Digital Commons Network^™

Seeking Healthcare In Many Different Places: Mental Health Strengths And Challenges Among Omani Female Adolescents, Zeyana Al Ismaili, Faye Gary, Cheryl M. Killion, Diana Lynn Morris, Sharon E. Milligan

Student Scholarship

Background: Adolescents undergo overwhelming physiological, psychological, social, and cognitive changes. The stress can be worse when they must meet cultural expectations. However, there is a paucity of literature regarding the cultural impact on adolescent mental health. Purpose: The phenomenological study aimed to describe Omani female adolescents' lived experiences with mental health issues within their cultural context and future well-being. Methods: The study employed semi-structured individual interview questions using a secured videoconferencing Zoom meeting. The participants were recruited using purposive sampling. The participants included single female Omani adolescents (aged: 18–24 years). A horizontalization analysis followed the transcription, translation, and backward translation …

The Role Of Il-33 In Itch, Anna M. Trier

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Chronic itch is associated with a broad range of medical conditions, from inflammatory skin diseases to cancer and organ dysfunction, and has a lifetime prevalence of up to 20%. Despite being common and debilitating, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive chronic itch are just beginning to be elucidated. Thus, therapeutic options are limited. Recent studies have identified that various pro-inflammatory cytokines can directly activate sensory neurons. This has resulted in mounting interest in the therapeutic potential of inhibiting these neuro-immune interactions. IL-33 is constitutively expressed by epithelial cells, which allows for its rapid release upon tissue damage or stress. …

Lifespan Reference Curves For Harmonizing Multi-Site Regional Brain White Matter Metrics From Diffusion Mri, Alyssa H Zhu, Talia M Nir, Shayan Javid, Julio E Villalón-Reina, Amanda L Rodrigue, Lachlan T Strike, Greig I De Zubicaray, Katie L Mcmahon, Margaret J Wright, Sarah E Medland, John Blangero, David C Glahn, Peter Kochunov, Douglas E Williamson, Asta K Håberg, Paul M Thompson, Neda Jahanshad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Age-related white matter (WM) microstructure maturation and decline occur throughout the human lifespan, complementing the process of gray matter development and degeneration. Here, we create normative lifespan reference curves for global and regional WM microstructure by harmonizing diffusion MRI (dMRI)-derived data from ten public datasets (N = 40,898 subjects; age: 3-95 years; 47.6% male). We tested three harmonization methods on regional diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) based fractional anisotropy (FA), a metric of WM microstructure, extracted using the ENIGMA-DTI pipeline. ComBat-GAM harmonization provided multi-study trajectories most consistent with known WM maturation peaks. Lifespan FA reference curves were validated with test-retest data …

Pausing Patterns Across Speech Tasks In Individuals Diagnosed With Broca's Aphasia, Kate Low

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether individuals with moderate Broca's aphasia exhibit different pause duration and frequency patterns compared to individuals without neurological disorders, as well as to explore how speech task type influences pause patterns. A total of 16 participants (eight male and eight female) previously diagnosed with moderate Broca's aphasia and apraxia were included in this study, along with 16 age- and gender-matched control participants. Speech recordings from the 16 participants were sourced from the AphasiaBank database. Speech samples from four different task types (i.e., interview, personal narrative, picture description, and story retell) were analyzed …

Development Of A Miniaturized Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (Ecmo) Device On A Microfluidic Platform, Nayeem Imtiaz

Theses

This research investigates the design, performance, and optimization of blood-contacting microfluidic medical devices, with each aim contributing to a broader understanding of how engineering choices influence hemocompatibility and oxygen transfer. Collectively, the findings from Aims 1A–2B offer integrated strategies to develop safer, more effective microfluidic systems for ECMO and dialysis. Aim 1A assessed hemolysis across device geometries using computational and experimental methods. All designs showed low device-induced hemolysis (< 2 ppm), validating their hemocompatibility. However, Power-Law models frequently overpredicted hemolysis, indicating a need for refined parameters tailored to microfluidic flow conditions. Aim 1B demonstrated the effectiveness of thrombosis assay techniques in evaluating clot formation in microfluidic device geometries. Results showed that geometry and local shear patterns strongly influence thrombogenesis. While hemolysis remained minimal even in high-shear devices, thrombus formation was more geometry-sensitive—underscoring the need to account for both factors in design. Modifying surface properties and accounting for blood composition could further reduce thrombotic risk. In Aim 2A, we compared PDMS, polypropylene (PP), and nanoporous silicon nitride (NPSiN) membranes for oxygen transport. Findings showed that in ECMO devices, blood-side resistance, not membrane permeability, often dominates oxygen transfer. Thus, membrane choice must be paired with optimized blood-side flow for full performance gains. Aim 2B directly addressed these limitations by integrating staggered herringbone mixers (SHBs), which introduced secondary flows and enhanced mixing. The Single Channel Herringbone design yielded the highest oxygen transfer, confirming the synergy between flow geometry and oxygen transport performance. Altogether, Aims 1A and 1B establish a strong framework for hemocompatibility evaluation, while Aims 2A and 2B provide complementary insights into optimizing oxygen transfer. Their interconnections highlight the value of a systems-level approach to designing microfluidic blood-contacting devices.

