Digital Commons Network^™

Against The Machine: On The Unmaking Of Humanity, Joseph Kirby

Consensus

No abstract provided.

Algorithmic Bias In Ai: Preparing Nurses For Critical And Culturally Safe Engagement, Claire Song, Tanvir Gill, Pamela Cawley

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

AI is increasingly used in healthcare and education, often framed as a tool for efficiency and objectivity. Yet, these systems are trained on data shaped by Western biomedical norms, reproducing structural and cultural biases. Deep learning does not create new knowledge; it reorganizes existing information. When that data-electronic health records, clinical trials, DSM-based tools- reflects Western perspectives, inequities are amplified under the guise of neutrality.

Consider mental health tools built on DSM frameworks, which pathologize non-Western expressions of distress. Despite the American Psychiatric Association’s 2021 acknowledgment of structural racism, AI-driven assessments still rely on instruments like PHQ-9 and GAD-7. Bias …

Beyond Surviving: Resilience In Advanced Practice Nursing Students, Gerard Thomas Hogan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Advanced practice graduate nursing students (APGNS)—including nurse anesthesia, nurse practitioner, midwifery, and clinical nurse specialist students—face intense academic and clinical demands affecting mental health and learning outcomes. The shift from 24–28-month master’s to 36-month doctoral programs has amplified stressors, especially for nurse anesthesia students. This integrative review examines resilience development, measurement, and outcomes amid evolving educational demands.

Methods: Guided by Whittemore and Knafl’s integrative review method (2005), a systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO (2010–2025) identified 204 studies; 24 met inclusion criteria. Studies addressed resilience or related constructs among graduate nursing students. Quality appraisal used Joanna Briggs …

Policy Brief: North Dakota Maternal Mortality Committee, Kilyn R. Parisien

Public Health Student Publications

The following policy brief was created to examine North Dakota policies that are specific to maternal mortality and morbidity reviews. The North Dakota Maternal Mortality Committee (NDMMRC) is responsible for conducting maternal mortality and morbidity reviews in the state of North Dakota. This brief is guided by policies from North Dakota and MMRC reviews from surrounding states to inform six recommendations intended that guarantee the highest quality data collection and data reporting on maternal mortality and morbidity.

Tiny Hearts, Big Questions: Navigating Research And Clinical Trials In Pediatric Cardiology, Madison Dollar, Monica Ganaden, Gracie Gilbert, Mena Mohamedaman, Bellina Osei, Savine Valenzuela, Zachary Xayaphanh

2025

No abstract provided.

Research Progress On Plant-Derived Metal Ion Chelating Peptides, Pei Hanzhe, Zhao Hongfei, Zhou Jiahua, Zhang Bolin, Chen Yonghao

Food and Machinery

Mineral element deficiency can cause many health problems. Traditional metal element supplements have many shortcomings. Food-derived metal element supplements have gradually become a research hotspot. Plant-derived polypeptides have significant advantages in terms of cost and raw material sources. Chelating peptides formed by chelating metal ions with plant-derived polypeptides have the physiological activity of peptides and the functional characteristics of metal elements, which makes them relatively ideal nutritional supplements, showing broad development prospects. This paper collects relevant research reports at home and abroad, and sorts out the preparation process, chelation mechanism and characteristics, and biological activity of plant-derived metal ion chelating …

Current Icu Practices And Barriers To Calm Icu Guideline Uptake, Anne Mette Noerby Adams, Hila Dafny, Maria Alejandra Pinero De Plaza, Joanne Mcintyre, Xia Jin, Shailesh Bihari, Kay Bruce, Cherie Waite, Heather Block, Kathrine De Lyster, Frances Fengzhi Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Agitation in the intensive care unit (ICU) can compromise patient safety, prolong recovery, and contribute to staff injuries. While pharmacological interventions are sometimes necessary, they carry risks such as oversedation, delirium, and prolonged mechanical ventilation. The CALM ICU guideline provides recommendations for the non-pharmacological prevention and management of patient agitation. However, guidance on how to implement these strategies in complex ICU environments remains limited.

