Digital Commons Network^™

Challenging Assumptions: Social Participation And Barriers For Autistic Students In Higher Education, Sue Iliff, Nicole Richard Williams, Siobahn Collins, Abby Noblitt, Meris Gilliam, Tori Knox, Alina Randall

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Autistic students bring diverse social preferences and ways of engaging to college, yet campus structures often do not reflect the full range of these experiences. Understanding how students across neurotypes navigate social participation can inform more inclusive practices. This mixed‑methods study used a convergent parallel design to examine the social experiences of autistic and non‑autistic undergraduates at a mid‑sized private university. Quantitative survey items assessed participation levels, satisfaction, and perceived barriers, while open‑ended responses provided qualitative insights. Quantitative analyses showed no significant group differences in hours of participation, satisfaction, or reported barriers. Qualitative findings highlighted varied social experiences across neurotypes: …

Chemical And Pharmacological Mechanisms Of Calcium Oxalate Stone Inhibition: Citrate, Thiazides, And Emerging Therapies, Grace Tidwell

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Calcium oxalate (CaOx) kidney stone formation has prompted the development of a variety of pharmacological therapies designed to reduce the risk of crystallization by chemically modifying a patient’s urinary composition and thereby reducing urinary supersaturation of stone-forming ions. This paper reviews key drug classes that inhibit CaOx crystallization, such as citrate supplements, which bind calcium and increase pH levels within the urine, and thiazide diuretics, which act on the kidneys to increase calcium reabsorption into the bloodstream. In addition, the use of polyphenol-based compounds and gut microbiome therapies is examined for their potential roles in stone prevention. Ultimately, by focusing …

Impact Of Pvc Microplastics On The Growth Of Raphanus Sativus, Olivia Fawkes, Alissia D. Fulton, Darlene Panvini

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Microplastics have emerged as a growing concern due to their increasing prevalence in terrestrial ecosystems. Understanding how microplastics affect plant growth is crucial for the agricultural industry, as crop productivity and soil quality have a direct impact on food security and farm sustainability. This study examined the impact of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics on the germination and growth rate of Raphanus sativus. Seeds were grown for six weeks in a controlled growth chamber in petri plates and soil pots containing varying concentrations of PVC microplastics (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 mg/L), including untreated PVC and PVC artificially weathered through …

Pilattes; A Campaign With Prickly Pear Coffee Co., Grace Elizabeth Lappenga, Karis Grace Joe, Abigail Brooke Encalade

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The Prickly Pear Coffee Co. campaign sought to build awareness and community engagement around the brand’s new mobile camper location in Franklin, Tennessee. Founded by Annika Baylis, Prickly Pear Coffee Co. is a Christ-centered brand that began as a mobile espresso cart during the COVID-19 pandemic and grew into a Nashville staple with multiple storefronts.

With the new Franklin location facing limited awareness and a reduced marketing budget following complications from the January 2026 ice storm, three students in Belmont University’s PR Campaigns class conducted a situation analysis that included audience research, social media audits, and influencer identification. These insights …

The Impact Of Smartphone Notifications And Locus Of Control On Reading Comprehension, Katherine Visner, Sarah M. Fritts, Audrey Laskey, Chloe Giraud

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Locus of Control, defined as “...individuals' beliefs about the degree of control they have over events in their lives,” has long been associated with task performance, specifically in both compliant and initiative domains (Blau, 1993; Galvin et al., 2018). Existing literature on task performance suggests that, aside from Locus of Control, noise distractions play a significant role in individuals' ability to focus and concentrate (Jafari et al., 2019). In academic contexts, research indicates that noise disturbances and subsequent inability to concentrate impede an individual's task performance by reducing reading comprehension and textual processing (Foroughi et al., 2015). As such, the …

Assessing The Role Of Egr1 In Invasive Migration Of P53-Variant Colorectal Cancer Cells, Mehrael Faragalla

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Colorectal cancer progression is influenced by dysregulated signaling pathways that affect cell proliferation and migration. One important pathway is WNT signaling, which promotes MYC expression and contributes to tumorigenesis. In the absence of functional p53, MYC has been shown to induce the tumor suppressor gene EGR1, leading to EGR1-driven apoptosis rather than proliferation. This noncanonical activity of MYC has been termed the MYC-EGR1 pathway and has only been observed in the absence of functional p53, a well-known genetic aberration associated with colorectal cancer progression. Of particular interest is the impact of the expression of EGR1 on colorectal cancer cell malignancy …

Transforming Education With Ai, Kenna C. Lorenzini

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more common in college classrooms, especially when students are completing papers and assignments. This project explores how college students can use AI responsibly while still learning and developing their own ideas. The goal of this project is to compare the perspectives of both professors and students in order to better understand how AI can support learning while still maintaining academic honesty. This research highlights the importance of clear expectations, responsible use of technology, and open conversations between students and educators about AI in academic work.

