Digital Commons Network^™

Essays On Economic Behaviour, Yiting Guo

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

My PhD thesis comprises three studies. The first study examines prosocial behavior; the second analyzes vaccination behavior; and the third investigates communicative behavior in the context of trade. Specifically, the first study investigates the impact of donation visibility on individual prosocial behavior. It develops a sequential-move model based on the prosocial behavior framework proposed by Benabou and Tirole (2006). In Stage 1, individuals decide whether to attend a charity event, and if so, in Stage 2, decide on the amount to donate. In this model, an individual’s decision to engage in prosocial behavior is influenced by three main factors: intrinsic …

Building An Interdisciplinary Workforce In Geroscience: Aligning Perspectives And Educational Goals, Iman M Al-Naggar, Miranda E Orr, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The National Institute on Aging-funded Geroscience Education and Training Network held the "Building an Interdisciplinary Workforce in Geroscience: Aligning Perspectives and Educational Goals" preconference workshop at the 2023 Gerontological Society of America's Annual Meeting. Parties involved in geroscience education and interested stakeholders addressed the development of didactic educational materials, training, and career development opportunities to equip learners with the skills to meet the demands of the emerging field of geroscience, from research to clinic and industry. Recent successes were presented, existing opportunities, gaps, and challenges identified and discussed, and solutions and future directions described.

Supporting Healthy Siblings In Pediatric Cancer: Advancing Relational Interventions To Heal Invisible Wounds, Kristen K. Wederski

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Healthy siblings of children diagnosed with cancer occupy a uniquely vulnerable position within the pediatric oncology landscape. Individuals within this population often demonstrate significant emotional distress and can experience long-term psychological challenges. Despite their risk, healthy siblings remain under-researched and under-supported compared to pediatric patients and caregivers. Existing interventions tend to prioritize individual coping skills and psychoeducation and often overlook the critical relational dynamics that shape healthy siblings' psychological adjustment. Grounded in systematic and relational theories, this paper proposes a paradigm shift toward relationally focused interventions that strengthen the caregiver-sibling bond as a core mechanism of change to foster resilience …

There Is No Finish Line: The Ramps Framework – An Evolving Model For Working With Racial Identities In Sport And Performance Psychology, Dylan Vas

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

The field of sport psychology has persisted in its calls for action on increasing cultural competence, being more inclusive of underrepresented identities, and progressing towards social justice (AASP, 2024b; Bejar et al., 2022; Fisher et al., 2003; Martens et al., 2000; Quartiroli, et al., 2023; Ryba et al, 2013; Ryba et al., 2024). This work attempts to contribute to these calls by providing attention on racial identity – including the proposal of an actionable and novel model, The Racial Identity Model of Psychology in Sport (RAMPS) Framework. The proposed model incorporates publications from sport psychology, clinical psychology, and social justice …

Examining Whiteness: A Narrative Inquiry Into Racial Identity Among White Women In Study Abroad Programs, Audrey Moreno Townsend

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to better understand race in contexts both domestically and abroad through the perspectives and experiences of white women who studied abroad outside of Europe and the Anglosphere. The investigation explored on how these experiences shaped white women’s understanding of racial identity upon returning to their home institutions. The research question which was addressed was: How do white women experience study abroad programming? Research highlights a critical gap in existing literature on this topic. While white women are centered in the study, it is contextualized considering how People of Color experience the world. …

The Journey Of Psychotherapy: Understanding Therapeutic Technique Through Ultralight Thru Hiking, Emma Bossier

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This paper explores several principles of ultralight backpacking as metaphors for developing one’s therapeutic technique. The tenets of ultralight thru hiking, when interpreted through a clinical lens, offer early clinicians insight into the importance of moving through fear and leaning into exploration, discomfort, and authenticity while on the journey of becoming a therapist. The experiences of numerous thru hikers are synthesized into five principles: Don’t Pack Your Fears, Be Present for the Journey, Slow Simplicity, Embrace the Suck (and The Stink), and Trail Legs. These principles do not define ultralight as carefreeness but rather offer a metaphor for the careful …

Playing Catch Up: A Brief Look Into Modern Internet Culture And Its Impact On Adolescent Male Development, Xavier Bird

