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Novel Formulation Strategies With Hot-Melt Extrusion Technology To Address Physicochemical And Physiological Constraints For Improved Oral Drug Delivery, Sagar Narala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Most current active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) exhibit poor water solubility, necessitating higher doses or repeated administration. Numerous methods were explored to augment solubility, including but not limited to amorphous solid dispersions, cocrystals, salts, and nanoformulations. The hot-melt extrusion (HME) technique has gained immense popularity due to its solvent-free and continuous manufacturing capabilities, contributing to its increasing use to enhance solubility and bioavailability. In the first chapter, hydrochlorothiazide (BCS-IV class) cocrystals were produced using coformers such as nicotinamide (NIC), resorcinol (RSL), and catechol (CAT) through HME technology. The cocrystals were compared against liquid-assisted grinding (LAG) cocrystals and then analyzed by DSC, …

Increasing Primary Care Physicians Through Rural Medicine Curriculum, Margaret Pickering Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The citizens of rural areas encounter many challenges with accessing primary healthcare. Mississippi meets 52.1% of the needs of the state for primary care physicians, causing citizens to travel farther distances to access health care. Many rural hospitals within the state are struggling financially and are at high risk of closing, causing further barriers for rural citizens to access healthcare. Increasing primary care physicians help provide adequate healthcare access and provides rural citizens access to preventative care and early treatment for health problems.

This study, conducted at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, seeks to determine if rural medicine courses …

Cosplay Fandom Leisure Engagement: Exploring Cosplay Participation And Involvement On Depression And Wellbeing Toward A Recreation Therapy., Julie A. Morris Chambers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Engagement in leisure is a complex construct that impacts wellbeing beyond mere participation. Moreover, researchers have explored engagement in various ways including what people do and experience in their personal pursuit of leisure activities (Kleiber et al., 2011). Studies show that leisure engagement positively effects participants' wellbeing and reduces their ill-being. The purpose of this study is to explore the level of cosplay leisure engagement and wellness and mental health of DragonCon (DC) attendees to illuminate if their cosplay engagement has therapeutic effects on wellness, perceived wellness, and depression. In this study, Newman (et al., 2013) and Kuykendall (et al., …

Acute Countermovement Jump Performance In Collegiate Distance Runners, Kristel Tessa Van Den Berg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Running is the most popular form of physical activity worldwide and it has a positive effect on the overall health. However, (competitive) running is also associated with stress injuries. Stress injuries can be caused by overtraining. Countermovement jumps (CMJ) have previously been used to monitor training load and neuromuscular fatigue in athletes of multiple sports. However, this has not been explored in distance runners yet. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess if countermovement jump (CMJ) performance in collegiate distance athletes has a relationship to neuromuscular fatigue.

Methods: In total 12 female and 15 male distance runners …

Who, What, And How Much: Understanding The Profiles, Preferences, And Valuations Of Individuals Likely To Participate In Food As Medicine Programs, Austin Dean Arnold

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Initial research on food as medicine programs has shown encouraging evidence, but more evidence is needed to identify the most effective models, services, delivery methods, and funding mechanisms. Previously studied programs were designed by the researchers, providers, and public health advocates without input from patients on their preferences. Patient engagement is essential to develop successful programs.

Study Aims: 1) To explore the presence latent classes among individuals with diet-related chronic diseases likely to participate in food as medicine programs; 2) To explore preferences for attributes of food as medicine programs among individuals with diet-related chronic diseases likely to participate; …

Voices From Below: The Politics Of Leprosy Control In Southeastern Nigeria, 1926-1960, Odinakachukwu Kingsley Eze

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Leprosy was an endemic disease in colonial Southeastern Nigeria but became an epidemic between the 1920s and 1940s. Unlike malaria and sleeping sickness, its endemicity did not impede European penetration at the dawn of the twentieth century. However, its spread across Nigeria intensified during colonial rule, with acute prevalence in regions hitherto prone to the disease. Therefore, from the 1920s to 1960, Southeastern Nigeria became the epicenter of British policies tailored towards preventing, curing, and eradicating leprosy disease in Nigeria. Existing research has established the involvement of different actors in this course–including Christian missionaries, colonial officials, specialized agencies, and international …

