Digital Commons Network^™

Sepsis In Sight: Immersive Vr Simulation For Pediatric Training, Kelsey Wagler

DNP Projects

Abstract

Objectives: This project aimed to decrease the time required to administer antibiotics and fluid boluses to pediatric patients with sepsis by implementing a virtual reality (VR) simulation program. The initiative sought to enhance bedside nurses’ and pediatric residents’ knowledge, clinical reasoning, and confidence in sepsis assessment, early recognition, and evidence-based management. A secondary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of VR simulation as an educational strategy for nurses in a high-acuity pediatric setting.

Design: This quality improvement project used a quasi-experimental design that incorporated a VR simulation intervention followed by a structured debriefing and targeted education session. Participants completed …

Alignrt In Radiation Therapy, Collin N. Domozych

Student Research Poster Presentations 2026

This project focuses on the implementation of AlignRT, a surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) system, and its impact on improving precision, safety, and efficiency in radiation therapy. AlignRT uses real-time 3D surface imaging to monitor patient positioning and detect motion throughout treatment, allowing for accurate and consistent radiation delivery. This study examines how AlignRT enhances clinical workflows by reducing the need for permanent skin markings and limiting additional imaging, ultimately decreasing unnecessary radiation exposure to patients. Emphasis is placed on its role in high-precision treatments such as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), where even small positional errors can significantly affect outcomes. …

Perry County Perinatal Access Navigator Program (Pc-Pamp) A Public Health Program Proposal To Improve Timely Prenatal Care Access In Perry County, Kentucky, Amber E. Mcguire-Chun

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Delayed initiation of prenatal care remains a significant public health concern in rural Appalachian communities, including Perry County, Kentucky, where structural barriers such as limited provider availability, transportation challenges, and fragmented referral systems contribute to inadequate access to timely care. This capstone project proposes the Perry County Prenatal Access Navigator Program (PC-PANP), a community-based patient navigation model designed to improve initiation of prenatal care in the first trimester. The program is led by the local health department and leverages partnerships with healthcare providers, the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, WIC, Extension services, and community organizations to support early …

Supporting Functional Independence Through Task-Analytic Instruction: Implications For Skill Acquisition And Generalization In Students With Moderate To Severe Disabilities, Aisha Khan

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Students with moderate to severe disabilities often demonstrate variability in acquiring and generalizing functional skills necessary for independent participation in school and daily life. Although evidence-based practices are widely recommended, less is known about how specific instructional strategies support both skill acquisition and generalization. The purpose of this quantitative single-subject study was to examine the effects of task-analytic instruction on the acquisition, efficiency, and generalization of a functional help-seeking routine among middle school students with moderate to severe disabilities in a self-contained life skills program. Using a multiple-baseline design across three participants, the study measured (a) the percentage of independently …

Evaluating The Factors That Contribute To Lack Of Engagement Of The People Within Community Forest Management Programs, Doraneli Ampudia Parras

Theses & ETDs

Ecosystem loss and degradation around the world are occurring at an alarming rate. This can negatively impact the people that rely on these ecosystems. Community Forest Management is a practice that has been recognized globally to help mitigate these impacts. Community Forest Management (CFM) provides a solution to restoring ecosystems and improving the quality of life of the local people. The different structures and strategies of CFM’s around the world can influence its effectiveness. Researchers have identified several factors that can hinder CFM effectiveness. A crucial factor is participation from the local people. Active participation and support from local people …

Why Queer People Like Horror Films: An Empirical Study, Oscar Garcia

Theses & ETDs

Many queer people hold a particular affinity for horror films, despite the history of harm to queer people that those films have helped to perpetuate. Previous explorations of this relationship have focused on timelines of queer and film history, personal anecdotes, and theorization about these films and the audiences who view them, with no broad study examining how queer people themselves interact with and perceive the media. This study explores how queer people engage with horror films using a multi-method approach that involves a survey and qualitative interviews, examining queer horror fans’ opinions about subgenres, identifications, preferences, impacts of horror …

An Examination Of Potential Mechanisms Underlying Muscle Memory, Santiago González-Quintero

Theses & ETDs

"Muscle memory is generally understood as the mechanism that supports the execution of a motor task during retraining following an initial period of both training and detraining. It can be found in the central nervous system where commands are being sent to accomplish a motor task; however, evidence exists for another type of memory within the myofiber itself. Through the analysis of data from animal and human exercise studies, this thesis examines the notion of muscle memory at different locations proximal to and/or within muscle, including the evidence for and feasibility of myonuclear permanence as a mechanism underlying muscle memory. …

Structure-Conduct-Performance Analysis Of The Sports Industry In The United States, Luisa Hoffmann Araujo

