Digital Commons Network^™

Virtually Painless: An Investigation Into The Therapeutic Potential Of Virtual Natural Environments For Chronic Low Back Pain, Alexander Smith

School of Psychology Theses

Chronic pain conditions represent one of the greatest causes of disability in the UK, affecting up to 28 million people nationwide. Despite its prevalence, chronic low back pain (cLBP) in particular remains poorly served by existing treatments. Growing evidence suggests that engagement with natural environments provides analgesic and restorative benefits, yet access to nature is profoundly limited for people living with chronic pain. This thesis investigated whether a codesigned, immersive virtual reality (VR) nature experience could deliver meaningful pain relief to individuals with cLBP, drawing on Attention Restoration Theory (ART) and Stress Reduction Theory (SRT) as key theoretical frameworks. The …

Examining Motivators And Barriers To Meditation Practice Among Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: Insights From A Survey Study, Radha Korupolu, Chelsea G Ratcliff, Ariana Andampour, Susan Robinson-Whelen, Shrasti Lohiya, Audrey S Cohen, Christine Bakos-Block, Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Context: Meditation and mindfulness practices offer promising non-pharmacological alternatives for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) to improve their health and well-being, but integrating such practices into daily routines can be challenging.

Objectives: This survey study aims to identify motivators and barriers to engagement with meditation and mindfulness interventions among individuals with SCI.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults with SCI (N = 94) from a single large acute rehabilitation center in the United States.

Results: Results from the survey showed a strong interest in meditation among individuals with SCI, with nearly half reporting current engagement in meditation …

Mind Over Matter: Navigating The Psychological Challenges In Prosthetic Adaptation, Jeff Arruiza

OT Doctoral Capstones

My capstone project improves access to local resources that support recreational participation, well-being, and quality of life for individuals living with limb loss in the El Paso community. Limited awareness of available resources and gaps in services can create barriers to accessing care and participating in meaningful occupations. To address these barriers, I developed an accessible, centralized resource that connects individuals with community programs, recreational opportunities, adaptive activities, and support services. By increasing access to resources and education, the project promotes meaningful occupational participation through social and recreational engagement while advancing occupational justice by reducing barriers to community participation.

Supporting Financial Well-Being Through Habits And Routines: An Occupational Therapy Online Toolkit For College Students, Diana Cadena

OT Doctoral Capstones

Purpose: This doctoral capstone project aimed to support financial well-being among UTEP students by providing accessible, occupation-based resources to promote healthy financial habits and routines.

Methods: An occupational therapy-informed financial wellness toolkit, Miner Money Matters, was developed as a website for UTEP students. The website included resources related to budgeting, financial habits and routines, saving money, financial aid, credit and debt, financial stress, family financial responsibilities, and campus support services. The toolkit was disseminated through campus presentations, stakeholder engagement, organizational outreach, and SGA social media.

Results: The website received 155 visitors during implementation. Among 13 students with complete evaluation responses, …

Occupation, Purpose, And Possibility: A Holistic Program For Children Battling Cancer, Ayleen Mena

OT Doctoral Capstones

Pediatric oncology patients often experience disruptions in meaningful occupations due to prolonged hospitalization, medical treatments, fatigue, isolation precautions, and emotional distress. A needs assessment conducted within a pediatric oncology unit identified concerns related to social isolation, limited opportunities for meaningful activity, emotional well-being, and disruptions in play, leisure, social participation, and daily routines. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop and implement an occupation-based, family-centered activity program to support the psychosocial well-being and meaningful participation of pediatric oncology patients during hospitalization.

