Digital Commons Network^™

A Review Of Social, Behavioral, And Ethical Considerations For Smart Life Engineering, John Murray

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Smart Life (SL) systems do not exist in a technological vacuum; they are embedded in a social ecosystem and have rich and complex interactions with their surroundings. It is important to recognize that their design and implementation will have an impact on the individuals and communities around them. This chapter examines the social, behavioral, and ethical issues to be considered in a holistic systems approach to SL engineering, to help practitioners and stakeholders to design the strategies needed for successful SL deployments. It addresses these topics from several disciplinary viewpoints and provides a comprehensive set of references for those requiring …

Japanese Incarceration Memorial As Trauma Portfolio Play, A. J. Faas, Alyssa Singh, Cibella Gamma

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

In collaboration with the Japanese American Museum of San José, California, we examined their exhibit of WWII-era incarceration of Japanese Americans to understand how the presentation of different positionalities (e.g., Japanese/American, loyal/disloyal) engage with and contest the terms of incarceration and internal politics within the Japanese American community. In our analysis, we focus on the reproduction and contestation of particular narratives of power and identity and treat the memorial exhibit as a variety of community-based “trauma portfolio” that unsettles state bureaucratic constructions of suffering and (in)justice. We conclude by identifying transformative possibilities for engaging with the different positionalities of incarcerated …

Study Finds Pelvic Floor Dysfunction In Women With Multiple Sclerosis Is An Unmet Need Requiring Nursing Action, Nicole Zhang

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Ai-Generated Text Detection And Source Identification, Anjana Priyatham Tatavarthi, Faranak Abri, Nada Attar

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The use of advanced machine learning techniques to detect AI-generated text is a very practical application. The ability to distinguish human-written content from machine-generated text while identifying the source generative model helps address growing concerns about authenticity and accountability in digital communication. The differentiation of human-generated and AI-generated text is highly relevant to several applications, from news media to academic integrity, and is key to ensuring transparency and trust in content-driven environments. However, existing models are often insufficient to accurately detect AI-generated text and determine the specific AI source due to the complex nature of machine-generated content. To address this, …

Resilience Practices In Health Science And Medical Libraries During The Early Stages Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Justin F. Gaynor

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This paper uses the concept of resilience engineering as an organizing principle to discuss best practices that evolved within health science/medical libraries in the United States during COVID-19 crisis, focusing on the period March–August 2020. Protection of library staff, assistance to medical staff, reducing the circulation of misinformation and public health consumerism all required substantial changes to standard processes. These process changes had to arise in the context of both physical isolation and information overload. Some practices became widespread due to their utility, and these are the focus of this report.

Health Care Professionals’ Perspectives On Technology Use In Urinary Care: Cross-Sectional Survey-Based Study, Nicole Zhang, Ni Zhang, Yun Wang, Rachel Wong, Kaylin Ma

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Urinary issues pose a significant burden on health care systems, necessitating innovative solutions to enhance patient care and alleviate the provider burden. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore health care professionals’ perceptions of urinary issues and assess their acceptance and readiness to adopt wearable and remote technologies for managing these conditions. The study aimed to identify the attributes and barriers influencing technology integration in clinical practice, using established theoretical frameworks, such as the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Methods: A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted. A structured survey questionnaire was administered …

Moral Intensity Dimensions Of Information Security Policy Compliance: Perspectives Of Construal Level Theory And Ethical Theories, Dailin Zheng, Zhiping Walter

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Sanctions are often ineffective in promoting employee compliance with information systems security policies (ISSPs) and may lead to undesired outcomes. We establish that ISSP compliance is an ethical decision and examine it through the lens of ethical decision-making using scenario-based surveys. Guided by normative ethical theories and the construal level theory, we find that both the opinions of co-workers and perceived negative consequences of noncompliance to the organization influence employee ISSP compliance intention. Additionally, perceived social distance affects employees' assessment of when damages to the organization can occur. Both the assessed timing of damage and the perceived social distance from …