Theses & ETDs

This study examines the U.S. professional sports industry through the Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) framework, which is a model commonly used to analyze how a market organization (structure) affects a firm’s behavior and its economic performance. When applying this analytical framework to the sports sector in the United States, it is possible to see with more clarity how the competition develops, the firm’s strategic decisions, and how they perform in the market. The data and research from this study were retrieved from secondary data sources, where it was possible to analyze academic literature, industry performance reports, and financial publications to deepen the …

U.S. Insurance Industry: Strategic Analysis On Auto And Property Insurance, Luan De Mendonca Marques

Theses & ETDs

This paper develops a comprehensive industry analysis of the U.S. insurance market, integrating market definition, value-chain mapping, industry dynamics, competitive forces, benchmarking, and company applications. It concludes with a focused assessment of how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping underwriting, claims, fraud detection, customer interaction, and product innovation. Drawing on regulatory and industry sources (NAIC, Insurance Information Institute, U.S. Treasury’s Federal Insurance Office), and management/consulting research (McKinsey, Deloitte, EY, IBM), the analysis finds a large, mature sector under structural transformation via data and AI. Premiums exceed $1.7 trillion, with Property & Casualty (P/C) representing ~53% and Life/Annuity ~47%. Key risks include …

Eat My Love:Finding Truth In Fairytales Through Filmmaking, Calypso Camacho

Theses & ETDs

This thesis is both a creative project and a critical investigation into the dissolving boundary between art shaping life and life shaping art in filmmaking. The creative project at its center is EAT MY LOVE, a short film adaptation of the Russian folk tale The Maiden Tsar (Царь-Девица). It is a fairytale set in the modern world that uses elements of surrealism and magical realism, and unexpectedly became a camouflaged documentary. Paralleling EAT MY LOVE’s storytelling rhythm, this thesis is divided into three segments: pre-production, production, and post-production. Each segment documents the corresponding step in the filmmaking process and explores …

Limited Data Tomography: Seismic Imaging, Simone Charles

Theses & ETDs

The goal of seismic imaging is to recover structures underground via waves emitted from source points and received by sensors. Through the use of the elliptic Radon transform and an approximation to its inverse, images called reconstructions of the underground surfaces can be generated. We delve into some of the theory that allows for images to be made as well as giving reason to why singularities and artifacts appear in the reconstructions. With a known object modeled via a density function, this thesis explores features of reconstructions constructed with a fixed source and discrete receivers. The reconstructions were computed in …

“Because We Take Our Values To War” Analyzing The Views Of Un Member States On Aidriven Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems, Rangita De Silva De Alwis

Chicago Journal of International Law

In paragraph two of its resolution 2 on lethal autonomous weapon systems, pursuant to U.N. General Assembly resolution 78/241, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to solicit the views of Member States and Observer States regarding lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). Specifically, the request encompassed perspectives on addressing the multifaceted challenges and concerns raised by LAWS, including humanitarian, legal, security,

Climate Change As A Security Interest: A Novel Defense In Fossil Fuel Investment Arbitration, Nabil Kapasi

Chicago Journal of International Law

Thousands of international investment and trade agreements contain provisions protecting investments made by parties from the signatory states. One such provision is Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), a mechanism allowing foreign investors to sue host states in arbitration for treaty violations. Fossil fuel investors are increasingly utilizing ISDS successfully to hold states liable for climate action; arbitral tribunals are awarding large compensations to these investors when states deny them permits for upstream activities or enact phase-out policies attempting to ban fossil fuel consumption. These awards impose heavy burdens on states while simultaneously deterring climate action by creating fears of liability. This …

Esg-Driven Traceability Adoption: An Impact Thinking Multi-Dimensional Framework For The Fashion And Textile Industry, María Tamames Sobrino, David Antonio Rosas Espín, Jaime Gisbert-Payá

Artículos científicos

This study introduces an Impact Thinking Approach (ITA) as a strategic framework to strengthen traceability implementation in the fashion and textile industry. The research examines how ESG impact dimensions shape sustainable strategy definition and how traceability can act as a strategic enabler rather than a mere compliance tool. A mixed-method design combining a narrative literature review, content analysis of 69 sustainability sources, and a two-round Delphi study with 19 experts was employed to identify, evaluate, and prioritize impact drivers related to traceability adoption. The resulting ITA framework connects regulatory requirements, impact materiality, and traceability demands into a unified structure that …

Review Of Research Methods In Psychology – 2nd Canadian Edition, Kathleen E. Mcwhorter

Open Educational Resources - Reviews

No abstract provided.

