Digital Commons Network^™

Sense Of Agency And Control, Self-Esteem, And Psychological Distress Among Undergraduate Students In The U.S. And China, Wenqi Zhang, Peiyi Wang, Chuansheng Chen, Yufei Li, Baojuan Ye, Jianmin Shao

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Beliefs about oneself are closely related to one’s psychological distress, yet little is known about how different dimensions of self-perception interact to predict psychological distress and how these relationships vary across cultural contexts. This study examined cultural differences in the sense of agency and control, their associations with psychological distress, and the protective role of self-esteem among undergraduate students. The sample included 501 U.S. students and 336 Chinese students. Results revealed systematic cultural differences in agency and control: U.S. students reported higher levels of sense of positive agency and personal mastery, but lower levels of sense of negative agency and …

When Is Style Substance?, Jordi Fernadez Servitje

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal (AELJ) Blog

While we are all aware of our ability to judge a book by its cover, our critical eye extends beyond the face of the book and to the font it is printed in as well. Strictly speaking, font refers to the size, weight, and style of a particular letter, while typeface refers to the overall style and design of the script. The term font comes from the days of physical printing; the font was the metal stamp used for each particular letter. Physical fonts have become antiquated by the advent of digital printing, but in common vernacular, font has remained …

Development Of A Survey For Assessing Women’S Perceptions Of Weight-Related Side Effects Of Hormonal Contraceptives, Ayla Mae Laro

Theses

Background —Hormonal contraceptives (HCs) are widely used among reproductive-age women, yet concerns about weight gain remain common and are frequently cited as a reason for dissatisfaction or discontinuation. Dissatisfaction and discontinuation of HCs can lead to unintended pregnancy—a serious health concern in the United States. Existing research has largely focused on objectively measured weight change as a secondary outcome rather than on perceptions of weight-related side effects, and no validated tool currently assesses these perceptions. Additionally, studies have historically failed to include women with overweight and obesity. This cross-sectional mixed-methods study developed and face-validated an online survey measuring reproductive-age women’s …

Anthropometric And Lifestyle Metrics Compared In Postmenopausal Women, Amanda Louise Daniel

Theses

Background: Hormone changes and aging that lead to menopause have a significant impact on quality of life. Understanding health thresholds for the components of body composition in this population are not well known. The relationship between menopausal symptoms and lifestyle factors is understudied. Methods: A mixed-methods approach included surveys and face-to-face body composition analysis using bioelectric impedance. Eating competence, sleep quality, and physical activity were assessed online with validated surveys prior to body composition measurement. Data were transformed to normality and analyzed with Pearson correlation coefficients and independent t-test correcting for multiple comparisons. Results Of the 69 interested people, 50 …

Burden Of Cardiovascular Disease In Pakistan – Insight From Global Burden Of Disease Study 2019, Ali Bin Abdul Jabbar, Taha Mansoor, Sana Sheikh, Tazeen H Jafar, Sawera Hanif, Christian Razo, Mahboob Alam, Jamal S Rana, Khurram Nasir, Bashir Hanif, Salim S Virani, Abdul Mannan Khan Minhas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Pakistan, currently the fifth-largest country by population globally, has experienced a population increase of over 100% since 1990. It is facing an escalating challenge from cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study provides an in-depth evaluation of Pakistan's health situation since 1990, offering essential insights into the nation's overall health conditions.

Methods: The data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, which provides records for global, regional, and national burden of diseases. Specifically, data regarding CVD and its subtypes, morbidity, and mortality in Pakistan and globally from 1990 to 2019 were used …

Interview No. 1845, Carlos Sierra

Combined Interviews

Carlos Sierra was born in Juarez, Chihuahua in 1958 and moved to El Paso, Texas when he was in the seventh grade. After mastering English in his ESL courses and completing his high school education at Bowie, he continued his education at EPCC and UTEP in business, gaining the knowledge to help his brother effectively run Sierra manufacturing. He has come to value education, continuing personal development outside of formal education and encouraging his own children to pursue bachelors degrees and beyond. Most of the discussion focuses on manufacturing in the Chamizal area, including the work study programs at local …

Sae What? Magazine - Issue 1 - 2026, Sae University College

SAE What? - Student Magazine

No abstract provided.

Uscis-Grounded Ai: Preventing Hallucinations In Immigration Legal Services, Hephzibah Igwe

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Artificial intelligence chatbots increasingly provide legal information to consumers, but AI "hallucinations" (confidently stated but incorrect responses) pose serious risks in immigration law. Incorrect information about USCIS forms, fees, processing times, or filing procedures can result in visa denials, deportation proceedings, or permanent bars to entry.

