Digital Commons Network^™

Manufacturing Migrants: How Historical Identity Construction And Bureaucratic Tools Enable Anti- Immigration Politics In The Dominican Republic, Christianne Bertrand

Araneum: Richmond Journal of American & Global Affairs

This paper examines the rise of anti-immigration politics in the Dominican Republic, asking the question: why and how did exclusionary policies targeting Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent become viable in this specific context? I contend that contemporary deportation and denationalization policies cannot be explained solely by factors such as economic anxiety, cultural backlash, or right-wing contagion. Instead, anti-immigration politics can take hold when politicians draw on historically constructed processes of “othering” and utilize existing bureaucratic tools to carry out exclusionary policies. Through qualitative analysis of scholarly literature, government documents, international human rights reports, political speeches, and legal rulings and …

Program: Virginia Academy Of Science 104th Annual Meeting, 2026, Virginia Academy Of Science

Virginia Journal of Science

Full program of the 104th Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science. Held at  Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia on May 28, 2026.

Proceedings Of The 104th Annual Virginia Academy Of Science Meeting, 2026, Virginia Academy Of Science

Virginia Journal of Science

Proceedings (abstracts) of the 104th Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 28, 2026, at Christopher Newport University, in Newport News, Virginia.

Thy Rod And Thy Staff Comfort Me, Drew Moser

2026 MFA Visual Arts

No abstract provided.

A Comprehensive Marketing Plan For Calvary Christian Academy, Emily Piwowarski

Senior Honors Theses

Marketing strategies have been implemented by companies for years. The outline of a marketing plan requires businesses to do extensive research on the industry they plan to enter, including evaluating the political, environmental, social, technological, economical, and legal factors that are affecting it. This research helps to form the marketing mix–the product, price, promotion, and place strategies-–which determine what the business will offer the industry and how it will make this offer. A business will then use marketing tactics to reach its target audience. Tactics that have risen along with the advancement of technology are social media marketing and search …

Exploratory Evaluation Of Handler Performance And Processing-Related Outcomes During Cattle Handling, Morgan Marquardt

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Animals have several critical roles in society, including the production of food and fiber, and companionship. Contact with animals has been shown to benefit human physical and mental health, yet little research has investigated the impact that humans have on animals. Handler skill may considerably affect the extent to which humans influence animal health and wellbeing, and this may be a critical consideration for animal agriculture. Objective assessment of cattle handler skill has received limited attention in the scientific literature, despite its importance to human safety and animal welfare. When compared to less skilled handlers, highly skilled cattle handlers may …

Resonant Cracks In The Music Curriculum: Integrating Social And Emotional Learning In The Secondary Music Classroom, Margaret E. Lerch

Education Doctorate Dissertations

Music education has long been recognized as a subject that encourages student learning beyond the walls of the music classroom. While elementary music programs often foster language development and social awareness, secondary music instruction tends to emphasize performance skills and technical development. The explicit secondary orchestra curriculum for this middle school includes only instrument skill-development standards and learning-target descriptions. In this fourth-marking-period sixth-grade orchestra class, coursework—including students’ journal reflections, classroom dialogue, and comparison soundscape projects—operated intentionally “within the cracks” of the formal curriculum to create opportunities for the students to express and engage with emotions, identity, belonging, empathy, perspective-taking, and …

Young Life: A Philosophy Of Incarnational Youth Ministry In Grant County, Indiana, Symon Cater

Christian Ministries Senior Capstone

This paper presents a vision for Young Life ministry in Grant County, Indiana, framed around William K. Francena’s model of moral education, with the unifying theme that adolescents are transformed from the inside out when they encounter the reality of being known and loved. Box A establishes the ultimate purpose of human existence as being known by God, knowing God, and being with God — a purpose that anchors every subsequent section of the paper. Box B builds upon this foundation by articulating five theological and sociological premises touching on prayer, Scripture, human relationality, adolescent cultural formation, and identity development, …

