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Assessing Non-Performance Based Standards Of The National Core Arts Standards In Georgia Public Middle And High Schools, Richard Brian Horne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Developing a well-rounded musician must be the goal of every music teacher. In today’s modern educational system, assessment is a tool used to help shape the curriculum of all subjects. Music assessment must be no different. The National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) utilize anchor standards for assessment in four categories: creating, performing, responding, and connecting. Standards that fall within performing are quickly evaluated in formal and informal assessments, but other standards, such as creation, responding, and connecting, often need exploration. One needs to craft assessments to determine student understanding of performance and non-performance standards and explore development in those areas. …

Repurposing Semaglutide As An Adjunctive Treatment For Cocaine Use Disorder: Protocol For A Randomised Controlled Trial, Luba Yammine, Francesco Versace, Charles E Green, Heather E Webber, Jin Ho Yoon, Absalon D Gutierrez, Samuel J Leonard, Michael F Weaver, Joy Schmitz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a significant public health concern in the USA, with considerable prevalence and mortality and no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pharmacotherapies. Recent advances in addiction science emphasise the need for novel, mechanism-based treatments. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, have shown promise in modulating reward-related behaviours and may offer therapeutic benefits for CUD. We present a study protocol evaluating semaglutide, as an adjunct to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), as a novel approach for treating CUD.

Methods and analysis: This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolling 75 treatment-seeking adults with CUD. Participants will …

Brain-Wide Structural Markers Of Familial And Clinical Risk For Bipolar Disorder In Youth, Danella M Hafeman, Jamie Feldman, John Merranko, Mary L Phillips, Boris Birmaher, Si Gao, Yizhou Ma, Peter Kochunov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a severe mental illness, often emerging during adolescence, that is associated with significant psychosocial impairment. BD risk is elevated in offspring of affected parents, particularly those with antecedent symptoms (e.g., mood lability, subthreshold manic symptoms). However, robust, replicable brain-based markers of risk in this population are lacking. We assessed the degree to which the Regional Vulnerability Index for BD (RVI-BD), quantified as an individual's brain-wide similarity to BD patterns derived from meta-analytic studies, is elevated in youth at familial risk and correlates with symptom predictors of BD.

Methods: We recruited n=82 adolescents (10-15 years old), …

Pr Interval Alternans And The Mystery Of Inverse Decremental Conduction, Alyssa Zakala, Mohammed Hussein Kamareddine, Farah Olleik, Ali Keramati, Gan-Xin Yan

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

CASE SUMMARY: A 73-year-old man with severe aortic stenosis and preexisting right bundle branch block (RBBB) underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Postprocedural day 4 mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry revealed intermittent atrioventricular block. A 12-lead electrocardiogram obtained in the emergency department revealed PR interval alternans with RBBB, with longer PR following longer preceding RP intervals, and shorter PR following shorter RP intervals. He suddenly experienced cardiac arrest due to proximal atrioventricular block, requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES: Inverse decremental conduction, known as Yan conduction, demonstrates an inverse relationship between conduction time and frequency of upstream stimulation. Inverse decremental conduction within the …

When Qtc Shrinks After Rhythm Conversion, Mohammed Hussein Kamareddine, Alyssa Zakala, Farid Farkouh, Ibrahim Alameh, Gan-Xin Yan

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

CASE SUMMARY: An 83-year-old man with a history of atrial fibrillation on amiodarone therapy was admitted for direct-current cardioversion because of recurrent atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate of approximately 105 beats per minute. Cardioversion successfully restored sinus rhythm. Postcardioversion 12-lead electrocardiography revealed an unexpectedly short QTc of 344 ms despite chronic treatment with a QT-prolonging agent. This finding was attributed to QT hysteresis, reflecting delayed adaptation of ventricular repolarization to the abrupt reduction in heart rate after rhythm conversion.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: QT hysteresis can result in transient QTc shortening and has important implications for interpretation of QT intervals during …

Occupational Identity And The Interactions Of Perceptions Pertaining To Career Choice Satisfaction And Intrinsic Job Satisfaction, Barbara Denisi Etterle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals are often remembered not solely for who they are but also for what they do. Grounded in identity theory, social identity theory, and informed biblical theology, this study advanced the premise that occupation serves as the most salient expression of identity and purpose. The construct of work–life purpose, defined as the alignment between an individual’s occupational pursuits and overarching life purpose, was introduced. This study examined the relationships among occupational identity; career choice satisfaction; intrinsic job satisfaction; and self-perception, others-perception, and divine-perception. Using bivariate correlations and regression analyses, the results revealed significant correlations among constructs, but the predictive power …

The Lived Experience Of Immigrant Chinese Parents Navigating The Iep Process For Children With Austim, Mei Yu Cheung

