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Understanding The Perspectives Of African American Women Towards Initiating A Fitness Program, Clarissa Sheneka Davis Best

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women residing in rural communities have seen substantial increases in preventable diseases resulting from obesity. The research problem addressed in this study surrounded the perspectives that African American women have towards initiating a fitness program. The purpose of this study was to explore those perspectives utilizing a sample population of African American women living in Salisbury, North Carolina. This study embraced the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) created by Prachaseree et al., (2021) and the Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1991) as the conceptual frameworks. Three research questions guiding this study were: What specific barriers do African American …

Miller Plastic Products Inc V. Nlrb

2025 Decisions

Agency

June 23 Elections, Census & Redistricting Update,, Jeffrey M. Wice

Elections, Census & Redistricting Updates

No abstract provided.

Lucrecia Taylor V. Commissioner Social Security

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Next-Generation Biomaterials For Load-Bearing Tissue Interfaces: Sensor-Integrated Scaffolds And Mechanoadaptive Constructs For Skeletal Regeneration, Rahul Kumar, Kyle Sporn, Pranay Prabhakar, Phani Paladugu, Akshay Khanna, Alex Ngo, Chirag Gowda, Ethan Waisberg, Ram Jagadeesan, Nasif Zaman, Alireza Tavakkoli

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Advancements in load-bearing tissue repair increasingly demand biomaterials that not only support structural integrity but also interact dynamically with the physiological environment. This review examines the latest progress in smart biomaterials designed for skeletal reconstruction, with emphasis on mechanoresponsive scaffolds, bioactive composites, and integrated microsensors for real-time monitoring. We explore material formulations that enhance osseointegration, resist micromotion-induced loosening, and modulate inflammatory responses at the bone-implant interface. Additionally, we assess novel fabrication methods-such as additive manufacturing and gradient-based material deposition-for tailoring stiffness, porosity, and degradation profiles to match host biomechanics. Special attention is given to sensor-augmented platforms capable of detecting mechanical …

Algorithms Of Eversion: Contemporary States And Digital Sovereigns, James Libengood

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), and digitization have pushed digital sovereignty to the top of the governance agenda in the 21st century. This notion is expanded upon in this work through seven chapters encompassing theoretical underpinnings, methodological frameworks, and real-world case studies. It shows how multinational corporations dominate digital coloniality, and how the merge of physical and digital reality or eversion poses challenges. The study compares contrasting governance approaches, such as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), geared to ethical AI and data protection, versus BRICS nations’ stance on data localization …

The Only Constant Is Change: The Role Of Genetic Diversification In Cancer And Beyond, Malgorzata Tyczynska Weh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Genetic diversification, the process by which genetic variation arises in a population, is fundamental to evolution by natural selection. Mutation, a central diversification process, fuels adaptation across species, including in cancer. Yet most new mutations are neutral or deleterious on cell fitness, raising the question of how mutation-driven adaptation persists. To explore this paradox, I developed a spatial agent-based model (ABM) in which population fitness emerges from individual cells acquiring mutations at varied rates and with diverse fitness effects. I evaluated model behavior across adaptive states, mutation rates, and distributions of fitness effects. The results show that high mutation rates …

Benchmarking Model Predictive Control And Reinforcement Learning-Based Control For Legged Robot Locomotion In Mujoco Simulation, Shivayogi Akki, Tan Chen

Michigan Tech Publications

Model Predictive Control (MPC) and Reinforcement Learning (RL) are two prominent strategies for controlling legged robots. RL learns control policies through system interaction, adapting to various scenarios, whereas MPC relies on a predefined mathematical model to solve optimization problems in real-time. Despite their widespread use, there is a lack of direct comparative analysis under standardized conditions. This work addresses this gap by benchmarking MPC and RL controllers on a Unitree Go1 quadruped robot within the MuJoCo simulation environment, focusing on a standardized task, straight walking at a constant velocity. Performance is evaluated based on disturbance rejection, energy efficiency, and terrain …

