Digital Commons Network^™

Teachers' And Administrators' Perspectives On Discipline, Prison Pipeline, And African American Males., Latonya Shonette Bridges-Davis

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to examine the perceptions and experiences of high school teachers and administrators, regarding the impact of disciplinary policies on African American males within an urban Middle Tennessee high school. The study focused on systemic, institutional, and cultural factors influencing how educators interpret their roles in either reinforcing or challenging the school-to-prison pipeline. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and document review. Findings revealed six major themes: Disproportionate Discipline, Importance of Relationships, Cultural Competency and Bias, Restorative Practices, Resource Gaps, and Need for Policy Reform. These findings demonstrated that disproportionate discipline, …

Exploring The Autofermented Cyanobacterial Crude Extract As Antimicrobial Animal Feed Additives., Mohana Krishnan Neelakrishnan

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Overexploitation of antibiotics in the animal industry has driven the need for reduced usage, but this reduction has intensified the challenge posed by Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni to livestock systems and public health. This situation underlines the need for sustainable antimicrobial alternatives. Although cyanobacteria are promising in this respect, since they may produce a variety of bioactive metabolites, the amounts of these metabolites in their natural state are insufficient to elicit potent antibacterial action. In this study, autofermentation was investigated as a means of enhancing antibacterial efficacy in Fischerella ambigua and Nostoc muscorum by promoting the synthesis of organic …

Power Resilience In Utah's Water Sector: A Survey Of Stakeholder Practices, Preferences And Potential, Tyler Christopher Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

Drinking water and wastewater services are vulnerable to disruptions because they rely heavily on the electric grid. As a result, power outages can lead to water outages, creating cascading failures that compromise sanitation, firefighting, healthcare, and daily routines. Although an important topic, there are little to no studies of water and wastewater power resilience at a geographic or state level. In this study we investigate the extent of existing backup power and renewable energy integration as well as the motivations and barriers around their power resilience. We collect our data through semi-structured interviews with staff at 19 urban and rural …

The Impact Of Social Factors On Vagally Mediated Parasympathetic Activity, Andrew Scot Proctor

Theses and Dissertations

Loneliness and social disconnection are recognized risk factors for morbidity and mortality, yet the psychophysiological pathways remain contested. This dissertation examines how social factors relate to vagally mediated parasympathetic activity indexed by heart rate variability (HRV) and tests whether conversational interventions with a human or a large-language-model (LLM)-based companion can acutely reduce loneliness and enhance connection. Across two university sites (BYU, UCSD), N=297 participants (18-27 years) were randomized to (a) a reciprocal self-disclosure conversation with a trained human confederate, (b) a parallel, vocalized LLM chatbot conversation, or (c) a non-social, vocal reading control. Resting HRV (RMSSD, SDNN, HF-HRV) was recorded …

Zotpri Llc V. Burton

All Decisions

In this nonpayment proceeding, the tenant, after retaining counsel, moved to amend their pro se answer to assert affirmative defenses of payment, laches, and breach of the warranty of habitability, along with counterclaims. The landlord opposed, arguing untimeliness and insufficient pleading of laches. The court granted the tenant's motion, allowing the amended answer with the payment and warranty of habitability defenses and counterclaims. However, the laches defense was stricken for insufficient pleading, as it failed to demonstrate lack of notice or prejudice to the tenant, beyond mere delay, which are essential elements for an equitable laches claim.

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Wellness Program In A First-Year Medical Student Anatomy Course, Gina R. Lepore, Gavin Turner, Benjamin Abramoff, Daniel Depietro, Nicole Robinson

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Cadaveric dissection is a central component to anatomy education. However, for many students, dissection can be emotionally taxing, highlighting a potential area for increased support. This project evaluated the implementation of a wellness program within a dissection-based anatomy course.

