Digital Commons Network^™

Nrsg 247.01: Health And Illness Of Child & Family Nursing Clinical, Ginger M. Sillars

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Imagining What’S Next In Pediatric Feeding Care, Amy L. Delaney

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

Pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) is now recognized as a diagnostic entity, and we have the diagnostic and procedural codes for it. This is a turning point in our field because these codes don’t just unlock reimbursement—they validate and name the invisible. They allow us to collect data and identify patterns, and they open a door to remarkable things.

Preparing The Next Generation Of Health Education Teachers For The Ethical Use Of Ai, Melissa J. Haithcox-Dennis, Reeshemah Johnson

Journal of Research Initiatives

This article examines how health education teacher preparation programs can prepare future educators to use artificial intelligence (AI) in responsible and effective ways. It begins with a brief overview of the use of AI in education, considering the growing impact of generative AI technologies on teaching and learning. The article outlines international and national standards that govern the application of AI in education, addressing key ethical concerns, including the dissemination of inaccurate health information, violations of student privacy, bias, and inequitable access to AI tools. The article emphasizes the importance of ethical decision-making and professional responsibility when integrating AI into …

Integrated Systems Biology Identifies Disruptions In Mitochondrial Function And Metabolism As Key Contributors To Hfpef, Andrew A. Gibb, Kyle Lapenna, Ryan B. Gaspar, Nadina R. Latchman, Yinfei Tan, Carmen Choya-Foces, Jake E. Doiron, Zhen Li, Huijing Xia, Michael P. Lazaropoulos, Mariell Conwell, Thomas E. Sharp, Traci T. Goodchild, David J. Lefer, John W. Elrod

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) accounts for ∼50% of HF cases. The ZSF1-obese rat model recapitulates clinical features of HFpEF including hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome, exercise intolerance, and diastolic dysfunction. We utilized a systems-biology approach to define the metabolic and transcriptional signatures to gain mechanistic insight into pathways contributing to HFpEF development. Male ZSF1-obese, ZSF1-lean hypertensive controls, and WKY (wild-type) controls were compared at 14 weeks of age for extensive physiological phenotyping and left ventricle (LV) tissue harvesting for unbiased-metabolomics, RNA-sequencing, and mitochondrial morphology and function. Utilizing ZSF1-lean and WKY controls enabled a distinction between hypertension-driven molecular changes …

Estimating Drivers Of Certified Seed Adoption Among Colombian Rice Producers And Assessing Yield Impacts At The Plot Level, Jenika Hazelbaker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the population rises, there is a growing need to increase agricultural productivity to keep up with food demands. However, agricultural land expansion to increase production is not a sustainable solution long-term. The Global South particularly faces greater needs for rice as a staple food, yet countries in Latin America like Colombia have faced declining rice yields. Technologies that boost agricultural productivity using existing land, such as certified seeds, are considered a tool to address this problem in the face of land scarcity and climate change. Certified seeds have high genetic purity and are free from disease. Despite the quality …

Insulin Therapy In Acute Necrotizing Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Pancreatitis: A Case Report, John Stevenson, Medjine Jarbath, Ethan Morgan

Aurora GME

No abstract provided.

University Of Denver Water Law Review 2025 Annual Symposium: Partnerships In Water, Water Law Review

Water Law Review

Kay Shepherd. "Keynote"

Chaney Hornbacher and Abbey Obourn. "The Shoshone Water Rights Deal: The Historic Effort to Preserve Colorado's Oldest Water Rights"

Marley Crank and Amanda Gill. "Water Sharing Agreements in Southeast Colorado: Efficiency and Conservation in the Arkansas River Valley"

Drew Woodward and Jordan Cruz. "Settlements, Compacts, Commissions, and More: Nonlitigation Alternatives to Resolving Federally Reserved Water Rights"

Impact Of Varied Dietary Macronutrient Ratios On The Nutrition Status Of Swiss Albino Mice, Hellen Kinyi, Charles Kato, Gertrude Kiwanuka

Biomedical Sciences, East Africa

The nutrition status of an organism depends on the balance between nutrient intake and utilization. Malnutrition results not only from inadequate caloric intake but also from imbalanced macronutrient ratios, which can affect aging, metabolism, and health. While many studies focus on individual nutrients, this study used purified, isocaloric diets with varying macronutrient ratios to assess dietary effects on nutrition markers in Swiss albino mice.

