Digital Commons Network^™

An Unusual Case Of Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis: Diagnostic Insights In The Absence Of Classic Systemic Symptoms, Henry Lim, Jonah Gutierrez, Rafael Do Valle, Reem Ayoub, Marshall Hall, Christian Scheufele, Garrett Furth, Michael Carletti, Stephen Weis

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: Mastocytosis is a disorder characterized by an abnormal clonal accumulation and subsequent activation of mast cells within one or more organs. It is generally classified as either cutaneous, with or without systemic involvement, or systemic without cutaneous disease based on major and minor criterion. Indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) is a subclass of systemic mastocytosis with generally good prognosis. While the etiology of ISM is not completely understood, those who are affected typically have the KIT D816V mast cell receptor mutation. Given that ISM is mast cell mediated, patients predominantly present with a wide range of symptoms related to mast …

Current Trends In School Nursing For Diabetes & Dermatology, Ali Al-Nahi, Jeffrey Dickerson, Enith Espinosa Palmett, Shterna Frand, Garrett Furth, Matthew Gutzmer, Marshall Hall, Sana Khan, Shana-Kay Lambert-Johnson, Henry Lim, Kelly Mofor, Lakshmi Morla, Ali Nazim, Rui Zhang, Christian Scheufele, Zara Soomro, Michele Mccarroll, Taylor Pickering, Jasmine Silva, Brina Gonzalez, Devika Adusumilli, Sherri Morgan, Nischal Pokhrel

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Background: School nurses are on the front lines of assessing, identifying and treating school-age children with a number of health complications. Implementing nursing services in schools has previously demonstrated improved medical care costs for students, less productivity loss for parents, and less productivity loss for teachers. As a result, nursing services in schools provide a cost-beneficial investment of public money, and warrant both financial support from policy makers as well as educational support from local healthcare services. Aim Statement: This quality improvement project addressed the targeted continuing education gap topics of Dermatology and Diabetes management in school age children. Methods: …

A Case Of Neutrophilic Dermatosis Of The Dorsal Hands With Post-Traumatic Onset, Marshall Hall, Kristina Kafle, Henry Lim, Christian Scheufele, Garrett Furth, Michael Carletti, Stephen Weis

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Background Sweet Syndrome is an acute, febrile neutrophilic dermatosis that is characterized by painful red lesions, fever, and neutrophilia with histological findings of dermal neutrophilic infiltrate. Neutrophilic Dermatosis of the Dorsal Hands is a localized variant of Sweet Syndrome. Neutrophilic Dermatosis of the Dorsal Hands presents with focused lesions on the dorsal hands, most commonly between the index finger and thumb, typically with fewer systemic manifestations. This condition presents significant diagnostic challenges as it can mimic infectious processes, potentially leading to delayed appropriate treatment. Case Information A 64-year-old male presented to the emergency department with wounds on the bilateral hands. …

Investigating The Relationship Between Skin Color, Ethnicity, And The Fitzpatrick Skin Scale, Henry Lim, Dana Olsen, Reem Ayoub, Maria Francesca Ysabelle Martinez, Rafael Do Valle, Kristina Kafle, Christina Guo, Marshall Hall, Christian Scheufele, Michael Carletti, Stephen Weis

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: The Fitzpatrick skin scale has long been used as a proxy for skin tone categorization. However, its initial creation was to classify reactivity of white skin to ultraviolet A radiation. A reported one-third of dermatologists conflate the Fitzpatrick skin scale for race and ethnicity. Approximately half of the dermatologists also reported utilizing the Fitzpatrick scale to describe skin color. The goal of this study was to compare the Fitzpatrick scale to skin color and ethnicity in a larger, cohort including the full spectrum of skin tones. Methods: Subjects completed a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire encompassed subjective classification methods: self-reported …

