Digital Commons Network^™

Targeting The Renin-Angiotensin System For The Treatment Of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Ariana Hernandez, Chana Vogel, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Natalia Noto, Yazmin Restrepo, Shay Moen, Julianna Bonetti

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), the accumulation of amyloid proteins in the cerebral vasculature, can increase the risk of stroke, vascular cognitive impairment, and dementia. CAA is highly comorbid with Alzheimer’s disease and contributes to Alzheimer’s pathology by affecting the clearance of amyloid from the brain. Epidemiological studies suggest that certain renin-angiotensin system-targeting drugs, commonly used for the treatment of hypertension, decrease the risk of dementia. This study assesses whether two FDA-approved RAS-targeting drugs: telmisartan [a brain-penetrant angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)], and lisinopril [a brain-penetrant angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor]; can be repurposed to mitigate CAA, associated neuropathologies, and cognitive decline in …

Synergistic Anticancer Effects Of Jq-1 And Doxorubicin Via Myc Downregulation And Apoptosis Induction, Abby Morrill, Srika Saai Talanki, Sneha Subhash, Sabrin Safar, Maria Moreno Hollweg, Kyuree Chang, María Guillén-Méndez, Swara Chindahade

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Aggressive cancers are particularly challenging due to their rapid growth, ability to adapt, and resistance to single therapies. Combination therapies or a multipronged approach can increase tumor cell killing and limit the development of drug resistance. The potential of combining conventional chemotherapy with targeted therapies was investigated. To determine the best drug combinations, viability assays using an 8 x 8 dose response matrix format (checkerboard) with small-step serial dilutions of cytotoxic and targeted drugs was performed. The resulting viability data, as determined by MTS assay, was analyzed using the web application SynergyFinder. The results indicated that the combined drug treatment …

Write To Calm: How College Students Use Writing To Manage Stress And Anxiety, Tanvi Rudrangi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Writing has gained attention for its mental health benefits, particularly among high-stress populations, such as adolescents and young adults. College students, facing academic pressures, social challenges, and transitions to adulthood, are an ideal group for studying the potential therapeutic impact of this practice. This study explores how college students use writing as a tool to manage stress and anxiety. The different forms of writing therapy, a technique involving writing to process emotions and experiences, that are explored in this study include free-form journaling, expressive writing (e.g., letters, personal essays, etc.), creative writing (e.g., poetry, stories, etc.), and structured writing, which …

My Oath Of Healing And Living, Samuel B. John Mph

be Still

No abstract provided.

Nsu Kpcom Link - Spring 2025 - Volume 4.1, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Florida Link Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Sacred Oath Of Healing - Volume 9

be Still

No abstract provided.

Cultivating Compassionate And Inclusive Care For People With Disabilities, Evelyn Echevarria Cruz, Aila Cordero, Maria Fioletova, Amanda Escudero

be Still

The disparity between physicians' preparedness to treat people with disabilities (PWD) and the prevalence of disabilities is a critical healthcare issue. The 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System reported that over 25% of U.S. adults have a disability, yet many healthcare providers feel unprepared. A poll found that only 40.7% of 714 physicians were confident in providing quality care to PWD, while 61% of 600 surveyed PWD indicated that their providers needed more training. Additionally, only 36% of medical schools included disability education in their curricula, often focusing on brief simulations rather than immersive experiences. To effectively address the diverse …

Cultural And Religious Perspectives On Suicide And Healing, Arielle Friedman

be Still

This essay is built off of a paper I wrote in a college global health course on culture and mental illness. I have always been fascinated by cultural interpretations of illness & believe that as a future physician, it is my responsibility to educate myself and others on the complex interplay between religious ideologies & recognition/management of biological disease in order to provide appropriate patient-centered care.

The Masculine Way, Jessica Asuquo

be Still

This painting was conceptualized after a particularly impactful patient visit. During the visit, the patient described a traumatic event in greater detail, stating that the doctor and I were the first people he had ever spoken to about the event.

I felt both honored and disheartened by this statement. I was honored that this man trusted us with this knowledge. Still, I was immensely sad that he dealt with the trauma of this event alone for decades. I believe he released some of the grief, pain, anger, fear, and hurt when he shared his burden with us, and I will …

Nourishing The Body, Nurturing The Soul, Vidhi Raval

be Still

No abstract provided.

