Digital Commons Network^™

Empowering Women Journalists’ Preparedness: An Evaluation Of Hostile Environment First Aid Training (Hefat) And Its Implementation In Academic Journalism Programs, Vanessa Charlot

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Dissertation in Practice examines the potential integration of gender-sensitive Hostile Environment and First Aid Training (HEFAT) into journalism education to enhance the preparedness of women journalists for high-risk reporting contexts. Manuscript I investigates existing gaps in curricula, highlighting the distinct physical, psychological, and ethical risks encountered by women in hostile environments. Manuscript II outlines a framework for qualitatively evaluating an adapted HEFAT program, considering how identity-informed and trauma-sensitive approaches might strengthen student safety, resilience, and ethical decision-making. Manuscript III explores leadership strategies for implementing inclusive, trauma-informed HEFAT curricula, emphasizing reflexive practice and self-authorship as mechanisms for fostering transformative, equity-driven …

Scrolling Critically: Momfluencers As Sites Of Composition, Rhetoric, And Pedagogical Insight, Sarah A. O'Neill

All NMU Master's Theses

This thesis critically examines the practices of Momfluencers–social media influencers who blend maternal identity with lifestyle branding–to inform pedagogy for aspiring digital professionals, particularly college students preparing for careers in social media.

Chapter 1 establishes a theoretical framework, drawing on multimodal literacy and Mikhail Bahktin’s concept of heteroglossia to analyze how meaning is constructed across platforms. Chapter 2 investigates the rhetorical and compositional strategies Momfluencers use on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, highlighting how authenticity, professional obligations, and audience expectations intersect with platform-specific features and algorithmic mediation. Chapter 3 presents findings from a classroom study, emphasizing the literacies required …

The Fundamental Group: A Geometric Perspective, Kayla M. Bittenbinder

All NMU Master's Theses

This thesis explores the deep mathematical connection between the flexible, continuous world of topology and the rigid, distance-preserving world of metric geometry. We begin by constructing the fundamental group of a topological space, using the concept of loops and loop homotopy to identify a global topological invariant such as a hole or puncture. We then transition to the geometric realm of metric spaces and isometries, demonstrating how the isometry group of a space algebraically encodes its rigid symmetries. To bridge these two distinct mathematical frameworks, we utilize the construction of the universal covering space. We pull back the metric from …

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Host: Fleas And The History Of Pikas In North America, Josh Pletcher

All NMU Master's Theses

Parasite phylogenetics can offer windows into the cryptic evolutionary history of hosts, often highlighting events that are not recorded by the phylogenetics of the host. Pikas (small lagomorphs) host a diverse parasite community comprising endoparasites (e.g., coccidians, nematodes, and cestodes) and ectoparasites (e.g., fleas and mites). Phylogenetic analysis of pika endoparasites has revealed pikas evolved in Asia and colonized North America in two waves, and that contact between these two pika lineages allowed parasites to be transferred from one lineage to another and to survive the extinction of their original host. To uncover these cryptic histories, understanding the biogeography of …

Evidence-Based Practice In Speech-Language Pathology: Creating Effective Therapy Materials, Avalee Dunkley

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Evidence-based practice is a fairly new topic in speech-language pathology, gaining traction among professionals in the field in the last twenty years. Evidence-based practice is the integration of high-quality research, patient cultural and social values, and clinician expertise to treat a patient. Patients are more likely to progress when these three factors are combined. This paper explores four areas of speech-language pathology that are commonly treated in school-aged children: speech sound disorders, language disorders, social communication disorders, and the use of augmentative and alternative communication. Each section gives a summary of the disorder and how the disorder can be treated …

Tau Beta Pi Engineering Mentorship Program, Tyler Black

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project is to design and implement a student-led engineering mentorship program directed by the members of the Utah Gamma Chapter of Tau Beta Pi on the Utah State University (USU) Logan campus. Retention data show that many undergraduate students who start engineering programs change their degree before graduation due to academic and social challenges that may be mitigated by the support of a peer mentor. The Tau Beta Pi Engineering Mentorship Program selects and trains upperclassman mentors to effectively mentor underclassman engineering students.

