Digital Commons Network^™

Toward Passwordless Document Encryption, Isaac Henry Teuscher

Theses and Dissertations

Document files with sensitive information are used across nearly every industry. In recent years, cyberattacks targeting cloud-based file transfer applications have resulted in millions of sensitive documents being exposed. Although document encryption methods exist, they are often limited in usability, security, or deployability. Password-based encryption, the most widely available option, remains vulnerable to brute-force attacks, unauthorized sharing, and human error. We address these gaps in three phases. First, we present a structured comparative framework adapted from the usability-deployability-security model to evaluate nine document encryption methods across 15 design properties, identifying the benefits and limitations of current approaches. Second, we design …

Likes, Lies, And Body Esteem: The Moderating Effects Of Age, Concealment, And Gender Between Social Media And Body Esteem For Utah Adolescents, Talise Hirschi

Theses and Dissertations

Social media use has become common among adolescents and contains many messages about one's body such as the thin and muscular ideal. Many parents are learning how to help their adolescent learn how to use social media, and some adolescents may conceal their social media use for various reasons. 588 adolescents (ages 11-18; 77% White; 55% female) from Utah filled out surveys about their social media use and body esteem each school year. In a two-wave cross lag panel model, specific aspects of social media use such as time spent on social media, problematic media use (PMU), and social media …

I Will Defend My Self, Emily Ward Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines caregiving and motherhood as forms of load-bearing infrastructure. Cultural narratives often portray motherhood through sentimental images of joy, tenderness, and devotion, obscuring the structural labor that sustains family life. This project examines maternal labor as a largely unseen system of support that organizes family life while often remaining backgrounded. Caregiving reorganizes time, space, ambition, embodiment, and future orientation within maternal life. Through sculptural works using architectural materials and construction systems, such as oriented strand board, blueprint racks, metal armatures, and graph paper, the project visualizes caregiving as a structural condition. These materials reference the language of architecture …

Practical Implementation Of Ethnomathematics To Increase The Engagement, Math Self-Efficacy, And Hawaiian Cultural Identity Of HawaiʻI Algebra 2 Students, Kamalani George Mamatuki Kaluhiokalani

Theses and Dissertations

The underrepresentation of Hawaiian cultural practices in mathematics education has contributed to a disconnect between students' cultural identities and their academic experiences, resulting in diminished engagement among Native Hawaiian learners. This design-based research examines the integration of ethnomathematics into high school mathematics curricula, with a focus on Hawaiian cultural practices as frameworks for teaching mathematical concepts. Participants include approximately 100 students in Hawaiʻi from a public school and a private school, as well as two mathematics teachers with varying degrees of experience in culturally responsive pedagogy and ethnomathematics. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study collects data through classroom observations, teacher …

Influence Of Timed Repeated Readings On Grade 2 French Immersion Students' Reading Fluency And Comprehension, Kathryn Rosie Baldwin

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of Timed Repeated Reading (TRR) on reading fluency, comprehension, and reading attitudes among second grade students in a French Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program in Utah. Forty-one students from two pre-existing classroom groups participated over 11 weeks, with one class receiving TRR and the other serving as a control. Fluency was measured in correct words per minute (CWPM), comprehension through cloze tests, and attitudes using a seven-item affective survey with a four-point visual scale. A mixed between-within subjects ANOVA analysed pre- and post-test data across four intervals. Results showed significant fluency gains over time for …

Beyond The Bell Curve: Understanding Native American Academic Placements, Sarah-Margaret Clark

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined biases regarding the referrals that teachers make regarding student placement recommendations for Native American students. Special education teachers (n = 97) from around the United States completed a digital card sort task involving 24 fictitious student record cards. The student record cards contained subtle information about the ethnicity of the student, as indicated through the use of racial identification (Native American, Asian, or White) on the student records and the use of student names that may be associated with these three categories. Academic information was equal among each of these three groups. Each group contained identical male …

Calibration And Validation Of An Ogden Material Model For Thermoplastic Polyurethane In 3d-Printed Tensegrity Structures, Caleb C. Swain

