Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding Language Use Patterns Of People With Chronic Pain: A Novel Assessment Approach, Jodie Maccarrone

Theses and Dissertations

It is estimated that 35% of Americans or 116 million people report experiencing chronic pain daily (Nahin, 2015). Due to the unique and individualized nature of chronic pain, successful treatment of this condition is difficult to achieve. The heterogeneity and complexity in presentation may help explain why, as all methods of treatment have fallen short of providing consistent and reliable outcomes (Finnerup et al., 2015; Lumley & Schubiner, 2019), resulting in unsuccessful treatment approaches that can lead to compounding negative consequences such as hyperalgesia (Garland et al., 2013) and even death (Scholl, Seth, Kariisa, Wilson, & Baldwin, 2019). As such, …

Sea Turtle Conservation Program - 2022 Report, Derek Burkholder, Abby Nease

Sea Turtle Nesting Trends Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Comparing Effectiveness Of Two Antibodies (Aducanumab And Gantenerumab) On Reducing Amyloid-Beta Plaques, Nikhila Paleati, Pranav R. Neravetla, Akhil B. Godbole, Emily S. Lavin, Arthur K. Sikora

Protein Modeling Reports

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative neurological disorder that destroys memory and other important cognitive functions. As time progresses, brain cell connections, as well as the brain cells themselves, atrophy and die. AD is caused by a missense mutation in the amyloid-beta peptide within the amyloid precursor protein (APP). The mutation results in glutamine being replaced with glutamic acid. Previously conducted studies showed that mutated forms of the amyloid-beta peptide fragment have a greater tendency to stick together and form protein clumps or aggregates. The abnormal build-up of aggregates in and around the brain cells has been found to be …

Exploring Structural Differences Between Antagonistic Peptides For The Development Of Orally Bioavailable Pcsk9 Inhibitors, Bhavya Soni, Pritika Vemulapalli

Protein Modeling Reports

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal genetic disease that causes elevated blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). One of the leading causes of FH is gain-of-function mutations in the gene coding for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). The PCSK9 protein binds to LDL receptors (LDLR) on the surface of hepatocytes and promotes their degradation, preventing the recycling of LDLRs and thus increasing LDL blood levels. Monoclonal antibody therapies that bind to PCSK9 inhibiting LDLR binding are currently only available as an injection. However, several orally bioavailable PCSK9 inhibitors have been formulated and are undergoing clinical trials. One such therapy …

Educational Initiative In An Ncats Tl1 Training Program To Address The Impact Of Systemic Racism On Human Health, Biomedical Research, And The Translational Scientist, Martha D. Gay, Kimberly A. Bell, Emily A. Bujold, Marilla Geraci, Dexter L. Lee, Kathryn Sandberg, Robert C. Speth

HPD Articles

INTRODUCTION: The goal of clinical and translational science (CTS) is to fill gaps in medical knowledge toward improving human health. However, one of our most pressing challenges does not reside within the biological map we navigate to find sustainable cures but rather the moral compass to recognize and overcome racial and ethnic injustices that continue to influence our society and hinder diverse research rigor. The Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science includes an inter-institutional TL1-funded training program for predoctoral/postdoctoral trainees in Translational Biomedical Science (TBS). METHODS: In the fall of 2020, the TBS program responded to the national …

2022 Nsu Fact Book, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Fact Book

The 30th edition of the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Fact Book provides perspective on the university’s character, growth, and accomplishments. The 2022 Fact Book includes narrative, numeric, and graphic representation of the university, including history, characteristics, and development of the institution. Data are presented in both tabular and graphic formats to provide pertinent detail, and general trends are highlighted.

Like all previous editions of the Fact Book, this edition is a snapshot of the university during the academic year that concludes in the year of its publication. Therefore, the 2022 Fact Book represents NSU from fall 2021 through spring …

2022-2023 Nsu Undergraduate Student Catalog, Nova Southeastern University

Undergraduate Programs Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Quality Of Life For Deafblind Individuals: Comparing The Effect Of Living With And Without Support Service Providers, Sheridan K. Whitworth, Jaime Wilson

JADARA

The current study examines the quality of life for DeafBlind individuals who have support service providers (SSPs) compared to those who do not have SSPs. A measure of quality of life (KIDSCREEN Survey, 2004) was administered to 56 DeafBlind individuals (N=58), ages 18 years and older. Half of the individuals (n = 28) participated in the group with SSPs, and the other half participated in the group without SSPs. Results from the quantitative survey indicate that DeafBlind individuals with SSPs have consistently higher positive responses than those without SSPs.

