Digital Commons Network^™

Analysis Theories On Artificial Intelligence, Chatgpt, Data Science, And Metaverse: The Case Of Digital Medicine, Yin Yang, Xingyun Liu, Jorge Luis Cuyubamba Dominguez, Yuan Fang, Wen Xie, Bairong Shen, Keng Siau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Healthcare organizations are increasingly adopting digital technologies, with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and the metaverse driving significant advancements in smart healthcare. Al facilitates personalized medicine and efficient drug development, while Data Science enables predictive analytics and big data management, enhancing patient outcomes and healthcare quality. The metaverse introduces immersive training and telemedicine platforms, revolutionizing patient engagement and healthcare research. This study conducts' a scoping review of 6,171 articles, analyzing the transformational impact of AI, ChatGPT, Data Science, and the metaverse on healthcare. It highlights the benefits and risks of these technologies, identifies research gaps in their application within the …

Interpretable Multimodal Zero Shot Ecg Diagnosis Via Structured Clinical Knowledge Alignment, Jialu Tang, Hung Manh Pham, Ignace De Lathauwer, Henk S. Schipper, Yuan Lu, Dong Ma, Aaqib Saeed

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation is essential for cardiovascular disease diagnosis, but current automated systems often struggle with transparency and generalization to unseen conditions. To address this, we introduce ZETA, a zero-shot multimodal framework designed for interpretable ECG diagnosis aligned with clinical workflows. ZETA uniquely compares ECG signals against structured positive and negative clinical observations, which are curated through an LLM-assisted, expertvalidated process, thereby mimicking differential diagnosis. Our approach leverages a pre-trained multimodal model to align ECG and text embeddings without disease-specific fine-tuning. Empirical evaluations demonstrate ZETA’s competitive zero-shot classification performance and, importantly, provide qualitative and quantitative evidence of enhanced interpretability, grounding …

Sdrc Update (Volume 7, Issue 1), Joanna Cayton-Velante

SDRC Publications

No abstract provided.

Exploit Machina, Andrea Matwyshyn

Faculty Scholarship

Over half a century ago, Hannah Arendt cautioned us to “think what we are doing” when we build new technologies. Engaging with her counsel and a set of historical case studies, this Article frames what it calls exploit machina problems. Exploit machina refers to situations where broken technologies and broken governance combine to irreparably harm the public. In other words, exploit machina involves organizational choices to knowingly leverage technology as part of legally problematic conduct, including various forms of fraud. In the language of data science, exploit machina situations implicate strategic decisions in building and managing artificial intelligence (AI); they …

Neuro-Advocacy: Harmonizing Persuasion With The Operation Of The Brain, Gary Gildin

Faculty Scholarship

The most significant contemporary advances in effective courtroom advocacy will emerge from what on the surface is an unlikely source: neuroscience. Revolutionary advances in technology for the first time allow us to see how the human brain makes decisions. The findings are wholly inconsistent with how the trial process presupposes the finder of fact will perceive and use information delivered by lawyers and witnesses. Consequently, lawyers seeking to persuade jurors (and judges) must reframe their advocacy to align with what we have learned about how the minds of these decision-makers will receive testimony and argument and use these inputs to …

The Serotonin 1b Receptor In Psilocybin’S Therapeutic-Like Mechanisms: From Behavior To Network Reorganization, Sixtine Fleury

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Mood disorders represent a substantial and growing global health crisis, with ~10 million adults in the US meeting criteria for a major depressive disorder (MDD). Current first-line treatments such as SSRIs require long-term daily administration and fail a significant proportion of patients, driving renewed interest in rapid-acting alternatives. Psilocybin, a serotonergic psychedelic, shows growing clinical evidence of efficacy in treating depressive and anxiety disorders, often producing therapeutic effects persisting weeks to months following a single dose. Yet, the neural mechanisms underlying these enduring effects remain poorly understood and have been largely attributed to the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) based on …

Polymeric Micelle In Drug Delivery And Nanotechnology: Preparation Methods And Multifunctional Application, Abhishek Sanjay Patil, Savita Ullegaddi, Nagesh C, Suma N

Manipal Journal of Medical Sciences

Nanomedicine, an emerging discipline, integrates nanotechnology with pharmaceutical and biomedical science to develop new drugs and imaging compounds with improved efficacy and safety profiles. One of the most important aspects of this field is the creation of new nano-drug delivery systems (NDDS), which harness the power of nanomaterials to bypass such conventional limitations as poor solubility and instability. One form of NDDS, micelles, have been identified as a viable option, providing a safe and effective means of encapsulating hydrophobic natural products. Self-assembling amphiphilic block copolymers, micelles form a core-shell structure that shields the encapsulated drug from degradation while allowing controlled …

