Digital Commons Network^™

Formerly Abducted Youths In Northern Uganda: History, Impact, Intervention, And Reintegration, Noelani Stahl

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Senior Capstone

In 1988, a rebel group called the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) formed in Northern Uganda. A civil war broke out between the LRA and the government, lasting more than two decades and affecting almost the entire population of Northern Uganda. Children were some of the most impacted by the conflict, as the LRA’s primary strategy was abducting children and forcibly recruiting them as sexual slaves (brides), manual laborers, and soldiers.First, this paper establishes the historical and political backdrop of the conflict, providing context for the psychological impacts that abduction into war had on children, Acholi culture, and the communities involved. …

Too Much Time Alone: Disciplinary Segregation As A Cruel And Unusual Punishment, Elijah Swolgaard, Spencer Schlag

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

Disciplinary segregation has historically been used as an arbitrary form of punishment in American prison systems. The severe psychological effects of this confinement allow it be classified as a cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment and generally lead to higher recidivism rates. This Note argues that in order to prevent these effects from occurring, disciplinary segregation should be ruled unconstitutional. Previous scholarship has argued for removal of solitary confinement generally. In contrast, this Note argues for the removal of disciplinary segregation specifically, while maintaining the use of necessary forms of solitary confinement such as administrative segregation. This will …

Abuse, Neglect, And Abandonment: The Need To Protect Immigrant Minors Through Standardized Definitions, Bailey Morris Gurr, Lila Bird Williams

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) applications are inconsistently adjudicated across states due to varying definitions of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. This inconsistency creates geographic disparities in protection, leaving vulnerable immigrant minors at risk of deportation; in the worst-case scenario, children who meet the criteria in one state may be denied in another and sent back to unsafe or life-threatening conditions. This paper argues for federal oversight to standardize SIJS criteria by amending the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to establish unambiguous definitions of abuse, neglect, and abandonment, ensuring fair and consistent adjudication nationwide. Legal scholars widely recognize the …

Full Issue

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

No abstract provided.

"They Had Been Forgotten" The Story Of Weld Hall And Its Stained-Glass Windows, John Mccune

Histories of MSUM

History of Weld Hall and the stained-glass windows originally installed in the building's auditorium and what followed.

The Cost Of Capital: Lowering The Cost Of Capital For Climate And Sdg Finance In Emerging Markets And Developing Economies (Emdes), Jeffrey D. Sachs, Lisa E. Sachs, Ana M. Camelo Vega, Bradford M. Willis

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment

Today, some of the world's fastest-growing economies face some of the highest borrowing costs – even for clean energy and development projects with strong fundamentals. This is not a function of global capital scarcity. Trillions are available. The problem lies in systemic barriers that prevent capital from flowing to where it’s most urgently needed. The high cost of capital in EMDEs not only undermines critical financing for the energy transition and sustainable development; it also limits the ability for US- and EU-based financial institutions to invest in and finance projects in EMDEs, despite institutional and stakeholder appetite and interest for …

Communicating Assessments With Impact: Insights From The Scientific Community, Emily M. Mccarthy

Journal of Strategic Security

Assessments analysts are extensively trained in the application of analytic techniques, but less time is spent equipping them with the tools needed to communicate their assessments effectively. Great pains can be taken to frame, research, and answer an assessment question, but that effort is wasted if the message isn’t heard and embraced by decision makers. An analogous challenge is experienced in the scientific community, where researchers are traditionally trained in methodological rigor rather than impactful communication. Acknowledging this, the scientific community has undertaken a concerted effort to develop and implement evidence-based strategies to communicate its findings with impact. This article …

Dangerous Legitimacy: The Risks Of Normalizing Hamas As A Fundamentalist Terror Group In Western Discourse, Shevach Berkovits, Darnell Downes, Hunter Lacroix, Michael Dobkowski

Journal of Strategic Security

This article examines the dangers of Western discourse misrepresenting and normalizing Hamas, a fundamentalist terrorist group, as a legitimate actor in regional crises and conflicts. It explores Hamas' origins as a global terrorist organization, its history of armed conflict with neighbors and the broader Western world, and its ideological roots in religious fundamentalism and totalitarianism. The article argues that Hamas’ principles and actions are fundamentally incompatible with Western democratic ideals, posing a significant threat to regional and global security. It also addresses the ongoing challenges of "Western washing" Hamas through propaganda spread via social activism and social media. The article …

Systems And Methods For Determining Concrete Strength, Austin Gray Mullins, Sarah Jo Mobley, Kelly Marie Costello

USF Patents

In one embodiment, a concrete strength testing system includes a core drill having a core barrel, a press associated with the core drill that is configured to drive the core barrel into concrete to be tested, a force sensor associated with the core drill that is configured to measure a force with which the core barrel is driven into the concrete by the press, and a depth measurement device configured to measure a depth into the concrete to which the core barrel is driven by the press.