A Case Of Biopsy-Proven Atopic Dermatitis Perpetuated By Psychosomatic Factors, Henry Lim, Jamie Y. Choe, Marshall Hall, Arianne Felicitas, Christian Scheufele, Garrett Furth, Michael Carletti, Stephen Weis

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: Psychodermatology is an interdisciplinary branch of psychosomatic medicine that addresses interactions between the psyche and skin. Stress is often a key exacerbating factor and highlights the bidirectional relationship between psychological factors and skin disorders. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin condition affecting pediatric and adult populations with an estimated global prevalence of approximately 2.6%, or approximately 204 million people. AD classically presents with a red, scaly, pruritic rash. Here, we present a case of biopsy-proven AD induced by stress-associated behaviors related to patient-identified obsessive-compulsive habits. Case Presentation: A 61-year-old female presented for persistent itching and white discoloration in …

Molluscum Dermatitis In A Pediatric Patient, Garrett Furth, Olivia Mayer, Marshall Hall, Henry Lim, Christian Scheufele, Michael Carletti, Stephen Weis

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing condition characterized by irritation, redness, inflammation, and itching of the skin. The cause of AD is theorized to be multifactorial, including genetic components, such as mutations in filaggrin, environmental exposures, and immune predisposition. AD often presents in childhood and adolescence, but can appear at any age. AD eruptions arise through various triggers, which commonly include soaps, detergents, fabrics, and cold or hot weather. Importantly, viral infections can also serve as a trigger, causing systemic inflammation via host defense mechanisms. Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a double-stranded DNA virus that classically manifests as small, dome-shaped, …

Clinical Evaluation And Management Of Terra Firma-Forme Dermatosis: Insights From Two Diverse Cases, Henry Lim, Rafael Do Valle, Reem Ayoub, Marshall Hall, Michael Carletti, Stephen Weis

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Terra Firma-Forme Dermatosis (TFFD), also known as Duncan’s dirty dermatosis is a benign, asymptomatic dermatologic condition characterized by well-demarcated brown patches to hyperkeratotic papules or plaques. It most commonly affects the neck, trunk, and face but can appear on other body regions. A key diagnostic feature is that these lesions persist despite routine washing with soap and water but can be removed by forcibly wiping the affected area with 70% isopropyl alcohol, revealing normal underlying skin. The exact etiology of TFFD remains unknown, though it is thought to involve abnormal keratinization or delayed desquamation. This condition is often underdiagnosed or …

Development And Validation Of An Accurate And Precise Skin Color Scale, Henry Lim, Christina Guo, Reem Ayoub, Rafael Do Valle, Kristina Kafle, Ysabelle Martinez, Dana Olsen, Marshall Hall, Christian Scheufele, Michael Carletti, Stephen Weis

North Texas Research Forum 2025

Introduction: Utilization of the Fitzpatrick scale to describe skin color does not adequately account for variations in pigmentation that are reflective of skin color characteristics of persons from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. This study aims to create a better way to describe skin color. Methods: We developed an 11-point color scale. This Skin Color Scale (SCS) was reproduced onto a physical card that could be placed onto a research participant’s inner arms for independent scale interpretation. Participants and two investigators selected the best matching scale interpretation value for each arm. Self-acquired and investigator assessed Fitzpatrick scores were taken. These …

How Can Chinese Culture Go Abroad? Evidence From Successful Establishment Of Chinese Academic Foreign Translation Projects, Tian Lan

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Compared to Chinese economy scale, the global understanding and recognition of Chinese culture are quite superficial, it is crucial to promote Chinese culture go abroad through academic exchanges between China and other countries. This study explores and validates the relationship and applicability of Chinese culture “Going Global” based on the translation project of Chinese academic works. Through case analysis and the development of data models, it aims to provide theoretical guidance and practical tools for relevant institutions and individuals.

