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Calcite Spar Of Kryštálová Cave (Slovakia): Insights Into Formation Conditions From Fluid Inclusions, Stable Isotopes, And Noble Gases, Petronela Ševčíková, Yuri Dublyansky, Stanislava Milovská, László Palcsu, Marjan Temovski, Kata Molnár, Gabriella I. Kiss, Mário Olšavský, Pavel Herich, Gabriella Koltai, Christoph Spötl

International Journal of Speleology

Phreatic calcite spar is an infrequently used yet promising archive for paleohydrology, a diagnostic tool for speleogenesis, and a robust geothermometer. In this study, we investigated phreatic calcite from Kryštálová cave (Malá Fatra Mts., Slovakia) to constrain its formation conditions, reconstruct the composition of its parent fluid, determine precipitation temperatures, and assess its potential for paleohydrology. Fluid-inclusion microthermometry and stable isotope analyses of inclusion water indicate that calcite precipitated at 45-80°C from a meteoric fluid (δ²H_meas = -87.4 to -84.4‰; δ¹⁸O_calc = -12.2 to -11.8‰) with a purely crustal noble gas signature. Stable …

Full Issue, Making History Editorial Team

Making History

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Culture System For Eosinophils Derived From Human Cord Blood Stem Cells, Christian Lachance

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Monstrous Origins: A Biblical Anthropology Of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein And Bram Stoker's Dracula, Josue Lopez

Masters Theses

In their texts, Stoker and Shelley embody the Christian doctrines of the creation and the incarnation through their monsters, who invert the central tenets of Christianity. Frankenstein’s monster and its relationship to Victor Frankenstein are presented as a maladapted and gross mimicry of God’s creation of man in Genesis. Victor, in his attempt to create life, tries to play God, and his hubristic endeavor unleashes a monstrous being on creation. Likewise, Count Dracula’s vampirism is portrayed as a corruptive reduction of Christ’s incarnation and resurrection. For the regenerative vampiric body, resurrection is not a redemptive act but a curse. The …

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie: Impact Of A Prenatal Mediterranean Diet On Offspring Neurobiological And Behavioral Outcomes, Abigail Noelle Frommack

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In a 4x2 factorial design, this study assessed the impact of four maternal diets on offspring neurobiological and behavioral outcomes by sex. This study aimed to fill significant gaps in the literature by characterizing these outcomes in the understudied maternal Mediterranean diet (MD), while comparing it to a well characterized maternal Western diet (WD). Adult offspring were assessed for anxiety- and depressive-like phenotypes, as well as short- and long-term memory and executive function performance. Sexually dimorphic responses were seen, with very few significant differences observed in male offspring. For affective domains, the male WD offspring showed a potential depressive-like phenotype …

Understanding Burnout And Well-Being Among Early-Career Community College Faculty: A Qualitative Study, Christopher Rennick Morris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study will be to understand the lived experiences of burnout and well-being for early-career, full-time community college faculty in relation to unit-level leadership practices at selected community colleges in the United States. The research follows the job demands–resources (JD–R) theory, which explains how specific aspects of work contribute to burnout and engagement. The combination of work demands, including heavy workload and time constraints, and emotional work requirements, leads to employee exhaustion when organizations fail to provide sufficient support. Job resources, which include autonomy, constructive feedback, collegial support, and organizational justice, create conditions that boost …

Rooted In Place: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On Rural Local Special Education Retention, Katherine Dewett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to interpret the lived experiences of rural, local special education teachers who continue to teach in their rural hometown communities in the United States. The problem was that rural and small-town communities continue to lose almost 30% of special education teachers each year to turnover. Despite identifying challenges and strategies to increase the number of special education teachers, vacancies remain critically high across most rural communities in the United States. This study was guided by place attachment theory, which explores an individual’s relationship with places and how people tend to anchor themselves in …

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Foster Care Youths’ Classroom Behaviors, And Academic Performances While Attending School In A Residential Setting., Latavis Porter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and dysfunctions of the household, are linked to trauma and long-term health consequences. The descriptive study aims to contribute to the current body of literature by investigating the frequency and types of ACEs encountered by foster youth, their academic performance, and classroom behavior while in a residential setting. The ACEs experienced by the foster care youth before residential placement will also be examined. The mean, median, and mode of ACE scores are calculated to gain insights into the central tendency of traumatic childhood events. The research employs …

