Digital Commons Network^™

Towards Learning Excellence In Universities: A Critical Review Of Information And Communication Technology Policies In Education In Kenya, Caroline Kiarie, Nicola-Jane Jones

Graduate School of Media and Communications

The current reality is that technological advancement has shaped how learning is being conducted in education. Communication technology has been embraced in education by both educators and learners. However, the embracement has been slow, and this was experienced during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, when teaching and learning had to shift and relied heavily on communication technology, but in actuality educational institutions were not ready. The virus continues to linger on and has served as a wake-up call for the education sector. This therefore makes Information and Communication Technology (ICT) an essential component in education today, not only to be implemented …

Social Participation Program For Older Adults With Dementia Residing In Long Term Care Facilities, Keri Mcclelland

Student Capstone Papers

Social participation is characterized by activities that involve social interaction with others and supports social interdependence; individuals engage in this occupation through a variety of contexts including with their community, family, friends, and peers (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020). Social participation has been discovered to influence general health and well-being, cognitive health, risk of dementia, and stress (Sommerlad et al., 2023). Dementia is a prevalent disease affecting approximately 50 million individuals worldwide (Sommerlad et al., 2023) causing increased dependence and disability among the older adult population and is shown to be growing as the aging population increases in number (Wang …

No, You Can't Just Peek In Their Brain To See Their Future, Alia Barcus

Tredway Library Prize for First-Year Research

This paper argues against the use of predictive cognitive neuroscience research in judicial processes. Barcus argues that, because predictive models do not adequately address the “whys” of behavior and are better suited to macro-scale processes rather than individual-level predictions, they can only provide “a crude idea of future behavior” at best and will be bias-laden and inaccurate at worst. Meanwhile, neuroscience brain imaging is a newly-developing field and relies on small-scale studies, a combination that creates little replicability and presents deeply-flawed outcomes when this research is used as a basis for criminal prosecution. Barcus concludes that this scholarship, while holding …

Meridians 23:1 Indigenous Feminisms Across The World, Part 1, Basuli Deb, Ginetta Candelario

Sociology: Faculty Books

No abstract provided.

4c Strategy For Discipleship : Effective Discipleship Model For The Assembly Of God Church Bengali Section, Sudip Das

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion In Nurse Anesthesia: Bridging The Gap, Aminat Yusuff-Akinbo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The nurse anesthetist plays a crucial role in the healthcare system. Through intensive training, they provide safe and effective anesthesia care to patients across various healthcare settings. Currently, the nurse anesthesia field lacks diversity, with underrepresentation of minority groups such as Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous individuals. The United States Census revealed that there are more than 325 million residents. Yet only 10.9% of nurse anesthetists are of diverse racial backgrounds. This lack of diversity limits the cultural perspectives and experiences brought to patient care and perpetuates disparities in healthcare outcomes. An increase in diversity can improve care for individuals and …

Implementation Of A Prediabetes Class In The Primary Care Setting, Kristie Goeckner

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are prominent health concerns with prediabetes progressing to type 2 diabetes if left untreated. This progression and the serious health complications caused by both can be minimized or eliminated if moderate lifestyle interventions are implemented early. Providing an educational intervention can target modifiable risk factors such as weight loss, diet, physical activity, and smoking cessation. While it is ideal for this education to start with the primary care provider, this in-depth information cannot be realistically taught during routine primary care appointments. Nurses play a fundamental role in educating patients. A nurse-led prediabetes class and handouts …

Integrating Psychotherapy In A Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, Ayesha Baluch

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Mental illness is common in the United States, affecting millions of people. Although there are effective medications for mental illness, psychotherapy in addition to pharmacotherapy provides the best outcomes. This project aimed to improve providers' psychotherapy screening and education of patients about psychotherapy utilization. A pre-implementation survey was conducted to evaluate psychotherapy screening and the barriers faced by providers to utilize psychotherapy screening. An education session was provided to the providers about the importance of psychotherapy screening and education. Data showed that the providers discussed psychotherapy with eight patients (40%) and educated four patients (20%) pre-implementation. Data showed that the …

Equipping Home Visiting Staff For High Phq-9 Scores In The Home, Haley Junge, Gayle Schlabach

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Postpartum depression can have a detrimental effect on a mother's functional capacity, thereby impeding her ability to care for herself and her children and resulting in negative consequences. The PHQ-9 is an evidence-based screening and diagnostic tool for depression. Outcomes of women with postpartum depression are impacted due to inadequate screening, and evidence suggests that screening is only completed 40% of the time. This project was conducted within a home visiting program for mothers and infants within a vulnerable population in Central Illinois over four months. Nurses were given a QR code with mental health resources that would help patients …

