Digital Commons Network^™

A Comprehensive In-Silico Pipeline For The Discovery Of Non-Toxic, Stable Antimicrobial Peptides From Databases For Targeting Multi-Drug Resistant K. Pneumoniae, Pranab D. Sharma, Abdullah A. Noman, Al Hafiz

Faculty Articles

The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae has significantly reduced the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. This study employed a comprehensive in silico pipeline to identify antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) targeting the essential DNA replication initiator protein DnaA. A total of 28,361 peptide sequences were collected from publicly available AMP databases and sequentially filtered based on peptide length, net charge, GRAVY score, instability index, antimicrobial activity, toxicity, hemolytic potential, aggregation propensity, sequence similarity and favorable amphipathic properties. Four peptides satisfied all selection criteria and were subjected to structural prediction, membrane-binding analysis, protein–DNA docking, protein–peptide docking, …

Relationship Of Covid-19-Related Racial Discrimination And Oppressed Identities On Chinese American Mental Health, Allison A. Fong

Doctoral Dissertations

Although anti-Asian hate has been present throughout history, the country witnessed an uptick in race-based violence and discrimination against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing the framework of intersectionality, this quantitative cross-sectional study aimed to capture the additive impact of various forms of oppression, including COVID-19-related racial discrimination, on levels of depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction in Chinese American college students (n = 35) in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. Within this relationship, bicultural identity integration was also explored as a possible moderator. Although regression analysis did not show significant relationships between COVID-19-related racial discrimination and intersectional discrimination …

Dameon Allen V. Attorney General United States Of America

2026 Decisions

Agency

Ildar Niyazov V. Attorney General United States Of America

2026 Decisions

Agency

Using Environmental Dna (Edna) As A Tool To Detect Sharks And Rays Along The Coast Of Quintana Roo, Mexico, Sara T. Norment

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Elasmobranchs play a critical ecological role in marine environments, yet many populations worldwide remain poorly known and monitored. This is particularly true in Mexico despite its high biodiversity and ongoing fishing pressures. Traditional monitoring methods, such as commercial fisheries and fishery-independent surveys using longlines or nets, are often limited, leaving important knowledge gaps. Previous studies have shown that environmental DNA (eDNA), small traces of DNA left behind in the water column from feces, skin, or mucus, is a transformative, non-invasive tool for detecting elasmobranch presence and diversity across marine ecosystems.

This project used eDNA metabarcoding to detect and identify elasmobranch …

Metal-Assisted Chemical Etching For Heterogeneous Integration And Advanced Processing, Sami Znati

Theses

Emerging and existing technologies will require novel approaches to continue advances in development. Heterogeneous integration of next generation materials, such as 2-D materials and III-V semiconductors, onto existing platforms is a critical step to enabling new, better performing devices. Microtransfer printing (µTP) is a promising technique for integrating device coupons onto supportive platforms. InP coupons are integrated into mixed-dimensional structures by printing onto 2-D materials as part of an electronic device. Etching of next generation materials to define device structures is an integral part of any process. Catalytic wet etching is an alternative to dry etching that may offer improvements …

Creating Sustainable School And Home Gardens: Creating An Outreach Booth, Aurora Hughes Villa, Tyelar Haines, Rita Hagevik, Kathy Cabe Trundle, Michelle Parslow

All Current Publications

An outreach booth is a physical presentation that allows your audience to learn more about a subject and how they can participate. It provides information on a topic (e.g., an environmental issue or a community project) through direct interaction with experts in the field. Through this approach, people become engaged, and discussions emerge that foster a sense of community around the topic. Interested in creating one for yourself? Follow the steps outlined in this fact sheet.

Usa V. Delrico Clyburn

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Strings Attached: Science Regulation By Science Funders, Nicholson W. Price Ii

Reviews

Who regulates the physical and informational risks of scientific research? Who makes sure that researchers keep intensely personal data secret, or lock their dangerous chemicals away safely, or don't haphazardly create superviruses that could kill us all? You could be forgiven for assuming it was, well, a regulator—OSHA or the CDC or some similar entity that can promulgate binding rules and enforce them. But as Doni Bloomfield shows in the fascinating How Science Grantmakers Govern, you’d be (mostly) wrong. Instead, a key substantive and procedural regulator of the risky business of scientific research is, in fact, the funder of that …

Strategies Human Resource Leaders Use To Implement Holistic Wellness Programs To Reduce Absenteeism And Increase Profitability, Diane Hardy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human resources (HR) leaders struggle to reduce employee absenteeism and increase organizational profitability due to a lack of effective strategies for implementing holistic wellness programs. Identifying effective strategies for implementing holistic wellness programs is essential for helping HR leaders address absenteeism and strengthen organizational profitability. Grounded in the Pender health promotion model, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective strategies for implementing holistic wellness programs to reduce employee absenteeism and increase organizational profitability. Participants were nine HR leaders from medium- to large-sized organizations across the United States who implemented holistic wellness programs to reduce …

