Digital Commons Network^™

Instruction Request: Podcasting In An Academic Library To Connect Library Instruction With Campus And Community, Lauren Odom, Beryl White-Bing

Library Presentations & Publications

The Instruction Request podcast is co-hosted by two librarians at the University of North Florida: Beryl White-Bing, Virtual Learning Librarian, and Lauren Odom, Instruction Librarian. Both of us serve in the Instruction Unit at the Thomas G. Carpenter Library. In an era where digital content is essential for engagement, we sought a way to modernize our library outreach without compromising our instructional mission. Podcasting emerged as the perfect format for highlighting educational content while being accessible and scalable.

Organisational Digital Maturity Assessment Tool, Rahat Ullah, Ted Mckenna, Joe Harrington, Michal Otreba, Adhban Farea, Sean Carroll

Tools

The Organisational Digital Maturity Assessment Tool helps organisations evaluate their current digital capabilities and identify priorities for improvement. The Excel-based self-assessment tool examines key areas of organisational digital maturity, including people, processes and culture; technology; and policy and governance. It provides structured assessment questions and visual reporting to help organisations understand their current maturity, consider their desired future position and identify areas requiring further development. The tool supports organisations planning their digital transformation and the implementation of information management and BIM processes, including those aligned with ISO 19650 and the Irish BIM mandate.

Shelled Shut-Ins: A Conditional Escape Task Showing Perceptual Awareness In Hermit Crabs, Ari Drummond, John Spicer, Mark Briffa

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Sentience is an increasingly popular topic in animal welfare and behavioural research. However, studying sentience can be difficult and contentious. Sentience has frequently been associated with ‘feelings’ and ‘subjective states’ not directly accessible to human observers; thus, investigating awareness in animals could be an alternative approach. Frameworks of awareness have been developed for the experimental examination of cognitive capacities that might underpin ‘feelings’ as affective states and subjective experiences. Using a framework of four hierarchically arranged levels of awareness (that is, perceptual, cognitive, assessment and executive), the awareness of an intertidal crustacean, the common hermit crab, Pagurus bernhardus , was …

Growth In The Margins: Field Measured Protein Metabolism Rates In The Common Limpet, Patella Vulgata, Ignacio A. Cienfuegos, Benjamin J. Ciotti, Richard A. Billington, Paul A. Sutton, Keiron P.P. Fraser

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Intertidal shores are characterised by a high variability in abiotic conditions, resulting in marked daily, tidal, seasonal and vertical differences in stress conditions, yet our ability to understand the consequences for key physiological processes at corresponding scales are limited. In particular, no previous studies have directly measured protein metabolism, the key process underpinning animal growth, in the field, in any organism. We measured whole-animal (SGR) and tissue (TSGR) mass growth, protein metabolism (synthesis (k_s), degradation (k_d) and growth (k_g)), RNA to protein ratios and oxidative stress in Patella vulgata in the field every season …

Groundwater Spatial Variability Within An Atoll Island: Assessing Shallow Aquifer Heterogeneity With Geophysical And Physicochemical Measurements, N. I. Tobon-Velazquez, G. Masselink, T. J. O’Hare, R. Bates, F. K.J. Oberle, C. D. Storlazzi, D. C. Conley

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

This study examines the spatial variability of shallow groundwater on Dhigelaabadhoo Island using electromagnetic induction surveys, groundwater monitoring, and sediment analyses. The research reveals how variations in island morphology—such as differences in elevation, reef flat width, and sediment composition—affect the spatial distribution of groundwater lenses and the overall aquifer dynamics. Saltwater intrusion is especially pronounced in low elevated areas, with narrow reef flat plate and areas where higher hydraulic conductivity—driven by the presence of coarser sediments—is observed, whereas regions characterized by finer sediments, higher elevation, and wider reef flat plates tend to support more symmetric and less saline groundwater lenses. …

Gelatinous Zooplankton As Indicators In The Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, John Terenzini, Laura J. Falkenberg, Sanae Chiba, Matthew Faith, Robert Puschendorf, Abigail Mcquatters-Gollop

