Digital Commons Network^™

What To Know About Release Of Information, Authorization, And Records Requests, Jennifer Cosey

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article clarifies HIPAA regulations regarding the disclosure of protected health information (PHI). It distinguishes between a "Right of Access" request, where a patient directly seeks their own record (no authorization needed), and an "Authorization," which is required for disclosures beyond treatment, payment, or health care operations, or to third parties for ongoing access. The author details activities permissible without authorization, such as coordination of care, billing, and quality improvement. Specific examples are provided for situations requiring authorization, like disclosing PHI to attorneys or for marketing. The article also outlines seven essential elements for a HIPAA-compliant authorization form

The Back Page: Commentary: Going Non-Par: My Perspective, And 10 Lessons I’Ve Learned, Robert Antolak Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Dr. Robert Antolak shares his experience and ten lessons from transitioning his dental practice to a non-participating (non-par) status with insurance in January 2025, driven by declining reimbursements and the need to prioritize patient care. He highlights the unfairness of lower PPO reimbursements for newer dentists. Key lessons include securing a trusted coach, early patient communication, building a financial safety net, ensuring full team buy-in, committing with faith, tightening billing systems, frequent patient reminders, advocating for patients, creating an in-office payment plan (not percentage discounts), and clearly articulating the "why". Though revenue initially dropped, he anticipates full recovery, aiming to …

Going Gray Too Early? Effects Of Color On Facial Identification, Roman M. Pardo

Masters Theses (Archived)

This study investigated a possible bias in face-matching and ID-screening decision making- color incongruity (i.e., one face image presented in color and one in grayscale). Expanding on previous research, the 2x2 mixed methods experiment incorporated eye tracking measures (i.e., fixations). Participants N= 25 were randomly assigned to compare color or grayscale IDs (between groups comparison) to a 10 s color video of a person moving their head side to side. The task consisted of 2 practice and 48 face-matching trials with medium prevalence (MP, 24 match, 24 mismatch) presented as one of four pseudo-random and counterbalanced orders. Signal detection …

Age And Sex Are Associated With Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology In Down Syndrome, Elizabeth J. Andrews, Phong T. Ngo, Jesse R. Pascual, Freddy Gonzalez, Michael Phelan, Sierra T. Wright, Jordan Harp, Frederick Schmitt, Florence Lai, Patrick J. Lao, Adam M. Brickman, Julia Kofler, Milos D. Ikonomovic, Elizabeth Head

Psychology Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: This study investigates the association of age and biological sex with Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology in Down syndrome (DS). METHODS: We examined the frontal/occipital cortex in people with DS (n = 14/13, 1–39 years), DS with AD (DSAD) neuropathology (n = 18/19, 42–61 years), late-onset AD (n = 15/16, 72–96 years), and age-matched controls (n = 50/47)(n = 156). The area occupied by AT8 and 6E10 immunolabeling, representing tangle and plaque loads, respectively, was used for segmented linear regression analyses. RESULTS: There was elevated neuropathology after age 35 in DSAD, with inflection points at ∼31 years (amyloid-β [Aβ]) and …

Evaluating The Effects Of Row Spacing, Legume Intercropping, Fertilizer Source, And Fertilizer Timing On Intermediate Wheatgrass In Eastern Nebraska, Madeline M. Johnston

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Kernza^® is the trademarked name of the perennial crop intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium). In addition to its potential for dual-use as a grain and forage crop, Kernza is marketed to provide needed environmental services by increasing crop biodiversity, sequestering soil carbon, and reducing nitrate leaching. However, more work is needed in cultivar selection and crop management to increase total grain yields and prevent long-term grain yield decline. Furthermore, research in quantifying and understanding Kernza’s ability to affect soil properties and water dynamics is limited.

Two field experiments were conducted at the Eastern Nebraska Research Extension and Education …

Evaluating Biodegradable Mulch As A Soil Conservation Tool And The Impact On Soil Properties And Yield In Soybean (Glycine Max) Cropping Systems In Eastern Nebraska, Ana Clara Gomes

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study, conducted during the 2024 growing season, evaluated short-term effects of soil management practices on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, soil microclimate, nitrogen dynamics, weed suppression, and soybean (Glycine max) yield. In addition to conventional tillage and no-till, this research included cereal rye (Secale cereale) cover cropping and a novel sprayable biodegradable mulch (BioWRAP®) to assess emerging strategies for sustainable soybean systems under contrasting moisture regimes.

