Digital Commons Network^™

Digital Stories Of Resilience: A Case Study Of Urban Community College English Learners, Patricia George Hunter

Journal of English Learner Education

This study utilizes a qualitative case study approach to learn how project-based, digital storytelling (DST) voices the resilience of post-secondary English language learners (ELLs) attending a minority-serving, open-access, community college in New York City. Along with many studies that have examined the usefulness of DST in oral production, this research investigates whether project-based digital storytelling enhances students’ understanding of academic content related to resilience and conventional composition. Narrative inquiry (NI) research technique is the basis of the digital story project in an English as a Second Language (ESL) course. In this case, the study relies on observations and artifacts to …

Literacy Instruction For English Language Learners In Indiana Elementary Schools Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Haiyan Li, Wayne E. Wright, Trish Morita-Mullaney

Journal of English Learner Education

This mixed-methods study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on elementary school literacy instruction for multilingual learners officially classified as English Language Learners (ELLs) across 35 teachers in four Indiana school districts. Classroom lesson videos and observation rubrics for 19 teachers were collected from the beginning of 2020-2021 school year (during the pandemic) and compared with those collected pre-pandemic from 16 teachers at the beginning of school years of 2018-2019 (n=7) and 2019-2020 (n=9). Findings demonstrate schools made efforts during the pandemic to offer quality literacy instruction within socially distanced classrooms, online synchronous instruction, and hybrid learning environments. However, teachers spent …

Payments In The Practice What Trends Are Affecting Your Bottom Line, Phil Nieto

Virginia Dental Journal

Dental practices have seen a significant increase in credit card payments, with the average monthly amount rising from $30,876 in 2019 to $44,925 in 2023. This shift, accelerated by COVID-19, has impacted profitability due to higher processing fees, which increased from 3.06% to 3.53% over the same period. Despite raising prices to counter inflation, the average transaction size has not kept pace with the overall economic inflation rate. Dental practices are encouraged to periodically review their payment processing costs to ensure they are not adversely affecting their bottom line.

Effects Of A Non-Invasive Device On Xerostomia; A Pilot Study To Improve Quality-Of-Life, Susie P. Goolsby Dds, Michael Barnett Dds, Caroline K. Carrico

Virginia Dental Journal

This pilot study evaluated the effects of the Voutia™ hydration system on xerostomia (dry mouth) and its impact on patients' quality of life. Fifteen patients with confirmed xerostomia used the device for six weeks. Results showed significant improvements in quality of life measures, including the Oral Health Impact Profile and Xerostomia Inventory scores. Stimulated salivary flow increased significantly, while unstimulated salivary flow showed improvement but was not statistically significant. The study concluded that the Voutia™ system effectively improved oral hydration and quality of life for patients with dry mouth, with no adverse events reported. Further studies with larger cohorts and …

Va Dent J April, May And June 2024

Virginia Dental Journal

The April-June 2024 issue of the Virginia Dental Journal (VDJ) explores significant themes affecting the dental profession in Virginia. Key highlights include a feature on the dental workforce crisis, addressing shortages and its impact on patient care and practice expansion. The Virginia Dental Workforce Council provides a comprehensive report with recommendations to enhance workforce capacity through educational investments, policy changes, and collaborative efforts. Other topics include scientific studies, such as a pilot investigation on non-invasive treatments for xerostomia, advocacy updates on legislative successes like the SafeHaven™ program for mental health support, and industry insights on sustainability and cybersecurity in dental …

Cheiloscopy, Sarah Friend Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Cheiloscopy is a forensic odontology field focused on identifying individuals through the analysis of unique lip prints, which are as distinctive as fingerprints. Lip patterns form in utero and remain stable over time unless altered by injury or disease. Lip prints can indicate sex, ancestry, and familial lineage, and are used as evidence in criminal investigations. They can be collected using photography, lipstick, and digital methods, and are viable evidence at crime scenes. Despite their potential, there is no standardized method for their forensic application, and research on postmortem lip prints is limited. Advances in technology could integrate lip print …

Treatment Access And Outcomes For Craniofacial Care: Patient And Parent Perspectives, Benjamin F. Lowe Iii, Dds, Bhavna Shroff, Steven J. Lindauer, Caroline K. Carrico, A Abubaker

Virginia Dental Journal

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate craniofacial patients and parent attitudes toward access to care, quality of care, and use of telehealth.

