Digital Commons Network^™

Staff Education For Prevention And Management Of Obesity In Adolescents From Underserved Communities, Doris Mtarubukwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This DNP project implemented a targeted staff education intervention designed to bridge the practice gap in obesity management among adolescents in underserved communities. A comprehensive chart review of 45 patients revealed that only 3% of encounters adequately addressed obesity using evidence-based practice (EBP) guidelines, establishing the urgent need for healthcare provider education and competency development. Adolescents in underserved communities face complex barriers to health and wellness, with obesity representing a critical public health concern. The literature demonstrated that childhood and adolescent obesity serves as a significant risk factor for multiple chronic conditions in adulthood, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary …

Austin V. State [State Of Nevada], 142 Nev., Adv. Op. 12 (Feb. 26, 2026, Erika Loveland

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

An attached garage is part of a "dwelling" under NRS 205.067. Thus, forcibly entering an attached garage without permission constitutes a home invasion.

Remote Sensing Of Dynamic Ground Motion Via A Moiré-Based Apparatus, Adrian Ali Moazzam, Nontawat Srisapan, Gregory Waite, Durdu Guney, Roohollah Askari

Michigan Tech Publications

Highlights: What are the main findings? A Moiré-based optical apparatus enables long-range, non-contact ground displacement measurement in hazardous environments. Controlled indoor and outdoor experiments demonstrate reliable detection of dynamic and seismic-like ground motions with sub-millimeter resolution. What are the implications of the main findings? System performance is evaluated under atmospheric turbulence and wind, revealing key limits and mitigation strategies for field deployment. The proposed approach provides a low-cost, scalable complement to traditional seismic and geodetic monitoring techniques. Ground-based remote sensing of seismic and geophysical displacements remains a major challenge due to environmental hazards, signal attenuation, and practical deployment limitations of …

From Wrist Data To Lifespan: Elucidating Inflammation-Driven Biological Aging Via Activity Rhythms Captured By Wearable Devices, Jinjoo Shim, Faraz Bishehsari, Mahboobeh Mahdavinia, Jamie M Zeitzer, Elgar Fleisch, Filipe Barata

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Systemic inflammation ("inflammaging") accelerates biological aging and drives cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disease. Circadian rhythms regulate the amplitude and timing of immune responses, yet their mechanistic role in inflammation and longevity remains unexplored. In 62,000 adults with 7-day wearable accelerometry, interpretable machine learning model identified rhythm amplitude, stability, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as dominant predictors of accelerated aging. In a subset of 1521 participants (35% male) with available data on the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), we further examined the associations between behavioral rhythmicity and inflammation. Low amplitude and poor rhythm stability were associated with 0.31 and 0.18 SD higher …

Balancing Education And Health Among Rural Schoolchildren During Prolonged Heat Wave In The Philippines, Elias Olapane

Kesmas

Intensifying heat waves disrupt learning environments in the Philippines, particularly in rural areas where schools often lack adaptive infrastructure. Many rural classrooms are built with heat-retaining materials, such as concrete, which trap excessive heat, leading to indoor temperatures exceeding safe comfort levels. These conditions lead to dehydration, fatigue, and reduced cognitive function, directly impairing students’ focus and academic performance. Schoolchildren are particularly vulnerable due to their developing thermoregulatory systems, higher metabolic demands, and potential preexisting health conditions. These risks are further amplified in rural communities with limited access to cooling, healthcare, and adaptive resources. These challenges require practical, context-specific interventions. …

Sensi-Train: Context-Aware Sensitive Content Detection Using Transformers And Large Language Models, Nazeefa Muzammil

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The detection of sensitive content has become a critical task in natural language processing due to the widespread use of online platforms and the social harm caused by it. Even though current methods have advanced significantly, many of them mainly rely on surface-level text and neglect to take into consideration contextual and cultural elements that are crucial for correctly assessing sensitivity of any content to a particular individual. Due to this, implicit offense, sarcasm, and culturally grounded expressions frequently cause problems for such systems. To enable culturally grounded sensitive content detection, this thesis presents Sensi-Train, a context-rich dataset and modeling …

