Digital Commons Network^™

Urinetown: The Musical, Otterbein Theatre And Dance Department

2025-2026 Season Productions

No abstract provided.

Understanding Career Advancement Challenges Of Mid-Level African American Leaders: A Phenomenological Case Study, Adrienne N. Long

PhD in Organizational Leadership

As workplace demographics become increasingly more diverse globally, the curation of organizational inclusion is becoming more dire (Shore et al., 2018). One workforce dynamic, however, has fundamentally remained unchanged: the underrepresentation of African Americans in executive or senior leadership roles (Beckwith et al., 2016). Despite tremendous legislative progress in gender and racial equality, a pervasive gap persists in organizational cultures that fail to intentionally and consistently provide equitable career advancement opportunities for African Americans to attain senior leadership roles. This study employed a phenomenological qualitative research methodology to examine the career advancement challenges faced by mid-level African American leaders and …

Modeling Effective Shade For Oregon Streams Using Satellite Derived Vegetation Structure Metrics, Ella Wagner

Environmental Science and Management Professional Master's Project Reports

In the Pacific Northwest, rising stream temperatures threaten the survival of cold-water species, such as salmonids. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulates stream temperature statewide through Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). To do this, the DEQ uses stream shade as a surrogate measurement for heat, as stream shade and stream temperature have a well-known strong relationship. This project focused on developing effective shade modeling and monitoring methods that increase the pace and scale of temperature TMDL implementation and tracking in Oregon. Stream shade can be measured in the field and modeled with computer models such as HeatSource, which …

Torque-Speed Characteristic Estimation Based On Gaussian Processes And Adaptive Sampling Strategy For Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines, Marcelo D. Silva, Pedram Asef, Oluwaseun A. Badewa, Rosemary E. Alden, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

Internal Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines (IPMs) are widely used and typically optimized to meet specific performance requirements. Parameters such as base speed, maximum torque, and maximum speed commonly define the torque- speed characteristic of a given design. This study introduces a novel machine learning approach for statistically estimating the torque-speed characteristics of IPMs using Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), which models predictions as random variables. By leveraging uncertainty quantification, the study explores sampling strategies that enable the construction of a high-precision meta-model with minimal error and uncertainty. The proposed adaptive sampling strategy, combined with GPR, accurately estimates torque-speed characteristics and associated …

Degradation Minimization Of Utility-Scale Li-Ion Bess Through Operational Optimization Employing An Equivalent Circuit Model, Kwabena A. Kyeremeh, Grant M. Fischer, Donovin D. Lewis, Aron Patrick, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

The increasing deployment of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) necessitates effective strategies for supporting grid services while minimizing degradation that may compromise system longevity. High charge/discharge rates (C-rate) and imbalanced operation of multi-unit BESS configurations may accelerate degradation. This paper proposes a degradation-aware operational optimization based on Model Predictive Control (MPC) for coordinating multiple BESS units under physical and operational constraints. The multi-objective optimization model imposes penalties on C-rate magnitude, operational state-of-charge (SoC) disparity, and battery internal resistance modeled using an equivalent circuit model. A case study conducted for a fleet of BESS units over a one-week load profile …

Native Plants And Water Quality At Coastal Carolina University, Sarah M. Limmer

Honors Theses

Native riparian vegetation is an extremely important part of the natural world as its adaptation to  the local environment and climate offers an increased array of ecosystem services, including soil  stabilization and water filtration. Therefore, while not the only element, native plants are a key  regulator of water quality. This study used quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to  determine how the presence or lack thereof of native vegetation affects water quality in both  landscaped ponds and natural wetlands on Coastal Carolina University’s campus. It was concluded  that there is a slight correlation between the two variables, mainly being in that …

Advancing University Student Health And Wellbeing Through Peer-Led Health Promotion: A Quality Improvement Project​ ​, Rojeda Merani, Elizabeth Page, Elizabeth Roth

DNP Projects

Background: Peer-led health promotion is widely recognized as an effective strategy for increasing engagement, trust, and health literacy among university students. However, few frameworks guide development and implementation of these programs.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, implementation process, and perceived effectiveness of a peer-led health promotion model supported by Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) mentorship at a mid-sized private university.

Participants: Thirteen undergraduate students from a diverse set of academic programs were recruited as Peer Health Ambassadors (PHAs) and paired with DNP student mentors.

