Digital Commons Network^™

Gloria Daniels

African American Funeral Programs

No abstract provided.

It's The Journey That Matters Most, Jenny Petersen

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

My MSW journey has been one of profound growth, marked by the integration of academic knowledge, hands-on fieldwork, and personal reflection. Through challenges and triumphs, I have developed resilience, empathy, and a deeper commitment to advocating for justice and empowering individuals and communities.

Master Of Social Work Portfolio, Kiana L. Emge

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Nutritional Composition Of Mucuna Pruriens Var. Utilis (Velvet Bean) Seeds Grown In Nanyumbu District, Tanzania, Florence Boniface, Stephen I. Nnungu, Washa B. Washa

Tanzania Journal of Science

In tropical countries, Mucuna seeds have been utilized to promote better health and ensure a stable food supply. The use of Mucuna pruriens var. utilis seeds in Tanzania has prompted an evaluation of the nutritional composition of two common cultivars grown in the Nanyumbu district. Mucuna seed samples (black-reddish brown and black-greyish) were collected and analyzed for their nutritional content using standard extraction and spectrophotometric techniques. Data analysis was conducted using GraphPad InStat 3.0 software, with a t-test employed to compare means at a 95% confidence level. The results indicated that the differences in nutritional parameters between the black-reddish brown …

Does Physician-Hospital Vertical Integration Affect Hospital Output?, Soumya Upadhyay, Neeraj Bhandari

Healthcare Administration and Policy Faculty Research

Background: Physician-hospital vertical integration is gaining steam but it is unclear how they affect hospital output.

Objective: To examine the direct impact of vertical integration on hospital output.

Design: A pooled design with 6-year data using linear regressions was used. Then, panel data design with hospital fixed effects was used.

Methods: We linked American Hospital Association data (2016-2021) with AHRQ Comparative Health System Performance Initiative’s Compendium (2018, 2020, 2021; 34 987 hospital-year observations) to develop new measures of vertical integration and assess its relationship with several measures of hospital output including annualized total admissions, total number of inpatients days, …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership And Knowledge Sharing On Intention To Use Gamification In Teaching, Truong M. Vu

Dissertations, 2020-current

This paper investigates the impact of transformational leadership and knowledge sharing on university professors' intentions to use gamification in teaching, employing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical framework. Gamification, defined as the integration of game-based mechanics to promote learning and engagement, has shown significant potential in enhancing educational experiences but remains underutilized in higher education. This study suggests that knowledge sharing is a critical antecedent influencing the perceived ease of use, usefulness, and adoption of gamification by educators. Using a quantitative methodology, data are collected from 204 university professors in Vietnam, analyzing their perceptions of transformational leadership behaviors, …

Perceived Environmental Uncertainty Levels Of Ncaa Athletic Directors, Tiffany Brutus

Dissertations, 2020-current

This study explores predictors of perceived environmental uncertainty among college athletic directors (ADs) of National Intercollegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member institutions amidst the evolving dynamics of the intercollegiate athletics industry. This research specifically focuses on uncertainty associated with environmental forces outlined in the political, economic, sociocultural, technological, environmental, and legal (PESTEL)model, which captures recent industry disruptions such as Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) legislation, social justice movements, the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in transfer rules, and conference realignments. Using a contingency theory perspective, the central inquiry of this study is how AD individual, departmental, and institutional characteristics relate to ADs' perceptions …

Unveiling Resilience: An Exploration Of Relational Cultural Theory, Prevalence Factors, And Emdr’S Impact On Injury And Performance Anxiety In Collegiate Student-Athletes, Brian T. Lusk

Dissertations, 2020-current

This dissertation delved into the mental health challenges encountered by collegiate student-athletes, with a specific focus on injury and performance anxiety. The research is presented in a three-manuscript format. The first manuscript is a conceptual exploration of Relational Cultural Theory [RCT] and its application in supporting student-athletes during injury recovery. By integrating the Five Good Things framework, the study demonstrates how growth-promoting connection and a strong therapeutic alliance can enhance holistic recovery, addressing the physical and emotional impacts of injury. The second manuscript investigated performance anxiety among student-athletes, with an emphasis on gender, sport type, and Adverse Childhood Experiences [ACEs] …

Re-Imagining Technical Communication Concepts Through A Social Work Lens: A Case Study And Content Analysis Of The Department Of Aging And Rehabilitative Services, Jonas Kee

