Digital Commons Network^™

Staff Education On Suicidal Screening In Young African American Male Adults With Bipolar Disorders, Tokunbo Ndidi Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice education project aimed to enhance mental health providers’ preparedness in culturally competent suicide screening, specifically for African American males with bipolar disorder in a behavioral health department. The practice issue identified was a lack of documented training, leading to underdiagnosis, missed interventions, and health disparities driven by cultural stigma, provider discomfort, and the absence of standardized guidelines. This represents a serious patient safety concern for African American males with mood disorders, such as bipolar, who are significantly underserved in mental health care. The guiding question was: Does a suicide screening education program improve the knowledge …

Recent Progress And Scientific Challenges In Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing Of Metallic Multi-Material Structures, Sainand M. Jadhav, Sambhaji Kusekar, Akash Belure, Satyavan Digole, Abhijeet Mali, Muralimohan Cheepu, Manoj Mugale, Suhas Alkunte, Duckbong Kim

Faculty Articles

Metallic multi-material structures are heterogeneous structures characterized by changing composition, microstructures, and site-specific characteristics, advantageous for numerous applications where multifunctionality is desired. Metallic multi-material structures are known as bimetallic structures (BSs), which are functionally graded materials (FGMs). In recent years, wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) advanced as a promising additive manufacturing process to realize the fabrication of these structures due to its high deposition rate, cost-effectiveness, and material utilization efficiency. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the recent progress, processing strategies, and scientific challenges in WAAM of multi-material structures. The paper begins with an introduction to multi-material structures, followed by …

Reducing Residential Landscape Water Use In Utah: Technologies And Strategies, Maya Cottam, Kendall Becker, Katlyn Stemmler, Shital Poudyal, Wesley Crump, Lewis Kogan, Scott Hotaling

All Current Publications

Water conservation is a critical issue in Utah, and several actions are already underway to help lower residential landscape water use. Strategies include smart irrigation controllers, efficient sprinkler bodies and nozzles, drip irrigation systems, soil amendments that increase water-holding capacity, and drought-tolerant grass cultivars for lawns. While additional conservation efforts will be necessary to reach sustainable water management, statewide adoption of current programs can help reduce water use and loss.

Humanizing Cities As An Approach For Solving Cities' Problems To Be More Livable, Kareem Mahrous Ali

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Most people around the world want to move from the countryside to the cities or from one city to another that provides them with all their human needs for a better life. The dream may come true for them or turn into a nightmare for reasons related to general problems facing most cities in the world, such as the high cost of living and the absence of social justice, these problems cause an increase in poor families, or the issue of refugees and the inability of some cities to welcome them, the energy crisis, and the challenges of climate change …

Riparian Restoration Increases Soil Microbial Biomass In Marin County Rangelands, But Soil Carbon Stock Is Less Responsive, Sherilyn Kathryn Reinhart

Master's Theses

Land use change has caused the degradation of 70% of the Earth’s soils, directly altering soil microbial communities and carbon cycling. Interest in carbon farming practices is growing, but studies that document the nuances of soil carbon flux in specific bioregions are still too few. In this study, I examined how one practice, riparian restoration, alters soil carbon stock and microbial community structure over time. Using a paired sampling time series design, I collected soil samples from twelve riparian forests and adjacent rangelands near Marin County, California. Young and mature sites ranged from five to 29 years since restoration, and …

Operational Solutions To Address Radiology Staffing Challenges In Southern California Hospitals, Jacqueline Wood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem of interest is the current workforce crisis among the Radiologist Specialty in hospitals in Southern California. There has been a significant decline in the number of Radiologists in the workforce compared to the caseload of imaging studies. The purpose of this integrative review was to evaluate empirical and non-empirical literature for operational solutions to improve recruitment and retention of radiology providers. Literature published between 1999-2024 were evaluated for appropriateness using the Johns Hopkins evidence appraisal tools. The literature involved strategies and identified operational areas of opportunity for improvement with radiologist staffing. Identifying ways to improve job satisfaction, retention …

Optimizing Workflow And Patient Outcomes: The Impact Of The Modified Adult Difficult Intravenous Access (A-Diva) Scale On Peripheral Iv Access: A Quality Improvement Project, Dakota S. Weaver, Ryan O'Sullivan

Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) Manuscripts

Peripheral intravenous cannulation (PIVC) is one of the most performed invasive procedures in hospital settings, yet it is frequently associated with multiple attempts in patients with difficult intravenous access (DIVA). In obstetric (OB) triage settings, where time-sensitive care is critical, failed PIVC attempts can delay treatment and negatively affect patient experience. The Modified Adult Difficult Intravenous Access (A-DIVA) scale is a validated tool designed to identify patients at risk for DIVA and guide early use of advanced techniques such as ultrasound (US) guidance.

