Digital Commons Network^™

Compensation Transparency In The U.S. Healthcare Workforce, Brandon Perkins

Honors Projects

This study investigates how perceptions of pay transparency among U.S. healthcare workers relate to work engagement, burnout levels, and intentions to stay with their current institution. A quantitative survey was conducted of 200 clinical and non-clinical employees across academic, nonprofit, for-profit, and government healthcare organizations. Self-reported views of transparency were evaluated in relation to validated measures of work engagement, burnout, stay intentions, and pay secrecy. The results showed that increased perceived compensation transparency was highly connected with greater work engagement and lower levels of burnout. Both engagement and burnout appeared as major indicators of the employees' intentions to stay with …

Ctrl + Alt + Inner Speech: A Verbal–Cognitive Scaffold (Vcs) Model Of Pathways To Computational Thinking, Daisuke Akiba

Publications and Research

This theoretical paper introduces the Verbal–Cognitive Scaffold (VCS) Model, a cognitively inclusive framework which proposes the cognitive architectures underlying computational thinking (CT). Moving beyond monolithic theories of cognition (e.g., executive-function and metacognitive control models), the VCS Model posits inner speech (InSp) as the predominant cognitive pathway supporting CT operations in neurotypical populations. Synthesizing interdisciplinary scholarship across cognitive science, computational theory, neurodiversity research, and others, this framework articulates distinct mechanisms through which InSp supports CT. The model specifies four primary pathways linking InSp to CT components: verbal working memory supporting decomposition, symbolic representation facilitating pattern recognition and abstraction, sequential processing enabling …

Minutes, Curriculum Committee Meeting, Friday, December 02, 2025, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Access To Care Barriers To Sacral Neuromodulation Implantation In Adults With Overactive Bladder From Georgia, Tamara Lynn Wojciechowski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is a safe and physically well-tolerated third-line treatment using an implantable device for the management of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB). Other first- and second-line treatments for OAB are frequently ineffective and often poorly tolerated. SNM implantation appears to be underutilized compared to other third-line treatments even though SNM has been rated more effective in OAB symptom mitigation with fewer side effects. Thus, the purpose of this quantitative correlational cross-sectional study was to explore whether health services factors are barriers to utilizing SNM implantation as the third-line treatment for OAB in adults. Andersen’s behavioral model of health services …

Quality Improvement Project: Provider Education On An Evidence-Based Clinical Pathway For Diagnosing Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oluwadayo B. Adeyemo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Accurate diagnosis of adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) remains challenging in outpatient behavioral health settings, as variations in clinician training, diagnostic tools, and assessment methods can hinder accuracy and delay treatment. At the project site, providers reported low confidence and inconsistent use of standardized tools when evaluating adult ADHD, underscoring a critical need for structured education to improve diagnostic consistency and provider confidence. This quality-improvement (QI) project assessed the impact of an educational intervention on provider knowledge, confidence, and utilization of validated screening tools for adult ADHD. Guided by Donabedian’s Model of Quality Improvement and Lewin’s Change Theory, the project …

Quality Improvement Project: The Impact Of Genetic Testing Education For Mental Health Providers In An Outpatient Clinic, Ifeoma Uzoh-Anigbogu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Despite growing evidence supporting the use of genetic screening in psychiatric medication management, many mental health providers lack the confidence and knowledge to utilize this tool effectively. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to enhance provider self-efficacy and increase the utilization of genetic screening through a structured education and training program in an outpatient mental health clinic. The purpose of the project was to determine whether provider education on pharmacogenetic testing improves confidence and screening frequency compared to those who do not receive the intervention. The Donabedian Model guided evaluation of structure, process, and outcome measures, while Rogers’ Diffusion of …

Quality Improvement Project: Reducing Hospitalizations In The Long-Term Care Setting, Nenna Nzeocha

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hospitalizations in the long-term care setting can lead to higher costs incurred by skilled nursing home residents and a poorer quality of life. This quality improvement (QI) project evaluated whether an educational intervention on the Reducing Avoidable Facility Transfers (RAFT) model impacted hospitalization rates in the skilled nursing facility (SNF), while also assessing the confidence level of facility staff on the intervention. The project utilized Lewin’s change theory and the Donabedian model framework and was aimed at developing interventions that impact hospitalizations in the SNF using the RAFT model. A quasi-experimental design was used and consisted of a pre-and-post implementation …

