Digital Commons Network^™

The American Attack On Academic Freedom In Comparative Perspective, Tom Ginsburg

Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers

Academic freedom is under threat in many countries, and the United States is no exception. This chapter places the American framework for academic freedom in comparative perspective, and describes the techniques being deployed against it. A common threat is to leverage the use of government funds as a way to change internal university governance. Less common, however, is something that we have seen in the United States, which is a threat to academic freedom from civil society itself. The trend is accelerating through social media, and is structurally similar to that of the fascist period in Europe in which there …

Toward Improving Retention In Hiv Care After Pregnancy: Lessons From A Post-Pandemic Cohort In The United States, Michael Jochum, Sarah Conrad, Eva H Clark, Kassandra Goytia, Megan Alam, Jessica Gerard, Jennifer Mckinney

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: People living with HIV (PLWH) often experience low rates of retention in HIV care (RIC) and suboptimal viral suppression postpartum. Understanding contemporary barriers to RIC is crucial to identify risk factors for loss to care and thereby improve support during this vulnerable transition. This work aimed to identify factors associated with adequate RIC, defined as two HIV care visits ≥90 days apart in the first year postpartum.

Methods: Electronic records were retrospectively reviewed for PLWH who delivered from 2019 to 2023 and received prenatal care within a single county health system. Variables were collected related to both maternal and …

Mixing-Controlled Combustion Of Ethanol Enabled By Prechamber Ignition (Pc-Mcc): A Preliminary Experimental Demonstration, Jared Zeman, Ziming Yan, Michael Bunce, Adam Dempsey

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This numerical study focuses on assessing the key design parameters of interest for use of an active prechamber igniter as an ignition assistance device to enable mixing-controlled combustion (MCC) of ethanol (E100) in a heavy-duty Caterpillar C9.3B engine. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of a baseline diesel and prechamber retrofitted C9.3B at a gross indicated mean effective pressure (IMEPg) of 5 bar and 1800 rpm are carried out using CONVERGE. In particular, the sizing of the prechamber volume, sizing of total orifice cross sectional area (orifice diameter), and location of the prechamber relative to a centrally mounted common rail direct …

Bringing Self-Determination Theory To The Forefront: Examining How Human Resource Practices Motivate Employees Of All Ages To Succeed, Rick A. Laguerre, Janet L. Barnes-Farrell

Management Faculty Research and Publications

Self-determination theory (SDT) is widely used in human resource (HR) practice studies to explain how HR practices impact work outcomes. However, there is little empirical evidence establishing the complete SDT mediational process in the HR domain, which entails basic psychological needs and motivation acting as mediators of relations between HR practices and work outcomes. The present study addresses this issue with a mixed methods approach. Using an item classification task with subject matter experts (N = 48), HR practices were classified as autonomy-, competence-, and relatedness-supportive. Based on this scheme, we tested an SDT-based conceptual model in a three-wave …

Emboldened In The Rap “Game”: How Severely Stigmatized Video Models Navigate Disrespect And Vulnerability To Workplace Mistreatment., Payal Sharma, Kristie M. Rogers, Blake E. Ashforth

Management Faculty Research and Publications

Moral stigma attached to an occupation can scar workers through discrediting, shaming, and denying respect. It can also open the door to interpersonal mistreatment, but little is known about how morally stigmatized workers navigate anticipated disrespect to potentially avoid harm. We explore this issue in a study of an occupation carrying severe moral stigma and where disrespect and workplace mistreatment are pervasive: models in hip-hop and rap music videos. Through analyses of 71 interviews with 48 video models and 19 industry informants, field observations, and archival data, we show how severe moral stigma and industry constraints promote generalized disrespect of …

The Impact Of Technological Innovations On Consumer Behavior In E-Commerce: A Systematic Review, Yue Wang, Jianzheng Shi, Terence T. Ow, Jia Yun, Yuanyu Yang

