Digital Commons Network^™

Examining Pandemic Stress And Mental Health Among A Community-Based Sample Of Sexual Minority Women In Los Angeles County, Alison Cerezo, Roberta E. Emetu, David B. Rivera, Isaiah J. Jones, Jacquelyn Chin, Adrian Valadez, Laurie Drabble

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

In partnership with community stakeholders, the present study aimed to gather descriptive data on pandemic-related stress and its association with mental health outcomes among a community sample of self-identified sexual minority women (SMW) in Los Angeles County (N = 84; Mage = 35.61). The sample was comprised solely of women (i.e. self-identified gender identity as woman, including cisgender and transgender women). Data were collected in April 2021, the ‘third wave’ of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Los Angeles experienced some of the highest COVID-19 incidence rates in the United States. Yet, there was a significant lack of COVID-19 data on SMW, …

Application Of Artificial Intelligence In Detection And Mitigation Of Human Factor Errors In Nuclear Power Plants: A Review, Meenu Sethu, Bhavya Kotla, Darrell Russell, Mahboubeh Madadi, Nesar Ahmed Titu, Jamie Baalis Coble, Ronald L. Boring, Klaus Blache, Vivek Agarwal, Vaibhav Yadav, Anahita Khojandi

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Human factors and ergonomics have played an essential role in increasing the safety and performance of operators in the nuclear energy industry. In this critical review, we examine how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can be leveraged to mitigate human errors, thereby improving the safety and performance of operators in nuclear power plants (NPPs). First, we discuss the various causes of human errors in NPPs. Next, we examine the ways in which AI has been introduced to and incorporated into different types of operator support systems to mitigate these human errors. We specifically examine (1) operator support systems, including decision support …

Comparing Enacted And Perceived Parental Communication As Predictors Of Adolescents’ Emotion Regulation In Families With Harmful Versus Non-Harmful Parental Alcohol Use, Marie C. Haverfield, Jennifer A. Theiss

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Emotion regulation is an important skill that adolescents typically learn through early interactions with their primary caregivers. Associations between parental communication and adolescent emotion regulation are well-documented however, it is unclear whether the parent’s actual communication behavior or adolescents’ perceptions of the parent’s behavior is a more robust predictor of emotion regulation outcomes. This study used Baumrind’s parenting styles typology as a theoretical foundation for examining parents’ enacted responsiveness and control and adolescents’ perceptions of their parent’s responsiveness and control during conversation as competing predictors of adolescents’ self-reported emotion regulation during two parent-child interactions. Sixty parent-adolescent dyads participated in an …

Reconfigurations In Brain Networks Upon Awakening From Slow Wave Sleep: Interventions And Implications In Neural Communication, Cassie J. Hilditch, Kanika Bansal, Ravi Chachad, Lily R. Wong, Nicholas G. Bathurst, Nathan H. Feick, Amanda Santamaria, Nita L. Shattuck, Javier O. Garcia, Erin E. Flynn-Evans

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Sleep inertia is the brief period of impaired alertness and performance experienced immediately after waking. Little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. A better understanding of the neural processes during sleep inertia may offer insight into the awakening process. We observed brain activity every 15 min for 1 hr following abrupt awakening from slow wave sleep during the biological night. Using 32-channel electroencephalography, a network science approach, and a within-subject design, we evaluated power, clustering coefficient, and path length across frequency bands under both a control and a polychromatic short-wavelength-enriched light intervention condition. We found that under …

Sleep Health Education To Promote Public Health: Attitudes And Desired Learning Goals Among Social Work Students, Christine Spadola, Danielle B. Groton, Kerry Littlewood, Cassie Hilditch, Shanna Burke, Suzanne M. Bertisch

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Social workers are often front line behavioral health providers for underserved populations, many of whom experience sleep disturbances. Inadequate sleep presents a public health challenge and is associated with many adverse physical health and mental health consequences. Social workers are uniquely positioned to promote sleep health among individuals experiencing health inequities. However, sleep is rarely included as part of the curricula in social work programs in the U.S. We conducted qualitative formative research to investigate social work students’ perceptions of sleep education and desired sleep learning objectives. Twenty-five social work students were recruited via a listserv e-mail to participate in …

