Digital Commons Network^™

Communication And Prosocialization: Understanding The Development Of Inclusive Morality, Hannah Smith

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Relationships between individuals from different social or cultural groups are often impacted by ingroup favoritism, outgroup bias, and structural inequity determined by a person's social and cultural identities. Recognizing this, scholars and practitioners for the last few decades have attempted to address this by creating interventions, workshops, and other applied programs that aim to reduce this intergroup bias and ameliorate the negative consequences. The current dissertation complements this body of applied scholarship by shifting the focus from reducing and minimizing bias to focusing on processes that lead to a more prosocial and inclusive worldview.

The overall aim is to understand …

Association Of Ultra-Processed Food Intake With Insulin Secretion And Sensitivity In Mexican American Children: Results From The Safari Study, Hemant Kulkarni, Rector Arya, Srinivas Mummidi, Sharon P. Fowler, Roy G. Resendez, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Vidya Farook, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Background/Objectives: There is increasing interest in and evidence for the role of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in cardiometabolic risk. We tested the hypothesis that UPF intake score derived from dietary history is associated with measures of insulin secretion and sensitivity in a family setting even when the process of type 2 diabetes is still to ensue. Methods: We used data from our well-characterized San Antonio Family Assessment of Metabolic Risk Indicators in Youth (SAFARI) study cohort of nondiabetic children (aged 6–17 years). Dietary history was assessed using the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire. Outcomes of interest were 19 clinically useful indexes of …

Mosaic Loss Of Y Chromosome Associates With Lung Function, Emphysema, And Epigenetic Aging, Woei Yuh Saw, Kangjin Kim, Yichen Huang, Jeong H. Yun, Xiaolong Ma, Jason Bacon, Yash Pershad, Daniel Levy, George T. O’Connor, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Rationale: As the global population ages, identifying risk factors for age-related diseases, such as COPD, is crucial for public health. Mosaic loss of Y chromosome (mLOY) in blood cells is an age-related somatic mosaicism event, but its relationship with pulmonary health remains undercharacterized. Objectives: To examine the association between mLOY and pulmonary outcomes in men. Methods: Leveraging mLOY assessment (cell fraction ≥ 5%) in over 12 000 men, including 5097 from the COPDGene Study and 7235 from six additional cohorts in the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine program, we investigated mLOY associations with respiratory outcomes and epigenetic aging using multivariable cross-sectional, …

Purpose In Practice: A Master Of Social Work Professional Portfolio, Lexi M. Laird

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

From Hidden To Display- Building An Exhibition Space From Nothing, Laura Mehaffey, Jessica Cerri, Lawrence Treadwell Iv

Librarian Presentations

This poster presents the Chesnutt Library at Fayetteville State University’s strategy to identify and transform underutilized space on a limited budget into high impact exhibition and display spaces. This project fostered new opportunities for collaboration between the library, faculty, and other university departments such as programs with the Office of Faculty Development. The result has not only been new partnerships for the library but increased engagement with faculty, students, and alumni while also highlighting the strategic value of the library, its services, and collections.

This Or That- American Library Association 2026, Nicole Mackowiak, Jessica Cerri, Lawrence Treadwell Iv, Danielle Hicks, Morgan Grayson

Librarian Presentations

Gamifying library outreach via analog and digital channels, from simple whiteboard displays to creatively printed Canva posters and Springshare’s LibWizard quizzes, enhances student engagement. The development of these interactive displays leverages library creative space technology and digital engagement tools to boost participation in both on-campus and remote university community members. By combining creative space technology with approachable design tools and simple gamification techniques, this model offers innovative yet replicable methods that can be scaled for academic, public, or school libraries

Gender Differences In The Prevalence Of Anxiety And Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Associated Factors Among Adults In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Basil Masinza, Amina Abubakar, Joy Mukubuyi, Patrick Mwangala

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Sex and gender equity in research has a growing focus, but there are gaps in fully integrating it in mental health research, limiting adoption of sex and gender-sensitive interventions. This review adopted a gendered perspective to synthesize prevalence and associated factors contributing to differences in anxiety and PTSD in SSA.