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This thesis highlights how traditional technical communication concepts such as social justice rhetoric, disability studies, and user experience (UX) are re-imagined through the lens of Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services (DARS) professionals. In this thesis, I present information gathered from a content analysis focused on four documents used within the DARS office, a survey, and interviews administered to DARS Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors. This thesis analyzes the documents, survey, and interview questions through the experiences of DARS professionals, clients, and external stakeholders. This thesis concludes with business and pedagogical implications regarding the field of UX and how to effectively …

Hattie Mae Benemon

African American Funeral Programs

Hattie_Mae_Benemon.pdf - Funeral program for Hattie Benemon

Experiences With Crisis And Resilience In Education In Emergencies: Voices And Lenses Of Teachers In Nicaragua, Anita De Anda

Doctorate in Education

This interpretive phenomenological study illustrated how a group of primary school teachers in Nicaragua used ontological values to orient their experiences and negotiations of a destabilizing socio-political crisis compounded by COVID-19. Set within a framework of education in emergencies, this study employed short-term ethnographic methods and trauma-informed principles to explore the dynamic and interconnected domains and relationships during collective duress, and the organic resilience that emerged to preserve core priorities. A history of collective adversity, weak systems, and political hegemony made the nation vulnerable to cycles of emergency while leaving recovery up to individuals, families, and communities. As a result, …

Characterizing Teacher Support Of Debugging With Physical Computing: Debugging Pedagogies In Practice, Colin Hennessy Elliott, Jessie Nixon, Alexandra Gendrau Chakarov, Jeffrey B. Bush, Michael J. Schneider, Mimi Recker

Publications

Objectives. Physical computing systems are increasingly being integrated into secondary school science and STEM instruction, yet little is known about how teachers, especially those with little background and experience in computing, help students during the inevitable debugging moments that arise. In this article, we describe a framework, comprising two dimensions, for characterizing how teachers support students as they debug a physical computing system called the Data Sensor Hub (DASH). The DASH enables students to program sensors to measure, analyze, and visualize data as they engage in science inquiry activities

Participants. Five secondary school teachers implemented an inquiry-oriented instructional …

Reduction Of Seclusion And Restraint Among Children And Adolescents In An Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital: A Health Policy Analysis, Huma Moez

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

Background: Seclusion and restraint (SR) or restrictive intervention in inpatient/ acute psychiatric hospitals, emergency departments, crisis stabilization units, residentials, or group homes is a pressing and an immediate concern in mental health settings, particularly for children and adolescents, for whom SR rates are higher. The Joint Commission and other national organizations have made significant strides in prioritizing the reduction and elimination of SR among children and adolescents due to its negative physical and psychological consequences.

Objective: This DNP project will aim to provide the results of a policy analysis to present evidence-based techniques and a resulting re-envisioned policy recommendation to …

Advanced Practice Clinician Outcomes: Pre/Post Implementation Of An Advanced Practice Clinician Council, Jeannine M. Moss

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

Improving access to quality, affordable, and timely healthcare is a national priority. Health systems across the United States are utilizing Advanced Practice Clinicians (APCs) to fill the void in healthcare delivery. As provider shortages continue and the demand for APCs increases, organizations must develop robust structures to support APC engagement, retention, job satisfaction, and professional growth. Currently, 44% of the provider workforce within a large urban health system are APCs, yet despite substantial APC provider labor pool representation, the organization had little infrastructure to support APC professional growth and no mechanism for organizational involvement. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed …

Reducing No-Shows In A Behavioral Health Setting: A Program Evaluation, Meagan Evans

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

Mental healthcare in America faces many significant challenges; this is especially true in rural regions like Southwest Virginia. When patients miss their scheduled appointments, it represents a lost opportunity to deliver the critical mental health services that other individuals in need could have benefited from. A significant access issue presents itself when patients are not able to get the mental health support they need. The lack of outpatient access leads to patients utilizing emergency rooms inappropriately for what could have been routine care visits. A multitude of factors can contribute to patients failing to attend their scheduled appointments, including transportation …

Implementation Of An Advanced Practice Provider Into The Outpatient Neurology Clinic To Improve Access To Care And Medication Compliance, Sean O'Laughlin

