Digital Commons Network^™

Spreading Awareness To Adults About Cardiovascular Disease And Improving Healthy Lifestyle Habits, Madison L. Eldridge

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Introduction: The intention of this Doctor of Nursing Practice evidence-based project was to evaluate if providing education to the target community would increase awareness and knowledge of cardiovascular disease and healthy lifestyle habits. The goal was to increase educational knowledge and promote awareness of cardiovascular disease and healthy lifestyle habits.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a critical health issue that prevails across the state of North Carolina, while continuing to remain one of the leading causes of death across the south-center Piedmont area of North Carolina. Several studies have proven that increasing knowledge on cardiovascular risks, promoting healthy exercise, and …

Senior Heart Health Facilitating Hypertension Management, Heather Hodgens Lupo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hypertension affects approximately 70% of adults aged 65 years and older and remains a leading contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the United States, highlighting the need for effective community-based hypertension management interventions. Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines, gaps in education and self-management persist among older adults. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project, Senior Heart Health: Facilitating Hypertension Management, was designed to improve hypertension-related knowledge among adults aged 55 years and older through a structured, community-based health coaching intervention.

The project was implemented in a rural community and consisted of four weekly educational sessions delivered …

Enhancing Mass Casualty Incident Preparedness: Bridging The Gap Between Education And Practice, Emily M. Coggins

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The increasing amount of mass casualty incidents (MCIs), such as natural disasters, large-scale emergencies, and active shooter events, has emphasized the need for healthcare professionals to respond effectively. Traditional undergraduate nursing curriculum often offers limited opportunities for students to practice disaster preparedness through simulated experiences. This DNP project was created to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing an MCI training simulation to increase the confidence and competence of senior pre-licensure nursing students when responding to a mass casualty event. The project implemented a 1-day, simulation-based MCI event for senior nursing students enrolled in an Adult Health II course. The event included …

Enhancing Clinical Judgement In Pre-Licensure Nursing Students Through Active Learning Strategies Of Unfolding Case Studies And Simulations For Postpartum Hemorrhage, Lisa M. Alley

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

New graduate nurses lack the appropriate clinical judgement to provide optimal, safe, quality care, as evidenced by the report of errors in health care (Rodziewicz et al., 2024). The purpose of this project was to provide an evidence-based intervention that used an unfolding case study and simulation to further develop clinical judgement among undergraduate nursing students in a rural ADN program. The project used a pre-test and post-test to measure students' improvement prior to versus after the learning experience and debrief. This project also introduced a DASH tool, which is a debriefing assessment for simulations in healthcare, to help students …

Judge Me Not: Exploring Black Mothers’ Perceptions Of Maternal Health Care Services And Structural Racism In South Carolina, Julisa Tindall, Teri Browne Ph.D., Msw, Tisha M. Felder Phd, Msw, Bongki Woo Ph.D., Bree Alexander-Richardson

Publications

Black women in the United States face disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality, driven by structural racism, patient-provider mistreatment, and gendered and racial discrimination. However, little research has explored Black mothers’ perceptions of maternal health care services and structural racism in the Southeastern U.S. This study aims to address this gap by examining Black mothers’ maternal health care experiences in South Carolina. Using semi-structured interviews conducted during the summer of 2023 with Black mothers who had given birth within the previous five years, this qualitative study employed grounded theory to analyze recurring themes in their maternal health care experiences. The …

Super-Efficient Breach In Bankruptcy: Recalibrating Remedies For Contract Rejection Damages, Ishaq Kundawala

Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal

Contract law rests on a simple but powerful premise: when a party breaches, the law protects the injured party’s expectation interest, placing them, as nearly as possible, in the position they would have occupied had the contract been performed. This principle underlies the theory of efficient breach, which tolerates economically rational breaches so long as the non-breaching party is fully compensated. But in bankruptcy, this foundation often collapses. Under section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code, a debtor may reject an executory contract, with the law treating that rejection as a prepetition breach and relegating the counterparty’s claim to general unsecured …

Early Clinical Outcomes Of The Use Of Del Nido Versus Intermittent Warm Blood Cardioplegia After Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, Ahmed Abdalla Mohamed, Ahmed M Elshemy, Sherif M Elboghdady, Wael S Nekhila, Ismail R Barrada

