Digital Commons Network^™

Recognition As A Strategy For Member Engagement, Brenda Owusu, Jacqueline Thomas

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: Member engagement, participation and commitment to professional organization is important to meet organization goals leading to its growth and development. Effective strategies are essential to promote involvement, increase retention, and enhance community among members (Frangieh et al., 2024). One practical approach is recognizing outstanding contributions at the section level within regional chapters. Such initiatives help cultivate a culture of appreciation, motivating members to stay actively involved and contribute further to the organization’s goal. Public acknowledgment of members’ efforts also fosters a sense of belonging and pride, which can lead to increased loyalty and commitment to the organization (Lansing et …

Celebration As A Strategy For Member Engagement, Karis Casseus, Karen Worthy

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: Engagement is the foundation for cultivating vibrant and sustainable professional organizations, and Sigma exemplifies this commitment through its robust focus on member involvement. Celebrating organizational events is a strategic mechanism to enhance connections, commemorate achievements, and solidify the shared values that unify members. (Eddy et al., 2021; Sweeney & Wiseman, 2023). Celebratory environments are consistently linked to heightened satisfaction and commitment, driving long-term organizational success (George & Massey, 2020; Reid, 2024). This presentation delves into the transformative impact of planned celebrations and intentional recognition, formal or informal, in fostering member engagement by nurturing a sense of belonging, elevating morale, …

Fostering Nursing Professional Identity Through A Comprehensive Teaching Strategy, Kathleen M. Williamson

Biennial Convention (CONV)

OBJECTIVES:

• Describe the significance of developing a strong professional identity in nursing.
• Explore methods for incorporating reflective practice as a teaching strategy to help nursing students internalize professional values.
• Integrate reflective practice to support the development of professional identity among students.

The development of a strong professional identity is crucial for nursing students as it shapes their values, behaviors, and attitudes towards patient care. This presentation will share a teaching strategy that was designed to incorporate the concept of professional identity in nursing. The strategy employed reflective practice to foster understanding of professional identity among nursing students.

This presentation will …

Using Well-Being, Professional Identity, And Civility Best Practices In A Nursing Academic Setting, Jennifer Louise Embree

Biennial Convention (CONV)

OBJECTIVES:

• Discover perspectives of well-being in academics
• Describe methods for determining Professional Identity in Nursing
• Determine methodology to detect aspects of academic civil work environment

Identifying perspectives is critical to intervention implementation and strategy. Authors describe the Mini-Z General, the Healthy Work Environment Index, the Civility Work Index, and Professional Identity in Nursing (PIN) Survey to identify and measure well-being, PIN, a healthy work environment, and civility among faculty and staff.

Data demonstrated a stress and best practice intervention was need for well-being, PIN, and civility. Identifying well-being and envisioning the future programming state can guide change and support various …

Living The Balance Theory Of Wisdom With Leadership Values In Mind, Daniel J. Pesut

Biennial Convention (CONV)

In creating the Balance Theory of Wisdom, Sternberg (1) defined wisdom as the application of intelligence, creativity, and knowledge to the common good by balancing and mediating the values of self (intrapersonal), others (interpersonal), and institutional (extra-personal) interests over the long and short terms in service of adapting, shaping, and selecting environments, that is, to represent, respect, reflect, and respond in shaping the future. The functional consequences of this definition suggest that wise people have exceptional insight into human development and life matters, look for deeper meaning, tolerate ambiguity, have compassion, are other- and purpose-focused, and recognize the limits of …

Caring Science As Embodied Wisdom: Balancing Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, And Extrapersonal Factors, Sara Horton-Deutsch

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The intersection of caring science and the balance theory of wisdom reveals profound connections between therapeutic practice and theoretical frameworks of human understanding. We examine how caring science inherently encompasses explicit knowledge—systematic, teachable aspects of healthcare—and tacit knowledge—intuitive, experience-based understanding practitioners develop over time. Exploring these knowledge domains with the lens of the balance theory of wisdom aligns caring science with the theory's core principles of balancing multiple interests, adapting to environmental contexts, and pursuing the common good (1).
Practicing through the lens of caring science implicitly aligns with wisdom-based decision-making by balancing intrapersonal (self), interpersonal (others), and extrapersonal (institutional) …

A Nationwide Registry Study Of Surgical And Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion: Part 2 - Cage With Versus Without Local Bone Graft, Daniel De Wilde, Victor Gabriel El-Hajj, Patrick Vigren, Victor E. Staartjes, Elias Atallah, Erik Edström, Adrian Elmi-Terander

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Local bone grafts are commonly used as filling material in cages during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Alternatively, cages without filling materials can be used. The literature comparing these approaches is limited, and their respective effects on patient-reported outcomes (PROM) have been scarcely studied. This study was conducted to compare surgical outcomes and PROMs between local bone graft-packed cages and empty cages in ACDF surgery.

