Digital Commons Network^™

Best Practice For Creating A Sensory Garden And Calming Cart For Preschool-Aged Children At A Reggio-Inspired Preschool, Emmalee Lawrence

OTD Capstone Projects

The goal of this capstone project was to create program plans for a sensory garden and calming cart as well as create resources for parents and teachers on the use and benefit of these plans for the children at First Presbyterian Church Early Preschool. Research on current programs at the preschool indicated the school could benefit from additional sensory and calming opportunities. The programs created during this capstone project were meant to improve sensory exploration, increase overall emotional well-being, as well as support developmental milestones in preschool-aged children. The goals of this project were achieved through collaboration with staff, teachers, …

Minutes, Faculty Affairs Committee Meeting, Tuesday, April 09, 2024, Faculty Affairs Committee

Faculty Affairs Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

Post-Modeling Adjustments And Delivered Dose Verification Of The 6fff Beam Model Commissioned For The Monaco Treatment Planning System, Grant C. Debevec

LSU Master's Theses

External beam radiation therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment method for tumors and abnormalities of the spine and vertebral region. Treating the spine using a stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) technique can reduce toxicity to the spinal cord. The 6 MV flattening filter free (6FFF) beam model is currently used to plan and calculate dose for SBRT treatment plans, and the treatment plans are delivered using a linear accelerator (LINAC).

The commissioned beam model represents an invariant component of a LINAC. For volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment plans, the multileaf collimator (MLC) positions are changing throughout …

Exploring The Impact Of Mindfulness Practices On Positive Habit Formation And Individual Well-Being: A Literature Review, Lori Barnes

2024 Student Academic Showcase

Mindfulness practices have been recognized as an important tool for cultivating positive habits and enhancing overall well-being. This literature review begins with a brief overview of what mindfulness practices are and explores a wide range of research demonstrating the effectiveness of mindfulness practices on personal growth and well-being. Furthermore, various aspects of well-being, including mental health, stress reduction, emotional regulation, and physical health are examined in relation to mindfulness practices. Additionally, this review discusses the use of technology applications to facilitate mindfulness practices and explores the utility of mindful practices during high stress times such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Comparison Of Japanese And American Tattoos, Zachary Martin

2024 Student Academic Showcase

In the Japanese culture, tattoos began as a form of punishment for criminals, while tattoos in the American culture began as a display of one’s title as sailor. Throughout time, tattoos in Japan became more synonymous with pride and loyalty, albeit still being primarily used by criminals and members of Japanese gangs. In American cultures, tattoos shifted from a sailor's declaration and pride towards a personal statement by the individual wearing the tattoo. This presentation investigates the similarities and differences in Japanese and American tattoos through their uses in history and present day, as well as the symbolisms and meanings …

Growth In Response To Gibberellin In Setaria Viridis Mutants, Jayla Hampton, Rain Hongsermeier-Baxter, Joseph E. Smith, Seth Baur, Brooke Gawlick

2024 Student Academic Showcase

Gibberellin is a plant hormone that promotes growth in plant organs. Issues arising with the production and process of the hormone result in the mutation dwarfism. In this experimentation, the effects of gibberellin on dwarf Setaria viridis are isolated by controlled growth environments and treatments. The effects of the hormone treatment are measured manually over the period of growth so that the data may be analyzed and determine the cause of dwarfism in our species. In conclusion, this study offers important insights into the mechanism underlying dwarfism mutation, providing potential direction for future research and understanding plant physiology.

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Personality, Mandy Galli

2024 Student Academic Showcase

The current project is a proposal for a study that will help clarify the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and trait emotional intelligence (TEI) and assess how achievement motivation relates to TEI. Participants will be adults recruited from social media and the Lindenwood Participant Pool. Variables will be measured through questionnaires on Qualtrics. Correlational analyses will be conducted to assess the relationship between personality traits and TEI as well as the relationship between achievement motivation and TEI. Additionally, t-tests will be conducted to evaluate the relationship between TEI and both exposure to childhood discussions of emotion and current …

Language Acquisition: Which Factors Make It Easier To Learn Another Language?, Johanna Gref

