Digital Commons Network^™

No Return: Caste And The End Of The Liberal Debate Over U.S. Antidiscrimination Law, Julie Novkov

Maryland Law Review

No abstract provided.

Homemade For Change: Addressing The Barriers To Home Cooking Among Emerging Adults For Better Health, Finances, And Well-Being, Sarida Smitthimedhin

Masters Theses

This study investigates how a visual approach—combining design, photography, and illustration with nutrition—can encourage home cooking. In today’s fast-paced society and overabundance food culture, many emerging adults struggle to prepare meals at home. This study examines how food industry practices and cultural trends shape the eating habits of emerging adults by exploring the reasons behind the decline in home cooking and its adverse effects on health, finances, well-being, and the environment.

Although research indicates that most adults recognize that home cooking is the healthiest choice, they often do not practice it, citing time and lack of cooking knowledge as their …

The Fruit Of The Spirit Beyond Sunday: A Practical Implementation Of The Fruit Of The Spirit Through Visual And Experiential Learning, Amy English

Masters Theses

In today’s world, modern Christian women recognize the importance of the Fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and temperance—but many Christian women find it difficult to consistently put these virtues into practice. A key reason for this struggle is the lack of practical methods and visual reminders that help women recall and apply these qualities in their daily lives. Without clear, accessible ways to nurture these spiritual fruits, believers may find that their growth in these areas is limited or inconsistent.

This thesis explores how combining intentional spiritual habits with creative visual tools can make …

"I Like The Idea In Theory": Experiencing The Imperial Matrix Through Legal Gender Marker Changes And Nonbinary Disidentifications, Wynn Strange

Dissertations and Theses

Since 2018 twenty-two states and the District of Columbia have implemented administrative changes that provide a third gender option on at least one state identification document allowing nonbinary and intersex people the opportunity to select a gender marker that reflects their gender identity. This study draws from 28 interviews with agender or otherwise nonbinary people living in Maryland and California. I use queer of color and critical trans theory to consider the implications of legal gender marker changes. This research explores how social, historical, and geographical location can influence ones' awareness of, experiences with, and relation to real and imagined …

Spatial Ecology And Population Dynamics Of Chukar Partridge, Jacob Taft Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

Chukar (Alectoris chukar) are a non-native bird that has naturalized in North America following its introduction over a century ago. Today, the species supports hunting opportunities in 11 U.S. states and one Canadian province. Despite its wide distribution and recreational value, key aspects of chukar ecology remain poorly understood. Limited information is available on the species' spatial ecology, including patterns of space use. Likewise, information regarding the influence of weather on population dynamics of chukar has not been formally conducted. As part of our investigation, we evaluated the space use of chukar in western Utah, USA utilizing GPS transmitters (Chapter …

Conducting A Historical Map Collection Condition Assessment Survey At The Rochester Public Library, Ron Martin-Dent

Library Faculty Publications

Historical maps retain tremendous research value in the digital era. While many libraries have digitized their maps to expand research access, challenges remain for preserving physical maps. This project report describes a collection condition assessment survey at a public library using free online tools and volunteer hours to identify preservation issues and develop strategies to improve collection care. Collection condition surveys can serve as a road map for further preservation, conservation, and digitization projects.

Implementation And Outcomes Of A Digital Onboarding Taskforce In The Acute Care Setting, Julianna Lenoir, Alexzandra Gentsch, Akshay Krishnan, Jeffrey Ndubisi, Marissa Witmer, Kristin L. Rising, Brooke Worster, Angela M. Gerolamo

Jefferson Center for Connected Care Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Use of digital health technology can improve patient health outcomes; however, not all patients have the knowledge and skills to download a health app and access a patient portal. Providing digital onboarding support to hospitalized patients has potential to overcome some barriers to accessing needed education in the community, including both having the time and a location to receive education. To address this, our team developed the Jefferson Digital Onboarding Taskforce (JeffDOT), a group of staff and students who approach hospitalized patients and provide one-on-one teaching on how to sign up for and use a patient portal.

