Digital Commons Network^™

The Good Life And Human Flourishing: Timeless Principles From Aristotle To Tolstoy, Daniel Mark Kelly

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Dr. Paul Bryman V. Phil Murphy

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Medial Artery Calcification As A Hidden Driver Of Osteomyelitis: The Impact Of Sad-Mac On Microvascular Perfusion And Antibiotic Delivery In The Diabetic Foot, Yasim Zafar, Paul Tran, Ofsman Quintana, Dustin Prins, Hooman Mir

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Purpose: To evaluate the association between small arterial disease with medial artery calcification (SAD-MAC) and increased risk of osteomyelitis in diabetic foot patients. This study explores how impaired microvascular perfusion contributes to ischemic ulcers, infection progression, and reduced antibiotic efficacy, leading to poor healing and higher amputation rates.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on nine diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease who presented with ischemic or gangrenous toes. Patients lacking radiographs or with non-diabetic ischemic etiologies were excluded. Radiographs were evaluated for small arterial disease with medial artery calcification (SAD-MAC) and graded using the …

Improving Nurses’ Compliance With Vte Protocol Using A Checklist In The Cvicu, Deokhwa Kim Bsn, Rn, Ccrn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose This quality improvement (QI) project is focused on enhancing nurses’ adherence to the hospital guidelines to decrease VTE occurrences.

Background The project was implemented in 35bed CVICU in the Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas where has about 150 registered nurses are employed.

Methodology The VTE prevention checklist was used as an intervention and distributed to nurses to use every shift and collected after shift. Random audit was performed once a week. Collected checklist completion percentage and audit results were aggregated by week and presented by Run chart. The monthly VTE occurrences are obtained from Quality and Safety department.

Results …

Resilience In African History, Cymone Fourshey

Faculty Journal Articles

Between 1960, when seventeen African countries gained independence from French colonial rule, and 2020, when the global pandemic of Covid-19 emerged, just over five hundred scholarly books or articles were published addressing, to varying degrees, resilience on the African continent. Working toward this special issue has made it clear that there continues to be a great deal of slippage in how scholars describe resilience. This concept is often conflated with terms such as “resistance,” “persistence,” and “endurance.” While these do express ways humans respond to adversity, they are distinct from resilience, which is rooted in adaptation not opposition.1 Some people …

Gambling Behaviors, Perceptions, And Risks Among Nevada Adults, Andrea Dassopoulos

International Gaming Institute Faculty Research

This study presents a statewide assessment of gambling behaviors, perceptions, and gambling-related risk among 1,078 Nevada adults. Using a mixed-source, population-calibrated survey developed by UNLV and NORC, the research measures gambling participation, motivations, venue exposure, and attitudes toward harm, treatment, and regulation. The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) identifies substantial levels of harm: nearly half of past-year gamblers show some degree of risk, with the highest rates among younger adults, racially diverse groups, gaming and hospitality workers, and those who gamble in neighborhood bars or slot parlors. The survey also documents public beliefs about gambling addiction, youth exposure, stigma, and …

Responding To A Health System Need: A New Clinical Nurse Specialist Model, Jade Roper, Amy Ries, Beckie Kronebusch, Lisa Mcconnell, Rachel Ann Moody

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The purpose of this presentation is to share our journey in developing a new clinical nurse specialist (CNS) model to respond to a health system need for advancing nursing excellence across patient populations, specialties, and the continuum of care. Our goals were to optimize the work and span of the CNS, while staying true to the CNS core competencies. This model redesign allows for an equitable approach to meet the needs of a complex health system spanning two states with multiple hospitals and clinics that support community and rural healthcare. This model utilizes immersive and consultative strategies to partner with …

Variability In Insurance Adequacy For Children With Special Health Care Needs On Medicaid., Amy J. Houtrow, Matt Hall, James M. Perrin, Dennis Z. Kuo, Jeffrey D. Colvin, Allysa Ware, Jeffery S. Schiff, Jay Berry, Ryan J. Coller

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

This survey study quantifies state-to-state variation and predictors of Medicaid insurance continuity and adequacy among children with special health care needs.

