Digital Commons Network^™

Southern Miss: The Legacy Of Resilience, Ashley Lewis

Honors Theses

Southern Miss: The Legacy of Resilience is a creative work composed of two components: a short expository styled documentary and a written component primarily focused on the methods and techniques used to film the documentary. On February 10th, 2013, an EF-4 tornado significantly impacted the University of Southern Mississippi’s campus in Hattiesburg. The campus obtained significant damages to eight buildings located near Hardy Street on the southeastern portion of campus. The impact of the tornado left the university with over $20 million worth of damages. At the time, the university was temporarily closed for Mardi Gras break. However, a recovery …

An Insight Into The Venom Gland Proteome Of The Two-Spined Trap-Jaw Ant, Odontomachus Haematodus, Aaron Morgan

Honors Theses

Ants are ecologically important and highly abundant organisms, playing key roles in many ecosystems. One recently introduced species in the southeastern United States is Odontomachus haematodus (the two-spined trap-jaw ant), a South American native that has often been misidentified, contributing to limited research on its biology and venom composition. This study aimed to provide the first detailed characterization of the venom apparatus and proteome of O. haematodus. Specimens were collected and dissected, and venom-related proteins were extracted and analyzed using SDS-PAGE and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS-ESI). Confocal microscopy was also used to visualize the sting apparatus, including F-actin filaments and …

A Comparative Legal Analysis Of The English And Scottish Reformations, Erin Hanson

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the legal and institutional mechanism that contributed to the decline in Catholicism in early modern England and Scotland during the Reformation period. By analyzing statutory developments, ecclesiastical court structures, and enforcement practices, it compares how each kingdom implemented religious reform and regulated religious conformity. Rather than focusing solely on theological differences, this study emphasizes the role of legal structure and legal institutions in shaping religious governance.

Chapter I outlines the historical and legal background of the English and Scottish Reformations. Chapter II examines prior literature, and Chapter III states the methodology used in this study. Chapter IV …

Appellate Review Of Child Custody In Mississippi, 1994-2024, Eleanor Detweiler

Honors Theses

This study examines changes in child custody decision-making within the Mississippi appellate court system over a thirty-year period, with a particular focus on the role of legal custody as a separate consideration from physical custody. Using a longitudinal empirical research design, appellate court decisions from 1994, 2004, 2014, and 2024 were analyzed using Nexis Uni. Cases were identified using the search term “child custody” with emphasis on case headnotes indexed under “child custody” as the area of law. Variables including party roles, types of custody sought, reasons for appeal, and case outcomes were recorded and evaluated to identify trends over …

Tough Love Or Just Tough?: The Effect Of Juvenile Military Bootcamps On Adolescent Externalizing Behaviors, Paris Labadie

Honors Theses

Externalizing behaviors, which are mental health problems manifested as outward behavior, have negative impacts on the environment and relationships (Liu, 2004). They include traits such as impulsivity, aggression, and substance use. Externalizing behaviors are more common in justice-involved youth compared to those who were not involved. Interventions for justice-involved youth, such as military boot camps, offer an alternative to incarceration and provide rehabilitation opportunities and routine. Theoretical research suggests military boot camps are problematic, citing the ineffectiveness of “scared straight” tactics. To date, there are few studies examining changes because of completing boot camps. There are also no studies examining …

Architecture-Agnostic Test-Time Adaptation Via Backprop-Free Embedding Alignment, Xiao Ma, Young D. Kwon, Pan Zhou, Dong Ma

PhD Student’s Publications Collection

Test-Time Adaptation (TTA) adapts a deployed model during online inference to mitigate the impact of domain shift. While achieving strong accuracy, most existing methods rely on backpropagation, which is memory and computation intensive, making them unsuitable for resource-constrained devices. Recent attempts to reduce this overhead often suffer from high latency or are tied to specific architectures such as ViT-only or CNN-only. In this work, we revisit domain shift from an embedding perspective. Our analysis reveals that domain shift induces three distinct structural changes in the embedding space: translation (mean shift), scaling (variance shift), and rotation (covariance shift). Based on this …

