Digital Commons Network^™

The Experience Of Using Ai In An Undergraduate Evidence-Based Practice And Nursing Research Course, Christa E. Hartch

General Submissions: Academic Settings and Education-based Materials

As part of a university-wide, interdisciplinary initiative, faculty in our small, private liberal arts university have been engaged in a months-long Faculty Learning Community (FLC) exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Attending weekly online seminars throughout the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters presented by the Council of Independent Colleges, participating faculty, from undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs across disciplines were asked to implement the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) into course assignments. GAI is defined as any type of AI that uses deep learning models to generate or create new content (Bowen & Watson, 2024). A …

Bacteriophage Therapy For Antibiotic-Resistant Infections, Shiva Pariyar

Best Integrated Writing

Pariyar examines bacteriophage therapy as a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating multidrug-resistant infections, highlighting its targeted mechanism, ability to disrupt biofilms, and synergy with antibiotics. While challenges such as regulation, immune response, and limited clinical trials remain, the study argues that advances in biotechnology and global collaboration position phage therapy as a future cornerstone in combating antimicrobial resistance.

Exploring The Impact Of Education On Cardiovascular Health In Women: Sex Disparities, Symptom Recognition And Attribution, And Preventive Measures, Sydney Totten

Best Integrated Writing

Totten examines sex disparities in cardiovascular disease among women, emphasizing gaps in symptom recognition, treatment, and health education. Through a literature review and educational intervention, it demonstrates that targeted, nurse-led education can significantly improve women’s understanding of risk factors, symptoms, and disease management, ultimately supporting better health outcomes.

Chimes: March 23, 2026, Calvin University

Chimes

Calvin's 150th marked by historic royal visit by Ian Tjoelker

D3 Hockey makes nationals run in historic season before D2 move by Zack Kern & Hendrik Beelen

Celebrating 150 years: "Calvin on the Road" tour visits Grand Rapids by Alec DeYoung

Jordan archaeology May term cancelled by Sarah Sparling

Calvin's CubeSat program launches into action by Ellery Johnson

The Changing Legal Landscape Of Cookie Banner Claims: Is Arbitration The Answer?, Jared Berklee

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution (CJCR) Blog

Website cookie banners have become a ubiquitous part of internet browsing and are often overlooked by the average consumer. When cookies malfunction or a website operator fails to obtain proper user-consent, it creates risk for potential privacy-related litigation regarding misrepresentation of data-collection practices. In several recent class action lawsuits filed in California, plaintiff-users claim to have opted out of non-essential cookies, but malfunctioning cookie banners continued to log user information. Often alleging unauthorized interception of their electronic communications under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) or intrusion upon seclusion, consumers have brought claims against a variety of entities, including …

Sars-Cov-2 Nonspike Structural Proteins Hijack Mucosa Epithelial Cell Fate, Yan Gao, Lucas Lacerda Souza, Hong Soon Kang, Zehan Li, Juan Carlos Hernandez-Guerrero, Fábio Abreu Alves, Wei Zhang, Vikram Sharma, Sally Hanks, Jinhua Yu, Christopher Tredwin, Anton M. Jetten, Ciro Dantas Soares, Bing Hu

Peninsula Dental School

COVID-19 patients readily present with severe epithelial damage, such as tissue ulceration and erosion, along with disrupted tissue repair, in multiple organs. The mucous membranes of the lung alveoli [1, 2], gastrointestinal tract [3, 4], nasal [5] and oral cavity [6, 7] are the primary targets of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The infected epithelium triggers a dysregulated immune response that further damages tissues and organs [8, 9–10]. Increasing evidence suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause direct damage to epithelial cells and fibroblasts [11, 12–13]. Here, we report that the mucosa epithelia of COVID-19 patients can undergo cellular dedifferentiation before any …

Dietary Inflammatory Index And Objective Disease Activity In Ibd: No Association Found, Rúbia Moresi Vianna De Oliveira, Ana Carolina Junqueira Vasques, Stefhani Andrioli Romero, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., Michael David Wirth, James Hébert Scd, Glaucia Fernanda Soares Ruppert Reis, Cristiane Kibune Nagasako

Faculty Publications

Background

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) involves genetic and environmental factors, but the relationship between disease activity, adiposity, and diet remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the association between endoscopic/radiological activity of IBD, body adiposity, and the Dietary Inflammatory Index with or without adjustment for energy density (E-DII or DII).

