Digital Commons Network^™

A Case Of Rare Fetal Tachycardia, Tony Zunica, Maria Kiaffas, Hayley Hancock, Laura Schoeneberg, Emily Backes, Rita France, Zalie Landes

Research Showcase

Background:

Fetal ventricular tachycardia (VT) is an exceptionally rare diagnosis, comprising of 1-2% of fetal arrhythmias, and can precipitate fetal demise via heart failure, polyhydramnios, and nonimmune hydrops fetalis. We present a case of fetal ventricular tachycardia in a structurally normal heart associated with fetal cardiac dysfunction and atrioventricular valve insufficiency.

Case Description:

A 40-year-old G5P2 female was re-referred to fetal cardiology at 31 weeks gestational age (GA) due to concern of pathologic fetal tachycardia.  Family history was negative for cardiac disease or arrhythmias.  The fetus was initially evaluated by fetal echocardiography at 29 weeks GA due to maternal type …

High-Frequency And Conventional Ventilation In Vlbw Neonates During Interfacility Transport, Trevor Cabrera, Janelle R. Noel-Macdonnell Phd, Emily Mcnellis

Research Showcase

Background: Very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates (≤1500 grams) transported across neonatal facilities often require advanced respiratory support, including high-frequency ventilation (HFV). While HFV use in this setting has increased, data evaluating its safety and efficacy in the VLBW population remain limited. We hypothesized that HFV will provide a safe modality to transport sick VLBW infants.

Objectives: To present a comparative experience of safety and efficacy of HFV and CV in VLBW neonates during interfacility transport.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed neonates ≤1500g who received invasive ventilation during interfacility transport by our transport team between January 2019 and December 2022. HFV …

Clonidine Dosing After Acute Pediatric Brain Injury, Bekah Spengler, Kim Hartman, Matt Mclaughlin

Research Showcase

Background: While numerous evidence-based neuropharmacologic treatments exist for managing acquired brain injury in adults, there is a lack of data on the use of medication in pediatric patients. One such medication is Clonidine, an alpha-2 agonist that acts centrally to decrease sympathetic outflow, brain edema, and agitation. There is limited literature on the indications and optimal dosing of Clonidine in pediatric brain injury.

Objectives/Goal: This study aims to explore the frequency of Clonidine use in pediatric patients with acute brain injury and to clarify the starting, therapeutic (maximum), and discharge doses.

Methods/Design: Retrospective chart review at a single pediatric tertiary …

The Impact Of Vanzacaftor/Tezacaftor/Deutivacaftor On Parent And Child Perceived Psychosocial Functioning In People With Cystic Fibrosis: A Single Center Experience, Ashley Severin, Stephanie Duehlmeyer, Ellen Meier, Mallory Netz

Research Showcase

Background:

(ETI) is a highly effective modulator therapy (HEMT) for children with cystic fibrosis (CwCF). CwCF who are currently prescribed ETI are eligible to transition to vanzacaftor/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor (VTD). While ETI is associated with improvement in health outcomes for most CwCF, there are emerging data regarding neuropsychiatric adverse events (NAEs). VTD is a once daily HEMT shown to be non-inferior to ETI with a similar safety profile, particularly concerning NAEs.

Objectives/Goal:

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of VTD on parent and child perceived psychosocial functioning and sleep for CwCF.

Methods/Design:

The Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) is …

Microsoft 365+ Copilot, Adrian Rivera

Staff Professional Development Week

GTS’s Adrian Rivera explains how Microsoft 365 combined with Copilot gives Gallaudet staff powerful tools to work smarter, save time, and improve productivity across daily tasks. This workshop introduces how Copilot enhances familiar Microsoft 365 apps by using AI to simplify work and help staff stay organized.

Staff can also use Copilot to streamline workflows across Microsoft 365—organizing files, improving collaboration, and helping employees stay updated on new features and system changes. Copilot supports accessibility by offering clear explanations, step‐by‐step guidance, and tools that reduce manual work, making technology easier for all experience levels.

A Quick Guide To Writing Image Descriptions For Comics And Graphic Novels, Emily Hills

The Piedmont Publishing Symposium

No abstract provided.

Alternative Text Guidelines For Authors, Emily Hills

The Piedmont Publishing Symposium

No abstract provided.

Accessibility In Digital Publications, Ana Bichanich, Emily Hills, Corey Parson, Michelle Wallen

The Piedmont Publishing Symposium

Presented at the 2026 Piedmont Publishing Symposium.

May 20-21, 2026

Wofford University

Accessible Publishing Assistant Position Description, Emily Hills

The Piedmont Publishing Symposium

No abstract provided.

