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Characterization Of The Metabolic And Cognitive Features Of A Novel Alzheimer’S Disease Rat Model Along With Investigation Of Its Gut Microbiota Change Over Time, Akash Nagarajan

All ETDs from UAB

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is currently the fifth highest cause of death in the United States and affects primarily individuals of very old age (>80 yrs.). Aging is known to be the biggest risk factor of AD. Recent studies have shown that AD patients have an altered gut microbiota composition. To investigate whether the Alzheimer’s disease pathology in the brain could drive gut microbiota changes during the adult and late life stage of the rat, we performed 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing on the fecal samples of the animals at 14 months and 20 months of age. We found a distinctive …

The Relationships Fathers Have With Their Co-Residential Adult Children With Developmental Disabilities: A Qualitative Exploration Of Fatherhood And Masculinity, Kirsten Leigh Ostergren Clark

All ETDs from UAB

This dissertation explored the relationships between fathers and their co-residential adult children who have been diagnosed with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD). This research addressed 1) the ways fathers understand their involvement in the lives of their adult child with developmental disabilities, especially as it relates to their masculinity; 2) how fathers perceive that their experiences fathering their child have impacted their health and health behaviors, including how masculinity plays a part; and 3) what supports fathers stated they have utilized and recommend, along with what challenges and constraints fathers feel they have faced. My analysis of in-depth interviews …

An Investigation Of Endogenous Pain Modulation And Inflammatory Biomarkers In Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain, Demario Overstreet

All ETDs from UAB

ABSTRACT Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is one of the most common disabling conditions in the world, and is one of the leading contributors to medical care seeking in adults. The worldwide prevalence of activity-limiting (acute and chronic) low back pain is about 12%, which equates to approximately 933 million people globally suffering with low back pain at any given time. Despite the prevalence and frequency of medical intervention, sustained pain relief and functional restoration are rarely achieved for those with cLBP. The vast majority of cLBP is “non-specific” with no identifiable pathology of the spine or related tissues. Without …

Inflammation, Executive Function, And Adiposity In Children With Or At Risk For Obesity, Kathryn L. Prendergast

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity is associated with executive function (EF) deficits across the lifespan. Higher body mass index (BMI), greater severity of obesity, and poorer adherence and weight outcomes in obesity treatment have all been associated with EF deficits. Adult literature has begun to emphasize neuroinflammation in obesity as a possible pathway to later cognitive impairment. However, the pediatric obesity literature has yet to even establish associations between peripheral inflammation and EF. Thus, the present study aimed to examine associations and variability in inflammatory biomarkers, EF, and adiposity in children with or at risk for obesity. Additionally, inflammation was examined as a mechanism …

Keller-Segel Type Chemotaxis Model: Asymptotic Behavior Of The Small Data Solution, Jean D. Rugamba

All ETDs from UAB

This dissertation’s work is on asymptotic behavior of a Keller- Segel type chemotaxismodel with logarithmic sensitivity and logistic growth. The logarithmic singularity in the system is removed via the inverse Hopf-Cole transformation. Then, for the transformed system, we study the Green’s function of the corresponding linear system, linearized around a constant equilibrium solution, and the results give us a detailed point-wise description of the Greens function, which, itself, is significant in linear theory. Next, with the results on the Green’s function, we study small data solution to the nonlinear system by making use of Duhamel’s principle. This provides a descriptive …

An Investigation Into The Effects Of Diet On Pain And Pain Disparities, Larissa Jane Strath

All ETDs from UAB

Chronic pain is one of the most common and disabling disorders in Westernsociety. Recently, it has been suggested that dietary quality may play a key role in the development and maintenance of pain. Additionally, diet differs between demographic groups, as does physiological differences in response to metabolites. We sought to explore 1) the central way in which diet influences pain sensitivity and 2) if dietary patterns affected various demographic groups differently. We first employed a rat model to observe diet-related changes in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. In the absence and presence of an injury, rats fed a …

Judges’ Evaluation Reliability Changes Between Identifiable And Anonymous Performance Of Hip-Hop Dance Movements, Nahoko Sato, Luke S. Hopper

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2021 Sato, Hopper. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Hip-hop competitions are performed across the world. In the recent inclusion in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, the assessment of hip-hop performance is undertaken by a panel of judges. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of different visualisation tools utilised in the assessment of the hip-hop dance movements. Ten dancers performed basic rhythmic hip-hop movements which were captured …

Panpsychism And The First-Person Perspective: The Case For Panpsychist Idealism, Brentyn Ramm