Methods: An original survey was sent to families in treatment with the Virginia Commonwealth University craniofacial team to assess opinions toward various aspects of care.

Results: On average, no factors were considered a barrier to care. Quality of care was highly rated. Respondents felt neutral about telehealth overall, but those with past telehealth experience were significantly more likely to find value in its use (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Respondents had satisfactory treatment outcomes and good access to …

Va Dent J January, February And March 2024

Virginia Dental Journal

The latest issue of the Virginia Dental Journal (Volume 101, Number 1) highlights significant advancements and challenges in Virginia's dental community. A central feature is a farewell to Dr. Richard Roadcap, who reflects on his impactful 16-year tenure as editor. The issue includes a compelling research study on patient and parent perspectives regarding craniofacial care, with a focus on treatment access, outcomes, and the role of telehealth. Advocacy efforts take center stage with updates on legislative initiatives aimed at increasing transparency in dental insurance and improving patient care access. Additional columns emphasize the importance of embracing technological advancements in dentistry, …

New Reader Response: An Examination Of Three High-Achieving High School Readers And Their Literacies, Minkyu Kim

Essays in Education

Since its inception, reader response theory has battled misrepresentations. It was reduced to discursive anarchy, perceived as not rigorous, and set apart from important scholarship movements like critical theory. This research argues that by expanding the definition of “reader” in “reader response” to include digital (aka “new”) literacies, the reader-text transaction can be much more inclusive, dynamic, and most importantly, true to our students’ everyday literacies. This article also includes a discussion of why it is so important for teachers to include digital platforms as sites of interrogation in a safe educative setting. By studying the out-of-school literacy behaviors of …

The Impact Of Asymmetry In Lower Limb Muscle Strength And Power On Straight-Line Running Speed In Female Soccer Players, Dariusz Skalski, Magdalena Prończuk, Kinga Łosińska, Michał Spieszny, Maciej Kostrzewa, Piotr Aschenbrenner, Adam Maszczyk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

The aim of this study was to investigate and determine the impact of asymmetries in muscle strength and power between the right and left lower limbs on straight-line running speed in female soccer players.30 right-footed female soccer players playing in the Ekstraliga participated in the study. The Modulus. Number formula was used to avoid negative results and to assess only the difference in relative strength and power between the lower limbs, not the dominance of one of them. A result equal to or below the threshold defined group G1 "with lower asymmetry," and a result above the threshold defined group …

Behind The Curtain, Angelina Hong

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

One of my favorite themes in medicine is the concept of identity. Medicine is layered. It is continually saving lives, expanding in capabilities, and recruiting new students. But how does it shape us, and where does one draw the line between self and profession?

Physicians are classically a symbol of hope and healing. But medicine is challenging physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Add on top of that the daily burdens of our personal lives, and the responsibility can become quite heavy, making it difficult to walk with a smile every day. There is a time to stand behind a “curtain”, for …

Lyrical Stillness, Madhav Patel

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

“Lyrical Stillness” is a poem I wrote during my radiation oncology rotation, during which I was provided the opportunity to learn more about multidisciplinary cancer care while delving deeper into radiotherapy. Cancer can be an overwhelming disease process physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Patients undergoing treatment often experience stress and anxiety with the uncertainty of their prognoses. In this poem, I describe a patient receiving radiation therapy whom I enjoyed speaking to about his favorite hobby: bird watching. During his subsequent radiation treatment sessions, I decided to play a CD of mockingbirds singing in a tropical forest, in the hopes it …

Apocrine Breast Cancer With Psammoma Bodies In A Male Patient, Alena Bashinskaya, Eric W. Baum, Michael B. Morgan

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

While male breast carcinoma is a relatively uncommon occurrence, its incidence is on the rise, potentially attributed to sporadic pathophysiological mechanisms, primarily involving hormonal imbalances. Invasive apocrine carcinoma represents a small fraction of global breast malignancies, with limited instances reported among male patients in the literature. The clinical presentation of an apocrine breast carcinoma closely resembles that of other breast cancer subtypes, as it is most often described as a solitary ulcerative nodular lesion occupying a retro-areolar region of the breast. Herein, we describe a novel case of an apocrine male breast carcinoma metastasizing to the skin, given that …

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis In A Critically Ill Patient: A Case Report Of A Potentially Fatal Entity, Ali Khreisat, Inna Mikaella Sta Maria, Giovi Grasso-Knight, Meghan Mansour

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a non-neoplastic proliferation and macrophage activation that induces cytokine-mediated bone marrow suppression and features of intense phagocytosis in the bone marrow and liver, leading to multi-organ dysfunction and ultimate failure. The diagnosis of HLH in an intensive care setting is challenging, and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. HLH-94 is the standard protocol for treatment, consisting of dexamethasone and chemotherapy like etoposide.

