Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring How People Become Investigative Genetic Genealogists Who Assist With Law Enforcement Investigations: A Multiple Case Study, Matthew Serio Hoggatt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In today’s world of criminal justice, the use of Deoxyribonucleic Acid, otherwise known as DNA, to solve crimes, has become a popular tool for law enforcement, and a popular subject plot within the entertainment industry. Also growing in popularity at a fast rate, is the use of DNA combined with consumer-based genealogy websites to help identify unknown suspects or unidentified human remains. This process has become commonly known as investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), or forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG). What remains unclear however, is how people learn the skills necessary to establish a career within the IGG field. The purpose …

Subject Area Teachers' Perceptions Of The Influence Of Reading Instruction On Middle School Reading Skill Development: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Rachel Guiel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This discovery of subject area teachers' perceptions of the influence of reading instruction and reading skill development on middle school students' reading comprehension is the theme of this phenomenological study. A subject area teacher was defined as someone who teaches history, science, math, and Bible classes. Middle school students were defined as six, seventh, and eighth-grade students. Reading skill development was defined as vocabulary instruction, background knowledge, and the implementation of flexible reading groups. The theory guiding this study is Vygotsky's sociocultural learning theory, as it describes learning coming before language development, language being the main tool of thought, and …

Design And Investigation Of Triarylamine Functionalized Luminophores For Multi-Functional And Stimuli-Responsive Applications, Sasikala R

Theses and Dissertations

Organic solid-state fluorescent materials have garnered attention over many decades in virtue of their contribution in the development of LED devices and biomedical applications. Nevertheless, the potential of fluorescent molecules in device applications was underused due to aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect. The ACQ effect commonly quenches the organic molecules fluorescence intensity in the aggregated or condensed state, which can significantly influence their performance in practical applications.

The organic polyaromatic fluorophores exhibit strong fluorescence in the solution state. After culmination of years of work, Prof. Tang’s research group discovered a new phenomenon of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) in the fluorescence molecules constructed …

Publicity Rights Metamorphosis: From The Right To Evoke To The Ultimate Evoked Rights, Mira Moldawer

Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property

No abstract provided.

Emergency Nurses’ Perceptions Of A Trauma-Informed Organizational Climate: A Cross-Sectional Study, Audrey Kobina

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Healthcare leaders face numerous challenges in today’s complex healthcare environment. The most pressing issues are staffing shortages and burnout among healthcare workers. By 2025, the U.S. healthcare system could experience a shortfall of up to 450,000 nurses, or 20% fewer nurses than needed to provide adequate patient care. High job dissatisfaction and burnout levels are significant factors driving many nurses away from the profession. This three-paper dissertation portfolio addressed how trauma-informed approaches and practices can enhance the work environment by establishing trauma-informed organizational climates to mitigate burnout. Understanding the impact of trauma-informed practices within healthcare systems supports the nursing workforce. …

More Than A Numbers Game: Comparing Us And Chinese Landpower In The Pacific Requires Context, Brennan Deveraux, Joshua Arostegui

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

This monograph establishes a contextual baseline that serves as the framework for future comparisons of the US Army and the People’s Liberation Army Army. It examines differences in five key components of land warfare: the two nations’ landpower definitions, uses of land forces to build relationships, underlying warfare concepts, associated modernization efforts, and varying approaches to simulating land warfare in the region. In examining these components, the authors identify warfare intangibles that highlight analytical findings in a way that promotes future research. The existing scholarship comparing the two forces is often limited in scope, focusing on funding or comparing capabilities …

Performance Analysis Of University Wifi Using 802.11e Information Elements, Douglas Christopher Hales

Theses and Dissertations

Wireless networks, including IEEE 802.11 (WiFi), continue to become more important for many uses, including university classrooms. Factors that impact the performance of these networks have changed greatly over time, with increased scale at which they are used, and growing dependence of latency sensitive applications. In order to better understand the performance of current WiFi networks, a methodology was created to capture and analyze beacon frames with optional 802.11e information elements (IE), using Quality of Service enhanced Basic Service Set or QBSS load (channel utilization) and station count. This methodology is able to collect channel use more frequently than many …

