Digital Commons Network^™

Piezeoelectric-Based Asphalt Layer For Energy Harvesting Roadway, Qing Lu, Lukai Guo

USF Patents

An energy harvesting roadway that includes a plurality of road segments and a power storage device electrically coupled to the plurality of road segments. Each of the plurality of road segments can include a surface asphalt layer, a first conductive asphalt layer located under the surface asphalt layer, a piezoelectric-based asphalt layer located between the first conductive layer and a second conductive layer located above a base asphalt layer. The piezoelectric-based asphalt layer can include a plurality of rigid piezoelectric elements and an insulating filler.

3d Printed Heart Model With Simulated Cardiac Stroke Volumes, Fadi Matar, Jonathan Michael Ford, Summer Joy Decker

USF Patents

Disclosed herein is a 3D printed heart model with simulated cardiac stroke volumes. It involves an inner membrane conforming to the shape of the inner lining of the ventricle. This results in the creation of a compression pouch with a potential space (compression sac) bordered by the inner surface of the simulated ventricle and the outer surface of the inner membrane. The inner membrane also defines a neo-ventricular chamber that is in contact with blood simulating fluid. A pulsatile flow pump can serve as a hydrodynamic driver for inflow and outflow into and out of the compression sac. This can …

Regulated Drug Delivery Via Controlled Degradable Chondroitin Sulfate Particles, Nurettin Sahiner, Ramesh Ayyala

USF Patents

Disclosed herein are crosslinked chondroitin sulfate particles crosslinked chondroitin sulfate particle polyelectrolytes. The particles are useful in drug delivery applications. The particles may be used to treat various conditions, including bacterial and fungal infections.

Device For Targeted Feature-Specific Sensory Therapy, David Eddins, Joseph Walton

USF Patents

A device and method that supplements sensory input, thereby providing a supplemented sensory environment, to induce plasticity within the central nervous system that effectively overcomes sensory-neural processing deficits or strengthens specific sensory-neural abilities. In one implementation, ear-level hearing devices are used to deliver therapeutic sound with specific acoustic features that serve as archetypes of stimulus features for which sensory-neural processing is compromised by a sensory-neural deficit.

Door Opening System And Method, Kyle Brandon Reed

USF Patents

A door opener for a door includes a frame coupled to the door and a wheel rotatably supported by the frame. The wheel, including its position relative to the door and frame, as well as its shape, are configured to convert a downward force applied by a user's foot into a lateral force that opens the door by rotating the wheel in contact with the floor.

Gender Equity And Coffee Agroforestry: The Environmental And Social Impacts Of Commodity Production In Latin America, Suzanna Lloyd

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the environmental and social implications of coffee growth and production in Latin America. Women contribute significantly to the ownership of coffee farms and labor of coffee production; however, there is a lack of resources and financial compensation for their work. Chapter One provides both quantitative and qualitative data on the environmental impacts of coffee plantations compared to agroforestry methods of coffee production in Latin America. This chapter defines basic terms, differentiates coffee species and mode of production, and explains the ecosystem services of biodiverse, tropical farms. Chapter Two highlights the patriarchal nature of Latin American agriculture systems …

Apex Graphs And Cographs, Jagdeep Singh, Vaidy Sivaraman, Thomas Zaslavsky

Theory & Applications of Graphs

A class G of graphs is called hereditary if it is closed under taking induced subgraphs. We denote by G^{apex} the class of graphs G that contain a vertex v such that G − v is in G. Borowiecki, Drgas-Burchardt, and Sidorowicz proved that if a hereditary class G has finitely many forbidden induced subgraphs, then so does G^{apex}. We provide an elementary proof of this result.

The hereditary class of cographs consists of all graphs G that can be generated from K_1 using complementation and disjoint union. A graph is an apex cograph if it contains a …

Order Confirming Disclosure Statement And Disclosure Statement

Catholic Dioceses in Bankruptcy

No abstract provided.

