Digital Commons Network^™

Code-Switching Among Black Businesswomen, Latrice R. Small

Doctoral Student Association Conference

Code-switching, the practice of adjusting language, behavior, and self-presentation to align with dominant workplace norms, has been widely examined in sociolinguistics and critical race scholarship. However, much of the existing literature remains theoretical or descriptive, with limited attention to how these insights can be operationalized within organizational contexts. My dissertation study, completed in Fall of 2024, with Franklin University, examined the lived experiences of Black businesswomen in Arkansas to explore how code-switching functions as both a survival strategy and an organizational signal within professional environments.

Using a qualitative, phenomenological approach, my research centers the voices of Black businesswomen across industries …

First-Generation Doctoral Student Book, Stacey Horn

Doctoral Student Association Conference

Thriving as a First-Generation Doctoral Student: How to Navigate Academia Without a Map is a useful, encouraging, and strategic guide for students who are the first in their families to go to college and want to get a PhD. This book talks about the problems that first-generation doctoral students often face but don't always see, like imposter syndrome, the hidden curriculum of academia, financial stress, mental health issues, and not having enough access to mentors and professional networks. It does so from the point of view of someone who has lived through them and as a scholar-practitioner.

Instead of seeing …

Critical Friends Groups (Organizational Intervention Angle), Valerie A. Storey, Amiee Wagner

Doctoral Student Association Conference

Online doctoral programs face a persistent crisis with completion rates of only 40-60%, and alarming attrition rates 10-30% higher than traditional programs. While research identifies social and academic isolation as primary factors, few studies examine actionable interventions that higher education institutions can implement to reverse the trend. This sequential mixed-methods study bridges the gap between knowing the problem and implementing a solution.

Our study investigates how a Doctoral Student Association (DSA) employs Critical Friends (CF) protocols to address the challenges faced by online doctoral students. Drawing on Tinto’s model of institutional departure and Astin’s student involvement theory, we examine both …

Mainehealth Investigator Vignettes

Journal of Maine Medical Center

No abstract provided.

Waste-To-Energy Innovations And Advances In Hydrothermal Carbonization, Microwave, And Pyrolysis Processes: A Review, Ali Mohammed Saleh, Noah Mohammed Saleh, Mahmod A. Abdulqader, Hadi Hamdi Mahdi, Jafar Keighobadi, Omar K. Ahmed, Khalil Farhan Yassin, Azil Bahari Bin Alias, Omar Abed Habeeb, Ibrahim Awad Mohammed

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

The accelerating global generation of municipal solid waste, coupled with escalating energy demands, presents one of the most pressing sustainability challenges of the 21st century. Conventional waste disposal pathways, such as landfilling and incineration, exacerbate environmental degradation and resource loss. In response, thermochemical technologies—specifically hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), microwave-assisted processing, and pyrolysis—have emerged as promising strategies for waste valorization and renewable energy recovery. This review critically examines recent advancements in these technologies, emphasizing their roles in converting diverse waste streams into high-value energy carriers and carbon-rich materials. Comparative analysis reveals that HTC operates efficiently under subcritical water conditions, producing hydrochar with …

Role Of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure In The Prevention Of Cardiovascular Events In Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Clinical Trials, Saif Almuzainy, Mohamed Lemine, Rayan Aljubeh, Ahmad Alilo, Maryam Altaher, Mohamed Almuzainy, Sami Alsalem, Mohamed Dawdi

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent among patients with cardiovascular disease and is associated with increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the standard treatment for OSA, but its impact on cardiovascular outcomes remains uncertain, particularly in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of CPAP therapy on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with OSA, and to explore the influence of adherence on treatment efficacy.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs comparing CPAP with placebo or usual care in adults with OSA. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, Ovid, …

Modeling The Impact Of Shade Pavilions On Wet Bulb Globe Temperature And Activity Modification In Outdoor Sports Across Diverse U.S. Climates, Andrew Grundstein, Susan W. Yeargin Ph.D., Atc, Lat, Earl Cooper, Lilly Cargile

Faculty Publications

Extreme heat is an ongoing hazard for outdoor sports. In response, schools, recreation departments, and fitness clubs are increasingly installing shade pavilions over venues like football fields and tennis courts. While shading is known to improve thermal comfort and reduce heat stress, its effects on wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and related activity modification guidelines in sports remain underexplored. This study uses a modeling approach to quantify the impact of shade pavilions on WBGT and activity modification across a range of U.S. climates.

