Digital Commons Network^™

Predictors Of Psychoactive Substance Abuse Among Eastern Nigeran Youth, Kingsley Chidiebere Izuka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPsychoactive substance (PAS) abuse is a major public health problem leading to increased morbidity and mortality. In Nigeria, the incidence rate of PAS abuse has remained high, particularly in the youth population. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of social factors and school enrollment status on PAS abuse in youth in Southeast Nigeria. The social ecological model and the theory of reasoned action were the theoretical frameworks used for this study; they were selected due to their focus on multiple levels of factors that influence behavior. A quantitative cross-sectional study design approach was used to determine …

A Phenomenological Study On Protective Factors Preventing College-Aged Criminal Activity During Cameroon’S Anglophone Crisis, Melvis N. Asongwed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Anglophone crisis, in which marginalization of the English-speaking regions in Cameroon began in October 2016 and has become one of the most prominent social problems in the nation’s history. It has led to loss of lives, infrastructure damage, displacement of families, incidents of mass violence, unemployment, and a rise in criminal activity in the Anglophone regions. Grounded in the phenomenological approach and guided by the general strain theory (GST), this qualitative inquiry explored the protective factors that have reduced or prevented criminal activity for college students in the Anglophone regions during the crisis. Semi structure interviewing guided participant responses. …

Sociodemographic Predictors Of Veterans’ Health-Related Quality Of Life, Tamala Jones Choice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a theoretical concept that intertwines physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning, with a focus on the impact that health status has on quality of life. Although sociodemographic factors are associated with lower HRQoL, how these factors influence HRQoL in military veterans is less understood. The study’s purpose was to examine the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics (gender, military pay grade, military branch, and geographic location) and perceived HRQoL measured by the SF-8 survey among veterans living in a metropolitan community in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. A cross-sectional recruitment study design yielded 90 …

Evacuation Emergency Management During Hurricane Katrina: A Decision-Making Analysis, Kimberli Roessing-Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emergency management policy is useful when it involves the stakeholders it serves in the decision-making process. The death toll for Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was almost 2,000 people. Many of the dead and injured lived in low-income communities. There were significant challenges with the evacuation of residents of the Ninth Ward of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Like many public policies, emergency management has evolved over time. Periodically, a catalyst event, such as Hurricane Katrina, shapes public opinion and eventually public policy and its administration. Punctuated equilibrium theory was used to examine the decision-making process of Ninth Ward residents to …

Emergency Preparedness And Response: Examining Rural Hospitals (Rhs) Communication Systems Before, During, And After A Natural Disaster, Geremy D. Lloyd

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Rural Hospitals (RHs) have distinctive characteristics that constitute unparalleled challenges. One of those challenges is the ability to communicate effectively in a disaster, impacting the various effects on the affected society. Research has shown that effective emergency preparedness and response (EPR) communication is paramount when communicating informed details about emergent events. Despite the evolving complexities of communication and the technology associated with disaster communication, very few studies have successfully investigated RHs communication systems before, during, and after a natural disaster. The purpose of this study was to examine and assess RHs communication systems and to highlight the strengths, identify …

Synthesis Study On Employing Snowplow Driving Simulators In Training, Luciana Debs, Yanchao Zheng, Jesutoba Ademiloye, Yunfeng Chen, Jiansong Zhang

JTRP Technical Reports

Departments of Transportation (DOTs) need to mobilize workers under harsh weather conditions for winter operations. Traditional snowplow driver training at INDOT is usually conducted annually before the snow season; therefore, it does not replicate the conditions which drivers will be exposed to during winter operations. To this point, some state DOTs have incorporated simulators in their snowplow driver training. Despite this raised interest, few studies have (1) surveyed other state DOTs about the use of this equipment in winter operations driver training, or (2) provided a systematic consideration of all factors involved in the decision to use driving simulators in …

Crowdsourcing/Winter Operations Dashboard Upgrade, Justin A. Mahlberg, Jairaj Desai, Haydn Malackowski, Howell Li, Jijo K. Mathew, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Timothy Wells, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

INDOT has recently completed the deployment of Parsons telematics-based dash-cameras, automatic vehicle locator (AVL) positions, and spreader rate monitoring across their winter operations fleet. The motivation of this study was to develop dashboards that integrate connected vehicle data into the real-time monitoring and after-action review of winter storms. Each month approximately 13 billion connected vehicle records are ingested for the state of Indiana and almost 99 billion weather data records are ingested nationwide in 15-minute intervals. This study developed techniques to utilize this connected vehicle data and weather data to monitor real-time mobility of interstates and post storm after-action assessments …

