Digital Commons Network^™

A Study Of Special Districts: Research Of Financial Indicators As Predictors Of Fiscal Distress, Scott Keith Harrison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since 1946, Special Purpose Districts (SPDs) have become the most prevalent form of government in the United States. Unfortunately, they fail more often than General Purpose (GP) governments. This study researches the predictability of the Florida State Auditor’s financial condition indicators for SPD financial health and the influence of intergovernmental transfers (IGT) on government financial health. The significance of this research lies in confirming whether a national SPD fiscal distress predictive model can be generalized to a single state. Additionally, the study researched the influence of intergovernmental transfers (IGT) on financial health. The quantitative research design used the Cox regression …

Commencement Program 2025, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

2 | Message from the President

3 | 2025 Events of Commencement

5 | The Academic Procession

6 | Institutional Administration

7 | Board of Trustees

8 | Significance of Academic Regalia

9 | University History Highlights

11 | Criteria for Institutional Awards

13 | Loma Linda University Health and Loma Linda University Honorees

The Programs, The School Honorees, and The Speakers

29 | School of Medicine

50 | School of Pharmacy

63 | School of Dentistry

81 | School of Public Health

94 | San Manuel Gateway College

101 | School of Allied Health Professions - Allied Health …

The Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Disease And Chronic Kidney Disease In Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Saudi Arabia, Walaa Mohammedsaeed, Abdullah Al Malki, Salma Alsayed

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To identify potential risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Saudi Arabian patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: A 6-year prospective cohort study was carried out from January 2018 to January 2023, enrolling 1,500 patients. Data were initially collected between January 2018-2019, and follow-up assessments were carried out annually from 2020-2023. Patients were evaluated using biomarker analyses, and medical records were reviewed to assess the incidence of CVD and CKD. Biomarker levels, including blood creatinine, urine albumin, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and other key parameters, were …

Identifying Individuals At Risk Of Post-Stroke Depression: Development And Validation Of A Predictive Model, Saeed A. Alqahtani

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To identify the factors associated with post-stroke depression (PSD) and develop a machine learning predictive model using a large dataset, considering sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors. Methods: Our 2025 study used data from the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, released in September 2024. Data processing was carried out using Google Colab and Python. We carried out descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and feature importance analyses (mutual information and adjusted mutual information). A total of 4 machine-learning models were trained and evaluated: random forest, decision tree, gradient boosting, and logistic regression. Model performance was assessed using the accuracy, precision, …

Experience Of Pediatric Liver Disease At A University Hospital In Western Saudi Arabia, Nawal H. Almohammad, Rana Y. Bokhary

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To describe the diverse spectrum presented by pediatric liver diseases and prevalence of histopathological patterns and assess the role of histopathological findings in predicting prognosis. Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort study of 158 pediatric patients who underwent liver biopsy or resection for liver disease at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2014-2023). Demographic data, clinical data, and histopathological findings were analyzed using counts and percentages. Results: The majority of the patients were infants (n=83; 52.5%), with male predominance (n=97; 61.4%). Biopsies were the most common specimen type (n=137; 86.7%). Cholestatic/bile duct disorders were the most …

Kinetic Growth Rate Analysis Of Coelastrella Sp. In Aquaculture Wastewater., Rob Skarvan

Master of Engineering Theses

The demand for sustainable food and energy production continues to rapidly rise. Utilizing aquaculture wastewater as microalgae growth medium is a potential opportunity for nutrient recycling and industrial symbiosis, but more research is required to understand how best to design and scale-up a dual-purpose facility. This study investigates the growth of Coelastrella sp. in aquaculture wastewater compared to industry-standard growth medium BG-11 and modified tap water as controls. Though cell size and pigment density varied throughout media, aquaculture wastewater performed very comparably to BG-11 as a microalgae culture broth.

