Digital Commons Network^™

Strengthening Leadership And Expanding Engagement: Enhancing Volunteer, Participant, And Donor Involvement In Michigan Victory Games, Abbey Smith

Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone experience (DCE) addressed organizational development and community engagement within the Michigan Disability Sports Alliance (MiDSA), an adaptive sports nonprofit serving individuals with physical disabilities. The project is relevant to occupational therapy (OT) through its focus on promoting participation, health, and inclusion in meaningful occupations such as sport. A key gap identified was the lack of structured resources to support leadership, inconsistent outreach methods, and limited strategies to reduce barriers for participants, volunteers, and donors.

The objectives of this DCE included developing a centralized data management portal, creating a standardized community outreach presentation, establishing clear board role frameworks, …

Final 2022 Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Sampling: Bres No. 96 – Washoe Dump Site Evaluation Summary Report, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

The Fungus Among Us: Latency, Reactivation, And The Expanding Clinical Spectrum Of Coccidioidomycosis, Sumeet Bhardwaj, Arushi Tewari, Rishima Tewari, Simona Kogan

Student Publications

Coccidioidomycosis is a serious fungal infection that can produce a wide range of clinical manifestations, from mild, self-limiting pulmonary disease to severe, disseminated infection that can involve nearly any organ system, including the skin. Coccidioidomycosis may also affect patients at the psychiatric level. Its clinical relevance has increased markedly in recent years, as incidence continues to climb, geographic distribution widens, and emerging presentations challenge traditional assumptions regarding fungal latency and host immunity. A notably important and developing area of study is the concept of late reactivation. A narrative review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar. …

Vascular Burden Attenuates The Tdp-43-Tmem106b Pathological Relationship In Neurodegenerative Disease With And Without Alzheimer Disease Neuropathological Change, Matthew B. Dopler, Cole Corbett, Angelique D. Gonzalez, Ali Ghaseminejad-Bandpey, Mallory Keating, Kyra M. Clarke, Oluwaseun B. Ogunbona, Gladys Maestre, Sudha Seshadri, Shahroo Etemadmoghadam, Margaret E. Flanagan

School of Medicine Publications

TMEM106B, a lysosomal transmembrane protein, is a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease (ad) and TDP-43 proteinopathies. TMEM106B pathology occurs in normal aging and is increased in TDP-43 proteinopathy but its role in dementia remains unclear. Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is a driver and co-pathology of dementia, yet its contribution to TMEM106B accumulation in the context of TDP-43 and ad neuropathological changes (ADNC) has not been explored. We analyzed post-mortem human hippocampal sections spanning not-, low-, intermediate-, and high-ADNC. In secondary analyses, cases ≥65 years were stratified by TDP-43 immunopositivity and CVD severity; cases < 65 years were included to contextualize age-associated effects. TMEM106B immunoreactivity was quantified using digital pathology. Linear regression models demonstrated that age and sex (higher in females) were independent predictors of TMEM106B immunopositivity whereas Braak stage, CERAD-NP score, and Thal phase were not. The positive TDP-43-TMEM106B association was attenuated with increased CVD pathology severity, suggesting that vascular burden modifies this relationship. Sensitivity analyses restricted to LATE-NC attenuated several associations, indicating that pooled TDP-43 findings should be interpreted cautiously given possible disease heterogeneity. TMEM106B immunoreactivity was most strongly associated with age and sex, while vascular burden, rather than ADNC level, modified its relationship with TDP-43 proteinopathy.

Embedding 21st Century Skills In English Language Education For Health Vocational Students: A Systematic Literature Review, Karmilah Karmilah, Euis Reliyanti Arum, Wiwin Winarti

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

The integration of 21st-century skills—critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity—into English language education is essential for preparing health vocational students to meet the demands of a globalized healthcare industry. This systematic review examined how these skills are embedded within English language teaching for health vocational students and evaluates the effectiveness of innovative pedagogical approaches, including Project-Based Learning (PJBL) and Problem-Based Learning (PBL). Using the PRISMA framework, the study reviewed peer-reviewed articles published between 2012 and 2024 from PubMed, ERIC, and Google Schoolar. Inclusion criteria focused on studies addressing the application of 21st-century skills in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) within …

Designing Integrated Program For Teaching Language, Literature, And Arts For Young Learners, Yusnita Febrianti, Anik Nunuk Wulyani, Shirly Rizki Kusumaningrum, Joni Agung Sudarmanto

