Digital Commons Network^™

Investigation Of A Novel Behavioral Assessment Of Challenging Behavior In The Context Of Medical Necessity And Disability Theory, Madison S. Walker

All NMU Master's Theses

Individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities often engage in challenging behaviors that interfere with daily functioning and community participation. Many standardized assessments focus on indirect, descriptive measurements that emphasize frequency, while providing limited information about medical severity, ongoing management strategies, and functional outcomes. This misalignment may limit the clinical utility of assessments, as scores may not consistently align with medical necessity criteria or arguments supporting the maintenance of current treatments. The first study extends on Reyes-Martín et al. (2022), which reviewed 24 assessments of challenging behaviors, by further evaluating assessment characteristics relevant to clinical decision-making and treatment justification. Findings highlight variability across …

Facilitating Occupational Participation In Older Adults With Chronic Pain, Emily K. Ruesch

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project developed doctoral-level clinical skills in the management of chronic pain. This capstone project also implemented a six‑week chronic pain management program for independent community‑dwelling older adults at Dow Rummel Village. Eleven adults aged 50–95 participated in weekly 45‑minute group sessions addressing adaptive equipment use, graded exercise, energy conservation, nervous system regulation, stress management, and sleep hygiene. Seven participants completed pre‑ and post‑intervention measures using the Brief Pain Inventory–Short Form and the Pain Self‑Efficacy Questionnaire. A paired samples t‑test assessed changes in pain severity, pain interference, and self‑efficacy. Results demonstrated a decrease in pain severity (t(6) = −3.96, …

Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation Of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Chest Radiograph Interpretation For Tuberculosis Screening In Rural Health Units In The Philippines, Harold Henrison C. Chiu, Bryan Christopher C. Lao, Gloanne C. Adolor

Graduate School of Business Publications

Background: Tuberculosis remains a major public health burden in the Philippines, where diagnostic delays are amplified by limited radiology capacity in rural health units (RHUs) and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) using artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted chest radiograph interpretation may shorten the screening pathway and reduce reliance on scarce specialist readers. However, its economic value for RHUbased tuberculosis screening has not been fully evaluated.
Methods: We developed a decision-tree cost-effectiveness model in Microsoft Excel 365 to compare AI-assisted chest radiograph interpretation with conventional manual radiologist or teleradiology interpretation among a theoretical annual cohort of 1,000 presumptive tuberculosis …

Modeling Intercellular And Intracellular Organization And Dynamics Of The Bacteria Escherichia Coli : From Population Dynamics In The Gut Microbiome, To Condensate Formation In Starved Cells, Alberto Alonso

Theses

Escherichia coli is a predominantly non-pathogenic species of bacteria present in the gut of most healthy adults. It plays a critical role in the health of the gut microbiome and is also widely used as a model organism in microbiology and synthetic biology studies. This thesis discusses results from two ongoing projects on E. Coli organization and emergent biophysical properties at two very distinct length scales. The first project focuses on using genetically modified engineered E. coli bacteria for early detection and intervention in colorectal cancer (CRC), a significant public health issue in the US. The success of these engineered …

Radical Regionalism: Integrating Historical Vernacular Wisdom With Modern Building Science For Resilient Envelope Design, Barbara Patricia Montano

Theses

This thesis investigates how vernacular environmental knowledge can be integrated with contemporary building science to inform climate-responsive residential building-envelope design. In response to the limitations of standardized construction approaches across diverse climatic regions, the research proposes Radical Regionalism, a framework that combines vernacular environmental principles, passive design strategies, sustainable material selection, building-envelope science, and resilience considerations within a performance-based design methodology. A comparative climate-based modeling methodology is applied to a representative single-family residential prototype across four contrasting United States climatic contexts: Miami, Florida (hot-humid); Phoenix, Arizona (hot-dry); Boston, Massachusetts (cold-humid); and Denver, Colorado (cold-dry). Representative conventional code-minimum wall assemblies are …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of An Occupation‑Based Telehealth Intervention For Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Bernard A. Muriithi, Milan Bimali, Mario Schootman

Occupational Therapy Faculty Scholarship

Introduction

Cancer survivors frequently experience occupational performance challenges during early survivorship, and telehealth may offer a feasible approach to deliver interventions during this period.

