Digital Commons Network^™

Social Worker Perspectives Of Social Determinants Of Health Related To Hospital Readmission For Chronic Illness, Crysta Michelle Tigue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unplanned or early hospital readmission have become factors used to measure standard of care in acute care settings. Because unplanned or early hospital readmission are costly, the Medicaid Hospital Readmission Reduction Program applies fines to hospitals that have early or unplanned readmissions. Though research has been conducted to identify causes and develop interventions, recent studies have not incorporated social determinants of health (SDOH). The objective of this qualitative study was to examine the impact of SDOH on unplanned and early readmission through the lived experience and perspective of the social worker. This qualitative study used phenomenological methodology and face to …

Robust And Generalizable Representations In The Hippocampus, Hung-Tu Chen

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

An intelligent system must balance generalizing across similar experiences with maintaining the distinctiveness of each experience. This thesis explores how the hippocampus manages this balance through its neural representations to support adaptive behavior. In Chapter 1, I provide an overview of key hippocampal phenomena that contribute to this process, including remapping, splitter signal, and replay. In Chapter 2, I challenge the concept of random remapping by showing that it is possible to predict, better than chance, how a given experience will be encoded in the hippocampus across different subjects. This suggests that encoding of related experiences, which was previously thought …

Influence Of Fatigue On The Modification Of Biomechanical Parameters In Endurance Running: A Systematic Review, Javier Olaya-Cuartero, Berta Lopez-Arbues, Jose M. Jimenez-Olmedo, Lamberto Villalon-Gasch

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(1): 1377-1391, 2024. Fatigue accumulated during the practice of endurance running can be understood as the decrease in sports performance caused by physical exertion. Since fatigue can manifest itself in multiple ways, its influence is difficult to understand, and many authors propose different studies with the aim of obtaining firm conclusions. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to analyze the effect of fatigue on the modification of biomechanical parameters to mitigate adverse effects and optimize positive adaptations to training. A systematic review was carried out using scientific research papers from specific sport science …

"Not A Cookie Cutter Situation": How Neurodivergent Students Experience Group Work In Their Stem Courses, Sophia Salvatore, Claudia White, Stephen Podowitz

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Background: Although group work is increasingly used in STEM courses and may lead to improved academic outcomes, there is evidence that some implementations of group work may lead to unintended barriers for certain students’ learning. Despite the growing number of neurodivergent undergraduate students, there is limited research on neurodivergent students’ experiences with group work in STEM courses. To address this knowledge gap, the current research investigated the experiences of 22 neurodivergent undergraduate students with group work in STEM courses at a range of institution types and in a variety of STEM disciplines. Participants shared experiences with in-class and out-of-class group …

Study Protocol For Writing To Heal: A Culturally Based Brief Expressive Writing Intervention For Chinese Immigrant Breast Cancer Survivors, Qian Lu, Di Lun, Lenna Dawkins-Moultin, Yisheng Li, Minxing Chen, Sharon Hermes Giordano, James W Pennebaker, Lucy Young, Carol Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: This study uses a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the health benefits of expressive writing that is culturally adapted for Chinese immigrant breast cancer survivors (BCSs) and to characterize how acculturation moderates the effects of expressive writing interventions.

METHODS: We will recruit Chinese immigrant BCSs (N = 240) diagnosed with stage 0-III breast cancer and within 5 years of completion of primary treatment. Recruitment will occur primarily through community-based organizations and cancer registries. Participants will be randomly assigned either to a control condition to write about neutral topics or to one of two intervention conditions, self-regulation or self-cultivation, …

The Effects Of High-Intensity Functional Training On The Perceptions Of Exercise In Middle-Aged Females: A Pilot Study, Halle N. Brin, Baylie G. Sigmund, Nathan D. Dicks, Kathryn J. Deshaw, Tanis J. Walch, Michael J. Carper, Allison M. Barry

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 1392-1405, 2024. The high prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity in the U.S. is a public health crisis. This study aims to examine the effects of high-intensity functional training (HIFT) on exercise perceptions and physiological changes in inactive females. A pre-test and post-test, quasi-experimental design was conducted with inactive, middle-aged females (n = 8) participating in an 8-week supervised and verified intervention (2-week High-Intensity Interval Training, 6-weeks HIFT). The Health Belief Model Scale for Exercise (HBMS-E) survey was completed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 4-week follow-up to assess exercise perceptions. Pre- and post-intervention physiological assessments …

