Digital Commons Network^™

University Academic Solutions Think Tank (Uastt) Framework, Teshome Abebe

EIU Think Tank By-Laws

This framework was approved by the Faculty Senate with 9 Yeas-1 Nay-4 Not Present on February 24, 2026.

Zinc Imbalance And Its Effect On Nutritional Status, Behavior, Gut Microbiota, And Inflammatory Biomarkers In Btbr T+Itpr3tf/J And C57bl/6j Mice: Insights Into Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asma Nasrullah Ahmadani

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with altered zinc homeostasis and disruptions in the gut microbiota. Zinc is a vital trace mineral involved in multiple biological processes such as inflammatory regulation, intestinal integrity, and neurobehavioral function, and has an important role in influencing microbial activity along the gut–brain axis. Both deficiency and excess of zinc can alter microbial balance. However, their collective effects on behavior, overall physiology, and mineral status in ASD-relevant models are not yet fully understood.

Aim: This comprehensive study explored the effect of dietary zinc variation on body weight, food intake, behavior, gut microbiota composition, …

February 24, 2026 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

[Excerpt From] Taking Action: Top 10 Priorities For Nurses To Protect Health In A Changing Climate, Susan B. Hassmiller

Sigma Publications: Book Excerpts

Taking Action: Top 10 Priorities for Nurses to Protect Health in a Changing Climate offers nurses a clear, evidence-based road map for responding to one of the most significant public health challenges of our time. Written as a practical and nonpolitical guide, the book translates the latest science into actionable strategies, helping nurses understand and address the ways climate-driven events affect the health of the public. Authors Sue Hassmiller and Katie Huffling—together with distinguished experts across nursing and environmental health—provide concrete recommendations for strengthening climate resilience, implementing effective clinical and community interventions, advancing sustainability within healthcare systems, and advocating for …

Science Communication Tools: Rubrics For Generating Posters And Manuscripts That Are Authentic To The Practice Of Science, Quinn Vega

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Traditional undergraduate science courses often prioritize content mastery over authentic engagement with the scientific process. Course-based research, also referred to as course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), addresses this limitation by immersing students in authentic scientific practice. In course-based research, assessment practices can also mirror the authentic scientific practice, where extensive formative feedback supports refinement of skills and understanding. Here, we present two rubrics designed to support the teaching and assessment of science communication in a way that reflects how scientists prepare to disseminate their research findings. One rubric is for creating scientific posters and another for writing short-format manuscripts. Developed …

Evaluating Factors Associated With Increased Citations Of Publications In The Journal Of Foot And Ankle Surgery, Asad Mustafa, Sarah Weisbrodt, Demian Rodriguez, Naohiro Shibuya

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Introduction: As the field of foot and ankle surgery advances, it is valuable to identify qualities of research publications that get more attention. Evaluating the factors that contribute to the traction would also help emerging authors identify areas of focus to improve visibility of their work in the profession. Our study aims to evaluate the relationship between the number of citations by articles published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery (JFAS) and the level of clinical evidence (LOE), article access level, the type of publication, the authors’ institution, and the country of submission.

Methods: We used Scopus to …

Multiplanar First-Ray Deformity And Its Impact On Tibial Sesamoid Assessment: A Radiographic Analysis​, Yasim Zafar, Madelaine Adkins, Jessica Sima

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

This study evaluated whether discrepancies in tibial sesamoid position (TSP) between anteroposterior (AP) and sesamoid axial radiographs are associated with first-ray deformity parameters: first metatarsal rotation angle (MRA), sesamoid rotation angle (SRA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), and hallux valgus angle (HVA). We hypothesized that increased frontal-plane external rotation of the first metatarsal would be the primary contributor to AP–axial TSP mismatch.

