Digital Commons Network^™

Application Of Ai Risk Prediction Tools For Cardiovascular Care In Hong Kong: A Systematic Review With Insights From Clinicians, Celine Sze Ling Chui, Celia Jiaxi Lin, Ruibang Luo, Yekai Zhou, Nadeem Qureshi, Li Wah Tam, Carmen Chan, Ian Chi Kei Wong, Kai Hang Yiu, P-Cardiac Consortium

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) present a substantial burden on global and local healthcare systems, particularly within Hong Kong's overstretched public secondary care settings coupled with an aging population. The Personalized CARdiovascular DIsease risk Assessment for Chinese (P-CARDIAC), a locally developed and validated artificial intelligence (AI) powered cardiovascular risk assessment tool, offers a transformative opportunity for enhancing care through systematic risk prediction and a multidisciplinary care approach. Implementation strategies for its application in secondary care remain undefined. Methods: We gathered local insights from one expert meeting and thirteen semi-structured interviews with cardiologists and pharmacists, matched these with barriers and respective facilitators …

Evaluation And Risk Stratification Of Ventricular Premature Complexes In Athletes: Practical Considerations For Differentiating Benign From Malignant Arrhythmias, Jacky Kit Chan, Erik Fung

Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology

Ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) are common in athletes, but distinguishing benign VPCs from malignant arrhythmias remains a clinical challenge. This review summarizes current evidence on VPC evaluation and risk stratification in athletes, emphasizing electrocardiographic (ECG) features, burden, morphology, coupling interval, and exercise response. While VPC prevalence in athletes mirrors the general population, high-risk features–such as non-fascicular, non-outflow tract morphologies (e.g., superior axis or wide QRS), short coupling intervals (<300 ms), and VPC exacerbation during exercise - correlate with underlying structural heart disease (e.g.,arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, idiopathic left ventricular scar) and adverse outcomes. Guideline-directed assessment recommends comprehensive evaluation for athletes with high VPC burden (>10%), complex arrhythmias, or abnormal imaging. Key findings include: (1) VPC-induced cardiomyopathy risk rises with burden >5–10%, though low-burden VPCs may still indicate arrhythmogenic substrates; (2) uncommon morphologies (e.g., non-fascicular, non-outflow …

Exploring Resilience, Energy Security, & Regulatory Frameworks, Dr. Edward T. Canuel, Lcdr J. Matthew Hurtt

LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources

No abstract provided.

Overcoming Legal And Policy Barriers To Net Energy Generation At Water Resource Recovery Facilities, David Strifling, Nigel Blake, Scout Devoti

LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources

No abstract provided.

Balancing Innovation & Safety: The Role Of State Law As The Use Of Artificial Intelligence Increases In Oil And Gas Operations, Anna Trahan

LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources

No abstract provided.

Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project: Navigating Endangered Species Act Litigation For Human Welfare, Dane Eastman

LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources

No abstract provided.

Mighty Mangrove Trees Bring The Creditors To The Yard: China To Swap Sri Lanka's Debt-For-Nature, Tharuka Fernando

LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources

No abstract provided.

Industrial Welfare: How The Industrial Tax Exemption Program Keeps Louisiana Poor, Grace Richert

LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources

No abstract provided.

Career Decidedness Among Multicultural Adolescents In South Korea: Relational Support And Internalized Psychological Resources, Kahyen Shin

Dissertations - ALL

Despite the growing number of multicultural adolescents in South Korea, little is known about how to support their career development. Specifically, Korean multicultural adolescents who have foreign-born mothers and Korean fathers have experienced educational and career gaps compared to non-multicultural adolescents in Korea. Given that relational supports are documented to have significant associations with adolescents' career decidedness, this study aims to examine the relationship between relational supports and career decidedness through internalized psychological resources such as self-esteem and achievement motivation. Grounded in the Relational Theory of Working (RTW; Blustein, 2011), the researcher focused on the mediating role of internalized psychological …

