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Full Issue, Volume 14, Number 1., Donna J. Peterson Dr., Scott Cummings, Elizabeth Gregory North

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Hypoxia On Balance Systems, Samuel Drescher Drescher, Heather Bond, Allysa Hayden, Victoria Cornaro, Brandon Ibarra, Noah Clark, Frank Cunningham Iv, Carolina Ferreira, Sierra Martinez, Katie Stubits

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Hypoxia, a condition characterized by insufficient oxygen availability to body tissues, is known to impair physiological and cognitive function, particularly at high altitudes above 15,000 ft. However, the effects of mild hypoxia (10,000–15,000 ft) remain less well understood. This study, conducted by the department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, investigates the impact of mild hypoxia at 12,000 ft on human balance systems. Specifically, it examines the three primary components of balance: visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems. Participants complete nine balance tasks under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Tasks are structured to progressively limit sensory input: …

Impact Of Stress & Fatigue On Cardiovascular Function In Young Pilots: A Thematic Review, Swarna Manoj

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Impact of Stress & Fatigue on Cardiovascular Function in Young Pilots: A Thematic Review   Authors: Swarna Manoj, Scott Ferguson   Keywords: pilot, stress, fatigue, heart rate variability (HRV), cardiovascular disease (CVD) Aviation is expanding globally and young pilots are the major workforce, yet FAA protocols require mandatory ECG only from age 35, with annual cardiac screening after age 40. Over the past five years, a pattern of sudden cardiac arrests in pilots particularly aged 30-40 has urged safety concerns. Despite the existing literature examining fatigue, burnout, stress, sleep hygiene and circadian disruption, only few studies systematically examine how these factors impact …

Ai-Based Pilot Fatigue Monitoring For Enhanced Aviation Safety, Joshua Henderson, Alexander Landau, Braxton Moor, Jacky Yang, Caleb Difabio

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Pilot fatigue remains a persistent systemic operational hazard in commercial aviation because it can degrade attention, reaction time, decision-making, and crew coordination during safety-critical phases of flight. Although regulatory duty-time limits and Fatigue Risk Management Systems provide baseline protections, these controls rely heavily on voluntary reporting and post-event analysis, which may fail to detect fatigue in real time. The purpose of this project was to design and evaluate an artificial intelligence-enabled fatigue monitoring concept intended to reduce undetected pilot fatigue risk within the airline Safety Management System framework. The study applied a structured research approach including a literature review to …

Assessing The Impact Of Various Factors On Hypoxic Response, Reese Kim, Allysa Hayden

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Hypoxia is a condition in which the body’s tissues are deprived of oxygen and has deleterious effects on cognition, perception, and performance. Hypoxia has a myriad of symptoms such as euphoria, difficulty concentrating, headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, tunnel vision, and more. Outward signs of hypoxia include cyanosis (blueing of the fingertips and lips), tremors, loss of coordination, pallor, and complexion change, and can be used to notice the onset of hypoxia in others. Many factors are known to contribute to the manifestation of hypoxia, namely altitude, exposure duration, and certain physiological conditions such as heart problems and low blood flow …

From Crisis To Reform: How The 1918 Influenza And Covid-19 Pandemics Redefined The Relationship Between Nurses And The American Healthcare System., Anh N V Le

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

The 1918 Influenza and COVID- 19 pandemic have become two major public health crises that reshaped the role of nurses in the America healthcare system. Although a hundred years apart, both pandemics revealed how deeply the country depends on nurses during emergencies without proper and efficient strategies. This paper argues that these pandemics acted as turning points that redefined the social contract between nurses and the U.S. healthcare system. By examining historical context, nurses’ responsibilities, public perception, and long-term effects, this research show how pandemics expanded nurses’ authority while also exposing long-term weakness of the systems. In 1918, nurses were …

The Chameleon Experience: Queer Identity, Mental Health, And Transformation, Cameron Penny

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

In this autoethnographic piece, I examine the correlation between queer identity and mental health through reflective analysis of my own experiences within a Western socio-cultural setting. I expand external perspectives on the queer experience by highlighting the normalization of queer prejudice and its adverse impact on self-image. I share how the religious praxis of Catholicism enforces binary conformity by promoting dichotomous thinking that simultaneously constricts queer expression and subjugates implicit biases. In tandem, I utilize autoethnography as my medium because it provides a unique outlet to raise awareness for chronically stigmatized identities by centering marginalized voices (Atay, 2011; Chavez, 2013). …

