Digital Commons Network^™

National Consensus On The Capabilities That Inform The Role Of Advanced Practice Paramedics: A Delphi Study, Alessia Restiglian, Lorna Martin, David Long, Louise Reynolds, Tony Walker, Ben Meadley, Ashleigh Finn, Alan Batt, Alecka Miles, Tania Johnston, Brendan Shannon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Advanced Practice Paramedics (APPs) are highly skilled paramedics who operate in diverse clinical settings both within and outside traditional ambulance services. International evidence demonstrates that APPs enhance patient outcomes in areas such as critical and primary care. In Australia, the expansion of APP roles and responsibilities has gained momentum; however, no nationally recognised framework exists to define their expected capabilities. This gap leads to inconsistencies in education, practice and role clarity. A standardised capability framework is therefore vital to guide the development, implementation and integration of APP roles within the Australian healthcare system. The primary aim of this study was …

Rock On Technology: Perspectives Of People With Neurological Conditions On Robot-Assisted Lower Limb And Gait Neurorehabilitation, Rachel G. Buckingham, Saran Chamberlain, Amanda Timler, Matthew K. Bagg, Nikki E. Bakhtazad, Taya Hamilton, Patricia Martinet, Bianca Haagman, Stuart I. Hodgetts, Barbara Singer, Ann Maree Vallence, Jodie Marquez, Eric Gaitho, Emma Gee, Jessica Nolan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Explore perspectives of people living with neurological conditions in Western Australia (WA) on robot-assisted lower limb neurorehabilitation (RALLR), and implementation requirements. Materials and methods: This co-designed, qualitative descriptive study included people living with neurological conditions. In-person semi-structured focus groups (FGs) were facilitated by a person with lived experience of stroke. FGs were recorded, data were transcribed, and thematically analysed using a reflexive approach. Results: Five FGs included 24 participants (54.2% women, median age 50 years). Of these, thirteen participants had RALLR experience. Primary neurological conditions represented among participants comprised spinal cord injury (n = 11), stroke (n = 3), …

Superior Effects Of High-Intensity Interval Eccentric Cycling Training On Neuromuscular Adaptations With Similar Aerobic Adaptations To Concentric Cycling, Marcin Lipski, Joanne Trezise, Chris R. Abbiss, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: We compared the effects of high-intensity interval eccentric (EC) versus concentric cycling (CC) training on aerobic capacity, muscle function and morphology. Methods: Healthy men (19–56 y) performed EC (n = 9) or CC (n = 8) training twice a week for 8 weeks. The training progressed from 5 × 2-min intervals with 1-min rest to 7 × 2-min intervals with 30-s rest. EC and CC were matched for perceived effort, and progressed from 30 to 36% of concentric peak power output (PPO10s) for CC and from 45 to 70% PPO10s for EC. Changes in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), incremental …

Colostrum As A Protective Factor Against Peanut Allergy: Evidence From A Birth Cohort, Maheshwar Bhasin, Matthew Cooper, Patricia Macchiaverni, Ravisha Srinivas Joys, Therese A. O'Sullivan, Jeffrey A. Keelan, Carina Venter, Debra J. Palmer, Adrian J. Lowe, Susan L. Prescott, Desiree Silva, Valerie Verhasselt

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Food allergy affects families' quality of life, can be lifelong and life-threatening, urging the identification of early modifiable risk factors. Formula feeding in the first days of life may increase the risk of cow's milk allergy, a risk often attributed to cow's milk allergens exposure. Early formula feeding also reduces the colostrum intake, the first 3 days' milk, which is rich in bioactive compounds critical for immune and gut health. This study investigates whether partial colostrum feeding increases the risk of food allergy beyond cow's milk. Methods: Data from 666 mother-infant pairs in the Australian ORIGINS cohort categorised neonates …

Determining The Carbon Footprint Of Australia’S Electricity, Gas, Water And Waste Services Sector, Soheil Kazemian, Rashid Zaman, Behzad Foroughi, Morteza Ghobakhloo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose – This study aims to address the global challenge of quantifying sectoral carbon emissions, offering a scalable methodology applicable across diverse national contexts. As one of the world’s leading greenhouse gas emitters, Australia has a critical role in achieving the Paris Climate Change Agreement’s net-zero emissions goal by 2050. The utility services sector – electricity, gas, water and waste services – has historically been Australia’s largest source of CO2-equivalent emissions. However, this also highlights its significant potential to contribute to national emission reductions through targeted mitigation strategies. This research analyses the total carbon footprint of Australia’s utility services sector …