Understanding The Perspectives Of Refugee Youth On Education And Freedom In Malaysia, Seok Wun (Shiila) Au Yong

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation examines how refugee youth in Malaysia understand, experience, and reimagine education and freedom within a socio-political context that denies them legal recognition, mobility, access to public education, opportunities for legal employment, and affordable healthcare. As Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, refugees are not formally recognized by the state. Situating itself within refugee education scholarship and drawing on transnational feminism, critical refugee studies, critical disability studies, and queer theory, this study centers refugee youth as knowledge producers, interrogates dominant narratives of refugee youth, and challenges the conventional approaches to refugee education in order to …

Secukinumab Treatment Response In Moderate-To-Severe Plaque Psoriasis: A Monocentric Retrospective Study, Benny Effendi Wiryadi, Yuriawati Hendrawan, Rini Herlina, Albertus Agung Mahode

Journal of General - Procedural Dermatology and Venereology Indonesia

Background: Psoriasis affects approximately 2% of the global population and is associated with comorbidities such as depression, psoriatic arthritis, and cardiometabolic syndrome. Secukinumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-17A, is effective for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. This study assessed the real-world effectiveness of secukinumab over 52 weeks.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 53 patients aged ≥18 years who received secukinumab and were followed for 52 weeks. Patients received weekly loading doses followed by maintenance injections every four weeks. Effectiveness was evaluated using changes in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI).

Results: At week 16, 86.8% of patients achieved PASI <5, 79.2% PASI <3, 69.8% PASI <2, and 64.2% PASI <1, indicating substantial improvement. PASI 75 was achieved by 77.4% of patients at week 8. PASI 90 was achieved by 71.7% of all patients and by 76.9% of patients with psoriatic arthritis at week 16. No patients discontinued treatment because of adverse events.

Conclusion: …

Syphilis And Hiv Co-Infection Risk Factors At Dr. Moewardi Hospital, 2018–2022: A Retrospective Study, Endra Yustin Ellistasari, Prasetyadi Mawardi, Pratiwi Prasetya Primisawitri, Stella Gracia Octarica

Journal of General - Procedural Dermatology and Venereology Indonesia

Background: Treponema pallidum, the agent causing syphilis, is transmitted through contact with infectious lesions, bodily fluids, blood transfusions, or perinatally. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can mask the clinical manifestations of syphilis, while syphilis may exacerbate HIV progression. This study aimed to analyze risk factors associated with HIV co-infection among patients with syphilis.

Methods: This retrospective, analytical, observational study reviewed medical records from the Dermatology and Venereology outpatient clinic at Dr. Moewardi Hospital, Surakarta, Indonesia, between January 2018 and December 2022. Demographic, behavioral, and clinical variables were extracted. Univariable analysis was performed using simple binary logistic regression to …

U.S. Service Member To Counseling Student, Nicole Marie Arcuri-Sanders, Kellie Forziat-Pytel

Educational Sciences and Organizations

This qualitative descriptive study examines the absence of military career pathways for licensed mental health counselors (MHCs) and the impact of this structural limitation on service members' career transitions. Findings indicate that both combat and non-combat veterans pursued mental health counseling due to personal service-related mental health experiences and dissatisfaction with available care while in service. Despite these challenges, many participants expressed a strong desire to continue serving their country as professional counselors. Over half of the participants reported separating from the military because no occupational role existed for licensed MHCs. At the same time, most indicated they would have …

(R2161) Robust Optimization Of Industrial Hazardous Waste Location-Routing Problem Considering Response Actions To Environmental Risk, Sharareh Teimoori, Farhad Hosseinzadeh Lotfi, Seyyed Esmaeil Najafi, Navid Rafiei

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

The management of hazardous industrial waste has emerged as a significant global challenge due to rapid technological advancements. Industrial hazardous waste management systems must be designed not only to be cost-effective but also to minimize environmental risks. This study proposes a mixed-integer programming model for the location-routing of industrial hazardous waste that incorporates both primary and secondary environmental risks, along with suitable response actions. Furthermore, a scenario-based robust optimization model is developed to address uncertainties in the quantities of industrial hazardous waste. A case study is conducted to demonstrate the applicability and comparative performance of the nominal and robust models. …

