Digital Commons Network^™

We The Voters: A Response To Professor Douglas, Jonathan L. Marshfield

UF Law Faculty Publications

A Response to Professor Joshua Douglas's Article, The Power of Electorate Under State Constitutions, 76 Fla. L. Rev. 1679 (2024).

A Tailored Approach To Prep Screening For Awareness And Readiness, Keionda Crumblin Caldwell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a serious health concern in the United States (U.S). Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a vital intervention in the prevention of HIV, yet its uptake and adherence are suboptimal due to barriers in identifying individuals who are most at risk and would benefit most from this preventive measure.

Purpose: This evidence-based project aimed to evaluate whether implementing a PrEP readiness tool at a walk-in clinic would identify at-risk adults and adolescents and lead to an increase in referrals for PrEP initiation.

Method: A PrEP Questionnaire from the Department of Wisconsin Public Health was given …

Improving Depression Screening Of Correctional Institution Inmates, Thelma Chidimma Ozigbu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem: Depression significantly impacted on the quality of life of incarcerated individuals within correctional facilities, where rates of the disorder far exceed those in the broader community, increasing self-harm and suicide risks.

Purpose: This quality improvement project aimed to improve early identification of depressive symptoms and facilitate timely mental health referrals by implementing the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a screening tool upon admission.

Method: Using the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice (Iowa Model) as a guiding framework, this project involved training nursing staff to administer the PHQ-9 during initial health assessments. PHQ-9 is a nine-item questionnaire that assesses depression …

Improving Completion Of Diabetes Management Measures In Primary Care, Ashley Tyner Divers

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Adults with type 2 diabetes are at a risk of multiple comorbidities that can be prevented with proper screenings performed as recommended by the American Diabetes Association.

Purpose: Determine if using a checklist on the patient router will improve completion of urine microalbumin, diabetic eye exam, and diabetic foot exam.

Methods: The MA/LPN asked the patient about the last eye exam performed and requested a record from the previous provider if performed within the last year. If the microalbumin was not current, the MA/LPN obtained a urine specimen and placed the order into EPIC. If a diabetic foot …

Enhancing Glycemic Control, Patient Knowledge, And Self-Care Through Structured Diabetes Education, Amanda Suzanne Clark

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The rising prevalence of diabetes, particularly in South Carolina, revealed a significant gap in structured diabetes education programs, contributing to poor glycemic control and elevated A1C levels. In response, this project aimed to assess the integration of a comprehensive diabetes education program into standard care, potentially reducing A1C levels while improving patient knowledge and self-care behaviors in adults with diabetes over four months. The study used a pretest-posttest design to evaluate the effectiveness of this innovative intervention by comparing participants' outcomes before and after the program. Purpose: To determine if a comprehensive diabetes education program could reduce Hemoglobin A1C levels …

The Bridwell Quill, Issues 83–85: Ora Et Labora, Anthony Elia

Bridwell Library Publications

No abstract provided.

Inferring Cinematic Aesthetic Biases From The Statistics Of Early Movies, Daniel M. Grzywacz, Norberto M. Grzywacz

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Cinematic aesthetic values have not been studied as thoroughly as those in music and the visual arts. Three hypotheses for these values are that they are like those of artistic paintings, that they emphasize the spatial coherence of the optical flow, and that they are temporally smooth. Here, we test these hypotheses and investigate other candidate aesthetic values by comparing the statistics of narrative movies and those obtained spontaneously. We perform these tests by using narrative movies from the early stages of cinematic history because these films are simple. We statistically compare these films with spontaneous movies of scenes from …

A Historic Context For House Moving: Why Moved Houses Are Eligible For The National Register Of Historic Places, Ian Tomashik

Historic Preservation Final Projects

Structural moving, the process of moving complete buildings to new sites, has shaped American landscapes for over two centuries. Thousands of wood-frame houses were moved with surprising frequency between the mid-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries. Yet, moved buildings are “ordinarily” ineligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. This project explores this exclusion two parts: an analytical essay that argues for their inclusion for nomination and a historic context survey that explains the prevalence of house moving. The essay first explains the National Register’s rationale for questioning the historic significance of moved buildings. It also examines why large-scale house …

Bridging Practice And Pedagogy: A Simulation-Based Orientation Framework For Healthcare Educators, Heather Hodges

MSHS Student Capstones

As healthcare education continues to advance, the incorporation of simulation-based learning has become a cornerstone of effective teaching strategies. This literature review explores the development of an orientation framework designed specifically for healthcare educators who have transitioned from clinical practitioners and preceptors into formal teaching roles. These individuals often possess extensive hands-on experience but may lack structured pedagogical training, particularly in the use of simulation as a teaching modality. The review combines current research on best practices for simulation integration, adult learning theory, and faculty development to identify the most effective methods for onboarding new educators. Emphasis is placed on …

The Greenbook, Faculty Handbook, 2025-2026, Marshall University Academic Affairs

The Greenbook

This book has been published for the faculty of Marshall University for the specified period of time. This book was created by Academic Affairs and is for the period of 2025-2026.

