Digital Commons Network^™

Crna Decision-Making Within The Anesthesia Care Team, Cindi L. Dabney

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This research focused on Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists’ (CRNAs’) perspectives on the value placed on their decision-making skills within the Anesthesia Care Team (ACT). The emphasis of the study was to examine CRNA’s perspectives on the strengths, challenges, conflict resolutions, and any other information they were willing to divulge when working with physician anesthesiologists in the ACT model. An electronic survey questionnaire was sent to practicing CRNAs, primarily in the southeast region of the United States, with 171 informants completing the questionnaire. Data analysis included demographic information of the convenience sample that included age, gender, initial educational preparation as a …

Investigation Of Clinically Relevant Fluconazole Resistance Mechanisms In The Fungal Pathogen Candida Parapsilosis, Laura Anne Doorley

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Invasive candidiasis is a severe fungal infection associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly among the critically ill and immunocompromised. Candida parapsilosis is the most common non-albicans species causing invasive Candida infections in pediatric and neonatal populations worldwide and is particularly common in the countries of South America, Western Asia, Mediterranean Europe, and Southern Africa. For many of these countries, fluconazole and other triazoles are the first line antifungal agents used for effective treatment of invasive Candida infection. Until recently, rates of fluconazole resistance among C. parapsilosis isolates were relatively low, therefore the determination of clinically relevant resistance mechanisms in …

Molecular And Cellular Investigations Of Prader-Willi Syndrome, Anna K. Victor

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex multigenic neurodevelopmental disorder resulting in hypotonia, developmental delay, hypogonadism, sleep dysfunction and childhood onset obesity affecting 1 in 10,000 to 30,000 individuals. PWS is an imprinting disorder that is caused by a loss of expression of maternally imprinted genes in the 15q11.2-q13 region including NDN, MAGEL2, SNRPN/SNURF, and a cluster of snoRNAs. The majority of cases are caused by inheriting a paternal allele deletion of this region (65-75%) and a smaller number are caused by chromosome 15 maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) (20-30%) or imprinting center defects (1-3%). Here, we used dental pulp stem cells …

Modulation Of Cerebral Artery Smooth Muscle Bk Channel Function By Neurosteroids, Kelsey Caroline Cleland North

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Voltage-gated and Ca2+ activated K+ channels of large conductance (BK) channels are essential for many key physiological processes, such as controlling the contraction of smooth muscle, including cerebrovascular smooth muscle. Importantly, BK channels are made up of a homotetramer of α subunits which associate with accessory β subunits. These β subunits alter the activity of the channel; this modulation is subunit-specific. Moreover, these accessory subunits have tissue-specific expression, such that the β1 subunit is highly expressed within cerebrovascular smooth muscle and greatly increases the open probability of BK channels. Increased BK channel open probability is linked to increased dilation of …

Vascular Mechanisms Of Rhabdomyolysis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury, Jeremiah Moyinolu Afolabi

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

In patients with rhabdomyolysis, the overwhelming release of myoglobin into circulation is the primary cause of kidney injury. Myoglobin causes direct kidney injury as well as severe renal vasoconstriction. An increase in renal vascular resistance (RVR) results in renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) reduction, tubular injury, and acute kidney injury (AKI). The mechanisms that underlie rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI are not fully understood but may involve the local production of vasoactive mediators in the kidney. Myoglobin stimulated endothelin-1 (ET-1) production in proximal tubular cells, an effect driven by NADPH oxidase-dependent oxyradical generation. Rats subjected to glycerol-induced rhabdomyolysis also …

Multimorbidity In Diverse Populations: Stratified Analysis Of Race/Ethnicity, Age, Obesity, And Healthcare Costs, Manal Alshakhs

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This research aims to fill an essential gap in understanding how Body Mass Index (BMI) cutoffs relate to multimorbidity across races in the United States (US). Given the significant and growing rates of obesity and multimorbidity, as well as the known differences in healthy fat distribution among different races, this is an important area of research. BMI is a widely used but imperfect measure of obesity, as it does not account for differences in body composition. However, it is still used as a diagnostic tool. It is vital to ensure that the cutoffs used to define obesity are appropriate for …

Using Caulobacter Crescentus As A Model To Probe The Environmental Reactivity Of Silver Nanoparticles, Madeline M. Farber , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are an increasingly common environmental pollutant with antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. The elucidation of their interaction with cellular membranes and subsequent mechanisms of toxicity are critical areas of research that need to be better understood in order to manage potential adverse environmental effects. This work investigates the interaction of AgNPs with large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) as a model membrane system. Similar studies conducted by others in this field have largely been conducted with uncoated AgNPs, ignoring the effect of environmental conditions on the formation of an eco-corona on AgNPs. Thus, in this study, the spent medium (SM) …

