Digital Commons Network^™

Increased Risk Of Alzheimer Disease–Associated Mortality In Nonobese Vs Obese Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A 30-Year National Cohort Study, Sarpong Boateng, Guy Loic Nguefang, Mexan Mapouka, Ridwan Lawal, Solomon Gyabaah, Bright Nwatamole, Amita Kasar, Selom Adatsi, Basile Njei

School of Medicine Publications

Background and aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasingly recognized for its extrahepatic consequences, including emerging links to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease (AD). Whether AD mortality risk differs across MASLD phenotypes, remains unclear.

Methods: We analyzed adults from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) with mortality follow-up through 2019 via the National Death Index. Participants were followed for AD mortality. Cumulative incidence was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods. Cox proportional hazards models evaluated MASLD phenotypes and AD mortality, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, poverty-income ratio, body mass index, and smoking status.

Results: Among 7125 …

Governors State University College Of Business Annual Report - 2025-2026, College Of Business

Annual Reports

A report of the accomplishments of College of Business faculty, staff, students, and alumni in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Highlighting Ai Competencies: A Qualitative Analysis Approach Using Ai Agents, Ahmed Elnoshokaty, Omar El-Gayar, Abdullah Wahbeh, Mohammad Al-Ramahi, Tareq Nasralah

Research & Publications

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the job market, creating a demand for new skills and competencies in AI and machine learning (ML). As academic institutions strive to align educational programs with industry needs, a clear understanding of job market expectations becomes essential. This study employs a qualitative, grounded theory approach, enhanced by large language models (LLMs), to analyze job postings related to AI. Using a custom coding framework and AI agent arbitration, we extract and classify the competencies sought by employers into eight major categories. Key findings emphasize the significance of technical skills, including system analysis, …

Project Management For Blockchain: Strategic Guidance And Lessons From Practice., Cherie Noteboom, Aravindh Sekar, Deb Tech

Research & Publications

Blockchain technology (BCT) offers powerful solutions to long-standing enterprise challenges such as inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and low stakeholder trust. By enabling secure transaction tracking and real-time data sharing, BCT can improve operational accuracy, streamline workflows, and build confidence across organizational ecosystems. However, the implementation of BCT significantly transforms conventional project management strategies and practices. We propose practical recommendations for each stage of the process group of the project life cycle- Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing to meet the demands of decentralization, interoperability, and continuous ecosystem coordination inherent in the implementation of BCT projects. Grounded in practitioner …

Provider Perspectives On Sociotechnical Alignment Of Intelligent Clinical Decision Support Systems, Andrew Behrens, Cherie Noteboom, Patti Brooks

Research & Publications

Intelligent Clinical Decision Support Systems (ICDSS) are increasingly integrated into healthcare settings to enhance clinical decision-making, efficiency, and patient safety. Despite advances in artificial intelligence-enabled decision support, ICDSS adoption remains inconsistent, particularly in complex clinical environments where professional autonomy, workflow alignment, and accountability are critical. This study examines healthcare providers’ perspectives on ICDSS through a grounded theory approach informed by established Information Systems theories, including the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Diffusion of Innovation (DOI), and the Human-Organization-Technology fit (HOT-fit) framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 providers within a large, integrated …

Evolution And Spread Of Regionally Adapted Newcastle Disease Virus Isolatesfrom Live Bird Markets In Nigeria 2023–2024, Mohammed Usman Sajo, Dongyeop Lee, Jean Nepomuscene Hakizimana, Augustino Chengula, Abdul-Dahiru El-Yuguda, Dong-Hun Lee, Gerald Misinzo

All Grantees Publications

Newcastle disease (ND) virus (NDV) infection ranks among the most important poultry diseases globally. In Nigeria, ND remains a persistent menace to poultry production, marked by recurrent outbreaks. However, there is limited understanding of the evolutionary changes and transmission dynamics of the virus in the region. A molecular epidemiological study was conducted to elucidate the evolutionary and transmission patterns of NDV in Nigeria. Phylogenetic analysis of seven NDV isolates from cases recorded between 2023 and 2024 in four Northeastern states exhibited genetic diversity and formed distinct clusters that correspond to the prevailing subgenotype XIV.2. The maximum clade credibility (MCC) tree …

Provider Perspectives On Sociotechnical Alignment Of Intelligent Clinical Decision Support Systems., Andrew Behrens, Cherie Noteboom, Patti Brooks

