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The Morgue The Merrier? Covid19-Related Threat, Existential Isolation, & Well Being, Lauren P. Sedivy Dec 2022

The Morgue The Merrier? Covid19-Related Threat, Existential Isolation, & Well Being, Lauren P. Sedivy

ETD Archive

Prior research suggests that COVID-19 perceived threat and existential isolation (EI) would be associated with an individual’s subjective health, levels of anxiety, and feelings of hope relating specifically to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was unclear whether such concerns might be unique predictors (no interaction, two cumulative main effects) or interact (one effect modifies the other). To learn more about the possible combined effects, I analyzed data gathered via MTurk, during an 11-week period at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (March-June 2020). Method: This study (N = 2,673) measured perceived COVID19-related threat, EI, anxiety, subjective health, and hope. Results: …


The Parent's Journey Into The World Of Cochlear Implants, Faatin Bryant May 2022

The Parent's Journey Into The World Of Cochlear Implants, Faatin Bryant

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The present study investigated the similarities and differences in the lived experiences of parents who made the decision to have their child implanted with a cochlear device. The aim of this study was also to explore the parents’ views of the success of the cochlear implant (CI) device as it relates to language and academic development. Four parents shared their experiences through the process of obtaining a cochlear implant for their children and their lived experience with the cochlear implant device from the surgery to the present time. Three of the interviewed parents discussed their experiences with one child who …


What Are The Opinions And Experiences Of Transgender, Nonbinary, And Gender Nonconforming Individuals Regarding Gender Affirming Voice Therapy (Gavt)?, Alyssa Waggoner May 2022

What Are The Opinions And Experiences Of Transgender, Nonbinary, And Gender Nonconforming Individuals Regarding Gender Affirming Voice Therapy (Gavt)?, Alyssa Waggoner

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The purpose of this study was to gather first-hand opinions and experiences regarding GAVT from transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming individuals. This study provides information on how well-known GAVT is, why someone may attend GAVT or why not, the ideal environment in which someone may want to receive GAVT, and the ideal characteristics of the SLP providing GAVT services. A structured, online survey was used as the method of data collection. This survey (N=36) included 24 questions and contained both multiple choice and open-ended questions. This study included adults who reside in the United States and identify as transgender, nonbinary, …


Colleges’ And Universities’ Referral Of Student Veterans With Acquired Brain Injury For Speech-Language Services, Morgan M. Rittenberger May 2022

Colleges’ And Universities’ Referral Of Student Veterans With Acquired Brain Injury For Speech-Language Services, Morgan M. Rittenberger

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The purpose of this study was to identify whether public and private colleges or universities across the United States have procedures to assist student veterans who are facing academic challenges secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI) or acquired brain injury (ABI). This study aimed to identify whether personnel in college and university veterans services offices, offices of disability services, academic success offices, tutoring centers, or other offices that support student veterans academically are aware of the role of speech-language pathologists in providing treatment to manage the effects of TBI/ABI on academic performance, along with the locations for speech-language pathology services …


Do Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (Gerd) Exhibit Vocal Fold Deficits Manifested In Physical Or Acoustical Abnormalities?, Emily L. Mingus May 2022

Do Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (Gerd) Exhibit Vocal Fold Deficits Manifested In Physical Or Acoustical Abnormalities?, Emily L. Mingus

ETD Archive

GERD is an esophageal disease that has both esophageal and extra-esophageal symptoms. Due to the acidic nature of GERD, there appears to be a disruption in the function of the tissues surrounding the area of the vocal folds. This study investigated the influence of GERD as it relates to voice and swallowing. Data were previously collected on twelve individuals, six with a medical diagnosis of GERD and six with no medical diagnosis of GERD, and analyzed. This included descriptive analysis of data points from a Visi-Pitch, Videostroboscopy, and Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of the Swallow (FFES). The objective measurements from the …


