Digital Commons Network^™

Race And Ethnicity And Overall Survival In Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Daniel J. Zheng, Long Khuong, Catherine Aftandilian, Kira Bona, Emi H. Caywood, Caitlin W. Elgarten, Brian T. Fisher, Cody-Aaron L. Gathers, Taumoha Ghosh, M. Monica Gramatges, Gary Hettinger, Meret R. Henry, Yuan-Shung V Huang, Yimei Li, Kelly Maloney, Amir Mian, Tamara P Miller, Arunkumar Modi, Rajen Mody, Regina M. Myers, Haley Newman, Jose Ortiz, Alix E. Seif, Caroline Smith, Jamie Stokke, Naomi Winick, Jennifer J. Wilkes, Victor Wong, Richard Aplenc, Kelly D. Getz

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black (hereafter, Black) children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have historically experienced worse survival outcomes compared with non-Hispanic White (hereafter, White) children. Understanding specific intermediate pathways underlying these outcome disparities is a critical step to directing interventional efforts and resources.

OBJECTIVE: To compare survival outcomes by race and ethnicity in a large contemporary cohort of pediatric patients with AML and to examine presentation acuity, frontline organ toxic effects, and relapse as potential mediators of any observed outcome disparities.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study was analyzed from April 2025 to January 2026 and included …

The Fate Of Duplicate Meiotic Recombination Genes After Whole Genome Duplication In Vertebrate And Yeast Lineages, Sophie Maedo

Theses and Dissertations

Meiotic recombination is the exchange of DNA between homologous chromosomes that creates novel allele combinations and therefore aids in evolution. After whole genome duplications (WGD), challenges arise with proper chromosome segregation, necessitating changes to the meiotic recombination pathway. Reducing recombination rate and recombination gene copy number are mechanisms to correct multivalent formation. Within plants, copy number and retention rate of these genes has been well characterized; however, this is untrue for the wider eukaryote domain. Through this work, I show that meiotic recombination genes are maintained at a lower copy number than the rest of the genome; however, immediately after …

Impact Of In-Season Potassium Fertilizer Application On Sweetpotato Yields, Alyssa Lynn Hotchkiss

Theses and Dissertations

Sweetpotatoes require approximately three times more potassium (K) than nitrogen (N), making K the most applied nutrient in production. However, K fertilizer recommendations for sweetpotatoes in Mississippi remain outdated or are based on recommendations for other crops. This study evaluated the effects of K fertilizer rate, timing, and application method on sweetpotato production. Field trials were conducted during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons at the Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Branch Experiment Station in Pontotoc, Mississippi. Treatments included preplant K applications of 0, 134, or 191 kg ha⁻¹ K₂O, in-season sidedress applications of 56 kg ha⁻¹ K₂O, and four foliar K treatments. …

Tips For Higher Education: A Research-Informed Framework For Designing Trauma-Informed Professional Support Practices In Higher Education, Kelli Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project addresses the need for structured trauma-informed professional preparation within higher education as institutions continue responding to increasing student adversity, trauma exposure, mental health concerns, and barriers to academic engagement and persistence. The purpose of the project is to develop Tips for Higher Education: A Research Informed Framework for Designing Trauma-Informed Professional Support Practices in Higher Education. The project examines the research-supported elements that should be included in a trauma-informed professional preparation framework, the competencies and learning domains needed by faculty, advisors, and student-support professionals, and the ways professional learning should be structured and sequenced to support sustainable …

Exploring Emergency Manager Decision-Making Regarding Heat Hazards Using Protection Motivation Theory, Nathaniel Mirly

Theses and Dissertations

Heat is the leading cause of weather-related mortality in the United States, yet it remains under-recognized despite rising mortality and intensifying climate trends. This qualitative study explored decision-making processes regarding heat hazards among 15 county-level emergency managers in the Northern Gulf Coast region using Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) as a guiding framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, combining deductive coding of PMT constructs with inductive identification of independent themes. Key findings showed reliance on verbal persuasion and prior experience as primary information sources, threat appraisals moderated by normalization and deprioritization of heat due to other …

