Digital Commons Network^™

Nonlinear Excitation Control Of Multimachine Systems Via The Invariant-Set Design, Ehab Bayoumi

Mechanical Engineering

Power grids are inherently vulnerable to many uncertainties. All power networks are prone to instability because of the uncertainties inherent in the operation of power systems. Rotor-angle instability is a challenging issue, and if not properly managed, could give rise to cascading failures and even blackouts. This paper addresses the generator excitation system’s state feedback sliding mode control (SMC). The global system is divided into multiple subsystems to achieve decentralized control. A disturbance is defined as the influence of the system as a whole on a specific subsystem. The state-feedback controller is to be designed taking into account the disturbance …

Patient Preferences When Selecting Their Total Joint Arthroplasty Surgeon: A Multicenter Survey Study, Jake Laverdiere, Danielle Lonati, Swaroopa Vaidya, Gregory Panza, Antonia Chen, Mary Morcos, Yale Fillingham, Jessica Leipman, Molly Hartzler, Jenna Bernstein

Rothman Institute Papers

BACKGROUND: Surgeon selection can influence patient satisfaction, outcomes, and access in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Awareness of patient preferences enables practices to enhance trust, optimize communication, and improve adherence. While referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations often outweigh online marketing, prospective multicenter research exploring how patients choose their TJA surgeon is limited. The aim of this study was to identify key decision-making factors and how they vary by demographics.

METHODS: This prospective, multicenter cross-sectional survey study included patients undergoing elective total joint arthroplasty at 4 high-volume institutions from January 2024 to 2025. Participants completed a survey on surgeon selection, including how they …

Addressing Nursing Shortages In Rural Hospitals: Strategies For Recruitment And Retention, Harrison Efosa Omoruyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract The shortage of nursing staff in rural hospitals has created a critical workforce challenge in the United States, negatively affecting patient care, organizational performance, and community health. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify evidence-based strategies to improve the recruitment and retention of nurses in rural hospital settings. A search of literature published between 2021 and 2025 yielded 20 high-quality and good-quality studies that addressed the problem. Guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory, thematic analysis revealed six overarching themes: (a) strategic improvements, (b) system efficiency and effectiveness, (c) service availability, (d) care models, (e) organizational support, and (f) …

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 …

Fsec Meeting Minutes December 10, 2025, University Of Rhode Island Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

From Liahona To Talk: An Inspired Method 1, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

If our past series, Actionable Insights from the Liahona, laid out essential principles like a detailed instruction manual, this time, I'm shifting gears into a softer narrative.

The core question is: "How do we make sure these essential principles stick?"

To answer that, I've sprinkled in approachable metaphors and a bit of humor that will make you want to slap your knee and exclaim, "That's exactly my story!" My goal is that, once you've finished reading or listening, these vital principles will adhere to your mind like a magnet on a refrigerator door.

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 …

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 …

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 …

Value Creation For Target Firms In M&A Transactions, Joshua D. Amaru

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis explores the means by which mergers and acquisitions (M&A) create value for target, or acquired, firms in the transaction. This contradicts the commonly held belief that M&A deals harbor disproportionate benefits for acquiring firms, with the general assumption being that the acquirer gains the most created value from the formed synergies. Seeking to combat this belief, a comprehensive framework for assessing target firm value creation is established, built upon research of corporate strategy concerning market expansion, economies of scale and scope, and enhanced competitive advantage. Most importantly, the formation and valuation of synergies is covered extensively, expanding on …

Effective Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies That Small Business Leaders Use To Improve Brand Reputation, William Cativo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in small businesses can damage brand reputation, reduce employee retention, and hinder sustainability. Small business leaders are concerned about these risks, as a large majority of consumers expect companies to act on environmental, social, and governance issues. Grounded in Carroll’s CSR pyramid, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies small business leaders in the Western United States use to enhance brand reputation. The participants were six small business leaders with effective strategies to enhance brand reputation. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of 10 CSR reports. Thematic …

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 …

Sonrisas Por Millas/Smiles For Miles, Kristi K. Westphaln, Carol Lynn Cunningham

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Hispanic/Latine children experience greater oral disease burden than other groups of US children. Attendees at the session will learn about the Sonrisas por Millas/Smiles for Miles program, within which UCLA School of Nursing faculty and nurse practitioner students will partner with the Refugee Children's Center (RCC) to provide and evaluate a novel community-based intervention to promote oral health for refugee children and their families.

