Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Impact Of Patient Acuity On Nursing Productivity: A Case Study At Uk Healthcare Chandler Hospital, Kara Klein

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

This study examines the relationship between patient acuity and nursing productivity at UK HealthCare (UKHC) Chandler Hospital from June 2022 to April 2024. Patient acuity, characterized by the complexity and intensity of nursing care required by patients (Juvé-Udina et al., 2020), is crucial in determining staffing needs and operational efficiency. The primary objective of this research is to investigate how variations in patient acuity levels impact Full-Time Equivalents (FTE), a key metric for assessing nursing productivity. The study utilized hospital data and applied descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and regression models to assess the impact of patient acuity on FTE. The …

Enhancing Equity And Economic Growth: A Strategic Review Of Procurement Practices In Prince George’S County, Andrew Stover

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Procurement represents a substantial portion of public spending in state and local governments, and thus is an essential element of responsible public financial management. This paper explores the procurement process on the local government level and provides research into best practices that are conducive to equity and economic development. It takes a look specifically at Prince George’s County, Maryland and analyzes its procurement function in relation to these best practices. An analysis of the County finds that despite its strides in implementing equitable procurement policies, significant gaps remain in the engagement of disadvantaged classes of businesses. To tackle these challenges, …

From Local Income Tax To Local Sales Tax In Kentucky: An Examination Of Lfucg, Zachary Vogl

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Property tax revenue is widely known as the largest own source revenue for local governments. However, other taxes such as local sales taxes (LST) and local incomes taxes (LIT) also provide significant revenue streams for local governments. For example, in Kentucky, “[e]xcluding Fayette and Jefferson, counties collected a total of $353.5 million in occupational license fees on payroll and net profits in FY 2022, making up 42.7 percent of all tax revenue” (Smith 2024).

The use of LST and LIT, in addition to property taxes, by local governments allows for flexibility and revenue diversification; but, these taxes also come with …

The Fairness Model Of Legal Institutions, James M. Donovan

Law Faculty Books and Chapters

If any group is to endure over time, individual frustrations, while inevitable, must be usually experienced as acceptable, or at least tolerable. Failing that, little would prevent the losers in these conflicts from leaving or revolting, which would be cumulatively debilitating to the group. As opposed to holding law’s job to impose order and police infringers, the second approach suggests that finding the balance between group and individual desires is the ‘major difficulty of all law—the problem of really getting a fresh start in relations between litigants after disposition of a trouble-case. This is the problem not only of keeping …

The Next Frontier In Plan Fee Litigation: Health Plan Fees, Kathryn L. Moore

Law Faculty Books and Chapters

On September 11, 2006, Jerry Schlichter, a personal injury lawyer from Saint Louis, Missouri, filed some of the first lawsuits claiming that excessive fees in 401(k) plans violated ERISA’s fiduciary standards. Since then, hundreds of suits have been filed challenging retirement plan fees, and the Supreme Court has rendered two decisions in cases claiming that excessive 401(k) plan fees violated ERISA’s fiduciary standards. Since the Supreme Court issued the second decision in 2022, retirement plan excessive fee litigation may have begun to slow. There may, however, be a new frontier in plan fee litigation: health care plan fees.

This article …

A Literature Review Of Finding The Associated Risks For Developing Deep Vein Thrombosis Using Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (Picc) With Vascular Ultrasound, Craig Uyehara

Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Ultrasound Projects

Objective: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) lines are becoming more widely used in hospitalization for usage of chemotherapy, blood transfusion, and accessibility through the upper extremity venous system. This literature review aims to look at how vascular ultrasound can find risk factors with the incidence of PICC line related thromboembolism.

Materials & Methods: A systematic literature review was aimed through PubMed, ClinicalKey, and CINAHL for the association between upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) development after the usage of a peripherally inserted catheter (PICC) in controlled examinations. The reviewed studies ranged from the year 2010 to 2023, publications searched included …

Comparison Of Us And Mri In The Detection Of Cleft Lip And Cleft Palate, Tiffany Diaz

Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Ultrasound Projects

Objective: This literature review aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy between MRI and US in identifying orofacial clefts in antenatal screening.

Materials and Methods: The PubMed database was searched in November 2023 and May of 2024 regarding the accuracy of US in diagnosing orofacial clefts. The search included the terms “US”, “accuracy”, “orofacial cleft” and “MRI. Findings were restricted to publication dates within the years of 2005-2024 and free access to the full article.

