Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Relationship Between Narrative Informativeness And Psychosocial Outcomes In Chronic Stroke-Induced Aphasia, Eileen Armes, Jessica Richardson, Rick Arenas, Lori Nelson

Speech and Hearing Sciences ETDs

Currently there is a gap in the literature in understanding the relationship between the newly categorized primary outcome measure of discourse and secondary outcomes related to psychosocial impact, such as participation, psychological impact, social well-being, or mood. In a large sample of persons with stroke-induced aphasia (N=115), this study analyzed discourse samples using main concept analysis to determine how discourse performance correlates with the secondary outcome measures ALA, CCRSA, GDS, and CIQ. As a secondary research question, the differences in these relationships dependent on severity was also explored. Results showed statistically significant positive correlations between main concepts (MCs) and ALA …

Mexican Americans' Perspectives On "Borderline Diabetes" In Amarillo, Texas, Priscella Pena-Correa

Nursing ETDs

The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of and experiences living with “borderline diabetes” among Mexican American adults residing in or around Amarillo, Texas. Sixteen Mexican Americans who self-identified as having “borderline diabetes” participated. Research questions focused on how participants understood the condition, self-care practices, and recommendations for improving prediabetes healthcare and education. An interpretive description approach was used to analyze data from phone interviews. Principal findings revolved around issues of disclosure vs. secrecy, information seeking, and challenges or “struggle” to change lifestyle, particularly diet. Self-care was managed in a relational way with support of family, friends, …

Role Of The Acid Sensing Ion Channel 1a In The Systemic Circulation, Selina M. Garcia

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is a non-selective cation channel that is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells. However, little is known about the contribution of ASIC1a to vascular reactivity and cardiovascular homeostasis. We have previously shown that ASIC1a contributes to pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) Ca²⁺ entry and vasoconstriction as well as chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. However, a role of ASIC1a in the systemic circulation is unclear. Previous reports have shown that ASIC1a is expressed in femoral and cerebral arteries, however, these studies suggest that ASIC1a contributes to vascular reactivity through neuronal regulation rather than vascular. Therefore, …

The Effects Of Glycosylation On Immunogenicity And Replication Of Emerging Viral Pathogens, Elizabeth C. Clarke

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

For filoviruses, a family of hemorrhagic fever viruses, the main antigen for vaccines in development is the glycosylated glycoprotein GP1,2. How the glycosylation of GP1,2 differs when the protein is produced in different cell lines is unclear. We showed significant differences in the types of glycans conferred onto filovirus GP1,2s in produced in mammalian-origin and insect-origin cell lines. Mammalian-derived filovirus GP1,2s have diverse N-linked glycans and extensive O-linked glycans, whereas insect-derived filovirus GP1,2s have N-linked glycans that are primarily paucimannose type and have no observable O-linked glycans. We then showed that differences in glycosylation impacted how immunogenic the proteins were …

Bystanders’ Perspectives On The Provision Of Informal, Hospital-Based Care To Bedridden Patients With Cancer In Sri Lanka, B. Sunil S. De Silva

Nursing ETDs

Due to the nursing shortage in Sri Lanka, patients need informal caregivers, known as bystanders, to help provide patient care. This study described bystanders’ perspectives on informal, hospital-based care to bedridden patients with cancer in Sri Lanka. In this qualitative descriptive study, 17 bystanders at Apeksa/Cancer Hospital, Sri Lanka, were recruited using snowballing sampling. Data were collected through telephone interviews and analyzed using content and thematic analyses. Findings showed that paid and unpaid bystanders cover all caregiving tasks with minimum interaction with nurses. Unpaid bystanders described the need for same-sex bystanders and additional help with patients’ mobilization and specialized care. …

Oral Health Literacy Status Of School Staff Members In Southern Minnesota, Gabrielle Sullivan

Dental Hygiene ETDs

Purpose:

This study evaluated the oral health literacy OHL of school staff in Southern Minnesota. OHL is the degree to which individuals can understand health information. Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in school aged children, and school staff members spend a large portion of the day with children. Therefore, it is important for all school staff members to have a moderate or higher OHL status.

Methods:

The survey used a convenience sample of school staff in 3 different schools in southern Minnesota and used the REALD-30 OHL instrument with slight modification, to simplify data collection.