Case Presentation

We present the case of a 73-year-old woman who had a prolonged hospitalization for vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Her conditions were complicated by acute refractory pancytopenia on the 12th …

Evaluation Of A Patient With A Severe Systemic Inflammatory Response To Nitrofurantoin, Brigitte Vanle, Timothy Beatty

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Nitrofurantoin is a prevalent antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infections. Despite nitrofurantoin’s general safety, it can cause serious side effects, including acute pulmonary toxicity, fulminant hepatitis, and severe systemic inflammatory responses, which may mimic conditions such as ischemia and infection. However, reports of acute systemic inflammatory response syndrome after nitrofurantoin ingestion are uncommon in medical literature.

Case Presentation

This case describes a severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome in an 85-year-old woman presenting with hypoxia, altered mental status, and profound leukocytosis after exposure to a single dose of nitrofurantoin.

Conclusion

Herein we report on a patient with suspected bacteremia …

Clinical Variant Of Serpentine Supravenous Hyperpigmentation Following Subcutaneous Bortezomib Injection, Madelyn Richards, Stephen E. Weis

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

Bortezomib is a reversible proteasome inhibitor that is a first-line chemotherapeutic agent for multiple myeloma. Bortezomib can be administered intravenously or subcutaneously with similar efficacy. Subcutaneous administration has fewer side effects. Many cutaneous reactions have been associated with bortezomib treatment. These include morbilliform exanthems, erythematous nodules and papules, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, Sweet syndrome, and rarely Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Case Presentation

This paper reports the occurrence of serpentine supravenous hyperpigmentation (SSH) after subcutaneous administration of bortezomib. SSH is a rare, characteristic cutaneous reaction that has been reported following intravenous administration of chemotherapeutic agents. Intravenous administration of bortezomib rarely results in documented cases …

An Unexpected Outcome Of An Ischemic Stroke On The Reward Pathways In The Human Brain, Karen Valadez-Cuen, Erica Kozorosky, Ferina Farahnik, Oscar Garcia

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Addiction affects millions of people, often resulting from a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors, and is frequently linked to mental health disorders. Many experts agree there is no cure for addiction, but there are effective treatments available. Many patients continue to succumb to addiction despite treatment. Therefore, more research is needed to develop new therapies in addiction medicine.

Case Presentation

This is the case of a 63-year-old woman with an extensive smoking history who suffered an acute stroke affecting her left-sided basal ganglia, including the caudate nucleus and nucleus accumbens. The patient presented with bilateral strokes to …

A Case Of Xylazine-Induced Necrotic Skin Ulcerations In An Iv-Drug User In Florida, Mark Zaki, Cynthia Dillon, Anjali Patel, Barbara Gracious

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

As illicit drug manufacturers find new ways to market their products and increase their profit margins, multiple contaminants have found their way into the illicit drug supply. The newest addition, xylazine, also known as “tranq,” has spread through the city of Philadelphia and has recently been gaining ground across the United States, including in the state of Florida.

Case Presentation

This case describes a 37-year-old male with a significant past psychiatric history of severe polysubstance intravenous (IV) use, including fentanyl and methamphetamine. He was comorbid with other mental and physical conditions and presented to the emergency department with acute …

Successful Treatment Of An Atypical Presentation Of Disseminated Retroperitoneal Seminoma: A Case Report, Mahmoud Abd-El-Hafez, Kylie Johnson, Joe Cates, Alosh Madala

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Testicular seminoma is the most common malignant tumor of the testis. It occurs at a rate of 5 per 100 000 men, primarily between the ages of 15 to 34. While seminomas typically occur in the testis, other primary sites include the mediastinum, the retroperitoneum, or other extra-gonadal sites. Due to the curable nature of the malignancy (5-year survival rate > 95%), detection at early stages of the disease is key. This case presentation explores the delayed diagnosis and treatments of an atypical presentation of disseminated seminoma.

