Digital Commons Network^™

Implementing Online Evidence Based Educational Program In Diabetics., Michele Lynn Gervase

DNP Projects

Background: Educational online videos about diabetes can significantly improve patient outcomes by enhancing understanding and promoting effective self-management practices. These videos provided by the CDC provide a visually engaging and easily accessible content that simplifies complex medical information, making it more relatable for individuals living with diabetes. Online videos cater to various learning styles and can be watched multiple times to reinforce key diabetes management concepts and strategies. This awareness and competency improve adherence to treatment plans, creates a supportive community, and enhances health outcomes and quality of life.

Project Goals: To trial online evidence-based educational videos in patients with …

Routine, Twisty, And Queer: Pasts And Futures Of Games Programming Pedagogy With No And Low Code Tools, Daniel Cox, John Murray, Anastasia Salter

Faculty Publications – Creative Technologies

This paper traces a history of platforms targeting no-code and low-code audiences. It connects historical moments addressing accessibility challenges related to computer programming up through the more recent adoption of generative AI in game engines. Across these moments, this paper identifies communities that claimed authoring platforms, establishing their identity by rejecting other, potentially more efficient or expressive options. We argue these community dynamics have shaped the evolution of current game development platforms. By contextualizing current efforts in pedagogy as part of larger shifts in computer programming and game engine practice, we present a better understanding of the origins of platforms …

Unspoken Bonds, Atharva Tilwankar

All Theses

This thesis explores the art of non-verbal storytelling through 3D animation, focusing on a short narrative about the blossoming friendship between a young boy and girl. The story revolves around a boy who uses magical elements to attract the attention of a girl absorbed in her book, set in a simple environment featuring a single bench.

This project examines the unique challenges and opportunities presented by “Unspoken” 3D animation. It delves into the techniques of creating expressive characters and a compelling narrative arc without relying on spoken language. The study also explores how body language, facial expressions, posing, and composition …

Overharvesting: The Why Of Biodiversity Loss, Andrew W. Torrance, Bill Tomlinson

Texas A&M Journal of Property Law

This Article examines the consequences of overharvesting biodiversity, focusing on its detrimental effects on biodiversity—on the biosphere, ecosystems, communities, populations, and individual organisms. It evaluates legal mechanisms designed to protect biodiversity from overharvesting and also considers legal mechanisms that lead to overharvesting to the detriment of biodiversity. The Article compares regulations and laws from multiple jurisdictions, including Europe, Oceania, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and analyzes how these regulations and laws seek to curb overharvesting. Examples include the United States’s Endangered Species Act, Canada’s Wild Animal and Plant Protection Act, and the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive. International conventions …

Are You Really “Just A Girl?”: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Female Identity Construction On Tiktok, Gabriella R. Molseed

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This paper analyzes the use of the phrase “just a girl” on the social media platform TikTok through a feminist rhetorical lens to understand how female identity is being constructed and defined by the young women who use the phrase. By analyzing fourteen videos using the phrase “just a girl,” this paper identifies themes of incompetence, innovation, vanity, and overconsumption. The phrase functions similarly to the phrase “boys will be boys” by infantilizing the people being described while assigning specific behaviors to gender. Men are expected to be dangerous and violent, while women are expected to be incompetent and vapid. …

Successful Management Of Human Parainfluenza Virus-3 Outbreak In A Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Nabiha A. Bouafia, Mohammed F. Qureshi, Reham Q. Alwetishi, Naoufel M. Kaabia, Dalal Bukhari, Mohammed A. Althomali, Souad M. Alateah, Fawaz T. Kashlan, Hania M. Farhan, Ziyad H. Alhaje

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To describe the role of infection control measures in controlling human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV-3) outbreaks in the neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary military hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This single center, retrospective study collected clinical and diagnostic data from date to date. We collected nasopharyngeal swabs from symptomatic patients and processed using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assays to detect HPIV-3. Results: The HPIV-3 outbreak occurred between December 2022 and January 2023, and affected 22 patients (mean age: 13 months), among whom 18 had underlying chronic medical conditions. Most patients (n=18) presented with …

Assessing Student Satisfaction Using Courses Generated By Artificial Intelligence, Althaf Hussain Kallamadugu

All Theses

This research explores the effectiveness of using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated voice-over presentations as an alternative to traditional human-narrated lectures in online education. The study focuses on students preparing for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 exam for Commercial small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUASs). By comparing AI-generated lectures with human-narrated content, the research aims to assess the impact of AI on student satisfaction, engagement, and performance. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative analysis of exam scores and survey data with qualitative insights from student interviews. The methodology includes the creation of AI-generated voice-over presentations, survey distribution to both control …

