Digital Commons Network^™

The Mentality Of Women: The Accuracy Of Mental Illness Treatment In Dreaming In Cuban, Jadyn Brueske

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

"Thank God For Michigan": Michigan Troops In The Civil War, Lydia Granger

Liberty University Research Week

The Civil War in the United States often focuses on the troops and soldiers from the East coast states. But what about the men that served from a state other than New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia? Michigan sent its fair share of men and sacrificed as much as other states in the Union. The stories of those soldiers and their efforts to preserve liberty and union in the United States deserve to be heard and remembered. Future generations need to appreciate and learn from their sacrifices. These men fought for their country in a terrible and destructive war, and …

The Effects Of Ultra- Processed Foods On Metabolic Health Among Young Adults, Cynthia Ilechukwu, Atika Ali, Fadzai Nyarugwe, Ifeoluwanimi Shobayo, Krista Coipel, Naa Komley Commey, Tahirou Diallo

Liberty University Research Week

Introduction/Background

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs), as defined by the NOVA classification system, are industrially produced foods that are high in added sugar, sodium, unhealthy fats, and additives while being low in fiber and essential nutrients. Young adulthood is a crucial period for developing long-term dietary habits, yet many young adults consume a disproportionately high amount of UPFs. Evidence suggests that diets high in UPFs can negatively affect metabolic health, increasing the risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at relatively early ages. Understanding the impact of UPFs in this age group is important for developing preventive strategies …

Systematic Review On Tertiary Policies And Programs For Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence In The U.S. (2020-2024), Brittany Carman, Haley Gebhard, Krista Coipel, Raymond Suonyir

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men in the United States, yet tertiary interventions supporting survivors remain understudied compared to primary and secondary prevention efforts. This systematic review identifies and evaluates existing tertiary prevention programs and policies addressing IPV in the U.S., focusing on their effectiveness in reducing IPV-related fatalities and promoting survivor recovery, safety, independence, and long-term stability.

Methods: This study systematically reviewed literature published January 2020-December 2024 across five leading journals using the Scopus database. From 861 initial results, 24 articles met inclusion criteria following PRISMA guidelines.

Results: Interventions clustered …

Effects Of Ses, Bedtime Rules, And Screen Time On Adolescent Obesity, Great Onyedika Okereke

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Adolescent obesity affects nearly 1 in 5 U.S. teens and is influenced by behavioral and social factors. Excessive screen time and poor sleep are known contributors, but less is known about how these risks interact with socioeconomic status (SES) and household routines. Understanding these interactions is essential for designing effective, equitable interventions.

Methods: We conducted a literature review of peer-reviewed studies from the past five years exploring the relationship between screen time, sleep, and obesity among U.S. adolescents, with attention to the moderating roles of SES and family routines (e.g., parental monitoring, bedtime rules).

Results: High screen use and …

Barefoot Shoes: The Effect On Health And Wellness, Rebecca Hofheinz

Liberty University Research Week

The development of footwear from the outset of civilizations and the rise in popularity associated with their use in the Roman Empire has led to the diversification of styles and uses for shoes that we see today. While the first shoes were rudimentary, they fulfilled the basic need of protecting the wearer’s feet from the various abrasive textures and temperatures of the landscapes they lived in. Those initial shoes were consistently represented by layered fabrics or leather wrapped around the feet before they then progressed further into the leather sandals that were displayed by the gladiators of the Roman age. …

Mental Health Consequences Of Climate-Related Hazards: A Us Case Study., Perseverance Nothando, Fadzai Nyarugwe, Wuraola Awosan

Liberty University Research Week

Background: The planet has warmed considerably over the past four decades, leading to more extreme weather events like floods, fires, and hurricanes. In the U.S., the number of climate-related disasters has surged, affecting approximately 1.7 billion people between 2010 and 2020. Projections suggest that by 2050, the U.S. population impacted by climate-related disasters could double, with a quarter of the population affected annually. Research indicates that 25% to 50% of people exposed to extreme weather events are susceptible to negative mental health consequences, such as anxiety and PTSD. This underscores the urgent need to address the psychological impact of climate …

Vicarious Trauma And Compassion Fatigue Among Counselors Serving Law Enforcement Populations, Makayla Thompson

Liberty University Research Week

Approximately 98% of clinical therapists report treating clients who have experienced at least one traumatic event (Bride, 2007). Research has established associations between clinical work with trauma-affected populations and increased vulnerability to vicarious trauma (VT) and compassion fatigue (CF) among counselors (Armes et al., 2020; Rayne et al., 2020). VT refers to cumulative and enduring changes in a clinician’s cognitive schemas resulting from sustained empathic engagement with clients’ traumatic experiences (McCann & Pearlman, 1990). CF describes emotional and physical exhaustion that diminishes a clinician’s capacity for empathy and compassion, often understood as the cost of caring for those suffering (Figley, …

