Digital Commons Network^™

Re-Education On Chlorhexidine (Chg) Bathing Protocol Affects Patient Chg Bathing Compliance And Surgical Site Infection (Ssi) Rates, Mary Samantha Ross

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Surgical site infections (SSI) are considered a hospital-acquired infection, leading to increased hospital length of stay (LOS), readmission rates, increased cost, morbidity, mortality rates, and poor postoperative outcomes. The literature review demonstrated the benefits of preoperative Chlorhexidine (CHG) bathing, but called for standardized protocols, improved education, and patient compliance. Research and clinical experience supported the need for improved patient compliance with CHG bathing. Consistent SSI rates even after protocol changes called for re-education of nursing staff in addition to addressing patient compliance issues. Therefore, providing re-education on the updated protocol, which addresses patient compliance issues, can lead to a reduction …

Moral Ecology In Shakespeare's Tragedies: Nature, Animals, And Conscience As Ethical Agents In Hamlet, Macbeth, And King Lear, Md. Abu Bakkar

Journal of Language, Literature, and Arts

Shakespeare's tragedies repeatedly dramatize a universe in which moral transgression produces consequences that extend beyond individual psychology to affect society, nature, and the non-human world. This study examines how Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear construct a system of moral ecology, understood as a framework of ethical causality in which human actions generate interconnected consequences across psychological, social, and natural orders. Using qualitative close reading informed by moral criticism, ecocriticism, animal studies, and early modern cosmology, the study analyzes selected passages representing natural disturbance, animal imagery, and conscience as forms of ethical response. The findings show that the three …

Exploring The Role Of Single Pilot Operations In Night Cargo Aviation: A Phenomenological Study, Kollin Ellis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenology was to examine the lived experiences of pilots who have operated alone at night in an aviation cargo environment. The design was guided by an epistemological philosophical assumption. Extreme advancements in the technology of artificial intelligence and their applications in the aviation industry have raised the question of the value of a single operator serving in commercial cockpits. Some experts argue that a two-person crew is unnecessarily redundant. A significant gap in the current literature of experiential data existed to prompt this study. Through the contextual lens of the Dual Process Theory and …

The Impact Of Technology On Church Revitalization In South Florida Post-Pandemic: A Quantitative Analysis, Pericles Tima

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled numerous churches to adopt digital technology rapidly; nonetheless, a substantial deficiency in empirical study exists concerning their effects on church revitalization. This study seeks to address this deficiency and significantly contribute to the field by analyzing the impact of digital outreach strategies, such as social media engagement, online services, and virtual community building, on critical indicators of revitalization, including church attendance, member engagement, and financial stability. The research used a quantitative research design to gather data via surveys administered to church leaders and parishioners within Haitian churches in South Florida. The survey utilized stratified random sampling …

Teaching French Horn: A Review Of Literature For The Beginning Horn Student And Best Methods For Application, Anna M. Schmitz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There are many beginning French horn method books available to students and teachers today, divided into two main categories: whole-band integration and private-lesson instruction. There is little agreement between the methods on which elements of playing to emphasize and how to sequence instruction. Some whole-band method books start in an uncomfortable range for the beginning horn player, either too high or too low, in order to accommodate the fundamental harmonics of the majority of the other concert band wind instrumentalists. To mitigate this problem, some method books offer a “horns only” option with the same exercise transposed either up a …

Employees With Disabilities: Determining If Servant Leadership Moderates The Relationship Between Accommodations And Job Performance, Rachael E. Stout

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over 11% of working-age adults have a disability in the United States. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act established accommodations as the gold standard to help disabled individuals perform at work. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study was to evaluate the moderating effect of servant leadership on the relationship between accommodation support and job performance across different types of disabilities. This study used a cross-sectional online survey with NSHD disability types, the servant leadership SLQ-7, a question about the effectiveness of accommodation support, and the IWPQ for job performance. Survey responses were collected anonymously from 248 disabled workers …

The Effect Of Mental Health Check-Ins On Stigma And Symptoms Of Anxiety, Depression, And Post-Traumatic Stress, Benjamin Joseph Boeke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This applied quantitative study examined whether participation in structured mental health check-ins was associated with self-stigma toward seeking psychological help and reported symptoms of anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and depression among law enforcement officers. Using a cross-sectional, nonexperimental comparative design, anonymous survey data were collected from 130 active sworn officers across 10 small and mid-sized Iowa law enforcement agencies. The agencies included those with and without mandatory check-in policies; primary comparisons were based on officers’ reported participation in at least one check-in. Measures included the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. …

