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Anchoring Roots And Spreading Branches: The Growth And Regulation Of Art Therapy In Singapore, Christine Phang

Art Therapy | Doctoral Dissertations

The development of art therapy in Singapore has advanced rapidly over the last two decades. Yet, to date, there has not been a comprehensive overview of art therapy in Singapore. Additionally, more research is needed to understand how the complex component of regulation can benefit the profession of art therapy. This study therefore set out to paint a picture of art therapy in Singapore, capture the art therapy community’s thoughts and opinions concerning regulation, and identify actionable ways to advance the profession. A mixed method design was employed which utilized a survey and interviews to gather quantitative, qualitative, and arts-informed …

A Chronic Pain Self-Management Quality Improvement Bundle For Veterans, Srijana D. Baniya

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Veterans often face challenges accessing care services due to limited awareness of available resources for support, Self-care, and mental health (Harding et al., 2019; Patel et al., 2024). Given the high prevalence of Chronic pain and opioid use in this population, Self-management (SM) education and non-pharmacologic interventions are required to address the biological, psychological, and social effects of pain (Bair et al., 2015; Mumba et al., 2024; Nahin, 2017; Higgins et al., 2020). This Quality improvement project aims to determine whether implementing an evidence-based SM bundle for chronic pain improved Pain severity scores and increased understanding of SM strategies. …

Maxillary Anterior Teeth Replacement With Immediate Dental Implants Utilizing Vestibular Socket Therapy Versus Ice Cream Cone Technique, Mohamed Faisal Abd El Raorf Shoeib, Mohammed Abdel-Monem Tawfik, Mohammed Talaat Salem, Ayman Ahmed Mustafa Yaseen

Mansoura Journal of Dentistry

Objective: This study intended to evaluate changes, clinically and radiographically, associated with the immediate placement of dental implants in the maxillary anterior esthetic zone, comparing vestibular socket therapy with the ice cream cone technique. Materials and Methods: The current research included sixteen individuals requiring the replacement of a non-restorable tooth in the maxillary anterior aesthetic zone with an implant. Patients were divided into two groups of equal numbers. In the first group, eight implants were immediately placed utilizing the ice cream cone technique, whereas in the second group, eight implants were immediately inserted using vestibular socket therapy into the maxillary …

Ultrasound-Guided Vs Conventional Intraarticular Injection Of Hyaluronic Acid For Management Of Temporomandibular Joint Internal Derangement: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Muhanad Almufarrih, Muhammad Al-Hawari, Ayman Yaseen, Sally Abdelsameaa

Mansoura Journal of Dentistry

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of using ultrasound guidance during intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the management of patients with TMJ internal derangement. Material/subjects and Methods: Forty patients complaining of anterior disc displacement with reduction (DDwR) not responsive to conservative treatment were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis was based on the current update of diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Intra-articular injection of Hyaluronic Acid guided by Ultrasound in the first group and Intra-articular Injection (IAI) of HA conventional way in the second group were performed. Articular pain was evaluated using the visual …

Extended Platelet Rich Fibrin In Lateral Maxillary Sinus Lifting With Simultaneous Implant Placement, Ammar Radwan Samman, Heba Abo-Elfetouh Elsheikh, Walid Abd El-Ghafar Al-Zordk, Noha Ahmed Mansour

Mansoura Journal of Dentistry

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the influence of extended platelet-rich fibrin (e-PRF) when used in lateral maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MSFA), with particular emphasis on implant stability and peri-implant marginal bone loss.

Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients presenting with posterior maxillary tooth loss and a residual bone height of 3–5 mm underwent lateral sinus floor augmentation with concomitant implant placement. A total of 16 implant sites were included and equally allocated into two groups: Group I (n = 8), in which an allograft was applied and covered using a pericardium membrane, and Group II (n = 8), in which …

Effect Of Biodentine And Treated Dentine Matrix On Viability And Proliferation Of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells, Nada Barakat, Rana El-Qashty, Mohamad E. Helal

Mansoura Journal of Dentistry

Objective: The present study aimed to assess the dose-dependent effect of Biodentine (BD) and human-treated dentin matrix (hTDM) on the proliferation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs).

