Digital Commons Network^™

Navigating The Cocoon: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Mothers’ Experiences Of Seeking Diagnosis And Services For Children With Disabilities In Insular Rural American Samoa, Elizabeth Cutrer, Ocean K. Akau, Lorena Seu, Isabel Medina Hull, G. E. Kawika Allen, Ofa H. Kanuch, Cameron W. H. Hee, Melia Fonoimoana Garrett

Faculty Publications

This study examines how mothers raising children with disabilities in American Samoa experience the processes of seeking diagnosis, navigating special education, and advocating for services within an insular rural context. American Samoa, an unincorporated U.S. territory located 2600 miles from Hawaiʻi with a population under 50,000, represents a case of what we term insular rurality—a condition in which the structural disadvantages of rurality are intensified by oceanic isolation, territorial governance, and colonial history. Data were collected through three focus groups with fifteen mothers whose children hold a range of disability diagnoses, with a card sort activity at the outset of …

Technology Implementation Strategies In Employees’ Work Processes To Increase Employee Engagement, Canaan Perry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Effective Engagement Strategies For A Multigenerational Workforce, Jonathan Gregory Phillips

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of Adjunct Clinical Faculty Mentorship On Self-Confidence: A Quality Improvement Project, Fairah Solomon

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Novice adjunct clinical faculty transitioning from expert clinicians to nurse educators face many challenges, particularly in understanding their roles, responsibilities, and educational frameworks. Despite an established orientation at the project site, a structured mentorship program to support the role transition is lacking. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to improve novice adjunct clinical faculty’s self-confidence through the implementation of a structured mentorship intervention. Guided by Lewin's Change Theory and Constructivist Learning Theory, the project utilized a quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design. Implementation was guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework. A purposive sample of seven novice adjunct clinical faculty with less than …

Measurement Invariance: A Tool To Weird-Icize Global Knowledge Production?, Klaus Boehnke

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

The article examines measurement invariance in quantitative cross-cultural research. Instruments are typically translated, data are collected for the different language versions, and psychometric invariance is assessed. Items deemed equivalent are preserved, while the remaining items are traditionally eliminated. Culturally inclusive methodologies independently develop items across various cultures, translate them into a lingua franca, preserve translatable items, collect data, and corroborate invariance. Non-equivalent items are usually eliminated. A more radical strategy for preserving local (emic) elements is suggested here. Instrument developers across cultures concur on the measurability of a specific construct for which they independently create items, collect data without translation, …

Adaptation Of Moral Integrity Scale To Kazakh Language: A Psychometric Investigation, Madina Ishkibayeva, Nesrullah Okan, Zhazira Abdykhalykova, Nursulu Makhambetova

Higher Learning Research Communications

The present study has been designed to adapt the Moral Integrity Scale (MIS), originally developed by Schlenker (2008), into Kazakh and to examine its psychometric properties among undergraduate students. Moral integrity, a critical component of ethical behavior, is essential in tertiary education, yet few culturally validated tools exist in the Kazakh context. Following a rigorous scale adaptation process (including translation, back-translation, expert review, and pilot testing), the scale was administered to three independent student samples. The results of the exploratory factor analysis (n = 470) revealed a single-factor structure explaining 52.13% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis ( …

Usa V. David Darby

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Effective Strategies That Small Business Leaders Use To Adapt To Changing Market Trends To Increase Profitability, Teslim Dawodu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Synthesis, Characterization, Molecular Docking And Evaluation Of Fluoroquinolone Derivatives As Dual-Targeting Agents, Murtadha F. Abdullah, Raheem J Mohaisen

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: The rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance and persistence of urease-associated bacterial infections underscores the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Urease is a key virulence factor that plays a critical role in pathogenesis of several pathogenic bacteria by promoting colonization and survival in acidic environment. Objective: In this context, this study aimed to develop some fluoroquinolone derivatives hybridized with urease targeting small molecule and evaluating their potential as dual urease inhibiting antibacterial agents. We hypothesized that hybridization of fluoroquinolone core with urease targeting small molecule using a cleavable linker could potentially disarm the microbe's key virulence factor …

Effectiveness Of Simulations In Workplace Training: A Systematic Analysis, Brittney Gaban

