Digital Commons Network^™

Crisis Narratives And The Vicissitudes Of Haitian Foodways: A Critical Comparison Of Three Food Items, Marc S. Gabriel

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Polities and media external to Haiti direct a lot of narrative focus on the country being the source of its own protracted crises. This represents a powerful narrative hegemony that casts the post-colonial nation as a zone of perpetual disasters or crisis. To maintain that narrative domination over Haiti, opportunistic observers of Haiti’s media spectacles of crisis only need to atomize the country’s newest crisis or natural disaster from the history that situates it. The elision of the Haitian memory – a memory of structural adjustment programs, systematic displacement, foreign-sponsored paramilitary violence, erosion of peasant foodways and agriculture – from …

Reinforcement Learning Based Resource Management In Edge Systems, Motahare Mounesan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Modern end-user applications that are highly compute- and data-intensive, while being extremely latency- and accuracy-sensitive, are increasingly reliant on distributed computing. This paradigm spans a range of architectures, from cloud computing to in-device processing. Cloud computing, though scalable, often incurs high latency and cost, constraints that are particularly problematic for time-sensitive applications. In contrast, in-device computing on end or IoT devices is limited by resource constraints, making it inadequate for many complex workloads. Edge computing presents a compelling alternative by bringing computation closer to data sources, thereby reducing end-to-end latency and improving responsiveness. However, the inherent decentralized and dynamic nature …

Structural Characterization Of A Tarantula Toxin And Its Interactions With Lipid Bilayers And Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels, Krishnakoli Adhikary

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Voltage-gated ion channels are membrane protein complexes. They allow the selective flow of their respective ions down an electrochemical gradient through a central ion conduction pore surrounded by four voltage-sensing domains (VSDs). Various neurological and cardiovascular diseases are caused by mutations in voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs). One of the biggest challenges today is addiction to opioid medication. Coming up with non-opioid drug leads can be a real blessing for society. This is where voltage-gated sodium channel research comes in. Na_v1.7, Na_v1.8, and Na_v1.9 are responsible for pain sensations. Loss or gain of function in …

Satellite-Host Galaxy Co-Evolution With Next-Generation Regulator Models, Austen Gabrielpillai

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The evolution of satellites galaxies is an unsolved problem in galaxy formation. Recent observations such as the SAGA and ELVES surveys find tension in HI contents and star formation of satellites around their central host galaxies when compared to our own local environment, the Milky Way. These processes are potentially highly influenced by the host's circumgalactic medium (CGM), and to constrain these cases requires accurate and fast modeling of satellites-host interactions. In this work, we present our methodology for evolving z = 0 surviving satellites alongside their central galaxy in sapphire, a CGM regulator co-evolution model of galaxy formation. …

Whole Genome Sequence Analysis Of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Across 246 K Individuals, Margaret Sunitha Selvaraj, Xihao Li, Zilin Li, Eric Van Buren, Sara Haidermota, Darina Postupaka, Whitney Hornsby, Joshua C. Bis, Joanne Curran, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Background: Rare genetic variation provided by whole genome sequence datasets has been relatively less explored for its contributions to human traits. Meta-analysis of sequencing data offers advantages by integrating larger sample sizes from diverse cohorts, thereby increasing the likelihood of discovering novel insights into complex traits. Furthermore, emerging methods in genome-wide rare variant association testing further improve power and interpretability.

Results: Here, we conduct the largest meta-analysis of whole genome sequencing for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), a therapeutic target for coronary artery disease, analyzing data from 246 K participants and integrating 1.23B variants from the UK Biobank and the Trans-Omics …

The Aga Khan University Jamiapoashi

Old name/logo items (letterheads, seals, posters, etc.)

No abstract provided.

