Digital Commons Network^™

Strengthening The Birthing Bridge: Educating Labor And Delivery Nurses On Scope And Impact Of Volunteer Doulas, Catherine H. De La Torre

Master's Projects and Capstones

The objective of this quality improvement project was to address the lack of collaboration between the Labor and Delivery (L&D) nurses and the volunteer doulas on a L&D unit at a Bay Area hospital. There were reports of not understanding the role of the volunteer doula, which may have led to a lack of collaboration between both teams. The aim of this project was to improve the L&D nursing staff's understanding of the scope of practice of the volunteer doula to increase positive perception and collaboration between both professions by 25%, from 63% to 88%, following an educational intervention at …

Shining Light On Solar Equity: Navigating Legal Barriers To Solar Energy For Low-Income Communities In Washington, Magdalena Larrain

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

While solar energy adoption has been growing rapidly across the United States, access to its benefits remains uneven. In Washington State, low-income households and marginalized communities often face significant barriers to participation in the clean energy transition. These include high upfront installation costs, limited financing options, and legal frameworks that fail to account for renters, multi-family dwellings, and communities without suitable rooftops. Additionally, outdated net metering policies and restrictive utility regulations further limit solar accessibility for those already burdened by energy insecurity. This article investigates the potential of community solar projects—shared solar installations that allow multiple households to subscribe and …

The Right To Repair Medical Devices: A Right To Patient Needs, Shaheer Hashmi

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

The laws governing the repair of medical devices, most notably §1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), place unnecessary and harmful restrictions on healthcare access in the United States. As hospitals increasingly rely on complex medical technologies, manufacturers have relied on anti-circumvention laws to block independent and in-house repairs, effectively monopolizing the repair market. As a result, our current system is one that delays treatment, inflates costs, and leaves healthcare providers and consumers with fewer options during times of crisis and routine care alike. Drawing on legal analysis, policy critique, and lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, this article shows …

Alternative Worlds: John Maddox Iv’S Fractal Families In New Millennium Narratives Of Afro-Puerto Rican Women, Roberta Hurtado

PALARA: Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association

No abstract provided.

Interlude 3: Untitled By Wifredo Lam, Mey-Yen Moriuchi

PALARA: Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association

No abstract provided.

“El Chino Se Considera Blanco Y Basta”: Racialización, Negritud Y Agencia En Apuntes Históricos De Los Chinos En Cuba De Antonio Chuffat Latour, Sebastián Díaz Martínez

PALARA: Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association

Apuntes históricos de los chinos en Cuba (1927) del escritor afro-chino-cubano Antonio Chuffat Latour es un caso privilegiado para analizar los imaginarios asociados raciales entre poblaciones afrocubanas y sino-cubanas frente a las discursos sobre la nación en la Cuba republicana. Si bien en el caso puntual de Chuffat ha sido contextualizado como un activo integrante de movimientos afrocubanos (Yun, 2008), es bastante limitada la presencia o importancia acordada a lo negro dentro de su obra. Aunque esta tiene como objetivo la recopilación de distintas fuentes sobre la experiencia china en Cuba, las interacciones y relaciones de mestizaje cultural entre ambas …

Full Issue, Palara Editors

PALARA: Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association

No abstract provided.

Author Bios, Palara Editors

PALARA: Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association

No abstract provided.

Leveraging Data Pipeline And Llm To Advance Patient Safety Event Studies, Fagun Shah, Yue Yu, Yuheng Shi, Yang Gong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Research utilizing the open-access MAUDE database frequently reveals unclear methodologies for extracting and processing medical device report (MDR) data, reducing reproducibility and consistency. By harnessing the OpenFDA API and our MAUDE extract-transform-load (ETL) pipeline that standardizes the extraction and transformation of MDR data, this project explores how a large language model (LLM) can be employed to analyze free-text narratives in MDRs, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of event categorization. The ETL-LLM approach is demonstrated through MDRs related to endoscopic mucosal resection, with potential applications extending to other devices and patient issues. Additional efforts are necessary to expand the size and …