Theses and Dissertations

This work is motivated by ongoing efforts within the Smart Materials, Adaptronics, and Shock Laboratory (SMASH Lab) at Brigham Young University (BYU) to develop variable-stiffness, external fixators using 3D-printed tensegrity structures. In the process of designing and evaluating these systems, the need arose to accurately model the nonlinear mechanical behavior of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), the primary material used in prototype fabrication. This thesis investigates how accurately a calibrated Ogden material model can predict the nonlinear mechanical response of TPU in 3D-printed tensegrity structures. Experimental data were used to calibrate the parameters of the hyperelastic constitutive model through nonlinear optimization. An …

Pengaruh Intervensi Sigo Terhadap Perbaikan Postur Kerja Dan Penurunan Keluhan Musculoskeletal Disorders Pada Pekerja Sewing Di Cv X Sukoharjo, Sumardiyono Sumardiyono, Tiara Damar Pratiwi, Warda Yussy Rha

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

Sewing workers in the garment industry are at high risk of developing non-ergonomic working postures that may lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), due to prolonged static postures and the use of chairs that are not compatible with workers’ anthropometry. Preliminary surveys indicated complaints of pain in the back, neck, and waist (90%), shoulders and forearms (85%), and upper arms (80%). An ergonomic intervention that can be implemented is the use of ergonomic chairs. This study aims to analyze the effect of using SIGO (Seat Improvement for Garment Operators) as an ergonomic intervention on improving working posture and reducing MSD complaints …

Urban Indian Parents' Occupational Perceptions Of Play And Governance Of Children's Excessive Screen Time Preferences And Behaviours In This Digital Era, Joanna Priyadarshini Udaykumar, Tony Sam George

International Journal of Playwork Practice

Abstract

Children’s innate urge to engage in joyous, self-directed, meaningful, iterative activities embodies their unique play experiences and facilitates their holistic development. However, the exponential growth of digital technology in an urbanized world has transformed their social landscape by offering them a plethora of novel play opportunities that ‘pushes children away from the outdoors and pulls them indoors’. Moreover, the radical transition from nature-based recreation to media-centric activity insinuates the surge of a global pandemic characterized by low physical activity, sleep deprivation and sedentary, lifestyle diseases. This emerging trend reflects children’s predilection for videophilia over biophilia due to the dominance …

Integration Of Intraoperative Data In Interpretable Machine Learning Models To Predict Postoperative Aki In Noncardiac Surgery Patients, Justin Do, Karan H. Shah, Melissa Xu, Andrew Hyunwoo Kim, Vivaswat Suresh, Nidhir Guggilla, Michael Li, Rishi Kothari

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to (1) quantify changes in discrimination when adding intraoperative data to preoperative data and (2) compare tabular machine learning with feature engineering against a time-aware LSTM-based model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort of 46 204 adults undergoing 57 055 eligible noncardiac surgery in the INSPIRE database. We extracted 38 preoperative and 49 intraoperative variables; acute kidney injury (AKI) was defined by KDIGO serum creatinine criteria and modeled as stage 2/3 postoperative AKI. Models were trained on preoperative-only and combined pre- and intraoperative data. Intraoperative series were summarized using eight statistical features for tabular models or integrated directly …

Quality Improvement Project: The Impact Of A Safety Coach Program In A Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Royanne Lickliter

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Patient safety remains a critical concern in healthcare, with hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) contributing to preventable harm, mortality, and increased costs, particularly in high-acuity settings such as Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). A recent safety culture survey at a tertiary pediatric hospital identified gaps in proactive safety behaviors, communication, and psychological safety. The primary problem identified was inconsistent engagement in proactive safety practices and limited frontline empowerment to identify and mitigate risks in real time. The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to evaluate the impact of implementing a structured Safety Coach Program in the PICU on HAC rates, …

Institutional Influences And The Governance And Administration Of The Programa Produtor De Água Payment For Ecosystem Services Program In Brazil, Thomas G. Safford

Faculty Publications

Payment-for-Ecosystem-Services (PES) has been promoted as an innovative approach to environmental governance capable of simultaneously advancing conservation and sustainable development objectives. While studies commonly assess the ecological and economic performance of PES schemes, less attention has been given to their organizational and administrative effectiveness. This study examines these governance dimensions of one of Latin America’s most prominent PES initiatives—the Water Producer Program (WPP) in Brazil. Drawing on a meta-synthesis of 125 publications, the analysis investigates how regulative, normative, and cultural-cognitive institutional forces shaped WPP implementation. Guided by neo-institutional theory and institutional bricolage, findings show that WPP governance operated through hybrid …

