Digital Commons Network^™

Revolutionizing Teacher Preparation Through Gender- Responsive Pedagogy In Tanzania’S Teacher Education System, Jane Rarieya, Mary Oluga, Nyagwegwe Wango

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

This study investigates the revolutionization of teacher preparation throughthe integration of Gender Pedagogy within a Teacher Training College inTanzania. Recognizing the urgent need for teachers equipped with gender-responsive skills, this initiative seeks to establish effective teaching methods,enhance student motivation, and cultivate gender-sensitive educationalleadership. The core objective is to understand how this pedagogical shiftcan create a community of educators capable of significantly improvinglearning outcomes across diverse educational contexts. Employing aqualitative research design, this study explored the insights and experiencesof participants regarding the implementation of the revolutionized teachereducation program. Findings indicate the practical application of Gender,Diversity, and Inclusion Pedagogy by student teachers, …

Enhancing Management Of Transportation Projects: Integration Factors For Using Smart Contracts, Mariam Elazhary, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) delivers a wide range of infrastructure projects, backed by a fiscal year 2023 budget exceeding $100 billion. These projects face mounting pressures to meet performance, accountability, and delivery standards, driven by their dependence on public funding and their operational complexity. Transportation infrastructure presents sector-specific challenges - such as time-sensitive user disruptions, multiparty coordination, and asset intersection risks - that demand more robust, automated, and transparent project delivery mechanisms. Blockchain-enabled smart contracts have emerged as a promising solution to address these operational pain points through real-time automation, immutable data records, and decentralized transaction processing. However, …

The Equity Implications Of Pecuniary Externalities On An Electric Grid, Charles Sims, Gasser G. Ali, J. Scott Holladay, Tim Roberson, Chien Fei Chen, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The adoption of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems can create upward pressure on retail electricity rates as utilities are forced to spread their fixed costs of generation and transmission across a smaller customer base. Since high-income households are more likely to purchase PV systems, low-income households may be disproportionately impacted by these rate increases. Using a novel combination of agent-based computational economic modeling and a choice experiment of rooftop solar adoption, we show how this pecuniary externality between low- and high-income customers increases low-income electricity bills by 10% in an area with some of the highest poverty rates in the United …

Evaluating Crumb Rubber Modified (Crm) Asphalt As A Sustainable Binder Alternative For High-Friction Surface Treatments, Abdallah Aboelela, Alireza Roshan, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

High-friction surface treatments (HFSTs) are widely applied to improve pavement safety by enhancing long-term skid resistance. Although epoxy resins are commonly used due to their strength and durability, their high cost, susceptibility to delamination, incompatibility with substrates of flexible pavements, and adverse environmental concerns limit their long-term performance. This study presents crumb rubber modified (CRM) asphalt as a sustainable alternative binder for HFST applications. CRM binders offer high performance and compatibility with existing pavement surfaces, cost effectiveness and reduced environmental impacts as compared to epoxy binders. In addition, the binder development utilizes enhanced recycling technologies for interacting with used tire …

Louisiana Children's Trust Fund: Annual Report 2024-2025, Elizabeth Winchester, Jada Thomas-Smith, Quynh-Tram Tran, Aimee Moles, Judith L. F. Rhodes

Reports

LCTF makes annual grant awards to aid in the prevention of child abuse and neglect in the state. Grant awards fund programs and conferences, which are implemented in five LCTF identified areas of intervention, namely: 1) Teaching children personal safety and life skills; 2) Education and support services for parents; 3) Hospital and/or home visitation and support services to families; 4) Public awareness and education programs for adults; and 5) Training and education of teachers, professionals, and volunteers.