Results:

Fifty …

Social Network Centrality, Social Construction Of Knowledge, And Nurse Practitioner Competency In Asynchronous Online Discussions Among Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Students, Sharon Schaaf

Organization, Information and Learning Sciences ETDs

The relationships between social network centrality, social construction of knowledge, and nurse practitioner competency among adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner students participating in asynchronous online discussions were explored. Social network centralities (betweenness, in-degree, out-degree, closeness, and eigenvector) were determined through social network analysis. Social construction of knowledge was assessed by the Interaction Analysis Model (IAM). Nurse practitioner competency was evaluated using the Novice to Expert model. A retrospective exploration of an online discussion board from the College of Nursing at the University of New Mexico was conducted. The centralities of betweenness, closeness, and eigenvector demonstrated a significant relationship with …

The Role Of Hud In Alternative Splicing And Alternative Polyadenylation In The Brain, Rebecca M. Sena

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

RNA binding proteins (RBPs) regulate several processes in the cell, including alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation. Hu proteins, a class of ELAV-like RBPs, are crucial for proper development and maintenance of the nervous system. Several Hu proteins, including HuD, have been shown to regulate alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation of neuronal transcripts. However, previous studies have relied on molecular techniques to analyze individual transcripts, which do not provide a global overview of the transcriptome. The purpose of this study was to develop a bioinformatics pipeline to analyze splicing and polyadenylation using RNA-sequencing data. Once the pipeline was developed, it was …

Standardizing Assessment And Management Of Ankyloglossia, Marcia Nicole Cowen

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Ankyloglossia, which is characterized by a short, tight or thick lingual frenulum, can negatively impact breastfeeding. It has been recognized as a problem for centuries. Frenotomies have traditionally been performed to remove the lingual frenulum when indicated. The use of frenotomies and a focus on ankyloglossia fell out of favor in the twentieth century with renewed attention in the past several decades. Limited high-quality studies have been undertaken on ankyloglossia. There remains no standardized diagnosis or management recommendations. In efforts to promote a standardized approach that is based on current knowledge, this study will involve an educational in-service on ankyloglossia, …

Developing A Virus-Like Particle (Vlp)-Based Vaccine For Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, Ashvini Vaidya

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) is a sexually transmitted bacterium that infects human reproductive mucosal surfaces. Due to the risk of complications in untreated cases and evolving antibiotic resistance, a prophylactic vaccine is critical for preventing infection. There are four Ng outer-membrane proteins that contribute to Ng survival and resistance: PorB, BamA, TbpA, and MtrE. Each protein contains surface-exposed loops that are targets of bactericidal antibodies. Vaccines were developed by displaying Ng epitopes on the surface of bacteriophage virus-like particles (VLP). VLPs are immunogenic, multivalent, self-assembling complexes composed of viral structural proteins. Antigenic peptide sequences can be displayed on the surface …

"A Comparison Of Variable Selection Methods Using Bootstrap Samples From Environmental Metal Mixture Data", Paul-Yvann Djamen

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

In this thesis, I studied a newly developed variable selection method SODA, and three customarily used variable selection methods: LASSO, Elastic net, and Random forest for environmental mixture data. The motivating datasets have neuro-developmental status as responses and metal measurements and demographic variables as covariates. The challenges for variable selections include (1) many measured metal concentrations are highly correlated, (2) there are many possible ways of modeling interactions among the metals, (3) the relationships between the outcomes and explanatory variables are possibly nonlinear, (4) the signal to noise ratio in the real data may be low. To compare these methods …

Speech Characteristics Of Professional Fighters, Sofiya Krasilshchikova, Amy Neel Ph.D., Jessica Dawn Richardson Ph.D., Rick Arenas Ph.D., Lauren Bennett Ph.D., Sarah Banks Ph.D., Charles Bernick Ph.D.

