Digital Commons Network^™

Risk Allocation In Power Purchasing Agreements (Ppas): Implication For Renewable Energy Development In Emerging Markets, Alexia Tata

Master's Projects and Capstones

Energy poverty persists as a critical challenge in Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDEs). Despite the urgent imperative to electrify these nations, investment in the deployment of renewable energy projects remains comparatively low, a phenomenon reflected in risk allocation within Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). The prevailing explanations for this trend often cite a scarcity of bankable projects, inconsistent political commitment, and regulatory frameworks in power markets that fail to adequately address the fundamental factors hindering investor confidence. To gain deeper insights, we utilized data from surveys and interviews conducted with industry stakeholders to identify the primary risk factors encountered within …

Empowering Nurses, Enhancing Mobility: A Qi Initiative Using Plof And Clof To Promote Patient Ambulation, Will Zhu

Master's Projects and Capstones

The objective of this Quality Improvement (QI) project was to increase patient ambulation rate and improve documentation compliance with Patient-reported Level of Function (PLOF) and Clinician-assessed Level of Function (CLOF) on cardiac units at a hospital in San Francisco. Literature highlights that early ambulation reduces hospital-acquired complications, length of stay, and functional decline, yet inconsistent mobility practices and documentation were identified as barriers within this microsystem. The aim of this project was to increase patient ambulation rates by 20% and achieve at least 80% of documentation compliance within four weeks. The interventions included the development and distribution of an educational …

Enhancing Intimate Partner Violence Screening: Implementing Standardized Ehr Protocols And Staff Education In A Community Health Center Serving The Latinx Community, Gabriela Alejandra Davila Barajas

Master's Projects and Capstones

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a public health issue that disproportionately impacts Latinx populations, who often face barriers such as cultural stigma, language barriers, fear of legal consequences, and limited access to culturally competent care. Community Health Centers (CHCs) are well-positioned to identify and address IPV. This project aims to increase IPV screening rates in a CHC serving a predominantly Latinx population by implementing standardized EHR protocols and culturally responsive staff education. The project’s goal is to raise IPV screening rates to 25% by April 15, 2025. The intervention includes two key components: integrating the Hurt, Insulted, Threatened, and Screamed …

Enhancing Patient Outcomes: Improving Hcahps Scores Via Implementing Pressure Injury Prevention Care Bundle Education In Acute Care Setting, Jasmeen Kaur

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) have a powerful effect on patient outcomes, satisfaction, and health costs. In the face of multiple interventions, nurse-patient communication failures and decreased HCAHPS scores reveal patient safety hazards. Aim: The purpose of this quality improvement effort was to enhance HCAHPS nurse communication scores by instituting a Pressure Injury Prevention Care Bundle (PIPCB) on a 93-bed medical-surgical/telemetry unit. Methods: The intervention was nurse-implemented education through educational posters and education cards distributed at admission and shift report. Nurse participation and education delivery were measured through pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and observations. The change in the HCAHPS nurse …

A Pressure Injury Prevention Care Bundle (Pipcb) Education Approach To Improving Hcahps Scores In Nursing Communication Domain, Cathline Ma

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: Patient education is crucial for improving patient outcomes. An issue that has been consistent in healthcare is pressure injuries in inpatient care. Despite existing prevention efforts, there is an education gap between nursing communication and patient understanding. Aim: This QI project aims to improve HCAHPS scores, specifically in the nursing communication domain, by 5% and enhance patient understanding of pressure injury prevention strategies through the implementation of a Pressure Injury Prevention Care Bundle (PIPCB). Methods: The intervention included educational posters and fliers distributed to patients on a 93-bed acute care medical-surgical/telemetry unit. Educational materials focused on …

Healthy Bytes: Enhancing Health Literacy In Older Adults Through Technology Services, Gianna M. Susa

Master's Projects and Capstones

This quality improvement project aimed to enhance health literacy among senior residents through interactive technology workshops. Aim During a twelve-week period from January 22, 2025, to March 31, 2025, this project aimed to increase technology proficiency among senior residents from 0% to 75%. Methods A 5P Microsystem assessment and preliminary survey revealed residents' interest in technology workshops. Based on this feedback technology workshops were implemented once a week for a twelve-week period. Each session provided one on one support to help residents navigate online health portals, communicate with providers, and interpret health information. A SWOT analysis and Fishbone analysis were …

Strengthening The Birthing Bridge: Educating Labor And Delivery Nurses On Scope And Impact Of Volunteer Doulas, Catherine H. De La Torre

