Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership Theory On Leadership Opportunities For Black Women In Black Protestant Churches, Jasmine Y. Lafayette

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Due to changes within society and theological leanings, more Christian leadership opportunities are available for leaders within predominantly Black churches. Campbell-Reed (2018) found that women make up 50 to 75% of the membership in these congregations yet assumed less than 10% of church leadership and perhaps 1% of pastors (p. 2). With such a robust representation of Black women, are they equally represented in leadership roles and opportunities? While there is ample space for speculation about these low percentages, there is also space for exploring the experiences of women regarding leadership opportunities. Transformational leadership theory assumes that the relationship between …

Self-Efficacy Traits Of First Year Corequisite Math Students: A Phenomenological Study, Johnny Reed Fleming

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand better the self-efficacy traits of first-year corequisite mathematics students at a regional, private, liberal arts university located in central Appalachia. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s social cognitive theory as it pertains to participants’ beliefs in their ability to succeed in a college-level mathematics course and their perceived self-efficacy and reciprocal determinism regarding that success. The research questions in this study were designed to examine the perceived self-efficacy, factors of reciprocal determinism, and attitudes of students who experienced success in a credit-bearing mathematics course in college while subsequently enrolled in …

A Descriptive Phenomenological Study Of South Texas Non-Denominational Hispanic Ministry Leaders' Spiritual Formation Through Total Worship, Wendy Méndez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Spiritual formation transforms a believer’s relationship with Christ. For ministry leaders, especially volunteers, this process may be enhanced through worship practices. Understanding worship as a holistic lifestyle—beyond just musical or liturgical expression—had a profound influence on participants’ personal and spiritual development in this study. Despite the abundance of literature on worship and spiritual formation, a gap existed in understanding how total worship influenced the spiritual lives of volunteer leaders, particularly in culturally diverse communities. This study addressed the lack of research on the role of total worship in the spiritual formation of volunteer leaders in predominantly Hispanic, English-speaking, non-denominational, charismatic …

The Genuine Nature Of Worship In The Scriptures: Bowing Before God As An Act Of Submission, Michael Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The various translations of the Scriptures use the word worship over 250 times in both the Old and New Testaments. Unfortunately, many Christians and even scholars do not understand the meaning of worship and the purpose for doing it. It is pivotal, however, for Christians to understand the meaning and purpose for worship when directed toward God so they may live in obedience to him. The thesis of this dissertation will be that although Christians presume that worship means to praise God, the Scriptures teach that worship means to bow before God as an act of submission as he establishes …

The Lived Experiences Of Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities (Idd) On Work Success Within Organizations In North Carolina: A Phenomenological Study, Yvonne D. Wright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) continue to experience substantially lower employment rates than individuals without disabilities. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of individuals with IDD with regard to their work success within organizations in North Carolina. This study is guided by the Self-Determination Theory (SDT and the Social Model of Disability Theory (SMDT). This study also explores the perspectives and roles of the caregivers in supporting inclusion and work success for this population. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from nine individuals with IDD and seven caregivers. The thematic …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Unfaithful Partners: Perceptions Of Forgiveness And Commitment To Rebuilding Trust After Infidelity, Ana De La Cruz Arciniega

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Infidelity has significant emotional and relational consequences; however, limited research has examined the lived experiences of unfaithful partners, particularly their perceptions of forgiveness and commitment to rebuilding trust. This phenomenological study described the lived experiences of unfaithful partners and explored how they understood forgiveness and engaged in trust-rebuilding efforts following infidelity. Thirteen participants (seven males and six females), aged 30 to 65, who had engaged in emotional, physical, virtual, or paid sexual affairs were recruited through social media, private therapeutic practices, affair recovery programs, and church networks. Participants completed individual 45-minute semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom. Interviews were transcribed, member-checked, …

Exploring The Relationships Between Differentiation Of Self, Family Unit Functioning, And Posttraumatic Growth In Adult Female Survivors Of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, Samantha Stokesberry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the relationships between differentiation of self (DoS), family unit functioning (FUF), and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in adult female domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) survivors in the United States. A Bowen Family Systems Theory framework was used for the theoretical foundation of this study and the research was explored from a Christian worldview. A sample of 30 adult female DMST survivors between the ages of 25-55 completed an anonymous online survey that included four measures: a demographics form, The Differentiation of Self Inventory – Revised (DSI-R), the Family Unit Functioning Questionnaire (FUF-Q), and …

