Digital Commons Network^™

The Blessed Assembly: Irreplaceable Physical Co-Presence In Worship And Healthy Hybridity Reimagined After The Pandemic In The Digital Age, Yvette, Ying Wai Lau

Doctor of Pastoral Music Projects and Theses

Because of the unprecedented and unexpected force of the pandemic since 2020, most churches around the world have experienced some online worship during the lockdown of their cities or the mandated closure of the church buildings. For many people, online worship seems to be an equivalent, if not better, alternative for gathering together—a physical co-presence in worship—even after the pandemic has ended. As necessary and vital as online worship experiences have been for Christians during the pandemic, the witness of the church from Pentecost throughout Christian history indicates that gathered worship in physical spaces is irreplaceable for faith formation and …

Utilizing Digital Health Technologies To Promote Engagement In Behavioral Health Treatment Among Adults With Major Depressive Disorder, Lauren Collier

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is extremely common and is difficult to treat. Evidenced-based interventions, promising medications, and care provided by experienced clinicians can be ineffective when patients disengage from treatment. Within an outpatient behavioral health program, low engagement in treatment among adult patients diagnosed with MDD negatively affects patient outcomes while contributing to provider burden. The most promising intervention to increase patient engagement based on evidence and needs of the local site is utilizing digital health technologies (DHTs), such as an online or smart-phone application.

Methods: Telehealth treatment augmented with digital health technologies among adult patients diagnosed …

Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates In Adults Aged 45-49 At An Urban Fqhc: A Quality Improvement Project, Meredith Gentes

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Background: The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends that colorectal screening begins at age 45 rather than 50. The purpose of this QI project was to improve colorectal cancer screening rates in adults to prevent diagnosis, promote earlier detection, and reduce mortality from colorectal cancer.

Local Problem: This QI project was completed at a large urban federally qualified health center (FQHC) that served a diverse and underserved population. Its colorectal cancer screening rate for adults aged 45 to 49 was low compared to older adults (50-75) and national standards.

Methods: A literature review identified technology-based outreach …

Teaching Learning Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 1, Sastra Deemed To Be University

TLC Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Taxation Of Information And The Data Revolution, Yariv Brauner

UF Law Faculty Publications

Existing and universal income tax rules are inherently incompatible with an economy in which information-based transactions play a significant role. This Article contends that income taxation is incapable of taxing information effectively. It goes on to argue that this incapability currently necessitates reform, and it offers three viable paths to such reform: consumption taxation, data taxes, and formulary taxation. The Article concludes that formulary taxation is currently the most desirable and plausible path to effective reform, owing to its promise to best stabilize and maintain the legitimacy of the international tax regime.

Successful Feedback Literacy For Library And Information Science Professionals: A Literature Review, Jessica N. Szempruch, Leetta M. Schmidt

USF Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

Providing and receiving feedback are crucial elements of any learning exchange and are an intrinsic part of cultivating disciplinary dialogic culture. While there is considerable scholarly conversation on the topic of cultivating constructive feedback in student work, there is less literature dedicated to addressing what successful feedback literacy and processes look like in relation to scholarly research writing by professionals. This literature review examines the development of feedback literacy concepts across disciplines to determine if and how these concepts manifest within academic librarianship literature. The goal of this paper is to gain insights to improve future feedback exchange within the …

Measurement-Based Mental Health In Adolescents, Ayzia Lynn Taylor

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Adolescent mental health is a growing concern. Children and adolescents are commonly diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression. Some youth may also experience co-occurring symptoms that their primary healthcare provider must distinguish to appropriately diagnose and treat.

Purpose: The project aimed to implement measurement-based care for adolescents between the ages of 12 to 18 in a pediatric outpatient facility that is not currently utilizing post-assessment screening tools. The project seeks justification for treatment options utilizing pre-assessment screening tools and therapeutic relief with medication intervention determined by post-assessment screening results.

Methods: Adolescents between the ages …

Implementation Of Shared Decision Making To Impact Decisional Conflict In Advancing Chronic Kidney Disease, Margaret Mcannar Sorkin

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: A notable phenomenon in nephrology is indecision regarding treatment for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Indecision regarding treatment for ESRD can lead to suboptimal dialysis starts, creating poorer health outcomes, decreased quality of life, and higher healthcare costs. Purpose: This project aimed to determine if participation in a shared decision-making (SDM) program decreases decisional conflict in patients with advancing renal disease deciding between ESRD treatment options. Methods: A pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were recruited from a private nephrology practice. Inclusion Criteria: English-speaking patients, over the age of 20, with Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 4 or 5 (estimated …

Implementing The 5a’S Of Obesity Management In Primary Care, Holly H. Rowell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: The prevalence of obesity continues to increase globally, with greater prevalence in the southern United States, resulting in higher costs to the healthcare system and greater risks for the development of other chronic diseases. Purpose: Determine if implementing the 5A’s of Obesity Management among primary care providers in a rural, low-income healthcare setting will increase the diagnosis of obesity and result in a subsequent decrease in weight among patients who are obese. Methods: An educational session was held to familiarize providers with the 5A’s of Obesity Management and the importance of obtaining and documenting proper height …

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates Among Adolescents In South Carolina, Rebecca Jane Morrison

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Among adolescents 11-17 years of age in South Carolina, low rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination can negatively impact health outcomes through increased risk of acquiring HPV-associated cancers.