2024 Student Academic Showcase

My presentation looks at factors influencing second language acquisition and whether they facilitate or hinder the learning process. I will begin by reviewing language acquisition theories applicable to infants and toddlers, providing a foundational understanding. As a key factor, I will examine age of acquisition in relation to successful second language acquisition. The role of intelligence on second language acquisition will also be discussed. Additionally, I will investigate whether certain languages are inherently easier to learn based on syntax, vocabulary, and one’s native language. My discussion will extend to examining the ease of acquiring multiple languages after acquiring a second …

Understanding The Relationship Between Choice Of Pet And Priorities In An Intimate Relationship - A Research Proposal, Kaitlyn Guthrie

2024 Student Academic Showcase

This proposed research study aims to see if an individual’s choice of pet reflect the things that they value most in an intimate relationship. Pets have become more popular over the years, and a common theme for choosing a pet is whether or not the animal will be a good fit for the individual’s lifestyle. Since dogs are known to be social and affectionate creatures, I believe that individuals who have pet dogs may require more physical affection and a sense of togetherness in an intimate relationship in order to feel satisfied. I believe that individuals who own cats, though …

Youth In Need Data Analysis, Drew Barnes, Ryan Eckman, Abi Waters

2024 Student Academic Showcase

Youth In Need is a nonprofit that offers mental and physical health resources to kids under the age of 19 in the St. Charles area. They have been in operation for 50 years. Youth In Need is concerned that their services may have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. They have asked Lindenwood’s PIC Math group to review their data over 2015-2023 and identify trends. Identifying these trends may help the client optimize their resources. So far, the group has identified trends when the intake of new clients occurs as well as trends between the counselors’ client-scores and clients’ self-scores …

An Exploration Of Companion Robots, Annelyse Lockhart

2024 Student Academic Showcase

Japan and the United States have a drastically different view towards artificial intelligence and smart machines. Within my project, I did an exploratory analysis of robotics within the United States and Japan, and posed the question as to why Japan has substantially more robotics within their day-to-day life. I took an in-depth look at Japanese robotics that do not exist within the United States, as well as explored the biases behind smart machines in both cultures. Judging Category: Exploratory

Evaluating The Impact Of Cyber Seniors On The Mental Health And Connection Of College Students, Paige Julius

2024 Student Academic Showcase

Mental health issues on college campuses have reached an all-time high. Intergenerational programs that facilitate interactions between aging adults and college students are a promising strategy to improve mental health of college students. This project evaluates the impact of an intergenerational technology program called Cyber Seniors at Lindenwood University. The mixed method evaluation analyzes changes in overall perceived wellness and social connectedness of college students. To date many studies have looked at the impact of intergenerational programs on seniors, but few have focused on college students. Results show a statistically significant improvement in overall perceived wellness and the subscale of …

The Changes In Oral Flora After Oral Hygiene, Brooklyn Bumbales

2024 Student Academic Showcase

The goal of this project is to study the changes in the oral flora of an individual's mouth pre-cleaning and post-cleaning due to everyday brushing. The oral flora comprises many microorganisms such as Staphylococcus and Lactobacillus that are constantly changing. In previous studies, the diversity and abundance of these microorganisms in the oral cavity are subject to change in the times following pre-cleaning and post-cleaning. This study will examine saliva samples from consenting individuals, will be collected pre-cleaning (brushing) and post-cleaning of the oral cavity. The samples will then be tested for the population size and diversity of different microorganisms …

Bridging Our Stories, Aniah Moore

2024 Student Academic Showcase

Academic disparities affect students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, races, and ethnicities, including LGBTQ students. The Webster Groves School District (WGSD) in Webster Groves, Missouri, is also confronted with these disparities. The BRIDGing our Stories project aims to foster diversity and inclusion, build relationships, and promote growth to advance health equity. The participants created and submitted projects that reflect various aspects of their lives. The submitted projects were showcased in a community art gallery, serving as a platform to celebrate diversity. In addition, staff members were offered the opportunity to attend a professional development training session to educate them on how …

Bridging The Gap: Determinants Of Consumers’ Willingness To Pay For Environmentally Friendly Packages Of Leafy Greens, Carissa Dieli, Anushree Priyadarshini, Robert Ludgate, Lorraine Foley

