Digital Commons Network^™

Can Schools Combat Partisan Belligerency?, Paula Mcavoy

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

The Mask As Metaphor: Deweyan Reflections In The Time Of A Pandemic, Todd Lekan

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Looking For Grace, Kyle A. Greenwalt

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

On (Not) Becoming A Moral Monster: Democratically Transforming American Racial Imaginations, Steven Fesmire

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Toward A Culture Of Democracy, Thomas M. Alexander

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Editor's Introduction, Leonard J. Waks

Dewey Studies

No abstract provided.

Preparing Adjunct Clinical Instructors For Success: The Impact Of A Structured Orientation Program On Perceived Capabilities As Measured By The Capabilities Of Nurse Educators (Cone) Questionnaire, Amanda Stone

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Adjunct clinical instructors are essential in helping nursing students connect classroom learning to real-world patient care. A needs assessment within an associate degree nursing (ADN) program identified that adjunct clinical instructors received only a brief overview of policies, contributing to role uncertainty and inconsistent preparation for clinical teaching responsibilities. Current literature supports the use of structured orientation and mentorship to better prepare nurses as they transition into clinical educator roles. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of a structured orientation program on adjunct clinical instructors’ perceived capabilities. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act change …

An Untapped Resource: Exploring The Role Of Spirituality In The Psychological Healing Of African Asylum-Seekers From A Counselor’S Perspective, Brittany A. Duncan

Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how counselors perceive and integrate spirituality into the psychological healing of African asylum-seekers, a population facing compounded cultural, legal, and existential challenges. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the study examined the lived experiences of eight counselors working with this population. Findings revealed that counselors’ personal sense of religion influenced their comfort and approach in broaching spiritual topics, with both positive (e.g., spirituality as a source of support and community) and negative (e.g., religion as a source of suffering) associations shaping clinical engagement. Many participants reported limited access to trainings geared towards increasing their cultural competence related to …

Interview With Orca Winner John Hibbing, Political Science; How Political Attitudes Correlate With Physiological Traits, Mark A. Griep, John Hibbing

UNL ORCA Interview Series

Dr. John Hibbing was awarded the ORCA in 1993. John was born in 1953 in Paullina, Iowa. He earned a bachelor's in secondary education from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, but then realized that teaching high school wasn't for him. Instead, he attended the University of Iowa, where he earned a master's and doctorate in political science. In 1981, he joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as an assistant professor of political science and rose quickly through the ranks. Initially, he studied the reasons that members of the U.S. Congress retire. This led to a longer-term collaboration with Kevin Smith and …

Driving-Related Challenges For Autistic Youth, Jeong-Heun Kim

ETDs from 2020-2029

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face barriers to driving. Despite evidence that they have potential to drive safely, some unique challenges exist, manifested in a substantially lower licensure rate than typically developing (TD) peers and restricted driving patterns among this population. Therefore, the overarching goal of this dissertation project was to investigate driving-related challenges that young autistic people face. Both objective and subjective measures were used to comprehensively explore this research topic. The first two papers focused on investigating perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral factors underlying hazard response using data from a total of 34 licensed drivers (17 with …

Altered But Adaptive: Network Integration In Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Survivors A Diffusion Mri Graph Theory Analysis, Amanda Cook

ETDs from 2020-2029

Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors face treatment-related risk for late-emerging cognitive difficulties. Chemotherapy can disrupt white-matter structure leading survivors to experience subtle but persistent challenges with processing speed, working memory, and executive functioning. However, cognitive outcomes vary widely even among survivors with similar treatment exposures. To better understand this variability, this study examines how the brain adapts after treatment and how that adaptation is shaped by the environment. This study used diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) connectomics to characterize white matter network organization in 18 pediatric ALL survivors compared with 20 typically developing controls (ages 10-18). Structural connectomes were …

A Retrospective Analysis Of Dental Needs Identified By Intraoral Videography In Elderly Patients With Mild To Moderate Dementia In Long-Term Care Facilities: Feasibility Of A Novel Screening Mechanism For Oral Health, Kevin Hahn

ETDs from 2020-2029

This retrospective analysis explores the viability of employing intraoral videography to identify dental needs among long-term care (LTC) facility residents with cognitive impairment and/or mild to moderate dementia. Inadequate oral hygiene in these individuals can lead to dental plaque buildup, oral dysbiosis, gingivitis, dental caries, and periodontitis. Such conditions can impact both oral and systemic health. However, delivering oral hygiene in LTC facilities faces challenges due to care-resistant behavior triggered during mouth care. And many individuals in residential LTC facilities do not have access to dental care outside of severe emergencies due to cost, reimbursement patterns, lack of access to …

Histone Deacetylases In Kidney Injury: Distribution, Injury-Specific Regulation, And Fibroblast Hdac1 Function, Huy Nguyen

ETDs from 2020-2029

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) through maladaptive repair and interstitial fibrosis. Epigenetic regulation has emerged as a critical factor of kidney injury responses, however the injury-specific and cell-type specific roles of histone deacetylases (HDACs) remain poorly defined. This dissertation investigates the regulation and functional significance of HDACs in kidney injury, with a particular focus on fibroblast HDAC1 as a mediator of interstitial fibrosis development following AKI. In my cisplatin-induced AKI model, a single dose of cisplatin caused a significant decline in kidney function in both male …