Results: There was a total of 36 results in the initial screening. A total of 10 articles were collected for this literature review. Most articles included …

Systematic Review Of Diagnostic Accuracy And Clinical Impact Of Ordering Compression Ultrasonography Exams Based On A Positive D-Dimer Assay Test, Jacob Nakasone

Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Ultrasound Projects

Purpose: The aim of this literature review was to examine the diagnostic accuracy and clinical impact of medical providers ordering compression ultrasonography (CUS) exams for the lower extremity venous systems based on a patient’s positive D-dimer assay test.

Method: A systematic review of the current literature was conducted from September 2023-May 2024 using various search engines without language or date restrictions. From 30 sources inspected, articles were excluded from the research if they did not have statistics relating the positive or negative results of the D-dimer to the pretest clinical probability assessments and results of the following CUS exams. 20 …

Subverting Gendered Destiny: Willa Cather's Revision Of The Bildungsroman In The Great Plains Trilogy, Lauren Marler

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis explores the question: How does Cather employ the Bildungsroman genre in My Ántonia, and what are the implications of this? I argue that Cather engages with the traditionally male Bildungsroman in order to expose the genre’s narrow ideas of success, specifically in its focus on social integration. As Cather transgresses the traditional Bildungsroman, she also revises female archetypes, such as those found in the Seduction Plot and the Marriage Plot, which present female coming-of-age stories as downward spirals: with protagonists ending up unhappy or dead. Instead, Cather imagines a hopeful ending for Ántonia which disrupts generic expectations …

She's More Than Just A Pretty Face: Redefining, Reimagining, And Retelling The Femme Fatale's Story In A Concert Dance Setting, Loren Mello

Scripps Senior Theses

The femme fatale remains a staple icon in the media zeitgeist – a power-hungry woman unafraid to wield her sexuality as a weapon against unsuspecting men. While this character has usually represented a socially unacceptable version of womanhood, this narrative feels particularly relevant within our current sociopolitical context – one in which repressive, “traditional” notions of womanhood and, more specifically, female sexuality are being promoted on the national stage. This thesis seeks to further develop the femme fatale character by offering insight into her personal experience of pursuing empowerment within a patriarchal structure that seeks to violently silence her, exposing …

Greening The Grounds: Mitigating Compost Contamination And Expanding Onsite Composting Practices In A Small Liberal Arts College Setting, Loren Mello

Scripps Senior Theses

In response to the growing need for sustainable waste management practices, the Farm Manager at Pomona College proposed redirecting food waste from offsite industrial composting to onsite composting at the Pomona Farm, expanding beyond kitchen waste to include student plate scrapings. This research aimed to address the anticipated challenges associated with this transition, including increased compost contamination, Farm staff labor, and operational work hours. To gain insights, a pilot program was conducted at Frank Dining Hall for one week, focusing on compost contaminants, food waste weight, collection and composting time, and additional qualitative measures. Findings from the pilot indicated that …

No Monsanto: Exploring The Prosecution Of Companies For Environmental Crimes Under The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, And Rodenticide Act, Dr. Joshua Ozymy, Dr. Melissa Jarrell Ozymy

University of San Francisco Law Review

No abstract provided.

Measuring The Unmeasurable: Foreign Aid And The Rule Of Law, Natallia Karkanitsa

Celebrating WCL Student Authors

This article provides an analysis of the international indexes and rankings that assess and compare the rule of law globally. It first starts with a discussion on the necessity of the international measurements of the rule of law in context of the foreign aid allocation to developing countries. Then, this article defines the rule of law and explains its relationship with governance and human rights. This article further reviews three rule of law indexes from the World Bank, the World Justice Project, and Bertelsmann Stiftung and Sustainable Development Solutions Network, using the position of Belarus in these measurements as a …

Transient Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy For Measuring Collisional Quenching Rates Of Co And Its Potential For Studying H2o, Jordan M. Polvere

Master’s Theses

Motivated by the necessity of non-LTE models that account for species that are not in Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) in Titan’s and Earth’s atmospheres, collisional quenching rates of CO and H2O_(g) have been studied. Providing more accurate and precise values of collisional quenching rate coefficients is crucial in the development of more advanced atmospheric models, which are important to fields of science such as meteorology and astronomy. Rates of collisional quenching of CO(v=1,2) by CO and CO(v=2) by N₂ at approximately 301-321 K were measured by transient diode laser absorption spectroscopy. The rate coefficients of CO(v=1)-CO, CO(v=2)-CO, and …

James Hyde (D. 1875) And Wife Mary Wright (D. 1865), Of Long Island And New York City., Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Discussion of James & Mary (Wright) Hyde family of Long Island and New York City.

