Digital Commons Network^™

Reviewing The Need For Subject-Specific Regional Professional Development Opportunities For Business Librarians, Annette Bochenek, Heather A. Howard

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

This paper reviews the need for regional professional development opportunities for business librarians, examining the benefits and drawbacks that business librarians experience when attending national, subject-specific, and regional conferences, from the perspective of the creators and organizers of the Midwest Business Librarian Summit (MBLS). Using information gained regarding what benefits librarians seek when considering conference attendance as well as the obstacles or challenges experienced, this paper offers information about extant regional conferences for business librarians as well as suggestions for developing an in-person, subject-specific regional conference targeted toward business librarians.

Wellness Tourism: An Introduction, Karen Thal

All Open Educational Resources

Wellness tourism is a growing segment of the travel industry that focuses on experiences designed to improve physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being. From yoga retreats and spa getaways to outdoor adventures and healthy culinary experiences, this form of tourism reflects a broader cultural shift toward self-care and holistic health. The current textbook introduces wellness tourism in a U.S. context, offering a practical, business oriented overview for undergraduate students. It provides insights into the concept of wellness, defines and examines both the wellness industry and the wellness tourism sub-sector, highlights key trends, explores the motivations of wellness travelers, and explains how …

Navigating Ai Ethics Through The Lens Of Personality Traits And Well-Being: Policy Recommendations For Young People In The Uae, Areej Elsayary

All Works

The main purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between HEXACO personality traits and well-being, using ethical AI as a mediator among young adults in the UAE, aiming to develop policy recommendations that support ethical AI practices in educational settings. Utilizing a quantitative cross-sectional design, the study involved 204 university students in the UAE, aged 18 and above (M = 23.8, SD = 5.64), with 71 (34.8%) being males and 133 (65.2%) being females. The findings reveal the significant role of AI ethical use in mediating the relationship between certain HEXACO personality traits (honesty–humility, emotionality, and agreeableness) and …

The Use Of A Horizontal Reference Line While Measuring The Anterior Center Edge Angle Is More Reliable Than The Traditional Method, Roland Howard, Benjamin Miltenberg, William Johns, Neel Patel, Shyam Brahmabhatt, John Salvo

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: The anterior center edge angle (ACEA) is a radiographic parameter commonly utilized for the assessment of anterior acetabular coverage in the setting of various hip abnormalities. However, this measurement is greatly dependent on patient positioning and imaging technique.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of a measurement technique utilizing a horizontal reference line and femoral head perfect circles for better control of pelvic obliquity and the assessment of its potential as a more reproducible method for determining the ACEA.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS: There were 3 authors who retrospectively reviewed the false-profile radiographs of …

Narrative As Story And Ground: Toward A Dialogic Communication Theory Of Narrative Care, Preston Carmack

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We live in a historical moment when a nuanced understanding of narrative as both ground and story is essential. In examining the work of two primary scholarly voices working with narrative and operating from a communicative lens, Walter R. Fisher and Ronald C. Arnett, this project lays a theoretical foundation for understanding the dialogic interplay of narrative as story and narrative as ground. Through tracing Fisher's and Arnett's contrasting interpretations of the work of Alasdair MacIntyre, a preeminent neo-Thomistic philosopher whose work has significantly contributed to the study of ethics and narrative construction of human rationality, coordinates related to telling …

Sociodemographic, Neighborhood-Level, And Health-Related Factors Associated With Progression To Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective Chart Review., Angela Godwin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for patients with Class 3 obesity. However, of individuals who start the bariatric surgical process, only about half undergo surgery. Factors associated with completion, including race, have been described; however, consistent evidence on obstacles remains to be identified.

Objectives: To explore variables based on the Social Ecological Model (SEM) that may be related to bariatric surgery completion.

Setting: A large, private hospital with a Bariatric Center of Excellence in New York City

Methods: This retrospective chart review utilized data from adults who established an initial bariatric surgery visit from April 1, 2012, …

Describing Latent Tuberculosis Infection And Treatment Completion In Virginia: A Social Determinants Of Health Approach, Amber N. Harmon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection is a key strategy in tuberculosis elimination nationally and globally, there is a limited understanding of the general prevalence of latent tuberculosis as well as factors related to successful treatment. This dissertation describes the known landscape of latent tuberculosis in Virginia and explores possible factors related to latent tuberculosis infection treatment through three manuscripts. The first manuscript, Chapter 1, outlines the overall proposal for this dissertation research in the style of a National Institute of Health grant proposal. The second manuscript, Chapter 2, describes the current understanding of the factors related to latent …

