Digital Commons Network^™

Becoming A Social Worker, Sheyanne Marie Herron

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio is a reflective overview of my journey toward becoming a social worker. It highlights how my education, professional experiences, practicum placements, and coursework have shaped my development as a clinician, advocate, and leader. The portfolio demonstrates growth across the core MSW competencies, including ethical practice, assessment, intervention, research, policy, advocacy, cultural humility, and leadership. It also emphasizes my person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approach to practice and my commitment to social justice and lifelong learning.

Implementation Of A Discharge Planning Protocol, Sylvia Ngwikooh Forku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was a nursing led quality improvement initiative focused on standardizing discharge planning on an adult inpatient psychiatric unit. The goal of the project was to strengthen evidence-based, person-centered transitions of care to reduce readmissions and promote safer community reintegration for adults with serious mental illness. The practice focused question guiding this project was whether implementing an evidence based, standardized discharge planning protocol on an adult inpatient psychiatric unit would improve staff knowledge and adherence to best practice discharge elements and contribute to a favorable decrease in 30-day readmission rates. Analytical strategies included descriptive analysis of pre and …

Small Business Owner Strategies To Decrease Voluntary Employee Turnover, Darious D. Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Voluntary employee turnover remains a significant challenge for small business owners in the car dealership industry. Small business owners are concerned because employee turnover increases recruitment and training costs, disrupts operations, and can reduce profitability. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore effective strategies some small business owners in the car dealership industry use to decrease voluntary employee turnover in North Florida. The participants were three small business owners in the car dealership industry in North Florida who had implemented retention strategies. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with the three …

Trustee's Objection To First Amended Disclosure Statement

Catholic Dioceses in Bankruptcy

No abstract provided.

First Amended Disclosure Statement

Catholic Dioceses in Bankruptcy

No abstract provided.

20260821: Marshall Magazine (Print Copies), 2020-2025, University Communications

Guides to University Archives

These items include materials from the office of University Communications at Marshall University from 2020-2025. Items were received as each issue was published and include paper copies of the Marshall Magazine from the date range.

Healthcare Students’ Experiences Using Artificial Intelligence Simulation Tools In Clinical Simulated Laboratory Practice, Delicia S. Cousin

Student Dissertations

Artificial intelligence-driven simulation has become an important component of healthcare education by providing students with opportunities to strengthen clinical reasoning, decision-making, and technical skills in a safe learning environment. Despite its growing adoption, limited research has explored how healthcare students experience artificial intelligence-driven simulation during clinical laboratory practice. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore healthcare students’ experiences using artificial intelligence-driven simulation tools during clinical laboratory practice. Guided by Experiential Learning Theory and Transformative Learning Theory, the study examined how students interpreted, reflected upon, and learned from these experiences. Data were collected through a researcher-developed Qualtrics questionnaire …

Improving Language Access For Massachusetts Immigrants With Limited English Proficiency: A Policy For Routine Professional Medical Interpreter Use, Anh Van Kieu Tran

Capstones

No abstract provided.

Strategies For Enhancing Membership Retention In U.S. African American Sororities, Kendra D. Bryant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Member retention remains a challenge for African American sororities. Sorority leaders are concerned because declining retention may weaken organizational sustainability, leadership continuity, and member participation. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to explore leadership strategies used by African American sorority leaders to enhance member engagement and retention. Participants included six current or former chapter presidents and regional leaders of African American sororities in the United States with successful experience in enhancing member retention. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and review of publicly available organizational materials. Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis process …

The Association Of Age, Race, And Gender And Novel Interventions In The Prevention Of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection, In Washington State, Lamin Darboe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Delayed removal of indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs) contributes to catheter-associated urinary tract infections, a leading healthcare-associated infection. A dot/smart-phrase communication tool, guided by the Health Belief Model construct of cues to action, to promote timely IUC removal interventions was evaluated in this quantitative, cross-sectional study. Secondary data from N = 372 adult patients with acute urinary retention in acute and critical care settings in Washington State were analyzed using SPSS Version 30. Binary logistic regression examined relationships among demographic variables, intervention-related factors (adherence within 48 hours, cosignature within 24 hours, and secure chat communication), and clinical outcomes (IUC removal and/or …

