Digital Commons Network^™

Buzzes Over Burrows: Bats And Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs In Western Kansas, Patrick L. Geyer

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The native grasslands of the Great Plains and the organisms that inhabit them are threatened by the anthropogenic disturbance of land-use change; prairie dogs (Genus Cynomys) are one such example. These mammals are considered ecosystem engineers due to their behaviors that physically modify the areas they inhabit, directly affecting the resources available to surrounding organisms. Much research exists on established or potential relationships between black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) and other taxa; until recently, one taxon group absent from mentions of an association with black-tailed prairie dogs was bats (Order Chiroptera). Results of acoustic studies in eastern …

The Effects Of Childhood Maltreatment On Executive Functioning: The Difference Between Cumulative Trauma, Abuse Severity, And Neglect, Kelly Krehbiel

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Childhood maltreatment is prevalent in the United States with around 558,899 children being victims of abuse in 2022 (U.S Department of Health & Human Services, 2024). Neglect is the most common form of abuse with around 74 percent of abused children being neglected; however, neglect tends to be the least researched form of abuse. Childhood maltreatment has long-term effects on a person’s mental, physical, and cognitive health. Previous research suggests that childhood maltreatment leads to severe deficits in executive functioning skills such as working memory and cognitive flexibility. Executive functioning skills are important for almost every aspect of life including …

Exploring The Link Between Soil Microbes, And Land Use Through A One Health Lens, Yaw A. Antwi

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The diversity of microbes within the soil plays an essential role in soil ecosystem

functioning. However, these microbes may also serve as environmental reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes. The study examined the diversity of bacteria that are found in soil across Rural/Agricultural and Rural/Nonagricultural landscapes within some selected counties in Kansas and its associated antibiotic resistance genes taxa. A total of twenty-four soil samples was collected and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing which targeted the V3-V4 regions. Statistical analysis revealed that the alpha diversity metrics (Chao1 richness and Shannon evenness) showed no significant difference in microbial structure (p=0.693, …

Fragments & Formations, Charles D. Schluckebier

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

My work begins with an idea, but is driven by curiosity as it develops, often arriving somewhere different than initially planned. I maintain control over the direction while allowing decisions to shift in response to what emerges. Creating artwork becomes a space where ideas are not illustrated by worked through – physically and mentally at the same time. I approach making as problem-solving, where each sculpture functions as a puzzle resolved through construction. I push materials beyond their intended function, forcing them into new conditions where form emerges through resistance, constraint, and play. Material behavior informs the outcome but does …

Mythology Of Whiteness: Constructing Black Girls As A Bully, Kathleen O'Brien, Pamela Twyman Hoff

Faculty Publications - College of Education

This analytical essay uses data from a qualitative study by O’Brien (2017) that explored the social construction of bullying. O’Brien interviewed 16 high school students enrolled in alternative and college-preparatory high schools. Although the study did not focus specifically on Black girls, their narratives surfaced a distinctly different story—one that exposed how whiteness, intersectional power, and cultural ways of knowing construct Black girls as quintessential bullies in schools. This re-analysis explores how Black girls are cast within the mythology of whiteness as archfoes—not merely as disruptive, but as symbolic antagonists whose existence threatens the normative order of whiteness …

The Impact Of School Climate On Student Achievement, Tonia L. Schiro

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review explores the relationship between school climate and student achievement by examining research from education, psychology, and school improvement literature. School climate encompasses many aspects of the educational environment, including perceptions of safety, the quality of relationships among students and staff, levels of engagement, and students’ sense of belonging within the school community. The review investigates how these factors contribute to academic success and influence students’ overall educational experiences. Findings across the literature consistently demonstrate that positive school climates are associated with higher levels of student achievement, stronger engagement, improved attendance, and greater social-emotional well-being. The review also …

Simulation And Characterization Of Fuel Cell System Incorporated Internet Of Things, Ahmad N. Alhjouj