METHODS: This observational study utilized data from the Swedish nationwide registry, Swespine. All adults who underwent ACDF between 2006 and 2020 were considered for inclusion. Exclusion criteria included missing baseline or outcome data. …

Trump-Appointed Judges Reverse Preliminary Injunction Against Military Trans Ban, Arthur S. Leonard

Other Publications

No abstract provided.

First-In-Child Phase I Trial Of P-Stat3 Inhibitor Wp1066 In Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients, Robert C Castellino, Hope L Mumme, Andrea T Franson, Bing Yu, M Hope Robinson, Kavita Dhodapkar, Dolly Aguilera, Matthew J Schniederjan, Rohali Keesari, Zhulin He, Manoj Bhasin, Waldemar Priebe, Amy B Heimberger, Tobey J Macdonald

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: WP1066 is an orally bioavailable, small molecule inhibitor of activated p-STAT3 that has demonstrated preclinical efficacy in pediatric brain tumor models.

Methods: In a first-in-child, single-center, single-arm 3+3 design Phase I clinical trial, ten patients were treated with WP1066 twice daily, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, for 14 days of each 28-day cycle to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD)/maximum feasible dose (MFD) of WP1066. Compassionate use treatment with WP1066 in three pediatric patients with H3.3 G34R/V-mutant high-grade glioma (HGG) is also described.

Results: There was no significant toxicity and the MFD was determined to be 8 mg/kg. Treatment-related adverse events were Grade …

Role Of Cellular Stress Responses In Innate Immune Defense Against Acute Respiratory Infections, Amit Sharma

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) is an important regulator of innate immune cells. However, its role in pulmonary innate host defenses remains poorly understood. This dissertation elucidates the dual, context-dependent role of IRE1α in host defense against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia. We demonstrate IRE1α’s function as both a detrimental mediator of acute pathology and an essential facilitator of innate immune memory. Our work revealed that acute IRE1α activation during primary MRSA infection is detrimental. In lungs and alveolar macrophages (AMs), IRE1α is activated in response to MRSA infection. Consequently, IRE1α activation triggers a hyperinflammatory …

Biosynthesis, Characterization Of Curcumin-Capped Zno-Cuo And Chitosan-Curcumin-Capped Zno-Cuo Based Omaterial As Antibacterial Agent Of Escherichia Coli, Ahmad Fatoni, Afnita Fatmawati Umli, Reza Agung Sriwijaya, Hilma Hilma, Nurlisa Hidayati

Chimica et Natura Acta

The biofabrication of the chitosan-curcumin-capped ZnO-CuO and curcumin-capped ZnO-CuO oparticles, as well as their ability to combat Escherichia coli bacteria, were the focus of this study. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to examine the chitosan-curcumin-capped ZnO-CuO and curcumin-capped ZnO-CuO oparticles, respectively. Both were evaluated using the agar diffusion method as antibacterials against Escherichia coli. Results of analysis with FTIR, between 500 and 700 cm⁻¹, the functional group of Cu-O or Zn-O was seen at its highest point. The functional group of Cu-O and Zn-O in curcumin-capped ZnO-CuO was detected at wavenumber …

2025 December 11 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Quien Soy Sin Mi Idioma Nativo?: The Loss Of The Spanish Language And Its Effects On Identity, Wilzaid L. Santiago-Maldonado

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Language is a mechanism of cultural preservation. The history of language has two parts: 1. the technical aspects and 2. how it is diffused and/or becomes extinct. According to the U.S. Census Data, the Hispanic population has grown immensely over the past several decades, particularly from 1980-2020. Even so, there has been significant loss of the Spanish language. The researcher examined this phenomenon in two phases. First, 14 peer-reviewed articles published between 2008-2024 were assessed to determine emerging themes. Results showed that articles cited “the lack of knowledge/use” of Spanish and the “language/cultural dominance.” Second, the researcher conducted four focus …

