Digital Commons Network^™

Evidence-Based Pain Management Bundle For Pediatric Postoperative Orthopedic Patients, Samantha Firmstone

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Postoperative pain management in pediatric orthopedic patients is often inconsistent due to variability in provider practices and a lack of standardized protocols. At a Central Texas pediatric orthopedic clinic, all patients received opioid prescriptions post-knee surgery regardless of procedure severity, leading to frequent caregiver calls for clarification. This practice revealed a critical gap in preoperative education and multimodal pain management strategies, contributing to patient safety concerns and increased clinic workload.

Aim of the Project: The primary aim of the project was to improve pain control, reduce opioid reliance, and decrease postoperative pain-related follow-up calls by implementing a standardized, evidence-based …

Reducing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections In The Intensive Care Unit, Rosa Shiffman

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain among the most common healthcare-associated infections in intensive care units (ICUs), contributing to increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and elevated healthcare costs. Despite established prevention guidelines, inconsistent practices in catheter removal and gaps in daily necessity reviews persist. At the project site’s 24-bed ICU, the CAUTI rate was 1.9 per 1000 catheter days, which exceeds the national benchmark of 1.0. Gaps in consistent assessment of necessity and delays in removal contributed to an elevated infection risk.

Aim of the Project: This project aimed to reduce CAUTI rates in the ICU through evidence-based interventions …

Utilizing The Patient Health Questionnaire In A Family Practice Clinic To Enhance Clinical Benchmarks, Dorothy Akaeze

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: About one-third of the 129 million chronically ill patients in the United States experience persistent depressive symptoms. Approximately 300 of 500 (60%) chronically ill patients treated at the project site each month show signs of depression, indicating a higher prevalence than the national rate of 33.33%. Despite the critical role of family practice in identifying and managing depression, many patients are not adequately screened, leading to missed opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment. The project site does not use the digitized PHQ screening tool to screen patients for depression. An analysis of patient charts revealed that, out of about …

Peer Mentorship Of Midwifery Faculty In Bangladesh: A Process Evaluation, Pronita Raha, Joy Kemp, Farida Begum, Rowsan Ara, Vibhavendra S. Raghuvanshi, Nabila Purno, Daniel Novak, Hoque Emdadul Hoque

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Development of midwifery faculty is key to strengthening quality midwifery education. This article presents a process evaluation of a peer mentorship programme, implemented between 2021 and 2023, for around 370 midwifery faculty in Bangladesh, including 40 newly deployed faculty. 20 peer mentors, prepared by international midwifery faculty, conducted quarterly visits to public midwifery education institutions (MEIs) to provide mentorship support to midwifery faculty and to monitor the quality of midwifery education. A digital community of practice was also created. Data were collected with a checklist based on the World Health Organization (WHO) midwifery educator competencies and entered into a digital …

Functional Assays In Drosophila Facilitate Classification Of Variants Of Uncertain Significance Associated With Rare Diseases, Jung-Wan Mok, Shelley B Gibson, Haley A Dostalik, Shinya Yamamoto

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Individuals living with rare diseases often undergo a frustrating and expensive diagnostic odyssey. Clinical geneticists who analyze exome or genome sequencing data from rare disease patients often encounter a list of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in known disease-causing genes or rare variants in genes of uncertain significance (GUS) that are difficult to interpret, even with the integration of the latest bioinformatic tools. In this Perspective, we review how studies using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster have facilitated rare disease diagnosis by uncovering the clinical relevance of GUS and classifying rare variants into specific allelic categories (loss-of-function or gain-of-function, Muller's …

July 2025 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

A Study On The Multifunctional Properties And Application Perspectives Of Zno/Sic Composite Materials, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

ZnO/SiC nanocomposite materials possess significant potential for various technological fields due to their extraordinary optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The synthesis methods, material properties, and diverse applications of ZnO/SiC composites have been systematically explored in this study. The potential application areas of this nanocomposite include their roles in photocatalysis, optoelectronic devices, gas sensors, and photovoltaic systems. The synergetic effects of ZnO and SiC are analyzed to highlight their advantages over their individual components. Future research directions must focus on the remaining challenges to optimize these nanoscale composite materials for industrial and emerging applications.