Improving Depression Screening In Primary Care, Grace Wilson, Annmarie O'Connor

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Depression remains an increasingly prevalent and underdiagnosed disorder affecting approximately 21 million adults in the United States with only 66% seeking treatment (NIMH, 2022). Untreated depression can lead to worsening mental and physical health which negatively impacts a person’s quality of life. The implementation of routine depression screening in primary care is recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to improve early detection leading to improved outcomes (USPSTF, 2023). Despite increased depression prevalence and USPSTF recommendation, there remained an absence of routine depression screening in a primary care practice in Midwest Illinois which led to the development of …

Identifying And Improving Developmental Delays In Children Within Central America, Alyssa Blake

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Roughly 40% of children living in low-income countries worldwide are at an increased risk of not reaching developmental milestones. Many of these children are at risk due to lack of resources, quality healthcare, and proper developmental screenings. Short-term medical mission trips (STMMs) aim to improve the health of those residing in developing countries. However, although the U.S. does carry out many STMMs to developing countries within Central America to help improve health outcomes, pediatric developmental screenings are often not a part of routine health visits during these STMMs. This may be due to providers having a general lack of experience …

Implementation Of Electronically Integrated Pediatric Screening Templates, Kayla Seed

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Evidence-based clinic guidelines improve patient outcomes by providing clinicians with research-based recommendations, and when combined with the electronic health record (EHR), clinicians have the potential to improve their documentation and reduce the time it takes to document a patient encounter. A pediatric clinic in the metro-east area of Southern Illinois lacked EHR templates during patient encounters that focused on depression, anxiety, ADHD, and concussion screening. Templates embedded in the EHR were created in a SOAP note format to aid the clinicians during patient encounters and aid in documentation. Clinicians were asked to utilize the templates over a 6-week period. The …

Factors Influencing Student Persistence Through Undergraduate Degree Completion: A Case Study Of The Social Engagement Of Black Students At A Private Historically Black College And University., Kayla Siddell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative exploratory single-case study examined the social engagement strategies utilized by one HBCU and the influences of these strategies on Black undergraduate students' sense of belonging and social engagement, which have been found to support and improve student persistence. Previous research on Black undergraduate students' social engagement and persistence has been primarily conducted at predominately White institutions (PWIs), with few studies explicitly focusing on social engagement and persistence at HBCUs. The site selected for this study was an HBCU under the pseudonym Fillmore State University (FSU). A qualitative exploratory case study was utilized as this methodology allowed the researcher …

Brainlife.Io: A Decentralized And Open-Source Cloud Platform To Support Neuroscience Research, Soichi Hayashi, Bradley A. Caron, Anibal Solon Heinsfeld, Sophia Vinci-Booher, Brent Mcpherson, Daniel N. Bullock, Giulia Berto, Guiomar Niso, Sandra Hanekamp, Daniel Levitas, Kimberly Ray, Anne Mackenzie, Paolo Avesani, Lindsey Kitchell, Josiah K. Leong, Filipi Nascimento-Silva, Serge Koudoro, Hanna Willis, Jasleen K. Jolly, Derek Pisner, Taylor R. Zuidema, Jan W. Kurzawski, Kyriaki Mikellidou, Aurore Bussalb, Maximilien Chaumon, Nathalie George, Christopher Rorden, Conner Victory, Dheeraj Bhatia, Dogu Baran Aydogan, Fang-Chen F. Yeh, Franco Delogu, Javier Guaje, Jelle Veraart, Jeremy Fischer, Joshua Faskowitz, Ricardo Fabrega, David Hunt, Shawn Mckee, Shawn T. Brown, Stephanie Heyman, Vittorio Iacovella, Amanda F. Mejia, Daniele Marinazzo, R. Cameron Craddock, Emanuale Olivetti, Jamie L. Hanson, Eleftherios Garyfallidis, Dan Stanzione, James Carson, Robert Henschel, David Y. Hancock, Craig A. Stewart, David Schnyer, Damian O. Eke, Russell A. Poldrack, Steffen Bollmann, Ashley Stewart, Holly Bridge, Ilaria Sani, Winrich A. Freiwald, Aina Puce, Nicholas L. Port, Franco Pestilli

Psychological Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Neuroscience is advancing standardization and tool development to support rigor and transparency. Consequently, data pipeline complexity has increased, hindering FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) access. brainlife.io was developed to democratize neuroimaging research. The platform provides data standardization, management, visualization and processing and automatically tracks the provenance history of thousands of data objects. Here, brainlife.io is described and evaluated for validity, reliability, reproducibility, replicability and scientific utility using four data modalities and 3,200 participants.

Process Evaluation And Investigation Of Cultural Adaptations For An Online Parent-Based Intervention Using A Mixed-Method Approach, Reed M. Morgan, Bradley M. Trager, Sarah C. Boyle, Joseph W. Labrie, Constanza Trejo, Ina M. Koning

Heads Up!

