Digital Commons Network^™

An Evaluation Of The Information Security Awareness Of University Students, Alan Pike

Dissertations

Between January 2017 and March 2018, it is estimated that more than 1.9 billion personal and sensitive data records were compromised online. The average cost of a data breach in 2018 was reported to be in the region of US$3.62 million. These figures alone highlight the need for computer users to have a high level of information security awareness (ISA). This research was conducted to establish the ISA of students in a university. There were three aspects to this piece of research. The first was to review and analyse the security habits of students in terms of their own personal …

How Can Health Technology Project Communications Be Improved In A Hospital, Andrew Behrens, Cherie Noteboom, Dave Bishop

Research & Publications

Healthcare professionals have had many challenges related to communication. Some of these challenges are related to health information technology, project management, and change management. This research addresses facilitators and barriers that healthcare providers have encountered in projects completed at the survey site. The integration of technology to support interdisciplinary teams transitioning to patient centered care requires enhanced focus on Project Communication as a key component of successful Health Information Technology (HIT) projects. Professional and organizational cultures in health care must transform to promote improved patient care.

What Are Healthcare Providers' Perceptions Of Health Information Technology Project Training?, Andrew Behrens, Kaushik Ragothaman, David Bishop, Cherie Noteboom

Research & Publications

Technological change in the healthcare environment provides opportunities to improve quality of care, increase patient satisfaction and reduce costs. However, employee training is seen as a major factor that influences the change management processes of healthcare projects. This research focuses on the healthcare providers’ perceptions of Health Information Technology project training. A qualitative survey was used to collect physicians’ and healthcare provider responses. Open coding was used to analyze the data. Our findings reveal that the physicians and healthcare providers are not satisfied with the Health Information Technology project training. From the analysis, we identify five categories that influence user …

A Socio-Technical-Based Process For Questionnaire Development In Requirements Elicitation Via Interviews, Abdullah Wahbeh, Surendra Sarnikar, Omar F. El-Gayar

Research & Publications

Software development is the process of building systems that solve users’ need and satisfy stakeholders’ objectives. Such needs are determined through requirements elicitation, which is considered an intensive, complex, and multi-disciplinary process. Traditional methods of elicitation often fail to uncover requirements that are critical for successful and wide-scale user adoption because these methods primarily focus on the technical aspects and constraints of the systems rather than considering a socio-technical perspective. The success of information system development involves the identification of the social, organizational and technical features of the systems, which in turn can result in a more acceptable system by …

What Social Media Can Tell Us About Opioid Addicts: Twitter Data Case Analysis, Tareq Nasralah, Omar F. El-Gayar, Yong Wang

Research & Publications

Opioid addiction is one of the largest and deadliest epidemics in the United States. This research investigates opioids’ epidemic by analyzing recent tweets data for users who are addicted or have been addicted to opioids. Automatically analyzing social media users’ posts of opioids addicted users using machine learning tools can help understand the themes and topics that exist in the up-to-date discussions of online users of social media networks. Through the analysis period from 01/01/2015 to 02/25/2019, we were able to identify 571 self-identified Twitter users. We collected a total of 20,609 English-language tweets that belong to the self-identified users. …

Wearable Devices For Health And Wellbeing: Design Insights From Twitter, Omar F. El-Gayar, Tareq Nasralah, Ahmed Elnoshokaty

Research & Publications

Wearable devices are increasingly recognized for their potential to improve health and wellbeing. However, challenges remain for wide-scale adoption and use. This paper explores perception and reactions towards wearable devices with a particular emphasis on factors that influence the adoption and use to improve health and well-being and which can also inform their design as components of a behavioral change system. We use social media analytics to analyze and categorize tweets related to major manufacturers of consumer wearable devices from June 1, 2017 – May 31, 2018. We used extant literature on the design of persuasive systems to inform the …

Reviewers' Responses To Medical Research Articles, Saba Sohail, Jamshed Akhtar

Department of Radiology

Objective: To document the reviewers' responses in terms of reviewers' demographic and professional characteristics, promptness of reply, and duration of reply to the request to review medical research articles for a general biomedical research journal.
Study design: Cross-sectional, observational study.
Place and duration of study: Department of Publications, College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), from October to December 2015.
Methodology: Peer reviewed articles edited by a single staff editor were included. Editorials and correspondence were excluded. Manuscript category, discipline, and the total number of reviewers per manuscript were noted. Responses were divided into no response, regrets, and responded, i.e. …

Efficacy Of A Mixture Of Neem Seed Oil (Azadirachta Indica) And Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera) For Topical Treatment Of Tungiasis. A Randomized Controlled, Proof-Of-Principle Study, Lynne Elson, Kithi Randu, Hermann Feldmeier, Ulrike Fillinger

