17179 research outputs found
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A New Measure for an Acceptable Level of Homogeneity in Meta-Informatics
No full textThis paper addresses the challenges in assessing heterogeneity in meta-analytic studies. The specifics include mental health research work. Three key statistical scores in meta-analytics—Higgins’ I2, Birge’s H2, and the newly developed S2 score—are discussed and illustrated. The paper critiques the subjectivity of these scores and introduces elasticity to enhance the accuracy and objectivity in assessing heterogeneity. The integration of elasticity into the meta-informatic score measures how heterogeneity changes as new studies are added, improving the interpretation of meta-analytic results. Also, the authors compute and compare elasticity scores in the context of mental health research, offering a novel approach to visualizing and quantifying heterogeneity. The authors demonstrate how elasticity improves the assessment of heterogeneity. The paper recommends the use of the meta-informatic S2 score, integrated with elasticity, for more reliable and objective conclusions in mental health as well as in other meta-analyses. The new rectified score, S2, overcomes issues with the I2 score when the chi-squared distribution fails due to small sample sizes or negative values.Health Administratio
Attachment Anixety, Rape Myth Acceptance, and Sexual Compliance: Expanding the Lens Across Diverse Populations
No full textSexual compliance—engaging in unwanted sex without overt coercion—remains underexplored despite its psychological and relational consequences. This study examines how attachment anxiety and rape myth acceptance (RMA) predict both perceptions and personal experiences of sexual compliance, as well as responses to unwanted sex, such as confrontation, avoidance, and blame attribution. Participants (N = 815) were drawn from a national adult sample and a college student sample and completed validated measures of attachment, RMA subscales, sexual compliance, and behavioral responses.
Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that higher attachment anxiety and stronger endorsement of rape myths were associated with increased personal compliance, greater victim blame, and decreased likelihood of confronting unwanted sex. Interaction effects indicated that the impact of RMA varied across gender, sexual orientation, and political ideology. Models incorporating both psychological and demographic predictors demonstrated greater explanatory power across outcomes.
These findings highlight the need to better understand how psychological and social factors contribute to how individuals experience and respond to unwanted sex. By identifying key predictors of sexual compliance and related perceptions, this study supports the development of more targeted approaches to consent education, policy, and prevention.Criminal Justice and Criminolog
Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Diabetes Distress in Insulin-Dependent Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review [paper]
No full textDiabetes distress is a significant emotional burden for adults who rely on insulin therapy to manage type 2 diabetes, affecting treatment adherence, self-care behaviors, and clinical outcomes. Continuous glucose monitoring has been widely recognized for improving clinical measures such as hemoglobin A1c, yet less is known about its impact on emotional well-being in this population. This systematic review examined whether continuous glucose monitoring reduces diabetes distress compared to traditional finger-stick self-monitoring. A comprehensive search of three electronic databases identified relevant studies published from 2020 to 2025. After applying eligibility criteria and quality appraisal tools, seven primary research studies were included. Study designs consisted of randomized controlled trial, quasi-experimental, qualitative, and cross-sectional methods. Data were extracted using a standardized evidence table and synthesized to identify common themes and outcomes. The findings consistently demonstrated that continuous glucose monitoring use was associated with reduced diabetes distress, increased confidence in self-management, improved quality of life, and enhanced patient engagement. Participants reported feeling more informed, supported, and capable of managing their glucose levels with real-time feedback. These positive emotional and behavioral outcomes extended beyond glucose control, highlighting the value of continuous glucose monitoring as both a clinical and psychosocial intervention. The results support the integration of continuous glucose monitoring into routine diabetes care for adults who use insulin. Further research with larger and more diverse samples is recommended to strengthen understanding of its long-term emotional effects and guide implementation in real-world practice settings.Nursin
Maintaining Weight after GLP-1RA Discontinuation: Do Lifestyle Interventions Work?
No full textObesity is a chronic, relapsing condition, and many adults experience significant weight regain after discontinuing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) therapy. While lifestyle modification is central to obesity management, limited evidence exists on whether structured diet and exercise programs help sustain weight loss once pharmacologic therapy ends. Guided by Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory, this systematic review examined primary research published between 2020 and 2025 on structured lifestyle interventions following GLP-1RA discontinuation in adults. Five databases (CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Science Citation Index) were searched using predefined inclusion criteria. Studies were critically appraised with Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt’s Rapid Critical Appraisal Checklists, and data were synthesized thematically. Seven studies met inclusion criteria, including four randomized controlled trials, two qualitative studies, and one cohort study. Evidence consistently showed that participants engaging in structured, supervised diet and exercise interventions experienced less weight regain and better metabolic outcomes compared with those receiving standard counseling alone. Three major themes emerged: (1) structured programs mitigate weight regain, (2) exercise and nutrition interventions enhance body composition and metabolic stability, and (3) continuous behavioral support is crucial to long-term success. Structured lifestyle programs can address temporary self-care deficits following GLP-1RA withdrawal, helping patients maintain weight and metabolic benefits. Integrating these interventions into post-medication care may reduce relapse and strengthen long-term self-management in primary care.Nursin
Optimal Transport Clustering of Geometric and Spatial Data
No full textWe study how an optimal assignment can be determined via the Kantorovich formulation of optimal transport, ensuring that voters are assigned to voting centers in a way that minimizes aggregate transport cost.