Editor's Note: Conversations With The Coalition That Passed The Racial Justice Act, Mia Thillet, Sam W. Scheipers

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Ken Rose Interview, Ken Rose, Gene Nichol

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Charmaine Fuller Cooper Interview, Charmaine Fuller Cooper, Gene Nichol

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Prompttutor: Effects Of An Llm-Based Chatbot On Learning Outcomes And Motivation In Flipped Classrooms, Yuhao Zhang, Eng Lieh Ouh, Chong Jee Adam Ho, Siaw Ling Lo, Kar Way Tan, Feng Lin

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This study explores the integration of a Large Language Model (LLM) based chatbot, PromptTutor, into flipped classrooms (FC) for undergraduate Computer Science (CS) education. PromptTutor is designed to provide personalized, immediate feedback to support student learning in FC by incorporating reflective learning and scaffolding strategies. The traditional FC typically lacks this immediate feedback during the pre-class learning phase, risking decreased student motivation according to existing literature. This study examines if students improve in learning outcomes and motivation after using PromptTutor. Through a controlled crossover experiment with 50 students, the study demonstrates statistically significant improvements in students' quiz performance and motivation …

Quantum Simulation Of Molecular Dynamics Processes─A Benchmark Study Using A Classical Simulator And Present-Day Quantum Hardware, Tamila Kuanysheva, Brian K. Kendrick, Lukasz Cincio, Dmitri Babikov

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

We explore how the fundamental problems in quantum molecular dynamics can be modeled using classical simulators (emulators) of quantum computers and the actual quantum hardware available to us today. The list of problems we tackle includes propagation of a free wave packet, vibration of a harmonic oscillator, and tunneling through a barrier. Each of these problems starts with the initial wave packet setup. Although Qiskit provides a general method for initializing wave functions, in most cases it generates deep quantum circuits. While these circuits perform well on noiseless simulators, they suffer from excessive noise on quantum hardware. To overcome this …

Duration Of Inter-Pregnancy Interval And Its Predictors Among A Sample Of Pregnant Women In Reproductive Age Attending Primary Health Care Centers In Al-Russafa /Al-Shaab Sector, Russul Mohammed, Huda Habib

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: Inter-pregnancy interval is defined as the time in completed months from the reported date of live birth of the previous child to the self-reported last normal menstrual period.Study objectives: To assess the duration of inter-pregnancy interval, and to assess the possible predictors associated with the duration of inter-pregnancy interval.Participants & Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out during the period from 1st March to 1st August 2023. A convenient sample of pregnant women in the reproductive age group (15-49 years) who attended PHCCS in Al-Shaab sector, Baghdad-Alrusafa Health Directorate. Data was collected by direct interviews with the target population, …

Level Of Awareness About Diabetic Retinopathy And Eye Checkup Practice Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients Attending Baghdad Teaching Hospital 2023., Ali Olaiwei, Mohammed Ibrahim

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is a common and serious complication of diabetes that can lead to vision loss or even blindness if not detected and treated early. However, some people may not have any symptoms until the condition is advanced. Therefore, regular eye exams with dilated pupils are recommended for people with diabetes to check for signs of diabetic retinopathy and other eye problems regardless of the symptoms.Objectives of the study: To measure patients’ awareness and practices regarding diabetic retinopathy, to detect the barriers for eye screening and receiving eye check-up, and to find if there is any association between level …

Septoplasty Pre And Postoperative Evaluation Regarding: (Nasal Obstruction, Rhinogenic Headache, And Eustachian Tube Function), Omar Ali, Said Al-Jaf

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: Septoplasty is a surgical correction of the deviated nasal septum it is one of the most common Otorhinolaryngology operationObjective: purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare outcome of Septoplasty regarding nasal obstruction, improvement associated headache and Eustachian Tube functions by tympanometryStudy design: it is a prospective comparative study Methods: study was done from February 2021 to December 2021 at otorhinolaryngology department in Rizgary Teaching Hospital Erbil City/Iraq on Overall (60) patients 23 were female and 37 were male their age ranged between 18 and 50 years patient undergoing septoplasty because of Deviated Nasal Septum were included All …

