Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Contemporary Icebreaking Capacity In The North American Region : Detailing The Present State Of Affairs And Challenges To Be Confronted, Bryan Watts, Dimitrios Dalaklis, Antonios Andreadakis

Articles

No abstract provided.

Decentralization's Effects On Food-Insecure Households In Drought-Prone Woredas In Ethiopia, Vân Lê

Research Honors

In Ethiopia, more than 16 million people face hunger and malnutrition due to conflict, poverty, or extreme weather conditions caused by climate change. In 2005, the government launched its flagship social protection strategy, the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP), to meet the food security needs of the rural population by providing humanitarian food access and boosting productive capacity to reduce vulnerability. This work-for-food/cash transfers program allows beneficiaries to buy food while working on public infrastructure. The transfers can then be used to help participants build livelihood assets and become more resilient to shocks. Although the PSNP has substantially improved food …

Monetary Policy And Equity Market Reactions: Linking Monetary Theory To Sector Level Etf Performance, Joseph Freedman

Research Honors

This project examines how the economic framework of U.S. monetary policy translates into financial market outcomes by studying sector level equity responses to changes in the Federal Reserve’s effective federal funds rate. While monetary policy theory emphasizes how interest rates influence investment, borrowing costs and risk taking, financial markets reflect these mechanisms through asset prices. Exchange traded funds provide a useful lens for studying this connection, as they aggregate firm level behavior into tradable sector portfolios.

Using daily data from 2004 to 2025, this study analyzes eleven S&P 500 sector exchange traded funds to evaluate how monetary policy shocks are …

Dataset For "Ground-Truthing The Core Competencies In Cataloging And Metadata", Michael J. Monaco

University Research

This is the dataset for a research article submitted to Cataloging & Classification Quarterly. It consists of 109 anonymized cataloging and metadata job advertisements published from 2019-2021 in various online venues such as ALA JobList or distributed via email in discussion lists such as AUTOCAT, CODE4LIB, TSLIBRARIANS, etc. These ads were read and scored for their inclusion of the ALCTS Core Competencies for Cataloging and Metadata Professionals (CCC&M) as well as for some additional elements for analysis (type of job, type of institution) and other preferred or required qualifications, as well as whether salaries or remote work options were mentioned. …

Comparison Of Mental Illness Comorbidity Pre-Pandemic Vs. Pandemic-Era And Associations With Clinical And Demographic Characteristics For Virginia Public Hospital Inpatient Discharges With A Substance Use Disorder, Marilyn Bartholmae, Tharidu Gunawardena

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

The rise in mental illnesses after the COVID-19 pandemic is well documented. However, it is not known whether the rates of mental illness comorbidity increased. The objectives of this study were to compare mental illness comorbidity rates before and after the pandemic among inpatients with SUD and to test associations between mental illness comorbidity, physical illness, and demographics. We used a retrospective cross-sectional design in a sample of inpatient discharges (N = 233,017) at Virginia public hospitals from January 2018 to December 2022. We used Z tests to compare rates of mental illness comorbidity pre- and post-pandemic and Chi-square tests …

Visit Complexity Differs Between Scarring And Nonscarring Alopecia: A 5-Year Dataderm Analysis, Ian Noel Encarnacion, Noelle Desir, Nicholas Schell, Apoorva Mehta, Temitayo Ogunleye, Susan Taylor

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Accurate coding is a critical component of dermatologic practice, influencing reimbursement and documentation of clinical complexity. Although alopecia has significant psychosocial and financial burdens, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding patterns in alopecia management remain largely understudied. Our population-level study using the American Academy of Dermatology's DataDerm clinical registry¹ evaluates alopecia CPT coding trends, pre-2021 and post-2021 evaluation and management (E/M) CPT coding updates,² aiming to inform coding practices and visit complexity, which have significant reimbursement implications.

