Digital Commons Network^™

Mechanical Quality Of Hemp Fiber As Influenced By Tillage, Cover Crop, And Nitrogen Management In Regenerative Organic Systems, Parinaz Heydar, Alyssa Pierce, Gabriella Fioravanti, Ronald Kander

School of Design and Engineering Papers

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an emerging crop for renewable fiber materials. For farmers, finding a balance between agronomic performance and economic return is crucial, especially when targeting specific markets like the textile industry, which values not just fiber quantity, but overall quality. This field study, conducted at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, assessed the effects of tillage (till vs. no till), cover crop (with cover vs. no cover), and nitrogen (N) rate (0, 50, 100, 150 kg ha⁻¹) on hemp fiber yield, N concentrations in leaf and stalk, and mechanical performance under regenerative organic conditions. Fiber mechanical …

Dental Care Utilization And Expenditures Among Individuals With Asthma, Shillpa Naaval, Vaibhavi Mone

Health Services and Informatics Research

Objectives To examine dental care utilization and health and dental care expenditures among individuals with asthma.

Methods Data from the 2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) (n = 21,405) were used to examine dental care utilization (any dental, preventive dental, and treatment dental visit) among individuals ≥ 1 year with and without asthma, and mean expenditures were summarized.

Results Overall, the asthma diagnosis was 13.2%, 14.7% in working-age adults compared to 9.5% in children. The percentage of treatment dental visits was higher overall (17.0% vs. 14.5%, p <  0.05) among the asthma group compared to the non-asthma group. Among individuals with asthma, those who had preventive dental visits had lower dental expenditures compared to those who had treatment dental visits for all age groups.

Conclusion Individuals with asthma had a higher prevalence of using dental treatment services. …

Quality Improvement (Qi) Project Aimed At Reducing 30-Day Hospital Readmissions For Patients With Congestive Heart Failure (Chf) Through Checklist Implementation, Gary Gutierrez

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) remains a leading cause of preventable 30-day hospital readmissions,

especially in outpatient and transitional care settings. This quality improvement (QI) initiative was

launched within a private internal medicine practice in Essex County, New Jersey, to address this issue

by implementing a standardized CHF management checklist. The checklist focused on four key

components: (a) comprehensive medication reconciliation, (b) tailored patient education, (c) timely

follow-up appointments, and (d) improved interdisciplinary communication. By integrating evidence-

based practices into a structured workflow, the QI project aimed to improve care coordination,

empower patients to manage their condition, and reduce preventable …

Structural Basis Of Panx1 Permeation And Positive Modulation By Mefloquine, Yangyang Li, Zheng Ruan, Junuk Lee, Ian Orozco, Edward Zhou, Juan Du, Wei Lü

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Purinergic signaling relies on ATP release through exocytosis and large-pore channels. Large-pore channels permeate both small anions like chloride and large signaling molecules like ATP, but how this broad cargo selectivity is structurally controlled remains elusive. Here we investigate PANX1, a prototypical large-pore channel, and uncover structural plasticity at the extracellular entrance formed by seven tryptophan (W74) residues. The W74 sidechains are flexible, sampling conformations that range from a constricted state permissive only to chloride to a dilated state compatible with ATP. These states are coupled to variable cation-π interactions between W74 and arginine 75 (R75), suggesting a mechanism for …

Emg-Guided Human-Machine Interaction Training Develops New Intermuscular Coordination Patterns In Stroke: A Pilot Study, Gang Seo, Manuel Portilla-Jiménez, Michael Houston, Jeong-Ho Park, Hangil Lee, Sheng Li, Yingchun Zhang, Hyung-Soon Park, Jinsook Roh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Stroke survivors often experience impaired upper extremity motor function due to abnormal muscle synergies. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of electromyography-guided human-machine interaction training designed to expand the repertoire of intermuscular coordination patterns and improve upper extremity motor function in chronic stroke survivors.

