Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of Controlled Intake And Anabolic Implant Timing On Growth Performance And Carcass Traits In Feedlot Ruminants, Justin J. Delver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation was to evaluate how previous plane of nutrition and anabolic implant timing interact to influence growth performance, composition of growth, and the carcass characteristics in ruminants. Three experiments were conducted using cattle and sheep models to determine the metabolic adaptations driving compensatory growth. In experiment 1, yearling beef steers (n = 192) were fed ad libitum for 141 days (ADLIB) or restricted to 92% of ad libitum intake for 56 (RES56) or 86 (RES86) days followed by realimentation. Cumulative dry matter intake (DMI) was reduced in both restricted groups (P = 0.002) with no difference …

Effect Of Female Employment On Household Expenditure In Bangladesh, Fatema Binte Sharif

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Female labor force participation (FLFP) in Bangladesh has increased from 29.2% in 2005–06 to 42.8% in 2022, raising important questions about household resource allocation. This study examines the impact of female employment on household expenditure patterns and challenges the traditional unitary model of decision-making. It focuses on how income controlled by women influences spending across essential and non-essential categories. The analysis uses data from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. This research employs Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SURE) approach to estimate budget shares for food, housing, health, education, clothing, and transport. The study …

Fda After Loper Bright, Erika Lietzan

SMU Law Review

Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overruled the Chevron, U.S.A. v. Natural Resources Defense Council decision from 1984, tells us that a court should determine the meaning of all statutory provisions for itself, rather than deferring to the views of the federal agencies that implement those provisions. But the overruling of Chevron may have less of an impact on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) than conventional wisdom supposes. Most challenges to FDA action do not concern its statutory interpretations. And the agency prevailed in most cases involving statutory interpretation before the Chevron doctrine took hold. After 1984, …

Social Drivers Of Healthcare Access In Pediatric Autoimmune Disease: A U.S. Analysis (2022–2023), Kevin Okifo

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Background: Prior studies in adults have demonstrated that social drivers of health contribute to disparities in disease burden, management, and healthcare access among individuals with autoimmune disease (AD). There is emerging pediatric evidence suggesting similar patterns, but national-level data describing how social and structural factors shape healthcare access for children with AD remain limited. The aim of this study is to identify the sociodemographic and structural factors associated with healthcare access among children and adolescents with AD in the United States. Understanding these factors can support meaningful advances that will optimize patient-centered care and wraparound services for pediatric AD.Study Design: …

Black Widow Optimization Of Hybrid Renewable-Hydrogen Microgrids For Cost-Effective Water Pumping In Off-Grid Systems, Ayodeji Akinsoji Okubanjo, Ignatius Kema Okakwu, Samson Oladayo Ayanlade, Abayomi Temitope Layeni, Etinosa Noma-Osaghae, Christian Chukwuemaka Ike, Olufemi Peter Alao, Ayodeji Joseph Akinremi, Ayo Isaac Oyedeji

Trends in advanced sciences and technology

The intermittent nature of renewable energy resources, together with limited infrastructure in off-grid communities, presents major obstacles to sustainable water supply. To overcome these challenges, this study develops a Black Widow Optimization (BWO)-based framework for the optimal sizing of a hybrid renewable–hydrogen microgrid integrating photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind turbines, battery energy storage, and hydrogen storage for reliable and cost-effective water pumping applications. The optimization goals are to reduce the Levelized Cost of Water (LCOW), Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH), and Net Present Cost (NPC), while system reliability and energy efficiency are quantified using the probability of unmet water demand (PUWD) …

Archaeology Of Yellowstone's Cascade Corner: Findings And Diet Breadth Modeling, William Brent Powell

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

In the summer of 2025, archaeologists from the University of Montana conducted a pedestrian survey through the southwest corner of Yellowstone National Park to take inventory of cultural resources. Over nearly 50 miles of trail survey, the team identified and recorded 17 new archaeological sites, mostly consisting of sparse lithic scatters on the surface. The findings indicate recurrent use of the Bechler area since the Paleoindian period. This thesis aims to provide a comprehensive and detailed report on those findings, followed by an interpretation of the data through the lens of optimal foraging theory and diet breadth modeling. The first …

Training Healthcare Professionals To Deliver A Group-Based Intervention For People Living With Severe Obesity: Lessons From The Progroup Feasibility Trial, Shokraneh Moghadam, Mark Tarrant, Lily Hawkins, Dawn Swancutt, Rod Sheaff, Laura Hollands, Raff Calitri, Jonathan Pinkney, Jenny Lloyd