The study begins with qualitative research on cases, describing and analyzing typical examples to demonstrate how Chinese Academic Translation (CAT) projects …

The Effect Of Human Resource Business Partners' Power On Business Managers' Work Outcomes: The Mediating Role Of Voice, Wei Liu

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

As a fundamental construct in social sciences, power is defined as an ability to influence others’ behavior to pursue one’s own interests, which affects the work outcomes of individuals within the organizations. The main purpose of Human Resource Business Partners (HRBPs) is to cooperate with business managers to achieve work outcomes, but in practice, HRBPs are often positioned differently in different organizations due to the lack of a precise definition of HRBPs, so their support to business managers is different. In-depth research on the power and influence of HRBPs can provide theoretical guidance for enhancing the internal work outcomes within …

Older People's Consumption Decisions On Technological Products From A Time Perspective, Xiaowei Huang

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The Silver Wave and the Technological Wave are leading social changes in the 21st century. Globally, aging populations have become increasingly dependent on technology. Smart health devices, smart home gadgets, and mental health tools can improve older adults' quality of life, enhance health management, and promote social interaction. Smart products, incorporating artificial intelligence (AI), offer enhanced support for older adults, ranging from remote health monitoring to social companionship. The improvement in AI technology, in turn, expands the potential of technological products to address older consumers’ physical and emotional needs. However, most existing studies don't address deeper personality traits such as …

Integrating Lifestyle Medicine Into Undergraduate Nursing Education, Lyndsay Wright

DNP Research Projects

Abstract 

Objective: Lifestyle Medicine (LM) effectively addresses the lifestyle-related diseases that contribute most to global morbidity, mortality, and healthcare spending. However, nurses and nursing students struggle with maintaining healthy lifestyles themselves, with LM and health behavior change strategies insufficiently taught in nursing education. Method: A quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design examined the effects of an LM educational intervention on undergraduate nursing students’ knowledge of LM and intentions for health behavior change. Data were collected using demographic questions, an LM knowledge (LMK) questionnaire, the Lifestyle Medicine Assessment (LMA), and a modified Intention to Change Behavior Scale …

Uplifting Youth: An Adolescent Mental Health Promotion Intervention, Adriana Cornejo

DNP Research Projects

Abstract 

The Lift Project™ is an initiative that combines positive psychology and lifestyle medicine to promote mental health. This DNP project investigated the effectiveness of The Lift Project™ in enhancing mental health outcomes in adolescents for the first time. A quasi-experimental design was employed, with participants aged 12 to 17 who attended The Lift Project™ workshop over 10 weeks (n = 22; age M = 15.3 years, SD = 0.99; 68.2% female, 100% Hispanic). Quantitative mental health assessments measuring anxiety, depression, stress, vitality, emotional well-being, flourishing, and life satisfaction were administered pre- and post-intervention. Results revealed a 30% reduction …

The Impact Of Nutrition On Depressive And Anxiety Symptoms In Adults, Joseph P. Galabit

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

The Potential Of Vitamin D As An Adjunct Therapy For Eczema, Kimberly Hill

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Academic Libraries Addressing Health Literacy And Misinformation, Brynne Campbell Rice, Emily Petersen, Ian Roberts, Emily Vardell, Deborah Charbonneau

Himmelfarb Library Faculty Posters and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Addressing Anti-Black Racism In Library And Information Science Curriculum, Amber Matthews

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This paper explores the development of the graduate course Anti-Racism in Library and Information Science that was piloted at Western University in 2022 and 2023. The one-semester (13-week) course was designed with Black-led community organizations and students contributed to anti-racist information and memory work through experiential learning partnerships. The course used critical Library and Information Science (LIS) literature alongside Black Canadian scholarly perspectives that were grounded in anti-oppression and anti-racism frameworks. The course goals were for students to develop an understanding of how race and other structural inequities inform lived experiences and tools to support collaborative community-led projects. The LIS-tailored …

How District Administrators Further The Book Banning Agenda, Kim Reichenbach Krutka

