Digital Commons Network^™

Characteristics Of People Who Inject Drugs Approached For Injection Assistance In Rural Kentucky, April Young, Ryli Hockensmith, Preston T Tolbert, Susan Westneat, Peter Vickerman, Jack Stone, Hilary L Surratt, Kayo Fujimoto, Hannah K Knudsen, Rachel Vickers-Smith, Katherine L Thompson, Laura Fanucchi, Julia Kollitz, Jennifer R Havens, Melvin D Livingston

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: This study aims to understand the characteristics of people who inject drugs approached by others for injection assistance.

Method: Peer-referral and outreach were used to recruit rural adults who recently injected drugs in Appalachian Kentucky (n=435). Interviewer-administered questionnaires elicited data on participant characteristics and injection assistance. Descriptive statistics and generalized estimating equations clustered on peer-referral recruitment chain were used for analysis.

Results: Nearly one-third (30.1%) reported others had come to them for injection assistance. People approached for assistance were slightly younger (prevalence ratio [PR]: 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85-0.99) but otherwise, demographically similar to their counterparts. Those approached …

History Of Midwifery In Arkansas: The Attrition Of Midwifery, Koria Torshia Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past few years, Arkansas has gained a spotlight due to an increase in maternal and infant mortality. This increase has been so massive that Arkansas has ranked within the top five in the nation for maternal and infant mortality rates for several years. A large percentage of the maternal and infant deaths in Arkansas are prevalent in the Black and rural community. This is an issue that has plagued the state of Arkansas for over a hundred years, with mortality rates highly affecting the same demographic of people. How did the practice of midwifery become a remedy for …

A Compelling Romance, Kayleigh Kearsley

Curiosity

One of William Shakespeare’s most famous romantic comedies, Much Ado About Nothing, tells the story of two individuals, Claudio and Hero, who quickly fall in love and plan to marry. However, due to another’s nefarious acts, Claudio believes that Hero is unfaithful. He cruelly and publicly shames her at their wedding, leading to her faking her death. In the end, it is revealed that Hero is both innocent and alive, and a double marriage becomes the play’s finale. Though this romance seems to be the focal point of the play, a close reading reveals that the romance between two supporting …

Caribbean Clergy's Perceptions Of Marital Rape, Nasheba Barzey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Crisis Severity In Sportswashing: Examining The Effects On Host Nations, Erika J. Schneider, Courtney D. Boman, Mutaz M.. Barnawi, Kenon A. Brown

Media Studies - All Scholarship

This study examines how the men’s 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, marked by allegations of labor abuses, influenced U.S. viewers’ perceptions of the host nation through the lens of “sportswashing.” Utilizing a survey of self-identified U.S. viewers of the World Cup, the analysis examines how viewers’ personal involvement and recognition of human rights concerns influenced their perceptions of the crisis’s severity. Findings show that recognition of the problem, by viewers themselves, significantly increased perceptions of severity, while involvement with the issue of human rights did not have a direct effect on severity perceptions. Higher perceptions of severity, in turn, …

Motherhood Within The Patriarchal Family: Reconstructing Feminism Through "Frankenstein", Yasamin Osqueezadeh

Curiosity

In 1792, pioneering English feminist Mary Wollstonecraft published “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,” arguing that women’s rights could only advance if women moved into the male-dominated public sphere, leaving behind household-centered education, traditional marriage structures, and the nuclear family dynamic. In 1818, Wollstonecraft’s daughter Mary Shelley published “Frankenstein,” in which she explored and critiqued women’s permanent and unacknowledged status as caretakers within their households. Whereas Wollstonecraft aimed to dismantle marriage completely, Shelley simultaneously argued to preserve the notion of family and marriage while also reconstructing the gender roles within those dynamics. Through the lack of female representation from …

Three Essays On Demand And Distribution, Alejandro Gonzalez

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation answers two basic questions: what are the effects of aggregate demand on the long-run level of economic activity, and how do exogenous changes in the bargaining power of workers affect macroeconomic performance? The first chapter, written with Steven Fazzari, extends a simple Keynesian growth model to show that demand shocks can have permanent effects on labor productivity and labor supply. Estimating the model on U.S. data, we find that positive demand shocks raise labor productivity persistently, implying that stronger demand increases the long-run level of economic activity. The second chapter shows that these results can be rationalized within …

