Digital Commons Network^™

"Baby-Steps For Baby Business": Diverse Market, Challenges, And Workable International Regulation For Cross-Border Commercial Surrogacy, Ellene Ko

Cardozo International & Comparative Law Review

The note examines the rapid growth of transnational commercial surrogacy as a multibillion-dollar industry, driven by assisted reproductive technologies and fertility tourism. It highlights the legal conflicts and challenges arising from the patchwork of international surrogacy regulations, including issues of citizenship, exploitation, and enforcement of cross-border contracts. The analysis advocates for an international convention to establish a clear legal framework for transnational surrogacy, emphasizing the need for shared responsibility between global and national oversight bodies to prevent exploitation and ensure ethical practices.

Healing An Unimaginable Loss: How Social Media Platforms Can Help Bereaved Parents Through Adr, Molly Baraban

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This Note will argue that Alternative Dispute Resolution ("ADR") can successfully be utilized to mediate disputes between parents and social media platforms to facilitate account access in certain instances where a minor child has passed away in a manner that warrants answers. This Note will argue that the rise in mediation being used to resolve probate issues and reform of arbitration use amongst social media platforms, coupled with the continued increase of minors using social media, indicates opportunities for settlements between parents and platforms. This Note will then propose a multi-tiered approach, that would first utilize a conciliator who is …

Helminth Parasites Of Galápagos Mammals: A New Cestode Of The Genus Raillietina From The Endemic Rice Rat Nesoryzomys Swarthi And A Summary Of Parasites From Both Endemic And Invasive Rodents, Scott Lyell Gardner, Emma K. Chesley, Michael C. Friedle, Altangerel Tsogtsaikhan Dursahinhan

Scott L. Gardner Publications

In this first report of endoparasites from endemic land-mammals of the Galápagos Islands, we describe a new species of cestode of the genus Raillietina (Cyclophyllidea: Davaineidae) from a species of Nesoryzomys and summarize the extent of helminth parasitism in both oryzomyine endemics and introduced species of Rattus. Up to the current time, no helminth parasites have been reported from rodents of the Galápagos, and little work has yet been done describing and synthesizing Galápagos parasite diversity. In historical times, several species of autochthonous rodents have occupied the islands including: Nesoryzomys narboroughi Heller 1904, N. fernandinae Hutterer and Hirsch …

Artificial Intelligence And Energy Democracy, Joel B. Eisen, Heather E. Payne

Law Faculty Publications

Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly transforming many professional activities, and the electric grid has already started to see adverse impacts from its use, such as the burgeoning demand for electricity from data centers. This Article acknowledges these impacts, but also demonstrates that AI can be put to beneficial use on the grid. It proposes and describes a specific use of AI: assisting citizen intervenors in public utility commission (PUC) proceedings, who currently face barriers to participation due to the technical complexity and confidentiality imposed by monopoly utilities. The Article describes how AI can assist intervenors to overcome the barriers to …

A Public For The Problem: Vocabularies Of Belonging At The Climate Precipice, Louisa Stredwick

Theses

This study proposes the central concepts of belonging and vocabulary to critically analyse and recompose current approaches to more-than-human relationship that are inadequate and counterproductive. Contemporary vocabularies of belonging are inadequate because they fail to account for the practicalities of an expansive human and more-than-human ‘we’, and they are underpinned by extractivist or idealist logics. They are counterproductive because they carry embedded dualisms that often directly counter intended messages of inherent relationality. A largely theoretical work, the thesis is informed by a field philosophy approach in the Environmental Humanities, working alongside the Martuwarra (Fitzroy) River, in North-Western Australia, and its …

Leading To Serve: Participants' Perception Of A Servant Leadership Program In Anglican School Contexts, Keith Charles Peterson

Theses

This PhD study researched the impact of a servant leadership development program on the culture and practice of two Anglican faith schools. The intent was to document and enhance these schools’ culture and practice through the design, application and outcomes of this developmental process. The rationale for this study stems from the increasing awareness of servant leadership as a formatively based approach that has depth and integrity of alignment with the relationally set values of care, community and service implicit to faith-based education. By demonstrating the alignment between the intent for servant leadership and its actual application and outcomes, this …

Screening For Bipolar Disorder In The Perinatal Population, Kate Mecklenburg Wright

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Despite the significant risks for patients associated with undiagnosed bipolar disorder during the perinatal period, perinatal patients are not screened as frequently for bipolar disorder as clinical guidelines recommend. The purpose of this project was to incorporate the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), an evidenced-based bipolar screening tool, as standard of practice for all patients at an outpatient perinatal healthcare clinic.

