Value Added

For nearly two decades, Cincinnati-based Messer Construction has partnered with the University of Dayton’s Multi-Ethnic Engineers Program to support the shared mission of increasing underrepresented student access to engineering career paths. In 2005, the company established the Messer Construction Co. Engineering Scholarship at the School of Engineering. Last year, Messer expanded the agreement to create an endowed scholarship fund to benefit future engineering scholars

From Dayton to Dublin

The Pride of Dayton marched in Dublin’s historic St. Patrick’s Festival national parade. They brought to Ireland Flyer spirit and the band’s signature funk dance — and they took with them a once-in-a-lifetime experience to cherish forever. Band member Tori Miller takes readers on their adventure

UD Public Safety responds after social media shooting threat

UD Public Safety responded to a social media shooting threat at Marianist Hall on Nov. 7. The overall communication response has been highly criticized within the UD community, but Public Safety\u27s quick action to bring a suspect into custody without harming anyone was universally commended

Opinion: Is the privilege that comes with a porch worth it?

Where are you living this year? It\u27s the age old ice-breaker question that every UD student knows all too well. When anyone thinks of UD, the student neighborhood filled with colorful houses is one of the first images that pops into the mind. Porches at UD symbolize more than just a housing option; it symbolizes a lifestyle that only the people who work the hardest get to have, right? What happens to those who work hard collecting UD\u27s controversial PATH points only to receive their last housing choice or no house at all? Why have students been leaning more towards landlord housing in the past few years? The answer is simple, UD\u27s housing placement system is incredibly flawed

Making the English major and minor more inclusive

The English department aims to keep the human in humanities through diversity, equity and inclusion. To better help understand the concerns of students while strengthening the bond between faculty and students alike, the department created their first ever Student Advisory Board (SAB) to help bridge the gap. On Jan. 19 the English Student Advisory Board held their first town hall-style meeting in Sears Recital Hall, inviting majors and minors to use their voices. SAB members include undergraduate students Marissa Mark, Eden Michelson, Skylar Sharkey, Phillip Cicero and Ethan Imes. The group\u27s mission is simple: they want to provide the best experience possible for all English students, faculty and staff

Portable Water Filtration System

Access to potable water has become increasingly difficult due to climate change, infrastructure failures, and urbanization. There are sustainable materials within our natural environment well suited for drinking water treatment. Our goal was to design a portable water filtration column that could be implemented under emergency conditions to provide communities with a resource for treating unsafe drinking water. We chose a scenario that involved a response to the potential contamination of rivers by mine tailings. Our system efficiently reduced turbidity, iron, color, and odor while raising pH, with an effluent water discharge rate of 10 gallons per hour. Previous studies have demonstrated improvements in these parameters by testing biofiltration systems and wastewater treatment plants, the results of which were not compared to meet drinking water standards. Larger particle media (anthracite and lightweight expanded clay aggregate) strategically placed at the system’s influent mitigates clogging, while finer media (sand and granular activated carbon) at the system’s effluent facilitates particulate removal to 250 microns. A fine mesh (number 200) serves as a polishing step, further removing particulate to 74 microns from the resulting effluent. Anthracite and granular activated carbon effectively reduce odor and color, while lightweight expanded clay aggregate absorb microbial contaminants and effluent pH. Efforts have been made to incorporate sustainable materials, enabling composting of all filter media. Further project expansion may include implementing backwash systems for ease of maintenance and consideration given to improving additional water quality parameters

Discontinuation of Routine Postpartum Complete Blood Count in Uncomplicated Vaginal Deliveries

Introduction The aim of this prospective study is to assess the clinical utility and safety of discontinuing routine Complete Blood Count (CBC) testing in uncomplicated vaginal deliveries with a focus on identifying potential benefits, risks, and overall cost-effectiveness of this practice. This routine CBC is used to assess for postpartum anemia and the need for a blood transfusion but is currently performed regardless of initial blood count on admission or estimated blood loss during delivery. However, recent evidence suggests that routine CBC testing may not significantly impact clinical outcomes in low-risk pregnancies. In this study, we hypothesize that routine postpartum CBC testing is not indicated following uncomplicated vaginal delivery if hemoglobin upon admission is \u3e10 g/dL and if estimated blood loss during delivery is \u3c500mL. Methods A postpartum complete blood count (CBC) is currently obtained from all obstetric patients at Cabell Huntington Hospital who have had a successful vaginal delivery. A prospective study was performed on 88 consecutive patients presenting to Cabell Huntington Hospital Labor and Delivery. A protocol was instituted whereby a postpartum-day-1 CBC was not indicated on patients undergoing vaginal delivery with an admission hemoglobin of \u3e10 g/dL and an estimated blood loss at the time of delivery of Results Analysis of the case series revealed no difference in blood transfusions, symptomatic anemia, postpartum complications, or maternal length of hospital stay before and after the institution of the protocol. There was a significant difference (p= Conclusion The findings from this prospective study have the potential to inform evidence-based postpartum care guidelines for low-risk pregnancies. If discontinuing routine CBC testing in uncomplicated vaginal deliveries is proven to be safe and cost-effective, it could lead to more efficient healthcare resource allocation, reduced healthcare costs, and improved patient experience. This study contributes valuable insights to the ongoing efforts in optimizing postpartum care protocols and may influence future clinical practice guidelines for low-risk pregnancies

