Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Relationship Among Nurse-Specific Factors And Triage Accuracy In The Emergency Setting, Krisada Suamchaiyaphum

ETDs from 2020-2029

Triage is a critical function of emergency nursing practice, directly influencing patient safety, flow, and outcomes in the emergency department (ED). Despite widespread use of standardized triage training and resources, triage accuracy among ED nurses remains suboptimal. The purpose of this three-manuscript dissertation was to examine factors associated with triage accuracy in the ED setting. Manuscript One was an integrative literature review of 14 studies published between 2011 and 2021, with reported triage accuracy rates ranging from 59.3% to 82%. Primary factors associated with triage accuracy were: nurse-specific, patient, and work environment factors. Manuscript Two reported a retrospective study of …

The Influence Of The Mental Health Parity And Addiction Equity Act On Residential Behavioral Healthcare Facility Availability In The United States: A State-Level Analysis, Amanda Mellowspring

ETDs from 2020-2029

The need for accessible, quality behavioral healthcare (BH) has increased dramatically over recent decades. The availability of BH services for patients has long been complicated by high cost, lack of insurance coverage, and location accessibility. BH organizations face ongoing challenges to meet the demand for services including costs of operation, worker shortages, and navigating the payer landscape. The history of BH in the U.S. provides the foundation to conceptualize federal regulations and attempts at parity. Literature regarding federal legislation, such as the Mental Health Parity Addiction and Equity Act (MHPAEA), the Affordable Care Act, and Medicaid expansion; BH facilities and …

Development And Validation Of A Theoretically Informed Instrument To Measure The Antecedents Of Microbreaking Intentions (I-Mami) Of Procedural Healthcare Workers, Robin Riddle

ETDs from 2020-2029

ABSTRACT Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) affect 77% of nurses and 60% of surgeons, exceeding rates in other occupational sectors and threatening healthcare workforce sustainability. Microbreaking is brief, strategic pause of 20 seconds to five minutes performed every 20 to 40 minutes during medical procedures. It has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing fatigue, improving accuracy, and lowering physiological stress markers without extending medical procedure duration. Despite this evidence, adoption remains limited, and no theoretically informed instruments exist to measure the behavioral determinants of microbreaking intentions among procedural healthcare workers. Investigators of this three-manuscript dissertation developed and established content and construct validity as …

Iterative Data Augmentation For Enhancing Deep Learning Performance With Limited Training Data, Avinash Singh

ETDs from 2020-2029

Deep learning models have demonstrated impressive performance across different domains; however, their effectiveness heavily depends on large, well annotated datasets. In practice, data are often limited in size, leading to overfitting, poor generalization, and degraded model robustness and performance. Moreover, conventional augmentation techniques are typically static in nature, lack adaptability during training, and can produce geometrically inconsistent or unrealistic mixed images. This dissertation addresses three major challenges in data augmentation and model generalization: (1) the scarcity of labeled data and limited dataset size, (2) the absence of adaptive mechanisms for dynamically adjusting learning parameters during training, and (3) the creation …

Psychosocial Outcomes In Adults With Cleft Lip And Palate: Exploring The Relationship Between Cleft Severity, Mental Health, And Treatment Satisfaction, Haley Hannabass

ETDs from 2020-2029

Introduction:This study aimed to examine psychosocial outcomes in adults with cleft lip and palate (CL/P), focusing on how cleft severity (unilateral versus bilateral) influences depression, anxiety, social functioning, oral health–related quality of life, and satisfaction with treatment outcomes. Individuals born with clefts often continue to face psychosocial challenges even after surgical repair, and limited research has compared how these outcomes differ by cleft type in adulthood. Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional design was used, including 24 adults aged 18 years and older who had undergone cleft repair and were finished or in active orthodontic treatment at UAB. Participants completed an online …

Handling Missing Data In Copd Research, Chia-Ying Chiu

ETDs from 2020-2029

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) remains a major global health concern and one of the leading causes of death in the United States, affecting approximately 4.6% of adults and reaching a prevalence of 9.4% in Alabama according to 2024 National Health Interview Survey. The disease imposes a substantial burden on quality of life and healthcare costs and contributes to increased disability-adjusted life years and years of life lost, as highlighted by the 2022 Lancet Commission report. Despite its im-pact, COPD is frequently diagnosed only after irreversible lung damage has occurred, largely due to under-recognized symptoms and limited diagnostic tools. Early …

Unh’S Online Mba Program Ranked Among Top 50 Nationally, Aaron Sanborn

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Development Of Salinomycin Analogs As Potential Anti-Cancer Agents, Pavan Goud Juluri

Theses and Dissertations

Salinomycin, a poly-ionophore antibiotic originally isolated from Streptomyces albus, exhibits antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Over the years Salinomycin has been studied in the effects it has on cancer, specifically cancer stem cells. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is an enzyme involved in DNA repair. Inhibiting PARP has been explored as a strategy in cancer treatment, particularly in cancers with defective DNA repair mechanisms, such as those with BRCA mutations. The benzo-thiazoles, and -imidazoles are identified as inhibitor scaffolds, which compete with nicotinamide in the binding pocket of human poly- and mono-ADP-ribosylating enzymes. Benzothiazole, and benzimidazole based compounds particularly with modification at …