The Nature Of Word Errors And Response Time In Individuals With Aphasia, Alexandra M. Georges Apr 2022

The Nature Of Word Errors And Response Time In Individuals With Aphasia, Alexandra M. Georges

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Anomia is a relevant language deficit secondary to aphasia that is treated in the speech-language pathologist profession. Most aphasia diagnoses utilize aspects of confrontational naming tasks during speech therapy or testing. This study investigated the nature of word errors and the response time (RT) in persons with aphasia (PWA). Six individuals, three with nonfluent and three with fluent aphasia were asked to name objects in four common categories (occupational tools, everyday objects, food, and clothing) presented under two conditions (1) picture objects on a computer screen and (2) real physical objects. To measure RT and word error, participants were instructed …


Validity Of Various Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Devices Vs The Bod Pod For Body Composition, Alivia Blakley Jan 2019

Validity Of Various Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Devices Vs The Bod Pod For Body Composition, Alivia Blakley

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of various BIA devices compared to a criterion, the Bod Pod. It was hypothesized that (1) there would be no significant difference in the various BIA devices (Seca, Inbody, Tanita, Omron) as compared to the Bod Pod, for validity and reliability, (2) there would be no significant difference in total body water as measured by the Seca and Tanita, and (3) there would be significant differences in weight as measured by four of the five devices (Bod Pod, Seca, Tanita, Inbody). Methods: Forty participants, ages 18-31 years, 20 female …


Voice Disorders Secondary To Thyroidectomy: A Case Study, Samantha D'Agostino Jan 2019

Voice Disorders Secondary To Thyroidectomy: A Case Study, Samantha D'Agostino

ETD Archive

The thyroid is an important gland that aids in development. Located anteriorly at the base of the neck, the thyroid produces hormones that regulate metabolism. Thyroid dysfunction can lead to excess or reduced production of hormones known as hyper and hypothyroidism. Usually affecting women, hyper and hypothyroidism can be life-threatening. A well-known treatment is a thyroidectomy, or removal of the thyroid gland. Many people report vocal change secondary to thyroidectomy. Dysfunction can result from intubation during surgery or damage to laryngeal nerves and/or muscles. A participant’s low intensity and difficulty with projection prompted a case-study to examine the laryngeal area …


The Effect Of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems On The Vocal Folds, Hilary Gayle Sample Jan 2019

The Effect Of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems On The Vocal Folds, Hilary Gayle Sample

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Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) are non-combustible tobacco products that are rapidly gaining in popularity worldwide. ENDS are marketed as safer alternatives to cigarettes; however, very little research is available to support or deny these claims. ENDS aerosol is inhaled over the vocal folds and into the lungs consistent with cigarette smoke. The larynx is among the primary locations affected by smoking; therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the effect, if any, of ENDS on the larynx. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the laryngeal appearance and function of seven ENDS users as compared to four cigarette …


Usability Engineering Of A Privacy-Aware Compliance Tracking System, Parameswara Reddy Annapureddy Jan 2019

Usability Engineering Of A Privacy-Aware Compliance Tracking System, Parameswara Reddy Annapureddy

ETD Archive

Software is useful when it is able to provide useful information to the end user with minimum effort. This thesis is about usability improvements to a privacy-aware human motion tracking system for healthcare professionals. The original system has a number of usability issues: (1) Users need to wear a smartwatch, which will be used to connect to the system; (2) Data are stored in XML, comma-separated-value format which is very difficult to analyze; (3) Data are available only at the local computer and there is no easy way to access them remotely via a Web or mobile interface; (4) Analysis …


Development Of Esi-Lc-Ms Method For Drug Analysis, Kimberly Yacoub Jan 2018

Development Of Esi-Lc-Ms Method For Drug Analysis, Kimberly Yacoub

ETD Archive

Brain cancer, particularly astrocytomas, is one of the ten most common related deaths related to cancer. Temozolomide (TMZ), an oral alkylating chemotherapy drug, is used to treat anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. A few advantages of TMZ are its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, its small size, and it is rapidly absorbed in the small intestine. Since this drug is advantageous to brain cancer patients, it is important to study the extraction of this drug. In addition, it is important to study administering this drug via microdialysis as the efficiency of the drug could increase. In mice brain tumor …