This secondary analysis used deidentified radiographs from Shibuya et al. (J Foot Ankle Surg. 2019). Adults aged 18–80 with measurable TSP on both AP and axial views were included; patients with prior foot trauma or osseous surgery were excluded. Only …

Midfoot Reconstruction For Avascular Necrosis Of The Navicular Bone​, Jessica Sima, Srilalitha Lanka, Merlin Sajeev, Shannon Rush, Graham Hamilton

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Background: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the tarsal navicular, particularly with collapse, presents a complex surgical challenge due to compromised vascularity and the need to restore medial column length. This retrospective case series evaluates three distinct surgical approaches to midfoot reconstruction in patients with navicular AVN.

Methods: Three patients with navicular AVN were treated using individualized grafting strategies. Etiologies included chronic protease inhibitor use for HIV, Müller-Weiss syndrome, and post-resection of a giant cell tumor. All procedures utilized a medial utility incision with debridement to viable bleeding bone. Two cases were reconstructed using a combination of proximal tibial autograft, patellar allograft, …

Limitations Of Genetic Testing, Tony N. Jelsma

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"Knowing about a pathogenic variant may sharpen our awareness of our mortality, but it should not fundamentally change our perspective on life."

Posting about the advantages and disadvantages of genetic screening from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Limitations of Genetic Testing

Electric Pressure Cookers: What You Need To Know, Callahan Adams, Emily Smith

All Current Publications

Electric pressure cookers (EPCs) offer convenience, versatility, and efficiency in everyday cooking. EPCs offer multiple cooking functions beyond pressure cooking, including sautéing, slow cooking, steaming, cooking rice, and preparing yogurt. They are not suitable for pressure canning, as confirmed by multiple Extension research studies and national guidelines. When used properly, EPCs provide a safe and effective way to prepare meals quickly while saving counter and storage space.

Minutes, Curriculum Committee Meeting, Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Outcomes Of Radiation Integrated With T-Cell-Engaging Bispecific Antibodies In Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma, Heta Patel, Harper Hubbeling, Kyle Yu, Maribel Carpenter, Michael Lariviere, John Plastaras, Adam Cohen, Shivani Kapur, Dan Vogl, Adam Waxman, Edward Stadtmauer, Alfred Garfall, Sandra Susanibar-Adaniya

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

No abstract provided.

Researchers Study Underwater Lakes To Understand Oceans, Outer Space, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Underwater lakes may sound like fiction, but they dot the ocean floor and, according to a new University of Mississippi study, the structures could also help researchers understand life in space.

Quality Improvement Project: Provider Knowledge Improvement For Care Of The Severely Hypertensive Obstetric Patient, Victoria Abramowitz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Gaps in confidence among emergency department (ED) and maternal child health services (MCHS) staff negatively impacts effectiveness and timeliness of response to high acuity obstetric emergencies, such as severe obstetric hypertension. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact on provider self-efficacy with the implementation of evidence-based education and standardized procedures for severe obstetric hypertension management, aimed at evaluating the degree of success of increasing provider confidence. The project was guided by Lewin’s change theory and Donabedian’s structure-process-outcome theoretical framework. With a quasi-experimental design and the PDSA implementation framework, 20 staff from both the ED and …

Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of National Culturally And Linguistically Appropriate Services (Clas) Standards Education On Behavioral Health Providers’ Self-Efficacy, Zita Anigbou

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Health disparities among culturally and linguistically diverse populations continue to negatively affect access to and quality of behavioral health care. Limited provider education on the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards contributes to communication barriers, reduced therapeutic engagement, and lower provider confidence. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of evidence-based CLAS Standards education on behavioral health providers’ self-efficacy in delivering culturally and linguistically appropriate care. Guided by Lewin’s Change Theory and the Health Equity Implementation Framework, a quantitative pre-test–post-test quasi-experimental design was used. A convenience sample of three behavioral health nurse practitioners …

Implementation Of A Standardized Suicide Risk Screening Protocol Using The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-Ssrs) In An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Kemisola Ebietomiye