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background While the best approach to protecting the heart during surgery varies based on the specific operation and the surgeon's preferences, del Nido cardioplegia, initially successful in children, is gaining traction as an alternative to the traditional blood cardioplegia in adult cardiac procedures. Aim This investigation comparatively analysed the early postoperative consequences in adult patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting, contrasting the application of del Nido cardioplegia with conventional warm blood cardioplegia techniques. Methods Randomised controlled clinical research was conducted to compare the efficacy of antegrade del Nido (DNC) and intermittent warm blood cardioplegia (IWBC) in safeguarding myocardial function …

Infimum Dimension Nash Embeddings For 2d Projective Shape Analysis, Robert L. Paige, Vic Patrangenaru

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Vector embeddings make complicated data extracted from networks, words and images, more amendable to data science applications. At the present time, the Veronese-Whitney (VW) matrix embedding of the real projective space is the state of the art for making inference about digital images from an uncalibrated camera, such as a cell phone or security camera. In this work we consider vector embeddings for the projective shape data and in particular determine the minimum dimension isometric (distance-preserving or Nash) vector embedding for a projective space. We determine such an embedding for the projective plane in closed-form. From this embedding we determine …

A Fully Discrete Semi-Implicit Numerical Scheme And Its Optimal Error Estimates For Cahn-Hilliard-Mhd Model With Variable Density, Dongmei Duan, Fuzheng Gao, Xiaoming He, Yanping Lin

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper proposes and analyzes a fully discrete semi-implicit unconditionally energy stable numerical scheme to solve the Cahn-Hilliard Magnetohydrodynamics (Cahn-Hilliard-MHD) model with variable density. The unconditional energy stability and optimal L² error estimates are established for the fully discrete scheme. Major challenges in error estimation arise from the variable density, the strong nonlinearities, and the multi-physics coupling of the model. Under the mathematical induction framework, the Ritz quasi-projection and the Stokes quasi-projection, proposed in [SIAM J. Numer. Anal., 61(3):1218-1245, 2023], are utilized to avoid the gradient terms of the projection errors. The H⁻¹ superconvergence error estimates of Ritz …

Insurance And Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: Is The Insurance Neutrality Doctrine Dead?, Mikaela Deleon

Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal

Insurers have traditionally been denied “party in interest” status under the Bankruptcy Code due to the longstanding insurance neutrality doctrine. The insurance neutrality doctrine prevents insurers from challenging a chapter 11 bankruptcy plan as a section 1109(b) “party in interest” if the plan does not increase the insurance company’s liability from pre-bankruptcy levels. If none of their rights or obligations were impacted by the plan, insurance companies were previously left without a means to challenge a proposed reorganization plan. As a result, insurance companies providing liability insurance to corporations stricken with mass tort lawsuits ran the risk of becoming the …

Asbestos 2.0: A Looming Disaster At The Intersection Of Pfas Litigation And The Texas Two-Step––Even After Purdue Pharma, Tyler Sheridan

Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal

Companies that have manufactured, processed, or sold per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”), also known as “forever chemicals,” face mounting financial pressure as the number of claims against them skyrocket. With billions of dollars already allocated to settlements and new lawsuits continuously filed, liable corporations may utilize the Texas Two-Step to minimize financial risk. The maneuver would enable solvent companies to isolate PFAS liability and discard it into bankruptcy, potentially delaying and capping payouts for claimants in the process. Third-party releases have survived Purdue, leaving the forum’s ability to permanently resolve mass tort liability intact. Moreover, escalating litigation may prompt …

Made On Mars: Design And Manufacturing Of Structural Polymer-Regolith Composites, Pailey M. Vitale

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Human exploration of Mars is constrained by harsh environmental conditions and the prohibitive cost of transporting materials from Earth. Long-term sustainability requires the local production of mechanical and structural components using resources available on Mars, thereby minimizing payload mass. This project investigates polymer–regolith composites derived from atmospheric CO₂ and mineral-rich regolith as a pathway toward in-situ manufacturing. These composites, when compatible with additive manufacturing, could replace imported plastics, enable on-demand fabrication, and support closed-loop recycling systems. The objective is to design and evaluate polymer–regolith composites that maintain mechanical integrity and environmental resistance under Martian conditions, including extreme temperature swings, radiation …

Akron Police Department Non-Fatal Shootings, Sarah B. Baumer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project will study the variables that impact disposition status of non-fatal shooting cases in the city of Akron. This research project will be conducted through temporal and spatial analysis of the information gathered from the Akron Police Department. This analysis will identify common factors and patterns throughout the non-fatal shooting cases. This will then follow with in depth research of intelligence led policing articles that provide relevant solutions. The final steps will be identifying and adapting solutions to fit the needs of the Akron Police Department. The final product will include maps, police products and data visualization through Excel.