Exploring The Use Of Strategic Influencer Leadership (Sil) In Health Communication: A Cross-Cultural, Multi-Case Study, Katharina Wolf, Catherine Archer, Syafiq B. Assegaff, Joseph Nalloor

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose This study challenges the social media-centric view of influencers, arguing that health communication benefits from diverse strategic influencers beyond commercial figures. Trust, credibility and cultural resonance are essential for effective public health messaging, yet contemporary approaches often prioritise engagement metrics over strategic influence. Design/methodology/approach This paper employs a multi-case study approach to examine the strategic use of influencers in health communication across Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores how health professionals, royal representatives and a politician shaped public health messaging within culturally specific contexts. A mixed-methods approach, incorporating ethnographic research and thematic …

Neuromotor Function Following Lower-Limb Muscle Or Tendon Injury: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jack Andringa-Bate, Moath Almusallam, Molly Coventry, Myles C. Murphy, Ebonie Rio, Tania Pizzari

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Alterations in neuromotor function occur following lower-limb injuries and might be a factor in recurrent injury. We evaluated if adults with previous lower-limb muscle or tendon injury demonstrate differences in neuromotor function compared with uninjured or control limbs. Methods: A systematic search of health databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus was conducted from inception until the end of April 2024. Studies evaluating neuromotor function of adults with a history of lower-limb muscle or tendon injury compared to an uninjured contralateral or control limb were included. Inverse variance, random effects meta-analyses were used to generate effect estimates for neuromotor outcomes. …

Research Priorities For Nursing And Allied Health: A Priority-Setting Project Using A Partnership Approach, Marina Weckend, Lucy Gent, Erin Godecke, Linda Coventry, Gemma Doleman, Amanda Towell-Barnard, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Research priorities guide research activities, funding and resources within health services. To ensure that research efforts are meaningful and impactful, it is vital that organisational research agendas reflect the priorities of both healthcare consumers and staff, alongside broader national and international research frameworks. This paper outlines a research priority-setting project conducted across two hospitals in Western Australia, aimed at identifying shared research priorities through a collaborative and inclusive approach. Aim: To identify the top ten nursing and allied health research priorities for two hospitals in Western Australia. Methods: A modified James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership approach was used, …

Making Their Community Proud: First-Generation Latinx Students' Participation In Clep, Michelle Van Beek, Abby Holland

Journal of College Access

This study explores the impact of earning Spanish CLEP credit on first-generation Latinx students' levels of self-efficacy, college-going mindset toward earning a post-secondary degree, and their perceptions of bilingualism. Study participants (n=47) were all enrolled or previously enrolled in a college access program in high school. All participants received the opportunity to take the Spanish CLEP exam. Participants (n=33) completed a pre/post survey, and a paired sample t-test showed self-efficacy, college-going mindset, and language perceptions remained neutral for participants. Five semi-structured group interviews (n=26) were conducted after the post-survey. Participants showed that earning Spanish CLEP credit impacted their way of …

Complete Issue, Christopher Tremblay, Patrick J. O'Connor Phd, Laura Owen, Moya Malcolm, Diana Camilo

Journal of College Access

No abstract provided.

Introductory Pages, Christopher Tremblay, Patrick J. O'Connor Phd, Laura Owen, Moya Malcolm, Diana Camilo

Journal of College Access

No abstract provided.

Reframing Narratives, Reclaiming Futures: Antiracist School Counseling And Black And Brown Girls In Stem, Renae D. Mayes, Lia D. Falco, Shontell Zenon, Dequindre Hughes, Yijia Chen, Lydia Ross, Medha Dalal

Journal of College Access

Black and Brown girls often have educational experiences that stifle their career aspirations, especially in STEM fields. These experiences can be exacerbated by educators who misunderstand and refuse to recognize their STEM potential, thus limiting their opportunity to build STEM identities. School counselors can disrupt these experiences through antiracist practices that cultivate homeplace and joy for Black and Brown girls to heal and grow while working to address harmful policies and practices. In this paper, authors discuss how school counselors can specifically use antiracist school counseling practices to support Black and Brown girls in STEM as a part of multi-tiered …

College Vs. Career School Counseling: How Role Differentiation Shapes Student Postsecondary Expectations And Outcomes, Sam Luby

Journal of College Access

This study examines how high school counselor role differentiation, specifically college preparation and workforce readiness, relates to students’ postsecondary expectations (2012) and early outcomes (2016) using nationally representative data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09). Multinomial logistic regression models controlling for academic achievement and socioeconomic factors indicate that the presence of college-preparation counselors significantly reduces the likelihood of students entering the workforce without postsecondary enrollment.

