Digital Commons Network^™

Living Water: A Hermeneutical And Exegetical Approach, John Panicker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Throughout Scripture, God refers to people, objects, words, and other things of the universe to help man understand him. In the New Testament, Christ used parables, metaphors, and signs to reveal himself and his salvation plan. The crown jewel among these symbols is the living water, symbolizing the Holy Spirit who is the ultimate source of salvation. God did not impose death on man, but man chose death over life by disobeying God’s command not to eat from the tree of the “knowledge of good and evil.” He decided to accept Satan’s seduction and counsel and willfully transgressed against his …

The Relational Fruit Of The Spirit In Youth Ministers: Do Youth Ministers Display Patience, Kindness, And Goodness?, Mary Ann Ridgley-Thornton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Youth ministry is a crucial part of the church that can help teenagers strengthen their godly beliefs and spiritual formation. Youth ministers’ actions, characters, and behavior should reflect the fruit of the Spirit. This qualitative case study explored whether and how youth leaders displayed the fruit of the Spirit at seven Bible-based, baptistic Christian churches in southeast Georgia. Although seven was the goal, only five churches agreed to participate. A Christian church was defined as one with no more than 500 members that accept the Bible as the sole source and authority of genuine Christian faith. The fruit of the …

A Phenomenological Study Of Introverted Leaders, Sherita Dianne Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Society is comprised of individuals with different personality types who are frequently referred to as extraverted or introverted. Research has suggested individuals fall somewhere along the continuum of extraversion to introversion. Based on statistics, introverts are thought to comprise between 33% to 50% of the greater population, but introverts only comprise 4% of the management teams leading companies. The literature has vast amounts of information about leadership and extraversion but limited information about introversion and leadership. From the literature, what is not clear is how the introspective tendencies of introverted leaders may influence the strategic planning, decision making, or other …

A Phenomenological Study Of In-Service Expatriate Teachers’ Experiences With Inclusive Education In Chinese Private Schools, Sharon Ann Ma

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of in-service expatriate teachers who provide differentiated instruction for students with special educational needs (SEN) in regular classrooms at mainland Chinese private schools. The study was designed around the following central research question: What are the experiences of in-service expatriate teachers who provide differentiated instruction for students with special educational needs in regular classrooms at mainland Chinese private schools? This study used a theoretical framework of Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior by examining the planned behavior of in-service expatriate teachers as influenced by the subjective norms of the …

A Predictive And Causal-Comparative Study Examining Emotional Exhaustion, Workload, Surface Acting, And Inclusion On Managers, Dana M. Morris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative and predictive correlational design study is to examine how workload, surface acting, work group inclusion, and emotional exhaustion impact African-American and Caucasian American managers in domestic, white-collar roles. A critical variable is emotional exhaustion which has been identified as a key characteristic and predictor of burnout in the workplace. While many current burnout studies have excluded underrepresented minorities and focused on job performance and job demands in human service industries, this study addresses relevant psychological workplace factors that have been associated with detrimental mental and physical conditions of underrepresented minorities - emotional dissonance and …

Perceptions Of Student Loan Debt And The Decision To Pursue Higher Education: A Qualitative Case Study Of African American High School Students, Adrian J. Wilkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine African American high school students’ perceptions surrounding potential student loan debt burden and its perceived influence on the decisions to enter HEIs. The purpose of this study stems from the current status of student loan debt as a significant factor in the decision-making process for potential higher education students as well as current students and those who have graduated. The central research question of this study was what are African American high school student perceptions of student loan debt, student loan debt burden, financial aid, and how are those perceptions influencing …

Comprehensive Musicianship Through Performance: A Review Of Related Literature With Cmp Based Unit And Lesson Plans For Middle School Band, Timothy M. Pietrofere

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The concept of comprehensive musicianship has been discussed since the mid-sixties referring to the interdisciplinary study of music. Many directors focus solely on teaching performing skills such as rhythm and musical notation, limiting the student’s exposure to a well-rounded musical teaching experience. Comprehensive musicianship has shown an increase in student’s musical knowledge in history and enhanced musical theory skills, aural skills, performance skills and improvisation. Although there is significant research on high school bands and their implementation of comprehensive musicianship, there is limited research pertaining to the Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance (CMP) and the middle school band. This qualitative study …

Culturally Induced Male Dominance: Addressing Breakdown Of Harmony In Asian Indian Christian Marriages, Benjamin Mulaparthi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Marriage is an institution designed by God to fulfill the creation mandate and represent Christ and his bride in this world. Marriage is a universal social construct fulfilled in diverse ways across cultures and societies. In Asian Indian culture, marriages are mostly arranged where parents customarily choose a spouse based on the caste/ethnicity, religion, social and economic standing of prospective spouses and their families. Many Christians in India and those of Indian origin living in the United States adopt the cultural norm of arranged marriage. This DMIN action research project will explore the breakdown of harmony in Christian arranged marriages …

Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Nationally Credentialed Victim Advocates: Baseline And Risk Factors, Bette Marie Stebbins Inch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Crime victims rely on the expertise of nationally recognized victim advocates to navigate the complex criminal justice process that includes reporting the crime and participating in the criminal legal system while recovering from trauma. People indirectly involved in traumatic events can also experience adverse effects. Providing direct services to traumatized crime victims may increase an advocate’s risk of developing secondary traumatic stress and negatively affect client services. This study was designed to examine the occurrence of specific symptoms matching the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale to establish a baseline of secondary traumatic stress among a sample of nationally credentialed victim advocates …

African American Parenting Style Influence On Children And Adolescents' Academic Success, Elizabeth F. Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine how parenting styles influence African American children and adolescents’ academic success. The theory guiding this study was Diana Baumrind’s parenting typologies authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles. A sample size of 10 African American participants who had at least one child, 3 months to 18 years of age, were recruited and selected through purposeful and snowball sampling. Each participant was interviewed via recorded Zoom meetings and data were collected utilizing open-ended, semistructured, in-depth interview questions. Three research questions guided this study: (a) what response is given that characterizes parents’ relations …

Experiential Interrelationships Of Learned Helplessness, Military Culture, And Chronic Veteran Homelessness, Adam Joseph Russo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative research study examined psychological resiliency factors. The theories that guided this research study were Peterson et al. (1993) Learned Helplessness (LH) Theory, military, cultural conditioning, and Seligman’s (2018) PERMA psychological resiliency model, which is rooted in Positive Psychology. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to describe the lived experiences of veterans who had experienced homelessness for at least 90 consecutive days and who were currently living in a therapeutic housing shelter in the northeastern United States. I investigated veterans’ military-to-civilian transitional experiences, social support transitions, cultural norm differences, and routine engagement experiences. The data …

Site-1 Protease Inhibits Mitochondrial Respiration By Controlling The Tgf-Β Target Gene Mss51, Muhammad G Mousa, Lahari Vuppaladhadiam, Meredith O Kelly, Terri Pietka, Shelby Ek, Karen C Shen, Gretchen A Meyer, Brian N Finck, Rita T Brookheart

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The mitochondrial response to changes in cellular energy demand is necessary for cellular adaptation and organ function. Many genes are essential in orchestrating this response, including the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 target gene Mss51, an inhibitor of skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration. Although Mss51 is implicated in the pathophysiology of obesity and musculoskeletal disease, how Mss51 is regulated is not entirely understood. Site-1 protease (S1P) is a key activator of several transcription factors required for cellular adaptation. However, the role of S1P in muscle is unknown. Here, we identify S1P as a negative regulator of muscle mass and mitochondrial respiration. S1P …

Molnupiravir And Risk Of Post-Acute Sequelae Of Covid-19: Cohort Study, Yan Xie, Taeyoung Choi, Ziyad Al-Aly

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether treatment with the antiviral agent molnupiravir during the first five days of SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with reduced risk of post-acute adverse health outcomes.

DESIGN: Cohort study.

SETTING: US Department of Veterans Affairs.

PARTICIPANTS: 229 286 participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between 5 January 2022 and 15 January 2023, had at least one risk factor for progression to severe covid-19, and survived the first 30 days after testing positive were enrolled. 11 472 participants received a prescription for molnupiravir within five days of the positive test result and 217 814 received no covid-19 antiviral or …

Measuring Performance: The Economics Of Cleaning The Outside Of The Cup, Joshua Hollinger

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Sometimes focusing too much on what we can measure distorts our beliefs and actions as we turn away from immeasurable things that matter."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­the economics of evaluating workers based on their performance from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation.

https://inallthings.org/measuring-performance-the-economics-of-cleaning-the-outside-of-the-cup/

Anti-Inflammatory Activities Of Two New Deoxygenated N-Acetyl Glucosamines In Lipopolysaccharide-Activated Mouse Macrophage Raw264.7 Cells, Quang Le, Zhichang Zhang, Daniel Sun, Quanjun Cui, Xinlin Yang, Ameer E. Hassan

School of Medicine Publications

Background

Glucosamine and N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG) are amino sugars found in human extracellular matrix with previously described anti-inflammatory effects. Despite mixed results from clinical studies, these molecules have been used extensively in supplements.

Objective

We investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of two synthesized derivatives of N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG), bi-deoxy-N-acetyl-glucosamine (BNAG) 1 and 2.

