Digital Commons Network^™

Accepts: Advancing Communication Competence And Equitable Practices When Training Students, Imani Smith, Jamie Mayer, Tertia Jeppson

Honors Capstones

This project aims to collaboratively create an online, interactive experiential learning program to enhance students’ communication skills when engaging with adults who have cognitive-communication disabilities (CCD). Effective communication is vital for patient-centered care, yet training often lacks contributions from those with lived experience. Using a community-based participatory research framework, this pilot study centers on a needs assessment through focus groups  involving adults with CCD (n=4-8 participants). Initial pilot work will involve structured discussions to examine views on communication barriers and strategies. Data will be analyzed qualitatively to identify main themes that guide program development. Early findings are expected to emphasize …

Online Shopping Non-Adoption In South Africa: A Distrust-Centric Framework Integrating Social Exchange, Trust Transfer, And Social Presence Theories, Cleopatra Moipone Matli, Jeevarathnam P. Govender

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Online shopping non-adoption remains critically underexplored, especially in emerging markets. Addressing this gap, the authors develop and test a distrust-centric framework that applies the inhibitory logic of social exchange, trust transfer, and social presence theories to explain pre-emptive avoidance. Focusing on South Africa, where only 18.16% of the population engage in e-commerce, data was collected from 414 consumers who have never shopped online. Structural equation modelling reveals that perceived lack of reciprocity directly increases the intention of non-adoption. Moreover, distrust in online payment systems transfers to broader channel scepticism, which in turn drives avoidance. Perceived lack of social presence further …

Unveiling The Power Of Credibility: How Virtual Influencers Shape Consumer Attitudes And Purchase Intentions In Fashion, Danita Van Heerden, Jade L. Verbeek

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of influencer marketing, particularly in the fashion industry. Consequently, brands are using virtual influencers (VIs) to engage consumers in this space. Yet little is known about VIs’ credibility and their influence on purchase intentions, especially in an emerging market where they are less prevalent. This study examines the influence of VIs’ credibility (i.e., trustworthiness, attractiveness, and expertise) on consumers’ attitudes towards VIs and the subsequent impact on purchase intention for fashion products in South Africa, grounded in the Source Credibility Theory. Data were collected from active social media users using non-probability convenience and …

Coupled Ferroelectricity And Phonon Chirality, Xiang-Bin Han, Cong Yang, Rui Sun, Xiaotong Zhang, Thuc Mai, Zhengze Xu, Aryan Jouneghaninaseri, Xiaoning Jiang, Rahul Rao, Yi Xia, Multople Additional Authors

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Recognizing the coupling between ferroelectricity and chirality in optically active ferroelectrics opens a route for manipulating chirality via ferroelectricity under an external electric field, enabling control over chirality-dependent quantum states. Here, we report the experimental demonstration of the coupling between ferroelectricity and phonon chirality in the molecular ferroelectric triglycine sulfate. By electrically switching the crystal chirality, we achieve reversible and device-compatible control of phonon chirality, as revealed by in situ time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements. The Kerr rotation reverses with electric-field switching, while phonon chirality vanishes in the paraelectric phase and is tunable in the racemic ferroelectric state. Furthermore, density …

Fabrication And Characterization Of Cellulose Grafted Glycidyl Methacrylate-Based Film For Food Packaging, Rahmi Rahmi, Sari Safitri, Febriani Febriani, Lelifajri Lelifajri, Andriy Anta Kacaribu

Baghdad Science Journal

The use of persistent plastic in food packaging continues to raise practical and environmental concerns, prompting interest in biodegradable alternatives derived from biomass. In this work, cellulose derived from coconut dregs was used as a film-forming material. The cellulose was isolated using a combination of chemical and ultrasonic treatments, followed by grafting with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). Citronella oil (CitO) was incorporated at different loadings to produce GraftCell/CitO0.15, GraftCell/CitO0.6, and GraftCell/CitO1.2 films. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed grafting, while structural changes were reflected in an increase in the crystallinity index from 10.55% to 16.04%. Thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis further revealed a shift …