Adults' Intention To Take An Arthritis Prescription Drug Based On Drug Advertisements, Amanda Radola

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Advertising (DTCPA) has rapidly expanded, particularly via social media, but research on its influence on individual decisions regarding prescribed medications remains limited. This gap is notable among chronic disease patients, such as those with arthritis, which affected over 58.5 million U.S. adults as of 2015 and is projected to rise to 78.4 million by 2040 (Barbour et al., 2017; Hootman et al., 2016). Social media discussions show significant activity following television ads for arthritis drugs (Curtis et al., 2017). However, few studies explore how DTCPA impacts patient intentions to take advertised arthritis medications. This study employed a novel …

Prosodic Pitch And Intensity Patterns In People With Moderate Broca's Aphasia, Juliana Pickard

Theses and Dissertations

People with aphasia (PWA) experience deficits in utilizing prosody, which drastically impacts their communicative effectiveness. The lack of prosody in people with aphasia may alter their ability to nurture meaningful relationships, advance educational and work opportunities, and participate in community activities. This study acoustically evaluates the prosodic characteristics of speech produced by individuals with non-fluent aphasia to better understand how to accurately assess and more effectively treat communication difficulties in PWA. Recorded speech samples derived from a Cinderella story retell from 16 individuals with moderate Broca's aphasia and 16 age-matched controls were acoustically analyzed in this study. The recordings were …

Holy Cross Magazine, ​​Vol. 59, No. 2, Spring/Summer 2025, College Of The Holy Cross

Holy Cross Magazine

What You Don’t Know About The Cornerstone of The College
Inside the storied spaces and architectural secrets of historic Fenwick Hall.
Feature by Meredith Fidrocki with Archives & Distinctive Collections
Photography by Michael Ivins

Discernment and Desire
Part two: How a nagging question can be a clarifying one.
Reflection by Rev. Keith Maczkiewicz, S.J.

Turning Cancer Into a Calling
Erin (Geddis) Cummings ’79 unites, supports and educates fellow Hodgkin lymphoma survivors and medical professionals on the later-in-life effects of youth cancer treatment.
Story by Carol Cool
Photography by David Welch

What Opera Taught Me About History
How the power of …

Comparing Deaf School And Mainstream Student-Athletes' Mental Health: Depression, Anxiety And Risk Factors, Ella Gamble

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

The deaf community is diverse, including individuals from all different backgrounds. Sports are a large part of the community and are advocated for the deaf community. However, the mental impacts of sports within the deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) collegiate athlete population has received very little scholarly attention, especially in regards to their varying upbringings. Anxiety and depression are mental health issues (MHI) that have gained increasing attention in the hearing sports community, but this also extends to DHH student-athletes based on empirical evidence. This study focuses on the differences of MHIs in DHH student-athletes at Gallaudet University. The …

Front Matter, Palara Editors

PALARA: Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association

No abstract provided.

Between Thirst And Hunger: Food And Afro- Chinese Entanglements In Monkey Hunting, Chloe Huh Prudente

PALARA: Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association

Cristina García’s third novel, Monkey Hunting (2003), is a sweeping multigenerational family saga that surveys the history of Asian and African diasporas in the Americas and the impact of coerced, racialized labor and migrations. The scrumptious medley of foods in Monkey Hunting portrays its characters’ delight and dissatisfaction in their displacements. Food’s primary function remains as a vital source of nourishment, providing essential sustenance to the body. Food provides pleasure through sensory experiences that delight the palate and evoke emotions and memories associated with home and family. In many religions and spiritual systems, food takes a vital place in rituals …

Interlude 2: Tropic By Wifredo Lam, Mey-Yen Moriuchi

PALARA: Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association

No abstract provided.

Commencement, South Georgia (2025), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Commencements

South Georgia Campus Commencement Program, 2025. Degrees include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences.

Commencement Speaker: Joseph A. Giaimo, DO '87.

