Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Housing Stress On Fertility Intentions Among Young People In Urban China, Fei Ouyang

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

Housing has been recognised as an important factor associated with decreasing fertility in urban China. Despite a growing number of studies dedicated to the investigation of the impact of adverse housing conditions on fertility intentions, the understanding of housing-fertility nexus remains relatively fragmented, characterised by an incomplete picture of housing stressors and conflicting findings that fail to explain why some people experiencing adverse housing conditions tend to have lower fertility intentions whilst others do not. Framing the transactional theory of stress into the housing contexts, this study redefined housing stress to enhance its explanation compared with correlation explanations in the …

Feasibility Evaluation Of Secure Offline Large Language Models With Retrieval-Augmented Generation For Cpu-Only Inference, Erick Tyndall, Torrey J. Wagner, Colleen Gayheart, Alexandre Some, Brent T. Langhals

Faculty Publications

Recent advances in large language models and retrieval-augmented generation, a method that enhances language models by integrating retrieved external documents, have created opportunities to deploy AI in secure, offline environments. This study explores the feasibility of using locally hosted, open-weight large language models with integrated retrieval-augmented generation capabilities on CPU-only hardware for tasks such as question answering and summarization. The evaluation reflects typical constraints in environments like government offices, where internet access and GPU acceleration may be restricted. Four models were tested using LocalGPT, a privacy-focused retrieval-augmented generation framework, on two consumer-grade systems: a laptop and a workstation. A technical …

Peptide-Based Inorganic Nanoparticles As Efficient Intracellular Delivery Systems, Amir Nasrolahi Shirazi, Rajesh Vadlapatla, Ajoy Koomer, Anthony Nguyen, Vian Khoury, Keykavous Parang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background/Objectives: Peptide-based inorganic nanoparticles (PINPs) have emerged as promising candidates for intracellular delivery due to their unique structural and functional attributes. These hybrid nanostructures combine the high surface area and tunable optical/magnetic properties of metal cores (e.g., Au, Ag, Fe3O4) with the biocompatibility, targeting specificity, and responsive behavior of peptides. In particular, peptides with amphipathic or cell-penetrating features could facilitate efficient transport of molecular cargos across cellular membranes while enabling stimulus-responsive drug release in target tissues. Methods: We review key synthesis methods (especially green, peptide-mediated one-pot approaches), functionalization strategies (e.g., thiol-gold bonds, click chemistries), and characterization techniques (TEM, …

Design And Optimization Of Anode Catalysts For Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells: Advances And Challenges In C-C Bond Activation And Selective Modulation Of The C1 Pathway, Kai-Chi Qin, Meng-Tian Huo, Yu Liang, Si-Yuan Zhu, Zi-Hao Xing, Jin-Fa Chang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) are a promising alternative to conventional energy sources, offering high energy density, environmental sustainability, and operational safety. Compared to methanol fuel cells, DEFCs exhibit lower toxicity and a more mature preparation process. Unlike hydrogen fuel cells, DEFCs provide superior storage and transport feasibility, as well as cost-effectiveness, significantly enhancing their commercial viability. However, the stable C–C bond in ethanol creates a high activation energy barrier, often resulting in incomplete electrooxidation. Current commercial platinum (Pt)- and palladium (Pd)-based catalysts demonstrate low C–C bond cleavage efficiency (

Nurses’ Perspectives Of Their Workplace Well-Being At A Tertiary Hospital In Saudi Arabia, Vimela Moodley, Diane Ross, Maab Basha, Asmaa Khan, Naomi Tuifao, Jennifer De Beer, Jamila Alsharani, Abeer Aljoudy

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Nursing is a demanding profession that requires substantial physical and emotional resilience, making nurses vulnerable to burnout and stress due to high job expectations and challenging work environments. In this context, many nurses are reluctant to seek help or divulge personal stressors, which can adversely affect their performance and coping skills. As a Magnet-recognized healthcare facility, the organization prioritizes outstanding patient outcomes and strives to enhance workplace conditions for nurses. A collaboration between the Magnet department and the Nurse Retention Office aims to understand the influence of the work environment on nursing wellbeing, with a focus on uncovering hidden psychological …

