Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Medication Challenges - Implications For Nurses, Kelly Freeman

General Webinars

Nurses are tasked with medication safety and are well positioned to advocate on behalf of patients to put their needs and interests first. While a number of challenges are quite recognizable, there are many medication challenges that may be "under the radar". This presentation will explore many contemporary medication challenges in hopes that nurses are able to recognize these challenges and have tools and resources to see and address these challenges in efforts to advocate and promote best outcomes.

Learning Outcomes:

• Explore the connection between medications and individual, population, environmental, and economic issues
• Describe how to utilize medication data related …

A Framework For A New Paradigm Of Opioid Drug Tapering Using Adjunct Drugs, Michael Veronin, Justin P. Reinert

Pharmacy Faculty Publications and Presentations

The misuse of and dependency on prescription opioids represents a significant crisis at the national level, impacting not only the health of the public but also the societal and economic well-being. There is a critical need for strategies to reduce the dosage of prescribed opioids to limit opioid-associated adverse effects and lower the risk of addiction development in patients experiencing chronic pain. Opioid-sparing medications, when co-administered with opioids, enable a reduced opioid dose without loss of efficacy.This suggests the potential for using opioid adjunct drugs in opioid tapering, whereby opioid doses are lowered incrementally in a systematic manner to improve …

Scaling The Polymerization Of Polyaldehydes Through Continuous Flow Synthesis, Jared M. Schwartz, Paul A. Kohl, Anthony Engler

Faculty Publications

A plug flow reactor was constructed to scale the synthesis of metastable, phthalaldehyde-based polymers to achieve production rates of 1–2 kg per day. The flow-induced mixing and in-line polymerization quench and precipitation sequences resulted in improved polymer purity and long-term stability compared to the same materials made from a conventional batch process. Cryogenic rheology was used to probe the complex fluid dynamics encountered during the polymerization of PPA homopolymers. It is envisioned that this continuous flow manufacturing approach could be extended to other low ceiling temperature or aldehyde monomer systems to help implement and support a plastic circular economy. Graphical …

The Cultural Role Of Rice Cultivation In Female Workforce Participation In India, Gautam Hazarika

Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

Rice and wheat are India's staple cereal crops and there is significant regional variation in the suitability to the cultivation of each. Both are so-called ‘plough-positive’ crops, whose cultivation is benefited by ploughing. It has previously been argued that the ancient adoption of the plough, a heavy implement better suited to handling by men, was a factor in the evolution of cultural norms prescribing a domestic role for women in society (Boserup, 1970). This study contends that rice is an anomalous plough-positive crop in that its cultivation, highly labor-intensive, has traditionally required much female labor. This, it is argued, may …

Pacific Rxtracts - October 2024, Pacific Rxtracts

Pacific RxTracts

Articles

1. First Nasal Spray for Anaphylaxis Approved
2. Statins: The Unexpected Therapeutic Benefits You Didn’t Know About
3. Is COVID Driving Us Mad? The Mental Toll on the Unvaccinated vs. Vaccinated
4. Acetaminophen’s Effects on Positive Empathy
5. Semaglutide: More Than Meets The Eye
6. RSV: Complications and New Therapies
7. Contribution of Calcium Channel Blockers and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors to the Risk of Fractures

Technician Assignment In Multi-Shift Maintenance Schedules In An Offshore Wind Farm, Md Imran Hasan Tusar, Bhaba R. Sarker

Faculty Publications

Offshore wind farms are becoming more and more important to sustainable energy strategies, yet their maintenance presents unique logistical challenges. The focus of this research is the Technician Assignment Problem (TAP) which involves a complicated and fluctuating scheduling problem. The key objective is to determine the most effective assignment of technicians to maintenance tasks to maximize operational efficiency and ensure reliable service. This study introduces a mathematical optimization model that processes numerous variables—technician availability, skill sets, and temporal constraints—to minimize unmet maintenance needs and ensure equitable workload distribution. The model is based on assumptions derived from actual operational conditions and …