The Moderating Role Of Emotion Regulation In The Relationship Between Stress And Inflammatory Bowel Disease Severity Among Diagnosed Individuals, Sarah M. Ghose Jan 2018

The Moderating Role Of Emotion Regulation In The Relationship Between Stress And Inflammatory Bowel Disease Severity Among Diagnosed Individuals, Sarah M. Ghose

ETD Archive

This study examined whether both perceived and objectively rated chronic stress are contributing external factors to altered Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) disease severity among diagnosed individuals. This study further examined whether emotion regulation (ER) acts as an ameliorative factor within this relationship. Of additional interest to this investigation was whether objectively rated stress (acquired via the UCLA Life Stress Interview) provided a unique contribution to this relationship. Recent investigations suggest that higher levels of perceived stress may result in increased IBD severity. Further, ER deficits may be associated with increased IBD disease activity in response to both chronic and perceived …


Investigating The Electrophysiology Of Long-Term Priming In Spoken Word Recognition, Erin K. Bell Jan 2018

Investigating The Electrophysiology Of Long-Term Priming In Spoken Word Recognition, Erin K. Bell

ETD Archive

When participants are listening to the same words spoken by different talkers, two types of priming are possible: repetition priming and talker-specific priming. Repetition priming refers to the exposure of a stimulus improving responses to a subsequent exposure. Talker-specific priming refers to the exposure of words spoken by same talkers improving responses relative to those same words spoken by different talkers. There are conflicting theories regarding whether talker-specific priming should be observed. Abstract representational theories suggest that episodic details (e.g., talker identity) are not stored in the mental lexicon, while episodic theories of the lexicon posit that lexical representations include …


The Impact Of Traumatic Symptomology And Social Support On The Effective Management Of Death Anxiety, Emily Pauline Courtney Jan 2018

The Impact Of Traumatic Symptomology And Social Support On The Effective Management Of Death Anxiety, Emily Pauline Courtney

ETD Archive

Terror management theory (TMT) posits that people function effectively in the world, in part, by relying on social anxiety-buffer systems to protect against death awareness; however, a new extension called anxiety buffer disruption theory (ABDT), posits that traumatic experiences can overwhelm those buffers, leaving people vulnerable to death anxiety and at increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. To test these hypotheses, participants with low and high posttraumatic stress symptoms were identified and recruited using a general population pre-screen, prompted to engage in a relationship threat priming task (vs. control topic), and then asked to complete a standard measure …


Normative Data For The Poreh Naming Test, Grace Ozinga Jan 2018

Normative Data For The Poreh Naming Test, Grace Ozinga

ETD Archive

The present study describes the development of a novel confrontational naming test for the assessment of word finding and language abilities, and also serves as a tool for the assessment of effort. The test is comprised of two portions. The first portion consists of 40 colored drawings of day to day objects and is aimed at assessing verbal abilities, particularly word finding deficits. The second portion also involves the presentation of 40 colored drawings, each drawing comprised of the original object that was previously presented and two distractors, objects that were not previously presented. The present study aims to evaluate …


An Exploration Of Factors That Contribute To The High Attrition Rate Of African American Nursing Students, Shanell Hill Jan 2018

An Exploration Of Factors That Contribute To The High Attrition Rate Of African American Nursing Students, Shanell Hill

ETD Archive

Although African Americans represent the largest minority group, studies show they have the lowest success rates in nursing programs. According to the AACN (2013), “African American nursing students have the lowest graduation rate when compared to other minority groups.” The lack of minorities providing care negatively effects healthcare outcomes and accessibility. In order to increase the number of practicing African Americans nurses, it is essential to gain an understanding of the circumstances that lead to successes and failures. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological research study is to provide insight into the positive and negative experiences of African American nursing …


