Digital Commons Network^™

Supply Chain Management Internship – Tyson Foods Inc., Burke Hoover

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

In my thesis I reflect upon my internship at Tyson Foods Inc., where I served as a Transportation Strategy Intern in the Supply Chain department. My role centered on logistics strategy, transportation management, and third-party logistics provider relationships. Through projects like the Request for Proposal (RFP) implementation and the development of carrier and lane scorecards, I learned about the complexities of supply chain management. This experience also highlighted the critical role of communication, soft skills, and technical competence in the industry. This internship provided me with hands-on experience, allowed me to apply academic knowledge, and helped me realize my strengths …

Sustainable Service Trends In Restaurants, Suruchi Bhatt

School of Business

Being Sustainable is an essential milestone in the food industry. Companies form and fall because of consumers' reactions to the industry. The food industry and restaurants account for some of the highest Food Waste and Pollution, approximately 34% of the Global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, including food production, processing, distribution, and consumption. (Crippa et al., 2021) In a sector like this, ensuring a complete understanding of sustainability in the industry is of utmost importance. However, the sheer relationship between the sustainable image, the prospect of sustainability, and the reality of implementing it may be far from reality. (Yuying-Huang, 2022)

Monsoon Skies, Selby Walvatne

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Influence Of Integrating Soft Skills Training Into The Undergraduate Stem Curriculum On The Stem Identity Of Students, Candace King

Dissertations

One of the major issues that STEM graduates face is overcoming Imposter Syndrome, and there is a consensus amongst STEM graduates and job recruiters that the current higher education system is missing some elements that could better prepare students for a successful STEM career. A solution to this issue results from recent research on the importance of “soft skills.” In general, “soft skills” or non-technical skills, include communication, critical thinking, and self-motivation. These skills complement “hard skills,” or technical skills, such as skills needed for performing laboratory experiments, like pipetting and Western blotting. The lack of soft skills among recent …

Enabling High-Rate Thermoplastic Composite Manufacturing Through Structure-Processing-Property Relationships Of Polyphenylene Sulfide, Lina Ghanbari

Dissertations

In this dissertation, relationships between polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) chain structure and melt processing parameters are linked to thermoplastic composite (TPC) properties and mechanical performance. Deviations from linear PPS structure and the formation of branching/crosslinked moieties upon exposure to TPC manufacturing steps presents an opportunity to systematically uncover the interdependencies of melt-state thermal history on polymer rheology, crystallization, crystal structure, and translate these properties to the continuum level. This work first explores unreinforced PPS and how the formation of non-linear chain architectures yield altered rheological states when held at melt processing temperatures. These hindered chains exhibit unconventional crystallization behavior and non-uniform …

Advertising On Snapchat: Exploring The Influence Of Celebrities Among Young Women In Saudi Arabia, Hessah Alqahtani

Dissertations

This study explored the influence of Snapchat celebrities on the purchase decisions of young women in Saudi Arabia. Uses and Gratifications theory and Source Credibility theory were used to investigate motivations for and factors that affect engagement with Snapchat celebrities. An online survey was conducted among 467 social media users. It was found that most Saudi women (62.9%) were motivated to engage with Snapchat celebrities to seek information.They would likely to purchase products endorsed by celebrities who were deemed trustworthy, attractive, and experts in the field. They also responded more favorably to celebrities who they believe are a fit for …

Evaluating The Sustainability Of The Portraits Of Progress Event Using The Meter Method To Achieve More Sustainable Small-Scale Events, Anna Switzer

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Global warming and climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions are causing society to re-evaluate how our actions affect the environment. This can be seen in many people’s professional and personal lives (Roy & Verplanken, 2016). The event management industry is no exception to this change of mindset. The purpose of this study is to measure the environmental impact of the Portraits of Progress Event on September 9, 2022, using the Measuring Events Through Environmental Research (METER) Method and provide recommendations to improve the sustainability of the event.

“Embracing Existence: Exploring Mexican-American Identity, Agency, And Resistance”, Daisy Alcantar

Sociology Honors Projects

Abstract:

This research investigates Mexican-American identity, agency, and resistance, contextualizing them within the socio-political landscape of the United States. Drawing from existing scholarship, the study employs qualitative interviews to explore how Mexican-American college students assert their ethnic identities as resistance against societal pressures to assimilate and institutions that marginalize them. The findings reveal the pervasive influence of racialization and marginalization experienced by Mexican-Americans, shaping their sense of belonging and connection to their Mexican heritage. Drawing upon Telles and Sue's (2019) concept of the "ethnic core," participants deepen their ties to their Mexican identities through familial and social networks, cultural practices, …

