Digital Commons Network^™

Neurodiversity In The Workplace: Organizational Approaches To Supporting Neurodiverse Employees, Madison Vasquez

M.S. in Leadership

Despite growing conversation around neurodiversity in the workplace, many organizations lack clear understanding and structured strategies to support neurodivergent employees. This study examines existing research on how organizations can more effectively support neurodiverse employees across the employee lifecycle. Using a qualitative literature review, this study addresses the research question by examining literature on neurodiversity within workplace contexts. This includes investigating common representations of neurodiversity and reviewing the strengths and challenges of neurodiverse individuals, including those who have autism, ADHD, and other forms of neurodivergence. The study also reviews workplace barriers, support strategies, and organizational outcomes identified across the literature. Key …

Hlafreq: Download And Combine Hla Allele Frequency Data, David A. Wells, Michael Mcauley

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes encode cell-surface proteins which play an important role in immunity. Since different HLA alleles enable different immune responses, the population frequency of HLA alleles is often considered when designing vaccines (Gulukota & DeLisi, 1996). Specific HLA alleles have been linked to autoimmune disease (Simmonds & Gough, 2007) and associated with adverse drug reactions (Fan et al., 2017). Further, the success of solid organ and stem cell transplants is related to HLA matching between donor and recipient (Fürst et al., 2019; Morishima et al., 2002). We present HLAfreq, a Python package which can be used to …

Self-Guided Stress Reduction Program Among New Graduate Nurse Residents, Allison A. Norful, Yilei Yang, Simon Paul P. Navarro, Marin Skariah

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: Evidence suggests that younger, less experienced nurses have higher burnout risk, thus yielding higher turnover rates, poorer psychological health, and decreased resilience or job satisfaction. To address this, it is critical to support new nurses by providing training aimed at building resilience and stress management. However, formal curricula designed to help nurses adapt to high-stress environments and unexpected changes are limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of an online self-guided resiliency training curriculum.

Methods: Using a pragmatic trial design, we recruited a pilot sample of 26 nurse residents (with …

The Effect Of Stress Hormones On Memory Formation And Academic Performance, Emma L. Hooks

Senior Honors Theses

With chronic stress becoming increasingly prevalent in academic settings, researchers have identified significant effects on learning and academic performance. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone, is released following the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and plays a vital role in the stress response. Although acute increases in cortisol can improve attention and memory, sustained activation of the stress response can impair memory, executive functioning, and academic performance. This thesis draws on neuroscience, psychology, and education research to examine how chronic cortisol exposure affects the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and how the effects manifest in learning and academic performance, particularly in developmental …

From Central To Refinery: Labor And Hierarchy In The American Sugar Empire (1919-1962), Ben Woloch

History Honors Projects

From 1919 until 1962, the American Sugar Refining Company (ASRC) oversaw an empire, stretching from two Cuban sugar estates (centrales) to its Brooklyn refinery. The relationship between workers at both poles of the ASRC’s empire constituted a transnational labor hierarchy. Divergent management programs at the Brooklyn refinery and the centrales Jaronú and Cunagua confined the workers to distinct social positions. Brooklyn workers pursued labor-management collaboration in support of the sugar industry’s exploitative system, while workers in Cuba reimagined the sugar empire's power structure. The transnational workforce of the ASRC maintained a disunified relationship, which fractured the possibilities of working-class solidarity.