B Cells Drive Neuropathic Pain-Related Behaviors In Mice Through Igg-Fc Gamma Receptor Signaling, Michael J Lacagnina, Kendal F Willcox, Nabila Boukelmoune, Alexis Bavencoffe, Ishwarya Sankaranarayanan, Daniel T Barratt, Younus A Zuberi, Dorsa Dayani, Melissa V Chavez, Jonathan T Lu, Alex Bersellini Farinotti, Stephanie Shiers, Allison M Barry, Juliet M Mwirigi, Diana Tavares-Ferreira, Geoffrey A Funk, Anna M Cervantes, Camilla I Svensson, Edgar T Walters, Mark R Hutchinson, Cobi J Heijnen, Theodore J Price, Nathan T Fiore, Peter M Grace

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neuroimmune interactions are essential for the development of neuropathic pain, yet the contributions of distinct immune cell populations have not been fully unraveled. Here, we demonstrate the critical role of B cells in promoting mechanical hypersensitivity (allodynia) after peripheral nerve injury in male and female mice. Depletion of B cells with a single injection of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody at the time of injury prevented the development of allodynia. B cell-deficient (muMT) mice were similarly spared from allodynia. Nerve injury was associated with increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) accumulation in ipsilateral lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and dorsal spinal cords. IgG was …

Stimulation Of An Entorhinal-Hippocampal Extinction Circuit Facilitates Fear Extinction In A Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Model, Ze-Jie Lin, Xue Gu, Wan-Kun Gong, Mo Wang, Yan-Jiao Wu, Qi Wang, Xin-Rong Wu, Xin-Yu Zhao, Michael X Zhu, Lu-Yang Wang, Quanying Liu, Ti-Fei Yuan, Wei-Guang Li, Tian-Le Xu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Effective psychotherapy of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains challenging owing to the fragile nature of fear extinction, for which the ventral hippocampal CA1 (vCA1) region is considered as a central hub. However, neither the core pathway nor the cellular mechanisms involved in implementing extinction are known. Here, we unveil a direct pathway, where layer 2a fan cells in the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC) target parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (PV-INs) in the vCA1 region to propel low-gamma-band synchronization of the LEC-vCA1 activity during extinction learning. Bidirectional manipulations of either hippocampal PV-INs or LEC fan cells sufficed for fear extinction. Gamma entrainment of vCA1 …

Financial Toxicity In Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Regional Nodal Irradiation: Variation By Cancer Subtype, Grace L Smith, Benjamin D Smith, Chi-Fang Wu, Simona F Shaitelman, Mariana Chavez-Macgregor, Rashmi Murthy, Kelsey Kaiser, Kimberly S Ku, Julia J Shi, Sanjay S Shete, Ying-Shiuan Chen, Robert J Volk, Sharon H Giordano, Ya-Chen T Shih, Karen E Hoffman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: We evaluated sociodemographic and clinical predictors of financial toxicity (FT) among patients with breast cancer with higher risk clinical factors warranting regional nodal irradiation (RNI).

METHODS: Among 183 participants in a clinical trial of conventional vs. hypofractionated treatment with RNI, 125 (68 %) completed a pilot survey of FT measured using the validated Economic Strain and Resilience in Cancer (ENRICh) instrument, scored from 0 (minimal) to 10 (severe) FT. Associations with predictors were evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficients and Kruskal Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests. Predictors of severe FT (ENRICh≥5) were tested using multivariable logistic regression with odds …

Tumor-Infiltrating Nerves Functionally Alter Brain Circuits And Modulate Behavior In A Mouse Model Of Head-And-Neck Cancer, Jeffrey Barr, Austin Walz, Anthony C Restaino, Moran Amit, Sarah M Barclay, Elisabeth G Vichaya, William C Spanos, Robert Dantzer, Sebastien Talbot, Paola D Vermeer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer patients often experience changes in mental health, prompting an exploration into whether nerves infiltrating tumors contribute to these alterations by impacting brain functions. Using a mouse model for head and neck cancer and neuronal tracing, we show that tumor-infiltrating nerves connect to distinct brain areas. The activation of this neuronal circuitry altered behaviors (decreased nest-building, increased latency to eat a cookie, and reduced wheel running). Tumor-infiltrating nociceptor neurons exhibited heightened calcium activity and brain regions receiving these neural projections showed elevated Fos as well as increased calcium responses compared to non-tumor-bearing counterparts. The genetic elimination of nociceptor neurons decreased …

