Digital Commons Network^™

Driving Innovation: Transforming Adult Health Nursing Curricula Through Educational Advances, Suja P. Davis, Kunta Devi Punn

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background and Purpose: Traditional lectures while effective in delivering large amounts of information systematically fail to engage students actively, leading to disengagement and limited critical thinking.[1] Research indicates that active learning methods using educational innovations increase student participation, enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. [2 ]The purpose of this project was to evaluate the learning outcomes of educational innovations implemented in an adult health course for nursing at Department of Nursing, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS), Nepal.

Methods: Several educational innovations such as flipped classroom, concept mapping, problem based learning, case study analysis, 2D illustrations and animations, …

Aligning The Rn-Bsn Program To The Un-Sdgs: An Evidence-Based Teaching Practice, Tess B. Bernardo

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background/Introduction: The UN SDGs provide a globally recognized framework for addressing health equity, environmental sustainability, and social justice. Despite their relevance, integration of the SDGs into RN-BSN curricula remains limited and often lacks pedagogical coherence.

Purpose: This initiative aims to enhance learners’ capacity to critically engage with global health priorities and apply sustainability principles in clinical, community, and leadership contexts.

Methods or Processes/Procedures: A curriculum review was conducted to identify intersections between existing course objectives and SDGs, with emphasis on Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 4 (Quality Education), and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Faculty explored how a higher …

Empowering Nursing Students Through Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Resources – An Rnao Initiative, Christina Oleynikov, Krussny Arunanthy, Hugo Tam

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

In the past, nursing programs have made concerted efforts to include comprehensive Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) education [3,6]. Despite these attempts, there is an evident lack of support for accessible, peer-led resources to improve the uptake and application of such concepts in educational and practice settings [2]. Current literature also reflects a gap in research focusing on how EDI resources impact nursing students [1]. With promising past results from peer-driven engagement to increase self-efficacy in EDI [4,5], a similar approach should be used to encourage student-led knowledge translation and leadership initiatives. The purpose of this project was to identify …

Simulation Experiences Of Eal Prelicensure Nursing Students: An Integrative Review, Megan Ross

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Globalization has increased the use of English as a common language in healthcare settings (Cheng et al., 2025). Additionally, nursing programs have increased the number of students who speak English as an additional language (EAL; Henry, 2023). EAL students often encounter unique challenges in nursing programs, including struggles with communication and cultural norms that can impact success (Henry, 2023). Simulation-based learning is an effective method to develop nursing students’ knowledge and skills (Alharbi et al., 2024). Despite its growing use, there was no comprehensive synthesis of research exploring EAL nursing students’ experiences with simulation-based learning at the time of …

Minority Stress As Mediator Of Ace-Substance Use Pathways: Sem Analysis Of Sexual Minorities, Meghna Shukla, Marvin Schilt-Solberg

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known determinants of negative health outcomes. Sexual minority (SM) individuals have higher ACE scores than non-SM individuals, and as a result also have worse health outcomes.According to the WHO, ACEs such as abuse & neglect are among the most severe forms of stress an individual may face, with extant literature identifying SM status and ACEs as predictors of substance use. There is a paucity of evidence examining the pathways between ACEs and substance use in SMs. Burgeoning evidence indicates minority stress is a strong predictor of substance use in SMs.

Purpose: To examine the …

Transforming Telehealth With Thrive: An Online Intervention For Nps Caring For Young Adults, Lisa V. Duffy

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

AIM: To develop an online, video-based intervention for nurse practitioners (NPs) that illustrates best practices to establish therapeutic relational connection (TRC) during telehealth visits.

