Digital Commons Network^™

Cost-Effectiveness Model For Reservoir Sediment Management Economics, Connor Ronald Hale

Theses and Dissertations

Reservoir sediment deposition poses a challenge to sustainable water supplies around the world. Sediment management has proven to be an expensive endeavor. Two models have been developed to guide economic analysis for reservoir sediment management, namely the Reservoir Sediment Economics Model (RSEM) and the Reservoir Conservation Model 2 (RESCON 2). While these are helpful tools for benefit-cost prefeasibility studies, they rely heavily on sometimes elusive estimations of the benefits of water supply. In this study, a new method for economic analysis is proposed that foregoes benefit-cost analysis in favor of a cost-effectiveness approach. The Sediment Management Cost-Effectiveness Model ranks sediment …

Barriers And Enablers Of Early Health-Seeking Behaviour Among Women With Preeclampsia And Eclampsia: A Qualitative Study At A National Referral Hospital In Uganda, Shirley Moore, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Globally, 2–8% of women experience hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDPs), including preeclampsia and eclampsia, which are the second leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. According to the management protocol for preeclampsia in Uganda, weekly follow-up is recommended for women with preeclampsia without severe features who are below 37weeks of gestation; however, this has not been feasible to most cases of preeclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E). There is still limited information describing barriers and enablers of early health-seeking behaviour amongst women with PE/E, yet this is needed to improve their healthcare. This study explored the barriers and enablers of early health-seeking behaviour …

Cardozo Law News Brief: August 22, 2025, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Briefs

This Cardozo Law News Brief highlights the launch of the National Immigration Habeas Institute as part of Cardozo’s new Center for Immigration Innovation, along with the introduction of a new online Master’s in Labor and Employment Law for non-lawyers. Faculty in the media include Professor Jessica Roth on CNN’s AC360 discussing the Jeffrey Epstein case, Professor Lindsay Nash in Bloomberg Law on the growing demand for immigration courses, Professor Wilfred Codrington III in the National Law Journal on challenges to the Voting Rights Act, Professor Saurabh Vishnubhakat in Bloomberg Law on a major copyright lawsuit, Professor Edward Zelinsky in Bloomberg …

Relativistic Gas Accretion Onto Supermassive Black Hole Binaries From Inspiral Through Merger, Lorenzo Ennoggi

Theses

Accreting supermassive black hole binaries are powerful multimessenger sources emitting both gravitational and electromagnetic (EM) radiation. Understanding the accretion dynamics of these systems and predicting their distinctive EM signals is crucial to informing and guiding upcoming efforts aimed at detecting gravitational waves produced by these binaries. To this end, accurate numerical modeling is required to describe both the spacetime and the magnetized gas around the black holes. In this work, we present two key advances in this field of research. First, we have developed a novel 3D general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) framework that combines multiple numerical codes to simulate the …

Prediction Of Drug-Induced Cardiotoxicity Using Machine Learning Analysis Of Hipsc-Cm Contractile Profiles, Anthony Allan Watt

Theses - ALL

Drug-induced cardiotoxicity remains a critical concern in pharmaceutical development as failed drug candidates result in lost time and resources that could be better spent on viable candidates. We believe that a robust in vitro model that accurately captures human cardiac physiology is an applicable model for examining drug candidates. In addition to those models, there is a need for quick and effective predictive models to analyze data obtained from the model to classify drugs based on their potential for cardiotoxicity. In this study, we conduct a functional analysis of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and pass the data collected …

Pre-Duty Factors That Affect The Number Of Patients Receiving Services At The Emergency Unit Of A Community Hospital, Wirot Sombatthavoankun

Asian Medical Journal and Alternative Medicine

Introduction: A high volume of patients may lead to Emergency unit overcrowding which affects the patient care process and worsening patient outcomes.

Objectives: To explore pre-duty factors that affect the number of patients receiving services at the emergency unit of Bangkhla hospital (community hospital) during the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 May 2024.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The study included all patients visiting the emergency unit and staff on duty at Bangkhla hospital during the study period. A multivariable Poisson regression was used to identify potential factors.

