Digital Commons Network^™

Birth Outcomes In The Hispanic Population In The United States: Trends, Variation, And Determinants (2011–2021), Yanchao Yang, Sota Fuji '27, Thinh Nguyen '26

Business Analytics Faculty Publications

Infants born to mothers who self-identify as Hispanic account for a substantial and growing share of births in the United States, yet limited research has examined disparities in birth outcomes across Hispanic origin subgroups. This study aims to document trends and identify important factors associated with Cesarean section (C-section), low birth-weight, and prematurity within the Hispanic population. We use data from the National Vital Statistics System (2011–2021), covering nearly all U.S. births. We compare outcomes across Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black mothers and further disaggregate by Hispanic origin (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central/South American, and Other/Unknown). We use logistic …

Fabrication Of Antibacterial And Functional Films From Starch-Polyvinylpyrrolidone Composite Using Plasma Treatment And Silver Nanoparticles, Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Nikitha Modupalli, Md Mahfuzur Rahman

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Biopolymers and water-soluble nontoxic synthetic polymer composites using silver nanoparticles are astute approaches for antibacterial film fabrication. Moreover, surface treatment of the biopolymeric composite film by cold plasma can enhance the biocidal activity. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by using the reduction method. Films were fabricated with different ratios of rice starch and polyvinylpyrrolidones (PVP) (1:0, 1:1, and 3:1), with and without silver (Ag) nanoparticles. A plasma jet was used to treat the film's surfaces by placing the Film 0.5 cm below the plasma discharge. Surface morphology was monitored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the existence of Ag nanoparticles in …

Signaling By Intracellular Β2-Adrenergic Receptors Regulates Ampa Receptor Trafficking And Synaptic Plasticity, Paul J. Gasser

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Signaling by norepinephrine (NE) via adrenergic receptors (ARs) mediates attention, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. AMPA receptors (AMPARs) form a complex with β2ARs, Gs, adenylyl cyclase, and protein kinase A (PKA) to augment AMPAR phosphorylation and, thereby, surface expression. We show that signaling by intracellular β2ARs is required for these effects and two different forms of long-term potentiation (LTP) that depend on β2AR signaling and phosphorylation of the AMPAR GluA1 subunit on S845. Inhibition of two NE transporters, the organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) and the plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT), impairs phosphorylation of the AMPAR GluA1 …

Machine Learning And Crime Prevention, Emily Lizewski

Student Theses

Predictive policing uses machine learning to analyze crime patterns and help law enforcement better efficient use their resources. These tools can improve accuracy by highlighting complex trends in large sets of data. While this technology has its advantages, it also raises important ethical and social questions. Within this paper we looks at how predictive policing works, focusing on the machine learning models often used such as decision trees, random forests, gradient boosting, and models that factor in both time and location. It also explores how these tools might unintentionally reinforce biases already present in historical crime data. In reviewing the …

Exploring The Moderating Effect Of Boundary Management Strategy In A Remote Work Environment, Brandon M. Vasquez

Master's Theses

Remote work has evolved significantly, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to influence employee experiences in both positive and negative ways. Managing the separation between work and personal life is of importance. More specifically, using a boundary management strategy of segmentation may be more effective than an integration strategy because those who separate the two domains of work and family/personal life may be less prone to conflict in their lives. The present study aimed to examine the moderating effect of boundary management strategy on the relationship between remote work and job satisfaction, work-life balance, and well-being. Specifically, it was …

“Learning By Faith” Workshop 4 Lesson Plan Templates, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

This document provides 4 of the 45 minute lesson plan template to enhance "Learning by Faith." This is particularly meaningful for the BYU community where D&C 88:118 is strongly emphasized in our learning.

“Learning By Faith” Workshop Worksheet Samples Etc., Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

This document contains 5 items: worksheets, guide and tips to facilitate "Learning by Faith" in more dynamic and concrete ways.

「信仰により学ぶ」ワークショップ ４レッスンプランのテンプレート, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

このドキュメントには、「信仰によって学ぶ」という教義と聖約８８章１１８節の教えに基づく教育の実践を具体的で、科学的な土台に基づいて、即実践できるレベルに落とし込んであります。最後には、BYUコミュニティーのメンバーの示唆に富んだ証がリストされています。

「信仰によって学ぶ」ワークショップ用の資料, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

このドキュメントにより「信仰により学ぶ」ワークショップを進めるために効果的に使える５つの資料（ワークシートやガイドなど）が自由に使っていただけます。

The Impact Of Interactive Classroom Interior Design On Student’S Perceived Well-Being: A Case Study Of Egyptian Language Schools In Cairo., Dalia Moati, Tasneem Gamal, Rodina Mostafa, Yara Farrag