Policy-Based Redactable Set Signatures, Zachary A. Kissel

Computer and Data Science Faculty Publications

A redactable set signature scheme is a signature scheme that allows a redactor, without possessing the signing key, to convert a signature on set S to a signature on set S' if S' ⊂ S. This paper introduces a new form of redactable set signature scheme called a policy-based redactable set signature scheme. These redactable set signatures allow for a signer to provide a redaction policy at signing time that limits the possible redactions that can be made by a redactor. In particular, a signature on set S can only be redacted to a signature on if S' ⊂ …

2025-02-25 Executive Council Minutes, Susie Salazar

Executive Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

2024-09-10 Executive Council Minutes, Susie Salazar

Executive Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Focus, 2025, Spring, Andrews University

Focus

FOCUS (ISSN 1077-9345) is published quarterly, free of charge, for alumni and friends of Andrews University, an institution owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Potential Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On The Practice And Profession Of Speech-Language Pathology: A Working Paper, Manish Rami

Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty Publications

This paper explores the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the profession of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP). AI is widely recognized as a transformative force, presenting opportunities across both service delivery and professional practice in SLP. This paper examines how AI may partially or fully automate and augment key tasks such as screening, assessment, and treatment. It also addresses associated challenges, including data bias and the “black box” problem while advocating for proactive engagement with AI technologies. Finally, the paper posits that AI will reshape the field, serving as a collaborative partner for SLPs, enhancing efficiency, and expanding access to …

Enhancing Hypertension Management In Correctional Facilities: Educating Advanced Practice Providers On Effective Strategies, Kimbreya E. Otey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and remains a significant public health concern, particularly within correctional facilities where access to consistent guideline-based care is often limited. Incarcerated individuals experience higher rates of chronic conditions, including hypertension, yet standardized approaches to management are frequently lacking. To address this gap, an evidence-based educational program was developed for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) working in the correctional setting. Grounded in the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) guidelines, the program was developed to enhance awareness and knowledge among NPs and PAs regarding evidence-based hypertension management practices using the International …

Turning Data Into Guardrails-Decoding Financial Vulnerability Through Behavioural Signs, Debanwita Hajra

Master’s Dissertations

This report presents the work I did during my internship at Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), Kolkata. As a financial institution, the strength of the bank is fundamentally rooted in the behavior and reliability of its customers. Understanding this behavior is not only desirable; it is essential for the security, risk mitigation and future strategic planning of the bank. To do this, banks must invest in a thorough analysis of the financial behavior of their customers to detect early signs of risk and act accordingly. I worked in the Finance Support Team within the Data and Analytics division, where …

Multivariable Optimal Control For Hemodialysis: A Physiologically-Grounded Simulation Study, Redemtus Heru Tjahjana, Ratna Herdiana, Zani Anjani H.S.M. Rafsanjani, Yogi Ahmad Erlangga

All Works

This study introduces a novel multivariable optimal control framework for hemodialysis, which uniquely integrates five physiological states (blood urea concentration, fluid volume, blood pressure, electrolytes, and hemoglobin) with three clinically adjustable inputs (ultrafiltration rate, blood flow, and dialysate composition). By employing the limited-memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno-B (L-BFGS-B) algorithm with patient-specific box constraints, the model enforces patient-specific physiological safety limits while dynamically balancing clinical targets. Numerical simulations demonstrate the stabilization of key parameters within ±5% of clinical benchmarks (e.g., KDIGO guidelines), though deviations in the hemodynamic responses underscore the need for adaptive control in real-world scenarios. Urea clearance trajectories align with efficacy patterns …

