Digital Commons Network^™

The Core-Collapse Supernovae Particle Physics Interactions, Skylar G. Butler

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

This study investigates the role of specific particle physics interactions in simulations of core collapse supernovae, with a focus on understanding how varying levels of inclusion impact the accuracy of gravitational wave predictions and results of simulations. Different research groups often approach these simulations with varying degrees of complexity, cutting corners by omitting certain reactions or simplifying others. This project systematically evaluates the implications of these choices, comparing the particle physics interactions included, the dimensionality of the simulations, and the governing equations used. Our goal is to identify how these factors influence the precision of numerical simulations. By providing a …

The Wellness Ambassador For A Healthy Work Environment, Adriana Rumoro, Judy Friedrichs

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Nurses are working in a self-care deficit. The lower the self-care quotient, the more at risk a nurse is for safety and quality issues. Recently, the Work Life Balance committee members have completed training to formally become the Wellness Ambassador to support a healthy work environment.

Per the ANA Code of Ethics, self - care is more than a nicety. It has been found to be critical to the nurse, the team, and the patient. Each of the Wellness Ambassador surveyed the staff on their unit on what would a healthy work environment include. The overall top two topics identified …

Partnering With Hbcus To Improve Advanced Practice Nursing Workforce Diversity, Marquita P. Lyons-Smith, Ragan Johnson, Brigit Carter, Anne Derouin, Yolanda Vanriel

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Illustrate the value of strategic academic partnerships between Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to increase diversity in nurse practitioner (NP) academic programs.

Healthcare workforce diversity improves health outcomes for minoritized populations. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are cornerstones of the primary care workforce. However, less than 10% of practicing NPs are Black. Barriers include lack of APN faculty diversity, student access to higher education, awareness, and cost. Pipeline programs such as summer immersion programs have effectively increased knowledge, increased interest, fostered mentorship, and prepared minoritized students for the graduate school application process. Faculty at a …

A New Tool For Evaluating Virtual Nursing In Hospitals: The In-Hospital Telehealth Questionnaire, Emily Calabro, Rodica Pop

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Purpose/Background: The In-Hospital Telehealth Questionnaire (IHTQ) was developed to address the lack of validated tools for assessing the usability of telehealth and virtual nursing within hospital settings. The IHTQ adapts the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ) and incorporates elements from other relevant questionnaires to comprehensively evaluate usability factors like usefulness, ease of use, effectiveness, reliability, and satisfaction. This study is part of a larger research project exploring the integration of virtual nurses and robotics in healthcare.

Methods: The IHTQ was developed following a rigorous scale development process. Items were generated based on a literature review and expert opinions, focusing on key …

Caring For The Caregiver: Enhancing Personal And Professional Well-Being, Alicia A. Craig-Rodriguez, Melissa Bernstein

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

As the most trusted healthcare profession for 22 years running, nurses are often assumed to have a great deal of knowledge and experience regarding the importance of health promoting behaviors such as healthy eating, physical activity, and stress management. However, this knowledge very often does not translate into sustainable change in their own personal and professional practice, as the evidence reveals that nurses often place their patients’ health and well-being well above their own (Linton & Koonman, 2020). Harnessing both personal strengths and leadership skills related to the challenges facing today’s nursing workforce, this presentation will support cultivating a healthy …

Beyond The 9-To-5: The Rx For Happier Healthcare Workers, Emily Calabro, Rodica Pop

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Purpose: This pilot feasibility study aimed to investigate the impact of flexible work schedules on the mental, psychological, and physical health of healthcare workers within a large hospital system.

Background: Traditional work schedules often negatively impact productivity, well-being, and job satisfaction. This study explored the feasibility and benefits of flexible workweeks among different nursing teams.

Methods: A quasi-experimental, mixed-methods, time-series design was implemented across a 12-hospital system with the partnership of 4-Day Global, a leading expert in flexible work schedules. Eligible participants were encouraged to flex their work hours daily or at least weekly. Clinical leaders ensured on-call coverage during …

How Research-Based Listening Techniques/Interventions Improve Communication And Work Environment, Florence Schaefer

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

In the age of multitasking, it is not always easy to stop what we are doing and truly listen to those around us. Mandel, one of the world’s leading providers of communication skills for professionals, published a paper titled “The cost of not listening on your organization”. Within the workplace, not listening attributes to low employee engagement, decreased productivity, and increased turnover. This served as the impetus for the development of this project.