Results:A total of 454 shiftwork records were …

Retracted: Are Your Kidneys Ok? Detect Early To Protect Kidney Health, Joseph A Vassalotti, Anna Francis, Augusto Cesar Soares Dos Santos Jr, Ricardo Correa-Rotter, Dina Abdellatif, Li-Li Hsiao, Stefanos Roumeliotis, Agnes Haris, Latha A Kumaraswami, Siu-Fai Lui, Alessandro Balducci, Vassilios Liakopoulos, World Kidney Day Joint Steering Committee

Asian Medical Journal and Alternative Medicine

Early identification of kidney disease can protect kidney health, prevent kidney disease progression and related complications, reduce cardiovascular disease risk and decrease mortality. We must ask “Are your kidneys ok?” using serum creatinine to estimate kidney function and urine albumin to assess for kidney and endothelial damage. Evaluation for causes and risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) includes testing for diabetes and measurement of blood pressure and body mass index. This World Kidney Day we assert that case-finding in high-risk populations, or even population level screening, can decrease the burden of kidney disease globally. Early-stage CKD is …

Using Chatgpt-Generated Practice Exam Questions In Medical Education, Jack Paradis, Currey Zalman, Makayla Schissel, Geoffrey Talmon, Kari L. Nelson

Medical Student Research Showcase

Background: As artificial intelligence expands in medical education, large language models like ChatGPT have shown potential for efficiently generating practice questions (PQs). A 2023 needs assessment at our institution found that all first-year medical students used PQs, with 75% reporting they always use them when available. To support active learning and exam preparation, we utilized ChatGPT to generate PQs for the historically challenging Circulatory and Respiratory Blocks of the M1 year. Our pilot study aimed to (1) examine the process of developing PQs using ChatGPT, (2) evaluate the impact of ChatGPT-generated PQs on exam performance, and (3) assess student satisfaction. …

An Anesthesia Informed Consent Checklist And Ahrq Share Decision-Making Model For Labor And Delivery Patients: A Quality Improvement Project, Katherine C. Burnett

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

Abstract

Background and Significance: Informed consent is the disclosure of all benefits, risks, and alternatives to patients for a given intervention. Recalling all important details during the consenting process can prove difficult for providers. The process is further complicated for obstetric patients since healthcare decisions also have consequences for the fetus. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee (ACOGC) (2021) recommends shared decision-making models (SDMs) for the obstetric patient population. SDMs engage patients in healthcare decisions by reaching a decision through provider expertise, best evidence, and patient values. In addition, surgical informed consent checklists have emerged as useful …

Decreasing Foraminiferal Flux In Response To Ongoing Climate Change In The Santa Barbara Basin, California, Emily Harvard, Katherine Cherry, Claudia R. Benitez-Nelson, Eric Tappa, Catherine V. Davis

Faculty Publications

The rapid response of foraminiferal assemblages to changing climate makes their shells an invaluable geological record of the past. However, the time frame over which foraminifera respond to climatic signals and the specific drivers influencing assemblage composition and abundance remain obscure. We focus on the impact of ongoing, anthropogenic climate change on planktic foraminifera in the California Current ecosystem, which would appear as a nearly instantaneous event in the sediment record. The Santa Barbara Basin sediment trap, located off the coast of California, USA since 1993, provides a record of more than 30 years of particulate and foraminiferal flux in …

A Hieratical Control Framework For Assessing Ev’S Impact On Residential Energy Flexibility, Yuewei Li

Dissertations - ALL

With the development of the power grid, the world's industries and economies have experienced a significant boost over the past centuries. However, as the demand for electricity from the grid continues to grow, utility markets face increasingly challenging tasks in balancing supply and demand. Additionally, integrating renewable energy sources such as solar, hydroelectric, and wind power into the grid adds further complexities to maintaining grid stability. In the United States, buildings account for about 76% of electricity consumption and 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, making them a major contributor to peak demand, which is nearly 80%. Therefore, buildings play a …

In Defense Of Metaphysics: A Defense Of The Value And Methodological Soundness Of Metaphysics Understood As Structural Modeling, Sean Nalty