Quality Improvement Project Enhance Self-Efficacy And Knowledge In Pediatric Emergency Care For Nurses In An Adult Acute Care Facility, Tiffany Daniel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project addresses the significant gap in emergency nursing preparedness for managing pediatric emergencies in adult-focused emergency departments. A quasi-experimental pre/ post intervention design was used to implement a pediatric-specific training intervention consisting of didactic education and simulation-based learning. A total of 87 night shift ED nurses participated. Knowledge and self-efficacy were measured using pre- and post-intervention surveys and assessments. The training equipped nurses with critical skills to manage pediatric emergencies more confidently and competently, addressing both clinical and emotional barriers. Knowledge scores significantly improved, t = -20.45, p < 0.001, with post-test means rising from 5.56 (SD = 1.58) to 9.03 (SD = 0.32). Post-intervention self-efficacy scores also increased significantly, t(86) = -21.57, p < .001, indicating greater confidence in pediatric emergency care. These findings validate the effectiveness of structured pediatric emergency training in enhancing nurse competency and self-efficacy. Lewin's change theory and Newman’s systems model guided this quality improvement project. The results support the continuation of the program in population-specific education and simulation as part of annual competency development. This project demonstrated that targeted pediatric training improves nurse preparedness and has the potential to enhance patient outcomes in a setting traditionally focused on adult care.

Quality Improvement Project Supporting Novice Nurse Faculty Through Mentorship, Lorna Deardeuff

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Current literature suggests that a lack of support to assist novice faculty in their socialization to academia can lead to increased attrition among faculty members. However, novice nursing faculty, when transitioning from the role of clinical expert, require much support to successfully meet the demands of preparing nursing students. This quality improvement project aimed to develop and implement a structured novice nurse faculty mentorship program, with the use of a mentorship toolkit, to improve job satisfaction levels and the intent of the novice faculty members to remain in their current positions. This quasi-experimental project utilized a pre-and-post intervention survey designed …

Contaminant Removal Of Printed 7xxx Aluminum Using The Additive Friction Stir Deposition Process, Jacob Jason Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

The development of contaminant-free additive friction stir deposition (AFSD) using 7xxx series aluminum alloys represents a significant advancement in solid-state additive manufacturing. The removal of graphite and other contaminants allows AFSD to more effectively move forward into the production space. This work demonstrates how contaminant-free depositions were made more feasible. This was accomplished via novel tool designs. These novel designs reduced process forces sufficiently that 7xxx aluminum alloys were able to be printed on commercial and research AFSD machines. Internal features such as draft angles and diffusers/chamfers help to significantly reduce actuator forces. This work also demonstrates how external tool …

The First Australian Co-Invasion Of Euwallacea Fornicatus, Fusarium Sp. [Af18] And Graphium Euwallaceae, Melinda Moir, Monica Kehoe, Dominie Wright, Stefania Bertazzoni, Peter Scott, Cuiping Wang, Elsie Kinnaird, Brenda A. Coutts

Biosecurity Research Articles

As international trade and travel increase around the world, invasive species detections and incursions are increasing in frequency. Here we document the first detection and incursion within Australia by the Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB), Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff, 1868) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), an ambrosia beetle, and two of the associated fungal species; Fusarium sp. [AF18], and Graphium euwallaceae. All three exotic species were detected in a confined region within Perth, Western Australia, and represent a co-invasion. This multispecies incursion into one of the world’s most remote cities highlights the rapid increase in biological invasions globally and the pressures that urban, agricultural, …

Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy And Perinatal Outcomes: Two Prospective Cohort Studies Of Nulliparous Women In India And Tanzania, Andrea B. Pembe, Pratibha Dwarkanath, Amani Kikula, John Michael Raj, Nandita Perumal Phd, Heavenlight A. Paulo, Rajalakshmi M, Christopher P. Duggan, Honorati M. Masanja, Nandini Chopra, Mary M. Sando, Tinku Thomas, Cara A. Yelverton, Alfa Muhihi, Anura V. Kurpad, Wafaie E. Fawzi, Blair J. Wylie, Christopher R. Sudfeld

Faculty Publications

Introduction Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have been linked with increased risk for maternal and offspring complications in high-income settings. However, in resource-limited settings, studies with robust measurement of HDP, including severity and timing, and perinatal outcomes are limited.