Understanding The Impact Of Job Satisfaction Among Public Sector Employees: An Analysis Of The U.S. Federal Government, Ardelia Deneen Speed-Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, non-experimental, correlational study examined the relationship between job satisfaction and Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene factors among public sector employees. Herzberg’s two-factor theory provides the foundation for exploring how motivation factors (achievement/meaningful work, recognition, advancement/career growth) and hygiene factors (job security, salary/pay satisfaction, supervision) were independent variables to job satisfaction outcomes, while controlling for agency and gender. The researcher used secondary data obtained from the FY 2022 US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), which includes responses from 2,522 actively employed OPM federal employees. Job satisfaction was operationalized using FEVS and recoded into a binary variable (satisfied …

Exploring The Perceived Influence Of Exposure To Secondary Trauma On Educators: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Katina M. Perry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the influence of secondary trauma on educators who work with students residing in low-income urban communities. Secondary trauma was generally defined as the emotional response that occurs when individuals are indirectly exposed to the traumatic experiences of others. The theory that guided this study was Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping, as its emphasis on the interplay between an individual’s perceived psychological stress, coping, and cognitive appraisals was resourceful for educators exposed to student trauma. The central research question that guided this study was “How does secondary …

The Shared Experiences Of High Functioning Autistic Adults Receiving Mental Health Care In The Texas Metroplex: A Phenomenological Study, Katherine Ivey Marie Vaughan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the study is to describe the lived experiences of high functioning autistic adults who have engaged in mental health services in mental health services in Texas. Individuals with autism often face unique challenges, such as heightened sensory intake and cognitive inflexibility, which may complicate traditional therapeutic interventions. The theories that guided the study were the biopsychosocial model, social cognitive theory, the neurodiversity paradigm, and cognitive-behavioral theory, all exploring how cognitive processes influence emotions and behaviors in neurodiverse populations. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, semi-structured interviews were done with adults with high functioning autistic adults. Analysis of the …

Training The Church To Support Sufferers Of Mental Illness Through Comfort Clinics, Jonathan D. Blankenship

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem at Laurel Baptist Church (LBC) is the lack of trained members who are equipped to support those suffering from mental illness. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to create Comfort Clinics, a structured program to train members to support sufferers of mental illness. Normative-sized churches are often uninformed on the topic of mental illness. Subsequently, in those environments, stigmas are nurtured, sufferers feel unseen, and church members lack the necessary training to provide the comfort and support that mental sufferers need. Building on the ecclesiastical call to “comfort those who are in any affliction” (2 …

2026-03-10 University Graduate Committee - Minor Curriculum Change Proposal - M.A. In Counseling, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate., University Graduate Committee.

Faculty Senate Records

Minor curriculum change proposal for M.A. in Counseling: Counseling Concentration as submitted to the University Graduate Committee on February 4, 2026 and approved on March 10, 2026.

2026-03-10 University Graduate Committee - Minor Curriculum Proposal - M.A. In Counseling, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate., University Graduate Committee.

Faculty Senate Records

Minor curriculum change proposal for M.A. in Counseling: School Counseling Concentration as submitted to the University Graduate Committee on February 4, 2026 and approved on March 10, 2026.

2026-03-10 University Graduate Committee - Course Proposal For Soc 631, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate., University Graduate Committee.

Faculty Senate Records

Course proposal for SOC 631 Health Structures and Behavior submitted to the University Graduate Committee on February 6, 2026 and approved on March 10, 2026.

Incarcerated Geriatric Patients’ Experiences Of Aging And Healthcare, Michelle I Suh, Stephen Chen, Megan Benavides, Sumin Yoon, Nia Lucas, Josiah D Rich, Marc David Robinson, Anita N Chary

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Older adults comprise the fastest growing demographic in correctional facilities in the United States. Studies have shown older adults in prison report difficulty accessing healthcare and navigating the prison environment. Little is known about how older adults navigate aging and access healthcare in the jail setting. We sought to explore experiences of older adults incarcerated in a county jail. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 older adults (> 50 years old) who were incarcerated at a local county jail and were referred to the emergency department for acute care needs. Interviews focused on experiences of aging while incarcerated and …

