Digital Commons Network^™

Vol. 1 Full Issue

V Music Magazine

No abstract provided.

Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Across The United States, Srivathsan Vijaya Raghavan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While cervical cancer is not among the most frequently diagnosed cancers in the United States, it remains a significant concern due to its preventability through regular Pap smears and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. However, incidence rates are rising as screening participation among U.S. women declines. This quantitative study (N = 15714) explored cervical cancer screening behaviors by analyzing levels of community involvement and social functioning, guided by the socioecological model (SEM). The dependent variable was cervical cancer screening, while the independent variables were community involvement and social functioning. The study controlled for health insurance status, age, race, ethnicity, employment, education, …

Educators’ Experiences With Structured Word Inquiry For Spelling Underachievement In K–8 Students, Leah Skinner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this basic qualitative study was that K–8 students in the western United States continue to experience spelling underachievement despite structured literacy interventions. Grounded in Bowers and Kirby’s structured word inquiry (SWI) framework, the purpose of this study was to explore educators’ experiences implementing SWI for spelling instruction with K–8 students in the western United States. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 16 K–8 educators with SWI experience who were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Thematic analysis using open and axial coding resulted in six themes. Findings indicated that educators perceived SWI as an effective, …

Are We The Last Generation Writing Poetry In Russian?, Victor Fet

Biological Sciences Faculty Research

How did my own poetry change after the war that began in February 2022? From the initial shock of the war – to a tragic realization that my own language is forever compromised by being shared with, and indeed usurped by, the aggressor. Personal observations are shared by a biologist and poet.

Melody Of Wrath: A Retelling Of The Pied Piper, India Raye Sorensen

Theses and Dissertations

Melody of Wrath is a young adult fairy tale retelling of the Pied Piper legend centered on fifteen-year-old antihero Magnus. Driven by grief and rage after the massacre of his people, Magnus wields music as dangerous magic to summon a plague of rats and exact revenge on a corrupt city. The novel follows his morally complex journey from vengeance through compromise to a final test inside a transformative mountain, where he confronts the cost of retribution and the uncertain possibility of redemption. Drawing on folktale scholarship, archetypal theory, and literary antiheroes such as Hamlet and Edmond Dantès, this project uses …

Integrating Traditional Samoan Music With School-Aged Children In Fostering Culturally Appropriate Behaviors Within The Framework Of Fa'afaletui And Multimodal Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Stormi Rachelle Winscot

Theses and Dissertations

Fa’aSamoa, the cultural framework shaping Samoan values, relationships, and daily life, deeply informs educational experiences in American Samoa. Music, as both cultural expression and communal practice, offers a powerful lens through which student engagement can be understood. This exploratory study employed multimodal interpretative phenomenological analysis (MMIPA), guided by the Fa’afaletui framework, to examine how Samoan and Pacific Islander students responded in embodied ways to traditional Samoan, culturally adapted Western, and other Western (folk, classical, pop) music in classroom settings. Drawing on focus group interviews and systematic observations, the study centered students’ movement, vocal expression, rhythmic participation, and peer interaction as …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Telehealth Training For Parents Using “Help Is In Your Hands”: Joint Attention And Mands, Vivian Desiree Cortez Dominguez

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to compare the effects of remote parent training for parents of autistic children in Peru, ages 2-4 years old. Using the Spanish version of the digital program called “Help is in Your Hands” (Rogers & Stahmer, 2026; 3C Institute, 2026), three mothers were trained on how to support their child's ability to participate in joint attention and mand. Autism is a condition in which children present with challenges in engaging with others, such as sharing joint attention and using mands. Several evidence-based trainings target these difficulties. However, accessing these trainings can be expensive and time-consuming. In less-developed …

The Value Of Alternative Schools As A Substitute For Traditional Public Schools, Cody Majewski

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This cross-sectional survey research was focused on high school counselors and administrators, who are responsible for recommending high school students for alternative placement. Alternative schools have historically been places where students go who have been excluded from the mainstream school population. Past research has shown that excluding children for behavioral purposes is counterproductive and has a higher-than-average probability of leading to negative outcomes for those children. The purpose of this study is to revise guidelines that can be put in place at traditional high schools to allow for greater flexibility in determining if a student is eligible for alternative placement. …

