Digital Commons Network^™

Restoring Moral Imagination: A Pilgrimage Of Ethical Formation In Prelicensure Nursing, Hannah Dube, Francesca Kearns

Student Posters & Conference Presentations

No abstract provided.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: The Confluence Of Factors That Made Disneyland, Maeve A.L. Buckley

History & Classics Undergraduate Theses

No abstract provided.

Reflective Refinement Through Iterative Model Building, Idris Solola, Hillary Swanson, Sarah Schwartz, Rida Munir, Jared B. Arnell, Ravi Sinha

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Student Research

While research has emphasized the role of classroom discourse, hands-on demonstrations, and carefully crafted prompts in eliciting and responding to students’ ideas, there’s a need to investigate how the systematic design of modeling instruction can serve as the structure that naturally supports responsive teaching. Drawing on the knowledge in pieces (KiP) epistemology and the concept of responsive teaching, we present an instructional approach called guided reflective refinement (GRR), which guides students to articulate and examine their thinking through building and evaluating models. We analyzed middle school students’ model drafts over a 7-day unit on conservation of energy to understand the …

Commonwealth Times 2026-04-22

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

A Study Exploring Negative Outcomes Associated With Adolescent Adhd And Parenting Excluding Co-Occurring Conduct Problems, Kaitlyn Lancia

Honors Theses

Previous research has suggested a link between ADHD and experiencing negative outcomes in adolescence. These include mental health issues, substance use problems, and especially social dysfunction. Additionally, prior research has discovered high comorbidity rates of certain behavioral disorders, like Conduct Disorder (CD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), with ADHD. Furthermore, other research has focused on the transactional influences between ADHD and parenting. Existing research has been limited by conduct problems being a possible confounding variable and the lack of longitudinal studies. The current study attempts to combat these limitations by separating conduct problems from ADHD symptoms and using a longitudinal …

Ehr Integration Of A Violence Risk Tool To Promote Safer Work Environments, Kirk Bradford

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

In October 2022, a tragic act of workplace violence within our health system highlighted the need for a proactive, data-driven approach to staff safety. Workplace violence impacts nearly one in four nurses each year (McCollum et al., 2024); yet most organizations lack an objective tool to predict and prevent such incidents. The goal of this project was to implement and evaluate a systematic, evidence-based screening process to improve early risk detection and foster safer clinical environments—aligned with the AACN Healthy Work Environment Standard of Effective Decision-Making (AACN, 2016).

A multidisciplinary team of nursing, informatics, and security leaders integrated a modified …

Mitigating Burnout Syndrome Through Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Rachel Kathryn Fajardo

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Burnout Syndrome (BOS) continues to affect critical care nurses, resulting in emotional exhaustion, disengagement, and threats to patient safety [1–4]. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project evaluated the impact of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) toolkit on BOS among nurses in a rural intensive care unit. Using a pre-post quality improvement design, baseline burnout was measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS-MP) and custom Likert-scale surveys administered at three time points [5]. A convenience sample of ten nurses participated in asynchronous and live sessions supported by weekly education and QR-linked resources. The MBSR toolkit …

The Effect Of The Environment On Perceived Distance, Elijah Turner

Honors Theses

Despite our certainty that we experience the world as it really is, humans' perception of the world is not accurate in its entirety. People’s biases play a significant role in their perception of their environments. Researchers have sought to determine exactly how and why human biases impact perceptions, focusing on how biases related to a target (person, animal, object, etc.) impact people’s perception of said target, more specifically, the perceived distance to that target. This is important in understanding situations where, in order to interact with (or avoid) a target person, one must perceive the physical distance between oneself and …

Nazi Germany And Humanities Education As Propaganda, Sam Marie Smith

Honors Theses

One of the Third Reich’s most significant actions in their pursuit of the consolidation of power was the Gleichschaltung, in which all cultural, social, political, and economic goals were subordinated to that of the goals of the Nazi party. One of the most dramatic shifts to take place in the process of Gleichschaltung was in the realm of academia, where legitimate pedagogical and educational imperatives were overshadowed by an emphasis on perpetuating the Nazi regime’s agenda, especially racial ideology, even with the youngest students. While educators in the Third Reich carried this out in all subject areas, this project focuses …

Crossing Borders: Ways To Address Oral Health Disparities In Guatemala And U.S. Latinx Communities, Yeimi Bartolon Perez

Honors Theses

Oral health disparities remain a significant global public health concern, particularly among economically and socially marginalized populations. This study investigates the structural, socioeconomic, and cultural determinants that influence access to dental care across these two populations. Guatemala represents a context where poverty, limited healthcare infrastructure, and geographic isolation restrict access to preventive dental services, often resulting in treatment-seeking only during advanced stages of disease. In contrast, Hispanic/Latinx communities in the United States encounter barriers shaped by language differences, lack of dental insurance, immigration-related concerns, and systemic inequities within the healthcare system. This research employs a mixed-methods approach that integrates secondary …