Examining A Mindfulness-Based Intervention For Anxiety: A Single Case Analysis With A Mixed Research Method., Aysun Parlar Yazici, Alyson Norman, Alison Bacon

School of Psychology

This single-case study examines the impact of a 6-week Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) on an individual experiencing anxiety, with a particular focus on intolerance of uncertainty (IU). A mixed-methods approach was used, combining quantitative measures with qualitative data from session notes, interviews, and participant feedback. Quantitative findings indicated reductions in stress (DASS-21: pre-test = 36, post-test = 26), anxiety (pre-test = 30, post-test = 18), and depression (pre-test = 38, post-test = 28) scores from pre- to post-intervention. Increases were observed in mindfulness (pre-test = 42, post-test = 64) and resilience (pre-test = 28, post-test = 36), alongside a reduction in …

An Interpretable Machine Learning Model For Predicting Prognosis Of Medulloblastoma Integrating Genetic And Clinical Features, Yu Su, Kaiwen Deng, Xuan Chen, Zhaoyang Feng, Dongyang Wang, Craig Daniels, Hyun Yong Koh, Ricardo Daniel Gonzalez, Hiromichi Suzuki, Tsubasa Miyauchi, Fei Liu, Wei Wang, Jiankang Li, Shuaicheng Li, Rui Chen, Xiaoguang Qiu, Chunde Li, Tao Jiang, Michael D Taylor, Jiao Zhang, Hailong Liu, Yu Tian

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, lacks prognostic tools integrating clinical, molecular, and treatment-related characteristics for individualized management.

Methods: We developed machine learning models using multicenter data from 729 Chinese patients (2001-2023), of whom 509 were assigned to the training set and 220 to the testing set, and further validated the models on 201 patients from international MB consortia. To accommodate patients and researchers with varying datatypes, four application scenarios were established, including clinical-molecular-radiotherapy (CMR), clinical-molecular (CM), clinical-radiotherapy (CR), and clinical-only (CO).

Results: We construct four model scenarios and assess their predictive performance in the testing …

Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation For Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome: A Pidtc Report, Jessie L Alexander, Blachy J Dávila Saldaña, Ruta Brazauskas, Sravya Gethika Dammalapati, Linda M Griffith, Ami J Shah, Kristin A Shimano, Hans D Ochs, Jack J Bleesing, Christen L Ebens, Malika Kapadia, Andrea Bauchat, Neena Kapoor, Joseph H Oved, Hesham Eissa, Hannah Lust, Michael D Keller, Hilary Haines, Shanmuganathan Chandrakasan, Julie-An Talano, Ahmad Rayes, Lisa Madden, Evan Shereck, Holly K Miller, Lisa Forbes Satter, Caridad Martinez, Jacob Rozmus, Jeffrey J Bednarski, Lolie C Yu, Deepakbabu Chellapandian, Victor M Aquino, Alan Knutsen, Hey Chong, Ashley Chopek, Alfred P Gillio, Avni Joshi, Hemalatha Rangarajan, Theodore B Moore, Jeffrey R Andolina, Kenneth B Desantes, Mark Vander Lugt, Susan E Prockop, David C Shyr, Kathleen E Sullivan, Suhag Parikh, Katja G Weinacht, Troy R Torgerson, Rebecca Marsh, Christopher C Dvorak, Alice Y Chan, Elie Haddad, Jennifer R Heimall, Michael A Pulsipher, Jennifer W Leiding, Donald B Kohn, Jennifer M Puck, Luigi D Notarangelo, David J Rawlings, Morton J Cowan, Aleksandra Petrovic, Sung-Yun Pai, Lauri M Burroughs

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS), an X-linked disorder characterized by immunodeficiency, thrombocytopenia, autoimmunity, and malignancy, can be effectively treated with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Older age at HCT and mismatched donors are known to affect overall survival (OS). However, the influence of specific clinical manifestations or WAS variant class on OS and factors associated with event-free survival (EFS) remain incompletely defined. We analyzed outcomes of 308 patients with WAS who underwent HCT at 37 institutions of the Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium from 1990 to 2018. With a median follow-up of 5.3 years, the 5-year OS and EFS were 87.2% and …

Bacterial Fecal Microbiome Composition Associated With Hiv Stage Among Rural And Peri-Urban Adults Living With Hiv In Uganda, Bożena M Morawski, Elise R Morton, Miya Yunus, Claudia Muñoz-Zanzi, Rojelio Mejia, Ran Blekhman, David R Boulware, Sarah M Lofgren

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background

Gut microbiome composition in HIV-infection provides insight into HIV pathogenesis and potentially offers avenues to adjunctive HIV therapies. Although two-thirds of people living with HIV (PLHIV) are in Africa, studies of the gut microbiome PLHIV have focused on non-African populations. Additionally, social, cultural, and environmental factors influence the gut microbiome and differ substantially between African and Western and urban and rural communities. Here, we quantify the relationships between immune status and fecal microbiome composition in 175 rural Ugandan PLHIV.