Mechanical Engineering Theses

Small air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) systems are increasingly relevant for portable and distributed applications, yet practical modeling and monitoring methods remain limited: high-fidelity physics-based models are too costly for real-time use, while purely data-driven models discard physical interpretability. This thesis develops an experimentally grounded gray-box framework for the characterization, reduced-order modeling, and IoT-enabled monitoring of a small hydrogen PEMFC system. A low-order nonlinear state-space model couples an electrochemical voltage layer to a lumped thermal layer, with parameters identified in stages using self-adaptive differential evolution. Identifiability analysis shows that static loss parameters are well constrained, while dynamic parameters …

A Painful Diffuse Rash, Bruce M. Lo, Melanie Shoemaker, Kiersten Potter, Katherine Schaffer

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Publications

[Patient presentation]

A 41-year-old male with no past medical history presented with 1 week of ulcers to the left side of his face, followed by several days of a painful rash to the trunk and back after a sexual encounter. The patient denies any fever or previous rash and any illicit drug use. Initial vital signs included a temperature of 97 °F, a heart rate of 89 beats per minute, and blood pressure of 135/79 mm Hg. Physical examination revealed a macular papular rash across his trunk and back (Fig 1) and facial ulcerations with eschar (Fig 2) at the …

The Role Of Tumor Microenvironment In Glioblastoma Multiforme(Gbm) Therapeutic Resistance, Kwesi E. Taylor

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Despite significant advances in cancer research and treatment, Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains one of the most difficult cancers to treat effectively, with minimal improvement in long-term survival rates over the past few decades. This is largely attributed to tumor heterogeneity and the ability of tumor cells to develop adaptive resistance mechanisms supported by the tumor microenvironment (TME). Although the TME is recognized as a key contributor to tumor progression and therapeutic resistance, the underlying molecular pathways and regulatory genes remain incompletely understood. This study investigated the role of the tumor microenvironment in GBM therapeutic resistance using a bioinformatics approach. Single-cell …

Identifying Socio-Economic Areas Of Concern Towards Inclusion In Gis Hazard Management In Detroit, Michigan., Ernestina Osei

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

This study examined the spatial distribution of socio-economic vulnerability and accessibility to essential services in Detroit, Michigan, using a Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based approach. The research aimed to identify areas of greatest concern by integrating socio-economic indicators, including poverty, housing vacancy, income, unemployment, and crime, with spatial measures of access to critical infrastructure such as hospitals, fire stations, police stations, and grocery stores. Both feature-based and raster-based analyses were employed, including buffer and overlay analysis, service area evaluation, Euclidean distance modeling, and multi-criteria suitability analysis.

A mixed-methods framework was adopted to combine quantitative spatial analysis with contextual understanding of urban …

Defend The Fort: Indigenous History, Remembrance, And Memorialization In Ellis County, Kansas, Sarah Keiss

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

This thesis provides an in-depth look into the Indigenous history of the area that would later become Western Kansas and Ellis County. Analyzing the history of the area from before European colonization to the Native American resistance against American expansion in the 1860s, this thesis illustrates the complex and layered history of the area. Even prior to European settler presence in the area, the native tribes felt the effects of European settlement and trade around them, leading to drastic changes in geographic distribution and access to new resources, particularly horses. Over the course of the nineteenth century, white settlement completely …

Acceleration Battery Predictive Model Utilizing Field-Based Testing, Peterson Bohannon

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Sprint performance is a foundational determinant of success across multiple track and field events, yet many of the biomechanical and physiological factors underlying performance are typically assessed using laboratory-based tools that are not accessible to most coaches. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a practical, field-based testing model capable of predicting 60 m sprint performance and identifying key performance determinants in sprint and jump athletes.