Enhancing Pedestrian Safety Around Jacksonville State University: A Gis-Based Perception And Crash Analysis, Husain O. Alegimenlen

Theses

This study uses a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based approach to assess pedestrian safety around Jacksonville State University (JSU) by combining vehicle crash data with perception surveys from 111 pedestrians and 97 drivers. The research identifies high-risk areas, explores contributing factors, and recommends targeted safety improvements.

A total of 209 geocoded crash records (2021 to 2024) were analyzed using Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and hotspot analysis in ArcGIS Pro. Crash clusters appeared along Pelham Road North and Mountain Street, marking key vehicular risk zones. Three major pedestrian danger areas were found: (1) Nisbet Street NW and Cardinal Lane NW, (2) …

Flood Risk Assessment In Humanitarian Contexts: A Remote Sensing And Gis Methodology Applied To Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, Tanzania, Carolyne Vincent Mbirika

Theses

Flooding is a global challenge, with effects mostly experienced in developing countries due to insufficient data for effective flood risk assessment and management. Refugee settlements are particularly vulnerable to flooding due to their remote locations, high population density, and temporary shelters, necessitating flood susceptibility mapping to effectively mitigate risks and minimize damage prior to flooding events. This study assessed flood susceptibility in the Nyarugusu refugee camp, Tanzania, through Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and Analytical Hierarchy Process using remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) approaches. The flood susceptibility map that resulted from this process categorizes flood-prone areas into three classes: …

Emeriti News Spring 2025, Emeriti Council

Emeriti News

No abstract provided.

Climate And Crop Modeling For New England Agricultural Climate Change Adaptation, Madeline K. Wolfe

Geography Undergraduate Senior Theses

As climate change brings increased temperatures and precipitation variability to New England, it is imperative to understand the ways that farmers make decisions about agricultural climate change adaptation for their corn farms. Dairy farming is the largest agricultural industry in New England, with corn being a primary crop to feed these cattle. This project seeks to understand how climate modeling and crop modeling are and are not useful for these corn farm decisions, and contributes research about what types of information are useful and available to farmers making adaptation decisions. Crop modeling over New England reveals that corn farming in …

Program Evaluation Of An Emergency Preparedness Training And Simulation Project And Impact On Participant Response, Laura Varnier Mnsc, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Cph, Cen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Public health departments play a crucial role in community preparation and emergency response. Efficiency of response efforts leads to improved timeliness of response and reduction in loss of life. This project implementation site prioritized incident command and emergency preparedness training after deficiency was noted in the COVID-19 After Action Report.

Objectives: This project evaluated didactic-only versus didactic and simulation combination-methods emergency preparedness training in public health supervisors, measured by participant knowledge acquisition, capacity to respond in an emergency, and interprofessional collaboration. Aims also included suggestions for future training intervals.

Methods: The one-group, pretest and posttest design measured participant familiarity …

Measuring The Quality, Value, And Impact Of A Pediatric Respite Care Program, Joy Ryan Msn, Rn, Cne

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Pediatric respite care programs play a critical role in supporting families of children with complex medical conditions. These programs help alleviate caregiver stress, financial strain, sibling and marital challenges, and reduced coping abilities. Despite availability, respite care remains underutilized. A comprehensive evaluation is essential to enhance service delivery and ensure programs effectively meet the needs of children, families, and caregivers.

Aims: This evaluation examined program effectiveness in achieving its goals while optimizing resource use. It assessed cost-effectiveness by analyzing the relationship between investments and outcomes and explored the program’s long-term impact on individuals, families, and systems to identify areas …

Two Influenza Doses By Two: A Quality Improvement Project, Madeline Robinson Bsn,Rn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Healthcare authorities recommend that children under eight receive two doses of the flu vaccine, four weeks apart, during their first vaccination series. Evidence indicates that parent education, nursing education, cognitive reminders, and Electronic Health Record (EHR) reminders provide low-cost ways to enhance vaccination. Despite this, many children remain under-vaccinated from the flu yearly, indicating a need for more effective strategies.

Objectives: This project aimed to increase influenza two-dose series completion among patients aged 6 months to 2 years at a pediatric clinic through parent education, nursing education, cognitive reminders, and EHR reminders. Evaluated outcomes included (1) influenza series completion, …

Introducing Mental Health Screening To Primary Care Visits, Jenna Califa Msn, Pmhnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Depression among adolescents is a significant public health concern yet is often undetected in primary care settings. The Patient Health Questionnaire is a 9-item validated screening tool for depression that has demonstrated high efficacy across populations but continues to be underutilized in the pediatric primary care setting.

