Digital Commons Network^™

Neutrosophic N-Superhypernetwork: A New Approach For Evaluating Short Video Communication Effectiveness In Media Convergence, Shouxian Zhu

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Weighted Indetermsoft Set For Prioritized Decision-Making With Indeterminacy And Its Application To Green Competitiveness Evaluation In Equipment Manufacturing Enterprises, Wei Wei, Pingting Peng

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Neutrosophic Sets And Systems, Vol. 85,2025, Florentin Smarandache, Mohamed Abdel-Basset, Maikel. Leyva Vazquez

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Evidence-Based Shared Agendas For Scholarship On Teaching With Primary Sources: Reflections On A Bibliometric Analysis, Jen Hoyer, Anne Bahde

Publications and Research

This article explores how scholarship about teaching with primary sources (TPS) has evolved over time and what future directions past work might suggests. Using bibliometric analysis and visualization tools, we examined how TPS work has grown; what fields and disciplines focus on this work; key themes and issues; and what scholarship has been influential to the field. These insights led to reflections on disconnects across the field, considerations for publishing about TPS, and the potential of pedagogical standards and guidelines. Finally, this article concludes with recommendations on how this analysis points to possibilities for shared education, space, conversation, and products.

Kimball Hall, 1970: Collective Organizing Through Print Production, Jen Hoyer

Publications and Research

This article examines the May 1970 occupation of Kimball Hall, a university administrative building at New York University, and specifically of its basement printshop. The group that came together in this space referred to itself as the Kimball Commune; they used university equipment and resources to print material in support of the strike and related movements, and they invited students, activists, and the general public to come into the printshop and produce material with them. I demonstrate how the Kimball Commune provides a concrete example of how a collaborative radical printing project isn’t just about creating alternative media. It also …

A Word From The Writing Team (July 2025), Pam Walter, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Publications Spotlight
• Join the Summer Writing Warriors
• Two Ways to Fund Open Access Fees
• Check out the Instructional Design Team’s Podcast, The Learning Curve!

Lianas Reduce Tree Height With Negative Consequences For Carbon Storage And Growth Estimates, Xingyan Cao, Frieke Van Coillie, Sruthi M. Krishna Moorthy, Kasper Coppieters, Barbara D'Hont, Stefan A. Schnitzer, Geertje M. F. Van Der Heijden, Hans Verbeeck, Félicien Meunier

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

1. Current evidence suggests that liana (woody vine) competition with trees could be threatening the carbon sink by reducing carbon uptake and storage in tropical forests. Previous studies investigating forest demography in liana removal experiments have, however, assumed similar allometries for trees, regardless of the amount of lianas they support. Yet, recent observations suggest that liana load may alter tree shape and structure, including height, which could result in an underestimation of the liana effects on forest carbon stocks and tree growth.
2. In this study, we used terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) in a liana removal experiment in Gigante Peninsula, Panama, collected …

Sex Differences In Motor Unit Behavior In Patients With Parkinson's Disease, Yuichi Nishikawa, Kohei Watanabe, Aleš Holobar, Tetsuya Takahashi, Noriaki Maeda, Hirofumi Maruyama, Allison Hyngstrom

Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications

The aim of this study was to determine whether there are sex differences in motor unit firing behavior in patients with Parkinson's disease. Twenty-seven patients with Parkinson's disease (females = 14 [age = 71.1 ± 6.8], males = 13 [age = 69.2 ± 10.3], Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III score; females = 10.8 ± 4.8, males = 11.4 ± 1.4) performed a contraction at 30% of the maximal voluntary contraction. For each participant, motor unit spike trains were decomposed from high-density surface electromyography data recorded from bilateral vastus lateralis muscles via blind source separation algorithms. In addition to …

Improving Provider Documentation For Procedure Authorizations: A Nursing Perspective On Enhancing Outcomes And Compliance, Juli Legg

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Insurance denials resulting from non-standardized documentation and communication gaps in the prior authorization process adversely impacted financial performance and patient care within the electrophysiology (EP) department of a large Midwest academic medical center. High denial rates for costly procedures revealed a need for improved alignment with payer medical necessity criteria. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to enhance provider documentation, reduce denials, improve care delivery, and increase revenue by implementing standardized documentation templates. A review of the literature supports that standardized documentation and clinical decision support tools enhance consistency, reduce errors, and improve prior authorization success rates. Guided by the …

Implementing An Evidence-Based Transitional Care Toolkit To Reduce Postpartum Readmissions In Women With Chronic Conditions, Cassidy La Fleur

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Postpartum women with preexisting chronic conditions are at increased risk of hospital readmissions due to fragmented care transitions and poor follow-up adherence. At the project site, the 30-day postpartum readmission rate was 10%, exceeding the national benchmark of 7.15%. Gaps in standardized discharge planning and limited patient engagement were identified as contributing factors.

