Digital Commons Network^™

An Investigation Of Sex-Specific Effects Of Nucleus Accumbens Dopamine Receptor Signaling In Persistent Reward Seeking Under Punishment, Anna Caroline Toburen

Theses and Dissertations

Addiction involves persistent reward-seeking behavior despite adverse outcomes, with the nucleus accumbens (NAc) critically mediating motivation and cost-benefit decision-making. Dopamine (DA)-responsive neurons in the NAc, specifically D1 and D2 receptors within the NAc are crucial in encoding motivated behavior. However, the specific role of D1/D2 receptors in driving reward-seeking under punishment remains unclear. Preliminary findings suggest a sex-specific effect, with females exhibiting greater sensitivity to the suppressive effects of footshock on natural reward-seeking compared to males. We investigated the differential roles of NAc D1/D2 receptors in modulating reward-seeking behavior under punishment, with a focus on potential sex-specific effects. Using a …

September 4, 2025, James Madison University

The Breeze, 2020-

The Breeze is the student newspaper of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Re: Comment Letter For The Draft Final Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Unreclaimed Sites New And Mahoney (Ur-23) Construction Completion Report., Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling Plan (Fsp): Bres No. 18 – Walkerville Ballfield (Dated August 13, 2025), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Preconditioning With Low-Dose Radiation Improves Antitumor Immunity And Survival In Dc-Vaccinated Mice, Eric Kwon, Shelby Namen, Colin J Willoughby, Solomon Kang, Gaurav Pandey, Alexander B Kim, Carl J Deselm

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Preconditioning regimens are essential for the immunologic success of cell therapies like CAR T cells. Nevertheless, their effect on cancer vaccines is underexplored, and preconditioning regimens are generally absent from cancer vaccine clinical trials. To address this knowledge gap, we evaluated the impact of various preconditioning strategies on dendritic cell (DC) vaccine efficacy in a murine tumor model. Mice bearing syngeneic tumors received preconditioning with 2 Gy low-dose radiation therapy (LD RT; whole-body or tumor-only), cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, LD RT plus cyclophosphamide, or no preconditioning, followed by administration of antigen-loaded DCs. Whether whole-body or tumor-directed, LD RT preconditioning significantly enhanced vaccine-induced …

Risk Of Clonal Hematopoiesis In Families Exposed To Radiation Following The Chornobyl Accident, Mitchell J Machiela, Irenaeus Chan, Kelly Bolton, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Radiation exposure is a well-established risk factor for leukemia. Clonal hematopoiesis (CH), the expansion of mutated hematopoietic cells, is also associated with increased leukemia risk and its frequency is higher in cancer patients following radiotherapy and chemotherapy. We investigated whether low to moderate environmental ionizing radiation determined by state-of-the-art dosimetric analysis was associated with CH in the Chornobyl Family Study (CFS). Our study conducted targeted high-depth sequencing and array genotyping to identify and characterize clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCAs) in 882 participants from 292 CFS families. Fathers had mean bone marrow radiation doses of …

Building Multimodal Knowledge Graphs: Automation For Enterprise Integration, Ritvik Garimella, Hong Yung Yip, Revathy Venkataramanan, Amit P. Sheth

Publications

As enterprises increasingly aim to incorporate artificial intelligence into their workflows to tackle complex, multimodal tasks, the demand for intelligent, robust, and trustworthy systems is paramount. While multimodal large language models offer initial capabilities for processing diverse data streams, their dependence on embedding-based representations limit their effectiveness in delivering semantically grounded explanations and reasoning, as well as qualities essential for enterprise-grade applications. Neurosymbolic approaches provide a promising alternative by enabling traceable, context-aware decision making. However, constructing enterprise-level multimodal knowledge graphs (MMKGs) that enable neurosymbolic approaches remains largely impractical. Although prior efforts have explored MMKG construction, they fall short in addressing …