Wayang 3d Interactive E-Book: Development And Classroom Evaluation For Javanese Traditional Drama Learning, I’In Dwi Susanti, Afendy Widayat

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

Javanese traditional drama (wayang) is a key element of Indonesia's cultural heritage, yet classroom instruction remains largely text-based and low in engagement. This study developed and evaluated Wayang 3D, a cloud-based interactive e-book integrating Canva, Heyzine, and H5P to support traditional-drama learning. Using the ADDIE model, the product was validated by content and media experts and tested through a quasi-experimental nonequivalent pretest–posttest control-group design with 62 ninth-grade students. Content validity was Feasible (79.5%) and media validity Very Feasible (83.0%); teacher and student practicality ratings were also Very Feasible (85.01%). The experimental group achieved a significantly higher normalised learning gain than …

The Resurrection And The Death Of Naturalism: A Philosophical And Historical Defense Of A Supernatural Event, Michael A. Youngwood

Masters Theses

This thesis evaluates the resurrection of Jesus as a historical hypothesis within a comparative historiographical framework. Rather than presupposing either naturalism or supernaturalism, the study distinguishes metaphysical commitments from historical methodology and evaluates competing explanations according to consistent criteria derived principally from C. Behan McCullagh’s account of historical explanation. After establishing the historical phenomena requiring explanation, the study examines several principal naturalistic hypotheses, including hallucination, legendary development, apparent death, and conspiracy, before evaluating the resurrection hypothesis according to the same standards. The analysis considers explanatory scope, explanatory power, plausibility, coherence, consistency with background knowledge, and freedom from ad hoc assumptions. …

Semiotic Breakdown In Disaster Evacuation Signage For International Tourists, Mario Christopher Fimbrez

Masters Theses

Japan’s disaster evacuation signage systems are highly standardized and widely regarded as effective for the domestic population, who operate within a shared cultural framework shaped by years of earthquake drills, formal disaster education, and a common visual vocabulary for risk and evacuation. In coastal cities like Kamakura, however, the audience composition has changed significantly, with millions of international visitors now navigating these spaces each year without the disaster literacy or cultural familiarity that the existing signage was designed to assume. When those shared assumptions about urgency, symbolism, and environmental threat are absent, the communicative force of the system can be …

An Analysis Of The Relationship Between Family Dynamics And Juvenile Delinquency: A Qualitative Case Study With Probation Officers, Sevoca Glass Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Beqo et al. (2017) discuss the correlation between juvenile delinquency and upbringing in dysfunctional and fragmented homes. The point of this study is to investigate the link between family structure and dynamics while also figuring out how likely it is that someone will commit a crime (Mwangangi, 2019). Large amounts of empirical research have clearly shown that teens who grow up in bad homes are more likely to become juvenile offenders than their peers who grow up in loving homes. The main aim of this qualitative case study is to examine the views of federal probation officials regarding the possible …

The Impact Of Direct Democracy On Policy Formation, Tricia Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As political polarization and distrust in elected representatives increases in American politics, voters are turning to direct democracy as a mechanism to drive policy making. Proponents of both legislative mechanisms and the use of direct democracy argue that their means of policy making is the most democratic. The Founding Fathers chose a representative system to limit the influence of faction and try and prevent Tocqueville’s tyranny of the majority. This study examines both direct democracy and legislative outcomes at the state level through the lens of adult use cannabis sales policy. Adult use cannabis sales were first legalized in the …

The Predictability Gap: A Correlation Study Of Supporting Pillars And Repertoire Success In Abrsm Practical And Performance Grades Piano Examinations, Arthur Chit-Ho Ng

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the structural predictability trajectories within the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) graded piano framework. Utilizing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, the project analyzed a longitudinal dataset (N = 449) to investigate variance in student achievement and the emergence of developmental plateaus, conceptually identified as the “Reading Wall.” Quantitative modeling revealed distinct structural divergences within the syllabus architecture: the traditional Practical Grades maintained a stable correlational signal between technical components and outcomes (r = .826 at Grade 7), whereas the digital Performance Grades yielded a non-significant association (p = .355). Furthermore, Grade 5 Music …

Montana Kaimin, September 17, 2026, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Beyond Steroids: How Adding Jaw Exercises And Pnf Therapy Transforms Recovery In Bell's Palsy Patients – A Randomized Controlled Trial, Shaima M. Alsabty, Mouamal A. Alsabty, Mohammed Ali Yassen, Raniah Talib Kadhim, Heider Hemeed Abbas, Mohammed Asim Mohammed Ghazi

