Digital Commons Network^™

Experience Of Coparents/Partners Of African American Mothers Participating In Breastfeeding Education, Samantha Hickson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Coparents and partners of African American mothers are critical in the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding and influence a woman’s decision to breastfeed. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experience of coparents/partners of African American mothers participating in breastfeeding education and its impact on the support they provide. Bandura’s social cognitive theory provided the theoretical foundation for this study. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 11 participants. Data analysis followed the traditional seven steps of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings showed that while coparents and partners of African American breastfeeding mothers found breastfeeding education to be …

Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial To Determine If Biomarkers Predict Response To A Pediatric Chronic Pain Symptom Management Program, Miranda A L Van Tilburg, Ann R Mcmeans, Jocelyn Chang, Cynthia Boutte, Katherine Lamparyk, Bruno P Chumpitazi, Robert J Shulman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), characterized by chronic abdominal pain and significant disability, affect 15-20% of children and adults and continue into adulthood in ~60% of cases. Costs for adults reach USD 30 billion per year, yet effective management strategies are elusive. Studies support using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but abdominal pain only improves in ~40% of patients. Dietary management (low FODMAP diet; LFD) has also shown promise but it is effective in only a similar percentage of patients. Studies suggest that biologic factors (biomarkers) contribute to CBT response. Similarly, gut microbiome composition appears to influence abdominal pain …

Cumulative Lifespan Stress And Inflammation Are Associated With Black-White Racial Disparities In Mortality Among Americans, Isaiah Spears

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Black Americans disproportionately experience higher rates of health challenges and mortality compared to White Americans, yet the mechanisms underlying these disparities remain inadequately understood. Prominent theoretical models highlight stress and resulting allostatic load as putative mechanisms through which these Black-White racial disparities emerge; however, empirical data supporting such models with regard to mortality remains sparse. The current study examined the potential role of cumulative stress exposure across the life span and elevated levels of C-Reactive Protein, a biomarker of inflammation, in contributing to the longstanding increased mortality risk among Black relative to White Americans. Data were drawn from the Saint …

Eos Wellness Center: Rethinking Inpatient Mental Health Facility Design, Emily Simms

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The design of mental health facilities significantly impacts patient outcomes, especially for individuals with depression. Environmental factors such as lighting, thermal comfort, and access to nature influence mental health. This research explores how architectural design can reduce self-harm incidents and enhance recovery outcomes for patients with depression. The project hypothesizes that synchronizing light patterns and thermal comfort with patients’ circadian rhythms will reduce self-harm incidents and improve recovery. The problem established in the research is that disruptions to circadian rhythms increase the risk of depression, PTSD, and anxiety by 30% (Burns et al., 2022). Suicide is also the second leading …

Dust To Dream, Brenda Meloto De Oliveira

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis explores the design and implementation of a holistic housing initiative to address the needs of economically disadvantaged populations in Sertão do Moxotó, Pernambuco. Situated in an arid region with limited resources, the project provides not only shelter but also community spaces, educational opportunities, and essential services to improve local living standards.

The region’s history of resilience is reflected in its vernacular architecture, which uses materials like adobe, rammed earth, and thatch—offering sustainable, climate-adapted solutions. Yet, basic amenities remain out of reach for many. Community-led initiatives, non-monetary systems, and vocational training help bridge these gaps and empower individuals to …

Enhancing Nurse Competency: Proper Application Of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Dressings To Prevent Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections, Joseph Earich

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) pose a significant risk to patient safety and healthcare outcomes. The proposed Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project addresses the knowledge gap among nurses regarding the correct procedures for changing chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) dressings on central lines. The goal is to enhance nurse education and adherence to best practices, thereby reducing the incidence of CLABSIs. The project employs a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test methodology. Nurses will complete a pre-test to assess their baseline knowledge of CHG dressing changes. The nurse will participate in a hands-on educational session to improve their understanding and …

A Multicomponent Quality Improvement Initiative For The Early Identification, Prevention, And Management Of Delirium In The Medical-Surgical Setting, Sarah K. West