A Bayesian Semi-Parametric Scalar-On-Function Regression With Measurement Error Using Instrumental Variables, Roger S Zoh, Yuanyuan Luan, Lan Xue, David B Allison, Carmen D Tekwe

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Wearable devices such as the ActiGraph are now commonly used in research to monitor or track physical activity. This trend corresponds with the growing need to assess the relationships between physical activity and health outcomes, such as obesity, accurately. Device-based physical activity measures are best treated as functions when assessing their associations with scalar-valued outcomes such as body mass index. Scalar-on-function regression (SoFR) is a suitable regression model in this setting. Most estimation approaches in SoFR assume that the measurement error in functional covariates is white noise. Violating this assumption can lead to underestimating model parameters. There are limited approaches …

Designing A Novel Approach To Cadaveric Dissection And Evaluation Of The Lacrimal Gland Anatomy, Maresa Joanna Mcdowell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

During our study, the orbital dissections of 44 cadavers were analyzed, and the lacrimal gland's condition after dissection was evaluated. Medical students previously dissected twenty-two of the cadavers using the dissection steps outlined in Grant’s Dissector. From these, 21 student groups performed orbital dissection using the two approaches outlined in Grant’s Dissector. Post-evaluation of Grant’s anterior approach (GAA) showed that 50% of the lacrimal glands had signs of damage to the orbital lobe, and 88.89% of the palpebral lobe were damaged. When Grant’s supraorbital approach (GSA) was used, 70% of the palpebral lobes showed signs of damage compared to the …

Physiological And Psychological Performance Considerations Of Female Elite Warfighters (Few) In United States Military Special Operations: A Qualitative Study, Bailey Weis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand the physical and psychological characteristics of the female elite warfighters (FEW) that have completed a special operations selection or elite combat course in the United States Armed Forces. The theory guiding this study was Kathy Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory (CGT) to gain deeper insight on the female pioneers who are completing special operations selections or elite combat courses by exploring the physical and psychological nature of their experience. The CGT framework for this study highlighted the participants’ background, physical insights, and mental resilience as indicators of their success while enabling …

High Workload Effects On Patient Satisfaction And Profitability Of Nursing Homes, Richard Ra Alrayes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The main issue focused on in the research is that increased workload experienced by employees in nursing homes in Houston, TX creates an increase in medical errors and results in the loss of customer satisfaction and profitability to the business. To address the problem, convergent parallel mixed methods were used to understand the effect of high workload on patient satisfaction and the profitability of nursing homes in Houston, Texas. The mixed methods study was guided by four research questions: (1) How does increased workload experienced by employees in nursing homes impact the quality of provided healthcare services? (2) How does …

Effects Of The Western Diet And Psychological Stress On Gut Health, Korry J. Hintze

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Intermittent Fasting On Working Memory With A Covariate Of Exercise Among The Perimenopausal Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Karen Marie Veltri

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Intermittent fasting and exercise are tools to improve health. Current literature focuses on their impact on metabolic health and weight loss, leaving a gap in the research examining their effects on working memory during the menopause transition. The purpose of this study was to address this gap by recruiting perimenopausal participants and randomly assigning them to an experimental or a control group. The experimental group followed an 8/16 intermittent fasting regimen for two consecutive weeks. Both groups ate ad libitum without dietary restrictions. Participants completed a pre- and post-study Working Memory Questionnaire and self-reported average hours of exercise per week. …

A Qualitative Examination Of Food Choice Among Division Iii Student Athletes Using Grounded Theory, Paul Webster Craig

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The determinants of food choice among the general population have been extensively investigated, but studies of food choice in collegiate student athletes are limited. Student athletes make food choices daily, and the selection of foods is an integral part of an athlete’s training regimen. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III (DIII) student athletes are a comparatively unstudied population, particularly in terms of their food choices; therefore, assessing and understanding the influences of food choices in this population can enable and support optimal eating behavior. To assess different determinants of food choice in athletes, this qualitative study developed a theoretical …

Influences Of Quality Of Maternal Care And Environmental Enrichment On Associative Memory Function In Rats With Early Life Lead Exposure, Jay S. Schneider, Courtney Williams, Shamaila Zafar, Jaehyun Joo, Blanca E. Himes

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Children in low socioeconomic status (SES) communities are at higher risk of exposure to lead (Pb) and potentially more severe adverse outcomes from Pb exposures. While the factors encompassing SES are complex, low SES households often have less enriching home environments and parent-child interactions. This study investigated the extent to which environmental/behavioral factors (quality of maternal care and richness of the postnatal environment) may modify adverse effects from Pb exposure.