Purpose: To determine if the 4 Pillars™ Immunization Toolkit increased HPV vaccination rates among adolescent patients.

Methods: The 4 Pillars™ Immunization Toolkit was the framework for this bundled intervention. Pillar 1, convenience and easy access, included after-school HPV express clinics. Pillar 2, communication, utilized staff motivational interviewing skills, campaign promotion materials, documentation of declination, and second-dose callback appointments. Pillar 3, enhanced vaccination systems, was designed to use …

Impact Of The Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score On Inpatient Length Of Stay On Inpatient Psychiatric Units Within An Acute Care Hospital, Princess P. Minter

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Insufficient discharge planning at the time of patient admission can result in increased hospitalization length of stay and poor clinical outcomes, including a rapid deterioration of stabilized patients’ mental status while unnecessarily waiting for discharge arrangements to be put in place at the time of discharge. Purpose: To determine if completing the Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score (BRASS) index tool to identify barriers to discharge at the time of patient admission impacts the length of stay for patients admitted to general psychiatric inpatient units. Methods: Patient admission and discharge data collected using the BRASS index within 48 hours …

Assessing Readiness To Quit As An Intervention For Tobacco Cessation In Oncology Patients, Victoria Gabriela Maddox

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Smoking and tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Twenty percent of all cancer diagnoses are directly linked to smoking, and tobacco-related diseases and cancers contribute to one in every five deaths annually in the United States. Less than one in ten smokers are successful at quitting. Smokers attempting to quit are more successful in cessation programs after evaluation of self-efficacy, such as the readiness to quit.

Purpose: This evidence-based practice project aimed to evaluate the impact of motivational interviewing with the 5A’s model on smoking cessation efforts in patients at an …

Use Of An Audit And Feedback Tool And Sglt-2 Inhibitors To Delay Progression Of Chronic Kidney Disease, Megan Elaine Lanpher

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease experience a higher risk for progression to end-stage kidney disease, which negatively impacts health, increases medical costs, and decreases quality of life. Purpose: Determine if an audit and feedback intervention in a local nephrology clinic can increase provider adherence to a clinical practice guideline that supports the prescription of sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. Methods: A pretest-posttest design was used to determine if an audit and feedback tool delivered to providers at three-week intervals would increase prescription of SGLT-2 inhibitors in adults with Type 2 diabetes and chronic …

Appropriate Policies For Patients Utilizing Insulin Pumps With Continuous Glucose Monitoring During Hospital Admission, Mary Elizabeth Holiday

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: A growing number of patients with diabetes are using advanced diabetes management technology with an integrated insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor (CGM); however, multiple concerns surround their use during hospitalization, ranging from patient safety risks to nursing comfort in overseeing these devices.

Purpose: This project aimed to determine if an accurate, reformed inpatient policy supporting specific automated insulin pump use during admission maintained patient glucose control, improved patient satisfaction, and increased nursing comfort levels.

Methods: Pre- and post-policy nursing knowledge surveys, retrospective admission glucose metrics, and patient experience narratives were evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients and nurses were …

Reducing Wait Times For Psychiatric Intakes, Ryan Brad Carsten

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Early intervention for mental illness is vital to a swift recovery and extended wait times for mental health treatment have proven to be a barrier to early intervention. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if wait times for psychiatry intakes at the University of South Carolina (USC) Student Health Center Psychiatry Services can be reduced and kept under 1 week by utilizing the Specific Timely Appointments for Triage (STAT) model. This model consists of clinicians scheduling a specified number of intake appointments based on the typical demand for service. Students were booked in …

Using Visual Thinking Strategies To Increase Empathy Levels In Inpatient Psychiatric Nurses: A Quality Improvement Project, Katharine E. Harding

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Research indicates that empathy is declining in today’s behavioral health nursing workforce. Purpose: The aim of this quality improvement project was to apply an evidence-based Visual Thinking Strategies intervention to the clinical problem and increase empathy levels from pre-survey measurement among psychiatric nurses. Method: VTS methodology was employed through in-person interviews where participants viewed art-based images pertaining to mental health. Feedback from semi-structured questions was shared among participants. Pre and post-test interventional quantitative data via The Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Provider version (JSE-HP) and The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) instruments were collected. Inclusion Criteria: Participants were voluntarily recruited …

El Centro Newsletter (Jul 2024), Bryan Ramirez, Maria Francisco Montesó, Araceli Hernández-Laroche Ph.D.

