Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Practices Of Lactation And Infant Feeding Together With Women With Hiv: The Uplift Observational Study Protocol, Hulin Wu, Carly Hoffmann, Ciarra Brown, Angela B Hutchinson, K Rivet Amico, Ifeyinwa V Asiodu, Elizabeth J Mcfarland, Margaret A Lampe, Preetam A Cholli, Olga Varechtchouk, Allahna Esber, Athena P Kourtis, Lisa Abuogi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: There is a limited understanding of infant feeding decisions, practices, and outcomes for women living with HIV (WLHIV) and their infants since U.S. guidelines were updated in 2023 to support breastfeeding for virally suppressed women on antiretroviral treatment.

Methods and analysis: The Understanding Practices of Lactation and Infant Feeding Together with women with HIV (UPLIFT) study is a convergent mixed-methods, multisite, observational study designed to address key knowledge gaps. Twelve US sites will begin enrollment in early 2026 to accomplish three core activities (CA). In CA1, we explore infant feeding decision-making and experiences via in-depth interviews with pregnant/postpartum WLHIV …

How To Build A Black Girl Traphouse:A Meditation And Manual For Black Feminist Survival In And Beyond The Academy, Loren Cahill, Brandyn-Dior Mckinley, Arianne Napier-White, Janae Peters, Jalisa Williams

School for Social Work: Faculty Publications

By design, the university is a colonizing, racializing, and classed space, built through unequal structures that perpetuate systemic violence (Peña, 2022). When many marginalized folks enter any university setting, they are marred by projections, judgments, assumptions, and assaults by those who question their worth, ability, and competence (y Muhs, Niemann, González, & Harris, 2012). Discriminatory actions and attitudes endured by Black women in academia often make us severely angry as well as mentally andphysically ill. Many of us are so traumatized that we choose to leave and/or are pushed out of our jobs. Those of us who choose to stay …

Civil Litigation Notes, Arthur S. Leonard

Other Publications

No abstract provided.

4th Circuit Rules That West Virginia’S Medicaid Coverage Exclusion Of “Sex-Change” Surgery Is Legal, Arthur S. Leonard

Other Publications

No abstract provided.

9th Circuit Panel Affirms Injunction Against Montana Anti-Drag Law, Arthur S. Leonard

Other Publications

No abstract provided.

Cone Beam Computed Tomography For Endodontics: Incidental Findings And Respective Significance

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence, distribution, and follow-up recommendations of incidental findings in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans acquired for endodontic treatment.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of limited field-of-view (FOV) CBCT images for endodontic evaluation obtained at the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine between 2018 and 2022. All scans were reviewed by 1 oral and maxillofacial radiology (OMR) resident and all incidental findings were corroborated with the radiology report approved by 1 of 2 board-certified OMRs. Data extracted for each case included age, gender, and reason for scan; and …

Evaluating Artificial Intelligence Large Language Mocdels In Dental Education: A Cross-Sectional Survey On Usage, Perceptions, And Integration At A U.S. Dental Scho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education presents opportunities and challenges for dental education. This study explores the use of Large Language Model (LLM) based AI tools, including ChatGPT and Grammarly AI, among faculty and students at the UTHealth School of Dentistry in Houston (UTSDH). This research assessed usage patterns, perceived benefits and concerns, and AI training demand.

Methods: A piloted, cross-sectional survey was administered via email. The survey included Likert-scale, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions. Respondents provided demographics and rated their LLM-based AI tools for use and perceptions in educational, clinical, and research contexts. Data was analyzed …

The Holistic Healing Source Scholarly Anthology Volume 1 (2026), Kimberly Johnson

Psychology: Faculty Publications

• Breaking Generational Curses: The Struggle of Achieving Peace and Prosperity Coming from an Under-Resourced Family: Explores the biological and systemic barriers marginalized families face, offering strength-based frameworks for breaking cycles of poverty and trauma.

