Digital Commons Network^™

A Randomized Clinical Trial Exploring Two Doses Of Cannabidiol Daily For Eight Weeks On Health And Stress, Ryland Emery Townsend

Dissertations

This study’s purpose was to explore whether a 60 or 30 mg dose of cannabidiol (CBD) consumed in a beverage further supplemented with L-theanine, vitamin E, and vitamin C would alter various measures on subjective measures of stress, health and fitness related outcomes, and objective measures of stress. This double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial recruited healthy, college-aged subjects for randomization into one of four treatment groups where they consumed daily a single 12 ounce beverage for eight weeks containing 1) 60 mg CBD (CBD60) plus L-theanine; 2) 30 mg CBD (CBD30) plus L-theanine; 3) no CBD (CBD0), L-theanine alone, and 4) …

Electronic-Based Determinants Of Health Screening On An Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, Anyaku O. Okpara

Dissertations

Problem: Approximately 14.1 million Americans are diagnosed with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI). These individuals experience death 10-20 years earlier compared to the general population, primarily due to chronic medical comorbidities and unmet health-related social needs (HRSNs). Mortality rates, increased healthcare utilization, and frequent readmissions in patients with multiple, unmet HRSNs are likely to remain high unless developments such as the incorporation of standardized, multi-domain, social determinants of health (SDOH) screenings into electronic health records (EHRs). The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project, guided by the Institute for Healthcare (IHI) model for change utilizing the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, was …

Exploring Date Pomace As A Functional Ingredient In Bread: Nutritional And Functional Properties, Alaa Almoumen

Dissertations

This study investigated the incorporation of desugared date fruit pomace into wheat bread rolls and evaluated its effects on dough handling, bread quality, staling behavior, sensory acceptability, and nutritional composition. The research was conducted in three experimental phases: (i) development and characterization of a high-fiber dietary ingredient (HFDI) from date pomace, including its physicochemical and functional properties; (ii) bread fortification and quality assessment, where wheat flour was partially replaced with 0–20% HFDI to evaluate its effects on dough rheology, bread texture, color, moisture retention, shelf life, and consumer acceptance; and (iii) nutritional and physiological evaluation of the fortified breads, including …

The Epidemiology Of Major Congenital Anomalies In The United Arab Emirates: The Mutaba'ah Study, Hiba Mahdi Adam

Dissertations

Major Congenital Anomalies (MCAs) are significant contributors to perinatal morbidity and mortality. The absence of clear baseline prevalence data for MCAs hinders the development of targeted interventions to mitigate their burden. Furthermore, studies on adverse obstetric and birth outcomes in pregnancies complicated by MCAs are scarce, emphasizing the need for research to enhance management strategies. This dissertation aimed to: (1) estimate the live birth prevalence of perinatally diagnosed MCAs and describe study population characteristics by MCA status, (2) investigate the impact of MCAs on fetal presentation and delivery mode, and (3) investigate the impact of MCAs on preterm and low …

Therapeutic Role Of Bioactive Peptides Derived From Hemoglobin, Priya Antony Pereppadan

Dissertations

Bioactive peptides are peptide fragments derived from the proteolytic cleavage or maturation of functional proteins that have shown promising therapeutic potential in addressing major health challenges, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and pain management. Diabetes is characterized by high blood glucose levels due to insufficient insulin production or utilization. There are several therapeutic targets for managing diabetes, and one key target is dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) due to its role in glucose metabolism. In hypertension, angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) is critical for regulating blood pressure by forming angiotensin II, and its inhibition represents an established treatment strategy. Additionally, the …

Upper-Level Undergraduate Pre-Healthcare Students’ Journeys To Graduation And Health Professional Graduate Programs, Holly L. Sisson

Dissertations

Despite decades of research on undergraduate student retention and persistence, only a handful of researchers, such as Dumke et al. (2018) and Stull et al. (2021), have looked specifically at pre-health students preparing for graduate health professional programs and the complex challenges these students face while trying to achieve their goals. Very little research focused on upper-level undergraduate students pursuing graduate health professional programs, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, or similar graduate health professional programs excluding medical school. To help fill this gap, my study focused on the experiences of pre-healthcare students as they navigated their undergraduate …

Earthing Practice For Mental Health Among Adults In The United States: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Natalie Greenberg

Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the lived experience of adults in the United States who practice earthing for mental health.