The design of the mentorship program is an application of backward design, where …

Self-Efficacy Through The Use Of Ai-Video Simulations And Video Feedback (Goreact) For Medical Interpreting Training, Ricardo Tienda-Pérez

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In today’s diverse and modern healthcare systems, medical interpreters play a critical role in clinical safety and quality care. However, a pedagogical gap exists between classroom vocabulary mastery and the self-advocacy skills required in real-world clinical settings. This research evaluates the impact of AI-generated video simulations and GoReact’s time-coded feedback on the self-efficacy and self-advocacy of student interpreters enrolled in the Spanish Medical Interpreting Training course (SPAN 4081) at Utah State University’s Logan campus – as part of the Spanish Medical Interpretation & Translation certificate program during the Spring 2026 semester. By utilizing a mixed-methods research design, this study collected …

Nutrition Teaching Methods In Communities, Emery Fayth Rowles

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Community is a vital part of non-formal education. A sense of, longing for, and responsibility towards community draws individuals to participate in local services and classes. Community has been shown to have positive impacts on learning, self efficacy, and health.

Many of the techniques used in education mirror techniques used in building community—such as the use of small group discussions and cultural sensitivity—but with distinct differences in mindset. Most educational approaches see the acquisition and use of knowledge as the key purpose of the program and evaluate participants on an individual basis. This approach makes sense for programs meant to …

Applying Evidence-Based Practice To Guide Occupational Therapy In The Nicu And Outpatient-Based Early Intervention Settings, Brooke A. Wilson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at increased risk for feeding difficulties, developmental delays, and sensory processing challenges due to prematurity and complex medical needs. These effects often persist into the first years of a child’s life, and many receive early intervention or outpatient therapies. Occupational therapy plays a critical role in addressing these concerns while supporting caregivers in building knowledge and confidence. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop in-depth clinical skills in the NICU and outpatient early intervention settings, educate caregivers, and complete continuing education courses related to neonatal and pediatric therapeutic …

Addressing The Motor And Non-Motor Symptoms Of Parkinson’S Disease Through Integration Of Clinical Skills And Community Educational Resources, Alison C. Lee

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) face many challenges to their daily life including various motor and non-motor symptoms that affects their participation in meaningful occupations. Non-motor symptoms like decreased social participation, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and decline in cognition often go unnoticed and undertreated. Limited resources are available to clinicians and individuals with PD regarding tangible ways to address these concerns. Occupational therapy (OT) has a unique role in addressing both motor and non-motor symptoms through evidence-based resources, education, and general awareness. This project bridged this gap in care regarding non-motor symptoms of PD through the creation of easily accessible handouts, …

Improving Occupational Performance In Vision Neurorehabilitation, Catherine Lentsch

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Visual dysfunction affects up to 90% of individuals with traumatic brain injuries and up to half of stroke survivors, significantly impacting independence in daily occupations. This capstone project, conducted at Nebraska Methodist Hospital, aimed to improve clients’ occupational performance and enhance occupational therapy vision neurorehabilitation through advanced clinical skill development and the development of resources. The project involved the evaluation and treatment of eleven neurological patients across inpatient and outpatient settings. Guided by Warren’s Hierarchy of Visual Perceptual Skills and Toglia’s Dynamic Interactional Approach, the project emphasized stabilizing foundational visual skills before progressing to higher‑level visual-perceptual tasks and used near …

Fragile Patients, Intentional Care: Nonpharmacological Pain Management Treatment Approaches In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu), Kristie A. Moeller

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The aim of this project was to increase clinical skills in a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and explore how nonpharmacological occupational therapy (OT) interventions impact pain management in the NICU for a variety of patients. Due to the increasing rates of admissions to the NICU and the impact that pain has on child development there was a clear need to gain skills to create interventions that would minimize the effect on infant development (Martin & Osterman, 2025; Pineda et al., 2025). The needs assessment revealed the need for occupational therapists (OTs) role in nonpharmacological pain management to …

Light & Faith: May 2026, Taylor University

Light & Faith

No abstract provided.