Methods

Using mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation, the effects of NAG, BNAG 1, and BNAG 2 on the expression of IL-6, IL-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and COX-2 were studied using ELISA, Western blot and quantitative RT-PCR. Cell toxicity and nitric oxide …

Poly(Ether Imide)S: Synthesis And Properties, Rachel Price

Honors College Theses

The synthesis of strong polymers is crucial to the creation of heat-resistant, durable, and mechanically useful plastics that we use every day. Poly(ether imide)s are used in applications such as food service, aerospace, automotive, and many more. This thesis will discuss the synthesis and properties of these plastics to help express a larger understanding of these polymers.

Using Project Management Principles And Practices In Long-Term Care: For Students, Aits, And New Administrators, David G. Wolf

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

No abstract provided.

Barriers To Care In Juvenile Localized And Systemic Scleroderma: An Exploratory Survey Study Of Caregivers’ Perspectives, Leigh A Stubbs, Andrew M Ferry, Danielle Guffey, Christina Loccke, Erin Moriarty Wade, Pamela Pour, Kaveh Ardalan, Peter Chira, Ingrid M Ganske, Daniel Glaser, Gloria Higgins, Nadia Luca, Katharine F Moore, Vidya Sivaraman, Katie Stewart, Natalia Vasquez-Canizares, Raegan D Hunt, Renata S Maricevich, Kathryn S Torok, Suzanne C Li, Childhood Arthritis, Rheumatology Research Alliance (Carra) Scleroderma Workgroup

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Juvenile localized scleroderma (LS) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) are rare pediatric conditions often associated with severe morbidities. Delays in diagnosis are common, increasing the risk for permanent damage and worse outcomes. This study explored caregiver perspectives on barriers they encountered while navigating diagnosis and care for their child's scleroderma.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, caregivers of juvenile LS or SSc patients were recruited from a virtual family scleroderma educational conference and a juvenile scleroderma online interest group. The survey queried respondents about their child's condition and factors affecting diagnosis and treatment.

RESULTS: The response rate was 61% (73/120), with …

Perlmutter Center For Legal Justice At Cardozo School Of Law Celebrates Release Of Bruce Bryant Following Clemency Victory, Perlmutter Center For Legal Justice At Cardozo Law

Cardozo News 2023

It was a day of jubilation for Bruce Bryant, the first client of The Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at Cardozo School of Law as he celebrated his release from prison on April 24th, after New York State Governor Kathy Hochul granted him clemency in December.

Cardozo Hosts Annual Donors & Scholars Cocktail Reception, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo News 2023

On April 18, Cardozo held a warm and festive Donors & Scholars Cocktail Reception. The annual event brought together outstanding students who have benefited from scholarship and stipend support wth the generous donors who make it possible.

Dean Melanie Leslie ’91, 2L Zoe Sheppard and Shoshana Bookson ’82 each spoke of the critical importance to students and the tremendous value of giving back to the Cardozo community.

Response To Intervention: Are We On The Right Path?, Teri Justus

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study uses a design-based approach to school improvement. At the center of the study, a focus group was utilized to explore the current response to intervention process in place specifically in the area of third-grade reading. Working through Mintrop’s cycle of inquiry, this study was embedded into the professional development of the research team with key questions used to gain an understanding of the intervention process as a whole. During the process, the research team, consisting of classroom teachers and an interventionist, designed and implemented an intervention that was then evaluated at the completion of the 90-day cycle …

Assessment Of Spatial And Temporal Variations In Chloride Concentration In An Agricultural Tile-Drained Area In Central Illinois, Okiemute Commander

Theses and Dissertations

Long-term increase in chloride (Cl-) concentration in surface water and groundwater from anthropogenic sources, including deicing salts, agriculture, septic effluents, and wastewater treatment plants is a growing cause for concern all over the world. In rural midwestern US with predominant agricultural land usage and less impervious surface cover, agriculture may serve as a potential source for Cl- in surface and groundwater systems. A saturated riparian buffer (SRB) installed adjacent to a central Illinois stream to reduce nutrient losses was used to identify populations of Cl-, substantiate agricultural influence, and identify spatial and temporal Cl- variations within the SRB. 2297 water …

Parental Perspectives On The Social Communication Between Adolescent Females Diagnosed With High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder And Their Typically Developing Older Siblings: A Case Study, Victoria Suzette Paxton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Verbal social communication and nonverbal social communication have been documented as a source of deficiency in adolescents with high-functioning (H-F) autism. Likewise, adolescent females with autism reported an increase in social communication difficulties as they aged into adolescence. While the positive impact on social communication in children with autism by older siblings has been documented, there is no such research that has investigated the nonverbal and verbal social communication characteristics among adolescent females with high-functioning autism and their typically developing older siblings (Ben-Itzchak et al., 2016). In the following research study, parental perspectives on the social communication between female adolescents …

