Digital Commons Network^™

Pipeline Politics: A Comparative Analysis Of Environmental Justice Movements In The United States And Canada, Grace Treml

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Using theoretical frameworks from social movement theory, this study describes and comparatively analyzes the emergence and outcomes of the environmental justice movements against the development of the Coastal GasLink pipeline by people of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation in Canada and the Keystone XL pipeline by environmental activists in the United States over the past two decades. By using social movement theory to evaluate movement emergence in terms of mobilizing structures, framing, and political opportunity structure, and movement outcomes in terms of representation, policy outcomes, and cultural discourse, a more inclusive argument for future environmental justice movements emerges. Findings synthesized from …

Treatment Of Different Non-State Actors In Detention: A Legal, Moral, And National Security Analysis, Alison P. Raedel

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

This thesis analyzes state behavior regarding the treatment of non-state actors through three major frameworks: international law, ethical theory, and national security. Two cases are compared: the treatment of al-Qaeda detainees by the United States after the attacks of September 11th, 2001, and the treatment of the Angolan liberation movements by the Portuguese during the Angolan War of Independence. These cases were chosen to assess how the three frameworks apply across different non-state actors, which include terrorist organizations and liberation movements. International law provides a baseline for rights and protections, but it is often selectively interpreted. Just war theory gives …

Effects Of Nurse-Led Standardized Kangaroo Mother Care (Kmc) Protocol On Nicu Length Of Stay, Physiological Stability, And Bonding: Evidence-Based Recommendation For Translation Into Practice, Madison Capul, Maria Bejarano, Tionette Kirk-Banks, Kelly Mcmillin, Onyinyechukwu Ubaezuonu, Amabelle Simsuangco, Charity Msamalia Chimwala-Selico

General Submissions: Clinical Settings Materials

Background: Preterm and low birth weight infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at high risk for physiological instability, prolonged hospitalization, impaired bonding and breastfeeding, and increased mortality, with costs reaching up to $233,000 per stay (Broughton et al., 2022). The Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) protocol improves thermoregulation, stability, bonding, breastfeeding, and survival; however, its implementation remains inconsistent due to the lack of standardized nurse-led protocols.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether implementation of a standardized nurse-led Kangaroo Mother Care protocol, compared to current inconsistent practice, would improve NICU length of stay, physiological stability, …

Keeping Families Together: Companion Animals As A Public Health Imperative, Lori R. Kogan, Rebecca Niemiec

Journal of One Health Systems

Contemporary US public health frameworks emphasize social, economic, and environmental determinants of health, yet largely overlook the reality that most households include companion animals regarded as family members. This omission has tangible consequences during crises such as housing instability, illness, domestic violence, or disasters, when families are often forced to choose between their own safety and the safety of their animals. We argue that this represents a significant public health failure. Drawing on interdisciplinary evidence, we propose that companion animals function as a social determinant of health, that forced separation constitutes a public health harm, and that Human-Animal Support Services …

Family Quality Of Life And Infant Language Development: A Pilot Study Of Infants Without A History Of Chronic Otitis Media, Aubreigh Cartwright

Dissertations, 2020-current

Chronic otitis media (COM) is a condition associated with hearing fluctuations, recurrent medical interventions, and speech-language concerns. While the audiological impacts for children are well documented, there is less research pertaining to parents’ and caregivers’ experiences. The goal of the overall line of inquiry was to examine the impact of chronic otitis media on parent and caregiver quality of life. Parents and caregivers of ten typically developing infants from six to twelve months of age without COM were administered parent-proxy instruments to determine quality of life, as well as expressive and receptive lexicon. The parents were administered a family intake …

