Digital Commons Network^™

Combating Corruption In Heavily Indebted African Nations: The Role Of A Transparent Public Procurement System, Lauren G. Harkins

Washington Semester Program

This paper explores the implementation of transparency-focused public procurement reforms adopted during the HIPC Initiative and compares longitudinal corruption trends in 18 African countries after the reform initiative. Using IMF documentation and WGI corruption data, the study compares countries that implemented procurement and financial transparency measures with those that did not. The results show no consistent link between these reforms and improved corruption scores, highlighting the influence of political instability, sector-specific conditions, and limited implementation capacity. The study underscores the importance of realistic, incremental reforms and adequate institutional support, especially as countries adopt electronic procurement systems.

Teachers’ Use Of Generative Artificial Intelligence For Designing Science Lessons In Support Of Environmental Science Agency, Won Jung Kim

Teacher Education

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) holds promise as a tool to assist teachers in addressing specific instructional design and implementation tasks. This study explores how teachers in a master’s-level elementary science methods course used Large Language Model AI, as one type of GenAI, to design lessons fostering students’ environmental science agency (ESA). The course introduced ESA as one of pedagogical constructs that emphasize the importance of science learning relevant and consequential to students’ lives, and encouraged teachers to use GenAI for their ESA-focused lesson design projects. Data sources included surveys, lesson design documents, GenAI chat logs, and field notes. Findings, derived …

Intouch Week Of May 26, 2025, New York Medical College

InTouch

• SOM Faculty Recognized for Excellence with Dean’s Faculty Awards
• NYMC Gathers Experts for In-Depth Look at Vector-Borne Diseases Impacting New York
• TU Research Day 2025 Explores “Plasticity in Research: AI and Beyond”
• SHSP Formal 2025 was a Night to Remember
• Student Spotlight: Nicole DeSouza to Deliver Student Address at the 166th NYMC GSBMS Commencement
• Alumni Spotlight: Akshay Syal, M.D. ’21, Bridges Medicine and the Media

Perceptions Of Benefits And Drawbacks In Maintaining Back Burner Relationships Online: A Report On Gendered Differences Among College Students, Narissra Maria Punyanunt-Carter, Jayson L. Dibble, Michelle Drouin, Christian Chambless, Ryan J. Martinez, Kayren Larrimore, Sumeyya Akdilek

Health Services and Informatics Research

This report investigates the perceptions of college students regarding the benefits and drawbacks of maintaining back burner relationships online, with a specific focus on gender-based differences. A mixed-methods study design was utilized. Participants included 762 undergraduate students (71% female, 71% Caucasian, 92% heterosexual) from communication courses at a Southwestern university. Participants completed a Qualtrics survey, and data were analyzed using content analysis with a focus on thematic coding. Inter-coder reliability was established at 98%. Results identified distinct gender differences in the benefits and drawbacks of back burner relationships. Females reported benefits such as emotional comfort and maintaining friendships, while males …

Use And Interpretation Of Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Rufina Ewane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project is a staff education initiative designed to address the lack of knowledge on how to use and interpret the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) tool. The practice problem highlights a knowledge gap, leading to the underutilization of the PHQ-9 tool for depression screening. This underutilization hinders timely diagnosis and effective management, presenting a significant challenge to achieving optimal patient outcomes. The project explores the question: Will implementing a staff education program on the use and interpretation of the PHQ-9 tool improve staff knowledge? The project was designed to enhance staff knowledge in utilizing and interpreting the PHQ-9 tool …

The State Of Wellness Amongst Title I Suburban High School Counselors, John Steven O'Rourke

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

The wellness of school counselors has largely been studied through quantitative approaches that illustrate school counselors are at greater risk to experience stress and burnout compared to any other helping profession. Title I high school counselors are tasked with providing a framework of programming to meet the needs of their students while navigating complex challenges, socio-economic inequities, and organizational factors that significantly impact their own well-being. While existing literature and research studies capture the adverse effects of wellness from predominately the lens of White women within suburban educational settings. This phenomenological qualitative study seeks to fill the existing gaps in …

