Digital Commons Network^™

A Treacherous Journey, Deborah G. Wolf

Integrated Studies

This paper discusses Charles Dickens’ expert weaving of realism into his very entertaining 1838 novel, Oliver Twist. The novel takes the reader through a sometimes-unbelievable obstacle course for the young Oliver, but the true stories of real children in Victorian London are being told as well.

There are several reasons for the state these children existed in, including England’s growing industrialization, the undervaluing of children in general, and The New Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834. This paper looks into Dickens’ own childhood as well, in hopes of getting a glimpse into what may have motivated him to step …

The Opioid Crisis- Why Is It So Hard To Tame?, Tara Mclevain

Integrated Studies

The opioid Epidemic is largely known around the world, no matter what state or country you are from, chances are you've heard about the problem. Maybe you have experienced it or maybe you know someone who has dealt with opioid addiction. Throughout this paper we are going to discuss several factors directly related to the opioid epidemic. We will talk about the research, impact on society, treatment options, hidden cost and what the outcome could possibly be. This is a growing epidemic in America today that continues to be on the rise. The opioid crisis is costing America billions of …

Mental Health Of Foster Children, Olivia Collier

Integrated Studies

Foster care is one of the many complex systems within the human services field. Although foster care is usually in the best interest of the children, it still causes lasting mental health effects and learning setbacks that the children carry into their adult lives. Some of the negative aspects of foster care and the trauma that comes with children being separated from their family can also be passed on through generations, if foster children are not treated properly.

This essay will dive deeper into studies of the foster system and how it takes a toll on the mental health and …

The Psychosocial Impact Of Covid 19 On Children And Families: A Social Determinant Perspective, April Hightower

Integrated Studies

The present study examines COVID-19's negative impact on the lives of children and families. In the process disrupting the social determinants of health. In 2019, the virus swept the nation. As, a result, our education, which has students failing grades increasing by 70% (Lecher,2020), the lack of economic stability, which has many people without jobs (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Built environments, health and community efforts were disrupted (Healthy People.gov). A review of the available research literature collected by the CDC, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the World Health Organization, Child Abuse and Neglect (C.A.N), and many more explains said impact. The …

Alcoholism, Kathryn Haney

Integrated Studies

In today's society alcoholism is not viewed as a disease but rather an individual's moral shortcomings. While it may be a person's choice to start drinking, somewhere along the way it stops being their choice and becomes a disease that takes over their body. An alcoholic is far from a healthy person. Medical professionals can get ahead of this disease rather than treating it as symptoms arise through planned early interventions, active roles in rehabilitations, and reevaluation of requirements for a liver transplantation. Families can play an active role in a loved one's journey to sobriety by providing a positive …

Imaging In Women's Health, Sabrina Gilbert

Integrated Studies

Women’s health is a large area of the medical field that is continuing to see growth and technological advancement. Gynecological, obstetric, and breast health are fields that are always in demand, and imaging plays a large role in caring for patients in these fields. This paper will discuss different areas of women’s health and explain how imaging can be used to assist in diagnosis and treatment. Imaging can include MRI, 2D ultrasound, 3D ultrasound, and x-ray. This paper will discuss basic gynecological health, complications that can arise in gynecological health, women’s health in college, preconception care, obstetrics, obstetric complications, breast …

The Mccracken County Public Library_ The Core Values Of A Public Library, Alaysia Hamilton

Integrated Studies

The McCracken County Public Library has played a part in the community revolution. During the social renaissance in Paducah, you can find the McCracken library serving on the front lines. After all, it is one of the last places where social status does not matter. Through technology, resources, outreach and programs, the public library meets the needs of their all- inclusive community by being flexible and constantly changing.

Bipolar Disorder, Gabby Nicole Zuckschwerdt

Integrated Studies

Bipolar Disorder has been a long-researched topic among medical professionals, dating back to the first century. According to studies done, due to the lack of education and the stigma that mental illness creates, over 40% of people diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder do not receive the proper treatment (Krans 2019). Research conducted will look at the different facets of Bipolar Disorder, how it is presented in various people, the proper diagnosis of bipolar disorder and how bipolar disorder can be treated.

