Digital Commons Network^™

Down Syndrome In Africa: Challenges, Opportunities, And Future Directions, Eimear Mcglinchey, Salina Tewolde, Amanda He, Juan Fortea, Lingani Mbakile-Mahlanza, Ayda Tefera, Emmanuel Epenge, Jason Hassenstab, Rachel Maina, Zul Merali

Brain and Mind Institute

INTRODUCTION: As life expectancy improves for people with Down syndrome (DS) in Africa, the risk of developing DS-associated Alzheimer’s disease (DSAD) will rise. There is a pressing need to plan for this emerging challenge, particularly in the context of existing health and social disparities.

METHODS: This work emerged from a pan-African collaboration, including discussions at the Brain Ageing and Dementia in Low- and Middle-Income Countries conference held in Nairobi in 2024, where stakeholders identified regional priorities for DS and dementia care.

RESULTS: Limited epidemiological, cognitive, biomarker data, delayed diagnoses, and gaps in specialized services may impact access …

Ecological Grief Among Farmers And Pastoralists In Ethiopia And Kenya, Syed Shabab Wahid, Christine Musyimi, Benjamin Oestericher, Linda Khakali, Lauren Carruth, Emily Mendenhall, Edna Bosire

Brain and Mind Institute

Climate change is a major cause of mental distress worldwide. In many ways, climate change has become a chronic disaster, while in other ways each acute event can accumulate and present challenges within and between communities. A growing body of evidence indicates that a changing climate can precipitate a cluster of negative affective states scholars call “ecological grief.” Ecological grief reflects psychological responses to climate changes and destruction of nature, species, culturally significant or sacred spaces. Until now, ecological grief has been conceptualized as a psychological response connected primarily to the destruction of the natural environment, and has not fully …

Born Too Soon: Every Story Counts: Lessons In Ethical, Inclusive Storytelling From Born Too Soon, Mary V. Kinney, Amy Reid, Mercy Juma, Anna Gruending, Olufunke Bolaji, Doris Mollel, Denise Suguitani, Silke Mader, Karen Walker, Marleen Temmerman, Joy Lawn

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Storytelling is increasingly recognized as a powerful tool in public health communication, particularly for addressing complex and stigmatized health issues. In the context of pregnancy and childbirth, personal narratives have proven effective in shaping perceptions, empowering women, complementing health education, and driving policy and legal reforms. Preterm birth remains a significant global challenge, and lived experiences of affected families offer critical insights that illuminate systemic gaps and advocate for the rights of babies, mothers, families, and healthcare workers. The Born Too Soon 2023 campaign placed people—especially women, families, communities, and healthcare workers—at the core of its advocacy efforts. This commentary …

Fine-Scale Population Structure Of Japanese Helicobacter Pylori Provides New Anthropological And Epidemiological Insights, Kohei Tomonari, Batsaikhan Saruuljavkhlan, Ricky Indra Alfaray, Kartika Afrida Fauzia, Osamu Matsunari, Daisuke Chinda, Tadashi Shimoyama, Phawinee Subsomwong, Nagisa Kinjo, Tetsu Kinjo, Yasuo Hanamure, Masato Shinzato, Rumiko Suzuki, Fukunori Kinjo, Shigeru Takigami, Toshio Fujioka, Takeshi Matsuhisa, Junko Akada, Takashi Matsumoto, Yoshio Yamaoka

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Helicobacter pylori is considered to contribute to gastric cancer and is also used as a marker to trace human migration due to its co-evolution with humans. To understand the recently proposed tripartite model suggesting three ancestral origins for the Japanese population and address the enigma of the high incidence of gastric cancer in Northeast Hondo (Hondo is mainland Japan), we conducted a fine-scale population structure analysis using a large Japanese H. pylori dataset, including 438 strains from 9 regions based on whole-genome sequences. As a result of fineSTRUCTURE analysis, it was found that H. pylori in Northeast Hondo is genetically …

Gradiance: A Mindfulness Intervention, Kip Geddes

Masters Theses

People in cities live life at a fast paced forward march that results in a mental state called ‘hurry sickness’. This prevents them from living in the moment, which often leads to a disconnection to those around them. Mindfulness techniques have been proven to increase people’s levels of happiness and openness to the people around them. However, many people are too busy to practice these methods. My thesis looks at ways for mindfulness to intervene into their established routines. Illumination has been shown to promote mental well-being, either in therapy lamps, or circadian rhythm based lighting; the liminal spaces that …