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

The American Association of Neurology (AAN) recommended that post-stroke and TIA patients receive follow-up care within 2–4 weeks of discharge to reduce complications, improve medication adherence, and decrease readmission rates (2023). However, in 2022, a Central Virginia neurology practice reported an average wait time of 98.66 days for outpatient follow-up appointments, significantly exceeding the AAN recommendation, while medication adherence was only 72.23%, compared to the national average of 80%. Research by the American Academy of Neurology Workforce Task Force (2013) and Woo et al. (2017) highlighted that incorporating advanced practice nurses into outpatient settings could enhance access to care and …

Naloxone Prescribing At Hospital Discharge: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Timothy Ford

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

Opioid overdose deaths remain one of the largest public health challenges in the United States. Naloxone allocation is an important tool to help combat opioid overdose deaths. The literature supports that hospitalized patients are generally receptive to receiving naloxone and opioid education and interdisciplinary teams working together can help facilitate identification of high-risk patients for naloxone allocation. This quality improvement change, guided by the IHI Triple Aims and Model for Healthcare Improvement frameworks, sought to increase the rate of patients leaving the Hospital Medicine Service with naloxone. To accomplish this, during the target units’ daily interdisciplinary rounds, providers were prompted …

Implementation Of A Standardized Screening And Referral Process For Social Determinants Of Health For Families With Children Within Two Rural Health Clinics, Laura Britton Stace

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

Abstract

The American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures Guidelines recommends social determinants of health (SDOH) screening at well-child checks (WCCs). Social determinants of health are environmental factors, including food accessibility, mental health, and substance use, that can affect quality of life.

Rural health clinics (RHCs) in a county in Virginia did not routinely use a standardized screener to identify pediatric SDOH risks, nor did they have a standardized referral process for identifying SDOH risks. A hospital community needs assessment found that over 20% of the county households were below the federal poverty level. It is estimated that many children in …

The Devil In The Details: The Malleus Maleficarum And Its Relationship To Regional Witchcraft Beliefs In Metz And The Corresponding Trials, Morgan Gubser

University Honors Theses

This thesis will explore witch trials in Lorraine, France, in the mid- to late-1400s, with a strong focus on trials conducted in or in reference to the city of Metz. The sixteenth century saw the period of the "great witch trials", which is often studied by those publishing in Witchcraft Studies, but a renewed scholarly focus is now being placed on the time before these great trials. By understanding these smaller outbreaks of trials that occurred in Lorraine before the sixteenth century we might hope to understand why so many trials tore through the region a century later. This thesis …

Meretseger: A Reexamination, Parker M. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Meretseger, “She Who Loves Silence,” the cobra goddess of the Theban necropolis and local deity of Deir el-Medina, is well attested for in the New Kingdom. This single sentence makes up most of the information in publications today, derived from Bernard Bruyère’s Mert Seger à Deir el Médineh (1929-1930), the only study dedicated to the “Mistress of the West.” Since then, new evidence has been found after 1930 and has not been compiled into a single publication until now. This thesis will reexamine Meretseger to form a more accurate, up-to-date study of her attestations and iconographic representations and trace her …

Geomorphic Evolution Of St. Augustine Inlet, St. Johns County, Florida, Kristen Becker

Theses and Dissertations

Tidal inlets interrupt longshore sediment transport, influencing adjacent beach morphology and allowing the exchange of water and sediment between the open oceans and protected back barrier bay. Inlets evolve through a combination of natural processes and are highly dynamic zones where sediment exchanges cause shifting shoreline positions nearby and create new morphological features. Barrier islands/beaches that are close in proximity to inlets evolve and are an important natural feature that dissipates wave energy and protects inland areas. Both natural and anthropogenic processes that affect barrier islands will be investigated during this study, including storm activity, waves, wind, water level, and …

Grip Strength As An Indicator Of Neuromuscular Recovery, Emily Wilhelm

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Purpose: To evaluate whether grip strength accurately tracks recovery from lower-body exercise comparable to other physical tests and a blood biomarker. Methods: Six subjects (three males and three females) completed testing for estimated 1-RM, jump squat velocity, grip strength, creatine kinase and leg extension peak torque one day prior to a fatiguing session of 10 sets of squats for 10 repetitions at 60% of estimated 1-RM. Each of these tests, as well as ratings of muscular soreness were performed again 24, 48 and 72 hours after the session of squats. Results: For peak torque, the 24 hours (129.5± 35.0 …

