Digital Commons Network^™

The Color Of Alignment: The Effect Of Personality On Mission In Nonprofit Organizations Serving Individuals With Disabilities, Meaghan A. Gasch

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

A quantitative correlational study examined the relationship between employees' personalities and mission alignment in non-profit organizations serving individuals with disabilities in South Florida. Using the True Colors personality assessment and a custom mission alignment survey, data from 53 employees were analyzed. Findings revealed that the "Blue" personality type had the strongest effect on mission alignment perceptions, with the "Green" type also showing significant impact. However, ANOVA results indicated no statistically significant differences in overall mission alignment scores across personality types, suggesting other organizational factors also play a role. Key limitations included a small sample size, which constrained statistical power, and …

The Effect Of Modality On Spirituality Outcomes In Theological Higher Education, Johnnie H. Peyton

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this research study was to examine differences in perceptions of spirituality outcomes between online and in-person students taking theology courses at a Christian liberal arts college in the Midwestern United States. Using a validated instrument, the Religious Education Survey (RES), 71 students were surveyed. A one sample t test was used to evaluate the statistical significance of mean perceptions of spirituality between the online and in-person students. The difference in mean score perceptions of spirituality between online and in-person students was not statistically significant, and the null hypothesis was retained. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used …

The Influence Of Leaders’ Emotional Intelligence And Employees’ Emotional Intelligence On Employee Engagement, Mildred D. Usher

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The influence of emotional intelligence (EI) on employee engagement (EE) is significant. However, limited research exists on how both perceived leaders' EI and perceived employees’ EI influence EE. Identifying predictive factors that contribute to EE is crucial to organizational success. The current study examined 96 retail employees residing in the U.S. The purpose of the non-experimental, quantitative study was to examine the relationship between perceived leaders' EI and perceived employees' EI on employee engagement in U.S. Southwest region retail organizations. An online multi-sectional survey including demographic questions, the Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) …

Teachers’ Perspectives On Supporting Students With Dyslexia, Kelly L. White

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This study explored the perspectives that teachers in Florida have about dyslexia. Researchers have found that many classroom teachers may not feel prepared to provide support for students with dyslexia. The research problem addressed in this study was to discover the degree to which teachers’ perceptions align with the misconceptions about dyslexia. A quantitative, nonexperimental research design was used to address the study’s topic using a survey adapted from an existing, standardized research instrument. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to analyze study data from 30 participants. A series of between-subjects tests of statistical significance were conducted to evaluate …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Student Engagement In The Urban Elementary Classroom: A Qualitative Case Study, Lavern M. Mcneil

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

are responsible for providing opportunities to use learning strategies in the classroom. The students’ engagement shows an observable reflection of the educator's teaching practice. This qualitative case study highlights teachers' perceptions of student engagement in the urban elementary classroom. The research questions asked about teachers’ perceptions of student engagement and the contribution to student engagement. The research questions also asked about the resources and barriers to student engagement. The theory used for consideration was the bioecological framework by Urie Bronfenbrenner. The theory connected to the importance of systems' role in a child's growth and how they have a crucial impact …

Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions Of How Developmental Mathematics Courses Prepare Students For Degree-Required Mathematics Courses, Felicia N. Brooks

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Students at most open-enrollment colleges must take a placement exam to determine what courses they will need to enroll in as their first math course. Students who score below a certain threshold are placed in a developmental math course. Students must complete the developmental math sequence before enrolling in degree-required math courses. Students’ perceptions of being enrolled in developmental math courses were investigated for this study. The purpose of this quantitative study was to highlight students’ perspectives on being required to take developmental math and whether such courses adequately prepared them for the mathematics class required for the students’ majors. …

Dyslexia: Teachers’ Self-Efficacy In Differentiating Literacy Instruction, Joanne S. Scharff

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, impacting approximately 20% of school-age children. Students with dyslexia need specialized instruction from an educator who can confidently differentiate literacy instruction to accommodate the learning needs of the dyslexic student. The purpose of this study is to measure general education teachers' self-efficacy in differentiating literacy instruction for students with dyslexia in public elementary schools in Florida. Moreover, the study evaluates whether educators are confident in using explicit, systematic, and multisensory methods based on the science of reading to differentiate for students with dyslexia. A survey was completed anonymously by 111 teachers, of which …