Molybdenum-Doped Zinc Oxide Nanocomposite For Sustainable Photoelectrocatalytic Degradation Of Dyes And Antimicrobial Activity, Samar A. Salim

Nanotechnology Research Centre

Mo-doped ZnO nanocomposite was synthesized by using auto-combustion method. X-ray diffraction patterns of prepared nanocomposite indicated effective construction of crystalline Mo/ZnO NCs with co-existence of MoO2 and ZnO in required weight ratio. XRD results revealed also that ZnO crystallite size decreased as Mo-doping concentration increased. The direct band gap reduced from 3.309 eV of (MZ-0) to 3.258 eV of (MZ-5), demonstrating a negative correlation with Mo-doping levels. The electrocatalytic activity of Mo/ZnO NCs was assessed by their capability to degrade Indigo Carmine (IC) and Murexide (ME) dyes, and their antibacterial properties were also evaluated. The electrocatalytic (EC) degradation efficiencies for …

A New Day: How The 2026 Joint Commission Performance Indicators Elevate Hospital Staffing Systems, Brittany Nettles, Julie Baker-Townsend, Amy Howell

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

As nurses face mounting pressures in clinical environments, challenges such as insufficient staffing ratios, excessive workloads, and limited organizational support contribute to declining employee well-being, increased stress levels, and burnout. These factors not only impact the mental health of nursing professionals but also have significant implications for patient safety, care delivery, and staff retention (Aiken, 2025). Internationally, the burden of excessive workloads negatively impacts patient safety, as each patient added to a nurse's assignment is associated with a 7% increased risk of hospital mortality (Aiken, 2014). A survey conducted by the American Nurses Foundation (2022) found that nine out of …

Annona Muricata (Soursop) And Hematopoiesis: Ethnomedicinal Insights, Immunomodulatory Mechanisms, And Translational Challenges, Fatma Matano, Amiya Patra

Peninsula Medical School

Annona muricata (soursop) is a tropical medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine across Africa, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. While its ethnomedicinal applications span a range of conditions, including infections, inflammation, and anemia-related symptoms, its potential relevance to hematopoiesis has not been systematically examined. This narrative review synthesizes ethnomedicinal knowledge, phytochemical composition, and experimental evidence to explore the biological plausibility by which A. muricata may indirectly influence hematopoietic processes. Bioactive constituents of A. muricata, including flavonoids, polyphenols, and acetogenins, have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties in preclinical models. These effects are particularly relevant given the established …

Examining The Influences Of Citizen Factors On The Co-Creation Behaviors Of Online Public Services In A Smart City, Ratih Dyah Kusumastuti, Nurmala Nurmala, Juliana Rouli

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

As smart cities increasingly rely on digital platforms to deliver public services, citizen participation becomes essential for ensuring effective and sustainable service delivery. However, limited research has examined which citizen-related factors drive co-creation behaviors in smart city contexts, particularly in emerging economies. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence the co-creation behaviors of online public services in five smart cities in Indonesia through the city’s digital platform and online social network (OSN). This study analyzes whether citizen factors, namely, perceived benefits over the city and OSN friends, trust in the city and OSN friends, and self-efficacy, affect co-creation …

Effect Of Exergaming Duration On Heart Rat And Caloric Expenditure In Healthy Older Adults, Kathryn Jade Johnson

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

A New Subspecies Of Papilio Indra (Papilionidae) From The West Desert Of Utah, Usa, Wayne H. Whaley, Alexander A. Jason, Todd L. Stout

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Papilio indra bonnevillensis is a new described subspecies partly based on taxonomic rearrangement of its larval host plant reproductive phenology relative to Wasatch Range nominate P. indra. It is geographically isolated in Utah’s West Desert from populations of ssp. nevadensis to the west and ssp. calcicola to the south. In addition to phenological differences compared to these two subspecies, it merits description based on host Lomatium depauperatum which recently speciated from L. grayi, neither of which is used as host by other subspecies of P. indra. The evolution of new host L. depauperatum is …

Extra Of Extracorporeal: Use Of Vv-Ecmo In Complex Tracheal Ring Resection Surgery, Saurabh Ashok Holamb Mr, Ravinath Swami Mr

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

 Abstract

Background:

Tracheal stenosis may arise from congenital malformation, trauma, prolonged intubation, or malignancy. Surgical correction of such lesions poses a major challenge, especially when airway management becomes difficult due to the location and extent of narrowing.

