Digital Commons Network^™

Academic Nurse Leaders’ Application Of Bolman And Deal’S Leadership Orientation Framework, Jasmine Bratton

Dissertations

While Academic Nurse Leaders (ANLs) are vital to the functioning and quality of nursing programs in academic settings, many enter their roles with limited or no prior academic leadership and management experience. The inadequate preparation and development of ANLs remains a critical concern. For this reason, ANLs positions can be challenging and hard to fill. Although ANLs can hold various titles and positions across different academic institutions, this study specifically focuses on Deans, Directors, and Department Chairs working in the New York State area. Bolman and Deal’s (2021) four-frame model of leadership offers a framework that can be used to …

Toward An Insider Threat Education Platform: A Theoretical Literature Review, Haywood Gelman, John D. Hastings, David Kenley, Eleanor Loiacono

Research & Publications

Insider threats (InTs) within organizations are small in number but have a disproportionate ability to damage systems, information, and infrastructure. Existing InT research studies the problem from psychological, technical, and educational perspectives. Proposed theories include research on psychological indicators, machine learning, user behavioral log analysis, and educational methods to teach employees recognition and mitigation techniques. Because InTs are a human problem, training methods that address InT detection from a behavioral perspective are critical. While numerous technological and psychological theories exist on detection, prevention, and mitigation, few training methods prioritize psychological indicators. This literature review studied peer-reviewed, InT research organized by …

Impact Of Campus Recreation On Student Success At A Small, Private Institution, Abe Cross

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Institutions of higher education are seeing a decline in enrollment and state funding. These matters are compounded by a smaller number of graduating high school seniors than years past (Pell Institute, 2022). Considering that it costs more to recruit new students compared to retaining current students, colleges and universities are focusing on effective retention strategies (Pell Institute, 2022).

Meanwhile, Misener (2019), Battjes (2019), and Zegre (2019) have found a correlation between campus recreation utilization and student success at NCAA Division 1 schools. Each of these schools enrolls more than 25,000 students. Their work is built on Tinto’s (1975, 1993) Theory …

Heads Above The Parapet: Personal Motivation And Professional Practice Among Northern Ireland's Community Of Grassroots Peace Practitioners, Ann C. Kelleher Dr., Anna Leon-Guerrero Dr., Maureen Hetherington Ceo Retired

Peace and Conflict Studies

Members of the Northern Ireland’s grassroots peace practitioner community have sustained their careers-long dedication to constructive local engagement across the deep historical divide throughout the decades of The Troubles, the post-agreement era, and up to the present. An exploration of their development as individual practitioners and as a community of practice will contribute to our understanding of grassroots level peace-building.

Based on 29 in-depth interviews with Northern Ireland community practitioners we examine why they, with widely differing personalities, capabilities, and backgrounds, came to care deeply about their society, and how their dedication to changing its historical trajectory produced constructive cross-community …

Explainable Ai In Medical Imaging: An Interdisciplinary Translational Approach, Caitlyn Chavez

Computational and Data Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Advances in computer vision and image processing have made a clear impact on many fields, from healthcare diagnostics to autonomous driving. However, as these models become more complex, understanding their decision-making processes has grown increasingly challenging, making explainable AI (XAI) a crucial component of modern AI systems. The focus of this work is to integrate these new technologies alongside foundational methods of image processing to create tools that can be used by domain experts who are not programmers. Prior to delving into the projects which investigate these concepts, the methodologies, background, and the overall frameworks are discussed. In the first …

Safeguarding Virtual Healthcare: A Novel Attacker-Centric Model For Data Security And Privacy, Suvineetha Herath, Haywood Gelman, John Hastings, Yong Wang