Improved Adherence To Lipid Screening In The Pediatric Cardiology Clinic: A Quality Improvement Project, Rachel Magnan, Thomas Murphy, Lauren Rosenthal, Aparna Prasad, Anjali Chelliah, Stuart Kaufman, Donna Timchak, Lindsey Mcphillips, Saira Siddiqui

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Lipid screening identifies at-risk patients to facilitate cardiovascular risk reduction. National pediatric guidelines recommend universal lipid screening between 9-11 and 17-21 years of age. We aimed to improve adherence to lipid screening for all age-appropriate outpatient pediatric cardiology visits from a baseline of 35% to 90% between November 2021 and July 2023.

METHODS: All outpatient visits for patients 9-11 and 17-21 years were included. Chart review and an Epic electronic health record report identified patients screened, lipid test results, and need for further testing. A P-chart was generated. After establishing a baseline for 8 weeks, interventions, including an Epic …

Determination Of The Kinetic Parameters Of Cholesterol Oxidation Using Cholesterol Oxidase From Streptomyces Sp., Meka Saima Perdani, Heri Hermansyah, Muhamad Sahlan, Dwini Normayulisa Putri, Teguh Pambudi, Anggi Khairina Hanum Hasibuan

Makara Journal of Technology

Cholesterol oxidase (CO) was successfully produced from Streptomyces sp. via the submerged fermentation method, and 69 U/mL enzyme activity was obtained. This study aimed to determine cholesterol oxidation kinetics and the production of CO as a catalyst. The enzyme was diluted to 0.15, 0.075, and 0.00375 U/mL for the oxidation reaction. The substrate was also prepared in three concentrations: 3.23, 6.46, and 12.93 mM. The optimization of conditions for enzymatic cholesterol oxidation was investigated through measurement of the effect of initial cholesterol and enzyme concentrations. Cholesterol concentration was rapidly measured via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The kinetics of CO were …

The Importance Of The Pontificate Of The Pope John Paul Ii In International Relations, M. Manuel Azevedo

Global: Jurnal Politik Internasional

This work analyses Pope John Paul II’s contributions and attitudes as an international relations Actor. In this context, the research question that guides this work is as follows in terms of global governance, how did the conduct carried out by Pope John Paul II strengthen him as a Model Power? John Paul II inaugurated a new phase of the Vatican’s foreign policy. His diplomacy in mediation and conflict resolution stands out as a fundamental pillar of his pontificate, contributing to the fall of the communist regime in Poland and many other conflicts such as the mediation of the Holy See …

Corporate Social Responsibility, Economic, Ethical-Legal, And Philanthropic Performances In Ghanaian Banks Using Big Data Analytics, Mohammed Alhassan Adams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is becoming increasingly essential for Ghanaian banks to reconcile financial growth with ethical, legal, and civic obligations amid escalating societal expectations. The specific research problem was that the extent to which Ghanaian banks employed big data analytics (BDA) to boost multidimensional CSR performance encompassing economic, ethical-legal, and philanthropic dimensions was unknown. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the potential impacts of BDA use and overall CSR performance on Ghanaian banks’ economic, ethical-legal, and philanthropic dimensions of CSR. Using stakeholder theory and a resource-based view, BDA was applied as a strategic tool for …

Staff Education To Expand Clinicians’ Knowledge Of Standardized Screening Tools In Addiction Treatment, Uwaezu Mercy Kalu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focuses on a staff education initiative to enhance clinicians' knowledge and application of standardized screening tools for co-occurring mental health disorders in addiction treatment settings. The project addresses inconsistencies in screening practices that contribute to undiagnosed mental health conditions, adversely affecting patient outcomes. Clinicians were trained to use three validated tools: PHQ-9 for depression, GAD-7 for anxiety, and MDQ for bipolar disorder. The intervention involved a structured educational program with pre- and post-intervention assessments. Results showed significant improvement in clinicians' knowledge, with pretest scores averaging 4.6 and posttest scores averaging 6.0 (p < 0.05). The findings highlight the effectiveness of standardized tools in improving diagnostic consistency and care quality. Key recommendations include integrating these tools into routine clinical assessments, standardizing documentation practices, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and establishing continuous quality improvement processes. Despite limitations such as small sample size and single-site implementation, this project underscores the critical role of staff education in promoting evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes and supports positive social change in addiction treatment settings.