This research presents a novel "source-grounded AI" system that eliminates hallucinations in immigration legal information. Rather than relying solely on large language models (LLMs) trained on general internet data, the system uses USCIS.gov as the primary source of truth for all operational data including current forms, fees, processing times, filing addresses, and policy updates. …

Learning At Scale As Infrastructure: Lms Platforms, Data Pipelines, And Language-Based Evidence For Educational Measurement, Danielle S. Mcnamara, Michelle Banawan, Renu Balyan, Rod D. Roscoe, Tracy Arner

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

The increasing scale of digital learning environments has transformed the data available for educational measurement, learning analytics, and the learning sciences. However, learning at scale is often treated as a matter of sample size or novel analytic methods rather than as the outcome of institutional infrastructure that governs how learning data are generated, curated, transformed, and accessed. This paper offers an infrastructure-centered description of learning at scale, focusing on learning management systems (LMSs), platform-integrated tools, and data pipelines that produce research-ready educational data. As an illustrative exemplar, we draw on the design and operation of the Arizona State University Learning@Scale …

学生数学与科学学业成长的跨国评估研究 — 基于Timss2023国际纵向研究数据库, Bethany Fishbein, Ummugul Bezirhan, Matthias Von Davier

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

TIMSS2023纵向国际数据库提供了学生层面的纵向数据，这种率先尝试是国际大规模评估领域的重要突破。该数据库将2023年的TIMSS成绩和背景数据与2024年的后续数据相关联，使研究者能够直接评估学生在一学年里数学和科学能力的成长。该项目追踪收集了各参与地区四年级到五年级以及八年级到九年级的同一群体数据，数据库中丰富的背景数据、课程数据以及过程数据可以支持研究者们从教学实践、教育政策、学生态度、考试行为与学习轨迹的关系等多个角度开展研究。此外，作为一个免费数据库，TIMSS2023纵向国际数据库也为研究全球范围的教育成效和公平提供了新的契机。

International Measures Of Student Growth In Mathematics And Science Achievement: The Timss 2023 Longitudinal International Database, Bethany Fishbein, Ummugul Bezirhan, Matthias Von Davier

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

The TIMSS 2023 Longitudinal International Database represents a major advancement in international large-scale assessment by providing the first student-level longitudinal extension of TIMSS. By linking achievement and contextual data from TIMSS 2023 with a follow-up data collection in 2024, the database enables direct measurement of student growth in mathematics and science over one year of schooling. The study follows cohorts from Grades 4 to 5 and Grades 8 to 9 across participating education systems. Rich contextual, curriculum, and process data support investigations into how instructional practices, system-level policies, student attitudes, and test-taking behaviors relate to learning trajectories. As a freely …

项目反应数据库：是什么、如何使用以及未来提升目标, Savira D. Nadela, Hansol Lee, Nishka Jain, Ayaan Gupta, Xingyi Zhang, Benjamin W. Domingue

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

项目反应数据库（Item Response Warehouse，IRW）是一个对项目反应数据集进行标准化整合的数据资源库，旨在支持心理与教育测量领域的二次分析与方法学研究。本文为有兴趣使用 IRW 的研究人员提供实践指南。我们介绍了 IRW 数据集的结构，以及可用于数据集筛选的定量与定性元数据，并展示了研究人员如何通过 IRW 网站浏览、检索和比较现有数据表。此外，本文还展示了如何使用 IRW 的 R 与 Python 软件包以编程方式筛选数据集、下载作答层面的数据，并生成标准化引用信息，以支持研究流程的复现。最后，我们介绍了 IRW 的其他功能，包括题目文本的获取方式及其后续开发计划。这些功能的开发既是为了支持 IRW 的即时使用，也是为了让社区能够就其后续扩展提供反馈与输入。

The Item Response Warehouse: What It Is, How To Use It, And Targets For Potential Improvements, Savira D. Nadela, Hansol Lee, Nishka Jain, Ayaan Gupta, Xingyi Zhang, Benjamin W. Domingue

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

The Item Response Warehouse (IRW) is a repository of harmonized item response datasets designed to support secondary analysis and methodological research in psychological and educational measurement. This paper serves as a practical guide for researchers interested in using the IRW. We describe the structure of IRW datasets and the quantitative and qualitative metadata available for dataset selection, and we demonstrate how researchers can navigate the IRW website to explore and compare available tables. We further show how the IRW R and Python packages can be used to filter datasets programmatically, download response-level data, and generate standardized citations for reproducible research …

Editorial: Special Issue On Big Data Sources In Educational Measurement, Okan Bulut, Yi Zheng

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

This editorial introduces CEJEME's Special Issue on Big Data Sources in Educational Measurement. As large-scale assessments, digital learning environments, and institutional systems generate increasingly complex data, they offer new opportunities for advancing research on student learning, assessment quality, and educational equity. This special issue presents three descriptive papers that introduce publicly shareable big data resources relevant to educational measurement, assessment, and evaluation. The three articles introduce a large-scale item response data repository, a longitudinal international assessment database for studying student growth, and a digital learning infrastructure supporting large-scale educational data. Together, this special issue aims to serve as both a …

Publication News

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

Lists Of Selected Full-Text Databases By Subscription In East Asian Studies, Anlin Yang, Michiko Ito, Ellie Kim, Jian P. Lee

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

From Collection To Documentary: An Eventful Journey Of Developing And Managing The Wan-Go H.C. Weng Film Collection, Jim Cheng

Journal of East Asian Libraries

Experience, challenge, lesson, reward, and inspiration of developing and managing a special collection: Wan-go Weng Film Collection in a major research library.