METHODS: Long-Evans female rats were randomly assigned to Control (no Pb), Early Postnatal (EPN: birth through weaning), or Perinatal (PERI: 14 days pre-mating through weaning) Pb exposure groups. From …

Perceptions Of Pharmacy Students Towards The Transition To Online Communication In Learning: Lessons From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Wejdan Shroukh

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

This study aims to explore the experiences of pharmacy students at Middle East University (MEU) in the transition to online communication in pharmacy education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the academic year 2021/2022.The current study follows an inductive qualitative research design based on conducting semi-structured interviews with students. Thematic analysis of data was carried out, and the six phases of analysis described by Braun and Clarke were followed. Data analysis yielded the following themes: acceptance of the transition to online communication in pharmacy education, the perceived difficulty of online courses delivered during the pandemic, drawbacks of online communication in pharmacy …

Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Elderly, Jessica Odikpo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Examining Changes In Pain Sensitivity Following 8 Minutes Of Cycling At Varying Exercise Intensities, Brandi B. Antonio, Jeffrey Stout, Danielle Sterner, Abigail Anderson, David Fukuda

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(7): 1337-1351, 2024. This study assessed the effect of an eight-minute cycling intervention using varying intensities on exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH). The main objective of this study was to examine the effect of varying intensities on pressure pain threshold (PPT) and heat pain threshold (HPT) at the thigh and forearm, tested pre- and post-cycling intervention. Healthy male participants (n = 16) performed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer to establish their peak power output (PPO). In subsequent visits, participants completed five different 8-minute cycling interventions, with intensities randomly assigned to one of three …

Perceptions Of Peer And Parental Support: Feasibility Of A Physical Activity Intervention For Adolescent Girls, Avery G. Douglas, Deirdre Dlugonski, Johanna M. Hoch

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 1352-1360, 2024. Physical activity (PA) has a wide range of health benefits. Children with high levels of social support are more likely to achieve adequate levels of PA. The purposes of this pilot study were to examine the impact of an after-school intervention on perceived peer and parental support among adolescent girls and to identify correlates of support to explore in future studies to increase PA. Seventeen low-active girls in 6th–7th grade were recruited from a local middle school to participate in an 8-week intervention where they were exposed to various types of PA …

Physiological And Psychological Differences Between 20% Grade Incline-Walking And Level-Grade Jogging At Isocaloric Intensity, Motoki Sato, Taj Krieger, Alexis D. Gidley, Brianne Weaver, Craig A. Johnson, David E. Lankford

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(6): 1318-1336, 2024. High-incline walking is a relatively new trend with little comparative information. This study compared physiological and psychological differences between high-incline walking at 20% grade (HIW) and level-grade jogging (LGJ) at isocaloric intensities in young adults. Twenty-two participants (M = 11, F = 11) aged 19–31 years completed the study. Participants completed HIW and LGJ on a treadmill for twenty minutes on two separate occasions and matched at isocaloric intensities. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE), maintainability (HCM), and affective valence using the Feeling Scale (FS) were measured at minutes 2, 10, and 20. …

Utilizing Lentinula Edodes And Pleurotus Ostreatus To Decrease Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Growth With Oxidative Stress Present As A Model For Cancer, Abdullah Amir

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and its effects can be worsened when high levels of oxidative stress are present. Lentinula edodes and Pleurotus ostreatus are two edible mushroom species that have been shown to contain many anticancer agents. However, the effects of these mushrooms have not been tested on cancer in the presence of oxidative stress. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to test the effectiveness of L. edodes and P. ostreatus in reducing Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth when oxidative stress was present. It was hypothesized that these two mushroom species would …

Cortisol And Alpha-Synuclein Stability In Saliva Under Varying Storage And Handling Conditions, Mo Zheng, Sujata Srikanth, Jeremiah Carpenter, Delphine Dean

