Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Midodrine On Optimization Of Β-Blocker Therapy In Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction, Maria A. Ruiz, Dayana Martinez, Maura Falli, Kristen De Almeida, Radhan B. Gopalani

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Introduction: Midodrine, an α-adrenergic agonist approved for orthostatic hypotension, is used off-label for hypotension in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, its prevalence, clinical outcomes, and risks in HFrEF remain unclear. Theoretically, adding midodrine to HFrEF patients’ medication regimens may facilitate up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) by attenuating its corresponding hypotensive effects. This study aims to assess the concurrent use of midodrine and β-blockers in patients with HFrEF to allow the initiation or up-titration of GDMT. Methods: This was a multisite, retrospective chart review of adult patients with HFrEF who received concomitant treatment with midodrine …

Using Empowerment Theory To Improve Understanding Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Haitian American Women, Balkys Bivins, Brenda Owusu, Indra R Hershorin, Tony Umadhay, Janet Joseph, Arvinder Singh

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Introduction: The CDC (2020) revealed that the age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the United States among the Black, non-Hispanic population is 16.8%. A study conducted by Bivins et al. (2021) revealed a 39% prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among Haitian Americans (HAs) living in several states. In the literature, HAs are often grouped with Black Americans, yet Haitian American women (HAW) have unique struggles with treatment and management of T2DM. No prior study used the empowerment theory to improve the management of T2DM in HAW. Purpose: To improve the understanding of T2DM in HAW using empowerment theory. …

Implementation Of The Resuscitation Quality Improvement Program In A System Of Hospitals: A Map For Success, Claudia C. Sabogal-Rodriguez, John Mouw

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Introduction: To prevent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills decay, the International Consensus on Resuscitation suggested retraining every three to six months. Current retraining practices nationwide exceed one to two years, suggesting that clinical staff's CPR skills are rarely at optimum proficiency. The Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) program offers skills decay prevention through quarterly sessions. This manuscript addresses the challenges and opportunities of implementing the RQI program in a hospital system to increase CPR skills quality and cost-savings. Purpose & Methods: This manuscript describes the challenges and opportunities of implementing the RQI program as a quality improvement initiative in a system of …

Reducing Urinary Tract Infections In Adult Hospitalized Patients During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Quality Improvement Project, Margie Martin, Catherina Chang Martinez, Dayana Kowalski, Courtney Willard, Yessenia Muniz, Gabriela Flores, Laura Budnechky, Joy Mitts, Hollie Gow

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain among the most common healthcare-associated infections, leading to increased morbidity and mortality in hospitalized adult patients. Methods: An interdisciplinary team initiated a quality improvement project to help reduce CAUTIs in a South Florida hospital. The project included using a CAUTI bundle consisting of indwelling catheter protocols, electronic bladder management order sets, nursing staff education, and implementation of external urinary catheters during the years 2020 through 2022. Results: The CAUTI bundle demonstrated positive outcomes in decreasing CAUTI rates. During our fiscal year 2022, there were 63% fewer CAUTIs (n = 23) compared to 2020 …

Allied Health Scholars Program: Addressing Workforce Shortage And Talent Pipeline Through Educational Programs, Carolina Perticari, Melissa R. Maguina, Lorell Bergolla, Maria Gauthreaux, Aleister Avila, John Mouw, Alwyn Leiba, Bryan Stewart, Agueda Hernandez, Zuanel Diaz

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Motivations For Joining The Healthcare Field, Elise M. Hernandez Miss

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Patterns In Winter Stonefly Distribution Along A River Continuum And Land-Use Gradient In Northwest Arkansas Streams, Zachary Tipton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Freshwater ecosystems are facing a crisis with extinction rates of aquatic species exceeding those of their terrestrial counterparts by up to fivefold. This decline is predominantly attributed to evolving land use patterns within watersheds, leading to chemical and physical transformations in freshwater habitats. Northwest Arkansas (NWA) represents one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States, undergoing substantial shifts in land use. Consequently, the status of aquatic life in this region remains uncertain. Addressing this concern, the latest Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan emphasizes the necessity of distribution and population data to guide conservation efforts for Species of Greatest Conservation Need …

