Digital Commons Network^™

Experiences Of African American Male Foster Care Alumni And How Mentoring Links To Academic Achievement, Tenaya Wade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored how mentoring was perceived in the educational experiences of African American male foster care alumni who completed college. African American males with foster care histories often face significant adversity, including placement instability, disrupted educational experiences, and limited access to consistent support systems. Although these challenges are well documented, less is known about how supportive mentoring relationships may contribute to academic persistence and success. A generic qualitative framework was used to gather participant perspectives through semi-structured interviews. Four African American male foster care alumni aged 22 to 41 who had earned a college degree participated in the study. …

Looking Beneath The Surface: Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Through The Caregiver’S Lens—Support, Advocacy, And Self-Care, Melissa Fredin

Master of Arts in Human Services

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure that can affect cognitive functioning, adaptive skills, communication, emotional regulation, and daily living abilities. Individuals with FASD and their caregivers often face complex challenges while navigating behavioral, educational, healthcare, human service, and criminal justice systems. Although awareness of FASD continues to increase, gaps remain in caregiver education, professional understanding, and access to coordinated, trauma-informed supports. The literature indicates that caregiver education is central to improving outcomes for individuals with FASD and is associated with stronger advocacy, more effective support strategies, greater caregiver resilience, and improved …

2026 Ursinus College Academic Convocation Program, Ursinus College

Academic Convocation Programs

This Ursinus College Academic Convocation program lists speakers and events for the opening of the 2026 academic year.

North Country Career Expo Student Brochure, Cooperative Extension, Coos County, Ray Berthiaume

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

A Stochastic Nonlinear Dynamical System For Smoothing Noisy Eye Gaze Data, Thoa Thieu, Roderick Melnik

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

In this study, we address the challenges associated with accurately determining gaze location on a screen, which is often compromised by noise from factors such as eye tracker limitations, calibration drift, ambient lighting changes, and eye blinks. We propose the use of an extended Kalman filter (EKF) to smooth the gaze data collected during eye-tracking experiments and systematically explore the interaction of different system parameters. Our results demonstrate that the EKF significantly reduces noise, leading to a marked improvement in tracking accuracy. Furthermore, we show that our proposed stochastic nonlinear dynamical model aligns well with real experimental data and holds …

Spiral & Wheel, Red Audiss

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Rejection Of Fe (Iron) And Kmno4 (Organic Substance) Parameters In Peat Water Using Organic Membranes, Muhamad Rafli Sakti Mulia Gonera, Siti Umi Kalsum, Sarah Fiebrina Heraningsih

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

Peat water is a surface water source widely used by people in swampy and lowland areas, but it has poor quality characteristics such as high organic matter content, low pH, and dissolved metal levels such as iron that exceed the threshold. These conditions can cause health problems and reduce the quality of clean water so that effective treatment technology is needed. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of ultrafiltration membranes made from chitosan from shrimp shell waste in rejecting iron (Fe) and organic substances in peat water, and to determine the effect of pressure on separation performance. This study …

The International Adoption Movement From South Korea: A Sociological Analysis Of Its Rise, Fall And Relevance Today For Children’S Rights Issues, Madeline H. Engel

Sociology Between the Gaps: Forgotten and Neglected Topics

No abstract provided.

Early Immune Dysregulation In Mtb/Siv Co-Infection Resists Cart Treatment At The Single-Cell Level, Riti Sharan, Yi Zou, Zhao Lai, Korri Weldon, Todd Bradley, Xi Luo, Hulin Wu, Shabaana A Khader, Deepak Kaushal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Using single-cell transcriptomics of bronchoalveolar lavage cells from Mtb/SIV co-infected rhesus macaques on cART, we reveal profound immune dysregulation during early SIV co-infection of latent tuberculosis. SIV induces a sharp decline in CD4+ T cells, NK, and NKT cells, with incomplete recovery of Mtb-specific TH1 effector responses despite viral suppression. Instead, a persistent TH17-skewed environment emerges, alongside sustained myeloid inflammation driven by Type I interferon signaling and pro-inflammatory regulators such as KLF6 and NFKB1. Ligand-receptor network analyses demonstrate expanded CD4+ T cell-macrophage crosstalk and loss of immune homeostasis that cART fails to fully restore. These findings expose …