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Global biodiversity frameworks require robust, representative indicators to effectively track progress towards conservation targets. Spatial and temporal gaps in global marine biodiversity datasets, however, and a limited number of marine biodiversity indicators, limit our ability to effectively manage marine ecosystems. Despite the ecological and socio-economic significance of marine ecosystems, they remain underrepresented in current indicator suites, particularly in the recently adopted Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Gelatinous zooplankton (GZ), a key yet often overlooked component of marine ecosystems, have the potential to strengthen biodiversity assessments through their responsiveness to environmental change and impacts on several contributions of the ocean to …

Testing The Transferability Of Ai Models For Cold-Water Coral Detection And Classification, Kyran P. Graves, Louise Allcock, David K.A. Barnes, Amelia E.H. Bridges, Kerry L. Howell

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The proliferation of accessible deep-water imaging platforms has resulted in the acquisition of vast amounts of image data, resulting in an analysis bottleneck. Object detection is now being applied to assist the image annotation process, with the potential to reduce analysis time. However, for object detectors to effectively tackle the scale of the challenge, models need to be generalisable to allow the transfer between imaging platforms and in space. This study trains YOLOv5 object detection models to identify six coral morphology groups using annotated imagery collected by ROV ISIS in the UK (JC136). Model performance was tested with independent datasets …

Three Christmas Island Land Crabs Do Not Alter Extracellular Magnesium In Response To Acute Reduced Temperature, Katie N.G. Thiessen, Helena C. Reinardy, John I. Spicer, Lucy M. Turner

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Magnesium is essential to numerous biological processes in many species. Including protecting intracellular pH and ATP concentrations during temperature and anoxia stress. Extracellular [Mg²⁺] is tightly regulated in many, but not all crustaceans. There is evidence that extracellular [Mg²⁺] content may be open to environmental influence such as temperature. The alteration of extracellular [Mg²⁺] in decapod crustaceans in response to temperature has been proposed, with individuals exposed to low temperature often displaying an increase in extracellular [Mg²⁺]. However, data, supporting or refuting this hypothesis, are sparse and drawn mainly from temperate and …

Sexual Dysfunction In Women With Endometriosis In A Low-Middle-Income Country, Edna Chacha, Charles Muteshi, Felix Oindi, Elsie Wandera

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background Endometriosis affects up to 10% of reproductive-age women and significantly impairs quality of life including sexual function, intimate relationships, fertility, and psychological wellbeing. While its impact has been extensively studied in Western populations, there is limited Sub-Saharan African data exploring how the disease affects female sexual health and distress. This study aimed to assess sexual function and sexual distress among women with endometriosis at a tertiary hospital in Kenya.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 108 women aged 18 to 49 with confirmed endometriosis from January to June 2022. The study used validated self-administered questionnaires: Female Sexual Function …

Surgical Interventions For Treating Vesicovaginal Fistula In Women, Yoshiyuki Okada, Tomomi Matsushita, Takeshi Hasegawa, Hisashi Noma, Erika Ota, Bob Achila, Yasukuni Yoshimura

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Objectives This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows:

To assess the benefits and harms of surgical interventions for treating vesicovaginal fistula in women.

17Β Estradiol Protection Against Medium-Change Neurotoxicity In Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures, Autumn B. Stage

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Medium change neurotoxicity can disrupt glutamate homeostasis and promote excitotoxic neuronal injury through excessive NMDA receptor activation. 17β estradiol (E2) has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in models of neuronal injury and may regulate glutamatergic signaling through metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2/3). This study investigated whether E2 protects against medium change associated neurotoxicity in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures whether responses differed by sex or hippocampal region. Hippocampal slices from postnatal day 8 male and female Sprague Dawley rats were maintained in culture and exposed to 1, 10, or 100 nM E2 for 24 hours following a five day recovery period. Propidium iodide (PI) …

The Ability To Resist The Expected Impairing Effects Of Alcohol In Heavy And Light Drinkers, Grace Tomaszewski

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Alcohol tolerance is defined as a diminished response to the drug owing to repeated alcohol exposures. However, drinkers can compensate for alcohol impairment, particularly when they expect to be impaired in the situation. However, the ability to compensate might depend on the behavior impaired by alcohol and the general tolerance already acquired by the drinker. This study tested the degree to which expecting alcohol impairment would reduce alcohol’s impairing effect on reaction time (RT) and fine motor control in those with heavy and light drinking histories. Light drinkers (n=26) and heavy drinkers (n=28) received a 0.65 g/kg alcohol and performed …