A Proven Template For Providing Streamlined, Scalable, Cost-Effective Clinical Research Opportunities In Osteopathic Medical Schools, Jacey N. Greek, Andrew Greek, Mari Hopper, Robert Arnce

Student Publications

Context: In an era in which clinical research plays a crucial role in advancing medical knowledge and contributing to the resume of medical students attempting to match into a residency, the creation of sustainable and effective research opportunities within medical education is paramount. Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (COMs) face unique challenges in creating these opportunities in a scalable and cost-efficient manner. Without these opportunities, osteopathic medical students may find themselves at a disadvantage compared to their allopathic counterparts in residency placements and academic career paths.

Objectives: We have created a template for providing perpetual, streamlined, scalable, cost-effective clinical research at …

The Causal Pivot: A Structural Approach To Genetic Heterogeneity And Variant Discovery In Complex Diseases, Chad A Shaw, C J Williams, Taotao Tan, Daniel Illera, Nicholas Di, Joshua M Shulman, John W Belmont

Center on Aging Staff Publications

We present the Causal Pivot (CP) as a structural causal model (SCM) for analyzing genetic heterogeneity in complex diseases. The CP leverages an established causal factor or factors to detect the contribution of additional suspected causes. Specifically, polygenic risk scores (PRSs) serve as known causes, while rare variants (RVs) or RV ensembles are evaluated as candidate causes. The CP incorporates outcome-induced association by conditioning on disease status. We derive a conditional maximum-likelihood procedure for binary and quantitative traits and develop the Causal Pivot likelihood ratio test (CP-LRT) to detect causal signals. Through simulations, we demonstrate the CP-LRT’s robust power and …

Implementing A Training Resource For Large-Scale Genomic Data Analysis In The All Of Us Researcher Workbench, Jasmine Baker, Erik Stricker, Julie Coleman, Shamika Ketkar, Taotao Tan, Ashley M Butler, Laterrica Williams, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Debra Murray, Brendan Lee, Kim C Worley, Elizabeth G Atkinson

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

A lack of representation in genomic research and limited access to computational training create barriers for many researchers seeking to analyze large-scale genetic datasets. The All of Us Research Program provides an unprecedented opportunity to address these gaps by offering genomic data from a broad range of participants, but its impact depends on equipping researchers with the necessary skills to use it effectively. The All of Us Biomedical Researcher (BR) Scholars Program at Baylor College of Medicine aims to break down these barriers by providing early-career researchers with hands-on training in computational genomics through the All of Us Evenings with …

Experiences Of Immigrant Adults About English As A Second Language Classes With Instructors Who Do Not Speak Learners’ Languages, Gatluak Pal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the lack of research on the experiences of adult immigrant English language (EL) learners regarding their engagement in college-level English as a second language (ESL) courses with instructors who do not speak the learners’ native language. Researchers have reported that EL-learning immigrant adults are not actively engaging in their learning process. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate the experiences of EL-learning adult immigrants regarding their engagement in ESL college classes with instructors who do not speak the native language of their learners. A basic qualitative study was conducted using …

Effects Of Elementary And Secondary School Emergency Relief Grants On Math And English Language Arts Standardized Test Scores In Connecticut, Zoe Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was the decrease in proficiency levels in math and English Language Arts (ELA) of 3rd- to 8th-grade students on standardized tests following the COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut (CT). The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the difference between the mean change in math and ELA standardized test scores for Grades 3-8 for 4 years before and 4 years after the introduction of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grant funding in CT, while controlling for all other funds received. The theory that supported this study was Lezotte’s school effectiveness and …

The Impact Of Communication And Job Satisfaction On Registered Nurse Turnover, Kingsley Kenechukwu Onyeama

