Digital Commons Network^™

Reducing Medication Errors In Inpatient Hospital Settings By Implementing The Barcode Medication Administration Technology: An Integrative Review, Kali A. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Medication administration errors adversely affect patient outcomes, satisfaction, safety, and quality of care. Barcode medication administration (BCMA) technology automates the verification process during medication administration by requiring that nurses scan the barcode on the medication and the patient identification wristband to confirm the five rights of medication administration. The BCMA thus helps to intercept medication errors that occur at the point of administration. A review of 32 articles published within the past six years was conducted to explore the impact of using BCMA technology on medication error rates in inpatient hospital settings. The review findings indicate that systemic and individual …

Exploring The Role Of Religious Coping In Natural Disaster Survivors In The Bahamas, Cherry Ann Raquel Ferguson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Life is filled with a myriad of stressors individuals must navigate to maintain physical and emotional wellness. Some life stressors can be more devastating than others, such as natural disasters. Specific regions, including the Bahamas, have experienced destructive natural disasters such as hurricanes and record-breaking superstorms in the last few decades. Consequently, citizens are exposed to significant amounts of distress due to the devastation caused by these natural disasters. How one copes and one’s level of resilience plays an integral role in managing such turbulent times. Religion can be a valuable resource for those facing traumatic circumstances. The focus of …

The Impact Of A Stem Education Program On Female And Racial Minorities' Knowledge And Attitude, Amira S. Flores

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a STEM education program, specifically STARBASE, on the STEM knowledge and attitudes of fifth grade students, as well as its effect on their pursuit of STEM careers, with a focus on female and racial minority students. Based on a sample of 197 fifth graders from a school district in Southern California, the intervention took place at STARBASE, while the control group remained at their respective schools. A quasi-experimental design was used in the study, with four experimental and four control groups. A STEM knowledge assessment and S-STEM attitude survey …

Embedding The Theology And Principles Of Worship In Pastoral Training And Sermon Preparation, Janicka E. Newbill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A current literature investigation exposes a deficit in encouraging pastors and preachers to embed theology and principles of worship in their sermon preparation and pastoral training. This presents a concern when churchgoers gather in person or virtually to hear a sermon to strengthen their Christian walk each week. In addition, each year, seminary students and local church organizations graduate ministry leaders trained and prepared to deliver sermons designed to meet the spiritual needs of churchgoers. Yet, upon closer examination, there exist underpinning issues. Churchgoers are lacking in their understanding of worship. The Association of Theological Schools exposes a noticeable gap …

An Intrinsic Case Study Of An Inclusive Special Needs Ministry In A Large Nondenominational Faith Community In Central Virginia, Kenneth Gene Warren

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to explore the special needs ministry of “Quality Church,” a large nondenominational ministry in Central Virginia. The theory that guided this study was Tajfel’s (1969) social identity theory, which provided a framework for understanding how attachment develops when there is a common social group connection. The central research question guiding this study was, “What ministries does Quality Church provide for children with special needs and their families?” Subquestions were as follows: “What is Quality Church’s vision for ministering to children with special needs and their families?” “What are the experiences of families …

Rediscovering The Protestant Reformation In African American Worship, Eddie Anthony Robinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Foundations are fundamental. Whether in the structure of a building, developing the mind, or establishing the faith, foundations are critical. The five solas of the Protestant Reformation are foundational to the Christian faith. When thinking of the Reformation and the five solas it produced, Psalm 11:3 comes to mind. This passage reads, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do” (Psalm 11:3, King James Version)? Today’s church needs to return to its foundations. This study argues that the five solas are a firm and solid foundation for the church. During the turbulent times of the Reformation, they held …

Dealing With The Problem Of Lack Of Interest In Evangelism At Freedom Hill Community Church, Max Prudent Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

To deal with the problem of lack of interest in evangelism at Freedom Hill Community Church, a curriculum was designed as an intervention. Given the existence of many barriers to evangelism, this curriculum aimed at addressing only two of them, namely fear and biblical illiteracy. The curriculum was taught to ten participants over the course of six weeks over Zoom. Data collection tools that were used include a pre-course survey, a post-course survey, and a feedback survey. Analysis of the data has shown a positive change in attitude post-intervention in the areas of the relevancy of the intervention to participants’ …

The Lived Experiences Of Black Fathers And How They Can Help To Narrow The Academic Achievement Gap: A Phenomenological Study, Reginald Leon Wright Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of Black fathers raising sons and how their experiences and relationships with their sons aid in preventing the fourth-grade failure syndrome and reducing the academic achievement gap for Black boys. The theory guiding this study was Heider’s attribution theory which helps to explain the reasons behind the academic achievement gap and sheds light on ways to close the gap. This study was conducted using the method of qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology. The stories of Black fathers were collected to examine how they have experienced the world, specifically …

