Digital Commons Network^™

Texas Bluebonnet Chapter, Daughters Of The American Revolution Scrapbook, 1974-1976

Lucretia Council Cochran and Texas Bluebonnet Chapters, Daughters of the American Revolution Scrapbooks

Scrapbook created by the Texas Bluebonnet Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution containing materials from 1974-1976

Caring For Our Neighbors: Public Prayer As A Pastoral Tool For Multicultural Communities, Gilbert Perez

School of Theology and Seminary Graduate Papers/Theses

Throughout 2025 and in the first few months of 2026 there has been an increased presence of immigration law enforcement in the state of Minnesota, which has extended into the central Minnesotan diocese of St. Cloud.

Adaptive Intervention Strategies In Co-Evolving Multiplex Networks: A Reinforcement Learning Approach To Real-Time Misinformation Containment, Anjali Ashokrao Bhadre Dr., Harshvardhan Prabhakar Ghongade Dr.

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

The growing transmission of misinformation via social media creates serious challenges to public health, democracy and social cohesion. To date, methods used to contain misinformation rely upon static representations of networks and set rules for interventions. In contrast, this study presents the first Multiplex Adaptive Reinforcement Intervention Network (MARIN), a framework for real-time adaptive intervention in the context of dynamic misinformation transmission using co-evolving multiplex networks and deep reinforcement learning. Unlike past studies that have assumed static network structures, MARIN has the ability to allow for dynamic changes in network topology as a result of both misinformation transmission and intervention …

Improving Approach Of Evolutionary Strategies For Clustering Technique Enhancement, Duaa Mahde Saleh, Hasanen S. Abdullah, Ahmad Zamsuri

Journal of Soft Computing and Computer Applications

The existence of the information has been the essential aspect of the whole society. Information is concentrated in all forms to be effectively utilized. Clustering — an unsupervised learning technique. It is based on data similarity that gives rise to issues in collection, challenges and instability in data structure. It proposes an advanced evolutionary method by combining two approaches. Firstly, it adopts the evolutionary approach and integrates the advantages between two methods to design one. Among them are Differential Evolution (DE) and Genetic Algorithm (GA), Evolutionary Strategy (ES) and Genetic Programming (GP), and Evolutionary Programming (EP) and Particle Swarm Optimization …

Skin Lesion Classification Using Cnn Model And Augmented Dataset, Mohammed Nawzad Mohammed-Ramzi, Aso M. Aladdin

Journal of Soft Computing and Computer Applications

Skin cancer is a deadly disease. Skin lesion classification is a critical challenge due to its prevalent and deadly nature. Skin lesions are difficult for dermatologists to detect using eye examination, which is time-consuming and variable. A deep learning model of skin lesions classification has been proposed using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) trained on the HAM10000 dataset of 10,015 dermatoscopies. To improve resilience and address the dataset's extreme class imbalance, data augmentation techniques such as geometric transformations, brightness/contrast adjustments, blurring, noise addition, histogram equalization, color space alterations, and elastic deformations are used. With a carefully balanced 10% test set, …

Development Of Differentiated Learning Assisted By Animated Content In Speaking And Writing Learning For Second Grade Elementary School Students, Winaningsih Winaningsih, Euis Eti Rohaeti, Asep Samsudin

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Speaking and writing are basic skills that play a crucial role in supporting the academic development of elementary school students. Initial observations in one elementary school indicated that learning was still uniform, did not fully address differences in student abilities, and the use of digital media was still limited. This study aimed to analyze the development process, feasibility, and effectiveness of a differentiated learning model supported by animated content in improving the speaking and writing skills of second-grade elementary school students, as well as to identify barriers faced by teachers and students in its implementation. This study used a Research …

Extracurricular Video Game Use And Academic Achievement: A Systematic Literature Review, Christina Hartman, Theo Makanoa, Lucas Thoms, Aidan Lowry, Kaleb Chandler