Aim: To explore current ICU practices and stakeholder perspectives on the barriers and facilitators to implementing non-pharmacological strategies for managing agitation.

Methods: This mixed-methods study used an exploratory sequential design guided by the i-PARIHS framework. …

Research Into Practice: International Standards For Home Healthcare Nursing Practice, Mary Curry Narayan, Marilyn D. Harris, Susan M. Hinck

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Home healthcare nursing (HHN) is any nursing care provided in people’s homes. It includes low to very high acuity nursing services that people need throughout their lifespans (Narayan, 2025). Future trends predict nursing care around the world is migrating into people’s homes (Chabouh et al., 2023) because the home setting is frequently more patient-centered, more effective, and less costly than care in facilities (Rusli et al., 2025). HHN has a distinctive set of attitudes, knowledge, skills and goals (Hinck, 2022) that may vary by country. At the same time, the World Health Organization (WHO; 2025) encourages nurses to enhance …

Developing A Reliable And Valid Sbl Scenario To Ensure Fidelity In Nursing Research, Laura C. Sessions, Marguerite Lucea, Hayley Mark, Susan King

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: The Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice framework (1) guides the design of healthcare simulation and related research. These standards advance the science of simulation by enhancing rigor in simulation design to support interventional fidelity. Few studies describe how to achieve this goal (2,3,4). The aim of this study was to develop and validate a rigorous scenario to examine the impact of simulation-based learning (SBL) on nursing students’ self-efficacy in communicating about stigmatized health topics (e.g., intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)).

Methods: Content experts in IPV, STI, and SBL designed the scenario using a standardized …

Improving Provider Adherence To Adolescent Depression Screening: Implementation Of A Standardized Phq-A Workflow In Pediatric Primary Care, Taylor P. H. Wamser

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Adolescent depression is frequently under identified in pediatric primary care because of inconsistent implementation of routine depression screening despite national recommendations. This practice gap may delay diagnosis and treatment which may increase the risk of adverse mental health outcomes.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In pediatric primary care providers, how does the implementation of a standardized PHQ-A (Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents) workflow compared to informal screening practices affect provider adherence to depression screening guidelines over 12 weeks?

Evidence: Current evidence and national clinical practice guidelines support routine adolescent depression screening using validated tools …

Dental Services Access And Oral Health Improvement In Gypsy, Romany And Traveller Communities: A Scoping Review, Martha Paisi, John Rowe, Joelle Booth, Lorna Burns, Janine Doughty, Afsha Musa, Robert Witton

Peninsula Dental School

BackgroundGypsy, Romany, and Traveller (GRT) populations experience poor oral health, with a recognised unmet need for care compounded by multiple barriers to accessing dental services. This scoping review aims to identify and map the available evidence, as well as gaps in the literature, relating to oral health improvement and access to care among GRT populations in Europe.MethodsStudies published in English relating to oral health improvement and/or access to care among GRT populations were included. Electronic databases searched comprised Embase (Ovid), Scopus (Elsevier), Web of Science (Clarivate), and Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (EBSCOhost). In addition, a grey literature search was …

Normal Tissue Objective Versus Manual Optimizer Rings In Eclipse For Multiple Brain Metastases Radiosurgery, Shelby David

Masters Projects

Purpose

To compare the dosimetric performance of manually generated optimizer rings and the Eclipse Normal Tissue Objective (NTO) for single-isocenter volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) planning of patients with multiple brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Methods

A retrospective treatment planning study was performed using ten patients previously treated with SRS for three or more brain metastases. For each patient, three VMAT plans were generated using identical beam geometry. The three plans consisted of manually generated optimizer rings, NTO alone, and a hybrid approach that incorporated both optimization strategies. Plans were evaluated using conformity index (CI), gradient measure (GM), minimum …

Innovative Application Of Intangible Cultural Heritage Narrative Design In Agricultural Food Packaging, Chen Yanan, Chen Bingyan