WBGT values were calculated using a model based on historical data from 221 weather stations, each with …

Investigating Barriers Toward Implementation Of Harm Reduction, Mati Abrahami, Ali Cunningham Abbott, Melissa Lehman

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

No abstract provided.

Academic Pressure On College Student: Mental Health And Resilience, Pelo Zinyana, Cindy Khan-Jordan, Patrick J. Cooper

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

No abstract provided.

Post-Traumatic Pituitary Stalk Transection Syndrome, Raya Albusaidi, Asma Alhatmi, Azza Al Shidhani, Eiman Al-Ajmi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Determining The Optimal Management Of Geriatric Type Ii Odontoid Fractures: A Comparative Network Meta-Analysis, Shaan Patel, Shiva A. Nischal, Kush M. Kale, Stavros Matsoukas, Joshua Heller, Jack Jallo, James S. Harrop, Srinivas K. Prasad

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

UNLABELLED: Type II odontoid fractures are the most common cervical injury in geriatric populations, yet optimal management remains debated. This study compared the safety and effectiveness of non-surgical management (NSM), anterior dens screw (ADS) fixation, and posterior arthrodesis (PA) in these patients. A systematic review and frequentist network meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA-NMA guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched from inception to October 2025. Comparative studies including patients ≥ 60 years with Anderson-D’Alonzo type II fractures and reporting at least one primary outcome (mortality, union, stable non-union, unstable non-union) were eligible. Random-effects network models generated pooled odds ratios …

Catalase Activity In The Presence Of Pure Flavonoids, Emily Weems, Erika L. Doctor

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

No abstract provided.

Environmental-Friendly Straws As A Source Of Forever Chemicals, Sarah Allen, Sara Miller, Erika L. Doctor

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

No abstract provided.

Fastpca: An R Package For Fast Singular Value Decomposition., Kimberly R. Ward, Mitchell Hayes, Lauren C. Peres, Brooke L. Fridley, Steven Eschrich, Alex C. Soupir

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The FastPCA package provides an interface to optimized matrix multiplication libraries (libtorch) for the purpose of singular value decomposition. Using FastPCA to perform randomized singular value decomposition (SVD, (Halko, Martinsson, & Tropp, 2011)) with the torch or pytorch backend drastically reduces the computational time compared to base R prcomp and other truncated singular value decomposition. Developed for biological data such as single-cell RNA-sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, or matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI imaging), FastPCA can efficiently and accurately identify the leading singular values in high-dimensional data.

Kinetic Human Movement Ontology: A Semantic Terminology Model To Symbolically Represent Physiological Movement, Muhammad Amith, Vivian Ha, Eloisa Nguyen, Yang Gong, Ahsiya Lin, Cui Tao, Licong Cui

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cataloging physiological and anatomical terminologies may provide a fundamental basis for bridging the involvement of muscles, skeletal, and other essential parts in human movement, in addition to understanding their role on human morbidity. We present a general formalized ontology model that focuses on anatomical and physiological entities that are active during human movement, called the Kinetic Human Movement Ontology (KHMO). We developed a model to represent human movement that links human postures using OWL2. We used the model to assemble various open-sourced controlled terminologies involved in human movement - anatomical entities, physiological terms, etc. KHMO presents 1954 classes, 42 properties, …