Can Human Engagement And Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Co-Exist In The Online Classroom?, Mimi Gough

ICHRIE Research Reports

Today’s academic environment is faced with a new predicament in trying to understand the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Many online educators are asking “What do I need to know about AI as it applies to academics? How do I prepare my students for careers in the hospitality and tourism industry while trying to balance human engagement with AI? In its current form, AI has created apprehension among higher education stakeholders about developing policies, procedures and usage as they redesign curriculum that supports students who may use AI in their future careers. This manuscript, based on a 2024 ICHRIE Conference …

Enhancing Workforce Readiness In The Hospitality Industry: A Gender-Based Study Of Hospitality Business Students’ Internship Experiences, Kira Saroken, Yongwoo Nam, Benjamin Kim, Mi Ran Kim, Hala Sun, Troy Walker

ICHRIE Research Reports

Internships play a vital role in bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical industry experience for hospitality business students. This study investigates the impact of internship experiences on workforce readiness, focusing on gender-based differences in perceived achievements and areas for improvement. Grounded in Experiential Learning Theory (ELT) and Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), the research examines how internships contribute to students’ career preparation. A survey of 373 students revealed that female students emphasized interpersonal and creative problem-solving skills, whereas male students highlighted technical expertise and leadership. These findings suggest that both educational institutions and the hospitality industry should tailor internship structures …

The Two Faces Of Airbnb Disruption: Licensed Accommodations Perspective On Contrasting Impacts On Community In Nova Scotia, Maria Matthews, Ioannis S. Pantelidis, Rodrigo Lucena

ICHRIE Research Reports

This paper examines the disruptive impact of Airbnb on urban and rural communities within the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, from a licensed accommodations perspective. Utilizing qualitative methods, this study gathers insights from general managers and owners in the licensed accommodation sector to understand similarities and differences in how Airbnb influences socioeconomic factors, housing markets, and community dynamics in both urban and rural settings. Overall, Airbnb's influence is double-edged, offering economic opportunities while simultaneously posing significant socioeconomic challenges. The findings underscore the need for nuanced policy approaches relating to Airbnb that balance economic growth with community well-being, ensuring sustainable development …

Students' Purchase Intention Of Street Food In Front Of De La Salle University - Dasmariñas Cavite, Patricia Jana J. Abeabe, Shanin S. Albios, Brent Louis C. Aure, Jimford U. Tabuyo

ICHRIE Research Reports

This study examined the factors that influence students' buying intentions for street food. A quantitative descriptive research design was employed to assess students' purchasing intentions toward street food in front of De La Salle University - Dasmariñas Gate 1. The study utilized convenience sampling, with 371 respondents consisting of undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students. Data were collected through an online survey using a Four-Point Likert Scale questionnaire. Statistical tools are weighted mean and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) T-test. The findings revealed that perceived food quality and convenience significantly influenced students' buying intentions, while perceived food value also played a crucial …

An Association At The Crossroads: The 1970s Crisis Within Chrie, Bob Bosselman

ICHRIE Research Reports

The International Council on Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Education (ICHRIE), founded in 1946, has a long history, although in the 1970s the future of the association was in doubt. This manuscript documents the crisis that nearly derailed the association, and details how this dilemma was resolved. Associations face many challenges throughout their history, and how they deal with each crisis often dictates their future.

Opiophobia In Postsurgical Adults With Cancer, Karen E. Alsbrook, Valerie Shelton, Bryan M. Fellman, Eduardo Bruera, Eileen D. Hacker

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

The purpose of this study is to explore the occurrence of opiophobia among postsurgical adults with cancer and hypothesized associations among opiophobia, anxiety, depression, pain intensity, pain interference, and opioid medication adherence during the first week following hospital discharge for surgical treatment of a malignancy.

A Review Of Androctonus Of Iran, With Redescription Of A. Crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) And A. Orientalis (Birula, 1900) Stat. N., And Descriptions Of Four New Species (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, František Kovařík, Victor Fet, Graeme Lowe, Mohammad Moradi, Farzaneh Kalami

Euscorpius

No abstract provided.