Estimating Sediment Properties Using A New Source Level Function For Wind-Driven Underwater Sound Derived From Long-Term Archival Data, S Bruce Martin, Martin Siderius

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Wind-driven breaking waves generate the background sound throughout the ocean. An accurate source level for wind-driven breaking waves is needed for estimating the ambient sound levels needed for sound exposure modeling, environmental assessments, and assessing the detection performance of sonars. Previous models applied a constant roll-off of sound levels at -16 dB/decade at all wind speeds, and these models' source levels were flat at frequencies below ∼1000 Hz due to a lack of measurements. Here, we analyzed 16 long-term archival datasets with limited anthropogenic sound sources to estimate the wind-driven source level down to 100 Hz. We estimated the site-specific …

Enhancing Data Compatibility In An Evolving Landscape: Medical Cannabis And Polysubstance Use Protocols In The Phenx Toolkit, Wayne Huggins, Cataia Ives, Ryan Mcneil, Sarah Zemore, Corrie Vilsaint, Elizabeth Fallon, Christine Hill, Carol Hamilton, John Kelly

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: With increasing legalization of medical cannabis and prevalence of polysubstance use in the United States comes the need for standard psychometrically validated measures to study these substances' health effects in the population. The PhenX (consensus measures for Phenotypes and eXposures) Toolkit (www.phenxtoolkit.org) is a freely accessible catalog of recommended measurement protocols to promote data compatibility across studies, but this extensive catalog did not include measures in these important areas.

Methods: In 2024, a PhenX Working Group of experts followed a well-established consensus process to identify and recommend measurement protocols suitable for inclusion in studies on medical cannabis and polysubstance …

Subgroup Identification Of Disparities In Buprenorphine Discontinuation In Opioid-Use Disorder: A Virtual Twins Machine Learning Approach Using Nationwide United States Claims Data, 2006–2022, Yuanxiong Guo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Buprenorphine retention is crucial for effective treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), yet disparities in treatment discontinuation persist. This study aims to identify and quantify disparities in buprenorphine treatment retention using a machine learning framework adapted from Virtual Twins approach focusing on disparities related to sex, age, insurance type, geographic region, mental health status and community-level Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). Using a nationwide longitudinal cohort, we applied a two-stage machine learning approach. In Stage one, we trained classification models to estimate the counterfactual differences in treatment discontinuation across disparity types. Model performance was assessed using C-statistics and precision-recall curve. In …

“If He Did It, I Can Do It, Too. I Can Change My Life Around”: The Social Model Of Recovery Within The Context Of Recovery Homes Accepting Residents Prescribed Medications For Opioid Use Disorder

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: This paper provides an in-depth examination of examines four recovery residences, that serve individuals prescribed medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). The study has two primary aims: first, to deepen understanding of how recovery residences adopt and operationalize Social Model of Recovery principles; and second, to identify gaps in staff integration of residents receiving MOUD-gaps that may either support or undermine the integrity of the social model within these settings.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 residents receiving MOUD living in four participating recovery homes. The interviews were conducted between August 2022 and January 2024 using a semi-structured …

Feasibility And Preliminary Outcomes Of A Remotely-Delivered Exercise Training Intervention For English-Speaking Hispanics/Latinos With Multiple Sclerosis: Results From The Ferla Ms Study, Augusto Miravalle

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There is limited evidence on the feasibility of remotely delivered exercise interventions for English-speaking Hispanics/Latinos with MS.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and exploratory efficacy of a remotely-delivered, home-based exercise program for English-speaking Hispanics/Latinos with MS and to explore associations among feasibility metrics, outcomes, and social determinants of health (SDOH).

Results: Of 340 individuals contacted, 112 were eligible (33%), 33 enrolled (9.7%), 30 randomized, and 26 completed (87% retention). Adherence averaged 81% (exercise) and 89% (control). No serious adverse events occurred. Exploratory within-group improvements were observed in the exercise group for physical activity (p = 0.03, d = …

Centering Minoritized Parent Perspectives And Pathways For Equitable Nicu Care: A Scoping Review Protocol, Panayiota Senekkis-Florent, Carolyn A. Baker, Emily Gierczynski, Penelope Schreffler