Calculating Moment Magnitude Using The Coda Calibration Technique To Update The Earthquake Catalog Of Iraq (1900-2021), Muntadher Al-Kaabi

Theses and Dissertations

The first comprehensive earthquake catalog for Iraq based on moment magnitude (Mw) ‎was compiled by Onur et al. (2017). It spanned the period from 1900 until the end of ‎‎2009, covered the region between 26°–40° N latitudes and 36°–51° E longitudes, and ‎included more than 18,000 earthquakes, of which roughly 4,000 are of Mw 4.0 or larger. ‎With the ongoing efforts of updating the probabilistic seismic hazard assessment ‎‎(PSHA) and the Iraqi building code, the need for an updated earthquake catalog for Iraq ‎in terms of moment magnitude (Mw) has been raised. Robust estimation of moment ‎magnitude (Mw) can be …

Relationship Between Length Of Stay And Unplanned Readmissions For Adolescent Medicaid Beneficiaries In Mental Health, Rhona Rebecca Waugh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Using national cross-sectional data sets and explanatory variables from CMS, the purpose of this study was to analyze identified adolescents on Medicaid from 2019 to 2021, to determine the interaction of length of stay (LOS) on the frequency of unplanned 30-day readmissions. Students with mental disorders are the most susceptible population during enrollment in healthcare facilities, which is why LOS and readmissions represent one of the most critical points in supporting these learners. This study established the association between LOS and the increased proportion of 30-day readmissions among consumers under Medicaid with mental health conditions in the adolescence stage. To …

Staff Education On Medicaid And Medicare Programs, Angela R. Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Case managers at the practice site are responsible for helping older and disabled clients receive services from Medicare and Medicaid. The gap in practice was that case managers were failing to recognize the benefit and eligibility differences between these federal and state-run programs. Case managers must be well-informed regarding these programs to effectively manage their clients’ care. The goal of this project was to plan, implement, and evaluate a staff education program on Medicare and Medicaid services. The practice-focused question centered on whether participants demonstrated increased knowledge about Medicare and Medicaid services available to Waiver Program clients. The theoretical framework …

Experiences Of Group Support For Partners Of Sex Offenders, Monika Szabo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intimate relationships with individuals who have committed sex offenses significantly stigmatize and traumatize partners. Partners also face barriers to effective treatment, negatively impacting both themselves and their children affected by these offenses. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to gain an understanding of partners’ experiences with support groups in coping with trauma symptoms and stigma, thus addressing a gap in the literature. Grounded in theoretical concepts of trauma, mutual aid, and stigma, how social support dynamics facilitate healing by investigating coping strategies and support group stages to understand participants’ healing journeys were examined. Data were collected from 10 …

The Role Of Civic Education On The Types And Causes Of Bullying In School, Besim Gollopeni, Ferdi Kamberi, William R. Henninger

Faculty Publications

Educational institutions have a responsibility to create a safe and peaceful environment, where the emotional and social well-being of students is promoted. In such an environment, students are encouraged to engage with pleasure in the learning process to develop their knowledge but also to interact constructively with their peers, strengthening their social skills and sense of belonging to the community. Such an environment is being challenged by the spread of the phenomenon of bullying, which creates deep concerns among students, parents, schools and the community. This study aims to investigate the types, causes and effects that lead to the occurrence …

Spin In The Titles And Abstracts Of Allergy And Immunology Randomized Controlled Trials With Nonsignificant Outcomes, Diana Hamdan, Abbigail Niewchas, Ambrose Loc Ngo, Michael Weaver

Student Publications

In scientific reporting, ‘spin’ refers to presenting neutral or negative outcomes in a manner that infers favorable results. Spin can be especially problematic in the abstracts of randomized control trials, leading to an incorrect interpretation of trial outcomes, and potentially impacting subsequent studies, patient care, and policy decisions. The present study aims to evaluate the presence of spin in the abstracts of registered randomized control trials published in allergy and immunology journals. A systematic search of the PubMed database was performed to identify randomized controlled trials of human subjects registered in a clinical trial registry with a test and control …

