Digital Commons Network^™

Radio Frequency Wave Propagation Modeling Within Obstructed Underground Mining Environments For Effective Miner Localization During Mine Emergencies, Emmanuel Atta Antwi

Doctoral Dissertations

The reliability of underground wireless communication systems remains a significant challenge, particularly during emergencies when the mine environment becomes severely obstructed by debris, dust, and humidity. These environmental and geometric conditions result in significant attenuation of electromagnetic (EM) waves and multipath effects that undermine miner localization and rescue operations. Existing Vector Parabolic Equation (VPE) models are efficient for straight or mildly curved tunnels but fail to account for the random and obstructive conditions typically encountered during underground emergencies. This research develops a novel radio propagation model for EM wave behavior in underground mine drifts under geometrically obstructed conditions. The model …

Investigating The Interplay Of Thermal, Lighting, And Acoustics In Intensive Care For Enhanced Patient Well-Being And Clinical Outcomes, Emil E. Jonescu, Edward Litton, Benjamin Farrell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This research explores the interplay among noise levels, thermal conditions, and lighting intensity in an intensive care unit (ICU), focusing on preserving circadian rhythm and promoting nighttime sleep to advance patient-centric care. This investigation assesses lighting levels (Lux), natural versus artificial light ratios, ICU room temperature, and correlations with acoustic data during a field research period and examines the collective impact of patient exposure to sleep linked to delirium and health outcomes, addressing critical gaps in understanding. Findings reveal that noise levels between 60 and 90 dB(A) during patient occupancy exceed sleep disruption thresholds, with daytime averages of 53.6 dB(A) …

Caregiver And Provider Perspectives On Developmental Services For Children With Sickle Cell Disease: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Mollie Tamboli, Erin Macarthur, Natalie Collins, Eunyoung Kang, Maria Fernandez, Jerlym S Porter, Heather M Conklin, Allison A King, Jane S Hankins, Andrew M Heitzer

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a monogenic blood disorder characterized by neurodevelopmental delays. Most children with SCD do not receive developmental services due in part to disparities in care access. To inform the design of a developmental intervention for children with SCD, we evaluated factors that influence access to developmental services.

METHODS: Interview data were collected from educational and medical providers (

RESULTS: We identified three themes as factors that influence caregivers' access to developmental services: quality of medical and educational experiences, caregiver knowledge and beliefs about SCD and development, and caregiver preferences for developmental services. Most caregivers denied …

The Influence Of Project Managing Capability, It Integration, Supply Coordination, And Process Innovation To Improve Organizational Performance Of Educational Institutions, Ellysa Sri Hartati, Hotlan Siagian, Zeplin Jiwa Husada Tarigan, Ferry Jie

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The organization strives to provide timely service according to customer needs. Organizations must communicate and make the right decisions quickly to improve performance. The research aims to assess the influence of project management capability, integration, and coordination in improving organizational performance. Data is collected using a questionnaire designed with a five-point Likert scale. The respondents are all suppliers or vendors of high school educational Institutions in East Java. The organization has a project manager responsible for all procurement and projects. The criteria of suppliers or vendors are those who have paid taxes, have a taxpayer number, and have an adequate …

Relational Employability Matrix (Rem): A Guided Framework For Self-Reflection And Professional Growth, Ros Sambell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Relational Employability Matrix (REM) is a practical tool for self-assessment and planning, grounded in the Relational Employability Framework (REF). The REF was developed and tested by Cook through a body of research that includes a narrative review, doctoral thesis, and applied studies (Cook, 2022; Cook, 2023a; Cook, 2023b; Cook, Doherty, & Wallace, 2024; Cook & Sambell, 2025). It brings together three interconnected dimensions of relational employability: Foundational Career Development and Identities, Interactions with Others, and Contributions to Local and Global Challenges. The REF works as a reflective, practice-focused guide for building these capabilities over time. The REM takes these …

Life Stories And Digital Learning: A Social Care Approach To Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Ageing, Loretta Baldassar, Emanuela Sala

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This brief report has been prepared to provide a written record of the program ‘Life Stories and Digital Learning: A Social Care Approach to CaLD Ageing’ (conducted in 2019 at MYVISTA aged care facility). It presents an evaluation of the program as reported by program participants and facilitators. It ends with brief recommendations and a summary of the learnings from the program.

