Digital Commons Network^™

Evolving Marxist Criticism Of Steinbeck's "The Grapes Of Wrath": Theological Tensions, Class Consciousness, And Cultural Relevance, Kimberly Fore

Liberty University Research Week

This study examines the evolution of Marxist literary criticism applied to John Steinbeck’s 1939 novel "The Grapes of Wrath" across the decades following its publication.Textual analyses conducted by successive generations of scholars demonstrate that critical interpretations have shifted from the early objections to its perceived religious sentimentality that were common in initial Marxist reviews, through a Cold War-era reframing that sought to align or distance the novel from prevailing political ideologies of the time, to 1980s scholarship focused on collective identity and the potential for group solidarity in proletarian narratives. Subsequent perspectives, including examinations of racial dynamics in the depicted …

Limited Access To Reproductive Health Care And Maternal Health Outcomes In Lynchburg, Virginia, Akuchinyere Titus-Okpanachi, Oyebolu Aderinola Akinkugbe, Wuraola Awosan

Liberty University Research Week

Maternal mortality remains a vital public health concern, with a global rate of about 197 deaths per 100,000 live births and a rate of | 8.6 in the United States. Black women face a much higher rate of 50.3. Virginia reports 57 pregnancy-related deaths, which equal 70.1 per 100,000 live births, highlighting significant racial disparities. In the Central Virginia Health District, access to prenatal care varies, with 17.9% of Hispanic women receiving inadequate care, compared to 11% of Black women and 6.3% of White women, exposing inequities in maternal health services. This study conducted a descriptive research design, involving secondary …

Disparities In Us Ultra-Processed Food Consumption, Great Onyedika Okereke, Eliana Arthurs

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) now contribute more than half of total caloric intake in the United States and are associated with obesity, cardiometabolic disease, and poor diet quality. Geographic disparities in UPF consumption may contribute to unequal dietary risk across populations, particularly among rural, lower-income, and minority communities.

Methods: A literature review of peer-reviewed studies published from 2016-2026 was conducted using national datasets, including NHANES, prospective cohort studies, cross-sectional analyses, and policy evaluations, to examine geographic patterns of UPF consumption and associated dietary risks in the United States.

Results: Evidence shows higher UPF consumption among rural populations, younger individuals, lower-income …

Mapping The Barriers: A Socioecological Scoping Review Of Healthcare Access Among International Students In The United States, Oyebolu Aderinola Akinkugbe, Akuchinyere Titus-Okpanachi, Oluwatosin Marylyn Oduneye

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Everything You Know About The Piano Is Wrong, Khuong Vo

Liberty University Research Week

The idea of treating the piano as an instrument capable of evoking the timbres of other instruments through variations in touch, articulation, and key velocity is a common practice in the collaborative pianist realm. However, solo pianists can learn from this approach to take their musical expression further. The focus of this study is Études-Tableaux, Op. 39 No. 9 in D major by Sergei Rachmaninoff, examined alongside its orchestral arrangement by Ottorino Respighi. As the final piece of Op. 39, the étude is a virtuosic showpiece characterized by dense textures, vivid imagery, and a largely unified rhythmic character. Its rich …

Instructors’ Lived Experiences Of Using Authentic Assessments In College Calculus Courses Across The United States: A Phenomenological Study, Christy Kains

Liberty University Research Week

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of instructors with authentic assessments in college calculus courses across the United States. The theory guiding this study was Astin’s student involvement theory, which provided a framework to study the involvement of students in higher education. The central research question for this study was: What are the lived experiences of instructors who utilize authentic assessments in college calculus courses across the United States? This study used a qualitative design following the transcendental phenomenological approach of Moustakas. The sample included 12 instructors from two-year and four-year colleges in …

The Effect Of Hormonal Contraceptives On Acl Tear Incidence: A Critically Appraised Topic, Ellen Jones, Bethany Lyons