Ccr5 Sulfopeptide Library And O-Glycosylated Amino Acids As Chemical Tools For Probing Chemokine Receptor Recognition, Mostafa Mohammed Mohammed Ali Eldeen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chemokine-receptor interactions play a central role in immune regulation and disease pathogenesis, particularly through CCR5, a receptor engaged by chemokines such as CCL3, CCL4, and CCL5. Post-translational modifications of the CCR5 N-terminus—including tyrosine sulfation at positions 3, 10, 14, and 15, and O-glycosylation at serine 6—critically modulate chemokine recognition and selectivity. However, the impact of specific sulfation patterns on chemokine binding and the synergistic effects of combined sulfation and glycosylation remain incompletely understood. This thesis presents a two-project chemical approach to systematically investigate CCR5 post-translational modifications. In Project 1, a comprehensive 16-member library of CCR5???? sulfopeptides representing all possible combinations …

The Relationship Between Winning In The Classroom And On The Field At The Athletic Department Level, John Zachary Gory

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the presence and extent of the relationship between athletic department success based on SBLive© All-Sports Award Scaled Scores and academic outcomes in Mississippi 4A high schools. Specifically, the study investigates whether SBLive© All-Sports Award Scaled Scores in 4A Mississippi high schools are associated with Mississippi School Accountability System (MSAS) Accountability Scale Scores, Chronic Absenteeism, Incidents of Violence, and Graduation Rates across four school years (2021–2022 through 2024–2025). A quasi-experimental quantitative design utilizing Pearson correlation coefficient (r) analyzes relationships among continuous variables and identifies trends across years, including the impact of Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) reclassification …

Study Of Binary Hypothesis Testing Using Deep Learning, Sadhana Geddam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Binary hypothesis testing is a fundamental problem in statistical signal processing and decision theory, with applications in communications, radar systems, and distributed sensor networks. Classical approaches, particularly the likelihood ratio test (LRT), provide optimal detection performance when the underlying probability distributions are known. However, in many practical scenarios, the resulting decision rules can become analytically complex or computationally intensive, especially in multi-sensor and dependent data settings.

This thesis investigates the use of neural networks for binary hypothesis testing under diverse statistical conditions. A data-driven framework is developed to learn decision rules directly from observed data, enabling the approximation of likelihood …

A Revised Quantifier Variance And Its Implications On Vagueness, Isaac Alexander Huling

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper argues that the Special Composition Question has no substantive answer, not because compositional talk is empty but because the physical structure it tracks does not have the form that would privilege a unique answer. The argument accepts Sider’s methodological premise that the world must provide structure beyond description if ontological vocabulary is to mean anything, and deploys that apparatus against his specific application of it to composition. Constraint processes among a system’s parts – the forces and interactions that hold rigid bodies together, maintain organisms, bind solar systems – satisfy every condition Lewis required of reference magnets. They …

Murdoch's Metaphorical And Mystical Moral Metaphysics, William Jade Langley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this project, I explain the mysticism found in Iris Murdoch’s The Sovereignty of Good, emphasizing what the illustrative thought experiments and metaphors are meant to explain. To do this, I introduce her understanding of G. E Moore’s moral realism and compare this with how Bertrand Russell understands mystical intuition and revelation. Then, to understand how we can still do moral philosophy when morality is fundamentally mystical, I compare Murdoch’s usage of metaphor with that of Victoria Welby, who also takes metaphorical understanding to be crucial to our understanding of the world. Though Welby goes further than Murdoch in saying …