School of Psychology

Introduction: Group-based programmes are increasingly adopted to support people living with obesity, as they have the potential to reduce staff time and costs and enhance motivation and capability for behaviour change. Group-based programmes could also provide members with opportunities to form meaningful social connections. As such, training should equip healthcare professionals to deliver group interventions successfully and be accessible and feasible for them to complete. This study presents how mixed-methods process evaluation data from the feasibility randomised controlled trial of PROGROUP (a group-based weight management intervention for people living with severe obesity) informed optimisation of the PROGROUP training programme. Methods: …

Virtual Screening Of Phytochemicals From Medicinal Plants As Promising Pde5 Inhibitors Against Erectile Dysfunction, Farouk Boudou, Alaeddine Berkane, Amal Belakredar, Ahcene Keziz, Huda Alsaeedi, Brian A. Murray, Mikhael Bechelany, Ahmed Barhoum

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This study evaluates bioactive phytochemicals from Algerian medicinal plants as potential phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) using an integrated in silico approach. A total of 76 compounds from 48 plant species were screened for drug-likeness using SwissADME. Overall, 72% of the compounds complied with Lipinski's Rule of Five, indicating favorable oral bioavailability, while toxicity prediction identified 29 non-toxic candidates. Molecular docking was validated by redocking the co-crystallized PDE5 ligand (RMSD = 0.264 Å). Ellagic acid (−9.4 kcal·mol⁻¹), rosmarinic acid (−9.2 kcal·mol⁻¹), salvinorin A (−9.2 kcal·mol⁻¹), and catechin (−9.0 kcal·mol …

Association Of Mhc Class Ii Gene Polymorphisms With Gastroenteritis Susceptibility In Shiraz Cats, Taghrid Hamza, Basma M Hendam, Ahmed Ateya, Usama Abou-Ismail

Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to consider the genetic alterations in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene and its effect on Gastroenteritis tolerance/susceptibility in Shiraz cats.

METHODS: Blood samples were collected into tubes containing EDTA as anticoagulant from twenty Shiraz Tom cats (10 healthy and 10 suffering from gastroenteritis) to extract DNA. Then, PCR was performed to amplify a 500-bp fragment of the MHC gene.

RESULT: Genetic analysis via PCR-DNA sequencing identified specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the MHC gene, namely A115C, G399T, and A363G. The A363G variant was linked to increased disease risk (OR=13.44), while …

My Negotiation Chatbot Toby And Pedagogical Governance, Renee Henson

Faculty Publications

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots is exploding. Adolescents increasingly prefer interactions with AI companions over peers. Adults rely on these systems for health planning, therapy, administrative assistance, nutrition guidance, and even simulated “romantic relationships.” Individuals and institutions are adopting AI tools at a pace that far exceeds the development of governance frameworks.

I developed Toby for use in my first-year Lawyering: Problem-Solving and Dispute Resolution (“Lawyering”) course to expose students to the dynamics of negotiating against an opposing counsel with a difficult personality—a type of adversary all too common in legal practice, yet difficult to prepare for. Toby …

The Effect Of Education On Green Growth And Carbon Emissions, 1990–2022, Soojeong Ahn

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The question of whether education promotes economic growth has long been a central topic in development research, and education has been linked to economic outcomes through macro-level pathways such as human capital accumulation, productivity growth, and technological diffusion. More recently, this discussion has expanded beyond economic growth to consider whether education contributes to environmentally sustainable development, particularly green growth. Green growth emphasizes the possibility of sustaining economic expansion while reducing environmental pressure (OECD, 2011; UNEP, 2011), and this study therefore examines how education is related to green growth and carbon emissions at the macro level.

