113588 research outputs found
Sort by
Improving Recognition of Perinatal Depression Through Routine Prenatal and Postpartum Screening
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI)project was to support midwives and staff at a Phoenix area birth center in implementing standardized Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) screening in the prenatal and postpartum periods and referring patients to mental health resources when indicated. Background: Perinatal depression is depression that affects the pregnant individual during pregnancy and in the period following birth. Perinatal depression has significant short-term and long-term health consequences for the parent, infant, and family system. Perinatal depression can be fatal if left untreated. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is a valid and reliable tool used to assist providers in the detection of perinatal depression. The midwives at the birth center had been discussing perinatal mental health at length with patients, though screening rates using a standardized tool in the prenatal and postpartum period remained at 9.5% and 14%, respectively. Methods: A 10-minute educational presentation followed by a discussion with midwives and staff was provided. The session provided education on risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of perinatal depression, as well as documentation of EPDS screening in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and best practices for mental health screening and referral. Results: Following an educational presentation for clinical staff, including midwives, the project provided resources and encouraged collaborative efforts to ensure consistent screening. This DNP project successfully increased the perinatal depression screening rate at a Phoenix-area birth center through educational intervention with midwives and administrative staff. Prenatal and postpartum screening rates increased from 9.5% and 14% to 42.9% and 71.4%, respectively. Additionally, there was a 75% referral rate for EPDS scores of 9 or greater. Conclusions: Perinatal depression is a complication that continues to have significant mental and physical health effects. The educational intervention led to a statistically significant improvement in screening rates both prenatally and postpartum. There is a need for more research and process improvement efforts within this field to tailor perinatal depression screening and referral to the needs of different clinical settings
Implementation of Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences in Non-STEM Fields
No full textThis study investigates the implementation of Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) in non-STEM fields, analyzing the obstacles, adjustments, and accomplishments experienced by educators. Although CUREs have been extensively incorporated into STEM education to improve student engagement and research exposure, their application in non-STEM fields remains under-researched. This study employs qualitative research to examine interviews and classroom observations, aiming at identifying how instructors adapt essential research elements—discovery, iteration, collaboration, scientific practices, and broader impact—to conform to the methodologies of the humanities, social sciences, and arts disciplines. The findings underscore the considerable efforts necessary for educators to incorporate research experiences into their curricula, frequently amid constrained institutional support and resources.The findings underscore the imperative for customized training, mentorship, and organized institutional frameworks to effectively maintain non-STEM CUREs. Observational data indicate that students gain from practical research experiences that enhance their analytical abilities, critical thinking, and involvement with real-world applications. Nonetheless, obstacles including financial inequities, absence of defined research frameworks, and time limitations limit the extensive implementation of CUREs in non-STEM disciplines. The study emphasizes the necessity for enhanced professional development opportunities, interdisciplinary collaborations, and centralized resource repositories to assist educators in integrating CURE ideas into their fields. By tackling these difficulties, schools may cultivate an inclusive research culture that transcends STEM, giving students in all disciplines with vital research abilities and problem-solving abilities
Hydropower Governance in Nepal: A Social-Ecological Systems Assessment
No full textHydropower represents a coupled water-energy system with complex environment-society interactions, where natural river systems and human-constructed infrastructure impact each other through multiple feedback loops. It also represents a development paradox, where, on the one hand, it is presented as a source of cheap, reliable, and clean energy that mitigates climate change impacts, while on the other hand, it has demonstrated adverse impacts on the environment and local communities. These complexities are especially prominent in a developing country like Nepal, which plans to accelerate hydropower development for energy security and equitable economic growth while managing climate change, environmental justice, and international geopolitics. Despite very high potential and ambitious plans for hydropower development, Nepal has not been able to generate adequate and reliable electricity to meet domestic