Methods: Throughout a 12-week first-year medical student anatomy course, two teaching assistants (TAs) served as “Wellness TAs” and implemented a structured wellness program that included weekly office hours, supportive emails to students that addressed emotionally challenging coursework, and scheduled “wellness breakfasts/snack breaks.” An anonymous survey was distributed following the course. The survey assessed demographics, perceptions of the anatomical …

Climate-Driven Flood Risk Mapping And Adaptive Strategy Modelling For Coastal Tamil Nadu, Sakthi Kiran Dr Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Tamil Nadu’s coastal corridor (Cuddalore–Sirkazhi; ~2,740 km²) experiences recurring floods driven by climate change, rapid urban expansion, and inadequate drainage across low-lying deltaic terrain. Existing flood assessments remain largely reactive and rely on static methods that fail to incorporate future climate projections, demographic growth, and evolving urban patterns.

Methods: This research develops a dynamic, climate-resilient flood risk framework integrating (i) long-term hydroclimatic trend analysis (1984–2023), (ii) satellite-based flood hazard mapping using multi-temporal Sentinel-1A and RISAT-1A SAR, (iii) CORDEX REMO2015 (RCP 4.5)–driven HEC-RAS 2D hydrodynamic modelling, (iv) machine-learning-based susceptibility modelling (RF, DT, SVM), and (v) scenario-based evaluation of structural mitigation …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 10 - December 11, 2025

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 10 - December 11, 2025. 24 pages.

Mechanical Quality Of Hemp Fiber As Influenced By Tillage, Cover Crop, And Nitrogen Management In Regenerative Organic Systems, Parinaz Heydar, Alyssa Pierce, Gabriella Fioravanti, Ronald Kander

School of Design and Engineering Papers

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an emerging crop for renewable fiber materials. For farmers, finding a balance between agronomic performance and economic return is crucial, especially when targeting specific markets like the textile industry, which values not just fiber quantity, but overall quality. This field study, conducted at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, assessed the effects of tillage (till vs. no till), cover crop (with cover vs. no cover), and nitrogen (N) rate (0, 50, 100, 150 kg ha⁻¹) on hemp fiber yield, N concentrations in leaf and stalk, and mechanical performance under regenerative organic conditions. Fiber mechanical …

Editorial: Advancing Understanding Of Neonatal Bacterial Infections., Susana Chavez-Bueno, Shelley M. Lawrence

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Experiences Of White Passing And White-Assumed Latine College Students, Emanuel Magaña

Dissertations and Theses

Between 2009 and 2019 Latine college enrollment has increased, yet retention and graduation rates lag those of their white peers. While barriers for Latine students are well-documented, the influence of colorism, particularly among lighter-skinned or white passing students, remains understudied. This study utilized a qualitative case-study approach grounded in CRT and LatCrit and based on a Street Race Praxis framework. This study explored the experiences of twelve white passing and/or white-assumed Latine students at an emerging HSI in the Pacific Northwest. Using Testimonio informed approach and Counterstory, I drew from interviews, pláticas, site observations, and document analysis to create four …

Dental Care Utilization And Expenditures Among Individuals With Asthma, Shillpa Naaval, Vaibhavi Mone

Health Services and Informatics Research

Objectives To examine dental care utilization and health and dental care expenditures among individuals with asthma.

Methods Data from the 2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (n = 21,405) were used to examine dental care utilization (any dental, preventive dental, and treatment dental visit) among individuals ≥ 1 year with and without asthma, and mean expenditures were summarized.

Results Overall, the asthma diagnosis was 13.2%, 14.7% in working-age adults compared to 9.5% in children. The percentage of treatment dental visits was higher overall (17.0% vs. 14.5%, p <  0.05) among the asthma group compared to the non-asthma group. Among individuals with asthma, those who had preventive dental visits had lower dental expenditures compared to those who had treatment dental visits for all age groups.

