Digital Commons Network^™

Integration Of Sensors And Actuators In Mechanical Systems For Makerspace Applications, Nathalie Morton

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study

This independent study developed and implemented a workshop for the SLMP Makerspace that introduced microprocessors and actuators by guiding beginner makers through building a tilt- controlled marble maze using the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express (CPX). Participants learned to integrate the CPX’s onboard accelerometer with servo motors to control the maze’s movement, while gaining foundational skills in wiring and programming using Circuit Python or Arduino IDE. The workshop was designed to be accessible for those new to microprocessor integration, while still offering a meaningful introduction to core concepts in sensor-driven systems. It complements a Makerspace training module on Sensors and Actuators, …

Navigating Knowledge: An Autoethnographic Journey Through Instructional Decision-Making And Educational Technology Development, Daniel James Clark

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Have you ever felt lost while learning? Guided by this curiosity, the researcher embarked on a decade-long journey to understand how students navigate learning environments and how educational technology might offer clearer pathways. In response, the researcher designed and developed Navigating Knowledge, a learning platform informed by his dual roles as a higher education instructor and educational technology developer. This capstone is distinct in its simultaneous integration of theory, design, and implementation to bridge pedagogical insight with technological innovation. Using an analytic autoethnographic methodology, this qualitative research critically examined 33 instructional, platform development, and reflective journal artifacts from 2013 to …

Re: Comment Letter For Draft Final Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Unreclaimed Sites Ur-05 Remedial Action Work Plan (Rawp) (Dated March 14, 2025), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

What’S Up With Medicaid? And Why Should We Care?, Beth Potier

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership By Chiefs And Supervisors On Law Enforcement Turnover Intention: An Examination Of Job Satisfaction And Commitment As Mediators, Myunghyun Choi, Sohee Kim, Youngki Woo

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how law enforcement officers’ turnover intentions are affected by their perceptions of transformational leadership from both chiefs and supervisors as well as their job satisfaction and organizational commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing a large sample of 13,072 sworn law enforcement officers from 85 agencies across the United States, this study employs structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the impacts of transformational leadership by chiefs and supervisors on turnover intention. Additionally, this study investigates the mediating effects of job satisfaction and organizational commitment in these relationships.

Findings

The findings indicate that transformational leadership from …

The Role Of Cultural Mathematical Caring Relations In Supporting Two Latina Undergraduates’ Rate Of Change Development Within A Constructivist Teaching Experiment: An Anti-Deficit Investigation Bridging Sensemaking And Cultural Experiences, Christopher Orlando Roman

Dissertations and Theses

This study introduces cultural mathematical caring relations (CMCRs) as a framework that extends Hackenberg's mathematical caring relations by integrating two tenets of culturally relevant pedagogy: academic achievement and cultural competence. Framed within radical constructivism, CMCRs prioritize students' cognitive growth and development while affirming their cultural and experiential identities by embedding their funds of knowledge into the learning process. Through a constructivist teaching experiment with two Latina students, Yari and Jocelyn, this research investigates how working to establish and maintain CMCRs can influence Latin* students' rate of change development.

Findings illustrate that CMCRs supported the development of Yari and Jocelyn's rate …

Vocational Education Leaders’ Perceptions Of Institutional Readiness For Online And Blended Learning, Gennette P. Clacken

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent studies highlight institutional readiness as critical to the successful adoption of online and blended learning (OBL) in higher education; however, limited research in Jamaican vocational institutions presents a risk of implementation failure and reduced return on investment for stakeholders. This basic qualitative study explored how institutional leaders in Jamaican vocational education institutions describe institutional readiness for OBL adoption and implementation. Grounded in facilitating conditions as a construct of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and guided by the blended learning adoption framework, the study focused on the readiness of institutional strategy, structure, and support. Semistructured interviews …

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Posttraumatic Symptomology In Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Adults, Timothy Hollinger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood adversity is a known predictor of poor psychological outcomes in adulthood, yet little is known about this relationship among Hispanic adults in South Texas. This study examined whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and whether gender, marital status, or educational attainment moderate this relationship. The central research questions were: (1) What is the relationship between ACEs and PTSD symptoms among Hispanic adults in South Texas? and (2) Do gender, marital status, or education moderate this relationship? Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, this quantitative archival study used a non-experimental, correlational design. Linear …

The Role Of Pd-1/Pd-L1 In Overshooting Osteoclastogenesis In Periprosthetic Joint Infections, Yi Ren, Denise Jahn, Stefanie Donner, Clemens Gwinner, Weijie Du, Dimitrios L Wagner, Serafeim Tsitsilonis, Carsten Perka, Georg Duda, Arne Kienzle