The Relationship Between Police Encounters And Anxiety Levels Among Urban Black Males Aged 18–40, Wilbert Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study examined the relationship between police encounter characteristics and anxiety symptoms among urban Black males aged 18–40 in the United States. Although prior research has documented racial disparities in police contact and adverse mental health outcomes, limited empirical work has examined how multiple dimensions of police encounters jointly relate to anxiety within this population. Guided by Critical Race Theory, the study assessed whether the frequency, severity, and perceived fairness of police encounters were associated with self-reported anxiety symptoms. Data were collected from 138 self-identified urban Black males using a nonprobability, self-selected sampling approach. Participants completed an …

Medical-Surgical Nurses’ Perceptions On Incivility In A Hospital Setting, Monsurat Atinuke Mohammed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Incivility in nursing has become a chronic issue that harms nurses, patients, teams, and organizations. Individuals often feel belittled, which contributes to frequent job dissatisfaction and resignation, ultimately resulting in financial losses for an organization. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study, guided by Johnson’s behavioral model, was to explore nurses’ perceptions about incivility in a medical-surgical hospital setting. Ten semistructured audio-recorded interviews were conducted with registered nurses recruited through a professional organization. The data were manually transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Saldana’s approach. Results indicated four themes: (a) workplace culture and interpersonal dynamics, (b) need for support and mentorship, …

The Impact Of Second-Tiered Leadership Behavior On Postmerger Experience In The Jamaica Constabulary Force, James Theophilus Golding

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Following the merger of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) in May 2014, complaints emerged about inequitable treatment of former ISCF members, raising questions about social justice and breaches of the moral contract. Although prior research highlighted the importance of leadership in mergers, it neglected to examine the role of second-tier leadership. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate the potential role of second-tiered JCF leadership behavior in these perceived social justice breaches. A transformational leadership framework, which centers on leaders’ behavior and communication to motivate followers, underpinned the study. Purposeful …

Pretreatment Risk Model For Radiation-Induced Lymphopenia Is Associated With Adjuvant Durvalumab Efficacy In Patients With Unresectable Stage Iii Nsclc, Peter S N Van Rossum, Pim J J Damen, Francesco Cortiula, Brian P Hobbs, Lorenzo De Marchi, Radhe Mohan, Max Peters, Famke L Schneiders, Dirk De Ruysscher, Robin Wijsman, Joost J C Verhoeff, Ting Xu, Zhongxing Liao, Steven H Lin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Severe radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL) during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for NSCLC has been associated with poorer outcomes and reduced immunotherapy efficacy. Because RIL often develops late during CCRT, identifying patients at risk before treatment may be clinically relevant. This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram based on pretreatment predictors for severe RIL, and secondarily to explore associations between predicted RIL risk and adjuvant durvalumab-associated survival.

Methods: A retrospective development cohort of consecutive patients with NSCLC treated with CCRT (2010-2019) was established, along with an independent external validation cohort from other institutions. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed …

An Assessment Of Paediatricians' Knowledge And Perspectives Of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy In Oman, Zamzam Al Jabri, Maryam Alsawaie, Amal Saki Malehi, Amna Al Futaisi, Fatema Al-Amrani

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe, X-linked recessive disorder. The rarity of DMD and insufficient training result in paediatricians being uninformed about the condition, delaying diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and perspectives of Oman's paediatric residents and paediatricians regarding the genetics, clinical features and therapy of DMD. Furthermore, this study assessed the association between residency training phases (R1–R4) and post-residency knowledge, together with the influence of professional titles on DMD knowledge. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2024 to February 2025 and included paediatric healthcare practitioners. An online questionnaire was …

A Comparative Assessment Of School Psychological Services In A Select Higher Education Institution, Alvin Ryan Alcantara Dizon

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

This quantitative descriptive-comparative research assessed the effectiveness and adequacy of SPS in a higher education institution in Southern Tagalog, Philippines. This study aimed to identify the perceived importance of both direct and indirect psychological services and evaluate the extent of administrative support in implementing them. Participants included 75 administrative personnel, 30 mental health staff, and 384 faculty and student respondents selected through stratified proportional sampling. Data were collected using a validated and reliable instrument (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.966-0.989) and analyzed using analysis of variance and independent sample t-tests. Results revealed that all respondent groups rated direct services as very important …