Methods We analysed data from two prospective cohorts of nulliparous women in India (n=10 570 pregnancies) and Tanzania (n=10 299 pregnancies) who were enrolled in calcium supplementation trials and had blood pressure and proteinuria assessments throughout pregnancy and at the time of labour and delivery. Generalised estimating equations were used to assess the relationship between HDP severity categories (gestational hypertension, preeclampsia …

Wind Tunnel Experiment On Wind-In Duced Vibration Performance Of Arch-Shaped Inclined Steel Bridge Tower In Construction Free-Standing State Using Ae Roelastic Model, Xu Peijun, Deng Fei Yun, Chen Shixuan, Zhang Jiren

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

This paper presented a wind tunnel experimental study on the wind-induced response characteristics of a rectangular-sectioned arch-shaped inclined steel bridge tower during the construction free-standing stage.A 1:50 scaled aeroelastic model was employed to conduct experiments at different wind yaw angles β (0°‒180°).The experimental results indicate:① under the uniform flow field,the tower in its free-standing state does not experience galloping when the bridge ’s wind speed reaches 60 m/s;② under the uniform flow field,the tower exhibits bending vortex-induced vibrations (VIVs ) along the bridge direction or transverse to the bridge direction.However,the amplitudes of the tower top displacements associated with these VIVs …

Coupling Microstructure And Stress Evolution Of Steam Oxidised Ebcs, Daniel Scotson, Ahmet Hilmi Paksoy, Esma Yilmaz, Ping Xiao

Thermal and Environmental Barrier Coatings VII

Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Iterative Design For Enhancing Synchrony In Full-Body Interactive Experiences For Children On The Autism Spectrum, Sena Beste Ercan, Olga Galí Pérez, Belén González Mateo, Óscar Delgado Rueda, Andreu Castaño, Gray Atherton, Liam Cross, Narcís Parés

School of Psychology

Interpersonal Synchrony (IPS), the temporal coordination of actions between individuals, plays a crucial role in fostering social interactions, emotion regulation, and communication. While previous research has explored IPS in dyadic settings, little is known about how it can be supported in multi-user full-body interactive environments, especially for neurodivergent populations. This study presents an iterative design investigation of DragonIce, a full-body interactive experience aimed at promoting IPS among children on the Autism Spectrum (AS). Building on findings from a prior study involving 12 male students with autism, we implemented and tested two targeted interaction design modifications: (1) enhanced visual feedback and …

Low Surface Brightness Features Of Edge-On Galaxies In Deep Sky Surveys, Kyle R. Adams

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we present a comprehensive visual analysis of low surface brightness (LSB) structures in edge-on galaxies using two statistically complete samples: 838 galaxies from the SDSS Stripe 82 region (ES82) and 5,745 galaxies from the Edge-on Galaxies in SDSS (EGIS) catalog, both containing galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts out to 𝑧 ∼ 0.2. Using deep imaging data from the SDSS, SDSS Stripe 82, DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys, and the HSC-SSP, we construct RGB and coadded images for comparison and to improve feature detection. Average limiting photometric depth for each survey in the 𝑟 band for the surveys analyzed in …

Week Of June 23, 2025, Student Life

College, School and Department Newsletters, Magazines, and Journals

Your summer hub for events, resources and updates.

Association Of Medicaid Expansion With Colon Cancer Care: Treatment Patterns And Survival In Non-Metastatic Cases From State Registry-Claims Data, Kirsten Y. Eom, Weichuan Dong, Richard S. Hoehn, Jeffrey M. Albert, Uriel Kim, Gregory Cooper, Johnie Rose, Siran M. Koroukian

Faculty Scholarship

Purpose: Despite growing research on Medicaid expansion’s impact on cancer outcomes, there remains a critical need for a more nuanced understanding of how expansion affects cancer care and survival. This study assesses whether Medicaid expansion was associated with improved receipt of standard treatment, timely treatment initiation, and overall survival among colon cancer patients, while examining the specific factors influencing these outcomes. Methods: Using Ohio’s state cancer registry linked with Medicaid records, we analyzed 688 Medicaid-enrolled patients with non-metastatic colon cancer diagnosed between May 2011 and December 2017. We employed multivariable Poisson and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses to evaluate the …

Enhancing Learning Through Role-Play In A Low-Fidelity Disaster Simulation, Susan S. Braithwaite, Susan J. Barcinas, Colleen A. Hayes

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

ABSTRACT

Background: This report shares a best practice approach to low-fidelity simulation as a pedagogical method in disaster triage training for undergraduate nursing students.