Wildlife Road Mortalities During Covid-19 Pandemic-Related Lockdown In South Texas: A Comparative Survey, Bradley Evan Beer, Kevin W. Ryer, Md Saydur Rahman, John H. Young Jr., Richard J. Kline

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Mortalities of wildlife caused by collisions with vehicles along roads are increasing in prevalence, threatening the existence of various species and populations. The COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown provided an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how wildlife vehicle mortality occurrences change in response to anthropogenic variables and how varying survey methods influence obtaining mortality data. In this study, data were collected in three observation periods: pre-lockdown (PreL), during lockdown (DL), and post-lockdown (PostL) in south Texas. There were 194 wildlife mortalities recorded during weeks 4–27 of 2020. Results of this study showed that road mortality survey counts did not change …

Circus-Specific Extension Of The 6th International Consensus Statement On Concussion In Sport, David Munro, Stephanie Greenspan, Joanna Nicholas, Melanie I. Stuckey

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

While sport-related concussion (SRC) is a known risk in circus arts, no published guidelines exist to guide post-concussion return to circus, contributing to inadequate management in this population. The Concussion in Sport Group (CISG) published the 6th international consensus statement in 2023, providing updated guidance and assessment tools for the management of SRC. Sport and dance organisations have adapted these recommendations for their specific settings. The aim of this extension statement was to extend the CISG guideline to the circus arts training and performance context. Development included a review of literature, creation of the initial drafts by the working group, …

Scaling Up Eco-Engineering: The Role Of Topographic Complexity And Spatial Variability In Shaping Biodiversity On Coastal Structures, Charlotte Clubley, Antony Knights, Jessica Allen, David T Bilton, Andy Foggo, Mick Hanley, James Murphy, Louisa E Wood, Louise Firth

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

In response to the depauperate biodiversity often associated with the largely homogenous surfaces of artificial structures, ecological (eco-) engineering has emerged as a tool to introduce topographic complexity to coastal development. Although relatively small-scale studies using topographically complex panels and artificial rockpools are commonplace, determining how the configuration of these interventions works over greater and more realistic spatial scales has received comparatively little attention. Given the importance of spatial variability in habitat complexity for shaping community composition and, therefore, regional diversity, filling this knowledge gap is key to enhancing the ‘design catalogue’ for future eco-engineering installations. Here, we manipulated topographic …

Dna Repair And The Contribution To Chemotherapy Resistance, Ksenija Nesic, Phoebe Parker, Elizabeth M Swisher, John J Krais

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The DNA damage response comprises a set of imperfect pathways that maintain cell survival following exposure to DNA damaging agents. Cancers frequently exhibit DNA repair pathway alterations that contribute to their intrinsic genome instability. This, in part, facilitates a therapeutic window for many chemotherapeutic agents whose mechanisms of action often converge at the generation of a double-strand DNA break. The development of therapy resistance occurs through countless molecular mechanisms that promote tolerance to DNA damage, often by preventing break formation or increasing repair capacity. This review broadly discusses the DNA damaging mechanisms of action for different classes of chemotherapeutics, how …

An Uncommon Presentation Of Crowned Dens Syndrome Without Systemic Inflammation, Pavan Sakhamuru, Manav Nayeni, Ryan Nazari, Kazi A. Syed, Kenneth Miller

Student Publications

Crowned Dens Syndrome (CDS) is a rare but important consideration in the differential diagnosis of cervical spine pain in older adults. CDS is characterized by calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition around the odontoid process, often leading to symptoms that overlap with more common conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), meningitis, or cervical spondylosis. We report the case of a 74-year-old male with chronic neck pain and restricted cervical range of motion. Advanced imaging revealed characteristic calcifications surrounding the odontoid process, pannus formation, and erosive changes at the C1-C2 articulation, consistent with CDS. Clinical evaluation supported a diagnosis of CPPD-related …

A Quantum Reservoir Computing Approach To Computer-Aided Music Composition, Eduardo Miranda, Hari Shaji

