Digital Commons Network^™

Affinity: A Celebration Of Community Through Poetry, Evan A. Gates

Student Scholar Showcase

The language of poetry extends far beyond the creative writing classroom; song lyrics, Bible verses, instruction manuals, and even advertisements utilize the power of words to portray a message. Like an art portrait, everyone’s unique perception helps to create a larger sense of unity through diversity. Poets emphasize the many ways culture constructs varying opinions amongst the human race. At the University of Lynchburg, people of many different demographics share one common thread: the pursuit of community. Whether local or foreign, English teacher or scientist, white or black, Lynchburg is the centerpiece of intellectual curiosity. While the school remains situated …

The Effect Of Nurse Staffing On Patients Perceived Care, Jenna Racey, Victoria Newman, Erin Wojtkowski, Jillian Crews

Student Scholar Showcase

In discharged patients, how do fully staffed units compared with short-staffed units affect patient satisfaction levels during their inpatient experience? From the literature review, it was found that as nurse staffing declined, so did the patient-perceived quality of care and their loyalty to the respective hospitals. Also, as the percentage of assistant nurses to registered nurses increased, the patients reported poor care and decreased nursing guidance. While more research is needed on this prevalent issue, a recommendation of how nurse staffing issues could be changed is to increase nurse staffing visibility, especially in units with poor reported patient outcomes in …

Cracking A Back Is Not Rehabilitation: A Comparative Analysis Of Chiropractic Vs. Physical Therapy, Lauren M. Radack

Student Scholar Showcase

There is an increasingly common belief among the general public that chiropractic care is more successful in treating injuries than physical therapy. Research shows that chiropractic care cannot be compared to physical therapy due to their different skill sets, knowledge of treatment, and applications; therefore, one modality cannot be determined better than the other. While the two domains are incomparable, individuals continue to feel pressured to select between chiropractic care and physical Therapy. Analyzing the influence of the false claims and misinformation that surrounds rehabilitation services, the belief that physical therapy treatment is able to be replaced by chiropractic treatment …

Annotation Of Hypothetical Genes In Lactococcus Lactis Ssp. Il403, Jennifer A. Tangires

Student Scholar Showcase

The human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) harnesses various microbial organisms involved in almost all processes of physiological homeostasis, among these are lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These bacteria, almost all of which belong to the order Lactobacillales, are able to produce lactic acid, and play an important role in food preservation because they produce bacteriocins. Bacteriocins are antimicrobial proteins that are used to fight off related bacteria in their environment that are competing for the same resources. This study focuses on a specific LAB strain, Lactococcus lactis ssp. IL1403 where 21.9% of its predicted genes have not yet been assigned a function. …

Blast Injuries In Disaster Medicine, Robbie K. Paul

Student Scholar Showcase

Disaster medicine is a division of medical care focused on immediate action in the field. Blast injuries can cause extreme injuries on impact meaning disaster medicine needs to be quick, efficient, and effective as possible. Medical professionals are facing an increase in blast-related injuries (Wolf et al., 2009). The military, paramedics, and organizations like the Red Cross use this branch of medicine. Blast injuries come from explosions caused by IEDs, pipe bombs, and household items malfunctioning. There is always room for improvement in medical care. How can we better understand the mechanism of injuries from blast explosions and improve disaster …

Protocols For Postpartum Hemorrhage, Nicole A. Mitchell, Wilbur Greene, Samantha Claxton, Lydia Lester

Student Scholar Showcase

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the protocols for postpartum hemorrhage and lack of implementation, how race may play a role in care, the different effect on maternal lives; physically and mentally, and more effective treatment options. Many women all over the world struggle with postpartum hemorrhaging as it is a life-threatening complication that can follow giving birth. There are standard protocols set in place for different facilities that relay how the healthcare professionals should act in that situation. The PICOT question, “In child-bearing women, how do protocols for postpartum hemorrhage compared with a lack …

Strategies For Combating Vaccine Hesitancy In Primary Care, Elizabeth Perkins Hayes

Student Scholar Showcase

This article will summarize methods for providers to effectively combat vaccine hesitancy in their patient populations. Vaccine hesitancy is a growing concern in the medical field, as new cases of vaccine preventable diseases arise. However, vaccine hesitancy is more common than vaccine resistance and can be converted into vaccine acceptance with effective communication strategies.

