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Sample Preparation Effects On Liquid Scintillation Counting Quench, Jason Rusch Jan 2026

Sample Preparation Effects On Liquid Scintillation Counting Quench, Jason Rusch

ETDs from 2020-2029

Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC) is a critical technique in operational health physics, particularly for contamination surveys. However, common, expedient sample preparation choices often introduce unpredictable levels of quench, compromising the accuracy of results. This thesis investigates the impact of common preparation variables including vial material, cap lining, solid sample matrix presence, cocktail volume, and radioactivity. The impact of these sample preparation variables were evaluated using the quench methods on two fundamentally distinct commercial LSC systems, the Perkin Elmer Tri-Carb 4910TR (employing tSIE correction) and the Hidex 600 SL (employing TDCR correction). A total of 320 samples were evaluated on each …

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Physiological And Neuroimmune Effects Of Manual Therapy, Murdi S. Alanazi Jan 2026

Physiological And Neuroimmune Effects Of Manual Therapy, Murdi S. Alanazi

ETDs from 2020-2029

Manual therapy (MT) is widely used across healthcare disciplines for the management of musculoskeletal conditions. Emerging evidence indicates that MT may also influence broader physiological systems such as the nervous and the immune systems. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are still not well understood, and limited evidence exists regarding the neuroimmune effect of MT in neurologically impaired populations such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The overall aim of this dissertation was to investigate the physiological effects of MT, synthesizing current evidence across mechanistic domains, and generating pilot data to inform future research. This dissertation was structured around four manuscripts. The …

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Clinical Decision Support Using Medical Imaging Artificial Intelligence, Yun-Chi Lin Jan 2026

Clinical Decision Support Using Medical Imaging Artificial Intelligence, Yun-Chi Lin

ETDs from 2020-2029

Medical imaging plays a central role in modern clinical decision-making, yet its effective integration with artificial intelligence (AI) remains challenged by real-world clinical constraints. This dissertation investigates how medical imaging-based AI frameworks can be strategically designed to support clinical decision-making for two distinct but clinically critical scenarios: acute pandemic care and chronic neurodegenerative disease management. In acute pandemic settings, such as the COVID-19 crisis, healthcare systems face an urgent need for rapid risk stratification under conditions of data scarcity and operational stress including surges in patient volume and limited medical resources. This work explores strategies for developing deep learning models …

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Does Market Penetration Of Medicare Advantage Plans Impact The Financial Performance Of Texas Critical Access Hospitals?, Charles Anthony Brocato Jan 2026

Does Market Penetration Of Medicare Advantage Plans Impact The Financial Performance Of Texas Critical Access Hospitals?, Charles Anthony Brocato

ETDs from 2020-2029

ABSTRACT This study investigated the impact of increasing market penetration of Medicare Advantage plans on the financial performance of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in Texas, specifically focusing on days cash on hand (DCOH) and operating margin (OM). With over 20% of Americans relying on CAHs for healthcare, the financial viability of these hospitals is crucial for rural community health. The study analyzed longitudinal data from 72 CAHs in Texas between 2018 to 2023, a period marked by significant changes in the healthcare landscape due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite increased enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans rising from 26% to 40%, …

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The Efficacy Of Computerized Visual Scanning Training Tools In Vision Rehabilitation Following Acquired Brain Injury, Lulwah Almulhim Jan 2026

The Efficacy Of Computerized Visual Scanning Training Tools In Vision Rehabilitation Following Acquired Brain Injury, Lulwah Almulhim

ETDs from 2020-2029

Various neurological conditions, including acquired brain injuries, can cause visual scanning deficits, which disrupt the ability to gather and interpret visual information. Computerized training tools, such as light boards, are utilized to enhance functional vision and occupational performance. The Dynavision (D2) is a well-established visuomotor training tool primarily utilized to address visual field and visual scanning deficits. The Bioness Integrated Therapy System (BITS) is a touchscreen-based rehabilitation tool designed to assess and enhance vision, motor skills, cognition, and balance. To our knowledge, normative data for BITS visual scanning programs have not been established. We conducted a scoping review to identify …

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Investigating Stromal Cell-Mediated Biomechanics For Angiogenesis And Reperfusion In A 3d Microfluidic Model For Ischemic Vascular Disease, Vaishali Bala Jan 2026

