Digital Commons Network^™

Leveraging Blockchain Technology To Revamp The Vehicle Electrification Journey: Perspectives Of Accountability And Economic Circularity, Eva Escobar Brown

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The automotive industry is undergoing a significant transition accelerated by global emission regulations for a phase out of internal combustion engines (ICEs) and a transition toward the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). While regulatory measures and incentivized adoption for EVs presents opportunities for reducing emissions and promoting sustainability, it also poses complex challenges. The EV industry faces potential production challenges, particularly in the sourcing, manufacturing, and lifecycle management of critical minerals and raw materials for electric vehicle batteries (EVBs). With a heavy reliance on a steady and diversified supply of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements, …

Self-Care Habits And Burnout Among County Social Workers On The Central Coast Of California, Jaclyn Boyd, Denise Ojeda

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Burnout, stress, and retention challenges have become pervasive issues among social workers in Child Welfare Services. The experience of stress and burnout can profoundly impact a worker's physical health and overall well-being. Implementing self-care practices, which involve attending to one's health and well-being through activities such as exercise, spiritual engagement, and hobbies, can effectively mitigate feelings of stress and burnout, fostering a positive impact on individuals. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between reported stress levels and self-care habits among Child Welfare Services social workers in two counties on California's central coast. To gather relevant data, …

Machismo: The Impact It Has On Hispanic Male College Students Receiving Mental Health Services, Sara Barillas, Alexander Aguirre

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Machismo is an ideology held within the Hispanic community that endorses the expression of men’s dominance and power as well as aspects of bravery, honor, dominance, and reserved emotions. Higher rates of belief in machismo are connected to higher post-traumatic distress, stress, and depression. The goal of the study is to determine to what extent Machismo has an impact on male Hispanic college students’ beliefs about mental illness and their willingness to seek help. The following is a quantitative study. This study utilized male college students enrolled in the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work programs. Additional …

A Comparative Analysis Of Body Modification Biases In The Mental Health Field, Lonese Ramsey

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Societal norms continue to shift and challenge our thoughts and beliefs. The notion of the standards of professionalism has evolved to assimilate to the steady progression in the field of mental health. However, change is not typically readily accepted by everyone. This is evident in the noticeable differences in the experiences of people from different generations. Unquestionably, body modifications are becoming increasingly popular throughout mainstream society. This shift has invariably impacted the landscape of professionalism and beliefs and values that are held true in the mental health profession. Limited studies have been conducted to identify if any correlations exist between …

Program Evaluation Of School-Based Mental Health Counseling Services, Yvette Torres, Emily Ann Rodriguez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study evaluated the effectiveness of school-based mental health (SBMH) services from a mental and behavioral health program at a School District in Southern California, specifically counseling services, on academic performance and attendance for K-12 students. This study targets students from minority groups and low-income families, who often face unmet mental health needs. This research fills a gap in the literature regarding the effectiveness of SBMH counseling services on academic success by analyzing data from 151 participants (N = 151) collected via the school district’s electronic systems, focusing on program enrollment during the 2022-2023 academic year. Utilizing the pretest-posttest design, …

Through The Lens Of Families And Staff In Emergency Shelters, Elizabeth Barcenas

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research study explored the effectiveness that emergency shelters have on families transitioning into stable housing by gathering the perspectives of a former client and a staff member from a shelter in Riverside County. This research study utilized a qualitative approach, interviewing participants one-on-one from the shelter with open-ended questions. The themes that emerged during the study were the perspectives of the shelter, the barriers and challenges families face, and the services and support received within the shelter.

The study provides insight into the shelter, the challenges families face, the services offered, what’s working, and areas for improvement through the …

Surrogacy And It's Effects On The Mental Health Of The Gestational Carrier, Dayjahne Haywood

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Objective: This study examines the process of surrogacy and the effects it has on the gestational carrier's mental health during the pregnancy as well as after. While previous studies have highlighted the positive impact surrogacy has on the intended families and parents, there are few studies exploring the experiences of women who participate in the selfless act of baring another person's child. My study explores and addresses the risks (health and mental health), the screening process, and the ethical issues associated with the surrogacy process. Additionally, I investigate the impact of familial, community, the intended parent(s) support has on the …

Addressing Rural Mental Health Crises: An Alternative To Police, Faith Ann Weatheral-Block

