Digital Commons Network^™

Equine Adaptability In Fashion Design Studio Ii And Advanced Fashion Technologies, Shannon M. North, Andie Day, Margo Dobbs, Charlie Turner, Mary Cerroni, Kaylee Chisholm, Trisha Metcalf, Ashlee Elliott, Emily Guerry

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The fashion department of O’More College of Architecture and Design at Belmont University partnered with Saddle Up! to create meaningful connections for the students enrolled in both programs. Saddle Up! provides opportunities for youth with disabilities to grow and develop through therapeutic, educational, and recreational experiences with horses. These equestrian students were paired with O’More fashion students to design and produce a customized riding uniform. The opportunity provided an experience for the fashion student to create adaptive garments for someone with special needs.

The design process merged traditional methods of flat pattern drafting and draping together with advanced digital technologies. …

The Branch Waitlist Project, Addison E. Youngkin

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The problem that we have found is that The Branch has a limited number of English education classes, as well as limited numbers of teachers and other opportunities for students to engage and learn. The waitlist for the English learning classes is about 150 students long, and this study will explore a way to provide students with helpful resources for everyday life while they are waiting to get into actual classes. This will be done through research about the topics that students struggle the most with in their everyday lives. Our specific objectives include providing those within the waitlist with …

Increasing Discharge Efficiency In A Joint Replacement Unit: A Quality Improvement Project, Mario O. Fabre-Rivera

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Abstract

Title:

Increasing Discharge Efficiency in a Joint Replacement Unit: A Quality Improvement Project

Background:

Patient discharge is a complex process. Lack of discharge expectations, standardized discharge instructions, and interprofessional communication create discharge barriers leading to an increase in post-operative length-of-stay and 30-day readmissions. Discharge delays disrupt unit workflow and increase staff workload. Readmissions within 30 days of discharge are associated with increased hospital costs and lower patient satisfaction.

SMART Aim:

By December 1, 2024, we aimed to reduce the average post-operative length-of-stay for elective joint replacement outpatients from 14.5 hours to 12 hours by implementing a standardized discharge-navigator tool …

2025 Scholarly Productivity Report, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Scholarly Productivity Reports

No abstract provided.

Investment Analysis Of Costco: A Comprehensive Strategic And Financial Evaluation, Shane Johnson

Honors Theses

We provide an investment analysis of Costco Wholesale Corporation by conducting an analysis of the fundamental business model, industry standing, financial performance, and long-term investment potential. As a leader in the warehouse retail industry, Costco has experienced significant growth through its cost-efficient operations, bulk sales approach, superior supply chain management, membership fee revenue streams, high quality product offerings, and strong customer loyalty. This research seeks to answer the question: Is Costco a good investment opportunity based on its valuation, competitive positioning, financial performance, and overall industry outlook? We begin with a business and industry overview, analyzing Costco’s business strategy in …

Elevated Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Is A Therapeutic Vulnerability In Dnmt3a-Mutant Clonal Hematopoiesis., Kira Young, Mohsen Hosseini, Jayna J Mistry, Claudia Morganti, Taylor S Mills, Xiurong Cai, Brandon T James, Griffin J Nye, Natalie R Fournier, Veronique Voisin, Ali Chegini, Aaron D Schimmer, Gary D Bader, Grace Egan, Marc R Mansour, Grant A Challen, Eric M Pietras, Kelsey H Fisher-Wellman, Keisuke Ito, Steven M Chan, Jennifer J. Trowbridge

Faculty Research 2025

The competitive advantage of mutant hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) underlies clonal hematopoiesis (CH). Drivers of CH include aging and inflammation; however, how CH-mutant cells gain a selective advantage in these contexts is an unresolved question. Using a murine model of CH (Dnmt3a^R878H/+), we discover that mutant HSPCs sustain elevated mitochondrial respiration which is associated with their resistance to aging-related changes in the bone marrow microenvironment. Mutant HSPCs have DNA hypomethylation and increased expression of oxidative phosphorylation gene signatures, increased functional oxidative phosphorylation capacity, high mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), and greater dependence on mitochondrial respiration compared …

Spectrum, Volume 54, Issue 11, Sacred Heart University

Newspapers (Obelisk & Spectrum)

Highlights include: FSL Hosts NFL Greek Week - From Chatbots to Classrooms: SHU’s New AI Minor - Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society Induction - Sacred Heart’s Club For Hope - Honoring Audrey Niblo - Women’s Track Running Through Records (Again!) - Pioneers Pursue Playoffs

Fs Steering Committee Agenda, Northern Illinois University

Faculty Senate Archives

No abstract provided.