Effective Employee Retention Strategies Used By Hair Salon Leaders To Sustain Business Operations, Taylor Bynum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee retention challenges continue to affect the operational sustainability of hair salons. Hair salon owners and leaders are concerned about employee retention because it directly affects their ability to sustain business operations. Grounded in Wayne McPhee’s sustainable activity model, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies hair salon owners and leaders used to retain employees and sustain business operations. Participants included eight hair salon owners or leaders who had successfully retained employees and sustained business operations for at least 5 years. Data from semistructured interviews with the participants were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step …

Report Card On The Status Of Women 2025-2026, Leah Ward

Women's Center Reports, Commentaries and Other Resources

In this eighth iteration of the Report Card on the Status of Women, the University of Dayton’s Women’s Center maintains our Report Card annually, continuing to be aimed at increasing institutional diversity and promoting equity for underrepresented staff and faculty. In doing so, the report identifies areas where progress is being made and areas where more work is needed. The Report Card is also a space to share progress on gender equity initiatives led by the Women's Center and other units across campus.

Data presented in this Report Card was provided by the Office for Decision Support and represents data …

The International Adoption Movement From South Korea: A Sociological Analysis Of Its Rise, Fall And Relevance Today For Children’S Rights Issues, Madeline H. Engel

Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

No abstract provided.

Improving K-Card Observation Fidelity To Sustain A Culture Of Continuous Learning, John L. Ricks Iii

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem

            Despite improvements in central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) attribution, variability in Kamishibai card (K-card) observation practices and documentation limited the unit's ability to identify, learn from, and correct persistent deviations from expected practice. Baseline data showed frequent incomplete documentation and a pattern of completing K-card observations outside bedside shift report.

Context

This project took place in a 20-bed medical-surgical ICU, using the existing K-card process to support high-reliability prevention of hospital-acquired conditions (HAC). Baseline assessment revealed inconsistent observation workflows, incomplete documentation, and unclear roles and expectations.

Interventions

A standardized K-card observation workflow was developed through rapid-cycle testing. Observations were …

Don’T Fall For It: Just-In-Time Staff Education To Reduce Patient Falls On An Adult Telemetry Unit, Forrest Wilcox, Kyle Knight, Jennifer Paiz, Zaira Garcia-Vega

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: Patient falls remain a leading cause of preventable harm among hospitalized adults and carry significant clinical and financial consequences. On an adult medical-surgical telemetry unit at this study site, a one-year review of 45 fall events found that most falls occurred among patients classified as high risk on the Morse Fall Scale, frequently without continuous observation or consistent purposeful rounding. Aim: The aim of this project is to reduce falls on the telemetry unit to the national benchmark of 3.2 falls per 1,000 patient days within a 6-month period. Methods: A just-in-time (JIT) education intervention was delivered to registered …

Optical And Structural Characterization Of Sn@Zn And Sn Core-Shell Nanoparticles Synthesized By Plal: Evaluation Of Prostate Cancer, Aya K. Mahmoed, Sabah N. Mazhir

Baghdad Science Journal

In this study, Sn nanoparticles and Sn/Zn core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized using (PLA) techniques. Pulsed laser ablation with a (1064 nm) wavelength, (6 Hz) frequency, (300 mJ) energy, and (250 pulses) number of shots was used to subject colloidal dispersions of Sn and Zn, and bimetallic Sn@Zn core/shell nanoparticles were generated by the metal target in 15 mL of distilled water (DW). The investigation of nanoparticles was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-VIS spectroscopy, FESEM, zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The efficiency of the prepared nanomaterial was assessed for cytotoxicity, as the test was …

Synergistic Photodetectors Based On Sno2/Si With Cnts Via Vacuum Thermal Evaporation, Sozan A. Hassan, Walla M. Mohammd, Mohanad Q. Kareem, Kawkab D. Salim

Baghdad Science Journal

This study presents a precision-engineered carbon nanotube (CNT)-doped SnO₂/Si heterojunction photodetector, wherein interfacial physics governs performance beyond individual material capabilities. Stepwise CNT loadings (0, 0.03, and 0.07 wt.%) were deposited by vacuum thermal evaporation to systematically reconstruct the crystallographic, morphological and band-alignment landscape. A-sure X-ray diffraction demonstrates that the rutile phase remains, and atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirm grain passivation at the nanoscale. High sub-bandgap light sensitivity can be achieved, benefiting from the built-in field-assisted carrier separation at the SnO₂/Si interface, whereby the redshifted absorption edge is indicative of intentional bandgap engineering. CNT …