Management Faculty Research and Publications

This study systematically reviews the literature on the impact of technological innovations in e-commerce on consumer behavior, using the SPAR-4-SLR methodology and TCCM framework. It consolidates research across various technologies, including websites, social media, live streaming, AR/VR, and AI. The analysis reveals a growing interest in this field post-2017, with a focus on websites and social media, but highlights a research gap in emerging technologies. Key theoretical frameworks are identified, emphasizing the need for integration to comprehensively understand consumer behavior. The review maps out antecedents, mediators, moderators, and outcomes, stressing the importance of longitudinal studies and advanced analytics. This approach …

Llms Enhance Emotional Expression While Maintaining Analytical Depth In News Writing, Samuel Mazzone, Jonah Harlan, Larry Zhiming Xu, Terence T. Ow

Management Faculty Research and Publications

As the impact of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) becomes increasingly evident in automated journalism, leveraging its potential while mitigating the risks becomes a priority in research. To address this need, our study evaluated the performance of large language models (LLMs) in news writing. We tested 11 LLMs by having them rewrite headlines and content from articles published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service (NNS) between 2011 and 2023. The analysis and comparison of 3,623 human-written and 39,853 AI-adapted news pieces showed that different LLMs consistently enhanced emotional expression in headlines (Cohen’s d = .33) and in news content (Cohen’s d = …

A Bayesian Complex-Valued Latent Variable Model Applied To Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Chase J. Sakitis, D. Andrew Brown, Daniel B. Rowe

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

In linear regression, the coefficients are simple to estimate using the least squares method with a known design matrix for the observed measurements. However, real-world applications may encounter complications such as an unknown design matrix and complex-valued parameters. The design matrix can be estimated from prior information but can potentially cause an inverse problem when multiplying by the transpose as it is generally ill-conditioned. This can be combat by adding regularizers to the model but does not always mitigate the issues. Here, we propose our Bayesian approach to a complex-valued latent variable linear model with an application to functional magnetic …

Rebuttal: Reduced Oxidative Capacity Of Skeletal Muscle Is Not An Inevitable Consequence Of Adult Ageing, Ian R. Lanza, Christopher W. Sundberg, Jane A. Kent

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

We thank Drs Marcinek and Ferrucci for their perspective on the inevitability of age-related declines in skeletal muscle oxidative capacity (Marcinek & Ferrucci, 2025). We agree that mitochondria have numerous roles in the cell beyond provision of chemical energy, many of which may be altered by ageing, but our focus in this debate is entirely on its role in energy production.

Whole Body Angular Momentum Characterizes Reactive Balance Adaptations And Perturbation Intensity, Mitchell D. Adam, Delaney Mcelvain, T. George Hornby, Allison S. Hyngstrom, Brian D. Schmit

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Identifying measures which accurately quantify reactive balance adaptation during walking is essential to understand how emerging perturbation-based gait paradigms impact stability over the course of an intervention. These perturbation paradigms have shown promise in reducing falls for numerous clinical populations, however tracking progress in objective terms throughout an intervention remains challenging. Whole body angular momentum (H) may be particularly suited to detect subtle adaptations in the reactive balance response and is applicable within numerous perturbation environments. We assessed the ability of young healthy adults to adapt to varying intensities of discrete, unexpected, treadmill-based perturbations directed mediolaterally, anteriorly, and posteriorly during …

Perspectives Of Midwives And Nurse Practitioners In Kentucky On Exercise Counseling During Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study, Madhawa Perera, Taniya S. Nagpal, Maire M. Blankenship, Dano Tolusso, Jordyn Cox, Dilini Prashadika, Mark Schafer, Rachel A. Tinius

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

Healthcare professionals are in an optimal position to deliver exercise information to pregnant women, yet previous research suggests this seldom happens. Midwives and nurse practitioners, who may have more time with pregnant women, are particularly well suited for this role.

Objectives

This qualitative study examined the exercise advice and counseling provided by midwives and nurse practitioners in Kentucky, focusing on the barriers they face.