Revealing The Indonesian Crazy Rich Prisoner On Social Media: A Multimodal Discourse Analysis, Krisna Megantari, Heru Nugroho, Dian Arymami

The Qualitative Report

Although flexing is commonly perceived as a negative connotation in society, this phenomenon on digital media industry is fantastically entertaining. This study aims to reveal how the media shapes the phenomenon of Indonesian crazy rich prisoners. Using a multimodal discourse analysis on the YouTube video screenshots were analyzed qualitatively. In dissecting this, three terms are used: representational meaning, interactive meaning, and compositional meaning (Van Leeuwen & Jewitt, 2004). Findings shed some light on three symbolic language themes: hedonism, spectacle society, and homo digitalis. The present study theoretically and practically contributes to the dimensions of the digital media industry, where media …

Benefits Of Psychobiography Training To The Professional And Personal Development Of Psychology Graduate Students, Joseph G. Ponterotto, Dinesh Sharma, Yuki Yamazaki

The Qualitative Report

In recent decades, psychobiography has witnessed a resurgence of activity and publication across many subdisciplines in psychology internationally. One area of recent research has been to evaluate the benefits of training in psychobiography to students’ professional development as perceived by professors and mentors in psychobiography. The present study extends this recent line of research by surveying the perceived impacts of psychobiography training among doctoral students in applied psychology. Twenty-five doctoral students who completed training and research in psychobiography in a summer course over three consecutive years, responded to an open-ended (free response) survey on the impact of conducting psychobiographies on …

The Current - Volume 35 Issue 11, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Reliability And Validity In Qualitative Research Revisited And The Role Of Ai, Prokopis A. Christou

The Qualitative Report

The evolving nature of research and the integration of new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), introduce new challenges and threats, necessitating a re-examination of the key criteria of reliability and validity. In this paper, I revisit these concepts in the context of qualitative research, highlighting their evolving meanings and significance. I begin by defining reliability and validity and explaining their importance. Following this, I discuss strategies for establishing these criteria within qualitative studies and offer guidelines for maintaining rigor in the current research landscape. While emphasizing the need for human oversight, intervention, and interpretation, I underscore how to ensure …

Group Dynamics Of Solution-Oriented Virtual Teams In Indonesian Startups: A Thematic Analysis, Tri Astuti, Avin Fadilla Helmi, Bagus Riyono

The Qualitative Report

The relationship between employees is currently undergoing quite significant changes. Initially, relationships were formed through direct interaction in traditional teams. However, in recent decades, relationships have not only occurred directly but can also occur because technology and networks, such as virtual teams, mediate them. The change from traditional teams to virtual teams results in changes in relationship dynamics. With this change, the question asked in this study is, how are group dynamics formed in virtual teams? Through this question, the purpose of the study was identified, namely, to develop a theory of virtual team group dynamics in startup companies. The …

An International Framework And A Local Standardised Test: A Former Item Writer’S Autoethnography, Xuan Minh Ngo

The Qualitative Report

A recent trend dominating education worldwide is the enactment of external accountability frameworks and standards-based assessment. Likewise, in language education, international standards like the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) have been increasingly used for local standardised test development and alignment. However, there has been little research into the application of the CEFR in item writing, the activity of creating new items and associated materials, in local standardised testing contexts. To bridge this gap, this autoethnography shares my firsthand experience of writing items for a locally-developed, CEFR-aligned standardised English test in Vietnam. By combining evocative and analytic autoethnography, I aim …

Child Marriage Traditions In Pakistan: Reconstructing (In) Security And Subjective Well-Being Of Children, Makhtoom Ahmed, Muhammad Zaman, Hifza Irfan

The Qualitative Report

This article reports on child marriage traditions in the past and in contemporary times vis-a-vis promoting security, insecurity, and well-being in Pakistan. Although the practice of child marriage has begun to decline due to social change, modernisation, and development in urban areas, it tends to linger on in rural communities within Pakistan. In such communities, there is a general perception that early marriage is in the interest and well-being of couples as it allows them to experience long-term marital intimacy and life satisfaction. The present study is part of an extensive ethnographic study in which the authors analysed interview data …

Exploring The Causes Of Plwha Non-Adherence With Antiretroviral Therapy: Implications For Practice In The Post-Covid-19 Era, A Phenomenological Study, Adriani Suwito, Evi Hasnita, Nurhayati -. Nurhayati, Oktavianis -. Oktavianis

The Qualitative Report

One of the goals of HIV/AIDS health services is to combat patients’ non-adherence with medication. This is the key to providing effective care for these patients. If a patient is rebellious or undisciplined in following his treatment regimen, the consequences can include decreased production, increased morbidity, and even death. However, in the post-COVID-19 period, where health protocol adherence remains strong, there are concerns regarding the potential spread of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenon study is to investigate the factors that contribute to non-adherence to medicine in HIV/AIDS patients during the post-COVID-19 condition to remove barriers to patient treatment. …

The Current - Volume 35 Issue 10, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Kismet Meets Serendipity: A Personal Reflection On Using Patricia Leavy’S Novel Low-Fat Love To Bring Meaning To College Students, U. Melissa Anyiwo

The Qualitative Report

In this article Melissa Anyiwo writes about meeting Patricia Leavy and reading her debut novel, Low-Fat Love. She reflects on the impact this book has had on her personally, and how as a work of social fiction it resonated deeply with her own life experiences. She details using social fiction novels in undergraduate classroom settings, why she has used Low-Fat Love so many times in her courses, the lessons embedded into the novel, and the kinds of self and social reflection the novel stimulates. She references other well-known examples of popular culture in her analysis of meaning-making in Low-Fat …

A Full-Fat Remix Of Low-Fat Love Stories, Tabitha Chilton, Gioia Chilton

The Qualitative Report

Low-Fat Love Stories is a book coauthored by Patricia Leavy and Victoria Scotti. The book is a collection of short stories and visual arts based directly on women’s interview transcripts. In this article, the authors respond to Low-Fat Love Stories through text and visual art. The authors show how artistic analysis inspires personal reflection.