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health care leaders are challenged with ongoing nursing shortages. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine the impact of communication and job satisfaction on registered nurses’ turnover intentions. The conceptual framework integrated Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg and Mausner’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory, and Social Exchange Theory. Two research questions guided the study: the relationship between communication variables and intent to leave a healthcare organization, and the relationship between job satisfaction and intent to leave. A randomized sample of 156 registered nurses in California, aged 23 to 65 and identified through the California Nurses Database, was recruited via SurveyMonkey. …

What Are The Lived Experiences Of Policing Professionals With Self-Reported Alterations To Biological Instinct Alongside Operational Demands?, Madyson Wier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Operational demands and training of policing professionals may be a source of conflict leading to a potential increase in risk for both the officer and the general public. Training in a law enforcement academy does not adequately prepare officers for the impacts the career may have on mental health, changes to the biological system, or societal criticism of modern-day policing. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how policing professionals experience changes in the autonomic nervous system with exposure to trauma in the field, and how self-reported alterations are further impacted due to operational expectations of their department. …

Climate Change-Related Threats To Railroads: Implications For Threat, Hazard And Risk Assessment, Frances L. Edwards, Daniel C. Goodrich

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Climate change has created new challenges for railroads around the world. The rail systems operate in open environments, subjecting them to increased heat, changing locations of heavy rains, developing sea level rise and storm surge, and a longer and stronger wildfire season. This research investigates how an updated threat and hazard identification and risk assessment (THIRA) can lead to the development of climate adaptation strategies that limit damage and disruption to the railroad enterprise. The THIRA analyzes which threats are of most concern in a specific rail segment, and which climate change adaptation strategies give a beneficial return on investment.

Dampak Jumlah Kredit Yang Dimiliki Rumah Tangga Terhadap Kekerasan Dalam Rumah Tangga (Kdrt) Pada Anak Di Indonesia, Anjar Maulitfiani, Dwini Handayani

Jurnal Kebijakan Ekonomi

This study examines the impact of intensity of household debt on domestic violence (DV) towards children in Indonesia. There is a positive relationship between the amount of household debt and the likelihood of domestic violence towards children based on literature review. This research uses a quantitative method with multinomial logistic regression analysis. The results of this study indicate that households with more than one household debt are correlated with an increased likelihood of both psychological and physical domestic violence towards children compared to the likelihood of no domestic violence, both before and after controlling variables added.

A Tale Of Two Schools: A Comparative Case Study Demonstrating Organizational Pathways To Educator Collaborations, Michael W. Valenti Ph.D., Duhita Mahatmya, Elizabeth Levine-Brown, Karen Celedonia, Tracy Sweet

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Effective staff collaboration in schools maximizes educators’ collective capacity, improves educator and student outcomes, and facilitates school-wide improvement efforts. Yet, many school team members struggle to collaborate effectively. Previous studies have demonstrated individual and school-level factors that influence school-based collaborations. This study expands former research by comparing the varying administrative and environmental tools employed by two schools to shape relational networks and foster interpersonal capital. Specifically, this case study explores how school-level factors shape the development of school social networks and staff collaborative behavior. We use comparative case study analysis to explore how differences in individual-level and system-level factors influence …

Effectiveness Of Helmet Non-Invasive Ventilator Training Based On Simulation, Jungmin Park, Sun Ju Chang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: The use of helmet non-invasive ventilators in the treatment of patients with respiratory failure is increasing in intensive care unit. This study was based on the National League for Nursing/Jeffries Simulation Theory and aimed to develop a Helmet Non-Invasive Ventilator education training program and assess its impact on the knowledge, self-efficacy, and clinical performance abilities of intensive care unit nurses.

Design: A non-equivalent control group pretest- posttest design was used.