School of Art, Design and Architecture

This paper presents an approach to developing computer-aided music composition (CAMC) systems with quantum computing. CAMC systems are aimed at supporting musicians in creating music rather than generating complete pieces of music autonomously. For instance, they may generate ideas or prompts to be further developed during the creative process. We developed a CAMC system using a machine learning method called Quantum Reservoir Computing (QRC) that learns to create tunes in the style of given examples. The system proved to run satisfactorily on the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) machines available today. It does not require large amounts of qubits to outperform …

The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Esg: A Conceptual Framework For Practitioners And Policymakers, Mario Marlito R. Domingo

Journal of Management for Global Sustainability

The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into corporate ecosystems has reshaped the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) landscape. While AI offers powerful tools for sustainability optimization, social equity advancements, and governance automation, it also introduces significant challenges such as high energy consumption, bias in algorithmic decision-making, and regulatory uncertainties. Existing research often isolates these aspects rather than examining AI’s role within an interconnected ESG framework. This paper presents a conceptual framework—the AI-ESG Integration Model—for systematically analyzing AI’s dual impact on ESG initiatives. The model categorizes AI’s influence into three pillars: 1) AI’s role in environmental sustainability (E), addressing energy-intensive …

Hand Hygiene Roles, Challenges, And Intervention Feedback From School Staff: A Qualitative Analysis, Belize, 2022-2023, Anh N Ly, Christina Craig, Dian Maheia, Yolanda Gongora, Vickie Romero, Rosalva Blanco, Allison Lino, Kelsey Mcdavid, Allison Stewart, Victoria Trinies, Alexandra Medley, Francis Morey, Russell Manzanero, Matthew Lozier, Kristy O Murray

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hand hygiene (HH) in school settings can reduce the spread of infectious diseases and student absenteeism due to illness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization recommended HH as a public health measure to prevent disease transmission. Understanding school staff's experiences with school-based programs is important for future program development and improvement. As part of a mixed-methods study, we conducted in-depth interviews in March 2022 with school administrators and teachers at 12 primary schools in Belize, selected based on high gaps in HH resources, to understand HH responsibilities, supplies, and challenges. An intervention was implemented to increase HH knowledge …

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation For Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Elso Registry Analysis, Maria Pereira, Danielle Guffey, Katherine Doane, Eyal Muscal, Carla Levin, Peter Rycus, Marc Anders, Andrea Ontaneda

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The success of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in treating Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and the risk factors associated with mortality remain uncertain. Methods: We describe the survival outcomes at discharge of the largest SLE cohort on ECMO support. We performed a retrospective cohort study of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry database from 2012 to 2022. Pediatric and adult survivor groups were analyzed using descriptive statistics for the primary study outcome of survival to hospital discharge. Risk predictors for survival were determined by logistic regression.Results: We included 48 children and 368 adults with SLE. Overall, 198 patients (54%) survived …

Smile For The Camera: Balancing Parental Rights And Children’S Privacy In The Age Of Family Influencers, Taylor Lockett

NULR Online

No abstract provided.

Forecasting Turkish Lira Via Combination Of Ann And Econometrics Approaches -An Emerging Market Case Study, Muhammad Asadullah, Nayab Jumani

Business Review

This study aims to forecast the Turkish Lira to US Dollar exchange rate from January 2011 to December 2024, withholding the 2024 data for forecasting. The study utilizes four econometric models (ARIMA, Naïve, exponential smoothing, and NARDL) along with one Artificial Neural Network model (ANN). It heeds the recommendation of Poon and Granger (2003) to combine these models and assess their predictive accuracy using two methods: equal-weights and variance-covariance. The study finds that the combined model outperforms individual models in predicting the exchange rate. The fusion of ANN and NARDL emerges as particularly effective in forecasting the Turkish Lira's performance. …

Regulation Of Kynureninase By Estrogen Stimulation In Estrogen-Receptor Positive Breast Cancer, Alexis Berger

