Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Workplace Wellness Programs On Workers’ Compensation Claims And Absenteeism: A Quantitative Study In Public Administration, Stephen Michael Douglas Coy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Employee absenteeism is detrimental to organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Workers’ compensation claims are a potential liability to government organizations, as claims filed by employees for work-related injuries or illnesses may impact insurance premiums based on the number and severity of claims filed. Identifying and implementing solutions to mitigate the effects of absenteeism and workers’ compensation claims are critical to organizational sustainability. This quantitative study seeks to determine if workplace health and wellness programs decrease absenteeism and reduce workers’ compensation claims levels among public sector employees. Post-positivism and functionalism provide this study with a theoretical underpinning. The variables of interest were …

The Interplay Between Deficit Spending And Financial Instability: An Examination Of Fiscal And Monetary Policy Interactions, Heidie Jean George

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigates the impact of fiscal and monetary policy on financial stability and fragility, focusing on how government spending and deficits contribute to the economic and financial system. Drawing on Minsky’s Financial Instability Hypothesis (FIH) and Financial Fragility Hypothesis (FFH), the research examines the dynamic relationship between fiscal policy, financial stability, and economic stability. The study focuses on understanding how government spending and deficits affect the economic and financial system in context of private and public debt and policy interactions and the role of system risk factors. The study uses Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Vector Autoregression (VAR), Impulse Response …

The Missing Baby: Investigating The Effects On Psychological Distress, Marital Couple Quality, The Timing Of Bereavement Care And Grief Adaptation Among Fathers Following Perinatal Loss., Sharon L. Green

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Extensive research on maternal perinatal loss has been conducted for decades. In contrast, there is much less research on bereaved fathers following perinatal loss, specifically, studies that examine bereaved fathers’ psychological distress, time it takes for the health care provider to deliver bereavement care, and the impact it has on grief adjustment. The purpose of this study was to investigate bereaved fathers’ psychological distress, length of time to receive bereavement care, and marital couple quality and their impact on perinatal grief adaptation. The study design was quantitative, nonexperimental, descriptive, and correlational. Study participants were 200 bereaved fathers who were administered …

School Resource Officers, Mental Health Professionals, School Safety: A Qualitative Descriptive Case Study, Carol Burke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative descriptive case study described the perceptions of school-based mental health (SBMH) professionals and school resource officers (SROs) regarding personal and campus safety in the presence of an SRO. Guided by routine activity theory (Cohen & Felson, 1979), which framed SROs as capable guardians within schools, and relational cultural theory (Miller, 1976), which emphasized connection and collaboration, the study examined how relational dynamics influenced safety perceptions and well-being. Participants from K–12 public schools in North Central Arkansas contributed data through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and the Georgia School Personnel Survey of School Climate. Reflexive thematic analysis identified key themes …

Antibacterial And Structural Properties Of Chitosan-Gelatin Edible Films Enhanced With Liquid Smoke From Rice Husks And Cajuput Twigs, Muhammad Faisal, Dieni Mansur, Hera Desvita

Baghdad Science Journal

This study developed edible films incorporating liquid smoke derived from rice husks and cajuput twigs as both a chitosan solvent and an active antimicrobial–antioxidant agent. The fabricated films exhibited excellent mechanical integrity in accordance with Japanese Industrial Standards and possessed homogeneous microstructures, as evidenced by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses. Antibacterial tests demonstrated that higher concentrations of chitosan and liquid smoke enhanced inhibition against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, with inhibition zone diameters ranging from 6.08 mm to 11.68 mm for E.coli and 6.05 mm to 9.18 mm for B.subtilis. Antibacterial activity against Bacillus …

Synergistic Effects Of Integrated Organic And Mineral Fertilization On Soil Nutrient Dynamics And Cotton Productivity In Irrigated Meadow-Alluvial Soils Of Arid Uzbekistan, Djalilova Gulnora Tulkunovna, Rakhimov Khurmat Nurmatovich