Methods

In 2013, 175 Ugandan PLHIV contributed a single fecal sample as part of a cohort study of 202 participants. …

Underexplored Maternal Microbiomes: Immune, Metabolic, And Microbial Pathways Shaping Pregnancy Outcomes, Rafael Tomoya Michita, Nicole Jimenez, Melissa M Herbst-Kralovetz, Indira U Mysorekar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Maternal microbial ecosystems play critical roles in shaping reproductive physiology and pregnancy outcomes. During the pre-conception and prenatal periods, these communities modulate maternal physiology by regulating immune tolerance, nutrient metabolism, and susceptibility to pregnancy complications such as preterm birth, hypertensive disorders, and gestational diabetes. While the gut microbiota has been extensively studied, the roles of cervicovaginal, urinary, respiratory, oral, and upper reproductive tract microbiomes remain less clear. In this minireview, we synthesize current knowledge on these underexplored maternal microbiomes, with an emphasis on the cervicovaginal and urinary microbiota and their interactions with the placenta and fetus. We discuss cross-niche microbial …

Sunflower Cut Flower Production In Utah, Calee Garn, Alison Bingham, Melanie Stock, Claudia Nischwitz

All Current Publications

Sunflower is low-maintenance, full-sun crop that is well-adapted to Utah’s hot and dry conditions. Single-stem cultivars are most popular for cut flower production. This fact sheet provides information on sunflower production, including cultivars, site preparation, germination, irrigation, pests, and disease, nutrient management, harvest and storage, postharvest bed management, and economics.

A Practice-Based Implementation Strategy Bundle For Integrating Behavioral Health In Primary Care: A Matrixed Multiple Case Study, Gretchen Buchanan, Kelley Mccall, Lorella Palazzo, Michelle Bagwell, Shivani Patel, Shravya Allena, Byron J Powell

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Integrated behavioral health (IBH) is an evidence-based approach to addressing mental health in primary care settings. It typically involves augmenting a primary care team with a behavioral health professional (e.g., psychologist, licensed clinical social worker) who sees patients for brief, focused concerns; can function as a bridge to specialty care; and provides medical providers with support and education about patient behavioral health concerns. IBH has slowly begun to disseminate across the United States, but practices encounter significant implementation barriers. How IBH is implemented has not been systematically studied outside of trials, yet this study could provide a rich foundation …

Enhancing Seventh-Grade Students’ Scientific Literacy Through The Science-Poly Game, Shita Dhiyanti, Imra’Atul Mufidah, Dyne Rizki Puspitasari, Siti Zubaidah

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

This study aims to improve seventh-grade junior high school students’ scientific literacy through the use of the science-poly game on the topic of motion. The learning process was implemented using the lesson study approach, which consists of three stages: plan, do, and see. In the planning stage, teachers collaboratively designed learning activities and literacy-based questions integrated into the science-poly game. During the implementation stage, students participated in the game while engaging with scientific problems that required them to analyze questions, identify key scientific terms, and formulate conclusions. In the reflection stage, teachers discussed the learning outcomes and evaluated the effectiveness …

The Influence Of Diorama Learning Media On Science Learning Outcomes For Class Iii Elementary Schools, Sunya Tiara Putri, Dya Ayu Agustina Putri

Journal of Innovation and Teacher Professionalism

Education plays a crucial role in shaping intellectually capable and well-prepared generations, which necessitates the use of effective and engaging learning media at the elementary school level. This study aims to examine the influence of diorama-based learning media on science learning outcomes of third-grade elementary school students, particularly on the topic of butterfly metamorphosis. A quantitative approach employing a quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent control group was used. The sample consisted of Grade III students selected purposively, involving an experimental group taught using diorama media and a control group receiving conventional instruction. Learning outcomes were measured using a 20-item achievement …

