Digital Commons Network^™

A New Effective Gravitational Lensing Approach To Constrain Dark Matter, Birendra Dhanasingham

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Galaxy-scale strong gravitational lenses offer a unique window into understanding the nature and distribution of dark matter at sub-galactic scales. Beyond the main-lens subhalos, the inclusion of line-of-sight dark matter halos has become essential in lens studies due to their substantial role in perturbing lensed images, making multi-plane lensing a crucial aspect of any lens study. We highlight that these line-of-sight halos appear extended tangentially along the lensing critical line in the effective convergence maps due to the nonlinear nature of multiplane lensing, resulting in a characteristic anisotropic signature in the deflection field. Leveraging tools from large-scale structure analyses, this …

The Reading Rooms: Reading For Pleasure In The Literature Classroom, Kalila Bohsali

English Language and Literature ETDs

The act of reading is the primary thing the literature classroom is concerned with and that is what this project seeks to claim and to understand, specifically the practice and process of reading for pleasure. This dissertation seeks to understand reading as a process, and reading for pleasure and to propose that students and instructors would benefit from paying more attention to reading for pleasure in the literature classroom, and being more transparent in how reading for pleasure is communicated as a shared value. Through a grounded theory interview project and an in-depth exploration of the different "rooms" in which …

Investigating Software Application Use In Secondary Physical Education, Sean Fullerton

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

The first study explored secondary physical education teachers’ acceptance and use of a supplemental software application, PLT4M (“Plat-form”). The study was an exploratory cross-sectional mixed methods study guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Quantitative results showed that performance expectancy, attitude toward use, and price value significantly predicted PE teachers’ behavior intention to use PLT4M. Qualitative data revealed the following themes regarding teachers’ use: (1) differentiation and modifications; (2) accessibility; (3) limitations and challenges. The second study was a descriptive case study design that applied Activity Theory to examine how one high school PE program uses …

The Wyandot Of Anderdon Nation: Meaning-Making, Constructing, And Affirming Their Tribal Identities Through Archiving Historical Documents, Elizabeth Ann Berton Reilly

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This qualitative study examines how the Wyandot of Anderdon Nation makes meaning, constructs, and affirms their tribal identity. This tribe is a non-federally recognized community in Michigan.

This study employed an Etuaptmumk/Two-Eyed Seeing framework, combining Critical Indigenous Research Methodology with a narrative one. I investigated how they preserve their language and culture and what that means to them. This led to an exploration into mixed-race Indigenous identities, how archiving and genealogical and tribal historical knowledge tie into creating and affirming personal identity.

This study demonstrated that there are many ways to be Wyandot and that each interviewee makes meaning, constructs, …

Personality Traits And Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Older People: A Network Approach, Jia Lee, Jihong Zhang

Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background

The present study aims to investigate the network structure of depressive symptoms, the interrelationships between individual personality traits and depressive symptoms, and gender differencesamong Chinese older people aged 60 and above.

Method

We performed network analyses with a regularized Graphical GaussianModel and a case-dropping bootstrap approach. A sample of 4876 older Chinese people aged 60+ was included in the analyses. We investigated the central symptoms in the depression network and the bridge nodes that connect personality facets and depressive symptoms. Gender differences were investigated by testing the global strength, network invariance, and edge weights.

Results

Sadness …

Effectiveness Of Mobile Health Sedentary Time Interventions In Older Adults: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Siqing Chen, Lili Yang, Carol Ewing Garber Facsm, Matthew Stults-Kolehmainen Facsm, Chenchen Wang, Yuting Yang, Qiao Yuan

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

mHealth is the provision of health care and health information through mobile electronic devices.The prevalence of sedentary behaviors (SB) among older adults is increasing, underscoring the urgent need for effective mHealth interventions. Evidence of the effectiveness of mHealth in older adults is unclear. PURPOSE: The study aims to 1) explore the effects of mHealth interventions on reducing SB; and 2) examine the influence of potential moderators on mHealth interventions' effectiveness by analyzing subgroups according to participants' characteristics and intervention specifics. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials were conducted. A literature search was conducted using multiple databases …

