Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of Mycelium Biocomposites Under Simulated Weathering Conditions, Nicholas Schultz, Ajimahl Fazli, Sharmaine Piros, Yuritzi Barranco-Origel, Patricia Dela Cruz, Dr Yanika Schneider

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) remains a popular packaging material despite environmental concerns such as pollution, difficulty to recycle, and toxicity to wildlife. The goal of this study is to evaluate the potential of an ecofriendly alternative to traditional EPS composed of a mycelium biocomposite grown from agricultural waste. In this material, the mycelium spores are incorporated into cellulosic waste, resulting in a structurally sound biocomposite completely enveloped by mycelium fibers. One of the main criteria for shipping applications is the ability of a material to withstand extreme weather conditions. Accordingly, this study focused on evaluating a commercially available mycelium material before …

Chronic Pelvic Pain Among Transgender Men And Gender Diverse Adults Assigned Female At Birth, Diana M. Tordoff, Mitchell R. Lunn, Annesa Flentje, Diana Atashroo, Bertha Chen, Zubin Dastur, Micah E. Lubensky, Matthew Capriotti, Juno Obedin-Maliver

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: There are limited data on pelvic pain among transgender men and gender diverse people, and the impact of testosterone on pelvic pain is poorly understood. Objective: Characterize the prevalence and correlates of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) among transgender men and gender diverse people and examine the association between testosterone use and CPP. Materials and methods: We used 2020–2022 data from The Population Research in Identity and Disparities for Equality (PRIDE) Study, an online prospective cohort study of sexual and gender minority adults in the United States, to conduct complementary cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Our primary outcome was self-reported CPP …

Improving Field Education For Social Work In Vietnam: Intern Supervisors’ Perspectives Of The Current State And Potential Solutions, Megan Aikawa, Meekyung Han, Trang T. Nguyen, Linh Dinh, Minh Thanh Bui

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Research has identified challenges associated with the implementation of competency-based social work field education in Vietnam. However, there is limited information available from intern supervisors, who have unique perspectives at the crux of social work training and service delivery. An exploratory phenomenological qualitative approach was used to explore their experiences and perceptions through online interviews. Four categories were identified: diverse implementation of a common framework, rudimentary expectations and activities, challenges to implementation, and opportunities for improvement. These findings suggest that a multidimensional approach is needed, including improved collaborations between field agencies and universities to empower students, intern supervisors, and faculty.

Poor Nutrition Status Associated With Low Patient Satisfaction Six Months Into Treatment For Head And Neck/Esophageal Cancer Treatment: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study, Adrianne M. Widaman, Andrew G. Day, Maggie A. Kuhn, Rupinder Dhaliwal, Vickie Baracos, Merran Findlay, Judith D. Bauer, Marian De Van Der Schueren, Alessandro Laviano, Lisa Martin, Leah Gramlich

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures have been associated with survival in oncology patients. Altered intake and malnutrition are common symptoms for patients treated for head and neck cancer and esophageal cancer (HNC/EC). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between patient-reported satisfaction with medical care and nutrition status. Methods: This prospective cohort study collected data from 11 international cancer care sites. Results: One hundred and sixtythree adult patients (n = 115 HNC; n = 48 EC) completed a patient satisfaction questionnaire (the Canadian Health Care Evaluation Project Lite) and were included. HNC/EC patient global satisfaction with medical care …

Rescaling: Change Agency And The Emerging Geography Of Economic Relationships, Markus Grillitsch, Björn Asheim, Nichola Lowe, Sophie Kelmenson, Lea Fünfschilling, Karl Johan Lundquist, Yahia Mahmoud, Mikhail Martynovich, Pauline Mattsson, Magnus Nilsson, Johan Miörner, Torben Schubert

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

In this paper, we propose a theoretical and conceptual framework for articulating and studying changes in the global economic landscape and illustrate this framework in the current context. The framework pivots around the notion of rescaling, which is interpreted from a human agency perspective. We disentangle three theoretically distinct dimensions of rescaling and show how they play together using concrete examples. The theoretical and conceptual framework links the intended and unintended consequences of globalisation to current rescaling efforts, and allows us to investigate when, why, and how changes to the geography of economic relationships occur.