Collective Liberation Through Critical Pedagogy, Robert A. Marx, Anne E. Dufault, Miriam R. Arbeit

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The collective liberation of queer and trans people—which is inherently tied to the liberation of those oppressed by white supremacy and racism, ableism, classism, ageism, and other asymmetrical power distributions—is possible when we develop critical consciousness through critical pedagogy. As young people develop an awareness of the contradictions and falsehoods they are taught (e.g., the myth of meritocracy), they begin to work to change their environments and offer resistance to the structures that inequitably shape their world. The vast majority of research on queer and trans adolescents, though, has been shaped by dominant, deficit-based views of queerness that presuppose that …

Reliability And Severity Levels Of The Voice-Related Experiences Of Nonbinary Individuals, Grace Shefcik, Pei Tzu Tsai, Satveer Kler

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Objectives: Clinicians providing gender-affirming communication services to nonbinary individuals often utilize client questionnaires. The Voice-related Experiences of Nonbinary Individuals (VENI) is the only published questionnaire exclusively for nonbinary clients. This questionnaire consists of 17 items that gain insight into the client's self-perception of voice and voice-related concerns. According to Shefcik and Tsai (2023), the VENI's content validity is good to excellent. This study evaluated the measure's reliability through internal consistency and test-retest reliability analyses and created impact ratings to support interpretation of scores. Study Design: This study utilized an online survey-based design with test-retest administration. The initial survey was administered …

Pain For Pain: The Benefits And Challenges Of Bdsm Participation For People With Chronic Pain–An Exploratory Study, Reni Forer, Bryce Westlake

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Research is beginning to find that many BDSM (bondage/discipline, domination/submission, sadism/masochism) practitioners experience benefits beyond sexual pleasure. Additionally, given the relationship between pain and pleasure common in BDSM, there may be certain unanticipated benefits for practitioners reporting chronic pain (PRCP). We conducted an online survey of an international convenience sample of BDSM practitioners (N = 525). Participants were asked about self-perceived benefits and challenges related to participating in BDSM with CP. Using chi-square, independent sample t-test, logistic regression, and linear-by-linear association, responses were combined with demographics, participation timelines, co-participants, motivations, and frequency of activities to identify differences between PRCP and …

Young Audience And Vod Platforms Of Linear Television. Perceptions About Playz, Mtmad And Flooxer, Belén Moreno Albarracín, Tania Blanco Sánchez

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Introduction: The new audiovisual paradigm, marked by flexible consumption, a wide catalog and a participatory audience, increases the interest of linear television in connecting with young people. To that end, the channels manage specialized content platforms. This research aims to analyze Mtmad, Playz and Flooxer, and the perceptions about them. The specific objectives are to examine the catalogs; evaluate identification with management chains; analyze youth-content identification and study their consumption habits. Methodology: A content analysis based on web structures and catalogs is proposed; and a survey of 160 young people about their knowledge, identification and consumption patterns. Results: Mtmad leads …

Behavioral Response Of House Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) To 3 Bittering Agents, Panchalie B. Gunathunga, Bethia H. King, Christopher J. Geden

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

House flies, Musca domestica L., are pests at livestock facilities. House fly numbers are controlled mainly by manure management and chemical controls, like use of toxic baits. Some toxic baits contain denatonium benzoate as a bittering agent, to avoid poisoning of children. House fly behavioral response to denatonium benzoate was examined, using 2 different diluents, sucrose solution or orange juice. Response of flies to quinine and sucrose octaacetate, 2 other bittering agents, was also examined in sucrose. Sucrose is the sweetener in commercially available toxic house fly baits. The proboscis extension response of both male and female flies was significantly …

Unmasking Public Sentiment: A Sample Efficient Approach To Analyzing Twitter Opinion On U.S. Aid To Ukraine, Satanu Ghosh, Nikhil Dewitt, Souvick Ghosh, Denise Mccoy