A QI initiative was implemented in the OB triage unit of a large academic hospital. The tool …

Covid-19-Associated Mucormycosis Mimicking Odontogenic Pain: A Report Of Three Cases, Pegah Sarraf, Mahboube Hasheminasab, Mehrfam Khoshkhounejad, Seyed A. Abaee, Pardis Akbari, Mohammad H. Nekoofar, Paul M.H. Dummer

Pacific Faculty Work

Aim: The aim of this study was to present three cases of COVID-19-related mucormycosis mimicking endodontic pain and to discuss the relevant dental and medical literature for this potential life-threatening disease. Summary: Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis) is a rare but serious infection caused by a group of fungi called mucormycetes. Mucormycosis mainly affects people who are medically compromised and have systemic health conditions or take drugs that lower their immune response. There has been an increase in case reports/series of mucormycosis in individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. This is likely attributable to the high doses and prolonged use of corticosteroids in …

Decomposing Trends In The Gender Gap For Highly Educated Workers, Joseph G. Altonji, John Eric Humphries, Yagmur Yuksel, Ling Zhong

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper examines the gender gap in log earnings among full-time, college-educated workers born between 1931 and 1984. Using data from the National Survey of College Graduates and other sources, we decompose the gender earnings gap across birth cohorts into three components: (i) gender differences in the relative returns to undergraduate and graduate fields, (ii) gender-specific trends in undergraduate field, graduate degree attainment, and graduate field, and (iii) a cohortspecific “residual component” that shifts the gender gap uniformly across all college graduates. We have three main findings. First, when holding the relative returns to fields constant, changes in fields of …

Green Synthesis Of Mgo Nanoparticles Via Two Different Methods And Studying Their Structural, Morphological, And Optical Properties, Athraa Hadi Obead, Nada K. Abbas

Baghdad Science Journal

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) have been prepared by a green synthesis using the leaves of Ficus carica extract, which can be easily used for various biomedical applications. Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) prepared by a green synthesis are non-toxic, biocompatible, and environmentally friendly. Fig extract functions as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The precursors used for preparation are from Magnesium Nitrate MgO(n) and bulk magnesium oxide MgO(b) by two different methods. The MgO(n) prepared from Magnesium Nitrate and MgO(b) prepared from bulk magnesium oxide nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) to analyze the absorption patterns, The energy band …

The Influence Of Hunting Cooperation And Fear On The Dynamics Of The Eco-Epidemiological Model With Disease In Both Populations, Nabaa Hassain Fakhry, Raid Kamel Naji

Baghdad Science Journal

Predicting and controlling environmental dynamics requires an understanding of the intricate interaction between hunting cooperation, fear, and other biological elements in eco-epidemiological models. Studying these models is crucial for environmental sustainability and conservation, as seen by the rise in infectious diseases caused by population growth and interactions among organisms. The goal of this study is to create a novel mathematical model that takes into account contagious diseases that impact both predators and prey, as well as how cooperative hunting behavior on the part of predators causes anxiety in the prey population. Important features of the model are examined, including the …

Objective Performance Status: Enhancing Cancer Patient Fitness Assessment With Wearable Technology., Joseph Mccollom Do, Mazie Tsang

PCI Publications and Projects

Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review

Covid-19 Crisis: Contemporary Trauma Theory And Clinical Social Workers’ Perspectives Of Work-Related Secondary Trauma Post-Pandemic, Dr. Veronica Y. Griffin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented global crisis that challenged clinical social workers’ traditional client-centered strategies and exposed some to secondary trauma. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore clinical social workers’ perspectives on work-related secondary trauma post-COVID-19 pandemic using the contemporary trauma theory as the theoretical framework. The research question involved exploring their perspectives of how this trauma affected their biopsychosocial functioning. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants who were clinical social workers between 28 and 36. Using thematic analysis, themes were identified and grouped into the three functioning groups: personal, relationships, and career. Twelve themes …