Improving Hospital 30-Day Readmission Rates Through Post-Discharge Follow-Up Phone Calls, Maureen R. Wright

DNP and Student Works

Background: Thirty-day hospital readmissions compromise patient safety, increase mortality risk, and impose financial penalties on hospitals. Ineffective discharge education and care transitions leave patients vulnerable after discharge. Evidence shows that post-discharge follow-up calls within 24–72 hours can identify risks early and reduce preventable readmissions.

Purpose: This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to reduce 30-day hospital readmission rates by implementing post-discharge follow-up telephone calls guided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Re-Engineered Discharge (RED) Toolkit.

Methods: Registered nurses conducted structured follow-up calls within 24–72 hours of discharge from the medical-surgical unit, reviewing health status, medications, appointments, …

Uinta Basin Snow Shadow: Impact Of Snow-Depth Variation On Winter Ozone Formation, Michael J. Davies, John R. Lawson, Trevor O’Neil, Seth N. Lyman, Karlee Zager, Tristan D. Coxson

Bingham Research Center

After heavy snowfall in the Uinta Basin, Utah, elevated surface ozone occurs if a cold-air pool persists and traps emissions from oil and gas industry operations. Sunlight and actinic flux from a high-albedo snowpack drive ozone buildup via photolysis. Snow coverage is paramount in initiating the cold pool and driving ozone generation. Its depth is critical for predicting ozone concentrations. The Basin’s location leeward of the Wasatch Mountains provides conditions for a precipitation shadow, where sinking air suppresses snowfall. We analyzed multiple years of ground-based snow depth measurements, surface ozone data, and meteorological observations; we found that ozone levels track …

Climate Information Use In Transportation Planning: A Survey Of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Kelli M. Archie, James C. Arnott, Julie A. Vano, Daniella Hirschfeld, Rebecca Rasch, Emilio Mateo

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Faculty Publications

Climate change and its potential to impact transportation systems poses urgent challenges for sustainability and societal well-being, emphasizing a need to plan to reduce transportation infrastructure’s vulnerability to impacts such as sea level rise, extreme weather events, and increased erosion. Previous research has focused on document analysis and case studies and has highlighted the importance of including transportation professional needs in regard to understanding how transportation professionals use climate science. Through direct inclusion of transportation professional perspectives, this paper aims to fill the gaps in understanding about the use of climate information in transportation planning. To obtain data about local …

The Global Phase Space Of The Three-Vortex Interaction System And Its Application To Vortex-Dipole Scattering, Atul Anurag

Dissertations

This dissertation presents a global reduction of the classical three-vortex problem that is free from coordinate singularities, enabling a comprehensive analysis of the system's dynamics across all circulation regimes.

To achieve this, a two-step symplectic reduction procedure is developed. The first step introduces Jacobi coordinates adapted to the symplectic structure of the vortex system, and the second applies a Lie-Poisson reduction to the resulting system. This formulation eliminates the non-physical singularities associated with collinear vortex configurations and facilitates a global phase space analysis, including a detailed and novel investigation of bifurcations.

Within this reduced framework, all relative fixed points are …

Robust Ai Solutions For Financial Markets Through Generative Modeling, Dynamic Graph Learning, And Reinforcement-Based Portfolio Optimization, Jingyi Gu

Dissertations

Financial markets are inherently uncertain and dynamic, driven by complex factors such as macroeconomic signals, investor sentiment, and evolving inter-asset relationships. While machine learning has advanced financial modeling, existing approaches often fall short in addressing the real-world intricacies of finance. This dissertation confronts two critical challenges, human-driven stochasticity and risk-intensive decision-making under real-world trading constraints, while seizing a pivotal opportunity, the structural dynamics of evolving financial systems. These elements are foundational to advancing robust and practical financial intelligence.

