Digital Commons Network^™

Tracking Impact: Leveraging Pre-Existing Monitoring Tools For Assessing Indonesia’S Free Nutritious Meal (Makan Bergizi Gratis) Programme, Putu Geniki Lavinia Natih

Economics and Finance in Indonesia

Indonesia’s Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) programme is among the largest school feeding initiatives globally, yet its rapid scale-up has outpaced the development of a robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework capable of assessing welfare-relevant outcomes. This paper examines whether pre-existing national survey instruments can be leveraged to strengthen outcome monitoring in the absence of MBG-specific microdata. Focusing on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) collected through Indonesia’s National Socio-Economic Survey (Susenas), the study first situates experiential food insecurity within Indonesia’s broader food security landscape. It then applies a propensity score matching framework using participation in the Bantuan Pangan Non-Tunai …

The Role Of Managerial Human Capital In Resource Acquisition And Deployment: A Study Of The Japanese Anime Film Industry, Tsutomu Doiguchi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In order to integrate resource and capability perspectives, prior literature has examined the interaction between managerial human capital (HC) and unit-level human capital resources (HCRs). A substantial body of research has demonstrated that managerial HC enhances the deployment of unit-level HCRs, thus generating synergistic values beyond those realized in their isolation. Previous literature, however, has largely overlooked the role of managerial HC in acquiring unit-level HCRs, neglecting strategic factor market theory and becoming susceptible to endogeneity issues. To address these theoretical and empirical issues, this study draws on the theoretical framework of human capital resource combinations—and proposes three distinct mechanisms …

Layered Redactions: An Arts Based Research And Self Study Handbook For Art Teachers Navigating Professional Learning Communities, Audrea M. Danenhauer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This self-study contributes to the field of art education by examining the tensions and possibilities within Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) through an arts-based lens. Framed as both a love letter and a palimpsestic work, this thesis reimagines professional development as a layered, living practice, rooted in collective care and criticality. Using collage as both method and metaphor, the study interweaves Freire’s dialogic praxis, bell hooks’ radical tenderness, and the marginalia of a weathered PLC handbook—redacted, annotated, and reassembled with lived experience. Through deliberate redaction and reassembly, the research intentionally disrupts the normative invisibility of whiteness in educational structures, making visible …

Exploring Ict Adoption In Teaching And Learning Of Science: A Case Of Senior Teachers In Kenya, David Odhiambo, Winston Edward Massam, Fredrick Mtenzi

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

This study was conducted in Homa Bay Sub County, Kenya to explore the adoption of ICT among senior teachers, aged between 45-60 years, in teaching and learning of science. A qualitative research approach using a case study design was employed. Eight secondary school senior teachers of science, 2 females and 6 males, within Homa Bay Sub County were purposefully selected. Semi structured interviews were conducted one-on-one basis followed by classroom observation and document analysis. Analysis of the data revealed that senior teachers of science generally integrate ICTs in planning, assessment and in classroom teaching; however pedagogical preferences and teacher’s workload …

Library News August 2025, Research Medical Library

Library News 2025

• Library Agreements Deliver Author Savings
• Current Trends in Scientific Publishing
• RML Grant Writing Resources Roundup
• The Prefix "anti-": How to Turn a Word into Its Antithesis

Community Directed-Based Approaches To Promote Uptake Of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine For Intermittent Preventive Treatment Of Malaria In Pregnancy: Endline Findings From Kisumu And Migori Counties, Dennis Matanda, Zoe Nakuya, Stephen Kizito, Francis Obare

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

No abstract provided.

Sexual And Reproductive Health Is Inadequately Addressed In Climate Change Actions In Sub-Saharan Africa, Jacinter Amadi, George Odwe

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

No abstract provided.

Changes In Social Attitudes And Behavioural Intentions Related To Female Genital Mutilation In The Context Of Community-Based Interventions In Isiolo And Narok Counties In Kenya, Dennis Matanda, Francis Obare, Stephen Kizito, Stella Muthuri, Chi-Chi Undie

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

While evidence on the drivers of female genital mutilation (FGM) has been expanding, programmes implementing interventions designed to end FGM have had challenges in measuring social change. Gaps exist ranging from the documentation and description of how change occurs to reducing the effect of social desirability given the illegality of FGM and the stigma associated with the practice. This study aimed to assess shifts in social attitudes/beliefs and behavioural intentions related to FGM and gender in the context of The Girl Generation support to – Africa-Led Movement (TGG-ALM) programme in Isiolo and Narok counties using public opinion poll and vignettes. …

