Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Novel Microtubule Modulators On Experimental Lewy Body Disease, Anuj S. Jamenis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In Lewy body disorders, α-synuclein aggregates are believed to destabilize the microtubular framework. However, microtubules are a challenging therapeutic target, as excessive rigidity or flexibility afforded by microtubule modulators may be neurotoxic. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate dual-acting microtubule- stabilizing/destabilizing agents in cellular and animal models of early-stage Lewy body disease.

In Aim 1 we tested the dual-acting tricylic pyrimido[4,5-b]indole analogs AG161-47 and AG161-41 in an in vitro preformed fibril induced model of Lewy body disease. We found that both compounds reduced preformed fibril-seeded α-synucleinopathy without toxicity in primary hippocampal cultures. AG161-47 subtly impacted microtubule …

The Transformation Of Arab Narrative From Oral To Virtual Reality: A Media Ecology Perspective, Eman Alaslani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This project examines the evolution of communication in Arab culture from orality to virtual reality (VR). Through the lens of media ecology, it investigates the development of media technologies, particularly VR, and their influence on Arab storytelling, communication, and cultural identity. Making use of the theoretical perspectives of Marshall McLuhan, Walter J. Ong, and Neil Postman, this project explores the potential of VR to reshape Arab storytelling and cultural expression. The paper further discusses the historical, social, and technological dimensions of VR as a medium with the power to alter human communication and perception. This project surveys the effects of …

Are Clinicians Primed For Burnout?: A Multidiscplinary Approach To Exploring Counselor Wellness, Anastasha Homa-Earl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Though clinician wellness is a “hot topic” in the field of counseling, the current models of examining counselors’ levels of burnout and engagement do not account for the likely role that perception plays the subjective experiences of these constructs. This project attempts to synthesize methodology from the fields of social and cognitive psychology with the latest in industrial-organizational theory on burnout and engagement by applying a priming methodology to the study of mental health professionals’ experiences of work-related burnout and engagement. One hundred sixty-two clinicians participated in a priming experiment disguised as a workplace perceptions survey in an attempt to …

A Narrative Inquiry Into Contingent Music Faculty Experiences, Herbert Midgley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The increasing reliance on short-term or contingent faculty reflects a shift away from tenure-track positions. Tenure-track faculty reduction is significant in academic disciplines such as music. This qualitative narrative inquiry study explored the professional experiences of contingent music faculty through semi-structured interviews. Narrative inquiry allows for individual participant voice in which this study examined participant relationships with faculty colleagues, employment experiences at higher education institutions, and working conditions. Implications of this study include new ways of understanding support structures from colleagues and institutions for contingent music faculty members, deeper perspective about the current state of teaching at their universities, and …

The Impact Of Dual Credit On Student Success: A Mixed Methods Study At A Texas University, Jennifer D. Coker Goddard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2015, the number of students enrolled in dual credit coursework in United States (U.S.) schools had reached over 1.4 million, a 68% increase over the previous few years (Field, 2021). By this year, 88% of U.S. high schools offered dual credit programs, and 34% of students enrolled in dual credit coursework, indicating a steady growth in dual credit programming (Rhine, 2022). Furthermore, 27% of public high school students in Texas earned credit for dual credit coursework (Villarreal, 2017). Despite significant growth in dual credit coursework offerings, limited knowledge of the effectiveness of these programs in preparing students for post-secondary …

Assessing The Psychological Benefits Of Biophilic Design In Therapeutic Counseling Spaces, Andrew Graf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the intersection of biophilia and counseling, aiming to illustrate the potential benefits of integrating nature-based interventions into therapeutic practice. Biophilia, the innate human tendency to connect with nature, has garnered attention in various fields, yet its implications for counselors remain unexplored. This qualitative study employs a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to investigate the lived experiences of counselors who have incorporated biophilic elements into their practice and the perceptions of clients who have engaged with these interventions.

