Digital Commons Network^™

Jamaican Newspapers’ Strategies For Transitioning From Print To Web Publishing, Collin George Turner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of effective strategies to transition from print publishing to web publishing can adversely impact newspaper publishers’ sustainability and profitability. Business leaders of established newspaper publishers are concerned, as they require such strategies to enhance and maintain financial viability. Grounded in Christensen’s disruptive innovation theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the effective strategies some Jamaican newspaper publishers used to transition from print publishing to web publishing to improve and sustain profitability. The project participants included six business leaders from established Jamaican newspaper publishers. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, public websites, and other publicly …

Neighborhood Conditions And Screen-Time Impact On U.S. Children And Adolescents’ Mental Health, Robert L. Burries

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child and adolescent mental health problems are increasing, creating a critical public health concern. Both neighborhood disadvantage and excessive screen use have been implicated as risk factors, yet their interplay remains underexplored. This study investigated whether screen time mediates the relationship between neighborhood conditions and mental health outcomes in U.S. youth. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, the study addressed three questions: (a) Do neighborhood conditions predict youth mental health outcomes? (b) Is screen time associated with these outcomes? (c) Does screen time mediate the neighborhood–mental health relationship? A cross-sectional secondary analysis of the 2018–2019 National Survey of Children’s Health …

What Influences Changes In Gait Spatiotemporal Parameters In Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy? Focusing On Contractures, Muscle Strength, And Gait Deviations, Anita Bagley, Susan Sienko, Cathleen E. Buckon, Kent Heberer, Loretta Staudt, Eileen Fowler, Jason Newsom, Craig Mcdonald, Michael D. Sussman

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Aim: The absence of dystrophin in patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) causes muscle fiber necrosis and fibrosis and eventually muscle weakness and contractures. This study aimed to investigate the timing and extent of lower limb contracture development and to examine how contractures, muscle strength, and kinematic (e.g., limb position or joint movement) deviations relate to longitudinal changes in gait spatiotemporal parameters.

Methods: Seventy-five ambulatory boys with DMD participated in this prospective longitudinal study of contractures, isometric muscle strength, and gait analysis. Nonlinear mixed modeling (NLMIXED) exponential growth curve models were developed to investigate the effects of contractures, muscle strength, …

Naturalizing Motherhood: Neoliberal Femininity And The Re-Traditionalization Of Gender In Turkey, Canan Tanir

Sociology Faculty Publications

The recent trends in the social construction of “good mothering” through “naturalism” have become remarkably definitive in Turkey in the last decade. This study presents data from in-depth interviews with naturalist mothers in Istanbul demonstrating four operative mechanisms in their narratives with regard to their conception of gender. Practices of naturalist motherhood depart from systemic criticism and opposition to the ongoing neoliberal conservatization process in Turkey. However, at the same time, they are congruent with the normalization of a patriarchal gender order in this context. I propose that addressing this controversy is contingent on problematizing the focus on choice and …

Faculty Senate Meeting, 60th Senate Recording (10/21/2025), Csusb Faculty Senate

CSUSB Faculty Senate records

No abstract provided.

Coupling The Parflow Integrated Hydrology Model Within The Nasa Land Information System: A Case Study Over The Upper Colorado River Basin, P.Eyman Abbaszadeh, Fadji Zaouna Maina, Chen Yang, Dan Rosen, Sujay Kumar, Matthew Rodell, Reed Maxwell

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Understanding, observing, and simulating Earth's water cycle is imperative for effective water resource management in the face of a changing climate. While NASA's Land Information System (LIS)/Noah-MP is widely used for land surface modeling, its ability to represent groundwater processes is limited. In contrast, the ParFlow hydrologic model explicitly simulates subsurface water movement. This study explores the effectiveness and usefulness of the newly coupled modeling framework, ParFlow-LIS/Noah-MP (PF-LIS/Noah-MP) over the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB). The framework integrates the strengths of both models to provide a physically based representation of surface and subsurface processes and their interactions. Unlike standalone LIS/Noah-MP, …

