Digital Commons Network^™

Breaking Organizational Eggs To Make An Innovation Cake: One Library's Experience With Reorganization, Erika D. Peterson, Grover Saunders, Kevin Hegg, Andrea H. Adams, Jamie Calcagno-Roach

Libraries

This poster describes a major service realignment that integrated Instructional Designers, Media Specialists, Librarians, and Digital Scholarship Specialists into a new unit oriented around providing cutting edge technologies and services to students, faculty and staff. Highlighted is the "digital assignment lifecycle," which serves as the philosophical underpinning to the structure of the unit, as well as illustration of new makerspace oriented facilities.

Reference Services In Liberal Arts Libraries, Emma R. Oxford

Libraries

This study addresses a gap in the literature regarding reference services at liberal arts institutions. The author conducted a literature review to examine the existing body of research on reference services and distributed a survey to the 80 member libraries of the Oberlin Group in February 2015. The study found that a wide range of reference practices are in place at liberal arts libraries and focused especially on the use of a designated reference desk, which is widespread. However, there is a correlation between higher librarian satisfaction with reference services and the absence of a desk. Comments from respondents are …

Bonding Theatre And Chemistry: An Educational Exploration, Matthew Gurniak

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This paper analyzes the educational aspects of theatre and music and the impact that they have on an audience. The goal was to begin a new conversation about science and theatre and how the two can learn and gain unique insight from each other. To examine how these two antithetical fields can interact, I composed a new, innovative musical that tells the love story between two professors through the use of concepts from general chemistry. The results and responses from the performance of the play were overwhelmingly positive from members of both disciplines. They have inspired continued interest in this …

Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping: A State Of The Science, Landynn E. Ouellette

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The purpose of this paper is to explore the state of the science related to delayed versus early umbilical cord clamping. This interprofessional change in practice and protocol needs to take place within obstetric practice, which can be made up of obstetricians, midwives, nurse practitioners, and nurses. Patients must be educated by their providers so that they can better understand the care being performed. A search of the literature published through PubMed was conducted using the key phrases delayed umbilical cord clamping (DUCC), benefits of delayed cord clamping, and umbilical cord protocols. The search yielded 133 titles, which was limited …

The Hemostatic Effects Of Acute Exposure To Colored Cornstarch Powder During A 5k Run, Robert C. Allsbrook

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

PURPOSE: To examine the acute hemostatic effects of particulate matter (PM) in the form of colored corn starch powder during a 5 kilometer race. METHODS: 10 recreationally active adults completed two 5k runs, one with color and one without color. 10 mL blood samples were taken 6 hours prior to the trial and immediately following the trial. PAI-1 activity, FVIII antigen, and tPA activity were measured using an ELISA. RESULTS: No significant main effects or interaction effects (P<0.05) were observed among any of the variables although a trend (P = 0.082) was observed for increased PAI-1 activity during exercise in the color condition. CONCLUSIONS: There is a trend towards increased PAI-1 activity levels during exercise during color runs that could be due to increased inflammation. Furthermore, the lack of increased FVIII:ag and tPA activity suggests that the intensity of the exercise may not have been adequate and further research should be conducted in this area.

Using Community Health Workers In Collaboration With Nurse Case Managers In Effecting Change In Quality Of Life For Heart Failure Patients, Patra Hull Reed

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

This project was designed to evaluate the effectiveness in improving the quality of life among heart failure patients with the addition of the role of Community Health Worker (CHW) to a current continuum case management model. The study also addressed the increased need for more appropriate and cost-effective chronic care management for heart failure patients. Hospitals and healthcare systems are being challenged to find innovative ways to decrease readmissions, decrease unnecessary emergency room visits, increase patient adherence, and manage chronic disease, all improving the patient’s overall quality of life. Studies show that approximately 76% of heart failure patients have a …

Procedural Sedation: Policy, Practice & Knowledge, Jennifer A. Martin

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

Diagnostic and invasive procedures performed outside of the operating room with nurse- administered procedural sedation are increasing. As procedural sedation practice national guidelines are evolving, there are inconsistent state regulations and a great deal of variability in staff training. These challenges lead to potential knowledge gaps and practice variation that create unsafe patient environments. A local hospital has continued to experience near miss events when procedural sedation is administered. In an attempt to investigate this issue and create improved practice, an organizational policy analysis was conducted. The aims of this project were to: 1) analyze current hospital policy content compared …

Shared Decision Making For The Appropriate Use Of Antibiotics For Respiratory Tract Infections, Kristina Blyer

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

Objective- Determine the effectiveness of shared decision making to 1) increase decisional comfort with the appropriate use of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections and 2) maintain antibiotic prescribing rates at current levels.

