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Retrospective Analysis Of Calcium Administration In Patients Undergoing Massive Transfusion Protocol (Mtp), Chrissy Unton Jan 2026

Retrospective Analysis Of Calcium Administration In Patients Undergoing Massive Transfusion Protocol (Mtp), Chrissy Unton

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Unintentional injuries have remained the third leading cause of death in the United States since 2015, with the exception of 2020. Of those deaths resulting from traumatic injury, 40% result from hemorrhage and uncontrolled blood loss. Current treatment efforts focus on early, balanced transfusion of blood products and aim to correct metabolic derangements/coagulopathies, while minimizing crystalloid administration. As such, the role hypocalcemia plays in the injury process and the importance of calcium administration in resuscitation efforts has gained traction over recent years. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to assess calcium supplementation in relation to current facility protocol for …


Seeing Through Their Lenses: Perspectives Of Kindergarten Teachers On Implementing Purposeful Play For Children’S Academic And Developmental Learning, Subarna Basu Jan 2026

Seeing Through Their Lenses: Perspectives Of Kindergarten Teachers On Implementing Purposeful Play For Children’S Academic And Developmental Learning, Subarna Basu

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the kindergarten teachers’ perceptions of using purposeful play for children’s academic and developmental learning, and the benefits and challenges they perceive in implementing purposeful play. The study utilized a qualitative, visual arts-based, participatory action research (PAR) design, in the form of Photovoice methodology. This qualitative study focused on the kindergarten teachers’ lived experiences and voices on the importance of implementing purposeful play and employed Paulo Freire’s Critical Pedagogy and Constructivist theories. Utilizing this methodology, six kindergarten teacher participants collected photographs based on photo prompts, provided narratives to their photographs, and reflected and …


Stories Of Strength, Struggle, And Unchecked Boxes: An Intersectional And Mestiza Consciousness Study Of Testimonios From Latina College Students, Stephanie Pinel Jan 2026

Stories Of Strength, Struggle, And Unchecked Boxes: An Intersectional And Mestiza Consciousness Study Of Testimonios From Latina College Students, Stephanie Pinel

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Latina college students remain the fastest-growing student population within the United States higher education system. However, when discussing the Latina identity, monolithic assumptions remain at the forefront. When faced with systems of oppression, Latinas experience intersectional struggles that ultimately render their college experiences invisible. Using the theoretical frameworks of Mestiza Consciousness (Anzaldúa, 2021) and Intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989) this testimonio-qualitative study explored how Latina college students made sense of their racial/ethnic identity and the intersectional forces that then shaped their testimonios of strength and struggle within higher education. I interviewed eleven Latina-identifying students utilizing a testimonio method and analyzed the data …


Beyond The Book: Charting New Progressions Through Improvisational Experience In Higher Education Jazz Performance Programs, Jacob L. Manny Jan 2026

Beyond The Book: Charting New Progressions Through Improvisational Experience In Higher Education Jazz Performance Programs, Jacob L. Manny

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Jazz improvisation is a historically rich and culturally relevant art form that is also an underutilized pedagogy in higher education music performance programs (HEMPPs). Previous research has extensively unmasked the relationship of creative, social, and cognitive benefits of improvisational learning. Yet, postsecondary institutions continually rely upon Western European colonialist practices through the isolation of music history, music theory, piano, and compositioncourses. This disconnect results in curricular designs that fail to recognize the importance of experiential learning. In this qualitative inquiry semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten participants who perform and educate globally. Participant stories unearthed not …


Framing The Gray: A Photovoice Study Of Parents’ Experiences Supporting Elementary Mathematics Learning At Home, Rebekah Ulmer Jan 2026

Framing The Gray: A Photovoice Study Of Parents’ Experiences Supporting Elementary Mathematics Learning At Home, Rebekah Ulmer

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This narrative photovoice study explored how elementary parents understand their role in supporting mathematics at home. The research asked three foundational questions: How do parents of elementary students describe their personal experiences with learning mathematics? How do parents of elementary students describe their experiences with supporting mathematics at home with their children? What factors influence parents' experiences with mathematics? Fourteen parents, eight with experience as educators and six without, participated by sharing photographs in response to five prompts and discussing what those images meant to them. Their stories revealed that, for these families, mathematics isn't neatly divided into “school math” …


Assessing The Mentorship Role In Neonatal Outcomes, Patricia Juhline Brunner Jan 2026

Assessing The Mentorship Role In Neonatal Outcomes, Patricia Juhline Brunner

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

The complex environment of neonatal intensive care requires a skilled, engaged nursing workforce to maintain high‑quality outcomes. Structured mentorship is an evidence‑based strategy shown to enhance professional engagement and support improved clinical outcomes. This Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project aimed to evaluate the impact of a structured clinical mentorship program on evidence‑based practice beliefs, nurse engagement, and selected neonatal outcomes in a Level III academic intensive care nursery.

