Digital Commons Network^™

Lake Como, Brigitte Wiseman

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Overgrowing, William Deck

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Hallucinations, Kennedi Clark

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Sun Setting Above The Atlantic, Lillian Wages

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Bleeding In Rgb, Loran Schneiter

The Oval

No abstract provided.

It's Vogue, Loran Schneiter

The Oval

No abstract provided.

The Sower, Lia Blount

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Polypodiaceae, Lindsay Hause

The Oval

No abstract provided.

I Heard Tired Of Sex, And Now I'M A Mess, Zane Segal

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Reverence, Emma Parten

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Dogwood And Dancing Boots, Leah Welch

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Condom Duck, A Duck Defaced, Mckenna Johnson

The Oval

No abstract provided.

At The Pool, Zane Segal

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Untitled, Kelsea Spotts

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Let's Move! An Analysis Into The Relationship Between Physical Activity, Work-Related Outcomes, And Mental Health, Colin Elliott

Honors Projects in Psychology

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 subsidized the use of Corporate Wellness Programs (CWPs) as a way to combat the growing obesity problem currently plaguing the United States. Despite this subsidization, these CWPs offered by employers are still lacking in both quality of programs and the number of programs that are offered to employees. 52% of all companies in the United States sponsor a CWP, and these numbers decline to approximately 28% of all companies offering a physical activity program for employees. Current literature highlights the benefits of physical activity, but there is lack of research on CWPs and their …

Looking Beyond The Fracture: Initiating An Osteoporotic Fracture Liaison Service, Gabriela A. Hildenbrand

Cohort XII

Background/Problem Statement: Osteoporosis, known as the “silent disease,” has been estimated to cause 9 million fragility fractures worldwide, resulting in an osteoporosis fracture every 3 seconds (Pennestrì et al., 2019). Fragility fractures are projected to exceed $25.3 billion US dollars by 2025 (Barton et al., 2021).

Aims/Methods: This paper describes the implementation of an evidence-based practice DNP project using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Department. The aim of this project is to implement a fracture liaison service (FLS) to help close the post-fracture treatment gap.

Results/Interventions: This …

Tailoring Treatment Approaches With Supplemental Screening: Homeostatic Model Assessment Of Insulin Resistance (Homa-Ir) In An Obese Population, Christine Ruvaclaba

Cohort XII

Background: This quality improvement project, conducted in the Texas-Mexico border region with high obesity rates, aimed to explore the utility of the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) as a screening tool for insulin resistance (IR) among overweight and obese individuals. The study focused on patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 25 who exhibited normal blood sugar levels or Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels less than 5.7%.

Aim/Methods: The aim is to identify early intervention strategies for metabolic disorders, particularly in obese populations. Obesity is often the precursor to comorbid conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. …

The Effects Of Mediterranean Diet On The Epileptic Population With Depression, Celina Navarro

Cohort XII

Background: People with epilepsy often develop depression during the course of their disease progression. This condition is multifactorial, often related to the unpredictability of their disease, the lack of control on their symptoms, and the medications they use to treat their seizures. Mental health services continue to be insufficient for our growing border region, and patients with epilepsy, often will lack the proper mental health management due to mental health provider shortage. Multiple medications can be used to successfully treat depression in the general population, however people with epilepsy often will struggle as anti-seizure drugs can interact with antidepressants. Also, …

Initiating Early Review Of Paxlovid Criteria With Suspected Covid + Patients To Reduce Disqualification Of Anti-Viral Therapy, Emily Robinson

Cohort XII

Introduction: Nearly 742 million cases of COVID have been detected since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and over 6 million people have lost their lives due to COVID or a COVID related illness. While Arizona’s COVID-19 emergency declaration ended on March 30, 2022, there are still nearly 100,000 new cases each week as of September 2023. Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) is an outpatient antiviral medication recommended for adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who have elevated risk of severe illness.

Aim/Methods: Regardless of vaccination status, taking Paxlovid within 5 days of diagnosis reduces the hospitalization rate by 51%. The majority of COVID positive …

What A Pain In The Back!!!, Sylvia De La Rosa

Cohort XII

Background: After reviewing my 10-day Practice Assessment Log (PAL) and documenting a clinical needs assessment of my practice, I documented, reviewed, and reflected upon my findings. In my current practice we address low back pain with Gabapentin 300mg TID and Methocarbamol 500mg BID. The present outcome is that most patients do not experience much in relief.