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

This doctoral paper argues that the internet, particularly the "manosphere," poses three significant threats to the development of adolescent males in the U.S.: the influence of misogynistic online personalities, the normalization of risky online behavior, and the spread of right-wing misinformation. The paper highlights the role of the COVID-19 pandemic in exacerbating these issues due to increased internet usage. Furthermore, it proposes a research study to investigate the link between exposure to online misogynistic content and aggressive behavior in schools, emphasizing the unique challenges of studying adolescents and their online culture. Finally, the paper stresses the urgent need for updated …

Applying Contextual Behavioral Science To Address Addictions In Monsters, Chase Hollander

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

The dominant essentialist paradigm in addiction treatment often conceptualizes addiction as a curse or plague which seizes the individual afflicted by it. Such views are reinforced by neurobiological interventions like Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). While MAT can reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, its long-term efficacy is mixed, and its emphasis on abstinence as a primary outcome limits its scope. Addiction is a multifaceted phenomenon shaped by physiological, psychological, social, and systemic factors—including stigma, moral judgment, and structural oppression. Essentialist approaches frequently pathologize individuals and obscure these broader influences. In contrast, contextual behavioral sciences and therapies aligned with functional contextualism such as …

Proposed Theoretical Model Of Pediatric Onset Multiple Sclerosis And Restrictive Eating Behaviors, Anna L. Smith

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a chronic, demyelinating, autoimmune disease that causes an array of physical and cognitive symptomatology, is commonly diagnosed in adulthood. Pediatric Onset Multiple Sclerosis (POMS) is characterized by diagnosis of the disease before age 18 and accounts for about 5% of MS cases. While there is a growing body of literature examining the impact of adult-onset multiple sclerosis on psychosocial functioning, research specifically addressing POMS remains limited. Moreover, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding the risk of eating disorders among individuals with POMS. This paper will explore a constellation of potential risk factors that may …

Review Of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programs In United States Schools, Cassandra Duran, Aditi Gupta, Lynda Aririguzo, Norma Castillo, Sanghamitra M Misra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: School vaccination programs (school-based and school-located) that include the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine have been implemented throughout the United States since 2009.

Methods: We conducted a review of school HPV vaccination programs in PUBMED, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Ovid, Medline, and Embase and included peer-reviewed studies originating in the United States that focused on any aspect of HPV school vaccination programs.

Results: Our review yielded 47 articles that fell into several categories: (1) parent and child perceptions, (2) school nurse perceptions, (3) development, (4) implementation, (5) outcomes, and (6) barriers and facilitators of HPV vaccination programs in schools. …

The Developmental Cohort Model Of Interpersonal Process Groups: A Clinician's Guide For University Counseling Centers, Lauren Caldas

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

The purpose of this paper is to outline a clinician's manual that guides providers in the development, facilitation, and maintenance of long-term interpersonal process groups (IPGs) within university counseling centers (UCCs). This manual also presents a new model: The Developmental Cohort Model (DCM), which utilizes a stepped model throughout a traditional student's college timeline. I will present this manual in the context of the Developmental Cohort Model (DCM), but it can certainly remain useful for any type of IPG. Research suggests that group therapy is an effective way to increase access to mental health care (Burlingame & Strauss, 2021) and …

Prolonged Exposure To Food Odors Suppresses Feeding Via An Olfactory Bulb-To-Hypothalamus Circuit, Yao Liu, Hailan Liu, Huey-Xian Kelly Wong, Niccole Auld, Kristine M Conde, Yongxiang Li, Meng Yu, Yue Deng, Qingzhuo Liu, Xing Fang, Mengjie Wang, Yuhan Shi, Olivia Z Ginnard, Yuxue Yang, Longlong Tu, Hesong Liu, Jonathan C Bean, Junying Han, Megan E Burt, Sanika V Jossy, Yongjie Yang, Chunmei Wang, Qingchun Tong, Benjamin R Arenkiel, Hongjie Li, Yong Xu, Yang He

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Olfactory perception of food odors is a key determinant of eating behavior, including triggering appetite, facilitating food seeking and influencing food choice. While transient food-related olfactory cues stimulate appetite and provoke cravings in states of hunger, emerging evidence implies that prolonged and sustained exposure to food-derived odor (FO) suppresses feeding. However, the mechanisms by which olfaction induces hypophagia remain elusive. In this study, we show that prolonged FO exposure significantly suppresses food intake in male mice. We identified a subset of neurons in the ventral subiculum (vSub) that are specifically activated by FO. We further discovered that these FO-activated neurons …