Gender Differences And Directionality Of Intimate Partner Violence, Nate Juda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The academic discipline of intimate partner violence (IPV) is currently divided into two prevailing perspectives: the feminist perspective, which asserts IPV is a product of the long history of acceptance and encouragement of wife-beating, stemming from patriarchal values; and the gender-inclusive model, that finds IPV reflects multifunctional etiologies, across the types and severities of IPV, with both men and women as perpetrators and victims at similar rates. However, a review of the extant literature does not support either of these conclusions. There is a growing body of research evidence that suggest women are more likely than men to commit IPV. …

Using Diverse Children's Literature To Enhance Social Emotional Learning, Lashana T. Middleton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on examining the use of diverse children's literature and social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula to enhance the social-emotional competence skills of Pre-K students in general education classrooms. Understanding and developing these skills during early childhood has been shown to be essential for healthy child development, and early education teachers play a critical role in this process. The findings from this study suggest that while teachers have a positive view and awareness of the theoretical foundations of SEL, they may need additional training and support to effectively implement and incorporate SEL strategies in their practices. Specifically, the study highlighted …

Investigating The Impact Of A Brief, High-Intensity Exercise Break During Prolonged Gaming On Esports Performance, Hannah E. Nelson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous research shows that mental fatigue leading to decreased cognitive functioning may occur after 2 hours of continuous activity. This decline could be detrimental to esports athletes that may play for 3 or more hours at a time. Use of a moderate-intensity exercise break following 1 hour of gaming did not improve cognitive functioning more than continuous play. Increases in blood glucose levels are typically related to increases in cognitive functioning. Therefore, research should be done to investigate the relationship between glucose levels and cognitive function during long-duration gaming and how the use of an active exercise break may impact …

Classic Maya Subadult Age Estimates From Ambergris Caye, Belize, Nikki Anne Wicox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Maya of the Classic period (300-900 AD) were inhabitants of the coastal island of Ambergris Caye, Belize (Guderjan, 2007). The individuals of this island have been explored through other research, however, one sub-population on the island that has yet to be explored in depth is that of childhood. Children play an integral role in society but are often overlooked as active members based upon the modern cultural norms of childhood, as well as the perceived difficulty of identifying children´s activities in the archaeological record (Ardren, 2015; Ardren & Hutson, 2006; Danforth, 1989; Storey, 1992; Wright, 1997). My research aims to …

How Does The Creation Of Temporary Wetland Habitat On Agricultural Fields In The Mississippi Alluvial Valley Affect The Abundance Of Migratory Shorebirds?, Emma Mccarley Counce

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although the causes of broad population declines of migratory shorebirds are not well understood, it is likely that loss of migratory stopover habitat is a contributing factor. In the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV), much of the historical stopover sites have been converted to agricultural land. To combat this dearth, we have incentivized farmers to create temporary wetland habitat on shallowly flooded corn and soybean cropland in the LMAV during the fall after harvest. In a two-year study, shorebird surveys were completed bi-weekly on employed farm sites to determine the abundances of shorebirds present on five different temporal flood treatments …

“To Save My Own Life:” The Revisionary And Sustaining Practice Of Autotheory, Margaret Zee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Autotheory, a hybrid of autobiography and literary theory, is the term Paul B. Preciado used to describe his book Testo Junkie (2008), a term Maggie Nelson then borrowed as a label for her book The Argonauts (2015). Though the term autotheory is relatively new, such hybrid writing has a rich literary history which I trace to intersectional feminist writers like Audre Lorde, Gloria Anzaldúa, and bell hooks in chapter 1’s genealogy. I argue that autotheory participates in theory’s work even as it revises certain Theoretical assumptions that hold sway in the academy today. This dissertation names three contemporary American books …

