Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Cannabis Use On Pulmonary Function Among Young Adults: A Literature Review, Ava Petersen

Honors Theses

Cannabis is the most used illicit drug among young adults and many of these users perceive cannabis as harmless and do not believe the drug to be addictive. Cannabis is derived from the flower of the hemp plant and contains cannabinoids THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC is the psychoactive component that interacts with the endocannabinoid system to produce a coveted euphoric state among users. Cannabis can be consumed in an edible or combusted and inhaled via joint, pipe, bong, etc. The purpose of this review is to examine the effects of inhaled cannabis on pulmonary function with a specific …

The Artificial Maintenance Of Relationship Satisfaction: Romantic Ai Companion Usage Sustains Emerging Adults' Human Romantic Relationship Satisfaction While Eroding Relationship Stability, Rebekah M. Hakala

Theses and Dissertations

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly sophisticated, romantic AI companions--AI systems designed to simulate romantic, emotional, or sexual relationships--have emerged as a novel relational phenomenon. Nearly one in four emerging adults now engage with romantic AI companions, yet little is known about how this usage affects their romantic human relationships. Drawing on Social Exchange Theory and the Investment Model of Commitment, and employing structural equation modeling, this thesis uses data from 2,431 emerging adults in romantic relationships to examine whether romantic AI companion usage influences relationship satisfaction and relationship stability among emerging adults in the United States (ages 18-30), and whether …

Florida Police Officers’ Reflections On Faith And Spirituality Through Lived Experiences, Steven Vose Mcgillicuddy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study examined how Florida police officers perceived changes in their spiritual and religious beliefs following prolonged exposure to critical incidents. The research question asked how officers interpreted, adapted, and transformed their spiritual or religious beliefs in response to repeated critical incident exposure. Nine sworn frontline officers participated and were interviewed using a semi structured protocol. Transcripts were analyzed inductively using thematic analysis. Three primary findings emerged: (1) Career and Impact captured cumulative occupational exposure that prompted moral appraisal and coping, and participants did not report uniform loss of faith; (2) Spiritual Belief followed three common trajectories—stability, strengthening/reaffirmation, …

Exploring Leadership Barriers To Patient Experience Improvement In The Acute Care Hospital Setting, James Scott Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Resistance to patient experience initiatives remains a persistent challenge in acute care hospitals, often undermining organizational efforts to improve engagement, culture, and care delivery despite broad acknowledgment of their importance. Healthcare leaders need to understand this challenge as a primary indicator affecting patient experience outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to explore the factors that cause resistance to change faced by patient experience leaders (PELs) in the acute care hospital setting. The theory of planned behavior grounded this study. The participants consisted of 15 PELs working in acute care hospitals across the United States. Data were collected …

Exploring The Role Of Family Engagement In Youth Behavioral Health Programs, Jordon R. Washington-Trahan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The behavioral health leaders at Organization X do not have a clear and practical way to engage family members in youth behavioral health programs. When caregivers are not actively involved in youth behavioral health treatment, youth may disengage from missed appointments and discontinue treatment prematurely. The present case study focused on Organization X, a small behavioral health organization located in the Southeastern United States. The Baldrige Framework of Excellence was the conceptual framework for this study, with a focus on consumer engagement and workforce operations. Semi structured and structured interviews were conducted with three behavioral health leaders. Data were collected …

Journey Of Becoming: Risk And Self-Determination In The Story Of Self For Adults With Intellectual, Developmental, And Learning Disabilities A Phenomenological Case Study Employing Narrative Inquiry And Thematic Analysis, Christopher R. J. Worth

Dissertations

This phenomenological case study, employing narrative inquiry and thematic analysis, captured the first-person voice of emerging adults (ages 20–28) with intellectual, developmental, and learning disabilities to explore how experiences of risk and self-determination shaped their personal narratives, or story of self. Guided by Critical Disability Theory, Foucault’s concept of relational power, and Shogren’s Causal Agency Theory, the study challenged the systemic bubble-wrapping that denies this population the "dignity of risk" (Perske, 1972). Data were collected from six participants through semi-structured interviews, adapted photovoice submissions, and participant selfreflections. The findings revealed that the phenomenon of becoming, catalyzed by intellectual adaptive risk-taking, …

Awareness, Protest, And Action: Women Science-Fiction Writers As Writer Activists, Carolyn Nolte

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

Following the end of World War II, science-fiction literature, which was mostly dominated by white male writers, experienced an increase in stories written by women writers. Of these postwar stories written by women, the three women writers in this dissertation imagined how their present-day experiences informed the future by exploring their concerns about humanity’s collective trajectory. By analyzing how their stories dramatize possible future social, psychological, biological, and environmental harms, this dissertation argues that these women writers’ works distinguish them as writer-activists, a concept I borrow from Rob Nixon’s work Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor.