Criterion Validity Of The Functional Status And Pain Assessment Scale Versus Pain And Length Of Stay In Hospitalized Adults With Scd, Wally R. Smith, Daniel M. Sop, Yue May Zhang, Margaret S. Guy, Rehan Qayyum

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objectives

In prior research we demonstrated face, construct, discriminant, and preliminary convergent validity of the newly developed, 10-item Functional Status Pain Assessment (FSPA) scale (0-50) in adult SCD patients hospitalized with VOC. We aimed in this study to further demonstrate criterion validity of the FSPA.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study of 561 daily functional and pain assessments from 91 hospitalized adults with SCD from January 2018 to June of 2019. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) Partial Least Squares (PLS) models determined the relationship between LOS, pain intensity, and FSPA. A Generalized Linear Model (GLM) to quantified the impact of …

Persistent Peristomal Pain Due To An Exposed Cutaneous Nerve, Iain Noel Encarnacion, Kaylin Beiter, Natasha Hakkal, Emily Hejazi, Paul Hernandez, Melissa Laughter, Shannon Nugent, Samir Thaker, Xiaowei Xu, Misha Rosenbach

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

[Introduction]

Case description

A 25-year-old woman with a history of ulcerative colitis treated with multiple abdominal surgeries complicated by peristomal pyoderma gangrenosum (PPG) presented with severe peristomal pain and ulceration. Treatment course was complicated; disease control was achieved via combination infliximab 10 mg/kg every 4 weeks, corticosteroids (topical triamcinolone 0.1% ointment, intralesional 10 mg/ml injections, and oral prednisone 30 mg daily with a gradual taper), and cyclosporine 125 mg tapering by 25 mg every 3 weeks, ultimately tapered to infliximab monotherapy.

Insurance Disparities In Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Comprehensive Review Of Demographics, Outcomes, And Access To Care, Alim Osman, Alexandra R. Nigro, Michael C. Povelaitis, Marc Z. Handler

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that disproportionately affects women, African Americans, and individuals of biracial descent. It is associated with substantial physical and psychiatric morbidity, reducing quality of life.

Objective: This review analyzed disparities in treatment outcomes, disease progression, and healthcare access among HS patients based on insurance type.

Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search identified 7 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Owing to data heterogeneity, studies were qualitatively analyzed.

Results: Findings consistently demonstrated that Medicaid patients experienced worse outcomes than those with private insurance or Medicare. Medicaid patients had higher rates of comorbid …

Regional Pain Is Associated With Functional Performance In People With Parkinson's Disease, Ryan P. Duncan, Monica R. Hendricksen, Luke Ekdahl, Kevin Smaller, Benjamin Friedman, Miriam R. Rafferty

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background and Purpose:

Little is known about how pain influences physical function in people with mild Parkinson disease (PwPD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between physical function and pain presence, location, and intensity in PwPD who were evaluated in an early physical therapy program.

Methods:

Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of electronic medical records from patients with PD evaluated at a single center (2016-2023). Pain presence, location, and intensity (0-10 scale) were recorded at the initial physical therapy evaluation. Functional outcomes included 5-time sit-to-stand, 10-meter walk test, 6-minute walk test, timed up and go, mini-BESTest, and Functional …

Determinants Of Patient Satisfaction In An Academic Primary Care Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study Of The Postpandemic Era, Alvin Maliakal, Rajita Kanapareddy, Zooha Altaf, Janani Anbazhagan, Kristin Olson, Cynthia Avila, Rehan Qayyum

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

Patient satisfaction, a key indicator of healthcare quality, is associated with improved adherence, continuity, and outcomes. However, limited evidence describes determinants of patient satisfaction in contemporary primary care settings reflecting the postpandemic era, when care delivery models and patient expectations have evolved substantially.

Objective

To evaluate the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with patient satisfaction in an academic primary care setting following the postpandemic era.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adult patients (≥18 years) attending a primary care clinic. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire including the Visit-Specific Satisfaction Questionnaire (VSQ-9) and measures of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. …

Dampak Program Pembangkit Listrik 35.000 Mw Terhadap Tingkat Pekerjaan Dan Kemiskinan Di Indonesia, Yohanes Dwi Anggoro, Jahen Fachrul Rezki

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

This research analyzes the 35,000 MW Program’s impact on employment and poverty levels in Indonesia using the Callaway and Sant’Anna Difference-in-Differences (CSDID) method. The research uses panel data at the district/city level from 2007 to 2022. The analysis shows the program has a significant impact on reducing poverty, with an average reduction of 5,208 poor people in Model 1; 4,277 people in Model 2; and 4,284 people in Model 3. Based on a subset of regions, the analysis shows the program had a significant impact on increasing the employment rate by 1.2 percent, reducing 16,034 poor people in the Java-Madura-Bali.