Quality Improvement Project: Development And Implementation Of A Structured Certification Support Program And The Impact On Nurses’ Confidence And Medical Surgical Certification Rates, Mary Tran

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Professional nursing certification is an important criterion of Magnet designation, and increased certification rates have been associated with positive patient outcomes. The literature supports peer support and group study as beneficial strategies to assist nurses in preparing for certification exams. A quality improvement project among medical-surgical (med-surg) nurses at a community hospital pursuing Magnet redesignation addressed the lack of formal processes and nursing perceived barriers to certification that may contribute to low certification rates. The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a structured medical-surgical certification support program following the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle utilizing evidence-based strategies, including a …

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Emergency Medication Administration Safety In An Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, Sandra Anusiem

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Psychiatric emergencies contribute to medication safety issues due to increased stress, inconsistent practices, and communication breakdowns. The problem was high rates of medication errors in psychiatric emergencies due to the lack of a structured, standardized medication management protocol. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to reduce medication errors in administering emergency medications in an inpatient psychiatric unit by using the Medication Administration Cross-Check (MACC) checklist. The project was completed using a quasi-experimental research design guided by the Donabedian Model of Healthcare Quality and Lewin’s Change Model. Pretest and posttest knowledge, confidence, attitude, and perceptions were obtained …

Final Butte Mine Waste Repository Geotechnical Investigation Work Plan, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

The Misunderstood Election Of 1876 And Colorado's Rocky Quest For Statehood, Maxwell D. Rotbart

History Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

On December 8, 1873, Representative Jerome B. Chaffee, the non-voting delegate of the Colorado Territory, submitted a proposal in the House of Representatives to make Colorado the 38th state in the Union. What should have been a routine matter — Colorado had the sizable population and economic stability necessary to achieve statehood — dragged on for more than three years. At stake was the outcome of the 1876 presidential election, in which Colorado’s electoral votes had the potential to — and ultimately did — decide which party would control the Executive Branch into the 1880s.

When historians consider the factors …

"Pollution Does Not [Sic] Discriminate": Louisiana V. Epa, Disparate Impact, And The Fight For Environmental Justice In A Hostile Climate, Naomi Brim

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

Human-induced climate change hurts people. Environmental burdens impact a person’s ability to live freely, in good health, and with loved ones. And in the United States, people in positions of political authority and decision-making—who are predominantly white and high-income—use the legal system to push environmental harms disproportionately onto low-income, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities. This has occurred for centuries and continues in the present. A basic sense of justice makes the following conclusion easy to reach: skin color, zip code, and pocketbook should not determine whether someone enjoys a clean and healthful environment.

For plaintiffs seeking relief from …

Activation Of Pro-Regenerative Gene Programs In The Mature Central Nervous System, Elizabeth Carlisle Batsel

Dissertations (1934 -)

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects millions of people worldwide. Damage to the spinal cord disrupts the long-distance axon tracts of central nervous system (CNS) neurons. These axons fail to regenerate, leading to permanent dysfunction. Past work has shown that CNS neurons lose the capacity to elongate their axons as they mature. Conversely, after injury, embryonic and peripheral nervous system (PNS) neurons can elongate axons towards target cells, driven by the growth cone at the growing tip of the axon. Previous research has identified transcription factor (TF) families, such as the SoxC family, that contribute to embryonic and peripheral neurons’ high …

Per Se Driving Under The Influence Of Cannabis Statutes And Blood Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Concentrations Following Short-Term Cannabis Abstinence, Robert L. Fitzgerald, Anya Umlauf, Raymond T. Suhandynata, David J. Grelotti, Marilyn A. Huestis, Kyle F. Mastropietro, Igor Grant, Thomas D. Marcotte

Institute of Emerging Health Professions Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Several US states have per se laws using 2 or 5 ng/mL of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as cutpoints for driving under the influence of cannabis, while some have zero-tolerance statutes. These cutpoints are considered prima facia evidence of driving impairment.

