Words That Work: Healthcare Providers’ Acceptability Of Aba Terminology, Marisa A. Hurlock

Thesis Projects

Effective collaboration between behavior analysts and healthcare providers depends on a shared understanding. This study explored how healthcare professionals perceive technical versus plain-language ABA terminology. Healthcare providers (n = 44) rated 10 common ABA terms and their plain-language counterparts across clarity, acceptability, comfort, and likelihood of use. In addition, participants completed a paired-choice procedure in which they selected their preferred terminology for each term pair. Plain-language terminology was generally rated more favorably across all four dimensions and was preferred by approximately 70.6% of respondents. However, this pattern was not consistent across all terms, as several technical terms (e.g., negative …

Dual-Lev: A Dual-Axis Ultrasonic Acoustic Levitator, Trevor Hennington, Alyx Mason

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

sound waves to create a standing wave, where regions of high and low pressure form stable nodes that can trap small objects. The upward acoustic radiation force at these nodes balances gravity, allowing the object to float in midair. This technology is applicable in various fields such as chemistry, biological engineering, and sub-gravity simulation. It can also be used for drop dynamics studies, crystallization, and

Opioid Use And Multimodal Interventions In Mechanically Ventilated Icu Patients: A Systematized Review, James William Graham

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Analyzing Data From Space Telescopes To Model Exoplanet Systems, John Michael Rice

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Health Literacy And Heart Failure Outcomes, Cheyann Grace Townley

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Automatic Determination Of Mechanical Properties From Molecular Dynamic Stress-Strain Curves Using Regression Fringe Response, Josh Kemppainen, Tristan Muzzy, Travis Wavrunek, Gregory Odegard

Michigan Tech Publications

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have become a powerful tool for studying polymers, designing new materials, and composites. Mechanical behavior in MD simulations are typically evaluated through stress-strain curves. However, MD-generated stress-strain curves are often obscured by thermal noise from atomic vibrations. This noise complicates the reliable derivation of mechanical properties and hinders objective and reproducible analysis. The noise in the stress-strain curves has been removed by using a Butterworth low-pass filter, enabling clearer interpretation of stress-strain data. Building on this, a novel analysis framework the Regression Fringe Response (RFR) is introduced to systematically determine the Young's modulus, yield strength, and …

Photochemical Activation Of Cyanine-Based Nanogels For Controlled Drug Delivery, Presley Clary

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Student Publications

Cyanines are highly conjugated molecules with useful properties, such as ease of aggregation and fluorescence. In this project, they were incorporated into an acrylamide-based nanogel made through organic synthesis to exploit these properties for controlled drug delivery. Exposing the nanogel to nearinfrared (NIR) light causes it to react with reactive oxygen species (ROS), forming an unstable intermediate. The intermediate splits into two fragments, releasing the nanogel's cargo.1 The cargo, temozolomide, is an alkylating agent which can be used to disrupt the DNA of cancer cells.

Ocusensus: Real-Time Force Detection Strabismus Hook, Asa Barnhart, Niko Burger, Patricia Carrelo-Creque, Kristie Fonseca

Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Student Publications

Strabismus affects approximately 2–5% of the general population [1]. Primary treatment is (strabismus) surgery but current methods result in approximately 36% of patients undergoing reoperation within 5 years [2]. One factor proposed to contribute towards reoperation is insufficient force applied to extraocular muscles during surgery. Excessive force triggers the oculocardiac reflex (OCR) which lowers heart rate by >20%[3]

Youth Basketball Development Camp: Planning, Implementation, And Reflection, Jaden Ty Mathis

Whittier Scholars Program

Basketball has always been a huge part of my life, shaping who I am both on and off the court. As a senior at Whittier College and captain of the basketball team, I have experienced firsthand how powerful the game can be in teaching discipline, teamwork, and leadership. From a young age, I spent countless hours practicing, learning from my coaches, and growing as a teammate. Through these experiences, I learned that success does not happen overnight. It requires patience, consistency, and a willingness to work through challenges.

I was fortunate to have mentors who believed in me and pushed …

Carmen Manrique De Quintero: A Forgotten Legacy In Colombian Piano Music, Lina Maria Luisa Marín Diaz

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This doctoral document investigates the life and piano works of Carmen Manrique de Quintero (1871–1931), a pivotal yet overlooked figure in Colombian music history. Positioned as a stylistic bridge between the nineteenth-century estética del salón [salon aesthetics] and the professionalization of the Colombian composer, Manrique de Quintero’s output represents a sophisticated synthesis of European forms and Colombian national rhythms. Despite her membership in the influential Garay artistic lineage and her prolific body of work, her legacy has suffered from editorial blurring, fragmented documentation, and systematic intellectual appropriation. Using a multidisciplinary approach of genealogical reconstruction and artistic archaeology, this study restores …

Electron Emission From Unactivated Gaas: Towards The Development Of Novel Sources Of Spin-Polarized Electrons, William Truslow Newman

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Spin-polarized electrons are commonly emitted from GaAs photocathodes with treated surfaces in a process called negative electron affinity activation. These sources require stringent vacuum conditions that are often hard to achieve and lead to significant downtimes in experiments. In this dissertation, I present new investigations of electron emission from unactivated GaAs towards the development of novel sources of spin-polarized electrons. The work entails two primary directions. The first is the investigation of electron emission using multiphoton ionization processes enhanced by nanoscale surface structures. We explore GaAs electron sources including, shards, nanotip arrays of pyramid structures, wedges, and ion-milled tips. The …

Staff Education On Person-Centered Care Planning To Improve Cahps Scores, Raishonda Jefferson-Lampton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurse care managers (NCMs) play a central role in shaping patient experience, yet care plans are often developed based on clinical expertise and assessment data without a structured framework to ensure person‑centeredness. This doctoral project addressed the practice problem of inconsistent person‑centered care planning by implementing an educational intervention for NCMs within a managed care organization. Guided by the practice‑focused question—for NCMs in a managed care setting, does education in person‑centered care increase knowledge toward the goal of improving Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey scores?—the project evaluated changes in NCM knowledge following a targeted training session. …

Worldview-Bench: A Benchmark For Evaluating Global Cultural Perspectives In Large Language Models, Abdullah Mushtaq, Imran Taj, Rafay Naeem, Ibrahim Ghaznavi, Junaid Qadir

All Works

Background: Large Language Models (LLMs) are predominantly trained and aligned in ways that reinforce Westerncentric epistemologies and socio-cultural norms, leading to cultural homogenization and limiting their ability to reflect global civilizational plurality. Existing benchmarking frameworks fail to adequately capture this bias, as they rely on rigid, closed-form assessments that overlook the complexity of cultural inclusivity. Objectives: To address this cultural bias problem, we introduce WorldView-Bench, a benchmark designed to evaluate Global Cultural Inclusivity (GCI) in LLMs by analyzing their ability to accommodate diverse worldviews. Methods: Our approach is grounded in the Multiplex Worldview proposed by Senturk et al., which distinguishes …

Repurposing An Old Pc Into A Self-Hosted Cloud And Media Server, Riley Biggins

Honors Theses

Commercial cloud platforms rely heavily on subscription models, so everyday users fall into a "cloud trap" summarized by perpetual fees, forfeited privacy, and a lack of true asset ownership. At the same time, functioning consumer electronics get discarded as e-waste when they fail to meet the hardware requirements of modern operating systems. This project presents a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to both issues by repurposing a 2017 HP Pavilion laptop into a personal cloud and media server.

Despite severe hardware constraints, my software architecture rivals the utility of paid services. By replacing Windows with a headless installation of Ubuntu Server, …

Navigating Study Abroad: Improving Western Michigan University Students' Understanding Of University-Approved Provider Programs Through A Website Redesign, Gillian Gold

Honors Theses

Study abroad is a valuable opportunity for students' personal and professional development and is offered in various study abroad models and frameworks, including university-run or externally-run. Western Michigan University offers various options, including Faculty-Led Programs, WMU Exchange Programs, Partner Study Abroad Programs, University-Approved Provider Programs, International Internships, and Independent Study Abroad Opportunities. The University-Approved Provider Programs option at WMU allows students to study abroad through a provider that could more directly meet their interests and goals due to the personalized options available. Despite the benefits of the University-Approved Provider Programs, participation in these programs is low. The information about this …

How Mindfulness And Yoga Practices Are Implemented In Occupational Therapy, Madeline Roberts

Honors Theses

The application of yoga and mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in occupational therapy (OT) and their effects on occupational, cognitive, emotional, and physical outcomes are examined in this literature review. Occupational therapy is a comprehensive, client-based field that helps people engage in everyday activities to improve overall well-being, health, and independence. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in using mindfulness-based interventions in occupational therapy, as they align with OT's focus on well-being and quality of life. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, WMU Library Search, and ScienceDirect to identify peer-reviewed research on mindfulness-based interventions, yoga, and occupational …

Price Dispersion In Online Markets Increases During Periods Of Higher Demand As Firms Use Dynamic Pricing Strategies To Maximize Revenue Under Demand Uncertainty., Brooke Stewart

Honors Theses

This study investigates the phenomenon of price dispersion in online retail markets during high-demand periods, focusing on the role of dynamic pricing under conditions of demand uncertainty. Although online markets operate in a transparent way, and consumers find it cheap to search them, the price dispersion phenomenon, when the same product is sold at varying prices by various vendors, persists. The study discusses the case of higher dispersion of prices in high-demand times like holidays, sales events, or shortages of goods when there is uncertainty about the future demand, causing dynamic pricing models. In analyzing the price of 25 the …

The Predictors Of Adverse Birth Outcomes In Pre-Eclampsia: An Explanatory Sequential Study, Maadwoa F. Asamoah

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Objectives: The goal of this study was to identify health factors associated with adverse birth outcomes among women diagnosed with preeclampsia. Three logistic regression models were developed and analyzed. In addition to the quantitative analysis, 10 women discussed their experiences with provider communications, access to resources, barriers to care, and the quality of the postpartum support they received.

Research questions: Research questions asked how women diagnosed with preeclampsia feel about their care. 1. Does learning about preeclampsia before diagnosis help reduce negative birth outcomes? 2. Which personal and health factors align with birth outcomes? 3.What barriers do women face in …

Community-Based A1c Screening Initiative To Improve Diabetes Risk Identification Among People Experiencing Homelessness, Rebecca Drake, Deedee Long, Mariita Carter

Student Works

Abstract

Purpose: People experiencing homelessness (PEH) experience high rates of undiagnosed diabetes yet face significant barriers to preventive screening. This quality improvement project aimed to improve access to diabetes screening for PEH through on-site hemoglobin A1C (A1C) testing in a trusted community setting.

Methods: On-site A1C screening was implemented at the Utah County Food and Care Coalition (F&CC) using a low-barrier, community-based approach. Screening was conducted during routine service hours and integrated into existing workflows. Process, outcome, and balancing measures were used to evaluate feasibility, reach, and unintended effects.

Results: The intervention primarily supported identification of diabetes risk and referral …

Effects Of Sublethal Bisphenol A On Planarian Phototaxis, Alexis Galindez, Emily Pintilie, Kevin Sosa, Cassandra S. Korte

Student Publications and Presentations

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common plastic found in many consumer products, including water bottles, food containers, and toys. Previous research shows BPA is an environmental contaminant with potential neurotoxic effects, including nociceptive behaviors in planaria flatworms. Planaria flatworms, such as Girardia dorotocephala, are valuable model organisms for studying neurotoxicity due to their simple but well-characterized nervous systems and measurable phototaxis or light response behaviors. Earlier experiments in our lab demonstrated that BPA concentrations of 1 ppm and higher caused high mortality and reduced movement. We were thus unable to measure phototaxis behavior at this higher concentration. This study investigated …

Investigating Barriers Toward Implementation Of Harm Reduction, Mati Abrahami, Melissa Lehman, Ali Cunningham Abbott

Student Publications and Presentations

Harm reduction is a public health initiative that focuses on reducing the harms associated with substance use. These initiatives are currently being implemented all throughout Europe and across Canada in order to combat the addiction and overdose crisis. Despite strong empirical evidence of the efficacy of harm reduction in preventing death and overdose, these initiatives face many barriers to implementation in the United States and are not widely accepted or practiced. The aim of this study is to investigate overall feelings, perceptions, and attitudes towards harm reduction with the goal of identifying factors that predict such outcomes. Participants completed a …

Gender Bias And The Adhd Diagnosis Gap, Ashlee Depass

Student Publications and Presentations

Public conversations often question whether Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) receives too many diagnoses. At the same time, many girls and women report years of struggling without recognition or support. This contrast suggests that the issue may not simply be how often clinicians diagnose ADHD, but how they recognize it and whose symptoms prompt evaluation. ADHD does not present identically across individuals. Boys frequently display hyperactive or disruptive behaviors that draw attention in school and clinical settings. Girls more commonly experience inattentiveness, emotional intensity, or internal distress that may not disrupt others in obvious ways. When adults interpret these behaviors differently, they …

The Effects Of The Opioid Crisis On Fentanyl Exhibitions, Onnalee Floriano

Student Publications and Presentations

The opioid crisis is an epidemic in which fentanyl related overdoses are becoming more common. With the increase in prescription and recreational drugs, there has been a rise in drug combinations and exhibitions in the United States. Fentanyl has been found to be combined with other opiates like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, creating a higher risk of overdoses when being used recreationally. The National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) is designed to collect drugs and understand the trends in where they are being seized. From 2015 to 2019, the NFLIS collected drugs in four groups, fentanyl alone, and fentanyl combinations …

Assessing Visual Analysis Skills With Board Certified Behavior Analysts: A Replication And Extension, Daniella Fronte

Thesis Projects

Visual analysis of single-subject data is a necessary decision-making method in the field of behavior analysis. This analysis helps practitioners evaluate the efficacy of their interventions and informs subsequent decisions to complete, continue, modify, or discontinue an intervention. The purpose of this study was to assess behavior analysts’ visual analysis skills and to evaluate whether using a decision-making flowchart increases correct clinical decisions. Talk-aloud data were used to analyze errors in behavior analysts’ decision-making. Additionally, the extent to which participants rated the flowchart’s significance and effectiveness was assessed. Four of 16 participants reached mastery in the baseline phase without access …

Environmental Dna Barcoding For Non-Model Organisms: Challenges And Outcomes Of Developing Barcodes For Freshwater Mussels, Nicholas Duellman

Longwood Senior Theses

Freshwater mussels are a keystone species providing crucial ecosystem services and river composition resiliency. Globally, they remain one of the most imperiled invertebrate groups, facing threats of water quality declines and urban development. Traditional field sampling can often be laborious and ineffective in surveying rare species’ distributions. Anecdotal evidence suggests the presence of freshwater mussels within the Appomattox River; the specifics of population sizes and suitable habitat remains an open question. Environmental DNA (eDNA) usage in conservation ecology has increased dramatically within the past two decades, being a far less invasive and cost-demanding option than traditional surveys. In an effort …

Resilience And Emotional Eating: Gender Differences In Undereating, Tinei Nyakuyedzwa, Patrick J. Cooper

Student Publications and Presentations

Emotional eating refers to eating in response to emotional states as opposed to hunger and is linked to stress, which is important for college students who experience unique stressors (e.g., academic, social, and interpersonal) in their college experience. It is also often found to be more prevalent in women, but not always. During the COVID-19 pandemic, females and males reported similar levels of emotional eating, but for different reasons: female emotional eating was linked to isolation and/or extra care-giving responsibilities, whereas male emotional eating was linked to reward seeking behaviors. The purpose of this study is to examine whether there …

Preserving The Untold Stories: Leveraging Emerging Technologies (Ai And Machine Learning) For Archiving Hidden Histories Of Children And Families Impacted By The Little Rock School Integration Crisis, Oluseyi Noah Adebanjo

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis challenges the dominant narrative of the Little Rock School Integration Crisis by recovering the hidden histories of families and siblings who made integration possible but have been systematically overlooked by historians. While existing scholarship focuses on the Little Rock Nine as individual heroes, this research demonstrates that integration was fundamentally a family crisis requiring collective decision-making, economic sacrifice, and multigenerational support networks. Through close reading of published memoirs, newspaper clippings, school board minutes, and original oral history interviews with Phyllis Brown and Dr. Sybil Jordan Hampton, this study reveals how approximately 200 eligible families were systematically reduced to …

A Cross-Sectional Study To Explore Healthcare Providers’ Wellness: Current Challenges & Gut Health, Linda Liu, Simi Joseph

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: Healthcare provider well-being is essential for high-quality patient care. However, stress, burnout, and demanding work environments negatively impact physical and mental health, including gut health. The gut-brain axis underscores the link between gastrointestinal function, stress, and well-being, yet limited research has explored gut health among healthcare professionals.

Purpose: This study assessed the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms among healthcare providers and examined associations with stress levels, clinical environment, and quality of life in acute and outpatient settings.

Framework: Guided by the Biopsychosocial Model, this research explored how biological, psychological, and social factors influence the well-being and gut health of healthcare …

Fostering A Healthy Academic Environment In Nursing Education, Donna M. Hedges

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

A healthy academic environment is foundational to the preparation of future nurses, the retention of faculty, and the overall success of nursing education programs. This presentation examines the multidimensional nature of a healthy academic environment, highlighting psychological safety, equity and inclusion, supportive infrastructure, academic integrity, and collaborative learning as critical elements. Drawing from relational-cultural theory and caring science, the presentation explores how these elements shape outcomes for students, faculty, and institutions. Common challenges—including incivility, limited resources, and faculty workload strain—are discussed alongside evidence-based strategies to foster resilience, collegiality, and organizational change. Implications for practice, policy, and research are identified, underscoring …

Integrating A3 Thinking To Drive Collaborative Clinical And Operational Improvements, Deltra Muoki, Sarah Fleming, Eliud Faz, Dan Hootman, Whitney Adams

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Introduction: Delivering high-quality care and achieving optimal outcomes rely on efficient clinical processes. Continuous improvement enhances care (Endalamaw et al., 2024), and staff should identify evidence-based solutions to drive change.

At this 350-bed Magnet-recognized hospital, clinical and operational teams worked in silos despite shared goals. Clinical staff used gap analyses, while operational teams applied A3 problem-solving to determine whether issues required kaizen events or quick fixes. A3 supports root cause analysis, targeted interventions, and outcome evaluation (Brennan & Wendt, 2021).

However, no standardized process existed for submitting or tracking gap analyses or A3s. In Q1 2025, only two A3s and …