Misinformation Containment Using Nlp And Machine Learning: Why The Problem Is Still Unsolved, Vishnu S. Pendyala

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Despite the increased attention and substantial research into it claiming outstanding successes, the problem of misinformation containment has only been growing in the recent years with not many signs of respite. Misinformation is rapidly changing its latent characteristics and spreading vigorously in a multi-modal fashion, sometimes in a more damaging manner than viruses and other malicious programs on the internet. This chapter examines the existing research in natural language processing and machine learning to stop the spread of misinformation, analyzes why the research has not been practical enough to be incorporated into social media platforms, and provides future research directions. …

Untraining Gender Bias: An Eye-Tracking Study, Ripujit S. Bamrah

Master's Projects

In recent years, social cognitive theory has emphasized the role of cognitive processes in shaping perceptions and behavior related to gender bias. By examining the impact of targeted training interventions, this study seeks to better understand the influence of such processes on decision-making in the context of character selection. This human-computer interaction study explores the potential of intervention-based training to untraining gender bias in character selection. With an increasing need to address gender bias in various domains, understanding the impact of gender-based training becomes crucial. According to our hypothesis, exposure to masculine characters would boost people’s preference for female- intellectualized …

A Systematic Review: Relationship Between Medication Adherence And Hypertension, Monica Chan

Master's Projects

Chronic diseases are defined as conditions that are present for over one year and limit activities of daily living or require ongoing medical attention. Heart disease is the number one leading chronic disease in the United States, making up one third of all deaths. In turn it costs the health system $216 billion per year (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). Uncontrolled blood pressure is a key risk factor for heart disease and stroke. 1 in 2 adults will need to take prescription medication to control blood pressure and lower the risk of having a cardiovascular event. This systematic …

The Effect Of Providing End Of Life Care On The Mental Health Of Critical Care Nurses, Christy Nelson

Master's Projects

Critical care nurses are providing care to acutely ill patients now more than ever and may experience moral or emotional distress due to providing end of life care to their patients. The purpose of this literature review is to determine the mental health effects of a critical care nurse providing palliative end of life care. A literature search using PubMed and CINHAL was conducted and fourteen published articles between 2012-2023 were included in this review. Several interventions were identified which may be useful in decreasing burnout and moral distress in critical care nurses. Overall, nurses experienced the most negative mental …

Enhancing Driver Distraction Detection Through The Synergy Of Deep And Traditional Machine Learning, Gowtham Chandrasekaran

Master's Projects

Distracted driving is a major contributor to motor vehicle accidents, causing injury and loss of life. It is one of the major factors that affect the overall driving behavior of a person. Insurance companies take into consideration factors like gender, age, etc. to set insurance premiums for their customers. Today, machine learning and artificial intelligence can eradicate this bias. A machine learning model can analyze driving behavior, such as the frequency and severity of accidents, the speed at which they drive, and their habits such as distracted driving. Based on this information, the model can then determine the risk of …

Visual Scene Classification Using Ensemble Of Machine Learning Classifiers, Rahul Ranganath

Master's Projects

Visual scenes represent the comprehensive visual information observed in a particular environment. Whether natural landscapes, urban settings, or designed interiors, visual scenes encompass the arrangement of elements that individuals perceive through their visual senses. Visual search is perhaps one of the most typical jobs that we carry out several times a day. This is one of the main paradigms for researching visual attention. Many visual task models have been put forward in an effort to better understand visual attention. Fixations and the rapid movement of the eye - saccades, define visual exploration and visual search. When we subject viewers to …