Effects Of Emerald Ash Borer Specific Gene Silencing Using Rna Interference On Soil Communities, Faith S. Boa

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) is an invasive wood- boring beetle from Asia that primarily feeds on ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). Since its invasion of North America, EAB threatens the functional extinction of ash with damages and management costs projected to reach $900 million by 2054. Current management strategies have been insufficient to prevent EAB’s spread, highlighting the need to advance innovative approaches like RNAi, which has demonstrated efficacy against EAB in laboratory and greenhouse trials. Double-stranded RNA targeting heat shock 70-kDa protein (hsp) induces EAB mortality, systematically disperses and persists in …

Experimental Investigation Of Subcritical Neutron And Gamma Noise Methods At The Seven Percent Critical Experiment (7upcx), Cole Kostelac, Jesson Hutchinson, George Mckenzie, Robert Weldon, Nicholas Whitman, Ayodeji Babatunde Alajo

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

As part of a collaborative international effort organized by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), with key participants from L'Institut de radioprotection et de s ˆuret´e nucl´eaire (IRSN), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), a series of high-multiplication subcritical neutron and gamma noise measurements were planned and executed. The primary aim of this research was to advance detector technology, assess the validity of gamma noise for subcriticality measurements, and nuclear criticality safety, focusing on collecting list-mode or time-series data from various reactor configurations with multiplication values ranging from 20 to 310. This comprehensive dataset enabled a detailed …

Evaluation Of Two-Group Iate Coupling With Pbe For Beyond Bubbly Flows In A Large Diameter Pipe, Sungje Hong, Joshua P. Schlegel, Subash L. Sharma

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study evaluates the two-group interfacial area transport equation (2G IATE) coupled with the S-Gamma (Sγ) population balance equation (PBE) model for beyond bubbly flow regimes in a vertical large-diameter pipe. The 2G IATE framework incorporates intergroup mass transfer mechanisms and is implemented within the Sγ model, which assumes a log-normal bubble size distribution. The numerical approach is validated against experimental data from Schlegel et al. (2012), with a focus on the void fraction and interfacial area concentration (IAC) distributions. The results show that 2G IATE improves the predictions of the void fraction and IAC, although its accuracy varies with …

Impact Of Bubble-Induced Turbulence On Two-Phase Flow Dynamics At High Void Fraction In A Large Diameter Channel, Sungje Hong, Joshua P. Schlegel, Subash L. Sharma

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study represents the first investigation into the influence of bubble-induced turbulence (BIT) on interfacial area transport mechanisms in gas–liquid two-phase flows under conditions of high void fraction and high velocity in a large diameter channel. Given the unique characteristics of bubble flow in larger channels, the turbulent effects induced by bubbles differ from those observed in smaller channels. However, limited research exists regarding the impact of BIT beyond bubbly flows in large-diameter channels. To address this gap, two approaches for implementing the BIT model are explored: a direct method and an indirect method. This paper assesses both the general …

Conventional Versus Advanced Imaging Selection For Endovascular Treatment Of Basilar Artery Occlusion Strokes., Huanwen Chen, Marco Colasurdo, Hidetoshi Matsukawa, Conor Cunningham, Ilko Maier, Sami Al Kasab, Pascal Jabbour, Joon-Tae Kim, Stacey Quintero Wolfe, Ansaar Rai, Robert M. Starke, Marios-Nikos Psychogios, Edgar A. Samaniego, Nitin Goyal, Shinichi Yoshimura, Hugo Cuellar, Jonathan A. Grossberg, Ali Alawieh, Ali Alaraj, Mohamad Ezzeldin, Daniele G. Romano, Omar Tanweer, Justin Mascitelli, Isabel Fragata, Adam Polifka, Fazeel Siddiqui, Joshua Osbun, Roberto Crosa, Charles Matouk, Min S. Park, Michael R. Levitt, Waleed Brinjikji, Mark Moss, Travis Dumont, Ergun Daglioglu, Richard Williamson, Pedro Navia, Reade De Leacy, Shakeel Chowdhry, David J. Altschul, Alejandro M. Spiotta, Peter Kan