needs. Geographically, it is located in the highly climatically vulnerable and earthquake-prone Himalayan region. Here, Indigenous people’s livelihoods and customary practices exist in intricate balance with the natural environment – often significantly impacted by the development of infrastructure like hydropower and the modification of river flows. The construction of hydropower in mountainous regions impacts cultural diversity, mainly Indigenous people and ecologically sensitive landscapes. With a fledgling democracy, a new constitution in 2015, and an ongoing process of preparing new laws to harmonize with the new federal governance structure, Nepal has an opportunity to define pathways for sustainable hydropower development. However, this requires careful consideration of interactions among water, electricity, communities, and governance, with the need for evidence-based policies for sustainable hydropower development. This dissertation assesses the social-ecological system dynamics of hydropower governance in Nepal. It investigates human-environment relationships at multiple scales that impact hydropower decisions, i.e., i) how to strengthen climate-resilient hydropower governance, ii) how international geopolitics shape hydropower infrastructure decisions in a country like Nepal that is landlocked between two rising economic and political giants, China and India, and iii) how issues of environmental justice in hydropower projects should be addressed in local communities that are predominantly Indigenous. The dissertation is conceptually rooted in and expands the social-ecological system (SES) framework developed by Elinor Ostrom and colleagues to assess the outcomes from interactions between resource systems (water energy systems for hydropower development), resource units (freshwater resources), actors (diverse hydropower-related stakeholders) and governance systems (laws, rules, and organizations that determine hydropower development pathways). This dissertation uses an empirical study of ten hydropower projects, half operational and half under construction, in the Trishuli River basin in central Nepal. These hydropower projects present significant diversity in the hydropower plants' size, ownership, and financing mechanism. In addition, the dissertation applies content analysis of government documents, local newspaper articles, and scientific journals. For the research, 63 semi-structured interviews were carried out with individuals affiliated with government organizations (15), hydropower projects in the Trishuli Basin and other private developers (16), local community members and local government representatives (8), water and energy experts and hydropower consultants (15), international bilateral and multilateral organizations (5), and local banks and lending organizations (4). In addition, five focus group discussions were carried out with 34 individual participants from local communities. Grounded theory assesses SES dynamics and interactions in coupled water-energy infrastructure development and identifies emerging themes based on empirical findings. The findings show that Nepal's hydropower projects are exposed to increasing risks from climate extremes, including glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), extreme precipitation, and compounding impacts of geological hazards, such as earthquakes and landslides. These risks are expected to increase under future
climate and impact hydropower development, requiring a shift from conventional water and environmental governance to institutionalized adaptive governance, continuous knowledge building, institutional changes for political and legal reform, and aligning incentives to shift from path dependence to adaptive governance. As a landlocked country sandwiched between India and China, with their checkered history and plans for hydropower development in the Himalayas, Nepal is pursuing hydropower development that is also significantly influenced by the geopolitical dynamics of its neighbors. Due to Nepal’s inconsistent foreign policy and frequently changing governments, its relationships with China and India shift depending
on the local political parties who favor an alliance with one or the other country. Nepal will have to move beyond the thinking that hydropower projects are only to generate electricity and rethink its strategy to include the geopolitical nature of hydropower governance, including transboundary water and energy as well as bilateral and multilateral finance mechanisms. Despite the new Constitution of 2015 that added an electoral system to ensure proportional representation of all ethnic people, Nepal has failed to ensure the rights of local Indigenous people, who are significantly impacted by hydropower projects, as shown in this dissertation. Besides, Nepal also has international commitments to the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People and the ratification of the International Labor Organization's Convention No. 169 (Indigenous and Tribal People's Convention). However, enforcement of free, prior, and informed consent of the Indigenous people by
internationally financed projects is a necessary starting point. We envision that conflicts in implementing such mechanisms are likely but have yet to see how these can be managed. This dissertation advances existing knowledge on the linkages between science, policy, and practice for sustainable hydropower governance. Using social-ecological systems framework, it analyzes hydropower through interactions and outcomes from various biophysical variables and social variables. As