Theology Papers and Journal Articles

In this paper I argue for a version of panpsychist idealism on first-person experiential grounds. As things always appear in my field of consciousness, there is prima facie } empirical support for idealism. Furthermore, by assuming that all things correspond to a conscious perspective or perspectives (i.e., panpsychism), realism about the world is safeguarded without the need to appeal to God (as per Berkeley's idealism). Panpsychist idealism also has a phenomenological advantage over traditional panpsychist views as it does not commit perceptual experience to massive error by denying that perceived colors are properties of things. Finally, I argue that the …

Understanding Parental Responses To Having An Lgbtq Child, Donnell Mccutcheon Butler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current research about parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ) children does not provide insight into whether attitudes towards sexual minorities, relational self-esteem, and sex-role stereotypes predict parents’ emotional responses when learning their child is LGBTQ. The purpose of the study was to investigate factors influencing parental responses when learning about their children’s LGBTQ identities using the social identity theory. The research questions were (a) are there statistically significant relationships between parental responses, negative attitudes toward sexual minorities, parents’ relational self-esteem, and sex-role attitudes and (b) do negative attitudes toward sexual minorities, parents’ relational self-esteem, and sex-role …

Left Behind: Intersectional Stigma Experiences Of African American College Women With Adhd, Angela Lynnette Anderson-Elahi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American college women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can experience intersectional stigmas based on race, gender, and learning disability. Intersectional stigmas affect African American college women in self-esteem, social acceptance, and academic progress. The scholarly community has not published literature regarding intersectional stigma experienced by African American college women with ADHD. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of African American college women who had encountered intersectional stigma based on race, gender, and ADHD. Goffman’s social stigma theory and Crenshaw’s intersectional stigma theory served as the theoretical and conceptual frameworks to explore how African …

Exploring Formerly Incarcerated African American Males' Relationship With Their Children, Najjiyya Christine Arnold

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore formerly incarcerated African American fathers’ perceptions on reestablishing relationships with their children. Prior to this study, little or no research had been conducted to examine how formerly incarcerated parents build relationships with their children. Data were collected through one-to-one, semi-structured interviews with 11 African American fathers 18 years and older who were formerly incarcerated and had one or more children under the age of 18 years while incarcerated. The theoretical frameworks for this study included Attachment Theory and African American Male Theory. These data were analyzed using the thematic analysis …

Sociodemographic Influence On Pregnancy Among Adolescent Girls In Nigeria, Christian Otado Mbulu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adolescent pregnancy is a phenomenon that affects the entire world. The effect can be apparent at the individual, family, and societal levels. In 2013, the rate of adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria was 149 per 1,000 aged 10 to 19 years. In this cross-sectional quantitative study, the association between adolescent pregnancies, type of place of residence, household head age, and household head gender was examined for Nigerian adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years who participated in the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. The framework for this study was the Socioecological Model (SEM). Three research questions were analyzed using univariate, …

The Lived Experiences Of Black Youth Who Recidivate In Diversion Programs, Justin Richards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are high rates of recidivism among U.S. Black youth when compared to other races, such as Whites and Hispanics. The purpose of the study was to examine the lived experiences of Black youth in the juvenile justice system and in diversion programs. Using a phenomenological qualitative method, twelve Black adults between the ages of 18 to 40 were interviewed about their lived experiences while participating in mental health courts and in-home probation as youth. The conceptual framework of the study was based on the risk, need, and responsivity model. The primary research question examined the lived experiences and perceptions …

Qualitative Exploration Of Catholic Church Leaders’ Perspectives Regarding Counseling Parishioners With Anxiety, Amy Lynn Polster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is little research addressing the mental health literacy of Roman Catholic clergy in their job as spiritual counselors for parishioners with anxiety. Devout individuals struggling with fear- or worry-driven anxiety often call on divine assistance for help as a frontline defense. Anxiety is a leading mental health problem, disturbing about 40 million U.S. adults aged 18 to 54 years. This study explored the mental health literacy perceptions of six Catholic clergy leaders and their awareness of fear- or worry-based anxiety, drawing upon the concept of the triune brain and using evolutionary threat assessment systems theory as a theoretical foundation. …

Why Boys And Men Do Not Report Mental Or Physical Abuse, Retha Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe focus of this study was on males who have experienced intimate partner violence. Abused men experience unique stressors that include societal minimization of the problem. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of abused men regarding mental health services and whether their attitudes about services have changed over time. Participants were men over the age of 18 who had previously been involved in a relationship where they were the victims of domestic violence. Six male participants who experienced abuse were interviewed. Upon the completion of the interviews, the process of phenomenological reduction aided in the recognition of the feelings and …

Ghanaian Immigrant Women In The United States Beliefs About Maternal Nutrition And Fetal Development, Yassi Azhdari

