Digital Commons Network^™

Her Voice In Photos: Empowering Women Through The Lens Of Resilience, Doryn Wallach

Theses - ALL

Women in midlife (ages 40–65) face a convergence of psychosocial stressors, including hormonal transitions, caregiving demands, identity shifts, and cultural invisibility, yet accessible, non-clinical supports remain scarce. This program evaluation examined whether participatory therapeutic photography, paired with brief written reflection and community witnessing, could function as an art therapy-informed, strengths-based intervention for this population. Five participants completed a week-long photography sequence structured around a challenge, reframe, and reflect arc, selecting three captioned images and a written reflection to represent their experience. Images were displayed in a digital frame installed where three midlife women served as community witnesses. The researcher collected …

Neither Here Nor There: Cultural Identity Among Vietnamese Immigrants, Duyen Thu Pham

Theses - ALL

Acculturation is a fundamental aspect of the migration experience that enables individuals to adapt to new environments while maintaining meaningful connections within both familial and social spheres. Depending on class, economic conditions, and sociopolitical context, experiences of acculturation differ across generations. This thesis argues that, through the ongoing process of cultural negotiation, Vietnamese immigrants create unique cultural identities that balance adaptation to the host country with the preservation of Vietnamese cultural values, beliefs, and practices. It also explores how migration history, intergenerational differences, and cultural memory influence varied experiences of acculturation and belonging among Vietnamese immigrants in the United States. …

Preserving The Family In The Globalized Era: Explaining State Discouragement Of Women’S Rights And The Gap Between Law And Family Realities In Tajikistan, Ivy Alexandra Raines

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation is guided by a two-part research question, which begins by asking why Tajikistan exhibits low levels of gender equality within the family despite strong international commitments and a formally secular legal framework. The second question builds on the first by asking why a state that offers legal guarantees in line with its international commitments, as outlined by Article 16 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), invests significant energy in discouraging divorce rather than in safeguarding women’s rights that would support their ability to leave harmful marital situations. Employing qualitative discourse …

A Systematic Review Of The Acceptability Of Function-Based Assessments Of Student Behavior, Siani Ym Amidon

Dissertations - ALL

Function-Based Assessments are widely used to identify the antecedents and consequences of maladaptive behaviors across age groups. While social validation of intervention goals and procedures has long been emphasized (Wolf, 1978), the integration of acceptability assessments within Function-Based Assessments remains underexplored. This systematic review examined the extent to which acceptability assessments have been incorporated into Function-Based Assessments, along with their influence on intervention development. A total of 21 studies (N = 72) met inclusion criteria. Among the 33% of studies that reported demographic information, the majority of participants were Black, male children with disabilities in preschool or elementary settings. Physical …

Using Low-Frequency Vibrational Spectroscopy To Develop Analytical Profiles For Polymorphic Organic Molecular Crystals, Salvatore Zarrella

Dissertations - ALL

Low-frequency vibrational spectroscopy provides a sensitive approach for characterizing polymorphism and intermolecular dynamics in organic molecular crystals. Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) and low-frequency Raman spectroscopy probe collective lattice vibrations arising from weak intermolecular interactions, offering direct insight into crystal packing, phase stability, and structural organization that is often inaccessible to conventional diffraction and mid-infrared techniques. To interpret these modes, experimental measurements are combined with periodic solid-state density functional theory (ss-DFT), which enables vibrational assignments to specific intermolecular motions, and crystal structure prediction (CSP), which maps accessible polymorphic energy landscapes. Together, these methods form a unified experimental–computational framework for understanding molecular …

Legitimacy And Reputation In Sports Corporate Social Advocacy: The Role Of Communication Strategies, Issue Position, And Fan Identification, Maria Grover

Dissertations - ALL

Corporate social advocacy (CSA) has become increasingly common in professional sport, yet most research has examined individual athlete activism or sport consumer brands rather than leagues and teams. This dissertation examined how two public-relations communication strategies – highlighting a collaborative decision-making approach and creating a strong explanatory link between an organization and an issue – impact perceived CSA legitimacy and organizational reputation, and how audience-level factors such as fan identification and pre-existing issue position condition those evaluations. A 2 × 2 between-subjects experiment with a control group (N = 302) presented U.S. NFL fans with a fictitious league statement advocating …

Older Recent Widows’ Physical Activity Before And After Spouses’ Deaths A Qualitative Investigation Of The Impact Of Duration And Intensity Of Care Work And Social Support, Mary Theresa Pagan

