Digital Commons Network^™

When Two Worlds Collide: A Narrative Inquiry Into The Teacher Identity Development Of Graduate Students Of Additional Languages, Hannah L. Garver

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This study explores a population that has been understudied in teacher identity research: native English-speaking graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) of additional languages who assumed this role with no prior teaching experience. Influenced by my own experience as a GTA, the purpose of this study is to gain insight into how this population’s experiences shape their identities as teachers and later careers. This qualitative study uses narrative inquiry as a method by which to examine their experiences through the stories told by participants: six former GTAs of French and German.

Using data in the form of semi-structured interviews and some participants’ …

Guillaume Dustan's Ethico-Politics Of The Body, Noah Mertz

Foreign Languages & Literatures ETDs

In this MA Thesis, I lay out a synthetic overview of polemical French writer Guillaume Dustan's (1965-2005) political philosophy. He is criticized first as irresponsible and dangerous for his defense of barebacking (sex without condoms) in the midst of the AIDS epidemic, and then, after his death, as a neoliberal/anarcho-capitalist for his focus on individual liberty. My overview touches on Dustan's Freudian belief that repression is the root of all social ills, his functional ethics of self-responsibility, the revaluation of heteronormative Judeo-Christian morality towards 'virtusex,' and his social contract that minimizes repression. Dustan’s goal is for you to autonomously subjectify …

Instrumental Music Educator Strategies To Reduce Or Remove Participation Barriers For Middle School Students, Rachel A. Gorden Mercer Ed.D

Doctorate in Education

Scholars have found that students who participate in instrumental music programs achieve higher academic levels, have better attendance, and build stronger community connections than students who do not participate. This dissertation examines successful strategies for increasing participation in instrumental music programs by reducing socioeconomic barriers, enhancing instrument access, creating ensemble opportunities, and fostering a positive culture within the instrumental program for students during the middle school years. Music educators have found successful strategies to recruit and retain students despite the barriers they encounter.

Researchers have investigated the benefits of participating in instrumental music and the reasons why students discontinue their …

Fake News Y Redes Sociales: Cómo El Algoritmo En Torno A La Migración Afecta La Salud Mental, Maria F. Alarcon

Capstones

Las redes sociales son la principal fuente de información para migrantes latinos en Estados Unidos, pero también son un terreno fértil para fake-news que afectan la salud mental y desinforman.

Halt Under Threat Why Legislators Must Demand Compliance Before Change A Playbook For Action, Vanda Seward

Capstones

This playbook examines the implementation of New York State’s Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act and presents evidence demonstrating that the law has not been fully or consistently enforced by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYSDOCCS). Drawing on findings from the New York State Inspector General, the Correctional Association of New York, the Justice Center, court rulings, and community testimony, the analysis documents persistent violations, including excessive and illegal use of solitary confinement, inadequate documentation, failures to protect vulnerable populations, and insufficient accountability for staff misconduct. The playbook critically evaluates the recommendations of …

Speaking Up Or Helping Out? The Impact Of Gendered Feedback On Voice And Helping Ocbs And Imposter Phenomenon And Self-Confidence, Jacklyn Scymcyk

Theses and Dissertations

Grounded in Self-Discrepancy Theory (Higgins, 1987) and Role Congruity Theory (Eagly & Karau, 2002), this study examines how gendered differences in feedback influence employees’ self-views and subsequent citizenship behaviors. Specifically, the research aimed to investigate how the relative frequency of task performance feedback and contextual performance feedback impacts self-confidence and imposter phenomenon, and how these self-views, in turn, predict voice and helping organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs), respectively. Initial phases of this study validated measures for perceptions of task and contextual performance feedback frequency, favorability, and adequacy. The final phase used moderated-mediation polynomial regression analyses to test hypotheses. Exploratory cluster …

Stress During Adolescence: A Characterization Of Anxiety-Like Behavior, And The Mrna Expression Of Neuroimmune Factors, Clock And Stress Genes In Corticolimbic Areas., Annette Fernandez Oropeza, Annette K. Fernandez Oropeza