Aim of the Project: The aim of this quality improvement (QI) project was to reduce 30-day postpartum readmissions in women with chronic health conditions by implementing an evidence-based transitional care toolkit within a women’s outpatient clinic.

Review of the Evidence: Evidence supports the use of structured, …

Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening Referrals In A Rural Health Clinic, Kysha Mcbee

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Preventive screening for colorectal cancer has been associated with early detection and improved 5-year survival rates. The referral rates for colorectal cancer screening at the practicum site were 17.7%, well below the national benchmarks of 71.8%.

Aim of the Project: The aim of this project was to increase the screening referral rates in adults aged 45 to 75 years by 50% over a ten-week period by implementing an evidence-based toolkit.

Review of the Evidence: Literature review highlighted barriers to colorectal cancer screening, such as knowledge …

Optimizing Pressure Injury Prevention: Implementation Of The Sskin Bundle In Acute Care, Joycelyn Mccall

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) contribute to increased morbidity, extended hospitals stay, and significant healthcare costs. At the project site in northwest, Indiana, HAPI rates averaged 6.29%, which significantly higher than the national benchmark of 2.24%. Inconsistencies in documentation, a lack of standardized preventive practices, and variable staff engagement contributed to these increased rates. Despite the use of the Braden Scale, staff inconsistently implemented preventive interventions.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the project is to reduce HAPI incidence by 30% over 10 weeks by implementing the surface, skin inspection, keep moving, incontinence/moisture management, and nutrition (SSKIN) bundle and …

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 Emergency Department Length Of Stay, Chelsea Zigan

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Rising Emergency Department (ED) volumes and Registered Nurse (RN) shortages have led to overcrowding, delayed care, and inefficiencies. In 2023, patient visits exceeded budget projections by 14% for six months. From July to December 2024, discharged patients’ average ED length of stay (LOS) exceeded the three-hour target by over one hour, left without being seen (LWOBS) rates surpassed the 1% benchmark for five months, and diversion hours increased, restricting ambulance admissions. These issues strained nursing resources, reduced care quality, and heightened risks of complications and financial losses, emphasizing the need for a redesigned care model to optimize staff roles …

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 …

Patient-Centered Approach To Decrease Length Of Stay, Erika Beck

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Unmet social needs contribute to hospital readmissions and extended inpatient stays, placing strain on care coordination and hospital throughput. Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), such as housing instability, lack of transportation, or food insecurity, are often unaddressed in clinical workflows. At the project site, a gap in effectively integrating SDOH into the discharge planning process led to delayed discharges and increased length of stay (LOS). Additionally, 41.20% exceeded the Geometric Mean Length of Stay (GMLOS), surpassing the organizational benchmark of 40.17%. Gaps in standardized assessment and communication of SDOH data limited the ability to plan timely discharges and connect …

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 …

Preventing 30-Day Rehospitalization In Congestive Heart Failure Utilizing Transitional Care Teams, Esther Baminrin

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) continues to be a prevalent and challenging health issue, contributing significantly to hospital readmissions within the first 30 days of patients transitioning to home health care. Rehospitalization affects the patient's quality of life and the agency's revenue, as reimbursements are paused when patients are hospitalized during the first 30 days of admission to a home health agency. The agency experienced a 22% rehospitalization rate within a year, slightly higher than the national average of 10%.

Aim of the Project: The primary objective of this project was to decrease rehospitalization of patients with CHF within the …

Optimizing Transfer Classification: Enhancing Accuracy And Reducing Readmission Rate Penalties For Cardiovascular Care In Short-Term Rehab, Aeshia Hicks

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: In a short-term rehabilitation (STR) setting, misclassification of planned hospital transfers as unplanned readmissions among elderly cardiovascular patients inflated CMS-reported readmission rates, distorted performance metrics, and led to financial penalties under the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). A gap analysis revealed a 14% misclassification rate, significantly higher than the CMS benchmark of 8.65%, which was attributed to inconsistent documentation and a lack of standardized classification criteria.

