Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of A Food Distribution Center, Antonia Danielle Bates-Ford, Darlene Showalter

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Food insecurity in the United States is experienced by one in seven American households. In 2023, the food insecurity rate for the U.S. was 13.5%, which was 6% higher than the prior year. As a result of these rising numbers, emphasis has been placed on food insecurity as a social determinant of health that, on its own, serves as a contributing factor and predictor of patient outcomes. The food distribution center is crucial in alleviating food insecurity in Madison County. This program evaluation assesses the efficacy and operational efficiency of the center, providing insights for strategic enhancements and informed policy …

Board Of Trustees Minutes, December 10-11, 2025, Coastal Carolina University

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Facilities And Planning Committee, December 10-11, 2025, Coastal Carolina University

Board of Trustees Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Moral Injury In Helping Professions Psychoeducation Group, Website, & Outreach Campaign, Garrett Schwanke, Liz Greene, Natalie Brown

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Abstract Text: Moral injury is a chronic emotional and psychological syndrome from actions or experiences that transgress deeply held moral beliefs (Rosen et al., 2022). Potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) are abundant in the helping professions (e.g., teaching, healthcare, and social work) and include dilemmas such as difficult decisions to ration or withdraw medical care and harmful clinical and administrative practices.

Symptoms of moral injury include guilt, shame, anger, disgust, and moderate to severe social and occupational impairment (Rosen et al., 2022). This syndrome imparts a high risk for depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Moral injury erodes care …

Driving Roi Through Nurse-Led Initiatives: Ebp, Qi, And Research In Action, Devin Carr, Kristiina Hyrkas, Angela Bennett, Emily Calabro, Maddy Hirshan

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Explore the critical role of nurse-led initiatives in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and research. This session highlights how nursing leadership transforms patient outcomes and drives ROI across teams. Discover actionable strategies, real-world case studies, and a live demo of Ovid Synthesis, a platform streamlining EBP and research. Learn how nurse-driven innovation improves care delivery, efficiency, and engagement—empowering nurses as evidence champions.

It’S Still Happening: Conversion Therapy Laws Leaving College Students And More At Risk, Emma L. Mcconnell

Honors Theses

Conversion Therapy is still legal for adults across the United States, and for minors in many states. The laws and case law facilitating or preventing this discredited practice hang in the balance of whichever direction the Federal political climate moves at any given times. Even in states where Conversion Therapy is celebrated as "banned", populations of Americans that include the uniquely vulnerable students at religious universities are still subjected to it. This exploration and policy proposal solution prompts the total ban of Conversion Therapy and explains how a true legislative movement to that aim could begin.

Reading Between The Lines: The Influence Of Financial News On Investor Decision-Making, Kalia Noble

Honors College Theses

This thesis investigates how financial media narratives shape investor sentiment and short-term market behavior. Drawing on behavioral finance and narrative economics, it examines whether the framing and tone of market news correlate with intraday volatility in the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average. By pairing quantitative price data with contemporaneous headlines from major outlets such as Bloomberg, Yahoo! Finance, and CNBC, the study shows that emotionally charged or speculative narratives are closely associated with sharp market swings, even when fundamentals remain unchanged. These findings highlight the influence of media framing on investor decision-making and underscore the importance of financial …

Review Of Lifespan Development, Esmeralda Rivera

Open Educational Resources - Reviews

No abstract provided.

White Nose Syndrome In Bats And Infant Mortality In Georgia, Rhys Medcalfe, Sean Medcalfe, Simon Medcalfe

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: White nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease in bats caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans that can result in bat mortality rates of over 90%. WNS was discovered in Georgia in 2012 in 3 counties but has continued to spread to 14 counties as of 2023, with P. destructans detected in a further seven. Biodiversity loss has been linked to human health outcomes including infant mortality. Understanding the link between WNS, biodiversity loss, and infant mortality in Georgia is important because Georgia ranks 42^nd out of the 50 states for infant mortality rate.