At the macro level, existing …

Can You Hear Me Now?, Daniel Gonzalez, Amanda Moore

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Exercise Rehabilitation And Functional Capacity In An Older Adult Cancer Survivor, Ibsaa G. Benti

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Therapeutic Landscape Of Early Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease Translated Into Everyday Practice For Geriatric Providers., Melissa J Bailey-Taylor, Paula Morrow, James Hendrix, Katherine E. Galluzzi, Golnosh Sharafsaleh

PCOM Scholarly Works

Alzheimer's disease (AD) accounts for 60-80% of all dementia cases. Recent advances in diagnostic biomarkers of early symptomatic AD (ie, mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to AD) and amyloid-targeting therapies (ATTs) have the potential to improve outcomes for patients with AD. Two ATTs (donanemab and lecanemab) are currently approved and available for use in the US. Both ATTs can slow disease progression as well as cognitive and functional decline in patients with early symptomatic AD. Treatment with ATTs is associated with specific safety concerns such as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. Therefore, the benefit versus risk profile needs to be …

Development Of Poly(Lactic Acid)/Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer/Cellulose Composites Using Cellulose Extracted From Hemp Biomass For Plastic Packaging Applications, Supanicha Alapon, Natthanich Thongmee, Wikoramet Teeka, Pattara Somnuake, Sirirat Wacharawichanant

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Poly(lactic acid)/ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM)/cellulose composites using cellulose derived from hemp biomass (CHB) were investigated in this research. Morphology, chemical structures, functional groups, and crystallinity of CHB were characterized, observing a size of 135 ± 32 μm from SEM images with high purity and crystallinity from FT-IR and XRD spectroscopy. The optimized CHB was incorporated at 1 phr, 3 phr, and 5 phr into PLA/EPDM blends at 90/10 w/w. The polymer composites were prepared using an internal mixer, and samples were produced by compression molding for mechanical and thermal testing. The results indicated that the EPDM phase dispersed as droplets in …

Green Synthesis And Optimized Annealing Temperature Effects On Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Mango Peel Extract, Supamas Wirunchit, Natchayaporn Sakulpeeb, Woradech Meedech, Sutee Chutipaijit, Wantana Koetniyom

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study presents the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using mango peel extract (MgE) as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. Phytochemical extraction was performed with deionized water, ethanol, and methanol for 1 h to 5 h, with deionized water at 4 h yielding the highest flavonoid content. Using zinc nitrate as a precursor, 25 mL of MgE successfully facilitated the synthesis of ZnO-NPs (ZnO-25MgE). It was found that annealing temperature at 400℃ for 6 h produced pure ZnO. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy …

Play-Based Learning In Private International Preschools In Cairo: Teachers' Perspectives, Kesha L. Stovall

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how play-based learning is practiced and contextualized in private, international preschools in Cairo, Egypt through the perspective of teachers. It calls upon both historical and contemporary theories of play and play pedagogies ranging from the times of Plato and Al-Farabi to the 21st century with Montessori and Dewey. Using a contemporary theory of play presented by Stuart Lester and Wendy Russell as a guiding framework, it examines how play and play-based learning are implemented, shaped and even challenged in a Cairene context. These contexts include sociocultural factors such as parents’ expectations and aspirations, institutional barriers, teacher development …

Simulation Scenario Builder, Jami Monico

Instructional Materials: Graduate Medical Education

Simulation Scenario Builder is a structured Excel‑based tool designed to guide educators through the complete development of clinical simulation experiences. Organized according to the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice™, this builder ensures consistency, quality, and standardization when creating simulation activities for learners in health professions education. The file includes linked resources, fillable planning sections, and templates for scenario design, prebriefing, debriefing, learner preparation, assessment, fidelity planning, and evaluation.

Selenium And Liver Steatosis And Fibrosis: Opposing Direct And Steatosis-Mediated Associations In A Large Cohort, Neda Rehan, Jubilee Benedict, Rehan Qayyum

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background and Aims

Epidemiologic studies have reported conflicting associations between selenium exposure and liver disease. Whether selenium exerts opposing direct and steatosis-mediated effects on liver fibrosis is unknown. To evaluate the associations of blood selenium with elastography-defined hepatic steatosis and fibrosis and to determine whether hepatic steatosis mediates the relationship between selenium and fibrosis.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of adults aged >= 18 years in NHANES 2017-2023. Hepatic steatosis was assessed using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and fibrosis using liver stiffness measurement (LSM). Blood selenium was categorized into quartiles. Survey-weighted multivariable linear regression and structural equation modeling …

Social Health Programming During Adolescence Is Associated With Increased Serum Levels Of Carotenoids, Vitamin A, And Vitamin E In Young Women: An Observational Cohort Study, Rebecca Drakowski, Matthew Vanormer, Laura Ebers, Katie Mayhan, Anum Akbar, Colman Freel, Taija Hahka, Rebekah Rapoza, Corrine K. Hanson, Keyonna King, Aaryn Mustoe, Melissa K. Thoene, Ann Anderson-Berry

