Digital Commons Network^™

Knowledge + Innovation = Power: A Protocol For Implementing Aboriginal Data Sovereignty In An Aboriginal Medical Service For Service Delivery Reform, Emma Haynes, Lesley Nelson, Heather D'Antoine, Judith Katzenellenbogen, Elizabeth Armstrong, Lindey Andrews, Jasmin Brown, Nicole Bowser, Roz Walker, Ingrid Stacey, Jessika Purnomo, Dawn Bessarab

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Context Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) is an interconnected, holistic, and strengths-based health and wellbeing approach fundamental to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) in Australia. However, policy and funding trends increasingly threaten the capacity of ACCHOs to deliver CPHC by imposing burdensome administrative and accountability requirements. A central constraint is the marginalisation of culturally informed data measures and tools that could enable improved development, implementation, evaluation and reporting of CHPC services and programs. To mitigate this, ACCHOs must be enabled to take charge of collecting and using meaningful data to increase self-determination and drive impactful policy and service delivery. …

Production Of Durable Mortar For Aggressive Environments Using Waste Glass Aggregates And Metakaolin-Based Blended Cement, T. F. Awolusi, A. O. Sojobi, D. O. Oguntayo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The depletion of river sand and its environmental consequences, combined with the vulnerability of concrete structures to harsh environments, pose a significant global concern. To mitigate maintenance costs, it’s essential to prioritize sustainable infrastructure production that balances durability and environmental sustainability, particularly in aggressive environments. This study explores the possibility of production of durable mortar for aggressive environments using waste glass aggregates and metakaolin-based blended cement. The waste glass cullets were used as sand replacement at 0%, 50%, and 100% and blended with metakaolin and gypsum to produce binary and ternary mortars. The blend of metakaolin and gypsum was explored …

An Online Treatment Decision Aid For Men With Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Eligible For Active Surveillance And Their Partners Increases The Uptake Of Active Surveillance: The Navigate Randomised Controlled Trial, Penelope Schofield, Stephen Quinn, Natalie Richards, Alan White, Fiona White, Mark Frydenberg, Suzanne Chambers, Louisa G. Gordon, Robert Alexander Frank Gardiner, Declan G. Murphy, Matthew J. Roberts, John Yaxley, Nathan Lawrentschuk, Kevin Chu, Jeremy Millar, Jeremy Grummet, Ilona Juraskova

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and objective: Evidence suggests that curative treatment for low-risk prostate cancer (LRPC) has no survival benefits over active surveillance (AS); thus, treatment choice becomes a value-sensitive decision. Decision aids (DAs) have the potential to facilitate this process, yet no DA has been tailored to the Australian health care system or population. This study aims to evaluate the impact of an online DA (Navigate) on the uptake of AS, quality of life, and decision-making in Australia. Methods: This parallel-group, prospective, randomised controlled trial recruited men (from May 2017 to May 2021) from participating cancer centres, via self-referral, or via clinician …

Montebello Islands Marine Sediment Retains Nuclear Weapons-Derived Radionuclide Contamination 70 Years After Detonations, Madison Williams-Hoffman, Mathew P. Johansen, Piers Larcombe, David P. Child, Michael A.C. Hotchkis, Oscar Serrano, Paul S. Lavery, Sangeeth Thiruvoth, Pere Masqué

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Three nuclear weapons tests were conducted in the 1950s at the Montebello Islands, an Indian Ocean archipelago in NW Australia. Anthropogenic radionuclides were introduced into the surrounding waters, where little quantification of the marine environment has occurred since. Here, we assess the distribution of anthropogenic radionuclides and plutonium (Pu) atom ratios in marine sediment throughout the Montebello Islands and the Western Australian (WA) coastline. Surface sediment was analysed for ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ^{238,239,240,241}Pu and ²⁴¹Am, alongside ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu and ²⁴¹Pu/²³⁹Pu atom ratios. The highest activity concentrations in sediment were from ^239,240Pu, …

Nrf2 Hyperactivation As A Driver Of Radiotherapy Resistance And Suppressed Antitumor Immunity In Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Yan Ma, Rashid Abdullah Osman, Nerissa T Williams, Jeffrey Everitt, Maciej J Zelazowski, Patricia Castro, William K Decker, William H Hudson, Jeffrey N Myers, Vlad C Sandulache, Mitchell J Frederick, Yvonne M Mowery, David G Kirsch

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Alterations in the KEAP1/NFE2L2 (NRF2)/CUL3 pathway occur in ∼20% of human head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and are associated with resistance to standard-of-care therapy. However, this pathway's role in radiotherapy resistance in HNSCC has not been well studied.