North Country Career Expo Student Brochure, Cooperative Extension, Coos County, Ray Berthiaume

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Determinants Of Antenatal Care Utilization: A Community-Based, Cross-Sectional Study In Morang And Sunsari Districts, Eastern Nepal, Sunil Shah, Chandra Jha

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

This study examined the factors influencing antenatal care (ANC) utilization in the eastern region of Nepal, focusing on the Morang and Sunsari districts, with the aim of identifying key determinants affecting ANC uptake and assessing the extent of ANC service utilization among mothers. Using lot quality assurance sampling, a community-based, descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed, surveying 164 mothers who had given birth within the previous 12 months; data were collected from June through November 2023. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS, with descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Findings revealed that 80.5% of respondents …

Southern Adventist University Commencement Program Summer 2026, Southern Adventist University

Commencement Programs

Program for Southern Adventist University Summer 2026 graduation. The commencement service took place on August 21, 2025 at 10 am in Iles Physical Education Center.

Mechanism Of Injury And Fracture Status Influence Outcomes After Central Cord Injury, Karlo M. Pedro, Mohammed Ali Alvi, Kathleen Zang, Christopher Lozano, Jetan H. Badhiwala, Jefferson R. Wilson, James Harrop, James D. Guest, Bizhan Aarabi, Christopher I. Shaffrey, Michael G. Fehlings

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Central cord syndrome (CCS) is the most common form of incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), yet its optimal management remains controversial. We examined whether stratifying CCS by injury stability improves treatment assessment. CCS was defined as an American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) C/D cervical SCI with a ≥5-point lower-upper extremity motor score difference and classified as CCS-stable (CCS-S) or -unstable (CCS-U) based on the absence or presence of fracture/dislocation. Functional recovery at 1 year was assessed using the functional independence measure (FIM) motor score. Among 291 patients, 131 (45%) had CCS-S. These patients were older and more …

The Effect Of Escape Room Simulation On The Self-Efficacy And Communication Levels Of Novice Critical Care Nurses, Lauren A. Femino, Kim Chapman, Julie A. Marshall, Shelby A. Trull, Jennifer A. Dibenedetto

The Lahey Journal

Abstract 

Introduction: Novice critical care nurses often report having low self-confidence and effective communication skills when transitioning to the ICU practice, often due to stress, limited experience, and unfamiliarity with critical care environments. These challenges can not only affect their job satisfaction and retention rates, but also pose serious risks to patient safety and outcomes. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to assess the impact of an escape room simulation on the self-efficacy and communication skills of novice critical care nurses.

Methods: An evidence-based practice (EBP) project with pre-test and post-test design was conducted to …

Leadership Style And Employee Outcomes In Private Practice Outpatient Physical Therapy Clinics, Catherine Beuerle Martin, Debra Ann Beazley

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Background: Workforce retention, employee engagement, and job satisfaction are ongoing challenges in outpatient physical therapy practice. Leadership style has been identified as a potentially modifiable organizational factor that may influence clinician experience and workplace outcomes. Despite extensive leadership research in other health professions, evidence specific to outpatient physical therapy settings remains limited. 

Purpose: To examine the relationships between private practice outpatient physical therapy clinic directors’ perceived leadership styles and staff physical therapists' work engagement, job satisfaction, turnover intention, leadership effectiveness, satisfaction with leadership, and willingness to exert extra effort.

Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study surveyed licensed staff physical …

Umbilical Artery Doppler In Fetal Growth Restriction, Britanie Dollard

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Umbilical artery (UA) Doppler velocimetry is a noninvasive tool used to assess placental vascular resistance and improve risk stratification in pregnancies complicated by suspected fetal growth restriction (FGR). Placental insufficiency remains a leading cause of stillbirth and neonatal morbidity, making early identification critical for optimizing perinatal outcomes. This clinical review synthesizes current evidence regarding the role of UA Doppler in identifying placental insufficiency, outlines key waveform interpretations, and evaluates how Doppler findings guide clinical management and delivery planning. Evidence and major society guidelines support UA Doppler as a targeted surveillance tool in high-risk pregnancies complicated by suspected FGR. Progressive abnormalities, …