Inhibitory Control, Attentional Bias, And Palatable Food Consumption In Adolescents: A Laboratory Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial., Carolina M. Bejarano, Adrian Ortega, Christopher C. Cushing

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Understanding relationships among inhibitory control, attentional bias to food cues, and food consumption in nonclinical adolescent samples can inform preventive efforts for disordered eating and associated health risks.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study conducted preliminary testing of an inhibitory control training intervention on attentional bias toward food cues, hedonic appetite, and food consumption, as well as examined inhibitory control's relationship with hedonic appetite, food consumption, binge eating, and cognitive restraint.

METHODS: Participants (N=43; mean age 15.1, SD 1.7 years; 31/43, 72% female) were randomized to a food cue-specific go/no go inhibitory control training intervention or control group, took part in …

Moderators Of A Mhealth Intervention For Adolescent Physical Activity: Intervention Refinement Study., Christopher C. Cushing, Adrian Ortega, David A. Fedele, Calissa J. Leslie-Miller, Jordan A. Carlson, Ann M. Davis, Joshua M. Smyth

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: An adaptive text messaging intervention to promote adolescent physical activity has demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in a recent proof-of-concept study. To inform future intervention development, a secondary analysis of the data examined how physical activity is influenced by mood, environment, and physical feelings of energy and fatigue.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to understand how both macro- and microtemporal variables (eg, psychological and environmental variables at both levels) influence the efficacy of a brief mobile health intervention (ie, NUDGE) for physical activity.

METHODS: Using a matched control design, we evaluated the effect of daily positive and negative affect, …

Reimagining Pediatric Care: The Future Of Telehealth, Mike Smith, Morgan Waller

Pediatrics in Practice: A CME Podcast

Telehealth has transformed the way families access pediatric care, offering convenience without compromising quality. In this episode, we sit down with Morgan Waller, Director of Telemedicine at Children’s Mercy, to explore the latest advancements in pediatric telehealth. From innovative technologies to strategies for improving access in rural communities, we discuss how virtual care is shaping the future of pediatrics and what it means for families and providers alike.

Click here to stream the podcast episode.

Welcoming Spaces: Parent Leadership And Early Literacy As Community-Based Co-Regulation Supports, Lauren S. Dake

Masters Projects

Many young children exhibit challenging behavior in early childhood settings, often as a response to high levels of stress in their home and community environments. This applied master’s project presents Welcoming Spaces, a parent-led initiative developed to support children’s emotional development, caregiver well-being, and early literacy through informal, community-based experiences. In response to concerns about rising dysregulation and reduced access to supportive environments, the project offers portable play areas hosted by parents at events such as school functions, library gatherings, and local festivals. These spaces include calming sensory activities and opportunities for shared reading, while also providing caregivers with …

2025-12-05 Minutes & Appendices, Longwood University

Board of Visitors Meeting Minutes 1964-

No abstract provided.

The Disability Squeeze: Out-Of-Pocket Expenses And Unmet Needs For Disability-Related Goods And Services In The U.S, Nanette Goodman, Daniel Mont, Zachary Morris, Ghenet Weldeslassie

The Lender Center for Social Justice

This article documents the “disability squeeze,” where individuals face high out-of-pocket costs and unmet needs for disability supports. It calls for policy reforms to reduce inequities.

Propuesta Curricular Para La Asistencia Médica Bilingüe Orientada A La Concordancia De Lenguas Y La Interpretación Médica En Español, David Sanchez-Jimenez, Noemi Rodriguez, Justin Harnandan, Margarita Perez, Melissa Garcia

Publications and Research

Resumen: El presente trabajo describe el proceso para establecer una especialización secundaria bilingüe centrada en la comunicación y la interpretación médica en una universidad de Estados Unidos designada como Institución al Servicio de los Hispanos. Este nuevo título universitario brindará a los estudiantes bilingües de español e inglés especializados en el área de la salud la oportunidad de mejorar sus destrezas comunicativas para convertirse en competentes profesionales de la salud concordantes de lengua.

Abstract:This paper details the process to establish a new bilingual academic minor in health communication and medical interpretation at a United States university designated as a Hispanic-Serving …

2024 Child Fatality Annual Report, Tennessee. Department Of Health.

Child Fatalities in Tennessee Report

No abstract provided.

Minutes, Global Initiatives Committee Meeting, Friday, December 5, 2025, Rollins College Global Initiatives Committee

The Center for Global Initiatives

No abstract provided.