Materials and methods: hTDM was prepared and characterized. The concentration of proteins released from BD and hTDM extracts were quantified using the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay after 3 and 7 days. hDPSCs were successfully isolated and characterized, then treated with various concentrations of BD extracts (20, 2, and 0.2 mg/mL) and hTDM extracts (100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%, and 10%). Cell viability was determined after 7 days of incubation using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium …

An Attempt For In Situ Bio-Root Regeneration By Using Treated Dentin Matrix And Dental Pulp Stem Cells In Albino Rats, Amani Mohamad, Ahmad A. Emam, Eman Hany, Mohamed Abdulrahman

Mansoura Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: This study was conducted to prepare and characterize root-shaped treated dentin matrix (TDM) scaffolds, and to evaluate their efficacy together with seeded dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) as potential bio-roots in extraction sockets of rat models.

Materials and Methods: Root-shaped TDM specimens were prepared and characterized. Following extraction of maxillary incisors, the alveolar sockets were implanted with TDM segments measuring 8 mm in length, either alone (TDM group) or seeded with dental pulp stem cells (TDM/DPSCs group). Animals were euthanized at two and six weeks post-implantation, specimens were processed for histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses.

Results: TDM group at …

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Reprograms Osteoclast Lineage Communications To Promote Osteoclastogenesis, Hami Hemati, Brianna M. Doratt, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Chronic alcohol consumption increases the risk of osteoporosis and fracture by disrupting bone remodeling, in part by enhancing osteoclastogenesis. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying this process remain incompletely defined. We analyzed scRNA-seq data from osteoclasts differentiated in vitro from bone marrow mononuclear cells obtained from macaques following 12 months of chronic ethanol or isocaloric control solution consumption. Module scoring, trajectory inference with generalized additive modeling (tradeSeq), and CellChat-based analyses of intercellular communication were applied to uncover ethanol-induced changes in metabolic reprogramming, lineage progression, and signaling network dynamics. Module scoring indicated metabolic reprogramming toward oxidative phosphorylation, with reduced glycolytic, migratory, and …

“Why Can’T I Do My Homework Without Crying?” Neurodivergence And The Gendered Expectations Of Functioning, Alia Wang

Pitzer Senior Theses

The purpose of this qualitative interview study was to examine the experiences of neurodivergent women and gender-diverse individuals regarding productivity. Neurodivergence is often understood in biological and medical terms; far less attention has been given to how neurodivergent individuals experience and navigate everyday life. Meanwhile, productivity is often framed as a neutral measure of efficiency, but in practice, it is shaped by social norms that shape particular ways of thinking, working, and behaving.

Particularly for women and gender diverse people, these expectations are compounded not only by cognitive differences but also by gendered norms around behavior. This creates a mismatch …

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Disrupts The Gut Microbial And Metabolic Landscapes, Madison B. Blanton, Ethan G. Napier, Katelyn E. Keen, Ethan V. Stuart, Isaac R. Cinco, Hami Hemati, Ronald C. Bruntz, Landon Wilson, Stephen Barnes, Rupak Khadka, Kathleen A. Grant, Ilhem Messaoudi

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) increases incidence of infections, organ damage, and cancers. Aberrant inflammation is likely a driver of these adverse outcomes. Indeed, chronic alcohol consumption (CAC) rewires macrophages/monocytes toward a hyper-inflammatory phenotype. Prior studies showed increased gut permeability and dysbiosis. Translocation of host- and microbial-derived metabolites could trigger the hyper-inflammatory responses generated by macrophages/monocytes. However, the exact changes in these metabolites remain poorly defined due to confounders that complicate clinical studies and the differences between human and rodent gut microbiomes.

