Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization And Individual-Level Prediction Of Cognitive State In The First Year After 'Mild' Stroke, Juan Pablo Saa, Tamara Tse, Gerald Choon-Huat Koh, Philip Yap, Carolyn M. Baum, David E. Uribe-Rivera, Saras M. Windecker, Henry Ma, Stephen M. Davis, Geoffrey A. Donnan, Leeanne M. Carey

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Mild stroke affects more than half the stroke population, yet there is limited evidence characterizing cognition over time in this population, especially with predictive approaches applicable at the individual-level. We aimed to identify patterns of recovery and the best combination of demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors predicting individual-level cognitive state at 3- and 12-months after mild stroke.

METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was administered at 3-7 days, 3- and 12-months post-stroke. Raw changes in MoCA and impairment rates (defined as MoCA<24 points) were compared between assessment time-points. Trajectory clusters were identified using variations of ≥1 point in MoCA scores. To further compare clusters, additional assessments administered at 3- and 12-months were included. Gamma and Quantile mixed-effects regression were used to predict individual MoCA scores over time, using baseline clinical and demographic variables. Model predictions were fitted for each stroke survivor and evaluated using model cross-validation to identify the overall best predictors of cognitive recovery.

RESULTS: Participants' (n = 119) MoCA scores improved from baseline to 3-months …

Assessing Quality Of Life In Childhood Cancer Survivors At Risk For Hearing Loss: A Comparison Of Hear-Ql And Promis Measures, Anne Spence, Allison J L'Hotta, Susan S Hayashi, Kara Felts, Emily Lafentres, Megan Jones-White, Judith E C Lieu, Allison A King, Robert J Hayashi

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) exposed to platinum chemotherapy are at an increased risk of developing hearing loss and reporting decreased quality of life (QOL). This study compared two QOL measures; one developed for children with hearing loss, The Hearing Environments and Refection on Quality of Life (HEAR-QL), and one validated in CCS, the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), to assess their ability to evaluate QOL deficits in this population.

METHODS: Subject eligibility were restricted to CCS exposed to platinum-based chemotherapy but who were free of known risk factors for cognitive impairment, (non-central nervous system tumor, no cranial radiation, …

Data-Driven Analysis Of Progressive Design Build In Water And Wastewater Infrastructure Projects, Fareed Salih, Radwa Eissa, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The United States has invested heavily in water and wastewater infrastructure projects to address growing demand and aging systems. To ensure the effective delivery of these projects, agencies are shifting toward alternative delivery methods such as progressive design build (PDB), which has demonstrated accelerated schedule and enhanced cost performance across the literature as well as multiple projects compared to traditional DB. This has raised a need for evaluating PDB's state of adoption and performance in the water and wastewater sector. To this end, the authors: (1) conducted descriptive and statistical analyses of the 21 PDB water and wastewater projects available …

A Holistic Approach To Exploring The Root Factors Of Work Zone Accidents, Bahaa Chammout, Muaz O. Ahmed, Islam H. El-Adaway, William Lieser

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Work zones are crucial for infrastructure maintenance and improvement. However, ongoing projects within work zones sometimes can place workers and drivers in dangerous situations. Despite safety regulations, work zone accidents persist with notable severity and frequency. Previous research has explored work zone accident causation, but it has not provided a comprehensive understanding of the factors that impact work zone safety. This paper addresses this research gap by following a multistep methodology. First, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to identify a comprehensive list of 37 factors impacting work zone safety. Second, social network analysis (SNA) was employed to analyze …

Enhancing Pricing Practices Of Subcontractors: A Comparative Analysis Using Simulation Modeling, Muaz O. Ahmed, Islam H. El-Adaway, Kalyn T. Coatney

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The construction industry often relies on subcontracting, where subcontractors bid for portions of a project before general contractors bid for the entire project in a process referred to as multi-stage bidding (MSG). MSG can be complex, and winning bidders may be burdened with underestimating their bids and encountering the winner's curse. Despite various studies investigating this issue, further research is necessary to examine bidding strategies for subcontractors. This paper addresses this research need by exploring and comparing how bidding strategies based on reinforcement learning and game theory could aid subcontractors in mitigating the winner's curse in MSG. The authors used …

Studying Contribution Of Associated Stakeholders In Risk Control Of Modularized Construction Under Different Project Delivery Methods: A Graph-Restricted Cooperative Games Approach, Mohamad Abdul Nabi, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Modularization is associated with various project benefits including cost savings, schedule reduction, improved quality, among others. However, successful implementation of modular projects requires early collaboration and proactive management of various associated risks. Both project communication structures and early engagement of all project stakeholders have a great impact on risk mitigation efficiency in modular construction. The goal of this paper is to study the stakeholders' contribution in risk control of modular construction projects under different delivery methods. To this end, the authors followed a multistep methodology including (1) literature analysis to assign 17 modular risks among the various project stakeholders; (2) …