Change For The Use Of Phenobarbital In Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome, Rylee J. Studiner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a critical condition commonly encountered in hospital settings. If not properly treated, AWS can progress to seizures, delirium tremens, and death. Traditionally, benzodiazepines guided by the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol Scale, Revised (CIWA-Ar), have served as a mainstay of treatment. However, emerging evidence supports the use of phenobarbital as a pharmacologic alternative and the Severity of Ethanol Withdrawal Scale (SEWS) as a more objective and clinically practical assessment tool. This doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project aimed to develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) for the use of phenobarbital in managing severe …

Context And Form In Garden Classification, David Fenner

Contemporary Aesthetics (Journal Archive)

Correctly classifying a garden is important because it allows us to appreciate a garden for what it is, create maintenance agendas for gardens, compare gardens to others in appropriate ways, and meaningfully evaluate gardens. We may correctly classify a garden by first deciding on an appropriate taxonomic approach and, second, by fitting gardens into their appropriate taxa. The first is achieved through justifying the organizing schema by ensuring that it significantly meets the goals mentioned above, results in meaningful and satisfying garden appreciation, and is comprehensive in scope—the creation of this taxonomic approach necessarily includes reference to a garden’s context. …

Autonomous Driving Of A Guided Emergency Service Robot With Route Tracking Control, Saif Talib Abbas Albasrawi, Lamyaa Sabeeh Ashour Al-Lami

Baghdad Science Journal

This work presents a method for controlling the travel routes that tracked robots use to get around their environments. The algorithm utilized in model-predictive control could be implemented in a vehicle to make the vehicle capable of driving itself if an emergency arises. It is anticipated that soon, collaboration between edge clouds will become more commonly used to connect and control various pieces of rescue equipment. The Linear Model-Predictive Control algorithm, also known as LMPC, is an excellent choice for controlling the path that the rescue robots will take because it makes efficient use of the limited computational resources available …

Dissolution Mechanism Of Nonionic Polyether Surfactants In Supercritical Co2, Ning Xu, Yanling Wang, Baojun Bai, Shizhang Cui, Zan Gao, Yu Zhang, Di Li, Wenjing Shi, Wenhui Ding, Peixu Ma

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Polyoxyethylene ether is an efficient CO₂-philic compound with significant potential applications in CO₂ flooding, which requires CO₂-philic surfactants with high solubility in supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂). This study elucidates the molecular and atomic-level dissolution mechanism of the fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO) in scCO₂ by combining phase-behavior experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. The solubility of AEO in scCO₂ is measured using a semiconductor laser. AEO containing three polyoxyethylene (EO) groups exhibited the highest solubility in scCO₂.The solubility of AEO in scCO₂ decreased with an increase in the number …

Recent Progress And Scientific Challenges In Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing Of Metallic Multi-Material Structures, Sainand Jadhav, Sambhaji Kusekar, Akash Belure, Satyavan Digole, Abhijeet Mali, Muralimohan Cheepu, Manoj Mugale, Suhas Alkunte, Duckbong Kim

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Metallic multi-material structures are heterogeneous structures characterized by changing composition, microstructures, and site-specific characteristics, advantageous for numerous applications where multifunctionality is desired. Metallic multi-material structures are known as bimetallic structures (BSs), which are functionally graded materials (FGMs). In recent years, wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) advanced as a promising additive manufacturing process to realize the fabrication of these structures due to its high deposition rate, cost-effectiveness, and material utilization efficiency. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the recent progress, processing strategies, and scientific challenges in WAAM of multi-material structures. The paper begins with an introduction to multi-material structures, followed by …

Native Ticks As A Model For The Effectiveness Of Fire As A Tool For The Management Of Cattle Fever Ticks In South Texas, Lauren P. Maestas, Sarah E. Mays Maestas, Kathleen M. Yeater, Manuel Zavala, Reyes Garcia, John A. Goolsby

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

The species of cattle fever ticks (CFT) present in North America, Rhipicephalus (=Boophilus) annulatus, and R. microplus, remain an important agricultural and economic burden. The use of acaricides to control CFT has been a common practice over the past half century. However, alternative strategies for control are needed to improve the options for sustainable pest control. Fire is a tool to manage vegetation, and some evidence supports its potential for use to control ticks. We evaluated the effectiveness of fire as a management tool for ticks in South Texas. Our site was a 28.2-ha property in Cameron …

