Digital Commons Network^™

“When I’M Not Heard, I Feel Like I Don’T Matter”: Advancing Equity In Disability Policy Through Critical Participatory Action Research With People With Intellectual Disability, Cris Marchionne

Student Theses

People with intellectual disability deserve a system that offers flexible, timely, and person-centered support — one that is innovative, sustainable, and holistic in enabling them to live fulfilling lives. This qualitative study, grounded in Critical Participatory Action Research (CPAR), examines how people with intellectual disability experience participation in decision-making within New York State's disability service system. By centering lived experience, the study identifies factors that facilitate or hinder participation in decision-making and examines structural, social, and policy-related barriers that limit agency. Through six focus groups and a Photovoice project with self-advocates receiving OPWDD services, participants described systemic barriers that limited …

Scrolling, Following, Deciding: The Hidden Power Of Digital Influence On Wise Financial Decision, Nur Fatihah Muhamad Irwan, Wan Rasyidah Wan Nawang

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

The effect of social media and digital influencers on financial behaviours has been well documented, but there is yet any solid evidence of their role in driving wise financial decision-making among Malaysians in particular. This study hence sets out to examine the impact of social media engagement and parasocial interaction in shaping financial attitudes, and the influence of financial attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control on the intention to practice wise financial decision-making. The mediating role of financial attitude was also studied, specifically in the link between social media engagement, parasocial interaction, and intention. A total of 250 Malaysian …

Impact Of Environmental, Social, And Governance (Esg) Practices On The Stability And Profitability Of Financial Institutions In Malaysia, Sharifah Najihah Syed Ishar, Sharifah Fairuz Syed Mohamad, Nurul Sima Mohamad Shariff, Mazlynda Md Yusuf

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

This study examines how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) activities affect the stability and profitability of Malaysian financial institutions, in light of the country's growing emphasis on sustainable finance. Using annual data from 2014 to 2024, the study focuses on three main objectives: assessing whether stronger ESG practices enhance financial stability, identifying the most influential ESG pillar among environmental, social, and governance components, and evaluating whether ESG performance affects profitability. This study employs random-effects panel regression with robust standard errors, yielding empirical evidence relevant to Malaysia’s dual banking landscape. The results show that stronger ESG performance raises the stability of …

"Why Do Students Save Less?” A Study Of The Determinants Of Saving Intentions And Behaviours Among Undergraduate Students, Rna Hamza Ahmed Eissa, Chi Hau Tan, Ben Hou

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Despite the issue of low savings being a serious concern, limited research has been conducted on students’ saving behaviour in Malaysia, especially when it comes to private universities. This research focuses on examining factors that affect saving behaviour among undergraduate students at a private university in Malaysia, in reference to the Theory of Planned Behaviour. A mixed-method design was applied. Quantitative research was conducted, in which 122 valid responses were collected via an online survey and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). In addition, qualitative research with 11 respondents was conducted, and the data were analysed using …

Impact Of Green Finance On Environmentally Sustainable Development Goals, Shu Min Loh, Hui Shan Lee, Leong Mow Gooi, Suwen Xie

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

In this context, climate change represents a real phenomenon with significant implications for economies, industries, and societies worldwide. In the context of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, these implications are significant, given that the countries in question cumulatively account for a considerable share of global emissions, energy consumption, and industrial production. As these countries aim for a carbon-neutral future and continue the path toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set for 2030, the question for these countries, therefore, is not whether they should act but how they can act in a sustainable manner toward a …

Debt Financing Cost And Green Innovation: The Conditioning Role Of Financing Dependence Structure In Chinese Manufacturing Firms, Hongzhuo Chen, Mohd Faizal Basri, Hazianti Abdul Halim

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Debt-financing costs are generally considered to be restrictive for corporate innovation; however, their role in green innovation may be conditional rather than uniformly negative. Based on a sample of A-share listed companies from 2012 to 2023, this study examines whether this cost is related to green patenting and, more importantly, how this relationship varies with firms’ financing dependence structure. Green innovation can be reflected in the scale of total green patent applications and the depth of green invention applications. Based on the estimates, both indicators are positively correlated with the cost of debt, and the impact is relatively stronger for …

The Influence Of Employment And Education On Contraceptive Use Among Women Of Childbearing Age, Shamoi K. Brown, Anatassia Harris, Kriss-Ann Wilson, Nicholai Levy, Pauline Anderson-Johnson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Although the majority of women of child-bearing age utilize a modern contraceptive method, there is a significant gap in family planning highlighted by 164 million women having an unmet contraceptive need. The unmet need for contraception is attributed to multiple factors, with education and employment remaining key determinants of contraceptive use. This results in a steady rise in unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and maternal death.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of employment and education level on contraceptive use among females aged 15–49 years in Jamaica.

