Digital Commons Network^™

Videos As Video Game Preservation, Scott Tyler Bradshaw

Theses and Dissertations

Video games have become culturally significant in society and are deserving of being preserved. There are many ways to preserve video games such as emulation, migration, and reissue. But recordings of video games have the special designation of being able to faithfully depict a game, which is an advantage it has over other preservation methods. This paper explores the advantages and disadvantages of various preservation methods while putting recordings forward as an equal method that can assist in its own way. Furthermore the concept of documentary style videos for video games is explored with input by archivists as well as …

Enhanced And Proficient Chitosan Membranes Embedded With Polyaniline-Tio2 Core-Shell Nanocomposites For Fuel-Cell Hydrogen Storage, Mallikarjunagouda Patil, Sridhar N. Mathad, Arun Y. Patil, Abdulaziz Abdulah Al-Kheraif, Sachin Naik, Sajith Vellapally

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

This study investigates the preparation and properties of aniline polymerized in situ onto a nanosized TiO2 surface to form core-shell nanoparticles at ambient temperatures. The in situ polymerization of aniline to polyaniline (PANI), in conjunction with the utilization of an anionic surfactant, was employed in this investigation. The prepared PANI-TiO2 core-shell nanoparticles were integrated with chitosan at a gravimetric ratio and cast as core-shell nanocomposite membranes. The nanocomposites were subjected to structural analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction patterns. The surface morphologies of the PANI and its nanocomposites were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Direct current conductivity …

A Single Batch Synthesis Of Pure Phase Mo2c From Ammonium Molybdate: Pathway And Properties, Melek Cumbul Altay

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

This study presents an original, effective, and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing pure molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) from ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate (AMT) without generating carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. The process involves the sequential transformation of AMT to Mo2C, which follows the reaction pathway of (NH4)6Mo7O24→MoO3→MoO2→Mo→Mo2C. This transformation is achieved by strategically altering the gas atmosphere, switching from Ar to H2 at 800 K and then from H2 to CH4 at 1000 K. Thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used to characterize AMT and the products. Mass measurements were used to follow the conversion of …

Quality Improvement Project Implementing A Hand Hygiene Compliance Program, Daisy Jean-Pierre

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hand hygiene remains a cornerstone of infection prevention in healthcare, yet gaps in compliance persist among nursing staff, contributing to preventable healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and patient harm. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project, conducted at Piedmont Henry Hospital, was to implement and evaluate an educational intervention targeting nurse managers, with the aim of enhancing their knowledge, self-efficacy, and leadership in promoting hand hygiene compliance. The project addressed the identified problem of inconsistent hand hygiene practices among frontline staff, which was linked to insufficient leadership engagement and ongoing barriers such as time constraints and resource limitations. The …

Elder Fraud In The Mountain West, 2023, Taylor Volk, Madison Dwyer, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Criminal Justice

This fact sheet presents data on complaints of fraud affecting individuals over the age of 60 and associated financial losses reported by elderly individuals in the Mountain West. The 2023 Elder Fraud Report serves to illuminate trends in elder fraud reports throughout the 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands. This fact sheet focuses on elder fraud data for the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

Identifying And Exploring Successful Leadership Strategies To Improve Nurse Retention, Jennifer Triggs Rickerson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurse turnover has become a critical concern in healthcare, as low retention rates lead to decreased patient care quality and increased operational costs. A critical issue for hospital stakeholders is that many nursing leaders lack strategies to improve nursing retention. Grounded in the leader-member exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore successful leadership strategies used by nurse managers in the Pacific South region of the United States to improve nurse retention. The study included interviews with six nurse managers who successfully implemented retention strategies. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and publicly available …

Artificial Intelligence And Autonomous Systems In Warfighting At Sea, Nicholas Kadlec

International Law Studies

Much of the debate surrounding the military use of artificial intelligence (AI) tends to focus on lethal autonomous weapons systems. Those are systems that, once activated, can select and engage targets without further human intervention; sometimes pejoratively called “killer robots.” Moreover, debates often focus on their use and risks in land warfare. This land-warfare focus tends to invoke questions about the systems’ ability to distinguish between combatants and civilians on urban battlefields and the potential for mistakes. Legal debates about the lawfulness of AI and lethal autonomous weapons systems in warfare similarly tend to focus on land warfare and thus …