Honors Theses

Beyond the classroom, training simulations can be used in the workplace and have been used in a variety of industries, but most focus on the acceptance and perceived results rather than realworld transferability. To determine the state of simulations in workplace training, five articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed by participants, industry, results, perceived effectiveness and transferability of skills, data type collected, and participant feedback. The included studies demonstrated the variety of ways simulations have been integrated into training, primarily through hospital and emergency response teams, clinics, and transportation settings. Virtual reality was the most frequently used out …

An Analysis Of Heat Spread Through Smoldering Pine Needles, Timothy Keith

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this thesis is to calculate the average speed of flame spread through smoldering pine needles. We present two different models for doing this: the first is a very large system of ODEs meant to represent the spread of flame through individual needles, the second is a macroscopic model based on the porous medium PDE. Simulations are run for each of these models and compared to each other as well as to existing models and experimental results.

New Measurements Of Distances To Galaxies In The Ngc 1052 Field With The Hubble And James Webb Space Telescopes: Testing The Bullet-Dwarf Origin Of The Trail, Yimeng Tang, Gagandeep S. Anand, Aaron J. Romanowsky, Pieter G. Van Dokkum, Kevin A. Bundy

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

NGC 1052-DF2 and DF4 are two ultradiffuse galaxies deficient in dark matter (DM) and reported as part of a remarkable linear trail of dwarf galaxies in the NGC 1052 field. Recently, NGC 1052-DF9 has been identified as the third galaxy missing DM along the trail. This structure may have been formed in a high-velocity head-on collision between two gas-rich dwarfs, known as the “bullet-dwarf” scenario. However, the trail overlaps in projection with a foreground system, the NGC 1035 group at ∼13 Mpc, raising suspicions that the trail is an artifact of this superposition. DF2 and DF4 have been found to …

Qualitative Analysis Of Solutions To A General Class Of Nonlinear Difference Equations With Applications, Osama Moaaz, Mohamed F. Abouelenein, Mona Anis

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

This work examines the qualitative behavior of a general class of difference equations. We establish criteria guaranteeing the stability, periodicity, and boundedness of the solutions of the equation under consideration. In addition, we identify its invariant intervals. The theoretical results are subsequently applied to various special cases, among them the May--Host model. Numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the dynamics of the solutions and to validate the theoretical analysis.

Using Contingency Mapping To Decrease Disruptive Behavior And Increase On-Task Behavior For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Carelis Y. Pabey Pagan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Visual aids have been widely used in educational and therapeutic settings to support individuals with developmental disabilities, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Among these, contingency maps, a graphic tool that visually represents the outcomes of alternative behaviors and problem behavior, have shown promise in reducing problem behavior, increasing communication, and promoting independence. However, existing research on contingency mapping is limited. The proposed study extended this literature by evaluating the effects of contingency maps on academic engagement and disruptive behavior for children with ASD in a school setting during natural classroom activities. A multiple baseline design across participants was used to …

Philanthropic Grantmakers’ Roles In Transforming Higher Education: A Narrative Inquiry, Elizabeth Jean Larkin Davis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Philanthropic foundations have become influential actors in higher education reform, often supporting initiatives to improve student success, advance equity, and promote systemic change. Yet limited research has examined how philanthropic grantmakers understand and navigate their roles in shaping long-term change across the higher education field. This narrative inquiry explored the personal and professional experiences of eight philanthropic grantmakers working across different foundations, roles, and organizational contexts in the United States. Guided by organizational change theory, Strategic Action Fields theory, and sustainability planning in dynamic systems, the study examined how grantmakers made sense of their responsibilities, influence, and contributions to systemic …

Man Down: Exploring Identity, Uncertainty And Resilience In An Autoethnographic Performance Of Prostate Cancer As Applied Health Communication, Kevin Hawley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation study was to explore how an autoethnographic performance of my experience of prostate cancer could serve as a method of applied health communication, designed to encourage men to be screened for prostate cancer. One in eight men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. However, while the incidence rate of prostate cancer is increasing—particularly of advanced-stage disease—the number of men choosing to be screened is declining (American Cancer Society, 2025).This study explores the barriers to men being screened, both in the literature and in my personal experience. Among those …

Exploring Ninth–12th Grade Teachers’ Experiences And Supports Needed When Using Trauma-Informed Practices, Kimberly C. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Strategies Health Care Leaders Use To Align Financial Sustainability With Quality Patient Care, Emmanuel Nyamboga Maseno

