Digital Commons Network^™

Ai Need Not Make One Slothful, Roy A. Kaelin Jr

Faculty Publications

As National Louis University seeks to plan and advance its way amid the potential perils and pitfalls of so-named artificial intelligence, one finds that with reasonable workflows and guard rails, the use of AI proposes both potential promise and prospect, to assist and augment the natural intelligence that students and teachers bring to the classroom, encouraging them to pursue STEM-related activities with the preparation and deployment of focused and directed AI-bots. This paper presents examples and a case study of that directed and focused approach, the incremental lessons learned to date, and a proposed path to advance worthwhile AI …

Preparing For The Ai-Driven Accounting Workforce, Thomas C. Pate

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is embedded in accounting workflows, raising concerns about job displacement, professional relevance, and ethical risk. This thesis argues that AI represents an evolutionary force in accounting, not a disruptive replacement of human professionals. By situating AI within the historical trajectory of accounting technologies, the paper demonstrates that technological change has consistently reallocated work toward higher-value activities instead of eliminating the need for professionals. The analysis examines how generative and agentic AI are transforming core accounting functions, including auditing, financial reporting, tax compliance, and strategic decision support, primarily through the implementation of automated processes for data-intensive tasks. The …

A Place At The Table: Lessons In Hospitality For Women Elders In The Churches Of Christ, Karen Cooke

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This project concerns women who serve as elders in Church of Christ congregations. In the fall of 2023, a survey found that these women desire training to better serve their congregations. In response to that expressed need, a group of collaborators engaged in Participatory Action Research (PAR) to create the plan for a conference to provide training to women serving as elders in Churches of Christ. The conference will provide training in the theology and practice of hospitality to support these women in guiding their churches to be places of welcome. This dissertation presents a theology of hospitality drawn from …

Microalgae In Observation: Techniques For Micromanipulation, Movement Treatments Of Dunaliella Salina, And Explorations Of Alternative Photobioreactors, Claire Compton

Theses & ETDs

This work explores microalgae within three contexts: micromanipulation of microalgae for isolation, testing of Dunaliella salina movement conditions, and photobioreactor designs that incorporate sculptural elements. To micromanipulate microalgae, a protocol using micropipettes for the isolation of single cells from a mixed sample was developed. To test the movement preferences of the microalgae, Dunaliella salina, an experiment was conducted using five treatments: a fast and slow orbital movement, a fast and slow rate of added bubbling, and a control treatment with no added movement. To measure the impact of the added movement, a cell density counter was used. Results revealed that …

Safety Practices Regarding Oral Nimodipine Administration, Hannah Linsky Bsn, Rn, Nathan Mendoza-Connell Bsn, Rn, Perla Moguel Bsn, Rn, Andrew Vachon Bsn, Rn

Nurse Residency

PICOT Question: In adult patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage who are unable to swallow, does pharmacy prepared nimodipine oral solution administered via EnFit syringes, compared with bedside aspiration of nimodipine capsule solution using a blunt needle into syringes, reduce medication administration errors during hospitalization?

What Does It Mean To Live A Creative Life?, Shelby A. Simmeth

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

What is a creative person? Is creativity something one is born with, or can it be cultivated through education and practice? In today’s world, there is a gap between what people assume creativity is and what it really is. My early exposure to creativity has been a transformational learning experience for me and has changed my approach to everything in my life. I have always been curious about how creativity could increase mental health and wellbeing. The purpose of this project is to help people understand the unique traits of people who embrace their own creativity and how their stories …

What Learning Benefits Can Leadership Bring To Social Dilemma Situations?, Kyisha M. Walter

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Social dilemmas are ethical dilemmas that citizens, students and employees face every day. When faced with a social dilemma, an individual must work alone and along with others in a group. These situations create conflict between personal and group interests and can be easily mismanaged. Research has started to tackle the question of how we can teach people to best manage a social dilemma. The current exploratory study asks the same question with respect to leadership. Undergraduate students (N=20) played a social dilemma board game twice in groups of four, received a lesson on social dilemmas, and completed …

Increasing Access To Rural Resources: A Spatial Exploration Of The Social Implications Of Mobility In Appalachian Kentucky., Anna Morris

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Mobility and accessibility are key predictors in the way that people navigate their communities. However, many rural areas lack holistic transportation systems that support the needs of a diverse range of users. As a result, rural residents, especially rural non-drivers, often face barriers to equitable mobility and access to necessary resources, like healthcare. This study examines the role that mobility plays in facilitating access to healthcare facilities for driving and non-driving populations in Appalachian Kentucky. The study pairs the Enhanced 2-Step Floating Catchment Area method with a demographic index to evaluate mobility equity through spatial accessibility to primary care facilities. …