“Triple Consciousness”: How Chinese International Students Navigate Identity Amidst U.S-China Tension And Covid-19 Xenophobia, Haoxuan Gao

Sociology Honors Projects

International students from China account for the largest number of international students in the United States. Behind their vast and growing population lies the legacy of U.S. soft power diplomacy to spread democracy during the Cold War era, while a similar strategy has been utilized by the Chinese government for students to “represent China.” However, Chinese international students now stand on the intersection between COVID-19 xenophobia and the contentious U.S.-China relationship. How do these individuals navigate and (re)orientate their identities when they are pulled to opposite directions? This study utilizes one-on-one interviews with 22 Chinese international students from a small …

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Rsv) Transmission In Household Settings, Montserrat Santos, Anjana Sasidharan, Trina Regis, Kelly Fatheree, Manjusha Rani, Dithi Banerjee, Rangaraj Selvarangan

Research at Children's Mercy Month 2024

Background and aim: Children play a significant role in the transmission of respiratory viruses within households and communities. This gives significance to pediatric studies in how they can provide insight about transmission within households. There are currently a limited number of RSV transmission studies in family clusters conducted in the USA. We aimed to monitor the spread of RSV in prospectively enrolled families and determine viral shedding from multiple specimens in index child (IC) and their household contacts (HHC).

Method: Children (>1 month and <18y) who tested positive for RSV at Children’s Mercy Hospital, and their HHCs were consented to provide demographic and clinical data. Multiple specimens such as nasal swab (NS), saliva (SA), stool (ST), and blood (B) from IC and HCC were collected over 3 weeks. Nucleic extractions were performed, and RSV RT-PCR was done on the samples from the different time points for viral detection.

Results: Overall, 3 families with 12 subjects (3 IC and 9 HHC) were enrolled between …

Key Regulators Of Syncytiotrophoblast Cell Lineage Development In Human Placentation, Ashley Howard, Keisuke Kozai, Boryana Koseva, Michael J. Soares, Elin Grundberg, Kaela Varberg

Research at Children's Mercy Month 2024

In human placentation, cytotrophoblast cells fuse to form a continuous epithelial cell layer of syncytiotrophoblast (ST). Multinucleated ST cover the villus surface and provide critical structural and biochemical barriers for the developing fetus. ST also produce hormones and growth factors to support pregnancy and promote fetal growth. Despite these critical functions, key transcription factors (TF) and signaling pathways involved in ST differentiation are not fully understood. To identify regulators of ST differentiation, we integrated transcriptomic and genome-wide epigenomic approaches in human trophoblast stem (TS) cells. Human TS cells were maintained in a proliferative stem state or differentiated into ST following …

Clinical And Gene Expression Data Reveal Subtypes Of Pediatric T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Meghana Bhumireddy, Irina Pushel, Lisa A. Lansdon, Byunggil Yoo, Midhat S. Farooqi, Keith August

Research at Children's Mercy Month 2024

Background

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is a rapidly progressive cancer characterized by excessive immature leukocytes, which transform into leukemic cells and proliferate uncontrollably into lymphoblasts, blocking the production of normal cells. T-ALL constitutes 10–15% of pediatric ALL cases. Unlike B-ALL, T-ALL lacks clinically defined molecular subtypes, hindering risk assessment and treatment determination.

Objective

In this study, we aimed to identify connections between clinical findings and gene expression in pediatric T-ALL to move towards defining more clinically meaningful subtypes of pediatric T-ALL.

Design/Method

We analyzed clinical and gene expression (bulk and single-cell RNAseq) data from eight pediatric T-ALL patients from the …

Stability Proteomic Methods To Detect Novel Drug Targets, Whitney M. Nolte, Tomoo Iwakuma, Priscilla Flores-Ascencio, Alejandro Parrales

Research at Children's Mercy Month 2024

Background: The investigation of p53 mutations, prevalent in osteosarcoma (OS), has led to the identification of potential anti-cancer compounds—KU0171032, KU-D2, and KU-D2-F. These compounds exhibit cytotoxic effects in p53-deficient OS cells. We hypothesize that the KU017032 compound series induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and inhibits DNA double-stranded break repair by interacting with protein targets, yet the specific proteins binding to KU0171032 remain unclear. Previous targeted experiments including Cellular Thermal Shift Assays (CETSA) suggest a potential interaction between KU0171032 and NBS1, which is crucial for DNA repair. Here, we describe the application of untargeted proteomic methods to identify protein …

Assessing Reach Of Family-Based Behavioral Treatment For Pediatric Childhood Obesity Offered Through Primary Care, Cory Yeager, Jordan A. Carlson, Denise Wilfley, Lisa Nelson, Meredith Dreyer, Sarah Hampl

Research at Children's Mercy Month 2024

Background: Obesity disproportionately affects children from low-income families, highlighting the need to improve treatment reach for this population. Family-based behavioral treatment (FBT) is an evidence-based multicomponent intervention to aid families in making pragmatic and impactful changes.