A Case Study Examining The Experiences Of Middle School Teachers Who Use Manipulatives To Foster The Self-Efficacy Of Students With Math Difficulties, Krishanta Katira Butcher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to examine the experiences of middle school teachers who use manipulatives during math instruction to foster the self-efficacy of students with mathematics difficulties. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy was the theoretical framework for this study. The study was conducted at the Starlight School for Exceptional Children and at the Kingsway High School in The Bahamas. I recruited 15 participants for this study that included a combination of special and general education teachers who use manipulatives to provide math instruction to middle school students. To attain optimum results, I collected the data in the …

Virtual Recovery: Bringing The Kingdom To An Online Community, Andrew Charles Matts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Soon after Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension, the fledgling church community divided into two camps: One favoring the inclusion of Gentile converts only if they observed traditional Jewish Law and custom (e.g., circumcision) and the other, led by Paul, asserting that following Jesus did not require such formality and legalism. A lengthy debate concluded by reaching into the Gentile community to provide a captivating kingdom message of hope, love, and compassion. Today, the traditional, physical church community faces a growing challenge: reaching into a growing online community by providing a captivating kingdom message, while recognizing that potential recipients of the message …

Is Assurance Of Salvation Of The Essence Of Saving Faith In The Gospel Of John?, Robert Vacendak

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Catholics, Calvinists, and Arminians deny absolute assurance of salvation. Instead, they imagine only “degrees of,” “a measure of,” “a kind of,” or “some level of” assurance before final judgment. Scholarly analyses of assurance often prioritize earlier studies, not Scripture. Therefore, few question whether partial assurance even meets the Biblical threshold. This dissertation seeks a fresh inductive analysis of John’s Gospel, a book challenging the scholarly consensus. Numerically, John’s divine truth-claims regarding eternal life/assurance far exceed other Biblical books. Careful exegesis of John vindicates absolute assurance and refutes partial assurance. Regeneration occurs the moment one believes Christ has irrevocably saved him …

School Leader Beliefs Regarding School-Wide Grading Practices: A Phenomenological Study, Matthew David Czaplicki

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the beliefs regarding school-wide grading practices held by school leaders employed by Central Pennsylvania schools. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory (SCT) as it explains how behaviors (and subsequent beliefs) are shaped from past experiences, environment, and social interactions. This qualitative study utilized a transcendental phenomenological approach to understand common or shared beliefs held by school leaders regarding grading practices. Ten school leaders from Central Pennsylvania were selected for the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews and vignette responses. The data gathered from …

A Qualitative Study Comparing The Teaching Philosophies And Practices Of Children's Choir Artistic Directors In South-Central Ontario, Rebecca Hope Strutt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the number of studies related to community music in North America, very little research is available regarding children's choir artistic directors, specifically those in Ontario. This research project examined the philosophical and pedagogical teaching practices of children's choir artistic directors of south-central Ontario for a comparative study through a phenomenological qualitative approach. Guided by the research of notable conductors such as Doreen Rao, Helen Kemp, and Jean Ashworth Bartle, this study identified perspectives not yet explored and documented concerning teaching philosophies and practices of children's choir artistic directors in south-central Ontario. Emerging themes from the literature review included building …

Strategies For Creating And Building College Band Programs Within Institutions Under A 5000-Student Population, Joshua Benjamin Buckrucker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Higher education institutions regularly cultivate recruitment and retention plans to attract potential students to their programs. Small college band programs are identified as institutions under a 5,000-student enrollment and often develop recruiting strategies that employ a smaller applicant pool. This qualitative study observes small college recruitment practices and justifies successful and non-successful techniques within small college band programs. The research within this project examined insights into college admissions practices, administration roles in student recruitment and retention, and the role of the music faculty in recruiting and retaining current students. Furthermore, this study evaluates the effects of college exposure, marketing, communication, …

Efficacy Of A Christian Intervention To Promote Posttraumatic Growth In Women Recovering From Intimate Partner Violence, Jerra L. Dooley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative pretest-posttest design evaluated a biblically based personal development program (PDP) for promoting PTG in Christian women who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). A convenience sample (N = 7) of volunteers included women within a large county in the Southeastern United States. Participants were recruited through numerous large and small Southern Baptist churches. Qualifications included being female, at least 19 years old, and having experienced IPV but not within the last 12 months, to reduce the possibility of reinjury by rumination. Participants completed pretest assessments, attended the 3-hour personal development program, and completed a posttest assessment. Data was …