Case Summary:

We report a case of a 64-year-old male with circumferential thickening of the trachea at the D2–D3 level, exhibiting a 1.3cm long segmental narrowing. The patient underwent tracheal ring resection with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) support. Two apnea periods were maintained intraoperatively, totaling 3.5 hours, with stable hemodynamics and 100% oxygen saturation throughout. ECMO support was continued overnight as a …

Reimagining Maternal Health: The Crucial Role Of Social And Behavioural Change Communication In Lmics, Sneha Chetri Ms, Monica Koachar

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

Preventable maternal mortality is still remarkably high in low and middle-income nations, despite growing investments in maternal health systems. Conventional methods have mostly concentrated on expanding access to services, ignoring important social and behavioural factors that affect how people seek health care. In order to bridge the gap between the availability and actual consumption of maternal health treatments, this opinion piece makes the case for the critical role that social and behavioural change communication plays. The article uses real-world examples from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda to show how SBCC can empower women, change the dynamics of …

Navigating The Genetic Frontier: Clinical And Ethical Implications Of Free Genetic Testing In India, Preetha Vijayalakshmi

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

The expansion of free genetic testing services in India, resulting from government policies like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, corporate-sponsored initiatives, and international collaborations, makes it easier to access genomic services for early identification of inherited disorders such as thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, and certain genetic kidney diseases, particularly in tribal populations. However, this review reveals significant clinical and ethical challenges. Clinically, Western-based genotyping platforms, not tailored to India’s genetic diversity, risk inaccurate results, including false positives and negatives, complicating clinical decision-making. A shortage of genetic counsellors and inadequate post-test care leaves patients, especially in rural areas, struggling within fragmented …

Exploring Coaching Issues And Feedback Generation During A Virtual International Coaching Exchange, Lori A. Gano-Overway, Ian Hj Cowburn, Liam Mccarthy

Journal of Coach Development

Internship opportunities can provide coaches with the chance to learn through experience and explore their personal theories in practice. However, to effectively develop coaches during internships facilitators of learning need to know more about what student coaches typically perceive and find meaningful to puzzle through to support their learning and developing theory of practice. Grounded in experiential learning theory and the notion of the reflective practitioner, the authors sought to examine how early-career sport coaches identify, frame, and explore practical coaching issues presented through a virtual international coaching exchange. Using a descriptive multiple-case study approach, the authors presented the coaching …

Ischool Student Research Journal, Vol.16, Iss.1

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Foundations Of Umayyad Political Legitimacy: A Comparative Study Of The Foundational Phases In The Mashriq And Al-Andalus, Wafa Zabin Alrehily

UB Journal for Humanities

This study examines the foundations of political legitimacy among the Umayyads through a comparative study of the foundational phases of the two Umayyad states: the first in the Mashriq at the establishment of the Umayyad state (41- 132 AH / 661-750 AD), and the second in al-Andalus (138-422 AH / 756-1031 AD). The significance of this study lies in the fact that it does not merely identify the foundations of legitimacy in each experience separately, but goes beyond that to compare the two experiences at the foundational stage, with the aim of revealing the points of convergence and divergence between …

The Report (Al-Khabar) In Al-Jāḥiẓ’S Al-ʿUthmāniyya: A Reading Of Structure And Meaning, Dr. Mazker Naceer Al Kahtany

UB Journal for Humanities

This study scrutinizes Al-‘Uthmāniyya by Abū ʿUthmān ʿAmr ibn Baḥr al-Jāḥiẓ (d. 255 AH) as a foundational text for a new system of knowledge concerning reports (akhbār). Al-Jāḥiẓ was cognizant of the shift from an oral-based mind to a written one, recognizing that the conflict between these two modes of thought would render traditional conventions insufficient during the age of codification. Thus, the concept of accurate transmission (ṣaḥḥat al-majīʾ) became a criterion for the reliability of reports, aiming to purge them of doubt and the suspicion inherent in uncritical tradition. This notion is one of the key topics the research …