Gender Differences In Regretted Consensual Sexual Experiences And Problematic Alcohol Use Among First-Year College Students, Shannon Shen, Soyoung Kwon, Sukho Lee

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Regretted sexual behaviors and alcohol use often occur in tandem for college students; however, few studies have examined their interrelationships or the variance across gender. This study tested gender differences in how regretting a consensual sexual experience is related to college students’ alcohol use. One hundred and forty first-year students (63% women, 69% Hispanic) surveyed in 2018 and 2019 reported their sexual behavior and alcohol use (following the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index [RAPI]). Twenty-one percent of men and 16% of women reported a regretted sexual encounter. Interaction effects from regression models revealed that men with sexual regret had a significantly …

Association Of Anthropometric Indices With Rs9939609 Fto Gene Polymorphism Among Overweight/Obese Women With Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Study, Huma Naqeeb, Bismillah Sehar, Sami Siraj, Ali Madi Almajwal, Bibi Hajira, Moez Al Islam Faris, Sharifa Alblooshi, Ali Saad R. Alsubaie, Mahpara Safdar, Iftikhar Alam, Falak Zeb

All Works

Background/objectives: Fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene and anthropometric measurements might be associated with breast cancer (BC) risk. This study aimed to assess the interactions between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs9939609 of the FTO gene, anthropometric indices, and BC risk among pre- and post-menopause women with overweight/obesity in Pakistan. Methods: This retrospective case–control study conducted on a convenience sample of 200 women divided into two groups: a case group comprised of 100 women diagnosed with BC, and control group comprised of 100 (age and menopausal status matched healthy women). Physical activity was assessed using validated questionnaire. Data on body …

Who's At Home?: Individual-And Family-Level Sociodemographic Characteristics Associated With Stay-At-Home Motherhood, Deegan Minchey

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I assess the relationship between various types of demographic variables, including individual, partner, and family-level information, and the likelihood of mothers staying at home. Using nationally representative data from the 2019,2021, and 2023 waves of the Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) to the Current Population Survey to account for differences across the COVID-19 pandemic, this analysis examines the likelihood of becoming a stay-at-home mother (SAHM) across three separate regression models. From the variables analyzed, I find that various individual, family, and partner demographic characteristics are significantly associated with the likelihood of becoming a SAHM. These results …

Autistic Traits In Fibromyalgia Are Associated With Hypersensitivity And Central Sensitisation, Helen Johnston, Alison Bacon

School of Psychology

Fibromyalgia presents with symptoms of central sensitisation (CS). Allodynia is the defining symptom, with evidence for general hypersensitisation extending beyond the pain symptoms that characterise fibromyalgia, to sensory and psychological domains. Generalised sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) may increase vulnerability to hypersensitisation; while a direct association exists between sensory sensitivity and autistic traits in autistic people, CS symptoms are also associated with autistic traits in a broader participant sample. This study complements previous lines of enquiry by examining the relationship between SPS, CS symptoms and autistic traits in samples with and without fibromyalgia. It proposes that SPS is indirectly associated with …

Fantasy Novels, Romance, And Book Boyfriends: Romantic Views And Expectations Of Young Adult Women, Kennedy Dawn Morris

Theses and Dissertations

Despite its drop in popularity, reading is a pastime that is enjoyed by many. As with other forms of media, there is the question of how consuming literature impacts individuals. This research study examines how reading fantasy novels impacts the romantic views and expectations of women in emerging adulthood. Social comparison theory and parasocial relationships were utilized in order to examine how young adult women compare their relationships and relationship ideals to those of fictional characters, as well as how young adult women decide which fictional relationships and/or characters are worth their admiration. The findings of this study suggest that …

Lived Experiences Of Black African Non-Denominational Pastor’S Perceptions, Attitudes, And Beliefs Of Mental Health, And Their Referral Practice In The United States, Esther Paul

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The high frequency of mental health issues within the Black African Christians communities and the insufficient use of mental health resources, was the driving forces for this study. This qualitative study aimed to explore the attitudes, beliefs, and lived experiences of non-denominational Black African pastors on mental health and identified potential barriers to mental health care and create culturally appropriate solutions by investigating their experiences. The theoretical basis of this study was centered on Goffman’s social stigma theory, which was created by Erwin Goffman, the social identity theory (SIT), and the role identity theory, the latter which served as the …