Methods

This pilot randomized controlled trial included 17 adults in the first year following breast or prostate cancer diagnosis, assigned to the ActiveHeal Cancer Program (ACP) or a control group. ACP consisted of six 75‑minute occupation‑focused virtual group sessions and weekly follow‑up telephone calls delivered by occupational therapists over 12 weeks. Control participants attended three brief virtual meetings without therapeutic intervention. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed using validated measures, attendance, and completion rates. The exploratory outcomes …

City Farm Slo - Market Stand Modernization, Juan Diaz

Construction Management

This paper analyzes the design, planning, and buildout of a custom multi-level stand, farm signage, and supporting equipment for the non-profit organization City Farm SLO. The overall goal of the project was to provide the farm with a modernized and functional market space. The project first addressed any owner design requirements, the approval of materials lists, and the assessment of existing conditions. The pre-construction consisted of developed drawings, materials lists, cost estimates, and a project schedule. Aside from setting up requirements, the owner provided specific milestones to be achieved during the construction phase of the project. A major risk found …

Nh Ece Research Consortium Member List, Evan England, Jess Carson

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

NH ECE Research Consortium membership is open to individuals and organizations with relevant expertise that aligns with the purpose of the Consortium, including the advancement of knowledge to support early care and education in NH. Check out the current Consortium members in this graphic!

0905: American Car And Foundry (Acf) Collection, 1916-2019, Marshall University Special Collections

Guides to Manuscript Collections

The collection includes only documents that were found in the plant in 2021. These primarily consist of files on capital projects from the 1970s through the 1990s. Also included are notebooks with job descriptions and classifications; ledger books containing maintenance purchase orders; quality assurance manuals; visitors register books from 1973-2019; drawings of plant machinery and operations; slides and photographs; and miscellaneous materials.

The forerunner to ACF was Ensign Manufacturing Company, founded in 1871 at Huntington, West Virginia, by William H. Barnum and Ely Ensign, both from prominent families of Lime Rock, Connecticut. It was chartered (incorporated) on November 1, 1872, …

Coming Fall 2026: Complete The Market Rate Survey, Nh Department Of Health And Human Services

New Hampshire Early Care and Education Research Consortium

No abstract provided.

Public And Self-Stigma Toward Mental Health Among Individuals Of Mexican Heritage, Mitzi Escalante

Theses & ETDs

There are rising concerns about social isolation and declining mental health that have prompted increased attention to the role of culture in shaping mental health experiences, particularly through stigma. Although prior research suggests that mental health stigma varies across and within cultural groups, limited work has focused specifically on Mexican American populations. The present study examined the relationship between Mexican American cultural values and both public stigma and self-stigma toward mental illness. Measures included the Mexican American Cultural Values Scale (MACVS), the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill scale (CAMI) to measure public stigma, and the Internalized Stigma of Mental …

Issue 26: Labour, Poverty, And Health Concerns Of Migrant Women And Girls Working As Kayayei In Ghana's Urban Centres, Comfort Baidoo, Robert Mcleman

International Migration Research Centre

Over the past four decades, growing numbers of women and girls have left northern Ghana for the country's cities, drawn by the promise of work, independence, and a chance to support their families. Many end up as kayayei, head porters who carry goods through Accra's crowded markets for a negotiated fee. Their labour keeps the informal economy moving, yet it comes at a steep personal cost: unpredictable earnings, punishing physical strain, unsafe housing, and a healthcare system that too often leaves them out. This brief draws together the available evidence on the economic and health conditions of kayayei in Greater-Accra. …

Analysis Of The Cannabinoid Compositions, Byproducts And Heavy Metals In Unregulated Cannabinoid Products By Hplc-Ms/Icp-Ms, Simone K. Melle

