Digital Commons Network^™

Postweaning Skull Growth In Living Didelphid Marsupials: The Case Of Gracilinanus Agilis And Cryptonanus Chacoensis, Iveth A. Villalobos Guerrero, Noé U. De La Sancha

DePaul Discoveries

Ontogeny is described as the history of an organism through its lifetime including development, growth, and allometry. The ontogenetic approach in cranial dimensions has proved useful in interpreting evolutionary patterns. Among the largest Didelphidae family of Neotropical marsupials, the species of Gracilinanus agilis and Cryptonanus chacoensis are poorly known. In this study, we address three questions; Is there sexual dimorphism in these species? What is the pattern of allometry? Which allometric patterns best describe the patterns in the skull and mandible? We applied geometric morphometrics to describe and test these differences using MorphoJ. A discriminant function analysis was performed to …

The Impacts Of Urbanization On Soil: The Effect On Decomposition Rates And Microbial Communities, Maximus C. Halekakis

DePaul Discoveries

The anthropogenic impacts of industrialization have left many ecosystems polluted. Soil, being an imperative actor for ecosystem functions, is important to observe under anthropogenic change. My study examined soil organic matter decomposition, microbial biomass carbon(MBC) and the fungal to bacteria ratio(F:B) across an urban-suburban-exurban landuse gradient in San Luis Obispo, California. A cotton strip assay as well as microBIOMETER® testing was performed on three geographic locations in and outside of the city. The cotton strip decomposition acts as an indicator for organic matter breakdown as microorganisms break down the cellulose in the strips causing them to lose mass and tensile …

Disentangling Drivers Of Metacommunity Structure For Small Mammals Throughout Paraguay, William T. Szromba

DePaul Discoveries

Paraguay is home to a unique precipitation gradient, receiving progressively more precipitation from east to west. It has previously been suggested that metacommunity structures for order Chiroptera assemble along precipitation gradients such as this one. Metacommunities have also been shown to assemble along other bioclimatic gradients such as temperature. This study seeks to expand upon other findings by using a larger dataset, partitioned bioclimatic variables, and more mammalian orders. It also seeks to determine how metacommunities assemble along this gradient in Paraguay, investigate the differences between different ecological metacommunity assemblages, and to further understand which bioclimatic variables have the greatest …

Everyday Exposure: A Qualitative Study Of The Impact Of Gun Violence On The Lives Of Depaul Students, Sara Johnson, Hannah Tariq, Jessica Jerome

DePaul Discoveries

This study examined a novel data source: the contents of letters that students wrote to local, state, or national politicians about gun control for a class assignment in order to collect evidence of the impact of direct and indirect gun violence on the lives of DePaul students. For the study, we coded and analyzed 83 de-identified student letters for themes pertaining to the experience of exposure to gun violence and mass shootings. Our findings include a high prevalence of student exposure to direct incidences of gun violence; strong negative emotions surrounding the fear of gun violence intruding into students’ daily …

Increasing The B-Chromatic Number Of Complete Bipartites By Deleting Edges, Daniel Gawel

DePaul Discoveries

A b-coloring of a graph, G=〈V,E〉, is a proper coloring in which each color has at least one vertex that is adjacent to every other color. The b-chromatic number for G, denoted φ(G), is the largest number of colors you can use to make a b-coloring. For most graphs, φ(G), is around the m-index, an upper bound for φ(G) based on the graph's degree sequence. However, for the complete bipartite graph K_m,n, φ(K_m,n)=2 even though the m-index can be arbitrarily large. In this paper …

The B-Chromatic Number Of Super Cycles, Blair E. Johnson

DePaul Discoveries

The b-chromatic number, a characteristic studied in graph theory, was introduced less than 25 years ago, and while some statistics have been gathered of its properties, the b-chromatic number has yet to be explored in many graphs and circumstances. Before the Undergraduate Summer Research Program, I had no exposure to graph theory, let alone b-colorings. Throughout the program, I developed a fundamental understanding of the subject and began to pursue my own research inquiries. While this objective was difficult to attain at the beginning, I learned strategies and methods to hone my ability to delve into different graphs, and soon …