Field trials were established at two eastern Nebraska locations: Havelock (dryland, silty clay loam) and ENREEC (irrigated, clay loam). A strip-block randomized design with four replications tested six soil management …

Exploring And Characterizing Organic Chemistry Students’ Meaningful Engagement In Science Practices, John Zhou

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Undergraduate organic chemistry frequently engages students in key science practices such as analyzing and interpreting spectroscopic data and constructing explanations through reaction mechanisms. However, these activities are often framed as procedural tasks rather than as tools for constructing knowledge. As a result, students may develop incomplete understanding of these practices, making it harder for them to see how scientific knowledge is generated and to use them meaningfully as tools for sensemaking. To better understand how students take up these practices as epistemic tools, three qualitative studies were conducted in this dissertation to investigate how undergraduate organic chemistry students reason with …

Corporations In The Crosshairs: Stakeholder Activism And The Role Of Corporations In Society, Poonam Puri

Conference Papers

TOPIC AND IMPORTANCE

Stakeholders of a corporation have an interest in pushing a company to take actions which align with their values, whether it be on environmental, social or other issues. From customers and employees to share-holders and governments, stakeholders have been increasingly advancing environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues at Canadian companies, and at companies around the world. This rise in stakeholder activism has coincided with societies that are increasingly politically and socially divided, the COVID-19 pandemic, wars in both Europe and the Middle East, and historic inflation and interest rates, as well as an ongoing and worsening climate …

Who Dominates The Coalition? Frame Salience And Public Support For Policy–Democracy Protest Coalitions Under Authoritarian Rule, Mai T. Truong

Political Science Faculty Research and Publications

How does the public support a coalition in which pro-democracy advocates and policy-based protesters join forces in street protests? When policy-based and pro-democracy groups protest together, they create a collective action frame that includes a policy component and a democracy component. In this article, I develop the frame salience theory, arguing that support for a policy–democracy protest coalition depends on which component of the joint frame is perceived to be more dominant. I argue that in authoritarian regimes, the policy component typically dominates the coalition because it is more accessible and available to the public. This perception shifts public support …

Characterization Of The Effects Of Waste Mullite Powder On Seawater Sea Sand Cementitious Materials, Xiao Sun, Zehui Zhou, Wenjie He, Yudong Bi, Yao Wang, Hengrui Liu, Rui Zhong, Hongyan Ma

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Maintaining the durability of coastal concrete structures while reducing construction costs remains a formidable challenge. Drawing inspiration from the volcanic concrete used by ancient Greeks and Romans, this study explores the feasibility of using waste mullite powder (WMP) with a high alumina content in seawater sea sand concrete to conserve natural resources and enhance durability. The experimental results demonstrate that the incorporation of seawater and WMP exerts detrimental impacts on the flow characteristics and workability of cementitious composites. While the sulfate content in seawater and sea sand can bolster the early strength of sea sand seawater concrete, sulfate attack compromises …

Geopolymer Clsm With Off-Specification Fly Ash And Bottom Ash: A Sustainable Approach To Hazardous Waste Utilization, Alexis K. Vandomelen, Ahmed A. Gheni, Eslam Gomaa, Mohamed A. Elgawady

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Conventional controlled low-strength material (CLSM) is a self-consolidating cementitious material with high flowability and low strength, traditionally composed of cement, sand, and water. This study explores the sustainable utilization of off-specification fly ash (OSFA) and bottom ash (BA), classified as industrial by-products with potential environmental hazards, to develop eco-friendly geopolymer CLSM as an alternative to conventional CLSM. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was used as an alkali activator to stabilize and solidify both two-part (liquid NaOH) and one-part (solid NaOH pellets) geopolymer CLSM mixtures. These mixtures were evaluated based on flowability (ASTM D6103-17) and compressive strength (< 300 psi per ACI Committee 229 guidelines for excavatability). A cost analysis was also conducted. The results demonstrated that incorporating OSFA as a cement replacement increased water demand by 15% to meet flowability requirements, while BA substitution for sand led to segregation challenges requiring mixture adjustments. For two-part mixtures, higher carbon content in OSFA necessitated an increased water-to-fly ash ratio. All self-consolidating mixtures exhibited 1-day compressive strengths ranging from 5 psi (0.03 MPa) to 87 psi (0.6 MPa). One-part mixtures showed a 1% to 34% reduction in 7-day compressive strength compared to two-part mixtures, improving excavatability. Increasing the BA-to-OSFA ratio from 1:1 to 3:1 reduced water demand due to lower surface area but increased the NaOH/OSFA ratio. This study highlights the potential of geopolymer CLSM to reduce costs by up to 94% at current NaOH prices (USD 6 per cubic yard) while repurposing hazardous industrial by-products, offering a cost-efficient, sustainable, and environmentally responsible solution for CLSM production.