Speech and Hearing Sciences ETDs

The aims of this project were to accurately measure and describe speech characteristics of professional fighters; and to analyze the future potential of using speech characteristics as biomarkers for acquired neurogenic decline or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The Professional Fighters Brain Health Study (PFBHS) is a longitudinal project investigating the effect of repeated head trauma in professional combatants. The PFBHS provided recorded speech samples for this project. This study measured accurate speech characteristics of 102 professional boxers and mixed martial artists and compared these results to a group of 27 age-matched healthy controls. Analysis revealed a significant difference in articulation …

The Impact Of Temporal Resolution On Clinical Decision-Making For Individuals With Dysphagia, Shauna Corinne Murray

Speech and Hearing Sciences ETDs

INTRODUCTION: Dysphagia, or a disordered swallow, affects up to 1 in 25 individuals in the United States. The gold standard for assessing dysphagia is the videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing (VFES). This allows the clinician to observe the swallow anatomy in motion via an X-ray movie, which historically was recorded at 30 frames per second. In recent years VFES have been performed at less frames per second due to radiation concern. This project investigates the effect of using lower temporal resolutions on assessment of video-fluoroscopic swallow studies.

METHODS: In this investigation, 30 swallow studies, all acquired at 30 frames per second, …

Suicide, Heroin Use And Protective Resiliency Factors Amongst Transgender Adolescents In New Mexico, Richard Gadomski

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Transgender people experience significant mental health inequities. The goal of this study was to evaluate disparities related to suicide attempt in the past 12 months and ever heroin use in cisgender versus transgender adolescents, and identify specific resiliency factors associated with a decrease in the prevalence of suicide attempt and heroin use in transgender adolescents. This study is a cross-sectional, secondary analysis of the 2017 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey among high school students. The odds of suicide attempt were 5.5-fold greater, and the odds of lifetime heroin use were nearly 14-fold greater, for transgender compared to cisgender …

Virus-Like Particle-Based Vaccines Induce Antibody-Mediated Neutralization Of Staphylococcus Aureus Virulence, Jason Alexander Joyner

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogenic bacterium that inflicts a large amount of human suffering using an arsenal of virulence factors to cause minor to life-threatening infections. Both the accessory gene regulator (agr) operon, a virulence regulatory pathway that controls expression of over 200 virulence factors, and alpha-hemolysin (Hla), a key pore-forming toxin, play a significant role in infection severity. Given the clinical trial failures of S. aureus vaccine candidates and the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains, novel and effective treatment options are urgently needed. Chapter 2 describes a novel virus-like particle (VLP) -based vaccine inducing agr-I-inhibiting antibodies …

Sexual Dimorphism In Host Innate Response To Staphylococcus Aureus: Mechanisms Driving Sex Differences In Immune Cell Function And Host-Directed Interventions, Srijana Pokhrel

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

With the emerging antibiotic resistance, Staphylococcus aureus, primary causative agent of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) as well as other life-threatening conditions has become a global health concern. While factors contributing to host defense against S. aureus SSTIs has been well studied, impact of sex as a variable has not been reported. In Chapter 2, we uncover the sex-specific differences in host response to S. aureus SSTIs and the contribution of female sex hormone, estrogen (E2) in providing protection in females. In Chapter 3, we identify mechanisms of innate differences in neutrophils bactericidal efficacy between sexes and in …

A Phenomenological Investigation Of The Contextual Variability And Anticipation Of Stuttering, Amanda D. Ortiz-Alvarez

Speech and Hearing Sciences ETDs

Stuttering is a neurologically based speech impairment often defined by listener-oriented parameters (i.e., its overt characteristics). These fail to encompass contextual variability and anticipation, two facets of the speaker’s experience which, though frequently encountered by people who stutter (PWS), remain poorly understood and largely under-researched. To better understand the subjective underpinnings of these phenomena, as well as how PWS conceptualize and relate to their stuttering, the present study sought to explore a) the experiences of PWS with the unpredictable and/or variable nature of their stuttering, as well as their beliefs surrounding potential contributors to its variability; b) the experiences of …

Understanding Attitudes Toward Healthcare Reform: The Roles Of Self-Interest, Group Identity And Racial Resentment, Maria Beatrice Livaudais

Political Science ETDs

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) cemented itself as one of the most controversial pieces of legislation of the decade. Public opinion polls find Americans are often evenly split in support of the ACA. This dissertation explores the roles of self-interest, group identity, and racial resentment on attitudes toward the ACA and healthcare reform. The dissertation centers our attention on variation by race and the impact racial tensions beyond the Black-White paradigm on these attitudes. I find group identity shapes attitudes Blacks’ and Latinos’ attitudes toward the ACA but not Whites’ and racial resentment, directed toward Blacks, Latinos …