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Confidence And Clinical Judgment Through Simulation Remediation In Nursing Students, Erica Gillespie

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Simulation is a critical component of nursing education, providing students with a safe environment to develop clinical judgment and confidence before entering clinical practice. However, students may experience anxiety and difficulty meeting competency expectations during simulation. This quality improvement project evaluated whether structured simulation remediation improved confidence and clinical judgment among associate degree nursing students. The project was guided by the NLN Jeffries Simulation Framework, and Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model supported implementation. A quantitative, quasi-experimental pre-/post- intervention design was used. Nine nursing students voluntarily participated. During remediation, students reviewed recordings of their initial simulation experiences and completed guided reflection questions …

The Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Diagnostic Testing Time Completion For African American End Stage Renal Disease (Esrd) Patients Being Evaluated For Kidney Transplantation, Kesha Levesque, Martina Mueller, Julie Anderson, Jennifer Gander, Gayenell Magwood Phd, Rn, Faha, Faan, Ahmed I. Kamal, Michael Jin Casey, Susan Newman Phd, Rn, Crrn, Faan

Publications

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic was directly associated with fewer additions to the kidney transplant waiting list and likely contributed to delays in transplant rates, particularly for African Americans. It remains unclear if the pandemic specifically had an impact on diagnostic testing time completion for African Americans being evaluated for kidney transplant waitlisting. AIMS: To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on kidney transplant diagnostic test completion time and assess racial disparities between African American and White patients. DESIGN: This retrospective study analyzed data on patients approved for kidney transplantation at a southeastern academic medical center between January 2018 and …

Lupus Vulgaris On The Left Arm Mimicking A Skin Tumor: A Case Report, Dwi Indria Anggraini, Nuriasani Yukendri, Indri Windarti

Journal of General - Procedural Dermatology and Venereology Indonesia

Background: Lupus vulgaris (LV) is a rare, paucibacillary form of post-primary cutaneous tuberculosis, accounting for 1.5% of all extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases globally. LV may arise via hematogenous spread, lymphatic route, or contiguous dissemination. The present case highlights the importance of considering LV in patients with chronic and atypical skin lesions, particularly in tuberculosis-endemic areas.

Case Illustration: A 17-year-old female presented with a 2-month history of a solitary, tender, erythematous nodule on the left arm. Initially suspected as a skin tumor, the lesion was surgically removed and tested for biopsy. One month postoperative, a new lesion developed precisely at the same …

Prognosis Of Early-Onset Alopecia Areata: An Evidence-Based Case Report, Sarah Qanita Edwar, Lili Legiawati, Stefani Reditya Anggraini, Ratu Siti Khadijah Sarah

Journal of General - Procedural Dermatology and Venereology Indonesia

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune, non-scarring hair loss disorder commonly affecting children and often characterized by a chronic or relapsing course. Early-onset AA has traditionally been associated with a poorer prognosis, although current evidence remains inconclusive. This evidence-based case report aims to evaluate the prognostic significance of early-onset AA by synthesizing available cohort data.

Methods: A structured literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ProQuest, and Cochrane databases using a population, intervention, comparison, and outcome framework. Keywords included “alopecia areata”, “child”, “pediatrics”, “early-onset”, “recurrence”, and “prognosis”.

Results: Five retrospective cohort studies (n = 760) were included. …

Components Of Skin Boosters: A Therapeutic Role In Dermatologic Conditions, Ita Anggraini, Yuwandita Tamara Putri Dermawan, Eka Komarasari, Prima Kartika Esti

Journal of General - Procedural Dermatology and Venereology Indonesia

Background: The term “skin booster” is commonly referred to in dermatology. These products may comprise several components, including exosomes, secretomes, chitosan, polydeoxyribonucleotide, platelet-rich plasma, and hyaluronic acid. In today’s world, the use of such products is not confined to aesthetic purposes; they are also used to treat several other skin conditions. This review paper highlights the role of “skin booster" components for different skin disorders based on their in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies.