A Functional Mri Meta-Analysis Encoding In Alzheimer’S Disease, Joanne Ha

Master's Theses

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and is characterized by episodic memory impairment. Numerous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have examined brain activity differences between individuals with AD and age-matched controls during memory encoding. However, small sample sizes and methodological variability across studies have limited the ability to draw meaningful conclusions regarding brain activity underlying encoding impairments. We conducted a meta-analysis to identify consistent patterns of hyperactivity and hypoactivity in AD during episodic memory encoding. Using PubMed to identify studies that met our inclusion criteria, 1,002 studies were screened; ultimately, seven studies were included in …

The Unspoken Whiteness Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Gracies Versus Luta Livre, Benjamin Penglase

Anthropology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

This article explores why the relationship between race and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and the ways that Brazilian jiu-jitsu has been racialized as white, have often been invisible, particularly for non-Brazilians. It argues that both non-Brazilians who practice the martial art, and the scholarly analysis of jiu-jitsu, have often ignored how the marital art has been positioned as ‘white’ within Brazil’s complex and highly unequal structures of racial dominance.  Focusing on challenge matches that the Gracie family fought against practitioners of luta livre (a Brazilian style of catch-wrestling), the article shows how these matches located jiu-jitsu within Brazil’s racial hierarchy, though often …

Atypical Spindle Cell Lipomatous Tumor: A Scoping Review Of Current Insights Into Diagnosis, Pathogenesis, And Management, Noor Chughtai, Jordan Shelestak, Cortland Brown, Jared Nichols

Student Publications

Atypical spindle cell/pleomorphic lipomatous tumor (ASPLT) is a recently recognized benign adipocytic neoplasm, distinguished by specific histopathological and immunohistochemical features. Although traditionally classified as a tumor of the limbs and limb girdles, emerging evidence suggests a broader anatomic distribution. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed to identify ASPLT case reports published within the past decade. Cases were included if they had a confirmed ASPLT diagnosis, while reports describing unrelated neoplasms or limited by language barriers were excluded. Thirteen cases met the inclusion criteria. Data on patient demographics, tumor characteristics, immunohistochemical profiles, and diagnostic methodologies were extracted …

Consciousness And Magic: A Tribute To Allan Leslie Combs, Sharon G. Mijares Phd

Journal of Conscious Evolution

This article discusses the originating and continuing ideas associated with the Society for Consciousness Studies (SCS). More than a historical account, the evolution of the SCS mirrors the revelatory and unifying experiences of members as they pursue the understanding of non-local and non-ordinary consciousness through lenses such as synchronicity and the imaginal realm. This tribute encompasses parapsychological emphases interwoven with mythological, shamanic, spiritual, and literary art, drawing parallels between Parmenides’s journey to the underworld and the exploration of “magic” in science. Primarily, the essay focuses on the contributions of Allan Leslie Combs and his capacity for uniting various contributions and …

Investigation Of The Flow Field Morphology Of Film Cooling In Supersonic Flow, Umberto Sandri, Massimiliano Ferro, Alessio Picchi, Antonio Andreini, Bruno Facchini, Marc D. Polanka

Faculty Publications

Film cooling is widely implemented in highly thermally stressed gas turbine components. Its performance has been extensively investigated for several decades and many results are available in the literature. In conventional gas turbines, regions of supersonic flow are not prevalent and should generally be avoided. For this reason, results relative to film cooling in supersonic flow are limited. Nevertheless, a new interest related to Rotating Detonation Combustors (RDC) and supersonic turbines is growing. The implementation of those engine components in a gas turbine is likely to need film cooling for thermal protection. In this context, it becomes crucial to gain …

In-Situ Investigations Of Calcium-Magnesium-Aluminosilicates (Cmas) Infiltration Effects On Thermal Barrier Coatings Under Extreme Environments Replicating Jet Engines, Zachary Stein

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Calcium-magnesium-aluminosilicate (CMAS) particulates, such as sand or volcanic ash, are ingested by gas turbine jet engines during operation. When operating within high abundance regions, these particulates negatively interact and degrade the high temperature thermal barrier coatings (TBC) protecting underlying superalloy turbine blades vital to engine operation. These CMAS particulates melt within the engine and infiltrate into the ceramic coatings. In electron-beam physical vapor deposited (EB-PVD) TBCs, the CMAS within the intercolumnar gaps stiffens the coatings and causes thermomechanical induced high stress concentrations, risking crack formation. While molten, the CMAS thermochemically alters and destabilizes the coating, also risking coating failure. Premature, …