The Taichung Polyglot, Mårten S. Saarela

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Muscle Activation Patterns Between Chronic Ankle Instability And Copers Among People With A History Of A Lateral Ankle Sprain: A Critically Appraised Topic, Holly Hudson, Mirannda Wotring

Liberty University Research Week

Context: Lateral ankle sprains (LAS) are a common injury among both the general and athletic populations. Often this injury leads to chronic ankle instability (CAI) or, in some cases, a copers ankle. Copers are defined as individuals with a history of at least 1 LAS that occurred greater than 12 months ago and do not report signs of disability and/or experience episodes of ankle instability since their last ankle injury. Limited research exists to explain the differences between CAI and copers. The focused clinical question is: Do muscle activation patterns differ between individuals with CAI and those classified as copers? …

The Effect Of Myofascial Manipulation On Shoulder Rom In Postoperative Breast Cancer Patients, Maile Kaahanui, Erin Krismanits

Liberty University Research Week

Focused Clinical Question: Myofascial dysfunction can hinder daily quality of life within post operational patients, especially within post operational breast cancer patients. Myofascial manipulation has been used as an intervention for ROM in other pathologies and could be beneficial for increasing ROM post-operatively. In post-operative breast cancer patients, what effect does myofascial manipulation have on shoulder ROM?

Methods: A literature search was conducted using electronic research databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, SPORTSDiscus, CINAHL, and Jerry Falwell Library) to identify randomized control trials published within the last 10 years that include studies with myofascial manipulation as an intervention and analyzed shoulder range of …

Who Delivers Care-And Does It Matter? Patient Satisfaction With Task-Shifted Mental Health Services., Perseverance Nothando Moyo, Benson Varghese, Chelsea Mazonde, Fadzai Nyarugwe, Ifeoluwanimi Shobayo, Oluwatosin Marylyn Oduneye, Tahirou Diallo

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Global mental health systems face severe workforce shortages and structural inequalities, leaving over one billion people without access to adequate care. Task-shifting, which involves training non-specialist providers such as community health workers and lay counselors to deliver mental health services, has been proposed as a scalable strategy to expand access to care. Although research has demonstrated the clinical effectiveness of task-shifted mental health interventions, less attention has been given to understanding patient satisfaction and experiences of care within these service models. Objective: To synthesize global literature examining patient satisfaction with task-shifted mental health services delivered by non-specialist providers. Methods: …

High Intensity Laser Therapy For Shoulder Tendinopathies: A Critically Appraised Topic, Rhayl Danfer Gray

Liberty University Research Week

Context: Rotator cuff tendinopathy, characterized by tendon-related pain, weakness, and decreased range of motion (ROM), accounts for more than 50% of chronic shoulder disease cases. While traditional treatments include physical therapy and ultrasound, high-power laser therapy has emerged as a modality that utilizes heat to increase local vasodilation and microcirculation, potentially decreasing pain and inflammatory biomarkers. This Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) aims to determine if high-intensity laser therapy effectively reduces pain and improves ROM in adults with shoulder tendinopathies.

Methods: A computerized search of Google Scholar, MEDLINE Ultimate, and PubMed was conducted in January and February 2026. Search terms included …

Campus Green Space, Air Quality, And Mental Health Among College Students, Ifeoluwanimi Shobayo, Benson Varghese, Chelsea Mazonde, Fadzai Nyarugwe, Melissa Lartey, Tahirou Diallo

Liberty University Research Week

Introduction/Background: Mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, are increasingly prevalent among college students. While campus interventions often focus on individual-level services, environmental determinants of mental health receive less attention. Ambient air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), has been associated with adverse psychological outcomes. In contrast, exposure to green space has been linked to improved well-being and reduced stress. Emerging evidence suggests that greenness may buffer the adverse mental health effects of air pollution. This study aims to synthesize current evidence and propose a theoretical framework linking campus green space, air quality, and student mental …

Acl Injury Incidence On Artificial Turf Versus Natural Grass In Elite Male Football Players: A Critically Appraised Topic, Ethan Austell

Liberty University Research Week

Context: Artificial turf has been shown to be controversial despite being a cost-effective alternative to natural grass because of the potential risks it has on athletes’ lower extremity (LE) injury, specifically the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Elite male football players were chosen as the population of choice to determine the risk of ACL injury incidence on artificial turf compared to natural grass. The purpose of this critically appraised topic is to appraise the best available literature to identify the impact of artificial turf on knee injury rate in male elite football players.

