Digital Commons Network^™

From 3d-Printed Dentures To Craniofacial Discoveries: The Next Chapter In Dental Research, Laura Ramsey

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

This article highlights the details and importance of the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine 40th annual Research Day by spotlighting research initiatives shaping the future of oral health. Faculty, students, and guest experts explored topics ranging from 3D-printed antimicrobial dentures and craniofacial development to global cleft care in Nepal and the integration of sex and gender in research methodologies. Dual keynotes also highlighted the importance of evidence-based education and inclusive research practices.

Effective Strategies For Developing And Implementing Metrics For Successful Social Marketing Campaign Performance, Annette M. Wolf

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective use of marketing metrics by social marketers poses a risk of inconsistent and subjective interpretations of campaign success. Social marketing managers and stakeholders are concerned because unreliable metrics hinder their ability to evaluate performance, justify funding, and replicate effective strategies. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry, grounded in general systems theory and foundational social marketing literature, was to explore effective strategies that social marketing campaign managers use to implement metrics sufficient to measure successful campaigns. The participants were ten experienced members of the Social Marketing Association of North America, with effective strategies to implement marketing metrics to measure …

An Exploration Of Gender And Sexual Identity Development Within The School Environment Among Gender Sexual Minority High School Graduates, Kendra Dawn Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Culturally responsive teaching in a global society is critical to students' success. Inclusion is an important part of the culturally responsive learning experience for all types of people. Because identity development takes place during the adolescent years, portrayals of various kinds of individuals throughout the environment and curriculum may support the confidence of students’ identity development. All students can experience improvements through inclusive teaching practices, but particularly students who identify as gender sexual minorities (GSM) can experience improved identity development with inclusive curricula in all areas of schooling. Grounded in identity process theory and sociocultural theory, the purpose of this …

National Report Of United States (2024), Christine Speidel

Research Reports & White Papers

The Observatory on the Protection of Taxpayers’ Rights (OPTR) identifies principles, minimum standards and best practices for the effective protection of taxpayers’ rights. It allows for the permanent monitoring of global compliance with such minimum standards and their amendment and development in different regions of the world.

Four Synonyms Of Tetraleurodes Mori (Quaintance, 1899) (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae), Natalia Von Ellenrieder, Raymond J. Gill, Ian C. Stocks

Insecta Mundi

Examination of type specimens of Aleyrodes errans Bemis, 1904, A. dorseyi Kotinsky, 1907 (replacement name for A. quaintancei Bemis, 1904), and A. splendens Bemis, 1904 and comparison with a large series of specimens of Tetraleurodes mori (Quaintance, 1899) (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae) confirms that the first four names represent new junior subjective synonyms of the latter species, since their types do not differ from it in any significant way and display the combination of diagnostic characters that identifies that species.

Resumen

El análisis de ejemplares tipo de Aleyrodes errans Bemis, 1904, A. dorseyi Kotinsky, 1907 (nombre de …

A New Species Of Chrysobothris Eschscholtz, 1829 And Synonymy Of Two Species Of Acmaeodera Eschscholtz, 1829 From Baja California Sur, Mexico (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Richard L. Westcott

Insecta Mundi

A new species of Buprestidae (Coleoptera), Chrysobothris bajacalifornica Westcott, is described from Baja California Sur, Mexico and discussed in relation to species I consider related to it. Acmaeodera lagunae Van Dyke, 1945 is newly synonymized under A. flavosticta Horn, 1878, and A. lucana Van Dyke, 1942 is newly synonymized under A. subbalteata LeConte, 1863. A lectotype is designated for A. flavosticta Horn.

May 30, 2025 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Experiential Learning In Lecture Settings For Ides 200: Programs, Codes & Standards, Emily Cerny

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

In traditional lecture settings, students take notes from a lecturer’s recitations and have minimal interaction with each other and the world around them. For IDES 200: Programs, Codes & Standards, a key aspect of learning is for students to understand the connections between the concepts learned in class and the built environment. To increase this connection and get students thinking in different manners, experiential learning methodologies were introduced through in-class exercises and within the course assignments alongside typical lectures and lecture comprehension quizzes. By surveying students’ perceptions of assignments and course activities, the goal of this course portfolio is to …

A Legacy Of Presence: The Enduring Impact Of Faith-Based Service, Abby M. Foreman

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"A legitimate but limited role of government and an acknowledgement of other social structures having legitimate authority in life—these are key elements of the Reformed, pluralist approach."

