Digital Commons Network^™

Facility Usage On The International Space Station, Justin St. P. Walsh, Rao Hamza Ali, Ryan Shihabi, Erik Linstead

Art Faculty Articles and Research

Science experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) and in future space habitats require “facilities,” as they are known to space agencies, as the core building blocks of the research capabilities they provide. Facilities are experimental apparatus that enable research, often (but not always) used for more than one experiment, such as centrifuges, furnaces, gloveboxes, freezers, and more. The US Orbital Segment of the ISS has been home to 191 such facilities, belonging to four of the five ISS international partner agencies as well as private companies, in its 25 years of continuous operation. Until now, there has been no …

Wmu Board Of Trustee Board Meeting, Thursday December 4, 2025, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

• Acceptance of the Agenda
• Approval of the Minutes (October 30, 2025)
• Remarks by the Chair of the Board
• Remarks by the President
• Updates by the Faculty Senate President
• Updates by the Western Student Association President
• Updates by the Graduate Student Association President
• Presentation: The Voice of Bronco Success
• Public Comments Regarding Action Items

Action Items

Student Housing and Meal Rates 2026/27

Consent Items

Curriculum Proposals

Personnel Report

• General Public Comments

Asian College Students' Well-Being During A Period Of Rising Anti-Asian Sentiment, Kyuhan Choi, Ying Shi, Maria Zhu

Center for Policy Research

We use a large survey of students in U.S. colleges to study the distinct ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying anti-Asian rhetoric shaped the experiences of Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs). Using a difference-in-differences approach, we find that the pandemic led to Asian students experiencing more discrimination, feeling less safe during the day, and using fewer mental health services compared to White peers. The increase in discrimination and the perceived lower safety are concentrated among East and Southeast Asians, while South Asians were not affected. Despite these effects, we detect no relative deterioration in severe psychological distress or …

Edward Lowe - Part 1, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

In 1960, Lowe’s parents moved to Paulding Avenue, and they lived right next to the Fordham Rose Hill campus and the Bronx Zoo. At this time, Lowe’s mother had recently graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1954, and was now getting her Masters in law at Columbia University. When he wasn’t bothering his mother studying, Lowe and his friends would often play around Paulding Avenue, visiting the Rose Hill campus and the Bronx Zoo. He also had a sister named Leslie and they both went to PS 59 on 183rd and Bathgate together. His family then moved to Teaneck, New …

Bryson Peter - Part 3, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

No abstract provided.

Universal School Meal Policies And Perceived Stigma: Quantitative Evidence From Eight Us States, Dania Orta-Aleman, Monica D. Zuercher, Leah Chapman, Marlene B. Schwartz, Caitlin D. French, Anisha I. Patel, Lorrene D. Ritchie, Juliana Cohen, Wendi Gosliner

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Universal school meals (USMs) policies, which provide free meals to all students regardless of income, have the potential to improve child nutrition and reduce stigma. Quantitative evidence on the association between USM and stigma is limited.

Methods

Leveraging a natural policy variation in state‐level USM implementation, we surveyed 1066 middle and high school students from eight US states (four with USM, four without) during the 2022–2023 school year. Stigma was measured as self‐reported embarrassment about eating school lunch. We used generalized estimating equations to examine the associations between USM, embarrassment, and lunch participation.

Results

Overall about one in nine …

Hawk's Herald -- December 4, 2025, Roger Williams University

Hawk's Herald

No abstract provided.

When Ai Met Irs: Bot Activity And The Institutional Repository, Amanda Makula

Copley Library: Faculty Scholarship

High download counts are a good thing -- right? But what happens when those numbers become unusually -- even alarmingly -- high? Are there truly human users at the other end, or is this an indication of AI bot activity? When the Digital Initiatives team at the University of San Diego noticed a sudden and substantial uptick in download numbers, we began asking questions: What's really going on? Is this cause for concern? How do we address this? Will our users be impacted?