Stephen Covey said, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply”. Listening for the purpose of replying is …

Making An Impact: Building A Workforce That Represents Our Community, Rosemary Pine, Janelle Headley, Nancy Yuill, Leah Blackwell, Bryan Sisk

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Two decades ago, the Sullivan Commission's report Missing Persons: Minorities in the Health Professions (2004) underscored the need to increase the number of professionals from underrepresented minorities in health care. The report stressed that, “the lack of minority health professionals is compounding the nation's persistent racial and ethnic disparities.” The Advisory Board (2021) recommends action in providing development, advancement, and promotion opportunities for Patient Care Technicians (PCT) who are people of color. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022) reports that 46% of certified nursing assistants identify as an underrepresented racial or ethnic minority, Patient care technicians (PCTs) provide a critical …

1. Javier Marín-López, "Singing The Camino Real De Tierra Adentro: Sacred Choral Repertoires And Historical Imagination In ¡Música Del Corazón!"

Chamisa: A Journal of Literary, Performance, and Visual Arts of New Mexico and the Greater Southwest

No abstract provided.

An Evaluation Of A Multi-Level Lgbtq Bystander Intervention For College Athletics: A Pilot Study, Christi R. Mcgeorge, Russell B. Toomey, Ashley A. Walsdorf

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

This mixed methods pilot study explored the impact of a multi-level bystander intervention training for collegiate athletes, coaches, and athletic department staff. The trainings consisted of three components: 1) education about constructs relevant to being an ally to the LGBTQ community; 2) engagement in self-reflective activities to raise awareness and decrease the influence of prejudicial beliefs and biases about the LGBTQ community; and 3) training on preventative actions and bystander intervention strategies specific to stopping LGBTQ-related bias. Quantitative data were collected through online pretest and posttest surveys (prior to the intervention and 12 weeks following the intervention; N = 267 …

Achieving Empowerment In Transition: Advice From Former Female Athletes, Ashlyn Hardie, Molly Harry, Kristi Oshiro, Marlene A. Dixon

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Scholars have highlighted the various challenges college athletes encounter in their transition from sport. Yet, the strategies athletes adopt to navigate this transitory period require further examination. Thus, we leveraged Zimmerman’s Psychological Empowerment Model and Schlossberg’s Transition Theory to explore these strategies and associated processes in-depth. The sample for this study consisted of 20 former female athletes from the U.S. who played a college sport. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed numerous strategies current and future female college athletes implement to mitigate the challenges present in their transition, specifically: Finding Acceptance, Be Proactive, Don’t Stop 100%, Embrace the …

Sport Media Consumption In Ncaa Division І Fbs Subdivision: A Panel Regression Model Using X/Twitter, Seungbak Lee, Minsoo Kang, Wonson Lim, Ju-Pil Choe, Brennan K. Berg

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Athletic departments in collegiate sports have increasingly focused on enhancing sport consumer interest through social media. As social media usage continues to grow in college sports, understanding audience behavior on these platforms has become essential for athletic departments. This study examines the factors influencing consumer interest in Division I football teams’ X (formerly Twitter) accounts, utilizing a panel dataset comprising 18,221 team-day observations. Key determinants of changes in X followers were identified, including teams’ social media activity, on-field performance, scheduling events, and timing effects, with a focus on fan interest across temporal patterns such as month-to-month and day-to-day variations. The …

Sport Employees And Resilience: An Examination Of Organizational Change With Ncaa Conference Realignment, Hailee Hernandez, Claire C. Zvosec, Brent D. Oja

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

NCAA conference membership is critically important to institutions as it is closely associated with revenue generation (i.e., conference-wide revenue distribution, ticket sales, fundraising, etc.) in addition to institutional visibility and prestige. Therefore, universities may pursue conference realignment opportunities based on higher potential revenue, institutional and athletics financial stability, and increased notoriety. Over the past 20 years, there have been at least 80 cases of schools moving conferences at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. As universities move conferences, employees within the athletics department are exposed to rapid change in organizational structure and are forced to adapt to new institutional, athletics …

Name, Image, And Likeness: A Critical Exploration Through Self-Determination Theory, Molly Harry