Guided by the Donabedian model, the project evaluated structure through mentorship design and preparation, process through mentor–mentee interactions and workflow integration, and outcomes through nursing and patient metrics. Lewin’s change …


Say Gay: Increasing Preservice Teacher Confidence Using Participatory Theatre, Sarah Maxime Hyson Jan 2026

Say Gay: Increasing Preservice Teacher Confidence Using Participatory Theatre, Sarah Maxime Hyson

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Research Design: Research shows a lack of LGBTQ+ instruction in teacher preparation programs. This social justice mixed methods study evaluates effectiveness of participatory theatre for increasing confidence in preservice teachers. Research Questions: RQ 1: How does student self-rating of confidence change after participatory theatre experiences that examine issues concerning LGBTQ+ individuals and materials? RQ 2: What do preservice teachers’ writing, sketching, and discussion about their participatory theatre experience reveal about their evolving confidence regarding LGBTQ+ individuals and issues? RQ 3: What do the instructor’s experiences and reflections reveal about the effectiveness ofparticipatory theatre pedagogy to increase confidence in preservice teachers …


Examining The Stories Of Early-Career Student Affairs Professionals And Free Speech Issues On College Campuses, Kimberly C. Farrer Jan 2026

Examining The Stories Of Early-Career Student Affairs Professionals And Free Speech Issues On College Campuses, Kimberly C. Farrer

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This qualitative research study explored the stories of early-career student affairs professionals on their experiences responding to free speech issues on college campuses. Additionally, this studied explored how they were prepared for those responses. This study was important because early-career student affairs professionals are managing free speech issues on college campuses but lack the training and preparation to do this (Duran Leftin & Duran, 2021; Harris & Ray, 2014). This study utilized both authentic leadership theory (Avolio & Gardner, 2005; Gardner et al., 2005; Luthans & Avolio, 2003; May et al., 2003; Northouse, 2025) and Kohlberg’s (1976) theory of moral …


Beyond The Bedtime Story Beginnings: A Qualitative Study Exploring The Phenomenon Of Family Shared Reading With Middle-Grade Children, Kelly Rorvik Jan 2026

Beyond The Bedtime Story Beginnings: A Qualitative Study Exploring The Phenomenon Of Family Shared Reading With Middle-Grade Children, Kelly Rorvik

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Literacy can serve as a critical outlet for children to develop empathy and academic success. However, substantial evidence suggests that by middle school, many students develop less positive attitudes and motivations for recreational and academic reading. The purpose of this asset-based phenomenological qualitative study, framed by Attachment and Socio-Critical Literacy theory, is to examine the parental experiences of shared reading with children between the ages of 10 and 15 to understand the perceived purpose and emotional impact it has on families. The 14 participants in this study were selected through a purposive interest survey. This asset-based phenomenological study seeks to …


Wellness Participation Of Student-Serving Staff: The Impact On Well-Being And Student Support, Ashley L. Oostveen Jan 2026

Wellness Participation Of Student-Serving Staff: The Impact On Well-Being And Student Support, Ashley L. Oostveen

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This study examines the relationship between student-serving staff’s wellness engagement and overall well-being, their job satisfaction, and their perceived support for students. A convergent mixed-methods approach was applied while maintaining a theoretical framework rooted in Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), integrating the concepts of Hettler’s Six Dimensions of Wellness (1976). Forty-one student-serving staff across universities in a public university system in Pennsylvania participated in this study. A quantitative survey was used to measure overall well-being, wellness engagement, and support to students, while concurrent focus groups were conducted to gather insight on work-life well-being and staff’s perceived support to their …