Identification Of Glaucoma Subtypes Using Unsupervised Machine Learning Methods, Asma Poursoroush

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Healthcare is currently in a transitional stage between demonstrating the potential of clustering algorithms in personalized medicine and their widespread adoption. With recent advancements in unsupervised data analysis, clustering methods have become increasingly important in disease subtyping. However, the design, development, optimization, and implementation of automated subtyping systems require further maturity before they can be fully integrated into healthcare systems. This dissertation investigates the application of clustering algorithms in creating automated subtyping systems and highlights the current challenges and limitations that must be addressed to facilitate clinical translation into personalized healthcare. Moreover, K-mean and density-based clustering were used to identify …

Incorporating African American Spirituals Into Solo Low Brass Repertoire, Shekinah Ball

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The African American spiritual is a sacred folk genre that was created by African American slaves in the 18th century. These songs are the foundation of past and present forms of American Popular Music. Throughout my studies as a classical musician (Euphonium and Trombone), I have not had the opportunity to learn about or play solo literature based on this unique form of American music within traditional music academia. I was first exposed to African American spirituals while studying at Florida A&M University. I joined the choir during the fall semesters, after resigning from the marching band. It was there, …

Filling The Gap: Facial Anatomy And Safe Lower Lip Injection Practices, Makayla M. Swancutt, Aaron J. Allard, Alex Ho, Sara Sloan

Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Anatomical knowledge of the arterial supply to the lower face is critical to prevent unnecessary harm to patients seeking cosmetic procedures, particularly lower lip dermal filler injections. Our study sought to characterize the prominent vascular structures of the lower lip: inferior labial (ILA), labiomental (LMA) and mental (MA) arteries.

Methods: Forty-eight hemiface specimens from 30 formalin-embalmed donors were utilized in this study. Dissection was performed of the LMA, ILA, and MA to determine their diameter, branching pattern for characterization, and to assess their supply to the lip distally.

Results: The ILA (mean diameter, 1.5 ± 0.49 mm) was found …

Back Matter, Harry Denny

The Writing Center Journal

Back Matter for Writing Center Journal 43.1.

Holocene Paleofloods And Land-Use Legacies In The Ocoee River Region, Cristina Leschhorn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Human activities have shaped river basins for centuries, significantly impacting river flood dynamics and the watershed's environmental health. This study examined how pre-European settlement land-use changes influenced flood frequency and magnitude on the Ocoee River, spanning the Paleo-Indian period (ca. 10,000 BCE) to the Late Mississippian/Protohistoric period (ca. 1650 CE). By analyzing archaeological evidence and sediment-based flood frequency and magnitude proxies, this study evaluated the effects of evolving land-use practices, from small-scale hunter-gathering to large-scale agriculture, on flood dynamics. While post-European land-use impacts are well-documented, the linear rise in pre-European environmental disruption often goes underrecognized despite its significant role in …

Weaving Of Spaces: Designing Spaces That Create Opportunities For Communication And Freedom Though Ease Of Access., Fiona Louise Duvall

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Suburban environments frequently experience spatial and temporal, fragmentation, resulting in disjointed landscapes, limited social interaction, and a weakened sense of place. This thesis explores how the strategic design and integration of interconnected destinations can counteract these issues by fostering continuous, accessible, and engaging public spaces. Focusing on an area just outside Marietta Square in Georgia, the project proposes a network of vibrant, multipurpose nodes linked through walkable corridors and green infrastructure. By enhancing physical and social connectivity, the design aims to create rhythms of use that span different times of day and appeal to a diverse range of residents. Through …

Urban Refuge: Plausible Architectural Solution For The Unhoused, Cameron Lewis

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Growing up in and around Atlanta, the presence of unhoused individuals has always been a stark reality. My dad often recounted how many people experiencing homelessness he would pass on his commute downtown, and as a child, I vividly recall seeing groups of unhoused individuals at MARTA stops and on the streets. Even as I’ve grown older, these same scenes are still there. According to the 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, over 653,000 people nationwide were reported homeless, with 256,610 of them unsheltered. In Atlanta, the 2024 Point-In-Time count revealed a …