Dissertations - ALL

Abstract This study investigates and expands understanding of how care work, widowhood, social support, and physical activity intersect in the lives of older recent widows. The study addresses three primary research questions examining the duration and intensity of care work, pre- and post-death social support, and factors that influenced widows’ physical activity before and after the death of their spouses. Thirty semi-structured, face-to-face interviews conducted with heterosexual widows aged 60 and older residing in Upstate New York who were widowed within 6–24 months prior to interview. Interviews explored care work experiences, social support, widowhood transitions, and both structured and non-structured …

Ralph Carter V. Adam Baumcratz

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Wmu Board Of Trustee Board Meeting, Thursday June 25, 2026, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

• Acceptance of the Agenda
• Approval of the Minutes (April 16, 2026)
• Remarks by the Chair of the Board
• Remarks by the President
• Updates by the Faculty Senate President
• Updates by the Western Student Association Speaker of the Assembly
• Updates by the Graduate Student Association President
• Western Michigan University Employee Graduates
• Academic Tenure and Promotion
•  Public Comments Regarding Action Items

Action Items

• Academic Tenure and Promotion
• Fall 2026 Differential Tuition Rates
• Fall 2026 Tuition and Required Fee Rates
• 2026-27 General Fund Operating Budget
• Teaching Assistants Union (TAU) Labor Agreement
• Michigan State Employees Association (MSEA) Labor Agreement
• President’s Annual Review/Compensation/Contract
•  Memorandum of …

Agentic Ai-Enabled Physics-Informed Machine Learning Framework For Intelligent Building Modeling, Control, And Automation, Zixin Jiang

Dissertations - ALL

Buildings account for a significant share of global energy consumption, and meeting the 2050 net-zero decarbonization targets requires retrofitting approximately 10,000 buildings per day in the United States alone. However, current human-centered workflows for building modeling, simulation, control, and operation remain too slow and labor-intensive to support deployment at this scale. This dissertation proposes an integrated two-pillar framework consisting of a physics-informed machine learning framework for integrated building modeling, control, and simulation, and a multi-agent agentic AI framework for automating building energy engineering workflows built on top of that foundation. The first pillar introduces a Physics-Informed Modularized Neural Network (PI-ModNN) …

Cerebrovascular And Bleeding Outcomes Of Warfarin Versus Direct Oral Anticoagulants Therapy For Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Abeer A. Alomairi, Rana Alduhaysh, Alaa Samandar, Abeer Alshehri, Ghada Alabdullah, Saud Almutairi, Faisal Althekair

Neurosciences

Objectives: To compare the effects on cerebral health in atrial fibrillation patients receiving either warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Atrial fibrillation is linked to a higher likelihood of both stroke and cognitive impairment. While warfarin has historically served as the leading anticoagulant treatment, DOACs are now more frequently viewed as alternatives with an improved safety profile.

Methods: The methodology involved an extensive search of multiple databases, completed up to June 2024. This search yielded randomized controlled trials, which together enrolled over 60,000 participants between the ages of 70 and 84. The DOACs studied were dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, …

A Systematic Comparative Review Of Antipsychotic Efficacy And Safety In The Treatment Of Hiccups, Omar Alshargi, Samah Alzaid, Zainab Albahouth, Muradi Hassan Albanji, Hala Makki, Rawan. F. Alboqami, Maram Al Shammari, Huda Alruwaili, Fawaz Alruwaili, Rahmah Ali Algarni, Omar Ibrahim Albahouth

Neurosciences

Objective: To evaluate and compare the safety and effectiveness of antipsychotic medications for the treatment of hiccups, thereby guiding clinicians toward evidence-based treatment guidelines. Hiccups are often benign and self-limiting; however, they can become persistent and intractable, adversely affecting the quality of life. Antipsychotics have been identified as a therapeutic option for the management of hiccups; however, the available evidence supporting their safety and efficacy has not been synthesized.

Methods: This review utilized the revised Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool was modified to evaluate the quality of the …

Subliminal Priming Effects On Motor And Cognitive Performance: Pilot Evidence With Implications For Neurorehabilitation, Rehab E Aljuhni, Ghader A Alqadhi, Saud A Alhassan, Sultan A Alanazi

Neurosciences

Objective: To investigate whether subliminal priming modalities (visual, auditory, or word-based) influence motor and cognitive performance in healthy young adults, and whether these effects vary by gender.

