Digital Commons Network^™

Demographic And Other Correlates Of Non-Prescription Drug Use Among College Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Subi Gandhi, Sidketa Fofana, Md Rafiul Islam, Tamer Oraby

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background and objectives: Substance use among college students in the U.S. remains a pressing concern and may have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic due to increased stress, uncertainty, and academic disruptions. This study investigates the relationship between non-prescription drug use and various demographic, mental health, and behavioral factors among college students during the pandemic's early stages.

Methods: Data were collected through online and in-person surveys in the summer semester of 2021. Behavioral health was assessed using validated instruments: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression and the Drug Abuse Screening Test-20 (DAST-20) for substance use. Demographic and behavioral variables were …

A Narrative Review On The Neurobiology Of Lucid Dreaming: Mechanisms And Therapeutic Potential, Tirath Patel, Ashfaq Ahmed, Kinza Irshad, Rahat Ullah, Anaya Noor, Eiman Anwar, Rai Muhammad Umar Khan, Moazzam Akhtar, Fathimathul Henna, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Lucid dreaming (LD), which involves being aware of and controlling one's dreams, is of particular interest in the study of consciousness and has potential therapeutic applications. In this narrative review, we highlight the neurobiological aspects of LD, specifically its mechanisms associated with the activation of prefrontal and parietal areas, increased gamma oscillations, and the influence of cholinergic and dopaminergic signaling, primarily during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Objective: To evaluate human data on brain mechanisms and clinical effects, synthesizing the neurobiological foundations and therapeutic possibilities of LD, including remarkably controlled lucid dreams.

Methods: A narrative review of peer-reviewed research …

Digital Marine Citizenship Toolkit: Connecting To The Sea – The Role Of Digital Engagement For Marine Citizenship, Katharine Willis, Kizzy Beaumont

School of Art, Design and Architecture

Digital Marine Citizenship (DMC) uses creative and digital tools, often developed through artistic and creative practice, to help people connect with, care for, and takeaction for their local seas. It offers practical ways to understand our relationship withthe ocean and to play an active role in shaping sustainable coastal futures.By combining creativity and technology, and working with artists and communitiesto design meaningful experiences, DMC helps turn awareness into action and fosters a shared sense of belonging to the marine environment.This Toolkit has been created to inspire and support practitioners, community groups, and organisations who want to explore digital and creative …

Back-On-Track: Protocol For Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial Of Behavioural Activation In Farmers With Mood Problems, Alison Kennedy, Richard Gray, Martin Jones, Anna Greene, Lauren Mitchell, Meera Senthuren, Suzy Malseed, Feby Savira, Kelly Barnes, Kate Gunn, Susan Brumby

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The mental health of people living in farming communities has been identified as an important public health issue. Cumulative exposure to a range of situational factors contributes to heightened risk of poor mental health and suicide. Access to evidence-based psychological treatments is limited by the availability of skilled mental health professionals. The aim of this trial—co-designed by members of the farming community—is to establish the feasibility of conducting randomised controlled, trial-testing, peer-worker-delivered Behavioural Activation in the farming community. We will undertake a single-blind, parallel group, randomised controlled feasibility trial in rural Australia. People living in farming communities aged over 15 …

Harmonizing Neuropsychological Test Data Across Prospective Studies, Rosita Shishegar, James D. Doecke, Yen Ying Lim, Pierrick Bourgeat, Vincent Dore, Bhargav Tallapragada, Simon M. Laws, Tenielle Porter, Samantha Burnham, Azadeh Feizpour, Ashley Gillman, Michael Weiner, Jason Hassenstab, Christopher C. Rowe, Victor L. Villemagne, Colin L. Masters, Jurgen Fripp, Hamid Sohrabi, Paul Maruff

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) research relies on large datasets and advanced statistical models. However, individual population studies often lack sufficient sample size for conclusive results. Harmonizing cognitive test data across studies can address this gap, despite differences in testing protocols. This study harmonizes cognitive data from three major AD cohorts to support robust clinical–pathological modelling. Methods: Information from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (N = 1446); Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (N = 1764); and Open Access Series of Imaging Studies-3 (N = 440) were integrated, including cognitive scores, demographics, genetics, and clinical and neuroimaging data. Neuropsychological tests relevant to …