Countering The Traditional Feminine: The Abject In The Works Of Johanna Hamann, María Evelia Marmolejo, And Regina José Galindo, Sierra Myers

Theses

This thesis explores the ways in which Contemporary Latin American feminist artists have been able to subvert the Western constructed ideas of gender that work to locate the feminine Other as subordinate and inferior. Focusing on the installations and performances by Johanna Hamann, María Evelia Marmolejo, and Regina José Galindo, there is an emphasis on the role of the abject which is used to defamiliarize our established concepts of the traditional feminine in order to allow space for a redefinition and portrayal that excludes a detrimental modern semiology rooted in a zero point epistemology. By analyzing these artists' works in …

Examining The Impact Of Expert Testimony And/Or Mindfulness Training On Jurors’ Appraisals Of False Confessions, Izabela Rzaca

Student Theses

False confessions continue to be the leading cause of wrongful convictions in the United States, often because of coercive interrogation tactics (Kassin, 2008; Leo & Ofshe, 1998). Jurors frequently view confession evidence as highly persuasive, even when situations suggest it may be false (Kassin & Sukel, 1997). A confession becomes important when there are no other forms of evidence against the defendant, especially in cases where police detectives are pressured to decipher the crime (Gross, 2004). Additionally, confessions have shown to override other types of evidence when jurors make their decisions (Leo et al., 2013). To address this issue, the …

The Taliban’S ‘Gender Apartheid’: The Reality Of Women In Afghanistan, Hannah Litty

North Carolina Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

A History Of Security Rights In Personal Property From The Pledge To Bitcoin By Way Of Uncitral’S Universalization Of Principles, Henry Deeb Gabriel

North Carolina Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

Unl Emeriti And Retirees Association Newsletter, May 2025

UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association: Newsletters and Other Materials

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Emeriti and Retirees Association Newsletter, May 2025

Expanding and enhancing the ERA President's message

Welcome to new members

ERA Board members

Wake up your well-being

Book review, Hello Beautiful

Service awards

A look ahead to programming

Recapping past programming

Memory moments

The Robert Burns Portraits Revisited, Patrick Scott

Faculty Publications

Illustrated lecture for the 2025 annual meeting of the Robert Burns Association of North America, in Atlanta, Georgia, on the major portraits of the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796), and on the dissemination of the well-known Nasmyth portrait through engravings, copies, and adaptations, charting the delayed emergence of the other portraits now generally recognized, surveying recurrent efforts to get other 'discoveries' accepted as depicting Burns, and suggesting possible dramatic further news likely to come later in the year.

Kindergarten Through Third-Grade Teachers’ Understanding Of Dyslexia And Their Preparedness To Teach Students With Potential Dyslexia, Including English Speakers Of Other Languages (Esol) Students, Carrie Madden

Curriculum and Instruction (Ed.D.) Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate kindergarten through third grade teachers’ understanding of dyslexia and their preparedness to teach students with potential dyslexia, including ESOL students in a city school district by using questionnaires and focus groups. This study yielded three main findings: (a) teachers define dyslexia using similar terms and wording, but do not use a formal definition; (b) continuous opportunities for targeted professional development is crucial to understanding potential dyslexia in students, including ESOL students; (c) tailored supports, interventions, and screenings are paramount to ensure preparation of teachers to have effective instructional practices for …

Implementation Of A Novice Charge Nurse Blended Learning Program In A Community Hospital, Asheley M. Davis

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Background: Charge nurses have a broad range of responsibilities that require skills beyond patient care. Unfortunately, these skills are not usually taught in nursing school or as part of continuing education for staff nurses. As a result, many new charge nurses feel unprepared for their role. This is compounded by the fact that a significant percentage of nurses in the workforce are novice nurses. These novice nurses who may not yet have the necessary experience are now leading staff without the guidance and support of experienced nurses.