Methods: Four chronic stroke survivors with mild-to-moderate upper extremity motor impairment and three age-matched healthy controls participated in a six-week electromyography-guided training intervention. Participants practiced selectively activating one elbow flexor muscle while suppressing another (brachioradialis or biceps brachii). Throughout the course of the intervention, the effect of the training on intermuscular coordination, …

Tuning Switch Performance For Single Molecule Electronics, Elaina I. Grogg

Longwood Senior Theses

In the field of single molecule electronics, chemical principles can be used to design molecules that are incorporated into metal-molecule-metal electronic junctions. Computational chemistry has been used to investigate changes in the performance of a single molecule switch. Changes in the on/off ratio of photoswitches due to the addition of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents were observed. In many cases, the electrodes and electrode-molecule coupling have a more pronounced effect on the performance of the junction than other modifications within the molecule at the core of the junction. Chemical modifications on the molecular switch are used to demonstrate the ability to …

Macroscopic And In-Situ Atr-Ftir Spectroscopic Studies Of Metformin Adsorption On Soil, Maheen Mehnaz

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Emerging contaminants might pose serious threats to the soil and water environment. Metformin, an emerging micropollutant, is one of the most widely used drugs for type-2 diabetes treatment. However, its waste disposal through human excretion is causing environmental concern to the soil and water environment. Yet, knowledge about the interaction mechanism of metformin with soil remains very limited. In this study, we evaluated metformin adsorption mechanisms on model oxide minerals (gibbsite, hematite) and two Tennessee soils (Milan Loring soil and Cheatham County soil) and in the presence of soil micronutrient (molybdenum) using in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared …

Recognition As A Strategy For Member Engagement, Brenda Owusu, Jacqueline Thomas

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: Member engagement, participation and commitment to professional organization is important to meet organization goals leading to its growth and development. Effective strategies are essential to promote involvement, increase retention, and enhance community among members (Frangieh et al., 2024). One practical approach is recognizing outstanding contributions at the section level within regional chapters. Such initiatives help cultivate a culture of appreciation, motivating members to stay actively involved and contribute further to the organization’s goal. Public acknowledgment of members’ efforts also fosters a sense of belonging and pride, which can lead to increased loyalty and commitment to the organization (Lansing et …

Celebration As A Strategy For Member Engagement, Karis Casseus, Karen Worthy

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: Engagement is the foundation for cultivating vibrant and sustainable professional organizations, and Sigma exemplifies this commitment through its robust focus on member involvement. Celebrating organizational events is a strategic mechanism to enhance connections, commemorate achievements, and solidify the shared values that unify members. (Eddy et al., 2021; Sweeney & Wiseman, 2023). Celebratory environments are consistently linked to heightened satisfaction and commitment, driving long-term organizational success (George & Massey, 2020; Reid, 2024). This presentation delves into the transformative impact of planned celebrations and intentional recognition, formal or informal, in fostering member engagement by nurturing a sense of belonging, elevating morale, …

Using Well-Being, Professional Identity, And Civility Best Practices In A Nursing Academic Setting, Jennifer Louise Embree

Biennial Convention (CONV)

OBJECTIVES:

• Discover perspectives of well-being in academics
• Describe methods for determining Professional Identity in Nursing
• Determine methodology to detect aspects of academic civil work environment

Identifying perspectives is critical to intervention implementation and strategy. Authors describe the Mini-Z General, the Healthy Work Environment Index, the Civility Work Index, and Professional Identity in Nursing (PIN) Survey to identify and measure well-being, PIN, a healthy work environment, and civility among faculty and staff.

Data demonstrated a stress and best practice intervention was need for well-being, PIN, and civility. Identifying well-being and envisioning the future programming state can guide change and support various …

Living The Balance Theory Of Wisdom With Leadership Values In Mind, Daniel J. Pesut

Biennial Convention (CONV)

In creating the Balance Theory of Wisdom, Sternberg (1) defined wisdom as the application of intelligence, creativity, and knowledge to the common good by balancing and mediating the values of self (intrapersonal), others (interpersonal), and institutional (extra-personal) interests over the long and short terms in service of adapting, shaping, and selecting environments, that is, to represent, respect, reflect, and respond in shaping the future. The functional consequences of this definition suggest that wise people have exceptional insight into human development and life matters, look for deeper meaning, tolerate ambiguity, have compassion, are other- and purpose-focused, and recognize the limits of …

Caring Science As Embodied Wisdom: Balancing Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, And Extrapersonal Factors, Sara Horton-Deutsch

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The intersection of caring science and the balance theory of wisdom reveals profound connections between therapeutic practice and theoretical frameworks of human understanding. We examine how caring science inherently encompasses explicit knowledge—systematic, teachable aspects of healthcare—and tacit knowledge—intuitive, experience-based understanding practitioners develop over time. Exploring these knowledge domains with the lens of the balance theory of wisdom aligns caring science with the theory's core principles of balancing multiple interests, adapting to environmental contexts, and pursuing the common good (1).
Practicing through the lens of caring science implicitly aligns with wisdom-based decision-making by balancing intrapersonal (self), interpersonal (others), and extrapersonal (institutional) …