Xai-Driven Cnn For Diabetic Retinopathy Detection, Vikas Shenoy Pete

Master's Projects

Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disorder, poses a significant health threat with potentially severe consequences, including diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness. In this project, we tackle this threat by developing a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to support the diagnosis based on eye images. The aim is early detection and intervention to mitigate the effects of diabetes on eye health. To enhance transparency and interpretability, we incorporate explainable AI techniques. This research not only contributes to the early diagnosis of diabetic eye disease but also advances our understanding of how deep learning models arrive at their decisions, fostering trust and …

Alzheimer’S Disease (Ad) Knowledge In Korean Americans: Identifying Knowledge Gaps And Misconceptions And Examining Predictors Of Ad Knowledge, Sang E. Lee, Michin Hong, Banghwa L. Casado

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Objectives: This study examined Alzheimer’s disease (AD) knowledge and its predictors among Korean Americans (KAs). Design: Convenience sampling was used to recruit KAs in the Greater Washington metropolitan area. A total of 268 KAs participated in the study and completed a cross-sectional survey in 2014. Using the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS), overall and domain knowledge was assessed. Multiple regression analyses were conducted for overall and domain knowledge with predictors including exposure to AD, social engagement, sources and frequency of health-related information, stigmatic beliefs (pity, antipathy, and social distance), English proficiency, and education. Results: KAs reported a 59% accuracy in …

Reread Strategy For The Inclusion Of Children With Mild Intellectual Disorder In Qualitative Education In Nigeria, Monisola Adebanke Osoba, Kolawole Akinjide Aramide Phd, Adeola Esther Olutoki

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Developmental goals aiming at inclusive education for all category of children irrespective of their disability is still at variance with the present situation of children with intellectual disorder who presents a deficit in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour. This is due to low intelligence quotient score, therefore, ensuring qualitative education for this category of children is still a herculean task in Nigeria. Such children do not grasp at the same pace as the regular children, because they have difficulty in abstract thinking and problem solving.

The conventional educational system is built on skills such as comprehension, memory, abstract thinking and …

Maximizing Technology Acceptance Model In Accessing The Attitude Of Rural Farmers Using Ict Tools In Farming To Enhance Productivity, Francis Yao Anyan Dr., Michael Oppong Mr., Stephanie O. Ansah Mrs., Millicent Yengkangyi Ms., Akosua Boatemaa Adarkwa Mrs

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study was conducted using a multi-stage sampling technique involving simple random sampling, a probability sampling method, purposive sampling, and snowball sampling, which are non-probability methods. Two regions, namely, the Greater Accra and Eastern were purposively selected for the study. In the Greater Accra Region, Ada East District was selected while in the Eastern Region Asuogyaman District. In Greater Accra, the study was conducted in six farming villages namely: Big Ada, Dogo, Kasseh, Addokope, Korlekope, and Bedeku. In Eastern regions, the study was conducted in Asogyaman, where Tortibo, Sappor, Yenease, Adina Donor, and Ankyease. A snowball strategy was relied on …

Dynamics Of Organisational Politics And Library Administration On The Motivation And Job Performance Of Library Staff, Omobolade Opeyemi Adeagbo Dr., Iwok Nnah Shabi Dr., Femi Zacch Oguntuase Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Organizational politics is present in every secular establishment including the library with its attendant pros and cons. The paper aims to describe the observed interplay between organizational politics, motivation, and job performance of academic library staff to achieve organizational goals and promote workplace peace and harmony. The study employed a qualitative approach based on personal observation by the researchers and interviews of library managers conveniently selected from four academic libraries in Nigeria; two from the south–south and two from the south–west geopolitical zones. The findings showed that organizational politics can negatively influence library staff's motivation and job performance and lead …

E-Learning Advancement In Universities: Expectations Of Lis Students In Bangladesh, Wares-Ul Matin, Khairun Nesa Poly, Md. Samin Yasar

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study explores the ICT usage and computer skills of Library and Information Science (LIS) students in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main objective of the study is to assess the potentials and challenges faced by LIS students in e-learning. The researchers used survey method with a structured questionnaire, involving 209 participants from two leading public universities (University of Dhaka (DU) and Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) in Bangladesh. The collected data underwent rigorous quantitative analysis. Results showed that the majority of LIS students had been using computers for one to three years, with most possessing intermediate …

Attitude Of Lis Postgraduate Students Towards The Use Of Remote Teaching And Learning At Post Covid-19 Era In Nigerian Private Universities, Saheed Abiola Hamzat Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

No abstract provided.