Methods: Using panel data from …

Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among People Who Smoke In Rural Southwest Georgia: Perspectives And Influencing Factors, Shadé Owolabi, Helen Singer, Katherine Reilly, Łucja T. Bundy Ma-Edm, J.K. Veluswamy, Carla Berg, Regine Haardörfer, James Hotz, Ajay Gehlot, Michelle Kegler

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The COVID-19 vaccine is a critical tool in reducing COVID-19 related morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, vaccine hesitancy is an ongoing public health challenge, especially in certain geographic areas and sub-populations. This study assessed factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake and hesitancy among individuals who smoke in rural communities in southwest Georgia, one of the first COVID-19 “hot spots” in the U.S.

Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews (n=23) using a semi-structured interview guide, informed by the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM), that assessed vaccine-related behavior, intention to be vaccinated, perceived risk, social norms, attitudes, and environmental barriers and facilitators …

Psychiatric Comorbidities And Treatment Modalities In Children With Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A Systematic Review Of Mental Health, Julia M Morales, Camille F Villar, Beatriz Varman, Gianna M Colombo, Danqi Li, Sarah J Sadek, Marie-Eve Robinson, Chaya N Murali, Kara Ayers, Jocelyn Gomez, Brendan Lee, V Reid Sutton, Eric A Storch, Andrew D Wiese

Library Staff Publications

To evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric signs and symptoms and describe psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological interventions among children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). PRISMA guidelines were followed, and the study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024588284). Studies (n = 1419) were identified across five databases. Eligible studies, identified by independent reviewers, included peer-reviewed research on psychiatric comorbidities or interventions in children with OI. Data extraction included study design, population characteristics, mental health outcomes, and treatment effectiveness, with all studies assessed for quality and bias. Findings were synthesized to evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities and intervention effectiveness. Five articles met inclusion criteria after …

Effect Of Same-Day Hiv Treatment Initiation (Sdi) On 1-Year Outcomes In Low-And Middle -Income Countries: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomised Trials, Nikita Sass, Hanna Havrylenko, Felix Gerber, Alain Amstutz, Sydney Rosen, Alana Brennan, Mhairi Maskew, Serena Koenig, Nancy Dorvil, Elvin H Geng, Tracy Glass, Nathan P Ford, Niklaus Daniel Labhardt, Stefan Schandelmaier

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Same-day initiation (SDI) of antiretroviral therapy is recommended for people presenting with HIV who have no contraindications. We reviewed the evidence on SDI interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of SDI in adults diagnosed with HIV in LMICs. We searched MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library up to December 2024. Primary outcomes were viral suppression and retention in care 6-12 months after enrolment. Based on a qualitative assessment of the complex trial interventions, we considered two subgroups: (1) interventions newly introducing SDI and (2) interventions improving …

Real-World Impact Of Metformin On Outcomes In Patients With Deficient Dna Mismatch Repair And Microsatellite Instability (Dmmr/Msi) Colorectal Cancer Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Garima Gupta, Negar Sadeghipour, Fuat Bicer, Andrew Elliott, Andrew Hinton, Emil Lou, Ari M Vanderwalde, Ahmet Anil Ozluk, Moh'd M Khushman, Midhun Malla, Darryl Outlaw, Syed Qasim Hussaini, Bassel F El-Rayes, Mehmet Akce

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

An Exploratory Study Of Machine Learning-Based Open-Angle Glaucoma Detection Using Specific Autoantibodies, Naoko Takada, Yukitoshi Izumi, Charles F Zorumski, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Dc's Kitchen: A Comprehensive Business Plan, Mark A. Chesson Ii

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

This business plan explores the creation of DC’s Kitchen, a Cajun-cuisine inspired restaurant aiming to provide customers with an experience that combines the Cajun heritage with modern entrepreneurial strategies. DC’s Kitchen is more than just a restaurant; it is a unique place that tells the story of how the Cajun people came to be, and the foods and traditional dishes that underline the significant cultural impacts it has had in the United States. This business aims to merge all of these factors into one, while competing with the highly touted competitive “foodie” market in San Antonio, Texas.