English Student Research

A good deal of research exists on the relationship between student use of video games outside the classroom and academic achievement. Our systematic review aims to identify what patterns exist across research conducted in the last 20 years. We examined 62 research studies that dealt with academic achievement and extracurricular video game use and found that most studies identify a negative association between the two. However, this isn’t the case for all students. We identified three important variables (the amount of time spent playing video games, the time of day or week spent playing, and the age of the students) …

The Role Of Mitochondrial And Lysosomal Damage In Neurotoxicity From Parkinson 'S-Related Environmental Exposures, Neda Ilieva

ETDs from 2020-2029

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive motor neurodegenerative disorder with a predominantly idiopathic etiology. More recently, however, the contribution of exogenous risk factors such as environmental contaminants has become of interest. Some endogenous genetic risk factors have been well characterized, but the mechanisms by which exogenous insults, such as environmental contaminants, drive dopaminergic neurodegeneration remain incompletely understood. This dissertation will address how environmental contaminants converge on mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction to activate parallel neurotoxic signaling pathways, with a focus on the LRRK2 kinase and the cGAS-STING innate immune pathway. Chapter 2 demonstrates that pharmacological inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity protects …

Implementation Of A Standardized Adverse Childhood Experiences Screening Process In A Primary Care Clinic, Tanya M. Wonnacott

Doctoral Dissertations & Projects

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are associated with increased risks of chronic disease, mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and premature mortality. Despite growing evidence supporting ACE screening, it remains inconsistent in many primary care settings, particularly among underserved populations. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether implementation of a standardized ACE screening workflow increased ACE screening completion and behavioral health referral within a nonprofit primary care clinic serving uninsured, underinsured, and refugee populations.

This project utilized a pre–post quality improvement design guided by Lewin’s Change Management Model and the Chronic Care Model. Interventions included standardized ACE …

Impact Of Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection On Pain, Disability, And Kinesiophobia In Lumbar Disc Herniation With Radicular Pain, Hande Ece Öz, Rumeysa Çeti̇nkaya Bulutoğlu, Furkan Çeti̇n, Ezgi̇ Can, Alp Eren Çelenli̇oğlu, Ender Si̇r

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The aim was to evaluate the effect of single-level transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) on kinesiophobia (KP) in patients with lumbar radicular pain (RP) caused by single-root, single-level lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Materials and methods: A total of 63 patients diagnosed with unilateral single-level radicular pain due to LDH and treated with single-level TFESI were included. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), and Neuropathic pain (NP)-Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questionnaire (DN4) were used before the procedure and at 3 weeks and 3 months postoperatively.

Results: At baseline, 76.19% (n = 48) …

Reliability And Validity Of The Turkish Version Of The Barthel Index-Dyspnea In Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension, Pinar Merç, Rengi̇n Demi̇r, Meli̇h Zeren, Habi̇be Durdu, Ümi̇t Yaşar Si̇nan, Mehmet Serdar Küçükoğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The Barthel Index-dyspnea (BI-d) is a respiratory disease-specific tool developed on the basis of the Barthel Index (BI), which provides a simple and quick way to measure the degree of dyspnea in activities of daily living (ADL). Dyspnea is one of the most common symptoms of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The objective of this study was to explore the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the BI-d in patients with PH.

Materials and methods: A total of 73 PH patients were included in the study. Criterion validity was explored using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, …

Engagement With Tailored Physical Activity Interventions Among Women In Midlife With Elevated Risk For Cardiovascular Disease, Kiri Baga

Theses and Dissertations

Women in midlife (ages 40-65) with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) need physical activity (PA) interventions that are informed by and address their daily challenges and life circumstances, to reduce their chances of premature mortality from CVD. Sustaining engagement with PA interventions remains a substantial challenge for women in midlife. The aims of the proposed study were to describe participants’ PA-relevant characteristics and intervention preferences and to identify their patterns of engagement with different PA support tools (tailored PA website, intervention involving pairing women as PA partners). With respect to engagement, there was limited between-person stability in engagement outcomes …