Semiautomated Online Continuous Flow Injection Analysis – Turbidimetric Determination Of Zinc In Pharmaceutical Drugs, Raghad Saad Hatem, Marwah A. Kadhim Al-Bana, Nagham Shakir Turkey, Ihsan Mahdi Shaheed

Baghdad Science Journal

This study has assessed the novel technology developed for our in-house NAG-5SX1-1D-SSP analyzer by utilizing the established reaction of the zinc (II) ion with ammonium thiocyanate and mercury (II) chloride to produce a white precipitate. This analyzer was used to access turbidity by calculating the reflection of incident light. The method maintains linear behavior over a concentration range from 0.05 to 18 mmol. L^–1, with a detection limit of 0. 489μg.sample^–1 and excellent precision (RSD% >1). These results confirmed the reliability and robustness of the developed instrument for Zn (II) determination in various pharmaceutical formulations. …

Determination Of Pb(Ii) Ion With A Novel, Highly Efficient Immobilized Arsenazo Iii In A Polymer Matrix, Kholboeva Muyassar, Smanova Zulayho, Madatov O`Tkir, Yusupov Boburjon, Abror Nomozov, Sobirova Fotima, Jalilov Fazliddin, Daminov Oybek

Baghdad Science Journal

In this study, a novel analytical reagent based on arsenazo III immobilized on a polymer matrix composed of polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene polyamine, and dichloroethane (PPD) was developed and applied for the spectrophotometric determination of Pb(II) ions. The proposed method demonstrated standard analytical and metrological characteristics for the highly accurate determination of Pb(II) ions, as evidenced by a relative standard deviation (Sr) of 0.06 and a minimum detectable concentration (C_min) of 0.24 μ g/L. The accuracy and reproducibility of the method were evaluated using Student's t-test and Fisher's F-test. Comparison of the experimental and tabulated values (experiment=1.09; t …

New Generalizations Of Pairwise Lindelöf Spaces, Hana M. Binshahnah, A. K. Mousa

Baghdad Science Journal

This study is introducing two new different pairwise related to Lindelöf bitopological spaces. Lindelöf spaces are among of the most important topological spaces with important applications in various branches of mathematics. Therefore, many studies on Lindelöf topological spaces and pairwise Lindelöf bitopological spaces were presented in previous papers. However, those two new pairwise Lindelöf bitopological spaces are more general than what has been studied before. Therefore, the study defines a new pairwise interior operator and a new pairwise closure operator, furthermore, it reviews their characteristics where the researchers provide new strongly pairwise axioms (the strongly pairwise regular and the strongly …

A New Hybrid Approach For Magnetohydrodynamic Flow Over A Stretching Surface With Nanofluid, Ammar Al-Salih, Abdul-Sattar Jaber Al-Saif

Baghdad Science Journal

The current investigation focuses on developing a semi-analytical technique aimed at estimating the solutions of magnetohydrodynamics flow with Casson tri-hybrid nanofluid (TiO₂ - SiO₂ - Al₂O₃/blood) flowing over a stretchable surface along two-dimensional space. To solve the obtained nonlinear coupled differential equations in the problem formulation, the proposed semi-analytical approach makes use of the Shehu reduced differential transform Padé method (SRDTPM). Several physical parameters, such as slip effect, porosity, magnetic strength, and Casson number, were considered for examining the effect on momentum, while radiation parameter, heat generation/absorption, temperature-dependent heat sink/source term, and Biot number …

Preparation And Characterization Of Fe2O3 And Fe2O3@Ag/Agcl Core-Shell Nps Using Mint Leaf Extract, And Study Of Their Cytotoxicity And Inhibition Of Breast Cancer Cells, Ruqayah A. Ulwali, Nada K. Abass