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Adolescence represents a critical window of frontal cortex (FC) maturation and corticolimbic circuit refinement that supports stress and emotion regulation. Disruption of these processes by early-life insults such as prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) or adolescent stress increases vulnerability to anxiety and mood disorders, in part through circadian–immune dysregulation. The circadian transcription factor Bmal1 and the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) have emerged as key regulators of neuroimmune signaling and synaptic communication, yet their interactions across developmental risk contexts remain poorly understood. This dissertation examined the effects of mild adolescent isolation stress, with and without PAE, on anxiety-like behaviors and …

Praise With Pipes And Strings: An Exploration Of American Protestant Hymnody Through New Arrangements For Flute And Piano, Dominic J. Baldoni

Dissertations, 2020-current

This project presents five hymn tunes from the American Protestant (A.P.) tradition arranged for flute and piano, accompanied by a scholarly analysis of the historical, liturgical, and practical aspects of A.P. hymnody and congregational song. The accompanying document explores the development of A.P. hymnody, the background of each selected tune, the role of instruments, primarily the flute, in worship, and the challenges faced by church musicians in the twenty-first century. By examining both vocal and instrumental iterations of these melodies throughout history, the analysis aims to inform performers and program planners about stylistic and contextual considerations for contemporary services and …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Implementing An Education Model From School Leaders’ Perspectives, Jackie Marie Cusimano Phd

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

A high school science teacher asked the question, “Why not make every class an elective?” He noticed that when his high school students were required to take a course, such as biology, the attendance and participation lacked when compared to his elective course of forensic biology. Both classes covered the same science standards. This question led him to applying for a public charter license and ultimately opening the first Choice Charter School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2014. Choice Charter Schools follow the created Choice Charter Education Model, which is based on William Glasser’s Choice Theory (Glasser, 1998). Since the …

Knowledge Production As Identity Expression: A Third-Space Perspective On Sustainable Careers, Alicja Syska

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This conceptual paper advances our understanding of sustainable careers by focusing on the knowledge creation activities of third-space practitioners in higher education. Specifically, we apply and extend the Process Model of Sustainable Careers to examine how different forms of knowledge production in three different institutional and national contexts – writing for publication, practice-based expertise, and curriculum development – contribute to career sustainability at the intersection of academic and professional/administrative roles and domains. The critical element of this extension is ‘identity expression’ in the form of knowledge production, which acts as an integrating mechanism that flows through and connects the original …

Pen And Punishment: Revenge And Role Reversal In Edith Wharton’S World. A Rewriting Of Gender Roles And The Subversion Of Patriarchy., Shelly Ann Justin

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Pen and Punishment: Revenge and Role Reversal in Edith Wharton’s World. A Rewriting of Gender Roles and the Subversion of Patriarchy. by Shelly Ann Justin An unlikely feminist writer sometimes becomes one of the greatest advocates for the feminine movement, and that is exactly what American novelist, Edith Wharton (1862-1937) has done for over 120 years through her essays, short stories, and more specifically, her novels. She is best known for her vivid novels that explore the complexities of American society, especially the upper class which examines the constraints and social expectations of New York’s upper …

Recreating Fiber Recruitment With Fiber Recruitment Using Additive Manufacturing, Natalia D. Mciver

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Injured ligaments are often repaired with tendon grafts which may over or under constrain the joint; there is a need for an artificial graft option with the mechanical properties of a native ligament. Crimped fibers within ligaments allow for recruitment which means the viscoelastic properties of stress relaxation and creep are not inversely related. A feasibility study using ACLs and large-scale crimp models to study viscoelasticity, led to an in-depth analysis of the scapholunate interosseous ligament. Using the Modified Kelvin spring-dashpot model, for describing viscoelasticity with a variable stiffness property (time dependent fiber recruitment), we defined the relationship between creep …

Sue Gunter And The Battle For Equity In Women’S Athletics At Sfa, Derek S. Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

