Digital Commons Network^™

Clinical Evaluation And Rehabilitation Of A Complex Non-Contact Knee Injury In A Collegiate Athlete, Shelby Pritt

2026 Student Academic Showcase

This case follows the rehabilitation of a 22-year-old collegiate lacrosse player recovering from a complex knee injury. During the initial evaluation, the athlete presented with pain, swelling, and limited active range of motion, secondary to pain. The rehabilitation protocol used a combination of ACL, MCL, and meniscus standardized rehabilitation parameters. The primary goal of rehabilitation was to safely return the athlete play the following season. This case highlights the importance of knee health and the role of preventative exercise programs in reducing injury risks. This case covers the rehabilitation of a complex right knee injury primarily focusing on a complete …

The Past, Present And Future Of The Dietary Guidelines Of America And The Impact On Community Nutrition, Jordyn Dearth

2026 Student Academic Showcase

The most recent addition of the Dietary Guidelines of America have been released to the public, and has caused many questions to the community. The guidelines serve not only as a resource for the general public and a resource for local and national policy regarding nutrition. Because community nutrition is directly shaped by these recommendations, exploring its past implementations, present implications and possible future actions can help in understanding how these guidelines influence public health at local and national levels. This project aims to explain the impact of the past Dietary Guidelines, show the newest Dietary Guidelines, and predict how …

An Exploratory Analysis Of A Regional Nonprofit & Family Services Organization, Alison Schrumpf, Eleri Tye, Hailey Veninga

2026 Student Academic Showcase

Nonprofit organizations are essential in supporting youth's mental health in their communities, and the data they collect allows us to evaluate program effectiveness and how services can be improved to better support their communities. This project aims to evaluate program and provider outcomes, client demographics, and assessment scores for a regional nonprofit and family services organization to better understand client success, program effectiveness, and the impact of COVID-19. The dataset includes client demographic information, programs, zip codes, first and last session assessment dates and scores, discharge types, and provider IDs. To investigate score changes, we are analyzing the correlation between …

Educational Policy Committee Minutes, Clemson University Board Of Trustees, 2026 April 26, Clemson University Board Of Trustees, Clemson University Board Of Trustees

Minutes

No abstract provided.

Fitness For All: Education For Gym Staff Supporting People With Disabilites, Bianca Loor, Mary Jan Greer, Alison Skean

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project, “Fitness for All: Education for Gym Staff Supporting People with Disabilities,” focuses on improving accessibility and inclusion within community fitness settings through staff education. Individuals with disabilities often encounter barriers in gyms due to limited staff training, lack of confidence, and insufficient knowledge of adaptive fitness practices.

To address this gap, a comprehensive, evidence-based training program was developed and implemented for gym staff at Crunch Fitness Orange Park. The program incorporated occupational therapy frameworks, including the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model and the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF-4), to promote inclusive and client-centered fitness practices.

Using a mixed-methods approach, …

Sensory-Friendly Environments In Schools, Jocelyn A. Ashworth, Rebecca King

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Sensory-Friendly Environments in Schools focuses on strengthening sensory-motor lab use and building educator understanding to support students with sensory processing difficulties. Implemented at Sparta Elementary School within Belton ISD, with the goal to enhance students' regulation, attention, and participation in daily school activities by equipping educators with practical, sustainable sensory strategies.

When Teachers Can’T Say Gay: Understanding Teacher Allyship In Lgbtq+-Restrictive School Environments, Judith Shaffer

Doctorate in Education

Research consistently shows that school-based support, safety, and inclusion are essential to the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ children and youth. Over the past decade, however, U.S. public schools have seen a sharp increase in anti-LGBTQ+ laws and policies that restrict or prohibit LGBTQ+ equity and inclusion. While the harm these policies inflict on LGBTQ+ students is well documented, far less attention has been given to their impact on teacher allies working in environments where allyship is viewed as inappropriate or unlawful. This phenomenologically informed qualitative study examined how public school teachers who identify as LGBTQ+ allies navigate their professional roles under …

Effects Of Spatially Targeted Fertilizer Strategies On Canopy Growth Across Contrasting Tart Cherry Orchard Sites, Kurt Wedegaertner, Brent Black, Matt Yost, Grant Cardon

