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Examination Of Maternal Mortality, Mental Health Conditions, And Co-Occurring Factors, Laura Eileen Skaarer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal mortality (MM) continues to be a public health concern in the state of Arizona. There is little to no research investigating the relationship between MM and mental health conditions co-occurring with contributing factors among women who have died in Arizona while pregnant or within 1 year of the end of a pregnancy. The purposes of this quantitative study, guided by the three delays model (3DM), were to examine (a) MM and mental health conditions as the primary underlying cause of death; (b) MM and mental health conditions surrounding death; and (c) significant contributing factors (i.e., discrimination, knowledge, lack of …

From Pocket To Patient: Improving Disinfection Of Personal Clinical Items, Angel Lewechi, Brenda Pleitez, Courtney Sims, Emily Zarco, Katia Aguirre

2025

No abstract provided.

Quality Of Life And Depressive Symptoms In Older Adults: Findings From An Integrated Epilepsy Self-Management Data Set, Erica K Johnson, Refugio Sepulveda, Tanya Sprulli, Cam Escoffery, Rakale C Quarells, Molly Mcvoy, Sakshi Priy, Clara Adeniyi, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: In the U.S., about one million people with active epilepsy are adults aged 55+. Older adults with epilepsy (OAWE) experience complex health conditions that compromise quality of life (QOL). The contribution of depressive symptom dimensions to health-related QOL remains underexplored in OAWE.

Methods: We analyzed baseline data from 13 epilepsy self-management studies in the CDC-sponsored MEW-DB (Managing Epilepsy Well Database), including adults ages 55 and older (N = 198). The primary outcome was health-related QOL, assessed via the 10-item Quality of Life in Epilepsy scale (QOLIE-10), which was inverse rank normalized (mean = 0, SD = 1). Primary predictors …

Epilepsy-Associated Digenic Variants Affecting An Actin-Mitochondria-Glutamate Pathway Promote Seizure Susceptibility, Mingxi Deng, Hu Chen, Zhijian Yu, Lindsey D Goodman, Haein Kim, Yun Zhao, Sandeep Kumar Dubey, Wen-Wen Lin, Xueyang Pan, Debdeep Dutta, Vishnu Anand Cuddapah, Jill A Rosenfeld, Xi Luo, Zhandong Liu, Joshua M Shulman, Hugo J Bellen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Epilepsy affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, yet more than half of individuals with a presumed genetic cause still lack a molecular diagnosis despite the identification of over 1,000 monogenic epilepsy genes. This diagnostic gap is unlikely to be resolved by improved variant detection alone, suggesting that variants affecting the same biological pathway may combine to cause disease. By studying epilepsy-associated actin regulatory genes, we identified a conserved "actin-mitochondria-glutamate (AMG) pathway". We demonstrate that reduced actin polymerization promotes DRP1-mediated mitochondrial fission, increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and enhances glutamatergic transmission, leading to seizures. The glial innate immune pathway, a …

Bridge Scour Analysis For Rocks: Classification, Method Selection, And Practical Case Studies, Darud E. Sheefa, Stanley Vitton, Zhen (Leo) Liu, Brian Barkdoll

Michigan Tech Publications

Despite the availability of several scour calculation methods, bridge scour analysis for scour susceptible rocks is much less understood than its counterpart for sands, because scour calculation equations were traditionally obtained using flume tests with sands. As a result, there are three major knowledge gaps in the bridge scour analysis for susceptible rocks: (1) a rock classification system is needed for scour considerations to serve as a pre-screening process before conventional scour analysis involving sampling, erodibility testing, and scour calculation, (2) there has been a lack of information to guide the scour analysis for rocks including detailed procedures, needed and …

Seasonal Changes In Sediment Sound Speed Profiles, Charles W. Holland, Chad Smith, Tim Sonnemann

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Marine sediment sound speed profiles in the upper ten meters are generally assumed to be constant with time. Models predict that substantive changes occur because of thermal conduction from seasonally varying bottom water temperature. However, definitive measurements have been lacking. In this work, sediment sound speed profiles obtained during different seasons show significant differences in the upper 9 m of mud at the New England Patch. Gradients in late March 2017 are 6.0 s−1 and in early October 2025, 2.6 s−1. This change is shown to have a significant impact on acoustic propagation.

