Digital Commons Network^™

A Rural Ministry Helping Adults With Intellectual Or Developmental Disabilities Meet Their Vocational Goals: A Case Study Of The Canteen And Trading Post (Ctp), Julie Byford Harstin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study's purpose was to describe and evaluate the Canteen & Trading Post’s (CTP’s) approach to workforce education for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (AIDD) and CTP participants’ perceptions of AIDD’s employability in their rural community. A qualitative study method was used, including semi-structured interviews, arts-based research, and participant-observation. The guiding research questions for the study were: 1. How is the Canteen & Trading Post helping adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities meet their vocational goals?, 2. How are AIDD's needs for accommodation changing through their experiences at the CTP?, and 3. How is the CTP demonstrating AIDD’s employability …

Perceptions Of Black Male Alternative High School Students' Disciplinary Experiences A Qualitative Narrative Inquiry Study, Rahmod Traylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The current study examines how Black male students in alternative high school settings interpret and describe their disciplinary experiences and educational trajectories. Guided by Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) as the theoretical framework and Narrative Inquiry as the methodological approach, the research investigates how cultural identity, systemic inequities, and school-based disciplinary practices intersect in shaping students’ academic pathways. The study addresses two central questions: (1) How do the educational experiences of Black males who graduated from alternative high schools differ from those who did not? (2) In what ways do culturally sustaining pedagogical practices inform or fail to inform these experiences? …

September 26, 2025 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Onmain Breaks Ground On First Building, Catalyzing A New Era Of Innovation In Dayton, University Of Dayton

News Releases

A decade in the making, the onMain Innovation District celebrated the groundbreaking for its first commercial building, the Think Dayton building.

Prospective Associations Among Loneliness And Health For Servicemembers: Perceived Helplessness And Negative Coping Appraisal As Explanatory Mechanisms, Sarah N. Arpin, Cynthia D. Mohr, Todd Bodner, Leslie B. Hammer, James D. Lee

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Links between loneliness and health are robust, though evidence for associations with alcohol use is mixed. Previous research has supported perceived stress as a predictor of alcohol use and as a pathway through which loneliness impacts health over time. Yet findings are primarily limited to civilian samples, and less is known about how loneliness relates to stress and health among service members. The current study explores prospective associations among loneliness, stress, and health (i.e., sleep, alcohol misuse, and psychological distress) within a sample of mostly male service members. We examine two dimensions of perceived stress, perceived helplessness and negative coping …

Neutrophil Degranulation Is Increased At Seven Days After Human Intracerebral Hemorrhage, But Not At 72 H, And Correlates With Decreased Mir-3613 And Mir-3690, Kyle B Walsh, Miranda C Marion, Dengfeng Li, Hannah C Ainsworth, Amy Zinnia, Xiang Zhang, Stacie L Demel, Brady Williamson, David J Roh, Robert Campbell, Frederik Denorme, Daniel Woo, Carl D Langefeld

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The molecular mechanisms of inflammatory pathophysiology after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are not well established. We report mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq in the peripheral blood of ICH patients with three serial samples during the first week after the stroke. METHODS: Twenty-seven ICH patients were enrolled via 24/7 screening and peripheral blood sampled at <  24 h (baseline), 72 h (+/-12 h), and 7 days (+/- 2 days) from last known normal. mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq were assessed for differential expression (DE) between the time point comparisons. Pathways identified via enrichment analysis (STRING, Reactome, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis) were tested via paired t-test and principal component analysis (PCA). Correlations between miRNA/mRNA pairs were computed. RESULTS: For DE mRNA at 72 h vs. baseline, the main enriched pathways pertained to neuronal function and synaptic transmission; prominent neuron-related genes from these pathways are also implicated in platelet activation. For 7 days vs. baseline, neutrophil degranulation and ribosomal biogenesis were the most enriched pathways; PCA also suggested neutrophil degranulation was the pathway most significantly different at 7 days vs. baseline compared with 72 h vs. baseline (p = 0.02). miR-3613 and miR-3690 had decreased expression at 7 days and were the miRNA most correlated with DE genes from the neutrophil degranulation pathway. CONCLUSION: Neutrophil degranulation was the prominent enriched pathway at 7 days after ICH and correlated with decreased miR-3613 and miR-3690. Further research is warranted of neutrophils in post-ICH inflammatory pathophysiology and functional validation studies of miR-3613 and miR-3690 as potential regulators of neutrophil degranulation after ICH.