Human Rights Perspectives In Social Work Practice With African Immigrants In Australia: 'It Starts With Respecting Them And Making Them Feel Like Humans', Obed Adonteng-Kissi, Frank Darkwa Baffour, Matthew Mabefam, Nnaemeka Meribe, Elizabeth Archibong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Increasing restrictionism and xenophobic policies in Western host countries curtail and endanger immigrants' civil and political rights as well as socio-economic well-being. This study is guided by the critical race theory (CRT), which provides a very important structure to critique social work practice with immigrants from a human rights lens and unpack the intersections of race, racism, and power. The objective of this study is to explore immigrants' perspectives on social work practices that prioritize human rights in Australia. To achieve this, a total of twenty-seven participants were interviewed, including eight social workers and nineteen immigrants of African background service …

Cross-Continental Analysis Shows That Disturbance Effects On Reptile Body Condition Do Not Predict Abundance Responses, Kristina J. Macdonald, Don A. Driscoll, Michael D. Craig, Robert A. Davis, Steven J. Hromada, C. M. Gienger, Lee A. Fitzgerald, Daniel J. Leavitt, Danielle K. Walkup, Rickard Abom, Adrian F. Wayne, Gordon R. Friend, Brent Johnson, Danielle Stokeld, Chris R. Dickman, Scott A. Thompson, Graham G. Thompson, Daniel F. Bohórquez Fandiño, Christopher K. Woolley, Annabel L. Smith, Calum Irvine, Tim S. Jessop, Jade E. Keehn, Chris R. Feldman, Xavier Santos, Josabel Belliure

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Ecological disturbances are discrete events that alter or transform the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of ecosystems. Disturbance can cause animal populations to decline and, according to the risk-disturbance hypothesis and population collapse framework, these declines can be predicted by declines in animal body condition. However, no research has empirically examined the general relationship between body condition and abundance, nor their relationship in response to disturbance. We used a combined dataset representing 33 studies and > 42,000 observations of 75 species from Australia, New Zealand, Spain and the United States of America to test predictions relating to the relationship between reptile …

Evaluating The Influence Of Carbon Quantum Dots On Starch-Based Bioplastics: Toward Potential Food Packaging Applications, Shima Jafarzadeh, Mitra Golgoli, Zeinab Qazanfarzadeh, Mehrdad Forough, Peng Wu, Wendy Timms, Colin J. Barrow, Minoo Naebe, Masoumeh Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Developing biodegradable food packaging films is crucial for reducing dependence on petroleum-based plastics. In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (CDs) were synthesized from citric acid and ethylenediamine via hydrothermal treatment and incorporated into sago starch films at concentrations of 0.5 %, 1 %, 3 %, and 4 % w/w of total solids using a solution casting method. The effects of CDs on structural, thermal, antioxidant, optical, and physicochemical properties were systematically investigated. CD addition enhanced the UV-shielding ability of the films. At 4 % CD content, UV transmittance decreased by 56.4 % (UVA), 66.7 % (UVB), and 73.9 % …

Exercise Effects On Symptoms Of Depression And Anxiety Vary By Patient, Clinical, And Intervention Characteristics In Cancer Survivors: Results From Pooled Analyses Of Individual Participant Data Of 26 Rcts, Marlou Floor Kenkhuis, Meike Doorenbos, Isa H. Mast, Neil K. Aaronson, Marc Van Beurden, Martin Bohus, Kerry S. Courneya, Amanda J. Daley, Daniel A. Galvão, Martine M. Goedendorp, Wim H. Van Harten, Sandi C. Hayes, Anouk E. Hiensch, Melinda L. Irwin, Marie José Kersten, Hans Knoop, Anne M. May, Alex Mcconnachie, Willem Van Mechelen, Nanette Mutrie, Robert U. Newton, Frans Nollet, Hester S. Oldenburg, Martina E. Schmidt, Kathryn H. Schmitz, Karl Heinz Schulz, Dennis R. Taaffe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether socio-demographic, clinical, and intervention-related variables moderate the effects of exercise on depression and anxiety symptoms in cancer survivors. Methods: Data from 26 RCTs in the POLARIS database were analyzed using a one-step individual participant data (IPD) meta-analytic approach with linear mixed models to assess exercise effects on depression and anxiety symptoms (z-scores). Interaction terms were added to these models to explore moderators. Results are presented as betas (corresponding to Cohen’s d effect size). Results: Albeit statistically significant, exercise demonstrated negligible effects on symptoms of depression (β = − 0.11; 95% CI = − …

Real-World Continuous Smartwatch-Based User Authentication, N. Al-Naffakh, N. Clarke, F. Li, P. Haskell-Dowland

