Digital Commons Network^™

The Anatomy Of Change: A Scoping Review Of Surgical Curriculum Renewal Processes, Marc A. Seifman, Robyn Woodward-Kron, Roi Y. Kagan, Kirsten Dalrymple, Aimee K. Gardner, Ian Incoll, Lars Konge, John T. Paige, Debra Nestel

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: Renewal of surgical curricula is critical in maintaining relevance to contemporary healthcare needs. A curriculum document usually describes its purpose, intended outcomes, content, methods, and assessment and evaluation processes. The document may also consider cultural, professional, political, and social contexts. While there are published curriculum development approaches, guidance on renewal processes is limited. This scoping review aims to synthesise literature on surgical curriculum renewal, to understand the key elements of this process, and identify areas for improvement. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted by the core author team, with co-creation involving a Knowledge User Group (KUG). Seven databases were …

Medial Artery Calcification As A Hidden Driver Of Osteomyelitis: The Impact Of Sad-Mac On Microvascular Perfusion And Antibiotic Delivery In The Diabetic Foot, Yasim Zafar, Paul Tran, Ofsman Quintana, Dustin Prins, Hooman Mir

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Purpose: To evaluate the association between small arterial disease with medial artery calcification (SAD-MAC) and increased risk of osteomyelitis in diabetic foot patients. This study explores how impaired microvascular perfusion contributes to ischemic ulcers, infection progression, and reduced antibiotic efficacy, leading to poor healing and higher amputation rates.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on nine diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease who presented with ischemic or gangrenous toes. Patients lacking radiographs or with non-diabetic ischemic etiologies were excluded. Radiographs were evaluated for small arterial disease with medial artery calcification (SAD-MAC) and graded using the …

Biodiversity Performance Of Living Wall Systems In Urban Environments: A Uk Case Study Of Plant Selection And Substrate Effects On Multi-Taxa Communities, Paul Henry Lunt, James Buckley, Suzanne Mitchell, Gabriel Thomas, Elek Churella, Thomas Richard Murphy

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Urban densification threatens biodiversity, yet conventional greenspace expansion is constrained by limited land availability. Living wall systems (LWS) offer potential biodiversity enhancement through vertical green infrastructure, though their ecological value remains underexplored. This study evaluated the biodiversity performance of three LWS in Plymouth, UK, using multi-taxa surveys to assess invertebrate communities, bird assemblages, and bat activity. A scoping review of 2638 publications revealed limited research on LWS biodiversity, with only 27% of biodiversity-focused papers referencing specific species. Field surveys employed standardised protocols including flower-visiting pollinator observations, spider assessments, soil invertebrate extraction using Tullgren funnels, acoustic bird monitoring, and bat emergence …

Performance Forum - December 5, 2025, Li Yang Liu, Jon Cruz, Hanting Peng, Paola Garcia, Ruvit Bracho, Ruzanna Usmanova, Rosa Ortega Ianelli, Roey Dushi, Brooke Gunter, Emma Joyce, Christian Curran, Nathaniel Jones, Ingryd Herrera, Juan Diaz Quijano, Santiago Moreno, Omar Mata, Kade Gordon, Devin Foster

Performance Forum

No abstract provided.

Unveiling The Genomic Blueprint Of Two Pantoea Agglomerans Phages: Lia And Yaegar As Emerging Members Of The Chaseviridae Family, Leslie M. Ewool

Theses and Dissertations

Bacteriophages represent an essential component of microbial ecosystems and a promising resource for biocontrol. This study presents a comprehensive comparative genomic and evolutionary characterization of two novel bacteriophages that infect Pantoea agglomerans, Lia and Yaegar, belonging to the Loessnervirus genus within the Chaseviridae family. Both Lia and Yaegar possess double-stranded DNA genomes of approximately 54 kb with 44.4% GC content and 82 predicted open reading frames (ORFs). Functional annotation revealed distinct modules for replication, structural assembly, and lysis, but no genes associated with lysogeny, antibiotic resistance, or virulence. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis indicated over 96% similarity between Lia, Yaegar, …

Teaching With V.I.S.I.O.N.: A Qualitative Case Study, Abbrissola A. Shull

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

This qualitative case study explored how those matriculating through a teacher education program can develop a critical consciousness of K-12 students experiencing homelessness or high mobility using the Teaching with V.I.S.I.O.N workshop model. This acronym stands for V: Value the culture and lived experiences of students reflected in the classroom, I: Implicit Bias Awareness, S: Study scenarios using the equity literacy case analysis approach (Gorski, 2018), I: Increase the diversity of texts provided in the classroom to reflect these experiences, O: On-going reflection regarding current practices and ways to improve using equity literacy (Gorski, 2018), …