Rooted Families: A Whole Family Ministry, Aubree Nelson

Christian Ministries Senior Capstone

Rooted Families is set in the context of a family dynamic: a mother, a father, and children. Parents often drop their kids off at church on Sunday, yet many feel unqualified to disciple their children at home. This paper is the philosophy of ministry for Rooted Families, which is located at First Missionary Church in Fort Wayne Indiana. The goal is to provide a framework for churches to enable them to create spaces for parents to learn and be equipped to disciple their children. This paper describes the theological, anthropological, and sociological premises that affect parents and their influence over …

Associations Of Cortisol With Alzheimer's Disease Fluid And Neuroimaging Biomarkers: A Systematic Review, Jasper Holleman, Sima Toopchiani, Oliver Robinson, Ingemar Kåreholt, Miia Kivipelto, Lefkos Middleton, Alina Solomon, Chinedu Momoh, Shireen Sindi

Brain and Mind Institute

Background Chronic stress triggers the dysregulation of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis which is characterized by altered diurnal cortisol patterns and increased basal cortisol levels. This dysregulation has been found in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), but its link with AD-related biomarkers remains underexplored. This systematic review aims to synthesize the current knowledge regarding the association between cortisol and biomarkers related to AD.

Methods Keywords and phrases related to cortisol and AD-related biomarkers were used to search the MEDLINE database via PubMed and OVID interfaces up to January 2024. Studies focused on the association between cortisol levels and genetic, neuroimaging, and fluid biomarkers related …

Patient Views On Blood-Based Biomarker Tests For Alzheimer's Disease In Primary Care, Andrea Russell, Abigail Vogeley, Rebecca Lovett, Rachel O’Conor, Stephanie Batio, Jeimmy Hurtado, Morgan Bonham, Julia Benavente, Adam Brickman, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

INTRODUCTION Blood-based biomarkers could offer accessible, cost-effective detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in primary care. This study examined patient attitudes toward AD biomarker testing.

METHODS Crosssectional surveys were conducted with 572 adults from Chicago-area clinics. Participants received brief education on biomarker tests before completing the survey.

RESULTS Most participants (83.8%) were unfamiliar with biomarker tests; 1.8% previously completed testing. After brief education, most (94.5%) supported offering tests to patients with memory complaints, and 85% were willing to complete testing if recommended by their clinician. Facilitators included tests informing clinical care, coverage by insurance, and education in advance. Barriers included cost …

Increasing Parental Awareness Of Childhood Overweight In School-Aged Girls, Sarah C. John

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE The problem identified for this quality improvement project is the absence of a standardized protocol in the emergency center to identify at-risk young girls for obesity to increase parental engagement. The identified population was girls ages 6-12 years with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the upper end of the normal range.

BACKGROUND This project was implemented within a large, free-standing, academic pediatric hospital in Texas, in an Emergency Center.

METHODOLOGY Caregivers were evaluated using a modified section of the Motivational Interviewing Questionnaire to promote behavioral change. The intervention was a pre-questionnaire to assess parental engagement. The …

Improving First Time Iv Success Rates In The Emergency Department Through The Implementation Of An Ultrasound-Guided Iv Training Program, Tram Dinh

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

This quality improvement (QI) project was conducted at a Level III trauma emergency department (ED) in Fort Worth, TX. The aim was to improve first-attempt intravenous (IV) success rates for patients with difficult IV access (DIVA) to at least 50% and reduce average disposition times.

Background

Patients with DIVA frequently experience delays in care, including prolonged time to establish IV access, obtain laboratory studies, perform contrast-enhanced imaging, and administer IV medications. Ultrasound-guided IV (USGIV) access is an evidence-based technique shown to reduce these delays and improve timely care for patients with DIVA.

Methodology

The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model guided development …

Reducing The Incidence Of Acute Care Falls In Medical-Surgical Psychiatric Adult Patients, Ijeoma Nwosu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

The purpose of this scholarly project was to implement a multifactorial fall prevention program within a medical-surgical psychiatric unit. The program was intended to reduce the incidence of falls, strengthen staff compliance, and bridge the gap of fall education. The interventions were developed based on evidence-based fall prevention strategies. The project was implemented within a large healthcare organization in the Texas Medical Center (TMC) located in Houston, Texas. The project utilized the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework. Staff were given education prior to implementation and reeducation during the project cycle. Visual guides were created to guide staff and assist with documentation expectations. …

Improving Throughput: A Quality Improvement Initiative To Expedite Inpatient Psychiatric Placement From The Emergency Room, Candice J. Battle

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized psychiatric transfer workflow designed to reduce emergency room (ER) boarding time for psychiatric patients in a 30-bed acute care hospital from an average of 3-5 days to an average of 2-3 days.

