Digital Commons Network^™

Community College And School Administrators’ Perspectives On Communication And Collaboration In The Formation Of Partnerships, Shannon Stukes Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Challenges have limited the opportunities for educational institutions to support student transitions and success. The problem addressed through this study was the challenge to establish effective partnerships between community colleges and public K–12 schools in a rural county in a southern state. Grounded in Hartford’s small group theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine community college and K–12 administrators’ perspectives on the role of collaboration and communication, as well as the knowledge and skills needed for faculty, staff, and officials to create and sustain partnerships. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 18 community college and K–12 administrators. …

Exploring The Impact Of Antidiscrimination Laws On Child-Welfare Workers Working With Lgbtq Foster Youth, Heather Kesterson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth are overrepresented in the foster care system and have unique needs compared to their peers. In the state of Virginia, there is an antidiscrimination policy that protects LGBTQ foster youth; however, it is unclear how this impacts child welfare workers. Past literature has explored the needs of LGBTQ youth, the experiences of foster parents, and policy implications, but not the impact of antidiscrimination laws on child welfare workers. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the understanding of child welfare workers’ knowledge, integration, training, and implications of Virginia’s antidiscrimination …

Staff Education To Strengthen Nurses’ Knowledge Of Evidence-Based Strategies For Medication Adherence In Psychiatric Care, Constantine Lewko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This DNP staff education project involved addressing the absence of a structured and standardized approach to guide nurses in promoting medication adherence among psychiatric patients. The practice problem at the local project site was inconsistent use of adherence counseling strategies, which contributed to early treatment discontinuation, poor patient engagement, and frequent readmissions. The practice-focused question for this project was: Does implementing a structured staff education program improve nursing staff knowledge on medication adherence compared to usual care? The purpose of this doctoral project was to implement and evaluate an evidence-based education session to improve nurse knowledge and standardize adherence counseling …

Relational Healing: Survivors Of Sex Trafficking And Their Experiences Of Connection, Disconnection, And Growth, Claudia G. Interiano-Shiverdecker, Devon E. Romero, David J. Thompson, John J. J. S. Harrichand

Department of Counseling Scholarship and Creative Works

In this interpretive phenomenological analysis, we interviewed 10 women to make meaning of their lived experiences of sex trafficking and mental health challenges and how relational dynamics influenced their healing and sense of self. Our analysis revealed four themes: (a) central relational paradox, which described internalized shame and mistrust due to relational ruptures as a result of trauma and inadequate trauma-informed care; (b) disconnection and disempowerment, attending to survivor protective withdrawal mechanisms and how counselor misattunement created cycles of disconnection and invalidation; (c) fluid expertise, where survivors emphasized that healing occurred when counselors embraced a collaborative, respectful stance, honoring client …

Student Perceptions And Use Of Genai For Writing: "Great Tool" Or "Pandora's Box"?, Cheryl Hofstetter Duffy Ph.D., Rose Helens-Hart Ph.D., Stephanie M. Weigel Ph.D.

English Faculty Publications

WAC/WID programs are uniquely positioned to lead the response to generative AI (GenAI) in student writing—not by policing its use, but by guiding ethical, effective integration across and in the disciplines. This study shares findings from a spring 2024 survey of 226 students at a midwestern university, exploring how students use GenAI in their writing, what they perceive as its benefits and risks, and whether they’re receiving instruction on how to use it well. Students reported frequent use of GenAI for brainstorming and revising but noted limited faculty guidance. Many expressed nuanced views: they recognized GenAI’s potential to support learning …

Real-Life Space Rangers Study At Ole Miss Law School, Marisa C. Atkinson

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – In "Toy Story," no one asked Buzz Lightyear how to become a space ranger as he declares his mission "to infinity and beyond." But real-world space activities require something Buzz never needed: lawyers trained to navigate the legal complexities of Earth's newest operational domain.