Exploring Generative Artificial Intelligence Perceptions And Information Retrieval Behaviors Among Students: An Investigation Of Google Search And Chatgpt Queries, Annie Kiele Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Generative AI tools are rapidly reshaping how undergraduate students seek and engage with academic information, yet empirical understanding of what drives adoption and how students behave when using these tools relative to traditional search engines remains limited. This study examined undergraduate students’ information-retrieval behaviors and perceptions when using ChatGPT compared to Google Search, using the technology acceptance model (TAM; Davis, 1989) extended to include trust (Gefen et al., 2003) as the guiding framework. An embedded mixed-methods design was employed, in which Likert-scale perception ratings provided a structured quantitative signal and thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, structured information-retrieval tasks, and concurrent …

Unlocking Potential: Teachers' Perspectives On 504 Accommodations For Students With Adhd, Haley Stubbs

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined high school teachers' perspectives on the development, implementation, and effectiveness of Section 504 accommodations for students with ADHD. Five secondary teachers from a public high school participated in a focus group, and data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Findings indicate that teachers report limited understanding of the 504 process, minimal involvement in eligibility decisions, and little training on how to implement accommodations. Teachers describe accommodations as vague and difficult to apply consistently within the constraints of secondary classrooms, often relying on universal classroom practices and student self-advocacy to meet student needs. Teachers also question whether accommodations …

Evolution And Assessment Of Employee/Workplace Services, David L. Groves

Visions in Leisure and Business

No abstract provided.

Regulation In Real Time: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Pharmd Student Learning At A Live Board Of Pharmacy Meeting, Keerthana R. Iyer, Taylor Gannon, Lindsey M. Rayborn, Joseph A. Dikun

Posters

Background: Pharmacists practice within complex legal, regulatory, and ethical frameworks; however, PharmD curricula often offer limited direct exposure to regulatory decision-making in authentic practice settings. Observation of a live Board of Pharmacy meeting may enhance students understanding of professional accountability, systems-level oversight, and the regulatory context of pharmacy practice. Objective: To examine changes in first-year PharmD students perceived regulatory understanding, ethical reasoning, perceptions of professional roles, and advocacy-related beliefs following attendance at a live Mississippi Board of Pharmacy meeting. Methods: This exploratory mixed-methods study included first-year PharmD students enrolled in a required course at the University of Mississippi. Students attended …

Real-World Impact Of Fda Opioid Regulatory Actions On Prescribing And Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review, Millicent Boakye, Gabriel Ezenri

Posters

Background: Since 2013, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a sustained series of opioid regulatory actions to curb high-risk prescribing and opioid-related harm. The impact of these actions on real-world prescribing and patient safety outcomes remains uncharacterized. This study aims to synthesize observational data on the real-world impact of FDA opioid regulatory actions and Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) on prescribing behavior and patient outcomes. Methods: We conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We search in Pubmed, Embase and Web of science for studies published between September 2013 and September 2025.The eligible …

Reducing Opioid Exposure Through State Policy: Evidence From U.S. Prescribing Limits, Rasaq Oladapo, Olufunmilola Abraham, Patricia R. Freeman, Douglas Oyler, Rachel Vickers-Smith

Podiums

Background: Initial opioid prescribing for acute pain contributes substantially to opioid exposure and can drive persistent use, increasing the risk of overdose and opioid use disorder. Most U.S. states have implemented opioid prescribing limits (OPLs) to restrict initial opioid prescription duration, quantity, or dosage. However their intended and unintended impacts remain poorly understood. This narrative review summarizes evidence from U.S. studies evaluating the impact of OPLs on prescribing, patient, and public health outcomes, while identifying gaps and priorities for future research. Methods: We reviewed U.S. studies published between April 2016 and January 2026 evaluating statutory OPLs. Literature was identified through …

Patients Willingness To Seek Help From Pharmacists In The Management Of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Qualitative Study, Omkar Ghodke, Erin Holmes, Meagen Rosenthal, Yinan Huang, Marie Barnard

Podiums

Background: This study explored the willingness of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to seek help from pharmacists for their disease management. While pharmacist interventions are known to enhance medication adherence and health outcomes, patient engagement with pharmacists remains low. Understanding the factors that influence RA patients' willingness to use pharmacy services is essential for improving patient outcomes and optimizing the role of pharmacists in RA management. Using the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction (IMBP), this study identified the factors influencing willingness to use pharmacists and pharmacy services among patients with RA. Methods: This study utilized semi-structured interviews targeting individuals 26 years …