Addressing Systemic Workforce Challenges In General Practice—A Qualitative Study Of General Practitioners In Ireland, Uzair Shabbir, Ray O’Connor, Joe Macdonagh, Andrew O’Regan

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Background General practice across Europe faces a workforce crisis, with a projected shortfall of up to 1660 general practitioners in Ireland by 2028. While policy interventions have been proposed, a gap remains between the Irish health system's strategic objectives and the day-to-day realities experienced by general practitioners. Objective The aim of this study is to explore the perspectives of Irish general practitioners in addressing recruitment and retention challenges in general practice. Specific objectives include identifying solutions and the supports necessary for sustainable future general practice. Methods A qualitative study design was employed, utilizing semi-structured online interviews with general practitioners recruited …

Recommended Best Practices For Construct-Centered Adaptation Of The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol, Emily M. Briceño, Darina T. Bassil, Pranali Khobragade, Anthony Ngugi, Martine El Bejjani, Eric Ochieng, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Salima Douhou, Kazione Kulisewa

School of Medicine Publications

Objectives: The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) neuropsychological assessment approach aims to support the collection of harmonizable data on cognitive function for cross-national cognitive aging and dementia research. As the measurement of cognition is sensitive to differences in contextual, cultural, educational, linguistic, social, and other factors that may influence cognitive test performance, HCAP requires adaptation to be appropriate for the contexts in which it is administered. We aim to provide methodological recommendations for the adaptation and implementation of the HCAP and other cognitive data collection tools in novel settings.

Methods: We drew from existing guidelines on cross-cultural psychological test adaptation …

Inflection Points In Academic Career Trajectories: Statistical Modeling And Interactive Visualization, Aicha Malouche

Theses

This thesis examines the temporal structure of academic career trajectories, with a particular focus on identifying non-linear patterns of research productivity and moments of maximum acceleration in scientific impact. Situated within the broader context of bibliometric evaluation, the study responds to long-standing limitations of aggregate and linear career models that obscure heterogeneity across disciplines and national research systems. Drawing on theories of cumulative advantage, life-cycle productivity, and structural stratification, the research seeks to clarify how and when elite researchers experience peak growth in impact over the course of their careers. The study is guided by four research questions: (1) when …

Topple Headfirst Into The Dark: Restorative Justice In Missouri And Hope For The Future, Emma Donaldson

Journal of Dispute Resolution

Imagine you are not reading this article. Instead, you are walking back home from dinner with your friends. As you walk down the street, someone comes up behind you and demands you hand them your money. You turn around to give them all the money you have, only to lock eyes with the barrel of a gun. What are you feeling in this moment? A little bit of rage perhaps. Maybe your hands have started shaking. Or, just maybe, you are feeling a little defiant. But before you can even react, a police officer is running down the street, yelling …

Internet-Delivered Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention For Pain In Pediatric Acute Recurrent And Chronic Pancreatitis: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial, Tonya M Palermo, Rui Li, Chuan Zhou, Homer Aalfs, Gretchen Cress, Mark Lowe, Maisam Abu-El-Haija, Ankur Chugh, Elissa M Downs, Douglas S Fishman, Alvin Jay Freeman, Matthew J Giefer, Tanja Y Gonska, Sohail Z Husain, Douglas Lindblad, Quin Y Liu, Asim Maqbool, Jacob A Mark, Brian A Mcferron, Megha S Mehta, Robert Adam Noel, Emily R Perito, Fuchenchu Wang, Ying Yuan, Yuhua Zheng, Aliye Uc, Consortium For The Study Of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, And Pancreatic Cancer (Cpdpc)

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Abdominal pain is common and associated with high disease burden and health care costs in pediatric acute recurrent (ARP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP). Despite the effectiveness of psychological interventions in other abdominal pain populations, studies have not evaluated these interventions for pediatric pancreatitis pain. We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for reducing pancreatitis-related abdominal pain and improving pain interference, anxiety, depression, activity limitations, and health-related quality of life.

