Digital Commons Network^™

Frances K. Thomassen Taylor, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Frances Eliza Warren Kingsbury Thomassen Taylor (January 21, 1870 – November 17, 1952) was an organist, composer and member of the General Board of the Primary Associations.

Mildred Tanner Pettit, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Laura Mildred Tanner Pettit (August 9, 1895 – April 9, 1977) is best known as the composer of the iconic Primary song, I am a Child of God. Much of the music composed by Sister Pettit was aimed at children and can be found in various publications of the Primary Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, Sister Pettit wrote dance music and operettas which were performed widely. She sometimes choreographed and directed the productions as well.

Probability Pricing, Eduardo Dávila, Cecilia Parlatore, Ansgar Walther

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper develops probability pricing, extending cash flow pricing to quantify the willingnessto-pay for changes in probabilities. We show that the value of any marginal change in probabilities can be expressed as a standard asset-pricing formula with hypothetical cash flows derived from changes in the survival function. This equivalence between probability and cash flow valuation allows us to construct hedging strategies and systematically decompose individual and aggregate willingness-to-pay. Four applications examine the valuation of changes in the distribution of aggregate consumption, the efficiency effects of varying performance precision in principal-agent problems, and the welfare implications of public and private information.

Staff Education For Nurses To Increase Nursing Staff Knowledge On Hospital-Acquired Infection Prevention, Mimi M. Farride

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focused on a staff education initiative aimed at reducing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in healthcare settings. HAIs contribute to patient morbidity, extended hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. Despite established infection control policies, inconsistencies in adherence had highlighted the need for targeted education. The central practice question guiding this project, conducted in a hospital setting, was, “How did implementing a comprehensive infection prevention education program for healthcare staff influence their knowledge?” The primary goal was to educate staff with the skills needed to minimize infection risks and enhance patient outcomes through effective prevention techniques. …

Secondary Teachers’ Instructional Strategies And Challenges In Teaching English Language Learners In Mississippi, Megan Cara Morgan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mainstream high school teachers in a district in the state of Mississippi have struggled to consistently implement research-based strategies that address the needs of English Language Learners (ELLs). Guided by Echevarría et al.’s sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP), the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the instructional practices implemented by mainstream high school teachers at a Title I high school in a Mississippi district that are aligned with research-based practices and the challenges they reported in improving ELL student achievement in mainstream classrooms. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with nine teachers from a Title I high …

Educating Staff On Hourly Rounding Toward Fall Prevention In A Long-Term Care Facility, Princess Aminata Kanu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The identified problem at the project site facility was rising incidences of patient falls, which was attributed to insufficient staff knowledge of evidence-based strategies for preventing falls, including purposeful hourly rounding (PHR). Research has demonstrated that PHR effectively reduces the risk of falls among patients by allowing clinicians to proactively address patient needs. The purpose of this staff education project was to enhance healthcare providers’ knowledge of PHR and its role in fall prevention. The practice-focused question that guided this project was: For staff in a long-term care facility, will training on hourly rounding increase knowledge toward the goal of …

Staff Education For Catheter-Related Urinary Tract Infection Prevention In Intensive Care, Ascar Boinett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctor of nursing practice (DNP) staff education project was conducted to address inconsistent adherence to catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention bundles in an adult intensive care unit (ICU). CAUTIs remain a leading cause of morbidity, extended hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. The project aimed to improve nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding CAUTI prevention through structured education and the integration of daily catheter reassessment checklists into practice. A quantitative pretest–posttest design was used to measure changes in participants’ knowledge and attitudes following two 45-minute educational sessions. Forty-two ICU nurses participated in the intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive …

Tlr2 Agonism Suppresses Myeloid Leukemogenesis By Reprogramming Leukemia Stem Cells, Michael E. Lawler, Jennifer S. Romer-Seibert, Michael S. Bowman, Ramkrishna Mitra, Christine M. Eischen, Robert L. Bowman, Sara E. Meyer

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

The consequences of activated innate immune signaling in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is not well understood. Using ligands directed at the toll-like family receptors (TLR) in models of high-risk AML, we uncover that TLR2 ligands exert unique antileukemic effects that are distinct from other TLRs. Although TLR2 signaling broadly induces inflammatory gene expression in AML cells, at the single-cell level, cell-type-dependent, divergent transcriptional responses coordinate cellular outputs of proliferation, differentiation, cell death, and activation of immune cell function. TLR2 ligands were the only TLR agonists capable of extending survival of AML-bearing mice through leukemia stem cell (LSC) reprogramming that elevated …