Investigating Stromal Cell-Mediated Biomechanics For Angiogenesis And Reperfusion In A 3d Microfluidic Model For Ischemic Vascular Disease, Vaishali Bala

ETDs from 2020-2029

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects millions worldwide, causing tissue ischemia and impaired healing due to insufficient blood flow. Current therapeutic strategies to promote revascularization remain limited, largely because the mechanical regulation of angiogenesis is poorly understood. While biochemical growth factors like VEGF have been extensively studied, the role of mechanical forces generated by stromal cells in the perivascular matrix remains underexplored. This dissertation investigated how stromal cell contractility drives vascular growth through mechanotransduction pathways and modulation of endothelial cell-cell junctions. Using 3D fibrin or fibrin-collagen-I-based microtissues and compartmentalized microfluidic devices, we characterized the mechanical phenotypes of multiple fibroblast populations and …

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Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes (1/27/2026), Csusb Faculty Senate Jan 2026

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes (1/27/2026), Csusb Faculty Senate

CSUSB Faculty Senate records

No abstract provided.

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Editorial: Advancing Musculoskeletal Health: Bridging Basic And Clinical Research On Biomechanical Properties Of Joints, Ligaments, Tendons, And Associated Structures, Xin Jin, Snehal S. Shetye, Mengcun Chen Jan 2026

Editorial: Advancing Musculoskeletal Health: Bridging Basic And Clinical Research On Biomechanical Properties Of Joints, Ligaments, Tendons, And Associated Structures, Xin Jin, Snehal S. Shetye, Mengcun Chen

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

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David Cruz Perez V. Attorney General United States Of America Jan 2026

David Cruz Perez V. Attorney General United States Of America

2026 Decisions

Agency

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William Richter V. Duquesne University Of The Holy Spirit Jan 2026

William Richter V. Duquesne University Of The Holy Spirit

2026 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

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Navigating The Nasal Route: A Case Study In Preventing Epistaxis, Eleanor R. Hodge, Terri Cahoon Jan 2026

Navigating The Nasal Route: A Case Study In Preventing Epistaxis, Eleanor R. Hodge, Terri Cahoon

Group: Samford University Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing

Nasotracheal intubation (NTI) is a widely used technique in maxillofacial surgery that allows optimal surgical field access while maintaining secure airway control. Epistaxis is one of the most reported complications, resulting from mucosal trauma in the nasal passage. Although the bleeding is typically self-limiting, it can complicate laryngoscopy, obscure visualization, and could lead to an airway emergency. To mitigate this risk, various strategies and device modifications have been developed. Advancements such as video laryngoscopy, fiberoptic visualization, administration of topical vasoconstrictors, and refinements in nasal endotracheal tube (ETT) design and insertion technique have been investigated to minimize epistaxis and enhance patient …

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Staff Education To Improve Nurses' Knowledge And Confidence In Suicide Risk Assessment, Sherica Mcbride Jan 2026

Staff Education To Improve Nurses' Knowledge And Confidence In Suicide Risk Assessment, Sherica Mcbride

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice staff education project was to strengthen nurses’ knowledge and confidence in suicide risk assessments. Suicide remains a crucial patient safety issue, and nurses report uncertainty in early recognition and intervention; therefore, brief, practice-proximal training is essential. The practice-focused question that informed this project’s purpose was whether a short education module with pre- and post testing improves nurses’ knowledge and confidence in suicide risk assessment. Three nurses participated in a structured session covering risk factors, warning signs, standardized screening, and safety planning. I then used descriptive analysis to compare their pre- and posttest …

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Predicting Perceived Immigrant Threat To National Identity Based On Christian Nationalism, White Racial Centrality, And Social Dominance Orientation, Anna Caroline Kinney Jan 2026

Predicting Perceived Immigrant Threat To National Identity Based On Christian Nationalism, White Racial Centrality, And Social Dominance Orientation, Anna Caroline Kinney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Immigrants remain frequent targets of anti-immigrant hate speech, often amplified by right-wing media. Demographic factors such as Christian nationalism (i.e., the desire to preserve Christian symbols, beliefs, and policies preserved as the established religion of the United States), White racial centrality (i.e., an automatic association between the self and the White ingroup), and social dominance orientation (i.e., support for group-based hierarchies and inequality) significantly shape perceptions of immigrants as a threat to national identity. Although prior research has examined these factors independently, their relative importance in predicting perceived immigrant threat remains limited. Informed by intergroup threat theory, this quantitative study …