I …

The Place We Live Which Does Not Exist, Jonathon Parker Yontz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The Place We Live Which Does Not Exist is a collection of stories examining the intersection of trauma and catharsis through a psychologically manufactured underground environment. By inhabiting the perspectives of multiple characters, each story builds toward a collective reality that exists parallel to our present. As the shortsightedness of hedonistic expression is shown, the viability of escapism as panacea is questioned, exploring the ends of a society increasingly dependent on reclusive tendencies.

Changes In Internet Search Term Popularity In Elder Mistreatment (2018-2023): Infodemiology Study Of Google Trends Data, Nicholas Sevey, Melvin Livingston, Kristin Lees-Haggerty, Olanike Ojelabi, Randi Campetti, Jason Burnett, Carolyn E Z Pickering, David Hancock, Rachit Sabharwal, Michael Brad Cannell

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Elder mistreatment (EM) is a significant public health problem that is frequently underdetected and underreported. Insufficient public recognition and engagement have been hypothesized as one contributor to this underreporting; however, few data sources exist to quantify public awareness or engagement with EM at the population level.

Objective: This study examined relative internet search interest in EM compared with other forms of abuse (child abuse and domestic violence) in the United States using Google Trends data.

Methods: We analyzed Google Trends data to compare the Relative Search Index (RSI) for the terms "elder abuse," "child abuse," and "domestic violence" in …

The Impact Paradox: Mixed-Methods Evaluation Of National Institute Of Health And Care Research Funding For Intellectual Disability Research In The Uk, Rohit Shankar, Richard Laugharne, Sarah Lennard, Samuel Tromans, Nathan Goddard, Madeline Dale, Ruth Bishop, Nathan Johnson, Maxine Hough

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundPeople with intellectual disability experience substantialhealth inequities, including higher multimorbidity, increasedhealthcare utilisation and markedly reduced life expectancy.High-quality research is essential to address these disparities.The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)funded Research Delivery Network provides the infrastructure/expertise/support needed to deliver NIHR-funded studies, andsupports studies funded by a non-commercial/industry partner. However, the effectiveness of NIHR-funded studies versusthose supported in driving impactful intellectual disabilityresearch remains unclear.AimsTo evaluate and compare the outcomes of NIHR-funded andsupported intellectual disability research.MethodAll NIHR studies (funded/supported) relating to intellectualdisability (2010–2020) were identified through systematicregister searches. Primary outcomes included publicationrates and impact on local, national and international clinicalguidelines. …

The Hate Circuit: A Collection Of Essays On Hate And Healing, Vivian Murphy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The Hate Circuit: A Collection of Essays on Hate and Healing is a lyric essay collection tracing the neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience of hatred and its slow unraveling. Rooted in the author’s relationship with her alcoholic mother, the essays move between memoir and scientific inquiry, examining how hatred forms in the brain, how it is inherited across generations, and what it costs to sustain it. Drawing on research in neuroscience, attachment theory, and the psychology of forgiveness, the collection argues that hatred is not simply an emotion but a circuit—one that can, with effort, be rewired. The essays ultimately …

Be Trauma Informed: A Pilot Evaluation Of A Podcast Intervention To Improve Trauma-Informed Care Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Among Pediatric Critical Care Nurses, Elizabeth Devries

Dissertations (1934 -)

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is integral to pediatric critical care (PCC) but accessible, scalable education is limited. This mixed-methods pilot study developed and evaluated Be Trauma Informed, a two-episode podcast educational series designed to increase PCC nurses’ TIC knowledge, attitudes, and trauma-informed practices while also assessing implementation outcomes of feasibility, necessity, acceptability, fidelity, safety, and beginning effectiveness. The curriculum for the podcast series was developed by the primary investigator with stakeholder input from PCC and TIC experts. The podcast was professionally produced, and episodes were distributed on major podcast platforms. Using purposive convenience sampling, PCC nurses within the United States completed …

Using Chatgpt Ai To Analyze Clinical Judgment In Immersive Virtual Reality Simulation From Prelicensure Nursing Students, Shari Ann Fehrenbach

Dissertations (1934 -)

