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Physical Activity Intensity And Memory In Middle-Aged And Older Adults In China, Simi Tang, Yucheng Gao

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Memory decline represents a major challenge in aging populations, and physical activity may help preserve cognitive function. However, evidence on whether different activity intensities are associated with memory remains inconclusive.

Methods: Using five waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2020), this study investigated the association between physical activity intensity and memory among middle-aged and older adults in China. Individual fixed-effects models were applied to control for unobserved time-invariant heterogeneity. The outcome was memory score, and the main predictors encompassed high-, moderate-, and low-intensity physical activities.

Results: Based on 52,135 person–wave observations from 21,423 …

Rodrigo’S Weather Report: Is The Sky Falling?, Richard Delgado

Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality

In the latest installment of the Rodrigo series, the main character and his straight man discuss what has come to be called sanewashing, focusing on the Administration’s many contrived emergencies to accomplish objectives that would otherwise be flatly illegal.

Gross Metropolitan Product (Gmp) And Gross State Product (Gsp) In The Mountain West, 2024, Devin Streuter, Phillip Seo, Zafeen Boulware, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

This fact sheet presents 2024 Gross Metropolitan Product (GMP) and Gross State Product (GSP) data for five Mountain West states: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, and selected metros in these states. The data are derived from a report by the United States Conference of Mayors titled, “U.S. Metro Economies Annual Report and Forecast June 2025."

Book Review: Overseen Or Overlooked? Legislators, Armed Forces, And Democratic Accountability, Tom Vance

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Authors: David P. Auerswald, Philippe Lagassé, and Stephen M. Saideman

Reviewed by: Tom Vance, US Army Reserve (retired)

In Overseen or Overlooked?, David P. Auerswald, Philippe Lagassé, and Stephen M. Saideman challenge the conventional focus on executive control of the military by spotlighting the often-underestimated role of legislatures in democratic civil-military relations. Drawing on more than a dozen global case studies, the authors reveal how parliaments struggle with capacity and motivation to provide meaningful oversight. This groundbreaking work offers practical reforms and a compelling argument: true democratic accountability in defense requires more than generals and presidents—it demands empowered legislators.

Book Review: General Lucian K. Truscott: “Quite A Talent For Fighting”, Brian K. Dean

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Book Review: General Lucian K. Truscott: “Quite a Talent for Fighting”

Author: Glyn Harper

Reviewed by: Colonel Brian K. Dean, special assistant to the chief of staff, US Army National Guard

In General Lucian K. Truscott: “Quite a Talent for Fighting,” Glyn Harper brings to light the remarkable yet underappreciated career of one of America’s most capable World War II commanders. From North Africa to the beaches of Anzio, Truscott’s mastery of mechanized and amphibious warfare earned him a unique record of commanding formations from regiment to army. His compelling biography reveals a plain-speaking, resilient leader whose strategic brilliance shaped …

Book Review: The Next War: Indications Intelligence In The Early Cold War, William Phillips

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Timothy Andrews Sayle

Reviewed by: Colonel William Phillips (US Army, retired), assistant professor, Department of Joint, Interagency, and Multinational Operations, Command and General Staff College

In The Next War: Indications Intelligence in the Early Cold War, Timothy Andrews Sayle uncovers how Western intelligence agencies grappled with the challenge of predicting Soviet military intentions amid global uncertainty. Through meticulous archival research, the book reveals how early Cold War leaders anticipated conflict without provoking it, laying the foundations for modern strategic warning systems. A compelling study of fear, foresight, and fragile peace, it sheds light on the delicate balance between …

Mindful End-Of-Unit Reflection Assignments, Brett Whysel

Open Educational Resources

This is an open educational resource: a set of 14 end-of-module mindfulness reflection prompts, designed to help students turn course content into applied, embodied learning. Each prompt asks students to briefly ground themselves (breathe), then either engage in a short, guided mindfulness exercise tied to that module's content, or answer a more traditional alternate reflection question, before responding in whatever format suits them.

Comments Re: Commonsense Policy Options To Lower Drug Prices For Patients, Fred D. Ledley M.D., Edward Zhou Pharm. D.

CISI Publication

Thank you for the opportunity to provide written comment in response to the Senate Finance Committee Minority Staff’s “Request for Information: Commonsense Policy Options to Lower Drug Prices for Patients.” We are answering as academic researchers with experience in medicine and the biopharmaceutical industry. This comment will focus on sections I and III of the RFI.