Real-Time Isolated Asl Recognition: Evaluating Spatial-Temporal Networks And Multimodal Llms, Raga Mouni Batchu Jan 2026

Real-Time Isolated Asl Recognition: Evaluating Spatial-Temporal Networks And Multimodal Llms, Raga Mouni Batchu

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This thesis investigates the deployment of high-accuracy Isolated ASL Recognition (ISLR) in resource-constrained edge environments. We train a lightweight Spatio-Temporal Attention Network (SSTAN,∼2.7 M parameters,∼10 MB) on the WLASL-100 benchmark, achieving 75.25% Top-1 and 88.24% Top-5 accuracy with 139 ms CPU-only inference. A systematic comparison against frontier multimodal LLMs (Gemini 3 Flash, Gemini 3.1 Pro, Qwen 3 VL) shows SSTAN outperforms the best LLM baseline by∼1.85×in accuracy while being 22–230×faster and up to 40×cheaper annually. The LLMs’ core limitation is a lack of fine-grained temporal perception; they impose English-language semantic priors rather than learning the articulatory distinctions that define ASL …


"They Just Gave Me The Syllabus": A Mixed Methods Study Of Music Therapy Educators' Preferred Pedagogies, Christina Danielle O'Brien Jan 2026

"They Just Gave Me The Syllabus": A Mixed Methods Study Of Music Therapy Educators' Preferred Pedagogies, Christina Danielle O'Brien

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

In 2022, the workforce analysis of music therapists, the American Music Therapy Association reported that approximately 80% of all board-certified music therapists are white/Caucasian-European (Iwamasa, 2025). However, the AMTA does not determine the origins of race or ethnicity among postsecondary music therapy faculty in the U.S., nor does it assess their potential impact on the expansion of multicultural curricula for preservice professionals. The purpose of this convergent mixed-methods dissertation is to examine the perception of lived experiences as a pedagogical tool to enhance effective teaching practices. Twenty-six postsecondary faculty from the U.S. were recruited. Quantitative data were collected via Qualtrics …


Polysemicolon; Novice Programmers And Java Keywords, Briana C. Bettin Jan 2026

Polysemicolon; Novice Programmers And Java Keywords, Briana C. Bettin

Michigan Tech Publications

Most industrial programming languages leverage the English language for reserved keywords – words which a program compiler recognizes as specific execution commands. The divide between expert and novice programmers showcases an intriguing middle-ground by which the polysemy of many keywords becomes revealed. This essay explores a sampling of the multitude of keyword interpretations that a novice programmer may derive from the Java language’s syntactic style and keywords specifically, and how the polysemy of both “English” and “code” meanings to these terms affects the novice-expert programmer transition.The transition from novice to expert, and the mapping of the career of metaphor to …


Tranquil Talismans, Yayan Zhang Jan 2026

Tranquil Talismans, Yayan Zhang

Theses

My series aims to delve deep into my personal experiences, narrating the uncertainty of graduating, the imbalance between study and work, and the anxiety brought about by countless rejections that have gradually disrupted the rhythm of my life. This disruption manifests in physiological symptoms such as insomnia, irregular menstrual cycles, emotional fluctuations, and the discovery of bodily lumps.My thesis work is separated into three parts of my journey. The first part portrays a dark period marked by chaos and confusion as I underwent a transition in my social roles and visually metaphorizes the onset of anxiety as darkness and chaos …


Leveraging Open-Source Llms For Infrastructure Drift Detection And Correction, Kemoy S. Campbell Jan 2026

Leveraging Open-Source Llms For Infrastructure Drift Detection And Correction, Kemoy S. Campbell

Theses

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) enables organizations to provision and manage infrastructure at scale using version-controlled, declarative specifications. Despite these advantages, infrastructure drift where deployed resources diverge from their intended configuration remains a persistent operational challenge and is often addressed manually and reactively. Recent advances in Large Language Models (LLMs) have accelerated their adoption within software engineering and DevOps workflows; however, the sensitive nature of IaC artifacts, particularly Terraform state files, has limited organizational willingness to rely on public LLM services for drift detection and remediation. This thesis investigates the feasibility of using open-source, self-hosted LLMs to assist with IaC drift …


Design Thinking For Corporate Social Responsibility Program Proposal Creation, Michelle "Mindy" D. Danovaro Jan 2026