Newsletters & Reports

We hope you are enjoying your summer! This summer we’re writing to you from the Upstate of South Carolina and also from Alicante, Spain, where El Centro’s assistant director, Maria Francisco-Montesó, is traveling with eleven students from a variety of disciplines including biology, chemistry, elementary education, English, exercise science, nursing, pre-engineering, political science, pre-med, Spanish, sports training and conditioning, and translation and interpreting studies! Don’t forget to follow their journey on our socials!

Derivative Propagation Through Vortex Particle Method Simulation, Eric Green, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Automatic differentiation (AD) is a powerful tool for evaluating numerical derivatives. In particular, reverse-mode AD provides numerical gradients in a way that is insensitive to the number of input variables. This makes reverse-mode AD well-suited for solving large optimization problems. However, reverse-mode AD has a particularly large associated memory cost because most intermediate values in operations need to be cached. This is problematic for large problems such as aerodynamics simulations, though, since the memory requirements can quickly become impractical. The solution implemented in this work is to provide analytic pullback expressions for functions for which many of the intermediate values …

Trajectory Optimization Of Evtol And Conventional Aircraft: A Comparative Analysis Of Vortex Particle Method And Vortex Lattice + Blade Element Momentum Theory, Andrew Tagg, Ryan Anderson, Cibin Joseph, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Trajectory optimization of aircraft transition maneuvers can significantly influence the design of these systems, particularly when making decisions about aircraft geometry, propulsion sizing, and control system design. This paper presents the trajectory optimization of air vehicles including electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) as well as conventional aircraft. The study evaluates the influence of fidelity in trajectory design by comparing the use of two aerodynamic methods in the context of trajectory optimization. The mid-fidelity method utilizes a vortex lattice method (VLM) to model lifting surfaces while employing blade element momentum theory (BEMT) to model rudimentary rotor-wing interactions. The high-fidelity approach …

Solving Unsteady Potential Flow Problems In O(N) Time, Ryan Anderson, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Design of vertical takeoff and landing aircraft is challenging in part due to significant aerodynamic interactions between rotors and wings. Computational models can aid in their design, but are computationally expensive. 3-D panel methods coupled with vortex particle wakes offer an attractive solution, but solving for the panel strengths scales poorly for large problems. Multigrid methods, such as Krylov subspace methods in conjunction with the fast multipole method (FMM), have been demonstrated to reduce the scaling to O(𝑁). We explore the performance and limitations of the Krylov-FMM method, traditional matrix-powered GMRES, LU decomposition, and a novel O(𝑁) multigrid approach to …

Ductape: A Steady-State, Axisymmetric Ducted Fan Analysis Code Designed For Gradient-Based Optimization, Judd Mehr, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

Electric ducted fans have become an intriguing option for the propulsion systems of clean, quiet advanced air mobility technologies due to their potential benefits in both aerodynamic efficiency and reduced noise profiles compared to open rotor systems. Exploration of conceptual electric ducted fan design in the context of novel, and often complex, applications may be greatly aided by the use of optimization techniques. Specifically, gradient-based optimization lends itself to the exploration of large, complex, multi-disciplinary systems due to its inherent scalability. Despite ducted fans/propellers having been relatively well studied for the last century, modern, gradient-based, optimization-ready analysis tools for ducted …

Persevering Through Communication Challenges: A Qualitative Descriptive Exploration Of Communication Experiences In Aphasia, Tyson G. Harmon, Camille Williams, Garrett Cardon, William S. Evans

Faculty Publications

Background

People with aphasia often experience activity limitations and participation restrictions despite wanting to engage in communication activities that are satisfying and meaningful. Communication partner support, the complexity of the communication environment, and the thoughts and feelings of people with aphasia have important implications for both language processing and communicative participation. The perspectives of PWA about the role that environmental and personal factors (e.g. thoughts and feelings) play in their communication experiences could inform clinical practice.

Aims

To qualitatively explore the communication experiences of people with aphasia and how environmental demands and personal factors (especially emotional responses) affect these experiences. …

Becoming An Effective Jibs Reviewer, A. Rebecca Reuber, Shameem Prashantham, Liang Chen

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

No abstract provided.

Green Bond Premiums In The Asia-Pacific And European Markets, Parath Wongaree, Chiyachantana N. Chiraphol, Kuan Yong David Ding, Wasin Siwasarit

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

We examine green bond premiums in the primary and secondary bond markets in the Asia-Pacific and Europe. In both regions, green bond yields are significantly lower than those of conventional bonds in the primary market, indicating that a green bond premium exists. Asia-Pacific investors in the secondary market are more willing to accept lower yields than European ones. We find that green bonds have a lower risk than conventional bonds. Investment grade issuers, financial sector issuers, and local currency green bonds are associated with lower yields due to their stronger reputation, higher credit ratings, and absence of foreign exchange risk.

