Digital Commons Network^™

A Feedback-Guided Analysis Of Environmental, Health And Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Drivers’ Willingness To Shift To E-Jeepneys, Charlotte Kendra Gotangco Gonzales, Katrina Abenojar, Carlos Rosauro Manalo, Melliza Templonuevo Cruz, Maria Obiminda L. Cambaliza, James Bernard Simpas, Imee Delos Reyes, John Wong, Bernell Go, Krizelle Cleo Fowler, Rene Marlon Panti, Emma E. Porio, Jean Jardeleza Mijares

Environmental Science Faculty Publications

The Jeepney Modernization Program involves the replacement of traditional jeepneys with more efficient alternatives, including modern enclosed electric vehicles, alongside operational improvements to the public transportation system. This study aims to assess the environmental, health and socio-economic factors impacting drivers’ willingness to shift to e-jeepneys. Feedback-Guided Analysis was used as a framework for designing an interdisciplinary approach towards understanding the decision-making paradigms of drivers plying a specific route in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Measurements of drivers’ exposure to PM2.5 and associated health parameters were complemented by key informant interviews delving into income, expenses, valuation of benefits and decision-making paradigms. A …

Accessibility Disclosure Statements: Best Practices For Documenting Inclusive And Accessible Web-Based Research Design, Alicia Mason, Elizabeth Spencer, Pan Liu, Kristen Livingston, Sakshi Bhati, Angela Ashmore, Tristan A. Spencer, Lauren Shepard

Faculty Submissions

Accessibility disclosure is a core principle of the Project IRIS Best Practice Framework. This instructional resource-- Accessibility Disclosure Statements: Best Practices for Documenting Inclusive Web-Based Research Design-introduces options for reporting accessible web-based research design efforts in scholarly and professional publications. The three forms of accessibility disclosure statements are introduced: summary statements, reports of analysis--both general and specific-, and detailed process descriptions. Each of these strategies including terms, conceptual definitions, and examples are provided. The instructional resource may be of interest to undergraduate and graduate course instructors teaching research methods courses in a variety of social science disciplines.

Lake Life: An Analysis Of How Human-Centered Design Thinking Has Been Used By The Bureau Of Reclamation Throughout Their Redevelopment Of Lake Berryessa, Lea Marie Fromm

Experience Industry Management

Design thinking is a human-centered design framework which combines the considerations of feasibility, viability, and deep human empathy. This framework can be applied within the tourism and experience industry, specifically during the brand repositioning of a tourist destination. The purpose of this study was to assess the Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) use of design thinking throughout the process of their redevelopment of Lake Berryessa, a popular recreational destination. Research was conducted across numerous government websites, to find that the BOR’s use of design thinking has been effective in some ways and ineffective in others, both prior to and during the …

Smart Highway Construction Site Monitoring Using Artificial Intelligence, Mehran Mazari, Yahaira Nava-Gonzalez, Ly Jacky N. Nhiayi, Mohamad H. Saleh

Mineta Transportation Institute

Construction is a large sector of the economy and plays a significant role in creating economic growth and national development,and construction of transportation infrastructure is critical. This project developed a method to detect, classify, monitor, and track objects during the construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of transportation infrastructure by using artificial intelligence and a deep learning approach. This study evaluated the performance of AI and deep learning algorithms to compare their performance in detecting and classifying the equipment in various construction scenes. Our goal was to find the optimized balance between the model capabilities in object detection and memory processing requirements. …

Community Centered Funding Models For Maine, Timothy Atkinson, Jillian Foley, Jane Rooks

Justice Policy

This report is an exploration of literature and frameworks for local community-driven funding strategies to improve Maine’s public health outcomes. The authors present a number of community-led funding theories such as place-based funding models and participatory grant making, examine lessons learned from recent public health events, and discuss reflections from interviews with key stakeholders. The report looks at examples of community-led models and makes recommendations for next steps such as improving collaborative relationships, strengthening peer-to-peer networks, expanding availability of flexible funding that includes backbone support, and conducting a cost-benefit analysis of collaborative community health capacity investment options.