Compassion Fatigue Within United States Funeral Professionals: The Need For Increased Education Within Funeral Service Curriculum, Darien B. Cain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Funeral service professionals are an integral part of society, caring not only for the deceased but also continuingly assisting bereaved families. Through this work, funeral professionals are exposed to both direct and indirect trauma, putting them at risk for developing mental health afflictions, including compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue education and training are protective factors against compassion fatigue, which enhance personal resilience. The current accredited funeral service curriculum lacks pertinent information regarding compassion fatigue. Interventions, education on terminology, and training integrated into the funeral service curriculum will help students learn stress-management and coping skills to prevent compassion fatigue in their future …

Reclaiming Connection: A Neurospiritual Exploration Of Healing In Early Addiction Recovery, Sherlley Yamirie Campos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research is increasingly showing that addiction affects how people view themselves, others, God, and the future. Reclaiming connection, identity, purpose, and hope is now considered a vital aspect of recovery. The present convergent mixed-methods study examined spiritual, emotional, and relational healing during early addiction recovery and changes in spiritual connection, perceived stress, and closeness to God, self, and others. Eleven Hispanic/Latino men in a spiritually integrated residential program participated. Phenomenological interviews were used with pre- and post-assessment measures from the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), and Inclusion of Other in the Self Scale (IOS). Thematic analysis, …

Fatherlessness And The Longing For The Father: A Biblical-Theological And Apologetic Account Of Desire, Belonging, And Ecclesial Remedy, Walter Marshall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines fatherlessness as a sociological, psychological, and theological problem while advancing an abductive apologetic argument that the persistent human longing for paternal presence, identity, security, and belonging is more comprehensively explained by the Christian worldview. Building upon C. S. Lewis’s Argument from Desire, the study develops the Christian Argument from Paternal Longing, employing inference to the best explanation to evaluate whether paternal longing provides meaningful evidence for God’s existence. Through interdisciplinary research integrating sociology, attachment theory, biblical theology, and historical-theological analysis, the dissertation compares Christian explanations with developmental, evolutionary, sociological, and psychological alternatives. Its central finding is that …

North Carolina Human Trafficking: Prevalence In Charlotte, Pamela Renee Farrar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Trafficking in persons continues to be a problem in Charlotte, North Carolina in both terms of public safety, human rights, and law enforcement. It is difficult to estimate the prevalence of the phenomenon at the local level as it is often not registered, is underreported and is not consistently recognized in official statistics. This quantitative archival study aimed to determine if poverty rates and transient population size/mobility were significant predictors for the reported prevalence of human trafficking in the City of Charlotte between the years 20202024. The prevalence of human trafficking was measured as the reported human trafficking in public …

Shaping Minds: Child Temperament And Parenting Combinations That Impact Child Mental Health, Tabitha Rue Strong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine how the interaction between child temperament and parenting dimensions relates to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children aged 6-12 years. While previous research has identified that temperament and parenting are independent factors in the development of child mental health, few studies have investigated how specific combinations of these factors can influence child mental health. This study recruited 118 participants from schools, clinics, and other community organizations in South Carolina's Lowcountry. Parents completed four standardized measures, including the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire Very Short Form (CBQ-VSF) to assess …

How Disparities In Healthcare Impact Intergenerational Health Outcomes Of Underserved Women In Ethnic Groups Residing In Dekalb County, Georgia, La Tanya Marie Calloway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to better understand how disparities in healthcare impacted poor intergenerational health outcomes for underserved Black, Hispanic and Asian women residing in Dekalb County, Georgia. Qualitative research methods were used to collect data through in-depth semi-structured interviews combined with coding and thematic analysis. Recorded and transcribed interviews used member checking for accuracy which provided insight into the essence of their experiences with the phenomenon. Participants (n=15) shared descriptive lived experiences while facing the challenges of navigating systematic barriers with healthcare systems in their community. Findings highlighted intersectionality as the theoretical framework for the …

Rooted In Rural: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On Rural Homegrown Special Education Retention, Katherine Dewett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to interpret the lived experiences of rural, local special education teachers who continue to teach in their rural hometown communities in the United States. The problem was that rural and small-town communities continue to lose almost 30% of special education teachers each year to turnover. Despite identifying challenges and strategies to increase the number of special education teachers, vacancies remain critically high across most rural communities in the United States. This study was guided by place attachment theory, which explores an individual’s relationship with places and how people tend to anchor themselves in …

