Digital Commons Network^™

“We Learned So Much More About Each Other”: Strengthening Student-Educator Relationships Through Culturally Affirming Practices, Ashley R. Routhier

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School connectedness serves as a powerful lever for positive student outcomes. Specifically, student-educator relationships provide well-documented benefits, acting as a protective factor against adverse experiences. However, building and maintaining these relationships remains a complex challenge influenced by site-specific conditions. This challenge is further intensified when accounting for diverse cultural and racial backgrounds. Utilizing an improvement science framework, this qualitative study examined educators’ perceptions as they facilitated culturally affirming social and emotional lessons in a pre-existing advisory block at a magnet high school. Findings indicate that factors at every level of the system shape student-educator relationships. Policies emerged as a critical …

2025 Georgia Southern University Softball Media Guide, Georgia Southern University

Women's Softball Records

No abstract provided.

From State House To World Health Assembly: The Distinct Missions Of National And International Leadership In Oral Healthcare, Robert A. Faiella Dmd, Mmsc., Mba, William R. Calnon Dds, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

Leadership in oral healthcare has long been treated as a skill assimilated over time through experience rather than intentionally defined, taught, and assessed. Unlike clinical practice, education, research, and infection control, leadership in oral healthcare lacks consistent standards despite its critical role in integrating these systems and guiding the profession’s future. As healthcare becomes increasingly collaborative and global, dentistry must deliberately develop leadership capabilities at multiple levels. This article examines leadership at the national and international levels, using the American Dental Association’s role within U.S. and global health and dental organizations as examples. It explores why these leadership contexts require …

Long-Lasting Impact Of Public Health Dentistry, Michal Herman Dds, Facd

Journal of the American College of Dentists

This article reflects on the enduring impact of public health dentistry through the author’s 25-year professional journey serving underserved and marginalized communities. It examines persistent barriers to equitable oral health care, including workforce shortages, inadequate insurance coverage, racial disparities, and limited access in rural and low-income populations. Drawing on experiences in nonprofit and community dentistry, the article highlights the importance of mentorship, advocacy, leadership, and community engagement in addressing oral health inequities. It argues that public health dentistry represents a form of professional altruism grounded in service and social responsibility, and calls on dental professionals to expand access, support workforce …

J Am Coll Dent 2026 92 3

Journal of the American College of Dentists

The Journal of the American College of Dentists (JACD) publishes scholarly articles, editorials, essays, and reflections addressing the ethical, professional, and social dimensions of dentistry. The Journal serves as a forum for advancing ethics, professionalism, leadership, and excellence within the dental community. By fostering dialogue across disciplines and perspectives, JACD provides readers with insights that encourage ethical, professional practice, lifelong learning, and service to the public, reinforcing dentistry’s commitment to advancing oral healthcare and the common good.

The Structural Law Of Data, Bridget A. Fahey, Raul Castro Fernandez

University of Chicago Law Review

The central concern of structural constitutional law is the organization of governmental power, but power comes in many forms. This Article is about how the law of structure regulates decision-making about, and popular control over, an increasingly potent form of power: the power government obtains from data. The government has always relied on information to meet its objectives, but the digitization of information over the last half century has yielded a distinctive form of governmental power—one that is liquid, transferable, minable, dynamic, and vital to virtually all governmental activity today.

But despite the significant literature on private-sector “data governance,” public …

Settlements Of Adhesion, Nicole Summers

University of Chicago Law Review

Eviction cases make up over a quarter of all cases filed in the federal and state civil courts and have enormous consequences for tenants, who are nearly always unrepresented by counsel. These cases overwhelmingly settle, yet settlement scholars have entirely overlooked eviction both empirically and theoretically. One of the core questions animating settlement scholarship—how do the parties negotiate settlement?— has never been asked or answered in the eviction context. This Article does so.