Locking In Overseas Buyers Amid Geopolitical Conflicts, Di Fan, Pengcheng Ma, Lin Cui, Daphne W. Yiu

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Geopolitical conflicts, particularly economic ones, introduce significant uncertainties into the global supply chain. The impact of these conflicts on cross-border buyer-supplier transactions remains underexplored, as does the capability of global suppliers to mitigate such risks by locking in their foreign buyers. Employing a combined perspective of resource dependence theory and transaction cost economics, we examine a natural experiment to investigate the effects of the 2018 U.S.-China trade war on the transactional relationships between Chinese suppliers and their U.S. buyers. Our study reveals that the trade war generally adversely affected these buyer-supplier transactional relationships, leading to a negative abnormal transaction value …

Cds Channels Of Influence On Discretionary Accruals, Hao Cheng, Kian Guan Lim

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Existing studies indicated that firm debt holders can use the credit default swap (CDS) market to hedge their credit risk, and thus they would reduce their monitoring of the firms, leading to largely distressed firms shirking and increasing positive abnormal earnings accruals. Besides providing insurance, however, the CDS spreads also perform price discovery of credit risk information sought by trade creditors and potential lenders who are not protected. High absolute abnormal discretionary accruals or bad earnings quality, especially negative abnormal accruals, would lead adverse CDS price signals that are very costly to the firm. This compels the firm under nondistressed …

Menstrual Hygiene Amongst School Girls: Still A Messy Business, Naghma Rizvi, Saleema A. Gulzar, Tazeen S. Ali, Syeda Aleena Fazal, Alishah Aziz Gulzar, Yasmin Parpio, Rimsha Hirani

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Menstruation has become a taboo topic among adolescent females, affecting their reproductive health, particularly in more traditional South Asian nations such as Pakistan. The study highlights the societal silence surrounds menstruation, which leads to detrimental practices and attitudes among school-age females. The study reveals the sociocultural, psychological, and educational challenges that teenagers encounter. The presence of myths and misconceptions adds to unsanitary habits, which undermine education and reproductive health.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in urban Karachi. The participants were 850 unmarried school-going female adolescents aged 13 to 19. The data were collected using a pre-coded questionnaire. …

Use Of Social Media For Receiving Professional Support In Enhancing Mothers’ Lactation Self-Efficacy, Mehtab Lalwani, Zohra Kurji, Salma Rattani, Zahra Shaheen, Hussain Maqbool Ahmed Khuwaja, Shabina Ariff

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Insufficient support for breastfeeding and limited exclusive breastfeeding rates emphasize the need for high-impact approaches to enhance maternal confidence in lactation. Social media has emerged as a promising platform for professional support and information dissemination in this context. This review aims to examine the role of social media in providing professional lactation support to mothers in enhancing their lactation self-efficacy.
Method: Employing PRISMA guidelines, the review sought relevant literature on professional assistance in enhancing breastfeeding self-efficacy. Major databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, were meticulously queried using targeted keywords. Every selected article underwent screening for English …

Stress And Its Associated Factors In Mothers With Preterm Infants In A Private Tertiary Care Hospital Of Karachi, Pakistan, Salima Akbar, Yasmin Parpio, Sumia Andleeb Abbasi, Tazeen S. Ali

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Preterm births are the leading cause of death worldwide. Preterm births not only have devastating effects on the newborn, but they also have psychological effects on the mothers. Identifying stress related to preterm births, and the factors associated with the stress among mothers with preterm infants is of great importance, for providing sound care to the newborns and their mothers. The aim of this protocol paper outlines an extensive approach to assess the level of stress and its associated factors among mothers with preterm infants.
Methods: An analytical cross sectional study design will be used to achieve the study …

Exploring Maternal Perspectives On Human Milk Banks In Pakistan And Identifying Barriers And Enablers For Establishment, Hina Baba Jan, Naghma Rizvi, Kiran Mubeen, Marina Baig

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Low-and middle-income countries including Pakistan still have low breastfeeding rates and infant feeding remains a concern. Human milk banks (HMBs) play a crucial role in neonatal and infant health by providing safe, pasteurized donor human milk to infants who do not have access to their mother's own milk, particularly preterm and low-birth-weight infants. The perception regarding the concept and use of HMBs has yet to be explored in several contexts, especially in the low-and middle-income countries including Pakistan.
Aim: To explore the perceptions of mothers regarding human milk banks in Pakistan, focusing on the barriers and enablers to …