Methodology: Electronic search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science databases. Empirical studies conducted in SSA, targeting adults >18 years and having gender-disaggregated anxiety and PTSD prevalence and factors were included. Meta-analysis of proportions stratified by sex was done, and narrative synthesis of the …

Academic Achievement Of Students In The United States: The Lived Experience Of Being A Black, Hard-Of-Hearing College Learner, Tracy Laneis Ivy

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Black Deaf and Hard of Hearing college students’ current educational experiences are shaped by their lived experiences in high school classrooms. This qualitative study centers the voices and lived experiences of 15 Black Deaf and Hard of Hearing college students. The purpose was to explore how the participants, first-, second-, or third-year college students, made meaning of their high school classroom experiences and how those experiences continued to influence their college experiences. This study was informed by Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, Disability Studies and Critical Race Theory in Education, and Counter-Narrative.

Data were collected using Seidman’s three-interview series, which required …

The Role Of Mindfulness In Building Sustainable Educational Leadership, Joe Mueller

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Educational leaders work in environments characterized by sustained responsibility, complex decision-making, emotional demands, and persistent stress. While these demands are well documented in the current literature, the question of how educational leadership might remain healthy, effective, and sustainable still remains. Mindfulness has emerged as a potential resource for managing and navigating stress across multiple professional fields. Despite a growing interest in mindfulness, little research has directly examined the connection between dispositional mindfulness and perceived stress among practicing educational leaders. The purpose of this study is the examination of that connection among educational leaders in the state of Minnesota. This research …

The Standardization Of Teaching: Minnesota Elementary Teacher Perceptions Of Academic Standards In 21st-Century Classrooms, Katie Rotvold

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This sequential explanatory mixed methods study examined how Minnesota elementary teachers’ perceptions of academic standards and assessment influence their instructional practices in the context of 21st-century classrooms. Guided by Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior, the study explored teachers’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control related to implementing academic standards. Quantitative data were collected through an online questionnaire completed by 221 Minnesota elementary teachers, followed by qualitative analysis of open-ended survey responses and semi-structured interviews with four teachers. Results indicated that teachers generally held positive attitudes toward academic standards, perceived strong expectations from administrators and state policymakers to implement …

From Crisis To Capability: The Evolution Of Leadership Models And Essential Competencies In The Post-Pandemic Era, Mimi Bekele

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for organizations and leaders, requiring rapid responses to uncertainty. This qualitative study examined how leadership models evolved in response to lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) essential for effective leadership in a post-pandemic environment, guided by Heifetz's Adaptive Leadership Theory. Chapter 2 situated the study within four leadership models: situational, skills, transformational, and adaptive. It also examined three pandemic-era drivers of workplace change: the multigenerational workforce, the Great Resignation, and employee mental health. Chapter 3 employed a mixed-methods design consisting of a survey of 43 respondents …

Barriers Or Bridges? Analyzing The Role Of Admissions Criteria In Shaping Access To Law School, Meghan Donnelly

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Law school admissions processes play a pivotal role in shaping access to the legal profession, yet their reliance on standardized metrics such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and undergraduate grade point averages (GPAs) continues to raise concerns about equity. This study examines how admissions evaluation practices influence access to law school and explores alternative approaches that may better support equitable outcomes.