The Monod equation can model Coelastrella sp. growth based …

Legal Issues And Outcomes Of A Medical-Legal Partnership For Cancer Patients, Allison B. Dowling, Abigail Sweeney, Megan E. Gordon, Lisa Kessler, Deborah Perry, Vicki W. Girard, Shreya Kalra

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The medical-legal partnership (MLP) model is a multidisciplinary intervention with demonstrated success in addressing health-harming legal needs. We analyzed initial data from the Georgetown University Health Justice Alliance’s Cancer Legal Assistance and Well-being Project (Cancer LAW), an MLP between Georgetown University and MedStar Health serving cancer patients receiving care at an urban, safety-net hospital in Washington, D.C. The sample included 81 patients, who had an average of two legal issues, most commonly in the areas of Social Security, estate planning, housing, and health insurance. Data collected during legal representation captured both financial and non-financial benefits to patients. Patients who responded …

Promotion Of Women’S Preventative Health Behaviors For Breast And Cervical Cancer, Shelby Lopez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

Women’s health prevention is typically not a significant topic for discussion. Health prevention measures are often discussed after a new diagnosis, rather than being a proactive approach toward improving women’s health. Breast and cervical cancer continue to be prevalent today and, to decrease the number of women diagnosed with late-stage cancer, this scholarly project will focus on improving the participation in prevention behaviors among women 18-45 years of age, but also acknowledge the role self-efficacy and perception of health behaviors has on the participation in prevention measures. Pender’s Health Promotion Model will help acknowledge how social-behavioral factors affect prevention behaviors. …

Glim Consensus Approach To Diagnosis Of Malnutrition: A 5-Year Update., Gordon L Jensen, Tommy Cederholm, M Isabel T D Correia, M Cristina Gonzalez, Ryoji Fukushima, Veeradej Pisprasert, Renee Blaauw, Diana Cardenas Braz, Fernando Carrasco, Alfonso J Cruz Jentoft, Cristina Cuerda, David C Evans, Vanessa Fuchs-Tarlovsky, Leah Gramlich, Han Ping Shi, Jeanette M Hasse, Michael Hiesmayr, Naoki Hiki, Harriët Jager-Wittenaar, Shukri Jahit, Anayanet Jáquez, Heather Keller, Stanislaw Klek, Ainsley Malone, Kris M Mogensen, Naoharu Mori, Manpreet Mundi, Maurizio Muscaritoli, Doris Ng, Ibolya Nyulasi, Matthias Pirlich, Stephane Schneider, Marian De Van Der Schueren, Soranit Siltharm, Pierre Singer, Alison Steiber, Kelly A Tappenden, Jianchun Yu, André Van Gossum, Jaw-Yuan Wang, Marion F Winkler, Charlene Compher, Rocco Barazzoni

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

BACKGROUND: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) introduced an approach for malnutrition diagnosis in 2019 that comprised screening followed by assessment of three phenotypic criteria (weight loss, low body mass index [BMI], and low muscle mass) and two etiologic criteria (reduced food intake/assimilation and inflammation/disease burden). This planned update reconsiders the GLIM framework based on published knowledge and experience over the past 5 years.

METHODS: A working group (n = 43 members) conducted a literature search spanning 2019-2024 using the keywords "Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition or GLIM." Prior GLIM guidance activities for using the criteria on muscle mass …

Beyond The Game: A Holistic Design Approach To High School Athletic Environments, Haddey Zastrow

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates the critical role of architectural design in supporting the well-being, mental health, and academic performance of high school student-athletes as they navigate the complex intersection of academic and athletic responsibilities. Recognizing the unique challenges faced during the transition between student and athlete roles, the research explores how thoughtfully designed sports recreation and rehabilitation centers can foster holistic development. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating mental health resources, sustainable practices, and user-centered design elements-such as natural lighting, open spaces, and calming colors-to create environments that enhance both physical and psychological well-being. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing …

The Next Stride: Improving Athletic Performance Within The Indoor Track In Temperate Climates, Koate Wisdom Deebom

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates how indoor track and field facilities in temperate climates can be optimized to enhance athletic performance and well-being for student-athletes. While indoor tracks were originally developed to offer year-round training in colder regions, many current designs fail to address the dynamic needs of athletes affected by seasonal and climatic variations. Through analysis of climate’s physiological effects on performance—such as heat acclimation, cold-induced injury risks, and seasonal affective impacts—this research identifies key environmental conditions that influence success in track and field. Case studies, performance data, and interviews with colligate coaches inform a design framework that incorporates climate-responsive architecture, …

Beyond Birth: Designing A Retreat For Postnatal Recovery And Connection, Avena Mekala Fromayan

Architecture Theses

Childbirth is a transformative and powerful experience, but the postpartum period is the most vulnerable, yet it is the most overlooked phase. Many mothers and their partners are left to face isolation, lack of support, and emotional and physical challenges with limited guidance. This thesis aims to address this critical gap in maternal care through the design of a purpose-built and family centered facility that supports healing, connection, and wellbeing during the first six weeks after birth and beyond.