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Through Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this study explored college athletes’ experiences with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Analyzing congressional testimonies from 10 current and recently graduated college athletes, this research highlighted how NIL fostered/constrained athlete development within the broader power structures of college sport. Findings revealed while NIL enhances self-determination through autonomy, competence, and relatedness, institutional discourses and governance mechanisms continue to regulate athlete development. Through Fairclough’s (1995) CDA framework, this study demonstrated how language throughout the athletes’ testimonies maintained/disrupted power dynamics which reinforced/challenged authority of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The integration of SDT and …

Children’S Merchandising, Janelle Abbott

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

This paper explores how gender is constructed and reinforced through children's merchandising at Target, focusing on the toy, clothing, and greeting card departments. Using qualitative observational methods, I documented the ways in which colors, themes, and product placements subtly but powerfully separate items by gender. My findings reveal that gendered marketing is deeply embedded in retail environments and reflects broader societal expectations surrounding masculinity and femininity. These early messages shape children's self-perceptions, behaviors, and even long-term aspirations. Drawing on sociological theories of gender socialization and primary framing, as well as existing literature from Lips, Wade, and Ferree, this study situates …

Analogical Thinking: An International Case, Yunhan (Cecilia) Zhu

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

This study explores global demographic change and aging by analyzing Japan as a case study among G20 countries. It compares Japan’s demographic trends and policy responses with those of the United States, China, and India. Japan faces severe population decline and aging due to low fertility and limited immigration, creating economic and social challenges. In contrast, the U.S. benefits from immigration, while China and India face emerging risks. The contribution of this study is that it reveals diverse social response patterns in the process of global demographic transition by comparing the population dynamics and policy choices of different countries horizontally. …

Wearing Saris And Suits On Capitol Hillnavigating Elite White Spaces As South Asian American Women In Politics, Ambika Kathya Ramadurai

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

This preliminary research paper explores how South Asian American women navigate the elite white nature of U.S. politics, focusing on how they balance authentically representing their cultures and communities while navigating varying levels of power that prioritize individual advancement. Through initial interviews with South Asian American women in prominent political roles, and by applying established theoretical frameworks on identity-based hierarchies and social justice leadership, this study aims to offer insights into how South Asian American women approach the challenge of conforming to white standards in politics while maintaining their ethnic and cultural identities.

Peer-Led Sexual And Reproductive Healtheducation Programs At Universities, Madison Michelle Patrick

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

This applied research explores the accessibility, visibility, and comprehensiveness of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education and services at universities, with a specific focus on contraceptive risk awareness. Recognizing college students as particularly vulnerable to misinformation regarding hormonal contraceptives, unintended pregnancy, and STI exposure, the study examines the role of university-provided SRH resources in mitigating these risks.

A mixed-methods content analysis was conducted on the SRH publicly-available web pages of four Northern California universities—Stanford University, San Francisco State University, Santa Clara University, and the University of California, Berkeley, chosen for their diversity in institutional identity. The research assessed each university’s …

‘Immigrant Invaders,’ ‘Arab Terrorists,’ And ‘Leftist Subversives’:Surveillance State From Palestine To Mexico, Alexis Figueroa

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

Immigrants in the US exist under a very strict regime of surveillance. This regime is characterized by authentication systems, check-in points, registration, forms of mobility tracking, interoperable databases, and, at the militarized US-Mexico border, the scrutiny of facial-recognition technology, automatic watchtowers, and drones. However, this didn’t come about spontaneously. This paper attempts to outline the development of the immigration surveillance state as a generations-long bipartisan project. From the evolution of the military-industrial complex and technologies like the internet innovated to spy on national independence movements, to the proliferation of data collection made for global finance, the immigration surveillance state reveals …

Legislation, Racialization, And The Societal Issuessoutheast Asian Americans Face, Sydney Nguyen

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

This research proposal investigates the intersection of racialization and law in the Southeast Asian diaspora in the US at a time of rising anti-Asian hate crimes and marginalizing legislation. I propose a mixed-methods approach—integrating qualitative methods such as interviews and focus groups with quantitative surveys—to determine how racial formations and state policies contribute to the social and economic stratification of these groups. To contextualize these questions, I discuss how Asian Americans are underrepresented and miscategorized in criminal justice statistics, resulting in their ongoing marginalization and the masking of specific issues they face. This work aims to make a contribution to …