Dissertations - ALL

The aim of this dissertation is to provide a defense of the value and methodological soundness of contemporary analytic metaphysics against a variety of recent anti-metaphysical and scientistic critiques. In Chapter 1, I attempt to answer (at least provisionally) a surprisingly difficult question: what is metaphysics, anyway? I suggest seven adequacy constraints on an answer to this question, and then test five historically and contemporarily influential candidate characterizations of metaphysics against these constraints. Finding each candidate lacking, I close by proposing an ecumenical conception of metaphysics — what I call the structural modeling conception — according to which metaphysics aims …

Fertile, Social, Dangerous, Sacred, Gift, And System: Religion, Salt City Harvest Farm, And The Future Of Human Shit, Sarah Elizabeth Nahar

Dissertations - ALL

Shit, the taboo term for the human excreta that exits the anus, can be understood as sacred. Shitting, the vulgar verb to describe the act of discarding solid excreta, can likewise be understood as religious ritual activity. This counters the Dominant Social Paradigm (DSP) in the United States (US) of the placement of shit as profane, and shitting as unceremonial. An aim of this dissertation is to reclaim the word shit from the realm of what the DSP has rendered invisible and unspeakable, and spark rigorous academic discussion about it in the context of Religion and Environmental Studies. The DSP …

Increasing Nursing Professional Development Specialty Certification Rates Amongst The Nursing Professional Development And Informatics Department, Nicole L. Cockerill

Group: Nebraska Methodist College

Problem: Nursing specialty certification promotes professionalism, demonstrates commitment and accountability for lifelong learning and professional development, is associated with improved knowledge and skills, and is linked to improved organizational and patient outcomes. Despite these benefits, certification rates remain low, and nurses still face barriers in obtaining certification.

Intervention: The project intervention was to offer a one-hour introductory class followed by three weekly one-hour Nurse Professional Development (NPD) certification prep courses through Microsoft Teams to the NPD and Informatics Department. The prep course followed the blueprint of the exam and focused on different topics each week.

Measures: Through pre- and post-surveys, …

Staff Education Focused On Screening Patients For Depression Using The Phq-9 Tool, Eveline Mankom Gwaabe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project at a community health center (CHC) addressed a performance improvement measure related to the usability of the depression screening tool, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), for patients 12 years and older. At CHC, the mental health providers underutilized this tool, leading to missed opportunities in identifying patients 12 years and older with depressive disorders. These missed opportunities may contribute to suboptimal patient treatment outcomes. The purpose of the staff educational program was to increase CHC staffs’ understanding of the PHQ-9 screening tool for routine depression screening. Ten mental health providers participated in the program, …

Staff Education To Nursing Leadership On Implementation Requirements Of A Nurse Residency Program, Sherri Ulfig

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurse residency programs provide new graduate nurses with a solid foundation to support their transition into practice. The DNP students completed a staff education project to educate nurse leaders on the implementation requirements of a nurse residency program at a not-for-profit hospital in the Midwest. The identified practice problem was that the organization paused its nurse residency program during the COVID-19 pandemic due to critical staffing needs, and the leaders wanted to redesign the program to meet current practice standards. The educational project question addressed whether education for site leaders would increase their knowledge of the implementation requirements of a …

Spina Bifida: Home Post-Operative Care, Preetha Prazad

Advocate GME

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of Submuscular Transposition For Revision Cubital Tunnel Release: Comparative Outcomes Analysis, Joshua Riklan, Alexzandra Mattia, Markos Mardourian, Harvey Chim

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Purpose: To assess outcomes after revision cubital tunnel release and submuscular transposition and compare these to a cohort of patients undergoing primary release with in situ decompression. Methods: Patients who underwent revision cubital tunnel release and submuscular transposition (n = 16) were enrolled. Mean follow-up was 21.4 months (range 12.8–55.6). Patients were evaluated in person using the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH). Dellon stage, McGowan grade, visual analog scale for pain, and improvement of symptoms using the Messina's criteria and Modified Bishop score were assessed. Comparative analysis was performed with a …

Oncogenic Effects Of Ecm Remodeling In Obesity And Breast Cancer, Mackenzie L. Hawes, Marcus A. Moody, Caroline R. Mccauley, Abigail G. Huddleston, Maansi Solanky, Dara H. Khosravi, Ayushi R. Patel, Ronald M. Lynch, Suresh K. Alahari, Bruce A. Bunnell, Jorge A. Belgodere, Van T. Hoang, Matthew E. Burow, Elizabeth C. Martin