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Variable-rate fertilization is increasingly promoted in perennial orchard systems, but its effectiveness remains difficult to predict because tree responses are often inconsistent and strongly conditioned by site-specific constraints. To address this, we evaluated soil-based and vigor-based zoning frameworks across four commercial tart cherry (Prunus cerasus) orchards representing contrasting soil conditions, canopy structures, and management histories. Within each orchard, management zones were defined using either soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) or satellite-derived canopy vigor. Fertilization strategies were implemented by varying fertilizer application timing among zones using split-application approaches while maintaining a constant total fertilizer rate. Tree-level canopy structure was …

Gratitude And The Second Language Writer: The Effects Of Gratitude Journaling In The English Language Writing Classroom, Lauren Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Gratitude journaling interventions have repeatedly been shown to enhance wellbeing when conducted in participants’ first language (Emmons & McCullough, 2003; Sansone & Sansone, 2010), yet no studies to date have examined these practices in second language (L2) contexts. This mixed-methods quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of a six-week gratitude journaling intervention on adult L2 English writers enrolled in an intensive English program. Eleven writing classes (N = 183) were randomly assigned to either a gratitude journaling group or a neutral-events control group, with 123 participants completing all four stages of data collection. Trait gratitude and subjective wellbeing were measured pre-intervention, …

The Cowl - V. 89 N. 19 - April 23, 2026

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 89 No. 19 - April 23, 2026. 16 pages.

A Multi-Model Ensemble Framework For Assistive Image Captioning With Voice Interaction For The Visually Impaired Users, Alaa Noori Mazher, Ghadah K. Al-Khafaji

Baghdad Science Journal

Visual impairment greatly restricts an individual's ability for perception and interaction with the environment, making everyday activities challenging without the availability of appropriate assistive technologies. One major barrier is the inability to perceive visual scenes, which are essential for spatial awareness, wayfinding, and situational knowledge. This study aims to address this gap through the proposal of an intelligent assistive image captioning system specifically designed for visually impaired individuals. The system employs the best available computer vision and natural language processing techniques in generating context-oriented text captions for an image infused with interactive voice responses. Here, four models of Convolutional Neural …

Cardiovascular, Metabolic, And Mortality Outcomes With Semaglutide Versus Tirzepatide In Obese Patients With Hypothyroidism: A Real-World Analysis, Andrew Cecil, Ekow Essien, Gloria Amoako, Abena Agyekum

Aurora GME

OBJECTIVE: Hypothyroidism coexists with obesity and increases cardiovascular risk. This study compared cardiovascular, metabolic, and mortality outcomes between semaglutide and tirzepatide in obese hypothyroid patients.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study utilized the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network (155 healthcare organizations). Adults aged ≥18 years with BMI ≥30 kg/m² and hypothyroidism receiving semaglutide (n=104,138) or tirzepatide (n=45,772) were identified. After 1:1 propensity score matching for demographics, comorbidities, and medications, 42,940 patients per cohort were analyzed over 5 years. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, heart failure, pulmonary embolism, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and cerebrovascular disease. Statistical analyses included …

Inflammatory Burden And Multisystem Outcomes In Cushing's Disease: A Five-Year Comparative Cohort Study Stratified By Hs-Crp, Andrew Cecil, Ekow Essien, Gloria Amoako, Abena Agyekum

Aurora GME

OBJECTIVE:

Cushing's disease is associated with significant cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity, yet the role of systemic inflammation as a prognostic marker remains incompletely characterized. We investigated whether elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) identifies a higher-risk phenotype among patients with pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease across multiple organ systems.

METHODS:

Using the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network (155 healthcare organizations), we conducted a propensity-matched comparative cohort analysis of adults with Cushing's disease stratified by hs-CRP levels (≥1.20 mg/L vs. < 1.20 mg/L). Following 1:1 propensity score matching for demographics, comorbidities, and medication use, 617 patients per cohort were analyzed. Outcomes included mortality, cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, heart failure, pulmonary embolism), chronic kidney disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, depression, osteoporosis, and cerebrovascular disease over a five-year follow-up period (1-1825 days post-index).

RESULTS:

Patients with elevated hs-CRP demonstrated significantly higher all-cause mortality (20.5% vs. 7.9%; HR 2.86, p< 0.001) , increased risks of heart failure (7.9% vs. 4.5%; HR 1.98, p=0.023), and type 2 diabetes (14.5% vs. 6.1%; HR 2.71, 95% CI 1.65-4.45, p< 0.001). No significant differences were observed in myocardial infarction (3.3% vs. 2.3%, p=0.303), chronic kidney disease (12.1% vs. 8.3%; p=0.052), hypertension (23.5% vs. 16.9%; p=0.067),   pulmonary embolism (3.1% vs. 1.7%, p=0.118), depression (6.3% vs. 5.6%, p=0.606), osteoporosis (7.1% vs. 6.5%, p=0.704), or cerebrovascular disease (8.4% vs. 7.6%, p=0.635).