Long Work Hours, Suboptimal Diabetes Management, And Differences By Sex And Race/Ethnicity, Nhanes (2011-2018), Tailisha Gonzalez, Margrethe Horlyck-Romanovsky, Terry T.-K. Huang, Sandra E. Echeverria

Publications and Research

In the United States (US), occupational segregation by sex and race/ethnicity can contribute to health disparities. Although work schedule characteristics have been previously linked to elevated cardiovascular risk, little is known about the effects on chronic disease management in women and minoritized workers. We examined the association between work hours and diabetes management among US workers, testing for differences by sex and race/ethnicity. We utilized 2011–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data on working adults (age ≥20 years) with diagnosed diabetes (n = 1041). Suboptimal diabetes management was defined as HbA1c ≥7%. Work hours were categorized per WHO …

A Study Of Zomi Pentecostalism In Its Social, Cultural, And Political Context: A Pentecostal Quest For The Lost Paradise, Thang San Mung

College of Theology and Ministry Dissertations, Projects, & Theses

This dissertation examines the paradisal quest of the Zomi people, an ethnic Christian minority in Myanmar, through the lens of Pentecostal spirituality. Historically, the Zomi have experienced political displacement, loss of their ancestral homeland (Zogam), and ongoing marginalization. While existing scholarship has primarily interpreted Zomi struggles in terms of ethnic identity, nationalism, and socio-political resistance, this study offers a theological reorientation by interpreting Zomi paradisal longing through the Spirit-Restored Paradise framework, a Pentecostal theological model developed here. Employing a qualitative ethnographic methodology grounded in contextual theology, the research draws on semi-structured interviews with twenty-four Zomi Pentecostal participants from Myanmar and …

Diagnostic Potential For Igm Antibody Detection By The Dpp Syphilis Tnt Assay In Neonates At Risk For Congenital Syphilis, Irene A Stafford, Lierni Ugartemendia Ugalde, Laura M Goetzl, Analuisa Mosqueda, Sabrina Dacosta, Dhammika Gunasekera, Mark Rivieccio, Javan Esfandiari, Konstantin P Lyashchenko

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neonatal IgM antibodies reflect an in utero immune response to Treponema pallidum and may offer added diagnostic value. This study evaluated the test performance of treponemal IgM levels measured by the research-use-only (RUO) Dual Path Platform (DPP) Syphilis TnT point-of-care (POC) assay for congenital syphilis (CS) risk stratification. Conducted from May 2023 to May 2025, this study tested neonatal serum samples from infants born to mothers with syphilis using the DPP Syphilis TnT RUO POC assay, which reports treponemal and nontreponemal IgM levels as relative light units (RLU). Neonates were classified as confirmed proven or highly probable CS, possible …

Cv: Carlene Sipma (Sociology), Carlene Sipma

Sociology Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Combined Flt3l And Cd40 Agonism Restores Dendritic Cell Driven T Cell Immunity In Mouse Models And Patients With Pancreatic Cancer, Graham Hogg

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Combined Flt3L and CD40 Agonism Restores Dendritic Cell Driven T Cell Immunity in Mouse Models and Patients With Pancreatic Cancer By Graham Douglas Hogg Doctor of Philosophy in Biology and Biomedical Sciences Immunology Washington University in St. Louis, 2026 Professor David DeNardo, Chair Professor T cell directed immunotherapies have largely failed to demonstrate clinical efficacy in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This broad resistance may result from poor tumor antigenicity and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). We hypothesize that tumor immunity in pancreatic cancer patients is further limited by systemic and tumor-intrinsic suppression of conventional …

Pharmacological Treatment Options For Vasoplegia Syndrome During And After Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Scoping Review, Bradley Darby

Student Works

ABSTRACT

2: Structured summary

Background

Vasoplegia Syndrome (VS) is a form of distributive shock that is characterized by profound hypotension, low systemic vascular resistance, and high to normal cardiac output during/after cardiopulmonary bypass. VS is associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and length of stay in the intensive care unit.