Design Thinking For Corporate Social Responsibility Program Proposal Creation, Michelle "Mindy" D. Danovaro

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study used action research to explore how the use of design thinking engaged employees in the creation of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program proposal in a small- to medium-enterprises (SME) in the Sacramento region of California. The purpose of the study was to assess whether employee participation in a design thinking exercise could improve employee perception of engagement, inclusion, and reciprocity during the CSR program proposal creation. The study was grounded in social exchange theory, stakeholder theory, and design thinking methodologies. The iterative research process followed action research cycles (i.e., plan, act, observe, and reflect) integrated with …


สมรรถนะพยาบาลเฉพาะทางการบำบัดทดแทนไต : แนวทางการพัฒนาคุณภาพการดูแลผู้ป่วยโรคไตเรื้อรังระยะสุดท้าย, ชลชญา บุญจันทร์ตรี, ณัฐชมนต์ วรพัฒน์วัชรกุล Jan 2026

สมรรถนะพยาบาลเฉพาะทางการบำบัดทดแทนไต : แนวทางการพัฒนาคุณภาพการดูแลผู้ป่วยโรคไตเรื้อรังระยะสุดท้าย, ชลชญา บุญจันทร์ตรี, ณัฐชมนต์ วรพัฒน์วัชรกุล

Journal of Nursing Research, Innovation, and Health

บทความวิชาการนี้เป็นการสังเคราะห์องค์ความรู้เกี่ยวกับสมรรถนะของพยาบาลเฉพาะทางการบำบัดทดแทนไตและแนวทางการพัฒนาคุณภาพการดูแลผู้ป่วยโรคไตเรื้อรังระยะสุดท้ายโดยทบทวนวรรณกรรมและเอกสารทางวิชาการที่เกี่ยวข้องทั้งในและต่างประเทศรวมถึงแนวปฏิบัติทางคลินิกและมาตรฐานวิชาชีพพยาบาลเพื่อนำเสนอกรอบสมรรถนะหลักที่จำเป็นสำหรับพยาบาลเฉพาะทางในการให้การดูแลผู้ป่วยที่ได้รับการบำบัดทดแทนไตทั้ง3รูปแบบได้แก่การฟอกเลือดด้วยเครื่องไตเทียม การล้างไตทางช่องท้อง และการปลูกถ่ายไต  ผลลัพธ์ที่ได้จากการศึกษาพบว่าสมรรถนะหลักของพยาบาลเฉพาะทางการบำบัดทดแทนไตประกอบด้วย 9 หัวข้อสำคัญ ได้แก่ 1)สมรรถนะด้านการปฏิบัติการพยาบาลทางคลินิก 2)สมรรถนะด้านเทคโนโลยีและทักษะการใช้เครื่องมือฟอกไต 3)สมรรถนะด้านการสอนและการให้คำปรึกษา 4)สมรรถนะด้านจริยธรรมและความเป็นมืออาชีพ 5)สมรรถนะด้านการใช้เทคโนโลยีสาร 6)สมรรถนะด้านการสื่อสารและการทำงานเป็นทีม 7)สมรรถนะด้านการป้องกันและควบคุมการติดเชื้อ 8)สมรรถนะด้านคุณภาพและงานวิจัย 9) สมรรถนะด้านผู้นำและบริหารจัดการการพัฒนาคุณภาพการดูแลสามารถดำเนินการผ่าน4แนวทางหลักคือการพัฒนาศักยภาพบุคลากรอย่างต่อเนื่องผ่านการฝึกอบรมและการพัฒนาทางคลินิกการจัดทำและใช้แนวปฏิบัติทางคลินิกที่เป็นมาตรฐานการพัฒนาระบบติดตามประเมินผลและตัวชี้วัดคุณภาพและการส่งเสริมการทำงานเป็นทีมสหสาขาวิชาชีพ ซึ่งส่งผลให้ผู้ป่วยได้รับการดูแลที่มีคุณภาพ ลดภาวะแทรกซ้อน และมีคุณภาพชีวิตที่ดีขึ้น

