Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Dissociation Between Physical Reasoning And Tool Use In Individuals With Left Hemisphere Brain Damage, Shuchen Liu, Seda Karakose-Akbiyik, Alfonso Caramazza, Filipa Dourado Sotero, Laurel J. Buxbaum, Aaron L. Wong

Moss-Magee Rehabilitation Papers

Tool use and physical reasoning are often assumed to rely on shared cognitive and neural mechanisms. At some level, this correspondence is expected: using an object typically requires understanding its physical properties. However, both capacities are complex and multicomponential, so the relationship between them may vary across levels of representation and task demands. Here, we asked whether third-person physical reasoning about object dynamics can dissociate from tool use (i.e., performing a tool's typical action) in individuals with left-hemisphere stroke. We tested 11 patients, five of whom showed impairments in tool use. Physical reasoning was assessed using a novel collection of …

Fall Prevention In A Medical Intermediate Care Unit (Mimu) Through Use Of A Collaborative Fall Bundle, Sara M. Jose

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE

This DNP project focused on reducing the fall rate in a medical intermediate care unit by half, from 1.81 falls per 1000 patient days to 0.91 falls per 1000 patient days.

BACKGROUND

The number of patient falls poses a significant concern in a medical intermediate care unit. The fall rate goal is zero.

METHODOLOGY

The Collaborative Fall Bundle includes implementing the Fall TIPS Toolkit, an 11 x 17 bedside poster informing patients and staff of their fall risk factors and interventions to counteract; an alarm buddy system pairing two nurses to answer each other's call lights and assist with …

Implementing A Mindfulness Mobile Application, Smiling Mind To Reduce Stress Experienced By Inpatient Psychiatric Nurses, Justin Ruiz, Emma Mowery

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the impact of implementing the use of the Smiling Mind app (a free and easily accessible mobile application that teaches mindfulness skills) among inpatient psychiatric nurses. The aims were to see a 20% reduction in Perceived Stress and improved Workplace Satisfaction after 10 weeks.

Background

Stressors experienced at work by inpatient psychiatric nurses include patient acuity, emotional demands, environmental factors, and policy implementation. Unmanaged stress can disrupt a nurse's work-life and harm the quality of care provided to patients.

Methodology

Using a pre-post implementation design, 7-day shift and 10-night shift nurses used the Smiling Mind app for …

Getting To The Heart Of The Problem: Blood Pressure Management Through Medication Adherence, Mallory G. Livengood

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Clinical hypertension affects one in four adults globally, making it the most common chronic condition. Despite its widespread impact, hypertension can be prevented, as it represents the most modifiable risk factor in preventing cardiovascular disease. The primary purpose of this evidence-based project was to determine whether a one-month follow-up with a healthcare provider improved medication adherence through enhanced hypertension management. Twelve eligible participants were selected from a primary clinic located in Northwest Indiana, based on their newly initiated anti-hypertensive medications or who required a medication adjustment due to poor hypertension management. Each participant’s preferred method of communication was noted, and …

Breastfeeding Promotion For Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (Nas), Olivia Czerwonka

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is the exposure in utero to drugs with the incidence in the United States increasing from 4 to 6.3 per 1000 births (Wei et al., 2023). The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a breastfeeding support intervention to increase breastfeeding frequency and reduce hospital length of stay of newborns with NAS. A tailored multicomponent guideline based upon the current Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding as established by WHO and UNICEF (2017) was implemented. Mothers of infants diagnosed with NAS were recruited using convenience sampling from a Northwest Indiana Hospital. Key stakeholders within the …

Incorporating The Use Of Puppets And Puppetry-Based Approaches In Nutrition: A Scoping Review Of Interventions, Basil H. Aboul-Enein, Nada Benajiba, Majd Jan, Sarah Ali Alasmari, Patricia J. Kelly, Stephen F. Gambescia, Elizabeth Dodge

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Puppetry-based activities could serve as a low cost and manageable intervention in improving health-related outcomes. This review aims to identify the research to date and gaps in practice of the role and application of puppetry interventions in nutrition education. A scoping review was conducted using the PICOS framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, identifying studies across eight databases between January, 1980 and July, 2025.Twenty-five studies were identified, with the majority (n = 19) aimed at pre-school and school-aged children. Fifteen studies used quasi-experimental, pre-post designs. The use of hand and finger puppets was common, as well as videos and puppet theatre. …

Frailty Is A Predictor Of Inpatient Mortality And Unplanned Icu Admission Following Early Fixation Of Intertrochanteric Fractures., Victor Koltenyuk, Jared Sasaki, Nithin Gupta, Zachary Chanmin, Ruby G Patel, Taylor Manes, Jack W Weick

Surgery Articles

Purpose: This study sought to examine the role of frailty in predicting inpatient mortality following early surgical fixation of intertrochanteric (IT) fractures.