The Experience Of Transition To Self-Management For Saudi Adolescents With Type I Diabetes, Aeshah M. Almulhim

Dissertations

In Saudi Arabia (SA), between 2011 and 2021, there has been a 108% increase in death rates due to diabetes. Every year, around 3,800 Saudi children and adolescents under the age of 19 are diagnosed with Type I Diabetes (TIDM). Saudi adolescents with TIDM have less glycemic control than adults and younger children. If left untreated, inadequate glycemic control may hasten the onset of diabetes complications and early death. As adolescents with TIDM grow older, they are expected to take on more independence in Self-Management (SM) of their diabetes. The poor clinical outcomes of adolescents with diabetes, the onset of …

Computational Analysis And Characterization Of The Inducible 1-Cysteine Peroxiredoxin Promoter In The Malaria Parasite Plasmodium, Lara Ladney

Dissertations

Malaria afflicts over 200 million people annually, which results in over half a million deaths, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria parasites are complex protozoan organisms that inhabit two hosts: humans, the site of asexual reproduction, and the Anopheles mosquito, where sexual reproduction occurs. To withstand the hostile extracellular environment of the Anopheles mosquito, the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei employs antioxidant defense mechanisms. Previous work suggests upregulation of 1-Cysteine Peroxiredoxin (1-CPxn) when the mosquito uptakes a blood meal containing the parasite. The parasite must acclimate to the harsh environmental conditions of the mosquito midgut: find a way to counteract reactive oxygen …

The Contributions Of Patient Education And Home Visits To Reduce Post-Cesarean Hypertension Readmissions, Stephanie Armstead

Dissertations

Cesarean births in the United States (U.S.) have increased steadily over the last decade. Researchers have identified maternal hypertension/hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) as a comorbidity associated with the increase of cesarean births. Mothers who are diagnosed with HDP and undergo a cesarean birth have a dual diagnosis of high-risk pregnancy, and due to worsening conditions, are readmitted to the hospital more frequently than mothers who experience a vaginal birth. This study aimed to determine whether a patient discharge education intervention provided by a transition of care (ToC) team or interdisciplinary care team (IDT), combined with early follow-up care from …

Support Needs Of Agrarian Women To Build Household Livelihood Resilience: A Case Study Of The Mekong River Delta, Tran Thi Ngoc Tran

Dissertations

Problem

Rural livelihood faces significant challenges due to the increasing frequency and severity of climate change impacts. However, the development of women’s livelihood resilience remains constrained by gender-blind policies, limited sex-disaggregated data, and a lack of integration of gender-specific needs and priorities in resilience-building interventions. This study aims to address these critical gaps. This study aims at exploring the perceived support needs of rural agrarian women in building household livelihood resilience to climate change. Specifically, it seeks to (1) understand how household livelihood resilience is perceived by rural agrarian women, and (2) identify the support they require to effectively adapt …

Assessment Of The Level Of Relevancy Of Theological Education In The Chinese Context, Jacky Yeung

Dissertations

Problem

The contextualization of theological education has been a topic of academic discussion for many years with scholars exploring various angles related to this subject. Despite the ongoing need for contextualized theological education, an assessment of its relevancy in the Chinese setting has not been extensively studied. This dissertation aims to fill this research gap by assessing the relevancy of Adventist theological education in China and providing recommendations for improvement.