An Acute Hepatic Hydrothorax Causing Tension., Dina R Assali, Austin Richardson, Andrew Kalnow

Trauma and Acute Care Articles

Patients with advanced cirrhosis are at risk for numerous complications, including hepatic hydrothorax. Hepatic hydrothorax most commonly occurs in the right pleural space but less commonly can present on the left hemithorax. The exact pathophysiology is not fully understood, but there are several schools of thought for right-sided effusions. In this case report, we discuss the findings of a 76-year-old female who experienced a left-sided hydrothorax likely stemming from her underlying liver disease which created tension pathology in an otherwise stable patient. Interestingly, this accumulation occurred over a couple of weeks despite optimal medical management. A thoracentesis confirmed ascitic fluid. …

Food Science Affiliated Publications, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville: Snapshot Of The Research Publications, Jeremy J. Smith, Lutishoor Salisbury

University Libraries Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report provides a snapshot of the research publications for authors affiliated with the Food Science department at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, for the period 2018-2023. It includes publications by material type; co-author characteristics; ranking of journals according to journal citation reports.

Crystal Archer: Profile Of The Newest Chbc Faculty Member, Danna Jaimes-Fajardo, Jeremy J. Smith, Lutishoor Salisbury

University Libraries Faculty Publications and Presentations

Presents the research profile of Crystal Archer, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry department. It highlights her research interests, education, and impact of her research.

Common Measures Of Vaccination Intention Generate Substantially Different Estimates That Can Reduce Predictive Validity, Jessica Fishman, K. Aleks Schaefer, Daniel Scheitrum, Christopher Robertson, Dolores Albarracin

Faculty Scholarship

Surveys often estimate vaccination intentions using dichotomous ("Yes"/"No") or trichotomous ("Yes," "Unsure," "No") response options presented in different orders. Do survey results depend on these variations? This controlled experiment randomized participants to dichotomous or trichotomous measures of vaccine intentions (with “Yes” and “No” options presented in different orders). Intentions were measured separately for COVID-19, its booster, and influenza vaccines. Among a sample of U.S. adults (N = 4,764), estimates of vaccine intention varied as much as 37.5 ± 17.4 percentage points as a function of the dichotomous or trichotomous response set. Among participants who had not received the COVID-19 vaccine, …

2023 Learning & Outreach Services (Unm University Libraries) Assessment Framework, Holly M. Surbaugh, Olivia Baca

University Libraries & Learning Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

In 2022-2023, the Learning & Outreach Services (LORS) department within the University of New Mexico’s Libraries responded to post-pandemic challenges with a renewed focus on project-driven strategic planning, setting an annual goal to develop a LORS-specific assessment program. The LORS assessment team grappled with how to operationalize the literature on library assessment at a level that makes sense for a department of 12 librarians within a larger library organization. The LORS assessment team ultimately developed a consensus-driven, appropriately scaled assessment framework tailored for our department’s scope and context. The framework includes a guidance document, an impact map, and planning templates. …

Enhancing Microgrid Forecasting Accuracy With Saq-Mtclstm: A Self-Adjusting Quantized Multi-Task Convlstm For Optimized Solar Power And Load Demand Predictions, Ehtisham Lodhi, Nadia Dahmani, Syed Muhammad Salman Bukhari, Sujan Gyawali, Sanjog Thapa, Lin Qiu, Muhammad Hamza Zafar, Naureen Akhtar

All Works

Accurate forecasting of solar power output and load demand is critical for the efficient operation and management of isolated microgrids, where reliability and sustainability are paramount. Traditional methods often struggle with data scarcity, limitations in capturing intricate temporal dynamics, and lack of scalability. This research introduces a novel multi-task learning (MTL) model, the Self-Aware Quantized Multi-Task ConvLSTM (SAQ-MTCLSTM), which addresses these challenges by jointly forecasting solar power and load demand while leveraging shared representations across these interdependent time series. The SAQ-MTCLSTM incorporates a sophisticated architecture that combines convolutional and LSTM layers with self-aware quantization to enhance computational efficiency and model …

Shocking Sentences, John B. Meixner Jr.