Genu Valgum Relation With Sociodemographic Factors In A Sample Of Iraqi Children Attending Sadr Al Qanat Center For Prosthetics And Orthotics, Abdulnasser Mohammed, Faiq Gorial

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: Genu valgum is a deformity resulting from the separation of ankles, when the medial faces of the knees are in contact while the person is in anatomical position, the patella and the hallux turning to the anterior direction.Aim: To evaluate the features of genu valgum and associated sociodemographic factors in children.Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Sader Al-Qanat Center for Prosthetics and Orthotics, a tertiary referral center in Baghdad/Iraq during the period from January to December 2022. A convenient sampling method was adopted to enrol 60 patients aged 2-14 years with genu valgum who attained the …

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Mri) ‎Based Scoring System To Differentiate ‎Solitary Osteoporotic From Malignant ‎Vertebral Compression Fractures, Mohammed Kadhim, Haneen Sahib

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: Discriminating pathological from osteoporotic vertebral compression ‌a fracture is sometimes challenging.‌Aim: to create scoring system using several MRI signs, trying to correctly ‌differentiate osteoporotic from malignant compression vertebral fractures.‌Patients and method: a prospective case control analytic study was performed in ‌MRI unite of Al-Imamain Al-Kadhemain Medical City/ Baghdad/Iraq, 68 patients (24 ‌male and 44 female) were included, all were presenting with acute back pain and ‌vertebral compression fracture on x ray. MRI was done within 2 months from ‌symptom onset and follow up for at least 4-6 weeks. A 9 MRI signs were evaluated in ‌terms of sensitivity, specificity …

Detection Of Thyroid Antibodies In Non Segmental Vitiligo Patients And Using As Screening Test To Autoimmune Thyroid Disease, Mariam Abd-Al Hussein

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background:Vitiligo is chronic autoimmune disease characterized by pale white patches developing on the skin caused by lack of melanin pigment which produced by melanocytes. Most common autoimmune disease association with vitiligo is autoimmune thyroid disease that characterized by presence of autoantibody (anti-thyroperoxidase, anti-thyroglobulin) in serum of vitiligo patients. Aim of study:Detection of serum anti-thyroperoxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies in patients with non-segmental vitiligo.Subject and Methods:Serum level of Anti-thyroperoxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies were assessed in 50 non segmental vitiligo patients in the dermatology Consultation Clinic of IMAM ALSADIQ Teaching Hospital / Babil Health Directorate compare with 30 apparently healthy control, their age …

She Speaks With Stars: Teacher Support For American Indian Students Who Are Gifted And Have Experienced Trauma, Tracy L. Olson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Olson, T.L. She Speaks with Stars: Teacher Support for American Indian Students Who Are Gifted and Have Experienced Trauma. (2025)

This qualitative study utilized grounded theory analysis through the use of survey and interview to research how teachers support American Indian students who are gifted and have experienced trauma. The study focused on survey results as well as interviews of a selection of teachers from various grade levels, years of experience working with American Indian students, and roles in the educational system. The themes that emerged from the data illustrate the imperative need for more research into Native American students …

Analyzing The Impact Of Covid-19 On The Achievement Gap: The State Of Education In Minnesota From A Superintendent's Perspective, Jillian Stockmo Chapman

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education systems globally, nationally and in Minnesota. This created difficulties but also opportunities for innovation, especially for students most impacted by educational inequities. This dissertation investigates the impacts of the pandemic through three related research questions: (1) In what ways did COVID-19 impact Minnesota’s achievement gap? (2) How do superintendents describe the impact of COVID-19 on their districts and their districts’ disparities? And (3) What have been some of the most innovative opportunities districts’ have explored to recoup learning loss emerging from the COVID-19 crisis?