Aim of the Project: To reduce transfer misclassification by 20% through the implementation of a standardized electronic health record (EHR) template and targeted staff education, thereby improving CMS compliance and documentation integrity in …

Effect Of Standardized Phone Call Protocol On The Achievement Of Target Hba1c Levels, Felicia Choyce

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem:

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a common chronic illness with far-reaching health and financial consequences. At the project’s primary care clinic, the average hemoglobin A1c among adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus was 9.6%, exceeding the recommended clinical goal of less than 7% (American Diabetes Association, 2023). The absence of a standardized follow-up protocol and inconsistent use of health literacy-based communication contributed to persistent hyperglycemia and failure to reach target HbA1c levels. These factors indicated an urgent need for an evidence-based intervention.

Aim of the Project:
The aim of this project was to reduce HbA1c levels among adults with …

The Effects Of Extreme Weather On Rural Transportation Infrastructure And Crop Prices Along The Lower Mississippi River, James Mitchell, Hunter D. Biram

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Extreme weather events are worsening the fragile rural infrastructure in the United States, impacting trade flows of agricultural products. The Mississippi River, vital for transporting agricultural commodities, reached historic lows during the 2022 and 2023 fall harvests, increasing transportation costs and lowering crop prices. This paper estimates the cost of these drought events by analyzing Arkansas soybean basis data and Mississippi River stream gauge data. Low river levels significantly weaken soybean prices, with the impact being a function of a grain market's distance to a river port. Findings have implications for public policy investment in rural infrastructure and risk management …

Spiritual Practices In Survivor Care: A Qualitative Analysis Of Christian Faith-Based Shelters And Survivor Well-Being, Jeanne L. Allert

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Christian faith-based organizations constituted a significant proportion of shelter programs for survivors of sex trafficking in the United States, with an estimated 63% identifying as Christian-affiliated (Institute for Survivor Care, 2024). Despite their prevalence, such programs often elicited skepticism due to the rise of secularism (Pew Research, 2022) and concerns that spiritual programming might retraumatize survivors (Ahrens et al., 2010; Hodge, 2020). However, Ahrens et al. (2010) and Hodge (2020) also found that religious practices can be helpful. This qualitative study employed a trauma-informed, descriptive survey design to explore the experiences of 158 trafficking survivors, who had either resided in …

Fall Prevention In Long-Term Care, Steven Zissler

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Falls among older adults residing in long-term care facilities continue to rise, resulting in injuries that contribute to adverse outcomes, a reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare costs. Despite existing safety interventions, falls persist, indicating a gap in effective, sustainable fall prevention strategies. Repeated failures to reduce falls among adults aged 65 years and older highlight the need for a structured, evidence-based approach aimed at addressing this critical patient safety issue.

Aim of the Project: The aim of this project was to reduce falls and fall-related injuries by 25% for older adults residing in a long-term care facility …

Integrating Kangaroo Care Into Cesarean Delivery Practices: A Pathway To Enhanced Health Outcomes, Julia Swords

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Cesarean deliveries often interrupt early mother-infant bonding, delaying the initiation of breastfeeding and limiting opportunities for skin-to-skin contact. Despite national guidelines promoting immediate postpartum contact, cesarean-born infants receive kangaroo care (KC) at significantly lower rates than those born vaginally. Prior to this project, only 2% of cesarean births at the project site received KC, highlighting a significant gap in care delivery.

Aim of the Project: The aim was to evaluate the feasibility and impact of implementing kangaroo care during cesarean deliveries in a community hospital to improve neonatal outcomes and adherence to evidence-based postpartum practices.

Review of the Evidence: …

The State Of The Science Of Natural Family Planning: A Report From Nfp Scientists’ Meeting Held In Orlando, Fl, September 4, 2024, Michael D. Manhart, Richard J. Fehring

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

A one-day meeting was held as a pre-conference to the Catholic Medical Association Annual Educational event in 2024. A panel of eighteen physicians, scientists, and researchers involved in NFP work was convened to review the available evidence in four topical areas: (i) evidence for effectiveness of NFP methods to postpone and achieve pregnancy, (ii) evidence for effectiveness in the postpartum and perimenopause transition periods, (iii) evaluate the current state of technology in NFP (specifically app and quantitative hormone monitoring), and (iv) evidence examining the impact of NFP on marital relations. In each topical area, the panel worked to reach a …