Human Second Metacarpal Nanocrystal Analysis, William Abramovich

DePaul Discoveries

Female human bones dated to the 6^th - 8^th century CE were uncovered in Greding Germany after archaeologists discovered a medieval cemetery. Age-at-death estimates have been determined, and data from several techniques are currently being analyzed to learn more about these samples. The purpose of this project is to study the diaphyses of the second metacarpal (mc2) bones excavated using wide-angle x-ray scattering data collected at beamline 1-ID of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. The diffraction data were refined using the Rietveld method to obtain lattice (‘a’ and ‘c’) parameter values …

Framing The Path To Fitness: Age Differences In Response To Framed Exercise Messages, Iliya Sherif, David B. Taullahu, Alyssa R. Minton, Joseph A. Mikels

DePaul Discoveries

Physical activity is one of the most protective health behaviors one can engage in, yet 75% of active adults in the US, meaning those who exercise regularly, fall short of the recommended levels of physical activity, with an even greater percentage of older adults living inactive lives, meaning they exercise minimally and engage in prolonged sedentary behavior (CDC, 2019). The goal of the current study was to explore different types of message framing targeted at encouraging older and younger adults to exercise. We recruited older adults (n = 184; Mage = 69.45 years, age range: 65- 80 years) and younger …

Vol. 6 No. 6, Glen Goodknight

Mythprint

Mythprint is the monthly bulletin of the Mythopoeic Society, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of myth and fantasy literature, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. To promote these interests, the Society publishes three magazines, maintains a World Wide Web site, and sponsors the annual Mythopoeic Conference and awards for fiction and scholarship, as well as local and written discussion groups.

Vol. 6 No. 5, Glen Goodknight

Mythprint

Mythprint is the monthly bulletin of the Mythopoeic Society, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of myth and fantasy literature, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. To promote these interests, the Society publishes three magazines, maintains a World Wide Web site, and sponsors the annual Mythopoeic Conference and awards for fiction and scholarship, as well as local and written discussion groups.

Adaptation Determinants Of Artificial Intelligence In Small And Medium Enterprises, Sylwia Bąk, Piotr Jedynak, Przemysław Kaczmaryk

European Management Studies

Purpose: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) in their operational and strategic activities. In order to properly prepare for the processes of AI implementation and to plan the path of digital transformation using the tools it supports, enterprises need to be fully aware of the factors that determine a successful implementation of the processes. The aim of this text is to identify the key determinants related to the adaptation of AI tools and technologies in business processes and operations of SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach: In order to establish a catalog of adaptation determinants of artificial intelligence in …

Developing A Connection To Nature: The Role Of Pet Ownership In Childhood, Alexia Barrable, Samantha Friedman

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Connection to nature is associated with a range of benefits to well-being in both childhood and adulthood. Childhood experiences seem to play a big role in how adult nature connection develops. Among the many predictors of higher connection to nature, relationships with animals, including pets, likely play an important role in facilitating feelings of closeness with nature. In this paper we present two survey studies, one of children (n = 64, age = 6–16 years) and one of adults (n = 356, age = 18–80 years). Our aim was to find out if children who own pets have …

Statistical Analysis Of Lipid Profiles Associated With Coronary Heart Disease In Erbil City-Iraq, Dler Hussein Kadir, Karzan Abdullah, Aziz Muazafar Jafaar, Rebaz Hamza Salih, Shukur Wasman Smail, Gashaw Qasim Rahman, Harem Khdir Awla, Zhikal Omar Khudhur

Polytechnic Journal

Background and objectives: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. The primary risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) lies in the presence of hypertension, elevated levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the bloodstream. Furthermore, a reduction in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels is linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease-related mortality.

The current retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the alterations in the lipid profile of patients with CHD.

Methods: The current survey involved collecting data from 867 patients diagnosed with acute or severe CHD, with an …

Reply To Author, Mohammed Abdullah ​ Alosaimi

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

No abstract provided.

Concerns Regarding Sampling Methodology In "Acceptance, Awareness, Attitude, And Practices Toward Heart Transplantation: A Saudi Based Survey", Fatemeh Omidi

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

No abstract provided.