From the 1950’s through the 2000’s, women’s college basketball would move from a category of inappropriate activity to selling out large arenas and being broadcast to millions of viewers on national TV. Such a result came largely from federally mandated stipulation contained within Title IX, accelerated a fight for equity and acceptance, and advanced the cause for women’s athletics more than any other initiative. However, that alone would have failed to grow the popularity of a sport such as women’s basketball if it did not produce a quality product for fans. Beyond the need for resources comparable to men’s athletics, …

Prevention Of Suicide As Perceived By Educated Adults In Ondo Metropolis, Ondo State, Nigeria, Margaret Kehinde Soetan

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

This study investigated prevention of suicide as perceived by educated adults in Ondo metropolis, Ondo State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. Population of the study consisted of all educated adults in Ondo metropolis, Ondo State. The sample comprised two hundred (200) educated adults randomly selected from the metropolis. Structured questionnaire was used as instrument to collect data for the study. Data collected was analysed using mean, ranking, t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results revealed the perception of prevention of suicide as giving people hope for a better life after current problems are resolved, …

Just A Place Or A Just Place?: Domestic Violence, Urban-Rural Differences, And Access To Justice, Cassie Chambers Armstrong

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Distinguishing Acute Cardiac Events From Chronic Troponin Elevation: Integrating High-Sensitivity Troponin Trends With Objective Ischemic Evidence Under The 4th Udmi Across Diverse Renal Function Profiles, Aidan Fernandez, Amanda Green, Silvija Milanovic, Eric Han, Asia Elbooz, Michael Petrauskis, Justin Nippert, Michael Marchick, Nicholas Maldonado, Mohammed Ruzieh, Elizabeth Warren, Matthew Shaw, Lars Beattie, Brandon Allen

Florida Journal of Emergency Medicine (FJEM)

The Fourth (4th) Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (UDMI) provides a standardized framework to enhance diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making. However, challenges can arise due to the use of subjective clinical assessment in diagnostic criteria or in the presence of impaired renal clearance. This study modifies the 4th UDMI by requiring objective ischemic evidence to improve consistency in myocardial infarction (MI) classification and applies it across diverse patient populations.

In this retrospective study, patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with 99th percentile high sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) values were classified using the modified 4th UDMI into the categories …

Caring More For Our First-Year, First-Generation And Low-Income Students: Perceptions Of Barriers And Transitional Success, Joshua Burns

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

First-generation and low-income (FGLI) students often encounter challenges during their transition into higher education, including limited access to institutional knowledge, social networks, and financial resources. While many colleges and universities offer targeted programs to support FGLI populations, not all eligible students enroll in or engage with these initiatives. This qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of first-year, nonprogrammatic FGLI students who are not actively participating in formal support programs to better understand how they navigate the transition to college. Through in-depth interviews, the study investigated the types of support these students seek independently, the institutional and social barriers they …

Building Resilience One Connection At A Time: A Guide To Developing Retention Programming On College Campuses, Stephanie Sibley, Rachel Daltry

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

Despite college students having the potential to be more socially connected than ever before thanks to technology and social media, many students still struggle with isolation, loneliness, and a lack of belongingness and community. These feelings and experiences not only increase the risk for suicidal behavior and diminish resilience, but they can also negatively impact student retention. Outreach programming that targets social connectedness will be described. Specific guidelines developed from first-hand experiences with implementing such programming will be highlighted, and readers will be encouraged to consider how similar programming could be implemented by various offices or personnel at their own …

The Success Equation: Scaling The Pivot Framework For Stem & Healthcare Student Success, Ryan Clark, Jarrod Lockhart

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

Student success in STEM and healthcare increasingly depends on intentional design of equitable, scalable pathways that integrate structured programming, immersive experiential learning, and modern workforce-aligned upskilling. This manuscript introduces the PIVOT Framework— Pathways, Innovation, Vision, Opportunity, and Transformation—as a comprehensive, evidencedriven model for reimagining student success strategies in STEM and healthcare education. The framework emphasizes early engagement, longitudinal support, and competency-based preparation, ensuring students develop the skills and professional identities necessary for success. Drawing from a range of high-impact practices—including paid internships, research-based learning experiences, mentoring structures, digital skills integration, and stackable credentialing—the manuscript demonstrates how coordinated institutional strategies improve …