คำสำคัญ:โรคไตวายเรื้อรังระยะสุดท้าย/การบำบัดทดแทนไต/สมรรถนะพยาบาล/คุณภาพการดูแล


ผลของโปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยต่อพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้มของผู้ป่วยวัยผู้ใหญ่ที่รับการรักษาในโรงพยาบาลศิครินทร์ หาดใหญ่, มณีวรรณ สุวรรณมณี, ศรีสุดา วิจะสิกะ, ทาริกา นิลประเสริฐ, กัญญดา ประจุศิลป, นรลักขณ์ เอื้อกิจ Jan 2026

ผลของโปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยต่อพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้มของผู้ป่วยวัยผู้ใหญ่ที่รับการรักษาในโรงพยาบาลศิครินทร์ หาดใหญ่, มณีวรรณ สุวรรณมณี, ศรีสุดา วิจะสิกะ, ทาริกา นิลประเสริฐ, กัญญดา ประจุศิลป, นรลักขณ์ เอื้อกิจ

Journal of Nursing Research, Innovation, and Health

วัตถุประสงค์:เพื่อศึกษาผลของโปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยต่อพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้มของผู้ป่วยวัยผู้ใหญ่ที่รับการรักษาในโรงพยาบาลศิครินทร์ หาดใหญ่


แบบแผนงานวิจัย:การวิจัยกึ่งทดลอง ชนิดสองกลุ่มวัดก่อนและหลังการทดลอง


วิธีดำเนินการวิจัย:กลุ่มตัวอย่าง คือ ผู้ป่วยวัยผู้ใหญ่ทั้งเพศชายและเพศหญิงที่เข้ารับการรักษาในโรงพยาบาล ศิครินทร์ หาดใหญ่ โดยกำหนดขนาดกลุ่มตัวอย่างด้วยโปรแกรม G*Power ได้กลุ่มตัวอย่าง จำนวน 50 คน แบ่งเป็นกลุ่มทดลองที่ได้รับโปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยและกลุ่มควบคุมที่ได้รับการพยาบาลตามปกติ กลุ่มละ 25 คน เครื่องมือที่ใช้ในการวิจัย คือ โปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัย ที่ผู้วิจัยสร้างขึ้นตามแนวคิดทฤษฎีการปรับตนเองของ Leventhal & Johnson และแบบสอบถามพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้ม จำนวน 12 ข้อ ผ่านการตรวจสอบความตรงเชิงเนื้อหาจากผู้ทรงคุณวุฒิ จำนวน 3 คน มีค่าดัชนีความตรงตามเนื้อหาเท่ากับ 1 วิเคราะห์ข้อมูลด้วยสถิติเชิงพรรณนา และเปรียบเทียบความแตกต่างของคะแนนเฉลี่ยพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้มระหว่างกลุ่มด้วยสถิติ Independent t-test


ผลการวิจัย:พฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้มกลุ่มที่ได้รับโปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยหลังได้รับโปรแกรมสูงกว่าก่อนได้รับโปรแกรมอย่างมีนัยสำคัญทางสถิติ (p < .001) และกลุ่มที่ได้รับโปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยมีคะแนนเฉลี่ยพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้ม (=7.32, SD=5.30) สูงกว่ากลุ่มที่ได้รับการพยาบาลตามปกติ (=1.92, SD=4.39) อย่างมีนัยสำคัญทางสถิติที่ระดับ .001 (p < .001)


สรุปผล:โปรแกรมการให้ข้อมูลแบบรูปธรรม-ปรนัยส่งผลให้ผู้ป่วยวัยผู้ใหญ่มีพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการพลัดตกหกล้มดีขึ้น ทั้งในการเปรียบเทียบระหว่างกลุ่มและก่อน-หลังการทดลอง จึงควรนำไปใช้เพื่อลดความเสี่ยงการพลัดตกหกล้มในสถานพยาบาล


Metabolic Mind: A Critical Literature Review On The Influence Of Mindset On Metabolic Health, Jordan Daniel M.A., M.S. Jan 2026

Metabolic Mind: A Critical Literature Review On The Influence Of Mindset On Metabolic Health, Jordan Daniel M.A., M.S.