Mindfulness Across Media: Examining The Effects Of Audio, Audio-Visual, And Virtual Reality Mindfulness Interventions On Social Media Mindsets And Psychological Wellbeing, Rashmi Salian

ETDs from 2020-2029

Social media is so deeply ingrained and integrated into daily life that concerns about its impact on psychological wellbeing continue to grow, prompting pressing questions about how to foster healthier and more intentional use of technology. Recent studies suggest that low-agency mindsets toward social media lead users to develop habitual usage patterns and ambiguous information consumption behaviors, both of which negatively impact psychological outcomes. However, limited research is available on mechanisms that could effectively alter these mindsets. This study uses an experimental methodology to investigate whether mindfulness interventions delivered through varying levels of media immersion can improve psychological mindsets toward …

Enhancing Dynamic Balance And Mobility In Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy Or Spina Bifida, Phuong Thi Minh Quach

ETDs from 2020-2029

Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Spina Bifida (SB) are among the most prevalent pediatric neuromotor impairments, posing significant challenges to independent mobility and dynamic balance. Although arising from different neurological origins, CP from non-progressive brain disruptions during development and SB from lower motor neuron lesions in the neural tube, both the conditions often lead to similar functional limitations, including muscle weakness, impaired gait and limited mobility. Affected children typically exhibit compromised postural control and an increased dependence on assistive devices. Over time, this decline in independent physical activity often triggers secondary health issues, such as early onset of osteoporosis, hypertension, and …

The Role Of 14-3-3 Proteins In The Pro-Inflammatory Response Of Microglia And The Neuronal Stress Response To Trichloroethylene Exposure, William Stone

ETDs from 2020-2029

ABSTRACT This dissertation examines how 14-3-3 proteins, with a focus on the 14-3-3θ iso-form, regulate signaling pathways relevant to neurodegeneration. While tradition-ally described as molecular hubs that organize protein–protein interactions, our work reveals how 14-3-3 function is shaped by environmental insults, namely bac-terial and neurotoxicant exposures, and how its disruption contributes to disease-associated processes. Two complementary approaches were used, focusing on microglial inflammatory signaling and neuronal responses to an environmental neurotoxicant, to define a broader role for 14-3-3 proteins in disease associated pathways in the brain. Chapter I identifies 14-3-3 proteins as modulators of microglial activation. Disrup-tion of 14-3-3 interactions …

Evaluation Of Occupational Exposure To Noise And Respirable Particulate Matter In Dentistry, Kabe Fetner

ETDs from 2020-2029

Dental procedures can result in occupational exposures to both noise and particulate matter. Dental professionals routinely operate high-speed instruments and mechanical tools that may produce elevated sound levels and aerosolized particles during clinical treatment. Although these exposures are common in dental environments, limited data exist describing full-shift occupational exposure levels during routine dental procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate occupational exposure to noise and respirable particulate matter (RPM) during routine dental procedures in a clinical setting. Area noise monitoring and real-time aerosol monitoring were conducted over six clinical days while common dental procedures were performed, including fillings, …

Early Adoption Of Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation In Canada: Physician Experiences, Barriers, And Facilitators To Implementation, Harrison Gao, David Liu, Ben B. Levy, Justin Shapiro, Kevin M. Higgins, Diana E. Khalil, Elizabeth E. Cottrill, Courtney Poon, Pabiththa Kamalraj, Justine Philteos, Antoine Eskander

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Thyroid radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive alternative to surgery for thyroid nodules. Despite strong international evidence, thyroid RFA was only approved by Health Canada in April 2023. Understanding the experiences of early adopters can inform the broader adoption of RFA in Canada and other healthcare systems.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the implementation experiences of early adopters of thyroid RFA in Canada and identify barriers and facilitators to adoption.

DESIGN: Multiple methods.

SETTING: All 8 listed RFA facilities in Canada.

PARTICIPANTS: Physicians performing thyroid RFA (n = 9).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survey and semi-structured interviews.

RESULTS: Most participants reported …

Racial Privacy I: The Quest For Whiteness By European Immigrants In America, Najarian R. Peters

UC Law Journal of Race and Economic Justice

Privacy law scholars have disregarded and under-theorized racial privacy practices, meaning racial/ethnic passing, in the United States of America. This article is a defining first step in conceptualizing racial passing as an indispensable privacy protection practice, that affirmed the following individual and group privacy rights of European immigrants, who became White in America: (1) the right to be let alone, (2) the right to erasure of stigmatized racial identity, and inherent in that right, (3) the right to forget an assigned racial identity, burdened by socio-economic deprivation and predation. Whiteness was required to access citizenship for the vast majority of …

The Joy And Privilege Of Social Justice Lawyering: Fulfillment Through Integrating Work And Life, Ascanio Piomelli