We applaud the accomplishment of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in establishing the precedent for the government to negotiate “fair market” prices for drugs on terms that address both patients’ needs for affordability and industry’s need for a reasonable return on investment. Our analysis …

Explicit Reading Comprehension Instruction: Developing An Evidence-Based Resource Guide For Upper Elementary Teachers, Amanda M. Moser

Masters Projects

Reading comprehension is a complex process that requires more than accurate decoding and word recognition. Many elementary students benefit from explicit instruction in the cognitive, linguistic, and metacognitive processes that support comprehension. The purpose of this project was to examine research on reading comprehension and develop evidence-based instructional resources for upper elementary teachers. The theoretical framework for this project draws on four perspectives: the Constructive-Integration Model (Kintsch, as discussed in Conner et al., 2016), Transactional Theory (Rosenblatt, 1978), Sociocultural Theory (Vygotsky, as discussed in Palincsar et al., 1987), and the Active View of Reading (Duke & Cartwright, 2021). Collectively, these …

Lightweight End-To-End Cryptographic Framework With Semantic Qos For Ar-Based Telesurgery, Pavan Kumar Satram

Masters Theses

This thesis presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a lightweight end-to-end cryptographic framework integrated with a semantic quality-of-service classification system for augmented reality based telesurgery. Telesurgery can deliver expert surgical care to underserved populations, but adoption has been limited by unresolved cybersecurity, network performance, and resilience challenges. The core tension is that strong encryption adds latency that may exceed the clinical safety threshold, while unencrypted systems remain vulnerable to attacks that could endanger patients during live procedures.

The framework addresses this tension through a dual-edge security middlebox that performs per-flow encryption using semantically selected ciphers: AES-128-GCM for latency-critical haptic …

Mexican Women Caregivers’ Support For Family Members With Type 2 Diabetes, Andrea Mesa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a persistent public health challenge in the United States, disproportionately affecting Hispanic populations. Mexican-origin women often serve as primary caregivers for relatives living with diabetes, yet their voices and lived experiences remain underrepresented in research. This study addressed the limited understanding of how cultural values and caregiving roles influence diabetes management within Hispanic families. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Mexican-origin women aged 40 to 60 who care for a family member with T2D. Guided by the theory of planned behavior and social cognitive theory, the study …

Staff Education On Frailty And Senior Surgical Safety, Kimberly Buhay Gibu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education doctoral project addressed a practice gap involving limited education on frailty assessment and senior surgical safety within the general surgery department of a large, integrated healthcare system. Frailty is associated with increased postoperative complications, hospitalizations, readmissions, and mortality among older adults, making early recognition essential to improving surgical outcomes. The practice-focused question project was: Does education on frailty screening and senior surgical safety improve the knowledge, confidence, and intent of general surgery staff in a large, integrated health system? The purpose was to develop, implement, and evaluate an evidence-based educational intervention. The project was guided by the …

Improving Hypertension Control Through Increased Follow-Up Frequency In Rural Adult Patients, Clarissa Renea King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project centered on the implementation of an organizational change initiative to improve hypertension control among adults aged 18 years and older in a rural primary care setting, where barriers to healthcare contribute to poorer outcomes. The practice-focused question asked whether more frequent follow-up visits improve hypertension control rates in rural adults. Interventions included increased follow-up visits for uncontrolled hypertension, patient education, home blood pressure monitoring, and staff education on accurate blood pressure measurement techniques. The project involved a pre-/post- evaluation design and analysis of deidentified organizational quality data. Findings show that the baseline hypertension …

Staff Education To Improve Blood Pressure Reassessment And Referral Practices In An Urgent Care Setting, Carolyn Denise Kluttz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was a staff education and quality improvement initiative designed to improve blood pressure (BP) reassessment and referral compliance among adult patients presenting with elevated BP readings in an urgent care setting. Elevated blood pressure is frequently identified during urgent care visits; however, provider responses and follow-up recommendations are often inconsistent, creating missed opportunities for early identification and intervention. The practice-focused question guiding this project was: In adult patients presenting to urgent care settings, how does implementing a standardized nurse-led hypertension screening and referral protocol, compared with usual care, affect the identification and follow-up …

Staff Education On Improving Medication Adherence, Oneil Dobgima Galega

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project addressed a practice gap in an outpatient behavioral health setting involving inconsistent use of structured communication strategies to support medication adherence among psychiatric patients. Although nurses routinely provided medication instructions, approaches such as motivational interviewing and psychoeducation were underutilized, limiting patient engagement, understanding, and adherence, and ultimately affecting care continuity and outcomes. The purpose of the project was to improve psychiatric nurses’ knowledge and intent to use motivational interviewing and psychoeducation to enhance medication adherence. The guiding practice-focused question examined whether a structured educational intervention could strengthen nurses’ competencies in these communication strategies. …

