Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Head Coverings On Directional Microphone Performance, Mariam Mohamed

Dissertations, 2020-current

Background: Directional microphones in hearing aids are a well-established strategy for enhancing speech intelligibility in background noise. While previous studies have examined the effects of hair, spectacles, and earmold venting, no systematic research has addressed whether head coverings, commonly worn for cultural, religious, or personal reasons, affect directional performance.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether a thin cotton head covering alters the directivity index (DI) of premium receiver-in-canal hearing aids from four leading manufacturers, using laboratory-controlled conditions. 

Methods: A Knowles Electronics Manikin for Acoustic Research (KEMAR) was positioned within a sound-treated room to measure DI for both omnidirectional and …

The Impact Of Free Vs. Fixed Factor Correlations On Parameter Recovery In Multidimensional Irt Models, Stephanie Leroy

Dissertations, 2020-current

This dissertation investigated how cross-loading specification and factor-correlation treatment influence parameter recovery in multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) models. Two simulation studies extended Hosseinzadeh and Cole (2024) by examining whether freely estimating factor correlations improves recovery of item parameters, factor correlations, and latent traits. Study 1 used a compensatory multidimensional two-parameter logistic (M2PL) model with two correlated dimensions and 20 dichotomous items. Manipulated conditions included cross-loading specification (correctly specified vs. ignored), proportion of cross-loaded items, magnitude of cross-loadings, true factor correlation, and factor-correlation treatment during estimation (freely estimated vs. fixed to zero). Study 2 extended the design to a multidimensional …

How Audiologists Are Using Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Tinnitus Management: A Preliminary Study, Katherine M. Mueller

Dissertations, 2020-current

Audiologists interact with patients reporting bothersome tinnitus frequently, however there is no standardized protocol to follow when treating/counseling these patients. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is highly researched and has been proven to alleviate bothersome tinnitus symptoms, yet audiologists are not clinically trained in this tinnitus management. Specific forms of CBT that were analyzed in this study include Attention Shifting, Neurophysiological Education, and Progressive Muscle Relaxations. This study surveyed current audiologists to determine how they are using adapted CBT techniques (aCBTt) for tinnitus management. This questionnaire aimed to investigate a) the effect of audiologists’ practice duration on their frequency to recommend …

Quality Care For Neurodivergent Youth, Emily V. Bogaev

Dissertations, 2020-current

Neurodivergent youth are becoming increasingly present in counseling settings, yet many counseling approaches have historically been shaped by deficit-oriented frameworks that conceptualize neurodivergence as something to be corrected. These perspectives may overlook the lived experiences and strengths of neurodivergent individuals. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine neurodivergence in counseling through three complementary manuscripts addressing conceptual foundations, youth perspectives, and counselor preparation. The first manuscript is a conceptual article that explores neurodivergent-affirming counseling and contrasts affirming frameworks with traditional deficit-based approaches. The second manuscript utilized a qualitative narrative inquiry design to explore neurodivergent youths’ perceptions of neurodivergence and the …

Professional Dispositions In Counselor Education: Building Consensus, Examining Lived Experience, And Advancing Relational Gatekeeping, Jina Yang

Dissertations, 2020-current

The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate how Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited programs identify, implement, and assess essential professional dispositions among master’s-level counselors-in-training (CITs). The dissertation includes three components that examine conceptual, experiential, and consensus-based perspectives on professional dispositions within counselor education. The first component presents a conceptual framework for implementing gatekeeping practices that reflect the values of the counseling profession. Drawing on Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT), the article proposes gatekeeping strategies that emphasize mutuality and connection while accounting for sociocultural contextual factors and fostering psychological safety within the hierarchical dynamics inherent in evaluative …

Stigma Predicts Participation And Autonomy In Chronic Vestibulopathy: An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study, Brandy L. Hollins

Dissertations, 2020-current

Many vestibular disorders are “invisible”, not widely recognized, and challenging for patients to describe. However, its impact is visible and leads to significant challenges. Research has shown that stigma associated with other chronic health conditions can detrimentally affect patient outcomes, suggesting a greater need in this area. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) elucidates the role of physical, social, and cultural factors in the manifestation of health conditions within a universal framework. A critical aspect of the ICF’s contextual factors for individuals with vestibular loss is societal perception. Few studies have reported stigmatization …

Enhancing Access Through Integrated Behavioral Healthcare: Expanding Counselor Identity And Social Determinants Of Health Competency, Tiffany N. Snow

Dissertations, 2020-current

Abstract

The counseling profession has historically differentiated its identity by emphasizing a wellness-oriented approach. However, this has often led to the exclusion of counselors from integrated behavioral healthcare (IBH). With the 2024 enactment of the Mental Health Access Improvement Act, counselors now have unprecedented opportunities to serve as behavioral health providers in federal medical settings. This three-manuscript dissertation explores the intersection of counselor professional identity, social determinants of health (SDoH) competency, and interprofessional collaboration within IBH.