Artificial Intelligence Dimensions (Expert Systems, Neural Networks, And Genetic Algorithms) And Their Impact On Human Resources Dimensions (Recruitment, Training, And Employee Performance Evaluation) In The Government Sector In The United Arab Emirates - Dubai Government As A Case Study, Dr. Shawk Hasan Mahdi

Faculty Peer-Reviewed Papers | بحوث هيئة التدريس المحكمة

The study aimed to elucidate the Artificial Intelligence dimensions (Expert Systems, Neural Networks, and Genetic Algorithms) and their impact on Human Resources dimensions (Recruitment, Training, and Employee Performance Evaluation) in the government sector in the United Arab Emirates - Dubai Government as a case study. The study population comprised employees in the government sector in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The study followed descriptive-analytical methodology and utilized a questionnaire for data collection. The sample size was 355 individuals, selected randomly. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used for data analysis. The study yielded several key findings, including …

Worldview Origins: The Role Of Religion, The Bible, And Culture, Joseph Kidder, Katelyn Campbell Weakley

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Phospho-Rpa2 Predicts Response To Platinum And Parp Inhibitors In Homologous Recombination-Proficient Ovarian Cancer, Angela Schab, Amanda Compadre, Rebecca Drexler, Megan Loeb, Kevin Rodriguez, Joshua Brill, Carmen Sandoval, Brooke Sanders, Lindsay Kuroki, Carolyn Mccourt, Andrea R. Hagemann, Premal Thaker, David Mutch, Matthew Powell, Ian S. Hagemann, Lulu Sun, Priyanka Verma, Elena Lomonosova, Dineo Khabele, Mary M. Mullen, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUNDTreatment of tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) includes cytoreductive surgery, platinum-based chemotherapy, and often poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. While homologous recombination (HR) deficiency is a well-established predictor of therapy sensitivity, over 50% of HR-proficient HGSCs also exhibit sensitivity. Currently, there are no biomarkers to identify which HR-proficient HGSCs will be sensitive to standard-of-care therapy. Replication stress may serve as a key determinant of response.METHODSWe evaluated phospho-RPA2-T21 (p-RPA2) foci via immunofluorescence as a biomarker of replication stress in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded HGSC samples collected at diagnosis from patients treated with platinum chemotherapy (discovery cohort, n = 31; validation cohort, n = 244) …

Sequencing-Based Detection Of Measles In Wastewater: Texas, January 2025, Sara Javornik Cregeen, Michael J Tisza, Blake Hanson, Marissa Cook, Anil Surathu, Rebecca Schneider, Jingjing Wu, Kirstin Short, Kaavya Domakonda, Loren Hopkins, Matthew C Ross, Joseph F Petrosino, Jennifer Deegan, Lauren B Stadler, Eric Boerwinkle, Anthony Maresso

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Measles is a potentially deadly viral infection spread via respiratory droplets from infected individuals. Outbreaks occur when vaccine coverage drops below the threshold of herd, or community, immunity. Using a sequencing-based approach, we report the prospective (January 7, 2025) detection of measles in nucleic acid extracts from 2 wastewater treatment plants in Houston, Texas, with a population of more than 218 000 residents. The sequencing data from 2 samples contained 53 unique reads mapping to 11 different regions of the measles virus genome with a 99.4% match to genotype B3. Importantly, no detections were observed from 821 previous samples from …

Reference Range Determination For The Sflt-1/Plgf Ratio In A Diverse Cohort Of Pregnant Women In The United States, Antonio F Saad, David M Haas, Eugene Chang, Scott A Shainker, Miriah Denbo, Michelle Silasi, George Saade, Sarosh Rana, Tetsuya Kawakita, Luis D Pacheco, Jennifer Powers Carson, Angela Dietl, Deirdre Allegranza, Ge Guo, David Stamilio

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio is an established tool for predicting preeclampsia in many countries but is not widely adopted in the United States. This study aimed to determine reference ranges for the Elecsys® sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and the sFlt-1 and PlGF immunoassays (Roche Diagnostics International Ltd) in a diverse US population of healthy pregnant women.

METHODS: This was a prospective, noninterventional sample and data collection study performed between November 2022 and November 2023 at 9 collection sites and one measurement site in the United States. Evaluable women were ≥18 years old, …