Digital Commons Network^™

Five New Members Join Illinois Wesleyan Board Of Trustees, Ann Aubry

Press Releases 2020-2029

No abstract provided.

Training In The 21st Century: A Transcendental Phenomenological Exploration Of The Experiences Of Virtual Reality Integration For Training Industrial Vocations, Christina M. Bardine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the experience of the application of virtual reality (VR) for trainees at a VR training lab for vocational training. The theory guiding this study is the technology acceptance model (TAM), as it encompasses the experiences and perceptions that influence overall acceptance of VR technology in training. The central research question of this study asked, What is the lived experience of the trainees that framed their acceptance of the use of virtual reality and gaming technologies for vocational job training. This transcendental phenomenological study explored the experiences of 19 adult vocational …

Doctor Of Ministry Final Portfolio: Developing A Dynamic Educational Curriculum For Truthwins.Com Supporting Its Global Prospective On Individual's Spiritual Formation, Randall Thomas Keith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This portfolio presents the development of a dynamic educational curriculum for Truthwins.com designed to support its global mission of fostering individual spiritual formation across cultural, social and theological boundaries. The project integrates biblical principles, intercultural competency and contemporary educational practices to cultivate rounded spiritual growth among learners worldwide. Drawing on theological reflection, qualitative research and practical ministry applications, the study outlines a framework that embraces inclusivity, promotes critical engagement with spiritual formation, and equips participants to embody authentic discipleship in a dynamic context. The resulting curriculum aims to inspire transformative learning experiences that unify spiritual development with Truthwins.com commitment to …

Pedagogy Challenged: A Phenomenological Examination Of Teaching Through A Prolonged Technological Disruption, Jerry Cervantes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of nursing faculty in a pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing program who taught during a prolonged technological disruption caused by a ransomware attack at a private college in Ohio. The theories guiding this study were transformative learning theory and resilience theory as they relate to how educators make meaning of disorienting events and sustain professional functioning when established systems fail. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, a focus group, and reflective journals from purposively selected nursing faculty participants and were analyzed according to the phenomenological procedures …

The Phenomenology Of Residential Youth In Child Welfare Settings And The Social Workers Who Work With Them., April Leigh Rorabaugh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study examines the experiences and challenges faced by social workers in child placement for adolescents aged 12-18 within North Carolina’s child welfare system, an issue that warrants immediate attention. Hardworking and determined social workers are on the ground fighting in an already overtaxed system that is resulting in options that are frighteningly few for the care our youth so desperately need. Many of the most vulnerable children in the welfare system are being placed in other states for residential treatment. This is not only traumatic but also robs youth of everything they are familiar with at such a …

Collisions Of Law: Judge William Howard Taft At The Intersection Of Labor, Capital, And Government, 1887-1900, Michael Richard Crill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

William Howard Taft’s early judicial career has been dismissed by historians and biographers for nearly a century as merely an unimportant preliminary phase before his later political and Supreme Court career. This dissertation challenges that interpretation through a detailed examination of forty-six labor and antitrust-related opinions written by Taft while serving on the Superior Court of Cincinnati and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. During his eleven years on these courts, Taft wrote a disproportionate share of labor and antitrust-related opinions and engaged deeply with legal problems arising from the socioeconomic upheavals of the Second Industrial …

A Charcoal Analysis At The Jupiter Inlet 2 (8pb35) Site In Jupiter, Florida, Christopher Rubido

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project utilizes five sediment core samples from the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse archaeological (8PB35) site in northern Palm Beach County, Florida (four core samples derived from areas where cultural material has been found and one core from a nonanthropogenic area). These sediment core samples were analyzed using a variation of a tested charcoal analysis methodology often used with lake and peat bog cores, but in this case, the cores come from an upland coastal environment. The findings of this project have shown efficacy of the modified methodology for locating charcoal peaks in habitation zones found in core strata and as …

Sustainable Hydrogel From Biowaste: Synthesis And Characterization Of Pectin And Starch-Based Hydrogels Derived From Fruit Peel, Aneesa Rasheed Anwar, Roudha Sultan Almarri, Munawwar Ali Khan, Pramod Kumbhar