Supporting Graduate Student Flourishing: Development Of A Whole-Person Framework Through A University-Wide Task Force, Elisa Greene, Amanda Grieme-Bradley, Maren Bishop

Posters

How do whole persons form for lives of character and flourishing within graduate schooling years? What steps could an institution take to move toward that end? This work describes the process of one institution’s use of a task force examining these questions using a combination of literature review and structured interviews with key stakeholders across campus. The context of the institution’s unique mission, vision, and virtue framework provided a foundation out of which four areas of focus emerged: 1) infrastructure and representation, 2) belonging and community, 3) communication, and 4) professional identity formation. Investment in these institutional themes supports formation …

Perceiving A Competitor: Culture And Cognitive Biases Of The Strong Enemy And The Pacing Threat, Allison Abbe

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The United States and China are prone to systematic cognitive and cultural biases that distort their mutual perceptions. Addressing these biases through cultural education and professional development is essential to overcoming blind spots in understanding the United States’ primary competitor. By applying dynamic constructivist theories from cross-cultural psychology to national security, this monograph builds on existing scholarship to reveal specific cognitive asymmetries between Western and East Asian observers. Differences such as holism, dialecticism, social inference, and perspective taking reflect the cultural lenses through which security actors perceive their competitors’ actions and intentions, but US observers often overlook the cultural factors …

Rockin’ Rover On The Rainbow Road, Michael Kolta, Lawrence Burgee, Ying Yuan

Transformations

This paper presents a progressive series of age-appropriate lesson plans for grades K-12 that all use the same interdisciplinary activity to educate students about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) simultaneously. Technology from Texas Instruments (TI) was employed including a TI Nspire graphing calculator that can run Python programs, a TI Innovator Hub, and a TI Rover. The TI Rover is a small, robotic car that has sensors and is controlled by the calculator via the Hub hardware interface. A Python program was developed that uses the color sensor in the Rover to detect the color on colored paper …

Economic Development Corporations In Small Communities, Mary L. Bullock

Certified Public Manager® Applied Research

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Type A and Type B Economic Development Corporations (EDCs) in supporting economic growth in small Texas communities. Using key indicators such as population trends, employment, infrastructure, housing, and legal frameworks, this paper compares how each EDC structure addresses these issues. While both Type A and Type B Economic Development Corporations contribute to economic growth, Type B EDCs are generally more effective in small Texas communities due to their broad ability to fund housing projects, create critical infrastructure, and shape quality-of-life community development projects that have a more immediate and measurable impact on unemployment, population …

Interpreting Continuous Glucose Monitoring Through Metabolic Physiology: A Framework For Precision Nutrition In Type 2 Diabetes, Jitendra D. Belani

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Background: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by substantial interindividual variability in postprandial glucose responses, yet continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-derived glucose patterns are commonly described using quantitative metrics without sufficient consideration of the physiological mechanisms that generate them. Objective: To develop a physiology-based framework for interpreting CGM-derived glycemic phenotypes in relation to dietary exposures and individual metabolic characteristics, thereby supporting precision nutrition in adults with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A structured narrative review of the literature was conducted using PubMed to identify studies examining CGM, postprandial glucose regulation, dietary exposures, metabolic physiology, and precision nutrition. Evidence was synthesized within a predefined …

Healthcare Professionals' Experiences Of Mental Health Crises Among People Experiencing Homelessness, John P. Gilmore

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: People experiencing homelessness face significant barriers to accessing mental health care, often resulting in untreated psychological distress and crisis presentations. In Ireland, the absence of dedicated mental health services for this population means that frontline clinicians frequently manage acute mental health deterioration within generalist settings not designed or resourced for such care.

Aim: To explore the experiences of healthcare professionals responding to mental health crises among individuals experiencing homelessness and to identify systemic, relational, and organisational factors influencing care delivery.