All NMU Master's Theses

The rapid expansion of unregulated hemp-derived products has created a need for analytical methods that characterize both cannabinoid composition and contaminant occurrence. This thesis used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to quantify cannabidiol (CBD), Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC), and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in commercial hemp-derived products, laboratory-prepared hemp oils, cultivated hemp tissues, extracted material, and post-harvest soil. Commercial products showed wide cannabinoid variability, with several samples containing more than one target cannabinoid, while laboratory-prepared plant oils showed a more consistent profile dominated by …

The History Of Poro College From 1902-1965, Chajuana V. Trawick Ferguson

Dissertations

This study investigates the development, operation, decline, and historical erasure of Poro College, the first multimillion‑dollar, minority‑owned higher education institution and vertical beauty‑culture enterprise, founded by Annie Turnbo Malone in St. Louis, Missouri. Drawing on Poro College documents, Black newspaper archives, National Trust for Historic Preservation records, and interviews with individuals knowledgeable about the institution, the research addresses four central questions: how Poro College was developed; its impact on students, employees, and the surrounding community; its relevance for current and future minority women educators and entrepreneurs; and the factors that contributed to its closure and eventual demolition. Evidence from the …

Parkinson's Disease: Immunometabolic Control Points Across Neural, Vascular, And Peripheral Systems, Y Narvaez Irizarry Felix, Alondr M. Bermudez Adorno, Boris Ermolinsky, Lilia Kucheryavykh, Mikhail Inyushin

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder most associated with degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Increasing clinical and experimental evidence, however, indicates that PD is a multisystem disease in which immune, metabolic, vascular, and peripheral nervous system dysfunction precede and shape motor circuit failure. Nonmotor manifestations, including olfactory impairment, sleep and autonomic disturbances, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and cognitive decline, often arise years before motor diagnosis, highlighting pathogenic mechanisms beyond dopamine deficiency alone. In this review, we synthesize evidence supporting the view that PD represents a disorder of chronic immunometabolic dysregulation rather than isolated neuronal loss. …

Recover Well: Reducing Readmissions Through Nurse-Led Follow-Up After Urologic Surgery – A Quality Improvement Project, Candace Brigette Mike

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hospital readmissions within 30 days following urologic surgeries are often associated with catheter complications, infections, poor pain management, and limited patient understanding of discharge instructions and therefore represent a significant quality and safety concern for patients and institutions alike. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether implementing structured, nurse-led telephone follow-up in conjunction with standard discharge education reduced unplanned 30-day hospital readmissions among adult patients undergoing urologic surgery. Guided by the Logic Model framework, this project used a quasi-experimental, two-group pre- and post-intervention design to compare outcomes at a high-volume outpatient urology clinic in Houston, Texas. …

Isolation, Identification, And Enzymatic Screening Of Fungi From Utah Dryland Soils For Industrial And Waste Valorization Applications, Jessica Lorena Silva Cuero

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Agricultural waste accumulation presents environmental challenges but also opportunities for biological valorization into value-added products. Fungi are particularly well-suited for this purpose due to their capacity to produce extracellular enzymes involved in the degradation of complex organic substrates. Dryland ecosystems represent a promising source for bioprospecting microbes capable of producing such enzymes. Drylands harbor a high diversity of extremophilic microorganisms that can withstand harsh conditions, extreme heat, UV, and low nutrients using unique adaptations. This suggests that these microbes are resilient and capable of surviving under varying conditions and still produce enzymes for biotransformation. The objective of this study was …

Content Mapping: An Experimental Analysis Of Missing Message Content, Jeannette Sutton

Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity Faculty Scholarship

The Warning-Response Model recommends the inclusion of five key content areas in warning messages to reduce information seeking that can lead to warning response delay: the message source, hazard (including its impact), affected location, recommended guidance, and time. Research has found that complete messages, that is, those that include all of five recommended content areas, help people make decisions about the protective actions they may take.  Unfortunately, a large majority of WEA messages omit information from one or more of the recommended content areas. This study examined the impact of omitting each of the five recommended content areas on message …

Quality Improvement Initiative To Improve Adherence To Ob Hemorrhage Policy And Standardize Pitocin Administration During Cesarean Sections To Reduce Postpartum Hemorrhage Risk, Lauren R. Litz, Monica Blauser