Adding Varying Degrees Of Performance Feedback Components To The Taped Problems Intervention, Alyson C. Honaker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Math fact fluency, the ability to quickly and accurately solve one-digit by one-digit math problems, is a common challenge for many school-aged children. Difficulties with fluency often lead to reliance on inefficient strategies, hindering progress in more advanced math skills. Evidence-based interventions like Taped Problems Intervention (TPI) have demonstrated effectiveness in improving math fluency. However, research suggests incorporating behavioral components such as Performance feedback (PF) and goal setting/reinforcement (GS/R) may enhance its effectiveness. The present study used a multiple-probe across-task design to evaluate the effects of three variations of TPI on the subtraction fluency of five elementary students in a …

Exploration Of The Cultural Beliefs, Values, And Practices Of African American/Black Women Or Birthing Persons Regarding Postpartum Depression: A Focused Ethnography, Stephanie Jacobs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most prevalent perinatal mental health illness in women, affecting approximately 10% to 20% of all women in the United States, and a disproportionately higher number of African American women. The aim of this study was to explore the cultural beliefs, values, and practices of African American/Black women or birthing persons regarding postpartum depression.

Research Question: What are the cultural beliefs, values, and practices of African American/Black women or birthing persons regarding postpartum depression?

Methodology: A focused ethnography was chosen for this study and consisted of semi-structured interviews. Data was transcribed and analyzed …

The Application Of Macrophage-Targeted, Anti-Inflammatory Celecoxib Nanoemulgel For Nerve Regeneration In Peripheral Nerve Injury, Lu Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) refers to damage to the nerve located outside the brain and spinal cord. PNI is commonly caused by a physical accident (trauma) or medical operation^{1, 2}. The impact on the quality of life of PNI patients is directly correlated to neuropathic pain, resultant depression, and increased stress². Even after recovering from the PNI, patients still experience phantom pain and lose the ability to work due to the loss of tactile sensory or motor function^2-4. However, unlike damage to the central nervous system (CNS), peripheral nerves can regenerate because macrophages clean …

Eco-Emotions And Climate Activism In Adolescents, Julianna Sahoo

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background. Youth are especially vulnerable to climate change, both physically and psychologically. Combatting climate change will require a coordinated, global effort. Understanding the motivations and emotions behind climate activism is essential to coordinate efforts to combat climate change.

Methods. This research uses survey data collected from first and second year undergraduates (n=521) at a private, urban university in California in the Fall of 2022. Youth were surveyed on emotions related to climate change, activism, compassion, eco-anxiety, and well-being.

Results. Experiencing positive emotions had a stronger relationship with environmental activism compared to negative emotions.

Conclusion. Results suggest climate change communications should …

Reducing Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex Cesarean Birth Rate, Roseanna Juarez

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Cesarean birth rates for nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) pregnancies in the United States continue to exceed the Healthy People 2030 goal of 23.6%, resulting in preventable maternal and neonatal complications and higher healthcare costs.

Context: This quality improvement (QI) initiative was conducted in a high-acuity labor and delivery unit in California’s Central Valley, an area characterized by maternal health disparities, high rates of comorbidities, and limited access to prenatal care. The goal was to reduce the NTSV cesarean rate to 18.0% by July 31, 2025.

Interventions: Guided by Kotter’s 8-Step Change Theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, …

Mental Health And Substance Use Interventions Within Muslim Community Spaces: A Community Based-Participatory Research Proposal, Halah Mansour Alayleh

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background. Muslim Americans face significant mental health and substance use challenges compounded by Islamophobic discrimination, cultural stigma, and barriers to accessing culturally competent services. They also significantly underuse professional mental health services. Purpose. This study aims to collaborate with Muslim communities within the San Francisco Bay Area to develop a replicable intervention framework for addressing mental health and substance use stigma within mosques and other Muslim community spaces. Methods. The proposal uses a community-based participatory research (CBPR) methodology while integrating the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and stigma theory in the framework. This proposal outlines the four phases of intervention …

South Atlantic Bank Internship Report, Trevor J. Naun

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

No abstract provided.

Promoting Inclusion Through Evidence-Based Behavior Management: Effective Interventions For Students With Asd In General Education, Emma Kaiser

Masters Projects

As diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continue to rise, general education classrooms are increasingly responsible for meeting the needs of students with ASD. However, many teachers lack the training and resources necessary to manage challenging behaviors effectively. This knowledge gap often results in exclusionary practices such as restraint, seclusion, and suspension, which act as barriers to inclusion. The purpose of this project is to equip educators with evidence-based behavior management strategies that support inclusive practices. Drawing from current research, the project organizes effective interventions into three key categories: preventing challenging behaviors, teaching alternative skills, and reinforcing positive behaviors. Each …

Optimal Roof Strategy For Mitigating Urban Heat Island In Hot Arid Climates : Simulation And Python-Based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, Rehab Alaa, Amira Elbalazi, Walaa S.E. Ismaeel

Architectural Engineering

No abstract provided.