Machine Learning For Automated Classification Of Lung Collagen In A Urethane-Induced Lung Injury Mouse Model, Khalid Hamad Alnafisah, Amit Ranjan, Sushant P. Sahu, Jianhua Chen, Sarah Mohammad Alhejji, Alexandra Noël, Manas Ranjan Gartia, Supratik Mukhopadhyay

Faculty Publications

Dysregulation of lung tissue collagen level plays a vital role in understanding how lung diseases progress. However, traditional scoring methods rely on manual histopathological examination introducing subjectivity and inconsistency into the assessment process. These methods are further hampered by inter-observer variability, lack of quantification, and their time-consuming nature. To mitigate these drawbacks, we propose a machine learning-driven framework for automated scoring of lung collagen content. Our study begins with the collection of a lung slide image dataset from adult female mice using second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy. In our proposed approach, first, we manually extracted features based on the 46 …

Sustainability Of Asphalt Mixtures Containing 50% Rap And Recycling Agents, Ibrahim Elnaml, Louay N. Mohammad, Gaylon Baumgardner, Samuel Cooper, Samuel Cooper

Faculty Publications

The substitution of virgin asphalt binder with reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) has environmental and economic merits, however, cracking susceptibility arises due to the aged asphalt binder within RAP. The objectives of this study are to (1) enhance the cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures containing 50% RAP utilizing recycling agents (RAs) derived from six petroleum-based and bio-based materials, (2) conduct an environmental impact assessment (represented by global warming potential “GWP”) for high-RAP mixtures including RAs, and (3) estimate the cost effectiveness of including high-RAP content in asphalt mixtures. Based on the RAP asphalt binder performance grade (PG), base asphalt binder PG, …

Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Based Preformed Particle Gels For Water Management In Oil And Gas Reservoirs, Ahmed Ben Ali, Ahmed Hamza, Abdulaziz A. Almakimi, Mohammed Saad, Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein, Baojun Bai

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) based materials have been proposed as preformed particle gels (PPGs) for reducing excessive water production in oil and gas reservoirs. Multi-sized dry particles ranging between 100 and 1180 μm have been synthesized using microwave-assisted grafting copolymerization of CMC and acrylamide (AM)/n,n''-methylene-bisacrylamide (MBA). FTIR and SEM confirmed CMC crosslinked polyacrylamide's chemical structure and morphology (CMC/CPAM). Thermo-gravimetric analysis has demonstrated the thermal stability of dry PPGs up to 309 °C. CMC/CPAM showed slightly high absorbency in brine 2 (TDS = 67.3 g/L) compared to brine 1 (TDS = 33.65 g/L), 1% NaCl, and deionized water, with swelling ratios (SR) …

Black Experiences In The Shadow Of The Civil War, Beverly A. Duran

GLI MA in American History Student Works

This study examines the contrasting experiences and perspectives of enslaved African Americans in the South and free Black communities in the North in the years leading up to the American Civil War. Drawing on primary sources such as slave narratives, abolitionist writings, and speeches by Black leaders, the paper highlights how geographical, social, and legal contexts shaped their views on the impending conflict. While enslaved individuals feared the war’s potential for intensified oppression but harbored faint hopes for freedom, free Black Northerners viewed the war as both an opportunity for abolition and a risk to their precarious freedoms. The analysis …

Clark Magazine, Fall 2024, Clark University

Clark Magazine

The Fall 2024 edition of Clark Magazine. Clark Magazine is a twice-yearly publication primarily geared towards Clark University Alumni.

The cover story is 'Does the World Need Poets? Yes, historians and philosophers, too. But as the humanities evolve in the digital age, Clark is finding new ways to think, and research, and create'.

