Digital Commons Network^™

The Hrt Boomerang: The Rise, Fall, And Rise Again Of Hormone Replacement Therapy For Menopause In The United States, Rachel A. Dopico

Senior Honors and Award-Winning Theses

No abstract provided.

Prevalence And Characteristics For Mental Health Disorder Before And After Childhood Cancer Diagnosis—A Statewide Population-Based Study Among Medicaid Beneficiaries, Feitong Lei, Laurie E. Mclouth, Eric B. Durbin, Thomas T. Tucker, John L. Villano, Bin Huang

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Pediatric cancer patients suffer mental health deficits. Patients who are vulnerable with respect to socioeconomic or other sociodemographic factors may be at heightened risk for worse mental health outcomes during cancer for many reasons including entering treatment with an existing mental health disorder. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence and trajectory of mental health before and after a childhood cancer diagnosis in a socio-demographically at-risk sample.

Methods: Data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry was utilized to identify patients aged 19 or under with a first primary childhood cancer diagnosis during 2001–2017. Linking KCR data with …

The Bigotry Of The Future: Ai Recruitment Tools & Hiring Discrimination Law, Lily Manshel

City University of New York Law Review

As one-click applications and a competitive job market result in hundreds of applicants per listing, hiring tools that use Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) promise recruiters a convenient way to sort through the crowd and find the “perfect” candidate, all while eliminating human bias. These tools—which include resume screeners, gamified assessments and personality tests, and video interviewing software—are proliferating so rapidly that their ubiquity is positioned as inevitable by both the software companies that produce them and the employers who use them. However, the use of these automated decision-making tools creates a paradox under existing antidiscrimination law: the systems clearly perpetuate and …

Disability As A Critical Element In Exploring The Racial Wealth Gap, Nanette Goodman, Montserrat Avila-Acosta, Fitore Hyseni, Peter Blanck

The Lender Center for Social Justice

This report examines the racial wealth gap for people with disabilities in the United States. While the racial wealth gap is well-documented, with the median White household having a net worth 7-10 times higher than the median Black household, the wealth gap experienced by people with disabilities remains less explored. Recent data show that households without disabilities possess, on average, 6 times the net worth of households led by a working-age person with a disability. Wealth, defined as total household assets minus total liabilities, is a comprehensive measure of economic well-being and social stratification, and it has wide implications, including …

Office Of Research Compliance: Policy On Scientific Integrity And Misconduct

Academic Affairs – Policy Library

No abstract provided.

Delphi Study To Explore The Organizational Characteristics, Conditions, And Infrastructures Needed To Integrate Professional Development With A Career Advancement Framework In The Form Of Career Lattice, Shelly Yu-Tze Tze Shelly Wang

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this policy Delphi study was to identify, prioritize, and build expert consensus on the organizational characteristics, conditions, and infrastructures that support employee access to professional development (PD) opportunities embedded within a career advancement (CAd) framework. Specifically, this study aimed to: (a) identify key organizational components necessary to support professional development within a career lattice structure, (b) determine the relative importance of these components as rated by experts, and (c) establish expert-recommended strategies for implementation.

Methodology: This study used a Delphi method, consisting of three rounds, to collect data from experts with the titles of manager, directors, …

Retention Of Elementary Special Education Teachers: A Phenomenological Study Of Retention Factors And Work-Life Balance In Brick-And-Mortar And Virtual, Independent Study Educational Environments, Meredith Clark-Lewis

Dissertations

Purpose: This phenomenological study aimed to identify the factors that influence the retention of elementary special education teachers in virtual, independent study environments and brick-and-mortar environments, and to explore similarities and differences in how elementary special education teachers experience work-life balance across educational settings.

