Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Effectiveness Of Best Management Practices In Reducing Fecal Bacteria In Narrow River, Rhode Island, Katherine Thompson

Open Access Master's Theses

Fecal bacterial contamination shapes how communities manage and use estuarine waters, with consequences for ecosystem health and public access. In Rhode Island's Narrow River, elevated concentrations of fecal coliforms and enterococci have restricted shellfishing for decades despite ongoing management efforts. From 2004 to 2018, local organizations implemented Best Management Practices (BMPs) to address water quality challenges, yet their effectiveness remains incompletely understood. This study analyzes three decades of monitoring data using linear regression, generalized additive models, and Before After Control Impact methods to evaluate BMP effectiveness and identify key drivers of contamination. Linear regression revealed spatially variable trends, with bacterial …

First Destination Survey 2025: For Degrees Awarded December 2024-August 2025, Hart Career Center, Illinois Wesleyan University

First Destination Survey

No abstract provided.

Bulletin Of Yale University School Of Nursing 2025-2026, Yale School Of Nursing

Yale School of Nursing Bulletins and Catalogues

Series 121, Number 16

September 5, 2025

Sharksrx Newsletter Spring 2025, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Sharks Rx

No abstract provided.

Nursing Students’ Perspectives Of Clinical Learning Environment In Experiential Learning And Faculty-Student Relationship-Interaction Patterns, Bindu John, Usha Marath, Sumathi P Valappil, Chinnu Ulahannan, Deepa Mathew

Health Professions Education

Purpose: The clinical learning experience of nursing students is crucial for developing competencies and skills through experiential learning, facilitated by nursing faculty. The study aimed to assess nursing students’ perspectives of the clinical learning environment (CLE) and determine the faculty-student relationship-interaction patterns (FSRIP) in clinical areas. The study also explored the relationship between FSRIP and perceived CLE, and examined the association of socio-demographic variables with CLE and FSRIP.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sampling technique. Participants included 1013 B.Sc. Nursing students from various nursing colleges in Kerala, India, who were undergoing clinical placements in different …

Health Promotion, A Missing Piece In Medical Education: Descriptive Analysis Of Medical Programs In Colombia, Erwin Hernando Hernandez Rincon, Juan Gabriel García Manrique, Daniela Barros Toro, Juanita Henao Girard

Health Professions Education

Background: Health promotion is a critical tool in training future health professionals, particularly in countries like Colombia, where structural inequalities impact public health outcomes. However, the integration of health promotion strategies into medical education programs remains inconsistent and underexplored. Objective: To describe the status of incorporating health promotion and health education elements in the curricula of medical schools in Colombia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study covered the 63 active medical schools registered in the National Higher Education Information System (SNIES for its acronym in Spanish) until December 2024. The information available on the websites of each faculty was …

State: The Magazine Of Illinois State University, Winter 2025, Illinois State University, University Marketing And Communications

State: The Magazine of Illinois State University (1999-present)

Illinois State University alumni magazine

Eeg-Based Multi-Scale Perturbed Brain Cognitive Pattern Recognition Network For Gamer Level Classification, Lijun Jiang, Yanping Chen, Kexuan Liu, Xingyuan Chen, Li Dong, Weiya Ma, Diankun Gong, Dezhong Yao

General Human Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Electroencephalogram (EEG)-based classification of video game experts versus amateurs reveals cognitive brain patterns underlying complex abilities, with applications in attention modulation, medical rehabilitation, and health monitoring. While deep learning has advanced EEG-based cognitive state detection, challenges remain in extracting meaningful patterns from noisy data and preventing reverse inference attacks on user privacy. Here, we propose a novel multi-scale perturbed brain cognitive pattern recognition network (MsPE). Its key contributions are: (1) a multi-scale weak encryption method with attention mechanisms that protects privacy by perturbing EEG signals in temporal and frequency domains; (2) ConvFormer modules with adaptive channel sizes (3, 5, 15) …

The Association Between Obstetric Violence And Postpartum Depression Among Latina Women In The United States: An Integrative Review, Natalia Alameda

Scripps Senior Theses

Obstetric violence, a structural form of gender-based violence, involves abuse, mistreatment, or neglect by healthcare providers during obstetric care. It is often associated with childbirth trauma and may result in physical and psychological harm to mothers and children, including postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a major depressive episode occurring during pregnancy or within four weeks following delivery. While these concepts are often studied independently, few studies examine their intersection, particularly among Latina women in the United States. To address this gap, an integrative literature review was conducted to explore the association between obstetric violence and postpartum depression among Latina women. …