Master Equation Modeling Of Prompt Dissociation Kinetics For Isoprene Derived Criegee Intermediates, Rory R. Schmidt , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Isoprene ozonolysis is a major atmospheric producer of atmospheric oxidizers and aerosols. This complex reaction pathway forms an exothermic cascade, where constant competition between bimolecular sinks, unimolecular isomerizations, and collisional relaxation dictate reactivity. This work focuses on two isoprene derived Criegee intermediates, methacrolein oxide (MACR oxide) and formaldehyde oxide (FO). While the potential energy surface of FO is well understood, the reactivity of energetically excited FO has not been explored in detail. MACR oxide isomerization and primary products have been adequately characterized and explored computationally and experimentally, but the potential energy surface beyond isopropenyl dioxirane has not received the same …

It’S What Our Grandmas Did: Decoding Black Wellness, Joy, And Liberation In Contemporary Digital Hoodoo Practice Through A Cooperative Healing Literacies Framework, Patrick Li , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Hoodoo, Conjure, and Rootwork refer to the constellation of African American traditions of spiritual and physical healing, ancestral devotion, retaliation, and protection created in response to chattel slavery. The current study investigates the multimodal potentials of Hoodoo for holistic healing in the contemporary digital age. Expanding on Erika Gault’s definition of digital Black religion studies as “the study of Black folks’ digital pathways to healing and wholeness (freedom) and their religious contribution to the development of digital technology,” I triangulate a framework of Hoodoo Healing Literacies (HHLs) using practices of Rootwork, Conjure, and CyberHoodoo. These practices correlate to bio-psycho, psycho-spiritual, …

“It Makes Me Feel Like I'M The Typical Asian They Think Of Me...”: Beyond Homogeneous Characterizations Of Chinese International Students, Moe Htet Kyaw , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

The dominant frameworks of analysis in the international student migration literature characterized students’ decision-making processes as dichotomous or binary through consideration of either push/pull factors or professional, sociocultural, and personal factors (Alberts & Hazen, 2005; Guo, 2010; Wang & Miao, 2013). More specifically, generalizations have been made regarding specific demographic factors such as nationalities, socioeconomic status, and/or gender. The goal of this study was to examine the differential experiences of Chinese international students. Through an initial survey of broad student experiences and basic demographics followed by interviews, I was able to highlight the heterogeneity of students’ experiences and provide a …

Restructuring Pedagogical Norms In Stem: Towards A Socially And Ethically Conscious Approach To Computer Science Higher Education, Alison Kim , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Method Design For Separation Of Non-Canonical Dna Structures Via Capillary Electrophoresis, Erin V. Chen , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

G-quadruplex DNA structures are highly relevant subjects of biochemical study, implicated in human diseases and cancer. Conventional methods for G-quadruplex DNA structure separation are time-consuming, environmentally unfriendly, and low throughput. Thus, there is a pressing need for alternative methods of separation to be developed for G-quadruplex DNAs. Here we present work in designing a separation method using the capillary electrophoresis instrument. Capillary electrophoresis is a highly automated, reusable, and quantitative technique that separates analytes based on their size and charge. A capillary method for G-quadruplex separation would be a valuable analytical tool to supplement the biophysical methods available by addressing …

Analysis Of Material Properties For Wooden Octet Trusses, Julio A. Del Cid , '23, David Mendoza , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

The introduction of new construction materials has given rise to different, unique construction projects emphasizing architectural value without sacrificing strength, safety, and durability. This project proposed the design for a wooden octet truss along with an efficient fabrication process; furthermore, it studied the plausibility of implementing columns of octet trusses into everyday structures. Compressive loading tests were conducted on each fabricated truss in order to determine its strength properties and areas that could be improved upon in future iterations. In constructing each truss, priority was placed on maximizing load capacity and overall resistance to deformations while reducing both construction time …

The Potential For Mycofiltration Of E. Coli Pollution In The Crum Creek Using T. Versicolor And P. Ostreatus, Kennedy M. Hill , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Mycoremediation is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional wastewater and drinking water treatment, as well as other environmental remediation methods. This project will design a mycofiltration system using mushroom species T. versicolor and P. ostreatus. Water from a section of the Crum Creek, located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, U.S.A, will be sampled and filtered through this system to remove Escherichia coli (E. coli). The mycofiltered water will be compared to the Environmental Protection Agency standards for E. coli concentrations in recreational and drinking water to measure how effective T. versicolor or P. ostreatus may be at removing …

