Digital Commons Network^™

Concrete Crumbles, Drew M. Dzurko

Graduate Artistry Projects and Performances

Concrete Crumbles examines instability within contemporary American political and social life through photography, collage, and installation. Using construction zones and damaged infrastructure as primary subject matter, the project investigates how material transformation and fragmentation can function as metaphors for political precarity, media saturation, and the erosion of civic stability. Photographs are printed on copy paper, physically cut, rearranged, collaged, and scanned into unstable compositions that resist fixed perspective and seamless representation. These processes emphasize labor, impermanence, and reconstruction while challenging photography’s traditional association with objectivity and permanence.

The work is informed by historical and contemporary influences including Brassaï, Germaine Krull, …

Assessing College Tuition And Wage Prospects For Careers In Archaeology, Angelina H. Gutierrez

Honors Capstones

The pressures of rising college tuition are raising questions about whether a degree in higher education is worth the return on investment in today's society and economy. This study aims to acknowledge the issues of affording college and the opportunities granted in the face of college wealth premiums from the perspective of the field of archaeology. The college wealth premium is understood as additionalopportunities and increased salaries offered to those with a degree in higher education compared to those without. Using the Midwestern United States as a case study, I discuss the gender/race wage gap, college debt, loan inequity, and …

Spartan Daily, May 7, 2026, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2026

Volume 166, Issue 43

Visual Arts And Humanities In Medical Education, Lauren Schild, Craig Uthe

Scholarship Pathways Program

Introduction: In medicine today, physicians are expected to be impartial, emotionally intelligent, and have the observational skills to pick up on and interpret ambiguous body language, skin changes, and hygiene factors which may aid in a diagnosis. However, medical students are often not directly taught these observational or emotional intelligence skills. Art has historically been used by the artist to express thoughts and emotions for themselves and to allow viewers to explore their own feelings. The aim of this course is to provide an opportunity for students to advance their observation and communication skills through the study and creation of …

Assessing Trends In Medical Students’ Perceptions Regarding Statistical Analysis, Ethan Noble, Valeriy Kozmenko, Paul Thompson

Scholarship Pathways Program

Assessing Trends in Medical Students’ Perceptions Regarding Data Analysis and Statistics Knowledge and Skills

Ethan Noble, MD | Mentors: Valeriy Kozmenko, MD, Paul Thompson, PhD

Introduction: The use of evidence-based medicine requires that physicians are able to properly analyze and interpret the results of new research. The development of new research and medical knowledge is swift, and a strong foundation in statistics and research is needed for physicians and medical students to keep up with new research. Curriculum in medical education often lacks in-depth coverage of the subject, and additional curriculum has been shown to enhance student confidence and ability …

Using Geospatial Analysis To Compare Metropolitan Greenspace And Adolescent Obesity, Rachel Schild, Denyelle Kenyon, Zachary Schild

Scholarship Pathways Program

Using Geospatial Analysis and Machine Learning to Compare Metropolitan Greenspace and Rates of Adolescents with Obesity

 Rachel Schild MD | DenYelle Kenyon PhD

 Introduction: Insufficient outdoor activity, influenced by limited access to exercise-friendly greenspaces, may contribute to increasing childhood obesity rates. However, rigorous evaluation of greenspace quality on a citywide scale is lacking. This study aims to characterize greenspace vegetation types and correlate them with adolescent obesity outcomes, identifying optimal characteristics for promoting health. This data could aid city planners in optimizing greenspace allocation and improving vegetation choices.

Methods: Satellite imagery and municipal data were used to map ten cities, …

Fabrication Of Ws₂ Thin Films Via Spray Pyrolysis With Comprehensive Structural, Electrical, And Chemoresistive Analyses Toward No₂ Detection, Chetan R. Yewale, Satish S. Mandawade, Rajendra V. Wagh, Umesh J. Tupe, Sajid Naeem, Arun V. Patil

Polytechnic Journal

Nanostructured metal sulphides are gaining attention as potential materials for resistive chemical sensors due to their high electrical conductivity and chemical stability compared to metal oxides. Among these, tungsten disulfide (WS₂), a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), stands out because of its distinctive electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. In this study, WS₂ thin films were synthesized on glass substrates using the spray pyrolysis technique. Structural and electrical characterizations revealed a highly porous, granular morphology with nanoparticle agglomerations, as observed through FESEM. XRD analysis confirmed a well-crystallized hexagonal WS₂ phase with an average crystallite size of 35.81 nm. The films exhibited a …

Analysis Of Self, Samantha Pugliese

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This paper presents a self-analysis aimed at deepening self-awareness and understanding how personal history, personality, and lived experience shape the development of a counselor-in-training. Using an integrative framework, it examines relational, academic, mental health, physical health, cultural, and developmental influences on identity and professional growth. Multiple methods were used, including personality and interest assessments, interviews with significant others, and theoretical conceptualization grounded in psychodynamic, person-centered, and somatic approaches. Findings revealed consistent themes of responsibility, introspection, and relational attunement, with feedback highlighting emotional safety and reliability. These patterns were explored in relation to early attachment and trauma, illustrating how adaptive coping …