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Staff Education On Metabolic Syndrome Screening In Patients Receiving Long-Acting Injectable Psychotropics, Efetze Metangpa Akana Jan 2026

Staff Education On Metabolic Syndrome Screening In Patients Receiving Long-Acting Injectable Psychotropics, Efetze Metangpa Akana

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary This Doctor of Nursing Practice project was a staff education initiative designed to improve metabolic syndrome screening practices for patients receiving long-acting injectable psychotropic medications in an outpatient psychiatric setting. People living with serious mental illness face a heightened risk of cardiometabolic conditions, and inconsistent screening leads to delayed detection, avoidable illness, and ongoing health disparities, underscoring the importance of this practice gap within nursing practice due to nurses’ central role in medication oversight and preventive care. A key limitation of the project was the small sample size and short-term evaluation period, which limited generalizability and did not allow …

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Reflective Parenting, Psychological Needs, And Parental Interpretation Of Children’S Negative Emotions, Julia Pappas Jan 2026

Reflective Parenting, Psychological Needs, And Parental Interpretation Of Children’S Negative Emotions, Julia Pappas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parents’ ability to understand and respond effectively to children’s negative emotions plays a critical role in children’s emotional development and regulation. However, it remains unclear whether parents interpret negative emotions as potential signals of underlying psychological needs. Based in the conceptual framework of parental reflective functioning and basic psychological needs theory, and grounded in interpretivist- constructivist paradigm, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine how parents interpret children’s negative emotions and how their meaning-making processes relate to basic psychological needs. Semistructured interviews were conducted with parents of children between ages 3 and 9 years old (N = …

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Strategies Leaders In Structured Alternative Academic Environments Use To Improve Resource Management, Operational Efficiency, And Program Sustainability, Sean D. Clark Jan 2026

Strategies Leaders In Structured Alternative Academic Environments Use To Improve Resource Management, Operational Efficiency, And Program Sustainability, Sean D. Clark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders of structured alternative academic environments often struggle to sustain operations because of limited resources, fragmented leadership, and high staff turnover. This business problem is important to leaders of structured alternative academic environments because ineffective resource management and operational inefficiencies threaten program sustainability and continuity of services for at-risk student populations. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies leaders in structured alternative academic environments use to improve resource management, operational efficiency, and program sustainability. The participants were six leaders from structured alternative academic programs in southeastern New Mexico. Data were …

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Leadership Strategies Used By Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Resource Providers To Support Entrepreneurial Success, Sarah Niehaus Jan 2026

Leadership Strategies Used By Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Resource Providers To Support Entrepreneurial Success, Sarah Niehaus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to collaborate effectively within entrepreneurial ecosystems remains a significant concern for leaders of entrepreneurial ecosystem organizations. Without clear, actionable collaboration strategies, these leaders may struggle to support entrepreneurial success and make informed decisions that enhance financial performance. Grounded in Mockler’s complex adaptive systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective strategies some leaders within entrepreneurial ecosystem organizations use to collaborate in a manner that supports entrepreneurial success. Participants included seven leaders of entrepreneurial ecosystem organizations located in the Midwest United States with successful experiences using such strategies. Data were collected from semistructured …

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Unh Online Programs Rise In U.S. News Rankings, Jeremy Gasowski Jan 2026

Unh Online Programs Rise In U.S. News Rankings, Jeremy Gasowski

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

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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 Jan 2026

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 …

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An Assessment Of New Employee Training In A U.S. Government Agency, Kisaana Fernanders Jan 2026

An Assessment Of New Employee Training In A U.S. Government Agency, Kisaana Fernanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study evaluated the utility of a newly developed employee training initiative within a U.S. government disaster recovery agency. The purpose of the professional administrative study was to examine the existing training architecture and recommend improvements aligned with the agency’s mission. A general qualitative approach was employed, using interviews and surveys with government personnel to elicit their perceptions of the training’s effectiveness. The research aimed to identify key elements to incorporate into a revised employee training program, with the goal of enhancing disaster response readiness and policy implementation. It also sought to recommend strategies for continuous improvement. The study was …