All Works

Arid regions such as the United Arab Emirates face persistent challenges in agricultural productivity due to water scarcity, poor soil quality, and the overuse of chemical fertilizers. As a sustainable alternative, biodegradable hydrogels offer promising solutions owing to their high swelling capacity, water retention ability, and controlled release of water and nutrients. This study explored the synthesis and characterization of eco-friendly hydrogels derived from pectin and starch extracted from orange and banana peels, respectively. These biopolymers are cross-linked using calcium and polyvinyl alcohol, forming hydrogels suitable for agricultural applications. The quality of the extracted biopolymers was assessed by analyzing moisture …

Differentiating And Accommodating Ocd And Anxiety In Mathematical Contexts, Madeline F. Gavares

Interdivisional Studies Summer Fellows

Students in mathematics classrooms may experience emotional and cognitive challenges that affect how they engage with coursework and assessments. While math anxiety has been widely documented, less attention has been given to how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), particularly checking behaviors, may influence students’ experiences in math settings. This study explores how students who report math anxiety and those who report OCD symptoms describe their engagement with math tasks and test-taking. Drawing on survey and interview data from students and teachers, this study examines how these experiences are articulated and perceived in academic math contexts, rather than evaluating ability or outcomes. By …

Wellness Literature Review – 2025, Martin Huecker, Brian A. Ferguson

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Clinician well-being remains a persistent challenge, with ongoing burnout and psychological distress despite efforts by systems and individuals. This Journal of Wellness annual review covers studies published in 2025.

Methods: The Editors searched PubMed and Google Scholar for prospective and interventional studies / clinical trials in humans, with focus on well-being. Authors utilized artificial intelligence (AI)–based large language model (LLM) (ChatGPT, OpenAI^TM) to assist with preliminary identification of relevant studies, however authors noted significant AI-associated errors and outright misrepresentations requiring hand curated product generation and manual PubMed searches.

Literature in Review: We continue to appreciate a shift …

Transformational Leadership In Manufacturing: Integrating Biblical Principles To Enhance Organizational Culture, Employee Development, And Operational Excellence: Dissertation, Kaynnera T. Capers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the current research was to explore how combining transformational leadership with biblical concepts could benefit an organization’s culture, employee development, and performance. Within a pragmatic approach and a qualitative design with flexible elements, the study included 30 interviews, case analysis, and triangulation techniques. I sought to address the challenges leaders face when implementing organizational cultural changes and maintaining employee motivation without a value-driven approach. I intended to explore whether the application of stewardship, humility, and servant leadership could facilitate transformational leadership. As a result, the findings indicated that these approaches could help leaders develop trust, innovative thinking, …

Lived Experiences Of Faculty Working In Recently Consolidated Public Secondary Schools In Rural Southeastern United States Of America: A Phenomenological Study, Mary Elizabeth Baker Vick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of faculty members of a consolidated secondary public school within a rural district in the southeastern United States. The theory guiding this study was Lewin’s theory on institutional change as it explains how individuals experience the unfreezing, changing, and refreezing phases during organizational transitions. The Central Research Question was, what are the lived experiences of secondary public school faculty during and following the consolidation of their secondary public school in rural Southeastern United States of America? This qualitative research study utilized a transcendental phenomenological approach to investigate …

Leadership Role In The Formation Of Leadership Qualities, Culture Of Business Communication, And Emotional Intelligence Of Future Higher Education Professionals, Larysa Hren, Arseniy Khaziyev, Kostiantyn Kachailo, Ivan Kirsanov, Mykola Chebotarev

Higher Learning Research Communications

Introduction/Aims: The study was conducted among 2nd- and 3rd-year undergraduate students and 1st-year master’s students majoring in three specialties: psychology, social security, and medicine. The research examined the influence of leadership qualities on professional training, emotion management, and business communication skills of students in higher education institutions. It explored how these competencies collectively enhance adaptability and preparedness for professional activities in fields such as psychology, social work, and medicine, addressing gaps in educational methodologies.

Methods: We employed a comprehensive, four-stage methodology with content analysis as the primary data collection method. The study involved 63 participants from the National …

Desegregation Of The Ranks: How The United States Military Was The First Professional Organization To Integrate All Ethnic Groups, Matthew Lee Spiller

Masters Theses

A nation’s military has often been at the forefront of social progression. The Spartans, a military society, granted women a voice in government and a degree of autonomy over their own lives, while the Athenians—the founders of democracy—considered women second-class citizens with no control over their own affairs. The United States military is no different, striving to ensure fair and equal treatment of all ethnicities within the armed forces. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981, which desegregated the United States military—six years before the desegregation of public schools in Brown v. Board of Education (1954). This …

