Digital Commons Network^™

Implementing And Evaluating An Ai-Powered Visual Decision Support System To Improve Antibiotic Usage Among Physicians With A Built-In Early Warning System, Akua Sekyiwaa Osei-Nkwantabisa

Theses and Dissertations

The widespread misuse and excessive prescription of antibiotics have played a pivotal role in the emergence and proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing a critical global public health crisis. Addressing this challenge necessitates innovative solutions that enhance antimicrobial stewardship. This study presents the development and implementation of a visual decision support system designed to monitor and optimize antibiotic usage among healthcare providers. The proposed system integrates advanced machine learning algorithms with real-time data analytics to provide a dynamic, evidence-based decision support tool. Specifically, a neural network model was developed after evaluating multiple machine learning approaches, including Random Forest, Logistic Regression and …

Spatio-Temporal Pattern Of Nutrient Dynamics In The South Texas Coastal Watershed, Mohammad Sadman Alam

Theses and Dissertations

Eutrophication threatens aquatic ecosystems by altering productivity through excessive nutrient inputs. In some systems, primary productivity is limited by nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or both, based on the N:P ratio defined by the "Redfield" ratio. South Texas, facing rapid urban growth and industrialization, is at risk of higher nutrient loads, but research on nutrient dynamics in this region is limited. This study investigates nutrient variations in the freshwater (FW) abandoned distributaries of the Rio Grande and hypersaline saltwater (SW) systems. Results showed a significant decrease in dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and an increase in dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), shifting the …

Evaluating The Impact Of Reflex Math On Mathematics Achievement In Elementary Schools: A Quasi-Experimental Study In South Texas, Kasey Juarez

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative, quasi-experimental study examined the impact of Reflex Math, a gamebased instructional program focused on building math fact automaticity, on the achievement of Grade 3-5 students in a South Texas public school district. The study compared a 2023 intervention group that used the program from August to December with a 2022 comparison group that did not. The intervention’s effectiveness varied by grade level, with Grade 3 students showing the most positive gains, no significant effect in Grade 4, and a slight negative difference in Grade 5. Results showed statistically significant, though modest, gains in mathematics achievement among students who …

Other Others At The Border: An Autoethnographic Inquiry, Clover Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation critically examines the concept of multiple otherness in online learning environments in Hispanic Serving Institutions. Hispanic Serving Institutions may unintentionally perpetuate practices and curricula that exclude and decenter the needs of older, disabled, or geographically diverse black women who may not identify within the university’s focus. Despite their missions to servingness of a stated population, Hispanic serving institutions must examine existing curricula that primarily cater to the dominant minority group they have tasked themselves to serve. By investigating existing curricular practices, this research seeks to maintain the integrity of minority-serving institutions while encouraging inclusivity for all students. By …

Mitigation Of Droughts And Floods From Conjunctive Water Resource Management Using Managed Aquifer Recharge (Mar): Experiments And Numerical Modeling, Sumiaya Amin Preota

Theses and Dissertations

Water supply of Rio Grande Valley in South Texas has been impacted by intensified climate extremes such as droughts and floods. This research assessed the viability of conjunctive water resource management using Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) carbon-modified infiltration basins. Multiple environmental variables in the Arroyo Colorado watershed were investigated, i.e., (i) water availability- quantity of floodwater can be repurposed, (ii) storativity and suitability - capacity within the unsaturated aquifer and ideal locations for building infiltration basins, (iii) water quality- contaminant removal using active carbon/biochar.