Methods: Here, we utilized a non-human primate model of ethanol self-administration to characterize alcohol-induced alterations in gut microbes …

Optimized Nano-Bilosomes Loaded Ocular Insert As A Promising Approach For Boosting Voriconazole Ocular Bioavailability: In-Vitro, Microbiological, And In-Vivo Assessments, Eman Gomaa

Nanotechnology Research Centre

The eye possesses numerous physiological barriers that significantly limit the absorption of administered drugs, as only < 5 % get through. These barriers restrict drug bioavailability, often necessitating multiple dosing, which can lead to poor patient compliance. The study goal is to efficiently incorporate Voriconazole (VRC), a wide-spectrum antifungal candidate with a short half-life, into stable, biocompatible, non-irritating bile salt nanoparticles (Bilosomes, BLOs) to enhance its ocular delivery. Bilosomes were prepared by the ethanol injection method. Experimental (33) Box–Behnken Design (BBD) was employed; the amount of bile salt, cholesterol, and span-60 were chosen as independent variables, while entrapment efficiency (EE%), cumulative VRC release (Q8h), particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), and polydispersity index (PDI) were the dependent variables. The formula of optimization showed EE% (59.04 ± 1.88 %), cumulative release after 8 h (81.35 ± 0.69 %), PS (222.53 ± 2.04 nm), ZP (−72.53 ± 1.75 mV), and PDI (0.225 ± 0.03). It was chemically characterized using DSC and FTIR. Its spherical arrangement was confirmed using TEM. For ophthalmic application, the optimized formula was included in ocular inserts to extend ocular residence time while minimizing dosing frequency. The optimal VRC-loaded bilosomal ocular insert met the acceptable physicochemical criteria, was sterilized using UV radiation for conducting microbiological assay, in-vivo study, and pharmacokinetic analysis. For safety evaluation, an eye irritation study and histopathological examination were conducted. The results confirmed its effectiveness as evidenced by a significantly larger inhibition zone and 8.39-fold enhancement in VRC bioavailability compared to its suspension. These findings support the potential of bilosomes-loaded ocular insert as an effective ocular delivery of VRC.

Curriculum In Pharmacoepidemiology Training Programs: A Cross-Sectional Study To Assess Educational Needs And Alignment With Core Competencies, Amie Goodin, Deborah Layton, Ryan Chung, Vicki Osborne, Chioma Ejekam, Xiaojuan Li, Xuerong Wen, Kristian B. Filion, Luciane Cruz Lopes, Daniela C. Moga

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Purpose: Pharmacoepidemiology is a key discipline for evidence-based decision-making, yet its educational programs have not been systematically assessed for alignment with international core competencies. Our objectives were to evaluate curricula alignment of pharmacoepidemiology training programs with ISPE-recommended core competency themes and identify key curriculum content development areas.

Methods: The ISPE Core Competencies Workgroup and ISPE leadership developed a curriculum and needs assessment survey, incorporating feedback from global members. The survey was electronically distributed to leaders of pharmacoepidemiology training programs (e.g., department chairs and program directors) using the ISPE contact database, followed by snowball sampling to enhance representation. Institutional respondent characteristics …

Feasibility Of Brief Behavioral Telehealth Interventions For Sleep And Pain In Adults With Chronic Musculoskeletal Orofacial Pain: An Idiographic Clinical Trial, Linda Sangalli, Gabriel Gilmore, Isabel Moreno-Hay, Lauren N. Whitehurst, Anna Alessandri-Bonetti, Ian Andres Boggero

Oral Health Science Faculty Publications

Objective: Brief behavioral interventions targeting pain (Physical Self-Regulation, PSR) or sleep (Brief Behavioral Intervention for Insomnia, BBTI) show promise for interdisciplinary management of chronic pain, though their feasibility with chronic musculoskeletal orofacial pain (MSK-OFP) populations remains underexplored. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of these interventions in a university-affiliated tertiary OFP clinic and explored clinical changes in pain, sleep, and other secondary outcomes.