An Equity-Centered Creative Therapies Implementation Framework For K-12 School Counseling Practice, Brian Caleb Carlisle

Theses and Dissertations

Adolescents in K-12 schools are experiencing a significant mental health crisis, with rising rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, and emotional dysregulation, while many continue to face limited access to equitable, developmentally appropriate supports. Although schools increasingly serve as primary sites for mental health services, they often lack resources, training, and infrastructures necessary to implement effective interventions. Arts-based and creative therapy approaches demonstrate benefits for emotional regulation, trauma processing, and social-emotional development but remain underused due to inconsistent implementation and systemic barriers. This capstone project examines how creative therapies can be integrated into school counseling programs to address these gaps. Guided …

Enhancing Social Emotional Learning Interventions For Black Adolescent Girls Through Staff Training, Shundrell Mcmullan

Theses and Dissertations

Black girls often face systemic inequities rooted in discriminatory practices and policies in the educational system contributing to adverse social-emotional outcomes unless mitigated by intentional protective supports. Many schools have adopted social emotional learning (SEL) programs; however, their effectiveness for culturally diverse students are often challenged. The present study examined the impact of Sisters of Nia, a race-conscious and gender-responsive intervention designed to enhance protective factors and social-emotional well-being among six adolescent Black girls. Student outcomes, including academically engaged behaviors and positive peer interactions, were primarily evaluated using a single-subject A/B design. Students’ self-esteem and racial identity were also measured …

A Policy Analysis Of State-Mandated Literacy Reform In Tulsa Public Schools, Paul Eicher

Theses and Dissertations

Oklahoma has implemented state-mandated literacy reforms grounded in the Science of Reading (SoR) to address persistent reading achievement challenges. Despite increased accountability measures and adoption of approved intervention programs, secondary literacy outcomes in Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) remain low, raising questions about policy design and implementation. The purpose of this project is to analyze the state-mandated framework for secondary reading intervention in TPS and develop evidence-based recommendations to strengthen literacy outcomes. The study is guided by the Adapted Policy Analysis Triangle, which examines policy through the domains of content, context, process, and actors. The research explores effective intervention practices, implementation …

The Impact Of Z-Plane Stitching On The Toughness Of Resin Infused Composite Structures, Stephan Sendelbach

Theses and Dissertations

While Stitched Resin Infusion (SRI) has been successfully implemented in aerospace, the understanding of the benefits of z-plane reinforcement in resin-infused carbon fiber structures remains in its infancy. This study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved the fabrication, testing, and failure analysis of both z-plane reinforced and unreinforced standardized skin–stringer assemblies. Comparison of the experimental results and examination of the failure progression informed a second phase of testing. In Phase 2, testing was repeated with the addition of localized z-plane reinforcement to delay the initial yield and supported the postdoctoral research of Dr. Taehee Lee. Results from both …

School Administrators’ Lived Experiences In Educational Settings Supporting Students With Exposure To Violence, Craig Karnell Chapman

Theses and Dissertations

Violence in schools and communities presents persistent challenges for K–12 students, educators, and school leaders, particularly in high-poverty contexts where exposure to violence disrupts teaching, learning, and school climate. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (1979). Ecological systems theory, this phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of school administrators in supporting students exposed to violence in their schools and communities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five purposively selected school administrators working in high-poverty districts and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed four central themes: (a) instructional instability resulting from persistent exposure to violence, (b) the spillover of community …

Latent Profile Analysis Of Trauma Appraisal: Associations With Psychological Problems And Substance Use Moderated By Emotion Dysregulation In College Students With Trauma History, Tram Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations

Empirical research suggests that trauma-related appraisals have significant mental health implications. A prior meta-analysis reported that maladaptive trauma-related cognitions play a central role in the development and maintenance of poor coping strategies (i.e., substance use) and posttraumatic stress disorder. However, less is known about the relationships among maladaptive trauma cognitions, emotion dysregulation, and risk for substance use. The current study sought to provide a comprehensive examination of the relationships among trauma appraisals, emotion dysregulation, psychological problems, and substance use. A systematic review highlighted the lack of a person-centered approach to trauma appraisal research, as well as a lack of research …