Determinants Of Home Composting Behavior In Supporting Sustainable Agriculture Among Smallholder Farmers: A Case Study In The Thai Nguyen Province Of Vietnam, Bac Ho Van, Hien Vu Thi, Xinh Ho Luong

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Home composting is a practical and sustainable approach for the management of organic waste generated in the home and agricultural production that contributes to both organic waste management and soil fertility enhancement. In the northern mountainous regions of Vietnam, smallholder farmers face limited adoption of sustainable waste management practices due to behavioral constraints, limited technical knowledge, and resource constraints affecting agricultural productivity.  This study applies and extends the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by integrating behavioral and contextual determinants to examine home composting adoption among smallholder farmers in rural Vietnam. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to reduce and structure …

2026 July 16 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Midweek Memo, Georgia Southern University

Midweek Memo

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How To Simplify The Mrel/Tlac Framework In The Eu? A Proposal For A Regulatory Resolution Requirement, Anna Dobrzańska

Journal of Banking and Financial Economics

The current European Union (EU) framework for bank loss-absorbing capacity rests on two parallel requirements: Minimum Requirement for Own Funds and Eligible Liabilities (MREL) and Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity (TLAC). This creates complex and overlapping requirements. Furthermore, the adopted bank-specific approach to MREL calibration results in complexity, variability, and insufficient predictability of requirements. The aim of this article is to provide a new streamlined and simplified approach under the three-tiered Regulatory Resolution Requirement (RRR) which could replace the MREL/TLAC framework in the EU. The main idea behind the proposal is to adjust the requirement taking into account bank size and systemic …

Engineering Fsh-Cer T Cells To Enhance Response To Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Nolan J. Beatty

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ovarian cancer remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality, with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) being the most common subtype. Despite advances in treatment, the 5-year survival rate for late-stage EOC remains low due to factors such as tumor heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). This study investigates the therapeutic potential of chimeric endocrine receptor (CER) T cells engineered to express follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in a syngeneic mouse model of EOC expressing follicle stimulating hormone receptor (ID8-FSHR). We compared two different co-stimulatory domains—CD28ζ and 4-1BBζ—in FSH-CER T cells and found that FSH-CD28ζ CER T cells exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity, proliferation, …

From Shortage To Strategy: Optimizing Scarce Resource Allocation In Healthcare, Daniela Duran Cantarino

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The allocation of scarce medical resources presents one of the most consequential challenges in health care, requiring decisions that balance equity and efficiency under pervasive uncertainty. This dissertation develops optimization-based frameworks for two critical domains, organ transplantation and emergency medical services, and demonstrates how operations research methods can improve upon current practice along both dimensions simultaneously.

In the domain of deceased-donor kidney allocation, two complementary frameworks are proposed. The first is a bi-objective stochastic optimization model that jointly maximizes post-transplant survival (efficiency) and prioritizes candidates with the highest pre-transplant mortality risk (equity), subject to regional chance constraints on graft failure …

Staff Education To Decrease Workplace Violence Through De-Escalation Training In The Emergency Department, Tyrani Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace violence remains a significant issue in healthcare settings, particularly in emergency departments where psychiatric patients may present with aggressive behaviors. Nurses and healthcare staff are frequently exposed to verbal threats, intimidation, and physical aggression, which negatively impact staff safety, job satisfaction, and patient care quality. Despite workplace violence prevention policies, gaps remain in staff preparedness when managing escalating patient behaviors. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to implement an evidence-based de-escalation training program to improve staff knowledge about managing aggressive psychiatric patients in the emergency department. The practice- focused question was: Can staff education on …