Predictors Of Disordered Eating Among College Students: A Multimodal Approach, Michelle Grazioli

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study investigated potential predictors and risk factors of disordered eating behaviors and attitudes among undergraduate college students, addressing the high prevalence of disordered eating on college campuses. The sample consisted of 85 female undergraduate students who completed self-report measures of impulsivity, emotion regulation difficulties, desire for a sense of control, eating disorder behaviors and attitudes, as well as behavioral (Go/No-go task) and physiological (antisaccade task) measures of impulsivity, using food-related stimuli. Correlational, linear regression, and discriminant function analyses revealed significant associations among the self-report independent variables with eating disorder risk. Detailed findings for specific subscales of eating disorder risk, …

The Reentry Experience Of Returning Citizens From Prison, Christina M. Kadelski

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In 2022, over 1.2 million individuals were housed in federal or state prisons in the U.S., in addition to over 514,000 individuals housed in local jails at mid-year (Bureau of Justice, 2024). As released individuals return to their communities, they face the daunting task of re-integration into the community. The purpose of this study was to identify how returning citizens experience reentry to their communities upon release from prison, their perceptions about their reentry experience, and to learn about their unique responses to the reentry process. This study aimed to explore the experience of these individuals to better understand counseling …

How Theatre Of The Oppressed Helps White Teachers Understand Race: Moving From Color-Blind To Color-Sight, Roger S. Kintish

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The growth of teachers of Color in American classrooms has not kept pace with the growth of students of Color. While the percentage of White teachers versus teachers of Color has held relatively steady at approximately 80 percent White teachers to 20 percent teachers of Color for four decades, there has been a dramatic shift from approximately 80 percent White students and 20 percent students of Color in the 1980s to a majority-minority status for White students. There is strong evidence that this lack of alignment in racial, cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds between the nation’s teaching force and our …

Tracking Fall Migration With The Motus Wildlife Tracking System: The Fate Of Window-Struck And Captive-Raised Passerines, Cailin O'Connor

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Many species of North American passerines migrate along the Atlantic flyway in the fall to reach winter habitats in the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Birds face many perils along their journeys including window strikes, which kill over one billion birds per year in the United States alone. Some birds survive the impact and may continue their migration. These birds may suffer delayed mortality or show aberrant migration due to injuries. This research seeks to understand if window-struck birds that initially survive bird-building collisions survive into the future and, if so, if they migrate effectively. …

Racial And Geographic Disparities In Primary Care Transitions For Postpartum Women With Gestational Diabetes And Hypertension In South Carolina, Kajol Dahal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction Gestational diabetes (GDM) and gestational hypertension (GH) are significant public health issues with lasting implications for maternal and child health (MCH). Despite clinical guidelines recommending postpartum care for all women, especially those with chronic conditions, less than 50% receive a visit within 12 months of childbirth. Recent policy changes extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months. This study assessed differences in postpartum care visits by race/ethnicity and geography after the extension of postpartum coverage in South Carolina. Methods A retrospective cohort of 27,056 women (aged 20-44) who gave birth in 2021 were analyzed using Medicaid claims …

Examining The Combination Of Race-By-Age Segregation On Violence In Little Rock, Arkansas, Karissa Kruse

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Present study addresses the issue of residential segregation. Specifically, how the physical isolation of populations segregated based on both age and race affects violent crime. The sample includes all 155 Census block groups, which represent neighborhoods, in the city of Little Rock Arkansas. Data is accessed from the U.S. Census and the Little Rock Police Department. The current study asks: does the segregation of juveniles by age and race affect the distribution of crime? The theoretical frameworks guiding this research are social disorganization theory, structural-cultural theories of crime, the racialization of space perspective, and routine activities theory. The key …

Conservation Agriculture Practice Effects On Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Fine-Textured Soils In Arkansas, Lauren Gwaltney

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Biochar application and reduced tillage (RT) are both practices within the conservation agriculture framework, but specific impacts of these practices on direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions still require investigation in varied agricultural systems. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of biochar source (i.e., powder- and pellet-sized) and application rate (i.e., 0, 2.5, and 5 Mg ha^-1) on GHG production in simulated furrow-irrigated rice (Oryza sativa) in a greenhouse experiment, and to evaluate the effects of RT relative to conventional tillage (CT) on GHG production in soybean (Glycine max) in southeast Arkansas. Both studies …