Methods: A descriptive qualitative study informed by critical realism was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 14 healthcare professionals, including …

Clarifying The Concept Of Virtual Nurse: A Concept Analysis For Aging And Chronic Care, Chia-Hui Chou, Heng-Hsin Tung

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

As the global healthcare landscape grapples with aging populations and the growing burden of chronic diseases, digital innovations like the Virtual Nurse (VN)—AI-powered embodied conversational agents—are gaining recognition for their potential to support patient self-management and improve care delivery. This study applies Walker and Avant's 8-step concept analysis to clarify the definition, boundaries, and essential characteristics of the Virtual Nurse. Thirteen peer-reviewed articles published from 2010 to 2021 were reviewed, focusing on their applicability to older adults and chronic disease management. Four defining attributes emerged: (1) clinical interactivity, (2) human-like empathy, (3) accessibility and understandability, and (4) scalability with feedback …

Adults’ Lived Experiences With Placement In Child Protective Services During Adolescence, Michaela First Haynes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Perceptions of safety and emotional support during involvement with child protective services (CPS) during adolescence may play a significant role in shaping attachment experiences and relationships in adulthood. Although researchers have examined the effects of child maltreatment and foster care involvement, limited research has explored how adolescents perceive emotional support and safety during CPS involvement and how those experiences influence attachment in adulthood. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of adults who experienced CPS involvement during adolescence and to understand how perceptions of safety and emotional support are reflected in their adult attachment relationships. …

Exploring The Experiences Of Nigerian Army Personnel With Toxic Leadership, Shamsideen Toyin Shafaru

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Toxic leadership has been shown to be present in Nigeria, promoting negative consequences for organizations and adverse effects on employee performance. However, how toxic leadership behaviors impact Nigerian Army operations and the performance of personnel have not been studied. Exploring toxic leadership in the Nigerian Army is important because the way in which leaders exercise influence determines the effects it has on followers. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences of Nigerian Army personnel who had worked as subordinates of individuals who exhibited toxic leadership traits and its impact on their performance. The theoretical …

The Lived Experiences Of Midlife Black Women In Atlanta Managing Hypertension Through Nonpharmacological Interventions, Beth Feagins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this qualitative phenomenological study, the beliefs and lived experiences of midlife, low-income Black women with hypertension were explored, concentrating on understanding how social determinants of health influence effects adherence to diet, physical activity and stress management. Social determinants of health and how health beliefs shape adherence to behaviors were examined. The study was guided by a dual theory approach of the social cognitive theory and theory of planned behavior. Six women, identified as Black, between the ages 40-60, diagnosed with hypertension and living in Atlanta, Georgia, participated in the study. Data was analyzed using Moustakas’ phenomenological analysis and revealed …

Postmodern Fantasy & Its Twin Traditions, Skyler J. Alexander

Honors Thesis

Fantasy literature is diverse and difficult to categorize; nevertheless, throughout the twentieth century two main subgenres emerged: sword-and-sorcery and high fantasy. This thesis examines the differences and similarities between these two traditions, how contemporary examples of the genre fit into or diverge away from the traditions that influenced them, and proves in the negative what and how much of contemporary fantasy fiction is original to itself, with no prominent antecedent. The analysis was performed by comparatively reading two contemporary fantasy novels, The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan and A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, with …

Influence Of Lumpectomy Cavity Depth On Plan Quality In 3d Arc-Based Simultaneous Integrated Boost For Whole-Breast Radiotherapy, Emmett Dwyer

Masters Projects

Abstract

Purpose: Dynamic conformal arc (DCA) is a three-dimensional (3D) radiation therapy technique that can be used to deliver a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) during whole-breast irradiation (WBI). This study investigated whether the depth of the lumpectomy cavity affects the feasibility of creating a successful DCA SIB treatment plan for breast radiotherapy.

Methods and Materials: 30 patients who previously received WBI followed by a 3D sequential boost (SeqB) were selected for this retrospective study. A DCA plan was created for each patient and combined with the original whole-breast tangent fields to create a SIB plan. Each plan was required to …

Multimodal Digital Libraries: A Response To Culturally And Linguistically Sustaining Classrooms, Abigail Lopez

Masters Projects

Poorly represented minority groups fail to connect reader identity backgrounds

with the characters in texts due to curriculum traditionally relying on English dominant

translations. This system challenge deficit fails students by placing limitations on the

exposure of rich vocabulary, cultural awareness and sets up lack of engagement. This

project is grounded in Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Pedagogy, Sociocultural

Theory, Constructing Reader Identities and Engagement theories that transforms

student diversity into an instructional practice that empowers multilingual learners.

