Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Ourselves And Others: A Social Psychology Approach, Whitney Whitaker Ph.D., Noba Project

All Open Educational Resources

This book is a compilation of Open Education Resources for the use in an undergraduate level social psychology course at Fort Hays State University.

Unpacking Treatment Effect Heterogeneity In A Large-Scale Dropout Prevention Experiment, Thomas Dee, Chloe R. Gibbs, Rebecca Margolit-Chan, Lillian Morrell, James X. Sullivan

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

Timely high school completion is a critical step in successful transitions to post-secondary schooling and the labor market. This randomized controlled trial, deployed in two urban, disadvantaged school districts, tests the effectiveness of a mature and comprehensive student-support program on an unusually large scale (n=2,528). While overall effects on graduation rates are small and statistically insignificant, exploratory analyses reveal notable variation by site and over time, mirroring heterogeneity in treatment timing and program implementation. These findings highlight the challenges of scaling interventions and raise concerns about generalizing results from small-scale, single-site evaluations.

Mindful End-Of-Unit Reflection Assignments, Brett Whysel

Open Educational Resources

This is an open educational resource: a set of 14 end-of-module mindfulness reflection prompts, designed to help students turn course content into applied, embodied learning. Each prompt asks students to briefly ground themselves (breathe), then either engage in a short, guided mindfulness exercise tied to that module's content, or answer a more traditional alternate reflection question, before responding in whatever format suits them.

Biochemical And Histological Assessment Of Oral Wound Healing Using Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles-Hyaluronic Acid Composite Gel In Rat Models, Shahida Rasoul Husain, Amal Hanna Aziz, Treefa Farouq Ismail

Baghdad Science Journal

Oral wound healing is a complex biological process involving coordinated inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases. Recent advances in nanotechnology and biomaterials have highlighted the potential of composite formulations to enhance tissue repair. This study aimed to evaluate the biochemical and histological effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and hyaluronic acid (HA) composite gel on oral wound healing in rat models. Green-synthesized ZnO NPs, prepared using Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract, were gradually incorporated into methylcellulose (MC) and commercially available HA gels. The physicochemical characterization of the composite gel was assessed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy …

Staff Education To Improve Knowledge Of Standardized Scheduling In A Certified Home Health Agency, Roger Nounamo Kamkoumeu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this staff education project, I addressed the concerning rate of missed patient visits in home healthcare settings. At the practicum site, there has been no education program addressing scheduling and communication best practices for staff. The practice-focused question guiding this project was: Among nursing staff in a home health agency, does implementation of a staff education program on a standardized scheduling and reminder protocol, improve staff knowledge of missed visit reduction practices? The purpose of the project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the staff training on staff knowledge of scheduling, communication, and reminder protocols for the reduction of …

Relationship Between Sociodemographic Factors And Opioid Overdose Mortality In Milwaukee County, 2020-2021, Elizabeth David

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Opioid overdose deaths increased significantly from 2020 to 2021, with Milwaukee County experiencing higher rates than the national and state averages. African American and Hispanic residents faced disproportionately high fatal overdose rates. The purpose of this quantitative retrospective cross-sectional study was to examine the associations among socioeconomic status, race, age, access to treatment (measured by emergency medical services [EMS] naloxone administration), and opioid overdose mortality among underserved minority populations in Milwaukee County. Guided by the social-ecological model, the study analyzed data from the Milwaukee Health Department and the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office across 34 ZIP codes. Inclusion criteria for …

Knowledge Of Parents About Thalassemia In Tabuk City: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sawsan Mohammed Alblewi, Amirah M. Alatawi, Ehab Mahmoud Hanafy, Faisal Mayudh Althobaiti, Abdulelah Hamad Al-Balawi, Faisal Mohammed Alamrani, Yazeed Mahmoud Ajwah, Omar Muslih Albalawi, Mohammed Majed Alquayr, Sultan Ibrahim Alhamdi