New Graduate Nurses' Experiences Of Burnout As They Transition To Practice, Stacy Beth Elliott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transitioning from nursing school to professional practice is a critical and challenging period for newly graduated nurses. Transition to professional nursing practice is particularly stressful in the first 3 years as new graduates adapt to the high acuity of patient care, which can result in burnout. The purpose of this qualitative study, guided by the conservation of resource theory, was to understand how new graduate nurses describe their experiences of burnout as novice nurses transition in the first 3 years of nursing practice. Fourteen nurses were interviewed using a semi-structured interviews, and Saldana’s two-cycle analysis was used for data interpretation, …

An Ontology-Based Approach For Understanding Appendicectomy Processes And Associated Resources, Nadeesha Pathiraja Rathnayaka Hitige, Ting Song, Steven J Craig, Kimberley J Davis, Xubing Hao, Licong Cui, Ping Yu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Traditional methods for analysing surgical processes often fall short in capturing the intricate interconnectedness between clinical procedures, their execution sequences, and associated resources such as hospital infrastructure, staff, and protocols.

Aim: This study addresses this gap by developing an ontology for appendicectomy, a computational model that comprehensively represents appendicectomy processes and their resource dependencies to support informed decision making and optimise appendicectomy healthcare delivery.

Methods: The ontology was developed using the NeON methodology, drawing knowledge from existing ontologies, scholarly literature, and de-identified patient data from local hospitals.

Results: The resulting ontology comprises 108 classes, including 11 top-level classes and …

Tacrolimus- And Mycophenolate-Mediated Toxicity: Clinical Considerations And Options In Management Of Post-Transplant Patients, Alan D. Kaye, Shivam S. Shah, Coplen D. Johnson, Adalyn S. De Witt, Austin S. Thomassen, Charles P. Daniel, Shahab Ahmadzadeh, Sridhar Tirumala, Kristin N. Bembenick, Adam M. Kaye, Sahar Shekoohi

Pacific Faculty Work

Tacrolimus and mycophenolate are important immunosuppressive agents used to prevent organ rejection in post-transplant patients. While highly effective, their use is associated with significant toxicity, requiring careful management. Tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor, is linked to nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, metabolic disturbances such as diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular complications such as hypertension and arrhythmias. Mycophenolate, a reversible inhibitor of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, frequently causes gastrointestinal disturbances, including diarrhea and colitis, as well as hematologic side effects like anemia and leukopenia, which increase infection risk. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and pharmacogenomics have emerged as essential strategies for mitigating these toxicities. TDM ensures …

Staff Education To Expand Clinicians’ Knowledge Of Standardized Screening Tools In Addiction Treatment, Uwaezu Mercy Kalu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focuses on a staff education initiative to enhance clinicians' knowledge and application of standardized screening tools for co-occurring mental health disorders in addiction treatment settings. The project addresses inconsistencies in screening practices that contribute to undiagnosed mental health conditions, adversely affecting patient outcomes. Clinicians were trained to use three validated tools: PHQ-9 for depression, GAD-7 for anxiety, and MDQ for bipolar disorder. The intervention involved a structured educational program with pre- and post-intervention assessments. Results showed significant improvement in clinicians' knowledge, with pretest scores averaging 4.6 and posttest scores averaging 6.0 (p < 0.05). The findings highlight the effectiveness of standardized tools in improving diagnostic consistency and care quality. Key recommendations include integrating these tools into routine clinical assessments, standardizing documentation practices, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and establishing continuous quality improvement processes. Despite limitations such as small sample size and single-site implementation, this project underscores the critical role of staff education in promoting evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes and supports positive social change in addiction treatment settings.