A cohort of 40 collegiate track and field athletes (ages 18–24) completed a comprehensive testing battery including 30 m acceleration, 30 m fly sprint, standing long jump, standing five-bound, vertical jump, …

Barriers To Creativity: Addressing Anxiety And Self-Doubt In Secondary Visual Arts Students, Wenlai Fang

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adolescence is a crucial stage for self-development and creativity development. During this period, middle school students will experience creative anxiety and self-doubt about creative expression in multiple dimensions. To help students manage the uncertainties inherent in the creative process and build confidence and resilience, this study, based on Rhodes' (1961) 4P creativity framework (Person, Process, Press, and Product), systematically investigated the obstacles to the development of adolescent creativity and identified teaching intervention measures for fostering a supportive creativity ecosystem.
This study demonstrated that the development of adolescent creativity is a result of multi-faceted and multi-dimensional interactions from the 4P creativity …

Examining Obsessive-Compulsive Symptomatology And Maternal Functioning During The Postpartum Period: Implications For Disclosure And Assessment, Meghan Collins

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Maternal mental health is a significant global health concern, with nearly one in five new mothers experiencing a mental health disorder during the perinatal period. Timely screening, assessment, and treatment are critical for the well-being of both mother and infant, given the potential adverse effects of unaddressed mental health concerns. While much of the existing literature has focused on perinatal depression and anxiety, research specifically examining obsessive-compulsive symptoms and unwanted or intrusive thoughts remains limited. The present study investigated the relationship between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and maternal functioning, as well as experiences related to the assessment and disclosure of intrusive thoughts. …

The Impact Of Long Covid On Mental Health, Marzena Podkalicka

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Since the emergence of the novel coronavirus, a significant portion of the global population has transitioned from acute infection to Long COVID, a multisystemic condition characterized by persistent symptoms lasting 4 weeks or longer. This study investigated the psychological impact of Long COVID, to explore rates of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and quality of life in people with Long COVID compared to those without it. A quantitative survey-based design was employed with a sample of 310 adults (Aged 18 to 90; M = 48.2). Participants completed validated instruments, including the Long COVID Questionnaire, Short Form Health Survey, General …

Embracing The Green Thumb: Occupation-Based Resources For Stroke Recovery, Brianna Padovano

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Stroke recovery requires ongoing effort from survivors, caregivers, practitioners, and communities to promote meaningful participation in long-term engagement in daily life. Despite the growing amount of evidence supporting continued recovery beyond the acute stages of stroke, accessible resources that address the needs of these stakeholder groups remain limited (Chen et al., 2019). This doctoral capstone experience aimed to bridge these gaps through the development and dissemination of educational, clinical, and advocacy-based resources designed to support stroke rehabilitation across various stakeholders. An evidence-informed, occupation-based stroke recovery guide, which includes relevant theories, decision-making flowcharts, sample protocols, and resources, was created for new …

Breaking Barriers In Bariatric Care, Morgan Lapshanski

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

The doctoral capstone project titled Breaking Barriers in Bariatric Care was established to promote equitable care and increase the quality of healthcare services provided to bariatric patients. Breaking Barriers in Bariatric Care was implemented to address the areas of education, research, and advocacy. With the focus being on these areas, the student worked to promote levels of accessibility and inclusivity within the healthcare system. The capstone project included an asynchronous virtual educational program for healthcare students at Misericordia University to enhance knowledge in the areas of bias reduction, safe handling, and providing appropriate care to bariatric patients. The student conducted …

Harmony In Healing: Addressing The Psychosocial Needs Of Individuals Living With Lymphedema, Bria K. Brombacher

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2026

Lymphedema is a chronic and incurable condition associated with significant physical and psychosocial challenges, including depression, anxiety, social isolation, and reduced quality of life. Despite increasing recognition of these concerns, limited interventions exist that specifically address the psychosocial needs of individuals living with lymphedema. Additionally, individuals within this population often report limited provider awareness of lymphedema within the healthcare system. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project, Harmony in Healing: Addressing the Psychosocial Needs of Individuals Living with Lymphedema, was to promote well-being, improve quality of life, and increase awareness of the psychosocial implications of lymphedema through occupational therapy intervention. …

Sex Equality After Skrmetti, Naomi Schoenbaum

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

The Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Skrmetti upholding a ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors marked a foundational shift in constitutional sex equality doctrine. Rather than recognize the challenged ban’s sex-based line-drawing, the Court recast the statute as a neutral regulation of medical purpose and age. In so doing, it narrowed the definition of what constitutes a sex-based classification and embraced a conception of biological sex as a natural kind—objective, apolitical, and outside the scope of constitutional scrutiny.

