Digital Commons Network^™

We Are Souls To Be Awakened', Eric F. Spina

President's Blog: From the Heart

As an adopted alumnus of this great Marianist center of universal learning and formationthrough the conferment of this honorary degree, I am naturally driven to discover areas ofconvergence between this University and my mission in the Vatican, and how I may now alsobe an emissary of this University in the Church and in the world.

Centralized Urban Planning And Economic Segregation: Wealth Inequality At Tell Asmar And Khafaja, Mesopotamia, Yoko Nishimura

East Asian Studies Faculty Publications

This article explores a possible correlation between centralised planning and economic homogenisation within residential neighbourhoods in ancient cities. Pre-planned and constructed urban living quarters may have contributed to the concentration of residents with similar levels of material wealth. Distinct groups of people may be identified among different districts, neighbourhoods or specific sections within a neighbourhood at the intra-site level. Several examples from different parts of the world are given to show this correlation. Also, a case study to test this correlation is drawn from the third millennium B.C. cities of Tell Asmar and Khafajah in central Mesopotamia. Excavations at these …

Meeting Minutes 04-16-2025, Staff Advisory Council

Staff Advisory Council Meeting Documents

No abstract provided.

The Causes And Effects Of Procuring A Culturally Relevant And Sustaining Educational Pedagogy, Lauren Mcneil

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This study investigates the causes and effects of educators adopting a Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education (CR-SE) pedagogy within our educational system. Three qualitative data collection and analysis pathways are used: thirteen participants are surveyed and interviewed, a policy analysis occurs, and an autoethnographic journal is analyzed. This research explores how cultural conflicts, deficit mindsets, and at-risk labeling contribute to systemic inequities, leading to social suffering for both students and educators. The research examines how educators who develop a critical consciousness navigate these challenges, often experiencing moral injury as they advocate for equitable educational practices. Through qualitative inquiry, this study …

Elder Fraud Metrics And Preventative Measures Of Chesapeake, Virginia, Joey J. Whitmore Jr.

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Geriatric crime continues to escalate in the digital era, where older individuals are disproportionately being targeted because of their low digital literacy and high susceptibility to online frauds. In this paper, we examine the breadth of elder fraud in Chesapeake, Virginia using FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) data and state-level cybersecurity initiatives and survey responses. Older adults aged 60 and up have reported losses of over $3.4 billion in 2023 alone, underscoring the importance of proactive measures. It assesses the public awareness from traditional and AI-based perspectives revealing significant gaps in digital safety literacy and fraud reporting mechanism among …

The Nfl And The Digital Era: How Social Media Has Redefined The National Football League, Lexis Brattain

Whittier Scholars Program

To summarize this senior project, you can look at it from two perspectives. One being- a sports fan interested in fan engagement, or someone more interested in social media marketing. This paper shows how both work together to improve one another just the same. As the NFL transitioned from traditional marketing to a dynamic, real-time digital strategy, social media emerged as a powerful tool to reach diverse audiences and foster deeper connections with fans. By leveraging platforms, the NFL has not only expanded its global digital footprint but also redefined its presence in the entertainment industry. This report analyzes the …

Models And Mechanisms Of Chemotherapy-Induced Side Effects, Junwei Du

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. Chemotherapy remains a cornerstone in the treatment of various cancers; however, it often leads to a range of debilitating side effects that compromise its efficacy and profoundly impact patients' quality of life and psychosocial well-being. These side effects can be broadly categorized into short-term effects, such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hair loss, and neutropenia, and long-term effects which can persist months or even years after treatment, including peripheral neuropathies, cognitive impairment, cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Among the most common and dose-limiting side effects are chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and cardiotoxicity (CTX). …

Charles Adler V. Gruma Corporation

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Mayra Lopez-Barrera V. Attorney General United States Of America

2025 Decisions

Agency

Never Fear, Hope Is Here: A Quantitative Analysis Of Public Accountants’ Hope During Busy Season, Katelynn Hopson

Dissertations

Never Fear, Hope is Here: A Quantitative Analysis of Public Accountants’ Hope During Busy Season

Retention has been a serious and ongoing concern within public accounting for decades, but most of the turnover research within the context of public accounting has heavily focused on the antecedents of turnover intentions with a negative lens. The goal of this study was to take an initial step toward examining the effects of a positive psychological factor—hope—on retention within public accounting firms. Specifically, the study investigated whether a public accountant’s level of hope impacted their turnover intentions via their appraisal of stress surrounding busy …

Measuring The Effects Of The Leaves On Stalk Strength And Dynamic Response In Maize, Grant C. Ogilvie

