Digital Commons Network^™

Evolving Role Of Hospital Chaplains: Optimizing Patient, Staff, Self Well-Being During Pandemic, Linda Y. Kim, Sarah Low, Adrienne Martinez-Hollingsworth, Jason Weiner, Christina Shu, Bernice Coleman, Lucia Florindez

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Abstract Text: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented strain upon healthcare systems worldwide, presenting hospital chaplains with unique challenges in responding to the increased emotional, mental, and spiritual distress experienced by patients, families, and staff, while also having to prioritize their own well-being.1-3 Traditional methods of providing care were largely unavailable to these chaplains during the pandemic, requiring them to adopt new strategies and innovative ways to maintain engagement with patients and hospital staff.4-5

Study Aim: This study aimed to explore chaplains' experiences in caring for patients, family, and staff during the height of the pandemic, as the initial step …

Exploring Predictors Of Resilience And Burnout In Acute Care Nursing Leaders, Stephanie Bailey, Shirley D. Martin, Shonna Bracco, Norma Rivera, Regina Urban

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Individuals who work in nurse leader roles are vital to support safe patient care and achievement of organizational goals. They are also at risk for burnout and low levels of professional well-being. This presentation will offer a summary of a research study that explored variables associated with mental well-being in acute care nurse leaders and identified predictors of resilience and burnout.

Uniting Care In The Maternal Neonatal Dyad: A Call To Action For Collaboration, Stephanie Beres

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Purpose: Clinical nurses at a Women’s and Children’s hospital advocated for a new campus-wide nursing practice council upon identifying the need to promote collaboration and ensuring a safe place for a healthy work environment between the maternal and neonatal nursing specialties via shared governance.

Relevance: Collaboration is associated with multiple positive outcomes including but not limited to nursing and clinical excellence, optimal patient outcomes, and an overall healthy work environment as set forth by the AACN framework (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 2016). The goal of this council is to improve collaboration, communication, and effective decision making across maternal/neonatal specialties …

Enhancing Cataract Surgery Outcomes: Optimal Use Of Pre- And Post-Operative Eye Drops, Keith Skolnick M.D., Anu Valiaveedu

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Many preoperative and postoperative cataract patients struggle with comprehending the use of prescription medication as directed. Language barriers and low health literacy levels are major factors contributing to improper use of prescriptions. To increase patients comprehension, the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute employed an educational intervention consisting of a live presentation and an instructional video. Results found that 44% of patients were hesitant to ask questions to clinical staff, 32% felt overwhelmed, and nearly 70% lacked confidence in using their prescribed eye drops. Following the intervention, 91% of patients reported increased confidence in their medications, and most indicated that the video …

Host, Microbiome, And Parasite: How Apicomplexan Microorganisms Interact With Gut Microbiota, Senia Bu, Andrew T. Ozga

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms residing in the human gastrointestinal tract, plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. It functions in immune system regulation, digestion, and protection against pathogens. Apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium spp., and Cryptosporidium spp., are major pathogens that can significantly disrupt the gut microbiota, leading to alterations in microbial composition and function. This review explores the bidirectional interactions between Apicomplexan parasites and the gut microbiome, focusing on how these parasites influence microbial diversity, immune responses, and host metabolism. It examines the mechanisms by which infection-induced inflammation, altered …

Interactive Intelligent Agent For Gaming Assistance, Christopher James Tegethoff

Defensive Publications Series

This document describes techniques that enable a computing device (e.g., a personal computer, laptop, smartphone, smart watch, server system, etc.) to provide assistance and/or companionship to a player of a game application using an intelligent software agent (e.g., artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning model, etc.). Gaming environments may present challenges such as difficult learning curves, slow progression, complicated/unintuitive mechanics, and/or hostile social interactions. The intelligent agent may mitigate these challenges by acquiring game knowledge (e.g., via observing and learning from the player, “playing” the game on its own, training on tutorials and/or other instructional material, etc.) and offering in-game guidance …

Correlating Cross-Service Behavioral Signals To Identify Coordinated Inauthentic Activity, Mithun Kumar S R

