Digital Commons Network^™

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Hiv-Related Stigma: A Quantitative Survey Of Tanzanian Men, June 2019, Amandeep Kaur, Monique J. Brown Ph.D., Mph, Geoffrey K. Kangogo, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Ivan E. Teri, Gaspar Mbita, Aima A. Ahonkhai, Donaldson F. Conserve

Faculty Publications

Experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may impact personal opinions, attitudes, and judgments, which can further result in HIV-related stigma. HIV-related stigma consequentially may impact HIV preventive measures such as HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake, and condom use. The extent to which ACEs influence HIV-related stigma perception has not been well studied. Therefore, the study aimed to examine the association between ACEs and perceived and interpersonal HIV-related stigma among Tanzanian HIV-negative men. Quantitative survey data were obtained from the Tanzania STEP (Self-Testing Education and Promotion) project established in four wards: Mabibo, Manzese, Tandale, and Mwanyanamala. A total of 507 men responded …

Andrews Community Counseling Center, Ron Coffen

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of Complexity-Based Target Selection For Treating Morphosyntactic Deficits In Children With Developmental Language Disorder And Children With Down Syndrome: A Single-Case Experimental Design, Kirsten M. Hannig Russell, Julie L. Wambaugh, John L. Davis, Sean M. Redmond

Faculty Publications

Purpose: Selecting targets for morphosyntactic intervention is a critical compo-nent of treatment planning. The complexity approach suggests that, by treating a complex morphosyntactic target, improvements will occur for the treated structure and for related, simpler structures. This study evaluated the efficacy of the complexity approach for treating morphosyntactic deficits by targeting a complex BE verb question structure for children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and children with Down syndrome (DS) and observing its impact on treated and untreated BE verb structures. We also explored whether etiology impacted our participants’ treatment responses.

Method: Three participants with DLD and three with DS …

How Do Scholars Conceptualize And Conduct Health And Digital Health Literacy Research? Survey Of Federally Funded Scholars, Mayank Sakhuja, Brooks Yelton Ma, Lmsw, Simone Kabarana, Lauren Schaurer, Jancham Rachel Rumthao, Samuel Noblet, Michelle Angelique Arent, Mark M. Macauda Phd, Mph, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background: The concept of health literacy (HL) is constantly evolving, and social determinants of health (SDoH) have been receiving considerable attention in public health scholarship. Since a 1-size-fits-all approach for HL fails to account for multiple contextual factors and as a result poses challenges in improving literacy levels, there is a need to develop a deeper understanding of the current state of HL and digital health literacy (DHL) research. Objective: This study examined scholars’ conceptualization and scope of work focused on HL and DHL. Methods: Using a search string, investigators (N=2042) focusing on HL, DHL, or both were identified from …

Covid-19 Pandemic And Ghana’S Economy: A Deep Dive Into Economic Indicators, Williams Kwasi Peprah, Isaac Anowuo [email protected], Ebenezer Owusu-Yeboah, Daniel Adofo Kwakye Ameyaw, Lucile Sabas

Faculty Publications

The study presents an in-depth analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on Ghana’s gross domestic product (GDP), balance of payments and international investment position (BPM6), and inflation (INFL). Employing a pre-and post-COVID-19 comparison (2017-2022) through repeated measures ANOVA and tests of between-subject effects, it investigates whether the government’s economic performance was significantly impacted. Key findings show a notable decrease in GDP and BPM6, alongside a major increase in inflation rates post-pandemic. The study concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic had a statistically significant impact on Ghana’s economic performance in terms of GDP and BPM6, but not inflation. Recommendations include implementing economic …

Law Enforcement Agency Practices And Policies For The Investigation Of Child Sex Trafficking: Are Agencies Using Victim-Centered Approaches?, Kimberly J. Mitchell, Jennifer E. O'Brien, Lisa M. Jones, Alli Puchlopek-Adams

Faculty Publications

Over the past decade, efforts have been made to reform the way in which law enforcement responds to child sex trafficking (CST). Law enforcement agencies are being urged or required to use victim-centered approaches that provide exploited youth with support and services. However, researchers have yet to empirically examine law enforcement’s recognition of CST at the agency-level, their arrest practices, or the services that are being offered to CST victims. We have little information about the utilization and effectiveness of various law enforcement agency policies, practices and training programs related to CST. The National Law Enforcement Agency Child Sex Trafficking …