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Implementation Of Structured Nursing Leadership Rounding To Improve Hospital Policy Adherence, Irma Rose Maize Jan 2026

Implementation Of Structured Nursing Leadership Rounding To Improve Hospital Policy Adherence, Irma Rose Maize

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Variability in nursing policy compliance contributes to inconsistent clinical practice and compromises the delivery of standardized care. Limited leadership presence, support, and accountability have been identified as significant contributors to this practice gap. This Doctor of Nursing Practice project focused on educating nurse leaders about the importance and benefits of consistent unit-based leadership rounding as a strategy to support frontline nurses and reinforce policy adherence. A structured leadership rounding checklist was developed to guide purposeful, consistent check-ins with nursing staff, facilitating real-time support and identification of barriers to practice. Implementation of the checklist promoted increased leadership accessibility, improved communication, and …

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Optimizing Practice Facilitation: A Comprehensive Study On Implementation Fidelity And Its Determinants, Demetria Marie Hubbard Jan 2026

Optimizing Practice Facilitation: A Comprehensive Study On Implementation Fidelity And Its Determinants, Demetria Marie Hubbard

ETDs from 2020-2029

Intervention outcomes cannot be fully understood without examining how implementation strategies are delivered. While implementation fidelity to interventions is well recognized as a determinant of effectiveness, the fidelity of implementation strategies—the methods used to support intervention adoption—remains under-documented and under-assessed. Without this information, it is difficult to contextualize why interventions succeed or fail across diverse settings. This three-paper dissertation focuses on practice facilitation (PF), a widely used strategy in primary care quality improvement, as implemented in the Heart Health Improvement Project (HHIP) in Alabama. HHIP, led by the Alabama Cardiovascular Cooperative and funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and …

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Integrated Proteomics To Understand The Role Of Neuritin-1 (Nrn1) As A Molecular Mediator Of Synaptic Resilience In Alzheimer’S Disease, Derian Pugh Jan 2026

Integrated Proteomics To Understand The Role Of Neuritin-1 (Nrn1) As A Molecular Mediator Of Synaptic Resilience In Alzheimer’S Disease, Derian Pugh

ETDs from 2020-2029

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in adults over the age of 65, and currently affects approximately 6.9 million people in the United States. By 2060, the number of people age 65 and older with AD is projected to reach 13.8 million, barring the development of disease-altering therapies to prevent, slow or cure AD. Thus, there is a need for progress in the understanding of AD pathophysiology, as well as in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Approximately one-third of individuals without dementia at the time of death are found to harbor high levels of amyloid-beta …

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Cbct Evaluation Of Planned Vs. Achieved Expansion And Buccal Bone Thickness In Phase I Orthodontic Cases Treated With Clear Aligners, Jared Teeples Jan 2026

Cbct Evaluation Of Planned Vs. Achieved Expansion And Buccal Bone Thickness In Phase I Orthodontic Cases Treated With Clear Aligners, Jared Teeples

ETDs from 2020-2029

Introduction: Within orthodontics, CBCT technology has been used to analyze tooth movement with both fixed appliances and clear aligners. However, little research has evaluated alveolar bone remodeling outcomes in growing patients treated with clear aligner expansion. Methods: This study compared pre-treatment (T0) and post-treatment (T1) CBCTs of Phase I patients treated with clear aligners who had expansion planned in the Invisalign® ClinCheck. CBCTs were collected and analyzed, including 27 maxillary and 22 mandibular arches. The aims were (1) to compare planned vs. actual expansion and (2) to evaluate the arch width (AW) and alveolar bone changes before and after treatment. …

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Building An Empire-The Life And Legacy Of Dr. A.G. Gaston, Solymar Ortiz Jan 2026

Building An Empire-The Life And Legacy Of Dr. A.G. Gaston, Solymar Ortiz

ETDs from 2020-2029

The life, work, and legacy of Dr. A.G. Gaston demonstrate the significance of commemorating key civil rights activists through the establishment of historical institutions. Gaston was a pivotal leader in Birmingham’s Civil Rights Movement, and as the first Black millionaire in Alabama, he dedicated his life to generating wealth and uplifting his community. Stemming from humble beginnings, he was raised by formerly enslaved grandparents in a former plantation town. His rough upbringing encompassed a fight against racial injustice, an intense work ethic, and a passion for entrepreneurship. That passion allowed him to build his businesses from the ground up and …