Method: A secondary analysis was conducted using data …

Virtual Reality Training: Recognize Implicit Bias And Address Microaggressions In Nursing Education, Paige Ricca, Kathryn Vanderzwan, Antoinette Rosa, Rose Hernandez

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Virtual reality (VR) simulations are gaining prominence as a method for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training in medical education but are seldom used in nursing programs. Although health-related programs in academic institutions have begun to address inclusion and bias, data suggest that racial climate remains a challenge in academic medical and nursing institutions. The main purpose of the study was to determine the feasibility and impact of DEI training for nursing students, faculty and clinical instructors. Two-10-minute VR simulations in a clinical and a classroom setting tailored for nursing faculty and students were developed to provide an immersive and …

The Influence Of Exercise On Cardiometabolic Risk In Perimenopause: A Systematic Review, Bibha Gautam, Deborah J. Clegg, Mary Madeline Rogge, Jeni Page

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Perimenopause is a biologically vulnerable period characterized by hormonal fluctuations, visceral fat accumulation, and increasing insulin resistance, factors that elevate cardiometabolic risk and contribute to the development of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS), defined as the presence of three or more metabolic abnormalities. These changes reflect a continuum of metabolic vulnerability that may emerge before CMS becomes clinically detectable. Although regular exercise can mitigate this risk, limited evidence clarifies which exercise modalities are most effective in reducing metabolic risk and CMS prevalence among women undergoing the perimenopausal transition. Despite facing a distinct and often underrecognized vulnerability to CMS, perimenopausal women remain …

Tending To Emotional Wellness Needs In A Baccalaureate Second-Degree Accelerated Nursing Program, Paulette Dorney, Shirley Guider, Elise M. Colancecco, Taylor L. Grube, Karen Diance Groller, Shelly Strauss

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Baccalaureate second-degree accelerated nursing (ABSN) programs have grown substantially as a response to needs for a qualified workforce. These programs are designed to prepare prelicensure nurses to enter the workforce in as little as 11 to 18 months. To maintain the rigor of traditional nursing programs, ABSN programs have demanding, compressed schedules. Recent literature has brought attention to the impact of academic demands on the emotional wellness experienced by traditional four-year prelicensure nursing students (Bernier-Carney, 2025; Vo et al., 2023) but has failed to review its impact in ABSN cohorts.

Aim: This qualitative descriptive research study aimed to describe …

Strengthening Vaccine Confidence Among College Freshmen In The Post-Covid-19 Era, Karlen E. Luthy, Janelle L. B. Macintosh, Alyssa Vang, Janessa Johnson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a vaccine education module (VEM) on college freshmen’s intended vaccination behaviors, vaccine-related perceptions, and vaccine knowledge. Although vaccine requirements for university students are a vital public health strategy, most institutions in the United States do not mandate all recommended immunizations. In today’s environment, where vaccine misinformation and hesitancy remain common, understanding how evidence-based education influences vaccine attitudes is increasingly important. A pre-COVID-19 study showed that a VEM improved students’ vaccine beliefs and intentions; this study assessed these outcomes in a post-COVID-19 context.

A pretest/posttest quasi-experimental design was used. Participants …

An Ai Driven Harm Response Management Tool To Prevent Adverse Events In Healthcare, Marion Claire Eckert, Greg Sharplin, Lachlan Darch, Georg Grossman

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction/Aim: The size, distribution, and skill mix of the nursing workforce are recognised drivers of patient outcomes, yet limited evidence exists on how workforce, clinical, and environmental variables interact to prevent harm. Despite extensive reporting systems, metropolitan hospitals continue to see rising rates of falls, medication errors, and violence, events typically identified only after they occur. This underscores the need to shift from retrospective surveillance to predictive, data-enabled harm prevention. The PreHaRM project, ‘Predictive Harm and Response Management’, aims to deliver this shift by implementing a predictive harm algorithm across South Australia’s two largest health networks, with potential for national …