Evaluating Trending Topics Published In The Journal Of Foot And Ankle Surgery, Sarah Weisbrodt, Asad Mustafa, Demian Rodriguez, Naohiro Shibuya

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Introduction: As the field of podiatry advances, it is valuable to identify the areas of research that receive the greatest focus. Evaluating popular topics published in podiatric medicine and surgery peer-reviewed journals helps us consider current trends in procedures, surgeon preferences, and current interest in our profession.

Aim: To evaluate current trends in podiatric medicine and surgery through compiling topics published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery (JFAS) and their frequency.

Methods: JFAS was selected for our analysis as it has the highest impact factor out of the indexed journals in our profession. We used Scopus to identify …

A Multifaceted Analysis Of The Genetic Origins, Growth, And Invasive Potential Of Introduced Floridian Sugarcane, Indy Hughes

Student Theses and Dissertations

Saccharum spontaneum L., wild sugarcane, is an aggressive invasive species, listed by the USDA as a Federal Noxious Weed (FNW). Despite this, S. spontaneum is used to create hardy, pest-resistant cultivars of domestic sugarcane. All cultivars have a small percentage of wild parentage, but the dosage is low to lessen the chance of inheriting undesirable traits. Saccharum spontaneum’s naturalized presence in Florida has been reported since 1993 and likely escaped from regulated sugarcane breeding facilities. The proximity of S. spontaneum populations to modern cultivars, grown intensively in the state, could potentially increase the risk of invasion. It is imperative to …

Strategies To Improve The Financial Success For Minority And Small Business Owners, Kimberly D. Stone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although minority small business owners have a substantial influence on the U.S. economy, they often face significant financial obstacles. Minority small business owners are concerned with the history of unfair lending practices in the United States, as access to adequate capital is crucial to achieving business success. Grounded in Donaldson’s pecking order theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective financial strategies that some minority small business owners used to sustain their businesses. The project participants were six minority small business leaders who had more than 5 years of experience from various industries in South Florida. …

Quality Improvement Project Enhancing Provider Education On Phq-9 Depression Screening To Improve Compliance, Obianuju Okafor

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide; however, screening in primary care remains inconsistent. Even though the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a validated screening tool, its use is often limited by insufficient provider training. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to evaluate the impact of structured provider education on PHQ-9 screening practices, with the purpose of improving provider knowledge, confidence, and adherence to screening guidelines in a primary care setting. Guided by Donabedian's Model of Quality Care and Lewin's Change Theory and implemented using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, the project used a one-group pre/post design at an outpatient …

Unraveling Crop Nitrogen-Water Dynamics With Hyperspectral-Thermal Sensing In Northern Central Valley, California, Shahryar Fazli, Surendra Maharjan, Wenzhao Li, Joshua B. Fisher, Rejoice Thomas, Fernando Romero Galvan, Gabriela Shirkey, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Ensuring global food security in the face of climate change requires optimizing crop water use and nutrient management. This study investigates the relationship between canopy nitrogen (N) and evapotranspiration (ET) across sunflower, rice, walnut, alfalfa, and plum crops using advanced remote sensing technologies. High-resolution hyperspectral data from NASAs Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) and thermal multispectral data from the Landsat-based OpenET system were analyzed over 1,135 km² in California. Regression analysis revealed strong spatial association between canopy N and ET for sunflower (R² = 0.82), rice (R² = 0.71), and walnut (R² = 0.68), …

'What The World Would Be': How Creating A Shared World Through Collaborative Roleplaying Helps Us To Deal With Real-World Challenges, Pablo Muslera

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This article is in two parts: a creative prose artefact, and a critical exegesis situating the artefact in a wider context. It illustrates how roleplaying games explore community and identity, through a creative / critical lens. A prose dramatisation of a cooperative TTRPG (table top roleplaying game) session, played online over Discord and online gaming platform Roll20, juxtaposes the collaboratively imagined world, and the reality from which it is an escape. Themes of gender identity, isolation, precarious work and fluctuating health are explored within the timeframe of the Covid outbreak in Adelaide mid-2020, with the roleplaying session serving as a …

After The Rct: Creating A Waterbirth Registry, Emily Malloy, Amanda Luff, James Adefisoye, Maryanne Scherer, Amber Johnson, Anna L Anklam, Jessica Kram

Aurora GME

No abstract provided.

