Digital Commons Network^™

Strategies For Improving Supported Employment Services For Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Janelle Latoya Bailey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a growing need for supported employment services and improved programming among people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). The research question for this study was; what are human service staff and administrators’ experiences and perceptions of what is working well in supported employment programs, and how to improve the services offered to adults with I/DD in a northeastern county? The tenets of Kurt Lewin’s change model form the theoretical framework for the study, to serve as a foundation for effective change. A force field analysis approach was used to gather narrative written data from open ended questionnaire responses to grasp …

Elementary Reading Teachers’ Experiences Implementing Individualized Instruction, Laura E. Ellis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Second-grade through fourth-grade teachers face challenges associated with implementing individualized reading instruction to address learning differences. A deeper understanding of teachers’ experiences can help inform future educational policies targeting educators who instruct struggling readers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of elementary reading teachers who use individualized instruction to support diverse learners. The study was grounded in Tomlinson’s model of differentiated instruction, which served as the guiding conceptual framework. Using a basic qualitative design, this study’s central research question explored elementary teachers’ experiences with individualized instructional practices. Data were collected through open-ended semistructured interviews with …

Effective Leadership Strategies Used To Retain Volunteers In Nonprofit Organizations, Celine Ejoh Njeck

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Nonprofit organizations provide critical services that address social, cultural, and economic needs within communities. Nonprofit leaders who cannot retain volunteers risk reduced organizational capacity, interruptions in program delivery, and weakened ability to achieve program objectives. Grounded in servant leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore the effective strategies nonprofit leaders use to retain volunteers to support their program objectives. Participants were six nonprofit leaders in north Texas who have successfully retained volunteers to support their program objectives. Data was collected using semi structured interviews and a review of publicly available documents …

Social And Contextual Factors Influencing Hypertension Among Latino Men Living In California, Leslie Ivett Ortega

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension remains a critical and often silent public health issue that disproportionately affects Latino men in California. This quantitative, retrospective cross-sectional study explored the social and contextual factors influencing hypertension among this vulnerable population. Using the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System dataset, which included a sample size of 2,060 participants, the study examined the relationship between hypertension and key variables including primary care utilization, health insurance, smoking, physical activity, mental health, and marital status, while controlling for age, education, and income. Guided by the health belief model, binary logistic regression analyses found health insurance and primary care utilization significantly …

Attrition Experiences Among Officers In A Texas Correctional Organization, Dewanou Frejus Aisse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) faces employee retention challenges, and recruiting and retaining correctional officers remains TDCJ’s most significant challenge and highest priority. Correctional facility leaders need to understand these challenges as indicators of workforce sustainability. Grounded in job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore the turnover experiences of Texas correctional officers, to understand why officers left their jobs, and the factors that contributed to their decisions to stay in their jobs. Participants comprised 11 former correctional officers who had worked between 5 months and 6 years for the TDCJ. Data were …

An Examination Of Psychosocial Factors Related To Male Serial Killers, Rachael Elizabeth Tubbs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, studies on serial murderers have not concentrated in depth on analyzing what psychosocial factors are or how they could influence a man to become a serial killer. The focus of this qualitative study was on the psychosocial characteristics of male serial killers that are from, and based in, the United States. Using a case study analysis approach, the life course of serial killers in the FGCU Radford Database was analyzed to identify themes of adverse childhood experiences such as physical, emotional, or psychological abuse; abandonment by parent or guardian; limited or no social bonds; witnessing abuse; and signs of …

Narratives Of Sexual Self-Esteem As A Domain Of Sexual Well-Being In Cisgender Women’S Long-Term Intimate Relationships, Lisa Criswell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Only within the last few decades has female sexual health become a topic of focus for researchers and practitioners to begin focusing on, leading to a gap in research between female sexual health and male sexual health. This has led to lack of knowledge and understanding on female sexual dysfunction and how interventions can effectively address it. An identified gap in knowledge of female sexual health and self-esteem is the lack of understanding of female narratives. This study was developed with the purpose of filling that gap and addressing domains within sexual health and self-esteem through exploration of the narratives …

Greenland Supraglacial Catchment Consolidation By Streams Breaching Drainage Divides, Jessica Mejia, J. D. Gulley, Celia Trunz, Charles Breithaupt, Matthew D. Covington

