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Acceptance And Commitment Therapy: A Treatment Option For Substance Use Disorders, Miriam N. Mukasa, Ashley Yaugher, Ty Aller

All Current Publications

There are many evidence-based treatments for individuals experiencing substance use disorders (SUDs) that support both individuals and families. Psychological treatments are effective for a wide range of SUDs, making them a key approach for helping people with differing needs. This fact sheet provides information on treatments and provides more detail about acceptance and commitment therapy as a SUD treatment support.

Midweek Memo, Georgia Southern University

Midweek Memo

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A Comprehensive Study Of Integration And Alternatives For Concrete In The Construction Industry, Saee Sawlikar

Theses

Concrete dominates the building industry as a construction material, frequently used due to its versatile, enormous application properties and the flexibility it offers. When just traditional concrete is considered, it contributes to only 8% of the total global warming potential. However, due to its countless vast applications, it’s energy and emissions consumption is up to roughly 35% and 38% respectively when compared with other industries. The study focuses on proposing three alternative low-carbon concrete materials with modified component chemical properties with reference to concrete itself and will test if any material could replace and surpass the benefits offered by concrete …

Relationship Between Muscle Activation And Kinematic Features During Baseball Pitching, Maxwell Skene

Theses

Background: Baseball pitching is a biomechanically complex, high-velocity movement that places substantial demands on the upper extremity. Inefficient coordination between muscle activation and kinematic sequencing has been associated with reduced performance and increased injury risk, particularly at the shoulder and elbow. However, the integrated relationship between muscle activation patterns and three-dimensional kinematic features during pitching is not well-documented. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between throwing-arm muscle activation patterns and three-dimensional kinematic characteristics during fastball pitching, with particular emphasis on segmental accelerations, proximal–distal sequencing, and the directional structure of movement quantified using Relative Dimensional Contribution …

Bystander Interventions And Their Impact On Road Injury Outcomes: A Scoping Review, Nicholas Aveyard, George Stephen Russam, Jake Gluyas-Harris, Tim Nutbeam

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Road injury remains a leading global cause of death and disability, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where emergency medical services (EMS) are often limited or incur prolonged response times. In many trauma cases, bystanders are the first to respond and may play a critical role in patient outcomes. While the importance of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in cardiac arrest is well-established, the evidence regarding bystander interventions in trauma care, particularly following road injury, is less well defined. This scoping review systematically examined the prevalence, nature, and impact of bystander interventions following trauma, with particular emphasis on road …

Matter Of Mantilla V. New York City Dept. Of Hous. Preserv. & Dev.

All Decisions

In this CPLR article 78 proceeding, the Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of a tenant's succession rights to a deceased brother's Mitchell-Lama apartment. The landlord (HPD) found the tenant failed to prove primary residency for the required one-year period prior to the brother's death, despite being an eligible family member and listed on income affidavits. While the tenant presented some evidence like SNAP correspondence and power of attorney over the brother's bank account, the Court held the agency had a rational basis for concluding this was insufficient. The Court emphasized its deferential standard of review for administrative determinations, upholding …

Spatial Conversations: Opportunities To Share Geographic Knowledge, L. Jesse Rouse, Barbara L. Maclennan, Susan J. Bergeron, H. Franklin Lafone

Anthropology and Geography

For more than twenty years geographers have taken advantage of “new media” to share information, make connections, and expand the “spatial conversation.” As blogs opened the door for informal self-publishing and communicating about narrow, focused topic areas, geographers began to use emerging media platforms to present ideas to a broader audience, more quickly and interactively, as new data and technologies became available. Audio podcasts and videos broadened the platforms for dissemination and provide a greater level of immersion through digital media. Between the open publishing and subscription opportunities, and interaction provided through comments and social media engagement, a dialectic was …

Workplace Dignity Amongst Clinical Nurses, Jennifer De Beer, Hawazen Rawas, Wadea Beheri

Individual Articles

Background: The workplace environment plays a pivotal role in employees’ lives as they spend many hours there. Recently, greater attention has been placed on workplace conditions as a key social determinant of health. One way through which workplace conditions may affect health is workplace dignity. This study aimed to describe clinical nurses’ workplace dignity.