Defensive Publications Series

Some systems for detecting fraudulent user-generated content (UGC) can be siloed and reactive, analyzing individual pieces of content or account metrics in isolation, which may leave them susceptible to coordinated campaigns spanning multiple services. A system and method are described that can construct a unified cross-service behavioral graph to address such challenges. This graph can ingest and correlate metadata from user activities across disparate services, for example, productivity, payment, and communication platforms, to identify precursor signals that may be indicative of fraudulent intent. By analyzing patterns such as co-reviewing, temporal pulsing, and suspicious cross-service coordination (e.g., template creation), the system …

Battery Enclosure Panel And Associated Means Of Manufacture, Thomas J. Beck, Rahul Vilas Kulkarni, Xavier Varone

Defensive Publications Series

A battery enclosure panel may include a formable inner sheet having a generally planar outer surface and at least one recessed portion formed in the generally planar outer surface that defines a receiving area for a fire suppressant material, and an outer sheet at least partially joined to the generally planar outer surface of the inner formable sheet.

Southern Adventist University Commencement Program Summer 2025, Southern Adventist University

Commencement Programs

Program for Southern Adventist University Summer 2025 graduation. The commencement service took place on August 22, 2025 at 10 am in Iles Physical Education Center.

When The Walls Talk Back: Black Women's Experience In The Graduate Classroom, Benesemon Simmons

Dissertations - ALL

Black women have historically experienced barriers in education and the traditional classroom space, facing visible and invisible walls that reinforce their silence, delegitimization, and harm. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine Black women’s experiences in the graduate classroom and use their voices to challenge the purpose and power of dominant structures—and talk back (hooks, 2014). Black Feminist Thought and Critical Race Theory were used as theoretical frameworks to better understand the unique experiences of Black women graduate students, help highlight their voices, and place their experiences and ideas at the center of analysis. To investigate this topic, …

Staff Education Project To Train Charge Nurses On The Use Of The Tsam Framework To Improve Leadership Competencies, Natoya Gaye Langley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this doctoral project was to improve charge nurse leadership competencies through education on the tiered skills acquisition model (TSAM), addressing challenges of high turnover, limited orientation, and compromised care quality in an inpatient psychiatric facility. The background reveals a two-year financial loss of over $1.8 million tied to staff attrition, highlighting the urgent need for a structured training framework. TSAM, a progressive, competency-based model, offers a pathway for deliberate skill acquisition, leadership growth, and enhanced role clarity. A staff education program was implemented with ten charge nurses, incorporating a pretest, PowerPoint training, scenario-based roleplays, and a posttest. …

Strategies To Mitigate Contractor Safety Noncompliance In The Construction Industry, Sallieann Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some contract managers lack clear communication channels with their contract stakeholders on construction safety noncompliance, which is a well-known industry challenge. Stakeholders, contractors, and workers of construction companies need to communicate more effectively with contract managers to ensure job-related injuries are minimized. Grounded in contingency theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research study was to explore the strategies contract managers use to mitigate contractor safety noncompliance with awarded contracts. Ten contract managers with more than 5 years of experience in contract or construction management participated in semistructured interviews guided by an interview protocol. Data were analyzed thematically, revealing …

The Residual Impact Of Slavery On How Enslaved Black Females Defined And Made Meaning Of Sexual Violence: A Content Analysis, Suzanne R. Bates

Dissertations

Thompson-Miller & Picca (2016) and Feimster (2023) argued that enslaved African American women, and even free African Americans after the Civil War were victims of non-consensual sexual activity and rape. The NISVS report revealed that before the age of 18 years old, 35.5% of African American women experienced contact sexual violence, 29.5% experienced non-contact unwanted sexual encounters, and 20.7% experienced rape (Basile et al., 2022). Researchers of slave scholarship have made the case for the importance of including discourse on slavery and enslaved Black females’ experiences when discussing present day sexual violence among Black women in the US today (Balfour, …

The American Politics Of Firearms - The Case Between Illinois And Missouri, Michael J. Thompson

Dissertations

The issue of gun control is a hot topic in the field of American politics. It is a huge issue in the field of political science and in American public policy. In 2023, there were 18,874 firearm deaths in the United States, excluding suicides. The highest was in 2021 with the firearm related deaths at 21,068. One side argues that firearms can cause serious harm and death while the other side argues they can also reduce the rates of gun violence. There are different opinions on how to resolve the issue of mass shootings across the country. According to prior …

Exploring The Dynamics Of Online Engagement: A Social Exchange Theory Approach To The Baking Industry’S Use Of Social Media, Abagail Sweeney

Theses - ALL

This study investigates how organizations in the baking industry use social media to engage with consumers. Social Exchange Theory was applied to understand the dynamics in online interactions. A content analysis of the social media accounts for Insomnia Cookies, Lady M and Cake Bar was done for the months of January 2024 through March 2024. The platforms analyzed were Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube. Engagement was measured through likes, comments, shares and sentiment analysis. Post type was also observed to see what the users engaged with the most. The findings revealed that the number of active platforms did not …

In Re: Congoleum Corporation, Et Al.

