Digital Commons Network^™

Empathy On Trial: The Role Of Neuroscience And Communication In Sexual Violence Jurisprudence, Samantha M. Gonzales

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Sexual violence remains a contentious public safety and legal challenge, which has become further complicated by the tension between supporting victim-survivors and safeguarding the falsely accused. False accusations, though still well below the numbers of rightly accused, are experiencing a rise in popularity given recent (past ten years) political climates. This thesis examines how communication theory, neuroscience, and law intersect in molding perceptions of truth, culpability, and justice in sexual violence cases; while also examining the intersectionality of those fields in addressing the candor of allegations, the rate of recidivism, and quality of public health and safety. The most prominent …

Selective Attention With Lyrical Music Vs. No Music, Scovs Majors, Rachel Falleur, Kim Niang, Olivia Pokrifcsak

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Selective attention refers to the brain’s ability to focus on relevant information while filtering out distractions. Research suggests that language cues and semantic context can shape how attention is directed, indicating that cognitive control is context-dependent (Reisman, 1964). Environmental factors such as background noise can also disrupt attention, leading to reduced accuracy on cognitive tasks (Pearson & Lane, 1984). In the present study, we examined music as both a linguistic and environmental variable influencing selective attention. Previous findings indicate that lyrical music can serve as a significant distractor, impairing attentional performance in both music and non-music majors (Darrow et al., …

Body Image In Athletes Compared To Non-Athletes, Madeleine R. Scott, Yara Ali, Hana Sokolovic, Jenny Glenn

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

This current study examines the relationship between student athletes and body image. Current research demonstrates that body image has become a growing concern regarding young adults, yet few studies have investigated whether there is a relationship between body image and being a student athlete, specifically regarding their body dissatisfaction, negative eating behaviors, social comparison, and self-objectification. In this study, ninety (N= 90) students at Belmont University participated in a survey that assessed their body dissatisfaction, negative eating behaviors, social comparison, and self-objectification. Of our total participants, twenty eight (N= 28) reported to be part of a student athlete organization, while …

Relationship Satisfaction Among College Students, Gracie L. Sager, Makenna A. Stratton, Kyrah Brodie, Autumn R. Thomas

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Understanding relationship satisfaction is essential to individual well-being, particularly in college populations, as it relates to happiness, mental and physical health, and everyday functioning. Existing measures lack sensitivity to developmental dynamics shaped by evolving expectations and modern relationship stressors. This study aimed to develop a measure that examines the relationship between overall relationship satisfaction and key factors in romantic relationships, including partner support, relationship conflict, relationship length, and communication quality among college students. We hypothesize that the newly developed measure of relationship satisfaction will demonstrate good internal reliability (Cronbach’s α ≥ .700.) We also expect that perceived partner support would …

Physiological Response To Concealed Information In A Mock-Crime Paradigm​, Ezra Koenigsberg, Tamya Mchenry, Jasmine Manzana, Taylor Powell, Samantha Jackson

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The Concealed Information Test (CIT), based on Lykken’s guilty knowledge framework, measures physiological responses when individuals recognize crime-related details compared to neutral alternatives. Previous studies show that variations in stimulus presentation enhance the CIT’s accuracy, especially through changes in electrodermal activity and heart rate. However, few studies have tested whether a Qualtrics-based mock-crime version of the CIT can replicate these physiological patterns. This study addresses that gap by adapting the CIT for a digital research environment. The goal is to determine whether participants show greater physiological arousal—measured through skin conductance, heart rate, and respiration—when exposed to crime-related “critical” stimuli compared …

Investigating The Mediated Relationship Of Stress Between Organizational Culture And Emotional Labor In Nurses, Elaine Beardsley

2025

RESEARCH

Purpose: Pediatric critical care nurses provide essential care to severely ill or injured children, yet high stress can impact the nurse’s well-being. Although it is known that exposure to traumatic events can contribute to secondary trauma for the nurse, it is becoming more widely understood how the work environment is a contributing factor on how stress is experienced by the nurse. It is also known that emotion regulation strategies to meet organizational display rules, called emotional labor, can increase or decrease felt stress, but it is not known if this is impacted by organizational culture types. The purpose …

Characterization Of Antiretroviral Therapy (Art) Adherence Phenotypes And Psychosocial Symptom Clusters Among Black/African American (Aa) And Hispanic/Latine Adolescents And Young Adults (Ayas) With Hiv In The Adherence Connection For Counseling, Education, And Support (Access-Ii) Trial, Ann-Margaret Navarra, Taehoon Ha, Eva Liang, Maurade Gormley, David R. Garcia, Jason Fletcher, Lloyd A. Goldsamt, Michael G. Rosenberg, Karin Hasegawa, Jie Yang