Analysis Of Nuclear Security And Safety Integration Using Survey Responses And Pairwise Comparison Methods, Sheila V. Gbormittah, Theodore A. Thomas, Jason Timothy Harris

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Integrating nuclear security and safety is important for implementing and sustaining nuclear technology because it promises improved and effective management. This integration is an ongoing effort to ensure that both work together with minimal conflicts. This research aimed to determine the preferred level at which nuclear security and nuclear safety integrate by using the pairwise comparison methods of decision-making. This methodology used survey responses from women nuclear professionals to identify the most-desired criteria at three levels: strategic, operational, and cultural. The strategic level includes actions that government officials and regulators can take. The operational level encompasses actions that deliver the …

Enhancing Transportation Options For Older Adults: Served By Councils On Aging With Support From The Montachusett Area Regional Transit Authority (Mart): A Program Validation Study, Caitlin E. Coyle, Nina M. Silverstein, Taylor Jansen, Shayna Gleason

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This study follows a 2022 evaluation report UMass Boston researchers conducted for MART of a pilot program whose measurable aims were to demonstrate (pre/post) an increase in ridership, destinations, trips provided, and shared rides coordinated across the participating COAs. The pilot with four participating COAs was ambitious and while the results indicated some early successes (rider satisfaction), more areas for improvement were noted (software and transition to the use of digital technology). (Silverstein et. al., 2022) Since then, MART has adopted a new software program and collaboration with My Senior Center, a senior 4 center management and reporting system. MART …

Assessing The Need For Supportive Day Programming In Andover, Adriana Hernandez, Setarreh Massihzadegan, Caitlin E. Coyle

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Supportive and social day programs (SSDPs) provide opportunities for socialization and engagement in physical activity, cognitive exercises and emotional support in small group settings, These programs are beneficial for older adults who may experience physical or cognitive heath changes that make it difficult to participate independently. As well, those who do not drive or who are socially isolated may also benefit from participation in an SSDP. These programs also help families who may need breaks from caregiving tasks and to connect families to vital resources and support networks. An SSDP is designed to promote and enhance the social, physical, and …

Corridor Operational Performance Of Transit Signal Priority, Ayobami Gbenga Olaleye

Theses (2016-Present)

Transit Signal Priority is an intelligent transportation system strategy introduced to enhance the operational efficiency of public transit. The operations of TSP adjust the existing traffic signal timing plan to give preferential treatment to buses, streetcars, or other transit vehicles. This strategy improves efficiency, reliability, and overall network performance. This research mainly focuses on evaluating TSP performance using the green strategy on Studemont/Studewood Street in Houston, Texas, and the performance is measured based on travel time. Data that includes the existing travel time, turning movement count, bus information, and other essential data were collected to achieve the research objectives. Microscopic …

Family Genetic Risk Communication And Reverse Cascade Testing In The Babyseq Project, Melissa K Uveges, Hadley Stevens Smith, Stacey Pereira, Casie Genetti, Amy L Mcguire, Alan H Beggs, Robert C Green, Ingrid A Holm

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Purpose: Genomic sequencing of newborns can initiate disease surveillance and therapy for children and may identify at-risk relatives through reverse cascade testing. We explored genetic risk communication and reverse cascade testing among families of newborns who underwent exome sequencing and were identified as having a risk for an autosomal dominant disease.

Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with parents of newborns enrolled in the BabySeq Project who had a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant associated with an autosomal dominant childhood- and/or adult-onset disease returned. We used directed content analysis to derive themes.

Results: From 11 families, all first-degree relatives (n = …

2025 Diversity Climate Survey Report, Illinois Math And Science Academy

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Resources

No abstract provided.

Tienen Alas, Pero No Las Pueden Usar: Stories Of Immigrants In Search Of Work Credentials, Jonathan Vega-Martinez, Maria M. Pache De Athayde, Fabián Torres-Ardila, Phillip Granberry

Gastón Institute Publications

This report presents the results of a qualitative research study, funded by the Latino Equity Fund of the Boston Foundation, aimed at understanding the challenges that highly skilled immigrants1 face when reentering their careers in Massachusetts.