Perceptions Of Early Childhood System Partners On Career Pathways, Melissa Larson Busby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have found high-quality early childhood teachers are crucial to high-quality programs for young children. Despite this, there is a significant need for more highly qualified teachers in a southwestern state. The purpose of the qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of early childhood education (ECE) systems partners in one southwestern state regarding the current systems, structures, and policies related to career pathways through the high school, community college, and university levels. The conceptual framework for this study was based on von Bertalanffy’s general systems theory and systems thinkers such as Senge, who detail the complex interactions between systems …

New Graduate Nurses' Experiences Of Burnout As They Transition To Practice, Stacy Beth Elliott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transitioning from nursing school to professional practice is a critical and challenging period for newly graduated nurses. Transition to professional nursing practice is particularly stressful in the first 3 years as new graduates adapt to the high acuity of patient care, which can result in burnout. The purpose of this qualitative study, guided by the conservation of resource theory, was to understand how new graduate nurses describe their experiences of burnout as novice nurses transition in the first 3 years of nursing practice. Fourteen nurses were interviewed using a semi-structured interviews, and Saldana’s two-cycle analysis was used for data interpretation, …

Geneseo Authors Celebration 2024, Milne Library

Geneseo Authors Celebration

Milne Library began a tradition of celebrating faculty authorship in 2009 with a series of workshops and a celebration in collaboration with the Teaching and Learning Center. Over the years it has evolved to more accurately reflect on the variety of academic and creative work done here at Geneseo. The annual Geneseo Authors Celebration is an opportunity for the Library and the campus to celebrate the faculty and truly acknowledge the time and effort that faculty have invested into creating exceptional works that contribute to the scholarly discussions taking place in their disciplines.

In late fall 2024, when the Geneseo …

Hiring, Training, And Retaining Mental Health Professionals At Rural Wisconsin Correctional Facilities, Jessica Kallenbach

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correctional facilities in rural Wisconsin have noted a shortage of trained mental health professionals to provide care. Common barriers to providing mental health services in rural areas are the availability and accessibility of mental health professionals. Due to limited access to financial and career benefits, mental health professionals tend to avoid working in these areas. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of mental health professionals, administrators, and supervisors in hiring, training, and retaining staff in rural Wisconsin correctional facilities. Bandura’s social learning theory was used to guide the study. Data was collected from …

Special Education Co-Teachers’ Role In The Adoption Of Information And Communication Technology Tools In Inclusive Classrooms, Amy Hysick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Co-teaching is a common service delivery model where a general and special education teacher are paired in the same classroom, though little is known about the experiences of secondary special education co-teachers in the adoption and use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools in inclusive, co-taught classrooms. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the experiences of special education co-teachers in the adoption and use of ICT tools. Venkatesh et al.’s unified theory of the acceptance and use of technology was the conceptual framework for the study. The research question focused on the experiences of special education …

Effect Of Different Pressures On Polymer Flow At A Contraction Path: A Real-Time Numerical Approach, Muhammad Afiq Azmi, Zulkifli Mohamad Ariff, Raa Khimi Shuib, Arjulizan Rusli, Ku Marsilla Ku Ishak, Mohamad Danial Shafiq, Zuratul Ain Abdul Hamid, Zulfirdaus Zakaria, Muhamad Husaini Abu Bakar, Muhammad Khalil Abdullah

Makara Journal of Technology

The complexity of polymer flow through a contraction arises from the simultaneous occurrence of shear and elongational strains near the entrance of the contraction path (die). Although this phenomenon has been extensively studied, the effect of plunger motion on the flow toward the contraction path remains underexplored. This study investigated the rheological behavior of thermoplastic polymers at a contraction flow path to enhance the understanding of their flow and rheological behavior, including variations in velocity, pressure, viscosity, and shear rate under varying loads. Polypropylene (PP), a semicrystalline polymer with a low melting point, was used as the test material. The …

Loss Of Chop Prevents Joint Degeneration And Pain In A Mouse Model Of Pseudoachondroplasia, Jacqueline T Hecht, Alka C Veerisetty, Mohammad G Hossain, Debabrata Patra, Michele Carrer, Frankie Chiu, Dorde Relic, Paymaan Jafar-Nejad, Karen L Posey

