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Paracest Agents Encapsulated In Reverse Nano-Assembled Capsules (Racs): How Slow Molecular Tumbling Can Quench Cest Contrast, Annah Farashishiko, Jacqueline R. Slack, Mauro Botta, Mark Woods

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Although paraCEST is a method with immense scope for generating image contrast in MRI, it suffers from the serious drawback of high detection limits. For a typical discrete paraCEST agent the detection limit is roughly an order of magnitude higher than that of a clinically used relaxation agent. One solution to this problem may be the incorporation of a large payload of paraCEST agents into a single macromolecular agent. Here we report a new synthetic method for accomplishing this goal: incorporating a large payload of the paraCEST agent DyDOTAM3+ into a Reverse Assembled nano-Capsule. An aggregate can be generated between …

Varied Length Stokes Shift Bodipy-Based Fluorophores For Multicolor Microscopy, Amy M. Bittel, Ashley M. Davis, Lei Wang, Michel A. Nederlof, Jorge O. Escobedo, Robert Strongin, Summer L. Gibbs

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Multicolor microscopy tools necessary to localize and visualize the complexity of subcellular systems are limited by current fluorophore technology. While commercial fluorophores cover spectral space from the ultraviolet to the near infrared region and are optimized for conventional bandpass based fluorescence microscopy, they are not ideal for highly multiplexed fluorescence microscopy as they tend to have short Stokes shifts, restricting the number of fluorophores that can be detected in a single sample to four to five. Herein, we synthesized a library of 95 novel boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY)- based fluorophores and screened their photophysical, optical and spectral properties for their utility in …

Facile Synthesis Of Ligand-Free Iridium Nanoparticles And Their In Vitro Biocompatibility, Anna L. Brown, Hayden Winter, Andrea M. Goforth, Gaurav Sahay, Conroy Sun

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

High-density inorganic nanoparticles have shown promise in medical applications that utilize radiation including X-ray imaging and as radiation dose enhancers for radiotherapy. We have developed an aqueous synthetic method to produce small (~ 2 nm) iridium nanoparticles (IrNPs) by reduction of iridium(III) chloride using a borohydride reducing agent. Unlike other solution-based synthesis methods, uniform and monodispersed IrNPs are produced without the use of surfactants or other solubilizing ligands. These nanoparticles are highly crystalline as observed by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In vitro metabolic toxicity assays using hepatocyte and macrophage cells demonstrate that both IrNPs and iridium(III) …

Free-Base Nicotine Determination In Electronic Cigarette Liquids By 1H Nmr Spectroscopy, Anna K. Duell, James F. Pankow, David H. Peyton

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

E-liquids usually contain significant nicotine, which will exist primarily in two forms, monoprotonated and free-base, the proportions of which are alterable through the effective pH of the medium. The fraction of nicotine in the free-base form is α_fb, with 0 ≤ α_fb ≤ 1. When dosed via aerosol, the two nicotine forms have different mechanisms and kinetics of delivery, as well as differing implications for harshness of the inhaled aerosol, so α_fb is relevant regarding abuse liability. Previous attempts to determine α_fb in electronic cigarette liquids and vapor have been flawed. We employed the exchange-averaged …

Boiling Points Of The Propylene Glycol + Glycerol System At 1 Atmosphere Pressure: 188.6–292 °C Without And With Added Water Or Nicotine, Anna K. Duell, James F. Pankow, Samantha M. Gillette, David H. Peyton

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Perspective On Incentives For Novel Inpatient Antibiotics: No One-Size-Fits-All, Taimur Bhatti, Ka Lum, Silas Holland, Stephanie Sassman, David Findlay, Kevin Outterson

Faculty Scholarship

The need for new “pull” incentives to stimulate antibiotic R&D is widely recognized. Due to the global diversity of health systems, combined with different challenges faced by antibiotics used in different types of healthcare settings, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, different “pull” incentives should be tailored to local contexts, priorities, and antibiotic types. Policymakers and industry should collaborate to identify appropriate solutions at the local, regional, and global levels.

What's In A Name Anyway: Reevaluating South Dakota's Cannabis Statutory Scheme, Eric Schlimgen

South Dakota Law Review

No abstract provided.