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Hospital-acquired delirium affects older adult patients, across the healthcare continuum. The incidence in frail older adults is high, costly, and often deemed preventable. Hospital-acquired delirium is associated with a multitude of short- and long-term complications, resulting in an increased rate of morbidity and mortality. The challenges of early recognition and management are prevalent in healthcare literature. While published guidelines exist, hospital systems continue to struggle with the standardization of geriatric delirium care. Given medical-surgical nursing is the cornerstone of hospital care, it is imperative to establish a standardized delirium prevention and management guideline, at this level of care, to optimize …

Diabetes Self-Management Education For Older Adults In Primary Care, Makilah Rae Furlan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) is a chronic disease that impacts 27.2 million seniors 65 and older. Evidence-based care for T2DM includes a combination of medication and disease-management behaviors. Access to education to teach patients healthy behaviors to manage their disease is limited and even less accessible to geriatric patients with aging learning needs. The scholarly project addresses this gap in patient education by implementing evidence-based diabetes self-management education for geriatric patients to increase patient knowledge and confidence in implementing self-management behaviors. The scholarly project aims to assess health behaviors in patients aged 65 and older with established type 2 diabetes …

Final Scholarly Project: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (Eras) Guidelines For Pancreaticoduodenectomies, Rebecca Wheeler

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

A pancreaticoduodenectomy, or Whipple procedure, is the only curative option for pancreatic cancer. For those eligible for tumor resection, the Whipple procedure is a difficult surgery for both the patient and provider. Complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy are numerous and include infection, delayed gastric emptying, high hospital costs, and pancreatic fistulas. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols exist to provide evidence supporting standardization of practices that lead to the improvement of these patient outcomes. An ERAS protocol for the pancreaticoduodenectomy, first established in 2012, is inconsistently implemented in healthcare facilities. Researchers collected data involving the use of the Whipple procedure ERAS guidelines …

In A Healthy D-Iii Population, Is Blood Flow Restriction More Effective For Increasing Quadriceps Strength Compared To Concentric Resistance Training?, Conner R. Ruff

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Strength is an important factor in the prevention of injuries. However, strength can decrease for numerous reasons, such as age, chronic injuries, or acute injuries. In recent years, Blood flow restriction (BFR) has been used as a modality to increase a patient’s strength gain while utilizing a low load of weight. However, in most research, BFR has been used concurrently with conventional strength training or compared to concentric training in the treatment of an injured population. This study looked at the effect of BFR on a healthy Division III (DIII) collegiate student population and its effectiveness in increasing quadriceps strength …

The Effects Of Biological Sex On Glucose Absorption Rate, Abigail Rose Weist

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effectiveness Of Telehealth For The Management Of Chronic Disease, Mariam Odunewu-Smith

Honors Capstones

Telehealth made a wide appearance in the medical industry during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the necessary decrease of physical interaction. It has continued to thrive and populate more patients since then. The benefits of telemedicine include quick, reliable one-onone sessions with a healthcare provider virtually, and is overall less costly compared to in person visits. Seeing a medical provider online is helpful in aiding patient recovery and management of chronic diseases. It is used to significantly improve the quality of life in the patients seen today. A literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed and ScienceDirect. Papers …

When You’Re Arrested For A Felony In Seattle, You’Ll Meet Me., Austin Field

Seattle University Law Review

In this Essay, Austin Field, a practicing public defender, uses a first-person perspective to describe what it is like to meet a criminal defendant for the first time. He explains the process from start to finish, detailing everything from the way he introduces himself to how bail works.

"I’ll ask you for your name. Most of the time, you tell me. I check your name against my list. On any given day I’m supposed to interview between five and fifteen people. I have a lot of questions for you. We only have about ten minutes."