Medicare Drug Price Negotiations: A Blueprint For Ethical Pricing Across The Healthcare System, Jacqueline Fox

FIU Law Review

In a healthcare system with scarce resources, profit that exceeds the value of what is being paid for cries out for justifications. The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, is a new program that allows Medicare to begin negotiating with drug companies to determine the maximum fair price for a small set of drugs. This Article argues that the methods for conducting these negotiations represent a significant step forward in a dramatic and important reordering of how we view the healthcare financing system, allowing us to consider rational, coherent concepts of value without …

Inflammatory Mediators And The Rage Pathway In Placental Tissues Of Pregnancies Complicated By Severe Preeclampsia, Neelima Chandra, Thomas D. Kimble, Kathleen R. Heim, Sharon M. Anderson, Andrew P. Wong, Andrea R. Thurman, Gustavo F. Doncel

CONRAD Publications

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a complex multisystem disorder of pregnancy associated with abnormal placentation, vascular anomalies, and systemic inflammation and hypertension. Previous research assessing inflammatory triggers of the condition used plasma, amniotic fluid, or explant samples. Studies using placental tissue from either vaginal or cesarean deliveries are confined to semiquantitative analysis using subjective scoring methods and generally involve a small sample size.

Methods: In this study, we have quantified the expression of inflammatory mediators by immunohistochemical image analysis of archived placental tissues obtained from cesarean delivery of preeclamptic, chorioamnionitic, and normal pregnancies.

Results: Among the inflammatory mediators, we found a …

Arbitrator Selection Default Rules, Irene M. Ten Cate

American University Law Review

This Article makes the case for changing the default settings for the selection of arbitrators in international commercial arbitration. For three-member tribunals, the rules of most international arbitration institutions provide that each party picks an arbitrator. The institution or the co-arbitrators then select the tribunal’s president. This prescription, which parties may set aside by agreement, codifies longstanding practices and corresponds to the strong preference of international arbitration insiders. Nonetheless, I argue that arbitration rules should default toward institutional selection of all arbitrators.

Switching the default nudges parties that can’t take full advantage of the arbitrator selection game—due to inexperience, lack …

Shrines Of Discrimination: A Comparative Exploration Of American And Indian Approaches To Balancing Religious Freedom And Equal Rights, Sree Vedala

MC Law Review

Religious freedom and equality, foundational human rights, often clash in legal contexts, particularly when religious practices justify discriminatory actions. The U.S. judiciary has grappled with this tension, as exemplified in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission and Yeshiva University v. YU Pride Alliance. These cases reflect opposing judicial tendencies: deference to religious beliefs versus prioritization of equality. However, neither case established a clear framework for balancing these rights. This article examines India’s "essentiality test," which assesses whether a religious practice is integral to a faith, as a potential model for resolving such conflicts. By comparing U.S. and Indian …

Using Wearable Technology For Context-Aware Of Pilgrimage Management System During/Post-Pandemic Of Covid-19, Fatina Shukur, Ahmed Al-Fatlawi, Safaa Jasim Mosa, Nasir Ibrahim

Mesopotamian Journal of Computer Science

Hajj is an annual event placed in Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest religious gatherings, such that it gathers millions of pilgrims from all around the world. The pandemic of Covid-19 is not over yet, and could likely be part of our life for a long time. Also, it is negatively affecting such mass gatherings. The aim of this research is to facilitate the overall hajj event while maintaining peoples’ health, safety, and security. Therefore, we use a technology that helps to reduce direct contact between pilgrims themselves as well as with other entities, such that human interaction …

Models Of Machine Learning To Diagnose Chronic Kidney Disease Using A  Weka-Based Classifier, Shaymaa Adnan Abdulrahman, Sameerah Faris Khlebis

Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

In the present day, humans are confronted with a variety of diseases as a result of their lifestyle and the current environmental conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and predict these diseases in their early phases in order to prevent their severe manifestations. Manually identifying maladies is a challenging task for physicians on a regular basis. Predicting chronic illnesses is the aim of this article. This goal is applicable through a state-of-the-art approach to classification correctly identifies people with chronic illnesses. Predicting maladies is also a difficult endeavor. Therefore, disease prediction is significantly influenced by data mining. To get …

Note From The Department Chair, William Munro

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Editors' Introduction, Luke Alberstett, Victoria Ballesteros-Gonzalez