The Effects Of Nonlethal Pyrethroid Larval Exposure Aedes Albopictus Mosquitoes, Le Gia Han Nguyen, Alexandra Irwin, Paule Ann Telus

Liberty University Research Week

Aedes albopictus is an invasive mosquito species and an important disease vector, making the development of effective control strategies critical. Chemical insecticides, such as deltamethrin, are widely used to reduce mosquito populations. However, their extensive use has raised concerns about the development of resistance, especially following sublethal deltamethrin exposure in the larval stage. We hypothesize that larval exposure to deltamethrin at a nonlethal dose can result in pesticide resistance in adult mosquitoes, and through that the undelying mechanisms can be explored by analyzing transcriptomic profile to characterize gene expression patterns.

Shepherds In The Great War: The Evolution Of The U.S. Army Chaplaincy And The Service Of Malcolm Taylor In World War I, Sydney Gilbert

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Instructors’ Lived Experiences Of Using Authentic Assessments In College Calculus Courses Across The United States: A Phenomenological Study, Christy Kains

Liberty University Research Week

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of instructors with authentic assessments in college calculus courses across the United States. The theory guiding this study was Astin’s student involvement theory, which provided a framework to study the involvement of students in higher education. The central research question for this study was: What are the lived experiences of instructors who utilize authentic assessments in college calculus courses across the United States? This study used a qualitative design following the transcendental phenomenological approach of Moustakas. The sample included 12 instructors from two-year and four-year colleges in …

Clinical Implications And Future Directions Of Sepsis Treatment, Chelsey King

Liberty University Research Week

Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity worldwide, driven by a dynamic response that evolves from early hyperinflammation to profound immunosuppression. This review explores the pathogenesis of the cytokine storm, detailing how dysregulated pattern recognition receptor (PRR) activation, NF-¿B signaling, and NETosis drive endothelial injury and organ dysfunction. Further, the transition into sepsis-induced immunoparalysis will be examined, characterized by lymphocyte apoptosis, “exhausted” cellular phenotypes, and persistent lymphopenia. This immune environment often results in Persistent Inflammation, Immunosuppression, and Catabolism Syndrome (PICS). Synthesis of clinical biomarkers and emerging therapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibition, will highlight the necessity of biomarker-guided, personalized strategies …

Disparities In Us Ultra-Processed Food Consumption, Great Onyedika Okereke, Eliana Arthurs

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) now contribute more than half of total caloric intake in the United States and are associated with obesity, cardiometabolic disease, and poor diet quality. Geographic disparities in UPF consumption may contribute to unequal dietary risk across populations, particularly among rural, lower-income, and minority communities.

Methods: A literature review of peer-reviewed studies published from 2016-2026 was conducted using national datasets, including NHANES, prospective cohort studies, cross-sectional analyses, and policy evaluations, to examine geographic patterns of UPF consumption and associated dietary risks in the United States.

Results: Evidence shows higher UPF consumption among rural populations, younger individuals, lower-income …

Mapping The Barriers: A Socioecological Scoping Review Of Healthcare Access Among International Students In The United States, Oyebolu Aderinola Akinkugbe, Akuchinyere Titus-Okpanachi, Oluwatosin Marylyn Oduneye

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

A Preventable Tragedy: Taking A Look At The Great Molasses Flood In Boston, 1919 And Its Effect On The United States, Eleanor Clough

Liberty University Research Week

On January 15, 1919, Boston’s North End was struck with a tragedy unlike anything its residents could have imagined. A wave of molasses ranging from 15 to 40 feet high washed across several blocks, destroying everything in its path. This Great Molasses Flood, caused by the collapse of a molasses tank made three years earlier by United States Industrial Alcohol, had devastating consequences. In its wake, it left twenty-one people dead and many more injured. Yet strangely enough, very few people know about it today. This project aims to introduce the event to those who are unfamiliar with it and …

Breastfeeding And Infant Health In Guatemala: A Systematic Review (2015–2025), Haley Gebhard, Alexandra Mixan, Manasvi Shiyani, Shaira Neupane

Liberty University Research Week

Breastmilk provides ideal nutrition for infants during early life, supporting physical growth, development, and long-term health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breastfeeding protects against infant illness and child malnutrition by ensuring a consistent source of energy and nutrients.1 The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding, which means no other liquids or solids except medicines or supplements, for the first six months of life to reduce negative health outcomes for infants and children.1 Only about 44% of infants worldwide are exclusively breastfed through six months of age, well below the WHO global nutrition target of 70% by 2030. In Guatemala, chronic …