Objective: This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project proposes to implement the PHQ-9 screening tool in a pediatric primary care office and evaluate its impact on depression diagnoses.

Methods: The implementation of this project includes staff and provider education and pilot testing of this screening program. Data on the utilization of screening, …

The Implementation Of An Educational Program And Workflow To Improve The Accuracy And Completion Rates Of 30-Day Readmission Assessments Among Inpatient Case Managers, Katharine Mcaneny Mba, Bsn, Rn, Ccm

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Hospital readmissions within 30 days serve as a key quality indicator, influencing patient outcomes and financial penalties under the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). Inpatient case managers play a crucial role in conducting readmission assessments to identify preventable causes and implement mitigation strategies. However, low completion rates and variability in assessment accuracy limit data collection and quality improvement efforts.

Aims: This quality improvement project aimed to (1) improve case managers’ understanding of readmissions and their impact on quality measures and reimbursement, (2) enhance self- perceived competence in completing readmission assessments, and (3) increase the percentage of completed readmission assessments …

The Implementation Of The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (Gad-7) In An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Naina Shahi-Virk Rn, Bsn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Generalized Anxiety Disorder- 7 (GAD-7) screening tool as emerged as a valuable instrument for identifying GAD symptoms quickly and effectively in clinical settings. However, the successful integration of the GAD-7 tool into routine practice required adequate staff education and training. Staff members played a pivotal role in administering the GAD-7 tool, interpreting results, and facilitating appropriate interventions for patients identified with GAD symptoms. Brighterlife Healthcare had been underutilizing the GAD-7 screening tool in clinical practice. Therefore, understanding the importance of staff education on GAD-7 utilization and its implications for patient care outcomes was essential for optimizing mental health care …

Building Confidence- A Labor And Delivery Nurse Preceptor Toolkit, Jaimee L. Robinson Msn, Rn, Ebp-C, Npd-Bc, Rnc-Ob, C-Efm, C-Onqs

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

A confident and well-prepared preceptor is essential for fostering critical thinking, promoting clinical competence, and ensuring a smooth transition to practice for new nurses. However, a shortage of experienced Labor and Delivery (L&D) preceptors has resulted in less experienced nurses assuming these roles without adequate preparation. This lack of preparedness decreases preceptor confidence and teaching consistency, impacting new nurse transitions and patient outcomes. Structured preceptor development is essential to address this gap.

Objectives

This Program Development/Program Evaluation project aimed to improve L&D nurse preceptor confidence by implementing a Preceptor Toolkit. The objectives were to improve preceptor confidence across all …

Barriers To Integrating Primary Care Services Into Behavioral Health Agencies: A Policy Analysis, Christine Possemato

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: This policy analysis explored the licensing requirements for primary care services compared with behavioral health and addiction services in agencies that were already licensed to provide the latter. This analysis looked at the challenges of doing so based on current New Jersey Department of Health regulations for licensing primary care facilities and Department of Human Services regulations for behavioral health and substance use treatment agencies. Creating an integrated health license moves agencies closer to providing whole person- centered care to vulnerable populations while enhancing quality of care and decreasing costs.

Objectives: The purpose of this policy analysis was to …

Does Integration Of Centor Criteria Reduce The Use Of Point Of Care Testing In The Management Of Patients Presenting With Sore Throat In Primary Care?, Hodan Ali Fnp-C, Msc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Sore throats are one of the most prevalent health issues frequently encountered in primary care settings. Viruses, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Influenza virus, are commonly implicated as the leading cause of sore throat cases. While bacterial infections represent only 5–15% of sore throat cases, antibiotic prescriptions remain prevalent in bacterial and viral instances. Clinical decision tools like the Centor Criteria (CC) were developed to aid in identifying patients at higher risk of Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection.

Objective: The purpose of the Quality Improvement (QI) project was to evaluate the impact of the CC tool in reducing …

Bridging The Gap: Enhancing Palliative Care Knowledge And Self-Efficacy Among Acute Care Nurses: A Dnp Project, Amira Dewitt

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Acute care nurses face complex end-of-life situations but are not adequately prepared with comprehensive palliative care training after undergraduate coursework. This knowledge gap affects nurses' ability to manage patients holistically and effectively, undermining their knowledge level and self-efficacy.

Aims: This project aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured four-week educational intervention delivered in a hybrid format using artificial intelligence (AI) software and evaluated post-training changes and participant satisfaction.