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS:

In this propensity-matched cohort of patients with Cushing’s …

Decidir En La Niebla Digital: Desinformación, Diseño Y Retos Neuroéticos En La Comunicación En Salud En [Ponencia] V Congreso Internacional De Comunicación Y Salud (Cicys), María Beltrán Rodríguez, Bárbara Mercedes Castillo Abdul Hadi, Lilian Velasco Furlong

Congresos y Conferencias

La comunicación en salud cada vez afronta más desafíos en el contexto actual de sobrecarga informativa digital y circulación de contenidos no verificados, especialmente en redes sociales. Este fenómeno adquiere una especial relevancia en el ámbito de las enfermedades neurodegenerativas (Alzheimer, Parkinson o ELA), y de la neurodivergencia, donde pacientes y familiares constituyen colectivos particularmente vulnerables ante mensajes sensacionalistas, promesas terapéuticas infundadas o narrativas alarmistas. Este trabajo analiza el impacto de la desinformación en la toma de decisiones en salud, prestando especial atención a sus efectos emocionales y conductuales. Con un enfoque interdisciplinar que integra comunicación, neurociencia y ética, se …

Theory And Simulations Of Delayed Stochastic And Deterministic Models Of Prion Diseases, Gangadhara Boregowda, Omar Sharif, Daniel Gutierrez Iii, Allegra Simmons, Laurent Pujo-Menjouet, Tamer Oraby, Michael R. Lindstrom

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and prion diseases, are characterized by the dynamical spread of toxic proteins through the brain. In prion diseases, cellular prion protein (PrPC), produced by neurons, misfolds into a toxic form, known as scrapie prion protein (PrPSc). PrPSc induces neuronal stress which ultimately leads to cell death. In this paper, we develop mathematical models for the progression of prion diseases, incorporating a cellular defense mechanism that introduces a delay term affecting protein translation and a volatility term accounting for unaccounted biological factors influencing the system. We also extend the model to capture the spatial …

Montana Kaimin, April 23, 2026, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

How Ai-Enabled Hiring Affects Organizational Health? Challenges And Future Direction, Shiza Hirani

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

In today’s competitive landscape of hiring, organizations are responsible to not only maintain ethical integrity, ensure fairness, and protect job applicants' privacy, but also uphold a more data-driven and streamlined approach to save time per hire. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the workplace presents opportunities such as enhanced productivity, efficiency, and creation of new roles. However, the widespread implementation of AI also raises ethical and privacy challenges that can deteriorate organizational health. AI-driven systems can inadvertently introduce biases and black box properties in hiring decisions which can erode trust and transparency, compromise employee privacy, and increase psychological stress …

Psychological Safety In The Classroom: Effects On Nursing Student Well-Being And Academic Success, Erica Frost, Kelli D. Whittington, Glory Omole, Chloe Birchett

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

In nursing education, fostering psychologically safe learning environments may support student well-being and academic achievement. Edmondson's Psychological Safety Framework (1999) provides the theoretical foundation for this study, framing classroom psychological safety as an environmental factor that influences student well-being and academic outcomes through its impact on learner engagement and interpersonal risk-taking. There is limited research exploring the relationship between classroom psychological safety and nursing student well-being, particularly in undergraduate face-to-face classroom settings.
The purpose of this study is to examine nursing students' experiences, perceptions, and academic outcomes to better understand how instructor behavior and the classroom teaching environment influence student …

Celebrating Ancillary Staff Achievement In The Hospital Setting, Lori Ischinger

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Clinical ladder programs have been available for decades to promote bedside nursing recognition and retention. They have been proven to increase the perception of being valued by an organization, which in turn increases job satisfaction and performance. There is limited research to support the use of these same types of programs for ancillary clinical staff. These staff are essential members of the care team and deserve recognition for the work that they do. The objective was to successfully develop, implement and maintain a clinical ladder program that is specifically tailored to recognize and reward the clinical excellence of this staff. …