Using a mixed methods approach, this study draws on the experiences and perspectives of law school applicants and law school admissions professionals to assess perceptions of equity, accessibility, and opportunity within the law school admissions process. Particular …

The Use Of Assisted Repeated Reading To Increase Fluency And Comprehension Among Adolescent English Language Learners, Matthew J. Wentzell

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Wentzell, M. (2026). The Use of Assisted Repeated Reading to Increase Fluency and Comprehension Among Adolescent English Language Learners

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of audio-assisted repeated reading on fluency and comprehension among adolescent English learners and gauge their opinions on the intervention and its impact on their reading ability. Areas of exploration within the literature review included the evolution of fluency research, the relationship between fluency, prosody, and comprehension, and fluency within the context of English learners. Additionally, the literature review encompassed the strategy of repeated reading with and without audio-assistance and its …

Strategies For Classroom Teachers Using Generative Artificial Intelligence, Hoang-Kim Nguyen

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated strategies for classroom teachers using generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), the challenges high school teachers face when integrating Gen AI tools into the classroom, and how teachers address these challenges. Using a qualitative approach, the study surveyed 26 teachers and conducted five interviews with teachers in two suburban school districts. The results indicated that there are leadership and professional development gaps in Gen AI in high schools. The findings suggested that districts need to provide professional development and leadership on Gen AI to help teachers integrate it into the classroom and prepare students for the Gen AI …

Sharing The Voices Of Latine Students: Their Experiences Of Community, Belonging And Joy In A Suburban Public High School, Ashley Acosta-Meyers

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenological and ethnographic study explored how seven Latine high school students in a suburban public high school defined and experienced community, belonging, and joy, asking what school spaces, experiences, and practices build or diminish these three concepts. Data was collected through four interview sessions per participant, reflective journaling, and three culturally and linguistically responsive walkthrough observations, and were analyzed through layered linguistic, narrative, and thematic coding. Findings showed that belonging and joy were tied to specific spaces rather than felt evenly across the school day. Institutional fairness shaped belonging as much as any relationship. Latine identity was contested, …

Beyond Casebooks: Law School’S Hidden Curriculum, Nubia Nelly Esparza

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods study sought to understand how the hidden curriculum affects first-generation, marginalized, and underrepresented law students and attorneys, what educational and career opportunities they have missed as a result of not knowing these unwritten rules, and what law schools could do to better prepare this population for the realities of legal education and practice. Data were collected through an anonymous online survey and a focus group with first-generation law students and attorneys who have been in the profession for ten years or less. Analysis of the data was mapped against the Conceptual Framework of the Hidden Curriculum in …

I Didn’T Think Teaching Was For Me: An Autoethnography Of Teaching Other People's Children, Jaquinetta Mitchell

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic study examines how the cooperating teacher-student teacher relationships shapes professional identity, culturally responsive practice, and long-term teaching efficacy, particularly when preparing educators to work with students of color. Drawing on my own reflective narrative as a Black woman who navigated a predominantly White teacher preparation program and entered the profession inadequately prepared to serve diverse students, alongside three rounds of data collected from former student teachers, this study asks: How does the student teaching experience affect teachers’ educational journeys? What support do cooperating teachers need to effectively mentor student teachers working with students of color? How does the …

What Leadership And Operational Strategies Should Twin Cities Black-Led Charter Schools Have To Promote School Improvement, Enhance Student Achievement, And Ensure Sustained Organizational Success?, Donald W-R. Allen, Ii

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Allen, D. (2026). What Leadership and Operational Strategies should Twin Cities Black-led Charter Schools have to Promote School Improvement, Enhance Student Achievement, and Ensure Sustained Organizational Success?  

This dissertation examined my story along with the leadership and operational strategies employed by Twin Cities Black-led charter schools to support school improvement, enhance student achievement, and sustain long-term organizational success. Black-led charter schools emerged as community-centered educational alternatives designed to provide culturally responsive learning environments for Black students and families while addressing persistent educational inequities. Despite their important role within Minnesota's educational landscape, limited empirical research has examined the organizational conditions that …

Cultural Diplomacy Through Museums: An Analysis Of The Role Of Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi In Promoting Intercultural Dialogue Through History, Culture, And Tourism, Abdulla Almheiri, Fareed Awae, Muhammad Talhah Jima’Ain, Hamdan Chehdimae, Mohamad Azrien Mohamed Adnan, Fuad Trayek