Integrating The Glycemia Risk Index Into Clinical Practice And Research: A Consensus Report, Guillermo E Umpierrez, Viral N Shah, Veronica Brady, Mark A Clements, Juan Espinoza, Elizabeth Healey, Michael A Kohn, David M Maahs, Ralph Oiknine, Jane J Seley, Steven P Weitzman, David Kerr, Halis K Akturk, Grazia Aleppo, Mohammed E Al-Sofiani, Eda Cengiz, Francis J Doyle, Osagie Ebekozien, Steven V Edelman, Laya Ekhlaspour, Guido Freckmann, Lutz Heinemann, Irl B Hirsch, Victoria C Hsiao, Sun H Kim, Boris Kovatchev, Rayhan A Lal, Marcus Lind, Julia K Mader, Nestoras Mathioudakis, Tracey Mclaughlin, Sultan A Meo, Deborah A Osafehinti, Moshe Phillip, Priya Prahalad, David Scheinker, Michael P Snyder, Jing Wang, Jenise C Wong, Eugene E Wright, Mandy M Shao, Agatha F Scheideman, Ashley Y Dunova, David C Klonoff

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

A panel of experts in the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data in the treatment of diabetes met in Burlingame, California on October 27, 2025 to discuss the utility of the glycemia risk index (GRI) for clinical care research and population health management. The GRI composite metric is a single number (on a 0-100 percentile scale-lower is better) based on an expert-determined weighting of the seven individual components in the existing ambulatory glucose profile (AGP). The GRI describes the quality of glycemia based on glucose values collected in a 14-day CGM tracing, thus providing additional insights into CGM profiles …

Operative Confidence In Open And Endovascular Procedures Among Vascular Surgery Graduates Reflects Procedural Exposure During Training, Jin Park, Nicola Habash, Dawn Salvatore, Michael Nooromid, Paul J. Dimuzio, Babak Abai

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Objective: The shift toward minimally invasive techniques has transformed vascular surgery practice and training. As endovascular procedures replace many traditional open operations, concerns have emerged about whether current training adequately prepares graduates for independent practice, particularly in complex open procedures.

Methods: A web-based survey was distributed to recent graduates of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited vascular surgery training programs from 2022 and 2024. The survey assessed demographics, program characteristics, estimated case volumes, and confidence in 22 core vascular operations using a five-point Likert scale. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests, as well as multivariable logistic regression, identified factors associated with …

An Empirical Study On The Self-Compassion Among College Students In Sabah, Malaysia, Fung Lan Yong, Loreta Ling Ling Uie

Jesselton Journal of Educators and Scholars

The purpose of this study was to examine the self-compassion among 51 college students in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.  Data were collected by administering the Self-Compassion Scale by Kristin D. Neff (2003), and subsequently analyzed using SPSS 26.0.  Wilcoxon signed rank test showed that four items were significant at p < 0.001, while another eight items were significant at p < 0.05 based on a hypothesized value of 3.5. Overall percentages indicated that college students tend to have a low-average level of self-compassion.  Lastly, some recommendations on ways to increase their self-compassion were made in light of the findings.

The Role Of Pet-Parenting Attitudes In Shaping Consumer Behavior Toward Preventive And Wellness-Oriented Pet Care, Jin Hua Jian, Chee Vui Wong, Jiangwei Yang

Jesselton Journal of Educators and Scholars

The increasing tendency to view pets as family members has transformed consumer behaviour in contemporary pet care markets, particularly in relation to preventive and wellness-oriented consumption. This study examines how pet-parenting attitudes shape consumer decision-making and expenditure on preventive pet care in an emerging urban context. Grounded primarily in Consumer Culture Theory, with the Theory of Planned Behavior as a supporting lens, the study adopts a quantitative approach using survey data collected from 400 urban pet-owning households. The findings indicate that pet-parenting attitudes exert a significant positive influence on preventive and wellness-oriented pet care expenditure. This influence operates both directly …

Finding Our Tempo: Exploring Embodied Synchrony Through Full-Body Play In Children, Sena Beste Ercan, Belén González Mateo, Olga Galí Pérez, Gray Atherton, Liam Cross, Narcís Parés

School of Psychology

This study advances the design of timing-sensitive, full-body interactive experiences supporting both collaboration and individual agency in children’s group play. We investigate how temporal structuring within an improved version of a full-body interactive system influences behavioral and perceived synchrony among children aged 9–10. Prior research has often focused on dyads, required human facilitation, or neglected relationship between perceived and actual synchrony. Addressing these gaps, we conducted a multi-user study comparing synchronous and asynchronous interaction modes using system-logged behavioral data and self-reports. Results demonstrate the synchronous condition fosters higher user performance, tighter temporal coordination, and stronger perceptions of shared movement. In …

