Digital Commons Network^™

Prenatal And Postnatal Disparities In Very-Preterm Infants In A Study Of Infections Between 2018–2023 In Southeastern Us, Robin B. Dail Phd, Rn, Faan, Kayla C. Everhart Phd, Rn, Victor N. Iskersky, Weili Chang, Kimberley Fisher, Karen Warren Phd, Rn, Heidi J. Steflik, James W. Hardin Ph.D.

Publications

Background: The birthrate of Black preterm (BPT) infants is 65% higher than White preterm (WPT) infants with a BPT mortality that is 2.3 times higher. The incidence of culture-positive late-onset sepsis is as high as 41% in very-preterm infants. The main purpose of this study was to examine thermal gradients and the heart rate in relation to the onset of infection. This report presents disparities in very-preterm infection incidence, bacteria, and mortality data amongst BPT and WPT infants. Methods: 367 preterms born at < 32 weeks gestational age (GA) between 2019–2023 in five neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) were enrolled to study the onset of infections and dispositions; REDCap data were analyzed for descriptive statistics. Results: The 362 infants for analyses included 227 BPTs (63.7%) and 107 WPTs (29.6%), with 28 infants of other races/ethnicities (Hispanic, Asian, and other), 50.6% female, mean GA of 27.66 weeks, and 985.24 g birthweight. BPT infants averaged 968.56 g at birth (SD 257.50), and 27.68 (SD 2.07) weeks GA, compared to WPT infants with a mean birthweight of 1006.25 g (SD 257.77, p = 0.2313) and 27.67 (SD 2.00, p = 0.982) weeks GA. Of the 426 episodes of suspected infections evaluated across all the enrolled infants, the incidence of early-onset sepsis (EOS) was 1.9%, with BPT infants having 2.50 times higher odds of EOS than WPT infants (p = 0.4130, OR (odds ratio) = 2.50, p_or = 0.408). The overall incidence of late-onset sepsis (LOS) was 10.8%, with LOS in 11.9% of BPT infants versus 9.3% (p = 0.489, OR = 1.21, p_or = 0.637) of WPT infants. BPT infants made up 69.2% of the 39 infants with Gram-positive infections vs. 25.6% for WPT infants; 16 infants had Gram-negative culture-positive infections, with 81.2% being BPT infants versus 18.8% being WPT infants. Of the 27 urinary tract infections, 78% were in BPTs. The necrotizing enterocolitis incidence was 6.9%; the incidence in BPT infants was 7.5% vs. 6.5% in WPT infants. The overall mortality was 8.3%, with BPTs at 8.4% vs. WPT infants at 9.3%, (p = 0.6715). Conclusions: BPTs had a higher rate of positive cultures, double the Gram-negative infections, a much higher rate of urinary tract infections, and a higher rate of mortality than their WPT counterparts. This study emphasizes the higher risk of morbidity and mortality for BPTs.

From Crossing Campus To Crossing Continents: Faculty, Chair, And Global Partner Perspectives On An International Sabbatical, Emily Faulconer, Beverly L. Wood, Stephen George-Williams

Publications

A sabbatical – a period of paid leave granted to faculty for research or study - is a construct in higher education that has experienced ebbs and flows in its favorability, though there are persistent arguments that it is important for research-active faculty (Pietsch, 2011). Early career faculty are focused on achieving tenure as this is high stakes at most institutions. Once tenure is achieved, the next goalpost is full professor. The day-to-day responsibilities of faculty can distract from and dilute efforts aimed at strategic planning, long-term planning, and reflection necessary to achieve this level of promotion. So it follows …

Exploring Practical Measures As An Approach For Measuring Elementary Students’ Attitudes Towards Computer Science, Umar Shehzad, Mimi M. Recker, Jody E. Clarke-Midura

Publications

This paper presents a novel approach for predicting the outcomes of elementary students’ participation in computer science (CS) instruction by using exit tickets, a type of practical measure, where students provide rapid feedback on their instructional experiences. Such feedback can help teachers to inform ongoing teaching and instructional practices. We fit a Structural Equation Model to examine whether students' perceptions of enjoyment, ease, and connections between mathematics and CS in an integrated lesson predicted their affective outcomes in self-efficacy, interest, and CS identity, collected in a pre- post- survey. We found that practical measures can validly measure student experiences.