Methods: The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional. Clinical nurses within a tertiary institution were randomly sampled. Data collection included the Workplace Dignity scale which is an 18 item-seven-point Likert scale consisting of dignity and indignity questions (α.98, and 0.95, respectively). Data collection commenced with a …

Clinical Nurses' Perceived Educational Value Of Nursing Journal Clubs, Jennifer De Beer, Elham Alsanea, Joynalyn Barrios, Shahd Brnawi, Wejdan Barayan, Wadea Beheri, Emily Lenore Heaphy

Individual Articles

Background: Evidence-based practice plays a pivotal role in modern nursing decision-making. Healthcare organizations must ensure that nurses consistently have access to and apply the most current evidence. The journal club is a key method for evidence-based education among healthcare professionals. The study aimed to evaluate the perceived educational value of journal clubs among clinical nurses.

Methods: The study used a cross-sectional descriptive survey approach. The setting included a large tertiary hospital in the western region of Saudi Arabia. A total of 208 nurses (mean age 38.9 ± 9.1 years; 88.9% female) were randomly sampled. Participants had attended an EBP workshop …

Mechanistic And Functional Characterization Of Abtb2 As A Novel Target For Pancreatic Cancer Therapy, Nan Lyu, Olamide T Olaoba, Qiongling Wang, Harinarayanan Janakiraman, Xinjian Liu, Ernest Ramsay Camp, Kun Cheng, Eric T Kimchi, Yi Miao, Kevin F Staveley-O'Carroll, Guangfu Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BTB/POZ domain-containing proteins are increasingly recognized for their context-dependent roles in cancer, acting as either tumor suppressors or oncogenic drivers depending on the cancer type. Among them, the function of ankyrin repeat and BTB domain-containing protein 2 (ABTB2) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly lethal malignancy, has remained unexplored. In this study, we employed comprehensive functional genomics approaches—siRNA/shRNA knockdown, CRISPR-Cas9 knockout, plasmid-based overexpression, and a Cre-LoxP transgenic mouse model—to systemically modulate ABTB2 expression in human and murine PDAC cell lines, as well as in the KPC mouse model of PDAC. Our gain- and loss-of-function studies revealed that ABTB2 plays …

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists For Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomised Controlled Trials, Song Peng Ang, Jia Ee Chia, Bruno Bezerra Lima, Jose Iglesias, Eunseuk Lee, Chayakrit Krittanawong, Mahboob Alam, Debabrata Mukherjee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The role of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) in acute myocardial infarction (MI) remains controversial, with conflicting evidence from landmark trials. We aimed to assess the impact of MRAs on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes post-acute MI.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane CENTRAL databases up to February 2025 for randomised controlled trials comparing MRAs with placebo or standard care in adults experiencing acute MI. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality; secondary outcomes included cardiovascular mortality, heart failure, recurrent MI and ventricular arrhythmia. Data were pooled using random-effects models, with heterogeneity explored via subgroup analyses and meta-regression.

Results: 15 trials …

Life-Threatening Bradycardia In Anti-Nmda-Receptor Encephalitis And A Novel Use For Permanent Pacing, Sarah Tucker, Abhijit Das, Andres Jimenez, Areeba Basit, Yike Jiang, Emily A Smitherman, Heather Van Mater, Taylor Howard, Alexander J Sandweiss, Kristen S Fisher

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Pediatric anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (pNMDARE) is an autoantibody-mediated disorder that can cause severe autonomic dysfunction, including symptomatic bradycardia and asystole. Dysautonomia can last for years, making it very challenging to manage.

