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Heartland Virus Preclinical Research Project, Brian B. Gowen

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

The Cul-De-Sac Paradox: The Relationship Between Walkability, Playability, And Children’S Physical Activity, Lydia Reader

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Walkability and playability are two constructs on how the built environment can support physical activity, the former most relevant to adults and the latter designed with children in mind. There are concerns that walkability and playability are intrinsically in competition with one another, with urban forms supportive of physical activity for adults detrimental toward the physical activity of children and vice versa. This thesis explores this conflict using agent-based modeling as a tool for refining the theoretical constructs behind playability and children’s physical activity. We examine the state of the current evidence for the relationship between walkability and children’s physical …

Data-Driven Staging Of Neurodegenerative Pathology Related To Alzheimer’S Disease, Thomas Earnest

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is a dual proteinopathy exhibiting deposits of extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) and intracellular tau in brain tissue. Models which describe the spatial and temporal trajectories of these pathologies have been invaluable for understanding AD and have the potential to support diagnosis, disease monitoring, and treatment development. Disease staging systems, which provide protocols for assessing individual disease severity based on their extent of brain pathology, have been crucial for explaining and diagnosing AD. However, these systems have been primarily informed by post-mortem histological assessments and are not directly applicable to disease assessment in …

Double-Port Totally Endoscopic Mitral Valve Replacement Through A Prosthesis-Sized Working Incision With Posterior Subvalvular Preservation, Cao Dang Khang, Tran Duc Quang, Phan Quang Thuan, Vuong Ngoc Minh, Pham Tran Viet Chuong, Nguyen Hoang Dinh

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and early outcomes of totally endoscopic non-robotic mitral valve replacement using a double-port DCT approach with posterior subvalvular preservation.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective observational study, 76 consecutive patients underwent totally endoscopic non-robotic mitral valve replacement between November 2023 and December 2025. The DCT approach was defined by exclusive endoscopic visualization, no rib spreading, a camera port and prosthesis-sized working incision placed in the same intercostal space, and thoracoscopic intracardiac instrumentation. Posterior ventricular-annular continuity was preserved whenever feasible by posterior leaflet preservation, native chordal preservation, or artificial chordal reimplantation after leaflet resection. Outcomes were reported …

Racial Trauma And Posttraumatic Growth: Implications For Counselors, Margaret M. Poandl, Nowoola Awopetu, Paul C. Harris Dr.

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Racial trauma is ubiquitous among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and people who belong to other marginalized groups. It is likely that counselors will work with individuals who have experienced racial trauma. Aligned with the counseling profession’s values, counselors can take a strengths-based approach that incorporates facilitation of a historical trauma posttraumatic growth (HT-PTG) framework. This paper presents evidence-informed practices that can foster growth on individual and collective levels. A case example is provided that integrates individual- and collective-level interventions bidirectionally, along with implications for counselor training pedagogically, through supervision, and continuing education. Counselors can identify, encourage, and …

The Safe Fishbowl Model: Psychological Safety By Design In Counseling Skills Training, Mike Mariska

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Skills training in counselor education can be constrained by performance anxiety, which may reduce participation, limit deliberate practice repetitions, and shift demonstrations to the instructor. This applied-practice manuscript introduces the SAFE (Structured Avatar and Feedback Experience) Fishbowl model, a simulation architecture designed to address performance anxiety while scaling participation. SAFE Fishbowl integrates rotating counselor roles, a real-time coaching loop, structured observation grounded in experiential learning theory, and purposeful debriefing. An implementation example for group counseling leadership skills is provided, along with adaptation guidance across multiple skill domains and delivery modalities. Descriptive course-evaluation feedback illustrates feasibility and perceived usefulness. Implications include …

Integrating Consensual Non-Monogamy In Counselor Education: Practical Guidelines And A Pilot Descriptive Study, Yun-Zhuo (Zoey) Liu, Lena Salpietro

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is a prevalent and diverse relationship structure, yet mononormative assumptions persist in counselor training and practice, contributing to stigma and inadequate care. Research indicates that counselors’ CNM-specific knowledge and attitudes are critical to positive therapeutic outcomes (Schechinger et al., 2018), highlighting the need for clear guidance. In response, this paper presents Guidelines for Incorporating CNM in Counseling Curricula. Three domains are grounded in multicultural and social justice principles: foundational knowledge and terminology, challenging bias and promoting self-reflection, and application informed by attachment theory. Additionally, findings from a survey of counselor educators (N = 54) are presented. Results …