Sanctaury:Background Of Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault Services, Cynthia Fletcher

Integrated Studies

Domestic Violence and sexual assault are extremely dangerous behaviors that are well known in our society, as well as around the world. Studies and research have shown that places of support through agencies can help restore and prevent repeating occurrences as well as support that is needed for growth. Sanctuary is a non-profit agency committed to the provision of preventive and restorative services to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Sanctuary has a vison to deliver caring, comprehensive support to victims of personal violence in the nine-county area of Pennyrile Area Development in Kentucky. Sanctuary seeks to empower through …

The Opioid Epidemic: How Our Society Is Contributing To The Stigma, Nakeisha Wooton

Integrated Studies

The ongoing opioid crisis in the United States is continuing to worsen as prevention strategies for opioid abuse and addiction are ineffective or improperly regulated. Behaviors of the providers, the public, and the patients must all be addressed to create effective prevention strategies because the attitude toward opioid addiction is a significant factor in the treatment of the disease. Many people view substance abuse as a choice and while this may be an accurate assumption in the beginning, citizens across America are not comprehending the full impact these substances have on a person’s body over time, specifically their brain. In …

Effects Of Ototoxic Chemicals And Occupational Exposure To Humans, Kim M. Gonzalez

Integrated Studies

The primary aim of this capstone paper was to review and examine previous works of literature on the effects of ototoxic organic solvents and various heavy metals on the auditory structure due to occupational exposure. Additionally, the research also focused on identifying work environments, which are characterized by such ototoxic toxins. The method for picking organic solvents and heavy metals encompassed the existing data that signified that such chemical substances could induce auditory challenges among workers in divergent work settings. Furthermore, the ambiguities of the publications were also extensively considered before they could be incorporated in this research. References to …

Beyond Tongue-Tied: Examining Communication Apprehension, Jessica Crass

Integrated Studies

From jobs to relationships, public speaking to internal thoughts, communication is a foundation of society and development. Though communication comes so naturally to so many, many others struggle just to get a single word out. This study takes a look into the fear or anxiety of communication that people face and how that fear can impact their lives.

Communication apprehension (CA) is the fear and anxiety surrounding communication. We will explore how communication apprehension can drastically affect a person’s life on all fronts by examining CA history, CA methods of research, types of CA, and more. Many people, virtually everyone, …

Major U.S. Pandemics A Century Apart: Preparedness And The Socioeconomic Impact Of 1918 Influenza And 2020 Covid-19, Anna Sofia Bryant

Integrated Studies

Examining the U.S. public health response during the 1918 Influenza and 2020 COVID-19 pandemics is instructive to charting a better course of action for future outbreaks. To know where we are going, it often helps to look at where we have been and then take strategic and corrective action. This is especially true when considering structural remedies for poor and minority populations who have been disproportionately affected by health crises, both historically and in the present era, due to a variety of social and economic health determinants. Preventable deaths in nursing homes, unilateral closures of schools, businesses, and churches, and …

Interracial Relationships: The History, Growth, And Effects On Individuals And Society, Alison Kerney

Integrated Studies

Interracial relationships are an often overlooked and misunderstood issue in the United States as well as in other countries. The percentage of these relationships are on the rise, not only involving African Americans and Caucasians, but also Latinos and Asians as well. A thorough study of the cultural concepts of interracial relationships will involve first defining the issue, looking at the prevalence and taking note of trends, reviewing the history and laws that brought this issue to the forefront, and thoroughly examining the positive and negative effects on individuals and society. The research on interracial marriages will help to increase …

Sales, The Process, Techniques, And It’S Application, Jamie Tompkins, Jamie Nicole Young

Integrated Studies

Abstract

In this paper, you will read about the entire sales process from open to close. The 7 main steps involved in selling will be explored. These steps are Prospecting, Qualification, Demonstration, Evaluation, Negotiation, Closing, and Nurturing (Freshworks, n.d.). There are many variations to each label of these steps but the main idea behind them remains; to fully understand the sales process, you must understand the concepts and objectives behind each step.