Method

An observational, cross-sectional study was carried out. Endoscopic activity was defined by an endoscopic Mayo score >2, Crohn’s Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS) > 5, and/or the presence of a deep ulcer in any intestinal segment. Body adiposity was estimated using the body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio (WHR). …

Quantifying Global Internal Displacement Risk At The Hazard-Vulnerability-Conflict Nexus, Wenzhao Li, Surendra Maharjan, Rejoice Thomas, Hesham Morgan, Ali Elgendy, Susan Mikhail, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

This study introduces a novel, diagnostic hazard-specific displacement risk index that integrates high-resolution hazard data with social vulnerability metrics and historical displacement records, uncovering overlooked compound risks in conflict areas and links between environmental stress and instability. Our methodology combines historical displacement records with environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic indicators to identify high-risk regions and quantify interactions between hazards and conflict across six major hazard types. Results reveal floods as the primary displacement driver, particularly in South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan) and Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria, Ethiopia), where dense populations in flood-prone areas intersect with low socioeconomic resilience. Droughts disproportionately impact arid …

The Echo: March 23, 2026, Taylor University

2025-2026 (Volume 113)

No abstract provided.

Γδ T Cells At The Interface Of Innate And Adaptive Immunity In Cancer, Arnau Solé Casaramona, Martin F Bachmann, Eva Sevick-Muraca, Mona O Mohsen

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

γδ T cells are unconventional lymphocytes that bridge innate and adaptive immunity by combining recognition of stress-induced ligands independently of classical major histocompatibility complex molecules with the capacity to undergo clonal expansion and long-term adaptation. Their unusual ability to detect malignant transformation using semi-invariant T-cell receptors, butyrophilin recognition and natural killer-like receptors positions them as powerful effector cells in tumors that evade classical immune escape mechanisms. Furthermore, distinct γδ subsets have distinct phenotyping and specific tissue-residencies, which could be leveraged to modulate immunological responses. We evaluate engineered therapies and different experimental platforms for studying γδ T cell biology. We conclude …

Role Congruence Meets Feminist Identity: Disaggregating Causes Of The Double Bind On Women Political Candidates, Sarah Shair-Rosenfield, Melody E. Valdini, Jeanette Morehouse Mendez, Tracy Osborn

Politics and Global Affairs Faculty Publications and Presentations

Studies in social psychology and political science have noted the negative impact of the “double bind” facing women leaders and candidates, which suggests that women must demonstrate both masculine and feminine attributes in order to achieve the same success as men can achieve by demonstrating only masculine attributes. Less attention has focused on how feminist identity conditions these evaluations. We focus on whether individuals’ evaluations of men and women are affected by (1) the gendered attributes associated with a candidate and (2) feminist identity. Using data from an original survey experiment in the US, we investigate the relationship between respondents’ …

Disability, Inclusion And Language-In-Education Policy In The Global South: The Colombian Context, Rosa Dene David, Kimberley Brown

Applied Linguistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper calls for a shift related to English language-in-education policy and inclusive education initiatives in Colombia to ensure that English language learners with disabilities receive equitable and inclusive classroom instruction that is context-appropriate. We call for English language initiatives and policies to draw from theories and practices from both the Global South and the Global North in order to teach towards inclusive education. Trends in both English language teaching and inclusive education have drawn upon the Global North for solutions, which cannot be systemised to fit one international standard. Instead, using the Colombian context as an example, the present …

Housing Affordability Analysis Of Hillsborough County, Fl, Usa – Quantitative And Geographical Analysis Using Spatiotemporal Data, Bomin Koh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Housing affordability assessments rely on the 30 percent income method and generalized linear regression (GLR)-based hedonic price modeling. Both provide broad insights but fail to capture spatial heterogeneity in affordability challenges. This study upgrades housing affordability assessment approaches by incorporating the residual income method and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR). The primary objective of this study is to determine whether methodological improvements, residual income method and GWR, yield significantly different results and provide a more accurate and spatially adaptive understanding of affordability dynamics in Hillsborough County, Florida.