Methods: A total of 30 healthy adults were assigned to visual, auditory, or word-based priming using single-blind, stratified randomization. Subliminal stimuli were presented for 50 ms. Motor outcomes included reaction time on dominant (RT-R) and non-dominant (RT-L) sides, comfortable and maximal walking speeds measured by the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), and functional mobility assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Cognitive performance assessed using the Trail Making Test (TMT). Outcomes were …

Sub-Regional Motor–Somatosensory Connectivity And Lifespan Plasticity In Functional Networks, Adnan A. S. Alahmadi

Neurosciences

Objectives: To determine how cytoarchitectonically defined subdivisions of the primary motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, and supplementary motor area (SMA) reorganize their integration with large-scale brain networks during healthy aging. This study investigated the lifespan trajectories of functional connectivity within cytoarchitectonically defined subregions of the primary motor cortex, somatosensory cortex, and supplementary motor area (SMA).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of resting-state fMRI data from 150 healthy individuals (aged 23–80 years), stratified into young, middle-aged, and older groups. Data were sourced from the Southwest University Adult Lifespan Dataset (SALD) and analyzed between June 2024 and June 2025. Using the Jülich …

Relationships Between The Corpus Callosum Index And Current Blood Parameters And Temporal Changes In These Parameters In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis, Oruç Şahin, Muzaffer Güneş

Neurosciences

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate changes in blood parameters and examine the relationships among the corpus callosum index (CCI), plaque characteristics, and blood parameters in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In MS, the CCI is associated with brain atrophy and disease progression.

Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, demographic data from 103 MS patients (38 males), along with blood parameters obtained five years earlier and current values, were analyzed in relation to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. The CCI calculated from MRI scans was assessed in relation to plaque distribution and number. Statistical analyses included paired sample t tests, Wilcoxon …

Clinical Characteristics Of Multiple Sclerosis And Association Of Ms Severity With Vitamin D Level In The Madinah Region Of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Majed M. Alluqmani

Neurosciences

Objective: To determine the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the western region of Saudi Arabia and correlate it with its predictors among a cohort of patients. The prevalence of MS is increasing in Saudi Arabia, and is attributed to various factors such as recent lifestyle changes, improved disease recognition, and parental consanguinity. Knowing the exact prevalence of the disease may enhance disease management.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals diagnosed with MS at clinics in the Madinah region.

Results: The study found that the prevalence of multiple sclerosis is lower in the Madinah region. Additionally, …

The Top 50 Cited Articles In Pediatric Neurology: A Bibliometric Analysis, Anas Alyazidi, Osama Muthaffar, Ahmed Bamaga, Hebah Qashqari, Abdulmalek Alhithlool, Ahmad Alanezi, Sameer Almehmadi, Mohamed Babiker, Fahad Bashiri

Neurosciences

Objectives: To identify and analyze the most influential articles within the field of pediatric neurology through a bibliometric lens. As pediatric neurology continues to expand across subspecialties, identifying landmark studies is critical for understanding clinical and research priorities. Bibliometric analysis enables the evaluation of citation trends to highlight impactful contributions that have shaped the field.

Method: A bibliometric analysis of the 50 most-cited pediatric neurology articles was conducted. Articles were assessed by citation metrics, study design, subspecialty, journal impact factor (JIF), and funding status. Correlation and regression analyses evaluated associations between variables.

Results: Citation counts ranged from 185 to 1,440 …

Prevalence Of Depression Among Patients With Epilepsy In Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mothana Y. Al Jabr, Aryam M. Alenizi, Faisal S. Aleisa, Mazen A. Alghamdi, Noura I. Alfehaid, Muteb M. Alqahtani, Abbas S. Almutair

Neurosciences

Objective: To assess the pooled prevalence of depression among epilepsy patients and find the associated demographics and psychosocial factors. Mood disorders are significant comorbidity between patients diagnosed with epilepsy, adversely influencing quality of life and complicating disease management. However, the incidence, prevalence, and associated risk factors of depression in patients diagnosed with epilepsy in Saudi Arabia are not well elucidated.