Objective: To describe outcomes of 5 pNMDARE patients with life-threatening bradycardic and/or asystolic events who were managed with permanent or semi-permanent pacemaker implantation.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 5 patients from multiple institutions. We included patients with a diagnosis of pNMDARE (confirmed by positive cerebrospinal fluid and/or serum anti-NMDAR antibodies) who had a permanent or semi-permanent pacemaker placed due to symptomatic bradycardia, sinus pauses, and/or …

Pooled Randomised Quartet Trials Assessing Effectiveness Of A Single Pill For Hypertension, Simone Marschner, Mark D Huffman, Desi Quintans, Jody Ciolino, Abigail Baldridge, Danielle Lazar, Emily R Atkins, Graham S Hillis, Mark R Nelson, Markus Schlaich, Anthony Rodgers, Clara K Chow

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide, controlled by only one in five adults. Two trials (Australia and USA) found a single quadpill containing a quarter dosage of four classes of medication effective in reducing blood pressure (BP) among participants with hypertension. By pooling these trials, we can estimate the overall benefit of the quadpill and its heterogeneity across subgroups and two important barriers for BP control: clinician medication inertia and participant medication adherence.

METHODS: In a prespecified pooled individual participant data analysis of two QUARTET randomised, multicentre, double-blinded trials in people with hypertension using ≤1medication, quadpill …

Genomic Characterization Of Colorectal Tumors: Insights Into Significantly Mutated Genes, Pathways, And Survival Outcomes, Tabitha A Harrison, Yin Cao, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Identifying significantly mutated genes in tumors aids in understanding disease etiology and survival and may aid in the discovery of new drug targets. We aimed to detect and characterize mutated genes from a large, well-characterized group of colorectal cancers.

METHODS: In tumor and paired normal samples from 6,111 colorectal patients, we sequenced 199 genes identified from whole exome sequencing of over 1,100 tumors. Analyses focused on non-silent mutations. We classified significantly mutated genes after stratification by hypermutation status, and estimated associations of mutated genes/pathways with disease-specific (DS)-survival using Cox regression, adjusting for age, sex, mutation burden, hypermutation status, and …

Applied Methods For Matching Implementation Strategies To Determinants: A Scoping Review Of Scientific And Grey Literature, And Qualitative Exploration Of Practice Experiences, Christiaan Vis, Leti Van Bodegom-Vos, Bethany Hipple-Walters, Byron J Powell, Erwin Ista, Femke Van Nassau

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Tailored implementation addresses the inherent dynamic complexity and heterogeneous nature of implementation practice. In general, tailored implementation involves setting implementation objectives, identifying determinants, matching strategies to those determinants, and developing an evaluation plan. How matching a specific implementation strategy to a determinant is done remains largely unknown. This study aimed to provide an overview of methods for matching strategies that have been applied in research and practice.

METHODS: A scoping review of scientific and grey literature was conducted. A Rapid Assessment Procedure approach guided the design and analysis. Five online scientific bibliographic databases and various Dutch websites were searched …

Presence Of Eosinophils May Represent An Earlier Stage In Achalasia Pathogenesis, Andrea Costantini, Chandra Prakash Gyawali, Francesca Forattini, Valentina Angerilli, Matteo Ghisa, Luca Provenzano, Giovanni Capovilla, Loredana Nicoletti, Michele Valmasoni, Matteo Fassan, Edoardo Vincenzo Savarino, Renato Salvador

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Intraepithelial eosinophils have been described in patients with esophageal motor disorders. Conversely, motor disorders and even achalasia have been reported in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

OBJECTIVES: This prospective study aimed to further investigate the association between eosinophilia and achalasia.

DESIGN: This is a prospective study.

METHODS: A series of 30 consecutive treatment-naïve achalasia patients (mean age: 45.5 years, 53% female) undergoing laparoscopic myotomy were prospectively enrolled. Preoperative demographic and clinical data, radiological findings, and high-resolution manometry (HRM) features were collected. Patients underwent upper endoscopy with biopsy sampling before surgery, and two samples of distal esophageal muscle were obtained …

Limited Agreement On Acl Tear Location Between Arthroscopy And Mri: A Prospective Evaluation, Richard Silverman, Derrick M Knapik, Matthew V Smith, Jonathan C Baker, Kelby Napier, Matthew J Matava, Robert H Brophy

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Renewed interest in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) preservation has led to increased focus on tear location within the knee joint in treatment decisions, with primary ACL repair reserved for proximal tears. Retrospective studies have reported varying tear locations in adults when assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with few studies comparing tear location on MRI versus intraoperative findings.