Objectives: The aims of this project include: (a) increase providers’ feelings of confidence in identifying risks of bipolar disorder during the perinatal period, (b) increase providers’ feelings of confidence in screening for the disorder, (c) integration of …

High-Consequence Infectious Disease Transport Protocols And Guidelines: Procedures And Simulation Evaluation, Charles J. Svela

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Introduction: High-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) such as Ebola virus disease (EVD) and other viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) require interdisciplinary teamwork and collaboration, communication, and adherence to protocols in order to safely transport patients between agencies. Despite national preparedness efforts, standardized transport protocols for HCID patients remain limited and inconsistently applied nationally. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to develop and assess evidence-based interfacility transport protocols for a regional Biological Isolation Care Unit (BICU) using a multidisciplinary, simulation-based learning activity.

Methods: A quantitative semi-structured survey was utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of newly developed HCID interdisciplinary transport protocols utilized in a …

Antenatal Interventions To Improve Breastfeeding In High-Risk Pregnancies: An Outpatient Clinic Perspective, Lina Saeday

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

High-risk pregnancies often face unique challenges when it comes to breastfeeding, yet few antenatal interventions specifically target this population. This quality improvement project aimed to improve breastfeeding knowledge, confidence, and attitudes among high-risk pregnant individuals through a brief educational intervention. Ten participants between 33 and 36 weeks gestation with diagnoses including GDM, gestational hypertension, multiple gestations and IVF pregnancies were recruited from an outpatient maternal-fetal medicine clinic. A printed educational brochure and a brief in-person teaching session were provided. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention surveys assessing their knowledge, perceived support, and attitudes toward breastfeeding. Post-intervention survey responses revealed statistically significant …

Identifying Barriers To Breast Cancer Screening In Asian American Women, Emily Dao

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among Asian American women, yet have lower screening rates than non-Hispanic Americans.

Objective: This project evaluated mammogram rates among Asian American women at a Federally Qualified Health Center, assessed demographic factors affecting screening, and identified perceived barriers through a survey.

Methods: A chart review was conducted to assess rates of mammogram screenings rates, the percent difference between planned and actual screenings, and patient demographics that may affect screening rates. A 13-question quantitative survey was developed and completed by participants to assess common barriers and identify potential strategies to reduce barriers to screening. …

Reducing Risk Of Preeclampsia By Increasing Midwives’ Confidence And Motivation To Screen Patients For Eligibility For Low-Dose Aspirin, Kennedy Johnson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Preeclampsia (PreE) is a major concern for prenatal care providers treating pregnant patients due to the potentially fatal risks associated with the disorder for both the patient and the fetus. Evidence suggests that recommending low-dose aspirin (LDA) screening and prescribing can reduce PreE risk; however, this practice is often overlooked during new and repeat prenatal visits.

Objective: The purpose of this DNP project is to enhance Certified Nursemidwives' (CNMs) knowledge of consistent and accurate LDA screening practices for patients a moderate to high risk of developing PreE.

Methods: Project implementation consisted of two parts: a 20-minute in-service education designed …

Longitudinal Viral Load Clustering For People With Hiv Using Functional Principal Component Analysis, Yunqing Ma, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Jiayang Xiao, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background: Longitudinal measures of viral load (VL) are critical in monitoring the HIV status. While multiple lab indicators exist for monitoring measures of VL, research on clustering historical/longitudinal VL measures is limited. Analyzing longitudinal VL patterns rather than aggregated measures offers deeper insights into HIV status. This study uses functional data clustering to classify longitudinal VL patterns and characterize each cluster by demographics, comorbidities, social behaviors, and CD4 count.

Methods: Adult PWH diagnosed from 2005 to 2015 in South Carolina with a 5-year minimum follow-up were included. We compared functional principal component analysis (FPCA), K-means, hierarchical clustering, and Gaussian mixture …

Temporal Changes In Racial Disparities Of Hiv Linkage To Care From 2013 To 2020: A Statewide Cohort Analysis, Fanghui Shi, Katherine E. Weaver, Chen Zhang, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Xueying Yang

Faculty Publications

Background: Racial disparities have historically existed regarding HIV care outcomes, including linkage to care. This study aims to explore the contribution of contextual features (e.g., socioeconomic and structural environmental factors) to the temporal change of county-level racial disparities in linkage to care.

Methods: This is a statewide population-based retrospective cohort study. The patient-level variables in the South Carolina HIV registry system were used to calculate the aggregated county-level linkage to care percentage. Then, we used four indices to measure racial disparities in the county-level percentage of timely linkage to care, i.e., the Black-White ratio, index of disparity (ID), weighted ID, …

Nursing Students' Clinical Placement Experience In A Residential Aged Care Facility: A Comparative Study, Nitasha Aarni Narayan

Theses

Nursing education programs play a significant role in preparing future nurses to care for the growing number of older people who will require health care. A key component of this preparation is the learning that nursing students acquire through clinical placement experience in a residential aged care facility. This clinical placement provides them with opportunities to experience caring for older adults. However, many students are reportedly reluctant to accept clinical placement in aged care and are ill-prepared for the challenges of the residential aged care facility environment. Hence, it is important for the development of future nursing programs and the …