Designing A Qi Initiative: Preoperative Bathing In The Ed For Adult Hip Fracture Patients, Mihyun Jang, Susan Maynard, Sheri Matter, Andrea Sillner

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Surgical site infections (SSIs) following hip fracture surgeries in adults are severe complications that increase morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Preoperative bathing, particularly with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), reduces the risk of surgical site infection after hip fracture surgery by decontaminating skin flora, such as Staphylococcus aureus. Compliance with preoperative bathing protocols remains low, especially among adult patients admitted through emergency departments. To address the gap in preoperative bathing compliance, a quality improvement initiative will implement a preoperative bathing protocol using CHG wipes in the emergency department for adult hip fracture patients. Currently, there is a lack of evidence regarding the …

Understanding The Influence Of Parental Knowledge And Awareness On Conversations About Osec, Trey Gottman

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Current literature suggests that parents’ lack of knowledge and awareness of OSEC may negatively impact their willingness to initiate conversations about the topic with their children, acknowledge warning signs of OSEC, and seek relevant educational sources regarding OSEC. The purpose of this study is to explore parents’ knowledge of OSEC, whether they are currently having conversations about OSEC with their children, and their interest in educational resources about OSEC through convenience sampling with a simple questionnaire. This study finds evidence supporting the idea that, regardless of parents’ knowledge of OSEC, they are having conversations with their children about the topic. …

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 …

Financial Barriers Of Emu Nursing Students, Deanna Gower, Melissa Kachaturoff, Meriam Caboral-Stevens

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Student loan debt for undergraduate BSN and Master’s prepared nursing students is growing. Many nursing students take out student loans to pay for their educational expenses. While some students apply for and obtain scholarships and grants, Eastern Michigan University (EMU) School of Nursing (SON) has had scholarships go unutilized during the annual scholarship cycle. Nursing student loan repayment can be a financial burden for nurses and their families. The purpose of the survey was to examine what financial barriers nursing students experience while enrolled at EMU SON. This study was performed utilizing a survey via google forms and data was …

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 …

Understand Caregiving Appraisal In Chronic Illness And Disability Caregiving Over Extended Period, Dingyue Wang, Michael Cary, Qing Yang, Tamryn Fowler Gray, Cristina Hendrix

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Caregiving appraisal is the subjective evaluation and interpretation of the holistic caregiving experience. We aim to investigate the underlying factors related to caregivers' perceptions and evaluations of their caregiving role and experience in chronic illness caregiving contexts. This study utilized a qualitative descriptive design. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 caregivers to explore their experiences in providing care to adults with chronic illnesses or disabilities. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. We uncovered five interconnected themes: caregiving gain and loss tradeoff, caregiving competency, caregiving motivation, caregiving dyadic relationship, and caregiving meaning appraisal. Caregiving loss and gain tradeoff appraisal is …

Exploring The Concept Of Nurse Savvy And Its Role In Clinical Judgement: A Hybrid Concept Analysis, Lynae M. Phillips Mitchell, Deanna L. Reising

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: The skills nurses bring to clinical situations have a much greater impact on clinical judgement than information gathered at the scene (7). How nurses make decisions is a complex process, often eclipsed by competing influences rooted in personal, organizational, and patient related factors (1,2,4). The purpose of this study was to establish a conceptual definition of nurse savvy to explain why some nurses exhibit this superior clinical judgement.

Design: Reynold’s (5) hybrid concept analysis model was chosen because it offers both an inductive and deductive approach, lending itself to the identification of those aspects essential to the concept while …

Minority Stress In Nursing, Allma Swier

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Problem. The physiological and psychological stress caused by adverse social conditions affecting minority groups impacts their ability to function in academia, the workplace, and other areas of life.

Purpose. This literature review examines the impact of minority stress on nurses' and nursing students' perceptions of their environment and overall satisfaction with the profession.

Search Strategy. Articles for this literature review were found using electronic databases CINAHL and PubMed.

Results. Twenty-two articles were selected for analysis. All articles were appraised using Joanna Briggs Institute tools to ensure validity.

Synthesis of Evidence. Nurses and nursing students belonging to a minority group report …

Comparative Evaluation Of Microtensile Bond Strength Of Different Generations Of Bonding Agents Using Composite Resin Bonded To Dentin: An In Vitro Study, Roy Yammine, Louis Hardan, Georges El Najjar, Aline Issa, Cynthia Kassis

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the microtensile bond strength (µSBS) of 5th-generation bonding agents to universal (one-bottle) bonding agents on dentin of posterior teeth.

Methods: Three different 5th-generation and three universal bonding agents from Charisma (Kulzer GmbH, Germany), 3M (3M ESPE, United States), and Tokuyama (Tokuyama Corporation, Japan) were tested using the microtensile bond strength (μ-SBS). Each adhesive system was applied to dentin surfaces bonded to composite resin, with ten samples per group (n=10). All six groups underwent μ-SBS testing.