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

There has been an increase in contacts between law enforcement and people with mental illness since the start of deinstitutionalization in the 1960s. When law enforcement officers respond to crisis calls without the proper training, the likelihood of that interaction ending fatally is far greater. The purpose of this study is to determine mental health professionals' readiness to serve as an alternative to law enforcement in addressing mental health crises in rural areas. Using the nonprobability sampling methods of convenience and snowball, this exploratory qualitative study involved semi- structured interviews with 10 adult mental health professionals from various backgrounds in …

Crash Detecting System Using Deep Learning, Yogesh Reddy Muddam

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Accidents pose a significant risk to both individual and property safety, requiring effective detection and response systems. This work introduces an accident detection system using a convolutional neural network (CNN), which provides an impressive accuracy of 86.40%. Trained on diverse data sets of images and videos from various online sources, the model exhibits complex accident detection and classification and is known for its prowess in image classification and visualization.

CNN ensures better accident detection in various scenarios and road conditions. This example shows its adaptability to a real-world accident scenario and enhances its effectiveness in detecting early events. A key …

The Rise Of Christian Nationalism: Government And Religion In The Reagan Era And Beyond, Daniela L. Bedolla

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis examines why the relationship between government and religion should remain separated. By focusing on The Cold War and Ronald Reagan’s presidency (1981-1989), this thesis demonstrates Reagan’s administration marked a modern pointing that led to the rise of Christian Nationalism in American politics. The Cold War initially started modeling the puzzle pieces of what Christian Nationalism became, however it was during Regan’s presidency that the American public began to see white Evangelical religious leaders take prominent federal positions, the frequent use of different religious opportunistic tactics in presidential and governmental campaigns and witness religious rhetoric influence domestic as well …

Impact Of Resource Scarcity On Undocumented Students In Higher Education, Sebastian Melendez Lopez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Much progress has been made in understanding the impacts of identifying as an undocumented student in higher education, but knowledge of the scarcity of resources impacting undocumented students remains limited. Objective: This descriptive study examined the relationship between accessibility to social support and the psychological well-being of undocumented students in higher education. Methods: Quantitative data was gathered cross-sectionally from participants recruited using nonprobability sampling methods. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and Social Support Survey Scale were used to gather data on participants' psychological distress and social support. A descriptive analysis was performed to yield summary statistics of participants’ demographics, …

Photon Irradation And Cisplatin Enrich Cancer Stem Cells In Ovarian Cancer, Ashley Antonissen

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) has a 5-year survival rate of less than 50%. Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest gynecological diseases and the 7th most common female cancer worldwide. Ovarian cancer patients generally have a poor prognosis despite the relatively successful treatments. When conventional cancer treatments, such as cisplatin chemotherapy and photon irradiation, are administered, residual cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) can survive, leading to CSC enrichment. CSCs are a small population of cancer cells that exhibit stem-like characteristics: quiescence (slowing of the cell cycle), differentiation, proliferation, and self-renewal to regenerate new CSCs. We hypothesized that providing cancer …

Lgbtq+ College Students Hopeful Future Expectations, Savannah Hull

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background- The LGBTQ+ community has seen a recent rise in policies and bills that limit or take away rights, including those that limit access to gender-affirming healthcare and remove LGBTQ+ education from schools. These policies have been difficult for the LGBTQ+ community. Objective- The aim of this study was to compare the difference between cishet (cisgender heterosexual) college students levels of hope and LGBTQ+ college students levels of hope, specifically hope in relation to their futures. Methods- This study utilized a cross-sectional design. Qualtrics surveys were distributed and participants answered questions using the Hopeful Future Expectations scale in order to …

Art Therapy For Bereaved Siblings After Pediatric Cancer Death, Daniela Ramirez-Ibarra

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Children and adolescents whose siblings die due to pediatric cancer are at an increased risk for several mental health issues and high risky behavior engagement. There is currently very little literature on the topic of a sibling’s grief despite its potentially critical and persisting consequences. Through qualitative research in analyzing art projects made by bereaved siblings, this is an exploratory study of how an art program may help bereaved or grieving children access their feelings using a non verbal modality of expression. The research study was conducted at a community-based non-profit organization which focuses on supporting families of children with …

Things That Are Long, Frankie Gutierrez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Bigfoot has become an important motif for Frankie Gutierrez, especially since his transition in 2021. The characters in this exhibition showcase the deeply personal exploration of transness and non-mainstream trans identities, the in-depth observations of others, and their interactions with transgender people. He compares transness to the likeness of bigfoot, typically an elusive and hard-to-find character that everyone suspects, but has rarely been seen. Evidence of their existence surrounds us, but only those with open minds can truly see them. The characters in this show look like you and me, and no one at all. This exhibition is not meant …