Confidence Versus Competence: Addressing Nursing Knowledge Gaps In Catheter Care To Reduce Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections, Leslie Anne Villanueva Bautista

Master's Projects and Capstones

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain among the most prevalent and preventable healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), contributing substantially to patient morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and healthcare expenditures. Most hospital-acquired UTIs are related to urinary catheters, and this burden costs the United States alone an estimated $340 to $450 million annually (Yang et al., 2022). CAUTIs are UTIs that occur in patients with indwelling urinary catheters. This quality improvement project aimed to increase adherence to existing bladder scanning protocols and strengthen urinary catheter care to prevent CAUTI. Baseline staff nurse knowledge was obtained, and reinterpretation of the facility’s existing protocols and bundles …

Improving Adherence To Remote Patient Monitoring (Rpm) For Patients With Hypertension, Chioma Udegbune

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Hypertension is a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease, and suboptimal adherence to remote patient monitoring (RPM) limits opportunities for timely intervention and effective blood pressure management in outpatient primary care.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: Among outpatient clinic nursing staff responsible for remote patient monitoring (RPM) in adults with hypertension (P), how does implementation of a structured nurse-led education and reminder protocol (I), compared to standard RPM practices consisting of routine onboarding and passive reminder processes (C), influence patient adherence to RPM protocols (O) over a 10-week period (T)?

Evidence: Evidence supports nurse-led education, …

Pre-Implementation Factors For Active Music Engagement (Ame): Barriers And Facilitators To Integrating An Evidence-Based Dyadic Intervention Into Pediatric Oncology Care., Kristin M. Story, Elizabeth Harman, Kristin Stegenga, Jelena Golubovic, Sheri L. Robb

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Pediatric cancer treatment is a difficult and distressing experience that often results in sustained, interrelated distress in young children and parents, and traumatic stress symptoms for some parents. Few evidence-based interventions address this dyadic distress. Active Music Engagement (AME) is a manualized, evidence-based music play intervention that significantly reduces distress in child/parent dyads and mitigates traumatic stress and improves well-being among highly distressed parents and those experiencing sociodemographic risk. Successfully integrating AME into standard care requires a systematic understanding of implementation factors. This study aimed to identify site-specific barriers and facilitators that influenced successful AME delivery during a recently …

Standardizing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Education To Improve Patient Knowledge And Care Consistency In A Prenatal Clinic Setting, Wynn Zara

Master's Projects and Capstones

The gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) group visit framework aims to improve consistency of GDM education by standardizing referral processes, educational materials, staff workflows, and patient communication. Although evidence-based GDM education supports patient self-management and improved maternal-fetal outcomes, variability in education delivery contributed to inconsistent care within the outpatient maternal-fetal medicine setting. This quality improvement project was conducted in an outpatient maternal-fetal medicine clinic in Santa Clara County serving pregnant patients diagnosed with GDM. To address this gap, a standardized GDM group visit framework was developed and implemented using structured educational resources, referral criteria, and communication workflows. The intervention was evaluated …

Psychological Interventions For Children With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities In The Context Of Neurodiversity: A Systematic Review, Kalliopi Megari, Dimitra V. Katsarou, Evangelos Mantsos, Soultana Papadopoulou, Efthymia Efthymiou, Maria Theodoratou, Maria Sofologi, Eugenia Toki

All Works

Highlights What are the main findings? What is the implication of the main finding?Highlights What are the main findings? What is the implication of the main finding?Abstract Background/Objectives: This systematic review examines psychological interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities within a neurodiversity framework, emphasizing that variations in cognition, behavior, and neurological functioning represent natural forms of human diversity rather than deficits. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar databases for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Studies were included if they focused on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), learning or intellectual disabilities …

Race And Ethnicity And Overall Survival In Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Daniel J. Zheng, Long Khuong, Catherine Aftandilian, Kira Bona, Emi H. Caywood, Caitlin W. Elgarten, Brian T. Fisher, Cody-Aaron L. Gathers, Taumoha Ghosh, M. Monica Gramatges, Gary Hettinger, Meret R. Henry, Yuan-Shung V Huang, Yimei Li, Kelly Maloney, Amir Mian, Tamara P Miller, Arunkumar Modi, Rajen Mody, Regina M. Myers, Haley Newman, Jose Ortiz, Alix E. Seif, Caroline Smith, Jamie Stokke, Naomi Winick, Jennifer J. Wilkes, Victor Wong, Richard Aplenc, Kelly D. Getz

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black (hereafter, Black) children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have historically experienced worse survival outcomes compared with non-Hispanic White (hereafter, White) children. Understanding specific intermediate pathways underlying these outcome disparities is a critical step to directing interventional efforts and resources.

