Digital Commons Network^™

Family Processes As A Protective Factor Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Adolescent Delinquency, Tessa Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores whether family processes (i.e., parental attachment and parental discipline/monitoring) serve as protective factors between the relationship of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adolescent delinquency. Prior research has established an association between ACEs and many negative life outcomes, including delinquent behavior, while strong parental attachment and parental discipline/monitoring are linked to lower rates of delinquency. However, the interplay of these three factors has been understudied. Drawing on data from the 2024 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS) (N=22,016), this study examines the relationship between ACEs, family processes, and delinquency using negative binomial regression models. Results indicate that parental …

Beyond The Stacks: Borrowing Of Immersive Technologies And Smart Eco Systems To Reimagine Libraries., Vuppala Lingaiah

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This theoretical Chapter explores the paradigm shift of knowledge access, user experience, and institutional viability through the integration of immersive technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT), within the new paradigm of funky libraries, and how these technologies are changing knowledge access, user experiences, and the institutional sustainability of various library environments. Methodology: The research approach is non-empirical and exploratory-conceptual, based on a synthesis of systematic literature, thematic clustering of the existing literature, and theoretical critique of recent peer-reviewed findings. The chapter is based on more …

From Awe To Anxiety: Investigating Art-Induced Self-Transcendence Using Virtual Reality, Monica V. Weedman, Kutter Callaway, Daniel M. Shafer, Tyler Greenway, Jo- Ann Tsang, Wade C. Rowatt

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Introduction: Art has been shown to evoke a range of emotions, yet the mechanisms underlying these responses remain underexplored. Across three studies using between- and within-subjects designs, we examined how viewing original photographic art in virtual reality (VR) influences self-transcendent emotions and related affective states.

Method: In Study 1, participants viewed photographs in one of three VR contexts (museum, warehouse, church sanctuary). In Study 2, participants viewed the same photographs in a VR museum context where the photo scale varied (small vs. large scale). In Study 3, online participants viewed video recordings of the VR museum with or without computer-generated …

Growing Healthy Habits: Impacts Of A Youth Community Garden For Children In Rural Mississippi, Olivia G. Degravelle

Honors Theses

This study examines the implementation and outcomes of a Youth Garden Program conducted in Pontotoc, Mississippi. Funded by the Allstate Community Service Project Grant, the Youth Garden was constructed within the previously established Pontotoc Community Garden. The initiative comprised four weekly workshops designed for participants ranging from preschool to adolescence. Each session incorporated hands-on fruit and vegetable (FV) planting or harvesting, an educational lesson, and a complementary craft activity. Children’s FV consumption patterns, nutritional knowledge, and attitudes toward FV were assessed through pre- and post-program surveys. In addition, the photo-elicitation interview method invited participants to take digital photographs of garden …

Emotional Awareness And Resilience In Adolescents, Emilie Zimmerman

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Adolescent trauma exposure is prevalent and associated with a range of negative developmental outcomes. However, some youth demonstrate resilience. Emotional awareness, a foundational component of emotion regulation, may play a role in promoting adaptive functioning following adversity, though its contribution to resilience in trauma-exposed adolescents remains unclear. The present study examined whether emotional awareness is associated with multiple domains of resilience including prosocial behavior, self-efficacy to handle conflict, perceived resilience, and emotional and conduct problems, after accounting for trauma exposure. Participants were 36 adolescents enrolled in a support program for at-risk youth. Data were obtained from youth-report measures of trauma …

Good Resource, Bad Vibe: How Well Does The Media Reflect Economic Activity?, Brett Watson, Noah Burke, Dayna Jean Defeo

ISER Reports

Resource industries like oil and fishing are characterized by boom-and-bust cycles – there are “good years” and “bad years.” In communities that are highly connected to a particular resource, these economic shocks are foregrounded in the public attention. This paper compares economic indicators with media coverage over a 10-year period in Homer, Alaska. Specifically, it explores the economic shock of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill and looks at how media coverage aligned to the fishery performance during the recovery years. Even as the fishery recovered to pre-spill performance in dollars, the media sentiment did not “bounce back” as quickly. …

Master Of Social Work Faculties Integration Of Gender And Sexuality Diverse Content: A Cross-Sectional, Quantitative Study, Lynn Mazur

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

Master of social work (MSW) students may be entering into field practice without meeting the necessary competencies for practice to address the needs of the gender and sexuality diverse (GSD) population. The literature supports that GSD content may be absent from course content. This cross-sectional design study aimed to understand what factors influence MSW faculty to incorporate GSD content into their coursework. MSW faculty at Council on Social Work Education (CSWE, 2022) accredited programs were invited via email to complete an online, anonymous, and voluntary survey. The results suggested strong support for the integration of GSD content into the coursework, …