Understanding Individual Differences In Mental Health: A Person-Centered Examination Of Temperament-Adversity Profiles In Late Adolescence, Lauri Worley Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adolescents who experience adverse childhood adversity can and often do have different mental health and well-being outcomes. This quantitative study identified temperament-adversity profiles among late adolescents with varying levels of early life adversity and examined whether these profiles differ in emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The diathesis–stress and differential susceptibility theoretical frameworks informed the study. The 200 participants, ages 18 to 21 and living in the United States, were recruited through Prolific and completed an online Qualtrics survey containing the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, Adult Temperament Questionnaire, and Mental Health Continuum–Short Form. Hierarchical and K-means cluster analyses identified four profiles. …

A Causal-Comparative Quantitative Study Of The Efficacy Of Adaptive-Responsive Versus Traditional-Responsive Application Practice On Student Performance In Higher Education General Chemistry I Courses, Jennifer E. Felts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine the efficacy of adaptive-responsive versus traditional-responsive homework in the mastery and application of General Chemistry I concepts. This study was important to determine if the repetition and foundational concept acquisition necessary for success in the fundamental course was better achieved with Assessment & Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) adaptive-responsive homework or traditional-responsive reformulating textbook questions. The sample was composed of 132 higher education General Chemistry I students at Lunar Community College (pseudonym). Data were collected using the American Chemical Society (ACS) General Chemistry First Term (GC1) exam, with ten questions …

Examining Primary Care Providers' Ability To Identify Early Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Children With Down Syndrome, Candice Gentry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this survey research study was to examine whether primary care providers (PCPs) could identify early symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children with Down syndrome (DS). The literature indicates that the prevalence of ASD in the DS population is significantly higher than in the general population, and receiving an ASD diagnosis is often delayed. Overlapping symptomatology due to cognitive impairments and developmental delays creates challenges in distinguishing the differences between ASD and DS symptomatology. PCPs play an essential role in the initial ASD screening process by providing referrals for ASD diagnostic evaluations. It is unknown if …

A Phenomenological Study Of College Students’ Experiences With Foreign Language Acquisition And Multilingualism In Developing Soft Skills For Employability, Naomi Elimelech

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of the dynamic interplay between multilingualism and soft skill development among college students from a higher education institution in Washington, D.C. This study was guided by Larsen-Freeman's Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST), which explains how a foreign language develops over time and adapts to changing environments. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of foreign language learners in higher education regarding the development of soft skills for employability? This study employed a transcendental-phenomenological design to explore college students' lived experiences of the interplay between …

Dorothy Thompson And The Rise Of The “Woman Journalist”, Richard David Lucas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

"Dorothy Thompson and the Rise of the 'Woman Journalist'" reexamines the career of journalist Dorothy Thompson (1893–1961), focusing on the events of July–August 1934 that transformed her from a foreign correspondent into an international symbol of resistance to Nazism. Tracing her evolution from suffrage activist and expatriate reporter to the first American woman to write a nationally syndicated column for a major U.S. daily and prominent interventionist radio commentator, the study situates Thompson within the history of women in journalism and interwar European politics. Combining newly accessible Bundesarchiv records with the Dorothy Thompson Papers at Syracuse University, contemporary press coverage, …

From Disengagement To Stewardship: A Leadership Intervention To Strengthen Nonprofit Board Governance, Shannel M. Mceachin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study designed, implemented, and assessed a stewardship-based leadership intervention to strengthen board leadership and engagement within the Y.T.I. Youth Tutoring Initiative Board of Directors. The rationale for this project was grounded in nonprofit governance best practices and a theological framework of stewardship. Effective nonprofit leadership requires the board of directors to take an active role in governance and self-leadership. The Youth Tutoring Initiative Board of Directors faced leadership and engagement challenges, evidenced by limited individual contributions and organizational accountability. Without intervention, the leadership risked continued stagnation and limited strategic contribution. This project ignited the board's leadership by implementing a …

A Qualitative Sociocultural Study Of Social Constructionism In Youtube Videos Of The Permaculture Community, Penny L. Uzzetta

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study addressed a gap in communication literature by examining how the permaculture community used YouTube to communicate knowledge about regenerative agriculture. Guided by a social constructionism framework within the sociocultural tradition, the study explored how narratives, symbols, audio, and video were used to communicate experiences, knowledge, and values related to permaculture and regenerative agriculture. The dataset consisted of 40 hours of publicly available YouTube videos from leading permaculture channels. The YouTube videos were examined using qualitative content analysis to better understand how the permaculture community communicated knowledge about regenerative agriculture. Across the videos, creators used stories from their …