Feasibility And Patient-Reported Outcomes Of Full-Body Red And Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation For Musculoskeletal Pain In A Predominantly Hispanic/Latino Population: A Single-Arm Pilot Study, Robson Dias Scoz, Frida Garza, Ivana Burberg, Isabella Moreno, Melissa Espinosa Cantu, Mia Dominguez, Juan Gonzalez

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Objective: To characterize feasibility, tolerability, and patient-reported outcomes after a 10-session full-body red and near-infrared photobiomodulation (PBM) protocol for musculoskeletal pain in a predominantly Hispanic/ Latino community sample.

Background: PBM is a non-pharmacological intervention with potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Evidence from community-based and Hispanic/Latino populations remains limited, and full-body LED protocols are incompletely standardized.

Methods: This single-arm observational pilot study included 40 adults with self-reported acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain. Participants completed baseline and post-protocol Qualtrics surveys. The intervention used a full-body LED panel emitting 630, 660, 830, and 850 nm light in continuous-wave mode for 20 min per …

Extreme Geomagnetic Storm Effects On Earth's Radiation Belts Observed By Calet On The International Space Station, Anthony W. Ficklin

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines changes in Earth's energetic-particle environment using measurements from the Calorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) on the International Space Station. Although CALET was designed primarily for high-energy cosmic-ray and gamma-ray observations, its count rates provide nearly continuous measurements of particles of ~1 MeV and above. The analysis uses the CHDX, CHDY, and IMC4X channels, which have approximate electron thresholds of $>\!1.5$, $\!>3.4$, and $\!>8.2$~MeV and proton thresholds of $>\!17$, $\!>37$, and $\!>52$~MeV, respectively. Because these measurements do not identify particle species, the observations are interpreted using their geographic and geomagnetic distributions, the relative …

Analytical Study On Unsteady Flow Of A Hyperbolic Tangent Fluid In Existence Of Porous Media Of An Exponentially Stretched Sheet With Heat Transfer, Nidhal M. Abd Alameer, Sundos Bader, Fatima K. Abdullah

Baghdad Science Journal

The unsteady flow of a tangential hyperbolic fluid with temperature in the presence of a sublimation medium and an exponential surface was discussed in this article. The law of conservation of mass, energy, and momentum is essential to the model of matter. To make it easier to identify solutions, the partial equations were converted into ordinary equations. We refer to this approach as the homotopic method. To explain the results, the Mathematica program was used to find the solutions and graphically depict them. The impact of the parameters on velocity, temperature was discussed, which are Random motion factor (Nb …

Does Our Economy Cultivate Beauty?, Joshua Hollinger

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Wherever we’re failing to build and preserve beautiful places, the answer lies in fostering a society of people who have a taste for beauty and a loving desire to share it with others, and in finding mechanisms for cooperating and negotiating with each other amid our sin and finitude."

Posting about true beauty in an advertising-focused world ­­­­­­­­from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Does Our Economy Cultivate Beauty?

Physical Design Automation For Next Generation Ics: Graph And Machine Learning Based Approaches, Dr. Kritanta Saha

Doctoral Theses

Integrated Circuit (IC) technology has progressed significantly over the last six decades, culminating in billions of transistors on a chip. The widely used 193 nm immersion lithography process exceeds modern feature sizes, leading to layout pattern distortions and electrical violations. Mitigation techniques such as Multiple Patterning and Optical Proximity Correction become ineffective below 45 nm, prompting the development of several Next-Generation Lithography (NGL) methods such as Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUVL), Multiple Electron Beam Lithography (MEBL). MEBL employs thousands to millions of e-beams in parallel to overcome throughput limitations. A 2D layout is partitioned into vertical stripes by stitch-lines (SLs), each …

Dual Immunomodulatory And Wound-Healing Effects Of 4-Aminopyridine And Electrical Stimulation, Caden P. Connealy, Ben Ravnsborg, Sangamesh Gurappa Kumbar, Sama Abdulmalik

Medical Student Research Showcase

Background: Post-traumatic soft tissue injuries cause pain, functional impairment, and long-term disability. Current treatments often lead to excessive fibrosis and scar formation, compromising tissue function and increasing the risk of re-injury. Therefore, therapies that accelerate wound healing while promoting regeneration and minimizing fibrosis are urgently needed.

