Digital Commons Network^™

The Lived Experiences Of Mothers Of Children With Down Syndrome Using Teleot Services: A Phenomenological Study, Tumini Umukoro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In response to the COVID-19 lockdown in the United States, therapy services for children with developmental delays transitioned to telehealth services. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of mothers of children diagnosed with Down syndrome (DS) who received occupational therapy services through telehealth (teleOT) using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Bronfenbrenner's ecological system theory was the framework used to address the research questions: RQ1: What are the lived experiences of mothers of children with DS regarding teleOT services? RQ2: How do mothers of children with DS perceive the benefits and challenges of telehealth OT services? …

The Effects Of Music Participation On Sense Of Belonging Among Elementary Students With Traumatic Experiences, Jamie Lynn Mckoy Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The unexpressed perspectives of children have long been dismissed in elementary music education. Daily agendas, curriculum, and administrative expectations direct the day-to-day functions of the classroom and negate the instructor’s assessment of students’ needs. As a result, students who have experienced trauma (various forms) will feel disconnected from the classroom and have a low level of engagement. Music educators must adapt their planning and execution and infuse empathy and flexibility in their teaching to allow all children room to grieve previous traumatic experiences. This historical research investigates the student perspectives on what music participation means effects on elementary students’ sense …

Do Games Play A Role In Personal Socialization?, Jasmine Reyna Landry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore how online gamers aged 20 to 40 experience the impact of socialization on self-verification and personal purpose. Semi-structured interviews with eleven participants were conducted, and data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method to capture the essence of participants lived experiences and the sample population consisted of 12 participants. Findings revealed two overarching themes and in the themes several subthemes that include: Emotional Regulation, Social Presence, Stress Relief, Gaming as Social Connection and Maintenance and lifestyle balance. Participants described gaming as central to sustaining meaningful relationships, regulating stress, exploring identity, and receiving …

Job-Related Factors Affecting Special Education Teachers In The Pk-12 Classrooms Technology Proficiency: A Predictive Correlational Study, Kreshonya Porter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to determine if a linear combination of job-related factors could predict special education teachers’ technology proficiency. The study is critical because teachers’ technology proficiency in a special education setting directly impacts students’ inclusivity, engagement, productivity, and achievements in the classroom. This study adds to the literature regarding special education teachers’ technology proficiency by examining specific job-related factors (experience, educational level, amount of technology-related professional development training, frequency of technology use, specialty, and job placement). The participants for this study were drawn from the population of special education teachers employed in pre-K through …

Criminalizing Difference: An Intersectional Analysis Of Disability In The Criminal Justice System, Rowan Eisleman

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This research addresses the central question: How do individuals with disabilities intersect with the criminal justice system, and what systemic factors contribute to their overrepresentation and victimization? Despite over 61 million Americans having disabilities, there exists a significant gap in comprehensive scholarship examining disability-criminal justice intersections, particularly regarding how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience unique vulnerabilities as both offenders and victims. This study contributes to disability studies and criminology by providing a comprehensive intersectional analysis examining how disability compounds with race and gender to create compounded marginalization. This study conducted a comprehensive literature review, analyzing government statistics from …

Can Cta-Based Machine Learning Identify Patients For Whom Successful Endovascular Stroke Therapy Is Insufficient?, Jerome A Jeevarajan, Yingjun Dong, Anjan Ballekere, Sergio Salazar Marioni, Arash Niktabe, Rania Abdelkhaleq, Sunil A Sheth, Luca Giancardo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and purpose: Despite advances in endovascular stroke therapy (EST) devices and techniques, many patients are left with substantial disability, even if the final infarct volumes (FIVs) remain small. Here, we evaluate the performance of a machine learning (ML) approach by using pretreatment CTA to identify this cohort of patients that may benefit from additional interventions.

Materials and methods: We identified consecutive subjects with large vessel occlusion (LVO) acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who underwent EST with successful reperfusion in a multicenter prospective registry cohort. We included only subjects with FIV < 30 mL and recorded 90-day outcome (mRS). A deep learning model was pretrained and then fine-tuned to predict 90-day mRS 0-2 by using pretreatment CTA images (DeepsymNet-v3 model pretrained on radiology reports and fine-tuned on detection of unexpected clinical outcomes using brain CTA images [DSN-CTA] model). The primary outcome was the predictive performance of the DSN-CTA model compared with a logistic regression model with clinical variables, measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

Results: The DSN-CTA model was pretrained on 1542 subjects and …

Design Of An Open-Label Extension Trial Of Nerandomilast (Bi 1015550) In Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis And Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis (Fibroneer™-On), Wim A Wuyts, Luca Richeldi, Shervin Assassi, Arata Azuma, Vincent Cottin, Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold, Michael Kreuter, Justin M Oldham, Fernando J Martinez, Claudia Valenzuela, Marlies S Wijsenbeek, Madhu Kanakapura, Alexandra James, Gerrit Weimann, Cyril Drzewuski, Carl Coeck, Toby M Maher

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There is a need for more effective treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Nerandomilast (BI 1015550), an oral preferential inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4B, is being evaluated in two randomized Phase III trials: FIBRONEER™-IPF (NCT05321069) and FIBRONEER™-ILD (NCT05321082). FIBRONEER™-ON is an open-label extension (OLE) of these studies that will evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of nerandomilast. Here, we describe the study design of the OLE.