Swimming Robots Using Memory Metal, Joshua R. Heckman , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

While in the very early stages of life, Barnacle nauplii are only a few micrometers in length, which causes them to experience a very low Reynolds number while swimming through water. It is important to understand how these biological creatures swim, so their movements can be mimicked and incorporated into robotics. Currently, there are no autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) that are capable of carrying out missions in fluids with low Reynolds numbers. This project aimed to replicate the movement of a Barnacle Napuli with the use of muscle memory wire, in hopes that one day a AUV that can operate …

Heat Load For The Abc House, Jonathan Odim , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Following the protocol set forth in the ASHRAE 2021 Fundamentals Handbook, this project modeled the heating load of the house for a design season (winter). This project reports the heating load calculation for a 1960 residential dwelling used as student housing in Swarthmore, PA. The infiltration, window, door, attic, 1st-3rd floor, and basement loads were found to be 5641 kW, 3239 kW, 273 kW, 262 kW, 4073 kW, and 514 kW respectively: resulting in a total design season heat load of 14001 kW. The three biggest contributors to the seasonal heat load were Infiltration, Window, and Wall load (40.3%, 29.1%, …

Solar Sonification: From Data To Music With Solar Protocol, Chris O. Stone , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

“Solar Sonification” is an interactive python notebook written in Jupyter Labs was designed to utilize data from a solar-powered web server to create and share data sonifications. It is an extension of the global network of solar-powered web servers known as Solar Protocol, one of which was built in 2020-2021 through the Halpern Family Foundation Engineering Design fund. Using this notebook, the participant is able to learn more about the functionalities of the server while engaging in their musical relationships being able to customize the pitches, instruments, and other musical parameters of the output as MIDI files. Files can be …

An Adapted Computational Model For Investigating Muscle Thumb-Tip Movement Patterns For Restoring Grasp Following Tetraplegia, Cole D. Smith , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

It is believed that 65-75% of the persons diagnosed with tetraplegia would benefit from reconstructive surgery to regain the ability to perform activities of daily living. This surgery would improve their functional independence and reduce the annual assistive care costs ($80 million) in the US. Tendon transfer surgery, a reconstructive surgical procedure involving surgical transfer of a healthy muscle–such as the pronator teres (PT) or the brachioradialis (Br) muscle–to the paralyzed flexor pollicis longus (FPL) muscle of the thumb, is commonly performed to restore lateral pinch grasp. Functional outcomes, however, have been mixed. Previous research suggests that using muscle combinations …

Cov And Underspecified Nouns: A Syntactic And Semantic Analysis Of Hmong Classifiers, William L. Ball , '23

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Hmong nominal classifiers are quite complex. One clear rule however is that double classifiers are not allowed. Surprisingly, then, there is a double classifier construction involving the classifier cov and underspecified nouns that appears to break these rules. The goal of this thesis is to resolve this problem, syntactically and semantically modeling Hmong classifiers along the way. After giving background on the literature on Hmong classifiers, I develop a syntactic model for Hmong classifiers based on the Minimalist Program and Distributed Morphology, and use Link’s semantic model of plurality to make sure the syntactic model works out semantically. Then I …

Confidentiality Over Privacy, Stacey A. Tovino

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Due Process Owed To Noncitizens: Standardizing The Burden In Sec. 1226(A) Bond Hearings With The Help Of Hernandez-Lara And Velasco Lopez, Sharon Shaji

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Social Media Influencer Perceived Source Credibility Scale Validation And Consumer Attitudes Toward The Brand: An Exploratory Study In Urban India, James E. Stoddard, Lubna Nafees, Christy M. Cook

AMTP Proceedings 2023

This study explores the relationship between social media influencers (SMIs) perceived source credibility and the formation of brand attitudes of their followers from an urban Indian sample. SMIs have become a channel in shaping consumers’ brand perceptions for products and services across multiple industries worldwide. Using survey data from India, this research delves into the dimensions of SMI perceived source credibility and attitudes towards the brand. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) validated the concept that SMI perceived source credibility is a second order construct that is comprised of SMI perceived expertise, goodwill and trustworthiness. Also, that partial least squares structural …

The Digital Engine Model: Lead Generation Through Applied Dcm Strategies, Kyle A. Huggins, John D. Hansen

AMTP Proceedings 2023

Digital Content Marketing (DCM) has become a primary tool for marketers in driving lead generation in today’s digital marketing world. Leading brands are creating and curating content in order to develop brand equity, connecting content to brand story and narrative. And while strong theoretical models of content marketing have been discussed in the marketing literature, like Hollebeek and Macky (2019), there is a dearth of understanding about the application and direct impact of organic digital content strategies on marketing directives. This paper investigates an applied model, called The Digital Engine, which provides instruction on proper digital content marketing instruction and …