After describing the sales steps, you will also read about different techniques used in each process described. The number of techniques available in each sales step is almost …

The Effects Of Performance Enhancing Drugs In Sports: Legal And Illegal, Eric Johanning

Integrated Studies

This paper offers valuable information that will inform readers about the effects that come with regularly ingesting dietary and performance enhancing drugs and supplements. The paper goes into depth of specific supplements, concerning what the common man or woman believes the supplement does, versus what the supplement is advertised to do. The paper will provide information on certain test trails performed by others as supporting evidence on how the supplement being discussed plays a role in performance enhancement. The motivation behind this paper is to inform young athletes, or any athlete who considers themselves to be uninformed when it comes …

Vermiculture: A Viable Solution For Sustainable Agriculture, Heather Staggs

Integrated Studies

Abstract

Vermiculture is the cultivation of worms to produce compost. Worm farming for agricultural purposes uses specific worms that consume the organic waste in which they live and breed. Vermicomposting is biotechnology for the conversion of wastes into nutrient-rich agriculture amendments. The application of these amendments can improve the physical, biological, and chemical properties of the soil. Worm excrement enhances soil health, which improves plant health. When our plant and crop performance are enhanced, we see increased yields and improved quality. Vermicompost can boost crop production without the synthetic fertilizers that pollute our environment and decrease the health of people …

The Role Of Teachers And Parents For Students With Learning And Behavior Disorders, Tamesha Stone

Integrated Studies

Teacher collaboration is crucial to student success. The achievement of the student’s goals and objectives is ultimately up to the student but relies on the teacher’s ability to set up the correct educational plans. Teachers should be looking at students’ progress and struggles individually so that those students who need to be accommodated for are not neglected. It is easy to overlook a learning disability when students react to their educational weaknesses with aggressive or inappropriate behaviors. Generally, in cases like these, a student would need to be assessed for learning and behavior disorders. By definition, a learning disorder is …

How Does The Euroleague Compare To The National Basketball Association (Nba) And G-League, Donte Poole

Integrated Studies

Abstract

My research interests relate to my involvement with both the Euroleague and G-league; hopefully, by gaining more knowledge at some point, my coaching aspirations will propel me to be a successful coach or skills trainer within one of these prominent leagues. In the Euroleague organizations are referred to as clubs, whereas in the NBA and G-league they are referred to as teams. Throughout this research paper, I will give an in-depth breakdown of each professional basketball league and the intangibles that each player associated with the league deals with; rules, regulations, roster stipulations, wages/contracts, agents, housing, and sponsorships. While …

The Importance Of Play In Early Childhood Education, Addye Sawyers, Addye Olivia Sawyers

Integrated Studies

While the origins and purpose of childhood play has been discovered and documented for some time, the inclusion of play in early childhood education is a concept which has not found its way into the core structure of early childhood classrooms until more recent years. As the need for early learning programs continues to grow, so does the need for developmentally appropriate and beneficial early childhood learning intervention. In this paper, we will review prominent theories and recent research on stages of childhood development and learning, the purpose of early childhood education in the U.S., the nature of play and …

Safety In Industrial And Occupational Settings, Dylan Hicks

Integrated Studies

Safety procedures and standards in the workplace have adapted to encompass a large variety of different hazards and threats in the workplace. Psychological and physical hazards are sometimes difficult to detect but are essential to understanding and researching different protective methods for limiting bodily harm to an individual. Federal and state agencies have been established for the purpose of creating, testing, and regulating the new safety standards as well as revising old measure as new technology and research arise that provide better results. The main categories that are at high risk for causing harm are chemical, biological, fire, air quality, …

The Role Of The Monomyth In Star Wars, Charles Reynolds

Integrated Studies

The concept of the monomyth has figured prominently throughout the millennia. From the Bible to Greek mythology, Jesus to Hercules, the monomyth linked the past and the present storytelling into a shared belief that transcended culture and background. One example of the monomyth come to life was Luke Skywalker, the hero of Star Wars Episode Four, Five, and Six. Throughout the three films, Luke undertook much of the journey of the hero as defined by Joseph Campbell. Yet, despite the friendship between the director George Lucas and Campbell, there are differences in both timeline and depth in the monomyth and …

How Physical Exercise Impacts Learning Abilities And Self Awareness In The Classroom, Jason Michael Rosselli