Experimental design: We generated genetically engineered mouse models and developed primary murine cancer cell lines harboring mutations commonly observed in human HNSCC, including inducible activation of PIK3CA and deletion of Trp53, with or without Keap1 loss. Primary tumors were initiated via 4-hydroxytamoxifen injection ± the tobacco carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (BAP) into the oral buccal mucosa. Tumors were analyzed by Western …

Trauma And Coparenting Stress In African American Mothers, Mikyaila Romey

Distinguished Student Scholarship Collection

This study explores how childhood trauma impacts parenting stress and coparenting relationships among African American mothers, especially those in nontraditional coparenting arrangements. It focuses on how early experiences like neglect, abuse, household dysfunction, and bullying can influence the way mothers manage stress and interact with their coparent. Nine participants completed surveys that measured their childhood trauma experiences, current levels of parenting stress, and the quality of their coparenting relationships. The findings show a clear connection: mothers who experienced more trauma in childhood reported higher levels of stress as parents and more challenges with coparenting, including poor communication, lack of emotional …

Psi Pneumonia Project, Susan Moore

Distinguished Student Scholarship Collection

This project investigates the use of the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) in conjunction with administrative claims data to improve the identification of inappropriate principal diagnoses for inpatient claims classified as DRG 193 (Simple Pneumonia & Pleurisy with MCC). By mapping PSI clinical factors to UB-04 claim form elements and ICD-10-CM codes, a predictive model was developed and tested on 2,038 claims. The model demonstrated a 46% accuracy rate in identifying claims with audit findings, suggesting that integrating clinical decision tools like PSI can enhance audit efficiency and reduce unnecessary claim reviews. Limitations include reliance on proxy data and restricted access …

Improving The Discussion Of Suicide Prevention: A Quality Improvement Project, Chelsea Reynolds, Alyssa Zeitouni, Kathryn Stephenson

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States and the third leading cause of death in this age group worldwide.1,2 Suicide prevention is understandably a growing focus in pediatrics. Currently, at the Children’s Hospital Outpatient Clinic, that is staffed by pediatric resident physicians, suicidal ideation is screened for using a PHQ-9 screen. However, at the time this study was initiated and completed, the TEEN screen was utilized. After the screening is performed, regardless of type, it is up to the provider to address these findings in a safe and effective manner. The goal …

Chemistry And Biochemistry Affiliated Publications: Snapshot Of The Research Publications 2019-2024., Jeremy J. Smith, Lutishoor Salisbury

University Libraries Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report highlights the chemistry and biochemistry faculty publications for the period 2019-2024. It includes tables identifying the types of publications, the characteristics of the authors, inter-departmental and external cooperation, summary of the citations of the publications, and the JCR ranking of the journals in which they published.

The Colder War: Predicting Government Deception In The Arctic Conflict, Chisom Nnennaya Okorafor

Undergraduate Honors Theses

As rising temperatures increase the rate of polar ice cap melt, the Arctic is rapidly becoming a region of significant geopolitical interest, creating the potential for a revived Great Powers struggle. A key consideration surrounding potential conflict for democracies is the role of official government secrecy in foreign policy decision-making. This particular study examines the intersection of the two topics, creating a model of understanding and predicting U.S. government deception in conflicts. Specifically, this research identifies the gap between internal U.S. government knowledge and publicly broadcasted messaging surrounding the justifications for military and covert action. By analyzing case studies of …

The Trump Administration Reverses U.S. Position On Unrwa Immunities, Lori Fisler Damrosch

Faculty Scholarship

On April 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice submitted a letter in a civil lawsuit that maintains for the first time that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is not immune from U.S. civil litigation. The letter reverses the position taken by the previous administration in the same lawsuitFootnote 2 and alters nearly eight decades of U.S. practice concerning the immunities of UN entities that are considered subsidiary organs of UN principal organs and thus part of the United Nations itself. Heretofore, the government stated that such organs are entitled …