Manuscript 1 presents a conceptual framework for reconciling traditional counselor identity with the "medical model" of Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH), arguing that this …

Novel Paradigm For Assessing Vestibular Perception In Children, Nicole Kirk

Dissertations, 2020-current

While objective vestibular reflexive testing has been heavily researched, there are few studies analyzing subjective vestibular perception and to date no progress has been reported on motion perception in children. It is unknown if children perceive motion like adults creating a need for research comparing these age groups for thorough clinical profiles. This study adapted an adult psychophysics protocol for school-aged children and collected data on ten typically developing children and ten healthy adults. Participants rotated at various peak velocities and frequencies in a rotary chair and were asked to report their spatial orientation (i.e., how far around they rotated) …

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - 2026 - 153rd Commencement, Office Of The Registrar, Lsu Health Sciences Center-No

Graduation & Commencement Programs

The program for the 153rd Commencement of LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans held May 14, 2026.

Identity And Ideology: Dolores Ibarruri's Reconciliation Of Motherhood And Communism, Marvin Black

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The Spanish Civil War remains a significant cornerstone of the historical narrative of the early 20th century, as it served as the political and military precursor to World War II. The war was far more complex than a simple conflict between two ideologies, with many political and military leaders often overlooked. One of these individuals was Dolores Ibárruri, a leader of the Spanish Communist Party, who called on her experiences as both a mother and a communist to galvanize support for the Second Republic. How these two facets interacted and were shaped by Ibárruri’s personal experiences is often overlooked. Through …

Sanctuary And Disappointment: Jewish German Refugees In The United States Army In World War Ii, Zachary P. Watts

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This paper examines the experiences of German-Jewish refugees who became intelligence soldiers in the United States Army. They are frequently called the Ritchie Boys, for their training in Camp Ritchie, Maryland. The paper focuses mostly on a single Ritchie Boy named Frank Adler, who came to the United States as a teenager from Austria in 1938 and ended up returning to his hometown as a soldier. The Ritchie History museum holds a large collection of Adler’s letters which form the most important source for this project. I have found a duality of experience from German and Austrian Jews in the …

Discussing Barriers And Solutions To Address Student Accommodation And Support Services, Anna K. Garst

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Accommodation and support services are essential for fostering academic achievement and positive well-being among college students with disabilities, yet many students delay or avoid seeking support. The present study used an explanatory mixed-methods design to examine disability and mental health service utilization among college students with disabilities, while also exploring the prevalence and intersecting experiences of basic needs insecurity. Quantitative survey data were collected from 275 students with diagnosed disabilities at a large public Mid-Atlantic university. Results indicated that perceived lack of need for support was the most frequently reported reason for not using services, followed by self-stigma, lack of …

The Culinary History Of Korean Immigrants 1903-2025, Eun Soo Han

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This paper is an exploration into the role that Korean dishes like Kalbi, Korean marinated or grilled meat, and Kimchi, a fermented vegetable or fruit dish played in the development of the Korean Immigrant community and the cultivation of cultural identity of Korean immigrants. This paper offers a brief overview into the history some of the major dishes that forms the core of the three sections of this article with Kalbi being the main theme for the section on Korean immigration to Hawaii in 1903 and Kimchi being the main dish discussed in the second to third section that explores …

Vaccination-Related Applications And Health Care Professionals' Observed Changes In Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Hesitancy: Cross-Sectional Survey, Manali Desai, Shreela Sharma, Joel Fokom-Domgue, Robert Yu, Wenyaw Chan, Onyema G Chido-Amajuoyi, Charles Darkoh, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Digital tools are known to promote public health interventions such as vaccine delivery. The recommendation that health care professionals (HCPs) use vaccination-related mobile apps or web-based applications has contributed to improving vaccine awareness and acceptance in the United States. The state of Texas, which has one of the lowest human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates, has seen a significant increase in HPV vaccine hesitancy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between changes in HPV vaccine hesitancy observed by HCPs among patients in Texas and promotion of vaccination-related applications at the health care facilities …

Exploring Spike-Dependent And Ace2-Independent Sars-Cov-2 Interactions With Salivary Epithelial Cells In The Absence Of Ace2, Caitlynn M L Barrows, Thaise C Geremias, Simon Young, Mary C Farach-Carson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Salivary gland infection by SARS-CoV-2 requires viral entry via routes and mechanisms that remain unresolved. This study examined the expression of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in salivary tissues and basal cell-derived human salivary progenitor cells (hS/PCs), an unstudied potential entry point for SARS-CoV-2. Multiple detection modalities, including immunocytochemistry, Western blotting, flow cytometry and RT-PCR, demonstrated a consistent lack of ACE2 protein and transcript in both tissue specimens and primary salivary epithelial cells. Antigen retrieval at pH 9 was determined to be optimal for immunodetection protocols, yet ACE2 remained undetectable. Small intestine tissue served as a positive control, confirming …