2025-04-16 Governor Bob Ferguson Visits Seattle U To Discuss Navigating A Nation Under Trump, Dylan Berman

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

End Of Life Decision Making: The Right To Die On Their Own Terms, Alexandra Stacy

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

For the capstone project I was asked to identify a “problem” that I observed at my clinical site this semester. One problem at my clinical site has stuck out to me significantly. Patients on the unit I have been assigned are often close to death and unable to make their own decisions and despite any legal paperwork that may be in place their power of attorney or state mandated power of attorney often go against the patients last wishes. While this does not sit well with me, and many others, this is a large legal and ethical issue that would …

Nurse Abuse And Patient Delirium: Effects On Nursing Profession, Briana Sharps

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Abuse against nurses is a growing topic in today's healthcare system, whether that reflects verbal, physical, or sexual abuse. During my practicum at “Hospital A” there were multiple instances of nurse abuse on varying levels of type and severity, with most related to patient delirium. Due to this, I chose to do my capstone project on the rise in nurse abuse and how we can improve this to promote quality and safe care to all patients using QSEN competencies to educate nurses on how to prevent adverse incidents of abuse towards healthcare workers as it relates to preventing patient delirium …

Quantification Of Nicotine Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography & Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Marissa Blair, Emmalou Schmittzehe-Skarbek

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

In recent years, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), commonly known as electronic cigarettes (ECs), have gained popularity, particularly among adolescents (Cooper, 2022). • The core component of these devices is e-liquids which contain nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavoring, and other chemicals (Cheng, 2014; Sassano, et al., 2018). • The FDA regulates manufacturing, importing, packaging, labelling, advertising, promotion, sale, and distribution of ENDS, but they do not check the accuracy of reported information. • Studies have consistently shown that labelled nicotine concentration and actual concentration can range from as little as 35% less nicotine to as much as 52% greater …

Determination Of Synthetic Pesticide Concentration In Bodies Of Water In Rowan County Kentucky, Jacob Blevins, Emmalou Schmittzehe-Skarbek

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Synthetic pesticide usage is a relatively recent invention of industry that has been proven to have widespread biological effects. Many families of pesticides have unique properties including solubility in water and long half-lives. This ability to be soluble in water paired with a long half-life result in a pesticide that is perfectly suited to contaminate water designated for human or agricultural use. Solid-phase extraction is a preparatory technique of analytical chemistry in which a liquid sample is passed through a solid material that selectively retains compounds for further analysis. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography is an analytical chemistry technique that can quantify …

Ensuring Blood Transfusion Safety: Preventing Errors And Sentinel Events, Brooklyn Lemaster

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

During my time working across various units at Hospital A, I frequently observed blood transfusions as a common procedure. One particular event stands out: a sentinel event in which the incorrect blood products were administered to a patient. This incident resulted in the patient exhibiting visible body tremors, dizziness, confusion, tachycardia, and hypertension. While the patient and blood product ID numbers were correctly matched, the error occurred when two type and screen results were switched in the blood bank. Fortunately, my nurse and I promptly reassessed the situation and stopped the transfusion. However, had we not intervened quickly, this simple …

Introduction To The Paper And Potter Wasps Of Eastern Kentucky, Dawn Barnett, Kyah Brinegar, Gracie Burdette, Sean O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Wasps are a possible surrogate to measure biodiversity of an ecosystem because they can be extremely diverse, most requiring a very specific niche. Many factors such as surrounding vegetation, potential prey availability, and potential hosts impact presence and diversity of wasps; so, by observing different species in an environment biodiversity could be inferred. The Vespidae are Social Wasps and include six subfamilies. My research specifically covers two subfamilies: Paper Wasps (Polistinae), and Potter and Mason Wasps (Eumeninae). There are 25 genera with over 1000 species of paper wasps worldwide; 27 in North America, and 8 found in Kentucky. Potter wasps …

Introduction To The Social Wasps Of Eastern Kentucky: (Vespidae, Vespinae), Dawn Barnett, Kyah Brinegar, Gracie Burdette, Sean O'Keefe