The Core-Collapse Supernovae Particle Physics Interactions, Skylar G. Butler

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

This study investigates the role of specific particle physics interactions in simulations of core collapse supernovae, with a focus on understanding how varying levels of inclusion impact the accuracy of gravitational wave predictions and results of simulations. Different research groups often approach these simulations with varying degrees of complexity, cutting corners by omitting certain reactions or simplifying others. This project systematically evaluates the implications of these choices, comparing the particle physics interactions included, the dimensionality of the simulations, and the governing equations used. Our goal is to identify how these factors influence the precision of numerical simulations. By providing a …

Caring For The Caregiver: Enhancing Personal And Professional Well-Being, Alicia A. Craig-Rodriguez, Melissa Bernstein

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

As the most trusted healthcare profession for 22 years running, nurses are often assumed to have a great deal of knowledge and experience regarding the importance of health promoting behaviors such as healthy eating, physical activity, and stress management. However, this knowledge very often does not translate into sustainable change in their own personal and professional practice, as the evidence reveals that nurses often place their patients’ health and well-being well above their own (Linton & Koonman, 2020). Harnessing both personal strengths and leadership skills related to the challenges facing today’s nursing workforce, this presentation will support cultivating a healthy …

Beyond The 9-To-5: The Rx For Happier Healthcare Workers, Emily Calabro, Rodica Pop

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Purpose: This pilot feasibility study aimed to investigate the impact of flexible work schedules on the mental, psychological, and physical health of healthcare workers within a large hospital system.

Background: Traditional work schedules often negatively impact productivity, well-being, and job satisfaction. This study explored the feasibility and benefits of flexible workweeks among different nursing teams.

Methods: A quasi-experimental, mixed-methods, time-series design was implemented across a 12-hospital system with the partnership of 4-Day Global, a leading expert in flexible work schedules. Eligible participants were encouraged to flex their work hours daily or at least weekly. Clinical leaders ensured on-call coverage during …

How Research-Based Listening Techniques/Interventions Improve Communication And Work Environment, Florence Schaefer

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

In the age of multitasking, it is not always easy to stop what we are doing and truly listen to those around us. Mandel, one of the world’s leading providers of communication skills for professionals, published a paper titled “The cost of not listening on your organization”. Within the workplace, not listening attributes to low employee engagement, decreased productivity, and increased turnover. This served as the impetus for the development of this project.

Stephen Covey said, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply”. Listening for the purpose of replying is …

Making An Impact: Building A Workforce That Represents Our Community, Rosemary Pine, Janelle Headley, Nancy Yuill, Leah Blackwell, Bryan Sisk

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Two decades ago, the Sullivan Commission's report Missing Persons: Minorities in the Health Professions (2004) underscored the need to increase the number of professionals from underrepresented minorities in health care. The report stressed that, “the lack of minority health professionals is compounding the nation's persistent racial and ethnic disparities.” The Advisory Board (2021) recommends action in providing development, advancement, and promotion opportunities for Patient Care Technicians (PCT) who are people of color. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022) reports that 46% of certified nursing assistants identify as an underrepresented racial or ethnic minority, Patient care technicians (PCTs) provide a critical …

Achieving Empowerment In Transition: Advice From Former Female Athletes, Ashlyn Hardie, Molly Harry, Kristi Oshiro, Marlene A. Dixon

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Scholars have highlighted the various challenges college athletes encounter in their transition from sport. Yet, the strategies athletes adopt to navigate this transitory period require further examination. Thus, we leveraged Zimmerman’s Psychological Empowerment Model and Schlossberg’s Transition Theory to explore these strategies and associated processes in-depth. The sample for this study consisted of 20 former female athletes from the U.S. who played a college sport. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed numerous strategies current and future female college athletes implement to mitigate the challenges present in their transition, specifically: Finding Acceptance, Be Proactive, Don’t Stop 100%, Embrace the …