Integrated Studies

Abstract

For many years ever since the author started elementary school back in 2003-2004 and all the way up to recently being taught in military classes while in the Army, the paper will describe what he has experienced as well as many other problems staying awake in class or fully comprehending the learning material due to lack of energy or lack of sleep from the night before. This paper will talk about how falling asleep in class has been a notorious landmark as to why students will struggle in a class or why that teacher does not enjoy having that …

Is America Ready For Universal Healthcare, Heather Early

Integrated Studies

The American healthcare system noted by politicians, medical professions, American citizens, and health care insurance companies is very complicated. With medical professions complaining of not receiving payment for provided procedures from either patient are insurance companies. American citizens were complaining they cannot afford health insurance or pay for procedures, making citizens not go to medical providers for care.

Furthermore, insurance companies do not get payments for insurance policies from citizens and payout payments to medical providers at a high procedure rate. Politicians have tried to fix the issues by mandating all American citizens have health insurance; they are employer-provided or …

The Use And Acceptance Of The English Canon In The High School Classroom, Matthew D. Dobbs

Integrated Studies

The literary canon has been viewed in the high school ELA classroom for many generations. The works it contains are now somewhat dated and there are certain movements claiming it should be replaced with different types of modern literature. This paper seeks to address how the canon is viewed in the classroom, including what problems people associate with it, and what solutions to those problems are available. The literary canon is a staple in ELA education and will continue to be for some time to come.

Keywords: ELA, Canon, Education

The Influence And Evolution Of Negative Political Advertising, Kelley Johnson

Integrated Studies

Coming out of 2020 was traumatizing — in one way, or another to most people forced to live in the COVID-19 pandemic stricken world. While the world-at-large was attempting to wage war against a microscopic enemy, the United States of America was involved in an additional skirmish.

Then presidential hopeful Joe Biden called the 2020 election, “The battle for the soul of America,” and the political advertising from both sides showcased exactly how well the negative messaging was working to rally each party’s base. When asked about election season, most people will say that they cannot stand all the negative …

Mental Health Teletherapy: An Essential Mental Health Resource After Covid-19, Yvette Wilson

Integrated Studies

The purpose of this paper is to present an exceptional summation of knowledge in human services while focusing on the specific aspect of online mental therapy. This thoroughly investigated paper discusses the challenges our society currently faces with mental healthcare amidst COVID-19 and how online therapy is one venue that we have, for a long time, chosen not to utilize in the past, but must now recognize its viability as a solid, therapeutic resource for the mental healthcare industry. This paper seeks to confront the various reasons for opposing online therapy and share evidence of ongoing programs that have embraced …

A Need For Change; Critical Issues Facing Kentucky's Correctional System, Candace Harper

Integrated Studies

Abstract

Protecting the public, rehabilitating offenders, and reducing recidivism while increasing desistance are essential goals for the Department of Corrections. In order to maximize the effectiveness of the department, several areas need evaluation, and improvement. The focus on reducing recidivism should begin with reconsideration of the methods used to measure an offender's progress and success. The theory that the current measurement of recidivism is unreliable data needs to be investigated and other methods of measurement should be considered. Another aspect that needs inspection is how Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can affect the positive progression that evidence-based programming provides, and how PTSD …

How Covid-19 Is Affecting Ltc Facilities, Rachael M. Simcox, Rachael Simcox

Integrated Studies

Historically, viruses have had major impact on society. Some viruses are relatively harmless, while other are a death sentence. We are currently facing a highly communicable virus that is vigorously making its way around the globe, having a devastating impact on the management and delivery of everyday care in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF’s). In December 2019, a new coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan China. While rapidly spreading in China, it only took a month to make its way to the United States, resulting in the Trump Administration declaring a national emergency, only two months later, on March 13, 2020. Shortly …

Women In The Military, Amanda Bostick

Integrated Studies

Since the beginning of the United Stated military, women have served their country in one way or another. Even when women were banned from serving, they found ways. Through the years, women have faced and overcome many challenges that the military has exposed them to. Many of these challenges have caused medical issues in both mental and physical areas. Women have had to prove their worth and capabilities and continue to do so today. They have faced sexual harassment, abuse, and rape often to be ignored when they speak out and seek help from leadership. Females have faced many challenges …