PURPOSE: To prospectively determine the distribution of ACL tear location assessed on MRI versus intraoperative evaluation to test the hypothesis that < 15% of ACL tears are proximal type avulsions.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

METHODS: A total of 174 patients with clinically confirmed full-thickness ACL …

Integration Of Algae In Buildings: Challenges And Opportunities, Marwa Said Saad, Mostafa Refaat, Ashraf Nessim

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Buildings produce 40% of energy-associated CO2 emissions and 35% of worldwide energy use which makes it one of the main factors of global warming. The use of bioactive materials on building façades is a creative way to address the aforementioned problems. The biotechnical potential of microalgae architecture to achieve net-zero energy architecture while simultaneously advancing ecological sustainability and occupant well-being has drawn attention. This paper aims to analyzing and investigating techniques of integration of algae in architecture showing the challenges and opportunities of this implementation. Analytical and Comparative analytical method were used in this paper, Initially, a thorough literature review …

College Athlete Mental Health: Identifying Sources Of Support In Collegiate Athletics, Levone Lee, Lauren Beasley, Kaylee A. Palomino, Patricia M. Kelshaw, Joycelyn Kennedy, Deborah Chanan, Elinah Russell, Tarkington J. Newman

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Despite having access to resources and services, college athletes continue to encounter negative mental health experiences and outcomes. Prior research has begun to identify key sources of social support within collegiate athletics, including teammates and athletic trainers. However, there is limited understanding of with whom college athletes feel most comfortable discussing their mental health. The current study aims to identify preferred sources of social support when athletes wish to discuss their mental health and, in turn, examine differences in preference among unique college athlete populations. In total, 247 college athletes participated in the study, representing eight universities within an NCAA …

Developing Nlp-Based Open-Source Tools To Improve Medication Order Interpretation In Ehr Systems, Preslie Breton

Student Scholar Symposium

Interpreting free-text medication orders in Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems is challenging due to variability, increasing the risk of errors and non-compliance with Joint Commission (TJC) standards. This research develops Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools to enhance medication order accuracy, particularly for Duplicate PRN orders. Our open-source, vendor-neutral approach ensures broad applicability across healthcare institutions while maintaining data security.

Using Python and the Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK), we implemented a four-phase methodology. First, the NLP framework was developed on Google Colab for collaborative accessibility. Next, models were trained on 10,000 anonymized synthetic free-text medication orders to detect non-compliant entries. Model …

Using Technology To Boost Grocery Shopping Skills In Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Angela Richardson, Kim Pierson, Elise Shewmaker

Student Scholar Symposium

Student Scholars Symposium

Developing Nlp-Based Open-Source Tools To Improve Titratable Infusion Order Interpretation In Ehr Systems, Benjamin Brewer, Jay Dorris

Student Scholar Symposium

This study evaluates the feasibility of using natural language processing (NLP) tools to identify errors in titratable infusion orders for Joint Commission readiness. Titratable infusions are adjusted at the bedside by nurses based on predefined parameters, such as monitoring goals, titration rate, conditions for adjustment, and maximum dose. These parameters are often documented as free text within order sets but can be inadvertently removed during the verification process. Some electronic health records (EHRs) may not prominently display this critical information, leading to potential Joint Commission violations. A synthetic dataset was generated using artificial intelligence to simulate one year’s worth of …

The Fast And The Nutritious: Rapid Lc-Ms/Ms Analysis Of Vitamin B Complex Pharmacokinetics, Anna Losher, Abigail Davis, Yusra Ahmed, Sora Ghanem, Laurel Littlefield, Matthew J. Vergne

Student Scholar Symposium

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Role Of Hd5 In Colonic Epithelial Cell Death, Maryam M. Gerges, Amanda D. Williams

Student Scholar Symposium

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks healthy tissue. IBD can occur in both adults and children, describing Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Colitis (CC). Our lab studies human alpha defensin 5 (HD5), an antimicrobial peptide that normally maintains small intestinal sterility. However, in CC patients, HD5 is overexpressed in the colon. Preliminary data suggests that HD5 increases colonic cell death. This project aims to determine if HD5 induces apoptosis and its mechanisms. To this end, we will test if the suppression of caspase enzymes with a pan-caspase inhibitor reduces cell death triggered by …