Objective

The main objectives of this scoping review are to note the available treatment options, characterize potential risk factors, and identify gaps in knowledge for vasoplegia syndrome during and after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Method

This scoping review utilized the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and MetaAnalyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) …

Astrocyte Circadian Regulation In Neurodegeneration: In Vivo Bmal1 Occupancy Mapping Using Macs-Calling Cards, India Reiss

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Astrocytes maintain neuronal homeostasis through cellular programs that are frequently disrupted early in neurodegenerative disease, many of which are regulated by the circadian clock. The core clock transcription factor BMAL1 is required for normal astrocyte function, yet whether its regulatory activity is altered during neurodegeneration remains unclear. BMAL1 expression changes in disease are often inconsistent, suggesting that transcription factor binding, rather than expression, may be a more informative readout of BMAL1 function. We used a Cln3Δex7/8 model of neurodegeneration, which exhibits early astrocyte dysfunction prior to widespread neuronal loss, to test whether degenerative pathology reprograms BMAL1 binding in astrocytes. We …

Evaluating An Lgbtq+ Adolescent Sexual Health Toolkit: Boosting Confidence And Provider Knowledge, Joslyn Lypka

Doctoral Dissertations & Projects

When leveraged correctly, sexual health education empowers youth to build resilience, deepen self-understanding, and confidently navigate gender and sexual identities. However, many school-based programs emphasize cisgender and heterosexual norms, leaving LGBTQ+ adolescents with limited access to inclusive and affirming sexual health information. This project aimed to develop and evaluate an online sexual health education toolkit designed to increase knowledge and support self-advocacy among LGBTQ+ adolescents, parents/caregivers, and healthcare providers. In collaboration with a Midwest nonprofit organization serving sexual and gender-diverse individuals, an online toolkit was developed and evaluated using two sequential Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles. During the first cycle, subject matter …

Why Last-Minute Studying Fails, Ava Oberg

Psychology Student Publications

This paper discusses why last minute cramming is ineffective and can be detrimental if you are trying to remember the information long term. It highlights the benefits of spaced practices and retrieval -based Practices to improve your long term retention. This paper states that adopting more effective study strategies can improve your academic performance and help with long term retention.

Sustainability, Culture, And Higher Education: An Autoethnographic Sustainability Comparison Of The Sustainability Initiatives At The University Of Salzburg And Bowling Green State University, Madison Alt

Honors Projects

Human activity is already triggering damaging environmental tipping points (Lenton, 2020), emphasizing the need for sustainability in all aspects of development. Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs) have the power and responsibility to contribute to a more sustainable world (Parr et al., 2022). Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio, United States, and the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS) in Salzburg, Austria are two IHEs with multifaceted sustainability programs. While living and studying at BGSU and PLUS, I used autoethnography, a personal narrative approach, combined with public sustainability information to compare the sustainability initiatives at each university, and determine what …

Quality Improvement Project: Enhancing Efficacy And Reducing Urine Contamination Through Simulation In The Ed, Kimberley Strong

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Urine specimen contamination in emergency department settings contributes to diagnostic inaccuracies, unnecessary antibiotic use, increased healthcare costs, and decreased patient satisfaction. This quality improvement project evaluated the impact of a simulation-based educational intervention on staff knowledge, self-efficacy, and urine specimen contamination rates among emergency department nurses and patient care technicians with less than six years of clinical experience in a rural Texas hospital. The aim of this project was to enhance knowledge and self-efficacy while reducing contamination rates over a six-week period. The project was guided by Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory as the theoretical framework, supported by Lewin’s Change Theory, …

The Rider (2026-04-20), Daniela Chapa-Reyes

The Rider Archives

Vol. 11, No. 27

Exploring Alternate Methods Of Flood Output Estimation During Natural Disasters, Finley Gardner

Honors College Theses

In April of 2025, extreme flooding damaged many homes and buildings of people across Kentucky. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) produces maps that show the potential for flooding in areas around water bodies, but many of the April flooding damaged areas were well outside of the FEMA classification zones. The main purpose of this thesis research was to create an accurate model of potential flood extent in Kentucky and compare it to FEMA maps. This model did not require extensive computing power and produced a map that accurately depicted flood extent through the use of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) …

The Echo: April 20, 2026, Taylor University

2025-2026 (Volume 113)

No abstract provided.