Artificial Investments: Consumer Protection For Ai-Generated Quantitative Trading Algorithms, Eric Heyland

St. Mary's Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Black Box: The Ftc’S New Ability And Incentive Test For Vertical Mergers, Ann P. Kreuscher

St. Mary's Law Journal

No abstract provided.

In-Space Servicing And The Coming Legal Issues For Inciting Innovation, Grayson Russell

St. Mary's Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Effect Of Rna Interference Of Two Heat Shock Proteins (Hspa1l, Hsp90b1) In Inducing Apoptosis In Acyrthosiphon Pisum, James Balthazor Ph.D., Griffin Davies

Chemistry Faculty Publications

RNAi in HSPA1L and HSP90B1 proteins of the unfolded protein response.

Acyrthosiphon pisum (pea aphid) is a major pest of Fabaceae (legume) crops, causing direct feeding damage and transmitting plant diseases. Conventional control relies on broad-spectrum insecticides and natural enemies, both of which can harm non-target organisms and ecosystems. RNA interference (RNAi) offers a promising, species-specific alternative by silencing essential genes via double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). This study targeted two heat shock protein Genes-Heat Shock 70 kDa Protein 1-Like (HSPA1L) and Heat Shock Protein 90 kDa beta (Grp94) Member 1 (HSP90B1)-key players in protein folding, quality control, and stress response within …

Predicting Sepsis In Heart Failure Patients Supported By Left Ventricular Assist Devices: The Role Of Ve-Cadherin And Adam10, Shiyi Li, Iván Murrieta-Álvarez, Ismael Garcia, Katherine V Nordick, Rishav Bhattacharya, Shreyo Ghosh, Ronald A Shaju, Adel M Hassan, Carl P Walther, Camila Hochman-Mendez, Alexis E Shafii, Kenneth K Liao, Nandan K Mondal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-Cadherin) is a major endothelial adhesion molecule and can be cleaved explicitly by metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10 (ADAM10). Vascular hyperpermeability may contribute to a greater susceptibility to sepsis in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support patients. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of VE-Cadherin and ADAM10 for predicting sepsis in LVAD patients. We prospectively recruited 50 patients with advanced heart failure receiving LVAD therapy. Baseline and weekly postoperative blood samples (weeks 1-4) were collected, and plasma VE-cadherin and ADAM10 levels were measured. Sepsis occurred in 9 of 50 patients (18.0%). Across all sampling points, plasma VE-cadherin and …

The New Hampshire Voluntary Paid Family And Medical Leave Program: Did The Program Increase Coverage?, Kristin Smith

Carsey Publications

In this brief, author Kristin Smith evaluates whether the New Hampshire Voluntary Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program increased paid family and medical leave coverage. The NH Voluntary Paid Leave program launched at the start of 2023. Granite State Poll data show no change in the share of workers with medical, parental, or fam­ily medical leave benefits between December 2022 (pre-program) and December 2024. Specifically, about 3 percent of New Hampshire workers were enrolled in the NH PFML program by June 2025. In the first two- and one-half years of the program, it did little at the state level …

Beware The Lion’S Den: A School Lawyer’S Guide To Avoiding Pitfalls In The Texas Open Meetings Act, Kyle Stone

St. Mary's Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Knowledge And Perception Of Human Milk Donation Among Pregnant, Lactating, And Postpartum Women In Rochester, Ny, And Near Hmbana Milk Banks, Samantha Allen

Theses

Human milk banks provide pasteurized donor milk for premature infants whose mothers are unable to produce sufficient amounts of milk, offering critical nutritional and immunological benefits for this high-risk population.1–4 Although 28 HMBANA-accredited milk banks operate in the United States, none are located within 4.5 hours of Rochester, NY. This study examined the knowledge and perceptions of human milk bank donation among pregnant, lactating, and postpartum women in Rochester, NY, and in communities near HMBANA-affiliated milk banks, and assessed if there is a correlation regarding the proximity of milk banks.  A cross-sectional study design was used, and participants completed a …