METHODS: In a cohort of people who regularly use cannabis (N = 190) we measured baseline concentrations of THC after instructing participants to abstain from cannabis for at least 48 hours. Baseline driving performance was evaluated using a driving simulator. We also measured blood THC concentrations serially following a smoking session (placebo or active cannabis).

RESULTS: Forty-three percent of the …

Cross Level Effects Of Digitalization And Environment Management On Energy Savings In Chinese Manufacturing Firms, Zijin Wang, Jaime Ortiz, Yuanheng Li, Lingyan Shi

International Business and Entrepreneurship Faculty Publications

The pathway to energy savings requires coordination of technological progress and policy implementation. Specific factors are needed to bridge cross-disciplinary conversations within just one system. Regional public digital infrastructure and enterprises’ environmental management capabilities are incorporated into a research framework on digitalization and energy savings based on the theory of digital ecosystems. A cross-level moderating model is constructed using data from 2014 to 2022 for 650 Chinese enterprises listed in the manufacturing industry to examine the impact of various digital technologies on energy savings, moderating effect of digital infrastructure and the constraint effect of environmental management systems (EMSs). Artificial intelligence …

Bridging Boundaries: Integration Of Culturally Relevant Resources, James D. Ware, Evan W. Stokes

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

This qualitative study examines the impact of culturally relevant resources on student engagement, motivation, and academic achievement in a language arts classroom. Since school curricula are increasingly scrutinized for their ability to reflect the historical and cultural diversity of student populations, this study investigates how integrating culturally relevant pedagogy can enhance learning outcomes. The study explores the student impact of blending culturally relevant teaching materials with traditional educational frameworks to foster a more inclusive and equitable classroom environment. By analyzing student feedback from a writing-intensive English course that utilized culturally relevant resources, the study seeks to provide insights into how …

Internal Control Strategies To Reduce Occupational Fraud In Small Business, Karen Walauskas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses can be at a heightened risk of occupational fraud if their internal control strategies are not effective. This risk is a major concern for small business owners, who might face financial and operational challenges as a result. Grounded in Cressey’s fraud triangle framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore effective internal control strategies to reduce the risk of occupational fraud from occurring. Participants were six small business owners in New England who had developed effective internal controls. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and employee handbooks. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged, including …

Second- Generation Korean American Adults’ Parenting Styles: The Role Of Acculturation And Enculturation, Teri Lynn Ku'ulei Kim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative survey study explored whether acculturation and enculturation predicted parenting styles among second-generation Korean American adults. The study was guided by Berry’s acculturation theory, Kim’s enculturation theory, and Baumrind’s parenting typology. Two research questions were addressed: (a) whether acculturation level predicted parenting style when controlling for parent age, gender, and number of children, and (b) whether enculturation level predicted parenting style when controlling for the same demographic variables. Emails and flyers were used to recruit participants from various Korean American groups on social media. A total of 146 Korean American parents completed anonymous online questionnaires about acculturation, enculturation, and …

Once Upon An Early Writing Experience: Connecting Memory With Literacy Instruction In Pre-Service Teacher Education, Jue Wang, Jingru Lu

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

Through a narrative-based case study design, this research connects pre-service teachers’ early writing memories with their studies in writing instruction to explore how multi-layered and multi-faceted writing experiences across time and space influence teaching beliefs and practices. This article invites audiences to vicariously experience these pedagogical encounters, reflect on journeys to becoming writing teachers, and shed light onto the implications of teaching early writing. Comic artifacts and interview data were collected from nine pre-service teachers who learned to teach early writing/language arts in a four-year public university in the Inland Northwest. Based on the participants’ comics and narratives, four themes …

An International Comparison Of Staff Perceptions Of Professional Governance, Roberta Kaplow, Polly Willis, Birgit Vogt, Fanny Grüssel-Griethe, Janina Schweiger

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate differences among RNs and nurse leaders’ perceptions regarding professional governance (PG), and discern differences in perceptions regarding demographic variables, and determine if there are differences in perceptions of SG between two hospitals.