Implementation Of Enhanced Probe Data (Canbus) For Tactical Workzone And Winter Operations Management, Jairaj Desai, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mahlberg, Jijo K. Mathew, Howell Li, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

For over a decade, segment-based probe data has been extensively used by transportation stakeholders for monitoring mobility on Indiana roadways. However, enhanced probe data from connected vehicles includes a richer dataset that can provide more detailed real-time and after-action reviews. This enhanced data includes detailed vehicle trajectories, at 3s resolution, and “event data.” This event data is near real-time and includes hard-braking events, hard-acceleration events, weather-related data, including wiper activations and some seat belt usage data. This project developed a set of methodologies and resulting visualizations that enables the use of emerging connected vehicle data in operational decision-making on work …

Speed Enforcement In Work Zones And Synthesis On Cost-Benefit Assessment Of Installing Speed Enforcement Cameras On Indot Road Network, Jijo K. Mathew, Jairaj C. Desai, Howell Li, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

Work zone safety is a high priority for transportation agencies across the United States. High speeds in construction zones are a well-documented risk factor that increases the frequency and severity of crashes. It is therefore important to understand the extent and severity of high-speed vehicles in and around construction work zones. This study uses CV trajectory data to evaluate the impact of several work zone speed compliance measures, such as posted speed limit signs, radar-based speed feedback displays, and automated speed enforcement on controlling speeds inside the work zone. This study also presents several methodologies to characterize both the spatial …

Teen Appeal, Memphis, 13.06, 2010

Documents

Issue 13.6 of the "Teen Appeal" published by the University of Memphis Journalism Department and Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tennessee, on March 2, 2010

Felon Disenfranchisement: An Attack On Democracy In The United States, Katie Rodrigues

Student Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Hostos Community College Academic Bulletin 2023-2024, Hostos Community College

College Bulletins

This is the official college catalog for 2023-2024. It contains course descriptions as well as information on degree programs, college resources and services, financial aid, admissions, and the academic calendar.

The Impact Of Job Demands And Job Resources On Clery Officers’ Feelings Of Self-Efficacy, Jacqueline Pontius-Hogan

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to better understand how to support university administrators serving in a compliance role. Safety on university campuses is of utmost importance and many collaborators work toward this endeavor. Generally, on any given college or university campus, there is one administrator tasked with compliance with the Clery Act. Administrators had varying direct experience and interest in serving in this role, though all understood the importance of compliance and the consequences of noncompliance.

The researcher interviewed Clery Officers from multiple campuses. Utilizing semistructured interviews, information was gathered as to how self-efficacious these administrators felt. The intent behind …

State Attorneys’ Perceptions On The Role Of Racial Disparities In The Juvenile Justice System, Allison Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation was prepared to offer a scholarly investigation on the justice officials’ consideration of race in making decisions for sanctions and sentencing of African American juveniles. The research provided an extreme review of the justice system to place in context the differential treatment of Black youths. African American juveniles’ cumulative experience of discrimination and racial disparities in the juvenile justice system and adult criminal justice system. An examination of the overrepresentation of African Americans in the justice system. A journey from juvenile delinquency to adult criminality. An early destination starts at arrest to intake to juvenile court then transfer …

Examining The Impact Of Postsecondary Correctional Education Programs On Participant Self-Stigmatization: The Student Perspective, Christal M. Clark

Theses and Dissertations

Legislators and correctional administrators are tasked with problem-solving current issues of mass incarceration and high criminal recidivism rates. Part of the solution is to implement successful rehabilitative initiatives through reentry programming. While Postsecondary Correctional Education programs are proven to reduce recidivism and assist formerly incarcerated persons in obtaining employment, little is known about the effects of obtaining a college degree in prison on individual self-stigmatization. Self-stigmatization can occur when a member of a marginalized group experiences poor self-concept. Those with mental illness, criminal histories, addiction, etc. are often viewed as undesirable by mainstream society. In an attempt to manage negative …

The Lived Experiences Of 911 Telecommunicators: Life Outside Of The Call Center, Mary's Dariela Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

911 operators are tasked with solving the caller's problem by promptly and efficiently decoding a cry for help, collecting pertinent information, quickly deciding its priority level, and dispatching the appropriate assistance. These employees are responsible for what happens on that line, internalizing their problems to solve those of the callers, which often result in stress disorders, trauma, and personal, professional, and social issues. Their job duties are extensive, the responsibility is vast, and the overall environment can be overwhelming. Aside from the environmental stressors, the details of each critical incident leave the employee susceptible to various risk factors and other …