How Do The Formal And Informal Leadership Strategies In Church With A Latino Component Result In The Ability Or Inability To Make Critical And Sustainable Changes?, Clara Herran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore the challenges leaders in a church with a Latino component face and how those challenges may affect their ability to make critical and sustainable changes. The study examined leadership strategies, members’ interactions, cultural and contextual factors, and leadership actions and behaviors associated with gaining church support. Guided by a positivist paradigm, the study used a flexible qualitative design and single-case study method. Data were collected from 12 participants representing multiple leadership, ministry, volunteer, and congregational perspectives through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Methodological triangulation was used to compare evidence obtained …

Nuclear Nervous System (Nns-1.0) A Non-Safety-Related Operator Support And Situational Awareness Research Platform For Distributed Asset Health Monitoring And Confidence-Weighted Sensor Fusion No Control, Actuation, Or Autonomous Decision Authority, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure presents the Nuclear Nervous System (NNS-1.0), an open-hardware research architecture for distributed asset health monitoring and confidence-weighted situational awareness in high-consequence industrial environments.

The architecture combines:

• thermal sensing

• structural sensing

• vibration monitoring

• acoustic monitoring

• pressure monitoring

• leak monitoring

• environmental monitoring

with conservative multi-domain sensor fusion.

Unlike traditional alarm-centric systems, NNS-1.0 seeks to provide a continuously updated estimate of equipment condition together with uncertainty metrics and confidence indicators.

The system performs observation and analysis only. No autonomous operational authority is provided.

The platform is intended for scientific research into anomaly detection, early warning, predictive maintenance, structural-health assessment, and operator …

Various Correspondence, Glenwood Creech

Papers

No abstract provided.

Fall 2026 Full Issue, Undergraduate Research

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

No abstract provided.

It Takes A Village -- An Homage To Florida's Ecosystems And Biodiversity, Noah R. Bastien

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

It Takes a Village is a drawing highlighting the biodiversity of Florida's native wildlife. The included species encompass plants, animals and fungi found in Floridian ecosystems. The swamp panel is an homage to the Florida Highwaymen, and several of the chosen species hold personal symbolism to my upbringing in central Florida and time spent with my grandparents on the Indian River in Brevard County. The species depicted in the drawing are as follows (from left to right, top to bottom): the grey triggerfish (Balistes capriscus), Florida mangroves (Rhizophora mangle), tropical water-clover (Marsilea ancylopoda), Florida …

The Conquest For Information V The Fermi Paradox, Matthew A. Kramer

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

The concepts of intelligent life beyond earth and extraterrestrial civilizations have intrigued scientists and scholars alike. Intellectuals have suggested that extraterrestrial intelligence should be detectable somewhere in the grand universe; however, despite continued effort, no one has reliably documented evidence supporting extraterrestrial life, culminating in the Fermi Paradox. One perspective to solve the Fermi Paradox involves using logic and analytical reasoning skills to deduce the limits of detection based on what is most probabilistically determinable via the Drake equation. However, with information comes costs and these emergent energetic complexities drive civilizations to maximize computing power, converging into a blackhole transcendent …

Swallowtail Plant And Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail, Lillian G. Witherspoon

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

This mixed-media, artistic representation displaying both the Swallowtail Plant and the Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly visualizes the shared similarities in both pattern and shape. Christia obcordata, commonly known as the Swallowtail Plant or Butterfly Plant, gets its name from its wing-shaped foliage and burgundy stripes that resemble the swallowtail butterfly.

Gravitational Constraints And Graviphilic Systems, Bradley E. Cantrell

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Astronomical observation is revealing thousands of new worlds while inferentially suggesting the existence of countless others, as advances in gravitational-wave astronomy and cosmology continue to expand our grasp of the observable universe. This study introduces the gravitational viability factor, 𝐺v, and the concept of graviphilic systems as a framework for organizing astrobiological inquiry. 𝐺v is proposed as a conceptual framework for connecting universal biological constraints with contingent biological outcomes. Gravity is not merely a constraint on life but a useful organizing parameter for evaluating biological plausibility across environments. An abundance of potential telescope targets is available through …