Digital Commons Network^™

Strategies To Reduce Staff Shortages In A Freestanding Dialysis Clinic In Rural Georgia, Shayla Daniell Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Vacancy rates are a current problem in a freestanding outpatient dialysis clinic in rural communities. From an administrative perspective, vacancy rates increase costs associated with recruitment, onboarding, training, overtime and compromise the quality and safety of patient care. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify evidence-based strategies to decrease vacancy rates in rural Georgia dialysis clinics. Donabedian’s framework of structure, process, and outcome was used for this integrative review. The integrative review question explored evidence-based strategies that can decrease vacancy rates in dialysis clinics in rural Georgia. Out of 50 articles reviewed using the John Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice …

Development Of A Clinical Practice Guideline For Hpv Vaccination In Low-Income Adolescents Using The Agree Ii Framework, Jariatu Fatu Bundu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is an effective strategy for preventing HPV-related cancers; however, vaccination initiation and series completion remain suboptimal among adolescents, particularly those from low-income and underserved populations. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project addressed an evidence-to-practice gap involving the absence of a standardized clinical practice guideline (CPG) for HPV vaccination in a family practice setting serving predominantly low-income adolescents. The purpose of the project was to develop and validate an evidence-based CPG to standardize provider recommendations and support improvement in HPV vaccination initiation and series completion. Evidence was appraised and synthesized using the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model, …

The Byu Advocate, J. Reuben Clark Law School

The BYU Advocate (& Annual Reports)

"Experiential learning opportunities in law school have expanded dramatically, but pressure remains for students to graduate ready to practice. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education and legal practice, generating questions about how and what to teach and raising uncertainties about future employment. At the same time, big firms are interviewing students in their first semester and extending offers before or shortly after first-semester grades are out."

– David H. Moore

The Impact Of Scar Wires On Dose Distribution Of Electron Fields, Ahmad Nour

Masters Projects

Purpose: This phantom study looked at whether changing the Hounsfield unit (HU) value for radiopaque scar wires in Eclipse changed the calculated electron dose distribution. Methods and Materials: Radiopaque wires were placed in the same abdominal area on an anthropomorphic phantom. The wires were set up in a circle. The CT images were brought into Eclipse, the wires were contoured, and the planning target volume was made 1 cm inside the circle of wire. For every wire size and electron energy, two matching plans were made: one plan with no density override and one plan with a density override applied …

Cone Vs. Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (Vmat) Stereotactic Radiosurgery (Srs) Planning For Multiple (7) Brain Targets: Dosimetric Tradeoffs And Clinical Decision Guidance, Juan Garcia

Masters Projects

Purpose: This study compared cone-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and single-isocenter volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for multiple (7) intracranial targets to evaluate differences in target coverage, conformality, dose falloff, and normal brain exposure.

Methods: A phantom-based study was performed using progressively increasing configurations of 10-mm spherical targets, from one to seven targets. Cone-based SRS and VMAT plans were evaluated using D99, CI100, CI50, gradient index (GI), maximum dose, V12Gy, and V5Gy.

Results: Both planning techniques achieved similar target coverage. Cone based SRS produced a steeper dose gradient, with a mean GI of 2.99 compared with 4.66 for VMAT ( …

Documents From The August 12, 2026 Meeting Of The University Of Montana Staff Senate, University Of Montana--Missoula. Staff Senate

University of Montana Staff Senate Meeting Minutes

Agenda and minutes from the University of Montana Staff Senate August 12, 2026 Meeting. Highlights include a guest presentation from Internal Communications and Employee Engagement as well as senator reconfirmations.

System Leadership For Sdg-Aligned Research Security In Ireland, Seán Lacey

Publications

What is new?

