Digital Commons Network^™

A Bilingual Jesus: Assessing Evidence In The Gospels, Jordan Lavender

Liberty Theological Review

This article examines issues of the historical Jesus’ linguistic proficiency, particularly in Greek, while providing an analysis of the use of other languages as well. Looking at recent studies on language use in Greco-Roman Palestine and new conceptualizations of multilingualism, the analysis seeks to clarify the languages used by Jesus. This study examines several case studies from the Gospels including the Aramaic sayings of Jesus, found primarily in Mark, a section of the Beatitudes in the Q material found in Lk 6:20–21, and the Lord’s Prayer in Q, with these theoretical frameworks in mind. It concludes that Jesus likely used …

Washington Report: Single Level Of Appeals Gains Favor Within Irs; Aicpa To Survey Cpa Practitioners, Thomas R. Hanley, William R. Stromsem

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Viewpoint: Adp In The Irs: Responding To Change, Patrick J. Ruttle

Tax Adviser

No abstract provided.

Evidence-Based Child Welfare Screening And Assessment Practices, Kristin V. Richards, Melissa A. Moyer

Journal of Social Work in the Global Community

This action research project examined the screening and assessment behaviors of child welfare workers in the southwestern region of the United States. With the use of a focus group, the study addressed whether social workers’ knowledge of evidence-based practice influenced their implementation of evidence-based practice in child welfare screening and assessment, and whether the agency environment affects evidence-based practice implementation and use. The family systems theory was used to evaluate child welfare practitioner work and systems theory was used to evaluate the child welfare system in the region of the study. Social workers’ knowledge of evidence-based practices and the impact …

Helping Bipoc, Women, And First-Generation Students Maximize The Value Of Unpaid Internships, Ted Thornhill, Nicole Torres, Christina Van Wingerden

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Internships and practicums are a required component of nearly all degree programs in human services and its subfields—and most are unpaid. These unpaid positions often have a disproportionate impact for BIPOC and first-generation students, especially women—many of whom are economically disadvantaged and must work to support themselves and sometimes their families. Increased student activism, non-profit campaigns, and journalistic accounts show student frustration over their unpaid labor. Despite the righteousness of these students’ cause, the reality is that the implementation of an equitable, robust, and sustainable nationwide system of paid internships, in the near-term, is politically impracticable. Given that most human …

Building Climate Resilience: Community Gardens And Environmental Education In Christchurch, New Zealand, Caleb T. Mccauley

Capstone Collection

The socio-political movements in post-earthquake Christchurch are studied to better understand the interplay of community gardens, climate, environmental, and land-based education, and to analyze their relevance to entrenching climate resilience in the region. Social networks and community responses to natural disasters like an earthquake are leveraged to understand their ability to influence the pillars of climate resilience, those being community, economic, and ecological resilience, respectively. The central hypothesis and research question of this paper will seek to answer: Can social cooperation in the wake of a natural disaster influence the ability of a community to respond to similar disruptions caused …

How Effective Is HawaiʻS'S Sunscreen Ban? Tourism Impact On The Health Of KauaʻI'S Coral Reefs, Meghan E. Parker

Capstone Collection

This study seeks to determine whether the level of human-impact, and in particular sunscreen use, influences the health of coral reefs on the island of Kauaʻi. Six paired sites in different regions of Kauaʻi were identified, each having a human-impacted site and an isolated counterpart site. By obtaining quantitative data on the coral reef at each site using 25-meter video transects, the overall health of the reef was assessed by measuring live coral cover, coral species abundance, prevalence of coral bleaching, and fish abundance. The level of human-impact in the form of number of people present and type of sunscreen …

Textile Work And Its Interface With Climate Change For Quechua Communities In Peru, Esmeralda Torres-Martinez

Capstone Collection

English – Indigenous communities have argued that their knowledge, lived experiences, and representation are crucial to address the climate transition because their communities have adapted to past climatic changes. Although climate change and culture can be interconnected in ways that are unique to each community, little research is done on how cultural practices can be catalysts for climate action. In fact, communities around the world have sparked socio-political movements from within their cultural context to solve both local and global issues. Therefore, this research asks how the practice of traditional textile making and weaving assist Quechua communities with adapting to …

From Larvae To Livelihoods: Examining The Realities Of Black Soldier Fly Farming In Malawi, Emily Herriott

Capstone Collection

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae offer a cost-effective, nutrient-rich alternative to synthetic fertilizers and conventional feed inputs such as soy, fishmeal, and maize bran in sub-Saharan Africa. In Malawi, where smallholder farmers grapple with declining soil fertility, high input prices, chronic food insecurity, and livestock nutritional challenges, BSF farming is emerging as a promising circular agricultural innovation. Despite its technical promise, the social, economic, and ecological realities of BSF adoption remain underexplored.This study investigates the early implementation of BSF farming in Malawi through the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, focusing on farmer experiences, challenges, and the social and structural processes shaping uptake …