Pro-Environmental Behavior: Its Moderating Role On The Relationship Between Environmental Identity And Climate Change Anxiety Among Gen Z Filipinos, Marc Eric S. Reyes, Alvin Joseph D. Mapoy, Victoria Ann Louis N. Aranzanso, Francheska Ysabel A. Avera, Beatrice O. Martinez, Mariah Michaela T. Ramos, Ryan Francis O. Cayubit

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Environmental identity refers to an individual’s understanding of how their environment shapes their identity and relationships. This connection may cause climate change anxiety and motivate pro-environmental behavior. Using an explanatory, cross-sectional design, we examined whether environmental identity (EI) predicts climate change anxiety (CCA) and whether pro-environmental behavior (PEB) moderates their relationship. Seven hundred sixty-one Filipinos aged 18–25 completed the Revised Environmental Identity Scale, Climate Change Anxiety Scale, and Pro-Environmental Behavior Scale. Our findings revealed a significant positive relationship between environmental identity and anxiety about climate change. However, moderation analysis indicated that environmental identity is only associated with climate change anxiety …

Machine Learning For Elderly Behavior And Risk Incident Modeling, Muhammad Tanveer Jan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The rapid expansion of the aging population presents critical challenges to healthcare systems, particularly in maintaining independent living, ensuring mobility safety, and optimizing emergency interventions. Traditional monitoring solutions are often fragmented, reactive, and hindered by the scarcity of data regarding rare high-risk events. This dissertation proposes a comprehensive, multi-modal machine learning framework designed to model elderly behavior and predict risk incidents across three critical environments: the home, the vehicle, and the clinical setting.

To address the fundamental challenge of class imbalance in medical and behavioral datasets—where risk events are statistically rare—this research first introduces a dual-phase data augmentation strategy. By …

Advances In Real-Time American Sign Language Recognition System Using Deep Learning Techniques For Enhanced Accessibility, Bader Alsharif

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Advancements in technology have significantly contributed to the development of innovative tools aimed at improving communication and accessibility for individuals with hearing impairments. This dissertation explores various machine learning and deep learning techniques for recognizing American Sign Language (ASL) gestures, focusing on enhancing accessibility and bridging the communication gap between hearing-impaired and hearing individuals. Traditional machine learning models, such as Random Forest, Support Vector Machines (SVM), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), alongside deep learning architectures like AlexNet, ResNet-50, EfficientNet, ConvNeXt, and VisionTransformer, were investigated for their effectiveness. Experiments conducted on an extensive dataset of 87,000 ASL gesture images revealed exceptional recognition …

Spectator 2026-02-26, Editors Of The Spectator

The Spectator

No abstract provided.

Gendered Harms In Armed Conflict: International Legal Responses To The Gendered Effects Of The War In Sudan, Naima Dams

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis interrogates how international law conceptualizes, prosecutes, and ultimately limits the understanding of sexual violence in contexts of war and displacement. Drawing on feminist legal theory, postcolonial critique, and ethnographic fieldwork with Sudanese women displaced in Egypt, it questions the dominant legal framing of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) as episodic, exceptional, and individualized. Instead, it reveals sexual violence as structural, continuous, and embedded in the everyday realities of racialized, gendered, and colonial harm.

Through ethnographical narratives, the study exposes how survivors' experiences often exceed the legibility frameworks of humanitarian and legal institutions, which prioritize spectacular, forensic evidence over slow, …

Turning Zwitterions Into Toughening Agents: Salt-Activated Microdomains In Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Double-Network Hydrogels, Louis D. Zhang, Jintao Yang, Si Yu Zheng

University Research

Zwitterionic hydrogels, although highly biocompatible, are widely regarded as mechanically fragile, with typical tensile strengths below 0.1 MPa, which restricts their use in load-bearing applications. Here, we address this limitation by integrating a polyzwitterionic network with a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) network through high-speed pregelation agitation that enhances chain entanglement and induces flow orientation. By exploiting the salt-driven conformational transition of zwitterionic chains, a controlled salting-out step generates uniformly dispersed nanoscale microdomains that act as reversible energy-dissipating units. At the same time, balanced hydrogen bonding between the two networks moderates PVA crystallinity, limiting embrittlement while preserving elasticity. The resulting double-network hydrogel …