Scoping Review Protocols

Background: Family-centered care (FCC) is a core component of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) practice, yet families from culturally, racially, ethnically, and linguistically minoritized backgrounds may face barriers to equitable participation in care and decision-making. Understanding these experiences is essential to advancing equity in neonatal care.   Objective: To map the literature describing the experiences of minoritized parents and caregivers in the NICU and identify institutional interventions and healthcare system strategies that support equitable family-centered care and parent-provider partnership.   Methods: This scoping review will follow Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and be reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches will be conducted in …

Building The Infection Prevention Workforce: Development, Implementation And Evaluation Of Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute Infection Prevention And Control 300 Series

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI) was established to strengthen infectious disease preparedness across Texas. The Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) 300 Series represents the third year of a multi-tiered educational initiative designed to provide free, accessible, evidence-based IPC training and continuing education credits for the healthcare workforce.

Methods: Registration and attendance data were collected through Zoom™ and Microsoft Teams™. Knowledge assessments, post-module surveys, and mid- and end-of-series evaluations were administered through QuestionPro™. Module content was informed by guidance from APIC, CDC, CMS, and OSHA. Descriptive statistics and the Kirkpatrick Model of Training Evaluation were used to assess …

Adapting A Smartphone-Based Auricular Point Acupressure Self-Management Program For Rural Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Qualitative Study, Sarah Pace, Jennifer Kawi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain is more prevalent in rural areas where access to pain interventions, including complementary approaches like Auricular Point Acupressure (APA), remains limited. APA is a non-invasive, needle-free approach, and its smartphone-based self-management delivery model has not been optimized for rural contexts.

Objectives: To explore the perspectives of rural partners on adapting a smartphone-based Auricular Point Acupressure-Self-Management (APA-SM) program to better meet rural needs. Study objectives were to: (1) refine the APA-SM program for rural adults, (2) identify implementation barriers, (3) understand practice workflows and engagement, and (4) identify strategies to integrate the APA-SM program into rural pain …

“I Can’T Just Talk It. I Have To Live It”: The Roles, Needs, And Recruitment Of Recovery Home House Managers, Danielle Gillespie

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Recovery homes are an increasingly important recovery support service for people with substance use disorders, yet limited research has examined the roles of house managers or how individuals are recruited into these positions. This study examines how house managers understand and enact their roles, how recovery home operators recruit for these positions, and how the demands and sustainability of the role are perceived in practice.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of interviews with 29 operators and staff working in 10 Level II and Level III recovery homes across five Texas cities.

Results: Findings indicate that house managers …

School-Based Interventions With Youth Engaging In Bullying Behaviors: Effective Strategies From The Perspective Of School Social Workers, Elizabeth A. Crowe

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Bullying is a nationally recognized social problem associated with harmful consequences for all youth involved. Despite their crucial role in bullying interventions and student success, the practices and perspectives of school social workers are notably absent from academic literature. This survey research study sought to identify strategies that school social workers use with youth engaging in bullying behavior; distinguish which strategies are the most and least effective from the perspective of school social workers; and recognize the supports and barriers school social workers face when implementing bullying interventions.

Survey data from a sample of school social workers answered these questions. …

Negotiating Quality: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of American Higher Education Policy, John A. Foisy

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This qualitative study examined how institutional quality is constructed, communicated, and negotiated through the accreditation process in U.S. higher education. Drawing on a multiple case study design, the research analyzed accreditation-related documents from eight institutions undergoing reaffirmation, including self-study reports, peer review team reports, Commission action letters, and institutional responses. The study was guided by three research questions: (a) What institutional signals of quality are evidenced in self-studies? (b) In what ways does the accreditation process represent a negotiation between accreditors and institutions? (c) What implied views of institutional quality emerge from accreditation discourse?