Objective: To assess the reach of FBT in two health systems serving low-income families.

Methods: FBT was implemented in rural Freeman Health System (FHS) and urban Children’s Mercy (CM) pediatric practices. Eligible patients included children ages 5-12 years with a BMI percentile ≥95th enrolled in Missouri Medicaid. The study was only offered in English. Patients were recruited through provider referrals during clinic visits or …

Patient Portal Messaging And Physician Well-Being: A Scoping Review, Sofia Laux, Makayla Ayres, Thomas Ayres

Research at Children's Mercy Month 2024

With the advent of the EMR, physicians have had increasingly more tasks to incorporate into their workflow. In recent years patient portal messaging has become a large component of these EMR related tasks. The effects of EMR workload on physician well-being have been well studied. However, literature is not as robust regarding the specific effect of patient portal messaging on physician well-being. This study aims to review current literature regarding patient portal messaging and its effect on physician well-being. We conducted a scoping review of published literature on patient portal messaging and physician well-being. Relevant keywords were searched on both …

Urinary Melatonin-Sulfate In Pediatric Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Pilot Study, Moises Alatorre-Jimenez, Kathryn Clarkston, Craig Smail, Norah Almahbub, Craig A. Friesen, Rachel Chevalier

Research at Children's Mercy Month 2024

IBD is widely recognized as a multifactorial condition. Previous research has linked melatonin to IBD owing to its secretion by enterochromaffin cells (EC). Gastrointestinal melatonin serves various functions in the intestine, including activation of membrane receptors such as MT2, modulation of serotonin receptors, regulation of sympathetic neurons, antioxidant properties, and modulation of inflammation. The current study aimed to assess melatonin-sulfate concentrations in spot urines from IBD patients in remission. We hypothesize that the levels of melatonin will be elevated at baseline in patients with IBD in remission due to a chronic inflammatory state.

This study was completed utilizing urine symptoms …

Ecmo Diaries: Can We Reduce The Symptoms Of Pediatric Pics Through Bedside Journaling?, Johanna I. Orrick, Sarah P. Jimenez

Research at Children's Mercy Month 2024

In the realm of pediatric critical care, advancements in technology and medical interventions have significantly increased survival rates, particularly in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) cases. Children’s Mercy Hospital, a pioneer in pediatric ECMO, boasts consistently lower mortality rates and surpasses international survival benchmarks. However, the success in saving lives has unveiled a new challenge – Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) in children.

PICS, defined in 2010 for adults, manifests as new or worsening long-term comorbidities, affecting cognitive, psychological, social, and physical aspects, persisting after an intensive care stay. With up to 88% of pediatric patients demonstrating psychological issues post-ICU, the …

Nursing Knowledge And Confidence Scale, Jeanette Higgins, Sarah Wareham, Tazim Dowlut-Mcelroy

Research at Children's Mercy Month 2024

Background

Changes in medical practice have led to decreased provider face-to-face time with patients. Healthcare providers are increasingly reliant on nurses to provide patient education during clinic visits. However, lack of knowledge and confidence in educating patients is a significant barrier to the utilization of nurses to enhance the delivery of comprehensive health care by providing health education to patients and families. Postgraduate nursing education is often presented as informal information rather than during dedicated formal education. Formal teaching of disease specific content is associated with increased knowledge and self-confidence which may translate to improved patient education. The aim of …

Physical Therapy Interventions And Outcomes For A Patient With Multiple Co-Morbidities: A Case Study, Morgan M. Johnson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Introduction. Multimorbidity is present in a significant percentage of hospital admissions with 84.1% involving one or more co-morbidities leading to longer, more expensive stays and higher inpatient mortality rates. The purpose of this case study is to evaluate physical therapy’s effects, interventions and outcomes for a patient with common co-morbidities to determine physical therapy outcomes.