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand how immigrant Chinese parents navigate the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process for their children with autism within public schools in King County, Washington. The theory guiding this study is Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, as this study explores parents’ lived experiences, challenges, and advocacy strategies as they engage with school professionals and systems of support. Through semi-structured interviews with participants, the research seeks to identify shared meanings and patterns that shape parental engagement and empowerment in special education contexts. The findings aim to inform culturally responsive practices and improve parent–school collaboration for …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Student Enjoyment In Classical Private School, Non-Classical Private School, And Non-Classical Public School Social Studies Courses, Ginger B. Knapp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative design study was to investigate differences in the enjoyment of history/social studies as an academic subject among high school juniors and seniors educated in classical Christian private school, non-classical Christian private school, and non-classical public-school settings. The study is important because its measure of enjoyment is associated with teaching pedagogy or instructional methodology. Prior quantitative studies have associated achievement with standardized test scores, recommending that future studies explore the link between instructional methodology and achievement. This research study fills the literature gap by employing a sound psychometric measure of enjoyment to examine its associations …

Exploring The Role Of Self-Efficacy In Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Dorothy Elaine Rolling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the role of self-efficacy for nursing students whose primary language was not English and who were enrolled in higher education in the northeastern area of the United States. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s theory on self-efficacy. The major tenets of the self-efficacy theory aligned with the metaparadigm of nursing (person, health, environment, nursing) and with the study’s focus, which was to explore how English as a second language (ESL) nursing students could successfully complete the registered nursing program at an institution of higher learning. The central research question was: …

Beyond Crisis: Patient Access And Sustainability, Miguel A. Mendoza

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Critical systems underwent drastic workflow adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these operational alterations persist today, while others have been reduced or eliminated. This is a qualitative study on the operational, technological, and human-centered challenges experienced by healthcare organizations providing primary care services in Southwest Ohio during and immediately after the pandemic. This flexible research design implements in-depth, semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals leading primary care operations to capture a longitudinal perspective on pandemic-era service delivery, and the legacy systems still in place today. Thematic analysis revealed seven themes that determine the effectiveness of care delivery models. Social Determinants …

Covenantal Allegiance In The Epistle Of James: An Integrative Critical-Covenantal Interpretation, Lorpu Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation argues that the Epistle of James presents faith as covenantal allegiance enacted through communal practices under social and theological pressure. While scholarship on James has frequently separated socio-historical analysis from theological interpretation, this study proposes an integrative reading through the Integrative Critical-Covenantal Method (ICCM). ICCM employs a three-step procedure comprising close textual analysis, text-triggered socio-historical diagnosis, and theological analysis, with integrated adjudication. The dissertation examines seven strategically selected “pressure texts” in James: 1:9–11; 1:27; 2:1–13; 2:14–26; 3:13–18; 4:1–10; and 5:1–6. These passages reveal how James addresses status competition, patronage expectations, economic vulnerability, partiality, rivalry, and injustice within diaspora …

How Race Influences Leadership Motivation: A Study Of Career Aspirations In Diverse Workforces, Latosha V. Hayes-Sperling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored whether and how racial identity influenced leadership motivation among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) professionals. Despite growing attention to workplace diversity, limited research had examined the internal motivational processes shaping leadership ambition for racially marginalized groups. Using a non-experimental design, this study examined whether perceived racial discrimination predicted leadership motivation and whether this relationship differed by gender. Survey data were collected from approximately 126 BIPOC professionals using validated measures of perceived racial discrimination and leadership motivation, the latter measured as a dimension of career aspirations. Results indicated that perceived racial discrimination, operationalized through workplace microaggressions …

A Brief Historical Survey Of The Use Of Traditional Hymnody In Select Baptist Churches In Texas, Christina N. King

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research set out to understand the past, present, and future value of hymnody in select Baptist churches in Texas. The research addresses the critical concerns in Baptist worship: the shift from traditional to contemporary music and the potential loss of theologically sound songs that have historically grounded the faith of believers. The primary purpose of this study is to discover the depth and breadth of hymn usage in worship and understand how hymnody is perceived to shape believers theological understanding and spiritual formation. This study was undertaken as a multi-site case study of five select churches, with five people …

The Problem Of Evil: Theodicy Of Afterlife, Christian C. Anyanwueze

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem of evil has remained a central issue in philosophical theology, prompting both ancient and contemporary scholars to propose various theodicies and defenses concerning the existence of evil in a world created by an omnipotent, omniscient, and wholly good God. While Plantinga’s Free Will Defense, Hick’s soul-making theodicy, and the Augustinian-Thomistic greater-good tradition offer significant contributions to the discussion, each faces important limitations. Plantinga’s model functions primarily as a logical defense and leaves unresolved questions concerning transworld depravity and eschatological fulfillment, while Hick’s instrumental use of evil as a means of soul-building has been criticized for potentially compromising divine …