Evidence Distribution Across Osteosarcoma Tumour Types: An Evidence Gap Map To Inform The Who Classification Of Tumours, Oana M. Craciun, Marina Montes-Mota, Ester García-Ovejero, Alex Inskip, Harshima Wijesinghe, Ian A. Cree, Dilani Samarawickrema Lokuhetty, Fiona Campbell, Richard Colling, Puay Hoon Tan, Inga Trulson, Magdalena Chechlińska, Iciar B. Indave, Beatriz Pérez-Gómez, Marina Pollán-Santamaría, Elena Plans-Beriso

Peninsula Medical School

IntroductionOsteosarcomas comprise a heterogeneous group of malignant osteogenic tumours with histopathological, biological and clinical variability. The scientific evidence underpinning different osteosarcoma types varies considerably. The WHO Classification of Tumours (WCT) provides an international standard for tumour classification based on evidence, although published evidence varies in both quantity and quality. Given the implications of osteosarcoma tumour classification for diagnosis, grading and treatment, a systematic overview of the distribution of the evidence is required. This study aimed to map the available evidence for osteosarcoma tumour types to inform the WCT.MethodsAn evidence gap map (EGM) was developed following methodologies adapted from the Campbell …

Correction: Misregulated Alternative Splicing In Endometriosis: A Role For Aberrant Mrna Variants In Endometriotic Cell Growth, Venkata Naga Goutham Davuluri, Michelle Dias, Roxanna Llinas, Neha Kamath, Pooja Popli, Shannon M Hawkins, Chandrakant Tayade, Elise T Courtois, Hari Krishna Yalamanchili, Ramakrishna Kommagani

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This corrects the article "Misregulated alternative splicing in endometriosis: a role for aberrant mRNA variants in endometriotic cell growth", 149.

Associations Among Pork Intake, Weight-Loss, And Diet Quality Outcomes In A Commercial Weight-Management Program, Ana M Palacios, Grace Anderson, Beate Henschel, Alexandra M Lee, Kelli M Richardson, Chelsie Parker, Stephanie L Dickinson, Jing X Kersey, David B Allison, Gary D Foster, Michelle I Cardel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Pork is a common source of high-quality protein. However, it is typically recommended in moderation due to its saturated fat content, especially as its role in weight management, weight-loss (WL) programs, and overall diet quality is not well understood. This study aimed to identify associations among pork intake, WL, and diet quality among adults with overweight or obesity participating in a weight management program (WMP).

Methods: This secondary analysis used data from a 6-month randomized controlled trial (NCT05648344) evaluating the effectiveness of a WMP on diet quality. Data were collected through online surveys and the Automated Self-Administered …

The Voice As The Ultimate Microtonal Instrument, Catherine Terrell

University Honors Theses

I wrote several songs in a non-standard tuning system, 19-equal temperament. I define and distinguish 19-equal temperament and 12-equal temperament, then explore why I decided to write in this tuning system. I argue that intonation is a tool composers can implement along with more common musical devices. After describing the methods I used to create this music, I detail how I taught performers to sing it. I then describe and analyze the several works of music I created. Through the compositional process, I found tuning to be a very effective means in expressing musical and poetic ideas.

A Comparison Between Carlin And Dna Typewriter In Crispr-Mediated Lineage Tracing, Fengshuo Liu, Xiang Zhang, Yipeng Yang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: CARLIN and DNA Typewriter are two major breakthroughs in CRISPR-based lineage tracing technology. It is essential to understand the potential and performance of these methods in lineage tracing, which provides important guidance on experimental design.

Results: In this study, we systematically compare these two strategies using a unified stochastic simulation framework with known ground-truth lineages. By explicitly modeling CRISPR editing dynamics, barcode evolution, and cell division processes, the framework enables quantitative benchmarking of lineage reconstruction accuracy across diverse experimental parameter regimes. Both methods are evaluated using multiple accuracy metrics, including Robinson-Foulds accuracy and triplet accuracy, allowing a comprehensive assessment …

Toxitarget: A Multi-Omics Database For Toxicant-Responsive Molecular Targets, Ravindra Kumar, Tianyi Fu, Prashant Kumar Kuntala, Benpeng Miao, Shuhua Fu, Daofeng Li, Frederick L Tyson, Marisa S Bartolomei, Cheryl L Walker, Ting Wang, Bo A Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Environmental toxicant exposures can induce widespread alterations in both the transcriptome and epigenome of mammals, and directly contribute to the increased risk of various diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, cancer, and neurological disorders. To evaluate how early-life toxicants produce long-term impacts on the transcriptome and epigenome in mice, the Toxicant Exposures and Responses by Genomic and Epigenomic Regulators of Transcription II (TaRGET II) Consortium generated a landmark resource comprising 3607 multi-omics datasets from longitudinal studies in mice. The molecular changes in responding to distinct environmental toxicants, including arsenic (As), lead (Pb), bisphenol A (BPA), tributyltin (TBT), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), dioxin (TCDD), …