The Next Step: Building Strength Through Life Skills, Victoria Nunez

OT Doctoral Capstones

Adolescents who are at risk or facing mental health challenges often miss out on chances to build the practical life skills they need for everyday life and a smooth transition into adulthood. While traditional rehabilitation programs tend to focus on stabilization and therapy, they frequently fall short when it comes to preparing young people for independent living. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop and implement a structured, occupation-based life skills program to promote well-being, independence, and meaningful participation among adolescents. The Life Skills Program (Life Lab) took place at the Alamito STREAM Center in Segundo Barrio, …

Thriving Through Occupation: Enhancing Occupational Participation For Cancer Survivors, Leslie B. Martinez

OT Doctoral Capstones

Cancer survivors often experience decreased participation in meaningful occupations, along with physical, mental, emotional, and financial challenges (Newman et al., 2024). This capstone project developed an educational series to promote engagement in meaningful occupations and provide strategies to combat the negative physical and mental effects of cancer and treatment. Four classes covering various health topics, including cancer-related fatigue, cognitive impairment, mental health, and nutrition, were implemented for cancer survivors at the Rio Grande Cancer Foundation. The classes included an educational portion in which participants were introduced to each topic, followed by interactive learning activities designed to promote the application and …

Preliminary Examination Of Orexin Receptor Antagonism With Suvorexant In Individuals With Methamphetamine Use Disorder: A Case Series Study, Heather Webber, Jessica Badawi, Douglas Calvillo, Jin Yoon, Michael Weaver, Scott Lane, Joy Schmitz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Preclinical Ischemic Stroke Multicenter Trials (Prism) Collective Statement: Opportunities, Challenges, And Recommendations For A New Era, Cenk Ayata, Philip M Bath, Anna M Planas, Stuart M Allan, Johannes Boltze, Ryan P Cabeen, Claire L Gibson, Marilyn J Cipolla, Marcio A Diniz, Stefano Fumagalli, Fahmeed Hyder, Raymond C Koehler, Arthur Liesz, Sarah K Mccann, Tim Magnus, Louise D Mccullough, Emily S Sena, Simone Beretta, Jaroslaw Aronowski, Francesca Bosetti, Clinton B Wright, Patrick D Lyden, Lauren H Sansing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Preclinical stroke research faces a critical translational gap, with animal studies failing to reliably predict clinical efficacy. To address this, the field is moving toward rigorous, multicenter preclinical randomized controlled trials (mpRCTs) that mimic phase 3 clinical trials in several key components. This collective statement, derived from experts involved in mpRCTs, outlines considerations for designing and executing such trials. mpRCTs offer advantages such as increased sample sizes, robust statistical design, incorporation of heterogeneity, and standardized protocols, but they face challenges in finding the right balance between standardization and heterogeneity, appropriate stroke model selection, and outcome measures, as well as the …

Exploring Technology Supporting Explicit Teaching And Learning Of Educator Skills And Knowledge: An Ipa Study, Renee Crawford

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Teacher shortages and increasing accountability measures have placed pressure on initial teacher education (ITE) programs to demonstrate their impact on graduate readiness. This study aimed to explore how technology can support explicit teaching and learning of educator skills and knowledge within a constructivist blended learning framework. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, the research examined preservice teachers’ (PSTs) perceptions and experiences during and after completing an ITE secondary music methods unit where the approach was implemented and modelled. Results indicate that making pedagogy visible through technology enhanced strategies provided PSTs with opportunities to develop critical skills and knowledge aligned …

Induction For Non-Beginning Teachers: An Attempt To Connect Induction To Continuous Professional Development, Gulcin Cosgun, Derin Atay

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Since there is limited research exploring the impacts of induction on the teaching practices of newly recruited experienced teachers, in this paper, findings of a study whose purpose is to explore the impacts of a comprehensive induction model on non-novice teachers in regards to their teaching practices will be reported. 11 mentees involved in a mandatory comprehensive induction program at the English preparatory school in a Turkish foundation university participated in this study. The observation data collected at three phases- the onset of the induction program at the beginning of the first year, on completion of the program at the …

Enablers And Constraints To Implementing Intellectual Virtues Pedagogy In A Higher Education Context: A Teacher Educator Perspective, Ellen Larsen, Katie M. Burke, Melissa Fanshawe A/P, Yvonne Salton, Mark Oliver