Master's Projects and Capstones

The objective of this quality improvement project was to address the lack of collaboration between the Labor and Delivery (L&D) nurses and the volunteer doulas on a L&D unit at a Bay Area hospital. There were reports of not understanding the role of the volunteer doula, which may have led to a lack of collaboration between both teams. The aim of this project was to improve the L&D nursing staff's understanding of the scope of practice of the volunteer doula to increase positive perception and collaboration between both professions by 25%, from 63% to 88%, following an educational intervention at …

The Minutes Of The Marshall University Staff Council Meeting, May 2025, Marshall University Staff Council

Staff Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Right To Repair Medical Devices: A Right To Patient Needs, Shaheer Hashmi

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

The laws governing the repair of medical devices, most notably §1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), place unnecessary and harmful restrictions on healthcare access in the United States. As hospitals increasingly rely on complex medical technologies, manufacturers have relied on anti-circumvention laws to block independent and in-house repairs, effectively monopolizing the repair market. As a result, our current system is one that delays treatment, inflates costs, and leaves healthcare providers and consumers with fewer options during times of crisis and routine care alike. Drawing on legal analysis, policy critique, and lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, this article shows …

Full Issue, Palara Editors

PALARA: Publication of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association

No abstract provided.

Adults' Intention To Take An Arthritis Prescription Drug Based On Drug Advertisements, Amanda Radola

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Advertising (DTCPA) has rapidly expanded, particularly via social media, but research on its influence on individual decisions regarding prescribed medications remains limited. This gap is notable among chronic disease patients, such as those with arthritis, which affected over 58.5 million U.S. adults as of 2015 and is projected to rise to 78.4 million by 2040 (Barbour et al., 2017; Hootman et al., 2016). Social media discussions show significant activity following television ads for arthritis drugs (Curtis et al., 2017). However, few studies explore how DTCPA impacts patient intentions to take advertised arthritis medications. This study employed a novel …

Code To Cast, Shahrzad Motallebi

Graduate Artistry Projects and Performances

This dissertation explores the intersection of algorithmic jewelry design, digital fabrication, and cultural memory. By integrating parametric modeling software such as Rhino and Grasshopper with traditional lost-wax casting methods, this research creates a dialogue between historical Persian geometric patterns and contemporary wearable art. Through this hybrid approach, the work contributes to contemporary jewelry discourse, demonstrating how ancient motifs can be algorithmically reinterpreted into innovative, culturally resonant forms. The practice engages directly with themes of identity, heritage, and technological innovation, referencing the approaches of contemporary artist-jewelers like Giovanni Corvaja, Nora Fok, David Huycke, and Dries Verbruggen. Results include unique collections of …

Prosodic Pitch And Intensity Patterns In People With Moderate Broca's Aphasia, Juliana Pickard

Theses and Dissertations

People with aphasia (PWA) experience deficits in utilizing prosody, which drastically impacts their communicative effectiveness. The lack of prosody in people with aphasia may alter their ability to nurture meaningful relationships, advance educational and work opportunities, and participate in community activities. This study acoustically evaluates the prosodic characteristics of speech produced by individuals with non-fluent aphasia to better understand how to accurately assess and more effectively treat communication difficulties in PWA. Recorded speech samples derived from a Cinderella story retell from 16 individuals with moderate Broca's aphasia and 16 age-matched controls were acoustically analyzed in this study. The recordings were …

Entanglement Distribution Of Universal Quantum Cloners, James B. Daughtry

Student Scholarship

Szab`o et al. [4] show that universal quantum cloning machines may be used to manipulate entanglement between bipartite states. Entanglement is measured with concurrence, C, and it is shown that as the fidelity of the cloner improves, more entanglement transfers from the reference to the cloned state. This thesis characterizes the nature of this entanglement transfer by analyzing the entanglement distribution of the cloner. In this analysis we will show that entanglement is generally destroyed after cloning except in cases where there is no cloning, two identical qubits are created, or there is complete qubit transfer. Along with …

Holy Cross Magazine, ​​Vol. 59, No. 2, Spring/Summer 2025, College Of The Holy Cross

Holy Cross Magazine

What You Don’t Know About The Cornerstone of The College
Inside the storied spaces and architectural secrets of historic Fenwick Hall.
Feature by Meredith Fidrocki with Archives & Distinctive Collections
Photography by Michael Ivins

Discernment and Desire
Part two: How a nagging question can be a clarifying one.
Reflection by Rev. Keith Maczkiewicz, S.J.