To ensure accountability for grant funding, an annual review of funded proposals assesses program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The annual review involves …

Bi-Annual Updates July - December 2025, Centre For Clinical Best Practices (Ccbp)

Centre For Clinical Best Practices (CCBP) Archives

• The Purpose Behind CCBP
• What We Do
• New Knowledge Creation
• Dissemination of AKU Manual
• Children’s Health Manual
• Patient Centered Manual
• Updating AKU Manual
• Dissemination of Manual via Mobile App
• Academic Publications & Conferences
• Strategic Partnerships
• Knowledge Creation
• Updating Guidelines – AKU Manual
• AKU Manual of Paediatrics
• Patient Centered Care Application
• Guidelines & Algorithms Published on Mobile/Web App
• Collaboration Meetings
• Dissemination Sessions
• Physicians Trajectory: Online Manual Access
• Physicians Engagement with Online Manual (2025)
• Analytics: Online Manual Access
• Physicians Speaking About AKU Manual
• Conferences and Publications
• Research Publications
• Center for Clinical Best Practices Team
• Editorial Team
• Acknowledgment

Vaping Insights Perceptions And Experiences On A College Campus, Willard G. Jackson

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if relationships existed between student vaping habits in proximity to a college campus and current tobacco related bans implemented by the institution. Determining these relationships provided insights that can be utilized to maximize effectiveness of campus tobacco policy. Research outcomes represented a framework for educating current and potential tobacco consumers on campus regarding harm reduction, tobacco cessation, and resources available to prevent a lifetime of nicotine addiction or other tobacco related harm to health. The study addressed research questions in a mixed-methods design. Quantitative research questions included: Does a relationship exist between …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Living Learning Communities On Student Success, Retention, And Belonging, Jason D. Harville

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This project of practice evaluated the impact of Living Learning Communities (LLCs) on student success, retention, and sense of belonging at a regional public university. The program evaluation includes quantitative data comparing GPA and retention rates of LLC and non-LLC students, a sense of belonging scale, and qualitative data gathered from interviews and surveys with LLC participants and program partners. Findings indicate that LLC participation positively correlates with increased student retention and a stronger sense of community, though academic performance differences were not statistically significant. Thematic analysis of qualitative interviews revealed that intentional faculty-student interaction, tailored academic support, and early …

A Comparative Analysis Of Statistical And Machine Learning Models With Application In Ai-Powered Stroke Risk Prediction, Megan Mccoy

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Rapid detection of large vessel occlusion (LVO) is critical due to its high mortality and narrow treatment window. Although machine learning (ML) and deep learning tools show promise for LVO prediction, their clinical use is hindered by inconsistent pre-hospital data, variable LVO rates, limited interpretability, and high costs. This study introduces a hybrid neural network (HNN) that integrates classical statistical learning with neural networks to combine interpretability and structure with flexibility and regularization. The model was validated through simulations using NIHSS scores, demographics, and medical history across diverse sample sizes and LVO prevalence rates, and benchmarked against logistic regression, Naive …

The Application Of Evidence-Based Practices In Diverse Environments, Emily R. Simon

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Much research supports the argument that students and educators perform better when evidence-based practices are used in the classroom. However, applying these practices across diverse environments can be a challenge. Each class and school is unique, and these differences affect the transferability of these methods in the classroom. This thesis examines how research-based methods on relationship building and instructional practices are implemented and/or modified across different school settings: suburban, urban, special education, general education, and multicultural/multilingual spaces.

Through research on current educational practices, this thesis identifies commonly used evidence-based practices for building relationships between teachers, students, and families, as well …

Flux Crystal Growth Of A Series Of Calcium Rare Earth Silicate Chlorides Calnsio4Cl (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, And Tb): Mixed Anion Materials With A Spodiosite-Type Structure, Maria Goncalves, Mark D. Smith, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

A series of calcium rare earth silicate chlorides, CaLnSiO4Cl (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, and Tb), was obtained as single crystals from flux crystal growth. The structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction and were found to be related to the spodiosite/Wagnerite mineral structure, Ca2PO4F. The obtained compositions are variations of the spodiosite structure that result from two simultaneous elemental substitutions. Replacing one calcium for one rare earth element and the simultaneous replacement of one VO4³⁻ or PO4³⁻ with one SiO4⁴⁻. CaEuSiO4Cl was found to luminesce, and its photoluminescence spectrum is reported.