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Cysteine Protease Activity In Allergen Recognition And Initiation Of Th2 Allergic Responses, Audrey Rae Meloun Jan 2026

Cysteine Protease Activity In Allergen Recognition And Initiation Of Th2 Allergic Responses, Audrey Rae Meloun

ETDs from 2020-2029

Allergens are non-infectious environmental proteins that can trigger T helper 2 (Th2) cell-mediated inflammation in atopic individuals. Allergens are structurally diverse and typically lack pathogen-associated molecules patterns (PAMPs), which are recognized by pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs are the canonical sensors of the innate immune system that typically detect PAMPs in microbes, initiating signaling pathways that drive pathogen clearance. Because allergens generally do not activate PRRs in the same way as infectious agents, alternative detection mechanisms are likely responsible for their recognition and the subsequent initiation of Th2 cell-mediated inflammation. House Dust Mite (HDM), a major indoor allergen, and other …

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Exercise Testing And Training For Individuals With Cystic Fibrosis, Najlaa Zayed Alotaibi Jan 2026

Exercise Testing And Training For Individuals With Cystic Fibrosis, Najlaa Zayed Alotaibi

ETDs from 2020-2029

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive genetic disease that impacts multiple systems (e.g., respiratory system). Hence, routine cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is recommended to track the disease progression in people with CF. Besides the benefits of exercise testing, exercise training is also beneficial for long-term wellness. It is recommended that people with CF engage in at least 30–60 minutes of aerobic exercise 3 days a week. However, despite the significance of exercise testing and training for people with CF, CPET and exercise training are underutilized in international CF centers. According to the literature, the majority of international CF centers use …

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Physical And Psychophysiological Responses To Self-Selected Music In Individuals With Parkinson's Disease, Sophia Porrill Jan 2026

Physical And Psychophysiological Responses To Self-Selected Music In Individuals With Parkinson's Disease, Sophia Porrill

ETDs from 2020-2029

Exercise is a cornerstone adjunct therapy for people with Parkinson’s Disease (PwP). However, exercise capacity is often impaired by non-motor processes including decreased motivation, arousal, and physical effort. Self-selected music (SSM) has been shown to improve motivation and arousal state in healthy individuals thereby leading to increases in exercise capacity. Whether these positive effects of SSM translate to PwP is unclear. The purpose of this study was to measure 1) the psychophysiological effects of SSM at rest, and 2) psychophysiological and physical responses during a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in PwP. In a counterbalanced crossover manner, PwP (n=12) completed resting …

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Analysis Of Activated Carbon Fiber (Acf) As Particulate Filtration And Volatile Organic Compound (Voc) Media For The Development Of A Dual-Air Purifying Facepiece Respirator, Brie Mcmahan Jan 2026

Analysis Of Activated Carbon Fiber (Acf) As Particulate Filtration And Volatile Organic Compound (Voc) Media For The Development Of A Dual-Air Purifying Facepiece Respirator, Brie Mcmahan

ETDs from 2020-2029

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in occupational or public settings poses adverse health outcomes such as respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, neurological, carcinogenic morbidity and mortality. Many occupational settings expose workers to PM and VOC concurrently, yet most commercially available respirators are designed to address either particulates or vapors alone. This includes air-purifying respirators (APRs), powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), and filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) with nuisance-level vapor protection, often limited by bulk, discomfort, high pressure drop, and misuse. We identified a need for alternative dual-exposure media and a respiratory protection device that is lighter, and more comfortable …

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Impositions, Christopher Michael Mccauley Jan 2026

Impositions, Christopher Michael Mccauley

ETDs from 2020-2029

This collection explores ordinary moments. A couple on a park bench. A man cleaning a horse stall. A citizen scientist wandering a field. When you peer into these scenes closely, though, you can move beyond the seemingly mundane and discover universal truths, as well as images that evoke shared emotional landscapes. Two primary themes bring greater clarity to these moments and images: people imposing on the world and the world imposing on people. Each piece in the collection touches on these themes in some way. Hence the title, Impositions. I hope readers will feel a sense of empathy for the …

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