Exploring Strategies In Manufacturing To Reduce Loss Of Workers And The Costs Associated With Turnover, Aaron Sterrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover rates in the U.S. manufacturing firms create significant operational and financial challenges. Leaders of U.S. manufacturing firms seek to address employee turnover, which threatens productivity, profitability, and long-term sustainability. Grounded in the competing values framework, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project aimed to identify and explore manufacturers' efficient management strategies to reduce employee turnover. The participants were five individuals who work in different management roles within the manufacturing industry and have assisted in developing successful employee retention strategies. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of organizational information. Four themes were identified during qualitative coding analysis: …

Impact Of Military-Related Moves On Spousal Perinatal Depression Screening And Mental Health Services, Chambraia Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal depression, including perinatal depression (PND), poses significant public health risks to women, infants, and families. Although routine PND screening is recommended, limited research has examined screening and referrals among military spouses, an underserved population affected by frequent relocations and deployments. This study examined how permanent change of station (PCS) frequency affects PND screening and referrals to mental health services. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s socioecological model and the CDC’s social ecological model of health, eight research questions explored associations between PCS frequency, PND screening, referrals, and the moderating roles of military branch and deployment status. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used …

Predictive Study Of The Relationship Between Self-Care And Professional Quality Of Life Among Licensed Counselors Impacted By Covid-19, Maria G. Billings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for mental health professionals, significantly increasing burnout and secondary traumatic stress while reducing available resources and limiting opportunities for compassion satisfaction. The purpose of this cross-sectional, quantitative survey study was to determine whether self-care engagement predicts levels of burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction among counselors. Grounded in Stamm’s theoretical framework on compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, the Self-Care Assessment Worksheet (SCAW) was used to measure self-care engagement, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-V) was used to assess burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction. The sample included 59 licensed …

The Carsr Two-Component System Directly Controls Radd Expression As A Global Regulator That Senses Bacterial Coaggregation In Fusobacterium Nucleatum, Bibek G C, Chenggang Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Two-component systems (TCS) enable bacteria to sense and respond to environmental signals, facilitating rapid adaptation. Fusobacterium nucleatum, a key oral pathobiont, employs the CarSR TCS to modulate coaggregation with various gram-positive partners by regulating the expression of radD, encoding a surface adhesion protein, as revealed by RNA-Seq analysis. However, the direct regulation of the radD-containing operon (radABCD) by the response regulator CarR, the broader CarR regulon, and the signals sensed by this system remain unclear. In this study, chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) identified approximately 161 CarR-enriched loci across the genome and …

Optimizing Costs In Plastic Surgery: A Systematic Review Of Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing Applications, Emily L. Isch, Gabrielle Kozlowski, D. Mitchell Self, Theodore E. Habarth-Morales, Sydney Somers, Ahilan Sivaganesan, David Kim, Heather A. Mcmahon, Andrew Newsman, Matthew Jenkins

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The rising complexity and cost of healthcare in plastic surgery, particularly in resource-intensive procedures like free flap and breast reconstruction, pose significant financial challenges. Time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) offers a method to accurately assess these costs by mapping each step of the care cycle based on time and resources consumed. Although TDABC has been utilized in high-cost fields such as neurosurgery and spine surgery, its application in plastic surgery remains underexplored. This systematic review evaluates the literature on TDABC use in plastic surgery to identify key cost drivers and propose strategies for cost-efficiency.

METHODS: A systematic review was conducted …

Improving Clinical Prediction Of Pulmonary Embolism In Pregnancy And Postpartum By Modifying Wells Score With A Population Specific Risk Factor: A Retrospective Study, Maryam Al Shukri, Albayan Al Masalami, Karolina Stachyra, Elias Houari, Vaidyanathan Gowri, Sumaya Al Amri, Waoud Al Saidi, Khadija D. B. Ishaq

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objective: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a significant cause of maternal mortality, necessitating accurate clinical prediction tools to optimise diagnosis and reduce unnecessary imaging. This study aimed to examine the Wells score’s (WS) predictive value for PE, the effect of incorporating sickle cell disease (SCD) on its predictive accuracy and to estimate prevalence of PE in pregnanct and postpartum women. Methods: This retrospective study included pregnant and postpartum women who underwent computed tomography-pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for suspected PE at two tertiary hospitals (Sultan Qaboos University Hospital and Royal Hospital in Muscat, Oman) from 2013 to 2019. The relationship between WS …