To explore and answer them, we consulted with the library’s Scholarly Communications Committee and corresponded with our …

A Methodology To Reconstruct The Extent And Dynamics Of Historic Wildfires (1850-1950) In The Santa Cruz Mountains Of California, David Vásquez Ospina

Master's Theses

This thesis reconstructs the extent and dynamics of historic wildfires in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California between 1850 and 1950 using qualitative archival evidence from historical newspapers, maps, and related documents. A systematically coded database of 225 reports, consolidated into 155 unique wildfire events, was developed to analyze temporal and spatial patterns, ignition sources, vegetation types, suppression strategies, and impacts on communities and infrastructure. Historical rainfall records from the Boulder Creek station were integrated using water-year totals, three-year rolling averages, and standardized precipitation indices to examine how multi-year dryness relates to fire occurrence and size. Linear regressions show only …

Scheduled Nurse-Led Visits: Responding To Specialty Care Access Limitations In Neuroscience Clinics, Charlene Grace Alforque Platon, Teresa Bell-Stephens, Cynthia Dorantes Cortez, Briana Williams, Chrystal L. Lewis

Biennial Convention (CONV)

BACKGROUND: As a result of high demand, outpatient clinics nationwide are pressured to effectively serve more patients.¹ Registered nurse (RN) interventions,² including RN-led visits (LV), have emerged as a strategy to increase quality patient care. RN-LVs encompass a wide range of services, including disease management,³ treatment follow-up,⁴ patient education,1 and care coordination.2 RN-LVs are not conducted by advanced practice nurses;⁵ however, RN-LVs demonstrate promising patient outcomes. The impact of these visits on patient access remains underreported within the ambulatory specialty care setting.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate ambulatory RNs’ experiences with …

The State Of Health In Tennessee, 2025 Annual Report To The 114th Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee. Department Of Health.

State of Health in Tennessee

No abstract provided.

2025 December 4 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

Psychological Variables That Best Predict Health Related Behaviors In College Students, Arianna Gamaggio

Honors Theses

The present study examined which psychological factors best predicted health behaviors in college students. The psychological factors that were addressed included anxiety, depression, grit, and psychological flexibility. The health behaviors were examined by using a composite variable that included sleep, diet, and exercise. A total of 265 students participated in the study, but only 174 (μ age = 21) met the criteria for inclusion. Participants completed validated self-report measures such as the GAD- 7 (anxiety), PHQ-9 (depression), Short Grit Scale, Psy-Flex-6 (psychological flexibility), as well as health behavior assessments that measured eating behaviors, sleeping, and exercise habits. Correlational analyses indicated …

A Pilot Study Of Life Model Informed Therapy And Its Efficacy For Reducing Anxiety And Increasing Joy In Adults, William R. Mouer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This pilot study researched Life Model Informed Therapy (LMIT), a modality developed into a six-week treatment targeted to decrease anxiety and increase joy in adults that self-reported as having anxiety. Fourteen participants were recruited by Facebook ads in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Outcome data were collected using the State Joy Scale (SJS) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Participants received the same LMIT treatment for six consecutive, weekly, one-hour sessions. Participants self-reported on their joy and anxiety levels at three periods of time, including a pre-treatment, post-treatment and one month after-treatment test. Two one-way RM-ANOVA tests were conducted. Results of …

Primary Care Provider Communication Barriers With College-Aged Students, Mckenna Mahakian, Sharon Schaeffer, Rachel Immel

Honors Projects

As both a researcher and a college student, I’ve noticed that my peers and I share a common negative sentiment toward scheduling and attending routine doctor’s appointments. There are unique barriers in place for the age demographic; college students encountering the medical system and Primary Care Providers (PCPs) seem to have unique challenges in communication. I released a qualitative, anonymous survey to Bowling Green State University students to gauge opinionated responses on sentiments regarding how they felt about the level of communication between themselves and their provider, how the pediatric switch to a regular doctor impacted their inpatient care, how …

Strategies Used By Psychiatric Hospital Directors To Reduce Readmission Rates, Increase Revenue And Improve Patient Outcomes, K'Chinwe Blanche Marie Ezeokoli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High psychiatric hospital readmission rates threaten patient stability, strain hospital finances, and reduce community wellbeing. Psychiatric hospital leaders need effective strategies to lower readmissions. Grounded in complex adaptive systems theory and the balanced scorecard framework, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore effective strategies used by psychiatric hospital directors to reduce readmission rates, increase revenue, and improve patient outcomes. The participants were seven psychiatric hospital directors who had implemented strategies for reduced readmission rates. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and relevant public documents. Using thematic analysis, five themes were identified: (a) establish a …

Effective Strategies Hawaiian Food Truck Owners Use To Sustain Their Businesses, Eric J. Harring