Lysosomal Lrrc8 Complex Impacts Lysosomal Ph, Morphology, And Systemic Glucose Metabolism, Ashutosh Kumar, Yonghui Zhao, Litao Xie, Rahul Chadda, John D Tranter, Ryan T Mikami, Nihil Abraham, Juan Hong, Ethan Feng, David R Rawnsley, Haiyan Liu, Gretchen Meyer, Abhinav Diwan, Rajan Sah, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The lysosome integrates anabolic signaling and nutrient sensing to regulate intracellular growth pathways. The leucine-rich repeat-containing 8 (LRRC8) channel complex forms a lysosomal anion channel and regulates PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling, skeletal muscle differentiation, growth, and systemic glucose metabolism. Here, we define the endogenous LRRC8 subunits localized to a subset of lysosomes in differentiated myotubes. We show that LRRC8A affects leucine-stimulated mTOR; lysosome size; number; pH; expression of lysosomal proteins LAMP2, P62, and LC3B; and lysosomal function. Mutating an LRRC8A lysosomal targeting dileucine motif sequence (LRRC8A-L706A;L707A) in myotubes recapitulates the abnormal AKT signaling and altered lysosomal morphology and pH observed in LRRC8A …

Aggrebots: Configuring Ciliabots Through Guided, Modular Tissue Aggregation, Dhruv Bhattaram, Kian Golestan, Xuanshuo Zhang, Shihong Yang, Zhuowei Gong, Steven L Brody, Amjad Horani, Victoria A Webster-Wood, Amir Barati Farimani, Xi Ren

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Ciliated biobots (CiliaBots) are engineered tissues capable of self-actuated propulsion via exterior motile cilia. While correlations have been observed between CiliaBot motility and morphology, direct control of morphological features to deliver desired motility outcomes remains unexplored. Here, we describe the engineering of aggregated CiliaBots (AggreBots) to augment control over CiliaBot structural parameters and, consequently, motility patterns through guided, modular aggregation of human airway epithelial spheroids [referred to as CiliaBot building blocks (CBBs)]. Multi-CBB aggregation generated rod-, triangle-, and diamond-shaped AggreBots, altering tissue geometry without sacrificing surface cilia density or inter-CBB boundary fidelity. The further introduction of

Bedside Small-Bowel Challenge Vs. Fluoroscopic Series For Sbo: A Cost Effectiveness Analysis, Aravinda Krishna Ganapathy, Liam Cunningham, M Hunter Lanier, Selasi Nakhaima, Madelyn Thiel, Daniel Hoffman, Obeid Ilahi, David H Ballard, Vincent M Mellnick

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) accounts for 12-16% of surgical hospital admissions and can lead to complications such as bowel ischemia. Traditional management requires transporting patients to the Radiology Department (RD) for a fluoroscopic small bowel series, occupying resources and time. This study evaluates the efficacy and efficiency of the Small Bowel Challenge Exam, a bedside alternative.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 85 SBO patients from January 2018 to December 2023 at an academic tertiary care facility, comparing the traditional fluoroscopic series (37 patients) to the bedside Small Bowel Challenge Exam (48 patients). Key metrics analyzed included hospital …

A Protein-Proximity Screen Reveals Ebola Virus Co-Opts The Mrna Decapping Complex Through The Scaffold Protein Edc4, Callie J Donahue, Aditi S Kesari, Naveen Thakur, Ling Wang, Sarah Hulsey Stubbs, Caroline G Williams, Sandhya Bharti Sharma, Cara D Kirby, Daisy W Leung, Uma K Aryal, Christopher F Basler, Douglas J Lacount, Robert A Davey

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The interaction of host and Ebola virus (EBOV) proteins is required for establishing infection. In this study, we use proximity-dependent biotinylation to identify cellular proteins that bind to EBOV proteins encoded by six of the seven viral genes. Hits are computationally mapped onto a human protein-protein interactome and annotated with viral proteins, confirming known EBOV-host protein interactions and revealing previously undescribed interactions and processes. This approach efficiently arranges proteins into functional complexes associated with single viral proteins. Focused characterization of interactions between EBOV VP35 and the mRNA decapping complex shows that VP35 binds the scaffold protein EDC4 through the C-terminal …