Architectural Engineering

The impact of classroom interior design on students’ perceived well- being, encompassing cognitive, physical, and social aspects, is substantial. While there is increasing evidence supporting the importance of individual interior elements such as lighting, colour, and furniture, most research examines these factors separately, neglecting their combined effects. This research seeks to examine how an integrated approach to interactive classroom interior design through flexible seating areas, ergonomic furniture, natural lighting, colours psychology, acoustics, and thermal comfort influences student well- being (physical, social, and cognitive). The research explores the most effective combinations of design components in fostering a positive and supportive learning …

Utilization Of Colors, Lighting, And Materials As A Narrative Ai-Tool To Convey Human Emotions In Museums’ Interior Spaces. A Case Study Of The Museum Of Islamic Art Cairo, Egypt., Dalia Moati, Rawan Medhat, Fagr Hesham, Nada Khaled, Tamer

Architectural Engineering

This study explores the relationship between museum interior design and human emotional responses, focusing on how key design elements—color, lighting, and materials—can be optimized to enhance visitor engagement and emotional well- being. Conducted at the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, Egypt, the research examines two critical spaces along the visitor journey: the Medicine Hall, introducing the experience, and the Writings Hall, situated toward the end of the route, where fatigue and emotional disengagement often occur. Over a nine-week period, a mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating structured observation, behavioral mapping, and AI-assisted image modifications to generate controlled design variations, alongside …

Enhancing Registered Nurse Retention And Job Satisfaction Through Comprehensive Career Development Initiatives In Non-Profit Urban Hospitals, Iwalola Iluyomade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This integrative review was conducted to examine how comprehensive career development initiatives influence registered nurse retention and job satisfaction in non-profit urban hospitals, which are affected by limited advancement opportunities, inadequate mentorship, and unsupportive work environments. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice model and the Authentic Nurse Leadership framework, this review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature from 2019 to 2024 to identify evidence-based, leadership-driven strategies for improving nurse retention. Four key themes emerged: (a) career development and advancement through structured learning pathways, mentorship, and leadership training; (b) empowerment and decision-making via participative management and clinical autonomy; (c) supportive work environments that …

Impact Of Mental Illness On Colon Cancer Screening Participation, Stephanie Tejada

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study analyzed the impact of mental illness on colon cancer screening participation. The research problem centers on the under-screening of colorectal cancer (CRC) in psychiatric patients, leading to delayed diagnoses and poorer treatment outcomes. This quantitative retrospective cohort study examined how demographic factors (age, gender, ethnicity), healthcare access, and support group participation influenced CRC screening among individuals with mental illness. The research used data from 571 adults aged 50 and older from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The Social Ecological Model served as the guiding theoretical framework for this study. Statistical analyses included t-tests, chi-square, logistic regression, and …

Exploring The Service-Learning Volunteer Experience Of African American Male Educators In Urban Schools, Gia N. Paige

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Educators who self-identify as African American male educators are underrepresented in educational leadership and scholarship on service learning, despite the significant roles they play in shaping urban educational spaces. In this qualitative phenomenological study, the lived service experiences of five African American male educators who engaged in service-learning and volunteerism in urban schools were explored. The purpose was to examine how these educators narrated their service experiences and how those experiences intersected with their identity as African American males. African American male theory was used to frame the study, emphasizing cultural heritage, resistance to deficit perspectives, and the affirmation of …

Implementing Clinical Guidelines To Improve The Number Of Inpatient Visits At A Mental Health Clinic, Kimberly Rochelle Miles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This DNP quality improvement project focused on addressing a critical gap in psychiatric care: the high rate of missed inpatient mental health visits. Missed follow-up appointments after hospital discharge are associated with medication nonadherence, relapse, hospital readmissions, psychiatric decompensation, and increased emergency department use. In severe cases, they may increase suicide risk. Contributing factors include patient-level barriers such as cognitive impairment, socioeconomic instability, stigma, low motivation, and transportation difficulties, as well as systemic issues like inadequate discharge planning and lack of standardized follow-up protocols. The evidence-based practice question guiding this project was: Will a clinical practice guideline (CPG) improve number …

An Education Project For Training Nurses On Self-Care Strategies To Prevent Work-Related Burnout, Nsemboowo Effiong Enyong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is no in this project

Employees’ Perceptions Of Their Performance Based On Continuous Training In Hospitals, Mohamad El Fakih

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Training perceived as irrelevant or insufficient may lead to disengagement, lower performance, and even burnout, particularly in high-stress healthcare environments. The specific research problem is that Lebanese hospitals fail to adopt tailored training strategies that effectively enhance healthcare workers’ perceptions of their performance. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of hospital employees in Lebanon, focusing on how ongoing training influenced their perceived job performance. Social learning theory, organizational learning theory, and institutional theory grounded this study. The participants comprised nine hospital administrators in Beirut. Data were collected using in-depth, semistructured interviews. Ten …