Social Isolation And Loneliness Prevention Among Rural Older Adults Aging-In-Place: A Needs Assessment, Jodi L. Southerland, Shimin Zheng, Kayla Dodson, Erin Mauck, Juanita-Dawne R. Bacsu, Monique J. Brown Ph.D., Mph, Jeremy Holloway, Steffi M. Kim, Ayse Malatyali, Matthew Lee Smith

Faculty Publications

Introduction: The adverse effects of social isolation and loneliness (SI/L) have been documented among older adults in rural communities and contribute to poor health outcomes, premature disability and mortality, and increased burden on the healthcare system. The identification of factors contributing to SI/L among older adults can build the foundation for rural policymakers and leaders to allocate resources and develop tailored strategies more efficiently. The purpose of this article is to describe findings from a needs assessment designed to understand local factors that contribute to SI/L among rural older adults in a county in Northeast Tennessee. Findings from the needs …

Physical Development And Sociocultural Context Influences On Children’S Physical Activity, Alessandro Hervaldo Nicolai Ré, Maria Teresa Cattuzzo, David F. Stodden Ph.D., Guilherme Dos Santos, Albert Lucas Olinto Tertuliano, Carlos Bandeira De Mello Monteiro, Diogo Henrique Constantino Coledam, Anthony David Okely

Faculty Publications

Objective:

To examine the predictive strength of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), motor competence (MC), maternal educational status, and parental perception of their children’s favorite leisure activities for meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines of each gender among children aged 3–6 years.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 367 preschoolers (53% girls), assessing CRF (PREFIT 20m shuttle run), MC (battery of motor skills), PA (accelerometry), maternal education and parental perception of children’s preferred leisure (questionnaires). Factorial analysis of covariance, multiple logistic regression, and chi-square tests were conducted.

Results: In both genders, CRF was associated with meeting PA guidelines (girls: odds ratio [OR] …

Journalists Under Attack: Global Perspectives On Threats, Violence And Impunity, Edward L. Carter

Faculty Publications

Journalists are under attack. The digital and physical intimidation and injuries cause harm to not only journalists themselves but also the societies they serve. Society suffers when journalists are silenced because the valuable information they would have provided is prevented from entering the public consciousness. Attacks on journalists are largely met with indifference or ineffective efforts to achieve justice. This impunity emboldens others. This book originated with an international online symposium in 2022 in which scholars and practitioners from around the globe met to discuss not only the problem but also possible solutions.

Intimate Partner Violence: Access To Protection Beyond The Pandemic, Rachel J. Wechsler

Faculty Publications

Civil protection orders are the most common legal remedy victims pursue in response to intimate partner violence (IPV). They are more empowering for victims than the criminal legal system because victims themselves drive the process, instead of prosecutors, and they offer more flexible and tailored relief. This Article argues that victims should be able to choose how they file petitions and participate in civil protection order hearings, and that judges should be required to honor those preferences absent good cause. This conclusion is driven by two new, original sets of empirical data collected from IPV survivors who have sought civil …

Workplace Bullying In Louisiana Academic Libraries: Exploring Worker Status And Demographics, Justin Savage, Andrea Hebert, Catherine Baird

Faculty Publications

Bullying is a phenomenon that exists across cultures, societies, and even species. It can be found everywhere, including the workplace. The present study investigates workplace bullying amongst an approximated census sample of Louisiana academic library workers. Using the Negative Acts Questionnaire—Revised (NAQ-R), the study explores the relationships between experiencing workplace bullying and librarian status, tenure status, years in the profession, age, gender, and race. Although no statistically significant relationships were found between variables, the findings add to a growing body of literature that explores the interrelations of demographic and environmental contexts and bullying experiences.

Extensions Of Open Science For Applied Behavior Analysis: Preregistration For Single-Case Experimental Designs, Matt Tincani, Shawn P. Gilroy, Art Dowdy

Faculty Publications

Open science practices are designed to enhance the utility, integrity, and credibility of scientific research. This article highlights how preregistration in open science practice can be leveraged to enhance the rigor and transparency of single-case experimental designs within an applied behavior analysis framework. We provide an overview of the benefits of preregistration including increased transparency, reduced risk of researcher bias, and improved replicability, and we review the specific contexts under which these practices most benefit the proposed framework. We discuss potential concerns with and unique considerations for preregistering experiments that use single-case designs, with practical guidance for researchers who are …