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a critical complication following arthroplasty, leading to increased prosthesis failure rates post-treatment. This study explores the role of PD-1/PD-L1 signaling in osteoclastogenesis associated with PJI. Peripheral blood, bone, and bone marrow of 65 patients (20 primary osteoarthritis, 21 PJI septic explantation, 24 PJI prosthesis reimplantation) were analyzed for their bone microstructure and cell composition. Immunocytochemistry, RT-qPCR, flow cytometry, bone resorption assay, ELISA, and RNA sequencing were performed to investigate the effects of PD-1 stimulation and blockade on osteoclast formation. PD-1 positive monocytes and sPD-L1 levels were elevated in PJI. Stimulation with PD-L1 enhanced osteoclastogenesis, while …

Balancing The Workload In Executive Protection: Is It Time To Outsource The Advance?, Alan Saquella, Tim Sharpe

Publications

In the evolving world of executive protection (EP), the days of focusing solely on physical security are over. Today’s EP professionals are responsible for an ever-expanding array of duties, from travel logistics and site assessments to digital threat monitoring and cyber hygiene education. This growing workload is pushing teams to rethink traditional approaches, and one question now stands at the forefront of that discussion: Should executive protection teams begin outsourcing advance operations to specialized agencies or companies?

A Review Of Medical Ethics In Orthopaedic Surgery: Current Foci And Future Considerations, Ryan X Lam, Zhi Mei Sonia He, Ruhi Thapar, Maggie Wang, Dion G Birhiray, Matthew Milad, Lara Ouellette, Umar Ghilzai, Tucker J Cushing, M Brent Price, Brenden B Ronna, Omar H Atassi, Christopher H Perkins, John R Dawson, William M Granberry, Melvyn A Harrington, Douglas R Dirschl, Lorenzo R Deveza

Library Staff Publications

Medical ethics education is a required component of orthopaedic surgery resident training per the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) guidelines, although no standardized curriculum currently exists.

Beyond the 4 principles of bioethics (autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice), additional ethical concepts relevant to orthopaedic care include utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, moral intuitionism, microethics, and narrative ethics.

Ethical themes identified in the literature relevant to orthopaedic surgery include the ethics involved in medical decision-making, use of new technologies, caring for vulnerable patients, performing high-stakes procedures, the impacts of trainee status on patient care, and patient attitude regarding conflict of interest.

Ethical …

Behavioral Decision-Making In Platform Operations, Nicholas Clyde

Olin Business School Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decade, online platforms have experienced significant growth, both in terms of user interest and the range of services they offer. These platforms now provide a wide array of services, from groceries (e.g., Instacart) and transportation (e.g., Uber, Lyft) to entertainment (e.g., TikTok, Twitch). Understanding how individuals interact with these platforms is crucial, not only for the platforms’ success but also for assessing their broader societal impact. In my research, I employ a range of empirical methods—including field experiments, natural experiments, and online experiments—to explore how online platforms can intentionally and unintentionally influence behaviors." In Chapter 1, “The …

Umn Morris Announces 2025 Student Award Winners, Communications And Marketing

Campus News Archive

No abstract provided.

The Joint Association Of Diet Quality And Sleep Regularity With Incident Cardiovascular Disease In The Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis, Kaitlin S Potts, Claire Veldkamp, Alexis C Wood, Erin D Michos, Raymond Noordam, Tianyi Huang, Susan Redline, Heming Wang

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background/objectives: Diet quality and sleep regularity both influence cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and may influence each other, but there is scarce evidence for their joint or interacting associations in relation to CVD. We assessed these associations in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Methods: Participants free of CVD with valid diet and sleep measures in 2010-2013 were included and followed through 2020 for detection of incident CVD (188 events detected over 8.8 years among 1782 participants; 55% women). Sleep timing and duration regularity were assessed via the intra-individual SD of sleep onset time and duration across 5- to 7-day actigraphy. …

Poetries Of Abandonment: A Study Of Plath And Glück, Yara Abdelmoneim

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the intersection between literature and trauma, which can be discerned in the key works of two poets, Sylvia Plath and Louise Glück. While offering readings of crucial poems, the thesis also examines the interrelations among trauma, memory and narrative as theorized by two contemporary psychiatrists, Bessel van der Kolk and Judith Herman. Both Plath and Glück wrote about personal and generational trauma after going through different experiences of abandonment. Absence, indirection and repetition provide the basis for literary techniques that allow their traumas to be better understood by authors and readers alike. The degree to which each …

Retention Intervention Program Success: An Inquiry Into Learning Organization Structural And Cultural Elements In California Community Colleges, Paul Vernon Wickline

