Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Association Between Nurse Characteristics And Intent To Leave Their Current Position In Counties With Rural Hospital Closures, Caroline A. King

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

Increased rural hospital closures and nursing burnout may lead to greater morbidity/mortality for rural residents. Current literature fails to capture whether rural hospital closures influence nurses’ intent to leave their current position. In this cross-sectional study, descriptive and correlational statistical analyses were conducted on survey responses from a sample of nurses who lived in a rural county that experienced a hospital closure. 66% of nurses stated that, at one point, they had considered leaving their primary nursing position. Logistic regression model results revealed that nurse-reported age and gender were significant predictors of a nurse’s intention to leave their current position. …

Psychological Capital Of Hospital Nurses In The United States During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mary Jean Erschen-Cooke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was conducted to explore lived experiences, perceptions, and associated meanings reported by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic to determine what protected their well-being. A plethora of research focused on the negative impact of exhaustion, compassion fatigue, moral distress, and burnout; however, there was a gap in information regarding supports for emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical health, particularly among U.S. nurses. The foundational theory of psychological capital (PsyCap), focusing on the positive psychological traits of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism, grounded this investigation. A basic qualitative research design yielded rich data from semistructured interviews with 16 nurses working full …

Factors Associated With Initial Psychogenic Non Epileptic Seizures (Pnes) Amongst Patients With/Without Epileptic Seizures (Es), Enow Ogork

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES) is an important individual and public health concern, but inconsistent results exist in the literature in terms of the circumstances surrounding the initial occurrence of PNES among patients without a prior diagnosis of epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent patient sex, number of medical comorbidities, sleep deprivation, head injury in the past, and eyes closed during seizures predict initial PNES among patients with or without PNES. The precaution adoption process model provided a framework for exploring how individuals become aware of health risks and decide to adopt preventive behaviors. Secondary …

How The Advisor-Advisee Relationship Contributes To Black Student Success At Pwis, Renata Denise Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explores how the advisor-advisee relationship contributes to Black student success at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Black student enrollment and retention at PWIs continue to decline, especially with national efforts to cut DEI measures. Previous research highlights that engagement and institutional support are critical to persistence and graduation; however, limited literature exists on how academic advising relationships can impede or contribute to Black student outcomes in these environments. Viewing from the lens of Black students’ perceptions, this study examines how the academic advising experience can foster trust and contribute to academic achievement for Black students or impede their …

Maria Vasquez-De Perez V. Attorney General United States Of America

2025 Decisions

Agency

Bethlehem Manor Village Llc V. City Of Bethlehem

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Gender Gaps And Economic Growth: Why Haven't Women Won Globally (Yet)?, Patrick Agte, Orazio Attanasio, Pinelopi K. Goldberg, Charles Gottlieb, Aishwarya Lakshmi Ratan, Rohini Pande, Michael Peters, Charity Troyer Moore, Fabrizio Zilibotti

Discussion Papers

Globally women’s labor force participation lags that of men and women, on average, have lower labor market earnings than men. Does economic growth reduce gender disparities in labor market outcomes between women and men? Conversely, do gender inequalities in the labor market impede growth? To inform these questions, we conduct two analyses. First, we estimate regressions using harmonized data on gender gaps in a range of labor market outcomes from 153 countries spanning two decades (1998-2018). Second, we conduct a systematic review of the recent economics literature on gender gaps in labor markets, examining 16 journals over 21 years. Our …

Back To The Future: Reflecting On The Slce Future Directions Project, Lori E. Kniffin Ph.D., Sarah E. Stanlick, Patti H. Clayton

Leadership Faculty Publications

This paper reflects on the Service-Learning and Community Engagement (SLCE) Future Directions Project (FDP), an initiative launched in 2015 to engage with the 20th anniversary of Edward Zlotkowski's pivotal 1995 article, "Does service-learning have a future?" to stimulate a broader, co-creative conversation about the future of SLCE. The FDP ultimately resulted in 29 thought pieces, co-written by 57 authors and published in the Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning (MJCSL) between 2015 and 2017. This current reflection, undertaken in 2025, synthesized survey responses from FDP authors and SLCE practitioners to assess the project's impact and re-examine future directions amidst evolving …

