Digital Commons Network^™

Epithelial Responses And Remodeling In The Submandibular Gland Post-Irradiation, Victoria Gellatly

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Radiation therapy for head and neck cancer often causes irreversible salivary gland dysfunction, resulting in chronic xerostomia. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this dysfunction is essential for developing regenerative therapies. Given the cellular complexity of the salivary gland single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides a powerful approach to investigate cell-type-specific injury responses to ionizing radiation (IR) and uncover transcriptional changes that may be masked in bulk analyses. This study investigates the cellular and molecular responses of the murine submandibular gland (SMG) to irradiation, with a focus on epithelial loss and remodeling, and regenerative failure. In order to effectively use …

Identity Art Reexamined: Boundaries And Narratives In The Outsider Art World, Fanling Cheng

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation examines how cultural meanings shape market boundaries through a case study of outsider art, an art category deeply embedded in a "culture of authenticity." Using mixed methods, the dissertation analyzes hierarchies and structures of the outsider art market, narratives in biographies crafted by dealers, and interactions between artists, dealers, and the audience. Through strategically constructed narratives, dealers portray outsider artists as heroes using art to fight against hardships. They not only present the authenticity of the art but also perform their own authenticity and extend it to the audience, performing civic commitment in the aesthetic public sphere and …

Dynamics Of Mesoscale Offshore Wind Flows From An Observational And Modeling Perspective: Implications For Offshore Wind Energy, Elizabeth J. Mccabe

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Mid-latitude coastal regions of the United States, such as the New York Bight (NYB), are playing a major role in the development of offshore wind energy. However, mesoscale dynamics of local and regional circulations in these offshore waters are poorly understood. The sea breeze, especially in the NYB, will play a key role in the development of offshore wind energy, given the favorable wind speeds and high capacity factors during periods of peak demand. With limited vertical wind profile observations available offshore, the ability to accurately forecast and understand the spatiotemporal extent of the sea breeze and often associated low-level …

Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis Of Single-Case Experimental Design Data: A Comparison Of Bayesian And Restricted Maximum Likelihood Estimation, Yukang Xue

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Two-stage individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis can be used to synthesize intervention effects from single-case experimental design (SCED) studies with multilevel modeling. However, various challenges exist at both stages, including standardizing the intervention effect size, accounting for autocorrelation, and estimating the between-study and between-case variances. While both restricted maximum likelihood estimation (REML) and Bayesian estimation can be used to estimate model parameters, REML has been more commonly applied despite the potential advantages offered by Bayesian methods. Moreover, no methodological studies have focused on Bayesian estimation in the context of meta-analysis of SCED studies, let alone when IPD meta-analysis (often recommended …

Applying The Ecological Model Of Medical Encounters To Understand Patient-Centered Communication For Older Korean Migrants In The U.S., Seulgi Park

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Patient-Centered Communication (PCC) is defined as an approach that places patients at the center of communication with healthcare providers. PCC has been recognized as a strategy to address disparities experienced by minority populations. However, despite its associations with positive health outcomes and ethical significance, there has been a paucity of research on PCC in minority populations such as older Korean migrants in the U.S. Understanding PCC within this group may contribute to improving healthcare communication tailored to their needs. This dissertation aimed to (1) explore the expectations of PCC in primary care settings among older Korean migrants in the U.S., …

Personal Characteristics, Goal Setting, And Academic Thriving, Hedayat Ghazali

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Abstract

This dissertation examines if pre-existing personal characteristics influence the effectiveness of a reflective goal-setting intervention on credits completed among first-year university students. Grounded in goal-setting theory and self-regulated learning frameworks, the study investigates the roles of self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, metacognitive strategies, and autonomy in shaping students’ academic outcomes. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, four distinct learner profiles were identified based on these personal characteristics. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to evaluate whether the intervention significantly affected students’ academic performance—measured in credits completed —over three time points (T0, T1, T2) across intervention and control groups.