BACKGROUND: Telehealth offers many benefits for chronically ill young adults. Despite the potential benefits of virtual visits, little attention has been given to the quality of the virtual provider-patient relationship and its consequences. Relationships with healthcare providers that are characterized by a sense of TRC have the potential to increase self-management skills which are associated with improved physical, mental, and behavioral health outcomes. Although there are known benefits to TRC, what is not known are the …

Public Perceptions Regarding Surveillance Of Lyme Disease In Tennessee, Shaheena Yasmin Asad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lyme disease (LD), a tick-borne illness, has been a growing concern in the state of Tennessee. Studies have established environmental concerns regarding a growing tick population and identified a gap between reported cases and disease burden in Tennessee. Despite this information, it remains classified as a low-incidence reporting state, raising concerns about underreporting that indicate an ineffective current surveillance system. Because the public perception regarding surveillance of LD is unknown, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how adults in Tennessee perceived LD as a credible public health threat within the context of the current surveillance system. Guided …

A Multifaceted Surgical Suite Quality Improvement Initiative, George Tazvitya Mhosira

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project focuses on modernizing an acute care hospital’s surgical suite, enhancing environmental safety, and supporting the growing complexity of surgical care. As surgical procedures become more advanced, the physical environment must evolve to maintain sterile technique and reduce microbial presence. Current operating room configuration, characterized by overcrowding and outdated ventilation systems, introduces environmental risks that compromise patient safety and limit perioperative efficiency. Modernization is essential to align the surgical environment with contemporary safety expectations and organizational performance goals. The proposed initiative includes a comprehensive renovation and expansion of surgical spaces, integrating advanced air decontamination technologies, …

The Relationship Between Employees’ Involvement, Process Improvement, And Customer Satisfaction In Manufacturing Industries, Nawres Fouad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Customer satisfaction remains a challenge for some manufacturing organizations despite the widespread implementation of TQM practices. Manufacturing leaders must improve customer satisfaction because it enhances customer retention, organizational competitiveness, and long-term business performance. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationships between employees' involvement, process improvement, and customer satisfaction. The expectancy-disconfirmation theory grounded the research project. Participants were 68 middle managers employed in manufacturing organizations in Ontario, Canada. Data were collected through an anonymous online survey using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9) and the TQM Practices Scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s …

Staff Education To Improve Depression Screening And Management Using Phq-9, Elizabeth Aja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was a staff education initiative. It was motivated by the realization that depression is often under-recognized when standardized screening practices are not consistently implemented. The identified practice gap was inconsistent administration, interpretation, and documentation of the PHQ-9 by the nursing staff. The practice-focused question examined whether a staff education intervention would improve nurses’ knowledge and confidence in using the PHQ-9 for depression screening. The purpose of the project was to implement and evaluate an evidence-based educational program on PHQ-9 administration, scoring, interpretation, and documentation. Data analysis included descriptive statistics on pretest and posttest scores from 14 participating …

Staff Education To Improve Whiteboard Utilization To Focus On Nurse Communication And Patient Experience On A Medical-Surgical Unit, Charline J. Bethea

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inconsistent use of standardized whiteboards in patient rooms may contribute to ineffective nurse communication and lower patient experience scores. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project evaluated whether an evidence-based staff education program improved nursing knowledge, intent to use standardized whiteboards, and whiteboard utilization on a medical-surgical unit. Guided by the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) instructional design model, the intervention included a standardized educational presentation, pre- and post-education knowledge assessments, a workflow integration guide, competency validation, and weekly compliance audits. Thirty-five staff members, including registered nurses and patient care technicians, participated in the project. Following …

Improving Suicide Risk Identification Through Standardized Implementation Of The Columbia–Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-Ssrs) In An Adult Outpatient Behavioral Health Setting, Mirabel Ngwe Boma

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicide risk may fluctuate throughout treatment, making ongoing assessment essential for timely identification and intervention. At the project site, an adult outpatient behavioral health practice, the Columbia–Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) was administered consistently at intake but inconsistently at follow-up visits, creating gaps in suicide risk reassessment and documentation. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the effect of standardized implementation of the C-SSRS during intake and follow-up visits on suicide risk screening compliance over a 9-week period. The practice-focused question asked how standardized implementation of the C-SSRS, compared with current practice, affected suicide risk screening compliance …

Leveraging School Leadership To Strengthen Teacher Retention In Urban High-Needs Schools, Sharri Zachary