Scholarly Works

Harsh recidivist sentencing penalties, like three-strikes laws, have been criticized heavily among both academics and practitioners on a number of different grounds. Most arguments focus on how sentences arising from these penalties are disproportionate—that there is no sensible relationship between the wrong committed and the sentence imposed. Those critiques are valid, but there’s another important problem with recidivist sentencing penalties that has been overlooked: they lead to sentences that are totally unexpected—indeed, shocking—to the defendants who face them. Many recidivist sentencing penalties cause large leaps in sentencing exposure that amount to exponential growth when compared with a defendant’s prior sentences. …

Customers Choice Towards Aftersales Serviceability Of Counterfeit Spare Parts A Case Study, Syahrul Nizam Samsudin, Bulan Abdullah, Noriah Yusoff

Malaysian Journal of Computing (MJoC)

A case study was conducted to examine Malaysian perceptions of product origin in connection to counterfeit components of Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (PROTON). Some consumers regard the price of spare parts at service centres as costly, while others find it affordable. This view is formed based on individuals' prior experience with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) components and the imitation parts found at non-certified service centres. The study evaluates the customers’ perception levels and the correlations of customer choice characteristics (CCC) with country of origin (COO) image towards countries that produce counterfeit spare parts, such as China, Taiwan, and Thailand. …

Drowsy Driver Detection System Via Facial Recognition And Driving Data, Nur Iman Kamila Azharudin, Hafizah Mansor, Shaila Sharmin

Malaysian Journal of Computing (MJoC)

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 17.6% of all fatal crashes in the years 2017–2021 involved a drowsy driver. This study proposes a drowsy driver detection system that uses both facial recognition and vehicular data to detect if a driver is feeling sleepy behind the wheel. We aim to address a lack of works in the literature that combine data measured from the driver (image or biological data) and vehicular data for drowsy driver detection. Our primary data was collected from simulated driving sessions in which a camera was used to record test drivers’ faces while …

The Selection Of Preferred Textbook Based On The Dominance Method, Harliza Mohd Hanif, Daud Mohamad, Nor Hashimah Sulaiman, Siti Rahimah Batcha

Malaysian Journal of Computing (MJoC)

Calculus is a mathematics subject normally taught at the tertiary level. Many calculus textbooks with different approaches and styles have been published to cater to the needs of students. The selection of calculus textbooks is essential as it can help teachers and students to optimize their usage. Textbook selection problem is one type of multiple-criteria decisionmaking problem where the selection is based on several criteria. Thus, ranking fuzzy numbers based on the area dominance method ranks the calculus textbook.

The Effectiveness Of Educational Games In Learning Mathematics Among Secondary School Students, Nur Hanani Rosni, Nurhilyana Anuar, Aminatul Solehah Idris

Malaysian Journal of Computing (MJoC)

Educational games in learning have established an alternative learning environment among students. It helps to improve students' knowledge and skill acquisition. Through educational game learning, it provides students with challenges and a sense of accomplishment. The challenges in teaching-learning mathematics subjects are student's lack of problem-solving skills and lack of interest during the lessons. Therefore, this study aims to implement educational games in learning mathematics to increase students' interest and determine its effectiveness. The study was conducted in one of the secondary school districts of Seri Manjung, Perak. A cluster sampling technique was used which comprised 32 respondents from the …

Decision Tree And Rule Based Classification For Predicting Online Purchase Behavior In Malaysia, Maslina Abdul Aziz, Nurul Ain Mustakim, Shuzlina Abdul Rahman

Malaysian Journal of Computing (MJoC)

In Malaysia, fast growth in e-commerce speeds a business need to understand and predict consumer online behavior in order to be more competitive. While the whole world is embracing big data analytics, many businesses in Malaysia, particularly those in the ecommerce sector, find it hard to harness these technologies to their benefit. The absence of specific predictive models and the complexity of socio-cultural diversity further complicate the efforts toward understanding consumer preferences. Therefore, this research tries to fill in some of the gaps by applying decision tree and rule-based algorithms to classify online purchasing behavior amongst Malaysian consumers. The study …