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Internally drained catchments define the ice surface area draining into a moulin. Supraglacial catchment areas are thought to be controlled by the influence of basal topography on the ice surface, which produce static, topographically defined catchment areas draining into a single moulin. Our observations of lakes overtopping drainage divides, fluvial incision through those drainage divides and connection of previously isolated adjacent lake basins suggests that supraglacial drainage basins are more complicated. Here, we document interannual variability in the size, shape, and density of catchments in a 31.7 km2 area by mapping supraglacial streams within three mid-elevation catchments on the Paakitsoq …

Restoration Of Sfrp3 Preserves The Neural Stem Cell Pool And Spatial Discrimination Ability In A Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, Francisco A Blanco, Manuel Silva-Pérez, Kavitha Muralidharan, Jason C You, Minjung Lee, Gabriel S Stephens, Xiaohong Zhang, Yi Zheng, Helen Scharfman, Kimberley F Tolias, Jeannie Chin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have an increased incidence of seizures, which worsen cognitive decline. Using a transgenic mouse model of AD neuropathology that exhibits spontaneous seizures, we previously found that seizure activity stimulates and accelerates depletion of the hippocampal neural stem cell (NSC) pool, which was associated with deficits in neurogenesis-dependent spatial discrimination. However, the precise molecular mechanisms that drive seizure-induced activation and depletion of NSCs are unclear. Here, using mice of both sexes, we performed RNA-sequencing on the hippocampal dentate gyrus and identified differentially expressed regulators of neurogenesis in the Wnt signaling pathway that regulates many aspects of …

Operationalizing Passive Sensors Into Scalable, Reproducible, Neurobehavioral Digital Markers For Alzheimer's Disease: Lessons Learned Over 10 Years, Ganesh M Babulal, Matthew Blake, Chen Chen, Yiqi Zhu, Subrata Pal, David C Brown

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer For The Removal Of Nutrients From Water: Synthesis, Application, Performance And Limitation, Emmanuella Anang, Abolade Busari

Faculty Publications

Nutrient contamination is a major contributor to eutrophication and water quality degradation worldwide. Conventional treatment technologies often lack selectivity and efficiency in complex aquatic environments, highlighting the need for advanced materials with tailored recognition capabilities. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as promising adsorbents for nutrient remediation due to their high selectivity, stability and reusability. This review synthesizes recent progress on the synthesis strategies of MIPs. Applications of MIPs in removing phosphate, nitrate and ammonia from water are critically examined, with particular attention to adsorption performance under varying environmental conditions. The limitations of current systems, including modest adsorption capacities, incomplete …

Pathways To Possibility: A Multilingual Perspective In Community Colleges, Alex Matson

Master's Projects and Capstones

Community Colleges (CCs) play a vital role within both their local communities and the broader American educational system. This study examines the role of the community college, with particular attention to its English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs, and the structural dynamics of public funding. Despite the recognized significance of community colleges, the allocation of public funding, distinctly for ESOL programs, continues to reflect structural imbalances. Although research demonstrates the significance of community colleges in widening learning opportunities for marginalized students, critical pedagogy reminds us that educational access remains structurally unequal.

Emerging research indicates that the transformation of placement …

A Curriculum For Teaching English-Speaking Fluency, Jue Xia

Master's Projects and Capstones

This field project intends to apply theories of second language acquisition to practical implementations. The purpose of this project is to design a curriculum that teaches speaking fluency to low level English literacy English as a Second Language (ESL) learners. The theoretical frameworks it uses are Stephen Krashen’s Input Hypothesis Theory (Brown 2014, p.288), Barry McLaughlin’s Attention-Processing Model (Brown 2014, p.292), Lev Vigotsky’s Sociocultural Theory (Brown 2014, p.295). Fink’s (2003) Integrated Course Design model gives important insights when designing the curriculum. In the project, the author developed three themed units to teach speaking skills. In each unit, three modules are …

Investigating Dysfunctional Cognition Change As A Putative Mechanism Of Cbt For Youth Anxiety, Ocd And Ptsd: Protocol For An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis, Brooke Levis, Philip C Kendall, Eric A Storch, Lynn Mobach

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common in children and adolescents and can lead to significant impairment. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with exposure is the first-line treatment, yet approximately half of treated youth do not achieve full remission. Dysfunctional cognitions-negative automatic thoughts, maladaptive beliefs and distorted interpretations-are considered key targets of CBT, but evidence in youth is mixed and underpowered. This study will examine whether change in dysfunctional cognitions mediates treatment outcome in anxiety, OCD and PTSD symptoms and whether this association varies across individual characteristics.