Methods: This prospective 98-week OLE will follow the Phase III parent trials, which are currently underway with 1177 patients enrolled in FIBRONEER™-IPF and 1178 patients …

December 4, 2025, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Clinical Utility Of The Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit For Use In Occupational Therapy Practice In Adult Social Care: A Qualitative Study, Rachel Cox, Sarah Reynolds

School of Health Professions

AbstractBackground/Aims Promoting the wellbeing of service users is a core focus in occupational therapy and adult social care. Despite a professional, policy and legal mandate to provide evidence of the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions in adult social care, few local authority teams in England use standardised outcome measures to assess the impact of interventions on wellbeing. One local authority’s occupational therapy service in England sought to address this by introducing the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit. This study explored the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit’s clinical utility (usefulness) in this setting. As the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit has …

Exploring The Academic Self-Advocacy Experiences Of African American Female College Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Temetric Reeves

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Despite available resources for students with disabilities, AA female college students with ADHD continue to experience academic challenges that threaten their graduation goals. Students with ADHD are not graduating at the same level as their non-ADHD peers, which may often be due to inefficient academic self-advocacy skills that can address intersectional oppression. College students with ADHD often face academic challenges that contribute to lower graduation rates compared to their non-ADHD peers. African American women similarly experience lower graduation rates compared to their white peers. When combined, these intersecting factors highlight the compounded barriers African American female college students with ADHD …

Information About Task Duration Influences Energetic Cost During Split-Belt Adaptation And Retention Of Walking Patterns Post-Adaptation, Samantha N. Jeffcoat, Adrian Aragon, Andrian Kuch, Shawn Farrokhi, Andrew Hooyman, Russell Johnson, Natalia Sanchez

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Studies of locomotor adaptation have shown that adaptation can occur in short bouts and can continue for long bouts or across days. Information about task duration might influence the adaptation of gait features, given that task duration influences the time available to explore and adapt the aspects of gait that reduce energy cost. We hypothesized that information about task duration and frequency of updates influences adaptation to split-belt walking based on two competing mechanisms: individuals anticipating a prolonged adaptation period may either (1) extend exploration of energetically suboptimal gait patterns, or (2) adapt toward a more energy-efficient pattern earlier to …

Comparing Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors With Procarbazine, Lomustine, And Vincristine Chemotherapy For Oligodendrogliomas, Gerardo Duran, Diego Pichardo-Rojas, Ahmed Hashim Ali, Peter Passias, Angela Downes, Wilson Z Ray, Gregory J Zipfel, Hakeem J Shakir, Andrew Bauer, Andrew Jea, Ian F Dunn, Jeffrey A Zuccato, Christopher S Graffeo, M Burhan Janjua

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The abstract has been submitted for presentation to the AANS 2026 meeting being held in San Antonio, TX, USA.

Functional Classification Of Platelet Gene Variants Using Crispr Hdr In Cd34+ Cell-Derived Megakaryocytes, Yasuhiro Kosaka, Brandon Lopez, Nina Kishimoto, Shancy Jacob, Emilie Montenont, Rodrigo Huallanca, Graeson Coughenour, Jorge Di Paola, Justyne Ross, Kristy Lee, Matthew T Rondina, Paul F Bray, Jesse W Rowley

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The interpretation of genetic variants in inherited diseases, such as inherited platelet disorders (IPDs), remains a major clinical challenge, as most are classified as variants of uncertain significance (VUSs). A key barrier to functional evaluation is the lack of accessible, lineage-appropriate assays that reliably reflect native gene regulation and cell-specific biology. To address this gap, we developed CRIMSON HD (CRISPR-edited megakaryocytes [MKs] for surveying platelet variant functions through homology-directed repair [HDR]), a CRISPR-Cas9 HDR-based genome-editing platform applicable to CD34

Brain Metabolic-Functional (De)Coupling From Health To Glioma Dysfunction, G Vallini, G Baron, E Silvestri, T Volpi, A G Vlassenko, M S Goyal, A Chiuso, D Cecchin, M Corbetta, A Bertoldo