Targeting Sting To Disrupt Macrophage-Mediated Adhesion In Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis, Juan Sun, Yuxiang Sun, Dandan Guo, Huolin Ye, Qiang Huang, Hu Zhou, Canming Li, Mei Liao, Yujia You, Hongli Shang, Pan Zhou, Dongxuan Wu, Janusz Witowski, Zhaoyong Hu, Hui Peng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a life-threatening fibrotic condition characterized by severe abdominal adhesions, chronic inflammation, and significant morbidity. The lack of effective treatments for EPS stems from a limited understanding of its underlying mechanisms. In this study, we developed a modified mouse model of PD-induced EPS and investigated the role of the STING signaling pathway in disease progression. Our findings reveal that STING activation in peritoneal mesothelial cells significantly increases the secretion of the macrophage chemokine CCL2, leading to enhanced macrophage infiltration and the formation of pathological adhesions. Notably, pharmacological inhibition of STING using the inhibitor H151 effectively reduced …

Examining Barriers To Crisis Service Use Among Black Young Adults, Emily K. Burns

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

Black communities face an increased burden of mental illness (Gordon, 2020). This can be linked to factors such as experiences of racism, higher rates of unemployment, financial and food insecurity, and disparities in health care (Gordon, 2020). Despite this, Black communities have historically experienced relatively low rates of suicide (Gordon, 2020). This has been anecdotally attributed to protective cultural values and beliefs about suicide. However, there has been a recent shift in this trend, particularly for Black youth and young adults.

Sars-Cov-2 Antibody Responses In Children Exhibit Higher Fcr Engagement And Avidity Than In Adults, Carolyn A Cohen, Ludivine Grzelak, Susan S Chiu, David Sc Hui, Mike Yw Kwan, Owen Ty Tsang, Wai Hung Chan, Yat Sun Yau, Kelly Wk Lee, Masashi Mori, Gaya K Amarasinghe, Samuel Ms Cheng, Leo Lm Poon, Malik Peiris, Sophie A Valkenburg

2020-Current year OA Pubs

As intrinsic differences in humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 between children and adults remain unclear, we improved characterisation by defining the kinetics, specificity and function of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in children (n = 146, aged 9.4 ± 4.8 years with n = 257 samples) compared to adults (n = 85, aged 39.5 ± 15.2 years with n = 122 samples). We used plasma samples from an infection and vaccination-naive cohort study with RT-PCR confirmed ancestral B.1* SARS-CoV-2 virus infection with asymptomatic or mild disease, collected in Hong Kong between March to December 2020, from acute (0-14 days post infection) to …

Building A High-Performing Critical Care Outreach Team: Transforming Care And Collaboration, Heather Joy Cook, Brittany M. Wells

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The Critical Care Outreach Team (CCOT) at our large urban university medical center has become a cornerstone of patient safety and care, driving a significant cultural shift in rapid response and interdisciplinary collaboration from 2014 to 2024. Through the adoption of the six American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Healthy Work Environment standards, the CCOT has not only reduced cardiac arrests outside of critical care areas but also fostered a collaborative relationship based on trust, clinical excellence, and patient safety among ward staff that has transformed the culture of Rapid Response activations.

Clinical excellence has not been the only …

Introduction Of Code Lavender To Support The Well-Being Of Clinical Staff After Critical Events, Shannon Souther, Eunyoung Lee, Milena Staykova

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Debriefing after critical events can benefit individual healthcare workers and create a healthier work environment within the interdisciplinary team. The desire to participate in interdisciplinary debriefing (IDD) among healthcare workers has been expressed in previous studies. However, it may be difficult for workers to debrief without strong, hospital-wide support.

Purpose: A pilot study was conducted, intended to introduce and measure the feasibility of a new modality to deliver IDD, “Code Lavender.” The new process was aimed at addressing a known barrier to IDD by offering hospital support.