Displaced Myonuclei Are Attributable To Both Resident Myonuclear Migration And Stem Cell Fusion During Mechanical Loading In Adult Skeletal Muscle, Nathan Serrano, Pieter Jan Koopmans, Kevin A. Murach

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Non-peripheral (displaced) myonuclei are characteristic of skeletal muscle pathology and severe injury but also appear after exercise and with aging. Displaced myonuclei are typically attributed to the activity of muscle stem cells, or satellite cells. We sought to address whether displaced myonuclei in adult skeletal muscle are exclusively from an exogenous source such as satellite cells or can result from resident myonuclear migration. To address this question, we used a murine recombination-independent muscle fibre-specific doxycycline-inducible fluorescent myonuclear labelling approach, EdU stem cell fate tracking, two durations of plantaris muscle mechanical overload (MOV, 3 days and 7 days), and fluorescent histology. …

Perception Of Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury Regarding The Veterans Administration Rehabilitation Process, Kalangie J. Serrano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a social work practice gap on the perceptions of veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) regarding the Veterans Administration's (VA’s) rehabilitation process in terms of its ability to enhance their vocational skills and employability. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the vocational and employment needs of military veterans with TBI and to understand their perceptions and challenges in navigating the vocational rehabilitation and employment process. Using a generic qualitative approach and ecological systems theory, data were collected through semistructured interviews with seven veterans who had participated in rehabilitation programs. Thematic analysis of the data revealed …

Pregnancy Intention And Maternal Morbidity In Oklahoma And Mississippi: A Moderation Analysis Of Abortion Restriction Policies, Vicki Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

More than half of all pregnancies are unintended (mistimed or unwanted), and women with unplanned pregnancies may face economic hardships for families and additional health consequences if they have pre-existing medical conditions. This quantitative study was conducted to examine the relationship between pregnancy intention levels and severe acute maternal morbidity, specifically chorioamnionitis, among women who gave birth in Oklahoma and Mississippi in 2022. Using secondary data (N=1939) from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Automated Research Files and state-level abortion policy data from the Guttmacher Institute, this study employed Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological model framework to investigate the relationship between pregnancy …

Effective Strategies To Attract And Retain Qualified Hospitality Staff In The Post-Pandemic Caribbean, Rajan Bhattarai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee attraction and retention remain critical constraints for Caribbean luxury-wellness resorts in the post-pandemic era. Hospitality and tourism leaders are concerned because persistent vacancy, churn, and extended time-to-competence impair service quality and performance of their organizations. Grounded in the Baldrige Excellence Framework and social exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the effective strategies employed by tourism leaders to attract and retain qualified staff within a Caribbean hospitality organization. Data were collected from five Caribbean leaders (HR director, department manager, and supervisors) using semistructured interviews and analyzing organizational documents. Thematic analysis was used to …

A Comprehensive Study Of C-Kit-Expressing Amacrine Cells In The Mammalian Retina, Zheng Jiang, Wen Shen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Amacrine cells assemble complex circuits in the inner retina, where they integrate, modulate, and relay spatial and temporal information to retinal ganglion cells. Nevertheless, their organization and functional diversity are still not fully understood. In this study, we identify a distinct group of amacrine cells that express the stem cell factor receptor-c-Kit. Using combined techniques of anti-CD117 (c-Kit) immunolabeling, confocal imaging, and computational algorithms, we characterize the morphological features and spatial distribution of the c-Kit-expressing amacrine cells. Our results show that c-Kit-expressing amacrine cells are GABA-positive neurons with medium to wide dendritic fields that stratify within the specific strata in …

Dinaciclib Improves Treatment Response In Chemoresistant Hepatoblastoma, Brian T Hickner, Andres F Espinoza, Rohit K Srivastava, Roma H Patel, Priyanka Rao, Nicholas A O'Brien, Kalyani R Patel, Andrew A Badachhape, Abhishek Kona, Dolores H López-Terrada, Sarah E Woodfield, Sanjeev A Vasudevan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chemoresistant hepatoblastoma (HB) is associated with poor outcomes. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are potential therapeutic targets because of their critical role in cell growth and chemoresistance. To evaluate the efficacy of CDK inhibition, HB cell lines were treated with dinaciclib and evaluated with cytotoxic, cell-death reversal, and immunoblotting assays. A HB patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model was treated with placebo, vincristine + irinotecan (VI), dinaciclib, or VI + dinaciclib to evaluate tumor growth and response to therapy. We found that dinaciclib had a marked effect on HB cell viability, induced PARP cleavage, and decreased CDK9 protein expression in vitro. Overexpression of CDK9 …

