Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Denitrification In Wetland Nitrogen Cycling And Biostimulant-Based Agricultural Strategies To Improve Ecosystem Health, Alexander Bechtel

Theses

The overuse of fertilizers has doubled the amount of reactive nitrogen in the environment. Agricultural runoff then carries these pollutants into the waterways eventually causing severe ecological damage such as the Gulf of Mexico dead zone. Nitrogen plays an important role in all life on this planet, here we describe two complementary projects that investigate ways to mitigate nitrogen pollution. The first project investigates denitrification rates in soil after the Len Small Levee breached in 2016 which reconnected the Dogtooth Bend Floodplain with the Mississippi briefly. The denitrification process that began in the hydrologically activated soils was hypothesized to be …

Relationship Between Semi-Aquatic Mammal Occupancy And Particulate Carbon, Nitrogen, And Phosphorus Dynamics In Freshwater Ecosystems, Madison H. Stokoski

Theses

Semi-aquatic mammals such as beavers (Castor canadensis) and muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) can influence carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) dynamics in freshwater systems. While the effect of beavers, in particular, are typically attributed to their dam and lodge building behaviors, these animals do not always build these structures. It’s possible that other, non-damming behaviors (e.g. foraging and burrowing) may influence the availability of nutrients as well. To assess this possibility, we surveyed 54 lentic and lotic waterbodies across Southern Illinois and investigated the possibility that beaver and muskrat occupancy improved our ability to explain variation in nutrient availability across …

The Kangaroo Care Project: Implementation Of Skin-To-Skin (Sts) In Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Bianca Wong, Katherine Do, Martha Calero, Lydia Nambala

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

Background: Skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care or kangaroo mother care, is an intervention typically done after birth to promote physiologic stability, bonding, and breastfeeding.

Aim: The Kangaroo Care project aimed to increase the incidence of skin-to-skin contact in the neonatal intensive care unit at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento.

Methods: A pre-survey was conducted to assess staff comfort with skin to skin. Interventions to increase skin-to-skin rates included staff e-learning, unplanned extubation mock codes, nurse champions, and a policy change to Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento’s handbook.

Results: TBD. Preliminary results indicated use of STS in the NICU and post-results …

Staying Ahead Of The Pressure: A Multimodal Intensive Care Unit Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injury Quality Improvement Project At Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, Mijung Lim, Daniela Tobler, Raquel Youkhana

ELMSN E-Portfolio. A collection of Scholarly and Creative Works

Background: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are a major quality and safety concern, particularly in the intensive care units (ICUs) where critically ill and immobile patients face elevated risk. At Sutter Medical Center Sacramento (SMCS), nine confirmed HAPIs and two under investigation were reported within the medical ICU, cardiac ICU, and neurosurgical ICU by May 2025, exceeding the hospital’s target and prompting a system-wide quality improvement initiative.

Aim: The aim of this project was to: (a) reduce ICU-acquired HAPIs to fewer than four cases per quarter by December 2025 and (b) increase nursing compliance with early and ongoing prevention strategies, including …

The Development Of Tools For The Production Of Fusarium Oxysporum Race 4 Resistant Cotton Varieties, Thomas Rylands

All Theses

Fusarium oxysporum race 4 (FOV4) is a fungal pathogen that infects cotton (Gossypium spp.) plants, resulting in fusarium wilt (FW) disease that causes significant wilting, yield loss, and eventually death. Since cotton is such an important crop globally, with tens of millions of bales of fiber produced and sold worldwide each year, it is critical to develop effective strategies to combat this pathogen. This research aims to achieve that goal through two projects: (i) develop an efficient co-culture system to test fungal treatments in vitro, and (ii) develop a computer vision pipeline to more accurately assess plant resistance …