Tess Light Curves And Period Changes In Low-Mass Eclipsing Binary Bb Persei, Marek Wolf, Petr Zasche, Miloslav Zejda, Martin Mašek, Andrej Mudray, Hana Kučáková, Waldemar Ogłoza, Jaroslav Merc, Jan Kára, Vojtěch Dienstbier

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present a detailed analysis of the low-mass detached eclipsing binary system BB Persei, which contains two K-type stars in a circular orbit with a short period of 0.4856 d. We used light curves from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (Tess), which observed BB Per in five sectors, to determine its photometric properties and a precise orbital ephemeris. The solution of the Tess light curve in Phoebe results in a detached configuration, where the temperature of the primary component was fixed to T 1 = 5 300 K according to Lamost, which gives us T 2 = 5 050 ± …

Antitrust’S Consumer Tradeoffs, Samuel N. Weinstein

Articles

In modern antitrust law, courts are required to ask only one question: did the challenged action harm consumers? This Article asks a different question: which consumers? Over the last few decades, the Supreme Court has increasingly required antitrust plaintiffs to prove not only that they were harmed, but also that their harm outweighed any other consumers’ gains. The doctrine forces courts to pit groups of consumers against each other. In Amex, it was merchants against credit card holders. In Brooke Group, it was consumers buying a product during predation against consumers buying it during recoupment. In cases involving aftermarkets for …

False Friends: The Pereiaslav Agreement Of 1654 And Competing Narratives In Russian And Ukrainian Historiographies, Jiansheng Zhang

Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History

The Pereiaslav Agreement of 1654, concluded between the Cossack Hetmanate and the Grand Duchy of Muscovy at the Pereiaslav Rada, marked the beginning of modern Cossack-Muscovite (in perspective, Ukrainian-Russian) relations. Owing to its central role in shaping both Russian and Ukrainian national narratives, the agreement remains a highly contentious event in Eastern European history. Historians from the Russian and Ukrainian historiographical traditions offer divergent interpretations of how the agreement was conceived and received by the Cossacks and Muscovites. Drawing on a wide range of primary and secondary sources, this essay critically examines these competing narratives and concludes that Ukrainian historiography—emphasizing …

Review Of God’S Long Summer: Stories Of Faith And Civil Rights, Jenny N. Liang

Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History

No abstract provided.

Eat, Sleep, Console Care For Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Multisite Evaluation, Amanda Fout

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Opioid use in pregnancy continues to rise, leading to increasing cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Traditional management with the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System (FNASS) often results in pharmacologic treatment, prolonged hospitalizations, and higher costs. Inconsistent FNASS scoring at the hospital system contributed to unnecessary NICU admissions and variable outcomes. Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) was introduced as an alternative approach, but its effectiveness had not been formally evaluated.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the quality improvement initiative was to evaluate the effectiveness of the ESC model in improving outcomes for infants with NAS across three hospitals …

Implementing A Sepsis Questionnaire To Reduce Readmissions…A Health Plan’S Experience, Vernita L. Kelley

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition with high readmission risk, threatening patient recovery and survival. In the managed care organization (MCO) where this DNP project was implemented, sepsis ranks among the top five readmission diagnoses. The organization's 30-day readmission rate of 15.5% is substantially higher than the benchmark of 9.29%, highlighting a clinical quality issue, a strain on patient outcomes, and a strain on healthcare resources.

Aim of the Project: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to reduce sepsis readmissions by embedding a sepsis questionnaire into case management workflows to identify clinical risks and social determinants of health, improve transitions, …

Improving Patient Portal Messaging Workflow, Tanya M. Fitzpatrick

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Inefficiencies in patient portal secure messaging between providers and patients in a large primary care practice led to delayed resolution times, averaging 5.6 days per message. Most messages were closed by physicians or advanced practice providers, resulting in imbalanced workload distribution, increased provider burden, and reduced communication efficiency. The lack of standardized guidelines for message use, character limits, or triage processes contributed to workflow disruptions, a diminished patient experience, and unreimbursed provider time.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the project was to reduce average portal message closure times by at least 38% through the implementation of standardized …

Quality Improvement Initative To Reduce Falls Among Geriatric Patients In The Inpatient Mental Health Setting, Regina Johnson

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Falls are widely recognized as a leading cause of injury and hospitalization among older adults, with geriatric psychiatric patients at particularly high risk due to polypharmacy, cognitive impairment, and mobility challenges. At the project site, baseline audits revealed inconsistent use of structured fall risk tools, limited nurse-driven medication review, and gaps in post-fall documentation. The absence of an embedded electronic health record feature for medication review highlighted a significant practice gap requiring intervention.