Methods: The participants consisted of 21 individuals in the experimental group and 22 in the control group. The experimental group received a simulation-based intervention, while the control …

Exploring Health Care Access Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender (Lgbt) Populations, Austin Nation, Phyllis Raynor, Frieda H. Outlaw, Carlo Hojilla

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project is to explore the current experiences and needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) population, including health care and mental health utilization, patterns, locations, adequacy of LGBT-friendly health and mental health care providers. There are an estimated 90,000 LGBT individuals over the age of 14 in Orange County. LGBT populations are unique and are known to have significant health disparities, particularly if they are from racial or ethnic groups or have a disability. LGBT individuals are known to experience adverse situations when accessing health care and mental health services, including issues with …

Authentic Leadership In Nursing: Global Impact And Insights From An Integrative Review, Robie Victoria Hughes, Jihane Frangieh, Julia Cardoso Cardoso

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The purpose of the integrative review is to analyze the current literature to determine authentic leadership impact on nursing outcomes world-wide. Authentic leadership theory, studied extensively in recent years, is a critical component of effective leadership in healthcare linked to improved patient outcomes, increased healthy work environments, and decreased burnout rates among nurses. An integrative literature search on “authentic leadership”, “outcomes” and “nursing” was conducted in five electronic databases: CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and MEDLINE via the PubMed portal, from February 2023 to April 2023. Twenty-five quantitative studies, conducted in 10 countries, met the inclusion criteria. The authors …

Faculty Facilitated New Graduate Nurse Mentoring Program, Tina Michelle Dorau

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: There has been a lack of consistent high-quality residency and orientation programs for new graduate registered nurses (NGRNs) throughout the United States including Central Wisconsin.

Purpose: The practice gap has existed for many years and was recognized in the 1970’s when Kramer (1974) coined the phrase “reality shock”. The purpose of the mentoring program was to bridge the gap between the academic setting and the clinical setting for the NGRN in their first 90-days of practice.

Methods: The mentoring program was presented to prelicensure students during their final semester in nursing school. The mentoring program began when the prelicensure …

Skilled Nursing Facility Interprofessional Bedside Rounds: Perspectives From Nurses, Soliel Marianne Diez Flores, Joseann Helmes Dewitt, Lisa Moshiri, Faye Felicilda-Reynaldo

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The project addresses the pressing issue of poor interprofessional collaboration in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and its impact on care coordination. The practice-based question guiding the study is whether the implementation of a hybrid telehealth model of structured interprofessional bedside rounds (SIBR) impacts the relational coordination (RC) survey scores of nursing staff in SNFs. The project evaluates the impact of an innovative collaborative model on RC scores in two SNFs using a quantitative quasi-experimental before and after study design. Theoretical underpinnings are grounded in the dynamic theory of RC, providing a framework that aligns with purposeful interprofessional collaborative practice principles. …

A Validation Experiment: Utilizing Ultraviolet Light To Disinfect High Use Nursing Equipment, Gordon West

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Healthcare staff continue to utilize equipment that can travel from patient room to patient room without disinfection or cleaning between use. Additionally, nursing and housekeeping staff may not always communicate clearly regarding responsibilities for cleaning some of these items. The purpose of this study was to identify if a portable UV-C tent utilized with a UV-C device (Xenex® LightStrike™ Robot) can effectively disinfect high use equipment used within inpatient nursing units across a large military medical treatment facility.

Method: Healthcare equipment consisting of commodes, toilet seat risers, wheelchairs, vital sign machines, workstations on wheels, and bassinets were pre swabbed …

“Overpriced & Over Dosed”: Thematic Analysis Of Perceived Root Causes Of Us Maternal Mortality Rate, Emily Richardson, Rebecca Mccann

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Maternal mortality in the United States (US) is a problem of growing concern. In 2021 maternal mortality accounted for 32.9 deaths per 100,000 with non-Hispanic Black clients having a mortality rate of 2.6 times higher than non-Hispanic Whites. Of utmost concern, is the determination that over 80% of pregnancy related deaths were preventable. With the growing press around this topic, the authors sought to analyze the public’s perceived root causes for the increase in poor maternal outcomes. As maternal/ child experts, the authors know that client perception may not always be medically reliable; therefore, this study aims to gain understanding …

Longitudinal Assessment Of Deib In Nursing Curriculum Using The Idi, Kristen F. Kirby, Rebecca Johnson, Zachary Hass

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within global nursing education is imperative to prepare future healthcare professionals to meet the needs of diverse patient populations and is supported by most major nursing organizations (American Nurses Association, 2024; ANA Ethics Advisory Board, 2019; IOM, 2011; Future of Nursing, 2020-2030). This study used the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) to measure the impact of DEIB focused curriculum on a cohort of students’ intercultural competence change over 4 years.

