Digital Commons Network^™

Getting Close, Sadie Laufe Mccarthy

Dissertations and Theses

"Getting Close" is a collection of short pieces, some fiction and some memoir. It's not important which is which.

I'm interested in the barriers we face when it comes to connection, and how aloneness can often be more sensual than togetherness. I'm interested in the places we find respite from the pain of existing within societal pressures.

I'm not interested in acceptability. I write toward a world in which we do not have to be anything other than ourselves.

Employment Opportunities As Halal Entrepreneur For Halal Science Graduates: Unissa As Model, Nurdeng Deuraseh, Siti Nora’Aini Pg Sufredin

Nusantara Halal Journal

The high unemployment rate among graduates is not a new issue. This issue is of concern in many countries including Brunei Darussalam. Brunei’s Government could not accommodate all the unemployed graduates with governmental job, therefore, as a brilliant and creative graduates, they need to be independent and creative to create job opportunities. So, one of the measures to reduce this problem is by the introduction of Entrepreneurship. The concept of entrepreneurship is not something new in Islam as it can be observed from the history as a noble profession practiced by the Prophet Muhammad and His companions. However, in recent …

Fake: The Rise Of Food Fraud In The Halal Supply Chain, Adam Voak

Nusantara Halal Journal

We live in increasingly challenging economic times, and the concomitant uncertainty associated with this state within the food industry has led to an emergence of unscrupulous suppliers and supply chain actors committing Halal food fraud. As Halal food supply chains become increasingly complex and global and as the sector continues to develop and grow, more significant opportunities arise for unprincipled practice. Further, catering to rising consumption and the resultant increased demand for Halal products and services means consumers in Halal supply chains are particularly vulnerable to fraud, adulteration and unwitting contamination as global demand outstrips supply. Certification and its associated …

Halal Education: Curriculum Management Based On Halal Entrepreneurship At Nahdlatul Ulama University Of Sidoarjo, Fatkul Anam, Nurul Istiq’Faroh

Nusantara Halal Journal

Indonesia is well-known for having the world's largest Muslim population. As a result, Indonesia has significant halal market potential. After forming the Institute for the Study of Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics in the Indonesian Ulema Council, halal products became more widely known (LPPOMMUI). Since then, public awareness and demand for Halal products have risen significantly, making Indonesia a lucrative market for halal businesses. In response to the rapid rise of the halal industry, a new curriculum has emerged in education to meet the difficulties of today's industrial world. Halal entrepreneurship is a newly designed university program. This study was implemented …

The Communicative Impact Of Political Dress Culture On Contemporary Fashion Styles In Nigerian, Afeez Babatunde Siyanbola, Akinmoye Oluwambe, Adebayo Abiodun Adeloye, Evelyn Omotunde Adepeko, Festus O. Uzzi

Journal of Art, Design and Music

This study examines the communicative impact of political dress culture on contemporary fashion style in Nigeria. Nigerian society places importance on what one wears, how one dresses and when one wears a particular garment, which is often an expression of social affiliation and other influences. The power of dress is evident in the political perception of uniformity in the appearance of a particular group of people. This study highlights the richness and originality of Nigerian socio-cultural heritage and its influence on contemporary fashion style. The study highlights the influence of different cultures, ethnicity and religious affiliation on Nigerian political dress …

Sustainable Synthesis Of Low-Fire Metallic Luster Glazes From Local Qena Clays Without Reduction Firing, Rasha Fawzy Ahmed Abd-Elrahim, Ebrahim Dosouky Abd-Elmawgoud Soliman

Journal of Art, Design and Music

This study explores the development of a low-fire metallic luster glaze without employing traditional reduction firing techniques, utilizing locally sourced clays from Qena, Egypt. The research aimed to formulate an environmentally friendly and cost-effective glaze by harnessing the natural chemical composition of agricultural, marl, and Nile clays. Through three structured experimental phases, various combinations of fluxing agents (lead oxide and borax), metal oxides (MnO2, CuO, Cr2O3, AgNO3, CuCO3, Bi2O3), solvents (water- and oil-based), and glaze modifiers (potassium feldspar and wood ash) were systematically tested. The results revealed that manganese oxide, especially in combination with lead oxide, consistently produced a glassy …

The Role Of Robot Aesthetics In User Acceptance: Examining Anthropomorphism, Color, And Form In Smart Home Environments, Aya M. Abd-El Gawad Mahmoud Gouda, Salwa A. El Garib, Hany M. El-Said

