Digital Commons Network^™

Senior Leader Awards, Class Of 2022, Karla Carney-Hall

Senior Class Dinner & Awards

No abstract provided.

Longitudinal Dynamics Of Skin Bacterial Communities In The Context Of Staphylococcus Aureus Decolonization, Stephanie A Fritz, Todd N Wylie, Haley Gula, Patrick G Hogan, Mary G Boyle, Carol E Muenks, Melanie L Sullivan, Carey-Ann D Burnham, Kristine M Wylie

Open Access Publications

Decolonization with topical antimicrobials is frequently prescribed in health care and community settings to prevent Staphylococcus aureus infection. However, effects on commensal skin microbial communities remains largely unexplored. Within a household affected by recurrent methicillin-resistant S. aureus skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), skin swabs were collected from the anterior nares, axillae, and inguinal folds of 14 participants at 1- to 3-month intervals over 24 months. Four household members experienced SSTI during the first 12-months (observational period) and were prescribed a 5-day decolonization regimen with intranasal mupirocin and bleach water baths at the 12-month study visit. We sequenced the 16S …

Dnp Final Report: Adolescent Support For Healthy Living, Kristin S. Hudson

DNP Final Reports

Adolescents often make decisions that negatively impact their health and wellness. They do this for many reasons including impulsivity, underdeveloped communication and coping skills, feelings of invincibility, and a perceived lack of support. In adolescents, how does education and training related to risky behaviors compared to no education affect knowledge, skills, and understanding (KSU) of high-risk behaviors three months after instruction? Thirteen peer- reviewed articles were utilized in the body of evidence. A curriculum-based intervention was implemented. Outcomes include an overall increase in KSU in six key concepts including contraception, substances abuse, sexually transmitted diseases/infections, teen pregnancy, peer pressure, and …

Emerging Viral Diseases: Generation Z'S Outlook, Ian Mcwhorter

Honors Projects

Generation Z differs notably from previous generations like Baby Boomers or Generation X. In recent years, young adults have been persisting through the COVID-19 pandemic, though not unscathed. This paper seeks to answer the following question: How does Generation Z differ in its outlook on Viral diseases compared to previous generations? Using a series of three surveys conducted on three seperate Viral diseases (HIV, Zika, and COVID 19), it was found that while Generation Z has improved in its ability to combat Viral outbreaks due to factors like high digital literacy, other factors such as poorer mental health show that …

Outside The Box: Gender Roles, Gender Incongruence, And Psychological Wellbeing, Ashton Boffa

Honors Projects

My project explores the impacts of gender roles and gender identity on psychological wellbeing. Previous research has shown that gender roles are negatively associated with psychological wellbeing, and transgender individuals have lower psychological wellbeing than the cisgender population. Since transgender individuals have had unique experiences with gender roles, it leads to a question of how these individuals have been affected by gender roles. Participants responded to a confidential questionnaire about their experiences with gender roles as they were growing up, their gender incongruence, and their psychological wellbeing. The results were consistent with previous research. Furthermore, my results suggest that transgender …

Animal Activities! : A Children's Book For Vocabulary Intervention, Chloey Dibartolo

Honors Projects

This Honors Project was created as a culmination of research conducted in the fields of Speech-Language Pathology and English. It is a written and illustrated children’s book intended to be used during shared book reading between an adult and a child of preschool age who presents with a language delay or language disorder. Cloze structures are used throughout the book to elicit strategically selected vocabulary words from the child and aid in their vocabulary development. Elements and techniques used in children’s literature were also implemented throughout this book. This book is overall designed a therapy tool that can be used …

Inspiring Active Citizenship In The Community From Within The Classroom, Nathan A. Halm

Honors Projects

This project presents an alternative to contemporary civic education courses and methods in an attempt to inspire students to become Active Citizens. Fighting against common sentiments surrounding contemporary politics such as divisiveness, polarization, apathy, and disenfranchisement, this project provides a framework for students to engage at the local level in an effective and genuine way.

Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Adherence: A Scoping Review, Megan E. Billingsley Bsn, Rn, Tiameria T. Ford Bsn, Rn, Mikayla E. Vican Bsn, Rn, Diana Dedmon Dnp, Aprn, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Rates have steadily increased in recent years due to high rates of obesity, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles. Screening for the disease can lead to early detection and reduced morbidity/mortality, yet screening rates remain low. Existing literature is extensive in discussing methods to increase CRCS adherence; therefore, a scoping review allows for increased understanding of barriers to CRCS and how to address those barriers to increase screening compliance.