Methods: We enrolled 90 adolescents (ages 10-19, 63% female) with ARP or CP and their parents into this randomized placebo-controlled multicenter trial from 15 …

Participant Retention In A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Of Participants With Pancreatitis And Factors Associated With Attrition, Radmila Choate, Jun Xu, Jeffrey J Easler, Samuel Han, Anna E Phillips, Melena D Bellin, William E Fisher, Evan L Fogel, Chris Forsmark, Phil A Hart, Stephen J Pandol, Walter G Park, Jose Serrano, Stephen K Van Den Eeden, Santhi Swaroop Vege, Liang Li, Darwin L Conwell, Dhiraj Yadav

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives: Participant retention is essential in prospective studies to minimize bias and maintain validity. This study aimed to estimate retention rates and identify factors influencing attrition in a multicenter cohort (PROCEED) of US adults with acute/recurrent acute pancreatitis (AP/RAP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP).

Methods: Participants from the PROCEED study with AP/RAP or CP eligible for follow-up within the designated visit window were included. Retention was defined as completing at least one follow-up visit during the observation period. Retention was analyzed by follow-up mode (in-person and/or medical record review) and disease type (AP/RAP and CP). Retention factors were assessed using univariate …

"He Just Wants Someone To Hear Him And Listen To Him": Barriers And Facilitators To Autistic Youth With Anxiety Receiving Quality Mental Healthcare, Daylin Delgado, Shannon C Lapoint, Grace Lee Simmons, Julia M Heinly, Whitney S Shepherd De, Bridgett Kiernan, Lauren Brookman-Frazee, Eric A Storch, Brenna B Maddox

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

About half of autistic youth present with clinically interfering anxiety. Psychotherapies with exposure-focused elements are effective in academic clinical settings and controlled trials. However, there is relatively less research examining the implementation of modified interventions for autistic youth with anxiety in community mental health settings. The current study explores community members' perceptions of barriers and facilitators that impact autistic youth with anxiety's receipt of quality mental health services in their community. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 autistic youth, 15 caregivers of autistic youth, 11 community mental health clinicians, and 8 community mental health clinic leaders. Interviews were analyzed thematically. …

Association Of Sleep Disturbance With Survival After Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis: Results From The Colocare Study, Anita R Peoples, Adetunji T Toriola, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Sleep problems are common among cancer patients. The relationship between sleep disruption and clinical outcomes after colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis remains poorly understood. We investigated associations of sleep disruption with survival and recurrence in patients with CRC.

METHODS: CRC patients with stages I-IV (N = 895) were included in this study. Self-reported sleep disturbance was assessed presurgery using the sleep item from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core-30 and classified into "no/mild" or "moderate/severe" sleep disturbance. Cox-proportional hazard models were computed (HRs and 95% confidence intervals) to investigate associations of sleep disturbance …

An Examination Of Racial Bias In Scoring The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (Ados) Module 3: An Item Response Theory Analysis, Yuen Yvonne Yu, Austin Wyman, Calliana J Faulk, Lizzy J Fulop, Rebecca L Greenberg, Rachel M Benecke, Lauren K Steinbeck, Jessica Foy, Caitlyn Kim, George O Emory, Eric A Storch, Casey J Zampella, Benjamin E Yerys, Robert T Schultz, Julia Parish-Morris, John D Herrington, Caitlin C Clements

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Given the rising prevalence of autism among racial minority children in the United States, but persistent service use disparities, this study examines potential bias in specific items from the autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS), a highly regarded autism evaluation. We leveraged unidimensional item response theory graded response models and a sample of 735 children to analyze the differential item functioning (DIF) of items within ADOS Module 3. Three items showed significant signs of racial bias: A1 (overall language level), A5 (offers information), and D5 (compulsions and rituals). On these items, Black/African American and Asian children were usually more likely to …

The Comparator Argument In Trans-Healthcare Ban Cases, Craig Konnoth

UC Law Journal

As states have increasingly restricted gender affirming care for minors across the nation (reinforced by a recent Executive Order by President Trump), and though the Supreme Court ruled on one such state ban, a powerful argument has largely been overlooked. This argument emphasizes the fact that transgender minors are not alone in receiving gender affirming care. Cisgender minors also receive such care for precisely the same reasons as transgender minors— unwanted breast tissue development, undesired hair growth, unusual vocal development, and puberty onset. Indeed, cisgender children receive such care at higher numbers than trans children, and many of the medications …

A Case Against Mass Deportation: The Japanese American Internment Camps And Recent Treatment Of Korematsu, Isaac Bloch