Methods and analysis: An individual participant data meta-analysis …

Unconventional Binding Of Calmodulin To Chk2 Kinase Inhibits Catalytic Activity, Toby A Dite, Hunter G Nyvall, Sushant Suresh, Katherine A Davies, Abner Gonzalez Castro, Vineet Vaibhav, Lucy J Mather, Laura F Dagley, Matthew J Belousoff, Gerard Manning, Anthony R Means, John E Burke, Janni Petersen, John W Scott, James M Murphy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Calmodulin (CaM) serves an essential role in eukaryotic cells as a Ca2+ sensor. Ca2+ binding leads to conformation changes in CaM that enable engagement of a repertoire of enzymes and the regulation of their catalytic activities. Classically, Ca2+-CaM binds to an inhibitory pseudosubstrate sequence C-terminal to the kinase domain in members of the Ca2+-CaM-dependent protein kinase (CAMK) family and relieves inhibition to promote catalytic activity. Here, we report an unexpected mechanism by which CaM can bind CHK2 kinase to inhibit its kinase activity. Using biochemical, biophysical and structural mass spectrometry, we identify a direct interaction of Ca2+-CaM with the CHK2 …

Imaging Of Dynamic Processes In Materials With A Laser-Wakefield Accelerator, J. Kang, R. J. Shalloo, M. J. Higgins, S. J.D. Dann, J. N. Gruse, C. I.D. Underwood, A. F. Antoine, C. Arran, C. D. Baird, M. D. Balcazar, N. Bourgeois, J. A. Cardarelli, K. Krushelnick, S. P.D. Mangles, C. D. Murphy, N. Lu, P. P. Rajeev, M. P. Selwood, D. R. Symes, C. P. Ridgers, A. G.R. Thomas, C. Thornton, Z. Najmudin, P. G. Sanders, P. D. Staublin, A. J. Shahani, M. J.V. Streeter

Michigan Tech Publications

Betatron x rays generated from laser-wakefield accelerators are a promising source for imaging dynamic processes in materials. Here, we present proof-of-concept imaging of microstructural evolution in a hypermonotectic Al-Bi alloy, which consists of liquid Bi particles in a solid Al matrix. The images capture the elongation and fragmentation of Bi particles upon isothermal annealing. Because of the femtosecond time scale of the betatron source, the images are not subject to motion blur, whereas the accessibility of the source allows for studies of long-term processes such as annealing. The high-resolution data reveal that the evolution of Bi particles is mediated by …

Emerging Tools In Plant Genome Editing, Shilpi Sharma, Naveen Kumar Saroha, Abhilasha Sehrawat, Guiliang Tang, Deepali Singh, Sachin Teotia

Michigan Tech Publications

Plant genome editing has undergone a transformative shift with the advent of advanced molecular tools, offering unprecedented levels of precision, flexibility and efficiency in modifying genetic material. While classical site-directed nucleases such as ZFNs, TALENs and CRISPR-Cas9 have revolutionized genome engineering by enabling targeted mutagenesis and gene knockouts, the landscape is now rapidly evolving with the emergence of novel systems that go beyond the conventional double strand break (DSB)-mediated approaches. Advanced and recent tools include LEAPER, SATI, RESTORE, RESCUE, ARCUT, SPARDA, helicase-based approaches like HACE and Type IV-A CRISPR system, and transposon-based techniques like TATSI and piggyBac. These tools unlock …

The Perspectives And Experiences Of Prospective Parents Declining Diagnostic Prenatal Genome Sequencing In Continuing Pregnancies With Fetal Structural Anomalies, Lisa S Weingarten, Allison Rosenbaum, Jessica De Voest, Stephanie Galloway, Jessica L Giordano, Samantha Stover, Lauren E Westerfield, Grant Bonesteele, Kelly L Gilmore, Leandra Tolusso, Beatrix Wong, A Theresa Wittman, Daniel T Swarr, Nancy Leslie, Anthony Johnson, Ignatia B Van Den Veyver, Neeta L Vora, Rebecca G Clifton, Aaron B Caughey, Ronald J Wapner, Wendy K Chung

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Objective: This study evaluates an understudied perspective: the experiences of prospective parents who decline prenatal genome sequencing (pGS) for continuing pregnancies with fetal structural anomalies.

Method: We recruited a total cohort of 300 parents of 150 pregnancies who declined pGS, including 33 individuals who underwent an invasive procedure. These parents were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview between 1 and 15 months post-partum. We used Thematic Analysis to code and analyze interviews.