Assessing Post-Pandemic Engagement In The Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) In Northeast Tennessee, Christen Minnick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since 1974, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has provided healthy food resources, nutrition education, and provider referrals for families at risk for poor nutrition. Public health professionals have consistently presented evidence that WIC engagement reduces premature births and infant mortality, improves child health and development, and increases specialized care access for participants. While average monthly participation in WIC has increased since the program’s inception, trends indicate that only around half of eligible families have consistently engaged with the program since 2011. Research has linked declining WIC participation to administrative burden, citing learning, psychological, compliance, …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Attendance, Kimberly Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of educators with respect to student enrollment in voluntary pre-kindergarten classes provided through the Tennessee Department of Education in public schools. The data collection strategy used to gain teacher perspectives was through conducting one-on-one interviews with 15 educators in three Tennessee school districts. To qualify for the study, teachers must have been teaching in kindergarten classrooms that receive students who had previously been enrolled in the school’s pre-kindergarten program. Data collection and analysis were based on the Grounded Theory approach which uses data that is systematically gained and analyzed to …

Isolation, Chemical Characterization, And In-Vitro Cytotoxic Evaluation Of Novel Polar Flavonoids From Chromolaena Leivensis, Matthew Tohatsu Tetteh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on isolation, chemical characterization, and in-vitro cytotoxic evaluation of novel polar flavonoids from chromolaena leivensis. A 95% ethanolic extract of c. leivensis shipped by Prof. Ruben Torrenegra from University of Applied and Environmental Sciences, Bogota, Colombia, was dissolved in 1:1 methanol/chloroform mixture and its purity analyzed by TLC. The sample was eluted with toluene/methanol in an increasing order of polarity on silica gel, resulting in 49 fractions labelled CLA1 to CLA49. Among these fractions, CLA10 (1) and CLA19 (2) obtained yellow and white crystals. They were analyzed by GCMS, IR, and …

Prevalence Of Respiratory Distress Syndrome Among Late Preterm Infants Admitted To A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit In Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study, Abdulmohsen K. Alswayed, Kamal Ali, Amjad O. Alharbi, Ghadah K. Alnami, Haifa M. Bindokhi

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: The objective of this research was to identify how common Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is and explore related factors in late preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted over 1 year (2021). Infants with a gestational age of 34 to 36 weeks were selected using a consecutive, non-probability sampling method. Clinical, neonatal, and maternal factors were analyzed to assess their impact on the prevalence of RDS in this gestational age group. Results: The majority of infants in the …

Real-World Evidence Of Nusinersen Treatment For Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia: Initial Insights From The Saudi National Spinal Muscular Atrophy Program, Ahmed H. Al-Jedai, Hajer Yousef Almudaiheem, Tareef Y. Alaama, Fahad Abdo Bashiri, Mohammed Abdelrahman Almuhaizae, Fouad Abdullah Alghamdi, Aljohara A. Alsakran, Fahad Zuriqan Ibrahim

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To assess the clinical and functional outcomes of 110 patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) program who received nusinersen treatment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: Motor assessments were performed using the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia infant test of neuromuscular disorder (CHOP-INTEND) and Hammersmith infant neurological examination (HINE) for type 1 SMA, the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale–Expanded (HFMSE) for types 2 and 3 SMA; the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) for ambulant type 3 SMA, and the revised upper limb module (RULM) for types 2 and 3 SMA. Results: Data included all SMA types (type 1, 2.72%; …

Correlation Of Clinical And Laboratory Findings Of Dehydration With Ultrasonographic Measurements, Yusuf Yilmazturk, Abdullah Sadik Girisgin, Mustafa Alpaslan, Necmi Baykan

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To assess bedside ultrasonographic readings in conjunction with laboratory and clinical results, as well as to look into the efficacy of these measurements while evaluating patients who are being monitored for dehydration and managing their therapy. Methods: We assessed 300 patients, 150 of whom were in the case group and 150 in the control group. Laboratory results throughout therapy, clinical dehydration, vital signs, and bedside ultrasonography results were all documented. A vena cava inferior collapsibility index of 50% or higher, dry oral mucosa, decreased skin turgor, and a fresh onset of altered consciousness were all considered clinical indicators …