Shiny New Beginnings: Reaching For Celestial Bodies In Romance And Research, Alexandra C. H. Nowakowski

The Qualitative Report

This commentary explores a series of social fiction novels about relationships through the lens of ethnographic research. It amplifies the lessons about love and life from Dr. Patricia Leavy’s Celestial Bodies series focused around two people with complex trauma finding kinship and healing with one another after a chance meeting. In the process, it uplifts the rigor and uniqueness of Leavy’s methods in translating findings from many years of observational research with people in different kinds of relationships to the social fiction format whose name she coined herself. In journeying through a shared life with main protagonists Tess Lee and …

Celebrating Dr. Patricia Leavy’S Body Of Work: An Introduction To This Special Issue, Laurel Richardson, U. Melissa Anyiwo

The Qualitative Report

In this article Laurel Richardson and Melissa Anyiwo detail Patricia Leavy’s contributions to qualitative inquiry. After providing background information, they provide a thematic look at Leavy’s contribution in the areas of innovation and trailblazing, paradigm shifts, border crossing, creativity and artistry, and social justice and humanitarianism. They conclude with remarks about Leavy’s enduring legacy in the field of qualitative research.

Looking Beyond Numbers In Qualitative Research: From Data Saturation To Data Analysis, Prokopis Christou Phd

The Qualitative Report

In the realm of qualitative research, numbers have often been viewed with skepticism, and their role remains controversial. Despite this ambivalence, the importance of numerical data in qualitative research cannot be disregarded. This paper critically examines the increasing integration of numbers and algorithms, particularly through Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, within qualitative inquiry. It explores the role and implications of numerical data, emphasizing key principles such as data saturation. The paper highlights concerns associated with AI-assisted data analysis, including the risks of oversimplification, reductionist approaches, and detachment from context. It also addresses the potential dangers of technological over-reliance during the analysis …

Enhancing Learning In The Uae: Exploring Chatgpt As A More Knowledgeable Other (Mko) In Science And Non-Science Courses In The Uae, Nagaletchimee Annamalai, S. Abdellatif, Gaforov Ikboljon Uktamovich, Bilal Mohammed Zakarneh

The Qualitative Report

This study examines the role of ChatGPT as a More Knowledgeable Other (MKO) in educational settings, encompassing both scientific and non-scientific courses. A qualitative case study involved 20 educators from higher education institutions. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, and the collected data was subsequently analysed using the thematic analysis suggested by Braun and Clarke (2006). The findings emphasize the significance of validating educational resources and maintaining control over their usage to mitigate issues related to plagiarism and uphold academic integrity. ChatGPT serves as an MKO by guiding learners in enhancing their technical writing skills and aiding in information …

Clark Moustakas’ Husserl, Thomas Byrne

The Qualitative Report

This paper critically examines Clark Moustakas’s presentation of Husserl in Phenomenological Research Methods. I argue that Moustakas’s account misrepresents two core elements of Husserl’s phenomenology – intentionality and the transcendental reduction – in ways that directly compromise the foundations of qualitative phenomenological research. First, Moustakas treats intentional meaning as something private, located within the individual, rather than as given in the world. This misreading severs the connection between experience and a shared world of meaning, leaving qualitative researchers unable to clarify participants’ accounts beyond private expression. Second, Moustakas reduces the transcendental reduction to introspective reflection, overlooking its function as a …

Experiencing The First Year Of Covid-19 Pandemic: Feelings And Thoughts Of Emerging Adults, Miljana Spasić Šnele Phd, Ivana Janković Phd, Jelisaveta Todorović Phd

The Qualitative Report

COVID-19 brought many changes in the daily functioning of many individuals, including emerging adults, due to social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and the closure of public institutions, thus representing a threat to physical and mental health. We investigated how emerging adults felt regarding their experience during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were also interested in what they had been thinking about in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic one year after its declaration. To answer these questions, we conducted a qualitative study. The participants included 51 students aged 19 to 28 years old. Conducting thematic analysis six themes related …

“But How Do I Start?” A Beginner’S Guide To Your First Qualitative Project, Jason B. Whiting Phd, Bria Nicole Davies

The Qualitative Report

Many new qualitative researchers feel overwhelmed and struggle to find direction in existing books and articles about qualitative methodology. Qualitative methods have a long history that includes different philosophies, practices, and methods, and there are endless ways to interpret and use these tools within these traditions. This article introduces basic qualitative methods with the intent to guide a first-time researcher through a first social science research project, such as a thesis or dissertation. It frames the process as a five-step journey with guidelines to follow and additional resources that can be accessed related to each phase. Although the craft of …

The Current - Volume 35 Issue 8, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Deprescribing/Appropriate Prescribing Module, Nova Southeastern University

GWEP Modules

No abstract provided.