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Apala Best Of The Best Booklist 2025, Apala Best Of The Best Booklist 2023 - 2024 Authors Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, Family Literacy Focus Committee, Jessea Young (Co-Chair), Jennifer Woo, Nicole Fernandez, Erika Fitzpatrick, Alvina Lai, Cathy Lin, Patty Sumire Mcgowan, Kim Nguyen

Librarian Publications & Presentations

The Best of the Best Booklist celebrates stories from across the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) diaspora. All APALA members were invited to nominate picture book titles about AANHPI communities and experiences that were published between September 1, 2024–August 31, 2025. The Family Literacy Focus Committee selected books aligned with the Talk Story mission and used the APALA Rubric for Evaluating Asian American and Pacific Islander Youth Literature to guide the curation of the list. Eligible titles that earned a 2025-2026 APALA Literature Award or Honoree designation have been included at the end of this list.

Perceived Quality Of Life In New Hampshire Falls Slightly But Higher Than In Neighboring States 7/7/2026, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

Four in five New Hampshire residents rate the state as a very good or good place to live, slightly down compared to previous years, with Republicans more likely to rate it positively than Democrats. Just over a third say New Hampshire is a very or somewhat affordable place to live, also down from previous years. Despite this, Granite Staters are more positive than residents of other New England states. Just over one in five say they are likely to move out of the state within the next five years, with cheaper housing, a lower cost of living, and a different …

Vocabulary Acquisition Through Developmental Play, Amy Storlie

Graduate Teacher Education

As the population of English learners in the United States grew, there was a greater need for linguistically and developmentally appropriate instructional approaches for young learners. The question that guided this research on appropriate instructional approaches was: How does developmental play support the acquisition of academic vocabulary among early-emergent multilingual students in kindergarten and first grade? The research review examined peer-reviewed research across three interconnected bodies of literature: play-based learning, interactions in developmental play, and vocabulary instruction. The findings indicated that purposeful, guided play strengthened executive function, expressive language, and academic growth. In addition, collaborative practices such as translanguaging supported …

Norman Wang V. University Of Pittsburgh

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Usa V. Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services Llc

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Extrafloral Nectaries In Woody Plants: Toward An Integrated Framework For Ant-Mediated Plant Defense, Fangming Liu, Qifei Cai, Victor Busov, Zhen Liu

Michigan Tech Publications

Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs)-secretory structures that recruit predatory arthropods as indirect defenders against herbivory-have been studied almost exclusively in herbaceous systems, leaving a critical gap in our understanding of plant defense in woody plants. In trees, secondary growth, ontogenetic regulation, and seasonal phenology generate structural and temporal heterogeneity in EFN expression poorly captured by existing frameworks. We synthesize evidence across structural, chemical, and functional dimensions of EFN biology to develop an integrated framework for perennial trees. Our analysis suggests that methodological limitations in EFN detection likely bias the current chemical record of woody EFNs, while incomplete chemical characterization constrains the evaluation …

Half Of Middle-Aged Rhode Islanders Want To Move Out Of State 7/7/2026, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

Just over half of Rhode Islanders say the state is a very good or good place to live, particularly Democrats and those with a college degree. But Rhode Islanders overwhelmingly feel the state is an unaffordable place to live, particularly young people. Four in ten current residents, and half of those aged 35 to 64, would like to move out of Rhode Island, while more than a third of state residents say they are likely to do so within the next five years. Those who are likely to leave most often cite a desire for lower housing costs, overall cost …

More Than Four In Ten Connecticut Residents Want To Move Out Of State, Many Seeking Lower Living Costs & Taxes 7/7/2026, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

A majority of Connecticut residents say the state is a very good or good place to live, particularly Democrats and older residents. However, only one in six residents describe Connecticut as very or somewhat affordable. Four in ten residents say they are likely to move out of the state within five years, and even more want to move out, higher than any other surveyed New England state this month. Lower housing costs, overall cost of living, and taxes, along with a different political or social environment are mentioned most often as reasons Connecticut residents are likely to move out of …

Vermonters Overwhelmingly Find State Unaffordable Place To Live, Four In Ten Want To Move Out 7/7/2026, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

Most Vermont residents find the state to be a not very or not at all affordable place to live, and less than two-thirds rate it as a very good or good place to live overall, down from previous years. About four in ten Vermonters say they are likely to move out of the state within the next five years and about the same percentage want to do so. Lower housing costs, overall cost of living, and taxes, along with a different political or social environment, are mentioned most often as reasons Vermonters are likely to leave. Other New England states …