Case Presentation

We present the unusual case of a 56-year-old male who had …

Investigating The Effects Of Nosocomial Clostridioides Difficile Infection Among Acute Leukemia Patients: Insights From The 2020 National Inpatient Sample, Zubair Hassan Bodla, Mariam Hashmi, Fatima Niaz, Umer Farooq, Muhammad Jahanzeb Khalil, Farhan Khalid, Kipson Charles, Christopher L. Bray

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Rising nosocomial Clostridioides difficile infections pose high risks, especially for immunocompromised leukemia patients, necessitating targeted research to enhance patient care and outcomes.

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of nosocomial Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) on patients hospitalized with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Methods

Our study was a retrospective analysis of adult patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of ALL or AML, using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for 2020. Primary outcomes included the incidence of nosocomial CDI and all-cause inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay, resource …

Assessment Of The European Hernia Society Classification Of Ventral Hernias And Clinical Outcomes, Oluwatunmininu A. Anwoju, Ashtyn Barrientes, Connor Hogan, Erik Askenasy, Jacob Greenberg, Keith Jerrod, Scott J. Roth, Zuhair Ali, Mike K. Liang

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Ventral hernias are a common but heterogeneous disease. Communication among key stakeholders (eg, patients, clinicians, administrators, payers, and researchers) can be augmented by a widely utilized classification system. The European Hernia Society (EHS) developed an expert-opinion-based hernia classification system organized by hernia type (primary versus incisional) and size. We sought to assess what components of the EHS ventral hernia classification system were correlated to real-world clinical outcomes.

Methods

This was a multicenter cohort study. All hospitals contributing to the database were affiliated with 1 of 6 academic institutions. All adult patients who underwent ventral hernia repair over a 4-year …

Second Generation Antipsychotics And Cardiovascular Adverse Effects: Developing Evidence-Based Recommendations For Primary Care Medicine, Sana Borda, Ahn-Dao Lee, Paul F. Bell

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Second-generation antipsychotic medications (SGAs) are often used by primary care physicians (PCPs) to treat multiple psychiatric diagnoses. SGAs have been connected to a number of adverse effects, including cardiovascular disease. Currently, there are no published evidence-based recommendations addressing SGAs and cardiotoxicity that are directed toward PCPs. This project aims to fill this gap.

Methods

Relevant search terms related to SGAs and cardiovascular disease were identified and then used to search databases (PubMed, PubMed Central, and AccessMedicine). Research studies obtained from the searches were narrowed to include systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR-2) tool was …

Survey: A Study On Image Encryption Using Dna In Bioinformatics, Rana M. Zaki, Zaed S. Mahdi, Matheel E. Abdulmunim

Journal of Soft Computing and Computer Applications

One area of study between computer science and biology is bioinformatics, which deals with methods for collecting, processing, storing, and evaluating biological data. Sequences of RiboNucleic Acid (RNA), DeoxyriboNucleic Acid (DNA), and proteins make up biological data, which has a wide range of uses in domains such as feature extraction, data segmentation, data security, and more. In cryptography, DNA sequences are used as data carriers, enhancing the unique properties of biomolecules. This approach involves using DNA sequences to enhance the security of confidential data that must be transmitted over networks or stored securely. Several DNA-based security techniques have been developed, …

New Feature Selection Using Principal Component Analysis, Zaid Mundher Radeef, Soukaena Hassan Hashem, Ekhlas Khalaf Gbashi

Journal of Soft Computing and Computer Applications

Dimensionality reduction techniques streamline machine learning by reducing data complexity, improving model accuracy, and cutting computational costs. They remove noise and irrelevant features, making models faster and more efficient. These techniques also enhance data visualization and interpretation by condensing data into manageable, insightful dimensions. Ultimately, dimensionality reduction leads to simpler, more interpretable models without sacrificing critical information, making it a cornerstone of efficient data analysis and machine learning applications. Theoretically, feature extraction tends to create new features that encapsulate more information by combining multiple existing features, resulting in more concentrated and informative features. In contrast, feature selection involves choosing a …