Radicalization And Exodus: Analyzing The Impact Of Governmental Extremism On Migration Patterns In Venezuela, Isabella Fernandez

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

Venezuela’s political and economic crisis has led to one of the largest migratory movements in Latin American history. Over the past two decades, millions of Venezuelans have fled due to political repression, economic collapse, and humanitarian emergencies. This project examines general migration patterns from Venezuela between 1999 and the present. Using data from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and World Population Prospects, the study analyzes how political radicalization and economic instability have influenced migration trends over time. The findings provide crucial insights into the scale and nature of this mass displacement and its implications for …

Introduction And Acknowledgement Of Departmental Mission

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

No abstract provided.

Cover

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

No abstract provided.

Silicon Valley Sociological Review Vol. 23 2025

Silicon Valley Sociological Review

No abstract provided.

Spiritual Music As A Factor Of Religious Identity In Ukrainian Orthodoxy, Oleh Sokolovskyi, Maksym Melnychuk, Sviatoslav Melnychuk

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This scholarly article explores current challenges and spiritual-cultural trends arising in the context of historical events and civilizational transformations experienced by modern Ukraine. The study focuses on the revival of authentic traditions of sacred musical art within Ukrainian Orthodoxy, regarded as one of the fundamental factors in the formation of national identity. Within an interdisciplinary approach that combines religious studies, philosophy, art history, and cultural studies, the research analyzes the musical sacredness as a phenomenon of numinous experience imbued with transcendental meaning and cathartic energy. It is established that the spiritual music of the Orthodox tradition functions as a form …

The Orthodox Parish And Community: A Reflection On The Post-Totalitarian Model Of Identity In Bulgaria, Presb. Sava (Shtoni) Kokoudev

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article examines parish multifaceted identities and its function as a Eucharistic community, while also exploring its cultural, and historical influences in post-totalitarian context. The study delineates two identities and ecclesiological models—liturgical and institutional—to facilitate comparative analysis. The confusion and mixture of these models has caused a loss of parish community identity and function, which is evident in contemporary post-totalitarian status quo. Important issue is the restoration of the Orthodox Church’s authentic catholic identity (ɫɴɛɨɪɧɨɫɬ). This predicament gives rise to the second challenge of revitalizing liturgical life in parishes and reestablishing communion between bishops, priests, and laypeople. It also necessitates …

The Idea Of A Just Peace In Christian Social Ethics And The Possibility Of Its Implementation In The Context Of The Russian-Ukrainian War, Iryna Fenno

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This research examines the concept of just peace, which is most often discussed in the public sphere, particularly among political and religious circles, in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. After analyzing Christian discourse on war and peace—including extreme pacifism, the idea of a just war, and just peacemaking—the author argues that the idea of a just peace is the most effective response. Through an analysis of sociological surveys, the article reveals Ukrainian society's attitudes toward the idea of just peace and demonstrates a direct correlation between these attitudes and political events on the international stage. Nevertheless, the mechanisms and …

It's All Connected: The Emotional Triad In Nursing - Workplace Aggression, Burn-Out, And Resilience, Kerstin Hudgins

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

For years, nursing has been dealing with the problems of unhealthy work environments. This session explores the phenomenon of interconnection between the various modalities to combat this issue and discusses prevention strategies. Toxicity will prevail unless we recognize the relationship between incivility, bullying, and other workplace aggressions. By identifying the root causes and making the connection between them, nurses will be able to manage this situation instead of treating these modalities as separate occurrences and issues. Just as nursing is no longer a profession that functions in a silo, we must also approach these issues as interconnected and not as …

Empowering Confidence Through Simulation: De-Escalation Training For Pcts, Lagidgette Chantelle Robinson

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) are vital to healthcare delivery, particularly in managing escalating situations with patients. Given the challenges posed by workplace violence, effective de-escalation skills are essential for PCTs. However, traditional training methods may not fully equip them for real-world scenarios. Simulation offers a valuable approach to learning complex skills by replicating real-life situations. Research supports simulation’s effectiveness in enhancing nursing students' communication, self-efficacy, problem-solving abilities, and learning satisfaction. Despite this, the impact of simulation on PCTs' professional development remains underexplored.

This IRB-approved study evaluated the effect of simulation pedagogy on PCTs' confidence in de-escalating aggressive patients. Using a …