Aguilar V. Aguilar And Third-Party Custody Determinations: Examining The Definition Of Parent From The Eyes Of The Child, Rachel E. Mairose

South Dakota Law Review

No abstract provided.

South Dakota Evidence: Significant Developments, Chris Hutton

South Dakota Law Review

No abstract provided.

Quality Of Nutrition Services For Children And Pregnant Women In Ntungamo District, Uganda, Church Tophill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inadequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood seriously interferes with brain development, leading to neurological and behavioral disorders. Such effects are detrimental to children under 2 years of age. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to better understand the quality of nutrition services offered to children and pregnant women in Ntungamo District in southwestern Uganda. The cross-sectional design facilitated comparison of different variables, using a research-question-driven approach, assessing existing secondary data from SPRING Uganda database. Stepwise, backward multiple logistic regression was used to identify the independent variables that influenced the provision of quality nutrition assessment, counseling, and support (NACS) …

Financial Strategies And Initiatives For Preventing Rural Hospital Closure, Chinue Uecker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, rural hospital closures increased 34% since 2015 due to financial reasons, affecting access to healthcare services in rural communities. For rural hospital leaders, improving the hospital's financial performance is a valuable strategic goal. This multiple case study was designed to explore strategies that rural hospital leaders implement to improve their hospital's financial performance in Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and the United States Virgin Islands. The strategic decision-making framework supported the study because top leaders make decisions that affect the organization's health and survival. Fifteen rural hospital leaders who maintain their hospital's financial stability provided hospital …

An Assessment Of The Financial Literacy Of Undergraduates At One Community College In Texas, Melissa J. Weathersby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At a Texas community college, stakeholders wanted to strengthen the financial literacy module offered in the student development course for undergraduates. The problem was that no formative data existed on students' financial literacy, and it was not known if knowledge of financial literacy for students who participated in a prior financial literacy class in high school differed from students who had not. The purpose of this study was to obtain formative data regarding students' needs for financial literacy education and to examine whether the knowledge of financial literacy for college students who participated in a prior financial literacy class in …

Work-Life Balance, Work-Study Interface, Gender, Stress, And Satisfaction Of Online Students, Viya Kumari Ayadurai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a likelihood of stress in working students' struggles to manage work, family, studies, and personal life, yet little is known about differences in stress levels between male and female online students. Previous studies suggested that more men than women balanced work and family owing to women's asymmetrical family responsibilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating effects of gender on the relationships of work-life balance and work-study interface of working online students and their perceived stress and satisfaction with life. In this quantitative study, the theoretical framework included social role theory and spillover theory. A …

Urban And Suburban Differences In Cultural Identification, Life-Guiding Principles, And Person-Organization Fit, Joseph Edigin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diversity practitioners in the United States have taken steps to implement programs for integration of people in organizations from across the socioeconomic and demographic spectrum. Despite changes in U.S. discrimination laws and work by diversity practitioners, maintaining equitable workplace diversity continues to be a problem in U.S. corporations. This correlational study was conducted to examine differences in life-guiding principles, urban identification, and person-organization fit between urban and suburban residents. A purposive sample of 180 adults was drawn in a voluntary online survey from industries in two U.S. representative counties with a mix of urban and suburban sprawl. This study was …

Effective Strategies For Managing The Outsourcing Of Information Technology, Marsha N. Hopwood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

More than half of information technology (IT) outsourced projects fail, primarily due to a lack of effective management practices surrounding the outsourcing end-to-end process. Ineffective management of the IT outsourcing (ITO) process affects organizations in the form of higher than expected project costs, including greater vendor switching or reintegration costs, poor quality, and loss of profits. These effects indicate that some business leaders lack the strategies to effectively manage the ITO process. The purpose of this single-case study was to apply the transaction cost economics (TCE) theory to explore strategies 5 business professionals use to manage an ITO project in …

Evidence-Based Education Program To Reduce Nurse Manager Burnout, David Howe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurse managers face numerous challenges and stressors in their daily practice. The support services offered to managers to facilitate coping in stressful situations vary among employers and may be ineffective depending on the stressors faced. Implementation of evidence-based best practices may positively impact nurse managers' ability to manage stress. The purpose of this project was to develop an evidence-based stress reduction education program to empower nurse managers to handle work-related stressors and reduce burnout. The primary theory used to inform this project was the job demands-resource model, which explains how job demands and resources have multiple effects on job stress, …