The results revealed a …

Base Building Evaluation: Three Opportunities To Improve Its Use And Relevance, Katie Fox, Margaret Post

Sustainability and Social Justice

Philanthropic support for grassroots organizing, power building, and community-led social change strategies has increased over the last 15 years. The election of Barack Obama in 2008 sparked greater interest in community organizing, and, with it, increased philanthropic investment in organizing as a strategy for social change (Rebanal, 2022; Suárez, 2012). With that has come a growing interest in evaluating and learning about practices of “base building,” a cornerstone of organizing efforts (Pastor et al., 2020). However, not all base building is the same, and there is a lack of understanding and clarity about base building definitions and practices within the …

Essays On Robust Inference Under Multiway Clustering, Jiahao Lin

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The first chapter studies wild bootstrap-based inference for regression models with multiway clustering. Our proposed methods are multiway counterparts to the (one-way) wild cluster bootstrap approach introduced by Cameron et al. (2008). We establish the validity of our methods for studentized statistics. Theoretical results are provided, accommodating arbitrary serial dependence in the common time effects – an aspect excluded by existing two-way bootstrap-based approaches. Simulation experiments document the potential for enhanced inference with our novel approaches. We illustrate the effectiveness of the methods by revisiting an empirical study involving multiway clustered and serially correlated data.

The second chapter studies jackknife …

Social Communication Skills Moderate The Relationship Between Family Quality Of Life And Parenting Stress, Hanna Kent

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Parents of newly diagnosed autistic children face elevated levels of parenting stress due to the unique demands associated with raising an autistic child and the challenges of navigating the early intervention systems which often impact their family functioning (Rivard et al., 2023). This study aimed to investigate how autistic traits and demographic variables are associated with parenting stress and family quality of life (FQOL) in caregivers of recently diagnosed autistic children. Data were obtained from 118 caregivers enrolled in a family education program within one year of their child’s autism diagnosis. Measures included the Parenting Stress Index, Short Form, The …

Officers’ Perceptions Of Body-Worn Cameras: An Exploratory Study Of Small Police Departments In Upstate New York, Stefan A. Dela Riva

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The aim of this exploratory study is to examine how police officers perceive the impact of body-worn cameras (BWCs) on their use of discretion when communicating with members of the public. In this context, “discretion” refers to an officer’s authority to make independent judgments while enforcing the law; deciding whether to issue a warning, make an arrest, or resolve an incident informally when legality permits. To understand officers’ opinions, a cross-sectional, quantitative online survey was distributed to various police departments and sheriff’s offices in upstate New York. Participants completed a series of Likert-style survey items addressing their general views on …

Why They Stay Or Go: The Impact Of Job Satisfaction On Nurse Practitioners’ Intent To Leave, Ebony Harris, Mercades Hill-Dooley, Trisha Potter, Chelsea Shirley, Doni Ulmer

MSN Research Projects

The healthcare system continually faces challenges due to an aging population, increased chronic disease diagnoses, and expanding provider shortages, particularly in states like Mississippi. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are critical in addressing provider gaps; however, high turnover rates are threatening workforce stability and quality of care. This research study aimed to explore the relationship between job satisfaction and the intent to leave a job among Mississippi NPs. Guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory and Benner’s novice to expert theory, we conducted a descriptive, quantitative study with convenience sampling utilizing the validated Misener Nurse Practitioner Job Satisfaction Scale (MNPJSS). A total of sixty-two …

Silent Epidemic: Exploring Syphilis Knowledge Gaps Among Mississippi College Students, Birva Bhatt, Jessica Followell, Marly Kate Foster, Whitney Harris, Kimberlee Smith

MSN Research Projects

Syphilis disease has recently re-emerged and can result in serious, life-altering consequences, making it a significant public health concern. Untreated syphilis can have devastating effects, including brain damage, blindness, and paralysis. Congenital cases can cause miscarriage and infant death (Winny, 2024). The U.S. had its lowest rates of syphilis in 1999, potentially due to the efforts against the HIV epidemic. However, in the last two decades, syphilis transmission has been on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there was an 80% increase in reported syphilis between 2018 and 2022 (Centers for Disease Control and …

