larger sense of unity through diversity. Poets emphasize the many ways culture constructs varying opinions amongst the human race. At the University of Lynchburg, people of many different demographics share one common thread: the pursuit of community. Whether local or foreign, English teacher or scientist, white or black, Lynchburg is the centerpiece of intellectual curiosity. While the school remains situated …

Praise In The Collegiate Classroom: How Narcissism, Entitlement, Empathy, And A Desire For Fame Impact Student’S Preferences For Praise, Alexandra Crissman

Student Scholar Showcase

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personality traits, namely narcissism, entitlement, empathy, and a desire for fame, and a preference for public praise in a student population. Past research has shown that those who are higher in narcissism are also higher in entitlement and that these rates have been rising with future generations. Past research has also indicated a negative relationship between narcissistic tendencies and empathy, inferring that those higher in narcissism tend to score lower on empathy measures. In this study, undergraduate students were surveyed online to determine scores on four measures of traits …

Recognizing Traps And Frightening Wolves: Foxes And Lions As A Representative Of Machiavellian Political Ideology In Shakespeare’S Comedies, Grace A. Powell

Student Scholar Showcase

While William Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets have been discussed time and time again over the past few centuries, one topic that has been less traversed is the connection between his Comedies and Niccolò Machiavelli’s political ideologies. This project will explore references of lions and foxes in Shakespeare’s Comedies and the leaders and monarchs within them to determine how beliefs about Machiavelli’s political ideology influenced Shakespeare’s literature and became symbols for leadership and power. This project will be important for gaining historical context on Machiavellian political discourse and how it was represented in the contemporary dramatic literature of William Shakespeare. I …

East Vs. West And Its Relationship With Violence Among College Students And Myanmar, Bryce Davis

Student Scholar Showcase

With over 10 million men and women being targeted by domestic violence every year it has increased the need for research on the issue. Previous research has been conducted on how various crimes involving interpersonal violence can occur. The current study looks to expand on this previous research by assessing how interpersonal violence can occur. The study examines Eastern and Western cultures and how they can impact interpersonal violence. Previous research has shown that people born in eastern countries such as Asia have more of an acceptance of dating violence and rape. One hundred and thirty-six participants participated in the …

The Physiological Demands Of A Division Iii Field Hockey Goalie: A Case Study, Kayla Brady, Sarah Miller-Richards

Student Scholar Showcase

It is essential to evaluate the physiological demands of the sport of field hockey, specifically of a division III field hockey goalie. There has been limited research on this sport, let alone on the position of goalies. Some recent studies have evaluated ice hockey goalies on their anthropometrics, upper and lower body strength, power output, and aerobic capacity. The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological demands and performance profile of a division III field hockey goalkeeper. A division III goalie went through several baseline tests including anthropometrics, resting and maximum heart rate, upper and lower one rep …

The Effect Of Nurse Staffing On Patients Perceived Care, Jenna Racey, Victoria Newman, Erin Wojtkowski, Jillian Crews

Student Scholar Showcase

In discharged patients, how do fully staffed units compared with short-staffed units affect patient satisfaction levels during their inpatient experience? From the literature review, it was found that as nurse staffing declined, so did the patient-perceived quality of care and their loyalty to the respective hospitals. Also, as the percentage of assistant nurses to registered nurses increased, the patients reported poor care and decreased nursing guidance. While more research is needed on this prevalent issue, a recommendation of how nurse staffing issues could be changed is to increase nurse staffing visibility, especially in units with poor reported patient outcomes in …

Cracking A Back Is Not Rehabilitation: A Comparative Analysis Of Chiropractic Vs. Physical Therapy, Lauren M. Radack

Student Scholar Showcase

There is an increasingly common belief among the general public that chiropractic care is more successful in treating injuries than physical therapy. Research shows that chiropractic care cannot be compared to physical therapy due to their different skill sets, knowledge of treatment, and applications; therefore, one modality cannot be determined better than the other. While the two domains are incomparable, individuals continue to feel pressured to select between chiropractic care and physical Therapy. Analyzing the influence of the false claims and misinformation that surrounds rehabilitation services, the belief that physical therapy treatment is able to be replaced by chiropractic treatment …

Integrating Ncss Notable Trade Books Into Elementary Social Studies Classrooms, Tristin G. Lucas

Student Scholar Showcase

Each year the NCSS Notable Trade Book Committee selects “books that emphasize human relations, represent a diversity of groups and are sensitive to a broad range of cultural experiences, present an original theme or a fresh slant on a traditional topic, are easily readable and of high literary quality, and have a pleasing format and, when appropriate, illustrations that enrich the text. Each book is read by several reviewers, and books are included on the list by committee assent” (NCSS, 2023). In this session presenters will show participants how to access the current and previous lists of NCSS Notable Trade …