Addressing Failing Water Systems: A Qualitative Protocol For Intervention Research On Water Insecurity, Patrick Thomson, Melissa Beresford, Jobayer Hossain, Cara Jacob, Carolina Jordão, Oswaldo Medina-Ramírez, Sophie Neems, Daniel Salcedo Serrano, Dave White, Amber Wutich

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

It is increasingly acknowledged that high income countries do not enjoy universal drinking water coverage, with pockets of water insecurity persisting close to areas that have had high-quality, centralized water provision for half a century or more. The reasons behind this are complex, and effective ways to improve water security in these areas defy simple prescriptions. Nuanced measures that disaggregate the different facets of water insecurity are especially important as we attempt to understand and, crucially, improve water security in high-income countries.In this paper, we describe a qualitative protocol for assessing water insecurity at the household level in a study …

Time-Robust Evaluation For Multi-Dataset Intrusion Detection Reveals Temporal Shortcuts And Strong Baselines, Kyle A. Mccleary

LSU Master's Theses

Pooled multi-dataset benchmarks are an attractive way to evaluate intrusion detection systems (IDS) across heterogeneous public corpora, but they can quietly reward shortcut features tied to capture schedules and dataset identity. This work introduces TRACER, an auditable benchmark specification that standardizes seven public IDS corpora into a shared transaction-window prediction unit and a shared label ontology, enabling controlled comparisons between compact sequence backbones and strong tabular baselines under matched splits, training budgets, and scoring rules.

Under this protocol, absolute clock time is a strong shortcut under pooled random splits. Enforcing time-robust controls (timestamp rebasing, circular shifts, and schedule-token masking) reduces …

Melanoma Incidence, Mortality, And Dermatologist Availability Across Selected Urban And Rural Counties In Southwest Missouri, George Ladas, Derek S. Towery

Student Publications

Melanoma is the most lethal of the common skin cancers, and its incidence continues to rise in the United States. Access to dermatologic specialty care remains below recommended benchmarks, particularly in rural and nonmetropolitan regions. This descriptive, population-based analysis examined melanoma incidence and dermatologist availability across five selected counties in southwest Missouri, with limited county-level mortality reporting. Age-adjusted melanoma incidence data were obtained from the State Cancer Profiles database (National Cancer Institute and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and standardized to the 2000 U.S. population. Dermatologist availability was calculated using National Provider Identifier data and reported as dermatologists per …

Monthly Progress Report Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Consent Decree Partial Remedial Design/Remedial Action And Operation And Maintenance, Josh Bryson

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Individual Differences In Alexithymia Modulate Cognition-Emotion Interactions In Daily Life Ongoing Experiences, Anqi Lei, Md Faysal, Louis Chitiz, Raven Wallace, Samyogita Hardikar, Brontë Mckeown, Jonathan Smallwood, Elizabeth Jefferies, Robert Leech, Nerissa Ho

School of Psychology

Individual differences modulate our thoughts and emotional experiences, yet how thought and emotion interact in daily life remains largely unclear. We leverage alexithymia, a trait reflecting atypical emotional awareness, to reveal these interactions in naturalistic settings. Using multi-dimensional experiencesampling via smartphones, we captured moment-to-moment thought patterns and concurrent affective states (valence, arousal, stress) in people’s daily life (N = 190 undergraduate students, age range = 18 to 36, 159 females). Using Principal Component Analysis and Linear Mixed Models, we identified four thought dimensions that relate differently to these affective states: future-self orientation, intrusive distraction, sensory engagement, and task-focus. Alexithymia modulated …

Undergraduate Science Writing Performance And Perceptions Following An Online Guided Writing Module, Amanda Gunlefinger, Hannah Smith, Jeffrey Klemens, Nanette Tomicek

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Undergraduate students often struggle with scientific communication, particularly in writing clear and concise lab reports. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a multi-section Anatomy and Physiology laboratory course to examine patterns in student writing performance and perceptions of science writing following the implementation of an online guided writing module. The module, developed in Nearpod integrated with Canvas, provided task-specific instruction and embedded questions with immediate feedback focused on authoring a results section for a lab report assignment. Student enrolled during the 2024 implementation term who completed the module (n = 278) demonstrated higher lab report writing scores compared to …