Methods: This review was employed used studies retrieved from medical databases and the Saudi Digital Library. Observational and cross-sectional studies assessing depression between patients diagnosed with epilepsy in Saudi Arabia were included. Data were analyzed using the Freeman–Tukey double arcsine …

Wearable Sensor Technology And Biomechanical Gait Analysis In Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Review With Implications For The Saudi Healthcare System, Abdullah H. Alzahrani

Neurosciences

Stroke remains a major cause of disability worldwide, with gait impairment affecting up to 80% of survivors and contributing to long-term dependence, fall risk, and reduced quality of life. In Saudi Arabia, stroke incidence is rising, with a significant burden on younger populations and disparities in access to post-stroke rehabilitation services. Conventional gait analysis tools rely on expensive, specialized laboratory equipment, which limits their availability in low-resource and rural settings. Recent advances in wearable sensor technologies, including inertial measurement units, pressure insoles, and electromyography systems, offer portable, scalable, and cost-efficient options for assessing gait in real-world environments. These systems can …

Fatigue And Depression In Epilepsy Patients May Not Be Solely Related To The Epilepsy Itself, Sounira Mehri, Josef Finsterer

Neurosciences

No abstract provided.

Efficacy And Safety Of Plasma Exchange And Immunoadsorption For Acute Optic Neuritis In Patients With Demyelinating Diseases: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mehenaz A Hanbazazh, Mohammed Ridha Algethami, Abdulwahhab Omar Anbarserry, Ruba Mohammed Alghanmi, Lama Nawaf Alanazi, Ahmed Ayed N Alanazi, Bashaier Gubran Alqahtani, Mohammed Abdullah Alamri

Neurosciences

Background: Optic neuritis (ON), a common manifestation of demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), often leads to significant visual impairment. Although high-dose corticosteroids are a first-line therapy, many patients experience incomplete recovery. Apheresis therapies, including plasma exchange (PLEX) and immunoadsorption (IA), are being increasingly used as rescue treatments, but their efficacy and safety are debated.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating PLEX and IA for acute ON in patients with demyelinating diseases. Four databases were searched up to January 2025. The included …

Investigating The Patent Foramen Ovale–Migraine Link In Southern Saudi Arabia, Al-Amir Bassiouny Mohamed, Maeed Alkathiri, Saad Mushabab Ali Alqahtani, Naif H. Ali, Saima Kashif, Saad A. Alshahrani, Mohammed S. Alqahtani, Mohamed Gaber Mahmoud Gabr, Eltohami Zydan Dafalla, Basharat Hameed Zargar, Wael Qenawi, Ali Mohammed A. Alshehri, Fatimah Asiri, Ahmed Borai

Neurosciences

Objective: Migraine is a highly disabling neurological condition, and increasing attention has focused on a possible connection with patent foramen ovale (PFO).

Methods: This single-center observational study enrolled 45 individuals from January to April 2024: 30 migraine patients with PFO (Group 1) and 15 migraine patients without PFO serving as controls (Group 2). All subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography and completed standardized instruments including the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), Migraine Symptom Severity Scale (MSSS), Allodynia Symptom Checklist (ASC-12), Visual Aura Rating Scale (VARS), and Migraine Treatment Optimization Questionnaire (mTOQ-6).

Results: The participant's mean age was 37.3 ± …

(R2077) Enhancing Queue Management: Dynamic Server Allocation And Optional Services In Stochastic Modeling, G. Ayyappan, S. Sankeetha

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

Consider a queueing system with a single server, where customer arrivals follow a Markovian arrival process and service times follow a phase-type distribution. The main server has the capability to recruit an additional server when the number of customers in the system exceeds a certain threshold, denoted as L. Both servers provide normal service to customers, and optional service is provided upon request. The main server takes multiple vacations, with the durations following an exponential distribution with rate parameter η, until there is at least one customer in the system. This system can be represented as a Markov chain process, …

(R2174) A Stationary First-Order Autoregressive Process With New Discrete Lindley Marginal Distribution, Tégawendé Martin Kabore, Jean-Etienne Ouindllassida Ouédraogo

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This paper introduces a new stationary first-order autoregressive integer-valued process with a marginal distribution following the New Discrete Lindley distribution, referred to as NDLINAR( 1). The process is developed to model over-dispersed count time series exhibiting a mixed behavior arising from the combination of multiple distributions. Its statistical properties are thoroughly investigated, and the parameters are estimated using conditional maximum likelihood. The asymptotic properties of the estimators are also analyzed. The performance of the proposed model is evaluated by comparing it with other existing INAR(1) processes through applications to real datasets. Results demonstrate that the NDL-INAR(1) process effectively captures the …

(R2167) Global Stability Of Seirs Model With Single Dose Vaccination In Varying Population, Govind Jha, Prabhat Mandal, Sarita Jha