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background Tungiasis is a neglected tropical skin disease caused by the female sand flea (Tunga penetrans), which burrows into the skin causing intense pain, itching and debilitation. People in endemic countries do not have access to an effective and safe home treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a traditionally used and readily available mixture of neem and coconut oil for treatment of tungiasis in coastal Kenya. Methodology Ninety-six children aged 6-14 years with at least one embedded viable flea were randomized to be treated with either a mixture of 20% neem (Azadirachta indica) seed …

Description Of Eniacomorpha Hermetiae Delvare Sp. N. (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Chalcididae) A Pupal Parasitoid Of Hermetia Illucens (L.) (Diptera, Stratiomyidae), And A Potential Threat To Mass Production Of The Fly As A Feed Supplement For Domestic Animals, Gérard Delvare, Robert S. Copeland, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Eniacomorpha hermetiae Delvare sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae, Dirhininae), reared from pupae of black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera, Stratiomyidae), is described and illustrated from Africa and compared with other similar species newly considered as forming the ehrhorni species-group within Eniacomorpha Girault, 1915. The newly described parasitic wasp may have a negative impact on efforts to mass produce BSF in Africa as a feed supplement for domestic animals. Eniacomorpha is removed from synonymy under Dirhinus Dalman, 1818, revised status, for the Afrotropical species of Dirhininae previously placed in Dirhinus subgenus Pareniaca Crawford, 1913. A checklist of the 10 …

Sampling Adult Populations Of Anopheles Mosquitoes, Julie Anne A. Tangena, Alexandra Hiscox, Paul T. Brey

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

For the control and elimination of malaria, information on the local vector dynamics is essential. This information provides guidance on appropriate and timely deployment of vector control tools and their subsequent success. The data on the dynamics of local mosquito populations can be collected using many different Anopheles sampling methods. Dependent on the objectives, resources, time, and local environment, different traps and methods can be chosen. This chapter describes the sampling of adult populations, focusing on the important preparatory stages and some of the widely used sampling methods. The trapping methods discussed in this chapter are the human landing catch, …

Perception And Awareness Of Insects As An Alternative Protein Source Among Fish Farmers And Fish Feed Traders, G. Ssepuuya, C. Sebatta, E. Sikahwa, P. Fuuna, M. Sengendo, J. Mugisha, K. K.M. Fiaboe, D. Nakimbugwe

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The perception of key players in the fish farming sector towards the use of insects is important for their acceptance to adopt insects as an alternative protein source to the expensive fish meal. Perception was established through a cross-sectional study of 208 fish farmers and 71 fish feed traders and/or processors conducted in Gulu, Tororo and Masaka districts in Uganda, using descriptive, Chi-square, correlation and factor statistical analysis of the data collected. Males dominated the fish farming and fish feed trading and/or processing enterprises. Youths were involved to almost the same extent as adults. Fish farmers majorly practiced pond fish …

Uas Flight Operations In Complex Terrain: Assessing The Agricultural Impact From Hurricane Maria In The Central Mountainous Region Of Puerto Rico, Kevin Adkins

Publications

Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017 as a Category 4 storm causing major damage to infrastructure, agriculture and natural ecosystems, as well as the loss of many lives. Among the crops hardest hit was coffee, one of the most important crops in Puerto Rico. As a perennial system, coffee takes various production forms along a gradient from high shade/biodiversity coffee farms to low shade coffee monocultures and therefore offers an ideal means for the study of resistance and resilience of an agroecosystem to weather and climate disturbance. During the summer of 2018, 14 impacted farms across the production …

Investigating Whether Implicit Prejudice Moderates The Impact Of Sexual Assault Survivors’ Minority Status On Negative Stereotyping, Tabitha Powell

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although all sexual assault survivors have the potential to experience victim blame, Black women and transgender survivors of sexual assault face higher rates of victim blame and discrimination than their non-minority counterparts. This increased blame may be related to stereotypes about these individuals that do not align with “real” rape victim stereotypes. To understand how minority survivors of sexual assault are stereotyped, I investigated the intelligence and promiscuity ratings of minority survivors of sexual assault compared to their non-minority counterparts. Moreover, I investigated how implicit prejudice moderated the stereotyping of survivors. Participants read crime alerts that varied the race of …

We Can’T Afford To Turn A Blind Eye To Myopia, Christine Marie Bourke, James Loughman, Daniel Ian Flitcroft, Ekaterina Loskutova, Colm O’Brien

Articles

Background

Myopia is becoming increasingly prevalent throughout the world. It is an overlooked but leading cause of blindness, particularly among the working aged population. Myopia is often considered benign because it is easily corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. Traditionally myopia has been classified into physiological and pathological subtypes based on the degree of myopia present. Higher levels of myopia are associated with increased risk of pathological complications but it is important to note that there is no safe level of myopia. Even low levels of myopia increase the risk of retinal detachment and other ocular comorbidities which …