Challenges Law Enforcement Faces In Utilizing Community Policing To Counter Violent Extremism, Steven Brett Beams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There has been a rise in violent extremist attacks throughout America since the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001. However, law enforcement has been challenged in developing means and methods to combat the rise in terrorist activities. Using and enhancing community policing strategies have shown promising results in identifying terroristic individuals. A literature review shows that community policing strategies have been effective in combating and reducing violence and may be effective in mitigating terrorist activities. Community policing can be a necessary means for identifying radical individuals involved in terrorist activities. This research proposes to discover an effective and …

The Veneration Of Charlemagne In Divine Kingship: From Charlemagne To The Last Crusade, Lindsay Michelle Olson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current scholarship on medieval European sacral kingship does not address the significance of Charlemagne’s legacy on the practice but rather it enshrines him in the public imagination. This dissertation explores the means by which Charlemagne influenced the development of sacral kingship, thereby contributing to both focused and broad scholarship. Charlemagne’s legacy, primarily reflected in romanticized literature, impacted the development and practices of sacral kingship in France and England most explicitly demonstrated during the period spanning from the Norman Conquest to the 15th century. The research is based, in part, on the interpretation of contemporary fantastic, preferential, and romanticized literature …

A Jus In Bello Comparison Of Lee’S Gettysburg Campaign And Sheridan’S Valley Campaign, Jonathan Scott Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Just War Theory distinguishes between two levels of war, including jus ad bellum, or the just reasons for which the war is waged, and jus in bello, or just actions within the conduct of the war. This research paper focuses on jus in bello aspects of war, including non-combatant immunity, military necessity, and proportionality, in application to an understanding of history, that of the American Civil War. A significant question in this regard is how did commanders and their armies lead and conduct themselves in concern and adherence to the rules of warfare during campaigns in enemy territory? While the …

A Case Study On Leadership And Digital Media Strategy For Prolonged Absences, Blake Michael Harcup

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic created difficulties for the Western Church to meet together as it had normally done for generations. The question that arises is, “How is the church to continue its mission of reaching people with the Gospel and make disciples that make disciples when it is not able to gather together in the same manner as before?” This project will seek to determine the best strategies and tools that the modern Western Church can use to fulfill its mission through an online digital media strategy during these prolonged absences. A case study of Bedrock Church Sarasota and the strategies …

A Quantitative Study Exploring The Perceptions Of Body-Worn Camera Use In The Texas Department Of Juvenile Justice, David Dean Stender

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social justice issues led to the implementation of body-worn cameras (BWC) in police departments throughout the United States. This widespread implementation provided research results to assist other police agencies in considering implementation; however, no similar criminal justice solution for adult and juvenile corrections has been implemented with the same level of practicality. BWCs have the potential to protect inmates according to the Prison Rape Elimination Act’s (PREA) requirements and represent the most critical social justice issue in corrections: advocating civil rights. The former Texas Youth Commission (TYC) was re-branded as the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) due to a history …

Commissioned: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Evangelism Beliefs, Practices, And Results, Shane Redding

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although Jesus clearly commanded His Church to spread His gospel to the world and make disciples of all nations, the modern American Church has struggled to evangelize effectively, resulting in declining church attendance. While many churches claim to value evangelism, the results indicate a need for churches to reevaluate their current evangelism approaches. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to determine if a relationship exists between the levels of importance that churches place on evangelism, the churches’ tangible evangelism practices, and their new believer baptisms. The target population for the study was lead pastors from non-denomination, baptistic, evangelistic, Christian …

Parental Perspectives On The Role Of Music As A Core Subject, Justine M. Hansen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the designation of music as a core subject by federal and many state education policies, instructional time for elementary music classes is disproportionately less than that allocated to other core subjects. The perceptions held by parents of elementary school children may indicate the extent to which elementary general music education is valued by the public, affecting the allocation of instructional time. At present, no research exists examining the views held by parents concerning the designation of music as a core subject and its role in a well-rounded education. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions held …

The Effects Of Socioeconomic Status And Administrator Support On Middle School All-County Chorus Selections, Celeste Rae Cruz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Achieving equal opportunity in vocal music instruction for middle school students in their classrooms is possible. Unequal practices can occur for middle school choral students who live in low socioeconomic areas. Students in middle or high socioeconomic areas can frequently take private music instruction and receive instruction from their public-school music teacher. Students with private music instruction may be selected for the All-County festival selections over students who cannot afford private music instruction. Student selections for all-county are based on ranking according to NYSSMA scores. Therefore, students from middle and high socioeconomic areas can rank higher than those who do …