Lessons Learned Through Braving Discomfort, Rhys Z. Vulpe

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Artificial Intelligence In Marine Pollution: A Review, Safaa A. Abdel Ghani, Sahar W. M. Hassan, Aida H. Shobier

Blue Economy

Marine pollution represents a significant threat to the sustainable use of ocean resources and is increasing globally. Consequently, multidimensional and sustainable ocean governance frameworks have placed growing emphasis on the prevention, reduction, and elimination of marine pollution. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been increasingly adopted as an effective tool for monitoring, assessing, and managing marine pollution. This review aimed to highlight the role of artificial intelligence in addressing marine pollution. The efforts of scientists in employing and leveraging the advantages of AI to tackle the issue of marine pollution were examined. It was found that AI, supported by …

The Lack Of Employee Financial Wellness Programs, Janell Symone Elliott

Journal of Fundamental & Applied Business Research

This applied research was conducted to fill a gap in knowledge between research studies that show how financial stress can impact productivity and the use of employee financial wellness programs (EFWPs) as an opportunity to promote financial well-being. The research used a single case study design. A research question and three sub-questions were drawn to provide a basis for inquiry to attempt to answer how EFWPs play a role within the workplace and how they relate to productivity and morale. A conceptual research framework was created to define the problem’s clear conditions and determine how this case study was connected …

Generation Z At Work: Generational Differences In Workplace Motivation And Satisfaction, Tammy Brown, Euclid Tan

Journal of Fundamental & Applied Business Research

Although Generation Z is rapidly entering the workforce, organizations often lack empirical data on satisfaction and motivational drivers and instead rely on subjective assessments that limit strategic insight. This study examines whether workplace satisfaction and motivation differ meaningfully across generations or whether these patterns are better explained by demographic factors such as race and values-based identity. Using two repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 (N = 323), respondents completed 14 items from the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire along with demographic and compensation related measures. Results revealed that race and the age × race interaction were stronger predictors …

Improving The Science Curriculum: A Uae Middle School Case Study, Fatima Husain

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

United Arab Emirates Public Schools in Abu Dhabi implement curricula developed by the Ministry of Education (MOE). This qualitative case study research aimed to explore the perspectives of both teachers and students regarding the obstacles impacting student academic achievement in Science classes. The study was conducted in one middle school in Abu Dhabi, EARTH School (pseudonym) that faced challenges in the first trimester of the 2023 academic school year. The students identified teacher quality and well-being as obstacles and suggested improving student motivation and teaching strategies. The teachers identified professional development and student language barriers as core issues and suggested …

Tradition And Discretion, Jonathan Green

Florida Law Review

Professor Sherif Girgis’s Dunwody Lecture argues that today’s originalists face a choice between two irreconcilable goals: constraining judges’ moral or policymaking discretion and adhering to the Constitution’s original meaning. In the academy, they’ve generally opted to sacrifice judicial constraint for the sake of fidelity to original law. But the Supreme Court’s originalists are far less comfortable with that move. Where the Constitution’s original meaning is underdetermined, or seems to invite discretionary judgment calls, they’ve looked for other non-originalist tools to tie their hands. According to Girgis, that explains why the Court is increasingly using “tradition,” rather than normative balancing tests, …

Equity's Bruen Moment: Trump V. Casa And Lessons For The Future Of History And Tradition, Jacob D. Charles

Florida Law Review

In Trump v. CASA, the Supreme Court expounded on and applied a methodological framework that mimics the test the Court has recently begun deploying in Second Amendment and other individual rights cases. That test has three primary components: (1) search for historical analogues; (2) apply historical principles; and (3) abjure contemporary concerns that can be labeled “policy” considerations. Bruen’s echoes in CASA are noticeable and telling. So too are the lessons that CASA can teach about how the Court’s approach to history and tradition is continuing to develop.