Methods: This study utilized multi-year quantitative data such as student age, gender, GPA, prior simulation experience, and self-reported confidence in the START Triage application. It also utilized a secondary qualitative analysis of the debriefing process.

Results: Students who participated in a simulation event playing the role of a disaster victim scored significantly higher on subsequent performance as TRIAGE practitioners than students without roleplay experience. Perhaps even more compelling, these learning outcomes were demonstrated 18 months after …

Respite Care Services And The Experiences Of Unpaid Adult Child Alzheimer’S Caregivers, Juanita Serena Elliott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Primary unpaid family caregivers of Alzheimer’s care recipients endure physical fatigue, emotional stress, psychological pressures, and health issues that could hinder their capacity to deliver consistent care. Respite care services can help reduce caregiver burden and enhance health outcomes; therefore, examining and evaluating their effectiveness is beneficial in meeting the needs of primary unpaid family caregivers. This study was conducted to address a lack of information in the literature and to evaluate the efficacy of respite care services for primary unpaid family caregivers of Alzheimer’s care recipients in Alaska and their caregivers’ awareness of and motivation to utilize these services …

Social Determinants, Covid-19, And Geographic Disparities In African American Mental Health Access, Jennifer Marie Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disparities in service use of mental health care persist in the United States, and African Americans have been disproportionately affected. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened these disparities, increasing barriers such as stigma, lack of culturally appropriate care, distance, and affordability. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental, and correlational study was to examine the relationships between sociodemographic factors and the use of mental health counseling or therapy services. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory was applied to examine how the systemic factors in the mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem work together to influence care availability. Specifically, the study examined the relationship between race, income, education, …

Disability And Leadership: Barriers And Business Culture Perspectives, Ernest Edward Garrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Persistent disparities in employment rates between people with disabilities (PWDs) and people without disabilities (PWODs) indicate that PWDs continue to face barriers and challenges to employment opportunities. The research problem is the underrepresentation of PWDs in leadership positions within business cultures and persistent barriers and challenges faced by human resource managers (HRMs) and leaders concerning their hiring and retention. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the varying perspectives of business leaders with disabilities (LWDs) and HRMs concerning the barriers and challenges associated with hiring and retaining PWDs for leadership roles. Critical realism, universal design, and human …

Effective Employee Retention Strategies Used By U.S. Hotel Organizations, Marian Yvette Woods

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover rates continue to represent a significant challenge for U.S. hotel organizations, impacting operational efficiency. Hotel leaders are concerned that turnover negatively affects profitability and organizational viability, making retention strategies critical for competitiveness. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to identify and explore effective strategies that some business leaders in U.S. hotel organizations use to enhance employee retention. The participants were eight leaders who have implemented effective employee retention strategies in U.S. hotel organizations in Georgia. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, company website information, and publicly available documents. …

Assessing The Impact Of Home Environmental Exposures On Allergic Rhinitis Using Real-Time Air Quality Monitoring And Symptom Assessment: Observational Feasibility Study., Aero Cavalier, Anthony I. Dick, Vickie Johnson Ii, Emily Cramer, Kamal Eldeirawi, Jayant Pinto, Sharmilee M. Nyenhuis, Victoria S. Lee

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Rhinitis is the most common sinonasal condition and poses a significant cost burden. Rhinitis symptom control is associated with exposure to environmental triggers (eg, aeroallergens, pollutants, and irritants). While people spend much of their time at home, studies examining the association of rhinitis symptoms with home environmental exposures, especially in low-income, urban, and racial or ethnic minorities, are limited. Frequently, 3 types of surveys are used in ecological momentary assessment (EMA): a survey conducted at a predetermined rate, an event-triggered survey, and a follow-up survey to gauge behavioral changes in response to the event.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to …