The Applicability Of Llms In Generating Textual Samples For Analysis Of Imbalanced Datasets, Saroj Gopali, Faranak Abri, Akbar Siami Namin, Keith S. Jones

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

In machine learning class imbalance is a pressing issue, where the model is biased towards the majority classes and underperforms in the minority classes. In textual data, the natural language processing (NLP) model bias significantly reduces overall accuracy, along with poor performance in minority classes. This paper investigates and compares the performance of transformer-based models, such as Multi-head Attention with the data levels and algorithmic levels approaches and BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) with LLM-based data augmentation. The research utilized the approaches, such as Random Over Sampler, Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE), SMOTEENN, data augmentation at word level, class …

The Role Of Intersectionality In Research On Teachers Of Color And Indigenous Teachers, Saili S. Kulkarni, Tanja Burkhard, David J. Johns

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This paper emphasizes the complexity and criticality of intersectionality in understanding the research on Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers (TOCIT). Cho and colleagues (2013) identified three dimensions of intersectional dialogues: how intersectionality has been used in research and teaching, how it has been used as a theory and methodology, and how it has been used in community organizations. As Cho and colleagues noted, what intersectionality does in theory is equally as important as what it does in practice. Therefore, we drew from the recently published Handbook of Research on Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers to highlight how intersectionality …

Youth Experiences In Gender–Sexuality Alliances Predict Academic Engagement But Not Disaffection Through Social–Emotional Wellbeing, V. Paul Poteat, Jerel P. Calzo, Hirokazu Yoshikawa, Daniel Kellogg, Robert A. Marx, Abigail Richburg, Arthur Lipkin

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Experiences in gender–sexuality alliances (GSAs) could predict youth's academic engagement through improved social–emotional wellbeing (indicated by school belonging, hope, and positive and negative affect). This study utilized three waves of data, each spaced 2–3 months apart, among 627 youth (87% LGBQ+, 45% trans/nonbinary, 48% youth of color) ages 11–22 (Mage = 15.13) in 51 GSAs in the United States in 2021–2022. Greater peer responsiveness in the GSA predicted increased academic engagement through increased wellbeing overall and specifically through hope and decreased negative affect. Advisor responsiveness and GSA leadership correlated with wellbeing and academic engagement in bivariate analyses but were not …

Dual Effect Of Secondary Solutes On Binding Equilibria: Contributions From Solute–Reactant Interactions And Solute–Water Interactions, Daryl Eggers, Jennifer M. Le, Nhi T. Nham, Duc N. Pham, Bria M. Castellano

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This study examines the role of water in binding equilibria with a special focus on secondary solutes (cosolutes) that influence the equilibrium but are not constituents of the final product. Using a thermodynamic framework that includes an explicit term for the release of water molecules upon binding, this investigation reveals how solutes may alter equilibria by changing the activity of the reactants, reflected in ΔG°(obs), and by changing the chemical potential of the solvent, reflected in ΔGS. The framework is applied to four experimental binding systems that differ in the degree of electrostatic contributions. The model …

Information Literacy Skills Among Female Students Of Secondary Schools In Bangladesh, Wares-Ul-Matin, Md. Jahangir Alam, Bilkis Begum, Md. Sakib Biswas

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study assessed information literacy skills among female students of secondary schools in Bangladesh. A structured questionnaire was developed consisting of library and ICT facilities, information literacy skills, ability to locate information, evaluate information sources, and use the approach of needed information. A total of 596 data were collected from female students of class nine of five general and five girls' high schools in the rural areas of Dhaka Districts. The study revealed that overall, 60.23% of the respondents were aware of IL; however, 49.33% of the female students were unable to locate academic information, 69.63% failed to identify information …