Sel And Community Engagement Strategies For The Recruitment And Retention Of Suburban Middle School Band Students, Gina Marie Vingara

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has not yet found a correlation between community engagement and social-emotional learning (SEL) in a manner that benefits the recruitment and retention of suburban middle school band students. Teachers who create community engagement initiatives can boost the number of student recruits as the program becomes more widely recognized as a valuable asset of the school. This explanatory sequential mixed methods design study examined strategies regarding community engagement and SEL for recruiting and retaining middle school instrumental music education students. Perspectives on community engagement and SEL benefiting recruitment and retention of middle school band students emerged. Research revealed a connection …

Grit And Its Relationship With College Academic Success, Lisa Lyann Vance

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Low college completion rates are an unfortunate reality in the United States. Some researchers have shown that a higher level of grit assisted college students in earning a higher grade point average (GPA) and completing a college credential. My study focused on grit and its relationship to college GPA, course completion rate, and the number of activities and programs participated in during one semester, along with the interaction effects of grit with a growth mindset on GPA and course completion rate through five research questions. A survey was administered to community college students participating in a TRIO Student Support Services …

Kangaroo Care And Improved Physiological Status In Preterm Infants: An Integrative Review, Kira Juunia Harkonen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Preterm births continue to cause long-term sequelae for infants worldwide. Interventions in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that promote better outcomes can make an impact on preterm infants’ futures. The purpose of this review was to determine if kangaroo care has positive physiological effects on preterm infants in the NICU. Practice changes to enhance kangaroo care in the NICU include reducing barriers such as medical complexity and staff misconceptions as well as facilitating increased parental presence. The review of the literature found evidence to support the positive outcomes that kangaroo care has on neonates’ growth, vital signs, stress outcomes, …

Educators’ Perceptions Of Implementing The Specialized Program Individualizing Reading Excellence: A Multiple-Case Study, Terra Elizabeth Brown Jordan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to describe educators’ perceptions concerning the implementation of the Specialized Program Individualizing Reading Excellence (SPIRE) as an intervention to help students meet state proficiency standards at a large suburban school district in Utah. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory served as the theoretical framework to guide an inquiry into educators’ beliefs and how well they executed the SPIRE intervention to answer the central research question, “How do educators explain their perceptions of the use of SPIRE in the classroom?” This study utilized a multiple-case study design that captured the perception of 12 educators who …

A Phenomenological Study: Black Female Resilient Dropouts And How They Perceive Parental Influence In Their Pursuit Of Completing A High School Diploma At A Midwestern Credit Recovery Institution, Tennille A. Love

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Black female resilient high school dropouts, and whether parental involvement impacted their enrollment and completion of a diploma from a midwestern credit recovery school. The guiding theories of this study were ecological systems and critical race feminism as it relates to the participants of a specific race and gender, and how the microsystemic relationship between them and their parents may have influenced their decision. The research questions of the study were: (a) what are the lived experiences of Black females who dropped out of their traditional …

Exploring The Meaning Of Doctoral Completion For African American Females Who Have Attended A Predominantly White Institution, Devara D. Brock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As evidenced by the average doctoral student turnover rate, pursuing a doctorate degree may be exceedingly difficult. African American women (AAW) in particular, tend to face unique challenges in higher education due to their gender and racial identities, yet because of their perceived success in comparison to their Black male counterparts, their doctoral experiences at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) frequently go overlooked. Furthermore, considering the impact that trauma can have on higher education success, it is crucial to better understand the intricate nature of the doctoral experiences of AAW to determine how to further facilitate their success. To add to …

Worship Leadership From The Beginning: A Comparative Study Of Exodus 15:1-21 And Judges 5, Vivian Ann Petties

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although many excellent books, commentaries, and journal articles have been written on worship leadership, no framework for worship leadership has been developed based upon Exodus 15:1-21 or Judges 5. The purpose of previous research has not been to discover principles of leadership, praise, and worship, or composition of music for use in ministry nor to develop a consensus about the roles played by the males and females in these texts. To develop a proposal for filling this lacuna, the present thesis will study Exodus 15:1-21 and (comparatively) Judges 5. This qualitative study will employ the exegetical methods of socio-rhetorical analysis …

Tsenacommacah’S Role In The Survival Of Jamestown, Brandon J. Hewitt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

How was a small, unprepared, sick group of 105 English settlers in 1607 able to settle squarely in the middle of a native confederacy whose numbers surpassed 15,000 individuals? This work will attempt to answer this question. At the same time, it will explain how a small group of Englishmen could quickly expand and become the first thriving English colony in North America despite being in the middle of Tsenacommacah, home of the Chesapeake Algonquian chiefdom. This research will place the focus on the Powhatan chief's decision-making processes regarding economics and politics as the reasons the English were able to …

Confessions Of A Traffic Engineer: How The Mutcd Impacts Everything, Peter Koonce

PSU Transportation Seminars

Pete Buttigieg, USDOT Secretary of Transportation has described the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) as “notorious”… and for cities, it has been a challenging document to navigate to implement multimodal solutions. This presentation will share upcoming changes to the Manual, ideas for research to inform practice, and ways that cities can interpret data to make positive change in their community.