Creating A Culture Of Wellness: A Call To Action For Higher Education, Igniting Change In Academic Institutions, Megan Amaya, Teresa Donegan, Debbie Conner, Julie Edwards, Christy Gipson

All Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Background: Due to the continued rise of chronic conditions and unhealthy lifestyle choices, more innovative and evidence-based practices are needed for students, faculty and staff to improve population health outcomes and enhance overall well-being. Aim: The purpose of this paper is to inform academic health promotion professionals of key strategies to consider in order to create cultures of wellness on their college campuses. Methods: A review of the existing literature was conducted. Results: The most current evidence-based practices to create a culture of wellness are discussed. Conclusions: Institutions of higher education have an opportunity to create campus cultures that foster …

Permitted Incentives For Workplace Wellness Plans Under The Ada And Gina: The Regulatory Gap, Elizabeth Pendo

Articles

Although workplace wellness plans have been around for decades, they have flourished under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”) into a $6 billion-dollar industry. Under PPACA, a “wellness plan” is a program of health promotion or disease prevention offered by an employer that is designed to promote health or prevent disease and which meets the other applicable requirements of that subsection. Employers look to these programs to promote healthy lifestyles, improve the overall health of employees and beneficiaries, and reduce rising healthcare costs.

PPACA’s amendments to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) permit employers to offer …

Supporting Nursing Home Staff Through Person-Centered Care Practices, Diana White, Sarah Dys, Jaclyn Winfree, Serena Hasworth, Ozcan Tunalilar

Institute on Aging Publications

Policies and practices have increasingly focused on person-centered care (PCC) to improve quality of life for long-term care residents and staff. Adequate staffing has been a consistent barrier to implementing and sustaining PCC practices. The purpose of this paper is to explore the association between job satisfaction and PCC practices. This research was conducted in a stratified random sample of 33 Oregon nursing homes which were representative in terms of quality, profit/nonprofit ownership, and urban/rural location. Data were collected from 415 staff who completed the staff assessment of person-directed care, direct care worker job satisfaction scale, turnover intention, and organizational …

Spring/Summer 2019

University of Richmond Magazine

No abstract provided.

Endolysosome Dysfunction And Inter-Organellar Signalling: An 'Iron-Ic' Story, Peter Halcrow

Theses and Dissertations

Endosomes and lysosomes (endolysosomes) are acidic organelles that are important both physiologically and pathologically. Implicated in the physiological and pathophysiological processes regulated by endolysosomes are readily releasable stores of cations including ferrous iron (Fe2+); an essential cofactor for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In determining the extent to which and mechanisms by which Fe2+ released from endolysosomes affects cellular functions it was important to determine levels of Fe2+ in endolysosomes. In some cells and by other researchers, FeRhoNox-1 was found to detect Fe2+ in acidic organelles known as Golgi. Here, using U87MG astrocytoma cells and primary cultures of …

The Relationship Of Physical Activity And Perceived Fatigue In Men Receiving External Beam Radiation Therapy For Non-Metastatic Prostate Cancer, Timothy Charles Flory Fuss

Theses and Dissertations

Nature of the Problem/Study

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the United States, with 2.9 million men diagnosed with prostate cancer alive today (American Cancer Society, 2017). Given the rate of survival and substantial number of men living with prostate cancer, addressing symptoms and quality of life in these men is increasingly important.

Fatigue is reported to be the most distressing side effect of radiation therapy (RT), negatively effecting physical function and quality of life (Minton et al., 2013). Finding measures to predict, treat and help prevent fatigue can improve long term outcomes in cancer …

Native And Indigenous Women Of Hawai'i: Exploring The Importance Of Indigenous Narratives And Storytelling To Understand Ancestral Knowledge Systems, Renuka Mahari De Silva

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation contains three articles. The research for these articles was conducted through many interviews and working directly in the communities from around the Island of O ‘ahu, Hawai‘i. Each article addresses a research topic that is connected to ancestral stories and historical events brought forward by women through stories and storytelling. These stories embed rich ancestral knowledge from a specific time and a specific place and space. In reading these articles, the reader is exposed to the power of story and storytelling, and how that in turn, reconnects people to places to learn from ancestral knowledge, and apply these …

Formalizing Citizen Science: Creating A New Paradigm In Space Weather Policy, Michael Cook

Theses and Dissertations

Space Weather and Citizen Science are two fields that continue to evolve with our ever-growing technology. With that, comes new and evolving Policy, in both fields. “In citizen science, the public participates voluntarily in the scientific process, addressing real-world problems in ways that may include formulating research questions, conducting scientific experiments, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting results, making new discoveries, developing technologies and applications, and solving complex problems.” “Space Weather refers to the environmental conditions in Earth's magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere due to the Sun and the solar wind that can influence the functioning and reliability of spaceborne and ground-based …