This retrospective, descriptive study examined how clinical judgment was demonstrated across two immersive virtual reality simulation (IVRS) experiences in a cohort of Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN) students using a generative large language model artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, for categorization of clinical judgment cognitive processes. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM) guided the study (NCSBN, 2022). Nurse expert-derived CJMM-aligned scoring rubrics were applied to deidentified, developer-generated IVRS performance reports, and ChatGPT categorized whether rubric actions were demonstrated and generated case-level, scored excel files. Total CJMM and cognitive component scores were …

Development Of Telenutrition Education And Counseling Protocol To Improve Diet Quality In Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury, Adrianne Widaman, Benjamin Dirlikov, Ramya Gopalan, Shelley Wood, Maria Sol Casas, Kazuko Shem

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) is a leading cause of death for individuals living with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), with a mortality rate due to CMD being higher than individuals without SCI. Telenutrition (TN) interventions tailored to health and accessibility needs of individuals with SCI may mitigate cardiometabolic risks. Objectives: To describe the development and validation of a telehealth-based medical nutrition therapy (MNT) within a clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of modifying diets to improve cardiometabolic health in persons with chronic SCI. Methods: The adaptive module-based MNT education content was developed in 3 phases by a multidisciplinary team. The first …

Comparing The Effects Of Suicide Stigma Reduction Interventions On Adult Help-Seeking Intentions: An Experimental Investigation, Max Stivers

LSU Master's Theses

With relatively few individuals who experience suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors (STB) engaging in formal treatment, one critical aspect of bridging the treatment gap is to reduce barriers to their seeking help (WHO, 2014). Stigma regarding suicide and mental health help-seeking has been identified as a barrier to care, inspiring development of interventions and public health campaigns targeting stigma reduction as a means of increasing help-seeking attitudes, intentions, and behavior (Corrigan et al., 2004). However, because efforts focusing specifically on reducing stigma may fail to address other logistical and psychosocial barriers to engaging with treatment, their broader impact in promoting help-seeking …

Holding The Line: The Existential Threat To Dei Language And Values, Terrance Fitzsimmons, Larry Martinez, Jennifer Bishop, Darryl Rice, Florence Villesèche

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose – This article critically analyses and critiques the operationalisation of the Trump administration’s anti- DEI policies on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the United States of America and beyond. It specifically examines the attempt to silence DEI scholarship and practice, assessing the broader implications for social justice and global progress towards equity. The article also positions these attacks as an existential threat to DEI scholarship, scholars and practitioners, with the potential to reverse progress made since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The article serves as a call to action, urging the …

Rhesus Macaques With An Opa1 Mutation Demonstrate Features Of Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy, Tracy N Jaggers, Ana Ripolles-Garcia, Ala Moshiri, Brett D Story, Jun Wang, Rui Chen, Lucy G Moore, Leandro B C Teixeira, Jaeho Shim, Ana C Raposo, Maria Isabel Casanova, Sophie M Le, Sangwan Park, Laura J Young, Soohyun Kim, Karolina P Roszak, Vanessa Ureno, Paige M Karpinen, Nayeli Echeverria, Monica Ardon, Brian C Leonard, Marguerite Knipe, Eliza Bliss-Moreau, Brad Fortune, J Timothy Stout, Jeffrey Rogers, Nicholas Marsh-Armstrong, Sara M Thomasy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA) is an inherited optic neuropathy primarily caused by mutations in OPA1. We identified and defined a spontaneous nonhuman primate (NHP) model of ADOA using rhesus macaques heterozygous for a missense mutation (OPA1A8S). With ocular examinations, ophthalmic imaging, electroretinography, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we documented retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss and dysfunction, OPA1 mislocalization, and reduced axonal mitochondrial density in affected macaques. Our investigation revealed substantial phenotypic variability among affected macaques, shedding light on the pathogenesis of ADOA. The retinas were evaluated using techniques …

Out-Of-Pocket Costs And Antihypertensive Medication Use Among Veterans: A Natural Experiment, Alexander R. Zheutlin, Alexander Chaitoff, Daniel Addo, Joshua A. Jacobs, Catherine G. Derington, Eric L. Stulberg, Peter A. Glynn, Bernardo Modenesi, Jordana B. Cohen, Adam P. Bress

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Blood pressure (BP) control remains suboptimal in the United States despite available low-cost antihypertensive medications. Even small out-of-pocket medication costs may contribute to adherence. We determined whether $0 versus >$0 out-of-pocket costs for antihypertensive medications is associated with differences in adherence, discontinuation, BP control, and cardiovascular outcomes.