Conclusion Individuals with asthma had a higher prevalence of using dental treatment services. …

Research On Punitive Damages System In Criminal Incidental Civil Public Interest Litigation In Food Field, Wang Dan

Food and Machinery

Civil Code, Law of the People 's Republic of China on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, and Food Safety Law of the People 's Republic of China have all made specific provisions for the punitive damages system in criminal incidental civil public interest litigation in the food field.However, there are still difficulties such as unclear calculation bases for punitive damages, a lack of sufficient rationality in the amount of punitive damages, a poor connection between punitive damages, criminal fines, and administrative fines, and certain deficiencies in the management and use mechanism of punitive damages.In this regard, we can …

Preparation Of Pva-Silver Nanoparticle Composite Film And Application In Hericium Erinaceus Preservation, Zhang Xuesong, Hong Yi, Gu Rongrong, Gao Daxiang, Li Jiaxin

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To develop a novel packaging film to prolong the shelf life of fruits and vegetables and improve the utilization of enoki mushroom. [Methods] Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs ) were green -synthesized using enoki mushroom water extract as the reducing agent, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA ) as the dispersant, and silver nitrate solution as the silver source.A PVA -AgNP composite film with a hydrophobic surface was prepared and applied for the preservation of Hericium erinaceus. [Results] The optimal conditions for AgNP synthesis were pH 13, 2 g of enoki mushroom water extract, 2 g of PVA, 0.20% final concentration of silver nitrate …

Physicochemical Properties Of Japonica Rice And Indica Rice And Their Quality Analysis After Industrial Microwave Processing, Li Jinian, Guo Jia, Jia Yibin, Ma Mengjie, Wang Ye, Chen Lishui

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To evaluate the taste quality of boxed instant rice prepared on industrial microwave cooking production line with eight kinds of rice, including japonica rice and indica rice. [Methods] Not only composition, cooking quality, and gelatinization characteristics of raw rice are tested, but also taste value, hardness, viscosity, sensory scores, and the microstructure are detected to evaluate the taste quality of different rice varieties. [Results] There are significant differences in the properties of different rice varieties.Compared with indica rice, japonica rice has lower average content of protein (by 0.76 g/100 g) and amylose (by 0.85 g/100 g), a higher average …

Extraction , Structure , And Biological Activities Of Polysaccharides From Nostoc Sphaeroides Kützing : A Review, Li Shanyu, Fan Xinyu, She Xiangqian, He Qiuxing

Food and Machinery

Nostoc sphaeroides kützing is a freshwater wild blue algae that has gained significant attention due to its unique nutritional value and multiple biological activities.Nostoc sphaeroides kützing contains a variety of nutritional components, including polysaccharides, proteins, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and mineral elements.It has demonstrated antibacterial, anticancer, lipid -lowering, and antioxidant effects.This article systematically reviews the extraction methods, structural characteristics, biological activities, and applications of Nostoc sphaeroides kützing polysaccharides, and provides an outlook on its future research directions.

Defect Detection Of Liquor Packaging Based On Improved Yolov 8n, He Gangjian, Zeng Shuiling, Lin Fangcong, Xiang Shuo, Zhang Jiaxiong

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To improve the accuracy of liquor packaging defect detection. [Methods] A detection model based on an improved YOLOv 8n is proposed.The ADown module is introduced into the model to effectively reduce parameter count and computational load while maintaining the original feature extraction capability.Large separable kernel attention (LSKA ) is integrated into the spatial pyramid pooling fusion (SPPF ) structure to further enhance the model's ability to capture and extract multi -scale features.In addition, the original CIOU loss function is replaced with the Inner -WIoU loss function, which combines Inner -IoU and Wise -IoU, thereby improving detection accuracy and accelerating …

Guest Editors’ Introduction, Maurits Bastiaan Meerwijk, Nicolo Paolo P. Ludovice

Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints

This introduction examines the historical evolution of health messaging in the Philippines, tracing its roots from early twentieth-century colonial public health campaigns to contemporary pandemic responses. It argues that health messaging, initially termed “medical propaganda,” has consistently served as a tool for persuasion and governance, intertwining communication, politics, and medicine. The introduction highlights how visual technologies and simplified narratives have been used to normalize biomedical authority, often obscuring complex realities. It concludes by emphasizing the need for a broader epistemic repertoire to navigate health knowledge in an era of misinformation.