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Thalassemia is a common inherited blood disorder and remains a significant public health concern in Saudi Arabia. Parental knowledge is essential for effective prevention, screening, and early intervention. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of thalassemia among parents in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia, and identify factors associated with knowledge levels.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 392 parents residing in Tabuk City between March and May 2025. Data were collected using a validated Arabic questionnaire distributed online. Knowledge was assessed using 21 items covering general thalassemia knowledge, thalassemia major, carrier status, and prevention. Knowledge levels …

Osteoporosis Knowledge, Health Beliefs, And Calcium Intake Among Malaysian Chinese Adults In Perak: A Cross-Sectional Study, Thean Hui Ru, Nurul Aimi Ab Kadir, Fatin Izzaty Mohd Shahrin

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: The Malaysian Chinese population records the highest national prevalence of osteoporotic hip fractures. This study investigated the relationships between osteoporosis knowledge, health beliefs, and calcium intake among Malaysian Chinese adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 205 Malaysian Chinese adults in Kampar, Perak, using the adapted Osteoporosis Prevention and Awareness Tool (OPAAT), Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS), and a 30-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ).

Results: Participants demonstrated low osteoporosis knowledge (6.84 ± 2.92), with low perceived susceptibility (14.87 ± 5.00), moderate perceived seriousness (17.81 ± 5.20), and barriers to calcium intake (15.61 ± 4.15), and …

E-Health Literacy And Cyberchondria Severity Among Adolescent High School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study, Seyda Çavmak, Adem Bilgin

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Amid rapid digitalization and the growing use of artificial intelligence-based search engines, adolescents increasingly seek health information online. This study examined the relationship between high school students' e-health literacy and their cyberchondria tendencies.

Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional study included 683 students from public high schools in Mersin, Türkiye. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the e-Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS), and the Cyberchondria Severity Scale Short Form (CSS-12). Descriptive statistics, comparative tests, and Pearson correlation were applied (p < 0.05).

Results: Students' e-health literacy and cyberchondria severity were moderate. Significant positive correlations emerged between e-health literacy …

E-Cigarette Awareness, Usage Patterns, And Sociodemographic Determinants Among Malaysians Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study, Izdihar Kamal, Nabilah Mohd Abd Wahab, Nurul Mawaddah Mohammad, Rashidi Ahmad, Muhammad Khalis Abdul Karim, Hatikahaty Mohd Diah, Munirah Ahmad Dahari, Nur Biha Mohamed Nafis, Mohd Faris Abdullah Sani, Sulayman Muhammad Kabeer, Nur Biha Mohamed Nafis, Juliana Mohd Radzi

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among Malaysian adolescents is rising rapidly, raising significant public health concerns. This study assessed awareness, understanding of risk, and e-cigarette use among secondary school students in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, and identified sociodemographic predictors of use.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 323 students from three government secondary schools using a validated questionnaire. Data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Results: Nearly one-third (31.9%, N = 103) reported prior e-cigarette use. Although 63.2% (N = 204) demonstrated good awareness, only 14.6% (N = 47) understood associated health risks. Peers …

Validity And Reliability Of The Turkish Nursing Students’ Self-Perceptions About Safe Medication Management, Derya Şimşekli, Bedriye Cansu Koyunoğlu, Elanur Yilmaz Karabulutlu

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Safe medication management is central to nursing education and patient safety. To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no validated Turkish instrument specifically designed to assess nursing students’ self-perceptions regarding safe medication management. This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Nursing Students’ Self-Perceptions about Safe Medication Management (NURSPeM).

Methods: This methodological study was conducted at a single university using convenience sampling. Data were collected from a sample of 400 nursing students using the NURSPeM. Construct validity was examined with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Internal consistency was evaluated …

Assessing Healthcare Access Among Overweight And Obese Individuals In Türkiye Using Latent Variable Modeling, Banu Beyaz Sipahi

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Overweight and obesity are critical determinants of healthcare access, yet evidence on how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped these dynamics in Türkiye remains limited. This study investigates whether the early post-pandemic recovery period altered healthcare access patterns for individuals with excess weight.

