Digital Commons Network^™

Perceptions Of Defund The Police, Russell F. Cooper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research delves into contemporary literature on the Defund the Police movement in the United States, a significant force shaping law enforcement practices and the future landscape of policing and criminal justice. Stemming from the aftermath of the 2020 George Floyd protests, this movement has spurred transformations in policing methodologies and resource distribution. With its expansion across the nation, law enforcement agencies are grappling with high turnover rates and a dwindling pool of qualified applicants. The Defund the Police movement, originally aimed at abolishing police departments due to perceived systemic issues, underscores the need for progressive law enforcement reforms, particularly …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring Christian Women Emotional Traumatic Symptoms Post Spousal Infidelity, Tracy Y. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The discovery of spousal infidelity has been recognized in the literature as a devastating breach of marital commitment. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe women of faith’s experiences with emotional trauma after discovering spousal infidelity in the Northeastern United States. This study’s theoretical framework is guided by Schlossberg’s transition theory, which aims to answer the following research questions: How do women of faith describe emotional trauma after the discovery of infidelity? How does infidelity affect the psychological, emotional, and physical functioning of women and their social systems? How do participants describe their spiritual relationship with God after …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Mental Health Needs Of High School Youth In A Rural Community Post Covid-19 Pandemic, Maritza Gonzalez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe former high school students’ experiences with mental health struggles while in high school during the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural Texas Public Independent School District. Mental illness increased among youth during the prolonged pandemic period of time and many of the pervasive mental health concerns have not been addressed effectively in the aftermath. As a result, a growing number of concerns pertaining to the mental health wellbeing of K-12 children continues to be on the rise. Thus, it is of utmost importance to learn more about the experiences of our youth …

Breaking The Silence: Hispanic Male Child Abuse Survivors And Their Post Traumatic Growth, Maria Angelica Hernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe Hispanic male survivors’ experiences of child abuse in Southern California. The theory guiding this study was social constructivism (Pfadenhauer, 2019), as it explains how a worldview is developed. The additional theories are Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory, Bowlby’s (1973) attachment theory, and Widom’s (1989) cycle of violence and how they influence the development of an individual’s perception and worldview. Tedeschi and Calhoun’s (1996) post-traumatic theory also influenced this study as it focused on growth after the trauma experience. The study includes 12 male participants of Hispanic descent between the ages of …

Unseen But Felt: Exploring The Emotional And Developmental Impacts Of Father Absence On The Lives Of African American Daughters, Michelle Laniece Mayberry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of African American daughters who grew up with absent fathers, examining how this experience influenced development, relationships, identity formation, and resilience. Through in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, six central themes emerged: (1) father-daughter relationship, (2) emotional and psychological impact, (3) identity and development, (4) social and relational outcomes, (5) decision-making and achievement, and (6) resilience and adaptation. Each theme was interpreted through the lens of attachment and social learning theories with a biblical worldview. The findings revealed that father absence often left emotional and developmental wounds in the lives of the participants. The …

The Power Of International Relations In Local Communities: An Institutional Theory Case Study Examining The Implementation Of Sustainable Development Goal 11 In Four Virginia Communities, Latisha R. Rothenbach

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

By pursuing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, communities across Virginia may be losing their unique, local characteristics. This study investigates whether communities in Virginia have been implementing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11. Guided by institutional theory, this study explores the research questions: What effect do global isomorphic pressures of SDG 11 have on local institutional integration of urban planning regarding community connectivity, land use, and open green public spaces? How do local planning documents and institutional actors frame, adopt, or resist global isomorphic pressures of SDG 11 in relation to community connectivity, land use, and open green public spaces? …

Neuroradiological Features Across Major Psychiatric Disorders And Behavioral Variant Of Alzheimer’S Disease: A Concise Multimodal Synthesis, Sina Dindarian, Joga Chaganti, Nazanin Rafiei, Scott H. Faro

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Psychiatric disorders are complex, disabling conditions that continue to rely on subjective diagnostic criteria due to the absence of objective biological markers. Neuroradiology has become a critical discipline for examining the structural, functional, and biochemical underpinnings of these disorders through advanced brain imaging. This review synthesizes findings from five major psychiatric conditions including major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, and briefly discusses the behavioral variant of Alzheimer's disease, a variant with neuropsychological overlay, across multiple imaging modalities, including structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging, functional MRI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, functional near-infrared …