Mentoring Through A Cultural Lens: Faculty Mentorship Experience In The Bunche Fellows Undergraduate Research Program, Audrey Devost, Passion Lord, Kiana Billot-Vasquez, Zeyna Faucette, Ketema Paul, Walter Allen

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

This manuscript explores the significance of faculty mentorship in underrepresented student success within a culturally engaged on-campus research program. Drawing on data derived from the Pathways Through Research case study, a mixed-methods empirical study of the Bunche Fellows Program at the University of California, Los Angeles, this paper centers student voices to better understand the manifestations of cultural engagement among faculty mentoring experiences, and how these cultural experiences shape student development among the program’s alumni. Guided by Critical Race epistemology and the Culturally Engaging Campus Environments (CECE) Model, this research highlights the effectiveness of mentoring relationships within a structured on-campus …

Rethinking Academic Integrity: Deconstructing Academic Norms In A Technologically And Culturally Shifting Lanscape, Ilknur Sancak-Marusa

Journal of Access, Retention, and Inclusion in Higher Education

The rise of generative AI use in higher education calls for a critical reexamination of academic integrity, revealing its culturally-constructed and context-dependent nature. While institutions scramble to create generative AI policies, many rely on Western-centric definitions of integrity that overlook the diverse cultural and linguistic students’ backgrounds. Traditional frameworks often misunderstand behaviors like patchwork writing or collaborative learning, viewing them as misconduct rather than culturally influenced practices. This paper argues that academic integrity standards differ across cultures and institutions rather than follow universal principles. As generative AI further complicates ideas of authorship and originality, institutions must move beyond punitive responses …

Disaster Exercise: Evaluating Mci Triage Training, Michael J. Steflovich Jr, Jodie Stobierski, Alexis Davis, Natasha Pavlinetz, Nela Isic, Nicole Roberson, Earl Best Md

Florida Journal of Emergency Medicine (FJEM)

Abstract

Study Objectives

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a didactic lecture-based training on mass casualty incident (MCI) triage performance among first- and second-year medical students. Specifically, the study aimed to measure improvements in overall triage accuracy, as well as reductions in over-triage and under-triage rates for both adult and pediatric patients.

Methods

This study employed a pre-test/post-test design involving 31 participants. Participants completed an electronic pre-test consisting of 30 patient scenarios (20 adult and 10 pediatric) before attending a 40-minute didactic lecture on MCI triage principles. The lecture covered the identification of MCI …

2025 Fall Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Fall 2025 commencement program. Commencement was on Friday, December 12, 2025. There were 2 ceremonies at 9:00am and 11:30am.

During the Commencement event, a complete list of graduates was provided online. This program was not published during the Commencement event. This digital copy is maintained in the repository for archival purposes.

Relcovaptan: A Promising Therapeutic Agent In Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury That Acts By Modulating Newly Identified Transcriptional Regulators Of Aquaporins Compared To Tolvaptan, Şeyma İş, Duygu Ceman, Meri̇h İş, Neşe Keser, Şaban Teki̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Every year, hundreds of thousands of people worldwide suffer from traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI), which causes irreversible damage, edema, and inflammation. Despite its devastating impact, no safe and effective medication is available. Edema formation is one of the earliest pathological events in tSCI, beginning within minutes after injury. Cytotoxic edema progresses to vasogenic edema, exacerbating irreversible damage. Our study aimed to investigate a therapeutic approach targeting cytotoxic edema in the acute phase of tSCI to improve treatment outcomes. Aquaporins (AQPs) are crucial in edema formation and tSCI pathogenesis. Vasopressin, also known as the antidiuretic hormone, modulates Aqp expression …

Preoperative Awareness Of Nasal And Facial Aesthetic Deformities Among Rhinoplasty Candidates, Ağah Yeni̇çeri̇, Nagi̇han Gülhan Yaşar, Burak Hazir, Meli̇h Çayönü

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: This study primarily aimed to evaluate the preoperative awareness of nasal and facial anatomical deformities among patients scheduled for primary rhinoplasty. The secondary objective was to assess changes in patients’ self-perception and aesthetic expectations regarding surgical outcomes following preoperative consultation with the surgeon.