Communication Through Connection And Identity: Songwriting With People Living With Dementia, Sean Connolly

Expressive Therapies Theses

Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative condition associated with significant changes in communication, which can have profound effects on an individual’s autonomy, self-identity and quality of life. Rising global dementia rates underscore the urgent need to address these issues and expand approaches to care. This literature review examines current research on songwriting methods in music therapy for those living with dementia and investigates how songwriting might support communication for that population. The review explores a variety of music-based approaches, including both neurologic and music-centered frameworks, and highlights a range of songwriting techniques. The findings suggest that songwriting may facilitate communication beyond …

Inside The World Of Probation Officers: Challenges, Perspectives, And Purpose, Achilles A.C. Beumel

Honors Theses

In the United States, probation is the most commonly imposed criminal sentence, necessitating an abundance of probation officers (POs) to serve the system. Given high rates of failed reentry in tandem with high rates of recidivism, there have been calls for a reevaluation of post-conviction supervision systems and strategies, including the PO. The PO is the final form of assistance provided by the criminal justice system to those facing reentry and can heavily impact a client’s likelihood of recidivism. Despite years of research and attempted reform, more studies are still needed to determine strategies for successful reentry outcomes. This study …

Constructed Care: Stitching Patient Journeys Through Quilting And Healthcare Design, Ashley D. Moberly

Graduate Final Projects

This thesis investigates how healthcare environments can better support patient experience through improved wayfinding, spatial clarity, and human-centered design strategies. Contemporary healthcare systems are often complex and difficult to navigate, placing additional cognitive and emotional burdens on patients, particularly those traveling from rural and underserved regions. Drawing from both professional experience in healthcare facilities planning and a comprehensive review of literature on spatial perception, wayfinding, and patient-centered care, this research identifies key challenges in how patients' access, interpret, and move through healthcare environments.

In response, the study introduces the Quilt Logic System, a conceptual framework that translates principles derived from …

A Socio-Computational Framework For Understanding Information Campaigns Through A Collective Action Perspective, Sayantan Bhattacharya

Theses and Dissertations

In a time when social media significantly influences public dialogue, grasping the elements that contribute to the success of information campaigns has become vital for understanding modern social movements and political engagement. This dissertation explores the essential factors that affect the efficacy of information campaigns across digital platforms, addressing a notable gap in existing research that frequently neglects the systematic connection between information spread and outcomes of collective action. Instead of viewing these as distinct phenomena, this study constructs an integrated framework that highlights three crucial dimensions of successful information campaigns: the human factor, which emphasizes the role of influential …

Reflective Telemetry Replay For Performance Analysis In Extended Reality, Atit Kharel

Theses and Dissertations

Extended Reality (XR) environments are increasingly used for training, simulation, and skill development. However, conventional feedback mechanisms such as summary performance scores or first-person video recordings often lack the spatial and contextual detail necessary to support effective reflective learning. As a result, users may observe what occurred during an immersive task without fully understanding how their movement strategies and navigation decisions influenced performance outcomes. This work presents DataEcho, a telemetry-driven replay framework designed to capture, store, and reconstruct structured XR session data for interactive performance review and behavioral analysis. The system records frame-level telemetry from Unity-based XR applications, including object …

Monotone Traveling Waves In A General Discrete Model For Populations With K-Generation Long-Term Memory, Austin Kernel Sanders

Theses and Dissertations

We investigate the spatial dynamics of a population modeled by a general discrete integrodifference equation incorporating k-generation long-term memory. While classical models rely solely on the im- mediately preceding state to determine population growth and dispersal, introducing multiple past states causes the associated evolution operator to lose compactness. Consequently, standard fixed- point theorems are insufficient to prove the existence of traveling wave solutions. We overcome this difficulty by constructing a time-independent moving frame operator and employing the monotone iteration method. By assuming the fecundity function is locally Lipschitz, bounded, and nondecreasing on a specified interval, and by relaxing continuity requirements …

2026 Spring Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Spring 2026 commencement program. Commencement was on Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8, 2026.

During the Commencement event, a complete list of graduates was provided online. This program was not published during the Commencement event. This digital copy is maintained in the repository for archival purposes.

First Ud Health Engagement Fellows Graduate, University Of Dayton

News Releases

They screened preschoolers' vision, helped seniors access fresh food and supported early detection efforts for sickle cell disease. Now, the first University of Dayton Health Engagement Fellows are graduating.