There is no easy solution to the complex problem of vaccine hesitancy. Most studies demonstrate that effective conversion to vaccine acceptance requires tailoring vaccine information to the patient and listening to their concerns. Other methods include exposing patients to survivors of vaccine preventable diseases, or using …

Colon Cancer Screening And The Association With Colon Cancer Incidence And Mortality Rates In Ethnic Minority Groups, Jovonne Smith

Student Scholar Showcase

Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a public health burden and is the second leading cause of American cancer deaths. Strides have been made in the medical community, and there has been an overall decrease in CRC rates. This decrease is primarily due to a cumulative decline in late-onset colorectal cancer diagnosis (LOCRC), defined as CRC cancer in adults over the age of 50 years. CRC continues to burden American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) and Non-Hispanic Black individuals (NHB) disproportionately. The incidence and mortality rates remain disproportionately higher than other ethnic groups, and the survival rate is lower than …

Acute:Chronic Workload Ratios And Positional Differences In Collegiate Men’S Lacrosse Players, Michael J. Phifer

Student Scholar Showcase

Positional differences in Acute:chronic workload ratios (ACWRs), distance traveled, and activity intensity throughout a season for men’s lacrosse players have not been determined. The purpose of our research was to determine if there were positional differences in ACWRs, distance traveled, and activity intensity in men’s NCAA DIII lacrosse players. We recruited 53 NCAA DIII lacrosse players (age=20.4 years, weight=81.6 kg, height=182.4 cm, Attack=12, O-Mid=14, D-Mid=6, FO=4, Goalie=3, Defense=14) from one team for our cross-sectional study. Sport Performance Tracking (SPT, Melbourne, Australia) GPS units tracked athletes’ACWRs (AU), total distance traveled (m), and intensity (proprietary composite score; AU) for every game and …

The Relationship Between Cervical Spine Range Of Motion And Postural Stability, Victoria Riley

Student Scholar Showcase

No abstract provided.

Parent Perceptions Of Athletic Trainers At The Secondary School Setting, Rebecca Lynn Natoli

Student Scholar Showcase

No abstract provided.

Predicting Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality, Deasha Manns

Student Scholar Showcase

Research has shown CPR quality degrades over time, but little research has been conducted exploring other factors that alter cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality. The purpose of this study was to determine if CPR chest compression quality differs overtime when controlling for various factors. 18 CPR certified participants (age=27.88±7.13 years, height=172.51±11.36 cm, mass=77.85±23.12 kg, Body Mass Index (BMI)=26.7±4.71) volunteered. Prior to testing, participants completed multiple fitness tests; Queens College Step test (predicted VO2max), handgrip strength assessment (muscular strength), and maximum push-ups completed in 1 minute (muscular endurance). Participants completed CPR for 7 min on a stimulation manikin (Laerdal QCPR, Stavanger, Norway) …

Effects Of Environmental Conditions, Core Temperature, And Hydration Status On Women’S Soccer Performance, Abigail G. Poague

Student Scholar Showcase

This study aimed to discover the effects of hydration status, core temperature, sleep data, perceived exertion, and environmental conditions affected the GPS-tracked performance of women's division III soccer players. The results of this study support the association between internal load, hydration status, and environmental conditions with external load.

What’S In A Vote? Voter Choice In The 2008, 2012, 2016, And 2020 Presidential Elections, Matthew Gillett

Student Scholar Showcase

Perhaps the most important question in American politics asks what motivates a candidate on Election Day? Voter’s decisions affect the direction of our country over the next four years. A long running debate in political science deals with the rationality of voters, concerning itself with the main indicators of vote choice, which include party versus policy. The paper advances these debates to the 21^st century, addressing the results from the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 general elections using data sets from the ANES Data Center. The data sets were analyzed using a logistic regression to operationalize each explanation.

The …

The Impact Of Hosting The Fifa World Cup Case Study: Developed Vs Developing Nations, Juan Borga

Student Scholar Showcase

This thesis is a microeconomic study of the economic impact hosting the FIFA World Cup can have on both developed and developing nations. It will examine the economies of Germany and Brazil, three years prior and three years subsequent to hosting the tournament in 2006 and 2014 respectively. The pressures imposed by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) require significant investments for the World Cup to be successful, but have countries been allocating it effectively? The purpose of this thesis is to determine, from an economic point of view, the extent to which it is beneficial for a nation …

Tetralogy Of Fallot: A Clinical Review, Jacob Wooten, Joshua Bahos Silva

Student Scholar Showcase

Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart disease that is associated with structural abnormalities during fetal development 1. The incidence of Tetralogy of Fallot in the United States is approximately 3-5 cases per 10,000 live births and is considered one of the most common cyanotic congenital heart diseases 2. The exact etiology of Tetralogy of Fallot is unknown, however it is thought to be associated with untreated maternal diabetes, maternal use of retinoids, as well as chromosomal abnormalities 2. The main components of this disease state include a right ventricular outflow obstruction, interventricular communication in the form of a ventricular …

Our Local Dam, Cortez Yannie

Student Scholar Showcase

No abstract provided.