OBJECTIVE: To compare survival outcomes by race and ethnicity in a large contemporary cohort of pediatric patients with AML and to examine presentation acuity, frontline organ toxic effects, and relapse as potential mediators of any observed outcome disparities.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study was analyzed from April 2025 to January 2026 and included …

Staff Education To Improve Hypertension Management Knowledge, Angelor Eliscard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project, I addressed inconsistent staff knowledge of evidence-based strategies for preventing and controlling hypertension among African American women in an outpatient primary care setting. The practice-focused question was: In an outpatient clinical setting, what was the impact of an evidence-based staff education program on healthcare providers' knowledge of hypertension prevention and control strategies for African American women, as measured by pretest and posttest scores? The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate a structured staff education program to improve providers' knowledge of evidence-based strategies for preventing and controlling hypertension …

Implementation Of A Standardized Antibiotic Order Set To Improve Evidence-Based Antibiotic Prescribing In Oral Surgery, Lashundra Miles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inconsistent antibiotic prescribing practices in an oral surgery clinic contributed to variation in antibiotic selection, timing, dosing, redosing when indicated, and duration. This variation limited adherence to evidence-based prescribing recommendations and highlighted the need for a workflow-based strategy to support antibiotic stewardship. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase use of a standardized antibiotic order set through reminder-based reinforcement and to improve evidence-based prescribing practices. The practice-focused question examined whether implementing the standardized antibiotic order set, supported by workflow-integrated reminders and ongoing performance feedback, would improve order-set utilization during a 6-week implementation period. The project was guided …

Development Of A Clinical Practice Guideline For Hpv Vaccination In Low-Income Adolescents Using The Agree Ii Framework, Jariatu Fatu Bundu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is an effective strategy for preventing HPV-related cancers; however, vaccination initiation and series completion remain suboptimal among adolescents, particularly those from low-income and underserved populations. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project addressed an evidence-to-practice gap involving the absence of a standardized clinical practice guideline (CPG) for HPV vaccination in a family practice setting serving predominantly low-income adolescents. The purpose of the project was to develop and validate an evidence-based CPG to standardize provider recommendations and support improvement in HPV vaccination initiation and series completion. Evidence was appraised and synthesized using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model, …

Stewardship In Action: Reducing Unnecessary Antimicrobial Use In Long-Term Care, Mariatu Sulaiman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Antimicrobial overuse in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) contributes to antimicrobial resistance, avoidable healthcare costs, and adverse drug events, particularly when antibiotics are prescribed for asymptomatic bacteriuria rather than symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs). Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, including the McGeer Criteria, provide standardized approaches for differentiating true UTIs from asymptomatic bacteriuria and supporting appropriate antimicrobial prescribing. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to evaluate the development and implementation of a clinical practice guideline incorporating the McGeer Criteria into an antibiotic stewardship program in an LTCF. The practice-focused question examined what evidence supports strategies for reducing unnecessary antimicrobial use …

The Impact Of Scar Wires On Dose Distribution Of Electron Fields, Ahmad Nour

Masters Projects

Purpose: This phantom study looked at whether changing the Hounsfield unit (HU) value for radiopaque scar wires in Eclipse changed the calculated electron dose distribution. Methods and Materials: Radiopaque wires were placed in the same abdominal area on an anthropomorphic phantom. The wires were set up in a circle. The CT images were brought into Eclipse, the wires were contoured, and the planning target volume was made 1 cm inside the circle of wire. For every wire size and electron energy, two matching plans were made: one plan with no density override and one plan with a density override applied …

Cone Vs. Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (Vmat) Stereotactic Radiosurgery (Srs) Planning For Multiple (7) Brain Targets: Dosimetric Tradeoffs And Clinical Decision Guidance, Juan Garcia

Masters Projects

Purpose: This study compared cone-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and single-isocenter volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for multiple (7) intracranial targets to evaluate differences in target coverage, conformality, dose falloff, and normal brain exposure.