Participants- English speaking college students age 18 and over diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection in the general medical clinic of a university health center from August 31, 2015-May 6, 2016.

Methods- Pre- and post-intervention surveys used to measure decisional conflict of students. Intervention included staff training in shared decision making and the use of a decision aid in clinical practice.

Results- Students who received routine care …

Implementing Post-Hospital Interprofessional Care Team Visits To Improve Transitions Of Care And Decrease Hospital Readmission Rates, Stacy M. Baldwin

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

Background: Today’s healthcare climate is comprised of a population of patients who are more complex, presenting with multiple comorbidities, and requiring frequent hospitalizations. It is imperative for acute care and primary care landscapes to bridge silos and form collaborative relationships to ensure safe and effective transitions of care from hospital to home. An interprofessional, post hospital follow-up clinic is one approach that can be utilized to improve transitions of care and decrease preventable hospital readmissions.

Purpose: The purpose of the project's discharge clinic was to improve transitions of care and decrease thirty day hospital readmission rates. The primary objective of …

Segregation Or Integration: Exploring The Interprofessional Collaboration Of The Sexual Assault Response Team-A Pilot Study, Phyllis E. Adams

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

The Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) has been functioning since the early 1970’s with little research on the dynamics of the members’ interprofessional collaboration practice. A current gap in the literature is research specific to the assimilation of the disciplines within the SART and the collaborative practice of the SART. The purpose of this project study is to clarify the 12 subscales of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (motivation, role expectations, personality style, professional power, group leadership, communication, coping, social support, organizational culture, organizational aims, organizational domain, and organizational environment) and explore how each profession perceives these subscales. The sample participants were …

A Systematic Review Of Complimentary Therapies To Treat Symptoms Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder In The Aftermath Of Domestic Abuse, Jordan A. Meeks, Saida Byrami

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Objectives: Explore the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) on the health of female survivors. Identify complementary therapies that alleviate symptoms of psychological health impacts of IPV on women’s health.

Method: An exhaustive search of published, peer reviewed literature on complementary therapies and IPV was conducted. Databases included PubMed and CINAHL. Each article reviewed was published between the years of 2002 and 2016. The initial search produced 112 articles, abstracts of all studies were reviewed and studies were included if they addressed; a) complementary and alternative therapies, b) post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression and, c) the impact of IPV …

Caffeine Mouth Rinsing In The Fed State Does Not Enhance 3-Km Cycling Performance In The Morning Or Evening, Kayla Sweeney

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of a caffeine mouth rinse on performance at different times of day. METHODS: 12 recreational cyclists completed a simulated 3-km time trial and 4 sets of 5 leg extension repetitions, twice in the morning and twice in the evening. 25 ml of 1.14% caffeine, or placebo solution was mouth rinsed before sets 3 and 4 of the leg extension and before the time trial. Treatments include: caffeine + morning, placebo + morning, caffeine + evening, and placebo + evening. RESULTS: The caffeine rinse had a negative impact on time trial performance in both the morning …

The Fate Of Icd-1 During Misfolded Protein Induced Apoptosis In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Kyle H. Perez

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Severe misfolded protein stress initiates cellular responses that often result in the death of the affected cell, typically by apoptosis. An essential aspect of apoptosis is caspase-mediated cleavage of proteins that, once cleaved, further propagate death. One heterodimeric structure putatively targeted in this process in the nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC), a translational chaperone thought to help prevent misfolded protein stress in the ER. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the beta subunit of the NAC in C. elegans (ICD-1) is cleaved during the induction of apoptosis, with the hypothesis that ICD-1 is cleaved during stressed-induced apoptosis to …

Hemostatic Responses To Exercise In A Polycythemia Vera Patient, Allison M. Huschke

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

PURPOSE: To assess the hemostatic responses to exercise in a patient with Polycythemia Vera (PV). METHODS: Six female runners (≥15 miles/week) completed a maximal treadmill test. One subject had PV while the other five subjects made up the comparison group. Blood samples were taken before and within two minutes after exercise. VO2max was also recorded. RESULTS: Pre-exercise Factor VIII and tPA-antigen were similar in the PV subject and comparison group. Factor VIII and tPA-antigen increased dramatically in the PV subject (+100%, +1000%) in relation to the comparison group (+22.9 ± 8.7%, +108 ± 78%) after exercise. Pre-exercise PAI-1 was lower …

Reintroduction Of Brook Trout To The South River Via Upwelling Springs, Sydni L. Reinhold