Cognitive Warfare 2026: Nato’S Chief Scientist Report As Sentinel Call For Operational Readiness, James Giordano

Strategic Insights

This commentary examines emerging concepts in cognitive warfare, the use of information, perception shaping, and psychological influence as instruments of strategic competition. It also highlights insights from the 2026 NATO Chief Scientist Report. Dr. Giordano explains that cognitive effects extend traditional information operations by targeting how people think, make decisions, and act in complex environments. Drawing from NATO analysis, he argues that military organizations must integrate cognitive considerations into doctrine, planning, and training to enhance resilience and competitive advantage. Improved operational frameworks, interdisciplinary research, and ethical governance could help allied forces recognize, anticipate, and counter cognitive threats while preserving human …

The Determinants Of Internal Fraud Using The Fraud Hexagon Framework: A Study Of The Banking Sector Listed On The Indonesia Stock Exchange, Annisa Zikria, Srihadi Winarningsih, Faoziah Ulfah Fatmawati

Journal of Accounting Auditing and Business

This study examines the determinants of internal fraud in Indonesian listed banks by applying the Fraud Hexagon framework (pressure, opportunity, rationalization, capability, arrogance, and collusion) to the banking sector on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) over 2020–2024. Internal fraud is operationalised as the number of internal fraud cases disclosed in each bank’s annual report during the study period. The analysis uses a balanced panel of 23 banks across five years (total 115 observations) and estimates a panel least squares model with cross-section fixed effects to control for time-invariant heterogeneity across banks. Pressure is proxied by the non-performing loan ratio, opportunity …

Simulated Intimacy, But Real Connection: Perceived Reciprocity And Romantic Closeness Make Otome Fun To Play, Nicholas Bowman, Elena Yifei Zhao

Media Studies - All Scholarship

Otome games offer players the opportunity to form romantic relationships with NPCs. Drawing on Social Exchange Theory, we proposed that, in the context of otome game, reciprocity enhances the sense of romantic closeness with NPCs, which in turn lead to greater enjoyment and appreciation. Survey data from 293 Chinese otome players supported the model, suggesting that at least one of the reasons that otome gaming is so entertaining is that they provide players with relationships that those players engage as if they were authentically social. Descriptive results revealed high reciprocity scores and strong romantic connection with NPCs, which players feeling …

Multiple Myeloma Risk Linked To Dna Damage Response Genes, Michael Conry, Irina Ostrovnaya, Yelena Kemel, Saloni Sinha, Linda B. Baughn, Brian Avery, Kylee Maclachlan, Victoria Groner, Lauren Banaszak, Aaron Norman, Nicholas J. Boddicker, Alyssa I. Clay-Gilmour Ph.D., Shaji Kumar, Ellen Kim, Sita Dandiker, Mitul Waghmare, Susan Slager, Douglas Sborov, Judy Garber, Elizabeth E. Brown, Michelle Hildebrandt, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

Background DNA damage response genes (DDRG), implicated in several cancers as both predisposing risk factors as well as biomarkers for aggressiveness, have not been fully explored in multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods Herein, we analyzed disease associations of pathogenic variations in nine putative candidate genes using 3 446 MM cases and 323 233 cancer-free controls.

Results Increased MM risk was found to be associated with inherited rare pathogenic mutations in TP53, ATM, CHEK2, KDM1A, and ARID1A, with an enrichment of these variants among individuals with early onset or family history of MM. Individuals with TP53 or ATM germline mutations are also …

The Texas Business Court: Year One, Jack B. Disorbo

St. Mary's Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Acoustic Analysis Of Prosodic Speech Pause In Autistic And Neurotypical Adults, Rachel Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine prosodic speech pause across two groups: neurotypical and autistic young adults. Conversational speech samples were collected from 11 neurotypical and 11 autistic young adults between the ages of 18 and 26. Speech samples were subsequently transcribed and analyzed using Praat Software. The boundaries of between- and within-utterance pauses were identified, as well as acoustically determining if the pause was filled, silent, or a combination of both. Results found a significant difference in the frequency of pauses as a function of location, pause type, and neurological status. As expected, combination pauses were the …