To this end, this dissertation develops a unified framework for robust financial modeling and decision-making. The framework is architected as a progressive, …

Large-Scale Graph Algorithms And Applications With An Emphasis On Fintech Data, Fuhuan Li

Dissertations

Graph algorithms are essential analytical tools with applications spanning cybersecurity, biology, social media, and increasingly, financial technology (FinTech). The complex and interconnected nature of financial data, particularly in cryptocurrency networks, presents unique opportunities for graph-based analysis in fraud detection and anomaly identification.

This dissertation presents the design and implementation of scalable graph algorithms tailored for large-scale networks, with particular emphasis on FinTech applications. The primary contributions include: (1) novel cover-edge based triangle counting algorithms that significantly reduce computational overhead through breadth-first search preprocessing, achieving substantial speedups over traditional methods and dramatic communication reduction in distributed settings, (2) optimized parallel implementations …

Bodipy-Based Photocages For The Controlled Release Of Hydrogen Sulfide And Persulfides, Yanmei Li

Dissertations

Reactive sulfur species (RSS) such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and hydropersulfides (RSSH) are crucial mediators in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Their regulatory roles span from maintaining cellular redox balance to influencing signaling pathways critical for homeostasis and stress responses. This dissertation investigates H2S and RSSH as biologically important molecules and explores the development of boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-based photocages for its controlled, light-triggered release. Given H2S and RSSH's critical role in redox regulation and cellular protection, achieving spatiotemporal control over its delivery is essential for both therapeutic and research applications. BODIPY scaffolds offer favorable photophysical properties, including visible-light activation …

Reduced Order Models Of Hydrodynamically Interacting Flapping Wings, Jose Pabon

Dissertations

Fish schools exhibit a collective behavior and self-organization that is mediated by hydrodynamic interactions between individual fish. However, the long-time evolution of hydrodynamically interacting collectives is challenging to investigate due to the persistent influence of long-lived vortical structures, and the high-resolution requirements of direct numerical simulation at large Reynolds numbers. Reduced-order models have therefore played an important role in theoretical investigations of collectives of swimming bodies. The main results detailed herein are several new reduced-order models of swimmers that self-propel by flapping, i.e., by executing a prescribed periodic rigid body motion. The models are extensions of a discrete-time dynamical system …

Harnessing Graphs For Knowledge Representation In Natural Language Processing, Uras Varolgunes

Dissertations

This work proposes innovative methods for integrating domain-specific knowledge into natural language processing tasks through the use of graphs, aiming to enhance the performance of models across various domains, including finance and healthcare. Several novel approaches are proposed that fuse graph structures with modern deep learning techniques, addressing the challenges of missing word embeddings, label prediction, and graph representation learning for large language models.

First, a powerful embedding method built on top of the recent advances in latent graph learning is introduced to address the critical problem of word embedding imputation. Second, a graph-enhanced label attention model designed for medical …

Optimizing Hip And Knee Assistance For Walking And Sit-To-Stand Transitions: An Intrinsic Muscle Mechanics Based Predictive Approach, Neethan Ratnakumar

Dissertations

As the global population ages, the demand for wearable assistive technologies continues to rise, driven by their potential to enhance mobility and independence in older adults. Effectively designed controllers for lower-limb exoskeletons to assist sit-to-stand (STS) and walking are crucial for delivering efficient, safe, and comfortable assistance during daily activities. Traditionally, controller optimization involves biomechanical modeling and user-specific customization. Musculoskeletal simulations play a central role in this process by providing insights into human-exoskeleton interaction dynamics, thereby informing and refining control strategies.

