Digital Commons Network^™

Kohlhaas V. State: Encouraging Democratic Reform Through Constitutional Flexibility, Allyson Barkley, Connor Sakati

Alaska Law Review

In the spirit of democracy reform, Alaska recently adopted a jungle primary and ranked choice voting electoral system for all state-wide elections. In Kohlhaas v. State, the Alaska Supreme Court upheld this reform against numerous state and federal constitutional challenges. While doing so, the court avoided rigid constitutional interpretations that would have frozen the electoral system in its current first-past-the-post state. Moreover, the court refused to credit the plaintiff's speculation about the hypothetical malign effects of ranked-choice voting, placing the burden to produce hard evidence of their critiques on RCV's opponents. Alaska can serve as a model for other …

Service Learning To Develop Culturallyappropriate Nutrition Education [Executive Summary], Teresa Buckner

Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The goal of this project is to train students in cultural competency, develop culturally-appropriate nutrition education materials for a diverse audience, and deliver nutrition education to the community of Greeley, CO.

Heat Transfer Techniques In Large-Scale Hydrogen Storage Using Metal Hydride Materials, Seth A. Thomas

Engineering

One of the methods being investigated for storing hydrogen is the use of metal hydride materials. Metal hydrides are able to absorb and release hydrogen, giving them a wide range of potential applications for hydrogen storage. These materials are generally considered to be safe, stable, reusable, and are able to store and release hydrogen at lower pressures and near ambient temperatures. Despite these benefits, there are still existing limitations that hinder their widespread applicability. One of the main issues presented is the necessity for effective heat removal during the absorption process. When hydrogen is being absorbed by the metal hydride …

Volume Cxliii, Number 23, May 17, 2024, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Implications Of Detachment Promoting Agents, Disinfectants And Flow Hydraulics On Growth And Dispersion Of Bacterial Biofilms In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, Fayzul Kabir

Engineering

Biofilms in water distribution systems (WDS) can adversely affect the effluent water quality and structural integrity of pipes. Current disinfectants and flushing strategies often prove insufficient to mitigate biofilm growth. Long-term monitoring of biofilm growth under varied WDS flow and disinfection conditions is needed (and often overlooked) for improving biofilm management in the WDS. An alternative approach to counter biofilms in the WDS over the traditional approach of using antimicrobials is to target and weaken the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) instead of just the microorganisms in the biofilms - via the use of 'detachment promoting agents' (DPAs) to weaken the …

Refining Triage Documentation Practices In A Metropolitan Emergency Department, Jack A. Moody

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem California ranks ninth nationwide for its lengthy emergency department wait times, presenting a pressing challenge for healthcare facilities. Context This quality improvement project, set in the emergency department of a large urban hospital in the Bay Area, aimed to address this issue by targeting workflow efficiency through the reduction of triage times. Intervention The intervention centered on implementing changes to the triage documentation, informed by staff feedback obtained through an opinion survey. Proposed modifications included the elimination of redundant questions, consolidation of related categories, and a logical reorganization of triage topics. Measures Key measures utilized in the project included …

Increasing Adherence To A Nurse-Driven Removal Protocol To Reduce Indwelling Urinary Catheter Days, Hannah K. Brosnan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem

Nurse-driven removal protocols (NRDPs) have been shown to reduce indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) days and prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Communication barriers prevent consistent implementation of the NDRP, leading to delayed IUC removal and increased risk of CAUTIs.

Context

The project was conducted in a 16-bed adult surgical intensive care unit (ICU) at a teaching hospital in a major metropolitan area.

Interventions

Urinary catheter reminder posters displaying IUC days were posted at each bedside to prompt discussion of IUC indication and removal. An email describing the project background was sent to all nurses and physicians by the unit …

Enhancing Pain Documentation In Medical Surgical Units: Integrating Supportive Tools With Pain Nursing Education, Mariana Arias

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Pain management in in-patient care, particularly involving opioids, is critical due to the associated risks. Proper pain assessment is essential to ensure safe medication administration and mitigate adverse effects.

Context: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to improve opioid assessment and documentation rate above 90% compliance in two medical-surgical units, focusing on bedside nurses who play a crucial role in patient safety and effective pain management.

Interventions: A baseline survey provided nurses' understanding on compliance criteria and assessment timing. Interventions included visual reminders, informational posters, and instructions on how to access individual compliance reports.

Measures: A post intervention survey …

Enhancing Peripartum Care Through Standardized Nurse Knowledge Exchange, Gabriela Ochoa

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem Inconsistent handoff practices during patient transfers can cause mistakes and adverse outcomes. Hospital A's peripartum unit has no set policy for Nurse Knowledge Exchange (NKE) during transfers. This project will introduce a standard handoff guide to enhance communication and prevent harmful results after patient transfers.

Context The quality improvement project was conducted in a peripartum mesosystem within an urban hospital in Northern California. This specific area of the hospital comprised 21 postpartum rooms and nine laboring rooms.