Methods: Treatment-seeking participants (N=19) with chronic MSK-OFP and insomnia were randomized to three-session PSR or BBTI. At pre- and post-intervention, participants completed questionnaires (assessing pain intensity, insomnia symptomatology, sleep …

The Role Of Body Composition In Predicting Fitness Performance Of Law Enforcement Officers, Taylor J. Parmentier

Theses and Dissertations

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) perform physically demanding tasks such as foot pursuits, lifting, carrying, dragging, and physical restraint. Effectively performing these duties requires significant muscular strength, endurance, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Lower fitness levels pose risks for reduced health, performance, slower recovery, increased fatigue, and potentially affecting decision-making under strenuous conditions. The purpose of this study was to identify the strongest predictor of physical fitness performance among active-duty LEOs. Body composition analysis and a comprehensive fitness evaluation of twenty-nine male LEOs (age: 36.2 ± 9.3 years, body mass (BM): 95 ± 13.7 kg, height: 1.8 ± 0.1 m) was completed. The …

Health, Patents, And Path Dependence: India's Pharmaceutical Crossroads, Jacie Bissell

Michigan Technology Law Review

This paper examines how India’s historical commitment to affordable medicine and public health continues to shape its pharmaceutical patent regime, even as the country aspires to become an innovation-driven economy. Through the lens of path dependence, the paper explores how India’s legal and institutional frameworks have created structural constraints on policy reform. Focusing on key moments such as the Patents Act of 1970, the landmark Novartis decision, and India’s evolving stance on the TRIPS waiver during the COVID-19 pandemic, the paper analyzes the tensions between fostering pharmaceutical innovation and maintaining access to affordable medicines. While recent procedural reforms and judicial …

Synovitis, Acne, Pustulosis, Hyperostosis And Osteitis (Sapho) Syndrome Presenting With Gait Impairment And Pustular Facial Rash, Hannah Rector, Michael Haddad, Dmitriy Scherbak

Continental and Mountain Divisions GME Resarch Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants Reduce Ct-Detected Subclinical Leaflet Thrombosis After Tavr, But Clinical Benefit Remains Uncertain: Systematic Review And Random-Effects Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Trials, Yves Najm Mrad, Snehalkumar Patel

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Case Report: C6-C7, C7-T1 Peripheral Nerve Stimulator Migration To Right Posterior Auricular Area, Allie Brodsky, Chad Taylor, Chloe Esch, John Scott Adams

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

When Tnf Inhibition Backfires: A Rare Case Of Etanercept Induced Pyoderma Gangrenosum, Don Woody, Julio Paoli-Gonzalez, Adam Grunbaum

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Clinical Outcomes Of Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix In Complex Lower Extremity Wound From Necrotizing Fasciitis, Christian B. Allen, Andres Toledo, Ryan Dennett, Brogan Hill, John Harker, Richard Crank

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

The Great Imitator: A Subtle Case Of Syphilis In The Emergency Department Amid Rising National Incidence, Jyotirmaya Jain, Michael Flanders, Manzoor Bevinal

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Combined Lung Adenocarcinoma And Carcinoid: A Rare Tumor, Nicholas D'Souza, Tanay Jadhav, Renu Khode

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma Mimicking Miliary Tuberculosis Pattern: A Rare Presentation, Reza Alavi, Casper Chen, Idelisse Suarez Maldonado, William Arvan, Mukesh Patel, Elie Feghali

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Rare Endometrial Entity: Gastrointestinal-Type Mucinous Adenocarcinoma, Nicholas D'Souza, Vitaly Borodin

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gap: Early Recognition And Interim Management Of Silica-Associated Rheumatoid Arthritis In Resource-Limited Primary Care Settings, Sukhneet Bhullar, Howard J. Tan, Alaa Baqer, Cathlen Delva

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2026

No abstract provided.

Bpa: Effects Of The "Plastic Era", Bianca G. Pietrangeli

Student Work

Infographic review of sources of BPA and its impacts on human health with a focus on osteoporosis.