Workforce-preparation roles show no statistically significant association with postsecondary outcomes, though they are more common in schools serving higher-need populations. Academic performance and poverty status remain strong predictors across models. Findings underscore …

The Limits Of Daca: Affordability- And Access-Related Barriers To Health Professions Education, Nicole Perez, Laura Hirshfield

Journal of College Access

The U.S. is currently facing a shortage of health professionals from underrepresented backgrounds. One potential pathway to decrease this shortage is through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a policy that provides temporary relief from deportation for individuals who migrated to the U.S. before age 16. This study, using 15 life-history narrative interviews, investigates the experiences of Latinx young adults who were pursuing health professions education or working as health professionals. Nine of the participants were DACA recipients, while the remaining six were second-generation (i.e., children of immigrants). An iterative, inductive approach to data analysis was used to …

Effect Of Traditional And Cluster Set Structures On Bar Path Kinematics During High-Volume Power Clean Training, Tsuyoshi Nagatani, Shayne Vial, Kristina L. Kendall, Paul Comfort, Jiahao Yang, G. Gregory Haff

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of traditional (TRAD) and cluster (CLU) set structures on bar path kinematics during a series of high-volume power clean sets, and compare insights gained from discrete versus waveform analysis. Twenty participants completed TRAD or CLU protocols in a randomised, crossover design. Each protocol involved three sets of nine repetitions at 70% of one-repetition maximum. In CLU sets, a 30-second inter-repetition rest was applied. During TRAD sets, peak velocity declined, and significant (p ≤ 0.05) changes were observed in both vertical and horizontal barbell displacement across repetitions, indicating fatigue-related technical alterations. …

Physicochemical Characterization Of Small Extracellular Vesicles: Effects Of Immobilization, Isolation, And Disease State, Bianca M. Mercado Velez

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Cancer treatments and survival outcomes have improved significantly in the last couple of decades, with survival rates increasing in the U.S. Despite improvements in treatment outcomes, early detection and treatment are crucial for improving cancer prognosis and survival rates. The standard cancer diagnostic procedure of tissue biopsy is highly invasive, leading to the further spread of cancer in some cases. Alternatively, the extraction of biofluids from cancer patients, also called a liquid biopsy, is increasingly popular because it is less invasive and more representative of the tumor microenvironment, which contains cancer cells, tumor genetic material, and extracellular vesicles, including small …

Antenna-Based Sensors For Dielectric Characterization Of Materials, Hilary Scott Nkimbeng Cho

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This research introduces antenna-based sensors for dielectric characterization aimed at overcoming the limitations of conventional microwave sensors. Although traditional microwave sensors are widely used for their noncontact operation, high sensitivity, and ability to penetrate various materials, they often face challenges such as large size and high-power consumption. To address these issues, antenna-based sensors are explored for their compactness, ease of fabrication, and flexible design adaptability across diverse sensing applications. An in-depth analysis of multiple antenna sensor configurations is conducted, followed by the design and development of high-performance sensing structures. A saw-tooth slot antenna sensor is developed for highly sensitive liquid …

Applied Forest Restoration And Conservation In Michigan: Advancing American Beech Restoration And Documenting A Historical Insect Collection, Thomas E. Panella

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Forest restoration and conservation require both practical management approaches and the preservation of biological resources that support future research. This dissertation presents applied research conducted in Michigan that advances American beech (Fagus grandifolia) restoration in response to beech bark disease (BBD) while documenting an important historical entomological resource. Chapters 1–3 focus on overcoming practical barriers to American beech restoration. Restoration protocols were developed and refined for identifying BBD-resistant trees, graft propagation, rootstock collection, container production, and the field establishment of grafted BBD-resistant trees. A greenhouse experiment evaluated the influence of growing media and fertilization on container stock quality, …