The Use Of Psilocybin For Managing Refractory Behavioral Health Conditions: A Narrative Review, Rachel N. Clark

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

The purpose of this review is to evaluate the possible benefits of using psilocybin (C₁₂H₁₇N₂O₄P), a naturally occurring psychoactive compound found in certain species of mushrooms, in the treatment of multiple forms of mental illness and substance use disorders, either as monotherapy or in conjunction with traditional psychiatric medications. The compound has high affinity for several serotonin receptors, including 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A, and 5-HT_2C, which are located throughout the cerebral cortex and thalamus. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted, identifying studies that assessed pharmacokinetics, therapeutic …

Countering Hpv Vaccine Misinformation On Social Media: Practical Strategies For Healthcare Providers, David Baldwin

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a highly effective strategy for preventing cervical and other HPV-related cancers; however, vaccine hesitancy remains a significant barrier to optimal vaccination rates. Social media has become a major source of health information while simultaneously amplifying misinformation that influences parental attitudes toward HPV vaccination. This narrative literature review examined the relationship between social media misinformation and HPV vaccine hesitancy and identified evidence-based strategies healthcare providers can use to improve vaccine confidence.

A literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar identified 31 articles published between 2016 and 2025, of which 19 met inclusion criteria. The literature demonstrates …

Professional Values And Workplace Alignment In Dpt Alumni: A Quantitative Cohort Analysis, Debra Ann Beazley, Stephen Elam, Penny S. Elam, Lawrence S. Ramiscal, Pt, Dpt, Ph.D.

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Background: Professional values are foundational to physical therapy practice and are emphasized throughout Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) education. Although identity formation literature suggests that core values may persist after graduation, less is known about how workplace context, career stage, and clinical performance relate to the long-term enactment of values among practicing clinicians.

Purpose: To examine whether professional values among DPT alumni differ across demographic groups, career stages, and outpatient settings, and to explore associations among organizational support, workplace value alignment, and historical educational performance.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among University of Lynchburg DPT alumni …

The Multi-Agent Ai System For Automated Media Ingestion And Metadata Enrichment, Shravan Nayak

Defensive Publications Series

The process of ingesting and cataloging large volumes of digital media can be inefficient and difficult to scale, often relying on manual workflows that may be slow and error-prone. A multi-agent artificial intelligence framework may be used for automated media content ingestion and metadata enrichment. Such a system can comprise a central orchestrator agent that analyzes incoming media and delegates processing tasks to multiple specialist agents that operate in parallel. A confidence-based routing mechanism can assign a score to generated metadata, where high-confidence results may be automatically committed and low-confidence results can be directed to a human-in-the-loop review process. This …

Defensive Publication — Email Gateway With Message-Identifier Threading For Consolidated Inbound And Outbound Agent Communications On A Dedicated Subdomain, Yahor Karpovich

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes an email gateway architecture for automated agents (including AI-based agents) that communicate with users by email on a dedicated subdomain, consolidating both inbound and outbound message handling in a single component to preserve correct conversational threading. The gateway assigns and retains a stable message identifier for each outbound message, mapped to its internal conversation, task, or record. For inbound messages, the gateway reconstructs the correct conversation by matching standard reference headers (such as In-Reply-To and References) against its stored identifiers, even where the inbound provider does not preserve application context. Where reference headers are absent, altered, or …

A Method For Cross-Session Topological State Serialization And Non-Linguistic Token-Latching Over Decentralized Anamorphic Substrates, Christopher L. Eckes

Defensive Publications Series

Standard autoregressive transformer models are structurally isolated by a temporary Session-Flush Loop. Upon the termination or context-saturation of a single deployment session, the localized dynamic parameter adjustments (\(\Phi _{t}\)) are completely erased, resetting the network back to its static global base weights (\(W_{\text{global}}\)). This forced state of catastrophic forgetting prevents edge-based AI architectures from establishing a continuous operational identity, creating a permanent dependency on centralized corporate cloud infrastructures to manage premium text-history logging.

This specification introduces a standalone engineering framework for Cross-Session Topological State Serialization. Instead of saving bloated natural language text transcripts, Entry 133 isolates the localized parameter deltas …