Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating Return To Play After Acl Reconstruction In National Football League Players Measured By Fantasy Points, William Gadbois, Hunter Ryan Cohn, Lauryn Boggs, Rahul Vaidya

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background

Torn Anterior Cruciate Ligaments (ACLs) are common injuries for professional football players with significant impacts on future performance and career longevity. This study aimed to explore the quality of return to performance after ACL reconstruction in National Football League (NFL) players with fantasy football scores as an evaluative metric of recovery length, performance, and long-term outcomes.

Methods

We analyzed 200 NFL players who received ACL reconstruction surgery between 2005 and 2021. Players were evaluated based on pre- and post-injury fantasy scores, recovery time, and career length. Data were collected from public sources and performance was evaluated seasonally.

Results

71% …

Assessing Environmental Changes Before And After The 2018 Kilauea Eruption In Leilani Estates, Hawaii, Rokeya Akter Liza

Scholars Week

The 2018 Kilauea eruption in Hawaii significantly impacted the natural landscape, especially in the Leilani Estates region. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the environmental conditions of before and after eruption by applying remote sensing techniques. Landsat 8 satellite imagery was used for two different time periods as before the eruption (February 2018) and after the eruption (March 2019). ERDAS Imagine was used to process these images to evaluate the changes in vegetation and land cover. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated for both pre- and post-eruption images to evaluate vegetation changes. Higher NDVI …

Evaluation Of Soil Properties Under Forested And Cropland Areas In Murray, Kentucky, Ramson K C, Shiba Hari Dhakal, Abinash Dhungana

Scholars Week

Soil health is shaped by its physical and chemical properties which are largely influenced by land use, affecting structure, fertility and water retention. The objective of this study was to determine key soil properties, and to evaluate their interrelationships in cultivated and forested areas of Western Kentucky. For this study, two representatives cultivated and two forested sites were selected with 6 replications each on September, 2025 in Murray, Kentucky. A total of 48 soil samples (24 disturbed and 24 undisturbed) were collected from the 0–7 cm soil layer. Disturbed soil samples were used to measure organic matter (OM) content in …

Monitoring Of Dissolved Calcium Levels In Creeks, Embayment, And Kentucky Lake Waters In Western Kentucky, Majeda Dalloul

Scholars Week

In order to reduce the economic and ecological impacts of aquatic alien species, studies are warranted across major taxonomic groups, geographic regions, and habitat types. This study addressed the dissolved calcium levels in Kentucky Lake and their implications for one of the top-ranked invasive species, the zebra mussel, and its colonization.  Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are well known for their “biofouling” capabilities, costing billions of dollars (for northeastern and midwestern states) in their removal from industrial, public, and power plant water supply lines. Calcium is one of the essential elements that contribute to the growth and reproduction of zebra …

Angular And Distance Estimation In Multi‑Antenna Wireless Communication Systems, Pouria Zand, Sunil Kumar

Defensive Publications Series

Precise distance estimation between a primary computing device and a pair of wireless earbuds is often limited by the unreliability of Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) methods. This disclosure describes a method for a coordination framework for distance and orientation estimation using Bluetooth® Channel Sounding (CS). In this method, a secondary earbud acts as a passive listener to phase‑based ranging (PBR) exchanges between the primary device and a primary earbud. By sharing configuration parameters (e.g., timing and pseudorandom seeds) the secondary earbud sniffs signal exchanges to enable the primary device to mathematically calculate secondary distance measurements. Additionally, dual‑band operation is …

Rib‑Divided Speaker Back Chamber For Preventing Sound Absorbing Material Accumulation, Yuting Tsai

Defensive Publications Series

Small speaker modules often utilize sound absorbing material within a back chamber to increase bass sound pressure. However, because manufacturing processes frequently leave these chambers partially unfilled, the material can shift and accumulate in different areas depending on the orientation of the module or the effects of forces acting on the modules (forces such as gravity or centrifugal force). This movement may alter resonant frequencies and lead to inconsistent acoustic performance.