The Impact Of Congenital Heart Disease On The Timing Of Alzheimer's Disease In Down Syndrome, Julianne G. Clina, Brian C. Helsel, Sigan L. Hartley, David A. White, Victoria L. Fleming-Batayneh, Benjamin Handen, Bradley Christian, Elizabeth Head, Mark Mapstone, Christy L. Hom, Beau Ances, Jeffrey Burns, H. Diana Rosas, Florence Lai, Sharon Krinsky Mchale, Joseph H. Lee, Frederick A. Schmitt, Jordan Harp, Ira T. Lott, Shahid Zaman, Lauren T. Ptomey

Neurology Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Down syndrome (DS) exceeds 90%. Approximately 50% of people with DS have congenital heart disease (CHD). Having CHD increases risk for early-onset AD in populations without DS, but it is unclear if CHD influences AD in DS. METHODS: Data from the Alzheimer Biomarker Consortium-Down Syndrome (ABC-DS) were used. Participants with CHD (n = 82, mean age = 39.9 ± 8.5 years, 97.6% White race) were age- and sex-matched to participants without CHD (n = 82, mean age = 40.5 ± 8.1 years, 98.8% White race). Cognitive assessments and Centiloid load (CL) (positron …

Plasma P-Tau217 And Apoe Genotype, Ann M. Stowe, Bilal Kahn, Ali Ballesteros, Monique Cortez, Linda S. Hynan, Victoria Cantrell, Indu Raman, Guangchun Chen, Eric D. Vidoni, Ellen Binder, Jeffrey Burns, Jeffrey N. Keller, Diana R. Kerwin, Tristyn Hall, Pavel Yanev, Wanpen Vongapatanasin, David C. Zhu, Norman Scheel, C. Munro Cullum, Rong Zhang, Dwight C. German

Neurology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau)217 levels and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 genotype are used for prodromal identification of individuals at high risk for dementia. We used baseline samples from cognitively normal subjects in the Risk Reduction for Alzheimer's Disease (rrAD) clinical trial (NCT02913664) to investigate the relationship between these two markers in older adults with additional vascular risk factors. Methods: We measured APOE genotype, plasma p-tau217, and standard neuroimaging metrics in 400 rrAD participants, aged 60 to 84 years, with sedentary lifestyle, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Results: Plasma p-tau217 was 57% higher in subjects with at least one APOE ε4 allele, …

Decoding The Human Pbmc Isonome, Patricia Hayes Doyle, Madeline L. Page, J. Anthony Brandon, Bernardo Aguzzoli Heberle, Brendan J. White, Ann Marie Stowe, Mark T.W. Ebbert

Neurology Faculty Publications

Long-read single-cell RNA sequencing provides an opportunity to understand human health and disease at a level difficult to resolve with bulk or short-read methods. This approach enables isoform-level investigation of cellular diversity and disease mechanisms and definition of cell-types, rather than using genes alone. Using a modified, microfluidic-free PIPseq workflow and computational pipeline adapted for Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing, we generated the largest long-read single-cell dataset of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a single donor to date, the first with sufficient cell numbers to detect megakaryocytes. This study profiled isoform usage across immune cells, integrating marker expression and …

Post-Approval Study 3-Year Outcomes Of The Neuroform Atlas Stent For The Treatment Of Wide-Necked Intracranial Aneurysms, Brian Jankowitz, Ashutosh P. Jadhav, Bradley Gross, Tudor G. Jovin, Abdulnasser A. Alhajeri, Justin F. Fraser, Ricardo A. Hanel, Eric Sauvageau, Amin Aghaebrahim, Donald Frei, Richard Bellon, David N. Loy, Ajit S. Puri, Adel M. Malek, Ajith J. Thomas, Gabor Toth, Demetrius Klee Lopes, R. Webster Crowley, John Reavey-Cantwell, Eugene Lin, Adnan Siddiqui, Michael J. Alexander, Ahmad Khaldi, Geoffrey P. Colby, Justin M. Caplan, Sudhakar R. Satti, Aquilla S. Turk, Alejandro M. Spiotta, Richard Klucznik, Danial K. Hallam, David Kung, Michael T. Froehler