METHODS: We included veterans with newly diagnosed hypertension who initiated antihypertensive medication in the Veterans Health Administration from 2004 to 2022. A fuzzy regression discontinuity design with 2-stage residual inclusion leveraged differences in medication copay policy at a 50% service-connected disability threshold (≥50% service-connected disability: $0 out-of-pocket cost versus < 50%: $8 monthly cost). Outcomes included 1-year medication nonadherence (proportion of days covered < 80%), 1-year medication discontinuation (no medication in the final 90 days of the study year), 1-year BP control (systolic BP/diastolic BP < 140/90 mm Hg and < 130/80 mm Hg) and cardiovascular disease events (myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, peripheral artery disease, or stroke).

RESULTS: Among 417 …

Sowing Imbalance From The Start: Power, Role Socialization, And Graduate Assistants In Ncaa Division I Power Four Athletic Departments, Kaitlin Pericak, Daniel Springer, Brittany Washington, Rachel Silva

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Graduate assistantships represent early entry points into intercollegiate athletics and serve as critical sites of professional socialization. Guided by Mead’s (1934) role theory and Foucault’s (1975/1977) concept of power, this study examined how graduate assistants (GAs) negotiated their dual roles as students and employees within Division I Power Four athletic departments. Semi-structured interviews with 10 current GAs revealed how organizational expectations normalized overwork, positioned the master’s degree as a compulsory credential, and sowed imbalance that shaped participants’ identities and well-being. Findings demonstrate how GAs internalized structured constraints and reproduced organizational norms, framing overwork as a necessary rite of passage. These …

Foreign Pedagogy In Education: Theoretical Foundations, Cross-Cultural Dynamics, And Implications For Global Learning, Chitra Venugopal, Prabhakar Rontala Subramaniam

Journal of Global Management Research

This conceptual paper examines foreign pedagogy as a critical lens for understanding how teaching philosophies, instructional strategies, and educational values travel across cultural and national boundaries. Drawing on comparative education, sociocultural theory, and postcolonial scholarship, the paper investigates the processes by which pedagogical models are borrowed, adapted, or imposed between educational systems. It argues that foreign pedagogy is not a neutral transfer of knowledge but a deeply ideological practice shaped by power, cultural epistemology, and institutional context. The paper identifies five central themes: the philosophical roots of major global pedagogical traditions, the mechanisms of pedagogical transfer and borrowing, the tensions …

Green Corporate Responsibility And Sustainable Human Resource Management (Hrm) Functions, Sundara Boopathi R, Shanmugam Sundararajan

Journal of Global Management Research

In order to encourage employee sustainability behavior and achieve long-term organizational success, Green Corporate Responsibility and Sustainable Human Resource Management (HRM) departments place a strong emphasis on incorporating environmental principles into HR processes. Within the context of Green Corporate Social Responsibility (GCSR), this study investigates how Sustainable Human Resource Management (Green HRM) functions affect Organizational Sustainability through the mediating roles of Pro-environmental Behavior (PEB) and Pro-environmental Psychological Climate (PEPC). based on the Resource-Based View (RBV), Social Exchange Theory (SET), and Ability-Motivation-Opportunity (AMO) theory. By incorporating six essentials Green HRM practices-green hiring and selection, green training and development, green performance evaluation, …

Identifying Skill Gaps And Upskilling Priorities For C-Level Executives Using The Analytic Hierarchy Process (Ahp) Analysis, Mohamed Riyazhkhan, Mohsin Aziz, Krishna Murthy, Abdul Azeez K M, George Anthony Fernando

Journal of Global Management Research

C-level executives, or chief-level executives, play a significant role in corporate development, and their roles and responsibilities are essential for sustaining organizational effectiveness in an increasingly competitive business environment. They also constitute a fundamental component of organizational management systems (Julie & Emory, 2006). In this research, data were collected exclusively from C-level or C-suite executives (CEO, CFO, COO, and CHRO) from leading corporations in Oman and India. This study investigates three representative cases related to managerial functions across various corporate organizations. The first case examines the job descriptions associated with C-level executives, the second case explores the identification of skill …

Taman Kota Sebagai Ruang Publik Dalam Meningkatkan Intraksi Sosial, Reakreasi, Dan Ekspresi Budaya Masyarakat Perkotaan, Tar Isa Wulan Dari

Jurnal Sosial Humaniora Terapan

Urban parks represent a strategic form of public space that plays a significant role in supporting social life in urban communities. This study aims to analyze the role of urban parks as public spaces in enhancing social interaction, recreational activities, and cultural expression among urban residents. The research employs a literature review and descriptive analysis of relevant previous studies. The findings indicate that urban parks function as social interaction spaces that bring together diverse community groups regardless of age, social status, or cultural background, thereby strengthening social cohesion and a sense of belonging. In addition, urban parks provide recreational facilities …