System Dynamics Modeling For Investigating The Retention Of Skilled Labor In The Construction Market, Tamima Elbashbishy, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Limited skilled labor has been one of the greatest challenges facing the construction industry, especially after COVID. In 2019, around 80% of contractors in the US reported problems in hiring enough skilled workers. Labor retention has been one of the major contributors to skilled labor shortages in construction. The goal of this paper is to study the impact of key construction industry characteristics and economic conditions on skilled labor shortages. This goal is achieved by simulating the flow of skilled workers throughout the construction industry. To this end, a system dynamics (SD) model was developed to represent skilled labor and …

Quantifying The Role Of Insurance In Tornado-Impacted Community Recovery: A Survey And Simulation-Based Approach, Jie Zhao, Ji Yun Lee, Guirong Grace Yan, Fangjiao Ma

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Insurance against disasters plays a critical role in community recovery by providing policyholders with reliable and timely payments for repairing or reconstructing damaged houses. By allowing homeowners to transfer risk, insurance enables homeowners to address house without experiencing significant financial burdens. Although historical events have highlighted the importance of insurance, its quantitative impact on community recovery, particularly in tornado-impacted communities, is understudied. This study focuses on advancing our understanding of whether sufficiently insured houses can have a positive impact on the recovery of tornado-impacted communities (i.e., the main research question). This paper proposes a two-stage simulation framework to quantitatively evaluate …

Identifying And Exploring Construction Pm Evolution And Research Directions, Jeffrey S. Russell, Islam H. El-Adaway, Ramy Khalef, Fareed Salih, Gasser Ali

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Project Management (PM) Is The Process Of Organization, Allocation, And Control Of Resources To Achieve A Specific Goal. Previously, PM Focused On Planning And Executing Projects According To Predetermined Objectives, But It Has Evolved To Include The Use Of Technology To Aid In Managing And Delivering Projects. However, No Research Has Provided A Comprehensive Analysis Of This PM Evolution. To Fill This Gap, This Data-Driven Study Conducted A Scientometric Analysis, Using PM-Related Research Papers, To Identify The PM Evolution Along The Holistic Life Cycle Of Its Knowledgebase. The Findings Of This Study Identify Four Distinct PM Phases: PM 1.0, PM …

Analyzing The Impact Of Db Versus Dbb On Cost Performance In Airport Development: A Data-Driven Approach, Ramy Khalef, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Construction Of Airport Projects Can Be Complex And Costly Due To The Many Stakeholders Involved And Associated Strict Timelines. Traditional Delivery Methods, Such As Design-Bid-Build (DBB), Employed In Airport Projects Often Result In Major Cost Overruns Due To Multiple Facets. Design-Build (DB) Is A Construction Method That Combines Design And Construction Under A Single Entity, And It Has The Potential To Improve Cost Performance. None Have Evaluated DB From A Cost Perspective In The Airport Sector. This Research Fills This Gap. First, The Data Is Collected And Assessed For Validity. Second, Risk Ratings For Cost Performance Are Computed. Finally, …

Exploring The Root Factors Impacting Work Zone Accidents: A Mixed-Methods Study, Bahaa Chammout, Muaz O. Ahmed, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Work Zones Are Vital For Improving Infrastructural Utilities Yet Pose Significant Dangers For Workers And Drivers Who Are Often Unfamiliar With These Areas. Prior Research Examined Various Aspects Of Work Zone Accident Causation; However, The Interrelationships And Critical Combinations Among The Contributing Factors Have Not Been Fully Analyzed. This Study Aims To Identify The Underlying Factors Contributing To Work Zone Accidents And Evaluate The Different Combinations Among Them. To This Purpose, Accident Factors Were Derived From A Total Of 133 Research Articles Addressing Work Zone Safety. Social Network Analysis (SNA) And Clustering Were Used To Comprehensively Model The Identified Factors. …

Investigating Price Fluctuation Transmission Among Construction Materials, Mohamad Abdul Nabi, Islam H. El-Adaway, Rayan H. Assaad

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Generally, Fluctuation In One Material's Price Can Cause A Series Of Chain Reactions In The Supply Chain System, Known As Price Fluctuation Transmission, As All Materials Are Interconnected And Interrelated. None Of The Previous Studies Have Investigated Price Fluctuation Transmission Among All Construction Materials. This Paper Aims To Fill This Gap In Knowledge. The Authors Collected Producer Price Index (PPI) Data For 16 Construction Materials, Modeled The Relationship Between Each Pair Of Materials Using Vector Autoregression Technique, And Validated The Causality Using Granger Causality Test. Network Analysis Was Performed To Identify The Price Fluctuation Transmission Capacity, Susceptibility, And Intermediatory Capacity …