What Do Highly Successful Families Of Faith Teach Us About Trust?, Caleigh E. B. Kerr

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study examined trust among diverse families of Abrahamic faiths across the United States. The 292 families who were part of this national study represent significant religious breadth (over 20 total denominations), geographic scope, and racial diversity, with 51% of the participants being racial/ethnic minorities. Married participants had at least one child. Education levels of participants ranged from G.E.D to Ph.D., with varying socioeconomic statuses. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants. Couples were hand-chosen by their respective religious leaders as being both relational and religious exemplars.

Using the qualitative responses of participants, a word search was conducted. Responses relevant to …

If Pets Are Family: Pet Loss And The Need For Grief Equity In One Health, Michele L. Whitney

Journal of One Health Systems

One Health frameworks increasingly recognize pets as integral to human health and well-being. However, these models often overlook the health and equity implications of pet loss. Culturally mediated grief experiences following pet bereavement represent a critical grief equity gap in One Health systems. Drawing on findings from a qualitative study of African American adults who experienced pet loss, along with existing literature, this Viewpoint highlights how pet loss is not only an emotional experience but also a socially structured one shaped by cultural norms, social recognition, and access to support. These dynamics contribute to inequities in how grief is experienced …

A Caveat Regarding The Unfolding Argument: Implications Of Plasticity, Viknas N. O'Reilly-Shah, Alessandro Maria Selvitella, Aaron Schurger

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

The unfolding argument in the neuroscience of consciousness posits that causal structure cannot account for consciousness because any recurrent neural network (RNN) can be “unfolded” into a functionally equivalent feedforward neural network (FNN) with identical input–output behavior. Subsequent debate has focused on dynamical properties and philosophy of science critiques. We examine a boundary condition on the unfolding argument for RNN systems with rapid plasticity in their connection weights. We demonstrate through rigorous mathematical proofs that rapid plasticity negates the functional equivalence between the RNN and the FNN. Our proofs address history-dependent plasticity, dynamical systems analysis, information-theoretic considerations, perturbational stability, complexity …

Using In-Home Air Quality Monitoring To Reduce Cannabis Secondhand Smoke Exposure In Children: Quantitative Pilot Feasibility Study, Vincent Berardi, Bradley N. Collins, Laura M. Glynn, Eusabeia Silfanus, Darby G. Lyons, Stephen J. Lepore

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background: An estimated 5 to 8 million US children live with a parent who uses cannabis, and most cannabis users report smoking cannabis inside their homes, placing children at risk for cannabis secondhand smoke (cSHS) exposure. Indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring provides real-time feedback on airborne pollutants and has shown promise in reducing in-home tobacco secondhand smoke exposure, suggesting its potential as an effective harm reduction strategy for cSHS.

Objective: This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of using low-cost, off-the-shelf IAQ monitors to increase caregivers’ awareness of children’s cSHS exposure risk and to change …

Cardiovascular Disease Subtypes And Alzheimer's Disease: Phenotypic And Genetic Associations In The Uk Biobank And All Of Us Research Program, Aili Toyli, Chen Zhao, Kuan Jui Su, Hui Shen, Hong Wen Deng, Qing Hui Chen, Qiuying Sha, Weihua Zhou

Michigan Tech Publications

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are major public health concerns that share overlapping risk factors and potential mechanistic pathways. Although vascular contributions to cognitive decline are well documented, the specific relationships between AD and different CVD subtypes remain poorly understood. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we examined associations between AD and 11 CVD subtypes using logistic regression models in 2 large biobanks: the UK Biobank (n=502 133) and the All of Us Research Program (n=287 011). Models were adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical covariates. We also explored genetic overlap between AD and CVD traits through proximity-based …

From Scenario To Safety: Simulation As A Catalyst For Infection Prevention, Brianne M. Bachman, Jennifer E. Jones, Jessica L. Mcclusky, Mallory Davis

Posters

Simulation-based education has emerged as a transformative tool in healthcare, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical practice.