Collaborative Treatment Plan Development, Sally Kangas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The practice problem for this quality improvement project was the lack of engagement of chronic back pain patients at a Midwest clinic in evidence-based risk/benefit discussions regarding treatment options. The project was designed to explore whether practice guidelines increase patient engagement as measured by the Patient Activation Measure (PAM). Practice guidelines for interactive patient/nurse practitioner discussions regarding treatment options were developed, implemented, and evaluated. The concepts of chronic pain, chronic pain treatment options, and patient engagement were researched, and the evidence was evaluated using the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. The clinical practice guideline was developed following …

Individual Growth Through Forgiveness: A Multiple Case Study On The Process Of Forgiveness, Bianca Kazoun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychology researchers have been gathering information regarding the positive effects of forgiveness, demonstrating that they contribute to better overall physical and emotional wellbeing. Individuals who have suffered a transgression can remain in a place of destructive anger and resentment for years. Long-term, these negative states can have deleterious effects emotionally, physically, and socially. Understanding how to help those who are suffering move past their victimization can have a positive impact. It is therefore important to conduct research to better understand forgiveness through the lived experience of individuals who have experienced some form of victimization. Using evolutionary psychology as the theoretical …

Association Between Age Of Women When Diagnosed With Endometriosis And Infertility, Whitney Kennedy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Because endometriosis is considered to be the primary cause of infertility in women and

the diagnosis is known to be delayed by many years, it is important to understand the

association between endometriosis and infertility. The purpose of this cross-sectional,

secondary data analysis study was to determine whether there was an association between

the age of women when diagnosed with endometriosis and infertility. Using the general

model of total patient delay (i.e., the Andersen model) as a theoretical foundation, data

for this study was collected by assessing patient medical records of women with

endometriosis at multiple OB-GYN clinics in …

Shortage Of Licensed Independent Social Workers With The Training Supervision Designation, Justa Link

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a shortage of Licensed Independent Social Workers with the Training Supervision Designation (LISW-S) in a county in rural Ohio. If there are not enough LISW-Ss, social workers may not have the ability or opportunity to work independently or gain the supervision needed to become more competent in specific areas of practice. The purpose of this project was to gain a better understanding of why some social workers in rural Ohio decide not to pursue an LISW-S credential, as well as whether there are resources or incentives that might prompt individuals to pursue this credential. This action research project …

Evidence-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Reduces Hospital Readmissions In Adults With Copd, Christiana Otuwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many patients are affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive lung disease that obstructs air flow, resulting in dyspnea and inability to carry out daily activities. Despite optimal pharmacological management, COPD patients make frequent emergency room visits and are hospitalized due to exacerbations of COPD. Literature has suggested that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), a nonpharmacological treatment, could help to decrease the symptoms that lead to illness exacerbation, hospital readmissions, and decreased quality of life in patients with COPD. The purpose of the project was to increase the quality of life and reduce admission rates for patients diagnosed with COPD …

Scope Management Strategies For Engineering Leaders To Improve Project Success Rates, Kevin Lee Ramage

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Civil engineering projects undertaken without successful implementation of scope management strategies by project leaders are approximately 10% more likely to fail than projects undertaken with scope management strategies. Using scope management theory, the purpose of this single case study was to explore scope management strategies used by some project leaders in the engineering field to improve project success rates. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 3 purposefully selected project leaders in Georgia, and a review of project completion reports, budget reports, government proposals, and scope management documents. Data analysis occurred using Yin's 5-step process of compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, …

Strategies For Improving Energy Conservation On A Military Installation, Samuel Francis Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Energy is an essential component required to execute missions throughout military organizations. Failing to sustain energy efficiency in military units could cause mission failures throughout the Department of Defense. As a result, efficient energy management has become a major priority for Air National Guard units as well as other military organizations around the globe. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to gain an understanding of strategies used by front-line military supervisors to reduce energy consumption through behavioral change on a military installation located in Maryland. The central question explored strategies that front-line military supervisors use to change …