Quality Care For Neurodivergent Youth, Emily V. Bogaev

Dissertations, 2020-current

Neurodivergent youth are becoming increasingly present in counseling settings, yet many counseling approaches have historically been shaped by deficit-oriented frameworks that conceptualize neurodivergence as something to be corrected. These perspectives may overlook the lived experiences and strengths of neurodivergent individuals. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine neurodivergence in counseling through three complementary manuscripts addressing conceptual foundations, youth perspectives, and counselor preparation. The first manuscript is a conceptual article that explores neurodivergent-affirming counseling and contrasts affirming frameworks with traditional deficit-based approaches. The second manuscript utilized a qualitative narrative inquiry design to explore neurodivergent youths’ perceptions of neurodivergence and the …

Professional Dispositions In Counselor Education: Building Consensus, Examining Lived Experience, And Advancing Relational Gatekeeping, Jina Yang

Dissertations, 2020-current

The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate how Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited programs identify, implement, and assess essential professional dispositions among master’s-level counselors-in-training (CITs). The dissertation includes three components that examine conceptual, experiential, and consensus-based perspectives on professional dispositions within counselor education. The first component presents a conceptual framework for implementing gatekeeping practices that reflect the values of the counseling profession. Drawing on Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT), the article proposes gatekeeping strategies that emphasize mutuality and connection while accounting for sociocultural contextual factors and fostering psychological safety within the hierarchical dynamics inherent in evaluative …

Stigma Predicts Participation And Autonomy In Chronic Vestibulopathy: An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study, Brandy L. Hollins

Dissertations, 2020-current

Many vestibular disorders are “invisible”, not widely recognized, and challenging for patients to describe. However, its impact is visible and leads to significant challenges. Research has shown that stigma associated with other chronic health conditions can detrimentally affect patient outcomes, suggesting a greater need in this area. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) elucidates the role of physical, social, and cultural factors in the manifestation of health conditions within a universal framework. A critical aspect of the ICF’s contextual factors for individuals with vestibular loss is societal perception. Few studies have reported stigmatization …

Enhancing Access Through Integrated Behavioral Healthcare: Expanding Counselor Identity And Social Determinants Of Health Competency, Tiffany N. Snow

Dissertations, 2020-current

Abstract

The counseling profession has historically differentiated its identity by emphasizing a wellness-oriented approach. However, this has often led to the exclusion of counselors from integrated behavioral healthcare (IBH). With the 2024 enactment of the Mental Health Access Improvement Act, counselors now have unprecedented opportunities to serve as behavioral health providers in federal medical settings. This three-manuscript dissertation explores the intersection of counselor professional identity, social determinants of health (SDoH) competency, and interprofessional collaboration within IBH.

Manuscript 1 presents a conceptual framework for reconciling traditional counselor identity with the "medical model" of Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH), arguing that this …

Novel Paradigm For Assessing Vestibular Perception In Children, Nicole Kirk

Dissertations, 2020-current

While objective vestibular reflexive testing has been heavily researched, there are few studies analyzing subjective vestibular perception and to date no progress has been reported on motion perception in children. It is unknown if children perceive motion like adults creating a need for research comparing these age groups for thorough clinical profiles. This study adapted an adult psychophysics protocol for school-aged children and collected data on ten typically developing children and ten healthy adults. Participants rotated at various peak velocities and frequencies in a rotary chair and were asked to report their spatial orientation (i.e., how far around they rotated) …

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - 2026 - 153rd Commencement, Office Of The Registrar, Lsu Health Sciences Center-No

Graduation & Commencement Programs

The program for the 153rd Commencement of LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans held May 14, 2026.