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Food trucks are popular choices for consumers seeking diverse cuisines and unique dining experiences, but running a successful food truck business presents significant challenges, including fluctuating customer preferences, regulatory hurdles, and intense competition. Addressing these obstacles is crucial for food truck owners to ensure the long-term viability of their enterprises. Grounded in contingency theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to explore the strategies employed by food truck owners to overcome these challenges and foster sustainable growth. The participants were six business owners of Hawaiian food trucks who sustained their businesses for at least three years. …

Educational Policies Committee Minutes December 4, 2025, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - November 6, 2025
• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Program Proposals
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee
• Center for Civic Excellence
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:25 pm

Creating A Standardized Intraoperative Handoff Report, Mary Hippchen, Melinda Ward, Jacqueline Reyes, Amiya Boyd, Rebecca Akande, Kanita Wilson

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: Effective communication during nurse-to-nurse relief is vital for patient safety, especially in complex surgeries. In the Operating Room (OR), inconsistencies in handoffs arise due to lack of structure, information gaps and time constraints. This project evaluates the impact of implementing a structured SWITCH (Surgical Procedure, Wet, Instruments, Tissue, Counts, and Have Questions) protocol for nurse-to-nurse handoff reports during breaks and permanent relief, aiming to improve continuity of care, reduce errors, and enhance patient safety.

Relevance: The SWITCH handoff model ensures all relevant surgical information is clearly communicated, reducing the risk of incomplete or unclear handoffs that can compromise patient …

Developing A Waste-To-Energy Assessment Framework Integrating Engineering And Policy Dimensions Using A Triple Bottom Line Approach, Izech Brian O. Edwin, King Harold A. Recto

Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering Faculty Publications

The management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in swiftly urbanizing Philippine cities has emerged as a critical concern in both energy and governance. Dependence on landfills is approaching critical thresholds as disposal sites near saturation, transportation costs escalate, and host communities increasingly resist garbage transfers. In response, this study proposes a comprehensive Waste-to-Energy (WtE) assessment framework that integrates engineering evaluation with policy and stakeholder analysis to support sustainable decision- making.

Using Baguio City as a case study, the framework applies a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach to evaluate three waste management scenarios: (1) current landfill-dominated practices, (2) engineered landfill with …

Montana Kaimin, December 4, 2025, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Lay-Led Crisis Intervention Strategies In The Adult 3 Ministry Of First Baptist Dallas, Jeffrey Adams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This DMIN action research project focused on the care, counsel, and advocacy lay leaders can provide to church members who experience a crisis. Due to the growing member-to-minister ratio at First Baptist Dallas, lay leaders can supplement the work of the ministers by providing frontline support. The problem is that most lay leaders within the church have limited training in crisis management outside their own life experiences. If lay leaders are equipped in biblical crisis management and intervention responses, then they will be able to provide guidance to church members in crisis. The qualitative research for this project was completed …

L.E.A.Ding Change To Prevent Workplace Violence, Rebekah Powers, Nancy Ornelas, Carol Boswell, Christina Ramdeo

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The purpose of this project was to enhance nurses’ knowledge and evaluate parts of the current workplace violence prevention program. Learning objective: participants will gain strategies to engage nurses in workplace violence prevention.

Healthcare workers are 5 times more likely to experience an injury from workplace violence than other professions. According to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies (TCNWS) 2022 employer Nurse Staffing Study: Workplace Violence Against Nurses survey workplace violence awareness training was the most common training provided. De-escalation training was cited as an effective workplace violence strategy (TCNWS, 2022).

As part of a comprehensive plan to implement …

A Concept Analysis Of Entrenched Toxic Cultures In Nursing Academia, Becky Good, Kristen Kirby, Karen J. Foli

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: Toxic cultures in nursing academia are environments characterized by incivility, bullying, and harassment, all concepts well defined in the literature (Beckmann et al., 2013; Clark, 2013; Fry & Schmer, 2021). While some toxic cultures can be addressed with targeted interventions, others are more widespread, established, and difficult to dismantle (Beitz & Beckmann, 2023; Clark & Ritter, 2018; Coates, 2024; Goldberg et al., 2013; Olsen et al., 2020). Specific data are scarce; however, as negative behaviors persist and intensify, we believe the unexplored phenomenon of entrenched toxic culture (ETC) emerges.

