Digital Commons Network^™

Likelihood-Based Inference For The Poisson–Tweedie Family, Si Chen

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis develops likelihood-based methodology for flexible modeling and inference for heterogeneous count data within and adjacent to the Poisson–Tweedie family. A mean–dispersion regression framework is introduced to jointly relate the mean and dispersion to covariates, enabling separation of covariate-driven heterogeneity from distributional parameters. Likelihood inference is implemented using recursive probability mass function evaluation, and performance is assessed through simulation and applications including RNA-sequence counts. The framework is extended to accommodate excess zeros via zero-inflated Poisson–Tweedie models, with full likelihood-based estimation and improved risk estimation illustrated using insurance claim data. Finally, boundary behaviour is investigated through the discrete stable distribution …

How To Enhance Employees’ Emotional, Cognitive, And Intentional Readiness For Retail Automation In The Fashion Retail Industry: A Mixed Pls-Sem, Nca, And Fsqca Study, Xun (Catherine) Sun, Jung Ha-Brookshire

Faculty Publications - Family and Consumer Sciences

In lieu of an abstract, this is the first paragraph of the introduction:

Retail automation, which comprises a spectrum of service solutions designed to automate manual processes, has transformed retail by enhancing both customers' experience and employees' efficiency (Benoit et al., 2024). These retail automations include smart point-of-sale (POS) systems, smart fitting rooms, RFID, AI-based retail services, and more (Le-Hoang and Loi, 2026; Schultz, 2025). Retail automation has continued to expand rapidly, with the U.S. fashion retail industry rep- resenting one of the largest and most advanced markets, driven by technological innovation, rising service labor costs, and increasing de- mand …

Push-Pull Farming System Helps Insure Smallholder Maize Production Under Climate Change, Yann Clough, Wilhelm May, Timothy Luttermoser, Dickens Nyagol, Nikolaos Alexandridis, Frank Chidawanyika, Mattias Jonsson, Charles A.O. Midega, Katja Poveda, Zeyaur R. Khan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Agroecological approaches harnessing in-field biodiversity have been highlighted as a sustainable way to reduce yield gaps, but long-term assessments of their ability to buffer production from weather extremes and increasing interannual and intraseasonal climate variability are scarce. Here, we analyze a 12-year dataset from 642 control vs. push-pull maize field pairs in western Kenya, where long-term climate trends include increasing temperatures and intensifying drought and rainfall. In push-pull, maize is intercropped with a fodder legume that improves soil fertility, suppresses weeds, and deters pests, and is bordered with fodder grasses attracting and suppressing the pests. We assess interactions between push-pull …

The Impact Of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention In Rolling-Admission Format On Mental Health Outcomes Of Adults In Residential Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder, Alice Laughlin

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Opioid use disorder is associated with serious psychological, social, and public health consequences. Co-occurring mental health difficulties further complicate recovery, underscoring the need for interventions that address psychological well-being alongside substance use. This study examined the impact of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention adapted for rolling admission (MBRP-RA) on trait mindfulness, global mental health, and abstinence self-efficacy among adults in residential treatment for opioid use disorder. Participants were randomly assigned to adjunctive MBRP-RA plus treatment as usual (MBRP+TAU) or treatment as usual (TAU) only. Two-way mixed analyses of variance indicated significant treatment condition × time point interactions for trait mindfulness and global …

How Traditional And Social Media Shapes Public Perception Of United States Surpeme Court Decisions On Civil Liberties, Leila P. Martin

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study examines how traditional and social medai shape public perception of U.S. Supreme Court decisions on Civil liberties, focusing on four landmark cases: Dobbs v. Jackson, District of Columbia v. Heller, Materpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, and Obergfell v. Hodges. Using Entmans framing theory, the research analyzes how tone, language, emphasis, and ideological slant differ across media platofrms and how these frames infleunce public attitudes, insitutional trust, and civic understanding. A mixed-methods design combines archival media analysis, national polling data from Pew Rsearch Center and gallup, and an independent survery to asses how media narratives, rather than …

The Effect Of Hormone Replacement Therapy On Osteoporosis And Osteoporotic Fracture Risk In Postmenopausal Women: A Clinical Review, Keeley E. Benfield

The PA Department Journal of Medical Science

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a silent yet devastating skeletal disease disproportionately affecting postmenopausal women, increasing risk for debilitating fractures, loss of independence, and premature mortality. After menopause, estrogen declines causing rapid acceleration of bone loss, making early intervention critical. This clinical review evaluates whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) reduces the risk of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women compared to no HRT.