Network Physiology Approach To Assessing Emotion Regulation Workshop Effects On Mental Toughness In Collegiate Swimmers, Jessie Hirsch, Alex Rothstein, Andrew Augustus, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Mental toughness (MT), comprising a constellation of eight key dimensions (e.g., emotion regulation) that share the commonality of purpose, efficiency, and flexibility, is pivotal for athletic performance. MT research is predominantly observational, and females are underrepresented. Psychological skills training (PST) workshops are common practice is sport psychology. The new field of Network Physiology focuses on coordination and network interactions rather than on the structural organization and dynamics of individual organ systems. Applying this framework to sport psychology could offer innovative insights into the systemic relationships among MT dimensions. PURPOSE: To examine the systemic impact of an …

The Effects Of Intrinsic Motivation Induced Coaching On Sustained Fat Loss, Gregory Vazquez, Alan Aragon, Bradley Schoenfeld

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

In pursuit of sustained fat loss, intrinsic motivation plays a pivotal role. This study explores the impact of 4 weeks of intrinsic motivation coaching (IMC) on fat loss, following up 10 weeks later. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate whether IMC strategies during a fat-loss intervention improves sustained fat loss thereafter. METHODS: Participants (IMC: n=7, CON: n=6) had their body composition assessed using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis at weeks 1, 4, and 14. Prior to the study, participants in the IMC group completed a survey of intrinsic motivators. During the fat loss intervention, participants were prescribed …

The Effects Of Intrinsic Motivation Induced Coaching On Sustained Fat Loss, Gregory Vazquezaldana, Brad Schoenfeld, Alan Aragon

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

In pursuit of sustained fat loss, intrinsic motivation plays a pivotal role. This study explores the impact of 4-weeks of intrinsic motivation coaching (IMC) on fat loss, following up 10 weeks later. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate whether IMC strategies during a fat-loss intervention improves sustained fat loss thereafter. METHODS: Participants (IMC: n=7, CON: n=6) had their body composition assessed using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis at weeks 1, 4, and 14. Prior to the study, participants in the IMC group completed a survey of intrinsic motivators. During the fat loss intervention, participants were prescribed a …

Enhancing Cohesion In Collegiate Female Dance Teams: The Impact Of Mental Toughness Workshops, Spencer Cavan, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Cohesion, the degree of teamwork combined with interpersonal attraction, is a critical determinant of team stability, effectiveness, and individual satisfaction. This multifaceted construct bridges the psychological and tactical aspects of team organization, influencing both team and individual performance. The positive relationship between cohesion and performance is stronger for women than for men. Mental toughness (MT), characterized as a dynamic, state-like psychological resource, is theorized to enhance consistent performance under duress. However, the specific impact of MT training on cohesion remains underexplored in female sport teams. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of MT workshops on fostering individual-/team-level social and …

Mitigating Social Media Addiction And Screen Time Among Female Dancers: A Longitudinal Study On Mental Toughness Intervention Effects, Corey Hunter, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The pervasive nature of social media has significantly impacted the lifestyle and well-being of university students. The role of mental toughness (MT) in mitigating compulsive digital behaviors is unknown. PURPOSE: To explore the efficacy of an MT intervention in reducing social media addiction and phone screen time among female athletes, while also delineating the distribution of screen time across various digital activities. METHODS: Nineteen female dancers participated in weekly MT workshops with a focus on minimizing social media dependency and screen time, utilizing the Social Media Addiction Scale – Student Form and iPhone usage data collected bi-weekly over …

Reevaluating Team-Based Mental Skills Training: Insights From Ncaa Soccer Players’ Mental Toughness Development, Mateo Gonzalez, Alex Rothstein, Andrew Augustus, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Mental toughness (MT) encompasses attributes pivotal for athletic performance in the face of challenges. The effects of team-based mental skills training (MST) interventions on MT's diverse components remain insufficiently explored. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of team-based MST workshops on enhancing the various dimensions of MT. METHODS: NCAA Division I male soccer players (N = 18) volunteered for the study. Based on a preliminary assessment, three MST workshops were conducted, focusing on the three key MT dimensions with the lowest team average scores, namely facing adversity, buoyancy, and optimistic style. The Mental Toughness Index, …