Environmental Dna (Edna) Assessment Of Fish And Decapod Diversity And Their Association With Cetacean Distribution In Matang Coastal Waters, Perak, Lim Chuan Hui

Student Works (2020-2029)

The estuarine and coastal regions of Matang, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia, are vital fishing grounds and recognised biodiversity hotspots, but are increasingly exposed to human activities. Understanding the biodiversity of marine fish and decapods is crucial for effective conservation efforts. Conventional biodiversity monitoring methods face several challenges, including invasiveness, inconsistencies in sampling techniques, reduced taxonomic accuracy, time-consuming processes, high costs, and often only providing approximate estimates. In this study, we evaluated the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to assess marine fish and decapod diversity in Matang waters and to explore possible associations between fish assemblages and local cetacean occurrence. Water …

Identity And Ideology: Dolores Ibarruri's Reconciliation Of Motherhood And Communism, Marvin Black

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The Spanish Civil War remains a significant cornerstone of the historical narrative of the early 20th century, as it served as the political and military precursor to World War II. The war was far more complex than a simple conflict between two ideologies, with many political and military leaders often overlooked. One of these individuals was Dolores Ibárruri, a leader of the Spanish Communist Party, who called on her experiences as both a mother and a communist to galvanize support for the Second Republic. How these two facets interacted and were shaped by Ibárruri’s personal experiences is often overlooked. Through …

Sanctuary And Disappointment: Jewish German Refugees In The United States Army In World War Ii, Zachary P. Watts

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This paper examines the experiences of German-Jewish refugees who became intelligence soldiers in the United States Army. They are frequently called the Ritchie Boys, for their training in Camp Ritchie, Maryland. The paper focuses mostly on a single Ritchie Boy named Frank Adler, who came to the United States as a teenager from Austria in 1938 and ended up returning to his hometown as a soldier. The Ritchie History museum holds a large collection of Adler’s letters which form the most important source for this project. I have found a duality of experience from German and Austrian Jews in the …

Discussing Barriers And Solutions To Address Student Accommodation And Support Services, Anna K. Garst

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Accommodation and support services are essential for fostering academic achievement and positive well-being among college students with disabilities, yet many students delay or avoid seeking support. The present study used an explanatory mixed-methods design to examine disability and mental health service utilization among college students with disabilities, while also exploring the prevalence and intersecting experiences of basic needs insecurity. Quantitative survey data were collected from 275 students with diagnosed disabilities at a large public Mid-Atlantic university. Results indicated that perceived lack of need for support was the most frequently reported reason for not using services, followed by self-stigma, lack of …

The Culinary History Of Korean Immigrants 1903-2025, Eun Soo Han

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This paper is an exploration into the role that Korean dishes like Kalbi, Korean marinated or grilled meat, and Kimchi, a fermented vegetable or fruit dish played in the development of the Korean Immigrant community and the cultivation of cultural identity of Korean immigrants. This paper offers a brief overview into the history some of the major dishes that forms the core of the three sections of this article with Kalbi being the main theme for the section on Korean immigration to Hawaii in 1903 and Kimchi being the main dish discussed in the second to third section that explores …

Vaccination-Related Applications And Health Care Professionals' Observed Changes In Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Hesitancy: Cross-Sectional Survey, Manali Desai, Shreela Sharma, Joel Fokom-Domgue, Robert Yu, Wenyaw Chan, Onyema G Chido-Amajuoyi, Charles Darkoh, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Digital tools are known to promote public health interventions such as vaccine delivery. The recommendation that health care professionals (HCPs) use vaccination-related mobile apps or web-based applications has contributed to improving vaccine awareness and acceptance in the United States. The state of Texas, which has one of the lowest human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates, has seen a significant increase in HPV vaccine hesitancy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between changes in HPV vaccine hesitancy observed by HCPs among patients in Texas and promotion of vaccination-related applications at the health care facilities …

Exploring Spike-Dependent And Ace2-Independent Sars-Cov-2 Interactions With Salivary Epithelial Cells In The Absence Of Ace2, Caitlynn M L Barrows, Thaise C Geremias, Simon Young, Mary C Farach-Carson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Salivary gland infection by SARS-CoV-2 requires viral entry via routes and mechanisms that remain unresolved. This study examined the expression of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in salivary tissues and basal cell-derived human salivary progenitor cells (hS/PCs), an unstudied potential entry point for SARS-CoV-2. Multiple detection modalities, including immunocytochemistry, Western blotting, flow cytometry and RT-PCR, demonstrated a consistent lack of ACE2 protein and transcript in both tissue specimens and primary salivary epithelial cells. Antigen retrieval at pH 9 was determined to be optimal for immunodetection protocols, yet ACE2 remained undetectable. Small intestine tissue served as a positive control, confirming …