Effects Of Process-Induced Defects On The Corrosion Of Additively Manufactured Stainless Steel 304l, Leila Saberi, Frank W. Liou, Mehdi Amiri

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Study Investigates the Impact of Process-Induced Defects Such as Gas Pores, Lack of Fusions, and Surface Roughness on Corrosion Behavior of Stainless Steel 304L (SS304L) Fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing. Specimens Are Printed with Optimized Process Parameters but Selected from Different Locations on the Build Plate. Parallel and Perpendicular Surfaces to the Build Direction Are Investigated and Compared with Corrosion Properties of Wrought SS304L in 5 Wt% NaCl. the Results Reveal Significant Difference in Corrosion Behavior among Specimens Due to Variations in their Defect Features. Pitting Potential, Pit Initiation, and Growth Rates Are Found to Be …

Agriculture 4.0 And Beyond: Evaluating Cyber Threat Intelligence Sources And Techniques In Smart Farming Ecosystems, Hang T. Bui, Hamed Aboutorab, Arash Mahboubi, Yansong Gao, Nazatul H. Sultan, Aufeef Chauhan, Mohammad Z. Parvez, Michael Bewong, Rafiqul Islam, Zahid Islam, Seyit A. Camtepe, Praveen Gauravaram, Dineshkumar Singh, M. A. Babar, Shihao Yan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The digitisation of agriculture, integral to Agriculture 4.0, has brought significant benefits while simultaneously escalating cybersecurity risks. With the rapid adoption of smart farming technologies and infrastructure, the agricultural sector has become an attractive target for cyberattacks. This paper presents a systematic literature review that assesses the applicability of existing cyber threat intelligence (CTI) techniques within smart farming infrastructures (SFIs). We develop a comprehensive taxonomy of CTI techniques and sources, specifically tailored to the SFI context, addressing the unique cyber threat challenges in this domain. A crucial finding of our review is the identified need for a virtual Chief Information …

The Association Between Nurse Staffing And Quality Of Care In Emergency Departments: A Systematic Review, Jonathan Drennan, Ashling Murphy, Vera J. C. Mccarthy, Jane Ball, Christine Duffield, Robert Crouch, Gearoid Kelly, Croia Loughnane, Aileen Murphy, Josephine Hegarty, Noeleen Brady, Anne Scott, Peter Griffiths

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The relationship between nurse staffing, skill-mix and quality of care has been well-established in medical and surgical settings, however, there is relatively limited evidence of this relationship in emergency departments. Those that have been published identified that lower nurse staffing levels in emergency departments are generally associated with worse outcomes with the conclusion that the evidence in emergency settings was, at best, weak. Methods: We searched thirteen electronic databases for potentially eligible papers published in English up to December 2023. Studies were included if they reported on patient outcomes associated with nurse staffing within emergency departments. Observational, cross-sectional, prospective, …

What Accounts For The Effect Of Sustainability Engagement On Stock Price Crash Risk During The Covid-19 Pandemic—Agency Theory Or Legitimacy Theory?, Junru Zhang, Chen Zheng, Yuan G. Shan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In this study, we conduct a textual analysis of the third-party disclosure of corporate sustainability news focused on the Standard and Poor's 500 firms in the United States market during the first and second quarter of 2020. We find a positive relationship between corporate sustainability news release and firm-specific stock price crash risk. This finding is surprising, but it indeed aligns with agency theory. It indicates that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated the tendency of managers under increasing financial pressure to use the sustainability information release as a mechanism to mask and withhold bad news for extended periods at …

Are We Asking The Right Questions To People With Achilles Tendinopathy? The Best Questions To Distinguish Mild Versus Severe Disability To Improve Your Clinical Management, Myles C. Murphy, Brady Green, Igor S. Amundarain, Robert J. De Vos, Ebonie K. Rio

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Determine the capacity of individual items on the Tendinopathy Severity Assessment – Achilles (TENDINS-A), Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), and Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment – Achilles (VISA-A) to differentiate patients with mild and severe tendon-related disability in order to provide clinicians the best questions when they are consulting patients with Achilles tendinopathy. Design: Cross-sectional. Participants: Seventy participants with Achilles tendinopathy (61.4% mid-portion only, 31.4% insertional only, 7.2% both). Outcome measures: The discrimination index was determined for each TENDINS-A, FAOS, and VISA-A item to determine if items could discriminate between mild and severe disability. A Guttman analysis for …