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

Over 85% of young women in the United States do not meet fruit and vegetable intake recommendations, placing them at risk for low antioxidant nutrient intake. Social health programming (SHP) can improve dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, but it is not known how SHP impacts serum levels of specific antioxidant nutrients. This observational cohort study assessed the effect of participation in SHP through Girls Inc., Omaha, on serum carotenoid, retinol, and tocopherol levels for 12–29-year-old women. Serum nutrient levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography and nutrient intake from diet was measured using three 24 h dietary recalls (ASA24 …

Application Of Current Enteral Nutrition Support Recommendations To Infants Born Less Than 750 Grams Or Less Than 25 Weeks' Gestation: A Critical Review, Mar Romero-Lopez, Mamta Naik, Teresa Hartman, Ann Anderson-Berry, Melissa Thoene

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

Clinicians face a paucity of evidence-based recommendations for provision of enteral nutrition in infants born < 750 g or < 25 weeks' gestation, termed "nano-preterm." Current enteral nutrition recommendations for extremely low birth weight infants may not be broadly applicable to nano-preterm infants due to physiological and developmental differences, while others may be appropriate. Key enteral nutrition-related considerations include: the unique anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, altered metabolic capacity, availability of maternal milk and use of alternative substrates, detailed methods of initiation and advancement of enteral feeding, methods of human milk fortification, targeted requirements for macronutrient and micronutrients, and the safety and efficacy of enteral nutrition support management to optimize the growth and development of the nano-preterm infant. This comprehensive review focused on enteral nutrition provision in nano-preterm infants, thoroughly evaluating available literature and identifying knowledge gaps about the unique physiology and metabolism of the nano-preterm infant as it pertains to enteral nutrition. Ultimately, prospective multicenter research is needed to establish evidence-based guidelines to promote optimal growth and development while minimizing complications of extreme prematurity.

Ash/Isth 2026 Guidelines For Anticoagulant Prophylaxis In Pediatric Patients At Risk Of Venous Thromboembolism, Marisol Betensky, Muayad Azzam, Rachel Bercovitz, Rukhmi V. Bhat, Tina Biss, Brian Branchford, Leonardo R. Brandão, Anthony K.C. Chan, E. Vincent S. Faustino, Qais Hamarsha, Julie Jaffray, Sophie Jones, Hassan Kawtharany, Bryce A. Kerlin, Jana Khawandi, Grace Krider, Nicole Kucine, Riten Kumar, Christoph Male, Paul Monagle, Marie-Claude Pelland-Marcotte, Leslie Raffini, Chittalsinh M. Raulji, Sarah E. Sartain, Clifford M. Takemoto, Cristina Tarango, C. Heleen Van Ommen, Maria C. Velez, Sarak Vesely, John Wiernikowski, Suzan Williams, Hope P. Wilson, Gary Woods, Reem A. Mustafa

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

High-quality data on anticoagulant prophylaxis for pediatric VTE prevention are scarce. Key research priorities include the development and validation of subgroups-specific VTE risk assessment models, and evaluation of the safety and efficacy of risk-stratified anticoagulant prophylaxis strategies across different pediatric subgroups.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant cause of morbidity in children, particularly among hospitalized patients and those with chronic medical conditions. There is a lack of consensus on anticoagulant prophylaxis strategies.

OBJECTIVE: These evidence-based guidelines from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) are intended to support patients and health …

Screen Time Use, Reading Achievement, And Thinking Maps: A Correlational Study Of Fifth-Grade Students, Morgan Brooke Unger

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study was the fixation of screen time among fifth-grade students at a kindergarten to Grade 12 private school in South Florida. By the time children reach age 12, 69% of adolescents own a smartphone. The purpose of this study was designed to determine (a) the relationship between screen time use and reading achievement among fifth graders, (b) the relationship between parents’ awareness of their child’s screen time use and their child’s actual screen time use, and (c) how well fifth-grade students’ Thinking Maps illustrate the problems associated with screen time fixation at a kindergarten to …

Effect Of Employees’ Breakfast Choices On Energy Levels In The Hispanic Population Working In Healthcare In South Florida, Jennifer Rivas

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the effect of employees’ breakfast choices on perceived energy levels among Hispanic healthcare workers in South Florida. As breakfast consumption has been widely associated with cognitive function, productivity, and metabolic stability, this research focused on understanding how specific breakfast patterns influence daily energy in a population that plays a critical role in regional healthcare delivery.

