Digital Commons Network^™

To Mask, Or Not To Mask: An Exploratory Examination Of Factors That Predict Changes In Mask Wearing Over The Pandemic In College Students, Zach J. Gray, Hannah M. Henderson, Grant S. Shields

Psychological Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted society for years. Much evidence shows face masks reduced the spread of the virus; nonetheless, many individuals stopped wearing masks before recommendations (or even mandates) for their use ended. Although predictors of mask wearing have been explored, this preregistered, exploratory study was the first to examine psychological predictors of changes in mask wearing over the course of the pandemic. In particular, we examined a number of potential predictors (e.g., Big Five personality traits, risk taking, etc.) of changes in self-reported mask wearing from March 2020 to August 2021-March 2022 in a sample (N = 357) of …

Dipl 6005 Public International Law, Philip Moremen Phd

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course explores the nature and content of the law governing relations between states and relations between states, individuals, and other non-state actors. The first part of the course examines the building blocks of international law; the second part applies this framework to particular topics, such as the use of force, human rights, and humanitarian law. No prior knowledge of law is necessary. By the end of the course, students will possess an understanding of the operation of the international legal system and the role of international law in relations between states. Students will also gain an introduction to legal …

Dipl 6251 Justice, Truth, And Reconciliation In Post-Conflict Societies, Aaron Hale Ph.D.

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course seeks to address the choices and decisions that post-conflict states and the international community make in attempts to address past human rights abuses, concerns over reconciliation, and the socio-political challenges regarding justice, as well as more subjective issues like truth. How, and when, in light of weak national institutions do post-conflict states address past human rights abuses? Is there a tradeoff between states and societies that pursue justice over truth, or vice versa? Is there a “window of opportunity” to pursue reconciliation? Can justice truly be achieved in light of the enormous challenges that post-conflict states and societies …

Dipl 6000 Na/Wb Introduction To International Relations Theory And Diplomacy, Brian K. Muzas Phd

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course introduces students to the major theoretical traditions of international relations and diplomacy, with particular attention to how these theories help us understand contemporary challenges including cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, technological disruption, and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Asia. We will begin with a critical investigation of the competing assumptions and concepts that form the heart of various theoretical approaches to the study of world politics. As a class we will grapple with the key actors, processes, and variables highlighted by each theory, and assess their relative strengths and weaknesses in explaining both traditional interstate relations …

Dipl 4170 Aa/Na Topics In Economic Development, Omer Gokcekus Ph.D.

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course will provide students with an in-depth analysis of five aspects of economic development that are central in today’s world. To make sure that students gain the most relevant experiences, we will focus on the issues that international financial institutions—the World Bank & IMF—and the UNDP have been working on during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we will analyze the following 5 aspects of economic development: 1) poverty; 2) gender equality; 3) education; 4) corruption and 5) food security. Students will conduct background reading on assigned scholarly articles in order to gain contextual knowledge on these topics. We will subsequently …

Dipl 2101 Ab Ethnopolitical Landscapes, Assefaw Bariagaber Phd

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course surveys the politics of cultural and ethnic/national pluralism, understood mainly in terms of the cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity that shape individual countries and the contemporary world, and their impact on the international system and the practice of international relations. It focuses on the salient issues that have taken center stage after the end of the Cold War, and deals with issues related to the rise of politicized ethnicity and other cultural cleavages around the world. The course includes examination of the possible factors that contributed to the rise of ethnic, religious, linguistic and other parochial attachments, and …

Dipl 2101 Aa Ethnopolitical Landscapes, Assefaw Bariagaber Phd

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course surveys the politics of cultural and ethnic/national pluralism, understood mainly in terms of the cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity that shape individual countries and the contemporary world, and their impact on the international system and the practice of international relations. It focuses on the salient issues that have taken center stage after the end of the Cold War, and deals with issues related to the rise of politicized ethnicity and other cultural cleavages around the world. The course includes examination of the possible factors that contributed to the rise of ethnic, religious, linguistic and other parochial attachments, and …

Dipl 1711 Ab Introduction To International Relations, Brendan J. Balestrieri Ph.D.