Simulation And Optimization Of The Active Magnetic Shield Of The N2edm Experiment, N. J. Ayres, G. Ban, G. Bison, K. Bodek, V. Bondar, T. Bouillaud, G. L. Caratsch, E. Chanel, W. Chen, C. Crawford, V. Czamler, C. B. Doorenbos, S. Emmeneger, S. K. Ermakov, M. Ferry, M. Fertl, A. Fratangelo, D. Galbinski, W. C. Griffith, Z. D. Grujic, K. Kirch, V. Kletzl, J. Krempel, B. Lauss, T. Lefort, A. Lejuez, K. Michielsen, J. Micko, P. Mullan, O. Naviliat-Cuncic, F. M. Piegsa

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The n2EDM experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute aims to conduct a high-sensitivity search for the electric dipole moment of the neutron. Magnetic stability and control are achieved through a combination of passive shielding, provided by a magnetically shielded room (MSR), and a surrounding active field compensation system by an Active Magnetic Shield (AMS). The AMS is a feedback-controlled system of eight coils spanned on an irregular grid, designed to provide magnetic stability to the enclosed volume by actively suppressing external magnetic disturbances. It can compensate static and variable magnetic fields up to ± 50 μT (homogeneous components) and ± …

An Electronic Automated Service To Improve Bowel Preparation, Gabriel Diaz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: To reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer, optimal bowel preparation is imperative. At an outpatient gastroenterology clinic has been experiencing an increased number of patients arriving for their colonoscopy with poorly prepped bowels.

Objectives: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve patient’s bowel preparation by augmenting paper-based instructions with an automated electronic messaging service that sent dietary, and bowel instructions tailored to patients.

Methods: This project used a quasi-experimental design to compare scheduling and bowel preparation outcomes of patients who received colonoscopies prior to the intervention (control group) with patients who received automated preparation messages (intervention …

Implementing Standardized Screening Protocols For Perinatal And Postpartum Depression And Substance Use: A Quality Improvement Project, Ava Smith

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background/Significance: Perinatal mood, anxiety, and substance-use disorders remain leading contributors to maternal morbidity, impaired maternal–infant bonding, and preventable adverse outcomes. Although national organizations recommend universal screening during pregnancy and postpartum, implementation gaps persist due to inconsistent provider practices, workflow variability, and unclear referral pathways. Strengthening both provider competency and system- level processes is essential to improving identification and follow-through in obstetric settings.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate and strengthen the consistency, quality, and reliability of perinatal depression and substance-use screening practices at an OB/GYN Clinic by implementing standardized screening protocols using the Edinburgh Postnatal …

Improving Consistency In Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Screening: A Readiness And Barrier Assessment Among Rural Hospital Nurses, Ellen Siekkinen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) affects up to 94% of opioid-exposed neonates. A needs assessment at a rural Minnesota hospital, where the local NAS rate exceeds the state average, revealed that neonates at risk are not consistently screened. This lack of screening can delay treatment, leading to prolonged withdrawal, and increase hospital stays and costs.

Aims

This quality improvement project aimed to (1) improve nurse confidence and (2) identify barriers and facilitators to consistent implementation of NAS screening using the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) assessment tool following a nurse education intervention.

Methods

Twelve full-time and part-time nurses on the Labor, …

Educational Interventions To Improve Interpersonal Communication With Icu Family Members, Adriana Szaboova

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Family members of critically ill patients frequently experience significant psychological distress, often compounded by unclear communication and limited understanding of complex care processes in the intensive care unit (ICU). In the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU), staff identified a gap in structured, procedure-specific education for families during the admission process following cardiac surgery.

Aims/Objectives: This quality improvement project aimed to develop and implement a one-page, procedure-specific family education tool for CVICU admissions. The goals were to integrate the materials into the admission workflow with staff education and to enhance HCAHPS communication scores during implementation.

Methods: This quality improvement project …

Improving Pain Assessments In The Medical Icu, Tyler J. Wiorek

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background 

Approximately half of intensive care unit (ICU) patients experience moderate-to-severe pain during admission, yet pain assessment in non-communicative patients remains inconsistent. Evidence-based behavioral tools such as the Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) have been recommended to improve detection and management of pain in this population.

Aims/Objectives 

This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to implement the Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) among registered nurses in a 29-bed medical ICU and evaluate its impact on nurse knowledge, acceptability, and documentation of pain assessments.