Application Of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis In Pharmacy And Therapeutics Committee Formulary Decision-Making: A Systematic Review And Proof-Of-Concept Framework, Georges Adunlin, Riley Atkinson

Posters

Background: Pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) committees must evaluate competing medications within the constraints of finite healthcare resources. Traditional formulary decision-making processes may inadequately capture the multidimensional value of medications. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) has emerged as a structured approach to incorporate clinical, economic, and operational considerations; however, evidence of its real-world application in P&T committee decision-making remains limited.   Objectives: (1) To systematically review and synthesize published literature describing the use of MCDA in formulary decision-making by P&T committees. (2) To develop a conceptual MCDA framework and demonstrate its feasibility through a proof-of-concept application within a P&T committee context.   Methods: A …

Meal Provision Strategies For People Experiencing Homelessness: A Qualitative Study, Alexcia Carr, Rachel A. Vincent, Leticia R. Moczygemba

Posters

INTRODUCTION: People experiencing homelessness (PEH) often rely on community based meal service organizations (MSOs) for consistent food access. Given the high burden of diet related chronic illness among PEH and the role of therapeutic lifestyle changes in disease management, MSOs represent a key setting for improving nutritional quality. However, little is known about how MSOs resource and sustain meal services or how nutrition is considered within their meal provision processes. This study examined (1) meal provision strategies, (2) meal planning and food acquisition practices, and (3) the role of nutrition-related knowledge in service delivery.   METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with …

Multilevel Drivers Of Missed Opportunities For Hiv Prevention: A Qualitative Synthesis Within A Systematic Review, Ismaeel Yunusa, Tarilate Temedie-Asogwa, Osaro Mgbere, Julie Atta, Moosa Tatar, Susan Abughosh, Ekere Essien

Posters

Background: Despite the availability of effective HIV prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), gaps in prevention delivery persist across healthcare settings. Missed opportunities for HIV prevention remain common, yet multilevel factors driving these gaps are not fully understood. Understanding these drivers is essential to inform effective interventions at the individual, interpersonal, provider, and system levels. Objectives: To identify and synthesize multilevel determinants of missed opportunities for HIV prevention and PrEP delivery. Methods: We conducted a qualitative synthesis within a systematic review of U.S.-based studies (2012-2025) on missed opportunities for HIV prevention. Articles were identified through database searches (PubMed, Embase, and …

Prmt5 As A Key Driver Of Stemness And Metastatic Potential In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Jae Jin Jeong, Mauli Maniar, Shahrzad Ghane, Sakshi Deshpande, Claire Ellis, Ashakumary Lakshmikuttyamma

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) mediates arginine methylation of a wide range of proteins and plays context-dependent oncogenic or tumor-suppressive roles. In cancer, PRMT5 represses several tumor suppressor genes, including E-cadherin, TP53BP1, ST7, PTEN, and RB (retinoblastoma). Elevated PRMT5 expression has been reported across multiple cancer types, notably triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In TNBC, high PRMT5 levels are associated with enhanced cancer stem cell self-renewal, increased tumor growth and metastasis, and reduced patient survival. Mechanistically, PRMT5 promotes breast cancer stem cell maintenance and proliferation through stabilization of the transcription factors KLF4 and KLF5. Disruption of the PRMT5-KLF4 axis results in …

Open Data From Ligo, Virgo, And Kagra Through The First Part Of The Fourth Observing Run, Ligo Scientific Collaboration, Virgo Collaboration, Kagra Collaboration, Marc Favata, Shoan Ghosh, Rodica Martin

Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA form a network of gravitational-wave observatories. Data and analysis results from this network are made publicly available through the Gravitational Wave Open Science Center. This paper describes open data from this network, including the addition of data from the first part of the fourth observing run and selected periods from the preceding engineering run, collected from 2023 May to 2024 January. The public dataset includes calibrated strain time series for each instrument, data from additional channels used for noise subtraction and detector characterization, and analysis data products from version 4.0 of the Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog.

The Effect Of Flaxseed Oil On Fertility, Mohammad F. Albadran, Ahmed B. Abdulwahid, Assad H. Eissa, Nehaya M. Al-Aubody, Shaymaa F. Abbas, Zainab M. Mohammed

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Infertility can be defined as the inability to conceive pregnancy when sexually active and not having used any contraception in 12 months. Flaxseed oil has wide-spectrum applications in health. It has been receiving special interest in infertility treatment.