Background: Data suggest a relationship between PG and improved patient outcomes, nurses’ job satisfaction, and workplace engagement.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive comparative design was used. Perception of SG at two academic medical centers were compared. The United States (US) center has Magnet designation; the German center is pursuing designation. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire and the IPNG 3.0 (50 …

Engaging Students In Gap Analysis In Global Service-Learning In Low-Resource Settings, Mabel Ezeonwu, Amanda Sendele

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: To describe a case study-based approach for training students in gap analysis and cultural humility to articulate and support community health needs in low-resource settings.

Background: Through collaborative academic-community partnership¹, an intensive service-learning program on health promotion was implemented in low-resourced indigenous Mayan communities of Guatemala, as part of a quarter-long 2023 hybrid study abroad course. The goals of the program were to 1) support the primary healthcare needs of the communities 2) allow students to build competencies in global health (GH) practice, including a) articulate barriers to health and healthcare in low-resource settings and b) …

Investigating The Mechanisms By Which Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis Contributes To The Autoimmune Response In Multiple Sclerosis, Abigail Houtrouw

Honors Theses

This literature review explores the multifaceted relationship between gut microbiome (GM) dysbiosis and multiple sclerosis (MS), highlighting key themes that advance understanding of disease pathogenesis and therapeutic potential for treatments targeting the gut. The review underscores the immune system dysregulation in MS, emphasizing the roles of T cells, B cells, and microglia in neuroinflammation and demyelination. Historically, MS pathogenesis was thought to be driven mainly by T-cell dysregulation, but current research highlights the additional roles of B-cells and microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Additionally, this literature review identifies GM alterations and dysbiosis as critical …

Excessive Data Collection In An Ecosystem As An Exploitative And Exclusionary Abuse: A Critical Analysis Of The Cci’S Order Against Whatsapp’S Privacy Policy And Its Impact On The Digital Advertising Market, Reuben Philip Abraham Mr.

Yearbook of Antitrust and Regulatory Studies

The interface between privacy and competition law has been a complicated topic in the past decade. The Facebook case by the German competition authority, the Bundeskartellamt (BK) was the first landmark case to investigate an exploitative abuse in this interface. The WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy update prompted the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to initiate a suo moto investigation against WhatsApp/Meta regarding the anti-competitive effects of imposing a ‘take-it or leave-it’ agreement on consumers.

In the WhatsApp case, the CCI has pushed the boundaries further in this interface by investigating exclusionary abuses regarding excessive data collection in an ecosystem. This …

Confidential, Attestable, And Efficient Inter-Cvm Communication With Arm Cca, Sina Abdollahi, Amir Al Sadi, Marios Kogias, Hamed Haddadi, David Kotz

Other Faculty Materials

Confidential Virtual Machines (CVMs) are increasingly adopted to protect sensitive workloads from privileged adversaries such as the hypervisor. While they provide strong isolation guarantees, existing CVM architectures lack first-class mechanisms for inter-CVM data sharing due to their disjoint memory model, making inter-CVM data exchange a performance bottleneck in compartmentalized or collaborative multi-CVM systems. Under this model, a CVM's accessible memory is either shared with the hypervisor or protected from both the hypervisor and all other CVMs. This design simplifies reasoning about memory ownership; however, it fundamentally precludes plaintext data sharing between CVMs because all inter-CVM communication must pass through hypervisor-accessible …

Strategies Property Management Leaders Use To Strengthen Employee Engagement In The Workplace, Angela Hartleigh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of employee engagement presents a significant risk and cost across the property management industry. Property management business leaders are concerned with this challenge because employee engagement directly affects performance efficiency and employee turnover costs. Grounded in the self-determination theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies property management leaders use to strengthen employee engagement in the workplace. The participants were six purposefully selected property management business leaders in the United States. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of public industry documents. Through thematic analysis, six themes were identified: (a) communication, (b) mentorship, …