Background

Psychiatric patients often experience prolonged ER boarding while awaiting inpatient psychiatric placement. These delays contribute to delayed treatment, worsening psychiatric symptoms, ER overcrowding, and increased healthcare costs.

Methodology

This four-week quality improvement project utilized the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework. Interventions included a standardized psychiatric transfer protocol, simplified transfer checklist and staff education. …

The Benefits Of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Agonists In Adult Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Bethany A. Johnson

Nursing Capstones

Background: PCOS is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age, affecting 5-6 million women in the United States. Symptoms include hirsutism, acne, hormone imbalances, menstrual irregularity, obesity, infertility, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. GLP-1s are being studied for their benefits in women with PCOS.

Purpose: To review the current evidence on the efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists in improving symptoms and complications of PCOS.

Methods: This scoping literature review used three databases, including CINAHL Ultimate, PubMed, and ClinicalKey. Inclusion criteria were women 18 and older diagnosed with PCOS and studies that evaluated any type of GLP-1 and their effect on …

Mental Health Wellness In Collegiate Athletics, Paige Winter

Student Work - College of Business

This Honors 495 project will focus on a mental health awareness campaign in college athletics, specifically here at Western New England within our athletic department. The end goal of this project will be to determine what small changes can be made through a mental health awareness campaign to make conversations about mental health more normal and encourage athletes to use available support resources and what re-sources can be added as well.

Disparities Between Chronological And Biological Age: A Biocultural Analysis Of Aging In Contemporary Populations, Nicollette S. Appel

Anthropology ETDs

This dissertation investigates how structural and cultural factors collectively influence the aging process and how these effects manifest in both hard and soft tissues. Chapter 2 used an AI-based CT body composition tool and a CT-based biological age model to examine the relationship between age discrepancy and demographic variables such as sex, race/ethnicity, and manner of death. Results demonstrate significant differences in age discrepancy, with females, Native Americans, and individuals who died of natural causes exhibiting greater discrepancies. Chapters 3 and 4 further evaluate whether anthropological approaches to skeletal aging can be improved by adopting a biocultural perspective. These chapters …

Regulation Of Caffeine, Rileigh Gaddini

Gateway Reader- Individual Papers

• The Problem: Public overconsumption of normalized addictive substances like caffeine and sugar results in significant health risks, dependency, and potential cardiac fatalities.

• The Method: An analysis of regulatory policies, product labels, consumer consumption habits, physiological mechanisms, and documented health event case studies.

• Quantitative Finding: The average American daily intake of caffeine is 193 mg, with more than 87% of U.S. adults reporting regular use; the FDA recommended limit for caffeine is 400 mg per day; a 16-ounce Starbucks coffee contains at least 190 mg of caffeine; 70–85% dark chocolate contains 22.7 mg of caffeine per ounce, while …

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The Impact Of Traditional Gender Roles: Direct Harm To Individuals And Society In The United States, Sydney L. Parker-Coyne

Gateway Reader- Individual Papers

The Problem: Traditional gender roles in the United States restrict individual identity, limit overall productivity, and cause direct psychological and physical harm.

The Method: An evaluation of gender restriction frameworks using Victorian-Era literature, modern interpretations of women's and transgender rights, 2020s social media trends, and contemporary aerospace milestones.

Quantitative Finding: In 2026, 30 U.S. states maintain legal exemptions from rape by a judge and jury; males account for nearly 80% of suicides; 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced and over 85 passed into law in 2023; over 500 additional anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced and over 40 passed across …

The Wonderful Everyday, Helen Ball

Gateway Reader- Individual Papers

• The Problem: Rhetorical analysis of marketing strategies demonstrates how minimalist advertisements sell an idealized lifestyle to middle-class consumers rather than just a specific household product.