Comments On The Draft Environmental Impact Statement On Post-2026 Operational Guidelines And Strategies For Lake Powell And Lake Mead, Anne Castle, John Fleck, Eric Kuhn, Jack Schmidt, Katherine Tara, Kathryn Sorensen

The Traveling Wilburys of the Colorado River

Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Post-2026 Operational Guidelines and Strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead (DEIS). The undersigned colleagues with experience in Colorado River matters commend the Bureau of Reclamation and its consultants for the tremendous effort involved in preparing this environmental impact analysis. We are especially impressed by Reclamation’s effort to analyze policy alternatives within the context of the deep uncertainty about what future hydrology might be. Your work is novel in its effort to provide the public with a sense of what the performance, robustness, and vulnerability …

Ai Transformation In Education: Examining Teachers’ Perceptions Using An Integrated Tam-Tpack-Genai Framework, Areej Elsayary, Ghadah Al Murshidi, Karim Ragab, Ahmed Al Zaabi

All Works

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming educational systems by enhancing teaching, assessment, and learning personalization. This study investigated teachers’ perceptions of AI integration using an integrated technology acceptance model (TAM), technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK), and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) framework. The main constructs used are perceived usefulness (PU), attitudes toward use (ATU), and behavioral intention (BI), with GenAI dimensions (agency, amplification, adaptivity, and authenticity) embedded within them. The study employed a cross-sectional design with 332 teachers in the emirate of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Results showed that PU was the strongest predictor of both ATU and BI, while ATU …

Soil Re-Engineering In Western Australia, Part I: A Novel Approach For Rapid And Lasting Improvement Of Soil Physical And Chemical Properties, Gaus Azam, Chad Reynolds

Natural Resources Research Articles

Context

Soil acidity, high soil strength, and poor subsoil structure are major constraints to crop productivity in coarse-textured and texture-contrast soils of southern Australia. These interacting limitations restrict root growth, reduce access to subsoil water and nutrients, and constrain yield potential in water-limited environments. While deep tillage and surface liming have been used to address individual constraints, their benefits are often short-lived and insufficient to overcome multiple subsoil limitations simultaneously. Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of soil profile re-engineering on soil physical, chemical, and hydrological properties, and to determine the persistence of these changes …

Bl(U)E Crab: Bluetooth Low Energy Connection Risk Assessment Benchmarking, Dylan Christopher Conklin

Dissertations and Theses

The usage of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-based tracker devices for stalking has become a salient privacy concern. Detecting unwanted or suspicious trackers is challenging due to their cross-platform compatibility issues, inconsistent detection methods, and lack of an industry-wide standard for detecting malicious devices. BL(u)E CRAB, Bluetooth Low Energy Connection Risk Assessment Benchmarking, scans data and generates risk factors about nearby devices to classify them as suspicious or not. These risk factors include the number of encounters the user had with a device, the duration of time a device has been near the user, the distance a device has traveled …

A Glimpse Into The Impact Of Physical Activity On Linear Growth In Children And Adolescents Through Activity Restrictions Accompanying The Covid-19 Outbreak, Yi-Chun Lin, Wen-Ling Liao, Chung-Hsing Wang, Fuu-Jen Tsai

BioMedicine

Background: Linear growth in children and adolescents, a key health indicator, is influenced by various factors, including physical activity (PA). The COVID-19 lockdown in Taiwan created a unique opportunity to examine the effect of PA restrictions on growth.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at two hospitals in central Taiwan. The study included 72 children and adolescents (26 males, 46 females) who attended a growth clinic. Height and weight measurements were recorded in three stages: pre-lockdown, during lockdown, and post-lockdown. Growth rates were compared across stages using paired t-tests.