Digital Transformation In Indonesia Healthcare Systems Towards Intelligent Accountability: A Critical Discourse Analysis, Ghina Fitri Ariesta Susilo

Journal of Global Awareness

This research studied the digital transformation implemented in the Ministry of Health in Indonesia. It happened after the COVID-19 outbreak forced the government to act more rapidly to provide real-time information. To date, the digital transformation initiative in the Ministry of Health Indonesia aims to reach more intelligent accountability by establishing a Digital Transformation Office (DTO). This study used critical discourse analysis to study how the discourse of technology became a government tool, particularly using social media accounts created by DTO. The result shows that DTO’s work and progress since its establishment from the perspective of social media discourse aim …

Broadening Inclusion Of Primary Care: Trainee Insights And Commentary On Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion., K Taylor Bosworth, Meghan Gilfoyle, Kimberley Norman, Kimberley Norman, Ashley Chisholm, Ione Locher, Naod F Belay, Bryce Ringwald, Chloe Warpinski, Geetika Gupta, Minika Ohioma, Macee Boyle

Medical Education Articles

We, as the current and immediate-past NAPCRG Trainee Committee, share our perspectives as an international and diverse group of primary care research trainees. In this essay, we discuss the challenges and opportunities for achieving a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive primary care workforce by reflecting on 2 main challenges: (1) insufficient support for underrepresented identities in medicine, and (2) inadequate integration within existing primary care teams. Within each of these challenges, we pose potential opportunities for improvement using a trainee lens.

Evaluating The Impact Of Anti-Vaccine Online Search Trends During The Covid-19 Pandemic On Adolescent Pertussis-Containing Vaccine Completion, Deborah L. Fisher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adolescent completion of pertussis-containing vaccines is a public health concern, especially with rising online anti-vaccine misinformation. Incomplete vaccination increases risk for preventable diseases and impacts community health. A gap in the literature on the relationship between online anti-vaccine search trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and adolescent pertussis vaccine completion was addressed in this quantitative, repeated cross-sectional study. Andersen’s behavioral model of health services use guided the study. Secondary data from the 2019 and 2022 National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen) compared adolescents aged 13–17 in the five U.S. states with the highest (n=5,464) versus the five with the lowest (n=3.031) population-adjusted anti-vaccine …

The Benefits Of Trail Running: A Quantitative Inquiry Into The Cognitive Domain, Jack Edward Lemaire

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This crossover study aimed to investigate the impact on human cognition of an acute bout of trail running at 5 kilometers in distance as measured by a unique cognitive testing battery. It is well documented that aerobic exercise such as trail running provides enormous neuroprotective benefits through various physiological processes, including vascular adaptations and neurotrophin production. To date, no investigation into how a shorter duration trail run specifically impacts cognition has been conducted. For this crossover study, 22 participants were recruited using convenience sampling methods from adults fitting the necessary inclusion criteria from within the greater Nashville area. Participants were …

Cost-Effective Solutions For High-Throughput Enzymatic Dna Methylation Sequencing, Amy Longtin, Marina M. Watowich, Baptiste Sadoughi, Rachel M. Petersen, Sarah F. Brosnan, Kenneth Buetow, Qiuyin Cai, Cayo Biobank Research Unit, Vanderbilt University, Michael D. Gurven, James P. Higham, Heather M. Highland, Yi-Ting Huang, Hillard Kaplan, Thomas S. Kraft, Yvonne A. L. Lim, Jirong Long, Amanda D. Melin, Michael J. Montagne, Jamie Roberson, Kee Seong Ng, Michael L. Platt, India A. Schneider-Crease, Jonathan Stieglitz, Benjamin C. Trumble, Vivek Venkataraman, Ian J. Wallace, Jie Wu, Noah Snyder-Mackler, Angela Jones, Alexander G. Bick, Amanda J. Lea