Methods: Using nationally representative microdata from the 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2022 Turkish Health Surveys, we constructed a latent Healthcare Access Index based on six indicators of unmet care needs. Probit models were estimated to assess associations between BMI categories and healthcare access, controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors. The 2022 wave serves as the early …

Physical Activity Intensity And Memory In Middle-Aged And Older Adults In China, Simi Tang, Yucheng Gao

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Memory decline represents a major challenge in aging populations, and physical activity may help preserve cognitive function. However, evidence on whether different activity intensities are associated with memory remains inconclusive.

Methods: Using five waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2020), this study investigated the association between physical activity intensity and memory among middle-aged and older adults in China. Individual fixed-effects models were applied to control for unobserved time-invariant heterogeneity. The outcome was memory score, and the main predictors encompassed high-, moderate-, and low-intensity physical activities.

Results: Based on 52,135 person–wave observations from 21,423 …

Rodrigo’S Weather Report: Is The Sky Falling?, Richard Delgado

Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality

In the latest installment of the Rodrigo series, the main character and his straight man discuss what has come to be called sanewashing, focusing on the Administration’s many contrived emergencies to accomplish objectives that would otherwise be flatly illegal.

Explicit Reading Comprehension Instruction: Developing An Evidence-Based Resource Guide For Upper Elementary Teachers, Amanda M. Moser

Masters Projects

Reading comprehension is a complex process that requires more than accurate decoding and word recognition. Many elementary students benefit from explicit instruction in the cognitive, linguistic, and metacognitive processes that support comprehension. The purpose of this project was to examine research on reading comprehension and develop evidence-based instructional resources for upper elementary teachers. The theoretical framework for this project draws on four perspectives: the Constructive-Integration Model (Kintsch, as discussed in Conner et al., 2016), Transactional Theory (Rosenblatt, 1978), Sociocultural Theory (Vygotsky, as discussed in Palincsar et al., 1987), and the Active View of Reading (Duke & Cartwright, 2021). Collectively, these …

Lightweight End-To-End Cryptographic Framework With Semantic Qos For Ar-Based Telesurgery, Pavan Kumar Satram

Masters Theses

This thesis presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a lightweight end-to-end cryptographic framework integrated with a semantic quality-of-service classification system for augmented reality based telesurgery. Telesurgery can deliver expert surgical care to underserved populations, but adoption has been limited by unresolved cybersecurity, network performance, and resilience challenges. The core tension is that strong encryption adds latency that may exceed the clinical safety threshold, while unencrypted systems remain vulnerable to attacks that could endanger patients during live procedures.

The framework addresses this tension through a dual-edge security middlebox that performs per-flow encryption using semantically selected ciphers: AES-128-GCM for latency-critical haptic …

Staff Education On Improving Medication Adherence, Oneil Dobgima Galega

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project addressed a practice gap in an outpatient behavioral health setting involving inconsistent use of structured communication strategies to support medication adherence among psychiatric patients. Although nurses routinely provided medication instructions, approaches such as motivational interviewing and psychoeducation were underutilized, limiting patient engagement, understanding, and adherence, and ultimately affecting care continuity and outcomes. The purpose of the project was to improve psychiatric nurses’ knowledge and intent to use motivational interviewing and psychoeducation to enhance medication adherence. The guiding practice-focused question examined whether a structured educational intervention could strengthen nurses’ competencies in these communication strategies. …

Strategies For Reducing Employee Turnover In Retail Business, Mia Bulger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Strategies for Reducing Employee Turnover in Retail Business by Mia S. Bulger MS, University of Phoenix, 2022 BS, Clark Atlanta University, 2005 Qualitative Pragmatic Inquiry Business Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University August 2026