Pet Ownership And Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Middle-Aged Adults, Kristi Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pet ownership continues to be part of modern society in the United States. Researchers have explored pet ownership’s impact on chronic diseases and aging populations, but research on health-related quality of life is limited. Grounded in the socioecological model, this quantitative study analyzed data from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 10,348) to investigate the impact of pet ownership on health-related quality of life among low-income adults aged 30-50 years. Chi-square tests were performed to analyze the associations between age, income, gender, and race with three health-related quality of life metrics. Results showed no statistically significant …

A Study On The Influence Of Entity Internet Hospital Platforms And Health Literacy Facilitation On Postoperative Patients’ Platform Usage, Hong Ye

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

Entity Internet Hospital (EIH) is emerging online medical service platforms in China. Currently, while EIHs in China are developing rapidly, their usage rates remain low. However, postoperative patients have substantial follow-up consultation needs. Consequently, incentivizing postoperative patients to use EIH from the demand side is a highly challenging proposition in the current era. Grounded in Technology Acceptance Model and Health Belief Model, this study examined the impacts of platform and health literacy facilitation on platform usage (including intention and frequency) among 631 postoperative patients with cardiovascular disease from four medical institutions in Wuhan, and explored the moderating role of literacy …

Sport Participation, Academic Engagement, And Well-Being Among Adolescents Impacted By Parental Incarceration, Sarah Kaja, Amy L. Gower Ph.D., Frederique Corcoran, Ingie Osman, Elizabeth Shaver, Samantha J. Adler, Rebecca Shlafer

Journal of Youth Development

Millions of American adolescents have experienced the developmental consequences associated with parental incarceration. Positive youth development activities, including sports team participation, could buffer some of the risks of parental incarceration. Research on sports involvement among adolescents impacted by parental incarceration is scant and suggests their participation may be limited, though a significant body of research among adolescents in general demonstrates sports team participation is associated with better outcomes. We addressed important gaps in research by 1) estimating the prevalence of sports team participation among adolescents impacted by parental incarceration, 2) examining whether sports team participation differed by socioeconomic status in …

High-School-Age Youth Serving As “Emotion Coaches” For Young Children In The Early Grades: A Feasibility Study Of A Cross-Age Approach To Social And Emotional Learning, Amanda Moreno, Maria Kontoudakis, Whitney Davis-Mcintosh, Anita Evans, Olivia Bobbitt

Journal of Youth Development

While the benefits of cross-age programming within youth have been understood for decades, such programs are rarely employed with curricula specific to social and emotional learning (SEL) or with a wide age range between the two groups of youth. This article describes the findings of a pilot implementation and feasibility study of the Emotion Coaches program, which sought to explore whether the conceptual and pragmatic challenges involved in bringing early childhood students (i.e., preschool to second grade) together with adolescent teachers delivering an SEL curriculum could be overcome. Findings from the pilot evaluation suggested that middle-school-age students are likely too …

Proceedings Of The 25th International Symposium On Adapted Physical Activity, Catherine Carty, Gerard Masdeu Yelamos

Publications

This volume presents the Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA 2025), hosted by Munster Technological University under the Patronage of UNESCO. It is intended as a permanent scholarly record of the symposium, its themes, and its contributions across research, practice, policy, culture, and inclusion in line with CoARA principles.

A Study On Deepsea Fish Detection Using Convolutional Neural Networks, Poojitha Priyadarshini Madari

Master's Theses

This study investigates automated deep-learning methodologies for two primary tasks, firstly fish and its habitat classification and deep-sea fish detection using the DeepFish dataset. A pretrained ResNet-50 model attained a validation accuracy of 82.8% for multi-class habitat classification, demonstrating robust performance in most habitats based on 6,517 images, although exhibiting lower recall for visually similar or underrepresented classes. A binary ResNet-50 classifier achieved 99.8% accuracy in distinguishing fish from. no-fish images using approximately 40,000 images. The YOLOv5s model, trained on 4,505 images containing 15,463 bounding-box annotations, achieved a mean average precision ([email protected]) of 98.2% All models were trained on the …

Life History And Distribution Of Two Species Of Cownose Ray, Rhinoptera Bonasus And Rhinoptera Brasiliensis, In Mississippi Coastal Waters, Anna Millender