METHODS AND …

The Impact Of Nextgen Ministries On Long-Term Engagement: Recruiting And Retaining Young Adults In The Church, Antonio Anshawn Taste

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explored the decline in young adult engagement within the church community, which presents a significant challenge for faith-based religious communities. This dissertation examines the causes of disengagement and proposes the development of a Next Generations (NG) Engagement Framework. The framework includes digital platforms, diverse experiential worship, small group interaction, and mentorship programs to address young adults' spiritual, social, and cultural needs. From the integration of high schools in the city of Lexington, KY, local, State, and Federal agencies assisting in grants, and other formative organizations to support teen pregnancies, to organizations that help with rehabilitation from drugs and …

Brainspotting And The Strong Black Woman Schema: A Pretest–Posttest Study On Psychological Wellness, Iiesha Lasha Ricks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Black women in the United States experience disproportionate health disparities resulting from the intersecting effects of racism and sexism. Although researchers widely acknowledge these disparities, they have given less attention to how race- and gender-based oppression affect mental health outcomes. Brainspotting (BSP) is a trauma-informed approach emphasizing clinician attunement and a nonjudgmental space for processing distress. While BSP has shown promise with diverse populations, few studies have specifically examined its use with adult Black American women. This quantitative pretest–posttest study investigated the efficacy of BSP in improving psychological wellness among Black women and whether endorsement of the Strong Black Woman …

Nursing Home Leadership And The Connection To Fostering Quality Care In Nursing Homes, Daphne Hicks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing homes in the U.S. state of Mayland experience a high volume of reports for abuse and neglect and are poorly ranked for responding to complaints, leading to a low overall rating. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore leadership practices that could result in improvement in quality of care and reductions in abuse and neglect, using a needs assessment and development of a logic model as a precursor for a formative evaluation. The framework applied was Lead Self, Engage Others, Achieve Results, Development Coalitions, and Systems Transformation. Eight nursing home administrators were interviewed to collect primary data, …

Hollywood, Ai, And The Moral Universe: An Analysis Of The Terminator And Battlestar Galactica, Lara Sumera Samms

Masters Theses

This thesis defends the argument that depictions of artificial intelligence in Hollywood film and television point to a moral universe. Films The Terminator (1984) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), as well as the television series Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009) are analyzed to find clues of moral facts. This research paper submits that these stories add weight to the moral argument and provide evidence that humans implicitly recognize a moral universe. Such acknowledgment of moral structures cannot be adequately explained within a secular framework such as utilitarianism or evolutionary ethics. However, the Christian worldview frames reality around the existence of God, …

How Racism Affects Attitudes About Post-Secondary Education, Anne Duong

Masters Theses (Archived)

As the number of students of color in America continues to increase each year, these minority groups remain underrepresented in higher education. The educational system must adapt and make changes to better serve the diverse cultures and backgrounds of new students. Recognizing the presence of structural and systemic racism in American history, this research aims to explore whether racism affects students' learning experiences in K-12 schools and how this, in turn, influences their attitudes toward pursuing post-secondary education. The study focuses on high school students in 12th grade from a Texas public school, representing the backgrounds of students of color. …

Wdfy4-Dependent Cross-Presentation Proceeds Via A Vacuolar Antigen-Processing Route, J Luke Postoak, Alyssa Koch, Sicong Shan, Ray A Ohara, Suin Jo, Jing Chen, Pritesh Desai, Feiya Ou, Magdalena Kraft, Michael S Diamond, Sunkyung Kim, Theresa L Murphy, Kenneth M Murphy

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The intracellular processing route used by type I conventional dendritic cells (cDC1) for cross-presentation of viral- or tumor-associated antigens remains controversial. One model proposes that captured antigens exit from damaged phagolysosomes and enter the cytosol, where they are processed for presentation by MHC class I molecules (MHC-I). This model relies on proteasomal degradation and TAP-dependent peptide transport into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) for loading by the peptide loading complex (PLC). An alternative model proposes a vesicular route in which captured antigens are retained and processed within an endocytic compartment. A compelling argument favoring the cytosolic model is the dramatic loss …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Regular Fast-Food Consumption Among Adults In The Uae: A Cross-Sectional Study, Ala Al Rajabi, Rafiq Hijazi, Lynne Alexandra Kennedy

All Works

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and identify sociodemographic predictors of regular fast-food consumption (R-FFC) among United Arab Emirates (UAE) adults to inform public health nutrition responses to growing diet-related ill health in the region. Design: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study using purposive, convenience sampling. Data were collected using an online survey adapted from two validated surveys and distributed via social media platforms. R-FFC was defined as visiting a fast-food restaurant to eat ≥ 2 times/week. Pearson’s χ ² tests and multiple binary logistic regression models were used to investigate prevalence and predictors of R-FFC. All statistical significance was considered …

Aeolian Tones: A Book Of Minor Poetry About Isolation And The Space Between Disconnection And Connection, Thaddeus Tague

Masters Theses

This is the artistic statement for Aeolian Tones, the poetry chapbook that will serve as my thesis. In this accompanying paper, I explore the vision, process, and inspiration behind the various themes in the chapbook, as well as the overall goal. I hope to provide personal context for the writing's purpose, as well as offer reflections and interpretive guidelines for how the poetry can and should be understood. In this work, I aim to provide a space for readers seeking reflections on loneliness, healing, profound pain, and disconnection.