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence behavior is heterogeneous among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with HIV and influenced by individual and interpersonal psychosocial factors. The primary objective of this study is to characterize ART adherence phenotypes and psychosocial symptom clusters, as related to ART adherence and HIV viral load suppression. This analysis included 60 AYAs with HIV enrolled in an ART adherence support clinical trial. Self-reported ART adherence at baseline, 12-weeks, and 24-weeks was used to define four ART adherence phenotypes: consistently high adherence (YY), early-only adherence (YN), late-only adherence (NY), and consistently low adherence (NN). Symptom clusters were empirically derived …

Archaeology As Alternative Prison Education, Jayne Price Dr, Caroline Pudney Dr

Journal of Prison Education Research

This paper presents the educational focused outcomes of a set of workshops entitled 'Introduction to Archaeology’ that were delivered within a prison. The workshops were delivered as part of a project that seeks to explore the pro-social benefits and social capital (i.e. social and structural aspects that support positive identity formation) that could be developed through engagement with archaeology, specifically for those within the criminal justice system. The workshops offered a bespoke, alternative, educational offering within an adult male prison in Wales. It was designed and delivered by an archaeologist who has an established background in the field, especially in …

Veterans' Voices Provide Key To Measuring Ptsd Treatment Success, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – For veterans battling post-traumatic stress disorder, feeling better is more than just scoring better in clinical measurements. A new study shows that these two metrics often align.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi No Boo-Boo Pulse-Oximeter: A Child-Friendly Prototype To Improve The Pediatric Experience, Holly Dickens

2025

INNOVATION & LEADERSHIP

Background: This prototype design project addresses the critical need to enhance pediatric patient comfort by reimagining common medical equipment to be child-friendly. A significant gap exists in pediatric device development, as most tools are repurposed from adult models and fail to consider the unique psychological, emotional, and developmental needs of children (Espinoza et al., 2020). Devices such as pulse oximeters, though essential in monitoring oxygenation and widely regarded as the “fifth vital sign” (Al-Beltagi et al., 2024), often cause distress for young patients. Traditional models feature intimidating adult-centric aesthetics, bright red sensor lights, and sticky wraps …

Teacher Perceptions Of School Leadership: Trust, Fairness, And Support As Predictors Of Student Achievement, Trever B. Smith

Honors Theses

This quantitative study examined the relationship between staff–leadership working conditions and student achievement outcomes in Kentucky high schools. This research makes use of extant data from the Impact Kentucky Working Conditions Survey for the 2023-2024 school year. The researcher particularly studied the correlation between teacher perceptions of trust, fairness, and support from principals and student achievement in the Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA). Teacher perceptions of working conditions were generally favorable, though trust and perceptions of school leadership emerged as weaker areas. Correlation analyses indicated only weak, nonsignificant associations between leadership working conditions and student achievement outcomes at the statewide level. …

Vol. 69, No. 13 (November 24, 2025)

Indiana Law Annotated

No abstract provided.

Garla Freeman V. Td Bank

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Nursing Care For The Sexual Assault Patient Using Trauma-Informed Care: Development Of Simulation Curriculum, Lauren Orr

2025

INNOVATION & LEADERSHIP

Background: In 1999, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) called for nursing programs to include nursing care of patients who have experienced violence, including sexual violence. The care of these vulnerable patients requires specialized care, but also the use of specialized language through using trauma-informed care (TIC) to prevent revictimization and to further support healing. A simulation curriculum was developed that can both introduce the nursing care needed for a sexual assault patient and allow students to practice using TIC that is used when students practice independently as licensed nurses. Multiple studies have supported …

Front Matter And Table Of Contents

University of Miami Race & Social Justice Law Review

No abstract provided.

Deterring Prison Versus Police Civil Rights Violations: Legal Challenges, Public Policy, And Institutional Failures, Natalie Kemper

University of Miami Race & Social Justice Law Review

The status of incarcerated individuals falls categorically below that of non-incarcerated individuals in our society, yet most would agree they deserve protection from governmental abuses of power. This Note evaluates the current legal, institutional, political, and societal circumstances that contribute to the immense difficulties faced by individuals alleging civil rights violations under the Eighth Amendment, primarily through the avenue of U.S.C. § 1983. Due to similarities in civil rights claims, this Note compares the barriers faced by incarcerated plaintiffs to those encountered in police misconduct claims, highlighting key discrepancies that undermine accountability and deterrence.