Pre-Chiropractic Student Organization At The University Of Mississippi: Education Of Future Chiropractic Students And Empowerment Of The Public With Chiropractic Knowledge, Avery E. Lirette

Honors Theses

The chiropractic profession continues to grow within the allied health community, yet public understanding of its scope remains limited. Prior to the creation of the Pre-Chiropractic Student Organization (PCSO) at The University of Mississippi, students interested in pursuing chiropractic education lacked a structured support system in comparison to those available for other health professions on campus. This thesis documents the foundation, development, and impact of the PCSO as a registered student organization that was designed to educate undergraduate students about the chiropractic profession, connect them with mentors and graduate programs, and promote public awareness of chiropractic care.

This project builds …

Powers V. Dist. Ct., 142 Nev. Adv. Op. 35 (May 14, 2026), Luis Dorantes

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

NRS 629.620 is unconstitutional and of no effect to the extent that it conflicts with NRCP 35 in governing court-ordered mental and physical examinations during civil discovery.

A Trinity Of Forces: A Critical Investigation Of The Intersection Of Lived Experience, Jesuit Secondary Education, And Corporate Curricula, Bernhard Bruno Walke

Dissertations

This dissertation examines how students' identities and personal experiences shape their encounters with both Jesuit Secondary Education and the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP). Throughout this qualitative analysis, the researcher will examine how identity, secondary education, and corporate attitudes coexist, overlap, conflict, intersect, and compete with one another. By employing Gloria Ladsen-Billings’s Critical Race Theory (Ladson-Billings & Tate, 1995), Dolores Delgado Bernal and Daniel Solórzano’s contributions to Latinx Criticism (Lat Crit), (Solorzano & Bernal, 2001), Kimberlé Crenshaw’s Theory of Intersectionality (K. Crenshaw, 1989), and Tara Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth Model (Yosso, 2005), the researcher will examine how students experience “non-linear …

Elementary Students' Science Attitudes And Teachers' Implementation Of The Ngss Science Practices: A Mixed Methods Study, Michelle Laborn

Dissertations

It has been recorded in the literature that student science interest drops as students enter and transition to middle and high school. This dissertation takes up the areas of student science interest and the teaching of the science practices in the context of elementary education. This study seeks to understand student science interest in elementary students in the years before entering middle school where a drop of interest is frequently reported. It is hypothesized that an increased use or implementation of the NGSS science practices by classroom teachers would generate higher science interest in elementary students. In a framework of …

Justice-Oriented Pedagogy: Personal And Programmatic Commitments In Teacher Education, Cheetara A. Hudson

Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how faculty in an urban, justice-oriented undergraduate teacher education program prepare elementary teacher candidates to develop socially just and culturally responsive teaching practices. Guided by Critical Race Theory and critical multiculturalism, this study explored how instructors integrated social justice education and culturally responsive pedagogy into coursework and field experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis with four faculty members teaching foundational and methods courses. Thematic analysis revealed four key findings: (a) faculty beliefs and identities, shaped by prior K–12 teaching experiences, strongly influence their pedagogical choices; (b) instructors model justice-oriented …

Pedagogical Possibilities Toward Positive Embodiment: Applying The Developmental Theory Of Embodiment To Educational Contexts, Elena Buis

Dissertations

Young adolescents, particularly girls, often experience uncomfortable and negative relationships with their bodies, contributing to negative physical, mental, and emotional outcomes. Although educators have implemented interventions to address this issue, those grounded in positive embodiment remain underexplored. Specifically, the Developmental Theory of Embodiment (DTE), a prominent framework in eating disorder and body image research, has not been integrated into educational research or practice. This dissertation explores the integration of DTE into educational theory, practice, and pedagogy across three complementary articles and examines the teaching and learning of Be Body Positive (BBP), a positive embodiment intervention, with a fifth grade Girl …

Teachers’ Use Of Evidence-Based Research To Inform Best Practices, Brianna Cairns

Dissertations

Teachers are expected to use research to inform their practice, whether updating practices to keep up with changing times or researching and implementing new strategies and interventions to support the students in their classrooms. However, experts have expressed concern that teachers do not use empirical evidence to make decisions, instead relying on their own experiences or the anecdotal advice of other teachers. This explanatory sequential, mixed-methods study seeks to contribute to the existing body of research about teachers’ use of research to inform their practice. Survey data were collected from 180 elementary, middle, and high school teachers regarding whether they …

Impact Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Polymerase Chain Reaction Nasal Screening On Vancomycin De-Escalation In Non-Critically Ill Patients With Sepsis Of Unknown Origin, Kyle R. Eilert, Timothy Gauthier, Jefferson Cua, Lourdes Menendez Alvarado, Erika Dittmar

All Publications

Title: Impact of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Polymerase Chain Reaction Nasal Screening in Non-critically Ill Patients with Sepsis of Unknown Origin

Purpose: Vancomycin should be included as part of empiric therapy in treating sepsis of unknown origin when risk factors for MRSA infection are present. MRSA PCR screening for colonization has utility for de-escalation of therapy with indications such as pneumonia, but its value for sepsis remains to be elucidated. This study evaluated the impact of MRSA colonization data on the duration of vancomycin in non-critically ill patients with sepsis of unknown origin.