Stricturing Diseases Of The Gastrointestinal Tract—Current Clinical Practice, Monjur Ahmed

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

Gastrointestinal stricture can occur in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, and anorectum. Most of the strictures are benign. The prevalence of esophageal strictures (ES) secondary to eosinophilic esophagitis has increased. Pyloric stenosis (PS) is rarely seen in clinical practice. Sleeve stenosis (SS) and stomal stenosis or gastrojejunal anastomotic stricture (GJAS) are increasingly seen due to bariatric surgery. Crohn's disease (CD) remains a significant challenge even in the biologic era. The symptomatology of strictures depends on the location, severity, and underlying cause. Imaging studies and endoscopic procedures are the primary investigations to diagnose and evaluate strictures. Various treatment modalities are …

Keratopigmentation: A Comparative Review Of Safety, Indications, And Clinical Outcomes, Emmy L. Colon Alamo

Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Works

Throughout the years, there has been an upsurge in the quantity of cosmetic procedures aimed at changing eye color or appearance. This trend raises significant concerns about patient safety and visual health, as although many methods are promoted worldwide, their efficacy and, most importantly, safety varies greatly. This review looks at the safety of procedures that alter eye color or appearance, focusing mainly on cosmetic keratopigmentation, which is currently the only legally accepted method for changing eye color in the U.S.

A review of clinical studies was conducted to evaluate the outcomes and complications related to keratopigmentation. Then, these findings …

Quality Improvement Project: The Impact Of The Clinical Judgment Measurement Model In Nursing Faculty, Lamia Zeidan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Clinical judgment is essential for nursing practice and can be taught using the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM). A needs assessment conducted at the project site revealed that students had limited clinical judgment skills, there was no emphasis on clinical judgment in nursing skills courses, and the faculty had a limited understanding of the CJMM. In response to the findings of the needs assessment, the quality improvement (QI) project was developed using a quasi-experimental design. Guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and Benner’s Novice to Expert Educator theoretical framework, the project aimed to provide faculty with education on the CJMM and …

Designing, Integrating, And Evaluating Blockchain Assignments In The Undergraduate Computer Science Program, Karol Lejmbach

Dissertations (1934 -)

Blockchains as a technology rely heavily on a wide range of computer science topics. These topics include: algorithms, data structures, network communication, cryptography and many more. These topics align nicely with topics often covered in undergraduate computer science course. Blockchain technology offers an interesting opportunity for computer science educa- tors. Blockchains rely heavily on a wide range of computer science topics. These topics include: cryptography, networking, data structures, and algorithms. Many of these top- ics are explored in undergraduate computer science programs either in core or elective classes. This offers an opportunity for teaching students about emerging technologies, such as …

University Of Richmond Chamber Ensembles, Department Of Music, University Of Richmond

Music Department Concert Programs

No abstract provided.

Jtc 26: Transfer Student Discovers Full Potential At Ole Miss, Emerson Penny

University of Mississippi News

This story is part of the 2026 Journey to Commencement series, which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate.

Shame On You! The Socialization Of Self-Conscious Emotions In Early Childhood, Ashton K. Allen

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how parents and children discuss self-conscious emotions across early childhood. Self-conscious emotions such as shame, guilt, embarrassment, awe, and pride play a critical role in children's social and emotional development. Although prior research has demonstrated links between parent and child emotion talk about basic emotions such as happiness, anger, disgust, fear, sadness, less is known about how parents and children talk about self-conscious emotions. Participants for the current study were 247 parent-child dyads. The dyads completed a wordless storybook task designed to elicit discussion of five self-conscious emotions (shame, guilt, embarrassment, awe, and pride) annually across three …

Impact Of Provider Self-Efficacy On Caring For Patients With Prediabetes, David R. Knight

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Prediabetes affects millions of adults in the United States, yet inconsistent provider knowledge and confidence limit evidence-based screening and management in primary care, a gap well-documented in the literature. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether a structured educational intervention improved provider self-efficacy related to prediabetes identification and management. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory and the Transtheoretical Model, with implementation guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle, this project asked: among family practice providers, how does prediabetes education affect provider self-efficacy over four weeks? A quasi-experimental pre/post design was used. Four asynchronous educational modules focused on evidence-based screening, …