Results: We interviewed 22 parents of 16 pregnancies. Reasons for declining testing included risks of invasive procedures (n = 19, 86%), lack of prenatally actionable findings (n …

Artificial Intelligence In Higher Education: Opportunities And Challenges, Maytha Al-Ali, Adam Marks, Jasur Umirzokov, Noura Metawa

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

While AI is often presented as a panacea for the challenges facing higher education, there is limited empirical evidence supporting its effectiveness in improving student learning and institutional performance. This gap between expectation and reality emphasizes the need for rigorous research, realistic goal-setting, and careful planning to ensure that AI technologies deliver on their promises in higher education. This study contrasts the potential utilization of AI technologies in Higher Education from the literature, against actual utilization in universities. The study also investigates the key barriers of AI implementation in higher education. This study uses a mixed-research methods approach, including case …

Retracted: Ai-Driven Flood Prediction, Monitoring, And Warning Systems: Design, Evaluation, And Simulation, Abdel Rahman A. Alkharabsheh, Lina M. Momani

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

The Climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable, while the incidence of extreme weather is on the rise — both are contributing to surging global demand for advanced flood forecasting and monitoring services. This paper introduces an AI-powered Flood Monitoring and Warning System (FMWS) through an IoT sensor network, scalable real-time data analytics, and Machine Learning (ML) models to enhance the accuracy of prediction, risk analysis, and early warning dissemination in the notified areas. Hydrological and meteorological data would be collected by an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, and a pressure sensor interfacing via GSM/GPRS, Wi-Fi, LoRa, or satellite network links. Machine …

Analisis Perbedaan Biaya Satuan Sectio Caesarea Tanpa Penyulit Dengan Tarif Ina-Cbgs Di Rumah Sakit Swasta Tipe D (X) Di Ternate Tahun 2022, Ummu Hani Mars, Prastuti Soewondo

Jurnal Ekonomi Kesehatan Indonesia

Cesarean section unit cost is an important component for hospital’s management to implement strategic efficiency steps in the future, especially for Rumah Sakit X which 90% of patients are Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional’s participant. Geographically, this hospital is one of hospitals which serve delivery and labor services in Ternate Island that can accommodate references from nearby islands. This resulting in high caesarean section rate, 55 % of all deliveries. The low JKN rate for caesarean section forced management to know the detailed cost component, so the efficiency strategies and the continuity of hospital services could be more increased. This research through …

Analisis Perbandingan Biaya Dan Penggunaan Obat Antara Pasien Bpjs Kesehatan Dan Non-Bpjs Kesehatan Periode Januari-Desember 2022 Di Klinik Pratama X Kota Bandung, Phebe Ariella Wilis, Tjokorde Istri Armina Padmasawitri, Syifa Fitrah Qanaah

Jurnal Ekonomi Kesehatan Indonesia

Primary healthcare facilities may have two sources of drug funding: capitation funds for drugs prescribed to patients under the Social Security Administering Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), and out-of-pocket payments from non-BPJS Kesehatan patients. Analyzing drug utilization patterns and financing is essential to ensure the efficient use of these funding sources. This study aims to analyze drug costs and utilization among BPJS Kesehatan patients compared to non-BPJS Kesehatan patients at Primary Clinic X in Bandung City from January to December 2022.This study used a retrospective cross-sectional design with data collected from electronic medical records and pharmacy transactions. Descriptive analysis was employed to …

Technology Use In Elementary Music Education: A Scoping Review, David T. Casali

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

The purpose of this scoping review was to look at how music technology has been used in the elementary music classroom from 2020 to April 2025. Uses of technology were organized using the Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition (SAMR) model (Puentedura, 2006). Only articles that both described how technology was used and what the learning process looked like were included. A total of 26 articles met the criteria for inclusion. Multiple uses of technology across the four levels of the SAMR were represented from 14 different countries. An article from each of the four SAMR levels is described in depth …

Effects Of Ghost Energy Drink On Muscle Strength, Psychomotor Vigilance, And Mood., Jason M. Curtis, Jose J. Rojas, Flavia F. Pereira, Cassandra Evans, Elizabeth Espocito, Alyana Andal Andal, Gavin Poulshock, Hena Thakkar, Taila De Castro, Alexandra Jimenez, Antonio Cristanti, Antonella V. Schwarz, Juan Carlos Santana, Jose Antonio

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a commercially available energy drink (Ghost®) compared to a caffeine-matched control on measures of mental and physical performance.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind design, 62 participants were assigned to receive either the energy drink (Ghost®) or a caffeine-matched control (200 mg caffeine). Assessments were conducted at baseline and approximately 45 minutes post-ingestion, including the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), CNS Tap Test, handgrip strength, and the Profile of Mood States (POMS).