George White Family Papers - Accession 1900, White Family

Manuscript Collection

This collection consists of bound volumes, family Bibles, lecture and financial notebooks, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs, magazines, publications, and memorabilia collected or owned by members of the White family and related families. The White family, descendants of George Pendleton and Ann Hutchinson White, was among the founding families of Rock Hill, South Carolina, and played a significant role in the development and history of the community. The family’s historical presence in Rock Hill is also reflected in the White Home, one of the early homes constructed in the city and now a local historic attraction, and White Street in downtown Rock …

David Bancroft Johnson Personal Papers - Accession 2, David Bancroft Johnson

Manuscript Collection

This collection consists of the personal correspondence and papers of Dr. David Bancroft Johnson, founder and first president of Winthrop.  The letters address various subjects and people, both personal and professional, concerning issues from the original funding of Winthrop in 1886 to the minutiae of ordering flour and cotton seed, as well as personal letters to family, friends, and acquaintances. This collection also includes news clippings, brochures, programs, and various documents belonging to Dr. Johnson.  The letters and documents are by organized by each item chronologically.

Exploring Resiliency, Identity, And Access: Educational Narratives Of Adults Who Experienced Youth Homelessness, Taylor Mestres

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the educational experiences of adults who experienced homelessness during their youth, focusing on how instability, stigma, and resilience shaped their K-12 schooling. Guided by Maslow's hierarchy of needs and resiliency theory, the research employed a narrative inquiry approach with seven adult collaborators who reflected on their schooling while experiencing housing instability. Seven themes emerged: living between places, school as sanctuary, concealment and stigma, resilience and survival, the role of educators and support systems, thriving despite adversity, and retrospective recognition. Findings reveal that while housing instability and shame created significant barriers to learning and belonging, schools also functioned …

Organizational Executives’ Perspectives On Cultural Humility And Diversity, Lynette Piggee-Pinero

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action-oriented dissertation was to understand how executives perceive their own cultural humility and how their perceptions impact diversity promotion in the workplace. This study used action research to examine the perspectives of executives on their own cultural humility and how cultural humility promotes diversity. This study included data collected from interviews with eight executives. Findings from the study revealed that executives perceived their own cultural humility as evident in a commitment to learning about others, their ability to suspend their own biases, and their commitment to ongoing learning. The findings were also that executives expressed connections …

What Makes A Family: Steepparent's Experiences Supporting Children With Autism In School Systems, Veronica Barrera

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative multiple case study explored the lived experiences of stepparents of children with autism spectrum disorder, examining how they navigate their roles within school and family systems during early elementary years (kindergarten through second grade). Despite the increasing prevalence of blended families, stepparent perspectives remain largely absent from research. Stepparents often occupy ambiguous legal and social positions that limit their access to educational information and participation in IEP meetings and school decision-making. Two stepparents of children with Level 1 autism participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using inductive coding and thematic analysis, with narrative restorying to preserve participants’ …

Inspiring Voices: The Impact Of Poetry Education, Nancy Aide Gonzalez St.Clair

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Poetry education is frequently viewed as an enrichment activity rather than a critical practice that supports academic, emotional, and social development. This qualitative exploratory case study examined how participation in a nonprofit creative writing program in northern California influenced the cognitive development, emotional well-being, communication skills, empathy, and perspective taking of young adults. The study was guided by constructivism, radical constructivism, and symbolic interactionism. It centered on the lived experiences of six poetry program alumni aged 18 to 25. The researcher collected data through semi-structured Zoom interviews and poetry portfolios containing three poems selected by each participant. I used inductive …

The Teacher Shortage Crisis: How Workplace Relationships Influence Retention, Attrition, And The Education Labor Market, Jeremy Brooks

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study took a closer look at how high school teachers perceive the ongoing teacher shortage, with particular attention to how workplace conditions and the broader school climate impact whether they choose to stay in the profession. Special focus was given to teachers in their first five years, a group especially vulnerable to early attrition. As the conversation around teacher turnover grows louder, this research seeks to better understand what’s driving teachers’ decisions from their own perspectives, not just policy data or administrative assumptions.

The study used a basic qualitative research design, relying on one-on-one, in-depth interviews to gather insights …

Coaching-Based Leadership Communication In Higher Education Hybrid Work Environments, Lisa Erck

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how coaching-based leadership (CBL) communication practices were associated with participants’ perceptions of communication, collaboration, and engagement within a hybrid higher education work environment. Grounded in constructivist leadership theory (CLT), CBL, and action research (AR), the study explored how intentional shifts in leader communication behaviors influenced team interactions over time. Using a qualitative AR design, I partnered with a higher education administrative leader and their team in a hybrid setting. The participant group included the leader and their direct reports. Data were collected across iterative AR cycles through semistructured interviews, observational data, and participant reflection journals. Data analysis …