The Effect Of Shangshou Daoyin Qigong On Sleep Quality In Patients With Schizophrenia, Kuei-Hua Chang, Jun-Dai Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Shangshou Daoyin Qigong, a traditional Chinese mind–body exercise, in improving sleep quality among patients with schizophrenia. Sleep disturbance is highly prevalent in this population and has a substantial impact on daily functioning and quality of life. The study sought to provide evidence for a safe, non-pharmacological nursing intervention applicable in psychiatric settings.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was conducted in the chronic rehabilitation wards of a psychiatric teaching hospital in central Taiwan. Seventy-four inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia were purposively sampled and divided into an experimental group (n = 37) and a control …

Pit Stop: Improving Resuscitation Efforts Within A Level Iv Nicu, Sierra Pharr, Kendall Shaw, Hannah Biscardi

2025

No abstract provided.

Effects Of A Mobile Web-Based Video Patient Education Program On Anesthesia And Recovery, Sinjung Jung, Eun-Hyun Lee, Chun-Ja Kim, Ji Yea Lee

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background and Purpose: Patients awaiting surgery often experience fear and anxiety related to limited information about surgery, concern about not waking up from anesthesia, uncertainty, surgical outcomes, and postoperative pain [1-3]. Preoperative education has been shown to improve these psychological problems [4, 5], and video-based education in particular is increasingly recognized as an effective teaching tool [1]. However, most preoperative education interventions primarily focus on the surgery itself, and rarely directly address major anesthesia-related issues, such as anesthesia safety or postoperative pain [6]. Therefore, in this study, we developed a mobile web-based video education program on general anesthesia and recovery, …

Severe Hypertension In Postpartum: How A Nurse Driven Protocol Can Decrease A Delay In Treatment, Kayleigh Momme

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Severe hypertension in the postpartum period is a significant contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality, affecting up to 10% of pregnancies. Prompt and standardized treatment of severe blood pressure elevations is critical to prevent complications such as stroke, heart failure, and eclampsia. At the practicum site, delays were identified in administering intravenous (IV) antihypertensive medications due to reliance on resident physicians to give the medication, resulting in inconsistent and prolonged treatment times. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an evidence-based nurse-driven protocol for administering IV antihypertensives to postpartum patients with severe hypertension, defined as systolic blood …

Federal Partnership Helps Expand Innovative Protected Agriculture Research At Unh, Mark Wanner

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

A Danish Romantic Organ Voice: The Music Of J.P.E. Hartmann And The Marcussen & Søn Organ, Benjamin T. Tischner

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the organ works of J.P.E Hartmann (1805-1900), an organist and composer who was at the center of the Romantic movement in Denmark. Hartmann, along with contemporaries Niels W. Gade and A.P. Berggreen, helped establish a musical style unique to Denmark during the Romantic era. This thesis analyzes this Danish musical style as it pertains to Hartmann’s compositions, defining what it means for this music to be uniquely Danish. In this regard, Hartmann’s organ works can be distinguished from other corners of the Romantic organ repertoire, especially the organ music being composed in Germany around the same time. …

Surveying First-Year Stem Students’ Self-Reported Knowledge, Skills, And Attitudes Towards Teamwork, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Camilla Acosta

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The ability to work in a team is cited as a key outcome for many undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs, both as a method for improving learning and as a highly desired trait for employers. Despite a growing focus on teamwork, our ability to design appropriate teamwork curriculum is limited by our poor understanding of what students arriving at university know about teamwork, what teamwork skills they consider themselves to possess, and their attitudes towards teamwork. We delivered a mixed-methods survey to first-year STEM undergraduate students (n = 205) to benchmark knowledge, skills and attitudes towards …

John Gordon V. Greg Gordon

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Odil Sharipov V. Attorney General United States Of America

2026 Decisions

Agency

Association Between Opioids And Leukemia/Lymphoma In Adults Living In The United States, Brenda Sue Newberry-Colasanti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Opioid prescribing rates and opioid misuse remain high throughout the United States. Exposure to opioids has been positively associated with various cancers; however, research evaluating associations between opioid exposure and hematologic cancers like leukemia and lymphoma is limited. Using the Socio- Ecological Model as a foundation, this quantitative cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the association between medicinal opioid use, opioid misuse, and leukemia/lymphoma while exploring how selected social determinants of health (SDOH) may modify that relationship. Secondary data were pooled from the 2015–20-year United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). One thousand three hundred and twenty binary …