Necessary Necessity: Courts’ Historical Assessment Of The Condition Precedent For Martial Law, Eric Merriam

Oklahoma Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Trust In Local Police And Perceived Police Legitimacy Among Koreans In The United States, Zermeen Siddigi

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The following study will determine whether Korean Americans’ trust in police positively correlates with perceptions of police legitimacy. This project uses the data collected from surveys given to Korean Americans in the Atlanta, Georgia area. It takes into consideration 128 complete responses collected in September 2022 from Korean Americans, regardless of their immigration status. A regression analysis will be conducted to analyze the relationship between trust in police and perceived police legitimacy among Korean residents while controlling for the demographic factors such as age and gender of the participants. It also controls for other relevant factors including English proficiency, annual …

(Un)Successful Use Of Apologia: A Case Study Of Mayor Shubert's Resignation, Alexis Raineri

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

With the growing tension in the political climate of the United States, political figures often use apologia in their attempt to repair a damaged image due to their mistakes or wrongdoings. This project reviews several scholars’ image repair typologies and strategies, applying them to the case of Craig Shubert, former mayor of Hudson, Ohio. While the specific image repair strategies employed can vary from one case to another, Shubert’s use of evasion of responsibility and reducing offensiveness proved to be ineffective and resulted in his resignation before completing his term at the end of 2023. Although it is recommended to …

Black Liberty In Emergency, Norrinda Brown

Faculty Scholarship

COVID-19 pandemic orders were weaponized by state and local governments in Black neighborhoods, often through violent acts of the police. This revealed an intersection of three centuries-old patterns— criminalizing Black movement, quarantining racial minorities in public health crises, and segregation. The geographic borders of the most restrictive pandemic order enforcement were nearly identical to the borders of highly segregated, historically Black neighborhoods.

The right to free movement is fundamental and, as a rule, cannot be impeded by the state. But the jurisprudence around state power in public health emergencies, deriving from the 1905 case Jacobson v. Massachusetts, has practically resulted …

Tragedy Of The Digital Commons, Chinmayi Sharma

Faculty Scholarship

Google, iPhones, the national power grid, surgical operating rooms, baby monitors, surveillance technology, and wastewater management systems all run on open-source software. Open-source software, or software that is free and publicly available, powers our day-to-day lives. As a resource, it defies economic logic; it is built by developers, many of whom are volunteers, who build projects with the altruistic intention of donating them to the digital commons. Developers use it because it saves time and money and promotes innovation. Its benefits have led to its ubiquity and indispensability. Today, over ninety-seven percent of all software uses open source. Without it, …

Sherman V. Department Of Public Safety: Institutional Responsibility For Sexual Assault, John C.P. Goldberg, Benjamin C. Zipursky

Faculty Scholarship

This article addresses the intersection of three important topics: sexual assault, police misconduct, and employer liability for employee torts. As to the last of these, while there have long been debates among jurists in the U.S. concerning the proper scope of respondeat superior liability, courts have mostly adhered to an approach that focuses on whether the employee acted for the purpose of serving the employer’s interests. The narrowness of this purpose-based test, as compared to available alternatives, makes it imperative for lawyers, judges, and scholars to be attentive to other, less well-known, bases for employer liability. In Sherman v Department …

A Fiduciary Theory Of Progressive Prosecution, Bruce A. Green, Rebecca Roiphe

Faculty Scholarship

Progressive prosecutors differ from their more traditional counterparts primarily in the way in which they make decisions. They tend to bind their discretion by announcing categorical policies rather than making fact-based decisions case by case. This Article catalogs the unusual degree of pushback progressive prosecutors have encountered from the public, legislatures, courts, police, and their own subordinate prosecutors. Drawing on fiduciary theory, it explains this reaction as a response to progressive prosecutors’ abdication of their fiduciary role. As a public fiduciary, prosecutors are entrusted with protecting the public’s abstract interest in justice, and an integral part of this role is …

Is There A Fundamental Right To Privacy When An Educational Institution Requires A Student To Disclose Proof Of His Or Her Vaccination Status?, Mary D. Fatscher

Touro Law Review

In 2020, the coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) dominated the world. Although the public has progressively become more informed about the disease and how to safeguard itself, challenges persist as there is still much unknown. Aside from wearing masks, social distancing, and despite its undetermined consequences, the COVID-19 vaccination has emerged as a primary solution to substantially reducing the incidence and severity of the virus in our country. Many COVID-19 vaccine mandates were initiated once three pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson received Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”).