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is an effective treatment for basilar artery occlusion (BAO) stroke in select patients. While there is a growing body of literature suggesting that advanced imaging modalities such as computed tomography perfusion (CTP) and magnetic resonance (MR) may not be necessary for selecting anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke patients for EVT, whether advanced imaging may be superior to conventional imaging (non-contrast CT and CT angiography) in identifying good treatment candidates among BAO patients is less clear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study of BAO EVT patients treated from 2013 to 2022 in …

Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Versus Education For Chronic Pain In Adults With Sickle Cell Disease: 12-Month Randomized Trial Results, Olubusola B. Oluwole, Yi-Fan Yi-Fan Chen, Christina M. Lalama, Julia A. O’Brien, Laura M. De Castro, Charles Patrick Carroll, Darla Liles, Nirmish Shah, Santosh L. Saraf, Victor R. Gordeuk, Leshana Saint Jean, Michael Debaun, Robert M. Cronin, Tonya M. Palermo, Sherif M. Badawy, Megan E. Hamm, Jennifer N. Stinson, Chitra Lalloo, Sophie Lanzkron, Cassandra Trimnell, Lakiea Bailey, Raymona H. Lawrence, Kaleab Z. Abebe, Charles R. Jonassaint

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: Chronic pain affects up to 40% of adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), yet treatment options remain limited. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in other chronic pain conditions, it is underutilized for SCD pain, and its effectiveness remains unclear. Purpose: The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Real-time Pain Management Intervention for Sickle Cell via Mobile Applications (CaRISMA) compared digital CBT to Education for chronic SCD pain in adults. At 6 months, the primary outcome (pain interference) showed no between-group difference but both groups improved (CBT: −2.13; Education: −2.66). This report presents 12-month outcomes. Methods: A total of 359 …

Program For Cooperative Cataloging (Pcc) Wiki, Em Fossell

Library Faculty Research and Publications

This column highlights current websites and other online resources relevant to technical services librarianship. We welcome new reviewers, comments, and suggestions. Please reach out to the editor, Lisa Romano, at [email protected] for more information.

History Of The Chicago Labor Movement By Jacob Winnen, Translated And Edited By John B. Jentz, Jacob Winnen, John Jentz

Library Faculty Research and Publications

This work is a primary source document for a history of Chicago labor in the late nineteenth century, rather than a history itself, despite its title.  It was written by a German construction carpenter and Socialist living in Chicago, who was from the mid Rhine Valley of Germany in the vicinity of Wuppertal, an area noted for labor activism.  He arrived in 1872 to work in the reconstruction of the city after the Great Fire of October 1871, when he was twenty-seven years old.  His carpentry stills included stair-building; and he belonged to a stair-builder’s union local, severing as president …

Programa De Mentoría Basado En El Proceso De Discipulado Para Líderes De La Iglesia Adventista Del Séptimo Día Hispana De Rogers Heights, En Wyoming, Michigan, Darling Ayala

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Making disciples is the mission given by Jesus Christ to His followers; this must be the primary objective of the Christian life. Therefore, the church must carry out activities that follow the model of biblical discipleship in order to attract prospective disciples. Since its formation in 2012, the Hispanic Church of Rogers Heights has not experienced sustainable numerical growth because it did not implement a discipleship program or an intentional mentoring plan. The progressive loss of members, the lack of missionary commitment among its leaders, limited resources, and the low number of new disciples in proportion to the number …

Seminario De Predicación Expositiva Para Los Líderes Del Distrito De Hood River, Oregon, Félix Toribio

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The leaders of the Hood River Adventist Church lack training in expository preaching, which constitutes a significant challenge in this area. With technological advances and access to various digital information sources, the church leaders prepare their sermons using information obtained from the Internet and other digital platforms, without conducting a hermeneutical study of the text.

Methodology

To achieve the central objective of this research, a study was conducted following a quantitative paradigm, using a pretest-posttest design, based on the analysis of biblical literature, the contributions of Ellen G. White, and the work of contemporary authors in the field. This …

Desarrollo E Implementación De Una Estrategia Para Mejorar La Asistencia Y Participación En El Culto Joven De La “Iglesia Nueva”, En La Asociación Central Dominicana, Yoel Lizardo

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The youth service, or “youth society,” of the “Iglesia Nueva” within the Dominican Central Association has experienced low attendance and participation among young adults between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. A preliminary study identified several contributing factors to this situation. These include program content that fails to capture sufficient interest, worship experiences that lack perceived relevance, limited opportunities for young people to discover and exercise their spiritual gifts and talents, a shortage of mentors, and inadequate planning and follow-up in ministry efforts.