Penny For Your Thoughts: Exploring Mechanisms Linking Socioeconomic Status And Cognition, Colton Hunter

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Socioeconomic status is a complex psychological construct linked to a number of professional and personal barriers, including cognitive deficits. Throughout this dissertation, I seek to examine the mechanisms that link socioeconomic status and cognition. First, I explore potential mediators in the link between adolescent family income and cognition in adulthood, identifying education, stressful life events, inflammation, and family education expectations as significant mediators. Next, I examine the effects of writing-based stress manipulations on long-term memory and working memory, as these effects may mimic stress from financial worry. In doing so, I identify potential effects on working memory parameters. Finally, in …

In Vitro And In Vivo Evaluation Of The Effect Of A Commercial-Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product As Quorum Sensing Inhibitors Of Salmonella Enterica Typhimurium, Ileana Loeza

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present research was to evaluate Enterococcus faecium fermentation peptides (EFP) for antibacterial activity, inhibition of biofilm formation, and anti-quorum sensing properties against Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) in in vitro trials and individual body weight and ST organ colonization in therapeutic and prophylactic models in broiler chickens. Ninety-six day-of-hatch Cobb 500 broiler chickens were randomized and assigned to one of four treatments: NC) Negative Control, no EFP treatment and no ST challenge; NC+EFP) Negative Control, EFP treatment and no ST; PC) Positive Control, no EFP treatment and ST challenge, and PC+EFP) EFP treated and ST challenged. Independent trials …

Comparisons Between Traditional And Gluten-Free Cookies In Sensory Attributes, Acceptance, And Evoked Emotions, Eniola Ola

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rise in food allergies and intolerances, notably conditions like Celiac disease, as well as a general shift of consumers to a more health-conscious lifestyle has significantly increased the demand for gluten-free products. Consumers increasingly seek gluten-free products, yet these alternatives often face challenges in replicating the sensory qualities of traditional gluten-containing foods. This study explores the sensory attributes, emotional responses, and labeling impacts on consumer perception of gluten-free and gluten-containing cookies. The main objective of this thesis was to address the gap in research on sensory evaluation of gluten free foods, specifically in terms of commercially available products. The …

Addressing Structural Violence In Eastern Nebraska Through The Assessment Of Mortality Profiles, Victoria M. Pate

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Humanitarian forensics has recently expanded to include the examination of forensic casework demographics within the medicolegal community. Additionally, it is proposed that research and data collection should look beyond the individual case report to address public health, crime vulnerabilities, and marginalization at local and national levels to advocate for policy changes protecting against institutionalized violence. With the utilization of quantitative and qualitative methods, 294 case reports provided by Nebraska police departments, between the years of 2014-2024, were analyzed to conceptualize mortality vulnerabilities and the ways in which forensic anthropologists can aid in community action. Pearson’s Chi-Square and one-way Analysis of …

Guest Editorial: When Multimedia Meets Food: Multimedia Computing For Food Data Analysis And Applications, Weiqing Min, Shuqiang Jiang, Petia Radeva, Vladimir Pavlovic, Chong-Wah Ngo, Kiyoharu Aizawa, Wanqing Li

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Food is central in our life for its fundamental role in our survival, health, mood and culture. The deployment of various networks (e.g., IoT and mobile networks), devices (e.g., hyperspectral imaging devices, electronic nose/tongue), databases (e.g., nutrition tables and food compositional databases), recipe-sharing websites (e.g., Yummly and Meishijie) and social media (e.g., Twitter and Weibo) has generated unprecedented volumes of multi-modal food data. Such multi-source multi-modal food data provides new perspectives to analyze and understand food consumption via multimedia computing. Riding on the wave of AI, food-oriented multimedia computing integrates AI, multimedia technology and food science to enable a wide …

Narcissistic Personality Traits And The Perception Of Potential Romantic Relationship Partners, Grace A. Beecher, Dr. Ginette C. Blackhart, Isabelle Bisio

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Due to the difficulty of meeting potential dating partners in the modern age, many people have resorted to using dating apps to meet potential romantic partners. The ubiquity of dating app use in the U.S. led Bisio and Blackhart (2025) to examine how dating app users perceive potential romantic partners as opposed to those engaging in more traditional dating behaviors. They found that individuals higher in narcissism were significantly more likely to dehumanize potential romantic partners than those lower in narcissism, regardless of whether they used dating apps or not. The purpose of the present study was to explore this …