The 30 percent income method is widely used and classifies households as cost-burdened if …

Drowning Prevention In The West: Who Did It Better?, Arran Hedley

University Honors Theses

This paper aims to communicate the differences on how the US, UK and Australia have approached drowning prevention in each of their nations. This paper addresses drowning statistics within each nation, national, state and local policies, access to public facilities, and the preventative strategies, swim lessons and Lifeguarding. These are the criteria each nation is being graded upon, because each criteria is a factor that can help mitigate drowning deaths.

For literature around this subject, there are many papers on each individual nation's approach to drowning but in researching there does not appear to be a comparison of the nations' …

Social Determinants Of Health And Treatment Outcomes In Black And White Men With Early-Stage Prostate Cancer, Laurel Cannon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black men are disproportionately affected in diagnosis and death rates from prostate cancer compared to White men. Although prior research established links between race, sociodemographic factors, and prostate cancer outcomes, longitudinal analyses examining multiple social determinants of health simultaneously were limited. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether race, marital status, and education impact how long patients live who were diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer. Social impact theory framed how social forces such as race, education, and marital status influence health outcomes. A non-experimental correlational design was employed, drawing on archival data from 4,407 participants in the …

Underreporting Of Campus Crimes: A Study On Students' Preference For Peer Reporting Over Official Channels, Vanessa White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Underreporting of campus crime remains a persistent challenge in higher education, with many students choosing to disclose incidents to peers rather than formal institutional channels. This qualitative phenomenological study was an exploration of the social and psychological factors influencing college students’ preference for peer-based disclosure over official reporting mechanisms, with particular attention to peer influence, social norms, and institutional trust. Guided by bystander intervention theory and victim precipitation theory, data were collected through an anonymous, open-ended online survey completed by 13 individuals who had attended traditional, in-person colleges or universities within the past 5 years. Thematic analysis was used to …

Prognostic Factors In Her2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Treated With Targeted Therapy In Spain, María González, Carlos Martínez, Ana Rodríguez

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer represents an aggressive subtype of breast cancer historically associated with poor prognosis. The introduction of HER2-targeted therapies has significantly improved clinical outcomes; however, survival varies considerably among patients. Identifying prognostic factors that influence treatment response and survival is essential for optimizing patient management. This study aimed to evaluate clinical prognostic factors affecting survival outcomes in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer treated with targeted therapy in Spain. Methods: A retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted across several oncology centers in Spain. The study included women aged ≥ 18 years …

Assessment Of Setup Errors In Breast And Uterus Radiotherapy Using Epid, Zainab Abdul-Qader, Hiba Al-Hameed

Baghdad Science Journal

The difference between the true treatment image represented by the portal image and a picture digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) coming from the physics planning as the reference image helps us measure displacement. The treatment area is dependent on the edges of the setting error. The essential step is to estimate the setting error during treatment. Dosage allocation at PTV (planning treatment volume) follows on set-up edges. Set up errors for the radiation oncology collective to minimize the therapy error. Position errors explain the variance between the first position the patient was scanned at the Computer Tomography (CT) simulation and the …

A Novel Graphene Nanoplatelets Electrochemical Aptamer Biosensor For Glycated Human Albumin Detections, Hadi Al-Sagur, Ali Al-Jawdah, Ali Al-Khazraji, Alexei Nabok