Research Progress On The Effect Of Grafting Technology On Disease Resistance And Stress Resistance Of Watermelon, Xuena Liu, Shikai La, Chang Chen, Ainong Shi, Mingjiao Wang, Yingying Zhang, Jinghuai Guo, Lingdi Dong

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Grafting is an effective horticultural technique that significantly enhances disease resistance and stress tolerance in watermelon. This review systematically summarizes the types of rootstocks used in watermelon grafting and analyzes the effects of grafting on plant responses to biotic stresses, such as viral and fungal pathogens, root-knot nematodes infections, and abiotic stresses, including drought, temperature extremes, and salinity. Furthermore, it discusses the changes in fruit quality and explores the underlying mechanisms associated with graft-induced resistance. By synthesizing recent research advances, this review aims to offer valuable insights and practical references for improving resistance and promoting sustainable production in cucurbit and …

Trauma-Informed Professional Development: An Intervention Mapping Study, Heidi Gilroy, Amanda Davis, Kimberly Mcintosh, Rosemary Pine, Becky Thayer

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Almost one-third of nurses have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma-informed professional development is a framework that allows nursing professional development practitioners to plan interventions to decrease risk for PTSD and facilitate recovery. This presentation will include the results of an intervention mapping study to develop those interventions.

Detailed abstract attached.

Healing The Heart Of Healthcare, Loren E. Hand, Nicole M. Probst, Leigh Griffis

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Learn how to help healthcare workers in your community heal from the trauma caused by being on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic so that they can return to work feeling proud, validated, and with a renewed sense of purpose for the profession.

Detailed abstract attached.

Exploring Effective Technological And Innovation Strategies For Sustaining Fintech Startups In Nairobi, Kenya, Beyond 5 Years, Esay Kollie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some small financial technology, or fintech, startup leaders in Nairobi, Kenya, lack the technological and innovation strategies required to sustain operations beyond 5 years. High failure rates among fintech startups in the early stages of operation affect financial inclusion and economic development in the region. Grounded in resource-based view theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective technological and innovation strategies fintech startup leaders in Nairobi use to sustain operations beyond 5 years. Data was collected through semistructured interviews with eight fintech startup leaders from different firms. Thematic analysis revealed seven major themes: (a) leveraging technological infrastructure, (b) innovating …

Successful Cybersecurity Strategies For Protecting Consumer Data, Zylia Ortiz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The continued advancement of information technology, although extraordinary and innovative, may have a profoundly negative impact on the adequate protection of consumer information. Consumers and organizational stakeholders alike are increasingly concerned about the risk of data ending up in the hands of cybercriminals. Grounded in the routine activity theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore the strategies information technology leaders use to protect customer data from security breaches. The participants were eight information technology leaders in the Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland area. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and public websites. …

Identifying Motivators For Retention Of Service Workers In Youth Group Care Programs, Michelle Lynn Briegel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Residential group care programs in Calgary, Alberta, Canada face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified human service workers. This workforce retention issue affects the quality of care provided to vulnerable children and youth, as well as the overall stability of residential group care. The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore why service workers in front-line jobs choose to stay in their positions in youth-serving residential group care programs, guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation. Nine participants were recruited through purposeful sampling via social media and email, with the criterion that they had been employed at …

Utilizing An Evidence-Based Educational Intervention To Assess Health Care Provider Knowledge And Confidence Of Weight Management Strategies In A Primary Care Setting, Fanny Ngwa Shu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to address a clinical gap in primary care by enhancing provider and staff knowledge and confidence in delivering weight management counseling. Despite the high prevalence of overweight and obesity, many healthcare providers feel inadequately prepared to initiate weight-related discussions due to factors such as limited training, cultural barriers, and a lack of understanding of social determinants of health (SDOH) that influence patient behaviors. This gap in care can hinder the effective management of chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. The practice-focused question guiding this project was: Can an educational session …