Media Framing Of Peace And Justice In Post Conflict Societies: Rwanda And Colombia In Focus, Ahmer Anwar Khan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates how traditional journalism frames peace and justice in post-conflict societies, using Rwanda and Colombia as comparative case studies. It explores the role of media in shaping public discourse around transitional justice, reconciliation, and national healing. The findings indicate that Rwanda’s media adopted a justice-first framing, emphasizing accountability and moral restoration through mechanisms such as the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the Gacaca courts. In contrast, Colombian journalism during the 2012–2016 peace negotiations with the FARC guerrilla group prioritized peace-first framing, portraying dialogue and reintegration as essential to ending decades of violence. These divergent approaches reflect …

Semantically Grounded Evaluation For Open-Vocabulary Human-Object Interaction Detection, Maja Noack

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Open-vocabulary human–object interaction (HOI) detection is a step towards building scal¬able systems that generalize to unseen interactions in real-world scenarios and support grounded multimodal systems that reason about human–object relationships. However, stan¬dard evaluation metrics, such as mean Average Precision (mAP), treat HOI classes as dis¬crete categorical labels and fail to credit semantically valid but lexically different predictions (e.g., “lean on couch” vs. “sit on couch”), limiting their applicability for evaluating open-vocabulary predictions that go beyond any predefined set of HOI labels. I introduce SHOE (Semantic HOI Open-Vocabulary Evaluation), a new evaluation framework that incorporates semantic similarity between predicted and ground-truth …

Secondary English Teachers’ Perceptions Regarding The Impact, If Any, Of Shifts In The Emphasis Of History Education On Students’ Comprehension Of Literature, Bailey J. Poole

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored secondary English teachers’ perceptions of the emphasis on history education and its perceived impact on their students’ comprehension of literature. This research used an interpretivist approach and a conceptual framework shaped by schema theory and constructivism to understand whether teachers perceived a shift in the value of history education, how they described such shifts, if any, and how they responded instructionally to those shifts, if necessary.

Data was collected through six semi-structured interviews with 11th and 12th grade English Language Arts teachers from public high schools in Mississippi, each with a minimum of ten years teaching …

Computational Investigation Of Nanoconfinement Effects On Gas Separation In Copolymer/Ionic Liquid Membranes, Azam Salmankhani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The separation of carbon dioxide (CO2) from methane (CH4) is a critical process in natural gas upgrading and carbon management, yet conventional membrane materials suffer from inherent trade offs between selectivity and permeability. Ionic liquid (IL)-based membranes offer high CO2 affinity and tunable chemistry, but the mechanisms governing gas transport under nanoconfinement remain poorly understood, especially the roles of confinement geometry and interfacial ordering in controlling gas selectivity and permeability. This dissertation addresses this challenge through a multiscale computational investigation of nanoconfined ionic liquid membranes. Mesoscale simulations are used to determine how block copolymer composition and ionic liquid loading control …

Establishing Caenorhabditis Elegans As A Platform For Bioaccumulation And Selectivity Screening Of Anthelmintic Compounds, Jiarui Li

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

To address the cuticular barrier in anthelmintic discovery, this study establishes a bifurcated framework in Caenorhabditis elegans. First, HPLC-based quantification of 14 PIM inhibitors revealed that cuticular penetrance is primarily dictated by phylogenetic lineage (Clade V) rather than ecological niche. Specifically, C. elegans demonstrated a significant pharmacokinetic correlation with the hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum (Clade V) but not the whipworm Trichuris muris (Clade I), validating it as a superior surrogate model for hookworm bioaccumulation. Within this small molecule inhibitor library, SGI-12was identified as a lead candidate with superior potency against C. elegans and bioaccumulation. Second, target validation using a C. …

Evaluating The Impact Of Mysci On Student Outcomes In The St. Louis Region, Megumi Hine, Rachel Ruggirello, Jason Jabbari, Yung Chun, Maia Elkana

Institute for School Partnership: Research & Publications

mySci is a K-8 science curricular program widely used in the St. Louis region. Collaboratively developed by researchers and educators, mySci uses a hands-on, inquiry-centered approach to science instruction. This study investigates mySci’s impact on student science achievement at the school level.