Family Businesses At Crossroads: From Legacy To Impact, Center For Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Faculty Journal Articles

The MENA Family Business Research Conference (MENA-FBRC), hosted by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) at the Onsi Sawiris School of Business at the American University in Cairo (AUC), brought together academics, family business leaders, practitioners, students, and ecosystem stakeholders from across the MENA region to foster dialogue on the evolving landscape of family enterprises and their role in economic development. Guided by the theme “Family Businesses at Crossroads: From Legacy to Impact,” the conference served as a platform for advancing regional family business research while strengthening the connection between academic knowledge and practical application. Through keynote speeches, research …

Biology-Informed Inverse Problems For Insect Pests Detection Using Pheromone Sensors, Thibault Malou, Nicolas Parisey, Katarzyna Adamczyk-Chauvat, Elisabeta Vergu, Béatrice Laroche, Paul André Calatayud, Philippe Lucas, Simon Labarthe

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Most insects have the ability to modify the odor landscape in order to communicate with their conspecies during key phases of their life cycle such as reproduction. They release pheromones in their nearby environment, volatile compounds that are detected by insects of the same species with exceptional specificity and sensitivity. Efficient pheromone detection is then an interesting lever for insect pest management in a precision agroecological culture context. A precise and early detection of pests using pheromone sensors offers a strategy for pest management before infestation. In this paper, we develop a biology-informed inverse problem framework that leverages temporal signals …

Practices And Perceptions In Hamstring Training For Injury Prevention And Enhancement Of Athletic Performance: A Qualitative Analysis, Steven Ross, Nicholas J. Ripley, Paul Comfort

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Hamstring strain injuries (HSIs) remain a prevalent issue across sports, despite extensive research. Previously, the current authors have reported practices and perceptions of training for the mitigation of HSIs, however such practices are highly nuanced. In this study, the authors utilised semi-structured interviews to further understand applied practitioner perceptions and identify how evidence is translated into practice. Twelve practitioners (one physiotherapist and eleven strength and conditioning [S&C] coaches including one dual accredited S&C coach and physiotherapist) working in a range of sporting disciplines were interviewed across six broad categories of questioning (practitioner profile, job role challenges, resistance training, high-speed running …

The Affective Milieu Of School Market Competition: Using Affect And Governmentality To Study Market Competition, Brad Gobby, Amanda Keddie, Jill Blackmore, Katrina Macdonald

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper integrates insights from affect theory into Foucault’s governmentality framework to analyse school markets. Using a Deleuzian approach to affect, we theorise school markets as an affective milieu that composes the field of competition. Drawing on interviews with staff at two rival high schools, we highlight how an affective milieu that included threat, anxiety, insecurity, resentment and confidence shaped market dynamics. Our analysis shows that affective milieus reflect and reinforce power asymmetries in local school markets and are a condition for generating competitive practices to enhance schools’ capacities to affect and be affected. Our central point is to move …

“I Learned To Bottle Up My Feelings From A Young Age”: A Narrative Analysis Of Latina Young People’S Family Mental Health Socialization, Jenn M. Lilly

Social Service Faculty Publications

Latina young people report high levels of mental health problems and low levels of helpseeking

compared with their white peers, but little research has examined factors influencing

their mental health views. Inductive analysis of 25 participants’ narratives revealed that Latina

young people described three stages in the development of their mental health-related beliefs,

attitudes, and behaviors: undergoing a process of family mental health socialization, suffering

in silence, and attaining a new perspective. Within each of these phases, participants shared

stories that attest to their agency and resilience. This research uncovers a novel theoretical

construct, “family mental health socialization,” which elucidates …

Digital Zines As Mental And Sexual Health Communication Tools For Latina Teens: Format And Content Acceptability And Initial Findings, Jenn M. Lilly, D'Andrah Almanzar, Susan R. Pace, Dante D. Bryant

Social Service Faculty Publications

Recognizing the potential of digital zines (defined as selfpublished,

online publications combining artwork and

text) as culturally tailored health communication tools,

this article examines the acceptability and impacts of two

digital zines about mental and sexual health created by

Latina young people for Latina teens as a health communication

strategy. We conducted an anonymous online

survey completed by Latina teens who read the zines (32

for sexual health and 33 for mental health). Data analysis

aimed to explore, summarize, and interpret the collected

data using an artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced

approach. Survey participants found the zine format and

content acceptable and …

Robust Mitigation Strategy For Misleading Pheromone Trails In Foraging Robot Swarms, Ryan Luna, Qi Lu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

This study advances the security of swarm robotics by examining the resilience of stigmergic communication in foraging robot swarms against deceptive strategies. We specifically investigate the swarm’s vulnerability to attacks via misleading pheromone trails laid by detractor robots, which significantly hinder foraging performance. Through simulations, we evaluated the adverse effects of such attacks on resource collection and forager capture rates, highlighting a notable decline as the percentage of detractors increases. To counter these threats, we implement a robust defense mechanism utilizing DBSCAN for density-based clustering of pheromone trails, complemented by a cluster grouping method that effectively isolates batches of detractors …

