Digital Commons Network^™

Transforming Movement Assessment In Physical Therapy Through Subaquatic Data Collection, Kaitlyn Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the interest and perceived barriers to integrating subaquatic diagnostic technologies (SDTs) into hydrotherapy among licensed physical therapists. Seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted using a mixed-methods design, with 15 interviews included in the final analysis. Quantitative data were analyzed using chi-square tests, while qualitative responses were coded thematically. Results indicated no statistically significant relationships between SDT interest and career stage or hydrotherapy access, though qualitative data highlighted concerns about cost, limited access, and usability. Despite mixed interest in adoption, participants identified several potential benefits of SDTs, including improved treatment tailoring, increased patient buy-in, and enhanced outcome monitoring. Functional …

Native Bee Communities Within Restored Montane Longleaf Pine Ecosystems, Mary Mcteague

Theses and Dissertations

Montane longleaf pine ecosystems are remarkably biodiverse and highly understudied. Like other longleaf pine ecosystems, montane longleaf pine forests have faced declines. These ecosystems have been undergoing restoration efforts to reestablish floral understories. Flourishing pollinator communities are essential to successful restoration efforts. This study seeks to understand the influence of site history and characteristics on native bee communities in restored montane longleaf pine ecosystems, and to establish a methodology for creating pollination networks in these ecosystems by using DNA metabarcoding to analyze bee-collected pollen. Our results showed that community composition varied based on month and site history. Site history impacted …

Evaluation Of Soil Steaming, Cover Crops, And Allelopathy: An Integrated And Sustainable Weed Management Strategy In Sweetpotatoes, Alaina Marie Richardson

Theses and Dissertations

Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) is a persistent weed in sweetpotato and vegetable cropping systems caused by its aggressive growth habit and limited control options. The present study assessed two alternative, chemical-free methods: steaming the soil and the use of allelopathic cover crops. Greenhouse and field experiments showed that steaming suppressed the germination of yellow nutsedge effectively and that treatments for 45 min provided the highest control of all the soil depths tested (100%). A leachate experiment examined the allelopathy of five cover crops against yellow nutsedge and showed that buckwheat and cereal rye had the largest reductions in shoot …

Feed-Based Strategies To Improve Poultry Production Efficiency, Anna Kathryn Riggs

Theses and Dissertations

The poultry industry continues to make significant strides in efficiency and innovation, particularly through advancements in nutrition. This thesis explores two key areas within broiler nutrition that are essential to supporting sustainable, cost-effective poultry production. First, the potential of a next-generation exogenous carbohydrase enzyme blend containing beta-mannanase and endo-glucanase is investigated when supplemented into reduced-energy, all-vegetable diets based on corn, soybean meal, and corn distillers dried grains with solubles in male broilers over a 42-day grow-out period, including processing (Chapter II). Second, the thesis examines the use of modeling strategies such as cubic, quadratic, kernel and smoothing spline to predict …

Raspberry Cultivar Evaluation Trial In Mississippi, Apphia Santy

Theses and Dissertations

Raspberries (Rubus idaeus) are valued for their flavor, appearance, and nutritional quality. This study evaluated 26 raspberry cultivars over two seasons (2023 and 2024) in Mississippi under a 50% shade-covered system, using organic and conventional fertilization in 7-gallon containers. Cultivars included floricane- and primocane-fruiting types. Data collected included harvest timing, yield, berry weight, soluble solids content (°Brix), titratable acidity, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC). Results showed cultivar differences in yield, berry quality, and antioxidant levels. In 2023, conventionally fertilized plants produced higher yields; in 2024, fertilizer had no impact. Late-season harvests had elevated phytochemicals. ‘Prelude,’ ‘Nova,’ …

Academics Vs Athletics: Prioritizing The Students In Student-Athletes And The Importance Of Their Return To The Classroom, Stephen Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) aims to enhance student- athletes' educational experiences but Law 6.5.1 inadvertently causes students to miss 300 hours of academic instruction annually. This dilemma forces school districts to choose between robust sports programs and rigorous academic schedules, ultimately creating a disadvantage for students. While participation in sports has been linked to improved academic performance, the current structure disproportionately allocates resources to athletics over academics, with only 51% of schools offering after-school academic programs compared to 77% for sports. This paper discusses the benefits of sports, including higher attendance and graduation rates, but also highlights …