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The U.S. aid to Ukraine is a bipartisan topic of extreme socio-political importance. While several organizations have conducted surveys to understand the public stance on this topic, there is no research to date that analyses public opinion on social media, possibly due to the lack of annotated data. Therefore, this research compares several sample-efficient methods (including in-context learning) to analyze tweet sentiments with minimal training data. First, we collect 11,289 tweets about the U.S. aid to Ukraine and mapped them to U.S. states. Next, we explore three different approaches to sentiment analysis: tool-based, embedding-based, and prompt-based. Our results indicate that …

“This Is Everyone's Issue”: Policy Entrepreneurs, Issue Framing, And Coalition Building In The Passage Of Automatic Criminal Record Expungement, Elsa Y. Chen, Sarah E. Lageson, Ericka B. Adams

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Research Summary: Since 2018, at least 12 U.S. states have introduced policies to expunge certain eligible arrest and criminal conviction records through automated or algorithmic means. Drawing on interviews with governmental representatives and community stakeholders, this paper identifies strategies used to pass this legislation in Pennsylvania and Utah, the first two states to enact automated expungement policies. We frame our findings around three established theoretical frameworks of public policy making—policy entrepreneurship, issue framing, and coalition building—illustrating their combined strategic importance with data gathered from those involved on the ground in the passage and adoption of automated expungement legislation. The findings …

Self-Disclosure And Social Support In A Web-Based Opioid Recovery Community: Machine Learning Analysis, Yu Chi, Huai Yu Chen, Khushboo Thaker

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: The opioid crisis remains a critical public health challenge, with opioid use disorder (OUD) imposing significant societal and health care burdens. Web-based communities, such as the Reddit community r/OpiatesRecovery, provide an anonymous and accessible platform for individuals in recovery. Despite the increasing use of Reddit for substance use research, limited studies have explored the content and interactions of self-disclosure and social support within these communities. Objective: This study aims to address the following research questions: (1) What content do users disclose in the community?; (2) What types of social support do users receive?; and (3) How does the content …

Comparison Of Dynamic Mode Decomposition With Other Data-Driven Models For Lung Cancer Incidence Rate Prediction, L. Raymond Guo, Jifu Tan, M. Courtney Hughes

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Introduction: Public health data analysis is critical to understanding disease trends. Existing analysis methods struggle with the complexity of public health data, which includes both location and time factors. Machine learning offers powerful tools but can be computationally expensive and require specialized knowledge. Dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) is an alternative that offers efficient analysis with fewer resources. This study explores applying DMD in public health using lung cancer data and compares it with other machine learning models.

Methods: We analyzed lung cancer incidence data (2000–2021) from 1,013 US counties. Machine learning models (random forest, gradient boosting machine, support vector machine) …

Unseen Connections: A Storymap Exploring Case Studies In Water-Energy Transitions And Environmental Justice, Alida Cantor, Elizabeth Bartholomew, Kate Berry, James Blair, Dustin Mulvaney, Nancee Hunter

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Lgbtq+ Advocacy And Inclusive School Policies Are Associated With Self-Worth Among Youth In Gender-Sexuality Alliances Over The School Year, V. Paul Poteat, Abigail Richburg, Jack Day, Emily K. Finch, Jerel P. Calzo, Robert A. Marx, Arthur Lipkin, Hirokazu Yoshikawa

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Inclusive school policies and youth advocacy could promote well-being and positive development among youth of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Utilizing three waves of data over a 6-month period, we tested a three-level multilevel model on the extent to which youth’s advocacy in gender-sexuality alliances (GSAs; school clubs affirming youth identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or with other expansive sexual orientations or gender identities [LGBTQ+]) and attending schools that more thoroughly implemented LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and practices were associated with youth’s self-worth. Participants were 627 youth (87% LGBQ+ youth, 45% transgender or nonbinary youth, 48% youth of …

Learning About The Transit Passenger Experience From Microblogging Posts, Egbe Etu Etu, Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Jordan Larot, Chaitanya Tatipigari, Imokhai Theophilus Tenebe

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Transit agencies often track delays and malfunctions but may overlook riders’ real-time social experiences. To fill this gap, we analyzed 559 tweets from 2020 to 2023 that captured personal accounts of public transport use. Using thematic analysis, we found that 74% of posts criticized other passengers’ behavior, far outweighing comments on transit ride quality, such as complaints about delays (25%). Notably, 86% of tweets expressed negative sentiment, though some highlighted exceptional service. These findings demonstrate that interpersonal dynamics are a key contributor to riders’ experiences and illustrate the nature of the interactions that riders like and dislike.