Research & Publications

Intelligent Clinical Decision Support Systems (ICDSS) are increasingly integrated into healthcare settings to enhance clinical decision-making, efficiency, and patient safety. Despite advances in artificial intelligence-enabled decision support, ICDSS adoption remains inconsistent, particularly in complex clinical environments where professional autonomy, workflow alignment, and accountability are critical. This study examines healthcare providers’ perspectives on ICDSS through a grounded theory approach informed by established Information Systems theories, including the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Diffusion of Innovation (DOI), and the Human-Organization-Technology fit (HOT-fit) framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 providers within a large, integrated …

Drivers And Barriers To Artificial Intelligence Adoption In Agriculture: A Socio-Technical Analysis Of Midwestern United States Farmers., Abeer F. Alkhwaldi, Cherie Noteboom, Amir A. Abdulmuhsin

Research & Publications

The agricultural industry is at a critical juncture, experiencing global pressures in the form of climate volatility, a shortage of labor, and an increase in production costs. Although artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential for revolution due to its predictive analytics and self-controlled machinery, it has not achieved widespread and even distribution for use, especially among small-to-medium-sized farms in the Midwestern United States. This study formulates and empirically examines a comprehensive socio-technical model to determine the drivers and barriers to the adoption of AI in this agricultural region. Based on a synthesized framework of the “Unified Theory of Acceptance and …

Streamlining Literacy Assessment, Sheila Mulder, Katie Anderson, Samuel W. Flint

Annual Research Symposium

Reading proficiency scores are low throughout the nation. Reading proficiency is a foundational skill that supports academic success across all content areas. Skilled reading involves multiple interrelated components. Assessment can support teachers to identify skill deficits and inform instruction; however, rural teachers lack the time, resources, and specialized support to translate the data into effective instruction and interventions. To better contextualize this need, we received 59 surveys from South Dakota teachers with 23 of the surveys being valid responses, finding that teachers feel prepared to teach reading and struggling readers. Teachers reported that they spend relatively little time in assessment, …

Secure-Home: Detect And Redact Pii, Hajar Niroomand, Omar F. El-Gayar

Annual Research Symposium

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) leakage from home environments poses significant identity theft risks. While enterprise networks employ robust security measures, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and access controls, these protections rarely extend to home settings, creating a critical security gap. Current firewall technologies lack the capability to detect and scrub PII from outbound traffic, leaving vulnerable populations such as children, elderly users, and remote workers exposed. This design science research proposes Secure-Home, a prototype outbound inspection tool that detects and redacts clear-text PII before data leaves home networks. Using rule-based detection and selective redaction, Secure-Home provides a practical last line of …

Evaluating The Reliability And Equity Implication Of Acute Hospital Readmission Metrics In New Zealand, Christopher D. Elce, Martinson Ofori, Andrew Behrens

Annual Research Symposium

Acute 28-day hospital readmission rates are widely used in New Zealand to monitor hospital quality and health system performance. However, the policy value of readmission metrics depends on whether observed variation reflects real clinical differences or is driven by data-quality artifacts and population structure. This study evaluates the reliability of published benchmarked readmission rates for all Districts of Service.

Patterns, Pressures, And Pathways : An Ethnographic Study Of Discipleship In Nepali-Speaking Immigrant Churches In The United States, Ram Kumar Budhathoki

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

More Than Just A Sprain? Investigating Weakness And Reported Instability After Knee Trauma, Bradley Rivotto Do

Fellows and Residents

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Effects Of Theta Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation During Working Memory Performance On Theta-Gamma Phase Amplitude Coupling In Healthy Adults, Samantha M. Zimmer

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is an emerging form of noninvasive brain stimulation with substantial effects on behavior and brain function due to its ability to entrain endogenous neural oscillations. Working memory is a cognitive process that involves holding onto information that is no longer present in the environment and manipulating or reorganizing information for immediate use. Theta oscillations are critical for the functionality of the frontoparietal network and are involved in strengthening communication and coordination between frontal and parietal brain regions, especially during working memory processing. TACS applied at the theta frequency, targets theta oscillations, strengthens network communications, and …

The Impact Of High-Quality Phonological Awareness Professional Learning On In-Service Teachers' Content Knowledge And Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Roberta S. Thomas

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This convergent mixed-method study examined the impact of high-quality phonological awareness professional learning on Montessori primary lead, associate, and team associate teachers’ content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge of phonological awareness. Eleven teachers (4 lead, 4 associates, and 2 team associates) from a private school in northeast Florida participated in four professional sessions with a content focus on the levels of phonological awareness, including word, syllable, onset and rime, and phoneme awareness. In contrast to previous studies that reported low levels of teacher content knowledge prior to professional learning, participants in this study demonstrated relatively high levels of content knowledge. …