Discussion: “Skin boosters” are bioactive agents typically administered into the dermal layer. Understanding the mechanisms of each component is important because their applications extend beyond …

The Effect Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Diagnostic Testing Time Completion For African American End Stage Renal Disease (Esrd) Patients Being Evaluated For Kidney Transplantation, Kesha Levesque, Martina Mueller, Julie Anderson, Jennifer Gander, Gayenell Magwood Phd, Rn, Faha, Faan, Ahmed I. Kamal, Michael Jin Casey, Susan Newman Phd, Rn, Crrn, Faan

Publications

PURPOSE:

The COVID-19 pandemic was directly associated with fewer additions to the kidney transplant waiting list and likely contributed to delays in transplant rates, particularly for African Americans. It remains unclear if the pandemic specifically had an impact on diagnostic testing time completion for African Americans being evaluated for kidney transplant waitlisting.

AIMS:

To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on kidney transplant diagnostic test completion time and assess racial disparities between African American and White patients.

DESIGN:

This retrospective study analyzed data on patients approved for kidney transplantation at a southeastern academic medical center between January 2018 and …

“Cutting-Off With My Family Is Never An Option In My Mind”: An Exploration Of Navigating Identity, Connections And Relational Resilience In Family And Intimate Relationships For Transgender Asian Americans, Jixuan Zhao

Dissertations - ALL

Transgender Asian Americans navigate gender identity within complex cultural, familial, and relational contexts shaped by collectivist values, racialized stereotypes, and social stigma. Despite increasing research on transgender experiences, limited scholarship has explored how transgender Asian Americans understand and negotiate their identities within family and intimate relationships. Grounded in Minority Stress Model and intersectionality theory, the current study, adopted strength-based perspectives, aims to understand unique experience related to familial and intimate relationships as well as their supports, and how they manage their relational needs as well as resilience process, shaped by the intersection of transgender identity and racial/ethnic identity. Through semi-structured …

Talking From The Soul: Exploring The Impact Of African American Vernacular English (Aave) In Digital News On Black Youth Political Behavior, Ananda Collins

Dissertations - ALL

Black youth have a long history of political engagement yet consistently report the lowest levels of traditional forms of political participation in the entire U.S electorate. While social media has emerged as an alternative political space, structural and linguistic barriers continue to limit their engagement. This dissertation examines whether African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in digital political news media influences the political behavior of young Black Americans. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines a survey experiment and in-depth interviews, this study tests whether political news written in AAVE, compared to Standard American English (SAE), affects political engagement, information retention, and …

Inundated With Uncertainty: A Cartographic Assessment Of Fema’S Flood Insurance Rate Maps (Firms) And Flood Risk Discourse, Michael Cabal

Theses - ALL

Flooding accounts for almost 90% of all natural disasters in the United States. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is the authoritative agency tasked with mapping Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) that determine high-risk flood zones. These maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), are used to establish mandatory flood insurance requirements, regulate local floodplain building requirements, inform future development, and mitigate potential flood damage. However, the process for updating and implementing flood maps has come under significant scrutiny for being oversimplified, inaccurate, and incomplete. Despite existing scholarship on the shortfalls of FEMA’s recent responses to disasters, there is limited …

Complex Question Analysis In Voice Commands Using Generate Sql For Database Searching, P. Prabaswara, D. Wardani

Baghdad Science Journal

The definition of a complex question is a long sentence with many focal points that may have many answers, involve many entities, or use non-standard linguistic constructs. Complex questions can be obtained from voice commands. It will help some people with blindness or visual impairments. Voice commands have become a mandatory feature of applications, including the basic one to access databases. In this work, the Generate Structured Query Language Configuration (GSC) approach was developed to answer complex questions in the Indonesian language. The non-learning approach was chosen as the learning process needs costly computation and is inappropriate for low-resource languages. …