Education Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study, supported by descriptive quantitative data, examined the leadership practices that principals in urban high-needs schools use to influence teacher retention while leading their schools and navigating external conditions and educational policies. The study was grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model of human development and reframed the traditional focus on family and social development to examine principal-teacher interactions within school environments. The study addressed the lack of clarity regarding how teacher retention is defined, measured, and interpreted, particularly in relation to principals’ efforts to recruit, develop, and support teachers under shifting conditions and accountability expectations. Descriptive quantitative data provided …

Ucf Libraries 2026 Faculty Research Showcase, Thomas R. Caswell, Patrick D. Green, Rae Mair, Yuqing Li, Athena Hoeppner, Sai Deng, Jeanne Piascik, Nokimul Hasan Arif, Peter Spyers-Duran, Tina Buck

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The University of Central Florida (UCF) Libraries’ Faculty Research Showcase is an annual tradition that celebrates the scholarly achievements, research, and creative work of library faculty.

The 2026 Showcase took place on August 4, 2026, and features six engaging presentations covering a diverse range of topics:

• Thomas Caswell – UCF Libraries Faculty Scholarship: Growth & Impact

• Patrick Green – Making Moves: A Cross-Institutional Presentation on Library Skill Transference

• Rae Mair & Yuqing Li – Generative AI as Peer Tutor: Designing & Evaluating a Prompt to Support Source Identification & Evaluation

• Athena Hoeppner – Have you ever …

Cmsi Translations #34: Research On Integrated Defense Against Precision Strikes By The Powerful Enemy At Sea, Zhang Debao, Sun Yunxing, Hu Xiaolong

CMSI Translations

The United States has initiated substantive preparations for high-end warfare and continues to exert coercive pressure on China. Drawing on insights from over a dozen localized conflicts, this article analyzes the US military’s strike capabilities, operational patterns, and systemic ground vulnerabilities. Grounded in the concepts of resilience and survivability, systems-based confrontation, and tiered defense, it proposes targeted operational principles, countermeasures, and strategic recommendations for countering precision strikes by the powerful enemy.

The End Of The Line: How Kim V. Hanlon Vanquished The County Line Ballot And Whether The New Jersey Electoral System Learned Its Lesson, Matthew E. Ertle

Seton Hall Journal of Legislation and Public Policy

No abstract provided.

Teknik Penggarapan, Bentuk Visual, Dan Makna Simbolik Topeng Barongan Pada Reog Ponorogo: Studi Pada Dua Pengrajin Lokal, Wikantri Cahyaning Puspita, Ponimin Ponimin

Journal of Language, Literature, and Arts

The Barongan Mask is a component of the Dhadak Merak, the principal icon of the Reog Ponorogo performing art. Understanding the Barongan Mask from the perspectives of fine art and craft contributes to the preservation of this traditional cultural heritage. This study aims to analyze the production techniques, visual characteristics, and symbolic meanings of the Barongan Mask created by local artisans. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, with data collected through observations, interviews, and document analysis. Data credibility was ensured through source and technique triangulation, while data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model. The findings reveal …

Persepsi Mahasiswa Terhadap Penggunaan Tiktok Sebagai Media Pembelajaran Kosakata Bahasa Mandarin Secara Mandiri, Agnes Meliana, Lukluk Ul Muyassaroh, Sawitri Retnantiti

Journal of Language, Literature, and Arts

This study aims to describe students' perceptions of using TikTok videos as a medium for independent Mandarin vocabulary learning, including the types of accounts used, the benefits obtained, and the challenges encountered. This study employed a descriptive qualitative approach involving 27 students from the 2023 cohort of the Undergraduate Mandarin Language Education Program at Universitas Negeri Malang. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires and analysed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model, consisting of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that students generally hold positive perceptions of TikTok as a medium for Mandarin vocabulary learning. The …

An Interpretable Remote Sensing–Machine Learning Framework For Wildfire Soil Burn Severity Prediction In The Northwestern United States, Subhankar Das, Mariana Dobre, Roger Lew, Sarah A. Lewis, Erin S. Brooks, Peter R. Robichaud, Anurag Srivastava, Mary E. Miller, Alex M. Watanabe, Marta Basso