Turning Cancer Into a Calling
Erin (Geddis) Cummings ’79 unites, supports and educates fellow Hodgkin lymphoma survivors and medical professionals on the later-in-life effects of youth cancer treatment.
Story by Carol Cool
Photography by David Welch

What Opera Taught Me About History
How the power of …

Comparing Deaf School And Mainstream Student-Athletes' Mental Health: Depression, Anxiety And Risk Factors, Ella Gamble

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

The deaf community is diverse, including individuals from all different backgrounds. Sports are a large part of the community and are advocated for the deaf community. However, the mental impacts of sports within the deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) collegiate athlete population has received very little scholarly attention, especially in regards to their varying upbringings. Anxiety and depression are mental health issues (MHI) that have gained increasing attention in the hearing sports community, but this also extends to DHH student-athletes based on empirical evidence. This study focuses on the differences of MHIs in DHH student-athletes at Gallaudet University. The …

Standardizing Ipv Screening: A Path Toward Equity In Community Health, Andrea K. Munoz Vera

Master's Projects and Capstones

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a widespread public health issue that disproportionately affects women and underserved communities, particularly in immigrant and Spanish-speaking populations. Despite national recommendations to conduct routine IPV screening in clinical settings, many healthcare providers lack the tools, training, and workflows needed to screen consistently and respond effectively. This quality improvement project aimed to standardize IPV screening using the Hurt, Insulted, Threatened, Screamed screening tool within the electronic health record at a community-based health clinic and provide targeted education to Medical Assistants, who are often the first point of contact during patient intake. The intervention included a culturally …

The Agrivoltaics Opportunity In California: Dual Use Of Agricultural Land To Support Energy Transition And Bolster Climate Resilience, Joy Michelle Cox

Master's Projects and Capstones

Agrivoltaics, which facilitates energy and food production on the same land, is an emerging technological approach that supports agricultural productivity while growing farm revenues through solar electricity sales. Agrivoltaics use in the United States is nascent, with only 2% of utility-scale solar projects integrating agricultural production. Based on estimated high- and low-end ranges in the scientific literature, I have calculated that California can use agrivoltaics to produce 20% of the additional 70 gigawatts of utility-scale solar required to meet the state’s 2045 zero-carbon electricity goal. This 20% target is ambitious and achievable, and the impacts across land use, greenhouse gas …

2025 May 15 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Intimate Partner Violence Prevention And Intervention At A Primary Care Clinic, Atticus Madrid

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a massive health concern in the Spanish-speaking community. There is a high rate IPV, worsening by factors such as language barriers, cultural stigma, and the constant fear of deportation. Resent data underscores the need for standardized IPV screening and trauma-informed care, thus supporting early recognition and intervention. The aim of this Quality Improvement (QI) project is to increase IPV detection rate by 25% from March 10, 2025, to April 15, 2025, in an San Francisco community clinic using an electronic tool called a HITS (Hurt, Insult, Threaten, Scream) and by trauma-informed staff training. Methods …

Changes In Volatile Aldehydes Of Soymilk After Acid-Precipitation And Its Influencing Factors, Mapeizhan Lou, Caimeng Zhang, Xiangzhen Kong, Xingfei Li, Yeming Chen, Xiaoxiao Feng, Yufei Hua

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] Acid precipitation,a common method in plant protein processing,can efficiently achieve protein enrichment and removal of non-protein components (including off-flavor substances ) on a large scale.This study aims to explore the causes for the abnormal increases in aldehydes of soymilk after acid precipitation.[Method ] Changes in volatile compounds of soymilk before and after acid precipitation were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GS-MS ).Soymilk components were fractionated by centrifugation,and the contributions of different fractions to the increases in aldehydes were investigated.The changes in the molar concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides before and after acid precipitation were determined,and a molar ratio between …

Identification Of Honey Authenticity By Terahertz Spectroscopy, Luelue Huang, Zhiqi Wang, Miaoling Liu, Bin Li

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to identify honey authenticity by terahertz (THz) spectroscopy.[Method ] Different honey samples were analyzed by stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS ),and the results served as a reference for terahertz spectroscopy.The sample requirements and analytical conditions of terahertz spectroscopy were verified by comparing the results of these two methods.[Result ] Liquid honey samples exhibited no discernible absorption peaks.However,significant differences in refractive index were observed among samples.The presence of water in liquid honey,particularly at high levels,affected the refractive index,potentially leading to misjudgment.After removal of water from liquid honey via freeze-drying,terahertz attenuated total reflection was employed for …

Effects Of Thermal Treatment On The Binding Ability Of Type I Collagen Toaroma Compounds Of Broth, Xiaolin Luo, Yi Yuan, Xiangyi Chen, Shutao Liu

Journal of Food Science and Biotechnology

[Objective ] This study aims to reveal the interactions between collagen and volatile compounds during the cooking process.[Method ] The relative molecular weight,particle size,solubility,secondary structure,and surface hydrophobicity of collagen and the droplet size of the collagen emulsion were studied.Furthermore,the binding ability of collagen to volatile compounds of the aqueous and emulsion systems of collagen was measured.[Result ] As the heating time was extended,the triple-helix structure of collagen was destroyed and the polypeptide chains were degraded,which were accompanied with the decrease in surface hydrophobicity,increase in solubility,and heat-induced aggregation.The binding ability of collagen to volatile compounds gradually decreased with the extension of …