Determining The Toxic Threshold And Other Use Characteristics For Industrial Hemp Seed Oil Used For Wood Product Protection, Daylan M. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

Plant-based wood treatments have been utilized for many years, with varying success. Oils such as those extracted from linseed (flax), tung, and hemp plants have been used for thousands of years as finishes on wood. These are all drying oils, which dry to a film when exposed to air. Hemp seed oil has a high fatty acid content and can take a long time to dry on wood products but is valued in woodworking for being easy to use, food-safe, and having little to no odor. In this study, cold-pressed hemp seed oil, blended with a soybean carrier oil, is …

Investigation Of Guayule Resin As An Oil-Based Wood Treatment, Jordan Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Development of alternative treatments for wood product protection is an ongoing focus throughout the wood products industries. All manufacturers hope to increase the use life of their products, while ensuring that their products do not have a harmful impact on their surrounding environment. One way of approaching this is to source potential components from other agricultural sources. Guayule resin is produced as a by-product of rubber extraction from the guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum). The resin has been reported to have insecticidal and microbial properties, but there are numerous problems with utilization, including how to extract it and apply it due …

Expanding Access: A College Access Model For English Learners, Amanda Blackwell Mcleod

Theses and Dissertations

As one of the fastest-growing student populations in K -12 schools, English Learners (EL)s remain significantly underrepresented in postsecondary education. Barriers such as academic preparedness, financial constraints, and sociocultural factors hinder their access to postsecondary education. However, by developing targeted strategies to assist ELs in accessing and completing college, institutions can address these challenges and ensure a more diverse and sustainable student body in the face of declining enrollment. Effective models for helping EL students access college include family engagement, early college exposure, peer mentorship, and student-centered advising. By assisting ELs in accessing college, institutions can strengthen their enrollment efforts, …

Site Formation Processes And Lithic Analysis Of The Swag Site (38al137), John Nathan Shores

Theses and Dissertations

Archaeologists working in the American Southeast have limited ability to contribute to the debates regarding the human colonization of the Americas because relatively undisturbed, well stratified, Paleoindian sites with datable material are rare (Miller 2016:712). The archaeological sites in the Allendale-Briar Creek Paleoindian quarry complex along the Savannah River near Martin, SC have produced sites that contain datable archaeological deposits (Anderson et al. 2016; Waters et al. 2009). One such site, the Swag Site, located in Allendale County, South Carolina, is within the Allendale-Briar Creek Paleoindian quarry complex (Goodyear 2018; Goodyear and Charles 1984; Miller et al. 2016; Oscarson et …

Plant, Pollinator, And Bird Communities In Working Landscapes Across The Southeastern United States., Craig Andrew Sklarczyk

Theses and Dissertations

The southeastern U.S. is a hot spot for biodiversity, yet we continue to see losses in numerous species and their important ecosystem functions and services. Because private working landscapes are widespread and important to the southeastern U.S. and Mississippi’s economy, we must ensure we are conserving species on these private lands as well. In this project, We examined two groups of taxa, bird and bee communities, each which perform vital ecosystem functions in two of the most spatially dominant systems (working pine forest and row-crop agriculture) in Alabama and Mississippi. We examined bee communities in set-aside hardwood forests at different …

Advancing Workforce Development In Digital Health: A Regional Model From The Gcc, Manal Almalki, Osama El-Hassan, Jawad Ahmed, Amr Jamal, Mowafa Househ, Evelyn Hovenga, Paul Barach

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

This study examines the evolution of ZIMAM's role in the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) taskforce on workforce development in digital healthcare. Established in 2016 and formalized as a non-profit organization in 2023, ZIMAM integrates international best practices, regional insights, and innovative strategies to develop a scalable digital health knowledge and skills framework. ZIMAM's methodology includes competency mapping aligned with the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA), stakeholder engagement, and iterative validation to ensure relevance and adaptability. Key ZIMAM initiatives encompass the development of governance structures, capacity-building workshops, annual conferences, and recognition programs such as the ZIMAM-ELSEVIER Digital Health Awards. …

Histologic And Immune Characterization Of Cutaneous Immune-Related Adverse Events Induced By Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Omar Pacha, Anisha B Patel, Jonathan L Curry, Cara L Haymaker, Nejla Ozirmak Lermi, Dzifa Yawa Duose, Ken Chen, Joud Hajjar, Aung Naing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are efficacious, they often cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs), most commonly cutaneous irAEs (CirAEs). The mechanisms underlying CirAEs remain unclear.