Sull'essere Umani "On Being Human", Benjamin S. Woodard

Master's Theses

The thesis describes the essential parts of the compositional process and how music expresses the individual philosophies of the composer. The goal is not to describe an overarching, and therefore overbearing, ruleset for what makes the compositional process human, but to describe it in relation to personal experience, with the rise of large language models in mind—sprouting from this research, composing a piece of music that reflects both the new electronic music that has now been embedded academically and the centuries-old tradition of performing on analog instruments. “Sull’essere Umani,” the English translation being "On Being Human", was the piece that …

Nudging Implementation Of Low Tidal Volume Ventilation: A Stepped Wedge, Cluster Randomized Trial, Meeta Prasad Kerlin, Michael O. Harhay, Fan Li, Dylan S. Small, Yingying Lu, Wei Wang, Barry D. Fuchs, Mark E. Mikkelsen, Teresa Tran, Aerielle Belk, Jasmine A. Silvestri, Tamar Klaiman, Stefania Scott, Elizabeth Levy, Michael W. Sjoding, Rachel Kohn, Karsten J. Roberts, Rinad S. Beidas, Scott D. Halpern

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: "Nudges" embedded in the electronic health record (EHR) facilitate desired decisions while preserving autonomy and may provide a scalable strategy to overcome the common implementation barrier of lack of knowledge about a best practice. We sought to test whether EHR-based nudges targeting two intensive care unit (ICU) clinician groups would safely increase evidence-based use of low tidal volume ventilation.

METHODS: We performed a stepped-wedge, cluster randomized, hybrid type 3 effectiveness-implementation trial in 12 ICUs from February 2021 to May 2023 to test three nudges targeting clinicians responsible for order entry and respiratory therapists responsible for operationalizing orders and documentation. …

Factors Associated With Depression Among First- And Third-Year Medical Students In The Caribbean And United States, Fernando Juan Quirindongo Belvis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Dissertation: Exploring Asian Mental Health Counselors’ Views Of Their Education After Studying Abroad, Linda Ai Kuramoto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Expertise First: Reflections On Informal Artificial Intelligence Mentoring In An Asynchronous Nursing Faculty Community, Anna Liza D. Villena Phd, Rn, Fnp-Bc

Journal of Online Mentoring

The integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education has arrived faster than the support structures designed to help faculty navigate it. This article reflects on one faculty member’s experience providing informal AI integration mentoring to nursing colleagues at Walden University, a fully asynchronous online graduate nursing program, where clinician-educators with deep disciplinary expertise often struggled to recognize that expertise as an asset in their interactions with AI tools.

Drawing on Rogers’ (2003) diffusion of innovations theory, the article describes the mentoring approach that emerged from practice, the central insight that faculty are not failing to integrate AI because …

How Do Minimum Wages Affect Workplace Injuries?, Michael Davies, R. Jisung Park, Anna Stansbury

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

As I Live And Breathe, Jessica Fitzgerald

Theses

This thesis employs the unique materiality of glass as a means of investigating interconnection and worth. Through glass, I explore the value of attention, and how directing it informs a sense of what matters. By allowing the fundamental forces of heat and gravity to lead the work, I explore connection, and the hidden ways in which Process influences Piece. The particular malleability of warm glass enables me to capture moments of making. It is the lens through which I focus my investigations, highlighting phenomena in process as the evidence of its creation.

The Evolution Of Topological Structures In Climate Networks, Kiera Kelly

Theses

We investigate higher-order interactions in climate networks using topological data analysis (TDA) and analyze their evolution since 1948. Using the correlation between surface air temperature (SAT) anomalies, we define relationships between spatial locations and examine the patterns that emerge over time. We extend the framework of temporal climate networks and apply TDA methods, including persistent homology, curvature analysis, and the Euler characteristic, to identify dynamic structural features. Persistent homology tracks the births and deaths of topological features such as connected components and loops. Curvature quantifies a node’s participation in higher- order structures (cliques), while the Euler characteristic captures global trends …

Employment Research, Vol. 33, No. 2, April 2026

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis: Psychometric Properties Of Functional Tests In The Cancer Population, Mckenna Culter, Austin Schlater, Grace Molfenter, Mary Fisher

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

An After-School Adaptive Cycling Program For Children With Disabilities: A Pilot Study, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, Trisha A. Renner, Kate Burkart, Emma Feldman, Raegan Oehler, Kennedy Dedario, Britney Kozlowski, Terri Dinkelaker, Mary Fisher

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Drop Vertical Jump And Running Biomechanics Among Varying Experience Levels With Running, Jacob Hamme, Joaquin Barrios

University of Dayton Doctor of Physical Therapy Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Self-Rated Mental Health As A Predictor Of Five-Year Incidence Of Heart Conditions, Cancer, And Dementia, In Post-Menopausal Women From Nshap Rounds 2 And 3, Annelie M. Persson

Gerontology Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Population aging is accompanied by a rising incidence of chronic disease, highlighting the need to identify early indicators of disease risk to support prevention and delay onset. Mental health has gained attention as a potential predictor of health outcomes. Self-rated mental health (SRMH) has emerged as a validated measure capturing resilience, social support, and overall outlook. Few studies in older adults have examined the relationship between SRMH and incident chronic disease. Although mental health is associated with behavioral and psychosocial factors such as physical activity and happiness, these pathways have rarely been examined as mediators. Self-rated physical health (SRPH) is …

Admiralty, John P. Kavanagh Jr.

Mercer Law Review

The cases discussed herein represent decisions from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, as well as district courts within the circuit, issued in 2025. While not an all-inclusive list of maritime decisions during that timeframe, the Author identified and provided summaries of key rulings of interest to the maritime practitioner.