Methodology

Theological foundations regarding the principles of youth participation in the church were examined. Contemporary literature …

Implementación Y Evaluación De Un Seminario De Liderazgo Para Dirigentes De La Iglesia Adventista Jardín En Neiva, Colombia, Andrés Palomino

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

A preliminary study, consisting of exploratory dialogues conducted with the church elders, revealed that the leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Jardín, Neiva, faced limitations in the development of their local leadership. Although the leaders received instruction regarding the specific functions of their departments, they lacked knowledge in broader aspects of leadership, such as biblical leadership and contemporary perspectives (nature, models, styles, and theories). This deficiency limited the effective leadership of the church departments.

Methodology

The present study was framed within the field of applied practical theology, as it intentionally sought to intervene in ministerial practice and evaluate …

Mission Refocus: A Strategic Realignment Of The Seventh-Day Adventist Worldwide Mission Effort In The Context Of The Three Mission Refocus Windows, Erton Kohler

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Seventh-day Adventist Church emerged as a worldwide missionary movement committed to proclaiming the everlasting gospel to every nation, tribe, language, and people. Throughout much of its history, the Church demonstrated a strong commitment to cross-cultural mission and the establishment of an Adventist presence in territories with low or no access to the gospel message. However, as the Church expanded globally in membership, institutions, organizational structures, and administrative responsibilities, a gradual shift in mission priorities occurred. Increasing attention to institutional maintenance and regional demands often reduced emphasis on frontline mission territories and populations with no or low Adventist presence. …

Desarrollo E Implementación De Un Seminario Sobre La Oración Y El Ayuno Para El Reavivamiento Espiritual De La Iglesia Adventista Del Séptimo Día Hispana De Milwaukie, Oregon, Marlon Batz

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

The Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church of Milwaukie (IASDM) demonstrates the need for a spiritual revival among its members. An initial diagnosis, conducted with the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES) by Lynn Underwood, shows reduced levels in core aspects of spiritual life. For example, in response to the item "During worship, or at other times when connecting with God, I feel joy which lifts me out of my daily concerns”, only 23.6% of participants indicate experiencing this sensation every day, and just 7.8% report feeling it several times a day. In the item "I find comfort in my religion or …

Teaching Digital Evangelism And Web Design As Redemptive Work For The Women Of The Northeastern Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Brenda Michele Rhyne

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem.

The COVID-19 pandemic eliminated thousands of jobs, including positions held by women within the Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Unemployment and underemployment may contribute to diminished self-esteem and adverse mental-health outcomes. The problem of unemployment and underemployment is not simply economic—it is theological.

For women in the Northeastern Conference, the lack of an ordered pathway to explore technology-related fields as a career option represents both an economic and a spiritual loss. A course combining technical and evangelistic training may promote members' involvement in evangelistic initiatives (i.e., TMI) while simultaneously providing technological skills. Also, women who do not regularly use …

Unshackling The Coffee Supply Chain: An “Ethics Project” For Catholic Colleges And Universities, Bernard Prusak, Kimberly Lamberty

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Against the background of a growing and increasingly sophisticated body of theological literature on economic ethics, this article proposes a project to change for the better, morally, how coffee is supplied on the campuses of Catholic colleges and universities. We argue that this project is squarely in service of a Catholic college or university’s core educational goal of humane development of its students. The article then proceeds in three steps. First, we explain how the coffee supply chain works and how it is entangled in what Pope Francis called “the economy that kills.” Second, we discuss obstacles to our proposed …

Shifting Tide: A Comparative Analysis Of News Coverage Of The Israeli–Palestinian Conflict, Devon Skufca, Gloria S. Vaquera

2026 Faculty Bibliography

Internationally, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has been widely reported for years in mass media. Most recently, the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, again focused international attention on this region. Examining how this conflict has been reported starting October 2023 and for the subsequent eight months provides an opportunity to examine the framing of these events. This comparative study examines two newspapers of record, one from the United States (a known ally of Israel) and the other from Ireland, often seen as more sympathetic toward Palestinian statehood. A total of 179 articles from the New York …

Review Of Lockean Property Ethics And Restitution, Nathan Jun

2026 Faculty Bibliography

No abstract provided.