Measuring The Value Of Trademark Distinctiveness: Evidence From The Market For Bordeaux Wine, Christopher Buccafusco, Jonathan S. Masur, Ryan Whalen

Faculty Scholarship

The market value of distinctive trademarks is a fundamental assumption of both trademark law and marketing theory. However, there is little empirical evidence underlying this assumption. We examine the relationship between brand dissimilarity and market prices in the context of the Bordeaux wine market. Using a unique dataset covering thousands of wines and their associated prices and professional ratings, we find that brand distinctiveness is related to higher wine prices. We further show that this relationship persists across the wine quality spectrum, with both lower quality and higher quality wines benefiting from dissimilar marks. Finally, we show that while there …

The Savings Mirage, Sara Sternberg Greene

Faculty Scholarship

In the past, we did not worry much about elderly poverty because retirement was short for most Americans – a brief jaunt of post-work life was soon met with death. But with the 100-year life becoming a reality for more Americans, an elderly poverty crisis looms. The American dream of abundant retirement savings remains elusive for many, particularly low-wage workers. While government initiatives emphasize individual responsibility and financial education as a way toward retirement success, the reality is that governmental policies are barriers, including asset limitations that prevent those who receive public benefits from saving. This chapter urges reform in …

History And Tradition As Heightened Scrutiny, Andrew Willinger

Faculty Scholarship

The Supreme Court is turning to methodologies privileging text, history, and tradition, or THT, to interpret and implement various constitutional provisions. The Court has recently endorsed historically-focused approaches to determine how the Second Amendment protects the right to keep and carry a firearm, how the First Amendment protects the rights to free speech and freedom of religion, and whether the Due Process Clause protects reproductive autonomy, among other questions.

Much scholarship and popular commentary surrounding THT portrays the methodology as sui generis: presenting unique analytical challenges and impervious to direct comparison to existing doctrinal approaches. However, the jurist most …

Poor In Practical Capacity: How Environmental Alienation Is Really A Deficit Of Political Know-How, Jeremy Bendik-Keymer

Faculty Scholarship

“Alienation from nature” is a popular notion in Western environmental culture. Influential Anglophone critical theorist Steven Vogel claims that it makes no sense, unlike alienation from our productive capacity to dwell on Earth, called “alienation from the environment.” His criticism is accurate, but his view isn’t. The normative sets appropriate production and consists of social processes of arriving at norms. Politics is foremost among these processes, and it is fundamentally know-how. Given these assumptions, poor practical capacity ends up being the heart of “environmental alienation” – alienation from the built environment. Look at large-scale, anthropogenic, environmental change: a deficit of …

Uso Da Modelagem Baseada Em Agentes No Estudo De Sistemas Complexos, Eric Araújo

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

A modelagem baseada em agentes (MBA) é uma metodologia poderosa e acessível para explorar sistemas complexos, onde interações simples entre indivíduos podem gerar comportamentos coletivos emergentes. Este artigo apresenta a MBA de maneira didática e fluida, utilizando a interface NetLogo para exemplificar como a metodologia pode ser aplicada em diversas áreas, como ecologia, saúde pública, economia e sociologia. Com uma abordagem prática, mostramos que não é necessário um conhecimento avançado em computação para começar a usar a MBA, mas que sua versatilidade permite investigar questões complexas do mundo real. Ao final, o leitor será capaz de entender os fundamentos da …

Frances E. W. Harper, “We Are All Bound Up Together” (10 May 1866), Garth Pauley

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Frances Harper’s address at the 1866 National Woman’s Rights Convention was a visionary speech on civil rights, citizenship, and civic identity. In it, Harper skillfully negotiated the context of nineteenth-century reform politics while remaining true to her vision. The message of her speech was grounded in both her experience as a Black woman and her theological convictions. A close reading of the speech shows that key elements—including its signature line—have been misunderstood and unappreciated.