Methods/Implementation: IDD was implemented in 3 ICU settings over a 3-month period. Code …

Making Fractals: Expanding Learning Opportunities In The Classroom, Eliza Leszczynski, Eileen Fernández, Elise Lahiere

LASER Journal

Fractals have long been appreciated for their beautiful, self-similar structure and infinite complexity. Commonly found in art and architecture, fractals are not only visually appealing but they have been found to reduce stress in individuals because of their patterns’ connections to nature. Fractal structures can even be seen in familiar real-life objects like trees or cauliflowers. Fractal geometry, with its ability to create complicated effects from simple formulas, provides a way to connect mathematics with visual results that are “spontaneously attractive, and often breathtakingly beautiful". The act of creating fractals can spark curiosity, enabling participants to generate vastly different results …

A Technical And Statistical Analysis Of Unleaded Aviation Fuel (Ul94) Adoption In A High- Volume Collegiate Aviation Environment, Nicholas D. Wilson, Ryan Guthridge, Brandon Wild, Jeremy Roesler, Daniel Kasowski, Nick Geinert, Aaron Terbest, Aaron Fettig, Robert Kraus

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

The University of North Dakota (UND) adopted unleaded aviation fuel (UL94) for approximately a four-month period in the summer and early fall of 2023. The UL94 fuel was used in all reciprocating engine fleets based at the university’s primary training airport, Grand Forks International Airport in North Dakota. During the operational implementation of UL94, the UND flew 46,600 flight hours, consuming 386,778 gallons of fuel across all fleets powered by Lycoming engines. After approximately two months of using UL94, operational reports and maintenance inspections began to indicate potential for exhaust valve seat recession (EVSR), although early indications were limited in …

Self-Leadership Boosts Collaboration And Patient Outcomes, Carine Prinsloo

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Self-leadership is a pivotal concept that enhances the capacity of healthcare professionals to engage in and promote interprofessional collaboration. Self-leadership involves the ability to self-motivate and manage one's actions through behaviour-focused strategies, constructive thought patterns, and natural reward strategies (Neck, et al 2020). Nurses fostering self-leadership, develop a heightened self-awareness that enables them to recognize when to seek support and collaborate with other healthcare professionals effectively. Nurses who exhibit strong self-leadership skills are more likely to engage in proactive communication and collaboration with their colleagues, utilizing interprofessional resources to improve patient outcomes (Matahela & van Rensburg 2023). This collaboration is …

Peer Champions For Team Well-Being, Richard J. Westphal

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Co-worker peer support is a critical component of unit cohesion and social support in high stress exposure teams and can mitigate stress-related symptoms.1 A primary advantage of co-worker peer support is that it is available when needed and provided by those who “get” the context of the stress experience. The effectiveness of peer support programs has begun to take hold, helping institutions address issues of shame and isolation among their healthcare workers.2 Following the COVID pandemic, we see even more calls for health systems, state boards, licensing bodies, and professional organizations to step up and prioritize clinician well-being.3

There are …

Do Well-Being Programs Improve Work Environments? Evaluating State-Level Nurse Peer Support Programs, Pamela B. De Cordova, Irina Grafova, Jennifer Polakowski

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Introduction: Well-being programs geared to improve the work environment should be tailored to the individual and organization (Browne & Tie, 2024). The New Jersey Nursing Emotional Well-Being Institute (NJ-NEW) launched Stress First Aid (SFA) and Virtual Schwartz Rounds (VSR) – peer support programs to address nurse well-being. SFA is a framework of actions to decrease stressors that exist within an individual’s or organizations’ level of control and facilitate recovery (Dong et al., 2022; McLean et al., 2023; Westphal & Watson, 2021). VSR is an online emotional support program led by 2 mental health facilitators and 2 nurse panelists who share …

Unity And Kindness Day: A Transformative Event To Promote Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion, Adisa Cartwright, Michelle Santizo, Dahlia Maldonado, Kelli Obazee

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Introduction: Following social unrest in 2020, nurses at a large health system advocated for structures that celebrate diversity, promote equity, and enhance inclusion. This led to the creation of the Unity in Diversity Nursing Professional Governance Council (UID). After a systemwide assessment of nurse wellbeing, a need to improve the practice environment was identified. This led UID to create the Unity in Kindness Day (UKD) event. Since 2022, UID has hosted UKD; a multi-campus and online event aimed at fostering a healthier work environment through promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). UKD, hosted by nurses, invites all staff members to …

Climbing Collectively: Clinical Ladder Modernization Leveraging Shared Decision-Making, Shelby Do, Julie Holland, Dorothy Foglia

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The clinical ladder program (CLP) at a large Texas healthcare system is a strategy for enhancing professional well-being through fostering a culture of professional development. An opportunity to evaluate and enhance the CLP arose with an impending change to the workforce management solution that would no longer support the current compensation model. Intentional inclusion of direct care nurses (DCN) allowed for shared decision making (SDM) on the CLP changes.