Pitx2 Dosage-Dependent Changes In Pacemaker Cell State Underlie Sinus Node Dysfunction And Atrial Arrhythmias, Lieve E Van Der Maarel, M Ridwane Mungroo, Otto J Mulleners, Mathilde R Rivaud, Arie O Verkerk, Karel Van Duijvenboden, Freek H T Tiel Groenestege, Jeffrey D Steimle, Lianne Fokkert, Corrie De Gier-De Vries, Mischa Klerk, Arie R Boender, James F Martin, Bjarke Jensen, Gerard J J Boink, Harsha D Devalla, Vincent M Christoffels

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Physiologically relevant increases in transcription factor dosage and their role in development and disease remain largely unexplored. Genomic deletions upstream of the Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor gene (PITX2), identified in patients with sinus node dysfunction and atrial fibrillation and modeled in mice (delB), rewire the local epigenetic landscape, increasing PITX2 expression. Here, we demonstrate that pacemaker cardiomyocytes in the embryonic delB sinus node ectopically express PITX2 at physiological dosages in a heterogeneous pattern. The prenatal delB sinus node forms discrete subdomains showing PITX2 dosage-dependent mild or severe loss of pacemaker cardiomyocyte identity. Respective subdomain sizes and severity of sinus node …

Functional Vs Anatomical Cortico-Striatal Connectivity In The Macaque Brain, Wei Tang, Megan E Monko, Zoe Liu, Ana M G Manea, Fernando A Ortega, Damyan Hart, Jason Zhou, Jan Zimmermann, Sarah R Heilbronner

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The cerebral cortex provides the main input to the striatum, constituting the first step in cortico-basal ganglia loops. Decades of careful anatomical tract-tracing research have established the exquisite topography of each cortical region's projection to the striatum in nonhuman primates. In parallel, neuroimaging research has demonstrated the relationship between cortico-striatal resting-state functional connectivity and specific cognitive, behavioral, psychiatric, and neurological states in humans. However, still unclear is the extent to which functional connectivity recapitulates the specific topographies of cortico-striatal anatomical connectivity. Here, we combined datasets of cortico-striatal anatomical and functional connectivity in macaques to determine the degree of overlap between …

Timely Transfusions In Trauma: Instituting A Transfusion Guideline For Trauma Nurses, Lauren Standiford

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE This project aims to reduce delays in the blood transfusion process in three non-monitored trauma units at a large academic Level I Trauma Center by decreasing the mean "RN transfusion process times" (RN-TPT) by 20 minutes. The project focuses on optimizing transfusion rates, nursing practices, and electronic documentation integration to enhance transfusion timeliness and improve overall patient care.

BACKGROUND Delays in the blood transfusion process can negatively affect patient outcomes and increase healthcare costs. In three non-monitored trauma units at a Level I Trauma Center, inefficiencies in transfusion rates, nursing practices, and electronic documentation were identified. Barriers included concerns …

Increased Intermembrane Space [Ca2+] Drives Mitochondrial Structural Damage In Cpvt, Shanna Hamilton, Radmila Terentyeva, Roland Veress, Fruzsina Perger, Zuzana Nichtova, Mark Bannister, Jinxi Wang, Sage Quiggle, Rachel Battershell, Matthew Gorr, Sandor Györke, Bum-Rak Choi, Christopher George, Andriy Belevych, György Csordás, Dmitry Terentyev

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial dysfunction caused by abnormally high RyR2 (ryanodine receptor) activity is a common finding in cardiovascular diseases. Mechanisms linking RyR2 gain of function with mitochondrial remodeling remain elusive. We hypothesized that RyR2 hyperactivity in cardiac disease increases [Ca 2+ ] in the mitochondrial intermembrane space (IMS) and activates the Ca 2+ -sensitive protease calpain, driving remodeling of mitochondrial cristae architecture through cleavage of structural protein OPA1 (optic atrophy protein 1).