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Book banning and censorship in school libraries remain a significant barrier to intellectual freedom. Drawing on ten years of experience as a Texas school librarian, this opinion article highlights how district policies and grievance procedures empower individuals to exclude books representing marginalized identities, particularly queer and Black experiences. Using Critical Race Theory (CRT), specifically the tenets of whiteness as property and counter storytelling, the article explains how these policies uphold white privilege and dominant narratives while silencing counter-stories that validate diverse student identities. The grievance process allows a single hearing officer to overturn committee decisions without transparent reasoning, often restricting …

Examining State Climate Superfund Legislation, Madison Calhoun, Rachel Rothschild, Jonathan Binder, Elenda Mihaly, Justin Mankin, Ben Lippard, Mary Wood

Articles

There has been an influx of “climate superfund” bills introduced and adopted in state legislatures across the country. Modeled after the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), these laws are designed to recover costs from large emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to pay for climate adaptation infrastructure. Following CERCLA’s strict liability framework, major polluters in New York and Vermont would be required to pay into state-managed funds in proportion to their shares of total GHG emissions; California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Oregon have proposed similar bills. On March 19, 2025, the Environmental Law Institute hosted a …

The State Capacity Crisis, David Schleicher, Nicholas Bagley

Articles

Crumbling infrastructure, inadequate housing supply, failing schools, public disorder—few government services seem to work as they should. For a decade, a nascent scholarly movement has been warning that America faces a crisis of state capacity. Although the major figures in this “state capacity movement” have identified the right problem, they concentrate almost exclusively on the federal government. That yields a misdiagnosis of why the American government lacks capacity and leads to solutions that are unlikely to accomplish much. In the United States, it is state and local governments that do most of what “the state” does, and they suffer from …

The New Substantive Due Process, Leah M. Litman

Articles

After the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, commentators made much about the possible demise of substantive due process—the idea that the Constitution safeguards certain substantive liberties that are not specifically or explicitly spelled out in the Constitution. Judges and scholars are debating which substantive due process decisions are next on the chopping block and whether the entire domain of substantive due process is in jeopardy. But a curious thing happened as the Court scaled back and openly questioned the traditional individual-rights line of substantive due process: Rather than eliminating it entirely, the Court seems to have transposed it elsewhere. …

The Three Lives Of Mamengwaa: Toward An Indigenous Canon Of Construction, Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Articles

For too long, tribal judiciaries have been an afterthought in the story of tribal selfdetermination. Until the last half-century, many tribal nations relied on federally administered courts or had no court systems at all. As tribal nations continue to develop their law-enforcement and police powers, tribal justice systems now play a critical role in tribal self-determination. But because tribal codes and constitutions tend to borrow extensively from federal and state law, tribal judges find themselves forced to apply and enforce laws that are poor cultural fits for Indian communities—an unfortunate reality that hampers tribal judges’ ability to regulate and improve …

Ai And Tribal Court Practice, Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Articles

American Indian tribal court practice resides at the intersection of two difficult legal problems. First, because tribal justice systems are usually very young and dynamic, awareness and analysis of tribal law is underdeveloped. Second, because tribal nations are not governed by state or federal law, tribal law is culturally unique. Tribal court practitioners often find that even routine legal matters will involve questions of first impression in the jurisdiction. All of this is to say tribal court jurisprudence is intensely jurisgenerative.

Because tribal law is often unsettled or indeterminate, the costs of discovering and applying this law are occasionally high. …

Keynote: Promoting Disability Equality Behind Bars, Margo Schlanger

Articles

A few years back, I finished a five-year appointment as a “settlement monitor” in a state prison system for a civil rights case about deaf and hard-of hearing people incarcerated there. With the consent of the parties, I had been appointed by a federal court to spend time in the state’s prisons, talking to prisoners and staff, and reviewing records and facilities. I saw some obvious problems. I recall one deaf prisoner; he used American Sign Language to communicate and could not speak at all. He was found to have committed a disciplinary infraction at a proceeding where he could …