Method

The study employs a mixed-method approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue. The quantitative stage involves a survey administered to …

Perceived Social Support And Religious Attitudes As Correlates Of Spiritual Well-Being Among Senior Undergraduate Students At Northeast Brazil Adventist University, Hebert Davi Liessi

Dissertations

Problem

Even though the study of spirituality has been a recurrent theme in academia, in Brazil there has been little emphasis on the analysis of spiritual well-being in the context of university students. Few studies have examined the correlation of spiritual well-being with perceived social support or religious attitudes among university students, and most of these have been in the fields of health care or health recovery. Some research has indicated that religious attitudes may be partially disconnected from improvements in the level of spirituality. -- This study aimed to verify whether this disconnection is real or relevant, and assumed …

Manganism And The Development Of A Green Sustainable Low-Threshold Spectrophotometric Test For The Monitoring Of Manganese In Consumable Water, Anna Merritt Holmes

Dissertations

Manganism, a neurotoxic disease from the hyperaccumulation of manganese, follows an etiology that parallels Parkinsonism. Non-occupational Manganism is acquired by the lifelong accumulation of manganese through water contaminated by natural and industrial sources. Biologically active manganese (II) eludes flocculation and filtration removal methods at water utilities. The U.S. Standard Methods For the Examination of Water and Wastewater persulfate testing method uses mercury sulfate, concentrated nitric and phosphoric acids, silver nitrate, and ammonium persulfate. The low detection limit of 210 µg/L is an order of magnitude greater than the World Health Organization (WHO) allowable limit of 10-50 µg/L. In 2004, the …

Analyzing The Population Structure Of The Rhizobia Associated With Astragalus Lentiginosus, Joshua Adam Melnick

Dissertations

Legumes are an incredibly diverse and agriculturally important family of plants. They have a special relationship with symbiotic bacteria known as rhizobia which fix nitrogen into ammonia within nodules on their roots. Astragalus is the largest plant genus on Earth, and the species Astragalus lentiginosus is extraordinarily diverse, consisting of approximately 40 varieties. However, the rhizobia of A. lentiginosus have never been studied. In this study, root nodules were extracted from 17 varieties of A. lentiginosus to obtain rhizobial strains and metagenomes. A. lentiginosus primarily associates with rhizobia from the genera Mesorhizobium and Allomesorhizobium. There was little evidence of horizontal …

Decoding The Origins Of Infection: A Machine Learning Framework, Nirupama G. Shanbhag

Dissertations

Many infections can be attributed to a specific microorganism. For example, while there can be many causes of urinary tract infections (UTIs), such as the bacterial species Klebsiella pneumoniae or Enterococcus sp., the most widespread cause for UTIs is uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Generally, diseases or infections that are the result of a single pathogenic organism are more easily understood. Other diseases, such as irritable bowel disease (IBD), cannot be attributed to one member in the community; rather, it is a result of dysbiosis of the microbial community (microbiota) of the gastrointestinal tract, a combination of an overgrowth of problematic members …

In-Person Versus Peer-Coordinated Virtual Health Coaching For Metabolic And Behavioral Outcomes In Women In Sober Living Facilities, Craig R. Witt

Dissertations

Background: Women in early recovery from substance use disorder often face metabolic health vulnerabilities, yet physical health behaviors are frequently under-emphasized in sober living settings. Feasible and accessible wellness strategies are needed to support both behavioral and metabolic health in this population.

Purpose: To compare the effects of professionally delivered in-person health coaching versus peer-coordinated virtual health coaching on metabolic outcomes and health-promoting behaviors among women in sober living facilities.

Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 32 women enrolled in a 12-week group-based health coaching program focused on nutrition, physical activity, and stress management; 18 completed post-intervention assessments (in-person: n = …

Protein Ingestion And High-Intensity Resistance Training Decrease Respiratory Exchange Ratio Following Exercise In Females Across Various Body Compositions., Lynnsey Bowling

Dissertations

Metabolic dysfunction is associated with excess adipose tissue and interventions to elicit improvements to body composition could combat these health consequences. Acute nutritional and exercise strategies have the potential to shift metabolic processes toward those favoring fat oxidation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) and pre-exercise protein (PRO) ingestion on post-exercise respiratory exchange ratio (RER) in lean (LN) and overweight (OW) females. Twenty recreationally-active females (LN: n =10; OW: n = 10) completed two experimental sessions, consisting of HIRT and two acute nutritional interventions: PRO and placebo (PLA). RER was analyzed …