Posting about Christianity and public justice from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

A Legacy of Presence

Enhancing Intimate Partner Violence Screening In Primary Care: A Staff Education And Quality Improvement Initiative, Izoduwa Asoro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project addresses the often-overlooked epidemic of intimate partner violence (IPV) in primary care settings through a novel staff education and quality improvement initiative focused on transforming screening practices. A significant challenge in detecting IPV is the inadequate training of healthcare providers and the absence of rigorous screening measures, which leads to unmet patient needs and exacerbated trauma. By enhancing the knowledge of primary care staff regarding IPV and training them to effectively use validated screening tools, the initiative aims to improve detection rates. Analytical strategies, including pre-and post-training questionnaires and role play, were employed to evaluate the effectiveness of …

Six Paths Of Global China: A Genealogy Of A Contested Geographical Imaginary, Jessica Dicarlo, Meredith J. Deboom

Faculty Publications

‘Global China’ has emerged as a shorthand for China's relationship to the global, but its axiomatic uses disguise considerable complexity. This article troubles self-evident uses and tidy categorizations of Global China by approaching it as an emergent, pluralistic geographical imaginary warranting critical analysis. Employing a genealogical approach that privileges indeterminacy and inconsistency over linearity and singularity, we draw on wide-ranging sources to reveal the contested, contextual, and contradictory uses of Global China in the contemporary moment. Our analysis identifies six ‘paths’ of Global China: Other, Integration, Bridge, Status, Threat, and Alternative. Each path facilitates distinct yet interlinked claims about …

Social Eating Role In Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Among Urban Young Adults: The 2018 Indonesian Food Barometer, Imas Arumsari, Nabilla Ayusyah Putri, Siti Nur Lulu Lathifah, Gita Aisyah Astrid Rosalba, Helda Khusun, Judhiastuty Februhartanty, Rahmatika Nur Aini

Kesmas

This study investigated the differences in ultra-processed food (UPF), fruit, vegetable, and total fat consumption in different aspects of social eating among urban young adults. This cross-sectional study used the 2018 Indonesian Food Barometer dataset with 180 participants aged 18–25 years living in urban areas from 6 provinces in Indonesia. The data on social eating (cooking habits, eating out, and eating alone), UPF, fruits, and vegetables were obtained from an extended 24-hour food recall interview. The Mann-Whitney U test (CI 95%) was employed for data analysis. This study found that groups with less frequent cooking habits tended to have more …

Availability And Distribution Of Stoma Bags For Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Case Study At National Referral And Private Hospitals, Ratna Aryani, Toar Jm Lalisang, Debie Dahlia, Evi Martha, Achir Yani S Hamid, Sukma Wicaturatmashudi, Helen Helen

Kesmas

Stoma bags are essential for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with stomas. However, access and affordability in Indonesia remain challenging as the National Health Insurance (NHI) does not fully cover these devices. This study aimed to describe the availability and distribution of stoma bags for patients with CRC in national referral and private hospitals, focusing on outpatient access. A qualitative case study was conducted through observations and in-depth interviews with four enterostomal therapy nurses and six patients across three national referral hospitals and one private hospital in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area, Indonesia. Notably, the availability of stoma bags was limited in …

The Impact Of The Co-Teaching Model On The Academic Growth Of The General Education Student, Paula Matkov Andries

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This quantitative study aimed to determine whether there is a positive impact on the academic growth of general education students' reading and math growth between co-taught classrooms compared to traditional one-teacher classrooms within a suburban public school district over the course of one academic year. The school district has implemented co-taught programming with longevity as a special education instructional model in three of the eight elementary schools and in both middle schools. This study focused on the conditional growth of standardized test scores in reading and math for fourth and fifth-graders who have not been identified with special education needs, …

The Effect Of Bilateral Stimulation On Reducing Tantrum Behaviors In Autistic Children, Pui Kwan Chan

Theses and Dissertations

Autistic children often experience difficulty with emotional regulation, resulting in problem behaviors. This study investigates whether wearable vibrating devices, delivering bilateral stimulation (BLS), effectively reduce tantrum behaviors (i.e., aggression, property destruction, and verbal outbursts) in autistic children when used within an applied behavior analysis (ABA) setting. Three autistic children ages 7-10 participated in an A-B-A-B single-case experimental design conducted at a private autism clinic. Each child wore wireless BLS devices during their regular therapy sessions. A functional relation between the independent and dependent variable was observed. The overall combined average Tau-U score across all three participants was -0.41 with the …

Artificial Intelligence And Astronomy: Lab Manual For Generative Ai-Based Learning Activities, Vasiliy Znamenskiy

