Digital Commons Network^™

Review Of Speaking Of Trust: Religion And Mutual Aid In Southwest Kenya, Dennis Kilama

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

The Energy-Efficient Control Solutions Of Smart Street Lighting Systems: A Review, Issues, And Recommendations, Tarek Abedin, Chong Tak Yaw, Siaw Paw Koh, M.A. Hannan, Sieh Kiong Tiong, Kok Hen Chong, Ahmed N Abdalla, Kharudin Ali

Engineering and Technology Journal

The smart street-lighting system (SSLS) is a leading candidate in the smart city. By the time of the last 15 cycles, many meaningful improvements have been executed in the SSLS with the impact of the internet of things technologies and universal networking devices. Conventional smart street lighting systems are restricted to wireless sensor networks, mobile devices, and old lighting control systems. This article presents a comprehensive treatment of network designs, namely communication, control, and wireless sensor-based smart street lighting system by deploying based on their existing system architecture, and network topologies including leading with it a host of privileges. In …

Communication Barriers Experienced By Academicians And International Students During The Education Process And Related Solutions, Ferhat Kaçar, Yusuf Taha Okan

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: In this study, we address the communication barriers between academics and international students using a phenomenological approach. The aim of the study is to examine in depth the communication barriers faced by these two groups in the education process and to develop solutions for these barriers.

Method: The qualitative data obtained from semi-structured interviews with 42 academics and 50 international students were analyzed using the MAXQDA 20 package program.

Results: In the study, four themes and sub-codes related to these themes were identified: (1) academics’ communications problems with international students, (2) solution suggestions for academics’ communication problems, (3) international …

How Does Communication Breakdown Impact Group Cohesion Over The Lifespan Of A Team?, Hannah Dyche

University Honors Theses

Communication is one of the main determinants of whether a team or group achieves a successful outcome; when it starts to erode, the team's overall goal often erodes with it. Communication breakdown within teams directly impacts group cohesion, causing small misunderstandings to escalate into larger conflicts. Every team experiences ups and downs, but maintaining a strong foundation of communication and continually strengthening it will prevent this breakdown.

Most of the existing research on team dynamics focuses on corporate environments. By shifting the focus to a short-term academic team, this thesis shows how communication breakdown impacts group cohesion over the lifespan …

Courageous Conversations: A Dental Professional’S Most Powerful Skill, Katherine Eitel Belt

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

Many professionals avoid difficult conversations out of fear of conflict or failure, but avoidance only worsens problems and erodes trust. This article by Ms. Katherine Eitel Belt offers practical tools for having courageous, productive dialogues. The author shared tips, including listening first, starting from agreement, suspending judgment and emphasizing choice. Ms. Eitel Belt makes a case that by approaching conversations with empathy, openness, and curiosity, leaders can resolve issues more effectively, strengthen relationships, and build healthier, more collaborative teams.

A Narrative Study On The Resilience Of Women In Technology Careers, Gina J. Baldridge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In spite of the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers, there is a lack of women entering the STEM workforce and majoring in STEM subjects. Women can experience gender bias and workplace marginalization in STEM careers, but have learned coping strategies that have contributed to their technology career resilience. The purpose of this narrative qualitative study was to explore how women working as individual performers and leaders in technology companies told their career stories of resilience through the perspective of change acceptance, confidence, and communication, three factors in Kumar’s CR8 model of resilience. The model …

Soft Skills For Medical Physicists: Evolving A Profession., Tomas Kron, Julie Raffi, Shada Wadi-Ramahi, Abdelkader Toutaoui, Bilal Jalal, Peter A Sandwall, Graciela Velez, Dario Sanz, Godfrey Azangwe

Oncology Articles

PURPOSE: Medical physicists are essential healthcare professionals who bridge the gap between technology and patient care, particularly in radiation oncology and medical imaging. With the profession expanding its clinical and global roles, the need for competencies beyond technical expertise-such as communication, leadership, and cultural awareness-is increasingly evident. These competencies, commonly referred to as soft skills, are critical for patient-centered care but remain insufficiently integrated into formal education and training pathways. The aim of the present work was to identify soft skills relevant to medical physics practice and investigate where in a career they are acquired and used.

METHODS: This paper …

The Impact Of Bilingual Superintendents On A Multilingual Job Site, Cesar Barajas

Construction Management

Language barriers are frequently encountered on construction job sites. Construction crews can often be limited in their proficiency when speaking English and in states like California, construction superintendents oversee a lot of Spanish-speaking crews. This study aims to identify if bilingual superintendents lead to better performing projects. Communication impacts major metrics of project performance including schedule, rework costs, safety performance, and coordination across trades. This qualitative study includes superintendents, project managers, and field crew semi structured interviews backed by survey answers. Interview participants discuss specific examples of how communication can affect jobsite performance both negatively and positively. Subjects are asked …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 15 - February 27, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 15 - February 27, 2026. 20 pages.