A qualitative survey was developed by the researcher and was used to collect data from Hispanic employees working in a variety of healthcare settings. Participants completed a structured survey assessing breakfast habits, nutritional quality, frequency of consumption, and …

Balancing Care And Chaos: A Phenomenological Study On The Emotional And Mental Health Challenges Of Emergency Department Nurses, Shantilee Green

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of emergency department nurses related to emotional and mental health challenges, coping with stress, and ways to provide them with better workplace support. Emergency department nurses are required to work 12-hour shifts in a high-stress environment with a significant patient load and an inadequate patient-to-nurse ratio. Emergency department nurses are exposed daily to patient events that can be traumatic and affect their mental and emotional health, and nurses may find it challenging to cope with the resultant stress.

The researcher created an interview protocol of 14 questions to …

Examining Reframing Behavior Implementation: Teacher Perspectives And Discipline Patterns In Middle School, Francisco J. Hidalgo

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined teacher-reported implementation of the Reframing Behavior (RB) Initiative at a middle school in North Central Florida. The districtwide training occurred in the 2024-2025 school year. The RB Initiative provides educators with opportunities to reframe how they address disruptive behaviors among students perceived as problematic, who may receive numerous disciplinary actions. Disciplinary actions can affect students’ academic and social lives. Using a convergent mixed methods design, the study addressed four research questions and examined implementation fidelity, teacher perceptions, school-wide discipline patterns, and teacher experiences with RB implementation.

The researcher surveyed 19 teachers and interviewed four teachers. The …

The Continuity And Fluidity Between Emergent Literacy Skills And Literacy Acquisition, Shiesha D. Otokina

Theses and Dissertations

This research study was undertaken because emergent literacy skills are crucial in helping children develop their reading abilities. Research suggests that early intervention is a key strategy for closing the achievement gap, and that early literacy skills develop as early as when children begin to communicate verbally and nonverbally. Studies show that the larger a child's vocabulary is, the quicker they learn to read.This study examined the significance of reading development and a child’s ability to acquire reading skills across the stages of reading acquisition.

This study compared student scores in the experimental and control groups to determine whether the …

Prevention Beyond Deterrence, Benjamin A. Barsky

Faculty Scholarship

This Article reconceptualizes preventive justice—the public safety paradigm that seeks to prevent harm before it occurs. Scholars have long documented how cities have advanced this paradigm through largely punitive measures, notably variants of broken windows policing, which posit that aggressive misdemeanor enforcement deters more serious crime. Yet in the aftermath of the 2020 George Floyd protests, and as underscored recently in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, these measures have faced a legitimacy crisis—prompting calls for nonpunitive responses to nonviolent incidents.

This Article establishes a preventive justice approach that advances health and safety without emphasizing crime deterrence. It draws on …

Promises Fulfilled: 114-Year-Old Alelia Murphy’S Life Of Faith And Resilience, Jacqueline B. Koonce

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

Alelia Murphy was the oldest living person in the United States, turning 114 in July 2019 until her death in November 2019. She and her family credit her longevity to her faith in God. This premise is explored through her words as she stated she had not seen everyone she needed to see and compared that statement to Simeon from the Bible who did not die until he saw the Messiah. Alelia Murphy also had not seen everything. She was seeing the relative success of her much admired, former President Barack Obama, and she had just met me, her great …

A Pilot Study Assessing The Oral Microbiome In Women Of Menopausal Age: Do Oral Nitrate–Reducing Bacteria Play A Role?, Katie Muddiman, Amazon Doble, Abish Stephen, Raul Bescos Garcia, Charlotte Illsley, Tomas Nicholas, Sally Hanks, Lisa Du Toit, Zoe Brookes

Peninsula Dental School

Introduction The links between oral health and female ageing are poorly understood, but many changes occur in the oral cavity of menopausal women that affect quality of life, and few current oral health interventions consider gender as part of their approach. The aim of this pilot study was to test the hypothesis that the oral microbiome and microenvironment change during female ageing and are thus worthy of further consideration both experimentally and clinically. Methods This observational pilot study retrospectively assessed women aged 18 to 89 years (n = 60) attending a UK primary care dental school facility for blood pressure …