Open Educational Resources

This laboratory manual introduces an innovative approach to teaching astronomy by integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools into hands-on educational activities. Aimed at undergraduate and general education students, the manual guides learners through interactive exercises that involve evaluating AI-generated text responses, creating scientifically inspired images, and producing short educational videos about astronomical phenomena. By engaging with platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, DALL·E, and InVideo, students develop critical thinking skills, enhance their digital literacy, and deepen their understanding of space science. The method emphasizes inquiry-based learning, creativity, and scientific communication, preparing students to become thoughtful users of AI in academic and …

Comparative Methylation Analyses Across Juglans Species To Investigate Epigenetic Contributions To Fungal Resistance, Keertana Chagari

Honors Scholar Theses

Juglans cinerea (butternut) is a critically threatened North American tree species experiencing severe declines due to the fungal pathogen Ophiognomonia clavigignentijuglandacearum. In contrast, its Asian relative, Juglans ailantifolia (Japanese walnut), shows natural resistance. To investigate the genomic and epigenetic factors underlying this difference, we constructed and analyzed high-quality, chromosome-level genome assemblies for both species from long-read sequencing data (J. ailantifolia: 527Mb; J. cinerea: 586Mb), focusing on transposable element (TE) content, DNA methylation patterns, and regulation of pathogen resistance genes (PRGs).

Repeat analysis revealed that J. cinerea has a slightly higher overall transposable element (TE) content, with …

Influencing Factors Of Angle-Of-Arrival Estimator Based On Deep Learning, Guohao Pang

Dissertations and Theses

Deep learning (DL)-based angle-of-arrival (AoA) estimation offers significant advantages over traditional signal processing methods, especially in complex and high-noise environments. However, situational complexity and differences in hardware can significantly impact the estimator's performance. It is therefore of interest to investigate the relationship between the performance of deep learning models and the variation of physical parameters such as the number of signal sources, the number of receiving antennas, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In this study, we investigate the impact of these variations on deep learning-based AoA estimation by systematically analyzing how the variations in the characteristics of the received signal …

Their Will Is Wealth: American Billionaires, Illiberal Capital, And Their Immunity To Federal Law, Conor Kawika Carroll

Dissertations and Theses

Billionaires are inherently unique political actors. They, and their wealth, are a species apart. This rarity is measurable by quantifying relative consequences for actions made on behalf of that wealth. This thesis explores whether or not a billionaire's political power provides them with immunity to federal laws and regulations that govern wealth and its political use. The objective of this research is two-fold: to illustrate the scholarship gap regarding American billionaires and their relative immunity from federal law, and to instigate academia to study billionaires politically at increasing rates, providing more data for lawmakers regarding the most economically powerful political …

Articulator Q2 2025

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

The 2^nd Quarter 2025 issue focuses on new frontiers in dental research. Articles include:

• A feature from Dr. Manish Chopra on the ADA Forsyth Institute.
• Highlights from the University of Colorado’s School of Dental Medicine’s Research Day.
• The research behind the safety of community water fluoridation from Margherita Fontana, DDS, PhD; Carlow Gonzalez-Cabezas, DDS, MSD, PhD; and Livia Tenuta, DDS, MSc, PhD.

Plus, updates on local nonprofits, a reflection on leading with integrity and tips on maintain resilience in today’s volatile financial landscape.

Learning That Sticks: How Students Remember Invasive Species Through Different Learning Methods, Francesco L. Miniello

Honors College Theses

This study aimed to determine which learning methods are most effective at helping students learn about invasive species. Research through literature reviews showed that active learning methods can best help students learn and retain information regarding aspects of the natural environment. This includes hands-on activities such as participating in discussions, making observations, playing games, and interacting with objects like animals. The experiment tested different active and passive learning methods. This included watching presentations under passive learning or reviewing information online through active learning. Results showed that participants felt more confident about learning the material through active learning and were more …

Quantum-Enhanced Training Of Large Language Models: A Hybrid Approach, Nan Wu, Fangmin Song, Xiangdong Li

Publications and Research

The training of large language models (LLMs) presents significant computational challenges, particularly regarding efficient convergence. This paper presents a hybrid quantum-classical framework designed to address the significant computational challenges associated with training large language models (LLMs). By integrating quantum computing principles superposition, entanglement, and tunneling with classical deep learning methods, we propose an approach to accelerate convergence, enhance optimization efficiency, and improve model generalization. Specifically, quantum feature mapping is employed to project classical data into high-dimensional Hilbert spaces, facilitating more expressive data representations. Quantum-assisted optimization algorithms, such as Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) and Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE), efficiently navigate …