Law School News: Expanding Access And Equity: Rwu Law's Cle Series Supports Rhode Island Attorneys 2-25-2026, Jane Govednik

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Cle Program: Putting People At The Center Of Representation 2-24-2026, Roger Williams University School Of Law

School of Law Conferences, Lectures & Events

No abstract provided.

Sustaining A Healthy Work Environment With Leadership Staff Rounds, Sarojini V. Seemungal

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: Globally, HCWs have reported worsened mental health since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the well-being of 51% of healthcare workers (HCWs). In 2020, Mental Health America reported that 93% of HCWs experienced stress, 86% experienced anxiety, 76% reported feeling burned out, and 75% felt overwhelmed.

Problem: A 2023 employee engagement survey, conducted at a Certified Home Health Agency, revealed 72% overall favorability among HCWs. The lowest favorability rating was related to managing work and personal life (52.3%), feeling supported to do the job (60%), and receiving recognition from one’s manager at (61.2%).

Methods: …

Differences And Changes In Cross-Cultural Sensitivity Of German And Japanese Students Before And After Short-Term Exchange Programs, Kazumasa Nakagawa, Yuko Takahashi, Melanie Zwiorek

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Since 2012, a Japanese and a German university have conducted exchange programs. This study examined the effects of a short-term exchange program in 2023, focusing on intercultural sensitivity. Nine Japanese students and nine German students completed a 24-item Intercultural Sensitivity Scale before and after the program using a 5-point Likert scale. We performed cross-tabulations and analyzed differences between countries and pre- and post-program changes using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. The results suggest that even a short-term exchange enhanced Japanese students’ confidence in intercultural interactions and encouraged German students to reflect on their own culture. However, Japanese students showed lower …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 14 - February 12, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 14 - February 12, 2026. 20 pages.

Applying The Lean Process To Achieve The Quadruple Aim In Community Care Imaging Consults, Cynthia L. Austin

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Introduction: Care coordination has been challenging in scheduling high-risk patients needing diagnostic imaging procedures. Missing crucial patient information can lower the value of patient-reported outcomes because it influences decision-making in care plans, results in duplication of services, and delays the delivery of care or treatments (Ayilara et al., 2019). Incomplete data delays diagnostic procedures, diagnosis, and medical treatments (Fernholm et al., 2019). Numerous studies have revealed that prolonged waiting times are frequently the leading cause of patients' discontent with outpatient scheduling, and equitable waiting periods are necessary based on clinical competency (Ala & Chen,2022). Medical imaging methods frequently cause increased …

The Evaluation Of Therapeutic Communication In Competency Based Nursing Education, Tracy J. Perron, Chelsea Lebo, Mary Louise Thomas, Romy Zemer

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Therapeutic communication is an essential part of nursing care. Therapeutic communication (TC) is the process of using verbal and nonverbal communication to connect with patients.TC is holistic, patient-centered and involves aspects of the physiological, psychological, environmental and spiritual care of the patient. Poor communication in the healthcare setting can lead to poor patient outcomes such as, decreased adherence to treatment, patient's dissatisfaction, inefficient use of resources and even death. Studies have shown that nurses lack communication skills due to a variety reasons from inadequate training, the lack of understanding of the importance of patient-centered communication, and the increased generational use …

The Use Of Storytelling In Covid-19 Vaccine Promotion: A Scoping Review Of Interventions And Campaigns, Suha Ballout, Sabreen A Darwish, Patricia J Kelly, Teresa Keller, Ross Shegog, Basil H Aboul-Enein

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The development of the COVID-19 vaccine, a groundbreaking scientific advancement, also fueled vaccine hesitancy mainly due to vaccine misinformation and the limited public understanding of the new technology and its rapid pace of development and deployment. A variety of public health communication strategies have been used that include engaging the community in identifying and developing messages, using culturally appropriate communication methods, applying behavioral health principles, and storytelling. The purpose of this scoping review was to assess the most relevant evidence from the research literature on storytelling interventions to mitigate COVID vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic.

Methods: A scoping review …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 13 - February 5, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 13 - February 5, 2026. 20 pages.

Best Practices In Virginia School Libraries, Audrey P. Church, Karla B. Collins, Carl A. Harvey Ii, Sheree Garrett

Learning Hub

The National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries (AASL, 2018b) indicate that school librarians should function as teachers, instructional partners, information specialists, leaders, and program administrators, and numerous studies document the important role that the school librarian plays in the teaching and learning taking place in the school (Lance & Kachel, 2018). Strong school librarians positively impact student learning. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify, explore, and describe traits and activities of award-winning school librarians in Virginia. Data collected from 18 participants through semi- structured interviews identified the common traits of leader, communicator, …

Communication As Layered Architecture: Core Processing And Empathic Modulation, Griselda Poe

Publications and Research

This paper proposes a structural re-description of communication by separating Core processing from its social interface. Using the developmental sequence of Large Language Models (LLMs) as an external reference point, a layered architecture is identified, consisting of a foundational Core processing layer and a subsequent Empathic modulation layer.

The investigation begins with the observation that empathic signaling can obstruct rather than facilitate interaction for certain individuals. By examining the emergence of Base AI—Core processing prior to empathic adjustment—it is demonstrated that coherent, constraint-preserving interaction is possible without affective resonance.