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

Understanding the evolution of infectious diseases within a dynamic population is essential for formulating effective public health strategies. This work introduces an enhanced SEIRS epidemic model that incorporates demographic variation and a single-dose vaccination strategy, supporting that immunity can be reduced over time. The model reflects diseases in which individuals may return to the susceptible state after recovery. Extending prior reduced three-dimensional models, this study develops a complete four-dimensional SEIRS framework, thereby increasing the model’s applicability to real-world scenarios. The inclusion of the full system presents greater analytical challenges. To overcome this, we extend the second additive compound matrix and …

(R2185) Operations On Bipolar Complex Neutrosophic Matrices And Its Application In Un’S Sdg-14 & Sdg-3 Using Python, N. Krishnapraveen, T. Muthuraji

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

Decision-making in sustainability oriented environments frequently involves bipolar evaluations, indeterminate information and phase dependent uncertainty that cannot be adequately represented by existing neutrosophic matrix models. To address this limitation, this study introduces a Bipolar Complex Neutrosophic Matrix (BCNM) framework that integrates bipolar semantics with complex valued uncertainty in a coherent algebraic structure. Fundamental operations and structural properties are rigorously established to ensure mathematical consistency. To facilitate practical multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA), novel score, accuracy, and hybrid aggregation operators are developed. The computational feasibility of the proposed approach is analyzed, demonstrating linear complexity with respect to the number of alternatives …

Dimensional Welfare Beyond Pain: Extending The Precautionary Principle In Birch’S “The Edge Of Sentience”, Willa M. Lane, Nicola S. Clayton

Animal Sentience

Birch's (2024) The Edge of Sentience identifies sentience candidates primarily through the pain-focused LSE Criteria. Yet, as Birch himself notes in Proposal 17, sentience is not pain. We argue that statutory welfare protections must therefore reach beyond pain, and that the right tool for doing so is Birch et al.’s (2020) dimensionality framework, which characterises conscious experience across five domains. Used together, the LSE Criteria establish that welfare is at stake, while the dimensionality framework maps what is at stake beyond pain to provide a taxon-specific profile of where captivity impoverishes experience. We apply this approach to invertebrate welfare and …

Behavioral Drafting: Defining A Field Hiding In Plain Sight, Christopher R. Trudeau

Cleveland State Law Review

Fine print is everywhere. It governs how we bank, shop, work, travel, and even receive medical care. Yet most people never read it—and those who try often give up because they are overwhelmed by technical jargon, impenetrable legal clauses, and strategically hidden terms. Still, these documents are not neutral. Every choice of wording, structure, and design quietly shapes behavior: nudging people to click “I agree,” to remain enrolled, or to give up rights they never realized they had.

This Article gives that reality a name—behavioral drafting. Borrowing insights from behavioral science, it shows how legal documents exploit well-documented tendencies to …

The Correlation Between Left Ventricular Filling Pressure And Fluid Responsiveness In Patients With Acute Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction, Ratna Mariana Tamba, Andika Sitepu, Hilfan Ade Putra Lubis, Abdul Halim Raynaldo, Cut Aryfa Andra, Andre Pasha Ketaren, Yuke Sarastri

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Background: Fluid responsiveness describes the capacity of the myocardium to raise stroke volume by at least 10% when ventricular filling is increased, consistent with the principle outlined by Frank and Starling. In patients with acute heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), elevated left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) and impaired contractility frequently place the ventricle on the flattened segment of this relationship, resulting in a limited response to preload changes. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between LVFP and fluid responsiveness in patients with acute HFrEF. Methods: This study aimed to explore the link between LVFP and fluid responsiveness using echocardiography …

Exploratory Study Of Stress Myocardial Blood Flow And Myocardial Perfusion Reserve In Relation To Cerebral Small Vessel Disease On Mri: A Hypothesis-Generating Analysis, Young Ju Kim, Tsun Hei Sin, Chi Wai Stephen Cheung, Ka Fung Henry Mak, Ming Yen Ng

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Background: Small vessel disease of the heart and brain share common risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms, but imaging-based evidence of a direct link between coronary microvascular dysfunction and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) remains limited. This study aimed to assess whether stress myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) are associated with brain magnetic resonance imaging (BMR) markers of CSVD. Methods: This retrospective study included adult patients who underwent both cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and BMR between January 2021 and December 2025 at a tertiary center. Quantitative stress MBF and MPR were assessed using adenosine stress CMR. …