Re-Visions: Examining Narratives Of Asian American Mental Health, Kenji Aoki

Asian American Literature: Discourses & Pedagogies

This paper examines the intersection between Asian American mental health and resilience tropes. While research has acknowledged that Asian Americans have disparate mental health gaps regarding mental health stigma and how Asian American young adults are the only racial group in which suicide is their leading cause of death, there has been limited study that attempts to directly convey Asian American voices beyond broad statistical or cultural generalizations. To supplement ongoing research and Asian American livelihoods, this essay conjectures and attempts to illuminate the histories, mental illness, and health narratives of Asian Americans, the good, the bad, the ugly, the …

Monstrous Matrilineage In Chinese American Literature, Leina Hsu

Asian American Literature: Discourses & Pedagogies

In this paper, I explore the monstrous relationships between Chinese American mothers and daughters in The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, Bone by Fae Myenne Ng, and Severance: A Novel by Ling Ma. I employ monsters as metaphors and motifs that illustrate the womens’ genealogical trauma and resistance. By putting Chinese American matrilineages in a monstrous context, I elevate them as alternative knowledge sources that haunt the margins of Western society. In The Joy Luck Club, ghosts reveal the invisibility and survivor mindset of Chinese American immigrant mothers. For Bone, skeletons represent the unspoken trauma that plagues Chinese American …

"Loving You No Matter What You Do": Ai's Dramatic Monologues, 1970s Asian American Feminisms, And Reproductive Justice, Catherine Irwin

Asian American Literature: Discourses & Pedagogies

This essay makes visible the 1970s involvement of Asian American and Women of Color feminists in reproductive justice. Grounded in the Asian American feminist praxis of remembering, this essay analyzes how three dramatic monologues by the Asian American mixed-race poet Ai engage with the discourses of reproduce justice set forth by Asian American and Women of Color activists leading up to the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Using an Asian American feminist lens, this paper argues that the speakers in Ai’s monologues utilize these discourses circulating about abortion and women’s health care to construct images of the treatment of dispossessed …

Introduction To Volume Twelve: Counting Our Blessings, Noelle Brada-Williams

Asian American Literature: Discourses & Pedagogies

No abstract provided.

“Big Data” Revitalizing Librarianship: Impact On Librarians, Alice A. Bamigbola Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Advanced technologies undeniably developed in the 4th Industrial Revolution era, and led to incessantly growing volumes of information daily. “Big Data” is simply information surplus due to the volume, velocity, variety, variability and veracity of the data that need to be processed to get value and better visualisation. Big Data helps libraries understand the ever-changing users’ needs, consequently reshaping their services and procedures. However, it offers several information challenges concerning its capturing, storage, searching, structuring, and visualization. This paper, explores the concept of Big Data in a library environment, how to introduce Big Data, its benefits in the library, roles …

The Contemporary Tax Journal Volume 12, No. 2 – Winter 2023

The Contemporary Tax Journal

No abstract provided.

Creativity Of Librarians As Determinant Of Job Performance In Some Selected Polytechnic Libraries In Delta State, Nigeria, Patrick Chukwuma Iheme Mr, Chika Chinonso Ejiakor Mrs, Peter O. Moneke, Oluchi Juliet Nwagu, Ufuoma Eruvwe Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study investigated the creativity of librarians as determinant of job performance in some selected polytechnic libraries in Delta State. The study adopted a descriptive survey using questionnaire to collect data. The population of the study consists of 45 librarians. A total of 45 questionnaires were distributed only 33 were retrieved using descriptive statistics, the mean and percentage of the data were calculated. A mean score of 2.5 or above and a percentage score of 50% were taken into consideration. The study revealed five (5) creativity factors possess by librarians in some selected polytechnic libraries in Delta state as experience, …

The Role Of Lis Professional In Open Educational Resources And Its Impact In Bangladesh, Dr. Md. Azizur Rahman, Sumitra Mitra Biswas, Dr. Subrata Biswas

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Introduction- This study aims to explore of the role of LIS Professionals in open educational resources (OERs) and its impact on Bangladesh. In addition, there is a focus on raising awareness and improving open educational resources.