Clinicians In The Loop Of Medical Ai, W. Nicholson Price Ii

Articles

As medical AI begins to mature as a health-care tool, the task of governance grows increasingly important. Ensuring that medical AI works, works where it’s used, and works for the patient in the moment is a challenging, multifaceted task. Some of this governance can be centralized—in review by FDA or by national accreditation labs, for instance. Some must be local, performed by the hospital or health system about to use the product in their own, unique environment. But a large amount of governance is left to the individual provider in the room, the human in the loop who presumably knows …

Corporate Tax: Best Tool For Taxation's Regulation Goal, Reuven S. Avi-Yonah

Articles

In this installment of Reflections With Reuven Avi-Yonah, Avi-Yonah explains the three primary goals of taxation — revenue, redistribution, and regulation — and shows how VAT, the individual tax, and the corporate tax each uniquely match one of the goals. On January 20 President Trump signed two executive orders related to international taxation, marking a sharp policy shift from the prior administration. The first renounced any prior U.S. commitments to the OECD/inclusive framework global anti-base-erosion (GLOBE) project, stating that “the Global Tax Deal has no force or effect in the United States.” The order argued that the GLOBE project infringed …

Implementation Of Teamstepps® In A Peri-Operative Environment In An Urban Medical Center, Chris Chantler

Yale School of Nursing Digital Theses

Problem and Context: Preventable Patient Harm (PPH) continues to occur frequently in healthcare. Failures in communication, poorly functioning teams, and a lack of shared mental models (SMMs) continue to challenge healthcare organizations. The purpose of this PI project was to improve communication and teamwork, among team members in a Peri-Operative setting. TeamSTEPPS® was selected as the training curriculum. Multiple parameters, including perceptions of teamwork, and safety metrics were evaluated pre and post-intervention.

Intervention: TeamSTEPPS® was selected as the training curriculum. TeamSTEPPS® is a highly adaptable curriculum designed to address these gaps and to improve team function in the healthcare setting. …

Implementing A Screening Algorithm For Depression Diagnosis, Management And Referrals In Primary Care, Jorge Correia

Yale School of Nursing Digital Theses

Depression is a major cause of mortality, morbidity, disability, and economic costs in theUnited States. Everyday millions of Americans navigate our complex healthcare field to find the best solution to their problem. Due to a shortage of specialized psychiatric providers, often these people must rely on the primary care settings to get the help they need. However, the lack of knowledge in screening and management of mood disorders causes many of these patients to fall through the cracks or get substandard quality of mental health care. The goal of this quality improvement project was to develop and implement a screening …

A Systems Organizational Model Of Professional Role Development For New Apps: Building A Train The Trainer Program, Abigail H.B. Baugh

Yale School of Nursing Digital Theses

Most Advanced Practice Provider (APP) turnover occurs within the first year of practice. It is often linked to feelings of inadequacy caused by limited professional instruction and immediate expectations of full practice integration. These challenges are compounded further in systems with inconsistent onboarding processes and underprepared trainers, further exacerbating turnover rates. At East Carolina University (ECU) Health System, turnover rates for Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners reached 20% and 12%, respectively, surpassing national averages (ECU Health, 2024), highlighting the urgent need for a structured onboarding approach.A system-based Train-the-Trainer (TTT) program was developed to address these issues, focusing on essential areas …

Exergaming Physical Exercise Program Protocol For Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment, Yushiu Lin

Yale School of Nursing Digital Theses

Physical inactivity is a risk factor for dementia and may accelerate the progression ofmild cognitive impairment (MCI). Older adults with MCI often engage in insufficient exercise, increasing their risk. This clinical intervention evaluated the effects of an exergaming physical exercise program on cognitive function and balance in older adults with MCI. Cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), while balance was evaluated with the Romberg Test. The aims involved developing and implementing an eight-week exergaming physical exercise program, using a pre-packaged, non-immersive virtual reality (VR) application. Results indicated a significant improvement in cognitive function following increased physical …