Research & Publications

The rapid growth of remote healthcare delivery has introduced significant security and privacy risks to protected health information (PHI). Analysis of a comprehensive healthcare security breach dataset covering 2009-2023 reveals their significant prevalence and impact. This study investigates the root causes of such security incidents and introduces the Attacker-Centric Approach (ACA), a novel threat model tailored to protect PHI. ACA addresses limitations in existing threat models and regulatory frameworks by adopting a holistic attacker-focused perspective, examining threats from the viewpoint of cyber adversaries, their motivations, tactics, and potential attack vectors. Leveraging established risk management frameworks, ACA provides a multi-layered approach …

(R2095) On Discrete Hypoexponential Distribution And Integer-Valued Autoregressive Process, K. Krishnakumari, Dais George

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

Discrete distributions provide a substantive contribution in modeling real world frame work. Though a lot of discrete distributions are available in literature, they are inappropriate to model many practical situations. The conventional discrete distributions like geometric, Negative Binomial and Poisson have limited applications in modeling count and lifetime data. This paper introduces a new two parameter discrete distribution namely, discrete hypoexponential distribution by discretizing the well known hypoexponential distribution. Various distributional and structural properties of the proposed distribution are studied. We introduce a first order auto regressive process with the newly proposed distribution as marginal and study the properties. Depending …

(R2096) Pbib-Designs Associated With Products Of Graphs, Medha Itagi Huilgol, Vidya M.D

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

In this paper we introduce a design, called “geodetic-design" arising from geodetic sets in a graph. A geodetic-design, over a regular graph is an ordered pair D = (V, B), where V = V (G) and B, the set of all geodetic sets, called blocks, containing vertices belonging to geodetic sets, such that every pair of non-adjacent vertices appears in exactly µ blocks. We first find governing results of a geodetic-design, if it exists, and then get such PBIB-designs for different products of graphs. It is common to have geodetic sets of graphs to be independent sets, hence we extend …

Microsegmented Cloud Network Architecture Using Open-Source Tools For A Zero Trust Foundation, Sunil Arora, John Hastings

Research & Publications

This paper presents a multi-cloud networking architecture built on zero trust principles and micro-segmentation to provide secure connectivity with authentication, authorization, and encryption in transit. The proposed design includes the multi-cloud network to support a wide range of applications and workload use cases, compute resources including containers, virtual machines, and cloud-native services, including IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a service). Furthermore, open-source tools provide flexibility, agility, and independence from locking to one vendor technology. The paper provides a secure architecture with micro-segmentation and follows zero trust principles to solve multi-fold security and operational challenges.

Multicultural Perspectives On Building Instructional Capacity For Multilingual Learners: Synergy Of Teachers, Community Members, And Academics, Mihaela Gazioglu, Emily Howell, Lindsey W. Rowe, Victoria Pennington, Nicole Ferguson-Sams, Kavita Mittapalli, Amian Banerjee

Publications

This design-based research study explored the feedback process, resulting actions, and changing instructional perspectives involving teachers, community members, and researchers leading to enhanced professional development offered to K-12 teachers of multilingual students. Specifically, the feedback from a community advisory council and teachers significantly shaped researchers’ approaches to designing and adapting a literacy course to address the needs of multilingual students’ caregivers. The findings underscore the importance of a holistic approach to professional development and highlight the multicultural perspectives that academics can discover by involving both community stakeholders and teachers in promoting impactful practices for multilingual learners.

Implementing Armenia’S New Climate Law: Navigating Energy Independence And Geopolitical Tensions In The South Caucasus, Ilona Evelina Mantachian

UC Law Environmental Journal

As a result of human activity, the Earth is warming faster than at any point in recorded history. The effects of climate change are already devastating communities and crippling ecosystems globally. With deep cultural and traditional ties to the land, indigenous peoples are especially vulnerable to the direct consequences of the climate crisis despite contributing the least to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The 3 million Armenians living in the Republic of Armenia are no exception. Escalating climate change threatens their food security, degrades watersheds, and further endangers the people of this small, land-locked nation. Still, the government of Armenia has …

Masthead

UC Law SF Communications and Entertainment Journal

No abstract provided.