First-Principles Investigation Of Quasi-One-Dimensional Van Der Waals Magnets For Advancing Low-Dimensional Spintronics, Alyssa Horne

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Van der Waals (vdW) magnets have been of great interest for advancing low- dimensional spintronics. A notable example is the quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) vdW CrSbSe₃, as it is composed of individual one-dimensional units that are held together by the vdW forces. Finding other Q1D vdW magnets that exhibit non-metallic behavior together with long range ferromagnetic ordering is critical in developing next generation spintronics. Here in, using first-principles density functional theory (DFT), we investigate the compositional effects on electronic and magnetic behavior of Cr_1–xMn_xSbSe₃ (x = 0, 0.5, 1). When 50% of Cr is replaced …

Beyond Satisfaction: Developing A Data Storytelling Evaluation Protocol For Stem Equity Program Assessment, Karen Colbert

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Higher education institutions routinely evaluate equity initiatives using measures of participation, engagement, and satisfaction. While these approaches provide useful information about program delivery, they offer limited insight into whether interventions change how participants understand institutional inequities. As a result, important dimensions of organizational learning and awareness often remain difficult to detect, particularly within STEM higher education environments where evaluation systems frequently emphasize measurable outputs over deeper indicators of change.

This dissertation examines how awareness-related outcomes can be identified, measured, and communicated within equity intervention contexts. Using a three-study design, the research first presents a systematic review of equity intervention evaluation …

Enhancing Coastal Vulnerability Assessments And Policy Impacts On Socioeconomic And Environmental Equity In Michigan's Great Lakes Communities, Esther N. Acheampong

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Accelerating shoreline erosion, fluctuating lake levels, and climate-induced hazards are transforming the Great Lakes’ freshwater coasts, exposing the limitations of static and inequitable management frameworks. This dissertation investigates how Michigan’s coastal governance systems produce and manage vulnerability along the Lake Michigan shoreline by integrating geospatial modeling, institutional policy analysis, and environmental justice theory. It argues that both physical processes and institutional designs co-determine patterns of exposure, protection, and equity. The research begins by developing a refined Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) tailored for lacustrine environments, applying it to Muskegon County to assess how shoreline change, armoring, and seasonality influence localized risk. …

The Effects Of Physical Boundaries On The Complexity Of Resonance Processes In Finite-Size Dielectric Metasurfaces, Varsha Vijay Kumar

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This work investigates dramatic effects produced by the presence of physical boundaries of finite-size metasurfaces, composed of identical cylindrical dielectric resonators without broken symmetry, on the complexity of their responses, observed at normal plane wave incidence, when constituent particles can support only dipolar Mie resonances. Owing to their periodicity, metasurfaces are conventionally analysed using their unit cells with periodic boundary conditions, so that their “finiteness” remains largely under-studied, even though all practical systems are finite.  We demonstrate the opportunities to excite in these finite structures extra high-quality resonance modes, quite distinct from the resonant modes in infinite structures and explain …

From Aid To Looting: Justice And Sovereignty Issues In The Ukraine–U.S. Mineral Deal, Petra Gümplova

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

This essay identifies three central moral and political issues with the the Ukraine–U.S. Mineral Deal. First, by linking financial and military assistance to access to Ukraine’s natural resources, the deal entrenches a form of resource conditionality that is highly problematic from the moral standpoint of international justice and other ethical principles. Second, the absence of a commitment to a just peace—including the restoration of territorial integrity, reparations, and security guarantees—renders the conditions for secure, long-term investment in Ukraine’s extractive economy a distant prospect, while raising the risk that a substantial portion of Ukraine’s resource wealth unlawfully seized by Russia will …

Sound Of NangqêN, Jiayue Cecilia Wu

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

Tape Piece is part of a series of single-sound-source daydream pieces, where a solitary object or family of objects is repurposed to create an otherworldly soundscape. This work uses tape--masking, scotch, aluminum, packing, and duct--sometimes recognizable, and sometimes heavily processed. The familiar is juxtaposed with the fresh, and what starts out with unrolling and tearing quickly unravels as sounds evocative of gunfire, of bombs and explosions, and of Geiger counters suggesting the downfall of civilization. New creatures emerge throughout, each trying to find their place in a world that has come unglued.