Sport Media Consumption In Ncaa Division І Fbs Subdivision: A Panel Regression Model Using X/Twitter, Seungbak Lee, Minsoo Kang, Wonson Lim, Ju-Pil Choe, Brennan K. Berg

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Athletic departments in collegiate sports have increasingly focused on enhancing sport consumer interest through social media. As social media usage continues to grow in college sports, understanding audience behavior on these platforms has become essential for athletic departments. This study examines the factors influencing consumer interest in Division I football teams’ X (formerly Twitter) accounts, utilizing a panel dataset comprising 18,221 team-day observations. Key determinants of changes in X followers were identified, including teams’ social media activity, on-field performance, scheduling events, and timing effects, with a focus on fan interest across temporal patterns such as month-to-month and day-to-day variations. The …

Sport Employees And Resilience: An Examination Of Organizational Change With Ncaa Conference Realignment, Hailee Hernandez, Claire C. Zvosec, Brent D. Oja

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

NCAA conference membership is critically important to institutions as it is closely associated with revenue generation (i.e., conference-wide revenue distribution, ticket sales, fundraising, etc.) in addition to institutional visibility and prestige. Therefore, universities may pursue conference realignment opportunities based on higher potential revenue, institutional and athletics financial stability, and increased notoriety. Over the past 20 years, there have been at least 80 cases of schools moving conferences at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. As universities move conferences, employees within the athletics department are exposed to rapid change in organizational structure and are forced to adapt to new institutional, athletics …

Peer-Led Sexual And Reproductive Healtheducation Programs At Universities, Madison Michelle Patrick

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

This applied research explores the accessibility, visibility, and comprehensiveness of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education and services at universities, with a specific focus on contraceptive risk awareness. Recognizing college students as particularly vulnerable to misinformation regarding hormonal contraceptives, unintended pregnancy, and STI exposure, the study examines the role of university-provided SRH resources in mitigating these risks.

A mixed-methods content analysis was conducted on the SRH publicly-available web pages of four Northern California universities—Stanford University, San Francisco State University, Santa Clara University, and the University of California, Berkeley, chosen for their diversity in institutional identity. The research assessed each university’s …

‘Immigrant Invaders,’ ‘Arab Terrorists,’ And ‘Leftist Subversives’:Surveillance State From Palestine To Mexico, Alexis Figueroa

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

Immigrants in the US exist under a very strict regime of surveillance. This regime is characterized by authentication systems, check-in points, registration, forms of mobility tracking, interoperable databases, and, at the militarized US-Mexico border, the scrutiny of facial-recognition technology, automatic watchtowers, and drones. However, this didn’t come about spontaneously. This paper attempts to outline the development of the immigration surveillance state as a generations-long bipartisan project. From the evolution of the military-industrial complex and technologies like the internet innovated to spy on national independence movements, to the proliferation of data collection made for global finance, the immigration surveillance state reveals …

The Orthodox Parish And Community: A Reflection On The Post-Totalitarian Model Of Identity In Bulgaria, Presb. Sava (Shtoni) Kokoudev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article examines parish multifaceted identities and its function as a Eucharistic community, while also exploring its cultural, and historical influences in post-totalitarian context. The study delineates two identities and ecclesiological models—liturgical and institutional—to facilitate comparative analysis. The confusion and mixture of these models has caused a loss of parish community identity and function, which is evident in contemporary post-totalitarian status quo. Important issue is the restoration of the Orthodox Church’s authentic catholic identity (ɫɴɛɨɪɧɨɫɬ). This predicament gives rise to the second challenge of revitalizing liturgical life in parishes and reestablishing communion between bishops, priests, and laypeople. It also necessitates …

The Impact Of A Robust Academic-Practice Partnership: Workplace Violence Simulation Training, Valerie Howard, Lorie Rhine, Jacci Jacobs, Ashley Kellish, Julia Acoin, Angela Overman, Sinhye Kim, Becky Peterson

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

A strong academic-practice partnership in nursing is pivotal for educational institutions and healthcare organizations to advance the profession and foster healthy work environments.¹ This presentation describes the process of creating and sustaining the Tarheel Academic Practice Partnership (TAPP), a robust collaboration between two healthcare agencies and our school of nursing. The first big success of the partnership was achieved when the TAPP secured external funding to develop a program that promotes healthy work environments for current and future nurses.