The Relationship Of Family Characteristics Of At-Risk Children In Rural West Tennessee And Select Measures Of Success Over A Period Of 10 Years, Kelly Ann Maupin

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore differences in a program funded in rural West Tennessee. The Promethean Foundation is a program that provides childcare tuition support to at-risk children. While the program has been in existence for 20 years, the study focused on 10 years from 2009 through 2019. The program staff reviewed the perceptions of staff and family members during the qualifying process. The study was also to investigate the level of achievement measured in children by age five and nine years considering the length of time enrolled in an early childhood program. To explore differences, children …

Us Infant Formulas Contain Primarily Added Sugars: An Analysis Of Infant Formulas On The Us Market, Audrey R. Rips-Goodwin, Daiil Jun, Adrianne Griebel-Thompson, Kai Ling Kong, Tera L. Fazzino

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Added sugar consumption is contraindicated for infants <  2 years old; however added sugars are present in many US infant formulas. We examined whether US formulas contain primarily added sugars, or whether formulas contain primarily naturally occurring lactose (the sugar in human milk). Data were obtained from the Nutrition Data System for Research and included formulas available on the US market in 2022 (N = 73). Formulas were categorized as: standard (n = 31), gentle (n = 27), and lactose-free (n = 15). Differences across formulas were examined using Bayesian modeling. The median percent added sugars were high in standard (M=59.7 %; IQR=22.0), gentle (M=85.0 %; IQR=39.5), and lactose-free formulas (M=90.0 %; IQR=54.3). Gentle formulas had significantly lower proportional lactose (OR=0.22, 95 % HDI=[0.11,0.44], pd=99.3 %) and > 2 fold higher proportional added sugars compared to standard formulas (ORs=2.11–2.57, HDI>0, pd=99.1–99.99 …

Social Identity And Eating Behaviors: How Cultural Norms Impact Disordered Eating, Cierrah Jesi-Rae Fulenwider

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Disordered eating behaviors (DEBs), such as frequent dieting, emotional eating, and obsessive “clean eating,” are increasingly prevalent in our society and have been linked to significant physical and psychological health risks. However, the role of sociocultural influences, such as discrimination and social media, are often overlooked. This study examined the relationship between disordered eating behaviors and perceived discriminatory experiences, social media use, physical self-description, and attitudes toward eating among undergraduate college students. The sample consisted of 110 undergraduate students. Participants completed an electronic survey comprised of the Everyday Discrimination Scale-S (EDS-S), Social Media Usage Scale (SMUS), Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), …

Variations In Sensory And Emotional Responses To Gluten-Containing And Gluten-Free Cookie Products Under Blind And Labeled Conditions, Eniola Ola, Han-Seok Seo

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The gluten-free food market is expanding rapidly. However, consumer acceptance and emotional responses to gluten-free food, especially commercially available products, have received relatively underexplored. This study aimed to determine how consumer perceptions, acceptance, and emotional responses differ between gluten-containing (C) and gluten-free (F) chocolate chip cookies from three brands under both blind and labeled conditions. In the labeled condition, 84 participants without celiac disease evaluated 3 F cookies labeled "gluten-free" and 3 C cookies presented without claims on a plain white card. In the blind condition, they tested the six cookies without labels. Participants provided hedonic ratings, Just-About-Right (JAR) ratings, …

The Association Of Discrimination, Inflammation, And Coping Style On Self-Rated Health Among South Asian Individuals In The Masala Study, Raji Pillai, Sahiti Myneni, Constance M Johnson, Nilay S Shah, Alka M Kanaya, Jennifer E S Beauchamp

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: South Asian individuals (SAs) may have heightened levels of inflammatory markers, such as C reactive protein (CRP), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), leptin, and resistin, and decreased levels of anti-inflammatory adiponectin, contributing to higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence. Social determinants of health, like discrimination, are also associated with risks for CVD in SAs. This study examined the associations between discrimination and inflammation and whether coping styles moderated the association between discrimination and self-rated health (SRH) among SAs in the United States.

Design: Secondary analysis of data obtained from 1164 SAs (mean age = 57 years, SD = 9.4, 48% women) …