Journal of Art, Design and Music

This study examines how the aesthetic features of domestic robots—such as shape, color, proportions, and materials—impact user acceptance in smart home environments. A quantitative survey with 80 participants of varying ages and genders assessed emotional responses including comfort, trust, and connection with different robot designs. Results showed that robots with moderately human-like and friendly appearances generated more positive emotional reactions, suggesting a balance between aesthetics and functionality is essential. Key design elements enhancing attractiveness and usability were identified, offering practical guidelines for robot design. This research contributes to Human-Robot Interaction by integrating emotional, functional, and aesthetic factors, emphasizing the unique …

Mapping Themes, Aligning Strategies: Institutional Research Analytics With Bertopic And Genai, Danping Dong, Pin Pin Yeo

FORCE 2026

Libraries and research offices are increasingly tasked with making sense of unstructured institutional data, such as research publications and strategic documents. These insights help inform decision-making and leadership planning. This session shares how SMU Libraries leveraged BERTopic, an open-source topic modeling tool, together with generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude, to extract meaningful insights from faculty publications and support institutional sensemaking.

In one use case, we applied BERTopic to university-authored publications to surface thematic groupings related to research about Asia. Generative AI tools were then used to summarize each cluster into human-readable narratives, enabling research landscape mapping, identification …

Researcher Impact Framework: Building Audience-Focused Evidence-Based Impact Narratives, Giovanna Lima

FORCE 2026

While a wealth of resources has been developed to help researchers plan for and communicate their projects anticipated impact when applying for funding proposals, not many resources have been developed for researchers when communicating their own impact as researchers at an individual level.
To support researchers in doing this Dr Giovanna Lima and Sarah Bowman have developed the Researcher Impact Framework (RIF). This framework helps to better share a broad spectrum of the researcher’s achievements in generation of knowledge, development of individuals, forming collaborations, supporting the research community and broader society.
The RIF provides a structure for crafting audience-focused evidence-based …

A Developing Critical Lens Based On Distinct Scholar Experiences In Scholarly Communication, Angel Y. Ford

FORCE 2026

Scholars around the world, even from core research locations, express frustration at the processes of sharing and disseminating research. Scholars discuss the confusing or conflicting reviews they receive, and the astronomical fees to publish in Open Access (OA) journals, but when these global factors are combined with regional factors for scholars in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the view of the scholarly communication landscape can quickly go from challenging, to treacherous and at times a career stunting topography with a variety of obstacles and barriers. The terrain scholars cross to obtain, produce, and disseminate research outputs looks different based on …

Opening Keynote: From 'Publish Or Perish' To Purpose And People: Going Together On Research Assessment Reform, Lily Kong

FORCE 2026

Universities hold a unique position as the brain trusts of society — creating knowledge, countering misinformation, and catalysing innovation that drives societal progress. Yet the cultures of "publish or perish" and competitive rankings have led academia to focus on certain metrics, and in so doing, chase misplaced goals. This has resulted in some misdirections: misconduct, data manipulation, mistreatment of early-career researchers, and a troubling misalignment between what scholars pursue and what society needs. How can we begin to rethink research impact beyond standard metrics to embrace both academic excellence and societal contribution? In the spirit of FORCE 2026's theme, Prof …

A Pioneer In Research On Health Economics In Morocco, El Jay

Revue Marocaine de Droit, d'Economie et de Gestion (Moroccan Journal of Law, Economics and Management)

No abstract provided.

Called To Accuracy, Brick By Brick: Recordkeeping And Reporting Amid Cultural Pressures And Training Gaps, Amber L. Wilson, Sarah J. Boettger, Janet K. Brown, Kjell Fenn, Jessica E. Kuehne, David L. Ream

Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This research investigates how faculty at Christian higher education interpret the impact of expected recordkeeping and reporting. The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions and expectations of recordkeeping and reporting that impact job satisfaction. By examining recordkeeping and reporting and the influence of culture as key factors affecting job satisfaction in Christian higher education, insights were gathered through six faculty member interviews. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews, journals, and discussion board posts. This transcendental phenomenological study sought to explore the lived experiences of six faculty members at a large private Christian university in the southeastern …

Beyond Lecturing: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) And Academic Integrity On Faculty Job Satisfaction In Christian Higher Education, Jacob T. Byrd, Heather J. Conner, Charlene S. Geisler, Jonathan A. Giles, Mark D. Granger, Sheila Ruyack, Andrew H. Volk

Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

The evolving state of Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses significant challenges for faculty in higher education when dealing with academic integrity issues related to student use of AI for course assignments. Students’ utilization of AI contributes to a variety of factors related to faculty perceptions of expectations for AI use in the classroom and how they should approach issues pertaining to academic integrity. While research exists relating to job satisfaction of higher education faculty and expectations regarding technology and AI use in the classroom, research is also limited regarding the effects of AI and academic integrity on the perceptions of expectations …

Can You Hear Me Now? The Impact Of Communication With Students On Faculty Job Satisfaction In Christian Higher Education: A Qualitative Research Study, Bruce K. Bell, Virginia W. Cashion, Kimberly S. Cashman, Alexander Lagos Choquecahua, Collin M. Lyons, Robert J. Doan

Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

The goal of Christian higher education is to effectively integrate faith and learning to equip students to make an impact for Christ in the world. Consequently, faculty at faith-based institutions face challenges when attempting to navigate the ever-changing academic landscape while simultaneously satisfying students’ expectations. This study seeks to explore faculty-student communication and how this affects faculty job satisfaction within Christian higher education. The methodological approach to address this gap included a phenomenological design, which involved interviewing six faculty members from a large Christian university located in the Southeastern United States. These interviews produced useful lived experiences, and the purposeful …

Beyond Lecturing: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Impact Of Lesson Planning On Faculty Job Satisfaction In Christian Higher Education, Andrea Lynn Smith, Randy Baker, David M. Hahn, Cheryl B. Hemric, Karen Haaland Hubbard, Annik A. Miller, Brenda L. Widger

Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Job satisfaction for higher education faculty is influenced by many factors, with lesson planning serving as a contributing factor. This phenomenological study sought to explore and understand the lived experiences of faculty members regarding the impact of lesson planning on job satisfaction in a Christian higher education institution. Using phenomenological methods, the researchers conducted in-person interviews, administered discussion board focus groups, and gathered reflective journal entries from a sample size of six participants at a large, faith-based university located in the southeastern United States. During the data analysis, five themes emerged: Faith Integration and Spiritual Purpose, Autonomy and Creative Freedom, …

Cross-Cultural Differences Among Children And Youth With Special Health Care Needs: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of Chinese, Spanish, And English-Speaking Families, Kathleen Mcgrath, Miriam Franco, Amy Morales-Lara, Karen Bonuck Phd, Joanne Siegel

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

One in five U.S. children has a special health care need, with prevalence rates rising each year. Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) from immigrant and/or non-English speaking families face heightened barriers to care, unmet health needs, and worsened health outcomes. This mixed-methods study explores cross-cultural similarities and differences among English-, Spanish-, and Chinese-speaking families of CYSHCN across four key domains – (1) the diagnostic process, (2) access to essential services, (3) community integration, and (4) social supports. As part of a statewide, New York State Department of Health funded initiative implemented across three University Centers for …

Pre-Conference Workshop 2: Toward A Shared Understanding Of Data Use: Bringing The Data Usage Typology Into Practice, Evgeny Bobrov, Scott Edmunds

FORCE 2026

As open data becomes an increasingly key practice in research, understanding how data are used is becoming essential to inform data policies and facilitate inclusion of data in research assessment. Different groups have started categorizing uses for their own purposes, but the community lacked consensus on how to conceptualize the types of uses of datasets. This hinders comparison of reports on the uses of data, and their transferability into evaluation processes. The FORCE11 Data Usage Typologies Working Group is creating a community-led typology to capture the diverse ways in which datasets are (re)used, and to enable a shared understanding of …

Blood Pressure Prediction During Hemorrhage And Blood Transfusion: A Population-Informed Sequential Inference Approach, Yi-Ming Kao, Parham Rezaei, Sina Masoumi Shahrbabak, Jeremy Alanano Pepino, Ian Sebastian Kirk Shogren, Yang Wang, Andrew Tomas Reisner, Jin-Oh Hahn

2026 LSU Symposium on Control, Learning, and Intelligent Systems

No abstract provided.

Modular Learning‑Based Control Frameworks For Efficient Mobilit, Sidra Bhatti, Qadeer Ahmed

2026 LSU Symposium on Control, Learning, and Intelligent Systems

No abstract provided.

Adaptive Dae Observer For Joint State And Parameter Estimation In Parallel-Connected Li-Ion Batteries With Experimental Validation, Jorge E. Espin, Dong Zhang

2026 LSU Symposium on Control, Learning, and Intelligent Systems

No abstract provided.

Unbalancing Second-Life Battery Pack With Bidirectional Dc/Dc Converter For Extending Life, Zhicheng Xu, Yuichi Kajiura, Wonoo Choo, Jorge Espin, Dong Zhang

2026 LSU Symposium on Control, Learning, and Intelligent Systems

No abstract provided.