Unappropriated flow and high magnitude flow (HMF) analysis indicated that excess floodwater can be a …

Translanguaging As A Cultural Bridge: Entretejiendo Voces Bilingües En La Frontera [Translanguaging As A Cultural Bridge: Interweaving Bilingual Voices At The Border], Gloria Sarahi Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

El presente estudio cualitativo explora las autohistorias de cuatro maestras bilingües que viven y enseñan en el Valle del Sur de Texas, una región fronteriza entre Estados Unidos y México. A través de pláticas íntimas, tejimos juntas narrativas que revelan la complejidad de ser mujer, ser educadora, ser transnacional, y ser bilingüe en un espacio donde las lenguas, culturas e identidades se cruzan, se fracturan y se reconstruyen. “Pláticas can provide a space of healing as the platicadoras release past trauma and current struggles rigged with sexism, racism, classism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism” (Morales et al., 2023). Utilizando un …

¿Puedo Decirlo En Español?: Teacher Views On Utilizing Translanguaging Pedagogies To Bridge The Language Gap In Secondary Classrooms, Luis Carlos Bocanegra

Theses and Dissertations

Translanguaging disrupts the notion of language as a fixed, separate system, offering a deeper insight into how individuals fluidly navigate and construct meaning across linguistic boundaries. This research study uses narrative research and participatory action research to employ translanguaging as a pedagogical framework to create inclusive spaces where emergent bilinguals could fully utilize their linguistic repertoire in secondary schools in the borderlands of the Rio Grande Vally in deep South Texas.

The findings of this study are organized into two overarching themes: cultural relevance and inclusivity in borderland schools, which brings to light the importance of culture, inclusivity, and supportive …

Adapting To The Digital Age: Information Management Strategies For Improving Customer Perceptions Of Digital Banking In Ghana, Crystal Frema Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mobile money services are crucial in the financial landscape of Ghana’s economy. Despite Ghana's successful Mobile Money Interoperability (MMI) project, significant disparities exist in digital banking service utilization. Using Design Science Research, this study examines customer hesitancy in digital banking adoption. The TIDE framework was developed by analyzing the information management practices and artifacts of MTN Mobile Money, Banks and reviewing the literature. It comprises three key pillars: Security Management, Customer Education, and Experience Enhancement. This framework aims to instill digital trust, improve service adoption and utilization, and promote financial inclusion and digital literacy. Expert reviews acknowledged its potential to …

Male And Female Contributions To Sexual Dimorphism, Catherine L.W. Clayton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since Darwin, the evolution of sexual dimorphism connects to different evolutionary mechanisms reflecting both natural selection and sexual selection. In primates, body size dimorphism has been attributed to multiple factors, including sexual selection, fecundity selection, ecological selection, and other factors. In contrast, canine tooth size dimorphism has been primarily associated with sexual selection in males with minor change in females, with other factors playing only a secondary role. This suggests that the degree to which body size dimorphism and canine size dimorphism covary, controlling for phylogeny, should reflect the strength of sexual selection. Conversely, the magnitude of divergence between the …

Exploring The Role Of Influencer Marketing In The Animal Health Industry: A Content Analysis Of Strategies And Impact, Haylee Henry

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A review of literature revealed a lack of peer-reviewed research on influencer marketing within the animal health and nutrition industry, specifically within the livestock sector. This study aimed to address this gap by analyzing how animal health and nutrition companies of different sizes utilized influencer marketing and how consumers interacted with content tailored to influencer marketing. A content analysis was conducted. This study collected and analyzed social media influencer posts from eight North American animal health and nutrition companies, three small, three medium, and two large, between January 2023 and December 2024. Influencer content included posts by individuals, partner organizations, …

Strategi Efektif Dalam Kegiatan Penyusutan Dan Pemeliharaan Arsip Di Lembaga Kearsipan Upi, Syifa Diani Fadilah, Hana Silvana, Lutfi Khoerunnisa

Jurnal Ilmu Informasi, Perpustakaan, dan Kearsipan

Archives have a very important role, so an institution must have good archive management starting from archive creation to archive shrinkage. This article discusses effective efforts or strategies in archive shrinkage and archive maintenance activities at the Archival Institute of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI). The purpose of this research is to find out the strategies or methods carried out by the institution in the depreciation and maintenance of archives. The research method in this article uses a qualitative approach and descriptive analysis of literature review, and data collection techniques are obtained through observation, interviews, and literature study. Interviews were conducted …

The Impact Of Islam In The History Of Catholic Evangelization In Northwest Nigeria, Shichet Nache