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Bell's palsy is an acute idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis affecting 20–30 per 100,000 individuals annually. Although most patients recover spontaneously, up to one-third develop synkinesis, including involuntary facial movements that impair symmetry, function, and quality of life. The role of physical therapy as an adjunct to standard corticosteroid-based care remains incompletely defined.
Objectives: This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether a structured physical therapy program combining proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), mirror therapy, and progressive jaw exercises enhances recovery beyond corticosteroid treatment alone in patients with acute Bell's palsy.
Methods: Sixty patients presenting within 72 hours of onset were randomized into …

Volatile Evidence At Scale: Forensically Sound Preservation And High-Performance Memory Forensics For Containers And Ros-Based Robots, Taha Gharaibeh Ph.D.

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Volatile memory holds evidence that reaches persistent storage rarely or never. Containers and robots destroy that evidence as a matter of routine operation rather than through adversarial action, and memory forensic tooling was built for neither platform. This dissertation develops and evaluates a memory-centered approach spanning acquisition, analysis efficiency, and robot forensics, and demonstrates that volatile evidence can be reliably preserved and analyzed at scale across containers and ROS-based robots.

First, we measure why memory forensic analysis is slow. Benchmarking the Volatility Framework across four Python runtimes on 14 memory samples totaling 173 GB shows that PyPy is 15 to …

Quaker Campus, September 17, 2026 (Vol. 25, Issue 2), Whittier College

Quaker Campus

No abstract provided.

The Parthenon, September 17, 2026, Trista Honaker, Davina Snyder, Soleil Woolard, Alana Romero Lozano, Claire Johnson, Hannah Anderson, Tally Mamula

The Parthenon

No abstract provided.

Character Driven Architecture: Authentic Characters In Imitation Worlds, Gabriayle Stapf

Masters Theses

This paper is an introduction to the manuscript of my creative writing thesis that includes my own impetus and background, my process for my writing, my vision for that creative fiction piece, what the literary context for my fiction writing is, and what I believe the meaning of being a Christian scholar amounts to. Various other authors’ works are referenced as inspiration and motivation for my creative works and desire for contributing to the field of literature.

Changing The Way You Think: Renewing The Mind, Janine Robinson Anderson

Masters Theses

Change Your Way of Thinking: Renewing the Mind is a creative nonfiction thesis exploring how patterns of thought shape faith, identity, emotional responses, relationships, and daily living. Grounded in Romans 12:2, the creative manuscript combines biblical reflection, personal experience, psychological insight, and practical reader guidance to examine renewal through four movements: recognizing destructive thoughts, examining them in light of truth, replacing false beliefs with biblical truth, and practicing renewed responses. The Artist Statement explains the project’s purpose, genre, audience, structure, and biblical and psychological framework. The Critical Paper examines authenticity as the primary craft element in Christian nonfiction, considering how …

A Christian's Formative Years And Their Worship Music Preferences, Cara L. Coffey Hall

Masters Theses

This study examines how Christians’ formative faith experiences influence lifelong worship music preferences. While discussions of worship music often emphasize generational differences or stylistic preferences, this study investigates whether formative spiritual experiences provide a more meaningful explanation for long-term worship preferences. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between formative faith experiences, age of conversion, and lifelong worship music among adult members and attendees at Northwest Hills Global Methodist Church. A convergent mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data was collected through an anonymous survey completed by 102 qualified participants and qualitative data was gathered through interviews with …

How The African American Contribution To Early American Literature Aided In Shaping The American Literary Identity, Jennifer E. Thompson

Masters Theses

This study argues that Jupiter Hammon’s early African American literature actively helped shape American literary identity rather than just mirroring it. By blending Christian morality with human rights, Hammon challenged Eurocentric narratives, validated Black humanity, and established a foundational tradition for anti-slavery writing. Traditional theories often contest this national inclusion through critical viewpoints. These views treat slavery as a distinct model, arguing that these texts represent separate responses to bondage rather than unified contributions to a shared national canon. This research redefines the American literary canon by showing how Hammon's historic publications dismantled eighteenth-century racist ideals about intellectual capacity. His …

Influences Of A Social Emotional Curriculum On Teachers’ Classroom Experiences: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Nikki Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology was to understand the lived experiences of general education first-grade teachers in Washington State who use social-emotional curricula to mitigate negative student behaviors. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s social learning theory (SLT) as it pertains to peer-to-peer and peer-to-teacher relationships. The participants in this study were 10-15 elementary classroom teachers in Washington who will incorporate one Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) lesson per week. The teachers followed the MindUP curriculum to incorporate additional activities. The focus was on the lived experiences of first-grade teachers in Washington State who teach SEL to mitigate negative student …