Baghdad Science Journal

A field experiment was conducted in 2019–2021 in the Shavat district of the Khorezm region, Uzbekistan, to determine how mineral fertilizers combined with farmyard manure affect nutrient availability and cotton productivity in old-irrigated meadow-alluvial soils. Five fertilizer treatments were tested under furrow irrigation in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil nutrient status, nutrient accumulation in cotton organs, growth parameters, and seed cotton yield were evaluated. The treatment N₂₀₀P₁₅₀K₁₀₀ + 25 t ha^-1 manure gave the strongest agronomic response. In this treatment, the 0–30 cm soil layer contained higher nitrate nitrogen, available …

Novel Engineering Of Nickel Oxide And Chromium Oxide Nanocomposites For Anti-Corrosion Studies, Sahar Ismael Imran

Baghdad Science Journal

Mixed nickel oxide/chromium oxide nanocomposites NCs (NiO/Cr₂O₃ NCs) have been synthesized via two distinct routes, the first: a green direct calcination-microwave-assisted route (sample B1) of nickel and chromium salts in a crucible within an enclosed oven chamber, which provides an environmentally friendly approach free of gaseous and fluid waste. The second is a conventional co-precipitation-microwave-assisted technique (sample B2). Both methods produced a novel bio-inspired hierarchical micro-lobed architecture pattern. The corrosion resistance effects of both samples have been studied. NiO/Cr₂O₃ NCs were characterized using a field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffractometer, EDX-ray spectroscope, and …

Investigation Of The Combined Effects Of Temperature And Nutrients On Chlorophyll-A Concentration In The Tigris River, Baghdad, Yaqeen Ameen, Jinan S. Al-Hassany

Baghdad Science Journal

Rivers are exposed to global warming and eutrophication, which in turn affect phytoplankton biomass in rivers. This study investigates the changes in Chl-a concentration, an indicator of phytoplankton biomass. A microcosm experiment was conducted, with water sampling from the Tigris River in Baghdad during the wet season. Temperature increase was based on raising the temperature by 3 °C higher than the ambient temperature, while nutrient enrichment was based on the mean values of soluble reactive NO_3^-1 and PO_4^-3 verified in the Tigris River. Variations in Chl-a concentration are associated with changes in WT and nutrient enrichment; …

Sexual Dimorphism, Reproductive Biology, And Growth Patterns Of Sumatran Combtail (Belontia Hasselti, Cuvier 1831) From The Kelekar River, South Sumatra, Indonesia, Muslim Muslim, Edo Saputra, Selly Oktarina, Muhammad Rizky Ariansyah Putra

Baghdad Science Journal

Sexual dimorphism, reproductive biology, and growth patterns are fundamental knowledge in fisheries studies. This study aimed to analyze the sexual dimorphism, reproductive biology, and growth patterns of Belontia hasselti. Samples were collected in the Kelekar River, South Sumatra, Indonesia. Traditional fishing gear, specifically fish traps (``bubu'' and ``pengilar''), was used to catch fish samples. The samples were transported to the Basic Fisheries Laboratory of the Universitas Sriwijaya for collecting study parameters. A total of 100 B. hasselti were used in this study: 56 males (TL: 8.00-13.24 cm, BW: 9.50-37.49 g) and 44 females (TL: 8.00-13.99 cm, BW: 9.00-38.99 g). …

Molecular Detection Of Neospora Caninum In The Placentas And Umbilical Cord Blood Of Women Who Experienced Abortions, Musafer Al-Ardi

Baghdad Science Journal

The relationship between Neosporosis infection in humans and its potential role in causing abortion remains uncertain. This is a molecular analytical cross-sectional study of Neospora caninum in the placentas and umbilical cord blood from aborted women. The results will be compared with molecular examinations of the placentas from several aborted livestock. 157 samples of placentas from aborted cows (58), sheep (51), and goats (48) were collected. In addition, 115 aborted fetal samples of cows (42), sheep (40) and a goat (33) were collected. Also, from aborted women, 45 samples were collected from the placentas and 45 samples of umbilical cord …

The Role Of Employee Recognition On Nurse Turnover And Departmental Engagement In Public Hospitals: Department Type As A Moderator, Dawn M. Jenkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nurses are indispensable to the operation of public hospitals, often serving on the front lines of patient care in high-pressure environments characterized by limited resources and elevated patient acuity. These conditions contribute to burnout, disengagement, and turnover, threatening healthcare quality and workforce sustainability. This quantitative, correlational, and predictive study examined the relationship between recognition received through a digital recognition portal with nurse engagement and turnover in public hospital settings. Drawing on two years of archival organizational data, this research examined whether recognition frequency and recognition satisfaction predicted engagement and turnover, and whether department type moderated those relationships. Analyses included linear …