U-Glide Program Fall 2025, Unf Office Of Undergraduate Research, Unf Graduate School

Undergraduate – Graduate Learning, Inquiry, and Distinctive Experimentation (U-GLIDE) Symposium Programs

No abstract provided.

Radiation-Induced Brachial Plexopathy: Current Understanding, Diagnosis, And Treatment Options, Alex G. Lambi, Tomas Holly, Ryan E. Tomlinson, Mary F. Barbe

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (RIBP) is a gruesome complication of cancers treated with radiation therapy around the lung and chest wall, head and neck, and breast and axilla. It can occur in an early-onset (transient) or a late-onset (chronic) fashion. The diagnosis involves exclusion of a compressive neoplastic process, either new or recurrent, and relies largely on patient symptomatology without well-validated, objective scoring systems. Treatment options remain limited as no major advances have been made to prevent or halt disease progression. This article reviews the background incidence, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of RIBP. In addition to surgical treatment options, nonsurgical modalities, often …

Outcomes After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction And Repair In Nonthrowing Athletes, William L. Johns, Neel K. Patel, Benjamin Miltenberg, Ryan W. Paul, Adeeb J. Hanna, Michael C. Ciccotti, Steven B. Cohen, Michael G. Ciccotti, Christopher C. Dodson

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears in nonthrowing athletes is less commonly performed, and the outcomes of that management have not been thoroughly described.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical outcomes of surgical management of UCL injury in nonthrowing athletes.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on all patients who underwent UCL reconstruction or repair across a 10-year period (2010-2020), with nonthrowing athletes who had >2-year follow-up being specifically identified. Demographic variables such as age, sport participation, concomitant procedures, and graft type, as well as postoperative outcomes such as complications, …

Addressing Malnutrition In Togo: A Community Nursing Initiative For Sustainable Health Outcomes, Estevao Frederico De Souza, Tricia M. Grinder

Biennial Convention (CONV)

This community nursing project was developed as part of an international clinical initiative in partnership with global organizations in Togo. Findings from assessment tools and research identified malnutrition as a critical issue among children, significantly contributing to high childhood mortality rates. The World Food Programme (2022) reported that 24% of Togolese children suffer from chronic malnutrition, and the Global Hunger Index ranked Togo 92nd out of 120 countries (Global Nutrition Report, n.d.).

The Togo nursing initiative addressed malnutrition through three levels of intervention: education, screening, and treatment. At the primary intervention level, nursing education aimed to raise awareness about nutrition …

A Case Of The Blue Blues: The Safety Issue Of Recognizing And Avoiding The Retinal Toxicity Of Methylene Blue Compared To Brilliant Blue And Trypan Blue, Sidra Zafar, Jose S. Pulido, Samir N. Patel, Yoshihiro Yonekawa, Jordan D. Deaner

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

While blue vital dyes remain indispensable in ophthalmic surgery, medication errors, particularly the inadvertent use of methylene blue instead of trypan blue and brilliant blue, pose a significant risk to patient safety. Methylene blue has been reported to cause damage to anterior segment structures, We reported a case of inner retinal toxicity from injection of methylene blue into the vitreous cavity resulting in profound vision loss. Standardization, vigilant verification, and safer packaging are critical to preventing these never events.

Mapping Phosphorylated Tau Using Multidimensional Mri In Alzheimer’S Disease, Hongyi Zhang, Caitlin S. Latimer, C. Dirk Keene, Dan Benjamini, Shinjini Kundu

Electrical and Systems Engineering Undergraduate Student Research

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that severely impairs memory and cognition, posing an increasing public health challenge worldwide. Current research suggests that AD is strongly linked to the abnormal accumulation of phosphorylated tau (pTau), a pathological hallmark reflecting neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Clinically, pTau is typically assessed via cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis or tau positron emission tomography (tau-PET). Although informative, CSF analysis is invasive, and tau-PET requires ionizing radiation. Furthermore, tau-PET is limited in routine clinical settings due to its high cost and radiation exposure. There remains an urgent need for a non-invasive, safe, and widely …

Enhancing Breast Cancer Detection In Mammographic Imaging Using Explainable Clinical Decision Support System And Framework, Ahed Abugabah, Prashant Kumar Shukla, Piyush Kumar Shukla, Abhishek Dwivedi