Diplomacy Syllabi

This course aims to familiarize students with the foundational literature and theoretical frameworks that underpin the field of International Relations. We will integrate these elements by examining contemporary issues and significant historical events through the perspective of IR theory. The course starts with a basic historical review of International Relations study, progressing to the practical use of these theories to understand and interpret major occurrences in global politics.

By the end of this course, you will have:

- Obtained a working knowledge of the “big three” theoretical approaches to international relations and their constituent theories as well as the ability …

Improving Health Behaviors And Symptoms In Youth With Mental Health Disorders: The Gamerfit Rct, April Bowling, Alyssa M. Button, Robbie Beyl, James Slavet, Tara Daly, Peyton Murray, Phillip Nauta, Amanda Staiano

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Objective

Methods

Pharmacy Matters October 2025, University Of Mississippi School Of Pharmacy

Pharmacy Matters Newsletters

Featured stories: School of Pharmacy Celebrates American Pharmacists Month, Retired Professor Gives Life to UM Sports Pharmacy Education, SOP Clinches Top 25 Ranking in Research Funding, Professor Receives NIH Grant to Study Protein Mutants, Pharmacy Students Use Scrub Colors to Promote Public Health, Experts Urge Culture Change to Address Burnout in Pharmacy Education, Pharmacy Assistant Dean Lends Voice to National Board, Sons of Retired Professor Endow Scholarship in Father's Honor

Dean's Update, October 2025, Neil W. Schluger

SOM Dean's Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Electronic Resources Updates - 2025 Q3, Brigitte Galauner, Gregg Harris

Electronic Resources Quarterly Updates

No abstract provided.

Aligning Climate-Energy Policies With Citizen Beliefs, Scientific Findings, Health And Economic Benefits, And Geopolitical Stability, A. R. Mcconnell, Tyler P. Jacobs

Psychology Faculty Works

Recent and abrupt deviations in U.S. climate and energy policies are shifting the United States away from a more sustainable future toward greater fossil-fuel use that will accelerate global warming. These new priorities go against the wishes of the American people as measured by many nationally representative surveys, and they ignore the scientific consensus regarding climate change and its deleterious consequences. This new agenda will harm the physical and mental health of Americans, imperil the U.S. economy, weaken American leadership in science, and increase geopolitical instability. Despite the frightening nature of these unprecedented departures from past climate-energy policies, successfully combating …

Pathways To Higher Education: Expanding College And Career Access For Rural Youth, Kelsey Romney, Celina Wille, Maria Jose Velasco Burgos, Ryan Benally

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

In June 2025, Utah State University (USU) Extension hosted a two-day event, Pathways to Higher Education. The event introduced 31 rural youth from Grand County and San Juan County to USU educational opportunities and careers through immersive tours and workshops, visiting the Price, Moab, and Logan campuses. Participants reported increased college confidence, financial aid awareness, and career interest. Evaluation showed strong engagement, improved participants’ understanding of higher education pathways, and increased confidence in preparing for postsecondary education.

Evaluating Online Naloxone Trainings Targeting Rural And Tribal Communities, Cara Murray, Lily Ward, Tim Keady, Cris Meier

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Drug overdose deaths have been a persistent problem within tribal and rural Utah communities. During the COVID-19 epidemic, the need to pivot to online programming was imperative to provide important lifesaving training on how to administer Naloxone. In response, Utah State University Extension created an online Naloxone training. Evaluation results found increases in knowledge and attitude at the end of the training. Results suggest that online Naloxone training can be an effective way to reach rural and tribal community members.