Results:The generation of bonding agent significantly influenced µSBS (p

Conclusions: This study confirms that 5th-generation bonding agents provide …

Provider Perspectives Of Produce Prescription Programs In A Rural Community: Evaluating Barriers, Heather Joy Ward, Sarah Giaquinta, Susan Storey

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Poor diet is the leading identifiable cause of poor health.¹ Diets high in produce are recommended to improve chronic diseases.² Food insecurity, the inability to access sufficient food to meet basic needs,³ has higher rates among rural households.⁴ Produce Prescription Programs (PPP) successfully pair access to fruits/vegetables with education by a dietician⁶ for people with chronic disease. Health care providers (HCPs) are well-suited to screen for food insecurity and refer patients to PPPs. However, day-to-day practice demands make this challenging .^7,8 This project examined HCPs perceptions of and barriers to referring patients to PPPs. …

Does The Green Bandana Project Improve Student Access To Behavioral And Mental Health Resources?, Taylor Anthony

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The Green Bandana Project raises mental health awareness, reduces stigma, and connects students to mental health and suicide prevention resources. The GBP promotes the importance of mental health support and suicide awareness across collage campuses. The analyzation of self, faculty and staff referrals, can inspire other college campuses to introduce GBP into their community, destigmatizing discussions about suicide and mental health support for undergraduate students.

An Integrative Review Of Perceptions Of Mpox Within The Men Who Have Sex With Men Community, Lauren Longacre, Marcia Y. Shade, Elizabeth L. Beam

Biennial Convention (CONV)

As mpox (monkeypox) cases decline worldwide, ongoing global inequities in transmission rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) persist. These inequities are influenced by perception and misinformation, however, research on perceptions of mpox in relation to MSM remains underdeveloped.

The purpose of this integrative review is to synthesize the evidence on perceptions of mpox as it relates to the MSM community.

A database search within CINAHL, APAPsycInfo and MEDLINE was conducted between January, 2022 and June, 2023. Mesh terms included "stigma", “bias”, “perception”, “social”, “attitude” and “monkeypox". Articles were screened to include the interaction between perceptions, MSM, and …

Supporting Mental Health In Schools: Empowering The School Nurse, Sahara Aguilar, Julie A. Thompson, Linda Crawford, Malinda Teague, Mariam Kayle

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Youth mental health is a national public health priority, marked by high rates of depressive episodes and suicidal ideation, often without adequate treatment. School nurses are pivotal in addressing these challenges, providing essential prevention, early identification, intervention, and referral services. This project details the implementation of the evidence-based Mental Health Training Intervention for Health Providers in Schools (MH-TIPS), designed to enhance the knowledge, confidence, and preparedness of Southern California school nurses in identifying and referring students with mental health conditions. Participants completed a three-week in-service program, integrating self-paced MH-TIPS modules with web-based presentations and collaborative development of local resource maps. …

The Use Of Storytelling In Covid-19 Vaccine Promotion: A Scoping Review Of Interventions And Campaigns, Suha Ballout, Sabreen A. Darwish, Patricia J. Kelly, Teresa Keller, Ross Shegog, Basil H. Aboul-Enein

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

BACKGROUND: The development of the COVID-19 vaccine, a groundbreaking scientific advancement, also fueled vaccine hesitancy mainly due to vaccine misinformation and the limited public understanding of the new technology and its rapid pace of development and deployment. A variety of public health communication strategies have been used that include engaging the community in identifying and developing messages, using culturally appropriate communication methods, applying behavioral health principles, and storytelling. The purpose of this scoping review was to assess the most relevant evidence from the research literature on storytelling interventions to mitigate COVID vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic.

METHODS: A scoping review …

The Impact Of Discontinuation And Non-Publishing Of Osteoporosis Clinical Trials, Daxton Kennington, Andrew Simonsen, Whitney Shae, Catherine L. Satterwhite

Student Publications

Context: Osteoporosis is a prevalent chronic disease associated with fractures, reduced quality of life, and substantial healthcare costs. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are essential for developing effective treatments, but when trials are discontinued or unpublished, valuable data are lost. This results in unnecessary costs and exposes thousands of participants to interventions without contributing to clinical care.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the rates and characteristics of discontinuation and nonpublication among US-registered phase 3 and 4 RCTs investigating osteoporosis therapies from 2000 to 2022.

Methods: Phase 3 and 4 osteoporosis-related RCTs were identified through ClinicalTrials.gov. Trial completion and publication status …

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 …