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

User authentication is often regarded as the "gatekeeper"of cyber security. It has, however, long suffered from significant usability issues that have resulted in research focussing upon frictionless and transparent biometric approaches. Activity-based user authentication - a technique that authenticates a user by what they are physically doing at a specific point in time has attracted significant attention, particularly due to the increasing popularity of smartwatches. This research aims to overcome limitations in prior work by exploring the viability of the approach in real-world conditions. The study presents two principal experiments, one focused upon a constrained environment to provide a control …

Rural Cancer Survivors' Perceived Delays In Seeking Medical Attention, Diagnosis And Treatment: Findings From A Large Qualitative Study, Alyssa Taglieri-Sclocchi, Ingrid Bindicsova, Susannah K. Ayre, Michael Ireland, Sonja March, Fiona Crawford-Williams, Suzanne Chambers, Jeff Dunn, Belinda C. Goodwin, Elizabeth A. Johnston

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: To investigate rural cancer survivors' self-reported reasons for perceived delays in initial cancer detection and treatment. Methods: Within a cohort study, adult cancer survivors who had travelled > 50 km for cancer care, staying at subsidised accommodation lodges in city centres in Queensland, Australia, were invited to complete a structured interview on perceived delays in: (i) seeking medical attention, (ii) receiving their diagnosis and (iii) commencing treatment. Content analysis was used to map self-reported reasons for perceived delays at each step, which were then categorised based on the perceived source: (i) personal, (ii) healthcare professional, (iii) healthcare system or (iv) …

Winds Of Change: Charting A Pathway To Ecosystem Monitoring Using Airborne Environmental Dna, Rachel L. Tulloch, Clare I.M. Adams, Matthew A. Barnes, Elizabeth L. Clare, Henrik C. Van De Ven, Andrew Cridge, Francisco Encinas-Viso, Kristen Fernandes, Dianne M. Gleeson, Erin Hill, Anna J.M. Hopkins, Anna M. Kearns, Gracie C. Kroos, Anna J. Macdonald, Francesco Martoni, Angela Mcgaughran, Todd G.B. Mclay, Linda E. Neaves, Paul Nevill, Andrew Pugh, Kye J. Robinson, Fabian Roger, Tracey V. Steinrucken, Mieke Van Der Heyde, Cecilia Villacorta-Rath, Jenny Vivian

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Airborne environmental DNA (airborne eDNA) analysis leverages the globally ubiquitous medium of air to deliver broad species distribution data and support ecosystem monitoring across diverse environments. As this emerging technology matures, addressing critical challenges and seizing key opportunities will be essential to fully realize its potentially transformative impact. In June 2024, the Southern eDNA Society convened over 100 researchers, industry leaders, and biodiversity management stakeholders in a landmark workshop to evaluate the current state of airborne eDNA research and chart a course for future development. Participants explored opportunities for integrating airborne eDNA into existing monitoring systems, but they unanimously agreed …

Does External Labour Market Activeness Affect Agency Problem?, Yuyun Claudie Huang, Jamie Yixing Tong, Joey W. Yang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study examines the relationship between external labour market and the agency problem. Exploiting the staggered recognition of the Inevitable Disclosure Doctrine (IDD) by US state courts to capture a drop in external labour market activeness, we examine whether and how the activeness of external labour market affects managers' empire building behaviour. We find that in IDD-recognising states, managers are less engaged in empire-building activity, thus reducing agency costs and improving firm performance. The effect is concentrated in managers with heightened career concern where their firms experience higher degrees of financial constraints or operate within an industry of more intense …

How Emotions In Online Reviews Affect Movie Sales: Evidence From Hollywood, Rahat Ullah, Muhammad Aftab Alam, Atya Zeb

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Movies evoke strong human emotions that resonate in the content of online reviews, known as electronic word of mouth (eWOM). Existing literature suggests that positive content enhances, and negative content reduces movie sales, with negative content having a stronger effect. We demonstrate that there is a limit to the negative emotional content's impact on sales, beyond which it boosts sales. We extract positive and negative emotional content from 80 Hollywood movie reviews (N = 23,046) and empirically examine their influence on movie sales. Results indicate that for high eWOM volume, the effect of positive content increases progressively, while negative content …

Midwifery Students' Evaluation Of Midwifery Practice Experiences In Australia: A National Survey, F. Bogossian, A. Hyun, D. Bloxsome, A. Brown, S. Cooper, S. Hunter, L. Kearney