Assessing The Efficiency Of Methods To Teach Adolescents About Testicular Cancer And Testicular Self-Examination, Ayşe Gül Güven, Laden Jafari̇, Murat Doğuş Günel, Özlem Akbulut

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Due to the increasing incidence of testicular cancer (TC), early testicular self-examination (TSE) in adolescent males is crucial for early detection and treatment. However, it is uncertain which method is best for teaching about TC and TSE in this age group. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of formal (face to face with model) and informal (video presentation) approaches in male adolescents about TC and TSE.Material and methods: This intervention study was conducted in 2 high schools, and included a study group (n = 142) and a control group (n = 102). In the study group, a video …

A New Subspecies Of Celastrina Lucia (W. Kirby) (Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae) In The Central Appalachian Mountain Region, Harry Pavulaan

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

The Celastrina (“Azure”) populations of the central Appalachian Mountain region have traditionally been identified as Celastrina ladon (Cramer) by numerous authors. However, the discovery of elongated dorsal wing scales in males of C. ladon (Wright & Pavulaan, 1999; Ômura et al., 2015) established that this diagnostic trait is limited to C. ladon, C. nigra (W. Forbes), and subsequently C. iryna (Pavulaan). Microscopic examination of male “Spring Azure” specimens from higher elevations in the Appalachian Mountains revealed a complete absence of these elongated scales in the resident populations, despite their outward resemblance to C. ladon …

The Relationship Between Light Physical Activity And 10-Year Weight Change In 2,868 U.S. Adults: A National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey Investigation, Chloe Diane Cory

Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of obesity has steadily increased over the past several decades. About 13.4% of Americans aged 20-74 had obesity in 1960-1962 and the prevalence has steadily increased to 40.3% in 2021-2023--more than a 3-fold increase. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between time spent in light physical activity (LPA) and 10-year weight change in a random sample of 2868 women and men representative of the U.S. adult population. METHODS: Data were used from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from the 2003-2006 data cycles. Participants were limited to non-pregnant U.S. …

Recovery Of High Energy-Value Materials From Mine Wastewater, Zainab Nasrullah

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The increasing global demand for high-energy-value materials (HEVM), such as rare earth elements (REEs), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and lithium (Li), coupled with their limited availability and environmental concerns associated with traditional mining methods, necessitates the development of alternative and sustainable recovery strategies. Wastewater streams from industrial processes, mining operations, and electronic waste treatment represent untapped reservoirs of these valuable materials. Research is proposed to develop sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable methods for selectively recovering HEVM from mine wastewater (Berkeley Pit, Montana). Two innovative approaches, the adsorption process using functionalized adsorbent and solvent extraction (SX) using organic or hydrophobic …

A Geological And Geochemical Study Of The Philipsburg Mining District, Granite County, Montana, Celine M. Beaucamp

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Philipsburg district, renowned for its rich mining history, has contributed significantly to Montana's mineral production, ranking as the state's second-most productive district. Active from 1865 to the 1980s, it yielded an impressive array of Ag (50-60 million oz), with notable outputs of Au, Zn, Pb, Cu, and battery-grade MnO2. The district features Cordilleran polymetallic veins, some of which are along bedding in Mississippian and Devonian limestone, and others are steeply dipping quartz veins in silicate-rich sedimentary rocks and in the Philipsburg batholith. The veins exhibit a district-wide mineral zonation, marked by Cu- and Ag-rich ores near granite porphyries, with …

Aqueous Geochemistry Drives Microbial Cu, Fe, And Zn Uptake Rates In Yellowstone, A Continental Hydrothermal System, Eva Carolina Andrade-Barahona

