Digital Commons Network^™

Promoting Occupational Harmony With High School Students Transitioning To College, Megan Maekawa

Occupational Therapy | OTD Capstone Projects

Background: Many students struggle to balance their occupations, especially in their first year of college. One reason they struggle may be that they are unprepared for the demands of college life as they transition out of high school. They may struggle with adjusting to different academic standards, adapting to their new social life, transitioning to a new environment or living situation, and managing their mental health. Occupational therapists support high school students in learning and implementing occupational harmony. Occupational therapists can support pre-college students in a summer bridge program as students learn to balance their academics, manage their social …

Cultivating An Evangelistic Culture At Mountain Chapel Methodist Church Through Preaching, Nicholas Channing Hughes

Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to examine the effectiveness of an intentional sermon series, Everyday Evangelism, in cultivating an evangelistic culture at Mountain Chapel Methodist Church, a Global Methodist congregation. The study used a program evaluation model and addressed the question, How does preaching cultivate an evangelistic culture in the local church, along with questions concerning growth in prayerfulness for the lost, gospel conversations, acts of compassion, invitations to Christian community, follow-up with seekers, and whether leaders exhibited greater change than the congregation as a whole. The project employed a pre- and post-series survey design using two participant groups, …

Immigration, “Literary Value”, And The Logic Of Late Capitalism In Piersandro Pallavicini’S Il Mostro Di Vigevano (1999), Simone Brioni Dr.

Department of English Faculty Publications

According to Fredric Jameson’s Postmodernism, or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism (1991), postmodern culture functions as an expression of the logic of late capitalism, manifesting in stylistic pastiche, the dominance of spectacle, a waning of historical consciousness, and a corresponding erosion of affect. Central to Jameson’s critique is the contention that postmodernism forecloses the possibility of imagining alternatives to capitalism. This article argues that Piersandro Pallavicini’s Il mostro di Vigevano (1999) exemplifies some of these features, and it shows how its description of immigrants to Italy as ingenuous, innocent, and simple-minded insinuates that they come from backward places …

In The Beginning There Was Positive Law: Section 25, Calder V. Bull, And Constitutional Continuity, Kevin C. Walsh

Scholarly Articles

From the beginning of its operation as fundamental law for the government of the United States, the Constitution has continually operated as supreme and judicially enforceable positive law. This is the principal claim I offer as an “original-law originalist” in response to contrary claims advanced by Professor Jonathan Gienapp in Against Constitutional Originalism: A Historical Critique. Gienapp argues in Against Constitutional Originalism that “[h]istoricizing the original Constitution . . . poses a foundational challenge to originalism as it has long been conceived.”2 Constitutional originalism depends on perceived continuity with the past. But the perception of constitutional continuity turns out to …

Qui Tam Relators As Article Iv Officials, Chad Squitieri

Scholarly Articles

Since the earliest days of the republic, Congress has empowered private plaintiffs—called qui tam relators—to bring claims in court on behalf of the United States. Today, qui tam litigation accounts for billions of dollars in judgments and settlements each year. But despite qui tam’s modern significance and historical pedigree, its constitutionality has recently been questioned. To wit, several sitting Supreme Court Justices have suggested that qui tam violates the President’s Article II authority because it empowers private relators—who are neither appointed nor supervised by the President—to enforce federal law. Following similar logic, a lower federal court recently ruled a prominent …

A Quality Improvement Project To Enhance Early And Consistent Prenatal Care In The Spanish Speaking Female Population At The Fqhc West Ashley Fetter Clinic, Ana Martinez Conde, Sophia Zia, Joye Fordham, Dennis Besong

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

Increasing Patient Enrollment In The Healow App At Fetter Health Care Network, Genevieve Mccloskey, Goodness Ezeanyaso, Collin Cheatle, Dennis Besong

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

The Investor Perspective Of Materiality, Sam Lessinger

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Often auditors are asked to adopt the reasonable investor perspective in their materiality evaluations however, there is no consensus regarding what investors deem to be material. This can lead to confusion in the markets. In fact, past studies have shown how taking an investor perspective can backfire and may result in more leniency and fewer misstatements being deemed material by auditors. This leniency can, potentially, result in financial statements that mislead investors. The aim of this paper is to address the reasonable investor perspective to achieve a more complete understanding of an investor’s viewpoint. This study also incorporates the effect …

The Adjustment Of Autistic First-Generation Students To Higher Education, Paris J. Cumba

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of the current study is to investigate how first-generation students on the autism spectrum adjust to higher education compared to their continuing generation and neurotypical peers through the lens of intersectionality. Previous research has studied how first-generation students and autistic students transition into college environments, but little research has explored how these identities intersect and affect college adjustment.