Intervention The project involved a methodical strategy that encompassed engaging stakeholders, conducting a literature review, and analyzing data to pinpoint areas for …

Titans Stood As Sole Undergrad Presenters At National Science Symposium, Julia Perez

News and Events (Discontinued Series)

No abstract provided.

Symposium Transcript

Richmond Public Interest Law Review

No abstract provided.

Sediment Characteristics And Economic Potential Of Large Methane Seeps In Esieh Lake, Nw, Janelle Marie Sharp

Geosciences

My thesis evaluates lake sediment characteristics and how they have been affected as large geologic methane (CH₄) seeps formed in Esieh Lake (informal name), a lake in Northwest Alaska. I provide extensive background of the lake, including a synthesis of studies and reports that characterize the geology around this lake which, to date, contains the largest known CH₄ seeps in the Arctic. In addition to providing background information on Esieh Lake and characterizing the lake's sediments, I evaluate the economic potential for the CH₄ seeps and compare flux values to natural gas projects which were previously completed in Alaska and …

Asthma And Peak Flow Assessments Based On Nhlbi Asthma Guidelines, Julia Gliceria Almario Regalado

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Asthma exacerbations are consequences of poor asthma control. Asthma guidelines-grounded interventions can improve adherence to asthma guidelines and assessments in primary care settings. The goals of asthma management are to optimize asthma control, minimize the risk of asthma exacerbations, and minimize the adverse effects of asthma medications.

Local Problem: A primary care practice in Northern California had frequent office visits for acute asthma symptoms. Ongoing asthma control monitoring is a key performance indicator of high-quality asthma care.

Methods: The quality improvement evidence-based observational project examined the effectiveness of interventions. The pre-and post-survey assessments collected clinician knowledge and adherence, and …

Nurse-Led Telehealth Visits For Patients With Multiple Sclerosis During The Covid-19 Pandemic And Beyond, Eun Hye Kim

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Nearly one million individuals are affected with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the United States, and it was estimated the annual economic burden of multiple sclerosis in the U.S. at over $85.4 billion in 2022.

Problem: During the outbreak of COVID-19, the number of nurse-led patient education sessions has decreased due to the conversion of in-person clinic visits to telehealth visits. Despite the widespread use of telehealth for MS patients post-COVID-19 pandemic, limited data is available about the use of nurse-led telehealth visits with a standardized workflow.

Method: A quality improvement project was implemented at the MS clinic in Northern …

Fostering Interprofessional Collaboration In Community College Mental Health Centers: A Quality Improvement Project, Sara Jane Hamilton

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background The worsening mental health rates among college students in the United States highlight the critical need for campuses to have high-quality comprehensive mental health centers (MHC). This necessity is particularly urgent in community college MHCs, which often lack these attributes. Local Problem An MHC within a large California community college recently introduced telepsychiatry services and is considering integrating a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) into their team. However, knowledge gaps and limited interprofessional education (IPE) may hinder effective collaboration within the team. Methods A comprehensive literature review was conducted to assess current research on IPE, community college mental …

Implementing Diabetic Eye Care Education For Healthcare Professionals, Misun Serena Moser

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common cause of diabetic eye complications and a leading cause of preventable vision loss in American adults. Skaggs et al. (2017) reported that DR screening prevents vision loss by 95%. The evidence reports that only 60% of people with diabetes have attended the recommended DR screenings (Flaxel et al., 2020). Emerging evidence supports patient education about diabetic eye care and its guidelines by health care professionals (HCPs) as the main facilitator to accomplish this goal (Khair et al., 2020; Moinul et al., 2020). Healthcare professionals are pivotal in encouraging or discouraging DR screening …

Understanding Preschool Teachers' Perceptions Of Challenging Behavior: "It's Exhausting", Elizabeth Stapleton

Educational Studies Dissertations

Child maltreatment is a widespread issue across the United States, directly impacting young children’s learning and behavior. Yet, variability found in early education pre-service training does not include focus on this topic. Early education teachers often experience low wages, long work hours, and a lack of support to meet the needs of young children. This mixed methods study sought to understand preschool teachers’ perceptions of challenging behavior in their classrooms and the impact challenging behavior has on relationships within the classroom community. Quantitative data was collected from 30 preschool teachers using the Student-Teacher Relationship Short Form and frequency ratings of …

Genetic Distance Matrices For Mexican Gyrinicola Description, Matthew Walker

Zoology Data Sets

The data set contains .csv files for a paper describing various Gyrinicola for future publication.

Alignments And Tree Files For Mexican Gyrinicola Description, Matthew Walker

Zoology Data Sets

This data set contains the .tree and .nxs files used for the phylogenetic inference portion of a paper for submission.

Code/Result Files For Mexican Gyrinicola Description, Matthew Walker

Zoology Data Sets

The data set contains code/results files in a .pdf format for a paper describing a Gyrinicola from Mexico for future publication.