A Cross-Sectional Study On The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Sport-Related Concussion Clinical Presentation Within Adolescents And Adults, Emily Mcindoe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic spanned across the globe in March 2020 and has since significantly impacted human life. There is evidence that supports symptom exacerbation and an increase in anxiety and depression in clinical presentation post-COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-COVID-19 for multiple medical diagnoses. These medical diagnoses include migraines, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and mild cognitive impairment. The effect that the pandemic had on the clinical presentation of sports-related concussions is understudied. It is possible that the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the clinical presentation of concussions as seen in other medical diagnoses. Given the increased reporting of …

A Mixed-Methods Exploration Of Emergency Service Use In Autistic Youth And Young Adults, Rebecca S. Bradley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Autistic youth are at an increased risk for needing emergency services as compared to neurotypical peers. In fact, approximately 20% of autistic youth will interact with police by the age of 21, and rates of emergency department visits are 30 – 70% higher among autistic individuals than neurotypical peers. While research has begun to explore the nature of emergency service use in this group, researchers have not yet assessed important individual-, family-, and community-level factors that may be associated with these encounters. This study aimed to address this gap in the field by 1) characterizing families of autistic children who …

Understanding The Kinetics Of Laser-Induced Nanowelding Of Nanoparticles And The Motility Of Bacteria When Faced With Obstacles, Ariel Rogers

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation has two focus areas: nanoparticle nanowelding and bacteria motility in the presence of micrometer sized structures. There are two main projects for the nanoparticle nanowelding studies: “Real-time imaging of laser-induced nanowelding in solution” and “Two-color laser-induced nanostructure shape modulation.” For the real-time imaging project, I used a fluorescence microscope, a 405 nm laser, and various python packages to quantify the average size of nanowelded nanostructures as a function of time and found that the average nanostructure growth over time fit the parameters of A¯(t) ∝ c0(1−e−t/τ), where c0 represents the initial concentration of nanoparticles in the solution and …

Modeling The Peak Ground Acceleration And Assessing The Economic Loss And Casualty Due To Potential Earthquakes Of Various Magnitudes In The New Madrid Seismic Zone, Mahmud Afroz

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) is one of the active tectonic zones capable of producing big earthquakes in the southcentral USA. The objective of this study was to assess the economic losses and casualties that might be caused by various magnitudes of seismic events in the NMSZ. The manifestation is the estimation for each magnitude which is using the Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) that might occur during an earthquake. It is calculated using an attenuation function that correlates the intensity of local ground movement, the earthquake magnitude, and the distance from its epicenter. The assessment of casualties was conducted …

Ism-Band Energy Harvesting Wireless Sensor Node, Fnu Naveed

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, the interest in remote wireless sensor networks has grown significantly, particularly with the rapid advancements in Internet of Things (IoT) technology. These networks find diverse applications, from inventory tracking to environmental monitoring. In remote areas where grid access is unavailable, wireless sensors are commonly powered by batteries, which imposes a constraint on their lifespan. However, with the emergence of wireless energy harvesting technologies, there is a transformative potential in addressing the power challenges faced by these sensors. By harnessing energy from the surrounding environment, such as solar, thermal, vibrational, or RF sources, these sensors can potentially operate …

The Needs That Instagram Satisfies For People Seeking News & How This Displaces Time Spent With Traditional Media, Madeleine Dunn

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper examines how the current climate of mainstream media is changing, and how this may affect journalistic norms and practices. There are many outlets for consumers to receive news, including traditional media, such as television news, newspapers, magazines, etc. There is also social media. The future of mainstream media outlets, like television stations, newspapers, magazines and radio stations, seems to depend on the growing use of social media sites for the use of getting news. This research will focus on Instagram as an alternative to traditional media, and why people prefer to use this outlet to get their news. …

Comparative Analysis Of Teacher Effects Parameters In Models Used For Assessing School Effectiveness: Value-Added Models & Persistence, Merlin J. Kamgue

