Digital Commons Network^™

Trends In Celecoxib Prescribing: A Single Institution 16-Month Review, Ivo H Cerda, Helen Jung, Maria C Guerrero, Rodrigo Diez Tafur, Robert Jason Yong, Christopher L Robinson, Jamal J Hasoon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Celecoxib, a COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is widely prescribed for pain management due to its efficacy and improved gastrointestinal safety profile compared to traditional NSAIDs. Understanding prescription trends and their comparison to other NSAIDs provides valuable insight into prescribing behaviors in clinical settings.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed celecoxib prescriptions written by three pain management physicians in a single institution over a 16-month period from 1 January 2023 to 30 April 2024. Prescription data were collected and grouped into four 4-month intervals to assess temporal trends. Additionally, we compared celecoxib prescriptions to other commonly prescribed NSAIDs, including …

Uncovering The Uncatalogued: Reviving The Museum’S Lost Catalog, Darrel Blevins

Public History Symposium

Darrelll Blevins presents his work in creating a new exhibit for the Clark County Heritage Center.

“Gut Heil”: Dayton Turner’S Preservation During The First World War, Brandon Broering

Public History Symposium

Good greetings, or Gut Heil!, was a common greeting made by German-Americans in Dayton. These German-Americans and the lives of millions of Americans on April the sixth, 1917 were forever altered because of the United States’ decision to join the war effort. As the United States entered the First World War, domestically the population felt emboldened to aid in the war effort in every way possible. The First World War brought unprecedented hysteria towards German-Americans for fear of treason and espionage upon the war effort. Eventually even legislation was passed 1 to halt anyone in the United States from interfering …

Scorpions Of The Horn Of Africa (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part Xxxvii. The Genus Hemiscorpius (Hemiscorpiidae), František Kovařík, Hassan Sh A. Elmi, František Šťáhlavský

Euscorpius

Occurrence of the rare in the Horn of Africa genus Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Hemiscorpiidae) is summarized, including a distribution map. A male of Hemiscorpius lipsae Kovařík & Lowe, 2022 from Djibouti is described for the first time. A new species Hemiscorpius huluul sp. n. from Somaliland is described, fully complemented with color photographs.

Longitudinal Assessment Of Blast-Related Traumatic Brain Injury (Tbi): Impact On Structural Neuroimaging Correlates, Working Memory, And Processing Speed, Carmen Velez

Dissertations

The conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq led to a significant surge in blast-related traumatic brain injuries (bTBIs). However, our understanding of their lasting neurological impacts remains incomplete. To our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study of its size to explore whether increasing levels of blast exposure predict neural atrophy or cognitive decline over time. We analyzed 149 baseline and follow-up data sets from service members categorized by blast exposure: blast naïve (n = 57), single blast (n = 70), and multiple blasts (n = 22). Participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuropsychological assessment.

All data were drawn …

The Student Movement Volume 109 Issue 21: The Final Stretch: Expect The Unexpected, Audrey Lim, Marco Sciarabba, Andrew Francis, Ember Clark, Nate Miller, Melanie Webb, Addison Randall, Melissa Moore, Natalie Reid, Aiko J. Ayala Rios, Nora Martin, Amelia Stefanescu

The Student Movement V. 109 (2024-2025)

HUMANS

AAPI Heritage: An Interview With KASA President Abby Shim, Audrey Lim

Technology to the Rescue: AI Use in the Classroom, Marco Sciarabba

Andrews Biology Professor Tom Goodwin Retiring After 30 Years, Andrew Francis

International College Students at Risk During String of Visa Cancellations, Detainments, Andrew Francis

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Crafted With Purpose: The Story Behind Made at Andrews, Ember Clark

Music Department Hosts Unique Opera Performance, Nate Miller

Carla Trynchuk and Elena Braslavsky to Perform at HPAC, Melanie Webb

Symphony Orchestra Says "Thank You" To WAUS, Addison Randall

NEWS

Unexpected: Gymnics 2025 Home Show, Melissa Moore

IDEAS

What Fan …

The Things We Lose And Other Haunted Stories, Michaela Arnice Reed

Fiction MFA Theses

Inspired by Southern Gothic fiction and speculative short fiction, the stories in "The Things We Lose and Other Haunted Stories" explore the realms of otherness, loss, and family relationships. Though not always supernatural, each story contains a ghostly element which haunts the characters, pushing them out of their comfort zones so they may confront and grow from the fears and phenomena which threaten to break them.