Methods A literature search was completed from September 2020 to October 2021. Multiple databases were used, including …

The Medical And Legal Implications Of Artificial Intelligence In Health Care - An Area Of Unsettled Law, Samuel D. Hodge Jr.

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

James “Jim” Corrigan returned home following a stressful day at work with a headache that only increased in intensity as time elapsed. He laid down, but the room started to spin and his vision blurred. Sensing that something was wrong, he went to the emergency room and was greeted by a waiting area filled with others seeking medical attention. Jim was summoned by a nurse who asked various questions that she read from a screen. His answers produced a computer response indicating that he may be having a stroke and needed a computerized tomography (CT) scan. The patient was immediately …

Powering A Sustainable Electric Vehicle Future, Harmony Ruth, Jordan Brickman

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Electric vehicle sales account for roughly 20% of total sales world wide and are projected to be 80% by 2050. China's electric vehicle market holds a 13.3% market share. China exported 550,000 electric vehicles in 2021. China represents a 54% share of the world's coal consumption as of 2020. Why study China on this issue? China is a major player in the World Economy.

Anxiety & Icebreakers, Sara Jurkiewicz

Honors Projects

Icebreakers are a common activity conducted at colleges and universities at various times during a student’s career. They may be performed at orientations, class meetings, in student organizations, and even in jobs. Anxiety can arise from participants in icebreakers for various reasons and as anxiety is a health concern, it is important to consider the impact icebreakers can have on students. Anxiety is related to shyness and sociability of a person as these traits can impact how a person participates in life.

Evaluating Healthcare Leaders: A Competency Assessment Of Rural Healthcare Management Within The Midwest, Heather Winkler

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Rural healthcare facilities, which include critical access hospitals, are vulnerable to closure due to workforce shortages, low patient volumes, challenging payer and patient populations, and geographic isolation. Additionally, many rural communities entered the COVID-19 pandemic understaffed, under-serviced, facing inadequate healthcare infrastructures, and with limited clinical resources and equipment. This exploratory research aimed to measure the leadership competencies identified by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) of healthcare leaders working in rural hospitals and clinics within the Midwest. Having expert leadership skills and competencies can significantly impact how an organization succeeds, both for the patients, staff, and community. In contrast, …

Using Cost Simulation And Computer Vision To Inform Probabilistic Cost Estimates, Shu Jing Ding

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cost estimating is a critical task in the construction process. Building cost estimates using historical data from previously performed projects have long been recognized as one of the better methods to generate precise construction bids. However, the cost and productivity data are typically gathered at the summary level for cost-control purposes. The possible ranges of production rates and costs associated with the construction activities lack accuracy and comprehensiveness. In turn, the robustness of cost estimates is minimal. Thus, this study proposes exploring a range of cost and productivity data to better inform potential outcomes of cost estimates by using probabilistic …

The Relationship Between Pro-Stress And Anti-Stress Receptors In The Stress-Learning Brain Regions Of Female Mice, Nathan Popp

Honors Thesis

Human men and women react to stress in different ways, both biologically and psychologically (Verma et al., 2011). Orexins (or hypocretins) are neuropeptides involved in eliciting a stress response and have been shown to have opposing actions via two different receptors. Activation of the Orx1 receptor promotes stress, while activation of the Orx2 receptor relieves stress (Staton et al., 2018). Using the Stress Alternatives Model (a four-day paradigm in which small female mice are in an open arena with a larger aggressor mouse), distinct phenotypic behaviors can be observed after the second day: anxiety-prone and stress-resilient. After the second day, …

Exploring The Relationship Between Healthcare Access And Cancer Diagnosis, Kara Mccurdy

Health Sciences Student Scholarship

Kara McCurdy ’22
Major: Health Policy and Management
Minors: Mathematics and French
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Candidus Nwakasi, Health Policy and Management

Cancer affects millions of Americans each year and is one of the leading causes of death; social determinants of health play an important role in not only the prevention of cancer, but the prevalence of cancer among certain groups in our population. As one of the most prominent public health concerns, examining why cancer affects some more than others is an important part of prevention. Many people in the US lack access to healthcare due to costs and other …