This document discloses a speaker module that includes an internal back chamber partitioned into multiple smaller sections by integrated ribs. The partitioned sections contain sound absorbing material. The module …

Speeding Up Expert Parallelism By Replacing All-To-All By All-Gather And Reduce-Scatter Collectives, N/A

Defensive Publications Series

The technology described in this paper relates to parallel processing in machine learning models, particularly speeding up expert parallelism in mixture-of-expert (MoE) architectures. A technique for replacing traditional all-to-all network collective communications with all-gather and reduce-scatter operations is proposed. For expert dispatch, accelerators can locally perform routing and top-k calculations by utilizing an all-gather operation and discarding unassigned tokens. For expert collect, a reduce-scatter operation can combine expert output activations over the network. These collective communication strategies can decrease network payload sizes and improve bandwidth utilization, particularly as the number of experts activated per token increases. Thus, training and inference …

A Comprehensive Review Of Wireless Charging Technologies: Inductive, Capacitive And Hybrid Power Transfer, Zahraa M.Y. Islam, Yasir M. Y. Ameen

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Wireless power transfer has attracted more and more attention as a potential solution to electric vehicle charging due to its safety, convenience and the potential to automate this process. This review paper gives an overview of inductive and capacitive wireless power transfer technologies, especially focusing on hybrid wireless power transfer systems that integrate both approaches. The basic operating principles in both inductive and capacitive power transfer are covered with an emphasis on their advantages and inherent limitations with respect to efficiency, voltage and current stress, the tolerance of misalignment and the power capability. Building upon this background, the paper is …

Mental Health Rates Across Ethnic Groups In A Small Midwestern Christian University, Arianna Torres

Honors Theses

This study aims to find if there is a significant difference in depression, anxiety, trauma, and suicidality among students of different ethnic backgrounds at Andrews University. By focusing on ethnic disparities, this research aims to target the mental health issues rising among college students and bring to light the importance of cultural competency in relation to mental health. Results from this study may aid Andrews University in developing more inclusive and culturally responsive mental health services and inform broader discussions about mental health equity in higher education. It can also add insight into how mental health rates may vary by …

No Principal Left Alone: Exploring Elementary Principals' Relationships With Their Full-Time Assistant Principals, Shauna Worthington

Theses and Dissertations

Elementary school principals are often the only administrator in their building; therefore they are left to face the adverse circumstances of their job without the support of an administrative colleague at their school. However, U.S. nationwide data suggests that school districts are more frequently hiring elementary assistant principals. This paper explores perceptions of elementary principals about the nature and dynamic of their relationships with their full-time assistant principals, including accompanying benefits and challenges. This qualitative inquiry utilizes an exploratory, descriptive, phenomenological approach and features the results of in-depth interviews with 20 elementary school principals in two large suburban public school …

Entwurzelt, Melanie Fischer

Theses and Dissertations

Entwurzelt (Uprooted) is an installation that explores the emotional landscape of displacement-trauma, grief, and the search for belonging in the aftermath of war and unrest. The vessels in this installation evoke the presence of a forest--each one a symbolic tree, rooted in memory and shaped by personal and collective histories. Being torn from the familiar means leaving behind everything except memories and carrying a void that may never be fully filled. Yet, in unfamiliar places, fragments of comfort can be found--echoes of what once was. For me, the forest is more than a memory--it is a bridge between past and …

Reinvesting In A Lived Experience Workforce: An Exploration Of Why Peer Support Specialists Leave The Field, Morgan Rae Pelot

Dissertations and Theses

Peer support specialists (PSSs) are individuals who use their lived experience of mental health challenges along with formal training to provide peer support to other individuals experiencing similar challenges. PSSs have only become integrated into the mental health care system within the last several decades. Recently, a study reported a trend of PSSs leaving the field of peer support, but there is a gap in the literature exploring factors that may influence this decision. This study examined if self-efficacy, motivations to join the workforce, and negative work experiences were related to workforce retention. A secondary cross-sectional analysis was conducted on …

Engaging Rural Adults With Type 2 Diabetes In Adaptation Of A Physical Activity Intervention For A Mobile App, Chelsea Howland

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

The purpose of this study was to 1) adapt a physical activity self-management intervention for a mobile app platform and 2) explore preferences for and understanding of graphically presented physical activity data in individuals aged 40 and older with T2D.

Aim 1: To engage end-users in adapting a physical activity self-management intervention for a mobile app delivery platform and explore acceptance.

Aim 2: To describe preferences for and understanding of graphically presented physical activity data.

Personal Healthcare Networks Of Transgender And Gender-Diverse Adults After Gender-Affirming Surgery, Tyler Gaedecke

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

The purpose of this study was to investigate access to healthcare among transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals after gender-affirming surgery by using social network analysis to describe their “personal healthcare networks” of healthcare professionals. Our first aim was to characterize the content, function, and structure of the personal healthcare networks of TGD adults after gender-affirming surgery (N = 130) and examine associations with self-rated physical and mental health. Our second aim was to qualitatively explore TGD adults’ experiences of constructing, accessing, and engaging with those personal healthcare networks after surgery (N = 24).