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Populations of brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, throughout Virginia mountain streams have seen a rapid decline due to warmer conditions, decreased oxygen levels, and changes in the main stem streambed (Hudy et al., 2008). Current solutions have stocked more tolerant adult brook trout in the main stem rivers, which is costly and must be repeated yearly (Lennon, 1967). Finding an environment conducive for stocking brook trout eggs rather than adults would be ideal because they would return to this viable location to spawn, making them a self-sustaining population which is less costly and easier to implement. Upwelling springs connected to the …

The Effect Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease On Swallowing, Jessica R. Torres

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This work is composed of a literature review, research review, and self-reflective essay. The anatomy and physiology of normal swallowing and respiration are reviewed. Additionally, the effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on these processes is discussed. The research goal was to determine how lung volume changes adapt the physiology of swallowing in individuals with COPD. The research project was designed and conducted by Teresa Drulia, M.S., CCC-SLP. COPD participants (n=9, mean age=72, 6 male) were compared to older healthy individuals (n=10, mean age= 59, 3 male). Participants completed swallows of 20cc of water at four lung volume conditions: …

Assessing The Impact Of A Constructed Wetland Biome On The Ecosystem Health Of Cedar Run, Thomas Vasilopoulos, Casey Lee

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

A wetlands ecosystem is defined as “an area saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency or duration sufficient to support...a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions” (Batzer and Sharitz, 2007). Wetlands serve as biofilters and thus have been used to treat sewage and wastewater, as well as to restore the health of polluted water systems. Solly Walker and Lorinda Palin, owners of a certified natural and biodynamic farm called Avalon Acres located in Broadway, Virginia, constructed a wetland two years ago, using the stream, Cedar Run, that flows through their property. Pollution from agricultural …

Improving Provider Compliance Of The Naepp 2007 Asthma Guidelines Through The Electronic Health Record (Ehr) In A Pediatric Primary Care Practice, Tiffany L. Kidd

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

The Expert Panel Report -3 (EPR3) NAEPP 2007 evidence-based clinical asthma guidelines were developed to provide evidence-based high-quality patient care that leads to improved outcomes. A literature review showed that healthcare providers do not routinely follow the asthma guidelines. The purpose of this project was to develop and implement an evidence-based asthma electronic health record (EHR) template in a pediatric office to improve provider compliance to the guidelines resulting in improved outcomes for children with asthma. The study was conducted over a period of four months from January - April 2016. An EHR asthma protocol template and training for providers …

Examining The Implementation Of The Patient-Centered Recovery Model In Psychiatric Nursing, Nicole K. Rossi

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The Recovery Care Model is the recommended evidence-based model for delivering holistic, patient-centered care for mental health clients. The model is a more therapeutic approach than the traditional medical model and upholds the ideas that psychiatric clients are more than just their illness, should be respected as unique individuals, and provided with hope and empowerment in their care while being given the opportunity for informed and autonomous decision-making. Although research has shown support for the Recovery Care Model, its implementation has not been fully accomplished in all psychiatric facilities. Of all of the members of the health care team, nurses …

Rhetoric And Wit In Nicolas Bernier's Le Caffé, Anne C. Wick

Dissertations, 2014-2019

The aim of this document is to create a better comprehension of the French Baroque cantata’s design through an examination of Nicolas Bernier’s Le Caffé, with particular attention paid to rhetorical influences, which will enhance the understanding of its value and performance style of the French Baroque cantata for both performers and audiences. To help modern teachers, performers and audiences to appreciate this genre and provide a practical means of approach to performance, this document will: 1) explain the purpose of the Late French Baroque Cantata as a vehicle to display the wit of both poet and composer; 2) reveal …

A Historical Study Of The Vboda Marching Festival And Its Comparison To The National Band Contests Of The 1920s And 1930s, Benjamin J. Frenchak

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The 1920s National School Band Contests and the 1980s Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association’s state marching competition followed parallel paths as music educators involved in each event wrestled with the value of competition and its implications in education. Various tensions over the competitive aspects of the events led to revisions that ultimately changed their purpose to assessment-oriented festivals. The purpose of this historical study was to investigate the events surrounding the National School Band Contest of the 1920s and 1930s; document the creation, administration, and evolution of the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association (VBODA) statewide marching assessment from …

Primer On Perspectives And Practices Of Trauma, Trevor P. Haase

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

A large majority of the general population has endured at least one traumatic event in their lifetime and many will seek counseling services to process and resolve the impact from the traumatic experience. Counselors and mental health providers will likely encounter trauma survivors in a high frequency in the majority of therapeutic settings. Practicum and internship level counselors are often not prepared for navigating the complexities that arise working with trauma survivors. This paper outlines the various perspectives and practices of the works of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Narrative Therapy, and Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. These orientations were designed …

Occurrence, Antibiotic Resistance, And Survival Of Fecal Enterococci In Turkey Litter, Steven Glynn Mcbride Ii