Water Circulation Beneath A Hovering Suas For Water Quality Monitoring Applications, Erin E. Hackett, Boone Fleenor, Jensine C. Coggin, Duvall Dickerson-Evans, Nikolaos Vitzilaios, Whitney E. Schuler, Paige K. Williams, Michael L. Myrick

Faculty Publications

Water quality has traditionally been measured via in situ sensors and satellites. The latter has limited applicability for smaller inland water bodies, while the former requires significant logistics, labor, and expense for routine sampling, and reactive/spurious sampling is often not feasible as a result (e.g., sampling pre-/post-storm). Consequently, small uncrewed aircraft system-based (sUAS-based) sampling has emerged as a potential solution to bridge these sampling gaps and challenges. But sampling from an sUAS is complicated by the need to pump water from depth, rather than suspending a sensor from the sUAS, due to concern over sampling sUAS-impacted waters. Here, we measure …

Thermodynamic Assessment Of The Li, Na, K, Cs | F, I Reciprocal Salt For Msr Applications, Clara M. Dixon, Mina Aziziha, Amir Mofrad, Jorge Paz Soldan Palma, Ronald E. Booth, Aiswarya Padinhare Manissery, Jack A. Wilson, Hans Conrad Zur Loye, Hunter B. Tisdale, Juliano Schorne-Pinto, Theodore M. Besmann

Faculty Publications

Gibbs energy models necessary to describe the thermochemical behavior of cesium and iodine in molten FLiNaK (46.5LiF-11.5NaF-42KF mol%), a proposed molten salt reactor coolant and fuel solvent, have been developed as they are of concern due to their high radiotoxicity and volatility. The six constituent pseudo-binary systems LiI-CsI, LiI-KI, LiI-NaI, NaI-KI, KI-CsI and NaI-CsI were evaluated using available phase equilibria and mixing enthalpy measurements. The models for the ternary reciprocal salt systems Li,Cs|F,I, Li,K|F,I, Li,Na|F,I, Na,K|F,I, Na,Cs|F,I and K,Cs|F,I were obtained by interpolation of the optimized pseudo-binary systems and parameters fit as necessary based on observed behavior. The additive (common …

Bridging The Communication Gap In Natural Disaster Information: An Exploratory Study Of Extension Service Websites, Emmanuel Chisom Okolo, Rafael Landaverde, Laxmi Prasanna Kandi, Kim E. Dooley, Sarah Mccord, Kelsi Opat, Abdul Saboor Rahmany

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Natural disasters are expected to become more frequent and severe, increasing the need for effective disaster management. Governments are emphasizing community awareness and local self-reliance, with the Cooperative Extension Services (CES) playing a vital role in distributing science-based knowledge and supporting preparedness efforts. This qualitative content analysis (QCA), guided by Framing Theory, examined how CES disseminated weather-related disaster preparedness and response information from 2003 to 2023 on Extension Service websites. We explored: (1) the frequency of information on natural disaster preparedness and response published on Extension Service websites, (2) dissemination methods, and (3) the quality of disaster preparedness and response …

The Frontal Assessment Battery In Older Multilingual Kenyan Adults, Anne Njoki Gitere, Anne Nyambura, Karen Blackmon, Levi Muyela, Rachel Maina, Olivera Nesic Taylor,, Jasmit Shah, Dilraj Sokhi, Sylvia Mbugua, Samuel Gitau, Sheila Waa, Juzar Hooker, Zul Merali, Chinedu Momoh, Karen Blackmon

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) was developed as a short (6-item) bedside assessment of executive dysfunction in older adults with suspected neurodegeneration. This study describes psychometric features of the FAB in multilingual Kenyan adults with and without clinical diagnosis of dementia.