The Australian Experience With Environmental Offsets: An Illusory Tool For Addressing Biodiversity Loss And Climate Change?, Robert J. Fowler, Phillipa C. Mccormack, Alexandra S. Wawryk, Margaret Castles, Emily Whenan

UC Law Environmental Journal

Recent studies, including by administrative integrity bodies, Parliamentary committees and former ‘insiders’ of Australian regulatory bodies, show serious shortcomings in the operation of biodiversity and carbon offsets in Australia. Specifically, the benefits attributed to the offset mechanism in both contexts have been criticised as illusory in practice. This leads us to question whether it is possible to accomplish carbon emission reduction and biodiversity conservation goals through a governance framework that includes offsetting. We assess the evolution of offsets as a regulatory and voluntary mechanism, offering a critical perspective on the Australian experience. Australia has been an enthusiastic early adopter of …

Early Referral For Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing Therapy For Treatment Of Trauma-Induced Anxiety And Emotional Distress, Christa Jones

Doctoral Projects

Trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress are significant health concerns affecting millions globally and resulting in significant healthcare burdens. Despite the considerable efforts in addressing problems, most high-risk cases often go unidentified or unaddressed promptly. Besides standard trauma diagnosis, treatment, and management protocols, some patients often require specialized support. Recently, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has emerged as a promising alternative for treating anxiety, trauma, and emotional distress conditions, yet many patients who are at high risk are often not identified early for referral. Additionally, many healthcare facilities, especially those in rural settings, fail to include appropriate screening tools.

This …

Point Of Care Ultrasound For Gastric Residual: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Brandon Quinn, Kaitlyn Gray

Doctoral Projects

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has become an invaluable tool in modern medical practice offering real-time diagnostic and procedural guidance for anesthesia providers. POCUS is a non-invasive assessment tool that gives anesthesia insight into a quantitative assessment of gastric residuals. Furthermore, POCUS assessments are useful in preventing anesthetic complications that can cause major morbidity and mortality such as aspiration pneumonia. Despite the growing relevance, formalized training on POCUS for assessing gastric residuals remains limited in many nurse anesthesia programs. The University of Southern Mississippi currently lacks a standardized curriculum for teaching student registered nurse anesthetists how to utilize gastric ultrasound …

Twitchview(C) Monitor Use For Quantitative Neuromuscular Monitoring: An Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation, Brady Brian, Lovel Bruney

Doctoral Projects

Neuromuscular paralysis is an integral aspect of anesthesia. Muscle relaxation is implemented to provide a suitable surgical environment, aid in intubation, and enhance respiratory compliance (Cook & Simons, 2022). Neuromuscular monitoring is often used for patients undergoing general anesthesia. Proper neuromuscular monitoring is essential when managing a surgical patient undergoing general anesthesia. Anesthesia providers are responsible for knowing the theory behind neuromuscular monitoring and the appropriate execution of placement, monitoring, and interpretation of monitoring devices. Quantitative neuromuscular monitoring is a newer technology that can provide definitive numerical data regarding neuromuscular blockade. Implementing the quantitative neuromuscular monitor can potentially reduce the …

Reducing Congestive Heart Failure Readmissions Through Discharge Planning And Education, Coewonda Burse

Doctoral Projects

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a widespread problem among individuals, which, at the same time, consumes a considerable share of global healthcare demand. CHF management poses a persistent issue mainly due to the short interval of hospital readmissions four weeks after discharge, which indicates deficiencies in care transitions and patient education. This doctoral project addresses this topic and evaluates whether implementing patient-specific education and discharge planning programs can decrease CHF-associated hospital readmissions. To investigate the phenomenon, the DNP student completed a retrospective chart review, found an intervention, implemented said intervention, and then evaluated the intervention's effectiveness versus interventions already in …

Investigation Of Healthcare Providers' Receptiveness To Aromatherapy As An Adjunctive Intervention For The Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting In Gynecological Procedures, Hannah May, Lauren Sherrill