Liberty University Research Week

Context: Female athletes are at an elevated risk for ACL injuries due to fluctuating hormones throughout the menstrual cycle, along with anatomical and neuromuscular factor such as an increased Q angle, intercondylar notch size, joint laxity, muscular size, and landing mechanics. Hormonal contraceptives are widely used in female athletes not only for contraception but also to regulate menstrual cycle and menstrual related symptoms by stabilizing hormonal fluctuation. Fluctuations in menstrual hormones have also been shown to influence knee laxity, which is considered one of the strongest risk factors for ACL injury. This leads to the clinical question, “Do hormonal contraceptives …

Executive Succession And Organizational Stability In Community Health Centers: A Theory-Integrated Framework, Jisa Kusanthan, Timothy Sumarsono

Liberty University Research Week

Leadership transitions are difficult for organizations to manage. This is especially true for Community Health Centers (CHCs). The departure of a long-tenured leader can have a host of secondary effects on the culture, employee morale, and employee retention. This study explores the effects of a CHC leader on the organization's stability and proposes practical steps that CHCs can take to implement effective succession planning. A theory-integrated framework is used to apply Schein's Organizational Culture Theory, Social Identity Theory, and Institutional Theory to better understand the effects of a CHC leader on the organization's cultural foundation. A three-phase succession process is …

The Effects Of Nonlethal Pyrethroid Larval Exposure Aedes Albopictus Mosquitoes, Le Gia Han Nguyen, Alexandra Irwin, Paule Ann Telus

Liberty University Research Week

Aedes albopictus is an invasive mosquito species and an important disease vector, making the development of effective control strategies critical. Chemical insecticides, such as deltamethrin, are widely used to reduce mosquito populations. However, their extensive use has raised concerns about the development of resistance, especially following sublethal deltamethrin exposure in the larval stage. We hypothesize that larval exposure to deltamethrin at a nonlethal dose can result in pesticide resistance in adult mosquitoes, and through that the undelying mechanisms can be explored by analyzing transcriptomic profile to characterize gene expression patterns.

"Thank God For Michigan": Michigan Troops In The Civil War, Lydia Granger

Liberty University Research Week

The Civil War in the United States often focuses on the troops and soldiers from the East coast states. But what about the men that served from a state other than New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia? Michigan sent its fair share of men and sacrificed as much as other states in the Union. The stories of those soldiers and their efforts to preserve liberty and union in the United States deserve to be heard and remembered. Future generations need to appreciate and learn from their sacrifices. These men fought for their country in a terrible and destructive war, and …

Pfas Exposure And Its Influence On Fetal And Early Childhood Development, Benson Varghese, Chelsea Mazonde, Fadzai Nyarugwe, Ifeoluwanimi Shobayo, Melissa Lartey, Tahirou Diallo

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental chemicals widely detected in humans. Prenatal PFAS exposure has been linked to adverse fetal and early childhood growth outcomes, raising significant public health concerns. This study investigates the influence of PFAS exposure on fetal and early childhood development.

Methods: A systematic review of peer-reviewed studies published between 2016 and 2026 was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. Studies assessing maternal PFAS exposure during pregnancy and outcomes such as birth weight, gestational age, fetal growth trajectories, and early childhood anthropometry were included.

Results: Higher prenatal exposure to PFAS was associated with lower …

Emergency Department-Initiated Buprenorphine And 30-Day Moud Engagement In U.S. Adults With Opioid Use Disorder, Prince Osei Sarpong, Emmanuel Owusu, Manasvi Shiyani, Michael Ago Tetteh, Naa Komley Commey

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Emergency departments are a critical point of contact for adults with untreated opioid use disorder, particularly after overdose or withdrawal. Emergency department-initiated buprenorphine may improve linkage to medications for opioid use disorder, but its effect on treatment engagement remains to be synthesized.

Study objective and hypothesis: To synthesize U.S. evidence on whether emergency department-initiated buprenorphine improves 30-day treatment engagement among adults with opioid use disorder. We hypothesized that emergency department-initiated buprenorphine would increase 30-day engagement.