Genetic Susceptibility To Oral And Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases Based On Dental And Heart Score Studies, Mariana Bezamat, Dylan J Baxter, Nandita Mukhopadhyay, Anum Saeed, Lei Liu, Lisa De Las Fuentes, Betsy Foxman, John R Shaffer, Daniel W Mcneil, Steven E Reis, Mary L Marazita

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Periodontal disease and dental caries are two oral conditions that have been associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, it is unclear if one of the key mechanisms involved in this association could be a shared genetic susceptibility. The goal of this study was to explore whether there is an intersection of genetic loci among individuals with comprehensive oral examinations and subclinical ASCVD screenings. We leveraged data from oral and medical examinations obtained from the Dental and Heart Strategies Concentrating on Risk Evaluation (Dental/Heart SCORE) projects. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) were performed independently in 552 participants (aged 45-75 years). The …

The Addition Of Chinese Herbal Medicines Is Effective As A Prophylactic Treatment Against Dental Diseases For Sjögren’S Syndrome Patients: Insight From Real-World Database, Ching-Ya Juan, Wei-Jen Chen, Hanoch Livneh, Ming-Chi Lu, Tzung-Yi Tsai

Leadership, Learning and Counseling Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background and Objectives:

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the salivary glands and increases the risk of developing dental diseases (DDs). Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) represent a promising alternative strategy for SS treatment; however, the association between CHMs and DD risk has not been confirmed. In this retrospective, cohort-based, nested case-control study, we explored whether or not combining CHMs with routine treatments for SS can reduce the chance of DDs.

Materials and Methods:

In the beginning, we recruited subjects aged 20–80 years with newly diagnosed SS who were free of DDs between 2001 and …

Fit For Whose Future? A Critical Omission Of People With Intellectual Disability In The 2025 Nhs 10 Year Health Plan For England, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

The NHS 2025 Health Plan aims for radical reform but overlookspeople with intellectual disability. This editorial highlights criticalomissions in policy, services, research and rights protections.Without intentional inclusion, digital and community shifts riskdeepening inequality. True progress demands co-producedstrategies to ensure equitable care for this vulnerable population.

Rethinking Pain Relief After Surgery: What We Can Learn From Knee Replacements, Asim Trimzi

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

This paper offers a clear, evidence-based look at how we can reduce opioid use after knee replacement surgery without sacrificing pain relief. This review focuses specifically on total knee arthroplasty (TKA)-one of the most commonly performed and most painful surgeries-and asks whether opioids are truly necessary. By analyzing results from 21 clinical trials, the paper shows that non-opioid medications like NSAIDs and gabapentinoids can provide similar pain control with fewer side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, constipation, and sedation. Lower risk of long-term use is an added benefit. A recent RCT found that after knee/shoulder arthroscopy, 72% of patients in …

Screw Diameter And Healing Outcomes In Jones Fractures: A Scoping Review, Merlin Sajeev, Jessica Sima, Srilalitha Lanka, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Introduction: Jones fractures occur at the metaphyseal–diaphyseal junction of the fifth metatarsal and are prone to delayed or nonunion due to limited perfusion and high mechanical stress. Intramedullary (IM) screw fixation is the standard operative treatment, yielding higher union rates than conservative management. There is no clear consensus on the influence of screw size on healing outcomes.

Aim: To examine the impact of IM screw diameter on union rates in Jones fracture fixation.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using Google Scholar and PubMed with the search term: “"Screw" AND "Diameter" AND "Union" AND "Jones Fractures"”. Articles published between 2015 …

Rights In The Eyes Of The Beholder: The Lived Hierarchy Of Rights In India's Democracy, Sehar Abdullah, Keerthana Satheesh, Prashant Narang

Socio-Legal Review

This paper examines how citizens in India perceive and prioritise fundamental rights, with particular attention to the six freedoms under Article 19(1) and the property right. While the freedoms of Article 19(1) remain central to democratic citizenship, the Forty-Fourth Constitutional Amendment of 1978 reclassified the right to property as a constitutional right under Article 300A. This shift prompts an important question: Does the diminished constitutional rank of property correspond to its place in popular hierarchies of rights? Our in-depth interviews with 26 respondents, whose livelihoods make them especially sensitive to changes in both categories of rights, reveal that citizens continue …

Collaborative Anti-Racist Perinatal Care: A Case Study Of The Healthy Birth Initiatives–Providence Health System Partnership, Roberta Hunte, Susanne Klawetter, Monique Gill, Desha Reed-Holden, Kevin Cherry