Mice were randomized into 6 dietary groups, each containing 6 males and 6 females housed separately. Each group received an isocaloric diet with different carbohydrate, protein, and lipid ratios for 15 weeks. Animal weight, body mass …

Docking Investigation Of Thevetia Peruviana Plant Compounds For Targeting Molluscicidal Activity Against Biomphalaria Alexandrina Snails, The Intermediate Host Of Schistosoma Mansoni, Samah I. Ghoname, Basma H. Amin, Asmaa T. Mohamed, Olfat A. Olfat A. Hammam, Hebat‑Allah A. Dokmak

Nanotechnology Research Centre

Background Thevetia peruviana, commonly known as Yellow Oleander or Cabbage Tree, is a tropical shrub. Extracts from various parts of the plant (e.g., leaves, seeds) have demonstrated pesticidal properties, including the ability to repel or kill intermediate hosts of Schistosomiasis. Methods This study employed gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis to identify 33 compo nents in the ethanol extract, with key compounds exhibiting antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory, anticancer, and anti microbial properties. Additionally, the research investigated the molluscicidal activity of the plant extract, its impact on Caspase‑3 expression, steroid sex hormone levels in Biomphalaria alexandrina, and histological alterations in the digestive and hermaphrodite …

Noteworthy Practices For Performing Mpo Administrative Functions, Jeff Kramer, Tia Boyd, Taylor Dinehart

Transportation Planning, Policy, and Processes (TP3) Final Reports

Federal and state laws, regulations, and guidance provide metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in Florida and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) with rules and information for managing aspects of MPO administrative tasks. However, they do not state the exact manner in which those tasks can be achieved. Additionally, there is limited specific research and guidance related to MPO noteworthy practices in MPO administrative functions that would help MPOs in Florida save time and money by streamlining and improving the efficiency of a wide variety of administrative tasks and functions. These tasks fall into several broad categories, including progress reporting and …

Distribution Of Block Grant Funding: Considerations For Rural Communities, Kate E. Beatty, Casey P. Balio, Margaret M. Francisco, Michael B. Meit, Stephanie M. Mathis

ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center Policy Briefs

No abstract provided.

A Rural Lens On Federal Block Grant Distribution, Casey P. Balio, Stephanie M. Mathis, Margaret M. Francisco, Michael Meit, Kate E. Beatty

ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center Policy Briefs

No abstract provided.

A Review Of Common Limitations In Rural-Related Studies In The Peer-Reviewed Literature, Stephanie M. Mathis, Olivia A. Sullivan, Margaret M. Francisco, Nicole Galler, Kate E. Beatty, Michael B. Meit, Chyanne Morrison, Christiana Keinath

ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center Policy Briefs

No abstract provided.

A Mixed-Methods Approach To Describe Typologies And Fiber Consumption Patterns Of Hispanic/Latino Adults Grouped Using Cluster Analysis, Nicholas Clarke

Master's Theses and Capstones

AbstractBackground: Hispanic/Latino adults in the United States experience disproportionate rates of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases yet remain underrepresented in obesity research. Traditional “one-size-fits-all” nutrition interventions have demonstrated limited effectiveness in this population, largely due to substantial heterogeneity in cultural, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors that influence dietary patterns. Objectives: The overarching goal of this project was to further characterize previously identified subgroups within the Hispanic/Latino population to provide a foundation for future tailored interventions that address the specific needs and preferences of these subpopulations. Specific aims were to: 1. Describe cluster typologies using a virtual nominal group technique (vNGT) with …