Emg-Guided Human-Machine Interaction Training Develops New Intermuscular Coordination Patterns In Stroke: A Pilot Study, Gang Seo, Manuel Portilla-Jiménez, Michael Houston, Jeong-Ho Park, Hangil Lee, Sheng Li, Yingchun Zhang, Hyung-Soon Park, Jinsook Roh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Stroke survivors often experience impaired upper extremity motor function due to abnormal muscle synergies. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of electromyography-guided human-machine interaction training designed to expand the repertoire of intermuscular coordination patterns and improve upper extremity motor function in chronic stroke survivors.

Methods: Four chronic stroke survivors with mild-to-moderate upper extremity motor impairment and three age-matched healthy controls participated in a six-week electromyography-guided training intervention. Participants practiced selectively activating one elbow flexor muscle while suppressing another (brachioradialis or biceps brachii). Throughout the course of the intervention, the effect of the training on intermuscular coordination, …

【超速】霊的成長ブースター, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

忙しさの中で霊的な停滞を感じていませんか？

この【超速】ブースターは、単なる知識ではなく、あなたの霊的な旅路を「停滞」から「最大の推進力」へと切り替えるための実践的な高性能ツールキットです。

中には、以下の4つの核となるメソッドが凝縮されています。

1. 神の視点へのズームアウト: 不安を永遠の視点に変える「ズームアウト技法」。

2. 啓示の習慣化: 主の声を聞き逃さない「啓示ノート」と「振り返り分析」。

3. 戦略的防御: モロナイ司令官の「対誘惑戦略」と聖約の「火」を燃え立たせる習慣。

4. 集中の技術: 心の雑音を排除し、霊的な時間を魂の栄養に変える実践法。

変化を願うだけでは終わりません。このマニュアルは、あなたの霊的な潜在能力を最大限に引き出し、待ち望んでいたブレイクスルーを実現するための具体的な戦略を提供します。

あなたの霊的な飛躍は、ここから始まります。

霊的成長を評価するツール, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

どんな能力も、ふさわしい評価を伴った訓練をしないと確実な成果を期待できません。このツールには、１２項目の指標とその１つ１つを１０段階で評価するための目安になる説明がまとめてあります。それぞれの利用目的に合わせて、手直しをしながら使ってください。

Tool To Evaluate Spiritual Growth, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

You cannot expect reliable results from any ability without training that includes proper evaluation. This document compiles 12 specific metrics and provides explanatory guidelines for assessing each one on a 10-point scale. Please feel free to customize and adapt these for your specific application purposes.

リアホナプロジェクト関連資料の利用法ガイド, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

啓示を力に変える：リアホナ抽出プロジェクト

「ウィッツ心理学（みたまと共に考え行動する心理学）」の土台を築くため、約3か月で400時間以上を費やし、4,000以上の日本語版『リアホナ』記事を徹底分析しました。この集中的な「リアホナプロジェクト」は、信仰に関する知識を、即座に活用できる実践的ツールへと変貌させました。

主な成果（デジタル宝庫）：

• 350ページ超の核心データ: 記事から抽出されたインサイトをまとめた現象学的研究データ。

• 37の「実践原則＆行動プラン」: AIを活用し、膨大なデータから導き出された5つの原則と具体的行動のセット。

• 37の聖餐会トーク原稿: 抽出された原則を、7分間の説得力あるスピーチ原稿に再構築。

• 霊的成長測定ツール: 個人の成長を多角的に測るための12の指標と10段階評価スケール。

• 飛躍と変革の秘蔵ツール: 努力を要するものの、力強い霊的成長をもたらすための追加資料。

このプロジェクトの全資料は、BYU ScholarsArchiveにて公開されています。あなたの信仰生活に確実な成果と継続的な啓示をもたらすための、このデジタル宝庫をぜひご活用ください。

Guide To Utilizing Liahona Project Related Materials, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

💡 Transforming Revelation into Power: The Liahona Extraction Project Guide

To establish the foundation of "Witts Psychology" (a psychology of thinking and acting with the Spirit), over 400 hours were spent analyzing 4,000+ Japanese Liahona articles in approximately three months. This intensive "Liahona Project" transformed knowledge about faith into immediately usable, practical tools.