Methodology: Purposeful sampling was used to identify 10 elementary special education teachers in California who worked in brick-and-mortar and virtual independent study settings and met the study's inclusion criteria. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted virtually, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo qualitative data analysis software. Both deductive and inductive coding strategies were employed, guided by the …

Student Wellness: Exploring The Role Of Faculty In Implementing Effective Supports For Mental Well-Being And Academic Performance In Community College Dental Hygiene Education, Bernadette Heather Smith

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological, comparative study was to identify and describe effective supports used by dental hygiene faculty and their role in the mental well-being and academic performance of community college dental hygiene students.

Methodology: Two Southern California community college dental hygiene programs were selected for this phenomenological study to identify the use of faculty supports. A purposeful sampling strategy was applied to these populations to identify participants in specific selection criteria. Twenty-one participants, who consisted of five faculty members and five or six 2nd-year students from each school, were selected. Data were collected by conducting individual interviews …

Disability Studies And Disability Evaluation In Healthcare—Themes And Challenges Moving Forward, Debra A. Harley, Si-Yi Chao

Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Accounting For Spatial Effects And Social Norms In Making Algorithmic Law: Insights From And Applications In Urban Mobility, Jingkang Gao

Journal of Law and Mobility

This Article examines a prominent idea in the law and technology literature: that algorithms and big data can be used to make law dynamic and personalized. As currently envisioned by legal scholars, “algorithmic law” entails laws that adjust in real time to changing conditions and vary across individuals, improving welfare by tailoring legal rules and standards to personal characteristics.

This Article argues that this vision of algorithmic law is incomplete—and often counterproductive. Existing proposals treat personalization as a function of individual attributes alone, overlooking the fact that effects of individual behavior are fundamentally interactive. Individual behavior is shaped by spatial …

Discrimination Distress And Current Combustible And Non-Combustible Tobacco Product Use Among Us Youth, 2023, Meman Diaby, Osayande Agbonlahor, Maggie K. Richardson, Joy L. Hart, Shyanika W. Rose, Delvon T. Mattingly

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Introduction: Discrimination is the unfair treatment of people based on their identity. Youth who experience discrimination may cope with associated distress by using tobacco products, with amplified health consequences depending on the type of product.

Methods: We used data from the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey (n = 22 069) and derived an overall continuous measure from the 15-item Adolescent Discrimination Distress Index, as well as three continuous discrimination distress sub-indices: educational, institutional, and peer (range for each: 0–5). We defined current tobacco use as two outcomes: any past 30-day use of combustible (cigarettes, cigars, hookah, roll- your-own, pipe, bidis) …

End Stage Renal Disease, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with end stage renal disease.

Anorexia-Bulimia, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with anorexia and bulimia.

Arfid, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder or ARFID.

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (Adem), Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis or ADEM.

Psychological Characteristics Of Beginner And Advanced Judokas, Leanardo De Lorenco-Lima, Daniery Rosario, Reury F. P. Bacurau, Leonardo V. Andreato, Stacey A. Gaines

Applied Sport & Performance Psychology | Faculty Scholarship

Several psychological benefits have been associated with judo training, including enhanced cognitive functioning, improved emotional regulation, and higher self-confidence, with training experience being associated with higher levels of several psychological characteristics. Purpose: The current study explored the differences in training and psychological  characteristics  between  beginner  and  advanced  judokas.  Methods:  A  sample  of  146  judokas (77.4% male), including 67 beginners and 79 advanced, between 18 and 45 years of age, completed the Brief Resilience Scale (α = .84), Grit Scale (α = .82), General Self-Efficacy Scale (α = .85), Brief Self-Control Scale (α = .82), Brief Aggression Questionnaire (α = .75), …

Childhood Mental Health And Major Depression In Later Life: A Survival Analysis Across 12 Years, Xiaoling Xiang, Xiafei Wang, Xinyin Zhang, Josephine Abrials

Social Work Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study examined the relationship between childhood mental health conditions and incident major depression in middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: This longitudinal panel study used 12 years of data from 27,220 adults aged 51 and older in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study. Childhood mental health conditions were assessed retrospectively with a question about having a depression, drug/alcohol, or other emotional problem before age 16. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs).