A Demand-Side Theory Of Labor Informality: Workers' Trust And States' Credible Commitment, Julian Alfonso Acevedo Pardo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Labor informality is a vexing issue across Latin America, with negative implications for policy areas from economic growth to social safety nets. Despite decades of efforts by national governments and international organizations, informality levels remain stubbornly high across the region. Insights from the extant literature suggest informality arises because creating formal sector jobs is too costly or the costs of formality for workers are too high. In contrast to most previous works on informality, this project steps back from standard materialistic assumptions and aims to uncover how the overall relationship between states and citizens impacts workers' incentives to work formally. …

Successful Aging And Turnover Intention Among Older Hospitality Frontline Employees, Thamsanqa Jongile

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This two-part dissertation delves into the intertwined precursors of successful aging and turnover intent in the hospitality sector. The first part applies a structural equation model to examine the link between perceived narcissistic leadership, successful aging, and turnover intentions. The author posits that work engagement, employee cynicism, and emotional fatigue are the mechanisms through which perceived narcissistic leadership affects successful aging and turnover intent. The findings affirm these conjectures, revealing that narcissistic leadership serves as a predictor of successful aging and turnover intent.

The second manuscript probes further into the antecedents of successful aging, evaluating a theoretical model in which …

Psychometric Properties Of The Spanish Ucla Ptsd Reaction Index For Dsm-5€“Brief Form In Puerto Rico Following Hurricane Maria, Evan Edward Rooney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trauma exposure among youth is a significant public health issue and is associated with psychiatric symptoms and impaired functioning. Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, have become an increasingly salient source of traumatic exposures for youth. However, not all youth exposed to traumatic experiences go on to develop posttraumatic stress symptoms or other maladaptive reactions. Given the high need for psychological support and low resource context engendered by hurricanes, efficient and evidentiary tools for assessing risk are needed to effectively identify youth most in need of services. The present study will use a sample of 96,108 Puerto Rican youth (Grades: 3-12; …

Exploring Messages About College Attendance And Graduation, Erin Talley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Successful completion of a college degree is a growing necessity in the United States of America. Concerns about workforce readiness and the cost of postsecondary education make completion of a college degree a burdensome necessity for individuals and society. Important implications from higher education research have been integral in establishing support programs to enhance college and university admissions, persistence, and graduation. Exploration of students’ home environments (Belasco, 2013; Wladis, Hachey, & Conway, 2018), preparation for college endeavors (Banks, 2022; Gilroy, 2014), fit in college institutions (Grillo & Leist, 2014; Lutz, Bennett, & Wang, 2017), and determination, or GRIT (Duckworth & …

A Historical Study Of Cécile Chaminade: Pianist, Composer, And Music Educator, Rebekah Leigh Schultz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

French composer and pianist Cécile Chaminade was one of the first women to make a career of composing. She had many strong musical influences in her life including Georges Bizet, Mortiz Moszkowski, and her parents. Chaminade composed approximately 400 pieces of music, 200 of which are piano works. She preferred to compose in smaller forms and was the leading exponent of the salon music style. For many years, Chaminade was the only well-known female composer to the general public. She remains one of the most published composers of her generation. Her most successful piano piece, Scarf Dance Op. 37, sold …

Development Of Gelucire-Based Ophthalmic Nanoformulations Of Cannabidiol, Muna Abdelrahman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of cannabidiol (CBD) for treating ocular disorders has gained increasing interest. There are several published investigations on the promising therapeutic potential of CBD for the treatment of glaucoma and retinal disorders. Epidiolex® is an oily solution of CBD in sesame oil, approved for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. However, extensive first-pass metabolism as well as poor aqueous solubility prevents the achievement of therapeutic concentrations in ocular tissues following oral administration. In contrast, topical ocular formulations could provide a high concentration of CBD to tissues within the eye. Nevertheless, there is no currently marketed CBD formulation …