Reducing Perinatal Mood And Anxiety Disorder (Pmad) Amongst Latina Women Through A Nurse-Led Intervention In A Clinic Setting, Daniella Navarrao Naujokt

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the implementation of the Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials for mothers of newborns (ROSE) curriculum amongst pregnant Latina’s in their third trimester, and to determine if participation in these classes increases patient awareness and management of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Using a nurse-led prenatal group setting, pregnant Latinas who are 18 years of age or older, are Spanish speakers, and at least 28 weeks gestation in pregnancy were presented with information about the intervention by their provider. Following informed consent, patients were to be asked to participate in …

Improving Dementia Literacy In Direct Care Workers In Independent Senior Communities, Rachael Kauffung, Rosalie Monkono

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

No abstract provided.

Asian American Mental Health Detection, Treatment, And Adherence In Primary Care, Kimberly Ha, Jenny Tran

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Asian Americans are understudied in the field of mental healthcare. Barriers to care include stigma, acculturative stress, and community expectations, coupled with structural limitations such as culturally insensitive care and knowledge gaps, which contribute to decreased rates of mental health access and utilization for this population.

Objective: Identify gaps in the diagnosis, and treatment pathways for Asian Americans receiving mental health services in the primary care setting.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted through a group of community health clinics in Seattle, Washington. Race, preferred language, English-proficiency, age, income, insurance-type, and ethnic subgroups were identified and compared …

End-Of-Life Care Educational Program For Neuro Nurses, Shiyue (Sophie) Wang, Thu Le

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Introduction: High-quality end-of-life (EOL) care necessitates both effective symptom management and therapeutic communication with patients and families. Nurses often report knowledge gaps in symptom management and discomfort when engaging in sensitive conversations during EOL care.

Methods: Neuro-nurses at a tertiary care hospital were invited to participate in an educational intervention focused on EOL symptom management and communication. The training occurred during both day and night clinical shifts. Effectiveness was measured using pre- and postintervention assessments adapted from validated questionnaires. All responses collected anonymously via REDCap.

Results: Post-intervention, 83% of participants showed improved scores in the knowledge assessment, with an average …

Evaluating The Impact Of The Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool (Bmat) On Nursing Staff Confidence In Patient Mobilization: A Pre And Post Implementation Study, Katelyn Kern, Shonali Prasad

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background Hospitalized patients are at high risk for functional decline due to immobility. Despite the benefits of early mobility, consistent assessment and promotion of mobility remain challenging, partly due to low nursing confidence. The Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool (BMAT) has shown promise in addressing these issues. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the impact of BMAT education and unit-wide implementation on nursing staff confidence in assessing patient mobility among adult inpatients on an acute care unit at a level one trauma center in Seattle, Washington.

Methods This quality improvement project included BMAT education (a one-hour Zoom session on …

Addressing Mental Healthcare Barriers Among Bipoc Perinatal Patients In A Community Health Setting, Aimee Nguyen, Ezinne Ndibeshe, Vedika Iyer

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Objective. BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) perinatal patients often face systemic, cultural, and logistical barriers to accessing mental health care during pregnancy and postpartum. These challenges contribute to disparities in outcomes, yet patient perspectives remain underrepresented in community health settings. This quality improvement initiative aimed to identify key barriers, raise awareness about perinatal mental health, and improve access to care at a community health clinic in Shoreline, Washington. A culturally inclusive educational handout was developed to support awareness and connect patients with mental health resources.

Methods. A mixed-methods approach was used to explore barriers both quantitatively and qualitatively. …

Experiences Of Caregivers During Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalization, Zoë J. Evans-Agnew

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

In the United States, 8.4 million people provide informal caregiving to people living with mental illness. Many of these caregivers are not included in the treatment process and decision making during inpatient hospitalization despite calls for more caregiver involvement. This mixed-methods study examined caregiver satisfaction and perceptions of care at a Pacific Northwest inpatient psychiatric unit to determine ways to improve caregiver engagement. A convenience sample of caregivers (N = 19) participated in a survey using modified questions from the Ontario Perception of Care Tool for Mental Health and Addictions for Caregivers. Most participants identified as the spouse, partner, …

Stock Albuterol Programs In Public Schools: A Scoping Review And Qualitative Study, Duy Huynh, Carlo Moreno

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Asthma remains a leading cause of school absenteeism, emergency room visits, and 911 calls among school-aged children in the United States. Despite clinical guidelines recommending the availability of rescue inhalers in schools, significant barriers such as limited access, inconsistent policies, and insufficient nursing staff continue to hinder effective asthma management. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project employed a scoping review to examine the implementation strategies and outcomes of stock albuterol programs across various U.S. school systems. Using the PRISMA-ScR methodology, peer-reviewed literature from 2014 to 2024 was analyzed to identify facilitators, barriers, and clinical outcomes associated with these programs. …