Curses & Versus: A Soldier's Life In Verse, Robert M. Haynes

Masters Theses

Every life is complicated. Since the Fall of Man, humans have used art to probe the tumult of the living and give meaning to the dead. The challenge comes when an artist must capture brief moments that define their work or explain the force that impelled their creations. What follows is my attempt to harness five aspects that contributed this work, the process of writing it, and its significance to the wider literary world. The snapshots presented stand on their own and do not require the others to make sense. However, when taken together they present the whole of a …

Crown Of Thorns, Sarah Mellas

Masters Theses

Crown of Thorns is a proposed historical fiction series. Set in France on the brink of the 1789 French Revolution, the story speaks to themes of belonging, brokenness, abuse, forgiveness, and navigating through trauma and impossible choices. A challenge that a writer can face when seeking to craft an emotionally resonant series for the small screen is in building a genuine audience connection. This thesis and creative manuscript for the series pilot episode, The Spurning, focuses on exploring and demonstrating the importance that authentic characters render in building audience connection between viewer and series developed for television or streaming networks. …

Incorporating Industry-Standard Technical Writing Into A Materials Testing Laboratory, Caleb Levi Head

Theses and Dissertations

The fluid analysis and materials testing laboratories are crucial for engineering students to learn experimental procedures and data interpretation. Engineers spend a significant portion of their workday on report writing, yet many feel their undergraduate education did not adequately prepare them for this task. At the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, students were given an industry-influenced lab report template to expand their knowledge of the necessary information required in technical writing, thereby teaching and improving their technical writing skills actively. These reports were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively against previous submissions over two semesters in the mechanical engineering fluids and …

No Evidence Of Pitavastatin Effect On Muscle Area Or Density Among People With Hiv, Michael T Lu, Jana Taron, Marissa R Diggs, Pamela S Douglas, Kathleen V Fitch, Carl J Fichtenbaum, Markella V Zanni, Judith A Aberg, Maria C Rodriguez-Barradas, Katharine Breaux, Rosalba Gomez Morones, Craig A Sponseller, Judith S Currier, Gerald S Bloomfield, Sarah M Chu, Alex B Lu, Carlos D Malvestutto, Steven K Grinspoon, Todd T Brown

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Skeletal muscle area (MA) and muscle density (MD) are key determinants of physical function and typically decline with increasing age. Statins have well-known musculoskeletal effects but whether statins impact MA or MD is not well established, especially in the setting of randomized treatment.

Methods: REPRIEVE is a double-blind randomized trial evaluating the effect of pitavastatin for primary prevention of major adverse cardiovascular events in people with HIV (PWH). Thoracic paraspinal, pectoralis, and infraspinatus MA and MD were assessed among Mechanistic Substudy participants with CT at baseline and month 24.

Results: Of 804 substudy participants, 510 remained on study treatment …

No Evidence Of Pitavastatin Effect On Muscle Area Or Density Among People With Hiv, Michael T Lu, Jana Taron, Marissa R Diggs, Pamela S Douglas, Kathleen V Fitch, Carl J Fichtenbaum, Markella V Zanni, Judith A Aberg, Maria C Rodriguez-Barradas, Katharine Breaux, Rosalba Gomez Morones, Craig A Sponseller, Judith S Currier, Gerald S Bloomfield, Sarah M Chu, Alex B Lu, Carlos D Malvestutto, Steven K Grinspoon, Todd T Brown

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (Rapid ART) is a key strategy for the Ending the HIV Epidemic inititative. In Harris County, Texas, a priority Ending the HIV Epidemic jurisdiction, 57% of persons with HIV receive care at 1 of 5 public agencies that receive funding from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is administered by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, and HIV/AIDS Bureau. This program administers grants to clinics and local/state programs to deliver medical and support services (Part A) for low-income persons with HIV. In 2019, …