All Works

This study aims to analyze the role of cultural diplomacy in the Emirate of Sharjah through museums. Particular emphasis is placed on the important contributions of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi in promoting intercultural communication and consolidating cultural identity through the support of history, archaeology, and tourism. The study uses a quantitative approach with a survey research design. The perspectives of 285 museum visitors have been analyzed based on arithmetic means and standard deviations to measure their level of awareness regarding the museum’s historical, cultural, and tourism dimensions. The findings indicate a high level of awareness concerning the …

Plant-Dominant Low-Protein Diet Versus Standard Care In Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 3–5: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol, Joelle Abi Kharma, Rana Sultan, Rana Rizk, Dalya Haroun, Hala Kilani, Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh, Jessica Gubbels, Kathelijne Bessems

All Works

Background The plant-dominant low-protein diet (PLADO), providing 0.6-0.8 g/kg/d of protein with ≥50% derived from plant sources, may improve acid–base balance and metabolic outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, concerns remain regarding safety and feasibility, and experimental evidence is limited. Objective This protocol describes a randomized controlled trial (RCT), designed to evaluate the efficacy, nutritional and biochemical safety, implementation feasibility, and cost-effectiveness of PLADO compared with the standard renal diet in adults with CKD stages 3-5. Methods This unblinded, parallel-group RCT will enroll 48 adults with CKD stages 3-5 in a medical center in Lebanon and randomize participants 1:1 …

Cross-Ancestry Polygenic Risk Scores Enhance Alzheimer's Disease Risk Prediction In Multiethnic Cohorts, Meri Okorie, Caroline Jonson, Alexis Oddi, Patricia Castruita, Brian Fulton-Howard, Kristine Yaffe, Jennifer Yokoyama, Chinedu Momoh, Shea Andrews

Brain and Mind Institute

INTRODUCTION Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 80+ genetic loci associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), enabling the development of polygenic risk scores (PRS). However, the predictive accuracy of PRS in diverse populations remains low. Here, we evaluated the predictive accuracy of single-, multi-, and cross-ancestry AD-PRS models across multi-ancestral populations.

METHODS We used AD GWAS summary statistics from European, African, Admixed American, and East Asian populations to construct AD-PRS for each target population. Model performance was assessed by estimating odds ratios, R2, and area under the curve.

RESULTS The cross-ancestry Bayesian PRS model demonstrated the highest predictive performance in non-European …

Understanding Chronic Bodily Pain Across Multisystemic Illnesses: A Comparative Analysis Using Exploratory Factor Analysis And Invariance Testing, Suvetha Ravichandran

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Chronic pain is a debilitating symptom that often remains under-researched and poorly treated, particularly for those with multisystemic conditions. This study explored the shared and distinct experiences of chronic bodily pain across four multisystemic illnesses: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS), and Long COVID. Comparative exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and invariance testing were used to examine commonalities and differences in underlying pain experiences for those with the above diagnoses as well as healthy controls based on their responses to pain items from the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire-1 (DSQ-1). A total of 3,724 participants were included: 2,403 …

Improving Vector Embedding Generation Throughput For Neural Information Retrieval Models, Conrad Tkacz

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

For decades, advancements in information retrieval technologies have changed how individuals discover data with computer systems. More recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have also made the benefits of neural information retrieval systems available to millions. These information retrieval systems help empower future discoveries, though this is not the case for scientific data and High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems. HPC systems can generate enormous amounts of data, and no tools are currently available that can ingest data at the rates required to efficiently build an information retrieval system to explore scientific data. This thesis explores the current state of constructing a …

Using Recommender Systems To Help Revitalize Local News, Payam Pourashraf

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Local news outlets have experienced steep declines in readership as national and global online news sources have expanded and consolidated audience attention. Because many local media companies rely primarily on subscription-based business models, they must increase user engagement and provide clearer value to local subscribers. Personalization and recommender systems offer one promising path toward this goal. However, many recommender systems assume that a user’s past behavior can be summarized in a single unified profile. In practice, preferences are often context-dependent: the same person may prefer different content depending on geography, time, task, or situation. Local news offers a socially important …