Digital Transformation In Jamaica's Education Sector, Grace Willis

Capstone Collection

Digital transformation in Jamaica’s education sector, significantly spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, represented a seismic shift on this small Caribbean island I call home. This transformation was central to national education reform and involved multiple projects aimed at modernizing educational delivery, infrastructure, and the supporting ecosystem. This study explored the multifaceted implications of these initiatives through qualitative research conducted with ten key stakeholders, complemented by a review of publicly available materials. Interviewees included school administrators, Information Technology (IT) teachers, funding sponsors, representatives from national education bodies, and international development agencies engaged in domestic strategic efforts. Participants were recruited through cold …

Navigating Early Intervention: The Experiences And Impact Of A Parent Coaching Model On Immigrant And Refugee Families In Rural Massachusetts, Emily Pleasant

Capstone Collection

Early Intervention (EI) programs play a critical role in supporting the developmental needs of children from birth to age three. This study explores the experiences of immigrant and refugee families engaging with EI services in rural Massachusetts, focusing particularly on the implementation and effectiveness of parent coaching models. Utilizing a mixed methods design that incorporates both narrative and phenomenological approaches, the research examines how families from culturally diverse backgrounds perceive and engage with EI services. This study discusses what barriers or facilitators they encounter throughout their journeys with Early Intervention. Preliminary findings suggest challenges related to language, cultural differences in …

Educational Lifecycle: Transitioning From Undergraduate To Graduate-Level Expectations, Khalil A. Mrabe, Rosie Defeo, Arlenys Loffredo

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

The World Health Assembly has recognized the current and future place of education, training, and development within their 2030 global strategy. While education in allied health professions continues to evolve, limited information is known about the challenges graduate students face when transitioning into these programs. In response to recent societal and educational shifts, a systematic review was conducted to explore the academic, psychological, social, and professional barriers affecting first-term allied health students. Utilizing the SPIDER framework along with searching across different platforms (Psychinfo, Web of Science, and ProQuest) to locate peer-reviewed studies published within the last five years. Forty-seven studies …

Health Maintenance: Oral Health For Primary Care. The Role Of The Inflammatory Process In Periodontitis And Diabetes, Maureen O'Hara, Debra A. Dixon

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

There is a bidirectional relationship for inflammation with periodontal disease and chronic, systemic diseases. The focus of this review specifically includes diabetes because it is a global health problem. Periodontal disease is reversible in the early stages. The benefit of controlling the inflammatory process associated with periodontitis is a reduction in serum levels of inflammatory mediators, which can improve hemoglobin A1c and other microvascular complications of diabetes. Dental practitioners may be the first health care professional to encounter the patient with diabetes and periodontal complications. Having a relationship with primary care providers in the community is essential for the care …

Retracted: Mathematical Properties And Simulations Of The Neutrosophic Gompertz-Inverse Burr-X Distribution With Application To Under-Five Mortality, Mustafa Hassan Jumaa, Asmaa S. Qaddoori, Sara A. Khalaf, Nooruldeen A. Noori, Mundher A. Khaleel

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Despite significant progress in the development of statistical distributions, there remain clear gaps in modelling complex datasets, such as those involving uncertainty or requiring flexible representations of multidimensional variables. This study introduces a new distribution the Neutrosophic Gompertz-Inverse Burr-X (NGoIB-X) distribution to address these challenges. The model is based on the Neutrosophic Gompertz family (NGo-G), which itself employs the T-X method in its formulation. Characterised by four Neutrosophic parameters and a Neutrosophic random variable, the NGoIB-X distribution offers enhanced flexibility for representing and analysing uncertain data. The theoretical properties of the NGoIB-X distribution are explored, including its Neutrosophic probability density …

A New Lightweight Encryption Method Based On The Dna-Rc4 Substitution For Resource-Constrained Iot Devices, Athraa J. H. Witwit, Ahmed Fanfakh, Ali Kadhum Idrees

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Technology's impact on daily life necessitates increased data protection. Cryptographic systems improve security, ensuring confidentiality and legitimacy of Internet of Things systems. However, resource-constrained devices face challenges like memory, battery life, processing power, and small size. In light of this, lightweight cryptography (LWC) provides techniques specifically tailored to the constraints of resource-constrained Internet of Things devices. However, the presence of a fixed S-Box in some LWC algorithms, such as Advanced Encryption Standard, or the absence of one in others, such as Speck and Tiny Encryption Algorithm, renders them more susceptible to attacks. In this paper, we suggest a new lightweight …

Academic Year In Review 2024-2025, Dugoni School Of Dentistry

Dugoni Academic Year in Review

The Dugoni School family makes a difference in the lives of thousands of people each year, and we are fulfilling our purpose of helping people lead healthy lives. Our Year in Review report highlights just some of the great happenings over the last year across our academic programs, clinical services, research, community outreach and other areas.