Em-Vrp: Energy-Minimizing Vehicle Routing Planning For Maneuver-Aware Uav Routing, Ryan Kuederle

Honors Theses

Advanced UAV missions, such as infrastructure inspection and disaster-zone sensing, are fundamentally constrained by limited onboard battery capacity. Conventional flight planners typically optimize for shortest distance, despite the fact that maneuver-dependent energy costs vary substantially and make distance a poor proxy for power consumption. This thesis develops an energy-centric routing framework that applies an action-weighted energy heuristic to formulate and solve an Energy-Minimized Vehicle Routing Problem (EM-VRP). In addition, it examines the joint optimization of vehicle energy expenditure and data freshness to ensure timely revisitation of spatial nodes. The framework is implemented through custom mission-planning software and validated on physical …

The Impact Of Photo-Id Laws On The Youth Electorate, Jakob A. Burdick

Honors Theses

Voting access among young adults has become an increasingly important issue in recent U.S. elections, particularly as turnout among voters aged 18–24 has risen in several recent election cycles. However, this age group faces unique challenges to the voting system, many of which are overlooked or intentionally written in a way to limit their participation. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study will analyze both quantitative data, such as voter turnout statistics, and qualitative data, including survey responses from college students at the University of Dayton. The survey will employ both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, allowing for the analysis …

Enhancing Balance In Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: Comparing Strength Training And Combined Strength-Balance Training, Justina Zolikoff

Honors Theses

Millions of adults live with intellectual disabilities and associated motor impairments such as reduced muscle tone, decreased strength, and impaired balance. These physical limitations can interfere with independence and the ability to perform activities of daily living including dressing, walking, laundry, and shopping. Previous research has demonstrated that strength training can improve muscular strength, stability, and reduce fall risk. Targeted balance training may further enhance functional mobility and postural control. This 12-week study included 2 weeks of pre-testing, 8 weeks of training, and 2 weeks of post-testing. The study examined the effects of strength training alone compared to combined strength …

Public Means Public: A Call For Amendment Of The Copyright Act Of 1976'S Public Display Right To Immunize Private Businesses From Unintentional Infringement, Lucy Greaney

Et Cetera

Private businesses increasingly face copyright liability and burdensome licensing fees under the Public Display Provision of the Copyright Act of 1976, despite engaging in activities that cannot be truly considered public. This Note examines the historical development of the Public Display Provision, analyzes case law involving public accommodations and semi-private entities, and explores the intersection between copyright enforcement and U.S. antitrust principles. It argues that Congress did not intend for private, employee-only business settings to fall within the scope of the Public Display Provision and that the current enforcement regime enables anticompetitive licensing practices by performing rights organizations. To resolve …

Effects Of The Historical, Current, Social, And Political Influence Of White Supremacy On The Young, Black Male In Mobile, Alabama, Nicole Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown the negative effects of White supremacy and its historical influence on societal and political factors in the United States. These negative effects include excessive aggression, hate, and violence toward and degradation of Blacks, Indigenous, and people of color that lead to physical and mental health issues, identity crises, and trauma. However, studies have not examined the specific effects of the influence of White supremacy on the daily life of young adult Black males who have attended community college in Mobile, Alabama. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to identify the perceptions of such Black males …

Health Is Where The Huddle Is, Lyndsey Anthony, Anna E. Komistek, Philip C. Pritchett, Emma K. Swanson

SPARK Symposium Presentations

“Health is Where the Huddle Is”

Huddles are an evidence-based strategy to facilitate a culture of safety within nursing teams. A review of 158 huddle studies found that 44.3% reported improved clinical outcomes and 24.3% showed fewer medical errors when huddles were implemented (Pimentel et al., 2021). Currently, a local hospital’s 13-bed ICU lacks an effective system for nursing staff to huddle due to staffing constraints and the absence of monitor technicians, creating safety concerns when nurses leave monitors unattended. This project aims to implement an effective, nurse-led shift huddle that maintains continuous patient monitoring while also strengthening patient safety …

Chemical And Pharmacological Mechanisms Of Calcium Oxalate Stone Inhibition: Citrate, Thiazides, And Emerging Therapies, Grace Tidwell

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Calcium oxalate (CaOx) kidney stone formation has prompted the development of a variety of pharmacological therapies designed to reduce the risk of crystallization by chemically modifying a patient’s urinary composition and thereby reducing urinary supersaturation of stone-forming ions. This paper reviews key drug classes that inhibit CaOx crystallization, such as citrate supplements, which bind calcium and increase pH levels within the urine, and thiazide diuretics, which act on the kidneys to increase calcium reabsorption into the bloodstream. In addition, the use of polyphenol-based compounds and gut microbiome therapies is examined for their potential roles in stone prevention. Ultimately, by focusing …

Assessing The Role Of Egr1 In Invasive Migration Of P53-Variant Colorectal Cancer Cells, Mehrael Faragalla

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Colorectal cancer progression is influenced by dysregulated signaling pathways that affect cell proliferation and migration. One important pathway is WNT signaling, which promotes MYC expression and contributes to tumorigenesis. In the absence of functional p53, MYC has been shown to induce the tumor suppressor gene EGR1, leading to EGR1-driven apoptosis rather than proliferation. This noncanonical activity of MYC has been termed the MYC-EGR1 pathway and has only been observed in the absence of functional p53, a well-known genetic aberration associated with colorectal cancer progression. Of particular interest is the impact of the expression of EGR1 on colorectal cancer cell malignancy …

Your Memory Is Mine, Owen Westbrook

Intertext

No abstract provided.