Master's Theses

Historically, the American Cownose Ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) was considered the only rhinopterid residing in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM); however, recent studies have confirmed the presence of the Brazilian Cownose Ray (Rhinoptera brasiliensis) throughout this region. The current study investigated the life history and distribution of both species within Mississippi waters, an area that previously represented a data gap for both species. From April 2016 – July 2025, 193 R. bonasus and 94 R. brasiliensis were analyzed to describe the reproductive biology. Reproductive timing, mating, gestation length, and parturition were similar among species. Although more …

Hyaluronic Acid Loaded With Aloe Vera-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: A New Bioactive Approach For Fibrotic Scarring, Maria Camila Ceballos Santa

Theses

Disruptions in wound healing can result in pathological outcomes ranging from chronic nonhealing wounds to excessive fibrotic scarring. Hypertrophic scars and keloids are hallmarks of this dysregulation, characterized by abnormal collagen deposition, persistent myofibroblast activation, and disorganized extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress play central roles by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage essential macromolecules and sustain pro-inflammatory signaling, while promoting the transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and the excessive production of ECM proteins, such as collagen and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). This fibrotic cascade leads to tissue stiffness, contractility, and disfigurement, affecting the well-being of …

Predicting Athlete Performance Using Machine Learning Models, Mohammad Abdulbasit Mohammad Alabdulla

Theses

The purpose of this research is to develop and assess multi-modal machine learning for robust performance analysis to predict athletic performance and evaluate injury risk. The study employed Data Analytics approach, where composite features, i.e., Training Stress and Recovery Score,were modelled to characterize training-recovery correlations. It had four different regression models (MLR, RFR, SVR, DNN) and four different classification models (Logistic Regression, RFC, SVM, DNN). DNN exhibited an increased degree of effectiveness in the forecasting Synthetic Performance Score (R2 =0.9998). Notably, the Random Forest Classifier (RFC) turned out to be the most valid predictor of injuries risk (F1-Score 0.7736; AUC-ROC …

Oral Health Is Still The World’S #1 Disease. Here’S How We Fix That, Kami Hoss Dds

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

Dr. Kami Hoss explores how outdated products, one-size-fits-all routines and microbiome-disrupting ingredients are failing patients, and why a more personalized, science-driven approach is urgently needed. His message is clear: it’s time to reinvent oral care for the 21st century.

A Bipolar Pythagorean Neutrosophic Algebraic Lattice Model With Hybrid Entropy Weighting For Credit Risk Evaluation For Agricultural Smes Supply Chain Finance, Jianbing Yin

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Predicting Five-Year Comorbid Bipolar Disorder After Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis: A Population-Based Machine Learning Approach, Yen-Shan Yang, Chih-Wei Hsu, Liang-Jen Wang, Kuo-Chuan Hung, Yang-Chieh Brian Chen, Chih-Sung Liang, Mu-Hong Chen

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background

Early detection and accurate prediction of bipolar disorders (BDs) comorbidity in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are clinically critical. This study used machine-learning methods to identify features predictive of subsequent BD among patients initially diagnosed with ADHD.

Methods

We analyzed claims from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (2000–2013) and included patients aged ≥ 12 years with at least two diagnoses of ADHD. Predictor features included demographics (sex, age at ADHD onset), healthcare utilization (psychiatric outpatient visit counts), comorbidities (International Classification of Diseases–coded diagnoses), psychiatric medications (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical–coded prescriptions), and family psychiatric history. All features were extracted …

A Class Of Benzofuranoindoline-Bearing Heptacyclic Fungal Ripps With Anticancer Activities, Qiuyue Nie, Fanglong Zhao, Xuerong Yu, Mithun C Madhusudhanan, Caleb Chang, Siting Li, Sandipan Roy Chowdhury, Bryce Kille, Andy Xu, Rory Sharkey, Chunxiao Sun, Hongzhi Zeng, Shuai Liu, Dishu Zhou, Xin Yu, Kevin Yang, Sandra A C Figueiredo, Maria Zotova, Zichen Hu, Alan Y Du, Dongyin Guan, Rui Tang, Todd Treangen, Jin Wang, Pedro N Leão, Yang Gao, Junjie Chen, Peng Liu, Hans Renata, Xue Gao