Baghdad Science Journal

This study presents the development of electrochemical biosensors for the glycated albumin (GA) sensitive detection as a crucial biomarker for monitoring glycaemic control in diabetes mellitus (DM). A ferrocene-labelled DNA aptamer specific to glycated albumin was developed as an electrochemical aptamer-based sensor to detect GA. The amine-functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), with their enhanced surface area, provided an optimal substrate for aptamer immobilization through covalent interactions. The layer-by-layer full EDC/NHS-GNPs-Aptamer biosensor, tested by cyclic voltammetry (CV), exhibited strong redox peaks due to the good electron transfer activity between the biosensing structures. The GA-aptamer binding was studied using square wave voltammetry (SWV), …

New Optimal Formulas To Conjugate Gradient Method For Image Noise Reduction, Basim A. Hassan, Mohammed W. Taha

Baghdad Science Journal

A key component of conjugate gradient (CG) algorithms is the directions used in the CG approach. Because of their low memory requirements, these directed methods have proven effective in various applications, especially image processing. For this study, we have developed a new conjugate gradient coefficient based on the well-known quadratic model, that will accelerate the convergence and increase the accuracy of the CG approach. Because the new method uses the second order curvature and provides improved direction. So, the global convergence and critical descent characteristics of the final algorithm provide reliable performance in a range of scenarios. The results of …

Circulating Levels Of Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (Igf-I) And Risk Of Multiple Myeloma: An Observational And Mendelian Randomisation Study, Yolanda Benavente, Sara Hermosa, Nikos Papadimitriou, Alyssa I. Clay-Gilmour Ph.D., Elizabeth E. Brown, Jonathan N. Hofmann, Nathaniel Rothman, Qin Lan, Sonja I. Berndt, Demetrius Albanes, Mark Purdue, Mitchell J. Machiela, Stephen J. Chanock, Parveen Bhatti, Wendy Cozen, Aaron Norman, Susan L. Slager, James R. Cerhan, Vincent Rajkumar, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Associations Between Reported Use Of Nutritional Labels And Calorie Intake In Us Adults: Findings From Nhanes 2017–2020, Ariana M. Chao, Nancy Greene, Alexandra Paul, Paule V. Joseph

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Objective: Caloric information is commonly displayed on nutritional fact labels and food menus. Yet evidence is limited on whether label use is associated with a reduced-calorie diet. This study examined the associations between the use of caloric information on nutritional facts and menu labels and daily caloric intake. Methods: We used data from adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2020 to conduct a cross-sectional study. Calorie label use on nutritional labels and menus was assessed using the Flexible Consumer Behavior Survey telephone interview. Caloric intake was evaluated using the mean of two 24-h diet recalls implemented …

Xanthogranulomatous Osteomyelitis: A Systematic Review Of Reported Cases, Diagnostic Challenges, And Treatment Outcomes, Adam W. Youssef, Cameron Ballard, Dryden Dalbey, Paul M. Doney, Rayhan Shaikh, Venkata S. Puttagunta, Adil Bhatti, Michael D. Hubbard

Student Publications

Xanthogranulomatous osteomyelitis (XO) is a rare form of chronic osteomyelitis characterized by mass-forming inflammatory lesions rich in lipid-laden macrophages. It commonly presents as an osteolytic, tumor-like bone lesion that may expand rapidly and mimic malignancy on imaging, leading to diagnostic uncertainty. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to characterize the clinical presentation, diagnostic strategies, treatment approaches, and outcomes of reported XO cases. Case reports and case series with histopathologic confirmation of XO were included. Extracted data encompassed patient demographics, immune status, anatomic involvement, clinical features, diagnostic modalities, management …

Improving Depression Screening For African American Adolescents Through Staff Education On The Phq-A, Yvonne Anutatu Nkeze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Improving Depression Screening for African American Adolescents Through Staff Education on the PHQ-A