Abstract Most alcohol intervention research focuses on program efficacy, yet few studies have investigated the acceptability of a program’s design and implementation to the target population or adapting existing alcohol interventions to different populations. To address these gaps in the literature, we (1) examined participant responsiveness to and implementation quality of FITSTART+, a web-app delivered parent-based alcohol intervention designed for incoming first-year college students in the United States, and (2) gathered feedback on how this intervention could be adapted to other populations of parents. A sample of U.S. parents of 17–20-year-old first-year college students (N=109) participated in FITSTART+during their child’s …

Effects Of Ethanol On Social-Induced Neural Activity In A Rat Model Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Andrew Waldon

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The prevalency of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States is increasing, with current estimates at 1 in 36 children, over 1 in 46 in 2018. ASD is a neurobiological disorder often characterized by social impairments, and reports suggest individuals with ASD are more likely to use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate. The current study examined patterns of neural activity in vehicle and ethanol-exposed adult rats that were previously exposed to valproic acid in utero, a well-defined ASD-like animal model. We report analyses of neural activity in tissue from transgenic cFos-LacZ rats in which a colorimetric histochemical enzymatic reaction …

Monophosphoryl Lipid A-Based Adjuvant To Promote The Immunogenicity Of Multivalent Meningococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccines, Kishore Alugupalli

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Activation of the adaptive immune system requires the engagement of costimulatory pathways in addition to B and T cell Ag receptor signaling, and adjuvants play a central role in this process. Many Gram-negative bacterial polysaccharide vaccines, including the tetravalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines (MCV4) and typhoid Vi polysaccharide vaccines, do not incorporate adjuvants. The immunogenicity of typhoid vaccines is due to the presence of associated TLR4 ligands in these vaccines. Because the immunogenicity of MCV4 is poor and requires boosters, I hypothesized that TLR4 ligands are absent in MCV4 and that incorporation of a TLR4 ligand-based adjuvant would improve their immunogenicity. …

Investigating The Relationship Between Preferred Learning Styles And Individual Characteristics, Carla Canales, Makalah Macias, Helena S. Svilberg

Posters - 2024

An individual’s ability to learn is important especially for thriving in a learning environment. Many people have a false understanding of learning styles. Individuals are influenced by many different factors on an everyday basis. While there are many limitations that influence an individual’s learning style, this study was conducted to investigate academic demographics and learning styles. A comparison was made between an individual’s prior education, age, gender, and course history with the Barsch Learning Style Inventory score. A survey was used to snowball to different participants around the St. Mary’s University campus and other campuses. The survey collected demographic questions, …

Emotion Detection And Student Engagement In Distance Learning During Containment Due To The Covid-19, Benyoussef Abdellaoui, Ahmed Remaida, Zineb Sabri, Younes El Bouzekri El Idrissi, Aniss Moumen

Baghdad Science Journal

Distance learning is one of the teaching and learning approaches adopted after the COVID-19 pandemic. The task of getting learners interested in class is difficult for the professors. In this research, a mechanism has been developed to estimate student engagement levels and emotions. Visual data from recorded videos of students participating in learning courses are utilized due to the availability of multiple methods for measuring student engagement levels. The data from the videos recorded and sent by students is processed to determine the extent of student engagement and identify their emotions. The system has been implemented and tested, enabling the …

April 2024 News, Office Of Sustainability

Office of Sustainability Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Week Of April 1, 2024, Student Life

College, School and Department Newsletters, Magazines, and Journals

Your weekly hub for events, resources and updates.

Female Sexual Offending: The Experiences Identified By Treatment Providers, Jalie Adams

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Female sexual offending is a complex topic largely ignored within scholarly literature and among society. Therapeutic treatment providers with experience in the behavioral health care of the female sexual offender population provide the opportunity for additional awareness, insight, and understanding related to the phenomenon of female sexual offending through their distinct provider lens. This phenomenological research study used the lens of therapeutic provider experiences to build a succinct foundational overview of the topic of female sexual offending, expand knowledge related to the field, and develop insight into the providers who treat this complex population. This study was guided by the …

Patient Experience Of Head And Neck Surgery With Free Flap Reconstruction., Lillian W. Dattilo, Trinity I. Russell, Chloe B. Warinner, Heather Starmer, Donald J. Annino, Laura A. Goguen, Rosh K. V. Sethi, Ravindra Uppaluri, Melina Windon, Regan W. Bergmark, Eleni M. Rettig