Through semi-structured interviews with licensed counselors, themes emerged regarding the impact and use of biophilic interventions on the therapeutic process. Findings suggest …

But I’M A Good Person: The Resistance Of White Emotionality Exhibited By Offenders Of Racialized Incidents, When Addressed By Student Conduct Practitioners, Anne Mullarkey Sawa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experience of American conduct practitioners in their process of responding to reported racialized incidents. A diary method was used for participants to capture their experiences and interactions with the person(s) harmed and the offender. Of particular focus was the response of the reported offender when confronted by the conduct practitioner regarding their role in the incident. This study sought to determine in what ways resistance was exhibited by the offender, if at all, in addition to what strategies conduct officers employed when responding to resistance by the reported offender. A total of ten …

Barriers, Facilitators, And Competencies In Advocating For Adults With Intellectual Disabilities With Health Disparities, Carol Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Nurses working in the specialty of intellectual disabilities are positioned to advocate for individuals with intellectual disabilities and other health disparities. This study explored nurses’ perceived competencies, barriers, and facilitators when advocating for improved health status in adult patients with intellectual disabilities.

Methods: Twenty-five nurses working in the specialty of intellectual disabilities were interviewed using semi-structured interviews, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: Barriers identified in advocacy were: Funding, Communication, Negative Perceptions and Misperceptions, Lack of access, and Diagnostic Overshadowing. Nurses were also facilitated in advocating for improved health status in people with intellectual disabilities. Facilitators …

School Nurses And Administrators Perceptions Of School Preparedness: A Focused Ethnography, Deborah Horton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Disasters are dangerous for schools where many children are located in one area. Children were significantly impacted by a biological incident during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic. Research is needed to determine the values, perceptions, and beliefs of school disaster preparedness through a cultural lens.

Methods: A focused ethnography was used to interview school administrators and nurses from April-December 2022 to explore and understand the unique culture of school disaster preparedness. Data was analyzed according to Leininger’s Four Phases of Data Analysis.

Results: Twenty-four participants from K-12 public schools were interviewed resulting in …

Impact Of An Electronic Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Catch-Up Module For Women With Criminal-Legal System Involvement, Shawana Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Cervical cancer can often be prevented with targeted strategies such as Pap smear screenings and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, now also recommended for those aged 27-45 who have not received the vaccine previously. However, women involved in the criminal-legal system often miss out on primary and secondary prevention measures and are at increased risk for the development of cervical cancer caused by HPV. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an electronic HPV catch-up module for women in the criminal-legal system aged 27-45. The study, guided by the Health Belief Model, …

Omani Camels From A Cultural And Genomics Perspective, Al Muatasim Al Zadjali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Dromedarian camel, Camelus dromedarius, is native to the Arabian Peninsula, including the Sultanate of Oman. These camels are used for food, milk, as well as show and racing competitions. Despite their economic and cultural importance research on camels in Oman is limited. The goal of this study was to examine their genomic variation, relationship with camels in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and to determine if selective breeding has led to the establishment of distinct breeds in Oman. Information was compiled from multiple sources to produce a comprehensive review on the breeding, management, economic and cultural use, …

Inclusion Of The Virtual Other: How Closeness On Social Media Moderates The Relationship Between Perceptions Of Close Friends’ Alcohol-Related Posting And Drinking, Angela Tanygin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Heavy drinking among young adults is a serious, longstanding public health issue. College students are particularly vulnerable to a culture of intoxication that promotes excessive drinking, which has been linked to severe consequences such as sexual assaults, car accidents, and even death. An abundance of literature has found that students’ overestimations of peer drinking norms are associated with greater alcohol use and problems. Furthermore, research has established a strong linkage between students posting and viewing peers’ alcohol-related content (ARC) on social media and increased drinking. However, there is a dearth of studies examining how closeness to close friends on social …

Ejagham Mysticism In The Funeral Practices Of The Mgbe (Ekpe) And Moninkim Institutions: Insights For Research Methodology And Theological Epistemology., Besem Etchi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The knowledge of the divine broadens and deepens as each location contributes the history, elements, and practices related to its divine revelation. This dissertation contributes from the Ejagham locations of Cameroon and Nigeria. The Ejagham precolonial institutions of Moninkim and Mgbe (Ekpe) were tuition-paid training schools for personal development and prophetic leadership. Their structured curriculum to train one’s personal and social ejong (personality), towards the Ejagham organizing principles of beauty and excellence, is replete with Ejagham mysticism and indigenous epistemology. Unfortunately, Moninkim has been misrepresented in years of scholarly research as a girl’s seclusion and coming-of-age-for-marriage rite and Mgbe (Ekpe) …