I Am Guillotine, Nathanael Joseph Williams

Fiction MFA Theses

63 years after the Mad War, an exchange of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, a twelve-year old girl wakes up on a train. She has no memory of where she comes from or who she was before the train, but when it stops, there is no doubt that she is now a slave. Brought to the town of Bludgeonburg in chains, she is sold off, along with a boy named Mohawk, to a man named Aabrax as a pit slave. The odd are firmly against Aabrax, and Gilly is not expected to survive, but by a stroke of luck, she …

Characterization Of The Gut Microbiome In Alzheimer Disease And Mild Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adults In Uganda: A Case-Control Study, Martha Sajatovic, Scott M. Williams

Faculty Scholarship

Alzheimer disease (AD) is associated with significant shifts in the gut microbiome and is characterized by reduced microbial diversity and changes in the abundance of specific taxa. These alterations can disrupt the gut-brain axis, leading to increased intestinal permeability ("leaky gut"), systemic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Such microbial changes are thought to contribute to neurodegenerative changes, as observed in AD and cognitive decline, thus emphasizing the role of the microbiome in aging-related neurological health. Our study in urban and rural population in Uganda recruited 104 participants aged 60 years and older, categorized into AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and control …

Consensus Recommendations Regarding Local And Metastasis-Directed Therapies In The Management Of Relapsed/Recurrent Ewing Sarcoma, Shauna R. Campbell, Erin Murphy, Matteo Trucco Pediatrics

Faculty Scholarship

Limited randomized or prospective data are available to guide local/metastasis directed therapy (LMDT) in relapsed/recurrent Ewing sarcoma (RR-ES), resulting in uncertainty regarding best clinical practice for these patients. This report reviews the available literature on LMDT approaches and provides consensus recommendations regarding therapeutic decision making, timing, and indications for the use of LMDT in the management of RR-ES. LMDT should be considered on a case-by-case basis to assess appropriateness, optimal timing/modality, palliative versus curative intent, and its role in relation to chemotherapy. One commonly used LMDT is radiotherapy (RT), which can be delivered through standard, hypofractionated, or stereotactic techniques based …

Words That Win: A Qualitative Phenomenological Analysis Of Rhetorical Techniques In Forensics, Lindsay Anton

Masters Theses

This study explores how different rhetorical techniques in collegiate forensics influence college students. Many people do not fully understand how two types of forensic speeches—oral interpretation and platform presentation—affect college students. Using a qualitative approach, this research examines which rhetorical techniques were most influential. A forensics showcase was held. Both an oral interpretation and a platform presentation were performed on the same topic to see how they influenced students. After watching, students answered survey questions about which techniques were most impactful. The results showed that emotional storytelling was the most memorable and persuasive. This study found that a storytelling approach …

Hydrologic Decision Support In The Nile Basin: Creating Status And Outlook Products From The Geoglows Hydrologic Model, Rachel Huber

Theses and Dissertations

Decision makers and stakeholders need information about current and future streamflow to make informed decisions and we show how the GEOGLOWS Hydrologic Model, known as River Forecast System (RFS), can be used to provide hydrologic status and outlook products to inform these decisions. We examine a specific use case of RFS in the Nile River Basin and how RFS is used to provide users with hydrologic status products. We work with stakeholders at the Nile Basin Initiative to assess their needs for this information. We use basic low flow calculations to compute the Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI) and the 95th …

Human Passion In The City And The Jungle: Translating Horacio Quiroga’S “Dieta De Amor,” “El Simún,” And “Polea Loca”, Washington C. Pearce

Theses and Dissertations

Horacio Quiroga, Uruguayan-Argentine writer who is often considered analogous to Edgar Allan Poe, is notable for his contributions to the development of South American Modernismo and his status as a precursor to the Latin American "Boom" period. My project presents a translation of three previously untranslated short stories: "Dieta de Amor," "El Simún," and "Polea Loca." As a preface to these translations I articulate my translation theory and give examples of that theory in practice. I draw upon Jorge Luis Borges, Lawrence Venuti, and Friedrich Schleiermacher as translation scholars who have influenced my work.