A primary barrier is the significantly …

The Grad's Playbook: Enhancing The Onboarding And New Student Orientation Experience, Debra Rodrigues, Elissa Lipke

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Graduate students often describe the transition into their programs as both exciting and overwhelming. New Student onboarding and orientation play an important role in helping them feel prepared, connected, and supported, yet many universities still approach these processes in a limited way. This study explored how graduate onboarding can better address student needs by drawing on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Senge’s Five Disciplines of a Learning Organization.

Using a mixed-methods sequential design, the researchers invited 239 newly admitted graduate students to participate, of whom 65 consented and completed a post-orientation survey examining their feelings of preparedness, belonging, and confidence. …

Ascertaining Ascertainability, Patrick D. Murphree

Louisiana Law Review

No abstract provided.

Exploring Lived Experiences Of Significant Others As Caregivers To Partners With Spinal Cord Injury, Lisa A. Lumley

Biennial Convention (CONV)

According to the World Health Organization, 250,000 to 500,000 people worldwide have suffered a spinal cord injury. Significant others may become caregivers responsible for meeting the needs of the dependent partner. The focus of this study is on significant other caregivers’ experiences providing care for partners after a spinal cord injury.

The effects of stress from providing care may be detrimental to caregivers' psychological and physical well-being. Psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression in caregivers, is a significant public health issue that affects the quality of life for millions of individuals. There is a lack of studies focusing on …

Housing Market Responses To Constrained Mobility Rights - Evidence From A School Enrollment Reform For Migrant Children, Yilin Hou, Jinghua Qi, Yugang Tang

Center for Policy Research

Mobility matches open housing markets. With constrained mobility and partially open housing markets, market responses reflect the constraints. We study this mechanism by examining disparity in access to public schools across socio-economic groups, focusing on properties near primary schools accessible to migrant students under social integration policies in a Chinese megacity. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we uncover complex spatial and market dynamics: while house prices close to ordinary primary schools remained relatively stable, house prices farther away declined markedly. This differential impact suggests the interaction between a potential "peer effect" and an "amenity effect." The rental rates showed little change …

Adequate Representation In Group Litigation, Elizabeth Chamblee Burch

Louisiana Law Review

No abstract provided.

Vested Property Rights: Examining The Louisiana Supreme Court's Approach To Substantive Due Process In Bienvenu V. Defendant 1, William Voitier

Louisiana Law Review

No abstract provided.

Bladder Prolapse (Cystocele) Among African, Asian, And Middle Eastern Women: A Clinical And Socio-Cultural Perspective, Gayathri Delanerolle, Vindya Pathiraja, Tharanga Mudalige, Nirmala Rathnayake, Abirame Sivakumar, Wijamunige Nimesha Prashadini, Nihal Mohamed Al Riyami, Lamiya Al-Kharusi, Mohammad Haddadi, Fred Tweneboah-Koduah, Om Kurmi, George Uchenna Eleje, Peter Phiri, Lauri Romanzi, Sohier Elneil

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Bladder prolapse, also known as cystocoele, is the most common form of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), significantly affecting women's physical, sexual, and psychosocial health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite its widespread prevalence and disabling consequences, bladder prolapse remains under-recognised and inadequately addressed in global health strategies. Prevalence estimates vary widely across regions, from 3%-64.6%, influenced by diagnostic methods and cultural reporting biases. Common risk factors include high parity, early childbirth, prolonged labour, poor postpartum care, malnutrition, obesity, and ageing. Clinical diagnosis often relies on simplified grading systems in resource-limited settings. Conservative treatments like pelvic floor muscle training …

Multigenerational Teachers And Staff Experiences, Perceptions, And Preferences On Organizational Change Communication In Schools, Chrystal Louise Fields

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizational leaders’ failure to adopt effective change communication strategies in schools exacerbates teacher and staff shortages, compounding factors that undermine student outcomes and overall school effectiveness. Multigenerational teachers and staff must understand change communication strategies as a leading indicator of unsuccessful workforce and organizational change in schools. Grounded in social constructivist theory and conceptually informed by Goffman’s frame analysis, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to explore how multigenerational teachers and staff experience change communication as recipients and agents of change in schools. The participants consisted of 16 multigenerational teachers and staff members across four generations from …