Dissertations and Theses

Community colleges serve a diverse, underrepresented, and economically disadvantaged student population, yet most students fail to complete their academic goals, with students from marginalized groups facing even more significant disparities. Some colleges have implemented Early Alert and Intervention (EA&I) programs to improve retention and completion rates. However, colleges may face organizational challenges in implementing and sustaining these retention programs. This qualitative study examined structural and cultural elements in community colleges that have successfully implemented EA&I programs, focusing on student services and student affairs practices that support a learning-centered environment. Findings suggest that effective EA&I programs are grounded in inclusive, collaborative, …

Servant Leaders’ Humility, Active Listening, And Trust-Building On Employee Engagement In U.S. Private Financial Organizations, Sunny M. Sung

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective leadership characteristics hinder employee engagement in the financial industry, leading to negative organizational outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between servant leaders’ humility, active listening, and trust-building for employee engagement in U.S. private financial organizations. The servant leadership theory of serving followers and the social exchange theory of reciprocity grounded this study. Using simple random sampling, the participants comprised 190 employees from private financial organizations in the United States. They completed the Servant Leadership Scale-7, Servant Leadership Assessment Instrument factors six and seven, hearing, understanding, remembering, interpreting, evaluating, and responding (HURIER) …

Impact Of Nursing Home Staff Hours And Administrator Turnover On Quality Of Care Post-Covid-19 Pandemic In Texas, Kendra King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing facilities experienced heightened unfavorable outcomes related to quality of care and staffing patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental, retrospective study was to determine if there was a relationship between nursing home administrator turnover, total nurse staffing (i.e., LPN, RN, and nurse aides) hours per resident per day, and the quality of care as measured by the Long Stay Quality Measure (LSQM) rating in Texas after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023. The Donabedian model, using the elements of structure, process, and outcomes, served as the theoretical framework for this study. Structure was represented by the …

Increasing Depression Risk Screening In Hospice And Palliative Care Patients, Elizabeth Kanini Michaels

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was conducted as a staff education project. The practice problem involved inconsistent depression risk screening in hospice and palliative care patients. It was crucial to address this, as depression can be pervasive in this population. The practice-focused question was, For registered nurses who work in a palliative or hospice care unit, does education on depression risk screening increase depression screening rates as compared 12 weeks before to 12 after the education? The project aimed to improve depression risk screening rates through staff education. The Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice model was used to assess 13 supporting articles …

Teachers’ Perspectives On The Obstacles To Implementing Inquiry-Based Learning In Secondary Science Classrooms, Gabrielle Gonzales

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The research problem for this study was that teachers are inconsistent in using inquiry-based instruction in secondary science classrooms. Guided by Vygotsky’s theory of constructivism, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perspectives of the obstacles to implementing inquiry-based instruction in secondary science classrooms and what they believe will be needed to allow them to overcome these obstacles. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 certified, current Grade 8 to 12 teachers within the United States who had experience and familiarity with inquiry-based instruction. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis with open coding. The five themes …

Renal Patients’ Perception Of Self-Efficacy Through Rapport And Trust With Registered Dietitians, Michelle Denise Broussard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

End stage renal disease requires dietary education and behavior modifications to manage the condition. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the role of rapport and trust between the patients and registered dietitians and its impact on self-efficacy. The study was implemented over 12 weeks in multi-site dialysis units in urban Georgia. The health belief model was used as the framework to explain the participants’ desire toward self-efficacy. Data were obtained for the 14-item Health Care Relationship Trust scale and the self-efficacy scales and analyzed using multiple linear regression. A convenience sample of 125 patients between the ages …

Staff Education On Documentation For Hospice Registered Nurses, Sharon Spencer Cunningham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary Documentation is a part of a daily task that all nurses undertake. Its purpose is to provide validation of care rendered to patients. In the hospice setting, nurses’ documentation is crucial, as it supports whether a patient qualifies to receive hospice services. If proper documentation is not recorded, patients can lose services and organizations can face a loss of revenue and potential fines. At a hospice organization in the Southeast United States, there was little emphasis of the importance of documentation that adheres to guidelines set by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Therefore, nurses’ documentation lacked the …

Addressing Barriers In A Domestic Violence Program For Balkan American Women, Yasmina Isa Malas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The issue of domestic violence is a pressing concern, both globally and within specific communities, remaining a significant issue with unique implications for Balkan American women. It is important to understand the unique challenges faced by Balkan American women in accessing and benefiting from domestic violence support services and programs. The focus of this case study was a nonprofit behavioral health organization that serves a population of women who have experienced domestic violence abuse in the northeastern part of the United States. Grounded in the Baldrige Excellence Framework, the research investigated the strategies and initiatives of Organization X in reducing …