Methods: Attempting to better understand their mechanisms and histology we conducted a prospective study of 15 patients with advanced cancers treated with ICIs who developed grade 2 or higher CirAEs. Clinical and histologic characterization of biopsy specimens of CirAEs was performed. Histologic analysis of patient biopsy specimens were subdivided by epidermal reaction patterns that included spongiotic, lichenoid, and interface dermatitis patterns. A targeted RNA expression assay was used to identify immune markers in CirAE …

Staff Education On Blood Glucose Monitoring Protocols For Assisted Living Facility Staff, Musa Ahmed Mugenyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At the practice site, older residents face inconsistent and untimely blood sugar assessments, contributing to avoidable complications such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and hospitalizations. Many caregivers lack standardized training in blood glucose monitoring, which poses a significant risk to residents with diabetes or prediabetes. To address this practice problem, a staff education program on blood glucose monitoring protocols was initiated. The practice-focused question was the following: Will staff knowledge and confidence increase after participating in an education program on monitoring blood glucose levels? As part of the education program, staff received evidence-based instruction on proper techniques for blood glucose testing, recognizing …

Epidemiology, Clinical And Microbiological Characteristics, And Outcomes Of Enterococcus Bacteraemia: A 5-Year-Experience Of A University Hospital In Oman, Mohammed Al Abri, Hashim Ba Wazir

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the prevalence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of bacteraemia caused by Enterococcus species at a university hospital in Oman. Methods: This observational retrospective study was conducted over a 5-year period from 2015 to 2019 at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. Adult patients (18 years and above) with bacteraemia caused by Enterococcus species were included. Data were collected retrospectively from the hospital information system using a standardised data collection form. Results: A total of 142 cases of bacteraemia were observed, with E. faecalis being isolated in the majority of cases (n = 88, 62%) compared …

The Trophic Ecology Of The Snipe Eel Avocettina Infans (Anguilliformes: Nemichthyidae) In The Deep-Pelagic Gulf Of Mexico, Emma N. Schindler

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The Nemichthyidae (snipe eels) are ubiquitous in the deep-pelagic waters of tropical and temperate latitudes, and in some ecosystems are among the dominant fishes. In the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the nemichthyid species Avocettina infans is one of the dominant large predators. This prompted the current study, where an extensive sample set was utilized to characterize the abundance of the family in total, and the vertical distribution and trophic ecology of A. infans specifically. The nemichthyid abundance from 0 – 1500 m was estimated at 1,106.58 individuals per billion cubic meters, the largest portion of which was …

The Case For Mass Media Communication Theories In The Study Of Artificial Intelligence: A Uses And Gratifications & Parasocial Interaction Theory Approach, Colin Farmer

Theses

This study analyzes communication and relationship building between textual generative Artificial Intelligence programs and their users through the lens of parasocial interactions and uses and gratifications. It measures loneliness, knowledge gaining, and task completion as the primary reasons motivating perceived relationship development with AI applications. Through a quantitative survey, it explores the connections between time spent using AI, as well as the previously mentioned factors and seeks to determine what influences a user’s perceived relationship with an AI chatbot program. Comparisons are also drawn between the relationships with AI and the user’s relationships with celebrities, further expanding the justification for …

Analyzing Heat Transfer Mechanisms In Tapered Microgaps And Film Boiling With Computational Modeling Incorporating Nucleation Sites And Subcooled Fluids, Divyprakash Pal

Theses

Applications such as nuclear reactors, data centers, and microelectronics require an understanding of the hydrodynamic and thermal behavior of liquid and vapor phases on heated surfaces. Phase change and interfacial dynamics enhance heat transfer in evaporation and condensation systems. This study simulates film evaporation, subcooled nucleate boiling, and confined boiling in tapered microgaps using customized Ansys Fluent with user-defined functions (UDFs) for sharp interface tracking and temperature-gradient-driven mass transfer. In film evaporation, the peak local heat transfer coefficient (HTC) reached 2170 W/(m²·K) at 0.5 mm film thickness. The maximum Nusselt number was 5.69 at 0.5 mm and the minimum was …

Partnership, Collaboration, And Co-Production To Improve Patient Experience Beyond Conducting Surveys – Lessons From The Quebec Model, Canada, Marie-Pascale Pomey, Catherine Wilhelmy, Myriam Fournier-Tombs, Vincent Dumez, Cécile Vialaron, Monica Nelea Iliescu, Karina Prevost, Simon Courtemanche, Louise Normandin, Geneviève David