Optimization Of Pediatric Multidetector Ct Imaging Parameters Using A Machine Learning–Based Monte Carlo Simulation Model, Ali O. Masoud, Adithya Rajnaryanan, Khamis O. Amour, Ahmed M. Jusabani, Justin E Ngaile, Manoj Kumar, Mwingereza John Kumwenda Dr

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study utilized Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to optimize radiation doses in pediatric multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) head scans by analyzing key parameters like tube current (mA), tube voltage (kV), pitch, and slice thickness. The findings indicate that reducing tube current significantly lowers the Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol) and Dose Length Product (DLP), effectively minimizing patient radiation exposure. Higher pitch values (0.7–0.9) further reduced radiation by decreasing beam overlap, while using a thinner slice thickness (0.6 mm) improved dose efficiency. A comparison highlighted the effectiveness of optimization: simulated parameters kVp 100, mAs 81, pitch 0.98 yielded a CTDIvol of …

Rethinking Global Health Partnerships: A Global South Perspective, Patricia J. Garcia

Grand Rounds

At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to:

1. Maintain and advance knowledge and skills related to pediatric conditions seen in our region.
2. Increase collaboration across professions of the healthcare team.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operably Unit (Bpsou) Revised Draft Final Quarterly Operations And Maintenance Report: Butte Treatment Lagoon System (Btl) Second Quarter 2025 (Dated April 10, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Usa V. Julio Otero

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Jane Doe V. Pine Richland School District

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Mitochondrial Dna Replication Is Regulated By Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondrial Contact Sites, The Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter, And Manganese, Amaia Lopez De Arbina, Angelica Zamudio-Ochoa, Mikel Muñoz-Oreja, Diego Perez-Rodriguez, Laura Mosqueira-Martín, Rebecca Lasalandra, Marina Villar-Fernandez, Uxoa Fernandez-Pelayo, Laura Rodriguez-Gomez, Seungtae Lee, Francisco Gil-Bea, Nerea Osinalde, Ainara Vallejo-Illaramendi, Dmitry Temiakov, Antonella Spinazzola, Ian Holt

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Mitochondrial DNA replication occurs at contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria (ERMCS). Beyond the known role of the tubular ER protein RTN4, the factors regulating this process are poorly defined. Here, we show that repressing the ER protein ERLIN2 in human fibroblasts depletes ER-mitochondrial contact sites and inhibits mitochondrial DNA replication, as does silencing RTN4 or the ER-mitochondrial tether GRP75. GRP75 or RTN4 scarcity also decreases the level of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU), whose inhibition blocks mitochondrial DNA synthesis. Because ERMCS depletion did not diminish mitochondrial calcium, and MCU complex can transport manganese, we tested whether …

The Effects Of Oleuropein In Olive Leaf Extract Alone Or Combined With Calcitriol On The Viability And Migration Of Human Endometrial Cells In Vitro, Katelyn Devereaux

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women worldwide and is commonly associated with pelvic pain, infertility, and reduced quality of life. Current management strategies, including hormonal therapies and surgical intervention, often provide only temporary relief and are associated with recurrence and adverse effects. These limitations highlight the need for alternative, non-hormonal therapeutic approaches that target underlying inflammatory and cellular mechanisms of disease progression.

This study evaluated the effects of oleuropein, contained within an olive leaf extract, and calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D, on cellular viability and migration in immortalized human endometriotic epithelial (12Z) …

Weight Concerns And Body Image Dissatisfaction Elicit Maternal Psychological Control Through Escalating Appearance Anxiety Behaviors, Madeleine Guillont

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study examines bidirectional associations between adolescent body-related concerns and maternal psychological control, and the behavioral mechanism through which these associations operate. Participants were 723 sixth- through ninth-grade students (350 girls, 373 boys; ages 11–15) attending all public middle and secondary schools in a mid-sized Lithuanian community. Self-report surveys were collected at three time points across the course of a school year. Results from full longitudinal mediation models indicated that higher body image dissatisfaction and weight concerns at the beginning of the school year predicted increases in maternal psychological control at the end of the school year, through increases …

Latent Class Patterns Of Medication Attitudes And Their Correlates Among Older Adults In The United States, Jiaming Liang, Min Ji Kwak, Mona Shirvani, Alexander Testa, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Zhigang Xie, Jack Tsai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Spartan Daily, April 23, 2026, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2026

Volume 166, Issue 37

Kenyon Collegian - April 23, 2026

The Kenyon Collegian

No abstract provided.