Articles

Government and corporate policies have mandated a reduction in plastic packaging to combat issues of waste and climate change. This move towards sustainable packaging alternatives in the fresh food sector will increase costs for consumers. Much of the present research finds consumers are willing to pay more for sustainability, but their willingness to pay (WTP) does not align with real-world purchases, representing an attitude–behaviour gap. To combat this gap, it is posited that consumers’ current purchasing- and sustainability-related behaviours will meaningfully correlate with their WTP and bridge the attitude–behaviour gap. This research used an online survey (n = 476) to …

Growth In The California Manufacturing Sector Accelerates, Anderson Center For Economic Research

Anderson Center Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Understanding Nurses' Experience Of The Covid-19 Pandemic Through The Lens Of Trauma, Grace Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The destructive effects of the trauma experienced by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic left nurses with long-term psychological and physical effects that impaired their ability to effectively care for their patients, their families, and themselves. Although researchers have described the nurses’ experiences using generalized psychological and physiological trauma-related symptomatology, none have grounded their studies within the context of trauma theory. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the lived experience of nurses caring for critically ill COVID-19 patients during the pandemic through the lens of trauma theory. The constructivist self-development theory (CSDT) provided the framework for understanding …

Table Of Contents

D.U.Quark

No abstract provided.

Biocomposite Anchors Have Greater Yield Load And Energy Compared With All-Suture Anchors In An In Vitro Ovine Infraspinatus Tendon Repair Model, Robert A. Walton, Lindsey Liuzza, Catherine Takawira, Claudia Leonardi, Mandi J. Lopez

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Purpose: To compare tensile fatigue and strength measures of biocomposite and all-suture anchors in an ovine humerus-infraspinatus tendon model of rotator cuff repair. Methods: Infraspinatus tendons on adult ovine humeri were sharply transected at the insertion. One of each pair was assigned randomly for fixation with 2 biocomposite or all-suture anchors. Constructs were tested with 200 cycles of 20 to 70 N tensile load, and gap formation was measured at the incised tendon end every 50 cycles. They were subsequently tested to failure. Outcome measures including fatigue stiffness, hysteresis, creep, and gap formation and tensile stiffness, and yield and failure …

A Multi-Directional Smart Hip Implant With Wireless Connectivity For Enhanced Health Monitoring, Leila Donyaparastlivari

Mechanical Engineering Theses

The thesis presents the culmination of the smart hip implant project, which signifies a significant stride in orthopedic technology. By integrating piezoelectric and triboelectric systems into conventional implants, this study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of creating intelligent implants. Through a meticulous design process and rigorous testing, novel configurations were developed to optimize energy harvesting efficiency and enable precise detection of mechanical loads experienced during various physical activities. The application of Finite Element Analysis provided critical insights into the localization of contact points, informing the strategic placement of harvesters within the implant for enhanced performance. Utilizing a cam follower and …

Tangible Impact Builds Bright Future, Sustainability Institute

Sustainability Institute Blog

No abstract provided.

The Potential For Artificial Intelligence To Transform Healthcare: Perspectives From International Health Leaders, Christina Silcox, Eyal Zimlichmann, Katie Huber, Neil Rowen, Robert Saunders, Mark Mcclellan, Charles N Kahn, Claudia A Salzberg, David W Bates

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform care delivery by improving health outcomes, patient safety, and the affordability and accessibility of high-quality care. AI will be critical to building an infrastructure capable of caring for an increasingly aging population, utilizing an ever-increasing knowledge of disease and options for precision treatments, and combatting workforce shortages and burnout of medical professionals. However, we are not currently on track to create this future. This is in part because the health data needed to train, test, use, and surveil these tools are generally neither standardized nor accessible. There is also universal concern about …

Building Equitable Mental Health Care For Latino Children: Perspectives From Providers And Communities, Francisco Banda, Greeshma James, Karina Vasudeva, Michelle Franklin, Andrea Thoumi, Rushina Cholera

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Background: The current pediatric mental health crisis has disproportionately impacted Latino youth in the United States (US), as demonstrated by their elevated risks of depression, substance use disorder, and anxiety. Despite this, research suggests Latino youth receive inequitable mental health services.

Objective: To understand best practices, challenges, and priorities in providing accessible and equitable mental health care for Latino youth from the perspectives of front-line mental health providers and Latino community members.