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: The objectives of this article are to present how, in the province of Quebec (Canada), healthcare and service partnerships have been implemented, to take stock of the current situation and to suggest ways to continue strengthening the model over the coming years, in Quebec and elsewhere in the world. Methods: Three methods were mobilized: (1) a review of the literature and reports published in recent years on implementations of partnerships in Quebec; (2) a survey sent to the persons responsible for partnerships in Quebec’s health and social services establishments; and (3) a working committee comprised of patient experts, partnership …

Peer Mentoring, Camaraderie, And Support (Pmcs) Of Southern New Jersey: Suicide Prevention Using Human Experience And Social Determinants Of Health, Ali A. Poorani, Matthew Jacobs, Patrick Carney, Jaclyn Tomasetti

Patient Experience Journal

Suicide prevention is a high priority for Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Recent data show an increase in suicide rates, especially among Veterans that had not used VHA health services and nor had received any VHA benefits. Meanwhile, data collected for the past two decades reveals a decline in suicide rates among Veterans who were recent VHA users with mental health or substance use disorders. The objective of the Peer Mentoring, Camaraderie, and Support (PMCS) Program was to explore novel ways to reengage and reintegrate Veterans into their earned VA healthcare benefits, and examine the effectiveness of this new initiative by …

“All Together”: A Case Study Demystifying Patient And Public Involvement (Ppi) In Brief Psychological Interventions Within A Community Mental Health Service For Adults In The Uk, Molly H. Nadel, Katherine Parkin, Stephanie Casey, Rachel Maciag, Alice Xie, Mu-Yin Chang, Youngsuk Kim

Patient Experience Journal

The importance and value of involving patients and the public in the decision-making processes within services designed to support them, and research projects aimed at understanding and improving those services, have long been established. This is often referred to as Patient and Public Involvement (PPI). However, establishing good quality involvement work in practical terms is often less well understood and therefore, the uncertainty surrounding this can lead to hesitation by clinicians in practice. In this paper, we will share our lessons learned and the practical outcomes of PPI when applied in an NHS community mental health service for adults. We …

The Implementation Of A Telehealth Patient Advisory Council In A Network Of Federally Qualified Health Centers, Jessica Korins, Lisa Schaffer, Nandini Shroff

Patient Experience Journal

Patient input is recognized across the healthcare field as essential for tailoring innovations and quality improvement initiatives to meet the needs of intended patient populations. This paper describes the implementation of a patient advisory council (PAC) established to provide feedback on telehealth innovations and quality improvement initiatives at a network of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in New York State (NYS). We report on the implementation process, success and challenges, and reflections shared by PAC members regarding their experiences.

Understanding Online Reviews Of Geriatricians: Correlations Within A Dataset Of 53,210 Physician Reviews, Yizhong Wu, Eric Reuben Smith, Nick Shaffer, Hanh Dieu Trinh, Becky Powers

Patient Experience Journal

Introduction: Online reviews are increasingly influential in how patients find and choose physicians. Patients appreciate the transparency of online reviews, and they offer an avenue for physicians to receive feedback. This cross-sectional study aims to provide insight into correlations between provider level information such as wait times or physician demographics, and the reviews patients submit online for geriatricians.

Methods: ParseHub software was used to extract and pool data from 6,631 provider profiles categorized under “geriatric medicine” on the popular open-source physician review website Healthgrades.com. Physician race or ethnicity was modeled by profile last name based on 2010 US census data. …

Family-Centered Care In Pediatric And Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Systematic Review Of Effects On Parental Satisfaction And Length Of Stay, Vincenzo Andretta, Valentina Cerrone, Veronica Strini, Angela Prendin

Patient Experience Journal

Background: Family-centered care (FCC) is essential in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units (PICUs), potentially increasing parent satisfaction and reducing length of hospital stay, but evidence of its effectiveness is inconsistent. Objective: To assess the effects of FCC interventions on parent satisfaction and length of hospital stay in PICUs. Methods: A systematic review was conducted, with 17 studies meeting the established inclusion criteria. The McMaster tool was used to assess the methodological quality of studies, along with an assessment of risk of bias. Results: The review identified a wide range of FCC interventions, including promoting parental …