Ftir Characterization Of Asphalt Sara Fractions In Response To Rubber Modification, Mohyeldin Ragab, Eslam Deef-Allah, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Asphalt–rubber binders (A-RBs) have a long and deep history of use; however, little is known regarding the interrelated chemical behaviors and miscibility of rubber with the asphalt fractions [saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes (SARA)]. This study comprehensively attempted to address this knowledge deficiency by employing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to investigate the chemical evolution of A-RBs. A-RB interacted at 190 °C and 3000 min⁻¹ for 8 h was deemed to have the optimal rheological performance. FTIR of the liquid fractions of A-RB 190–3000 showed a prominent chemical shift in the SARA fractions, with new peaks that showed rubber …

Data And Ai Mystification: Ownership, Control, And Financialization In The Platform, Andrew W. Alexander

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The social relation between the platform and its users is defined by engagement with digital infrastructures and the rendition of this engagement into data. User-data, however, are surrounded by regulatory and legal ambiguities as they are not accounted for as intangible assets and their ownership and control are not transparent. I investigate how platforms rectify these ambiguities to realize user-data value as codified capital through an intensive case study of two major platforms. I use qualitative content analysis (QCA) to analyze annual and earnings reports, terms of service (ToS) agreements, and internal documents from 2017 through 2023 with qualitative data …

Sepsis: I Can Catch Your Lies – A New Paradigm For Deception Detection, Anku Rani, Dwip Dalal, Shreya Gautam, Pankaj Gupta, Vinija Jain, Aman Chadha, Amitava Das, Amit P. Sheth

Publications

Deception is the intentional practice of twisting information. It is a nuanced societal practice deeply intertwined with human societal evolution, characterized by a multitude of facets. This research explores the problem of deception through the lens of psychology, employing a framework that categorizes deception into three forms: lies of omission, lies of commission, and lies of influence. The primary focus of this study is specifically on investigating only lies of omission. We propose a novel framework for deception detection leveraging NLP techniques. We curated an annotated dataset of 876,784 samples by amalgamating a popular large-scale fake news dataset and scraped …

Pollination And Essential Oil Production Of Lavandula Angustifolia Mill. (Lamiaceae), Riley B. Jackson, Tyler M. Wilson, Joseph S. Wilson, Zabrina Ruggles, Lindsey Topham Wilson, Chris Packer, Jacob G. Young, Christopher R. Bowerbank, Richard E. Carlson

Biology Faculty Publications

Lavandula angustifolia Mill., lavender, is an aromatic plant in the Lamiaceae family. Lavender, which is native to the Mediterranean region but cultivated throughout the world, is an important economic plant. Several studies have investigated two aspects of this aromatic plant: (1) which pollinators, particularly bees, pollinate lavender, and (2) the composition of lavender essential oil. However, little research has been conducted to investigate how pollination affects either the yield or phytochemistry of lavender. The current study, which was conducted in North America, investigates which bee species visit lavender and how pollination affects plant chemistry, specifically the essential oil produced by …

Preface To Volume 16, Issue 2, Peter A. Carfagna

Articles

No abstract provided.

Comparison Between Ondansetron And Granisetron In Preventing Nausea And Vomiting After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Waleed D. Khubzan, Mohammed H. Albagieh, Ruyuf A. Nathif, Waad M. Alshamrani, Nawaf S. Alharbi, Reem A. Sharahili, Naif M. Alsaeed, Mohammedeid M. Mahfouz

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To find the most optimal drug for post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) prophylaxis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) by comparing ondansetron and granisetron. Methods: We carried out our study in adherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses instructions. Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Ovid MEDLINE (through November 2024) were searched for studies comparing ondansetron and granisetron after LC. Primary outcomes include the incidence of PONV at 0-12 hour and 0-24 hour time points; secondary outcomes included rescue anti-emetic use and adverse effects. All data analysis and the quality assessment were carried out by utilizing …