The Article presents results from the first empirical study of eviction settlement negotiations. The study involved rigorous analysis of an original dataset of over one thousand hand-coded …

The Law And Economics Of Guilt And Shame, Ian Ayres, Joseph Bankman, Daniel Hemel

University of Chicago Law Review

The negative moral emotions of guilt and shame impose real social costs but also create opportunities for policymakers to engender compliance with legal rules in a cost-effective manner. We present a unified model of guilt and shame that demonstrates how legal policymakers can harness negative moral emotions to increase social welfare. The prospect of guilt and shame can deter individuals from violating moral norms and legal rules, thereby substituting for the expense of state enforcement. But when legal rules and law enforcement fail to induce total compliance, guilt and shame experienced by noncompliers can increase the law’s social costs. We …

Response To Intervention: Impact On Academic Achievement, Lisa Cisneros

Education Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the application of improvement science within education as a structured framework for strengthening the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Response to Intervention (RTI) to improve elementary students’ reading outcomes. Grounded in the six guiding principles of improvement science: problem-specific, focus, variability acknowledgment, system recognition, evaluation, and systematic inquiry learning. This study applied a Design-Based Implementation Research (DBIR) methodology and practical insights. The study emphasized the utilization of the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle as a trial-and-learning methodology to instigate continuous improvement in educational practices. Using a mixed-methods design across two years …

Building Improvement Capacity In School Improvement Planning, Jennifer E. Garcia

Education Theses and Dissertations

This improvement science dissertation examined how school teams used improvement science routines to strengthen planning and implementation in school improvement. The study focused on two California schools designated for Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) or Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) for multiple years. Although both teams developed School Plans for Student Achievement (SPSAs), they demonstrated minimal sustained improvement, suggesting limitations to their underlying improvement processes. Using an improvement science methodology, informed by design-Based research, this study investigated how structured improvement practices, such as root cause analysis, driver diagrams, and Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, supported schools in developing more inquiry-driven improvement …

The Impact Of Leadership Skills On Pbl Group Dynamics, Jaime W. Burke Hicks

Education Theses and Dissertations

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice examined the role of intentional leadership instruction in addressing persistent challenges in Project-Based Learning (PBL) group dynamics within a middle school setting. The Problem of Practice centered on students’ inconsistent demonstration of leadership behaviors, including communication and accountability, which limited the effectiveness of group work despite prior exposure to PBL structures. This study was conducted at a university-affiliated public charter school in East Texas, where PBL serves as a core instructional model.

Guided by an Improvement Science framework and structured through a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, this study employed a mixed-methods embedded design to evaluate …

Understanding Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (Asmr), Cecilia Zoutewelle

A. The Science of Sound

This 7-page report with illustrations and bullet-point summaries provides an introduction to the phenomena of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR). Also included is a brief discussion on the benefits of ASMR for interpersonal listening.

Fuel Your Focus: The Improtance Of Diet For Listening, Lauren Martins

A. The Science of Sound

This infographic presents an overview of the importance of diet for listening. Foods affect energy, memory, concentration, and other factors that influence listening.

Empowering Rural Lgbtq2s+ Parents: An Exploration Of Perinatal Social Support And Perinatal Mental Health, Tess Alexandra Carlson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), which include depression and anxiety symptoms occurring during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum, are highly prevalent and frequently untreated, severely impacting family health. The immediacy of this issue is backed by CDC data showing mental health issues as the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths. Improved methods for identifying PMADs, connecting parents to care, and understanding the broader social factors that shape perinatal mental health are critical. Guided by ecological systems theory, this dissertation research explores informal and formal social support and perinatal mental health among LGBTQ2S+ parents in Montana, contributing knowledge of …

U.S. Supreme Court Rules A State Ban On Conversion Therapy For Minors Probably Violates The Free Speech Rights Of A Licensed Counselor Who Allegedly Performs Only “Talk Therapy”, Arthur S. Leonard

Other Publications

No abstract provided.

Refugee Litigation Notes, Arthur S. Leonard

Other Publications

No abstract provided.

4th Circuit Rules That West Virginia’S Medicaid Coverage Exclusion Of “Sex-Change” Surgery Is Legal, Arthur S. Leonard

Other Publications

No abstract provided.

Suicidality Prevention: Insights From The Literature, Leah M. Rivera

Applied Practice Experience (APE) Capstones

Suicidality Prevention: Insights from the Literature was developed through a University of New England Graduate Public Health Applied Practice Experience to support community-based suicide prevention efforts. This evidence-informed resource integrates published research, demographic trend analysis, and public health best practices to examine factors associated with suicidality across multiple age groups. The project highlights opportunities for prevention, strategic planning, and intervention while demonstrating the application of public health competencies in literature review, data interpretation, knowledge translation, and professional communication. Designed for practitioners, organizations, and community stakeholders, the presentation translates complex evidence into an accessible format that can inform prevention initiatives and …