Relationship Of Job Demands And Perceived Usefulness Of Virtual Nursing Technology Among Bedside Nurses In Acute Care Settings, Oluponle Olubajo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Bedside nurses in acute care settings face intensified job demands amid persistent low nursing staff census and rising patient acuity. The purpose of the study, guided by the job demands–resources (JD-R) model, was to examine the relationship between job demands, years of nursing experience, and perceived usefulness of virtual nursing technology among bedside nurses in acute care settings. A cross-sectional online survey was administered to bedside registered nurses (N = 102) currently using virtual nursing technology. Measures included the Intensification of Job Demands Scale and the Perceived Usefulness Scale. Data analyses indicated that the multiple regression was not statistically significant, …

Exploring Challenges Of Parents With Disabilities Affecting Custody Of The Children, Kendyll King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 promoting equality for people with disabilities, parents with developmental and intellectual disabilities experience high rates of involvement with child welfare services due to outdated terminology, information about disabilities, and policies. The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges of parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and determine if they differ from those of parents without a disability. This was a generic qualitative study grounded in intersectionality theory. Education, employment, health and safety concerns, independence, assistive technology, social services involvement, and supports or resources were examined through the perspective of the …

School Counselors Lived Experiences With Executing Child-Centered Play Therapy In High-Diversity Elementary Schools, Ruth Devito

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Minority students are often omitted from social, economic, cultural, and political life due to ethnicity or poverty, which increases their risk of adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse or neglect, and increases their likelihood of discrimination that can obstruct their normal childhood development, including academic performance. Child-centered play therapy (CCPT) is a multiculturally appropriate approach that creates a safe and nonjudgmental environment, supporting adjustment and coping. However, many school counselors are not using CCPT. The research question was as follows: What are the lived experiences of school counselors who use CCPT in their work at high-diversity elementary schools? This study …

Fort Brooke After 200 Years: A Public Heritage Approach, Alex F. Fawbush

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fort Brooke, established in 1824 at the mouth of the Hillsborough River, shaped the growth of Tampa and Florida’s west coast for nearly sixty years and served as the nucleus for the forced removal of Indigenous people. Though the Fort itself has long since vanished beneath the modern city, archaeology has preserved its legacy. Excavations since the 1970s have uncovered rich assemblages of ceramics, glass, military equipment, faunal remains, and domestic refuse. These materials reveal daily life at the post, highlighting the interactions of soldiers, Seminoles, African Americans, white settlers, and Cuban fishermen, while also uncovering the deeper prehistoric, referred …

The Orange Glow In The Sunshine State: Three Visions Of Plato In Florida (1970-1990), Ryan Mcgahan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The PLATO network, a collection of mainframe computers, terminals, and educational software, has received an increasing amount of scholarly attention in the last decade as a social precursor to the modern internet. Existing histories have neglected to investigate the ways in which PLATO and its related business enterprise worked to accelerate the shift in university governance away from classical liberal ideas centering the public good and towards a more profit-centered neoliberal rationality. By tracing the rise of PLATO in Florida universities, this paper argues that PLATO aided and was aided by the shifting priorities of American universities in the 1970s …

The Marriage Of Reason And Imagination In British Romantic Poetry, Evelina Mykhovska

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

There is a general consensus among literary critics that the Romantic Era stands for a celebration of Imagination and an elevation of the latter to a status of a superior mental faculty. This generalization, however, fails to acknowledge that the project of the Romantics was not so much to extol Imagination over Reason, as to unify the two faculties. In fact, the work of major Romantic poets in Britain reveals that what the Romantics mean by “Imagination” is actually Imagination unified with Reason (that is, “Primary Imagination” unified with “Primary Reason,” the merging of which forms the “One Mind”), and …

Decision-Making During A Crisis: A Case Study Of How A University Responded To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ryan Joseph Iocco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Scant research is available on how university leaders make decisions and communicate those decisions to their stakeholders during times of crisis. The purpose of this case study was to better understand the decision-making process used by administrative leaders at a higher education institution during a time of organizational crisis. This study examined decision-making by higher education leaders within and across different functional areas at a single higher education institution between February 2020 and September 2020, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected through interviews and document analysis. Although research exists on decision-making during crises, there is limited …