Dampak Peraturan Daerah Terkait Kesehatan Terhadap Prevalensi Stunting Tingkat Kabupaten/Kota Di Indonesia, Cakra Yudi Putra, Teguh Dartanto

Jurnal Ekonomi dan Pembangunan Indonesia

Stunting remains a major public health challenge in Indonesia with long-term impacts on health, cognition, and productivity. This study examines whether health-related regional regulations (Peraturan Daerah or Perda) reduce stunting prevalence across 338 districts/municipalities in 2007 and 2013. Using Difference-in-Differences (DiD) and DiD with Propensity Score Matching (DiD-PSM) on secondary data from Riskesdas, Statistics Indonesia (BPS), and the Legal Documentation and Information Network (JDIH), we find no statistically significant causal effect of cumulative health Perda on stunting reduction, although OLS shows a negative association. Sanitation significantly reduces stunting in eastern Indonesia. Findings highlight the need for evidence-based, multisectoral, measurable, implementable, …

Inside, Outside, And In Between: Black Homeplace As A Blueprint For Privacy Law, Nina-Simone Edwards

Library Scholarship

This essay reimagines the meaning of home and privacy for Black Americans by interrogating the legal and technological systems that routinely collapse the sanctity of the homeplace. Using the no-knock warrant as a central case study, this essay illustrates how state-sanctioned intrusions transform a space of rest, memory, and self-making into a site of violence. Although Fourth Amendment doctrine purports to guard against unreasonable searches, its prevailing binary framework–distinguishing only between “inside” and “outside” the home–renders Black domestic spaces uniquely vulnerable. Drawing from Critical Race Theory, particularly its social construction thesis, this essay shows how race, law, and technology co-produce …

Catholic Solidarity In American Jesuit Education Through The Radical Kinship Of Fr. Greg Boyle: A Conceptual Analysis, Sajit U. Kabadi

Journal of Catholic Education

This is a conceptual analysis that examines how American Jesuit secondary education can pursue greater Catholic solidarity in a polarized world through a framework of radical kinship, as espoused by Fr. Greg Boyle. Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, the world’s largest gang rehabilitation program, in the city of Los Angeles. The purpose of this conceptual analysis is to delve deeper into Boyle’s conceptual framework of radical kinship in the context of American Jesuit secondary education. This conceptual analysis will use Catholic Social Teaching, Biblical references, and the values of the Jesuit mission.

Steady As She Goes: Remote Work Benefits Daily Goal Progress Through Reduced Energy Variability, Andrew A. Bennett, Kathleen R. Keeler, Emily D. Campion, Sheila K. Keener

Management Faculty Publications

As the prevalence and allowance of remote and hybrid work evolves, research has shown consistently mixed findings about how work location is related to worker energy and perceptions of daily performance. We aim to resolve this ambiguity by integrating affective events theory with ideas about emotion dynamics to develop new theorizing explaining why energy variability, rather than mean energy level, is an important predictor of daily goal progress. We test our hypotheses using a sample of 219 employees from one organization allowing remote and hybrid work, capturing individual hourly energy levels for five consecutive workdays (4,812 hourly observations). Our …

An Insidious Interstice: Understanding Cognition And Language Behaviour Through The Eyes Of Juvenile Justice Professionals, Anne M. Perrotti, Allison T. Chappell, Tancy Vandecar-Burdin

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Introduction

Despite evidence suggesting language and cognition deficits are prevalent for justice involved youth, little research explores how juvenile justice personnel experience language and cognition behaviours in the youth they serve.

Aims

This qualitative study explored how juvenile justice personnel understand language and cognition skills and deficits in justice involved youth.

Methods

Twenty-two U.S. juvenile justice professionals participated in individual, semi-structured interviews. Questions focused on individual understanding of receptive language, expressive language, social communication, and cognition (i.e., problem-solving, predicting consequences and impulsiveness) in juveniles served. Using a phenomenological lens, transcripts were coded identifying themes and sub-themes of participant responses.