Methods: A structured narrative review was conducted. Included studies were U.S.-based, involved adults presenting to the emergency department with opioid use disorder-related conditions, evaluated …

Mining And Agricultural Expansion–Driven Deforestation As A Determinant Of Malaria Risk: A Comparative Narrative Review Of Zimbabwe And Nigeria, Chelsea Mazonde, Benson Varghese, Chukwuma Elisha, Fadzai Nyarugwe, Ifeoluwanimi Shobayo, Tahirou Diallo

Liberty University Research Week

Introduction: Deforestation caused by agricultural land expansion and mining has been recognized as a key environmental factor affecting malaria transmission. Changes in land use can impact malaria risk by affecting local temperatures, biodiversity, and the creation of mosquito breeding sites such as stagnant pools of water. Both Zimbabwe and Nigeria remain heavily affected by malaria and have seen trends of increasing deforestation related to agriculture and extractive industries.

Methods: Peer-reviewed literature published between 2019 and 2025 was systematically reviewed with a narrative approach. Articles focusing on deforestation, land-use change, malaria transmission, vector ecology, and policy within Zimbabwe and Nigeria were …

Systematic Review On Tertiary Policies And Programs For Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence In The U.S. (2020-2024), Brittany Carman, Haley Gebhard, Krista Coipel, Raymond Suonyir

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men in the United States, yet tertiary interventions supporting survivors remain understudied compared to primary and secondary prevention efforts. This systematic review identifies and evaluates existing tertiary prevention programs and policies addressing IPV in the U.S., focusing on their effectiveness in reducing IPV-related fatalities and promoting survivor recovery, safety, independence, and long-term stability.

Methods: This study systematically reviewed literature published January 2020-December 2024 across five leading journals using the Scopus database. From 861 initial results, 24 articles met inclusion criteria following PRISMA guidelines.

Results: Interventions clustered …

Analysis Of The Contents Of Oral Histories From The Voices Of 9.11 Archive And The Naval History And Heritage Command Records Of 9/11 At The Pentagon, Timothy Johnson

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Breastfeeding And Infant Health In Virginia: A Systematic Review (2015-2025), Haley Gebhard, Rebecca Martha Nantale, Tahirou Diallo, Treasure Nkemdilim James, Yiwei Huang

Liberty University Research Week

Breastfeeding has long been recognized as the optimal nutritional option for infants due to its extensive health benefits for both infants and mothers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding serve as protective factors infant morbidity and mortality.1 Despite the knowledge on breastfeeding and its significance to infant growth and development, breastfeeding rates remain suboptimal worldwide. Even in the U.S., public health has identified increasing breastfeeding rates as a national goal, especially targeting low-income areas. The purpose of this study is to systematically identify and evaluate studies examining breastfeeding practices and infant outcomes among the …

Breastfeeding And Infant Health In Guatemala: A Systematic Review (2015–2025), Haley Gebhard, Alexandra Mixan, Manasvi Shiyani, Shaira Neupane

Liberty University Research Week

Breastmilk provides ideal nutrition for infants during early life, supporting physical growth, development, and long-term health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding protects against infant illness and child malnutrition by ensuring a consistent source of energy and nutrients.1 The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding, which means no other liquids or solids except medicines or supplements, for the first six months of life to reduce negative health outcomes for infants and children.1 Only about 44% of infants worldwide are exclusively breastfed through six months of age, well below the WHO global nutrition target of 70% by 2030. In Guatemala, chronic …

Born Too Soon, Dying Too Early: Preventable Neonatal Deaths In Rural Uganda, Rebecca Martha Nantale, Nfn Dangpa Wandji Nana

Liberty University Research Week

Neonatal mortality remains one of the most persistent public health challenges in Uganda, particularly in rural communities where access to quality maternal and newborn care remains limited. Despite global progress in reducing under-five mortality, deaths within the first 28 days of life continue to account for a substantial proportion of child mortality. Most neonatal deaths in low- and middle-income countries occur from preventable causes such as birth asphyxia, neonatal infections, and complications related to prematurity. This study examines the structural and healthcare determinants contributing to neonatal mortality in rural Uganda, with particular emphasis on place of delivery and skilled birth …