Annotation Of Hypothetical Genes In Lactococcus Lactis Ssp. Il403, Jennifer A. Tangires

Student Scholar Showcase

The human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) harnesses various microbial organisms involved in almost all processes of physiological homeostasis, among these are lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These bacteria, almost all of which belong to the order Lactobacillales, are able to produce lactic acid, and play an important role in food preservation because they produce bacteriocins. Bacteriocins are antimicrobial proteins that are used to fight off related bacteria in their environment that are competing for the same resources. This study focuses on a specific LAB strain, Lactococcus lactis ssp. IL1403 where 21.9% of its predicted genes have not yet been assigned a function. …

Blast Injuries In Disaster Medicine, Robbie K. Paul

Student Scholar Showcase

Disaster medicine is a division of medical care focused on immediate action in the field. Blast injuries can cause extreme injuries on impact meaning disaster medicine needs to be quick, efficient, and effective as possible. Medical professionals are facing an increase in blast-related injuries (Wolf et al., 2009). The military, paramedics, and organizations like the Red Cross use this branch of medicine. Blast injuries come from explosions caused by IEDs, pipe bombs, and household items malfunctioning. There is always room for improvement in medical care. How can we better understand the mechanism of injuries from blast explosions and improve disaster …

Protocols For Postpartum Hemorrhage, Nicole A. Mitchell, Wilbur Greene, Samantha Claxton, Lydia Lester

Student Scholar Showcase

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the protocols for postpartum hemorrhage and lack of implementation, how race may play a role in care, the different effect on maternal lives; physically and mentally, and more effective treatment options. Many women all over the world struggle with postpartum hemorrhaging as it is a life-threatening complication that can follow giving birth. There are standard protocols set in place for different facilities that relay how the healthcare professionals should act in that situation. The PICOT question, “In child-bearing women, how do protocols for postpartum hemorrhage compared with a lack …

Strategies For Combating Vaccine Hesitancy In Primary Care, Elizabeth Perkins Hayes

Student Scholar Showcase

This article will summarize methods for providers to effectively combat vaccine hesitancy in their patient populations. Vaccine hesitancy is a growing concern in the medical field, as new cases of vaccine preventable diseases arise. However, vaccine hesitancy is more common than vaccine resistance and can be converted into vaccine acceptance with effective communication strategies.

There is no easy solution to the complex problem of vaccine hesitancy. Most studies demonstrate that effective conversion to vaccine acceptance requires tailoring vaccine information to the patient and listening to their concerns. Other methods include exposing patients to survivors of vaccine preventable diseases, or using …

The Invisible Epidemic: A Concussion Assessment Among University Faculty And Staff, Emily R. Brown, Jacqueline D. Villanueva Arevalo

Student Scholar Showcase

Background: The present body of research is deficient, and institutions frequently lack defined return-to-learn policies for students who have incurred or been diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)/concussion.

Purpose: This research study aims to determine the level of knowledge and awareness university faculty and staff currently have at a private university in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Participants: 64 collegiate faculty and academic staff

Methods: A Cross-sectional, web-based Faculty and Staff Concussion Awareness and Knowledge survey was completed by participants, consisting of 9 demographic, 21 Likert Scale, and 1 multiple-option question.

Results: Initial descriptive and frequency statistics of the 64 …

Evaluation Of Concussion Assessment Tools For Collegiate Athletes, Jacqueline D. Villanueva Arevalo, Emily R. Brown

Student Scholar Showcase

BACKGROUND: Due to the increase in sports-related concussions in the United States, there is a rising concern about concussion assessments in collegiate athletes with regard to long term vestibular ocular motor dysfunction and post-concussion syndrome.

PURPOSE: Due to varying practices in concussion diagnosis, this systematic review analyzed three concussion diagnostic instruments, The King Devick, Screening Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT-5), and Vestibular Oculomotor Screening Tool (VOMS), to determine the most appropriate instrument(s) for reducing vestibular ocular-motor dysfunction and post-concussion symptoms in collegiate athletes.