Purpose: This concept analysis aims to define ETCs in nursing …

Integrating Standardized Nursing Terminologies Into A Nursing Curriculum Conceptual Framework, Ana Choperena, Virginia La Rosa-Salas, Nuria Esandi-Larramendi, Mercedes Pérez-Díez Del Corral, Begoña Errasti-Ibarrondo, Sonsoles Martín-Pérez, Clara Cabrera-Moreno, Dorothy Jones

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: The aim of this work is to present the Nursing Educational Framework (NEF) as an opportunity to integrate core elements of a humanistic person/family-centered view and as guidance in structuring a relationship-based curriculum.
Data sources: Empirical and theoretical literature studies were reviewed to define the framework rationale and its components.

Data synthesis: A deductive/inductive collaborative expert-informed approach was undertaken to develop this evidence-based codesigned framework. Its mission, along with unique components, implementation strategies, and outcomes, were successively integrated into the framework to guide nursing knowledge, learning, and curriculum development. A hermeneutic collaborative process of circular reflection was used in …

Creating A Standardized Intraoperative Handoff Report, Mary Hippchen, Melinda Ward, Meghan Barnes, Jacqueline Reyes, Amiya Boyd, Rebecca Akande, Kanita Wilson

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: Effective communication during nurse-to-nurse relief is vital for patient safety, especially in complex surgeries. In the Operating Room (OR), inconsistencies in handoffs arise due to lack of structure, information gaps and time constraints. This project evaluates the impact of implementing a structured SWITCH (Surgical Procedure, Wet, Instruments, Tissue, Counts, and Have Questions) protocol for nurse-to-nurse handoff reports during breaks and permanent relief, aiming to improve continuity of care, reduce errors, and enhance patient safety.

Relevance: The SWITCH handoff model ensures all relevant surgical information is clearly communicated, reducing the risk of incomplete or unclear handoffs that can compromise patient …

Turkey’S Recent E-Commerce Amendments: A Critical Comparison With The Eu Digital Markets Act, Kaan Kocabas, Jurgita Malinauskaite

Yearbook of Antitrust and Regulatory Studies

Recent regulatory reforms in Turkey aim to address the competitive risks posed by dominant digital platforms, particularly concerning data exploitation, self-preferencing, and discriminatory conduct. Rather than introducing a standalone competition law instrument, Turkey amended its Law on the Regulation of Electronic Commerce to embed competition-related obligations, raising questions about the consistency and coherence of enforcement. This article analyses the legal and institutional implications of these amendments, critically comparing Turkey’s approach with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). It argues that while the Turkish amendments reflect global regulatory trends, the lack of a dedicated competition framework risks creating enforcement conflicts …

Strategies Leaders Use To Reduce Voluntary Attrition Among Employees With Access To Wellness Programs, Cara Murray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Voluntary employee attrition presents ongoing challenges for organizational leaders, particularly among employees whose workplace needs and preferences are unmet. The problem is that many leaders lack effective strategies to mitigate voluntary attrition, which negatively impacts productivity, morale, and overall organizational performance. Grounded in the job demands–resources model and wellness climate theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore strategies leaders used to reduce voluntary employee attrition among employees who have access to workplace wellness programs. The participants were six organizational leaders from mid-sized and public-sector organizations who successfully mitigated voluntary attrition. Data were collected through semistructured …

The Effects Of Perceived Stress On First Responders' Job Performance While Moderating For Self-Efficacy, Diane Craig

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stress in the workplace results in substantial economic losses for U.S. organizations. The effects of perceived stress on reducing the job performance of first responders continue to be a concern for administrators in emergency response management. Grounded in self-efficacy theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the moderating effects of self efficacy on the relationship between perceived stress and job performance among U.S. first responders. The sample comprised 78 men and 65 women (N = 143) from professional response agencies in the United States. They completed the Perceived Stress Scale, Endicott Work Productivity Scale, and the …

Substance Use Disorders, Trauma, And Women: A Phenomenological Study, Crystal E. H. Stephenson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Substance use disorders (SUDs) do not discriminate who or how they impact individuals, families, or communities. Women impacted by SUDs face challenges such as lack of transportation, minimal family support, some of the women were triggered by co-ed groups, and childcare needs are just a few categories that prevent them from adhering to and engaging in treatment. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of eight women with substance use disorders and trauma. The participants were interviewed using a semi-structured guide that covered areas of their lives impacted by substance use disorders and trauma. Data was analyzed using methods …