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Postpartum hemorrhage remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, and Pitocin administration is an important component of hemorrhage prevention and management during cesarean delivery. Variation in Pitocin timing, dosing, method of administration, and adherence to evidence-based recommendations may compromise patient safety and create barriers to standardized obstetric anesthesia care. The purpose of this Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice quality improvement project was to evaluate current anesthesia provider practices for Pitocin administration during cesarean delivery, compare observed practices with the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative hemorrhage toolkit and Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Enhanced Recovery After Cesarean recommendations, …

Enhancing Patient Outcomes In Obstetric Neuraxial Anesthesia: Evaluation Of A Structured Documentation Tool For Post-Dural Puncture Headache Tracking (Pdph), Jacqueline Saldana Tovar, Ahmad Hasaan

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project is to evaluate the incidence, management, and practice variation of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) in an obstetric population using retrospective data from standardized follow-up tools. The project aims to identify inconsistencies in procedural techniques, documentation practices, and adherence to evidence-based guidelines across anesthesia provider levels. By analyzing key clinical variables and patient outcomes, this project seeks to identify gaps in current practice, improve data reliability, and support the development of standardized protocols for PDPH assessment and management. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance quality of care, promote evidence-based decision-making, and …

Enhancing Sbar Documentation And Telecommunication Between Nursing And Anesthesia Teams In The Obstetric And Labor And Delivery Unit, Apollonia C. Anderson, Celeste Meda

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Effective communication during obstetric handoffs is essential for promoting maternal and neonatal safety, yet communication failures remain a significant contributor to adverse events due to inconsistent and unstructured handoff practices. This Doctor of Nursing Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) quality improvement project was developed following the recommendations of the 2025 DNAP project, which implemented the OB/L&D-specific SBAR tool. This project evaluated the use of this communication tool in areas of OB interdisciplinary team communication accuracy, efficiency, and collaboration, particularly during obstetric epidural requests within a community-based labor and delivery unit. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2020). Utilized …

A Design Guide For Extreme Heat In Play Environments: Exploring Landscape Architecture Strategies, Amy Elise Guenther

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Urban heat is a rising concern and is affecting vulnerable populations such as our youth. A particular concern is exposure to extremely high temperatures on playgrounds – an environment that is meant to be safe for children even in extreme weather conditions. There has been an increase in many impervious surfaces such as concrete and asphalt in urban areas. These surfaces absorb solar radiation, which contributes to the heat island effect. These same surfaces are in and around playground areas, which are contributing to the extreme heat felt within these play environments. Therefore, requiring intervention to help mitigate the effects …

The Confluence Of Conflict-Induced Vulnerability, Organized Crime, And Sex Trafficking In Receiving States: A South African Civil Society Perspective, Monique Emser

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

The crime-conflict nexus has been well-documented in conflict-affected and post-conflict states. Criminal networks make use of manifold methods and strategies to exploit individual and structural vulnerabilities, particularly those affected by war, displacement, and precarious migration journeys, forming the backbone of most conflict-induced trafficking ecosystems, whether in countries of origin, transit, or receipt. This article examines the intersection of sex trafficking, diaspora communities, and organized crime within South Africa as a receiving state from a civil society perspective. It underscores the deficiencies in traditional, reductionist, enforcement-based approaches to counter-trafficking by the state, where nested subsystems, such as those produced by endemic …

Behind The Screen: Online Sex Buyer Networks And The Organized Criminal Promotion Of Exploitation, Ava Kamdem, Vanessa Bouché, Ben Silver, Nick Freeman, Justin Euteneier

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This study investigates the extent to which online sex buyer communities in the United States function as organized criminal networks pursuant to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime’s definition of organized criminal groups. Drawing from theories of organized crime, social network analysis, and digital ecosystems, we conceptualize sex buyers not as isolated actors but as participants in coordinated, mutually reinforcing networks that share information to facilitate exploitation, mitigate risk, and sustain criminal behavior. To test this framework, we scraped over 1.2 million posts from a publicly accessible sex buyer forum, comprising 72,974 unique users and nearly 800,000 direct …