Enhancing Postoperative Care For Vascular Patients: Pre- And Post-Test Clinical Knowledge Acquisition Of Early Mobilization Education For Interventional Healthcare Providers, Jennifer Wenger

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a chronic, systemic condition that often requires surgical intervention, presenting significant postoperative risks, including complications like thromboembolisms, pneumonia, and delayed functional recovery. Evidence-based practices (EBP), particularly early mobilization guidelines, have proven to improve recovery outcomes but remain inconsistently applied among interventional healthcare providers. The project addresses this critical issue by evaluating the impact of structured educational sessions on interventional healthcare providers’ knowledge and application of mobilization guidelines in postoperative vascular care. Using the John Hopkins Model of Evidence-Based Practice, a quasi-experimental design was adopted to assess the impact of the education. The project includes pre- …

Analysis Of Clinical Outcomes And Cost Effectiveness Of Neuromuscular Blocking Drug Reversal In Patients Classified As Obese, Trevor Mack

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Obesity predisposes patients to heightened risks of adverse outcomes following surgery, including residual neuromuscular blockade and postoperative complications. The administration of non-depolarizing neuromuscular agents (NMBAs) is fundamental for muscle relaxation and optimal surgical conditions. However, the subsequent reversal of these blockers with agents like sugammadex or neostigmine is crucial to mitigate these risks. While sugammadex is recognized as a clinically superior choice due to its rapid and more complete reversal, its extensive use is often limited by cost, presenting challenges in obese patients who already face increased susceptibility to complications. This project evaluates the cost-effectiveness of sugammadex versus neostigmine in …

Examination Of Eating Disorder Risks And Body Image Dissatisfaction Among Division Iii Student-Athletes, Maddie Wisener

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

Eating disorders (ED) and pathogenic behaviors are prevalent concerns among collegiate athletes due to performance pressures and body image expectations. This cross-sectional study examined the risk of ED among 243 student-athletes (Males: 54.9%, Females: 44.3%, Non-Binary: 0.4%) at a private institution in the Midwest. The convenience sample included student-athletes from baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling teams. The participants were given a demographic survey, the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and Sex-Specific Figural Stimuli Silhouettes to assess eating behaviors and perceived and desired body images. Overall, 22.1% of participants were at risk for …

Evaluation Of Phenotypic Antimicrobial Resistance From Bacterial Pathogen Isolates In Bison, Aleena M. Kallan

Honors Capstones

Bison, the American buffalo, are increasingly utilized for food consumption due to their high protein content. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an important food-borne pathogen that leads to severe clinical infections and becomes antimicrobial-resistant (AMR). Specifically, fluoroquinolone antibiotics can complicate human treatment when infected with resistant STEC. This study aims to determine the presence of STEC in bison reservoirs and their antimicrobial resistance. Fecal samples (n=320) from bison herds were collected, followed by specific culture-based isolation for STEC. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed for pathogen confirmation, with 25.6% prevalence. PCR targeting gene, gyrA (resistant to fluoroquinolone), was tested …

Carnivore And Ketogenic-Like Diets: Proposed Alternatives For Mitigating And Treating Pediatric Obesity, Halee Lair, Holly Haywood, Elena Arcaroli, Braeden Koechle, Kaan Sevgi, Anna K. Potter

Student Publications

The etiology of the rapidly evolving prevalence of pediatric obesity and diabetes is largely, if not entirely, due to the accessibility and affordability of whole foods and a lack of physical activity. Another likely large factor is health literacy. There is a lack of understanding that overconsumption of highly processed foods and a lack of exercise can lead to diseases even in childhood. Although the etiology of pediatric obesity is vastly multifactorial, diet is a crucial contributing factor, and this is the foundation of our research. This study investigates and compares the proposed efficacy of utilizing carnivore or ketogenic-like diets …

Pathways To Possibilities : Montessori, Re-Imagined And Expanded - For Every Path In Life, Melanie Nin

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Pathways to Possibilities explores the importance of establishing a Montessori pre-k through 8th grade school for a large population of children, highlighting the unique challenges they face in accessing an education that meets their fundamental needs. The Montessori model can be expanded to serve more children by adapting its principles to a large school structure. Incorporating Montessori design principles and learning theories will create an inclusive, supporting environment that fosters self-directed learning, creativity, and social engagement. By scaling the Montessori model, this thesis aims to create a more accessible and innovative multi-sensory environment that supports the diverse learning needs of …