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Assessing Renal Dysfunction Incidence Related To Intravenous Acyclovir Usage, Marwa Said Aljahwari, Mohammad Abobakr Alghazali, Aya Said Alsaidi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the incidence and contributing factors of renal dysfunction among patients receiving intravenous (IV) acyclovir at Khoula Hospital, Muscat, Oman. Specifically, this study aimed to evaluate the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) following IV acyclovir administration, associated risk factors and potential preventive strategies to reduce nephrotoxicity. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Khoula Hospital and included patients aged 12–80 years who received IV acyclovir between January 2019 and December 2023. Patients with pre-existing renal disease or increased baseline serum creatinine were excluded. The sample size was computed using Daniel's formula, resulting …

Automated Greenhouse Climate Control System For Monitoring Agricultural Productivity Using Iot-Based Technologies, Mohamed Ismail Lafta, Ahmed Yaseen Mohammed, Omar Mohammed Dhayef, Shihab A. Shawkat, Khalid Saeed Lateef Al-Badri, Wael Mohammed Mahdi

Mesopotamian Journal of Computer Science

Limited natural resources, particularly water, combined with climate change and rapid population growth, have created a need for modern agriculture. By 2050, the population is expected to reach 9.6 billion, placing a heavy burden on food production systems. Traditional farming methods are no longer able to meet demand in light of environmental constraints and dwindling resources. To address this problem, smart technologies have been adopted to improve agricultural efficiency, reduce resource waste, and enhance crop quality. The Internet of Things (IoT) stands out among these technologies for its ability to automate agricultural activities, allow for continuous and accurate monitoring, and …

Diabetes And Insulin Resistance, Causes And Treatment- A Review, Aoss Moez Abed–Alhussian Alyassery, Anas Al-Yasiry, Zainab Mahmood Al-Jammali

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Insulin resistance, is a hormone that is produced in the beta cells of the pancreas and works to manage the sugar balance in the body, it usually occurs when the cells in the muscles, fat and liver do not respond properly to insulin and thus cannot absorb glucose from the blood, which leads to increased work of the pancreas to increase glucose.

HOMA-IR is probable a person may be infected 10 or 15 years ago from beginning the type 2 diabetes. When it derives addressing insulin resistance, life style changes should be the importance.

Objective: to review the causes …

Knowledge And Practices Of Iraqi Pediatricians Regarding Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea, Nabeeha Najatee Akram, Shaymaa Khalid Abdulqader, Maha Majeed Hameed

Muthanna Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aims to assess the knowledge of pediatricians regarding antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and explore their practices with prevention and treatment of AAD.

Patients and method: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study enrolled Iraqi pediatricians. A structured self-administered questionnaire was constructed based on a comprehensive review of current literature and ESPIGAN guidelines relevant to AAD. The questionnaire consists of three parts: the first part consists of six questions about the clinical and demographical characteristics of pediatricians, including age, sex, title (Qualification), years of experience in pediatrics, affiliation, and province of work. The second part consists of 12 closed-ended questions with each …

China Maritime Report #55: Loading The Well Deck: The Pla Navy's Maturing Role In Projecting Joint Ground Forces, Joshua Arostegui

CMSI China Maritime Reports

Main Findings

• Since 2023, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has established an annualized rhythm of loading PLA Army (PLAA) combat, engineering, and support units onto PLA Navy (PLAN) amphibious ships for international exercises. This integration signals a maturation in Chinese expeditionary logistics, providing Beijing with the proven framework to project sustained, multi-domain combat mass well beyond its regional periphery.
• Overseas military exercises in locations like Cambodia, Malaysia, and Tanzania serve as vital proving grounds for the PLA to stress-test complex port embarkation, loading, and well-deck management. The successful deployment of PLAA ground forces via PLAN lift proves that the multi-branch …

Note From The Editor, Mason Kokovay

The Agora

A note from the Editor-in-Chief, welcoming you to the fourth issue of The Agora.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome Emerging From Syringomyelia Management: A Case Report, Abbigail Niewchas, Brandon Bacari, Christopher Stewart, Suporn Sukpraprut-Braaten, Donald G. Smith