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Higher education aims to develop graduates with specific professional and disciplinary expertise and lifelong learning capabilities. We argue that instruction for these learning dispositions, conceptualised in this study as intellectual virtues, is challenging and complex. We report on practitioner research conducted by nine teacher educators as we worked to implement intentional instruction of intellectual virtues in our teacher education courses. Drawing on online surveys and reflective conversations, we used descriptive statistical and thematic analysis to investigate the approaches taken to integrate the intellectual virtues and, more specifically, the challenges and opportunities for doing so. Findings highlighted the structural, cultural, and …

Misconceptions Among Grade Ix Students Regarding The Conservation Of Mass During Combustion At Norbugang Central School In Bhutan, Damcho Gyeltshen

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study investigated misconceptions about the conservation of mass among Grade IX students at Norbugang Central School, Bhutan, and examined the effectiveness of two theory-driven instructional strategies: the Conceptual Change Model (CCM) and the Predict, Explain, Observe, Explain (PEOE) approach. A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group design was employed with 100 students. A ten-item double-tier diagnostic test elicited students’ responses and reasoning, complemented by semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using frequencies, paired-sample t-tests, and Cohen’s d, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Findings indicated that the experimental group achieved a significant reduction in misconceptions, particularly for observable open-system combustion, …

Provoking Generative Ai Futures: Merging Theory And Praxis, Regina M. Luttrell Ph.D., Nick Bowman

Media Studies - All Scholarship

An accessible exploration of the myriad applications and challenges of generative AI for media and communication students, scholars, and practitioners alike.

The latest emergence of increasingly low-cost and scalable AI technologies presents a point of both celebration and concern for the contemporary media and information ecosystem. To this end, this edited volume gathers media and communications scholars and practitioners to engage in discussions and exchange ideas about current trends and developments in the field. Questions this volume asks include: What are the essentials of generative AI from a media and communication perspective? How has generative AI influenced research and scholarship? …

Excluded At The Root: Health Insurance Discrimination Against Hair Loss Conditions, Stacey A. Tovino, Tracy Hresko Pearl

Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

Michael Scott Is Not A Juror: The Limits Of Ai In Simulating Human Judgment, Sean Harrington, Hayley Stillwell

Faculty Articles

Can AI replace human jurors? More specifically, can large language models predict how jurors interpret evidence and reach decisions based on legally salient facts and demographic characteristics? As legal scholars and practitioners increasingly explore AI-generated jury simulations, this Article offers the first empirical test of whether models like GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini can faithfully replicate juror reasoning. The answer, for now, is no. Across a series of mock trial scenarios involving redacted confessions, GPT- 4, Claude, and Gemini repeatedly failed to replicate how real jurors interpret evidence or exercise judgment. Their errors were not random, but systematic. Hidden prompts, built-in …

What Is Terrorism?, Karl T. Muth, Alice Locatelli

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

Is Gotham's Joker a terrorist? What about a school shooter? As we approach the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the United States still lacks a monolithic legal definition of 'terrorism,' creating a dangerous 'motive gap' between federal statutes. This Article analyzes the friction between the motive-heavy definition of 'domestic terrorism' in Title 18 (which includes a mens rea aspect) and the conduct-focused definition of 'terrorist activity' in Title 8 (which focuses on overt acts). Using the hijacking of Flight 93 and the Columbine shootings as case studies, we demonstrate how Title 18's political requirement creates a coverage void for …

Not Quite Fit To Fly: A Reflection On Due Process And Agency Rulemaking In The Faa’S Approach To Pilot Certification, Emily Ryter

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

Judicial and legislative involvement in agency rulemaking is a relevant and particularly salient topic. The authority of an agency to make sound policy with flexibility and discretion often comes into conflict with the judiciary’s duty to prevent arbitrary regulations, which lack solid evidence or convincing rationale. Considering that more than three million passengers fly every day, it is no surprise that establishing a robust certification process for pilots is among the Federal Aviation Administration’s top priorities. The courts and the Legislature have also recently made notable strides to exert more control over the standards for medical certification. In July, the …