Extreme Heat Exposure During Pregnancy And Adverse Birth Outcomes In Sub-Saharan Africa, Maame Yaa Okrah, Bright Agbotui, Naa Komley Commey, Raymond Suonyir, Yenigat Abate

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Extreme heat is an emerging issue in public health, given the rise in temperature globally because of climate change. Pregnant women are at risk of being adversely affected by extreme heat, as changes in body physiology during pregnancy compromise its ability to regulate temperature. Recent studies have shown that exposure to extreme heat is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is limited evidence. This study sought to examine the potential association of extreme heat exposure in pregnancy with adverse birth outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: This study undertakes …

Mythological Literature And The Metamodern Turn: An Augustinian Analysis, Elyse Penton, Brady Cullins, Dennis Nicholson, Nathan Redford

Liberty University Research Week

First articulated by Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker, metamodernism is a cultural sensibility emerging after postmodernism that describes an oscillation between modern sincerity and postmodern irony. Metamodernism is characterized by “informed naivete,” renewed emotional investment and a desire for meaning despite awareness of ambiguity. One significant feature of this cultural shift is the renewed presence of mythological narratives in contemporary literature and media. This research asks how metamodernism contributes to a resurgence of myth and how this phenomenon may be interpreted through an Augustinian “Inside Out” framework. Myth, as defined by folklorist Lauri Honko, is a narrative concerning …

A Preventable Tragedy: Taking A Look At The Great Molasses Flood In Boston, 1919 And Its Effect On The United States, Eleanor Clough

Liberty University Research Week

On January 15, 1919, Boston’s North End was struck with a tragedy unlike anything its residents could have imagined. A wave of molasses ranging from 15 to 40 feet high washed across several blocks, destroying everything in its path. This Great Molasses Flood, caused by the collapse of a molasses tank made three years earlier by United States Industrial Alcohol, had devastating consequences. In its wake, it left twenty-one people dead and many more injured. Yet strangely enough, very few people know about it today. This project aims to introduce the event to those who are unfamiliar with it and …

From Procurement To Personhood: Ai Governance, Constitutional Order, & The Human Person, Dawn Sutherland

Liberty University Research Week

Artificial intelligence (AI), commercial data brokerage, and administrative data fusion have advanced more rapidly than constitutional doctrine and public policy have adapted. This presentation argues that certain forms of identity-linked data, including biometric, genetic, geolocation, behavioral, and health information, should not be treated as constitutionally available to the state simply because they are commercially available in the market. Such data disclose intimate features of embodied life, relational identity, and personal vulnerability, placing personhood itself within the reach of procurement and administrative power.

The analysis begins with three contemporary developments: the Pentagon’s coercive pressure on Anthropic after the company refused unrestricted …

Rapid Challenges In Infectious Disease And Mosquito-Borne Parasite Detection, Carrington Vines

Liberty University Research Week

This project examines the diagnostic challenges facing "frontier" labs in regions like Lynchburg, VA, and rural Alaska. It contrasts the "Old Guard" (manual microscopy) with the "New Guard" (PCR/ELISA), highlighting a performance jump from 70% to 98% sensitivity. However, this precision is met by a "Financial Reality" check: costs spike from $10 to over $150 per test, creating a barrier for low-volume rural clinics. To bridge this gap, the study proposes Vector-Informed Care—using mosquito surveillance as an early warning system to deploy expensive molecular tools efficiently. Grounded in the biblical mandate of the "Watchman" (Ezekiel 33:7), this hybrid strategy ensures …

“Be Early, Be Loud, Wear Red”: An Ethnographic Study Of The Performance Of Liberty University Football Fan Identity And Boundaries, Cathryn Thomas

Liberty University Research Week

Social identity theory explains how college sports fandom can shape both social and personal identities, particularly through the formation of in-groups and out-groups based on identification with a team and opposition to rivals. Sports fans often communicate and behave in ways that signal their membership in the in-group while simultaneously distinguishing or excluding out-group members. This study examines how Liberty University football fans perform these in-group behaviors and how they mark boundaries with out-group members. Through observations made during a Liberty University Homecoming football game, the study deepens understanding of how sports fans construct belonging and unbelonging, and how these …