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ghanaian women, in their native country, experience a high rate of anemia, malaria, and malnutrition while pregnant. Poor health outcomes for mother and child are caused by a lack of protein in their diet, food taboos, consumption of nutrient-poor foods, and infections. These conditions may cause pregnancy complications such as premature birth, or maternal or fetal death. There is little known about, the differences between the Ghanaian and U.S. birth experience, and foods used by Ghanaian immigrant women while pregnant. The biopsychosocial model was used in this descriptive qualitative study to examine how Ghanaian immigrant women are impacted by pregnancy …

Social Support Of Caregiver Sons Of Parents With Dementia, Ralph Callanta Pascual

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the growing number of male caregivers, few researchers have examined social supports for caregiver sons of parents with dementia. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological study was to contribute to the empirical literature on the social support of caregiver sons of aging parents with dementia. The research question centered on the lived experience of social support of caregiver sons of parents with dementia. The theoretical framework was the social role theory. The sample consisted of eight caregiver sons of parents with dementia. Participants were interviewed using semi-structured, researcher-developed questions. The results were generated from coding and thematizing processes, …

African American Females And Herpes Simplex Virus 2: A Basic Interpretive Qualitative Study, Cherlisa Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to recent studies, African American females are most susceptible to HSV-2 and are often asymptomatically diagnosed. Yet, the perceived benefit of discussing sexual health as well as recognizing a need to discuss HSV-2 with a healthcare provider was an identified gap in the existing research and current study findings. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive study was to understand the experiences of African American females who received an asymptomatic HSV-2 diagnosis. The health belief model constructs guided this study. Outlined through semi-structured interviews were the experiences of seven African American females diagnosed with HSV-2 in Fulton County, GA, as …

African American Blended Parent Strategies’ And The Influence On Children’S School Performance, Christine Li'chele' Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractDue to increasing divorce rates, the number of Americans living in blended family households have increased over the decades. Studies have revealed that some school-aged children who experience family structural changes due to blending families may experience stress that negatively affects their school performance. The purpose of this study was to determine what strategies African American parents in blended family units used to lessen the impact of family structure change on their school-aged children’s school performance. Bowen’s family system’s theory was used to guide this research. A generic qualitative design was used to obtain data from eight participants residing in …

Environmental Reforestation And Social Justice In Cameroon: A Test Case For Pope Francis' Concept Of 'Integral Ecology' In Laudato Sí, Augustin Vondou

Dissertations

The following quotation from Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Sí is one of the most quoted parts of his well-known encyclical: We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental. Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature (139).

This is a very challenging statement. Not everyone accepts this idea of an ‘integral ecology’; that is, the notion that the condition of human society is directly linked to the …

Why Is Race A Risk Factor For Infants Born With Birth Defects?: Deconstructing The Biological Basis Of Race In Maternal-Fetal Medicine Through The Lens Of Reproductive Justice, Amrita Bhagia

Master's Theses

Several studies have shown that marginalized populations, especially those of non-white race/ethnicity, have an increased risk of having infants born with severe birth defects. Existing hypotheses from the scientific literature on the topic of birth defects have primarily suggested that these trends may be the result of differential genetic susceptibilities within certain racial groups, a theory that reifies the (currently disproven) biological basis of race. Through this thesis, I argue that the myth of the biological basis of race continues to exist within maternal-fetal medicine today, where it is used to further the narrative that the bodies of women of …

Rethinking Intimacy: Liberation Through Decolonial & Queer World-Making, Michelle Mae Mcguire

Master's Theses

Relationships play an important role in both the private and public spheres of our lives. If we understand our bodies to be the vessels through which we interact with all other objects, we come to understand the process of world-making as a summation of our relationships. Intimacy is the prevailing structure that helps assign meaning to these relationships. Intimacy binds together unfixed spatial and social relations that stretch across time and space. This essay examines the three intersecting sets of relations involved in intimacy as a means to deconstruct heteropatriarchal order and highlight the multiplicity of attachments and relationships that …

Whitewashing V. Blackwashing: Structural Racism And Anti-Racist Praxis In Hollywood Cinema, Alyssa M. Smith

Senior Independent Study Theses

When a discussion about whitewashing arises, there are often claims that “blackwashing,” the practice of replacing a traditionally White character or role with a Black actor, is the same issue. Much is known about whitewashing and how damaging it is to represent People of Color in film with White actors, however, blackwashing is a recent term to describe what is more often called “colorblind casting.” This study aims to dissect how whitewashing and blackwashing differ, as well as discuss how blackwashing succumbs to the racist history of the Hollywood film industry despite its attempt at leading a brighter future for …

Now You See Me — Now You Don’T: An Investigation Of Hair Alterations Effects On Face Identification In Own- And Other-Race Faces, Maresa A. Tate

Senior Independent Study Theses

No abstract provided.