Empowering Equity: Latinas In Leadership – Navigating Work-Life Balance In The Post-Pandemic Era, Teresa Excinia

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the lived experiences of Latina leaders as they navigated how cultural expectations influenced work–life balance in the post-pandemic era. The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped workplace dynamics, blurring boundaries between professional responsibilities and personal life. For Latinas, these challenges were compounded by cultural expectations that shaped their roles both at home and in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to understand how Latina leaders managed the dual pressures of balancing career demands with cultural and familial obligations. Using Testimonio as the methodological framework, this study captured the voices and narratives of Latina leaders across industries, offering an …

Library Support For Massive Open Online Courses (Moocs) In The Philippines: The Case Of American Corners, Princess Grace Wooden, Darin Jan Tindowen

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study examined the role of libraries in supporting Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the Philippines, with particular focus on American Corners as library-based learning spaces. Grounded in the increasing demand for flexible and accessible education, the study aimed to assess the readiness of American Corner libraries and determine the extent of MOOC implementation, as well as examine the relationship between these variables. A quantitative descriptive-correlational research design was employed, involving 28 American Corner staff composed of directors and librarians from 14 participating institutions. Data were collected using a validated survey questionnaire and analyzed through frequency, percentage, weighted mean, …

A Nuclear Terrorism Scenario: Improvised Nuclear Weapons With 60%-Enriched Uranium, Matt Caplan

Faculty publications – Physics

In this work we show that approximately 60–70 kg of 60%-enriched uranium can be used to build a crude nuclear weapon with a kiloton yield. While too large to fit on a missile, such a weapon could be delivered by a shipping container. This analysis is motivated by the June 2025 Israeli and US attacks on Iran, especially the bombings of the nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan. The Iranian stockpile of approximately 440 kg of 60%-enriched uranium is, at the time of writing, inaccessible to IAEA inspectors and stored in secret. The rapid clandestine relocation of this material …

Toward A Transformative Church: The Role Of Elders In Church Growth In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Brian Kwalela Mungandi

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addressed the need for a transformational leadership strategy that engages elders in membership retention and church growth for a Seventh-day Adventist Church. This mixed-method study aimed to identify factors contributing to declining membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, with the goal of informing strategies for improved member retention and potential church growth. A survey involving 30 active members was administered to gather insights into the target church’s profile. Additionally, interviews were conducted with 18 elders across four churches to evaluate leadership perspectives concerning membership retention and church growth. These data sources offered a snapshot of the target church's …

Temporal Analysis Of Supraglacial Drainage Systems On The Greenland Ice Sheet From 2009-2017 Using Very High-Resolution Satellite Imagery, Field Measurements, And Climate Models, Natalie Gallegos Nunez

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Anthropogenic disturbance and global warming are enhancing the influx of freshwater into the oceans from melting glaciers and ice sheets. The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) has experienced accelerated surface melt which is expected to reduce North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) formation and Atlantic thermohaline circulation. More than half of the GrIS total mass loss is due to meltwater runoff produced on the surface by supraglacial lakes, streams, and rivers. The goal of this study is to monitor changes in supraglacial drainage systems developed in the Southwest region on the GrIS for the 2009-2017 melt seasons and to map the impact …

Regulating Robotaxis, Bryant Walker Smith, Matthew T. Wansley

Articles

In several sunbelt cities, commercial robotaxi service has arrived. The leading robotaxi company is providing over 400,000 trips per week. The industry claims that robotaxis will save lives and provide convenient and affordable mobility. Critics counter that they will increase congestion, undermine transit, and subject the public to ubiquitous surveillance. We argue that the social impact of robotaxis depends on how they are regulated. We emphasize two points missing from the debate. First, some of the benefits of robotaxis may be political rather than technological—some longstanding public policy goals may become viable in a robotaxi world. Second, letting one private …

Challenging Agency Deregulation, Todd S. Aagaard

Faculty Publications

The administrative state is experiencing two seismic shifts. First, in recent years, the Supreme Court has issued a series of decisions that significantly curtailed the powers of administrative agencies. Second, President Donald Trump is using administrative agencies to aggressively deregulate in his second term. The conventional wisdom is that the Supreme Court’s recent precedent will facilitate the Trump Administration’s deregulatory agenda.

This Article argues the opposite. Instead of promoting agency deregulation, recent Supreme Court precedent restraining agency authority provides a potentially powerful basis for challenging agency deregulation as administrative overreach. Time and time again, the Court has taken agencies to …

[Introduction To] Shakespeare And Identity In A Divided World, Kristin M.S. Bezio

Bookshelf

Shakespeare and Identity in a Divided World examines some of the most pressing issues about identity and so-called identity politics in the highly polarized twenty-first century. The book uses Shakespeare’s plays and the history of sixteenth and seventeenth-century England to discuss gender, race, mental health, disability, and fatness as they were perceived in Shakespeare’s age and then considers ways in which audiences, readers, and classrooms might use them to think about those same topics in the twenty-first century.