Exploring The Effects Of Mindset And Mood On Cognitive Performance, Pamela Kplivi

Honors College Theses

Individual and situational factors such as mindset and mood can shape performance on creative problem solving tasks. This study examined the potential effects of mindset (growth vs. fixed) and mood (positive, neutral, negative) on performance. Performance was measured using a shortened 60-item version of the Compound Remote Associates Task (CRAT; Bowden & Jung- Beeman, 2003). 92 undergraduate students completed self report measures of mindset (ITIS; Dweck, 1999) and self-efficacy (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995). Participants were randomly assigned to a video-based mood induction condition and completed a self-reported mood survey (PANAS; Watson et al., 1988). Manipulation checks confirmed the effectiveness of …

The Role Of Mentorship In Reducing Burnout In New Nurses And Nursing Students, Omari Andry

Honors College Theses

Burnout among new nurses and nursing students is a consistent issue affecting the healthcare system by adding to early career turnover, emotional exhaustion, and decreased quality of patient care. Structured mentorship programs have emerged as a promising intervention to alleviate burnout by giving emotional support, professional development, and coping strategies. This proposal explores the role of mentorship in reducing burnout symptoms, improving job satisfaction, and promoting emotional resilience among new nurses and nursing students alike. Based on existing scholarly articles, the project will investigate how structured versus informal mentorship affects burnout rates, the qualities of effective mentors, and the outcomes …

Undergraduate Voice Students’ Understanding Of The Vocalize And Its Purpose, Natalie H. Bazemore

Honors College Theses

This research discusses undergraduate voice students' understanding of vocalizes and their purpose. To discuss this subject, a vocalize has been defined along with its purpose analyzed. By discovering what methods voice teachers are using to prescribe vocalizes tells us how they are educating their singers on developing technical singing skills. This research was collected through a survey conducted in Qualtrics and was shared via social media voice teacher forums and collegiate music settings. This 5-10 minute long survey included participants that are either undergraduate voice students or undergraduate voice teachers. The teachers and students completed different surveys, both asking about …

Short Time, Lasting Impact: Teaching Pediatric End-Of-Life Care In One Day, Mckenzie Taliaferro

Honors College Theses

Background: Pediatric nurses working in specialties that experience terminal diagnoses, death, and post-mortem care, often feel unprepared for the emotional toll and lack adequate support systems (Camera et al., 2024). Nurses report feeling under prepared due to a lack of hands-on opportunities before graduation (Richoux, et al., 2022). Pediatric death is a traumatic experience for families and nurses. Previous studies have shown that hands-on education increases nurses' confidence in caring for patients at the end of their lives (Cole & Foito, 2019; Noyes et al., 2023). Method: A one-day, hands-on multidisciplinary workshop on pediatric end-of-life (EOL) was created and offered …

Effects Of Dietary Perfluorobutane Sulfonate (Pfbs) On Adipose Tissue, Hannah Olofintuyi, Eric Gato

Honors College Theses

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemical substances used in a variety of industrial applications and consumer products. Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) is often used as a replacement for the more harmful (Perfluoroalkyl sulfonate) PFAS chemicals that have been around longer. It is believed that PFBS does not remain in the body as long as other PFAS compounds; however, there is a rising concern that it has the potential to cause damage to human health. This study focused on understanding how dietary PFBS exposure affects metabolism-related processes in adipose tissues in rats. To accomplish study objectives, Sprague Dawley rats were exposed …

How Is The Use Of Ai Impacting Nursing Students Education?, Lorna H. Strain

Honors College Theses

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is rapidly increasing and reshaping how nursing students learn and engage with content. This thesis proposal looks at the impact of AI on the education of nursing students and explores students' perceptions of its use in their learning and education. As AI becomes more prevalent, many students are using it for study aids and content personalization, while schools are using it in simulations and textbook platforms. Many recognize its benefits, such as enhanced critical thinking, improved accessibility of materials, and more immersive learning. Concerns persist around ethical use, academic integrity, and the …

Validity Assessment Of Resting Heart Rate Variability From The Garmin Health Snapshot, Kayla M. Porter, Andrew Flatt

Honors College Theses

Purpose: To assess the agreement between the Garmin Forerunner 265 (a commercially available sports watch) and a single-channel electrocardiographic (ECG) chest strap for determining resting heart rate variability (HRV). Secondary aims were to assess the impact of skin tone and body position on measurement accuracy.