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Longitudinal measures for students have become increasingly popular to estimate the effects of individual teachers and schools. Value-added models are one of the approaches using longitudinal data to evaluate teachers and schools. In the value-added model (VAM) literature, many statistical approaches have been developed and used to estimate teacher or school effects on student learning. This study opted to use a Bayesian multivariate model for evaluating teacher effects. The generalized persistence models can handle longitudinal data, not vertically scaled, allowing for a below-par teacher’s effects correlation across test administrations. This study first generated longitudinal students’ test score data and used …

The Intersection Of Employee Engagement And Employee Health: A Quantitative Evaluation Of The Use Of Engagement Tactics In Improving The Health Of A Workforce, Andrew Buffenbarger

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Employers have a vested interest in the health of employees, but employee wellness programs have not proven themselves an effective tactic for employers to motivate employees to live healthier lives. Employees who suffer from chronic disease are less productive than healthier peers, are more expensive to insure, have higher rates of absenteeism, and are more prone to suffer from performance-reducing levels of stress and burnout (Shuck et al., 2021; Jones et al., 2019; Mattke et al., 2013). The problem is that employee wellness programs are often not effective at improving the health of employee populations (Song & Baicker, 2019; Jones …

The Alumni Base Holds The Institution In Their Heart: Alumni Decision Making And Communication Strategies During University Leadership Change, Brandy Cox Jackson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the research was to understand how alumni executives make decisions and formulate communication strategies during university leadership change. The research was based on the trends found by the American Council on Education that the tenure of the college president has been on the decline since 2006 and is currently 5.9 years. Multiple factors have been identified in the literature that have led to this decline. The research focused on the largest constituency of most universities, its alumni base, and provides context and a description of decision making and communication strategies for alumni executives navigating leadership change. The …

Assessment Of Dietary Energy And Amino Acid Diet Formulation In The Modern Broilers, Matheus Freitas Costa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As a result of the advancement of genetics, understanding broiler requirements for dietary energy and amino acids is essential for improving live performance and carcass characteristics. The energy system used to formulate diets in poultry is based on metabolizable energy (ME); this equation can be described as the total amount of energy in the feed minus gases and feces. However, the net energy (NE) system may be the best depiction of the energy utilized by birds for production and maintenance purposes once the heat increment (HI) is measured. Thus, a series of studies were conducted to establish the responsiveness of …

Geospatial Analysis Of Weathering And Recession On Architectural Limestone At The 1891 Powerhouse/Icehouse In Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Stuart Bruce Wright

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study of the architectural limestone of the 1891 Powerhouse/Icehouse in Eureka Springs, Arkansas was to analyze the environmental factors that influenced the deterioration and surface recession of this historical stone structure. The focus of this research was to examine and establish a baseline study that may assist in future monitoring and documentation of this historic limestone structure on stone weathering. A replicable methodology was specifically created toward this baseline research in hopes that it represented a solid baseline study. Observations and data analyses revealed the relationship between the architectural limestone building structure and the dominating recession …

Development Of A Historic Digital Elevation Model (Hdem) From Archival Aerial Imagery Over The Black Mountain Alluvial Fan, Canada, Emma Menio

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In a rapidly changing Arctic, reconstructing landscapes pre-warming is essential to understanding impacts due to climate-inducted geomorphic change. High-latitude elevation datasets extend temporally back to the 2000s, while region-wide warming became measurable in the 1980s. Historic aerial imagery archives provide datasets of high-resolution imagery from the mid- to late- 1900s with stereo-capability that can be harnessed to create historic digital elevation models, or hDEMs. A major issue with reconstructing a surface from the past is finding a way to constrain it in space, given a lack of ground control from that era, especially at high latitudes. The main purpose of …

Exploring Success Factors Of Women Senior Leaders In The United States Paper Manufacturing Operations Industry: A Phenomenological Study, Ericka Eggleston

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand how women describe their journey to becoming senior leaders within the operations sector of the Paper Manufacturing Industry. This study will provide insights about how women in the male-dominated Paper Manufacturing Industry (PMI) assumed leadership positions. This pre-registered study will offer the framework for this study to be carried out at the University of Arkansas. The researcher will apply a descriptive phenomenological approach that will use semi-structured questions to understand the strategies they used to navigate their career path. Snowball sampling will be used to select 5-15 participants who provide their perceptions …