Aim of the Project: The aim of this quality improvement (QI) project was to reduce fall risk in a geriatric psychiatric hospital through structured post-fall medication …

Fall Reduction Utilizing Fall Tailored Intervention For Patient Safety In Acute Care, Lauren Poindexter

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Hospitalized patient falls cause physical, psychological, and financial harm and persist despite prevention bundles. A Midwest Ohio acute medical unit experienced higher-than-benchmark fall rates (1.53–7.58 falls/1,000 patient days; unit rate 113% of the national median), with a rising trend in FY25. Reliance on the Schmid tool and existing interventions lacked structured patient/family engagement, as well as comprehensive medication assessment, leading to under-recognition of risk and limited nurse-driven prevention.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the project was to reduce inpatient fall rates and fall-related injuries on a medical unit by implementing the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality …

Implementing Pain Reassessment Workflow To Improve Timely Pain Management In Hospice Patients: A Quality Improvement Project, Oluremi Omodara

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Timely pain reassessment is a vital component of hospice care, directly influencing the quality of life for patients. Despite the high prevalence of pain, which affects 55% of hospice patients due to disease progression or adverse drug reactions, only 51% of those reporting moderate to severe pain at admission receive a documented reassessment. The gap highlights an organizational issue in pain management stemming from the absence of a clearly defined period and workflow for reassessment.

Aim of the Project: The aim of the quality improvement (QI) project was to improve compliance with pain reassessment documentation within 48 hours …

Fall Prevention In Home Care: The Introduction Of The Steadi Initiative As Evidence-Based Tool, Margarida Barbosa - Barreiro

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Falls continue to be one of the leading causes of injury and mortality among older adults and remain a significant driver of healthcare utilization and cost. Within the home health setting, inconsistent practices in fall risk assessment and intervention have contributed to care gaps and increased patient vulnerability. The absence of a standardized, evidence-based process created the need for a structured quality improvement initiative to strengthen patient safety.

Aim of the Project: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to integrate the CDC’s Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) toolkit into home health visits to enhance the …

Improving Pain Assessment After Bedside Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (Peg) Placement, Sherman Cotton

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Baseline audits at a 44-bed critical-illness recovery hospital showed low reliability in two post-PEG practices: (1) pain reassessment within 90 minutes of an intervention and (2) complete PEG-site documentation (skin, drainage, tube position/measurement). Baseline performance averaged 55% and 62%, both of which were below the organization’s 90% benchmark.

Aim of the Project: From May to July 2025 (12 weeks), improve on-time pain reassessment and ensure PEG-site documentation reaches at least 90%, maintaining this level for three or more consecutive weeks; monitor workload to prevent increases in perceived charting time and ensure safety by avoiding a rise in PEG-related …

Enhancing Nursing Documentation Accuracy For Female External Urinary Collection Devices Through Structured Documentation Huddles, Tiffany Ealy

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Accurate documentation of female external urinary collection devices (EUCDs), such as the PureWick, is crucial for maintaining continuity of care and ensuring efficient resource utilization. However, inconsistent nursing documentation practices have led to gaps in regulatory compliance and communication among healthcare teams. Baseline data revealed frequent omissions and inaccuracies in female EUCD charting, indicating a significant practice gap that requires targeted improvement.

Aim of the Project: The purpose of the evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to improve nursing documentation accuracy for female EUCDs by implementing structured documentation huddles, thereby enhancing organizational compliance.

Review of the Evidence: A …

Reducing Aspiration Pneumonia By Implementing An Enhanced Oral Care Toolkit, Jennifer London

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Oral care is essential for reducing bacteria and preventing aspiration pneumonia. The risk of aspiration pneumonia increases when protocols are not followed. In 2024, a regional hospital in the Midwest United States spent approximately one million dollars on the preventable healthcare-associated infection known as aspiration pneumonia. A pre-project chart audit of 100 random patient charts on a medical/surgical step-down unit revealed that only 1 of the 100 charts had oral care documented as completed.