ESI Publications

Characterizing DNA methylation patterns is important for addressing key questions in evolutionary biology, development, geroscience, and medical genomics. While costs are decreasing, whole-genome DNA methylation profiling remains prohibitively expensive for most population-scale studies, creating a need for cost-effective, reduced representation approaches (i.e., assays that rely on microarrays, enzyme digests, or sequence capture to target a subset of the genome). Most common whole genome and reduced representation techniques rely on bisulfite conversion, which can damage DNA resulting in DNA loss and sequencing biases. Enzymatic methyl sequencing (EM-seq) was recently proposed to overcome these issues, but thorough benchmarking of EM-seq combined with …

Engagement In Responsible Conduct Of Research: A Descriptive Case Study Of The Factors Of Organizational Culture And Implementation Drivers That Influence Research Integrity Practice, Cortni Beth Romaine

Doctor of Philosophy in Translational Health Sciences Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive case study investigates the relationship between organizational culture and the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) across multiple research institutions. Utilizing elements of the Cultural Dynamics Model and the Implementation Drivers Framework, the study examines how institutional structures and cultural norms shape research integrity practices. Data collection involved in-depth interviews with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students, as well as an artifact review of institutional policies, training resources, and guidance for research best practices.

Findings revealed three key themes: (1) Microculture Experiences, where RCR engagement is largely dictated by localized lab cultures, with principal investigators (PIs) playing a …

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of Dance Movements In Enhancing Activities Of Daily Living For Geriatric Patients And Relevant Implications For Nursing Care, Rachel Bruce

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Within the healthcare industry, the geriatric population holds a unique set of patient-care needs due to a myriad of physical and cognitive challenges that are not present in other subcategories of the population (Cremer et al., 2023). The presentation of these challenges can negatively impact a patient’s quality of life and their overall independence, which in turn decreases their overall quality of life (Cremer et al., 2023). One specific challenge healthcare providers must consider when caring for elderly patients is the reduced range of mobility typically associated with growing older (Machacova et al., 2015; Hartigan, 2007; Sinoff & Ore, 1997; …

"La Vida Es Un Carnaval": An Exploration Of Cuban Identity And Nostalgia Through Dance/Movement Therapy - A Community Engagement Project, Maria Fernanda Mendez Mendoza

Expressive Therapies Theses

“La Vida Es Un Carnaval” is a community engagement project and thesis that explores how identity and nostalgic resilience show up through dance/movement therapy with Cuban immigrants living in the United States, specifically Massachusetts. This project brought together six Cuban-born participants, ages 26 to 67, each with their own unique migration stories; from the Rafter Balsero Crisis of 1994, to the “Wet-Foot/Dry-Foot” policy, and family reunification. Through a mix of in-person and online sessions, participants explored their experiences using intermodal activities including dance/movement therapy techniques, conversation, journaling, artwork, and music. Themes of cultural pride, “Cubanía” – Cuban-ness, culture shock, and …

Navigating The Future Of Polygenic Risk Scores: Insights From Child And Adolescent Psychiatrists, Page M Trotter, Amanda R Merner, Lauren A Ginn, Abigail C Martinez, Ana L Battaglino, Kaitlynn P Craig, Jason Bach, Katherine J Freedberg, Takahiro Soda, Eric A Storch, Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz, Stacey Pereira

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) are a method of calculating genetic risk for polygenic, or multi-gene, disorders. These scores have potential impacts in the realm of child and adolescent psychiatry, given the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders among youth. However, there are concerns about PRS implementation among key stakeholders, namely child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAP). We conducted interviews with 29 U.S.-based CAP to investigate clinician attitudes toward the use of PRS. The data herein correspond to a future scenario we provided CAP in which PRS are accurate and portable to patients of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. We found that CAP …

Observed And Reported Outcomes Following Experiential Cultural Capability And Clinical Yarning Training For Clinicians Treating Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People With Persistent Pain, Stuart Ekberg, Renata F. I Meuter, Ivan Lin, Roslyn Rowen, Angela Kinnell, Eva Malacova, Tania Waring, Kushla Houkamau, Marayah Taylor, Matthew Bryant, Jermaine Isua, Andrew Claus, Paul Gray, Joseph Kluver, Christina M. Bernardes, Greg Pratt

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Communication is recognised as crucial to culturally safe healthcare, and poor communication remains a major reason that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people do not access healthcare. This pragmatic, pre-post comparison study employed mixed methods to evaluate cultural capability and clinical yarning training delivered to 57 clinicians supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at three persistent pain management services in Queensland, Australia. Observable outcomes of the training were evaluated by video recording clinicians’ training experiences and seven consultations with patients that occurred either pre- or post-training. Reported outcomes were evaluated by using a modified Cultural Safety Survey (CSS), which …

Tolkien And Attachment Theory : A Theory To Bind Them All?, Lelie Bremont

Journal of Tolkien Research

Tolkien and Attachment theory: One Theory to Bind Them All?