Everything You Know About The Piano Is Wrong, Khuong Vo

Liberty University Research Week

The idea of treating the piano as an instrument capable of evoking the timbres of other instruments through variations in touch, articulation, and key velocity is a common practice in the collaborative pianist realm. However, solo pianists can learn from this approach to take their musical expression further. The focus of this study is Études-Tableaux, Op. 39 No. 9 in D major by Sergei Rachmaninoff, examined alongside its orchestral arrangement by Ottorino Respighi. As the final piece of Op. 39, the étude is a virtuosic showpiece characterized by dense textures, vivid imagery, and a largely unified rhythmic character. Its rich …

Born Too Soon, Dying Too Early: Preventable Neonatal Deaths In Rural Uganda, Rebecca Martha Nantale, Nfn Dangpa Wandji Nana

Liberty University Research Week

Neonatal mortality remains one of the most persistent public health challenges in Uganda, particularly in rural communities where access to quality maternal and newborn care remains limited. Despite global progress in reducing under-five mortality, deaths within the first 28 days of life continue to account for a substantial proportion of child mortality. Most neonatal deaths in low- and middle-income countries occur from preventable causes such as birth asphyxia, neonatal infections, and complications related to prematurity. This study examines the structural and healthcare determinants contributing to neonatal mortality in rural Uganda, with particular emphasis on place of delivery and skilled birth …

Extreme Heat Exposure During Pregnancy And Adverse Birth Outcomes In Sub-Saharan Africa, Maame Yaa Okrah, Bright Agbotui, Naa Komley Commey, Raymond Suonyir, Yenigat Abate

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Extreme heat is an emerging issue in public health, given the rise in temperature globally because of climate change. Pregnant women are at risk of being adversely affected by extreme heat, as changes in body physiology during pregnancy compromise its ability to regulate temperature. Recent studies have shown that exposure to extreme heat is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is limited evidence. This study sought to examine the potential association of extreme heat exposure in pregnancy with adverse birth outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: This study undertakes …

Metamodernism In Music, Kara Lewis

Liberty University Research Week

The progression of history, along with its technological, philosophical, and cultural shifts, is reflected in the music humans create and relate to. The shift towards a metamodern philosophical framework within the last two decades of Western culture has influenced the of music today. Our concept and description of metamodernism is taken from Timotheus Vermeulen’s and Robin van den Akker’s 2010 article, “Notes on Metamodernism.” They posit that metamodernism is defined by oscillation between “modern enthusiasm” and “postmodern irony” (pg. 1) and between “modern commitment” and “postmodern detachment” (pg. 2). It is of crucial note that this oscillation is not balance, …

Joy Under The Sun: Ecclesiastes And Existential Positive-Psychology, Alexander Lee, Clayton Hess

Liberty University Research Week

Christian counselors can benefit from theological research into effective counseling theory and practice. Biblical wisdom literature has been long overlooked as an effective tool in biblically-informed counseling. Biblical wisdom parallels recent trends in positive-psychology toward emphasizing holistic human flourishing (Hawkins, 2026). Further, interpretations of Ecclesiastes can parallel existentialism, with similar emphases on coherence and meaning-making (Keefer, 2019). In Lee’s (2012) discussion of Ecclesiastes, flourishing is pinpointed in qohelet’s treatment of joy. Lee develops a theology of enjoyment based on qohelet’s diagnosis of the human condition, his description of humanity’s position in relationship with God, and his meditation on injustice. In …

A Study In Coffee: Characterization Of The Pathway Utilized By Enterolactone To Stimulate Glut4-Dependent Uptake And Incretin Activity, Merritt Smith, Aidan Clancy

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Impact Of Emotion Focused Therapy As A Model For Meeting Men’S Emotional Needs, Emily Hendricks

Liberty University Research Week

In Western culture, masculinity standards have created an overall negative perception of help-seeking and mental healthcare treatment for many men. Although help-seeking is becoming a well-researched category of men's mental health treatment maintenance research is limited. Additionally, there are few models of care that have been developed specifically for male populations that honor their inherent values and perception of masculinity. This theoretical proposal will highlight Emotion Focused Therapy as a possible framework for men's care due to its' evidence-based use with couples and families and focus on emotional intelligence and regulation. Emotion Focused Therapy should be researched with men specifically, …

Mythological Literature And The Metamodern Turn: An Augustinian Analysis, Elyse Penton, Brady Cullins, Dennis Nicholson, Nathan Redford