Staff Education To Improve Nursing Knowledge On Pressure Injury Prevention, Kheeda Kimberly Gopaul

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Staff education in this project was focused on improving nursing staff’s knowledge on pressure injury prevention, inspired by the persistent care quality gap. The gap in practice as of 2024 related to hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) at the host health organization was reported to be approximately 0.2 per 1,000 discharges. It was apparent that education could benefit the nursing staff to improve their knowledge in pressure injury prevention. The education in service focused on continuous nursing skin assessments, to ensure over prolonged hospitalization, patients’ skin does not deteriorate with the development of pressure injuries or advancing of pre-existing pressure ulcers. …

Challenges Early Childhood Educators Encounter When Balancing Play-Based Learning With Preparation For Standardized Testing, Shanette Damar Mcbride

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that emphasis is being placed on standardized testing, which is causing early childhood educators to feel pressured to eliminate or reduce playtime in their classrooms. Framed by Vygotsky’s theory of social development and Lave and Wenger’s situated learning framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of early childhood educators in a southcentral U.S. state regarding the challenges they face in balancing a play-based learning curriculum and the support they need, while emphasizing information about standardized testing. The data were collected from semistructured interviews with 12 certified kindergarten …

Exploring The Experiences And Support Needs Of African Immigrant Families Raising Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Ohio, Linda Nkoumba Eteki

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents unique challenges for families; however, African immigrant parents raising children with ASD in Ohio experience additional difficulties related to cultural stigma, systemic inequities, and limited access to culturally responsive services. This social work practice problem is important because it reflects disparities in diagnosis, intervention, service access, and family support that align with social work’s commitment to equity, advocacy, and social justice. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of African immigrant families raising children with ASD in Ohio and to examine how they describe autism-related stigma, caregiving challenges, and interactions with …

Staff Education To Improve Central Line Maintenance Documentation Compliance, Martha Danette Oglesby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This was a staff education quality improvement project aimed at improving compliance with central line maintenance documentation among nurses on a busy transitional care unit (TCU). The practice problem was inconsistent documentation of central line bundle documentation. Documentation is an important part of nursing care and is the most effective way to communicate the care provided. Effective documentation is a pivotal way of identifying evidence-based care to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). The practice-focused question was, In nursing staff working on an inpatient TCU, what is the impact of targeted education on evidence-based central venous catheter bundle care documentation, …

Openness To Experience And Creative Capacity Among Active First Responders, William Reagan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Because emergency services demand adaptive, creative problem-solving within procedurally rigid cultures, this study examined whether Openness to Experience predicted creative capacity among active first responders and whether age or tenure moderated that relationship. A cross-sectional design used N = 117 first responders from eight agencies. Openness was measured with the Big Five Inventory-2 (percentile ranks); creativity was assessed with the Divergent Association Task (DAT; n = 116) and the Consensual Assessment Technique (CAT; n = 111). Covariates were age, tenure, rank, gender, and, for 46 participants at one agency, a dispatch-derived operational exposure score. In the full sample, Openness did …

Addressing Implicit Bias Toward Patients With Substance Use Disorders Through A Staff Education Quality Improvement Initiative, Jeanne Baleng Okuwobi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was a staff education quality improvement (QI) initiative designed to reduce implicit bias among healthcare providers toward patients with substance use disorder (SUD) at a community mental health center. Provider implicit bias toward patients with SUD contributes to stigma, inequitable care, reduced treatment engagement, and poorer health outcomes; addressing this bias is essential to advancing patient safety, health equity, and quality nursing care. The practice-focused question guiding this project asked whether a 9-week evidence-based staff education program incorporating didactic instruction and reflective practice would reduce provider implicit bias toward patients with SUD compared with current practice, which …

Local Farming Sustainability Nongovernment Organization’S Perceived Driving Forces For A Crisis Management Plan, Nthonoki Cynthia Tsepe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operate in increasingly volatile environments characterized by financial uncertainty, political pressures, and climate-related disruptions; however, many lack formalized crisis management systems. The absence of structured crisis governance exposes organizations to operational instability, financial risk, and reputational damage. The purpose of this qualitative force field analysis study was to explore a local farming sustainability NGO’s perceived driving and restraining forces for developing a formal crisis management plan. Guided by Burnett’s crisis management model and Lewin’s force field analysis framework, data were collected from nine organizational leaders involved in governance and operational decision making. Round 1 included open-ended online …