Real-World Multicenter Assessment Of Sustained Clinical Outcomes After Digital Deep Brain Stimulation, Alireza Gharabaghi, Sergiu Groppa, Elena Casas, Alfons Schnitzler, Laura Muñoz-Delgado, Vicky L. Marshall, Jessica Karl, Lin Zhang, Ramiro Alvarez, Mary S. Feldman, Michael J. Soileau, Lan Luo, Benjamin L. Walter, Chengyuan Wu, Hong Lei, Damian M. Herz, Devyani Nanduri, Claudia A. Salazar, Corneliu Luca, Daniel Weiss

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Remote, internet-based deep brain stimulation programming for Parkinson's disease accelerates clinical benefits postoperatively by improving access to therapy adjustments compared to in-clinic optimization. After completion of the initial digital programming phase, we show that clinical outcomes, quality of life, and safety remain sustained over at least twelve months under routine care conditions. Embedding a randomized trial within a larger cohort study enables long-term, real-world evaluation, offering a scalable and pragmatic model for assessing complex digital interventions in routine clinical care. (NCT05269862 registered on 2022-03-08 and NCT04071847 registered on 2019-08-28).

Promote, Partner & Mentor: Research At Liberty University, Mark Hamilton

Faculty Publications and Presentations

How can you be involved with faculty and student research at Liberty University? Promote your own research through LU Faculty SHARE (the faculty research platform). Partner with Liberty University Journals, encouraging student submissions. Mentor students in the research process.

Objectives

At the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

• Promote your own Research through LU Faculty SHARE 
• Use LU Faculty SHARE to list your own articles, posters, and presentations.

• Partner with Liberty University Journals 
• Serve as an advisor, or editor of an existing journal.
• Create a new journal by completing an interest form and application for a new …

Volumetric Wear Analysis Of Polyethylene Orthopedic Liners Using Point Clouds, Gabriel Landi

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

In vivo wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) orthopedic bearings represents a major problem in shoulder and knee arthroplasty, with significant amounts of devices failing due to the complication itself, and even more due to associated reasons for retrieval, including aseptic loosening. However, quantification of UHMWPE wear has largely been limited to linear and in vitro volumetric analyses, obscuring the understanding of the amount of clinically relevant material loss. This study proposes new methods to measure articular, rim, and backside surfaces of retrieved shoulder and knee UHMWPE liners, centered around the coordinate measuring machine (CMM)-based collection of high density …

Advancing The Rights Of Nature: Lessons From Sauk-Suiattle V. City Of Seattle, Harry S. Katz

American Indian Law Journal

Advocates for the “rights of nature” seek recognition of legal rights for natural elements such as mountains, rivers, and non-human species as a means of protecting the environment. In the United States, Tribal Nations have been at the forefront of this nascent movement. In a 2022 Washington state case, the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe sued the City of Seattle, alleging that the City’s hydroelectric dams on the Skagit River infringe upon the rights of salmon. Those rights, they claim, include the salmon’s rights to exist, flourish, regenerate, and evolve. The case, known as Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe v. City of Seattle, …

Native History Is United States History: How United States History Censorship Leads To Passive Acceptance Of Racial Discrimination And Furthers The Decline Of Tribal Sovereignty, Nickolasa A. Jackson

American Indian Law Journal

Native stories are embedded in the United States Constitution, property law, and the nation’s legal and political framework, but education frequently omits these truths. Such erasure perpetuates misunderstanding, invisibility, and hostility toward Native communities, obscuring the reality that the United States was built through the dispossession, coercion, and suffering of Indigenous Peoples. Whitewashing history has allowed the nation to claim moral virtue and industriousness while denying the foundational role of Indigenous Peoples. The Article emphasizes that Native rights, whether land, water, or other treaty-protected entitlements, as well as inherent rights such as tribal sovereignty, are not charitable or discretionary; they …

2026-01-14 What Comes Next? Seattle U Seniors Share Their Stories, Maya Deguzman

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

Feeding The Youngest In Crises: Infant And Young Child Feeding Preparedness In High-Income Setting, Aileen Kennedy, Elizabeth J. O’Sullivan

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) is a critical public health priority during emergencies, yet remains poorly integrated into emergency preparedness planning in many high-income countries (HICs). Despite the availability of international guidance, such as the Operational Guidance on IYCF in Emergencies the implementation of these tools in national systems has been inconsistent within HICs. This review examines recent emergencies in HICs to identify policy and operational gaps affecting breastfeeding support, the management of commercial milk formula (CMF), and the distribution of commercially available complementary foods (CACFs). The present review focuses on the practical translation of Infant and young child …