A Hybrid Model For Youth Engagement In Adolescent Health Studies: Insights From The Teen Research Advisors Program At A Midwestern Pediatric Academic Medical Center In The United States., John Tumberger, Alaina N. Burns, Michael Bartkoski, Mariah E. Brewe, Amelia Whittier, Kendyll Gethers, Ailisi Bogdon, Emerie Peterson, Stephani L. Stancil

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Engaging adolescents in research ensures studies are relevant, ethical, and beneficial while fostering authentic and applicable findings. Traditional in-person advisory boards face barriers to equitable participation, highlighting the need for innovative, flexible models tailored to specific research programs and individuals with lived experience. The primary aim of this article is to describe a novel hybrid youth advisory board suitable for informing ongoing operations of a research program while supporting youths' education and career exploration. Our secondary aim was to evaluate initial impact over the first 2 years of the program (2023-2024).

METHODS: Adolescents aged 12-21 with prior involvement in …

Emergency Department-Initiated Palliative Care Screening Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Protocol, Dimitri E Lin, Satheesh Gunaga, Fabrice I Mowbray, Eric D Isaacs, Daniel Markwalter, Naomi George, Alison E Hay, Rita Manfredi, Erica Westlake, Murtaza Akhter, Jason K Bowman, Naomi Rebollo-Lee, Brian Gacioch, Alexander D Ginsburg, Justin Kenneth Brooten, Sarah Pajka, Katie Selman, Paul Bain, Joshua J Davis, Shan Liu, Kei Ouchi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: The rapidly growing population of older adults (individuals aged 65 years and older) presents a new set of challenges for healthcare providers in the emergency department (ED), given the prevalence of severe and life-threatening conditions among this group, such as chronic cancer, Alzheimer's disease/dementia and congestive heart failure. ED encounters often represent a critical point in an older patient's trajectory of care and can thus be an important opportunity for various interventions such as palliative care consultation. Therefore, identifying those who will benefit most from palliative care is of high importance, especially in determining the course of future treatment. …

A Secret Chord: Finding Meaning In Music, Science, And Faith, John Macinnis

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Through the harmony and beauty of music, we are resonating with the deeper harmony of creation and perceiving the Triune God who calls it good."

Posting about how music affects the whole person from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

A Secret Chord

Integration Of An Artificial Intelligence–Based Autism Diagnostic Device Into The Echo Autism Primary Care Workflow: Prospective Observational Study, Kristin Sohl, Erik Linstead, Kelianne Heinz, Elia Eiroa Lledo, Alicia Brewer Curran, Melissa Mahurin, Valeria Nanclares-Nogués, Carmela Salomon, Minda Seal, Sharief Taraman

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Pediatric specialist shortages and rapidly rising autism prevalence rates have compelled primary care clinicians to consider playing a greater role in the autism diagnostic process. The ECHO Autism: Early Diagnosis Program (EDx) prepares clinicians to screen, evaluate, differentiate, diagnose, and provide longitudinal care for children with autism in primary care settings. Canvas Dx is a prescription-only Software as a Medical Device designed to support clinical diagnosis or rule out of autism, including in primary care settings. It is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for use, in conjunction with clinical judgment, in 18‐ to 72-month-olds with indicators …

A Quality Improvement Project To Standardize Sexual Dysfunction Screening In Primary Care, Ashley M. D’Anna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Sexual health is an essential aspect of overall well-being but is often overlooked in primary care due to provider discomfort, time constraints, and lack of standardized screening protocols. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to implement a consistent approach to screening for sexual dysfunction using the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), a validated five-item tool assessing sex drive, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction. Guided by Swanson’s Theory of Caring and Pender’s Health Promotion Model, the project emphasized compassionate, patient-centered care and the promotion of health-enhancing behaviors.

Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, the ASEX tool was incorporated into annual wellness visits following …

Inferred Global Dense Residue Transition Graphs From Primary Structure Sequences Enable Protein Interaction Prediction Via Directed Graph Convolutional Neural Networks, Islam A. Ebeid, Haoteng Tang, Pengfei Gu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Introduction: Accurate prediction of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) is crucial for understanding cellular functions and advancing the development of drugs. While existing in-silico methods leverage direct sequence embeddings from Protein Language Models (PLMs) or apply Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) to 3D protein structures, the main focus of this study is to investigate less computationally intensive alternatives. This work introduces a novel framework for the downstream task of PPI prediction via link prediction.

Methods: We introduce a two-stage graph representation learning framework, ProtGram-DirectGCN. First, we developed ProtGram, a novel approach that models a protein's primary structure as a hierarchy of …

Adoption Of Blockchain Technology In Beverage Supply Chains: Drivers, Benefits, And Challenges In The Coca-Cola And Bodyarmor Sport Water Recall Case, Alexander Adams Jr., Nima Molavi

Communications of the IIMA

The beverage industry faces growing scrutiny as demands for transparency and accountability intensify. In today’s digital landscape, companies must prioritize enhanced traceability to ensure product safety, comply with regulations, maintain consumer trust, and safeguard brand reputation. This research investigates blockchain technology as a potential solution to these challenges, emphasizing its capacity to decentralize data, improve traceability, and accelerate response times during safety recalls.

The study traces the evolution of food safety regulations and analyzes current traceability practices and technological innovations within the beverage sector. Using the Coca-Cola and BODYARMOR Sport Water recall as a case study, this study examines drivers, …

An Empirical Investigation Into The Effect Of Brain Drain “Japa Syndrome” On Agile Practitioners Developing Healthcare Information Systems Software In Nigeria, Yazidu Buba Salihu, Julian M. Bass, Gloria E. Iyawa

Communications of the IIMA

Within the software engineering context, agile approaches encourage customer collaboration, iterative development, and flexibility. However, the mass exodus of highly skilled professionals, known as the “brain drain” or "Japa Syndrome," has emerged as a significant challenge, especially in Nigeria. This phenomenon has particularly impacted agile software development practitioners by undermining project continuity, knowledge transfer, and team dynamics. This study empirically examines the effect of brain drain, “Japa Syndrome,” on agile practitioners developing healthcare information systems software in Nigeria. It employed a qualitative, multi-method approach to gather empirical data from 13 agile practitioners in Nigeria’s healthcare information systems sector. The study …

Ensuring Ossabaw Island’S Lasting Legacy: Jimmy Carter And The Heritage Trust Act, Ariel Cornett, Cynthia C. Massey, Kathryn L. Haughney, Amanda Wall, Cora Mccaffrey

Teaching Social Studies in the Peach State

These classroom-based activities focus on Jimmy Carter, the Heritage Trust Act, and Ossabaw Island. We developed two short classroom experiences based on Georgia social studies standards with supporting English language arts standards: one classroom experience for second grade and the other for eighth grade. Teachers can adapt content and sequence for their grade levels, schedules, and other school-specific factors. Students will explore the history, culture, and geography of Ossabaw Island, Georgia’s third-largest barrier island. Classroom experiences include different sources, photo analysis, and a range of learning activities with modifications; figures and appendices are included.

History In Our Backyard: Youth Podcasting About Jimmy And Rosalynn Carter’S Georgia, Katherine A. Perrotta, Hao Ran Li, Prinsha Chanda, Anvitha Battu, Shaurya Attal

Teaching Social Studies in the Peach State

The purpose of this article is to highlight the curriculum development and recording of a special episode about Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter for the student-created History in our Backyard: The Names of Places in Georgia podcast. The students’ research process for writing and recording the podcast are highlighted, as well as pedagogical strategies that social studies teachers can use to engage students in creating their own podcasts. Insights from the student researchers are included to provide teachers with actionable steps for promoting historical thinking and inquiry through podcasting.