Next, the literature review will examine ten modern works of minor non-epic …

Operation Evil Empire: The Strategic Weaponization Of Rhetoric In Psychological Warfare, Sabrina Marie Smith

Masters Theses

The Cold War redefined warfare around information, ideology, and perception. Victory depended less on territory and more on legitimacy. In 1983, Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union were extremely high. President Ronald Reagan’s “Evil Empire” speech emerged at a critical juncture, marking a pivotal moment when U.S. foreign policy embraced assertive ideological confrontation. The rhetoric of this speech did more than address the American public; it served as a strategic instrument aimed at weakening Soviet ideological cohesion. It became a turning point in U.S. Cold War rhetoric, targeting both the Soviet leadership and its oppressed …

The Ultra Dilemma: Understanding The Impact Of Ultra-Processed Food, Cassia Elizabeth Brenning

Masters Theses

Ultra-processed food dominates the market, making up an estimated 73% of the national food supply and costing 52% less than healthier, minimally- processed alternatives (Ravandi et al). With such a large supply, there is a great demand to sell these products to consumers. Major food corporations rely on misleading labels, heavy marketing, and industry-funded research to manipulate consumers into buying more of their products. While these products are cheap, quick, convenient, and delicious, they are not components of a healthy diet.

This thesis argues that the best way to tackle the issue of ultra-processed food is by redirecting focus from …

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Exploring Spiritual Coping And Anxiety Reduction In Military Personnel Transitioning Through The Meb Process And Undergoing Vocational Training: A Qualitative Approach, Camron L. Rawls

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study examined how transitioning military service members (TMSMs) navigating the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) and the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) used spiritual and vocational resources to manage stress and cope with identity loss. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants enrolled in or recently completing the Ch. 31 Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E) or another vocational training program. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through repeated cycles of coding, memoing, and theme development. Six major themes emerged: (1) bureaucratic confusion and identity disruption that increased anxiety and led …

The Relationship Between Perceived Misogyny, Patriarchy, And Gender Discrimination, And The Socio-Emotional Development Of Black Females During Adolescence In Black American Christian Churches, Renée L. Roberts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored Black women’s perceptions of misogyny, patriarchy, and gender discrimination within Black American Christian churches. While research has examined adolescent social and emotional development in relation to religion, little attention has been given to how negative religious experiences shape psychological development. This study addressed that gap by examining how systems of oppression are encountered from adolescence through adulthood. Fourteen Black women ages 35–60 were recruited through social media and participated in 60–75-minute interviews. Using reflexive thematic analysis, six themes emerged: Misogyny as Restriction and Silencing; Long-term Emotional and Social Impact of Misogyny; Patriarchy as Normalized Male …

Nursing Faculty Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence: A Quantitative Causal-Comparative Cross-Sectional Study, Micaela Mcspadden

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has highlighted the importance of understanding how nursing faculty perceive this technology. Although prior studies have explored public views, nurses’ perceptions, and faculty attitudes toward technology and curriculum change, limited research has focused on nursing faculty perspectives toward AI. Through the lens of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study examined factors that influence nursing faculty attitudes toward AI in nursing education. This study used a quantitative, causal-comparative, cross-sectional design with 263 nursing faculty participants from undergraduate pre-licensure programs in the United States. Participants …

Exploring John Maxwell’S 16 Undeniable Laws Of Communication As A Possible Framework For Public Speaking Success: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of The Top 20 Ted Talks And Their Alignment With The Principles, Kevin C. Mcintyre

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The qualitative content analysis aimed to discover whether Maxwell’s 16 undeniable laws of communication are applied to the top 20 TED Talks of all time based on view count catalogued on the TED website and inform a framework for public speaking success. Through the lens of Fisher’s narrative paradigm of coherence and fidelity, while situated in Craig’s rhetorical tradition, which builds on ethos, pathos, and logos, the study examined the gap in workplace competence moving beyond theory to practical guidance. Additionally, the study was guided by three research questions that were answered in the study. Through an immersive multimodal examination …

Effect Of Spirituality On The Mental Health Of Adults Who Experienced Bullying In Their Childhood, Celiana Rodriguez-Gonzalez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Bullying experiences in childhood have been found to significantly affect mental health in adulthood, particularly through depression and anxiety. Spirituality has been identified as a protective factor for mental health, contributing to quality of life, satisfaction, and purpose. It may also buffer the effects of violence and bullying. This correlational study examined the relationships among childhood bullying, spirituality, and adult mental health in a sample of individuals from Puerto Rico (N=124). Specifically, whether spirituality moderates the relationship between childhood bullying and adult mental health outcomes. Results indicated that childhood bullying was moderately associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression, …