Barriers And Beliefs: Narratives Of Mental Health Help-Seeking Among First-Generation Latino/Hispanic College Students, Karina L. Alba Lockhart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mental health challenges among college students in the United States have increased in recent years, yet first-generation Latino/Hispanic college students continue to underutilize available services while facing unique cultural and structural barriers to care. This qualitative narrative study explored how first-generation Latino/Hispanic college students made meaning of mental health help-seeking in relation to perceived barriers, perceived benefits, and cultural values such as familismo and stigma. Guided by the health belief model and cross-cultural psychology, this study recruited 15 participants from four-year institutions in the United States and collected data through an online asynchronous questionnaire. Thematic and narrative analysis revealed that …

The Prevalence Of Moral Injury Among Veterans Diagnosed With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd): Analyses By Combat Exposure, Gender, Age Group, And Military Service, Carl B. Forkner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, and the ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, heralded in a new concept affecting our combat and support military personnel. This concept is known today as moral injury. Military personnel were already familiar with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), whether from personal experience or from reading and training on the subject, but no training addresses the prevalence or effects of moral injury. The term moral injury (MI) was first coined by psychiatrist Jonathan Shay and his colleagues based on feedback from military and veteran patients in 1998; however, it remains that …

The Lived Experience Of Inconsistent Legal Recognition: A Phenomenological Study Of Job Burnout And Moral Injury In Florida Correctional Officers, Jeffrey A. Snipes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study investigates the lived experiences of Florida correctional officers (FCOs) regarding inconsistent legal recognition and the divergence between functional mandates and legislative definitions. Utilizing Dr. Jonathan Shay’s moral injury framework, this research explores how statutory marginalization functions as a precursor to burnout. A transcendental phenomenological research design was employed; 21 officers were screened using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) followed by semi-structured interviews with a nine-participant subsample.

Data analysis followed Creswell’s spiral procedures to identify themes describing the essence of these experiences. Findings suggest that inconsistent recognition as first responders catalyzes moral injury, exacerbating burnout and …

Correctional Leadership And Its Relationship To Psychological Well-Being And Job Satisfaction Among Former Department Of Corrections Staff, Brittaney Brown Kovacs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Correctional institutions represent complex work environments in which leadership may influence employee psychological well-being and job satisfaction. Although prior research has primarily focused on correctional officers, less attention has been paid to the broader workforce within Departments of Corrections (DOCs), including educational, healthcare, and administrative personnel. This retrospective mixed-methods study examined the relationships between employee perceptions of transformational, transactional, and authoritarian leadership styles and employee outcomes among former staff of state-level DOCs in the United States. Participants included 75 former DOC employees from multiple states. Quantitative data were collected using standardized measures of leadership, job satisfaction, and psychological well-being. Multiple …

State Government, The Forgotten Cyber Actor, Joshua D. Strubel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cyber incidents are among the most pervasive threats facing the United States, with the FBI recording over 859,000 reported attacks and an estimated $16.6 billion in losses in 2024 alone. Despite widespread recognition that effective cyber defense requires a whole-nation approach, the existing research literature overwhelmingly focuses on federal policy, leaving state governments as largely overlooked actors. This study addresses that gap by examining the research question: How does state cybersecurity policy affect malicious cyber actors' frequency of operations? Drawing on multilinear regression analysis augmented by Random Forest machine learning models, this study evaluates the relationship between state-level cyber deterrence …

Recommendations For Improving Soft Skills Training In The Career And Technical Education Curriculum At Sumter Career And Technology Center In South Carolina, Walter Robertson Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to improve soft skills training in the Career and Technical Education curriculum at the Sumter Career and Technology Center in South Carolina. The problem was that 8% of the Sumter Career and Technology Center's students participating in work-based learning opportunities, apprenticeships, or internships lack the soft skills required by participating employers. The rationale for this study was that it is critical to improve soft skills training in the curriculum at Sumter Career and Technology Center to improve students' performance in work-based learning opportunities to boost employer confidence and lead to permanent future employment opportunities …