Replication Crisis In Sport And Exercise Science, Zacharias Papadakis, Jennifer Murphy

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

In Sport and Exercise Science (SES), 82% of published studies report significant findings indicating these studies have a robust research design that examines true effects with high statistical power. However, small sample sizes and underpowered designs are common in SES. Related literature in psychology reports that only 37% of replicated effects yield similar results to the original. Replication studies in SES are still rare, raising concerns about the overwhelming reported significant findings despite the small sample sizes. PURPOSE: To replicate the findings of a published SES study and compare results. METHODS: Based on the criteria published by Murphy …

The Attitudes, Level Of Interest, And Knowledge Held By Physicians And Psychologists Toward Integrated Healthcare Practices And The Patient-Centered Medical Home Model, Mark Cassano, Robert A. Ditomasso, Barbara Golden, Scott D. Glassman

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

As the healthcare system evolves, issues related to cost and access to care continue to persist. In response to this concern, integrated models of healthcare, like the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), have been developed to work toward reducing cost for both patients and providers, increasing patient access to quality care, and improving patients’ overall satisfaction with the care that they are provided. However, despite the overwhelming evidence found in the literature supporting the efficacy and benefit of these treatment models, it is unclear as to why more providers do not choose to practice and support collaborative forms of healthcare provision. …

Biopsychosocial Management Of Long Covid Fibromyalgia: Lessons From The Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Fibromyalgia Program, Joseph Harrison, Dennis Given Psy.D.

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of chronic health concerns worldwide, leading to a new population of patients suffering from Long Covid. Patients with Long Covid often experience persistent symptoms impacting multiple organ systems, including neuroimmune and neurological manifestations. Recently, attention has grown toward Long Covid patients developing chronic widespread pain similar to fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a nociplastic pain disorder characterized by widespread pain and central sensitization with fatigue, sleep disturbances, and impairments in cognitive functioning. Given the nascent and limited research exploring new treatment options, patients need support now from biopsychosocial multi-modal pain management strategies. The Fibromyalgia Program …

An Exploration Of Self-Reported Training Needs For Anxiety Interventions Among Primary Care Behavioral Health Consultants, Katherine Buckheit, Ryan Willard, Kyle Possemato, Robyn Shepardson, Abigail Lashinsky, Jen Funderburk

The Journal of Integrated Primary Care

Introduction: Despite the need for greater training in evidence-based interventions for the treatment of anxiety in primary care behavioral health (PCBH), there are limited data on which interventions are desired by behavioral healthcare consultants (BHCs). The objective of this study was to identify which interventions BHCs desired more training in when treating anxiety in PCBH practice, and to examine if this preference was associated with theoretical orientation. Method: We conducted an online survey of PCBH providers regarding their training preferences for treatment of anxiety symptoms. The final sample comprised 291 BHCs recruited from e-mail listservs of national professional organizations. Providers …

Tres Apuestas Por Lo Porvenir, Silvia Gabriela Kurlat Ares

Alambique. Revista académica de ciencia ficción y fantasía / Jornal acadêmico de ficção científica e fantasía

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of A Standardized Suicide Screening Process In A University Student Health Clinic: A Quality Improvement Project, Addie Grace Strong, Kathryn Dambrino, R. David Phillippi, Linda Wofford

DNP Projects

Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death among college age students, prompting the need for evidence-based screening tools like the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) to enable early detection and timely intervention. Inconsistencies in suicide screening may pose a risk of missed intervention opportunities. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project specifically aimed to improve the quality and consistency of suicide screening in a university student health clinic by implementing the C-SSRS tool into the clinic workflow during mental health appointments. Methods: Employing a quality improvement framework, this scholarly project followed the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Model for Improvement …