METHODS: Nested Knowledge was used to identify articles from PubMed, Europe Pubmed Central, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. Key search …

Colon Cancer Screening And The Association With Colon Cancer Incidence And Mortality Rates In Ethnic Minority Groups, Jovonne Smith

Student Scholar Showcase

Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a public health burden and is the second leading cause of American cancer deaths. Strides have been made in the medical community, and there has been an overall decrease in CRC rates. This decrease is primarily due to a cumulative decline in late-onset colorectal cancer diagnosis (LOCRC), defined as CRC cancer in adults over the age of 50 years. CRC continues to burden American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) and Non-Hispanic Black individuals (NHB) disproportionately. The incidence and mortality rates remain disproportionately higher than other ethnic groups, and the survival rate is lower than …

The Mind And Crime: Criminal Victimization, Age, And Psychological Wellbeing, Alana Compton

Student Scholar Showcase

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between crime victimization, age at the time of victimization, and psychological health. Past research has shown that crime victimization has been linked to higher levels of depression and suicidal ideation, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders, and that those who experience a traumatic event as a child are influenced more negatively than those who experience trauma as an adult. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty and staff were surveyed to determine their experiences with crime, age, and levels of depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorder symptomology, and resilience. The …

Locomotor Biomechanics In Stream Gobies, Rhinogobius Sp.: Functional Performance Of Waterfall-Climbing Behavior, Ernest W. Murphy

Student Scholar Showcase

Gobiidae is the taxonomic classification of a large fish family comprising over 2,000 species. A few goby species have the unique ability of scaling waterfalls using pelvic fins that are fused into a suction disc (pelvic sucker) located on the ventral side of the body, aiding them in upstream migration to freshwater feeding and reproduction locations. This study aimed to investigate the locomotor biomechanics of Rhinogobius goby fish due to the lack of literature in the area. In particular, climbing performance variables (pressure differential, force, endurance, and kinematics of attachment), pelvic sucker fatigability, and ontogenetic patterns of physical development and …

Recommendations For Providers To Improve Quality Of Care & Health Outcomes For Patients With Tick-Borne Diseases, Kayla G. Hugate, Jennifer Hall

Student Scholar Showcase

Background: Healthcare providers lack knowledge about tick-borne diseases related to recognition, diagnosis, treatments, and communication. With the number of ticks and types of tick-borne diseases increasing, it is vital that providers know how to effectively diagnose, manage and treat a TBD patient.

Methods: A mixed method survey was implemented in 2021 with persons diagnosed with a tick-borne disease to explore their experiences with diagnosis, management and treatment. The survey was posted on TBD social media pages and sent through email snowballing. Thematic analysis was used to code results from three open-ended questions.

Results: A total of 434 …

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome Prevention And Detection In Covid-19 Patients, Bethany Sloane Melega

Student Scholar Showcase

COVID-19 has impacts on patient health beyond the hospital. The trauma that patients, and families of patients, can experience during an admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) can last long after discharge from the ICU and the hospital in general. The psychological and physical impacts of ICU hospitalization can cause patients to experience Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). PICS is the culmination of symptoms that persist after a critical illness that involve all aspects of a patient’s physical and mental well-being and can significantly affect family life and increase recovery time. Due to the strict personal-protective equipment (PPE) usage …

Animal-Assisted Therapy In The Intensive Care Unit, Amanda M. Pugh

Student Scholar Showcase

This paper will explore animal-assisted therapy used in intensive care units. Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are at risk for developing an array of complications called post-intensive care syndrome, which can negatively affect patients’ psychological, motor, and cognitive abilities. While the widespread use of animal-assisted therapy in the ICU is still in need of improvement, studies have shown animal-assisted therapy can improve depression and anxiety, increase motor function, and strengthen patient participation in treatment. This is significant because the benefits of animal-assisted therapy can counteract the symptoms related to post-intensive care syndrome. The studies will be analyzed, and …

L'Homme Arme: A Tradition Of Contrafactum, Lauren Moseley

Student Scholar Showcase

Contrafactum, the replacement of text in a song, and L’homme Arme impacted music both in the 1450s and today. Although their usage changed and dwindled, musicians never stopped using contrafactum and L’homme Arme in their works. With the intent of improving music pedagogy and performance, the purpose of this research was to investigate L’homme Arme and contrafactum and their usage today. The particular problems of this study were to (1) examine contrafactum and L’homme Arme in medieval and renaissance music; (2) explore the use of contrafactum today; and (3) arrange a piece of music that combines a sacred and a …

Rotoscoping Image Processing, David J. Blackstone

Student Scholar Showcase

I wrote a program to perform rotoscoping image processing. Rotoscoping is an animation technique that is used to turn real images into cartoon images. This is a lengthy process to do by hand, taking hundreds of hours. To make this job easier, I have written a program to do automated rotoscoping. This program uses many algorithms and techniques such as edge detection, blurring, directional detection, and edge tracking. What once would take hours by hand, takes seconds!