This Article analyzes CASA as a window into the Court’s …

Complete Issue, Volume 87, No. 2, William E. Johnson, Edwin Adams Davis, Dawson A. Phelps, R.A. Mclemore, Nannie P. Mclemore, Paul Flowers, Madel Jacobs Morgan

Journal of Mississippi History

No abstract provided.

The Chickasaw Agency, Dawson A. Phelps

Journal of Mississippi History

No abstract provided.

Micajah Mcgehee's Account Of Fremont's Disastrous Fourth Exploring Expedition, 1848-1849, William E. Johnson, Edwin Adams Davis

Journal of Mississippi History

No abstract provided.

Ruth Loving Higgins Papers Finding Aid

Finding Aids

No abstract provided.

Measuring The Impact Of Ai-Assisted Language Learning On English Language Education: A Mixed-Methods Study, Abdulrahman Alkhirbash, Vn Vamsidhar Kilari, Abdulrahman Dallak

UB Journal for Humanities

The use of AI tools in English language pedagogy is changing classroom practices by helping to develop students’ communicative competence and confidence and to assist teachers with their teaching tasks. This research examines the efficacy of existing artificial intelligence tools and applications for supporting English language teaching and learning, with a particular focus on the impact they have on the key language domains of speaking, reading, writing, and grammar. It explores how AI tools enhance personalization, instant feedback in language learning as well as addressing challenges such as data privacy, technology dependence and algorithmic bias. The design of this research …

Businesses Entering The Latin American Market, Valeria Rangel

Honors Capstones

This study examines the strategies global companies use to successfully enter and compete in Spanish-speaking markets in Latin America. As the region continues to experience economic development and growing demand for infrastructure and energy-efficient technologies, it presents important opportunities for multinational organizations. However, companies expanding into these markets must consider cultural differences, regulatory environments, and regional economic conditions when designing effective market entry strategies.

This research analyzes the key factors that influence global market expansion, including regional economic conditions, trade policies, and marketing strategies. Particular attention is given to the importance of localization, customer relationships, and digital communication when engaging …

Extending The Global Impact Of Dnp Education: Integrating Scholarly Dissemination And International Practice Projects, Cynthia Plonien, Pricilla Muisyo, Deborah Behan, Kristine Cope, Cathy Brown

Nursing Faculty Publications & Presentations

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program at the University of Texas at Arlington initiated a global outreach effort in 2024 through two complementary strategies: expansion of a digital repository to support dissemination of DNP scholarly work and implementation of pilot DNP projects in Kenya. Together, these initiatives represent an integrated model for global engagement that combines knowledge dissemination with application of practice-based scholarship. The repository has facilitated international access to DNP projects, demonstrating significant global reach across multiple countries. Concurrently, a pilot project in Kenya was established through a strategic in-country professional partnership, enabling culturally relevant and sustainable implementation …

Do Complex Models Matter? Evidence From Multiclass Machine Learning Models In Credit Outlook Prediction, Rashmi Malhotra, Davinder K. Malhotra, Robert Nydick, Nathan Coates

College of Business Faculty Papers

This research explores whether boosting model complexity enhances the forecasting of corporate financial outlook in a multiclass credit outlook setup. Instead of viewing distress as simply a yes-or-no result, companies are divided into negative, neutral, and positive outlook categories to better reflect shifting credit conditions. The study evaluates a parametric baseline against several nonlinear classifiers—including ensemble, kernel-based, and similarity-driven approaches—while applying a consistent validation process and statistical testing. On average, nonlinear models outperform the linear specification in terms of out-of-sample accuracy and provide more homogeneous classification across the three outlook categories. Importantly, they substantially improve the identification of firms with …

Dr. Jonathan Velotta Faculty Spotlight, Katelyn Trimble

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

An interview with Dr. Jonathan Velotta of the University of Denver's Department of Biological Sciences.

Urban Removal: The Long-Term Impacts Of The Displacement Of Denver’S Auraria Neighborhood, Sophia Krout, Reginald A. Byron

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

In the early 1970s, the Auraria Center for Higher Education was developed, displacing a well-established Denver Latino neighborhood, which encompassed a 38-block district at the time, including 155 families, 49 single individuals, and 237 businesses, and clearing the way for the establishment of the Metropolitan State University of Denver, the University of Colorado Denver, and Denver Community College. The implementation of remedial measures for the displacement has fallen short of meeting the needs of displaced residents. The residents were promised affordable education through a program named the Displaced Aurarian Scholarship, which has similarly stated intentions of improving the educational attainment …