Promoting Sustainability At Providence College, Victoria Hanlon, Ava Biafore

Health Sciences Student Scholarship

Victoria Hanlon ’23, Major: Health Policy and Management

Ava Biafore ’23, Majors: Management and Health Policy and Management

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Tuba Agartan, Health Policy and Management and Jill Parrett, Environmental Health and Safety

We are both Health Policy and Management majors conducting an independent study with Dr. Agartan with the goal of improving sustainability practices at Providence College. We are working cross functionally with Jill Parret of the Environmental Safety Department and the Student Congress Sustainability Committee to encourage the student body to increase sustainability awareness. These measures include creating a sustainability dashboard on the Providence College website, Canva …

Powell-Norton Hall (Multiple Articles) - Den (Apr. 27, 2022), Corryn Brock, Corryn Brock, Corryn Brock, Editorial Staff, Corryn Brock, Ellen Dooley, Katja Benz, Rob Le Cates

Powell-Norton (formerly Douglas) Hall

No abstract provided.

What Role Do Women In Politics Play For Democratic Erosion?, Emelyn Rodriguez

Politics Honors Papers

Research has found that women in politics are important for representation and women’s rights, but can women’s increasing involvement in politics also stabilize fragile democracies? This research analyzes the relationship between women in politics and democratic consolidation, asking whether and how women help consolidate democracies and prevent the erosion of democratic institutions. I show initial quantitative evidence suggesting that under some conditions, women in politics reduce the probability of democratic erosion. In the main part of the project, using a case study of the Dominican Republic, I take a closer look at the work women have done for a newly …

Alzheimer's Disease: A Comprehensive Review Including Personal Experience From Retirement Home Patients, Sydney Fox

Honors Theses

Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative illness and disease, the most common type of dementia, and the sixth leading cause of death (Sá et al., 2012). The disease was discovered in 1906 and named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a psychiatrist and neuropathologist. Over time, a variety of hypotheses have developed regarding the cause behind this multifactorial disease, and these will be disclosed in a later section. Nonetheless, the disease was first observed in changes of the brain tissue of a woman who was said to have die from an unusual mental illness with many abnormal bumps. These bumps are now recognized …

The Current - Volume 32 Issue 24, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Why Meta Users Need A Public Advocate: A Modest Means To Address The Shortcomings Of The Oversight Board, Kevin Frazier

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

Meta took an unprecedented step in content moderation when it created an independent board, the Oversight Board, to adjudicate the company’s decisions on contested posts. Whether that step constitutes a step forward in the ongoing struggle to moderate online communities depends on whether Meta iterates on its innovation. The current structure of the Oversight Board renders it unable to institute broad and necessary changes to Facebook and Instagram, Meta’s main platforms. The creation of an Office of the Public Advocate, charged with representing the interests of Meta’s users before the Board, would drastically improve the ability of the Board to …

Spring 2022: Pioneering Law Students Qualify Sooner – And Sooner Still, St. Norbert College

St. Norbert College Magazine 2019-2023

The first students from St. Norbert's 3-plus-3 law program, launched in 2016 in partnership with Marquette University Law School, are completing their final semester of law school.

Spring 2022: Nobel Laureate Delivers Message Of Peace And Power At Miller Series Event On Campus, St. Norbert College

St. Norbert College Magazine 2019-2023

Nobel laureate and peace activist Leymah Gbowee delivered a stirring message of peace, power and righteous anger when she visited campus last month to give the April 12 Norman & Louis Miller Lecture in Public Understanding.

Learning Local Languages As A Means Of Preserving Culture: An Analysis Of The Federal Education Laws’ Treatment Of Regional Languages In The Basque Country And Colombia, Olivia Jaramillo

Honors Theses

Regional languages are essential components of vibrantly diverse cultures. Across all regions of the globalizing modern world, regional languages remain one of the clearest markers of the rich heritage and history that each continent, country, state, city, town uniquely possesses. Unlike the more dominant languages of our evolving international landscape, local and regional languages explicitly capture precise cultural experiences of limited populations. These languages carry specific nuance, meaning, grammar, and vocabulary obscured by other forms of communication. This project, researching and analyzing two individual countries’ regional language education under the federal legal systems, holds the importance of safeguarding local languages …

Starbucks Strategic Analysis, Jillian Jacoba

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Starbucks is a multinational chain of coffee shops and roasteries that was founded in 1971. Starbucks has continued to grow for the past 51 years and continues to dominate the coffee industry. This strategic analysis evaluates the general environment using a PESTEL analysis, the industry using Porter’s Five Forces, and the company’s overall strategy and competitive advantages. This paper will evaluate Starbucks’ position in the industry and the strategic choices that have led the company to its extraordinary success.