U.S. Service Member To Counseling Student, Nicole Marie Arcuri Sanders, Kellie Forziat-Pytel

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

This qualitative descriptive study examines the absence of military career pathways for licensed mental health counselors (MHCs) and the impact of this structural limitation on service members' career transitions. Findings indicate that both combat and non-combat veterans pursued mental health counseling due to personal service-related mental health experiences and dissatisfaction with available care while in service. Despite these challenges, many participants expressed a strong desire to continue serving their country as professional counselors. Over half of the participants reported separating from the military because no occupational role existed for licensed MHCs. At the same time, most indicated they would have …

Modernizing Career Counseling In Counselor Education: A Conceptual Exploration, Yuhyun Park, Se Hoon Kim, Rasheed Adeyemo, Sarah Ebner, Mallory Redmond, Breeana Donayre, Carly Steves

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Career development is often confined to a single course despite its relevance across counseling practice. This conceptual article reframes it as an integrative foundation for counselor preparation, supervision, and professional identity. It examines connections among work, mental health, education, disability, relationships, and social context across counseling specializations. The article also considers doctoral training and the ethical use of artificial intelligence in career-related practice. Recommendations address curriculum design, supervision, and future research on integrated career preparation.

Developing Grief-Informed Counselors: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis Of Counselors-In-Training’S Learning Experiences, Katherine Atkins, Sonya Lorelle, Jennifer Slawson

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Grief remains underrepresented in counselor education despite its relevance across the lifespan and its inclusion in the 2024 Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards. This qualitative study explored how counselors-in-training (CITs) conceptualized grief and their developing professional role following participation in a structured grief education series. Eleven master’s-level CITs engaged in didactic instruction, experiential grief interventions, and reflective focus groups. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four interrelated themes were constructed that addressed grief conceptualization, counselor role development, integration of the personal self, and educational supports for grief competence. Findings reflected shifts toward relational, culturally responsive, and …

Management Of Advanced Periodontal Disease In A Patient With Down Syndrome-A Case Report, Robert T. Verceles

Oral Health

Down Syndrome is a common developmental disability.  Patients with DS may have many co-morbities associated with the condition, which include cardiac abrnormalities and severe periodontal disease.  This case illustrates how a patient with advanced periodontitis was treated in the Special Care Clinic at UOP, Dugoni School of Dentistry.

Relational Reasoning Across Cultures: Consistency And Variation In South Korea, The United States, And China, Alexandra Carstensen, Minju Kim, Youngon Choi, Caren M. Walker

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Abstract reasoning in early childhood is often described as following a “relational shift,” over which children become increasingly sensitive to relations. However, recent work has challenged the generality of this account, showing that children in the US and China follow distinct trajectories in a relational match-to-sample task. This difference aligns with multiple cultural and linguistic factors implicated in relational reasoning, where the US and China appear at opposite ends of a continuum, focusing on objects (US) versus relations (CN). This raises the possibility that differences in culture and language may shape variation in the development of abstract reasoning. Here, we …

Hemodynamic Characterization Of Cardiac Dysfunction After Traumatic Brain Injury Using A Controlled Cortical Impact Model In Male Rats, Preston So, Amit Iyengar, Noah Weingarten, Mrinal Patel, Jessica Dominic, Andrew Belec, Joyce Ho, Samuel Shin, Pavan Atluri

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with cardiovascular dysfunction that worsens clinical outcomes, yet the underlying mechanisms are poorly under stood. Clinical studies are limited by heterogeneity, highlighting the need for con trolled experimental models. Controlled cortical impact (CCI) provides precise control of injury severity, and invasive pressure- volume (PV) loop analysis allows detailed hemodynamic assessment. Adult male Wistar rats underwent sham op eration or mild or severe CCI- induced TBI. PV- loop assessment and transtho racic echocardiography were performed at 8 or 24 h after TBI or sham. Serum epinephrine (EPI) and norepinephrine (NE) were quantified by ELISA. At …

Dnp Final Report: Medication Errors: Decreasing From Day One Through Online Learning Module And Incident Reporting, Marsha Pohorelsky

DNP Final Reports

Medication administration errors remain a significant patient safety concern in healthcare and nursing education. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project evaluated the implementation of a standardized medication safety learning module and incident reporting process to improve medication safety awareness, medication administration competency, and error reporting among second-semester Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model and Kotter's 8-Step Change Model, the project incorporated medication safety education, simulation-based learning, and near-miss reporting to promote a culture of safety. Although competency outcomes were similar to previous student cohorts, participants demonstrated increased …