Results: Childhood mental health conditions were reported by 6.04% of the unweighted sample (n = 1643) and were associated with a more than 2-fold …

Artificial Intelligence–Enabled Revenue Cycle Management And Financial Performance In Healthcare Organizations, K’Reesa Webster

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this review was to examine how artificial intelligence–enabled revenue cycle management (AI-enabled RCM) systems have been associated with financial performance outcomes in healthcare organizations. A literature review following a systematic process consistent with PRISMA 2020 guidelines was conducted to identify quantitative studies published between 2015 and 2026. Eligible studies were required to report at least one financial outcome related to claim denial rate, days in accounts receivable, or operating margin. Twenty-seven studies met all inclusion criteria. Findings across these studies indicated that AI-enabled RCM systems have been associated with lower denial rates, shorter accounts receivable timelines, and …

Integrating Social Media And Entrepreneurship: A Study Of Social Media, Creativity, Strategy, And Innovation In Building A Successful Brand Presence In The Digital Era, Lys Ishiari

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social media has completely changed what it means to start a business. It was once just a place for personal interactions but is currently a powerful channel that drives the growth of multiple industries (Felicia, 2022). Now, anyone can use their personal creativity and hobbies to build a brand, especially on apps like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. The purpose of this study is to identify the common themes behind social media entrepreneurs’ success, which allows individuals to become both creators and business owners in the digital age. Furthermore, a key part of writing this paper is personal; it connects to …

Seismicity And Stress Interactions In Western Nepal: Implications For Strain Accumulation In The Central Himalayan Seismic Gap, Priyanka Dhamala

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This study examines the patterns of seismicity in western Nepal within the central Himalayan seismic gap and determines whether current earthquake occurrence represents short-term stress release through clustered seismicity or long -term strain accumulation reflected by independent background earthquakes. A unified earthquake catalog was developed by combining regional and global earthquake catalogs and homogenizing magnitudes to moment magnitude (Mw). Completeness analysis based on the Stepp method indicated that this catalog is reliable for Mw ≥ 4.8. A nearest neighbor declustering algorithm has been implemented to identify clustered earthquakes from background seismicity due to long-term tectonic loading. Frequency-magnitude analysis shows b-values …

Geochemical, Tectonic, And Temporal Evolution Of The Southeastern Superior Craton: Insights From The Three Lakes Region, Michigan, Helen Ann Foldenauer

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The geodynamic processes associated with the onset of global plate tectonics remain a contentious topic in Earth Sciences. The Superior Craton of south-central Canada is the largest preserved area of known Archean material, and study of this area has contributed greatly to our understanding of these early Earth processes. The study area near Three Lakes, Michigan, was designated by the USGS as part of the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (EMRI) program. No complete, detailed geologic map currently exists for the assigned area, and by contributing to mapping efforts, this study was able to assess both the Archean tectonic evolution and …

Bridging Clinic To Home: The Development Of A Caregiver Education Program To Support Home Carryover Of Feeding Interventions, Rachel Adams

OTD Capstones

Abstract

Objective Caregivers of children with pediatric feeding disorders or difficulties face stressful emotions within the context of feeding. There is an identified gap in pediatric outpatient occupational therapy and the educational resources they provide to caregivers related to feeding. To address this, the capstone project aimed to develop and integrate an evidence-based caregiver education program into the capstone site’s feeding therapy model to make a more well-rounded and all-inclusive feeding therapy program. Methods Two caregiver surveys were sent out along with a staff survey to identify the needs of the site and the caregivers of the clients and to …

Osteosarcoma, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with osteosarcoma.

Special Education (Sped), Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Parent guide about special education or SPED.