Aims/Methods: My Practice Improvement Project (PIP), validated via research, points to adding Celebrex 100mg BID, an anti-inflammatory, to patient’s regimen. I carried out this project for 30 days with a 2-week follow-up. The Translational Framework Knowledge-to-Action model was used to help me prepare the …

Following National Guidelines And Treatment To Eradicate Streptococcus Pharyngitis In Pediatrics, Rosa I. Montenegro

Cohort XII

Introduction: Sore throat (acute pharyngitis) is considered a prevalent disease worldwide among children and adults that requires healthcare. It is important to know that the etiology of sore throat in 70%-95% of cases is viral. Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) is detected in approximately 15%-30% of all cases with sore throat, 5%-15% in adults, while 20%-30% in children. For the diagnosis of GAS infection, a throat swab is the gold standard procedure. Most guidelines are based on the seriousness of GAS infection to support the decision on the use of antibiotic treatment. All guidelines on sore throat give recommendations on …

Improving Bipolar Diagnosis With The Rapid Mood Screener, Leslie Richard

Cohort XII

Background: Bipolar disorder is a chronic, debilitating mental illness that affects individuals globally. It is characterized by significant challenges in diagnosis, often leading to delays in receiving appropriate treatment. This condition can mirror the symptoms of unipolar depression, leading to frequent misdiagnoses and hindering timely intervention that could improve functional outcomes and quality of life.

Aims/Methods: This project aims to enhance the accuracy of bipolar disorder diagnoses in clinical settings, specifically bipolar disorder type 1 (BPT1), at the earliest possible stage of the illness. By doing so, it seeks to improve symptom management, reduce the duration of episodes, and enhance …

Reaching Gold: Diagnosing And Individualizing Care Using Gold Abe Guidelines, Martha Flores

Cohort XII

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains the fifth leading cause of disease-related deaths worldwide, resulting in an annual cost of $3.5 billion in the United States due to COPD exacerbations. COPD treatment necessitates a multifaceted approach that includes collecting complex, subjective, and objective patient information. A ten-day patient assessment log was completed in an outpatient pulmonary clinic to evaluate any shortcomings in the current practice, revealing that the current evaluation of breathlessness involved gathering subjective reporting with binary yes/no responses, leading to variability in diagnosis and treatment.

Methods/Aims: The binary evaluation fell short of the recommendations of the Global …

Hypertension And Treatment Modalities: What Does The Current Evidence Say?, Luis R. Tellez

Cohort XII

Background/Problem Statement: The significantly elevated rates of cardiovascular (CV) disease observed among individuals with mental health conditions might stem from suboptimal handling of cardiovascular risk factors. In this project, I sought to address one aspect of cardiovascular risk: hypertension in patients 18-74 years of age, marked with a blood pressure >140/90 mmHg in a psychiatric inpatient setting. A tenday review of patient care revealed that hypertension management provided to patients under our service was inadequate and might be improved by adopting and implementing more consistent and systematic protocols for medication administration.

Aims/Methods: At the onset of my project, I undertook …

On Solid Ground: A Quality Improvement For Fall Prevention, Jessica Vergara

Cohort XII

Background/Problem Statement: Falls among older adults are a significant concern, affecting up to 30% of individuals aged 65 and older annually. Multiple risk factors contribute to falls, including age, comorbidities, medications, and environmental hazards. Despite the common belief that falls are inevitable with aging, this project emphasizes the preventability of falls through multidisciplinary management and proactive engagement in fall prevention programs.

Aims/Methods: The initiative focuses on implementing the Matter of Balance (MoB) program within an institutional setting. MoB has shown favorable effects on fall-related concerns. The study employs a comprehensive outreach strategy targeting older adults at risk of falling, those …

Sleepy Inn Motel, Josie Arganbright

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Condom Duck, Mckenna Johnson

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Detection Of Jamming Attacks In Vanets, Thomas Justice

Undergraduate Honors Theses

A vehicular network is a type of communication network that enables vehicles to communicate with each other and the roadside infrastructure. The roadside infrastructure consists of fixed nodes such as roadside units (RSUs), traffic lights, road signs, toll booths, and so on. RSUs are devices equipped with communication capabilities that allow vehicles to obtain and share real-time information about traffic conditions, weather, road hazards, and other relevant information. These infrastructures assist in traffic management, emergency response, smart parking, autonomous driving, and public transportation to improve roadside safety, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance the overall driving experience. However, communication between the …

Scare If You Dare: A Look Into Scare Acting, Hana Goss

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Scare acting has always been the unsung villains of the entertainment industry. For three months of the year, for about five minutes of a haunted house, they get attention. However, the work scare actors do to is way more than just a five second “boo.” Scare actors have been at the beginning of theatre and continue to influence modern entertainment. Even though the patrons may be the ones feeling the danger, scare actors may be even more in danger than them. Each scare actor is unique from their looks to their moves. It might be take a lot of nerve …

Unemployment On Native American Reservations, Belle Haslam

Ballard Brief

Unemployment has long been a persistent issue plaguing Native American communities residing on reservations across the United States, dating back to the establishment of these reservations in the early 19th century. With the average unemployment rate reaching 10.5%, Native Americans face some of the highest rates of joblessness among racial and ethnic minority groups. This disparity in employment is reflected in per capita income figures, which show a staggering $9,000 difference between Native American reservations and adjacent counties, underscoring the economic challenges faced within reservation boundaries. The root causes of unemployment on reservations are multifaceted, including factors such as limited …