Ubiquitous Microplastics In The Upper Gastrointestinal Tracts Of Florida Coastal Seabirds, Jonathan J. Clark, Dorothy-Ellen A. Renegar, Dave Kerstetter

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Plastic pollution is increasingly recognized as a global problem. In particular, plastic pieces <5 mm in size (‘microplastics’) are of interest due to their prevalence and association with harmful, persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Very little is known about the prevalence of microplastics in coastal birds. Yet, these water-associated birds are at a high risk of ingesting microplastics that accumulate near the water’s surface. This study describes the microplastics found in the proventriculus and ventriculus of four species of coastal birds regarding quantity, size, type (fiber or fragment), and color (light, mid, or dark). A total of 643 microplastic particles were identified, with 43 of the 44 study specimens containing microplastics (97.7% frequency). The ‘fiber’ type and the ‘mid’ color were the most common microplastics. There were no significant differences between species for particle sizes, but Brown Pelicans contained significantly more particles than the other three species. These results highlight the prevalence of plastic pollution in medium-sized seabirds, but more work is needed to determine microplastic patterns between taxa and foraging environments.

Modeling The Binding Of Ω-Conotoxin And Other Toxins To The N-Type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel, Serena Sha, Sophie Welch, Ashley Guillen-Tapia

Protein Modeling Reports

Approximately 1.5 billion people in the world suffer from chronic pain, persistent pain that carries on for longer than 12 weeks despite medication or treatment. Management of chronic pain typically includes the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or prescription pain medications, including opioids. An alternative therapy derived from conotoxins, toxins released from marine predatory snails in the family Conidae, was approved for the treatment of severe chronic pain in 2004. This pharmaceutical has the trade name Prialt and is also known as ziconotide. Once ziconotide is in the human body, it acts as a channel blocker of the N-type …

Shark Parent March 2022, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Parent Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Small Interfering Rna (Sirna)-Based Therapy, Inderbir S. Padda, Arun U. Mahtani, Mayur S. Parmar

HPD Articles

No abstract provided.

An Approach For Efficient Robust Adversarial Training In Deep Neural Networks, Cesar Zalzalah

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

With advancements in computer hardware, deep neural networks outperform other methods for many applications, such as image and voice recognition. Unfortunately, existing deep neural networks are fragile at test time against adversarial examples, which are intentionally calculated perturbations that cause a neural network to misclassify the correct input label. This vulnerability makes the use of neural networks risky, especially in critical applications. Extensive prior research studies to build a robust neural network using diverse approaches have been proposed to tackle this problem, including customized models and their parameters, input pre-processing to detect and remove adversarial perturbations, blocking the adversarial input, …

Graduate Catalog And Student Handbook 2022-2023, Nova Southeastern University

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice Graduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

2022-2023 Halmos College Of Arts And Sciences Graduate Program Catalog, Nova Southeastern University

Halmos College of Arts and Sciences Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Sheepshead (Archosargus Probatocephalus) Neurocranium, Andrew J. Hartmann, Steven Peterson, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium from Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus)

Sequencing The Mitochondrial Dna Of Lagenidium Juracyae, Kunal Kanwar

Honors Theses

Lagenidium oomycetes are fungus-like eukaryotic microorganisms that are closely related to diatoms and brown algae. One defining characteristic of Lagenidium oomycetes is their ability to act as a parasite during the larval stage of mosquitoes. Thus, over the past few decades, mosquito infecting Lagenidium oomycetes have been considered to serve as pesticides in various industries. However, some Lagenidium oomycetes have been linked to new mammalian skin conditions, particularly in dogs. As more research has been conducted about these skin conditions, there has been new data showing the presence of new species of Lagenidium oomycetes aside from the most popular Lagenidium …

The Experiences Of The Elderly Transitioning From Home To The Nursing Home Setting, Brent James Munson

Theses and Dissertations

Elderly persons transitioning from home to a nursing home setting may struggle with unaddressed mental health issues. The problem addressed in this study involved a lack of evidence regarding how elderly individuals experience these transitions in living from their own perspectives. The purpose of this study was to better understand the lived experiences of elderly people who are making the transition from home to a nursing home setting.