The guiding principles developed, and recently reaffirmed, by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the American Organization for …

Engaging Nurses To Prevent Workplace Violence, Rebekah Powers, Carol A. Boswell, Nancy Ornelas, Christina S. Ramdeo

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Workplace violence in healthcare settings is a multifaceted problem and must be addressed using various strategies. Engaging nurses and providing opportunities for professional dialogue about workplace violence. The creation of innovative ways to reduce or eliminate workplace violence was the goal of this project.

Interventions
Using grant funds awarded, the team embarked on a 2-year journey to identify and mitigate workplace violence against nurses. The team formed a workplace violence prevention committee which included nurses from various areas of the hospital, implemented educational activities, reviewed hospital policies, re-issued ID badges to not include last names, provided de-escalation training, completed an …

Providing Robust Education On Whole Health Assessment While Enhancing Professional Well-Being, Jean Ann Davison

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The purpose of this presentation is to highlight innovative teaching strategies for comprehensive whole health while enhancing the professional well-being, and self-care of our students and faculty. Our Advanced Practice RN students’ first clinical course is Advanced Health Assessment which includes a lab component. One learning objective is to use educational strategies and principles of health literacy, coaching, and counseling for SMART goal attainment and shared decision-making in evidence-based health promotion strategies.

While we teach the APRN students about health promotion, disease prevention, motivational interviewing, and SMART goal setting, along with strategies to achieve self-management support in primary care, we …

Predictors Associated With Non-Adherence To Postpartum Visits Among Arab Immigrant Women In New Jersey, Abeer Mobarki, Charlotte Thomas-Hawkins

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The aim of the study Is to explore predisposing and enabling factors that contribute to postpartum visit non-adherence by female immigrants of Arab descent in N.J. Are levels of acculturation, diminished social support, negative health beliefs, and health insurance status independently associated with postpartum visit non-adherence among Arab immigrant women in N.J.?

Background: The underutilization of postpartum care is a global problem that limits the early detection of physical and mental complications during the postpartum period. Internationally, the prevalence of nonadherence to postpartum visits ranges from 25% to 75%. Arab immigrant population in N.J. has doubled since 1980. Yet, …

Celebrate The Past Envision The Future, 2001 July, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, IL: Special bulletin to celebrate when Chicago Union Hospital opened 100 years ago in 1901. Illinois Masonic replaced this hospital in 1921. Included is a timeline of important events from 1901-2001, staff stories, and other milestones.

Flux Reactor., Peter Branton

Defensive Publications Series

The Flux Reactor primarily utilises the properties of modern highly permeable materials such as Metglas or higher.

When a flux is applied to a highly permeable material two main reactions occur. Firstly a almost instantaneous surface reaction which is a weak weak surrounding the permeable material. Then a second internal reaction the speed of this reaction depends on the properties of the material and geometry of the material I.e. a solid bar or a bar made up of thin laminated sheets stacked. The internal reaction is the bulk reaction and according to the material properties the efficiency of the flux …

Association Between Area Deprivation Index And Outcomes After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Michelle Chung, Zhirui Deng, Dianxu Ren, Kelly Isola, Elizabeth Crago

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a life-threatening hemorrhagic stroke caused by bleeding in the arachnoid space of the brain, often resulting in long-term disabilities and poor quality of life (QOL). Individuals living in more advantaged neighborhoods report higher levels of QOL post-stroke, but little has been reported about QOL and neighborhood data after SAH.