Methods 

A pre–post quality improvement design was used. A convenience sample of registered nurses in a …

Effectiveness Of Aromatherapy To Improve Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting, Mengtian Bludsky

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remains one of the most common and distressing complications following general anesthesia, negatively affecting comfort, recovery, and satisfaction. Although antiemetics are routinely administered, many patients continue to experience PONV. Aromatherapy using essential oils such as ginger and lavender has demonstrated benefit as a low‑risk complementary modality, it was underutilized in clinical settings.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an evidence‑based aromatherapy intervention to increase aromatherapy utilization and decrease PONV incidence among eligible post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) patients; as well as educate and improve perioperative nurses’ acceptance of aromatherapy.

Methods: …

Full Practice Authority For Advanced Practice Registered Nurses In Texas: A Policy Analysis, Carly Baker Duncan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Texas is one of many states that faces healthcare professional shortages which ultimately results in poor healthcare system performance. The lack of access to healthcare providers is an ongoing challenge that is expected to continue through 2036. One solution to the healthcare access challenge is passing full practice authority (FPA) for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in the state of Texas.

Objectives: This policy analysis was undertaken to evaluate current APRN practice restrictions in Texas and explore policy reforms to address healthcare workforce shortages. Specific objectives included examining primary care health needs in East Texas, workforce needs for primary …

Implementing An Early Lactation Support Workflow To Decrease Missed Lactation Care And Increase Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates, Juleen Johnson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: There are life-saving health benefits associated with breastfeeding. The receipt of early and consistent lactation support improves breastfeeding outcomes. However, for C-section patients at this site, breastfeeding rates are low, initial lactation consults are delayed, and follow-up consults are sometimes not received.

Aims: This project aimed to implement an early lactation support workflow to decrease missed lactation care and increase exclusive breastfeeding rates among C-section patients on a postpartum unit. Evaluation outcomes were: (1) the receipt of initial consults within 24 hours of delivery, (2) the receipt and timing of follow-up consults, (3) exclusive breastfeeding rates, and (4) staff …

How Does Education Regarding Stress Reduction Technique Activities Affect Phq9 And Gad7, Olu Akande

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD are prevalent among home care patients and significantly impact quality of life. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aims to assess the impact of structured education on stress reduction techniques—such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), progressive muscle relaxation, cognitive reframing, and guided breathing—on PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores. A selected registered nurse at Human Touch Home Care (HTHC) will provide targeted education to eligible patients, using a teach-back method to ensure comprehension. PHQ-9 and GAD-7 assessments will be administered before and two weeks after the intervention. Data will be analyzed to …

Michael Z. Green, Michael Z. Green

Faculty CVs

No abstract provided.

William J. Magnuson, William Magnuson

Faculty CVs

No abstract provided.

David Dye, David W. Dye

Faculty CVs

No abstract provided.

Modeling Of Aggregate Losses Of Metastatic Cancer Using Katz Family (A, B, 0) Distributions, Cynthia M. Mwau, Howard Omukami

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

The incidence of metastatic cancer over the years has gradually increased. This can be due to delayed quality treatment, attributed to insufficient funds. Models that can more accurately price cancer insurance policies incorporating its metastatic nature would enable insurance firms to develop affordable and profitable cancer insurance policies. Effectively marketed and reasonably priced insurance policies can enhance the uptake of cancer specific insurance, thereby alleviating the financial strain linked to cancer treatment. To capture the impact of metastatic cancer on overall cancerrelated losses, we construct Katz recursive models grounded in the Katz family of distributions, specifically the (a, b, 0) …

Deportation And Death: Examining The Second Trump Administration’S Immigration Policy Through The Lens Of Just War Theory, Finley W. Snyder

Augustana Center for the Study of Ethics Essay Contest

From day one of the second Trump administration, the White House has treated illegal immigration as an invasion, both rhetorically and, to a lesser extent, legally. The administration has not shied away from the use of force in this campaign, leading to the notable killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti along with countless acts of violence across the nation. This essay seeks to evaluate the ethics of the second Trump administration's immigration policy from within this "war" framing through the lens of just war theory. While there has been considerable attention to just war theory in the context of …

Ethical Issues Of The Advancement Of Artificial Intelligence, Primo G. Moreno

Augustana Center for the Study of Ethics Essay Contest

Artificial intelligence has rapidly become integrated into our modern society, allowing for new streamlined methods to reign supreme. These methods raise concerns about control, privacy, and the shifting boundaries between human and machine decision-making. This paper examines how AI has developed, how it is currently being used, and the ethical dilemmas that arise as societies integrate it into systems such as healthcare, law enforcement, and businesses. Through the expansion of historical, technical, and philosophical perspectives, this paper argues that society must prioritize having set guidelines and systems for monitoring newly created AI systems. Without them, the implementation of AI models …