Results: The average growth rate was lowest during lockdown (0.0181 …

Increased Dairy Product Consumption Is Associated With Shorter Telomere Length In Buccal Cells Among Normotensive Adults, Hsin-Hwa Tsai, Yang-Di Su, Zi-Lun Lai, Chia-Yu Lin, Shu-Fan Lin, Hsiu-Ching Hsu, Wen-Yuan Lin, Po-Ren Hsueh

BioMedicine

Background: Telomere length (TL) is a biomarker of biological aging and a predictor of age-related diseases. Dietary patterns, including dairy consumption, may influence telomere dynamics, but the evidence remains limited, particularly in Asian populations. This study investigates the association between dairy consumption and relative telomere length (RTL) in Taiwanese adults, with results analyzed by hypertension status.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 259 adults in Taipei, Taiwan. RTL was measured using quantitative PCR from buccal cells. Dietary intake was assessed through self-reported questionnaires, with a focus on dairy frequency and fat content. Multiple linear regression models were used to …

Kriminalistik, Pengungkap Materiele Waardheid, I Nyoman Nurjaya, S.H.

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

Teachers’ Views On The Relevance Of Local Wisdom Values In Strengthening Students’ Character Education, Fatkhurozqi Razaq, Oktaviani Adhi Suciptaningsih, Aynin Mashfufah

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

The digital era has had a dual impact on basic education, where technological advances are often accompanied by cultural erosion and moral degradation among students. The increase in bullying cases and the decline in manners indicate that conventional character education has not been able to effectively filter the negative influences of globalization. This study aims to explore the perception of urgency and pedagogical strategies of elementary school teachers in integrating local wisdom values into character-building learning. The research method used was descriptive qualitative, involving ten elementary school teachers as participants selected through purposive sampling. Data collection was carried out using …

Integrating Island Local Wisdom Into Project-Based Learning: A Strategy To Enhance Critical Thinking Skills In Coastal Primary Education, Miirwan Rambe, Mohammad Yusuf Randy

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

This research was driven by the identified deficit in critical thinking skills among elementary students at UPTD SDN 010131 Pulau Rakyat Tua, largely attributed to traditional teacher-centered instruction and a lack of contextualized, project-based learning. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a Project-Based Learning (PjBL) model integrated with local wisdom on the critical thinking proficiency of fifth-grade students. Utilizing a pre experimental one-group pretest-posttest design, the study involved 30 students as the experimental sample. Data were collected through validated critical thinking tests and structured observation sheets. The results indicated a significant enhancement in student performance, …

Improving Science Learning Outcomes On Force Module Through Teams Games Tournament (Tgt) Model For 4th Grade Students At Sdn 15 Indralaya, Nia Julianti, Mohammad Yusuf Randy

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

This research was initiated to address pedagogical challenges identified at SD Negeri 15 Indralaya, specifically the low levels of student engagement and sub-optimal learning outcomes in the Science (IPAS) "Force" module. The objective of this study was to evaluate the improvement in academic performance following the implementation of the Teams Games Tournament (TGT) learning model among fourth-grade students during the first semester of the 2025/2026 academic year. This study employed a Classroom Action Research (CAR) design conducted over two cycles, each comprising four systematic phases: planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. The participants included 14 fourth-grade students. Data were analyzed using …

Strengthen The Implementation Of 2013 Curriculum Based On Local Wisdom In Growing Elementary School Student Character, Amina Divina P

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

The entry of foreign culture which increasingly erodes local values and culture is a problem for the Indonesian nation. This problem arises due to a lack of public interest and concern for the cultural wealth they have. In order to foster the potential of students with characters based on culture, values, and local wisdom that are in accordance with the demands of society, this study aims to examine the strengthening of the implementation of the operational curriculum of the SD Gunongsekar 1 Madura education unit towards the character of students based on local wisdom. The development of the 2013 curriculum …

Development Of E-Book Teaching Modules In Science Learning To Improve Learning Outcomes Of Grade V Students Of Sdn 2 Nurussalam Aceh Timur, Sri Irma Susanti, Lili Kasmini, Siti Mayang Sari, Fitriani Manurung

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

This study responds to the need for interactive elementary science teaching materials that enable timely feedback, particularly on the topic of magnetic force. The study aimed to develop an e-book teaching module for Grade V science and to examine its validity, practicality, and effectiveness. A research and development approach was applied using the ADDIE model. A limited try-out involved 30 Grade V students at SDN 2 Nurussalam, East Aceh. The module was reviewed by expert validators to evaluate content quality, instructional design, and language clarity using validation questionnaires. Practicality was measured through teacher and student response questionnaires, while effectiveness was …