Don't Crash Out: The Effects Of Personality And Social Support On Subjective Stress Responses And Heart Rate Variability, Nicholas Kilpatrick

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the relationship between personality traits, physiological stress responses, and subjective stress during a social-evaluative stress task, as well as the potential mediating role of heart rate variability (HRV) and moderating role of imagined social support. Participants completed a laboratory-based modified Trier Social Stress Task while HRV was continuously recorded, and self-reported stress was assessed across task phases. Results indicated that neuroticism and protective self-monitoring were associated with higher levels of subjective stress, while acquisitive self-monitoring was associated with greater reductions in stress following the task. Neuroticism was also associated with greater increases in HRV during the …

Transformational Leadership And Employees’ Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Examining The Role Of Perspective-Taking, Job Satisfaction, And Organizational Trust, Marie A. Smith

Dissertations

The study surveyed employees in the service and helping professions (for example retail, healthcare related, hospitality), to examine the impact of transformational leadership on employee organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Specifically, it tested job satisfaction and organizational trust as possible mediators to the transformational leader to employee OCB relationship and evidence of perspective-taking as a possible moderator to either of these mediated relationships. The study employed PLS-SEM as the method of analysis and examined the influence of transformational leadership, and employee job satisfaction and trust, on employee OCB. The social exchange theory’s reciprocal nature and the leader-member exchange (LMX) theory, based …

Constructing Information Systems: Technology Frames And Career Interest Among Middle School Students, Cherie Noteboom, Sai Mounika Chintalapudi

Research & Publications

The Information Systems (IS) discipline faces ongoing challenges in attracting students to the field despite its growing societal importance. Previous studies have examined how factors such as gender gaps and STEM identities shape career aspirations; however, there is limited understanding of how early interpretations of the IS discipline shape career interest. This research adapts the TFR (Technology Frames of Reference) theory to examine how middle school students develop understandings of IS. Using qualitative survey data through a deductive approach to identify the Nature of IS, the Purpose of IS, and IS-in-Use, misalignment, and career interest. Misalignment reflects limited knowledge of …

Front Matter

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

No abstract provided.

In The Heavens As It Is On Earth: Embracing Federalism To Supervise And Promote U.S. Non-Governmental Entities’ Non-National Activities In Outer Space, Steven E. Bartz

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

Most of the law governing outer space is public international law, which applies, with limited exceptions, directly to nation-states (states) only. The application of international law to nongovernmental entities’ (NGEs), such as natural persons and companies with distinct legal personage, activities in outer space occurs through a state’s domestic legal implementation of that international law. The United States is a party to several treaties that govern the exploration and use of outer space (the Applicable Treaties), which, through the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, become “the supreme Law of the Land.” The Applicable Treaties were written and went into …

Adults With Dyslexia: Experiences Accessing And Using Reading Strategies And Assistive Technology, Brenda Rosalie King

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Dyslexia is a specific learning disorder of neurobiological origin characterized by persistent difficulties with accurate and/or fluent reading, word recognition, spelling, and decoding. Although dyslexia is widely recognized as a lifelong learning difference, the majority of research has historically focused on children and adolescents, with less attention given to adult experiences. The purpose of this study was to explore how adults with dyslexia access and use reading strategies and assistive technologies to support reading comprehension and independence across contexts. The study also examined barriers and supports influencing access to these tools, as well as the emotional experiences associated with their …

Comprehensive Characterization Of Volatile Organic Compounds And Particulate Matter Emissions From Residential Wood Combustion And Their Impacts On Indoor And Outdoor Air Quality, Damien Tyler Ketcherside

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Residential wood combustion (RWC) is a major wintertime source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and a potentially important source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Yet, uncertainties remain regarding its contribution to ambient air pollution, its representation in anthropogenic emissions inventories, and its direct impacts on indoor air quality via fugitive emissions. This dissertation investigates VOC and PM2.5 emissions from RWC activities, using in situ measurements of gas- and particle-phase pollutants in indoor and outdoor environments.

Chapter 2 presents ambient field observations of 24 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the intermountain …

Gvsu Undergraduate And Graduate Catalog 2026-2027, Grand Valley State University

Course Catalogs, 1963 - Current

Grand Valley State University 2026-2027 undergraduate and graduate course catalog. Course catalogs are published annually to provide students with information and guidance for enrollment.