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The outpatient mental health clinics across the United States lack consistent suicide risk assessment methods. This project developed standardized procedures which used Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) assessment together with provider education and electronic health record systems to evaluate how these elements impacted provider self-efficacy and their ability to record screening results. The project used a pre-post design to examine (n=24) psychiatric providers at an urban outpatient clinic through the combined methods of Lewin's Change Theory and the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework. The General Self-Efficacy Scale measured provider self-efficacy, and structured EHR audits tracked documentation rates pre- and post-implementation over six weeks. …

Quality Improvement Project Standardizing Simulation In Nursing Education: A Faculty Training Initiative, Andrea Reyes

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Simulation-based education is essential in nursing programs as clinical placement opportunities decline. However, inconsistent faculty preparation can compromise the quality of simulation delivery. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement and evaluate a standardized simulation faculty training initiative to determine its impact on nursing faculty's confidence in simulation facilitation. Guided by the Jeffries Simulation Framework and Lewin’s Change Theory, a quasi-experimental pre-post design was used to examine changes in faculty confidence following participation in a training program aligned with national standards and guidelines. Faculty confidence was measured using the Simulation Educator Needs Assessment Tool (SENAT) administered pre- …

Quality Improvement Project: Protecting Young Kidneys: Optimizing Albuminuria Management In Youth With Diabetes, Mili Vakharia

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Diabetic nephropathy is a major microvascular complication and the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among individuals with diabetes. Children and adolescents with type 1 and type 2 diabetes face a higher risk of developing CKD earlier in life due to longer disease duration, poor glycemic control, and delayed CKD diagnosis. Guidelines emphasize timely detection and intervention to slow disease progression. Albuminuria is an early marker of glomerular injury and signals the need to initiate CKD treatment. Despite evidence supporting early detection and treatment, standardized management of albuminuria in pediatric diabetes care remains inconsistent. This Doctor of Nursing Practice …

Quality Improvement Project: Use Of The Behavioral Risk Assessment Tool To Enhance The Utilization Of The Behavioral Emergency Response Team, Joseph Sindhu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Workplace violence is a global challenge, and nurses often encounter patient aggression. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to enhance the use of a behavioral assessment tool derived from the Brøset Violence Checklist and the Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) to de-escalate workplace violence. This project aimed to improve behavioral assessment documentation and BERT use in a critical care unit by 30% within 5 weeks. Guided by the Donabedian Model theoretical framework and Lewin's Change Theory, the project employed a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design in an advanced heart failure unit with full-time nurses as participants. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework …

Predicting And Managing Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Liver Transplant: A Single-Center Experience 2012-2024, Jesse Civan, Madison Force, Ali Raza Shaikh, Adam Bodzin, Daniel Lin

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of mortality in the United States, but it can be cured with orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) in selected patients. Despite curative intent, post-OLT recurrence can occur in up to 15% of patients. The need for a program of post-OLT surveillance is widely accepted but the specifics of an optimal program have not been established. There is interest in identifying lower-risk cohorts of patients in whom an abbreviated strategy of surveillance may prove adequate, utilizing tools such as the RETREAT score. Unique challenges are posed in the post-transplant population regarding safety and …

Switching Speed Limits In Electrically Driven Vo2 Structural Mott–Peierls Transition, Henry Navarro, Ivan K. Schuller, Yimei Zhu

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction On Nurse Burnout In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Chinenye Okafor

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Burnout is a persistent and critical problem in skilled nursing facilities, contributing to reduced job satisfaction, increased turnover, and compromised quality of care. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program on burnout among registered nurses in a skilled nursing facility. Guided by the Job Demands–Resources framework and Lewin’s Change Theory, a quantitative pretest–posttest design was implemented using the Plan–Do–Study–Act. Ten nurses consented to participate in an eight-week intervention, and four completed both pre- and post-intervention measures. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services …

Nursing Education & Burnout: Secondary Analysis Of Nssrn, Bridget M. Webb, Jennifer Mallow

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Background: Burnout is a risk factor for nurse turnover and intent to leave. Burnout impacts nurse outcomes including incivility, fatigue, and decreased self-esteem, while patient outcomes are adversely impacted as well, including increased mortality, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits. The level of nursing education could impact nursing burnout and turnover.