Food and Machinery

cultural distinctiveness in current agricultural food packaging, this study puts forward an innovative approach to promote the upgrade of agricultural food packaging from functional consumption to cultural consumption through intangible cultural heritage (ICH) narrative design. In terms of methodology, the value of ICH narrative in food packaging is first analyzed, followed by the proposal of a design pathway encompassing three aspects: ICH content selection and story construction, narrative graphic and layout design, and material and process selection, with interactive experience being strengthened by integrating technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and augmented reality (AR). In terms of application …

Enhancing Rapid Reef Resilience Through Transplantation Of Thermally Tolerant Corals In OʻAhu, HawaiʻI, Allison M. Klein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Coral reefs are increasingly threatened by marine heatwaves, disease outbreaks, and other anthropogenic stressors, leading to widespread declines in coral cover worldwide. As a result, efforts are increasingly focused on identifying thermally tolerant corals for reef restoration. However, it remains unclear whether thermal tolerance is maintained following transplantation and whether thermally tolerant corals perform differently in novel environments. This dissertation examined thermal tolerance, survivorship, symbiont communities, and growth in two dominant Hawaiian reef-building corals, Montipora capitata and Porites compressa, using a reciprocal transplant experiment between Kāneʻohe Bay and Ulupaʻu, Oʻahu. Initial heat-stress assays showed high thermal tolerance in both …

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder In Three Understudied Populations: A Review Of Latino, Black, And Sexual & Gender Minority Individuals, Ryan J Mccarty, Ogechi C Onyeka, Caitlin M Pinciotti, Andrew D Wiese, Eric A Storch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose of review: This review overviews the research base for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) among three historically understudied populations; Latino/Latin Americans, Black/African Americans, and Sexual and Gender Minority individuals.

Recent findings: Findings suggest that while core OCD symptoms are broadly similar across groups, sociocultural factors such as discrimination, minority stress, stigma, family context, spirituality, and access to care significantly influence symptom presentation, severity, and treatment utilization. Recent studies have evaluated assessment tools and provided evidence supporting exposure and response prevention, while emphasizing the importance of culturally responsive assessment and treatment. Large-scale initiatives are also improving representation in OCD research and addressing …

A Machine Learning Approach For Water Quality Assessment In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Watershed, Saika Nowshin Nowrin, Chu-Lin Cheng, Jungseok Ho, Jinwoo An, Fatemeh Nazari

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Water quality analysis plays an essential role in maintaining the health and sustainability of river ecosystems, especially in semi-arid regions like the Arroyo Colorado Watershed in South Texas. Since the river is a vital source of water supply for local communities, agriculture, and wildlife, it faces significant challenges and pollution from land use changes, climate variation, and agricultural runoff. Continuous monitoring and assessment of water quality parameters and their temporal variability are essential to ensure the drinking water supply and aquatic ecosystem health. However, comprehensive laboratory-based water quality investigations are often constrained by higher costs, logistical complexity, and limited manpower. …

Impact Of Sbirt And Virtual Simulation On Nursing Students’ Screening Readiness And Behaviors, Manal Alatrash, Muder Alkrisat

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This study examined changes in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students’ screening readiness and practice behaviors related to substance use following Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) education and training. It also evaluated the added impact of Kognito virtual simulation to identify areas for curriculum improvement.

Substance use disorder is a major public health issue, and nurses are key to early detection and intervention. Many nursing students reported feeling unprepared to address it (Myers et al., 2021; Quaye et al., 2020). SBIRT education improves knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy (Gomez et al., 2023; Zucker et al, 2022), …

Virtual Reality Communication Training In Health Professions Education: A Multi-Country Evaluation, Mohamad M. Saab, Mark O'Donovan, Irem Koç, Jennifer Kenny, Jan Hrdlička, Jiri Wild, Martin Zielina, Lucie Hrdličková, Katerina Rusinová, Martin Loučka, Aleksandrina Skvortsova, Liesbeth M. Van Vliet, Madelief Medema, Arianne D. Pieterse, Claudia Bausewein, Sabine H. Krauss, Johannes Rosenbruch, Stephanie Stiel, Kambiz Afshar, Malte Klemmt, Vasco Silva-Neves, Salomé Pinho, Ana Carolina Monteiro, Cathy Payne, Irene Hartigan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Virtual reality (VR) is transforming nursing and medical education by providing immersive, safe, and realistic environments for developing skills [1-4]. The use of VR for teaching emotionally complex communication, such as delivering bad news, is underexplored [5,6]. This study evaluated the feasibility, usability, acceptability, and satisfaction with VR-based communication training among nursing and medical students and educators in Europe.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across six universities in five European countries. Two VR scenarios simulating “breaking bad news” were developed using the NURSE [7] and SPIKES [8] communication frameworks. Participants took part in a pre-briefing session, then engaged …