Implementation Of Patient-Centered Approaches To Enhance Engagement And Satisfaction In Psychiatric Care Within A Family Mental Health Service, Nnenna Attah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary I conducted this evaluation of a quality improvement initiative at a family mental health service center aimed to enhance patient engagement and satisfaction in psychiatric care through patient-centered approaches. The practice problem addressed in this project was the lack of patient engagement and satisfaction. This issue is critical to address within the context of nursing practice because patient-centered care is fundamental to improving clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and overall quality of care. The practice-focused question was: How can patient-centered approaches enhance patient engagement and satisfaction in psychiatric care? In the project, I focused on evaluating the impact of patient-centered …

Relationship Of Provider-Patient Communication And Health Literacy To Self-Management In Black Adults With Type-2 Diabetes, Linda Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black adults in the United States are nearly twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and are more susceptible to severe diabetes-related complications. Health literacy and patient-provider communication (PPC) are extremely important for self-management in patients of all ethnicities however, 58% of non-Hispanic Blacks have basic or below-basic health literacy skills compared to 28% of non-Hispanic Whites. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study, with was guided by the interaction model of client behavior, was to determine (a) if there is relationship between PPC during the healthcare encounter to health literacy among Black adults …

Staff Education On Using The Epworth Sleepiness Scale In Primary Care, Amanda Robyn Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sleep disorders are prevalent in primary care settings and often remain underdiagnosed due to inconsistent assessment practices. This doctoral project was conducted to develop, implement, and evaluate whether an educational intervention for registered nurses would enhance their knowledge on using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) for sleep assessment in primary care. Guided by adult learning theories and the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation instructional design model, the aim of the project was to address the practice gap related to inadequate sleep evaluations, ultimately improving patient outcomes and promoting holistic care. Evidence was collected through pre and post intervention assessments, …

Molecular Identification Of Acinetobacter Baumannii Isolated From Clinical Samples In Iraq By Using Multiplex Pcr, Yaseen Ismael Mamoori, Ibrahim Abdulla Ahmed, May Ridha Jaafer, Ayat Muneam Ali, Sabreen Ali Hadi

Baghdad Science Journal

Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most clinically significant pathogens that cause severe nosocomial infections. Rapid identification of this bacterial species is essential so that proper treatment can be provided and outbreaks can be controlled. In this study, a multiplex PCR was used to identify A. baumannii. Twenty clinical isolates of A. baumannii and three each of Gram+ve (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus licheniformis, Micrococcus yunnanensis) and Gram−ve (Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacterial isolates were subjected to singleplex and multiplex PCR reactions using three sets of species-specific primers (P-Ab-ITS-F, P-Ab-ITS-R; …

Determination Of Microplastic Compounds In Some Species Of Freshwater Snails In Brantas River, East Java, Indonesia, R Adharyan Islamy, Yuni Kilawati, Veryl Hasan, Fitri Sil Valen, Noorhidayah Mamat, Ahmad Syazni Kamarudin, Yunita Maimunah

Baghdad Science Journal

This research examines microplastic contamination patterns in three ecologically significant freshwater gastropods—Pomacea canaliculata, Filopaludina javanica, and Sulcospira testudinaria—in Indonesia's Brantas River system. Through systematic sampling at three downstream locations, we quantified and characterized microplastics within the digestive tracts of these molluscan species. The results demonstrate universal microplastic ingestion across all taxa, though with notable interspecific variation. The invasive P. canaliculata showed the highest contamination levels (4.5 microplastic particles per individual, average weight 15.2g), predominantly comprising textile fibers and plastic fragments. In contrast, F. javanica specimens (average 10.8g) contained primarily cosmetic microbeads and packaging films (2.7 particles/individual), …

Biodegradable Nanocomposites Thin Films For Recyclability Electronic Covering, Ban Jawad, Ammar Emad Al-Kawaz, Hanaa Jawad, Nabeel Hasan, Balqees Mohammed

Baghdad Science Journal

In this study, the nanocomposite thin films were prepared from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) that reinforced with different proportions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via hand casting method . The current work aims to create the connection between improving surface characteristics for high efficiency electronic covering and biodegradability. The nature of bonding between the PVA and CNTs were studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Wettability properties were studied via contact angle analyzer. The two dimensions' morphology of nanocomposites was studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Biodegradable tests of nanocomposites were performed via burial in soil for seven days. According to the contact …