Hawker Culture And Its Infrastructure: Experiences And Contestations In Everyday Life, Lily Kong, Aidan Wong

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Hawker foods characterize urban Asia, with similarities and differences across cities that forge both cultural commonalities and distinctions. From the itinerant to the fixed location, from the temporary sites to the purpose-built, hawker foods are served in informal settings, with varying degrees of tradition and innovation, hygiene and squalidness, local authenticity and globalized influence. In the side-streets of Beijing where local delicacies such as scorpion are served, to the abundant food cart vendors on Bangkok streets, to the warung (small, typically family-owned eateries) in Surabaya, and the carefully planned and designed hawker centres in Singapore, hawker culture is a distinctive …

Usdot Tier-1 University Transportation Center For Advancing Cybersecurity Research And Education, Yunpeng Jack Zhang, Kailai Wang, Lingguang Song, Amaury Lendasse, Houbing Herbert Song, Zhu Han, Rakesh Verma, Arlei Silva, Carlos Rubio-Medrano, Zhixia Richard Li, Guohui Zhang

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Transportation Cybersecurity Center for Advanced Research and Education (Cyber-Care) is a Us Department of Transportation (Usdot) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (Utc) Funded in 2023. Cyber-Care Primarily Focuses on the Usdot Statutory Research Priority Area of 'reducing Transportation Cybersecurity Risks.' Cyber-Care Aims to Establish a Fundamental Knowledge Basis and Explore Advanced Theory to Mitigate the Impacts of Large-Scale Cyberattacks on Transportation Infrastructure and Connected and Automated Vehicle (Cav) Systems. the Research Projects at Cyber-Care Will Develop Conceptual Frameworks, Construct Comprehensive Datasets, Explore Novel Analytical Approaches, Support the Implementation of Public Policies and Infrastructure Investments, and Build a High-Quality Industry Workforce …

Predicting Florida's Extreme Wind Events: A Deep Learning Approach, Irene Josephat Byemerwa

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Extreme wind events, such as hurricanes and tropical storms, have devastating impacts on infrastructure, economy, and public safety in Florida. Traditional predictive methods, linear regression, logistic regression, and autoregressive integrated moving-average (ARIMA) models have limitations in accounting for non-stationarity and nonlinearity in meteorological data, leading to less accurate predictions. The primary objective of this study is to leverage the capabilities of deep learning algorithms, specifically, Feedforward Neural Networks (FFNNs), to develop a predictive model that outperforms traditional predictive methods in forecasting extreme wind events in Florida. The deep learning model was trained, validated, and tested using historical wind speed data …

Development Of Practical Assessment Techniques For Sinkhole Potential In Florida Based On Sinkhole Vulnerability Indices, Sylvia Pesha

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sinkholes are natural geohazards prevalent in Florida's distinctive karst geology, posing risks to public safety, infrastructure, and groundwater integrity. Considering the increasing frequency of sinkhole occurrences in Florida due to land development in vulnerable soils, understanding the potential for sinkhole occurrence can aid in the identification of high-risk locations and inform effective mitigation strategies. Researchers have developed three point-based indices to be used when assessing the vulnerability a project site has to sinkhole formation based on the encountered subsurface conditions. Engineers have historically used an index based on the subsurface layer thicknesses, called the Raveling Index (RI). In recent years, …

Exploring Of User Experience And Evaluating Mobility Benefits Of Micromobility Systems And Golf Carts: Case Study Of Florida, Kabhabhela C. Bukuru

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Micromobility devices and golf carts (GCs)/Low speed vehicles(LSVs) are urban transportation solutions that provide short-distance travel options, including first- and last-mile trips. They mostly operate at speeds of 15 mi/h to 35 mi/h. The micromobility devices include e-scooters and e-bikes. The micromobility devices and golfcarts are increasing rapidly in the transportation system, and thus, it is necessary to explore their various factors. The objective of this study is to explore the user experience and evaluate the mobility benefits of the micromobility systems in Florida.

A survey was conducted in various cities with a substantial user base of micromobility devices. Various …

Balancing Matters?Re-Visiting Security-Development Nexusand Its Operation On ‘Secure And Prosperous’ National Goals Thailand 2014-2024, Thiraphon Singlor

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The main objective of this thesis is to assess the significance of the security-development nexus for Thailand and explore the necessity of achieving balance within it. Through qualitative document analysis, the study addresses two research questions—the operations and implications of the nexus for the country’s security and prosperity. It assesses the theory of ‘balance’ across Thailand’s national-level policies, encompassing the 20-Year National Strategy and its overarching national goals of Security, Prosperity, and Sustainability, as well as the National Economic and Social Development Policy and Plan, National Security Policy and Plan, and Defense Policy. Findings reveal that Thailand’s security and development …