The Article identifies this move as a doctrinal departure and a conceptual reconfiguration. The law’s challengers argued that it …

Cds 2800 : Speech And Hearing Science, Cds

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Floodwater Salinity And Flood Duration Regulate Greenhouse Gas Production In High- Latitude Coastal Wetland And Tundra Soils, Mia J. Dicianna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Coastal high-latitude ecosystems are increasingly flooded from storm surges associated with climate change, exposing soils that were historically infrequently inundated to higher-salinity waters for longer durations. Sub-Arctic wetlands and tundra store large amounts of carbon, yet how flooding characteristics, particularly flood duration, influence microbial mineralization and, consequently, greenhouse gas (GHG) production in these soils remains poorly understood. We conducted a full-factorial microcosm incubation experiment in which coastal wetland and tundra soils were subjected to simulated flooding with three durations (1, 3, and 10 days) and four salinity treatments (unflooded, freshwater, 3 ppt, and 12 ppt) and measured carbon dioxide (CO2) …

The Impact Of Communication Satisfaction On Division I Student Athletes, Gabriella Gnewuch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Communication satisfaction is vital for the motivation, retention, and interpersonal success of collegiate student-athletes. While coaches play a pivotal role in the athletic experience, current literature focuses predominantly on head coaches, leaving a significant gap regarding the influence of assistant coaches. This study utilized Confirmation Theory, comprised of the dual dimensions of acceptance and challenge. The study examined how these communication behaviors impact student-athlete satisfaction at the Division I level. A census was conducted among Division I student-athletes at South Dakota State University using the Coach Confirmation Instrument (CCI) and the Student Communication Satisfaction Scale (SCSS). Quantitative results from multiple …

Evaluating Methodologies For Estimating Enteric Emissions And Modeling Greenfeed Technology Utilization In Extensive Beef And Bison Grazing Systems, Aletta Laura Husmann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from grazing ruminants represent a significant component of U.S. agricultural emissions. However, enteric methane (CH4) from cow– calf systems on extensive rangelands pose substantial measurement and management challenges. The Northern Great Plains (NGP) supports nearly one-quarter of the U.S. beef cow population, yet regionally representative, herd-level enteric emission data from commercial ranches remain limited. This thesis integrates empirical field measurements with modeling approaches to evaluate the feasibility of quantifying enteric emissions on extensive rangelands and to examine system-level drivers influencing data yield, costs, and operational performance. Enteric methane and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were measured from …

Faster Than The Speed Of Law: Data Privacy And Judicial Deference In Matters Of Technological Development And Social Media, Andrew A. Bohon

Missouri Law Review

Judge Richard Posner, formerly of the Seventh Circuit, once wrote, “the courtroom is not the place for scientific guesswork, even of the inspired sort. Law lags science; it does not lead it.” The particular occasion for this maxim was a case in which Judge Posner disregarded the testimony of an expert witness who claimed the use of a nicotine patch had caused the plaintiff to suffer a heart attack—a claim with “no backing from scientific theory or data.” Cutting-edge technology is antithetical to the law, which is better-suited to an era of horse-drawn carriages and often requires judicial guesswork to …

From Barriers To Breakthroughs: Academic Advising And Resilience Among Online Social Work Students In Appalachia, Jessica Williamson