Methods: A bicultural, bilingual researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 participants with expertise in Latino mental health. Topics included barriers and facilitators to mental health care access and …

Making College Worth It: Inequalities In Higher Education And How To Solve Them, Katharine Meyer

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

Most students who graduate from college go on to earn higher wages, have more employment stability, and enjoy better health. While posted tuitions are high, a “high price, high aid” approach to college pricing means that the average cost of college has actually declined in recent years. Yet, public confidence in higher education is at an all-time low. What explains this tension? Who gains from going to college and who does not? What can colleges do to change perceptions about the value of a college education? This lecture by Brookings Institution scholar Katharine Meyer highlights trends in college enrollment and …

Altered Platelet-Megakaryocyte Endocytosis And Trafficking Of Albumin And Fibrinogen In Runx1 Haplodeficiency, Fabiola Del Carpio-Cano, Guangfen Mao, Lawrence E. Goldfinger, Jeremy Wurtzel, Liying Guan, Mohammad Afaque Alam, Kiwon Lee, Mortimer Poncz, A. Koneti Rao

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

Platelet α-granules have numerous proteins, some synthesized by megakaryocytes (MK) and others not synthesized but incorporated by endocytosis, an incompletely understood process in platelets/MK. Germ line RUNX1 haplodeficiency, referred to as familial platelet defect with predisposition to myeloid malignancies (FPDMMs), is associated with thrombocytopenia, platelet dysfunction, and granule deficiencies. In previous studies, we found that platelet albumin, fibrinogen, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) were decreased in a patient with FPDMM. We now show that platelet endocytosis of fluorescent-labeled albumin, fibrinogen, and IgG is decreased in the patient and his daughter with FPDMM. In megakaryocytic human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells, small interfering RNA …

Examining Confidence In Scientific Literacy Amongst General Biology And General Chemistry Students, Amy Sullivan

Honors Theses

Scientific literacy is a term used to describe a person’s ability to understand scientific concepts, read and write those concepts, and link those concepts to situations outside of the classroom in order to make informed decisions in their daily lives. This research paper details a study observing how scientific literacy confidence varies among general biology and chemistry students at the University of Mississippi. The goal of this research is to determine if students in general biology and chemistry classes will have similar self-reported confidence in their science literacy. This research took place at the University of Mississippi amongst Biology 160/161 …

Simulation In Interprofessional Education: A Case Study With Baccalaureate Nursing Faculty, Sherleena Ann Buchman

Dissertations

Nursing programs across the country are facing the challenge of providing students with optimal clinical skill learning experiences. Faculty members are rising to this challenge in a variety of ways, and current research in nursing education advocates the addition of interprofessional education to the nursing curriculum. History and governing bodies explain how nursing education can achieve this goal but faculty have to implement required and suggested changes. Further research is needed to gain insight into perceptions of the baccalaureate nursing faculty of interprofessional education and how the simulation in interprofessional experience contributes to overall patient safety. Patient safety is a …

The Investigation Of Collaboration Among First-Year Bachelor Of Science Nursing Students, Christie Marie Cavallo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the benefits of collaboration, first-year nursing students prefer not to work together. It was important to find out why nursing students do not want to collaborate. The purpose of this study was to discover first-year nursing students’ and faculty’s perceptions of how instructor-created opportunities for collaboration contributed to first-year nursing students’ collaboration. Using Wenger’s communities of practice (CoPs) model as a lens, the data were explored using a qualitative explanatory case study approach. This study consisted of individual interviews of 12 first-year nursing students and nursing faculty. Inclusion criteria included students enrolled in or faculty teaching first year of …

Strategies To Decrease Separation Rates Among Highly Skilled Manufacturing Employees To Gain A Competitive Advantage, Rebecca J. Mileham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Company leaders have a decreased competitive advantage when losing their highly skilled manufacturing employees due to separation from the company. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore strategies aeronautical leaders used to decrease separation rates among highly skilled manufacturing employees to gain a competitive advantage. The participants comprised eight frontline managers in southern California with 2 years or more experience using strategies to decrease separation in their organization. Data were collected through face-to-face semistructured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis, resulting in four themes: pay and promotion; benefits and feedback; treatment from …