Digital Commons Network^™

Ethical Decision-Making And Modification Of Service Delivery: Social Workers In Connecticut During Covid, Marie Elana Hollingsworth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social work professionals often experience demanding and intense situations while facing organizational restructuring during crisis situations. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the viewpoints of frontline social workers regarding their ethical decision-making processes in response to the mandatory modifications of the service delivery protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enck’s biomedical and ethical decision-making framework grounded the study. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with 10 frontline social workers in Connecticut who had been employed with a social service agency for at least 3 years, but no more than ten. Findings from coding and thematic analysis yielded …

Staff Education For Assessment Of Suicidal-Ideation In Patients Admitted With Mental-Illness, Sukhwinder Kaur Sangha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement project was focused on enhancing quality of nursing assessments for suicide risk among adults with psychiatric illnesses at a behavioral healthcare hospital. Inconsistencies involving assessing risks for suicide in patients who were treated in the facility led to inadequate treatment plans and missed opportunities for timely intervention, as well as potential risks for self-harm. Factors that were identified as relating to the gap in practice included inadequate knowledge or understanding of use of evidence-based suicide assessment rating scales, insufficient time that is dedicated to conducting thorough assessments, lack of standardized protocols for reinforcement, and limited resources for …

Obesity And The Gut Microbiota In The Middle East: A Cross-Cultural Study Of Lebanese And Emirati Adults, M. Ali Ahmad, M. Abou-Samra, E. Blaak, M. Karavetian, C. Ayoub Moubareck, K. Venema

All Works

Obesity is a growing public health concern in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, yet limited research has explored how gut microbiota varies between Arab populations. This study compared the gut microbiota composition and diversity of Emirati and Lebanese adults with obesity and assessed the role of age and nationality in shaping microbial variation. A total of 43 Emirati and 30 Lebanese individuals with obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m2) were recruited. Participants provided anthropometric and biochemical data, dietary records, and stool samples for 16S rRNA sequencing. The analysis revealed significantly higher BMI, weight, and fat mass …

Symmetric Orthogonalization And Probabilistic Weights In Resource Quantification, Gökhan Torun

Turkish Journal of Physics

Transforming nonorthogonal bases into orthogonal ones often compromises essential properties or physical meaning in quantum systems. Here, we demonstrate that Löwdin symmetric orthogonalization (LSO) outperforms the widely used Gram–Schmidt orthogonalization (GSO) in characterizing and quantifying quantum resources, with particular emphasis on coherence and superposition. We employ LSO both to construct an orthogonal basis from a nonorthogonal one and to obtain a nonorthogonal basis from an orthogonal set, thereby mitigating ambiguity related to the basis choice in defining quantum coherence. Unlike GSO, which depends on the ordering of input states, LSO applies a symmetric transformation that treats all vectors equally and …

Optical Textures Of A Uniform Liquid Crystal Lattice: Monte Carlo Simulations With Newton Colors And Mueller Matrix Analysis, Yakup Emül

Turkish Journal of Physics

The optical textures of a uniform liquid crystal (LC) molecule lattice structure were explored through Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, combined with Mueller matrix (MM) formalism and Newton’s color theory. These simulations utilized a Lebwohl-Lasher (LL) type interacting LC lattice under periodic boundary conditions, generating ensemble-averaged configurations at two temperature regimes (kBT = 0.9 and 1.2), corresponding respectively to nematic and isotropic states. These configurations were then incorporated into the MM framework to evaluate the polarization states of transmitted light. To visually interpret the resulting interference phenomena, we propose a new visualization method based on a modern interpretation of Newton’s color …

Spartan Daily, February 18, 2026, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2026

Volume 166, Issue 12

Illinois State University Founding Celebration Old Main Bell Ringing And Awards Ceremony Program, February 19, 2026, Illinois State University

Founding Celebration Programs

Program for annual event celebrating the founding of Illinois State Normal University on February 18, 1857. This program was initially made available as a Foleon website. An Internet Archive capture of the site is available at https://web.archive.org/web/20261007170256/https://illinoisstateuniversity.foleon.com/founding-celebration/microsite-copy-1/. A PDF copy of the program's text and images is also available to download from this page.

Utah's Value-Added Food Processing Options, Karin E. Allen, Kynda R. Curtis, Makaylie Langford

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides an overview of the benefits of producing and marketing value-added foods and outlines key considerations for new ventures. It also details the two primary programs available to smaller-scale processing in Utah—the Cottage Food Program and the Homemade Food Act—assisting producers in evaluating their products, markets, and resources to choose the best path forward.