Fecal Fatty Acids And Other Risk Factors Associated With Multiple Sclerosis Score, Progression And Diagnosis Among Hispanic Adults, Juliana Ayala-Viqueira

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition with insufficient research regarding risk factors influencing MS severity score (MSSS), progression and diagnosis among Hispanic adults living in the United States. This cross-sectional study assessed factors associated with MS score, progression and diagnosis using secondary data from the International Multiple Sclerosis Microbiome Study (iMSMS). Guided by the ecological model, the study included N = 576 participants with MS. Manuscript 1 explored the association between body mass index (BMI), sodium consumption, and the MS severity score in a Hispanic adult population. A multiple linear regression was conducted to examine whether age and …

Examining Inmate Labor In Emergency Management: Contributions, Challenges, And Ethical Considerations, Boris Eugene Valiance

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Incarcerated individuals remain inconsistently engaged in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, creating both an operational gap and an ethical challenge regarding labor equity, safety, voluntariness, and human dignity. Guided by RBT and EMT, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how incarcerated individuals are utilized in emergency management and to examine stakeholder perceptions of the operational, ethical, and policy implications of inmate labor programs. The research questions examined current utilization patterns, stakeholder-perceived benefits and drawbacks, and ethical concerns influencing participation decisions. Data were collected through semi structured interviews with purposefully sampled emergency management professionals, policymakers, and correctional …

The Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health On Alcoholism Among African American Communities Aged 65 And Older, Kymberly Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alcohol use disorder among African American older adults (aged ≥65) remains an underrecognized contributor to preventable morbidity and diminished quality of life. Although previous research has identified individual risk factors for alcohol misuse, little is known about how social determinants of health shape alcohol use among this population. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore how family support, experiences of racial discrimination, religious engagement, and economic stability influence late-life alcohol use. Cultural Resilience Theory guided the exploration of how cultural resources and structural stressors influence alcohol use. Five African American adults aged 65 years and older were …

Relationship Between Employee Engagement, Gender, And Intention To Quit In The Retail Industry, Lataya V. Mills

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intention to quit remains a significant challenge for retail organizations, contributing to recruitment and training costs, workforce instability, and operational disruptions. The purpose of this quantitative correlational research project was to examine the relationship between employee engagement, gender, and intention to quit among frontline retail employees in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Grounded in employee engagement theory, participants included 71 frontline retail employees. Data were collected using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, an Intention to Quit Scale, and demographic questions. Composite scores were calculated for employee engagement and intention to quit, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, …

Racial Profiling In Traffic Enforcement: A Qualitative Exploration Of Police Chiefs' Perspectives On Traffic Stop Data Analysis, Peter J. Didomenica

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racial profiling of people of color by police departments as part of traffic enforcement practices is a pervasive practice in the United States. The practice is a form of systemic racism, the conceptual framework for this study, that has resulted in people and communities of color suffering its deleterious effects. Although statistical analysis of traffic stop data is most effective in uncovering racial profiling in traffic enforcement, most police departments fail to conduct such analysis, and for those departments that do so, there is no uniform judicially accepted method. The purpose of this study was to understand the reasons most …

Pneumococcal Colonization In Pediatric Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Liset Olarte, Jennifer E Schuster, Ibrahim Ahmed, Kristina G Hulten

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite the increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease among pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients, pneumococcal colonization has not been evaluated in this population. We prospectively assessed longitudinal pneumococcal colonization in 22 pediatric HCT recipients from conditioning therapy to 100 days post-HCT. A higher likelihood of pneumococcal colonization was observed in the late post-HCT period (weeks 9-14) compared with the early post-HCT period (weeks 1-8), with odds increasing with each additional week after conditioning.IMPORTANCEThis is the first study to longitudinally evaluate pneumococcal colonization in pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients from the onset of conditioning therapy to 100 days post-HCT. …

Tau Pathology In Epilepsy: Emerging Mechanisms And Translational Opportunities, Arjune Sen, Xin You Tai, Aristea Galanopoulou, Maria Thom, Eleonora Aronica, Lucy Vivash, Martin Hardmeier, Action Amos, Stephan Rueegg, Matthias Koepp, Yaroslav Winter, Christoph Helmstaedter, Jeffrey L Noebels, Hilal A Lashuel, Terence J O'Brien