Methods

Twenty-one midwives and nurse practitioners were recruited until the sample size reached saturation. A survey with open-ended questions was distributed to potential participants in regional hospitals, universities, and professional associations. The framework method was …

Reduced Oxidative Capacity Of Skeletal Muscle Is Not An Inevitable Consequence Of Adult Ageing, Ian R. Lanza, Christopher W. Sundberg, Jane A. Kent

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

Skeletal muscles support posture and locomotion, thermoregulation, cardiorespiratory function, metabolic health and other important aspects of life. Muscles generate chemical energy by synthesizing ATP through the creatine kinase reaction, glycolysis, and oxidative phosphorylation (oxphos), the latter of which produces the majority of ATP in the cell. Oxidative phosphorylation occurs in the mitochondrion, which is structured as a reticulum located near the ATPases responsible for powering the cross-bridge cycle, calcium pumps and membrane homeostasis (Glancy et al., 2015). Energy production in mitochondria is accomplished by coupling the oxidation of reducing equivalents (NADH, FADH₂) in the electron transport chain (ETC) …

Book Review Of Philosophical Fragments As The Poetry Of Thinking: Romanticism And The Living Present By Luke Fischer, Michael Vater

Philosophy Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Nurse Perspectives On Labor Union Participation Prior To Implementation Of A Collective Bargaining Agreement: A Qualitative Study, Jacqueline Christianson, Bonnie Sommers-Olson, Cathleen Fox, Norah L. Johnson

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Patient advocacy is a duty for professional nurses; however, not all nurses are empowered to advocate for meeting patients’ needs. Participation in labor unions may serve as a venue for nurses with limited institutional decision-making authority to advocate for patient needs; however, unionization can be a time-intensive and fraught process.

Purpose: This study examined how nurses participating in a new union in an urban United States hospital described their reasons for participating in a labor union during collective bargaining.

Methods: Content analysis of participant's interviews that took place between January and March 2023, after the nurses voted to unionize …

Health Equity And Children With Medical Complexity/Children And Youth With Special Health Care Needs: A Scoping Review, Elizabeth A. Flasch

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Children with medical complexity (CMC) and children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN), compared with the general population, engage with the health care system at increased rates, at multiple life stages, and for a myriad of reasons (Berry et al., 2015). Operational definitions of CMC and CYSHCN are very limited, with the terms conflated and differentiated across the literature. Because of the lack of standardized definitions and general conflation of the two terms across the literature, CMC and CYSHCN will be used interchangeably for this review. Allshouse et al. (2018) defined CMC as a subset of CYSHCN “as …

Resilience As Accusation: A Critical Examination Of Individual Resilience Training For Burnout Mitigation, Jacqueline Christianson, Bonnie Sommers-Olson, Jessica Leiberg, Dana Kaminstein

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Burnout, a syndrome of work-related exhaustion and cynicism, is prevalent among nurses and is associated with workplace stressors. Resilience training programs are a prevalent method of burnout mitigation employed by healthcare institutions that aim to improve or alter how individuals respond to chronic stressors. Through the lens of General Systems Theory, we describe resilience training as a method of individualizing a systemic problem by problematizing a response to chronic stress exposure. Resilience training may furthermore serve as a mechanism which allows subversion of institutional responsibility for nurses’ well-being in the workplace. We describe several suggestions for nurses to resist being …

Assessing Family Caregiver Readiness For Hospital Discharge Of Patients With Serious Or Life-Limiting Illness Using Electronic Health Record And Self-Reported Data, Joan M. Griffin, Diane E. Holland, Catherine E. Vanderboom, Brystana G. Kaufman, Allison M. Gustavson, Jeanine Ransom, Jay Mandrekar, Ann Marie Dose, Cory Ingram, Zhi Ven Fong, Ellen Wild, Marianne E. Weiss

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To assess how patient and caregiver factors influence caregiver readiness for hospital discharge in palliative care patients.

Study Setting and Design

This transitional care study uses cross-sectional data from a randomized controlled trial conducted from 2018 to 2023 testing an intervention for caregivers of hospitalized adult patients with a serious or life-limiting illness who received a palliative care consult prior to transitioning out of the hospital.