Methods: A computerized search strategy was done from …

Energy Drinks: Outcome In Undergraduate College Students, Vaden Sanders

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Energy drinks (ED) are beverages designed to enhance alertness and performance (Chu et al., 2022). They are popular among university students for use in academics and for social reasons, yet the concentration of caffeine and sugar in EDs pose significant health risks. EDs are popular globally and it is a multibillion-dollar industry (Alsunni, 2015). Methods: A literature review of 27 articles fitting the inclusion criteria was performed and analyzed thematically. Results: The research showed serious health risks from ED use, including cardiac arrhythmias, neurological and behavioral changes, and other health issues, including a few deaths (Costantino et.al., 2023). Conclusions: …

Biological And Hormonal Influences On Depression Among Women Compared To Men, Grace Steiner, Audrey Wrinkle, Chloe Dudgeon, Julia Stamp, Kathryn Dennis, Marissa Wojcik, Meghan Dayton, Meilin Loerop

Liberty University Research Week

This research aims to investigate various factors influencing the mechanisms of depression manifestation in men and women as it relates to biological and hormonal factors. Individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD), according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 2013), experience a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure lasting for a minimum of 2 weeks. Depression and anxiety are twice as prevalent among women compared to men (Kundakovic & Rocks, 2022), although the underlying mechanisms and biological factors remain unknown. We aim to address the research question: “How do …

The Role Of Aerobic Exercise In Reducing Post-Injury Symptoms Among Adolescents With Brain Injury: A Critically Appraised Topic, Brandon Walker, Austin Snow

Liberty University Research Week

Clinical Scenario: Historically, concussion management has emphasized inactivity or restricted aerobic activity for athletes recovering from sports-related concussions. Emerging evidence, however, suggests that incorporating controlled aerobic exercise during rehabilitation may facilitate recovery and reduce the persistence of post-concussion symptoms. Focused Clinical Question: In adolescents with sports-related concussions, does the implementation of aerobic exercise facilitate recovery and reduce the risk of persistent post-injury symptoms? Summary of Key Findings: The studies discussed in this Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) consistently demonstrate that sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise is both safe and beneficial for adolescent athletes recovering from acute or persistent sport-related concussions. This training …

Reducing Fear Through Meaning: A Theoretical Exploration Of Structured Spiritual Conversations In Pediatric Chronic And Life-Limiting Illness, Julia Stamp

Liberty University Research Week

Fear is a significant yet frequently under-addressed experience among pediatric patients with chronic or life-limiting illnesses, influencing emotional well-being and overall quality of life. This fear is frequently shaped by uncertainty, loss of control, and difficulty processing illness-related life experiences. Spirituality, defined as the way individuals seek meaning, purpose, and connection, has been increasingly recognized as an essential component of holistic pediatric care. These connections have been supported by research demonstrating that higher levels of spiritual well-being are associated with improved emotional functioning, increased hope, and stronger coping mechanisms in children with serious illness (Juškauskiene et al., 2023). Recent research …

Bridging The Gap In Adolescent And Young Adult Sexual Health Education, Claire Rau, Anjali Jacob, Cassidy Harris, Michael Ago Tetteh

Liberty University Research Week

This research addresses the critical need for improved sexual health education for adolescents and young adults, prompted by current STI and pregnancy data in Virginia. Following PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review evaluated existing evidence-based, relationship-skills-focused sexual health interventions. The findings indicate that while current programs effectively target risk reduction and pregnancy prevention, they often lack the integration of a Biblical worldview and sufficient focus on comprehensive relational development alongside sexual health knowledge. Consequently, this project proposes adapting the Love Notes program and developing the Digging Deep curriculum to better bridge these gaps.

Epidemiology And Sexual Transmission Of Mpox In Non-Msm Populations: A Systematic Review Proposal (2022-2025), Ifeoluwanimi Shobayo, Ashlan Killeen, Chelsea Mazonde, Eunice Onwuka, Michael Ago Tetteh, Prince Osei Sarpong, Rachel Williams

Liberty University Research Week

Introduction: Mpox epidemiology during the 2022–2025 global outbreaks has been extensively characterized within men who have sex with men (MSM) networks. However, transmission dynamics among non-MSM populations including heterosexual men, women, children, and mixed-population groups remain insufficiently described. This gap limits comprehensive public health understanding and response. This study aims to: (1) identify exposures and transmission routes among non-MSM populations, (2) describe demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, and outcomes, and (3) identify evidence gaps to inform preparedness strategies.

Methods: This systematic review will follow PRISMA-P guidelines. A comprehensive literature search will be conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and …