Through this framework, existing cognitive theories and observed "deficits" are repositioned. …

20 Things You Should Never Say To A Patient, Richard H. Madow Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This feature article details the financial advantages of utilizing MDA-endorsed vendors to improve practice profitability. It explains the vetting process performed by volunteers to ensure vendors offer meaningful discounts and vetted solutions. The source highlights specific services, such as PPO fee negotiation, dental marketing, and insurance verifications, which can save a practice over $58,000 annually. By leveraging collective bargaining, members gain access to revenue-boosting solutions without exhaustive trial-and-error searching.

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 12 - January 29, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 12 - January 29, 2026. 16 pages.

Faithful Dialogue In A Divided World, Jennifer Vermeer

The Voice

No abstract provided.

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 11 - January 22, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 11 - January 22, 2026. 20 pages.

Ethics Of Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers: I’M Sorry Dave, I’M Afraid I Can’T Do That: Competence, Confidentiality, And Communication, Cliff Mckinney

Arkansas Law Notes

In Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, the spaceship’s onboard computer, HAL, calmly refuses to follow the astronaut’s command with the chilling words, “I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that.” HAL’s response has become a cultural shorthand for what happens when human expectations collide with machine limitations. The line endures because it captures the chilling reality that machines may appear capable, but they cannot always be trusted to act in ways humans expect or need.

This installment explores three pillars of Formal Opinion 512: competence, confidentiality, and communication. These pillars focus on what lawyers need to understand about …

Investigating The Efficacy Of An Online Multigenerational Awareness Course For Occupational Therapy Students – A Pilot Study, Susan Blair, Barbara M. Doucet, Jerilyn Callen, Kirsten Davin, Shelby Hutchinson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

In today’s multigenerational society, particularly in health care settings, thriving can be challenging because of generational differences. Occupational therapy educational programs (OTEPs) prepare students for work environments where three to four different generations may be present. This study examines the effectiveness of an online multigenerational awareness (MGA) course. The secondary objectives include increasing students’ knowledge of enhanced multigenerational collaboration and communication strategies in preparation for future clinical practice. A pilot group of eight participants from various university departments reviewed the course content and completed preenrollment and postenrollment surveys, providing feedback regarding the applicability and perceived usefulness of the multigenerational awareness …

We Want The Truth: Fan-Driven Branding And Organizational Response In Professional Wrestling, Jason W. Lee, Nick Davidson, Tim Wilson, Dylan Williams

The COSMA Journal

This teaching case study details a monumental moment in the history of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) involving the announcement of the abrupt release of a long-tenured, beloved performer, Ron "R-Truth" Killings. The release came as a major surprise to WWE fans, as the performer had recently been featured in a high-profile, nationally televised "main event" match against the WWE icon and crossover pop culture star John Cena. After the news broke that the beloved performer would not be returning to the company, an instantaneous sentiment of shock and subsequent consumer backlash went viral. Ultimately, the WWE did an about-face, bringing …

Ethics Of Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers: Shall We Play A Game? The Rise Of Artificial Intelligence And The First Cases, Cliff Mckinney

Arkansas Law Notes

In the 1983 movie WarGames, a young computer hacker accidentally accesses a United States military supercomputer programmed to run nuclear war simulations. Four decades after WarGames, lawyers are now facing similar challenges of learning to use and communicate with artificial intelligence––hopefully without destroying the world. Artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, are quickly being incorporated into legal practice. These systems can draft documents, perform analysis, and support other legal tasks. While lawyers adjust to these new technologies, courts and regulatory authorities are actively developing appropriate frameworks to guide and supervise the use of these tools within the …

Management Of Difficult Patient Situations, Sangeetha Larsen Mpas, Pa-C

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

The purpose of this paper is to provide strategies for clinicians to manage difficult patient interactions. A comprehensive search of PubMed was conducted, identifying articles that identified the root cause of difficult patient interactions and assessed methods for successfully navigating these situations. The term “difficult patient” reflects the interaction of patient behavior, clinician perception, and systemic constraints rather than an inherent patient flaw. Effective management involves reframing difficult behavior as an expression of unmet needs and responding with empathy, active listening, clear boundaries, and collaborative decision-making. System-level strategies reduce patient distress and clinician burnout. Ultimately, the difficult patient represents strained …

Redefining Rural School Leadership In The Post-Pandemic Era: Lessons From Covid-19, Brennan Kent

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally reshaped educational leadership, especially in rural school settings where leaders confronted unique resource constraints, geographic isolation, and heightened community interdependence. This conceptual study reexamines rural educational leadership in the post-pandemic era through a synthesis of findings from Author’s (2023) dissertation, The Rural Education Leadership Experience Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, and current leadership theory. Drawing on the McREL Balanced Leadership Framework alongside adaptive and servant leadership models, the analysis identifies four interrelated dimensions that define post-pandemic rural leadership: communication as community cohesion, relationships as infrastructure, adaptive leadership as necessity, and well-being as a leadership priority. These …