Results …

Ensuring Rich Rigor Of Qualitative Methodologies In Behavior Analytic Research, Daria K. Lorio-Barsten, Selena J. Layden

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Quantitative methods remain the hallmark of research in applied behavior analysis. Yet, such methods frequently fail to capture the nuances of context where behavior analysis is practiced. Therefore, qualitative methods can provide complementary means to gain deeper insight into changes in socially significant behavior. We believe that researchers within the field of behavior analysis have much to gain from embracing qualitative methodologies. We propose that more researchers can and should consider conducting rigorous qualitative research to elevate the voices of the participants and relate the depth and complexities of their nuanced experiences. This article discusses Tracy’s “big tent” quality criteria …

Child Care Directors' Perspectives On Inclusion And Classroom Performance On Quality Rating Observation Measures, Dana C. Childress, Kristen Ingram, Ann Maydosz, Jonna L. Bobzien

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

This research examined child care center directors’ perceptions of inclusion, specifically related to staff’s knowledge and skills of how to care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with developmental delays and disabilities. They were also asked if their center’s ability to care for these children could affect performance on classroom observation measures such as those included in quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS). Two hundred forty-four directors in one southeastern state in the United States responded to a cross-sectional, electronic survey and provided the following insights: (1) staff were likely to have at least some knowledge of how to include and …

Questioning Body-Normativity Dominance In Inclusive Physical Education: A Transgressive Analysis Through Bell Hooks' Perspectives, Maria Luiza Tanure Alves, Justin A. Haegele, Anthony Maher, Sebastian Ruin, Lesley Sharpe, Martina Giese, Janine Coates

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Grounded in Critical Disability Studies, this study examines how mechanisms of oppression are recurrently legitimized in relation to Disabled students in Physical Education (PE). Drawing on bell hooks’ perspective, this study explores recurring logics of domination, thereby deepening understandings of how oppression is produced and sustained in PE. Using a post-structuralist approach, we conducted qualitative interviews with nine PE teachers to examine the dominant beliefs and pedagogical practices that shape PE in relation to disability. Interview data were analyzed through interpretative discourse analysis, guided by Critical Disability Studies and informed by hooks’ critical insights on oppression. The findings suggest …

Joint Associations Of Meditation And Physical Activity With Depression And Anxiety Symptoms In Us Adults: Nhis 2022, Yubing Wang

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Objectives

Physical activity and meditation may each relate to mental health, but their joint associations in U.S. adults are unclear. We examined the separate and joint associations of any past-year meditation and meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines with depression and anxiety symptoms.

Method

We analyzed data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey Sample Adult file (n = 24,927). Exposures were meeting PA guidelines, any past-year meditation, and their four-level combination (Neither, PA only, Meditation only, Both). Outcomes were moderate-to-severe depressive and anxiety symptoms (PHQ-8/GAD-7 >= 10). Survey-weighted modified Poisson models estimated prevalence ratios (PRs), with interaction, sensitivity, and post …

At The Crossroads Of Law And Society: Understanding The World Of Immigration Attorneys., Elvis Ariri

Senior Independent Study Theses

This independent study examines the professional experiences of immigration attorneys working with immigrant clients in the United States. Through qualitative, semi-structured interviews, the research explores how immigration law operates in practice, emphasizing systemic complexity, administrative delay, and discretionary decision-making. Findings reveal that attorneys navigate a fragmented legal framework shaped by shifting policies, inconsistent adjudication, and high emotional stakes. Beyond technical expertise, immigration practice requires emotional resilience, ethical judgment, and strategic adaptability. By centering attorneys’ perspectives, this study highlights immigration law as a lived social system that structures belonging, exclusion, and stability, illuminating the gap between statutory intent and human consequence.

Accessing Campus Mental Health Services In A Nigerian Southwestern University: Barriers To Academic Success, Caroline Dada

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health disorders are a significant health concern among higher education institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. A substantial treatment gap exists in the Nigerian healthcare system, and this gap is further worsened by cultural and religious barriers, which reinforce stigma that discourages students from seeking professional help. This qualitative narrative inquiry explored the barriers students encountered when accessing mental health services at a university in Southwestern Nigeria, to increase service access. Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with seven professional mental health providers at a university counseling center between March and April 2025. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify …

Pre-Service Teachers’ Self-Perceptions Of Relationship Skills For Future Work In Schools, Melissa Newberry, Elizabeth B. Hinchcliff, Chelsea Cole, Michael Richardson