The Impact Of Face Masks On Social Perception Is Age-Dependent, Farid Pazhoohi, Maryam Rostami-Aghoui, Sepide Pazhouhi, Keina Aoki, Alan Kingstone

School of Psychology

Human faces are critical for social communication, enabling individuals to make rapid judgments about traits like trustworthiness and competence. Previous research suggests that face masks can enhance perceptions of trustworthiness and, to a lesser extent, competence, although findings on competence are more variable and context-dependent. Additionally, age-related facial cues influence social judgments, with older and younger faces being evaluated differently. This research examined the impact of face masks on perceptions of trustworthiness and competence across two age groups: young adults (Study 1) and old adults (Study 2). Study 1 revealed that face masks increased perceptions of trustworthiness and competence for …

Human Trafficking In Central Asia: A Product Of Its Environment, Matt V. Tenberg

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Human trafficking is a complex puzzle when considering all the effort it takes to traffick another person. Many often wonder how one gets trafficked, and what is the appropriate response to human trafficking? A couple of answers can be found when analyzing Central Asia’s ongoing crisis of human trafficking into its territory. Central Asian countries have historically been combating human trafficking after the fall of the Soviet Union. However, after analyzing the laws and methods in place, it is clear that the countries are not succeeding in eliminating this problem. The countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan are grounds for …

Food Councils And Federal Committees: Community Responses To Inaction On Food Insecurity By Government, Kevin O'Connell, Liam R. Rupprecht

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Food insecurity is a devastating force in the United States, as shown by its destructive impact on vulnerable groups like children, racial minorities, and those in poverty. Non-white urban communities of color especially have significantly higher rates of household food insecurity due to systemic racism in American food systems. Despite the prevalence of these factors, they are consistently overlooked by public and private forces. Federal efforts have failed to resolve the issue, leaving it to local “food council” organizations that attempt to help through advocacy and charity. These groups face a difficult task: how can they work to mitigate food …

Stuck Behind Bars: How Neglect Of The Mental Health Epidemic In U.S. Correctional Facilities Fuels Recidivism, Alayna Bhatti

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

The nation is failing to protect the rights of all citizens. Various studies and sources of academic research show that health services in U.S. prisons fall far below the standards for health services on the ‘outside world’. Legal scholar Joshua Price highlights how mentally ill inmates are victims of the U.S. criminal justice system. “A set of institutions disavowed responsibility, leading to conditions where their own demons got the better of them, with awful consequences. Did these institutions, or the people in them, love justice?” (Price, 501) How is justice really served when these inmates are destined to be trapped …

Teaching Undergraduate Human Rights Research Through The Arts, Humanities, And Social Sciences, Alexandra Moore

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

A note from guest editor, Alexandra Moore.

Watching The Watchers: Redefining Privacy And Human Rights In Correctional Surveillance, Ianna H. Choi

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Incarcerated individuals exist in a space where security and privacy constantly clash. This study examines how surveillance technologies—biometric monitoring, video surveillance, and electronic tracking—in correctional settings impact the privacy rights of those incarcerated. Through a review of peer-reviewed literature, and insights from informal conversations with incarcerated individuals at Broome County Jail, this research examines the ethical, legal, and social implications of surveillance in carceral facilities, focusing on how constant monitoring impacts privacy, relationships, and mental well-being. Expanding beyond jails, the study considers surveillance in state and federal prisons, evaluating its implications under the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and …

Incarcerated Youths In Canada And The United States: A Comparative Analysis, Grace A. Mastrangelo

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Are children, who commit adult crimes, deserving of adult punishments? According to the United Nations, not if it harms their well-being. Article 3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) adopted by the United Nations in November 1989, states that 1) the best interests of the child should be the primary consideration of all state actions involving children, 2) governments must allot children the protection and care necessary for their well-being, and 3) governmental institutions, services, and facilities that deal with children must uphold adequate standards for the safety, health, and supervision of children. The CRC is …

Advocating For The Workforce And Work Environment: Diversity In Meaningful Recognition, Alexis Elizabeth Hayes, Michelle Hehman, Carliss D. Ramos, Joanne Muyco