All Works

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality among women worldwide, where early and precise detection plays a vital role in improving survival rates and treatment outcomes. However, conventional deep learning approaches often encounter challenges in handling dense mammographic tissues and lack transparency in decision-making, limiting their clinical reliability. To address these limitations, this study introduces TransYOLO-GJO, an explainable and optimized detection framework that integrates transformer-based attention mechanisms into the YOLOv9 architecture and leverages the Golden Jackal Optimization (GJO) algorithm for hyperparameter tuning. The transformer encoder enhances contextual feature extraction, particularly in dense breast regions, while GJO dynamically …

The Social Side Of Aging In Place: Community, Belonging, And Cultural Fit, Michael Crespo

University Honors Theses

Aging in place, or the capacity of older adults to remain in their homes and communities as they age has been a central tenet of the field of gerontology and the gerontological social policy area. Although access to physical facilities and service provision has been the main focus of traditional studies, contemporary experience demonstrates that social and cultural issues are equally important as determinants of the quality of life. This thesis discusses the influence of social networks, cultural congruence, and community belonging on the aging in place experience. The content of the study is based on the Ecological Model of …

The Role Of Sustainability In Family And Consumer Science Curricula, Emily Hill

Honors Theses

As climate change intensifies and global food systems face growing environmental pressures, there is an increasing need to prepare younger generations to respond to these challenges. Sustainability education is increasingly recognized as essential for helping students understand the connection between human actions, environmental resilience, and their overall well-being. This form of education already has a foundation in the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) curriculum. This study examines the effects of integrating sustainability lessons into secondary Family and Consumer Sciences food and nutrition courses in a rural Michigan high school. It was hypothesized that if students participate in sustainability presentations and …

Unveiling The Genomic Blueprint Of Two Pantoea Agglomerans Phages: Lia And Yaegar As Emerging Members Of The Chaseviridae Family, Leslie M. Ewool

Theses and Dissertations

Bacteriophages represent an essential component of microbial ecosystems and a promising resource for biocontrol. This study presents a comprehensive comparative genomic and evolutionary characterization of two novel bacteriophages that infect Pantoea agglomerans, Lia and Yaegar, belonging to the Loessnervirus genus within the Chaseviridae family. Both Lia and Yaegar possess double-stranded DNA genomes of approximately 54 kb with 44.4% GC content and 82 predicted open reading frames (ORFs). Functional annotation revealed distinct modules for replication, structural assembly, and lysis, but no genes associated with lysogeny, antibiotic resistance, or virulence. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis indicated over 96% similarity between Lia, Yaegar, …

Teaching With V.I.S.I.O.N.: A Qualitative Case Study, Abbrissola A. Shull

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

This qualitative case study explored how those matriculating through a teacher education program can develop a critical consciousness of K-12 students experiencing homelessness or high mobility using the Teaching with V.I.S.I.O.N workshop model. This acronym stands for V: Value the culture and lived experiences of students reflected in the classroom, I: Implicit Bias Awareness, S: Study scenarios using the equity literacy case analysis approach (Gorski, 2018), I: Increase the diversity of texts provided in the classroom to reflect these experiences, O: On-going reflection regarding current practices and ways to improve using equity literacy (Gorski, 2018), …

Perception Of Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury Regarding The Veterans Administration Rehabilitation Process, Kalangie J. Serrano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a social work practice gap on the perceptions of veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) regarding the Veterans Administration's (VA’s) rehabilitation process in terms of its ability to enhance their vocational skills and employability. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the vocational and employment needs of military veterans with TBI and to understand their perceptions and challenges in navigating the vocational rehabilitation and employment process. Using a generic qualitative approach and ecological systems theory, data were collected through semistructured interviews with seven veterans who had participated in rehabilitation programs. Thematic analysis of the data revealed …

Pregnancy Intention And Maternal Morbidity In Oklahoma And Mississippi: A Moderation Analysis Of Abortion Restriction Policies, Vicki Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

More than half of all pregnancies are unintended (mistimed or unwanted), and women with unplanned pregnancies may face economic hardships for families and additional health consequences if they have pre-existing medical conditions. This quantitative study was conducted to examine the relationship between pregnancy intention levels and severe acute maternal morbidity, specifically chorioamnionitis, among women who gave birth in Oklahoma and Mississippi in 2022. Using secondary data (N=1939) from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Automated Research Files and state-level abortion policy data from the Guttmacher Institute, this study employed Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological model framework to investigate the relationship between pregnancy …