Objectives: This research aimed to determine the impact of flaxseed oil on the fertility of mice.

Methods: It involved seventy-five mice. These mice were sex-separated and randomly classified into three groups; one group served as a control group, and the other two groups were exposed to flaxseed oil extract at a dose of 60 mg/Kg body weight/day or 120 mg/Kg body …

Serum Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (Tgf-Β ) As Diagnostic Biomarker For Ulcerative Colitis: An Association Study With Abo Blood Group And Extra Intestinal Symptoms, Safaa Muhsin Khudheir, Thekra Abdullah Mahmoud

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent and remitting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Anti-inflammatory cytokines such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β ) are part of the pathophysiology of UC; these cytokines set off a specific immune response. Extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs) reported occurrence differs from 14% to 47%, and accounts for the majority of related conditions in UC. This study aims to find the correlation of ulcerative colitis with TGF-β , ABO blood group and EIMs.

Objectives: To determine the serum level of TGF-β in both groups by sandwich ELISA, determine blood group by agglutination slide method, identify extra intestinal manifestation …

Factors Associated With Discharge Against Medical Advice Among Patients Attending The Emergency Departments In Babylon Governorate, Hasan Alwan Baiee, Ali Mohsen Al-Jobury, Ola Mosheb

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: With the increasing number of patients leaving the emergency department against medical advice, morbidity, mortality, and readmission rates have risen, placing a strain on the healthcare system.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the demographic characteristics and the reasons why patients left against medical advice among those attending the emergency departments of teaching hospitals in Babylon Governorate.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Babylon Governorate, encompassing three hospitals. using a convenience sample of patients who left the hospital against their physician's advice. Data were collected between August 2024 and February 2025 using a semi-structured questionnaire …

Infection By Entamoeba Histolytica Among Children Attending Maysan Pediatric And Maternity Hospital In Amarah City, Ali Idan Al-Musaedi, Ahmed Hussain Rahim

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Most parasites impose some level of damage to their hosts. Factors such as the number of parasites, the site of infection, the size and mobility of the parasite, along with the host's physiological condition and whether it serves as an intermediate or final host, affect the severity of infections in both humans and animals.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica infection in children under the influence of some risk factors.

Materials and Methods: A total of 1213 stool samples were collected from children attending Maysan Pediatric and Maternity Hospital in Amarah City, Maysan Governorate, southern Iraq. Microscopy …

Molecular Characterization And Genotyping Of Candida Species Isolated From The Nasal Cavity Of Patients With Nasal Infections In Iraq, Amran M. Al-Erjan, Hind Tahseen Ibrahim

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Nasal infections are commonly associated with opportunistic microorganisms, particularly Staphylococcus aureus and Candida species.

Objectives: This study aimed to molecularly characterize Candida species isolated from the nasal cavity of patients with nasal infections and to determine their phylogenetic relationships using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region.

Methods: A total of 88 nasal swab samples were collected from patients aged 1–80 years in Thi-Qar Province, Iraq, between December 2023 and March 2024. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and Mannitol Salt Agar. Yeast isolates were identified phenotypically using CHROMagar Candida and germ tube tests. Molecular identification and genotyping were …

Malondialdehyde And Ceruloplasmin: A More Sensitive And Specific Marker Than Other Obesity Markers For Diagnosis Of Obese Individuals, Sawen Tahseen Taha

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Higher levels of lipid peroxidation are associated with obesity. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a byproduct of this process and acts as a biomarker. Plasma ceruloplasmin (Cp) is also connected to obesity and is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Objectives: This study aimed to measure MDA and CP levels in obese people and compare them with levels in people of normal weight, including both men and women.

Methods: Case and control study was conducted on a total (90) participants, consisting of (45) Normal individuals with BMI <25 Kg/m2, (45) Obese individuals with BMI ≥ 30 Kg/m2 were enrolled in the study. Serum MDA and CP were estimated using the ELISA technique. The present study was carried out from 8th January 2024, to 1st May 2024, at Rizgary Hospital, Cardiac Center, and Cihan University.

Results: Malondialdehyde (MDA) was assessed in both groups. Sensitivity and specificity for MDA …