Case Description. The patient was a 75-year-old female who presented to physical therapy with an admitting diagnoses of congestive heart failure and acute kidney injury. Her additional relevant medical diagnoses were hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, obesity, depression, 2-month status post ORIF of right ankle …

A Comparison Of Senior Athlete Data To Normative Values: A Research Study, Brooke M. Flicek, Kailen G. Halvorson, Ashley J. Schuster, Kacee J. White

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

It is common to develop certain conditions with aging that can include but not limited to: osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, falls, and general geriatric syndromes (delirium, dementia, depression, pressure ulcers, urinary incontinence, sarcopenia, chronic pain). Physical activity can help prevent many conditions. This is where the Senior Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE) becomes relevant. It is specifically designed by physical therapist Becca Jordre, in order to evaluate cardiovascular, muscular, flexibility, and balance fitness within the older adult population. At the Senior Games, the SAFE is used as a screening tool designed to identify health and risk factors for the senior athlete. …

A Valid And Reliable Method For Measuring Navicular Drop, Kayla Ellison, Bree Lindley, Ashley Conneran

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Purpose/Hypothesis: Understanding navicular motion during gait is crucial for research and clinical applications. This study aimed to assess a method of measuring navicular drop during dynamic walking trials. Our technique used a two-stage assessment of navicular drop; these stages consisted of an initial static examination of the navicular position in subtalar neutral, combined with a dynamic evaluation of navicular drop during walking gait. These stages were conducted twice, with a week between data collections. This study aimed to determine the reliability of this two-stage method. We hypothesize that a two-stage process, using two independent Vicon systems, will be able …

The Effect Of Physical Therapy Intervention On Fatigue, Balance, Depression And Quality Of Life In Clients Following Medical Treatment For Cancer: A Pilot Study, Elle G. Bryant, Morghan J. Bugge, Riley A. Grube, Megan M. Lacrosse, Hunter M. Lake, Katie J. Leary

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Approximately 18.1 million people living in the United States have survived cancer. The treatment for cancer can be accompanied by many long-lasting residual side effects including fatigue, decreased quality of life, balance deficits, and depression. A current problem that healthcare providers face is understanding these side effects and how to effectively treat the people who experience them.

The purpose of this pilot study is to investigate how cancer treatments affect the human body, specifically with fatigue, balance, quality of life, and depression, and how physical therapy interventions can be used to combat these factors. To assess the effects of physical …

Volume 7, Issue 1 Title Page

SAIPAR Case Review

No abstract provided.

Volume 7, Issue 1 Table Of Contents

SAIPAR Case Review

No abstract provided.

Volume 7, Issue 1 Masthead

SAIPAR Case Review

No abstract provided.

Editorial Note, O'Brien Kaaba, Madrine Mukabili

SAIPAR Case Review

No abstract provided.

Sicelo Edgar Mpanza N.O V Jabulile Lucy Mpanza And Others (28/2023) [2023] Szsc 59 (18/122023), Phakama C. Shili, Simangele D. Mavundla

SAIPAR Case Review

This case note provides a critical analysis of the landmark Eswatini Supreme Court case of Mpanza v Mpanza as it pertains to nullification of colonial legislative provisions that discriminate against individuals who were married under customary law during their lifetime by exempting their estates from the jurisdiction of the Master of the High Court. Section 68 of the Administration of Estates Act of 1902 regulates the administration of the estates of Africans who die having contracted a customary marriage and encompasses specific clauses that establish the exclusion of the estates from the jurisdiction of the Master of the High Court. …

Pheluna Hatembo & Milton Hatembo V. Hakainde Hichilema (2020/Hp/1128), Muna B. Ndulo

SAIPAR Case Review

The case in question involved an application by the defendant to dismiss the matter as statute-barred, citing the Limitation Act of 1939. The High Court, in deciding the matter made reference to the Supreme Court's holding in the case of Daniel Mwale v. Njolomo Mtonga, which reiterated that, the limitation period begins when there is a party capable of suing and another capable of being sued, and all material facts have occurred. The court also emphasized that the statute of limitation can be raised at any stage of proceedings.

Chillerton Group Limited V Konkola Mineral Resources Limited And Konkola Copper Mines Plc Appeal No. 215/2023, Mwaba Chileya Mulenga

SAIPAR Case Review

This case highlights the legal complexity between surface rights holders and mining rights holders over the same land area. The Court of Appeal had an opportunity to address an important issue which is the relationship between these conflicting property rights, in a way that could clarify the interpretation of the Mines and Minerals Act with regards to surface rights law. However, it missed the chance to address the full scope of this tension, particularly the notion of ‘correlative rights’ between mining and surface rights holders. In this judgment, the Court maintained that surface rights disputes should be resolved under land …

Graduare Property Development Limited V A & J Interiors Limited Appeal No. 253/2023, Clement Ngoma

SAIPAR Case Review

This case underscores the importance of courts adhering to the well-established principle that issues not raised during the trial cannot be introduced as grounds of appeal. In this judgment, the Court of Appeal had an opportunity to clarify the legal implications of the non-registration of lease agreements, but it also highlighted the broader issue of raising legal points at any stage of proceedings, including on appeal. Despite the non-registration of the lease agreement, the Court of Appeal emphasized that such a legal issue could still be addressed during an appeal, reaffirming the flexibility of legal proceedings in protecting the rights …