Focus Group: Academicians, Rogelio Paquini, Kristina Freed

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Facilitated by Rogelio Paquini and Kristina Freed.

A Different Starting Point: Youth Discipleship For A New Generation, Rogelio Paquini

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

The process of discipling youth in contemporary society significantly diverges from the approaches utilized in previous generations. The current landscape is characterized by unique challenges, diverse worldviews, and complex relationship dynamics, which collectively create an environment that may be unfamiliar to traditional church discipleship efforts. This paper aims to elucidate the most pertinent elements of discipleship concerning youth and young adults. The analysis presented herein is grounded in a review of contemporary literature and empirical data derived from a survey of young adults regarding their experiences and perspectives on discipleship.

Understanding How Emotional Intelligence Training And Awareness Can Enhance The Effectiveness Of Campus Discipleship Activities, Scott R. Ward, Natasha Richards, Sarah Ward

Journal of Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Discipleship with an understanding of emotional intelligence (EI) can enrich Christian college students’ spiritual and educational experiences. Traditionally, discipleship is rooted in spiritual mentorship, gaining an integrated dimension with EI. This allows a person to understand and recognize how to manage their emotions in all aspects of life. This paper focuses on how emotional intelligence can enhance discipleship by encouraging holistic spirituality and developing healthy people who make healthy disciples. This collaboration of emotional intelligence and discipleship will support personal spiritual growth and help build community within college student groups.

Crossing Boundaries: Brachinites And Their Diverse Asteroidal Origins, B. G. Rider-Stokes, F. A. Davies, T. H. Burbine, E. Maclennan, R. C. Greenwood, S. L. Jackson, M. Anand, Daniel Sheikh, M. M. Grady

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Brachinite meteorites are typically linked to the olivine-rich A-type asteroids. In this study, however, they appear to exhibit unexpected spectral diversity. Spectroscopic analysis of seven meteorites from the brachinite clan reveals two distinct populations in band parameters, overlapping with both the A-type and S-complex asteroids. This dual association shows that a single meteorite group can originate from multiple asteroid taxonomies. Notably, one S-complex-like specimen, Northwest Africa (NWA) 14,635, displays band parameters similar to those of asteroid (65803) Didymos, the target of the European Space Agency's (ESA) ongoing Hera mission. These results underscore the value of spectroscopic characterization of poorly understood …

Recommendations For Sharing Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Data With Patients Based On Clinician Interviews, Carly Daley, Jonathan Shirazi, Tina Allmandinger, Mindy Flanagan, Stephanie Pruitt, Hung-Yeh Lin, Victor P. Cornet, Jeanne Carroll, Yi Rong Tan, Tammy Toscos, Michael Mirro

Health Services and Informatics Research

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) capture an abundance of data that requires specific medical knowledge to interpret. Currently, there are no clear recommenda tions for sharing clinically meaningful CIED data with patients from the abundance of data in CIED remote monitoring reports.

OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were to explore clinicians’ perceptions of clinical care gaps related to CIED data that could be improved through patient access to data and to generate recom mendations for sharing CIED data with patients.

METHODS In this institutional review board-exempt, 2-phase sequential qualitative study, 42 semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with 32 …

Exclusive By Design: Engineered Scarcity And Consumer Behavior In Fashion Drops, Caroline H. Meyer

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The drop business model centers on releasing small batches of products, often without much notice, on a recurring or semi-regular schedule. These limited releases, or "drops," sell out quickly and rarely restock, creating urgency and making each product feel exclusive. Consumers are trained to anticipate launches, check for updates, and act fast within minutes to secure items before they’re gone. By tapping into psychological drivers such as scarcity, fear of missing out (FOMO), and the desire for social belonging, the drop model flips traditional retail logic. Instead of keeping shelves full, it withholds. Instead of lowering prices to drive sales, …