A Two-Phase Service Access Beside Retrial Queues, Orbit Mechanism, Working Vacation Policies For Single Server Environments, Bharathy S, M.C. Saravanarajan

Baghdad Science Journal

This paper analyzes the M/G (P1, P2)/1 queue using a single server that provides essential services in both the first phase (FPS) and the second phase (SPS). It was assumed that the server undertakes unreliability due to starting failure (SF) during the beginning of the first phase with probability (α) or service begins by the idle server successfully with probability (1-α) for the arriving or retrial customer. Then immediately took the failed server for repair and launched the customer into orbit. Also, the server operates at varying rates instead of fully ceasing service during its vacation. …

Advancing Political Science With Machine Learning: A Gaussian Process Approach, Yehu Chen

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The proliferation of data in recent decades including including survey, image and text data, has significantly transformed the landscape of political science research. Machine learning methods have played an instrumental role in analyzing these datasets, yet their application poses challenges in areas where political concepts are not directly measurable or the primary focus of inference is causality. In addition, the essence of machine learning algorithms being trained for prediction performance in a black-boxed manner, makes their outputs hardly interpretable and even unappreciated. This dissertation addresses these issues by proposing a novel methodological framework that employs Gaussian Process (GP) models, a …

Leadership In Open Innovation: Strategies For Effective Crisis Management In Malaysia, Mosharrof Hosen, Irfan Hameed, Rajat Subhra Chatterjee, Mosaddek Hossain, Hafiz Mudassir Rehman

Plymouth Business School

The study of crisis management is vital for developing effective strategies that address the unique challenges posed by socio-political and environmental contexts. Despite its importance, there is a notable lack of research on crisis management across various sectors in Malaysia. This highlights the need for comprehensive studies considering the country's challenges and strategies. Through the lens of dynamic capabilities theory, this research aims to fill the gap in existing literature by focusing on Malaysia's distinct socio-economic and cultural dynamics, which may influence the effectiveness of crisis management strategies. Data were collected from 310 employees of Malaysian manufacturing companies and analyzed …

Determination Of Mitoxantrone In Environmental Waters: A Spectrophotometric Method With Preconcentration By Salt Saturated Pipette-Tip Micro Solid Phase Extraction Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer, Sayyed Hossein Hashemi, Massoud Kaykhaii, Ahmad Jamali Keikha, Mina Esmailiun

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

In this research, a fast and simple spectrophotometric method is presented for mitoxantrone determination in various aqueous samples. It utilizes preconcentration by salt saturated pipette-tip micro solid phase extraction with a selective molecularly imprinted polymer adsorbent packed in a micropipette tip. Prior to sample loading, they were saturated with a mixture of NaCl, Mg (NO3)2.6H2O and KNO3 salts, enhancing extraction efficiency by 27.5% compared to salt-free conditions. Key microextraction parameters (amount of molecularly imprinted polymer, sample pH, eluent type/volume, and adsorption/desorption cycles) were optimized using response surface methodology and one-variable-at-a-time methods. The method achieves a low detection limit (0.2 μg …

Pt-Enhanced Wo3 Nanoparticles For Efficient Hydrogen Production: Synthesis And Electrochemical Evaluation, Merve Akbayrak

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

In this study, Pt/WO3 nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple room-temperature impregnation-reduction method and characterized by advanced techniques including ICP, TEM-EDX, FE-SEM-EDX, and XRD. The ICP-OES analysis confirmed a 1.0 wt. %Pt loading on the WO3 support. TEM and FE-SEM analyses revealed that the Pt nanoparticles were well dispersed with an average size of approximately 3.7 nm. The XRD patterns showed characteristic WO3 peaks without any detectable Pt diffraction peaks, indicating the high dispersion of Pt. Electrochemical evaluations demonstrated that the Pt/WO3 catalyst exhibited outstanding hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance, with –27.8 mV vs. RHE onset potential and –37.4 mV …

Physical And Chemical Characterization Of Recycled Glass Sand For Environmental Restoration, Shehbaz Ahmad, Julie P. Vanegas, Nicholas Borne, Natalia Butler, Toby Mendels, Leah A. Michaeloff, Diego Molina, Mary Salvaggio, Samantha Tamayo, Franziska Trautmann

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Introduction

We rely on coastal resources for food, water, and energy. However, over 75% of U.S. coastlines are eroding. Concurrently, the U.S. recycles less glass than other developed countries, landfilling hundreds of millions of tons every year. Recycled glass sand has many potential benefits over natural sand for combatting land loss; for example, it can be produced with controlled particle size to better resist erosion, making it an excellent—and underutilized—material for environmental restoration.