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The subfamily Vespinae of the Vespidae, encompasses true hornets and yellow jackets. They are distributed throughout the Holarctic and Oriental regions. The subfamily includes 80 species globally, comprising three genera, the True Hornets (Vespa), Aerial Yellowjackets (Dolichovespula), and the Ground Yellowjackets (Vespula). Two species of Vespula Hornets occur in the U.S., only one occurs in Kentucky; Six species of Aerial Yellowjackets (Dolichovespula) occur in the U.S., four of which are in Kentucky, and thirteen species of Ground Yellow Jackets (Vespula) occur in the U.S., eight are in Kentucky. Vespinae are eusocial, meaning they have well defined castes of queens, workers, …

Bringing Yeast Evolution To The Craft Academy, Rebecca L. Bailey, Roger Love, Melissa A. Mefford, Hannah O'Brien, Gabriella Ostrander, Kaylee Poink

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Antifungal resistance, like antibiotic resistance, is a growing health concern. With the increase of immunocompromised patients, as well as advances made in hospital methodologies, antifungal resistance is becoming an increasingly greater threat. Experimental evolution in the laboratory coupled with genome sequencing can identify rare, spontaneous mutations caused by selective pressure that allow for fungi to survive and reproduce in antifungal environments.

A New Kid On The La’S Block: An Exploratory Study Of The Origins, Growth, And Awareness Of Cricket In The U.Sangel, Steve Chen, Angel Daugherty, Vivek Madupu

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Cricket gained popularity in America during the 17th to 19th centuries, particularly in New York and Philadelphia. The establishment of organized clubs in 1844 significantly contributed to the sport's growth and widespread appeal. The game experienced a decline in the 20th century due to the rise of sports like baseball and football. The recent change: Influence of immigrants from India and the West Indies) and technological developments

Visualizing Artifact And Structural Distributions Across Mayapan's Urban Core, Jackson Brewer, Gillian Collins, Charles Gunn, Timothy Hare

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Postclassic city of Mayapan was the multiethnic capital of the League of Mayapan which controlled much of the Yucatan Peninsula approximately A.D. 1150 to 1450. The Carnegie Institution of Washington began excavations in the region in 1942 and continued through the 1960s. Their excavations were limited to within the walls of the city, but are the most extensive body of excavations conducted in the region. Much of the data are included in a series of Carnegie reports (1948—1952) and includes over 350,000 artifacts reflecting public, domestic, and religious life across the city.

Sedation Vacation Improved Outcomes Through Daily Sedation Breaks, Noah Hicks

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The use of “sedation vacations” or spontaneous awake has been a long-debated topic within the realm of intensive care units. What these essentially are is a short, daily break from sedative drugs used to maintain a decreased level of consciousness and for their analgesic/ anxiolytic on sedated patients. These trials have been implemented as early research showed promise in reducing the length of time patients required intubation and reducing the total length of ICU stays. The primary purpose behind this project is to develop an evidence-based protocol for spontaneous awakening trials in ICU A at Hospital A. This purpose aligns …

Utilizing Telehealth For Post-Stroke In-Hospital Monitoring And Evaluation, Chelsea Green

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

This post-stroke telehealth capstone project intends to discover and implement a telehealth program designed to enhance the care and outcomes of post-stroke patients being treated at Hospital A. After a stroke, patients often face challenges in recovery. Care providers are often stretched thin and have difficulty completing post-stroke monitoring requirements such as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Level of Consciousness (LOC), Glascow Coma Scale (GCS), and other assessments needed by these acutely ill patients at specific intervals. This project seeks to leverage telehealth technology to provide remote monitoring, identification of deficits, and beginning in hospital rehabilitation, ensuring that …

Implementation Of Drug-Assisted Intubation With An Advanced Airway, Tracy Paige Caird

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Advanced airway management is a crucial aspect of caring for critically ill patients. Advanced airways refer to techniques used to maintain an open airway. Examples include endotracheal intubation and nasotracheal intubation. Often, during intubation, you find yourself in an emergency situation and have medications that the doctor or advanced practitioner instructs you to retrieve from the Pyxis (automated medication dispensing station). These medications, such as atropine, lidocaine, and fentanyl, are commonly used to premedicate your patient. Rushing to the Pyxis to obtain these medications consumes valuable time. Each minute of hypoxia results in your brain losing essential oxygen.