Prediction Of Diabetic Retinopathy Among Diabetic Neuropathy In T2dm Patients Using Data Mining Algorithm, Nur Balqis Oon, Zuraida Khairudin, Hezlin Aryani Abd Rahman, Norbaizura Kamarudin, Nur Syamimi Haji Abu Bakar, Nor Azimah Abd Aziz

Malaysian Journal of Computing (MJoC)

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic neuropathy (DN) are the most common complications among diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Despite the widespread awareness, the implications of these serious diabetes complications remain poorly understood. Hence, this study aims to determine the association between DR and DN, predict DR and identify the significant risk factors associated with DR among DN patients based on the best predictive model obtained. Three models are employed in this study; Logistic Regression (LR) (Forward, Backward, Enter and Optimize), Decision Tree (Information Gain, Gini Index and Gain Ratio) and Artificial Neural Network with a splitting of 70-30. This study involved …

Osteoarthritis Grading A Synthesized Magnetic Resonance Images Technique, Qiu Ruiyun, Siti Khatijah Nor Abdul Rahim, Nursuriati Jamil, Raseeda Hamzah, Xiaoling Fu

Malaysian Journal of Computing (MJoC)

Osteoarthritis (OA) in the knee is a major cause of decreased activity and physical limitations among older people. Identifying and treating knee osteoarthritis in its early stages can help patients delay the progression of the condition. Currently, early detection of knee osteoarthritis involves the use of X-ray images and assessment using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading system. Doctors' evaluations can be subjective and may differ among different doctors. Similar to a computer systems analyst, the automatic knee OA grading and diagnosis can be a valuable tool for doctors, enabling them to streamline their workload and provide more efficient care. An innovative …

Fall 2024, John M. Pfau Library

Peacock – John M. Pfau Library Newsletter

In this issue:

• Rising Above the Flood: The Library Commons p.1-2
• The Fantasy and Science Fiction Book Cafe Saga p. 6
• Great Horned Owls and the Pfau Library p. 8 - 9

On Localization Of Eigenfunctions Of The Magnetic Laplacian, Jeffrey S. Ovall, Hadrian Quan, Robyn Reid, Stefan Steinerberger

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Let Ω ⊂ ℝd and consider the magnetic Laplace operator given by H(A) = (–i∇ – A(x))2, where A : Ω → ℝd, subject to Dirichlet boundary conditions. For certain vector fields A, this operator can have eigenfunctions, H(A)ψ = λψ, that are highly localized in a small region of Ω. The main goal of this paper is to show that if |ψ| assumes its maximum at x0 ∈ Ω, then A behaves 'almost' like a conservative vector field in a -neighborhood of x0 in a precise sense. In particular, we expect localization in regions where |curl A| is small. …

Understanding Bicuspid Aortic Valve: Global Prevalence, Genetic Factors, Long- Term Outcomes, Treatment Approaches And Knowledge Gaps, Grace Sligh

Honors Projects

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease is the most common congenital heart condition in the world, with a prevalence of 0.5 to 2.0 %, with the highest predominance in Caucasian men. This disease causes two leaflets to form instead of the typical three leaflet and can lead to many complications. This paper explores the global prevalence of BAV, highlighting observed variations between ethnicities and geographical background. It also examines the genetic factors contributing to the condition, including known hereditary patterns and emerging genetic insights. This review also addresses risk factors associated with BAV, such as environmental and developmental influences, as well …

Sensitivity Of Contributing Factors To Heterogeneity Corrections In Dosimetry Of Ocular Brachytherapy Using Iodine-125 Coms Plaques, Yongsook Lee

All Publications

Purpose: To investigate sensitivity of contributing factors to heterogeneity corrections in ocular brachytherapy using iodine-125 (125I) Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) plaques.