Michigan Tech Publications

Background: Although soil burn severity (SBS) is traditionally mapped post-fire, pre-fire predictive approaches remain limited despite their potential to identify areas at risk of soil degradation, runoff and erosion. Aim: To develop a large-scale model for predicting post-fire SBS from pre-fire conditions at ~30 m spatial resolution. Methods: A harmonized dataset of 62 wildfires (2018–2024) was used to build machine learning (ML) frameworks based on Random Forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), using pre-fire vegetation, climate, soil–terrain and anthropogenic predictors. Performance was evaluated using five-fold cross-validation (CV), leave-one-fire-out (LOFO) validation and independent testing on 2025 …

Neuromorphic Silicon Neuron Controller For Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation In Parkinson's Disease, Md Abu Bakr Siddique, Jakub Orłowski, Yan Zhang, Hongyu An

Michigan Tech Publications

Parkinson's disease (PD) affects millions worldwide and causes severe motor symptoms. Adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) delivers physiologically informed stimulation that can track fluctuations in PD motor symptoms, enabling more intelligent DBS control. However, most existing aDBS approaches are primarily algorithm- and software-driven, with limited efforts toward circuit realization, particularly low-power and implantable integrated circuits. This paper presents the Silicon Leaky Integrate-and-Fire Deep Brain Stimulation (SiLIF-DBS) controller, a neuromorphic silicon neuron stimulator implemented with metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. For system-level evaluation, a simplified computational model of the SiLIF-DBS controller is derived and embedded within a Parkinsonian cortico-basal ganglia framework for closed-loop …

Integrating Forensic And Public Health Nursing: A Social-Ecological Approach To Addressing Ipv, Darcey Mccampbell

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive public health issue with far-reaching consequences for individuals and communities. Both public health nurses (PHN) and forensic examiners (FNE) play critical roles in addressing IPV. However, despite similarities and shared goals, these specialties often operate in isolation from one another.

Aim: This narrative review aims to summarize evidence on the interplay between PHN and FNE in addressing IPV. Using the social-ecological framework, the review identifies commonalities and areas of synergy across the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal levels.

Methods: A bibliographic search was conducted using the PubMed electronic database. The search …

The Prophylactic Landscape: Sand And Typhoid On The Merrimack River, Laila Seewang

School of Architecture Faculty Publication and Presentations

“The first municipal water filter of the rapid sand type was built at Somerville, NJ, and thus began its wonderful history.”  By 1917 the rapid sand filter was the standard defense against typhoid epidemics in the United States.

Emergency Nurses' Perceptions Of Interpersonal Empathy When Caring For Department Superusers, Makeba K. Cavette

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Compassion fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a significant challenge for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses in the emergency department (ED), due to the demanding, high-pressure nature of their work environment and their increased exposure to human suffering. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological descriptive study, guided by Nursing Theory of Personal Empathy, was to describe the meaning of ED nurses' interactions with superuser patients and how these interactions affect ED nurses' empathy and susceptibility to developing CFS. A purposive sample of 8 ED nurses with at least 3 years of experience as ED staff nurses working with superuser patients participated in semistructured …

A Proposal For A Program To Deliver Equitable Nursing Assignments, Laporsha Glover

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was conducted at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital that provides comprehensive interdisciplinary rehabilitation services for adults. Due to the diverse clinical needs of the rehabilitation patient population, nursing workload varies considerably based on patient acuity, functional status, cognitive impairment, medical complexity, and the intensity of nursing interventions required. This creates a practice gap that contributes to inequitable nursing assignments. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Nine studies were critically appraised using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) Evidence Appraisal Tools (Bissett et al., 2025). The …

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perceptions Of Early Childhood Teacher Leadership, Their Leadership Experiences, And Teacher Leadership Skill Development, Danyle Watkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed in this study is that research into early childhood leadership has focused on early childhood directors and programs for leadership, but little research has been conducted on early childhood teachers’ (ECTs’) perceptions of the ECT leadership. Guided by the McCormick Center Whole Leadership Framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore ECTs’ perceptions on characteristics of teachers as leaders, their leadership experiences, and their leadership skill development in a Midwestern U.S. state. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 ECTs employed in licensed early childhood centers serving children from birth through …