An Exploratory Analysis Of Conflict In African Immigrant And African American Marriages, Cornelius Ayodeji Osuntade

Dissertations

Problem

There has been a high level of marital conflict in immigrant families from patriarchal cultures. There are negative attitudes toward women that contribute to couple conflict. Coupled with this are issues relating to immigration challenges that confront marriage stability among immigrant couples in North America. In the same vein, African American couples experience conflicts that militate against the stability of their marriages. Most of these marital upheavals stem from historical antecedents relating to this ethnic group, as well as the societal dialectics confronting them. By and large, regarding couple conflict, a better understanding of the challenges facing African immigrant …

การออกแบบเรขศิลป์สำหรับแบรนด์ธุรกิจเพื่อสัตว์เลี้ยงโดยใช้กลยุทธ์การตลาดโชคลาง, โยษิตา ชีวาสัจจาสกุล

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การวิจัยครั้งนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อค้นหาแนวทางการออกแบบกราฟิกสำหรับธุรกิจสัตว์เลี้ยงด้วยกลยุทธ์การตลาดโชคลาง โดยใช้ระเบียบวิธีวิจัยแบบผสมผสาน ได้แก่ การสัมภาษณ์เชิงลึกผู้เชี่ยวชาญด้านการออกแบบเรขศิลป์จำนวน 3 ท่าน การสนทนากลุ่มระหว่างกลุ่มเป้าหมายจำนวน 5 ท่าน และการใช้แบบสอบถามกลุ่มเป้าหมาย ผู้ที่เลี้ยงสัตว์เลี้ยงจำนวน 15 ท่าน ใช้สถิติเชิงพรรณนาในการบรรยายคุณลักษณะสิ่งที่ต้องการศึกษา ด้วยวิธีการรวมตัวแปร การแจกแจงความถี่ และค่าร้อยละ หลังจากนั้นทำการสรุปผลออกมาเป็นลำดับ ผลการวิเคราะห์ข้อมูลตามวัตถุประสงค์งานวิจัยพบว่า เจ้าของสัตว์เลี้ยงเริ่มหันมาให้ความสนใจเรื่องโชคลางของสัตว์เลี้ยงและ เจ้าของสัตว์เลี้ยงโดยส่วนใหญ่มีพฤติกรรมที่เรียกว่า Pet Humanization หรือการเลี้ยงสัตว์เลี้ยงเหมือนลูก และมีความเชื่อเกี่ยวกับโชคลางหรือสิ่งเหนือธรรมชาติ ทำให้ธุรกิจเกี่ยวกับสัตว์เลี้ยงและโชคลางมีแนวโน้มเติบโตมากขึ้น ดังนั้นจึงได้ข้อสรุปในการออกแบบเรขศิลป์สำหรับธุรกิจสัตว์เลี้ยงโดยใช้องค์ประกอบด้านความเชื่อในงานออกแบบได้แก่ สีมงคล สิ่งของมงคล สัตว์มงคล และ ตัวเลขมงคล ซึ่งให้ความมงคลทั้งสัตว์เลี้ยงและเจ้าของในทุกด้าน

การออกแบบเรขศิลป์สำหรับมัลติแบรนด์ผลิตภัณฑ์รักษ์โลกตามหลักเศรษฐกิจหมุนเวียน, สรัญรัตน์ ตันติบุญชู

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยเรื่องการออกแบบเรขศิลป์สำหรับมัลติแบรนด์ผลิตภัณฑ์รักษ์โลกตามหลักเศรษฐกิจหมุนเวียนมีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อค้นหาแนวทางการออกแบบเรขศิลป์และกลยุทธ์สำหรับมัลติแบรนด์ตามหลักเศรษฐกิจหมุนเวียน ดำเนินวิธีการวิจัยโดย 1.ศึกษาและรวบรวมข้อมูล แนวคิด ทฤษฏี เกี่ยวกับหลักเศรษฐกิจหมุนเวียนและมัลติแบรนด์เพื่อนำข้อมูลมาหาอัตลักษณ์ให้กับโครงการ2.กำหนดกลุ่มเป้าหมายทางกายภาพและจินตภาพโดยการสัมภาษณ์เชิงลึกจากกลุ่มเป้าหมาย3.สรุปผล Insight ของกลุ่มเป้าหมายโดยการสัมภาษณ์เชิงลึก4.รวบรวมข้อมูลการใช้สื่อของกลุ่มเป้าหมายและวิเคราะห์หาแนวทางการใช้สื่อของมัลติแบรนด์ 5.วิเคราะห์หาสารที่ต้องการจะสื่อ บุคลิกภาพและอารมณ์ และชื่อแบรนด์ จากแนวคิดหลักการและโดยการสัมภาษณ์กลุ่มเป้าหมายและผู้เชี่ยวชาญ ผลวิจัยพบว่า สารที่ต้องการจะสื่อ คือ Easy Sustainable living และได้บุคลิกภาพและอารมณ์ คือ ทันสมัย (Modern) เข้าถึงง่าย เป็นมิตร (Friendly) สะดวกครบจบในที่เดียว (Livable) ได้ชื่อแบรนด์ คือ GreenGoods และได้แนวทางการออกแบบเรขศิลป์และเรขศิลป์สิ่งแวดล้อมที่เหมาะสมกับแบรนด์