An Exploration Of Factors Affecting Investments In Productivity Improvement, Gregory Springate

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Canada has exhibited lower productivity growth since 1990, resulting in substantially reduced gains in citizens’ standards of living despite the importance of sustainable productivity to economic prosperity. Understanding the primary factors that influence productivity growth is a critical concern for Canadian government leaders, as it is a key indicator of the nation’s economic vitality, competitiveness, and citizens’ quality of life. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the factors that influenced the investment in productivity improvement of organizations in the energy sector in the Edmonton region of Alberta, Canada. The COSO internal control framework guided this …

Lipid Membranes-Mediated Self-Assembly Of Janus Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticles, Jordan Darling

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Recent studies have extensively explored the interactions between nanoparticles (NPs) and lipid membranes. The fluidity and elasticity of lipid membranes allow them to deform and conform to the surface of adhering nanoparticles, with the extent of deformation determined by the competition between adhesive interactions and the membrane’s curvature elasticity. An interesting consequence of these deformations is the emergence of long-range, membrane-curvature-mediated interactions between adhering NPs. Previous research have shown that surface modification of NPs into Janus nanoparticles, composed of one moiety that preferentially adheres to lipid membranes and the other that is hydrophilic and interacts repulsively with the membrane, can …

Homocysteine Thiolactone From Translation Proofreading Is An Endogenous Ligand For Cell-Cell Signaling By The Receptor Sdia, Lorenzo Eugenio Leiva, Roberto A. Zúñiga, Gregory J. Phillips, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Several widespread mechanisms enable cellular communication and coordinate the behavior of bacterial populations. The modules responsible for cellular communication are often found in matching pairs: an enzyme that synthesizes a signal molecule and a specific receptor that decodes it. A notable exception is Escherichia coli SdiA, a homolog of known N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) receptors, for which no corresponding AHL synthase exists. SdiA is an orphan receptor that enables cross-talk by sensing AHLs from other bacterial species. In this work, we investigated whether homocysteine thiolactone (HTL), an AHL-like molecule arising from a proofreading reaction of methionyl tRNA synthetase (MetRS) to correct …

Strong Job Markets Don’T Just Raise Pay, They Improve Job Quality, Brad J. Hershbein, Katherine Lim, Douglas Webber, Mike Zabek

Upjohn Institute Policy and Research Briefs

No abstract provided.

Fly Density At Trash Disposal Sites As An Environmental Bioindicator Using Fly Grill, Fly Spot Card, And Fly Sticky Paper, Tri Ilmanisa, Susi Soviana, Supriyono Supriyono

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Flies are synanthropic insects of public health importance commonly found at trash disposal sites (TDS). Poor waste management promotes fly breeding, increases the risk of disease transmission, reflects low sanitation, and serves as an environmental bioindicator. Studies on flies at TDS in university campus environments in West Java, Indonesia, remain limited, particularly with respect to species composition, fly density, and the use of different density measurement methods. Fly density monitoring in Indonesia still relies on the fly grill method under Ministry of Health Regulation No. 2 of 2023, although alternative tools, such as fly spot cards and fly sticky paper …

Ohio Beef Quality Audit – 2021: Survey Of Carcass Characteristics Related To Quality Attributes And The Investigation Of Meat Processor Needs, Bo M. C. Garcia, Benjamin M. Bohrer, Stephen Boyles, Joy N. Rumble, Alejandro E. Relling, Lyda G. Garcia

Journal of Extension

While beef quality audits have been conducted on a national level in the United States every 5 years since 1991, state-level audits are uncommon. Our team believed that Ohio beef producers would benefit from a state-level audit, so in 2021 we developed and conducted an Ohio Beef Quality Audit, evaluating Ohio meat processing facilities and assessing Ohio meat processors' needs and views on factors that influence meat quality. This paper details the results of that audit, which demonstrated that Ohio beef quality was similar to national beef quality; our audit also highlighted the need to increase fundamental meat science education …