Wildlife Connectivity And Its Relationship With Vehicle Collision Hotspots Across New Hampshire, Clara Dawson

Master's Theses and Capstones

Chp. 1: Road networks fragment wildlife habitat and impede wildlife connectivity, which leads to elevated wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC) risk and increased danger to humans and wildlife. Habitat connectivity has been linked to WVC hotspot location and intensity, but this relationship likely depends on landscape context and road characteristics, which may be nonlinear due to varying habitat availability. Our objective was to evaluate factors affecting WVC location and intensity across New Hampshire, USA, with a focus on habitat connectivity. We assessed the relationship between WVCs and five connectivity models using generalized additive models and compared connectivity effects to road and land …

Toxin-Producing Cyanobacteria In Green Manure Microbiomes, Alyssa Nicole Daigle

Master's Theses and Capstones

The increasing reliance on inefficient synthetic fertilizers, which readily leach from soils and contribute to downstream pollution, underscores the urgent need for more sustainable nutrient sources, such as green manures (GMs). Floating aquatic plants like duckweeds are particularly promising candidates due to their natural abundance, rapid growth rates, and ability to efficiently uptake nutrients. However, the presence of toxin-producing cyanobacteria in duckweed microbiomes raises concerns about the potential for toxin accumulation, like microcystins (MCs), both in the GM biomass and in the edible crops to which it is applied. To evaluate the suitability and safety of duckweed-based GMs, we conducted …

Host Evolutionary History As A Predictor Of Microbiome Breeding Success, Ciana Lazu

Master's Theses and Capstones

Microbial inoculants present a potential alternative to artificial fertilizers and other chemical products in agriculture, yet microbial products derived from non-native microbes may pose ecological risks or fail to thrive. On the other hand, creating microbial inoculants from local microbes via “microbiome breeding” can be unpredictable. Here, the aquatic plant Lemna minor (duckweed), microbes isolated from duckweed, and microbes isolated from other, co-occurring aquatic plants was used to evaluate if the evolutionary distance between hosts from which microbes are sourced is a predictor of the success in “breeding” locally derived microbiomes to promote duckweed growth. “Microbiome breeding” was performed on …

Increasing The Knowledge Base Of A Novel Fruit Crop, Actinidia Arguta, To Promote Adoption In The Northeastern United States, Zoe Rose Robinson

Master's Theses and Capstones

The unique attributes of kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta (Siebold et Zucc.) Planch ex. Miq) make it a promising high-value fruit crop for the Northeastern United States, although not widely grown in the region. As discussed in Chapter 1, it is likely that some of the barriers to kiwiberry diffusion in the Northeast include basic research gaps (e.g. crop physiology, management, and enterprise analysis), and a lack of farmer-to-farmer communication channels. To address some of these barriers, this thesis reports the results of a Northeast commercial kiwiberry growers survey to provide a portrait of current regional kiwiberry production, and experiments to determine …

The Role Of Liver Macrophages In Viral Liver Pathogenesis, Alexis Brantly, Kyle Yeakle, Michael J. Bouchard, Peter J. Gaskill, Michael R. Nonnemacher

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Liver macrophages play important roles in the pathophysiology of liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, liver macrophages are a heterogenous population and have differing roles in maintenance of liver function and response in disease. In a healthy liver, macrophages play a critical role in antigen processing, maintaining tolerance to the high levels of gut-derived bacterial products, and regulating inflammation through cytokine response. However, macrophages also play a critical role in liver pathology, specifically in the context of viral infection. The liver is targeted by multiple viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus, which dysregulate macrophage …

Unplanned Hospitalization Among Advanced Prostate Cancer Patients By Diabetes Status: A Population-Based Study, Amy L. Shaver, Krupa Gandhi, Scott W. Keith, Nikita Nikita, Christopher C. Yang, Felix J. Kim, Hushan Yang, William K. Kelly, Stephen J. Freedland, Grace Lu-Yao

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Older adults with advanced prostate cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus are underrepresented in trials of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors. This study examined changes in unplanned hospitalization rates in patients receiving androgen receptor pathway inhibitors by type 2 diabetes mellitus status and assessed if unplanned hospitalization varies according to androgen receptor pathway inhibitors.