Methods: PubMed was searched using terms including “Hormone Replacement Therapy,” “postmenopausal women,” “osteoporosis,” “bone mineral density,” and “fractures,” combined with MeSH terms and Boolean operators. Filters limited results to English, free full text randomized controlled trials …

The Effects Of Non-Pharmacologic Interventions On Glycemic Control In Type 1 Diabetes And Anxiety: A Clinical Review, Samuel Merr

The PA Department Journal of Medical Science

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) carries significant psychological burden, including elevated rates of anxiety and diabetes-related distress. Both of these have been linked to worse glycemic control and outcomes. The purpose of this clinical review is to evaluate the current evidence on whether non-pharmacologic interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness-based interventions (MBI), are associated with meaningful reductions in HbA1c in adults with T1D and elevated anxiety.

Methods: PubMed was searched using key terms including “type 1 diabetes,” “anxiety,” “non-pharmacologic interventions,” and “glycemic control,” with MeSH terms and Boolean operators applied. …

Prescribing Prevention: The Impact Of Non-Pharmacological Intervention Versus Medication On Maternal Mortality, Sheris Cox

The PA Department Journal of Medical Science

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia, are one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the world. The purpose of this literature review is to evaluate the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions, including supervised exercise, Mediterranean dietary patterns, and mindfulness-based therapies, in reducing and preventing HDPs and maternal mortality overall. A review of the current literature was conducted using PubMed, with a final search using the terms “preeclampsia,” “exercise,” “stress reduction,” and “maternal mortality.” With the use of certain filters applied to the search, results were condensed to 10 articles for review. Of the articles reviewed, it was found …

Orthosis Versus Surgical Repair Outcomes Of Developmental Dysplasia Of The Hip In Children, Avery G. Hays

The PA Department Journal of Medical Science

Introduction:

            Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is one of the most common orthopedic malformations in children. Late detection of DDH can lead to more invasive treatment, higher risk of treatment related complications, and long-term sequelae like early onset osteoarthritis. The purpose of this clinical review is to analyze current treatments for DDH and provide a rationale for individualized treatment decisions and future implications.

Methods:

            A PubMed search was preformed using a specific strategy with key terms “developmental dysplasia of the hip,” “orthosis,” “surgical reduction,” and “complications.” Boolean operators and filters were used to narrow the results to 6 relevant, …

Prevention Of Chronic Migraine With Injection Medications: Onabotulinumtoxina Vs Monoclonal Antibodies, Jillian Jesser

The PA Department Journal of Medical Science

Introduction: Adults diagnosed with chronic migraine (CM) frequently experience severe pain, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, and blurred vision. All of which are not conducive to routine daily functioning. The purpose of this review article is to explore the efficacy of preventative medications for CM such as OnabotulinumtoxinA injections (onabotA) and calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAbs).

Methods: PubMed was searched using “OnabotulinumtoxinA,” “chronic migraines,” and “monoclonal antibodies”, and related branch terms. The 263 results of this search were reduced to 20 with the following filters: published date 2020-2025, randomized controlled trials (RTCs), systematic review, meta-analysis, free …

A Policy Analysis Of Accountability And Governance In Journalism By Artificial Intelligence (Ai) In Egypt, Amira Ahmed Salama

Theses and Dissertations

The growing use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and AI-assisted tools in journalism raises governance questions concerning accountability, human oversight, transparency, verification, editorial responsibility, and implementation. In Egypt, these issues arise within an emerging but fragmented governance environment that includes national AI guidance, media regulation, professional self-regulation, and developing newsroom practices. This study examines how these arrangements can be integrated into a coherent national sector-specific policy framework for GenAI and AI-assisted journalism.