Theses and Dissertations

Maize is one of the most widely cultivated grains in the world, making it crucial to world food security and important economically. One major problem in maize production is stalk lodging (greensnap), which results in billions of dollars in lost harvests annually for maize farmers in the US alone. Understanding the mechanical properties of maize plants is crucial to addressing this problem. Previous studies have suggested that the leaf blades and leaf sheaths affect maize mechanical properties. The objectives of this thesis are twofold: to present measurement techniques for the stalk bending strength, damping ratio, and natural frequency of maize …

A Novel Wrench Decomposition And Development Of A Large-Scale Soft Robot For Displacement-Based Human-Robot Collaborative Manipulation, Dallin Cordon

Theses and Dissertations

This work represents an examination of various facets of physical human-robot collaborative manipulation and the implementation of compliant, soft-robotic manipulators. A survey of physical human-human interaction and haptic communication is presented, alongside an investigation into the decomposition of force and torque components that enable effective human-robot collaboration. To address the inconsistent terminology found in previous literature, a standardized framework for force decomposition is proposed. A new taxonomy is introduced to categorize the force components involved in collaborative manipulation tasks. This taxonomy clarifies the role of each component in an agent's applied force during task execution and provides a structured framework …

Testing And Modeling Of Nonlinearities In Riveted And Bolted Structures, Joshua E. Blackham

Theses and Dissertations

Joints are difficult to model because of various small-scale and nonlinear features, such as local geometry, preload, friction and contact. These features cause a local change in stiffness and energy dissipation which result in changes in the effective natural frequency and damping of the whole structure. Past studies have found good success using nonlinear Iwan elements as whole joint models for bolted joints in a few different structures. In Chapter 3, a similar approach is proposed for modeling riveted joints, which seeks to capture the vibrational response of a test structure including changes in the effective modal frequency and damping …

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, April 16 2025, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

2024-2025 Ppc Recital - Rosa Ortega Iannelli (Viola), Rosa Ortega Ianelli, Sheng Yuan Kuan

PPC/PSDP Recitals

No abstract provided.

Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Guitar Ensemble, And Jazz Piano

Bailey School of Music Concert Programs

Karla Harris and Trey Wright, Conductors

Tyrone Jackson, Piano

The Holler, Ainsley C. Maryanski

SPARK Symposium Presentations

My work explores the relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit, focusing on Johnson City, TN—a place shaped by both history and personal memory. Through film photography and archival materials, I document landscapes and interiors that hold traces of past and present lives, revealing how time often alters place and perception.

Alongside my own photographs, I include images of my grandparents and great-grandparents, the land they lived on, and fragments of a past that still lingers. These elements don’t just serve as historical references but as evidence of continuity—of lives once rooted in these places and the ways they …

What Did You Say?, Cates R. Davis

SPARK Symposium Presentations

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gap: How Esl Programs Support Language And Academic Growth, Emma K. Sampson

SPARK Symposium Presentations

English as a Second Language (ESL) services play a crucial role in ensuring equitable education for multilingual learners. By examining the strengths and weaknesses of ESL programs, this study advocates for more inclusive and effective educational practices that empower multilingual students for lifelong success.

Equine Adaptability In Fashion Design Studio Ii And Advanced Fashion Technologies, Shannon M. North, Andie Day, Margo Dobbs, Charlie Turner, Mary Cerroni, Kaylee Chisholm, Trisha Metcalf, Ashlee Elliott, Emily Guerry

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The fashion department of O’More College of Architecture and Design at Belmont University partnered with Saddle Up! to create meaningful connections for the students enrolled in both programs. Saddle Up! provides opportunities for youth with disabilities to grow and develop through therapeutic, educational, and recreational experiences with horses. These equestrian students were paired with O’More fashion students to design and produce a customized riding uniform. The opportunity provided an experience for the fashion student to create adaptive garments for someone with special needs.

The design process merged traditional methods of flat pattern drafting and draping together with advanced digital technologies. …

The Branch Waitlist Project, Addison E. Youngkin

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The problem that we have found is that The Branch has a limited number of English education classes, as well as limited numbers of teachers and other opportunities for students to engage and learn. The waitlist for the English learning classes is about 150 students long, and this study will explore a way to provide students with helpful resources for everyday life while they are waiting to get into actual classes. This will be done through research about the topics that students struggle the most with in their everyday lives. Our specific objectives include providing those within the waitlist with …

Increasing Discharge Efficiency In A Joint Replacement Unit: A Quality Improvement Project, Mario O. Fabre-Rivera

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Abstract

Title:

Increasing Discharge Efficiency in a Joint Replacement Unit: A Quality Improvement Project

Background:

Patient discharge is a complex process. Lack of discharge expectations, standardized discharge instructions, and interprofessional communication create discharge barriers leading to an increase in post-operative length-of-stay and 30-day readmissions. Discharge delays disrupt unit workflow and increase staff workload. Readmissions within 30 days of discharge are associated with increased hospital costs and lower patient satisfaction.