Mercury’S Shadow: The Pharmaceutical Sources Of Hysteria, Claudia Stokes

English Faculty Research

This essay reconsiders the nineteenth-century epidemic of hysteria in the context of common pharmaceutical practice. Examining the health records of industrial workers, Civil War soldiers, and such prominent figures as Abraham Lincoln, Louisa May Alcott, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, this essay argues that hysteria in its distinctive nineteenth-century manifestation was the result of mercury poisoning. Physicians throughout the nineteenth century commonly prescribed mercury treatments for everything from teething and diaper rash to dysentery and syphilis. Nineteenth-century Americans were habitually exposed to mercury, and yet physicians did not recognize the symptoms of chronic mercury poisoning, which included numbness and paralysis of …

A Decade Of Earth-Centered Scholarship And Activism, Elizabeth Allison

CIIS Faculty Publications

Origin stories reveal the myriad causes that converge to birth a new initiative. On the occasion of its tenth anniversary, this essay looks back to document the context and intellectual lineage out of which the Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion graduate program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) emerged in 2013, and suggests some possibilities for the future of transdisciplinary education and the fields of religion and ecology (e.g. Tucker and Grim 2001), religion and nature (e.g. B. Taylor 2010), and spiritual ecology (e.g. Sponsel 2012) more broadly.

Designing Self-Management For And With Persons Living With Dementia Osullivan, Dympna, Dympna O'Sullivan, Michael Wilson, Damon Berry, Orla Moran, Siobhan O,Neill, Ciaran Nugent, Jonathan Turner, Julie Doyle

Articles

Promoting high quality of life for persons living with dementia has emerged as a central goal in global public health agendas. The emphasis has shifted from extending life to actively enhancing overall well-being by postponing or preventing additional disability. This represents a departure from traditional medical perspectives on dementia to a more socially-oriented approach, placing a strong focus on wellbeing.

In parallel, the concept of self-management for people with living dementia has emerged, where this is a person-centred approach in which the individual is empowered and has ownership over the management of their life and condition. Practice recommendations for person-centered …

Improving Identification Of Complicated Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Using The Prediction Of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale, Kristin Hagopian

Dissertations

Problem: Individuals who drink alcohol excessively are at great risk for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) when hospitalized. Symptoms and their severity differ for everyone, and research shows that the identification and treatment of AWS is challenging and often inadequate. Mild AWS is often overtreated, while moderate to severe AWS is often underdiagnosed and undertreated, placing individuals at risk for longer hospital stays, more time needed in critical care units, and a variety of unintended consequences.

Methods: This evidence-based practice project had a pre-post intervention design in which the Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale (PAWSS) was implemented to promptly identify …

Implementation Of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring, Sarah Gutzke

Dissertations

Approximately 48.1% of adults in the United States have high blood pressure. Providers may encourage patients to monitor and log their blood pressure at home. Still, patients often fail to bring this information to appointments, leading to reliance on less comprehensive in-office measurements. This quality improvement project aimed to increase adherence to home blood pressure logs using a Blood Pressure Toolkit. A descriptive, observational design was utilized to record patient adherence of taking home blood pressure measurements and increase the number of patients who brought their blood pressure logs to their healthcare provider visits over two months. A convenience sample …

Bridging The Gap: Psychopharmacologic Education And Side Effect Screening For Non-Prescribing Mental Health Professionals, Elaine Fitzgerald

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: The United States is experiencing a growing demand for pediatric mental health support. Surges in mental health diagnoses and psychotropic medication prescriptions have occurred, compounded by a shortage of psychiatric providers. Non-prescribing mental health professionals are well-positioned to recognize psychotropic medication side effects. However, psychologists and counselors lack formal pharmacology education.

Methods: The quality improvement (QI) initiative was guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model. The evidence-based psychopharmacologic education for non-prescribers utilized a quasi-experimental pre- and post- test design. Data collected from clinicians included knowledge, confidence, and skill concerning psychotropic medications. The Psychotropic Medication Monitoring Checklist (PMMC) screen clients …

Improving Mental Health Outcomes For Amputees, Zachary Elmore

Dissertations

Problem: depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders are more commonly diagnosed in the amputee population related to changes in mobility, activities of daily living, and quality of life (Turner et al., 2020.) As the amputation population is projected to reach over 3 million Americans in the next 25 years, additional screening is imperative to identify patients at high-risk for mental health deterioration (Ziegler-Graham et al., 2018).

Methods: this was a project that included screening all patients with the Personal Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ-8) meeting the inclusion criteria of being admitted to 7500 Vascular Surgery at Barnes-Jewish …

Restraint Reduction Using The Brøset Violence Checklist, Deanna Kappelmann

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Patient aggression, restraint usage and assaults against healthcare workers have numerous negative health outcomes. Patient aggression and restraint usage on inpatient psychiatric units can be identified early with imminent violence predicative tools such as the Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC), where patient de-escalation interventions can subsequently occur.