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Microbial uptake of trace metal cofactors such as copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) is governed by biogeochemical processes in hydrothermal systems where metal bioavailability varies widely. In situ microbial metal uptake rates were quantified by applying metal stable isotope probing (MSIP) in the Yellowstone hydrothermal system across diverse geochemical conditions in hydrothermal springs. The findings in these studies revealed that pH exerts a dominant influence on microbial copper uptake rate, also enhanced by increased Cu²⁺ ion availability and dissolved oxygen. Microbial iron uptake, in contrast, displayed a broad tolerance to environmental variability, occurring across a pH range of …

Women Made By Oscar Wilde, Lia Fowler

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This analysis examines Lady Windermere’s Fan and An Ideal Husband, arguing that Oscar Wilde categorizes women within restrictive moral binaries of “good” and “bad.” Both plays depict women navigating social expectations, private honor, and the idea of a pure marriage; however, despite their central roles, female characters are not portrayed as empowered with appropriate agency. Wilde renders the women as contradictory, dangerous, shifty figures if they try to operate outside of marital bounds. While Wilde’s plays foreground women in prominent positions, they largely reinforce, rather than challenge, the gendered stereotypes of late Victorian society.

Loneliness And Support For Political Violence Within The United States, Kellen Downey

Political Science Student Papers and Posters

Although loneliness is a growing public health issue in the United States, its political effects remain understudied. This paper seeks to understand the relationship between loneliness and the support of political violence by utilizing the Chapman Survey of American Fears (CSAF Wave 11). This survey, which is a component of the 2025 Chapman Survey of American Fears, includes the three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale, as well as two separate items specifically measuring political violence. Using a national survey (N=1,015), I address the following questions: (1) Are lonely individuals more likely to support violence on political grounds? (2) Does strongly identifying with …

German Intern Advances Residential Decarbonization In Rural Minnesota, Communications And Marketing

Campus News Archive

No abstract provided.

Structured Ai Conversations On Ethical Reasoning In Introductory Psychology, Brianna Mccartney

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

This strategy integrated structured AI conversations using Perplexity into an introductory psychology course to strengthen students’ ethical reasoning. Guided prompts led students through analyzing historical unethical studies, applying APA and Belmont principles, and proposing ethical redesigns while receiving immediate feedback. The activity concluded with a final paper and AI acknowledgment, fostering both deeper ethical understanding and responsible use of AI in academic work.

Mental Health Literacy In Biology Graduate Teaching Assistants: Perception, Knowledge, And Training Needs In College Stem Education, Kanza Arshad, Ricardo Montoya, Nicole Scheuermann, Heather E. Bergan-Roller

Honors Capstones

College students experience a high prevalence of mental health challenges, and STEM students exhibit lower mental health literacy than students in other disciplines. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) play a crucial role in supporting undergraduate students, yet little is known about their mental health literacy (MHL) or how they navigate student disclosures in instructional settings. This preliminary study examines MHL among GTAs in biology, as well as their knowledge, perceptions, and training needs regarding MHL. We used semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to examine how biology GTAs understand mental health, their responsibility related to student well-being, and what supports they identify …

Misconceptions About Nursing In High School Students Of Color: Promoting Diversity In Nursing, Veronnica D. Pham

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Equitable and culturally competent care can reduce health disparities among underserved populations; yet the nursing shortage the US faces does not allow for better patient outcomes. One barrier is how the profession can be negatively viewed among high school students of color.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify how perception of nursing affects a student’s career choice and what influences these perspectives. Three databases were utilized for this search: The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, and Scopus. Six articles were selected for this review. The following themes have been identified: misconceptions, …

Variation In Nectar Rewards Under Water Limitation Across Flowering Species, Madeline Isabelle Gregor