In The Semiotics Of Juxtaposition Toward An Interpretation Of The Poetics Of Reference In Between Water And Me By Fawziya Abu Khalid, Mastoura Mesfer Al-Orabi

UB Journal for Humanities

This study examines the concept of juxtaposition as a complex semantic and semiotic relation manifested in causal association, as in Poirce’s indexical sign, and in the paradigmatic relations theorized by Yakpsun through projection of axis of selection onto the axis of combination within poetic function. This projection highlights interaction between syntagmatic and paradigmatic axes in production of poetic meaning. Adjacency also encompasses horizontal relations within speech chain, as addressed by Harris in distributional perspective, through reference, semantic expansion, and contextual relations that generate additional meanings within discourse.The central research problem is articulated through the following question: How is new or …

Exploring Identity Through Clay: A Humanistic Art Therapy Case Study With A Blind Chinese Adoptee, Virginia Jade Leicht

Expressive Therapies Theses

This qualitative case study explored how working with clay in art therapy can help support a blind man’s identity exploration. This paper addresses the problem of many traditional therapeutic approaches within the art therapy realm: They rely too heavily on visual engagement, which can limit the accessibility and opportunities for self-exploration and identity development for those who are blind. The study was grounded in current research and foundational theories based on the humanistic art therapy approach. Clay is considered an accessible medium that engages multiple senses and allows for emotional exploration and meaning making, specifically through tactile and sensory-based engagement …

Ai And E-Commerce: A Comparative Analysis Of Amazon, Jumia, And Alibaba, Lauren Grace Barden

Honors Projects

Globally there is a great divide between consumer acceptance of artificial intelligence (AI) and the reluctance of the services due to lack of knowledge on its systems. Major global shopping platform, Amazon has adopted the use of AI into their experiences for upholding their pillars of optimization, utilization, and personalization. In the global e-commerce framework,  adoption of AI has been similarly found also in companies like Alibaba (Chinese-based) and Jumia (Kenyan-based). Though these companies have seen customer satisfaction increase with the availability and quality of the service they provide, it is pertinent to note that there are still underlying issues …

Youth-Based Mentorship Programs And The Development Of Social Capital, Toby C. Lumley

Honors Projects

Diverse communities often face complex challenges related to integration and collective action across different social, economic, and ethnic groups. Formal youth mentorship programs can be important institutions for addressing these challenges. This research examines how these programs act as intentional sites for cultivating social networks and relational trust necessary for successful civic engagement. Research for this project heavily relies on social capital theory explained through the lens of Robert Putnam. There will be special emphasis on the immediate community of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County, Virginia, due to its diverse population and rural-urban intersections. Through interviews with various directors of local youth-based mentorship …

Aacn Hwe Standards: Bridging Clinical Excellence And Academic Resilience, Michelle Kidd

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

For over 20 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has championed Healthy Work Environment (HWE) standards as essential for nursing excellence. While HWEs improve patient and staff outcomes, they may be underutilized in academia. As faculty and clinical staff face record burnout and turnover, the nursing pipeline's survival depends on a unified HWE approach that bridges clinical practice and academia through intentional collaboration.

External Mandate And Strategic Imperative: A Necessary And Sufficient Conditions Approach To Environmental Accounting Adoption In Tanzanian Manufacturing Firms, James Moses Dendula, Helena Thomas Haule

Business Management Review

Environmental Accounting (EA) serves as a strategic tool for organisations to integrate environmental considerations into operations, decision-making, and reporting. However, in emerging economies, its adoption remains uneven and insufficiently explained regarding how institutional pressures and internal capabilities jointly shape these practices. This study examines how institutional pressures and firms’ internal capabilities influence Environmental Accounting Practices (EAP) among 146 Tanzanian manufacturing firms. Anchored in Institutional Theory and the Resource-Based View (RBV), the study adopts a complementary analytical approach by integrating sufficiency and necessity logics using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA). The PLS-SEM results indicate …