When Old Meets New: Two Louisiana State University Outreach Librarians Build, Work, And Learn Together To Support Collaborative Student Engagement, Alia Kempton, Mitch Fontenot

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Reframing And Advancing Academic Mentorship To Support New And Early Career Faculty Members, Juanita-Dawne R. Bacsu, Patricia C. Heyn, Steffi Kim, Zahra Rahemi, Monique J. Brown, Darina V. Petrovsky, Justine S. Sefcik, Jodi L. Southerland, Jeremy Holloway, Elyse Couch, Ayse Malatyali, Matthew L. Smith

Faculty Publications

Mentorship is critical to fostering professional growth and career development in academia. However, academic mentorship is often an informal activity that is overlooked and under researched. There is much ambiguity and uncertainty surrounding mentorship roles and strategies in academia. This paper provides recommendations and strategies to reframe and advance academic mentorship to support new and early career faculty.

The Power Of Homeownership: The Case For Iowa Heartland Habitat For Humanity, Esha Jayswal, Joseph Ugrin, Disa Cornish, Brent Buhr, Ali Parrish

Faculty Publications

This research examines the impact of financially assisted homeownership for Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity home recipients as measured in life satisfaction. We develop and assess a model with homeownership as the independent variable and financial well-being, current health, and psychological well-being as mediating variables that impact life satisfaction. We utilize data from 184 Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity homeowners and applicants to test the model. The findings show that homeownership through Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity is related to life satisfaction. That relationship is partially mediated by financial well-being, current health, and psychological well-being, where the mediating variables amplify …

Footprint Tools Tiptoeing Towards Nitrogen Sustainability, James N. Galloway, Elizabeth A. Castner, Elizabeth S M Dukes, Jessica Fox, Allison M. Leach

Faculty Publications

As we face multiple environmental crises (e.g. climate change, nutrient pollution, freshwater scarcity), there is often a disconnect between an entity’s activities and the pollution resulting from that activity. Footprint tools help address this disconnect. They are effective in educating people, institutions and communities on how their resource use results in environmental pollution and what we can do to moderate that pollution. These tools connect an entity’s activities with the associated pollution. Footprint tools are also constantly evolving. As we better understand how to best estimate emissions—especially from sources further removed like those from the supply chain—the guidance and methods …

Footprint Tools Tiptoeing Towards Nitrogen Sustainability, James N. Galloway, Elizabeth A. Castner, Elizabeth S M Dukes, Jessica Fox, Allison M. Leach

Faculty Publications

As we face multiple environmental crises (e.g. climate change, nutrient pollution, freshwater scarcity), there is often a disconnect between an entity’s activities and the pollution resulting from that activity. Footprint tools help address this disconnect. They are effective in educating people, institutions and communities on how their resource use results in environmental pollution and what we can do to moderate that pollution. These tools connect an entity’s activities with the associated pollution. Footprint tools are also constantly evolving. As we better understand how to best estimate emissions—especially from sources further removed like those from the supply chain—the guidance and methods …

Beyond Covid: Towards A Transdisciplinary Synthesis For Understanding Responses And Developing Pandemic Preparedness In Alaska, Taylor P. Van Doren, Ryan A. Brown, Guangqing Chi, Patricia Cochran, Katie Cueva, Laura Eichelberger, Ruby Fried, Stacey Fritz, Micah B. Hahn, Ron Heintz, Davin Holen, Andrey N. Petrov

Faculty Publications

Pandemics are regularly occurring events, and there are foundational principles of pandemic preparation upon which communities, regions, states, and nations may draw upon for elevated preparedness against an inevitable future infectious disease threat. Many disciplines within the social sciences can provide crucial insight and transdisciplinary thinking for the development of preparedness measures. In 2023, the National Science Foundation funded a conference of circumpolar researchers and Indigenous partners to reflect on COVID-19-related research. In this article, we synthesise our diverse social science perspectives to: (1) identify potential areas of future pandemic-related research in Alaska, and (2) pose new research questions that …

Neuro-Symbolic Ai For Deep Analysis Of Social Media Big Data, Vedant Khandelwal, Manas Gaur, Ugur Kursuncu, Valerie Shalin, Amit P. Sheth