Opioid Overdose Bystander Assistance And Harm Reduction In Pennsylvania, Walkirya Peralta

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Bystanders play a vital role in reducing opioid overdose deaths by administering naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of opioids when used promptly. With opioid-related fatalities considered a public health emergency in the United States, increasing public access to naloxone and education on overdose prevention has become a key strategy in harm reduction. Research shows that these efforts effectively lower overdose deaths in affected communities. As part of this public health approach, many states allow individuals to obtain naloxone without a prescription through standing orders at pharmacies and community programs. Additionally, legal protections such as Good Samaritan laws …

Exploring Cybersecurity Strategies Used To Protect Personal Health Information From Cyberattacks When Using Telemedicine, Samara Torres

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The healthcare industry has been impacted by an increase in cybersecurity breaches because of cyberattacks when using telemedicine. It is crucial that information technology (IT) managers in the private healthcare industry protect personal health information (PHI) to uphold patients’ right to privacy, maintain their trust, prevent legal ramifications, and to comply with government regulations. This qualitative pragmatic research used the integrated system theory (IST) as a road map to explore effective cybersecurity strategies used to protect PHI in telemedicine. The participants were seven IT managers in the private healthcare industry within the United States who had experience with cybersecurity strategies …

Staff Education To Improve Mental Health Knowledge Among Critical Care Staff, Ashton Barnes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health literacy is increasingly recognized as a critical component of nursing practice, particularly in high-acuity environments. At a local healthcare organization, leadership identified a gap in staff education related to mental health, contributing to elevated incidences of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), burnout, and diminished patient outcomes. In response, I conducted this Doctor of Nursing Practice project to evaluate whether a structured educational intervention could enhance mental health knowledge and competency among critical care staff. Participants completed pre- and postintervention assessments to evaluate core concepts in mental health awareness and clinical application, with supplementary qualitative feedback gathered to …

Unh Launches Initiative To Improve Outcomes For Stem Ph.D. Students, Beth Potier

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

In Memoriam: Eric Lund, Rebecca Irelan

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

The Research Behind New Hampshire’S Outdoor Recreational Experience, Aaron Sanborn

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Computer-Aided Reading Of Chest Radiographs For Paediatric Tuberculosis: Current Status And Future Directions, Mackenzie Dupont, Robert Castro, Sandra V Kik, Megan Palmer, James A Seddon, Devan Jaganath

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Computer-aided detection (CAD) systems for automated reading of chest x-rays (CXRs) have been developed and approved for tuberculosis triage in adults but not in children. However, CXR is frequently the only adjunctive tool for clinical assessment in the evaluation of paediatric tuberculosis in primary care settings, and children would benefit from CAD models that can detect their unique clinical and radiographic features. To advance CAD for childhood tuberculosis, large, diverse paediatric CXR datasets linked to standardised tuberculosis classifications are required. These datasets would be used to train and validate paediatric-specific models for tuberculosis screening, diagnosis, and severity stratification. Previous studies …

Influenza-Associated Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy In Us Children, Andrew Silverman, Rachel Walsh, Jonathan D Santoro, Katherine Thomas, Elizabeth Ballinger, Kristen S Fisher, Ajay X Thomas, Brian Appavu, Michael C Kruer, Derek Neilson, Jasmine Knoll, April N Sharp, Hannah E Edelman, Scott Otallah, Alexandra Morgan, Aniela Grzezulkowska, John Nguyen, Lekha M Rao, Shaina M Hecht, Laura Catalano, Hunter Daigle, Catherine Kronfol, Jessica Wharton, David Adams, Adam Z Kalawi, Michael Kung, Janetta L Arellano, Lauren Smith, Devorah Segal, Kristina Feja, Eileen Broomall, Anuj Jayakar, Sandra R Arnold, Hanna Retallack, Craig A Press, Grace Gombolay, Madeleine H Mclaughlin, Varun Kannan, Kavita Thakkar, Tasmia Rezwan, Erin Hulfish, Dalia Eid, Jennifer Meylor, Diane Peng, Ryan Hurtado, Taylor Nickerson, Iris Mandell, Abigail U Carbonell, Mallory Kerner-Rossi, Divya Jayaraman, Mallory Davis, Rosemary Olivero, Neel Shah, Christina M Osborne, Bo Zhang, Christopher Cortina, Adrienne G Randolph, Suchitra Rao, Thomas Larocca, Keith P Van Haren, Molly Wilson-Murphy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a rare, but severe, neurologic condition for which epidemiologic and management data remain limited. During the 2024-2025 US influenza season, clinicians at large pediatric centers anecdotally reported an increased number of children with influenza-associated ANE, prompting this national investigation.