Molar–Incisor And Generalized Grade C Periodontitis: Distinct Microbiome–Immune Interactions Suggest Divergent Pathogenesis, Camila S. Stolf, Hélvis E. S. Paz, Murilo C. Paraluppi, Manuela Maria Viana Miguel, Mauro P. Santamaria, Mabelle F. Monteiro, Deyvid E. Amgarten, Raquel R. A. Franco, Luciana S. Branco-De-Almeida, Luciana M. Shaddox, Renato C. V. Casarin

Oral Health Practice Faculty Publications

Aim:

Molar-Incisor (PerioC-MIP) and Generalized (PerioC-G) Grade C Periodontitis could have distinctive etiopathogenesis behind their unique clinical patterns. Thus, this study aimed to distinguish these two phenotypes by analyzing the subgingival metagenomic profile and the inflammatory markers levels.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional comparative study, Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) and Subgingival Biofilm (SB) were collected from 18 PerioC-MIP North Americans and 14 periodontally healthy controls (HC) from the same location (HC-MIP) and 20 PerioC-G Brazilians and 20 controls (HC-G). From GCF, immunoenzymatic analysis was performed. SB functional and taxonomic bacterial content was determined using shotgun metagenomics sequencing.

Results:

Taxonomic results showed …

Methods To Reduce Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: An Integrative Review, Jolene J. Davis

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This integrative review explores interventions that may improve live birth rates or pregnancy outcomes for individuals experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Approximately 5% of couples experience RPL, and limited evidence contributes to inconsistent clinical recommendations for this population. A literature search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed, and Nursing and Allied Health Collection. Inclusion criteria consisted of primary research studies published in English from 2016 to 2026 that evaluated preventative interventions aimed at improving live birth rates or pregnancy outcomes in individuals with RPL. Exclusion criteria included infertility unrelated to RPL, single miscarriage, animal subjects, in vitro fertilization-related studies, or studies …

Trustworthy Multimodal Ai For Medical Imaging: Enhancing Diagnosis, Reasoning, And Human-Agent Interaction In Extended Reality, Jai Prakash Veerla

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations

The transition from traditional microscopy to digital pathology has digitized diagnostic data, yet clinical workflows remain constrained by two-dimensional screens and passive, opaque analysis tools that fail to capture the spatial complexity of biological systems. While Foundation Models now promise to reason across histology and genomics, a critical disconnect persists between the richness of this data and the limited cognitive bandwidth of clinicians, who currently lack the immersive interfaces and trustworthy agents necessary to utilize it effectively. This dissertation presents a unified framework for "Embodied Agentic AI," establishing a pipeline that augments physician capabilities through immersive visualization, robust security, and …

Combinatorial Immunotherapy Drives Exhaustion In Tumor Antigen–Specific Cd8+ T Cells Within The Mouse Renal Tumor Microenvironment, Holly R. Stephens, Elizabeth Elkins, Jing Li, Zoey N. Swalley, Henry Nnaemeka Ogbonna, Pia Muri, Zachary Roberts, Francesca R. Dempsey, Md Akkas Ali, Md Hasanul Banna Siam, Richard Kirkman, Jianqing Zhang, Sunil Sudarshan, Daniel J. Tyrrell, Hubert M. Tse, Daniel L. Smith Jr, Lyse A. Norian

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Immunotherapies have greatly improved outcomes for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), yet response rates remain suboptimal and the factors promoting therapy resistance versus sensitivity are incompletely understood. Currently, no preclinical model of orthotopic renal cancer exists that permits evaluation of tumor antigen–specific (TAS) CD8⁺ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). To address this deficiency, we developed a mouse renal cancer model that permits tracking of adoptively transferred TAS CD8⁺ T cells. Renca-LUC tumor cells were transduced to express tumor ERK (tERK), a model antigen expressing a one-amino-acid change from wild-type ERK, resulting in recognition by tERK/H-2K^d-specific DUC Thy1.1 …