Reviving Humanity, Ana Gomez

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The surge in female incarceration rates in the United States has heightened concerns about the mental health challenges faced by women within correctional facilities. This thesis research explores the intersection of women’s incarceration, mental health, and sustainable architectural design aimed at improving outcomes for female inmates. Factors contributing to the increase in female incarceration rates, including changes in sentencing policies and socioeconomic disparities, are discussed. Research indicates a high prevalence of mental health disorders among female inmates, often linked to past trauma and exacerbated by the prison environment. Despite this, the prison system often fails to adequately address the mental …

Development Of A Clinical Pathway For Acute Pain Management As An Element Of The Prevention Of Delirium In Older Adult Trauma Surgery Patients, Stacey Mermigos

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

For hospitalized patients, delirium is prevalent and associated with poor outcomes including increased mortality, morbidity, hospital length of stay, and healthcare costs. Although past studies have identified effective interventions to both prevent and manage delirium in critically ill patients, the most widely used evidence is not easily generalized to non-critically ill patients, specifically trauma patients who experience acute pain, serial surgical procedures, and other notable precipitating and predisposing factors. Clinical pathways are structured plans that are useful for encouraging consistent, evidence-based interventions for various medical conditions and situations. At this time, there is no clinical pathway for the prevention of …

Ensuring Housing Stability And Protections For The Nation’S Renters: Avenues For Federal Action, Margaret Hagan, Peter Hepburn, Justin Steil, Brandon Weiss

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

What would it take to ensure housing stability and protections for the nation’s renters? This essay reviews the current literature on landlord–tenant laws, eviction court policies, the provision of legal aid, and the residential security of renter households. It then lays out avenues through which the federal government—particularly the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)—might work to improve renters’ stability. These include targeted efforts to improve engagement with both tenants and landlords, robust implementation of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing provision of the federal Fair Housing Act, especially around source of income discrimination, and facilitation of reforms to state …

Correlates Of Processing Speed Change With Combined Cognitive Rehabilitation And Exercise In Progressive Ms: Secondary Analysis Of The Cogex Trial, Brian M. Sandroff, Robert W. Motl, Roberto S. Hernandez, Maria Pia Amato, Giampaolo Brichetto, Jeremy Chataway, Nancy D. Chiaravalloti, Gary R. Cutter, Ulrik Dalgas, John Deluca, Rachel Farrell, Peter Feys, Massimo Filippi, Jennifer Freeman, Matilde Inglese, Cecilia Meza, Maria A. Rocca, Amber Salter, Anthony Feinstein

School of Health Professions

Background: Cognitive rehabilitation and exercise training are promising approaches for improving cognition in persons with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Identifying heterogeneity of change and factors that influence the effects of cognitive rehabilitation and/or exercise training on cognitive outcomes at the individual level have direct relevance for developing tailored and optimized rehabilitation interventions for improving cognition in progressive MS. Objective: This study involved a secondary data analysis from the CogEx trial in progressive MS. This study first described heterogeneity of change in cognitive processing speed (CPS) across the intervention conditions and then identified possible adherence/compliance, baseline performance, and demographic/clinical variables as …

Preserving What Matters: A Multimodal Approach To Maintaining Fat-Free Mass During Anti-Obesity Medication Based Weight Loss, Sarah Gore

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Weight loss is often associated with reductions in fat-free mass (FFM), which can negatively impact metabolic rate, thermoregulation, bone density, functional capacity, and overall quality of life (Roth et al., 2022; Sedlmeier et al., 2021). This Evidence-Based Practice project aimed to reduce FFM loss in adults prescribed anti-obesity medications (AOMs) for weight management through a targeted, multimodal intervention. Twenty-two patients beginning AOM treatment at a family practice in northwest Indiana were invited to participate, with 19 consenting to enroll. Each participant received personalized guidance, including tailored calorie and protein intake goals to support a hypocaloric, high-protein diet, alongside evidence-based aerobic …