For this study, 189 undergraduate students completed a survey that measured different dimensions of college adjustment, such as academic motivation, self-efficacy, and current life satisfaction. ANOVA tests showed that there was no significant interaction between first-generation status and autism status …

Examining The Association Between Educational Spending In Well-Resourced School Districts And The Academic Performance Of Hispanic Students In Low Socioeconomic Communities, Alicia Cieszykowski

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

EXAMINING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL SPENDING IN WELL-RESOURCED SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF HISPANIC STUDENTS IN LOW SOCIOECONOMIC COMMUNITIES

Alicia Cieszykowski

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2026

Benjamin Creed, Director

This study examined the relationship between school district expenditure patterns and academic performance for Hispanic students in adequately funded Illinois school districts. Using a quantitative correlational design, the study explored whether overall spending levels and the allocation of financial resources were associated with Hispanic student achievement and Hispanic–White academic disparities in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. The sample included Illinois Tier …

Implementing Restorative Practices For Girls In Elementary School Classrooms: A Participatory Action Research Approach, Mellissa Douglas

Dissertations of Practice

This participatory action research study examined how varying approaches to implementing restorative practices, together with teacher collaboration and influence, support resilience, enhance communication, establish healthy boundaries, encourage accountability, and build confidence among elementary school girls ages 8–10. Two third-grade teachers, three fourth-grade teachers, and three fifth-grade teachers in a midwestern elementary school implemented restorative practices through proactive circles or conferences over the course of forty school days. The eight teacher participants recorded the implementation of restorative practices in an action research journal, field notes, and photographs, and they collaborated to discuss strengths, areas in need of support, and next steps. …

Educator Understanding Of Mtss: A Quantitative Descriptive Study, Danielle Valiente

Dissertations of Practice

Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) require coordinated implementation across the full educator workforce. This study examined MTSS knowledge and self-reported understanding across the Illinois educator workforce to identify the specific knowledge gaps a targeted professional learning solution would need to address. Using a quantitative descriptive design, 208 Illinois public school educators across 16 job roles and four experience bands completed an online survey consisting of an eleven-item true/false knowledge assessment, a ten-item multiple-choice knowledge assessment, and a 10-item Likert self-report inventory. Data were disaggregated by job role and by years of professional experience. Educators demonstrated strong understanding of MTSS structural …

Current Regenerative Injection Treatment For Rotator Cuff Disease: A Review Article And Practical Algorithm, Abdallah El-Sayed Allam, Manal Hassanien, Ahmed Omar Mahmoud Abdallah

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Rotator cuff disease is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition affecting shoulder function and quality of life. Traditional management includes conservative treatments and surgery, but ultrasound-guided regenerative orthobiological interventions have emerged as effective alternatives. This review examines epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, and diagnostic approaches to rotator cuff disease, with an emphasis on the role of ultrasound-guided regenerative injections. Specific techniques such as platelet-rich plasma, alpha-2 macroglobulin, lipoaspirate, and bone marrow concentrate are discussed. Recent human studies highlight the efficacy and safety of these interventions, supporting their integration into clinical practice.

Sucarnochee Review - 2026 Issue, The Sucarnochee Review Editors

The Sucarnochee Review

No abstract provided.

Eleanor Of Aquitaine, As It Was Said: Truth And Tales About The Medieval Queen, By Karen Sullivan, Lauren Wood

Medieval Feminist Forum: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality

No abstract provided.

Dental Professionalism In A Changing World: Challenges & Opportunities, Robert P. Iovino, Dds, Ma Dds, Ma

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This manuscript examines the erosion of traditional dental professionalism amid rising educational costs, declining membership in professional associations, and the growing influence of corporate ownership and private equity in dentistry. Drawing perspectives from economics, sociology, philosophy, law, and ethics, it traces the historical development of professional licensure and its role in safeguarding clinical autonomy, ethical integrity, and public trust. The analysis highlights how deregulation and profit-driven practice models challenge the profession’s social contract. The manuscript argues that preserving strong civic institutions, restrictive licensure standards, and humanities-informed education is essential to sustaining dentistry as a learned profession rather than a commodified …

The History Of Dr. Suess And European Dentists From The Past: Relevant Lessons In Bioethics For Today, Howard A. Israel Dds, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The works of the author-illustrator Dr. Seuss evoke images of children’s books with moral themes, such as Yertle the Turtle and Horton Hears a Who. The life story of another Dr. Suess has remained relatively unknown. Walter Suess was an extremely talented dentist and musician in Austria. Brilliant and courageous, he became a victim of a morally depraved authoritarian regime and the absence of biomedical ethics during the reign of the Third Reich. The serendipitous discovery of the true story of Dr. Seuss and European dentists from this era offers lessons in bioethics relevant to today.