African American Fathers’ Experiences Of Emotional Distress Within The Context Of Black Masculinity After Their Children’S Autism Diagnosis, John Notice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although parental experiences following a child's autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis have been examined, mothers’ experiences have garnered the most exploration, with comparatively less attention given to fathers’ experiences. There was a gap in knowledge, in particular, on how African American (AA) fathers experience their children's ASD diagnoses while navigating emotional distress within the context of Black masculinity. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how AA fathers experienced their children's ASD diagnoses while navigating emotional distress within the context of Black masculinity. Crenshaw's intersectionality theory served as the conceptual framework. Data were collected by conducting semistructured …

Strategies For Managing Change In Home Health Care Businesses, Halbert Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Home health care agencies may experience financial hardship when regulatory inspections result in deficiencies and administrative penalties. Home health company (HHC) leaders are concerned because ineffective change management strategies may contribute to ongoing regulatory deficiencies, penalties, and reduced business performance. Grounded in Lewin’s change management theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore change management strategies some HHC owners successfully implemented to reduce administrative deficiencies and penalties to augment business performance and profitability. The participants were six leaders from HHC firms in the southwestern region of the United States who had developed effective strategies to improve …

Staff Education To Improve Central Line Maintenance Documentation Compliance, Martha Danette Oglesby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This was a staff education quality improvement project aimed at improving compliance with central line maintenance documentation among nurses on a busy transitional care unit (TCU). The practice problem was inconsistent documentation of central line bundle documentation. Documentation is an important part of nursing care and is the most effective way to communicate the care provided. Effective documentation is a pivotal way of identifying evidence-based care to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). The practice-focused question was, In nursing staff working on an inpatient TCU, what is the impact of targeted education on evidence-based central venous catheter bundle care documentation, …

Staff Education To Improve Behavioral Health Integration In Primary Care, Nelly Endah Atu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project addressed a persistent gap in the delivery of integrated physical and mental healthcare for patients with co-occurring conditions. Fragmented care in primary care contributes to untreated mental health needs, increased patient distress, higher costs, and poor outcomes. The aim of this project was to develop, deliver, and evaluate a staff education program equipping nurses, nurse practitioners, and interdisciplinary team members with the knowledge, skills, and practical strategies needed to improve behavioral health integration in primary care. The practice question was, among interdisciplinary staff in a community health setting, did the implementation of an evidence-based, ADDIE-designed staff …

The Effect Of Aerobic Exercise On Cognitive Function In Individuals With Alzheimer’S Disease, Brianna Pawlowski

Doctorate in Kinesiology

This study investigated the impact of aerobic exercise on cognitive function, anxiety and depression in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Using a quasi – experimental design, the data were collected from 11 participants from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in an assisted living nursing home with mild to early – stage Alzheimer’s disease. This study was conducted over a 15 – week period. The experimental group (n=7) participated in 150 – minutes per week of chair fitness or cardio dancing while. The control group (n=4) maintained their usual daily routines. Cognitive function was tested using a Montreal Cognitive Assessment at the baseline and post …

Monitoring Of Plankton And The Symbiosis In Maintaining Fertility In Tropical Water, Luthfiana Aprilianita Sari, Fio Surya Pratama Semendo Panhar, Naufal Falatehan, Fitrul Azizi Firdaus, Octavia Kartika Sari, Nurul Ashikin Abdullah, Felipe Polivanov Ottoni, Sulastri Arsad, Veryl Hasan, Syifania Hanifah Samara

Baghdad Science Journal

Plankton serve as live food for aquatic organisms and are indicators of water fertility, which is related to its abundance and diversity. Some live feeds also form a symbiotic relationship with macroalgae, known as epiphytic plankton, which is found in estuarine waters. The Brondong estuary area, Brondong District, Lamongan, East Java, with abundant Caulerpa sp. macroalgae, exemplifies these characteristics. This study aimed to identify the abundance, diversity, uniformity, and dominance indices of zooplankton, epiphytic microalgae, phytoplankton, and chlorophyll a in the Brondong estuary. Given that research on identifying epiphytic plankton species attached to Caulerpa sp. is lacking, this study investigates …