Doctoral Projects

There is a knowledge deficit concerning healthcare providers' understanding of the use of aromatherapy as an intervention for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in clinical settings. Postoperative nausea and vomiting continues to exist despite using common pharmacological treatments to block receptors that stimulate the vomiting center (DiLustro, 2017). Postoperative nausea and vomiting leads to adverse effects that decrease patient satisfaction and prolong hospital stays. Healthcare providers need an adjunct therapy that minimizes risks and improves outcomes (Weibel et al., 2017). Through this project, provider understanding, and preferences were obtained and educational content delivered to potentially improve patient PONV outcomes. Using …

Investigating The Effects Of Workload Management Strategies On Nurse Practitioner Burnout And Job Satisfaction, Erica G. Smith

Doctoral Projects

Burnout is a critical issue among psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), worsened by excessive workloads, productivity demands, and the emotional intensity of patient care (Chi et al., 2024). The negative effects of burnout included diminished job satisfaction, reduced quality of care, and increased turnover (Chi et al., 2024). As the demand for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) grew, addressing these challenges was essential for maintaining a sustainable workforce and ensuring quality patient care.

This doctoral project aimed to assess the impact of a workload management strategy on reducing burnout and improving job satisfaction among PMHNPs in a hospital …

Improving Hypertension Outcomes Through Biweekly Text Message Interventions, Patricia Thompson

Doctoral Projects

Improving medication adherence and blood pressure control is challenging in the management of hypertension. Hypertension is a risk factor for severe health complications such as kidney failure, premature death, stroke, and heart disease. Even though effective hypertensive medications are available, patients have a challenging time adhering to taking the medication as instructed.

There are several reasons patients do not adhere to taking their medication such as lack of understanding, forgetfulness, negative beliefs, inadequate communication, complex dosing regimen, cost, and access to healthcare. Ensuring patients take their blood pressure medication decreases the risk of uncontrolled hypertension complications. The plan to improve …

Evaluating The Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Discharge Checklist On 15-Day Hospital Re-Admissions For Heart Failure In A Va Setting, Joann Lathon

Doctoral Projects

This doctoral project presented the results and analysis aimed at reducing 15-day hospital re-admissions for veteran patients with congestive heart failure by implementing an evidence-based discharge checklist at the G.V. Sonny Montgomery VA Medical Center. Heart failure remains a leading cause of hospitalization and re-admissions among veterans, contributing to increased mortality rates. The doctoral project was guided by a research question addressing whether an evidence-based checklist could effectively reduce 15-day re-admissions compared to no checklist. A retrospective analysis of patients aged 50 and older hospitalized between August 5, 2024, and August 19, 2024, was conducted. The interdisciplinary team utilized the …

Everyone Brings Something To The Table: A Culturally Sustaining Analysis Of Teacher Candidates’ Mixed Reality Teaching Simulations, Erin Scott

Faculty Publications

Discussions of HBCU students’ content knowledge have centered around developing high impact, asset-based approaches to learning (Williams et al, 2022). So, HBCU teacher preparation providers (TPPs) can also focus efforts on culturally sustaining approaches to developing candidates’ content knowledge and researching how high impact practices, like teaching simulations, can help prepare candidates for classrooms. This exploratory case study uses critical cases (n=2); findings suggest candidates have a developing understanding of content, which forms a solid basis for increasing their knowledge. MRTSs are addressed as a potential high impact, culturally sustaining practice for building candidates’ content knowledge. Further, HBCU TPPs can …

Examining And Exploring Online Instructors' Professional Development Experiences, Attitudes, And Perceptions In A Post-Secondary Education System, Jena R. Hartley

Dissertations

Effective professional development for online instructors is critical to student and organizational success. The online instructors’ knowledge transfer on workplace performance outcomes positively or negatively impacts student and organizational success. This study explored online instructors’ professional development experiences, attitudes, and perceptions. The research questions guiding this study were: What are the online instructors’ experiences and attitudes about professional development? How do online instructors perceive the quality and impact of professional development experiences? How do the online instructors’ experiences, attitudes, and perceptions impact knowledge transfer and workplace performance outcomes? Participants in this study were from one post-secondary system in Mississippi. The …

List Of Open Resources Used By Cycle 5 Unc Grantees, Nancy A. Henke

Open Course Materials

No abstract provided.

