Digital Commons Network^™

Development In Comprehensive Onboarding Training And Professional Development For Online Adjunct Faculty, Leslie R. Stover

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hiring online adjunct faculty in higher education continues to grow, encompassing nearly half of the overall faculty population. As four-year institutions rely on the benefits of adjunct faculty, they must also invest in their orientation and continuous development. Existing literature confirms the varied approaches to supporting adjunct faculty, deficiency in coordinated programming, and reveals a lack of understanding in adjunct faculty's perception of training delivered. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, this study explored the gap between the onboarding and professional development an institution provides and the online adjunct faculty’s perception of its effectiveness. The research questions explored the lived experiences …

Researching Research Leaders: A Qualitative, Phenomenological, Transcendental Study Of University Institutional Official Relations With Stakeholders Using The Competing Values Framework, Sara Grano

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological, transcendental exploratory study was to understand institutional officials’ (IO) lived relational leadership experiences with internal and external stakeholders with competing values in U.S. research universities. The competing values framework guided the study to investigate IOs’ lived experiences when relating to diverse stakeholders in research universities. The central research question asked was what are the experiences of IOs in research universities when practicing relational leadership with diverse stakeholders with competing values? Ten participants were recruited for this qualitative study using the purposeful sampling and then snowball method of recruiting. The elite participants had experience serving …

Meaningfulness As An Avenue To Eudaimonic Well-Being In Remote Workers, Ashley Hofflander

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examined the relationship between the perception of meaningful work (MW) and eudaimonic well-being (EW) in remote workers, its predictive capacity, and the mediating roles of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Using the Work and Meaning Inventory (Steger et al., 2012), the Psychological Well-Being Scale (Ryff, 1989), and the Basic Psychological Needs at Work Scale (Ryan & Deci, 2000), data was collected and analyzed through Pearson correlation, simple regression, and mediation analysis using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Results revealed a significant positive relationship between MW and EW (r = .56, p < .001), with MW significantly predicting EW (R² = .316, F(1,113) = 52.23, p < .001). Competence was found to mediate this relationship (β = .625, p < .001), while autonomy (β = .481, p = .425) and relatedness (β = .454, p = .274) did not demonstrate significant mediation effects. The study extends Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Model and Self-Determination Theory by emphasizing competence as a key mediator in remote work settings. Practically, the findings highlight the importance of fostering MW through purpose-driven job design and providing remote workers with the necessary training, resources, and feedback to enhance competence and improve well-being.

The Differences In Emotional Intelligence Within Schools That Have Adopted Glasser’S Choice Theory: A Causal-Comparative Analysis, Leaja Hartman Horne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if statistically significant differences exist in the emotional intelligence (EI) of students in classrooms that have adopted Glasser’s choice theory (CT) compared to schools that have not (NCT). CT, the guiding theory, defines social-emotional learning (SEL) practices and seeks to improve relationships, internal locus of control, and motivation while fostering an engaged learning environment. Research clarifies the need for social-emotional health to support academic achievement; however, the specifics of these relationships require further clarification. The participants were a convenience sample of 59 private and public elementary school students from North …

Does Institutional Response Matter? A Qualitative Study Of Child Sexual Abuse Within Southern Baptist Convention-Affiliated Churches, Bonnie Colleen Wetzel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Child sexual abuse (CSA) affects approximately one in four girls and one in 20 boys in the US, with 91% of perpetrators being known to the child (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). This instrumental case study explored how adult female CSA survivors (N=9) perceive their experiences and institutional responses within Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)- affiliated churches. Data collection involved Zoom interviews, journal prompts, and focus groups. Two research questions guided the study: How do adult survivors perceive their experiences of abuse within SBC-affiliated churches? And how do they perceive the church's response following disclosure? Betrayal Trauma Theory (Freyd, …

Commencement Program 2025, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

2 | Message from the President

3 | 2025 Events of Commencement

5 | The Academic Procession

6 | Institutional Administration

7 | Board of Trustees

8 | Significance of Academic Regalia

9 | University History Highlights

11 | Criteria for Institutional Awards

13 | Loma Linda University Health and Loma Linda University Honorees

The Programs, The School Honorees, and The Speakers

29 | School of Medicine

50 | School of Pharmacy

63 | School of Dentistry

81 | School of Public Health

94 | San Manuel Gateway College

101 | School of Allied Health Professions - Allied Health …

Punishing Pregnancy Loss: Miscarriage Criminalization As An Embodied Carceral Practice, Robin O'Hanlon