Neurology Faculty Publications

Introduction The ATLAS trial was a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, investigational device exemption (IDE) study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Neuroform Atlas Stent System for the treatment of widenecked bifurcation aneurysms. This analysis presents the 36-month follow-up data for the anterior and posterior cohorts. Methods Of the 182patients in the IDE anterior cohort, 146 consented to participate in the post-approval study (PAS) and, of the 116patients in the IDE posterior cohort, 101 consented to participate in the PAS. The primary effectiveness endpoint was core laboratory adjudicated (Raymond–Roy 1; RR1) without retreatment or parent artery stenosis (>50%) at …

Microscopic Insights On Shear Rheology Of Polyampholyte Ionomers Via Molecular Simulations, Kyle Vonscio

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Ionomers are polymers that contain a small fraction of charged groups. The ionic attraction of charged groups allows ionomers to act similarly to crosslinked polymers. Depending on the strength of electrostatic interactions and structure of the ionomers, different dynamics and rheological responses can be observed. With moderate attraction between ions, these noncovalent crosslinks can be broken when heated, allowing ionomers to flow and show the strength of a crosslinked network at low temperatures. Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations will be performed under shear in the xy-plane and the macroscopic rheology and conformation of the polyampholyte ionomer will be determined. The …

Women's Work And Wealth: Measuring The Impact Of Incremental Liberations, 1850-1870, Hannah Kelly

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Using a two-way fixed effects difference-in-difference model, this project analyzes data from the IPUMS Full Count census for 1850, 1860, and 1870 at a state level for 48 states. Four models assess the impact of property laws on women's real property holdings, labor force participation, household types, and real property values.

By quantifying the impact of various legal reforms on women's economic empowerment, this project fills a gap in the understanding of the intersection between law, society, and women's economic agency during a transformative period in pre-industrial American history. These impacts can implicate the effectiveness of legislative measures in advancing …

Determining Critical Micelle Concentrations Of Standard Surfactants And Rhamnolipids, Kathryn E. Kunz

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

My proposed project will study the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of rhamnolipids using the pendant-drop and drop-weight methods. First, the critical micelle concentrations of ionic and nonionic common surfactants will be tested. Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) will be used as an ionic surfactant and Tween 20 will be used as a nonionic surfactant. The critical micelle concentrations will be determined using the pendant-drop and drop-weight methods. The experimental results from the standard surfactants compared to their accepted values will be tested to assist with determining a more suitable approach. Completing the tests will provide a better understanding of critical micelle …

Crashheart, Ellie Riekert, Kennady Skidmore, Madison Furino

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project aims to develop an XR (extended reality) iPad training system to improve pediatric crash cart preparedness among nurses and clinical staff at Akron Children’s Hospital. In emergencies such as respiratory failure or shock, quick and accurate access to crash cart supplies is vital, yet opportunities for hands-on practice are limited. Current nurse training relies on PowerPoint instruction or costly physical simulations, reducing engagement and skill retention. Our interactive XR solution replicates the crash cart’s layout and contents, allowing users to practice identifying and retrieving critical items in a realistic environment without using physical supplies. The system will be …

Supporting Mothers Within The Criminal Legal System: Programs In Akron And Perceptions Of “Good Motherhood”, Brynn R. Lewis

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper examines the programs and support systems available in Akron, Ohio, for mothers involved in the criminal legal system, including defendants, survivors, and other justice-involved individuals. Using qualitative interviews (n = 6) with professionals across courts, legal defense, community corrections, and advocacy organizations, this study examines how local institutions provide resources and support to mothers. Findings indicate that while programs aim to promote stability and rehabilitation, mothers face persistent barriers such as limited access to transportation, childcare, and communication, as well as heightened stigma tied to societal expectations of caregiving. These findings reveal that institutional support both reflects and …

Synaptic Connectivity Of Rod Bipolar Cells In The Mouse Retina: A Connectomic Analysis Using Webknossos, Harold F. Eshun

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Rod bipolar cells (RBCs) are key interneurons in the mouse retina that transmit signals from rod photoreceptors to downstream amacrine and ganglion cells under scotopic (low-light) conditions. Although their general morphology and function are well established, the fine-scale organization of their synaptic inputs and outputs remains incompletely characterized. This project aims to map the pre- and postsynaptic partners of a fully reconstructed rod bipolar cell using the Yu volume, a serial block-face electron microscopy dataset from the ventral retina of an adult wild-type mouse. Using the webKnossos platform, I identify synaptic ribbons in the axon terminals of the rod bipolar …