The Intersection Of Place And Game Design: The Case Of Two Classic African Board Games, Rebecca Y. Bayeck, Joseph M. Bayeck

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

The concept of game design is often associated with a computational creative task or a creation with technology. Automatically linking game design to computational activity or technology may have contributed to the scarce research on the interaction between place and game design. The focus on technology may have excluded indigenous games from game design conversation in the game design literature. This article explores design in the context of two classic African board games. We examine the influence of place on the design of these games. Building on game design and place literature, the article shows the situatedness of game design …

Long-Term Tracking Captures The Timing Of Ontogenetic Niche Shifts In Northeast Pacific White Sharks, Ryan K. Logan, James M. Anderson, Echelle S. Burns, Yamilla Samara Chacon, Ryan Freedman, Emiliano García-Rodríguez, Elizabeth Jahn, Kady Lyons, Emily N. Meese, Zachariah S. Merson, John O'Sullivan, Patrick T. Rex, Emily Spurgeon, Brian S. Stirling, Connor F. White, Chuck Winkler, Salvador Jorgensen, Oscar Sosa-Nishizaki, Christopher G. Lowe

Biology, Agriculture and Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Ontogenetic changes in area use, habitat use, and trophic interactions play an important role in the ecology, demography, and ultimately population dynamics of many species. Assumed to be driven by shifting life-history requirements, trophic niche shifts in white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are well documented, but the timing of the spatial niche shift that is hypothesized to occur with the trophic niche shift remains poorly understood. To document how fine-scale area use varies as sharks age and the timing of the ontogenetic spatial shift of this top predator, we tracked individual white sharks tagged as young-of-the-year or young juveniles …

"Population Growth And Mexico's Production Of Family Planning Short Films," In Challenging Stories: Exploring The Intersections Between Health And The Humanities, Martha L. Espinosa

History Faculty publications

This chapter focuses on three family planning short films produced by the Mexican government. I interpret these films as an instrument to prompt the population to self-govern their reproduction. Relying on the definition of governmentality as “how modern forms of power and regulation achieve their full effects not by forcing people toward state-managed goals but by turning them into accomplices” (Agrawal 2005, 217), I argue that these short films sought to promote a new reproductive subjectivity among working-class urban and rural Mexicans. In other words, such reproductive subjectivity consisted of encouraging couples to have fewer children by promoting the idea …

Gratings In Optical Waveguides And Lasers, Weida Zhang

Electrical Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Gratings play a crucial role in Distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers, influencing their performance and characteristics. The focus of this work is aimed at the design of DBR lasers that significantly impact the laser's spectral and temporal behavior, making it a key component in optimizing DBR laser functionality.

The SMU developed grating software, compared with commercially available photonics software, has improved accuracy and much smaller computation times. The improved accuracy and reduced computation times compared with commercial photonics software occur because commercial software is typically based on numerical methods such as finite-difference time-domain (FDTD), eigenmode expansion and beam propagation methods …

Traditional Versus Modern Learning Strategies, Jade Erickson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Schools across the country continue to face challenges with different student needs in the classroom as children are surrounded by technology outside of school, have lower attention spans, and society continues to push inclusion. Research has shown that student engagement and success are based on the resources used to teach them. This study aims to identify the impact technology has in the classroom, the benefits of active learning, changes with inclusion, and how family involvement impacts student learning so that educators will benefit. Based on a literature review on the impact of active learning and technology usage in the classroom, …

Tailoring Tier 2 Reading Interventions To Improve 4th Grade Students’ Foundational Reading Skills, Fluency, And Perceptions Of Reading, Rachel Honken

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the effectiveness of two literacy interventions, Lexia Core 5 and Word Connections, on improving reading, both fluency and foundational skills, among fourth-grade students. All Tier 2 fourth-grade students participated in one of the interventions over an 8-week period, with progress measured through both pre- and post-test scores and qualitative data on student reading perceptions. The findings revealed significant growth in reading fluency and foundational reading skills (phonics) among students in the Word Connections group, while results in the Lexia Core 5 group were less pronounced. Survey responses indicated varied student preferences, …