Distributed Solar Generation: Data Analytics Of The Existing Literature For Guiding Future Prospects, Gasser Ali, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Distributed Solar Generation (DSG) Systems Are Small-Scale Units That Are Located At Or Near End-Consumers Such As Residential Rooftop Photo-Voltaic (PV) Systems. DSG Has Driven A Plethora Of Multidisciplinary Research With Various Interrelated Topics And Perspectives. A Broad Understanding Of Research Directions And Potential Gaps In Knowledge Can Be Elusive. Accordingly, The Goal Of This Paper Is To Investigate The Research Trends Related To DSG And Explore Research Opportunities. This Is Achieved By Performing A Data-Driven Keyword Search And Network Analysis On A Large Dataset Of Publications Related To DSG To Quantify Topics Related To DSG And The Interconnectivity Between …

“Just Holding That Space”: Using Culturally Relevant Pedagogy To Create Counterspaces For Black College Students In Aanapisi/Hsi Classrooms, Nicholas B. Lacy, Yea-Wen Chen, Damariyé L. Smith

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Black college students continue to face the specter of anti-Blackness which creates additional barriers to success and flourishing in higher education. This study investigates how instructors in higher education can provide racial equity to Black students in AANAPISI/HSI classrooms through counterspaces. We use culturally relevant pedagogy to investigate the experiences of 21 Black college students at an AANAPISI/HSI to understand better how higher education instructors can utilize counterspaces, places where Black college students can challenge dominant discourses and create a collegial learning environment. We identified three counterspace themes: (1) Mitigate Eurocentric Pedagogy, (2) Employ Black and Critical Scholarship, and (3) …

You Don’T Have To Be Their Best Friend: Complicating The Instructor-Student Relationship Through A Mixed-Method Typology, Jessalyn I. Vallade, Kyle Rudick

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

The purpose of this study was to explore the nuances of instructor-student relationships with a nationally representative sample of students. Participants were randomly assigned to describe relationships with their best, worst, and/or last instructor and rate their satisfaction with each relationship, and the level of closeness with the instructor. Coding of student descriptions revealed 13 themes, organized into six pairs of constructive/destructive relationship anchors and one neutral category (Professional Relationship). Importantly, professional relationships were not as close as constructive relationships but were equally satisfying, indicating the closeness in instructor-student relationships has diminishing returns. Results are discussed in the context of …

An Innovation Bootcamp Model For Developing Youth-Led Hiv Self-Testing Delivery Strategies In Nigeria: Post-Designathon Capacity Building, Ucheoma Nwaozuru, Titilola Gbaja-Biamila, David Oladele, Olufunto Olusanya, Temitope Ojo, Juliet Iwelunmor, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Many designathons, hackathons, and similar participatory events suffer from minimal training and support after the events. Responding to this need, we organized a health innovation bootcamp: an intensive, team-based apprenticeship training with research and entrepreneurial rigor among young people in Nigeria to develop HIV self-testing (HIVST) delivery strategies for Nigerian youth. The purpose of this paper was to describe an innovation bootcamp that aimed to develop HIVST delivery strategies for Nigerian youth.

METHODS: The four-week, in-person innovation bootcamp, informed by youth participatory action research and comprised a series of workshops, took place in Lagos, Nigeria. The goal was to …

Centering Intersectional Breast Cancer Screening Experiences Among Black, Latina, And White Women: A Qualitative Analysis, Sienna Ruiz, Kamilah Abdur-Rashid, Rachel L Mintz, Maggie Britton, Ana A Baumann, Graham A Colditz, Ashley J Housten

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: Mammography screening guidelines in the United States highlight the importance of informing and involving women when making their breast cancer screening decisions. However, the complexity of interpreting and applying these population-level guidelines can contribute to patient burden. Patient-centered communication strategies can alleviate patient burden, but few consider perspectives from racially and ethnically marginalized populations. We examine diverse women's perspectives on screening to characterize patient-centered experiences.

METHODS: We conducted 28 focus groups with 134 non-Latina Black (

RESULTS: We identified three themes: (1) personal relationships with primary care providers, (2) potential impacts of cancer on families, and (3) interactions with …

Awareness, Use, Motivations And Methods Of Accessing Genetic Testing In 2022 In The United States, Sukh Makhnoon, Minjae Lee, Tanushree Prasad, Alexa Badalamenti, Tami Gurley, Erika A Waters, Celette Sugg Skinner

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Awareness, access, and use of clinical and direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests has increased in recent years with documented disparities in these services. We provide updated data on test awareness and use, and report novel data on motivations and methods for accessing genetic tests.

METHODS: Nationally representative data from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 6) were used to assess awareness and use of ancestry, personal trait, specific disease, and carrier testing by sociodemographic characteristics, examine reasons for undergoing tests, and methods of accessing them.

RESULTS: Overall, 81.4% of respondents were aware and 40.0% had undergone testing. Only …

2024 Spring Commencement, Georgia Southern University

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

2024 Fall Commencement, Georgia Southern University

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Advance (Spring 2024), Georgia Southern Division Of Continuing And Professional Education

Division of Continuing & Professional Education

No abstract provided.