Standardizing Ipv Screening: A Path Toward Equity In Community Health, Andrea K. Munoz Vera

Master's Projects and Capstones

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a widespread public health issue that disproportionately affects women and underserved communities, particularly in immigrant and Spanish-speaking populations. Despite national recommendations to conduct routine IPV screening in clinical settings, many healthcare providers lack the tools, training, and workflows needed to screen consistently and respond effectively. This quality improvement project aimed to standardize IPV screening using the Hurt, Insulted, Threatened, Screamed screening tool within the electronic health record at a community-based health clinic and provide targeted education to Medical Assistants, who are often the first point of contact during patient intake. The intervention included a culturally …

The Agrivoltaics Opportunity In California: Dual Use Of Agricultural Land To Support Energy Transition And Bolster Climate Resilience, Joy Michelle Cox

Master's Projects and Capstones

Agrivoltaics, which facilitates energy and food production on the same land, is an emerging technological approach that supports agricultural productivity while growing farm revenues through solar electricity sales. Agrivoltaics use in the United States is nascent, with only 2% of utility-scale solar projects integrating agricultural production. Based on estimated high- and low-end ranges in the scientific literature, I have calculated that California can use agrivoltaics to produce 20% of the additional 70 gigawatts of utility-scale solar required to meet the state’s 2045 zero-carbon electricity goal. This 20% target is ambitious and achievable, and the impacts across land use, greenhouse gas …

Intimate Partner Violence Prevention And Intervention At A Primary Care Clinic, Atticus Madrid

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a massive health concern in the Spanish-speaking community. There is a high rate IPV, worsening by factors such as language barriers, cultural stigma, and the constant fear of deportation. Resent data underscores the need for standardized IPV screening and trauma-informed care, thus supporting early recognition and intervention. The aim of this Quality Improvement (QI) project is to increase IPV detection rate by 25% from March 10, 2025, to April 15, 2025, in an San Francisco community clinic using an electronic tool called a HITS (Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream) and by trauma-informed staff training. Methods …

Research Progress In Effects Of Bile Acids And Their Receptors On Intestinal Function, Lu Jin, Jiansheng Jin, Yongqiang Gu, Lulu Zhou, Feifei Han

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

Bile acids are the main end products of cholesterol metabolism in the body,playing an important regulatory role in the digestion and metabolism of nutrients,especially lipids.The intestine is the main organ for digestion and absorption,as well as an important site for bile acids to achieve liver-intestinal circulation.Its function is closely related to the interaction between bile acids as signaling molecules and their receptors.Focusing on the metabolism and regulatory mechanism of bile acids,the author reviews the roles and underlying mechanisms of bile acids and their receptors in regulating intestinal barriers,immune function,and gut microbiota.The aim is to provide reference for related research on …

Returning Home: Exploring The Perceptions Of Alumni-Educators On Student-Teacher Relationships At James High School, Duwaine H. Jenkins Jr

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of urban high school educators who returned to teach at the same school they once attended. The study is grounded in Wubbels et al.’s (2014) framework on teacher-student relationships, which emphasizes that strong relationships are built through repeated, reciprocal interactions. This research examined how past student experiences influence current teaching practices and relationships. Two guiding research questions framed the study: 1. How do these educators perceive their student-teacher relationships with their current students? 2. How do their past experiences as students impact those relationships? Three participants were purposefully selected based on their unique …

The President's Orders Targeting Law Firms As Unconstitutional Bills Of Attainder-- Damning Lessons From The Past, Gary Simson

Articles

“Sentence first, verdict afterwards,” the Queen in Alice in Wonderland insisted at the trial of the Knave of Hearts for stealing the Queen’s tarts. Such an upsidedown process obviously leaves quite a bit to be desired, but compared to the process provided by President Donald Trump’s executive orders announcing and inflicting debilitating penalties on particular law firms, it’s not all that bad. After all, the Knave of Hearts, unlike the targeted firms, at least got some sort of trial before punishment was announced.

Also, it’s one thing to be punished for stealing the Queen’s tarts—something that any law-abiding citizen of …

Group Therapy For Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities And Anxiety, Rayah Secrist

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

The purpose of this Ed.S. project is to propose a therapy group for individuals with intellectual disabilities who are struggling with anxiety. This paper will explore the literature on social and emotional barriers, mental health access inequality, and evidence-based practices in therapy for young adults with intellectual disabilities. Drawing on the research, this paper aims to provide clinicians with a guide for leading effective therapy groups tailored to this specific demographic.