Drughelp.Care – A Web Application For The Discovery Of Drug Addiction Treatment Facilities, Sachin Hiriyanna Jan 2018

Drughelp.Care – A Web Application For The Discovery Of Drug Addiction Treatment Facilities, Sachin Hiriyanna

ETD Archive

One of the current and biggest problems in the system of emergency care for the drug overdose epidemic, is the failure of information delivery on nearby treatment facilities. Even though some initiatives on the internet tried to solve this issue, they either failed in delivering the information or in providing ease of usability. This thesis research aims to develop a web application which, 1. Delivers a highly accurate, easy-to-understand and targeted information in a timely manner for drug abusers and their well-wishers. 2. Provides an eco-system for the treatment facilities with an easy-to-use backend to constantly update their complex information …


An Examination Of The Relationships Between Attributional Style, Reappraisal, And Depression Risk In Arab Americans, Khadeja Najjar Jan 2018

An Examination Of The Relationships Between Attributional Style, Reappraisal, And Depression Risk In Arab Americans, Khadeja Najjar

ETD Archive

While depression is a cross-cultural phenomenon, much of the literature that examines risk factors and mechanisms for its occurrence is examined from a Western perspective. As cultural background and level of acculturation to the host culture is known to shape the expression of depressive disorders, as well as their risk factors, this study examined whether cultural factors influence the relationship between two cognitive emotion regulation processes and depression symptoms. Specifically, this study examined whether the relationship between internal, stable, and global causal attributions for negative events (negative attributional style) and depression is mediated by one’s tendency to reframe the meaning …


The Usefulness Of The Poreh Nonverbal Memory Test For The Assessment Of Response Bias, Marina Barboza Jan 2018

The Usefulness Of The Poreh Nonverbal Memory Test For The Assessment Of Response Bias, Marina Barboza

ETD Archive

In the field of neuropsychology, there is a need for reliable measures that assess for both memory and effort (response bias). A sample of college students were instructed to feign memory deficits. They were administered two well established measures of response bias, the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) and the Reliable Digits Span (RDS), as well as the Poreh Nonverbal Memory Test (PNMT). The study shows that all of the three measures were able to identify students who were coached to demonstrate memory deficits. A more detailed analysis showed that the TOMM and the PNMT produced higher sensitivity and specificity …


Oxidation Of Ferrocene Derivatives With Dibenzoyl Peroxide And Meta-Chloroperoxybenzoic Acid, Jos M. Halstead Jan 2018

Oxidation Of Ferrocene Derivatives With Dibenzoyl Peroxide And Meta-Chloroperoxybenzoic Acid, Jos M. Halstead

ETD Archive

The chemical oxidation of ferrocene and related derivatives (RFc) via organic peroxides solvated in acetonitrile was studied spectrophotometrically by varying concentration and temperature to determine kinetics and activation parameters. The reaction rate of ferrocene with dibenzoyl peroxide depends strongly on whether electron withdrawing or donating substituents are present. Products were analyzed and the effect of different solvents on reactivity were studied. The rate law was first order in both oxidant and reductant, and steric and solvent effects are consistent with outer sphere electron transfer (ET) as the rate-controlling step. B3YLP calculations were conducted to determine reorganization energies using Marcus theory …


Do Bilingual Speakers Shift Fundamental Frequency Based On Language Acquisition Or Language Dominance?, Nydia Abigail Mendez Jan 2017

Do Bilingual Speakers Shift Fundamental Frequency Based On Language Acquisition Or Language Dominance?, Nydia Abigail Mendez