Assessing The Influence Of Exercise Types On The Quality Of Life For Cardiac Rehab Patients, Joshua Alston

Doctorate in Kinesiology

In the realm of cardiac rehabilitation, understanding the specific impacts of aerobic and anaerobic exercise was of great importance for optimizing patient outcomes. As individuals embarked on the journey of recovering from cardiac events, tailored exercise programs became essential components of their rehabilitation plans. This study utilized a mixed-methods action research design to evaluate the effects of aerobic and anaerobic exercise on the quality of life (QOL) for cardiac rehabilitation patients. The research was driven by the question: “How do individual aerobic and anaerobic exercise program interventions impact on the holistic improvement in the Quality of Life (QOL) for Cardiac …

In-Situ Eval: A Modular Framework For Custom And Real-Time Rag Benchmarking, Ritvik Garimella, Kaushik Roy, Chathurangi Shyalika, Amit Sheth

Publications

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) has become the standard approach for integrating domain knowledge into Large Language Models (LLMs). However, fair comparison of RAG pipelines remains difficult: data preparation is often ad hoc, subsampling methods are opaque, parameters vary across implementations, and evaluation is fragmented. We present In-Situ Eval, a unified and reproducible framework that operationalizes the full RAG pipeline with configurable subsampling strategies and both RAG-specific and generic evaluation metrics. The platform supports two execution modes: an offline Dataset mode for evaluating precomputed outputs, and a live Retrieval mode for benchmarking RAG variants with state-of-the-art LLMs. Users can flexibly select datasets, …

Anorectal Complications In Acute Leukaemia: A Retrospective Analysis Of Clinical Characteristics, Management And Outcomes In A Tertiary Care Setting In Oman, Najwa Al Himali, Murtadha Al Khabori, Mohamed Al Huneini

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Anorectal complications are common and serious issues among patients with haematological malignancies, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Limited data are available on their incidence, microbiology screening and management. This study aimed to improve the understanding of these complications in patients diagnosed with acute leukaemia in Oman. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman and included patients diagnosed with acute leukaemia who developed anorectal complications over the past decade (2015–2024). Results: A total of 100 patients were included in this study; 50% had acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), 35% had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) …

Mapping Post-Rainfall Recovery In Arid Regions Using A Hierarchical U-Net, Xin Hong

All Works

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced an extreme rainfall event between April 15 and 17, 2024, and that resulted in severe flooding in its coastal regions. Dubai was among the most affected regions. This study applies a hierarchical deep learning model on PlanetScope imagery to detect flood inundation, quantify flood extent by land cover, and examine short-term recovery dynamics. While earlier work detailed the methodological development of a hierarchical U-Net model (Hong et al., in press), here we emphasize its application for monitoring resilience trajectories in an arid urban environment. Results show that approximately 22 km² of land was …

Assessing Urban Flooding And Vegetation Impact In Dubai Creek Following The April 2024 Extreme Rainfall, Dana Alhammadi, Xin Hong

All Works

During April 2024, the United Arab Emirates experienced an unusual phenomenon of an intense rainfall episode between April 14 and 18 that resulted in massive flooding in urban environments, particularly low-lying areas such as Dubai Creek. As a tidal waterway with dense urban development and environmentally sensitive zones surrounding it, Dubai Creek is an ideal site for assessing environmental changes caused by to floods. The study employed pre-flood (14 April) and post-flood (18 April) high-resolution PlanetScope satellite images, in combination with QGIS analysis, to evaluate vegetation health and surface water changes. Quantification of affected areas from flooding was achieved through …

Mapping Urban Vegetation Changes Using Planetscope Imagery And Gis: A Case Study Of The 2024 Dubai Flood, Sumayya Almansoori, Xin Hong

All Works

In April 2024, unexpected heavy rainfall triggered one of the most severe flooding events in Dubai’s recent history, causing widespread concern for urban infrastructure and green spaces. This study evaluates the flood’s impact on urban vegetation in South Dubai using high-resolution PlanetScope satellite imagery and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Vegetation conditions before and after the flood (April 14 and April 18–19, 2024) were quantified and compared using NDVI analysis within QGIS to assess changes in vegetation health and coverage. Results indicate significant declines in vegetation health in areas dominated by intensive turf management, such as Damac Hills and …

Thinking Otherwise With Children In Cities: A Storying Approach To Co-Researching With Children And Teachers, William A. Parnell, Sally Guyon

Leadership, Learning and Counseling Faculty Publications and Presentations

This Children in Cities research project examines an approach to storying research that foregrounds collaborative meaning-making between educators and young children in their city. Through exploring how educators and young children might “think otherwise” about teaching, learning, and participation with history, Place noticing and entanglements between humans, more-than-human, and non-humans, three stories and a metaphor surface in the data. Drawing on three stories, metaphor is employed as an analytic and integrative device to deepen interpretation of lived experiences. Central to the methodology is a democratic orientation that seeks to reduce hierarchical boundaries, engaging children aged 3–5 as co-researchers in the …

Ramadan: An Invitation To Prayer, Introspection, Service, Bushra Hennaoui

University Libraries Blog Archive

With a book display, a mindfulness activity and an invitation to a fast-breaking celebration, UD’s Muslim Student Association shares the spirit and practice of Islam’s holiest month.