Island Nation Duress: Simulating Passive Peer-To-Peer Bluetooth Communication During Disaster Relief, Jason K. Medeiros

Theses and Dissertations

Pacific Islands under U.S. jurisdiction are highly vulnerable to natural disasters, yet many lack the infrastructure to effectively respond and recover. Clear communication during and after such events is critical for evacuation, hazard awareness, and first responders’ coordination. This research explores a simulation-based approach using Bluetooth communication to relay messages across Guam, assessing its efficiency through statistical analysis. By examining regional differences and geographic impacts on Bluetooth messaging, the study aims to identify key factors that enhance peer-to-peer communication for timely and effective disaster response.

Manage External And Internal Threats To Commercial Spaces, Alan Saquella

Publications

Securing commercial buildings is a multifaceted challenge that demands a comprehensive and proactive approach. From office complexes and retail hubs to industrial facilities and healthcare institutions, these spaces serve as critical pillars of commerce, administration, and service delivery. Protecting them requires a blend of physical safeguards, advanced technologies and well-defined operational protocols.

Examining The Relationship Between Police Officers’ Characteristics And Police Shootings, Denise D. Brown

Dissertations (2016-Present)

Police deviance, specifically police shootings, has been an ongoing issue and topic of discussion. Prior research has primarily focused on victim characteristics such as age, race, and gender, with limited exploration of police officer characteristics in relation to shootings. This study aims to understand the relationship between police officer characteristics and officer-involved shootings (OIS) and killings. Using state-level data collected over a 5-year period, this research examined how officer demographics correlate with shooting incidents. Findings indicated that officers' age and gender are not significant predictors of police shootings or killings, whereas officer race is a significant predictor of involvement in …

2025 March, Morehead State University. Office Of Communications & Marketing.

Morehead State Press Release Archive, 1961 to the Present

Press releases for March of 2025.

Assessing The Perceived Safety Of Cyclists With Virtual Reality, Vahid Balali

Mineta Transportation Institute

In 2022, 7,522 pedestrians and 1,084 bicyclists were killed and approximately 67,000 pedestrians and 46,195 bicyclists injured in motor vehicle crashes on public roadways in the United States, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The transportation industry is faced with a pressing need to bolster the safety of these vulnerable road users. This research develops models of design and environmental factors that influence bicyclists’ and pedestrians’ perception of safety using Virtual Reality (VR) technology and ultimately informs transportation infrastructure design to better accommodate nonmotorized travelers. The goal of the bicycle element of this research is to develop …

Patient Consent And The Right To Notice And Explanation Of Ai Systems Used In Health Care, Meghan E Hurley, Benjamin H Lang, Kristin Marie Kostick-Quenet, Jared N Smith, Jennifer Blumenthal-Barby

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Given the need for enforceable guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI) that protect the public and allow for innovation, the U.S. Government recently issued a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights which outlines five principles of safe AI design, use, and implementation. One in particular, the right to notice and explanation, requires accurately informing the public about the use of AI that impacts them in ways that are easy to understand. Yet, in the healthcare setting, it is unclear what goal the right to notice and explanation serves, and the moral importance of patient-level disclosure. We propose three normative functions …

Feminists For Sex-Based Rights: Trump Or Harris In The 2024 Election?, Kara Dansky

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Some US feminists who support sex-based rights for women and girls voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential election; others voted for Kamala Harris. For an American feminist to vote for a female Democrat for president is not surprising. Still, because the Democrats embraced “gender identity” at the expense of women and girls as a sex class, some feminists chose to vote for Donald Trump. This article explores some reasons for voting one way or the other (or not at all).

الرفاهية عند العاملين من منظور الدور التأثيري للنرجسية التنظيمية: دراسة تحليلية في وزارة التعليم العالي والبحث العلمي في العراق, سنان فاضل حمد