Biogenic Synthesis And Characterization Of Metal Oxides Nanostructures Using Plant-Mediated Extracts Via Green Microwave-Assisted Method, Sahar Ismael Imran

Baghdad Science Journal

Two simple innovative green methods have been developed to synthesize precise phase of cobalt oxide nanostructures Co₃O₄; the first method included using cobalt hydroxide carbonate (extra pure) Co₂CO₃(OH)₂ with aqueous plants extract of syzygium aromaticum (clove) bud extract (SABE) once; then again with pomegranate peel extract (PPE) both samples were submitted to microwave irradiation for 5 minutes followed by discrete calcination at 500 ^oC and then 850 ^oC an interested shapes of doted semi-cubic of Co₃O₄-NPs was successfully obtained in both cases; the samples …

Does Bubble Nucleation Occur Heterogeneously In Magmas Feeding Explosive Rhyolite Eruptions? Insights From The Rock Magnetic Properties Of Pumice, Kelly N. Mccartney, Julia E. Hammer, Thomas Shea, Stefanie Brachfeld, Thomas Giacheetti, Bruce F. Houghton

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Nanometer-scale titanomagnetite crystals have been detected in nominally aphyric rhyolite pumice, but whether they are numerous enough to impact bubble nucleation in explosive silicic volcanism was unresolved. This study examines sub-micron crystals using rock magnetic techniques, Rhyolite-MELTS modeling, and physical characterization. We analyzed pumice from four eruptions spanning wide ranges in intensity, storage depth, and bubble number density (1016 to 1013 m−3 liquid): 1060 CE Glass Mountain, 1912 CE Novarupta, 232 CE Taupo, and 0.45 Ma Pudahuel. Calculations assuming monospecific assemblages of 10 and 1,000 nm cubic particles yield titanomagnetite number densities of 1021 to 1013 m−3 dense rock equivalent, …

Tort Liability For Failure To Age Gate: A Promising Regulatory Response To Digital Public Health Hazards, Matthew B. Lawrence, Brett Frischmann, Avi Sholkoff

Faculty Publications

Tort liability for failure to “age gate” is a promising legal response to the public health hazards of AI, social media, sports gambling, and other digital spaces. Tort liability for failure to “age gate” hinges liability for harms to minors on an app’s failure to take reasonable steps to prevent minors from gaining access or otherwise to apply appropriate governance rules, such as privacy-protective default settings or ensuring genuine parental consent. While no one legal response is a panacea, tort liability for failure to age gate carries several distinctive advantages that make it a particularly promising option at this stage …

Investigation Of A Stable And Saturated Reference Electrode Using Metal Chlorides And Oxides In Eutectic Licl-Kcl Molten Salts, Carlos Mejia, Devin Rappleye

Faculty Publications

Stable and reproducible reference electrodes (REs) are essential for electrochemical systems operating in high-temperature molten salts, where consistent control of potential is required. This study uses three different solutes to investigate the development and evaluation of REs in eutectic LiCl-KCl at 773 K. The solutes tested were NiCl2, AgCl, and NiO, each prepared at multiple concentrations to assess stability, reproducibility, and saturation. Electrochemical stability was measured over three days using chronopotentiometry (CP), followed by open circuit potential (OCP), with cyclic voltammetry (CV) also integrated to monitor changes in electrochemical behavior over time. The CP-OCP approach established a Li+/Li redox potential, …

Organizational Climate And Decision Aid Sustainability In Lupus Care: Mixed Methods Study, Aizhan Karabukayeva, Larry R Hearld, Nathan W Carroll, Reena Kelly, Jasvinder A Singh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Digital decision aids (DAs) are increasingly used in health care to support shared decision-making and promote patient engagement. In the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a complex autoimmune disease characterized by diverse symptoms and uncertain prognoses, DAs offer guidance to patients in navigating treatment risks and benefits. Although numerous studies have examined the initial implementation of evidence-based tools, there is limited evidence on the organizational factors that influence their long-term sustainability in clinical practice. This gap is particularly salient for digital interventions, where integration into routine workflows and ongoing use require alignment with clinic readiness and culture. This …