Extension's Role In Creating Wide Bridges Between Communities And Campus, Jentry Stoneman Barrett, Karly Black, Carrie L. Gottschalk

Journal of Extension

Cooperative Extension System educators empower their communities to meet the challenges they face by translating research-based work for the general public and then bringing that work to those who can put knowledge into practice. However, the assets and needs of communities are broader than those addressed by Extension. Often, the university can offer more resources when it has a mechanism to understand the community's assets and needs. This article details how Nebraska Extension has activated its Engagement Zone Coordinators and community network to provide more opportunities for faculty, staff, postdocs, and students to engage in community-based work.

Are Extension Agriculture Programs Hitting Their Target With Military Veterans?, Adam Ingrao, Craig W Carpenter, Michael Lotspeich-Yadao, Charles M. Tolbert

Journal of Extension

The desire to support military veterans has led to a variety of targeted Extension programs, but the types and availability of these programs vary substantially. After reviewing the size and diversity of the U.S. veteran population, we examine one of the main USDA programs targeting veterans: the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development program. We then use matrix analysis to categorize veteran support programs across other program areas. Finally, we compare these programs with veterans' needs, as described in recently conducted veteran focus groups, and conclude by highlighting gaps and opportunities for improving Extension programming for veterans, including substantially improving program …

Becoming Beyond Ready: Determining Staffing Levels For The 4-H Program To Achieve Opportunity For All Youth, Jeremy Elliott-Engel

Journal of Extension

4-H seeks to expand opportunity and access for all youth, yet little guidance exists regarding the staffing levels required to achieve that goal. In this commentary, I examine staffing ratios as a measure of organizational capacity and propose discussion of a framework based on the ratio of 4-H professionals to potential youth participants rather than current enrollment. I argue that staffing decisions should move beyond historical staffing patterns and budget constraints and should account for population size, density, and community characteristics. This framework is intended to stimulate discussion about strategic staffing approaches that support sustainability and/or growth of the 4-H …

Oral Testimony; Public Hearing On Proposed Regulations Reg-117270-25: Trump Accounts, Jin Huang

Center for Social Development Research

Regulations proposed in March 2026 by the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service would provide guidance on enrollment for Trump Accounts. This Testimony presents a statement given on those proposals by Co-Director Jin Huang in a hearing before officials of the Treasury and IRS on July 16, 2026. In the statement, Huang discusses automatic enrollment and automatic deposits into Trump Accounts, state authority concerning enrollment provisions, and the exclusion of Trump Account assets from means tests in eligibility determinations for public benefits.

Terrestrial Gamma‐Ray Flash Following Intense Negative Return Stroke Observed With Bimap‐3d, Daniel P. Jensen, David M. Smith, Xuan-Min Shao, Jeff L. Lapierre, Jeffrey M. Chaffin

Faculty Publications

We report ground‐based observations of a terrestrial gamma‐ray flash (TGF) associated with a strong negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning strike (‐CG) which occurred near Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico, USA. Gamma photons were detected by the Terrestrial High‐energy Observations of Radiation (THOR) instrument, developed at the University of California, Santa Cruz, which has been hosted at LANL since 2022. Simultaneous measurements were also made with the 3‐Dimensional Broadband Interferometric Mapping and Polarization (BIMAP‐3D) system, which includes 3D lightning mapping, two fast antennas, and an additional plastic scintillator. Additional field change waveforms were obtained from the Earth Networks Total Lightning …

Observations On Recurrent Loss In The Neural Network Model Of A Partial Differential Equation: The Advection–Diffusion Equation, Jonah A. Reeger