Endings Of Half-Lines In The Middle English Alliterative Joseph Of Arimathea, Ian Cornelius

English: Faculty Publications and Other Works

The Middle English alliterative poem Joseph of Arimathea survives in a single copy, lacking verse lineation and the regular alliteration expected of this form. Several explanations have been advanced, but the poem has been treated with reserve: scholars and critics have been reluctant, perhaps, to attend closely to a text that has seemed unfinished, careless, or corrupt. The present study counters these impressions with a narrow metrical test. Joseph agrees very well with one of the ‘finer rules’ described in recent scholarship on alliterative metrics, namely the requirement that lines end with a trochaic constituent. Regular line endings support the …

Enhancing Software Effort Estimation: A Comparative Analysis Of Machine Learning Models With Correlation-Based Feature Selection, Muhammad Abid, Momina Liaqat Ali

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

Software effort estimation is a critical process in the management of software projects, essential for predicting the resources and time required for application development. Accurate estimation is paramount for delivering projects on time and computational resources. This paper investigates techniques that utilize machine learning models to ameliorate software effort estimation. We employ four popular machine learning models including the Linear Regression, Gradient Boosting, Random Forest, and Decision Tree and evaluate their performance across five diverse climate-related datasets: Antarctica Hotpoints/Climate Change NASA, Crop Production and Climate Change, Global Warming on Earth (Global Temp), Climate Change, and Climate Treasure (Marine). A key …

Decision Intelligence In The Age Of Industrial Transformation: A Survey From Industry 4.0 To Industry 7.0, Eman Sayed

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

Industrial revolutions have continually redefined how production systems sense, decide, and act. However, much of the literature remains concentrated on Industry 4.0, offering limited insight into the Decision Support Systems required for the emerging paradigms of Industries 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0. This survey traces the progressive evolution of decision intelligence across these stages, examining both computational foundations and socio-ethical dimensions. In Industry 4.0, decision-making is guided by rule-based automation and data-driven analytics. Industry 5.0 introduces human-centric frameworks that emphasize explainability, fairness, and collaborative intelligence. Industry 6.0 integrates biological, cognitive, and computational feedback, demanding systems that adapt to neural and physiological …

Exploring Predictors Of Treatment Response To Glp-1 Receptor Agonists For Smoking Cessation, Luba Yammine, Constanza De Dios, Robert Suchting, Charles E Green, David A Nielsen, Consuelo Walss-Bass, Joy M Schmitz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Understanding predictors of smoking cessation medication efficacy facilitates the ability to enhance treatment effectiveness. In our pilot trial, exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, adjunct to nicotine patch improved smoking abstinence compared to nicotine patch alone. This secondary analysis explores potential baseline characteristics associated with differential treatment response to exenatide.

Aims and methods: The parent trial randomized (1:1) 84 smokers with prediabetes and/or overweight to once-weekly placebo or exenatide, 2 mg, subcutaneously. All participants received nicotine patch (21 mg) and brief smoking cessation counseling, with biologically confirmed 7-day point prevalence abstinence at week 6 (end-of-treatment) deemed the primary outcome. …

Harnessing Generative Ai And Large Language Models For Revolutionizing Cybersecurity In The Internet Of Things: Ethical And Privacy Implications, Harsha Sammangi, Aditya Jagatha, Jun Liu

Research & Publications

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) have in- troduced transformative capabilities in cybersecurity, particularly in securing Internet of Things (IoT) environments. These technologies can synthesize vast datasets, support real-time anomaly detection, and generate predictive insights through simple prompts. However, their deployment also presents ethical and privacy-related concerns, including algorithmic bias, data leakage, and misuse for malicious content creation. This paper conducts a systematic literature review to evaluate how LLMs and generative AI contribute to IoT cybersecurity. We propose an ethical AI-IoT security framework, examine key challenges, and offer recommendations for integrating responsible AI governance. We aim to …