Effective Digital Marketing Strategies For Small Businesses, Shannon Springob

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The inability of many small businesses to effectively use digital marketing is a critical challenge for small business owners. Small business owners who lack effective digital marketing strategies are at greater risk of facing failure. Grounded in the do-it-yourself (DIY) behavioral theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was conducted to identify, analyze, and explore the effective strategies employed by small business owners in the development and implementation of effective digital marketing campaigns. The participants included six small business owners in the United States who have used DIY digital marketing strategies within their businesses. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis …

Small Business Owners’ Effective Strategies For Retaining Childcare Workers In Private Daycare Centers, Velma Williams Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective retention strategies can lead to employee turnover. Private childcare business owners who struggle to improve employee retention may find their business confronting attrition as a result. Grounded in job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective retention strategies used by private childcare business owners to reduce high employee turnover rates. The participants were eight private childcare business owners who had implemented retention strategies. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, public websites, and public documents. Through thematic analysis, five themes were identified: (a) providing competitive rewards and family support; (b) …

The Unspoken Whiteness Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Gracies Versus Luta Livre, Benjamin Penglase

Anthropology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

This article explores why the relationship between race and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and the ways that Brazilian jiu-jitsu has been racialized as white, have often been invisible, particularly for non-Brazilians. It argues that both non-Brazilians who practice the martial art, and the scholarly analysis of jiu-jitsu, have often ignored how the marital art has been positioned as ‘white’ within Brazil’s complex and highly unequal structures of racial dominance.  Focusing on challenge matches that the Gracie family fought against practitioners of luta livre (a Brazilian style of catch-wrestling), the article shows how these matches located jiu-jitsu within Brazil’s racial hierarchy, though often …

The Impact Of Social Factors On Vagally Mediated Parasympathetic Activity, Andrew Scot Proctor

Theses and Dissertations

Loneliness and social disconnection are recognized risk factors for morbidity and mortality, yet the psychophysiological pathways remain contested. This dissertation examines how social factors relate to vagally mediated parasympathetic activity indexed by heart rate variability (HRV) and tests whether conversational interventions with a human or a large-language-model (LLM)-based companion can acutely reduce loneliness and enhance connection. Across two university sites (BYU, UCSD), N=297 participants (18-27 years) were randomized to (a) a reciprocal self-disclosure conversation with a trained human confederate, (b) a parallel, vocalized LLM chatbot conversation, or (c) a non-social, vocal reading control. Resting HRV (RMSSD, SDNN, HF-HRV) was recorded …

Physicians’ Knowledge, Perceptions And Use Of Large Language Models In Clinical Practice: A Cross-Sectional Study At Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Rahma Al Kindi, Hana Al Sumry, Aisha Al Khamisi, Wijdan Al Rashaidi, Hamza Al Salmi, Adhari Al Zaabi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study assessed the knowledge, perceptions and use of ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) among physicians at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Oman. It also explored perceived benefits, barriers and ethical concerns regarding artificial intelligence (AI) integration into clinical practice. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2024 using a structured online questionnaire distributed to physicians across different specialties. The survey covered demographics, familiarity with LLMs, applications in medical education, research, clinical care, administrative tasks and ethical considerations. Results: A total of 146 physicians were included (response rate = 48.7%); 65.1% were familiar with …

Addressing The Needs Of The Unhoused Population With Education And Wound Care Kits Based On Input From Healthcare Professionals, Presley Ann Cobble

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Awareness Under Anesthesia: A Scoping Review Of Risk Identification And Detection Strategies, Martin Nguyen

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Central Auditory Processing Is Altered After Traumatic Brain Injury In Tanzanian Adults, Jonathan D. Lichtenstein, Christopher E. Niemczak, Abigail Fellows, Lindsay J. Wood, Shufaa Masoud, Alexis Rooney, Monika Adhikari, Albert Magohe, Jay C. Buckey

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) damages pathways throughout the brain and is a significant global health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where the incidence is high and long-term deficits are prevalent. This study explores the utility of central auditory processing (CAP) testing as a marker of previous TBI. Seventy individuals with a history of moderate to severe TBI (msTBI) were matched by age and sex to 46 healthy controls in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants underwent comprehensive behavioral CAP testing, including tests of speech-in-noise ability, temporal resolution, and dichotic listening. Multivariate logistic regression showed the Triple Digit Test (TDT) …

A Nationwide Registry Study Of Surgical And Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion: Part 2 - Cage With Versus Without Local Bone Graft, Daniel De Wilde, Victor Gabriel El-Hajj, Patrick Vigren, Victor E. Staartjes, Elias Atallah, Erik Edström, Adrian Elmi-Terander

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Local bone grafts are commonly used as filling material in cages during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Alternatively, cages without filling materials can be used. The literature comparing these approaches is limited, and their respective effects on patient-reported outcomes (PROM) have been scarcely studied. This study was conducted to compare surgical outcomes and PROMs between local bone graft-packed cages and empty cages in ACDF surgery.