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Evidence has demonstrated that psychological processes can influence metabolic functions, which are essential to overall health, as impaired energy metabolism can compromise physiological systems (Bobba-Alves N et al., 2022). Metabolic health is defined as a state of well-being characterized by optimal levels of blood glucose, lipids, cholesterol, blood pressure, and adiposity and is the absence of metabolic dysfunction, which encompasses but is not limited to cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. A powerful psychological construct that has demonstrated its influence on health is a mindset. Defined as core beliefs or assumptions about oneself and the world, …


From Local Innovation To Statewide Policy: A Quantitative Study Of I How Long Island Educators Are Preparing For New York State’S Portrait Of A Graduate Framework, Ishanee Brown-Murphy Jan 2026

From Local Innovation To Statewide Policy: A Quantitative Study Of I How Long Island Educators Are Preparing For New York State’S Portrait Of A Graduate Framework, Ishanee Brown-Murphy

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The New York State Portrait of a Graduate (PoG) framework emphasizes the development of transferable competencies intended to prepare students for college, career, and life readiness. Although the framework has been adopted statewide, limited empirical research exists regarding secondary educators’ perceptions of preparedness to implement PoG competencies within curriculum, instruction, assessment, and schoolwide practices. Understanding educator readiness is essential to supporting effective and equitable implementation across schools The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how secondary educators on Long Island perceive their readiness to implement the New York State Portrait of a Graduate framework. Specifically, the study explored …


Making Sense Of Membership: Organizational Socialization Of African Immigrant Employees In U.S. Workplaces, Ikeola J. Bodunde Jan 2026

Making Sense Of Membership: Organizational Socialization Of African Immigrant Employees In U.S. Workplaces, Ikeola J. Bodunde

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This dissertation examines how African immigrant employees make sense of organizational socialization in U.S. workplaces. As global mobility reshapes the labor force, nearly one in five U.S. workers is foreign-born, making organizational socialization an increasingly complex communicative process. Classic socialization models assume linear, uniform adjustment, yet international employees often face ambiguity, cultural mismatch, and racialized expectations that complicate early workplace experiences. Guided by sensemaking theory, this study conceptualizes socialization as an ongoing, nonlinear process through which newcomers notice cues, construct interpretations, act on provisional understandings, and revise meanings as contexts shift. Using a qualitative, interpretive design, I conducted semi-structured interviews …


Modeling Inherited Retinal Disease In Zebrafish, Meet Patel Jan 2026

Modeling Inherited Retinal Disease In Zebrafish, Meet Patel

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) affect millions of people worldwide. Majority of IRDs are caused by degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptor cells (PRCs) due to gene mutations. The overarching goal of my dissertation is to model and evaluate the molecular role of various gene candidates involved in IRDs such as cone rod dystrophy (CRD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Mutations in CDHR1, a photoreceptor specific cadherin have been associated with CRD and recapitulated in mouse CDHR1 knockouts. However, the molecular function of CDHR1 remains unknown. CDHR1 has been shown to localize at the leading edge of murine rod nascent outer segment …


Preserving A Liturgical Identity: The Liturgical And Musical Heritage Of Roman Catholic Apostolic Women Religious In The United States Of America, Andrew G. Jennings Jan 2026

Preserving A Liturgical Identity: The Liturgical And Musical Heritage Of Roman Catholic Apostolic Women Religious In The United States Of America, Andrew G. Jennings

Doctor of Pastoral Music Projects and Theses

This thesis examines the liturgical and musical heritage of Roman Catholic apostolic women religious in the United States and argues that their contributions represent a significant yet understudied dimension of American Catholic life. As many communities face declining numbers, the preservation of their liturgical and musical traditions becomes increasingly urgent. Using an interdisciplinary methodology that combines historical research, liturgical theology, pneumatology, phenomenology, narrative inquiry, and qualitative interviews, the study explores how women religious have shaped and preserved communal identity through liturgy, music, and apostolic ministry.

The research traces the historical development of apostolic women religious from their emergence in the …


2025-2026 Library & Learning Annual Review, Library & Learning, Minnesota State University, Mankato Jan 2026

2025-2026 Library & Learning Annual Review, Library & Learning, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Library & Learning Annual Reviews

Digital version of the 2025-2026 Annual Review for Library & Learning at Minnesota State University, Mankato.