Leadership Strategies To Decrease Resistance To Structural Changes Within A Healthcare Organization, Alicia J. Myers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This single case study is an exploration of the necessary leadership skills to reduce resistance to organizational changes. Behavioral health leaders (BHLs) frequently implement changes, and poor execution can result in employee burnout, increased turnover, and decreased productivity. The participant population in this study included five BHLs in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The study included the use of the Baldrige excellence framework as an evidenced-based model to evaluate organizational systems. Data were collected primarily through semistructured interviews and were supplemented by information collected in organizational documents. When the data were analyzed, the emerging themes were communication gaps, …

Strategic Practices Of Muslim-Led Nonprofits Operating Successfully Beyond 4 Years, Tayyab Yunus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Muslim-led nonprofit organizations experience high levels of organizational failure during the startup phase, often failing to operate beyond 4 years of existence. Muslim nonprofit founders, funders, and community leaders are concerned with this lack of sustainability, often attributed to strategic planning and talent management missteps. Grounded in the entrepreneurial value creation theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry explored strategies successful Muslim-led nonprofit organizations used to sustain operations beyond 4 years. Data collection occurred through semistructured interviews with six expert consultants who have supported Muslim-led nonprofits operating across the United States. Data were triangulated with publicly accessible U.S. Muslim-led nonprofit website data …

Workplace Mobbing, Job Satisfaction, And Intent To Leave The Information Technology Industry, Sherry Elaine Baker-Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some information technology leaders are increasingly concerned about employees’ intent to leave their organizations, as it contributes to higher turnover rates, increased recruitment costs, and potential disruptions to project continuity and service delivery. Grounded in affective events theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between workplace mobbing, job satisfaction, and the intent to leave the information technology industry. The study surveyed 101 information technology employees residing in the United States who had experienced workplace mobbing. The participants completed the Negative Acts Questionnaire, the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, and the Turnover Intention Questionnaire. Results from a …

Clinical Practice Guideline For Wound Care Management In Primary Healthcare Settings Across The British Virgin Islands To Minimize Clinical Practice Variations, Trorisia Shanika John

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement (QI) initiative in a British Virgin Islands (BVI) primary healthcare setting involved the problem of inconsistent wound care management among registered nurses, which was a concern that was identified in a 2023 audit. The BVI Health Service Authority (HSA)’s diverse nursing staff, which is recruited across the Caribbean, contributed to varied wound care approaches, negatively impacting healthcare delivery and quality. These inconsistencies led to unequal resource access, increased infection and complication risks, and potential financial and legal liabilities. Furthermore, it could negatively affect staff and patient perceptions, potentially decreasing patient satisfaction, highlighting the urgent need for standardized …

Public Policy And Homeless Youth In Kansas, Esther Abigail Andrew

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Youth homelessness rose in Johnson County, Kansas, by 37 percent, partly due to family conflict and socioeconomic challenges. The lack of guidance, social support, and resources can create a domino effect. While existing literature has examined youth homelessness at the national level and in other sub-national locations, the impact of federal and state policies related to homelessness among youth in Johnson County, Kansas, has not been explored. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and practices of administrators in homeless services who manage federal and state funding guided by public policies for homeless youth, based …

Age, Race, Religious Commitment, And Fertility Quality Of Life, Dana L. Ward

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Infertility is a major health issue that impacts an individual’s physical, social and mental well-being. Women who are childless due to infertility experience a reduced fertility quality of life. Quality of life is directly related to an individual’s overall well-being and happiness. Using family systems theory, this quantitative research study aimed to answer how age, race, and religious commitment influence the fertility quality of life in women aged 25 to 50 who are involuntarily childless due to infertility. Data were collected from 132 participants using a demographic survey, The Religious Commitment Inventory (RCI-10), and the Fertility Quality of Life Survey …

Youth’S Experiences In Trauma-Informed Writing Instruction: A Narrative Inquiry Analysis, Shantell Lee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines the experiences of high school age youth who engage trauma-informed writing instruction in an afterschool setting. Trauma-informed writing instruction can aid youth in processing their lived experiences and the after-school program utilizes a curriculum that connects traditional aspects of the writing workshop with trauma-informed writing instruction. Participants in this study included youth who were enrolled in the after-school program and their adult facilitator. For this study, data was collected through observations, semi-structured individual interviews, my research journal, and students’ written pieces. These data sources were then analyzed through the narrative inquiry methodology which resulted in the participants’ …