Controlling Phase Transitions In Mnnige Using Thermal Quenching And Hydrostatic Pressure, Jing Han Chen, Tej Poudel Chhetri, Anthony T. Grant, Xiaojian Bai, Qiang Zhang, Chung Kai Chang, David P. Young, Igor Dubenko, Saikat Talapatra, Naushad Ali, Shane Stadler

Faculty Publications

The phase transitions in MnNiGe compounds were explored by manipulating the heat treatment conditions and through hydrostatic pressure application. As the quenching temperature increased, both the first-order martensitic structural transition temperatures and magnetic transition temperatures decreased relative to those in the slowly-cooled samples. When the samples were quenched from 1200 °C, the first-order martensitic structural transition temperature lowered by more than 200 K. The structural transitions also shifted to lower temperature with the application of hydrostatic pressure during measurement. Temperature-dependent x-ray diffraction results reveal that the changes of the cell parameters resulting from the structural transitions are nearly identical for …

2024 Commencement Program For The Girard School Of Business, Merrimack College

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

2024 Commencement Program For The Winston School Of Education And Social Policy, Merrimack College

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Increasing The Optimal Usage Of The Gad-7 And Phq-9 Screening Tools To Better Detect Co-Occurring Disorders In An Alcohol Use Disorder Clinic, Lauren Swansick

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background: Co-occurring disorders include substance use disorders and mental health conditions. These disorders affect 21.5 million individuals. Mental health screening tools, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), are effective in screening individuals for depressive and anxiety mental health conditions within addiction settings.

Problem: Of those with an anxiety disorder, 20-40% will be diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Depressive disorders are the most common mental health conditions that can occur alongside an AUD. A literature review revealed that the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are used in addiction treatment settings; however, not as …

Cotton/Soybean Insect Newsletter, May 17, 2024, Jeremy K. Greene

Clemson University Cotton/Soybean Insect Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Development Of An International Standard Set Of Outcomes And Measurement Methods For Routine Practice For Infants, Children, And Adolescents With Epilepsy: The International Consortium For Health Outcomes Measurement Consensus Recommendations, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

At present, there is no internationally accepted set of core outcomes or measurement methods for epilepsy clinical practice. The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) convened an international working group of experts in epilepsy, people with epilepsy, and their representatives to develop minimum sets of standardized outcomes and outcome measurement methods for clinical practice. Using modified Delphi consensus methods with consecutive rounds of online voting over 12 months, a core set of outcomes and corresponding measurement tool packages to capture the outcomes were identified for infants, children, and adolescents with epilepsy. Consensus methods identified 20 core outcomes. In addition …

May 17, 2024 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Ncaa Enactment Of A Disciplinary Policy: Uniformity To Regain Institutional Legitimacy, Matteson Landau

Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review

This article examines issues surrounding decentralized disciplinary systems and inconsistent enforcement against student-athletes who engage in criminal misconduct across the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”). The NCAA recognizes the inherent conflicts of interest that arise when institutions are left to regulate their own recruiting practices. To negate these conflicts, the NCAA has established a robust disciplinary system, the NCAA Committee on Infractions, which oversees investigations into violations of NCAA Bylaws, reviews materials provided by the athlete and/or institution, and issues binding rulings which may include suspensions and fines. Yet the NCAA fails to see how the same conflict issues arise …

Obstacles To Plasma Flow In An Ion Kinetic Regime: Application To A Terrestrial Ionospheric Active Plasma Experiment And New Horizons Observations Of The Pluto System, Nathan Barnes

Physics

We study obstacles to plasma flow in an ion kinetic regime. That is, plasma on a scale where ion gyromotion is relevant, but elections may be treated collectively as a fluid. Specifically, we study continuous mass loading of a stream of plasma (or equivalently, a continuous injection of mass into an ambient plasma) using global hybrid and test particle simulations to bolster our understanding of experimental data. First we characterize the Kinetic-Scale Energy and Momentum Transport Experiment (KiNET-X) and evaluate momentum coupling between an injected plasma cloud and the ambient ionospheric plasma. We found evidence of non-ideal coupling mechanisms but …

Foreshock Density Holes And Their Connection With Other Foreshock Transients, Xi Lu

Physics

Foreshock is the region upstream of the bow shock that is magnetically connected to it. In this region the particles reflected from the bow shock interact with the incoming solar wind plasma, making this place full of foreshock transients. The well-known transients, such as hot flow anomalies (HFAs), spontaneous hot flow anomalies (SHFAs), foreshock bubbles (FBs), foreshock cavities, foreshock cavitons and foreshock compressional boundaries (FCBs), are all characterized by low-density and hot cores with one or two compressional edges. Due to the low dynamic pressure in the core region, foreshock transients can disturb the bow shock, magnetosheath and magnetopause, and …