An Analysis Of Human Trafficking In Alabama, Kimberly Abrams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this analysis is to gain a thorough understanding of human trafficking in the Alabama. The illegal issue of this analysis is for those who lack a sense of human trafficking, which surrounds the communities where they reside. The theory guiding this study is due to the complexity of the issue globally around the world as it explains the causes of human trafficking amongst victims, which include those who experience poverty, lack of access to job opportunities, natural disasters, and lack of legal protection for immigrants. Additionally, the purpose of this dissertation is to provide insights into the …

Caregiver Depression And Psychological Distress As Predictors Of Substantiated Maltreatment In Nscaw Ii (Wave 2 Cps Sample): A Quantitative Archival Study, Gloria Forotan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative archival analysis examined whether caregiver mental health is associated with child maltreatment outcomes through CPS involvement, using the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II (NSCAW II), Wave 2. Child maltreatment remains a persistent public health concern with long-term effects on children's emotional, psychological, and physical development. Although caregiver mental health is consistently identified as a significant risk factor for maltreatment, few studies have utilized nationally representative child welfare data with standardized measures to test these associations.

Caregiver mental health variables were operationalized using NSCAW II indicators of major depression and depressive symptoms (DP2), psychological distress (K6 …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Juvenile Justice Rehabilitation Programs In The State Of Virginia, Edishae L. Harris-Tyler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Juvenile delinquency and criminal offending have become significant problems in society today. Many offenders in the criminal justice system were exposed to violence and criminal activity at a young age. Early harmful exposure has influenced many at-risk youths in the community to commit crimes at a young age and develop into adult offenders. Juveniles in the community considered at-risk may be disadvantaged due to negative peer pressure, poverty, lack of parental involvement, illiteracy, and lack of opportunities for positive change and development. At-risk youth severely need structure, prosocial support, positive mentorship, and direction to prevent criminal activity and reduce recidivism. …

The Relational Perspective Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Older Adults In Long-Term Care Supports And Services, Jeffrey Lentz

The Journal of Public and Professional Sociology

Autonomy is a vital element of quality of life in long-term care, especially for older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender adults, who are at higher risk of requiring long-term care services and supports (LTCSS) in the future. Key risk factors include a lack of family of origin and a higher prevalence of chronic conditions and disabilities. Many older LGBT adults fear long-term care institutions for various reasons (i.e., fear of discrimination and mistreatment by administrators, staff, and other residents, and a need to be forced back into the closet). This paper applies Perkins et al.’s relational perspective to older LGBT …

Wearable Technology For Depression Assessment: A Scoping Review Of Datasets, Ml Tlachac, Hayley K. Elsbree, Michael V. Heinz

Information Systems and Analytics Department Faculty Journal Articles

As wearable technology continues to develop, wearable devices are becoming more common and being increasingly used to collect datasets for depression assessment. Documenting the collection procedures, recruitment strategies, and demographics of these datasets is important to allow for synthesis across the datasets and uncover common limitations. As such, in this scoping review, we identify 80 observational datasets collected by wearable devices through the start of 2025 that can be used for depression assessment. Of the 80 datasets, 50% used an actigraph and 47.5% used other wristbands. These wearable devices were used to collect activity, sleep, and heart rate for 87.5%, …

Effectiveness Of Cadre Training In Improving Knowledge On The Completion Of The Elderly Health Book In Sidoarjo, Lilik Djuari, Sulistiawati Sulistiawati, Linda Dewanti, Muhammad Izhar Yuliantama, De Farras King, Minarni Wartiningsih

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Primary healthcare in Indonesia faces challenges due to an ageing population since 2021. An elderly health book, published by Ministry of health, is an essential tool for recording, monitoring, and following up elderly health status. However, Health cadres have not yet fully understood how to fill in and use the book, resulting in suboptimal data quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cadre training to complete the Elderly Health Book (before and after training) in Sidoarjo Regency. A quasi-experimental study with a one-group pre-test and post-test design was conducted among 50 elderly health cadres which …

When The Safety Net Becomes A Barrier: Administrative Burdens In Snap And Medicaid, Stephen Roll, Mathieu Despard