part of a coupled water-energy system, it draws linkages between utilization water resources for electricity generation with flow of international investments and geopolitical moves, along with questions of environmental justice in locations with indigenous communities. The research findings are valuable to building climate-resilient infrastructure governance, understanding how international geopolitics shape hydropower infrastructure decisions in landlocked Nepal, and advocating for recognition-based justice in hydropower in predominantly Indigenous locations
American High Schools Utilizing Traditional Indigenous Restorative Justice Practices to Resolve Conflict and Find Solutions for Students
No full textThis study included three American high schools with high Native American populations. It investigated their restorative justice (RJ) methods for helping students with suspensions and other disciplinary actions from school conflicts. In addition to Tribal Crit as a framework, I utilize the Critical Indigenous Research Methodologies (CIRM) framework. The framework roots comprise “4Rs”: relationships, responsibility, respect, and reciprocity. Each school was finding solutions to live in peace with its peers at school and in the community, and has its own Indigenous methods that focus on balance and community. Three themes emerged from the data: (1) becoming part of a community through RJ, (2) the RJ circle finding solutions, and (3) a balance needed for RJ. The community in this context is the school, outside agencies, and, in some schools, local tribal services. The findings show that respect is highly valued in schools and that buy-in is a barrier when implementing RJ circles. Restorative justice methods have been used in tribal communities since time immemorial (McCaslin et al., 2005)
Examining the Racial Pressure on Student-Athletes in Secondary Schools
No full textHigh school student-athletes face pressures as they strive for their athletic goals. For student-athletes of color, these challenges are increased by racial factors that shape their experiences within high school athletics. This qualitative, interview-based case study examines the racial pressures faced by Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other student-athletes of color at a private high school in the Southwest United States. Utilizing Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Self-Efficacy Theory (SET) as theoretical frameworks, this study explores how race influences the student-athlete experience and also identifies systemic and individual supports that can enhance educational and athletic outcomes. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with student-athletes, coaches, and parents. Findings suggest that BIPOC student-athletes navigate different challenges, including racial stereotyping and limited representation. This study shows the need for schools and athletic programs to implement measures that promote equity. Some recommendations include an increase in mentorship opportunities, to diversify coaching staff, and create structured mental health support for student-athletes. Educational institutions need to better support BIPOC student-athletes in achieving success both on and off the field
Precipitation and Planetary Boundary Layer Height Analysis Using Surface-Based, Airborne, and Spaceborne Measurements
No full textAtmospheric science has grown increasingly important, with fields such as numerical weather forecasts directly impacting people’s daily lives. However, limitations on the quality of observed precipitation and planetary boundary layer (PBLH) produce challenges in fields such as weather forecasting, extreme precipitation, and pollution transportation. Furthermore, the limitation of cloud microphysics in climate models continues to be an important topic. Despite gaining increased attention in recent years, observational challenges and limited understanding of cloud microphysics remain significant over the ocean, an area with scarce surface-based and airborne data. Given the above challenges, this dissertation aims to evaluate observational data and methods to estimate rainfall and PBLH in regions such as over the ocean with limited data. It also uses high-quality datasets to study their climatology, providing valuable insights to improve these datasets. Another goal is to use observation-based parameterization of cloud drop size distribution to explore its impact on radiation and cloud microphysics in climate models. This dissertation includes four methods: data analysis, algorithm evaluations, algorithm improvement, and model sensitivity tests. Using the above techniques, we tackled, evaluated, and improved the ways to understand observational datasets, improve current retrieval algorithms, and quantify changes in model outputs using new parameterizations informed from data analysis. To address the above objectives, this dissertation presents the following findings: 1. Precipitation Analysis: Gauge-corrected radar data over the U.S. showed that coastal land receives more rainfall than coastal ocean. An evaluation of three satellite precipitation products (IMERG, PERSIANN, and CMOPRH) using gauge-corrected radar data showed that IMERG performs best over coastal land, and CMORPH performs best over coastal oceans.