DSW Capstone Projects

This Doctor of Social Work (DSW) capstone project examines how academic advising can be leveraged as a resilience-informed intervention to support persistence among online social work students in the Appalachian region. Although online education has expanded access to higher education, Appalachian students continue to face significant structural, technological, and cultural barriers, including limited broadband access, financial instability, geographic isolation, and norms that emphasize self-reliance. These challenges contribute to lower retention and degree-completion rates, highlighting the need for intentional, context-responsive support strategies. This project integrates three scholarly products: a systematic literature review (SLR), a conceptual paper, and a practice application paper. …

Hardin Health Link: A Community-Integrated Paramedicine (Cip) Program In Hardin County, Kentucky, Samantha Jones

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Rural and mixed rural–urban communities face persistent disparities in access to timely emergency medical services (EMS), contributing to preventable morbidity and mortality from time-sensitive conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and injury. Hardin County, Kentucky, reflects these challenges due to its geographically dispersed population, high burden of chronic disease, and variability in EMS response times. This capstone proposes Hardin Health Link, a Community-Integrated Paramedicine (CIP) program designed to expand the traditional role of EMS providers through in-home health assessments, chronic disease monitoring, post-discharge follow-up, medication reconciliation, and connection to clinical and social services.

Guided by an evidence-informed framework, the program …

Promoting Maternal And Infant Health In Franklin County, Ky: A Community-Based Physical Activity And Education Intervention, Subin Kim

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Maternal and infant health outcomes are key indicators of population health, yet persistent disparities exist in rural communities across the United States. In Kentucky, Franklin County reflects this pattern, with concerning maternal and infant health indicators despite relatively favorable socioeconomic conditions. Identified challenges include elevated rates of poor physical and mental health days, high drug overdose mortality, provider shortages, and ongoing reproductive health concerns such as tobacco use during pregnancy and increased infant mortality associated with elevated maternal body mass index.

To address these gaps, a three-pronged, community-based prenatal and postpartum physical activity and education program is proposed. The program …

Momentum For Healthy Births-Hardin County, Ky, Brittany R. Jackson

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Maternal and infant health disparities in Hardin County, Kentucky, reflect persistent gaps in timely access to care, particularly among rural and underserved populations. Structural barriers, including transportation limitations and unmet social needs, contribute to delayed prenatal care initiation and low postpartum follow-up, increasing the risk of adverse outcomes. This capstone project proposes the MOMentum (Maternal Outreach and Monitoring for Mothers) Program, an integrated care model designed to strengthen access, improve care coordination, and enhance continuity across the prenatal and postpartum period.

The program combines a Community Health Worker (CHW)-led navigation model with enhanced postpartum care supported by telehealth services and …

Implementation Of A Reminder/Recall Messaging Program In Kentucky, Laura Schwarz

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Childhood vaccination remains a critical public health priority, yet measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination rates in several rural Kentucky counties fall below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity. Recent declines in coverage, compounded by socioeconomic disparities and barriers to healthcare access, place children at increased risk for vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks. This capstone project proposes the implementation of an evidence-based reminder/recall (R/R) text messaging intervention utilizing the Kentucky Immunization Registry (KYIR) to improve timely MMR vaccination among children aged 4–6 years before kindergarten entry.

The proposed program targets thirteen Kentucky counties with vaccination rates below 70% and documented …

Strengthening Rural Mental Health Crisis Response: Integrating Broadband Telehealth Care Across Counties Served By Kentucky River District Health Department, Mary K. Mcnabb

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Rural communities in Eastern Kentucky face persistent barriers to timely and effective mental health crisis care, including provider shortages, transportation challenges, and limited broadband infrastructure. Counties served by the Kentucky River Health Department Wolfe, Lee, Owsley, Perry, Knott, Leslie, and Letcher experience disproportionately high behavioral health needs while relying on shared regional resources. The Broadband-Enabled Rural Crisis Stabilization Initiative (BERCSI) is a proposed public health program designed to strengthen rural mental health crisis response through integrated, technology-enabled care. Grounded in evidence-based practices, including tele-mental health and crisis stabilization models, BERCSI leverages broadband expansion to facilitate rapid assessment, coordinated care, and …