Implementing An Electronic Referral System In A Community Mental Health Clinic To Streamline Patient Care: An Evidence-Based Quality Improvement Project, Judith Ngante

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Inefficient referral processes in community mental health clinics contribute to delayed access to care, fragmented communication, and increased administrative burden. Traditional referral methods, including phone, fax, and paper-based systems, often result in prolonged wait times and documentation errors, negatively impacting patient outcomes. Evidence supports electronic referral (e-referral) systems as effective tools for improving care coordination, reducing delays, and enhancing provider satisfaction. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to implement an e-referral system in a community mental health clinic in metropolitan Texas to streamline patient care and reduce referral wait times by at least 30% over a …

Adsorptive Gas Sensor Response Forecasting To Enable Breath-By-Breath Analysis, Samuel Bellaire, Samir Ahmed Rawashdeh, Kirby P. Mayer, Jamie L. Sturgill

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

MOS gas sensors have proven to be useful in electronic noses, which utilize these sensors to detect volatile organic compounds in human breath to detect various lung diseases. Unfortunately, the long settling time of MOS gas sensors is ill-suited to measuring human breath, where complete breathing cycles are often shorter than 5 s. Existing studies circumvent this limitation by collecting gas samples and injecting them into a sealed chamber to react with the sensors. However, it would be convenient if breath-by-breath analysis could be conducted without the need to store breath samples. To accomplish this, we present a novel forecasting …

Exploring The Influence Of Quadriceps Peak Torque And Rate Of Torque Development On Running Mechanics After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, Amit M. Gohil, Gregory S. Hawk, Darren L. Johnson, Christopher S. Fry, Brian W. Noehren

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), chronic changes in knee joint biomechanics during higher level tasks, such as running, may negatively impact long-term knee joint health. Among the factors that contribute to these chronic changes, the influence of quadriceps strength on knee joint biomechanics during running is not well understood.   Hypothesis: Higher involved limb quadriceps strength (peak torque and rate of torque development [RTD]) and limb symmetry index (LSI) will be positively associated with greater peak knee flexion angle and peak knee extensor moment during running.   Study Design: Cross-sectional study.   Level of Evidence: Level 3.   Methods: Peak knee extensor …

The Path To Abundance: The Legal, Policy, And Political Challenges Of An Abundance Agenda, Eric Biber

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

A range of public intellectuals and academics have argued that America is increasingly unable to advance major projects, such as housing, renewable energy, and innovation, because of legal obstacles such as judicial review and regulatory requirements. In response, the abundance movement has called for legal reforms to speed up project development. The abundance movement has identified real problems that require solutions. Unfortunately, the movement also faces political and legal challenges as well. Reform will require difficult tradeoffs, which will be politically difficult. Abundance reforms will likely not be politically popular, and will be particularly hard to implement in a polarized …

The Lost Mines Of Appalachia: How Revitalizing Abandoned Coal Mines Can Revitalize A Region, Jonathan Gharib

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

Since the decline of coal, which began in the late 1980s, Appalachia has been left with thousands of abandoned coal mines that act as a stand-in for the state of the region as a whole. This stands in not only for the economic decline of the region, but also as a stand-in for the people of the region who also perceive themselves to have been abandoned. The future status, both legal and economic, of these abandoned mines that once helped to fuel Appalachia’s growth is unclear. Despite the muddied history of both Appalachia and these mines, with the proper legal …

Nova Law Review Full Issue Volume 50, Issue 3

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.

Are You Your Expert's Keeper? Assessing The Impact Of Generative Ai And Expert Testimony, Hon. John G. Browning

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Ai Trap: How Over-Reliance On Generative Ai Undermines Professional Development For Law Students And Young Attorneys, Jane E. Cross

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.

Ensuring Ai Adequacy For Class Members, Alissa Del Riego

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Empirical Double Standard: Opinion Surveys Across The Civil–Criminal Divide, Kay L. Levine, Bernard Chao

Faculty Articles

Across different legal domains, liability doctrines recognize the value of community input. But do courts truly listen to the community’s voice when deciding these sorts of cases? This study is the first to explore how courts treat community opinion survey evidence within both civil and criminal law. To that end, we comprehensively examine trademark, false advertising, patent, antitrust, obscenity, death penalty, and search cases.

Our research uncovers a significant asymmetry: Courts readily admit survey evidence in civil proceedings but systematically exclude it in criminal cases. This asymmetry does not appear to stem from structural differences between civil and criminal litigation …

Mandating Professionalism In Florida: Continued Attempts To Sanction Lawyers Into Being Nice, Debra Moss Vollweiler

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.

Nova Law Review Full Issue Volume 50, Issue 2

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.

Where Does The Border Begin And The Fourth Amendment End? Warrantless Forensic Searches Of Outbound Travelers' Electronic Devices, Robert C. Buschel Esq., Bradford M. Cohen Esq.

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.

Access Denied: Closing The Construction And Renovation Loopholes In Disability Design, Lidia Menbaeva

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.

Human Or Machine? Evaluating Authorship In The Age Of Generative Ai, Risauris Sanz-Garcia

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.