Educating Nurses On Healthy Coping Mechanism Following Workplace Violence Occurrences, Erin Jay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), healthcare workers are five times more likely to suffer a workplace violence (WPV) injury compared to workers in other industries. Given that nurses are the foundation of healthcare delivery, WPV is a cause for concern for most healthcare organizations. In the local organization, leadership has identified an increase in reported WPV occurrences among nurses. Given this, leadership agreed that an educational intervention focused on strategies to address WPV was warranted. Thus, the purpose of this doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was to determine whether an educational intervention focused on healthy coping mechanisms …

Hypertension Literacy For Healthcare Providers, Maninder Kaur Dhaliwal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When medical staff lack sufficient training in hypertension literacy, it significantly impacts patient outcomes, expenses, and quality of life. Uncontrolled hypertension increases health care costs by causing frequent emergency room visits and hospital stays. After a thorough needs assessment, it was identified at the project site that nurse practitioners were not knowledgeable about the most recent recommendations for managing hypertension and patient education techniques. This practice gap was also contributed to by a lack of structured training and time for learning. The practice-focused question for this project was: Among health care staff, how does implementing a staff education initiative on …

Staff Education To Improve Knowledge Of Wound Documentation Skills Among Inpatient Nurses, Rouine Kay Patron Litorja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While many healthcare organizations have established wound documentation protocols, maintaining consistent, high-quality documentation remains a widespread challenge in clinical practice. In this staff education project, I addressed the implementation of a staff education program to increase nurses' knowledge about evidence-based practices regarding wound documentation. The staff education initiative was conducted in a medical telemetry unit, with 17 nurses participating. A pretest-posttest design was employed to evaluate the impact of the education. The aggregate pretest and posttest scores were analyzed using the Normalized Learning Gain (NLG) formula. The NLG gain of 0.37, equated to a 37% improvement in knowledge a moderate …

Is A Dog A Female Offender’S Best Friend? Prison-Based Dog Program Implications, Lavinia Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The existing literature on female offender prison-based dog program (PBDP) experiences and their effect and influence on female offender reentry, rehabilitation, and transition into society following incarceration is limited at best. Despite mixed evidence on prison-based animal programs, human–animal interaction research suggests positive psychological effects. With a 56% chance of reoffending a year after release, understanding the effects of PBDPs may aid reentry/transition support that lowers recidivism rates. Grounded by Broidy and Agnew’s gendered general strain theory, through basic qualitative inquiry, this research study aimed to understand female offender PBDP participants' reentry and transition experiences. Twenty-seven semistructured interviews were conducted …

Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Perceptions Of Communication With Unconscious Patients, Afnan Suleiman Suleiman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unconscious patients in critical care units are compromised in their ability to communicate. It is vital that intensive care unit (ICU) nurses’ communication with unconscious patients be as effective as possible to address patients’ needs and help them in their suffering. Improving communication deepens the dignity and humanity of unconscious patients, supports families, and contributes to more ethical and holistic ICU care. The purpose of this basic qualitative study, guided by Watson’s human caring theory, was to explore the perceptions and experiences of ICU nurses of patient-centered communication with unconscious patients. Twelve ICU nurses who worked in a large metropolitan …

School Of Law 2025 Commencement Information And Photographs May 16, 2025, Roger Williams University School Of Law

School of Law Commencement (1996- )

No abstract provided.

Through The Four Truth Lens: Exploring Climate Change Communication At Joshua Tree And Glacier Bay National Parks, Heather A. Waterman, Amanda Berlinski

Dissertations

The climate crisis threatens our global communities, cultures, and futures. Communication that brings climate change into everyday conversations and galvanizes the public to respond to it collectively is needed. However, political divides in the United States make climate change a contested heritage topic that is challenging to address. The purpose of this applied, basic qualitative research study was to use the Four Truth Framework, developed by the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to investigate climate change communication at Joshua Tree National Park in California and Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. Climate change affects national parks more than other …

Teaching Hygiene Skills To Teenagers With Developmental Disabilities Utilizing Friendship Circles, Nathaniel Medsker

Theses and Dissertations

High school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often struggle with hygiene skills, including table manners. These difficulties are especially noticeable in peer tutoring settings. Peer tutors were utilized to increase the mouth wiping behavior of the students with IDD using peer influence through the friendship circles intervention. The participants included high school age students with IDD and accompanying peer tutors from their classroom. This was done in a social setting during lunch while the peer tutors modeled the appropriate mouth wiping behavior and complimented the students with IDD if they also participated in the mouth wiping behavior. The …