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The onset of epilepsy in adulthood occurs most commonly after 55 years of age. Given the ageing global population, this disorder represents an increasing burden on healthcare and society. The bidirectional link between epilepsy and dementia is a focus of intense research with underlying tau pathology highlighted as a potential mechanistic link. In this review, we examine the evidence for tau-related neurodegenerative processes in epilepsy beginning with how changes in biochemical and structural properties of the tau protein can lead to abnormal phosphorylation and pathological aggregation. We consider the role of tau in seizure occurrence and cognitive difficulties in experimental …

The Stigma Experiences Of The African American Transgender Individual In Mental Health Settings, Linda Shaw Henley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The intersection of race, gender identity, and systemic marginalization has profound implications for mental health outcomes, particularly among African American transgender individuals. Addressing African American transgender individuals’ stigma experiences in mental health settings is important because transgender individuals have dual minority statuses, wherein racism, stigma, transphobia, and institutional neglect converge, significantly impacting their access to affirming and effective mental health treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore the stigma experiences of the African American transgender individual in mental health settings. The phenomenon of interest in this study was stigma experiences in mental health settings with mental health providers. …

Cytoskeletal Protein Expression In Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Psychoneuroimmunological Perspective On Sars-Cov-2, James Birch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened concerns about health disparities among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Limited understanding of the biological factors underlying health variability may hinder efforts to reduce disparities and improve care for neurodivergent populations. Guided by the psychoneuroimmunology framework, this quantitative study investigated whether cytoskeletal gene expression was associated with neuroimmune variability in ASD and SARS-CoV-2 populations. Three genes –Nck-associated protein 1 (NCKAP1), WAS/WASL-interacting protein family member 1 (WIPF1), and actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 1B (ARPC1B)—were evaluated using two publicly available Gene Expression Omnibus datasets GSE212645 (ASD vs. sibling-matched controls, N = 40) and GSE152641 (SARS-CoV-2-positive vs. …

First Year College Students’ Perceptions Of Their Engagement Skills And Satisfaction In Online Courses, Ryan Ann Mathews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is the gap in literature on first-year college students’ perceptions of engagement and satisfaction in online courses. Grounded in the framework of Astin’s student involvement theory and Cotton et al., happy productive theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore first-year college students’ perceptions of their engagement and satisfaction in online courses. Semistructured interviews with eight first-year online college students throughout the U.S. were conducted. Through thematic analysis, the following four themes emerged: First-year online college students noted that their (1) engagement skills and study habits, when used consistently, …

African American Women’S Perceptions And Experiences With Weight Management And Ensuing Health Outcomes, Brenda Louise Gill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women (AAW) experience disproportionately high rates of obesity and chronic disease compared to all other demographic groups in the United States. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of AAW aged 36–64 residing in Nashville, Tennessee, regarding food, weight management, and chronic disease management. The social-ecological model (SEM) served as the theoretical framework, providing a multilevel lens through which individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal factors are examined. Three research questions guided the inquiry, examining individual-level experiences, parental and caregivers’ influences, and community and societal-level factors shaping participants’ relationship with food, weight management, …

Usa V. Darrell Devonish

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Usa V. Dennis Bastian

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Longitudinal Genomic Surveillance Of Sars-Cov-2 In A University Microcosm Reflects Global Evolutionary Trends, Sankar Prasad Chaki, Melissa M Kahl-Mcdonagh, Benjamin W Neuman, Loni A Taylor, Rebecca S B Fischer, Blake M Hanson, Marlisa S Hardy, Jo Ann Culpepper, Eric Boerwinkle, Kurt A Zuelke

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

SARS-CoV-2 transmission has declined, yet ongoing viral evolution continues to pose public health challenges. This study conducted long-term (2020-2024) genomic surveillance within a large and globally diverse university community. Viral genomes obtained from clinical (n = 1,786) and surveillance (n = 888) testing samples were classified under clade, lineage, and variant systems, and compared with global genomic data sets. Local patterns broadly paralleled global evolutionary trends, including the phased emergence of major variants, episodic introductions of new lineages, and shifts in dominant clades. Lineage diversity peaked during fall semesters and was highest among undergraduate-aged individuals, with similar distributions …

Early Identification Of Skin Breakdown In The Medical-Surgical Setting, Brandi S. Paul, Kathryn Justice, Nic Money

Group: Samford University Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) remain a significant patient safety concern in acute care settings. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to reduce HAPI rates through a multidisciplinary intervention focused on the early identification of high-risk patients and improved adherence to pressure injury prevention practices.