Through The Ages: Reflecting On 250 Years Of Ai Technology, Ethan Brue

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"The only thing historians know for certain is that humans have been proven quite inept at being certain, particularly when it involves the future."

Posting about the longterm influence of artificial intelligence from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Through the Ages

Apolipoprotein E4 And Its Later-Life Health Effects On The Multiple Sclerosis Population, Dean Zeldich, Chia Hsin Cheng, Yi Guan, Sriman Narain, Bang-Bon Koo

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease causing neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) allele, a major genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's Disease, accelerates cognitive decline and neuroinflammatory processes, including blood-brain-barrier disruption. This study explores the impact of APOE4 on later-life health in MS patients using biomarkers from the UK Biobank.

METHODS: MS patients were grouped by APOE4 carrier status: MS-E4 and MS-nonE4. Age- and sex-matched non-MS controls (control-E4, control-nonE4) were included for comparison. Analyses assessed retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) from optical coherence tomography (OCT), blood biomarkers, cognitive performance, and brain magnetic …

Cxcr4-Targeted Theranostics In Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Present Evidence And Future Directions, Marcus Yoakam, Uma A. Obalapuram, Kameron Hahn, Samir Dalia

Student Publications

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a biologically heterogeneous group of lymphoid malignancies with variable clinical outcomes despite advances in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and cellular therapies. The C–X–C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)/ C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) axis plays a central role in lymphocyte trafficking, survival, and tumor microenvironment interactions. It is frequently dysregulated in NHL, making it an attractive target for precision oncology. CXCR4- directed theranostics combines molecular imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy, enabling real-time assessment of receptor expression, patient stratification, and personalized treatment delivery. Diagnostic positron emission tomography imaging using ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor reliably visualizes CXCR4-expressing disease, while therapeutic agents, such …

Stat-Independent Functions Of Janus Kinases 1 And 2 Are Obligatory For The Postnatal Development Of Mammary Epithelial Ducts, Rayane Dennaoui, Madison N. Wicker, Carson Moen, Michaela Schlederer, Kerry Vistisen, Aleata A. Triplett, Thomas Rülicke, Hallgeir Rui, Lukas Kenner, Emilio Casanova, Kay-Uwe Wagner

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Janus kinases 1 and 2 and STAT transcription factors are critical signaling nodes for numerous growth factors. In the mammary gland, JAK2 and STAT5a/b are essential for alveolar cell differentiation and lactation, but little is known about the cooperative roles of JAKs and STATs before pregnancy. We examined female mice conditionally deficient in JAK1/2 and discovered that both kinases jointly regulate epithelial cell proliferation and ductal morphogenesis. To assess the role of downstream STATs, we generated genetic models co-deficient in STAT3/5a/5b with or without STAT1 or JAK1. Although loss of STAT3/5a/5b leads to a JAK1-dependent upregulation of STAT1, the formation …

Race And Patient-Physician Communication On Blood Pressure Management: Helping Improve Care, Samar A. Nasser, Ashley Pender, Ayan Ali, Kardie Tobb, Keith C. Ferdinand

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide an overview of the relationship of race and ethnicity and patient-physician/clinician communication on blood pressure management.

RECENT FINDINGS: The suboptimal interactions experienced by patients from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations may be improved by enriching relationships among clinicians, population health scientists, policymakers, and community members/leaders. Current care communication and policies for managing hypertension appear to be insufficient. Implementing and disseminating effective strategies to efficiently improve the quality of hypertension care and recognize social determinants of health among minoritized populations is intertwined with enhanced communication.

SUMMARY: Approaches such as self-affirmation—encouraging patients to reflect on their strengths …

Letter From The Stimulus Team, The Stimulus Team

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

Meet The Stimulus Team, The Stimulus Team

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

The Peace Within, Kaitlyn Khong, Jessica Titus

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

Fact Vs. Fiction: Tiktok’S Deceitful Medical Advice, Camila Flores

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

A Recipe For Self-Motivation (And Chocolate-Chip Cookies), Eman E. Eltahir Ali

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

Informal Reflection Of Normative Reactions To Obesity, Hallie Young

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, The Stimulus Team

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

An Environmental Crisis – A Dolphin’S Cry, Rem C. Tial

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.

Epitaxial Growth Of Tellurene Using Physical Vapor Deposition, Luis Dibert, Ahmed Alumary

Stimulus: A Medical Humanities Journal

No abstract provided.