Returning Home: Exploring The Perceptions Of Alumni-Educators On Student-Teacher Relationships At James High School, Duwaine H. Jenkins Jr

Graduate Theses & Dissertations

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of urban high school educators who returned to teach at the same school they once attended. The study is grounded in Wubbels et al.’s (2014) framework on teacher-student relationships, which emphasizes that strong relationships are built through repeated, reciprocal interactions. This research examined how past student experiences influence current teaching practices and relationships. Two guiding research questions framed the study: 1. How do these educators perceive their student-teacher relationships with their current students? 2. How do their past experiences as students impact those relationships? Three participants were purposefully selected based on their unique …

Group Therapy For Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities And Anxiety, Rayah Secrist

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

The purpose of this Ed.S. project is to propose a therapy group for individuals with intellectual disabilities who are struggling with anxiety. This paper will explore the literature on social and emotional barriers, mental health access inequality, and evidence-based practices in therapy for young adults with intellectual disabilities. Drawing on the research, this paper aims to provide clinicians with a guide for leading effective therapy groups tailored to this specific demographic.

Perspectives Of Clients And Counselors Regarding Premature Dropout And Unsuccessful Long-Term Therapy: Similarities And Differences In Perspectives, Danilo Salli

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Whether it manifests as premature dropout from therapy or unsuccessful long-term treatment, psychotherapy does not work for everybody who engages in it. The current paper aimed to synthesize and compare information regarding premature dropout and treatment failure from the perspectives of the two parties who participate in psychotherapeutic treatment: therapists and clients. Eight main studies were used in the literature review, each focusing on either/both therapist’s and/or client’s perspectives of the reasons for premature dropout or treatment failure. The current paper concluded that communication between therapists and clients is key to reducing unsatisfactory results in psychotherapy and presented a list …

Not All Superheroes Wear Capes: Understanding The Lives Of Asian American Student Caregivers, Angela Ji

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

There exists an invisible army of children who sacrifice their childhoods and shoulder responsibilities expected of adults; these children are called young caregivers. Young caregivers provide significant assistance for their family on a regular basis. The existing literature shows that youth caregiving is associated with negative physical and mental health impacts that vary depending on the cultural background associated with families. It is also clear that the complexities and nuances of different ethnic groups influence the lived experiences of young caregivers. Unfortunately, there is limited information exploring racial and cultural implications of caregiving for children. This study sought to address …

Connection Over Control: A Radically Open-Dialectical Behavior Therapy-Based Counseling Group For Avoidantly Attached College Students, Tara Pollnitz

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Attachment avoidance is marked by a deep-seated mistrust of others, excessive self-reliance, and suppression of attachment needs. Feelings of boredom, disengagement, and uncertainty regarding how to proceed with treatment are common among practitioners treating avoidant clients. In this paper, the author examines attachment avoidance as a clinical concern, presents a conceptualization of attachment avoidance as a process related to emotional overcontrol, and explores the potential impact of intervention during college to provide a rationale for a counseling group to address attachment avoidance through radically open dialectical behavior therapy. Subsequently, the origins and theoretical foundation of radically open dialectical behavior therapy …

Mothers Supporting Mothers: A Psychotherapy Group For Postpartum Mothers Struggling With Substance Use, Brittany Hook

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

One topic that is not talked about enough is women’s health and more specifically postpartum women. This is apparent especially when it comes to postpartum care and the diverse experiences women face. The silence around postpartum women’s experiences can be frightening at times. The mental health of postpartum mothers can be overlooked and can lead to concerns of suicide ideation, increase substance use and a decrease in overall wellbeing. When substance abuse is in the picture for postpartum women, a treatment option that can be effective is group counseling. An evidence-based modality that works off the humanistic theory is motivational …

Rhetoric Of Soft Power And Public Diplomacy A Case Study Of Saudi Arabia, Sihmy Algamedi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soft power is the capacity to exert influence over the actions of others in order to accomplish one's goals. It refers to the ability to influence others without seeking any tangible benefits. Soft power emanates from a country's cultural, political beliefs, and foreign policies. Soft power refers to the capacity to achieve desired outcomes using methods that involve shaping the agenda, employing persuasion, and generating positive appeal (Alkatheeri, and Khan 26). In order for this endeavor to achieve success, the concept of legitimacy plays a pivotal role in the effectiveness of soft power. Public diplomacy is a component of foreign …