Building A Cell Specific System For In Vivo Rna Imaging Of The Endogenous Actin Gene In C. Elegans, Jasmine A. Huerta Canete

Theses and Dissertations

Messenger RNA (mRNA) plays a crucial role in protein synthesis and cellular processes, important for the development of cells such as neurons. When dysregulation occurs, it can lead to outcomes such as aberrant translation, causing neurodegenerative conditions to arise. Unfortunately, the localization of mRNA in an in vivo cell specific manner is still not understood. To address this, we decided to develop a cell-specific system to image RNA in vivo, within the organism known as C. elegans with a focus on the actin gene. The Actin gene encodes for an important cytoskeleton protein expressed ubiquitously, vital for the cell …

Planetarity And Relation: Ecology As Method, Ashish Ghadiali

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

The List of Works submitted comprises research through film, text, exhibition, performance and policy engagement, developed during a three-year period from 2021 to 2024 in the site-specific location of Southwest England. This multi-modal and interdisciplinary practice is framed in response to the question of how art and cultural strategy can, in the contexts of climate breakdown and global racial inequity, be conceived of as agency for environmental justice. In this integrative summary, I present a theoretical framework where ecology, in response to conditions of environmental crisis, is understood not only as a subject of inquiry but also as method. In …

Feminism, Domestic Abuse And The Singer-Songwriter, Kathryn Ferguson

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

This project explores how feminism and domestic abuse can be articulatedthrough songwriting. Research in music therapy, sociology and popular musicincreasingly speaks to the value of songwriting as a tool for personal andcommunity empowerment, but there is space to actively use songwriting toexplore feminist issues independently of the traditional commercial context ofpopular music. Existing feminist music has been deemed as at its mostsuccessful when it is linked clearly to social change in our communities(Greene, 2017, p.8). Modern popular feminist songwriting has been criticised fornot going far enough in deconstructing systemic patterns of patriarchy (Tong,2024, p.9). Considering this, engaging with academic research …

Machine Learning Prediction Of Federal Appellate Court Outcomes: A Multi-Circuit Analysis With Administrative Law Implications, Nicky Nuertey Apenahier

Dissertations and Theses

Federal appellate courts are the final arbiters in many cases, yet systematic machine learning analysis across all twelve circuits remains largely absent from the computational law literature. With courts of appeals deciding tens of thousands of cases annually and the Supreme Court reviewing only a fraction, understanding what predicts reversal outcomes has both theoretical importance and practical consequences for litigants, attorneys, and judicial administrators. This study addresses that gap using eleven years of federal appellate decisions from the Federal Judicial Center’s Integrated Database. A systematic comparison of twenty-five machine learning models, spanning five algorithms and five class-imbalance correction strategies, identifies …

Analysis Of Volatility Between Macroeconomic Variables And Busan Port Cargo Throughput According To Global Risks, Sang Ho Cho

Plymouth Business School Theses

This study investigates how container (BPC) and non-container (BPB) cargo throughput at Busan Port responds to structural shocks in global and domestic macroeconomic variables, and how their relative importance changes over time. The selection of variables was based on a combination of a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and semi-structured interviews (SSI). The econometric analysis applied a stepwise framework, employing cumulative Impulse Response Functions (IRF) and Forecast Error Variance Decomposition (FEVD) based on Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) estimations, as well as Historical Decomposition (HD) for specific crisis periods. While IRF and FEVD were used to capture dynamic properties under general …

5bfts Grove At The Nma 11 A New 5bfts Plaque At The Nma, Jenifer A. Harding

Documents

The UK National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is at Alrewas, Staffordshire. The 5BFTS Association gave donations to the NMA which provided a Grove of five trees (five for number 5) comprising two English Birch trees and three American Birch trees and a Plaque. The Grove was dedicated in October 2002. Document 11 ‘A new 5BFTS Plaque at the NMA’ recounts a visit to the NMA in 2014 when the five birch trees in the 5BFTS Grove were found to be flourishing but the plaques needed renovation, and the subsequent placing of a new 5BFTS plaque in the 5BFTS Grove at the …

5bfts Grove At The Nma 06 Attendees At The 5bfts Annual Reunion September 2002, Jenifer A. Harding

Documents

The UK National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is at Alrewas, Staffordshire. The 5BFTS Association gave donations to the NMA which provided a Grove of five trees (five for number 5) comprising two English Birch trees and three American Birch trees and a Plaque. The Grove was dedicated in October 2002. Document 06 ‘Attendees at the 5BFTS Annual Reunion 2002’ in September 2002 which will include the Dedication of the 5BFTS Grove at the NMA.