UC Law Journal

The large-scale deportation of non-citizens has become a preeminent policy issue. Unfortunately, executive curtailment of immigrant communities’ liberty is not without historical parallels. During World War II, federal officials sent individuals of Japanese descent to internment camps through a series of executive orders and military proclamations. Although attorneys in the Department of Justice believed aspects of these actions were unconstitutional at the time, the administration prevailed at the nation’s highest court. Can recognition of this past wrong aid challenges to contemporary immigration enforcement regimes? How do our courts formally account for the most egregious jurisprudential errors of the past, and …

Nested Ecosystems Theory For Conceptualizing Brain Tumors, Lori A Forster, David H Gutmann

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The application of advanced multi-omic methodologies to studying brain tumors has culminated in the appreciation that these cancers function as ecosystems that depend on the interactions of a diverse collection of cell types and signals. This connectivity operates not only at the level of the cancer cell, in which variants create new growth dependencies, but also between tumor cells and the immediate tumor microenvironment, between tumor cells and cell populations residing elsewhere in the brain tissue or body, and in response to extracorporeal factors. The cellular and molecular relationships within these four interrelated strata (intracellular, extracellular, intracorporeal and extracorporeal) act …

Early Neonatal Admissions With Feeding Difficulties To Acute Paediatric Services At A Tertiary Paediatric Hospital In England: Sequential Audits Pre-Covid-19 And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kalvin Lee, Thomas Frederick Dunne, Mary Masoud, Hayley Gleig, Heidi Stott, Helen Nabwera, Halina Kamarova

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Introduction: Our objective was to describe the population of infants < 7 days of age admitted to the acute general paediatric services at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and ascertain the proportion with feeding difficulties amenable to community-based support.

Methods: Sequential retrospective audits of all infants < 7 days of age admitted to acute paediatrics at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, England, from March to September 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and March to September 2020 (during COVID-19). All the infants were born and discharged from maternity units in Merseyside, Northwest England. Anonymised data were extracted from the electronic clinical records by three members of the clinical team.

Results: Pre-COVID-19, 38.6% (93) of the 241 admissions to acute general paediatric services had feeding difficulties. 31.2% (29) presented solely with feeding difficulties and 31.2% (29) were exclusively breastfed. However, during COVID-19, although there were fewer admissions (104), more than half (51%, 54) had feeding difficulties and for 54% (29), this was the only reason for admission. Over half (53.7%, 29) were exclusively breastfed.

Conclusion: Our audits showed that at least a third of infants < 7 days of age admitted with feeding difficulties did not have any other features of severe illness. These admissions unnecessarily expose infants to hospital-acquired infections while disrupting the opportunity for families to build close and loving relationships that enhance the establishment of breastfeeding. Co-designing infant feeding strategies with the mothers and stakeholders will be a crucial next step to enhance infant feeding support, particularly in impoverished communities in the region.

“Now That The Baby Is Out, I Can Be Vaccinated”: A Qualitative Study On Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy In Pregnant Women In Kilifi, Kenya, Angela Koech, Onesmus Wanje, Grace Mwashigadi, Geoffrey Katana, Richmond Mdindi, Peter Mwangome, Rachel Craik, Marianne Vidler, Mai-Lei Kinshella, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in pregnancy, but vaccine hesitancy limits uptake and effectiveness. This study explored COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in pregnancy in Kilifi, coastal Kenya, to elicit reasons for vaccine hesitancy and acceptance, and to compile misconceptions around vaccination in pregnancy. Twenty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant women, mothers who had given birth in the previous 2 years and health workers (community health promoters, nurses, and supervisors). Data were analyzed using thematic template analysis based on the Vaccine Hesitancy Determinants Matrix. Concern about vaccine safety for the unborn baby was a major driver of hesitancy. Many pregnant …

A Note On Modeling Prejudice, Alan Lockard, Edwin Harcourt

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

We model prejudice in the context of an iterated prisoner’s dilemma tournament. Prejudice here is defined as the inability to distinguish amongst members of an identifiable group. We run a computer simulation where agents of one of two groups with defined strategies are randomly matched against each other. The agents either cooperate with or defect against the agent they are matched with. Our focus is on agents who play an unprejudiced version of the Tit-for-Tat strategy (cooperate with any player in the first encounter, and then apply the same strategy [defect or cooperate] that the opposing player played against them …