Improved Rehabilitation By Improving Discharge Processes To Decrease Readmissions, Deborah A. Walton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inadequate discharge planning for individuals with chronic illnesses or injuries is associated with increased readmissions to the hospital or rehabilitation facility where the original treatments were administered. To help ensure the recovery of discharged patients and avoid readmissions, discharge planners guide medication and care processes. The rate of readmissions was high in a stand-alone rehabilitation center due to ineffective discharge plans. Patients, family members, and caregivers lacked knowledge about medications, treatments, and self-care guidelines after the patient left the facility. The purpose of this project was to ascertain the impact of improved discharge processes using the (a) IDEAL Discharge Planning …

Integration Of Learning Activities For Improved Performance On The Nclex-Rn Exam, Erika Wilkinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An institute of higher education located in the United States was unable to maintain the required first-time pass rate, on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam, by nursing graduates, as defined by their State Board of Nursing and accreditation body. Failure to meet these requirements resulted in a corrective action plan and fewer licensed nurses able to enter practice. The purpose of this study was to identify curricular changes to the associate nursing program to improve the first time pass rate by their nursing graduates. Benner's theory of skill acquisition was used as the conceptual framework …

An Exploratory Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Unmarried College-Educated Black Women, Courtney T. Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although there has been a decline in heterosexual marriages, marriage is still an expectation for adults in the United States. Consequently, unmarried women feel pressured to explain their single marital status. Black women are the least likely to marry, compared to non-Black women and Black men, yet there is limited research addressing the experiences of unmarried Black women. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of unmarried, college-educated Black women and the effects of cultural and social expectations of marriage. Face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 women. The intersectionality theory was used as the theoretical …

Motivation And Sociodemographic Factors In Organized Physical Activity Events, Katy Gozalka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adult physical activity is important for prevention of chronic diseases and to minimize health issues; therefore, the motivational influences of sociodemographic variables on participation in organized physical activity events warrant an investigation. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate differences in motivational influences between various sociodemographic variables as related to physical activity events in organized settings. The theoretical framework that guided this research study consisted of the theory of reasoned action (TRA), and the health belief model (HBM). The TRA was applied to study the intention of health behavior, while the HBM was used to investigate individuals' motivation …

Perceptions Of Collaboration And Mutual Respect Among Members Of Interprofessional Teams, Brenda Lankhof

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Government agencies are encouraging healthcare practitioners to work in interprofessional teams to address the complex needs of an aging population, to improve client outcomes, and to increase the cost-effectiveness of health care. However, a clearer understanding of the elements required for an effective interprofessional collaborative practice is needed. The purpose of this online, descriptive study was to focus on one component, mutual respect, and determine its relationship to collaboration among members of interprofessional teams working in family health teams (FHTs) and community health centers (CHCs) across Ontario. D'Amour's four-dimensional model of collaboration was used as the theoretical basis. This model …

European Alternative Preschool Philosophies, Styles, And Emergent Literacy Skill Development, Lynne M. Lawson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many American preschool children enter kindergarten without the emergent literacy skills needed to learn to read. To address this problem, this multicase qualitative study investigated the emergent literacy practices at Steiner Waldorf-inspired and Reggio Emilia-inspired schools. The research questions focused on how alternative preschool philosophies help staff cultivate emergent literacy skills in young children. The conceptual framework came from Piaget's cognitive development theory, and Vygotsky's sociocultural theory. The study included eight participants from two Reggio Emilia-inspired and two Steiner Waldorf-inspired preschools. Data were collected through open-ended interviews, observations, and analyses of de-identified student work, then subjected to thematic cross-case analysis. …

Strategies To Reduce Employee Turnover, Diane Krzan Merla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Businesses that fail to retain knowledgeable employees risk remaining competitive in the marketplace. Approximately 25 million people quit their jobs in 2016, overall. This single case study explored strategies business managers use to reduce employee turnover. The population for this study was 5 business managers from a business and technical personnel support organization in the information and solutions industry in the state of New Jersey who had experience with strategies to improve employee retention. The conceptual framework used in this study was systems theory. Data were collected from company archival documents and semistructured face-to-face interviews with 5 business managers. Moustakas' …