Baghdad Science Journal

Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃) and iron oxide core–silver/silver chloride shell nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃@Ag/AgCl) were green-synthesized using mint leaf extract .X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that Fe₂O₃ formed in two phases, γ -Fe₂O₃ and α -Fe₂O₃, while Fe₂O₃@Ag/AgCl formed in one phase, α -Fe₂O₃, with crystallite sizes increasing from 1.89 nm for Fe₂O₃ to 22.42 nm for Fe₂O₃@Ag/AgCl. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that Fe₂O₃ had …

Assessing Impact Of Heat Waves On Pregnancy And Lactation Amidst Climate Change: A Scoping Review., Susan Anyango, Grace Nakate

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: The escalation of heat waves, attributed to climate change, represents a global public health concern, with pregnant
and lactating women identified as particularly vulnerable due to Physiological and hormonal changes.

Aim: To review the existing research on the effects of heat waves on pregnancy and lactation, identifying potential health risks and outcomes.

Methods: A structured search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted using terms related
to heat waves, pregnancy, lactation, and climate change. Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed empirical
studies in English.

Results: Heat waves are linked to increased risks of preterm labor, low …

Descriptive Qualitative Study Of Nursing Students' Perceptions And Behaviors During Student-Led Class Sessions In Uganda, Proscovia Nakaye, Veronica Nakkonde, Mercy Muwema, Grace Nakate

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Student-led class sessions are a pedagogical approach where students actively engage in the learning process, influencing content, activities, and pace. This method fosters independent learning, communication skills, and teamwork. While some studies have shown the effectiveness of student-led sessions, nursing students often exhibit challenges, such as inattention and negative attitudes, affecting the quality of learning and patient care. Understanding nursing students' perceptions and behaviors in this context is essential for improving nursing education.

Methods: This descriptive qualitative study aimed to explore nursing students' perceptions and behaviors during student-led class sessions at Uganda Christian University. Sixteen direct-entry nursing students …

Prevalence Of Teenage Pregnancy And Associated Factors Among Adolescent Girls In Bobi Subcounty, Northern Uganda., Grace Auma, Margaret Alioru, Geoffrey Kaujju, Grace Nakate

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Methodology: A Cross-sectional study design. A survey was conducted among 4893 married girls aged 15-19 years using quantitative methods. Quantitative data was collected through the structured questionnaire, which was administered, data was collected and entered in EPI-INFO 2020 software, and was cleaned and analyzed using STATA version 15.0. Binary logistic regression was done to examine the factors independently associated with teenage pregnancy. A multistage sampling technique was used.

Results: Our study showed that the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Bobi Sub-County, Omoro District, is high at 27.5%. Significant Factors contributing to the likelihood of teenage pregnancy included those …

Structures And Processes Of Critical Care Nursing Practice: Insights From Four Ugandan Intensive Care Units, Dominic Ogwal Savio, Edrisa Ssemwanga, Winter Patrick, Lameck Ssemogerere, Cliff Aliga

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Ai-Augmented Pedagogy In Higher Education: An Ethical And Equitable Framework For The Governance And Operational Integration Of Ai In Teaching And Learning, Asrat G. Amnie

Publications and Research

Abstract

Higher education faces a convergence of pressures that no single institutional response has yet resolved: widening demographic diversity, pandemic-exposed structural fragility, and the persistent inequity of whose learning gets supported and how. Artificial intelligence (AI) has entered this landscape not as an optional enhancement but as an infrastructural reality— embedded in adaptive platforms, feedback systems, and early-alert protocols at institutions worldwide. Yet adoption has consistently outpaced governance, and tools celebrated for democratizing access carry real risks of encoding and amplifying the inequities they promise to address. This article introduces the AI-Augmented Pedagogy (AAP) framework, developed through a Sequential Explanatory …

Leadership Experiences Of Gender-Diverse Managers In U.S. Libraries And Museums, Galen Jay Talis