Results: Participant demographics are presented in Table 1. No significant between-group differences were observed for any performance measures. Both groups …

Exploring The Potential For Data Storytelling Practices In Healthcare Communication, Shafaq Zehra, Naomi Jacobs, Dan Richards

IASDR Conference Series

The key challenges associated with the design of doctor-patient communication mainly include time constraints, cultural and language barriers and health literacy of the patients accessing care. The implications of the gaps in effective doctor-patient communication may lead to lack of compliance to treatment, weakened rapport building and lack of trust in the healthcare services. This paper qualitatively explores the context of the challenges associated with doctor-patient communication from a health care provider perspective. The main themes identified by in-depth interviews with clinicians were issues related to lack of trust, validity of patient’s information, lack of patient engagement and empowerment, and …

A Practical Introduction To The Method Of Blending Through Pattern In Weft-Knitted Stripe Structures To Improve The Overall Tactility Of Breed-Specific Wool Fibres., Wilmott Julia, Gaston Elizabeth, James Alana

IASDR Conference Series

The paper introduces ‘blending through pattern’, a method for significantly enhancing the tactile qualities of individual British broad wool fibres when combined in knitted fabrics. This approach is an alternative to traditional blending processes, such as spinning and twisting, because it utilises weft-knitted pattern structures to combine two, three or more yarn types together. Each yarn type is knitted through a single feeder, with the blending occurring in the same way that a pattern on the knitting machine combines different colours. Successfully blended fabrics exchange yarn types regularly to incorporate different fibre types effectively. This material-led approach to textile design …

Designing For Interprofessional Collaboration: Integrating Data And Communication In Health Care Teams, Tzu-Ling Huang, Ko-Chiu Wu

IASDR Conference Series

As holistic health care gains momentum within medical systems, interdisciplinary collaboration has become crucial to improving the quality of patient care. In practice, however, cooperation among professionals is often hindered by fragmented information, differences in professional language and logic, system discontinuities, and the lack of structured processes. This study investigates the needs and challenges of information integration and task tracking in interdisciplinary teams through qualitative interviews and a card-sorting method with seven types of healthcare professionals— physician, nurse, medical social worker, clinical psychologist, dietitian, physical therapist, and dentist. The findings highlight issues such as insufficient information integration, fragmented goal-setting and …

From Function To Culture: Exploring Senior-Centered Design Principles In Korean Context, Sujin Song, Miso Kim, Min Ju Kang, Ye In An, Soojin Jun

IASDR Conference Series

South Korea, as the fastest-aging country in the world, occupies a critical position in aging research. Designing for older adults requires a multidimensional understanding; however, existing studies on design principles for aging have tended to adopt functionalist approaches focused primarily on physical and cognitive decline. In response, this study proposes design principles that center on values systems rather than offering directly prescriptive or procedural guidance. Specifically, we introduce culturally responsive principles grounded in Korea’s unique socio cultural context. Drawing on a co-design workshop with Korean older adults and caregivers, our analysis engages narratives through the lenses of Korea’s rapid industrialization, …

Reimagining Speculative Design For Inclusion: An Narrative-Based Prototype For Civic Participation, Sandy Claes, Gitte Vande Graveele, Erica Bol

IASDR Conference Series

Speculative design has the potential to foster civic reflection but often remains inaccessible to broader audiences due to its cultural and conceptual complexity. This paper presents a research-through-design (RtD) exploration of how speculative design can become more inclusive by embedding reflection into the narrative experience itself. We redesigned INWARDS, a policy-oriented speculative artefact, by segmenting one of its films and integrating plain-language prompts at key narrative moments and reframing participation as introspection by triggering lightweight, personal reflections. The resulting prototype was deployed in a semi-public setting to explore spontaneous engagement beyond design- savvy audiences. We contribute (1) a design-led exploration …

Designing Personalized Digital Self-Control Tools To Address Procrastination Through Co-Design, Youngsoo Shin, Jeremy D. Faulk, Jungkyoon Yoon

IASDR Conference Series

Procrastination, a pervasive challenge among college students, significantly affects mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being. While Digital Self-Control Tools (DSCTs) are commonly used to manage procrastination, existing solutions and studies often fail to address the nuanced, individualized factors that drive this behavior. This study employs a co-design approach to explore how DSCTs can be personalized to better support college students. Over a nine-week co-design project, twenty-two students in the HCI field collaboratively developed personalized DSCT concepts, guided by the Motivation, Engagement, and Thriving in User Experience (METUX) model. The METUX model provided a theoretical basis for designing interventions that …