This study sought to examine the relationship between measures of socioeconomic status (SES) and outcomes after SAH. SES encompasses a variety of factors. For this analysis, the area deprivation index (ADI) - a measurement of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage - was used as a surrogate for SES. We …

Bridging The Gap Of Bipoc Patients, Clinicians, And Doulas, Tasha Chatman

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The project is a Doctor of Nursing practice quality improvement project addressing the barriers to collaboration between BIPOC prenatal patients, clinicians, and doulas. Maternal mortality and morbidity are a crisis in our nation with black women dying three times more than their white counterparts (Harris, n.d.). BIPOC prenatal patients are suffering from maternal mortality and morbidity. Stemming from such as historical racism, racial inequalities, implicit bias and structural determinants of health. The Doula can give cultural congruent care, impower BIPOC prenatal patients, while providing emotional and physical support. The utilization of a doula as continuous labor support is shown to …

Quantitative Analysis Of Hardiness Within Night Shift Nurses: A Survey-Based Study, Megan Brunson

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

This dissertation proposal aims to examine the relationship between fixed night shift nurses and their level of hardiness using the Dispositional Resilience Scale (DRS-15). The study focuses on nurses working in acute care settings, categorized into four groups based on years of night shift experience: 0-2 years, 3-6 years, 7-9 years, and 10+ years.

The research employs a cross-sectional quantitative design, utilizing an online survey comprising demographic questions and the DRS-15. The theoretical framework is the society-to-cells resilience theory, which integrates multiple levels of analysis to understand human development and resilience.

The study has two primary aims:
1. Determine the …

Exploring The Role Of Ict In Empowering Grassroots Innovation And Entrepreneurship: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Iringa Region In Tanzania, Emma Nkonoki, Ruthbetha Kateule, Ville Leppänen

The African Journal of Information Systems

ICT-enabled grassroots innovation has been extensively researched; however, there is a lack of empirical evidence as to its potential contribution to resource-scarce settings in Africa. This paper aims to explore the transformative role of ICT from idea generation to sustained entrepreneurship using the Iringa region in Tanzania as a case study. This qualitative study delves into the experiences of four grassroots entrepreneurs, revealing the interplay between technology, resource scarcity and the aspirations of those entrepreneurs. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and was examined extensively using thematic analysis. This revealed how ICT assists innovative young entrepreneurs to identify and utilize …

An Exhibition On The 2013 Aga Khan Award For Architecture

Trophies, shields, and souvenirs presented to AKU

No abstract provided.

2025-07-08 Executive Council Minutes, Susie Salazar

Executive Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Association Between Food Benefit Online Ordering And Redemptions: Evidence From The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children, Junzhou Zhang, Chuanyi Tang, Kayoung Park, Qi Zhang

Department of Marketing Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Objective:

To examine how the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) online food benefit ordering could influence WIC benefit redemptions.

Design:

A cross-sectional study. We compare the average redemption rates between online ordering early adopters and non-adopters among WIC customers before and after implementing WIC online ordering. A propensity score-weighted difference-in-difference model was used to estimate the coefficients.

Setting:

The Oklahoma WIC programme and a grocery store chain in Oklahoma.

Participants:

12743 Oklahoma WIC households that had redeemed their food benefits at the grocery store chain in 2020.

Results:

WIC online ordering significantly positively affected redemption …

Dataset On Physical Properties From Johnston Draw Borehole At Reynolds Creek Critical Zone Observatory, Nicholas Patton, Kathleen A. Lohse

Reynolds Creek Critical Zone Observatory Data

A borehole to 90m was drilled in 2019 at Johnston Draw in the Reynolds Creek Critical Zone Observatory in SW Idaho, USA. Physical attributes of select borehole depth intervals were were separated into coarse (> 2mm) and fine fraction (< 2 mm) size. The coarse fraction was analyzed for rock density. The fine fraction was analyzed for color, effervescence, and particle size distribution.