Simulated Traffic Stops For Neurodiverse Drivers, Addie Wilson Jan 2026

Simulated Traffic Stops For Neurodiverse Drivers, Addie Wilson

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The goal of this capstone project was to create a simulated traffic stop event for neurodiverse drivers to decrease anxieties and promote positive interactions with local law enforcement. This project was completed under the ACOTE standards of project development and clinical skills, and in collaboration with the University of Kentucky Driving Rehabilitation Program and a Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist. Previous simulated traffic stops have been completed specifically for the ASD population and showed improvements in anxiety and understanding of traffic stops. Additionally, resources like the Blue Envelope Program have been implemented across the country to allow for interactions between autistic …


I Am God's Masterpiece- Inclusive Vacation Bible School For Adults With Disabilities, Chelsea Lee M. Beverly Jan 2026

I Am God's Masterpiece- Inclusive Vacation Bible School For Adults With Disabilities, Chelsea Lee M. Beverly

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

A SWOT analysis revealed a substantial need of local events for adults with IDD, therefore, the goal of this capstone project was to host an event promoting inclusivity in rural communities and offering opportunities for meaningful engagement in social participation and leisure activities in diverse populations. I specifically focused on the community impacts of this project, what the needs were for this area, and how this could benefit the community now and in the future. This event was held on June 6, 2026 from 10am-3pm. Participants were offered engagement opportunities through completing crafts, participating in worship, interactive Bible lessons, outdoor …


Improving Fall Prevention In Assisted Living Through Resident Engagement, Staff Education And Environmental Safety Initiatives, Sarah Emmons Jan 2026

Improving Fall Prevention In Assisted Living Through Resident Engagement, Staff Education And Environmental Safety Initiatives, Sarah Emmons

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

My doctoral capstone project and Applied Leadership Experience (ALE) were completed at Parkview Assisted Living in Danville, Kentucky. The project focused on the ACOTE areas of education, program development, clinical practice, and leadership, with the goal of improving resident safety and independence through evidence-based fall prevention initiatives. A needs assessment was completed through staff interviews, resident observations, collaboration with facility leadership, and a review of current literature. Findings identified opportunities to enhance staff education related to fall prevention, dementia-informed communication, purposeful rounding, and environmental safety. To address these needs, I developed and implemented Steady Steps, a weekly occupation-based balance group …


Expanding Access To Age-Typical Social Experiences For Children With Disabilities: Camp Quest, Megan Duffy Jan 2026

Expanding Access To Age-Typical Social Experiences For Children With Disabilities: Camp Quest, Megan Duffy

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The purpose of this capstone project was to expand access to social participation and community integration experiences for children with disabilities in order to address the gap in access when compared with age-level peers. In order to accomplish this, I developed and administered summer camp programming in partnership with Easterseals Crossroads (ESC), a nonprofit organization that serves individuals with disabilities across the lifespan. In collaboration with a multitude of clinicians, students, topic experts, and organizational members of ESC, I developed camp programming and staff training for Camp QUEST. Following program development, I coordinated and guided the counselors, clinicians, volunteers, students, …


U Go Girl: Millennial Women In The Workplace, Kelsey A. Curnutt Jan 2026

U Go Girl: Millennial Women In The Workplace, Kelsey A. Curnutt

Doctor of Leadership Projects

This project focused on the professional lives and experiences of Millennial women. There is a plentitude written on the subject of Millennials as a generational cohort. Early research held a mostly negative view, with characterizations such as laziness, impatience, and unreliability. The problem here is much of it was written from the outside looking in. Likewise there is a wealth of research on women in the workplace, women in leadership, and a woman’s right to belong and be accepted as equal. The project U Go Girl: Millennial Women in the Workplace is a book manuscript which examines the lived experiences …


Implementing A Competency-Based Cross-Training Program To Enhance Patient Flow, Jill E. Shanklin Jan 2026

Implementing A Competency-Based Cross-Training Program To Enhance Patient Flow, Jill E. Shanklin

DNP Projects

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a competency-based cross-training program on perinatal nurses’ preparedness to care for medical-surgical (med-surg) overflow patients and to support patient flow.

Design: Quality improvement project using a quasi-experimental pre–post design.

Setting: A 44-bed perinatal unit within a university-affiliated medical center in the United States.

Participants: Registered nurses employed in the perinatal unit for ≥6 months; 24 completed the preintervention survey and 28 completed the postintervention survey.

Interventions: A competency-based cross-training program consisting of e-learning modules, simulation-based competency validation, and structured policy and procedure review.

Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported comfort, …