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Extracellular matrix (ECM) components are key regulators in breast cancer progression, as ECM remodeling is essential for breast cancer cells to invade into surrounding tissue. This process is characterized by the alignment of fibrillar collagens, breakdown of basement membrane components, and increased interstitial collagen stiffness. In patients with obesity, pre-existing ECM changes, including excessive collagen deposition and heightened matrix stiffness, mimic alterations detected in breast cancer. Given that obesity is a predictor of poor prognosis and resistance to treatment in breast cancer, it is crucial to understand how ECM conditioned by obesity affects disease outcomes. In this review, we highlight …

Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation Targeting The Subthalamic Nucleus In A Patient With Parkinson's Disease: A Care Compliant Case Report, Tirath Patel, Christopher Hanani, Anaya Noor, Shamikha Cheema, Muhammad Farhan, Rohab Sohail, Abhishek Goyal, Jabez David John, Adekunle E. Omole, Richard M. Millis

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

RATIONALE: Adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) represents a notable advancement in treating Parkinson's disease (PD), as it offers enhanced therapeutic outcomes and personalized management by adjusting stimulation parameters in real-time according to individual neural signals. This approach minimizes adverse effects commonly associated with standard continuous deep brain stimulation (cDBS). This case report describes the progress of a 62-year-old man with severe PD who demonstrated notable enhancement in motor symptoms and quality of life throughout a 3-month trial period using aDBS. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 62-year-old man who has been suffering from Parkinson's disease. DIAGNOSES: The patient had been diagnosed with PD …

Trump Approval In Nh Unchanged; Bipartisan Majority Want Epstein Documents Released 8/22/2025, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

Majorities of New Hampshire residents believe both the Trump and Biden administrations have concealed evidence about Jeffrey Epstein and want all documents related to the case released. Granite Staters overwhelmingly oppose a pardon or commutation for Ghislaine Maxwell. More than half of state residents believe President Trump was involved in a crime related to the case and nearly three-quarters believe former President Bill Clinton was as well. More than half of Granite Staters believe Israel bears a lot of responsibility for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and nearly half support blocking the sale of weapons to Israel. Despite these issues, …

Most Vermonters Want Epstein Files Released, Believe Trump Admin Currently Concealing Evidence 8/22/2025, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

Seven in eight Vermont residents want the federal government to release all documents it has related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and Vermonters are opposed to clemency for Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Majorities believe both President Trump and former President Bill Clinton were involved in crimes related to the Epstein case. Few Vermonters believe accusations made by Tulsi Gabbard related to the 2016 election. Approval of Trump's job performance remains very low. Most Vermonters believe Israel bears a lot of responsibility for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a majority support blocking weapons sales to Israel.

Coexisting Hepatic Myopericytoma And Multiple Biliary Hamartomas: A Case Report, Charinee Kantasiripitak, Worrakit Kaewnopparat, Jutatip Kintarak, Wirana Angthong, Palin Limpavitayaporn, Thiyaphat Laohawetwanit

Asian Medical Journal and Alternative Medicine

A 73-year-old woman presented with dyspnea and was evaluated for suspected pulmonary embolism. An MRI incidentally revealed multiple intrahepatic lesions, leading to a right hepatectomy. Pathologic examination confirmed the presence of both hepatic myopericytoma and multiple biliary hamartomas. This study represents the first documented rare case of coexisting hepatic myopericytoma and multiple biliary hamartomas.