Systematic Analysis On The Applications Of Infrastructure Asset Management In Utah, Kelvin Kozakevitch

Theses and Dissertations

Public infrastructure is essential to a region’s economic stability and quality of life, especially its rural infrastructure where most consumable and essential goods derive from. Given the high capital investment required for infrastructure development and maintenance, asset management plans (IAM) are critical. Even though academic research exists on the problems rural infrastructure management face, little is known about the actual state, barriers and causes for the challenges IAM faces in rural Utah. This study examines the current challenges and barriers in IAM among rural communities in Utah. Employing a grounded theory approach, data was collected through a two-phase methodology: phase …

"Peace [That] Could Only Be Amazement, Too": Narrativizing Wonder And Strangeness In Marilynne Robinson's Lila, Tricia Cope

Theses and Dissertations

Set against the backdrop of the mid-twentieth century American Midwest, Marilynne Robinson's Lila is a profound story of loss and redemption told through the perspective of a young woman who emerges from a childhood of trauma and neglect and begins a new life in the quiet town of Gilead, Iowa. This paper examines the novel as a narrative meditation on the theological and ontological dimensions of wonder. While its fragmented structure and bleak subject matter have led some critics to interpret the novel as emotionally fractured or pessimistic, I argue that its recursive form and narrative disorientation are deliberate formal …

Learning Stations As A Dialogical Teaching Strategy In English Language Arts, Kaylee Smedley

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers and teachers advocating for dialogical teaching in secondary English language arts classrooms value dialogical strategies because they offer flexible approaches to comprehension and learning (Wilkinson & Son, 2011). While research on dialogic pedagogy recognizes strategies that privilege student talk, connect reading and writing to students' life experiences, and value multiple perspectives as beneficial, research about learning stations--where students rotate through a series of learning activities in small, collaborative groups (Aydogmus & Senturk, 2019)--and their role in fostering dialogical learning remains limited. This article explores how learning stations supported the application of dialogical principles through an inquiry-based literature unit and …

The Crystal Ball Is Cloudy: Teacher Preparation Programs' Challenges In Predicting Effective Teaching From Teacher Characteristics, Benjamin Pacini

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher preparation programs (TPPs) stand to benefit if they can reliably link pre-service teacher characteristics with later teaching quality--for example, by better supporting underperformers and spotting high-potential candidates early. In this study, I use data from a university in the Mountain West to analyze the relationships between pre-college student characteristics and teaching evaluation scores during student teaching, as scored on Danielson's Framework for Teaching (FFT) rubric. My findings suggest that no significant relationship exists between FFT scores and demographic characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, or poverty. Pre-college academic variables (i.e., GPA and standardized test scores) show small but …

Pilot Study For Examining The Physiological Effects Of Sustained Attention In A Structured Online Mindfulness-Based Course, Eve Barton

Theses and Dissertations

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI's) and courses have emerged as widely recognized approaches for promoting mental health, improving cognitive functioning, and fostering overall well-being. This pilot study explored the effects of a 15-session, online, structured mindfulness course on sustained attention and subjective well-being, utilizing both objective and subjective measures. The study aimed to determine whether participants' sustained attention, assessed via a smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) task, improved after completing the online course. Subjective attention was measured using the Attentional Control Scale (ACS) and a single item from the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), while subjective well-being was assessed using the Survey …

Wordsworth's Literary Signposts: Writings On Epitaphs And Tourism, 1807-1835, Matthew W. Rudy

Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores the intersection of epitaphic language and tourism in the works of William Wordsworth from 1807-1835. Compared to his earlier, more literal epitaphs, works such as "Yarrow Unvisited" (1807) and "Elegiac Stanzas" (1807) demonstrate a shift towards broader epitaphic language that foregrounds the ability of epitaphic texts to invite the reader to pause and make their own connection with the inscribed site. With the publication of "Essay upon Epitaphs" (1810) he further established his theory on the ideal epitaph as text capable of anticipating and connecting anonymous readers to the site and subject, whether inscribed on a headstone …

Enabling Next-Generation Microfluidics Through Advances In High-Resolution 3d Printing, Matthew S. Viglione