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

Today, Nigeria is home for both Christians and Muslims. Before the arrival of Christianity and Islam in Nigeria, there was the indigenous African Traditional Religion (ATR). The different cultures, tribes, or ethnic groups in Nigeria had different modes of worship and religious practices in the light of this African Traditional Religion. Today, many Nigerians are either Muslims or Christians. Christianity and Islam have now dominated African Traditional Religion. Trade played a significant role in the transportation and establishment of Islam and Christianity in Nigeria. Northern Nigeria began to have contact with Islam between the ninth and eleventh centuries, while …

Impact Of Architectural Acoustics On Human Emotion, Robert Reber

Architecture Theses

People are subjected to a variety of soundscapes that may cause stress or limit recovery after a stressful event. It is important to find exactly what causes these stressors in the built environment so they can be eliminated. This study explores and categorizes the effects that different simulated acoustic spaces have on the emotions of the participants of the study. These simulated spaces are all designed to test a different architectural element. Change in emotion was measured with a mixture of biometrics and emotional survey data. Biometric data collected heart rate and electrodermal activity, both measurements of change in emotion.. …

Resilient Land Development Strategies For Hurricane-Prone Communities In Grand Bahama, Garrett Lieberg

Landscape Architecture Theses

This thesis explores resilient, off-grid land development strategies for hurricane-prone communities on Grand Bahama Island, with a focus on post-disaster housing, integrated stormwater management, and mangrove restoration. Designed in response to systemic failures during Hurricane Dorian, this project proposes a decentralized community model supported by modular container homes, solar power, and rainwater harvesting systems. Emphasis is placed on using nature-based solutions—especially the protective role of mangroves—to reduce flood risk and enhance long-term resilience. The site design integrates stormwater retention landscapes with ecological buffers, providing both environmental protection and community benefit. Drawing from interviews, local site conditions, and precedent studies, the …

Ecosymphony: The Human-Nature Dialogue: Restoring The Ohio River Through Landscape Architecture In Louisville, Kentucky, Jayden Nadgwick

Landscape Architecture Theses

Riparian areas are delicate ecological zones that support a wide range of ecosystems, that work together to create rich and healthy habitats. Today, these zones are under threat due to pollutants, flooding, and industrial development along riverbanks. The Ohio River, ranked as one of the most endangered rivers in the United States, is a clear example of how these threats impact the health of the rivers. These threats have led to significant habitat loss and declining health of ecosystems, impacting not only the natural environment but also the well-being of surrounding communities.

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, along the Ohio River. …

Impact The Utilization Of Evidenced Based Practices Has On Post Kidney Transplant Patient Outcomes, Judith Bautista, Vicky Loren Dela Cruz, Ervieneth Martin, Jennifer Mauricio, Alf Bernardino

Covenant Nurses Week 2025

No abstract provided.

Melanaphis Sacchari/Sorghi Complex: Current Status, Challenges And Integrated Strategies For Managing The Invasive Sap-Feeding Insect Pest Of Sorghum, Alejandro Vasquex, Joseph Edward Belsky, Neetu Khanal, Hena Puri, Devi Balakrishnan, Neelendra K. Joshi, Joe Louis, Glenn Studebaker, Rupesh Kariyat

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner;Hemiptera: Aphididae), sugarcane aphid (SCA), is an invasive phloem-feeder found worldwide with a wide host range of economically important plants including sorghum and sugarcane. Given its high reproductive capacity and ability to rapidly spread over long distances, SCA presents challenges for effective control, leading to substantial economic losses. Recent studies have identified two multiloci SCA genotypes specialized in feeding on sugarcane (MLL-D) and sorghum (MLL-F) in the USA, which raises concerns as the USA is the second largest sorghum-producing country. This has encouraged research towards identifying these two biotypes where some research has stated them as two species; …