Spiritual Health Support Groups In The Local Church: Addressing Spiritual Wellbeing In West Virginia’S Eastern Panhandle, Grant Michael Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mental health services in the Appalachian region of the United States were lacking, both perennially and at the time of writing (Smith & Fisher, 2016). As the needs of this region and the nation continued to climb, the availability of trained, clinical counselors remained stagnant or worse. This lack of socially necessary services created a need that could be addressed in part by the local church. While professional counselors were in short supply and took a great deal of time to educate and train, the repercussions of the then-current mental health crisis needed to have immediate solutions and relief. The …

Discipleship-Led, Servant Leadership: A Process For Equipping And Training Simultaneously In The Local, Revitalizing Church, Joseph Raymond Noel Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Church revitalization has been a topic of conversation in church circles for the better part of the last two decades. While numerous books and trainings have been produced to facilitate the many necessary components of church growth required for revitalization, still more than 3400 churches close their doors annually (Rainer, 2020). Additionally, 39% of professing Christians are not currently engaged in any form of discipleship (Barna, 2022) while 45% of churches are utilizing volunteers to accomplish the work of the ministry (The Unstuck Group, 2017). These numbers indicate a substantial need within the church for a program which can simultaneously …

The Interplay Between Hearing Loss And Dementia, Michael Sulaiman

Advocate GME

No abstract provided.

A Phenomenological Study Of Principals Leading Learning Recovery, Charlene Catherine Burroughs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of principals who worked to support the recovery of the learning lost by the school's fourth graders from a large, urban school district in Texas. Three centralized research questions guided this study. How did principals describe the lived experience of working to support the normalization of the educational experience so that the learning lost by the school’s fourth graders was recovered? How did principals describe their work as leaders who supported the educational process by developing resilience in the face of crisis? How did principals describe the impact …

A Comparison Of Engaged And Disengaged Churches Within The Northstar Church Network Of Northern Virginia, Robert Owen Guilliams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation-in-praxis compared engaged churches with disengaged churches within the NorthStar Church Network of Northern Virginia. The study sought to find the underlying reason for the disengagement of some churches and either lead to reengagement or a recommendation for affiliation with a more compatible association of churches. The foundation of this project was the Biblical call for cooperation of believers within both the local and universal church. The praxis project operated on the belief that this call for cooperation extends beyond individual believers to churches engaged within an association of local churches in a particular area, and even further to …

Organizational Change Model Modified For A Biblical Worldview, Mark Alan Van Dyke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The goal of this proposal was to implement the first six steps of Kotter’s eight-step organizational change model at Emmanuel Lutheran Church to help the leadership improve unity and cohesion within the congregation. A key part of this process was training a guiding coalition of important leaders in essential communication skills, team leadership, and intergenerational ministry concepts. Successfully completing this process and training positioned the congregation to serve its community as a family-oriented culture where disconnected and disillusioned people can find belonging. Using a well-known organizational change theory in a church setting presents its own challenges for pastoral leaders, who …

The Father Is Seeking True Worshipers, Lissa M. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is God’s desire to dwell with His people, be their God, and for them to be His children (Exod 29:45 –46; Lev 26:12; Ezek 37:27; Rev 21:3). This dissertation examines the pericope of John 4:19–26 using a biblical-theological method by exploring God’s manifest presence through each person of the Trinity within a tabernacle/temple themed framework. It then presents evidence to show how the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well is the turning point in which man’s worship transforms from a predominately physical aspect to a predominately spiritual aspect.

“Yet a time is coming and now …

The S.A.V.E. Model Of Biblically-Based Existential Therapy For Residents Of The Assisted Living Facility Casa Di Riposo Sardara In Sardinia, Italy, Gregory K. Cherven

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian gerontological counseling, a traditionally non-progressive field, is a crucial area of ministry, particularly for older adults in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. At Casa di Riposo Sardara in Sardinia, Italy, many residents aged 70 and older lacked a solid biblical understanding of existence and eternal life, contributing to widespread existential anxiety among this population. To address this issue, the researcher developed the S.A.V.E. (solitude, autonomy, value, eternity) model of biblically based existential therapy. This model targets the four main pillars of existential therapy: meaninglessness, isolation, freedom, and death, offering biblical solutions for each. The approach incorporates positive imagery …