Methods: Young adults (n = 30, 57% women) aged 18–39 years without known cardiovascular conditions and without tattooing or scarring on the dorsal left wrist were recruited. HRV was recorded simultaneously using ECG and the Forerunner 265’s optical sensor during Garmin’s 2-minute “Health Snapshot.” Measurements were obtained in three standardized positions: supine, seated, and standing. …

The Open Secret: Drugs And Fishing In Georgia, Makala L. Collins

Honors College Theses

Substance use and overdose deaths have been disproportionally disrupting families and communities in rural America. Increasing rates of drug use in these areas can be traced to the outsourcing of blue-collar work to outside of the United States, which economically restructured these areas by decreasing the profitability of generational industries. This is the story playing out in Georgia’s commercial shrimping industry and the communities it used to support. This research uses qualitative data collected over the past ten years to understand the perceptions and impacts of drug use on Georgia’s shrimping community. Using a lens of critical medical anthropology, environmental …

Distributed Vibration Sensing For Identification Of Loose Connectors In Coaxial Data Transmission Lines, Saidanvar Esanjonovich Valiev, Anthony C. Okafor, Jeremiah J. Rittenhouse, Jie Huang, Daniel S. Stutts

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigates the effect of vibration-induced loose connections on signal reflection (S11) for loose connection identification in aerospace coaxial cables using distributed sensing approach, which is effective in filtering the noise and identifying minor discontinuities. In this approach, a sliding gated window is applied to S11 signal, a fast Fourier transform is performed over the gated windows, cross-correlation is computed between the baseline and vibration-affected signals, and the standard deviation is mapped along the cable length. Sinewave signals from 9 kHz to 5 GHz were swept through cables with vibrating connectors under three conditions: fully tightened, loosened by 180°, …

Incarceration As Sexualized Violence, Leigh S. Goodmark

Faculty Scholarship

Sexual violence—rape, sexual assault, strip and body cavity searches, surveillance, and reproductive abuse—is a regular occurrence in women’s prisons. Some of that violence is clearly illegal; some occupies a legally gray middle ground; and some is considered essential to the operation of the prison system. All of it, however, could violate the law if the victims were not incarcerated. Sexual violence is so pervasive within women’s prisons that incarceration can only be understood as a form of sexualized violence. Given the certainty that people incarcerated in women’s prisons will experience some form of sexual abuse, continued incarceration can only be …

Formulation Modification Of Silver Diamine Fluoride To Improve Clinical Handling And Dentin Tubule Occlusion, Liangyu Chang, Yutzu Wu, Powen Lu, Iwen Chen, Weifang Lee, Chunche Lin, Renjei Chung, Poonam Negi, Naichia Teng, Jenchang Yang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is clinically effective for treating dentinal hypersensitivity and arresting caries, but its poor clinical handling due to low viscosity remain concerns. This study aimed to enhance the rheological properties of SDF by incorporating sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) to improve its clinical manageability. Materials and methods: A 39.34 wt% SDF solution (TMU-SDF) was prepared via wet processing. Its matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition was evaluated using a fluorogenic MMP-1 assay, and antibacterial activity was tested via an inhibition zone assay. Biocompatibility was assessed using a modified cytotoxicity-agar diffusion test and a skin sensitization test. Rheological properties, including flow …

Influence Of Serum Vitamin D Levels On Marginal Bone Loss Around Unsplinted Mandibular Implant Overdentures: A Retrospective Study, Rahma El Hussany Mohammed El Desouky, Fatma Ahmad El-Waseef

Mansoura Journal of Dentistry

Objective: To investigate the impact of serum vitamin D levels on marginal bone loss (MBL) in patients restored with unsplinted-mandibular-implant overdentures using LOCATOR attachments. Materials and Methods: Thirty participants rehabilitated with three-implant-mandibular overdentures were included. Based on serum vitamin D at the time of prosthetic loading, participants were categorized into two equal groups: a test group with deficient vitamin D (< 20 ng/mL) and a control group with sufficient levels (≥30 ng/mL). Patients with borderline levels (21–29 ng/mL) were excluded. Peri-implant vertical (VBL) and horizontal bone loss (HBL) were measured at baseline (T0), 6 months (T6), and 12 months (T12). Results: The vitamin D-deficient group exhibited significantly elevated VBL and HBLover the sufficient group at all-time points (P