A Whole-Brain Voxel-Based Analysis Of Structural Abnormalities In Ptsd: An Enigma-Pgc Study, Courtney C Haswell, Ahmed Hussain, Miranda Olff, Dick J Veltman, Jessie L Frijling, Mirjam Van Zuiden, Saskia B J Koch, Laura Nawijn, Li Wang, Ye Zhu, Gen Li, Yuval Neria, Xi Zhu, Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez, Sigal Zilcha-Mano, Amit Lazarov, Jennifer S Stevens, Kerry Ressler, Negar Fani, Tanja Jovanovic, Sanne J H Van Rooij, Milissa L Kaufman, Lauren A M Lebois, Isabelle M Rosso, Elizabeth A Olson, Justin T Baker, Scott R Sponheim, Seth G Disner, Nicholas D Davenport, Amit Etkin, Adi Maron-Katz, Murray B Stein, Martha E Shenton, Dan J Stein, Jonathan Ipser, Sheri-Michelle Koopowitz, Soraya Seedat, Stefan Du Plessis, Leigh L Van Den Heuvel, Shmuel Lissek, Hannah Berg, Thomas Straube, David Hofman, Lee A Baugh, Gina L Forster, Raluca M Simons, Jeffrey S Simons, Vincent A Magnotta, Kelene A Fercho, Xin Wang, Andrew S Cotton, Erin N O'Leary, Hong Xie, Daniel W Grupe, Jack B Nitschke, Richard J Davidson, Christine L Larson, Terri A Deroon-Cassini, Carissa W Tomas, Jacklynn M Fitzgerald, Jennifer Urbano Blackford, Bunmi O Olatunji, Evan M Gordon, Geoffrey May, Steven M Nelson, Ruth Lanius, Jean Théberge, Maria Densmore, Richard W J Neufeld, Chadi G Abdallah, Christopher L Averill, Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, Ifat Levy, John H Krystal, Elbert Geuze, Remko Van Lutterveld, Emily L Dennis, David F Tate, David X Cifu, William C Walker, Elisabeth A Wilde, Nic J A Van Der Wee, Robert R J M Vermeiren, Steven J A Van Der Werff, Katie Mclaughlin, Kelly Sambrook, Matthew Peverill, Joaquim Radua, Lauren E Salminen, Neda Jahanshad, Sophia I Thomopoulos, Anthony James, Lucia Valmaggia, Paul M Thompson, Rajendra A Morey, Matthew J Kempton

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit smaller regional brain volumes in commonly reported regions including the amygdala and hippocampus, regions associated with fear and memory processing. In the current study, we have conducted a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) meta-analysis using whole-brain statistical maps with neuroimaging data from the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD working group.

Methods: T1-weighted structural neuroimaging scans from 36 cohorts (PTSD n = 1309; controls n = 2198) were processed using a standardized VBM pipeline (ENIGMA-VBM tool). We meta-analyzed the resulting statistical maps for voxel-wise differences in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes between PTSD patients and …

Parole/Probation Officers’ Perspective On Understanding Crime Among Liberian Immigrant Youths In Southwest Philadelphia, Jamil J. Morris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This research explored challenges of crime and delinquency among Liberian immigrant youth in Southwest Philadelphia, focusing on the social and structural factors that influence their lived experiences. Utilizing qualitative in-depth interviews with 17 juvenile parole/probation officers of Liberian immigrant youths, the purpose of this study was to uncover the underlying reasons that lead Liberian immigrant youth to engage in crime and delinquency, and how they cope with the obstacles they encounter. Employing social disorganization theory, differential association theory, and subcultural theory, the study underscored the impact of neighborhood instability, peer influences, and differing value systems on understanding the youths’ criminal …

Monetary Policy Interest Rates And Bank Risk-Return Tradeoff: How Does Bank Competition Moderate This Relationship?, Japan Huynh

Bulletin of Monetary Economics and Banking

This study empirically examines the moderating effect of bank competition on the link between monetary policy interest rates and bank risk-return dynamics in Vietnam from 2007 to 2019. The findings suggest that during monetary expansion, marked by decreasing interest rates, banks typically employ a more conservative strategy regarding their credit portfolios, thereby minimizing risk exposure. Nonetheless, this risk avoidance incurs reduced interest margins, decreased overall profitability, and compromised stability. Furthermore, the research utilizing both traditional and funding-adjusted Lerner indices indicates that increased market concentration, or diminished bank competitiveness, mitigates the impact of monetary policy interest rates on the trade-off between …