The study employed a multilayered analytical …

Neural Network Transceiver For Ltv Mimo Channels, Iresha Amarasekara

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Eigenfunctions are commonly employed to characterize kernels in various data-driven analyses. In machine learning, eigenfunction decomposition typically relies on Mercer's theorem, which assumes kernel symmetry. However, this condition is often unmet in communication systems, where channel kernels are asymmetric due to differences in downlink and uplink propagation environments. The High-Order Generalized Mercer's Theorem (HOGMT) provides a systematic approach for decomposing multidimensional asymmetric kernels into eigenfunctions. To address the complexity of eigen-decomposition, this work introduces a baseline neural network (NN) framework HNET. The HNET framework is further enhanced by incorporating the augmented Lagrangian method (ALM) to explicitly enforce orthogonality constraints. This …

Reproductive Rights On Campus, Janet Levit

Articles, Chapters in Books and Other Contributions to Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Intellectual Disabilities: A Population-Based Comparison, Sarah Hurst, Astrida S. Kaugars

Modern Psychological Studies

Childhood is a critical time for development, and negative experiences during this period may have lasting consequences. Children with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at greater risk for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) than children without ID. Using data from the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health (U.S. Census Bureau), we assessed the frequency of ACEs reported based on IDs. Participants were caregivers of 528 children currently diagnosed with an ID and a random sample of 528 children selected from the remaining 49,755 respondents without an ID. As hypothesized, parents of children with ID reported a statistically significant greater number of total …

Parenting For Autonomy: New Insights Into Warmth, Leniency, And Emotion Regulation, Elizabeth O. Arroyo, Ana Paula M. Constantino, Dolly P. Rojo

Modern Psychological Studies

Past parenting research has focused on Maccoby and Martin's (1983) two parenting qualities, Warmth and Demandingness. We know that these can affect several children's outcomes, including academic achievements (e.g., Pinquart, 2016) and self-esteem (Pinquart & Gerke, 2019). Still, we know less about the impacts of parental qualities on children’s autonomy, and even less about the impact that qualities of more modern parenting styles (e.g., emphasis on promotion of emotional regulation skills) might have on children’s outcomes. Our study explores the associations of parent’s Warmth, Demandingness, leniency, and promotion of emotional regulation skills on children’s autonomy. We predicted that parental Warmth, …

Context, Cognition And Convictions: Examining Analytic Versus Holistic Thinking In Police Lineup Identifications, Ellie L. Cotten, Benjamin Terry Sharpe Dr, Roy Spina

Modern Psychological Studies

Eyewitnesses have a significant impact on decisions made by the criminal justice system, and incorrect identifications are a leading cause of unjust convictions. Although many studies have examined the effects of individuals' cognitive approaches (analytic versus holistic) on object recognition, little research has explored these effects in relation to facial recognition. Moreover, no research has explored this phenomenon within the context of police lineup procedures. The aim of this study was to address these gaps and investigate whether there are effects of holism and background condition on identification accuracy and confidence in police lineup procedures. Participants (N = 254) watched …

From Tension To Teaching: Combating Incivility And Bullying Behaviors Directed At Nursing Students, Shelley Dyal

Theses

Background: The phrase “nurses eat their young” has long been used to describe the culture of incivility and bullying often directed at nursing students. These behaviors in the nursing clinical learning environment break down nurse-student relationships. To address this issue, nursing staff must have the tools to fulfill their roles as educators and mentors in clinical settings. The purpose of this project is to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based asynchronous educational workshop focused on incivility reduction and student mentorship among nursing staff in a rural hospital setting.

Methods:  This study used a quantitative, one-group pretest–posttest intervention design …

Improving Hypertension Medication Adherence In Rural Southern Mississippi Minority Adults With Implementation Of A Patient Hypertension Education And Adherence Toolkit (Heat), Loni M. Brown

Theses

Non-adherence to medication treatment planning is a pervasive and challenging issue in health care, especially among patients with hypertension. Statistically, inadequately controlled hypertension due to non-adherence to treatment is most prevalent among Black and Hispanic Americans in the southern United States (Hayes et al., 2022). Particularly, hypertension within southern rural communities reflects substantial socioeconomic factors and health disparities influencing medication adherence (Besel et al., 2023). Minority adults over age forty, face increased health barriers to adequate treatment (Wilder et al., 2021). Moreover, the prevalence of hypertension medication non-adherence is notably higher in rural areas nationally (Besel et al., 2023). Black …