Dung Removal And Tunneling Contributions: Ecomorphological Traits And Functional Performance Of Onthophagus Gazella And Onthophagus Ramosellus, Takhmina Nazir, Mubashar Hussain

Baghdad Science Journal

Dung beetles perform various functions in ecosystems, such as nutrient cycling, aeration of soil, and dung burial activities that increase soil properties. Genus Onthophagus is well known for its role in dung removal and decomposition. We appraised the role of Onthophagus ramosellus and Onthophagus gazella in dung removal under field conditions. Species-specific functional features like body size and dry body weight associate these dung beetle species with tunneling depth and dung removal. We installed mesocosms (18 cm height and 12 cm diameter) at three sites in district Gujrat, i.e., Chak, Chopala, and Kot Mir Hussain. Treatment groups used in the …

Synthesis And Characterization Of A Novel Crystal Complex Of Copper(Ii) With A Tridentate Schiff Base, Bushra Mohan, Naser Shaalan

Baghdad Science Journal

This study presents a simple method for synthesizing a novel distorted octahedral copper(II) compound. The structural and electronic properties of the compound were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). A three-coordinate Schiff base ligand (NNO system) was synthesized by condensation and fully characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR), carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C-NMR), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), thermogravimetric/differential gravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), and elemental analysis (CHN). The ligand is linked to the copper(II) ion via pyridine nitrogen, azomethine nitrogen, and enol oxygen, forming five-membered rings. The crystal structure reveals …

Ph-Driven Structural Optimization Of Hydroxyapatite/Alginate Composites For Sustained Clindamycin Release And Antibacterial Applications, Wulandari Wulandari, Novesar Jamarun, Diana Vanda Wellia, Emriadi Emriadi, Miftahul Fikriyah, Vivi Sisca

Baghdad Science Journal

Bacterial infections, especially those caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, still pose a significant challenge for biomedical applications, such as the management of wound and bone infections. This investigation aimed to prepare and characterize hydroxyapatite–alginate (HAp/Alg) composites from bamboo shell waste at several synthesis pHs (7–10) and to study their potential as clindamycin-loaded antibacterial drug delivery systems. XRD results showed that hydroxyapatite was the main crystalline phase in all samples, while FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of both hydroxyapatite and alginate in the composite. As a result, the smallest crystallite size of HAp/Alg-10 (21.25 nm) among the composites that …

Data-Driven Staging Of Neurodegenerative Pathology Related To Alzheimer’S Disease, Thomas Earnest

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is a dual proteinopathy exhibiting deposits of extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) and intracellular tau in brain tissue. Models which describe the spatial and temporal trajectories of these pathologies have been invaluable for understanding AD and have the potential to support diagnosis, disease monitoring, and treatment development. Disease staging systems, which provide protocols for assessing individual disease severity based on their extent of brain pathology, have been crucial for explaining and diagnosing AD. However, these systems have been primarily informed by post-mortem histological assessments and are not directly applicable to disease assessment in …

Unfolding Dynamics Of Distractor Suppression Through Reaching Movement Trajectories, Shinhae Ahn

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Efficient visual search requires prioritizing relevant information while suppressing salient but irrelevant distractors that compete for attention. Previous studies have shown that attentional suppression of salient distractors can be modulated by perceptual grouping (Ma & Abrams, 2023) and distractor salience (Stilwell et al., 2023; 2024). However, prior work has relied primarily on discrete keypress or oculomotor measures, such as reaction time, accuracy, and first saccadic destination. Although these measures provide important evidence about whether distractors interfere with or are suppressed during visual search, it still remains unclear how distractor-induced spatial biases emerge and change over the course of the target …

Appellate Oral Argument In The Federal Courts Of Appeals: A Vestige Of The Past, Or A Vital Check On Intuitive Decision-Making?, Jessica K. Webb

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.