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National Water Quality Inventory and the Commonwealth of Virginia’s 305(b)/303(d) Water Quality Assessment Integrated Report show fecal bacteria to be the most common cause of impairment for both streams and estuaries. Human and animal sources have both been identified as significant contributors of pathogenic bacteria to surface waters. In this study, turkey litter from a farm in Shenandoah County, VA was surveyed for total culturable bacteria and total culturable enterococci before and after a transition to organic rearing practices. The enterococci were identified to species phenotypically using the Biolog Microbial Identification System and resistance …

Variation In Female Mating Behavior And Success In The Damselfly, Calopteryx Maculata, Suzanne E. Allison

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Traditionally, the study of sexual selection has focused on the evolution of elaborate male traits and how they enhance the ability to out-compete other males directly (access to females) and indirectly (access to desirable territories or resources). Female trait studies have focused most on evolved preferences for male traits. While we know much about how sexual selection acts on males, there is a deficit of equivalent study on females. In insects, including damselflies, male size and pigmentation are positively correlated with fat reserves and immune abilities, and therefore with male competitive ability. Here, we show that phenotypic variation that has …

Vertical Movement Of The Endangered James Spinymussel (Pleurobema Collina) And The Notched Rainbow Mussel (Villosa Constricta) In Response To Floods At Different Temperatures And Substrates: Implications For Conservation And Management, Dorottya Boisen

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Freshwater mussels are keystone species in their ecosystems, improving water and substrate quality for other organisms while they are alive, and buffering stream pH and providing shelter with their shells after they die. Approximately 70% of all freshwater mussel species are endangered globally. The James Spinymussel (Pleurobema collina) is a critically endangered species that lives in disparate tributaries of the James River of Virginia. Like other freshwater mussels, they have a cryptic appearance and behavior, making them difficult to find and therefore, to study and conserve. Previous studies indicate a higher percentage of mussels are surfaced during their …

The Effects Of Differentiated Instruction On Student Engagement, Student Satisfaction, And Quality Of Student Artwork In The High School Art Classroom, Lindsey R. Perrault

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

This study investigates the effects of differentiated instruction on student engagement, student satisfaction, and students’ perceived quality of artwork in the high school art classroom. In order to determine its effectiveness, students were presented a control and test lesson. The control lesson utilized limited differentiation, and students completed similar notes, projects and critiques. The Test Lesson incorporated multiple differentiated practices, including strategic grouping based on learning profile and interest. The test lesson also offered choices for student projects based on interest and readiness, and choices for a critique, based on interest and learning profile. Students completed a self assessment after …

The Effects Of Lung Volume On Swallowing In Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Teresa C. Drulia

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a respiratory disease that leads to reduced airflow, may result in difficulty swallowing with disease progression. The coordination between the respiratory and swallowing systems decouple and they may experience increased risk of aspiration. This study aimed to determine the effects of lung volume on swallowing in individuals with COPD compared with older healthy. Specifically, the study examined if altering lung volume at the time of the swallow changed swallowing timing, specifically pharyngeal swallow duration, and impacted the respiratory-swallow pattern in individuals with COPD. Measurement of estimated lung volume (ELV), pharyngeal swallow duration, and respiratory-swallow patterning …

Afro-Caribbean Stylistic Elements As Topics In The Music Of Silvestre Revueltas: Conveying A Political Discourse In Caminando, No Sé Por Qué Piensas Tú, And Sensemayá, Elsy M. Gallardo-Diaz

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Although the music of Silvestre Revueltas has often been categorized as merely Mexicanist, this paper aims to demonstrate that not all of his music falls squarely within that classification. Among his brief but significant artistic output, three pieces for voice and small instrumental ensemble incorporate Afro-Caribbean stylistic elements drawn from popular and religious Afro-Cuban music. Composed in early 1937, Caminando, No sé que piensas tú soldado, and Sensemayá were based on poems by the Cuban Nicolás Guillén, the foremost representative of Afrocubanismo and, like Revueltas, an ardent believer in art as a tool for political protest and for …

911 Calls In Homicide Cases: What Does The Verbal Behavior Of The Caller Reveal?, Jon D. Cromer

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Each year, numerous 911 calls reporting a death or a serious injury that leads to death are received by emergency communications centers; many of these turn out to be related to a homicide. Interestingly, a small percentage of these calls are made by the perpetrator. These calls constitute the first available evidence in most homicide cases. They are recorded at times of great stress and are the first versions of what the callers purport to know. The ability to develop hypotheses about a caller’s truthfulness enhances the police response by objectively informing the process of formulating early investigative strategies. For …

December 8, 2016, James Madison University

The Breeze, 2010-2019

The Breeze is the student newspaper of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.