Intersectionality And Infertility: A Framework For Culturally Responsive Mental Health Counseling, Nouna Jalilzadeh

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Infertility affects approximately 11% of women of reproductive age in the United States, with 41–46% developing symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a prevalence substantially higher than in the general population. Because existing research and clinical literature predominantly focus on female infertility experiences, this article centers women while acknowledging that infertility profoundly impacts individuals across all gender identities. Despite this, mental health counselors frequently lack training in culturally responsive reproductive mental health care, leaving marginalized clients, including racial and ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and rural residents without adequate support. This theoretical article applies intersectionality theory to …

Considering Consent: What We Can Learn From Bdsm, Jennie Pless, Kate A. Morrissey Stahl, Madison Reeves

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

Consent is a pivotal, defining feature of BDSM. As such, much can be learned by examining conceptualizations of consent among those who engage in BDSM. Using a mixed methods approach, this study explores how 92 BDSM practitioners conceptualize and practice consent. Participants defined consent as an ongoing, enthusiastic, and voluntary agreement. We examine how BDSM practitioners ensure consent, educate others about consent, and handle consent violations. Findings include strategies for consent education and sexual assault prevention. This study highlights the importance of greater awareness and understanding of BDSM and consent.

Transitions From Traditional Gender And Sexuality Roles To Non-Conforming Identities Through Performance Art: A Multiple Case Study, Adrianne Trogden, Dorin Captari-Scirri

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

This qualitative multiple case study examined how two individuals from religiously conservative households navigated transitions from traditional gender and sexuality roles to non-conforming and queer identities through performance art. Using case study methodology, five interconnected themes emerged: Performing Gender - pressure to "act masculine," Performing Sexuality – pressure to "act straight," Performing Art - freedom of expression of gender and sexuality on stage, Shame and fear transformed when accepted sexuality, and Finding one's voice and identity - gender and sexuality. Stage performance art served as an underlying foundation, providing a transformative space for safely exploring previously constrained gender and …

Sex And Stigma: The Cisgender Woman’S Experience, Regin Dean, Kara Schneider, Lucas M. Perez, Tae Joon Kim, Ryan G. Carlson

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

This study examines how sexual stigma and societal expectations affect the self-esteem of college-aged women within the context of casual sex. Using a qualitative, thematic design, participants were recruited through purposive sampling and interviewed using semi-structured protocols. Thematic analysis revealed three overarching domains: Identity & Self-perception (empowerment, femininity and body image, fluidity), Social Factors (familial and cultural expectations, shame and comparison, formative relationships), and Developmental Influences (social media, scrutiny, knowledge gaps). Findings demonstrate how stigma is internalized and reinforced through interpersonal and media influences, underscoring the need for counseling practices that address both individual wellness and systemic advocacy.

Purity Culture And Sexual Shame, Dr. Amanda Gray, Dr. Kat R. Klement

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

We investigated the relationship between Christian purity culture (PC) exposure/endorsement and sexual shame in 1,273 participants. Purity culture (PC) is a belief system predicated on sexual abstinence until heterosexual marriage and traditional gender roles. Correlational data showed that PC exposure was associated with higher sexual shame, particularly among women, and only among those who no longer endorsed PC. However, we did not find a causal relationship between PC exposure and sexual shame. Based on these findings, we provide recommendations for countering sex-negative messages during adolescence to improve healthy sexual development and better health and relationship outcomes.

Asymmetric Opinion Formation Of Emotional Excitable Agents, Irene Ferri, Emanuele Cozzo, Aleix Nicolás-Olivé, Albert Díaz-Guilera, Luce Prignano

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

The bounded confidence model represents a widely adopted framework for modeling opinion dynamics wherein actors have a continuous-valued opinion and interact and approach their positions in the opinion space only if their opinions are within a specified confidence threshold. Here, we propose a novel framework where the confidence bound is determined by a decreasing function of their emotional arousal, an additional independent variable distinct from the opinion value. Additionally, our framework accounts for agents' ability to broadcast messages, with interactions influencing the timing of each other's message emissions. Our findings underscore the significant role of synchronization in shaping consensus formation. …

Comparative Study On Institutional Design And Scope Of Grounds Of Criminal Cases Review Between Indonesia And The United Kingdom, Rahman Syamsuddin, Muhammad Ikram Nur Fuady, Hasdiwanti Hasdiwanti, Hilmiah Hilmiah

Padjadjaran Jurnal Ilmu Hukum (Journal of Law)