การออกแบบเรขศิลป์สิ่งแวดล้อมสําหรับศูนย์การออกแบบอัพไซเคิล, จินสมรรถ สิมะพิเชฐ

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยเรื่องการออกแบบเรขศิลป์สิ่งแวดล้อมสำหรับศูนย์การออกแบบอัพไซเคิลมีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อค้นหากลยุทธ์ในการออกแบบเรขศิลป์สำหรับ Bangkok Upcycle Design Center และเพื่อศึกษาหาลักษณะของการออกแบบเรขศิลป์ที่เหมาะสมสำหรับ Bangkok Upcycle Design Center สำหรับการให้ความรู้ในเรื่องการออกแบบเพื่อสิ่งแวดล้อม และการให้ความสะดวกในการใช้งานของศูนย์การออกแบบอัพไซเคิลผ่านการออกแบบด้วยสื่อเรขศิลป์รูปแบบต่างๆ เครื่องมือในการวิจัยมีดังต่อไปนี้ 1. การศึกษาและรวบรวมข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับ Upcycling 2.ลำดับความสำคัญ และ ปริมาณเของเนื้อหาตามที่กลุ่มเป้าหมายควรจะรู้และนำข้อมูลทั้งหมดมาจัด Hierarchy 3. การกำหนดเกณฑ์กลุ่มเป้าหมายทางกายภาพ (Demographic) และทางจินตภาพ (Psychographic) จากการสัมภาษณ์ เชิงลึกจากกลุ่มเป้าหมายทั้ง 5คน 4. สรุปผลลักษณะ Persona และ Insight ของกลุ่มเป้าหมายจากการสัมภาษณ์ เชิงลึกจากกลุ่มเป้าหมายทั้ง 5คน 5.วิเคราะห์หาบุคลิกภาพและอารมณ์ จากสารที่ต้องการจะสื่อ และกลยุทธ์การใช้สื่อ จากการสอบถามกลุ่มเป้าหมาย และใช้การกรองด้วยคำสำคัญ ผลการวิจัยพบว่า บุคลิกภาพและอารมณ์จากคำสำคัญทั้ง 3 ทันสมัย หัวใหม่ (Modern) มีพลังปราญปรียว (Dynamic) ใช้ได้จริง(Practical) ได้สารที่ต้องการจะสื่อ คือ Better for Future system ได้แนวทางการออกแบบเรขศิลป์ และเรขศิลป์สิ่งแวดล้อมที่เหมาะสมกับบุคลิกภาพและอารมณ์

The Representation Of Animal And “Non-Human” Characters In Indra Sinha’S Animal’S People, Sirawit Sriphuthorn

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This paper aims at examining the representation of Animal, the protagonist, and “non-human” characters in Indra Sinha’s Animal’s People (2007). It discusses various ways in which the socially constructed concepts of “humanity” and “animality” are called into question and strategically deployed in the portrayal of these characters. It argues that Sinha attempts to dismantle binary thinking which not only constitutes the distinction between the human and the animal but also underpins the West’s domination of the East. More specifically, the paper argues that Animal whose deformity is caused by exposure to the toxic gas suffers from alienation—both from himself and …

A Study Of Reading Strategies Of Emi In Science Program Thai Learners, Namfar Boonkor

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study aims to 1) explore the reading strategies of EMI in science program Thai learners 2) explore students’ opinions towards the use of reading strategies in EMI context. Participants include 71 students studying at Kamnoetvidya Science Academy, the science high school located in Rayong, Thailand. The research instruments consisted of the Reading Strategies Questionnaire and the semi-structure interview. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and content analysis. The results from the questionnaire showed that the students reported overall medium frequency of reading strategy use. The most used reading strategies were cognitive strategies, followed by metacognitive strategies, while the …