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

Much research discussed the value of teaching additional language, literature, and the arts for young learners. Among the many benefits, some research mentioned the development of children’s knowledge, emotion, intellect, imagination, as well as reading habits. Collectively, most studies in this area suggested facilitating the teaching of language, literature, and the arts as a part of lesson planning in the classroom. However, in an ESL context such as Indonesia, the ideal situation for the incorporation of language, literature, and the arts is not easy to accomplish. Therefore, the study outlines a design of a program that integrates the teaching of …

Improving Students Reading Comprehension Ability Through Integrated Thematic Learning With School Literacy Movement Support, Ryan Dwi Puspita, Dadang Sunendar, Bachrudin Musthafa, Rully Agung

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

PISA's findings reported that Indonesian elementary school students (IESS) achieved their average reading comprehension ability which were below the standard set by OECD. This research proposed school literacy movement (SLM) as an apparatus to cultivate IESS reading and writing skill habit. This study applied quasi-experimental method with employed sample of 126 IESS of 5th and 4th graders and their teachers serving in four schools. This study showed that there was significant effect of ITL to improve IESS reading comprehension ability of 5th graders.

Comprehensive Genome Annotation Of Bacteriophage Phrampa: Insights Into Gene Organization And Function, Kimi Norway, Brian Burnes

Undergraduate Research Conference

Bacteriophage genome annotation is essential for understanding phage diversity, gene function, and evolutionary relationships. In this project, the complete genome of the newly isolated bacteriophage Phrampa was annotated as part of the BSB 303 course. Annotation was conducted using the Phage Evidence Collection and Annotation Network (PECAAN), which integrates multiple lines of bioinformatic evidence to identify genes and predict putative functions. All annotations will undergo external review through the SEA-PHAGES program to ensure accuracy and standardization. The finalized dataset will contribute a fully annotated Phrampa genome to public scientific resources, supporting broader efforts in comparative genomics, phage evolution research, and …

Potential Applications Of Thymus Vulgaris In Dental Care: A Review Of Antimicrobial And Oral Health Benefits, Lakenzia Z. Ham

Undergraduate Research Conference

This research proposal focuses on how common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) can be used in dental care. There has been more interest in natural products for dental health because some common dental treatments can have side effects or lead to antibiotic resistance. Thyme contains natural compounds like thymol and carvacrol that help kill bacteria, reduce inflammation, and prevent buildup on teeth.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current scientific literature to see the effectiveness of thyme in preventing common oral health problems like cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Research shows that thyme can fight bacteria …

Adolescent Adjustment To Parental Divorce: The Role Of Individual, Relational, And Contextual Factors On Well-Being, Annesley J. Drury

Undergraduate Research Conference

This theoretical paper examines the factors that influence adolescent adjustment following parental divorce, focusing on individual, relational, and contextual variables shown in prior research to predict well-being. Using the Rational Choice and Social Exchange Framework and the Family Life Course Development Framework, this study explores how coping strategies, parental attachment, co-parenting quality, sibling relationships, financial strain, and social support shape adolescent outcomes after divorce. The literature review synthesizes six empirical studies from multiple cultural contexts, identifying consistent findings such as greater internalizing symptoms among adolescents exposed to high-conflict co-parenting, parental distress, or limited support. Based on these studies and theoretical …

Hurc 2026 Program, Caden W. Haustein

Ex Sapientia Loqui

The program for the 2025 session of Harding Undergraduate Research Conference (HURC), sponsored by the Harding Honors College and the Arkansas Eta chapter of Alpha Chi.

Hurc 2025 Program, Russell Keck, Nathaniel Wiewora Ph.D.

Ex Sapientia Loqui

The program for the 2025 session of Harding Undergraduate Research Conference (HURC), sponsored by the Harding Honors College and the Arkansas Eta chapter of Alpha Chi.

Hurc 2024 Program, Russell Keck

Ex Sapientia Loqui

The program for the 2024 session of Harding Undergraduate Research Conference (HURC), sponsored by the Harding Honors College and the Arkansas Eta chapter of Alpha Chi.

Hurc 2021 Program, James Huff

Ex Sapientia Loqui

The program for the 2021 inaugural session of Harding Undergraduate Research Conference (HURC), sponsored by the Harding Honors College and the Arkansas Eta chapter of Alpha Chi.