Astaxanthin Supplementation Does Not Significantly Alter Cognitive Performance Following Mental Fatigue In Females, Gavin A. Barker

Dissertations

Mental fatigue (MF) is a psychobiological state caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity, often characterized by impairments to cognitive performance. Astaxanthin (AX) is a naturally occurring antioxidant that can cross the blood-brain barrier and may preserve cognition when presented with a MF challenge. As yet, no studies have yet been conducted in an all-female cohort. This is the first study to investigate 4-weeks of AX supplementation on markers of cognitive performance (reaction time (RT), speed, and responses correct per second (RCS), visual analog scale of mental exertion (VAS-E)) following acute MF. Twenty-five recreationally active female subjects (AX: n …

Comparison Of Post-Exercise Lipid Oxidation Rates Between Lower And 1 Upper-Body Resistance Training In Well-Trained Females, Alyssa L. Parten

Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Lipid oxidation (LOx) is a relevant physiological process linked to metabolic health. Despite growing interest in resistance training (RT) as a means to influence substrate utilization LOx responses in females remain poorly characterized, with no study examining whether lower- and upper body RT elicits different LOx patterns during the recovery period following exercise. This distinction may  be relevant because lower-body exercises involves greater fat-free mass (FFM) and energy expenditure,  whereas upper-body exercises recruit less FFM, potentially influencing metabolic effects.

PURPOSE: To  determine if LOx rates after exercise differ between lower- and upper-body RT in well-trained females.

METHODS: Twenty-two females …

Visual Analytic Techniques For Interpretable Algorithmic Ranking Systems, Jun Yuan

Dissertations

Rankings have a profound impact on the increasingly data-driven society. From leisurely activities like the movies to watch, the restaurants to patronize; to highly consequential decisions, like making educational and occupational choices or getting hired by companies— these are all driven by sophisticated yet mostly opaque algorithmic rankers. A small change in how these rankers order the data items can have profound consequences, like deterioration of the prestige of a university or a job applicant missing out on being on the list of the top candidates for an organization. These scenarios necessitate data-driven and human-centered innovation to make rankers accessible, …

A Phenomenological Study To Determine How Expert Avid Teachers Use Collaboration To Strengthen Student Metacognition And Student Self-Efficacy And Determine When It Occurs, Megan Hernandez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine how expert AVID teachers from the California Central Valley describe the use of collaboration to strengthen student metacognition and self-efficacy and how they describe the evidence that indicates metacognition and self-efficacy are occurring.

Methodology: Five Central California school districts were chosen to conduct the phenomenological study on expert AVID teachers. One to two AVID teachers from each of the five school districts were chosen in the study for eight participants. The expert AVID teachers were chosen for having at least five years of experience teaching AVID and being up to …

Examining Teachers’ Experiences In Fostering Social-Emotional Learning After Returning To In-Person Instruction In The Midst Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Rosario Grajeda

Dissertations

Purpose: This qualitative phenomenological study examines how middle school teachers in Riverside County, California, support the social-emotional learning (SEL) needs of students as students returned to in-person instruction after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: This qualitative study explores how Riverside County middle school teachers addressed students' social and emotional needs upon returning to in-person learning after COVID-19. Twelve teachers from local public middle schools (grades 6-8) participated in semi-structured interviews, answering ten questions. Data from interviews and artifacts were transcribed and analyzed using NVIVO software to identify recurring themes related to the study questions. Findings: The shared experiences of participants and …

Compassion Fatigue And Satisfaction Among Nurses At A State Psychiatric Hospital: An Opportunity To Educate, Santhi Avula

Dissertations

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aims to bring awareness to psychiatric nurses at NOPH about CF and burnout and educate them on ways to improve resiliency and compassion satisfaction as professional nurses.