Methods: A Midwest Big10 School of Nursing systematically embedded DEIB principles into each level of the undergraduate curriculum and the school’s culture. Simultaneously, …

The Andrew Russell Veteran Living Program: A Mixed Method Evaluation Study, Kylie P. Russell, Tracey H. Coventry

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: The experience of homelessness for Australian defence force veterans is a complex problem that centres on their inability to reconnect with the community on their return (Keeling, 2018; Guthrie-Gower & Wilson-Menzfeld, 2022). Although considered underreported in Australia, veterans are more likely than the general population to be chronically homeless (Bond et al., 2022; Hilferty et al., 2021). Thus, homelessness solutions are at the forefront of Australian policy makers, service providers and support agencies (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022). Veteran homelessness has been addressed successfully by the Returned and Services League Care Andrew Russell Veteran Living program through …

Effects Of Chatbot On Surgical Patients: A Systematic Review, Chung Man Ho, Mei Ping Priscilla Choi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of chatbots in enhancing patient knowledge, alleviating psychological distress, and improving compliance compared to traditional methods among surgical patients.

Design: A systematic review.

Methods: Randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies involving patients undergoing surgeries under general anaesthesia were reviewed. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomised controlled trials and the Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions tool for non-randomised controlled trials.

Results: Nine studies with 1476 patients were included in this review. Conversational agents significantly improved perioperative knowledge, psychological distress and compliance with preoperative instructions, …

Creating A Transitional Residency For Acute Care Program (Trac), Lenis Sosa

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The Transitional Residency for Acute Care Nursing (TRAC) was meticulously designed to significantly enhance the onboarding process for nurses with acute care experience in other countries. The program targets nurses without in-hospital experience, and it is structured to enhance the quality of the orientation process for these individuals. Nurses in this program may have previous experiences in home health, continuing care, long-term acute care, rehab, and skilled facilities and hope to transition into an acute care setting. The TRAC program was designed to facilitate the safe transition of these nurses into the hospital. This was accomplished using multiple educational strategies, …

Developing A Machine Learning Method To Identify Racial Disparities In End-Stage Kidney Disease, Brandon M. Varilek, Semhar Michael, Hossein Moradi Rekabdarkolaee, Patti J. Brooks, Surachat Ngorsuraches

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) disproportionately affects Hispanic and American Indian (AI) persons with prevalence rates more than double of White persons. Furthermore, all-cause mortality is significantly higher for Hispanic and AI. The increased prevalence and mortality rates can be attributed to the higher level of health disparities caused by social determinants of health (SDOH). We are developing machine learning and computational models based on patient-level ESKD data at zip code or county level paired with SDOH data to predict the risk of mortality among Hispanic and AI persons with ESKD in South Dakota who have varying socio-demographic characteristics. The primary …

Demographic Factors And Hrqol In Younger Persons With An Ostomy And Ibd, Caitlin Werther

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

As of 2020, in the United States, over one million individuals have Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) with 10% requiring intestinal ostomy formation.1,2 Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) can be impacted by the presence of an ostomy.3 IBD is typically diagnosed in young adults, presenting unique social and psychological concerns if an ostomy is required for treatment.4,5 This study determines if demographic factors are related to HRQOL in young adults living with an ostomy and IBD.

A convenience sample of participants was recruited from online support groups, collecting demographic data in 2018. HRQOL was measured using the Health Days Core Module. …