ETD Archive

As Spanish-English bilingual speakers continue becoming a growing part of the population in the United States it is essential to investigate their acoustic measures. The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible shift in fundamental frequency (F0) measures in bilingual speakers, and it sought to determine whether that shift was based on language acquisition or language dominance. Eleven Spanish-English bilinguals were asked to complete the following tasks 1) answer the Language Experience and Proficiency Questionnaire (LEAP-Q) 2) complete 3 Spanish and 3 English category fluency trials by naming words belonging to a category (e.g. animals), each one minute …


Patterns Of Vocal Fold Closure In Professional Singers, Carie L. Vokar Jan 2017

Patterns Of Vocal Fold Closure In Professional Singers, Carie L. Vokar

ETD Archive

The present study aimed to investigate differences in vocal fold (VF) closure patterns in singers of varying genres with use of videostroboscopy. Three participants were selected to be in groups of different singing genres including classical, musical theatre, and pop/rock. A control group of non-singers were also included. Vocal tasks were assessed through acoustic, subjective, and stroboscopic analysis.

Significant differences were observed between the classical group of singers and the pop/rock group. The VF closure patterns were relatively normal for the classical singers in comparison to the abnormal patterns in pop/rock singers. The musical theatre group had both normal and …


Determination Of Novel Metabolites Of Therapeutic Agents Used In The Treatment Of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer, Mohammad Alyamani Jan 2017

Determination Of Novel Metabolites Of Therapeutic Agents Used In The Treatment Of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer, Mohammad Alyamani

ETD Archive

Despite an array of improved treatment options over the past decade, prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer mortality for men in the United States. Abiraterone and galeterone are oral steroidal compounds that are used to treat metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Abiraterone blocks 17a-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (CYP17A1), an enzyme required for androgen synthesis. Galeteron inhibits CYP17A1, blocks the androgen receptor (AR), and decreases AR protein levels. Both drugs share the same structure with endogenous androgens such as dehydroepiandrosterone, which are substrates for the enzyme, 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ßHSD). Metabolites of 3ßHSD undergo further metabolism to produce the AR ligand, testosterone …


Therapeutic Potential Of Rhtrail For Malignant Melanoma, Katherine Ann Turner Jan 2017

Therapeutic Potential Of Rhtrail For Malignant Melanoma, Katherine Ann Turner

ETD Archive

The application of recombinant human Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (rhTRAIL) for the treatment of cancer holds great promise due to its ability to selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells while not harming normal healthy cells. This is evident by the robust levels of apoptosis induced in malignant melanoma cells while no event of apoptosis was observed in the non-transformed counterpart of melanomas, melanocytes. However, the clinical utility of rhTRAIL is limited due to the heterogeneity seen in rhTRAIL-sensitivity among cancers. rhTRAIL-resistance is especially prevalent in cases of malignant melanoma. Melanoma rhTRAIL-resistance can be attributed to a number of different …


Title Examination Of Somatic Symptomatology Using The Cleveland Adaptive Personality Inventory And The Dimensional Somatic Questionnaire, Elizabeth Kisela Jan 2017

Title Examination Of Somatic Symptomatology Using The Cleveland Adaptive Personality Inventory And The Dimensional Somatic Questionnaire, Elizabeth Kisela

ETD Archive

This study was designed to assess the reliability and validity of the Cleveland Adaptive Personality Inventory (CAPI) and the Dimensional Somatic Questionnaire (DSQ) on the chronic pain population, depression population, and healthy control population. A total of 178 chronic pain participants, 208 depression participants, and 220 healthy control participants were collected, though not all were used for analysis due to missing data. Each participant was administered an online version of the CAPI with the Dimensional Somatic Questionnaire. Both questionnaires were significantly shortened during or prior to analysis. The questionnaires were shortened to make them more practical for use in the …


He Repercussions Of Childhood Trauma On Posttraumatic Stress: The Mediating Effects Of Dissociation And Emotion Dysregulation, Jessica A. Ward Jan 2017

He Repercussions Of Childhood Trauma On Posttraumatic Stress: The Mediating Effects Of Dissociation And Emotion Dysregulation, Jessica A. Ward