Leveraging Data To Facilitate Purposeful Culture Change, Felesia Bowen, Michele H. Talley, Nevette Sample, Maria Shirey

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Academic nursing environments face persistent challenges related to incivility and inclusivity (Bowen, Talley, Sample & Shirey, 2025) and recent studies have revealed negative correlations between incivility and inclusivity (Githens, 2011). Climate studies provide valuable insights into faculty, staff, and student experiences (Test, 2022), yet translating these findings into meaningful culture change requires intentional strategies.

Methods: Guided by principles of organizational change and healthy academic settings (Saunders, Sridaromont, & Gallegos, 2021), we analyzed climate study results to identify priority areas. A multidisciplinary team developed targeted interventions, including faculty and staff development workshops, student engagement forums, and policy revisions to address …

Stress, Stimulant Use, And Hypertension Among Lifetime Users With High Biobehavioral Dysregulation, Wonkyung Kniffen, Cory Crane, Victoria Pezzino, Caroline Easton

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Stimulant use disorders are associated with cardiovascular morbidity, yet risk factors within users remain unclear. This study used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify biobehavioral dysregulation patterns and examine associations with perceived stress, stimulant use, hypertension, and comorbidity burden. Sequential associations from stress to stimulant use to hypertension were explored among individuals with high dysregulation.

We conducted a secondary analysis of NIH All of Us Research Program data from participants with lifetime stimulant use who completed surveys and had biometric and electronic health record data (N=1,480). Missing data were handled using multiple imputation. LCA identified dysregulation profiles based on sleep …

What Drives Consumers To Use Insurtech Apps? The Role Of Insurance Literacy, Jia Chun Chia, Hui Shan Lee, Bik Kai Sia

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Although financial technology has spread worldwide, the adoption of InsurTech in Malaysia is still low because of the knowledge-action gap, in which people continue to use traditional agents. This study examines the factors that determine behavioral intention to use InsurTech apps by incorporating the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and including a novel insurance literacy factor. A cross-sectional quantitative research design was adopted, and 406 valid responses were gathered from 406 Malaysian Generation Z individuals and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that the model explains 58% of the variance …

Pricing Under Pressure: Cost Volatility, Customer Affordability And Value Perception In Micro And Small Food Businesses, Fadhlur Rahim Azmi, Nursyahwani Mohd Sukri, Maciej Woźniak, Haslinda Musa

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

This study examines how micro and small food businesses make pricing decisions under cost volatility, customer affordability pressure, and value perception constraints. Drawing on semi-structured interview evidence from 12 Malaysian micro and small food and beverage businesses, this study adopts an interpretive qualitative multiple-case design. The data were analysed using thematic analysis and cross-case comparison, with dynamic capabilities as an interpretive lens. The findings show that pricing is not a simple cost-plus calculation or the application of a single pricing method. Instead, micro and small food businesses practice adaptive hybrid pricing by combining cost awareness, competitor reference, affordability judgment, value …

A Systematic Review Of Factors Influencing The Adoption Of Artificial Intelligence For Training And Development In The Nigerian Banking Sector, Adekanye Fareedah Oyelola, Arnifa Asmawi, Rathimala Kannan

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising human resource management through automation, data-driven decisions, personalised learning, and improved skills-gap detection. Nevertheless, AI adoption in training and development (T&D) programs in the Nigerian banking sector remains low. Therefore, this situation has become a barrier to the development of human capital and to digital transformation. This systematic literature review aims to identify the factors influencing AI adoption in T&D within Nigerian banks and then to analyse the interrelationship among the constructs. This review also examines the mediating role of T&D-AI Fit between influencing factors and AI adoption in T&D. The study uses the Task–Technology …

Understanding Trust As A Mediating Mechanism In Ai-Based Medical Tools And Clinical Decision Processes, Shanthi Isparan, Seow Ai Na, Chang Jing Jing, Hew Jun Jie

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has transformed clinical decision-making. Nevertheless, doctors’ engagement with AI-based tools remains hindered, particularly due to trust-related concerns. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors influencing doctors’ engagement with AI-based medical tools, with a focus on the mediating role of trust within the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Data were collected from 197 doctors in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur through a structured survey and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4 software. The findings reveal that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, …