Professional Identity, Nurse Educator Competencies, And Job Satisfaction In Academic Nurse Educators, Lexi A. Ayala, Desiree Hensel

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background. A strong professional identity in nursing has been linked to safe practice and job satisfaction. However, the influence of professional identity on role competencies and job satisfaction in academic nurse educators is unclear. The ongoing nursing faculty shortage underscores the urgency of understanding this influence to help recruit and retain educators.

Purpose. Framed within the International Society for Professional Identity in Nursing domains and definitions and Benner’s Novice to Expert theory, this study investigates the relationships among professional identity, academic nurse educator competencies, and job satisfaction in US academic nurse educators.

Method. A total of 165 US nurse faculty …

Behavioral Emergencies: Workplace Violence? We Have A Plan (Bert Team Implementation), Marcia L. Ozdenvar, Mimi Olsson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

During early 2024 we averaged 8.8 type-two workplace violence incidents increasing to 19 incidents in September. After workplace-related high-profile staff injuries occurred and our staff verbalizing increased concerns during patient interactions, staff were reporting practice changes to avoid patients they felt were agitated. A deficiency in staff on identification, mitigation and de-escalation of these patient behaviors (Bruccoli, 2023) was noted. The team evaluated best practices locally, regionally and within current literature, concluding that the implementation of a Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) would be ideally suited to reduce workplace violence (Parker, et al. 2020).

Literature review identified the consistent effectiveness …

Effect Of Chatbot-Smlt On Self-Management And Quality Of Life Among Liver Transplant Recipients, Li-Chueh Weng, Wann-Yun Shieh, Wei-Chen Lee, Yu-Hsia Tsai, Ssu-Min Cheng

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: After liver transplantation, patients must engage in effective self-management. Current care guidance needs to be more personalized, accessible, and continuous.

Objective: To explore the effects of an AI chatbot on the self-efficacy, self-management, and quality of life of liver transplant patients.

Subjects and Methods: This study employs a single-group pre- and post-test design. A chatbot was developed and implemented in March 2025, with data collection conducted during pre-testing, the first month, and the third month.

Results: This study presents the data analysis results for the 44 participants who used the AI chatbot. The average age of the 44 patients …

Coverage And Access Policies And Maternal Outcomes For Refugee Women: A Cross-Country Analysis, Sana Sahar Ebadi, Burhan Amiri, Roya Haghiri-Vijeh

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Objective: This review will critically compare how national health coverage and access policies shape refugee women’s maternal outcomes across pregnancy, birth, and the first year postpartum in four selected countries (Canada, Germany, Australia, and the United States), and identify policies that negatively impact maternal outcomes of refugee women.

Introduction: Refugee and other migrant women frequently encounter host-country coverage and access rules that constrain antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care, and are associated with poorer maternal and perinatal outcomes (Aldridge et al., 2018; Fair et al., 2020; Heslehurst et al., 2018; ; Lebano et al., 2020; Mantini et al., 2017). Because these …

New Info On The Hunt For The Ring, Chad Bornholdt, Bill Fliss

Mythcon

With Bill Fliss's assistance, Chad plots the paths of all characters, including individual Nazgûl, throughout Book 1 of The Lord of the Rings.