Retirement Investment Behaviors Of Itin Immigrants, Krzysztof Zoltek

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This study examines retirement related financial behaviors among foreign-born immigrants living in the United States, with particular focus on the role of Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) status. Using a cross-sectional survey of 223 foreign-born respondents, including both ITIN and non-ITIN respondents, the study examined whether ITIN status, financial literacy, fintech usage, remittance behavior, demographic characteristics, and attitudes toward financial inclusion were associated with participation in formal retirement saving and likelihood of using retirement products if available. Binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to test the study hypotheses. The findings indicated that ITIN status was negatively …

Procedural Justice And Instructional Alignment In Body-Worn Camera Policies: A Comparative Policy Analysis Of Large U.S. Urban Police Departments, Michael A. O'Connor

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This study examined how written Body-Worn Camera (BWC) policies in large U.S. urban police departments operationalize Procedural Justice (PJ) through instructional alignment and how those policies shape expectations for officer training. Policy analysis showed that all departments required BWC activation during key encounters such as traffic stops and arrests and included some form of supervisory review. However, substantial variation existed in policies governing data retention, citizen notification, pre-report viewing safeguards and documentation requirements, and disciplinary guidance. These inconsistencies were most evident in the PJ dimensions of neutrality and voice, particularly where policies permitted pre-report viewing without consistent documentation requirements and …

Analysis Of Clinical Health Worker Notes With Explainable Artificial Intelligence For A Better Perspective In Preventing Readmission, Christopher Scott Klimp

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

Emergency Department (ED) readmissions remain a major challenge for healthcare systems, affecting both patient care quality and financial costs. Most prediction models depend largely on structured data from clinical tools that assign points to a small set of predefined factors – such as comorbidities, previous hospital visits, and behaviors such as smoking and drinking – and then sum those points to produce an overall risk score. These point-based tools leave out important information from Social Determinants of Health and a wealth of information from Community Health Workers (Community health workers (CHWs), trusted members of a community who help connect people …

Histologic Evaluation Of Late Burn Scars With And Without Dermal Substrate, Melaina Barbe, Daniel Magallanes, Sigrid A. Blome-Eberwein Md

Research Scholars

No abstract provided.

Hepatitis B In The Vaccine Era: Persistent Burden And Clinical Implications, Cherechi Nwabueze, Eunice Omeludike, Ridwan Ademola Lawal, Kedife Nwabueze

School of Medicine Publications

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a leading global cause of advanced liver disease and imposes a substantial economic burden. Early prevention is critical, as perinatally acquired HBV carries a high risk of progression to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis B vaccination has been proven effective in preventing cancer, yet coverage of the complete vaccine series remains suboptimal. This implementation gap perpetuates the clinical burden, manifesting decades later as hepatic decompensation and liver cancer. This narrative review synthesizes the current HBV landscape, highlighting how gaps in vaccination policy and delivery contribute to real-world gastrointestinal outcomes. By reframing HBV vaccination …

Endovascular Thrombectomy In Medium And Distal Vessel Occlusions: A Focused Guideline From The Society Of Vascular And Interventional Neurology Guidelines And Practice Standards Committee, Shahram Majidi, Amol Mehta, Sami Al-Kasab, Kaustubh Limaye, Adam A. Dmytriw, Adam De Havenon, Farhan Siddiq, Robin Novakovic, Alexandra L. Czap, Ameer E. Hassan

School of Medicine Publications

Background: The authors present an overview of the current evidence and management recommendations for evaluation and treatment of adults with acute ischemic stroke from distal- and medium-vessel occlusion (DMVO) for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). The intended audiences are prehospital care providers, physicians, and allied health professionals.

Methods: The Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology Guidelines and Practice Standards committee formed a writing group to conduct a structured literature review on EVT for DMVO-related acute ischemic stroke and to draft practice recommendations in accordance with the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology Guidelines and Practice Algorithm. A structured literature search was conducted …