Effects Of Fire And Mesocarnivore Exclusion On Small Mammal Population Dynamics And Behavior In A Fire-Maintained Longleaf Pine (Pinus Palustris) Savanna, Varsha Samba Shastry

Theses and Dissertations

Disturbances shape communities through population responses and species interactions. However, the effects of these inter-related factors on primary consumers and their predators are relatively understudied. Therefore, I used a long-term experimental dataset to assess direct and indirect effects of prescribed fire and mesocarnivore removal on community interactions within small mammal populations. Earlier research revealed no major changes in small mammal abundances following mesocarnivore exclusion, but cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) had increased home-range sizes and greater body mass in the exclosures. My research specifically focused on examining behavior and population dynamics of cotton rats and cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus) as a …

Strategic Information System Leadership And Information System Function Performance In Universities In Kenya: A Pls-Sem Analysis, Joseph K. Muchina, James M. Njihia Prof., Agnes N. Wausi Prof.

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

Information systems as enablers have evolved from an efficiency and effectiveness focus to enterprise-wide performance, placing strong demands on information system leadership. Emerging leadership models call for collaborative practices. Information systems leadership in higher education is a challenging task. Universities' top management team members and their information system executive counterparts lack a common and shared vision and understanding of information systems capabilities and roles. As the highest-ranking officers in organizations, they make strategic IS decisions. Yet, noting that existing approaches are ineffective, there is a growing concern about the kind of leadership needed to guide the institutions. Four sets of …

Sustainability Challenges And Opportunities In A University Police Fleet: A Case Study Of Idling, Emissions, And Electrification Potential, Van Slusser

School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal and Security Studies Faculty Publications

This case study examines fleet sustainability challenges within the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Police Department, a multicampus public safety agency operating aging gasoline vehicles central to daily patrol and administrative functions. Rising maintenance costs, increased vehicle downtime, and extensive idling created both operational strain and avoidable environmental impacts. Aging internal-combustion vehicles contributed to elevated emissions and fuel consumption, particularly under high-heat conditions and equipment demands typical of campus policing. Telematics monitoring indicated that approximately 48% of total engine-on time consisted of idling, highlighting a substantial source of avoidable fuel use and emissions. The study employed a qualitative case …

Clinical Practice Guideline For Fall Prevention And Reduction, Wendy Zitzloff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls are a significant concern for residents in long-term care facilities who are 65 years old or older, which places them at a higher risk of injury. The risk of falling is unique to each patient and cumulative with advanced age and complex comorbidities. A Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility in Minnesota had 6.6% of long-stay residents experience a fall resulting in a major injury, higher than the Minnesota average of 4.1%. This Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) outlines foundational components for preventing and reducing falls among geriatric patients in long-term care facilities. The purpose of the CPG is to outline the …

Underrepresented Students’ Perceptions Of Precollege Programs And Challenges Of Transitioning To Postsecondary Education, Dana Truesdale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that underrepresented students (low-income and first generation college students) face challenges associated with the transition from secondary education to postsecondary education. Grounded in Schlossberg’s transition theory, the purpose of this study was to explore underrepresented students’ perceptions of support provided by precollege programs and remaining challenges when transitioning to higher education. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews with 11 underrepresented students who participated in a precollege program were conducted. Braun and Clarke’s six-phase data analysis was used. After deductive and inductive analysis, the following themes emerged: Students indicated that the …

Exploring The Definition Of Democracy And Rule Of Law From Afghan Women’S Perspective, Lynda Boswell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although the United States funded programs from 2001 to 2021 to promote democracy, the rule of law, and opportunities for Afghan women, existing reports and evaluations focused primarily on expenditures, implementation, outputs, and accountability rather than Afghan women’s perspectives, particularly after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. This study addressed that gap by exploring how Afghan women experienced and understood democracy and the rule of law before and after the U.S. withdrawal and how U.S.-supported programs influenced their perceptions and experiences. Guided by theoretical frameworks of democracy and the rule of law as applied in Afghanistan and other …