Exploring Lived Experiences Of Undergraduate College Students As They Develop Life Skills While At School: A Phenomenological Study, John Makemo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences related to life skills development among undergraduate students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at AUX University in Tanzania, East Africa. The central research question for the study asked: What lived experiences do undergraduate college students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at AUX University in Tanzania go through as they develop life skills? A purposive sampling methodology was used to select participants who met the study's criteria. Data were collected using individual interviews, journal prompts, and focus groups. Multiple techniques were used to reduce errors and enable triangulation. …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Exploration Of Educational Support Model Accessibility And Parent-Perceived Connections To High School Outcomes For Students With Adhd In Georgia, Whitney Rae Bowden Kling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of parents of students diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who attended public schools in Georgia, a southeastern state of the United States of America (USA), with a particular focus on how parents perceived the influence of access to, or denial of, Section 504 Plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) on their children's high school outcomes. The study was informed by the theoretical principles of behaviorism and Bronfenbrenner's bioecological process-person-context-time (PPCT) model to examine how access to individualized educational supports within the school microsystem influenced educational outcomes …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Women In Relationships With Men Experiencing Cluster B Personality Disorder Traits, Anita Farrington Woods

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Clinicians are increasingly motivated to understand inequities in mental health diagnoses. This interest may emerge from observing multiple clients struggling with similar challenges, recognizing gaps in relevant research, or experiencing personal circumstances that prompt deeper inquiry into current conditions and their root causes. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological transcendental study was to describe the marital experiences of women who are in relationships with men who exhibit Cluster B personality disorder traits. Cluster B personality disorder traits include unstable relationships, emotional dysregulation, lack of empathy, and erratic behaviors. Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, guided this study …

The Role Of Chess In Workforce Readiness: A Quasi-Experimental Analysis Of Problem Solving And Self Confidence In Exceptional Learners, Daniel K. Ray

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental, Pretest-Posttest-6-Week Follow-Up study was to examine the impact of a systematic chess curriculum on adult exceptional learners’ problem-solving skills and self-confidence. This research fills a gap in the literature by implementing chess-focused experiential learning to enhance workforce preparation and personal development for students with learning disabilities. The study utilized a sample of 84 adult exceptional learners from workforce development programs in Northeast Florida. Using a quantitative quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design, participants in a 12-week chess program were contrasted with a nonequivalent control group that received no intervention. Data were collected using the Problem-Solving …

From Broken To Becoming: A Phenomenological Study Of Life Purpose Among Christian Adult Survivors Of Childhood Trauma, Chenel M. Stewart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood trauma often disrupts an individual’s sense of meaning, identity, and direction, leaving lasting effects that extend beyond psychological symptoms into how life’s purpose is understood and lived. While existing research has examined trauma, coping, and meaning in life, less is known about how survivors themselves experience and construct life purpose following traumatic experiences. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how Christian adult survivors of childhood trauma describe their lived experiences of trauma and healing, and the development of life purpose in adulthood. Semistructured interviews were conducted with seven Christian adults who self-identified as having experienced childhood trauma and healing and …

Exploring Burnout, Isolation, And Support Among Middle School Music Educators In Georgia: A Hermeneutic-Phenomenological Study, Jameson T. Meadows

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of middle school music educators (MSMEs) in Georgia to understand how burnout, professional isolation, support, and advocacy influence their professional experiences and sustainability. These educators navigate instructional tasks, program administration, and responsibilities beyond the classroom. 10 MSMEs, including 5 band directors, 3 orchestra directors, and 2 chorus directors, participated in virtual semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed through an inductive coding process to identify patterns across participants’ experiences. 4 themes emerged from the findings: (a) relational and musical growth sustains the work, (b) burnout accumulates through role overload and personal investment, (c) discipline-specific professional …

Dynamic Domain Score Changes As Predictors Of Juvenile Recidivism: Evidence From Washington State's Pact, David Wayne Sattler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Juvenile probation agencies routinely administer risk-need assessments. However, evidence remains limited regarding the association between changes in scores from repeated risk-need assessments and recidivism among justice-involved youth. Grounded in general personality and cognitive social learning theory and the risk-need-responsivity model, this quantitative study examined whether changes in dynamic scores on the Positive Achievement Change Tool were associated with recidivism among youth on juvenile community supervision in Washington State. Using 24,929 paired initial and final Positive Achievement Change Tool assessments, the study analyzed total and domain-level dynamic score changes with recidivism measured during the 24 months following the final assessment. Logistic …