The Cultivation Of Resilience: A Phenomenological Study Of Music Teachers’ Experiences Teaching Children With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Angela Dawn Matthews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological multi-method study examines the lived experiences of music teachers in Virginia and North Carolina working with students who have Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the cultivation of resilience in music students through music ensemble participation. The researcher interviewed music teachers (n = 16) to explore experiences instructing children with ACEs. Music ensemble students (n = 66) and non-music ensemble students (n = 62) completed the ten-item version of the original 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the CD-RISC 10. Research questions guiding the study were: How do children with adverse childhood experiences interact and respond in music ensembles? How do …

Leaving The Fold: Young Adult Disaffiliation From Protestantism In Political And Cultural Context, Kimberly S. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the lived experiences of young adults who have disaffiliated from a Protestant church, focusing on political, national, and religious dynamics, including reflections on Christian Nationalism. The study also examines how these meaning-making processes informed participants’ retrospective accounts of disaffiliation. Building on the quantitative research that has dominated prior studies, this study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis to investigate how encounters with Christian Nationalism have shaped perceptions of organized religion. The study’s ten participants ranged in age from 21 to 29 years old and identified as having been part of the Protestant Church prior to disaffiliating from organized religion. …

Using Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Interventions (Eati) For Military Spouse Overstimulation For Mental And Physical Well-Being: A Qualitative, Phenomenological Study, Melissa A. Crook

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military spouses of deployed service members experience a multitude of stressors that pile up and can result in overstimulation. This overstimulation can result in psychosocial vulnerabilities such as burnout, anxiety, depression, and other conditions. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the impact of Equine Assisted Therapeutic Interventions (EATI) on military spouses experiencing overstimulation. The theory guiding this study was the social cognitive theory with a social constructivism framework. Military spouses need a healthy outlet to reduce their overstimulation and burnout symptoms, mentally and physically. From the qualitative perspective, a Demographics and Background Survey was collected and analyzed …

Exploring Grief And Loss Experiences In Young Adults Living With Chemical Intolerances, Abby Leanne Steeves

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals with chronic illnesses characterized by chemical intolerances experience symptom- and stigma-related losses within the physical, environmental, occupational, social, and psychological domains of life. A variety of grief responses can come with non-death related, or living, losses such as these. The aim of the present qualitative phenomenological study was to fill a gap in the current literature on grief and loss in this marginalized population by exploring how young adults with chemical intolerances experience grief pertaining to illness-related loss within their unique developmental context and stage of the developmental lifespan. This research was important because young adulthood is marked by …

What Impact Did Covid-19 Have On College Students With Social Anxiety Disorder: A Phenomenological Research Study, Kenneth R. Reines

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study aimed to explore the impact the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2023) had on college students diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Guided by Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) Stress and Coping Theory, this study explored how participants perceived and coped with the difficulties they experienced during this difficult period. Data was gathered through Zoom interviews with six former students with a clinical diagnosis of social anxiety disorder.. Participants’ experiences collectively reflected persistent psychological decline, characterized by long-term worsening of symptoms and a lasting psychological impact marked by the exacerbation of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Isolation and disconnection stemming from limited …

Covid-19 Event Impact: Religious/Spiritual Coping And Posttraumatic Growth In Adult Female Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Mindy Barrett Perlman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique collective trauma that has disproportionately impacted vulnerable populations, including adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). This quantitative, non-experimental, correlational study examined the relationship between spiritual/religious coping and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among this population, while also exploring the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the mediating role of religious/spiritual coping. Grounded in Tedeschi and Calhoun’s Posttraumatic Growth Theory and Pargament’s Religious Coping Theory, this study utilized the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE), and the Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R) adapted for COVID-19 to assess trauma exposure, …

“Forward Into Light”: The Shaping Of The Suffrage Ideology Of Alice Paul And The Practical Theological Application Of The Quaker Spices In The American Women’S Suffrage Movement, Alice L. Alvarado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote after decades of dedication and agitation by women in their monumental fight to win the franchise. Alice Paul, a second-generation suffragist, dedicated her life to the cause and became the new face of the suffrage movement in Progressive America. A birthright Hicksite Quaker, Alice Paul’s ancestry can be traced back to the Quakers of England, and her extended family connected with early practitioners such as George Fox, along with a blood relation to William Penn. Paul’s Quaker ancestry, Quaker upbringing, Quaker guarded education, and …