Does Realised Range Volatility Improve Multivariate Volatility Forecasting? Evidence From Bursa Malaysia Sectors, Mariam Mohamed Abdelwahab Mohamed Badawi, Sew Lai Ng, Ruzanna Ab Razak, Shaikh Fazlur Rahman

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

This study examines whether realised range volatility improves multivariate volatility forecasting performance in an emerging equity market setting. A comparison between vector heterogeneous autoregressive models constructed with realised volatility, realised range volatility, and conventional return-based volatility measures is conducted using sectoral data from the Bursa Malaysia. High-frequency data from September 2018 to December 2024 were collected from the financial data provider Bloomberg. The analysis evaluates out-of-sample forecasting accuracy using a set of 5 loss functions, including symmetric (MSE and MAE) and asymmetric (QLIKE) criteria. The outcomes provide compelling and strong evidence that realised range volatility measures deliver superior forecasting performance …

Knowledge Spillovers, Related And Supporting Industries, And Government Intervention: An Integrated Framework For Cluster-Driven Corporate Innovation, Qinying Lei, Lai-Ying Leong, Annie Cheng San, Ng

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

Late-developing inland clusters face a notable innovation paradox, in which substantial industrial capacity coexists with weak firm-level innovation. Existing research identifies knowledge spillovers, related and supporting industries, and government intervention as major external drivers of innovation, but pays limited attention to how these external conditions are transformed into corporate innovation capability. Drawing on Regional Innovation System Theory, Dynamic Capability Theory, and Porter’s Diamond Model, this study develops an integrated framework comprising seven propositions on direct effects, mediated pathways, and contextual variation. It proposes that cluster performance, defined as the effectiveness of cross-organisational coordination, mediates the relationship between external cluster conditions …

Can Ai-Generated Music Interventions Improve Health Outcomes? A Systematic Review, Nguyen Thi Khanh, Huu-Thanh Nguyen, Vi Do Pham Nhat, Carmen Wing Han Chan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Music interventions are effective for physical, psychological, cognitive and social well-being [1-3]. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can generate personalised therapeutic music instantly, creating a novel, accessible intervention. However, the effectiveness of these AI-generated interventions has not been systematically reviewed [4, 5]. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of AI-generated music interventions for improving health outcomes.

A systematic search was conducted across eight electronic databases (Cochrane, Medline, APA PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library) from inception to September 2025. After screening, eight studies (N=1,267 participants) met the inclusion criteria, comprising four randomised controlled trials (RCTs) …

The New Economic Liberties, Daniel B. Rodriguez

Northwestern University Law Review

Despite the lack of serious interrogation at the federal constitutional level of economic regulations, there continues to be a fairly robust, energetic attention at the level of state constitutional law to so-called economic liberties. In a number of key cases, including, for example, matters involving occupational licensing, state courts have looked to unique features of their respective state constitutions to assess whether and to what extent regulations undertaken under the police power go too far. The rationales for evaluating and, in some cases, invalidating regulations under economic liberties principles are creative, and also controversial. The development of new interpretive approaches …

Genomic Characterization Of Er-Positive Primary Tumors And Corresponding Relapses Identifies Potentially Targetable Alterations, Caroline Schagerholm Stanev, Stephanie Robertson, Hosein Toosi, Emmanouil G. Sifakis, Jens Lagergren, Johan Hartman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The majority of breast cancer patients have tumors expressing estrogen receptor α (ER) and receive endocrine therapy. However, around one-third relapse in their disease, predominantly with retained ER expression. Molecular alterations are proposed to be contributors to the resistance mechanisms. Patients with ER-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative primary breast cancer with an ER-positive relapse <  5 years of ongoing endocrine therapy were retrospectively assessed. Extracted DNA was analyzed through panel sequencing, and RNA by microarray, from patients’ primary (n = 58), and paired relapse tumors (n = 54), and tumor-free lymph nodes (DNA germline controls, n = 62). Several single-nucleotide variations and copy number variations showed nominal exploratory associations with worse overall survival. Copy number correlations with intrinsic subtypes and …

Christian Andrews Lewis

African American Funeral Programs

No abstract provided.