Formulation And Evaluation Of Oral Film Loaded With Cannabidiol Using Solvent Casting Technique, Sujith Raj Bashetty

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

CBD has been shown to have a wide range of therapeutic effects for epilepsy, which is approved by the FDA, and it has also been studied for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anxiolytic properties. CBD-loaded oral films are a novel drug delivery system designed to improve the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid derived from the cannabis plant. In this study, CBD-loaded oral films were developed using a combination of anti-solvent precipitation and solvent-casting techniques. These oral films were designed to be thin, flexible, and rapidly disintegrating films. Different grades of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose were used as a film former. …

The Mississippi School Funding Formula: A Study Of Adequacy, Marcus E. Cheeks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this was to examine the relationship between Mississippi public school district per pupil funding disaggregated by funding source (total, federal, state, and local) and student academic achievement gaps within districts based on poverty and race. Pearson's correlational coefficient was used to assess the relationship across 139 Mississippi school districts during fiscal year 2019. State Special Schools, Charter Schools, and Agriculture Schools were excluded from the analysis. School districts lacking a sufficient number of African American and Economically Disadvantaged children to calculate a school proficiency score in ELA and Math were also removed. Thus, the analysis consisted of …

Sociocultural Determinants Of Exclusive Breastfeeding And Infant Feeding Practices In Niger, Maimouna Issoufou Kapran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Niger is one of the countries with the lowest exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates in the world. The purpose of this study was to determine the barriers to EBF in Niger and to determine the types of feedings that are most commonly practiced in Niger. Participants (n=31) were mothers with children aged 0 to 24 months, recruited on-site at a healthcare facility in Niamey, the capital of Niger. They completed a 20-item questionnaire on socio-demographics, breastfeeding support and knowledge, a short food security survey, and a 24-hour diet recall. All mothers interviewed breastfed at some point, and a majority of the …

Developing Novel Topical Formulations For Azole Drugs, Praveen Kolimi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Itraconazole is a broad-spectrum triazole antifungal agent used to prevent and treat fungal infections. Itraconazole is commercially available as an oral and intravenous formulation; however, its administration via these routes is associated with various side effects, such as hepatotoxicity, peripheral neuropathy, cardiac dysrhythmia, and hearing loss. Therefore, in this research, stable non-aqueous topical creams and gels loaded with itraconazole were investigated with the intent to prolong drug contact, improve drug permeation and penetration into skin layers, and overcome the side effects associated with other routes of administration for improved therapeutic outcomes. Chapter 1 discusses the development and characterization strategies during …

Immulina® As An Immunostimulatory Supplement: Dissolution And Pharmacodynamic Studies, Yusheng Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As one of popular dietary supplements, the health benefits of Arthrospira platensis (commonly known as spirulina) have been broadly reported. Immulina is a commercially available extract of Arthrospira platensis that is enriched with bacterial lipoproteins and acts as a Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) agonist. However, the immunostimulatory effect of Immulina in vivo has not been well understood. In this work, we explored the nanoformulation of Immulina to improve the dissolution rate in aqueous media. Building upon a standardized cell-based assay that measures the bioactivity of Immulina as a TLR2 agonist, we developed a quantitative methodology to determine the Immulina concentration …

Transitioning From Military To Civilian Life: An Examination Of Acculturation In Veterans Previously Deployed To Warzones, Katherine Anne Lucas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The transition of veterans from military to civilian life may be conceptualized as a cultural transition (i.e., acculturation). This is based on the idea that the military contains its own culture quite distinct from that of the U.S. civilian population. For veterans, this transition presents psychological and social challenges and potential difficulties consistent with those seen in immigrants transitioning to a new country from their respective countries of origin. These psychosocial difficulties are especially pronounced in combat veterans, who experience higher rates of psychopathology compared to veterans who have not experienced combat. The current study examines the impact of warzone …