Anxiety, Cognitive Load, And Simulation Effectiveness In Pre-Licensure Bsn Students, Brittany Behrens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High-fidelity simulation experiences are an integral component of pre-licensure nursing curricula, providing students with realistic, controlled environments to develop clinical judgement skills. While these simulations enhance learning, they can increase anxiety and cognitive load, potentially impairing students’ ability to process information and derive meaningful outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine the relationships among pre-simulation anxiety, cognitive load, and perceived simulation effectiveness in pre-licensure BSN students. Data were collected from 90 participants using the shortened Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Cognitive Load Measurement–Naïve Rating Questionnaire, and the Simulation Effectiveness Tool–Modified (SET-M). Pearson correlation analyses indicated …

Human Services Administrators’ Perceptions Of Youth In Acute Crisis Needs, Carey Alvord

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a lack of acute crisis services for youth in the United States. In San Luis Obispo County, California, there are no designated facilities with crisis stabilization services near family homes for children in acute crisis. Grounded in Stroul et al.’s system of care approach for children and families, the purpose of this qualitative force field analysis study was to explore human service administrators’ perceptions of the services youth in acute crisis need to stabilize within San Luis Obispo County. Directors at youth human services county departments and nonprofits were contacted to help recruit a purposeful sample of 11 …

Access To Care, Vaccine Hesitancy, And The Lived Experiences Of African Americans Living In Pulaski County, Arkansas, Donald Ray Kelly Ellis Jr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Arkansas’s COVID-19 vaccine rates were among the lowest for African Americans in Arkansas, who were hesitant to accept the vaccine. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American adults in Pulaski County, Arkansas, and to explore factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and access to health care services. Guided by Andersen’s health care utilization model, the study focused on predisposing, enabling, and need-based factors shaping health care decision making. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 8 African American adults and analyzed using directed content analysis. Findings from the analysis revealed 365 codes, …

Evaluation Of Antibacterial Activity For Aqueous Exteracted Combination Of Triphala And Aloe-Vera Against Streptoccocus Oralis: (In Vitro Study), Abbas Hussein Irrihaim, Maha Abdul-Aziz Ahmed

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Streptoccocus Oralis is an early colonizer in dental biofilm and contributes to plaque formation and periodontal inflammation. The search for safe, natural antimicrobial alternatives has increased interest in herbal agents such as Triphala and Aloe vera. However, their combined activity against S. oralis has not been fully assessed alongside phytochemical profiling.

Aim: To evaluate the antibacterial activity of aqueous-extracted Triphala, Aloe vera, and their combination against S. oralis, including inhibition zone measurement, MIC, MBC, and HPLC characterization. Materials and Methods: Aloe vera gel and Triphala powder were extracted using aqueous extraction and freeze-drying. Antibacterial activity was assessed using …

Proportion Of Uti And Associated Risk Factors Among Young Female Medical Students In The Age Group 17-25 Years In An Educational Institution In South Kerala, Maria Thomas Tressa, Prasanand S, Ajas Sn

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common infection in women and frequently recur in young hostel-dwelling females. This study aims to estimate the Proportion of UTI and identify associated behavioural and hygiene-related risk factors among female medical students aged 17–25 years. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from August to October 2024 at Dr. Somervell Memorial C.S.I. Medical College, Karakonam. Sample size of 139 was calculated using Proportion of 40.8% with 8% precision. All eligible female students were included after written informed consent. A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was used. Data were analysed using …

Immune Checkpoint Inhibition In Relapsed Or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma: A U.S. Cohort Analysis, Daniel R. Whitman, Emily K. Patterson, Jonathan M. Reyes, Laura B. Chen

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) remains a therapeutic challenge, particularly in patients who progress after multiple lines of therapy or autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway have demonstrated substantial activity in clinical trials; however, real-world outcomes in routine clinical practice across heterogeneous patient populations in the United States remain limited. This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of PD-1 blockade in patients with relapsed or refractory cHL treated in a U.S. cohort. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study including adult patients (≥ 18 years) with histologically confirmed …