Digital Commons Network^™

The Heart Of Care: Perceptions And Management Of Pediatric Cancer Across Cultures, Kit Lamison

Theses & ETDs

The current study aimed to determine the interaction between cultural background, perceptions of illness, and family management in Chinese American and White American caregivers of children diagnosed with cancer. The current study was conducted to gain knowledge on how families from different backgrounds respond to the devastating experience of having a child diagnosed with cancer. To achieve this goal, participants were recruited through online communities focused on pediatric cancer and traditional Chinese medicine. A 135-item online survey containing the revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (Moss-Morris et al., 2002) and the Family Management Measure (Knafl et al., 2011) was distributed to participants …

New Leader Perspectives On Caring Communications, Miah Graczyk, Dorothy Moore, Andrew Peine, Russell Zwiers, Robert Whisler, Barbara Holmes

Leadership Education Books

This is an ebook project created by the Leadership Education graduate students in the  LDRS 615 Leadership Communication spring 2026 course.

Graduate students enrolled in Leadership Education 615 (Spring 2026) focused their final writing project on the role of caring communication in effective leadership. Drawing from personal leadership experiences, students examined critical gaps in current practices and identified areas in need of growth and refinement.

LDRS Education 615 students argue that emerging leaders play a crucial role in strengthening organizational environments by promoting safety, collaboration, and mutual respect. Thus, New Leaders Perspectives on Caring Communications reinforces the importance of developing …

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Graduate Commencement: May 2026, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Designing Enhanced Nonlinearity In Plasmonic Devices With Epsilon-Near-Zero Films, Kevin Tran Le

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (MS) Theses

The growing demand for energy-efficient optical information processing motivates compact nonlinear photonic devices that can operate at low power. Silicon photonics is a mature platform for linear optical functions, but nonlinear operation remains challenging because of its weak Kerr response, two-photon absorption at telecommunication wavelengths, and limited compatibility with deeply subwavelength plasmonic confinement. This thesis computationally investigates epsilon-near-zero thin films integrated into plasmonic waveguide architectures as a route toward stronger light–matter interaction in compact nonlinear devices.

Two waveguide geometries are examined: a hybrid metal-insulator-metal plasmonic slab waveguide incorporating an ultrathin indium tin oxide epsilon-near-zero layer (5–50 nm), and a dielectric-loaded …

"Fracturing The Space Of The Real": Deriving A Korean Queer Theory From The Shamanic Feminist Poetics Of Kim Hyesoon, Amber Lee

English (MA) Theses

This thesis derives a Korean queer theory from the shamanic feminist poetics of Kim Hyesoon, arguing that her theorization of Korean indigenous spirituality [musok] and the shaman song "Abandoned Princess Baridegi" constitutes a counter-epistemological framework capable of articulating queer possibility outside the ideological constraints of Western critical discourse. Drawing on the three essays of Princess Abandoned, translated by Don Mee Choi, I read Kim's work through a methodology of resignification (Judith Butler) and disidentification (José Esteban Muñoz) to argue that her agentive resignification of femininity and yin theorizes a disidentificatory performance-space [hyonbin] where queer Korean subjects enact worldmaking and …

Bard Observer Vol. 24 No.7 (May 2026), Bard College

Bard Observer, 2020 - 2029

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Nicotine On Muscle Stem Cell Growth And Differentiation, Annaka M. Clark

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nicotine exposure has significantly increased due to the rising use of e-cigarettes, posing potential health risks not only to users but also to animals exposed to nicotine vapor. While nicotine has been extensively studied for its effects on human health, its impact on animal muscle cells remains largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate the effects of nicotine on muscle cell cultures, specifically focusing on morphological changes, gene expression, and differentiation. Using C₂C₁₂ myoblasts as a model system, the experiment evaluated how varying concentrations of nicotine influence muscle stem cell growth and regeneration. Findings show that lower …

Investigating The Effects Of Stress On The Passive Transfer Of Antibodies From Colostrum To The Newborn Calf, Audrey F. Dykes

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The objective of the current study was to examine passive transfer of immunoglobulins A (IgA) and G (IgG) to the calf in relation to dam’s fecal cortisol and lactoferrin. In July 2024, late-gestation, Angus crossbred heifers pregnant by artificial insemination (n = 30) were moved to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Stocker Unit and housed in 0.42-ha grass paddocks for each heifer. Calving began in mid-August. Heifers were observed routinely throughout the workday and then at 8 p.m., 12 a.m., and 6 a.m. After calving, the calf was allowed to stand and suckle once then dam sample collection …