Academic Stress And Prosocial Outcomes: The Role Of Maternal Support, Lynda J. Cruz

Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

This study examined the roles of academic stress, maternal support, and their interactive effect as predictors of both in-group and out-group prosocial behaviors as well as civic engagement in order to better understand young adults’ adjustment to the college environment. The final sample consisted of 142 young adults (M age = 20.82 years; range = 18-25 years; 81.7% women; 65.2% reported identifying as racially White; 9.9% Black; 7.8% Asian; 5.7% Native; and 49.3% identified their ethnicity as Latino/a). Participants completed self-report measures of their academic stress experiences, perceptions of their mothers support, their in-group and out-group prosocial behaviors, and …

The Promise And Perils Of Tech Whistleblowing, Hannah Bloch-Wehba

Northwestern University Law Review

Whistleblowers and leakers wield significant influence in technology law and policy. On topics ranging from cybersecurity to free speech, tech whistleblowers spur congressional hearings, motivate the introduction of legislation, and animate critical press coverage of tech firms. But while scholars and policymakers have long called for transparency and accountability in the tech sector, they have overlooked the significance of individual disclosures by industry insiders—workers, employees, and volunteers—who leak information that firms would prefer to keep private.

This Article offers an account of the rise and influence of tech whistleblowing. Radical information asymmetries pervade tech law and policy. Firms exercise near-complete …

A Workshop Curriculum For Student Loan Debt, Cion Swoope

Masters Projects

For many college students, taking out student loans is a necessary step towards higher education, yet it often leads to accumulated debt that can seem insurmountable. This project intends to investigate the implications of student loan debt, such as homeownership, household debt, and other life goals, and educate borrowers on the potential repercussions. Using Becker's (1993) Human Capital theory, I will examine the investment logic behind student loan borrowing, framing debt as a calculated risk for future gain. This project also uses Crenshaw's (1989) Intersectionality theory to extend beyond the scope of the average borrower and highlight the demographic groups …

Toward Accessing Hiv-Preventative Medication In Prisons, Scott Shimizu

Northwestern University Law Review

The Eighth Amendment is meant to protect incarcerated individuals against harm from the state, including state inaction in the face of a known risk of harm. While the Eighth Amendment’s protection prohibits certain prison disciplinary measures and conditions of confinement, the constitutional ambit should arguably encompass protection from the serious risk of harm of sexual assault, as well as a corollary to sexual violence: the likelihood of contracting a deadly sexually transmitted infection like HIV. Yet Eighth Amendment scholars frequently question the degree to which the constitutional provision actually protects incarcerated individuals.

This Note draws on previous scholarship on cruel …

Concealment And Darkness In Horace Walpole’S The Castle Of Otranto, Alexandra G. Speck

Global Tides

This paper examines the relationship between darkness and fear in Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto, widely recognized as the first Gothic novel. Walpole wrote Otranto soon after the rise of Enlightenment thought, which stressed sensory observation as the foundation for human reason. Walpole engages with Enlightenment ideas through Otranto’s dark setting, which invokes fear and irrationality in the heroine, Isabella.

Tracking Walpole’s manipulation of light and darkness through the narrative, this paper illustrates how darkness inspires more fear in Isabella than either the novel’s infamous supernatural dangers or its human villain, Prince Manfred, who pursues her through …

Promoting The Use Of Primary Sources In The Secondary Social Studies Classroom, Alec Mucha

John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference

Utilizing engaging and hands-on activities is crucial for secondary social studies teachers aiming to integrate primary sources into their classrooms. It is a skill which can be daunting for teachers, as it can be challenging to come up with these activities. In order to find engaging practices I took an in-depth look at the current practices of teachers, reviewing 30 relevant articles that specifically addressed their utilization of primary sources and activities. I explored strategies for promoting student engagement in the learning process. Applying Fredricks, Blumenfeld, and Paris’ (2004) categorization of engagement theory, I used this theory which contends that …