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article describes a case study of the partnership between Healthy Birth Initiatives, a community-based organization (CBO) and Black-led public health nurse home visiting program, and the maternal health division of the Providence Health System located in the Pacific Northwest. This study’s purpose was to explore the formation, significance, and impact of this partnership from the perspectives of staff and leadership members from both organizations. We conducted a case study through qualitative interviews with staff, participant observation, and debrief of leadership meetings. We completed a hybrid deductive–inductive thematic analysis of the data, followed by member checking with study participants and …

Abolition And Social Work: Dismantling Carceral Logics To Build Systems Of Care, Durrell M. Washington, Brittany Ribeiro Brown, Diana Ballesteros, Rebecca Lynn Davis

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Social work has historically operated as an extension of the carceral state, embedding policing, surveillance, and punishment into youth-serving institutions under the guise of care. This paper examines carceral seepage—the infiltration of punitive logics into social work practice—across child welfare, education, and juvenile legal, revealing how these systems function as interconnected circuits of criminalization rather than support. Using abolitionist frameworks, we critique social work’s complicity in punitive interventions and address common concerns about safety, scalability, and sustainability. Instead of reforming oppressive institutions, we argue for a fundamental transformation of social work, advocating for non-carceral models such as community-led crisis response, …

Leading Through Times Of Financial Uncertainty In Nonprofit Organizations, Lakisha A. Dent-Gordon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This macro analysis examines the leadership effectiveness of a CEO within a nonprofit re-entry organization dedicated to reducing the 36% recidivism rate in a Southwestern U.S. state. The organization serves up to 50 clients recently released from the state prison system, offering housing and support services. The organizations leadership faced imminent closure due to a financial crisis driven by limited funding, high employee turnover, and a lack of community partnerships, allowing for an examination of the CEO’s response to the crisis. The quantitative study includes a review of peer-reviewed literature, assessments based on the Baldrige Framework of Excellence, and interviews …

Using Supply Chain Management Strategies To Create Competitive Advantages, Marlon Mitchell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, small and medium businesses (SMBs) can use effective supply chain management (SCM) to strengthen competitiveness. Supply chain stakeholders and SMB owners are concerned with maintaining resilient and innovative supply chains to sustain growth. Grounded in game theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective strategies that small business leaders use to identify and implement supply chain innovation. Data were collected through Walden University and peer-reviewed studies. Through thematic analysis, nine themes were identified: supplier diversification, inventory management, cost evaluation, visibility systems, technology and automation, improved communication, risk management, changes …

Exploring Effective Strategies To Improve Financial Sustainability Among Microfinance Institutions In Delta State, Nigeria, Joseph Nmadu Onyejose

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In May 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria revoked the licenses of 179 microfinance banks due to insolvency and noncompliance with regulatory standards. Directors of microfinance institutions (MFIs) are concerned with financial instability because the collapse of MFIs undermines poverty alleviation efforts and local economic development. Grounded in agency theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore the strategies that managers within MFIs in Nigeria used to ensure financial sustainability. The participants were eight directors in the finance industry, including six from MFIs and two from the Central Bank, located in Delta State, Abuja, and Lagos, …

Native Hawaiian Culturally Appropriate Substance Use Disorders Formative Program Evaluation, Kelly J. Penn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance use disorders (SUDs) disproportionately affects Native Hawaiians, yet conventional treatments often overlook the cultural, spiritual, and relational foundations of well-being for Native Hawaiians. This gap represents a human services problem, as it perpetuates health disparities, limits recovery, and slows social change within Native Hawaiian communities. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to identify culturally relevant components for an SUD treatment program tailored to Native Hawaiians. The research question guiding this study was, what are culturally appropriate components for a SUD program for Native Hawaiians. The Nā Pou Kihi framework grounded the exploration of Indigenous approaches to …

Caregiver Perspectives About Implementing Educational Goals For Children Of Incarcerated Parents In A Head Start Program, Alissa Jane Stark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is that caregivers of children with incarcerated parents inconsistently implement the mandated educational goals developed through the Head Start program. Grounded in Bowen’s family systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore caregiver’s perspectives on implementing Head Start Educational goals for children of incarcerated parents and their views on the resources or training needed to support these goals. For this case study, 12 former caregivers from a Head Start program in a women’s correctional facility in Oregon were interviewed. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed thematically with the …