Mesopause-Region Gravity Wave Activity Due To Tropical Convection As Observed By Awe, Jeffrey M. Forbes, Xiaoli Zhang, Jiarong Zhang, Stephen D. Eckermann, Yucheng Zhao, Pierre-Dominique Pautet, Jun Ma, Ludger Scherliess, Michael J. Taylor

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Mesopause-region (∼ 87 km) gravity waves (GWs) generated by tropical convection are investigated within the four longitude sectors encompassing Africa, the Indian Ocean, the Intertropical Convergence Zone, and South America during the Dec 2023– Feb 2024 Southern Hemisphere monsoon season. Variances (Q_v) in the OH Q-line emission measured by the Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) capture GW activity, and precipitation rates (PR) from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission identify regions of convective activity. The zonal component of GWs comprising the Q_v between 10°S-10°N primarily propagate eastward. The Q_v distributions are latitudinally-shifted and more confined in …

Use Of Calcium Modification In Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Comprehensive Review, Noyan Ramazani, Ala W. Abdallah, Michael V. Dicaro, Divyansh Sharma, Aditi Singh, Kachon Lei

Department of Internal Medicine Faculty Research

Calcified coronary lesions remain a challenge in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in both situations of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and stable coronary syndrome. It significantly increases the risk of procedural complications due to difficulty in equipment delivery, balloon expansion, and stent delivery. Furthermore, stent thrombosis, dissection, perforation, and future in-stent restenosis occur more frequently in calcified coronary lesions, impacting repeat target vessel revascularization and increasing the risk of future MI. With intracoronary imaging (intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography), peri-procedural success for treating calcified lesions has increased significantly. Different modalities of calcium modification techniques have since been introduced. This review …

Nurses' Propensity For Spiritual Care: A Nationwide Study Conducted In Oman, Joshua K. Muliira, Eilean R. Lazarus, Omar Al-Zaabi

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: Epidemiologic and demographic transitions have led to increased prevalence of chronic diseases requiring management in tertiary hospitals of countries like Oman. Many patients with chronic diseases have a high symptom burden, require frequent hospitalizations, and take multiple medications and other therapies, and all these lead to emotional and spiritual challenges. Nurses caring for such patients should provide spiritual care to ensure patient centered cared and attainment of holistic health.

Purpose: We aimed to describe how frequently registered nurses in Oman provide spiritual care therapeutic interventions.

Methods: The study used cross-sectional design and the Nurse Spiritual Care Therapeutics Scale (NSCTS) …

The Agentic Database And Military Command: A Perspective On Autonomous C2 Systems, Elise Annett, James Giordano

Strategic Insights

This commentary explores how emerging autonomous command and control (C2) systems, powered by advanced machine learning and data-driven decision engines, are transforming military decision processes. The authors introduce the concept of an “agentic database,” a framework in which autonomous systems actively sense, assess, and act upon dynamic operational data to support or augment human command decisions. While these systems offer potential benefits in speed, situational awareness, and decision quality, they also raise critical questions about accountability, trust, human oversight, and strategic risk. Meaningful integration of autonomous C2 requires doctrinal clarity, clear ethical guidelines, robust verification, and continuous human-machine collaboration to …

Chimes: November 17, 2025, Calvin University

Chimes

Budget cuts slash programs and faculty: Students react with grief and frustration by Sarah Sparling, Ian Tjoelker & McKenna Wilkinson

Bringing the Cretaceous to Calvin: Dice Museum reveals fossil and student artwork by Ellery Johnson

Recap: 200 students attend administration town hall by Sarah Sparling

Celebrating Calvin's Asian American and international populations by Jorie Cho

Calvin's D1 hockey on hot streak as they climb to #4 in national rankings by Hendrik Beelen & Zach Kern

Spotted turtles find their home on campus by Maya Oeverman

Student Senate allocates four thousand dollars to accessibility and sustainability projects by Ashley Hamons

Dual Language In Higher Education: Assessing Student Success And Student Experiences, Katherine Christoffersen, Ramsés Ortín, Dania López García, Ming-Tsan Lu, Javier Cavazos Vela

Writing and Language Studies Faculty Publications

Although long-standing research has documented the many benefits of dual language (DL) education programs in the K-12 setting, there are few studies on the impact of DL in higher education. This study analyzes DL education at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) where certain classes are taught in Spanish or bilingually across diverse disciplines. In this mixed methods research study, we examine (1) how enrollment in these classes impacts student success through an analysis of cumulative grade point averages, retention, and time to degree and (2) how students perceive these classes through an analysis of course evaluations and surveys responses from current …

Graduate Recital: Kniffin, Piano; November 17, 2025, Garret Kniffin

School of Music Programs

This is the seventy-second program of the 2025-2026 season.

Kemp Recital Hall

November 17, 2025

Monday Evening

6:00 p.m.