Key Deliverables (Digital Repository):

• Core Phenomenological Data: Over 350 pages of research data compiling extracted insights.

• 37 "Practical Principles & Action Plans": Five core principles and specific action sets derived from the data using AI.

• 37 Sacrament Meeting Talk Scripts: Principles restructured into compelling, 7-minute speeches.

• Spiritual …

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Self-Connection As A Mediator Between Exercise And Well-Being, Lauren Esmay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Scientists and health professionals have established the connection among physical activity and overall wellbeing. In more recent years, scholars have also researched the correlation among increased self-connection with increased overall well-being. Nevertheless, insignificant data has been gathered to investigate the impact of predictor variables upon the connection between exercise and wellbeing. This research study examined the mediating effect of self-connection among the relationship between exercise and wellbeing. The current study’s purpose was to gain better insights on how self-connection predicts a person’s physical activity, contributing to comprehensive insights how exercise habits may predict a person’s wellbeing by using a cross-sectional …

Educator Experiences With Implementing Every Student Succeeds Act Equity Mandates For Students With Autism, Jameelah S. Lewis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Educating students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in under resourced schools remains a persistent equity concern in the United States. This study addressed a gap in the existing research, as prior studies have examined special education policy and school-level implementation challenges, but few have explored the experiences of general education teachers implementing inclusion in low-socioeconomic public schools. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the barriers general education teachers encounter in providing equitable education and their recommendations for improving inclusion. The study was guided by Ingram and Schneider’s (1993) social construction theory, which explains how marginalized groups …

Small Business Owners’ Effective Strategies For Retaining Childcare Workers In Private Daycare Centers, Velma Williams Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective retention strategies can lead to employee turnover. Private childcare business owners who struggle to improve employee retention may find their business confronting attrition as a result. Grounded in job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective retention strategies used by private childcare business owners to reduce high employee turnover rates. The participants were eight private childcare business owners who had implemented retention strategies. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, public websites, and public documents. Through thematic analysis, five themes were identified: (a) providing competitive rewards and family support; (b) …

Examining Job Demands And Resource Factors Impacting Job Satisfaction Amongst School Social Workers, Charmagne Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between job demands and resources and job satisfaction among school social workers in North Carolina. School social workers are vital members of the school ecosystem, supporting the development and well-being of students, families, and communities. Grounded in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theoretical framework, the impact of years of experience, caseload size, role ambiguity, burnout, and job autonomy on job satisfaction among school social workers was examined. The current study included 92 school social workers from twelve counties in the Sandhills and Research Triangle regions of North Carolina who completed …

Factors Affecting School Readiness And Level Of Distraction Among Black Children During Virtual Learning In The United States, Imani Barnes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated an shift to mandatory virtual learning (VL) for kindergarten through grade 12 students, disrupting educational systems globally and exposing systemic inequities. Although researchers had explored health and education disparities separately, they had not adequately examined the intersection of child health, specifically body mass index (BMI) and health-affected ability, with school readiness and level of distraction in VL environments. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to examine associations between BMI, health affected ability, school readiness, and distraction levels among U.S. Black children engaged in VL in the 2020 school year, controlling for gender, age, and …

Brain–Computer Interface Integration In Mental Health: Clinician Perspectives On Diagnostic Efficacy And Ethical Implications, Serena D. Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the integration of brain–computer interface (BCI) technology into mental health care, focusing on clinicians' perceptions, ethical concerns, and the practical challenges associated with its adoption. As technological advancements in healthcare continue to reshape clinical practices, understanding how emerging technologies like BCI can be incorporated into therapeutic settings is essential. The purpose of this research was to examine clinician perspectives on the potential benefits of and barriers to BCI and to explore the ethical implications of its use in therapy. Guided by the technology acceptance model and the ethical decision-making framework, this qualitative study utilized semi structured interviews …