Navigating End-Of-Life Decisions: Cultural Considerations For Latine Patients, Michelle Carbajal Hernandez

Honors Capstones

Healthcare professionals face many challenges when communicating terminal illness prognoses for individuals. This responsibility to address a terminal prognosis is further complicated when communicating with Latine patients who may face multiple barriers within the healthcare system and whose cultural preferences influence end-of-life care planning (Carrion, 2010). For example, Latines are less likely to enroll in end-of-life (EOL) care services (e.g., hospice) (Barragan-Carrillo et al., 2022). As well as engage in end-of-life care planning than White Non-Latines (Shen et al., 2016). To understand this hesitancy towards EOL care options, this literature review aims to explore how terminally ill Latine and …

Start With What They Know: Using Motivational Interviewing To Create A Cooking Class, A Culinary Intervention For Teens (Autistic And Non-Autistic), Gwendolyn S. Tedder

LEND Trainee Presentations

Autistic teens are at greater risk for having heart disease and diabetes as adults. Food particularity, sensory issues, fixed mindset, and anxiety over trying new things can slow down their interest in preparing food for themselves. Nurturing basic cooking skills and gently encouraging trying new foods would provide more nutritional options to teens as they move into adulthood. A cooking class preceded by Motivational Interviewing (MI) developed further interest in preparing food afterward in teens, both autistic and non-autistic, and in trying new foods for autistic teens with food concerns.

Not Too Early, Not Too Late: A Framework For Career Guidance In Competency -Based Education (Cbe), Mercy Igoki

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

The aim of this study is to develop a framework for providing career guidance to learners in Kenyan schools within a competency-based education framework. The framework will give guidance from early childhood to senior schools. It will help learners select careers and develop relevant competencies. Learners are often introduced late to career guidance, mostly when they must make key academic and career decisions, such as subject selection. This timing may limit their ability to make informed decisions about their future career pathways. The study uses a conceptual research design, grounded in a review and synthesis of existing literature on career …

Folic Acid–Carbon Dot–Gemcitabine Nanoparticles For Targeted Cancer Drug Delivery, Irfan Huda, Hua Mei

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This project aims to develop a folic acid-attached carbon dot nanoparticle system (FA-CDs-GEM) for the targeted delivery of gemcitabine to cancer cells. While gemcitabine is widely used, its effectiveness is limited because a short in vivo half life and lack of selectivity, which lead to severe side effects. Carbon dots offer a simple and modifiable platform as the drug delivery and bioimaging agent. Conjugation of folic acid to the carbon dots enables selective targeting of cancer cells that overexpress folate receptors. In this study, we synthesized and characterized FA-CD-GEM nanoparticles and developed an HPLC calibration curve of GEM to accurately …

Mathematics In Maltese: The Compilation Of A Bilingual English-Maltese Glossary To Support Mathematics Teaching And Learning In Malta, Marie Theresa Farrugia, Lara Ann Vella, David Muscat, Melanie Casha Sammut

The Mathematics Enthusiast

In Malta, mathematics education is accessed bilingually through Maltese and English. While Maltese is often used for verbal interaction, English is the language of written texts, including assessments. Consequently, switches between the languages is a common feature of Maltese mathematics classrooms. Anecdotal and research evidence indicate that Maltese students benefit from the use of their home language. However, to date, there is no recognised and standardised Maltese bank of mathematics Our project aims to address this lacuna. In this article, we outline the process of compiling a bilingual glossary of mathematics terms intended for kindergarten and elementary school levels in …

Sjsu Erfa News, Spring 2026, San Jose State University, Emeritus And Retired Faculty Association

Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association (ERFA) Newsletter

Volume 39, No 3

Ai-Driven Analysis Of Stroke Mortality And Socio-Demographic Patterns In Ohio, Krithin Godala, Ayati Lala, Ian Zagorac

The International Journal of Ethical Leadership Special Volumes

No abstract provided.

Proportionate To What?, Anthony Lupo

The International Journal of Ethical Leadership Special Volumes

No abstract provided.