Guided by the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice, this quality improvement project was implemented over eight weeks on one medical-surgical unit at two southeastern U.S. hospitals. Adult patients with Braden scores ≤14 were identified as high risk. Nurses initiated the Pink Paper Initiative (PPI), which included visual bedside reminders, multidisciplinary checklists, …

Implementation Of A Follow-Up Call To Improve Glp-1 Medication Compliance, Hanna Weitzman-Flanigan

DNP and Student Works

Background: Obesity is a major driver of healthcare spending in the United States. GLP-1 receptor agonists are effective for weight management; however, high rates of early discontinuation reduce both clinical and economic value.

Methods: A pre–post quality improvement project implemented a nurse-led follow-up call at four weeks.

Results: Adherence improved significantly (p=0.009), weight decreased by 10 pounds (p=0.023), and estimated annual savings per patient were $6,472, contingent on sustained long-term adherence. Total estimated project savings were $80,141.

Conclusion: Nurse-led follow-up calls are a high-value intervention supporting economic sustainability.

Security Architecture Decision Framework For Endpoint Protection In Resource-Constrained K-12 Environments, Jason Folker

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

K-12 educational institutions face an ongoing challenge in protecting endpoints when budgets and staffing prevent the implementation of standard security best practices. Technology directors routinely make difficult decisions about administrative rights, software controls, and security tooling, but they lack frameworks designed for the constraints and priorities specific to educational environments. This paper develops a security architecture decision framework tailored for K-12 endpoint protection. The framework integrates five weighting dimensions to help technology directors evaluate competing architectural choices. These dimensions include educational impact, security risk reduction, resource requirements, compliance obligations, and operational feasibility. The framework creates structured documentation that helps decision-makers …

Biophysical Insights Into A Cryptic Ligand Site In The Hydrophobic Core Of Human Pcna, Alexis N. Dispensa, Sharon N, Greenwood, Jason Yang, Daniel E. Logatto, James Fusco, E. Railey White, Roderic G. Eckenhoff, Zhiwei Liu, Brian P. Weiser

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Proteins contain small pockets that form due to imperfections in residue packing or the rotational and conformational movement of amino acids. In this work, we used the fluorescent probe 1-aminoanthracene (AMA) to detect a small ligand pocket in the hydrophobic core of human proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which is a critical protein for DNA replication and repair. Fluorescence measurements of AMA reported that the core of PCNA had a dielectric constant (ε) of 4, which was very apolar and similar to cyclohexane (ε = 2). Protein mutagenesis, photoaffinity labeling, and molecular dynamics simulations localized the binding site for AMA …

Coherent Two-Photon Backscattering And Induced Angular Quantum Correlations In Multiple-Scattered Two-Photon States Of The Light, Nooshin M. Estakhri, Theodore B. Norris

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

We present the emergence of coherent two-photon backscattering, a manifestation of weak localization, in multiple scattering of maximally entangled pure and fully mixed two-photon states and examine the effect of entanglement and classical correlations. Quantum correlations in backscattering are investigated for finite three-dimensional disordered structures in the weak localization regime, as well as systems of a small number of scatterers with specified spatial arrangements. No assumptions are made about the statistical behavior of the scattering matrix elements. Furthermore, we study the interplay between quantum correlations induced by multiple scattering and the correlations that may be present in the illumination fields, …

Constructing A Lower-Bound Estimate Of The Global Number Of Insect Species On A Hyperdiverse Empirical Foundation, Robert Colwell, Laura Melissa Guzman, Dirk Steinke, Anne Chao, Daniel H. Janzen, Winnie Hallwachs, Austin Baker, Jose L Fernández-Triana, Paul D.N. Hebert, Frank Joyce, Robert Puschendorf, Donald L.J. Quicke, Rodolphe Rougerie, M. Alex Smith, Nelson Zamora, Michael J. Sharkey

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Estimating the number of insect species on Earth is a daunting challenge. The current consensus estimate—about six million species—is likely far too low, as we will show. Our estimate of the global number of insect species rests on a sample of more than 1,600,000 DNA-barcoded insect specimens representing 53,945 species from 15 “core” Malaise traps deployed in dry forest, cloud forest, and rainforest ecosystems of the Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in Costa Rica. Even this massive sample fails to reveal the full extent of ACG insect species richness. To estimate total ACG insect richness, we adjust the observed count …

Full Issue

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.