How Political Ideology Impacts Political Brand Image: Analysis Of The 2016, 2018, And 2020 Elections, Kristina M. Harrison, Shawn Thelen, Boonghee Yoo

AMTP Proceedings 2023

The U.S. presidential elections of 2016 and 2020 have both been characterized as “An Election like No Other” (Goodman 2020; Smith 2016) unparalleled to previous ones. The 2016 election saw an outsider, not an established politician, win the support of a major political party and eventually the presidency. The 2020 election was influenced by a once in a century pandemic that diminished all traditional election issues and greatly affected the nature of campaigning. This research examines whether political ideology played an invariant and stable role in shaping the brand image of the presidential election candidates. Analysis of 2016, 2018, and …

The Relative Importance Of Appearance And Language In Consumers’ Evaluations Of Multicultural Models In Television Commercials, Neleen S. Leslie-Piper

AMTP Proceedings 2023

ABSTRACT

This study aims to expand the literature on source effects by examining the relative importance of appearance and language in consumers’ evaluations of multicultural models in televisions commercials. Specifically, using accommodation theory as a framework, the study explores how multicultural models affect customers’ perceptions of the source’s credibility, attractiveness as well as overall attitudes toward the commercial, the brand and intent to purchase.

Combating Luxury Brand Counterfeiting: Recommended Action Strategies, Md Shahidul Islam

AMTP Proceedings 2023

In the past few decades, luxury brand counterfeiting has grown significantly worldwide, and this growth caused considerable damage to the knowledge-based globalized economy and the brands. The rapid development of e-commerce business, primarily during the pandemic, has facilitated the counterfeiting trades through small shipments by different modes of transportation. Counterfeit products can be found in many industries, such as common consumer goods, IT goods, agriculture goods, pharmaceutical items, and luxury items (fashion apparel). The measures adopted to combat luxury brand counterfeiting are minimal to what should have been done. This study proposes that social media activism against counterfeiting is critical …

Student Satisfaction With Learning Experience And Its Impact On Likelihood Recommending University: Net Promoter Score Approach, Musa Pinar, Coleen Wilder, Matthew Luth, Tulay Girard

AMTP Proceedings 2023

Universities, just like any business, realized the importance and relevance of student satisfaction as well as getting recommended by their students for their long-term success, survival, and growth. This study intends to examine university students’ satisfaction with various aspects of their college learning experience, recommending a university as measured by Net Promoter Score (NPS), and the influence of factors related to student satisfaction on the likelihood of recommending the university. The results of the survey based on 220 responses from current students identify students’ satisfaction with the factors included in the study, where students had the highest satisfaction with feeling …

Coastal Empire Economic Monitor, 1st Quarter, 2023, Georgia Southern University Center For Business Analytics And Economic Research

Coastal Empire Economic Monitor

Tourism Leads Modest Growth in Region

U.S. Economy Slows Further

Regional Forecasting Index Drops Again

Far From Home: The Role Of Travel Distance And Care Fragmentation In Surgical Outcomes For Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Alexander Booth, Henry Colorado, Gayenell Magwood Phd, Rn, Faha, Faan, Erin Forster, Robert N. Axon, Thomas Curran

Publications

BACKGROUND: Fragmented care for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is known to correlate negatively with outcomes, but it is unclear which aspects of care fragmentation are relevant and potentially modifiable. Furthermore, there is little data on the relationship between travel distance and the benefits of integrated care models. Hypothesizing care coordination in the preoperative period may have a significant impact on surgical outcomes, we explored associations between integrated care, travel distance, and surgical outcomes. METHODS: A single-center retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing index abdominal surgery was done to compare the rate of surgical complications with and without long travel distance …

To Obtain Informed Consent Or Not To Obtain Informed Consent? Drones For Health Programs In The Grey Zone Between Research And Public Health, Vyshnave Jeyabalan, Lorie Donelle, Patrick Meier, Elysée Nouvet

Publications

Drones are increasingly being introduced to support healthcare delivery around the world. Most Drones for Health projects are currently in the pilot phase, where frontline staff are testing the feasibility of implementing drones into their healthcare system. Many of these projects are happening in remote localities where populations have been historically under-served within national healthcare systems. Currently, there exists limited drone-specific guidance on best practices for engaging individuals in decision-making about drone use in their communities. Towards supporting the development of such guidance, this paper focuses on the issue of obtaining community and individual consent for implementing Drones for Health …