An Exploration Of In-Person And Online Social Interaction: Examining The Effects Of Two Domains Of Social Behavior, Michael David Prazak

Theses and Dissertations

Social interaction is a core dimension of a fulfilling life. At present, the study of social interaction has focused largely on online social interaction due to the prevalence of this behavior in modern society, and the large impact of this manner of interaction on the psychological health of individuals. In terms of online behavior, both positive and negative effects may be experienced. Better understanding predictors and outcomes of online behavior would thus be a timely and valuable contribution to literature. The present study examined anxious and avoidant attachment style as predictors of social intimacy, levels of both in-person and online …

The Relationships Among Sleep Quality, Self-Efficacy And Performance In A Military Setting, Andrew D. Lautner

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined sleep, self-efficacy, and confidence and their effect on performance. Cadets from an Army Reserve officer training corps (ROTC) program were surveyed about their sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), their fatigue using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), their sleep quantity using the Rosenkind formula, their confidence using the competitive trait anxiety index (CTAI-2), their self-efficacy using a task specific questionnaire, and performance was measured via the Army physical fitness test (APFT). The data from each variable was analyzed through correlations and regressions. The results support the hypothesis of cadets who have poorer sleep quality …

Relationships Between Sibling Physical Abuse And Lifetime Aggression Using Statistical Controls For Poly-Victimization, Ani Celine Mangold

Theses and Dissertations

Sibling abuse, as a potential contributor to lifetime aggression, is under-represented in the childhood maltreatment literature and minimized in American society. A contemporary survey study conducted using a large college sample (King et al., 2017) established significant relationships between sibling abuse (i.e., acts of physical abuse, threats of violence, and heated verbal conflict) and a range of lifetime aggression indicators after controlling for variance attributable to physical, sexual, intimate partner, and peer abuse. The present study examined sibling physical abuse and established these same relationships using a national sample after controlling for variance due to childhood physical abuse, observed violence …

Gvsu Undergraduate And Graduate Catalog, 2019-2020, Grand Valley State University

Course Catalogs, 1963 - Current

Grand Valley State University 2019-2020 undergraduate and/or graduate course catalog published annually to provide students with information and guidance for enrollment.

Assessing The Robustness Of Time-To-Event Abundance Estimation, Kenneth E. Loonam

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Abundance estimates can inform management policies and are used to address a variety of wildlife research questions, but reliable estimates of abundance can be difficult and expensive to obtain. For low-density, difficult to detect species, such as cougars (Puma concolor), the costs and intensive field effort required to estimate abundance can make working at broad spatial and temporal scales impractical. Remote cameras have proven effective in detecting these species, but the widely applied methods of estimating abundance from remote cameras rely on some portion of the population being marked or uniquely identifiable, limiting their utility to populations with naturally occurring …

Constructing Distance, Responsibility, And Memory Management Theories: An Anthropological Approach To Death Notification Interactions, Teresa Ann 'Lilly' White

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Following a sudden or unexpected death, coroners often communicate the death to the next-of-kin. Death notifications may occur in hospitals, assisted living or dying facilities, homes, offices or workplaces, correctional facilities, schools, or other locations. A death notification has been perceived by outsiders and many researchers as a one-time, unilateral death-telling event. I argue, instead, death notifications are a series of social interactions and processes necessitating multiple actors and mechanisms. The death notification processes begin for the coroner when they are dispatched to a death scene, while the processes begin for the next-of-kin upon the death-telling event. The end is …

Walking While Asking:Lessons From Agroecology Education In Chiapas, Mexico, Katherine E. Keller

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Keller, Kate, M.S., December 2019 Environmental Studies

Walking While Asking: Lessons from Agroecology Education in Chiapas, Mexico

Committee Chairperson: Dr. Neva Hassanein

This professional paper presents an assessment of the most recent project of Schools for Chiapas (SfC), a U.S.-based solidarity organization working in collaboration with the Zapatista autonomous communities in Chiapas, Mexico. It examines the challenges and potentials of SfC’s efforts to implement food forests at 16 autonomous secondary schools. I contextualize this work within a larger conversation amongst food sovereignty activists and scholars around efforts to scale-out the use of agroecology through education. As the organization looks to …

Life Expectancy, Institute Of Portland Metropolitan Studies

Metroscape

Using Center for Disease Control data, we can visualize the spatial distribution of life expectancy estimates. For reference, the life expectancy of an average adult within the United States born in 2016 is 78.6 years. In the Portland Metropolitan region, 34 percent of the population lives in tracts with an average life expectancy below the United States average. These tracts are clustered largely in east Portland and Gresham. Future research should consider exploring other factors related to life expectancy such as race, income, and education.

Forms part of the continuing series Indicators of the Metroscape.