Our Routes: Facilitating Digital Storytelling And Community Interaction Through A Full-Stack User-Generated Travel Platform, Domenica Valencia Valladoli

Theses & ETDs

Travel planning is often harder than it should be. Most people find themselves stuck between two extremes: social media platforms with lots of content available, but disorganized travel-related information, and traditional blog websites where information is often cluttered and overwhelming. More often than not, travelers have to switch between tabs just to plan their trip, making the whole process feel stressful rather than exciting. This project aims to solve this problem through Our Routes, a travel platform built with a React, Django, and PostgreSQL tech stack that enables users to share their travel stories in a structured way using the …

Sports Marketing And Event Retail: An Industry Analysis Of Sports Promotions Group, Hannes Ulbrich

Theses & ETDs

This industry analysis examines the sports marketing and event retail sector in the United States, using Sports Promotions Group (SPG) as the primary case study. SPG is a North Carolina-based company and subsidiary of Sports Endeavors Inc., with over 25 years of experience running pop-up merchandise stores at youth sports tournaments across 14 U.S. states, projected to manage 144 events in 2026 alone. The analysis uses the Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) framework as its main analytical tool, examining how the structure of the event retail market shapes how SPG behaves as a firm, and what outcomes result from that behavior. A case …

Cortez Village: Kinship, Resilience, And Coastal Survival, Patrick Fink

Theses & ETDs

Florida's coastal fishing villages have faced environmental, economic, and developmental threats throughout the twentieth century that led to many communities disappearing or losing their fishing culture. This thesis looks at Cortez Village, a small waterfront fishing village located on Sarasota Bay in Manatee County, Florida. It looks at why Cortez is different from other similar communities that have disappeared. Cortez was founded in the 1880s by a group of fishing families from North Carolina. From the very beginning, Cortez had a strong, tightly knit community that was centered around commercial fishing. Using primary sources such as newspaper articles, archival documents, …

Should We Be Concerned About Demographic Decline? An Economic Analysis, Collin Gates

Theses & ETDs

This thesis uses economic theory to examine the causes and consequences of falling fertility rates around the world. It examines contributions to economic theory on population given by economists such as Thomas Malthus, Gary Becker, Paul Heyne, Paul Ehrlich and Julian Simon. Next, it analyzes what the externalities of falling fertility rates could be to the world’s economies, environments, workforces, and individual people through economic models such as the Solow growth model. The thesis concludes by looking at three countries–Japan, South Korea, and Italy– who have been experiencing fertility rates below the replacement level for over 20 years, relating relevant …

Modeling Career Longevity For Position Players In Major League Baseball Using Survival Analysis, Avery Bishop

Theses & ETDs

This thesis develops a survival analysis framework for modeling career longevity and exit risk for specifically position players in Major League Baseball using historical player performance and injury data. Utilizing longitudinal player-season observations from the Lahman Baseball Database alongside external injury and retirement records, the study constructs a time-to-event modeling framework centered around the Cox proportional hazards model with time-varying covariates. Offensive performance metrics, aging effects, workload measures, missed-season indicators, and injury severity variables are incorporated to evaluate how player characteristics influence the likelihood of MLB career continuation. To account for nonlinear aging and performance relationships, natural spline transformations and …

When Fame Sells: Understanding The Psychology Behind Celebrityendorsed Product Purchases, Szayanna Cuavers

Theses & ETDs

The present study examined the psychological and demographic factors that influence willingness to spend on celebrity-endorsed products, with a particular focus on celebrity worship, attachment style, age, gender, and race and ethnicity. By using preexisting frameworks, the study investigated how consumer responses can be swayed by emotional and relational factors. Participants completed a survey measuring celebrity worship, attachment style, hypothetical situations about willingness to spend on celebrity-endorsed products, along with demographics. As predicted, there was a significant positive correlation between celebrity worship and willingness to spend. Although avoidant attachment was uncorrelated with key outcomes. Anxious attachment was associated with greater …

Media And Government: Celebrity Endorsements And Their Effect On Voter Efficacy, Political Confidence, And Voter Turnout, Macey Wyler

Journalism Undergraduate Honors Theses

Celebrity endorsements have played a role in American politics for centuries, but their influence has evolved in the digital age with the rise of social media. This study examines how endorsements by public figures influence voter efficacy, confidence, and engagement among college-aged individuals. Using a convenience sample of 162 students ages 18-23, participants responded to a web-based survey featuring hypothetical social media posts to measure how likely they would be to register to vote, engage politically, or share endorsement content based on an endorsement by a public figure. Quantitative analysis in Google Sheets and StatCrunch revealed descriptive trends, and qualitative …