Environmental, Social, And Governance (Esg) Teaching Resources For Use In Any Accounting Class, Misty Newby

Student Scholar Symposium

With current and future Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting regulations, industry pressures, and stakeholder expectations, many organizations integrate ESG goals into business strategy. To aid accounting faculty in their goal of preparing students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to create, review, and audit ESG reports, this flexible, three-part ESG teaching module can be used in whole or in part in any accounting course. This teaching resource provides lecture files (Google Slides), lecture notes, and student assignments and can be scaled up or down to fit the lecture needs. Topics covered in the modules include Sustainability, Climate Change, and …

Investigating The Effects Of Albendazole On The Hatch Rate And Motility Of C. Elegans Eggs, Jennifer Domingo Diaz, Emma Duerson

Student Scholar Symposium

Over 1.5 billion individuals a year are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (STH) such as whipworm, hookworm, and Ascaris. These infections have detrimental effects on human growth, nutrition, and cognition leading to a cycle of poverty. Currently, The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes four drugs to treat STH for mass drug administration which consist of two mechanisms of action. These fall into two classes, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists and benzimidazoles. Albendazole, the drug of choice, is a beta-tubulin inhibitor that induces the immobilization and death of STH (Malik and Dua, 2023). The widespread use of these drugs and the limited mechanism …

Importance Of Sustainability Within Children’S Hospitals, Ashley Newby

Student Scholar Symposium

Author: Ashley Newby

Presentation Type: Poster

Faculty Mentor: G. Dodd Galbreath

Discipline: Sustainability and Pediatric Nursing

Importance of Sustainability within Children’s Hospitals

Sustainability is an important aspect of every environment that one encounters. For pediatric patients entering a children’s hospital, it is probably not something that is important and at the top of their list when looking for healthcare. However, sustainable children’s hospitals have not only their patients as their first priority, but they also take the earth into account. Some might not realize that they are walking into a sustainable children’s hospital unless someone tells them.

Topics include:

-Look …

Heavy Metal Thunder: Nashville's Lakes And Streams Bring The Noise, Deron Young, Leila Ais, Leah Jacob, Matthew J. Vergne

Student Scholar Symposium

Surface water bodies, including lakes and rivers, can contain naturally occurring and pollution-derived chemicals and metals that may pose risks to public health. This study aimed to identify and quantify metal concentrations in water samples from the Cumberland River in Nashville and Clarksville, as well as Radnor Lake, to assess potential health risks for water sports participants and those using the water for drinking or agricultural purposes.

Seven water samples were collected and analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), a highly sensitive technique for detecting trace elements. The samples were prepared by adding nitric acid and analyzed …

Investigation Of Aldehyde Oxidase Inhibition By Clopidogrel And Its Thiol Metabolite, Rachel Crouch, Merna Kamal, Hilina Woldeamanuel

Student Scholar Symposium

Aldehyde oxidase (AO) is an enzyme that metabolizes drugs containing aromatic azaheterocycles. Small thiol-containing molecules have been reported to inactivate AO. Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet agent used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Clopidogrel is a prodrug that is bioactivated in vivo by cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 into a thiol metabolite. Our research aims to explore whether the clopidogrel thiol metabolite can inhibit AO, leading to potential drug-drug interactions when co-administered with other drugs that are metabolized by AO. In order to determine whether the prodrug clopidogrel and/or its thiol metabolite inhibit AO, O6-benzylguanine (AO substrate) was incubated with human …

Understanding Urban Homelessness: A Comparative Analysis Of Nyc, La, And Seattle, Mia Gregory

Student Scholar Symposium

Homelessness remains a persistent crisis in America’s largest and most diverse cities, despite differences in housing strategies, policy, and economic conditions. This research examines why major U.S. cities continue to experience high levels of homelessness by analyzing New York City, Los Angeles, and Seattle—three cities that consistently rank among the highest in homeless populations. According to USA Facts (2024), these cities account for roughly 33.5% of the nation’s homeless population, underscoring the urgency of this issue.

This study investigates factors contributing to the differences in homelessness rates among these cities, including housing affordability, policy effectiveness, and social services and resources. …