Methods: Guided by the Implementation Research Logic Model, the project used a four-phase QI process: targeted …

High-Fidelity Modeling Of Evtol Rotor Unsteady Aerodynamic And Aeroacoustic Response To Time-Harmonic Gust, Vadim Voropayev

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The rapid emergence of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) demands accurate prediction and mitigation of noise generated by electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operating in complex urban environments. Among the various noise sources, the aerodynamic and acoustic response of rotors to unsteady inflow represents a major uncertainty in community-noise assessment and certification. This thesis investigates the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic behavior of a representative eVTOL rotor subjected to time-harmonic inflow disturbances, providing a detailed numerical framework to quantify how periodic gusts influence rotor performance, unsteady loading, and sound radiation.

The study employs a three-stage computational methodology using the open-source solver …

The Efficacy Of Emdr Therapy Compared To Tf-Cbt In Adopted Children To Manage Post-Traumatic Stress: An Integrative Review, Grace Ann Steiner

Senior Honors Theses

This integrative review examines the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy compared to trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) in managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adopted children. Children adopted from foster care tend to experience more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and maladjustment issues when compared to the general population, which necessitates effective therapeutic interventions to reduce PTSD symptoms and emotional dysregulation. Through analysis and comparison of the data, it was determined that both EMDR and TF-CBT effectively alleviated trauma-related symptoms, although one technique is not necessarily always more effective or efficient than the other. Along with reviewing …

The Science Of Sound: Studying The Cognitive, Emotional, And Physiological Effects Of Frequency, Genre, And Music, Jett Yarborough

Senior Honors Theses

Music influences emotion, physiology, and cognition, yet little is known about how the frequency it is tuned to affects these influences. Prior research has shown that music tuned to 432 Hz can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep. My colleagues and I conducted two studies to investigate this. Our research found that music tuned to 432 Hz promotes a significant increase in memory retention and induces a state of focus and relaxation. These results suggest that shifting from the standard tuning frequency of 440 Hz to 432 Hz could have a profoundly positive impact on our daily lives. …

From Altamont To Astroworld: An Analysis Of Management Issues In Large Scale Music Festivals, Jennifer Morriss

Honors College Theses

The most common problems in music festivals can largely be broken into two categories: risks to the individual and risks on a grand scale. It is the responsibility of event managers to consider how to best keep everyone safe and maintain proper organization. Risks to the individual are often things like substance use and abuse, harm reduction, and sexual assault or harassment. Meanwhile, broad risks tend to be issues of evacuation and emergency management, crowd safety, stampedes, and casualties or violence. It is crucial to reflect on prior common safety and security issues when setting out to produce a large …

Artificial Intelligence And Medical Education (2013-2024): A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Analysis, Festus Mulakoli, Edward Misava

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming medical education by enabling personalised learning, adaptive feedback, simulation-based training, and automated assessments. While AI offers significant benefits, including curriculum optimisation and virtual tutoring, concerns around data privacy, access, and ethical implementation persist. Although bibliometric studies have explored AI in healthcare, comprehensive analyses of global collaboration and publication trends in AI-focused medical education remain limited. Aim: This study aims to analyse global research trends, key contributors, and thematic developments in the application of AI within medical education. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus database. The search strategy included terms …

An Evidence-Based Practice Review: Outpatient Opioid, Narcan, And Non-Opioid Treatments For Pain Management, Kayla Culp

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background: There were nearly 645,000 deaths from 1991-2021 related to opioid overdose. Despite the U.S. representing only four percent of the global population, Americans consume 80% of the world’s opioids. Ten million Americans misuse opioid prescriptions, and this contributes to the thousands of annual deaths. Preventable mortality related to the opioid epidemic persists despite advancements in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention efforts.

Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to compare components of CDC’s (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain to current prescribing practices amid an ongoing …

Myplate For Healthy Diet And Physical Activity: A Pilot Project, Christin Sullivan

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background: Over 100 million American adults are obese. This has increased from 38.5% in 2013-2016 to 41.8% in 2017-2020 and is predicted to keep rising. Significant health risks are linked to obesity, prompting weight loss movements at the local, national and global level. Recently, Semaglutide has been favored in weight loss programs but must be augmented by education on healthy diet and physical activity for weight reduction and maintenance.

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to pilot the MyPlate method on healthy diet and physical activity and determine its effects on patient knowledge of healthy diet and physical …

Changing Characteristics Of Cryptococcal Infections And Outcomes: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort, Charis C. Hodges, Kenneth Long, Gerald Mcgwin, Todd Mccarty, Peter Pappas

Heersink School of Medicine Student Presentations

No abstract provided.