Proposing Iso 50001 Energy Management System At Hitachi Astemo Americas, Inc., Elizabeth Anderson, Anthony Apanian, Walid Khalid, Jennifer Tran

Senior Design Project For Engineers

Kennesaw State University’s Industrial Assessment Center (referred to as IAC) has assisted Hitachi Astemo with the creation of a plan to implement ISO 50001 at their plant in Monroe, GA. ISO 50001 provides a way for organizations to improve their energy use through the development of an energy management system (EnMS).

Autism: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Counseling Journals, 1986-2021, Danielle Weller

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

This qualitative content analysis (QCA) examined three American Counseling Association (ACA) journals and how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is covered in them: Journal of Counseling Development (JCD), Journal of Multicultural Counseling Development (JMCD), and Counselor Education and Supervision (CES). Within the three listed journals, there were a total of 4,749 articles published from the years 1986 to 2021, with a total of 6 articles found related to ASD. Throughout the QCA process, four themes were established: Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder, Considerations for Counseling Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Neurofeedback in Counseling. …

Kleinstuck Preserve: A Valuable Migratory Bird Stopover In Kalamazoo, Mi, Kelly Giles

Honors Theses

Decreasing bird populations have been noted with habitat loss, climate change, and human development. With an estimated loss of 2.9 billion birds in North American since the 1970’s (Rosenberg et al. 2019), I found it necessary to determine whether this pat tern was reflected in local bird populations. At Kleinstuck Preserve, a birding hotspot in Kalamazoo, MI, I was able to access data from 48 years of bird surveys starting in 1973 with 209 total bird species documented from 1973-2021. Kleinstuck is a 60-acre nature preserve that has been protected as natural land since 1922 despite being surrounded by urban …

Met Inhibition Sensitizes Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells To Notch Signaling Suppression, Clara Perrone, Silvia Pomella, Matteo Cassandri, Michele Pezzella, Giuseppe Maria Milano, Marta Colletti, Cristina Cossetti, Giulia Pericoli, Angela Di Giannatale, Emmanuel De Billy, Maria Vinci, Stefania Petrini, Francesco Marampon, Concetta Quintarelli, Riccardo Taulli, Josep Roma, Soledad Gallego, Simona Camero, Paolo Mariottini, Manuela Cervelli, Roberta Maestro, Lucio Miele, Biagio De Angelis, Franco Locatelli, Rossella Rota

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric myogenic soft tissue sarcoma. The Fusion-Positive (FP) subtype expresses the chimeric protein PAX3-FOXO1 (P3F) while the Fusion-Negative (FN) is devoid of any gene translocation. FP-RMS and metastatic FN-RMS are often unresponsive to conventional therapy. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches are needed to halt tumor progression. NOTCH signaling has oncogenic functions in RMS and its pharmacologic inhibition through γ-secretase inhibitors blocks tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Here, we show that NOTCH signaling blockade resulted in the up-regulation and phosphorylation of the MET oncogene in both RH30 (FP-RMS) and RD (FN-RMS) cell lines. Pharmacologic inhibition of …

The Political Pandemic: The Relationship Between Political Leanings, Covid-19, And The Economy In 2020, Garrett Clark

Honors College Theses

The effect of political leanings on the pandemic outcomes, both in terms of the COVID-19 cases and death totals and the extent that the pandemic affected the economy, is the analysis of interest. The literature indicates a relationship between political leanings and the COVID-19 response. Data is gathered from a variety of sources, and a series of regressions are performed to analyze several control variables and determine their significance. The results indicate a relationship between political leanings and COVID-19 outcomes. However, results regarding the effects of politics on the economy are less clear. Possible explanations are provided for the results.