Private Religious Schools And Disability Discrimination, Kevin Timpe

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

In the lead-up to the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), religious institutions and organizations lobbied to be exempt. Because they were successful in securing an exemption to most of the ADA’s requirements, religious private schools maintain the legal right to refuse admission to disabled students or to fail to give them various legal protections. After considering the arguments given in its favor, the paper critiques this exemption on moral grounds. It then suggests that these considerations should lead to a reexamination of the legal right such schools have to discriminate against disabled individuals, especially in those cases …

Evaluating Impacts Of The Trichloroethylene Metabolite S-(1,2-Dichlorovyinyl)-L-Cysteine On Transcriptomic Responses And Cytokine Release In A Macrophage Model: Implications For Pregnancy Outcomes, Annella Benjamin, Erica Boldenow, Sammy Jaber, Kelly M. Bakulski, John Dou, Justin Colacino, Peter Mancuso, Sean Harris

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a volatile synthetic chemical used in various industrial processes like metal degreasing. Large amounts of TCE have been released into the environment. Exposure to TCE can occur through routes, such as inhalation for workers using TCE or ingestion of drinking water in contaminated areas. Macrophages are key immune cells in virtually all tissues in the human body, including the fetal membranes, making them a plausible target for DCVC-induced immunotoxicity. Macrophages are critical for maintaining anti-microbial defenses during pregnancy, but little data exists on TCE immunotoxicity during pregnancy. We previously showed that the TCE metabolite, S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC), …

Factors Influencing Registered Nurses Pursuing Advanced Degrees, Angeleque Hughes, Kandi Johnson, Sonya Townsend

MSN Research Projects

Nurse retention is a problem that has impacted the healthcare system for years and is predicted to grow as the baby boomer generation retires. In 2022, Mississippi had 29,370 nurses and over half were over the age of fifty (Feeney, 2024). The research highlighted the importance of positive workplace relationships and supportive management to increase job satisfaction and loyalty among nurses. Prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic, nursing shortages had been reported but the pandemic increased those numbers and exacerbated nurse burnout. Nurses pursuing advanced degrees are a population that is leaving the bedside and the deficit in bedside nurses affects …

Providers' Perceptions On Early Alzheimer’S Screening In Patients With Metabolic Syndrome, Sharika James, Brittany Higgins, Kelli Stewart, Bernesha Mclemore, Jessica Koon

MSN Research Projects

The healthcare system currently lacks a standardized approach for screening and identifying potential links between hormonal fluctuations and Alzheimer’s in younger populations. This gap in guidelines leads to a primarily reactive rather than proactive stance, as screenings like the AD8 tool are often only considered in response to advanced symptoms or at older ages (Tolea & Galvin, 2013). The progression of early Alzheimer's disease is generally considered irreversible. This is due to the neurodegenerative nature of the condition, where damage to brain cells, particularly in areas related to memory and cognition, is progressive and cannot be undone. According to the …

Correlation Of Caregiver Role Strain With Impaired Psychosocial Health And Self-Care Practices, Alicia Box, Julie Edwards, Tiffany Watson

MSN Research Projects

In 2021, 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. were providing care to a family member or loved one with a chronic health condition or disability (Kilmer et al., 2024). A major concern among caregivers is role strain and the long-term effects on personal physical and mental health. One study indicated that high caregiving burden has been associated with lower involvement in self-care and increased mental health burdens (Tay et al., 2023). Similarly, another study revealed that frequent poor mental health days of the caregiver produce a reduced quality of life (Monahan et al., 2023). The purpose of the study …

Primary Care Providers’Adherence To 2022 Aha/Acc/Hf-Refsa Guideline Directed Management Therapy For Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction Patients, Tamara Brooks, Brooke Brown, Brittany Gentry, La'charity Perry

MSN Research Projects

Heart failure not only affects the heart but also many other systems within the human body. There are approximately 6.5 million people diagnosed with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction each year. Of these 6.5 million, roughly thirty percent will have readmission to the hospital or die within one year of diagnosis (Mathews et al., 2022). While the only cure for heart failure is a heart transplant, it is best practice to manage the disease and further prevent the progression and complications associated with heart failure. The researchers conducted a systematic literature review to evaluate primary care adherence to …