Local Problem: Newly appointed charge nurses at the academically affiliated community hospital …

Implementation Of Enhanced And Standardized Emergency Planning Documentation Within The Metabolism Program At A Large Academic Medical Center, Emma Michl

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: Children with medical complexity are a distinct patient population that includes children with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM). The medical complexity of this patient population can lead to gaps in care, which is amplified by poorly coordinated care. Emergency care encounters are inevitable for patients with an IEM. The medical fragility of these patients can be further intensified during these encounters, where these patients are at an increased risk of adverse events, morbidity, and mortality without prompt recognition and care. Patients with an IEM followed by the Metabolism Program at the project hospital often seek emergency care at the …

How A Garden Hoe Changed My Literacy Life: A Story Of Teaching, Coaching, And Becoming, Kelsey J. Walker

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

In this dissertation, I explore how personal practical experiences teaching reading intervention impacted my own understanding of the role of a secondary literacy coach. Drawing on the concepts of dialogism and adult learning theory, I leveraged learning conversations to grow my own body of knowledge. The methodology of this study was done using narrative inquiry and autoethnography. This methodological blend allowed me to closely study myself as the primary participant with a unique positionality as a scholarly practitioner. I unpack the complexities, contradictions, and tensions of my lived experience through stories and vignettes set in a rural midwestern public school …

Acceptability And Competency Of Motivational Interviewing (Mi) Training And Mi Spirited Communication In An Undergraduate And Graduate Nursing Program, Grace Koons

Honors Theses

Problem- There is a move towards patient-centered care in nursing and Motivational Interviewing (MI) has been one approach to accomplish positive communication. While the use of MI has been increasing in healthcare settings, undergraduate and graduate nursing programs have been slow to incorporate it into their curricula.

Aims- This study aimed to determine the acceptability and MI competency for the use of MI Spirited Communication (MISC) among undergraduate and graduate nursing students at a university in the Southeast region of the U.S. Methods- The design of this pilot study was a descriptive, quasi-experiment with no control group. The …

Whole-Genome Assembly And Annotation Of The Firecracker Penstemon (Penstemon Eatonii), David E. Jarvis, Mikel R. Stevens, Payton Carter, Ying Fei Lin, Kate E. Jaggi, Gabriela Jijon, Teal Kalt, Jouber Calixto, Samantha Standring, Kaitlin Torres, Kayla B. Stephensen, Hayley Mangelson, Noah H. Williams, Carolyn A. Wessinger, Peter J. Maughan, Paul B. Frandsen

Faculty Publications

The penstemons are ornamental annual flowering plants native to the Intermountain West and Rocky Mountains and commonly used for urban landscaping. Elite commercial penstemons are generally susceptible to abiotic stresses, including drought, root rot, cold, and high salinity. Firecracker penstemon (Penstemon eatonii), however, is much more tolerant to these stresses than most elite cultivars. Importantly, firecracker penstemon has been reported to hybridize with many other penstemons and therefore provides the opportunity to develop more tolerant elite cultivars through strategic crossing. To facilitate the study and utilization of firecracker penstemon, we sequenced and annotated the genome of a P. …

Poster: There Is No "Generic American Indian: Student Documentaries Exploring Personal Journeys Of Indigeneity, Belonging And Resilience, College Of Arts, Humanities And Social Sciences

Harvesting Hope Project

No abstract provided.

Intent Vs. Impact: Instructor Preceptions And Experiences In Faculty Learning Communities With A Focus On Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion, Quianna Daniels-Smart

PhD of Social Work

This study examines the perceptions and experiences of faculty members who participated in faculty learning communities (FLCs) centered on antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) pedagogy. Employing a hermeneutic phenomenological research design, the study identified recurring themes related to faculty perspectives, perceived changes in teaching practices, attitude shifts, and course content influenced by their involvement in these communities. The sample consisted of faculty from a range of disciplines at various traditionally white institutions (TWIs) across the United States. This research centers faculty insights from both professional and personal standpoints, shedding light on the role of FLCs as a form of …

‘Maybe It's What We've Been Doing?’: Exploring Mtss For Emergent Bilingual Students With Disabilities, Crystal Nunez

Honors Theses

This qualitative study investigated the interpretation and implementation of Multi-Tiered System
of Supports (MTSS) as it related to emergent bilingual students with disabilities in one of the
largest suburban school districts in Upstate New York. The purpose of this study was to explore
the needs, experiences, beliefs, and practices (individual and collaborative) of teachers who
support a growing population of emergent bilingual students with and without disabilities and their
families in an increasingly diverse suburban community. The goal of this study is to inform best
practices as well as new directions in research, policy, and educators’ continued and supportive
professional …

The French Connection: The Exponential Growth Of Rhode Island Women's Basketball, Mark C. Radigan

Senior Honors Projects

Since the arrival of Head Coach Tammi Reiss and Associate Head Coach Adeniyi Amadou to Kingston in 2019, the University of Rhode Island Women’s Basketball program has emerged from mid-major obscurity to become a regional and conference juggernaut with a reputation for developing young women on the court and in life. Many factors have contributed to this meteoric rise, but one that stands out is the program’s reliance on international recruiting to close the skill gap with other mid-major programs, with a particular focus on recruiting within France. This project aimed to highlight the impact of this recruitment strategy on …

Founders' Day And Honors Convocation Exercises - May 2025, Prairie View A&M University

Commencement and Convocation Exercises

No abstract provided.