Evaluation Of Real-World Evidence To Assess Health Outcomes Related To Deprescribing Medications In Older Adults, Kaleen N. Hayes, Joshua David Niznik, Danijela Gnjidic, Frank Moriarty, Nha Tran, Antoinette B. Coe, Andrew R. Zullo, Sirui Zhang, Matthew Alcusky, Dimitri Bennett, Sirpa Hartikainen, Marie Laure Laroche, Xiaojuan Li, Joshua K. Lin, Jennifer L. Lund, Maurizio Sessa, Shahar Shmuel, Caroline Sirois, Denis Talbot, Miia Tiihonen, Xuerong Wen, Mouna J. Sawan, Daniela C. Moga

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Observational studies using real-world data (RWD) can address gaps in knowledge on deprescribing medications but are subject to methodological issues. Limited data exist on the methods employed to use RWD to measure the effects of deprescribing. To describe methodological approaches used in observational studies of deprescribing medications in older adults, we conducted a systematic review in Medline for observational studies published in English (January 1, 2000, to September 14, 2023) that examined the health effects of medication deprescribing in older adults. We described study characteristics and methods, focusing on the operationalization of deprescribing as an exposure and potential time-related biases. …

Reentry For Formerly Incarcerated Individuals: A Focus On Workforce Reentry And Recidivism In Appalachia, Margaret E. Francisco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Formerly incarcerated individuals face challenges to successful reentry, a critical component of reducing recidivism and improving public health outcomes. These challenges are particularly acute in rural Appalachia, where structural disadvantages such as limited economic opportunities, healthcare access, and public transportation intersect with stigma and systemic barriers related to prior incarceration. This dissertation addresses these gaps through a mixed-methods examination of reentry and recidivism, grounded in public health frameworks and focused on the unique context of rural Appalachia.

This work includes three studies. First, a PRISMA-guided systematic review synthesized qualitative research on barriers and facilitators to employment following incarceration. Findings highlighted …

Hierarchy In Sensation: Exploring The 40 Hz Auditory Steady State Synchrony In The Primary Auditory And Prefrontal Association Cortices, Deepshila Gautam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Auditory processing begins in the cochlea and ascends through brainstem relays to the cortex, where sound features with increasing complexity are encoded. The 40 Hz auditory steady-state response (ASSR) reflects induced gamma synchrony shaped by local cortical circuit dynamics. Disrupted 40 Hz ASSR is a consistent finding in schizophrenia, linked to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction in inhibitory interneurons, making it a promising translational biomarker. While multiple ASSR generators have been identified, it is not known if these are redundant or represent unique activity. This dissertation investigates regional differences in 40 Hz ASSR across two principal generators: the primary auditory cortex …

August 2025 Annual Report, Perlmutter Center For Legal Justice At Cardozo Law

Perlmutter Center Reports

The August 2025 Annual Report documents the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice’s work at Cardozo Law during Spring and Summer 2025, highlighting major legal victories, partnerships, student clinical programs, policy advocacy, community outreach, and staff achievements. Prepared for The Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Foundation, it details the Center’s efforts to address wrongful convictions, challenge flawed forensic science, expand pro bono collaborations, and advance criminal justice reform, while also providing staff updates, financial information, and program impact summaries.

A Trauma-Informed Analysis Of Legal Intervention In Cases Of Child Emotional Maltreatment, Judith G. Mcmullen

University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy

Child emotional maltreatment (CEM) has been recognized as a widespread, serious social problem that is linked to a variety of adverse physical and mental effects that follow affected children into adulthood. The justice system has responded to calls to action by mental health professionals, and for more than two decades, federal and state laws have included child emotional maltreatment on the list of caretaker behaviors that can trigger child protection action. Despite the potential for meaningful action, recent data shows that occurrence rates of CEM are quite high, while rates of official reporting and intervention remain low. This Article examines …

Legislatively Inhibiting Children's Development Of The Mens Rea To Commit Genocide During Adulthood, Susan H. Bitensky

University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy

This Article concerns how legislatures in America are stanching development of the criminal intent to commit genocide. Lawmakers have taken aim at genocide, not through the barrel of a gun, but, rather, by imbuing schoolchildren with values and psychological attributes that gradually counteract development of a génocidaire’s mens rea. Of course, sans mens rea, sans perpetration of this, the “crime of crimes.”

The counteractant process is the result of joining a substantively targeted pedagogy with the force of law so as to create state genocide-education mandate statutes. There has been a certain prescience in this. Accumulating expert opinion, studies, and …

Uni Impact: Faculty/Staff Scholarly Publications And Featured Awards Newsletter, V3i2, 2024, Rod Library. Research & Sponsored Programs. Uni Foundation. University Of Northern Iowa.