The Impacts Of High Protein Diet On Sleep And Mood In Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Pcos), Lily G. Hiegel

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The objective of this study is to determine whether adherence to a high protein diet over a sixteen-week period leads to improvements in sleep quality and mood in women with PCOS. It is hypothesized that individuals following the high protein diet will demonstrate significantly better sleep quality and more favorable mood profiles compared to individuals not following the high protein diet. By targeting insulin resistance and dietary carbohydrate intake, this intervention may influence multiple pathways involved in PCOS symptomatology, including hormonal regulation, metabolic function, sleep physiology, and psychological wellbeing.

The Association Of Birth Order And Coping Strategies In Children During Family Stress; A Case Study On A Second-Born Child, Jaymee Bass

Theses & ETDs

This study examined the association between birth order and coping strategies in children, with a particular focus on primary and secondary control coping during family stress. Drawing on theoretical models of coping that distinguish between efforts to change external stressors (primary control) and efforts to adapt internal responses (secondary control), the study explored whether children’s roles within the family may help predict their preferred coping mechanisms. Prior research suggests that personality traits, sibling dynamics, and family structure influence both emotional development and coping processes, indicating that birth order may be a meaningful factor in how children respond to stress. Participants …

Gendered Socialization Of Comfort With Risk And The Selection Of A College Major, Eliza S. Staton

Sociology and Criminology Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study investigates the potential relationship between the gendered socialization of risk preferences and the selection of a college major. Women are underrepresented in many fields of study, but especially in those related to science, technology, engineering, and math (S.T.E.M). Careers in STEM fields tend to require degree paths that require difficult classes, with lower average grade points, and a high chance of failure. As of 2023, only 24% of the student body in the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas was composed of women (Uark 2023). These high-pressure, male-dominated environments have been found to lose women at …

Perceptions Of German Eugenics: An Analysis Of German Eugenics In The Eugenics Review, 1920-1945, Ally Iandolo

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research examines how the eugenics movement in Germany was perceived by academic peers. I utilize entries from the British journal, The Eugenics Review, from 1920-1945 to create a database of all journal articles, book reviews, correspondence, and other entries that mention German eugenics. Then, using this database, I determine how German eugenics was perceived and which topics were identified by the journal’s contributors. Further, I analyze the careers of the authors who wrote these articles to understand the scope of interest in German eugenics from the Eugenics Review.

Comparative Effectiveness Of Immunotherapy Alone Or With Chemotherapy As First-Line Treatment For Marginal Zone Lymphoma, Adam Olszewski, Thomas Ollila, Dai Chihara, Geoffrey Shouse, Natalie Grover, Reem Karmali, Pallawi Torka, Colin Thomas, Praveen Ramakrishnan Geethakumari, Stefan Barta, Nancy Bartlett, Narendranath Epperla

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

No abstract provided.

Applications Of Cyrene For Pharmaceutical Synthesis, Anjali Mae Rabindran

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Cyrene is a cellulose-derived molecule that has gained interest in green chemistry as both a solvent and precursor for pharmaceutical intermediates. In this study, biocatalytic and chemical strategies were evaluated for converting Cyrene into these intermediates. Cyrene was carried through variations of a five-step sequence: reduction, reductive amination, esterification, tosylate salt formation, and Lewis-acid mediated acetal opening to generate ring-opened pyranose products (“deoxy sugars” and “deoxy amino sugars”). We successfully synthesized deoxy sugar intermediates; however, the production of stereochemically pure deoxy amino sugar intermediates was limited by unresolved diastereomeric mixtures. These findings highlight the promise of Cyrene as a renewable …

Analysis Of Potential Alkali Reactivity Of Aggregates In Arkansas, Brigita Dowling

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) is a deleterious chemical reaction in concrete that leads to the deterioration of concrete structures. This reaction occurs between minerals present in aggregates and alkalis in the cement, and produces a gel-like substance called alkali silicate gel. Gradually, these gels absorb water from the environment and expand, leading to internal stresses in the concrete. This damage results in expansion, cracking, and deformation, reducing the strength and durability of the concrete significantly. While this damage appears minor initially, eventually they can lead to the need for costly repairs or replacement of the concrete. ASR has been observed …