This study examines to examine the comparative framework of criminal cases review between Indonesia and the United Kingdom (UK), focusing on the scope of grounds and institutional framework. Both jurisdictions recognize post-conviction review as an extraordinary legal remedy intended to prevent miscarriages of justice. Indonesia employs revision (PK –Peninjauan Kembali) as a restrictive system, similar to the Court of Appeal. The UK adopts a broader and more flexible model through Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The study used secondary data and literature reviews, with a comparative legal approach grounded in normative and institutional analysis, assessing the legal structures, procedural …

Integrating Free, Prior, And Informed Consent Into Indonesia's Palm Oil Regulatory Framework For Indigenous Protection, Ermanto Fahamsyah, Natasya Aulia Putri, Ramadhan Dwi Saputra, Vicko Taniady

Padjadjaran Jurnal Ilmu Hukum (Journal of Law)

This study examines the absence of a binding Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) mechanism in Indonesia's palm oil regulatory framework, which has resulted in recurring land conflicts and insufficient protection for indigenous peoples whose customary territories are converted into plantation concessions. It aims to analyze the weaknesses of the current legal framework and to evaluate FPIC models in the Philippines and Colombia as potential references for national reform. This study adopts a normative legal method using statutory, case-based, and comparative approaches. Primary and secondary legal materials were examined to assess Indonesia's existing protections for indigenous peoples and to compare …

Indirectly Fired, Single-Chamber Parabolic Radiative Kiln, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a high-efficiency, multi-directional thermal enclosure consisting of a single-chamber, non-metallic refractory kiln characterized by a parabolic, catenary, or semi-spherical vaulted geometry. This document details a system configuration where a high-density masonry or clay enclosure functions sequentially as both an active combustion chamber and an indirect, passive radiant energy concentrator. By optimizing the internal radius of curvature of the vaulted shell, the system acts as a geometric infrared mirror, focusing and redistributing uniform multi-directional radiant heat flux to a centralized processing plane after the primary heat source is removed or extinguished. The thermodynamic principles, material properties, and physical …

Bio-Compatible Hardware Computing Framework, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure details an entirely metal-free, biochemical, and biodegradable hardware computing architecture. It is the explicit intent of the authors to place the entirety of these concepts, material configurations, and geometric manufacturing methodologies into the public domain to establish a permanent barrier of prior art. The configurations disclosed herein utilize the inherent, predictable chemical and physical properties of processed natural feedstocks (such as regenerated plant cellulose, exfoliated organic carbon, and biological resins). While these elements are isolated and processed from raw botanical and graphitic sources, the final textile computing assemblies operate strictly via the unalterable, native physical laws governing electron …

Thermochemical Heat Generation System, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a zero-petroleum, 100% biodegradable, multi-stage thermochemical heat-generation and dissipation system. The initial chemical energy release is driven by the highly exothermic hydration reaction of biogenic Calcium Oxide (derived via the calcination of Dreissena polymorpha biomass) when exposed to a high-surface-area, carbonaceous aqueous suspension (derived from pyrolyzed micro-algae). This document details a system configuration where an instantaneous core thermal spike of approximately 300 degrees Celsius is mechanically throttled, stored as sensible heat, and slowly dissipated through an exterior elastomeric silicone barrier. The resulting energy profile yields a safe, flattened, long-duration therapeutic thermal plateau of approximately 45 degrees Celsius …

Passive Micro-Climate Pressure Chamber, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a passive, localized, low-pressure, high-humidity unvented vapor-retention micro-chamber engineered from unglazed, porous, high-thermal-mass ceramic or earthenware materials. This document details a geometric design consisting of an inverted dome or bell-shaped housing configured to seat flush against a heated horizontal substrate (hearth). This configuration forms a sealed micro-climate capable of capturing, buffering, and recycling transient volatile vapors and moisture without requiring active mechanical gas-injection or external steam-delivery infrastructure. The thermodynamic principles and physical mechanics detailed herein are inherently enabled by thousands of years of European human cultural heritage—specifically the archaeological record of ancient Greek and Roman portable clay …

Baffled Solid-Medium Thermal Energy Storage System, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a passive, high-efficiency, solid-medium sensible heat Thermal Energy Storage system constructed from high-density, non-metallic refractory materials (such as fired clay bricks, earthen masonry, or cast stone). This document details a mechanical design featuring a multi-stage, tortuous, baffled internal flue matrix (a smoke labyrinth) engineered to maximize convective heat transfer from high-velocity, high-temperature combustion exhaust gases into a surrounding high-thermal-mass storage body. The physical mechanics, structural geometry, and thermodynamic principles detailed herein are inherently enabled by centuries of Eastern and Central European human cultural heritage—specifically the historical technology known as the "Russian Pech" (Russian Oven) and related masonry …

Fiber-Reinforced Silicate Particulate Composite, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

The material operates as a fiber-reinforced, particulate-bound multi-phase composite. The mechanical integrity relies on a dual-matrix system where structural sand grains provide compressive strength, a cohesive clay binder provides micro-particle cohesion via electrostatic forces, and high-tensile organic fibers distribute shear and tensile stresses to prevent cracks during moisture desiccation.