Coal Cleat Network Stimulation Through A Combination Of Acidizing And Liquid Nitrogen Fracturing, Mohsen Farrokhrouz, Hamed Akhondzadeh, Yongfei Yang, Faisal U. R. Awan, Stefan Iglauer, Maxim Lebedev, Alireza Keshavarz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Gas extraction from Coal Bed Methane has proved challenging mainly due to the low permeability of coals. This study investigated a combination of 2 stimulation techniques, Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) fracturing and acidizing, to increase pore structure and cleat network connectivity in coals. Microcomputed Tomography ( -CT) scanning results suggested that a combination of those 2 applications, in either sequence of implementation, has substantial potential in recovering mineralized fractures and inducing new fractures; thus, leading to wide-open cleat networks. X-ray images show that if LN2 fracturing of coal is preceded by acidizing, the stimulation efficiency increases from more than double the …

Potency Assay To Predict The Anti-Inflammatory Capacity Of A Cell Therapy Product For Macrophage-Driven Diseases: Overcoming The Challenges Of Assay Development And Validation, Samar Sadeghi, Laura Nimtz, Elke Niebergall-Roth, Alexandra Norrick, Stefan Hägele, Lena Vollmer, Jasmina Esterlechner, Markus H. Frank, Christoph Ganss, Karin Scharffetter-Kochanek, Mark A. Kluth

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Given the high level of product complexity and limited regulatory guidance, designing and implementing appropriate potency assays is often the most challenging part of establishing a quality control testing matrix for a cell-based medicinal product. Among the most elusive tasks are the selection of suitable read-out parameters, the development of assay designs that most closely model the pathophysiological conditions, and the validation of the methods. Here we describe these challenges and how they were addressed in developing an assay that measures the anti-inflammatory potency of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in an M1 macrophage-dominated inflammatory environment. Methods: An in vitro …

The Effect Of Methylene Blue On Stearic Acid-Aged Quartz/Co2/Brine Wettability: Implications For Co2 Geo-Storage, Fatemah Alhammad, Mujahid Ali, Nurudeen P. Yekeen, Muhammad Ali, Hussein Hoteit, Stefan Iglauer, Alireza Keshavarz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Carbon dioxide sequestration in geological formations has been proposed as a promising solution to reach net zero carbon emissions but the success of underground CO2 storage in sandstone formations depends on the brine/CO2 wettability of sandstone. Research evidence showed that natural geological formation is hydrophobic even in the presence of minute concentration of inherent organic acids. This study investigates the effect of methylene blue (MB) on CO2 wettability of organic-acid contaminated quartz through the tilted plate contact angle measurement method. Pure quartz substrates were aged in a stearic acid/n-decane solution for one week and subsequently modified with different concentrations of …

Diagnostic Performance Of The Ggt/Hdl-C Ratio For Nafld In Adults With Obesity Undergoing Bariatric Surgery, Renzo Pajuelo-Vasquez, Jerry K. Benites-Meza, Hilda V. Durango-Chavez, Gustavo Salinas-Sedo, Carlos J. Toro-Huamanchumo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most frequent liver disease, closely related with metabolic risk factors such as obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. In this context, -Glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) have shown correlations with steatosis severity and metabolic syndrome, respectively. This positions the GGT/HDL-C ratio as a potential diagnostic indicator for NAFLD. Objective: To assess the diagnostic performance of the GGT/HDL-C ratio for NAFLD in adults with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. Methods: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study, designed as a diagnostic test evaluation. A secondary database of 249 …

A Photocrosslinkable And Hemostatic Bilayer Wound Dressing Based On Gelatin Methacrylate Hydrogel And Polyvinyl Alcohol Foam For Skin Regeneration, Asghar Eskandarinia, Mohammad H. Morowvat, Seyyed V. Niknezhad, Moloud Amini Baghbadorani, Martin Michálek, Si Chen, Mohammad M. Nemati, Manica Negahdaripour, Reza Heidari, Amir Azadi, Younes Ghasemi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The enormous potential of multifunctional bilayer wound dressings in various medical interventions for wound healing has led to decades of exploration into this field of medicine. However, it is usually difficult to synthesize a single hydrogel with all the required capabilities simultaneously. This paper proposes a bilayer model with an outer layer intended for hydrogel wound treatment. By adding gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and tannic acid (TA) to the hydrogel composition and using polyvinyl alcohol-carboxymethyl chitosan (PVA-CMCs) foam layer as supports, a photocrosslinkable hydrogel with an optimal formulation was created. The hydrogels were then examined using a range of analytical procedures, …