Examining Gender Differences in Pain Treatment Recommendations

poster abstractUnderstanding how pain treatment decisions are made has important clinical implications for healthcare. Research suggests that men and women receive disparate pain care, however, little is known about the specific treatment recommendations that are differentially made for men and women. The purpose of this study was to examine differences between the types of pain treatments recommended for men and women. Undergraduate psychology students from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and the University of North Texas (UNT) (n=621) made treatment recommendations for 8 chronic pain patients after reading a vignette describing the patient’s pain and watching a video of each patient completing a pain-inducing task (i.e., transition between sitting and standing). Participants made pain treatment recommendations for each patient using separate 0-100 visual analogue scales (VASs). Dependent samples t-tests indicated that participants were more likely to recommend workplace accommodations (t(620)= -3.05, p= .002, d= 0.17), disability compensation (t(620)= -7.77, p< .001, d= 0.44), and opioid medications (t(620)= -5.16, p< .001, d= 0.29) for men compared to women. Moreover, participants were more likely to recommend psychological therapy (t(620)= 4.59, p< .001, d= 0.26), rest (t(620)= 7.80, p< .001, d= 0.44), and diet/exercise (t(620)= 2.97, p= .003, d= 0.17) for women compared to men. These results are consistent with social psychological theories of gender-based stereotyping and suggest that men’s pain was perceived to be more legitimate, severe, and disabling than was women’s pain. Future studies are needed to examine how these differences affect pain outcomes and whether knowledge of these factors can improve training for future health care providers

An Exploratory Study Using Participation Plans for Inclusive Social Studies Instruction

Limited research exists on teaching social studies content, including intervention research, in inclusive settings for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The purpose of this exploratory project was to evaluate the use of participation plans for supporting students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in inclusive high school social studies classrooms. The study addressed two questions: (1) To what extent can students with IDD learn prioritized social studies content and skills in inclusive secondary settings? and (2) How do participation plans support students in learning prioritized social studies content and skills in inclusive general education settings? A university research team supported a public high school staff to employ a single-case, multiple baseline design across prioritized skills (knowledge of content, vocabulary, and summarization) and participants. Results showed students’ correct responses increased across prioritized skills after the team began using the participation plans. This discreet intervention exhibits promise for school staff (i.e., teachers, paraprofessionals) needing mediating tools for effective inclusive education. We discuss implications for future research and practice

Factors that Influence Handwriting Legibility for School-Aged Children

Four occupational therapy students collaborated with 360 Pediatric Therapy, a Seattle based pediatric occupational therapy practice. The collaborating practitioners, Catherine (Cate), Heather, and Miriam, were interested in the current and relevant evidence surrounding factors impacting handwriting legibility with children. Student researchers systematically reviewed the literature from 2007-2023 to address the question, What are the main factors that affect or correlate with handwriting legibility for school- aged children K-5?” Out of the 936 articles screened, researchers found 36 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Research demonstrates that handwriting interventions (in and out of the classroom) involving multiple skills (cognition, visual motor, fine motor, etc.) have been shown to be, in general, effective for improving handwriting legibility. Selecting an intervention may be dependent upon specific circumstances and client needs; so the researchers advise practitioners to use clinical reasoning in addition to the evidence-based research when making handwriting legibility intervention decisions. A Handwriting Education Packet was created to synthesize information surrounding factors associated with legibility, populations at high risk for poor legibility, curricular and non-curricular legibility interventions, as well as a condensed presentation on developmental patterns and pencil-grasp styles. The packet was designed to be a simple, evidence-based resource for occupational therapists to use in practice to better support their clients needs. Outcomes were monitored through in-depth feedback in the form of a meeting after several drafts were exchanged and edited. Future resources targeted toward families, educators, and administrators could be beneficial and should be explored through additional research. Subsequent topics such as fatigue, endurance, handwriting speed, and specific diagnoses should also be addressed