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor impairments and non-motor symptoms, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Currently, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the primary biofluid used for PD biomarker studies, notably α-synuclein, despite the invasive nature of lumbar puncture procedures. Recent work has shown that some of these PD biomarkers have been measured in saliva. As an alternative to CSF, saliva can be non-invasively self-collected by patients repeatedly over time to monitor biomarker levels. However, the stability of these biomarkers in saliva needs to be evaluated before saliva can be considered for patient self-collection studies. Therefore, …

Olaf: An Assessment Of Online Learning Outcomes Among Forestry And Natural Resource Management University Students, Krista Merry, Pete Bettinger, Taeyoon Lee

Journal of Extension

Online learning has become an important advance in education in the last decade. We developed an online learning system related to land and tree measurements. University students were given pre- and post-exposure surveys for two courses offered within the online system. Surveys were designed to assess whether the knowledge level and confidence of students increased through interaction with the online system. A final assessment was conducted to understand user experiences with the online technology. Statistically significant increases in knowledge and confidence concerning land measurement concepts and tree measurement topics were evident among survey participants. Survey participants agreed that the course …

Validity And Reliability Of A Linear Position Transducer To Measure Barbell Velocity, Duration, And Displacement During The Bench Press, Anthony G. Pinzone, Ryan W. Gant, Jennifer Rivera, Edward Z. Pelka, Emily C. Tagesen, Modesto A. Lebron, Adam R. Jajtner

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(7): 1294-1305, 2024. This investigation evaluated validity and reliability of the HUMAC360 linear position transducer (LPT) compared to the Tendo Sport Weightlifting Analyzer (TENDO) for measuring mean velocity (MV), peak velocity (PV), and displacement (D) during the bench press. Seventeen recreationally active individuals completed three visits. During visit one, participants were assessed for their one repetition maximum (1RM) bench press. During subsequent visits, participants completed two sets of three repetitions of bench press at 30, 50, 60, and 70% 1RM. The HUMAC and TENDO measured MV, PV, and D simultaneously, while the HUMAC also measured …

Unlocking Early Detection Of Alzheimer's Disease: The Emerging Role Of Nanomaterial-Based Optical Sensors, Chun-Hsien Chen, Hsin-Hua Liang, Chun-Chi Wang, Yi-Ting Yang, Yi-Hui Lin, Yen-Ling Chen

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Researchers have conducted numerous studies to find accurate biomarkers for early AD diagnosis and develop more effective treatments. The main pathological hallmarks of AD are amyloid beta and Tau proteins. Other biomarkers, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, can also be helpful in early AD diagnosis. To diagnose and treat AD promptly, it is essential to accurately measure the concentration of biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid or blood. However, due to the low concentrations of these biomarkers in the body, highly sensitive analytical techniques …

Sex-Dependent Gene Expression Alterations In Social Defeat Stress Model Of Major Depression Disorder, Juan Diego Torres, Javier Vargas Medrano, Anapaula Themann, Elias Arellano Villanueva, Nina Mourao, Megan W. Szobody, Tori Sayers, Sriya Gullapalli, Tyler Torres, Sridhar Srinivasan, Anesu Karen Murambadoro, Kory Deshawn Punch, Kevin Valdez Garcia, Nikhilesh Anand, Kelsey Baker, Sergio Iniguez, Bharathi Shrikanth Gadad

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Major Depression Disorder (MDD) is a prevalent, recurrent, and chronic disorder that represents a leading cause of disability worldwide. Millions are affected with symptoms that go from constant sadness to even suicidal thoughts. In the U.S., major depression and fatal suicide have increased by 57.4% among adolescents and young adults. Myelin and inflammation-related genes have been found to play a role in individuals with MDD.

Methods: Adolescent males and females C57BL/6 mice underwent a vicarious defeat stress (VDS) procedure in which a mouse witnessed a conspecific being defeated. VDS and control (CON) mice underwent the Social Interaction (SI) test. …

An Integral Approach To Philosophy Of Nature, Carol Richardson

Journal of Conscious Evolution

Abstract

Quantum physicists and quantum biologists enjoy a mathematically-inspired romance with the wonders of nature at the quantum level. Recognizing the romance of mathematics and the quantum-to-cosmic level relational energetics of Nature can lead to a more integral, romantic, and even embodied phenomenology of the intelligence inherent within Nature’s relational and embodied energies. Approaching this quantum nature of Nature from the more romantic, wholistic views of the right hemisphere of the brain, rather than from the fragmenting views of the left hemisphere of the brain, one can begin to discover the self-organizing abilities of the energies of Nature at all …