Pre-Chiropractic Student Organization At The University Of Mississippi: Education Of Future Chiropractic Students And Empowerment Of The Public With Chiropractic Knowledge, Avery E. Lirette

Honors Theses

The chiropractic profession continues to grow within the allied health community, yet public understanding of its scope remains limited. Prior to the creation of the Pre-Chiropractic Student Organization (PCSO) at The University of Mississippi, students interested in pursuing chiropractic education lacked a structured support system in comparison to those available for other health professions on campus. This thesis documents the foundation, development, and impact of the PCSO as a registered student organization that was designed to educate undergraduate students about the chiropractic profession, connect them with mentors and graduate programs, and promote public awareness of chiropractic care.

This project builds …

Rosenbrook V. Lloyd, 142 Nev. Adv. Op. 36 (May 14, 2026), David Elder

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

Motions to dismiss in defamation cases should not be granted in full when some communications are protected under the anti-SLAPP statute and others are not.

Building A Road To Mitigate Ambulance Patient Offload Time (Apot), William J. Manguil

Doctoral Projects

Emergency departments (EDs) worldwide are experiencing increased utilization resulting in care delays for patients seeking urgent treatment. Despite critical circumstances that warrant emergency medical services (EMS) response, patients arriving to the ED via ambulance remain vulnerable to delays in care due to prolonged ambulance patient offload times (APOTs). The amount of health care providers and treatment space necessary to initiate care are both limited and often strained resources which dictate the need for innovative interventions to prevent patient harm. The following project outlines the interventions implemented at the project site to improve APOT as a means to enhance patient safety …

Sexual Minority (Lgbq+) Women's Experiences Of Accessing Addiction Services: A Qualitative Study, Miriam Hillyard, Jamie Hakim, Colin Drummond, Katharine Rimes, Emmert Roberts

School of Psychology

Introduction: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and other non-heterosexual (sexual minority) women experience significant health inequities in comparison with heterosexual women. Both drug and alcohol use, and addiction to drugs and alcohol, are more prevalent for this group. They may also be more likely to underutilise addiction healthcare services in comparison to sexual minority men. Aims: We aimed to understand sexual minority women’s experiences of accessing addiction treatment services in England, UK; what prevented them from doing so if they did not; and what would have facilitated service access. Methods: A qualitative study was performed, using reflexive thematic analysis of 21 …

Elementary Students' Science Attitudes And Teachers' Implementation Of The Ngss Science Practices: A Mixed Methods Study, Michelle Laborn

Dissertations

It has been recorded in the literature that student science interest drops as students enter and transition to middle and high school. This dissertation takes up the areas of student science interest and the teaching of the science practices in the context of elementary education. This study seeks to understand student science interest in elementary students in the years before entering middle school where a drop of interest is frequently reported. It is hypothesized that an increased use or implementation of the NGSS science practices by classroom teachers would generate higher science interest in elementary students. In a framework of …

Justice-Oriented Pedagogy: Personal And Programmatic Commitments In Teacher Education, Cheetara A. Hudson

Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how faculty in an urban, justice-oriented undergraduate teacher education program prepare elementary teacher candidates to develop socially just and culturally responsive teaching practices. Guided by Critical Race Theory and critical multiculturalism, this study explored how instructors integrated social justice education and culturally responsive pedagogy into coursework and field experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis with four faculty members teaching foundational and methods courses. Thematic analysis revealed four key findings: (a) faculty beliefs and identities, shaped by prior K–12 teaching experiences, strongly influence their pedagogical choices; (b) instructors model justice-oriented …