METHODS: This population-based study of advanced prostate cancer patients aged older than 66 years used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data. Prepost androgen receptor pathway inhibitor initiation changes and androgen receptor pathway inhibitor differences in unplanned hospitalization rates were estimated by adjusted incidence rate ratio with …

Balancing Acts: Student Rights, Parental Authority, And State Interests In Modern Sex Education, Linda S. Anderson

Marquette Benefits and Social Welfare Law Review

The article explores the complex interplay between parental rights, state authority, and student interests in the context of sex education in American public schools. It highlights the ongoing tension between abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education approaches, emphasizing the need for a student-centric framework that balances the rights and responsibilities of all stakeholders. The current legal landscape is examined through historical development, seminal court decisions, and recent legislative trends. Empirical evidence is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of comprehensive sex education in promoting public health and supporting adolescents' development. The article advocates for a framework that incorporates student autonomy, age-appropriate content, …

Legislating Loss: Bereavement And State Level Statutes Across The 50 United States, Julio Montanez

Marquette Benefits and Social Welfare Law Review

Bereavement is an effectively inescapable experience. As such, many interventions (e.g., counseling) exist to support adaptation to life without a loved one. There are also legal interventions—such as laws—that carve out space, time, and resources for dealing with bereavement. Using an approach that blends three methodological techniques (i.e., evidence synthesis, policy surveillance, and grounded theory method), the current study explores the characteristics of bereavement statutes across the United States. Several thematic categories were constructed through exhaustive engagement with the qualitative statutory data: Health (e.g., Hospice), Responding (i.e., First Responding and Final Responding), Work Leave, Education, Observance/Commemoration, Government, and Miscellaneous. The …

Minor League Baseball Players' Ascendance From "Seasonal Apprentices" To Full-Time Baseball Players, Garrett Q. Mcguinness

Hofstra Law Review

This article focuses on the historic ratification and ongoing challenges of the first Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players, signed in 2023, over fifty years after Major League Baseball (MLB) players first secured a CBA. It outlines the long-standing disparities between MiLB and MLB players, including delayed unionization, inadequate salaries, poor housing, limited health benefits, and restricted player mobility under the reserve clause. The article highlights key events leading to the CBA, such as the Senne lawsuit addressing wage violations and the controversial Save America’s Pastime Act, which exempted MiLB players from minimum wage laws. While …

Influence Of Disaster Experience On Farmers’ Livelihood Strategies Under Extreme Climate Events In Guizhou Province, China, Yumei Bai, Huiqing Han, Yuanju Jian

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Extreme climate events have emerged as a critical challenge to global agricultural production and farmers’ livelihoods. Climate change not only directly impacts crop yields and quality but also compels farmers to adjust their livelihood strategies to address escalating climate risks. This study aimed to investigate how disaster experiences influence farmers’ choice of livelihood strategies, focusing on post-disaster adjustments to cope with climate risks. Using survey data from 1,066 farmers in Guizhou Province, China, ordinary least squares (OLS) and logit models were employed to explore the influence of disaster experience on livelihood strategies, analyzing the mediating role of risk attitudes and …

Crispr-Cas9 Gene Editing In Tomato: Development And Characterization Under Stress, Jun Guo

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Transcription factor (TF) families played essential roles in plant responses to abiotic stress, contributing significantly to stress tolerance and adaptation. The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) TF family included 161 members in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Previous proteomic analysis identified TF bHLH148 (Solyc01g058670) as being upregulated under aluminum (Al) stress, suggesting a potential role in Al tolerance. To investigate this, CRISPR-Cas9 was used to generate SlbHLH148 knockout mutants in the ‘Black Vernissage’ tomato cultivar. Two homozygous T2 lines, Slbhlh148-1 and Slbhlh148-2, were confirmed to contain frameshift mutations that resulted in truncated proteins lacking the bHLH_AtIBH1_like domain, as shown by protein modeling. Phenotypic evaluation …