Neonatal Autonomic Regulation As A Predictor Of Autism Symptoms In Very Preterm Infants, Jessica Bradshaw, Christian O'Reilly, Kayla C. Everhart Phd, Rn, Elizabeth Dixon, Amy Vinyard, Abbas Tavakoli Drph, Robin Dail Phd, Rn, Faan

Publications

No abstract provided.

Neonatal Autonomic Regulation As A Predictor Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Very Preterm Infants, Jessica Bradshaw, Christian O'Reilly, Kayla C. Everhart, Elizabeth Dixon, Amy Vinyard, Abbas Tavakoli Drph, Robin B. Dail

Publications

Infants born preterm are at a significantly higher likelihood of having autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with reports of a 10-fold increase in the rate of ASD for very preterm infants (VPT, born <32 weeks gestation) [1] and a 20-fold increase for extremely preterm infants (born <28 weeks gestation) [2]. Yet, the etiological link between preterm birth and ASD remains unknown. Preterm birth and ASD are both associated with neurological differences, notably autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. ANS dysfunction can be measured using abnormal heart rate characteristics (HRCs) and thermal gradients (TGs), and previous research has linked ANS dysfunction to neurodevelopmental impairment and autism-specific outcomes. …

Telehealth Evaluation In The United States: Protocol For A Scoping Review, Yunxi Zhang, Yueh-Yun Lin, Lincy S. Lal, Jennifer C. Reneker, Elizabeth Hinton, Saurabh Chandra, J Michael Swint

Publications

Background:The rapid expansion of telehealth services, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitates systematic evaluation to guarantee the quality, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of telehealth services and programs in the United States. While numerous evaluation frameworks have emerged, crafted by various stakeholders, their comprehensiveness is limited, and the overall state of telehealth evaluation remains unclear.

Objective:The overarching goal of this scoping review is to create a comprehensive overview of telehealth evaluation, incorporating perspectives from multiple stakeholder categories. Specifically, we aim to (1) map the existing landscape of telehealth evaluation, (2) identify key concepts for evaluation, (3) synthesize existing evaluation frameworks, and (4) …

The Breakbeat Poets: Translocal Placemaking In The Contemporary Midwestern Lyric, Andy Oler

Publications

In the introduction to the Haymarket Books collection The BreakBeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip-Hop (2015), co-editor Kevin Coval asserts that the anthologized poems are not simply influenced by hip-hop; “these poems are hip-hop.”¹ The anthology’s focus on a genre, a cultural phenomenon, might seem like an odd fit for a special issue on placemaking. Its national frame might seem too expansive for the study of regionalism (though there is a history, established by James Shortridge, of conflating the Midwest with the nation).² But The BreakBeat Poets is also attentive to more precise versions …

Interferometric Imaging With Eiscat_3d For Fine-Scale In-Beam Incoherent Scatter Spectra Measurements, M. Zettergren, Devin Huyghebaert, Björn Gustavsson, Juha Vierinen, Andreas Kvammen, John Swoboda, Ilkka Virtanen, Spencer Hatch, Karl M. Laundal

Publications

The 233 MHz EISCAT_3D radar system currently under construction in northern Fennoscandia will be able to resolve ionospheric structures smaller than the transmit beam dimensions through the use of interferometric imaging. This capability is made possible by the modular design and digitization of the 119 91-antenna panels located at the main Skibotn site. The main array consists of a cluster of 109 panels, with 10 outlier panels producing unique interferometry baselines. In the present study synthesized incoherent scatter radar signal measurements are used for interferometric imaging analysis with the EISCAT_3D system. The Geospace Environment Model of Ion-Neutral Interactions (GEMINI) model …