The study adopts a qualitative methodology combining a descriptive qualitative document analysis with stakeholder semi-structured interviews. Four governance instruments were analyzed: the Council of Europe’s Guidelines on the …

Grievability Of The Abject As Narrated By Exiles, Sylvia Azmy

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes two novels: Inaam Kachachi’s Sawaqi al-Qulub (2005) and Shady Lewis’s ʿAla Khatt Grinitsh (2019), to understand the relationships between figures of migration, as the exile narrates his encounters with refugees. It uses Julia Kristeva’s Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection (1980) and Judith Butler’s Frames of War: When Is Life Grievable? (2009) as theoretical frameworks to examine the deaths of refugees and their corpses (utmost of abjection) in the two novels. Scholars have argued that the literature of forced migration is becoming more inclusive than migration narratives, a term that has focused on student travelers, exilic …

Sexual Di(Et)Morphism: Using Experimental Evolution To Test Whether Resource Partitioning Promotes Divergence Of The Sexes In Drosophila Melanogaster, Owen A. Jamieson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Sexual dimorphism has been a long-studied phenomenon in the field of evolutionary biology. Usually, these differences in morphology, physiology and/or behaviour between the sexes are studied through the parsimonious lens of sexual selection. However, there are natural history cases where this lens does not seem applicable. Some species show sex specific morphological traits whose presence may not be due to a direct benefit to reproduction, but a difference in how each sex interacts with the environment and differing selective pressures from the environment on either sex. Darwin even brought up examples of this kind of dimorphism and pondered their existence, …

Pathways Of Influence: Indigenous Peoples’ Agency And Leadership In Arctic Governance, Justin Barnes

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

For the peoples and communities who have lived in the Arctic since time immemorial, Arctic governance is not only about international cooperation, environmental management, or geopolitical competition. It is also about sustaining and advocating for Indigenous livelihoods, relationships with land and water, rights and responsibilities, and opportunities for future generations – all themes directly affected by political decisions made across local, regional, national, and international levels. This dissertation begins from a central question about how Indigenous Peoples exercise their agency and influence in Arctic governance despite operating within an international system largely organized around states. It examines this phenomenon by …

Supporting Bibliodiversity And Access Through Library Resource Sharing, J. Silvia Cho

Publications and Research

Librarians, with their core values of access, intellectual freedom, stewardship and democracy, share bibliodiversity advocates’ vision of an eco-social system of diverse cultures and reading as a democratic and emancipatory practice. Librarians bolster bibliodiversity by collecting inclusively, critically reviewing and decolonizing library collections, and centering access. Building on previous discussions on the role of open access in strengthening bibliodiversity, this paper acknowledges and articulates how interlibrary loan and library resource sharing also support bibliodiversity. Doing so is important to augment advocacy and support for these services. Advancing solutions to challenges in resource sharing means also advancing towards bibliodiversity goals, supporting …

Optimizing Human Fcrn Mouse Models To Improve Pharmacokinetic Evaluation Of Antibody Drug Candidates., Gregory J. Christianson, Zachary M Howard, Samantha Kenney, Emily Lowell, Nijaguna Bethur, Derry C. Roopenian, Elena Gonzalo-Gil

Faculty Research 2026

The use of animal models that can reliably predict drug performance in human patients is critical to antibody therapeutic development. Along with assessing toxicity and efficacy, determining the pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of therapeutics in Tg32 and Tg276 mice is essential to preclinical characterization. While Tg32 mice have been well established as indispensable in their ability to model the PK properties of antibody therapeutics, their intact immunity leaves them capable of mounting anti-drug antibody responses that interfere with PK interpretation. Here, we demonstrate the negative impact anti-drug responses can have on PK parameters derived from Tg32 mice, and provide strong evidence …

Optimizing Human Fcrn Mouse Models To Improve Pharmacokinetic Evaluation Of Antibody Drug Candidates., Gregory J. Christianson, Zachary M Howard, Samantha Kenney, Emily Lowell, Nijaguna Bethur, Derry C. Roopenian, Elena Gonzalo-Gil

Faculty Research 2026

The use of animal models that can reliably predict drug performance in human patients is critical to antibody therapeutic development. Along with assessing toxicity and efficacy, determining the pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of therapeutics in Tg32 and Tg276 mice is essential to preclinical characterization. While Tg32 mice have been well established as indispensable in their ability to model the PK properties of antibody therapeutics, their intact immunity leaves them capable of mounting anti-drug antibody responses that interfere with PK interpretation. Here, we demonstrate the negative impact anti-drug responses can have on PK parameters derived from Tg32 mice, and provide strong evidence …

Study On The Concept And Framework Of Synergy Between Mitigation And Adaptation, Xianchun Tan

Double Helix Methodology

Carbon neutrality and the Global Goal on Adaptation jointly drive the integration of mitigation and adaptation; however, a clear conceptual and analytical framework for their synergy remains absent. This study first examines the components of mitigation and adaptation, and analyzes the mechanisms through which they interact. It then explores the fundamental principles underlying the synergy between mitigation and adaptation, and construct a corresponding analytical framework. It emphasizes that mitigation and adaptation are mutually influential, providing a foundation for achieving synergy. Furthermore, synergy should be promoted in the five aspects of objectives, regions, sectors, pathways, and policies—and follows the logic of …