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation advances the field of microfluidic device fabrication through the development and application of high-resolution 3D printing technologies. The convergence of stereolithography (SLA) with digital light processing (DLP) has created unprecedented opportunities for microfluidic device fabrication, enabling truly three-dimensional structures with feature sizes approaching the single-micron scale. Building upon foundational work in custom 3D printer development, this research addresses critical limitations in 3D printing that have historically constrained microfluidic innovation, spanning multiple generations of custom 3D printers and technical innovations that have enabled the fabrication of increasingly complex microfluidic devices while enhancing resolution, repeatability, speed, and accessibility. A comprehensive …

A Complete Guide To Multi-Fidelity No-U-Turn Sampling With Application To An Inverse Wave Problem, Paul Smith

Theses and Dissertations

We employ a Bayesian framework to solve an inverse problem that aims to identify the initial condition distribution of wave propagation, given a limited set of observable data. To optimize sampling efficiency, we introduce a multi-fidelity No-U-Turn Sampler (MF-NUTS) with an adaptive mass matrix. Maximizing sampling efficiency is crucial, as our ultimate goal is to extend this methodology to a large-scale inverse problem to identify the source parameters of historical tsunami-generating earthquakes. The forward model for tsunami propagation (GeoClaw) requires over 20 minutes of supercomputer time on 24 cores to evaluate each sample for a triple-fault rupture, necessitating a strategy …

Reading "Particularized Worlds": Apocalypse, The Postsecular, And Postcritique In Toni Morrison's A Mercy, Eli Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

Toni Morrison’s 2008 novel A Mercy uses the concepts of world and apocalypse to explore a tension between individual perception (what Morrison calls “particularized worlds”) and larger social systems. In so doing, A Mercy reveals the nuanced networks of relationships that define worlds of belief and culture. By exploring its treatment of worlds and apocalypse and its attitudes toward the characters who experience them, this paper argues that Morisson’s work demonstrates a novel and timely readerly disposition, one that provides a more ethical approach to reading literature within the postcritical and postsecular landscape.

Deliberate Practice For Multicultural Orientation Training Novice Undergraduates, Eduardo E. Duran

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the efficacy of Multicultural Orientation (MCO) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) frameworks in enhancing undergraduates' ability to address cultural dynamics in therapeutic contexts through deliberate practice. Using a randomized control trial design, 59 participants were assigned to either an MCO as the experimental group or an MI workshop as the control group, each involving pre- and post-workshop video simulations and self-reported assessments. The workshops incorporated deliberate practice exercises with feedback to improve participants' responses to culturally rich client scenarios. Findings indicated significant improvements in cultural humility, comfort, and opportunities for the MCO group compared to the MI group. …

A Low-Cost Micro Actuator Driven By Electrowetting-On-Dielectric, Behzad Parsi

Theses and Dissertations

Microfluidic techniques have been shown to address limitations of reconfigurable radio frequency (RF) antennas and filters in efficiency, power handling capability, cost, and frequency tuning. However, the current devices suffer from significant integration challenges associated with packaging, actuation, and control. Recent advances in reconfigurable microfluidics that utilize the motion of a selectively metalized plate (SMP) for RF tuning have demonstrated promising RF capabilities but have exposed a need for an accurate fluid actuation model. This research presents models for the dynamics of plate actuation under multiple scenarios. In the first phase, the mechanical motion of a moving plate (e.g. SMP) …

Polymetal Phosphate Cement From Tin Fuming Furnace Slag: Hydration Mechanism, Mechanical Performance, And Environmental Safety, Peiwen Lv, Xintao Zhou, Zhongqiu Luo, Cuirong Yan, Xiunan Cai, Ting Huang, Pingyan Wang, Hongyan Ma

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Phosphate cement materials are ideal binders for the rapid repairment of civil engineering and solidification/stabilization of hazardous solid wastes due to their fast setting, high early strength and strong adhesion. However, the use of pure metal oxides as the raw base materials and their deactive pretreatment result in the high cost and energy consumption, limiting its broad applications. In this study, an eco-friendly polymetal phosphate cement (PMPC) was developed using tin fuming furnace slag (TFFS) as the primary base material. The hydration behavior, microstructure, mechanical properties, and environmental safety of PMPC were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that the hydration …