Research security has rapidly emerged as a priority in research governance across Europe and internationally. However, discussions frequently frame research security primarily in terms of national security or geopolitical risk, with limited attention to how security measures intersect with sustainable development objectives. This paper addresses this gap by exploring the relationship between research security and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using the emerging Irish research security framework as an illustrative context. It argues that research security and sustainable development are not inherently in conflict; however, aligning them requires coordinated system leadership to ensure that security measures protect …

Syllabus: Political Philosophy (Philo 24600 / Polsc 20401), Georgie Malone

Open Educational Resources

This syllabus was created for Political Philosophy (PHILO 24600) (POLSC 20401) at Hunter College. It is an intermediate/advanced introduction to key texts in the history of political philosophy. Course description: In this course, we will journey through the major contributions of those thinkers that have shaped the field we call political philosophy. We will begin with Plato and Aristotle, followed by the social contract theorists of the early modern period—Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau—before turning to the critical perspectives of Fanon and Marx. We will then turn to the vastly influential work of 20th century liberal philosopher John Rawls and …

Ultrasound-Guided Renal Artery Administration Of Angiopoietin-1 Rna Therapy Slows The Progression Of Preclinical Wt1 Glomerular Disease, Maria Kolatsi-Joannou, William J Mason, Lauren G Russell, Shunping Han, Yanis Harfouche, Daniyal J Jafree, Emily A E Moore, Hanna Gautier, Christina Katsiva, Reem Al-Saadi, Kathy Pritchard-Jones, Daniel J Stuckey, Andrew V Benest, David O Bates, Paul J Winyard, Aoife M Waters, Luigi Gnudi, Stephen L Hart, Tammy L Kalber, David A Long

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mutations in the transcription factor gene Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) are one of the leading causes of congenital glomerular disease, characterized by severe urinary protein loss and glomerular scarring. No disease-modifying therapies exist for WT1 glomerulopathies, and affected children rely on dialysis or kidney transplantation. We evaluated a previously uncharacterized treatment in a mouse model with an orthologous human mutation in Wt1 (Wt1+/R394W) that replicates the pathology of WT1 glomerulopathy. Lipid nanocomplexes were engineered to target integrin αvβ3 for efficient delivery of mRNA to primary podocytes and glomerular endothelial cells in vitro. A minimally …

Large-Scale Admixture Mapping In The All Of Us Research Program Improves The Characterization Of Cross-Population Phenotypic Differences, Ying Wang, Georgia Mies, Alan J Aw, Sinead Cullina, Penn Medicine Biobank, Eimear Kenny, Iain Mathieson, Elizabeth G Atkinson, Alicia R Martin, Bogdan Pasaniuc

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Admixed individuals have been understudied in medical research largely due to their complex genetic ancestries. However, the consideration of admixture can identify ancestry-enriched genetic associations, delineating genetic underpinnings of cross-population phenotypic variation. Here, we performed admixture mapping in individuals with inferred admixture from African and European populations (N = 48,921). Across 22 traits, we identified 71 ancestry-trait associations, including loci where ancestral haplotypes explained phenotypic variation yet were missed by single-variant association testing due to their stricter multiple testing burden. One such locus where inferred local AFR ancestries are associated with increased hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was 12q14.3, highlighting its potential …

Midweek Memo, Georgia Southern University

Midweek Memo

• Applaud 
• Remember 
• Share 
• Experience 
• Around the Nest

Brandon Timmons V. Bohinski

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Breaking The Chain Or Passing The Torch? Caregiver Type, Perceived Caregiving, And Extent Of Aggression In Emerging Adult Relationships, Amara Mason

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how caregiver type (alternate caregiving versus biological parent caregiving), childhood adversity, and parenting styles relate to intimate partner violence (IPV) and attachment outcomes. Guided by Intergenerational Transmission of Violence Theory, Social Learning Theory, and Attachment Theory, the study explored whether alternate caregiving buffered or intensified the effects of early adversity on later relational functioning. College students aged 18–25 from a southern U.S. university completed anonymous self-report measures assessing caregiving experiences, childhood trauma, attachment, and IPV. Measures included the Conflict Tactics Scale–Revised (CTS2), Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale (ACEs), and Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that …

Estimating Leaf Physiological Traits In Eastern Cottonwood And Its Hybrids By Integrating Uav Hyperspectral Images With Statistical And Machine Learning Approaches, Bipin Paudel