Methods: A pre-post study design was used, involving nurses recruited from acute care units in a community-based hospital. Prior to the intervention, the nurses completed three validated assessment tools: the …

Reducing Rates And Improving Care Of Incarcerated Pregnant People In Georgia Through The Georgia Women's Care Act: A Policy Analysis And Advocacy Project, Allegra Renee Crews Walker Msn, Cnm

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Maternal mortality rate and the rate of incarcerated women are significantly higher in the U.S. than in comparable nations, with Georgia's rates exceeding the national average. The U.S. and Georgia do not meet the internationally accepted standards for women in prisons, the Bangkok Rules. The Georgia Women's CARE Act seeks to reduce rates of incarcerated pregnant individuals by allowing sentence deferment, alternative sentencing, and eliminating or reducing cash bail when appropriate. The bill also establishes standards for tracking pregnant incarcerated women through federal and state prisons and jails.

Aims: This policy analysis and advocacy project aims to bring awareness …

Understanding The Relationship Between Executive Function And Language During The Preschool Period, Haya Q. Kidwai

Senior Theses

Executive functions (EFs) are abilities that help us to control our actions, pay attention, and go against automatic responses. EF skills include working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility, all of which develop rapidly during early childhood alongside other developmental abilities like language. In fact, previous research has found a relationship between EFs and language abilities. Therefore, the current study investigated the correlation between EFs and language in the preschool period, a pivotal moment in their development. Specifically, the current study examined the relationship between working memory and inhibition and expressive vocabulary and morphosyntax measures in 7 children 4-6 years old. …

Suspended Agency And The Habitus Of Waiting In A Migrant Shelter In Tijuana, Liam K. Ogden Iii

Senior Theses

This thesis explores idea of suspended agency and the development of a habitus of waiting within a women and children’s migrant shelter in Tijuana, Mexico. Relying on ten days of participant observation and an interview with a shelter director, I examine the lived experiences of residents, workers, and myself as a researcher navigating humanitarian space. Shelters are designed to be short term spaces, but migrants are often forced into long-term, uncertain stays due to restrictive border policies and structural barriers, resulting in a social stasis defined by boredom, anxiety, and monotony within the shelter. Drawing on Bourdieu’s concept of habitus …

The Harms Of Expanding Physician-Assisted Suicide, Katherine Drabiak

Health Matrix: The Journal of Law-Medicine

Currently, nine states and the District of Columbia have passed laws in the U.S. to legalize and regulate the practice of physicianassisted suicide (“PAS”). Proponents initially garnered public support by portraying PAS as distinct from suicide, framing it as a rare mechanism for patients with terminal illness to achieve a peaceful death, enhance autonomy, and reduce suffering. Original state laws contained numerous eligibility requirements designed as safeguards to provide stringent limits. However, over the past few years proponents of PAS have systematically worked to expand PAS and erase these limits by increasing eligible providers, reducing waiting periods, and eliminating residency …

Medical Necessity And Prior Authorization: The Unregulated Power Of Insurers, Virginia Lefever

Health Matrix: The Journal of Law-Medicine

The absence of a uniform federal definition of “medical necessity” in employer-sponsored health plans has allowed insurers to create their own coverage standards, often resulting in inconsistent and opaque determinations that limit access to essential care. This Note argues that ERISA’s silence on medical necessity grants insurers excessive discretion, enabling restrictive prior authorization policies that disadvantage patients and providers alike. By analyzing judicial interpretations, regulatory gaps, and the disparate standards imposed by insurers, this Note makes the case for a federally mandated definition of medical necessity applicable to all employer-sponsored plans. A standardized definition would promote transparency, reduce litigation, and …

Her Fundamentals: Justice Abella And Section 2(B) Of The Charter, Jamie Cameron

Articles & Book Chapters

Justice Abella’s legendary aspirations for human rights all but defined her jurisprudence, and under s,2 she earned praise elsewhere for her opinions on religious freedom (s.2(a) of the Charter) and the right to strike under s.2(d)’s guarantee of associational freedom. Apart from Doré v. Barreau de Québec, her s.2(b) jurisprudence on freedom of expression has attracted less scholarly attention. This article highlights Justice Abella’s leadership under s.2(b) in protecting expressive freedom’s democratic values, developing a more robust form of proportionality balancing under s.1, and advocating for doctrinal recognition of freedom of the press and media as an independent …

Michigan Can Be Proud Of Dentistry's Volunteers, Michelle C. Dziurgot

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This editorial celebrates National Volunteer Week (April 20-26, 2025) by highlighting Michigan Dental Association members' volunteer contributions. The article emphasizes dentists' participation in MDA Foundation's Missions of Mercy programs providing free dental care, involvement in organized dentistry through committees and events, and recognition through various MDA awards. The author acknowledges members' non-dental community service and expresses gratitude for volunteers whose dedication strengthens the MDA and provides essential dental care to underserved populations across Michigan.