To address this challenge, we developed an ionically conducting (IC) bandage that combines localized electrical stimulation (ES) with sustained delivery of the small molecule 4-aminopyridine (4AP). This multifunctional platform integrates biophysical and pharmacological cues to enhance the wound healing microenvironment. ES promotes cell migration, proliferation, angiogenesis, collagen remodeling, and extracellular matrix organization while …

Southern Adventist University Commencement Program Summer 2026, Southern Adventist University

Commencement Programs

Program for Southern Adventist University Summer 2026 graduation. The commencement service took place on August 21, 2025 at 10 am in Iles Physical Education Center.

Title I Middle School Mathematics Teachers’ Perspectives On Student Digital Distractions Related To Technological-Pedagogical Knowledge Interactions In Knowledge Spaces, Spencer Rebecca Ward Fraley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is the gap in literature on Title I middle school mathematics classroom teachers’ perspectives on student digital distractions related to teacher technological-pedagogical knowledge (TPK) interactions in knowledge spaces. Grounded in the technology pedagogical content knowledge framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore Title I middle school mathematics teachers’ perspectives on student digital distractions related to teacher TPK interactions in the Southeastern Coastal United States. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with six teachers and analyzed through two coding cycles and three analytical stages. Even though the results must …

Optical And Structural Characterization Of Sn@Zn And Sn Core-Shell Nanoparticles Synthesized By Plal: Evaluation Of Prostate Cancer, Aya K. Mahmoed, Sabah N. Mazhir

Baghdad Science Journal

In this study, Sn nanoparticles and Sn/Zn core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized using (PLA) techniques. Pulsed laser ablation with a (1064 nm) wavelength, (6 Hz) frequency, (300 mJ) energy, and (250 pulses) number of shots was used to subject colloidal dispersions of Sn and Zn, and bimetallic Sn@Zn core/shell nanoparticles were generated by the metal target in 15 mL of distilled water (DW). The investigation of nanoparticles was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-VIS spectroscopy, FESEM, zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The efficiency of the prepared nanomaterial was assessed for cytotoxicity, as the test was …

Béla Király’S Tall Tale That Led To His Decoration As “Righteous” In Yad Vashem, Peter Pastor

Department of History Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

In May 1993, General Béla Király was decorated Righteous among the Nations in Yad Vashem for protecting the lives of a Jewish labor company in the winter of 1943–1944 in the rear of the front in Proskurov, Ukraine. His recognition was based on false testimonies by veteran labor servicemen who were unaware that, during the winter of 1944–1945, Király, then a high-ranking official in the fascist Arrow Cross Ministry of Defense in Kőszeg, failed to respond to the suffering of 5,000 Jewish labor servicemen, of whom 2,500 died.

Social Work: Becoming An Integrated Advanced Practitioner, Cynthia Arnold

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Masters of Social Work Portfolio

Msw Portfolio: Tributaries Of Growth, Madison Hergenrader

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Tributaries of Growth reflects mastery in the field of Social Work; reflections on the five elements and ten competencies as seen through the academic and practicum experiences at the University of Montana.

Becoming A Social Worker, Sheyanne Marie Herron

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

This portfolio is a reflective overview of my journey toward becoming a social worker. It highlights how my education, professional experiences, practicum placements, and coursework have shaped my development as a clinician, advocate, and leader. The portfolio demonstrates growth across the core MSW competencies, including ethical practice, assessment, intervention, research, policy, advocacy, cultural humility, and leadership. It also emphasizes my person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approach to practice and my commitment to social justice and lifelong learning.