Student Publications

The coexistence of Guillain-Barré syndrome with a spinal cord syrinx is extremely rare. This report presents the emergency admission of a 57-year-old female presenting with an abrupt and progressive loss of motor function and abnormal sensation in her lower extremities. MRI of the cervical spine revealed a syrinx extending from C2 to C7. Neurology referred the case to neurosurgery, who assessed the patient and recommended nonoperative and supportive treatment given the size of the syrinx and the patient's status as a poor surgical candidate. She was subsequently discharged to a local extended care facility (ECF) with a diagnosis of syringomyelia. …

Predicting Urban Heat‐Related Illness Across U.S. Climate Regions And Demographics, S. E. Brown, Vivek Shandas

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

We still know relatively little about how climate, demographics, built environment, and behaviors interact to drive hospitalizations during extreme heat events (EHEs). To address this paucity in understanding, we draw on extant literature to develop a transdisciplinary discrete event system dynamics (SD) modeling approach to address two research questions about the relationship between EHEs and heat‐related illnesses (HRIs): (a) How will changes in EHE frequencies, intensities, and durations in major Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) across the contiguous United States (CONUS) Climate Regions drive HRI morbidity across demographic, health‐status, and household groups over the coming decades? and (b) What are the …

Examining The Role Of Physical Illustrations Within The Home To Represent Our Connections With The Climate Emergency And Its Potential For Climate Action, Devon Tipping

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

In a time of upheaval and rapid change individuals and society arechallenged emotionally, often expressed as anxiety and a sense of powerlessness.This is particularly relevant in terms of environmental issues and in the context ofthe climate emergency which has contributed to a rise in eco-anxiety. Within thiscontext, illustration can offer valuable tools to inspire climate action. Artwork, acommon feature in most homes, is often viewed daily, yet can it serve a purposebeyond decoration?The project, Floriography, explored how images within domestic spaces can fosterclimate awareness. The focus was to engage people who may find climateconversations overwhelming, using illustration to introduce these …

Box-Behnken Design-Based Response Surface Modelling For The Optimized Greener Spectrophotometric Methodology To Determine Betahistine In Pharmaceutical Formulations, Shaikh Manirul Haque

Yanbu Journal of Engineering and Science

Betahistine is a novel drug used to treat vertigo. The research focuses on developing and optimizing a simple, environmentally sustainable spectrophotometric approach for the analysis of BH in tablet formulations. The present investigation is based on the reaction between BH and potassium iodide and potassium iodate, monitored by Ultraviolet-Visible spectrophotometry at 352 nm. The most influential variables were optimized using response surface methodology via Box–Behnken design, resulting in reduced chemical, energy, and analysis time, and ultimately the analysis cost. Environmental sustainability was assessed using Analytical Eco-Scale (92), Analytical Greenness (0.72), Blue Applicability Grade Index (72.5) and Environmental and Practical Performance …

Strengthening The Properties Of Clay Soil With Crushed Oysters, Hadeel Ammar Mohammed, Najwa Wasif Jassim, Hanan Adnan Hassan Afaj, Mohammed Yousif Fattah, Noor S. Al-Hassnawi

HBRC Journal

When problematic clayey soils are used for engineering purposes without treatment, they can lead to structural cracks in roads, buildings, and underground infrastructure. The use of oyster shell powder in geotechnical applications has been the subject of little research, which is why this study looked into it. Examining the stabilization of different percentages (6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 percent) of oyster shell (OS) treatment of clayey soil is the aim of this study. Compaction, strength, CBR, and Atterberg tests are among the experiments used in this study. The study's importance lies in turning oyster shell waste into a …

Numerical Evaluation Of Constitutive Soil Models For Cyclic Soil–Structure Interaction In Integral Abutment Bridges, Walaa Sayed Said, Sherif Adel Akl, Abdullah Galaa, Mohamed El-Khouly

HBRC Journal

The accurate representation of backfill soil behaviour is a critical step in Finite Element (FE) analysis of Integral Abutment Bridges (IABs) subjected to thermally induced cyclic loading. This paper focuses on the evaluation and selection of a constitutive model, out of those commonly available in geotechnical FE packages, suitable for this purpose. Hardin–Drnevich (HD), General Quadratic/Hyperbolic Shear (GQHS), Hardening Soil (HS) including its extension to consider the small-strain stiffness (HSS), and the University of British Columbia (UBC) sand model were first assessed through simulating drained cyclic simple shear element tests. The results indicated that the UBC model captured key aspects …