Methods: A phantom-based study was performed using progressively increasing configurations of 10-mm spherical targets, from one to seven targets. Cone-based SRS and VMAT plans were evaluated using D99, CI100, CI50, gradient index (GI), maximum dose, V12Gy, and V5Gy.

Results: Both planning techniques achieved similar target coverage. Cone based SRS produced a steeper dose gradient, with a mean GI of 2.99 compared with 4.66 for VMAT ( …

Dibh Liver Sbrt: Comparative Analysis Of Vmat 6fff And 10fff For Safety And Efficiency, Justen Hudson

Masters Projects

Purpose:

To evaluate the dosimetric performance and delivery efficiency of 6MV flattening filter free (6FFF) and 10MV flattening filter free (10FFF) VMAT beam energies for deep inspiration breath- hold (DIBH) liver stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), with emphasis on treatment time, breath-hold demands, and organ at risk (OAR) sparing.

Methods:

Ten previously treated DIBH liver SBRT patients were retrospectively replanned using standardized VMAT geometry, identical optimization objectives, and consistent contouring. Each patient received paired 6FFF and 10FFF plans generated in Eclipse using AcurosXB. Dosimetric endpoints included target coverage, conformity index (CI), gradient index (GI), and OAR dose metrics based on …

Dosimetric Comparison Between Geometric Centroid And Minimax Isocenter Placement In Single Isocenter Multitarget Stereotactic Radiosurgery Plans In Hyperarc, Matthew Gloudeman

Masters Projects

Single-isocenter multi-target (SIMT) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) utilizing Varian HyperArc streamlines clinical workflows but introduces geometric sensitivity for distant outlier lesions when rotational and setup uncertainties are taken into account. The default isocenter location in the HyperArc workspace is the geometric centroid, which is inherently biased toward clusters of lesions. This study evaluates the dosimetric plan quality of an alternative minimax isocenter strategy, which minimizes the maximum lesion-to-isocenter distance, shortening the rotational lever arm to enhance mechanical robustness. Two fractionated SRS (fSRS) plans were generated for ten patients with 3-5 brain metastases using identical beam configurations: one using HyperArc’s default geometric …

Improving Rsv Vaccination Uptake Through Nurse-Led Educational Intervention, Lawrence Onuorah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this quality improvement project, the DNP scholar explored the impact of a nurse-led staff education approach on improving respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine uptake. RSV disease results in negative health outcomes and even death among vulnerable individuals. Despite the availability of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved vaccines, uptake remains low due to limited provider knowledge and inconsistent vaccine recommendations. Therefore, the project question addressed whether a staff education program would increase providers’ perceived knowledge of RSV vaccine recommendation and confidence to engage in patient education. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a nurse-led staff …

Nursing Staff’S Perception Of The Implementation Of The Obstetric Emergency Code Pink, Mareena Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The local nursing practice problem addressed by this DNP doctoral project was the inconsistent and uneven response to obstetric emergencies within the health care setting. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the current implementation of the Code Pink protocol, identify any gaps or barriers in its effectiveness, and gather insights from nursing staff to propose refinements that would enhance its reliability and impact., The perception of nursing staff regarding obstetric emergency codes represents a critical dimension in the domain of maternal and neonatal health care, significantly influencing the efficacy of emergency responses and patient outcomes. Obstetric emergencies, such …

Staff Education To Improve Obesity Risk Assessment And Referral Practices, Omolara Aminat Oshokoya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This staff education project addressed inconsistent obesity risk assessment practices in an adult primary care setting. Obesity is associated with increased rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic conditions. At the project site, obesity assessment practices relied largely on body mass index (BMI), resulting in inconsistent identification of obesity-related risks and referral needs. The purpose of this project was to educate providers on the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) to improve obesity risk identification and referral practices. The project evaluated whether the staff education intervention improved providers' knowledge and use of the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS) …

Bcg Overexpressing Ag85b Reprograms Host Immune Response Through Coordinated Transcriptional Networks, Vivek Chauhan, Rakesh Kumar, Raja Veerapandian, Enrique I. Ramos, Chinnaswamy Jagannath, Shrikanth Gadad, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani

School of Medicine Publications

Antigen 85B (Ag85B), an immunodominant protein secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), induces robust T-cell-mediated immunity in host cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that recombinant BCG strains overexpressing Ag85B (BCG85B) confer significant protection against tuberculosis in mouse models. This study hypothesized that enhanced protection by recombinant BCG85B results from modulation of host immune gene expression by the Ag85B antigen. To test this, RNA-seq analysis was performed on splenocytes from mice immunized with the wild-type BCG (BCG-WT) and BCG85B strains. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the splenocytes of BCG85B-immunized mice indicated upregulation of immune-related KEGG pathways, including Th1/Th2 and Th17 differentiation, NF-kappa …

Mri-Based Estimation Of The Hip Joint Center In Infants Using Two Sphere-Fitting Methods, Victoria Melendez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Accurate estimation of the hip joint center (HJC) is critical for biomechanical modeling and clinical assessment. Common methods include predictive methods (e.g., regression equations) and functional methods such as sphere-fitting. In infants, femoral head-based methods are often limited due to incomplete ossification of the anatomy and poor visualization in computed tomography (CT) images. This study evaluates an alternative approach using MRI-based sphere fitting of the ossified acetabular rim, comparing its accuracy to traditional femoral head-based methods. MRI scans of three male infants (ages 10.7- 12.7 months) were used to manually place landmarks on the ossified acetabulum and the cartilaginous boundary …

Implementation Of Artificial Intelligence In Retinoblastoma Diagnosis, Zana Moldavsky

inSIGHT

The retina is essential for vision. It is composed of 10 distinct layers and contains specialized photoreceptor cells, rods, and cones that are responsible for converting photons of light into electrical signals through a process called phototransduction.¹ These electrical signals are transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve where they are interpreted as a visual picture.¹

Retinoblastoma is a rare but aggressive malignant tumor of the retina and represents the most common intraocular malignancy in the pediatric populabon.² The disease follows Knudson's two-hit hypothesis and occurs due to biallelic inactivation of the RB1 tumor suppressor gene …

Transfemoral Approach To Patent Ductus Arteriosus Occlusion Using Acdo In A Dog With Complex Surgical History, Nawat Sannamwong, Hataichon Owatdhumma, Kornrawee Tharavanij, Thitinan Tangarsasilp, Nardtiwa Chaivoravitsakul, Kongthit Horoongruang, Patmanachatr Bunnag, Nakkawee Saengklub, Krishaporn Kradangnga, Sirilak Disatian Surachetpong, Anusak Kijtawornrat

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

A five-year-old spayed female Welsh Corgi weighing 12.4 kg presented with exercise intolerance and was diagnosed with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Due to signs of left-sided volume overload, the dog was initially managed with oral pimobendan and was subsequently referred to the Small Animal Teaching Hospital at Chulalongkorn University for further evaluation and intervention. Upon presentation, the patient was bright, alert, and responsive, with a body condition score of 6 out of 9 and normal muscle condition. The mucous membranes were pink and moist, with a capillary refill time of 1 to 2 seconds. A continuous heart murmur was …

Implementing A Standardized Counting Process, Paula M. Mbye

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Background: In a Northern California medical center with 11 operating rooms, two retained foreign object (RFO) events occurred following surgical procedures in 2025.

Problem: Surgical teams rely on manual counting processes to prevent retained foreign objects. Variability in counting practices among registered nurses and surgical technologists, combined with workflow interruptions and environmental distractions, can increase the risk of counting discrepancies and missed items. Standardizing the counting process may improve count accuracy and reduce the risk of RFOs.

Interventions: This quality improvement project implemented a standardized surgical counting process based on Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) guidelines within …

Evaluation And Continuation Of Oncology Nurse Mentorship Program, Gurpreet K. Kang

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Newly hired nurses on a busy inpatient leukemia and lymphoma subspeciality unit experienced challenges after transitioning into specialty oncology practice. This resulted in decreased confidence, increased risk of medication errors, and a 40% unit-based annual turnover rate. The cost of replacing one staff nurse is $61,000.  Exit interviews determined root causes of turnover rates, nurse confidence.

Context: A quality improvement program was envisioned to optimize patient and organizational outcomes on a 25-bed inpatient unit to evaluate and sustain an oncology nurse mentorship program.

Interventions: Over one year, cohort 1 (n=8) and follow up 2^nd cohort (n=7) was implemented …