Methods: The ACS-TQIP (2017-21) database was queried for patients with intertrochanteric fractures undergoing surgical fixation within 48 h. Frailty status was determined using the 5-item modified frailty index (mFI-5) (0 = nonfrail, 1 = prefrail, and, 2 = frail, and > 2 = severely frail). The primary end point was inpatient mortality. Secondary end points were unplanned ICU admission and thromboembolic events (DVT or PE). Significance was considered a p-value < 0.05.

Results: Frailty, as determined by the mFI-5, was …

Two-Year Retrospective Evaluation Of Frailty To Optimize Postoperative Spinal Fusion Outcomes In Adults Aged 65 And Older, Sheri Loo

Doctoral Projects

Many older adults over the age of 65 have both spinal stenosis requiring spinal fusion surgery and frailty. As life expectancy has increased, many older individuals will undergo elective spinal fusion surgery to decrease their chronic pain in pursuit of improved quality of life. There is currently an underutilization of frailty screening for risk stratification of postoperative complications. A retrospective chart review over a two-year period from July 2023 to June 2025of adults aged 65 and older who underwent posterior spinal fusion surgery, involving 126 participants, was completed. We assessed the correlation between frailty and postoperative outcomes, discharge disposition, and …

Leveraging Mobile Health To Prevent Coronary Artery Disease Through Physical Activity Promotion Among Underserved Youth, Alina Yang, Jessh M. Mavoungou, Matthew C. Miller, Zarmina Amin, Zan Gao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Coronary artery disease (CAD) develops earlier than often recognized, with underserved youth facing disproportionate cardiometabolic risk. Low participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) is a key driver. This viewpoint explores how mobile health (mHealth) technologies can serve as tools to increase PA engagement among underserved youth, guided by a combined Self-Determination Theory and RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework. It highlights current barriers to mHealth adoption, limited cultural relevance, engagement challenges, and accessibility gaps, and presents key considerations for designing culturally informed, age-tailored, and youth-centered mHealth interventions. Overall, the paper calls for a more inclusive and targeted approach …

The Mediating Effect Of Physical Activity On Mental Health Among Sexual Minority Adolescents During Covid-19, You Fu, Ryan D. Burns, Hayley Almes, Xiangren Yi, Nora Constantino

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: Adolescents identifying as a sexual minority frequently experience mental health issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity (PA) has numerous benefits for mental health and emotional development. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of PA on the association between sexual minority status and mental health among adolescents during COVID-19. Methods: A sample of adolescents (grades 9-12) completed the online Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES; N = 7677; 49.6% male) in 2021. The independent variable in this study was a recorded binary response item asking about sexual orientation. The dependent variable was a …

Evaluating The Impact Of A Standardized Intimate Partner Violence Screening Tool In A Clinical Setting, Dylan Bogucki

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as any act of violence, including physical, sexual, stalking, or psychological aggression by an intimate partner, former or current. Despite being preventable, IPV remains a leading nonobstetric cause of morbidity and mortality among women, which highlights the need for systematic screening in clinical settings. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to identify women who have previously experienced or are currently experiencing IPV and to connect them with appropriate resources. Twenty-one studies were identified, all demonstrating moderate to high methodological quality and supporting the need for routine IPV screening in women’s health settings. …

Redefining Skincare For Sensitive Lives, Ashlyn G. Sierra Ms

Honors College Theses

This study outlines how a skincare company that is both ethically and effectively developed for people suffering from eczema could create accessible, affordable products as well as maintain its commitment to being inclusive. The study uses scientific data regarding eczema in order to examine why certain aspects of skin care are helpful or dangerous when it comes to individuals who suffer from eczema, in addition, it provides an assessment of current skin care product offerings that are designed for people with eczema. Using the Wise Leadership Framework, the study presents a hypothetical business plan for a new, eczema-based skin care …

Implementing A Mindfulness Mobile Application, Smiling Mind To Reduce Stress Experienced By Inpatient Psychiatric Nurses, Emma Jade Mowery, Justin D. Ruiz

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the impact of implementing use of the Smiling Mind app (a free and easily accessed mobile application that teaches mindfulness skills) in inpatient psychiatric nurses. The aims: A 20% reduction in Perceived Stress and improved Workplace Satisfaction after 10 weeks.