Graduate Recital: Jin, Piano; November 17, 2025, Yutong Jin

School of Music Programs

This is the seventy-fourth program of the 2025-2026 season.

Kemp Recital Hall

November 17, 2025

Monday Evening

9:00 p.m.

Isu Philharmonia String Orchestra: November 17, 2025, Samuel Chen

School of Music Programs

This is the seventy-third program of the 2025-2026 season.

Center for the Performing Arts

November 17, 2025

Monday Evening

8:00 p.m.

Extensive Spinal Epidural Abscess Evacuated With Unilateral Interlaminar Approach (With Operative Video): Illustrative Case, George A. Crabill, Jack A. Leoni, Kaleb Derouen, Jamieson Glasser, Wesley Shoap, Gabriel Tender

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The authors present the case of a patient with an extensive lumbosacral spinal epidural abscess (SEA) that was successfully evacuated in its entirety with a unilateral interlaminar approach. This is an alternative to wide bony decompression at multiple segments. The surgical approach described decompresses the neural elements while maintaining spinal integrity. OBSERVATIONS: Partial removal of the ligamentum flavum can provide an interlaminar corridor that is sufficient to evacuate extensive SEAs in select patients. LESSONS: This case illustrates a surgical approach that successfully evacuates extensive lumbosacral SEA while respecting spinal integrity. https://thejns.org/doi/abs/10.3171/CASE25646.

Intercellular Signaling And Synaptic Deconstruction Uncovered By Single-Cell And Spatial Transcriptomics In An Ad Tauopathy Model, Jeff X. Ji, Brian L. Giles, Surjyadipta Bhattacharjee, Marie-Audrey I. Kautzmann, Alasdair P. Masson, Sonia Do Carmo, A Claudio Cuello, Nicolas G. Bazan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in elderly individuals worldwide; however, all mechanisms leading to disease onset and progression are not well understood. Here, we report brain single-cell multiome and spatial transcriptomics in a transgenic rat model of human-like tauopathy. We have identified new markers of tau-driven AD pathology and provided single-cell evidence for genes implicated in AD. Our findings reveal how tau hyperphosphorylation and aging alter ligand-receptor communication, transcription factor regulatory networks, and specific cellular networks. Notably, we found intriguing changes in cell communication involving glutamatergic transmission and Netrin signaling as a taupathy consequence. Overall, this …

Influence Of Social Media On Mothers’ Decision-Making Regarding Vaccinations, Wendy M. Patterson

Biennial Convention (CONV)

This study involved determining why mothers hesitate to vaccinate their children and where they get their information about vaccinations. This descriptive qualitative study guided by the health belief model explored the influence social media has on mothers’ perceived barriers to vaccinating their children. A descriptive qualitative approach was used, and one-on-one audio interviews were conducted via Zoom or in person with 19 participants. Participants were mothers 19 or older, had children between zero and 18, made medical decisions for their children who resided in their household, and sought information about vaccinations via healthcare providers, social media platforms, friends, or family. …

Transformative Learning In Nursing Education: Student Experiences In Kenya, Bethany Ann Murray

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of prelicensure, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students following a two-week education abroad experience in Kenya. This study is framed by the work of Mezirow, whose theory of transformative education states that individuals experience transformative changes throughout their lives as a process of shifting attitudes, assumptions and expectations to become more inclusive and open to change. These changes are developmentally expected and necessary for adult growth and maturation (Mezirow, 2008). Data were obtained through written narrations at one month following the program. Analysis was done using narrative inquiry methods. …

Volume-Based Feeding Protocol In Metropolitan Medical Icu, Abraham J. Wang

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Optimal nutritional support is a fundamental aspect of the recovery process for critically ill patients (Compher et al., 2022). It plays a crucial role in mitigating the catabolic effects of severe illness and trauma (Bharal et al., 2019). In the intensive care unit (ICU), enteral feeding (EF) is the preferred nutrition delivery method (Holyk et al., 2020). However, traditional EF protocols such as Rate-Based Feeding (RBF) fail to meet patients’ nutritional requirements. RBF protocol provides only 60% of the prescribed daily caloric intake (Wang et al., 2023). An evaluation of our Medical ICU (MICU) has revealed that the EF was …

The Intersectionality Of Human Trafficking And Adverse Childhood Experiences, Charrita Ernewein

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Background: Human trafficking is a highly profitable human rights violation. Survivors of human trafficking (HT) experience serious physical and psychological health consequences which may begin prior to trafficking and extend beyond the period of exploitation. Vulnerabilities during childhood increase the susceptibility to grooming for HT. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood. Healthcare providers (HCPs) are key to identification, referral, and treatment of victims.

Purpose: To educate HCPs on HT and the intersection of ACEs. To review the healthcare response.