Parameter Informed Reinforcement Learning For Vehicle System Identification, Nathan Schaff

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Accurate system identification is essential for modeling and controlling vehicle dynamics. This dissertation explores the application of Parameter Informed Reinforcement Learning (PIRL) as a novel approach to system identification (SYSID). PIRL integrates prior system knowledge, such as physical parameters, into reinforcement learning (RL) frameworks to improve estimation accuracy. The study begins with an overview of traditional SYSID methods and then introduces PIRL as a modification of standard RL. The research applies PIRL to short-period aircraft dynamics, demonstrating its effectiveness in both offline and online learning frameworks. The dissertation then further explores PIRL’s utility in an indirect model reference adaptive control …

A Case Study Of The Implementation Of Non-Linear Assessment Protocols For Pre-Service Music Teachers, Jeffrey Ward, Phillip Payne, Michele Henry

School of Music Faculty Publications

Grounded in previous research regarding admission and graduation standards of music education undergraduate candidates, we created a framework to assess student readiness to enter the music education profession across multiple points of inquiry. To determine the efficacy of the protocols, we conducted a case study to pilot implementation of the protocols with two university music education programs in the United States. Two of the authors–music education faculty at these universities–served as site coordinators implementing the protocols with multiple student cohorts (comprised of first-year, midpoint, and graduates) within their institution. The authors reviewed the reports employing a three-step process. In the …

Kenyon Collegian - December 11, 2025

The Kenyon Collegian

No abstract provided.

Delayed Delivery Of Antibiotics By Ultrasound-Mediated Rupture Of Polylactic Acid Pockets: In Vitro And In Vivo Studies, Selin Isguven Billmyer, Priscilla Machado, Ryan Tomlinson, Lauren J. Delaney, Ji-Bin Liu, Alexander H Harris, Eric Mclaughlin, Noreen J. Hickok, Flemming Forsberg

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Surgical site infections are a devastating complication of instrumented orthopaedic surgery, particularly in the spine. Bacterial biofilms, once formed on the implant surfaces, exhibit antibiotic tolerance and immune escape, which lead to treatment challenges. Up to 9% of instrumented spine surgeries result in infection, despite the use of systemic antibiotics and local, powdered antibiotics for prophylaxis. The bacteria that survive the initial prophylaxis may be susceptible to a second, high dose of antibiotic prophylaxis prior to establishing at the site. Hence, we designed a local drug delivery system consisting of polylactic acid (PLA) film pockets that can be noninvasively triggered …

Acid And Sequential Acid–Alkali Extraction To Mitigate Enzyme Activity And Off-Flavors In Chickpea Protein: Implications On Structural, Functional, And Bioactive Properties, Kavitha Lakshmipathy, Sukanya Poddar, Nikitha Modupalli, Scott Lafontaine, Md Mahfuzur Rahman

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Chickpea proteins offer significant nutritional and functional benefits in food products; however, their utilization is often restricted by off-flavors, primarily for lipoxygenase (LOX) and lipase activity. This study aims to develop a novel extraction method by combining acid (pH 2.0) extraction with the conventional alkali (pH 9.0) method to inactivate enzymes and enhance protein quality. Acid-extracted proteins exhibit the highest purity (83.4%), albumin content, and structural flexibility (46.65% random coil). Both acid and sequential acid-alkali-extracted proteins significantly reduced LOX (0.75 and 0.88 U/g) and lipase (0.10 and 0.08 U/g) activity. Acid extraction significantly lowers volatile compounds such as hexanal (0.0409 …

Designing A Scalable Recruitment & Partnership System For The Leadership And Business Strategy (Lbs) Program Through Strategic Marketing And Brand Development, Daniela Padilla

Honors Theses

The Leadership and Business Strategy (LBS) program at Western Michigan University delivers a highly immersive experience that allows students to learn business by doing business. Students engage directly with executives, including CEOs, working alongside them on complex consulting projects with real companies. The program takes place at Sleeping Giant Capital, a Michigan-based private equity firm, where students operate in a real business environment and gain exposure to high-level strategy and decision-making. Yet despite its impact, many students only discover LBS after enrolling at the university. Student data reinforces this gap, showing that while most students know their intended major before …

Evaluation Of Internal Field In Ppln And Studies On Qpm Shg Efficiency Factor, Prasath Rk Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate (PPLN) crystals have attracted interest in optoelectronics and nonlinear optics. The response to the applied electric field is determined by their larger electro-optic and nonlinear optical coefficients. An internal electric field exists in congruent PPLN crystals due to its defects. Its evaluation is important in controlling the electro-optical behavior. A simple nondestructive diffraction method is proposed to estimate the internal electric field present in the congruent lithium niobate crystal.