The Experience Of Being A Parent Of A Child Who Stutters And Subsequent Involvement In Support Groups: A Narrative Study, Katlyn A. Ferguson, Richard Arenas

Speech and Hearing Sciences ETDs

INTRODUCTION: Developmental stuttering generally begins after a period of typical fluency and is highly variable in its presentation and persistence. This variability along with the lack of a definitive cause and social stigma often negatively impact both children who stutter (CWS) and their caregivers. However, research on the specific effects of stuttering on the caregiver is quite sparse compared to research into the caregiver experience in other disorders. Additionally, although social support has been identified as a primary protective factor for other caregivers, little evidence exists to show how support groups benefit caregivers of CWS.

METHOD: Five parents participated in …

An Autoethnography Of A Registered Nurse Living With Chronic Undiagnosed Illness, Frances M. Ricker

Nursing ETDs

Abstract

This autoethnographic study examines a registered nurse’s experience living with chronic undiagnosed illness. The number living with undiagnosed illness is unknown and little is understood about living with chronic undiagnosed illness.

This analytic autoethnography (Anderson, 2006) used multiple data sources: my journal, medical history narrative, and artifacts including my handwork, examples of my father’s handwriting, and family photographs. Narrative analysis, thematic analysis, and visual analysis were conducted.

My experience of living with chronic undiagnosed illness was characterized by three themes that reinforced isolation: not knowing, loss, and hidden secret self. Family context evidenced diverse themes of not being believed, …

An Improved Method For Spectroscopic Quality Classification, Elizabeth G. Mayer

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

Spectral quality classification is a vital step in data cleaning before the

analysis of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data can be done. This

analysis compares five methods of quality classification; three of these are

legacy methods, Maudsley et al. (2006), Zhang et al. (2018), and

Bustillo et al. (2020), and two newly created methods that used a random forests

classifier (RFC) to inform their classifications. We found that the random forest

classifier was the most accurate at predicting spectra quality (balanced

accuracy for RF of 88% vs legacy of 70%, 72%, or 72%). A

Random-Forests-Informed Filtering method (RFIFM) for quality …

Association Between Self-Reported Dyspnea And Depressive Symptoms In New Mexico Uranium Workers, Shiva Sharma

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

BACKGROUND: Uranium workers risk experiencing dyspnea, a lung disease symptom. Previous studies found associations between dyspnea and depressive symptoms in lung disease, but this requires further study in occupational cohorts.

METHODS: This study evaluated the association between dyspnea and depressive symptoms in former uranium workers screened by New Mexico Radiation Exposure Screening & Education Program. Dyspnea and depressive symptoms were evaluated through questionnaires, Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale and a modified Patient Health Questionnaire-2, respectively. Logistic regression models were applied to cross-sectional analyses. Generalized linear models were applied to longitudinal analyses.

RESULTS: Cross-sectional analyses demonstrated higher dyspnea scores were …

Exosomal Secretion Of A Psychosis-Altered Microrna Regulates Glutamate Receptor Expression; Effects Of Antipsychotics And Maternal Immune Activation, Stephen Amoah

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

MicroRNAs are a subcategory of evolutionarily conserved small non-coding RNAs that are altered in psychiatric conditions. The ability of small secretory microvesicles known as exosomes to influence neuronal and glial function via their microRNA (miRNA) cargo has positioned them as a novel and effective method of cell-to-cell communication. Inflammation, which is evident in schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD), and antipsychotics usage may alter miRNA expression in the brain. However, little is known about the role of exosome-secreted miRNAs in the regulation of neuronal gene expression and their relevance for SCZ and BD. Here, we used miRNA profiling and qRT-PCR …

Screening And Characterization Of A Pan-Gtpase Inhibitor, Leyla Akhadov

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Abnormal functioning of small GTPases is implicated in a variety of diseases, ranging from neurological and developmental diseases to cancer. In fact, mutant GTPases are found in up to 30% of cancers. Thus, small GTPases are a highly relevant target in drug discovery and development. High-throughput targeted screening of small molecules is the most productive method of discovering compounds that can give insights into drug development. This thesis describes improvements made to a high-throughput GTPase-targeted screening method to minimize confounding systematic error. It also describes the follow-up characterization of a compound that was identified in a high-throughput screen. The compound …

