In the United States, healthcare-associated infections are a huge source of medical and
economic burden. Annually, there are 1.7 million cases of healthcare-associated infection in
U.S. hospitals, which cause an estimated 98,987 deaths. Direct medical cost is also massive,
estimated…

The body of research contained within this dissertation serves to shed light onto the influence hydrophyte communities exhibit on biogeochemical processes and subsequently on metal mobility within wetland systems. The focus of the first thesis is centered on the role…