Due to the presence of an unrelaxed internal field, the as-poled sample acts as an index grating. When a light is incident on such a sample, it …

Acceptability, Appropriateness, Willingness To Use, And Perceptions Towards Hiv Self-Testing Among Adolescent Girls And Young Women In Rural Northern Uganda: A Baseline Formative Cross-Sectional Study, Ronald Olum, Morrish Obol Okello, Freddy Eric Kitutu, Elvin H Geng, Philippa Musoke

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Uganda are at higher risk for and bear a significant HIV burden, accounting for 25% of new infections. Despite improved HIV testing services, AGYW in rural areas face barriers to facility-based testing due to stigma, physical access barriers, and confidentiality concerns. This study assessed the acceptability, appropriateness, willingness to use, and perceptions of HIVST among AGYW in Northern Uganda.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was part of a baseline assessment for a quasi-experimental trial evaluating community-led HIVST among AGYW aged 15-24 years in 5 sub-counties in Omoro District. Data were collected using systematic …

Assessing The Association Between Covid-19 Vaccination And Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (Attest Study): Analyses Of English Data, 2020-2022, Jose Ordonez-Mena, Xinchun Gu, Mark Joy, Xuejuan Fan, Bernardo Meza-Torres, William Hinton, Rashmi Wimalaratna, Gavin Jamie, Anna Forbes, Debasish Kar, Rachel Byford, Sneha N. Anand, Filipa Ferreira, Lisa Mather, Andrew Lee, F. D. Richard Hobbs, Deborah Layton, Simon De Lusignan

Peninsula Medical School

ObjectiveCOVID-19 vaccine surveillance detected thrombotic thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a rare combination of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia, after COVID-19 vaccination. We evaluated TTS risk within 28 days of AZD1222 and BNT162b2 exposure.MethodsMatched case-control (MCCS) and self-controlled case series (SCCS) studies used Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre data linked to immunisation, hospitalisation and death data. English patient records extracted from 2/12/2020 to 31/10/2022 were used to identify TTS cases and age, sex, and practice matched controls. Conditional logistic regression and conditional Poisson regression were used for MCCS and SCCS analyses, respectively.ResultsOf 666 TTS events identified, >90% happened without AZD1222/BNT162b2 …

Enhancing Graduate Employability Through The Role Of The School Career Center (Bursa Kerja Khusus) At Smkn 1 Bandung, Dwi Purwanto, Didik Nurhadi, Widiyanti Widiyanti

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study examines the role of the Bursa Kerja Khusus (BKK) in enhancing graduate employability at SMKN 1 Bandung. Using a qualitative descriptive design, data were collected through interviews with BKK staff, teachers, alumni, and industry partners, supported by observations and document analysis. The findings reveal that BKK functions as a strategic bridge between school and industry by providing digital job information services, facilitating structured recruitment processes, and maintaining strong industry partnerships. These practices effectively support graduates’ transition into the workforce. However, challenges persist, particularly related to limited soft skills and occasional mismatches between school competencies and industry demands. Supporting …

Effectiveness Of Drill And Imitation Methods In The Application Of Canon And Broken Design Techniques In Feto Hitu Dance, Kadek Paramitha Hariswari, Natalsya Vandana Sape

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study was motivated by the need to identify effective dance learning methods that enhance dancers’ technical and aesthetic abilities, particularly in applying canon and broken design techniques to creatively reconstructed traditional dances. The purpose of this research is to analyze the effectiveness of the drill and imitation methods in developing dancers’ ability to apply canon and broken techniques in the Feto Hitu dance. The study employed a qualitative descriptive approach using field action methods. Data were collected through observations of the training process, interviews with instructors and dancers, and video documentation at the Dance Studio of the Music Education …