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

IMPORTANCE: Major head and neck surgery with microvascular free tissue transfer reconstruction is complex, with considerable risk of morbidity. Little is known about patients' experiences, including decision-making prior to, and regret following, free flap surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize patient experiences and decision regret of patients undergoing head and neck reconstructive free flap surgery.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This mixed-methods cohort study comprising semistructured interviews was conducted June to August 2021 at a single tertiary academic cancer center. Participants underwent head and neck reconstructive surgery with microvascular free tissue transfer (flap) more than 3 months before recruitment (range, 3 months to …

An Analysis On The Capacity Of Visual Art To Promote Conservation Efforts, Devi Bell

Honors Projects

In recent decades, we have become more aware of the ways in which anthropogenic actions are harming Earth’s climate, ecosystems, and overall stability. Scientists generally agree on the urgency of our situation, yet the public may find difficulty in comprehending the multitude of information on it. This study aims to educate the public on biodiversity loss and related ecological issues in Ohio by discussing these topics through the medium of visual art. Five pieces involving different scientific subject matter and art mediums were created and displayed for participants to view. Participants completed two surveys, one before viewing the art and …

Rethinking Food Waste To Mitigate Climate Change: Actions And Conversations On Zero Waste, Keilin Elizabeth Huang

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Outcomes Of Multiple Myeloma In Hospitalized Patients With Opioid Use Disorder: A Nationwide Analysis, Saad Javaid, Kelly Frasier, Ammad J. Chaudhary

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Multiple myeloma is commonly associated with advanced age. This study aims to investigate how multiple myeloma outcomes are affected by opioid use disorder (OUD) among hospitalized patients. We analyzed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) for 2019 and 2020 for our retrospective cohort study. International Classification of Diseases Clinical Modification codes (ICD-10-CM) were utilized to identify the population of interest. Primary and secondary outcomes were studied using a multivariate regression model. Among the 38,735 patients hospitalized with multiple myeloma, 350 patients had the concurrent diagnosis of opioid use disorder. OUD patients were found to be at increased risk for major depressive …

Lbsci 790.3 Digital Humanities, S E. Hackney

Open Educational Resources

This course examines the history, methods, tools, and scholarly practices of teaching and research in the digital humanities (DH), including ways in which the library can engage with, enhance, and support those activities. The course will focus on digital humanities as a burgeoning field in its own right, as well as the development of digital methods in specific disciplines within the humanities. Students will consider their role as information professionals in the creation, cleaning, storage, and dissemination of digital humanities datasets and research projects, as well as gain hands-on experience with some of the tools and methods used in these …

Transition Skills Lab: A Telehealth Intervention For Improving Healthcare Transition In Youth With Special Health Care Needs, Angela Combs Ma, Alaina Linafelter, Jordan Sevart, Michele H. Maddux

Posters

Introduction: Few interventions exist to provide hands-on practice of key health management tasks to youth with special health care needs (YSHCN). The Transition Skills Lab was adapted from Jerlym Porter’s work and piloted as a virtual intervention in YSHCN. Methods: Sixteen young adults participated in the virtual Transition Skills Lab, during which they practiced three key patient competencies pertaining to health care tasks: reading an insurance card, reading a pill bottle label, and scheduling an initial visit with an adult doctor. Participants were then asked to rate their confidence on skills taught within the intervention on a four-point scale from …

Congenital Heart Defects And Autism: Understanding The Breakdown Of Associated Risk Factors In A Clinically Referred Sample, Elizabeth Raines, Amanda Strasser, Amanda Manderfeld, Paul Glasier, Elizabeth J. Willen

Posters

Background: Children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) have higher odds of developing social difficulties and/or an Autism Spectrum Disorder (AuSD) than the general population (i.e., ~10% vs. ~1%). However, there is a paucity of nuanced understanding of specific drivers of the increased rates of AuSD in extant literature. The purpose of this study is to identify the rates of co-occurring cardiac, neurological, and genetic conditions to better understand associated risk factors in a patient sample from a medium-size children’s hospital. Methods: Our population includes a clinically referred sample of children (i.e., medical history of CHD and neurodevelopmental risk) under 18 …

Parents’ Perception Of An Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment For Amplified Pain Syndrome, Jacqueline Pabis Phd, Sabrina Ung, Jenny Scheurich, Dustin Wallace Phd

Posters

Introduction: Intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment (IIPT) is an effective treatment for youth impaired by chronic pain (Claus et al., 2022). IIPT programs incorporate parents in treatment, as parental distress has been found to impact health and functioning in youth with chronic pain. Research has suggested parent satisfaction may be related to increased child adherence, and in turn, reduced pain (Gorodzinsky et al., 2012). There is limited research on parental satisfaction with IIPT and the role of parent-provider communication. Method: Parents (n=99) of children in an IIPT program completed questionnaires related to treatment satisfaction, parent-provider communication (e.g., provider listened carefully, provider …