Data Sources and Analytical Sample

Caregiver readiness was measured with the Family Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (n = 231). Caregiver demographic, intra- and interpersonal factors were self-reported. Patient demographic, comorbidity score, …

Sex Work Patterns Among Transgender And Gender Diverse People: A Latent Class Analysis, Madeline Stenersen, Anjum Umrani, Irelan Fricke, Jessica L. Zemlak

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Sex work is a diverse profession encompassing a broad range of people, and services. Though overrepresented in sex work communities, transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals are underrepresented in sex work literature. Further, sex work literature continues to underrepresent the heterogeneity evident in the sex work community and the practices that occur within it. The present study utilized data from the 2015 United States Transgender Survey (USTS) to conduct a latent class analysis (LCA) to identify patterns of different types of sex work among TGD adults (N = 2,153) and understand the demographic characteristics associated with engagement in different types …

Critical Care Advanced Practice Providers As Partners In Advancing Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Nursing Knowledge: A Needs Assessment., Mary Seidl, Meghan Roller, Whitney Seul, Laura Rose, Christine A. Schindler

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Critical care advanced practice providers (APPs) are frontline providers in many pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). From 2020 to 2022, there was a significant downward shift in nursing experience level in the PICU at the authors’ institution. APPs may help provide additional in situ education.

Methods

Data were collected using role-specific needs assessment of PICU nursing staff and providers, assessing concept related to knowledge and job stress.

Results

Findings overwhelmingly demonstrated desire for more APP-led education. Overall, 27% of nurse respondents strongly agreed that current knowledge was adequate to provide safe and best care for their patients, and 47% …

Evaluation Of A Quality Cpr Coach Simulation-Based Competency Training: From Learning Outcomes To Patient Outcomes, Katie L. Mcdermott, Kari L. Rajzer-Wakeham, Jennifer M. Andres, Christine A. Schindler

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Variability in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality and skill decay result in suboptimal application of CPR, which impacts patient outcomes following an arrest. Quality CPR Coach is a supplementary code team role that provides real time, verbal feedback directly to chest compressors to cognitively offload the team leader and ensure high-quality, goal-directed CPR delivery.

Methods

Design, implementation, and evaluation of a simulation-based Quality CPR Coach competency curriculum. Multi-modal assessment and evaluation methods were used.

Results

Statistically significant increase in confidence, perceived ability to verbalize Coach responsibilities, and knowledge. Participants demonstrated accurate Coach role performance across progressively scaffolded simulated compression event …

Workshop - Supercharging Your Engineering Classes With Ethics!, Shannon Chance

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Are you ready to energize your students’ learning of engineering ethics? Join us for a high-voltage, interactive workshop where we’ll unlock the power of the Routledge International Handbook of Engineering Ethics Education—an opensource treasure trove of cutting-edge knowledge and active learning strategies!This dynamic workshop is designed for educators who want to infuse their courses with innovative, discipline-specific ethics learning methods. Through gamified exploration, creative brainstorming, and collaborative problem-solving, you’ll walk away with practical strategies to integrate ethics into any engineering course.We’ll kick things off with a dynamic guided tour of the handbook, unveiling its structure and offerings. Then, we’ll divide …

Application Of Gans For Augmentation Of The Mammography Repository, Yaneth Reyes-Hernández, Fernando Perez-Tellez, Jorge A. Ruiz-Vanoye, Jazmín Rodríguez Flores, Eric Simancas Acevedo, Ocotlán Diaz-Parra, Jaime Aguilar Ortiz, Francisco Rafael Trejo-Macotela

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Generative adversarial networks (GANs) offer an innovative approach to synthetic image generation. They have significantly impacted the creation of images that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. In this study, we examine several GAN architectures to determine whether they can generate synthetic mammography images to enrich an existing repository, thereby improving AI training for breast-cancer detection and supporting research into this disease with a more diverse dataset.

A Live Adaptive Streaming Solution For Enhancing Quality Of Experience In Co-Created Opera, Rohit Verma, Anderson Augusto Simiscuka, Mohammed Amine Togou, Mikel Zorrilla, Gabriel-Miro Muntean

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

No abstract provided.