The book includes discussion of both Shakespeare’s text and contemporary productions, films, and reimaginings of those plays, as well as the historical …

The Experiences Of Children With Disabilities In Foster Care: A Scoping Review, Michelle Therrien, Ciera Lorio, Kristy A. Anderson, Emily Dolce, Kyunghye Kim

Faculty Publications – Communication Sciences and Disorders

Children with disabilities are overrepresented in the United States (U.S.) foster care system, yet their experiences and outcomes remain underexamined within the child welfare literature, particularly for children whose disabilities affect communication. Understanding foster care outcomes for children with disabilities − particularly those with communication disorders − is essential because communication differences may limit children’s ability to report harm, participate in case planning, and access services within complex child welfare systems. This scoping review synthesized existing U.S.-based research to examine the intersections between disability, safety, permanency, and well-being among children and adolescents in foster care from birth through age 23. …

Liver X Receptor Α (Lxrα) Regulates 5Β-Reductase (Akr1d1) Expression In Avian Embryos: Implications For Yolk Steroid Metabolism, Ryan T. Paitz, Sara E. Waters, Delaney K. Reynolds, Emily M. Drew, Emily P. Harders

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Steroid-mediated maternal effects are well-studied as a source of phenotypic variation. In bird eggs, the yolk contains various steroids that can influence embryonic development. However, one complicating factor in understanding how yolk steroids affect development is that the embryo metabolizes yolk steroids to regulate exposure. The 5β-reduction of steroids by the enzyme 5β-reductase (AKR1D1) has been identified as a pathway through which yolk progesterone, testosterone, and corticosterone are all metabolized early in avian development. We set out to characterize the mechanism through which AKR1D1 expression is regulated in chickens (Gallus gallus) during embryonic development. We found …

Leading Schools Effectively During A Crisis: Lessons Learned From The Covid-19 Pandemic, La Tonya Elizabeth Overton

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract This qualitative study explored the successes, challenges, and lessons learned by elementary principals serving systemically marginalized communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through in-depth interviews with nine principals across multiple school districts, the study identified three overarching themes that characterized effective crisis leadership: relationships, well-being, and innovation. Principals described how sustaining strong relationships, prioritizing humanity, and centering trust were essential for navigating trauma, uncertainty, and rapid change. They emphasized meeting basic needs such as food, technology access, health supports, and housing stability as foundational to school continuity. Principals also demonstrated equity-driven responsiveness by removing systemic barriers, adapting communication to diverse …

Understanding And Mitigating The Impact Of Childhood Trauma: A Guide For Educators, Kirsten L. Sands

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic experiences that occur during childhood with lasting effects on students’ academic, social, emotional, and behavioral development. Although childhood adversity typically occurs outside of the educational setting, difficulties with emotional regulation, peer relationships, concentration, behavior, and engagement impact education. Teachers are uniquely qualified to observe these behaviors and provide support. However, educators may lack the foundational knowledge and resources necessary to recognize potential signs of adversity. Teachers need foundational information on ACEs, knowledge of potential signs, and how to provide practical, trauma-informed strategies for responding to students who may be experiencing effects of childhood …

Intelligent Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (Idxa) And Small Animal Scanning As A Useful Tool To Measure Appendicular Bird Bone Mineral Density, Frank J. Dirrigl Jr., Samuel R. Buchanan

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Accurately assessing the bone mineralization status of birds is crucial for poultry production and wild bird studies. We investigated the use of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) using Small Animal Measurement software to measure bone mineral content (BMC) and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in excised radii of the willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) as a bird model. Our exploratory tests involved 117 scans to evaluate scanning parameters, scanning board types, bone stabilization, scan mode and size, and region of interest placement. Results indicated that mean BMC or aBMD were each significantly different when scanned on a forearm positioner board …

The Periodical 2025-2026, Southern Adventist University

the Periodical – Chemistry Department Newsletter

Vol. 13, Issue 1 of the Periodical features an article on new faculty member, Sarah Pak, chemistry graduates, and several Meet the Faculty highlights.

Predictors Of Prejudice Towards People With Tattoos, Jordan Smith

Honors Program Theses

Thirty-two percent of Americans have at least one tattoo (Schaeffer, 2023), and many of them experience discrimination. The purpose of this study was to examine potential correlates of this prejudice. 251 participants completed a survey online that assessed their attitudes towards people with tattoos along with variables that have previously been associated with other types of prejudice. Perceived threat was the strongest predictor of prejudiced attitudes. Participants who reported greater prejudice also reported greater perceptions that tattooed people were different from themselves, higher levels of authoritarianism and lower levels of agreeableness. Older people and those without tattoos also reported greater …