Analysis Of Dietary Micronutrient Intake Of Ncaa Track And Field Athletes, Haley Noelle Melton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vitamins and minerals play an important role in many functions within the body and contribute to maintenance of health and well-being of all individuals, including athletes. An athlete’s performance could be negatively impacted if micronutrient recommendations are not met consistently. The purpose of this study was to analyze the dietary micronutrient consumption of NCAA Division I Collegiate Track and Field athletes. Thirty-seven track and field athletes, 15 females and 22 males, participated in the study. Multiple 24-hr recalls were collected, including weekdays and weekends, and analyzed using NSDR to obtain average dietary micronutrient intakes, which could then be compared to …

Assessing The Accuracy Of Dental Age Estimation Methods In A Native American Pediatric Sample, Cal Matthew Mcgehee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dental age estimation is a common method used to determine the age of juvenile individuals in forensics, medicine, and bio-archaeology. This thesis examines how accurate three dental development methods are in estimating the ages of two Native American sample groups. Further, it will explore how different variables like sex, age, secular (temporal) change, and an individual’s body mass index (BMI) affect dental development rates in the two groups of individuals. The first group consists of 60 Native Americans between the ages of 7 and 21 years of age who received dental work between 1970-1990 by Dr. James Economides of Albuquerque, …

Fabrication And Evaluation Of A Dual-Drug Loaded Immediate And Sustained Release Ophthalmic Inserts For The Management Of Keratitis; Moxifloxacin And Voriconazole, Jui Pendse

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Microbial keratitis, if not treated in time, can exacerbate critical conditions and ultimately lead to loss of vision. Incidences of bacterial and fungal keratitis in developing countries are far more compared to developed nations due to socioeconomic and environmental factors. Many regions of these developing countries might have limited resources to identify the causative agent in time, and accurately, before choosing appropriate treatment. In cases of such infections, empiric therapy is typically commenced with topical antibacterial for bacterial infections and antifungal for fungal keratitis. Moxifloxacin (MOX) is a fourth-generation antibacterial drug effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Voriconazole (VORI), …

Person First Workplaces: How An Ethic Of Care Can Help To Improve Workplace Conditions And Promote Workplace Relations, John Jacob Ratliff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the poor workplace conditions which most people have to deal with every day. In combination with the prolonged unstable economy, working class people are having to deal with stressful conditions at home and work, resulting in a situation where employees are facing workplaces which only seem to get worse and worse, leaving working class people with no choice but to find employment in an adverse environment. This paper offers an ethics of care based approach in which workplace conditions are directly addressed by implementing practices and policies centered around ethical caring, making …

Experimental Studies On Developing And Characterising Vaginal Films Using Hot-Melt Extrusion Technology, Kirti Pradeep Sawant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vaginal Candidiasis (VC) is one of the most common health problems in women. Indeed, one of the most convenient approaches for its treatment is an appropriate mucoadhesive vaginal film. This approach provides a local treatment modality, which inevitably decreases the dosing frequency and improves patient compliance. Clotrimazole is one of the drugs that are extensively used to treat Vaginal candidiasis and therefore, it is used in this research. The current study aimed to produce a novel extended-release film using Hot-Melt Extrusion (HME). Two different polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymer grades (PEO N10, PEO N750) were utilized to optimize the drug release …

The Influence Of Isometric Handgrip Exercise And Blood Flow Restriction On The Changes In Muscle Size, Strength, And Resting Limb Blood Flow In Trained And Untrained Limbs, Vickie Wong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Baseline vascular networks or significant changes in vascular network due to resistance training may induce greater muscle growth. Evidence doesn't support a causal relationship between changes in muscle size and strength. Cross-education is observed with high-intensity/loads and adding blood flow restriction to low-intensity exercises results in greater muscle growth, strength, and resting limb blood flow.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of exercise intensity and blood flow restriction on muscle size, strength, and resting limb blood flow in both trained and untrained arms.

Methods: A total of 179 participants were randomized into: low-intensity isometric handgrip exercise (LI), low-intensity isometric handgrip …