Sensorimotor Factors In Fall Risk Assessment And Prevention In Older Adults, Claire Smith

Dissertations - ALL

The primary objective of this dissertation was to test the validity and sensitivity of a novel fall risk assessment and investigate the sensorimotor factors that prevent a fall. Study 1 was designed to validate a novel reaction time test and see if it was sensitive enough to correctly assign an older adult’s fall status. The evidence showed a significant difference between young and non-faller older adults (p < 0.001) and young and faller older adults (p = 0.040), supporting the existing literature. Although there was no significant difference between the older and fallers (p = 0.037), the reaction time test was able to accurately assign adults with their fall status, accurately placing 25% of the 36% of actual fallers into the fall status category. Study 2 examined if traditionally used measures of functional health could predict an older adult’s postural performance following random perturbations at increasingly difficult intensities. Stepwise multiple regression results indicated that gait speed (p < 0.001) and balance performance (p < 0.001) were significant predictors at the lowest perturbation intensity with no distractions (single-task), and plantarflexor strength (p < 0.001) was a significant predictor at all intensities with the addition of a distraction (dual-task) for stride length performance. There were no significant predictors of bilateral symmetry performance (p > 0.05). Study 3 examined the physiological mechanisms behind postural responses following a sudden perturbation. Stepwise multiple regression results indicated that H-reflex amplitude while standing was most common significant predictor at all perturbation intensities …

Examining Public Perceptions Of Source Credibility In Mental And Physical Health Communication, Bailey Fraser Dr, Joanna Pozzulo Dr., Emily Pica Dr.

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Surveys in Canada and the United States have indicated declines in subjective well-being alongside growing public interest in improving personal health. With increased availability of credible and non-credible health information, particularly online, it is important to understand how the public perceives the credibility of various information sources for physical and mental health information. The present research is the first known study to directly compare perceptions of source credibility across mental versus physical health contexts and to examine associated information-seeking behaviors. Results indicated that participants consistently rated professional sources as more credible than layperson sources and perceived meaningful differences in the …

Racial Differences In Hiv Testing And Hiv Infection Among Adults With Seborrheic Dermatitis In Atlanta, Georgia, Olivia Elizabeth Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Impactful Relationships Of Electricity Availability, Cost, And Metering On Socioeconomic Policy Factors In Nigerian Communities, Emmanuel Amanor Adamasi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Ghanaian Men's Experiences With The Police In The United States, Martin Gbadago

Research Papers

While previous research has examined the police encounters of various immigrant populations and the general U.S. population, the specific experiences of Ghanaian men remain largely unknown. This study explored the police experiences of Ghanaian men in the United States. Using in-depth interviews, conducted via Zoom, with fifteen Ghanaian men, aged 27 to 48, this study investigated their encounters with U.S. police, perceptions of law enforcement, experiences of racial profiling, mistreatment, and violence, and the impact of their immigrant status on their encounters with the police.  Analysis of interview data shows that Ghanaian men’s experiences with U.S. police vary based on …

Topical Normal Saline, Alcohol, And Petrolatum For Marsi: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Michael Hartanto Angriawan, Shannaz Nadia Yusharyahya, Rahadi Rihatmadja

Journal of General - Procedural Dermatology and Venereology Indonesia

Background: Medical adhesive-related skin injury (MARSI) is a common complication associated with acrylic-based adhesive removal. Topical agents such as 0.9% NaCl (normal saline), white petrolatum, and 70% alcohol are commonly used to assist adhesive removal; however, their effectiveness in reducing MARSI remains unclear.

Methods: This single-blind randomized controlled trial with a within-subject design included 56 healthy adults. Acrylic-based adhesives were applied to four sites on the upper arms. Adhesive removal was performed on days 3 and 6 using three interventions (normal saline, petrolatum, alcohol) and one control (no topical agent). Outcomes included MARSI incidence, clinical erythema score, erythema index, transepidermal …