Association Between Resource Availability And Wellbeing Of Autism Patients In Ghana, Kwabena Aduse-Poku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that presents significant challenges for children and families in Ghana, where resources remain limited. Grounded in the social ecological model, this quantitative cross-sectional study examined the associations between autism management programs and wellbeing, defined briefly as independent functioning in daily life and learning of autism patients enrolled in selected institutions in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. Data were collected from N=122 autism patients using structured questionnaires that were completed by caregivers and program staff. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess relationships between program type, regional location, and years of enrollment and …

Health Literacy And Diabetes Self-Care Behavior, Eucharia Amaefule

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited health literacy is a significant barrier to effective diabetes self-management among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet nationally representative evidence using comprehensive health literacy measures remains limited. Guided by the health belief model, the purpose of this quantitative, secondary data analysis using cross-sectional data was to examine the relationship between health literacy and diabetes self-care behaviors among U.S. adults with T2DM and determine whether education level moderated this relationship. Data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed for U.S. adults (N = 9, 535) with self-reported T2DM. Diabetes self-care behaviors included blood glucose monitoring, …

High School Educational Leaders’ Perceptions On College And Career Readiness Programs, Sabrina Cosey-Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that despite the widespread availability of college and career readiness (CCR) programs in high schools, these programs are inconsistently designed, implemented, and aligned at the school level. Grounded in Conley’s CCR framework, the purpose of this study was to explore high school educational leaders’ perceptions on the design, implementation, and alignment of CCR programs within their schools. For this basic qualitative design, data were collected through semistructured interviews with 15 educational leaders including administrators, counselors, and department heads. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis with the following …

Effective Work-Life Balance Strategies That Small Business Owners Use To Increase Personal And Organizational Resilience, Anquinett Pope

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners frequently sustain their businesses at the cost of their personal health, which poses long-term threats to both organizational sustainability and resilience. The sustainability of a small business is often inseparable from the health, well-being, and decision-making capacity of its owner. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to identify and explore effective strategies employed by some small business owners to balance personal and professional obligations to enhance business sustainability. The study was focused on one small business owner from a consulting firm based in the United Kingdom. The project was grounded in the Baldrige excellence …

Rsv Can Infect The Human Nasal Epithelium Via The Basolateral Route And Shows Distinct Subgroup Infectivity And Basal Cell Tropism, Ashley Murray, Divya Nagaraj, Emily M Schultz, Gina Aloisio, Erin Nicholson, Sarah E Blutt, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Pedro A Piedra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes millions of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in young children, older adults, and immunocompromised populations every year. RSV infection initiates in the upper respiratory tract and can progress to the lower airways, resulting in bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and even death. RSV primarily infects epithelial cells apically, but we hypothesized that basolateral exposure of the respiratory epithelium could provide an alternative mechanism of infection that contributes to LRTI development. Using a human nose organoid-air-liquid interface (HNO-ALI) model, we performed apical and basolateral inoculations with contemporaneous RSV strains (RSV/A/Ontario [RSV/A/ON] and RSV/B/Buenos Aires [RSV/B/BA]) representing the two RSV …

Identification Of Acute Kidney Injury In African Children Hospitalized With Malaria: A Multinational Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis, Caitlin Bond, Anthony Batte, Folake Afolayan, Nicholas M Anstey, Quique Bassat, Philip A Bejon, James A Berkley, Rhys D R Evans, Stuart L Goldstein, Michael T Hawkes, Olayinka Ibrahim, Peace Imani, Chandy C John, Kevin C Kain, Claire Liepmann, Kevin Marsh, Ruth Namazzi, Margaret Nakuya, Nicole O'Brien, Lere P Oluwadare, Robert O Opoka, Jonathan Sserunkuuma, Hunter Wynkoop, Andrea L Conroy, Malaria Associated Kidney Injury And Disease Consortium In Africa (Makid-Africa)

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Historically, acute kidney injury (AKI) has been an underappreciated complication in children with severe malaria. We conducted an individual patient data meta-analysis to model the impact of AKI and its complications on inpatient mortality in African children hospitalized with malaria.

Methods: Studies were identified using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and PubMed with no language restrictions, as well as through outreach at scientific meetings. Investigators were contacted about participation in the study. Eligible studies included African children hospitalized with Plasmodium falciparum malaria, a serum creatinine measurement, and mortality assessed. The primary exposure was AKI, defined using Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes …