Digital Commons Network^™

Vitamin D Deficiency And Cardiovascular Health Disparities In High-Melanin Populations: A Scoping Review, Jalen K. Luter, Silver R. Kaylor, Michael S. Boyer

Doctoral Projects

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality and disproportionately affect individuals with darker skin tones, partly due to vitamin D deficiency (Sabzmakan et al., 2014). This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project uses a scoping review methodology to examine the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular outcomes, with an emphasis on high-melanin populations. Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute Framework, the review synthesizes existing evidence, identifies gaps in representation and biomarker use, and highlights social and biological contributors to disparity. Databases including PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched, and studies were screened using standardized inclusion criteria: …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda November 17, 2025, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes October 20, 2025
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:35 Information
• EPC Report - November 6, 2025
• 3:40 Report
• Honors Program Annual Report
• USUSA Annual Report
• Faculty Evaluation Committee
• 4:05 Old Business
• 4:10 New Business
• Adjourn: 4:30 pm

From Urban Models To Rural Realities: Adapting Hepatitis C (Hcv) Care For Underserved Communities, Caitlin A. Mccain

2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects - Archive

This literature review examines how Hepatitis C (HCV) screening and care programs can better serve underserved populations, particularly Spanish-speaking rural communities in border states. The research supports the Hep C- Colonias Advancing & Restoring Esperanza (C.A.R.E) program’s mission by incorporating recent findings from 32 studies gathered through PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar. Hep C C.A.R.E expanded from the HepVISTA expansion project provides HCV screening, education, vaccination and linkage to care for uninsured patients at partner sites in Laredo and Maverick County. Results indicate that while HCV elimination is feasible, significant gaps persist among rural uninsured and minority populations. Effective strategies …

Modeling Xilinx 7-Series Fpgas Within The Verilog To Routing Project, Joshua Peter Fife

Theses and Dissertations

Verilog to Routing (VTR) is the most widely used open-source tool for experimenting with FPGA placement and routing algorithms, as well as assessing how architectural changes impact routability, timing, and power consumption.

Historically, VTR has been tailored specifically for Intel’s Altera-like FPGAs, lacking support for key features that would enable greater flexibility in describing other architectures. In this work, we introduce a fully functional 7-Series architecture capture from the Xilinx family, utilizing VTR’s scalable architecture description language. We detail the necessary upgrades to achieve this description, including the ability to describe L and T-shaped wires and target hard multipliers with …

Ethical Considerations Of The Wealth Gap Sentiments In Europe, Joanna Kitsnik

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei Working Papers

This working paper examines how individuals morally, ethically, and emotionally evaluate extreme wealth disparities in their countries. Using cross-sectional data from the 2019 International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) Social Inequality V module, I compare two groups of EU countries with contrasting capital gains tax regimes. Guided by frameworks of moral economies and the capability approach, the analysis investigates how anger toward wealth inequality relates to redistributive preferences, recognition of structural inequalities, and meritocratic beliefs. Preliminary results show that individuals who critically assess existing socioeconomic conditions and acknowledge structural inequalities report stronger resentment toward extreme wealth gaps, whereas stronger meritocratic beliefs …

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Competency Of Behavioral Health Technicians In Vital Sign Technique, Ashley Buescher

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Untreated hypertension or hypotension can lead to serious health problems, including death. Proper technique is essential when obtaining a blood pressure reading to improve patient safety. The goal of the quality improvement project was to improve competency in blood pressure technique by implementing standardized training. The initiative addressed discrepancies in blood pressure readings in the intake unit of a behavioral health hospital. Using the Stetler Model of Evidence-Based Practice and John Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model, a single sample, pre-post design was implemented over 4 weeks. The American Heart Association's blood pressure guidelines and the Teach-Back Observation Tool were used in …

Georgia Mae Wahlin Bello, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Georgia Mae Wahlin Bello (February 13, 1924 – November 5, 2007) was an accomplished vocalist and pianist who was also a “one hit wonder” composer.

Exploring Psychological Empowerment Among Hiv Support Groups, Harit Agroia, Leyla Mousli, Rock Braithwaite, Silvia Boron, Rene Padilla

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Support groups can provide members with space to discuss life issues, foster a sense of community, and promote connections with others. For people living with HIV, support groups can improve knowledge and awareness of tools and resources for HIV management, reduce stigma, improve social competence, and overall health. Studies that have connected empowerment and support group structures in populations with HIV have found promising results; however, a dearth of research demonstrates how applying theoretical frameworks can improve understanding of factors that increase empowerment among support group participants. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to apply the Psychological Empowerment Theory …

Interview No. 1808, Gloria Moreno

Combined Interviews

This is an interview between myself and my grandmother about making tamales and the tradition of it in a family. In this interview, Gloria Moreno talks about her grandmother and mother teaching her how to not only cook but how to make tamales, which she continues to do. This tradition, in particular, incorporates putting frijoles or beans inside the tamales, having to make do with what they had; this was because of a time where they could not afford to make tamales with a meat filling. This tradition continues to survive in the family and has been passed down through …

Use Of Calcium Modification In Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Comprehensive Review, Noyan Ramazani, Ala W. Abdallah, Michael V. Dicaro, Divyansh Sharma, Aditi Singh, Kachon Lei

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Calcified coronary lesions remain a challenge in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in both situations of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and stable coronary syndrome. It significantly increases the risk of procedural complications due to difficulty in equipment delivery, balloon expansion, and stent delivery. Furthermore, stent thrombosis, dissection, perforation, and future in-stent restenosis occur more frequently in calcified coronary lesions, impacting repeat target vessel revascularization and increasing the risk of future MI. With intracoronary imaging (intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography), peri-procedural success for treating calcified lesions has increased significantly. Different modalities of calcium modification techniques have since been introduced. This review …

Earl C. Hazelle, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Earl Charles Hazelle (February 1, 1906 – November 22, 1993) was a pianist, organist, accordionist and a composer of music for all three instruments as well as vocal music. He was also an accomplished painter in oils. Hazelle taught both music and art lessons for many years.

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Patient Appointment Adherence Through Staff Education On Health Literacy, Christine A. Johnson- Nganbou Kamkeu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Non-adherence to appointments remains an impediment to health continuity. It has been especially pervasive in rural settings. Numerous scholarly articles in the healthcare literature support enhancing health literacy in organizations and training in effective communication to promote patient appointment compliance. Hence, the purpose of the quality improvement (QI) project was not only to encourage appointment compliance but also to enhance the application of the Teach-Back Method through health literacy education. The theoretical perspective and practice application, according to Lewin’s Change Theory and the PDSA approach, included a four-week intervention period, during which the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) …

Quality Improvement Project: Debriefing In Simulation With Improved Knowledge And Confidence, Rebecca Walker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Debriefing is a vital part of simulation and is critical to the students' learning in the simulation environment. It is essential for faculty that debriefers receive training in simulation concepts and in structuring debriefings. The purpose is to improve the simulation program at the project site by implementing a training course, and the project aims to enhance the faculty's confidence and address any knowledge gaps. The project design is a quasi-experimental study that features pre- and post-intervention surveys. Fifteen full-time nursing educators were surveyed, excluding faculty who do not teach in simulation. The intervention includes launching a SBL course and …

Quality Improvement Project Assessment Of Emergency Department Staff Knowledge On Use Of Emergency Severity Index In A Critical Access Hospital: Implementation Of Emergency Department-Based Education Program., Amanda Taylor

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

In rural emergency departments, accurate triage is vital to ensuring patient safety and maximizing limited resources. This quality improvement project aimed to strengthen triage practices by enhancing nurses’ understanding and confidence in using the Emergency Severity Index (ESI), a standardized tool for assessing patient acuity. Ten registered nurses at a seven-bed critical access hospital participated in a structured educational program, guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory. The intervention included hands-on training, real-world scenarios, and self-assessment surveys. After the program, nurses showed significant gains in both knowledge (mean scores rose from 70.0 to 88.9, p < .001) and confidence (from 13.5 to 23.2 out of 25). While the small sample size and short timeline were limitations, the results highlight the value of ongoing education in improving triage accuracy and patient care. This project offers a practical model for rural hospitals seeking to enhance emergency nursing practice and promote consistent, evidence-based decision-making.

Quality Improvement Project Step Into Serenity: How Walking Can Ease Stress For Nursing Faculty, Stefanie Martinez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This quality improvement project explored whether incorporating scheduled walk breaks could help reduce perceived stress among accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) faculty. High levels of stress and burnout continue to affect nursing educators and contribute to faculty turnover and workforce shortages. The goal of this project was to promote physical activity as a simple and accessible approach to supporting well-being and fostering a healthier work environment. Grounded in George Engel’s Biopsychosocial Model of Health, this project introduced an educational session on faculty stress, burnout, and the benefits of walking. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) before and …

Newel Kay Brown, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Newel Kay Brown (February 29, 1932 – ) is an American composer, conductor, and arranger. He was chair of the Composition Division in the College of Music at the University of North Texas before his retirement.

Frances K. Thomassen Taylor, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Frances Eliza Warren Kingsbury Thomassen Taylor (January 21, 1870 – November 17, 1952) was an organist, composer and member of the General Board of the Primary Associations.

Moiselle Renstrom, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Katherine Moiselle Renstrom (June 23, 1889 – September 28, 1956) was a Utah educator, author, lyricist and composer of music for children.

Does Preoperative Arthritis Affect The Outcomes Of Superior Capsular Reconstruction? A Systematic Review, Tae-Hoon Park, Hyungsuk Kim, Sukil Kim, Jongin Lee, Gerald R. Williams, Hyun Seok Song

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: The optimal indications for superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) in cases of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCTs) accompanied by degenerative arthritis remain controversial.

METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, searching PubMed, Embase (Elsevier), and Google Scholar. Studies were included if they documented Hamada grade and reported clinical and radiographic outcomes after SCR for irreparable RCTs. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, visual analog scale for pain (pVAS), active range of motion, and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) were analyzed.

RESULTS: In all 7 studies, there was no consistent …

The Ecological Self In Nurse Educators: A Concept Analysis From A Humanizing Lens, Vhothusa Edward Matahela

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The 21st-century climate crisis necessitates a rethinking of the values and beliefs that have escalated environmental degradation (Gardiner, 2011). This presentation explores the concept of the Ecological Self, emphasizing the deep interconnection between individuals and their environment, as a framework for addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation (Bragg, 1996). Although the Ecological Self is highly relevant, its application within nursing education remains underexplored. Nurse educators, who play a crucial role in shaping future professionals, can influence climate change initiatives through this lens.

This presentation aims to clarify the concept of the Ecological Self in nurse educators by examining its attributes, …

Request For An Advisory Opinion By The State Of Guatemala On Democracy And Its Protection Under The Inter-American Human Rights System: Expert Opinion, Notre Dame Law School Global Human Rights Clinic, Notre Dame Reparations Design And Compliance Lab, Diane A. Desierto, Francisco J. Urbina, Paolo G. Carozza, Anibal Perez-Liñan, Faisal Yamil Meneses, Nicolas Buitrago Rey, Ian Sheppard, Michelle Vasquez, Nick Polk, Carlos Chinchilla Mourra, Jose Cardona Sanchez, Pablo Proaño, Roselis Diaz De Freitas, Zolile Shude, Christian Mikala-Ofori, Rachel Cooper

Court Briefs

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Notre Dame Law School Global Human Rights Clinic (NDLS GHRC) In collaboration with Notre Dame Reparations Design and Compliance Lab (ND Reparations Lab)

The undersigned Professors, staff lawyers, and researchers of the NDLS GHRC and the ND Reparations Lab respectfully submit this Expert Opinion for this Honorable Court’s consideration. 

1. The State of Guatemala has requested this Honorable Court to interpret specific provisions of the American Convention on Human Rights (e.g., Preamble first paragraph, Article 1 obligation to respect rights, Article 5 right to humane treatment, Article 8 right to a fair trial, Article 9 freedom from ex …

Mildred Tanner Pettit, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Laura Mildred Tanner Pettit (August 9, 1895 – April 9, 1977) is best known as the composer of the iconic Primary song, I am a Child of God. Much of the music composed by Sister Pettit was aimed at children and can be found in various publications of the Primary Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, Sister Pettit wrote dance music and operettas which were performed widely. She sometimes choreographed and directed the productions as well.