Sunset Provisions In The Local Tax Code: Perspectives Of City Leaders In Arkansas Cities Of The First Class, Sara R. Deuster

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Unlike their federal and state counterparts, local governments do not have someone to pass the buck to when it comes to carrying out public programs and have a limited means to generate their own source revenue to sustain non-enterprise government services. Taxation is the primary means local governments rely on to generate such revenue. With the responsibility to provide services, maintain infrastructure, and accommodate growth, municipalities must capitalize on the taxing authority allowed by their respective state. The purpose of this study was to seek understanding on how city leaders in Arkansas cities of the first class view the use …

Mentoring In Support Of The Professional Development And Advancement Of Women As Executives In The Public Sector: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Holly M. Cirko

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This study examined the lived experiences of women in municipal management to understand how mentoring influences their career development, leadership pathways, and perceptions of gendered dynamics in the workplace. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, the research examined how participants made meaning of mentoring relationships, the support they received, and the organizational factors that influenced their access to developmental opportunities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women serving in executive roles across local government. Several major themes emerged: (1) mentoring as a critical resource for navigating gendered workplace challenges, (2) the role of informal and organic relationships in fostering confidence …

The Impact Of Age-Friendly Policy On New York State: How Executive Order-190 And Executive Order-23 Shape Community Development For All Ages, Trista Bercarich

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

The demographic shift toward an aging population has created an urgent need for policies that promote inclusive, livable communities for all ages. This quantitative study examined New York State’s implementation of Age-Friendly policy through Executive Order 190 (2018) and Executive Order 23 (2022), which collectively advance the integration of health, accessibility and community participation across state and local systems. Guided by environmental gerontology and psychology, aging in place and successful aging frameworks, this research utilized an adapted version of the AARP Livable Communities Survey to assess residents’ perceptions of livability with the eight AARP domains. The cross-sectional online survey (n …

Conversations In The Classroom: Increasing Dialogic Inquiry To Dismantle Compliance-Based Teaching And Learning, Jill Rivera

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Verbal interpersonal communication has been diminishing from the teaching and learning process over the past decade in public-school classrooms. School district administrations mandate teachers to utilize digital learning platforms and standardized tests due to the ease at which this technology can quickly gather data. While the transition to digital platforms and test-based education may be well-intended, the result has often been a decrease in dialogic inquiry-based pedagogy which removes teacher autonomy, student agency, and has negative effects on students’ ability to critically think and effectively engage in communication and instruction. The over-emphasis on collecting data based solely on a digitized …

Dr. Eric Angel Ramos - A Shooting Star That Inspired Marine Mammalogists And Beyond (1987 – 2024), Laura J. May-Collado, Jeremy J. Kiszka, Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez, Beth Brady, G. Rieucau, Daniel Gonzalez-Socoloske, Renata Sousa-Lima, Diana Reiss, Macelo Magnasco, Roderic Mast, Wayne Sentman, Joy S. Reidenberg

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

SMU Annual Texas Survey

No abstract provided.

Bankruptcy & Commercial Law, Sally Mcdonald Henry

SMU Annual Texas Survey

This Article analyzes and discusses cases—arising from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Bankruptcy Courts in Texas, the Texas Supreme Court, and the Texas Courts of Appeals—that resolved some fascinating and important issues in the areas of bankruptcy and commercial law during this Survey period.

Partnership Law, Troy Christensen, Jeff Dorrill, Matthew Schindel, Madeline Ballard, Nick Beals

SMU Annual Texas Survey

No abstract provided.

Professional Liability, Shelby Taylor, R. Max Ward, Levi Klinglesmith

SMU Annual Texas Survey

No abstract provided.

An Assessment Of Vegetable Production Constraints, Trait Preferences And Willingness To Adopt Sustainable Intensification Options In Kenya And Uganda, Rose N. Okoma, Evanson R. Omuse, Daniel M. Mutyambai, Dennis Beesigamukama, Marius F. Murongo, Sevgan Subramanian, Frank Chidawanyika

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Global food production systems are under pressure due to population increase, limited farmland, biotic and abiotic constrains, and ongoing climate change. Sustainable intensification is needed to increase agricultural productivity with minimal adverse environmental and social impacts. Vegetable-integrated push pull (VIPP) technology coupled with black soldier fly (BSF) frass offer such opportunities to smallholder farmers. However, farmers’ vegetable preferences and willingness to adopt these innovations remain unknown and are variable across various geographic scales. Focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-person interviews with smallholder farmers were conducted to assess vegetable production constraints and select vegetables to be integrated into VIPP coupled with …