An Eye For An Eye And A Smile For A Smile: Examining Aggressive And Supportive Behavioral Alignment Among Taiwanese Adolescence Who Play Video Games, Nicholas Bowman, Chrissy Cook, Chingching Chang

Media Studies - All Scholarship

The social dynamics of video games, especially those played online, are one of the primary motivators for gaming. Unfortunately, while there are numerous benefits to online gaming, there is also potentially harmful toxic and aggressive behavior. Prior research has investigated toxicity, but most studies rely on convenience samples, typically from WEIRD populations. The current study extends this scholarship with a nationally representative sample of Taiwanese adolescents who are frequent gamers, (a) quantifying their experiences with aggressive and supportive behaviors in games and (b) investigating personological-level variables that might explain reciprocating (referred to as “behavioral alignment”). Key findings were (1) aggressive …

Turning The Tables: Using Texas’S Stowers Doctrine To Rein In Delay, Deny, Defend Tactics, Ethan Evans

St. Mary's Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Twin And Cotwin Predictors Of Fetal Demise After Laser Photocoagulation Therapy In Advanced Stage Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: A Fetal Heart Society Research Collaborative Study, Shiraz A Maskatia, Fu-Sheng Chou, Betul Yilmaz, Lisa Howley, Vidhya Annavajjhala, Lindsay Freud, Allison Divanovic, Laxmi Ghimire, Anita J Moon-Grady

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Current models to predict outcomes in advanced twin-twin transfusion syndrome are limited. We hypothesized that twin and cotwin echocardiographic factors would improve model performance for donor and recipient demise following laser photocoagulation therapy.

Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of stage 3 to 4 twin-twin transfusion syndrome referred for laser photocoagulation therapy. Fetal echocardiograms were analyzed at a core laboratory. We used multivariable logistic regression models to select variables used for generalized linear mixed-effects modeling. Separate models were developed for donor and recipient demise, using both twin and cotwin variables. Models were assessed by area under the …

Synthesis Study Of Evapotranspiration Evolution In The Mekong Delta Induced By Land Use And Land Cover Changes In The Decades Of 1990–2020, Emiliana Valentini, Serena Sapio, Son V. Nghiem, Seung Hee Kim, Sara Liburdi, Andrea Taramelli

Institute for ECHO Articles and Research

Evapotranspiration (ET) plays a key role in the water cycle and balance, and its estimation is of paramount importance in hydrological studies. This variable is also strongly influenced by the land use and land cover (LULC). This study use a synthesis approach to analyse the relationship between ET variation and LULC transformation in the period 1990–2020. The study area represents a major agricultural region in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam between the Mekong and Bassac rivers. The multivariate dataset was ingested into the hydrological model Soil and Water Assessment Tool to examine the multidecadal ET evolution across the study region. …

Development And Characterization Of Compression-Molded Chitosan Composite Films Reinforced With Silica And Titania Fillers, Bhuvaneswari Koti, Vuong Do, Yanika Schneider, Vimal Viswanathan

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This study investigates the development of biodegradable chitosan-based films as a sustainable alternative to conventional non-biodegradable food packaging materials. Chitosan, a naturally occurring polymer, possesses inherent film-forming ability and biodegradability; however, its limited mechanical and thermal properties constrain its practical applications. In this work, chitosan films were fabricated via compression molding, and their thermo-mechanical performance was systematically evaluated. The incorporation of fillers, such as titanium dioxide and silica, resulted in a 50% enhancement in tensile strength and an 86% improvement in flexibility. Further optimization of dual-filler compositions led to an additional 45% increase in elasticity, demonstrating the potential of synergistic …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of The One Paleopathology Workshop, Julianne R. Stamer, Mario Apata Mamani, Bernardo Arriaza, Robin Bendrey, Kelly Blevins, Tessa Campbell, Nicole Gottdenker, Rebecca Gowland, Haagen Klaus, Carina Marques

Anthropology Faculty Publications

Background and objectives: One Paleopathology is a novel concept in Paleopathology that extends the One Health paradigm into the past. A workshop at the University of Durham, UK, was held prior to the 2024 International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health (ISEMPH) meeting, firstly to define and expand the concept of One Paleopathology and secondly to generate transdisciplinary research and outreach under this framework. This article presents a logic model to evaluate how effectively the workshop met its goals.