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy For Patients With Cancer, Zsuzsanna Balogh

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Patients with cancer confront not only physical challenges but also deep emotional and psychological distress experiences. Depression, anxiety, and existential distress often accompany a cancer diagnosis and negatively affect quality of life, response to medical treatment, and survival outcomes. Traditional psychiatric pharmacologic treatments are slow to work and often inadequate at reducing symptoms. There is an urgent need for fast and effective treatment options that improve mental health outcomes for patients facing life-threatening illnesses, highlighting the importance of exploring innovative approaches to mental health care in oncology settings. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project examined via retrospective analysis how ketamine-assisted …

Optimizing Patient Outcomes: The Essential Role Of A Consolidated Nutrition Platform, Hugo Lam

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background and Purpose: Current research identifies a gap in the data regarding electronic health records (EHRs), signage, and digital tools to improve outcomes for patients on modified diets, as well as a lack of government reports on clinically related events (Hoggle et al., 2006; Limketkai et al., 2021; Prgomet et al., 2019). EHRs can facilitate data sharing, but often overlook clinical realities and user needs, which leads to inefficiencies in nutritional care. This quality improvement project examines the experiences of bedside providers in acute trauma settings to inform evidence-based recommendations for enhancing nutritional care practices and system design.

Methods: This …

Nurse Initiated Objective Iv Screening Tool: Ea-Diva Application In The Emergency Department, Benjamin C. Miller

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

No abstract provided.

Regulation & Resilience: A Toolkit To Promote Pediatric Mental Health Within An Outpatient Setting, Aysia Crumbie

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

The purpose of this doctoral ALE/Capstone project was to develop a pediatric mental health toolkit for clinicians to utilize at my site, the Georgetown Pediatric Therapy Center in Georgetown, Kentucky. The primary ACOTE areas of focus were education, advocacy, and program development. I collaborated with the two occupational therapists at the site to achieve the goals of 1) developing a pediatric mental health toolkit grounded in evidence, clinical use, and clinician feedback, 2) supporting clinician consistency and confidence when addressing mental health in sessions, and 3) providing accessible caregiver resources to support strategy carryover at home. A needs assessment was …

Improving Dementia Care Practices In The Swing Bed Program, Grace Donahue

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

For my capstone/ALE, I partnered with the therapy team at CHI St. Joseph Berea’s Swing Bed Program to improve communication and care strategies for patients with dementia or cognitive impairments. My project focused on ACOTE areas of program development, education, and advocacy in an acute care setting. The goal was to implement dementia-friendly communication practices and promote meaningful engagement through activity toolboxes.The Swing Bed Program supports patients recovering from acute hospital stays who are not yet ready to return home. During my time there, I observed a lack of structured, personalized activities for patients, despite regulatory expectations for enrichment. My …

Beyond The Clinic: Developing An Animal-Assisted Therapy Program For School-Based Ot, Shelby R. Frazier

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project was created to equip Pineville Independent Schools, located in rural Kentucky, with the tools and strategies needed to implement and sustain an Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) program within their occupational therapy services. Although the district uniquely employs both a licensed occupational therapist and a veterinarian who teaches animal care and vocational skills to students, neither professional had experience with AAT or knowledge of its potential integration within the school system. This revealed a significant gap and an opportunity for innovative program development in a rural educational setting. The primary goals were to design a school-based AAT framework that …

Fostering Collaboration And Synergy: Utilizing The Lorna Model Of Problem Solving To Assist New Leaders With Pre-Existing Teams, Kennetia A. Brooks

Doctor of Leadership Projects

New leaders can face several challenges that hinder their ability to succeed. Ranking high on these challenges is the absence of developed skills to manage others, make strategic decisions, and navigate new workplace cultures. Another hurdle can be an inability to build effective, synergetic teams. Specific leadership training is necessary to establish collaboration and success amongst team members. Through literature research and leadership experiences, one training has been developed and used to equip new leaders for these tasks. The LORNA Model is a prescriptive approach to problem-solving that intentionally navigates through workplace relationships and incorporates elements of team members’ recognition, …

A Nurse-Driven Protocol To Increase Music Therapy Referrals To Manage Patient Pain And Anxiety In The Medicine Intensive Care Unit, Ashley Fox

DNP Projects

Background: Critically ill patients often suffer from pain and anxiety. Music therapy is a safe and effective treatment option. However, most nurses never receive education or training on it, resulting in a lack of awareness of its value and its actual usage in care.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to increase the number of music therapy referrals to manage pain and anxiety in eligible medicine intensive care unit (MICU) patients via a music therapy protocol that increased nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to the use of music as an alternative treatment option for pain and anxiety in …