Center for Social Development Research

The goal of the U.S. social safety net is to ensure that everyone can meet a basic standard of living, regardless of their economic, health, or life circumstances. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, two key parts of this safety net, support low-income families in affording food and health care. This brief summarizes findings on seven dimensions of administrative burden in SNAP and Medicaid. The findings come from analyses conducted with data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility Project’s survey of a nationally representative sample of low-wage U.S. workers. They suggest that administrative burdens are common, affect …

From Doctoral Research To Local Development: Education, Sustainability And Research Impact In Turmalina-Mg, Brazil, Ozeias Rodrigues Da Rocha

Critical Letters in Economics & Finance

This paper examines how doctoral research can generate impact in marginalised contexts through a qualitative case study conducted in Turmalina-MG, Brazil. The study explored the relationship between education and sustainable economic development through fieldwork across 13 primary schools and engagement with teachers, school leadership, and municipal decision-makers. Rather than treating education only as a sectoral policy issue, the research framed it as a long-term development mechanism linked to human capability, local resilience, and future economic opportunity. The paper argues that the impact of doctoral research in this case became visible in four main ways: through the generation of structured local …

Crisis Of Command: Shaef, Strategy, And The War In Northwest Europe, Fall 1944, Josh Glover

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the strategic debates among the Supreme Allied Commander, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and his subordinate commanders, British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and U.S. Generals Omar Bradley and George Patton, in the fall of 1944. Most historians have focused specifically on the military campaigns throughout the fall of 1944, the commanders who executed them, and the missed opportunities and failures that occurred. The question left unanswered is why the Allies missed the opportunity to end the war in 1944. To answer this, I analyzed the numerous strategic debates among these four commanders and many others that took …

A Phenomenological Study Of Early Educator Experiences Regarding The Educational And Developmental Benefits Of Play-Based Learning For Children Identified With Special Needs In Inclusive Early Education Classrooms, Karen Renée Gallagher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand what are the lived experiences of early childhood educators with providing play-based learning experiences in inclusive classrooms. The theory guiding this study is Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Development theory. This phenomenological study focused on understanding the perceptions and experiences of early childhood educators in regard to how play-based learning supports school readiness within early care and education environments. The focus of the study included educators who care for and teach children between the ages of birth to five years old within inclusive, state licensed early childhood learning environments located in the …

Mental Toughness In Motherhood: A Qualitative Phenomenological Approach To Advancing Developmental Understanding, Mary Kauffman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how mothers define, experience, and describe mental toughness within the developmental context of motherhood. Mental toughness has been extensively examined in performance-based domains such as sports, education, business and military settings. Limited research has investigated how this construct appears or manifests in caregiving roles. Understanding mental toughness in motherhood may inform how mothers are supported psychologically and contribute to future frameworks, interventions, and systems designed to strengthen maternal well-being, adaptation, and long-term functioning. Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, which focuses on the perceived ability of individuals to navigate adversity, this study examined mental toughness as …

Lived Experiences In South Carolina Released Time Education: A Phenomenological Study Of Middle School Student Perceptions, Jacqueline L. Mack

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study investigated how middle school students perceive the influence of Christian Released Time Education (CRTE) on their spiritual development. Through in-depth interviews and survey questionnaires with thirteen middle school participants in South Carolina, the research explored their lived experiences relative to embracing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, growing in Christian faith, and applying biblical principles to everyday life. Analysis of the data revealed four major themes: Spiritual Growth/Maturity, Sound Doctrine, Moral Integrity, and Personal Transformation. Each theme manifested through distinct subthemes that demonstrated the multidimensional impact of CRTE on participants’ spiritual development. The findings challenge prevailing assumptions about …

Past Present, & Future: Bushwick Inlet Redevelopment, Aaryan Nair

Publications and Research

This report examines how ecosystem structure, hydrology, and material flows in Williamsburg, Brooklyn have changed from pre-colonial conditions to the present and how they are expected to evolve under future climate change. Prior to European colonization, the landscape functioned as a forest–wetland mosaic with high infiltration capacity, slow water movement, and strong nutrient retention. These conditions supported stable aquatic ecosystems and minimized pollutant transport to the East River.

Modern urbanization has fundamentally altered this system. Impervious surfaces and engineered drainage systems have shifted hydrology from infiltration-dominated to runoff-dominated pathways, producing rapid “flashy” flows and reducing water residence time.

Storm events …