Dnp Final Report: Improving Diabetes Self-Efficacy Through Nutrition Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Lakimberely S. Wooten

DNP Final Reports

Diabetes affects 12.7% of residents in Northeast Texas and is the 7th leading cause of death. Internal evidence indicates low health literacy and a heavy disease burden in the service area, underscoring the need for a standardized, low-cost, and feasible approach to nutrition education. This quality improvement project evaluated the feasibility of implementing an instructor-led nutrition education session. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Framework and the ADKAR behavioral change model, adult participants with Type 2 diabetes received instruction on the Plate Method. Participants enrolled in a 4-week, instructor-led diabetes education class completed a 1-hour, nutrition education session using …

Dnp Final Report: Improving School Nurse Confidence In Managing Student Anxiety Through Simulation-Based Training, Jessica Marish

DNP Final Reports

Evidence has shown that students with untreated or poorly managed mental health concerns are at higher risk for absenteeism, psychiatric hospitalization, and school dropout. School nurses are often among the first healthcare professionals students encounter when experiencing emotional distress; however, many report limited preparation in mental health screening, grounding techniques, and referral support. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine the feasibility of a simulation-based educational intervention for school nurses in managing student anxiety. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model and Neuman Systems Model, this initiative also included the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement model …

Nocturnal Insect Diversity Within Myakka Headwaters Preserve (And Its Implications For Local Bat Populations), Devin Brannon

Theses & ETDs

Insects and bats act as potential bioindicators for environmental health in a given area due to their sensitivity to ecological change, alterations, and placement within the food chain. This study works to establish a baseline framework for the assessing of habitat quality in Big Waters Land Trust Myakka Headwaters Preserve (MHP) within Manatee County, Florida. This was done through the combined use of passive acoustic bat monitoring alongside insect light-trapping. Insect sampling was conducted at 8 sites/habitat types across MHP between September and November 2025. The use of a modified UV light trap design resulted in the collection of a …

An Analysis Of The Restaurant Industry: A Structure-Conduct-Performance Approach, Richard Corcoran

Theses & ETDs

The restaurant industry is a very large and integral part of the economy in the United States. It aids in employing more than 15 million Americans and brings close to 1 trillion dollars in annual revenue to the United States. Despite the size of the industry, many people take for granted the forces that drive and structure it. In this thesis, we will use the Structure, conduct, and performance model (SCP) to demonstrate and analyze how the restaurant industry is organized, how various business in it compete, and what kinds of outcomes for restaurant owners, employees, and consumers stem from …

Business Management & Airbnb, Fernando Espinal

Theses & ETDs

This thesis looks at property management in the short-term rental industry, with a focus on Airbnb properties in Sarasota, Florida. The information in this paper comes from my internship which for privacy reasons I simply refer to it as The Company, where I helped manage Airbnb rental properties. During my internship, I worked with rental pricing, compared local properties, organized expenses using QuickBooks and Excel, and reviewed how properties performed in the market. The purpose of this thesis is to explain how pricing, location, competition, and seasonal changes can affect the success of an Airbnb property. Through the internship experience, …

The Author Has Granted New College Of Florida The Nonexclusive Right To Archive, Make Accessible, And Distribute For Educational Purposes This Work In Whole Or In Part In All Forms Of Media, Now Or Hereafter Known. The Copyright Of This Work Remains With The Author., Alexandra Diliberti

Theses & ETDs

Indigenous women in Guatemala face disproportionate rates of maternal mortality, malnutrition, and reproductive health disparities compared to non-indigenous women. These disparities persist, even after the signing of the 1996 Peace Accords formally committed the government to indigenous rights and improved healthcare. This thesis argues that this is the result of coloniality, neoliberal privatization, and the epistemological exclusion of Maya health knowledge from the official health system. The theoretical framework is based on coloniality of power and knowledge (Quijano 2000), abyssal thinking and ecology of knowledges (Santos 2014), coloniality of gender (Lugones 2008), structural violence (Farmer 1996), and decolonizing methodologies (Tuhiwai …