Health Provider Experiences In Supporting Social Connectedness Between Families And Older Adults Living In Long-Term Care Homes, Anna Garnett, Hannah Pollock, Kristin Prentice, Natalie Floriancic, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Carri Hand, Abe Oudshoorn, Yolanda Babenko-Mould, Cheryl Forchuk

Publications

INTRODUCTION: Many people, often older adults, living in long-term care homes (OA-LTCH) became socially isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic due to variable restrictions on in-person visits and challenges associated with using technology for social connectivity. Health providers were key to supporting these OA by providing additional care and facilitating their connections with family using technology such as smartphones and iPads. It is important to learn from these experiences to move forwards from the COVID-19 pandemic with evidence-informed strategies that will better position health providers to foster social engagement for OA-LTCH across a range of contextual situations. OBJECTIVE: This exploratory qualitative …

The Effects Of Social Media On Investment Decisions Within An Online Community, Hector Vasquez, David Cross

Publications

This case study examined the effects of social media on investment decisions within an online community. The problem was the use of misinformation by inexperienced investors to make investment decisions, with investors making investment decisions based on misinformation. Data was gathered through an online questionnaire administered through one-on-one interviews with members from an online financial community. Twenty participants were gathered; responses were analyzed for recurring themes. Results validated a relationship between social media and investment decisions exists. A strongly recurring theme was that individual investors use social media as a resource to seek out potential investment ideas and make investment …

Investigating The Accuracy And Comparability Of Various Lime Prediction Methods For Irish Grassland Mineral Soils, F. Mackessy, E. Mccarthy, E. Broderick, B. O'Donnell, Patrick Quille

Publications

Soil pH is a foundational element of agronomy, profoundly influencing biological, chemical and physical soil processes. Adjusting soil pH is a paramount factor for enhancing soil health and productivity with far-reaching environmental benefits. Over time soil naturally tends towards acidity, a process expedited by intensive agriculture practices. To determine the extent of necessary pH corrections, precise soil pH testing is imperative. Various methods including buffer systems, titrations, lime incubations and algorithms considering soil texture are used to assess a soil's lime requirement and each method carries distinct advantages and disadvantages. The Shoemaker–McLean–Pratt (SMP) buffer method is extensively used in Ireland …

Density And Magnetic Field Asymmetric Kelvin‐Helmholtz Instability, Xuanye Ma, Peter Delamere, Katariina Nykyri, Antonius Otto, Stefan Eriksson, Lihui Chai, Brandon Burkholder, Andrew Dimmock, Yu-Lun Liou, Shiva Kavosi

Publications

The Kelvin‐Helmholtz (KH) instability can transport mass, momentum, magnetic flux, and energy between the magnetosheath and magnetosphere, which plays an important role in the solar‐wind‐ magnetosphere coupling process for different planets. Meanwhile, strong density and magnetic field asymmetry are often present between the magnetosheath (MSH) and magnetosphere (MSP), which could affect the transport processes driven by the KH instability. Our magnetohydrodynamics simulation shows that the KH growth rate is insensitive to the density ratio between the MSP and the MSH in the compressible regime, which is different than the prediction from linear incompressible theory. When the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) …

Exploring Barriers To Effective Covid-19 Risk Mitigation, Recovery, And Chronic Disease Self-Management: A Qualitative Multilevel Perspective, Gayenell S. Magwood Phd, Rn, Faha, Faan, Charles Ellis Jr, Chanita Hughes Halbert, Ebony Allen Toussaint, Jewel Scott, Lynne S. Nemeth

Publications

Introduction: Many research activities have focused on SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent COVID-19 respiratory illness during the pandemic. However, significant racial inequities emerged months after the COVID-19 pandemic began. The similarity between racial/ ethnic disparities in COVID-19 and those for other diseases raised awareness about the context for risk exposure and healthcare access. The purpose of this study is to examine social and structural determinants of health among COVID-19 survivors, carepartners, and the perspectives of healthcare stakeholders who experienced disruption during the early pandemic.
Material and methods: A purposive sample of interviews (n=9) and focus groups (n=10) were used to collect …