Strategies For Reducing Employee Turnover In Retail Business, Mia Bulger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Strategies for Reducing Employee Turnover in Retail Business by Mia S. Bulger MS, University of Phoenix, 2022 BS, Clark Atlanta University, 2005 Qualitative Pragmatic Inquiry Business Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University August 2026

African American Fathers’ Experiences Of Emotional Distress Within The Context Of Black Masculinity After Their Children’S Autism Diagnosis, John Notice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although parental experiences following a child's autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis have been examined, mothers’ experiences have garnered the most exploration, with comparatively less attention given to fathers’ experiences. There was a gap in knowledge, in particular, on how African American (AA) fathers experience their children's ASD diagnoses while navigating emotional distress within the context of Black masculinity. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how AA fathers experienced their children's ASD diagnoses while navigating emotional distress within the context of Black masculinity. Crenshaw's intersectionality theory served as the conceptual framework. Data were collected by conducting semistructured …

Youth With Mental Illness Transitioning Into Adult Judicial Systems, Susan K. Beltran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite attempts to alleviate the issues of recidivism in juveniles, this issue continues to have a major impact on young adults suffering from mental health challenges. Criminal justice involvement continues to present significant challenges for individuals with behavioral health disorders, underscoring the need to identify factors associated with arrest to inform prevention and intervention efforts. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the relationship between recidivism and the age of first arrest, gender, and psychiatric diagnosis for youths in an adult facility. The current study used data from the Northwestern Juvenile Project, with a sample size of N=1829. …

Staff Education For Medication Adherence Among Adults With Major Depressive Disorder In A Private Outpatient Psychiatric And Mental Health Practice, Judith Timbui Eta

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project implemented a staff education initiative to improve medication adherence among adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) in a private outpatient psychiatric and mental health practice. Medication nonadherence remains a significant barrier to effective depression treatment and is associated with symptom relapse, increased healthcare utilization, and poorer patient outcomes. Evidence supports provider education as an effective strategy for improving adherence-related practices. The project examined whether a targeted educational intervention could improve staff knowledge and confidence in promoting medication adherence over a 12-week implementation period. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model and the …

Lived Experiences And Competencies Of Mental Health Professionals Supporting Postpartum Mothers’ Mental Health And Well-Being, Shaynie Wolski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and postpartum psychosis, affect postpartum individuals and their families. Limited research has examined the lived experiences and competencies of licensed mental health professionals who address PMADs, potentially limiting counselor educators’ ability to prepare counselors for postpartum mental health needs. Guided by hermeneutic phenomenology and informed by Ecological Systems Theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to answer the guiding question: What are the lived experiences of licensed mental health professionals in recognizing, assessing, and treating PMADs among postpartum clients? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight …

Registered Nurses’ Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, And Willingness To Assess Near-Fatal Strangulation: Development Of The Near-Fatal Strangulation Self-Efficacy Scale, Morgan Kenady Mcmahon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Near-fatal strangulation (NFS) is a time-critical clinical presentation associated with elevated risk of stroke, delayed airway compromise, and future intimate partner homicide, yet no validated instrument existed to assess nurses' NFS-specific knowledge or self-efficacy. The purpose of this cross-sectional study, guided by Bandura's social cognitive theory and Benner's novice to expert theory, was to develop and pilot test the Nurses' Near-Fatal Strangulation Self-Efficacy Scale (NFS-SES) and to examine whether knowledge and self-efficacy predicted nurses' willingness to conduct an NFS assessment. A convenience sample of 150 registered nurses in emergency, labor and delivery, and obstetric emergency departments completed the NFS-SES, a …

Teachers’ Perspectives About Early-Career Implementation Of Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices In Secondary Science Classrooms, Nicole D. Wilson-Pringle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study was that little was known about how secondary science teachers use their training to implement culturally responsive teaching practices (CRTPs) during their early careers in classrooms with diverse student populations. Grounded in the culturally relevant pedagogy and the teacher identity development frameworks, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore secondary science teachers’ perspectives on the use of their training to implement CRTPs during their early careers in classrooms with diverse student populations. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 middle and high school science teachers who received certification …

Privacy And Security In The Age Of Digitalization: Addressing Data Vulnerabilities In Local Businesses, Shalanza Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Privacy and Security in the Age of Digitalization: Addressing Data Vulnerabilities in Local Businesses by Shalanza Jones MS, Kaplan University, 2012 BS, Bethel University, 2007 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University July 2026