Symptomatic Dermatographism Misattributed To Cockroach Exposure: A Diagnostic Pitfall, Simona Kogan, Sumeet Bhardwaj, Suchana Ghimire, Arushi Tewari, Rishima Tewari

Student Publications

Allergen exposure can present with a broad clinical spectrum. Individuals exposed to allergens may develop respiratory diseases such as asthma, skin manifestations such as urticaria, and potentially anaphylaxis. For those who reside in urban or unsanitary environments, cockroaches can serve as an unfortunate and persistent exposure to such allergens. Cockroach allergens are classically associated with IgE-mediated respiratory diseases. However, reliance on exposure history alone may lead to diagnostic misattribution when cutaneous symptoms occur without systemic allergic features. We describe a 22-year-old woman from Philadelphia who presented with a 48-hour history of diffuse pruritus and widespread erythematous linear and maculopapular wheals …

Crossing The Finish Line Towards A Disease-Modifying Treatment For Angelman Syndrome, Matthew C Judson, Jason J Yi, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Recent progress in the development of genetic therapies promises that impactful treatments for single-gene neurodevelopmental disorders are imminent. But can derailed neurodevelopmental processes be mended after broken genes are replaced or otherwise restored? The results of ongoing clinical trials for Angelman syndrome will soon yield answers to this pressing question, yet the trials face significant obstacles. Here we identify insights needed to aid the quest for a disease-modifying Angelman syndrome therapy, which could serve as a roadmap for the expeditious development of genetic therapies for other single-gene neurodevelopmental disorders.

Blood And Body Fluid Exposure And Reporting Behaviors Among Healthcare Workers: A Decade-Long Comparative Study At A Tertiary Medical Center, Ziad Kaddour, Rami Abdul-Halim, Zeina Al-Khalil, Lea Al Zoghby, Raafat Alameddine, Reem Mansour, Jack El Sawda, Zeina A Kanafani

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids (BBFE) remains a significant risk for healthcare workers (HCWs), yet underreporting persists despite the implementation of institutional policies. This study aimed to compare BBFE prevalence, reporting practices, and HCWs' knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors, and identify predictors of BBFE and failure to report incidents over a ten-year period at a tertiary medical center.

METHODS: Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) in 2013-2014 and 2023-2024. In 2013-2014, all participants completed paper-based questionnaires, whereas in 2023-2024, medical students, residents, and nurses completed online surveys, and housekeeping/laundry …

A Novel Laparoscopic Renal Denervation System In A Preclinical Swine Model, Linwei Zhao, Wei Yang, Binbin Zhu, Yahui Liu, Peng Tian, Xinyu Guo, Yang Dong, Zhiqiang Fan, Huiping Li, Yu Feng, Lijie Zhu, Minfu Bai, Qiuping Zhao, Xingkun Zhang, Chenchen Si, Qianqian Cheng, Gan-Xin Yan, Chuanyu Gao

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Laparoscopic renal denervation (RDN) represents a specialized approach for hypertension, particularly when conventional methods face limitations. While catheter-based RDN has demonstrated significant efficacy in recent large-scale clinical trials and has been integrated into international guidelines, its effectiveness can be constrained by complex renal anatomy or incomplete ablation. We developed a novel laparoscopic RDN system, comprising an integrated radiofrequency (RF) clamp, RF generator, and cooling pump, to achieve more controlled adventitial ablation. This study aims to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and optimal parameters of this new system in a preclinical swine model. Sixteen pigs were divided into an immediate group ( …

Three-Dimensional Printing Of The Epineurium For Peripheral Nerve Repair: A Comprehensive Review Of Novel Scaffolds For Nerve Conduits, Alynah J. Adams, Iulianna C. Taritsa, Kaavian Shariati, Aaron Dadzie, Jose A. Foppiani, Maria Jose Escobar-Domingo, Daniela Lee, Angelica Hernandez-Alvarez, Kirsten Schuster, Helen Xun

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Nerve conduits are used to bridge peripheral nerve defects caused by trauma, iatrogenic injury, or oncologic disruption. Three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic scaffolds for peripheral nerve regeneration have advanced significantly in recent years, driven by improvements in printing technology and neuronal seeding techniques. We report on published designer conduits that can recreate the epineurium, a critical yet challenging-to-manufacture feature of nerve tissue.