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The interplay between brain metabolism and function supports the brain's adaptive capacity in cognitively demanding processes. Prior work has linked glucose metabolism to resting-state fMRI activity, but often overlooks both hemodynamic confounders in the BOLD signal and the brain's dynamic nature. To address this, we employed a novel effective connectivity decomposition, separating symmetric partial covariance, capturing "true" statistical dependencies between regions, from antisymmetric differential covariance, reflecting directional brain flow. In 42 healthy subjects, we show that partial covariance corresponds to metabolic connectivity across regions, while node directionality relates to standardized uptake value ratio, a proxy for local glucose consumption. We …

Introduction To The Special Issue, “Forgiveness Education Around The World: Considerations, Benefits, And Approaches”, Suzanne Freedman

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Many Elementary Students Lack Opportunities To Develop Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving And Other Essential 21st-Century Skills., Raeanne Sika

Masters Projects

Abstract

Many elementary students have limited opportunities to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills essential for 21st-century learning. Traditional teacher-centered approaches often prioritize memorization over inquiry, leaving young learners underprepared for complex, authentic tasks. Project-based learning (PBL) offers a research-supported alternative, yet teachers often face barriers such as limited preparation, time, and resources.

This project provides a practical solution through a comprehensive professional development (PD) program and PBL implementation toolkit designed for early elementary educators. Grounded in constructivist and social learning theories, the project includes a multi-session PD series, planning templates, instructional supports, and a complete first-grade PBL unit …

2025-12-04 Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

Faculty Senate meeting minutes from December 4, 2025.

Impact Of The 23andme Bankruptcy On Preserving The Public Benefit Of Scientific Data, Jonathan E. Lotempio Jr., Chistopher R. Donohue, Jonatahan D. Moreno, Ana Santos Rutschman, Joshua Sarnoff, Michael S. Sinha, Thomas Stoeger, Jorge L. Contreras

Faculty Publications

The bankruptcy of 23andMe was an inflection point for the direct-to-consumer genetics market. Although the privacy of consumer data has been highlighted by many as a concern, we discuss another key tension in this case: the corporate enclosure of scientific data that has considerable potential value for biomedical research and public health.

Opening Brief For Plaintiff-Appellant Jacob Julick, Aryssa Harris, Cameron Tong, Madeline H. Meth

Faculty Scholarship

For ten days in the middle of winter, officers at the Kentucky State Penitentiary (KSP) confined Jacob Julick in freezing cells, dressed only in paper boxers, and without access to hygiene products, a shower, cleaning products, bedding, or shoes. The reason? Mistaken retribution in response to a recent assault on an officer in which Julick was not involved.

When Julick reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, Defendant Officer Jason Denny mocked him, telling him to “kill [him]self and do them the favor.” Shortly after, Julick was moved from his first solitary cell to a strip cage where he was handcuffed, shackled, and …

The Effect Of Community-Based Exercise For Individuals With Pre-Existing Health Conditions, Amy M. Stahl

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Physical inactivity is a growing problem for the health and wellbeing of the world’s population. Increases in physical activity may help to improve health outcomes for the general population of the United States. This study is two-fold and seeks to determine if community-based exercise groups are successful in improving the health of people with preexisting conditions and encouraging community members to adhere to an exercise program. A quasi-experimental 12-week comparison study consists of a control group of standard care and an intervention group that participates in a three-day a week community walking group. The purpose of the group is to …

General Education Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders: The Predictive Value Of Idea Knowledge, Teaching Experience, And Classroom-Management Self-Efficacy, Kellie N. Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

General-education teachers often feel unprepared to support students with Emotional and Behavior Disorders (EBD), which can foster negative attitudes toward inclusion. Identifying teacher factors that support successful inclusion in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is needed. This quantitative predictive–correlational study tested whether general-education teachers’ Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) knowledge, classroom-management self-efficacy, and years of experience predict attitudes toward including students with EBD. Using Facebook and LinkedIn, 83 teachers volunteered and completed the General Educators’ Attitudes toward Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Questionnaire, the Efficacy for Classroom Management Scale, and the Knowledge of Special Education Law Survey. Multiple linear regression …

Exploring Veterans' Experiences And Perceptions Of Mental Health Support: A Comparative Study Of Va Services Versus Civilian Mental Health Services, Jameelah Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological investigation aimed to describe and interpret the experiences of veterans who received mental health care from veterans at Veterans Administration (VA) facilities and civilian healthcare providers in the Mid-Atlantic region. The investigation examined the complex issues veterans encounter when accessing mental healthcare through both VA services and civilian providers. The research investigated veterans' views on essential elements such as trustworthiness, cultural competence within care systems, accessibility to services, and the quality of therapeutic relationships. The framework helped us comprehend how veterans’ attitudes, together with their subjective norms and perceived behavioral control, shape their decisions about using mental health …