Equine Assisted Services To Increase Participation In Activities Of Daily Living And Social Engagement For Veterans With Ptsd, Mackenzie A. Alexander, Rebecca King, Gwen R. Morris

Summer 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Currently there are limited occupational therapy programs in equine assisted services that promote engagement in meaningful occupations for veterans who experience PTSD. This capstone project aims to increase occupational participation of veterans with PTSD by providing modules on education and interventions to therapy staff who work in equine assisted services. The modules focus on increasing engagement in activities of daily living and social participation to promote overall quality of life.

Integrating Neuroaesthetic Design Into Brain-On-Chip Research: Toward Enhanced Neural Engagement And Cognitive Accessibility, Piper Hutson, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This study examines the potential for neuroaesthetic design and adaptive neurofeedback principles to enhance brain-on-chip (BoC) research, with an emphasis on optimizing neural engagement and cognitive accessibility for diverse populations. Existing BoC platforms have transformed neuroscience through high-fidelity modeling of neural circuits, yet cognitive accessibility and sensory inclusion remain comparatively underexplored. Drawing upon recent studies in neuroinclusion, multisensory interface design, and adaptive feedback, this work synthesizes findings from biophilic interface architecture, neurofeedback literature, and embodied cognition frameworks. The manuscript outlines a multidisciplinary research agenda that prioritizes sensory diversity and ethical considerations in the evolution of BoC systems. Instead of making …

Promoting Early Identification Of Developmental Delays With The Cdc’S Learn The Signs. Act Early. Campaign, Katsia Renaud

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Team Resilience In The Nba: When Teams Fall Behind, Chloe M. Howell, Nadav Goldschmied

McNair Summer Research Program

National Basketball Association (NBA) games have become more volatile in scoring as the pace of the game has quickened and reliance on the three-point shot has increased. This research analyzes 20-point scoring deficits and the comeback abilities of NBA teams from an archival, as well as team resilience perspective, which is the ability of a team to deal with adversity. The collective experience of challenge by all team members is a process more complex to study than individual resilience due to the diverse interactions between teammates. Another aspect of this study is the context of locale or home versus away …

Where Pipes Meet The Water: Urban Infrastructure In Tijuana, Joab Barrientos

McNair Summer Research Program

Tijuana's rapid urban growth and industrial development have placed significant pressure on its water infrastructure, resulting in ongoing pollution concerns in the Tijuana River Watershed and elsewhere in and beyond the city. In many areas of the city, rapid urban growth has outpaced the building of critical infrastructure like sewage and stormwater systems. These factors have left neighborhoods at risk for a long time. At the same time, industrial growth has often relied on old infrastructure or happened without the right systems in place. Although poor water quality has been a problem for years, few studies have used spatial analysis …

Implementation Of Medication Administration Education To Increase Medication Technician Knowledge And Confidence, Nicole C. Yan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Medication technicians have minimal formal training and education in medication administration. Insufficient knowledge and a lack of confidence present safety concerns, such as medication errors, which decrease the quality of patient care.

Context: The setting is an assisted living facility in the San Francisco Peninsula that provides around-the-clock patient care, promoting independence in a safe and home-like environment for 53 patients.

Interventions: The proposed intervention involves implementing a quality improvement (QI) project to educate medication technicians on medication administration safety. The educational sessions, completed in two in-person sessions, include a PowerPoint lecture, interactive case studies, and group discussion.

Measures: …

Empowering Medical-Surgical Nurses To Conquer Burnout: Building Resilience And Wellness, Catherine P. Morante

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: In the healthcare industry, nurse burnout is a well-documented issue that affects the well-being of both healthcare professionals and their patients. Burnout manifests as intense exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished personal accomplishment (Okoniewski & Verni, 2024).

Context: Burnout affects patient outcomes and drives up costs (Dall’Ora et al., 2020). When nurses are overwhelmed, attendance is affected (Unpublished confidential document; 2024). Resilient nurses are essential to a healthy, reliable workforce (Unjai et al., 2024).

Interventions: From May to July 2025, a 12-week initiative was launched to reduce the effects of nurse burnout in the workplace. Evidence-based interventions were implemented, incorporating educational …

Illuminating Leadership Excellence: An Evidence-Based Qi Intervention Reigniting Nurse Leaders From Burnout To Brilliance Using Caring Science And Reflective Practice, Matthew S. Elliott

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: A 2024 assessment at a 250‑bed Northern California medical center revealed that 76% of 16 inpatient nurse leaders met "high‑burnout" criteria on the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and leader turnover had climbed to 25%, more than triple national benchmarks, threatening patient care quality, financial stability, and alignment with Magnet® and employee engagement goals.