How Do Simulated Phishing Attacks Impact Cybersecurity Awareness And The Enhancement Of Security Protocols Among Faculty Members In A University Environment?, Navnoor Sandhu

University Honors Program Senior Projects

Phishing attacks are cyber threats where attackers deceive users into performing actions that compromise the user’s security and benefit the attacker. In 2024 alone, phishing attacks have resulted in estimated damages of around 800 million dollars [1]. In response, many institutions have implemented internal simulated phishing attacks to enhance their employees' cybersecurity awareness. This training exercise has been proven beneficial in improving cybersecurity awareness on an enterprise scale[4]. This study aims to evaluate the potential effectiveness of a simulated phishing attack within a university setting, which is a relatively unseen practice thus far. Universities, like other secure organizations, store sensitive …

Language Development And Stuttering: Are People Who Are Fluent In More Than One Language More Likely To Stutter? Do They Stutter More In Their First Or Second Language?, Stephanie Pedraza Marin

University Honors Program Senior Projects

Research on bilingualism has played a key role in understanding language and cognitive processes. It has sparked ongoing debates about whether speaking more than one language enhances cognitive abilities or potentially limits these capacities. One behavior often examined in this context is stuttering, which has been studied in relation to bilingualism as far back as 1937. While some studies report no difference in stuttering rates between bilinguals and monolinguals, others suggest that bilinguals may be more prone to stuttering. The current study sought to further explore this issue through an online survey examining the experiences of bilingual and monolingual English …

Who Was Skull #0025336? A Forensic Anthropological Analysis Of Human Remains, Evelyn R. Wendland

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Biological anthropology identifies human remains to learn more about the individual or the ancient community from which they originate. Two subdisciplines of biological Anthropology that focus on osteology—the study of bones— are Forensic Anthropology and Biorchaeology. Forensic anthropology is the study of human remains associated with the legal process. They specifically analyze remains from post-1950. Biorchaeology also looks at human remains but in a historical and/or archaeological context. As osteologists analyze human remains, they typically try to create a biological profile. The biological profile includes classifications of ethnicity (ancestry), age, sex, and stature, as well as aspects of pathology and …

Student Veterans' Attitudes Towards Mental Health Issues And Treatments, Elicia S. Ramu

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mental health concerns with United States veterans have been a pervasive issue for decades. The changes and evolving nature of the mental health field, including terminology and diagnoses, are believed to discourage veterans from reaching out and asking for help when it is needed most. However, these are not the only reasons why veterans choose not to seek out treatment. It has been found that other reasons include the stigma towards mental health alongside financial, external costs, and hidden costs of treatment. The following study has been conducted to understand the various barriers that hinder student veterans with mental health …

Understanding Loneliness In The Digital Age: Implications Of Social Media Use, Ryan D. Shinazy

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Despite the promise of greater connectivity through digital platforms, loneliness remains prevalent among young adults. This study investigates the impact of different types of social media use on loneliness through an experimental design—an uncommon but needed approach in a field dominated by correlational studies. Participants (n=17) were randomly assigned to one of five conditions: active use with positive feedback, active use with negative feedback, broadcasting with positive feedback, broadcasting with negative feedback, and passive scrolling. Each participant interacted with a mock social media platform tailored to the University of Northern Colorado community. Loneliness was assessed using the Revised UCLA Loneliness …

Extralegal Factors Influencing Judicial Perceptions Of Defendants With Mental Illness, Hailey Erdbruegger

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The United States has one of the highest prison populations in the world. This means millions of individuals are either incarcerated or under other forms of supervision by the criminal justice system at any one given time. All those millions of individuals had to move through the U.S. criminal courts and thus engage with multiple forms of courtroom participants along the way. Of those millions coming through the system, many have either been diagnosed with a mental illness, or have self-reported having a mental illness. This makes the personal beliefs, stigmas, and biases of the previously mentioned courtroom participants regarding …