Background: Workplace stressors experienced by psychiatric nurses include high patient acuity, emotional strain, environmental factors, and new policies. Unmanaged stress can harm nurse's well being and affect quality of care.

Methodology: Using a pre-post implementation design, 7 dayshift and 10 night-shift nurses used the Smiling Mind app for 10 weeks. Perceived stress (PSS-10) and workplace satisfaction (WPS) …

Restless Legs Syndrome And Neurological Comorbidities: A Narrative Review, Kyrillos Ghattas, Helen Hernandez, Yongwoon Huh, Zhanna Fast, Zhikui Wei

Department of Sleep Medicine Faculty Papers

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common yet underrecognized neurological disorder characterized by uncomfortable sensations and an irresistible urge to move he legs, typically following a circadian pattern. RLS frequently co-occurs with various other neurological diseases, raising questions about shared mechanisms and clinical consequences. This review synthesizes evidence on the prevalence, outcomes, and pathophysiology of RLS in various neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, migraine, dementia, stroke, epilepsy, and peripheral neuropathy. In Parkinson's disease, RLS is linked to disease progression and dopaminergic therapy. In stroke and multiple sclerosis, RLS is associated with structural lesions at specific locations, such as …

Assessing Estimated Premorbid Iq In Dementia In The Uae: A Way Forward For The Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, Sophie Price

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Lingualai: A Prospective Validation Of Ai-Based Real-Time Translation Against Certified Human Interpreters, Uday P Singh, Carlos A Jaimes Garcia, Gabriel M Aisenberg, Javier Barreda Garcia, Jessica A Hernandez-Chilatra, Cecilia Wang, Dalilah Reyes De Jesus, Eileen Whalen, Veronica Santos Canellas, Amanda R Falk Vargas, Brian O Rodriguez Echevarria, Martin J Citardi, Babatope O Fatuyi, Xiaoqian Jiang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Limited English proficiency affects over 25 million people in the United States and is associated with disparities in healthcare access, safety, and outcomes. We conducted a prospective, within-subject, simulation-based comparison to evaluate whether an in-house AI application (LingualAI) achieves non-inferior translation quality versus certified medical interpreters in English-Spanish otorhinolaryngology encounters. Standardized clinician-patient scripts were translated by LingualAI and by certified interpreters, and bilingual clinicians rated anonymized audio across multidomain quality measures. Using a prespecified non-inferiority margin of 0.30 points (Human - AI) on 5-point scales, LingualAI met non-inferiority for 2 of 3 primary factors (terminology accuracy Δ = 0.07; adequacy …

Type-1 Ryanodine Receptor Plays An Important Role In Cardiac Hypertrophy And Heart Failure By Increasing Type-2 Ryanodine Receptor-Mediated Calcium Release, Yong-Xiao Wang, Ed Wilson Santos, Sarahann Mistretta, Yuexing Yuan, Harold A. Singer, Shey-Shing Sheu, Yun-Min Zheng

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

Type-1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1) is essential for skeletal muscle contraction. This Ca²⁺ release channel is expressed in cardiac myocytes; however, its function remains elusive. Cardiac-specific RyR1 overexpression (OE) mice were generated under the cardiac-specific Myh6 promoter. Cardiac hypertrophy (CH), cardiac functions, and mechanistic changes in RyR1 OE and control (wildtype, WT) mice were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, echocardiography, electrocardiogram, quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting, [³H]-ryanodine binding assay, confocal microscope, ROS dye Amplex Red and 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. RyR1 OE mice had increased whole heart, left ventricular weight, and left ventricular wall thickness, but decreased cardiac output and …

Choosing A Primary Care Provider: A Formative Qualitative Study To Identify Patient Preferences, Chris Gillette, Jan Ostermann, Sarah O'Neal, Aylin A. Aguilar, Kandice Lacci-Reilly, Jessica Valente, Chris Everett, Robin Gibson, Sonia Crandall, Laiton Steele

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: (1) Identify what characteristics patients evaluate when choosing their primary care provider (PCP), (2) characterize how provider characteristics factor into patients’ choice of PCP, and (3) develop a list of features for a quantitative preference study in the form of a discrete choice experiment (DCE).