SMART Aim:

By December 1, 2024, we aimed to reduce the average post-operative length-of-stay for elective joint replacement outpatients from 14.5 hours to 12 hours by implementing a standardized discharge-navigator tool …

2025 Scholarly Productivity Report, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Scholarly Productivity Reports

No abstract provided.

Investment Analysis Of Costco: A Comprehensive Strategic And Financial Evaluation, Shane Johnson

Honors Theses

We provide an investment analysis of Costco Wholesale Corporation by conducting an analysis of the fundamental business model, industry standing, financial performance, and long-term investment potential. As a leader in the warehouse retail industry, Costco has experienced significant growth through its cost-efficient operations, bulk sales approach, superior supply chain management, membership fee revenue streams, high quality product offerings, and strong customer loyalty. This research seeks to answer the question: Is Costco a good investment opportunity based on its valuation, competitive positioning, financial performance, and overall industry outlook? We begin with a business and industry overview, analyzing Costco’s business strategy in …

Elevated Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Is A Therapeutic Vulnerability In Dnmt3a-Mutant Clonal Hematopoiesis., Kira Young, Mohsen Hosseini, Jayna J Mistry, Claudia Morganti, Taylor S Mills, Xiurong Cai, Brandon T James, Griffin J Nye, Natalie R Fournier, Veronique Voisin, Ali Chegini, Aaron D Schimmer, Gary D Bader, Grace Egan, Marc R Mansour, Grant A Challen, Eric M Pietras, Kelsey H Fisher-Wellman, Keisuke Ito, Steven M Chan, Jennifer J. Trowbridge

Faculty Research 2025

The competitive advantage of mutant hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) underlies clonal hematopoiesis (CH). Drivers of CH include aging and inflammation; however, how CH-mutant cells gain a selective advantage in these contexts is an unresolved question. Using a murine model of CH (Dnmt3a^R878H/+), we discover that mutant HSPCs sustain elevated mitochondrial respiration which is associated with their resistance to aging-related changes in the bone marrow microenvironment. Mutant HSPCs have DNA hypomethylation and increased expression of oxidative phosphorylation gene signatures, increased functional oxidative phosphorylation capacity, high mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), and greater dependence on mitochondrial respiration compared …

Spectrum, Volume 54, Issue 11, Sacred Heart University

Newspapers (Obelisk & Spectrum)

Highlights include: FSL Hosts NFL Greek Week - From Chatbots to Classrooms: SHU’s New AI Minor - Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society Induction - Sacred Heart’s Club For Hope - Honoring Audrey Niblo - Women’s Track Running Through Records (Again!) - Pioneers Pursue Playoffs

Fs Steering Committee Agenda, Northern Illinois University

Faculty Senate Archives

No abstract provided.

End Of Life Decision Making: The Right To Die On Their Own Terms, Alexandra Stacy

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

For the capstone project I was asked to identify a “problem” that I observed at my clinical site this semester. One problem at my clinical site has stuck out to me significantly. Patients on the unit I have been assigned are often close to death and unable to make their own decisions and despite any legal paperwork that may be in place their power of attorney or state mandated power of attorney often go against the patients last wishes. While this does not sit well with me, and many others, this is a large legal and ethical issue that would …

Nurse Abuse And Patient Delirium: Effects On Nursing Profession, Briana Sharps

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Abuse against nurses is a growing topic in today's healthcare system, whether that reflects verbal, physical, or sexual abuse. During my practicum at “Hospital A” there were multiple instances of nurse abuse on varying levels of type and severity, with most related to patient delirium. Due to this, I chose to do my capstone project on the rise in nurse abuse and how we can improve this to promote quality and safe care to all patients using QSEN competencies to educate nurses on how to prevent adverse incidents of abuse towards healthcare workers as it relates to preventing patient delirium …

Quantification Of Nicotine Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography & Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Marissa Blair, Emmalou Schmittzehe-Skarbek

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

In recent years, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), commonly known as electronic cigarettes (ECs), have gained popularity, particularly among adolescents (Cooper, 2022). • The core component of these devices is e-liquids which contain nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavoring, and other chemicals (Cheng, 2014; Sassano, et al., 2018). • The FDA regulates manufacturing, importing, packaging, labelling, advertising, promotion, sale, and distribution of ENDS, but they do not check the accuracy of reported information. • Studies have consistently shown that labelled nicotine concentration and actual concentration can range from as little as 35% less nicotine to as much as 52% greater …