Beyond Social Media: Effective Innovative Strategies For Small Cleaning Services To Engage Decision-Makers And Secure Contracts, Danielle Edwesa Gaskins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small cleaning service businesses often encounter challenges when attempting to reach decision-makers and obtain commercial contracts. Small cleaning service business leaders are concerned with securing contracts because the continual acquisition of agreements underpins both business stability and growth. Grounded in the service-dominant logic, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies small cleaning business leaders use to engage decision-makers and win contracts without relying on the use of social media marketing. The participants were five leaders from small cleaning businesses in the United States who had successfully secured contracts through alternative engagement strategies. Data were gathered using …

Mapping Serial Killer Life Pathways With Behavior Sequence Analysis, Morgann Lynn Brafford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to influence criminal behavior in adulthood, their potential influence on serial killer actions has not been scrutinized. This study was an investigation of how ACEs might affect serial killer actions later in life. The trauma-control model provided a conceptual framework for the investigation. Marono et al.’s research featuring behavior sequence analysis (BSA) was broadened to examine the impact of psychological abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, violence against animals, head injury, and bullying serial killer behaviors like stalking or sexual assault. The participants were 364 anonymized male serial killers from the Radford/Florida Gulf Coast …

Una Comunidad De Dolientes: El Indígena En La Literatura Colonial Cubana, Jorge Camacho

Purdue Studies in Romance Literatures

Although numerous essays on Aboriginal archaeology and historical accounts have explored the characteristics of Indigenous communities at the onset of colonization, academic criticism has largely overlooked their representation in Cuban literature and art. This book addresses that critical gap, emphasizing the significance of Indigenous figures in the Cuban social imagination from the late eighteenth to the late nineteenth centuries. It examines a range of cultural texts—including poems, caricatures, plays, and essays—that depict Indigenous characters within both proto-nationalist and pro-Spanish discourses. In the former, the Indigenous figure serves to critique colonial authority and assert a rightful claim to the land; in …

Discovering The World Of Honey Bees And Beekeeping, Natalie J. Carroll, Greg Hunt, Krispn Given

Purdue University Press Books

You don’t have to be a scientist or a lifelong beekeeper to fall in love with the world of honey bees. Discovering the World of Honey Bees and Beekeeping is designed to take anyone, regardless of their experience, on a rewarding adventure by first exploring the fascinating biology and behavior of these insects. This book is designed to help readers see the environment from a bee’s perspective, revealing the vital role pollinators play in our food systems and local ecosystems. Whether you are a student, a backyard gardener, or a nature lover, this guide provides a clear, step-by-step roadmap for …

Evaluating Sand Characteristics And Their Influence On Sea Turtle Nest Incubation Conditions, Thomas Naylor

Honors Theses

The embryonic development of sea turtles is strongly influenced by the environmental factors experienced during incubation within the nest. These environmental factors can influence hatchling sex ratios, body condition, and their success emerging from nests. Adult female sea turtles lay nests across a range of sites throughout the nesting season, resulting in each nest encountering unique abiotic conditions. This study aims to identify how variation in sand characteristics, such as grain size proportions, permeability, and color, influences nest temperature and subsequent hatchling outcomes of Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) and Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) from …

Understanding The Alternative Normative Concepts, Dewitt W. Spiller

Theses

Matti Eklund's challenge to normative realism in Choosing Normative Concepts (2017) turns on the possibility of "alternative normative concepts"—concepts that play the same normative role as ours but have different extensions. Eklund argues that the ardent realist cannot express what he calls “the further question” about which concepts to use without either trivializing the answer or changing the subject. I argue that this challenge rests on an unstated assumption about how normative concepts are differentiated. I call this the Fragility Assumption. What I seek to show is that this assumption is not obligatory; there are live views of normative concepts …

Dimensionless Ratios And Processes Controlling Volumetric Bioretention Performance, Andrew Charles Hiestand

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Urbanization of previously natural land cover has spurred the innovation and implementation of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to combat increased surface runoff due to impermeable areas and a changing climate. Bioretention has been a popular choice in design due to its small footprint and proven effectiveness in retaining stormwater runoff and limiting discharges to receiving surface waters. However, their event-to-event performance variability is difficult to explain due to a number of confounding and interacting influences that distort cross-site analyses including inter-event drying and antecedent soil moisture conditions, geometric size and media properties, and event magnitude. This study applies and evaluates …

The Influence Of The Timing Of Definitive Restoration Placement After Root Canal Completion: A 22-Year Retrospective Study, Shikha Gupta

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Objective: To evaluate how the time interval between root canal obturation and the placement of a definitive restoration impacts the incidence of tooth failure, defined as non-surgical retreatment, apical surgery, or extraction. Methods: This 22-year-retrospective cohort study utilized electronic health records from the Marquette University School of Dentistry (MUSoD) axiUm database, analyzing 11,002 teeth treated between 2004 and 2026. Inclusion criteria required patients to be at least 18 years of age, categorized as established patients of record, with all non-surgical root canal treatments (NSRCT) meeting the 2020 AAE quality standards. The interval between obturation and restoration was categorized into seven …