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH), a severe dwarfing condition characterized by impaired skeletal growth and early joint degeneration, results from mutations in cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). These mutations disrupt normal protein folding, leading to the accumulation of misfolded COMP in chondrocytes. The MT-COMP mouse is a murine model of PSACH that expresses D469del human COMP in response to doxycycline and replicates the PSACH chondrocyte and clinical pathology. The basis for the mutant-COMP pathology involves endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling through the PERK/eIF2α/CHOP pathway. C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), in conjunction with a TNFα inflammatory process, upregulates mTORC1, hindering autophagy clearance of mutant COMP …

Clermont York Assoc. Llc V. Zgodny

All Decisions

In this nonpayment proceeding, the landlord moved to restore the case to the court calendar after a nine-year delay following an interlocutory appeal. The court denied the motion, finding that the landlord failed to demonstrate a reasonable excuse for the lengthy delay, a crucial factor for granting restoration motions. The court emphasized the importance of diligence in prosecuting legal claims and the potential prejudice to the tenant from such a significant delay.

Glucose-Lowering Agents Developed In The Last Two Decades And Their Perioperative Implications, Basavana Goudra, Geno Merli, Michael Green

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

The last two decades have provided far more options f both patients and their physicians in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. While dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have been approved for nearly two decades, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) are relatively new. Of interest to perioperative physicians, these drugs present specific perioperative concerns, prompting many societies to issue guidelines. Retained gastric contents due to slow gastric emptying is a significant drawback of GLP-1RAs, increasing the risk of aspiration. Recommendations include withholding GLP-1RAs for a predefined period of time, performing gastric ultrasound to evaluate gastric …

State Of Utah V. Alberto Frank Hernandez : Reply Brief, Utah Court Of Appeals

Utah Court of Appeals Briefs (2020 –)

An appeal from a judgment of conviction of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony; and obstructing justice, a class A misdemeanor; in the Third Judicial District Court, Salt Lake County, State of Utah, the Honorable Heather Brereton, presiding. Appellant is incarcerated.

CONNER NELSON (18064) Assistant Solicitor General SEAN D. REYES (7969) Utah Attorney General Attorney for Appellee

ERICK GRANGE (18000) Salt Lake Legal Defender Assoc. Attorney for Appellant

Perceptions Of Early Childhood System Partners On Career Pathways, Melissa Larson Busby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have found high-quality early childhood teachers are crucial to high-quality programs for young children. Despite this, there is a significant need for more highly qualified teachers in a southwestern state. The purpose of the qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of early childhood education (ECE) systems partners in one southwestern state regarding the current systems, structures, and policies related to career pathways through the high school, community college, and university levels. The conceptual framework for this study was based on von Bertalanffy’s general systems theory and systems thinkers such as Senge, who detail the complex interactions between systems …

Hiring, Training, And Retaining Mental Health Professionals At Rural Wisconsin Correctional Facilities, Jessica Kallenbach

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correctional facilities in rural Wisconsin have noted a shortage of trained mental health professionals to provide care. Common barriers to providing mental health services in rural areas are the availability and accessibility of mental health professionals. Due to limited access to financial and career benefits, mental health professionals tend to avoid working in these areas. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of mental health professionals, administrators, and supervisors in hiring, training, and retaining staff in rural Wisconsin correctional facilities. Bandura’s social learning theory was used to guide the study. Data was collected from …

Perceptions Of Black Women’S Portraits Of Beauty In Essence Magazine, Dr. Rachel Mingo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, beauty standards in the United States were rooted in White ideals, influencing media portrayals of Black women to align with White features like lighter skin and straightened hair. Although recent studies suggest a slow shift toward a more diverse representation of Black beauty, depictions in magazines still predominantly reflect mainstream Western beauty ideals, leading to potential negative impacts on Black women’s self-esteem and body image. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how young Black women, ages 18–25, perceive portrayals of Black beauty in Essence magazine. Black feminist thought constituted the theoretical basis for this study. …