Changes Of Eeg Beta Band Power And Functional Connectivity During Spaceflight: A Retrospective Study, Adrián Quivira-Lopesino, María Sevilla-García, Pablo Cuesta, Sandra Pusil, Ricardo Bruña, Patrique Fiedler, Ana Maria Cebolla, Guy Cheron, Michael Funke, Fernando Maestu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spaceflight exposes astronauts to unique conditions like microgravity, which may affect brain function, though it remains underexplored compared to other physiological systems. Astronauts often report temporary neurological symptoms, such as disorientation, visual disturbances, and motor issues, potentially linked to structural and electrophysiological brain changes. To investigate this, electroencephalography (EEG) is a reliable tool to study brain activity in space, measuring oscillatory activity and functional connectivity (FC). This study analyzed EEG data from five male astronauts during three stages: pre-flight, during low Earth orbit (LEO), and post-flight in a 2-min task-free eyes-closed (EC) condition followed by another 2-min of eyes-open (EO) …

Adjuvant Radiotherapy In Pt3-4n0m0 Major Salivary Gland Cancer Without Other Adverse Features, Aman M. Patel, Afash Haleem, Praneet C. Kaki, Jake J. Lee, Russell Maxwell, Jason A. Brant, Robert M. Brody, Ryan M. Carey

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

OBJECTIVE: To investigate adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) utilization and associated differences in overall survival (OS) in pT3-4N0M0 major salivary gland cancer (MSGC) without evidence of other adverse pathologic features.

METHODS: The 2006 to 2018 National Cancer Database was queried for patients with MSGC classified as pT3-4N0M0. Patients with evidence of lymphovascular invasion or positive surgical margins were excluded. Multivariable binary logistic and Cox regression models adjusting for patient demographics, pathologic features including histology, and treatment were implemented.

RESULTS: Of 897 patients satisfying inclusion criteria, 368 (41.0 %) underwent aRT. Compared with those not undergoing aRT, patients undergoing aRT were younger (median …

Designing A Human-Centered Public Relations System For Layoffs At Organizations Across Financial And Professional Services, Kateryna Kzhemanovska

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

Public relations professionals support businesses across financial and professional services sectors with several initiatives, including reduction of workforce. Given the current macroeconomic situation, as of April 2025, many companies are laying off employees, and doing so in a non-user-centric way. This study will examine existing literature on the topics of corporate communications, reduction of the workforce, reputation management, human-centered interaction design, and project management, and explore the opportunity and relevance of applying human-centered methods to the reduction of workforce processes.

The Effectiveness Of A Race-Based Stress Reduction Intervention On Improving Stress-Related Symptoms And Inflammation In African American Women At Risk For Cardiometabolic Disease: Protocol For Recruitment And Intervention For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Karen L. Saban, Cara Joyce, Alexandria Nyembwe, Linda Janusek, Dina Tell, Paula De La Pena, Darnell Motley, Lamise Shawahin, Laura Prescott, Stephanie Potts-Thompson, Jacquelyn Y. Taylor

Biostatistics Collaborative Core: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Background: In recent years, the prevalence of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) in African American women has risen; the risk also increases with age, in comparison to men. Evidence demonstrates that stressful life events, including experiences of racism and perceived discrimination, contribute substantially to inflammatory diseases, such as CMD. Despite this evidence, few evidence-based interventions are available to assist individuals from minoritized communities in coping with the chronic stress related to their racial or ethnic identity.

Objective: Our proposed randomized controlled trial will test a novel, race-based intervention tailored to African American women, called Resilience, Stress, and Ethnicity (RiSE).

Methods: In this …

Strengthening Community Engagement And Addressing Enrollment Decline In A Title I Rural School Through Theater Arts And Parental Involvement, Jason Porter

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) examines the impact of integrating theater arts into the English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum at Sierra Union School to increase parental involvement, increase student attendance, and improve student behavior. Using a convergent parallel mixed method design within an Improvement Science framework, the study uses both quantitative survey data (attendance tracking, discipline records, parent/guardian volunteer hours, staff and parent likert surveys) and qualitative observations (semi-structured interviews, observation notes and reflective memos, NIC feedback) for determining the effectiveness of integrating theater arts in developing a stronger school-community connection. Survey results indicate that the majority of …