700 Bklyn Realty Llc V. Lynch

All Decisions

The court granted the landlord a money judgment for legal fees and use and occupancy in a non-primary residence holdover. The tenant failed to appear or provide discovery, leading to a default judgment of possession for the landlord. The court found the landlord was the prevailing party and therefore entitled to fees under the lease. Citing public policy to discourage non-primary residence occupancy, the court awarded the landlord $54,780 in legal fees and a separate judgment of $65,298.97 for use and occupancy and eviction costs.

Dietary Protein’S Effect On The Gut Microbiome And Its Metabolites: Protocol Description And Virtual Recruitment Efforts For A Remote Randomized Controlled Trial, Karyn M. Gallivan, Kristin S. Ondrak, Denise M. Danos, Meng Luo, Christopher M. Taylor, Lauren E. Meyer, Ann M. Byerley, Alexander W. Nguyen, Sabyasachi Chatterjee, Jiri Adamec, Lauri O. Byerley

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Fiber’s effect on our gut microbes has been studied extensively, while knowledge of the effect of protein is sparse. Colonic putrefaction of dietary protein is known to produce several potentially detrimental compounds. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) uses a pre- and post-study design to investigate the effect of consuming higher levels of dietary protein on the gut microbiota and the metabolites it produces. Here, we describe our virtual recruitment efforts and RCT protocol. Potential participants lived throughout the contiguous US. Several recruitment methods were employed, of which email reached the largest group of people (approximately 9,100) and generated a 0.3% …

Development Of Numerical Tools And Performance Metrics For Analysis Of Optical Particle Counters, Doug Webb

Theses and Dissertations

Monitoring air quality is essential for understanding and mitigating the health impacts of airborne particulate matter (PM), which is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Optical particle counters (OPCs) are widely used for air quality monitoring, yet their precision and accuracy remain uncertain due to inconsistent performance evaluations. In this thesis, performance metrics are developed that can be used to assess the accuracy of OPCs in measuring PM concentrations and size distributions. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are employed to analyze the behavior of particle-laden air streams through representative OPC models. The impact of design parameters is quantified using newly …

Empowering General Educators: Supporting Students With Learning Disabilities Through Inclusive Tier Two Practices, Megan Sparling

Masters Projects

Many general education teachers enter the profession with minimal training in how to effectively support students with learning disabilities, particularly those who require Tier Two interventions but do not qualify for special education services. This lack of preparation contributes to reduced instructional confidence, inconsistent intervention practices, and missed opportunities to support struggling learners. Grounded in Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, this capstone project addresses the urgent need for ongoing, practical professional development tailored to the realities of inclusive classrooms. The literature highlights the importance of sustained, collaborative, and contextually embedded …

Homologous And Heterologous Vaccination Regimens With Mrna And Rvsv Platforms Induce Potent Immune Responses Against Sftsv Glycoprotein, Tomaz B. Manzoni, Jonna B. Westover, Kendall A. Lundgreen, Philip D. Hicks, Raegan J. Petch, Jordan T. Ort, Drew Weissman, Steven H. Y. Fan, Scott E. Hensley, Norbert Pardi, Brian B. Gowen, Paul Bates

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a highly pathogenic bunyavirus with a high case-fatality ratio for which there is no approved vaccine. Studies have assessed different vaccine technologies. However, few studies have yet assessed the immunogenicity of heterologous prime-boost regimens. Methods: Here, we compare a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated nucleoside-modified mRNA-based vaccine encoding the SFTSV glycoproteins, Gn and Gc, to our recently described recombinant VSV SFTSV (rVSV-SFTSV) vaccine in single dose, homologous, and heterologous prime-boost regimens in mice. Results: We show that all regimens protect from pathogenic SFTSV challenge and elicit strong long-lasting antibody responses. Furthermore, strong cellular …

Effects Of Mode And Transitioning To A Mixed-Mode (Web/Phone) Design On Categorical Survey Estimates: Do Question Characteristics Matter?, Mengyao Hu, Vicki A Freedman, Justin Kamens

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

An increasing number of telephone surveys are introducing a web option. Limited experimental research has explored the implications of such design changes and how they vary by question characteristics. Using an experimental design and propensity score matching techniques, this study examines the effects of mode (web vs. telephone) and transitioning to a mixed-mode design (from telephone-only to the choice of web or telephone) on survey estimates and how effects differ by question characteristics. We draw upon an experiment embedded in the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC), in which half of NSOC-eligible caregivers were randomized to a telephone-only design and the …