UNI Impact: Faculty/Staff Scholarly Publications and Featured Awards Newsletter

Highlights the scholarship, research, and other scholarly work produced by University of Northern Iowa faculty, students, and staff.

This issue covers the period of July - December 2024.

Cultural Considerations And Efficacy Of Mindfulness-Based Practices For Hispanic/Latinx Immigrant Youth In Schools: A Systematized Review, Lisandra Artiles Suarez

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have gained attention as promising tools for improving student well-being, yet their effectiveness and cultural relevance for Hispanic/Latinx immigrant youth remain underexamined. This Systematized Review evaluates the current literature on school-based MBIs targeting this population, with a focus on their cultural considerations, efficacy, and participant acceptability. Using PRISMA guidelines, studies were identified across research databases and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria required that interventions involve mindfulness practices, take place in school settings, and include Hispanic/Latinx immigrant youth. Findings from the limited number of eligible studies suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma while …

Predicting Hollywood Movie Success Using Predictive Machine Learning Algorithms, Saeed Alghabshi Hathboor

Theses

The Decision Trees are always simple to understand and interpret techniques, a single tree may not be enough for the model to learn the characteristics from. In this IMDb movie review prediction problem, evading all other simple mechanisms, the Random Forest, on the other hand, is a "Tree"-based algorithm that makes judgments by combining the attributes of numerous Decision Trees is used. The primary goal of this work is to evaluate the predictive performance of a random forest model with various parameters used for forecasting numerical user ratings of a movie based on pre-release data such as actors, directors, profit, …

Relationship Between Proximity To Harm Reduction Programs And Social Stigma Against People Who Use Drugs, Mark Vasilchenko

Student Theses

Social stigma against people who use drugs (PWUD) is incredibly common and has a negative impact on quality of life and recovery. PWUD that are subjected to stigma from their community are at higher risk of homelessness, overdose, and other drug-related health issues. Harm reduction programs encourage PWUD to use safely with a variety of services, including but not limited to drug testing, needle exchange, and professional supervision during drug use. These services are empirically proven to decrease drug use, overdose, and crime as a whole within the communities where they are implemented, but they often appear counter-intuitive to the …

A Framework For Interpreting Emojis In Legal Contexts, Anne Merritt

Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies

In the 2023 case of South West Terminal Ltd. v. Achter Land & Cattle Ltd., a Saskatchewan court found that a thumbs-up emoji, as a standalone item of communication, constituted the acceptance of a contract between a buyer and seller. The trial judge noted that such communication was “the new reality in Canadian society” for which courts should be prepared to interpret novel units of language arising in the digital age. However, an analysis of recent Canadian cases involving emojis shows that courts have not been prepared, with inconsistencies in how emojis are represented in evidence, how they are …

International Engagement Newsletter, August 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of International Engagement.

Office of International Engagement newsletter

Contents:

--- Goodbye August, Hello UNI
--- Fall 2025 International Student Orientation
--- September Activities
--- Additional Opportunities

Emerging Adulthood, Identity Conflict, And Self-Compassion’S Impact On Mental Health Interference Of Collegiate Student-Athletes, Courtney Amber Shields

Dissertations

Prior research identified a strong connection between experiences of being a collegiate student-athlete with mental health-related struggles; however, little research has been conducted into how the competing identities of student and athlete within a heavy identity developmental period (emerging adulthood) might be impacting mental-health interference. The purpose of this quantitative study was to understand how emerging adulthood, student identity, athletic identity, and the conflicting role of student-athlete identity had in mental health interference on training, competition, and willingness to see a sports psychologist within collegiate student-athletes as well as how self-compassion moderated these relationships. The following research questions guided this …

Academic Self-Efficacy In Nurse Anesthesia Residents, Nathan Seth Jones

Dissertations

Academic self-efficacy is a student’s belief in their ability to accomplish educational goals. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of academic self-efficacy in nurse anesthesia residents using the College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (CASES). Three research questions guided the study:

Q1 What is the academic self-efficacy of current nurse anesthesia residents as measured by the College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale?

Q2 What are the factors that predict academic self-efficacy in nurse anesthesia residents?

Q3 What is the appropriate cut-off score on the College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale for identifying residents with low academic self-efficacy?