The U.S. Invasion Of The Dominican Republic: From Cooperation To Conquest, Andrew Defabio

Master's Theses

This paper explores the political and military relationship between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic from the Eisenhower administration to the Johnson administration’s invasion in 1965. The U.S. intervention in the Dominican Republic was a military operation that had been planned and prepared for by administrations prior and not simply a reactive decision to prevent a Communist takeover. Analysis of multiple administrations places the invasion of the Dominican Republic in a larger context of U.S. – Dominican relations. The U.S.’s desire to dominate military and political aspects of the Dominican Republic is consistent with U.S. Cold War Latin American policy.

The Relationship Between Perceived Overqualification And Organizational Citizenship Behavior And Affective Organizational Commitment: The Moderating Role Of Perceived Organizational Support, Mariem Laaraj

Master's Theses

The present research aimed to investigate the moderating effect of perceived organizational support (POS) on the relationship between perceived overqualification, organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and affective organizational commitment. A sample of 110 employees from a variety of occupational backgrounds in the United States participated in the study by completing an online survey. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that POS did not act as a moderator of the relationship between perceived overqualification and OCB and affective organizational commitment. However, perceived overqualification was found to be significantly and negatively related to affective organizational commitment. Results also showed that POS was …

The Inverse Association Between Prebiotic Consumption And Depression Status In American Adult Females, But Not The Greater Population Or In Males: Nhanes 2015-2018, Cassandra L. Boyd

Master's Theses

It is unknown if a relationship exists between prebiotic intake and depression status. Using 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles data, adult American estimated mean daily prebiotic intake across demographic groups, gender, and depression status were reported. Additionally, the 10 highest prebiotic content Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies foods were identified. Adults (≥ 18 years) with adequate sleep and at least one day of dietary recall data were included. Participants with excessive alcohol intake, BMI ≤ 18, BMI ≥ 30, or current depression medication use were excluded. The confounding variables were inadequate sleep, unemployment, and age. …

Examining The Role Of Echo-Chambers Within Online Incel Communities Using Sentiment Analysis And Group Based Trajectory Modeling, Francesca Florine Fanucchi

Master's Theses

Technological advancements within the last decade have created new opportunities for social movements to meet and communicate online with like-minded individuals. Under this notion, these online communities generate an echo-chamber of information, to which certain individuals only surround themselves with people sharing similar values and opinions. As a result, online platforms (e.g., forums, blogs, websites) form as safe spaces for members to express their views seen as unacceptable offline. Research examining the role of echo-chambers in facilitating extremist rhetoric within online incel communities is limited, despite real-world acts of violence perpetrated by self-proclaimed incels. Therefore, the objective of this thesis …

Thinking Styles, Conspiracist Belief, And The Mediating Role Of The Dunning-Kruger Effect In Modeling Belief Change, Lucas C. Cusano

Master's Theses

Why can a person believe something for which there is no evidence and yet also fail to believe something for which there is overwhelming evidence? This study develops a structural model of belief change using the latent constructs of thinking styles and conspiracist belief while accounting for the Dunning-Kruger effect (i.e., overconfidence in one’s knowledge the less one knows about a topic) as a mediator. A combined two-hundred and twenty-six participants from both Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and the introductory psychology SONA subject pool were given two knowledge measures on topics of genetic modification and vaccination before and after reading refutational …

The Moderating Effects Of Sleep Quantity And Quality On The Relationship Between Job Stressors And Job Satisfaction, Olga A. Baryshnikova