Methodology: Two surveys were conducted, one immediately following the workshop and at the 1-year mark. These surveys assess the direct …

Thermal Performance And Specific Energy Consumption Of Traditional Tobacco Curing Barns In Tanzania, Seuri S. Kilakoi, Baraka Kichonge, Thomas Kivevele, Mtaki T. Maagi, Jacob B. Lisuma

Tanzania Journal of Science

Traditional tobacco curing barns remain the dominant technology in Tanzania due to their low construction cost and accessibility, particularly in major producing regions such as Tabora. However, their thermal inefficiency results in excessive firewood use and environmental degradation. This study presents a field-based performance evaluation of a traditional flue-curing barn at the Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania. Environmental parameters and fuel consumption were monitored at 15- minute intervals throughout the yellowing, leaf drying, and stem drying stages. The curing process handled 429 kg of fresh tobacco using 1,016 kg of firewood, equivalent to 16,256 MJ of energy input. The specific …

Bio-Adrenomedullin Predicts Death And Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events In Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Cross-Continental Multicenter Study, Maximilian L Müller, Fabian Knebel, Katrin Hahn, Janin Schulte, Birte Arlt, Oliver Hartmann, Kaitlin M S Moore, Seiji Takashio, Yasuhiro Izumiya, Joshua D Mitchell, Kenichi Tsujita, Ulf Landmesser, Bettina Heidecker

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Bio-ADM (bioactive adrenomedullin) is a vasoactive peptide hormone that predicts clinical outcomes in heart failure-the main driver of adverse outcomes in cardiac amyloidosis (CA). This prospective observational study sought to assess the prognostic role of bio-ADM in CA.

METHODS: Patients with CA were enrolled from amyloid centers in Germany (observation cohort), Japan, and the United States (combined validation cohort). Bio-ADM was quantified using the sphingotest bio-ADM assay. Associations of bio-ADM with all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events over 2 years were assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Likelihood ratio chi-square tests for nested models evaluated whether adding …

Intravenous Thrombolysis In Patients On Direct Oral Anticoagulants: Analysis Of The Get With The Guidelines Stroke Registry, Shadi Yaghi, Opeolu Adeoye, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a proven effective treatment. Whether thrombolysis in patients with AIS with recent direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use is safe and efficacious is not well established. We aimed to compare outcomes of patients with AIS and recent DOAC use who received thrombolysis to those otherwise eligible but excluded due to recent DOAC use.

METHODS: This study included patients for the GWTG (Get With The Guidelines) registry with a diagnosis of AIS within 4.5 hours from last known normal, on a DOAC, and either (1) received intravenous thrombolysis, or (2) were excluded from …

Association Between Monoclonal Gammopathy Of Undetermined Significance And Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Veterans Health Administration Study, Tzeyu L Michaud, Mei Wang, Daphne R Friedman, Lawrence Liu, Theodore S Thomas, Kristen M Sanfilippo, Graham A Colditz, Martin W Schoen, Su-Hsin Chang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, its potential to provide additional prognostic information beyond traditional CVD risk assessments remains unknown. This study aimed to examine the association between MGUS and incident CVD and to determine whether MGUS status offers additional prognostic value beyond the established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk calculation.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, matched observational study using 2010 to 2021 Veterans Health Administration data. MGUS status, confirmed through a validated natural language processing algorithm, were 1:5 matched to individuals without MGUS. The outcome of interest was …