Acoustofluidics-Based Intracellular Nanoparticle Delivery, Zhishang Li, Zhenhua Tian, Jason N. Belling, Joseph Rich, Haodong Zhu, Zhehan Ma, Hunter Bachman, Liang Shen, Yaosi Liang, Xiolin Qi, Liv K. Heidenreich, Yao Gong, Shujie Yang, Wenfen Zhang, Peiran Zhang, Yingchun Fu, Yibin Ying, Steven J. Jonas, Yanbin Li, Paul S. Weiss, Tony J. Huang

Faculty Publications

Controlled intracellular delivery of biomolecular cargo is critical for developing targeted therapeutics and cell reprogramming. Conventional delivery approaches (e.g., endocytosis of nano-vectors, microinjection, and electroporation) usually require time-consuming uptake processes, labor-intensive operations, and/or costly specialized equipment. Here, we present an acoustofluidics-based intracellular delivery approach capable of effectively delivering various functional nanomaterials to multiple cell types (e.g., adherent and suspension cancer cells). By tuning the standing acoustic waves in a glass capillary, our approach can push cells in flow to the capillary wall and enhance membrane permeability by increasing membrane stress to deform cells via acoustic radiation forces. Moreover, by coating …

Rational Design Of Nanoparticles For Overcoming Barriers Of Nucleic Acid Delivery: Applications In Cancer Therapeutics, Angelea M. Maestas-Olguin

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

The use of exogenous nucleic acid technologies to modulate aberrant protein expression resulting from genetic mutations is a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of diseases such as cancer. The promise of nucleic-based therapeutics is dependent on the development of platforms that effectively protect nucleic acids from nuclease degradation and deliver the nucleic acids to specific intracellular locations (nucleus or cytosol) of target cells. The application of nanotechnology for development of nucleic acid-based nanomedicines is poised to revolutionize the clinical landscape of cancer. In this dissertation, I demonstrated the rational design, synthesis and evaluation of a lipid coated mesoporous silica …

“Without Damaging Our Own Academic Journeys”: Student Thinking About And Use Of Generative Ai In First-Year Writing, Karin Admiraal, Mary Anderson

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

While many in the university community are discussing, regulating, and experimenting with the use of ChatGPT and other generative AI for teaching and learning, fewer studies exist that explore how incorporating the technology into the classroom works in practice. This paper reports on an intervention designed to involve students in co-creation of a policy for the use of ChatGPT and other AI in a First-Year Writing class. The co-creation activity comes from a humanizing pedagogical perspective (Bartolome, 1994), which seeks to empower students in their own learning process. Following the activity, researchers used Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) (Braun & Clarke, …

Student And Teacher Outcomes: Implementing Pax Gbg In Elementary Schools, Nimisha Patel, Michelle A. Fleming, Amy Elston

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

This paper examines the implementation of the PAX Good Behavior Game (PAX GBG) in a Midwestern metropolitan area during the 2018-2019 academic year. The study focuses on baseline, midpoint, and endpoint frequencies of students’ off-task behaviors (Spleems), as well as teachers’ and administrators' self-reports of self-efficacy and resiliency. Students in PreK through Grade 5 were in classes in which teachers implemented PAX GBG. Students were enrolled in one of 195 classrooms across 13 public schools. Means were calculated for Spleems, as well as for the self-efficacy and resiliency scales. Furthermore, the Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test was used to determine the …

An Investigation Into Two Mathematics Score Reports: Problem Solving Measure (Psm) And Measurement Of Academic Progress (Map), Benjamin Lawson, Jonathan D. Bostic

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

K-12 teachers and staff need high-quality score reports that accurately report students’ results. However, research about score reports that K-12 teachers and staff use indicates that they infrequently are given opportunities to share feedback to developers. To address this, we gathered feedback from teachers and administrators, in an explanatory sequential design of a mixed-methods study. A purpose of the study was to examine score report quality from two mathematics assessments. Two researchers surveyed in-service professionals (n = 34) about two score reports. Then, we conducted follow-up interviews (n = 6) to further unpack what school personnel find valuable and useful …

The Code Of Maimonides, Book Thirteen: The Book Of Civil Laws (Transl. Jacob J. Rabinowitz, 1949), J. Allen Smith

Florida Law Review

No abstract provided.

Juvenile Delinquency (Paul W. Tappan, 1949), Clyde B. Vedder

Florida Law Review

No abstract provided.

Introduction To Income Taxation (James M. Henderson, 1949), J. William Norman

Florida Law Review

No abstract provided.