Methods: A medical librarian conducted a literature search for our systematic review on EMBASE, Web of Science, and PUBMED, following PRISMA guidelines, for articles from January 2010 to January 2026 for the systematic review. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed …

Pelvic Health: Lived Experience, Needs And Resources For Women With Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Louise Carroll, Catherine Doody, Cliona O’ Sullivan, Carla Perrotta, Brona M. Fullen

Women+ in Early Career Research Symposium

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) affects up to 50% of women and can substantially impact physical function, psychological wellbeing, and quality of life. Despite its prevalence, gaps remain in understanding the experiences and support needs of reproductive-age women, particularly within the Irish healthcare context. This thesis aimed to explore the lived experience of women with POP, examine knowledge and care gaps among women and healthcare professionals (HCPs), and develop an intervention to support self- management. A mixed-methods approach was used. A systematic review identified limitations in the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and highlighted opportunities to better capture biopsychosocial characteristics …

“I Don’T Like Girls”: Centring Young Children’S Perspectives On Gender In Early Childhood Care And Education Settings., Chloe Hurley, Judith Butler, Jane O'Sullivan

Women+ in Early Career Research Symposium

Gender development begins in early childhood and is shaped through social interactions, cultural norms, and institutional practices. This paper explores how young children learn, reproduce, and at times challenge gender norms within Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) settings in Ireland. Drawing on Feminist Poststructuralist and Intersectional theory, the study centres children’s perspectives, addressing a gap in ECCE gender research that has largely prioritised adult voices. Using participatory, rights-based methods with children alongside educator interviews and setting observations, the study generated rich, child-led data. Preliminary findings indicate that children largely conform to traditional gender norms in play, interactions and self-expression, …

The Ripple Effect: How The Hse Data Breach Shaped Public Opinion, Mugdha Srivastava, Abhishek Kaushik, Roisin Loughran, Fergal Mccaffery

Women+ in Early Career Research Symposium

The digital world is rapidly evolving, and healthcare systems now depend heavily on data-driven and connected technologies. While these tools bring many benefits, they also increase exposure to data breaches and cyberattacks, raising concerns about privacy, security, and trust. Although earlier research has focused on technical and policy solutions for data protection, less attention has been paid to how major cyber incidents influence public attitudes. This study addresses that gap by examining how a major cyberattack relates to people’s views on data security and trust in digital health. We surveyed individuals about their personal cybersecurity practices and their opinions on …

Am I Walking Straight? Gait, The New Frontier Of Biometric Identification, Ruhi Anand Finn

Women+ in Early Career Research Symposium

Extended Reality (XR) is an umbrella term that integrates Virtual, Mixed and Augmented Realities. Each modality presents new forms of digital experiences, offering unique opportunities, benefits and risks. Additionally, newer iterations of XR leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance numerous applications. This enhancemen is sustained through new levels and contexts of data capture, including continuous biometric data collection (gaze, face and gait) and incidental bystander capture. This paper investigates the implications of XR technologies on data privacy, and the need for considerations of collective social privacy. The paper argues that, given the very narrow definition and categorization of biometric data …

Public Perception Of Risk In Missing Persons Investigations, Harry Lockett, Stefana Juncu

International Journal of Missing Persons

The current study investigated public perceptions of risk in missing person cases. A total of 271 participants were sequentially presented with five fictional vignettes describing missing individuals. Each case included a baseline description of the disappearance being "out of character" and four of these cases were paired with an additional risk factor: substance abuse, depression, dementia, or repeat missing status. The gender of the missing person was also manipulated between participants. Participants rated each case using both the standard categorical scale (Low/Medium/High) and an Extended Scale ranging from 1 to 7 and were also invited to respond to exploratory items …