Decoding The Dual Desire: Expressive And Impressive Motivations For Neo-Luxury Wearables, Maria Petrescu, Sheen Kachen, Costinel Dobre, Anca Milovan-Ciuta, Mihai Orzan

Publications

In today’s rapidly evolving consumer landscape, understanding the motivational drivers behind consumer interaction with brands and purchase intentions is paramount for effective marketing communications. This research dives deep into the impressive and expressive consumer motivations influencing attitudes and purchase intentions for neo-luxury smart wearables. By employing a blended methodology of qualitative conceptual mapping and quantitative fsQCA analysis on consumer survey data, we uncover the integral role of both hedonic (pleasure-seeking) and eudaimonic (meaning-seeking) motivations for the contemporary neo- luxury consumer. Our findings underscore that a harmonious interplay between these motivations can bolster purchase intentions, even mitigating potential deterrents like skepticism …

Haitians At The Mexican-American Border, William Mccorkle, Mikel Cole, Stephanie M. Madison

Publications

Since 2021, the city of Reynosa on the Mexican-American border has seen a dramatic change in the asylum-seeking population, primarily being composed of families from Central America to now being overwhelmingly Haitian. The authors have assisted with aid work and conducted research in Reynosa with the Haitian population as well as volunteers and educators who have worked with them. This article, based on our ethnographic research, examines the reasons for the increase in Haitian immigration, the experiences of these migrants both coming to and living at the Mexican-American border, and the treatment of the Haitians by the Mexican government and …

Reviewing School District And Caregiver Engagement: Toward Building Capacity To Serve English Learners, Emily Howell, Rebecca Kaminski, Tobi Pirolla

Publications

The authors conducted a comprehensive literature review of school district partnerships with caregivers of ELs to inform this project design. This literature review addresses the following research question: What are the needs of caregivers of ELs in K-12 schools, and how are school partnerships supporting these caregivers? This literature review will address these gaps and overcoming EL caregiver underrepresentation by discussing seven focused and three theoretical codes drawn from a comprehensive review of 21 articles.

Sportsmanship Attitudes As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between Team Identification And Spectator Aggression Attitudes, Andrew Rudd, Sarah Stokowski

Publications

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has long been concerned with the prac­tice of sportsmanship. However, frequent displays of spectator aggression at collegiate sport events demonstrates a grave contradiction. Fans level of team identification is considered a key influence on spectator aggression. Alternatively, sport marketers have found that team identification plays a vital role in fan consumption (e.g., tickets and merchandise). In the interest of reducing aggressive fan behavior without damp­ening the sport managers' need for highly identified college sports fans, we sought to assess how spectator sportsmanship attitudes might serve to moderate the relationship between team identification and spectator aggression …

Where’S The E In Oe? A Critical Analysis Of Irish Outdoor Education, John Pierce, Simon Beames

Publications

Very little empirical research has been conducted on Irish outdoor education practice(s). This inquiry aims to critically explore outdoor education practices in public Outdoor Education and Training Centres in the Republic of Ireland. First, an overview of the development of Irish outdoor education from the mid-twentieth century onwards is provided to locate the study within its unique cultural and historical background. Data were generated through document analysis, participant observation, and informal conversation with practitioners and management through multiple field visits. Creative non-fiction was used as a method to organise and present the data in a coherent and anonymised manner. Thematic …

Human Factors In Aviation Maintenance: Understanding Errors, Management, And Technological Trends, Rajee Olaganathan

Publications

Aircraft maintenance and inspection are complex systems that work on a time-based schedule and require teamwork of different professionals to maintain the airworthiness of aircraft. Errors in maintenance and inspection processes cause in-flight engine shutdowns, flight delays, flight cancellation, sometimes resulting in accidents and incidents that cause significant economic consequences. Due to the substantial impact on both safety and financial aspects of an air carrier, this paper focuses on hangar maintenance as the work is carried out across several shifts by different technicians, addressing various human factor issues that contribute to errors. The paper will also briefly discuss shift work …