Objective: To understand the clinical presentation, interventions, and outcomes among US children diagnosed with influenza-associated ANE.

Design, setting, and participants: This study was a multicenter case series of children diagnosed with ANE with longitudinal follow-up. A call for cases was issued via academic societies, public health agencies, and by directly contacting pediatric specialists at 76 …

Multiplex Imaging Mass Cytometry Reveals Prognostic Immunosuppressive Subpopulations And Macrophage-Driven Metastasis In Osteosarcoma, Benjamin B Gyau, Junyan Wang, Weiguo Wu, Brooks Scull, Angela M Major, Weidong Jin, Justin M M Cates, John Hicks, Tsz-Kwong Man

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that mostly affects kids and teens. The biggest danger is when the cancer spreads to the lungs, and current treatments do not work well for those cases. Immunotherapy, which helps the body’s immune system fight cancer, has worked for other cancers but is limited for osteosarcoma because we do not fully understand the environment around the tumor. Our research looked at various cells around the tumor to study why patients have worse outcomes. We found that certain cells, called M2 macrophages (M2) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), which weaken the immune system, are …

High-Speed Voltage Imaging Of Action Potentials In Molecular Layer Interneurons Reveals Sensory-Driven Synchrony That Augments Movement, Spencer T Brown, Meghana R Holla, Michelle A Land, Shuyuan Yang, Alex J Mcdonald, François St-Pierre, Indira M Raman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Testing whether the synchrony of action potential firing is a cerebellar coding mechanism requires simultaneous recording, with high temporal fidelity, from populations of identified neurons. Here, we used targeted one-photon voltage imaging at 2–4 kHz to record action potentials from groups of ~10–300 molecular layer interneurons (MLIs) expressing a positively tuned, genetically encoded voltage indicator, FORCE1f or pAce. In awake resting mice, crus I MLIs fired brief (~1-ms) spikes at 20–60 spikes/s. Sensory stimuli of air puffs to the whiskers evoked short-latency (< 10 ms) increases in spiking probability. In most trials, >50% of MLIs fired synchronously with 4-ms temporal precision. The magnitude of puff-evoked whisks correlated tightly with …

Cathartocytosis: Jettisoning Of Cellular Material During Reprogramming Of Differentiated Cells, Jeffrey W Brown, Xiaobo Lin, Gabriel Anthony Nicolazzi, Xuemei Liu, Thanh Nguyen, Megan D Radyk, Joseph Burclaff, Jason C Mills

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Injury causes differentiated cells to undergo massive reprogramming to become proliferative and repair tissue via paligenosis. Gastric chief cells use paligenosis to reprogram into progenitor-like spasmolytic-polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM) cells. Stage 1 of paligenosis is the downscaling of mature cell architecture via a process involving lysosomes. Here, we notice that sulfated glycoproteins are not only digested during paligenosis but also excreted into the gland. Various genetic and pharmacological approaches show that endoplasmic reticulum membranes and secretory granule cargo are also excreted and that the process proceeds in parallel with but is mechanistically independent of autophagy. Three-dimensional light and electron microscopy demonstrated …

Quantum Pseudorandom Primitives Beyond Pseudorandom States, Chuhan Lu

Dissertations and Theses

Quantum pseudorandomness is an emerging research area. Ji, Liu, and Song defined pseudorandom states (PRSs) and pseudorandom unitaries (PRUs) as quantum analogs of pseudorandom generators and pseudorandom functions. A unitary oracle separation result between one-way functions and PRSs/PRUs, established by Kretschmer, suggests that certain quantum primitives may remain secure even if classical cryptography is compromised. This insight has spurred extensive work on quantum pseudorandomness and its applications in quantum cryptography.

Many constructions of PRSs have been established under standard assumptions, yet building a secure PRU was a long-standing open problem. This dissertation aims to narrow the gap between PRSs and …

The Problem Of Market Power In Postwar America: Antitrust Law, Regulatory Discourse, And Changing Ideas Of Market Power, Laura Phillips-Sawyer

Scholarly Works

US antitrust law prohibits anticompetitive restraints of trade, including collusion among firms and single-firm monopolization. The law serves as a democratic check against concentrations of private economic power. However, in the post-World War II era, the law has changed largely through case law, rather than through statutory interventions. Thus, understanding the role that antitrust law has played in reconciling capitalism and democracy requires us to ask what has influenced changes to antitrust law. This chapter traces antitrust law’s postwar development across three key periods: 1940–1970s, mid-1970s to 2010s, and 2010s to present. It argues that each era’s approach to the …