A Grounded Theory Study Of Confidence Building Among Newly Graduated Nurses, Justin Fontenot, Fuqin Liu, Jincy Immanuel, Laura Kubin, Niki Fogg

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: To develop a grounded theory explaining how newly graduated nurses build professional confidence during their transition to practice.

Background: Professional confidence is crucial for newly graduated nurses, particularly when handling uncertainty, advocating for patients, and remaining in the workforce; however, confidence is often viewed as an individual trait or outcome, which limits understanding of how it develops in practice.

Methods: Constructivist grounded theory was employed. Twelve recently graduated nurses in acute care settings participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously, utilizing constant comparison, line-by-line and focused coding, memo writing, and theoretical integration.

Results: The core …

The Equipp Framework: Achieving Quality Through Lnterprofessional Synergy, Lynn Gallagher-Ford, Lee Ann Strait, Cynthia D. Beckett, Karey Dufour

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The purpose of the workshop is to introduce interprofessional clinicians, evidence-based practice (EBP) experts, and process improvement (Pl) experts to a new framework titled: Evidence-based Quality in Practice and Process Framework (EQUiPP). It is uniquely designed to provide structure and guidance to synergistically align EBP and Pl work to effectively improve and sustain outcomes. Use of the EQUiPP Framework decreases the frequency of implementing ineffective changes, saves time and money, and improves care and outcomes. The EQUiPP Framework integrates evidence-based practice and process improvement methods for sustained quality.

The content of the workshop will guide healthcare interprofessionals to effectively plan …

Editor’S Note To Volume 10 Of The Journal Of Communication Pedagogy: A Critical And Urgent Call, Meggie Mapes

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This editor’s note calls communication educators to respond to contemporary challenges (including AI, institutional pressures, and persistent inequities) with ethical, relational, and accountable pedagogy. It frames the volume as an invitation to ask better questions and enact pedagogical values through everyday classroom practice.

From Digital Readiness To Employability: Mediating Role Of Artificial Intelligence Competence And The Moderating Influence Of Policy Support Among Malaysian Graduates, Fraz Arshed Butt, Abdelhak Senadjki, Hui Nee Au Yong

International Journal of Management, Finance and Accounting

The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) emphasises the demand for graduates with both digital readiness and artificial intelligence (AI) skills, which are aligned with labour market demands. Although prior studies link digital skills to employability, empirical evidence is scarce, and there is little research on how digital readiness translates into employment outcomes in AI-driven, particularly developing, economies. Hence, considering AI competence as a mediating mechanism and government policy support as a moderator, this study investigates the effects of digital literacy, technological self-efficacy, and digital learning engagement on graduate employability. Grounded in human capital theory, social cognitive theory, and institutional theory, this …

From Visual Forms To Character Values: A Conceptual Model Of Visual Meaning-Making For Character Education, Muhammad Gufran, Irsan Kadir, Lukman Ismail, Meisar Ashari

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

Illustrated children's storybooks play a significant role in character education by communicating moral messages through visual narratives. Although previous studies have examined visual literacy, multimodal storytelling, and character education, limited attention has been devoted to explaining how visual forms construct visual meanings that support moral interpretation and represent character values within an integrated framework. Addressing this gap, this study investigates how visual forms in the Indonesian children's storybook Aku Bisa Lebih Baik construct visual meanings, inform moral interpretation, and represent character values. A qualitative visual content analysis was conducted on seven purposively selected illustrations using Wong's (1993) Visual Form Theory …

Material Transformation And Cultural Aesthetics In Javanese Keris Pamor: A Perspective On Sustainable Art, Kuntadi Wasi Darmojo, Iwan Budi Santoso, Ippei Suzuki

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This study investigates the transformation of discarded motorcycle shock absorber material into an alternative material for producing pamor in traditional Javanese keris craftsmanship from the interdisciplinary perspectives of material culture, visual aesthetics, and sustainable craft practice. A practice-based research approach combined with descriptive qualitative methods was employed through material exploration, traditional forging experiments, pamor formation, keris production, visual observation, and cultural interpretation. The findings demonstrate that discarded motorcycle shock absorber material can be incorporated into the traditional forging process to produce stable, layered pamor patterns. The resulting pamor exhibited black, dark gray, and dull silvery-white tones, a layered surface structure, …