2. PBLH estimation: A new algorithm was developed for estimating PBLH from dropsondes’ thermodynamic profile over the northwest Atlantic. We also evaluated the mixed layer height product from the airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar-Generation 2 (MLH-HSRL) and found that it agrees well with that of dropsondes. Furthermore, we improved the MLH-HSRL to estimate PBLH better. For the other study, we evaluated four methods estimating PBLH from dropsonde profiles: We first identified the best one for each of the available four methods, and then we identified the parcel method and the gradient Richardson number as the two best methods estimating PBLH with the parcel method performing slightly better.
3. Model sensitivity test: Sensitivity test demonstrates that the new parameterization of cloud droplet size distribution from Siu et al. (2025) data analysis improves summer Arctic shortwave cloud forcing in the Community Earth System Model simulation by 5 W/m2. This dissertation provides new angles for precipitation evaluation and contributes to the broader use and insights of airborne lidar and dropsondes to estimate PBLH. The findings can be implemented in future field campaigns and global satellite missions. Additionally, insights from the climate model sensitivity test highlight the importance of integrating observational data for model improvement of cloud microphysics on radiative feedback. Overall, this dissertation takes an approach from remote sensing to model parameterization, forming a loop from observation and model improvement. Hence, through data analysis, algorithm evaluation and improvement, and model sensitivity tests, this dissertation offers a meaningful basis for improving the understanding of atmospheric science
“Paddling through Language Diversity”: A Case Study of a Taiwanese Teacher’s Mandarin Class in the US Higher Education
No full textSociolinguistic differences take place in both daily conversations and written works. Examples of this phenomenon include different people using different vocabulary to express the same thing or using the same word to mean different things. Competent adult native speakers detect these variations and can navigate through conversations when speaking with other social groups (Hymes, 1972). However, L2 adult learners with limited exposure to variations and explanations may miss the opportunity to develop such sociolinguistic knowledge. This case study examines the language variations a Taiwanese teacher encountered in her Mandarin class at a U.S. higher education institution. As the textbooks adopted in the language program set the tone as “Standard Mandarin,” the Taiwanese teacher’s Taiwan-based Mandarin was constructed as a variety that deviated from the standard. Through a qualitative research approach, this study found how the Taiwanese teacher negotiated her sociolinguistic deviance into an opportunity and used her teacher’s talk to make language variations sociolinguistic input for the students. This case demonstrates a language teacher’s active role in handling language variations, with the teaching goal of enabling students to use the language competently in different social contexts outside of school
Dexmedetomidine for the Prevention of Emergence Agitation in Adult Surgical Patients
No full textPurpose: This quality improvement initiative aimed to evaluate the impact of education on increasing healthcare providers’ knowledge of dexmedetomidine for preventing emergence agitation (EA) in adult surgical patients.Background: Emergence agitation and delirium are temporary post-anesthesia states that can result in confusion, violent outbursts, and potential harm to both patients and healthcare staff (Tolly et al., 2020). These terms are often used interchangeably and describe linked concepts (Lee & Sung, 2020). EA can compromise patient safety and contribute to sentinel events in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) (Zhang et al., 2019). Dexmedetomidine, a selective α₂-adrenergic receptor agonist, provides sedative, analgesic, anxiolytic, and sympatholytic properties while minimizing respiratory depression and allowing for a more cooperative emergence (Lee, 2019). Research does suggest that dexmedetomidine does not increase PACU length of stay or cause residual sedation. It does successfully reduces problems such as shivering, coughing, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (Sin et al., 2022). Despite its benefits, dexmedetomidine use for EA prevention remains lacking in consistency, showing the need for improved provider education. Methods: An educational intervention was delivered to healthcare providers, followed by a pre-post survey administered via Qualtrics. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze changes in participants’ knowledge regarding dexmedetomidine’s role in EA prevention. Results: All participants (11/11) completed the survey, with 72.7% attending the session in person and 27.3% accessing the recorded session remotely. Statistically significant improvements were observed across all 10 Likert-scale survey questions, with mean differences indicating increased knowledge, confidence, and readiness to apply the information clinically. The largest knowledge gains were seen in understanding EA’s incidence, risks, and costs (Question 1) and dexmedetomidine’s mechanism of action, side effects, and dosing (Question 2). Free-text responses (Question 11) identified barriers to implementation, including cost, availability, hemodynamic concerns, and knowledge gaps, which provide insight into areas for future education and practice improvements. Conclusions: Results of this project indicated that education notably improves healthcare providers’ knowledge, confidence, and willingness to implement dexmedetomidine for EA prevention. The results also emphasized the importance of continued education and training to reinforce evidence-based practice and improve patient safety in anesthesia care
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for Post-dural Puncture Headache
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to measure how education could potentially affect the level of knowledge and utilization of Sphenopalatine Ganglion Blocks (SPGBs) as a treatment for Post Dural Puncture Headaches (PDPHs) in practice. The intended goal was to provide a simple, educational presentation in which provider participants were educated on PDPHs, their cause, and the benefits of utilizing SPGB as a treatment.Background: Studies have demonstrated that SPGBs can be utilized as a method to treat PDPH symptoms, however, the actual implementation of SPGBs in practice has not taken effect frequently. This can be attributed to a need for more research and education on the adoption of the technique for PDPH treatment in practice. Methods: A live educational presentation was given to providers through a PowerPoint presentation and video demonstration. The presentation educated providers on SPGB, its usage, and its benefits as a technique to treat symptoms of PDPH. After the presentation, participants were asked to complete a five question post-pre survey to ascertain a change in provider knowledge and likelihood of potential implementation of the technique. Results: The results of the post-pre survey indicated a notable impact for most of the participants’ level of knowledge regarding the understanding of SPGB techniques for PDPH and willingness to incorporate SPGB into their practice in the future. These findings highly suggest a successful and substantial educational intervention was performed and indicate that a majority of participants now feel more confident and likely to apply the SPGB technique for the management of PDPH in the future. Conclusions: This project demonstrates that educating healthcare providers on SPGB for PDPH increases both knowledge and the likelihood of adopting the technique in their future practice. Despite the small sample size, the data suggests that the educational presentation had a strong impact on provider knowledge. These findings further support the need for continued educational presentations to expand provider education, improve clinical skills, and support better patient safety and outcomes
Development of a Statistical Basis for the Estimation of Local Airborne Contamination Concentration in Underground Mines
No full textAirborne contamination is an inescapable feature of modern underground mining environments. Contamination can enter an underground mine's ventilation system from equipment, blasting or other rockbreaking processes, and the desorption of gases from rock. The monitoring of airborne contamination is split into two types: personal and area monitoring. Personal monitoring can be incredibly expensive and time-consuming for industrial hygiene professionals, and critical health data can take up to three weeks to be available for decision making. Area monitoring is generally lower in cost, but area data is only considered valid within the immediate vicinity of the monitor. This dissertation lays the groundwork for estimating airborne contamination concentrations across a portion of an underground mining environment using statistical methods. Although area monitoring data are not directly admissible for use as personal monitoring data, there necessarily exists some relationship between observed concentration in one part of an underground mine's ventilation system to any other part of the underground mine's ventilation system. Local airborne contamination concentrations can be estimated based on knowledge of other local concentrations. The work required to make this estimation possible can be split into a few main topics: data interpolation and estimation methods, the statistical relationships between different locations in a ventilation system, and the optimal placement of air quality monitors underground. Ultimately, this culminates in a statistical means for estimating airborne contamination distributions that is transferable to any major airborne contaminant that can be readily monitored underground. By using a statistical means, the resulting method remains transferable from contaminant-to-contaminant and mine-to-mine without the need to retrain a machine learning model