Publications and Research

The persecution of Brittany Watts, a 34-year-old Black Ohio woman arrested in September 2023 after experiencing a miscarriage, is emblematic of pregnancy loss criminalization as an embodied carceral practice. In the United States, the expansion of “fetal personhood” laws, coupled with a desire to punish imperfect pregnancies, have coalesced to produce policies and practices which actively police and criminalize pregnancy loss. The carceral regime of fetal personhood is further reinforced by medical paternalism and surveillance. I argue that the policies and practices which police pregnancy loss are rooted in a series of carceral logics, which are in turn reinforced by …

Kenyon Collegian - May 1, 2025

The Kenyon Collegian

No abstract provided.

Reuben Hersh's What Is Mathematics, Really? (Book Review), Calvin Jongsma

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Reuben Hersh’s 1997 book What is Mathematics, Really? popularized a trend in the philosophy of mathematics that was gaining some traction at the time it was written. This essay examines Hersh’s work within the broader historical context of 19th- and 20th-century developments in mathematics and philosophy of mathematics. It also focuses on Hersh’s antagonism toward the influence of religion on (philosophy of) mathematics, concluding by briefly considering two positions taken by Christian mathematicians associated with ACMS in defense of such a connection.

Setting Up Students For Success: Analysis Of Effectiveness For Mathematics Placement, Jeff Carvell, Jason N.E. Ho, Dave Klanderman, Sarah Klanderman

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

How do we effectively and equitably place students into math classes in a way that provides them the best chance of success? As many higher education institutions veer away from placement based on standardized testing, many departments are seeking placement alternatives that will properly support students. Additionally, math placement determines not only a student’s mathematics courses but also influences their progress in related fields, including physics, chemistry, engineering, and more. This paper will describe three different existing placement systems at each of our liberal arts institutions as well as the affordances and constraints of each approach. Further, we analyze data …

Longitudinal Analysis Of Foodborne Disease Outbreaks In Saudi Arabia: Trends And Demographic Patterns (2017-2023), Hissah A. Alzahrani

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To explore the long-term patterns of foodborne disease outbreaks (FBDOs) in Saudi Arabia between 2017-2023 using longitudinal data analysis models. Methods: A 7-year longitudinal study was carried out on FBDO data from all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia. This study examined 5 outcomes: the number of FBDOs, FBDO cases, and FBDO cases classified by gender, nationality, and age groups. The analysis used generalized estimating equations and generalized linear mixed models based on a negative binomial distribution. Results: The findings revealed a significant decrease in FBDO counts and cases from 2017-2020, followed by an increase until 2023. Public sources …

The Factors Affecting Comfort And The Comfort Levels Of Patients Hospitalized In The Coronary Intensive Care Unit: A Descriptive-Analytical Study, Esin S. Dogan, Cansu K. Sahin, Meral Besli, Ozlem E. Yildirim

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To determine comfort levels and the factors affecting the comfort of patients hospitalized in the coronary intensive care unit (CICU). Methods: This descriptive, analytical study was carried out between May 2023 and May 2024 in a university hospital in Manisa, Turkey. The sample consisted of 275 patients. Data were collected using the Patient Information Form and General Comfort (GC) questionnaire. Results: The mean patient overall comfort score was 2.09±0.23. The GC levels were higher in males, those who lived alone, were retired, were hospitalized in intensive care due to myocardial infarction or dysrhythmia, and those hospitalized due to …

Experience Of Pediatric Liver Disease At A University Hospital In Western Saudi Arabia, Nawal H. Almohammad, Rana Y. Bokhary

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To describe the diverse spectrum presented by pediatric liver diseases and prevalence of histopathological patterns and assess the role of histopathological findings in predicting prognosis. Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort study of 158 pediatric patients who underwent liver biopsy or resection for liver disease at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2014-2023). Demographic data, clinical data, and histopathological findings were analyzed using counts and percentages. Results: The majority of the patients were infants (n=83; 52.5%), with male predominance (n=97; 61.4%). Biopsies were the most common specimen type (n=137; 86.7%). Cholestatic/bile duct disorders were the most …