Liberty University Research Week

First articulated by Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker, metamodernism is a cultural sensibility emerging after postmodernism that describes an oscillation between modern sincerity and postmodern irony. Metamodernism is characterized by “informed naivete,” renewed emotional investment and a desire for meaning despite awareness of ambiguity. One significant feature of this cultural shift is the renewed presence of mythological narratives in contemporary literature and media. This research asks how metamodernism contributes to a resurgence of myth and how this phenomenon may be interpreted through an Augustinian “Inside Out” framework. Myth, as defined by folklorist Lauri Honko, is a narrative concerning …

Standing Firm: The Theological Significance Of Στήναι / Στῆτε In Ephesians 6:10–20, Angela Brown

Liberty University Research Week

Building upon prior research that examined the armor of God as an expression of divine empowerment in Ephesians 6:10–20, this study offers a focused syntactical and discourse analysis of Paul’s repeated use of ¿st¿µ¿ (st¿¿a¿ / st¿te). Particular attention is given to the aorist infinitive st¿¿a¿ (6:11, 13) within purpose constructions (p¿¿¿ t¿ d¿¿as¿a¿ ¿µ¿¿ st¿¿a¿) and the aorist imperative st¿te (6:14), evaluating their aspectual force and imperatival nuance. Rather than conveying punctiliar or once-for-all action, the aorist forms are interpreted within current verbal aspect theory as undefined in internal temporal structure but rhetorically urgent, summoning decisive, covenantal resolve. The …

Is Everything Awesome? Cultural Apologetics In A Metamodern Age, Alexander Lee, Dara Huamanchumo Ascanio, Isaiah Johnson

Liberty University Research Week

Contemporary apologists have emphasized that engaging with culture in an insightful and respectful way is a powerful tool for evangelism (Chatraw & Allen, 2018). In this vein, children’s media, born in a specific cultural setting, has a formative impact on upcoming generations, an avenue of influence that should be explored for its implications in apologetics. To do this, the research explores themes highlighting the transition between postmodernism and metamodernism by comparing the films Toy Story (1995) and The Lego Movie (2014). The project figures characters in Toy Story as representing the shift from modernism to postmodernism, while characters in The …

Executive Succession And Organizational Stability In Community Health Centers: A Theory-Integrated Framework, Jisa Kusanthan, Timothy Sumarsono

Liberty University Research Week

Leadership transitions are difficult for organizations to manage. This is especially true for Community Health Centers (CHCs). The departure of a long-tenured leader can have a host of secondary effects on the culture, employee morale, and employee retention. This study explores the effects of a CHC leader on the organization's stability and proposes practical steps that CHCs can take to implement effective succession planning. A theory-integrated framework is used to apply Schein's Organizational Culture Theory, Social Identity Theory, and Institutional Theory to better understand the effects of a CHC leader on the organization's cultural foundation. A three-phase succession process is …

Distribution Of Virginia Pollinator Insect Specimens From The Liberty University Natural History Collection, Sarah Gerringer

Liberty University Research Week

The Liberty University natural history collection contains a substantial number of preserved insect specimens taken from all over the state of Virginia, and which includes many families of pollinator insects. Pollinator insects play an important part in life on this planet, so the purpose of this study was to visually represent and evaluate historical pollinator habitat data. Information such as this can be used to both spread awareness of pollinator conservation and to provide a better understanding of where pollinators may be located. In this study, we compiled and examined location data from ten families of Virginia native pollinator insects …

Vaccine Or No Vaccine? A Sudden Rise In Ancient Diseases, Krista Coipel, Atika Ali, Ifeoluwanimi Shobayo, Naa Komley Commey

Liberty University Research Week

Introduction/Background: In recent years, numerous vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, and polio, that were previously deemed controlled or eradicated have reappeared in different communities. The decline in vaccination rates, fueled by misinformation, obstacles to access, and vaccine hesitancy, presents an escalating threat to public health. This study investigates the connection between vaccination behaviors and the resurgence of these "ancient" diseases, within the framework of the Healthy People 2030 objectives.

Methods: Peer-reviewed journal articles, public health surveillance reports, and policy documents were systematically gathered through academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO and CDC/WHO repositories. Search terms employed included …

Barriers To Breastfeeding In Marginalized Communities In The U.S, Naa Komley Commey, Wuraola Awosan

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal method of infant nutrition, offering numerous health benefits for both mothers and infants. Breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates in the U.S. vary significantly based on factors such as age, income, education, and race, because marginalized communities encounter various barriers that hinder breastfeeding success. Addressing these barriers is crucial for promoting breastfeeding as a public health imperative. This study aims to investigate the primary barriers to breastfeeding in marginalized populations in the U.S.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases were searched using predetermined search terms for literature published between 2020 and 2025. The …