Adolescent Girls’ Uptake Of Prep In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Meta-Aggregation Of Mixed Methods Studies, Susanna Aba Abraham, Dorcas Frempomaa Agyare, Benjamin Kofi Anumel, Mustapha Amoadu

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is home to 25.9 million people living with HIV, with adolescent girls accounting for 63% of new infections [1,2]. These girls face risks compounded by gender-based violence, and limited sexual education [3]. Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), estimated to be 99% effective in preventing HIV from intercourse and 77% from injectable drug use, is a promising prevention strategy [4]. Despite its efficacy, PrEP uptake and adherence among adolescent girls in SSA remain low [3]. This meta-aggregative review synthesizes evidence on PrEP uptake, adherence, facilitators, and barriers among adolescent girls, addressing a critical gap in research.

Methods: …

Sense Of Belongingness In The Nursing Profession: Perception Of Students In A Ghanaian University, Gloria Achempim-Ansong

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The nursing profession is a noble and demanding vocation that requires a deep sense of commitment, compassion, and resilience. Nurses play a pivotal role in providing high-quality care to patients, promoting health and well-being, and serving as advocates for their patients and the healthcare system. However, the journey to becoming a nurse is often fraught with challenges, particularly for undergraduate nursing students who are navigating the complexities of academic and clinical training. Sense of belongingness plays a crucial role in shaping the academic, clinical, and social experiences of undergraduate nursing students.

This study sought to explore the sense of belongingness …

Design And Refinement Of Cybercelltm, A Virtual Reality Health Education Program For Adolescents And Young Adults With Sickle Cell Disease, Aimee Hildenbrand, Melanie Pitone, Benjamin Bear, Corinna L. Schultz, Sherman Finch, Danielle Morley, Stephanie Hubbard, Alyssa Decino, Melissa A. Alderfer, Lori E. Crosby, Fredric Freeman

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

For people living with sickle cell disease (SCD), the risk for disease complications and premature death rises sharply in adolescence and young adulthood, when chronic organ damage is compounded by reduced preventive care. To make informed health care decisions, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) require effective education about their health condition and treatment options. We aimed to systematically design and develop a user-centered, evidence-based virtual reality (VR) health education program to optimize the use of SCD therapies among AYAs with SCD. We engaged a diverse team including AYAs with SCD and their caregivers, multidisciplinary SCD clinicians and researchers, patient education …

Satisfaction And Barriers To Online Learning Among Omani Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jansirani Natarajan, Mickael A. Joseph, Dooa S. Al Jabri, Juhaina N. Al Shabibi, Sheikha H. Al Quwaiti, Bushra K. Al Bahri

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to assess Omani nursing students’ satisfaction with online learning and perceived barriers that may hinder the seamless integration of online theory courses into the nursing curriculum. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was administered to nursing students at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman, in the Spring 2024 semester. The 34-item Distance Education Learning Environment Survey and the 22-item Barriers to Online Learning Scale were used. Descriptive statistics and t-tests/ANOVA examined associations. Results: A total of 155 respondents were included (response rate = 73.1%); most respondents were female (n = 126, 81.3%), aged 18– 22 years (n = …

Chimes: November 24, 2025, Calvin University

Chimes

Student Senate welcomes LCS council by Ellery Johnson

Administrators respond to student questions in second academic transition town hall by Ian Tjoelker & Ashley Hammons

Matins: A poetry collection by Professor Otto Selles by McKenna Wilkinson

No Noise November: A spiritual, physical and mental practice by Ella Vanden Berg

Seminary: A "seedbed" for growth by Joe Toly

Calvin's Women's Rugby on the rise by Hendrik Beelen

Furry friends on campus keep watch over students by Ashley Hamons & Maya Oeverman

"You Will Be Like God": On freedom and the fall of Anakin Skywalker by Joe Toly

Exploring The Recognition Of Internalizing Problems Among Black Students: Delving Into The Youth Mental Health Help-Seeking Pathway, Marketta A. Adams

LSU Master's Theses

The mental health of Black adolescents is a growing concern, with high prevalence rates of internalizing disorders such as anxiety and depression. National studies report that nearly 47% of Black adolescents experience a mental health disorder by age 18, with over 60% reporting moderate to severe depressive symptomology. Despite these alarming rates, Black youth underutilize mental health services, often due to cultural stigma, limited access to culturally competent care, and under-recognition of their mental health needs. This study aimed to explore problem recognition as a key component in the mental health help-seeking pathway for Black adolescents in school settings. Grounded …