Methods: We used a cross-sectional, qualitative study to accomplish the objectives. We recruited participants from an internal medicine clinic and the general public in North Carolina. We used convenience and purposive sampling to recruit participants as a single sample. All participants completed a semistructured interview. We then used a reflexive thematic analysis to analyze …

Comparison Of Early-, Average-, And Late-Onset Pancreatic Cancer In A Multi-Site Cancer Center: Treatment Patterns And Outcomes, Chirag K. Patel, Jimmy J. Hwang, Mohamed E. Salem, Kunal C. Kadakia

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate treatment and outcomes differences, as well as predictors of early mortality, among early-onset pancreatic adenocarcinoma (EOPC, ≤ 50 years), average-onset pancreatic adenocarcinoma (AOPC, 51-69 years), and late-onset pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LOPC, ≥ 70 years).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 333 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma at a multi-site center between 2011-2018. Clinical, demographic, and treatment variables were compared by age group. Predictors of early mortality (death ≤ 6 months from diagnosis) were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analyses.

Results: Among the 333 patients, 56% were male, and the …

The Compassionate Heart Patient Questionnaire: Validation And Reliability Of A Novel Measure Of Relationship-Centered Care, Dustin Willis, Everett Lohman, Lida Gharibvand, Andrew Sullivan, Lee Berk

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: To establish the validity and reliability of the Compassionate HEART Patient Questionnaire (CHPQ) for measuring relationship-centered care and exploring associations between patient ratings and mood state changes in patients with persistent pain.

Methods: Thirty-nine adults with persistent pain (> 3 months) completed pre-/post-interaction Profile of Mood States assessments and rated providers using the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) measure and the novel CHPQ following physical therapy evaluations. Psychometric properties were assessed through factor analysis, concurrent validity (correlation with CARE), and internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha). Pre-post mood changes were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: The CHPQ demonstrated good internal …

Improving Psychopharmacologic Continuity Of Care In Home Health Psychiatric Patients Using The Ideal Protocol, Serah Angela Guilbe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Improve Veteran Mental Health Screening In Primary Care, Denise Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Trump Administration Immigration Policies On Connecticut Educators And Families, Elena C. Bielesz

Honors Scholar Theses

Anti-immigrant rhetoric, policies, and practices, which have grown increasingly prevalent due to the current national political climate, have adverse effects on the mental health of immigrant families and the teachers that support them in Connecticut. This study seeks to represent the opinions of Connecticut K-12 MLL (Multilingual Learners) Education Teachers and Administrators whose daily lives are impacted by the anti-immigrant and anti-refugee policies and procedures. The study employed a human subjects-based approach supported by a review of related literature. MLL Educators from around the state of Connecticut were interviewed. These interviews found that while immigration-based trauma and stressors are common …

Postapproval Study For Brain-Responsive Neurostimulation For Drug-Resistant Focal Epilepsy: Three-Year Efficacy And Interim Safety Results, Dawn Eliashiv, Vikram R. Rao, Barbara C. Jobst, Jerzy P. Szaflarski, John D. Rolston, Lesley C. Kaye, Taneeta Mindy Ganguly, Katie Bullinger, Patricia C. Dugan, David E. Burdette, Angela Y. Peters, Atif Sheikh, Kevin F. Haas, Dileep R. Nair, Lilit Mnatsakanyan, Imran H. Quraishi, Meriem K. Bensalem-Owen, Michael J. Doherty, Babak Razavi, Tiffany L. Fisher, Christopher T. Skidmore, Pradeep N. Modur, Tawnya M. Constantino, Vicenta Salanova, Andrew J. Cole, Olga Taraschenko, Angelica Rivera-Cruz, James W. Wheless, Nitin Tandon, Antoaneta Balabanov, Sami Aboumatar, Itzhak Fried, Cornelia Drees, Hae Won Shin, Zeenat Jaisani, Stephanie E. Maciver, Sanjay E. Patra, Edward F. Chang, Jon T. Willie, Ryder Gwinn, Travis Stoub, John M. Stern, Tami Crabtree, Cairn G. Seale, Sharon C. Mcfadden, Jacob F. Norman, Lise Johnson, Martha J. Morrell

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Neuromodulation therapies are approved for the treatment of focal epilepsy based on data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). After approval of a responsive direct brain stimulation device (The RNS System for focal epilepsy), the Food and Drug Administration required a prospective study to evaluate whether real-world safety and effectiveness differed from outcomes in the RCT.