Interview With Facilities Management, Jacey Terrill

What Happened Here

This is a transcript of an oral history interview with a staff member who was the Director of Facilities Maintenance at the time of the protest. He explained the efforts he and his team went through to secure the buildings on campus. He was distressed by the amount of vandalism and damage done to campus buildings, as his team was responsible for repairs, alongside outside contractors that had to be hired to manage the workload. He noted the hateful nature of some of the graffiti messages. He is critical of the protesters, though he specifies that there were two groups: …

In A Flash: A Study Of Flash Fiction’S Ability To Create Complete And Meaningful Stories, Morgan A. Lomax

Masters Theses

In In a Flash: A Study of Flash Fiction’s Ability to Create Complete and Meaningful Stories, I seek to prove that despite flash fiction’s extreme brevity, this relatively new sub-genre of fiction is capable of producing fully delineated stories with powerful messages, especially messages that align with a Christian worldview. To do this, I first examine the various definitions and complex history of flash fiction. Then, through the critical literary lenses of formalism, structuralism, and reader response theory, I analyze the different ways flash fiction uses the following eight narrative elements to create stories within specific examples of flash fiction: …

Apologetic Response To The Timing Contradiction In The Synoptic Gospels, Oluwaseun Ebenezer Agboola

Masters Theses

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, commonly known as the Synoptic Gospels, serve as the primary sources for understanding the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For centuries, Christians have treated these accounts as sacred and authoritative texts that shaped doctrine and devotion. However, despite their theological significance, the Synoptic Gospels present challenges when examined from a historical and literary perspective. One of the most debated issues is the apparent discrepancies in the timing of the crucifixion of Jesus. While the Gospel of Mark states that the crucifixion was at the third hour (9 a.m.), Luke emphasizes …

A Tragedy And A Miracle: Trauma Medicine During The U.S. Civil War, Maxwell Bailey

Masters Theses

The Civil War, in many ways, hangs in the balance between the modern and premodern, with some historians calling it the first modern war, and others calling it the last pre-modern war. This historical dilemma extends to battlefield trauma care, where the modern and the archaic exist hand in hand. While the Civil War did not represent the birth of modern trauma care, it is certainly where modern American trauma care was conceived. The advancements in the medical field during this time prepared the way for germ theory to truly develop trauma care into a modern medical science. The groundwork …

The Life And Times Of Francis T. Nicholls: General, Lawyer, Governor, Jeffrey Paul Drury

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The life and times of Francis T. Nicholls, soldier, lawyer, judge, twice governor of Louisiana, and justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.

The Relationships Among Sleep Patterns, Memory, And Attention In School-Aged Children, Ryan Ta'shawna Blount

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explores the intricate relationships among sleep patterns, memory, and attention in school-aged children. Sleep is important for cognitive development, with studies suggesting that both quantity and quality of sleep significantly influence memory consolidation and attentional processes. Research indicates that insufficient or disrupted sleep can lead to deficits in working memory and sustained attention, negatively impacting academic performance and overall cognitive functioning. There is a lack of comprehensive studies that investigate how sleep disruptions impact both memory and attention during childhood. This study seeks to fill that gap by investigating the relationships among sleep, memory, and attention in school-aged …

Maintaining Elementary Student Engagement And Motivation During Stem Activities: A Phenomenology, Christopher Feiler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of maintaining student engagement and motivation during STEM activities in elementary classrooms across the United States. For this research, I applied Bandura's self-efficacy theory as my foundational framework. The study highlights that a teacher’s perception of their efficacy affects their instructional practices and the achievement levels that students reach in STEM disciplines. As such, the primary guiding research question in this case was framed as follows: In what ways do elementary educators articulate their experiences fostering engagement and motivation in students during STEM activities? Data collection for …