College Of Natural Sciences Newsletter, Fall 2025, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

P.1 Dean's Message from Dr. Sen Subramanian
P.2 Student Spotlights
P.3 One Day for STATE
P.4 Fun Filming with Jack
P.5 Germanium Studies
P.6 Research Expenditures
P.8 Increased Enrollment
P.9 Faculty Recognition
P.11 Scoops & Smiles

Examining The City Of Philadelphia’S Proposition Bill #250768 “Stop Trashing Our Air Act” By Addressing Waste Management And Environmental Justice Challenges In Chester City, Pennsylvania And The Philadelphia Region, Dylan Wascavage

Student Publications

This paper offers a policy analysis of the City of Philadelphia’s "Stop Trashing Our Air Act" by summarizing the reasoning for the bill's call to action, its legislative background, identifying key players and their strategies, and how these strategies reflect philosophies of environmental governance and the policy cycle. It seeks to inform local community members and policymakers of the implications of this bill, to highlight the lack of state and federal intervention on this issue, and to address the environmental justice and pollution concerns of the Covanta waste incinerator in Chester City and its neighboring communities. It also aims to …

Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block And Pericapsular Nerve Group Block Effect On Opioid Consumption In Hip Fracture Patients, David A. Brueggeman, Garrhett G. Via, Prachi Lele, Andrew W. Froehle, Michael J. Prayson, Scott J. Hadaway

Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Publications

Background Effective pain control and reduced opioid consumption improve hip fracture outcomes. Fascia iliaca compartment blocks (FICB) effectively and safely manage acute hip fracture pain while reducing opioid consumption. Alternatively, pericapsular nerve group (PENG) blocks may provide similar analgesia while better-preserving motor function by targeting the highly innervated anterior hip capsule and sensory branches of the femoral, obturator, and accessory obturator nerves. Evidence for PENG's effectiveness is limited. The present retrospective study compared pain and MME in hip fracture patients receiving FICB (n = 1596) or PENG (n = 254), vs. a no-block (NB; n = 287) reference group. Methods …

Activating Urban Space For Movement And Joy: A Curated Journey, Judith Wasserman

Activating Urban Space

In today’s world of sedentary work and study, movement is more important than ever for both our bodies and our minds. These exhibit panel designs explore how public space can be a catalyst for physical wellbeing, creativity, and joy. Featuring a series of photo-based display panels, the exhibit showcases images of dance and movement in public spaces, captured and curated to highlight the often-overlooked role of urban design in supporting health. The exhibit includes reflections on how movement—when thoughtfully integrated into public life—can reduce stress, spark joy, and foster community. Complementing the photography is a set of movement instructions designed …

Introduction To Critical Conversation In Canadian Public Law, Joshua Sealy-Harrington, Karen Drake, Kyle Kirkup, Anne Levesque, Jena Mcgill

Articles & Book Chapters

The introductory chapter to Critical Conversations in Canadian Public Law situates the book "in the midst of some of the most significant social, economic, and political struggles of the past decade", from the COVID-19 pandemic to the Gaza genocide. The introduction describes how the book "seeks to reflect and ignite critical conversations about the centrality of public law and its institutions, broadly defined and deeply contested, to the (re)production of current inequities." It outlines two ways in which the collection is "critical": first, the critical legal methods employed by the contributors (e.g., acknowledging law's political operation, understanding law's relationship with …

Tensions Between Education Policies And Standards And Educators’ Multilingual Practices: Two Case Studies From India And The United States, Natalia M. Rojas, Jessica Chandras

UNF Faculty Research and Scholarship

Through two case studies from India and the United States, we explore how educational policies and standards focused on multilingualism are interpreted and enacted within early childhood education classrooms. Recent education policies in both contexts are aimed at fostering culturally responsive and linguistically inclusive pedagogy for greater academic success for students whose home language(s) differs from the language of instruction. However, the policy implementation varies significantly based on educators’ language ideologies and cultural beliefs. We examine a critical gap between policy intentions and classroom realities. Our findings suggest that while broad educational policies provide important frameworks, their effectiveness relies upon …

Using Constructivist Grounded Theory Study To Understand The Retention Rate Of The School Of Automotive, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois, Lana Rizzo

Ed.D. Capstone Reports

This study explored students’ reasons for returning and continuing their education in the School of Automotive. Therefore, this study developed an understanding of the higher-than-average retention rate for the School of Automotive at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois. This study used a constructivist grounded theory approach, and the data came from semi-structured interviews. As this is a constructivist grounded theory study, the students and I co-created the theory behind this phenomenon.