Ever since the first publication of The Hobbit in 1937, Tolkien’s works have been dominating the fantasy genre, often imitated but rarely equalled. Dozens of scholars over decades have looked for the reason behind this success, the secret ingredient that made Middle-earth so compelling.

Nicole Guédeney is a French psychiatrist specializing in Attachment Theory. Attachment Theory emerged in the early 20^th century and combines psychology with anthropology and ethnology to explore the early attachments created between a baby and the adults surrounding them and how these attachments determine the …

Enhancing Nurse Confidence In Labor Pain Management And Respectful Maternity Care Through Implementation Of The Coping With Labor Algorithm, Diane Johnson, Amy Murlowski

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Objective: The objective of this project was to implement the Coping with Labor Algorithm in the labor and delivery setting and study its impact on nurse self-efficacy and on birthing persons’ experiences.

Design: A quasi-experimental pre- and post-design was used for this project.

Setting: The project was conducted in a maternity unit with six labor beds located in the Midwest.

Methods: This project was conducted over twelve weeks. Twenty-five registered nurses were provided in-person education, access to educational materials, and training on how to use the Coping with Labor Algorithm. A pre-test was administered before the unit implementation of the …

Interactions Between The Deaf Community And Healthcare, Sarah E. Mcfadden

Honors Theses

Background.

This study investigates the issues regarding interactions between the Deaf community and healthcare, focusing on communication barriers, negative experiences, and inaccessibility to health information. Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines requiring healthcare offices to provide interpreters, many health care professionals (HCPs) do not comply for various reasons. The alternatives to an interpreter create gaps in conditions, treatment plans, or post-appointment care.

Methods.

This study involved a review of existing literature and interviews with Deaf individuals and HCPs, including a physician, nurse practitioner, dentist, and registered nurse. The interviewed HCPs work in various settings.

Results. …

Cardiovascular Disparities In Mississippi: A Sociological Study Of Heart Health Literacy Among University Students, Laney Etheridge

Honors Theses

Mississippi ranks among the worst states in the United States for cardiovascular health, with high rates of heart disease, obesity, and hypertension. This thesis examines how race and gender influence heart health literacy and behavioral practices among University of Mississippi students. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this study combines quantitative survey data from a stratified random sample of 1,000 students with qualitative interviews from a public health professional specializing in cardiovascular health and a student heavily involved with on-campus heart health programs. The findings suggest that disparities in heart health literacy both align and differ with broader social stratification patterns observed …

The Digital Dilemma: How Social Media Is Affecting Our Emotional Well-Being, Jasim Aymen Khaleefah, Ban Yousif Yaaqoob

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Internet and Social media have become an essential part of our daily routine, allowing us to connect and be close with others, share information, and engage in various activities. Nevertheless, the extensive use of social media has raised many questions about its influence on our health and emotional well-being. The purpose of this review is to provide an in-depth analysis of the literature on how social media distresses our emotional well-being. Current review was conducted by investigating existing literature, the works was obtained through searches on academic databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. The literature found that social networking …

The Contribution Of Catholic Compromise Principles In Global Health, Scott N. Helstad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Roman Catholic tradition has developed comprehensive ethical principles to address complex practical scenarios that encounter foundational value compromises. These are referred to as compromise principles and they have both a narrow and a broad focus. Narrowly, these compromise principles are critical for Catholic healthcare organizations in the United States with regard to the guidelines of the US Bishops in their Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. More broadly, these compromise principles are relevant in the secular realm regarding global health. This dissertation examines these varying perspectives, hence its title, “The Contribution of Catholic Compromise Principles …