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Crime Prevention Professionals’ Perspectives On Using Cpted To Mitigate Targeted Violence On K-12 School Campuses, Bridgit C. Didier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Targeted violence in K-12 schools across the United States is a serious concern. These incidents not only endanger students and staff, but also cause lasting trauma and erode trust in schools. While existing measures may deter some violence, questions remain regarding their overall effectiveness. This study involved exploring perspectives of crime prevention experts on using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies to mitigate violence in K-12 schools. Although CPTED is recognized as effective in terms of reducing crime, research on its use in schools, especially from the perspective of crime prevention professionals, is limited. This generic qualitative study involved …

August 22, 2025 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Design And Structural Optimization Of Acceleration Pipe For Mhd Accelerated Jujube Air-Suction Harvester, Yi Wang, Jing Nie, Jingbin Li, Longpeng Ding, Xuewei Chao, Xianfei Wang

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The combination of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) acceleration technology and the negative pressure suction principle ensures the effective lifting and transport of jujube fruits, addressing the challenges of traditional harvesting methods and providing a new solution for improving jujube harvesting efficiency. This study focuses on the impact of key parameters, including pipe diameter, electrode plate length, and electrode positioning, on the performance of the MHD acceleration pipe through numerical simulations. The structural optimization of the MHD acceleration pipe in the air-suction jujube harvester aims to enhance airflow acceleration efficiency. The results from both numerical simulations and experimental studies indicate that: 1) a …

Green Synthesis Of Silver Nanoparticles From Melanoleuca Grammopodia: Changes In Bioactive Components, Antidiabetic Properties And Bioaccessibility, İsmai̇l Acar, Emi̇ne Okumuş, Arzu Karataş

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant materials allows the production of low-cost and biocompatible nanoparticles without the use of toxic compounds or solvents. In this study, biogenic AgNP/Mg nanoparticles were synthesized using the Melanoleuca grammopodia mushroom. Vitamin C and E contents of the mushroom were 42.6 mg/g and 26.82 mg/g, respectively. FTIR analysis revealed the reducing and stabilizing effects of bioactive components present in M. grammopodia mushroom extract. SEM micrographs showed that the nanoparticles were spherical in form and the EDX spectrum confirmed the presence of the characteristic metallic silver peak at 3.0 keV. A significant reduction in …

The Status Of Agritourism In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Nerma Čolaković-Prguda, Jasna Hasanbegović, Irma Đidelija Čolaković, Lejla Škaljić, Nuray Demi̇r

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Agritourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina has a lot of potential benefit for economic growth and sustainable development in rural regions, as it incorporates local culture and natural beauty into the tourism offerings of the region. Tourism creates opportunities to diversify the economy, retain traditions, improve local income, and protect natural resources. This study covered Međugorje, Ilijaš, Rostovo, Vlašić, Bosanska Krupa, Neum, Olovo, Gornji Vakuf, Sarajevo, and Donji Vakuf. Agritourism can provide authentic experiences like learning about traditional agriculture, fruit harvesting, tasting local products, and environmental preservation in destinations like Međugorje and Neum. Ilijaš and Gornji Vakuf have potential in organic …

Transforming Fall Prevention Using A Systems-Wide Approach, Jessica Pierce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project proposal targets fall reduction and injury prevention in a Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The initiative implements a non-restrictive, evidence-based fall prevention program that excludes side rails and bed alarms, emphasizing systematic patient safety and personalized care. Falls are a major safety concern at the VAMC due to ineffective traditional methods, inconsistent assessments, and reliance on restraints, contributing to high fall rates and increased healthcare costs. The project successfully achieved consensus from an interprofessional team on developing a comprehensive fall reduction program. Evidence indicates that removing restrictive devices enhances staff engagement and protocol …

The Minutes Of The Marshall University Graduate Council Meeting, August 22, 2025, Marshall University Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Newhouse Impact Magazine 2025, Newhouse School