METHODS: This open-labeled study enrolled adult participants who met the RNS System-approved indication for use. The primary effectiveness end point was median percent change in seizure frequency at 3 years of treatment. Interim safety is presented; the primary safety endpoint analysis will …

Optimal Timing Of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion Relative To Cranioplasty Post-Decompressive Craniectomy: A Frequentist Network Meta-Analysis, Shaan Patel, Shiva A. Nischal, Kush M. Kale, Pious D. Patel, James S. Harrop, Jack Jallo, Srinivas K. Prasad

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Optimal timing of ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) relative to cranioplasty (CP) after decompressive craniectomy remains controversial. VPS may be performed before, during, or after CP, but no consensus exists on which sequence minimizes complications. We performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis to compare the safety profiles of pre-, simultaneous, and post-CP shunting.

METHODS: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL from inception to October 2025. Eligible studies directly compared at least two timing strategies in patients undergoing both CP and VPS. Primary outcomes included overall complications, reoperation, infection, and intradural bleeding. Secondary outcomes included shunt-related and other procedure-specific adverse events. …

Comparing The Use Of Measured And Smoothed Data In Forecasting Visual Field Tests Using Deep Learning, Ashkan Abbasi, Sowjanya Gowrisankaran, Wei-Chun Lin, Xubo Song, Bhavna Josephine Antony, Gadi Wollstein, Joel Schuman, Hiroshi Ishikawa

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of training and testing deep learning (DL) models for visual field (VF) forecasting using input-target pairs in which the target is either the measured VF test result, or its smoothed counterpart constructed via linear regression.

DESIGN: A retrospective data analysis study evaluating DL models for VF forecasting under multiple training and testing configurations.

SUBJECTS AND CONTROLS: A total of 1400 subjects (healthy and glaucoma patients) with 19 437 reliable Humphrey VF (24-2 Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm) tests collected from longitudinal cohorts at the University of Pittsburgh and New York University.

METHODS: Three DL-based pointwise VF …

Multi-Grader Validation Of The Telemedicine Retinopathy Of Prematurity Severity Score, Harrison W. Pratt, Sarthak V. Shah, Cindy S. Zhao, Arthur R. Brant, Caroline R. Baumal, Cagri G. Besirli, Audina M. Berrocal, Kimberley A. Drenser, Anna L. Ells, Clio Armitage Harper, G. Baker Hubbard, Eric D. Nudleman, Polly Quiram, Irena Tsui, Edward Wood, Yoshihiro Yonekawa, Tatiana Rosenblatt, Jochen Kumm, Darius M. Moshfeghi

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

We aimed to statefully validate Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) grading by evaluating intergrader variability over age-matched simulated exams. In a prospective retinal photographic grading cohort study, both eyes of twenty patients with five images per eye per visit were graded by twelve expert graders across six weekly visits. For each eye visit, ROP experts graded the Zone, Stage, and Plus, from which the Telemedicine ROP Severity Score (tROP-SS) was calculated. Graders retained knowledge of prior assessments for a given eye and followed International Classification of ROP rules. Intergrader coefficient of variation (CoV) for Zone, Stage, Plus, and tROP-SS remained below …

Volume Electron Microscopy Reveals Heterogeneity Of The Hemostatic Response In Veins And Arteries, Maurizio Tomaiuolo, Meghan E. Roberts, Jenna R. Severa, Christopher D. Mansi, Brenna B. Y. Mathers, Anna Mannix, Trace A Christensen, Lawrence F Brass, Talid Sinno, Timothy J. Stalker

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

Intravital imaging studies have provided insights into the spatial and temporal variations of platelet activation and thrombin generation that occur during hemostasis; however, these studies are generally limited to small vessels due to the practical limitations of imaging in thicker tissues. Recent advances in cleared tissue fluorescence imaging as well as volume electron microscopy (vEM) coupled with machine learning-based image segmentation provide an opportunity for analysis of the 3-dimensional structure of complex tissues. We utilized these technologies to examine hemostatic plugs from murine jugular veins and carotid arteries to investigate the spatial distribution of platelet activation and biochemical responses in …

Experiences Of Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Nurses Working In A Hospital Setting, Layla C. Bradley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Reducing Burnout Among Psychiatric Practitioners And Therapists, Sarah Lemaine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.