Faculty Publications

A growing body of literature has been leveraging techniques of machine learning (ML) to build novel approaches to approximating the solutions to partial differential equations. Noticeably absent from the literature is a systematic exploration of the stability of the solutions generated by these ML approaches. Here, a recurrent network is introduced that matches precisely the evaluation of a multi-step method paired with a collocation method for approximating spatial derivatives in the advection–diffusion equation. This allows for two things: (1) the use of traditional tools for analyzing the stability of a numerical method for solving PDEs and (2) bringing to bear …

How Children Recognize Emotions: Familiarity, Emotional Information Processing, And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Katy Wagner Brooks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The ability to identify facial emotional cues is an important nonverbal communicative skill that may be impaired in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), although prior research has produced inconsistent findings regarding the nature and extent of these impairments. The present study examined facial emotion recognition (FER) abilities in 105 children aged 3 to 8 years, including 32 children with ASD and 73 typically developing (TD) children. Relationships between FER performance and resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) activity were explored in a smaller subsample. The study investigated effects of emotion type, facial familiarity, emotional intensity, and stimulus presentation format (dynamic versus static) …

Enhancement Of A Copolyester’S Impact Resistance Via Inorganic Reinforcement, David Felipe Gonzalez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPEEs) are widely used in engineering applications because of their flexibility, toughness, and chemical resistance. However, prolonged exposure to marine environments can reduce their mechanical performance through moisture-induced degradation. This research investigated the use of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and APTES-functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles to improve the mechanical, thermal, and environmental durability of Hytrel 5556. Nanocomposites containing 1 wt.% and 2 wt.% TiO2 were fabricated through melt blending and compression molding. Mechanical properties were evaluated through tensile, compression, flexural, and impact testing, while thermal behavior was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Nanoparticle dispersion was examined using scanning …

Exploring The Role Of Novel Salmonella Toxins, Pltc And Pltab, By Molecular Cloning, Pilar Cerecedes, Noah Souza, Juliette Tinker

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Infections caused by Salmonella have a significant impact on the health of humans and livestock. Livestock infected with or carrying this bacterium pose a transmission risk to humans through contaminated meat, eggs, and dairy products, while infections in cattle negatively affect animal health and production. AB5-type toxins, made up of multiple subunits, are commonly found in gram-negative bacteria and are key virulence factors contributing to pathogenesis in eukaryotic hosts. Our lab is exploring Salmonella strains containing gene sequences indicating the presence of novel Typhi toxin-like proteins. These toxins include the PltC and pseudo A toxin subunits and the PltAB toxin. …

Parenting In The Digital Age: Urban Parents' Perspectives Of Children's Engagement With Xr And Ai Technologies, Tenneh Kanneh, Meherunnesa Tania, Samjhana Pokharel, Jerry Fails

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Extended Reality (XR), including Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality, together with rapidly advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI), is creating immersive technologies with unprecedented and unpredictable implications for children. As these systems become more integrated into learning, play, and social environments, establishing ethical guidance before widespread adoption is essential. This project investigates two core questions: “What ethical concerns do stakeholders identify regarding children’s research and use of XR/AI?” and “How do these concerns vary across youth populations and contexts?” Using an anticipatory and participatory approach, I’m conducting a series of focus groups exploring potential future uses of XR/AI for children ages 5-12. …

Characterizing Mosquito Species To Understand Disease Ecology Of Gyrfalcons In Nome, Alaska, Zosha Kocemba, Annastasia Waters, Michael Henderson, Kara Beer, Travis Booms, Carly Tolle, Anna Grimstein, Stephanie J. Galla

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Climate change in the Arctic is accelerating more rapidly than the rest of the globe, changing the disease ecology within arctic systems. A prime example of this are disease carrying mosquitoes (Family: Culicidae) expanding their range and overlapping with different animal hosts. To better ascertain the changing disease ecology in the Arctic, methods to identify disease vectors—like mosquitoes—are needed to understand how this complex and shifting vector and host network will impact immunologically naive Arctic Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus). This ongoing study aims to identify mosquitoes collected from Gyrfalcon nests in Nome, Alaska to species level and to test …