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of death in women worldwide, with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive subtypes comprising over 70% of cases. Endocrine therapies, such as tamoxifen, are the primary treatment for ER-positive breast cancer; however, resistance inevitably develops, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Growing evidence suggests that the kynurenine pathway plays a significant role in breast cancer progression and metastasis. The kynurenine pathway metabolizes 95% of the amino acid tryptophan, generating metabolites such as kynurenine, kynurenic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, and ultimately Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD). To better understand the impact of estrogen signaling on the kynurenine pathway, kynureninase …

Historical Overview, Advancements, And Future Prospects Of Coalfield Structure Research In China, Cao Daiyong, Ju Yiwen, Xia Yucheng, Jiang Bo, Ning Shuzheng, Wei Yingchun, Wang Anmin, Li Xiaoming, Zhan Wenfeng, Li Huantong, Wang Lu, Cai Zhuocheng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Coalfield structures represent a basic aspect of coalfield geology. In China, research into this domain has a history of over a century, yielding numerous results after undergoing exploration, learning, and innovation. These results have played a positive role in the long-term, stable coal supply in China. Amidst the ongoing energy structure optimization and the transformation and upgrading of coalfield geology in China, it is both practically and historically significant to review the history of coalfield structure research, summarize relevant experience, and contemplate future directions of the research under emerging circumstances.Methods Based on literature analysis, as well as the …

Forced Arbitration In The Fortune 500, David Horton

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

As the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) nears its centennial, its most controversial byproduct—forced arbitration—has entered uncharted territory. For years, companies exploited their power over fine print to produce ambitious dispute resolution regimes. This trend reached its apex in the 2010s, when the Supreme Court held that arbitration is incompatible with class actions and gave its blessing to delegation provisions, which allow the arbitrator to decide whether a case must be arbitrated. But around 2020, the dynamic changed. Plaintiffs’ lawyers discovered a tactic called “mass arbitration” that gains settlement leverage by bombarding defendants with scores of individual claims. In addition, Congress …

Building Bridges: Queer Rights In And Out Of The Courts, Kaz Lane

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

It is unclear whether the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits states from differentiating between people based solely on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This note_comment analyzes the Supreme Court’s tiers of scrutiny—rational basis review, intermediate scrutiny, and strict scrutiny—to argue that a new suspect class is warranted for sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), triggering strict scrutiny for SOGI classifications. This analysis shows that a united SOGI class meets all of the characteristics associated with suspect classes, including a history of anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination and the irrelevance between SOGI and one’s ability to contribute to society. This …

Closing In On The Patent Troll: State Legislatures’ Role In Combatting Trolling Behavior, Will Roberts

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

In the United States, entities known as patent trolls purchase patents solely for the purpose of threatening and bringing litigation and present a significant threat to innovation and economic progress. The question is: Who will rise to the occasion and stop them? In the face of federal inaction, state legislatures have stepped in, enacting laws to combat bad faith assertions of patent infringement. This note_comment examines the efficacy and constitutionality of state anti-patent troll statutes, analyzing how they operate within the broader framework of federal patent law. State legislatures have taken various approaches to address patent trolling. Some statutes have …

Suspecting With Data, Mary D. Fan

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

Our pooled consumer big data, such as the pictures we post or the location history and keyword search trails we leave, are generating new ways to solve crimes. Much of the commentary on big data search strategies such as keyword, geofence, and facial recognition searches fixate on Fourth Amendment search and seizure issues rather than evidentiary safeguards. This Article breaks new ground by framing evidentiary guardrails for big data searches to reduce the harms of erroneous arrests, redress secrecy, and counteract the mystique of machine infallibility. Advancing beyond over-reliance on Fourth Amendment doctrine, this Article illuminates how evidence law and …

Does Choice Of Media Amplify Support For Political Violence?, Nathan Palomares

Political Science Student Papers and Posters

Acts of political violence have increased in frequency and exposure to American society via news media. Violent rhetoric is a common theme among many forms of media Americans consume, including social media, which has become an essential platform where Americans increasingly get political news information. The events of the January 6 Capitol Riots and the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in late 2024 show how urgent the rise of political violence is and its destabilization of American Democracy. In this paper, I examine the relationship between the types of news media people consume and their potential to increase people’s …