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Juvenile Record Expungement Policy In Illinois, Emma Kudelka

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

This policy paper explores juvenile expungement policies and their broader social impact. Research suggests that lenient expungement laws help prevent discrimination in education, housing, and military service, aiding rehabilitation youth offenders' reintegration. The paper begins with a historical overview of Illinois juvenile law, highlighting its shift from punitive to rehabilitative approaches. It then examines key legislation, including the Juvenile Court Act, Juvenile Justice, and Delinquency Prevention Act, and Youth Opportunity and Fairness Act. Illinois's juvenile expungement laws are analyzed, covering eligibility, process, and timeline. A comparative analysis follows, contrasting Illinois' policies with those of California and Florida to emphasize differences …

A Comprehensive Review On Hydrophobic Modification Of Biopolymer Composites For Food Packaging Applications, Sneha Sabu Mathew, Amit K. Jaiswal, Swarna Jaiswal

Articles

Biopolymers derived from biological sources are safe, abundant, eco-friendly, and economical substitutes for synthetic polymers. However, intrinsic properties of biopolymer films, such as abundant hydrophilic groups, weak mechanical properties, low resistance to heat, and poor barrier properties, need to be addressed to restrict them from being used before employing them for food packaging applications. Hydrophobic modification of biopolymers is crucial to enhance their suitability for food packaging applications. Various approaches, including nanocomposites, essential oil incorporation, and chemical modifications have been investigated to address the limitations of biopolymer packaging materials. Utilizing excipients which are deemed safe for consumption effectively achieves the …

A Critical Review Of Consumer Perception And Environmental Impacts Of Bioplastics In Sustainable Food Packaging, Junjie Lin, Amit K. Jaiswal, Swarna Jaiswal

Articles

As awareness of environmental issues deepens and the demand for sustainability grows among societies, businesses, and consumers, minimizing the environmental impact of food packaging has become increasingly important. Bioplastics offer a promising solution due to their use of renewable resources (such as plants), their biodegradability, and their ability to retain the protective properties of traditional plastics. This review discusses recent advancements and trends in sustainable food packaging, emphasizing the role of bioplastics. Several typical types of bioplastics are introduced, along with an analysis of their advantages and limitations. Furthermore, this study investigates consumers' attitudes toward bioplastic food packaging, emphasizing their …

Ai-Based Predictive Analytics For Network Operations, Timur Nikisin, David White

Academic Poster Collection

AI-Based Predictive Analytics for Network Operations

Dough Rheology Properties As Affected By The Inclusion Of Oat Drink Residue Flour: A Multivariate Analysis Approach, Mahmoud Said Rashed, Eimear Gallagher, Jesus M. Frias, Milica Pojić, Shivani Pathania

Articles

The global shift towards plant-based food consumption presents significant environmental benefits, yet the consequential rise in related by-products still imposes a challenge to be addressed. The present work was carried out to evaluate the rheological properties of bread dough as affected by the incorporation of dry fractionated oat drink residue flours as a functional ingredient to identify the optimum condition for incorporating fibre-rich ingredients in bakery products. Mechanically dry fractionated, dried oat drink residue flour of particle size F1: > 150, F2: 150-224, and F3: 224-300 μm was blended with strong wheat flour at 10% and 20% substitution levels of the …

Farmers' Experiences Of Transitioning Towards Agroecology: Narratives Of Change In Western Europe, Maria Markiewicz-Keszycka, Áine Macken-Walsh, Aileen Carter, Simon Mooney, Emma J. Devereux, Maeve Henchion, Paul Hynds

Conference papers

Transitioning to agroecology on dairy and beef farms is touted as a sustainable response to environmental externalities. The current study conducted narrative interviews with farmers who transitioned towards agroecological food production by implementing pro-environmental diversification measures in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and France. The study aimed to determine farmers' experiences of agroecology and used a thematic approach for the analysis. Results indicate that the motivations, values and principles of farmers transitioning to agroecology are closely aligned with the ideology of the new/peasantry. Farmers' decisions were primarily influenced by ecological principles and a sense of responsibility towards environmental …

Two-Year Changes Of Macular Choroidal Thickness In Response To 0.01% Atropine Eye Drops: Results From The Myopia Outcome Study Of Atropine In Children (Mosaic) Clinical Trial, Emmanuel Kobia-Acquah, Gareth Lingham, Daniel Ian Flitcroft, James Loughman