Perspectives Of Clients And Counselors Regarding Premature Dropout And Unsuccessful Long-Term Therapy: Similarities And Differences In Perspectives, Danilo Salli

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Whether it manifests as premature dropout from therapy or unsuccessful long-term treatment, psychotherapy does not work for everybody who engages in it. The current paper aimed to synthesize and compare information regarding premature dropout and treatment failure from the perspectives of the two parties who participate in psychotherapeutic treatment: therapists and clients. Eight main studies were used in the literature review, each focusing on either/both therapist’s and/or client’s perspectives of the reasons for premature dropout or treatment failure. The current paper concluded that communication between therapists and clients is key to reducing unsatisfactory results in psychotherapy and presented a list …

Connection Over Control: A Radically Open-Dialectical Behavior Therapy-Based Counseling Group For Avoidantly Attached College Students, Tara Pollnitz

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Attachment avoidance is marked by a deep-seated mistrust of others, excessive self-reliance, and suppression of attachment needs. Feelings of boredom, disengagement, and uncertainty regarding how to proceed with treatment are common among practitioners treating avoidant clients. In this paper, the author examines attachment avoidance as a clinical concern, presents a conceptualization of attachment avoidance as a process related to emotional overcontrol, and explores the potential impact of intervention during college to provide a rationale for a counseling group to address attachment avoidance through radically open dialectical behavior therapy. Subsequently, the origins and theoretical foundation of radically open dialectical behavior therapy …

A Psychocosocial Behavior Modification That Impacts Social Belonging In College Students, Julia Roland

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Disparities in educational attainment have been at the forefront of many educational leaders' minds. For those in higher education, finding solutions to eliminate these disparities is critical to their viability. Research on these disparities has led to an encouraging discovery centered around the psychological construct of social belonging. Studies have been finding evidence that a student's sense of social belonging impacts their academic success in college. Furthermore, researchers have discovered an intervention that fosters a student's sense of belonging. This intervention has been shown to increase a student's sense of belonging at college and, in turn, has increased the students' …

Trauma-Informed Care: A Therapeutic Approach In Communication, Nicole A. Leonce

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

As medical providers, it is crucial to use therapeutic communication when building relationships with patients. Bias, stigma, and judgment often manifest through a provider’s body language and choice of words, exacerbating patient trauma and leading to health disparities. Trauma-informed care (TIC) addresses these issues by emphasizing respect, compassion, and empathy. TIC has been extensively studied in high-income regions such as Australia, Europe and the United States, but its application in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) such as Kenya, is less understood. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of nurses working in a rural …

Saving Lives: Naloxone Education And Training For Mental Health Re-Entry Program Providers, Remigus C. Nwaokoro

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background Opioid overdose fatalities are a major public health concern with significant cost implications. Naloxone effectively reverses opioid overdose symptoms and prevents fatalities, yet many healthcare professionals lack the confidence and knowledge to administer it. This knowledge gap delays efforts to combat opioid overdose. Local Problem Opioid-related fatalities are among the leading causes of preventable deaths. In a northern California county, opioid overdose deaths increased by 20% from 2018 to 2021, with 48 fatalities in 2021. A needs assessment revealed that healthcare providers at a reentry program in that county had limited knowledge and confidence in using naloxone. Methods A …

Empowering Schools: Suicide Prevention Education For School Nurses, Navjot K. Singh

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Suicide among adolescents and youth is a serious public health issue that requires immediate intervention to reduce ideation and death. The increasing rate of suicide among children and adolescents has a profound effect on families, friends, and the community.

Problem: Suicide among school aged children and adolescents can create significant challenges for school nurses, who are often the first contact for students who recognize suicidal ideation and mental health crises. This issue is particularly significant for the Alameda school nurses in California, as they play a significant role in identifying and supporting students in a crisis.

Methods: A …