Beyond Interdisciplinary: Igniting Transdisciplinary Thinking In Tomorrow’S Music Technology Graduates, Mark De Zwaan

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

Outwardly, this presentation is an inquest into the structural quandaries of curricular design in music technology—a practical extension to the seminal discussion about music technology curriculum launched by Carola Boehm (2007). I recently pioneered a new BSc degree program in Digital Music Technology at my institution, obtaining the support of four departments across campus to manifest an interdisciplinary implementation, yet the curricular structure governing our degree programs was generally incompatible with Boehm’s foremost recommendations. This led me down the very curricular path she rejected as “modernist”: derived from 18th-century concepts of the university in which interdisciplinarity was realized through the …

An Inclusive Oer Pedagogy In Teaching Music Technology In Higher Ed, Jiayue Cecilia Wu

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

As a Colorado State's Open Educational Resources (OER) funding award recipient, I will present the application of an OER approach in teaching music technology, utilizing free and/or open-source materials, tools, and textbooks/publications. Drawing on two courses I have successfully taught using this methodology, I will highlight practical implementation strategies and their impact. Furthermore, I will introduce national OER funding resources and guide the application process. I will enable music educators to adopt this approach in their teaching practices, enhance their scholarly publications, and secure funding support for academic initiatives.

Tools Of The Trade: An Exploratory Study Analyzing The Frequency And Potency Of Tools In Hip-Hop Music Creation, Performance, And Pedagogy, Drew X. Coles, Cato Zane

Journal of the Association for Technology in Music Instruction

This paper presents findings from a qualitative research study examining the tools most frequently used in the creation, performance, and teaching of hip-hop music. The study collected data from three key stakeholder groups: professional practitioners, music educators, and amateur creators. Through thematic analysis, the research identifies tools ranging from hardware such as MIDI controllers and turntables to software like DAWs and mobile apps, and explores their perceived effectiveness in facilitating musical creativity.

The study’s goal is to inform music educators about the tools that dominate the hip-hop marketplace and their various applications. By understanding how different tools contribute to beat-making, …

An Innovative, Interdisciplinary Intervention For Justice-Involved Emerging Adults, Courtney M. Holmes, Jeff Ciak, Marianne Lund, Zehra Sahin Ilkorkor, Grace Kye, Miguel King, Karen Akom, Sarah Jane Brubaker, Molly Hyer, Gary Cuddeback

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Interdisciplinary collaboration is an effective training model for counselors in training. As it is becoming increasingly likely that counselors will work in multidisciplinary teams post-graduation, engagement in clinical and research intervention teams is essential to promote learning. Benefits for counseling students include the development of self-efficacy, cultural humility, research skills, counseling skills, and interdisciplinary communication and collaboration skills. This article will discuss a federally funded, interdisciplinary intervention for justice-involved emerging adults that provides supported employment, trauma-informed mental health counseling, and peer support interventions. We will outline the interventions, structure of the project, as well as research and assessment outcomes. Future …

Interdisciplinary Collaborations In Schools: Lived Experiences Of School-Based Professionals, Karlesia Montague, Christina Barksdale, Crystal Speaks

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Collaboration is an ethical duty of school-based professionals and essential to addressing student needs and maximizing student success. This phenomenological qualitative research study explored the collaborative experiences between school counselors, school-based mental health counselors (SBMHCs), and school social workers. Through semi-structured interviews, we examined the experiences of 12 practicing school-based professionals. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), we identified five group experiential themes: (a) it takes a village, (b) factors that influence collaboration, (c) advantages of teamwork, (d) challenges in collaborating, and (e) recommendations to improve collaborative practices. Implications for graduate training programs and recommendations for future research studies are discussed.

Integrated Behavioral Health Education For Counselors In An Osteopathic Medical School: Lessons Learned And Future Directions, Lisa Corbin, Nic Schmoyer, Sophie Mccormick, Melissa Peters

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Mental health services are being integrated into healthcare facilities at a rate quicker than what can be filled. This gap in services creates openings for counselors. Integrated Behavioral Health is a complex approach to healthcare that differs substantially from specialty mental health and is often not taught in most counselor education programs despite the inclusion of IBH in the recent CACREP standards. In this article we inform counselor educators on how one counselor education program that is located within an osteopathic medical school trains their masters-level counselors in training on how to work in IBH settings. The interdisciplinary approach involves …