In the realm of infection prevention, simulation offers a controlled, risk-free environment to reinforce essential protocols, build competency, and identify system level vulnerabilities before harm occurs.

Bridging The Gender Gap In Ghanaian Local Governance: Key Enablers And Pathways, Martin Brantuo, Victor Fannam Nunfam, Joseph Akanganngang Asitik, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This qualitative study examines factors facilitating women’s election to District Assemblies in Ghana through social capital and supply–demand theoretical frameworks. Through interviews with thirteen female Assembly members and four officials, the research identifies four critical enablers: financial resources, political affiliations, community relationships, and educational qualifications. Financial resources emerged as crucial for campaign management and voter mobilization, while political party support provided strategic advantages despite the nonpartisan nature of local elections. Strong interpersonal relationships within communities proved vital for building voter trust, and educational background enhanced candidates’ credibility. The findings inform recommendations for implementing gender quotas, establishing campaign funding mechanisms, voter …

Applying Theory Of Planned Behavior To Examine Adolescent Female Athletes’ Intentions Of Continued Sport Participation, Chris Hopkins, Casey S. Hopkins

Open Access Fund Publications

Introduction: Adolescent females discontinue sports at higher rates than males, which contributes to their lower overall physical activity during this important period of development. Potentially useful for understanding this disparity, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) provides a framework to study one's intentions through their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. This study examined whether TPB constructs predict female adolescents’ intentions to continue participating in sports and remain physically active.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire to collect data from 271 female adolescents who recently participated in organized sports. Structural equation modeling was used to test TPB's …

Paths To Stability And Wealth: Evidence From The Habitat For Humanity Wealth Building Project, Yung Chun, Somalis Chy, Laura Evans, Xueying Mei, Stephen Roll

Center for Social Development Research

Owning a home has long been the most common way for American families build wealth—but for low- and moderate-income families, the route is rarely open and rarely simple. And handing a family the keys does not guarantee that the house will become an asset. This report sets out to answer a hard question: Can homeownership deliver lasting wealth to the families who have been locked out of it the longest, and what does it take to make that happen? This study presents findings from the first national evaluation of the Habitat for Humanity Wealth Building Project. The report examines how …

Effects Of Peer Tutoring Training Duration And Group Piano Level On Harmonization And Transposition Achievement And Learning Attitudes Of Undergraduate Non-Keyboard Music Students, Jinnan Liu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among peer tutoring training duration, group piano level, and undergraduate non-keyboard music students’ achievement in harmonization and transposition, as well as their learning attitude following peer tutoring. Based on the literature on cooperative learning, peer-assisted learning, and reciprocal peer tutoring, this study examined whether differences in training duration and group piano level were related to student performance and learning experiences in university group piano.

A quasi-experimental 2  2 design was used. The independent variables were peer tutoring training duration (2-day vs. 4-day) and group piano level (Group Piano II vs. …

Junk Journaling For Graphic Designers: Analog Play & Process In An Increasingly Digital Design Landscape, Kristina Rosgen

University Honors Theses

This thesis explores junk journaling as an accessible analog practice for young graphic designers experiencing digital fatigue, creative stress, and perfectionism. Through historical research, a hands-on workshop, and an interactive Readymag website, the project shows how junk journaling can help designers reconnect with play, process, physical materials, and the joy of making.