This combines a …

Language Of The Law: Understanding The Impact Of Code-Switching Within Legal Fields Through Legal Blog Analyses, Kira A. Johnson

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Code-Switching is a linguistic phenomenon that can occur between different languages, cultures, or dialects. This study focuses on code-switching within the legal field, specifically through an analysis of legal blog websites. Through searching the terms, “code-switching” and “foreign language”, this study will compare legal blog websites in their coverage of the phenomenon. The various websites’ definitions of code-switching, how the topic is written with context, and what implications are suggested in the writing will be considered when crafting a comparative analysis. Individuals who communicate using different languages or dialects depending on situations and interactions are important to understand within the …

Microplastic Exposure Alters Tubulin Leading To Alterations In Insulin Secretion By Pancreatic Beta Cells, Anakaren Garcia

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels due to impaired insulin secretion or diminished cellular response to insulin (resistance). Pancreatic β-cells depend on a well-organized cytoskeleton, particularly microtubules composed of α- and β-tubulin heterodimers, to transport insulin granules to the plasma membrane during glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Disruption of microtubule organization can impair granule trafficking and reduce insulin release. However, emerging environmental toxicants such as microplastics that interfere with β-cell cytoskeletal function remains largely unexplored.

Microplastics (MPs) are small plastic particles (< 5 mm) that have become widespread environmental contaminants and can enter biological systems. Previous studies have shown that MPs can induce cellular stress and protein misfolding, but their effects on microtubules in pancreatic β-cells are not well characterized. This study investigates whether exposure to fluorescent polystyrene microplastics alters microtubule organization and insulin secretion in βTC-6 cells.

βTC-6 cells were treated with 10 µg/mL of fluorescent polystyrene microplastics for …

Cognitive Behaviorl Therapy As Primary Treatment For Adult Adhd: A Scoping Review, Lundin Race Krejci

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Ian Colburn, Ian Colburn, Katie Slack

Oral Histories of Farming along the Middle Rio Grande

No abstract provided.

Trading Posts And "Old Pawn": Diné Navajo Trade And The Native Art Industry, Dustin Roberto

Native American Studies Student Publications

"Old pawn" is widely used to describe antique Native American jewelry and goods once pawned for credit at trading posts in the Four Corners region. This article traces how the trading post pawn system influenced Diné Navajo economic life from 1868 through the 1970s, when federal regulators documented exploitative practices such as inflated interest, withheld mail, and items sold without notice. Weavers and individuals pawning jewelry typically received store credit or overvalued commodities instead of cash, a result of the power dynamics of the setting. Today, "old pawn" functions as a marketing label for vintage goods, often without documentation. The …

The Experience Of Social Isolation In Older Adults Moving To Assisted Living Facilities, Soniya Ottayil, Bryn Benzing, Alyssa Gonzalez, Adalynn Harper, Ariel Farrar, Riley Gaskill, Becca Haller, Terry Kessler, Constance Sheets, Lynette Rayman, Eugene Airhiagbonkpa, Giselle Nava Contreras, Ellie Schuck, Rachel Fischer, Theresa A. Kessler

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Social isolation of the older adult has become a global issue. Social isolation describes the objective state of being lonely, whereas loneliness is a subjective feeling based on relationships (Rohr et al., 2022). In a meta-analysis, 33% of an elderly population experienced social isolation (Ran et al., 2024). Based on the framework of loneliness, social isolation, and associated health outcomes (Barnes et al., 2020), the purpose of this study was to describe experiences of social isolation, loneliness, and strategies that decreased these experiences in older adults following a move to assisted living.

Methods: Using qualitative and quantitative approaches, residents …

Self-Efficacy And Knowledge Of Uindy Pre-Licensure Nursing Students Caring For The Lgbtq+ Population, Alyssa Blue, Sarah Holmes

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Research has shown that LGBTQ+ identifying people face not only socio-political discrimination but also disproportionate healthcare disparities. Additionally, studies have found that LGBTQ+ identifying patients are burdened with the responsibility of educating healthcare providers about their identities. Multiple studies have shown that nursing students are underprepared by their academic programs to care for people who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. The resulting lack of knowledge and self-efficacy that nursing students experience may affect their care of LGBTQ+ patients and contribute to health disparities. The purpose of this project is to explore University of Indianapolis nursing students’ self-efficacy and …

Maternal Mortality 2025 Report To The Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee. Department Of Health.

Tennessee Maternal Mortality

No abstract provided.