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a promising source of new pharmaceuticals, yet the therapeutic potential of fungal RiPPs remains largely underexplored. Here, we report asperigimycins as a distinct class of fungal RiPPs, featuring a unique heptacyclic scaffold consisting of a benzofuranoindoline core and three additional macrocycles, primarily assembled by six distinct fungi-specific DUF3328 oxidases. Inspired by the enhancement of anticancer activity through the N-terminal pyroglutamate in naturally occurring asperigimycins C and D, we chemically modify the inactive asperigimycin B with a series of lipid substitutions at its N-terminus. A derivative with a C-11 linear fatty …

Intentional Ai: Preserving Skills, Judgment And Humanity

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

Dr. Amisha Singh explores the rapid rise of AI across dentistry, highlighting both its transformative potential and the ethical, cognitive and professional risks that come with overreliance. She emphasizes the need for intentional use, critical thinking and boundaries that preserve core clinical and human skills. Her reflection offers a roadmap for using AI as an amplifier of expertise rather than a replacement for it.

Microbial Communities And Host Plants Of Megachilidae In The Greater Grand Forks Area (Ggfa), Sara Margit Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

Although Megachilidae are important pollinators in the United States, there is still much to learn about the health and functionality of these bees. Megachilids are threatened by competition from non-native pollinators and other environmental factors. The species distribution and composition of the gut microbiome in megachilid bees are not well known for the Greater Grand Forks Area (GGFA). My research seeks to answer the questions: what megachilid species are in the GGFA, where are they, and what symbionts are in their gut microbiomes? I collected and identified solitary bee specimens from North Dakota and Minnesota, dissected their gut contents, and …

Letter From The Editor, Sarah J. Nechuta

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Deficiencies In Non-Emergency Medical Transportation For Aging Rural Residents Of Iosco County, Michigan, Richard L. Douglass, Donald Stansloski, James Mortimer, Sam Purdy, Dale Evilsizer, Scott Rice

Michigan Journal of Public Health

Introduction: The rural aging population in Michigan struggles to access medical care often available only at significant distances due to limited health system resources and provider shortages. Access to routine care is challenged by lack of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). The Iosco County Commission on Aging provides home-delivered meals to eligible county residents. The Rural Health Group investigated the needs of home-delivered meal recipients (aged ≥60 years) for healthcare transportation access. Utilizing data from this investigation, we examined if medical care needs were hindered by problems with transportation in rural Iosco County, Michigan.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey with …

A Community-Based After-School Wellness Camp’S Effect On Healthy Habit Beliefs, Staci A. O'Brien, Ranelle Brew, Madeline Krawciw, Jodie Seese, Tess Scheidel

Michigan Journal of Public Health

Introduction: Children in the United States face declining physical activity, poor nutrition, and increasing mental health concerns. As school time for wellness declines, out-of-school programs offer an alternative to promote healthy habits to students. A community-driven, multi-component after-school wellness camp was developed in response to a small-town needs assessment and implemented at a local elementary school to determine whether it would change participants’ beliefs held towards healthy habits.

Methods: Third to fifth graders at a local elementary school in Lowell, Michigan, participated in an after-school wellness camp for four weeks through education and hands-on activities focused on physical …

Associations Between Food Insecurity And Gpa Among Full-Time California State University Undergraduates During Covid-19: The Impact Of Mental Health, Lindsey Jones

Master's Theses

Food insecurity is a persistent public health concern among college students that has been associated with student’s academic and mental health outcomes. This thesis examined the associations between food insecurity, academic performance (measured by GPA) and mental health (using Kessler 6 psychological distress and self-perceived mental health impacts on academic performance), among full-time undergraduate students within the California State University (CSU) system. Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using data from the Spring 2021 CSU National College Health Assessment, administered across all 23 campuses. Of the 20,167 respondents, 12,899 students were included in the analytical sample. Bivariate analyses were conducted to analyze …