Methods: This was a single-center, observational study at …

Challenging Patriarchy: How Romantasy Reshapes Gender Roles, Desire, And Female Agency, Carly Mankin '26

Student Research

Romantic fantasy has become increasingly popular among women and offers a unique lens to examine how gender roles and sexual scripts shape perceptions of identity, desire, and empowerment. This analysis centers on the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, specifically the second book, A Court of Mist and Fury. Sexual scripts, role congruity theory, and gender role conflict theory are useful in analyzing how these books challenge traditional gender norms and redefine expectations of femininity, masculinity, and relationship dynamics. By highlighting what different forms of identity and intimacy can look like, romantasy moves beyond being solely an escape, …

Between Roots And Realities: Child Mental Health In The Middle Eastern And North African Diaspora, Marwa Aarab '26

Student Research

This paper examines child mental health and development within the MENA diaspora, with a focus on how stigma, cultural dynamics and structural barriers shape mental health outcomes. Existing research has mainly focused on adult populations, while MENA children remain overlooked and underrepresented in mental health discourse. Using Minority Stress Theory and the Social Determinants of Health Framework, this paper delves into how individual and systemic factors contribute to disparities in care. Findings highlight that stigma, family hierarchy, religious beliefs, and acculturative stress influence how individuals define and address mental illness, while structural barriers including, but not limited to, discrimination and …

Building A Comprehensive Insider Threat Defense Program, Alan Saquella

Publications

Organizations today face a growing and evolving threat that often originates not from an outside hacker or criminal organization, but from within their own workforce, vendor networks, and trusted partnerships. Insider threats continue to represent one of the most difficult risks to identify, prevent, and mitigate because insiders already possess something external adversaries spend enormous resources trying to obtain: trust, access, and legitimacy.

For decades, many organizations relied heavily on pre-employment criminal history checks and reference verification as their primary safeguard against insider misconduct. While these tools remain important foundational elements of any hiring and risk management program, they are …

Predicting Psychosis Through Speech: A Case For Nlp In Clinical Practice, Lydia Britton '27

Student Research

Psychosis is difficult to identify in early stages; however, changes in speech and language offer insights and indicators of emerging symptomatology. This paper examines the potential for Natural Language Processing (NLP) and other computational linguistic techniques for improving the predicition of psychosis disorders through automated analysis of speech. Existing research shows that lingustic markers that are aligned with Formal Thought Disorder, including reduced semantic coherence, poverty of content, tangentiality, reduced syntactic complexity, and pragmatic deficits, can help to distinguish between individuals who are experiencing or at risk for psychosis from healthy controls. Traditional clinical assessments may have difficulty identifying and …

The Early American Tradition Of Arms Regulation: Common Law, Common Weapons, And Common Use, Saul Cornell

Duke Law Journal Online

No abstract provided.

Wendy Repovich Oral History Interview, Wendy Repovich, Carter Burson

Eastern Washington University Staff and Faculty Oral Histories

Professor Wendy Repovich taught Exercise Science at Eastern Washington University (EWU) from 1990-2016.

In this interview, Repovich discusses her role as one of EWU's early professors of Exercise Science. Repovich discusses her mentorship of prospective graduate students, the growth of the Exercise Science program, changes to campus during her time there, and the importance of hands-on education in the Exercise Science program.

The transcript has been reviewed by the interviewee and corrections have been made for the purposes of clarity and accuracy. The original recordings have been preserved and are available upon request.

Carter Burson interviewed Wendy Repovich in Spring …

Remembering Carlo Ferarai: Life, Community, And Death In Industrial London, William W. Wilder

Masters Theses, 2020-current

During the 19^th century English medical schools relied on resurrection men to provide dead bodies for anatomical dissection. While resurrection men typically took bodies from graveyards, there were also those who committed murder in order to sell the bodies of their victims. Carlo Ferarai, an unhoused immigrant child, was the victim of just such a murder, and his death contributed to many legal and social changes which have been studied by historians. This paper recontextualizes Carlo’s death by exploring his life as a social history. Using court transcripts, newspapers, and other sources, alongside insights drawn from urban history, and …