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Purpose: To investigate 2-year changes in macular choroidal thickness (ChT) in children receiving 0.01% atropine eyedrops and its relationship with spherical equivalent refraction (SER) progression and axial length (AL) elongation. Methods: A total of 250 myopic children aged 6–16 years (167%–0.01% atropine, 83-placebo) were enrolled in the MOSAIC (ISRCTN36732601) clinical trial. Participants with complete 2-year ChT (Topcon Triton Swept-Source OCT), SER, and AL data were included in this study. Changes in macular ChT at 2 years and associations with changes in SER and AL elongation were analysed using linear mixed models. Results: A total of 187 children (126%–0.01% atropine, 61-placebo) …

What Are The Key Considerations Of Social Enterprises Planning To Scale, And How Do These Considerations Interact To Shape The Scaling Journey?, Clodagh O'Reilly

Doctoral

Social enterprises are organisations that pursue dual social and commercial goals. With increasing social issues facing our global society today, as highlighted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, social enterprises are well-positioned to respond and have a positive impact. Despite the increased recognition of the contribution of social enterprises, research into the phenomenon remains fragmented and underexplored. This study explores how social enterprises scale and what factors and elements are required. Furthermore, the research explores how the factors interconnect, interact and shape the scaling journey.

Digital Playgrounds: Irish Tweens' Media Literacies In The Context Of Social Media Content Creators, Fardus Sultan

Doctoral

Children under 12 are avid social media users. Of these, tweens, children aged 9 to 12, are currently the age group most likely to engage in independent social media content consumption. One of their favourite online activities is watching content produced by social media influencers and content creators, collectively referred to here as social media creators. The popularity of social media creators has grown exponentially in recent times. Considered trusted, relatable and authentic, they produce content that resonates with audiences. Consequently, their messages often possess greater persuasive power, making them a popular choice for advertisers. Creators seamlessly blend commercial messaging …

Driving Impactful Change: Entrepreneurial Insights For Social Responsibility In The Irish Context, Anna Zherdeva, Deirdre Mcquillan, Lucia Morales

Articles

Today’s volatile situation at the global level, provoked by a significant rise in Economic and Political Uncertainty, emerged as an answer on countries attempts to manage the climate change crisis, armed conflicts, the rising cost of living, a growing divide between the more prosperous Global North and the poorest Global South that are reflected on the emergence of multifaceted, multiple and long-lasting crises. During periods of heightened instability and economic uncertainty, businesses struggle to build trusting relationships with stakeholders as they seek to reduce costs. Additionally, companies seek deep engagement as they confront the costs associated with sustainability challenges and …

Bayesian Multilevel Models For Survival Data From Multiple Centres, Lingling Zhang

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics Theses

Recently, there has been an increasing use of flexible parametric survival models to analyse survival outcomes. Much of our work is based on a survival analysis model in which the baseline hazard function is modelled flexibly using an M-spline. Motivated by the analysis of a large kidney transplant data set supplied by NHSBT (NHS Blood and Transplant), we extend this baseline hazard function flexibility in various ways to allow a random effect for each transplant centre.After providing an introduction to survival analysis, we present an exploratory analysis of the NHSBT kidney transplant data. Next, we analyse the data using Bayesian …

Biodegradable Curcumin-Nanoclay Films For Extending Shrimp Shelf-Life And Freshness, Kalpani Y. Perera, Sneha Sabu Mathew, Luana De S.C. Carnaval, Dileswar Pradhan, Amit K. Jaiswal, Swarna Jaiswal

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Preserving food freshness is fundamental for minimizing waste. Intelligent packaging offers valuable information, enhances safety, and improves food quality during storage and transit. This study aimed to develop biodegradable, intelligent food packaging for shrimp using curcumin (Cur), gelatin (Gel), sodium alginate (SA), and nanoclay (NC) to enhance food safety and extend shelf life. The films with 1 % NC-Cur exhibited a 3.46-fold increase in UV barrier properties compared to the control, although Cur reduced transparency. Mechanical testing showed that films containing 0.5 % NC-Cur achieved optimal tensile strength (38.6 ± 30.9 MPa). The water contact angle (WCA) increased to 84.12 …

The Prevalence And Concentrations Of Four Waste-Pathogen Combinations From Land-Spreading Across High-Income, Temperate Regions – A Scoping Review And Pooled Analysis, Jennifer E.M. Mccarthy, Paul D Hynds, Declan J Bolton, Jesús M Frías Celayeta

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

No abstract provided.