Characterization Of Zdhhc Palmitoyltransferase Expression During Retinoic Acid-Induced Differentiation Of Sh-Sy5y Neuroblastoma Cells, Mohammad Abdallah Matari

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Protein S-Palmitoylation is a reversible post-translational modification that regulates protein trafficking, membrane localization, and neuronal function through the activity of the zinc finger Asp-His-His-Cys (zDHHC) family of palmitoyl acyltransferases. Although SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells are widely used as an in vitro model of neuronal differentiation, the expression profile of the complete zDHHC family during retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation has not been systematically characterized. The objective of this study was to characterize the expression of all 23 human zDHHC genes during RA induced differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells. SH-SY5Y cells were differentiated using 10 µM all-trans retinoic acid for up to seven days. …

Integrative Rna-Seq Analysis Reveals Stress Type-Dependent Lncrna-Centered Co-Expression Networks Across Human Cellular Stress Contexts, Christina Anastasiadi, Aggeliki Kasapi, Ioannis Sentementes, Vasileios Gouzouasis, Margaritis Tsifintaris, Antonis Giannakakis

Computational Medicine Center Faculty Papers

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of cellular adaptation to environmental and molecular stress, but the extent to which their responses remain reproducible and stress-type-dependent across human stress conditions remains unclear. Here, we performed an integrative transcriptomic meta-analysis of human stress-response datasets from ASTRA and GEO, focusing on normal, non-cancerous, wild-type human cell lines exposed to oxidative stress (H2O2), hypoxia, heat stress, or UV-induced DNA damage. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of differentially expressed (DE) protein-coding mRNAs confirmed that the resulting stress-stratified comparison captured biologically coherent transcriptional programmes to oxidative stress signaling, hypoxic and metabolic adaptation, heat-induced …

The Role Of Reassurance Messages In Pediatric Oncology, Isabelle Faller

Doctoral Dissertations

Despite decreasing mortality rates, the high prevalence and incidence of pediatric cancer necessitate the need for advancements in the treatment of psychological concerns, specifically the reduction of patient distress and anxiety. A more comprehensive understanding of current reassurance messages in clinical practice can aid in developing a standardized framework for providing reassurance in pediatric oncology. Qualitative Content Analysis was employed to examine the types of messages nurses use to reassure patients (to reduce their anxiety about a future health-related event) and how effective nurses perceive these messages to be in relieving patients' anxiety. The adult participants, located at hospitals throughout …

Cultivating Participation: Developing An Evidence-Based Farm-Based Sensory Integration Protocol For A Pediatric Occupational Therapy Clinic, Katelyn Childers

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop a comprehensive, evidence-informed farm-based sensory integration framework that translates current evidence into practical clinical resources to support therapist education, caregiver engagement, and consistent implementation of occupation centered intervention at Zion Therapy Services.

Sibstars: Empowering Siblings Through Support, Education, And Advocacy, Abbey Edrington

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

A primary needs assessment conducted through parent and sibling surveys supports these findings and identifies concerns related to anxiety, peer difficulties, uncertainty regarding future caregiving roles, and limited access to sibling-specific support services. Findings additionally reveal discrepancies between parent perceptions and sibling-reported experiences, highlighting the need for increased family awareness and sibling-focused interventions. Therefore, the purpose of the Doctoral Capstone Project was to develop and implement SibStars, a community based sibling support and education program designed to promote peer connection, coping skills, self-advocacy, emotional wellness, and occupational participation among siblings of individuals with IDD through family-centered, occupation based approaches.

Beyond The Birth: An Occupational Therapy Approach To Postpartum Support And Advocacy, Ashlei Aweis

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of this capstone was to address identified gaps in maternal healthcare through the development of three occupational therapy resources: a postpartum wellness workshop, the Occupational Balance Screening Tool, and the “It’s Beyond Birth” educational podcast series. Together, these deliverables were designed to promote maternal health education, support occupational balance, and provide practical strategies that help mothers successfully navigate the transition into motherhood.

Hiking For All: An Adaptive Hiking Program For Disabled Individuals, Anna Grigg

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Hiking is a valued activity in the lives of many people. Possessing or acquiring a disability should not prevent or limit someone from participating in hiking; however, many disabled individuals will avoid hiking due to the lack of hiking trails that are accessible to them or the lack of adaptive hiking skills that they have. The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone project was to promote occupational engagement in hiking for disabled individuals, advocate for increased access to hiking resources and information, and facilitate safety during adaptive hiking.