Testing A New Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument For Pediatric Nursing, Elizabeth Anne Flasch

Dissertations (1934 -)

A descriptive multi-site correlational study design was used to test a modified instrument to determine its ability to assess students consistently across settings using a group of prelicensure pediatric students enrolled in two different pediatric clinical environments. Two participant groups were intentionally recruited including clinical instructors teaching in pediatric clinical environments and their corresponding students practicing in pediatric simulation and traditional clinical environments. Inter-rater reliability of the instrument was achieved. Prelicensure nursing students were deemed competent in the care of children across settings. No statistically significant correlations were found between environments. There was a relationship between student perception of confidence …

Building On Common Ground: Autistic Adults' And Parents Of Young Autistic Children's Perspectives Of Early Behavioral Intervention Practices, Sophia R. D'Agostino, Naima Bhana-Lopez, Trenton J. Landon, Alyssa Roylance, Avery Briggs

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of autistic adults and parents of autistic children regarding applied behavior analysis (ABA)-based early intervention, their beliefs about best practices in early intervention, and their recommendations for improving service delivery. A mixed-methods design was used to compare quantitative survey data from 70 participants (33 autistic adults, 37 parents) with qualitative interview responses (12 autistic adults, 12 parents), exploring perceptions of ABA and early intervention implementation. Quantitative analyses revealed significant group differences in perceptions of ABA’s benefits and side effects: parents rated ABA-based interventions more positively overall, whereas autistic adults expressed …

Hidinet-T: A Transformer Modeling For High-Dimensional Survival Analysis, Aashish Dhanani

Computer Science Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Parthenon, April 15, 2026, Baylee Parsons, Kaitlyn Fleming, Abby Ayes, Ella Hatfield, Davina Snyder, Scott Price, Trista Honaker, Tally Mamula

The Parthenon

No abstract provided.

Anesthetic Management In Patients With Impella Devices: A Retrospective Review And Clinical Guide, Harrison Yang, Divakara Gouda, Kent B. Berg, Katherine Green, Suvan Sundaresh, Basavana Goudra

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Background: The Impella family of percutaneous a left ventricular assist devices are increasingly used for hemodynamic support in patients with cardiogenic shock or advanced heart failure. However, guidance on anesthetic management for patients with Impella support undergoing noncardiac procedures remains sparse. This study reviews perioperative practices and outcomes to inform clinical management.

Methods: Following institutional review board approval, a retrospective analysis was performed of adult patients receiving an Impella device (2.5, CP, 5.0, or 5.5) at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, USA, between December 2017 and October 2024. Patients, who subsequently underwent procedures involving anesthesia care were included. Demographics, procedure …

An Investigation Into The Student And Faculty Knowledge, Perception, And Usage Of Chatgpt, Isabella Burns

Honors Theses

Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT) has become a significant topic in academia. Professors and university officials have been contemplating an all-out ban on utilizing such tools for undergraduate academic work. Sullivan et al (2023) noted “…student behaviors led some universities to ban the use of ChatGPT…” (p. 32). Instead of teaching students how to leverage ChatGPT as a powerful resource to enhance the learning process, universities have deemed use of ChatGPT unacceptable, equating its use with serious academic dishonesty offenses consistent with plagiarism (Hawdon et al., 2025). Directly copying from ChatGPT can constitute plagiarism and poses a significant issue for college-level studies, …

Exploring Undergraduate Student’S Perceptions Of Agriculture, Cayden J. Barton

Honors Theses

Americans today, both young and old, face issues with agricultural knowledge regarding the food and fiber industry and production agriculture as a whole (Frick et al., 1995). In a society where consumers are separated from production agriculture, public interaction with agriculture is less prevalent and the importance of agriculture is undervalued. A person’s knowledge of agriculture, or agricultural literacy affects the way that they perceive agricultural commodities and the agricultural industry (Specht, McKim, & Rutherford, 2014). Without adequate knowledge of the agricultural industry consumers cannot make well informed decisions about food safety or processing methods. In addition to consumers, government …

Empowering Futures: Inspiring Young Girls In Stem Through Comics, Angel M. Griggs

Honors Theses

Women have historically been underrepresented in STEM fields. In my analysis, I explored how children’s literature representing historical women role models empower young girls to possibly pursue STEM careers. I applied Vekiri’s et. al (2024) research on attracting girls to STEM through interactive video games displaying STEM role models to comic books. In this project, I review academic literature, historical sources, and research articles to develop an educational comic book about historical women in STEM to help support the idea that creative activities and resources displaying role models can be influential to young children, specifically young girls. I focused on …