Spatial Echoes, Joy Cherichel

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This abstract critiques the limitations within the U.S. education system, arguing that its selective preservation of history often obscures crucial narratives, particularly regarding systemic racism. Focusing on the suppressed history of Oscarville and the expulsion of Black residents from Forsyth County, Georgia, in 1912, the proposal advocates for architectural intervention to combat this historical amnesia. The central research question explores how architecture can preserve and convey unbiased racial history to enhance education. The thesis posits that intentionally designed architecture can serve as a powerful and enduring educational tool, making it harder to ignore marginalized histories. To address this, the abstract …

Raising Families, Restoring Communities Through Adaptive Re-Use Design: Housing For Single Parents In New York, Laila S. Smith

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis explores the transformative potential of adaptive reuse in addressing New York’s growing housing crisis, with a focus on creating affordable, high-quality housing communities for single-parent families in Yonkers. As the population of New York continues to rise, housing affordability remains a pressing issue, particularly for low- and moderate-income families. Over half of renters in the region are rent-burdened, spending more than 35% of their income on housing, which leaves limited financial capacity for essential needs such as childcare, healthcare, and food. Single-parent households are especially vulnerable, often struggling to find stable, supportive housing in safe and resource-rich neighborhoods. …

Blood Architecture : Designing A Hemophilia Treatment Center Through Biomimetic Principles, Melissa Da Costa Schmidt

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis explores how biomimetic principles drawn from the blood clotting process can inform the architectural design of hemophilia treatment centers, enhancing their efficiency, adaptability, and patient-centered care. By paralleling the phases of hemostasis—platelet aggregation, clotting factor activation, and fibrin stabilization—with spatial functions, the design proposes a layout where acute care areas are centrally positioned for rapid response, while rehabilitation zones support long-term healing, mirroring the reinforcement phase of clotting. Regulated movement and spatial zoning echo the precise control of clot formation, promoting accessibility, privacy, and reduced congestion. Architectural forms inspired by vascular networks, combined with the use of natural …

Living With Historic Architecture, Jenil A. Thornton

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

In recent decades, the awareness of history and heritage has permeated the state of our built-environment. In this line of thought, preserving, conserving, and restoring historic buildings have become a major approach in architecture. Further, with growing interests of a sustainable future, preservation, conservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse gives possible avenues for sustainable designs. Preservation is to create an environment to protect and prolong the buildings’ life, while Restoration is to preserve and reveal the aesthetic and historic value, the aura, of the space. Conservation is the combination of both preservation and restoration. Overall, they relate to interests in experiencing …

From Camps To Communities, Briyonna A. Reid

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis explores the potential to reimagine refugee camps not as temporary settlements, but as long-term, resilient communities that foster hope, dignity, and social cohesion for displaced populations. While refugee camps have historically provided critical emergency shelter from violence, persecution, and economic instability, their design and infrastructure often prioritize short-term survival over long-term well-being. As protracted displacement becomes increasingly common, there is an urgent need to rethink how these spaces function and evolve. This research argues that through innovative, inclusive design and planning, refugee camps can become sustainable environments that promote self-sufficiency, stability, and integration with host communities.

The thesis …

Viewing From The Sidelines: Tackling Temporality Impacting Displaced Refugees By Humanizing Border Design, Robinson Badell-Garcia

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Every day, you follow a routine that brings comfort- be it work, errands, or family care. Now, imagine the unthinkable: your stable world collapses around you, leaving you homeless and adrift. Stripped of job and shelter, what’s the best option? To leave and seek answers in unfamiliar places while grappling with the profound isolation and discrimination that comes from being displaced.

As architects, our role is to communicate people's dreams and realities, striving for a sustainable future while fostering dialogue and care. This thesis focuses on the architectural response to the increasing displacement along the Türkiye-Syria border, exacerbated by ongoing …

New Suburbanism Learning From Suburbia, Gregory A. Sweat Jr.

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Why does current architecture not address suburban spaces? Suburban spaces are the bulk of what is seen in Atlanta Georgia; and are the most common lived space these spaces are known as Sprawl, this sprawl seen in Atlanta can be described as fragmented, contradictory, corporate, smooth, additive and ever expanding. Suburban spaces are also airy, convenient and it addresses the needs of our current societal needs. What happens when you embrace and intensify the junkspaces and non-places seen in suburbia? How do you live with the parking lot, the big box store and the strip mall? This thesis is about …

Immigrants Reduce Unionization In The United States, Town Oh, Alex Nowrasteh

School of Business and Leadership Working Papers

Since the 1960s, U.S. union density has consistently dropped as the immigrant share of the population has risen. Using the Naylor and Cripps (1993) model of union formation, we argue that immigrants lower unionization by increasing diversity in the working population that, in turn, reduces solidarity and by having lower preferences for unionization. Empirically, we employ the skill-cell method devised by Borjas (2003) over the 1994-2020 period. Immigration can explain 30 percent of the decline in union density from 1994-2020.

