Digital Commons Network^™

Uncovering The Parental Self Identification Process, Danita M. Baber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation sought to uncover the first-time parent’s novel journey of transforming their identity from individual to parent. Through highlighting the well-established theories that describe the self-identification process, this study centered around concepts related to the conceptualization of the self, the developmental process of self-identification, and the establishment of one’s self-concept, through the lens of parenting. Specifically, this study asked, “For first time parents, does the age of one’s infant impact one’s level of obtained parental identity?” To best answer this question, this study followed a quantitative research design to discover if there was a positive relationship between measured parental …

Exploring How People Become Investigative Genetic Genealogists Who Assist With Law Enforcement Investigations: A Multiple Case Study, Matthew Serio Hoggatt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In today’s world of criminal justice, the use of Deoxyribonucleic Acid, otherwise known as DNA, to solve crimes, has become a popular tool for law enforcement, and a popular subject plot within the entertainment industry. Also growing in popularity at a fast rate, is the use of DNA combined with consumer-based genealogy websites to help identify unknown suspects or unidentified human remains. This process has become commonly known as investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), or forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG). What remains unclear however, is how people learn the skills necessary to establish a career within the IGG field. The purpose …

Peaceably If We Can, Forcibly If We Must”: The Scots Irish And Early American Politics, Kacey Mae King Huffaker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The saga of the Scots Irish is a story of generational movement. They moved from a barren existence in the Scottish Lowlands to the plantations of Ulster in Northern Ireland. They moved from economic, religious, and political oppression in Northern Ireland to the American colonies seeking land and opportunity. When they arrived in the American colonies, they found land and opportunity on the frontier. Life on the frontier pushed them to the periphery of society. Living on the fringes of society isolated them from the political and economic centers of colonial life. Vulnerable and disregarded, Scots Irish settlers refused to …

Publicity Rights Metamorphosis: From The Right To Evoke To The Ultimate Evoked Rights, Mira Moldawer

Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property

No abstract provided.

It’S Not Albright In Texas: How Ptab Expertise Can Illuminate Patent Litigation In Texas, Kaitlyn Mires

Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property

No abstract provided.

Intellectual Property Inequality Alleviation, Daniel Benoliel

Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property

No abstract provided.

2025-04-01 Executive Council Minutes, Susie Salazar

Executive Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Leading Through Critical Incidents: A Phenomenological Study Of K–12 School Leaders’ Responses To Critical Incidents, Terry-Ann Griffin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how K–12 school leaders respond to critical incidents in schools. A critical incident is any actual or alleged event or situation that creates a significant risk of substantial or severe harm to physical or mental health, safety, or well-being. The study focused on three major critical incidents: school shootings/gun violence, the COVID-19 pandemic, and racial unrest. The research was guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, which explains human behavior through reciprocal interactions between personal, environmental, and behavioral factors. The central research question was: How do K–12 school leaders respond to …

Enhancing Hypertension Management In Correctional Facilities: Educating Advanced Practice Providers On Effective Strategies, Kimbreya E. Otey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and remains a significant public health concern, particularly within correctional facilities where access to consistent guideline-based care is often limited. Incarcerated individuals experience higher rates of chronic conditions, including hypertension, yet standardized approaches to management are frequently lacking. To address this gap, an evidence-based educational program was developed for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) working in the correctional setting. Grounded in the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) guidelines, the program was developed to enhance awareness and knowledge among NPs and PAs regarding evidence-based hypertension management practices using the International …

Superintendent Stress And Mental Health: The Case Of African American Female Superintendents In The United States, Kamika Lynette Bell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the challenges faced by African American female K–12 school superintendents in the United States, with a particular focus on work-related stress and mental health. The unique challenges encountered by African American women in leadership positions include work stressors, racial and societal barriers, and gender discrimination. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain a deeper understanding of the work-related stress and mental health experiences of African American female superintendents in K–12 schools. The study was a means to elicit new information from the experiences of African American women regarding experiences of gendered racism and its …

Empowering Residents Through Relational Ministry: Implementing The Missional Resident Program At Creekside Community Village, Megan E. Yingst-Coats