Strategic Digital Adaptation Among Small And Medium-Size Enterprise Leaders In Grenada For Implementing Digital Technologies To Achieve Long-Term Sustainability, Competitive Advantage, And Scalability, Devon Junior Charles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) leaders in Grenada struggle to implement digital technologies effectively, which limits business sustainability, competitive advantage, and scalability. This issue is particularly concerning for SME leaders, as ineffective digital implementation threatens business survival, workforce stability, and economic resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). Grounded in a composite conceptual framework integrating the technology–organization–environment framework and dynamic capabilities theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies SME leaders in Grenada used to implement digital technologies to achieve sustainability, competitive advantage, and scalability. The participants were six SME leaders in Grenada with at …

A Multilevel Analysis Of Prescriber-Reported Buprenorphine Induction Challenges In Fentanyl-Endemic Settings, Alyssa Vawn Long

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The emergence of illicitly manufactured fentanyl has increased clinical uncertainty during buprenorphine induction in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. The purpose of this quantitative, retrospective cohort study, guided by the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), was to examine whether prescriber-level buprenorphine induction practices and experiences with precipitated withdrawal were associated with reported buprenorphine induction challenges, and whether county-level fentanyl prevalence contributed to these challenges after accounting for geographic clustering. Secondary, de-identified archival data were obtained from the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network study CTN-0134 and included 64 prescribers practicing in fentanyl-endemic settings. Buprenorphine induction challenges were operationalized as …

Promoting Mental Wellness And A Calm Learning Environment In A 2nd Grade Classroom, Grace Tone

Capstone Projects

Promoting mental wellness and implementing cognitive behavioral strategies brings awareness to staff and students and helps to promote a calm learning environment. School-based occupational therapists support students to participate in school occupations that they may be struggling with and provide them with cognitive behavioral strategies to regulate their emotions. The ACOTE concentration area for this capstone included education to staff members on the impact of mental wellness on student participation in school occupations and education on the Calm Moment Cards program from Every Moment Counts. The second ACOTE concentration area for this capstone was program development for sustainability of the …

Socially Constructing ‘Climate Change’ In Fishing Communities Of Sarangani, Philippines, Samantha Geraldine G. De Los Santos, Ma. Larissa Lelu P. Gata

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The intensifying impacts of climate change have become more evident in recent years. While policies and programs have been implemented in the Philippines for decades, questions remain about how climate change is understood and experienced by fishing communities, the country’s poorest sector. By applying the Ecological-Symbolic Approach, this paper inquired into the fisherfolk’s social definition of climate change. A Qualitatively Driven Sequential Explanatory (QualDSE) mixed-methods design guided the study in developing an informed, substantiated, and context-based definition of climate change. This definition was also analyzed vis-a-vis the widely held definitions in national climate policy.

The terminology “climate change” remains unknown …

The Impact Of Sex Education On College Student’S Perceptions Of Sexual Taboos, Noel Gamon

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research is to explore how college students' differing levels of sex education are associated with their views about sexual behavior, particularly behaviors defined as taboo. In comparison to 25 years ago, adolescents are less likely to receive important sex education today; and are unlikely to receive valuable information until after their first sexual experience. Conventionally, the benefits of a sex education program are linked with its ability to lower STI rates, unplanned pregnancies, unwanted behavior, etc. Sexual taboos are sexual practices excluded from the hegemonic heterosexual monogamous relationship model. Presently, society acknowledges a wider range of …

G1p3 Dysregulates Interferon-Stimulated Gene Expression In Er (+) Breast Cancer Cells, Karina Santana

Honors Theses

Even with advances in diagnosis and treatment, breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women, with nearly 90% of fatalities linked to drug resistance driven by metastasis and recurrence. G1P3, an anti-apoptotic mitochondrial protein, is upregulated in breast cancer and has been associated with increased metastatic potential and poor prognosis. Recent findings show that G1P3 enhances interactions between Rab5-containing endosomes (RCEs) and mitochondria, and emerging evidence suggests that mitochondria play a critical role in initiating interferon (IFN) responses. Based on this, we hypothesized that G1P3-mediated interactions between RCEs and mitochondria promote interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression in …

A Comparative Study Of Plans For Residential Building Construction In The United States And Mexico: Analysis Of Processes, Systems, And Materials, Juan Hernandez

Honors Theses

Residential building construction is an essential part of a country’s economy and development. Finding ways to improve aspects of residential building construction can greatly impact the performance and sustainability of residential buildings. This study analyzes the plans for residential building construction in the United States and Mexico. The processes, systems, and materials in each country were investigated to form comparisons between the two countries. Journals and articles containing data on residential building construction in each country were used to gather information on each area of study. Factors such as climate, economy, and politics were also considered as they have direct …