Optimalisasi Rehabilitation And Resettlement Demi Pemulihan Hak Penghidupan Layak Dalam Pengadaan Tanah Untuk Kepentingan Umum Di Indonesia, Dyan Franciska Dumaris Sitanggang

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Land acquisition for public purposes should balance development goals with the protection of human rights, particularly those of vulnerable communities. However, Indonesia’s legal framework has not fully incorporated a rights-based approach that ensures sustainable livelihoods for affected populations. This article proposes the adoption of a comprehensive Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) approach, with reference to India’s legislative model, that goes beyond relocation by ensuring proper resettlement and long-term livelihood rehabilitation. Special consideration should be given to indigenous peoples affected by land acquisition on customary lands. The study recommends strengthening community participation from the planning stage, improving coordination among relevant government institutions, …

An Infinite Number Of Roads Diverged In A Wood: Robert Heinlein’S Maximalist Road Trip In The Number Of The Beast, Patrick Julian

Mythcon

Robert Heinlein, Grand Master of Speculative Fiction, was born in Butler, MO (one hour north of Route 66), raised in Kansas City, and lived much of his early adult life in Los Angeles, the westernmost terminus of Route 66. Given this proximity to the Mother Road, it’s no surprise that Heinlein spent a considerable portion of his career writing about various versions of the Road Trip, whether it was taken via foot, horse-drawn carriage, automobile or spaceship. The Roads Must Roll, his 3rd published short story (1940), name checks Route 66, while many of his early works of juvenile …

International Student Athletes And The Covid-19 Global Pandemic: Disruption, Uncertainty, And Coping, Isabella M. Franks, Trent A. Petrie, Whitney G. Moore, Carmyn Hayes

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

COVID-19 and its ripple effects (e.g., social distancing, sport cancellations, quarantining) negatively affected the careers of collegiate student-athletes. The disruption to university systems and collegiate athletics and the stress and uncertainty felt globally likely increased international student-athletes' (ISAs) risk for distress. Yet, ISAs also possessed unique characteristics and were immersed within supportive sport environments, which may have shaped their psychological responses in distinct ways. The COVID-19 pandemic created an opportunity to understand how ISAs, as individuals navigating both athletic and international identities, responded and coped. To date, no study has examined the initial coping experiences of international collegiate athletes, even …

Perceived Safety For Collegiate Student-Athletes: Race, Gender, And Mental Health Outcomes, Macey L. Arnold, Hunter P. Williams, Justin Harker, Heather Kiefer, Julian Yoon, Trent A. Petrie

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

Inadequate levels of perceived safety on campuses have been reported by college students (e.g., Maffini & Dillard, 2021) and connected to college students' mental health concerns (e.g., sleep disturbances; Etopio et al., 2019). Little is known about student-athletes’ (SA) perceptions of safety, particularly related to their racial and gender identities, and how their perception of safety is related to their mental health. We surveyed 213 SAs regarding their safety perceptions on campus, athletic department, and teams, along with anxiety (GAD-2), depression (PHQ-2), and sleep disturbances (PROMIS-SD). White SAs reported higher levels of safety than Black SAs for all three environments …

Performance, Pressure, And Prescription: A Qualitative Investigation Of Maladaptive Coping In Collegiate Cheerleading, Chris Corr, Taylor Behl

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

While cheerleading is a staple among athletics competition in the United States, cheerleading has perennially struggled to achieve legitimacy as a competitive and rigorous sport. However, cheerleaders experience similar stressors to those of their athlete peers. In addition, cheerleaders occupy unique and distinct stressors pertaining to expectations for appearance and behavior. While extant research has examined maladaptive coping mechanisms among competing athletes, the distinct pressures and stressors associated with cheerleading may be associated with unique engagement in maladaptive coping. Accordingly, the present study sought to examine the prevalence and propensity of maladaptive coping behaviors among a sample of current and …

Clinical Corner: Pearls From Local Dentists

West Michigan District Dental Society Bulletin

"Clinical Corner: Pearls from Local Dentists" is a section of the WMDDS Bulletin where local dentists share clinical wisdom for fellow practitioners. This edition discusses Caring for Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate.

Wmdds Bulletin Spring 2026

West Michigan District Dental Society Bulletin

In the Spring 2026 issue, the reader will find introductions to the 2026-2027 WMDDS Board, recognition of WMDDS members for recent Michigan Dental Association awards, and "Pearls from Local Dentists" on the subject of Caring for Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate. Also included are your monthly tripartite updates, news from West Michigan counties, the President's Message, and the Editor's Letter.