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals who are homeless have a reason beyond the stereotypes that might be assigned to them. Homelessness can be caused by mental illness, disability, loss of income, addiction, and many other reasons, but implementing a long-term program where homeless individuals can move in and be rehabilitated will decrease the number of homeless individuals that are in our country (Swenson, Miller, Herzberg & Ray, 2011). The purpose of the missional program at Creekside Community Village is to provide individualized care for residents and create a permanent solution for those experiencing chronic homelessness. The missional program will equip missional residents to walk …

John 14:2‒3: Perichoresis In The Farewell Discourse, Bradley Wayne Ellison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the final week prior to the crucifixion, Jesus and his core group of disciples assembled in an upper room in Jerusalem, where he delivered to them his Farewell Discourse, during which he revealed that he would soon be departing from them. As a result, the disciples were severely distressed. To comfort them, Jesus assured them he would soon return to them. While saying so, he spoke of his “Father’s house,” which has “many rooms,” and stated he was returning “to the Father” in order “to prepare a place for” them (John 14:2‒3, 12 ESV 2016). Minutes later, he affirmed …

Apologetic Response To The Timing Contradiction In The Synoptic Gospels, Oluwaseun Ebenezer Agboola

Masters Theses

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, commonly known as the Synoptic Gospels, serve as the primary sources for understanding the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For centuries, Christians have treated these accounts as sacred and authoritative texts that shaped doctrine and devotion. However, despite their theological significance, the Synoptic Gospels present challenges when examined from a historical and literary perspective. One of the most debated issues is the apparent discrepancies in the timing of the crucifixion of Jesus. While the Gospel of Mark states that the crucifixion was at the third hour (9 a.m.), Luke emphasizes …

Weaponizing Risk: Recalibrating Western Deterrence, Antulio J. Echevarria Ii

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

This monograph discusses how NATO might better leverage risk to strengthen the alliance’s extended deterrence. Such leverage would prove especially useful because Kyiv is unlikely to be permitted to join NATO and the United States may reduce its presence in Europe. Western analysts have not given Russian deterrence enough credit for the alliance’s deterrence failure on February 24, 2022. The alliance did not act fecklessly, nor did it self-deter. Rather, NATO’s deterrence measures were calibrated more for hybrid/gray-zone attacks of the sort it saw in 2014, not for the large-scale combat operations the alliance witnessed in 2022, which involved a …

Amaurosis Fugax Progressing To Retinal Artery Occlusion With Anterior Migration Of A Retrobulbar Embolus On Orbital Color Doppler Imaging, Ari H. August, Turner D. Wibbelsman, Erik Massenzio, Sarah E. Thornton, Danijel J. Peričić

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: Orbital color Doppler imaging (CDI) is useful in the evaluation of sudden monocular vision loss, providing information on etiology which may guide management. We present two cases of amaurosis fugax progressing to retinal artery occlusion (RAO) associated with migration of a hyperechoic particle within the central retinal artery (CRA) and altered vascular dynamics found on CDI.

OBSERVATIONS: Both patients presented with amaurosis fugax, and CDI revealed a hyperechoic particle 2.8 mm from the optic nerve head in both patients. Patient 1 was found to have severe aortic stenosis and a thoracic aortic aneurysm and was managed with dual antiplatelet …

Perspectives On Ethnic Federalism In Ethiopia, Girum Grbremariam Alemayehu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ethnic federalism in Ethiopia has garnered significant scholarly attention for its role in shaping ethnic identity, governance, and national cohesion. However, limited research has explored how this political structure affects Ethiopian diaspora communities. This study addressed the problem of increasing ethnic divisions among Ethiopian immigrants in the Denver metropolitan area, which challenges community integration and shared national identity. Despite the growing presence of Ethiopian Americans, the literature lacks an in-depth understanding of their perspectives on ethnic federalism. The purpose of this ethnographic qualitative study was to explore how Ethiopian immigrants in Denver perceive its impact on their social, political, and …

Navigating Health Management Decisions In Pediatric Food Allergy: Exploring Caregiver Needs, Experiences, And Behaviors, Perry Allen Catlin

Dissertations (1934 -)