Localization And Quantification Of Atpase, Ca2+ Transporting, Plasma Membrane 2 (Atp2b2) In The Developing Euthyroid And Hypothyroid Cochlea, Emily Gregersen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Thyroid hormone (TH) is essential for auditory system development. Proper auditory function requires remodeling and transformation of cochlear structures during a critical developmental period. In rodent models, low TH during this timeframe delays remodeling and impacts ion channel function required for hearing to occur. TH receptors are ligand-dependent transcription factors that regulate expression of genes. Considering this, auditory deficits observed in hypothyroidism are thought to be largely the result of altered expression of specific TH receptor target genes. TH is reported to impact calcium signaling in several tissues, but whether regulators of calcium signaling are altered following developmental hypothyroidism is …

Impact Of Atheist Identity Disclosure On Experience Of Microaggressions In Therapy, Kimaya Khanolkar

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Khanolkar, Kimaya. (2024). Impact of Atheist Identity Disclosure on Experience of Microaggressions in Therapy [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/1453/

Machine Learning-Based Analysis Of Dna Methylation Patterns In E.Lenta, Tsion Tsegaye Sherbeza

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Methylation patterns in bacterial genomes, such as those found in Eggerthella lenta, take roles in mediating microbial interactions with their environment, host, and external stressors. These patterns are formed by DNA methylation with diverse sequence specificities that provide insights into the DNA sequence regulation and defense against bacteriophages. We utilize computational approaches and machine learning models to identify and analyze 5mC and 6mA methylation motifs in E. lenta genomes. By integrating host characteristics such as age, birth country, gender, and medication history, we explore 1) the predictive relationships between 5mC & 6mA methylation types in E. lenta strains and …

The Effect Of Early Intervention On Reducing Recidivism, Claire Meyer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The current punishment-based system has not led to promising recidivism rates showing the lack of effect it has on changing behavior. By working to understand the effect interventions can have on reducing recidivism, society can improve the criminal justice system. The intention of this paper is to show the benefits of moving to a system focused on rehabilitation instead of punishment, specifically for juvenile offenders. By conducting a literature review of available research, it can be seen that an incarceration-based system is not as effective as the implementation of intervention and prevention methods can be. Cognitive behavioral therapy and community-based …

Saxophone: A Deeper Understanding, Toree Fogle

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of this project is to provide a comprehensive background on the creation and evolution of the saxophone, as well as to examine the acoustic factors that contribute to its function. Beyond that, the project will assess differences within the saxophone family (including soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones) and between major brands (including Selmer, Yamaha, and Yanagisawa). The project will be largely constructed from previous research, in addition to personal experiences. The end result will consist of a written report that individuals-especially future saxophone students-will be able to use to expand their knowledge and understanding of the saxophone.

Books, Boots, And Beer Halls In Germany: Observations By A Young Nebraskan Studying In Europe, 1876–1878, George Elliott Howard, Michael R. Hill

Zea E-Books Collection

Long before George Elliott Howard (1849–1928) became one of Nebraska’s premier sociologists and was elected president of the American Sociological Association (1917), he was a footloose young scholar who pursued postgraduate education in Germany during 1876–1878. Eager to share his adventures, Howard wrote and dispatched seven insightful essays that were quickly published in Nebraska newspapers. Here, collected together for the first time, are Howard’s firsthand observations on travel in Europe, life and learning in Germany, studying the German language, student beer-drinking societies, and a walking tour in Austria. Edited and introduced by Michael R. Hill, Howard’s essays are placed squarely …

The Midwest Feminist Papers: A Facsimile Edition 1980–1997. Part I (1980–1983), Mary Jo Deegan, Michael R. Hill

Zea E-Books Collection

Mary Jo Deegan and Michael R. Hill, compilers. The Midwest Feminist Papers: A Facsimile Edition 1980–1997, with prefaces and author indices by Mary Jo Deegan and Michael R. Hill. 3 volumes: Part I (1980–1983)

The Midwest Feminist Papers was a creative, group-generated initiative that gave voice to the scholarly questions, research interests, and social concerns of a growing cohort of Midwestern feminist sociology graduate students and their feminist faculty mentors during the last quarter of the Twentieth Century. They were active members of Midwest Sociologists for Women in Society, a regional expression of the larger national Sociologists for Women …

Impacts To Anxiety, Depression, And Psycho-Spiritual Metrics After Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy In Palliative Care Patients At The Aims Institute, Thomas Luedeke

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

There is considerable evidence that palliative care patients disproportionately experience anxiety, depression, and existential distress related to their chronic illnesses. Additionally, conventional therapies tend to be less effective in the treatment of this patient population. As such, research is being conducted into novel therapies. One of the promising therapies currently under active investigation is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) which involves a combination of the administration of the dissociative anesthetic ketamine combined with psychotherapy.