A Multi-Modal Intervention To Improve Identification, Management, And Prevention Of Early Childhood Caries In The Primary Care Setting, Rieley M. Hull

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most prevalent chronic childhood disease and, if untreated, can lead to significant long-term health and social consequences, posing a substantial healthcare burden (AAPD, 2023; ADA, 2023; USPSTF, 2021; WHO, 2022). This evidence-based practice (EBP) project aimed to implement a multi-modal intervention to reduce ECC risk factors, prevent new dental caries, and halt the progression of existing dental caries. Conducted in a pediatric primary care setting in West Michigan, the project included patients five and under who received an oral examination and dental caries risk assessment following the AAP’s guidelines. Based on their oral health …

Daps In Action: The Role Of Science-Literacy Integration In Pre-Service Teacher Education, Brittany E. Kiser, Kelly A. Burlison

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

This session proposes to establish the importance of incorporating developmentally appropriate science education into the literacy curriculum of pre-service early childhood teachers as well as to share experiences, work and insights of those pre-service teachers. As teacher educators, it is essential that we not only prepare our students to be impactful in the PK-3 classroom, but also that we mold them to be cognizant of developmentally appropriate practices in the early learning environment, despite unwieldy mandates. Not only will our pre-service teachers be educating PK-3 students with exponentially increasing technological skills; educational research also suggests the importance in blending curricula …

Transmission Pathways Of Campylobacter Jejuni Between Humans And Livestock In Rural Ethiopia Are Highly Complex And Interdependent, Nitya Singh, Cecilie A N Thystrup, Bahar Mummed Hassen, Menuka Bhandari, Gireesh Rajashekara, Tine M Hald, Mark J Manary, Sarah L Mckune, Jemal Yusuf Hassen, Helen L Smith, Jonathan C Marshall, Nigel P French, Arie H Havelaar, Caged Research Team Members

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli are the most common causes of bacterial enteritis worldwide whereas symptomatic and asymptomatic infections are associated with stunting in children in low- and middle-income countries. Little is known about their sources and transmission pathways in low- and middle-income countries, and particularly for infants and young children. We assessed the genomic diversity of C. jejuni in Eastern Ethiopia to determine the attribution of infections in infants under 1 year of age to livestock (chickens, cattle, goats and sheep) and other humans (siblings, mothers).

RESULTS: Among 287 C. jejuni isolates, 48 seven-gene sequence types (STs), including …

An Empirical Study Of The Effects Of State Land-Reform Policies On Agricultural And Socioeconomic Developments In Nigeria From Colonial To Military Rule: A Macro Perspective, Dennis A. Ogirri

Journal of African Policy Studies

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Tree Legumes Species At Different Agroclimatic Zones Of Indonesia, Mas'ud Panjaitan, R Jessop, W W. Stur

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The population of Indonesia is over 145 million and more than 56 % of them earn their living from agriculture (Bi. Stat. Ind., 1983). A major problem in the development of improved animal production has been the shortage of feed and the generally low nutritive value of tropical forages which limit livestock pro­duction in Indonesia (Asian Agriculture Survey, 1969). The production of feed of adequate quality for ruminants is an important consideration particularly for small holders. In many situations, nitrogen fixing legume trees can be used as a high protein feed supplement which improves the utilization of grasses and crop …

Valeur Nutritive D'Un Parcours Mixte A Acacia Cyanophylla, Atriplex Nummularia Et Medicago Arborea, Y Saadani, C Kayouli

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

II existe tres peu de donnees concernant la valeur nutritive des arbustes fourragers ; les rares etudes realisees en Tunisie ont porte surtout sur leur productivite, la charge animale et sur leur appetence (Hamrouni et Sarson, 1975; Ben Boubaker, 1985). L'objectif de ce travail est d'etudier la valeur nutritive des feuilles et brindilles d' Acacia cyanophylla, d' A triplex nummula­ria et de Medicago arborea ainsi que leur contribution dans la ration de caprins et d'ovins.