Barriers To Effective Diabetes Mellitus Management: A Diverse Analysis, Camryn Brewer, Sadie Ford, Chloe Price, Candice Todd, Ashli Vandiver, Lauren Yarbrough

MSN Research Projects

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases faced by individuals worldwide. It is a complex condition that requires diligent care and attention. Although diabetes is a treatable disease, there are many elements required to successfully treat and manage it comprehensively. Many individuals neglect tending to their diabetes due to the exhaustive, daily interventions that are necessary to implement. Failure to adequately control diabetes leads to poor health outcomes and other comorbidities. This research study assessed potential barriers that individuals with diabetes face, therefore leading to ineffective management. Understanding these barriers is essential to develop targeted interventions and ultimately …

How Personalized Chatbots Win Customer Loyalty, Jaeha Lee, Dooyoung Choi

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

The study applies affordance theory to investigate how perceived personalization influences loyalty through cognitive, affective, and social drivers. Data was collected from 220 participants who watched a video of a chatbot interaction and then assessed their loyalty intentions. While all paths were significant between personalization and consumer’s willingness to stay, the effects of personalization on consumer’s willingness to recommend the retailers to others were slightly different. If companies aim to capitalize on word-of-mouth marketing, it will be better to prioritize cognitive and affective qualities of chatbot over social qualities, because the latter did not contribute significantly to word-of-mouth intentions about …

Liberatory Motherhood: A Framework & Praxis For Caring And Scholaring Otherwise In The Neoliberal Academy, Bhavika Sicka

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

This article contributes to the emergent literature on motherhood in neoliberal higher education by proposing liberatory motherhood as a theoretical framework and praxis to deconstruct and reconstruct motherhood in the neoliberal academy. The author, an early-career immigrant woman scholar of color, uses feminist autoethnography to critically examine the disempowering, disembodying, and departicularizing effects of neoliberal subjectivation on motheracademics, foregrounding her lived experiences of caregiving in her analysis. She approaches academic motherhood through a prismatic lens of a pluralistic feminist rhetorical analysis that emphasizes interrelationality, tracing her experiences of caring and producing otherwise as a way to signal opportunities to reembody …

Student Perspectives On Universal Design For Learning (Udl): Q-Methodology, Taylor Rodriguez, Michelle Bartlett, James Bartlett

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

This study aims to examine community college students’ unique viewpoints of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) 3.0 guidelines through Q-methodology. This study will provide the unique perspectives students bring toward UDL to better inform faculty when implementing UDL into the instructional process and instructional designers when designing learning for community college students. The findings revealed student viewpoints toward UDL. Due to the findings, it is recommended that curriculum designers and instructors consider these viewpoints when communicating about the course and the design of the learning.

Assessing Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community Composition And Diversity Across A Land-Use Gradient In Eastern Washington Prairies, Katherine I. Cole

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are key to healthy, functioning terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Associating with over 80% of all extant land plants, they play a pivotal role in nutrient cycling, and contribute to overall plant health. Given their significance to terrestrial ecosystems, AMF have a crucial role to play in the successful restoration of Eastern Washington’s native prairies. However, AMF community composition is significantly altered by the commercial agricultural practices used extensively in this region for over 100 years. The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Prairie Restoration Project aims to restore ~120 acres of farmland to native prairie. This research provides insight …

The Launch Of An Undergraduate Accelerated Program: Initial Quantitative Data, C. Tomovic, M. Bartlett, M. Tomovic, V. Jovanovic, S. Bawab

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

The launch of an accelerated Training Specialist undergraduate program at a U.S. public university began with a pilot course in Fall 2024. This paper presents initial quantitative findings from pre- and post-course surveys designed to assess students' perceptions of the benefits of accelerated courses, as defined in the literature, as well as their self-perception as self-directed learners. The survey results revealed significant changes in students' views on the advantages of accelerated courses, particularly in terms of completing their degree more quickly and better managing family obligations. Additionally, the surveys showed a notable shift in students' perceptions of themselves as self-directed …