The Link Between Disability And Suicide Ideation In Men Over 60, Cassandra Lawrence

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers suicide and suicide ideation as a severe public health issue among older men and people with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a predictive relationship between the level of disability, type of disability (i.e., physical, visual, hearing), functional disability, (i.e., mobility, activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (iADLs), and having multiple disabilities on suicide ideation among men with a disability who are aged 60 years and older while controlling for age, depression, marital status and retirement status. The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal …

Information Technology Industry Leaders’ Methods To Enhance Employee Job Performance, Helen Chioma Orisakwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many U.S. tech companies are grappling with the challenge of sustaining high employee performance. It's crucial for information technology (IT) executives and business leaders to adopt strategies that support high employee performance, as this is vital for fostering innovation, promoting staff well-being, and ensuring reliable service. Grounded in Bass and Avolio’s transformational leadership theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry sought to determine which leadership practices employed by experienced IT supervisors most effectively elevate employee performance. Purposive sampling was used to recruit seven IT organizational leaders with at least five years of supervisory experience and demonstrated success in performance-enhancing initiatives. Data from …

The Educator Becomes The Student: Achieving Lifelong Learning Through Daybook, Casper Jonker, Zoe Brookes, Catherine Coelho, Sally Hanks, Amanda Addy

Peninsula Dental School

No abstract provided.

Effective Public Sector Information System Enterprise Cybersecurity Leadership Strategies, Christopher Adiele Orisakwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public sector organizations face increasing cybersecurity risks due to the growing complexity of digital infrastructure, expanding attack surfaces, and evolving threat landscapes. Despite the increasing risk, many Information Technology (IT) leaders continue to struggle with implementing comprehensive and sustainable strategies to protect information systems. Grounded in Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior, the purpose of qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective cybersecurity strategies IT leaders in the public sector use to protect organizations from cyberattacks, maintain public trust, and prevent financial losses. The project examined how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence leaders’ cybersecurity practices. Data were collected …

Exploring Strategies For Mitigating Toxic Behaviors And Improving Employee Retention In Organizations, Roy Lydell Rucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of mitigation strategies for middle manager toxic leadership can negatively affect organizational retention outcomes. Business leaders are concerned with a lack of effective strategies to counteract these behaviors and improve retention. Grounded in the toxic leadership theory, this study aimed to explore executive leaders’ strategies for mitigating toxic leadership and enhancing retention, guided by the toxic leadership framework. A qualitative, pragmatic inquiry design employed purposive sampling of nine C-suite executives from U.S. technology small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Data were collected via semistructured interviews and organizational documents. Thematic analysis, employing iterative coding and constant comparison, yielded six themes: …

Non-Traditional Student Experiences With Using An Asynchronous Video Writing Tutorial, Michele Sweeting-Decaro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem investigated in this study was that low-level writing skills among postsecondary, non-traditional students contributed to poor essay grades, a lack of persistence, and low test scores, resulting in increased drop-out rates. A college writing center in a large city in the Northeastern United States developed an innovative, asynchronous tutorial to improve students' writing skills. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of non-traditional students at a four-year college regarding an on-demand asynchronous writing tutorial offered by the college writing center. The technology acceptance model was used to frame the study because it has …

Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness And Executive Leaders, Karen Renee Solomon Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. nonprofit organizations provide important services to society as an integral sector within the community. This necessitates organizational effectiveness. The problem explored in this research concerned how nonprofit executive leaders defined organizational effectiveness and perceived their role in creating and sustaining it within their organization. There was limited scholarly literature regarding a common understanding of how executive leaders defined organizational effectiveness within a nonprofit, and how they perceived their role in creating and maintaining it. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how nonprofit organization executive leaders defined organizational effectiveness and perceived their role in creating and …

From Age Estimation To Age-Invariant Face Recognition: Generalized Age Feature Extraction Using Order-Enhanced Contrastive Learning, Haoyi Wang, Victor Sanchez, Chang Tsun Li, Nathan Clarke

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Generalized age feature extraction is crucial for age-related facial analysis tasks, such as age estimation and age-invariant face recognition (AIFR). Despite the recent successes of models in homogeneous-dataset experiments, their performance drops significantly in cross-dataset evaluations. Most of these models fail to extract generalized age features as they only attempt to map extracted features with training age labels directly without explicitly modeling the natural ordinal progression of aging. In this paper, we propose Order-Enhanced Contrastive Learning (OrdCon), a novel contrastive learning framework designed explicitly for ordinal attributes like age. Specifically, to extract generalized features, OrdCon aligns the direction vector of …