Examining The Influence Of Education On Job Satisfaction Among Georgia Police Officers: A Causal-Comparative Quantitative Analysis, Ebony J. Gammon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if a significant difference exists between job satisfaction scores among police officers with varying levels of education. This study is important because it addresses contemporary challenges in law enforcement, will provide valuable insight into informed decision making, has broad implications and applicability, and will contribute to scant policing knowledge that informs the understanding of education level on police actions. More specifically, how higher education or the absence thereof impacts job satisfaction. The sample was composed of 180 sworn Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified, police officers in the state …

Not Feeling The Skin I Am In: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study On The Importance Of Belonging For Black Undergraduate Females At Pwis, Sheila Marie Hudson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study will be to discover the importance of finding and establishing belonging for Black, female undergraduates at PWIs. The theory guiding this study is Maslow’s theory on humanistic needs, as it explains the relationship between belonging as a human need for motivation and how PWIs can encourage these students to find their place on the campus to be motivated and retained. The central research question for this study is: What are the lived experiences of Black females who attend PWIs in establishing a sense of belonging on the campus? The methodology for this study will …

Developing Healthy Leaders For Multiplication At The Bridge Church, Joshua D. Robinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem addressed in this DMIN action research project is the lack of a clearly defined biblical framework for the ongoing leadership development at TBC in Venice, Florida, amid rapid growth and increasing attendance. This gap has hindered the equipping of leaders to disciple and lead others and fulfill the Great Commission through church multiplication. The purpose of this project was to design and implement a biblically grounded leadership pathway, including The Bridge Institute (TBI), to equip current and future servant leaders for maturity, relational authenticity, and missional impact. The goals included developing improved assimilation, increasing volunteer engagement, and creating …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Effects Of Having A Mentor On The Emotional, Mental, And Spiritual Health Of Bi-Vocational Clergy, Kenneth E. Hall Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the effect of a mentor/mentee relationship on the feelings of isolation and loneliness of bi-vocational clergy. The prevalence of bi-vocational clergy is on the rise across all denominations. Coupled with the number of clergy people leaving the ministry annually, bi-vocational clergy will become even more commonplace within the church structure. As the prevalence of bi-vocational clergy increases and the number of roles that they are expected to fill grows, safeguarding their mental, emotional, and spiritual health needs to be a priority. Bi-vocational clergy are at great risk for burnout and …

Impact Of A Pandemic On Clinical Research Organization Ethics: A Case Study, Supakan Apiratanapimonchai

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this research is to examine the post-COVID ethical issues among clinical trials at clinical research organizations (CROs) in the Eastern region. This research is theoretically underpinned by the premise of evaluating the impact of post-COVID on data transparency, ethical guidelines, and protocol compliance. The institutional theory posits that insights gained from this comparative analysis will also contribute to the broader discourse on safeguarding research integrity. According to Yin, case studies are the most beneficial study design to be used, consisting of quantitative approaches (Yin, 2018). The data collected from clinical research associates (CRAs) with experience working with …

A Quantitative Study Exploring The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Fibromyalgia Symptoms And The Moderating Role Of Attachment To God, Darlene M. Scott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Fibromyalgia, also known as Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS), is a condition that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain throughout the body, insomnia, tenderness and inflammation at specific pressure points on the body. This research aimed to explore the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and FMS symptom severity. In addition, this study examined if attachment to God is a moderator of the relationship between ACEs and FMS symptoms, and if adults with four or more ACEs have higher levels of FMS symptoms than those with three or fewer ACEs. The sample consists of 99 (n = 99) participants diagnosed with FMS recruited online. …

Treatment Concerning Grief Disorder After Covid-19: Can Spiritual Care Help?, Tamika Marie Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The phenomenological study described the experiences of spiritual care for adults who lost a loved one due to COVID-19 in Texas. The theory guiding the study was Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy, which was humanity’s search for meaning in a finite world governed by spiritual principles (García-Alandete, 2024; Parker, 2022; Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014). Grief was one of the occurrences that grappled with humanity’s understanding of life. Death was a universal phenomenon, and grief occurred as a response to a loss (Fernández & González-González, 2022). Research shows that symptoms of grief dissipate over time. When it was accompanied by prolonged time or …

Exploring The Predictive Relationship Between Course Clarity And Utility Value On Engagement For Online Post-Secondary Students In Canada, Amanda Marie Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive, correlational study was to examine how well course clarity and utility value predict student engagement among online learners at a Canadian post-secondary institution. This study is important because it can provide educators and curriculum developers with insights into the factors that positively impact student engagement. Supporting student engagement ensures learners receive a beneficial education and that the institution delivers relevant, engaging programming to retain its students. The sample comprised 68 online post-secondary learners studying at a college in Canada. Data were collected using portions of the Online Learning Climate Scale, the Expectancies and Values …