METHODS: This observational study utilized data from the Swedish nationwide registry, Swespine. All adults who underwent ACDF between 2006 and 2020 were considered for inclusion. Exclusion criteria included missing baseline or outcome data. …

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Wellness Program In A First-Year Medical Student Anatomy Course, Gina R. Lepore, Gavin Turner, Benjamin Abramoff, Daniel Depietro, Nicole Robinson

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Cadaveric dissection is a central component to anatomy education. However, for many students, dissection can be emotionally taxing, highlighting a potential area for increased support. This project evaluated the implementation of a wellness program within a dissection-based anatomy course.

Methods: Throughout a 12-week first-year medical student anatomy course, two teaching assistants (TAs) served as “Wellness TAs” and implemented a structured wellness program that included weekly office hours, supportive emails to students that addressed emotionally challenging coursework, and scheduled “wellness breakfasts/snack breaks.” An anonymous survey was distributed following the course. The survey assessed demographics, perceptions of the anatomical …

A Case Study Of The Implementation Of Non-Linear Assessment Protocols For Pre-Service Music Teachers, Jeffrey Ward, Phillip Payne, Michele Henry

School of Music Faculty Publications

Grounded in previous research regarding admission and graduation standards of music education undergraduate candidates, we created a framework to assess student readiness to enter the music education profession across multiple points of inquiry. To determine the efficacy of the protocols, we conducted a case study to pilot implementation of the protocols with two university music education programs in the United States. Two of the authors–music education faculty at these universities–served as site coordinators implementing the protocols with multiple student cohorts (comprised of first-year, midpoint, and graduates) within their institution. The authors reviewed the reports employing a three-step process. In the …

Reducing Foodborne Bacteria Public Health Burden By Novel Compounds And Pressure-Based Technologies, Junice Alannah Sibley

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Food safety strategies are being developed in the hopes of combating foodborne pathogens and their risks. Previous techniques and technologies are struggling to meet the needs of the public, leading to the demand for new, innovative methods. Mild high-pressure processing (HPP) of 350 MPa was used in a synergetic combination with mild heat of 60°C and the antimicrobial carvacrol for the decontamination of non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars that resulted in a >5 log CFU/mL reduction. Additionally, a secondary study was conducted comparing a single Salmonella Tennessee strain with a 4-strain Salmonella cocktail to examine sensitivity to pressure-based treatments resulting in a …

The Impact Of Teacher Effectiveness Factors On Student Achievement: A Case Study, Renita Joy Perkins

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative, correlational study examined the relationship between teacher, evaluation scores and student achievement using Tennessee's Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM) evaluation system at Spencer Elementary School in rural Van Buren County. The study analyzed data from nine teachers across grades 3-5 and 150 students, investigating correlations between TEAM evaluation scores, Level of Effectiveness (LOE) ratings, and student performance on Tennessee Ready assessments in mathematics, English Language Arts, and science. Key findings revealed a counterintuitive experience-performance paradox: while teacher years of experience positively correlated with evaluation scores (r=.422, p<.001) and LOE ratings (r=.132, p=.024), it negatively correlated with student English Language Arts achievement (r=- .174, p=.039). The study demonstrated strong internal consistency within the TEAM evaluation system, with significant correlations between LOE scores and teacher evaluation ratings (r=.375, p<.001). However, only weak correlations emerged between teacher evaluation scores and student achievement outcomes, with a slight positive relationship found only in English Language Arts (r=.165, p=.049). The research revealed robust cross-subject correlations in student achievement (r=.706, p<.001), suggesting that effective teaching impacts learning holistically rather than in subject specific ways. These findings challenge assumptions about the predictive validity of observation-based evaluation systems and highlight the complexity of measuring teaching effectiveness. Implications for educational leaders include reconsidering the relationship between teacher experience and effectiveness, implementing differentiated professional development based on evaluation data rather than years of service, and developing more nuanced approaches to using evaluation systems that integrate multiple measures of teacher impact on student learning outcomes.