Secondary Teachers’ Instructional Strategies And Challenges In Teaching English Language Learners In Mississippi, Megan Cara Morgan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mainstream high school teachers in a district in the state of Mississippi have struggled to consistently implement research-based strategies that address the needs of English Language Learners (ELLs). Guided by Echevarría et al.’s sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP), the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the instructional practices implemented by mainstream high school teachers at a Title I high school in a Mississippi district that are aligned with research-based practices and the challenges they reported in improving ELL student achievement in mainstream classrooms. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with nine teachers from a Title I high …

Cordmilk: Umbilical Cord Milking Versus Early Cord Clamping On Short-And Long-Term Outcomes In Neonates Who Are Non-Vigorous At Birth-Study Protocol Of A Multi-Center, Cluster-Randomized, Crossover-Controlled Trial, S. Yogeshkumar, Sunil S. Vernekar, Sangappa M. Dhaded, Kiran Talekar, Benjamin E Leiby, Rebecca Hartman, Yvonne Vaucher, Nitin Chouthai, Meenakshi Girish, Manish Jain, Shuchi Jain, Seema Parvekar, Vinita Jain, Alka Patankar, Milind Suryawanshi, Manish Tiwari, Manjushri Waikar, Nidhi Nashine, Deepali Ambike, Mahesh Asalkar, Rajesh Kulkarni, Sandhya Haribhaktha, Hemraj Narkhede, Sudha Chaudhari, Milind Kamble, Deepti Shrirame, Balchandra Falke, Seema Mehta, Asha Verma, Sunil Gothwal, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Richard Derman, Anup Katheria, Zubair H. Aghai

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Facilitating placental transfusion-the transfer of blood from the placenta to the newborn-via delayed cord clamping (DCC) or umbilical cord milking (UCM) at birth has been shown to improve iron stores in healthy term infants and may positively impact long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Infants who are non-vigorous at birth and at risk of developing hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) are particularly likely to benefit from placental transfusion. This process may offer neuroprotection by enhancing cardiopulmonary transition, supporting cardiac preload, improving systemic and cerebral perfusion, delivering stem cells and neurotrophic factors, and preventing iron deficiency. While DCC is not currently recommended for non-vigorous term …

Choices 360: Addressing Stds In Adolescents Through An Abstinence-Based Seminar, Brittany Nicole Hatchett

Biennial Convention (CONV)

According to the 2022 Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in five Americans are affected by an STD, emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize STDs as a public health concern (CDC, 2024). Rising STD rates have become a prevalent problem within an urban county in West Texas and have been attributed to lack of education and risky sexual behavior. To address the knowledge gaps, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) has introduced a new national objective within the Healthy People 2030 initiative, aimed at increasing the proportion of adolescents who …

Edwin F. Parry, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Edwin Francis Parry (June 11, 1860 – September 16, 1935) was a Utah typesetter, printer and writer who also loved music. He sang, played the organ and piano, wrote song lyrics and composed many songs and hymns.

Irene (Christopherson) Tempest, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Irene Ellen Nelson Christopherson Tempest (January 19, 1904 – February 9, 1988) was a Utah pianist, organist and composer.

Marie Manwaring Anderson, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Teresa Marie Manwaring Anderson (July 8, 1913 – February 23, 2002) was an Idaho composer, pianist, music teacher and choral director.

Maurine Dewsnup, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Grace Maurine Dewsnup (February 8, 1909 – February 1, 1998) was a Utah piano soloist, dance accompanist, composer, music theorist and teacher.

Language Proficiency In Translation And Interpreting Programs: Insights From Administrators And Instructors, Julio Ciller, Sonia Colina

Writing and Language Studies Faculty Publications

This article examines the relationship between language proficiency and translation and interpreting (T&I) education in U.S. programs, focusing on language preparedness and development. This mixed-methods study investigates course prerequisites, proficiency requirements, and perceptions of administrators and instructors regarding students’ expected versus observed proficiency levels. Findings reveal a mismatch between expected and average proficiency when entering a program, with both groups acknowledging that T&I courses contribute to students’ language development but noting that current program practices often fail to align students’ actual proficiency with their needs. At the graduate level, instructors criticize proficiency requirements, and some administrators continue to view translator …