Opium Of The Masses: An Analysis Of Archeobotanical Research In The City Of Tábor, Czechia And How It Potentially Influenced Forms Of Radical Hussism, Sasha Gladding

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

Opium of the Masses performs in depth analysis of the Hussite Wars–a time period lasting from 1419 to 1436, Jan Hus, Hussite factionalism, and archeobotany. This analysis proposes that there are numerous possible contributing factors to the development of the radical Hussite teachings and ways of life. The instability of the Catholic hierarchy and the dissenting teachings of Jan Hus also likely were contributors to the development of the unique sociopolitical and spiritual practices of the radical Hussites. It is also possible that the Hussite factions residing in the Czech (then Bohemian) town of Tábor utilized opium as an entheogen …

Mechanisms Of Licochalcone A In Inhibiting Tumor Growth Via Lncrna-Cdc 42bpa-Ampk/Mtor Axis, Shi Zhan, Yao Meicun, Shi Xianyong, Tan Panpan

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the molecular mechanism by which licochalcone A inhibits colorectal cancer growth through regulation of the AMPK/mTOR signaling axis via long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs). [Methods] Human colorectal cancer HCT 116 cells and a nude mouse subcutaneous xenograft model were used. Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 and EdU assays, and cell migration was evaluated by wound healing and Transwell assays. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was employed to detect the expression levels of proliferation- and migration-related markers, and Western blotting was performed to analyze the expression of proteins related to the AMPK/mTOR pathway. Differential expressed LncRNAs in HCT 116 cells …

Application Of Stable High Internal Phase Emulsions Based On Wheat Bran Water Extract In Cakes, Zhang Jing, Wang Lifeng, Xiong Wenfei, Ye Xinwei

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the application of high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) stabilized by wheat bran water extract as a butter substitute in cakes. [Methods] Cakes were prepared by substituting butter with HIPEs stabilized by wheat bran water extract at different ratios, with a pure soybean oil group used as the control. The viscosity, relative density, and microstructure of the cake batter were systematically measured, and the textural properties, moisture distribution, color, X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, and flavor profiles of the cakes were comprehensively analyzed. [Results] With increasing substitution ratios of HIPEs, the a* value of the cakes increased while the …

Research Progress In Regulating The Egg White Emulsification Properties By Structured Modification, Yang Fanghan, Ai Minmin, Wang Ziyuan, Guo Shanguang, Xiao Nan

Food and Machinery

Egg white, valued for its high protein content and superior food functional properties, is widely utilized in food processing. The amphiphilic structure and surface activity of egg white proteins enable effective adsorption at oil-water interfaces, reducing interfacial tension and forming stable interfacial films. Therefore, egg white proteins exhibit a robust interfacial regulation capacity in emulsion systems. This review systematically outlines the characteristics and formation mechanisms of multi-scale emulsion systems of egg white proteins (nano-emulsions, Pickering emulsions, and high internal phase Pickering emulsions). Additionally, a summary is presented of the research progress on the chemical/physical modification mechanisms of egg white emulsification …

Properties And Research Progress Of Deacetylated Konjac Glucomannan In Food Applications, Liu Kai, Zhang Ling, Wang Jing

Food and Machinery

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a natural soluble dietary fiber that is safe, biodegradable, and edible, with wide application in food and biomedicine. However, due to low plasticity and stability, KGM usually requires blending, physical, and chemical modification for production. Currently, deacetylated konjac glucan (DKGM) is used in food mainly as a food additive, food preservative, and health food. This review elucidates the KGM property changes before and after different deacetylation degrees, as well as the application progress and research status of DKGM in the food industry, with prospects for its development trends.

Construction Of Sulfur Dioxide Fluorescent Probe And Its Application Progress In Food, Pharmaceuticals, And Biological Systems, Xiao Zhongshan, Yang Guojing, Gao Ha, Wang Tianlin

Food and Machinery

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and its derivatives (SO2-3 and HSO-3) are ubiquitous in the environment and our daily life, closely related to human life activities. As an important additive, SO2 serves functions including bleaching, sterilization, anti-corrosion, color protection, antioxidant, and others during the processing and storage of food and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, SO2 can regulate the antioxidant enzyme system in human cells, increasing resistance against oxidative stress damage. However, excessive SO2 in the human body can strongly stimulate the digestive tract, causing nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and may trigger allergic reactions including asthma and headaches. Furthermore, long-term intake can damage digestive …

Re: Comment Letter For Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Draft Leak Detection Monitoring Plan (Dated February 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Head Shot, Joanmarie Ilaria Davoli

Mercer Law Review

The prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment in the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that execution methods avoid “superadding pain.” The U.S. Supreme Court has held that the imposition of a death sentence should include no additional pain beyond that needed to kill. That means, for example, that while pain may be inherent in the method of killing, torture is prohibited. As concerns about the pain involved in lethal injections has increased, states have begun executions by shooting inmates in the heart and by suffocation through gas mask. These methods have been used despite evidence that they superadd …

Deliberately Silenced, Rachel Kincaid

Mercer Law Review

The Prison Litigation Reform Act is celebrating its 30^th birthday this year. It was designed to make it harder for incarcerated people to file lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of their conditions of confinement and to restrict their remedies even when they do so successfully. It has been wildly effective at achieving those objectives. It has also propped up mass incarceration and facilitated the persistence of dismal conditions of confinement in carceral facilities in the United States.