Once A Lake Now A Stream, Josh Desper

Student Scholar Showcase

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of The American Presidency On The Behavior Of American Citizens: A Glimpse Into How Donald Trump Has Affected The Behavior Of The American Population, Carter Elliott

Student Scholar Showcase

Using data from a Gallup Poll conducted in 2018, and data from recent major events within the United States, I argue that the President of the United States has a significant impact on the overall behavior of American Citizens. In the two years since Donald Trump has taken office many things have taken place in America that have not been previously seen in the last several decades, or ever. I examine case studies such as The Unite the Right Rally, The 2017 Women’s March on Washington, media viewership and approval, voter turn-out rates, and hate crimes, which support the hypothesis …

The Effect Of Previous Medical History On Student-Athlete Quality Of Life, Rachael Watkins

Student Scholar Showcase

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) assessments can provide Athletic Trainers with information about student-athletes’ overall well-being and health. The objective of this study was to examine the association between personal and family reports of medical history and HRQL in collegiate student-athletes. We recruited 271 student-athletes (age=19.00±1.15 years, height=175.18±4.29 cm, mass=72.29±12.03 kg). The independent variables included the presence of any family (parents, siblings, grandparents) or any personal history of balance disorders, psychological disorders, memory disorders or history of headaches. The dependent variables included the 9 subsets of HRQL (anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain interference, pain intensity, physical function, sleep disturbance, social roles) …

Profanity In Language In The Sales Setting: Sales Meeting Vs. Customer Interactions, Nicholas Prechel, Claudia Lopez Perez

Student Scholar Showcase

No abstract provided.

Air Pollution: An Emerging Concern On The Cardiovascular System, Lauren Martin, Husnia Akrami

Student Scholar Showcase

No abstract provided.

Quantitative Evaluation Of Clinostomum Marginatum Distribution In The Fish Host (Perca Flavescens): Investigation Of The Impact On Functional Performance, Doiba Ki Eshofonie, Precious Freeman

Student Scholar Showcase

Doiba Eshofonie & Precious Freeman

Mentor: Takashi Maie

2017 Student Scholar Showcase

Quantitative evaluation of Clinostomum marginatum distribution in the fish host (Perca flavescens): Investigation of the impact on functional performance

Clinostomum marginatum is a trematode commonly found in freshwater fish. The adult C. marginatum stays in its definitive avian host’s mouth and throat. It releases eggs upon contact in water and the eggs hatch into a free-swimming miracidia, which infects an aquatic snail as the first intermediate host. The miracidia, then, develops into a cercaria and leaves the snail to find a fish as its second intermediate …

Water Quality Internship In Costa Rica, Helen Sarah Boniface

Student Scholar Showcase

For the Student Scholar Showcase I would like to share just a few of my experiences from my time abroad this past fall semester. I was given the incredible opportunity to take part in Dr. Shahady’s water quality project down in San Luis, Costa Rica. I resided at the University of Georgia Costa Rica research center for 3 months where I served as their water quality intern. I, along with the help of resident naturalists on campus, collected water samples and benthic macroinvertebrates from multiple sites throughout three watersheds in the Bell Bird biological corridor. I then spent a lot …

Comparison Of Head Impact Magnitudes And Frequencies Between Intercollegiate Men’S And Women’S Lacrosse Players, Elizabeth Helena Kodie Daidone

Student Scholar Showcase

Research studies have examined effects of player position and type of play on head impacts in intercollegiate football players, but no similar data exists for lacrosse players. The purpose of this study is to compare magnitude and frequency of head impacts between lacrosse players based on player position and type of play. Thirty one National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III lacrosse players, 15 women and 16 men, wore xPatch sensors (X2 Biosystems, Seattle, WA) for all games and practices during the 2015 season. The frequencies and magnitudes (linear and angular accelerations) of head impacts for each individual player were …