Faculty Scholarship

This article explores how gender-diverse managers in U.S. libraries and museums experience leadership and perceive gender to influence leadership. In-depth interviews were conducted with five gender-diverse managers. Data were analyzed with inductive, semantic thematic analysis and a complementary, deductive analysis using Wharton’s multilevel gender framework. Participants described relational, pragmatic, point-person leadership—connecting and supporting people, coordinating work, and translating between units—while expressing ambivalence about formal and hierarchical roles. Most did not initially link leadership to gender; when prompted, they articulated gender’s influence at individual, interactional, and institutional levels. Gender discrimination and transphobia persist even in woman-dominated contexts, shaping decisions about visibility, …

Classical Motion Of Bounded Orbits In Two-Body Problems, Dina F. Stein

Physics and Astronomy Undergraduate Senior Theses

The study of bounded and periodic motion in classical systems is of central importance in celestial mechanics, atomic models, and the theory of integrable systems. Central-force problems are of particular importance due to their rich geometric structure and the existence of conserved quantities that strongly constrain orbital behavior. In this thesis, we investigate the classical motion of bodies subject to two central-force potentials: the inverse-square and the pseudo-harmonic. For each system, explicit solutions for the radial and angular equations of motion are derived and analyzed. The resulting trajectories are classified according to whether they are bounded, unbounded, open, closed, or …

Voices Within: How Ncii Survivors Reconstruct Self Concept Through Intrapersonal Communication, Keisha Aurellia Devinia, Aiza Nabilla Arifputri

JURNAL KOMUNIKASI INDONESIA

This study examines Non-Consensual Intimate Image Sharing (NCII) as a form of digital gender-based violence that disrupts women’s self-concept beyond its psychological consequences, particularly among female victims active on social media. It aims to analyze their intrapersonal communication experiences and how they redefine self-concept following the incident. This study employs a qualitative approach, gathering data by performing in-depth interview with five female NCII victims who actively use social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram, and X. The study draws on Stuart & Laraia’s (1998) self-concept theory, which includes five analytical dimensions: body image, ideal self, self-esteem, role performance, …

Caribbean Clergy's Perceptions Of Marital Rape, Nasheba Barzey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Examination Of Factors To Male Offender Recidivism In Western Missouri, Daryl Long

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Operative And Nonoperative Management Of A3 Versus A4 Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures, Barry T. S. Kweh, Charlotte Dandurand, Alex R. Vaccaro, Klaus J. Schnake, Mohammad El-Sharkawi, Richard J J. Bransford, Andrei Fernandes Joaquim, Harvinder Singh Chhabra, Ulrich J. A. Spiegl, Dimitri Hauri, F. Cumhur Öner, Gregory D. Schroeder, Jin Wee Tee

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare patient-report outcome measures in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures managed either operatively or nonoperatively.

METHODS: A prospective multicenter observational study was conducted of neurologically intact patients who sustained traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures managed operatively or nonoperatively. Outcome measures included scores on the EQ-5D index, EQ-5D visual analog scale (VAS), pain numerical rating scale (NRS), and AO Spine Patient Reported Outcome Spine Trauma (PROST) tool and patient satisfaction with follow-up up to 2 years. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Cochran-Armitage test were used to evaluate differences between continuous and ordinal variables, respectively. …

The Class Of 2026'S Achievements Celebrated At Commencement Awards Ceremony, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

Cardozo School of Law honored members of the Class of 2026 during its annual Commencement Awards Ceremony, recognizing outstanding academic achievement, leadership, public service, legal writing, advocacy, and contributions to the law school community. The ceremony celebrated recipients of numerous faculty- and donor-sponsored awards prior to commencement.

Cv: Lorri Mcmeel (Social Work), Lorri S. Mcmeel

Social Work Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Parent Perspectives On Primary And Secondary Online Learning, Barbara Tanner Sandberg

Theses and Dissertations

Given the growth of K-12 online learning and the expanded responsibilities parents often assume in this learning context, the purpose of this dissertation is to understand parents' perspectives on K-12 online learning. The first article reviews and synthesizes literature documenting parents' perspectives on how instructional modality affects parental support. Instructional modality affects parental support roles, parental perception of online school support, parents' lives outside the online course, and students' online learning support needs. Hence, parents expect modality decisions to account for modality affordances, student engagement, and personal circumstances. The second article examines parent perspectives on the decision to leave a …