Markerless Estimation Of Ground Reaction Forces From Video For Biomechanical Assessment In Orthotics And Prosthetics, Ricki M. Pierce, Hunter Gilbert, Hyun Kim

2026 LSU Symposium on Control, Learning, and Intelligent Systems

No abstract provided.

Impedance Addition As A Control Primitive Unifying Kinematic And Kinetic Behavior, Hunter B. Gilbert

2026 LSU Symposium on Control, Learning, and Intelligent Systems

No abstract provided.

Newton-Flow Particle Filters Based On Generalized Cramér Distance, Uwe D. Hanebeck

2026 LSU Symposium on Control, Learning, and Intelligent Systems

No abstract provided.

User Interaction, Service Effectiveness And Digital Resource Utilization In Private University Libraries Telangana State: An Empirical Study, Chandra Chary Sreeramoj, Dr. M. Sadik Batcha

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The purpose of this study is to observe the operational design, cognizance levels, complications faced and complete fulfillment of users regarding numerical resources in designated private university libraries in the state of Telangana. The study predominantly emphasizes on graduates, postgraduates, research scholars, and faculty members of Malla Reddy University and S.R. University. The study adopted quantitative descriptive design, and data were collected by means of a Google Form survey, resulting in 1796 legal valid responses. The examination included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests and ANOVA to classify variances across different user groupings. The outcomes reveal that most respondents are mindful of …

The Feasibility Of A Single Educational Intervention To Improve Caregiver Confidence In Stroke Rehabilitation, Angelica Fedorchak, Jennifer E. Lape

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Caregivers play a critical role in providing support to stroke survivors during recovery, but they often face emotional, physical, and educational challenges that can lead to caregiver burden and burnout. Despite the significant impact education can have on caregivers, rehabilitation professionals in inpatient rehabilitation settings often struggle to provide comprehensive training due to time constraints and strict productivity standards. This feasibility study aimed to evaluate whether an individualized one-time caregiver education session, integrated into the discharge planning process, could enhance caregiver confidence and whether the necessary education could be practically integrated into the existing staffing, reimbursement, and organizational structure …

Designing Robust Physiotherapy Trials: When And How To Use The Randomized Crossover Model, Manish P. Shukla, Gaurav Chhabra, Ashish Shankarrao Deshmukh, Neha Sachin Chaudhary, Neha Deshmukh

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Problem: Physiotherapy research increasingly requires methodological precision and clinical relevance. Among available designs, the randomized crossover model offers distinct advantages by allowing each participant to serve as their own control, thereby reducing inter-individual variability and improving statistical efficiency. Purpose: This perspective article discusses how appropriately designed crossover trials can enhance the quality and interpretability of physiotherapy research when applied under stable clinical conditions and with adequate washout periods. Methods: Three representative crossover studies illustrate these principles across physiotherapy specialties. In musculoskeletal practice, manual therapy for thoracic pain demonstrated measurable reductions in paraspinal electromyographic activity following counterstrain compared with spinal manipulation. …

Caldwell Multi‑Domain Resonance Sphere (Cmrs‑1) Open‑Hardware, Builder‑Ready, Multi‑Physics Engineering Core, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

The CMRS‑1 Sphere is a universal, multi‑domain physics engine integrating vortex induction, acoustic resonance, thermal equalization, structural load distribution, and energy harvesting into a single geometry. It consists of a spherical shell, a gyroid‑lattice interior, six helical intake channels, a central resonance cavity, three orthogonal acoustic chambers, and a thermal equalization layer. This disclosure provides complete geometry, build instructions, test procedures, failure‑mode analysis, and integration pathways. No biological, medical, or clinical instructions are included. All components are safe, mechanical, and fabricable using standard engineering tools.

Generating A Telemetry-Addressable Specification For Professional Services Engagement Scope Validation And Execution Tracking, Chady Saad, Larone Gardner, Tim Barnes

Defensive Publications Series

Proposed herein is a system that automatically translates the scope of a professional services consulting engagement into a structured telemetry specification, referred to herein using a construct called a Telemetry Pack, that can be validated against a customer's actual product telemetry data. Instead of relying on manual status reports and consultant self-assessments, the system determines whether the engagement is achieving its intended product adoption outcomes by checking what the customer's product environment actually shows. No prior system connects what a consulting engagement is supposed to achieve with automated, telemetry-based verification of whether it has achieved the criteria of the engagement.