Msw Portfolio, Allie Wright

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

My Msw Journey, Kaela Metcalfe

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

The Ranking Function With Trapezoidal Membership And Fuzzy Parameters Of The Inverse Exponential Rayleigh Distribution, Rehab Noori Shalan, Ali T. Mohammed, Maysaa J. Mohammed, Iden H. Al-Kinani

Baghdad Science Journal

This study aims to investigate the estimation of the parameters of the inverse exponential Rayleigh distribution using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) and Ranked Set Sampling (RSS) methods, on account of their importance in modeling across lifespan and reliability data. The model is used on empirical data representing the fracture stress of carbon fibers for both single and saturated fibers, in order to determine the accuracy of the estimation methods in given applications. In addition, the classical model is expanded to a fuzzy model to focus on inherent uncertainty in real-world applications. This is realized by designing fuzzy numbers using …

Effect Of Lanthanum Additive On The Structural, Magnetic, And Morphological Properties Of LaXNi1-XFe2O4 Ferrite Prepared By Sol-Gel Method, Awattif A. Mohammed, Farah T. M. Noori

Baghdad Science Journal

Spinel ferrites are valued for their tunable electrical and magnetic properties. Rare-earth substitution, such as with La³⁺, is known to modify their cation distribution and magnetic interaction. In this study, La_xNi_1-xFe₂O₄ nanoparticles (x = 0.0, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9) were synthesized via the sol-gel method. Their properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). XRD confirmed a single-phase cubic spinel structure for all compositions. A gradual peak shift with increasing La³⁺ content indicated lattice expansion, attributable to the larger ionic radius …

Synergistic Photodetectors Based On Sno2/Si With Cnts Via Vacuum Thermal Evaporation, Sozan A. Hassan, Walla M. Mohammd, Mohanad Q. Kareem, Kawkab D. Salim

Baghdad Science Journal

This study presents a precision-engineered carbon nanotube (CNT)-doped SnO₂/Si heterojunction photodetector, wherein interfacial physics governs performance beyond individual material capabilities. Stepwise CNT loadings (0, 0.03, and 0.07 wt.%) were deposited by vacuum thermal evaporation to systematically reconstruct the crystallographic, morphological and band-alignment landscape. A-sure X-ray diffraction demonstrates that the rutile phase remains, and atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirm grain passivation at the nanoscale. High sub-bandgap light sensitivity can be achieved, benefiting from the built-in field-assisted carrier separation at the SnO₂/Si interface, whereby the redshifted absorption edge is indicative of intentional bandgap engineering. CNT …

Leadership Style And Employee Outcomes In Private Practice Outpatient Physical Therapy Clinics, Catherine Beuerle Martin, Debra Ann Beazley

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Background: Workforce retention, employee engagement, and job satisfaction are ongoing challenges in outpatient physical therapy practice. Leadership style has been identified as a potentially modifiable organizational factor that may influence clinician experience and workplace outcomes. Despite extensive leadership research in other health professions, evidence specific to outpatient physical therapy settings remains limited. 

Purpose: To examine the relationships between private practice outpatient physical therapy clinic directors’ perceived leadership styles and staff physical therapists' work engagement, job satisfaction, turnover intention, leadership effectiveness, satisfaction with leadership, and willingness to exert extra effort.

Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study surveyed licensed staff physical …

From “Fixer” To “Facilitator”: A Clinical Review Of Shared Medical Appointments As A Strategy For Workforce Sustainability, Barbara A. Slusher

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Clinician burnout remains a significant threat to workforce sustainability, particularly in resource-constrained settings managing complex chronic diseases. While shared medical appointments (SMAs) have demonstrated clear benefits in patient satisfaction and access, their impact on clinician well-being and professional fulfillment is less clearly defined. This review evaluates whether participation in SMAs improves clinician satisfaction and mitigates burnout by facilitating a conceptual transition from isolated “Fixer” to collaborative “Facilitator.”

A targeted literature search of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar identified peer-reviewed publications examining shared medical appointments and clinician-centered outcomes, including burnout, clinician satisfaction, and workforce sustainability. …

Hidden Infarctions: Understanding And Managing Myocardial Infarction With Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries Through A Multimodal Lens, Catalina Esquivel

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) accounts for 5–15% of myocardial infarctions and disproportionately affects women and minority populations. It is defined by clinical evidence of myocardial ischemia with