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background/Introduction: Meaningful recognition (MR) is a critical component of a Healthy Work Environment (HWE) which impacts nursing retention and work engagement ^1,4,5. In the United States, workers are four times more likely to perceive their work environment as inclusive if a valued amount of recognition is received^1,5. While there is an increased push for diversity in the healthcare workforce to mitigate disparities, attention may need to focus on diversity in MR^2,3. This could have the potential to lower burnout, maintain a diverse workforce and create a healthy yet inclusive work environment ^2. Furthermore, leaders need …

Attitude Of Health Professions Students Regarding Interprofessional Education In Pakistan: A Scoping Review, Sumaira Khowaja-Punjwani, Afifa Tabassum, Shams Nadeem Alam, Syeda Kauser Ali, Lubna Baig

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Introduction: The secret to success in a fast-paced hospital setting where patients confront complicated concerns is interprofessional collaboration. Interprofessional collaboration could be achieved through interprofessional education (IPE). The objective of this study is to ascertain the quantity, variety, and breadth of research papers on Pakistani health professions students' (HPS) attitudes toward interprofessional education (IPE).

Methods: A scoping review was conducted from March 2022 to August 2022. PICO framework was used for developing research question. Iterative process for literature search was done by development of search terms using Mesh terminologies, Boolean operators and keywords to capture the studies of interest from …

Staff Education Project Staff Education On Medication Adherence, Blessing Nwoke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication adherence is a critical component of effective psychiatric treatment, yet staff understanding and consistent reinforcement of adherence strategies are often limited in outpatient behavioral health settings. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project implemented a staff education initiative to improve knowledge and awareness of medication adherence using the ESPACOMP Medication Adherence Reporting Guideline (EMERGE) as the foundational framework. The program was conducted in an outpatient psychiatric facility and aimed to align staff knowledge with evidence-based standards for monitoring and supporting adherence. Educational sessions were delivered to clinical staff, incorporating key components of EMERGE to clarify terminology, enhance consistency in …

Strategies Used By Information Technology Business Managers For Improved Competitive Drive In Organizational Culture, Kenechukwu Laura Mukaila-Lawal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poorly managed organizational culture changes can weaken competitive drive in information technology business organizations, limiting their ability to respond effectively to rapid technological advancements. This problem affects information technology business leaders, employees, and organizations operating in competitive markets, as a misaligned culture reduces innovation, employee engagement, and long-term sustainability. Grounded in organizational culture theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore effective strategies that information technology business managers use to improve competitive drive in organizational culture in the Southwestern region of Nigeria. The participants were seven information technology business leaders who devised and implemented strategies to …

Enhancing Patient Safety Through An Educational Intervention On Purposeful Rounding To Reduce Inpatient Falls In A Neuro - Medical Unit, Idiat Oyefunke Falade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral staff education project focused on improving purposeful rounding practices among staff and patient outcomes on a neuro-medical unit. The practice problem stemmed from inconsistent rounding behaviors, gaps in staff knowledge of evidence-based fall-prevention strategies, and a persistent pattern of inpatient falls. Patients with neurological conditions face impaired mobility, cognitive changes, and clinical instability, making structured rounds essential to reduce risk. The practice-focused question asked whether an educational intervention targeting the principles and procedures of purposeful rounding could measurably improve staff knowledge, increase their skill, strengthen their commitment with the pain, potty, position, and possession components of rounding and …

Executive Leadership System Improvement Program Proposal For Capturing At-Risk Patients In A Primary Care Setting, Winter Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unmet social determinants of health (SDOH) contribute significantly to poor health outcomes, increased healthcare utilization, and persistent inequities in access to care. In a primary care organization, the inconsistent identification and management of patients’ social needs resulted in variable documentation, limited referrals to social work services, and avoidable emergency department (ED) utilization. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to develop an executive leadership systems implementation proposal to standardize the identification and referral of at-risk patients through the integration of a validated social needs screening tool into the electronic health record (EHR). The guiding practice-focused question …

Staff Education On Telehealth Monitoring Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dinnah Makori

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) require consistent monitoring of communication skills, behavior patterns, sensory responses, and adaptive functioning to support timely intervention and improved developmental outcomes. Although telehealth has expanded access to care, many nurses have not received structured training in conducting virtual assessments for children with ASD. Variability in telehealth competency can affect documentation quality, workflow consistency, and provider confidence. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to develop and evaluate a structured staff-education program designed to strengthen pediatric nurses’ competencies in telehealth monitoring of children with ASD. A quantitative pretest–posttest design was used …