Using a qualitative research design that is grounded in a transformative …

What Not To Teach While Teaching: How An Educator's Implicit Bias Can Negatively Impact A Black Student's Educational Experience, John Mark Tinsley

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the experiences of African American students who have experienced implicit bias in educational settings, addressing the research question: "What are the narratives of African American students who have experienced instances of implicit bias in the classroom?" Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Critical Race Theory as frameworks for inquiry, six randomly selected African American high school seniors were interviewed about their experiences regarding implicit bias during their time through grades K-12. Key findings revealed students' sophisticated pattern recognition of discriminatory treatment, limited positive media representation impacting self-perception, severe lack of African American teachers, curriculum gaps reducing Black history …

Freedom, Agency, And Relevance: Finding A Path To Revolution In A Suburban Public High School, Eric E. Turner

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Turner, E. (2025). Freedom, Agency, and Relevance: Finding a Path to Revolution in a Suburban Public High School

Revolutionary pedagogy and revolutionary school transformation is usually confined to charter schools, alternative schools and micro schools. What happens when it is attempted in a large traditional suburban high school? That is the central question of this dissertation. This research focused on the autoethnographic reflections of the program coordinator going through the process of attempting to create a Project Based Learning program grounded in revolutionary ideals within the confines of a large traditional suburban high school. The research also involves informal interviews …

Novel Respirometry Measurement And Comparison Of Monod Kinetic Constants And Methanogen Concentrations For 27 Full-Scale Anaerobic Bioreactors, Nicholas Benn, Antonio Martins, Daniel H. Zitomer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Monod kinetic coefficient values (km and Ks) as well as methanogen concentrations (Xac and Xh2) for various anaerobic bioreactors are required to gain a deeper understanding of anaerobic biotechnology. However, there are no existing, practical methods to measure or estimate these parameters or variables in typical anaerobic digester biomass that contains mixed cultures with inert organic solids. Current measurement methods rely on pure cultures developed in the laboratory. In this work, a novel respirometric method was developed and used to determine methanogen Monod parameters and active biomass concentration for samples from 27 full-scale anaerobic reactors. Differences (one to three orders …

Summer Proceedings 2025, Sav Milburn, Brandon Hernandez-Calvario, Roberto Palacios, Paris Wu, Naomi Cai, Olivia Wang

altREU Projects

This comprehensive collection showcases cutting-edge research from undergraduate students participating in three innovative programs at Portland State University: the NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site on "Computational Modeling Serving Portland," the alternative Research Experiences for Undergraduates (altREU) program, and Teuscher Lab internships. These programs leverage community partnerships while breaking traditional barriers through fully online, accessible formats that welcome students regardless of background or circumstances. The 24 projects span foundational AI methods, healthcare and medical AI, transportation and urban safety, environmental and earth sciences, language and social AI, and specialized neural architectures. From developing assistive driving companions and emotion-aware AI …

Exploring Communication In Multi-Agent Cooperative Reinforcement Learning, Matthew Kalarickal

Math and Computer Science Honors Theses

This work focuses on communication strategies within a cooperative multi-agent reinforcement learning system. The goal is to explore how communication can be used among agents to potentially improve performance. The research operates within the scope of “learning tasks with communication,” where the primary aim is to solve domain-specific tasks through information exchange using explicit communication protocols. Three distinct communication strategies were implemented and explored: Combinatorial Ghost, Feature Sharing Ghost, and Move Sharing Ghost. Fully Centralized Training and Execution and Centralized Training with Decentralized Execution training approaches were based on the different communication strategy used. Performance metrics were recorded for these …

Juvenile White Sharks In Monterey Bay: Effects Of Thermal Habitat Patchiness On Local Densities Of A Novel Range Shifting Predator, Kelsey H. Montalto

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Climate change has shifted species' distributional ranges in many marine and terrestrial systems. For marine species, those shifts in ranges associated with ocean warming are often poleward or into deeper waters. Juvenile white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are one such species, having exhibited a 270 km range shift of the cold edge of their thermal range extending northward to the Monterey Bay. However, little is known about the fine-scale habitat selection of marine organisms at the cold edge of their shifting range and how localized thermal gradients or warm pools may permit persistence in these newly inhabited locations. The Monterey Bay …

Unveiling Dynamics Of The Monterey Bay Upwelling Shadow Front: Insights From Dorado Auv Time Series, Kieran R. Claassen

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This thesis investigates the fine-scale dynamics of the Monterey Bay upwelling shadow front by integrating autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) observations with environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis. Using a clustering technique on temperature-salinity profiles from 29 missions, I identified distinct water masses that consistently reflected seasonal and spatial hydrographic structure. Phytoplankton communities, resolved via eDNA and robust Aitchison Principal Component Analysis (PCA), exhibited clear seasonal transitions-from diatom-dominated assemblages during peak upwelling to dinoflagellate-enriched communities in warm, stratified shadow waters in the fall. Case studies during sustained upwelling revealed front-associated differences in community composition, supported by ordination and statistical testing. Notably, t-tests comparing …