Toward Mapping Multiphase Multicomponent Mixtures With Neural Networks, Kristen L. Hallas, Melissa De Jesus, Christine J. Wu, Jianzhi Li, Jason Bernstein, Philip C. Myint

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Equation of state (EOS) tables are commonly used in hydrodynamic simulations of high-pressure, high-temperature phenomena in fields like planetary science, astrophysics, and high-energy-density science. However, generating and storing EOS tables for multiphase, multicomponent mixtures over a wide range of pressures and temperatures is computationally infeasible due to their memory-intensive nature. To address this issue, we have developed a neural network-based machine learning model to predict new EOS tables for binary mixtures. In particular, a deep feedforward neural network trained on a set of ten EOS tables at particular mixture compositions is able to predict nine new (hold-out) EOS tables at …

When Probiotics Guidelines Differ: A Practical Guide For Clinicians And Researchers, Geoffrey A Preidis, Hania Szajewska, Marla Cunningham, Howard Bauchner, Daniel J Merenstein

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Many professional organizations publish clinical practice guidelines for the use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disorders. Generally, no two guidelines align perfectly, and some differ markedly. These discrepancies occur because clinical practice guidelines are not purely mechanical outputs of data synthesis. They are shaped by structured interpretation, value judgments, and predefined thresholds for uncertainty. These elements become particularly visible when effect sizes are small, heterogeneity is high, and outcomes vary in clinical relevance-as is the case with probiotic research. This article examines why discordance among probiotic guidelines is predictable and provides practical guidance for clinicians who must decide among conflicting recommendations …

Limosilactobacillus Reuteri Promotes Melatonin Release From Human Intestinal Organoids Via 5′Ectonucleotidase Activity, Micah D Forshee, Erika J Nachman, Esha R Shenoy, Heather A Danhof, Ludwig Ermann Lundberg, Stefan Roos, Robert A Britton

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Strains of Limosilactobacillus reuteri have been used to prevent or treat various conditions; however, the mechanisms by which they exert beneficial effects are not completely understood. Infant colic is one example in which L. reuteri DSM 17938 reduces clinical symptoms. While the etiology of colic is unknown, abnormal melatonin levels in infants have been suggested as a possible contributor. L. reuteri DSM 17938 has been shown to produce adenosine from AMP via production of the extracellular enzyme 5′ectonucleotidase (5′NT). Adenosine is a potent signaling molecule that impacts several important aspects of host physiology, including the release of melatonin from the …

Using Randomization To Compare Ai And Expert-Generated Formative Assessment Questions In Medical Education, Akshat Kumar, Katie Stinson, Litao Wang, Elizabeth Nugent, Yongsu Lee, Mark Hormann, Latanya Jones Love, Toufeeq Ahmed Syed

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: AI-generated content is being used across the education spectrum and is beneficial for creating complex multiple-choice questions, such as those used in medical education. However, evaluating AI-generated content is challenging, and existing testing and evaluation methods are falling short. This study uses randomization to compare medical students' performance on and subjective evaluation of AI versus expert-generated questions. We hypothesized that there would be no difference in student performance or subjective evaluation of AI vs expert-generated questions.

Methods: We designed a single-center, randomized study where medical student participants received either one AI- or expert-generated question per day over four weeks. …

Diagnostic Delays In Endometriosis Among Reproductive-Aged Women: An Evidence-Based Primary Care Policy Proposal, Francis P. Ronayne

Capstones

No abstract provided.

Trends In The Utilization Of Metaverse Technology In Media Content Production:A Second-Level Study Of The Arab Experience, Amal Nabil Badr, Tarek Ismail Mohamed, Nassereldin Abdel Qadir Osman

Journal of Arts and Social Sciences

The research problem is defined through a main question: How did Arab studies discuss the interactions of the Arab media experience with metaverse technology and supporting tools, the limits and levels of current and future use of this technology in Arab media institutions, and how did the quantitative and qualitative trends in these studies reflect the applied aspect in using metaverse technology and related tools in media content industry? The research relies on the secondary analysis methodology of the results reached by studies that dealt with the analysis of A sample of (30 studies) from 2015 until 2023. The results …