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study focuses on the perceptions pre-service teachers hold about their own abilities to form relationships with four stakeholders of schools: students, parents, teachers and administrators. Survey data from 257 students enrolled in teacher preparation programs in a mid-sized, private university in the Western US were collected, including their beliefs about relationship skills, experience with children/youth, and conceptions of relationship formation as practicing teachers. Results indicate high confidence in relationship skills, yet few ideas on how to translate those into action when it comes to forming professional relationships. These findings suggest that pre-service teachers may be underprepared regarding the relational …

Teachers’ Greater Perceived Knowledge Of Trauma Linked With More Favourable Attitudes And Less Burnout, Belinda Cicco, Donnah L. Anderson

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Teachers are required to meet the needs of trauma-affected students. While training improves teachers’ knowledge of trauma-informed care, it is not systematically implemented, risking teacher burnout and student progress. This cross-sectional survey investigated teachers’ perceived knowledge and attitudes regarding teaching students affected by trauma and three aspects of burnout (personal, work-related, and student-related). Australian primary and secondary teachers (N = 542) were recruited via social media and snowball sampling. Mediation analyses showed significant indirect paths, whereby greater perceived knowledge was associated with more favourable attitudes, which in turn was associated with less work-related, student-related, and personal burnout. Younger teacher age …

Overview Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Status 2025, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This Overview provides a summary of the most recent indicators of the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (of all ages, where data are available). The topics included in the Overview cover chronic health conditions which are featured on the HealthInfoNet website. Over the years as additional funding has been obtained and in consultation with HealthInfoNet networks, more topics have been covered on the website and are now included in the Overview. The topics aim to reflect the status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health over this period and going forward.

Diasporic Challenges, Domestic Abuse And Patriarchal Norms Experienced By Migrant Pakistani Women In Australia, Safia Iftikhar, Shajimon Peter, Vicki Banham, Elizabeth Reid Boyd

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article examines diasporic challenges, domestic abuse and patriarchal ideologies that constitute unique diasporic lives of first-generation migrant married Pakistani women (MPW) in Australia. For this qualitative study, 21 MPW residing in Australia were recruited for semi-structured in-depth interviews. Results from the interpretative phenomenological analysis of data revealed the diasporic encounters MPW face in Australia and the influence of patriarchal ideology on their lives in navigating those encounters. MPW’s responses to patriarchal norms in their married lives fell on a spectrum, which include conformation to the norms of patriarchal familial structures on the one side and resistance and bargaining against …

Numerical Modeling Of Climate Change Impacts On Transportation Embankments, Amr Morsy, Mamata Sapkota, Emma Varela, Odalys Portillo

Mineta Transportation Institute

Embankments are essential components of transportation infrastructure, providing crucial support for long stretches of highways, railways, and other routes in California and around the world. Clay embankments are susceptible to weather-related deterioration processes that can gradually compromise their stability and, in some cases, lead to unexpected failures. Climate change, along with the associated shifts in weather patterns, is projected to adversely impact the weather-related deterioration processes, leading to exacerbated failures and/or shorter service life. Additionally, climate change is projected to increase the frequency of extreme precipitation events, leading to an increase in embankment failure potential. This study evaluated (1) the …

Scoring Equitable Transit: A Data-Driven Framework For Affordable Transit-Oriented Development In California, Ahoura Zandiatashbar, Anton Rozhkov, Stephanie Nemet, Atticus Washington, Mounashree Prasanna

Mineta Transportation Institute

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is a cornerstone of California’s climate and land use policy, promising walkable, compact neighborhoods near high-quality transit. However, these benefits are not always distributed equitably. This study introduces a scalable framework for identifying and scoring Affordable Transit-Oriented Development (A-TOD) across the state’s High-Quality Transit Areas (HQTAs). The goal is to equip policymakers, planners, and housing agencies with tools to evaluate station areas based on their physical form, affordability, and equity outcomes. Using a 1.5-mile network-based pedestrian buffer around over 66,000 transit stations, the research team developed a three-stage clustering and scoring system. Station areas were classified by …

Workforce Development Academy For Youth, Hassan Hashemian

Mineta Transportation Institute

To address the need for a diverse workforce in the 21st century and create an awareness of the career paths and opportunities that exist in the transportation industry, the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology at the California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) has created the Workforce Development Academy for Youth (WDAY). The goal of this program is to build a pipeline of diverse, well-qualified young professionals for the transportation industry. The program works with high school students and teachers to offer academic courses, basic skills, workforce readiness training, internships, extracurricular activities, and career placements to prepare students and …