Development Of A Hybrid Methodology Of Deep Learning And Machine Learning For Lung Nodule Detection In Medical Computed Tomography Images, Zaed S. Mahdi, Rana M. Zaki, Alaa Kadhim Farhan, Negar Majma

Journal of Soft Computing and Computer Applications

Deep learning and machine learning play an important role in the medical field, helping doctors make accurate, fast and effective diagnosis. Despite the progress achieved in the use of modern technologies in detecting cancerous nodes, current studies still suffer from some challenges and limitations that must be addressed to obtain high efficiency in identifying cancerous nodes. These challenges include using image pre-processing, combining deep learning and machine learning techniques, and constantly adapting to clinical changes, in order to address this. A hybrid methodology has been proposed for detecting cancerous nodules in the lung in medical Computed Tomography (CT) images. It …

Enhancing Image Classification Using A Convolutional Neural Network Model, Zena M. Saadi, Ahmed T. Sadiq, Omar Z. Akif, Marwa M. Eid

Journal of Soft Computing and Computer Applications

In recent years, with the rapid development of the current classification system in digital content identification, automatic classification of images has become the most challenging task in the field of computer vision. As can be seen, vision is quite challenging for a system to automatically understand and analyze images, as compared to the vision of humans. Some research papers have been done to address the issue in the low-level current classification system, but the output was restricted only to basic image features. However, similarly, the approaches fail to accurately classify images. For the results expected in this field, such as …

Improved Rapidly-Exploring Random Tree Using Firefly Algorithm For Robot Path Planning, Dena Kadhim Muhsen, Firas Abdulrazzaq Raheem, Yuhanis Yusof, Ahmed T. Sadiq, Faiz Al Alawy

Journal of Soft Computing and Computer Applications

In robotics, efficient path planning makes robots work independently and move through changing environments over time. This study combines the Rapidly-exploring Random Tree (RRT) architecture with the Firefly Algorithm (FA) to make robot’s path-planning better. The proposed ERRT-FA, which stands for "Enhanced RRT with Firefly Algorithm", generates better routes using Firefly social habits. Plan routes using Firefly social habits can effectively aid in exploring configuration space. The role of the FA is to enhance the RRT algorithm by providing an optimized exploration of the search space, ultimately leading to optimizing the path found by the RRT algorithm and better paths …

Foreword From Editor - 16th Edition: Toward An Inclusive Community Engagement, Yandi Andri Yatmo

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

This edition of AJCE defines and elaborates on the idea of inclusive community engagement as a means to involve the community in a meaningful process. ‘Inclusive’ refers to the principles of encompassing everyone, all individuals and groups alike, regardless of their identity, background, characteristics, needs, and perspectives, thereby ensuring that all voices are represented (Hodkinson, 2011). This practice extends beyond individuals with disabilities and embodies broader ideas of equality. Inclusive engagement plays a crucial part in fostering a constructive dialog that incorporates diverse perspectives within a community. Such engagements prioritize community participation in the decision-making process that affects their well-being …

Satisfaction Of Excellent Service Training Participants With The Kirkpatrick Model At Alia Hospital Depok, Nur Fadilah Dewi

Jurnal Vokasi Indonesia

The study aims to improve the quality of human resources and services at Alia Hospital Depok through evaluation of training programs. The approach used is the Donald Kirkpatrick model evaluation which is a common method used in evaluating the effectiveness of training. The main problem faced by Alia Hospital Depok is the lack of evaluation conducted on the training programs that have been held. Therefore, training evaluation needs to be considered to improve the quality of human resources and services provided. The research method used is a survey by distributing questionnaires to service excellent training participants to evaluate their reactions …

Implementation Challenges And Opportunities Coretax Administration System On The Efficiency Of Tax Administration, Fitria Arianty

Jurnal Vokasi Indonesia

An efficient and transparent tax administration system is essential to ensure the optimization of state revenue and taxpayer compliance. The Indonesian government has initiated the implementation of the Coretax Administration System (CtAS) as part of tax reform efforts to improve efficiency in tax administration. This study aims to analyze the challenges and opportunities faced in the process of implementing CtAS in Indonesia. This study uses a qualitative method with data collection techniques in the form of literature studies, which are continued by conducting a SWOT analysis of this CtAS policy. The results of the discussion show that the main challenges …