The Role Of Media Literacy In Shaping Campus Student Leaders’ Perceptions Of Media Activism, Online Risks, And Social Support, Srivi Ramasubramanian, Minnie Mcmillian, Shumaila Bhatti, Shannon Burth, Julius Matthew Riles, Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, Melody Wilson

Media Studies - All Scholarship

Campus activism by student leaders has historically played a significant role in social movements. Within contemporary contexts, media is an important site through which campus student leaders raise awareness, share relevant information, distribute online petitions, and shape public discourses on various social issues. Media literacy is an essential skill for student leaders to be effective in their activist initiatives and be able to cope with the inevitable pushback through trolling and cyberbullying that such activism would likely bring up. This survey (N = 855) with college student leaders across three universities explores how they rate themselves on media literacy skills, …

“He Will Always Love Me”: Authentic Romance And Reciprocal Love In Otome Games, Elena Yifei Zhao, Nick Bowman

Media Studies - All Scholarship

This study investigates how players construct and articulate emotionally meaningful relationships in otome games. Drawing from 293 open-ended responses from Chinese players, a thematic analysis identified six recurring themes: authentic romance, companionship, shared experience, integration into daily life, game features, and personal growth. The most dominant theme, authentic romance, reveals that players often describe otome boyfriends as emotionally responsive partners who provide validation, support, and affection. Functional descriptions of gameplay mechanics were notably disconnected from other themes (primarily emotional engagement themes). A follow-up analysis of the most popular otome games in the same …

Forecasting Future Adoption Rates Of Agroecological Innovations Using Machine Learning: Perspectives From Burkina Faso’S 45 Provinces From 2010 To 2020, Theodore Nikiema, Pamela Giselle Katic, Issaka Abdou Razakou Kiribou, Sylvain Kpenavoun Chogou, Eugene C. Ezin

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Implementation of agroecological innovations tends to be long-term processes, withthe practices of one year often linked to those of previous years. However, previousstudies have focused on understanding drivers of adoption at farm level, with adoptionmeasured at a point in time. In this study, we use a decade of panel data from thePermanent Agricultural Survey in Burkina Faso from 2010 to 2020 and machine learningapproaches, to model adoption rates of agroecological innovations at the provinciallevel as an autoregressive process. This modeling approach allows us to exploit the timeseries nature of our dataset to forecast future adoption rates. Our results showcase thepotential …

A Prison Of Poverty: How The Current State Of Supplemental Security Income (Ssi) Disincentivizes Saving And Entering The Workforce, Conor Mccormick

Western New England Law Review

Our current Social Security structure provides disability benefits through two programs: Title II Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Title XVI Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This Note will argue that the current structure of the SSI program actually disincentivizes disabled folk whom are able to work from returning to or entering the work force. A number of factors adversely affect an SSI recipient: (i) the strict definition of “disabled” to mean an inability to engage in a “substantial gainful activity level”; (ii) a cap on the total assets one can hold earn before losing benefits; (iii) poorly framed work incentive …

Evolving Execution Methods: The Constitutionality Of Nitrogen Hypoxia Through Pain, Precedent, And Practicality, Reem Haikal

Western New England Law Review

Method-of-execution challenges have intensified as lethal injection protocols face chronic instability. This Article evaluates whether execution by nitrogen hypoxia violates the Eighth Amendment and argues that it does not. The analysis applies Baze and Glossip to two questions: whether nitrogen hypoxia presents a substantial risk of severe pain and whether a feasible and readily implemented alternative would materially reduce that risk. This Article synthesizes historical Eighth Amendment principles with the contemporary record from executions by nitrogen hypoxia, related litigation materials, medical testimony, and physiological literature on inert-gas hypoxia.

The evidence indicates that nitrogen hypoxia typically produces rapid loss of consciousness …

Essay – When Disability Is Different: Reasonable Accommodations And Higher Education Dei, Katherine A. Macfarlane

Case Western Reserve Law Review

No abstract provided.