Materials and methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 56 adult patients seeking primary aesthetic rhinoplasty at a tertiary care center were included. Each participant completed a 10-item anatomical evaluation form. An experienced rhinoplasty surgeon independently evaluated the same parameters. Additionally, participants completed a two-item visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaire both before and after the preoperative consultation. …

Subjective Memory Complaints Among Older Adults In Türkiye: Prevalence And Contributing Factors, Mustafa Çeti̇n, Zehra Sarikaya Demi̇rbaş, Mehmet İlki̇n Naharci

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Subjective memory complaints (SMCs), defined as self-perceived declines in memory performance, are common among older adults and may serve as early indicators of neurocognitive impairment. Despite their clinical relevance, no previous studies have examined the prevalence and associated factors of SMCs in Türkiye.

Materials and methods: A total of 500 community-dwelling older adults were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study; all underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment at a tertiary-level outpatient clinic. Participants with an mini-mental state examination score ≥27, independence in instrumental activities of daily living, and no diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment were assessed for SMCs. Sociodemographic …

Impact Of Patient Education Meetings On Disease Knowledge In Chronic Urticaria Patients, Nazan Beyhan, Hati̇ce Eylül Bozkurt Yilmaz, Asli Çi̇ftci̇, Ömür Aydin, Di̇lşad Mungan, Betül Ayşe Si̇n, Gülfem Eli̇f Çeli̇k, Murat Türk, İnsu Yilmaz, Sevi̇m Bavbek

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Chronic urticaria (CU) is a manageable disease with symptoms of itching and visible lesions that can disrupt daily life and reduce quality of life. The severity of symptoms can vary, and the cause is often unknown. Concerns among patients as regards to treatment and prognosis highlight the need for disease education to enhance self-management and reduce anxiety. The present study examines the effect of disease education on the knowledge level of CU patients.

Materials and methods: Patients with CU who presented to the allergy clinics of two tertiary university hospitals were invited to inperson education sessions including slide presentations …

Exploring Gender Differences In The Impact Of Sleep And Fatigue On Disease Severity In Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Moderated Mediation Model, Musa Salmanoğlu, Habi̇p Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often accompanied by fatigue and sleep disturbances, which aggravate disease severity. Gender differences in these interrelationships remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to examine whether fatigue mediates the association between sleep quality and disease severity in RA, and whether these pathways differ by gender.

Materials and methods: A single-center study was conducted with 68 RA patients (55.9% female). Disease severity was assessed using the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data-3, fatigue using the Bristol Rheumatology Fatigue Multidimensional Questionnaire, and sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results: Fatigue significantly mediated the relationship between …

Outcomes Of The First Adolescent-Focused Smoking Cessation Clinic In Türkiye On Tobacco Control, Demet Taş, Furkan Kalayci, Alkim Öden Akman

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Adolescent smoking remains common, highlighting the need to control tobacco use and identify influencing factors. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of an adolescent-focused smoking cessation clinic and the factors influencing them.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted with 262 adolescents, who, along with their parents, had direct access to the clinic. Data were drawn from patient records containing structured registration and follow-up documentation. The study investigated the effects of baseline cigarette consumption, sociodemographic characteristics, and nicotine patch use on smoking cessation rates at three months, six months, and one year.

Results: The three-month, six-month, and one-year …

Psychological Capital Of Hospital Nurses In The United States During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mary Jean Erschen-Cooke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was conducted to explore lived experiences, perceptions, and associated meanings reported by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic to determine what protected their well-being. A plethora of research focused on the negative impact of exhaustion, compassion fatigue, moral distress, and burnout; however, there was a gap in information regarding supports for emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical health, particularly among U.S. nurses. The foundational theory of psychological capital (PsyCap), focusing on the positive psychological traits of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism, grounded this investigation. A basic qualitative research design yielded rich data from semistructured interviews with 16 nurses working full …