Context: Root causes included pandemic‑era promotions without development support, a task‑oriented leadership culture, and eroding psychological safety (Press Ganey engagement ≈ 30%). An integrative logic model positioned Watson's Caring Science as the theoretical base, Schön's Reflective Model for adaptive learning, and the Prosci ADKAR change framework …

Enhancing Client Intake Efficiency In The Removal Defense Program: A Nursing-Led Quality Improvement Initiative, Johnny Linares, Julia Tran Ngo, Daniel Orea, Atheana Yadira Lopez

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project focuses on optimizing the intake process for the Removal Defense Program at a nonprofit immigration legal office serving asylum-seeking clients. The existing intake relied on unstructured, phone-call-based intake interviews that gathered incomplete information, leading to inconsistent documentation, reduced efficiency, and significant client processing delays. A structured, multilingual, and multiplatform new-client admission protocol coupled with the implementation of a client-facing resource guide for waitlist clients were co-developed and implemented using the Lippitt Change Theory framework. Utilizing a mixed methods approach, the study involved staff interviews and observational assessments with staff members from the program. Baseline intake process …

Increasing The Feasibility, Impact, And Equity Of The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (Awv) With A Practice Tailored Awv Intervention: A Stepped Wedge Clinical Trial Protocol, Chi-Hong Tseng, Neil S. Wenger

Faculty Scholarship

Background Older adults vastly underutilize evidence-based preventive health services and screenings that reduce illness, morbidity and mortality. The free-to-patient Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is an opportunity to enhance preventive healthcare use, but also is underused. Objectives To evaluate the effect of a practice-tailored intervention on the sustained use of Medicare AWVs and on guideline-recommended preventive services and racial/ethnic disparities in 3 types of practice settings. Methods This is a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial. The intervention will be implemented at the practice level in 24 primary care practices across the country (8 community-based, 8 academic, and 8 serving …

Growth And Yield Of Curly Red Chili (Capsicum Annum L.) In Response To Mulching And Chicken Manure Application In The Erosion-Prone Area Of Loto, Ternate Island, Tri Mulya Hartati, Lily Ishak, Krishna Aji, Chumidach Roini

Jurnal Kultivasi

Information on soil resources in volcanic landscapes presents a high potential for agricultural land development, but its development is always faced with the potential for continuous land degradation. This study aims to reduce the rate of land degradation through the application of vegetative conservation in erosion-prone Loto agrotourism area, Ternate Island. The research location is focused on erosion-prone areas. The research consisted of a soil resource inventory and a vegetative conservation application. The vegetative conservation application method used a Randomized Block Design (RBD) pattern, composed of 2 factors. The first factor is mulching, namely: no mulching (M0) and mulching (M1), …

Preventing Nurse Burnout Through Self-Care Strategies, Doris Iwuh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Executive Summary: Staff Education Project Preventing Nurse Burnout through Self-Care Strategies by Doris Iwuh MS, Walden University, 2022 BSN, Grand Canyon University, 2020 ADN, Radiance College, 2016 Executive Summary Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University August 2025 Summary An outpatient mental health clinic identified a rise in burnout among psychiatric nurse practitioners, licensed therapists, and social workers. A gap in practice revealed that staff lacked knowledge of self-care strategies to manage burnout, leading to the project question: Does implementing an educational program for nurses and mental health specialists on …

Grade 3-5 Teacher Experiences Using Digital Learning Tools In Mathematics Instruction, Dorothy Yun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study was that Grade 3–5 mathematics teachers in Chicago suburban elementary schools (CSES) faced challenges integrating digital learning tools (DLTs) to support student achievement after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a rapid transition to technology-based instruction. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore CSES Grade 3-5 teachers’ experiences using DLTs in mathematics instruction. Guided by the technological pedagogical content knowledge framework, two research questions explored how teachers used DLTs in instruction, and what resources or supports were needed for effective implementation. For this basic qualitative design, 15 certified Grade 3–5 teachers, who …

Recidivism Reduction Through Collaboration For Those With Serious And Persistent Mental Illness, Marion Joseph Fowler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative descriptive study was to investigate the levels of collaboration between mental health agencies in Hamilton County, Tennessee, which provide services to individuals who were arrested at least five times between 2018 and 2021, released from jail, and who were diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI). The primary research question revolves around the problem: in Hamilton County, Tennessee, despite available resources for those with SPMI, the current system for continuity of care does not include collaboration, which assists with holistic services to reduce recidivism. Respective services focus on single risk/need areas, leaving other issues …