Thermal Modelling And Numerical Simulation Of Nanofluid-Based Battery Thermal Management System Using Lattice Boltzmann Method Under High Discharge Rate, Bahram Mahjoobkarambasti, Barun K. Das, Hussein A. Mohammed, Iftekhar Ahmad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Effective battery thermal management systems (BTMS) are essential to ensure performance, safety, and lifetime of lithium-ion battery packs in electric vehicles, especially under high charge/discharge conditions. In this regard, this study investigates a nanofluid-based cooling system for a battery module operating under 5C discharge rate. Batteries in a module are placed in a wavy cooling channel, and the proposed design is analysed for different parameters, including coolant mass flow rate (0.002 to 0.05 kg/s), nanoparticle volume fraction (0 to 0.04), battery spacing (0 to 5 mm) and channel width (4, 5 and 6 mm). For the numerical simulation, a two-dimensional …

Improving Adherence To The Ticket-To-Test C. Difficile Protocol In A Medical-Surgical Microsystem, Georgette Marie D. Lim

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Poor adherence to the ticket-to-test protocol on the 3 South unit led to unnecessary C. difficile testing, inappropriate isolation, and workflow variation. These issues mirror national concerns about over-testing and misdiagnosis, which can inflate hospital‑onset C. difficile rates and increase costs.

Context: This project was implemented on a medical‑surgical unit, a team with a strong culture of collaboration, education, and engagement in quality improvement. The unit benefits from structured oversight through the C. difficile committee, which reports to the performance improvement team.

Interventions: The Institute for Healthcare Improvement Model for Improvement guided four PDSA cycles, with …

From State To Nation: A Federal Framework For Breast Cancer Primary Prevention Informed By California's Paths To Prevention, Serena Padda

Master's Projects and Capstones

The United States’ federal government should adopt a primary prevention framework for breast cancer modeled after Breast Cancer Prevention Partners’ (BCPP) Paths to Prevention: the California Breast Cancer Primary Prevention Plan. The plan focuses on systemic actions to reduce breast cancer risk through a social and racial justice lens. Breast cancer is the leading diagnosed cancer among women in the United States, with incidence rates increasing annually by 1% since 2012. Disparities persist in communities disproportionately burdened by chemical and environmental exposures, contributing to unequal and preventable risk. Current federal policy focuses primarily on secondary prevention through screenings, which does …

Nourishing Births: A Program Evaluation Proposal For Community-Based Nutrition Education, Food Access, And Garden Engagement Among Black Birthing People, Naa Deedei-Vera Hammond

Master's Projects and Capstones

Black birthing people in the United States continue to experience unequal maternal health outcomes, shaped in part by racism and barriers to nutritious food, culturally relevant health education, and supportive community spaces. While prenatal nutrition education and food assistance programs can provide important resources, information alone cannot address the challenges many people face when trying to access healthy and affordable food during pregnancy. The Nourishing Births Initiative is a proposed community-based maternal health program designed to respond to these needs by bringing together prenatal nutrition education, help connecting to food resources, community gardening, and peer support for Black birthing people …

Reducing Acute Healthcare Services With Self-Management Of Blood Pressure Monitoring Through Remote Patient Monitoring For Hypertensive Patients A Quality Improvement Project, Becky J. Wagner

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Hypertension (HTN) affects nearly half of U.S. adults and remains a leading cause of preventable emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and healthcare costs due to poor blood pressure (BP) control (Fryar et al., 2024; Mullins et al., 2019). Traditional care models often lack the continuous monitoring and timely intervention needed for effective chronic disease management. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) provides an innovative approach by delivering real-time BP data, enabling early clinical intervention, and encouraging patient engagement in self-management (Omboni et al., 2020).

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project evaluated the effectiveness of an RPM intervention in reducing acute healthcare …

Impact Of Implementing Standard Wound Care Guidelines For Patients In The Home Care Setting On Patient Outcomes, Raymond Anthony Flores Jr

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Wound care is among the most significant public health concerns, affecting millions of people worldwide. Most individuals with wounds end up self-managing their condition from their homes due to being discharged early from the hospital, owing to various reasons, and the costs associated with health care. Although home wound management offers convenience and lower costs for patients, it is also associated with substantial challenges, including limited access to and use of appropriate care protocols, wound management tools, and sufficient education on the topic, as well as limited professional advice. These limitations contribute to poor outcomes, including slow healing rates, infections, …