The Importance Of The Proline Residue In The Ldiapa Motif Of Cholera Toxin, Akash Bharathan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Cholera is currently on its seventh global pandemic, disproportionately affecting developing countries. Vibrio cholerae, the bacterial etiologic agent, is able to cause infection by adhering to intestinal epithelial cells and secreting cholera toxin (CT), an AB-type exotoxin that dysregulates signaling pathways. Previous research by the Teter lab has shown that Hsp90, a host cytosolic chaperone, is required for CT to enter the cytosol where it produces toxic effects. Hsp90 binds to CT at two specific motifs, RPPDEI and LDIAPA. The prolines in the RPPDEI motif are essential for binding, but the proline in the LDIAPA has yet to be …

Barriers To Healthcare For Traditionally-Aged Lgbq+ College Students, Parker Long

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Seeking and receiving high-quality healthcare are key components of healthy living. Greater access to high-quality healthcare is associated with higher quality of life (Bunker, 2001). Despite the many benefits of quality healthcare, many people face barriers to accessing quality healthcare, resulting in poorer physical and mental health outcomes (Jatrana & Crampton, 2021). Individuals who identify as LGBQ+ face serious health disparities as a marginalized group. The current research was designed to examine and address these specific barriers to accessing high-quality healthcare among LGBQ+ traditionally-aged college students in order to inform ways to improve access to care. Specifically, this study investigated …

2025 Oregon Statewide Homelessness Estimates, Minji Cho, Jacen Greene, Marisa Zapata, Franklin H. Spurbeck

Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative Publications and Presentations

The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is a census of people experiencing both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness on a single night in January. The federal government requires this at least every other year as a condition of funding it distributes to Continuums of Care (CoCs), networks of government agencies and service providers that manage homelessness services and funding in specific regions. In 2025, all Oregon CoCs conducted an unsheltered count and submitted both unsheltered and sheltered PIT Counts data.

This report provides county-level unsheltered and sheltered totals for all Oregon counties and across the state, as well as the Housing Inventory Count …

Teaching Cross-Cultural Communication In Law School: Lessons From Medicine, Social Work, And Business, Mireille Butler, Jaclyn Celebrezze

Articles

Legal clients in the United States are increasingly multilingual and multicultural. More than 71 million people living in the United States communicate in a language other than English. Consequently, the lawyer’s duty of shared understanding is taking on new meaning. With the advent of ABA Ethics Opinion 500, cross-cultural communication skills are a lawyer’s ethical duty and a law school’s mandate. Additionally, ABA Standard 303(c) and the potential of increased experiential learning credit requirements make clear that immediate curricular changes are needed. To prepare for the modern practice of law, tomorrow’s lawyers need to develop cross-cultural skills while in law …

Forget Me Not? Machine Unlearning’S Implications For Privacy Law, Jevan Hutson, Cedric Whitney, Jay T. Conrad

Articles

Generative AI systems are increasingly relied on and are already actively reshaping how we think about privacy and data protection law. Models ingest and process vast amounts of personal and sensitive data, challenging assurances of compliance with legal frameworks like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) with increasing intensity. Machine unlearning is an emerging tool in practitioners’ attempts to address these challenges: the act of selectively removing or suppressing specific data, such as personal data that a data subject requests be deleted, from AI models as means of complying with legal obligations or …

Healthy Places Healthy People Toolkit: A Resource For The Navajo Nation, Sally Davis, Elijah Maas

Healthy Places, Healthy People Toolkit

The University of New Mexico’s Prevention Research Center (UNM PRC) developed an evidence-based model to increase physical activity in rural communities in NM. Starting in the small, rural town of Cuba, NM, the model was expanded to other rural communities. Given the success of the model, the PRC was invited to partner with 10 Navajo Chapters (communities) in the Eastern Agency of the Navajo Nation, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Together, they engaged in a project called Healthy Places— Healthy People.

Preventing G/J Tube Dislodgement: A Device And Communication Innovation, Sarah Clark

2026

The Problem
G/J tube dislodgement is a frequent complication in pediatric patients
Leads to:

• Emergency department visits
• Hospital admissions
• Delays in nutrition/medication

Impact on Patients & Families:

• IV placement (traumatic)
• Radiation exposure
• Overnight hospital stays

Impact on Nurses & System:

• Increased workload (admissions, coordination)
• Occupied inpatient beds for stable patients
• Inefficient care processes

Aims/Objectives
Aim: Reduce unplanned G/J tube dislodgements and related hospital utilization.
Objectives: Develop a breakaway connector prototype

Implementation and Evaluation
Setting: Pediatric inpatient & outpatient system
Participants: Nurses (bedside, GI, IR), caregiver, innovation team
Process:
Roundtable discussions → identified workflow gaps
Communication/workflow audit
Developed device …