Caregiver-Implemented Functional Analysis Of Moderate-To-Vigorous Physical Activity Of Children, Rachel B. Riccardo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Most children do not currently meet the 60 min per day recommendation for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), which could lead to problematic health outcomes. Researchers have used behavioral assessments (i.e., functional analysis [FA]) to identify the maintaining variables (e.g., attention, interactive play) that produce elevated levels of MVPA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which a caregiver-implemented FA can identify the function of their child’s MVPA. All three participants engaged in elevated levels of MVPA when adult interaction and attention were delivered contingently. The results of this study showed that caregivers implemented FAs of MVPA …

The Long-Term Biological Toll Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And The Role Of Psychological Resilience, Jill Krier Desch

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are preventable, potentially traumatic events that occur before age 18 such as physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, and household instability and are associated with the leading causes of adult morbidity and mortality in the United States. The mechanisms underlying these associations are not yet fully understood, but the link between ACEs, chronic stress, and allostatic load is one potential pathway. Although ACEs are associated with the leading causes of adult morbidity and mortality, many individuals continue to lead healthy lives through adulthood despite exposure to ACEs. This dissertation used data from Waves I – V …

Beyond The Prompt: Coding The Magis In The Age Of Ai, Vanessa Rotondo

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

As a scholar-practitioner in Jesuit higher education, I’ve witnessed how generative AI is not merely a tool students use—it’s a formative force that shapes how they reflect, imagine, and even pray. Drawing on the Catholic imagination, Ignatian pedagogy, and sociological frameworks like liquid modernity, I argue that Jesuit institutions must respond not just technologically and reactively, but actively anticipate methods of integrating AI both theologically and pedagogically. I introduce the concept of Imaginative Intelligence as a formative goal—an embodied, sacramental way of knowing that invites depth, wonder, and resistance to automation. This is not a call to reject AI, but …

Ignatian Pedagogy For Engaged, Reflective, And Inclusive Learning: New Insights On A Treasured Tradition, Jennifer Tilghman-Havens, Jennifer Loertscher, David Green, Kerry S. Von Esch

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Ignatian pedagogy is the philosophy and methodology for teaching and learning that evolved from the wisdom accumulated from 500 years of Jesuit education. The Ignatian approach views education as a collaborative process that transforms students and teachers, preparing them for moral and ethical action in the world. While the core values of Jesuit education have remained constant, the changing demographics within our Jesuit communities and among the faculty and staff of our institutions offer an opportunity to celebrate its many intersections with peer-reviewed research on effective pedagogical approaches that center students and foster justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. In this …

Faculty And Staff Formation In Jesuit Higher Education: The Scholarship And Art Of Accompaniment, Belle Liang, Maria Gregoire, Elisa Liang

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

This study examines the formative impact of selected faculty and staff formation initiatives offered at Boston College, with particular attention to those shaped by Ignatian spirituality. Drawing on qualitative survey data from 134 participants, the analysis identifies interrelated conditions through which formation is experienced as a coherent process rather than a set of discrete programs. Across initiatives, renewal and vocational clarity were most often described through four conditions: People, Pause, Place, and Purpose, understood here as the alignment of values, commitments, and lived practice. Presence emerged as the relational medium through which People, Pause, Place, and Purpose became formative. Presence …

Academic Integrity, Generative Software, And Catholic, Jesuit Higher Education In The Context Of Neoliberal Global Society, Jacob Riyeff

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

This is a reflection on different aspects of higher education and generative software (so-called 'ai') in light of Ignatian discernment, especially the key consideration of "context." Drawing on administrative and classroom work at a Jesuit university in the United States, Catholic Social Teaching principles, papal teaching on social justice and technology, and an honest consideration of generative software's social, corporate, and ecological contexts, this reflection soberly assesses the fraught nature of complicity with such neoliberal, exploitative, and extractive contexts for Jesuit institutions of higher education. While it is easier to go along with mainstream economic and cultural assumptions, I claim …

Pa Dent J Nov 2017

Pennsylvania Dental Journal

The Pennsylvania Dental Journal is produced by the Pennsylvania Dental Association six times a year, in January, March, May, July, September and November. Issues include regular columns with regional news impacting the Pennsylvania membership including editorial and government relations news, association activities, member updates, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.