UC Law Journal of Race and Economic Justice

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Fenugreek And Shatavari On Vasomotor And Hormonal Balance In Ovariectomized Rats, Füsun Erten, Beşi̇r Er, Cemal Orhan, Abhijeet A. Morde, Muralidhara Padigaru, Kazi̇m Şahi̇n

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek, TFG) and Asparagus racemosus Willd. (shatavari, AR) have been extensively used in Ayurvedic, Unani, and traditional folk medicine to support women’s health. TFG seeds are traditionally employed as galactagogues and hormonal modulators, while AR roots are valued as rejuvenating tonics with phytoestrogenic activity, prescribed for menopausal complaints and reproductive well-being. Both plants also exhibit antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects, suggesting their potential as safe, nonhormonal alternatives to conventional hormone replacement therapy. This study investigated the dose-dependent effects of TFG and AR, administered individually or in combination, on vasomotor symptoms, hormonal balance, oxidative stress, and neuroendocrine markers in …

Strategies Health Care Leaders Use To Reduce Health Care Worker Absenteeism Due To Influenza, Adriene Yvonn Thornton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Exploring Organizational Responses To Clinician Turnover: A Baldrige Framework Approach, Sharayza Rachael Blakemore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Needs Assessment For Sexual Violence Education In An Afterschool Program In Liberia, Mabel Howe Watson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Culturally Informed Approaches To Support Perinatal Mental Health: Perceptions And Experiences Of Perinatal Depression And Support Systems Among Postpartum African-Born Women In The United States, Joyce O. Imafidon

ETDs from 2020-2029

Perinatal mental health (PMH) of African-born women (ABW) is underrepresented in research and practice in the United States (US) despite known consequences of poor mental wellbeing on one’s overall health, relationships and productivity. Beyond their fundamental role in family support, ABW contribute significantly to the US workforce, education sector, and economy. This three-paper dissertation enhances understanding on PMH outcomes, perception and experiences of ABW in the US. Perinatal depression (PD), one of the most common mood disorders affecting 1 in 8 women, is highlighted. The overarching question is to what extent does the US health system address PMH of ABW …

Darkstar: A Memoir In Essays, Sophie Hawke Isham

ETDs from 2020-2029

Darkstar: A Memoir in Essays is an essay collection that follows the last four years of my life. These essays vary in length, format, and material. The themes these essays tackle range from heavy subjects like deteriorating mental health from bipolar disorder and grief over the loss of pets and family members, to lighter subjects such as gender expression and identity, and the love surrounding me from friends, family, and relationships. While each essay can stand alone, they are more fleshed out and connected in the context and structure of this thesis. This body of work explores the various ways …

Behind The Screen: Exploring How Undergraduate Students Experience Sense Of Belonging In Online Learning Environments In The United States, Grace Ellen Kiersznowski

ETDs from 2020-2029

Enrollment in online courses in higher education has been rising rapidly over the past couple of decades and has accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic. This has made higher learning more accessible for students who would otherwise have difficulty earning a degree. Online education poses many barriers to students’ development of a sense of belonging, something research has been found to be of great importance to student success and well-being. Relatively little was known about students’ sense of belonging in online learning environments prior to the pandemic. Since the pandemic, online education has undergone major changes, changing the landscape in a …

Caring Through Cancer: The Role Of Stress And Social Support In The Lives Of Caregivers Diagnosed With Cancer, Antoinette Shantay Williams

ETDs from 2020-2029

Caregivers living with cancer face overlapping burdens that are often overlooked in research, policy, and practice, despite the profound implications for their mental health and the care they provide. The main objective of this dissertation is to examine how cancer status, gender, and social support intersect to influence the number of poor mental health days reported by caregivers in the United States and a U.S. territory. Specifically, this study assesses differences in poor mental health days between caregivers with and without cancer and examines whether gender and social support independently and jointly moderate this potential association. Using 2022-2023 data from …

Unintentional Gun Injury In Children: Firearm Safety Knowledge, Intention, And Behavior And Psychological Moderators That Predict Unsafe Firearm Use, Yixin Wang

ETDs from 2020-2029

In the United States, 4,752 children under age 19 died from firearm injuries in 2021. Among children younger than 14, 13% of firearm-related deaths were unintentional. In ad-dition, approximately 40% of children lived in households with firearms in 2021, and in many states, children may legally hunt without adult supervision after completing hunter education training. Although knowledge-based firearm safety education programs have been developed, existing interventions have shown limited effectiveness in improving chil-dren’s firearm safety behaviors. In response, the present study examined children’s firearm safety performance through the lens of the Theory of Planned Behavior and developmental factors relevant to …

The Medicalization Of Rapists In Psychiatry From 2000-2024, Lily Plowden

ETDs from 2020-2029

The process of human problems coming to be defined as medical conditions and thus under the purview of medical professionals is called medicalization. This study examines how psychiatrists medicalize perpetrators of sexual violence, looking particularly at debates around whether to include a new disorder, Paraphilic Coercive Disorder, in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition. Using a content analysis of n=102 articles, it finds that discussions of the pathology of sexual violence perpetration were prevalent among psychiatric journals from 2000-2024. Psychiatrists medicalize rapists through three pathways: advocating for a new medical disorder; attributing the cause of sexual …