Machines In The Marsh: Struggles Of Peatland Rehabilitation Following The Shutdown Of The Irish Industrial Peat Industry, Maeve Mcgroary

Student Theses 2015-Present

As the EU and the Irish government focus on shifting to green energy and becoming carbon neutral, there has been a growing concern about the use of Irish peatland. For centuries, Irish people have cut and dried peat for the purpose of burning. This would traditionally be used for heating and cooking but as electricity became increasingly popular in the 1960s, companies like Bord na Móna helped industrialize the process of harvesting peat as part of their expansion of several peat-fired electricity stations. Chapter one discusses how decades of overharvesting has caused extreme damage to peatlands and their wildlife. Chapter …

Empowering Women Through Surf Therapy: A Trauma-Informed Facilitation Toolkit, Ashlie Steppe

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Women who have experienced trauma often face challenges with emotional regulation, sense of safety and daily functioning. Additionally, one in three women experience trauma throughout their lifetime and this can lead to difficulty with connection, body awareness, and engagement in meaningful activities. A local non-profit surf therapy organization was established to provide women with a supportive community and meaningful, nature-based activity to promote healing and connection. The purpose of this quality improvement capstone experience was to address and develop a sustainable trauma-informed wellness toolkit to support facilitators in delivering structured wellness activities within the program. The toolkit specifically addressed key …

Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Emerging Themes, Stephanie Yelder-Stovall

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) is a research-grounded pedagogical approach for educational equity centering cultural knowledge to make learning meaningful and relevant (Gay, 2002). However, a persistent gap remains between CRT as a concept and classroom implementation. Research suggests translating the principles of CRT frameworks into classroom practice remains challenging (Gay, 2000, 2010; Sleeter, 2012). Guided by the research question and using Schreier’s (2012) qualitative content analysis approach, I analyzed a dataset of 14 varied sources through a deductive coding frame derived from four theoretical frameworks: (a) Gay’s (2000, 2010) CRT, (b) Hammond’s (2015) ready for rigor, (c) Paris and Alim’s …

The Moderating Effect Of Workplace Generations And Industry 4.0 Technology On The Relationship Between Self-Determination Factors And Gen Z’S Turnover Intentions, Josh Kauffman

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

This study investigated relationships among the three factors of self-determination theory (SDT)—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—and Generation Z’s engagement with Industry 4.0 technologies and employee turnover intentions within the U.S. manufacturing sector. Specifically, it evaluated whether SDT factors and technology adoption differentially influence turnover intentions for Generation Z compared with other cohorts, while examining effects of specific technologies and their interaction with motivational variables. A quantitative research design employed survey methodology and random sampling of full-time manufacturing employees across the United States. Data were collected anonymously over a 2-week period using validated instruments, including the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction for Technology …

Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy And Alcohol Use Disorder, Zoe R. Evans

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This current paper has studied whether the psilocybin-assisted treatment has been linked with meaningful shifts in three clinical outcomes among adults 18 years old and above diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD): percentage of heavy drinking days, abstinence rates, and neural responsiveness to alcohol-related cues. A literature review following a systematic approach was performed using guidelines from PRISMA 2020 based on four databases, namely PubMed and PsycINFO, and Scopus and CINAHL, where peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2026 were included. A semi-structured professional interview with a clinical researcher in the Division of Addiction Sciences of Marshall University was also …

The Use Of Recycled Plastic In Asphalt Pavements: Feasibility Study, Isabella Bueno, Robert Rea, Jamilla Teixeira

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The plastics industry has been actively exploring new end-market opportunities for the more than 35 million tons of waste plastics generated annually. The use of recycled WP in asphalt presents an opportunity to improve pavement performance while reducing the growing amount of WP being landfilled or released into the environment. However, the use of WP in asphalt mixtures poses challenges due to variations in plastic composition and the presence of non-plastic contaminants. The absence of standardized procedures has resulted in inconsistent integration methods and unclear roles of WP within asphalt concrete (AC) mixtures. Therefore, the goal of this multiphase study …