Rehmannia Glutinosa For Perimenopausal Syndrome In Patients With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Dejia Kong, Feixiang Huang, Wenhua Liu, Ma Lin, Zhumei Sheng, Junmiao Xu

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To carry out a quantitative assessment of the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), with Rehmannia glutinosa as the main ingredient, in treating perimenopausal syndrome (PMS) in breast cancer patients. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CHM with Rehmannia glutinosa as the principal ingredient and Western medicine in treating PMS among breast cancer patients were retrieved from multiple databases. These databases included PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and China Biology Medicine Database. The primary outcome was the change in the Kupperman index by the end of the …

The Case For Indexing: Echocardiographic Dimensions In The Arab Gulf, Adil I. Jumani, Shaini C. Mani, Ghada A. Rashwan, Hadiza O. Ibrahim, Jumaa S. Aldhaheri, Safaa M. Almohdar, Khaled M. Alfakih

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate echocardiographic parameters in young Emirati males and compare them to American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging reference ranges, highlighting the need for population-specific or indexed normal ranges. Echocardiographic reference ranges for cardiac dimensions are primarily derived from Western populations, which may not be suitable for smaller-bodied populations, such as Asians. Methods: Echocardiography was performed on 60 healthy Emirati males undergoing military recruitment from September to December 2024. Measurements included left ventricular (LV), aortic, and left atrial (LA) dimensions and volumes. Parameters were indexed to body surface area (BSA) and compared to established Western norms. Results: …

Cochlear Implantation: Listening Environments Among Pediatric Recipients, Noura I. Alothman, Sarah S. Alarifi, Fida A. Almuhawas, Ghada S. Alamri, Reem M. Alshehri, Norah J. Alharbi, Khuloud S. Alqaysi, Noura M. Almtairi, Yassin Abdelsamad

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To examine auditory environments and challenges faced by pediatric cochlear implant (CI) users in Saudi Arabia by comparing auditory settings and device usage between preschoolers and school-age children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on prelingually deafened children under 18 years of age using SONNET2/RONDO3 MED-EL CI. Children were categorized based on Saudi Arabia’s primary school enrollment age. Datalogging metrics from 2020–2022 on device usage and auditory scene exposure were analyzed using R Software, with descriptive statistics and regression models exploring relationships between demographic factors and data logging metrics. Results: A total of 178 ears met inclusion criteria, with …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Functional Disability In Daily Activities Among Older Adults In Bisha, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Abdullah H. Alhalafi, Ibrahim A. Eljack, Shehab M. Almalki, Ahmed S. Doghish, Osama A. Mohammed, Abdullah F. Alhalafi, Saif M. Alqahtani, Hussain S. Alqahtani, Galaleldien M. Abdalla, Abubakar M. Jibo

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of functional disability among older people attending primary healthcare centers in Bisha, Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional design and gathered data from older adults (60 years and older) attending primary healthcare centers in Bisha. Data was collected using structured interviews based on the Katz Index of Independence in activities of daily living (ADL). Ordinal logistic regression models identified major ADL limiting variables. Results: A total number of 396 respondents, with 40.7% (n=161) females. The prevalence of functional disability using the Katz ADL Index scale was 54%. Nearly half (45.5%) of the respondents …

Effect Of Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Combined With Evidence-Based Physical Therapy For Adhesive Capsulitis Of The Shoulder: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Turki M. Sharahili, Hosam A. Alzahrani

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (rESWT) combined with evidence-based physical therapy (EBPT) on adhesive capsulitis (AC). Methods: A total of 30 participants with AC were randomly assigned to receive either rESWT combined with EBPT (experimental group) or sham rESWT combined with EBPT (control group) over a 6-week intervention period. The primary outcomes included pain (assessed using the visual analogue scale) and disability (disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire). The secondary outcomes were shoulder range of motion (ROM), psychological distress (depression anxiety and stress scale-12), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL; short form-12). Assessments …

Impact Of Z-Spring Appliance And Clear Aligner Therapy On Oral Microorganisms In Children: A Clinical Trial, İrem Kapici, Özge Erken Güngör, Kubra Yildirim, Cemilenur Atas, Ahmet Yilmaz Coban