The Social Determinants Of Health And Cancer, Joshua Williams

Ex Sapientia Loqui

The social determinants of health, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), are “the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, and people’s access to power, money and resources.” Epidemiologists have long studied the nexus between social forces and disease and have widely agreed that such forces are directly causal of pathologies. This paper is an analytic review of the existing literature on several social determinants— namely socioeconomic status (SES), race and ethnicity, age, working and living conditions, and social integration— and how they pertain to the causation, progression, and treatment of cancer.

Teaching Under Pressure: A Study Of Factors Influencing Stress Among Educators, Daniel K. Ashlock, Shaun D. Bell, Victoria K. Hutcherson

Ex Sapientia Loqui

There were three purposes of this non-experimental study. The first purpose was to determine whether there was a difference in stress levels between teachers of different grade levels. The second purpose was to determine whether there are significant differences in workplace stress among PreK-12 school teachers as a result of the educational setting (either public or private school). The third purpose was to determine if there are significant differences in workplace stress among PreK-12 school teachers as a result of class size. The participants (n=81) included a convenience sample of PreK through twelfth-grade teachers in or around Searcy, Arkansas. Their …

Galen Of Pergamum: Life, Literature, And Legacy, Elyse Rogers

Ex Sapientia Loqui

Galen of Pergamum was a second-century physician whose work had an enduring impact on the field of medicine. His extensive writings were the primary reference and teaching materials for the medical community for over a millennium. While his ideas were revolutionary for his time, they were eventually outdated. Nevertheless, there was a continued reliance on his authority, which hindered scientific advancement. Galen both advanced the world of medicine with his emphasis on observational analysis and constrained its progress through the profound dominance of his theories.

This paper aims to understand the life of Galen and the significance of his work …

Back Matter, Julie E Harris

Ex Sapientia Loqui

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Julie Harris

Ex Sapientia Loqui

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Clara Kernodle

Ex Sapientia Loqui

No abstract provided.

Are Nonprofit Tax Exemptions And Deductions "Federal Financial Assistance"? Should They Be?, Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer

Florida Tax Review

Two recent federal court decisions have reignited the debate over whether “Federal financial assistance” as used in four federal anti-discrimination statutes includes the tax benefits enjoyed by most nonprofit organizations. Both courts concluded that it does. While an appellate court reversed one decision, and the other case settled without appellate review, these holdings create significant uncertainty. And this uncertainty affects the more than 1.8 million tax-exempt nonprofits, many if not most of which do not receive federal financial assistance through other channels and so could safely conclude these statutes do not reach them, absent these decisions. This uncertainty is also …

The Mother Of All Tax Shelters, Michael Doran

Florida Tax Review

By its own account, the federal government spends more than $500 billion every year to subsidize retirement savings in 401(k) plans, IRAs and similar arrangements. That figure is larger than the annual budget of every government agency other than the four largest. The theory behind this massive subsidy is that it gives workers at all income levels an incentive to save money that they would otherwise spend, thereby enhancing retirement security, reducing old-age poverty and easing dependence on Social Security. But the theory is wrong. The retirement tax subsidy is anything but egalitarian. Less than five percent of the subsidy …

Dynamic Watch Complications, Sumukh A. Shevde, Kamran Mustafa, Abhijit Adsule

Defensive Publications Series

This document describes a system in which a smart watch—also referred to as a wearable device, fitness tracker, or digital timepiece—displays different configurations of watch faces, widgets, app shortcuts, or complications, depending on different contexts. The system utilizes a context engine to monitor real-time data from sensors and system applications, such as temporal data, spatial data, schedule data, and activity data, to determine a user’s current situation and predict the user’s desired screen layout. The system uses a strict set of rules to resolve any conflicting information to ensure predictable and relevant information delivery. Based on the user’s current context …

Preventing Spurious Bfd Faults On Remote Nodes During Make-Before-Break Updates On Local Nodes, Anonymous

Defensive Publications Series

The present disclosure relates to a mechanism for preventing spurious Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) faults during make-before-break (MBB) updates in a segment-routing traffic-engineering (SR-TE) network (10). A first node (12-1), operating as a head-end router, is configured to perform a label-stack update for a first SR-TE candidate path while maintaining continuity of BFD monitoring. Prior to the update, the first node (12-1) disables a local BFD detection timer and transmits a first BFD control packet that omits a reverse-path Binding Segment Identifier (BSID). The packet includes a diagnostic field  instructing a peer node (12-6) to disable its BFD detection timer. …