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to provide quantitative information on the growth and development of the LIS professionals in OER in Bangladesh. In addition, the focus is on raising awareness and improving open educational resources.

Research problem- The study is about acquiring data sources, facing huge problems related to field of LIS Professionals in OER in Bangladesh. LIS professionals in the …

Radicalisation And Extremism On Social Media: What Steps Can Be Taken?, Emeka Williams Etumnu, Oluchi I. Williams-Etumnu

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Unarguably, the social media has brought the world together in an online space and as a result of this, extremist groups utilise the social media to radicalise people especially the youths who are vulnerable and fancy their ideology towards their cause. The paper was underpinned on public sphere theory and the desk research method was employed in the course of the study. It was revealed that social media plays a tremendous role towards radicalisation and extremism. The need for digital literacy, where rules can be made to assist individuals of all ages in developing critical thinking skills and building resilience …

Enhancing Information Delivery Services For Distance Education Programmes In Cross River State, Nigeria, Mayen Ndaro Igajah Dr, Christopher Okoi Offem Mr, Mary Mfon Bassey Mrs

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The paper assessed information delivery services for distance education programmes. The study traces briefly the history of the National Open University and the National Teacher Institute. The e-resources and current issues on services provided by librarians. The study adopted the survey design methods. The questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection. From the analysis of the data collected, it was found that the current issues on information services are in support of open and distance education programmes, technologies used in the delivery of information services for distance learners, concepts of distance education in Nigeria, value of social media …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Water Use And Nutritional Value For California Commodities, Helen M. Lee, Giselle A. Pignotti, Kasuen Mauldin, John Gieng

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

To create a more sustainable food system, this study analyzed the water use and nutritional data for California commodities. The data were separated into quadrants based on median scores, with results that include a list of commodities lower in agricultural water use while being higher in nutritional value. Because the agricultural sector is the dominant water user, there is an opportunity here to influence growers, consumers and policymakers to choose and support the growth of foods that would reduce water consumption while still providing beneficial nutrients. The goal of this paper is to educate the public on this important issue.

Spartan Daily, December 5, 2023, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2023

Volume 161, Issue 43

Perceived Effect Of Awareness And Use Of Open Access Journals By Library Users For Research Efficiency In Margaret Lawrence University, Delta State, Nigeria, Obande Bonnie Obeka

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The purpose of the present study was to examine the Perceived effect of awareness and use of Open Access Journals by Library users for research efficiency in Margaret Lawrence University. Three hundred and twenty nine Library (329) users were selected in the study. A specifically designed questionnaire was administered to gather information about the awareness and use of open access journals by library users for research efficiency in Margaret Lawrence University. Data collected were analyzed using mean () and standard deviation (SD) to answer research questions. The Results revealed that library users of MLU are much aware of open access …

University Undergradautes’ Awareness And Utilization Of Electronic Databases In University Libraries In Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, Inemesit Udom Udoh, Nse Emmanuel Akwang Phd, Cln, Chukwuemeka Chukwueke Cln

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study investigated the awareness and utilization of electronic databases by university undergraduates in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It adopted a descriptive survey design with a study population of 1,116 registered undergraduates-users of Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) library and Ritman University Library. 224 undergraduates were selected using the proportionate stratified sampling technique. Observation checklist, structured questionnaire and unstructured interview were used to collect data for the study. 224 copies of the questionnaire were distributed, but 186 copies were completed and retrieved. The data collected were analyzed using frequency count, simple percentage, mean scores and standard deviations, with a criterion …

Covid-19 Vaccine Or Booster Hesitancy Among Children Aged 6 Month-5 Years, 5–11 Years, And 12–17 Years In The United States: An Analytic Cross-Sectional Study, Chulwoo Park, Pyramida Vagoyan Zabala, Airi Irene Trisnadi