Evaluation Of Resting Metabolic Rate Between Sex And Sport Type Of D3 Athletes., Alissa Anderson

Student Scholar Showcase

Introduction: Sex, muscle characaterstics, and training have been shown to affect resting metabolic rate (RMR) of elite level athletes. However, there is little known about the resting metabolic rates of non-elite Division 3 athletes.

Purpose: Therefore the purpose of this research study is to observe differences in resting metabolic rate among different types of various Division 3 athletic male and female teams.

Methods: University of Lynchburg Division 3 athletes between the ages of 18-22 were recruited to have their RMR, body composition, and anthropometrics assessed . 4 athletes were recruited from each of the following teams based on sex and …

From Operetta To Broadway, Katelyn Blue

Student Scholar Showcase

Music compositions transitioned from the performance of operettas to Broadway musicals, as did musical study on a collegiate level. Although Universities did not begin teaching musical theater when the genre originally emerged, Broadway musicals have become a part of “classic” American repertoire. With the intent of improving music pedagogy and performance, the purpose of this research is to investigate the history of the Broadway musical in University settings. The particular problems of this study were to (1) explore the transition from operettas to musicals; (2) trace the development of musical theatere in collegiate study; and (3) to describe the University …

Are They Mad At Me? Examining Methods Of Communication And Emotional Attribution, Meagan Fowler

Student Scholar Showcase

Communication via online methods has increased in popularity over the years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. While convenient, there are many downfalls to computer mediated communication (CMC) including an increased risk of misinterpreting a message. The present study aimed to determine the effects of communication medium and speaker gender on tone interpretation and emotional reactions. The medium of CMC (email, phone call, video call) and gender of the speaker (male, female) were manipulated to test for differences in perceptions of tone. Participants also reported their own emotions following reception of the message. It was found that medium has a significant …

Comparison Of Training Load Between Ncaa Diii Tennis Resistance Training, Practices, And Competitions, Lauren Pascadlo

Student Scholar Showcase

Background: There are 7553 NCAA Division III tennis players, who play with less training coordination than elite players. Division III tennis load research is highly underdeveloped with most tennis research focusing on elite players. Additionally, practice training loads must be similar to match training loads so athletes are physically and mentally prepared for competition.

Purpose: To describe the training load in Division III tennis players during strength and conditioning, practices, and competition.

Methods: 7 Male and female division II tennis players attended 2 regularly scheduled practice, competition, and resistance training sessions. Training load was measured as external (GPS data consisting …

"It's Not What It Looks Like!": Motivations And Responses To Infidelity, Jessica C. Cochrane

Student Scholar Showcase

The topic of infidelity is taboo and often perceived negatively, however, it still occurs frequently. What motivates people to commit infidelity? How do people respond to infidelity committed by those they know? This paper takes the opinions of college-aged subjects into consideration through use of paper surveys to discover how young adults perceive infidelity; both why it gets committed and how they would respond to such an act. Subjects were grouped into sex, classification, whether they have committed infidelity or not, and whether they have been cheated on or not. The results that were found were not all expected. It …

Mapping The Impact Of A Trailway System On The Amount Of Trash Present Within Two Watersheds Of Lynchburg City, Virginia, Lillian Smith

Student Scholar Showcase

Transportation of trash debris within water systems is a prominent occurrence which has been linked to natural and artificial processes such as wind, rain, and littering. Recreational areas, such as activities along greenway trails, have been determined to be a source of debris found in waterways. This study examines whether the presence of an established recreational trail system limits trash accumulation in the entirety of a watershed. Trash data collected at Blackwater Creek, which contains an established trail system, was compared to trash data collected at Fishing Creek, containing a non-established trail system, to answer this hypothesis. A distance of …

Acute:Chronic Workload Ratios And Positional Differences In Collegiate Men’S Lacrosse Players, Michael J. Phifer

Student Scholar Showcase

Positional differences in Acute:chronic workload ratios (ACWRs), distance traveled, and activity intensity throughout a season for men’s lacrosse players have not been determined. The purpose of our research was to determine if there were positional differences in ACWRs, distance traveled, and activity intensity in men’s NCAA DIII lacrosse players. We recruited 53 NCAA DIII lacrosse players (age=20.4 years, weight=81.6 kg, height=182.4 cm, Attack=12, O-Mid=14, D-Mid=6, FO=4, Goalie=3, Defense=14) from one team for our cross-sectional study. Sport Performance Tracking (SPT, Melbourne, Australia) GPS units tracked athletes’ACWRs (AU), total distance traveled (m), and intensity (proprietary composite score; AU) for every game and …

The Relationship Between Cervical Spine Range Of Motion And Postural Stability, Victoria Riley

Student Scholar Showcase

No abstract provided.