Aim of the Project: The primary aims of this project were to increase nursing documentation of oral care by 50% and to decrease …

Reducing Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries In Critical Care Using A Preventing Pressure Ulcers Data Tool, Elizabeth Appiah-Caslin

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are preventable yet remain a significant source of patient harm, especially in high-acuity settings like the Neurocritical Care (NCC) unit. HAPIs increase morbidity, length of stay, and healthcare costs. Despite having a prevention bundle, the NCC unit exceeded national benchmarks due to inconsistent adherence, delayed consultations, and variable documentation. Addressing this issue supports the organization's goals for safety and quality, aligning with CMS and Joint Commission standards.

Aim of the Project: This 12-week quality improvement project aimed to reduce HAPI incidence in the NCC unit by implementing the AHRQ Preventing Pressure Ulcers Data Tool. The …

Implementing A Standardized Ssri Tapering Protocol In The Outpatient Setting, Chelsea Sopo-Ngwa

All Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Problem: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are one of the most prescribed antidepressant medications in the outpatient psychiatric setting. Abrupt discontinuation or improper tapering of these medications may result in SSRI withdrawal symptoms. Adverse effects may lead to poor patient outcomes and increase healthcare utilization. A baseline chart review and provider readiness survey within the outpatient psychiatric practice revealed inconsistency in provider documentation related to SSRI tapering plans, patient education, and follow-up planning. The gap in practice highlighted the lack of a standardized SSRI tapering protocol to guide evidence-based medication tapering practices and promote patient safety.

Aim: The …

Structure-Activity Relationships Of A–And B-Type Proanthocyanidins In Long-Term Dentin Biomodification And Biocompatibility, Yvette Alania, Mariana Reis-Havlat, Shu-Xi Jing, Fahimeh Tabatabaei, James B. Mcalpine, Shao-Nong Chen, Guido F. Pauli, Ana K. Bedran-Russo

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To explore the structure-activity relationships of plant-based proanthocyanidins (PACs) with dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) and the long-term biomechanical stability of PAC-modified dentin extracellular matrix (ECM).

Methods

Mid-coronal dentin ECM (n= 8) was treated with eight PAC tetramers and trimers with varying A-/B-type linkages. Chemo-mechanical analyses included dynamic mechanical analysis and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Viscoelastic components were calculated after PAC biomodification, 18-month incubation, and protein destabilization. Collagen structure was assessed via IR amide absorbance ratios. DPSCs were cultured with PACs at different concentrations (100, 10, and 1 μg/mL) to measure proliferation. ANOVA and post-hoc tests were used for …

Effect Of Different Implant Abutment Materials On Optical Properties Of Translucent Monolithic Zirconia Crowns, Nisha Patel, Geoffrey A. Thompson, Carl Drago, Mohamed Elshewy, David W. Berzins, Hongseok An

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

The use of translucent monolithic zirconia crowns in implant dentistry raises concerns about the underlying abutment color affecting esthetic outcomes. While abutment effects are documented for traditional ceramics, data are limited for modern monolithic zirconia. The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate how abutment material and zirconia brand influence the final color of translucent monolithic zirconia crowns.

Materials and Methods

Eighty monolithic zirconia crowns (four brands; n = 20 each) were fabricated in shade A2 and cemented onto five abutment types: titanium (Ti), gold-hued Ti, pink-hued Ti, zirconia, and a natural dentin-shaded control. Crowns were placed on abutments …

In Vitro Study To Analyze Reverse Torque Values Of Attachment Screws With Multiple Loosening/Tightening Preload Cycles, Amira Alhameed, Nikita Sinha, Geoffrey A. Thompson, Carl Drago, Hongseok An

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

To determine the number of torque/reverse torque cycles attachment screws can withstand before fracture, and to record the magnitude of reverse torque values for each of the 10 cycles of screw tightening and loosening.

Materials and Methods

The testing assemblies consisted of 30 temporary cylinder/multiunit abutment/internal connection implants (10 each from Dentsply Sirona Astra, Biohorizons, and Zimmer Biomet Dental). The assemblies were inserted into resin blocks, and temporary cylinders were connected to the multiunit abutments with new attachment screws and torqued to the recommended preload (15 Ncm Dentsply Sirona Astra; 15 Ncm Biohorizons; 10 Ncm Zimmer Biomet Dental) using …