A total of 233 completed …

Undergraduate Faculty Experiences With Test Remediation, Shauna L. Haynes

Dissertations

Nursing students’ success in didactic courses generally depends on test scores. Students who fail to achieve a designated score might fail the test and/or the course. Test remediation is an intervention that could be implemented in response to a student’s failure. The intent of test remediation is to improve the student’s success on future exams and maximize the likelihood of progression. While remediation for success on the National Council Licensure Examination, standardized exams, and for the achievement of clinical skills were well documented, little research was found on test remediation for individual course exams. The purpose of this study was …

Through Their Eyes: A Photovoice Study Of Mental Health And Well-Being Among Rural-Dwelling Latina Adolescents, Ashley Marie Coburn

Dissertations

Latina adolescents are more prone to depressive symptoms, less likely to receive mental health services, and face higher rates of suicidality compared to their non-White peers. This population becomes more vulnerable to adverse outcomes when their problems are compounded by barriers to mental health care common in rural communities such as limited resources, stigmatization, and systemic inequities related to race/ethnicity, income, and insurance status. Despite Latinx youth representing the fastest growing racial or ethnic group in rural areas across the United States, there is limited research on the distinct factors shaping mental health outcomes for this population. Guided by an …

Advanced Interactions Of Directed Energy With Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells And Their Photochemical And Photothermal Responses, Jin B. Ha

Theses & Dissertations

Excess optical radiation can injure the retina through either rapid heat deposition (photothermal damage) or cumulative photo‑oxidative stress (photochemical damage), yet current laser‑safety limits treat these mechanisms as independent. To test that assumption, this dissertation integrated systematic wavelength, duration and temperature‑controlled laser exposures with live/dead fluorescence imaging in a melanin‑loaded hTERT‑RPE1 monolayer model. First, concurrent 447 nm (blue) and 2 µm (infra‑red) beams delivered for 200 s demonstrated a strong thermal–photochemical synergy: each beam alone was sub‑threshold (≤25 % lethality) but together produced 100 % RPE death without exceeding 50 °C, proving that modest heating markedly lowers the photon dose …

Inhibitory Control In Asian Elephants, Gillian Schmitt

Theses and Dissertations

Inhibitory control is defined as the ability to suppress a prepotent motor response in favor of a more efficient or advantageous behavior, and is an important core executive function. Although elephants are known to behave flexibly and display other executive functions, there is currently little information available on if, and to what extent, they display inhibitory control. We tested 16 captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) (N = 8 males, 8 females) ranging in age from 4-years-old to 60-years-old at the National Elephant Institute in Thailand using a classic detour paradigm adapted to be more ecologically salient for them through the …

The Automation Of Aesthetics: Artificial Intelligence And Commercial Artists In North Brooklyn, Devin Sudweeks

Theses and Dissertations

Corporate elites expect generative AI to replace commercial artists but overlook their social and aesthetic expertise. This ethnographic study explores how Brooklyn-based commercial artists narrate their value amid automation, emphasizing embodied presence in cultural scenes, visual language, style, and authenticity, skills not easily mechanized but vital to aesthetic economies.

Learning From Adolescents’ Lived Experience: Recommendations For Suicide Prevention For Youth And Their Caregivers, Genesis Minaya

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored adolescents’ views on which supports are most helpful during suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Interviews revealed six themes: Communication & Disclosure, Empathic Non-Judgmental Support, Consistent Presence, Parent/Family Education, Coping Tools, Hope and Future Orientation. These findings highlight the critical role of family dynamics in adolescent suicide prevention.

In The Name Of The Mother, The Nation, And The Race: White Women, The Jim Crow South, & Moralized White Supremacist Feminism, Shayna M. Lawson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces the concept of moralized white supremacist feminism to examine the central role white women played in constructing, legitimizing, and sustaining racial hierarchies in the Jim Crow South through a network of cultural and political organizing, particularly through the United Daughters of the Confederacy and Women’s Ku Klux Klan. Far from passive observers, white women were strategic agents of segregation, leveraging ideals of purity, motherhood, and moral virtue to enforce anti-Black violence and oppression through educational, civic, legal, and symbolic institutions, as well as extra-legal practices. Drawing from archival materials, oral histories, and critical race theory, this study …

Reverse-Chinoiserie: Qing Imperial Porcelain And The Reappropriation Of European Rococo, Yifan (Mia) Ye

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces “reverse-chinoiserie” to describe the Qing court’s reappropriation of European Rococo aesthetics in imperial porcelain. Through case studies of 18th-century ceramic diplomacy and design, it reveals how cultural imitation was reengineered into visual sovereignty. It examines how China responded to, absorbed, and redirected European fantasies of empire.