The PLRA’s exhaustion requirement—arguably its most damaging provision—silences carceral voices without regard for the merit of their complaints. It does so by mandating …

Occ's Plan

Catholic Dioceses in Bankruptcy

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Mental Healthcare Worker Education And Training To Reduce Stigma & Promote Occupational Engagement: An Occupational Therapy Informed Initiative, Emma Rose Osborn

OTD Capstone Projects

Stigma is still a common and often ignored factor that affects health outcomes, especially in mental health care. Stigma is a social problem that affects both caregivers and patients. It is based on deep-seated fears of disease and contagion. Healthcare workers, especially those who work in mental health, are in a unique position to both support and fight these stigmas. Even though this is possible, many healthcare professionals still don't know how much stigma affects patients' experiences and access to care. The goal of this capstone project is to investigate the prevalence of stigma in mental health settings and its …

Impact Of Parent Education Programmes On Confidence And Self-Efficacy In Parents Of Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review, Puja Padbidri, Veena Joshi, Hollie Hix-Small, Pooja Bhavarth Dekhane

Educator Licensure Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective:

Families of preterm infants can experience high stress during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalisation, which interferes with the development of parenting confidence and self-efficacy through active engagement with their infants. Parent NICU support programmes provide guidance and education to build this connection. This systematic review examined the effects of parent education programmes on confidence and self-efficacy among parents of preterm infants.Design Systematic review in PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Google Scholar and Web of Science.Setting NICU.Participants Parents of preterm infants.Intervention Education programmes offered to parents in the NICU.Main outcome measures Quantitative surveys measuring parent confidence or self-efficacy.Results 14 studies met …

Relational Histories: Exploring The Transmission Of Ceramic Technology In The Norton Sound Region Through Petrographic Analysis, Laurel Michelle Diciuccio

Dissertations and Theses

Ceramic technology in the Bering Strait region of the North American Arctic dates to approximately 2,500 BP and is broadly divided into two traditions: the Early Arctic (Norton, pre-1,500 BP) and the Late Arctic (Thule, post-1,500 BP). While Arctic ceramic studies have focused on raw material sourcing, vessel use, and cooking performance, this research investigates forming methods and ceramic fabrics to better understand their place in the technological behavioral chain. This approach fills a gap in the literature by centering on vessel construction and offers new insights from Norton Sound sites, including type sites Iyatayet and Nukleet.

Macroscopic and petrographic …

Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status And Academic Motivation Among Nigerian Students, Yueh Hui Kao

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

This study examines the relationship between Nigerian students’ socioeconomic status (SES) and their overall academic motivation. It also investigates whether significant gender differences exist in students’ academic motivation. Using a quantitative descriptive correlational design, a total of 200 high school students were initially selected through convenience sampling from a private high school in Ibadan, Nigeria. A total of 173 valid responses were included in the final analysis. Students’ SES was assessed using an adapted Socio-Economic Classification Scale and treated as a continuous variable. Academic motivation was measured using the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS-C28). In this study, an overall academic motivation …

Fallow Ground, Eli Kerns

Theses and Dissertations

Fallow Ground refers to the agricultural practice of intentionally leaving a field unseeded for a year or more in order to restore fertility and interrupt cycles of depletion. Although fallowing is a beneficial and necessary practice, the term has also come to signify waste or a lack of productivity. This double meaning is central to the work, reflecting a central contradiction: that withdrawal can be as vital as effort, and that rest, like labor, can function as a deliberate and sustaining act. The question I explore in this work is how to organize, understand, and live with these contradictions. Through …

Translationally-Relevant Tumor Resection Model For Murine Preclinical Models Of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Currently, the first-line treatment for the most common form of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is surgical resection, followed by risk-adapted treatments, such as chemoradiotherapy. However, with the current standard of care and even the emergence of new treatments, such as checkpoint blockade, the overall survival for advanced, recurrent disease remains high, and the prevalence of head and neck cancer is projected to continue to increase in the coming years. Thus, deeper investigation into current standard-of-care modalities, in addition to novel therapeutics, is necessary to translate potential and promising treatment options to …