Master's Theses

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study was the first to investigate the moderating effects of sleep quantity and sleep quality on the relationships between role overload, role ambiguity, role conflict, and interpersonal conflict with job satisfaction. In doing so, it addressed a gap in the literature on organizations and provided a new direction for future research in this sphere. Leveraging the Job Demands-Resources model as a theoretical foundation, this study looked at sleep quantity and quality as personal resources capable of counteracting the negative impacts of the aforementioned job stressors on job satisfaction. Underscoring their known detrimental …

No Kidding: The Moderating Role Of Childcare Responsibility On The Relationship Between Perceived Work-Life Balance Policy Culture And Job Outcomes, Ziwei Gao

Master's Theses

The societal assumption that everyone will or should have children at some point is deeply ingrained in many cultures. This often results in a lack of recognition and understanding of the experiences of childfree individuals, particularly within professional settings. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the moderating effect of childcare responsibility on the relationship between perceived work-life balance policy culture and job outcomes. A sample of 161 participants completed an online survey measuring perceived work-life balance policy culture, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover intentions. Results showed that employees with high levels of perceived work-life balance policy culture reported …

Partnering With International Peers To Promote Young Children’S Social And Emotional Learning: Students’ Experiences During An International Service Learning Program, Danica D. Mavroudis

Master's Theses

International Service Learning (ISL) has been used increasingly across fields of study in higher education to enhance student’s learning outside the classroom. ISL programs often encourage students to reflect on their experience to promote experiential and transformative learning. Previous research on ISL has found benefits to students’ professional and personal development. While the process may be helpful to participating students, there may be a lack of lasting benefit to the host community. There also is a gap in the literature of how mental wellness services could be delivered using ISL. In hopes to extend program benefits and provide mental wellness …

Investigating The Misinformation Effect And Physical Activity In An Online Study, Victoria C. Paoloni

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between physical activity and susceptibility to false memory. Among the many benefits of physical activity are brain changes and cognitive improvements. However, few studies have examined the effects of physical activity on false memory, and none have investigated the relationship between physical activity and susceptibility to false memories generated via the misinformation effect. This study was conducted to address that gap and was also among the first to use a misinformation paradigm in an online study. It was hypothesized that greater amounts of weekly physical activity among young adults would …

Educational Attainment And Employment Status Of Medical Cannabis Users In The Bay Area Of California, Kristi M. Sadler

Master's Theses

This research assesses whether participants’ responses align with the literature concerning cannabis use on educational attainment and employment outcomes. Mainly, cannabis use in adolescence is associated with lower educational attainment, and cannabis use in general may lead to poor employment outcomes, as described in the literature. Participants were medical cannabis dispensary patients with a California medical cannabis card residing in 11 counties in or near the San Francisco Bay Area. Data were collected via an internet survey from October to December 2017 via 32 medical cannabis dispensaries. Medical cannabis users reported having bachelor’s degrees at double the current national average. …

The Relationship Between Perceived Person-Job Fit And Affective Commitment And Organizational Citizenship Behavior: The Mediating Role Of Psychological Empowerment, Mei Shimizu

Master's Theses

Perceived person-Job (P-J) fit has become an important phenomenon to study given its impact on organizational effectiveness. However, there is still limited knowledge about how it impacts job-related attitudes and behaviors. The present study explored the mediating role of psychological empowerment as a potential mediator on the relationship between perceived person-job fit, affective commitment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). It was hypothesized that psychological empowerment would act as a mediator of the relationship between perceived P-J fit and affective commitment and OCB. Data were obtained from a sample of 94 employed individuals. Consistent with the hypotheses, the results of the …

The Mediating Role Of Perceived Organizational Support On The Relationship Between Wellness Programs And Job Satisfaction, Andy Tran

Master's Theses

The purpose of the current study was to examine the mediating role of perceived organizational support (POS) on the relationship between wellness programs (participations and availability) and job satisfaction. A total of 83 employees participated in the study, which utilized online survey distribution. Results showed that POS fully mediated the relationship between both participation and availability of wellness programs and job satisfaction. In other words, employees who participated in a wellness program felt more supported by their organization, leading to greater job satisfaction. In addition, the results suggested that when organizations offered more wellness programs, employees were more likely to …