Examining Task-Related Differences In The Error-Related Negativity (Ern) As A Function Of Cognitive Control Strategy And Trait Anxiety, Russell Mach

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety disorders pose a significant challenge to daily living, workplace productivity, and healthcare systems. Extant research supports empirical links between anxiety and brain-level error monitoring. The ERN – or error-related negativity – is one widely studied correlate of anxious symptomatology. Relatively stable individual differences in the ERN are inferred from electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings time-locked to the commission of mistakes. However, the assumed interchangeability of ERNs elicited under different experimental conditions has not been thoroughly evaluated. Canonical tasks for measuring the ERN may cue specific strategies for cognitive control, possibly producing divergent findings across studies. In a sample of 108 undergraduate …

Feed Value And Utilization Of Corn Residue: Implications For Cow Performance And Grazing Strategies, Kaylee E. Wheeler

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Two experiments were conducted to determine the correlation of corn residue feed value and utilization on cow performance and potential grazing strategies. A qualitative observation of corn residue grazing by 13 cattle herds across Nebraska was conducted over two years. Based on producer reported grain yields and stocking rates, it was found that these producers were generally not as aggressive as the recommended 1.2 animal unit months (AUM) for each 6,280 kg/ha (100 U.S. bushels/acre) of harvested grain. They stocked 17 to 101% of the recommendation and on average used 63% of the carrying capacity. Across herds, average body condition …

Predicting Body Weight Of Cattle And Nutrient Digestion Of Individual Sweet Bran Components To Improve Beef Cattle Production Efficiency, Dalton J. Anderson

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Efficiency is of high importance to beef cattle producers to ensure that beef cattle are being raised without unnecessary resource use. Two separate experiments were conducted to evaluate potential strategies to improve efficiency in beef cattle production. A metabolism study was conducted to evaluate digestion parameters of individual Sweet Bran components. The objective was to determine the effects of diet components on nutrient digestion and rumen fermentation parameters. The individual components of Sweet Bran (Corn bran, solvent-extracted germ meal, and corn steep liquor) were included at 40% diet dry matter (DM) in a steam-flaked corn (SFC) based diet. A SFC-based …

The Evaluation Of Feed Additives On Reducing Enteric Methane Production From Cattle, Reba L. Colin

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Environmental sustainability can be positively impacted by the inclusion of feed additives to reduce enteric methane production from cattle. Methane production can be affected by feed additives that either alter the rumen environment or act as methanogenesis inhibitors. A reduction in methane from cattle can contribute to meeting carbon neutrality.

A metabolism study was conducted to evaluate Alga 1.0, a product containing bromoform, fed to cattle to evaluate the effects on gas emissions. Treatments were (0, 69, or 103 g/d Alga 1.0) fed in a corn-based diet. Headbox-style indirect calorimeters were used to measure gas emissions. Feeding Alga 1.0 linearly …

56(3) Front Matter

UBC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Vulnerability And Discretion: Mental Health And Humanitarian And Compassionate Applications, Letty Condon

UBC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Cumulative Rights Infringement In British Columbia Treaty 8 Territory: The Need For A Renewed Environmental Decision-Making Framework Under Treaty Law, Rebeca M. Gimenez

UBC Law Review

No abstract provided.

They’Re All Interpretative: Towards A Consistent Approach To Ss 25–31 Of The Charter, Gerard J. Kennedy

UBC Law Review

No abstract provided.

An Inconvenient Balance: Interlocutory Injunctions, Civil Disobedience, & Reconciliation, Declan O'Briain

UBC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Professional Development, Digital Platforms, And Middle School Education During Covid-19, Cynthia Susan Castro

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 outbreak shifted towards online learning, requiring educators and administrators to adapt to new digital platforms and technologies quickly. The purpose of this quantitative study is to examine whether there is a significant difference in the frequency of use of digital platforms among middle schools. Secondly, it explores the relationship between teachers' attendance at professional development sessions and their integration of Nearpod lessons during the pandemic. Lastly, it investigates the relationship between the time campus principals invested in technology-related professional development and teachers' adoption of digital platforms at their respective campuses. Surveys and administrative records were …