Single Fluorogens And Orientation-Localization Microscopy For Quantifying Chemical And Biomolecular Dynamics At The Nanoscale, Yiyang Chen, Yuanxin Qiu, Matthew D. Lew

Electrical & Systems Engineering Publications and Presentations

Many chemical systems look uniform only because ensemble measurements average over their most interesting molecules. Electron-transfer rates vary across electrode surfaces; lipid membranes contain nanodomains with distinct packing and fluidity; peptide aggregates exhibit local polymorphism; and biomolecular condensates contain transient networks of interactions that are blurred in ensemble images. A central challenge in chemical imaging is not simply to see smaller structures, but to measure chemical variables such as polarity, redox potential, and molecular confinement at the single-molecule level. In this Account, we describe how fluorogens, molecules whose brightness, blinking, spectral shifts, orientation, rotational mobility, and motion are directly shaped …

Bridging Risk And Retention: Risk Coping With Privacy And Hallucination In Ai, Don Shin, Azmat Rasul, Khuram Shahzad

All Works

This study examines how users engage with generative AI systems in the presence of perceived technological risks, focusing on the interplay between risk perception, adaptive behavior, and continued use. Drawing on a risk coping perspective, the study conceptualizes generative AI use as an ongoing process in which users evaluate potential informational and privacy-related threats and adjust their practices accordingly. the analysis explores how perceived risks shape user attitudes, coping strategies, and patterns of sustained engagement. Rather than treating risk as a simple deterrent, the findings show that users often respond through adaptive behaviors such as information verification and privacy management, …

Helically Flexible Boron-Dipyrromethenes For Solution-Processed Isotropic Films With Preserved Chiral Exciton Coupling, Carolina Díaz-Norambuena, Juan Manuel Moreno-Naranjo, David Reger, Giuliano Siligardi, César Ray, Jessica Colligan, Florencio Moreno, Beatriz L. Maroto, Gilles Muller, Jorge Bañuelos, Matthew J. Fuchter, Santiago De La Moya

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Chiral organic thin films are emerging as key materials in advanced optoelectronic and chiroptical technologies, where the straightforward, solution-processed fabrication of chiroptically active neat films from small π-conjugated helical molecules is highly desirable for sustainable and scalable device integration. However, in such densely packed systems, the intrinsic chiroptical response is often compromised by macroscopic anisotropies (e.g., linear dichroism and birefringence) and aggregation-induced effects, which obscure genuine molecular signatures and induce or alter chiral exciton coupling. Here, we demonstrate that a readily accessible and conformationally flexible helically chiral boron-dipyrromethene dimer (helicoBODIPY) platform enables the reproducible fabrication of robust solution-processed neat thin …

Effects Of B422 Bacteriophage Resistance Mutations On Pectobacterium Versatile Fitness And Virulence, Alex Cherry

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This Honors thesis project examines the impact of lipopolysaccharide mutations on the virulence of a bacteria susceptible to a bacteriophage suspected of using LPS structures as the basis for infection. In my prior work in the lab, I isolated a novel lytic bacteriophage against P. versatile. From host range testing performed in the lab, it is known to infect two strains of P. versatile, B422 and B35. The phage was then used to select for resistant mutants in a pool of B422 transposon mutants, and 20 phage-resistant mutants were identified. 60% of these mutants were found to have differences in …

Conceptual Framework And Key Considerations For Field-Based Infrastructure In Food Is Medicine Research, Shreela V Sharma, Colleen Tewksbury, Christopher R Long, Colleen Spees, Ronit A Ridberg, Reshma Gupta, Erin P Ferranti, Naomi Tice, Eric Peterson, Brian Levine

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In 2023, the American Heart Association launched the Healthcare by Food (HCXF) initiative to establish a rigorous evidence base for Food Is Medicine (FIM) programs, so that patients with acute or chronic disease could access FIM programs as a covered benefit under their health insurance. The HCXF initiative is engaging in research, advocacy, and education to support the development and testing of interventions that improve health outcomes. The HCXF initiative launched 9 task forces aligned with research progress, including the Field-Based Infrastructure task force designed to examine broader questions to help support either earlier or later stages of the HCXF …