Assessing The Aesthetic Responsiveness Among Patients In A Free Clinic Setting, Jack E. Pitts

Student Scholar Showcase

Art therapy has increasingly been recognized as a complementary intervention in healthcare settings, with demonstrated benefits for stress reduction and overall biopsychosocial well-being. However, limited research has explored aesthetic engagement within medically underserved and economically disadvantaged populations. This study examines aesthetic responsiveness among patients receiving care at the Free Clinic of Central Virginia using a standardized Aesthetic Responsiveness Assessment. The assessment consists of 14 Likert-scale questions assessing individuals’ cumulative aptitude across three domains: aesthetic appreciation, intense aesthetic experience, and creative behavior. Responses and data were collected voluntarily and anonymously, and they were analyzed to better understand how patients in an …

Respiratory Distress In An Adolescent, Competitive Alpine Skier, Reagan C. Moore

Student Scholar Showcase

A 17-year-old female, elite alpine skier and varsity soccer player presented with shortness of breath (SOB), described as "suffocating," and audible laryngeal stridor often occurring at heart rates exceeding 180 beats per minute (bpm). Based on clinical presentation and the exclusion of allergies and asthma, she was diagnosed with Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO). Interventions focused on conservative management, including breathing techniques for vocal cord dysfunction, and the supplemental use of an Albuterol inhaler for symptomatic relief during high-intensity exertion. Unlike other typical exercise-induced dyspnea conditions, this patient's symptoms responded better to a behavioral approach. This included relaxing the larynx; hence …

The Impact Of Customized Alarm Sounds On Reducing Alarm Fatigue In Icu Nurses, Abigail L. Kendrick, Elizabeth G. Dunkum, Carly F. Harris

Student Scholar Showcase

Within hospital care, particularly in intensive care units, alarm fatigue poses a major threat to patient safety. As a result of the constant sound of alarms, nurses become desensitized and overstimulated in the health care setting. Patient safety is threatened by an increased risk of errors in care, which may lead to complications and poor health outcomes. By systematically reviewing various research studies within the time span of 2020-2025 regarding interventions to decrease the relevance of alarm fatigue, research suggests that there are methods that can be applied via numerous approaches. By customizing alarm sounds by severity, it is believed …

Health And Motivation, Lydia E. Erickson, Dr. Jay Medenwaldt

Celebration of Research

Mental and physical health are two fundamental components in a person's life that directly affect well-being. Across continents, cultures, and all human backgrounds, mind and body are something every individual has in common. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between mental and physical activity when accounting for motivation.

Understanding this relationship is critical for developing more effective health interventions and motivational strategies, especially among adolescent and young adult populations. The researchers hypothesized that intrinsic motivation and physical activity would positively predict well-being.

Participants in this study were students attending Northwestern College. Participants included both male and …

Nitrous Oxide Use In Labor, Aimee Aberson, Janae Cam, Rylie Franken, Rachel Henriksen, Ben Robinson, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

Effective pain management during labor is a critical part of maternal care. It influences the mother’s physical and emotional experiences of childbirth. Epidural anesthesia and intravenous opioids are commonly used as analgesia in laboring mothers, but nitrous oxide (N₂O) has proven to be a safe, noninvasive alternative. It allows mothers to maintain mobility and consciousness while still reducing some pain perception. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and satisfaction associated with N₂O use during active maternal labor. It reviews current literature on N₂O use during labor, focusing on maternal and neonatal safety, effectiveness …

Role Of Dental Screening In Preventing Hip Prosthetic Joint Infections, Aidan Anderson, Cailee Dix, Emma Franken, Erin Keizer, Zavyr Metzger, Tyra Snyder, Pam Hulstein

Celebration of Research

Hip arthroplasty is a common procedure, but Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains a serious postoperative complication associated with increased hospital stays, readmissions, and costs. Evidence suggests that poor oral health may contribute to PJIs through the spread of bacteria from the mouth to the surgical site. This project examined the relationship between preoperative dental health and postoperative outcomes in adults aged 50–90 undergoing hip replacement. A literature review using the Johns Hopkins Research Evidence Appraisal Tool evaluated 19 studies from databases such as PubMed and ScienceDirect. While no clear association was found between specific dental risk factors and PJIs, untreated …