Loma Linda Nurse - Vol. 34, Loma Linda University School Of Nursing

Loma Linda Nurse

FEATURES

4 | Jordan Robison Profile

6 | LLUSN Mission Service— A Living Legacy

10 | Steps to a New School

12 | Entry Level Master’s at Murietta

LLUSN HIGHLIGHTS

14-21 | ALUMNI NEWS

22-27 | ACADEMICS

28-33 | HOMECOMING

34-37 | FACULTY UPDATES

The Persistence Of The Unconstitutional Status/Use Distinction In Federal Grants To Religious Nonprofits, Nicole Stelle Garnett, Cameron Grinnell

Books

Manhattan Institute Memo

“No Rest For Me Tonight”, Mairead E. Moloney, Daniela C. Moga, Michael Grandner, Nancy Schoenberg

Anthropology Faculty Publications

Objectives: Insomnia disproportionally affects women and is prevalent among rural Appalachian adults at higher rates than in the general US population. Given the strong, bi-directional relationship between sleep and health, a better understanding of insomnia in this health-disparate population is critical. The present study focused on the sex (females), gender (women), and age group (45+) at highest insomnia risk and explores the social determinants of sleep that contributed to insomnia. Methods: Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted to understand factors associated with insomnia among rural Appalachian women who self-reported insomnia symptoms ≥3 nights per week for ≥3 months. Interviews were recorded …

Creative Development And The Repertory Grid Method: Investigating How A Team Of Theater Teaching Artists Describe And Assess The Formative Creative Skills And Dispositions Of Students, Mark Andrew Onuscheck

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This mixed-methods study explores how a team of theater teaching artists describes and assesses the formative creative skills and dispositions of students participating in an after-school theater arts program, and it explores how repertory grid methods may support curricular, instructional, assessment, and feedback practices within such programs. Rooted in personal construct theory and curriculum studies, this research investigates how creative development—often viewed as elusive—is revealed through educators’ language, perceptions, and evaluative choices.   Using repertory grid interviewing and statistical rating protocols, the study identifies how participating teaching artists articulate the “language of learning” related to creative performance, uncovering 68 formative creative …

Morphology-Performance Relationships To Understand Cichlid Neurocranial Evolution In The Context Of Adaptive Radiation, Sarah Pascarella

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Cichlid fishes have undergone multiple adaptive radiations in the rift lakes of East Africa pairing rapid taxonomic and morphological diversification. Lake Malawi’s rock-dwelling cichlids (mbuna) have diversified into hundreds of species that partition their habitat by depth and diet resulting in high morphological and behavioral diversity. We characterized morphological differences and performed behavioral assays among four cichlid genera from Lake Malawi focused on understanding form-function relationships in the neurocranium and oral feeding apparatus. We characterized neurocranial shape using 3D geometric morphometrics across a large taxonomic sample of mbuna cichlids, focusing primarily on the Tropheops species complex. Alongside broad changes in …

Three Cheers For Print!, Jillian Lacross

AADEJ - The Communicator

This guest feature argues that print magazines are a worthwhile and necessary investment for associations, focusing on the three pillars of expectation, engagement, and experience. Print publications establish trust because they imply an inherent vetting process; affluent consumers trust print magazines the most, and print advertisements are significantly more trusted than social media ads. Print provides a respite from digital fatigue, with Worldmetrics finding that readers spend an average of 41 minutes engaging with a printed magazine, far exceeding the 3 to 7 minutes typically spent online. Printed materials enhance retention, recall, and emotional processing, strengthening the association's brand. Ultimately, …

Dominican Population Decline In New York City After 2020, Laird W. Bergad

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

The Dominican population of New York City has experienced a significant decline since reaching its peak of 761,333 in 2021, falling by nearly 13% to 663,169 by 2024. This decline does not appear to be driven by reduced immigration from the Dominican Republic, as yearly arrivals have remained at relatively high levels between 2011 and 2023.

This Latino Data Project Report suggests that there has been an important emigration of Dominicans away from New York City to other areas of the United States. It is likely that the Dominican population of New York City will continue to decline into the …

Vol 70 #5, Rebecca Chavez

MPLA Newsletter

No abstract provided.