Changing Prejudice Against Minority Groups: The Role Of Self- And Group-Affirmation, Constantina Badea, Yara Alnajjar

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

According to self-affirmation theory, prejudice towards minority groups represents defensive reactions that individuals may exhibit to cope with threats to their ingroup. Affirming participants’ important values, reminding them of important personal or collective successes, attenuates defensive reactions such as prejudice and discrimination. A distinction is first made between self-affirmation, accomplished by recalling values that are meaningful to the individual, and group-affirmation, achieved through the recall of values important to an ingroup (e.g., family, nation). Inconsistent results were obtained in studies using self- and group-affirmation manipulations for reducing prejudice. The aim of this article is to examine factors that …

Employee Engagement: Building A Green Workplace Culture, Anubhav Mishra, Saumya Awasthi

Management Dynamics

Making a good impact on the world in addition to being lucrative is becoming a major focus for many organisations. With companies realizing that they have a responsibility to address social and environmental challenges, employee engagement in developing a sustainable culture is essential. It begins by defining sustainability and outlining its significance for businesses. Through authentic instances from various businesses, it delves into how involving staff members may significantly influence the establishment of a sustainable and conscientious work environment. Important tactics, obstacles encountered, and quantifiable results are examined closely to glean insightful information. The study also looks into the advantages …

Black Female Educator: Underappreciated, Overworked, And The Indelible Quest For Agency Within The Educational System, Sharena Stevenson

Dissertations

In this study, I examined my experiences in the educational system as a Black female who feels overworked and underappreciated, like I must constantly prove my credibility and fight stereotypes, and feel strain of trying to remain healthy, physically and mentally, while trying to find agency in the educational system. I recount the trauma I faced as a Black female student and then as a Black female educator. I documented my experiences from my time in K-12 and my years as an educator. I utilized the Critical Race Theory tenet, persistence of racism, Intersectionality, and Black feminist thought as the …

An Examination Of The Impediments To Implementing Student-Centered Teaching Methods In Public Schools, Nicole R H Adewale, Robert L. Bloch, Garry D. Gibbs

Dissertations

In education, traditional methods have long relied upon static textbooks and blackboards to impart knowledge to students. Unfortunately, the lack of dynamism with this approach has failed to foster creativity, motivation, inquiry, individualization, and other practices crucial to serving diverse learners, especially Black children. We sought to uncover barriers and potential solutions to this problem by elevating the voices of educators, from classroom teachers to building and district administrators, at a predominantly African-American suburban secondary school in the Midwest.

We designed a qualitative research study to answer a single yet layered research question: What impedes Black students from experiencing and …

Stroke-Related Mental Health Challenges And Interventions: Strategies For Holistic Recovery, Christopher Walsh, Sam Lee

MOT Student Capstones

This capstone project examines the relationship between post-stroke and mental health. It presents the necessity for a holistic and client-centered approach in the recovery process. Through a mixed-methods approach combining a literature review and empirical research, including surveys of stroke survivors, caregivers, and practitioners, the study shows the prevalence of depression and anxiety post-stroke and the potential benefit of comprehensive mental health support. The findings emphasize the importance of community, spirituality, and proactive education in enhancing mental well-being. The effectiveness of specific interventions for this population was found to be variable, which warrants the use of personalized assessments and intervention …

Assessment And Validation: An Updated Climate Change Plausibility Perception Measure, Melike Hanedar, Gizem Ozyazici, Gaye Defne Ceyhan

Earth & Environmental Sciences - All Scholarship

Plausibility perceptions about climate change influence learner engagement, motivation, and knowledge acquisition, thereby shaping the effectiveness of climate change education. The Plausibility Perception Measure (PPM) was originally developed following the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007. There was a need to update the scale to measure individuals' plausibility perceptions regarding the current climate crisis. This study updated the PPM scale to reflect the IPCC's 2022 report on impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. The updated PPM scale is a ten-point Likert scale consisting of 15 items. Data were collected from 330 pre-service teachers at a public …