Embeddedness Of Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Of Listed Local Firms In Tanzania: Analysis Of Communication And Organisation Dimensions, Lilian Julius Kishimbo

Business Management Review

This study explores the embeddedness of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices among listed Tanzanian firms from 2020 to 2024, focusing on both communication and organisational dimensions within a theoretically grounded framework. The study is guided by Institutional and Stakeholder theories, analysing how CSR is integrated into corporate strategies and operational structures, with particular emphasis on variation across banking and finance, telecommunications, manufacturing, extractive, agriculture, and transport industries. Using a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative content analysis of annual reports with organisational indicators, the study draws on 20 firms (95 firms annual reports) to identify significant industry-specific differences in CSR embeddedness, with …

Evolving Art Therapy In Virtual Environments: Exploring Telehealth Art Therapy Within Gaming, Kathleen A. Wilber

Expressive Therapies Theses

The rapid expansion of virtual therapy following the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted art therapists to reconsider how creative processes can be facilitated through digital means. This capstone thesis explores how art therapy practices can evolve within virtual environments by exploring the video game The Sims 4 as a novel digital medium for virtual art therapy. A qualitative approach was used within an intensive outpatient program (IOP), including a preliminary peer session and two individual client sessions. The intervention involved therapist-facilitated gameplay, where the clinician acted as a “third hand,” guiding clients in an effort to support identity and values-based exploration. …

Returning To Play: Play-Centered Art Therapy With Parentified Adult Caregivers, Paola Andrea Mendez Carreno

Expressive Therapies Theses

This research investigates the impact of play-centered art therapy on parentified adult caregivers, focusing on how creative interventions utilizing elements of play can support identity development, self-compassion, and relational capacity. The literature indicates that childhood parentification leads to identity loss and burnout, but creative play can foster neuroplasticity and emotional processing by allowing adults to externalize harmful narratives that have been internalized. To explore these concepts, the author conducted four sessions over six weeks with an adult participant at a private outpatient practice in Massachusetts. Play-centered activities included free collaging, puppet-making, and clay modeling, often involving moments of parallel play …

Chemometric Analysis Of Dissolved Organic Matter Using Fluorescence, Dani Fellner, Ken Overway

Honors Projects

Univariate spectroscopic techniques have been utilized to measure dissolved organic matter (DOM), but challenges arise in the separation and characterization due to similarities in chemical structures and spectral overlap. Multivariate techniques utilize a combination of known analytes with their unique excitation and emission spectra from fluorescence measurements to quantify amount of each analyte present in the mixture using parallel factor analysis. Tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine are common amino acids found in environmental samples and can be quantified due to their intrinsic fluorescence qualities. These amino acids can be utilized to estimate the amount of DOM in a sample since proteins …

Healing The Gap, Maria Gavriilidou

Honors Projects

This project examines healthcare accessibility in Greece, focusing on the disparities between urban centers and remote island and mountainous communities. It addresses systemic limitations within public healthcare infrastructure, including insufficient facilities, limited medical personnel, and transportation barriers that restrict timely access to medical services. Grounded in personal experience and observational research, particularly from the Cyclades islands and mainland medical contexts, the study highlights how geographic isolation and environmental conditions further intensify these challenges.

The work proposes an architectural response aimed at improving healthcare delivery in underserved regions through the design of sustainable, accessible, and adaptable healthcare facilities. It explores how …

The Coast Guard’S Budget & Its Impact On Operational Efficiency, Jory R. Cardoza

Honors Projects

The United States Coast Guard is constitutionally charged to carry out eleven core missions. This project examines the impact that the Coast Guard’s budget has on its ability to perform those different missions. This is done by using the statistical software program SPSS to analyze the statistical significance of budget related independent variables on multiple mission performance related dependent variables. Mission performance is based on the metrics that the Coast Guard uses to measure each of their missions. These metrics, along with the budgetary variables are published annually in documents such as Posture Statements, Performance Reports, and Budgetary Requests by …