Cisplatin Chemotherapy Shown To Decrease Heart Rate In Daphnia Magna​, Cody Woten, Andrea Florian

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Although chemotherapies are widely used for cancer treatment, they pose side effects of cardiotoxicity. Cisplatin is a chemotherapy that binds covalently to DNA and causes cross-links that prevent further replication. However, limited data suggest that cisplatin may cause arrhythmias and acute myocardial infarction, likely due to oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species in mitochondria of the heart. Daphnia magna are effective models for assessing cisplatin cardiotoxicity because their transparent bodies allow direct observation of the heart, and heart rate can be easily measured under a microscope. We aim to determine whether cisplatin chemotherapy causes cardiotoxicity in vivo using D. magna. …

Introduction - Intertext 2026, Jules Vinarub, Kairo Rushing

Intertext

No abstract provided.

Your Memory Is Mine, Owen Westbrook

Intertext

No abstract provided.

Section Intro: Beauty In The Creator, Raina Hartman, Alexis Kirkpatrick

Intertext

No abstract provided.

I Am Not My Looks: Growing Up As The Ugly Duckling, Shawn Ware

Intertext

No abstract provided.

Christmas Eve In Danang, Vietnam, December 24th, 1966, Rand Timmerman

Intertext

No abstract provided.

The Voice Of Children In The Dark, Amira Shoubassi

Intertext

No abstract provided.

Editors - Intertext 2026, Intertext Journal

Intertext

No abstract provided.

Complete Issue - Intertext 2026, Intertext Journal

Intertext

No abstract provided.

A Treatise On Tool Development: The Arthroscope’S Cultural, Technological, And Metascientific Translation, Montgomery F. Waterer

Honors Theses

The arthroscope was a revolutionary development in the fields of medicine, engineering, and ethics. There are many valuable lessons to be learned from the story of its development and translation that are relevant to the future of medicine and society. Beginning with a brief description of the tool’s design, this paper will examine a period within the history of the arthroscope. This window contains multiple innovators and ends with the life and work of Dr. Robert Jackson. In examining the relevant historical facts of its development, this paper will then briefly address the importance of sports medicine in the development …

Optimizing Performance And Preventing Injury: The Role Of Ot In Powerlifting, Anastasia N. Espinosa, Cassandra M. Nelson, Jaimee Fielder

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Powerlifting is a high-intensity sport associated with increased risk of injury, particularly in community-based gym settings where structured education on recovery, injury prevention, and training strategies is limited. This capstone project aimed to develop and implement a Performance and Wellness Program to support safe and sustainable participation in powerlifting. A program development approach was used, including a needs assessment through surveys, questionnaires, and observation to identify gaps in training, recovery, and self-management practices. The program was delivered through structured, self-directed modules and supported by a digital manual to promote long-term use. Findings from post-program surveys indicated improvements in athlete confidence, …

An Expressive Arts Therapy Literature Review: Spiritual Experiences And Dsm-5 Assessment In Bipoc Communities, Amanda Paige Rodriguez

Expressive Therapies Theses

Spiritual and non-ordinary experiences such as clear-hearing, visions, and spiritual perception are frequently interpreted within Western mental health systems through diagnostic frameworks rooted in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). For Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC), these interpretations may overlook cultural, spiritual, and ancestral contexts in which such experiences hold meaning rather than indicate pathology. This literature review examines how DSM-5 frameworks conceptualize spiritual experiences in BIPOC communities and explores assessment practices that may reduce the risk of misdiagnosis.