Hidden Scientists/Hidden Creatives Exhibition 2025, Con Kennedy, Niamh Ann Kelly, Claire Wynne, Jesus Maria Frias, Steve Meaney

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Hidden Scientists/Hidden Creatives is an annual exhibition about underrepresented women in STEM and Design.

The students from the TU Dublin School of Art and Design, TU973 B.A. (hons) Visual Communication Design, completed this assignment in their Design and Career Management module.

This year, all the students who participated in this module are Erasmus students from our international partners. This international cohort joined us from IADE - Universidade Europeia - Faculdade de Design, Tecnologia e Comunicação da Universidade Europeia, Lisbon, Portugal and Escuela de Arte San Telmo, Malaga, Spain.

This exhibition ran from 6-9 May 2025, East Quad Atrium, TU Dublin, …

Mapping The Key Players In Kawasaki Disease; Role Of Inflammatory Genes And Protein-Protein Interactions, Wael Hafez, Feras Al-Obeidat, Asrar Rashid, Afsheen Raza, Nouran Hamza, Nesma Ahmed, Marwa M. Abdeljawad, Raziya Kadwa, Abdelhameed Elmesery, Muneir Gador, Dina Khair, Gihan Zina, Fatema Abdulaal, Mina Wassef Girgiss, Maha Abdelhadi, Ahmed Abdelrahman, Mahmad Anwar Ibrahim, Mohamed El Sherbiny

All Works

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a complex acquired condition characterized by systemic blood vessel inflammation that primarily affects children under five years of age. It is clinically diagnosed as a syndrome, making it susceptible to misdiagnoses. Severe complications such as myocardial damage and coronary artery abnormalities can be fatal; thus, early diagnosis is critical for preventing disease progression. Currently, no specific diagnostic test can distinguish KD from viral or bacterial infections. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease remain unclear, hindering the development of targeted therapies. Objective: This study aimed to identify the genetic patterns and molecular mechanisms associated with …

A Proposed Metals Recovery Assessment Protocol To Evaluate Mine Waste For Critical Minerals And Rare Earth Recovery Prior To Site Remediation, Claire Mbia

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Metals Recovery Assessment (MRA) protocol involves collecting and evaluating information to assess the possibility for recovery of critical or rare earth minerals at mine sites to offset remediation or redevelopment costs associated with land reuse at Superfund or closed mine sites. This protocol provides a tool to implement metals recovery in conjunction with property reuse, and may involve a review of available records, visual inspections of the site, sample collection and discussions with local government officials and community members. The selection for metals recovery would be intended to both achieve metals reduction which may be required for the protection …

Optimizing Information Security In Cloud Environments: A Risk Management Approach And Guide For Enterprise Cloud Security, Joshua Olusegun Oyeniyi, Oluwashina Akinloye Oyeniran

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

In recent years, cloud computing has become increasingly integral to organizational operations due to its scalability, accessibility and cost effectiveness in managing data and resources. However, the rise in security threats and attacks on cloud environments necessitates having robust measures in place to protect data confidentiality, integrity and availability. This paper presents an optimized approach to cloud information security management by reviewing the current threat landscape, evaluating key risk management frameworks, and provided practical solutions for enhancing enterprise cloud security. The study examined three leading cloud security frameworks: the Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) known for its cloud-specific controls, the NIST …

Genomic, Transcriptomic, And Immunogenomic Landscape Of Over 1300 Sarcomas Of Diverse Histology Subtypes., Alex Soupir, Oscar E. Ospina, Oliver Hampton, Michelle Churchman, Michael Radmacher, Dale Hedges, David Mckean, Phaedra Agius, Saman Zeeshan, Nathan D. Seligson, Raphael Pollock, David Liebner, James L. Chen, Gabriel Tinoco, Bodour Salhia, Martin Mccarter, Breelyn A. Wilky, Benjamin J. Miller, Michael J. Cavnar, John S. Groundland, Bryan P. Schneider, Gregory Riedlinger, Stephen B. Edge, Christopher A. Moskaluk, Kenneth Cardona, Abdul Rafeh Naqash, Ricardo J. Gonzalez, John E. Mullinax, David M. Joyce, Odion Binitie, G Douglas Letson, Arash O. Naghavi, Mihaela Druta, Damon R. Reed, Erin M. Siegel, Jamie K. Teer, Brooke L. Fridley, Andrew S. Brohl