Depth Of Processing Re-Examined: Semantic Superiority Persists Despite Increased Lexical Task Demands, Porter Roth, Devon Winder, Cohen Thatcher, Matthew Lynn

Curiosity

The present study investigates whether semantic or lexical judgement tasks yield deeper encoding and higher recall accuracy in working and short-term memory. Using the Levels of Processing theory framework, we compared a semantic categorization question, “Is this an animal?” with a more cognitively effortful lexical question, “Is this a word backwards?” to test whether increased cognitive effort improves recall over mental categorization. A self-selecting sample of 31 Utah State University students completed a within-subjects experiment with an encoding phase followed by a recall phase. Word stimuli were controlled for length, frequency, phonological simplicity, and concreteness. Results showed significantly higher recall …

The Impact Of Phonological And Visual Processing On Memory Retention, Emily Kuehnl, Julissa Harris, Tylee Leishman, Avril Herrada, Makenzie Fraser

Curiosity

Previous research within the Levels of Processing framework outlines that the depth of encoding of to-be-learned information is predictive of subsequent strength of memory retention. Similarly, the focus and direction of an individual's attention can impact these processes both negatively and positively. This study sought to examine whether deep encoding requires semantic analysis, or if phonological tasks that promote holistic analysis are adequate. For the purposes of this study, participants completed two encoding tasks: a letter-level visual judgement (vowel identification) and a word-level phonological judgement (syllable evaluation). Although both tasks are traditionally considered shallow, the word-level task engages higher levels …

Engineering: What Are We Doing?, Matthew Kuperus Heun

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Keynote speech at 2026 Christian Engineering Society Conference and 2026 Association for Christians in Mathematical Sciences Conference

Transportation Deserts And Structural Mobility Access In New York City, John Cruz

Student Theses

This study examines structural mobility access across New York City census tracts by constructing a tract-level Mobility Access Index (MAI) that integrates employment accessibility, hospital accessibility, and first-mile subway walking burden using MTA GTFS transit data, NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission trip records, and US Census American Community Survey demographic estimates. Three OLS regression models, supplemented by Lasso, Elastic Net, and Random Forest specifications, test whether structural access gaps are associated with short-distance connector trip intensity and per-worker connector cost burden. Results show that MAI varies substantially across tracts, with high access concentrated in Manhattan and along major subway corridors. …

Civic Education In Indiana: People, Policies, And Purpose, David J. Roof

Journal of Political Science Studies

Civic education, a cornerstone of our democracy, has experienced a decline in emphasis and effectiveness across the U.S. in recent decades, including in Indiana. This paper examines the historical roots, contemporary challenges, and emerging solutions for fostering civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions among students. It highlights the systemic disparities affecting civic education, particularly in underserved communities, and explores the role of recent legislative measures and innovative initiatives in addressing these gaps. By integrating interdisciplinary approaches, professional development, and hands-on civic engagement, these efforts aim to revitalize civic education and prepare students for active participation in democracy. The findings underscore the …

Does Patient History Influence Capsular Contracture? An Exploratory Analysis With Machine Learning, Thomas M. Johnstone, Daniel Najafali, Jennifer K. Shaw, Justin M. Camacho, Chancellor Johnstone, Rahim S. Nazerali, Gordon K. Lee

Faculty Publications

Background: Capsular contracture (CC) is a frequent and distressing complication of breast augmentation and reconstruction. Although numerous patient-, surgical-, and implant-related risk factors have been proposed, reliable population-level predictors remain inconsistent across studies. This study evaluates whether administrative medical history, as encoded by ICD and CPT codes, contains sufficient predictive signal to identify patients at risk for CC using machine learning. Methods: Patients were queried from the MerativeTM MarketScan® Research Databases from 2003 to 2017 with CPT codes for implant-based breast reconstruction and augmentation. ICD codes were then used to identify all events and conditions of a patient’s history. Hyperparameter-tuned …