Faculty Publications

This tutorial introduces a neuro-symbolic AI framework to analyze big data from social media platforms. Integrating human-curated knowledge through symbolic AI with the pattern recognition capabilities of neural networks enhances the adaptability and efficiency of traditional neural network approaches. Knowledge-guided zero-shot learning techniques enable swift adaption to new linguistic contexts and emerging events [6]. Participants will explore how to design, develop, and utilize these models in specific domains, such as public health surveillance, that require dynamic adaptation to new terminologies. This session The tutorial aims to equip attendees with practical skills and a deep understanding of how to apply neuro-symbolic …

Neurosymbolic Cognitive Methods For Enhancing Foundation Model-Based Reasoning, Kaushik Roy, Siyu Wu, Alessandro Oltramari

Faculty Publications

Foundation models have emerged as powerful tools, exhibiting extraordinary performance across various tasks, such as language processing, visual recognition, code generation, and human-centered engagement. However, recent studies have highlighted their limitations when grounded, abstract, and generalized reasoning capabilities are required. Complex tasks often involve multiple hierarchical reasoning steps, which are typical features of human thinking processes. In fact, in this chapter we claim that cognitively-inspired computational models, such as the so-called Common Model of Cognition, are key to enable complex reasoning within foundation model-based artificial intelligence (AI) systems. We investigate neurosymbolic approaches for mapping AI system components to those of …

Returnees’ Perspectives Of The Adverse Impact Of Forced Displacement On Children, Itunu O. Ilesanmi, Jasmine D. Haynes, Florence O. Ogundimu

Faculty Publications

Conflict-related forced displacement, characterized by the experiences of witnessing violent acts, bombing, torture, separation, and the execution of family members, can severely and negatively impact a child’s social determinants of health (SDOH). These experiences are both direct and indirect forms of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and urgent attention is needed to understand the impact of forced displacement on children, who are a vulnerable group, and to develop interventions for all systems that influence the child. This phenomenological qualitative study involved in-depth interviews based on the experiences of returnees (n = 20), who are parents of children who experienced forced displacement. …

Grit And The Military Service Member: How Cultivating Grit Enhances Performance, Resilience, And Mental Health, Phillip R. Jenkins

Faculty Publications

The transition from asymmetric warfare to Great Power Competition has brought the role played by Airmen to the forefront of the conversation. When uncontested operations, superior weaponry, and more detailed intelligence are not guaranteed, the weight of victory rests on the shoulders of Airmen. The exploration of grit and the role it plays in the development and sustainment of mental wellness, resilience, and performance has emerged in this context as a linchpin quality. The idea that an inherent drive, determination, and strength of purpose could offset the impact of stress—both combat and noncombat—is deeply compelling. However, leaders cannot look to …

Acclaimed Children's Literature As Global Resources, Sunah Chung, Melanie D. Koss, Kathleen A. Paciga

Faculty Publications

Acclaimed children's books in the United States (U.S.) may be utilized as resources to instruct global issues. As children’s literature reflects social context and values, acclaimed books may provide curricular materials for those within the U.S. and to international audiences. Stakeholders, including librarians, teachers, national industry experts, and parents, are among those who review and award prizes to children’s literature. This work has resulted in booklists teachers, families, and librarians use to guide their book purchasing and sharing practices. We investigate the histories, composition, and criteria for 22 award and acclaimed U.S. children’s book lists containing 4,244 titles. Fewer than …

Theory And Practice Of Mediation Representation, John Lande

Faculty Publications

These days, American attorneys regularly represent clients in mediation. This representation is a complex process, and attorneys and law students need guidance about how to serve clients well in this context. This article offers a theoretical framework for analyzing mediation representation based on Real Practice System Theory. It reviews books that outline elements of mediation representation and identify practical techniques that attorneys can use when representing clients in mediation. It supplies several suggestions for faculty who teach mediation, including teaching courses combining the perspectives of both mediators and mediation representatives.