Consumer-Brand Heuristics In Luxury Hotel Reviews, Maria Petrescu, John Gironda, Kathleen Bay O'Leary

Publications

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate and structure the basic heuristics consumers use in evaluating word-of-mouth (WOM) about luxury hotel brands while analyzing the impact of deception in online consumer reviews.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used a two-study mixed-methods approach, using interpersonal deception theory and social proof theory as lenses to conduct our analysis. For the first study, a qualitative conceptual mapping analysis was conducted, examining online consumer reviews to identify key concepts and their relationships in the context of luxury hotel brands. In the second study, the themes were further examined using a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to analyze their …

Narrative World Building: Creative Applications For Gamification In Study Abroad, Ashley Lear

Publications

This study examined a cohort of 12 study abroad participants taking a course on video game topography and narrative in Salamanca, Spain, to determine how inhabiting and co-creating narrative worlds as part of the coursework might impact the experiences of the students inside and outside of the classroom as they engaged in mandated and optional cultural engagement activities, such as museum tours and excursions to historical sites. Students completed two gameful learning activities: 1) they co-created their own narrative game world in a group game proposal assignment drawing upon research from storytelling through game environments, and 2) they created independent …

Multilingual Teaching And Digital Tools: The Intersections Of New Media Literacies And Language Learning, Victoria Pennington, Emily Howell, Rebecca Kaminski, Nicole Ferguson-Sams, Mihaela Gazioglu, Kavita Mittapalli, Amlan Banerjee, Mikel Cole

Publications

Purpose

Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) can create participatory cultures by removing barriers to access materials, encouraging student modes of expression, differentiating student interactions through digital environments and increasing learner autonomy. Participatory cultures require competencies or new media literacy (NML) skills to be successful in a digital world. However, professional development (PD) often lacks training on CALL and its implementation to develop such skills. The purpose of this study is to describe teachers use of digital tools for multilingual learners through a relevant theoretical perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This design-based research study examines 30 in-service teachers in South Carolina, a destination state for …

The Effect Of Centering Pregnancy Group Antenatal Care On Maternal, Birth, And Neonatal Outcomes Among Low-Risk Women In The Netherlands: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial, Mary-Ann Wagijo, Mathilde Crone, Birgit Bruinsma-Van Zwich, Jan Van Lith, Deborah Lynn Billings Phd, Marlies Rijnders

Publications

Introduction

This study was carried out to assess the effects of participating in CenteringPregnancy (CP) on maternal, birth, and neonatal outcomes among low-risk pregnant women in the Netherlands.

Methods

A total of 2124 pregnant women in primary care were included in the study. Data were derived from the Dutch national database, Perined, complemented with data from questionnaires completed by pregnant women. A stepwise-wedge design was employed; multilevel intention-to-treat analyses and propensity score matching were the main analytic approaches. Propensity score matching resulted in sample sizes of 305 nulliparous women in both the individual care (IC) and the matched control group …

Yoga’S Journey From East To West: A Tale Of Adaptation, Wellness, And Healing The Balancing Act, Christine D. Walck

Publications

Prepare for a unique journey through the world of yoga with an opinionated, funny twist. Join a devout Catholic, a PhD-toting engineering professor, and an extreme athlete as they navigate the intriguing yet mysterious realm of yoga. Their initial skepticism, rooted in Eastern philosophy, quickly dissolves as yoga seamlessly melds with their Catholic faith, offering a universal path to physical and mental well-being. Buckle up for a humorous takedown of common misconceptions about yoga’s compatibility with Western religious beliefs. It’s all about respecting the body, which conveniently aligns with their active (with a dash of clumsy adventures thrown in). Yoga …

Exploring The Nexus Of Cybercrime, Money Laundering, Ethics And Deterrence In The Age Of Smart Machines, Leila Halawi, Robert Bacon