Stanislavski And Operatic Acting: What Caused The Divide Between Stanislavski’S Ideals And The Opera World?, Max Smith

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

There is a difference between the realism of acting in opera and in other theatrical art forms. One reason for this might be due to theatre practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski’s ideals not being readily adopted in the opera world. Due to translation and publication issues in both the West and in the USSR, his work on opera has been largely neglected by theatre and opera historians. Certain demands of opera as an art form limit or make more difficult the ability for realism in portraying a character, but Stanislavski and others show that it is possible. A look at literature reflecting …

Analyzing Network Traffic And Data Exfiltration Via Smb In Post-Vm Escape Scenarios, Noah M. Disanza

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Virtual machines (VMs) play a crucial role in modern IT infrastructure environments by providing isolation and enhanced security, among other things, for both personal and corporate systems. VMs are heavily rely upon to safely test malware, manage infrastructure, and reduce risk to host systems. This reliance is so substantial that the idea of reducing risk to the host system is believed to be erasing risk entirely. However, this mindset has shown to be challenged time and time again by the emergence of exploits known as virtual machine escapes. These exploits allow malicious actors to break out of the virtualized environment …

Lumacurve Control System Update, Jacob Kustra, Caleb Wengerd

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The existing track heater control system used by Lumacurve has become outdated and requires frequent maintenance due to inconsistent operation and component failures. This project aims to modernize the system through the implementation of a programmable logic controller (PLC), infrared non-contact temperature sensing, and an automated pneumatic ejection mechanism.

The redesigned system improves temperature monitoring accuracy and reduces operator intervention by automatically ejecting heated plastic tracks from the heater once the desired temperature is reached. An emergency ejection subsystem is also incorporated to safely clear tracks from the heater in the event of improper operation or system faults. Additional emphasis …

Rapid Skin Stapler, Emma J. Patterson, Allison M. Milligan, Morgan E. Dunlap

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Severe burn injuries frequently require split-thickness skin grafts, with metal surgical staples serving as the current standard for fixation. While staples provide rapid and secure placement of graft material, they also introduce significant challenges. Removal is painful, time-consuming, and often requires sedation in pediatric patients, leading to added risk, resource strain, and poor patient experience. These drawbacks highlight the need for improved fixation methods that maintain graft stability while reducing procedural burden. This project applies the engineering design process to address these challenges through identification of user needs, translation into design inputs, risk assessment, and development of a prototype aimed …

The Effect Of Minimum Wage On Household Debts And Delinquencies, Payton G. Rader

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper examines how increases in binding minimum wages affect various types of household debts and delinquency rates. Within this paper, household debt is defined as the combined sum of auto loans, credit card debt, mortgage debt, and student loan debt. The goal of the analysis is to conclude whether minimum wage increases are contributing to America’s growing debt crisis. The answer to this question likely relies on whether or not minimum wage increases cause unemployment. This is because unemployment can contribute significantly to debt levels when unemployed people rely on credit for day-to-day transactions or payments. Traditional economic theory …

A Decade Of Programming Languages: Trends In Popularity And Influence, Jonathan C. Erb

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Programming languages play a central role in open-source software ecosystems, yet their adoption, visibility, and influence shift over time as technologies, developer communities, and industry practices evolve. The study aims to investigate long-term trends in programming-language usage on GitHub from 2014 through 2024, focusing on ten major languages that represent diverse domains and ecosystems. Using repository metadata, engagement metrics such as stars and forks, and language-level code statistics measured with cloc, the analysis will examine changes in repository creation, code contribution volume, and popularity. Since popularity remains an unsettled and multidimensional concept, part of this research involves determining how it …

Reconstructing Lost Voices, Lana Tamim

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project uses digital text mining tools (OCR, NLP, sentiment analysis, and topic modeling) to analyze 19th–20th-century newspaper archives, focusing on how marginalized groups (women, immigrants, or labor workers) were historically portrayed. Many historical newspapers were dominated by elite voices, so this project aims to recover silenced or misrepresented perspectives by identifying hidden patterns in language, frequency of coverage, sentiment, and shifts in public perception over time. Using machine learning and visualization tools, the project will create interactive maps and timelines showing how representation evolved across regions.