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To report the findings of the first 12 months of a national survey of midwifery students’ evaluation of midwifery practice experiences in Australia. Background: Accreditation standards for midwifery programs globally and in Australia, require evidence of monitoring and evaluation of student midwifery practice experiences. In 2022 the National Placement Evaluation Centre was commissioned to measure and enhance the quality of nursing and midwifery practice experiences. Design: Survey Methods: A national survey of midwifery students who completed midwifery practice experience in Australia between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. Results: Midwifery practice experiences (n = 871) were evaluated; most …

The Impact Of Configuration Management Decisions On Firm Resilience: Integrating Resource Configuration, Operational Flexibility, And Collaborative Supply Chain Strategies, Zeplin Jiwa Husada Tarigan, Sahnaz Ubud, Zefanya Valentino Bastanta Tarigan, Ferry Jie

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Global competition requires the company's appropriate rules and policies. The company is trying to build strong, firm resilience to maintain sustainability. The research aims to analyze the influence of management configuration decisions on company resilience through the integration of resource configuration, operational flexibility, and collaboration in the supply chain. This study was conducted on 462 manufacturing companies in Indonesia that were experiencing changes in operational systems and global competitive pressures. Data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using the Partial Least Square (PLS) method. The research results show that management configuration decisions influence resource configuration and supply chain collaboration integration …

A Comparative Study Of The Pullout Strength Of Geostraps And Geogrids In Reinforced Soil, Kshitij Gaur, Ashutosh Trivedi, Sanjay Kumar Shukla

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The sustainable development of geotechnical infrastructure necessitates using durable, efficient, and environmentally resilient reinforcement materials. This study investigates the pullout performance of geostraps to assess their potential as a sustainable alternative to conventional geosynthetics. This study focuses on the pullout performance of geostraps, flexible, polymeric reinforcement materials. There has not been a thorough study of their pullout resistance, which directly affects the stability and durability of reinforced soil structures. Pullout tests were conducted on sandy soil in a controlled environment. The experimental findings from the pullout test were then validated in a numerical model. The model was used to determine …

Aiding Depth Perception In Initial Drone Training: Evidence From Camera-Assisted Distance Estimation, John Murray, Steven Richardson, Keith Joiner, Graham Wild

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) pilots frequently experience difficulties with depth perception, particularly when estimating distances between the drone and environmental obstacles. This study evaluates whether the use of onboard camera imagery can improve exocentric distance estimation accuracy among ab initio drone pilots operating under visual line-of-sight (VLOS) conditions. Two groups of undergraduate students performed distance estimation tasks at 20 and 50 m. One group used direct observation only to estimate the exocentric distance between the drone and an obstacle. The second group, as well as direct observation, had access to a live video feed from the drone’s onboard camera via …

Development And Diversity Of Astrocytes, Michael R Williamson, Sanjana Murali, Benjamin Deneen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Proper development of the central nervous system (CNS) depends on astrocytes, which are the most abundant glial cells in the CNS. Here, we provide an overview of astrocyte ontogeny and morphogenesis, highlighting mechanisms that regulate astrocyte development. In addition, we describe the roles of astrocytes in regulating the development of other CNS cell types, with emphasis on neural circuits and vascular networks. We also discuss evidence for astrocyte diversity and its implications for CNS development. Finally, we pose open questions related to astrocyte development and its intersection with astrocyte diversity.

Experimentally Driven Numerical Model Of Carbon/Polyaniline-Based Glucose Monitoring Sensors: An Evaluation Using A New Figure Of Merit, Ziad Khalifa, Kyrillos Selim, Amira Ali, Sameh Abdellatif

Chemical Engineering

This study presents an experimentally driven numerical model for evaluating carbon/polyaniline (PANI)- based glucose monitoring sensors (GMSs), focusing on innovative configurations using graphene-PANI and carbon nanotube (CNT)-PANI composites. We performed a thorough analysis of the morphological, electrophysical, and electrical properties of these materials, ultimately leading to the extraction of key electrical parameters for integration into a finite element model (FEM). This model simulates the entire sensor, enabling the estimation of critical performance metrics such as sensitivity, limit of detection (LOD), linearity, and power consumption. Our findings demonstrate that the CNT-PANI configuration significantly outperforms the laser-induced graphene (LIG)-PANI electrode, achieving a …

Experimentally Driven Numerical Model Of Carbon/Polyaniline-Based Glucose Monitoring Sensors: An Evaluation Using A New Figure Of Merit, Ziad Khalifa