Eco-Efficiency: Assessing The Impact Of Sustainable Retrofit Upgrades On Energy And Water Consumption In Sarasota’S Non-Profit Organization Sector, Ashley Petsanghan

Theses & ETDs

This thesis evaluates the environmental, operational, and financial impacts of sustainable retrofit upgrades implemented through the GoodUse program by Southface Institute on three Sarasota-based non-profit organizations: Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties, Suncoast Blood Centers, and Easterseals Southwest Florida. By using a mixed-methods approach, this study integrates quantitative data from Energy Star Portfolio Manager with qualitative insights from oral, on-site interviews. Analysis from quantitative data examines changes in electricity use, water consumption, and utility costs before and after implementation of retrofit upgrades, with attention to seasonal patterns and Florida’s climate-driven variability. Qualitative findings explore how …

Stochastic Auditory Noise And Relaxation, Quentin Voccia

Theses & ETDs

Stochastic auditory stimuli, characterized by the random distribution of their power spectral density, have been implicated in modulating relaxation and sleep. This study investigated the differential effects of pink, brown, and white noise on frontal lobe electroencephalography (EEG) activity in 22 healthy adult participants. Brainwave activity, specifically alpha, theta, and beta frequencies, was recorded while participants were exposed to each noise type in a counterbalanced, palindromic design. While alpha wave activity showed no significant differences across conditions, ANOVA revealed significant effects of noise type on both theta (F(2,21) = 24.055, p < 0.05) and beta (F(2,21) = 13.146, p < 0.05) wave power. Post-hoc t-tests indicated that brown noise elicited the highest theta wave activity and the lowest beta wave activity, suggesting a greater induction of deep relaxation and reduced alertness compared to pink and white noise. Pink noise demonstrated intermediate levels of theta and beta activity, indicating a moderate relaxation effect. Conversely, white noise resulted in the lowest theta wave activity and the highest beta wave activity, suggesting a less relaxed and more alert state. These findings challenge the conventional emphasis on white noise for relaxation and highlight the potential of brown noise as a more effective auditory stimulus for promoting deep relaxation. Future research should explore the mechanisms underlying these differential effects and investigate the potential therapeutic applications of brown noise.

Major Financial Crises And Regulations In The United States, Hailey Martinez

Theses & ETDs

The financial system in the United States has often swayed between periods of rapid growth and financial crisis, resulting in a reactive regulatory framework. In this study major financial regulations that have been implemented in the United States are explained. Following is an analysis of financial crises that in the United States and the cyclical pattern that happens once one has begun. When a crisis occurs, there is an overhaul of the financial system and new regulations are introduced, there is then a period of deregulation once the system is stable and secure, and then crisis once again due to …

Comparative Analysis Of The Surgical Techniques Used To Repair A Ruptured Achilles Tendon, Tyler Rucker

Theses & ETDs

This thesis will examine the impact of an Achilles tendon rupture on recovery and performance in professional athletes. The primary question is whether the modern surgical technique has produced better outcomes compared to traditional surgical repair methods. To address this question, this thesis analyzes the structure and function of the Achilles tendon, the mechanisms that cause injuries, and treatment approaches, including the nonsurgical and surgical options. It includes a comparative case analysis of professional athletes Aaron Rodgers, who underwent a minimally invasive procedure, and Klay Thompson, who underwent a traditional surgical repair. The recovery processes, timelines, and post-recovery performances are …

The Differences Between Corrections, Police, And The Military: An Academic Exploration And Internship Experience., Tatiana Jackson

Theses & ETDs

This senior project combines academic research with field experience as an intern at a correctional facility in South Florida. It examines the roles of corrections, policing, and the military and how each contributes to maintaining safety and order within society. Although all three systems share the common goal of protecting the public, they carry out that responsibility in different ways. Police officers focus on maintaining order and responding to incidents within communities, the military is responsible for defending the nation from external threats, and correctional systems manage individuals involved in the criminal justice process while also emphasizing supervision, structure, and …

Designing Ai For Wellbeing, Emily Corrigan-Kavanagh

DRS Summer Meetings

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Hope In Mathematics From An East African Perspective, Howard Omukami

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Reconsidering The Champion Teacher In Assessment-Oriented Development Education Systems, Nyagwegwe Wango, Jane Rarieya, Fredrick Mtenzi, Wachira Nicholas

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Purpose: This study investigates the impact of teacher assessment practices in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda on the cultivation of “champion teachers” who can provide competency-based, inclusive, and gender-responsive education.

Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating document analysis, interviews, and surveys with teacher educators and student teachers from the three countries.