Leadership Initiatives: International Public Health Internship, Jayden Bradley, Alana Campbell, Paisley Cooke, Aime Ensenat-Pena, Mindy Highley, Jacob Holbrook, Roger Love, Keira Patton

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

No abstract provided.

Inventory Of Lichens At Carter Caves State Resort Park-Tygarts State Forest, Carter County, Kentucky, Aliya Frisby, Allen C. Risk

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Lichen: a composite organism of fungi and algae/cyanobacteria Kentucky Total Lichen Specimens: 9,141 -All bordering states except for Indiana have >20,000 Their importance: Lichens can act as pioneer species, food sources in plant-scarce environments, agents of weathering, bioindicators of air pollution, and many species contain chemicals of medical interest (Rogers 2025).

Makerspace Revitalization, Nicklaus Adams, Selena Bailey, Eliana Clifford, Robert Vanderpool

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

A Makerspace is a collaborative environment where students can access tools and technology to explore, experiment, and engage in hands-on learning. These spaces provide equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics workstations, and fabrication tools, allowing students to bring abstract concepts to life through physical projects. Makerspaces are becoming increasingly common in universities, as they help students develop valuable technical and creative problem-solving skills across disciplines. This project investigates the educational impact of university-based Makerspaces and how they contribute to student innovation, collaboration, and engagement. By examining well-established spaces such as Georgia Tech’s Invention Studio and MIT’s Maker Workshop, …

Preventing Workplace Violence In Nursing: Strategies For A Safer Healthcare Environment, Annalee Mt. Dennison

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

According to The National Library of Medicine (NLM,2021), Approximately 25% of registered nurses report being physically assaulted by a patient or family member, while over 50% reported exposure to verbal abuse or bullying in the United States Healthcare System. Hospitals must act now by implementing better advocacy and staff training. QSEN principals are the foundation to quality improvement research and implementation with the hospital. Safety and evidence-based practice highlights the improvement needed to make a change in workplace violence.

Sponsorship In The Evolving Age Of Nil: A Case Study, Peighton Isley, Lucas Lunt

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Dale Sebastian is the CMO at Taylor & Chen, a small but growing law firm in Houston, Texas. Dale is considering taking advantage of new and evolving NIL policies to accelerate growth in a crowded Houston legal market. Given the firm primarily hires out of Texas A&M and there is a solid fan base for the university in Houston, Dale has chosen to initially limit potential NIL options to football players at Texas A&M University.

Craft Coalition Team 20694 Ftc Robotics, Noah Day, Lucas Howard, Nate Italiano, Olivia Robinson, Ryan Triplett, Rachel Rogers

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Context and Purpose: The Craft Coalition FIRST Technical Challenge (FTC) Robotics Team is an integral part of a STEM+ initiative aimed at fostering engagement in STEM fields through hands-on learning. Located in Eastern Kentucky, a region facing significant gaps in STEM educational opportunities, this program aims to improve students' access to high-demand jobs and facilitate regional economic advancement. Mission & Goals: The team is dedicated to designing, building, and programming a robot to compete in the annual FTC challenge. This experience helps students develop critical technical skills, leadership abilities, and problem-solving capacities while also working to establish sustainable robotics teams …

Plowing Through Struggles: Understanding Mental Health Challenges In Farmers, Emily Cobb

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Growing up around agriculture and within the industry, it has allowed me to see many perspectives of life. One aspect that is not nearly discussed enough is the mental health toll farmers experience due to their grueling occupation. They experience the pressure of fluctuating commodity prices, isolation, financial instability, and working long hours. This project aims to explore the mental health that farmers face, investigate the underlying factors, and assess the support systems available to them. Highlighting the issues will raise awareness, advocate for resources in rural areas, reduce stigma, ensure the farmers have the support needed to navigate their …

Effects Of Floor Isolation On Model Buildings Under Earthquake Conditions, Ryan Justice, Tathagata Ray

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Base isolation is the current gold standard in protecting buildings from earthquake damage by using isolators to separate a building from its foundation; however, it is not always effective in preventing non-structural damage to buildings. This is especially important in the case of hospitals, where patients are at risk of injury or death in the face of earthquakes. A new method known as floor isolation is proposed to combat this problem; it features isolators between each individual floor of the building. Tests conducted using 1:75 scale model buildings indicate that accelerations can be reduced by an average of 35-60% by …