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Given their rarity and diversity, a fundamental understanding of the genomic underpinnings for many sarcoma subtypes is still lacking. To better define the molecular landscape of this group of diseases, we perform matched whole exome sequencing and RNA sequencing on a cohort of 1340 sarcoma tumor specimens. We identify recurrent somatic mutations and observe an increased mutational burden in metastatic vs. primary samples (p <  0.001). We observe frequent copy number alterations including whole genome doubling, with this feature being more common in metastatic tumors (p = 0.026). Estimation of immune cell abundances followed by hierarchical clustering identifies five immune subtypes ranging from low to high and we observe inferior overall survival in immune deplete clusters compared to immune enriched (p <  0.01). Interestingly, GIST predominantly form a distinct "immune intermediate" cluster that is marked by a specific enrichment for NK cells (FDR <  0.01).

Indoctrinated Developmentalism And Local Sustainability: A Social–Ecological Model For Community-Based Enterprises, A. K. M. Shahidullah, Helal Mohiuddin

Department of Family Science and Human Development Scholarship and Creative Works

Developmental approaches over time have been largely economistic and overlooked local sustainability preconditions. They were greatly influenced by a host of doctrines, theories, and strategies argued through macro-level, macro-scale policies. This research retrospectively views these approaches as they have evolved post-WWII and their effect on sustainability at a community level. It eventually focuses on a specific community-level developmental strategy, i.e., “microfinance”, which has led to the establishment of millions of microenterprises. In recent decades, community-based enterprise (CBE) development has been a widely practiced mode of developmental intervention to develop underdeveloped communities in developing countries. The primary goal of CBEs is …

School Resources And Teen Suicide Risk, 1991–2016: A Longitudinal Analysis At The State Level, Megan Thiele Strong, Javier Corredor

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Purpose: Research shows that teachers’ salaries influence educational and non-educational outcomes. And still, too few studies explore whether teacher compensation patterns correlate with student mental health outcomes. This research attends to this gap and asks: at the state level, does the average K-12 teacher salary predict teen suicide risk? Design/methodology/approach: We use an original panel time-series dataset which includes average teacher salary, teen suicide rate and economic, religious and sociocultural control variables at the state level. We analyze this data using two analytical strategies. First, we build mixed models with teachers’ salaries and the covariates as fixed effects and state …

Impact Of Ict Adoption, Economic Growth, And Internet Connectivity Phases On Tax Revenue In Tanzania, Grayson Kisinga, Severine Kessy, Mashaka Mkandawile

Business Management Review

This study analyses the mixed evidence surrounding the impact of ICT adoption on tax revenue in Tanzania, focusing on ICT investments, ICT imports, internet usage, and broadband penetration. Drawing on the Technology Organization Environment (TOE) framework and Production Theory, the study adopts a positivist philosophy and deductive approach, using 25 years of time-series data. Employing Regressions, Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modeling, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), it investigates long-term effects, mediation, and moderation. The findings reveal that ICT investments, ICT imports, and broadband penetration positively influence tax revenue over the long term, while internet usage has a negative effect. Economic …

Christian Church Leaders’ Perceptions Of Improving Their Congregations’ Self-Efficacy, Well-Being, And Membership, Joseph M. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Declining church membership has reduced congregational engagement, and challenges in fostering self-efficacy and well-being have created significant concerns for Christian church leaders in the United States. Understanding how church leaders perceive and address these challenges is crucial for sustaining faith-based organizations and their impact on communities. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the Christian church leaders’ perceptions of improving their congregation’s self-efficacy, well-being, and membership in Westchester, New York. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and Seligman’s theory of well-being grounded this study. The participants comprised 10 Christian church leaders. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Through Braun …

Impact Of Ohio Senate Bill 265 On Infant Mortality Rate In Ohio, Lauren Crawford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a problem with the infant mortality rate among Black women living in Ohio. Despite programs such as the Ohio Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative and Celebrate One, the infant mortality rate among Black women continues to persist, and a rate disparity between White women and Black women remains. The purpose of this generic qualitative inquiry was to explore retail pharmacists’ behavioral beliefs and attitudes toward providing prenatal care as a reimbursed service in Ohio. Currently, no studies exist that explore retail pharmacists' behavioral beliefs and attitudes toward expanding their services to include prenatal care. Using Ajzen’s theory of planned …