In Support Of Free Speech On Food Production, Nicole Ligon

Penn State Law Review (2003 - Present)

No abstract provided.

Silver Linings 2025, Tower Health

Silver Linings

No abstract provided.

Assessment In Early Childhood: Recommendations For A Developmentally Appropriate Approach, Melissa Rains

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

There has been an increase in academic rigor in early childhood education. This rise in rigor has led to the need for developmentally appropriate assessment options for early childhood educators. This study aims to provide research-based assessment strategies for teachers of young children. Based on a review of current literature, there are multiple challenges that arise when assessing early childhood students. However, research shows that assessing during play-based learning is a developmentally appropriate assessment strategy. Therefore, a questionnaire was distributed to teachers in a large school district in the southeastern United States to determine teachers’ attitudes toward assessing during play-based …

Introducing A Markov Chain-Based Time Calibration Procedure For Multi-Channel Particle Detectors: Application To The Superfgd And Tof Detectors Of The T2k Experiment, S. Abe, H. Alarakia-Charles, I. Alekseev, C. Alt, T. Arai, T. Arihara, S. Arimoto, A. M. Artikov, Y. Awataguchi, N. Babu, V. Baranov, G. Barr, D. Barrow, L. Bartoszek, L. Bernardi, L. Berns, S. Bhattacharjee, A. V. Boikov, A. Blanchet, A. Blondel, A. Bonnemaison, S. Bordoni, M. H. Bui, T. H. Bui, F. Cadoux, S. Cap, A. Cauchois, J. Chakrani, P. S. Chong, A. Chvirova, P. Collard, M. Danilov, C. Davis

Faculty Publications

Inter-channel mis-synchronisation can be a limiting factor to the time resolution of high performance timing detectors with multiple readout channels and independent electronics units. In these systems, time calibration methods employed must be able to efficiently correct for minimal mis-synchronisation between channels and achieve the best detector performance. We present an iterative time calibration method based on Markov Chains, suitable for detector systems with multiple readout channels. Starting from correlated hit pairs alone, and without requiring an external reference time measurement, the method solves for fixed per-channel offsets, with precision limited only by the intrinsic single-channel resolution. A mathematical proof …

Real-Time Electron Spectrometer Utilizing A Permanent Magnet And Diode Detector Array, Mason W. Heath, Kenneth L. Matthews, Garrett M. Pitcher, Kenneth R. Hogstrom

Faculty Publications

Background: Magnetic spectrometers have been previously described for measuring energy spectra of therapeutic electron beams. However, challenges for clinical utilization have been their size, weight, and limited real-time capabilities. Development of a compact, lightweight, and inexpensive device with real-time readout will make an electron spectrometer a practical clinical tool. Purpose: This work integrates a commercial diode detector array with a permanent dipole magnet to create a practical real-time energy spectrometer for therapeutic electron beams. Methods: A 4 kg, 0.55 T permanent dipole magnet was coupled to two PC boards of a Sun Nuclear SRS MapCHECK device, which provided two interlaced …

Dataset Of Raman Spectra And Matlab Code For: Elucidating Time-Resolved Intracellular Metabolic Dynamics Via Label-Free Raman Microspectroscopy And 2d Correlation Spectroscopy, Zohreh Mirveis, Nitin Patil, Hugh J. Byrne

Other Resources

This dataset contains raw spectral data obtained from single-cell Raman microspectroscopy under two nutritional conditions: glucose alone and glucose supplemented with glutamine. LLC-MK2 cells were starved for 2 h, then exposed to nutrients and fixed every 15 min for up to 120 min. At each time point, spectra were recorded from 25 individual cells (cytoplasm regions) and exported as machine-readable files (.csv). MATLAB scripts are provided to implement two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) for generating synchronous maps, along with utilities for loading spectra, averaging, and reproducing key figures. A set of simulated time-series spectra used to validate 2D-COS under high background …

Remorse For Discrimination: The Role Of Group Dominance In Judging Hate Crimes Against Subordinate Group Members, Andrés Gvirtz, Patrick F. Kotzur, Andrew Stewart, Felicia Pratto

Psychology

Power, especially in the court system, is a potent determinant of intergroup relationships. Blind justice being only an ideal, public opinion can influence whether harm to low power groups is considered criminal and should be prosecuted. Our experiments investigated the impact of social dominance orientation (SDO) on the perceived appropriateness of punishment for harm to subordinate group members by dominant group members. Further, we examined the moderating role of a remorseful apology. We argue that perpetrators who do not show remorse towards their less powerful victim might be judged less harshly by those scoring high in SDO. Apologizing for the …

Music Therapy: Treating Pain And Anxiety In The Perioperative Patient, Derek Bascom Rn

Nurse Residency

In perioperative patients, what is the effectiveness of music therapy in treating anxiety and pain compared to standard care without music therapy?