Reverse Inclusion At The Intermediate Level, Mallory Bebout

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Special education is an area where students have many different needs. Reverse inclusion is one practice where students with significant special education needs (SEN) work with general education peers to build skills, generalize concepts learned, and build meaningful relationships with peers. Students with significant SEN have limited educational opportunities to work with students without SEN. In this inquiry-based research study, general education peers were partnered 1:1 with students who had SEN in the areas of literacy, adaptive art, and adaptive physical education classes. The research examined the frequency of Self-Injurious Behaviors (SIBs), Instructional Elopement (IE), and the number of times …

Repeating A Literacy Special Education Lesson In The Home With A Student With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kasey Buchholz

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research paper was driven by the researcher’s interest in improving the early literacy skills for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, students who have typically been non-responders to previous interventions. As a former general education teacher in her third year of working in special education, the researcher taught explicit and systematic literacy lessons in the pull-out classroom and worked collaboratively with the student’s parent to replicate those lessons in the home. Quantitative data was collected through the computer-based assessment Renaissance Star 360 Early Literacy. After establishing a baseline level, additional data was collected during and after the intervention. The …

The Impact Of Math Applications On Basic Math Skills, Laura Brockelsby

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if iPad math applications can help improve students’ addition and subtraction fluency. The study looked specifically at the Teachley Math applications, Addimals and Subtractimals. The study took place in a combined first and second grade elementary school classroom. Students were introduced to the applications as a four-week math intervention. Students were given 10-15 minutes three times a week in class to work on the applications in the classroom. Student were given a pretest and a posttest to see if there was improvement on math fluency in these areas. Overall students …

Implementing Family-Centered Practices As A Family Service Coordinator To Improve Early Intervention Outcome, Ashlee Fincher

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Family-centered practices are a foundational part of Part C Early Intervention programs and are meant to enhance developmental outcomes for children with disabilities or delays, while supporting their families. This study examines how Family Service Coordinators (FSCs) can refine and enhance the implementation of these practices, focusing on culturally responsive approaches, building trust, and fostering family empowerment through capacity-building strategies. Using surveys and interviews, data were collected from FSCs and some of the families they serve in a Western state-wide Part C program to explore current strategies, challenges, and family perceptions. Findings revealed that while FSCs demonstrated confidence in implementing …

Impacts Of Whole Class Interventions On Student Outcomes, Katie Pedersen

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Classrooms around the country are shifting to become more inclusive. Teachers are faced with the challenge of meeting the needs of various student ability levels. It is imperative for teachers to maximize their instructional time to provide students with an elevated level of instruction that meets their needs. This inquiry-based study aims to determine the effectiveness of adding a whole class intervention to meet the needs of both target and non-target students. After a review of the literature the researcher surmised that adding a whole class intervention can positively impact both academic and behavioral/social emotional outcomes. The literature also suggests …

Revisiting The Second Taiwan Strait Crisis: Strategic Lessons For Today, Kendall Carll

Journal of Strategic Security

As the inhabitants of the Quemoy Islands sat down for dinner on August 23, 1958, three years of relative peace in the Taiwan Strait came to an abrupt end. In the weeks that followed, the Eisenhower administration deployed ships to the strait, worked to understand the Communists’ intent, and considered nuclear first use. Though Washington ultimately prevailed in the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, a critical review of the decision-making process enabled by newly leaked materials suggests catastrophe was closer than previously assumed. This article investigates the successes, the failures, and the nearly avoided contingencies that permitted a non-nuclear resolution to …

Understanding Russian Hybrid Warfare Against Europe In The Energy Sector And In The Future ‘Energy-Resources-Climate’ Security Nexus., Maurizio Geri