To empower students, this digital culturally relevant library optimizes educator

planning time. This digital library provides immediate access to multicultural books

alongside a …

Experiences Of Novice Assistant Principals: Perceptual Evidence From Texas, Gregory Vidal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Assistant principals play essential roles in supporting instructional leadership and campus operations. However, limited research has examined how novice assistant principals experience their transition into administration and interpret their preparation and support. This study addressed the gap in understanding how novice assistant principals in a suburban Texas public school district made sense of their preservice preparation and early leadership practice, and how these experiences shaped their perceptions of training and organizational supports. The purpose of this qualitative, experiential, phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of novice assistant principals during their first three years in the role. The study …

Spatiotemporal Analyses Of The Biological Condition Gradient (Bcg) For Florida’S Coral Reef, Maya Becker

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

A conceptual model known as the Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) was originally constructed for biological assessments and has recently been adopted for use on Florida’s coral reef after repeated anthropogenic stressors have been linked to declines within the state of the reef. Anthropogenic pressures have reduced water quality, exacerbating coral disease and associated mortality disrupting ecosystem services and biological function throughout Florida’s coral reefs (FCR). The intention of the BCG model is to assess biological condition against increasing levels of anthropogenic stress and to identify biological attributes and measurable increments of change from long term monitoring data. Differences in spatial …

Development And Evaluation Of Personalised Post-Diagnostic Dementia Support Based In Primary Care: The D-Pact Research Programme, Tomasina M. Oh, Hannah Wheat, Richard Byng, Sarah Morgan-Trimmer, Michael Clark, Sarah Griffiths, Paul Clarkson, Victoria Allgar, Angela Bate, Saqba Batool, Rebecca Beresford, Noor Butt, Joseph Coombes, Siobhan Creanor, Sonia Dalkin, Zoe Doran, Nicolas Farina, Leanne Greene, Alex Gude, Margaret Hart, Jane Horrell, Basharat Hussain, Wendy Ingram, Hannah Jones, Reena Lasrado, Tanya Lee, Baber Malik, Rosemarie Mccabe, Antonieta Medina-Lara, Nia Morrish

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Dementia affects nearly 1 million people in the United Kingdom and their unpaid carers physically, psychologically, socially and economically, highlighting that both need support. Post-diagnostic support is recognised as inadequate globally. In England, it is fragmented or absent apart from primary care – leaving many feeling unsupported as the condition progresses. The Dementia PersonAlised Care Team research programme began in 2018 to address evidence gaps on the effectiveness of dementia support roles and what constitutes ‘good’ support. Objective: Dementia PersonAlised Care Team aimed to develop and evaluate an intervention comprising dementia support workers based in primary care, supporting people …

The Effectiveness Of "Little Doctor" Training On Health Knowledge And Behavior Of Karawang Primary Students (2025), Aurelia A. Erawan, Shahnaz F. Azzahra, Rubee P. Risdiyanto, Patricia Andini, Muhammad K. Ramadhan, Ailsa T. Kirana, Istingadah Desiana Md, Raden M. Rifada Md

Perilaku dan Promosi Kesehatan: Indonesian Journal of Health Promotion and Behavior

Background. Acute respiratory infection (ARI) remains a major public health problem in Indonesia, with West Java reporting the highest incidence. Poor Health-Related Behavior (HRB) practices are associated with increased ARI risk. The "Little Doctor" program is a government initiative that focuses on school health and aims to promote HRB among students. Along with this goal, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the program in improving knowledge of HRB and ARI among elementary school students in Pancawati Village, Karawang Regency.

Methods. This study employs a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design. Participants were selected based on inclusion criteria referring to the …

Parents' Perspectives Of Factors Contributing To Speech Delays In Children Born During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alva Jessica Daniels

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted children’s developmental environments by limiting access to childcare, healthcare, and opportunities for social interaction, raising concerns about speech and language outcomes in children born during this period. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, this qualitative study was an exploration of factors associated with speech and language delays and examined parents’ perceptions and experiences in Philadelphia. The qualitative study included a sample of nine parents who cared for children during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine period. Analysis of the interview data revealed five emergent themes: (a) limited social interaction during the pandemic, (b) delayed identification and diagnosis …

Probation Officers’ Experiences Supervising Domestic And Intimate Partner Violent Probationers, Megan Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study includes insights regarding potential supervision challenges that are faced by probation officers overseeing domestic and intimate partner violence (IPV) probationers, emphasizing the importance of effective management to enhance offender accountability and victim safety. The relationship dynamic between probation officers and domestic and IPV probationers influences recidivism rates, highlighting the importance of effective and empathetic supervision. The purpose of this study was to identify gaps in training, supervision strategies, and resources, with a focus on integrating attachment-based practices to improve outcomes. Guided by the attachment theory, the research included key questions about supervision effectiveness and relational dynamics. Employing a …

Effective Strategies Small Business Owners Use To Sustain Their Businesses During Periods Of Disruption, Tracey Starr Moon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses experience significant challenges sustaining operations during periods of disruption, including economic uncertainty, natural disasters, supply chain interruptions, and other environmental changes. This is a concern for small business owners because disruptions can reduce revenue and strain limited financial and operational resources, putting their continued survival at risk. Grounded in the resilience theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore effective strategies small business owners use to sustain their businesses during times of disruption. The participants were six small business owners in the southern United States. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and …