Go On Take Everything, Take Everything, I Want You To: Corporate Cash Accumulations, Broken Promises, And The Failure Of The Accumulated Earnings Tax, Meredith R. Conway

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Algorithmic Editors: Section 230, Big Tech, And The Need For Clarity, Richard Gruters

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Improving Mathematical Problem-Solving Performance Through The Use Of Reading Comprehension Strategies, Rebecca Yonan

Masters Projects

Research shows that math problem solving relies on more than arithmetic computation. Word problem solving is a combination of text comprehension and word memory. Being able to successfully solve word problems at the elementary level helps prepare students for algebra, and higher academics. Learning to solve word problems teaches students problem solving techniques that can be applied in their adult lives. This project creates an instructional routine where lessons are built around teaching primarily through word problem solving. Students will receive instruction on text comprehension, math vocabulary building, word memory, and arithmetic computation in order to simultaneously increase their math …

Understanding The Compatibility Of Fluoride-Based Radiopharmaceutical Reaction Solutions And Pdms, Mark Mc Veigh, Charles Frech, Mai Lin, Robert Ta, H Charles Manning, Leon M Bellan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Microfluidic devices offer unique and exciting benefits when applied to radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, and these platforms are now starting to be integrated into commercial products. The field has strayed away from the use of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), the most common microfluidic device material, due to its suspected incompatibility with 18F, the most commonly used radionuclide. However, existing literature provides conflicting conclusions as to the existence and extent of this incompatibility. In this study, we use several analytical instruments to uncover the underlying interaction between fluoride and PDMS. SEM imaging and profilometry confirm the reactive relationship between the two materials and suggest that …

Autograft Enlargement After The Ross Procedure In Pediatric Patients: Somatic Growth Or Pathologic Dilatation?, Ioannis Zoupas, Alexander C Mills, Scott D Olson, Damien J Lapar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose of ReviewPulmonary autograft autotransplantation represents a popular surgical approach for pediatric patients requiring aortic valve replacement due to the potential for autograft enlargement to accommodate somatic growth. Nevertheless, autograft dilatation and the subsequent need for reintervention are quite common. Published data suggest that autograft enlargement may result from pathological passive remodeling rather than active somatic growth and vice versa. The present review serves to comprehensively evaluate available evidence related to the fate of the pulmonary autograft after the Ross procedure as it relates to the etiology, risk factors and patterns of autograft failure.ResultsStudies present conflicting results supporting both pathological …

Prevalence And Outcomes Of Her2-Low Versus Her2-0 Status In Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer, Akshara Singareeka Raghavendra, Diane D Liu, Senthil Damodaran, Sarah Pasyar, Yu Shen, Jason A Mouabbi, Carlos H Barcenas, Kelly K Hunt, Debu Tripathy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: HER2-low breast cancer (HER2 immunohistochemical [IHC] score 1+, or IHC 2+ without HER2 gene amplification) is distinct from HER2-positive and HER2-0 breast cancer (IHC 0), with a differing prognosis and specific therapeutic options. The DESTINY-Breast04 trial demonstrated notable efficacy of the HER2 antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan over standard chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) defined as HER2-low. More recently, the DESTINY-Breast06 trial confirmed this benefit in hormone receptor-positive and HER2-ultralow (less than 1+, but with ≤10% of infiltrating cancer cells showing incomplete and faint/weak membrane staining) cases, prompting re-evaluation of HER2 diagnostic thresholds and treatment strategies.

Methods …

Diet-Responsive Genetic Determinants Of Intestinal Colonization In The Yeast Candida Albicans, Musfirat Shubaita, Mazen Oneissi, Elena Lindemann-Pérez, Cecilia Fadhel Alvarez, Anne-Marie Krachler, Diana M Proctor, J Christian Pérez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dietary components influence microbial composition in the digestive tract. Although often viewed as energy sources, dietary components are likely to shape microbial determinants of intestinal colonization beyond metabolism. Here, we report that a dietary long-chain fatty acid enhances the yeast Candida albicans colonization of the murine gut partly by eliciting modifications to the fungal cell surface. Mice fed an oleic acid-rich diet were readily colonized by C. albicans and exhibited higher fungal load in feces compared with rodents fed an isocaloric control diet. Surprisingly, β-oxidation, a catabolic process to break down fatty acids for energy production, was dispensable for C. …

Deep Learning In Precision Agriculture: A Systematic Review Of Methods, Datasets, And Applications, Mariam Ahmed