A Review On Knowledge And Information Extraction From Pdf Documents And Storage Approaches, Salvador D. Atagong, Henri Tonnang, Kennedy Senagi, Mark Wamalwa, Komi M. Agboka, John Odindi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Introduction: Automating the extraction of information from Portable Document Format (PDF) documents represents a major advancement in information extraction, with applications in various domains such as healthcare, law, or biochemistry. However, existing solutions face challenges related to accuracy, domain adaptability, and implementation complexity. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology to examine approaches and trends in PDF information extraction and storage approaches. Results: The review revealed three dominant methodological categories: rule-based systems, statistical learning models, and neural network-based approaches. Key limitations include the rigidity of rule-based …

Insect Biological Control: A Global Perspective, Lessando M. Gontijo, Jorge B. Torres, Paul K. Abram, Armando Alfaro-Tapia, Hugo C. Arredondo-Bernal, Antonio Biondi, Raymond A. Cloyd, Alejandro C. Costamagna, Nicolas Desneux, Marie D’Ottavio, Michael J. Furlong, Nancy M. Greco, Roselyne Labbe, Martin Hill, Blas Lavandero, Tian Hao Li, José R. Lomelí-Flores, Eric Lucas, Gerben J. Messelink, Margarita Rocca, Marcela Rodriguez-Garcia, José R.P. Parra, Ainara Peñalver-Cruz, Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame, Sean Thackeray, Alberto Urbaneja, German Vargas, Myron P. Zalucki, Lian Sheng Zang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The intentional use of biological control agents to manage arthropod pests dates back to as early as 304 AD, when Chinese farmers used weaver ants to manage citrus pests. Over time, biological control has evolved into distinct approaches: classical, augmentation, and conservation. Prior to the advent of pesticides, most insect pest management relied on natural and classical biological control. The most common strategy used at first, despite regional variations, was the importation of biological control agents. Nonetheless, due to issues with unintentional non-target impacts, numerous failures in the introduction, and longer periods required for implementation, augmentative and conservation approaches have …

The President’S Authority To Impose Tariffs, Chad Squitieri

Scholarly Articles

The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) empowers the President to “regulate . . . importation.” In Learning Resources v. Trump, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that such language did not empower the President to impose tariffs. The District Court reasoned that there was a distinction between the power to “regulate” and the power to “tax,” and that tariffs required a power to tax. This Essay explains why the District Court was wrong.

The Constitution’s original meaning and Supreme Court precedent indicate that tariffs can be an exercise of Congress’s power to regulate …

Thinking Outside The Box With Ai: Adapting 20th Century Labor And Employment Law To 21st Century Algorithms That Select, Monitor, And Control Employees, Roger C. Hartley

Scholarly Articles

A transformative era is unfolding in the rapidly changing world of work. Increasingly, to a hitherto unimaginable degree, employers are able to deploy predictive analytics—artificial intelligence (AI)—that processes data about workers and their behaviors to identify patterns and make algorithmic predictions. There is a widely-held view among labor practitioners, scholars, and non- specialists that our current labor and employment regulatory scheme is insufficient to address many, perhaps most, of the workplace issues that workplace AI systems create. The thesis of this article is that skepticism is largely unfounded as it seriously underestimates the capacity of currently enacted federal labor and …

Virginia's Congressional Districts Are Unconstitutional, Kevin C. Walsh

Scholarly Articles

The Elections Clause in Article I of the U.S. Constitution provides that “[t]he Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations.” This Essay will show that Virginia's current congressional districts were not established in compliance with the Elections Clause. These congressional districts were prescribed by the Supreme Court of Virginia, not by “the Legislature” or by any other body exercising legislative power to establish districts. Because judicial power is the only power that …

Informing Choice: The Role Of Adoption In Women’S Pregnancy Decision-Making, Elizabeth R. Kirk, Ryan Hanlon

Scholarly Articles

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the authors of this Article offer a practical, collaborative response to a seemingly intractable, divisive issue. Kirk and Hanlon draw on their academic expertise in law and social science, respectively, to address the paradox of the general esteem for the institution of adoption alongside the rarity with which adoption is chosen. In this Article, they examine social science data and literature on women’s pregnancy decision-making in order to explain the need for laws and policies that promote informed choice. They introduce never-before-published survey data and …

The Failed Experiment Of §230 Of The Communications Decency Act: How It Facilitates Exploitation And How It Must Be Reformed, Mary Graw Leary

Scholarly Articles

Two truths coexist: The Internet has brought with it tremendous changes for learning, connection, and business; and the Internet and other digital platforms have led to an unprecedented exploitation of children on a scale never before imagined. This is due in large part to §230 of the Communications Decency Act – the law which tech platforms have perverted to immunize them from liability for their activity which causes extreme harm. This duality has led to a current vigorous debate about whether this 1996 law has any value in the 21st Century.

This article answers that question with a resounding no, …