Findings: Even though policy changes have encouraged new ways of teaching, teacher education still mostly focuses on summative assessments and following the rules. This method makes it harder for teachers to become more reflective and adaptable, which slows progress toward better, more inclusive education.

Unique Contribution to Theory, …

Factors Associated With Stunting And Underweight Indices Among Children 0–3 Years In Nairobi, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study, Eunice Njoroge, Kevinson Mwangi, Esther Chongwo, Martha Kaniala, Kevin Wekesa, Isaac Lihanda, Vibian Angweny, Rachel Odhiambo, Margaret Kabue, Japhet Adina, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background:Childundernutritionremainsoneofthemostpressingglobalpublic health challenges, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Most studies focus broadly on children under five, potentially overlooking the unique vulnerabilities a ecting children in the first 1,000 days of life. This study investigated potential factors associated with stunting and underweight malnutritional presentation among children aged 0–3 years in Nairobi City County, Kenya.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 2903 caregiver-child dyads living in Nairobi City County to assess stunting [Height-for-Age Z-scores (HAZ)] and underweight [Weight-for-Age Z-scores (WAZ)] using the World Health Organisation (WHO) growth standards among 0–3-year-olds. Child, caregiver, and householdcharacteristicswereincludedinthelinearmixede ects regression models …

Editing The Editor, Michael Saba

Journal of the Macomb Dental Society

This article features a monthly column from the Macomb Dental Society's editor, Dr. Michael Saba.

May 2026, Robert Kelly

Robert Kelly Manuscripts

No abstract provided.

Expanding Links Between Work Values And Occupations: Development Of The Occupational Values Inventory (Ovi), Nicholas F. Heimpel, Kevin Hoff, Zihan Liu, Federick L. Oswald, James Rounds

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This research developed the Occupational Values Inventory (OVI), a 30-item measure that expands the content coverage of work values by linking into a broad range of O*NET occupational descriptors, including Work Activities and Work Contexts, along with salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The OVI assesses 11 work values—Interpersonal, Outdoor, Physical, Leadership, Salary, Prestige, Variety, Interest, Work Hours, Knowledge Utilization, and Autonomy—providing an updated and refined coverage of work values relevant to people and occupations in the modern labor market. Study 1 (N = 768) developed and refined the OVI’s scales using conceptual and psychometric criteria, also reporting …

Sustainable Technology Evolution In Innovation Ecosystems: A Regulatory Framework For (Non)-Convergent Technologies, Christopher Agyapong Siaw, Joseph Amankwah-Amoah

Plymouth Business School

Technological convergence is a critical driver of technological evolution and industrial transformation, yet, convergence also generates complex ethical, sustainability, and regulatory challenges that remain poorly understood and insufficiently theorized. This study advances a conceptual framework that explains the regulatory mechanisms shaping convergence and non-convergence dynamics across three ecosystem layers: components, products and applications, and support and infrastructure. By distinguishing these layers, the framework reveals how interdependent evolution can raise ethical, sustainability, and regulatory concerns at different levels. The study advances theory by (1) reconceptualizing convergence as a multi-layered phenomenon, (2) expanding analysis beyond appropriability indicators such as patents to includedevelopment-based …

Investigating Speech-Language Pathologists’ Perceptions On Bilingual/Multilingual Aac Intervention And Quality Of Care, Lillian D. Griffith

Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examined U.S.-based speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) perceptions of bilingual/multilingual AAC service provision and the barriers SLPs encounter to determine if SLP beliefs align with practices. An anonymous survey was distributed to 307 ASHA-certified SLPs, resulting in 21 completed responses. The survey consisted of questions that gathered information on participant demographics, caseload, perceptions/beliefs, and practices, with optional open-ended questions for additional context. SLPs in the participant sample strongly believed that AAC intervention should occur in all the languages spoken by the client. Despite this belief, they struggled to implement it due to barriers. Key barriers identified included SLP language limitations, …

Fresh Phytoplankton Bloom Growth In The Fall And Its Control On Ocean Heating In The Pacific Arctic Region, Clare B. Gaffey, K E. Frey, Bonnie Light, Lee W. Cooper, Jacqueline M. Grebmeier

Geography

Delayed sea ice freeze-up and decreased sea ice extent in the Pacific Arctic region have altered light availability in marine waters, extending the ice-free season and increasing opportunities for photosynthetic activity and energy exchanges. This study investigates phytoplankton bloom progression during the fall using chlorophyll pigments and examines the impact phytoplankton have on heat distribution within the water column. Measurements of chlorophyll-a concentrations and its associated degradation product pheophytin were made in conjunction with optical measurements of light transmittance within the upper water column during the Synoptic Arctic Survey cruise in the Central Arctic Ocean and northeast Chukchi Sea in …