Methods: This quality improvement project was conducted using a cohort design with a retrospective and prospective chart review. The IHI PDSA model was used for this project. The BVC was administered to male and female patients ages 18 to 64 years old on the adult inpatient psychiatric unit during the implementation period. …

Depression Screening And Education For Immigrants To Increase Access To Care, Viktoriya Ivantsova

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Immigrants are at risk for developing mental health disorders due to multiple factors including social, cultural, or economic factors. This can result in a lower quality of life and an increased chance of further disabilities. Although immigrants are at increased risk for the development of mental health disorders, studies show that utilization of available services and resources are low. Additionally, organizations that provide services to immigrants may not be implementing screening and psychoeducation.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) project followed a descriptive, observational design along with an educational intervention. Using convenience sampling for recruitment, Russian and/or Ukrainian adults …

Social Work In Pediatric Primary Care, Courtney Maxey

Dissertations

Social Work in Pediatric Primary Care

Abstract

Social determinants of health significantly impact a child's health, and pediatric primary care providers are in the optimal position to help provide treatment and resources to children in need. Studies have shown that integrating social work and nurse care managers has improved many health outcomes for children. This study attempts to answer how the presence of a social work led team impacts pediatric primary care. This project includes children ages 0-18 years seen at a pediatric office with select chronic conditions. Epic was used to perform a medical record review to identify the …

Addressing Daily Compliance Of Central Line Discussions In A Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Caitlin Sherwood

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine the impact of targeted education on the consistency of central line discussions during daily, multidisciplinary rounds in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit.

Method: The Kellogg Logic Model was utilized to guide this project. Education was created and presented to bedside nurses working within the unit regarding the importance of daily central line discussion and the impacts of central line associated blood stream infection on patients. The rate of central line discussion was collected pre- and post-intervention to assess effectiveness of the education.

Findings: This project failed to …

A Guideline-Based Approach To Increase Early Mobilization In The Pediatric Patient Following Cardiothoracic Surgery, Kayla Keeven

Dissertations

A Guideline-Based Approach to Increase Early Mobilization in the Pediatric Patient Following Cardiothoracic Surgery

Problem: Prolonged bedrest during the post-operative period contributes to complications that lengthen hospital stay and increase mortality and medical costs. Early mobilization is recognized as safe and feasible in critically ill children. However, there is no standardized procedure nor method of identifying patients who are safe to mobilize in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (ICU).

Method: The quality improvement (QI) project employed a descriptive observational design utilizing a retrospective-prospective method to assess the effects of implementing an early mobilization guideline in a pediatric cardiac ICU. …

Increasing Rates Of Advance Directives In Primary Care, Lindsay Shahi

Dissertations

Abstract Problem: Advance directives (ADs) are legal documents which outline one’s medical wishes if they are unable to make such decisions for themselves. ADs have been shown to reduce cost and improve quality-of-life (Starr et al., 2019), (Wright et al., 2008). Only 1/3 of adults in the United States have a completed advance directive (AD) or living will (Yadav et al., 2017). However, 90% of Americans feel it is important to have conversations about end of life, but only 30% have had this conversation (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2020). The Five Wishes document addresses decisions at end of life and …

Management Of Post-Extubation Dysphagia Using The Yale Swallow Protocol, Nicole West

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Post extubation dysphagia (PED) increases the patient’s risk for long term complications contributing to increased healthcare cost. Intensive care settings rarely use standardized swallow screening assessments for patients post extubation leading to variation in the evaluation of PED. Variation in the assessment of swallowing post extubation can lead to the missed diagnosis of patients with dysphagia.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) project was a prospective cohort study implementing an evidence-based swallow screening protocol, the Yale Swallow Protocol (YSP), in an intensive care unit. This study was conducted over four months, which included a pre survey, education, implementation, and …

Nevada Workforce Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Study 2024, Becky Harris, Andrea Dassopoulos

International Gaming Institute Faculty Research

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) metrics enable organizations to set concrete goals and monitor their performance. In 2021, Nevada’s legislature passed Senate Bill 267 (SB267), authorizing the University Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) to study DEI benchmarks in the State. A survey was provided to businesses, state and local governments, and the Nevada System of Higher Education in an effort to study and evaluate how effectively employers are implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in Nevada. The Nevada Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Study (Workforce Study) is designed to produce actionable results capable of informing public policy priorities and employer best …