Harmonizing Faith: An Investigation Of The Efficacy Of A Small Group Study On The Theology Of Music For Spiritual Growth, Timothy Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem this study addresses is that Trinity Anglican Church in Connersville, Indiana, had not cultivated a theology of music among its congregants to enrich encounters with God through music. The purpose of this DMIN action research project was to implement a small group study on the theology of music to enrich encounters with God through God-honoring, captivating music. The researcher employed a novel approach: Luke 10:27 served as a paradigmatic framework for exploring how music relates to the dimensions of heart (i.e., emotion), soul (i.e., spiritual encounter), strength (i.e., embodied experience), mind (i.e., intellect), and neighbor (i.e., communal and …

The Servant-Leader: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of The Associate Minister’S Character Traits In Small Non-Denominational Ministries, Rhonda Y. Cochran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to fill a gap in the existing leadership literature by delving into the servant-leader’s character traits of integrity, sacrifice, humility, emotional intelligence, and strength (Cook, 2020) of the servant-leader. By exploring the lived experiences of associate ministers in small non-denominational ministries who are servant-leaders, this researcher intended to show how the character traits compelled the purposive population to fulfill the ten characteristics of listening, empathy, healing, awareness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, commitment to the growth of people, and building community (Greenleaf, 1977) of the servant-leadership role. The theory guiding this study was …

Second Temple Period Foundations Of The New Testament: A Teaching Model At Longview Evangelical Community Church, Stephen T. Dixon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action research project examined whether a structured Bible study focused on the Second Temple Period could improve participants’ ability to recognize historical context in the New Testament and apply that knowledge to a more Christocentric understanding of Scripture. The project was conducted at a local church and involved adult participants from diverse educational and spiritual backgrounds. The study used a six-week instructional model that integrated historical background, theological reflection, and guided discussion. Data were collected through an initial questionnaire and Likert-scale surveys administered before the study began, observational notes and recordings during the study, and a final assessment after …

Church Attendance, Post-Pandemic Stress, And Resilience Factors, Pavel Bugriyev

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Stress levels among adults increased, and a sense of community loss occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent events. Despite previous studies establishing an association between religious practice and psychological well-being, much remains unknown about the differences in religious practice format (i.e., in person, virtually, and not at all) with post-pandemic stress and resilience-related traits. This quantitative cross-sectional study examined whether the format of church attendance (in-person, virtual, or no church attendance at all) was related to post-pandemic stress and resilience-related traits. Also, whether hope, making meaning out of hardship, and perceived social support statistically mediated the difference in …

Imago Dei Leadership Model, Jessica Lei Kritner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Dissertation-in-Praxis sought to observe the intentional application of leadership styles at Birmingham Master Commission (BMC), a traditional discipleship program for college aged adults (ages 18–25). While biblically centered and focused on spiritual formation, BMC lacked healthy leadership precedent and defaulted to peer-leadership only. This practice created a sporadic leadership culture that restricted student growth, autonomy, and investment in the program. This Dissertation-in-Praxis served as a process-based intervention on the psychological and spiritual impacts leadership styles have on young adult leaders. Transformational, servant, and participative leadership practices were modeled in existing ministry systems: one-on-one mentoring, leadership labs, and small group …

The End Is Proof Of The Beginning: Heloise And Abelard The Unseen Architects Of Intention In Medieval Philosophy, Abby Brook Edwards

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The scandal surrounding the eleventh century love story of Peter Abelard and Heloise has eclipsed the depth of their individual intellects which has resulted in many scholars devoting their writings to the couple’s overly eroticized narrative. Following the castration, public humiliation, and academic ignominy of Abelard and after Heloise, a “fallen woman,” commissioned herself into a convent, the connection between tutor and tutee continued through written correspondence. Through an examination of their personal writings, this dissertation aims to expand upon the notion that Abelard was an eclipsed philosopher who should be standing alongside “giants in the field” of philosophy, but …

A High School Choral Student's Perspective On Bullying, Allen C. Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative non-experimental research study was to examine the prevalence, type, and impact of bullying within secondary choral ensembles from the student perspective. Using a slightly modified version of the Swearer Bully Survey, data were collected from a convenience sample of 100 high school students. Initially, responses were to come from several high schools throughout the State of Maine. Due to challenges in survey administration, the researcher received permission to collect responses via social media and expanded recruitment to a national audience. The study employed a cross-sectional design and utilized Google Forms and Tally for data …

Perceptions Of Recent Special Education Graduates Of The Transition Programming Taxonomy: Transcendental Phenomenological Research, Karen Sue Rozmus

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological research study was to develop an understanding of recent special education graduates' perceptions of transition programming taxonomy at a southern coastal community. Maslow’s theory of the hierarchy of needs was used. This theory directly relates to the study showing how important understanding the perceptions of support the recent special education graduates during their lived experiences as they transition into adulthood. The Central Research Question was: What are recent special education graduates’ perceptions of transition programming taxonomy? This transcendental phenomenological research study of 10 participants was designed to use data collected from independent interviews, focus …