This work presents a simulation-driven approach for developing exoskeleton controllers for walking and STS using two distinct methods: optimal …

Development And Implementation Of Novel Mass Spectrometric Methods For Metabolism Studies In Drug Discoveries, Huifang Yao

Dissertations

The field of drug discovery has evolved significantly over the past few decades, with a growing emphasis on understanding the metabolic pathways and biotransformation processes that influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drug candidates. Novel mass spectrometric methods have emerged as powerful tools in this domain, facilitating the comprehensive analysis of metabolic profiles and enabling the identification of metabolites with implications for safety, efficacy, and overall drug development. However, challenges remain in quantifying metabolic flux—an essential aspect of understanding drug action—particularly due to the limitations of traditional isotope kinetic assays, which often involve lengthy sample preparation and the use of …

Multi-Messenger Diagnostics Of The Origin And Transport Of Solar Energetic Particles, Meiqi Wang

Dissertations

Impulsive solar energetic electron events (SEEs) are a common phenomenon originating from the Sun. They are characterized by rapid onset and brief duration, and are commonly associated with solar flares. Solar radio bursts, which offer a rich variety of diagnostic tools for solar activities, exhibits a close relationship with impulsive solar energetic electron events. Such diagnostics are particularly powerful when combined with multi-wavelength remote sensing and in situ observations. The dissertation focuses on combining state-of-the-art microwave imaging spectroscopy data obtained by the Expanded Owens Valley Solar Array (EOVSA) with other multi-messenger observations to investigate the origin of impulsive solar energetic …

Improving Perioperative Nursing Residency Student Retention: Identifying And Mitigating Factors Causing Attrition In A Nursing Residency Program, Bridgette D. Mangan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Background: The nursing workforce decreased by 100,000 nurses from 2021 to 2022. Such a drop has not been seen in the last 40 years of the nursing profession. The frequency of job turnover among newly hired nurse graduates is troublesome. Research reveals 30% to 69% of new graduate nurses voluntarily leave their positions within a year of employment. Nurse residency programs help new graduate nurses’ transition from advanced beginners to competent professionals and focus on areas critical to new graduate success. The cost of training a new graduate nurse to be a competent perioperative nurse may be upwards of …

Characterizing Fish Communities Using Traditional And Emerging Monitoring Approaches In San Diego County Estuaries, Natalie Katherine De Wet

Theses

Fish communities are essential to estuarine health, playing key roles in food webs, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem functioning. However, the persistence of native fish populations is increasingly threatened by the cumulative impacts of coastal development, pollution, and climate change. Rapid, effective monitoring of species distributions is a priority, enabling timely conservation and management. However, the study of any ecosystem is limited by time, resources, and the consideration that research of a system can damage the ecosystem under study.

This research aimed to characterize fish species richness and evaluate the benefits and limitations of different estuary monitoring approaches. Specifically, this study …

The Inevitability Of Local Environmental Law, Keith H. Hirokawa, Cinnamon Carlarne Hirokawa, Lauren A. Vanwagoner

Fordham Environmental Law Review

The United States is entering a new era of environmental law. Within the first few months of President Trump’s second term in office, the administration issued a mass of executive orders, memoranda and policy changes that seek to peel back environmental protections, in many cases, to the point of erasure. The administration shuttered entire agencies, such as USAID, dissolved the Environmental Protection Agency’s research arm, terminated life-saving programs like the National Weather Service’s translation service, cut funding to housing and public health initiatives, and eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the country. Given the reality of these large-scale drawbacks, …

Vol6iss4cover, Hca Healthcare

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine Covers

Cover for Volume 6 Issue 4 of the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine.

Reasons For Cheating In Online Assessments And Strategies For Mitigating It: A Specific Study From The Perspectives Of English Language Teachers In Jeddah Governorate, Abdulelah M. Alqarni

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Arts and Humanities

Assessment is one of the challenges facing online education, as academic integrity can be compromised due to students' cheating behavior. The current qualitative research sought to examine English language teachers' perceptions of the reasons why students cheat on online assessments. It also sought to find strategies to reduce cheating in these assessments. Thirteen teachers (seven males and six females) with at least five years of teaching experience in various secondary schools in the Jeddah Education Governorate participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using MAXQDA software, version 2024. Data analysis revealed several reasons for cheating …