Finding Floral And Faunal Species Richness Optima Among Active Fire Regimes, Zachary L. Steel, Alissa M. Fogg, Raphaela Floreani Buzbee, Kate Wilkin, Brandon M. Collins, Ryan Burnett, Marc D. Meyer, Amarina Wuenschel, Scott L. Stephens

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Changing fire regimes have important implications for biodiversity and challenge traditional conservation approaches that rely on historical conditions as proxies for ecological integrity. This historical-centric approach becomes increasingly tenuous under climate change, necessitating direct tests of environmental impacts on biodiversity. At the same time, widespread departures from historical fire regimes have limited the ability to sample diverse fire histories. We examined 2 areas in California's Sierra Nevada (USA) with active fire regimes to study the responses of bird, plant, and bat communities to a broad spectrum of temporal, spatial, and severity patterns of fire. Bird and plant species richness peaked …

Reinforcement Learning Methods For Assistive And Rehabilitation Robotic Systems: A Survey, Mojtaba Sharifi, Shreesh Tripathi, Yun Chen, Qiang Zhang, Mahdi Tavakoli

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Advancements in robotic systems aimed at improving mobility for individuals with disabilities have required more sophisticated control and navigation methods. Traditional control approaches often lack the complexity and adaptability needed for the high-dimensional nature of human activities. Consequently, reinforcement learning (RL) has emerged as a dynamic and effective framework for managing robotic actions in complex and unpredictable human environments. This article reviews the integration of RL in robotic systems for enhancing the mobility of individuals with disabilities, addressing the limitations of traditional control methods in complex and unpredictable environments. We critically analyze various RL algorithms, discussing their advantages and challenges …

Relevance And Reciprocity: Fostering Meaningful Inquiry In The Social Studies Classroom, Christy Cartner

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

This dissertation investigates the factors contributing to students' perceptions of meaningful inquiry. After using the C3 Framework and designing instruction using the Inquiry Design Model for a decade, I wanted to better understand the students' experience to fine-tune how I implement inquiry in the classroom.

Article 1 was written for Social Education and describes the year of IDM blueprints that I designed to loop the concept of equality through units spanning the social studies disciplines of sociology, history, civics, geography, and economics. Through designing and facilitating these inquiries, I discovered my problem of practice, which was how to better engage …

International School Leaders’ Lived Experiences Of Crises And Perceptions Of Trust, Shary L. Marshall

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

International school leaders worldwide have navigated their schools through a variety of crises. Their unique lived experiences offer insights into the role of trust in leadership, particularly during times of crisis.

This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of 12 experienced international school leaders. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Using the theoretical lenses of authentic leadership, sensemaking, loose coupling, and crisis leadership, this study illuminates the central role of trust in leading schools through crises.

Three significant themes emerged from the analysis. First, trust is foundational to leadership and is built through intentional, transparent …

Leadership Vision For Technology Use Post Covid-19, David J. Lucian

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

The integration of 1:1 devices in K–12 education has been widely debated for over two decades, yet few studies have addressed the rapid implementation that occurred post–COVID-19. This study examined a K–8 school in an urban Title I district that, prior to the pandemic, lacked the funding and infrastructure for a 1:1 model. Federal relief funding enabled a swift transition to virtual learning, catalyzing long-term shifts toward 21st-century instructional practices. Using a Mixed-Methods Action Research (MMAR) design, this study explored teacher experiences, challenges, and support needs during the transition. Data collection included interviews with middle school teachers and an analysis …

The Use Of Peer-To-Peer Observation And Feedback Cycles To Address Factors Impacting Perceived Professional Self-Efficacy Of School Librarians In A Kentucky School District: A Mixed Methods Action Research Study, Kelli D. Reno

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Research has shown that the school librarian occupies a unique and singular role in school settings. As such, their belief in their ability to master professional competencies is often self-referential and subject to negative influence from external organizational forces. This Mixed-Methods Action Research study explored the effect targeted institutional support for professional practice, via Peer-to-Peer Observation and Feedback cycles, has on perceptions of professional self-efficacy among the school librarians in one district.