Publications

As societies transitioned from the industrial era to the post-knowledge age, marked by the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), the volume and accessibility of information experienced unprecedented growth. This transformation led to the ‘AI Age,’ where smart machines became paramount. Simultaneously, it marked an era of innovation and automation, promising greater efficiency and presenting novel challenges. In this dynamic landscape, cybercrime found fertile ground to evolve and adapt. It expanded its scope from early computer intrusions to many activities, from data breaches and ransomware attacks to identity theft and financial fraud. Money laundering, too, evolved in tandem, capitalizing on …

Tweeting For Change: Social Media Narratives For Sustainable Service, Maria Petrescu, Anjala S. Krishen, Jesse L. Barnes, Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj

Publications

Purpose–This interdisciplinary study aims to analyze how service organizations communicate sustainable beliefs in their social media narratives and use them to generate brand awareness, customer recognition and ongoing demand for sustainable service.

Design/methodology/approach– A two-phase exploratory analysis of 10,342 tweets from 2019–2020 was conducted by sustainable global corporations to identify best practices for their social media teams operating within a service-based business model. First, the significant themes were identified using an unguided machine learning approach of three types of firms: services, goods and mixed. Next, the full set of tweets with linguistic sentiment analysis was analyzed followed by a deeper …

Commentary: A Patient-Specific Lower Extremity Biomechanical Analysis Of A Knee Orthotic During A Deep Squat Movement, Christine Dailey Walck

Publications

The recent study by Walck et al., titled “A Patient-Specific Lower Extremity Biomechanical Analysis of a Knee Orthotic during a Deep Squat Movement,” provides a novel insight into the biomechanical impacts of knee orthotics, particularly the non-linear spring-loaded (NLSL) knee joint orthosis (KJO)1 . This commentary aims to delve into the implications, interpretations, and evaluations of the findings, contextualizing them within the broader discourse on knee orthotics.

The Role Of Organizational Theory For The Formulation Of A Sustainable Model Applicable To Air Traffic Management And Control Operations, Eva Maleviti

Publications

This paper provides a comprehensive introduction to Air Traffic Management (ATM), which encompasses Air Traffic Control (ATC) procedures, Reduced Separation Vertical Minima (RVSM) and Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) schemes. It also discusses the role of these and other elements in promoting environmental sustainability and the key factors essential for creating effective aviation operations. The main objective of this paper is to identify and select the most relevant components for establishing a theoretical framework for sustainable ATM and ATC practices. Notably, the organizational theory is used in this paper, aiming to create a firm theoretical model that can support sustainability in the …

Beyond The Classroom: Influence Of A Sustainability Intervention On University Students’ Environmental Knowledge And Behaviors, Dawn Christina Null, Kristin Hurst, Leslie A. Duram

Publications

On college campuses, environmental science education largely takes place in classrooms, thereby limiting impact on the full student body. By implementing an educational intervention in an informal campus setting, this study tested an approach aimed at expanding the reach of environmental learning. Students at a mid-size Midwestern university were exposed to a food-focused environmental and climate education intervention consisting of sustainability trivia and marketing materials displayed in dining halls. Prior to exposure, students completed a pre-test, followed by a 5-week intervention, then a post-test. Comparing correct responses between pre-test and post-test, we found a significant increase in environmental and climate …

Experimental Environmental Profiles And Sloshing Dynamics Aboard Zero-G Aircraft, Pedro J. Llanos, Sathya Gangadharan, Kevin Crosby

Publications

This study presents the results of a parabolic flight experiment to study the sloshing dynamics of the magneto-active propellant management device experiment. This device utilizes a magnetoactive membrane and magnets located external to the tank to effectively damp the liquid free surface motion. This research work establishes a benchmark with sloshing analytical formulation and sensor calibration methods that can be used to characterize future research parabolic flights while providing important environmental profiles measured during flight, such as accelerations, pitch angle, velocity, temperature, total volatile content, carbon dioxide, relative humidity, magnetic field, and radiation. Correlation between these flight variables and the …