Actionable Insights From The Liahona 2, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

The original data exceeded 350 pages of Japanese text, resulting in a total of 37 different summarized principle/action plan sets. What is fascinating is that, while a certain amount of conceptual overlap is expected, intriguing new perspectives constantly emerge. Therefore, I highly recommend reviewing all 37 sets repeatedly (only a portion of which is included in this document). You will find countless hints for spiritual growth hidden throughout, often leading to significant breakthroughs.

This 63-page article is filled with treasures. Towards the end, you will also find shorter supplementary articles on techniques such as how to "zoom out" (gain an …

From Liahona To Talk: An Inspired Method 2, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

In my previous series, Actionable Insights from the Liahona, I introduced many principles that felt like tightly cut jewels. This time, I'm changing the tempo and delivering those same principles set to a heart-stirring melody. I've set aside the rigid outlining and repackaged the principles with relatable stories and humorous metaphors that I hope will make you chuckle and think, "Oh, I know that feeling!" My wish is that this new approach helps these vital principles to gently drop anchor deep within your heart.

Staff Education To Peri Operative Registered Nurses, Shahida P. Meghani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project implemented a staff education initiative to enhance perioperative nursing adherence to evidence-based practices for preventing surgical site infections (SSIs). SSIs remain among the most prevalent healthcare-associated infections, affecting 2%–5% of surgical patients and contributing to extended hospital stays, higher costs, and preventable morbidity. The practice-focused question guiding this project was: In adult surgical patients, how does the implementation of a perioperative nursing education program on SSI prevention, compared to standard practice, affect SSI incidence rates over a 2- to 4-month period? The project applied the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) model to …

Expressing Diversity And Anxiety Among Graduate Psychology Students, Paola G. Garcia Betancourt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative study examined the relationship between motivational factors that contribute to challenges in expressing diversity and the levels of anxiety experienced by graduate psychology students when discussing racial topics. The study was grounded in critical race theory, which posits that racism is embedded within social and institutional systems and influences interpersonal and educational dynamics. The purpose of the study was to determine whether motivational factors, as measured by the Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale, predicted anxiety levels, as measured by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Emotional Distress Anxiety Short Form, and whether racial background moderated this relationship. Data were …

Community Water Fluoridation And Oral Health: Proposal & Systematic Review, Kristina Lauranzano

Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) Theses

Fluoridation of community drinking water systems has been a staple of preventative dental care in the United States since the mid 20^th century. In recent years, there has been increased public discourse pertaining to the safety and efficacy of Community Water Fluoridation (CWF). The aim of the proposed study is to identify if there is an association between the CWF status (never fluoridated, currently fluoridated, or formerly fluoridated) and oral health status of a community in New England. This study will be a retrospective cross-sectional study design using NHANES Oral Health Status Survey data from the 2007-2008 and 2017-2018 …

Mapping Neighborhood Socioeconomics Across The Cellular Therapy Continuum: A Scoping Review, Danica Jhoelle Dorlette, Olivia Mead, Lawrence Bossong, Sanghee Hong, Jingjing Shang, Arlene Smaldone

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Despite advancements in cellular therapy, disparities in access and outcomes persist, influenced by race, income, and insurance status. Neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES)—encompassing factors like area-level income, healthcare access, and collective social resources—may further exacerbate these inequities. However, its influence across the full trajectory of care remains unclear.

Objective: This scoping review synthesizes literature on nSES and its impact on referral, treatment receipt, long-term follow-up care, and survival among patients undergoing cellular therapy.

Study Design: Following Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, PRISMA-ScR standards, and an a priori protocol, five databases were searched in July 2024. U.S.-based studies linking nSES with cell …

Can Schools Sustain The Rising Cost Of Retiree Health Care?, Robert Bifulco, Iuliia Shybalkina

Center for Policy Research

Many New York State school districts spend significant amounts each year for retiree health care benefits, and these payments are expected to grow over the coming decades. This brief summarizes findings from a study examining approximately 300 New York State school districts. Unlike retiree pension plans, which are typically prefunded, retiree health care benefits are funded on a pay-as-you-go basis, meaning that benefits for past employees who are currently retired are paid using current district revenues. In the average school district, pay-as-you-go spending currently amounts to 4.5 percent of district revenues. Assuming current benefit and funding policies remain, spending is …