Trends In The Prevalence Of Orofacial Clefts Among Hispanic Infants In The Rio Grande Valley Of Texas (1997-2018), Yossef Alsabawi, Aaron Dadzie, Kelsey Baker

School of Medicine Publications

Background Orofacial clefts (OFCs), including the cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLP) and cleft palate alone (CP), represent significant congenital anomalies with implications for feeding, speech, and psychosocial development. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of Texas, a predominantly Hispanic region that faces socioeconomic and healthcare challenges, may have a distinct OFC profile compared to non-border counties (NBCs) of Texas. Methods Prevalence data with 95% confidence intervals for OFCs from 1997 to 2018 were obtained from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Definitions provided by the DSHS were adhered to, including only definite diagnoses. Given the large …

Misconceptions Among Mental Health Treatment Providers About Ocd And Ptsd, Caitlin M Pinciotti, Gabriella T Ponzini, Gianna M Colombo, Carmen P Mclean, Terri L Fletcher, Natalie E Hundt, Lauren P Wadsworth, Nathaniel Van Kirk, Stephanie Y Wells, Jonathan S Abramowitz, Wayne K Goodman, Eric A Storch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) share overlapping features for which similar cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) strategies can be employed. However, the comorbid presence of these conditions poses unique clinical considerations, and a nuanced approach to assessment, conceptualization, and treatment is needed when working with individuals with co-occurring OCD and PTSD. Treatment providers may not be aware of these nuances and may hold misconceptions about co-occurring OCD and PTSD, impacting their approach to assessment, conceptualization, and treatment. The current study sought to examine possible misconceptions among mental health treatment providers of differing specializations. Among 146 primarily CBT-oriented treatment …

Multidisciplinary Care In Body Contouring: An Integrative Approach To Enhancing Outcomes, Jacob Dinis, Sofia C Perez Otero, Diego M Quirarte, Winston R Owens, Sebastian J Winocour

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Body contouring procedures have become increasingly common to meet the growing demand for aesthetic surgery, particularly in the context of bariatrics. Massive weight loss (MWL) patients are complex and often require extensive management of comorbidities, malnutrition status, physical debilitation, and psychological sequelae. Patient optimization prior to body contouring surgery in addition to strict postoperative maintenance are crucial to achieve favorable and sustainable outcomes. Surgical candidates should be screened thoroughly, and in the MWL patient population specifically, multidisciplinary care is needed for proper evaluation and support. Notable specialists that routinely contribute in MWL and body contouring patient care include plastic surgeons, …

Multidisciplinary Team Care In Plastic Surgery: Vascular Anomalies, Josephine L Schmidt, Vamsi C Mohan, Richard Appel, Tara L Rosenberg, Jessica A Ching

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Vascular anomalies consist of a wide range of diagnoses relating to abnormal vasculature. These lesions can affect a variety of anatomical structures, requiring the expertise of numerous specialists. Over the past few decades, the formation of multidisciplinary vascular anomalies clinics has allowed patients to meet multiple providers within the same clinic visit, leading to improved communication between patients and providers. Furthermore, diagnostic and treatment plans are discussed in multidisciplinary conferences allowing for enhanced diagnostic accuracy and more comprehensive management plans. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the multidisciplinary management of vascular anomalies, including descriptions of …

Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial And Feasibility Study Of An Oral Probiotic Intervention To Reduce Group B Streptococcus Colonization In Pregnant People By The Time Of Birth, Katrina Nardini, Lisa Hanson, Noelle Borders, Maharaj Singh, Anna Shields, Victoria Y. Trujillo, Robyn Lawton, Emily Malloy

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

The purpose of this midwife-led study was to determine the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of probiotics to reduce group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization by the time of birth in healthy, GBS-positive, pregnant adults.