METHODS: We generated a highly arrhythmogenic rat model of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, induced by RyR2 gain-of-function mutation S2236L(Ser2336Leu)(+/-) . We created a new biosensor to measure IMS-[Ca2+ ] …

Instructional Designers’ Perceptions On Generative Ai Integration In Higher Education, Alison Mclaughlin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study is that the rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools has created challenges for online higher education instructional designers, who must evolve pedagogically and continually evaluate and refine the balance between the use of generative AI tools and human development. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of online higher education instructional designers on what challenges and successes they are experiencing in integrating rapidly evolving generative AI tools in course design and development, and how these experiences have shaped their current perceptions about teaching and learning. Guided by …

A Thought Paper For Allan Leslie Combs, Glennie Sewell

Journal of Conscious Evolution

This personal reflection honors Allan Leslie Combs through an intimate process letter written while the author studied under Combs in a doctoral course on consciousness studies. Exploring themes of spiritual authenticity, the nature of reality, and the pursuit of unity consciousness, the author grapples with integrating mystical experience with academic inquiry. The piece reveals the transformative influence of Combs’s teaching and embodies the vulnerable, introspective scholarship he championed, ultimately exploring the author’s own emerging vision of unity consciousness as a path toward creating collective human unity.

Keywords: consciousness studies, unity consciousness, spiritual integration, transformative education, contemplative practice, creative writing, Allan …

Multidisciplinary Mass Casualty Simulation Toolkit, Catherine Miller, Toni Morris

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background/Introduction: The United States continues to experience mass casualty events at a staggering rate [1]. The preparation of healthcare students in both undergraduate and graduate programs can be supported with enhanced preparedness through a disaster simulation event. [3, 5] Specialized training with SMART Triage, Stop the Bleed, enhanced nursing, athletic training, police and cadets response to a mass casualty event. The application of a formalized toolkit allows for seamless construction of a disaster simulation supported by INACSL simulation best practice.

Purpose: An extensive search for an all-inclusive disaster simulation toolkit revealed a gap in available resources. The presentation will share …

Creating Practice Experiences In Online Rn-Bsn Community Health Class, Denise Isibel

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The White paper from the AACN on practice experiences in post licensure nursing programs states Nursing faces new and different challenges and there is a need to strengthen nursing for provide high quality care. Practice experiences in Community health online RN to BSN programs support and create critical learning. In a post licensure community health course, faculty designed 2 experiential assignments introducing the student to community assessment and health teaching with vulnerable populations.

Community assessment provides the basis and rationale for clinical interventions in community health nursing. Assessing and developing a plan of care for an aggregate is an essential …

Behçet's Disease Unraveled: Insights Into Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, And Management, Mansour Alghamdi, Stephen Lindsey

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Behçet's disease is a rare and recurrent multisystem inflammatory disorder, primarily distinguished by systemic vasculitis that affects veins and arteries of various sizes. Clinically, Behçet's disease is characterized by the presence of recurrent oral and genital ulcers, skin lesions, and uveitis. The prevalence of this condition is significantly elevated along the historical Silk Road, particularly in Turkey; however, epidemiological data indicate variations across different regions and ethnic groups. The diagnosis of Behçet's disease is typically established during the third decade of life, with a more severe prognosis noted when the onset occurs before the age of 25. This review aims …

The Power Of Positive Lesbian Representation In Television: How It Affects The Well-Being And Identity Formation Of Lgbtq+ Adults, Brittany Berry

University Honors Theses

To date, there are no studies which explore the effects that positively represented Black and lesbian characters in television have on LGBTQ viewers. Exposure to LGBTQ characters has the potential to validate LGBTQ identities and improve well-being. A comprehensive literature review and quantitative analysis using Żerebecki et. al.'s codebook reveals there are simply not enough characters depicted to provide such research. In an attempt to demonstrate the qualities possessed by positively portrayed Black, lesbian characters, this study analyses Taissa Turner from the hit series Yellowjackets available on the streaming network Paramount+.

The Social Side Of Aging In Place: Community, Belonging, And Cultural Fit, Michael Crespo

University Honors Theses

Aging in place, or the capacity of older adults to remain in their homes and communities as they age has been a central tenet of the field of gerontology and the gerontological social policy area. Although access to physical facilities and service provision has been the main focus of traditional studies, contemporary experience demonstrates that social and cultural issues are equally important as determinants of the quality of life. This thesis discusses the influence of social networks, cultural congruence, and community belonging on the aging in place experience. The content of the study is based on the Ecological Model of …

Human Evil (In The Weird), Lucas Ethridge

University Honors Theses

This paper examines a trending doom in speculative fiction: the post-human age. Many modern works have started to look past human civilization as humans surrender all hope and faith in a climate-doomed world. Honing in on core concepts in Weird fiction, this paper explores human merit through Old and New Weird. A good part spends time establishing the canon, looking at similar patterns across age, philosophy, war and genre. The chief question asks if humankind was ever worth saving.