Global, Regional, And National Burden Of Cardiovascular Diseases And Risk Factors In 204 Countries And Territories, 1990-2023, Global Burden Of Cardiovascular Diseases And Risks 2023 Collaborators, Benjamin A. Stark, Nicole K. Decleene, Emily C. Desai, Johnathan M. Hsu, Catherine O. Johnson, Laura Lara-Castor, Kate E. Legrand, Prof Bhoomadevi A, Mohammad Amin Aalipour, Hasan Aalruz, Bedru J. Abafita, Ukachukwu O. Abaraogu, Mohammad Abavisani, Nasir Abbas, Madineh Abbasi, Mohammadreza Abbasian, Hedayat Abbastabar, Abdallah H.A. Abd Al Magied, Samar Abd Elhafeez, Prof Ahmed Abdelalim, Omar M. Abdelfattah, Prof Reda Abdel-Hameed, Mahmoud Abdelnabi, Prof Wael M Abdel-Rahman, Parsa Abdi, Wakgari Mosisa Abdisa, Daba Abdissa, Arman Abdous, Mujahid Abdullah

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality and are among the foremost causes of disability globally. CVD burden has continued to increase in most countries since 1990, with trends driven by changing exposures to harmful risk factors, population growth, and population aging. Objectives: We report estimates of global, national, and subnational CVD burden, including 18 subdiseases and 12 associated modifiable risk factors. We analyzed change in CVD burden from 1990 to 2023 and identified drivers of change including population growth, population aging, and risk factor exposure. Methods: The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study, a multinational …

Contests With Ambiguous Prizes, Cary Deck, Aidan Hathaway, Emma Kate Henry, Tigran Melkonyan, Samuel Redinger

ESI Working Papers

This paper examines behavior in contests where the prize value is ambiguous. We develop a theoretical model of bidding in a Tullock contest with an ambiguous prize where contestants account for the ambiguity attitude of their rival. Ambiguity affects optimal behavior via two countervailing channels - a direct effect arising from contestants’ ambiguity about the value of the prize and an indirect effect corresponding to the effect of ambiguity on the opponent’s behavior. Using a controlled laboratory experiment, we elicit individual risk and ambiguity attitudes and compare predicted and observed behavior in contests with an ambiguous prize, a risky prize …

Spartan Daily, December 2, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 165, Issue 40

Addressing The Ethnic Achievement Gap Through Culturally Relevant Teaching, Arienne Bowman

Masters Projects

Schools are meant to provide all students with equal opportunities to achieve academic success in the classroom yet as the student bodies of American schools becomes increasingly diverse, students of color are achieving academic success at lower rates than their peers. This in part may be due to the growing cultural disparity between teachers and students as the majority of teachers are white. By implementing culturally relevant teaching (CRT) teachers will be more prepared to address this cultural disparity and better equipped to create classroom spaces and lessons that better meet the needs of a diverse body of learners. CRT …

Individualized Perioperative Blood Pressure Management In Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery: The Improve-Multi Randomized Clinical Trial, Bernd Saugel, Agnes S Meidert, Frank M Brunkhorst, Robert Bischoff, Joseph Esser, Minca Mattis, Pauline Naue, Katharina Vogel, Alina Bergholz, Moritz Flick, Alina Kröker, Dominik X Müller, Kristen K Thomsen, Christina Vokuhl, Mirja Wegge, Sebastian Bratke, Martin Graeßner, Bettina Jungwirth, Sebastian Schmid, Carla D Grundmann, Jan M Wischermann, Patrick Kellner, Moritz Steinhaus, Linda Grüßer, Sina M Coldewey, Kai Zacharowski, Patrick Meybohm, Marit Habicher, Alexander Zarbock, Amelie Zitzmann, Svenja Letz, Claudia Neumann, Jan Larmann, Thomas Renné, Linda Krause, Eik Vettorazzi, Antonia Zapf, Annemarie Carlstedt, Daniel I Sessler, Karim Kouz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Intraoperative hypotension is associated with organ injury. However, it remains unknown if targeted blood pressure management during surgery can improve clinical outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate whether individualized vs routine perioperative blood pressure management during major abdominal surgery improves clinical outcomes in patients considered at high risk of postoperative complications.

Design, setting, and participants: This randomized single-blind clinical trial enrolled patients 45 years or older undergoing elective major abdominal surgery with general anesthesia expected to last 90 minutes or longer who had at least 1 additional high-risk criterion between February 26, 2023, and April 25, 2024, at 15 German university …