The Ecclesiology Of Catalino G. Arévalo: Inculturation, Mission, And Liberation In The Philippine Context, Zachary Ryan Dehm

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Catalino G. Arévalo, S.J., was an eminent Filipino ecclesiologist of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Through his work for the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences in particular, he played a significant role in the reception of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) in Asia and in the development of inculturation as a theological norm. Yet, Arévalo offered no systematic articulation of his theology of the church. By examining his work spanning seven decades, this dissertation traces the development of Arévalo’s ecclesiology and offers five foundational principles necessary for gaining a systematic understanding of his thought: (1) ecclesiology must be situated within …

Iso 14001:2015 Environmental Management System Accreditation Framework For Stephen F. Austin State University, A Member Of The University Of Texas System, Breanna Gabriela Duran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The International Organization of Standardization is a worldwide federation of membered bodies. The mission of ISO is to achieve the balance between the environment, society, and the economy. These are essential to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System accreditation allows any business or organization, no matter the type, size or product to showcase its commitment toward environmental stewardship. This accreditation requires the development and successful implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS). The EMS is set out to continually improve a company’s environmental …

Within-Day Reliability Of Submaximal Running Economy Testing: Implications For Advanced Footwear Testing, Garrett Oehlert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Running economy (RE) has been identified as a critical component of endurance performance. Alterations in footwear have shown to significantly impact RE. Quantifying reliability of within-day RE measures may determine differences that could be expected when testing footwear. PURPOSE: Assess within-day reliability of RE testing on a calibrated metabolic system. METHODS: Trained male distance runners (n=10) were recruited to perform 4 × 5-minute trials (set speed, in habitual running shoes) at their estimated marathon pace (5-minute rest period) during a single visit to the lab. Oxygen consumption (VO2) data were collected during the final two minutes of each stage and …

Circumcision—Deal With It! A Clinical Ethnography Of Intactivism At American Intersections, Benjamin M. Gaddes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

On a routine trip to the grocery store, or while scrolling online, you might encounter the provocative and puzzling discourse of Intactivism, a viral, single-issue social movement that opposes infant male circumcision, and wonder “Huh? Why is this here, now?” This project situates Intactivism in a history of circumcision and anti-circumcision that spans from ancient Sumerian tents to the front pages of Reddit. It takes an immersive qualitative clinical ethnographic approach, nested in a broader cultural psychology that is non-reductive and pluralistic, to articulate an Intactivist ethos in its public and private dimensions. Methods include participant-observation, interviews, and framework discourse …

On The Cultivation Of Relational Leadership Mindsets Among Graduate Supervisees In The Mental Health Professions: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis, Cristina Bucur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In counseling supervision, leadership is often associated with supervisors’ skills, role, position, and responsibilities. However, supervisees need to learn and practice how to lead also: for example, how to promote others’ well-being, how to support, and advocate for others and self. Graduate supervisee relational leadership in the mental health professions is an intrinsic part of the purposive aspect of counseling supervision. Relational leadership in graduate counseling supervision is a purposive, interpersonal, facilitative, growth oriented, and process-based service in which leaders -expert facilitators and mentors- seek to cultivate leaders, not followers. Relational leadership is mutuality-affirming and mutuality-promoting (e.g., open dialogue, mutual …

Assessing How The Humane Health Coalition Connects Veterinary Services With Healthcare For People Experiencing Poverty And Housing Insecurity, Katie Willis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

People experiencing housing insecurity and financial hardship often prioritize their pets’ needs ahead of their own. In addition to financial concerns, some struggle to obtain medical treatment because they lack transportation or have had negative experiences with medical professionals. The Humane Health Coalition (HHC), a collaboration between Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP) and Allegheny Health Network (AHN), seeks to address these challenges. The HHC is based on the One Health Model and brings together medical and veterinary staff to provide care and resources for both pets and their owners. My research examines the implementation of this new program. I …

Evaluation Of Changes In Evaporative Losses From Lake Powell Reservoir Contributions In The Colorado River Basin, Maria Mlinarcik