Correlation Of Oncogenic Micrornas 21 And 22 Expression Level To The Different Grades Of Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma Of Salivary Glands (Ex Vivo Study), Mariam Mohamed Zaki, Heba Ahmed Farag, Olfat Gamil Shaker, Heba Khaled Rizk, Sara Abd Elwahed

Dentistry

Background: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) counts among the most frequent types of malignant salivary gland neoplasms. Brandwein system classified MEC into low, intermediate and high grade as per histological pattern, but this classification lacks the correlation with the genetic basis such as MicroRNA profile. This study aims to assess the expression level of MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) and MicroRNA-22 (miR-22) in different grades of MEC. Material And Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks of MEC were obtained from Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University and General Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University within the period of (2014-2023). Reverse transcription polymerase …

Assessing The Association Between Covid-19 Vaccination And Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (Attest Study): Analyses Of English Data, 2020-2022, Jose Ordonez-Mena, Xinchun Gu, Mark Joy, Xuejuan Fan, Bernardo Meza-Torres, William Hinton, Rashmi Wimalaratna, Gavin Jamie, Anna Forbes, Debasish Kar, Rachel Byford, Sneha N. Anand, Filipa Ferreira, Lisa Mather, Andrew Lee, F. D. Richard Hobbs, Deborah Layton, Simon De Lusignan

Peninsula Medical School

ObjectiveCOVID-19 vaccine surveillance detected thrombotic thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a rare combination of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia, after COVID-19 vaccination. We evaluated TTS risk within 28 days of AZD1222 and BNT162b2 exposure.MethodsMatched case-control (MCCS) and self-controlled case series (SCCS) studies used Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre data linked to immunisation, hospitalisation and death data. English patient records extracted from 2/12/2020 to 31/10/2022 were used to identify TTS cases and age, sex, and practice matched controls. Conditional logistic regression and conditional Poisson regression were used for MCCS and SCCS analyses, respectively.ResultsOf 666 TTS events identified, >90% happened without AZD1222/BNT162b2 …

The Meaning Of Travel: An Exploration Within The ‘Baby-Boomer’ Generation, Regan Hicks, Alison Warren

School of Health Professions

This qualitative research explored the underresearched area of subjective meaning(s) of travel for U.K. baby-boomers, from an occupational perspective. Using a descriptive phenomenology, a convenience sample of eight baby-boomers was recruited using social media. Participants took part in semistructured interviews, and narratives were analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes were generated: (a) travel is important to me, (b) travel changes through time, (c) travel facilitators and barriers and (d) travel as a shared experience. Participants perceived travel as a meaningful and health-promoting occupation that represented freedom, choice, independence, connection and achievement. Greater comfort was sought with age while financial constraints …

Heterologous Recombinant Expression Of Tropomyosin From Litopenaeus Vannamei, Li Yanchu, Yang Yuying, Hu Weicheng, Liu Shucheng, Wei Shuai

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To obtain recombinant tropomyosin (TM). [Methods] In this study, the gene sequence of a TM homologous protein is obtained from the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI ) database, and specific primers are designed accordingly.Subsequently, using the cDNA of Litopenaeus vannamei meat as the template, the TM coding gene sequence of L.vannamei is amplified by PCR and sequenced.Finally, the prokaryotic recombinant expression system for L.vannamei TM is established using the Escherichia coli heterologous recombinant expression vector pET 29a. [Results] After agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE ) of the RNA samples, the band is clear and bright, with no diffusion observed …

Ultrasound Assisted Enzymatic Hydrolysis Combined With Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry For Determination Of Lutein And Natural Vitamin K Homologues In Poultry Eggs, Cai Zhenlin, Li Tao

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To develop an ultra -high performance liquid chromatography -tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC -MS/MS ) method for determining lutein and natural vitamin K (VK) homologues, including phylloquinone (VK1), menaquinone -4 (MK-4), menaquinone -7 (MK-7), and menaquinone -9 (MK-9), in poultry eggs by optimizing ultrasound assisted enzymatic hydrolysis. [Methods] The target compound is extracted from poultry egg samples by ultrasound assisted enzymatic hydrolysis and then separated on C18 (100 mm ×2.1 mm, 3.0 μm) column with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution -0.1% formic acid methanol for gradient elution.Meanwhile, the samples are quantified by external standard with APCI source for detection and …