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Drought is becoming an increasingly dominant force shaping plant–pollinator interactions, yet we still know little about how nectar rewards respond to water limitation across species commonly used to support pollinators. We examined nectar volume and sucrose content in six flowering species relevant to California’s Mediterranean climate and quantified how drought alters these traits for four of those species. Under well-watered conditions, species differed in their nectar production, spanning more than two orders of magnitude. Perennial species such as Epilobium canum and Scrophularia californica produced the highest nectar volumes and sucrose amounts, suggesting that they contribute substantial carbohydrate resources when moisture …

Delight, Jennifer Vermeer

Staff Work

"I’m reminded how easy it is to miss the opportunities to delight in what is given, rather than despair in what is lacking."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­simplicity in celebration from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Delight

Reflect: Glmc Building On 10-Years Of Global Leadership Mentoring Experience, Ellen B. Buckner, Tanya F. Lott, Brenda Owusu, Karen Morin, Khalilah M. Mccants

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: Sigma members reflect a caring culture to show desired change. Following Sigma’s initiation of Global Regions in 2011, a group of visionary Sigma leaders established the Global Leadership Mentoring Community (GLMC).¹

Purpose: The GLMC mentor-mentee relationships broaden nurses ability to reflect on personal and professional leadership growth. The vision of the GLMC is through successful mentoring, participants will enhance their confidence in their global nursing leadership, gaining greater cultural awareness of the issues challenging professional nursing and be personally enriched. This unique mentoring opportunity has demonstrated that global leadership mentoring can strengthen nurses in all settings and help …

Chinese Intellectual Property Theft On United States Innovation In The Aerospace, Energy, And Pharmaceutical Economic Sectors Through Human Intelligence And Cyber Intelligence Collection, Preston Martz

Honors Theses

In cases of Chinese intellectual property theft on aerospace, energy, and pharmaceutical sectors in the United States, does Chinese intelligence collection favor HUMINT or CYBINT for collection? Sub questions also arise, including: to what extent does the amount of information collected vary by collection through HUMINT vs. CYBINT? Furthermore, does the sector where IP theft is used change the method of collection used? Finally, to what extend do case factors and outcomes affect the collection method used?

African American Small Business Success Strategies, Zena Foster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract African American small businesses fail at disproportionately high rates, contributing to job losses, economic instability, and reduced wealth-building opportunities in underserved communities. African American entrepreneurs who fail to address strategic, operational, relational, financial, adaptive, and personal dimensions of business ownership increase the risk to the long-term sustainability of their businesses. Grounded in entrepreneurship theory and human capital theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective strategies African American entrepreneurs in the southeastern United States employ to sustain their businesses beyond five years. The participants were six African American small business owners who had operated their …

December 12, 2025 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Cv: Vesna Markovic (Criminal Justice), Vesna Markovic

Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Cv: Huma Zia (Criminal Justice, Paralegal Studies), Huma Zia

Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Developing An Ai-Assisted Grading System Using Large Language Models, Andrei Modiga

MS in Computer Science Project Reports

We present a grading system that accelerates evaluation of open-ended student work across scanned and digital workflows. The system crops answer regions from PDFs, assigns submissions via OCR on identity regions only, and groups answers by visual semantics using a vision LLM. Instructors review and edit groups, apply rubric items once per group, and export grades from an on-screen table. The solution integrates Ghostscript rasterization, PdfPig page orchestration, SkiaSharp region extraction, Tesseract identity OCR, and GPT-4o Vision for grouping. We detail the architecture, token-budgeted batching strategy, and persistence design, then describe testing results for grouping quality, time-on-task, and usability. The …

Showcasing Student Artwork In An Academic Library, Holly Gabriel, Jan Juliani

Collaborative Librarianship

In this paper, the collaborative efforts of a Government Documents Librarian, an Art Librarian, and an Emerging Media and Digital Arts Professor at a regional public university with a liberal arts focus are detailed. The collaborative project began as a way to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the university library's membership in the Federal Library Depository Program. The authors asked students in a graphic design class to each create a poster featuring a randomly assigned government agency to display in the library as part of the anniversary celebration. The professor and librarians framed the poster project as a real-world design …