Oxidation Resistance And Osmotic Energy Harvesting Applications Of Reduced Graphene Oxide Forward Osmosis Membranes, Michael Appiah-Kubi

Theses and Dissertations

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) forward osmosis (FO) membranes have emerged as promising candidates for efficient wastewater management and osmotic energy harvesting, due to their enhanced chemical stability and superior FO performance for low-energy waste brine treatments, such as volume reduction of oxidative chromium brine for cost-effective disposal. This dissertation first examines the oxidation resistance of RGO forward osmosis membranes against chromate Cr (VI). Our findings reveal that both the water flux and the reverse salt flux of RGO membranes are suppressed, accompanying an enhanced reverse flux selectivity after exposure to an acidic medium of Cr (VI) (pH 2.0-7.0). Meanwhile, the …

Assessment Of Bat Species (Mammalia: Chiroptera) In Canubas Cave, Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines, Jurriel Mari D. Alce, Jasmine Rouida M. Abenes, Leo Gabriel Cervantes, Matthew Eli K. Llacer, Von Zhyrus P. Oche, Ian Jay P. Saldo, Jhovel Roy D. Calo

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Bats, flying mammals, are essential to ecosystems, playing vital roles in pollination, seed dispersal, and insect control. Despite their ecological importance, no prior bat research exists for Canubas Cave, Kibawe, Bukidnon. This study aimed to assess the bat species at the site, documenting their morphometric data, diversity and richness indices, and conservation statuses. A purposive sampling design was implemented by setting up mist nets inside and outside the cave. A total of 13 individuals were identified, comprising three species from two families: Rousettus amplexicaudatus and Eonycteris spelaea (family Pteropodidae, fruit bats), and Miniopterus schreibersii (family Miniopteridae, bent-winged bats). Based on …

Milkfish (Chanos Chanos) Bones As A Biosorbent For Mercury (Ii) Contamination In Water, Seth Uriel K. Neri, Ethan Kyle Mangao, Christian Kevin F. Redoblado, Anthony Cesar Y. Ponce, Roby Boy P. Riego, Jupiter O. Yap

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Heavy metals, such as mercury contamination in water sources are a major environmental and public health issue in many countries. Traditional methods for removing heavy metals from water are effective but often costly and unsustainable and may produce secondary waste. Recent trends favor more sustainable alternatives, such as biosorbents in treating water with heavy metals. Milkfish (Chanos chanos), a common fish in the Philippines, contains hydroxyapatite in the bones that can bind with heavy metals through physical and chemical adsorption mechanisms. This study aims to evaluate the mercury (II) reduction capacity of biosorbent derived from milkfish bones in water, specifically …

Ct Characteristics Of Signet Ring Cell Vs Non-Signet Ring Cell Gastric Cancer, Kaan Tangtiang, Thamonpon Pholpraserth, Wirana Angthong

Asian Medical Journal and Alternative Medicine

Background: While the incidence of gastric cancer has decreased, the incidence of signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is rising. Patients with advanced SRCC gastric cancer have a worse prognosis and lower chemosensitivity than those with non-signet-ring cell carcinoma (NSRCC).

Purpose: To determine the differential radiological features of SRCC from NSRCC gastric cancer on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT).

Material and Methods: This study included 78 patients with pathologically proven gastric carcinoma, 41 patients with SRCC and 37 patients with NSRCC, diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2019 at Thammasat University Hospital. The demographic and histological characteristics were recorded. CT parameters were independently …

Challenging Life Events Of Undergraduate Students, Kristi Lewis, Gayle Roux, Catherine Dingley

The Qualitative Report

College students often face many difficult or stressful personal life events such as academic pressure, financial worries, family stress, or a relationship breakup. These events can impact their mental health and academic performance. Amid the growing mental health crisis on college campuses, it is important to explore the strategies that college students employ to tackle challenging life events. The purpose of this study was to (1) explore the experience of college undergraduates as they navigate challenging life events; and (2) examine strategies and resources utilized by the students. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study informed by phenomenology (Giorgi, 2009) using …

Re: Comment Letter For Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Notice Of Intent To Abandon Bps07-05a And Bps07-05b (Dated July 14, 2025), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Assessing Cervical Cancer Health Literacy Among Karen Women In The Omaha Area, Grace E. Berentson, Michaela Bartels, Jennifer Liu, Monica Angeletti

Medical Student Research Showcase

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death among Karen women, a predominant ethnic group in Myanmar. One of the largest and fastest growing Karen populations in the United States is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The objective of our study is to evaluate cervical cancer health literacy among Karen women and explore potential knowledge gaps that could be addressed with an educational intervention in the future. A survey was given to Karen women at the Karen Student Association at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) and members of the Karen Christian Revival Church in Omaha, NE. The survey …