Theses and Dissertations

Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and its hybrids are high-yield, fast-growing short-rotation woody crops with strong potential in bioenergy and industrial applications. Given their genetic diversity, these species require non-invasive assessment of photosynthetic, leaf biochemical, and water-use efficiency traits. These traits reflect plant physiological status, carbon cycling, productivity, as well as nutrient cycling, and hyperspectral remote sensing provides high-resolution spectral information essential for high-throughput phenotyping. Therefore, this study develops a robust framework to predict physiological traits using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-acquired canopy-level hyperspectral reflectance (~400 nm - 1000 nm, with 2.2 nm band spacing) by integrating linear and non-linear machine learning …

Exploring The Viability Of Variable-Design Policy Approach To Addressing Teacher Retention In Kentucky, Donald R. Smallwood

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher attrition among early- and mid-career educators threatens the stability of Kentucky's public school workforce, yet the Commonwealth has largely relied on isolated, single-lever retention strategies. This desk-based capstone evaluated the viability of a coordinated, multiple variable policy framework for improving teacher retention in Kentucky. The study identified, appraised, and synthesized evidence, including peer-reviewed studies, state and national policy reports, legislative documents, and Kentucky-specific working-conditions data. Three research questions guided the study, addressing the evidence for coordinated multiple-variable retention approaches, the evidence for each individual policy lever, and the challenges and opportunities within Kentucky's current retention landscape. Content and thematic …

Decentralized And Privacy-Preserving Intelligent Systems Via Federated Learning For Healthcare Monitoring And Financial Security, George Anim

Theses and Dissertations

The rapid expansion of data-driven methodologies in healthcare and finance is increasingly constrained by ethical, regulatory, and security requirements that limit centralized data sharing. Sensitive information—including electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings and inter-institutional financial transaction logs—remains siloed, reducing opportunities for collaborative model development and limiting generalizability across heterogeneous environments. In healthcare, epileptic seizure prediction is challenged by inter-patient variability, scarce and non-IID EEG data distributions, and the need for real-time inference on resource-constrained wearable devices. In finance, anti-money laundering (AML) detection is complicated by decentralized and dynamically evolving transaction networks, temporal-structural dependencies, limited labeled data, and information-sharing restrictions. This dissertation proposes a …

Texas Community College Mid-Level Academic Leaders’ Perceptions About Professional Development, Jeanette Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined mid-level community college administrators’ perceptions of professional development. Despite the extensive educational literature focused on higher education, limited research has explored mid-level administrators employed at community colleges. The purpose of this study was to understand how Texas community college mid-level academic administrators perceive the professional development opportunities available for their positions. A quantitative, non-experimental approach was used, involving mid-level academic administrators employed at public two-year colleges in Texas. Data were collected using a virtual survey and analyzed using a one-factor ANOVA, and two separate two-factor ANOVAs. The results indicated that the size of the community college employer …

Designing A Measure Of County-Level Food Access, Logan Mattingly

Theses and Dissertations

Equitable access to food is a central component of food security and a key determinant of health. Yet current approaches to food access measurement remain fragmented and limited. This study introduces the first of its kind data driven, multidimensional, county-level measure of food access in the United States. Drawing on publicly available data, I employ a factor analysis pipeline to construct a suite of latent variable estimates that represent pillars of food access. This model-based approach allows synthesis of these diverse measures into the resulting Food Access Index (FAI), while explicitly accounting for measurement error and addressing missing data. Resulting …

A Vital Step Toward Improving Student Success: A Comparative Examination Of Attendance Policies Across Urban, Rural, And Suburban School Districts In Mississippi, Marino Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic absenteeism is a growing challenge for schools nationwide, with Mississippi districts experiencing significantly higher rates after the pandemic. This capstone examined how selected rural, suburban, and urban school districts in Mississippi develop and implement attendance policies and how well these policies align with the Mississippi Compulsory Attendance Law, Mississippi Code Annotated § 37-13-91, and state board regulations. The study aimed to assess the extent to which district attendance policies reflect Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Systems Theory, considering the multiple layers that influence student attendance. Directed by this theoretical framework, the study addressed three research questions: (1) How do selected districts design …