Computer-Aided Drug Design Of Bakuchiol-Inspired Lxrα Modulators Against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Dillon P. Cao

LSU Master's Theses

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer in children, accounting for approximately 25% of pediatric malignancies. Although glucocorticoids are commonly used to treat ALL, prolonged use can lead to steroid resistance, rendering the drug regimen ineffective. Therefore, alternative treatment avenues are needed for high- risk pediatric patients that do not respond well to traditional regimens.

Liver X Receptor α (LXRα) is presented as a potential alternative drug target for pediatric patients that exhibit suboptimal response to glucocorticoids. Limitations of the current LXRα modulators such as indiscriminate isoform selectivity between LXRα and LXRβ and consequent adverse effects …

Real Data–Driven Analytical Predictive Modeling For Financial Systems: Stochastic Intensity Function And Monitoring Indicator, Jayanta Kumar Pokharel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Data contain important information and data driven decision making process is the most for any type of businesses to succeed. It is the fact that businesses which follow data driven decision making process will have competitive edge over their counterparts which contributes in value creation for any firm or individual. Statistical procedure and methodology is the heart of data science which helps to extract crucial information from the data scientifically. It is common technique to use algorithm on historical data to see the outcome for the future which we defined as “prediction”, and predictive modeling is one of major statistical …

Study Protocol: Type Iii Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Study Implementing Age-Friendly Evidence-Based Practices In The Va To Improve Outcomes In Older Adults, Kirstin Manges Piazza, Laura Ellen Ashcraft, Liam Rose, Daniel E. Hall, Rebecca T. Brown, Mary Elizabeth (Libby) Bowen, Shahrzad Mavandadi, Alison C. Brecher, Shimrit Keddem, Bruce Kiosian, Judith A. Long, Rachel M. Werner, Robert E. Burke

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Background

Unmet care needs among older adults accelerate cognitive and functional decline and increase medical harms, leading to poorer quality of life, more frequent hospitalizations, and premature nursing home admission. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is invested in becoming an “Age-Friendly Health System” to better address four tenets associated with reduced harm and improved outcomes among the 4 million Veterans aged 65 and over receiving VA care. These four tenets focus on “4Ms” that are fundamental to the care of older adults, including (1) what Matters (ensuring that care is consistent with each person’s goals and preferences); (2) …

Induction Of A Torpor-Like Hypothermic And Hypometabolic State In Rodents By Ultrasound, Yaoheng Yang, Jinyun Yuan, Rachael L Field, Dezhuang Ye, Zhongtao Hu, Kevin Xu, Lu Xu, Yan Gong, Yimei Yue, Alexxai V Kravitz, Michael R Bruchas, Jianmin Cui, Jonathan R Brestoff, Hong Chen

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Torpor is an energy-conserving state in which animals dramatically decrease their metabolic rate and body temperature to survive harsh environmental conditions. Here, we report the noninvasive, precise and safe induction of a torpor-like hypothermic and hypometabolic state in rodents by remote transcranial ultrasound stimulation at the hypothalamus preoptic area (POA). We achieve a long-lasting (>24 h) torpor-like state in mice via closed-loop feedback control of ultrasound stimulation with automated detection of body temperature. Ultrasound-induced hypothermia and hypometabolism (UIH) is triggered by activation of POA neurons, involves the dorsomedial hypothalamus as a downstream brain region and subsequent inhibition of thermogenic …

Tau Accumulation In Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease: A Longitudinal [18f]Flortaucipir Study, Antoinette O'Connor, Shaney Flores, Russ Hornbeck, Eric Mcdade, Brian A Gordon, Randall J Bateman, Tammie L S Benzinger, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Cortical tau accumulation is a key pathological event that partly defines Alzheimer's disease (AD) onset and is associated with cognitive decline and future disease progression. However, an improved understanding of the timing and pattern of early tau deposition in AD and how this may be tracked in vivo is needed. Data from 59 participants involved in two longitudinal cohort studies of autosomal dominant AD (ADAD) were used to investigate whether tau PET can detect and track presymptomatic change; seven participants were symptomatic, and 52 were asymptomatic but at a 50% risk of carrying a pathogenic mutation. All had baseline flortaucipir …