Patient-Reported Outcomes Of Effectiveness Of Esketamine For Treatment-Resistant Depression, Erica L. Marino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) affects approximately 30% of individuals with major depressive disorder who do not respond to conventional antidepressant therapies. TRD symptoms severely impact a patient’s quality of life (QoL) and impose a considerable burden on healthcare systems. The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the impact of esketamine in decreasing depressive symptoms and improving QoL factors in patients diagnosed with TRD. The research aimed to determine whether there were statistically significant improvements in depressive symptoms, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and changes in QoL, as measured by the Quality of Life in Depression Scale, over …

Staff Education To Improve Hypertension Management Knowledge, Angelor Eliscard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project, I addressed inconsistent staff knowledge of evidence-based strategies for preventing and controlling hypertension among African American women in an outpatient primary care setting. The practice-focused question was: In an outpatient clinical setting, what was the impact of an evidence-based staff education program on healthcare providers' knowledge of hypertension prevention and control strategies for African American women, as measured by pretest and posttest scores? The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a structured staff education program to improve providers' knowledge of evidence-based strategies for preventing and controlling hypertension …

Strategies To Reduce Staff Shortages In A Freestanding Dialysis Clinic In Rural Georgia, Shayla Daniell Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Vacancy rates are a current problem in a freestanding outpatient dialysis clinic in rural communities. From an administrative perspective, vacancy rates increase costs associated with recruitment, onboarding, training, overtime and compromise the quality and safety of patient care. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify evidence-based strategies to decrease vacancy rates in rural Georgia dialysis clinics. Donabedian’s framework of structure, process, and outcome was used for this integrative review. The integrative review question explored evidence-based strategies that can decrease vacancy rates in dialysis clinics in rural Georgia. Out of 50 articles reviewed using the John Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice …

Managerial Strategies For Increasing The Engagement And Retention Of Retail Employees, Dorothy Kelly Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of employee engagement strategies to increase worker retention is a concern for managers in the retail industry. This problem is important because without such strategies, organizations may experience turnover, which undermines operational stability, customer experience, and profitability. Grounded in employee engagement theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective employee engagement strategies that retail managers use to increase employee retention. Participants were six retail managers in the southern United States, each with at least 3 years of experience managing employees. Data sources consisted of semistructured interviews, public documents, and related studies. Thematic …

Development Of A Clinical Practice Guideline For Hpv Vaccination In Low-Income Adolescents Using The Agree Ii Framework, Jariatu Fatu Bundu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is an effective strategy for preventing HPV-related cancers; however, vaccination initiation and series completion remain suboptimal among adolescents, particularly those from low-income and underserved populations. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project addressed an evidence-to-practice gap involving the absence of a standardized clinical practice guideline (CPG) for HPV vaccination in a family practice setting serving predominantly low-income adolescents. The purpose of the project was to develop and validate an evidence-based CPG to standardize provider recommendations and support improvement in HPV vaccination initiation and series completion. Evidence was appraised and synthesized using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model, …

System Leadership For Sdg-Aligned Research Security In Ireland, Seán Lacey

Publications

What is new?

Research security has rapidly emerged as a priority in research governance across Europe and internationally. However, discussions frequently frame research security primarily in terms of national security or geopolitical risk, with limited attention to how security measures intersect with sustainable development objectives. This paper addresses this gap by exploring the relationship between research security and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using the emerging Irish research security framework as an illustrative context. It argues that research security and sustainable development are not inherently in conflict; however, aligning them requires coordinated system leadership to ensure that security measures protect …

Promoting The Bipartisan Dimension Of Political Leadership: A Study Of The Impact Of A Normative Intervention With Newly Elected Members Of Congress, Jaime M. Ruvalcaba

Dissertations

The U.S. political system is more polarized now than at any time in the past century, as evidenced by the rise of political incivility, legislative gridlock, and hyperpolarization. To date, most studies and efforts have focused on institutional strategies to explain, transform, and mitigate the challenges posed to the political environment. By contrast, little attention has been paid to the normative or values-based behaviors of leaders to either explain or influence political leadership in ways that positively impact the political environment. Fortunately, some organizational programs, like Harvard’s Bipartisan Program for Newly Elected Members of Congress, have taken a different tack, …

Analysis Of R2 Data Services Within The Lids Dataset, Chad Kahl, Joshua Newport

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

Introduction: This is a discussion of data services at R2 libraries in the United States. Environmental scan data was collected from summer 2021 through 2023.