Evaluating Early Successional Habitat Selection By Herpetofauna And Pygmy Rattlesnakes In Tennessee, Carlin Frost

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Coupled with climate change, global biodiversity declines are exacerbated by increasing anthropogenic pressures and ecosystem destruction. Amphibians and reptiles are particularly vulnerable due to their specific and narrow habitat requirements. In Tennessee, the Western Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri) is classified as Threatened and is primarily associated with floodplains adjacent to early successional habitats (ESH) in the western Interior Plateau ecoregion. These ESH support unique flora and fauna but have declined in recent decades, largely due to urban encroachment and disturbance suppression. Studying snakes is challenging because of their limited activity periods, small home ranges, and low detectability from cryptic …

Polish Adaptation Of The Self-Stigma Of Stuttering Scale: Scale Development And Analysis, Marta Wesierska, Natalia Świsłocka, Katarzyna Węsierska, Michael P. Boyle

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Purpose: There is currently no available assessment of self-stigmatization for people who stutter in Polish, and previous research has identified a clear need for such a measure to be implemented in therapy settings. The aim of this study was to adapt the Self-Stigma of Stuttering Scale (4S) to Polish. Method: The study recruited 108 Polish adults who stutter (48.1 % female, 51.9 % male), ranging in age from 18 to 67. Participants were mainly recruited via speech language pathologists (SLPs) and self-help group leaders. Participants completed the Polish translation of the 4S scale, as well as questions on general mental …

Procedures For Rangeland Condition Assessment In The Pilbara And Southern Rangelands 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

This report defines the procedures used in 2025 by DPIRD to complete rangeland condition assessment (RCA) in the Pilbara and southern rangelands region which has predominantly shrub-based pastures. For the rest of the pastoral estate, DPIRD uses the Procedures for RCA in the Kimberley which has grass pastures.

RCA is the process DPIRD uses to make systematic, station-level assessment of rangeland. Rangeland condition considers both the condition of pastures (defined in the ‘Pasture condition guides for the Pilbara’ and ‘Pasture condition guides for the southern rangelands including the Gascoyne, Murchison and Goldfields-Nullarbor’) and soils as determined by erosion, using the …

Procedures For Rangeland Condition Assessment In The Kimberley 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

This report defines the procedures used in 2025 by DPIRD to complete rangeland condition assessment (RCA) in the Kimberley region which has grass-based pastures. For the rest of the pastoral estate, DPIRD uses the Procedures for RCA in the Pilbara and southern rangelands which have predominantly shrub pastures.

RCA is the process DPIRD uses to make systematic, station-level assessment of rangeland. Rangeland condition considers both the condition of pastures (as defined in the 'Pasture condition guide for the Kimberley') and soils as determined by erosion, using the erosion assessment method on pastoral lands in Western Australia. The methods have evolved …

Early Phase Testing Of Functional Imagery Training As An Intervention For Anxiety, Jackie Andrade, D. J. Kavanagh, Carly Bowditch, Emily Mackriel, Emily Ravenshill, Amy Sime, Eleanor Trumfield, Jessica Watts, Jon May

School of Psychology

Cognitive models hypothesize a role for motivated behaviour in anxiety disorders, with safety behaviours leading to exaggerated threat appraisals and increased anticipatory anxiety. Based on the Affective Imagery Theory of Motivation, we propose that increasing motivation for engagement behaviours will reduce motivation for safety behaviours through competition for limited capacity cognitive resources supporting motivational imagery. We hypothesise that imagining successful engagement will reduce anxiety directly, and through promoting subsequent engagement. We present preliminary evidence that functional imagery training (FIT), an intervention that develops and teaches motivational imagery, reduces anxiety. FIT was delivered to undergraduates with anxiety in one session lasting …