A Just Balance And The Teaching And Learning Of Mathematics, Marshall Gordon

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Society’s response to the question of what is worth sharing and how it best can be provided as conceived by the educational establishment shapes the education of every individual in school. As the classroom experience is a commitment to the future of society, it is good and just for society to support the educational development of each person in order that all can participate productively. In this way a “just balance” is established. In the particular case of educating students in mathematics, however, there is apparently an unjust balance, for despite the considerable time and effort students and teachers in …

Exploring The Dynamics Of Romantic Relationships Through The Lens Of Prem Rog, Umang Jain, Dheeraj Sharma, Pranay Goswami, Kuldeep Malik

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Romantic relationships are dynamic events that begin, grow, and frequently remain for a long time in a stagnant or fluctuating state until possibly dissipating. Although they are unquestionably the most significant dynamic events in our lives, dynamic systems theory has only recently included them in its formal framework. Without a mathematical model, it would be impossible to analyze and comprehend the dynamics because, in general, love stories are too brief to allow things to stabilize and are affected by the ups and downs of the surrounding community. In this paper, we set up models made up of four ordinary differential …

Front Matter

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

No abstract provided.

Behind The Shades, Julian Perez

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly

No abstract provided.

Ai Teaching Assistants In Higher Education: A Case Study In Pedagogical Integration And Support

Journal of Economics and Finance Education

This case study examines the implementation of three customized AI teaching assistants in a graduate quantitative methods course for adult learners. Designed to provide timely, course-specific support, the AI tools enhanced student engagement, upheld academic integrity, and aligned with pedagogical principles such as constructivist learning and formative assessment. The assistants were evaluated on the accuracy of their responses and compliance with behavioral requirements. Student feedback indicated improved learning and reduced frustration. This study offers a replicable model for responsibly integrating AI in higher education to support diverse learner needs and promote academic success.

Student Recognition Of Learning Gains: Evidence From Pre- And Post-Instruction Quizzes

Journal of Economics and Finance Education

This study investigates whether students in upper-division economics courses can meaningfully recognize their learning gains over time, independent of instructor-assigned grades. Using a repeated quiz design grounded in authentic assessment, students engaged with real-world economic articles before formal instruction and again after substantial course content had been delivered. Students evaluated their responses from both rounds, while instructors independently assessed the same work. Results show that students not only perceived significant learning gains but also became more accurate in assessing their own performance over time. Additionally, early self-perceptions appear to modestly predict later outcomes, while the largest learning gains occurred among …

Coase, Thaler, And Behavioral Economics: Methodological Considerations

Journal of Economics and Finance Education

In their experiments to measure the endowment effect in market settings, Kahneman, Knetsch, and Thaler (1990; hereafter KKT) assessed the assumption of zero transaction costs associated with the Coase theorem. Their study recruited a sample of advanced undergraduate economics students who were placed in a market setting using coffee mugs as real-world goods, under conditions in which there were zero transaction costs. Their results suggested that an endowment effect lowered trading volume, which should not have occurred if Coase theorem worked in practice. We reexamine the research design employed by KKT, as well as their study’s statistical analysis and results.

Patient Adherence To Glucagon Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists In Obesity Management: A Narrative Review Of Real-World Evidence, Zainab M. Al-Shammaa, Heba M. Attash, Rahma S. Almallah, Abdulla Thamer, Fahad Saleem

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Obesity has become a widespread public health problem in many regions of the world. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have a dual effect on glycemic control and weight loss. Liraglutide, semaglutide, and dulaglutide were first used in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and their use is now growing among people without diabetes. Obesity management requires long-term or even lifelong interventions, so adherence to prescribed therapy is critical for achieving weight loss and maintaining it over time. Patient adherence to GLP-1RAs varies depending on the medication used, its dosing frequency, and whether findings come from clinical trials or real-world …

Writing Space In Clandestine-Crossing Literature, Meryem Labrabiche

Faits de Langue et Société (FLS)

This article analyzes how space and time structure representations of clandestine Mediterranean crossings in Maghrebi literature, emphasizing border symbolism and migrant psychology.

Eugenics And The Carceral State: Progressive-Era Reform & The Creation Of The Modern Criminal Justice System, Laura I. Appleman

Missouri Law Review

No abstract provided.