Early computational experiments, visualized through color-coded district assignments using Python code developed as part of this thesis, revealed unexpected non-contiguous segments---small patches of one color (voter assignment) embedded within regions dominated by a different assignment. We referred to these as "sprinkles", as they appeared as isolated clusters of assigned voters surrounded by different voting regions.
OT theory- particularly the characterization of optimal plans in the Euclidian case with square cost- suggests that partitions in an optimal configuration ought to be connected when the cost is a graph distance.
However, upon deeper investigation-including: graph-based OT models, where we analyzed voter assignments as flows on a network; validation via the Beckmann formulation, which recasts OT as a flow minimization problem; and experiments in 1-D, where we observed similar discontinuities in much simpler settings, it became evident that these anomalies were not numerical errors, but rather fundamental consequences of using a discrete L1 cost function on the graph. Through further analysis, we formally characterize the conditions under which such sprinkling effects emerge.Mathematic
Secure Bidirectional Communication in IOT-Driven Utility Networks Using Sertainty UXP and LoRaWAN
No full textThis thesis investigates the feasibility and performance of integrating Sertainty’s Unbreakable Exchange Protocol (UXP) encryption with LoRaWAN for secure IoT communication in utility applications. While LoRaWAN is widely adopted for its low-power, long-range communication capabilities, prior research has identified critical security vulnerabilities, most notably its use of AES encryption in ECB mode, which lacks semantic security. In contrast, Sertainty UXP employs AES-256-GCM, offering authenticated encryption with integrated access control and policy enforcement at the data level, making it a promising candidate for securing sensitive IoT data. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether Sertainty UXP can operate effectively within the strict payload and performance constraints of LoRaWAN. To benchmark performance and overhead, several encryption algorithms including AES-256-GCM, ASCON-128, SPECK, and XTEA were implemented for comparison. Smart meter data was encrypted and transmitted over LoRaWAN using LoRa-E5 development board by Seeed Studio, and system performance was evaluated in terms of latency, payload size, and message integrity. Payloads were strategically split into LoRaWAN-compatible chunks and reassembled upon reception to meet network constraints.
The results show that integrating UXP encryption within LoRaWAN is technically feasible, though it introduces additional overhead and latency. Despite this cost, the ability to embed robust encryption and access control directly within the data object demonstrates significant potential for enhancing end-to-end IoT security. This thesis concludes that Sertainty UXP offers a viable and forward-looking solution for securing resource-constrained networks, if implementation strategies are carefully managed on the trade-offs between security strength and transmission efficiency.Engineerin
Stage Fright: An Murder Mystery Talent Show
No full textMany people today, especially younger generations, feel like their vote doesn’t matter, like the system is too big or too broken to be changed by just one person. Because of that, they often choose not to vote at all. But the choice to be inactive is just as powerful, it keeps things exactly the same. Every vote really does count, especially when so many people are sitting it out. The play is heavily influenced by early 2000s reality television. Throughout the performance, the actors compete against each other for what they believe to be a $200,000 prize. One of the most exciting aspects of this show is that the majority of the dialogue is completely improvised. It’s an interactive experience where the audience’s choices, or lack of, directly affect the outcome of the play. With multiple possible endings, this production has the potential to bring out either the best or the worst in its performers and audience. This fun, quirky play about a murder mystery talent show is meant to get the audience thinking: "What active role do I play in society?" It will hopefully have people reflect on their own choices, or lack of choices. It reminds us that being a bystander is also a choice. The main takeaway is to be bold, speak up, and stand for what you believe in. Because change only happens when people stop waiting and start acting.Theatre and Danc
Evaluating Spinal Degeneration and Pathologies for Age Estimation in Forensic Anthropology
No full textNo abstract prepared.Anthropolog
Preventing Depression in Chronically Ill Pediatric Patients by Establishing Protocol: A Systematic Review [poster]
No full textThe chronically ill pediatric patients need improved processes to identify and prevent depression that often accompanies chronic illness. When left untreated, lasting effects are witnessed well into adulthood. A comprehensive review of existing research was performed through reputable medical databases such as CINAHL, Pubmed and Web of Science. Results are multifaceted: underlying depression exists in this population and is at risk of being undertreated, and that depression also may be masked with the current assessments such as PHQ-9. The discussion is focused on improving these processes of addressing and preventing depression in this vulnerable population by creating protocols for chronically ill children in collaboration with subspecialities and making assessments more age appropriate.Nursin
Oral history interview: Gerald Gueldner
No full textEdited and unedited transcript files (.pdf) and edited and unedited video files available with closed captioning.Oral history interview with Ginger Dicker, about her father Major Gerald E. Gueldner. Ginger discusses her father's life, service, and their relationship