Method: The FAB consists of six items assessing verbal abstract reasoning, lexical fluency, motor learning, and inhibitory control. The score on each item ranges from 0-3, with higher scores indicating better performance. Bilingual English-Swahili study personnel translated, blind back-translated, and applied consensus-driven cultural adaptations. FAB was then administered to 95 participants [71 cognitively unimpaired (CU) controls; 24 people …

Anxiety, Depression And Associated Medical Symptoms In Kenyan Hiv+ Women: Rural Vs. Urban Context, Laura L. Van Auker, Miriam Wagoro, Janet Meda, Mariana Javeza Omenda

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Advances in HIV therapeutics for women living with HIV (WLWH) in sub-Saharan Africa have shifted focus from deadly AIDS to chronic disease management. This shift underscores the need for integrated mental health and HIV care in low-resource settings, particularly addressing medical comorbidities and antiretroviral (ARV) side effects that exacerbate anxiety and depression. Conditions such as anemia, diabetes, hypertension, and malaria, alongside ARV-related side effects like chronic pain, fatigue, and neuropathy, contribute to overlapping physical and mental health symptoms and challenges. Integrating mental health screening into primary care facilitates identifying primary and secondary symptom etiologies, optimizing outcomes. Urban and rural …

The Role Of Community Libraries In Repackaging Scientifically Researched Information For Rural Farming Communities: A Review, Jackline Estomihi Kiwelu, Patrick Ngulube

Libraries

Objective

Scientifically researched information is often found in journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers, which can be technical and challenging for those without training. Repackaging information into a simpler and preferred language can make it easier for undereducated rural communities to access. This narrative review investigates the strategies community libraries can adopt to repackage scientifically researched information for easier access by rural farming communities. This study contributes to the literature gap on research-based information repackaging by community libraries for rural development.

Methods

The literature search for this narrative review was conducted across several databases, evidence Based Library and Information …

The Psychological Impacts Of Higher Education Educators During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ashlee Morgan Kemp

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of higher education educators—specifically stress, anxiety, depression, alienation, and burnout—and to identify the coping strategies they employed while adapting to emergency hybrid instruction. This study was guided by the following research questions: What were the primary psychological impacts on higher education instructors’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic? How did the pandemic influence instructors’ experiences of stress, anxiety, depression, alienation, and burnout? Additionally, in what ways did educators cope with the instructional and professional challenges that emerged during this period? Guided by a …

Lgbtq+ Adolescents With Disabilities’ Experiences Of School Connectedness And Identity Navigation, Lyndsay Loretta Mccabe

Dissertations

In the United States, LGBTQ+ students have recently faced a barrage of school-based anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and policies (American Civil Liberties Union, 2025). Little is known about the effects of such policies and the overall sociopolitical climate on school connectedness and identity navigation for LGBTQ+ adolescents with disabilities. School connectedness, or the degree to which students feel that they belong at their school, is associated with numerous academic, behavioral, and social-emotional benefits (K. Allen et al., 2018; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022b). Students who are at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities, such as LGBTQ+ adolescents with disabilities, …

Effects Of Exercise Timing On Circadian Rhythm And Functional Outcomes In Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment, Buck Williams Covington Ii

Dissertations

Poor sleep quality and circadian rhythm disruption are commonly reported among cancer survivors and may contribute to worsened health outcomes, including increased fatigue, psychological distress, and reduced quality of life. While some recent studies suggest that exercise can improve sleep and circadian regulation in cancer survivors, limited research exists on how the timing of this exercise affects these outcomes in cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 12-week supervised exercise intervention, performed either in the morning (AX) or evening (PX), on functional capacity, subjective and objective sleep quality, and peripheral markers of circadian …

A Qualitative Examination Of Sport Management Faculty Challenges Faced During Implementation Of Game-Based Learning Within The Classroom, Yash Kishore Padhye

Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of sport management faculty in implementing game-based learning and to identify the institutional and instructional challenges they face across Doctoral Research Universities (Research 1 [R1] institutions), Doctoral Research Universities [Research 2 [R2] institutions), Research 3 (Research Colleges and Universities [R3]), and teaching-focused institutions. Guided by the Theory of Gamified Learning and Bloom’s Taxonomy, this research explored how institutional context, faculty workload, and available resources influence the adoption of game-based learning. Using purposive and snowball sampling, 20 sport management faculty members were interviewed, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis …

The Interpretation And Historical Performance Practices Of Black Choral Music: The Spiritual And Gospel Music, A Comparative Study, Travis Terrence Kornegay

Dissertations

African American spirituals and gospel music are two foundational folk traditions that have profoundly shaped the American musical landscape and continue to influence cultural identity and sacred expression. Emerging from the resilience and faith of enslaved African Americans, spirituals often carried coded messages of liberation. Meanwhile, gospel music developed in the early twentieth-century urban Black church, blending elements of spirituals, blues, and jazz to communicate collective and personal religious experiences. Although linked by shared cultural lineage, the genres diverge in their historical development, linguistic expression, and performance practices, necessitating comparative scholarly inquiry. This dissertation investigates the similarities and key differences …

Emotion Beliefs, Emotion Regulation, And Dyadic Coping In Couples, Emily Corrinne Bach

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to extend the existing literature on and better understand the relationships between emotion beliefs, emotion regulation (ER), and dyadic coping (DC) in romantic relationships. While prior research has examined how ER relates to emotion beliefs and DC, this study was the first to integrate these three domains and to investigate how emotion beliefs may also influence the regulation of others’ emotions. A nationally representative sample of 317 adults (18-65) were recruited through Prolific (total cost $1150). Two conceptual models were developed to examine the direct and indirect effects of maladaptive emotion beliefs on DC …

Teaching Literacy Foundations (2nd Edition), Debra D. Murphy

ATU Faculty OER Books and Materials

Goals and Objectives of the Textbook

This textbook aims to equip educators with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to create rich and inclusive literacy learning environments for all students. The specific objectives of the textbook are:

1. To present a historical and theoretical framework for understanding literacy development and instruction.

2. To explore the essential components of literacy instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, reading comprehension, and writing instruction.

3. To provide practical strategies and activities for teaching and assessing literacy skills.

4. To discuss differentiated instruction and inclusive practices that address the diverse needs of …

Order And Structure In Syntax Ii: Subjecthood & Argument Structure, Chih-Hsin Hsu

ATU Faculty OER Book Reviews

Review of Order and Structure in Syntax II: Subjecthood & Argument Structure edited by Michelle Sheehan and Laura R. Bailey.

Essentials Of Linguistics, 2nd Ed., Chih-Hsin Hsu

ATU Faculty OER Book Reviews

Review of Essentials of Linguistics, 2nd ed. by Catherine Anderson.

The Science Of Syntax, Chih-Hsin Hsu

ATU Faculty OER Book Reviews

Review of  The Science of Syntax by John Gluckman

Brehe's Grammer Anatomy, Chih-Hsin Hsu

ATU Faculty OER Book Reviews

Review of Brehe's Grammar Anatomy by Steven Brehe.

Collaborative Textbook On English Syntax, Chih-Hsin Hsu

ATU Faculty OER Book Reviews

Review of OER English textbook by Matt Garley and Karl Hagen, available at https://pressbooks.cuny.edu/englishsyntax/

Advancement Of Wearable Hardware & Possible Cross-Sector Applications, Yassine Chahid, Patrick Slattery

Publications and Research

This study examines recent advances in wearable technologies including smart glasses, watches, rings, and related devices. It evaluates their applications across healthcare, manufacturing, education, and logistics. As real-time data collection, hands-free interaction, and continuous health monitoring become more prevalent, wearables are emerging as pivotal tools for both personal and professional contexts. The methodology combines a comparative analysis of current-generation devices, a review of technical specifications from manufacturer documentation, and case studies of specialized deployments, particularly in medical diagnostics, remote monitoring, and workplace efficiency. Project findings will indicate the rate at which wearable devices are moving beyond consumer fitness tracking and …