Design And Analysis Of Curved Wire For Biomedical Device Applications, Mirmeysam Rafiei Anamagh, Mudaser Ullah, Graham Gavin

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

In this study, the dynamic behavior of curved wires is investigated and optimized with a focus on biomedical applications. To solve the integral boundary value problem of the curved wire, a spectral Chebyshev approach is developed in conjunction with the first-order shear deformation theory for beams. The wire shapes are categorized into two main groups: (i) with curvature and (ii) without curvature. In the former category, the curved segment is located in the middle of the wire, flanked by two straight segments, resulting in a complex geometric equation. The proposed method is validated by comparing the obtained natural frequencies with …

Data‐Driven Approach To Dynamic Resting State Functional Connectivity In Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Enigma‐Pgc Ptsd Study, Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been associated with aberrations in brain networks in the absence of a given cognitive demand or task, called resting-state networks. Prior work has focused on disruption in the static functional connectivity (FC) among specific regions constrained by a priori hypotheses. However, dynamic FC, an approach that examines brain network characteristics over time, may provide a more sensitive measure to understand the network properties underlying dysfunction in PTSD. Further, using a data-driven analytic approach may reveal the contribution of other larger network disturbances beyond those revealed by hypothesis-driven …

6-Week Student Wellness Program Improves Psychological Wellbeing Of Students, Alyson C. Gerdes, Nakia S. Gordon

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: Employing a waitlist control design, the current study examined the effectiveness of a shortened version of a newly developed wellness program.

Participants/Methods: Twenty-four students were randomly assigned to an experimental wellness (EW) group or a waitlist control (WLC) group. The 6-week wellness program focused on specific wellness topics (i.e., relaxation and mindfulness, yoga, gratitude and self-compassion, emotion regulation, goal setting and time management, and nutrition and movement). Both mental health and wellbeing outcomes were examined pre-post group.

Results/Conclusions: Findings revealed that the EW group reported significantly improved overall psychological wellbeing, optimism, self-compassion, and satisfaction with life following the program …

Ai-Based Detection Of Coronary Artery Occlusion Using Acoustic Biomarkers Before And After Stent Placement, Biykem Bozkurt, Yasemin Akay, Metin Akay

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

A Critical Examination Of First-Generation Faculty Scholarship: Demonstrating The Need For Intersectional, Empirical Analysis, Derria Byrd, Noreen Siddiqui

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

The triumphs, tribulations, and trials associated with first-generation status during the undergraduate years are well-established in educational research; however, limited scholarship systematically investigates the dispositions, experiences, and practices of first-generation faculty (FGF)—that is, former first-generation college students who have joined the professoriate. In this critical review of literature, the authors identified and analyzed 173 sources, uncovering five dominant themes—(a) negotiating a discordant culture, (b) reframing success, (c) relating to family, (d) seeking social networks, and (e) leveraging identity—that provide insights into how FGF navigate the social, cultural, and professional norms of the academy. Despite recent expansions that center FGF of …

Differential Associations Among Psychological Flexibility Components, Depressive Symptoms, And Sense Of Belonging In First Semester College Students, Ti Hsu, Cristina Nardini, Gabriel M. Velez, Elizabeth Raposa

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Objective. The transition to college is associated with rising rates of depressive symptoms and decreased well-being. It is critical to identify protective psychological factors for this period. One possible protective factor is psychological flexibility, or the ability to pursue self-identified values despite distressing thoughts and emotions. This study examined associations among psychological flexibility components and well-being outcomes in first semester college students.

Participants: The sample consisted of 238 diverse first-semester college students recruited from five universities.

Method: Using structural equation modeling, we examined associations among three components of psychological flexibility and two dimensions of well-being (i.e., depressive symptoms and sense …

Differential Associations Among Psychological Flexibility Components, Depressive Symptoms And Sense Of Belonging In First Semester College Students., Ti Hsu, Cristina Nardini, Gabriel M. Velez, Elizabeth Raposa

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Objective. The transition to college is associated with rising rates of depressive symptoms and decreased well-being. It is critical to identify protective psychological factors for this period. One possible protective factor is psychological flexibility, or the ability to pursue self-identified values despite distressing thoughts and emotions. This study examined associations among psychological flexibility components and well-being outcomes in first semester college students. Participants: The sample consisted of 238 diverse first-semester college students recruited from five universities. Method: Using structural equation modeling, we examined associations among three components of psychological flexibility and two dimensions of well-being (i.e., depressive symptoms and sense …