Addressing Pediatric Executive Function Through Nature-Based Occupational Therapy In Central Ohio, Morgan Mahan

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Outdoor settings present unpredictable challenges that require children to simultaneously use inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility in ways that mirror real-world contexts. This continuous adaptation to changing environmental demands supports the generalization of skills across settings. Despite this potential, no nature-based pediatric occupational therapy program previously existed to effectively address executive function deficits. To address this gap, the Nature Explorers Program was developed, consisting of a theoretical foundation and practical application. The Nature-Based Executive Function Frame of Reference (NBEF) was developed to guide the assessment and treatment of executive function within a nature-based setting, and the Nature Explorers …

Advocating For Access: Empowering Children With Disabilities Through Meaningful Connections To Durable Medical Equipment (Dme), Maddyson Lamb

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Access to appropriate DME is vital; without it, children face severe occupational deprivation – the prolonged restriction from participating in meaningful daily activities. Furthermore, when families struggle to secure equipment due to high costs, it deepens the occupational deprivation across the entire family. Ultimately, managing these ongoing needs along a continuum is crucial to long-term health. However, families frequently face severe funding delays and systemic barriers when trying to acquire these vital resources. The purpose of the doctoral capstone was to utilize the PEO model to identify environmental restrictions and advocate for the necessary DME by having developed a multifaceted …

Meeting The Needs Of Individuals With Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Through Occupational Therapy, Tianna Matthews

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a relatively new and complex disorder that results in a significant impact on one’s overall health, well-being, and quality of life. The research study was designed to address practitioner knowledge and confidence gaps as they relate to ARFID care by assessing whether an educational in-service could increase pediatric healthcare practitioners’ knowledge of ARFID, confidence with treating ARFID, and their understanding of OT’s role on an interdisciplinary ARFID team.

Building Bridges: A Culturally Inclusive, Education-Based Program For A Pediatric Outpatient Therapy Clinic, Sarah Morgan

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone Project is to develop and implement a culturally inclusive, education-based program, to address current gaps in pediatric outpatient occupational therapy and to allow the population to overcome challenges inhibiting their occupational adaptation and occupational fulfillment.

Epilepsy Simulation: Educating Occupational Therapy Students On Epilepsy And Community Resources, Cambria Grissom Tolar

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder, affecting every 1 in 26 individuals during their lifetime. Individuals with epilepsy frequently experience barriers to employment, transportation, healthcare access, social participation, and more that influences occupational participation and quality of life. Despite the fact these factors fall under occupational therapy’s role and scope, many OT students do not receive adequate education about epilepsy, how to treat someone with epilepsy, and how to navigate community resources. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop and implement an epilepsy simulation that allows OT students to experience the everyday challenges faced by …

Empowering Middle School Students Through A Life Skills Enrichment Program, Kaitlyn Peavy

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Occupational therapy practitioners are uniquely positioned to support this development through occupation-based opportunities that foster meaningful participation and functional independence. The purpose of the doctoral capstone project was to develop an evidence-informed, occupation-based life skills enrichment program that promotes independence, occupational participation, and future readiness for middle school students through structured, hands-on learning experiences.

Occupational Therapy's Role In Burn Rehabilitation, Hallie Poff

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

Current literature identifies the need for enhanced burn-specific competencies and standardized, patient-friendly discharge resources to improve long-term functional outcomes and occupational participation beyond the hospital setting. Together, these findings highlight the need to advance burn-specific clinical skills while improving the consistency and accessibility of patient resources and education.

Melodies & Memories: An Occupational Therapy-Based Music Program For Individuals With Dementia, Adrianna Mcentire

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of the doctoral capstone experience was to develop and implement Melodies & Memories to use music interventions to improve quality of life, social participation, cognitive functioning, emotional and behavioral regulation, and physical functioning while providing personalized, client centered care through the use of music.

Sipping With A Purpose: Empowering Adults Of All Abilities Through Job Training And Work Skills While Enhancing Social Participation, Shelby Russell

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The "Sipping with a Purpose" doctoral capstone project addresses an urgent societal need by bridging the employment gap for adults with IDD, a demographic experiencing an over 80% unemployment rate. Out of 41 local day center participants at The Learning Center (TLC) in Northeast Arkansas, only four are currently employed. This reveals a critical deficit in opportunities for local adults to build the work skills, independence, and self esteem that they desire far beyond a paycheck. To address primary employment barriers such as a lack of vocational skills and fears about disability benefit loss, this functional business provides simulated and …