Examining Automated Writing Evaluation Error Coverage In Relation To Uptake And Retention, Mohaddeseh Mehrzad, Mohammad Rahimi, Stephanie Link

Journal of Response to Writing

Despite the current widespread use of Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) feedback, many issues regarding its efficacy still remain unresolved. Recent studies mainly focus on correctly detected errors with a lack of attention on the comprehensiveness of error detection, or error coverage. Error coverage is interesting because little is known about the capacity of AWE systems to fully detect common second language (L2) errors. It is also important to investigate the potential effect of such capacity on student uptake and retention, which are important constructs in fostering L2 writing development. To this end, the present study compared teacher feedback and AWE …

Book Review Of Suburban Refugees: Class And Resistance In Little Saigon, Phoebe T. Pham

Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement

In Suburban Refugees: Class and Resistance in Little Saigon, Jennifer Huynh challenges the common view that refugee resettlement follows a straightforward path toward assimilation, stability, and upward mobility. Focusing on Vietnamese refugees in Little Saigon, Orange County, California, Huynh examines how refugees navigate displacement, housing insecurity, and political exclusion in suburban spaces often idealized as homogenous and prosperous. Drawing on extensive data, the book presents suburban resettlement as a prolonged process shaped by structural forces and community resistance. Huynh situates her analysis within growing suburban inequality and enduring racialized policies that limit refugee opportunities long after formal resettlement. Her …

Using Natural Products In Patients With Cancer: More Than Chemotherapy, Gailen D. Marshall

Oxford ICSB

The fundamental goal of cancer therapy is to cure the cancer. However, the approach to that goal is complicated and varies depending upon the type and stage of the tumor as well as the clinical characteristics of the patient. Cancer treatment focused on killing the tumor has considerable comorbidities associated with each therapy. Common side effects such as systemic immunosuppression, bleeding, anemia and specific organ-based pathologies each have their own significant morbidity/mortality risk. The use of natural products, both as direct antitumor agents and as moderators/mitigators of side effects of antitumor agents has a long history. Recent studies seek to …

A Comparative Analysis Of Cognitive And Social Outcomes In Toddlers With Speech Delay (Sd) Versus Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Francisca Atem

Liberty University Research Week

The dissertation is a comparative analysis of cognitive and social performance between toddlers aged 18 to 36 months with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Speech Delay (SD). Although both groups show early communication difficulties, their developmental patterns are vastly different, and they should be adequately separated to inform intervention planning and future developmental prognoses. Firmly rooted in the context of Developmental Psychopathology, Social Pragmatic Theory, and the Ecological Systems Theory by Bronfenbrenner, this qualitative study aims to investigate ways in which toddlers with SD and ASD are different in their cognitive functioning, including executive functioning, nonverbal IQ, and problem solving, …

A Phenomenological Study On The Connection Between Perceived Funding And Hbcu Athletic Staff Self-Efficacy, Ashley Keys

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Computer-Based Memory Screening Administration On Variables Associated With Cardiovascular Functioning In A Sample Of Young Adults: A Pilot Study, Kanaan Hurst, Haley Hughes

Liberty University Research Week

With the rising number of individuals diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's and related neurodegenerative disorders, research shows that there is a grand need to understand such impairments. Our team examined cognitive function using a previously developed memory screening computer-based test. In addition to screening for cognitive function, Blood Pressure was recorded 3 times (to ensure accuracy on average) preceding the computer-based assessment and immediately following completion. Blood pressure was monitored as having hightened pressure can indicate increased likelihood of developing cognitive impairment. Developed by clinical psychologist, Dr. Crews, CogniCheck is a computer-based screening tool that uses active recall tests to assess …

Connect With Faculty Series Featuring Dr. Liz Goncy: Brains Under Pressure How To Survive (And Maybe Even Thrive), Liz Goncy

Friends of the Library Events

Connect with CSU Faculty

Featuring Dr. Liz Goncy, Psychology, CSU

Presenting: Brains Under Pressure: How to Survive (and Maybe Even Thrive)

Monday, April 20, 2026

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

No registration required

Location: Michael Schwartz Library, 1st floor east

“Connect with CSU Faculty,” featuring Dr. Liz Goncy, Psychology, is presented as part of the National Library Week and Wellness event "Find Your Joy," hosted by The Michael Schwartz Library along with the Counseling Center.

Dr. Goncy will present "Brains Under Pressure: How to Survive (and Maybe Even Thrive)", offering practical, evidence-based strategies for managing stress and anxiety.

"Connect with …