The Affective Poetics Of War In Emi Mahmoud’S Sister’S Entrance, Noha Hanafy

English Language and Literature

The paper attempts to explore the affective representation of war in Sudanese American poet Emtithal (Emi) Mahmoud’s collection Sister’s Entrance (2018). In her debut collection, Mahmuod offers a poignant exploration of war's emotional and psychological toll through the lens of a woman immigrant from Darfur. The poetry in this collection is not solely about the war in Darfur or Mahmoud’s experience during that time. It delves into the war, but it also highlights the repercussions of the war for her and her family. Such repercussions as displacement, becoming a refugee and eventually living with a hyphenated identity in a world …

Simulating Chill: Exploring The Cognitive And Therapeutic Potential Of Cold Vr Environments, Jessica Turner, Piper Hutson, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

This study investigates the cognitive and therapeutic potential of immersive virtual reality (VR) environments designed to simulate cold conditions. Through the engagement of participants through multisensory stimuli—including vivid visual representations of the Athabasca Glacier, auditory effects of icy winds, and corresponding haptic feedback—the research evaluates neurological and physiological responses associated with attention, emotional regulation, and stress modulation. Participants experienced virtual scenarios featuring icy winds and snow, activating specific neurological pathways involving the occipital lobe, primary visual cortex, superior colliculus, and insula, thus reinforcing sensory integration. Through predictive coding, the anterior insula and hypothalamus were engaged, prompting thermoregulatory simulations and subconscious …

Filling Your Own Cup: Self-Care Strategies For Campus Visit Professionals, Angeni Worley

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

Campus Visit Coordinator Angeni Worley '25 presented an educational session. Worley used her knowledge as a Clinical Mental Health Counseling student to inspire other campus visit professionals to "fill their cup" and prioritize self-care. She led her group through a series of self-care practices and focused on the importance of mental wellness in the office and at home to sustain energy, boost enthusiasm, and build resilience.

Beyond The Green: Creating Positive Outcomes From Unfortunate Scenarios, Caden Allen

Landscape Architecture Theses

This thesis explores sustainable design strategies for golf courses, focusing on reducing environmental impacts through landscape management. Using case studies from Rivermont Golf Club and Memorial Park Golf Course, the research looks into the successful approaches in organic soil management, water conservation, and habitat creation. The findings highlight the importance of reducing the total amount of maintained turf areas, creating water reuse systems, and enhancing biodiversity through native plantings. These findings are then applied to the redesign of Ray Richards Golf Course, where a combination of native grasses, retention basins, and improved site features demonstrates the potential for sustainable golf …

Driven By Instinct: Mitigating Animal Vehicle Strikes On Highway 191 In Montana Through The Use Of Landscape Architecture, Zachary J. Blum

Landscape Architecture Theses

Animal vehicle strikes on highways pose a significant threat to wildlife and human safety, resulting in the degradation of ecological corridors, injuries, death, and economic loss. This thesis explores the use of landscape architecture, in mitigating animal vehicle Through literature review, wildlife migration and movement patterns, I ultimately developed a wildlife corridor design scenario to mitigate the conflict between humans and wildlife on, U.S. 191 in Montana and reduce the quantity of animal related strikes on this highway corridor from Bozeman to Big Sky.

Lines In The Dirt: A Landscape Of Baseball And Belonging, Julia S. Riola

Landscape Architecture Theses

This thesis reimagines an underutilized, commercially zoned site in Blaine, Minnesota. Once a drained wetland, the site is positioned between expanding suburbs and smaller surrounding communities. The project proposes a multifunctional public landscape rooted in baseball, ecology, and community connection. A community baseball field serves as the anchor, surrounded by prairie meadows, forest trails, ponds, and gathering spaces that aim to restore ecological systems and social engagement. The design explores how landscape architecture can transform overlooked suburban areas into places of belonging, where community, movement, and nature come together. Through layered programming and sensitivity to context, the project offers a …

Designing For Diaspora: A Culturally Inclusive Landscape Celebrating Filipino Heritage In Winnipeg, Mb, Oakley Gray

Landscape Architecture Theses

Winnipeg, Manitoba, has a diverse population and a special relationship and rich history with the Filipino community and the Philippines. Filipinos have supported Canada through economic and cultural contributions, such as working as medical experts or contributing to political milestones. Contemporary parks and open spaces often do not represent minority communities and their contributions to society. The goal of this thesis is to create an open space, characterized by plazas, pedestrian corridors, and streetscapes, that acknowledges the Filipino community. Additionally, the goal of the design is to promote interaction and cultural expression through site elements, research of case studies and …