Beyond Duality: The Doppelganger And The Multiplicity Of Identity In Oscar Wilde's The Picture Of Dorian Gray, Alyssa Roberts

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This paper argues that Oscar Wilde uses The Picture of Dorian Gray to transform the Gothic doppelganger from a symbol of moral duality into a site of multiplicity that exposes the instability of identity. Earlier iterations of the double–ranging from mythic traditions to nineteenth-century texts—such as The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—tend to structure the self through binary opposition. Wilde, however, reconfigures the double as an accumulative and dynamic process. This paper analyzes how Wilde disrupts the rigidity of Victorian binaries and society’s investment in duality through the portrait’s accumulation of the consequences of Dorian’s actions as …

Artificial Intelligence In Dental Education: A Literature Review Of Global Adoption, Pedagogical Outcomes, And Ethical Implications, Betti Shahin, Jeremiah D. Ghodsi, Toleen Mazloum, Denise Hale

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing many fields by enabling machines to accomplish tasks that previously required human intelligence, such as learning, decision-making, and problem-solving. In dentistry, AI is increasingly applied to diagnostics, treatment planning, and clinical training. Its integration enhances educational experiences for students while supporting more accurate and efficient patient care.

Objective: This review synthesizes recent research on AI in dental education, highlighting global adoption trends and key pedagogical, ethical, and practical considerations.

Conclusion: AI has significant potential to enhance dental education through innovative teaching, clinical training, and data-driven decision-making. Effective integration depends on institutional …

The Expectation Of Pain: Effects On Threshold, Tolerance, And Perception, Emma Paulus

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Brain activity in pain-related regions of the cortex is thought to be influenced by interactions between expectations and incoming sensory information. However, the subjective experience of pain based on expectation has not been thoroughly explored. By changing visual and auditory cues to set expectation levels, a relationship between unconscious expectation of pain and actual sensory pain experienced was characterized. With IRB approval, volunteers were randomly and blindly grouped into low and high pain expectancy groups. Each group completed a survey about initial pain expectations before the muscle stimulation tolerance test, followed by a survey about actual pain perception after the …

An Investigation Of Entamoeba Histolytica Chitin Synthases And Other Encystation Factors In Early Encystation, John N. Talledo

All Theses

Entamoeba histolytica is a food-and-water-borne human protozoan pathogen that relies on a two-stage life cycle for successful proliferation outside of the host. E. histolytica exists in its dormant cyst form while outside of its host and converts to the motile trophozoite (amoeba) form in the small intestine. The trophozoites colonize the large intestine to cause symptomatic disease in ~10% of infections, resulting in ~100 million cases of amoebic dysentery each year. Trophozoites can convert back to the cyst form, which is shed in feces to continue the infection cycle.

Currently, there is a lack of understanding of the exact molecular …

Odor Vs. Direction Prioritization In Shelter Navigation By The Whip Spider Phrynus Marginemaculatus, Aiden Barno, Daniel D. Wiegmann, Verner Peter Bingman, Sidney Tyler Ley

Honors Projects

Arthropod navigation is known to rely on a variety of multisensory strategies, yet the prioritization of these cues in whip spiders remains poorly understood. This study examined whether Phrynus marginemaculatus prioritizes olfactory cues or idioethic directional cues when the two cues directly conflict with one another. Twelve subjects were trained to associate a shelter with both a specific odor (geraniol or 1‑hexanol) and a consistent directional movement (left or right) from the release site. In a subsequent test trial, odor and direction were dissociated, and subjects’ time spent in front of each shelter was used to determine an association index …

Supremacy Politics: The Coding Of Power In Artificial Intelligence (Ai), Dana G. Jones

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

White Predominance Is The Point, Kimberly West-Faulcon

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

Punishment, Cruelty & Justice: Critically Interrogating Grants Pass V. Johnson, Sara K. Rankin

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

Small-Scale Analog Spiking Neural Network: Design And Simulation Of An Analog Deep Neural Network, Lucas Hogue

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

A small-scale analog schematic of a spiking neural network (SNN) is designed and demonstrated through the analog design environment (ADE) within Cadence Virtuoso. An SNN is a type of neuromorphic system that utilizes components mimicking the function of the neurons and synapses found in biological neural networks. The SNN designed in this project is composed of four layers: one input layer, two hidden layers, and one output layer. The inclusion of more than one hidden layer classifies the network as “deep” and increases the network’s efficiency at handling data with increased complexity. The SNN categorizes inputs by producing a set …