Hospital Organizations’ Obligation To Promote Spiritual Well-Being Among Nurses: Development Of A Normative Ethical Argument, Michael Jordan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents an innovative strategy to promote the support of nurses' spirituality within hospital organizations. By focusing on the spiritual well-being of nurses by hospital organizations, with a natural extension into nursing schools, the approach aims to enhance nurse’s ability to protect their own spirituality, provide comprehensive spiritual care to patients, and increase nurse moral resilience. By investing in nurses' spirituality and spiritual growth, hospitals can potentially increase job satisfaction among nursing staff, improve patient care outcomes, and create a more holistic healing environment for both nurses and patients. As the nursing shortage continues and the number of nurses …

Health Equity And Social Determinants Of Health Nurse Education, Jacqueline Arana Clements

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The primary care setting provides integrated healthcare services where nurses address many healthcare needs, develop patient relationships, and practice in the context of family and community. To provide comprehensive care, nurses must complete a social determinants of health screening that addresses the social factors that impact clinical outcomes. In 2021, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a nursing education strategy on educating nurses on social determinants of health. This project aimed to develop a staff education program to prepare primary care nurses on the concepts and terminology encompassing social determinants of health, identifying the severity of health …

The Ethical Imperative Of The Renewal Of Virtue Within The Moral Community Of Catholic Healthcare, Amanda Altobell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Catholic healthcare is one of the largest nonprofit organizations and providers in the United States, offering medical care to many diverse communities. The fundamental mission of Catholic healthcare is to bring about Christ’s healing ministry and live out the fundamental principle of caring for the vulnerable in pursuit of the common good. However, there have been many missteps, not only due to a more polarized and secular community but also to scandals and conflict due to previous hierarchical and rules-based anthropology that often misses the person's lived experience. Therefore, this dissertation will argue that for Catholic healthcare to survive the …

The Role Of The Jester: The Subversive Power Of Humor And Performance In Challenging Misogyny, Sarah E. Price

Expressive Therapies Theses

Humor has long occupied a complicated place in systems of power, sometimes reinforcing oppressive norms and other times offering a way to push back against them. This thesis explores how the archetype of the jester can be used in drama therapy to help individuals reclaim agency within misogynistic structures. Drawing from role theory, feminist performance studies, and Theatre of the Oppressed, the project examines how jestering, through satire, parody, and play, can act as a vehicle for resistance, healing, and empowerment. A review of existing literature shows that while humor has historically been used to uphold patriarchal norms, it has …

Volume 11 Full Text, Bjur Staff

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Leukemia And Thyroid Cancer In Relation To Reca Boundaries, Cora Marinos

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

A total of 1,054 test were conducted by the United States between 1945 and 1992. This is more Atomic tests than all other countries combined. Of those tests 928 were conducted at the Nevada Test Site located 65 miles from Las Vegas, Nevada.

These tests spread nuclear fallout throughout the United States causing the people in nearby communities to become sick. The public outcry spurred the passing of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act in 1990 (RECA) It’s scope of coverage was broaded in 2000. Despite many groups fighting for further expansion, the Act expired in June of 2024.

Of the …

Table Of Contents And Front Matter, Bjur Staff

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Antemortem Tooth Loss On Craniofacial Shape In Apes And Humans, Ashley R. Laster

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Antemortem tooth loss (AMTL) (i.e., defined as tooth loss occurring before death) is common among humans and many primates, and several studies have examined AMTL across various primate groups. Some research indicates that AMTL can influence masticatory function and diet; however, the effects of AMTL on craniofacial shape and biomechanics have not been extensively analyzed. We assessed craniofacial and mandibular shape in relation to AMTL, anticipating that individuals with at least one tooth lost antemortem would display significant differences in cranial and/or mandibular shape compared to those without AMTL. AMTL rates were evaluated in three primate species: wild-caught samples of …

Adopting An International Human Rights Approach In The U.S. To Combat Sizeism And Related Racism And Sexism In Healthcare, Public Health Efforts, And Food Advertising Policy, Kristina Bergman, Denisse Cordova Montes

Journal of Food Law & Policy

Evidence of size stigma in U.S. food and health industries is overwhelming. Many policies affecting consumer and patient health and care look to patient Body Mass Index (BMI), a ratio of patient weight to height that anthropologists describe has roots in eugenics, scientific racism, and sexism, and that even the American Medical Association describes as being used for racist exclusion and not encompassing of sex-based differences. Many healthcare policies, public health messages, and food advertising strategies boast goals of reducing BMI in hopes of improving health status, but, in addition to having abhorrent origins, BMI has been shown to be …