Purpose: To examine the differences in self-reported burnout and level of education related to nurses:1) leaving their primary nursing position, 2) intent to leave primary position, 3) not working in nursing, and 4) employment change in the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN).

Methods: The 2018 (pre-pandemic) NSSRN data …

Science Communication Tools: Rubrics For Generating Posters And Manuscripts That Are Authentic To The Practice Of Science, Tamarah Lynne Adair, Swati Agrawal, Yesmi P. Ahumada-Santos, Regina Alvarez, Kirk Anders, Rebekah F. Hare

Biology Faculty Scholarship

Traditional undergraduate science courses often prioritize content mastery over authentic engagement with the scientific process. Course-based research, also referred to as course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), addresses this limitation by immersing students in authentic scientific practice. In course-based research, assessment practices can also mirror the authentic scientific practice, where extensive formative feedback supports refinement of skills and understanding. Here, we present two rubrics designed to support the teaching and assessment of science communication in a way that reflects how scientists prepare to disseminate their research findings. One rubric is for creating scientific posters and another for writing short-format manuscripts. Developed …

Interface-Directed Synthesis Of Cspbbr3-Based Particles With Water-Ode Antisolvent Systems, Saurabh Singh, Xiyu Wen, Fuqian Yang

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

All-inorganic lead halide perovskites, specifically CsPbX₃ (X = I, Cl, Br), have attracted significant attention over the past few years due to their immense potential in optoelectronic devices, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light emitting diodes, photodetectors, and solar cells. Currently, most available synthesis techniques rely on high temperatures, inert environments, and toxic non-polar solvents, with limiting scalability and environmental compatibility. Herein, we present a facile, room-temperature, and partially green approach for synthesizing CsPbBr₃-based particles via a biphasic solvent system comprising non-polar octadecene (ODE) layered over deionized water. By simply tuning the volume ratio of DI …

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates Through Provider Education In Primary Care, Leikasha Allen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Pneumococcal disease remains a major cause of illness and mortality among adults aged 65 years and older, leading to severe pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis, particularly in vulnerable populations. Although effective vaccines and clear Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Advisory Committee Immunization Practice (ACIP) guidelines, vaccination in this age group remains inadequate. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project aimed to determine the impact of pneumococcal vaccination compliance through evaluating provider knowledge, confidence, and adherence to evidence-based guidelines through targeted education. Guided by Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the Health Belief Model, a 20-minute evidence‑based educational session …

Implementation Of A Mentoring Toolkit: A Quality Improvement Project, Joshlyn Neu

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nursing faculty mentorship is an essential component of professional development, job satisfaction and faculty retention. However, many schools lack a structured approach to preparing their faculty members to act as mentors. This quality improvement project set out to determine whether the implementation of a formal mentoring toolkit would improve nursing faculty members perceived competency to act as mentors. Guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), Lewin’s Change Theory, and the latest evidence-based research, this project sought to answer the following question: In full-time nursing faculty members teaching in a BSN program at a small, private college (P), how does the …

Thyroid Hormone Augmentation Accelerates Hair Cell Maturation In Human Cochlear Organoids, Tsubasa Saeki, Yoshitomo Ueda, Isabel Aristizábal-Ramírez, Stephen T. Moore, Rick F. Nelson, Gregory I. Frolenkov, Eri Hashino

Physiology Faculty Publications

Saeki et al. showed that timed supplementation of thyroxine, a thyroid hormone, expedites maturation of outer hair cells in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cochlear organoids. Some of the thyroxine-treated hair cells exhibit nonlinear capacitance, a functional hallmark of outer hair cell electromotility.

Minutes, Faculty Affairs Committee Meeting, Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Faculty Affairs Committee

Faculty Affairs Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Committee Opposition To Debtor's Motion For Claims Objection Procedures On Behalf Of The Official Committee Of Unsecured Creditors

Catholic Dioceses in Bankruptcy

No abstract provided.