Intertidal Ecosystem Variation Along A Latitudinal Gradient Across The Gulf Of Maine, Reuven William Frye, Justin Baumann

Standard Theses

Rocky intertidal ecosystems are structured by environmental conditions and are particularly sensitive to climate change driven stressors such as ocean warming and acidification (Fernandez et al., 2020; Kleisner et al., 2017). This study examined algal and invertebrate community composition across eight rocky intertidal sites spanning northern and southern regions along the Gulf of Maine to assess how tidal height, site, and region shape species distributions and interactions. Surveys quantified percent cover and total count across low, mid, and high tidal zones, and patterns were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD post hoc tests. Algal community composition varied significantly with …

Assessing The Impact Of Toxic Fescue Consumption During Gestation On Muscle Growth Gene Expression And Beef Color Quality Of The Offspring, Madison Blank

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Endophyte-infected tall, toxic fescue is the most common forage for beef cattle in the southeastern U.S. However, exposure to this forage causes detrimental effects on the health of gestating cattle. The exposure to toxic fescue during gestation has been shown to impact fetal development during pregnancy and their offspring’s subsequent growth. However, limited information is currently available on the impact of this exposure on the meat quality of the offspring. Our objective is to determine how the dam’s exposure to toxic fescue during gestation impacts the beef color and quality of the final offspring.

A total of 22 animals (11 …

Establishing The Inter-Rater Reliability Of The Titleist Performance Institute (Tpi) Movement Screen, Ian Henry Dahners, Matthew Fetner, Carlan Haugrud, Hunter Johnson, Braeden Lee Knutson, Erica Jo Peters, Dana Jayde Zarn

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Movement Screen is a golf-specific physical assessment widely used by professionals to identify physical limitations that may influence swing mechanics and injury risk. Despite its popularity, there is limited peer-reviewed evidence regarding the screen’s inter-rater reliability. Without established reliability, clinical and performance decisions based on TPI scores may be questionable. Prior research on similar tools, such as the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), shows that reliability varies based on evaluator experience, scoring objectivity, and standardization—all relevant concerns for the TPI Movement Screen.

Purpose: To determine the inter-rater reliability of …

The Effects Of Dynamic Blood Flow Restriction On Transmembrane Fluid Shifts, Parker Bradley Carroll, Caden John Heinert, Isaiah John Kludt, Lucas Robert Simon

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The benefits of blood flow restriction (BFR) training, particularly its ability to induce muscle hypertrophy, are well established. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying this hypertrophy remain unclear. This study hypothesized that fluid shifts within the skeletal muscle, specifically changes in intracellular fluid (ICF) and extracellular fluid (ECF) composition, contribute to hypertrophic responses following BFR exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate ICF and ECF dynamics in the lower extremity skeletal muscle using bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) following BFR in combination with submaximal resistance exercise. Additionally, the researchers aimed to determine the duration of fluid shifts by assessing ICF/ECF …

Prognostic Predictors Of Developmental And Functional Outcomes In Children With Global Developmental Delay: A Retrospecive Chart Review, Rachel Lynne Kuechle, Sadie Elizabeth Olson, Eliana Hazel Parks, Hailee Lynn Schauer, Mara Marie Vannyhuis, Audrey Elizabeth Whitman

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Global developmental delay (GDD) is a broad, global disorder in which children do not reach the appropriate gross and fine motor milestones as expected for their age. GDD’s impact can extend beyond motor skills to include speech and language development, cognitive abilities, social and personal skills, and ADL’s. This study aims to investigate the prognostic predictors of developmental and functional improvement of children with GDD. Our study also examines how the prognosis of children diagnosed with GDD will be affected based on therapeutic intervention in order to offer evidence-based recommendations to support children with GDD and their …

Examining Organizational Factors Contributing To Burnout In Community College Employees: An Anthropological Perspective, Jesse N. Blue

Leadership Education Capstones

Organizational culture and systemic inequities remain under-researched factors driving the mental and physical deterioration of community college employees. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe and interpret the lived experiences of job-related burnout among community college employees. This qualitative short-term ethnography was conducted at Big Rock College, a rural community college in central Arkansas. The sample consisted of six volunteer participants across administrative, faculty, and staff roles. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom®. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and triangulated with institutional document analysis. Findings indicated that 84% of participants experienced varying degrees of burnout, driven by …