Post-Operative Hernia Site Infections, Agatha Francesca Inga Gittens-Stay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was a clinical practice guideline (CPG) focused on the development of a perioperative guideline for patients undergoing various types of hernia repairs. Hernia repair is a common surgical procedure to address various types of hernias.. To assure continued compliance with nationally set benchmarks and minimize the rate of postoperative hernia infections, a systematic review of evidence-based practices (EBP) to foster infection prevention was initiated at a hospital in England. The practice-focused question used was: For patients who underwent hernia repair surgery, what evidence informs CPG recommendations on the type of material, surgical interventions, and nursing interventions to …

Strategies To Reduce Turnover And Retain Substance Abuse Treatment Center Counseling Staff, Hilary Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many outpatient substance use treatment centers struggle with retention and recruitment of counseling staff. Without sufficient staff, substance use outpatient treatment centers are unable to provide services to patients who need such support, and patients often seek care in places like the emergency department, which creates problems for the healthcare system, such as overcrowding. The purpose of this research was to identify strategies to increase retention and improve recruiting effectiveness for counseling staff at outpatient substance use treatment centers. The conceptual framework of plan, recruit, retain underpinned this integrative review. The review question centered on the best strategies to reduce …

Exploring The Experiences Of Cit Officers And Their Perceptions Of The Programs Effectiveness, Arkeshia Dominique Ware

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police officers across the United States frequently respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises, yet many lack specialized training to manage these encounters effectively. The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model was developed to improve law enforcement responses through collaboration with mental health professionals and an emphasis on de-escalation. Although prior research has examined measurable outcomes associated with CIT programs, limited qualitative research has explored CIT-trained officers’ lived experiences and perceptions of effectiveness. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to examine how CIT-trained officers use their skills to reduce arrest, officer and citizen injury, and use of force …

Patient Education Brochure On Diabetic Foot Care In A Primary Care Setting, Trinitas (Nitas) Duru Oha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctoral Nursing Practice (DNP) project was an evidence-based quality improvement (QI) initiative. The practice problem was the absence of expert-validated diabetic foot care education materials, insufficient and inconsistent patient education, and patients' limited knowledge of self-care for diabetic foot care, all of which led to the persistence of diabetic foot complications in primary care settings. Due to the organization’s identified lack of patient education materials, an evidence-based diabetic foot care brochure for diabetic self-foot care education was developed. The patient education materials assessment tool (PEMAT) was used to evaluate the brochure's efficacy. The practice question was designed to determine …

Law Enforcement Officers’ Experiences With Secondary Traumatic Stress And Coping While Working With Child Molesters, Aaliyah Blanding

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was focused on law enforcement officers’ experiences with secondary traumatic stress and coping while working with child molesters. Lazarus and Folkman’s cognitive model of stress and coping were used to examine how law enforcement officers manage stress, focusing on their cognitive processes and thought patterns. Using a basic qualitative approach, eight law enforcement officers who work with child molesters in the state of South Carolina were interviewed to hear their personal experiences. Interviews were semi-structured interview questions via a video-conferencing platform. The data were analyzed and coded using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis. The study’s findings confirmed …

Lyari: A War Unseen, Sammi Deen

MSJ Capstone Projects

This capstone explores the conflict in Lyari Karachi and its enduring aftermath on the locals. It examines the lived experiences of conflict victims, their families and the profound psychological traumas resulting from prolonged violence. The study highlights how the conflict continue to shape everyday life in Lyari.

My capstone provides overview of the Lyari conflict, followed by an in-depth analysis of its social and human consequences. It documents the impacts on locals’ communities, particularly victims’ families, and illustrates how the conflict not only devastated lives but also contributed to the spread of drug abuse, lawlessness, and a culture of unaccountability, …

Protecting ‘Punks’: The Shortcomings Of The Prison Rape Elimination Act, Rachel Goldsmith

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Prisoner-on-prisoner sexual abuse is widespread in US male prisons, with inmates “turning each other out” by sexually assaulting each other. While the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) received unanimous support in Congress in 2003, motivated by the Human Rights Watch Report “No Escape: Male Rape in Prisons,” scholars argue that the PREA fails to protect prisoners from prison rape: for example, its standards may be ineffective or criminalize consensual sex between prisoners. This essay will examine the shortcomings of the PREA, drawing on current legal scholarship, and propose solutions to enhance the law's effectiveness in protecting prisoners. The US government …

2026-02-18 Fragments Literary And Arts Magazine Is ‘Curio’ For Student Work, Maya Deguzman

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.