ETD Archive

The present study explored the mediating effects of dissociation and emotion dysregulation on the relationship between different types of childhood trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Participants were 181 undergraduate students at Cleveland State University, who competed measures of childhood trauma (emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and general trauma), posttraumatic stress symptoms, dissociation, and emotion dysregulation. Multiple mediation analyses were conducted to examine the model proposed in this study. The results of this study revealed that all trauma types significantly predicted adulthood posttraumatic stress. The relationship between emotional abuse and posttraumatic stress was mediated through both dissociation and emotion …


How The Illness Experience Predicts Key Psychosocial Outcomes In Veterans With Brain Injury, Carmen M. Tyler Jan 2017

How The Illness Experience Predicts Key Psychosocial Outcomes In Veterans With Brain Injury, Carmen M. Tyler

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The object of this thesis was to examine the illness experience of veterans who have suffered either a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Predictors of key psychosocial outcomes were identified by looking at the illness experience through the veterans’ perspective via self-report measures. Results confirmed relationships between the stressors role captivity, low self-esteem, decreased socialization, and dyad relationship strain and the outcome of depression and between the stressors physical strain and emotional strain and the outcome social/recreational participation for this population. More importantly, role captivity, social/recreational strain, and self-esteem uniquely predicted depression, and both physical and emotional strain uniquely predicted …


Construct Validity For The Poreh Nonverbal Memory Test On Participants With Right, Left, And Bilateral Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Sarah E. Tolfo Jan 2017

Construct Validity For The Poreh Nonverbal Memory Test On Participants With Right, Left, And Bilateral Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Sarah E. Tolfo

ETD Archive

The present study examined the construct validity of a novel nonverbal memory measure, the Poreh Nonverbal Memory Test (PNMT), using a heterogeneous sample of patients with epilepsy. Results from this study shows that the PNMT differentially correlated with existing memory measures. Namely, the PNMT delay scores significantly correlated with ROCF delay scores, and RAVLT delay and ROCF delay scores were significantly correlated with each other. However, the PNMT did not significantly correlate with RAVLT, which was hypothesized. PNMT and RAVLT learning trials produced logarithmic learning curves that indicate both are good measures of learning. When controlling for gender, education, and …


Decline Of Nonverbal Executive Functions Across The Lifespan – Distinguishing Between Outcome And Process, Anna Krivenko Jan 2017

Decline Of Nonverbal Executive Functions Across The Lifespan – Distinguishing Between Outcome And Process, Anna Krivenko

ETD Archive

Numerous studies have attempted to validate nonverbal fluency tests but none have examined construct validity, particularly the correlation of measures and self-reported executive functioning deficits. The current study examined this issue by correlating the results of the Five-Point Test (5PT) and the Delis Kaplan Executive Functioning System (D-KEFS) Design Fluency Test with the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale – Short Form (BDEFS-SF) in 306 English speaking adults. Participants were volunteers from undergraduate classes and those serving jury duty in a large urban city. The mean age was 36.89 ± 18.08 with an average of 14.65 ± 2.85 years of …


Testing The Impact Of Post-Traumatic Stress On Existential Motivation For Ideological Close- And Open-Mindedness, Lauren M. Kahle Jan 2017

Testing The Impact Of Post-Traumatic Stress On Existential Motivation For Ideological Close- And Open-Mindedness, Lauren M. Kahle

ETD Archive

The present thesis builds on terror management theory and anxiety buffer disruption theory to propose that although existential motivation normally leads people to become more certain of their worldviews, traumatic experiences can disrupt those belief systems and cause people to respond to death-awareness by making an open-minded search for alternative belief systems instead. To test that hypothesis, groups of participants with low and high levels of traumatic stress were reminded of death (vs. a control topic condition), followed by an assessment of closed- and open-mindedness. Thus, the present research explored the previously untested hypothesis that increased awareness of mortality will …