In addition to compensation changes, inclusion of diverse generational needs, diversity/equity/inclusion, and well-being considerations enhanced the CLP. With direct input from DCN groups, the CLP enhancements correlate more contemporary professional/organizational needs …

Comparative Analysis Of Patient Acuity Tools: Enhancing Nursing Efficiency With An Ehr Acuity Tool, Carrundlas D. Mathews

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Introduction: This study aims to contrast a mobility acuity tool with an objective, comprehensive patient acuity tool (PAT). The mobility acuity tool subjectively describes the patient’s ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) based on a progressive Likert scale. A comprehensive PAT is a standardized system that can be integrated into electronic health records (EHR), quantifying the severity of a patient’s condition and evaluating identified nursing tasks to determine the level of care required in an evolving twenty-four-hours.

Purpose: This study will explore the differences in scope, implementation, nurse perception, and key performance indicators between a mobility tool and …

Fostering A Healthy Work Environment: Assessing And Implementing Aacn Standards, Kelly O'Meara, Lauren Simon, Jacqueline Swindell, Nicolette Vaccaro

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

This project examines the need for enhancing healthcare work environments. Healthy work environments (HWEs) provide increased job satisfaction, retention, and most importantly improved patient outcomes. Unhealthy work environments can lead to job dissatisfaction and poor performance, burnout, high levels of stress, and poor patient care. “To foster healthy work environments, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) established six standards, which include skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, and authentic leadership” (AACN, 2016). To further study HWEs, the current work environment of a cardiac telemetry unit was assessed by way of interviews, a pre-survey, professional …

Improving Workplace Wellbeing: What Made A Difference?, Laura J. Ridge, Paul Norrod, Maria Titler, Barbara Medvec, Chris Friese

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Abstract Text: Purpose: To investigate previous efforts and to identify promising workplace strategies to improve professional wellbeing among nurses.

Background: There is a mental health crisis in nursing that contributes to high rates of intention to leave (1,2). Systems-based approaches that go beyond the individual are crucial (2,3). But little is known about workplace-based approaches that can improve nurse mental health (1,2).

Methods: We deductively and inductively analyzed 1317 nurses’ survey-based free-text descriptions of strategies used by their workplaces to improve professional wellbeing. Details about the Michigan Nurses Study have been published previously (4). We compared responses from nurses who …

The Lived Experience Of Filipino Nurses Caring For Patients With Covid-19, Kristeline Suasin

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Reports of individuals exhibiting respiratory symptoms causing sudden deaths emerged as a pandemic in the start of a new decade. The onset of the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a worldwide health crisis brought out the significance of the nurses’ role in healthcare. This descriptive phenomenological research focused on the caring experiences of Filipino nurses among patients who were infected with COVID-19 in Negros Oriental, Philippines. Seven participants were identified through purposive and snowball sampling and were asked the question: What is it like to be caring for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Negros Oriental, Philippines during this pandemic? …

Path Analysis Of Filipino Nurses' Intent To Stay In The United Kingdom, Blaise B. Nieve, Sarah Bernadette L. Baleña

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Nature and Scope. Nurse attrition remains a significant issue in the UK, particularly among Filipino nurses, who form a substantial portion of the healthcare workforce.

Research Method. This descriptive-correlational study utilized path analysis to identify the best-fit model for predicting the intent to stay among Filipino nurses in the UK, based on job embeddedness, sociocultural adaptation, and job satisfaction. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit 553 respondents, all of whom were Filipino nurses of legal age, qualified to practice in the UK, and employed as registered nurses for at least one year in the public or private sector. Data were …

Healthcare Providers And The Lingering Influence Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Michelle M. Ness, Leigh Ann Difusco, Jennifer Saylor

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Purpose: To gain a better understanding of the experiences of healthcare providers caring for adult patients during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A descriptive, qualitative design was conducted using semi-structured interview questions. Eleven participants were recruited from a sample of 28 healthcare providers to participate in video interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data.

Results: Healthcare providers experienced continued distress related to concerns about the long-term effects on themselves, their families, and society. Three themes emerged from the data: (1) exhausted and emotionally numb; (2) vaccinated versus the unvaccinated; and (3) stressors and misguided supports.

Conclusion: …