Journal of Strategic Security

To avoid escalations to full kinetic (military) wars is imperative to win the non-kinetic part of the so-called “hybrid warfare”, which use both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. The goal of the non-kinetic methods of hybrid warfare, or as others call it “grey zone” activities, or “subthreshold” tactics, is to defeat hearts and minds, as well as pockets, of adversaries, with social, political, and economic tools. This article focuses on energy as the crucial sector of the economic tools, and specifically uses an innovative approach, what the author calls the ‘energy-resources-climate security nexus’, as a new battleground for future strategic competition …

An Overview Of The Activities Of Different Actors In The Reconstruction Efforts In Borno, Nigeria: 2016 - 2023, Wazeer Murtala

Journal of Strategic Security

Nigeria-Boko Haram’s competition for dominance has been the subject of many scholarly works and commentaries. Evidence shows that Nigeria is emerging victorious in the military struggle and the country is building on this relative success by engaging in infrastructural reconstruction that is akin to post-war rebuilding. With Borno State as the focal point, this article summarizes the activities of different actors (local and international) in the reconstruction efforts. Through a qualitative survey of different primary documents such as reports, news articles, videos, and other relevant materials, this study finds that the reconstruction efforts in Borno State between the years 2016 …

The War Came To Us: Life And Death In Ukraine. By Christopher Miller. London: Bloomsbury Continuum, 2023., Amos C. Fox Ph.D.

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis Of Early Settler Artifacts Recovered From Gossman Caves And Prairie Complex, Zachry S. Poshusta, Joshua Sebree

Fall 2024 - Chemical Analysis Class Projects

Meskwaki Tribe: Lived in Jackson County, Iowa, until 1845.

European Settlers: Took over the land, building structures and forming townships.

Artifacts: Both groups left behind pottery shards, campsite remnants, and building foundations.

Study Focus: Analyzing artifacts using X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry.

Sample Sites: Gossman Prairie and Cave Complex.

Objective: Determine if both groups used local clay for crafting.

Elemental Analysis Of Luminescent Cave Formations Using X-Ray Fluorescence, Esther Farran, Joshua Sebree

Fall 2024 - Chemical Analysis Class Projects

Luminescent calcite formations (N = 21) were taken from nine karst caves in a valley in Northeast Iowa. Ten samples fluoresced bright blue under UV light and phosphoresced green. Four samples fluoresced dull pink instead of blue. Seven samples do not fluoresce as strongly as the other samples. An elemental analysis was performed on the samples using a Bruker Tracer 5g handheld XRF. Analysis shows some samples may experience fluorescence quenching by the presence of iron and some amount of fluorescence by manganese.

Going With The Flow: Quantifying Lead Levels Along A Natural Water Pathway, Kailah Thompson, Joshua Sebree

Fall 2024 - Chemical Analysis Class Projects

Lead contamination in natural water is a significant concern due to its toxic effects on both ecological and human health. Jackson County, with its historical background in lead mining and ammunition production, presents an ideal region to study lead’s movement and potential impacts in natural water environments. This research traces the journey of lead ions from a spring, through a creek, and into a pond, examining how lead concentrations change along the water pathway. The study uses differential pulse stripping voltammetry, a precise technique for trace metal analysis, alongside pH and temperature measurements to provide insight into factors that influence …

Soil Condition Variability: Carbon Analysis Of Prairie, Crop, And Forest Soil In Northeast Iowa, Jacqueline Heggen, Joshua Sebree, David Gossman

Fall 2024 - Chemical Analysis Class Projects

• Iowa’s soil supports crop growth, stores carbon, filters water impurities, provides a habitat for organisms, and stores and provides water and nutrients for plants.
• The availability of elements within soil is an indicator of the viability of soil.
• Total % carbon is the percent composition of carbon in the sample. Total organic carbon enters the soil through the decomposition of plants, microorganisms, and animals.
• C:H ratios can reveal the potential for microbial activity and soil fertility.
• Gossman property allows for the analysis of a variety of different soil conditions in one location