A Biodegradable Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composite, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a high-tensile, biodegradable, fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite material comprising a continuous amorphous carbohydrate polymer matrix (derived from thermally processed sucrose and honey/fructose blends) reinforced with a high-fraction organic particulate phase (comprising sheared or whole high-aspect-ratio botanical elements, specifically Prunus dulcis endocarps/almonds). This document details the precise thermal liquefaction, phase change, mechanical compounding, and extrusion techniques required to manufacture this load-bearing composite. The material mechanics and thermal profiles of this formulation are inherently enabled by historical cultural heritage, specifically the 1815 public documentation of Marie-Antoine Carême regarding structural nougat manipulation for architectural elements.

Applications Of A Biopolymer Hydrogel Matrix, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a thermally reversible, biodegradable, high-water-content biopolymer hydrogel matrix generated through the controlled thermal denaturation, extraction, and subsequent low-temperature cross-linking of animal-derived collagen proteins (primarily Type I gelatin) suspended in an aqueous vehicle. This document outlines the chemical clarification, thermal setting profiles, and stabilization techniques required to transform this liquid protein suspension into an elastic, solid hydrogel sheet or airtight protective encapsulation layer. The physical mechanics and chemical formulations of this material are inherently enabled by historical cultural heritage, specifically the 1815 public documentation of Marie-Antoine Carême regarding clarified savory aspics and molded bavarois emulsions.

Applications Of A Low Density, Rigid, Open Cell Biofoam, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a low-density, biodegradable, open-cell structural biofoam generated through the gas-phase dispersion and mechanical fluid-shearing of an aqueous avian egg-white protein solution (specifically ovalbumin, conalbumin, and ovomucoid) stabilized by a high-fraction crystalline carbohydrate solute (sucrose). This document outlines the mechanical aeration, extrusion, and thermal desiccation techniques required to convert this viscoelastic liquid foam into a lightweight, rigid, porous solid block. The physical mechanics and foundational chemistry of this material are inherently enabled by historical cultural heritage, specifically the 1815 public documentation of Marie-Antoine Carême regarding mechanically aerated meringue structures and piping bag extrusion systems.

A Biodegradable Particulate-Polymer Composite, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes a low-cost, room-temperature curing, biodegradable particulate-polymer composite material consisting of a crystalline carbohydrate filler (sucrose), an organic polysaccharide binder (gum tragacanth or equivalent water-soluble vegetable gums), and a liquid vehicle (water). This disclosure details the mechanical formulation, processing methods, and structural applications of this material for non-culinary industrial uses, including sacrificial tooling, casting mandrels, rapid prototyping, and biodegradable architectural modeling. The physical mechanics and chemical formulations of this material are inherently enabled by historical cultural documentation, specifically the 1815 publications of Marie-Antoine Carême regarding pastillage matrices.

Structural Hydrocolloid Scaffolding In 19th Century Pastry, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure details the technical methods for creating shelf-stable, structurally sound, and aerated dairy compositions without the use of modern synthetic stabilizers. It documents the "Diplomat" and "Mousseline" systems as prior art for structural hydrocolloid scaffolding and fat-protein emulsification, specifically addressing the prevention of syneresis (weeping) and the deactivation of starch-degrading enzymes.

The Art Of The Kitchen Insult, Natalie M. Durdle Miss

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure identifies a systematic method of political subversion embedded in the "High Art" of 19th-century French pastry, specifically the works of Marie-Antoine Carême. It identifies the "Crème Diplomate" and "Crème Bavaroise" as deliberate semiotic parodies of the diplomatic class and the Bavarian state. By utilizing gelatin-stabilized aerated structures, the "Chef-Architect" performed a public satire of "spineless" and "insubstantial" political entities, effectively "manufacturing" an illegitimate social class of chef-experts (the "Tiddy-Doll" effect).

Generating Dynamic Hazard Alerts Via Multidimensional Crowdsourced Data Collection, Chaim Zucker

Defensive Publications Series

Real-time navigation systems may issue generic hazard alerts, such as "car on shoulder," which may not differentiate between varying risk situations. A system for collecting multidimensional data about a reported event can be used to enhance these alerts. After an initial hazard report, the system can distribute simple prompts, for example, binary-choice questions such as "Are people outside the car? To subsequent passing drivers to gather contextual details. These crowdsourced responses can be aggregated, and an algorithm on a server may assess the data against a set of rules to determine a severity level. Based on this assessment, the system …