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of Z-spring appliance and clear aligners, used in anterior crossbite treatment, on dental plaque colonization in children. Methods: A 2-arm randomized controlled trial included 30 patients aged 7-12 years with anterior crossbite. Participants were divided into 2 groups: clear aligner (group A, n=15) and Z-spring appliance (group B, n=15). Dental plaque samples were collected at treatment initiation and completion, inoculated onto selective media, and analyzed for colony counts (cfu/ml) of Streptococcus mutans ( S. mutans ), Streptococcus mitis ( S. mitis ), Streptococcus salivarius ( S. salivarius ), and Candida albicans ( C. albicans ). …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Perceptions Of Developmental Dysplasia Of The Hip Among Pregnant Women In Jordan

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess the awareness of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) among pregnant women in Jordan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among pregnant females, aged 18 years and above, who had visited 3 hospitals in Jordan. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, and responses were recorded using a Google form by the researchers. Results: A total of 605 women completed the questionnaire. Most participants correctly reported DDH as the cause of ambulation problems (n=531, 87.6%), and approximately 60% reported it as painful. The majority agreed that DDH is diagnosed using x-ray imaging (80.5%), usually in the …

Study Reveals Processes Important For Skin Cancer Aggressiveness And Identifies Two Classes Of Drugs That May Block Them

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Bonehead Non-Proliferation Redux, David A. Koplow

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Since the publication of my 1993 Fletcher Forum article “Bonehead Non-Proliferation,” three vitally important international developments regarding nuclear weapons have materialized. First, the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an essential linchpin for global security, was extended by its parties in 1995 into a permanent agreement—a tremendous outcome that was not certain when my original article was published. Second, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, globally prohibiting all nuclear explosions, was concluded in 1996—my article focused on the imperative for crafting such an instrument. Third, a group of distinguished senior U.S. government security officials succeeded in reviving the concept of the complete abolition …

Characterization Of Lactobacilli-Containing Catheter Segments Developed By Using Selective Laser Sintered Mold., Caden Maners

Master of Engineering Theses

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a major healthcare burden with current prevention strategies offering limited success. This study presents a novel, self-coating biomaterial approach using a silicone-based bioink embedded with thermally sensitive probiotic strains (L. crispatus, L. rhamnosus, and L. reuteri). Catheter segments were fabricated via bio-injection molding using 3D-printed CAD molds. These Lactobacilli, selected for their probiotic and antimicrobial potential, serve as a non- antibiotic strategy to reduce infection risk. These segments were evaluated for mechanical strength (Shore A hardness), thermal stability (TGA/DSC), porosity and bacterial presence (SEM), biofilm formation (crystal-violet assay), as well as mass retention in …

Operationalising The Social Licence To Operate Along The Belt And Road: The Case For A Mediation-Focused Approach, Mark Mclaughlin

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This article examines the intricate dynamics of community representation and stakeholder influence in the realm of international investment law. More specifically, it considers the most effective method by which to operationalise the concept of the ‘social licence to operate’ when attempting to resolve investor-state disputes. By utilising disputes relating to China’s Belt and Road Initiative as a case study, it is shown that the social impact of foreign investment projects is often a catalyst for arbitration claims. Community interests are insufficiently represented at the stage of procurement or admission of investment, which has led to violent clashes between investors and …

Modeling Framework To Quantify And Gauge Project Cost Risks Due To Construction Material Price Volatilities Using Predictive Probabilistic Deep-Learning Algorithms And Stochastic Risk Modeling, Yasser Jezzini, Rayan H. Assaad, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Material price fluctuations pose significant challenges for executing construction projects and adhering to budgetary estimates. Existing research studies focused on forecasting construction material prices rather than quantifying and gauging overall project cost risks related to price volatilities, and they relied on traditional time-series forecasting methods that are incapable of offering full probabilistic distributions of price fluctuations and of providing a comprehensive assessment of risk uncertainties associated with material price fluctuations. This paper addresses these gaps by developing an integrated framework to quantify and gauge project risks due to construction material price volatilities. The framework's validity and practicality were demonstrated using …

Wild Hogs In The Water: Contested Infrastructural Ecologies Of Reservoir Storage In Texas, Sayd Randle

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Reservoirs are developed to store water in reserve for future use. But once built, reservoir sites inevitably hold more than just water, often serving as a key habitat for a range of species. This paper examines how one such animal has transformed water storage facilities and nearby landscapes into contested ground in urbanising areas of Texas, USA. Living around the reservoirs, feral hogs complicate the process of urbanisation by degrading the stockpiled water and infrastructure at the storage sites themselves and by damaging private property throughout the surrounding landscape. Tracking local efforts to manage the hogs, the case study illustrates …