Examining Reproductive Equity In The Post-Roe United States, Yali Pang, Anna Grace Causey, Nakeina E. Douglas-Glenn, Research Institute For Social Equity Rise

Research Institute for Social Equity

Four years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, state-level variation in reproductive rights policy is associated with substantial geographic inequities in access to abortion and reproductive health care across the United States. The adoption of restrictive or protective reproductive rights policies is closely tied to legislative control, underscoring the political drivers of reproductive inequity. The evidence suggests that advancing reproductive equity will require coordinated national, state, and local response to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, reduce economic barriers, and establish durable legislative protections for reproductive rights.

Clinical Challenges Associated With Enhancing Hypertension Among The Underserved African American Population, Ashley Richardson

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Background 

African Americans face a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension, tend to develop complications at younger ages, and have disproportionately higher mortality rates. Key social determinants of health (SDoH)—including food deserts, unequal access to healthcare, and geographic disparities in healthcare resources—contribute to these ongoing inequities. Addressing both systemic and individual barriers is crucial for effective hypertension management.

Objective

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a culturally relevant, community-based intervention designed to reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure among Black adults with uncontrolled hypertension.

Methods 

Quality improvement (QI) initiatives typically employ multicomponent, equity-focused models. The primary components of …

Cisheterosexism In Lgbtqia+ Health Resource Guides, Vanessa Kitzie, Olivia Reed, Amirezza Kalantari

Faculty Publications

Cisheterosexism in LGBTQIA+ Health Resource Guides Vanessa Kitzie, Amirezza Kalantari, Olivia Reed University of South Carolina, School of Information Science [email protected] Limited healthcare resources lead many LGBTQIA+ people to peer networks, often accessed via search engines to find community-created health resource websites [1–3]. Academic library guides benefit privileged LGBTQIA+ identities [4], but little is known about community guides, which may reinforce cisheterosexist narratives, causing stigma and stress [5, 6]. This study addresses this gap by scraping Google results for LGBTQIA+ health resources across US states, examining how cisheterosexism shapes health topics, geography, and representation of LGBTQIA+ populations. We hypothesize that …

Predicting Dementia Risk: Progress, Pitfalls, And Priorities, Patricia Nistor, Osvaldo Espin-Garcia, Zul Merali, Shehzad Ali

Brain and Mind Institute

As populations age, identifying individuals at high risk for dementia has become a cornerstone of prevention-oriented public health policy. Accurate and scalable risk stratification could enable early intervention and resource targeting. However, existing models face methodological limitations, including constraints in available data and follow-up duration, challenges in dementia ascertainment, heterogeneity in modelling approaches, and limited external validation. This commentary discusses these challenges and identifies methodological priorities for developing dementia risk algorithms that are robust and suitable for real-world implementation.

Evolving Paradigms Of Sustainability In Luxury Fashion: Evidence From An Emerging Market, Sandipan Sen, Sphurti Sewak, Swati Singh, Moutusy Maity, Aniruddha Pangarkar

Faculty Publications – Marketing

The global fashion industry is both an economic driver and a major contributor of environmental and social challenges. This research examines how sustainable luxury fashion is constructed and adopted within an emerging market context by integrating perspectives from entrepreneurs, industry managers, and consumers. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach and drawing upon Self-Identity Theory and need for uniqueness, this research explores how identity-based motivations shape sustainable luxury consumption. Study 1 employs in-depth interviews with luxury fashion entrepreneurs and practitioners to uncover how sustainability is embedded within luxury value propositions. Building on these insights, Study 2 quantitatively tests a conceptual model examining the …

Comparing Digital And Non-Digital Gamification On Their Impacts In The World Language Classroom, Amanda K. Salmonson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Few studies have focused on the comparison between digital and non-digital game-based learning, especially in the world language classroom. This thesis is a literature review of 36 peer-reviewed articles to compare the effects of digital versus non-digital game use in regards to motivation, language acquisition, vocabulary retention, teacher implementation, and student social skills and mental health. The findings show that both styles of gamification have positive impacts in all of these categories when compared to traditional teacher-centered instruction, though when compared, each mode has its benefits and weaknesses. Digital games’ promotion of competition can limit student intrinsic motivation as well …