The qualitative design utilized in the research was phenomenology. Fourteen participants were interviewed to ascertain their experiences in the transition from home to a nursing home setting. Follow-up questions were formulated and …

Impacts Of Covid-19 On Global Healthcare Management And Research, Stephanie Autore, Santanu De

Biology Faculty Articles

The Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected most nations at all levels of functioning, individual to governmental. Therefore, it is imperative to evaluate the effects the virus has had on one of the most important socioeconomic global sectors, healthcare. This literature review explores key, recent research and management strategies that have been undertaken in healthcare systems around the world in order to make meaningful attempts at identifying the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease, and combating the spread of this deadly virus. Healthcare facilities have implemented a variety of changes, all geared towards reducing non-emergency patient visits …

The Impact Of Food Justice Advocates In Creating And Influencing Public Policy, Michael Joseph Chadukiewicz

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This case study explored the impact that food justice advocates had on creating and implementing public policy to provide access to adequate, healthy, and culturally appropriate food for the residents of New Haven, Connecticut. The problem the case study explored is in 2020 food insecurity affected 22% of the residents of New Haven, more than twice the national average. This qualitative case study used grounded theory to analyze the experiences of 31 food justice advocates that were members of a coalition of researchers, food service providers, non-profit agencies, grassroot organizations, and residents tasked with improving the city’s emergency food system. …

The Challenges And Issues Faced By Saudi Women When They Are Appointed To New Unconventional Jobs, Ghadah Abdulhadi Alghamdi

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Advancing awareness of the workforce and job issues faced by women in the KSA will encourage HRM departments to enhance Saudi women's work experience by implementing more gender-friendly work environments, practices, and processes. Therefore, the researcher decided to implement this research to shed light on the role of Saudi women working in community development, to identify the most important challenges and issues facing Saudi women working in new unconventional jobs, and to discuss methods that can be followed to reduce these challenges and issues. To achieve this, the researcher used a descriptive-analytical approach and qualitative research methods (interviews). The interviews …

Violence Without Thought Or Memory, Marvin W. Acklin

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Understanding mental states in criminal defendants who have committed extreme homicidal violence invokes perspectives from neurobiology, psychoanalytic theory, and personality assessment. Individuals who commit extreme violence frequently claim to have no awareness or recollection of their violent actions. This paper examines violence without thought or memory—with a special focus on rage-type murder—through the lens of the neurobiology and neuroscience of affective violence, clinical and forensic personality assessment, and clinical case history. A forensic case study is presented of an extreme violent homicide perpetrated by a 14-year-old youth who killed his foster mother, including a psychological evaluation and a mental state …

Psychiatric And Neuropsychological Sequelae Of Herpes Simplex Encephalitis, Carla F. Cabrera, Charles J. Golden

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), often from the Type 1 (HSV-1) viral infection. This neurotropic double-stranded DNA virus impairs the integrity and permeability of the blood-brain barrier, allowing the virus to enter the brain. In several studies, HSV-1 impacts the temporal lobe, frontal lobe, and limbic system, leading to brain damage. While significant progress has occurred in understanding this infection, clinicians should be vigilant for acute and chronic complications associated with HSE, such as autoimmune encephalitis, differential diagnoses, and psychological disorders. A growing body of literature focuses on the evidence of an association …

A Comparative Evaluation Of The Effects Of Social Skills Group Training And Computer- Based Social Skills Training, Indira Hightower

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to evaluate the effects of social skills training programs as a method to improve social skills in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The study sought to advance the social skills training options for children with autism spectrum disorder by comparing various evidence-based social skills training programs in hope to provide meaningful, significant, and sustainable social-emotional changes that are explicitly taught and later generalized across individuals, settings, and environments. The researcher specifically evaluated the effects of social skills group training and computer-based social skills training among the three study participants with autism spectrum disorder.