Examining The Effects Of Oral Melatonin Supplementation On Bull Reproductive Physiology, Megan M. Patterson

Theses and Dissertations

Bull subfertility is a prevalent issue with significant consequences for cattle production. Unfortunately, few management interventions exist to alleviate bull subfertility and improve bull reproductive efficiency. Melatonin, a key regulator of circadian rhythms and seasonal reproduction, improves reproduction in non-seasonally breeding mammals, yet the benefits of oral supplementation in the bull remain underexplored. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the extent to which melatonin supplementation could serve as a management intervention to improve bull reproductive efficiency. Yearling Angus bulls (n = 21) were utilized to examine the effects of 90 days of oral melatonin supplementation on sperm quality, blood plasma …

Scale Dependent Microbial Assembly In A Dendritic River Network, Tyler M. Redman

Theses and Dissertations

River networks organize ecological communities across spatial scales, but whether bacterial communities follow these patterns remains poorly understood. This thesis examined microbial community assembly across three nested spatial scales in a dendritic watershed in east-central Mississippi (USA), asking whether dispersal or environmental selection governs community composition at each scale. At the watershed scale, bacterial diversity increased from headwaters to the river mainstem, consistent with longitudinal diversity accumulation predicted by the River Continuum Concept. At the confluence scale, the composition of post-confluence communities can be predicted as simple mixtures of their tributary inputs, supporting that conservative mixing dominates when unique communities …

Microcystin-Lr And Anatoxin-A Effect On Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) Immune Cell Function And Susceptibility To Microbial Pathogens (Aeromonas Hydrophila And Edwardsiella Piscicida), Treva Billyard

Theses and Dissertations

Harmful algal blooms are increasing in frequency worldwide, resulting in greater exposure of aquatic organisms to cyanobacterial toxins that threaten fish health and freshwater ecosystems. Although microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and anatoxin-a are well known for their hepatotoxic and neurotoxic effects, respectively, their broader impacts on immune function, cellular metabolism, and host-pathogen interactions remain poorly understood. The objective of this dissertation was to investigate the immunotoxic, metabolic, and molecular effects of MC-LR and anatoxin-a in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) while evaluating the influence of MC-LR on the growth of important bacterial fish pathogens. Channel catfish were exposed to MC-LR or anatoxin-a, and …

Staffing Reductions, Visitor Sentiment, And Recreation Demand In U.S. National Parks, Rebekkah Adicoff

Theses and Dissertations

Staffing changes in U.S. national parks have the potential to influence both visitor experience and recreation demand. This study examines how an abrupt system-wide staffing reduction affected visitor sentiment and visitation across the National Park System, while accounting for differences in park-level risk exposure. Using the February 2025 staffing reduction as a quasi-natural experiment, the analysis combines monthly park-level visitation data with TripAdvisor visitor reviews from January 2024 to August 2025. Sentiment scores derived from reviews measure perceived experience quality, while recreation demand is modeled using fixed-effects count models (Poisson and negative binomial) that control for seasonality and park characteristics. …

Dibh Liver Sbrt: Comparative Analysis Of Vmat 6fff And 10fff For Safety And Efficiency, Justen Hudson

Masters Projects

Purpose:

To evaluate the dosimetric performance and delivery efficiency of 6MV flattening filter free (6FFF) and 10MV flattening filter free (10FFF) VMAT beam energies for deep inspiration breath- hold (DIBH) liver stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), with emphasis on treatment time, breath-hold demands, and organ at risk (OAR) sparing.