Food allergy (FA) is a prevalent and often severe condition affecting approximately 8% of U.S. children (Gupta et al., 2018; Robson & Assa’ad, 2024). The responsibility for daily management of FA, including making critical health management decisions, often falls to caregivers. These responsibilities can impose significant psychosocial demands on caregivers, particularly as treatment options expand and require more nuanced decision-making (Collins et al., 2024; Hamadi et al., 2024; Knibb & Jones, 2024; Lieberman, 2024; Umetsu, 2024). Caregivers' decisions are shaped by a range of individual needs, experiences, and sociodemographic characteristics (Dale & Hemmerich, 2009; Hoefel, O’Connor, et al., 2020). As …

In A Flash: A Study Of Flash Fiction’S Ability To Create Complete And Meaningful Stories, Morgan A. Lomax

Masters Theses

In In a Flash: A Study of Flash Fiction’s Ability to Create Complete and Meaningful Stories, I seek to prove that despite flash fiction’s extreme brevity, this relatively new sub-genre of fiction is capable of producing fully delineated stories with powerful messages, especially messages that align with a Christian worldview. To do this, I first examine the various definitions and complex history of flash fiction. Then, through the critical literary lenses of formalism, structuralism, and reader response theory, I analyze the different ways flash fiction uses the following eight narrative elements to create stories within specific examples of flash fiction: …

2025-04-01 Executive Council Minutes, Susie Salazar

Executive Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Conceptualizing Covid-19 As A Biosecurity Threat To The National Security Of Twelve Countries: Implications For Global Health Policy, Lydia Donkor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Biosecurity threats, including diseases such as COVID-19, influence public health and national security policies. The COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, reveals the risks of biological agents to public health. This study investigates how varying perceptions of COVID-19 as a biosecurity threat affected public policy in 12 countries, including the United States (U.S.), the United Kingdom (U.K.), China, and Ghana, aligning with the Copenhagen School's Securitization Theory and employing causal inference methods. This research used qualitative document analysis to examine government responses to COVID-19 within a security framework among the research participants. The findings demonstrate that nations that viewed COVID-19 as …

Zeydelis V. Yershov

All Decisions

A holdover petition was dismissed after the court granted the tenant's motion for summary judgment. The court found that the notice of petition was defective because it did not comply with the form mandated by 22 NYCRR 208.42(b) and Administrative Order 163/19. Citing precedent from other courts, the judge held that even minor technical defects can be grounds for dismissal. The court declined to rule on the tenant's separate argument regarding the landlord's acceptance of rent, as the defective notice of petition was sufficient grounds for dismissal.

I Came To Fulfill The Law: ΠληρόΩ As Used In The Discourses Of Jesus, Ethan Lunik

Masters Theses

One of the central questions of the church with respect to Christian orthopraxy, or right living, concerns the relationship between the Christian and the Old Testament (OT) Law. Historically, the church has not obeyed many commands clearly laid out in the OT, such as observing a seventh-day Sabbath, the dietary laws, and other laws that perhaps are viewed as cultural more than didactic. Christians understand the OT to be inspired Scripture, and these commands to be genuine orders of God, so the question of why the church has historically ignored these commands is easily raised. While answers to this question …

Experience Matters: An Application Of The Operative Value Index For Lumbar Fusions, Danyal Quraishi, Advith Sarikonda, D. Mitchell Self, Steven R. Glener, Arbaz A. Momin, Emily L. Isch, Ashmal K. Sami, Matthews Lan, Nicholas Clark, Ashwini Sharan, Srinivas Prasad, Jack Jallo, Joshua Pelta-Heller, Alex R. Vaccaro, James Harrop, Ahilan Sivaganesan

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: As healthcare systems transition to value-based care models, it is critical to understand factors influencing costs and outcomes in neurosurgery. This study utilizes Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) to assess the impact of surgeon experience and case volume on costs, clinical outcomes, and operative value in lumbar fusions. While TDABC has been applied in various surgical specialties, its use in neurosurgery, particularly in analyzing surgeon-specific factors, remains limited.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single center, analyzing lumbar instrumented arthrodesis procedures from 2017 to 2019. Primary variables included surgeon experience (years) and case volume (annual procedures). Confounding …

Classics Into Comics: Transformation Of Children’S Literature Classics Into Comics And Translating Them Into Other Languages, Amal Rakan Alkhaldi Dr.