Methods

An open-label randomized clinical trial comparing Florajen Digestion, a commercially available combination oral probiotic, with usual care (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04721912) was conducted in a midwifery practice serving a racially and ethnically diverse population. Eligible patients who tested positive for GBS at routine third-trimester screening were offered informed consent and participation. The primary outcome was feasibility for a larger RCT, including feasibility of probiotic …

Cross-Tissue Coordination Between Slc Nucleoside Transporters Regulates Reproduction In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Youchen Guan, Yong Yu, Shihong M Gao, Lang Ding, Qian Zhao, Meng C Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Metabolism is fundamental to organism physiology and pathology. From the intricate network of metabolic reactions, diverse chemical molecules, collectively termed metabolites, are produced. In multicellular organisms, metabolite communication between different tissues is vital for maintaining homeostasis and adaptation. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating these metabolite communications remain poorly understood. Here, we focus on nucleosides and nucleotides, essential metabolites involved in multiple cellular processes, and report the pivotal role of the SLC29A family of transporters in mediating nucleoside coordination between the soma and the germline. Through genetic analysis, we discovered that two Caenorhabditis elegans homologs of SLC29A transporters, Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter …

Bribery Law: Is Anything Left?, Richard W. Painter

Cardozo Law Review

Part I of this Article discusses the traditional understanding of bribery that existed at common law at the time of the Founding and presumably is embodied in the reference to bribery in the Impeachment Clause of the Constitution. Part I additionally discusses the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which prohibits holders of federal office from receiving gifts, offices, and emoluments from foreign governments without consent of Congress. Part II discusses recent judicial developments weakening the traditional notion of bribery. Specifically, Section II.A discusses how the Supreme Court has narrowed the definition of bribery in the federal criminal code. Section II.B …

Functions Of Communication During Emergency Care Of Children With Medical Complexity: Caregiver Perspectives, Julia A Ciurria, Jennifer Reyes Lin, Cassandra M Pruitt, Bryan A Sisk

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: We investigated communication experiences of caregivers of children with medical complexity (CMC) during emergency care.

METHODS: Fifteen caregivers of CMC participated in semi-structured interviews regarding communication while seeking care for their child in the emergency department (ED). Thematic analysis was applied using a previously established functional communication model as an a priori framework.

RESULTS: Each of the previously established 8 core functions of communication were identified in this population. "Building relationships" manifested as clinicians soliciting caregiver input and responding to the needs of the caregiver. "Exchanging information" included clearly explaining next steps to caregivers. "Responding to emotions" acknowledged the …

"They Gave Me One Star?" An Analysis Of Online Reviews Of Hand Surgeons, Stephen J Demartini, Brendan J Navarro, Christopher J Dy

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Measures of patient satisfaction are growing in importance. Patients can use online review websites as opportunities to both praise and criticize their physicians and health care experience. We examined "one star" reviews of American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) members, with the hypothesis that the types of complaints would differ based on patient management and physician gender (based on social identity).

METHODS: We assembled a list of ASSH members in the Midwest region using the ASSH "Find a Hand Surgeon" tool. We then screened three online physician rating websites, including Yelp.com, Healthgrades.com, and Vitals.com, for physician profiles …

Integrating Blockchain Technology Into Telemedicine: A Framework For Enhancing Data Privacy And Security, Harsha Sammangi, Aditya Jagatha, Jun Liu

Research & Publications

This paper presents a blockchain-based framework designed to enhance data privacy, integrity, and security in telemedicine systems. The proposed architecture employs distributed ledger technology to ensure transparency, traceability, and immutability of patient data exchanges among healthcare providers. Smart contracts automate access permissions and auditing processes, reducing the risks of unauthorized data sharing. The study evaluates the framework’s performance in secure data handling, highlighting blockchain’s role in fostering patient trust and resilience against cyberattacks in remote healthcare environments.

Decentralized Multi-Hop Federated Reinforcement Learning For Energy-Efficient And Secure Routing In Lorawan-Based Smart City Infrastructure, Harsha Sammangi, Aditya Jagatha, Jun Liu

Research & Publications

This paper proposes a decentralized hybrid framework that integrates Federated Learning (FL) and Reinforcement Learning (RL) to enable energy-efficient and secure multi-hop routing in LoRaWAN-based smart city networks. The method allows local model training at gateways and relay nodes, combining real-time routing decisions with privacy-preserving federated aggregation. Key metrics such as residual energy, link quality, and node trust levels are embedded into the reward function, and lightweight encryption plus differential privacy safeguard routing metadata. Simulation results demonstrate substantial gains in packet-delivery ratio, latency, network lifetime and resilience to adversarial attacks when compared to traditional routing protocols.