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

البحث يهدف إلى تحقيق جملة من الاهداف أهمها بناء أطار نظري يربط بين (النرجسية التنظيمية ) بوصفة متغير رئيسا (رفاهية العاملين) بوصفه متغير تابعاً، فضلاً عن التعرف على طبيعة العلاقة والتأثير بين النرجسية التنظيمية ورفاهية العاملين في وزارة التعليم العالي والبحث العلمي العراقية، ولغرض جمع بيانات الجانب العملي، تم تصميم استبانة مكونة من محوين بالاعتماد على مقاييس جاهزة، وتم توزيع الاستبانة على عينة عشوائية مكونة من (75) فرداً ممن يعملون في مناصب قيادية عليا ووسطى ضمن الهيكل التنظيمي للوزارة، ولغرض تحليل الاستبانة واستخلاص النتائج منها تم استعمال برنامج (SPSS V.26)، وتم استعمال عدد من الوسائل الاحصائية منها الوسط الحسابي والوسيط …

تشخيص واقع مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي وفاعلية الرسالة التسويقية الإلكترونية: حالة دراسية لعينة من طلاب جامعة بغداد, ماهر فاضل محمد

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

تتناول هذه الدراسة تشخيص مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي و فاعلية الرسالة التسويقية الإلكترونية، وذلك من خلال دراسة حالة لعينة من طلاب جامعة بغداد. يهدف البحث إلى تحليل دور منصات التواصل الاجتماعي في تحسين التفاعل مع الإعلانات التجارية وزيادة الوعي بالعلامة التجارية. اعتمدت الدراسة على المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، حيث تم جمع البيانات باستخدام استبيان وزع على 200 طالب، وتم تحليلها إحصائيًا باستخدام معامل ألفا كرونباخ لاختبار الثبات، بالإضافة إلى اختبار التوزيع الطبيعي.

وتتمثل مشكلة البحث تعد الرسائل التسويقية التي تُرسل عبر منصات التواصل الاجتماعي و فاعليتها في استهداف الجمهور، خصوصًا في بيئة العراق الجامعية. ومن هنا، يطرح هذا البحث تساؤلًا رئيسيًا: ما …

قياس مستوى الوضوح الاستراتيجي لدى القيادات الإدارية في جامعة الشرقية بسلطنة عمان, دلال صالح مهدي, تركي بن خالد بن سعيد النافعي, عزة راشد سليمان السعيدية

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

تهدف الدراسة الحالية قياس مستوى الوضوح الاستراتيجي لدى القادة الإداريون في جامعة الشرقية بسلطنة عمان، تم استخدام المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، كما استخدمت الاستبانة في جمع البيانات والمعلومات وتم تطبيقها على عينة مكونة من (384) قيادي، وتوصلت نتائج الدراسة إلى أن مستوى الوضوح الاستراتيجي للأداء المؤسسي لدى موظفي جامعة الشرقية بسلطنة عمان كان عاليا، وكذلك جاء متوسطًا أيضًا في بعد وضوح الإجراءات والأنشطة، وبعد وضوح الأهداف وبعد وضوح الهيكل التنظيمي، بينت النتائج عدم وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية عند مستوى (α ≤ 0.05) بين استجابات أفراد عينة البحث بسبب متغيرات الجنس، والمؤهل العلمي، وسنوات الخبرة، والمسمى الوظيفي.

Determinants Of Adolescent Resilience Levels In Surabaya City, East Java Province, Indonesia, Riris Diana Rachmayanti, Fatwa Sari Tetra Dewi, Diana Setiyawati, M Dody Izhar, Andrei Ramani

Kesmas

Assessing adolescent resilience may provide valuable insights into adult resilience. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between determinants and adolescent resilience in Surabaya City. The participants of this cross-sectional study were 277 adolescents aged 12–19 years who were in senior high school. The outcome was the resilience levels. This study's findings indicated relationships between resilience levels and stress experience (p-value = 0.01), access to mental health information (p-value = 0.00), life satisfaction (p-value = 0.00), family harmony (p-value = 0.03), presence of adults to share (p-value = 0.04), feeling safe at home, school, and community (p-value = 0.00), perception …

Strategies Police Agencies Can Implement To Improve Officer Mental Health, Robert Gleason

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The profession of law enforcement is commonly recognized as being extremely stressful. Policing has the potential to produce extraordinarily high levels of stress among officers, particularly in contemporary political and social situations. This stress can be induced by several reasons, including but not limited to the occupation itself, the organization, and the organizational leadership. Long-term exposure to chronic stress has been linked to adverse effects on mental and physical health, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, exhaustion, and, in extreme situations, suicidal ideations and attempts. This qualitative study examined strategies and initiatives that police officers believe would help agencies …