A literature review focused on self-efficacy theory and school library research relating to role perception, organizational positioning, professional competencies, and job satisfaction anchored the diagnosis phase of this …

Psychological Impacts In Exercise Riders And Professional Jockeys Following Injury, Kelley M. Renner

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

One of the most well-known equestrian sports, horse racing, is not only a cornerstone of Kentucky’s economy, but also a vital part of its culture, with professional jockeys playing an essential role in the local communities and traditions that define the state. Despite its popularity and financial impact, mental health challenges within the sport have continually been shrouded in silence and ignored in research (Ball et al., 2007). Equally concerning is the high injury prevalence, and psychological impact of these injuries (e.g., psychological distress, depression, anxiety, loss of identity, and self-esteem (King et al., 2022; Losty et al., 2019; McConn-Palfreyman …

"Bridging The Gulf" Perception And Experiences Of Arab Gulf International Female Students' Engagement Process In The U.S. Higher Education Institutions., Nouf Kh Almazyan

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This study explores the engagement experiences of international female Arab Gulf students while studying in U.S. higher education institutions. Thus, a phenomenological approach through a qualitative research design was applied to collect data based on semi-structured interviews with eleven female participants from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman. The researcher conducted the interviews to ascertain how these students perceive and experience academic, social, and cultural engagements and the factors influencing their adjustment and integration into American university communities. During the data collection process, concrete measures were taken to establish the credibility and trustworthiness of the research findings. Data were analyzed using …

Middle-Level Central Office Leadership In A Turbulent Edu-Political Climate, Bonnie Fineman

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This study investigates how middle-level central office leaders navigate the challenges of an increasingly turbulent educational-political (edu-political) climate shaped by The Trump Effect—a political phenomenon that emerged during Donald Trump’s 2015 campaign and continued beyond his first presidency. Research has suggested that this effect has contributed to a distressing school environment, creating an educational leadership crisis across the United States. Grounded in the theory of Districts as Institutional Actors (DIA) and systems thinking, this research explores two key questions: 1) How do middle-level central office leaders do their jobs in the current edu-political climate?, and 2) How do middle-level central …

Innovative Biomechanical And Engineering-Based Assessments Of Hip Mechanics In Individuals With Hip-Related Pain, Holly M. Stanze

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Individuals with hip-related pain exhibit altered movement patterns, and worse fear of movement (kinesiophobia), compared to asymptomatic controls. Exacerbation of hip pain during movement and the role of hip symptom duration may help further our understanding of specific movement patterns that are associated with hip-related pain. A better understanding of the potential connections between hip-related symptom duration, kinesiophobia, hip pain during movement, and lower limb mechanics in those with hip-related pain may allow for more efficient referrals to clinicians and lead to more effective rehabilitation. In addition, the impact of hip-related pain on intra-articular hip loading patterns is not well …

Exploring College Students’ Motivation For Physical Activity: Applications Of Self-Determination Theory And The Role Of Health And Wellness Education, Anne Russell Blevins

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

This dissertation includes three pieces of writing that aim to show the importance of physical activity for all ages but specifically college-aged students. The first piece of writing (Chapter 2) includes a teaching tip written for the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Research has shown that dance was a subject of the past and many teachers did not feel comfortable teaching it. This practical piece was written to help show K-12 physical education teachers effective ways to involve students in physical activity specifically through teaching dance, mainly through using the “Teaching Dance for Understanding” model.

The second section …