The …

Teacher Perceptions Of Classroom Management Programs To Improve Whole-School Measures Of Attendance, Disruptive Classroom Behaviors, And Academic Outcomes, Charles E. Natt, Jr

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored how the implementation of Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) classroom management programs when implemented together affected students and teachers of a Louisiana K-12 school compared with using the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program alone. Teachers at the school who had used the PBIS alone and then also used the newly implanted CKH and MTSS programs participated in in-depth interviews to examine the practical effectiveness of both program implementations upon students and classroom learning effectiveness. Teacher perceptions were also compared with ex post facto data for the school from …

Female Delinquency And Pathways To Crime, Pamela Lynn Smykal

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation investigated gendered relationships and their potential influence on women’s criminal motivation. Historically, researchers attempted to understand criminal behavior using a male-oriented perspective which has dominated criminological literature. Criminologists have neglected to consider the role of gender as a significant predictor or pathway toward criminal behavior of either males or females. Within the last two decades, female criminality has become a spotlight for recognition and attention separate from male criminality. Traditional research on crime has been limited in understanding the pathways for female criminality and motivations for offending as individual predictors of male crime. Analyzing the role of …

Implications Of Salinity Normalization Of Seawater Total Alkalinity In Coral Reef Metabolism Studies, Travis A. Courtney, Tyler Cyronak, Alyssa J. Griffin, Andreas J. Andersson

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Salinity normalization of total alkalinity (TA) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) data is commonly used to account for conservative mixing processes when inferring net metabolic modification of seawater by coral reefs. Salinity (S), TA, and DIC can be accurately and precisely measured, but salinity normalization of TA (nTA) and DIC (nDIC) can generate considerable and unrecognized uncertainties in coral reef metabolic rate estimates. While salinity normalization errors apply to nTA, nDIC, and other ions of interest in coral reefs, here, we focus on nTA due to its application as a proxy for net coral reef calcification and the importance for …

Teaching And Assessing College Stem Courses Online During Covid-19: Evidence-Based Strategies And Recommendations, Santanu De, Georgina Arguello

FDLA Journal

Since the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, most schools, colleges, and universities worldwide underwent a paradigm shift by transitioning to digital teaching and learning modalities. This phenomenon was essential to mitigate the contagion; however, the academic institutions needed to quickly come up with ways to ensure that the quality and rigor of education were maintained, especially the active and experiential learning required by undergraduate and graduate courses in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This paper highlights key approaches reported or proposed to effectively conduct college-level, in-person STEM courses online owing to the pandemic. These would range from synchronous versus asynchronous pedagogies …

Philosophical Foundations Of African Women's Indigenous Knowledge For Food Security: Towards Narrative Feminist Pedagogy, Humphrey Jeremiah Ojwang, Wanjiku Mukabi Kabira, Penninah Amolo Ogada

FDLA Journal

This paper explores the pedagogical value of African Women’s Indigenous Knowledge or Food Security. The approach is narratological and takes into account oral testimonies and life-stories of women farmers in Homa Bay County, Kenya. The paper proposes African feminist epistemology as a viable approach in the pedagogy of food security and agricultural extension in rural Kenya. This is a paradigm shift which incorporates women farmers’ indigenous knowledge in formal agricultural education and extension programmes. The paradigm shift to African feminist epistemology is a response to a pedagogical anomaly where women’s indigenous knowledge has been relegated to the sidelines, with hegemonic …

Optimizing The Time To Transfer Sexually Produced Corals Of Porites Astreoides, Agaricia Agaricites, And Montastraea Cavernosa To An Offshore Nursery, Rachel Ionata

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

As reefs continue to decline globally and become unable to recover on their own, restoration becomes essential to abate reef degradation and boost reef recovery until the main sources of the degradation are addressed. Sexual propagation is an important restoration technique that still requires optimization. One of the major knowledge gaps is determining the optimal time to transfer newly-settled sexually-produced corals from an aquarium to an offshore nursery without compromising their survival and growth. This study transferred settlers from Porites astreoides, Agaricia agaricites, and Montastraea cavernosa to an offshore nursery at approximately one week, five weeks, and nine weeks post-settlement, …