Capstone Reflection: Developing A Muslim Prayer App For Psu Students, Jeremiah Su

University Honors Theses

This thesis examines the development process of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) App, a computer science capstone project. The app strives to help the Muslim community at Portland State University (PSU) and the Portland area by consolidating essential information for prayers, such as local prayer times, nearby masjids, and the direction of Qibla. The team behind this project was developed by 6 computer science developers, a majority of whom were from the Muslim culture and background. This paper describes the entire capstone development process from the perspective of a developer who is not rooted in Muslim customs. It also describes …

Re-Envisioning The Path To Sustainable Practice Change With The Mountain Model, Jayne Jennings Dunlap, Julee Briscoe Waldrop

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Although Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and Quality Improvement (QI) are frequently used to guide practice change, EBP lacks the sustainability component of QI and QI traditionally favors the use of internal evidence to the exclusion of external (research) evidence. EBP models focus on finding research evidence, critically appraising it and then synthesizing it to identify the intervention best suited to the problem, population, and context. Next, a practice change is developed, implemented, and evaluated but then what? What about continuous monitoring and sustaining the change? EBP models are weak in the continuous monitoring and sustaining of practice change. On the other …

The Value Of Education In Healthcare: Moving Beyond Intuition To Data-Driven Advocacy, Emily Calabro, Robin Petersen

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Healthcare education departments face increasing pressure to demonstrate their value amidst budget constraints and restructuring, often leading to resource cuts that hinder their ability to improve patient care and staff development. This necessitates a robust method for quantifying the return on investment (ROI) of educational initiatives.

Methods/Procedures: This initiative describes the development and validation of a novel ROI calculator designed to empower educators and advocate for their crucial role. Grounded in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Plan-Do-Study-Act model, the calculator incorporates advanced data analytics and predictive modeling, drawing data from sources such as the Healthcare Quality Report, historical financial …

Increasing Confidence And Self-Efficacy In Council Leaders In A Multi-Site Healthcare System, Kambree Baxter, Shelby Do

Biennial Convention (CONV)

This EBP project aimed to provide SDM council leaders (CL) across a 27-site healthcare system, including 7 Magnet and 10 Pathway facilities, with resources to build leadership confidence via a virtual workshop. The goal was to improve CL’s self-efficacy, staff engagement, and nurse satisfaction.

A gap was identified in resources to support shared decision making (SDM) CLs during their elected term. Feedback showed CLs lacked knowledge and self-efficacy to lead effectively. Higher self-efficacy predicts leadership success. To improve CLs' confidence and staff engagement, a workshop was developed to support leadership skills, including meeting management, technology, curated role education, open discussion, …

Improving Safe Practices For Firearm Storage In A Pediatric Primary Care Setting, Lisa Callahan, Clark Callahan

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Firearm injury contributed to 15,706 pediatric deaths in 2019 (Xu et al., 2021). The number of children injured in these accidents exceeded motor vehicle collisions for the first time in 2019 (Andrews et al., 2022). While such events are preventable, gun violence is the leading cause of death in children under 19 years of age (Andrews et al., 2022). Thus, there is an urgent need to stop this source of pediatric morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: The aim of this DNP project was to evaluate whether providing a trigger lock safety device with firearm storage training using the Health Promotion …

A Strategic Leadership Approach To Build An Innovative Culture Through Ebp, Qi, And Research, Angela G. Bennett, Emily Calabro

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Healthcare organizations face mounting pressure to improve patient outcomes while reducing costs in a rapidly changing environment. Strong leadership is essential to foster a culture of inquiry and innovation that drives evidence-based practice (EBP), quality improvement (QI), and research. However, barriers such as resource limitations, risk aversion among managers, and a lack of clear frameworks for frontline staff can impede these efforts. This initiative addressed these challenges by empowering nurses at all levels to engage in scholarly activity and lead improvement efforts.

Methods: A team of three nurse leaders within a 12-hospital system developed a comprehensive program including …