Objectives

This research compares the physical and chemical properties of recycled glass sand to natural sands (beach and dredge) from the U.S. Gulf Coast to assess environmental …

Jet Fuel Melts Steel Democracies: The Relationships Among Dark Personality, Belief In Conspiracy Theories, And Political Violence, Gabriel Alfaro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Conspiracy theories are defined generally as the belief that a ‘shadowy group’ or collective is intentionally acting against one’s in-group. The last decade has seen significant sociopolitical and socioeconomic shifts, with rising antidemocratic sentiment in democracies and the COVID-19 pandemic contributing to new research on conspiracy theories. Recent studies have consistently found that dark personality traits are positively associated with belief in conspiracy theories. Other studies have also documented the potential links between conspiracy theories and antidemocratic beliefs, actions, and subsequent political violence. The present study builds on previous work examining specific conspiracy theories by exploring the relationship of dark …

Perception Of Florida Political Actions By Higher Education, Matt Vanover Vanover

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This qualitative dissertation examines the impact of recent political actions in Florida on higher education, specifically exploring how these developments have influenced tenured, public university professors' teaching practices, student interactions, and research agendas. Guided by the theoretical framework of social constructionism and employing narrative inquiry as the methodological approach, the study captures the lived experiences of six tenured faculty members at public universities across the state. The findings indicate that Florida’s political actions of Governor Ron DeSantis and a Republican-led legislature may have led to changes in the academic landscape. Professors report self-censorship in the classroom, limited discussions of controversial …

Hegemonic Entrepreneurial Masculinities In Patriarchal Contexts: Exploring Men's Entrepreneurship In War-Torn Territories, Doaa Althalathini, Theodore A. Khoury, Nick Rumens

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article examines how the war-torn context in Iraq has affected men’s entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial masculinities. Drawing on the entrepreneurship masculinities literature, Connell’s notion of hegemonic masculinity and in-depth interviews with 21 Iraqi men entrepreneurs, this article demonstrates the complex interplay between entrepreneurship, masculinity and patriarchal dynamics in the context of wars and economic instability in Iraq. Study findings show how Iraqi men often turn to entrepreneurship out of necessity to meet patriarchal expectations of them as primary providers for their families. We contribute to the literature on entrepreneurship, men and masculinities by demonstrating how entrepreneurship not only serves as …

Population Genomic Investigation Of The Oregon Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps Wrighti) Reveals Suburban Populations Are Remnants, Not Recent Introductions, Clare Yang, Laura Guderyahn, Charlotte Corkran, Steven Wagner, Lauren M. Chan

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the face of urbanization and anthropogenic change, some native species persist while others are lost. Understanding native populations, particularly in marginal habitat, can lend insights into the effects of habitat change. The Oregon Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps wrighti) is endemic to the late-successional forests of the Cascade Range in Oregon and has declined due to land use change. In 2007, several populations of the Oregon Slender Salamander were found within highly human-modified localities in the Portland Metropolitan Region. We investigate whether these, and other newly discovered suburban populations, represent remnant populations that persisted in the face of habitat …

Proactive Personal Safety Systems Using Artificial Intelligence, Sumukh Ashok Shevde, Kamran Mustafa, Abhijit Adsule

Defensive Publications Series

This document describes techniques that enable a mobile computing device (e.g., a smartphone, smart watch, wearable device, augmented reality glasses, vehicle infotainment system, etc.) to generate context data (e.g., location data, movement patterns, audio data, biometrics, traffic hazards, recent crimes, etc.) for use by a proactive personal safety system. The proactive personal safety system may include an intelligent software agent (e.g., artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning model, etc.) hosted locally on the mobile computing device, on a companion device (e.g., tethered smartphone), on a cloud server, etc. The mobile computing device may continuously monitor diverse environmental factors and user behavior …