Objectives: Our paper focuses on comparisons within four Carnegie Classification categories due to the limited literature about data services at R2 institutions. This analysis was done on a subset of the more comprehensive Library Data Services (LiDS) dataset (Kahl, Skaggs, and Newport 2025). Our research question was broad and general—what does the data service landscape of R2 institutions look like?

Methods: Data gathering was done by utilizing website analysis, after which we …

Shadow Learning And Knowledge Redistribution: How Workers Appropriate Generative Ai Outside Formal Organisational Systems, Eduardo Carlos Dittmar, Martin Sposato

All Works

Organisations are ceding visibility over how their employees develop knowledge. As generative AI tools become widely accessible, workers are steadily building capabilities and co-producing knowledge through informal AI engagements that operate entirely outside sanctioned training systems. This paper theorises shadow learning, the informal and autonomous appropriation of AI by workers for knowledge expansion beyond managerial design, as a process that fundamentally reconfigures how knowledge authority is distributed in organisations. Integrating critical management learning with sociomaterial and post-human perspectives, and drawing on current debates in AI ethics and human–AI interaction, the paper conceptualises shadow learning through a recursive model of constraint, …

Midweek Memo, Georgia Southern University

Midweek Memo

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Resistance And Adaptation In Banyumas Traditional Gending: Musical Negotiation Between Cultural Preservation And Commercial Performance In Lengger And Ebeg, Darno Darno, Binarung Mahatmajangga

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This study investigates the musical dynamics of Banyumas-style traditional gending within the contestation of Lengger and Ebeg performances amid the demands of modern entertainment. Using a qualitative method combining ethnomusicological and cultural-sociology perspectives, the study examines changes in musical structure and the socio-cultural forces driving them, and asks specifically: what defines Banyumas gending musicality at the level of instrumental garap (working practice); what concrete forms of adaptation and resistance are observable in contemporary performance; and how these dynamics can be read through Merriam's concept of stability and change and Bourdieu's theory of capital and field. Data were collected through in-depth …

Flexibility In Javanese Folk Performing Arts: Adaptation, Creation, And Innovation, Kiswanto Kiswanto, Paimin Paimin, Wahyu Prihatin

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This study aims to uncover and explain the concept and model of flexibility as a mechanism for the sustainability of folk performing arts amidst conditions of social and cultural change. The study was conducted using an ethnographic approach, based on participatory and collaborative activities within the Turonggo Seto Boyolali group, and supported by data collection techniques including observation, interviews, documentation, and literature review. The results of this study indicate that flexibility is a principle and approach applied through the process of adaptation, creation, and innovation. This process is carried out to preserve and develop traditional performing arts, ensuring they continue …

Estimating Leaf Physiological Traits In Eastern Cottonwood And Its Hybrids By Integrating Uav Hyperspectral Images With Statistical And Machine Learning Approaches, Bipin Paudel

Theses and Dissertations

Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and its hybrids are high-yield, fast-growing short-rotation woody crops with strong potential in bioenergy and industrial applications. Given their genetic diversity, these species require non-invasive assessment of photosynthetic, leaf biochemical, and water-use efficiency traits. These traits reflect plant physiological status, carbon cycling, productivity, as well as nutrient cycling, and hyperspectral remote sensing provides high-resolution spectral information essential for high-throughput phenotyping. Therefore, this study develops a robust framework to predict physiological traits using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-acquired canopy-level hyperspectral reflectance (~400 nm - 1000 nm, with 2.2 nm band spacing) by integrating linear and non-linear machine learning …