Section Intro: Beauty In The Creator, Raina Hartman, Alexis Kirkpatrick

Intertext

No abstract provided.

I Am Not My Looks: Growing Up As The Ugly Duckling, Shawn Ware

Intertext

No abstract provided.

Complete Issue - Intertext 2026, Intertext Journal

Intertext

No abstract provided.

A Treatise On Tool Development: The Arthroscope’S Cultural, Technological, And Metascientific Translation, Montgomery F. Waterer

Honors Theses

The arthroscope was a revolutionary development in the fields of medicine, engineering, and ethics. There are many valuable lessons to be learned from the story of its development and translation that are relevant to the future of medicine and society. Beginning with a brief description of the tool’s design, this paper will examine a period within the history of the arthroscope. This window contains multiple innovators and ends with the life and work of Dr. Robert Jackson. In examining the relevant historical facts of its development, this paper will then briefly address the importance of sports medicine in the development …

Re: Approval Letter For The 2023 Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Stormwater Evaluation And Maintenance Report (Dated April 8, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The 2022 Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Stormwater Evaluation And Maintenance Report (Dated April 8, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Performance And Preventing Injury: The Role Of Ot In Powerlifting, Anastasia N. Espinosa, Cassandra M. Nelson, Jaimee Fielder

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Powerlifting is a high-intensity sport associated with increased risk of injury, particularly in community-based gym settings where structured education on recovery, injury prevention, and training strategies is limited. This capstone project aimed to develop and implement a Performance and Wellness Program to support safe and sustainable participation in powerlifting. A program development approach was used, including a needs assessment through surveys, questionnaires, and observation to identify gaps in training, recovery, and self-management practices. The program was delivered through structured, self-directed modules and supported by a digital manual to promote long-term use. Findings from post-program surveys indicated improvements in athlete confidence, …

An Expressive Arts Therapy Literature Review: Spiritual Experiences And Dsm-5 Assessment In Bipoc Communities, Amanda Paige Rodriguez

Expressive Therapies Theses

Spiritual and non-ordinary experiences such as clear-hearing, visions, and spiritual perception are frequently interpreted within Western mental health systems through diagnostic frameworks rooted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). For Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC), these interpretations may overlook cultural, spiritual, and ancestral contexts in which such experiences hold meaning rather than indicate pathology. This literature review examines how DSM-5 frameworks conceptualize spiritual experiences in BIPOC communities and explores assessment practices that may reduce the risk of misdiagnosis.

A literature review methodology was employed, drawing on sixteen peer-reviewed articles representing qualitative, quantitative, and …

Improving Pneumococcal Immunization Counseling In Children With Systemic Lupus Erythematous, Sarah Dettmann

Doctoral Dissertations & Projects

Background: Pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) face elevated risk for invasive pneumococcal disease, yet fewer than 10% are estimated to be current on pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) recommendations.

Local Problem: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to develop and implement a standardized pneumococcal immunization screening and counseling process in a pediatric rheumatology clinic.

Method: Three consecutive PDSA cycles guided implemention across a nine-week intervention period using a pre-post quasi-experimental design.

Interventions: A multicomponent strategy was employed, including a PCV decision algorithm, EHR Smart Phrase, PCP referral template, and patient education brochure.

Results: Pre-implementation PCV counseling was documented …

Color And Cognitive Performance, Madeleine R. Scott, Erin Johnson, Christian Mitchell, Andreq Lopez Hernandez

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The current study aims to determine if colored backgrounds (red, blue, white (neutral)) on a series of memory tasks impact an individual's stress level and cognitive performance. Previous research indicates that color exposure may impact stress and cognitive performance, although the relationship is not fully understood. For example, participants completing memory assessments with a red light have been shown to perform better than those with blue or white lights (Jadho et al., 2020). However, red light is also associated with greater experiences of stress compared to blue or white light (Shahidi et al., 2021). There are several studies exploring different …

Designing Heritage Using Digital Fashion Tools, Nathan Chapman

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Sarah E. Andersen

This collection explores the strength of American women and the systems that attempt to define, contain, and judge them. Inspired by historical power dressing, feminist theory, and the fashion industry’s constructed ideals, the work confronts the Madonna–Whore complex and the policing of women’s bodies. Through American-grown cotton and heritage garment techniques, each look exposes tension between authority and vulnerability, modesty and desire. The final look contrasts the real woman with the dress form and exaggerated silhouette society demands, revealing the impossibility of meeting such standards. The collection reframes empowerment as visibility, resistance, and refusal.

Lily Brenner | …