3d Visualization For Teaching And Learning In Organic Chemistry: Orbital Hybridization And Bonding, Bao Le, Jeffrey Hansen

Annual Student Research Poster Session

This research focuses on developing techniques to create 3D visualizations for use in an electronic textbook. In this age of technology, traditional textbooks have become less appealing to the new generation compared to phones or tablets. Student learning can be enhanced by not only bringing the textbook online but also elevating the comprehensive experience for the students with 3D animations. We will show how animations of orbital hybridization and chemical bonding are made in Blender using Signed Distance Field (SDF) modeling. The orbitals’ models are mathematically combined allowing for smooth animation. We have used this technique to animate the transformation …

Birth Outcomes In The Hispanic Population In The United States: Trends, Variation, And Determinants (2011–2021), Yanchao Yang, Thinh Nguyen, Sota Fuji

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Infants born to mothers who self-identify as Hispanic account for a substantial and growing share of births in the United States, yet limited research has examined disparities in birth outcomes across Hispanic origin subgroups. This study aims to document trends and identify important factors associated with Cesarean section (C-section), low birthweight, and prematurity within the Hispanic population. We use data from the National Vital Statistics System (2011–2021), covering nearly all U.S. births. We compare outcomes across Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black mothers and further disaggregate by Hispanic origin (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central/South American, and Other/Unknown). We use logistic …

Energetic Particle Detection In The Pfotzer Maximum, Scott Anderson, Jason Benyousky, Walae Dahmany, Tri Dong, Minh Mai

Annual Student Research Poster Session

The Balloon Assisted Stratospheric Experiments (BASE) is an ongoing project aiming to measure atmospheric muons using equipment supported by high-altitude balloons. The Regener-Pfotzer Maximum (Pfotzer Maximum), which spans altitudes of roughly 15-25 km, is characterized by being the atmospheric region with the highest intensity of secondary particles from cosmic ray showers. The effects of the cosmic ray induced ionization that comprises the Pfotzer Maximum are relatively unknown and may include cloud formation, precipitation, cyclogenesis, aerosol formation, atmospheric transparency, and more. Our experiments seek to use low-cost solutions to better understand the behavior of cosmic ray-induced particles in a region of …

Adipose Tissue Estrogen Receptor-Alpha Overexpression Ameliorates High-Fat Diet–Induced Adipose Tissue Inflammation, Marion C. Hope, Christian A. Unger, M. Chase Kettering, Cassidy E. Socia, Ahmed K. Aladhami, Barton C. Rice, Darya S. Niamira, Ben P. Wiznitzer, Diego Altomare Ph.D., William E. Cotham, Reilly T. Enos

Faculty Publications

Context

We created an innovative mouse model that enables inducible overexpression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα), specifically in adipose tissue (Adipo-ERα↑). Objective

We aimed to investigate how elevated Adipo-ERα↑ influences the development of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in both male and female mice. Methods

Male and female Adipo-ERα↑ mice and littermate controls were fed a low-fat diet (LFD) or HFD for 13 weeks. Adipo-ERα↑ was induced at the initiation of dietary treatment. Body morphology and composition, hepatic lipid accumulation, glucose tolerance, fasting insulin concentrations, and adipose tissue mRNA profiling were assessed. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to determine circulating and adipose …

Propelling Aging-Related Initiatives In A Next-Gen Cooperative Extension System: Editors’ Introduction To The Jhse Special Issue On Aging, Erin L. Martinez, James S. Bates

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Volume 13, Number 2, James S. Bates, Donna J. Peterson Dr., Scott Cummings, Erin L. Martinez

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Aging In America: Implications For Family Resource Management, Becky Smith, Portia Johnson, Brandan Wheeler, D E Kiss, Ann A. Berry

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The Stanford Center on Longevity reports life expectancy has surged over the last 120 years. Unfortunately, living longer may not equate to living with a higher quality of life without considering the amount, type, and uses of all resources available to individuals and families as they age. Family Resource Management (FRM) is the science and art of how individuals and families make decisions to develop and allocate resources, including money, time, energy, space, material, and health assets, and networks of support to meet their goals. Living longer means making more decisions and developing and allocating more resources to enhance the …