A literature review methodology was employed, drawing on sixteen peer-reviewed articles representing qualitative, quantitative, and …

Improving Pneumococcal Immunization Counseling In Children With Systemic Lupus Erythematous, Sarah Dettmann

Doctoral Dissertations & Projects

Background: Pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) face elevated risk for invasive pneumococcal disease, yet fewer than 10% are estimated to be current on pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) recommendations.

Local Problem: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to develop and implement a standardized pneumococcal immunization screening and counseling process in a pediatric rheumatology clinic.

Method: Three consecutive PDSA cycles guided implemention across a nine-week intervention period using a pre-post quasi-experimental design.

Interventions: A multicomponent strategy was employed, including a PCV decision algorithm, EHR Smart Phrase, PCP referral template, and patient education brochure.

Results: Pre-implementation PCV counseling was documented …

Jacqueline Humphries V. Hud

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Usa V. Randale Chapman

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Jerry Painadath V. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Gulabbhai Mistry V. Attorney General United States Of America

2026 Decisions

Agency

Michael Miller V. Judicial Council United States Third Circuit Court

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Color And Cognitive Performance, Madeleine R. Scott, Erin Johnson, Christian Mitchell, Andreq Lopez Hernandez

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The current study aims to determine if colored backgrounds (red, blue, white (neutral)) on a series of memory tasks impact an individual's stress level and cognitive performance. Previous research indicates that color exposure may impact stress and cognitive performance, although the relationship is not fully understood. For example, participants completing memory assessments with a red light have been shown to perform better than those with blue or white lights (Jadho et al., 2020). However, red light is also associated with greater experiences of stress compared to blue or white light (Shahidi et al., 2021). There are several studies exploring different …

Designing Heritage Using Digital Fashion Tools, Nathan Chapman

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Sarah E. Andersen

This collection explores the strength of American women and the systems that attempt to define, contain, and judge them. Inspired by historical power dressing, feminist theory, and the fashion industry’s constructed ideals, the work confronts the Madonna–Whore complex and the policing of women’s bodies. Through American-grown cotton and heritage garment techniques, each look exposes tension between authority and vulnerability, modesty and desire. The final look contrasts the real woman with the dress form and exaggerated silhouette society demands, revealing the impossibility of meeting such standards. The collection reframes empowerment as visibility, resistance, and refusal.

Lily Brenner | …

Hb 1938: Ending Prison Privatization In Tennessee, Skyler J. Duplessis, Xavier Tharpe-Patton, Josie Lerer, Carley Wood

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The term recidivism refers to the tendency of an individual convicted of a crime to reoffend after release. A growing body of research has found that individuals incarcerated in privately operated correctional facilities often demonstrate higher rates of recidivism compared to those held in publicly managed prisons. Scholars suggest that differences in access to rehabilitative programming, staffing patterns, and institutional resources may contribute to these disparities. Critics argue that cost-containment priorities unique to for-profit correction can conflict with investment in education, treatment, and reentry preparation -factors consistently linked in the literature to reduced reoffending and improved community reintegration. This is …

Integrated Vaccine Bundle Procurement Framework, Ming Zhu

Theses

Childhood vaccination is among the most effective public health interventions, yet ensuring affordable access in low-income countries (LICs) remains challenging. Centralized procurement agencies such as UNICEF and Gavi purchase vaccines antigen-by-antigen through competitive tenders which is a practice that fails to capture the affordability gains attainable by coordinating vaccine products into optimized bundles tailored to each child’s complete immunization schedule. This study develops an Integrated Vaccine Bundle Procurement Framework that shifts the unit of procurement from the antigen level to the vaccine product level. The framework formulates the procurement as the construction and selection of child-level immunization bundles, feasible sets …

Anthropometric And Lifestyle Metrics Compared In Postmenopausal Women, Amanda Louise Daniel

Theses

Background: Hormone changes and aging that lead to menopause have a significant impact on quality of life. Understanding health thresholds for the components of body composition in this population are not well known. The relationship between menopausal symptoms and lifestyle factors is understudied. Methods: A mixed-methods approach included surveys and face-to-face body composition analysis using bioelectric impedance. Eating competence, sleep quality, and physical activity were assessed online with validated surveys prior to body composition measurement. Data were transformed to normality and analyzed with Pearson correlation coefficients and independent t-test correcting for multiple comparisons. Results Of the 69 interested people, 50 …