Streamlining Happiness: Reconnecting The Minneapolis Community Through Restorative Design Practices, Ayden K. Highet

Landscape Architecture Theses

Located in Minneapolis Minnesota, Upper Terminal Harbor is a post-industrial restorative design park. Using restorative design measures, and community connecting techniques, this design aims to bring the community together to connect with people and nature. Furthermore, the use of best management practices to help heal the effects of Urban Stream Syndrome along the Mississippi River shoreline.

Temporal Reversibility Of Reactive Systems Out Of Equilibrium: Molecular Dynamics Simulation, O. Politano, Alejandro L. Garcia, F. Baras, M. Malek Mansour

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy production in macroscopic systems is non-negative, reaching zero only at thermodynamic equilibrium. As a corollary, this implies that the state trajectory of macroscopic systems is inherently time-irreversible under out-of-equilibrium conditions. However, over the past half-century, various studies have shown that this principle does not universally apply to the composition sample paths of certain isothermal reactive systems. Theoretical frameworks leading to this surprising observation primarily focus on perfectly homogeneous systems (often referred to as zero-dimensional systems), which inherently exclude the effects of local fluctuations. This oversimplification may account for the paradoxical theoretical predictions. …

Comment On "Brownian Motion Of Droplets Induced By Thermal Noise", J. B. Bell, A. Nonaka, A. L. Garcia

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

We simulate phase separated fluids using the Cahn-Hillard fluctuating hydrodynamic (CH-FHD) model and measure the statistical properties of capillary waves generated by thermal fluctuations. Our measurements are in good agreement with stochastic lubrication theory and molecular dynamics simulations but differ significantly from recent CH-FHD results by Zhang et al. [Phys. Rev. E 109, 024208 (2024)2470-004510.1103/PhysRevE.109.024208]. Specifically, we find that capillary wave statistics at thermodynamic equilibrium are independent of transport properties, namely viscosity and species diffusion.

Investigating The Role Of School Leaders’ Feedback In Texas Noncertified Teachers’ Professional Growth And Self-Efficacy, Sonja R. Long

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study was that the role of school leaders’ feedback in noncertified teachers’ professional growth and self-efficacy is unknown. The purpose of this case study was to investigate the perspectives of noncertified teachers’ understanding of their school leaders’ feedback and how those practices contributed to their professional growth and self-efficacy. A qualitative case study approach was used, with data collected from 12 participants across six Texas school districts through semistructured interviews, questionnaires, and classroom observation documents. Data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically, with triangulation and member-checking ensuring credibility. Two key findings emerged. First, supporting professional …

Relaxation Maximum-Based Iteration Method For Solving The Generalized Absolute Value Equation, Ximing Fang, Zhidong Wang, Zhijun Qiao

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The generalized absolute value equation (GAVE) has wide applications in scientific computing. Establishing a high performance computing method to solve the GAVE is a hot research topic in recent years. In this paper, with the aid of the maximum function, the GAVE is decomposed of two equations, and then we present the relaxation maximum-based (RM) iteration method. To see the feasibility of the method, we discuss the necessary and sufficient conditions for the GAVE to have a unique solution. Next, the convergence analysis of the RM iteration is discussed under some convergence conditions. Moreover, some numerical examples of low and …

From Separation To Integration: A New Model For Idd Living, Abigail K. Bueling

Architecture Theses

This project envisions a care community in Fargo, ND, designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) that integrates various levels of care, whether it’s independent supported living or more attentive supported living in an inclusive, neighborhood-like setting. Unlike conventional facilities, this model fosters meaningful connections between residents regardless of their specific care requirements, addressing a critical gap where current care environments lack community inclusion and fail to offer family-centered educational programs on IDD care. By bridging this gap, the project aims to create a supportive and interactive environment that feels like home. The study involved interviews with families …