5bfts Grove At The Nma 02 Newsletter March 2001, Jenifer A. Harding

Documents

The UK National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is at Alrewas, Staffordshire. The 5BFTS Association gave donations to the NMA which provided a Grove of five trees (five for number 5) comprising two English Birch trees and three American Birch trees and a Plaque. The Grove was dedicated in October 2002. Document 02 ‘5BFTS Association Newsletter March 2001’ introduces members to the idea of a 5BFTS Grove.

5bfts Grove At The Nma 12 1bfts, 4bfts And 5bfts – Working Together At The Nma, Jenifer A. Harding

Documents

The UK National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is at Alrewas, Staffordshire. The 5BFTS Association gave donations to the NMA which provided a Grove of five trees (five for number 5) comprising two English Birch trees and three American Birch trees and a Plaque. The Grove was dedicated in October 2002. Document 12 ‘1BFTS, 4BFTS and 5BFTS – working together at the National Memorial Arboretum’ explains how the idea to install a plaque to remember RAF cadets who were at 4BFTS in Mesa, Arizona, in the 5BFTS Grove at the NMA was conceived in 2023.

5bfts Grove At The Nma 09 Newsletter November 2002, Jenifer A. Harding

Documents

The UK National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is at Alrewas, Staffordshire. The 5BFTS Association gave donations to the NMA which provided a Grove of five trees (five for number 5) comprising two English Birch trees and three American Birch trees and a Plaque. The Grove was dedicated in October 2002. Document 09 ‘5BFTS Association Newsletter November 2002’ provides a summary of the 5BFTS Annual Reunion 2002 including the Service of Dedication and Tree Planting on September 22, 2002 at the NMA.

5bfts Grove At The Nma 13 Information About The 5bfts Grove Presented At A Falcon Field Day (4bfts) At Iwm Duxford In October 2023, Jenifer A. Harding

Documents

The UK National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is at Alrewas, Staffordshire. The 5BFTS Association gave donations to the NMA which provided a Grove of five trees (five for number 5) comprising two English Birch trees and three American Birch trees and a Plaque. The Grove was dedicated in October 2002. Document 13 ‘Information about the 5BFTS Grove presented at a Falcon Field Day (4BFTS) at IWM Duxford in October 2023’ explained about the 5BFTS Grove to Falcon Field Association members at a reunion held at IWM Duxford on  October 7, 2023. The Chair of the Falcon Field Association: The Next Generation …

5bfts Grove At The Nma 07 Menu For The Reunion Dinner September 2002, Jenifer A. Harding

Documents

The UK National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is at Alrewas, Staffordshire. The 5BFTS Association gave donations to the NMA which provided a Grove of five trees (five for number 5) comprising two English Birch trees and three American Birch trees and a Plaque. The Grove was dedicated in October 2002. Document 07 ‘Menu for the Reunion Dinner September 21, 2002’, part of the 5BFTS Annual Reunion 2002 in September 2002 which will include the Dedication of the 5BFTS Grove at the NMA.

The Epidemiology Of Catastrophic Head And Neck Injuries In High School And College Non-Football Sports: A 4-Decade Review, Courtney M. Meyer, Kristen L. Kucera, Samantha E. Scarneo-Miller, Zachary K. Winkelmann, Susan W. Yeargin

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Background:

Catastrophic head and neck injuries (CHNIs) in sport are rare but can have disabling or fatal outcomes. Prior studies have focused on football, equipment-laden sports, or different injury severities, not CHNI in nonfootball sports.

Purpose:

To describe the epidemiology of CHNI across levels (high school vs collegiate) in nonfootball sports and evaluate differences in injury rates (IRs) by sport, sex, and decade.

Study Design

Descriptive epidemiological study.

Methods:

This study utilized 40 academic years (1982-1983 to 2021-2022) of surveillance data from the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research. Descriptive statistics summarized athlete, event, and injury characteristics. IRs were …