Two clinical trials are being conducted at the Advanced Integrative Medical Sciences (AIMS) Institute in Seattle, WA, the purposes of which are to evaluate integrative care for patients …

Evaluation Of Pain Neuroscience Education Among Veterans With Chronic Pain, Amanda Black, Tandeep Kaur

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Chronic pain is a significant public health issue, especially among veterans. The traditional approach to chronic pain management has relied heavily on opioids, but nonopioid therapies are now recommended. Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) aims to improve pain management by educating patients about the complex nature of chronic pain.

Objective: This project evaluates the impact of PNE on veterans’ pain perception and management.

Methods: A tailored PNE program was implemented for veterans at a housing facility. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessing pain knowledge, severity, and psychosocial factors.

Results: The intervention appears to have improved participants’ understanding of …

Reducing Sepsis Morbidity And Mortality Through Ehr Screening Tools And Nurse-Led Sepsis Bundles In The Acute Care Setting, Jennifer Sargent

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Literature suggests that early sepsis screening and recognition are critical components related to patient outcomes as early treatment and compliance with sepsis bundles decrease morbidity and mortality rates from complications of sepsis. By pairing automated sepsis screening tools within the electronic health record (EHR) with RN-led sepsis bundles, Registered Nurses (RNs) can assist providers in stratifying risk among patients based on clinical indicators and can shorten the time between recognition of organ dysfunction and treatment initiation with RN-led sepsis bundles. This study aims to quantify the efficacy of a RN-led …

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Patient Written Discharge Instruction To Reduce The Incidence Of Surgical Site Infection In Ambulatory Surgery Center, Gayane Abramyan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a major global health concern, affecting many people and creating a significant epidemiological and financial burden. Evidence suggests that half of hospital readmissions might be prevented if patients received better discharge instructions and education. After learning about the increased cases of SSIs in patients at the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) and finding a gap in discharge instruction, the Principal Investigator (PI) initiated a quality improvement project (QIP). This QIP aimed to create a new, easily understandable, actionable, and readable discharge instruction to reduce the incidence of SSIs at the ASC. There were two principal interventions: …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of The Diabetic Self-Management Education And Support (Dsmes) Program Among Asian Americans With Type 2 Diabetes, Joanne Saivong

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background and purpose: Despite affecting individuals of varying ages, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease that most often develops in individuals aged 45 years or older. Socioeconomic, demographic, environmental, and genetic factors contribute to risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes mellitus. If left uncontrolled, it can lead to various other health complications. Treatment of diabetes involves self-management, which includes a healthy diet, adequate physical activity, medication adherence, and healthy coping. Diabetes Self-Management and Education programs have been crucial in assessing patients’ understanding of their disease and helping to educate them on the importance of treatment. Diabetes Self-Management and …

Provider Navigation Of Cannabis Use Among Patients Who Seek Reproductive Healthcare, Hemavattie Ramtahal

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Research and data show increasing trends of individuals who use cannabis in Washington state and across the US, with limited information regarding specific populations such as those who are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding. Many research studies highlight the historic lack of information in healthcare professionals’ curriculums and competencies regarding cannabis use for treatment of health symptoms. Measures: This practice-based inquiry utilizes a survey method to determine how reproductive healthcare providers navigate cannabis use among pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding patients. Outcomes: 12 individuals participated in the online survey with the majority that practice in Washington state. Almost all healthcare providers …

A Depression Clinical Decision Pathway For Oncology Nurses, Anna Rasmussen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Despite a higher risk for depression and suicide than the general population, oncology patients are not screened as frequently as national guidelines suggest. The purpose of this project was to improve nursing assessment of depression in oncology patients on an inpatient medical oncology unit using a newly developed pathway.

Objectives: The aims of this project were to: 1) create and provide nursing with a clinical decision pathway for depression that will be sustainable; 2) increase nurses’ confidence in depression assessment and screening for depression; 3) increase depression screening and advocacy frequency on the medical oncology unit; and 4) incorporate …

Ben Moore's "Ode To A Nightingale" For Baritone Voice And Piano: A Performer's Guide, Jeremy Kelly

Theses and Dissertations--Music

This project is a performance guide of Ben Moore’s (b. 1960) Ode to a Nightingale (2014), a song cycle for baritone set to the poetry of John Keats. Song cycles are an important fixture in classical voice performance, as well as academia, and there is a need to promote new works by American composers. Moore’s Ode to a Nightingale is a unique contribution to the song cycle catalog as it sets John Keats’s eight stanzas of the singular poem to eight separate songs, something that is exceedingly rare in practice. Combining analysis of Moore’s songs in Ode to a Nightingale …