Pedagogical Possibilities Toward Positive Embodiment: Applying The Developmental Theory Of Embodiment To Educational Contexts, Elena Buis

Dissertations

Young adolescents, particularly girls, often experience uncomfortable and negative relationships with their bodies, contributing to negative physical, mental, and emotional outcomes. Although educators have implemented interventions to address this issue, those grounded in positive embodiment remain underexplored. Specifically, the Developmental Theory of Embodiment (DTE), a prominent framework in eating disorder and body image research, has not been integrated into educational research or practice. This dissertation explores the integration of DTE into educational theory, practice, and pedagogy across three complementary articles and examines the teaching and learning of Be Body Positive (BBP), a positive embodiment intervention, with a fifth grade Girl …

Teachers’ Use Of Evidence-Based Research To Inform Best Practices, Brianna Cairns

Dissertations

Teachers are expected to use research to inform their practice, whether updating practices to keep up with changing times or researching and implementing new strategies and interventions to support the students in their classrooms. However, experts have expressed concern that teachers do not use empirical evidence to make decisions, instead relying on their own experiences or the anecdotal advice of other teachers. This explanatory sequential, mixed-methods study seeks to contribute to the existing body of research about teachers’ use of research to inform their practice. Survey data were collected from 180 elementary, middle, and high school teachers regarding whether they …

You Say Data, I Say Data: Let’S Show The Whole (Oer) Thing Off, Marc Jaffy, Timothy Sandusky

All Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Bowling Green State University and Franklin University have created data dashboards highlighting the use of open educational and/or free library etextbooks at their institutions. This presentation explains the purpose behind these dashboards, what information is collected, and how the information is collected. It then highlights each institution's dashboard and concludes by discussing planned changes and lessons learned.

Wendy Repovich Oral History Interview, Wendy Repovich, Carter Burson

Eastern Washington University Staff and Faculty Oral Histories

Professor Wendy Repovich taught Exercise Science at Eastern Washington University (EWU) from 1990-2016.

In this interview, Repovich discusses her role as one of EWU's early professors of Exercise Science. Repovich discusses her mentorship of prospective graduate students, the growth of the Exercise Science program, changes to campus during her time there, and the importance of hands-on education in the Exercise Science program.

The transcript has been reviewed by the interviewee and corrections have been made for the purposes of clarity and accuracy. The original recordings have been preserved and are available upon request.

Carter Burson interviewed Wendy Repovich in Spring …

Remembering Carlo Ferarai: Life, Community, And Death In Industrial London, William W. Wilder

Masters Theses, 2020-current

During the 19^th century English medical schools relied on resurrection men to provide dead bodies for anatomical dissection. While resurrection men typically took bodies from graveyards, there were also those who committed murder in order to sell the bodies of their victims. Carlo Ferarai, an unhoused immigrant child, was the victim of just such a murder, and his death contributed to many legal and social changes which have been studied by historians. This paper recontextualizes Carlo’s death by exploring his life as a social history. Using court transcripts, newspapers, and other sources, alongside insights drawn from urban history, and …

Multilingual Meaning Making In Zambian Social Media Discourse: Rhetorical Framing, Identity Construction, Persuasion And Digital Writing Practices On Facebook, Mwesah Mpundu Kapesa

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This study investigates how language choices in Zambian social media discourse construct identity, frame narratives, and influence audiences. Although major social media platforms are predominantly English and Eurocentric, Zambia is a highly multilingual society, creating tension between global linguistic norms and local language practices. Despite growing scholarship on digital discourse, limited research examines how Zambian users navigate multilingual communication online, particularly regarding identity construction, rhetorical framing, and audience engagement. Using a qualitative research design grounded in discourse analysis and informed by critical discourse analysis (Fairclough, 1995) and sociolinguistic theory (Gee, 2014), the study collected two weeks of Facebook data. User‑generated …