Zonulin And Microbial Dysbiosis’ Role In Celiac Disease Pathogenesis: A Potential Pathway For Prevention, Ella Claire Horne

Liberty University Research Week

Celiac disease is an autoimmune inflammatory condition triggered by an immune-mediated response to dietary gluten. Celiac disease has traditionally been explained by the interaction between genetic susceptibility and gluten exposure. However, this model does not fully explain variability in disease onset. It is important to investigate whether gastrointestinal microbial dysbiosis promoting zonulin-mediated intestinal permeability increases immune activation in genetically predisposed individuals, contributing to celiac disease development. Current literature demonstrates that patients with celiac disease frequently exhibit altered gut microbiota composition leading to gut microbial dysbiosis, with overgrowth of harmful bacteria and decreased beneficial bacteria. This disruption in microbe diversity changes …

Optimal Tax Policy Under Inflation, Public Debt, And Political Constraints, Jerry Jelili Afolabi

Liberty University Research Week

Inflation dynamics, rising public debt and political incentives systematically limit choice in fiscal policy, how should governments construct tax policy? This paper formulates an integrated policy framework that marries the theory of optimal taxation with macroeconomic stabilization and political economy, arguing that many deviations from textbook tax prescriptions we observe reflect structural constraints foreign to standard notions of policy failure. Relying on the enhanced structure of Ramsey taxation, Barro’s tax-smoothing logic, but also more modern upgrades within behavioral public finance and fiscal monetary interactions like Saez, Werning, Stantcheva Bianchi and Alesina illustrates how inflation alters effective tax bases, how high …

On Speaking Up: Fluency Isn’T Intelligence — Living With A Stutter In A World That Expects Perfection, Dalton D. Conden

The Penguin Review

I-I-I-I’ve lived most of my life in the space between words—the pause, the breath, the moment of uncertainty where my voice decides whether it wants to cooperate. People often assume stuttering is a tiny inconvenience, like forgetting your keys or having bad Wifi. A stutter doesn’t fade just because you enter adulthood, college, or leadership roles. It grows with you. It travels into classrooms, meetings, speeches, and any moment where your voice becomes your first introduction to the world.

Dead Poets/Society: How A Great American Classic Reflects The Fatal Shortcomings Of American Schools, Sophia Shapiro

The Penguin Review

Rarely do the worlds of film and academia coalesce in ways that change public discourse of both entirely. Almost always, endeavors to join these two very dissident disciplines fall flat in one realm or the other. But, every so often, a special feature becomes cinematic royalty for the world of academia, and none stands out as a larger paragon than Dead Poets Society.

Are Super Pacs Dangerous To American Democracy?, Mason Lee Compton

The Penguin Review

In the 2024 election cycle, just ten individuals contributed over $1 billion to Super PACs: more money than millions of ordinary Americans donated collectively.1 Reports described this select group as “an unelected shadow cabinet,” capable of reshaping entire campaigns from behind the scenes through rapid ad buys, targeted messaging, and electoral pressure. None of this would have been possible before 2010, when the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision– combined with the D.C. Circuit’s ruling in SpeechNow.org v. FEC– dramatically dismantled long-standing campaign finance restrictions.2 3 These decisions opened the door for unlimited independent expenditures, giving rise …

The Fall Of Saigon And Its Legacy In The United States, Logan J. Kemp

The Penguin Review

The topic of South Vietnam has always been one close to home. My mother and grandma were evacuated from Saigon before the country fell to North Vietnam in 1975. They hopped on a US military helicopter, taking multiple stops on ships and islands before eventually landing in Orange County, California. Because of the evacuation, my family members were forced to start a new life; however, it was better than being sent to a re-education camp. My Grandma had done some business with an American, and she could have lost her life if she had been sent to the camps. Tens …