Translating Touches: New Approaches For Modeling And Rescuing Executive Function Deficits After Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, Johnny A. Kenton

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Background: With a recent meta-analysis indicating that 9.8% of women worldwide consume alcohol during pregnancy, understanding the effects of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is critical for both identifying and treating those afflicted. Traditional preclinical research investigating the behavioral effects of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as FASD, has utilized tasks designed for specific animal models. For this reason, preclinical research into FASD requires a shift into clinically relevant behavioral testing. One such method involves touch-sensitive screens integrated into an operant box to emulate clinical computer-based tasks, such as the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery.

Methods: Here, we utilized a mouse model …

An Evaluation Of Dental Hygiene Education Of Chemotherapeutic Rinses: A Survey, Marissa Terese Aragoon

Dental Hygiene ETDs

The purpose of this study was to learn which oral chemotherapeutic rinses dental hygiene educators cover within dental hygiene curriculum. A survey was created to include dental hygiene educators responsible for oral chemotherapeutic curriculum within dental hygiene programs. Participants were asked which oral chemotherapeutic agents they included within their curriculum, their knowledge regarding several oral chemotherapeutic agents and evidence based/ non evidence based oral chemotherapeutic agents. The survey was sent to 375 dental hygiene directors and 77 (20.5%) participated in the survey study. Upon survey completion, findings suggested that the majority of dental hygiene educators teach students how to determine …

Factors Which Influence The Education Of Local Anesthesia In Dental Hygiene, Angela D. Cook, Angela D. Cook

Dental Hygiene ETDs

ABSTRACT Dental hygienists, like most students, learn according to formal curriculum that is defined by goals, competencies, and required subject matter for examinations.¹ They also learn through an intense socialization process known as “the hidden curriculum”. The “hidden curriculum” is not defined in student textbooks nor classroom lectures, but is demonstrated through case studies, research, and an experience shared between colleagues.¹ The purpose of this study was to assess the determining factors that influence what dental hygiene instructors are teaching hygiene students on the use of articaine when administering dental blocks, and to assess if the “hidden curriculum” …

Improving End-Of-Life Care On Navajo Through Education, Johanna G. Bahe

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

End-of-life care (EOLC) is an essential component of comprehensive healthcare and has been shown to improve the quality of life of patients and their families by preventing and relieving pain caused by physical, psychosocial, and spiritual complications. Many rural communities lack access to EOLC, specifically certified palliative and hospice services. The lack of this specialty in rural areas directly affects the experience of healthcare staff. The absence of education for rural healthcare staff and the importance of culturally sensitive care among indigenous people are key concepts in this study.

The purpose of this study was to measure the knowledge, confidence, …

Value-Based Purchasing: Does Educating Direct Care Nurses Result In Value-Based Care?, Ryan Levi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The United States health care system is undergoing the greatest transformation in the country’s history. Health care is rapidly moving away from volume-based reimbursement towards value-based models. The Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP), a Center for Medicare and Medicaid pay-for-performance program, makes Medicare reimbursement contingent on performance in four quality categories. Clinical care, person and community engagement, safety, and efficiency determine an organization’s total performance score (TPS), which is used to impose positive, negative, or neutral payment adjustments. Nursing, more than any other health care profession, impacts hospitals’ TPS and subsequently Medicare reimbursement under VBP. While the literature indicates nurses should …

Zinc Finger Dna Repair Protein Targets Of Arsenite In The Nucleotide Excision Repair Pathway, Juliana M. Huestis

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Environmental arsenic exposure affects around 100 million people worldwide. Recent evidence shows that arsenite, even at low concentrations, may act as a co-carcinogen, by displacing zinc from the zinc finger motifs of certain DNA repair proteins, leaving them vulnerable to redox modification and loss of protein function. This study probes the physical chemistry underlying arsenite and zinc binding to XPA and PARP1, in the hope of illuminating some of the aspects of protein structure that determine susceptibility to arsenite binding. In this study, dissociation constants are determined for zinc and arsenite binding to peptides corresponding to the C4 zinc finger …