Too Sensitive Or Not Sensitive Enough? Sensitivity To Context And Justice-Involved Youths' Response To Violence Exposure, Colleen Sbeglia, Curtis Donovyn Smith, Paul J. Frick, Laurence Steinberg, Elizabeth Cauffman

Faculty Publications

With high rates of violence exposure among justice-involved youth, it is critical to identify factors that might impact the likelihood of youth engaging in violence themselves. One such factor is sensitivity to context, which describes how sensitive youth are to experiences in their environment. Using an ethnically diverse sample of justice-involved male adolescents (47% Latino, 38% Black/African American, 15% White) aged 13-17 at the time of their first arrest, the results of this study indicate that exposure to violence was related to increased violent behavior six months later, and this effect was strongest among youth who were low in sensitivity …

Reconstructive Evolutionary Morphology: Tracing The Historical Process Of Modifications Of Complex Systems Driven By Natural Selection Through Changing Ecological Conditions, Dominique G. Homberger

Faculty Publications

There is general consensus among evolutionary biologists that natural selection drives phenotypic modifications within populations over generational time. How to reconstruct this historical process, however, has been discussed mostly in theoretical terms, and recommendations and explanations on how to translate such theoretical insights into practice are needed. The present study aims at providing a theory-supported practical guide on how to reconstruct historical evolutionary processes by applying a morphology-centered approach through a series of interdependent steps of descriptive morphology, functional analysis, ecological observation, integration of paleoecological data, and evolutionary synthesis. Special attention is given to the development of tests regarding the …

Preliminary Effectiveness Of A One-Week Summer Day Camp For Improving Children’S Health Behaviors And Psychosocial Well-Being Outcomes, Qiaoyin Tan, Yuxin Nie, Paul Son, Renee A. Underwood, Peyton Murray, Callie Hebert, K. Lynn Mckey, Chelsea Hendrick, Amanda E. Staiano, Senlin Chen

Faculty Publications

Purpose: Summer day camp offers children opportunities to grow knowledge and skills, be physically active, and have fun. Compared to healthy children, at-risk children (i.e., overweight, or with obesity and chronic health conditions) typically display less optimal health behaviors and psychosocial well-being, especially during summer months. This study examined the preliminary effectiveness of an American-Diabetes-Association-sponsored summer day camp at improving children’s health behaviors (i.e., physical activity, screen time, diet, sleep) and psychosocial well-being outcomes (i.e., quality of life [QoL], enjoyment, weight-related self-efficacy). Method: The sample consisted of 39 participants, including 19 boys and 20 girls, with majority being overweight (n …

Experimenting With Qr Codes And Envelope Size In Push-To-Web Surveys, Kyle Endres, Erin O. Heiden, Ki Park, Mary E. Losch, Karisa K. Harland, Anne L. Abbott

Faculty Publications

Survey researchers are continually evaluating approaches to increase response rates, especially those that can be implemented with little or no costs. In this study, we experimentally evaluated whether or not including Quick Response (QR) codes in mailed recruitment materials for self-administered web surveys increased web survey participation. We also assessed whether mailing these materials in a non-standard envelope size (6 × 9 inch) yielded a higher response rate than invitations mailed in a standard, #10 envelope (4.125 × 9.5 inch). These experiments were embedded in a sequential mixed-mode (dual-frame phone and web) statewide survey. Including a QR code (in addition …

Association Between Seated Trunk Control And Cortical Sensorimotor White Matter Brain Changes In Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain, John R. Gilliam, Pradeep K. Sahu, Jennifer M.C. Vendemia, Sheri P. Silfies

Faculty Publications

Trunk control involves integration of sensorimotor information in the brain. Individuals with chronic low back pain (cLBP) have impaired trunk control and show differences in brain structure and function in sensorimotor areas compared with healthy controls (HC). However, the relationship between brain structure and trunk control in this group is not well understood. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare seated trunk control and sensorimotor white matter (WM) structure in people with cLBP and HC and explore relationships between WM properties and trunk control in each group. Thirty-two people with cLBP and 35 HC were tested sitting on an unstable chair …

A Systematic Review On The Effectiveness Of Brain-Breaks® Video Programming On Academic Performance And Physical Activity Of School Children, Garry Kuan, Ming Kai Chin, Yee Cheng Kueh, Abdulwali Sabo, Magdalena Mo Ching Mok, Govindasamy Balasekaran, Yu Kai Chang, Christopher R. Edginton, Ian Culpan, Biljana Popeska, J. Larry Durstine

Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study aimed to complete a systematic review of the effect of the Brain Breaks® video program on academic performance and health-related outcomes among schoolchildren. Methods: A literature search was performed using Scopus, PubMed, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases to identify published manuscripts from December 2017 to December 2023. Dissertations, theses, monographs, and commentaries were excluded from this review. Results: A total of 15 studies were included in the review. Most studies applied quasi-experimental design and were conducted in Asia and Europe with children. Nine of these studies found that Brain Breaks® improved students' attitudes toward physical activity …