• The Method: The researcher conducted a visual and psychological analysis of a 2017 IKEA UK print advertisement for the Sheffield store opening, utilizing color psychology frameworks and target market demographic data.

• Qualitative Finding: The advertisement uses a calming light blue and contrasting mustard yellow palette to project stability and attract busy families; the deliberate physical absence of the advertised Hemnes coat stand creates a sense of consumer anticipation and suspense; the versatile room setting appeals …

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2026 Research Day Program, Lincoln Memorial University

Research Day

This program contains abstracts and presentation summaries from LMU's 2026 Annual Research Day conference.

Sacred Heart University Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 2, Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University Magazine

No abstract provided.

Nbc Peacock North Spring 2026 Newsletter, Peacock North Staff

NBC Peacock North Newsletter

Highlights include: NBC Through the Years -- A Year-Long Celebration as NBC Turns 100 -- SNL’s U.K. News -- Peter Alexander Joins MS NOW -- Mike Noseworthy Salutes Danny Miller’s Retirement -- Legendary Late-Night TV Director Hal Gurnee Turns 101 -- Silent Microphones

Overcoming Challenges With Rural-Related Health Data: Lessons Learned From Published Studies, Casey P. Balio, Margaret M. Francisco, Nicole Galler, Olivia A. Sullivan, Kate E. Beatty, Michael E. Meit, Chyanne Morrison, Christiana Keinath, Stephanie M. Mathis

ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center Policy Briefs

No abstract provided.

The Positive Impact Of Postsecondary Education Prison Programs On Social Identity, Recidivism, And Reintegration, Kimberly Redfern

Interdisciplinary Leadership Dissertations

This exploratory qualitative research with an interpretative phenomenological design seeks to understand how postsecondary education programs influenced incarcerated individuals and their post-release success. Postsecondary education prison programs have long been subject to criticism, as they provide incarcerated individuals with access to knowledge and social ideals that challenge the traditional power structures and social expectations in carceral settings (Castro et al., 2018). The primary research question: What role did social identity play in postsecondary prison education programs, with emphasis on their impact on recidivism and support for post-release reintegration for formerly incarcerated students? Findings from this study indicate that finding a …

Salary Report, 2026 April, Eastern Michigan University

EMU Salary Reports

No abstract provided.

Targeting The Metabolic-Neurodegenerative Axis: In Silico Repurposing Of Fda-Approved Pleiotropic Metabolic Modulators For Alzheimer's Tau Protein, Maanya Chitrapu, Juhi Vora

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Extensive research has established a link between insulin deficiency and insulin resistance and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) type-neurodegeneration, coining it "Type 3 Diabetes". While research typically focuses on glucose regulation, the comparative structural efficacy of broader metabolic agents against neuropathology remains distinctively underexplored. This study addresses this gap by performing a novel in silico comparison of three drug classes (Glucose, Lipid, and Cardio-Metabolic regulators) to identify superior scaffolds for obstructing the pathological Tau protein, which plays a major role in causing AD through its hyperphosphorylation. The Tau paired helical filament (PDB ID: 5O3L) was retrieved from the RCSB Protein Data Bank. …

Genetic Diversity Of Invasive Grey-Headed Swamphens In Florida Compared To Native Gallinules, Monica Maurer

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Invasive species outcompete native ones and threaten ecosystem stability. The grey-headed swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus), established in southeast Florida since 1996, continues to expand into the northern Everglades and Lake Okeechobee despite prior eradication attempts. This study is comparing the genetic diversity of invasive grey-headed swamphens to the genetic diversity of native purple (P. martinica) and common (Gallinula galeata) gallinules to better understand invasion history, competitive potential, and ecosystem impacts. Muscle tissue samples of P. porphyrio collected by the Florida Museum of Natural History from 1999-2023 and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) …

Effectiveness Of Common Household Water Filters In Removal Of Microplastics​, Andrew Au, Hailey Kim, Anika Prasad, Novita Whillock

Expo Student Presentations

2026 Spring Expo Poster Presentation

• Physical & Applied Sciences