Newhouse Impact Magazine

Showcasing the research and creative work of faculty, staff and students at the Newhouse School

Welcome To Hotel Thai: Labor, Love, And The Space Between My Mothers, Tripty Tamang Pakhrin

Theses - ALL

This thesis explores maternal labor, silence, and family boundaries through my experience of growing up at Hotel Thai, a restaurant and home located on the open border between Nepal and India. The hotel is run by my three parents: my mother, my father, and his first wife. My two mothers live and work side by side every day but do not speak to each other. Their silence is not emptiness, but a way of surviving and holding the family together. This paper discusses my film, performance, installation, and printmaking works to explore how care, memory, and labor are expressed without …

Are You Watching People Via Social Media?, Linlin Wang

Theses - ALL

This study examines why Chinese Generation Z surveil non-intimate acquaintances on social media. Drawing on surveillance theory, social comparison orientation, fear of missing out (FoMO), communication privacy management, and platform affordances, this study proposes a "social comparison orientation → FoMO → surveillance" model. The study employed a sequential mixed methodology. In the first phase, 129 respondents aged 18 to 28 completed a survey validating these pathways. In the second phase, 21 high-monitoring participants were interviewed. The results indicate that social comparison, influenced by the unique "social clock" in Chinese society and the information exposure of online spaces like panopticon, can …

Calcium-Ion Transport In Gel And Solid Polymer Electrolytes: From Solvent-Solute Interactions To Molecular Simulations For Next-Generation Calcium Batteries, Xinlu Wang

Dissertations - ALL

Multivalent metal-ion batteries, especially calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) systems, are attractive alternatives to lithium-ion technologies owing to their high theoretical energy density, improved safety profiles, and abundant natural resources. Nevertheless, the successful commercialization of these technologies is impeded by challenges in electrolyte development, particularly related to cation solvation, ion transport efficiency, and interfacial stability. This dissertation addresses these challenges through comprehensive experimental investigations and molecular dynamics simulations of polymer-based electrolytes designed explicitly for multivalent cation conduction. In the first study, polymer gel electrolytes comprising poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and low dielectric solvents—1,3-dioxolane (DOL) and dimethoxyethane (DME)—with calcium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Ca(TFSI)₂) …

Bridging Gaps In Stem: An Evaluation Of A Stem Intervention Program And Its Impact On Degree Attainment And Career Pathways For Low-Income Undergraduate Students, Amanda L. Surman

Dissertations - ALL

Persistent disparities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degree completion and career attainment continue to disadvantage students from low-income, firstgeneration, and underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds, despite sustained national efforts to diversify the STEM workforce. STEM Intervention Programs (SIPs) have emerged as promising strategies to address these inequities, yet limitations in SIP evaluation literature including the lack of comparison groups, limited longitudinal data, and minimal attention to psychosocial outcomes impede our understanding of their long-term impact. This dissertation uses a mixed-methods, three-project design to evaluate the Strategic Undergraduate STEM Talent Acceleration INitiative (SUSTAIN), a comprehensive SIP at a private, …

Mobility At The Margins: Insights Into Gender, Class And Climate Change In Islamabad's Transit Spaces, Shanel Khaliq

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation sets out to explore how the urban built environment- particularly public transport infrastructure- shapes class, gender and climate inequality in Islamabad, Pakistan. I tried to understand this issue by using mixed methods, primarily consisting of semi-structured in depth interviews, supplemented by ethnographic fieldwork and a brief consultation of english-language newspaper archives. I conducted 95 interviews in total, and clocked in around 80 hours moving around the city and engaging in a mobile ethnography. The first empirical question that I asked relates to the state and urban transportation planning. I wanted to understand what assumptions regarding class-based, gender-based and …

Security And Privacy In Deep Learning And Dynamic Decision Making, Feng Wang

Dissertations - ALL

Recent years have seen rapid advances in machine learning applications, such as deep reinforcement learning (DRL) for optimizing wireless resource allocation and federated learning (FL) for enabling privacy-preserving, distributed model training. In these systems, machine learning agents learn and control resources at the edge. However, these systems face significant vulnerabilities to adversarial threats. In a DRL-based mobile communication scenario, an intelligent attacker can selectively jam specific channels and cause critical failure in victim users' performance. In an FL system, a privacy adversary who eavesdrops on shared gradient information can reconstruct the users' private data. This dissertation focuses on both types …