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

With the increased accessibility of COVID-19 vaccine, many households have had concerns when vaccinating children, leading to vaccine hesitancy. This study examined the COVID-19 vaccine and booster hesitancy among children aged 6 months-5 years, 5–11 years, and 12–17 years in the United States. We analyzed data from Phase 3.8 (March 1, 2023 to May 8, 2023) of the Household Pulse Survey (HPS) collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. We conducted survey-weighted multiple logistic regression models in vaccine hesitancy among respondents with children from those three different age groups, controlling for various demographic factors such as COVID-19 vaccination status, COVID-19 …

Investigating The Factor Structure And Measurement Invariance Of The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (Ede-Q) Among Cisgender Gay Men And Lesbian Women From The United States, Emilio J. Compte, F. Hunter Mcguire, Tiffany A. Brown, Jason M. Lavender, Stuart B. Murray, Matthew R. Capriotti, Annesa Flentje, Micah E. Lubensky, Mitchell R. Lunn, Juno Obedin-Maliver, Jason M. Nagata

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Although the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is one of the most widely used self-report assessments of eating disorder symptoms, evidence indicates potential limitations with its original factor structure and associated psychometric properties in a variety of populations, including sexual minority populations. The aims of the current investigation were to explore several previously published EDE-Q factor structures and to examine internal consistency and measurement invariance of the best-fitting EDE-Q model in a large community sample of cisgender gay men and cisgender lesbian women. Methods: Data were drawn from 1624 adults (1060 cisgender gay men, 564 cisgender lesbian women) who participated …

A Study Of Using E-Resources By Research Scholars In Selected Institutions Of Southern Tamilnadu: Regression Analysis, Senthur Vel Murugan Librarian

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The present examination has been grasped to answer what is the impact of e-resources. This investigation relies upon the customer capacity of the assessment researchers of the picked association of southern Tamilnadu. E-Resources, particularly in advanced education and research, is getting a prime spot in scholastic exercises. The scholarly network is gradually exchanging over from utilizing print assets to e-assets. Changing the need for the scholarly network for e-assets makes another test to the library of the executives at chosen organizations. Studies are directed to think about the need for and utilization of e-assets for scholarly purposes. This investigation is …

Practicing And Marketing With Empathy In Libraries, Wren Daniel Ambroise

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

In 2017, Abigail Phillips, a postdoctoral fellow at Utah State University wrote, “The role of empathy in the library has been infrequently researched in library and information science (LIS) literature. However, as demonstrated in the reactions of libraries and librarians during recent social movements, empathy is a critical component of librarianship and routine library work” (Phillips 1). Over the last twenty years, numerous researchers have argued the same; this paper enters into conversation several texts from the late 2000s to the early 2020s that conceptualize the intersections between empathy marketing and librarianship and/or put them into practice. It first defines …

Learning About Street Harassment On Transit: A Survey Instrument For Transit Agencies, Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Jon Canapary, Carol Anne Caroll, Tam J. Guy, Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris

Mineta Transportation Institute

This study was conducted in accordance with California Senate Bill 1161 (2022), legislation that directed the Mineta Transportation Institute to develop a reliable, easy-to-use survey instrument for collecting information from public transit passengers about the extent, location, and characteristics of any street harassment they experience. Although the legislation is focused on large California transit agencies, the study findings are equally relevant to smaller agencies and agencies outside the state. To develop the recommended questionnaire, we reviewed literature about street harassment, analyzed transit passenger surveys to explore the questions asked about safety and harassment, received feedback on iterative drafts of the …

Influence Of Pavement Conditions On Commercial Motor Vehicle Crashes, Stephen Arhin, Babin Manandhar, Adam Gatiba

Mineta Transportation Institute

Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety is a major concern in the United States, including the District of Columbia (DC), where CMVs make up 15% of traffic. This research uses a comprehensive approach, combining statistical analysis and machine learning techniques, to investigate the impact of road pavement conditions on CMV accidents. The study integrates traffic crash data from the Traffic Accident Reporting and Analysis Systems Version 2.0 (TARAS2) database with pavement condition data provided by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). Data spanning from 2016 to 2020 was collected and analyzed, focusing on CMV routes in DC. The analysis employs binary …