Material and methods: Using egs_brachy, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were performed for 125I COMS plaques (model: IsoAid IAI-125A). Homogeneous dose (DHOMO) was estimated under the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group-43 assumptions, with 85 Gy prescribed to a 5 mm depth. Heterogeneous doses (DHETERO#1-#7) were determined with medium-heterogeneity for the following scenarios: #1. Modulay backing (M) alone, #2. Silastic insert (S) alone, #3. Interseed attenuation effects (I) alone, #4. M + S, #5. M + I, …

The Middle Domain Of Hsp104 Can Ensure Substrates Are Functional After Processing, Hannah Buchholz, Jane E. Dorweiler, Sam Guereca, Brett T. Wisniewski, James Shorter, Anita L. Manogaran

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Molecular chaperones play a central role in protein disaggregation. However, the molecular determinants that regulate this process are poorly understood. Hsp104 is an AAA+ ATPase that disassembles stress granules and amyloids in yeast through collaboration with Hsp70 and Hsp40. In vitro studies show that Hsp104 processes different types of protein aggregates by partially translocating or threading polypeptides through the central pore of the hexamer. However, it is unclear how Hsp104 processing influences client protein function in vivo. The middle domain (MD) of Hsp104 regulates ATPase activity and interactions with Hsp70. Here, we tested how MD variants, Hsp104^A503S and …

Morphology And Molecular Systematics Support A New Species Of Pseudogonatodes (Squamata: Gekkota: Sphaerodactylidae) From Venezuela With A Remarkable Telescoped Skull, Walter E. Schargel, Christian Hernández-Morales, Juan D. Daza, Micheal J. Jowers, Andres Camilo Montes-Correa, Mayke De Freitas, Kathryn A. Sullivan, Tony Gamble, Aaron M. Bauer, Gilson A. Rivas

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

We describe a new species of miniaturized gecko (genus Pseudogonatodes) from the Peninsula de Paria in northeastern Venezuela. Externally, the new species resembles Pseudogonatodes furvus and Pseudogonatodes manessi, from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia and the Central Coastal Range in Venezuela, respectively; however, it differs from these species in terms of molecular genetic data (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and c-mos), osteological characters, and scale counts. The new species is unique in skull osteology, and we adopt the term ‘telescoped’ from the literature to describe the overlap of bones in the snout, in particular the …

Talar And Calcaneal Coordinate Axes Definitions Across Foot Pathologies, Kassidy Knutson, Erika P. Muhlrad, Andrew C. Peterson, Thomas Leonard, Abigail M. Anderson, Katelyn C. Aragon, Zachary J. Eatough, Bruce A. Macwilliams, Karen M. Kruger, Amy L. Lenz

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The understanding of foot and ankle biomechanics is improving as new technology provides more detailed information about the motion of foot and ankle bones with biplane fluoroscopy, as well as the ability to analyze the hindfoot under weightbearing conditions with weightbearing computed tomography. Three-dimensional anatomical coordinate systems are necessary to describe the 3D alignment and kinematics of the foot and ankle. The lack of standard coordinate systems across research study sites can significantly alter experimental data analyses used for pre-surgical evaluation and post-operative outcome assessments. Clinical treatment paradigms are changing based on the expanding knowledge of complex pes planovalgus morphologies …

Towards A Unified Xai-Based Framework For Digital Forensic Investigations, Zainab Khalid, Farkhund Iqbal, Benjamin C.M. Fung

All Works

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) aims to alleviate the black-box AI conundrum in the field of Digital Forensics (DF) (and others) by providing layman-interpretable explanations to predictions made by AI models. It also handles the increasing volumes of forensic images that are impossible to investigate via manual methods; or even automated forensic tools. A holistic, generalized, yet exhaustive framework detailing the workflow of XAI for DF is proposed for standardization. A case study examining the implementation of the framework in a network forensics investigative scenario is presented for demonstration. In addition, the XAI-DF project lays the basis for a collaborative effort …

Exploring The Factors Affecting Career Choices Of Undergraduate Emirati Students, Laila Mohebi, Solomon Arulraj David

All Works

This study explores the determinants of career choices among Emirati students, engaging 550 students from selected universities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Employing a phenomenological approach, the research utilized a survey questionnaire to understand the impact of various factors such as parental influence, educational institutions, university programs, and socio-economic elements on the career decisions of undergraduate Emirati students. Out of 550 targeted participants, 400 completed surveys were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The findings reveal a predominant influence of parents, followed by significant roles of schools and socio-economic factors, in shaping career choices. …