Sentiment-Driven Decision Support Systems: A Word Embedding Approach To Analyzing Ceo Earnings Call Transcripts And Stock Market Reactions, Harsha Sammangi, Aditya Jagatha, Hari Gopal Maddireddy

Research & Publications

This study presents a sentiment-driven Decision Support System (DSS) that leverages advanced word embedding techniques—Word2Vec, GloVe, and BERT—to analyze CEO earnings call transcripts and predict stock market reactions. Tra- ditional lexicon-based sentiment models fail to capture the nuanced, contextual language used by executives. By employing pre- trained embeddings and machine learning classifiers, the study enhances the accuracy of sentiment classification. The proposed system integrates quantitative sentiment scores with event study method- ology to assess the impact of CEO tone on stock performance. Thematic analysis further enriches interpretability by identifying recurring patterns in executive com- munication. Results demonstrate that positive CEO …

A Hierarchical Soft Computational Model For Optimizing Agricultural Uavs: Recruiting Neutrosophic Theory And Tree Soft Sets, Mona Mohamed, Nurhan Alaa, Bilal Arain, Karam M. Sallam

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Precision agriculture is being transformed by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which make it possible for yield optimization, targeted spraying, and sophisticated crop monitoring. With an emphasis on their operational capabilities, economic feasibility, and environmental implications, this research explores the revolutionary potential of UAV technology in contemporary farming systems. Practically speaking, the procedure of opting UAVs for agricultural applications is complicated by several competing aspects, inherent uncertainties, and differing stakeholder agendas. This paper suggests a new hybrid decision framework that combines Tree Soft Sets (TrSS), Neutrosophic theory, and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) to methodically handle these issues. Hence, the robust hybrid model …

Triple-Valued Neutrosophic Set, Quadruple-Valued Neutrosophic Set, Quintuple-Valued Neutrosophic Set, And Double-Valued Indetermsoft Set, Takaaki Fujita

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

Concepts such as Fuzzy Sets, Neutrosophic Sets, Rough Sets, and Plithogenic Sets have been extensively studied to address uncertainty, finding diverse applications across various fields. A Double-Valued Neutrosophic Set (DVNS) extends traditional neutrosophic sets by introducing two distinct indeterminacy components: one leaning towards truth and the other towards falsity. In this paper, we explore Triple-Valued Neutrosophic Sets, Quadruple-Valued Neutrosophic Sets, and Quintuple-Valued Neutrosophic Sets, as well as an extension of the Indetermsoft Set, termed the Double-Valued Indetermsoft Set. Note that related concepts such as the Multi-Valued Neutrosophic Set and the n-Valued Refined Neutrosophic Set have already been established.

The Right To Grow Old, Jamal Greene

Faculty Scholarship

This chapter considers the status of a constitutional “right to grow old” under the US Constitution. Understood as a “positive” right – ensuring a certain minimum quality of life to people as they face the challenges of aging – such a right may seem unavailing given the austerity in respect to such rights that many lawyers associate with the US constitutional tradition. This chapter shows this view to be premature, at least. Unlike the kinds of positive rights overtly rejected in prior cases, such as rights to certain forms of social welfare or to racial equality, a right to grow …

Trump Attacks On Climate Science May Violate Numerous Federal Laws, Michael B. Gerrard

Faculty Scholarship

Starting on its first day on January 20, 2025, the second Trump administration has launched an unprecedented rollback of efforts to fight climate change. The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law’s Climate Backtracker already has 117 items.

Much of this is aimed at scientific research on climate change, or has the effect of inhibiting the conduct and dissemination of this research. Many of these actions may also violate federal laws.

This article discusses these actions, some of their legal implications, and the litigation challenges that have already been brought. It begins with actions that are specifically aimed at climate research, …

Minimizing Secondary Spinal Cord Injuries With Hypertonic Saline., Francisco A. Cortez-Thomas

Master of Engineering Theses

Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts white matter, causing periaxonal swelling, axonal degeneration, and impaired function. To examine vascular edema’s role, we developed a 3Dprinted dual-compartment imaging chamber to mimic and manipulate interstitial and vascular fluid dynamics in real time. We hypothesized that hypertonic saline (HTS) in the "vascular" chamber would osmotically shift fluid from the periaxonal space and preserve myelinated fibers after SCI. Using two-photon excitation microscopy, we imaged myelin and axons ex vivo in Thy1^YFP+ transgenic mice following C5 contusive SCI and assessed three clinically relevant HTS concentrations versus normal saline for their effectiveness in mitigating periaxonal swelling …