Journal of Arabic Sciences and Humanities

The study investigates how Oliver Twist, written by Charles Dickens in 1839, has been adapted into comic form and translated into other languages. It concerns the communicative problems and techniques of meaning-making in text and image. Translating nonsequential multimodal narratives is complex, requiring consideration of cultural context and image semantics to maintain coherence across text and visuals in the target language. The paper also explores how translators overcome these challenges to maintain the essence of the narrative while presenting it in different forms that will appeal to its various readers. Studying the Oliver Twist comic adaptation and translation aids translation …

Pennsylvania Germans In The Seventeenth & Eighteenth Century: God, Community, And Country Die Pennsylvania-Deutschen Im 17. Und 18. Jahrhundert: Gott, Gemeinschaft Und Land, James M. Deitch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The terms freedom, liberty, liberalism, republicanism, linguistics, culture, and religion are all strongly associated with the early history of Pennsylvania. Historians have documented aspects of German and Anglo-Pennsylvanians. Historians have written about the conflict between freedom and liberty with loose definitions. Others have mentioned these differences only in passing, as if the Germans did not figure as prominently in the overall narrative, or other cases, assuming that all people understood and experienced freedom in the same manner and defined it with the same meanings and context. In Pennsylvania during the late 17th century and throughout the 18th century, the Germans …

A Phenomenological Study Understanding Religious And Spiritual Coping In African American Female Veterans Who Experienced Combat-Related Trauma, Dawn Raini Long

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

African American females are drawn to pursue a military career for many reasons, including upholding a family tradition, securing funding for education, or simply due to the stability it offered in a challenging economic climate. This study depicted narratives of battlefield-induced psychological stress arising from the convergence of military culture intersectionality, posttraumatic stress, and the transition to civilian life. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the religious or spiritual coping of African American female veterans who experienced combat-related trauma in the military. The participants were interviewed at Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) and Veterans Bridge Home. …

Impacts Of Positive Childhood Experiences That Foster Resilience In Adults With Childhood Trauma A Qualitative Case Study, Jennifer J. Ruiz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In today’s rapidly evolving environment, adolescents face increasingly complex challenges to their health and well-being. A significant contributor to these challenges is exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which have been linked to long-term negative outcomes in physical, emotional, and psychological health. The pervasive impact of ACEs highlights the urgent need to explore protective mechanisms that can buffer against these adverse effects. Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) have emerged as a promising counterbalance, offering supportive and nurturing conditions that enhance resilience and promote healthier developmental trajectories. This qualitative case study explored the specific types of PCEs that foster resilience in individuals …

Understanding The Willingness Of Christian Ethnic Minority Student-Athletes To Seek On-Campus Mental Health Services: A Mixed Methods Approach, Benael J. John-Rose

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Romans 12:1 tells Christians that their unique physical abilities are gifts from God that should be used to honor Him (New International Version Bible, 1978/2011). Christian racial/ethnic minority student-athletes (CMSAs) often navigate complex intersections of spirituality, identity, and stigma in relation to mental health. Despite growing research in biopsychosocial-spiritual (BPSS) models, CMSAs remain underrepresented in mental health literature. This mixed-methods study explored the willingness of CMSAs to seek on-campus mental health services at a public university in the Southwestern United States. Data was collected through a web-based survey (N = 20) and semi-structured interviews with a subset of participants (N …

Using Statistical Modeling To Help Improve The Work Environment For Nurses, Malcolm S. Demery

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aims to investigate if statistical modeling can help to improve the nurse’s work environment by identifying and solving basic workplace stresses. The major problem addressed is the stressful situation of burnout and high turnover levels for nurses, which affects the patient and the quality of care. Therefore, this research is important since it can enhance nurse job satisfaction and retention which subsequently can result in better healthcare outcomes, lower operational costs, and better patient safety. The central research questions guiding this study are: (1) How can statistical modeling aid in the discovery and correction of underlying factors that …

Keep The Family Close: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On Family Support And Successful Re-Entry, Kerry Lynn Shipman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to understand successful reintegration with positive family support for formerly incarcerated African American men in a major metropolitan city in North Carolina. Individuals released from prison face challenges that result in the likelihood of recidivism. Previous studies regarding these individuals have focused on the requirements for their successful re-entry into society, including financial stability, housing, employment, and family support; however, there is a need to understand what forms of support are needed from families. The theory guiding the current study is the social support theory, as it explains that support from communities, …