Evidence Of Capacity Building And Critical Consciousness In An Institutional Partnership: An Organizational Case Study Of The Gateway Research Park, Natasha E. Johnson

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are complex and intricate systems of people, processes, and practices. HEI practices and processes are often extended through strategic partnerships and external collaborations, increasing their capacity or ability to obtain their stated goals. This notion extends to minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It is important to understand whether partnerships have the capacity to meet their goals, especially if there are risks for minority-serving institutions and those traditionally marginalized, which is a problem. The purpose of this qualitative organizational case study was to explore the evidence of critical consciousness and capacity building in a …

Influences Of Social Media On Nutrition Perceptions And Body Image Among Female College Students: A Study Of Health Impacts And Behavioral Responses, Kerri Mcclanahan

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social media use is increasing among young adults with an average use of over four hours per day. The validity of dietary content on social media is questionable and can cause impacts on several factors. This research focused on exploring how female college students' social media use impacts their nutrition knowledge, diet choices, and body image. Through the use of a survey, 332 participants completed this research. It was found that social media can cause changes in body image, both positive and negative. Additionally, the results showed that social media impacted the participants’ dietary decisions. It was also found that …

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report - Buhach Colony High School, Shad M. Menezes

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This report documents the implementation and outcomes of a comprehensive agricultural education program at Buhach Colony High School, aligning with California Career Technical Education (CTE) standards. The project focuses on enhancing student engagement through curriculum development, leadership activities, Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), and career readiness initiatives. Key components include expanding pathway offerings in horticulture, mechanics, and agricultural sciences, integrating field experiences, and hosting guest speakers to connect students with industry professionals.

Research Report: Artificial Intelligence, Heather Akin, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Mary Emery, Katelyn Larson, Bradley Lubben, L. J. Mcelravy, Timothy Meyer, Rebecca J. Vogt

Nebraska Rural Poll

Some rural Nebraskans have used artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Just over one-quarter have used any AI tool. However, most younger persons have used AI tools.

Given that, it is not surprising that most rural Nebraskans are not at all or slightly informed about artificial intelligence. Just over one-third are moderately informed about AI, and just over one in ten are either very or extremely informed about AI.

Most rural Nebraskans are either not at all or slightly confident that AI is being used in the best interest of the public. Just over one-half are not at all confident that it …

Unpacking East And Southeast Asian Immigrants Portrayed In Children’S Picturebooks: Centering On Immigration In Contemporary Times, Su Jeong Wee, Jinhee Kim, Vivian Yang

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This article describes a study that examined the portrayal of East and Southeast Asian immigrant children and their families in children’s picturebooks, focusing on their racialized and minoritized experiences. The authors’ analysis included a sample of 39 picturebooks written in English and published in the United States between 1993 and 2022. The findings reveal that these immigrant children and families are depicted as facing racism, stereotypes, financial difficulties, cultural differences, and language barriers. The Asian protagonists respond to their challenges in various ways, often employing multiple coping strategies. Additionally, they frequently find support through their social relationships when dealing with …

Learning To Facilitate English Language Discussion With Newcomers Using Visual Narratives, Laura B. Kelly

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This self-study reports a teacher educator’s efforts to support college student tutors in facilitating English language discussions about a wordless picturebook with immigrant and refugee youth at a newcomer high school. Drawing on critical sociocultural theory and practice-based teacher education, the study reports how tutors adopted a new and unfamiliar pedagogical repertoire as they became more skilled discussion facilitators. The study documents support needed (and missing) for the college tutors to take up this skill. Additionally, the study reports the affordances of a particular wordless book, The Arrival, as a tool that college student tutors used in the process of …