Chemical Engineering

This study presents an experimentally driven numerical model for evaluating carbon/polyaniline (PANI)- based glucose monitoring sensors (GMSs), focusing on innovative configurations using graphene-PANI and carbon nanotube (CNT)-PANI composites. We performed a thorough analysis of the morphological, electrophysical, and electrical properties of these materials, ultimately leading to the extraction of key electrical parameters for integration into a finite element model (FEM). This model simulates the entire sensor, enabling the estimation of critical performance metrics such as sensitivity, limit of detection (LOD), linearity, and power consumption. Our findings demonstrate that the CNT-PANI configuration significantly outperforms the laser-induced graphene (LIG)-PANI electrode, achieving a …

Student Affairs Committee Minutes, Clemson University Board Of Trustees, 2025 July 16, Clemson University Board Of Trustees

Minutes

No abstract provided.

Bibliometric Analysis Of Congenital Toxoplasmosis: A Ten-Year (2013-2023) Review Of Research Publications, Festus Mulakoli, Horatius Musembi, Ann Kimani

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background:Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan, infects more than one-third of the global population and causes toxoplasmosis, which can lead to severe fetal complications in pregnant women. The global prevalence of latent toxoplasmosis in pregnant women is 33.8%, with regional variations and risk factors, including the consumption of undercooked meat, exposure to cat feces, and consumption of contaminated water. Pregnant women lack sufficient awareness of these risk factors, necessitating enhanced education, regular screening, and counseling during antenatal care for early detection and management.

Aim: This study performed a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on congenital toxoplasmosis published between 2013 …

A Wearable-Based Approach To Spinal Posture Tracking And Assessment, Sydney Marie Sherman, Noah Jeffery

Biomedical Engineering: Graduate Reports and Projects

This paper describes the design, manufacturing, and testing of a novel spinal posture tracking wearable device with embedded sensors. Currently on the market, most of the spinal posture tracking devices only focus on one segment of the spine and therefore do not track the entirety of human posture. The objective for this project was to create a wearable device in the form of a “smart shirt” that offers insights into posture trends throughout the day by tracking the entire spine. To begin the project, multiple designs were developed for the sensor array and wearable materials. These concepts were compared against …

Rattler Python, Samer Jabor

Systems Manuals - 2026

The Rattler Python project is an interactive game-based learning system that intends to teach the basic concepts of Python programming through guided instruction, gameplay challenges, and review-based assessments. The document contains a proposal for this system consisting of problem definition, background research, existing solutions, and the proposed product, together with the system scope, assumptions, and the organization of the remainder of this document.

Data-Driven Prediction Of Binder Rheological Performance In Rap/Ras-Containing Asphalt Mixtures, Eslam Deef-Allah, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Asphalt recycling technologies have advanced considerably over the last few decades with the utilization of reclaimed asphalt pavements (RAP) and recycled asphalt shingles (RAS). Characterizing aged and heterogeneous binders in these mixtures is challenging, particularly with limited extracted binders. This study suggests a data-driven framework that considers the rheological, chemical, and thermal characteristics to predict the binders' performance. Ninety-seven mixtures with 0–35% of the asphalt binder replaced with RAP/RAS binders were included as cores from the field, plant-produced mixtures, and laboratory-fabricated mixtures. The binders were chemically quantified using aging, aromatic, and aliphatic indices. Thermal analyses of the binders involved the …

Improving Sel Programs In Early Childhood Settings, Josie Guerin

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Preschool students are having their first experience with a classroom and are at a key point of entering their education. They are learning not only academics and the beginnings of reading, writing, STEM and art, but are learning how to function in a classroom and in society. They are taking on a lot of skills in a short period of time, one of the most important being SEL (social and emotional learning). This study is addressing the challenges of teaching our youngest learners SEL skills in an effective way, to make sure all students are receiving adequate SEL. Through a …

Adverse Childhood Exeriences In Early Childhood, Sierra Myer

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This inquiry-based research project examines how early childhood educators at Okoboji Elementary understand and implement trauma-informed care (TIC). With many students impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), educators are increasingly being asked to meet both academic and emotional needs in the classroom. This study used anonymous surveys and Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment data to explore teacher familiarity with ACEs, confidence in managing trauma-related behaviors, and the supports they feel are still needed. Findings show that while many educators are using trauma-sensitive strategies—such as calm-down corners, emotional check-ins, and visual routines—confidence levels and training backgrounds vary. Some staff have received formal …