The Cooling Impact Of Urban Greening: A Systematic Review Of Methodologies And Data Sources, Saman Galalizadeh, Angus Morrison-Saunders, Pierre Horwitz, Richard Silberstein, David Blake

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Urban greening is a practical adaptation to improve the liveability of a city by providing urban cooling. This paper systematically evaluates the existing literature to understand the methodologies and associated data sources for determining the cooling effect provided by urban greening. A bibliometric analysis, including research focus parallelship network analysis and keyword co-occurrence network analysis using Gephi and BibExcel, was first performed on 156 articles to identify the main resulting research themes in cooling provided by UGAs. Subsequently, 72 of these were selected to extract more information, such as the focus, the measured parameters, the methods, and tools employed to …

Accuracy Testing Of Different Methods For Estimating Weibull Parameters Of Wind Energy At Various Heights Above Sea Level, Sajid Ali, Hongbae Park, Adnan Aslam Noon, Aamer Sharif, Daeyong Lee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Weibull algorithm is one of the most accurate tools for forecasting and estimating wind energy potential. Two main parameters of the Weibull algorithm are the ‘Weibull shape’ and ‘Weibull scale’ factors. There are six different numerical methods to estimate the two Weibull parameters. These six methods are the empirical method of Justus (method 1), the empirical method of Lysen (method 2), the maximum likelihood method (method 3), the modified maximum likelihood method (method 4), the energy pattern factor method (method 5) and the graphical method (method 6). Many commercial wind energy software programs use the Weibull algorithm, and these …

Association Between Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase To Hdl-Cholesterol (Ggt/Hdl-C) Ratio And Metabolic Syndrome Resolution After Sleeve Gastrectomy, Melanni L. Lizarbe-Lezama, Jhoel E. Rodriguez-Macedo, Daniel Fernandez-Guzman, Ana L. Alcantara-Diaz, Gustavo Salinas-Sedo, Carlos J. Toro-Huamanchumo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between GGT/HDL-C ratio and resolution of MetS in adults after sleeve gastrectomy (SG). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using secondary data from a Peruvian bariatric center. The study population consisted of adults aged 18 and above who underwent laparoscopic SG and were diagnosed with MetS prior to the surgery. The main outcome measured was MetS resolution 6 months post-surgery and the exposure variable was the GGT/HDL-C ratio. RESULTS: We analyzed 137 patients with a mean age of 38.9 ± 10.9 years; 64.2% were females. The median GGT/HDL-C ratio was 1.1 [0.7 - 1.5], …

Association Of Body Iron Stores And Anemia In A Ghanaian Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Population: A Multicentered Cross-Sectional Study, Wina I.O. Boadu, William K.B.A. Owiredu, Emmanuel Timmy Donkoh, Kwame O. Boadu, Afia A. Kwayie, Joseph Frimpong, Enoch O. Anto, Christian Obirikorang, Emmanuel E. Korsah, Ezekiel Ansah, Michael Nyantakyi, Stephen Opoku, Ebenezer Senu, Elizabeth Aboagye

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and Aims: Anemia has been a common comorbidity in most chronic diseases, but has not been well monitored in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of anemia and its nexus with iron stores among T2DM patients in health facilities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study recruited 213 T2DM out-patients attending the diabetic clinics at the Kumasi South Hospital and St. Michaels Hospital, Jachie Pramso, Ghana, for routine check-ups. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical data from study participants. Blood samples were collected to …

Coordinated Nasal Mucosa-Mediated Immunity Accelerates Recovery From Covid-19, Steven P. Cass, Dan V. Nicolau, Jonathan R. Baker, Christine Mwasuku, Sanjay Ramakrishnan, Mahdi Mahdi, Peter J. Barnes, Louise E. Donnelly, Rocio T. Martinez-Nunez, Richard E.K. Russell, Mona Bafadhel

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction Understanding the interplay of immune mediators in relation to clinical outcomes during acute infection has the potential to highlight immune networks critical to symptom recovery. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the immune networks critical to early symptom resolution following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Methods In a community-based randomised clinical trial comparing inhaled budesonide against usual care in 139 participants with early onset SARS-CoV-2 (the STOIC study; clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT04416399), significant clinical deterioration (reported need for urgent care, emergency department visit, hospitalisation: the primary outcome), self-reported symptom severity (Influenza Patient-Reported Outcome questionnaire) …