I Felt More Confident That It Would Work For Me: A Grounded Theory Of Person-Centered Interprofessional Collaboration Based On Patients’ Lived Experiences, Katherine Hope Morgan, Cristina S. Barroso, Kathleen Conroy Brown, Michael R. Bleich, Soghra Jarvandi, Elizabeth B. Strand, Shaun Rowe

Patient Experience Journal

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is considered the highest standard of practice for delivering care to patients with multiple, complex, and chronic conditions. Despite reported benefits of IPC, the voice of the care receiver and how or whether they experience IPC is underexplored. Our objective was to examine patients’ experiences with IPC in two rural primary care settings in the U.S., where the burden of multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) is coupled with lower life expectancies and reduced access to care. We used a semi-structured interview to assess patients’ experiences within 72 hours after an IPC healthcare visit. This study, conducted in two …

Role Of Patient-Reported Measures (Prms) In Addressing Ethical Challenges During Telemedicine Consultation: A Narrative Review, Asiya Attar, Kasturi Shukla

Patient Experience Journal

Introduction: Telemedicine has revolutionized medical care delivery by emphasizing on Patient-Centred Care (PCC). Patient Reported Measures (PRMs) can assist in providing PCC since it assesses the treatment outcomes and patient experience. However, using PRMs is not just limited to gauging clinical efficiency; it can also play a role in addressing the ethical challenges in telemedicine. Yet this aspect of PRMs remains underexplored. Method: Literature search was conducted using a combination of keywords from the Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. 126 peer-reviewed journal articles in English from 2015 to 2024 were screened, and 34 relevant full-text …

Understanding Patient Experiences: A Qualitative Study On Communication And Cultural Competence In Multiple Sclerosis Care, Vaishnavi Sridharan, Charee Thompson, Rola Mahmoud, Minnatallah N. E. Eltinay, Chungyi Chiu

Patient Experience Journal

Objective: Effective communication is crucial in multiple sclerosis (MS) care, influencing patient satisfaction, self-management, and health outcomes. This study explores the experiences of people with MS (PwMS) regarding communication with healthcare providers and between providers within healthcare systems. Methods: This qualitative study analyzed open-ended responses from 590 participants in a national cross-sectional survey. Thematic content analysis was conducted to explore MS patients’ experiences with healthcare communication and care delivery. Results: Three major themes emerged: (1) Patient-provider communication, where 62.9% of participants reported positive experiences, citing responsiveness and empathy, while 37.1% noted issues such as inattentiveness and rushed consultations. (2) …

“Why Should Anyone Want To Make Things Better For Me Particularly?” – A Qualitative Exploration Of Care Opinion And Nhs Care Improvements, Emma Berry, Zoe Skea, Marion K. Campbell, Louise Locock

Patient Experience Journal

Care Opinion is an online platform which enables people to share anonymous feedback (known as “stories”) about their experiences of UK healthcare. In Scotland, this platform has official government backing, though healthcare organisations are not obliged to use it. Care Opinion staff review and edit these stories, acting as moderators. Healthcare staff are invited to respond to stories and are encouraged to use it for healthcare improvement. However, the number of changes made and registered on the platform is relatively small. This paper brings together findings from interviews with story authors (those sharing experiences), NHS staff and Care Opinion moderators …

Psychosocial Dimensions Of Living With Hep B: Notes From The Field: The Lived Experience Of A Mother Raising A Daughter With Hepatitis B, Julie Gerhardt

Patient Experience Journal

What follows is based on the interweaving of three points of view each of which contributes to an understanding of the experience of living with Hepatitis B: (i) as the mother of a daughter who was diagnosed with HBV at 5 months and who still, at age 22, carries traces of the surface antigen in her blood; (ii) as a participant in the Hepatitis B Foundation’s (HBF) “Storytellers” program in which those impacted by the disease meet with others to share experiences and narrate a short video posted on the HBF website; and (iii) as a PhD research psychologist-turned-psychoanalyst interested …

My Husband Didn’T Have To Die: A Doctor Reflects On All That Went Wrong With Her Husband’S Care In One Of The Nation’S Top Medical Centers, Joanna A. Cooper

Patient Experience Journal

The outcomes of complex care are never predictable. Despite this, reflecting on my husband’s care and his untimely death, I am certain that his fate would have been different with better communication, attention to detail, collaboration, and measures of curiosity, humility, and compassion.