PICOT: How do psychiatric nurses at NOPH (P) who are at increased risk for CF benefit from a webinar-based educational intervention (I) to identify and reduce symptoms of CF and improve compassion satisfaction (O) one month after intervention (T) compared to preintervention (C)?

High School Principals’ Experiences Implementing The Whole-Child Approach To Education, Elise Heaton

Dissertations

The prevalence of the whole-child approach to education has grown significantly as schools recognize that students' needs extend beyond academics to include their social, emotional, mental, and physical well-being. This approach emphasizes nurturing all aspects of a child's development to ensure they thrive in a diverse and ever-evolving world. This phenomenological qualitative case study explores the lived experiences of high school principals as they implement the whole-child approach to education. Through data collected via various methods, including interviews, document analysis, and site observations, this study provides an in-depth examination of how principals navigate the complex demands of addressing the multifaceted …

Improving Diabetes Self-Management Skills Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Through Weekly Education, Carthia Joachim

Dissertations

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is one of the major health issues worldwide, which has led to many health complications, such as cardiovascular disease, nerve damage that leads to limb amputation, kidney damage, and even death (Sameer et al., 2020). Lack of self-care management is one of the reasons diabetes is becoming such an issue in society. Studies have shown that T2DM outcomes can be improved by implementing diabetes self-management education (DSME) (Hailu et al., 2019). The study evaluated the effectiveness of DSME intervention in adult patients with T2DM over 12 weeks in Orlando, Florida. Using a structured education program, the …

A Phenomenological Study Of Social-Emotional Learning (Sel) Through Covid-19, Maria Iracema Da Rocha-Alvarez

Dissertations

Purpose: This phenomenological study aimed to identify and describe the social-emotional learning (SEL) strategies used by elementary teachers in California before and during the shift to distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also sought to determine which SEL strategies were most effective in supporting students’ emotional well-being in a virtual learning environment.

Methodology: A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to explore the lived experiences of elementary teachers who implemented SEL strategies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through 20 interview questions aligned with the research objectives to gain insight into effective SEL practices during virtual …

Understanding The Experience Of Being Food Insecure At An Independent College Or University, Natalie Wagner

Dissertations

Many people struggle to consistently access enough food for an active and healthy life (United States Department of Agriculture, 2020). Research has shown that college students experience food insecurity at rates higher than the general population while also facing negative academic, mental, physical, and social consequences (Baker-Smith et al., 2020; Bruening et al., 2018; Dubick et al., 2016; Henry, 2017; Martinez et al., 2018). Although studies on food insecurity among higher education have increased in the past few years, much of the research has been quantitative in nature and has been conducted at community colleges and state-funded institutions (Baker-Smith et …

Chain Extension Of Blocked Isocyanates For The Creation Of Covalent Adaptable Networks, Catherine Sarantes

Dissertations

From mattresses to car coatings, polyurethanes and polyureas (PUs) are ubiquitous thermoset materials with tunable thermo-mechanical performance. This tunability is afforded through the extent of crosslinking or covalent linkages established by the formation of urea bonds. Traditionally, urea bonds are highly stable yet through the blocked isocyanate, hindered urea bond (HUB) mechanism this bond is thermally labile allowing for re-processing of normally non-recyclable PU materials. The overarching focus of my dissertation is the exploration synthetic pathways to access secondary diamines to enable re-processing of covalent adaptable networks (CANs) with tunable re-processing through the diamine moiety and the molecular weight of …

A Single Session Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy In A Group Format To Promote Health-Related Behavior Change In Nutrition And Sleep: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Thi Anh Tran

Dissertations

Nutrition and sleep are important health-related behaviors for which only a small percentage of the population meet recommended guidelines. To impact population-health it is important to develop focused, flexible, efficient, and efficacious interventions. This study examined the efficacy of a 60-minute Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention in a group presentation format to initiate change in nutrition and sleep related behaviors in college students. Thirty-two collegians (M age = 18.55 [.85], 66% female, 34% Hispanic, 25% white) were randomized to receive ACT focusing on nutrition (n = 18 participants across 4 groups) or sleep (n = 14 participants across 3 …