Methods: A secondary analysis of a qualitative study, which included interviews of 30 survivors of …

Antenatal Mental Health Screenings: A Best Practice Implementation Project, Stephanie Tullos

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Antenatal depression, also known as prenatal or perinatal depression, is a type of clinical depression that can affect women during pregnancy. It is estimated that approximately 10-20% of pregnant women experience antenatal depression (Antenatal Maternal Health, n.d.). Antenatal depression has been linked to higher rates of postpartum depression. Additionally, antenatal depression has been associated with a reduced gestational age at the time of delivery, a lower APGAR score at 1 and 5 min, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. APGAR scoring is used to assess a newborn’s health immediately following birth.
Providers at a women’s services clinic in …

The Significance Of Addressing Academic Drift In Nursing, Harmen Hummel

Biennial Convention (CONV)

The nursing profession has evolved, reflecting shifts in healthcare practices, standards, and societal demands. Historically, nursing education was informal and linked to hospitals or religious institutions, but the 20th century brought reforms. A key development was the Netherlands' introduction of the hbo-v program in the 1970s, offering a four-year bachelor’s degree that combined academic learning with clinical training (Roux & Halstead, 2017; Schalkwijk et al., 2024). Nursing education today emphasizes evidence-based practice, interprofessional communication, and lifelong learning (Mlambo et al., 2021), which has improved patient outcomes (Lasater et al., 2021). However, concerns over academic drift, where programs prioritize theory over …

Dismantling Ableism In Higher Education: Inclusive Learning For Nursing Students With Disabilities, Jane Donovan, Mary Yost, Beth Chiatti, Kathleen Fisher, Joyce Brill, Maureen Gonzalez

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Ableism is defined by the Center for Disability Rights “as a set of beliefs or practices that devalue and discriminate against people with disabilities” (Smith, 2024, para 1). At the root of ableism is the belief that the disabled person is less than in terms of a non-disabled person (Villines, 2021). Ableism in nursing education exists through strict, outdated technical standards that often exclude students with disabilities due to the heavy focus on medical-surgical nursing and bedside nursing (Elting, Avit, & Gordon, 2021). This perspective applies one set of standards or essential functions for all types of nursing occupations, which …

Exploring The Affective Domain Through Film To Address Lgbtq+ Healthcare Disparities, Mark Charles Hand, Shannon B. Powell, Sue Anne Pilgreen, Breanna Culler

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Introduction: Existing evidence suggests that LGBTQ+ individuals experience numerous health and social inequalities (Gonzales & Henning-Smith, 2017). The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2017) recommend that nurses be educated to provide inclusive, equitable, and culturally competent care, and the American Nurses Association (2018) identified LGBTQ+ community as a minority group requiring specialized care, specifically charging nurse educators with including care of LGBTQ+ persons in curriculum. While nurse educators seek to implement effective teaching pedagogies, they often find it challenging to develop strategies to support learning in the affective domain.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to gain a …

Choices 360: Addressing Stds In Adolescents Through An Abstinence-Based Seminar, Brittany Nicole Hatchett

Biennial Convention (CONV)

According to the 2022 Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in five Americans are affected by an STD, emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize STDs as a public health concern (CDC, 2024). Rising STD rates have become a prevalent problem within an urban county in West Texas and have been attributed to lack of education and risky sexual behavior. To address the knowledge gaps, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) has introduced a new national objective within the Healthy People 2030 initiative, aimed at increasing the proportion of adolescents who …

Successful Multi-Author Publication: Responsive Respectful Teamwork And Lessons Learned, Dorette Sugg Welk

Biennial Convention (CONV)

When two or more professionals engage in a scholarship project to develop and publish a journal manuscript, numerous questions could be considered at the outset for best outcomes. An international 10-person effort of Sigma colleagues to publish a manuscript followed a general collaborative plan of ten rules for such an initiative (Frassl et al., 2018). The purpose of this presentation is to describe how these rules spawned questions and actions for a successful publication outcome. Lessons learned may also inform others. Being responsive and respectful in an international collaboration supports scholarly productivity.

Questions considered: What journals and impact factors meet …

Interactive Learning And Dosage Calculation Performance, Robin Beacom, Tricia A. Templet, Cynthia Watson

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Purpose: This study explores the impact of web-based interactive learning within the context of dosage calculation testing, using an online interactive learning and testing platform. Incorporating web-based learning into nursing education is a concept that has been introduced previously and has gained significant attention as a promising approach to enhance learning and engagement while improving student competency among undergraduate nursing students. Dosage calculation is a fundamental skill in nursing practice with a critical impact on patient care and outcomes. The magnitude of accurate calculation necessitates a robust and effective method of teaching and assessing competence. The use of an interactive …