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

With the growing demand for food and water for the world population. Deep learning is one of the most powerful approaches for smart agriculture, offering the capacity for accurate and fast data manipulation and decision-making. To this end, this study contributes to the body of knowledge as follows. We present a comprehensive review of deep learning methods commonly applied in precision agriculture, categorized into three main categories: discriminative, generative, and hybrid models. Given the data-driven nature of DL, we provided a structured overview and tabulation of available datasets in precision agriculture, by categorizing them according to modality to guide dataset …

Securing U.S. Leadership In Agentic Ai Literacy And Adoption: U.S. Vs Chinese Government Policies And Initiatives, Satyadhar Joshi

Harrisburg University Other Works

This paper conducts a comparative analysis of U.S. and Chinese frameworks for AI literacy and adoption, with focus on agentic AI and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) systems capable of autonomous reasoning and execution. We examine national policies, educational integration, governance structures, and technological roadmaps, employing both qualitative review and quantitative modeling. Mathematical formulations include multi-dimensional literacy scoring, Bass diffusion models for adoption dynamics, risk assessment functions, regulatory effectiveness indices, competitiveness metrics, and optimization frameworks for resource allocation. Our analysis reveals divergent paradigms: the U.S. Favors decentralized, innovation-driven approaches with emphasis on interoperability and public-private collaboration; while China pursues centralized, state-led …

The Bg News January 14, 2026, Bowling Green State University

BG News (Student Newspaper)

The BGSU campus student newspaper. January 14, 2026. Volume 105-Issue 13.

The Relationship Between Religiosity, Meaning-Making, And Well-Being Among Involuntary Childless Women, Laura Beth Harter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The proportion of involuntary childless women in the United States continues to rise, with research indicating elevated risks of depression, anxiety, and diminished well-being in this population compared to their childbearing counterparts. Simultaneously, many faith communities emphasize pronatalist ideals, which may compound these psychological effects. Despite a growing body of qualitative work, quantitative research examining faith, meaning-making, and well-being among women whose childlessness extends beyond recent infertility is limited. This quantitative, correlational study examined the relationships among religiosity, meaning-making, and well-being among involuntary childless women. Participants (N = 94; M age = 44.6) completed online surveys including the Duke University …

Espionage, Civil Liberties, And The Secret War Of The American Revolution, Jackson Tomlin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation attempts to analyze the line between a government that can create security for its constituents, while also protecting their rights. It is an attempt to understand this schism by looking at the American Revolution and the role of spying in all of it. It aims to establish the role of spying in this narrative by first looking at the role of espionage in the ranks of the British government. The research attempts to look at how spying affected the American Revolution, how colonists lost their civil liberties because of spying, and the how spying played a future role …

We Need Data And We Need Context. Both Are At Risk., Joe Vandoornik, Kallie Bauer

Research, Reports, and Publications

No abstract provided.

Small Courageous Minds, Desirae Bach

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the barriers, agreements, and disagreements between mental health and Christianity, specifically as it relates to helping Christian children with anxiety. The following investigation explores how God defines and reacts to anxiety in the Bible and how anxiety is explained through scientific research. By explaining both scientific and biblical views of anxiety, the Christian community can grasp a better understanding of how to help children with anxiety. The research also builds a foundational investigation on how anxiety affects children and possible solutions for relieving anxiety in children. Educating children at a young age about mental health and offering …

Factors Influencing Sugary Drink Consumption Among Residential Students At Liberty University, Chinonso Felistas Eziechi

Masters Theses

Introduction/Background: Sugary drink consumption among college students remains a public health concern due to its association with obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Despite high awareness of health risks, consumption among emerging adults remains elevated. Guided by the Social Cognitive Theory, this study examined the psychosocial, behavioral, and environmental determinants of sugary drink consumption among residential students at Liberty University. Objective: To identify key predictors of sugary drink consumption and evaluate how expectations, self-regulation, and environmental factors shape beverage behaviors. Design, Setting, Participants: This cross-sectional study used an anonymous Qualtrics survey distributed on campus. Of approximately 745 eligible residential students, 473 …

The Impact Of Awareness Of Campus Health Services On Utilization Of Medical Care Among Residential Students At Liberty University, Catherine Pandagade

Masters Theses

College students represent the most prominent group of individuals when considering their lifestyles throughout aging. Therefore, this age group serves as a good opportunity for health education that could build positive health behaviors for life. Existing literature have said that the 18-25 year olds tend to have fewer resources and be often uninsured and have the highest rates of preventable diseases.2 Objective: The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of awareness and its subsequent effect on utilization of available health resources on campus among the student population of Liberty University. Additionally, the purpose of the research through …