Thai Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax: Does It Really Help?, Sitaporn Suriya, Buraskorn Torut

Kesmas

A solution recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases is the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax. This study aimed to evaluate the Thai SSB tax efficiency affecting the change in post-tax individual-level consumption and find causal explanations for the people’s consumption behavior after the SSB tax was implemented. This study used a Productivity Model, and stratified random sampling was conducted by selecting 1,200 people. An in-depth interview was conducted to seek causal explanations for post-SSB tax consumption behavior with 15 key informants. The results revealed the SSB tax’s efficiency in terms of perception and understanding at …

Exploring Physician Well-Being: A Bibliometric Analysis Of Mental Health, Suriya Kumareswaran, Bala Murali Sundram, Vanitha Thurairasu

Kesmas

This bibliometric study examined the evolving research landscape on physician mental health from 2010 to 2023, analyzing key themes, publication trends, and global contributions. A total of 3,360 articles, including 3,137 original research and 223 reviews, were sourced from Web of Science and Scopus. Findings revealed a significant increase in research output, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with burnout, depression, and anxiety emerging as dominant themes. The US accounted for most publications, while research from low- and middle-income countries remains limited, indicating a substantial global disparity. Thematic analysis highlighted variations in burnout assessment methodologies, underscoring the need for standardized evaluation …

Five-Year Journey Of Technical Assistance In Health Governance Reforms: A Case Report, Popy Yuniar, Indang Trihandini, Ibnu Muyassar, Latifatul Khoiriyah, Minawati Minawati, Fathiyya Aliyah Birjaman, Tyra Septi Diana, Annabel Serafina, Hertina Raisa Putri, Rana Maimunah, Riko Setiawan, Nadazaira Alifia Ramadhianisa, Aris Diyanto

Kesmas

Many districts and cities in Indonesia continue to have Public Health Development Index scores below the national average, highlighting the need for improved health governance. This study assessed the five-year impact (2019–2023) of a mentoring program for 149 District Health Offices in preparing annual work plans, focusing on stagnation or performance declines. Using a qualitative approach, the study analyzed annual work plan scores before and after technical assistance, conducted focus group discussions, and carried out in-depth interviews to identify challenges. Key barriers included data management issues, weak advocacy, knowledge transfer gaps, and poor cross-sectoral coordination, which hindered decision-making and program …

Public Health Entrepreneurship In Indonesia: What Is Next?, Hadi Pratomo, Roy Darmawan, Karina Samaria

Kesmas

Public health has been demanded to search for ways to improve well-being by tackling societal and ecological factors that influence health through cooperative strategies and partnerships across various fields. More interdisciplinary, interprofessional, and action-oriented approaches toward sustainable public health programs are recommended to be made. Therefore, public health entrepreneurship is an indispensable approach to creating new interventions that address future public health problems. The Indonesian Ministry of Health conceptualized five public health entrepreneurship skills as standard competence for public health personnel. In addition, the Association of Indonesian Public Health Higher Education Institutions has identified several study materials and learning outcomes …

Public Memory Through Memorialization, Sophie A. O'Brien

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This research project aims to contextualize the story surrounding various Nashville monuments that memorialize civil rights leaders. This project will explore the history of monuments and road names in Nashville. The history will span from the Confederacy to the civil rights movement and examine how public memory has evolved and changed with the removal of some statues and the changing of road names. It aims to show who we choose to memorialize and why, and how the civil rights leaders we choose to remember reflects public sentiment of the civil rights era.

Constraints Interfering With The Goals Of Child Maltreatment Programs In Northwestern Wyoming, Barbara Andersen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child abuse and neglect occurs in the United States and Wyoming. There are numerous variables that influence caregivers to abuse, and if unresolved, these variables can contribute to future events of child maltreatment. This study focused on the programs assigned to achieve reunification and the constraints observed by the program providers that interfere in resolving the variables that cause child maltreatment. The research questions were: What specific factors or constraints impede the successful achievement of program goals? In what ways do the identified constraints hinder the effectiveness of the programs? What strategies could be implemented to overcome constraints and improve …