Methods:

Ten previously treated DIBH liver SBRT patients were retrospectively replanned using standardized VMAT geometry, identical optimization objectives, and consistent contouring. Each patient received paired 6FFF and 10FFF plans generated in Eclipse using AcurosXB. Dosimetric endpoints included target coverage, conformity index (CI), gradient index (GI), and OAR dose metrics based on …

Dosimetric Comparison Between Geometric Centroid And Minimax Isocenter Placement In Single Isocenter Multitarget Stereotactic Radiosurgery Plans In Hyperarc, Matthew Gloudeman

Masters Projects

Single-isocenter multi-target (SIMT) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) utilizing Varian HyperArc streamlines clinical workflows but introduces geometric sensitivity for distant outlier lesions when rotational and setup uncertainties are taken into account. The default isocenter location in the HyperArc workspace is the geometric centroid, which is inherently biased toward clusters of lesions. This study evaluates the dosimetric plan quality of an alternative minimax isocenter strategy, which minimizes the maximum lesion-to-isocenter distance, shortening the rotational lever arm to enhance mechanical robustness. Two fractionated SRS (fSRS) plans were generated for ten patients with 3-5 brain metastases using identical beam configurations: one using HyperArc’s default geometric …

Public Defenders’ Challenges Representing Erroneous Prosecution Cases In The Black Community, Kayla Kristine Stephens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public defenders in a southern state continue to face significant challenges when representing Black individuals in the criminal justice system, particularly in cases involving erroneous prosecution. These challenges are intensified by high caseloads, limited funding, and systemic inequities, which can be stressors affecting the prosecutors wellbeing and hinder the provision of adequate legal representation. Public defenders, appointed to represent indigent defendants, frequently navigate complex legal and social circumstances that intersect with racial disparities in the justice system. For this qualitative study the research question was, how do public defenders perceive and manage any stresses representing erroneous prosecution cases in the …

Targeted Staff Education To Improve Bipolar Disorder Screening Through Implementation Of The Rapid Mood Screener, Emmanuel Alfred

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project addressed the persistent challenge of bipolar disorder misdiagnosis in an outpatient mental health clinic. Misdiagnosis mostly occurs when bipolar disorder is mistaken for major depressive disorder, resulting in delays in treatment, inappropriate medication administration, worsening symptoms, and poorer patient outcomes. The Rapid Mood Screener (RMS) is a validated six-item screening tool that was developed to improve the identification of bipolar disorder and support diagnostic accuracy. The practice-focused question was, Among outpatient mental health clinicians and nursing staff, will an educational intervention on the use of the RMS improve their knowledge and self-efficacy compared to pre-education levels over a …

Recent Failures And Lessons In Self-Regulating Professions In Canada From A Historical Organization Perspective, Richard James Dixon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Canadian self-regulating professions govern the conduct of professionals through legislatively mandated organizations, yet the conditions under which their management fails, and self-regulatory authority is lost, remain poorly understood. Governing boards and provincial governments need to understand this concern as a leading indicator of governance failure, erosion of public confidence, and conditions that may precipitate the loss of self-regulatory authority. The purpose of this descriptive, historical, multiple-case study was to explore how recent management failures in three Canadian self-regulating professional organizations can guide decision-makers in choosing sustainable management practices and governance models. Freidson's professionalism framework, neo-institutional theory, and strategic management grounded …

How Racial Bias And Job-Related Stressors Impact The Prospect Of Police Misconduct, Jean Emmanuel Brutus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police use of excessive force is an enduring challenge for criminal justice institutions and the public, particularly, affecting minority communities. This has contributed to diminished public confidence in U.S. policing institutions. Prior empirical studies among law enforcement officers, indicate that Black minorities have been discriminated by police officers. Stress research links social stress to mental health and identifies police brutality as an anticipatory stressor for minority groups. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify factors, including job-related stressors, and racial bias, that contribute to officers using excessive force, so to fill the gap in research, and develop …

Effective Leadership Strategies To Recruit And Retain A Multigenerational Workforce, Nnamdi Cajetan Onwuzulike

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of effective leadership strategies for recruiting and retaining a multigenerational workforce poses a significant challenge for organizational leaders. Failure to address the diverse needs and expectations of employees across generations can reduce employee retention, hinder organizational effectiveness, and increase operational costs. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the qualitative pragmatic inquiry identified and explored effective leadership strategies used by some organizational leaders to recruit and retain a multigenerational workforce. Participants were six organizational leaders from large organizations in the United States with experience leading multigenerational workforces. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and secondary data from publicly available sources …