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Colorado River Basin (CRB) is one of the most critical water sources for the western United States (U.S.) and Mexico. For over a century, numerous policies and regulations have been implemented in attempts to manage the Colorado River Basin to address the concern of overuse, collectively referred to as the “Law of the River.” The USGS hydrologist E.C. LaRue warned that the optimistic estimates used in negotiating the Colorado River Compact did not align with the actual water availability in the river. His analysis in 1925 revealed a potential deficit if all allocated water was utilized, exacerbated by overallocation …

Relationships Between Students’ Ict Usage, Self-Efficacy And Literacy, Malimi Kazi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Information and communication technology (ICT) usage, self-efficacy, and literacy are very important for people in the 21st century. People need them to participate successfully in various activities including learning and working. Because of the importance of ICT, nations around the world, including the United States, have developed and are implementing ICT policies. Also, in 2013 the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) introduced the International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) for grade eight students. However, ICT usage, ICT self-efficacy, and ICT literacy can be affected by students’ gender, race and socioeconomic status (SES). The purpose of …

Surface Water Quality Assessment Of Mingo Creek County Park: The Impacts Of Extractive Industries, Mikayla J. Bayto

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Historical and current extraction operations and infrastructure, including natural gas pipelines, conventional and unconventional oil and natural gas drilling, longwall coal mining, and strip coal mining, occur throughout the Mingo Creek watershed of Washington County, Pennsylvania, including Mingo Creek County Park. Mingo Creek and several associated tributaries flow through Mingo Creek County Park, eventually discharging into the Monongahela River. An independent water quality study was conducted from June 2020 through July 2023 in Mingo Creek County Park to determine if historical and current extraction activities impact Mingo Creek and its associated tributaries. Weekly sampling of Mingo Creek and associated tributaries …

The Ethical Justification Of Medical Interventions Across The Spectrum Of Healthcare For Patients Preceding The Age Of Consent: The Tension Between Surrogate Consent And Minor Assent, Erin Scroggins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation, The Ethical Justification of Medical Interventions Across the Spectrum of Healthcare for Patients Preceding the Age of Consent: the Tension Between Surrogate Consent and Minor Assent, will aim to provide ethical justification for medical intervention for patients preceding the age of consent. To begin, decision-making for medical intervention in all forms will be examined. Followed by, beginning of life interventions into complex and controversial situations for medical intervention which then leads into end-of-life considerations for patients preceding the age of consent. These chapters will pose various ethical considerations for some more contentious dilemmas. It has been pondered …

Characterization Of A Novel Metalloid Reductase Outer Membrane Porin Rara From Sulfurospirillum Barnesii Ses-3, Narthana Jeganathar Kanmanii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sulfurospirillum barnesii SES-3 is a gram-negative epsilon proteobacterium that grows anaerobically by coupling the oxidation of lactate to the reduction of arsenate. Previous work on metal and metalloid metabolism in S. barnesii had identified a redox active protein, designated RarA that when provided an artificial electron donor (i.e., reduced methyl viologen, FMN, or NADH), could reduce a variety of substrates, including arsenate, selenate, selenite, nitrite, and even phosphate. The enzyme’s inferred amino acid sequence showed weak similarity (30%) to outer membrane porins with homologs found in only certain species of Sulfurospirillum. Further, the enzyme did not contain cysteine residues …

Targeting Cancer- One Carbon At A Time: Design And Synthesis Of Pyrimidine Based Heterocycles As Potential Cancer Chemotherapeutics, Md Junayed Nayeen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With over 6 million death counts, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer death, accounting for 23% (136,084 death count) of all cancer deaths. Other than that, colon and rectal (9%, 51,869 death count), pancreas (8%, 46,774 death count), female breast (7%, 42,275 death count), prostate (5%, 32,707 death count), and liver and intrahepatic bile duct (5%, 28,227 death count). Other cancers individually accounted for less than 5% of cancer deaths. Although cancer death rates decreased about 27% from 2001 to 2020, the therapeutic options are limited …

Homophobia: How Straight People Define It, Shirk Responsibility For It, And Abstain From Confronting It In Mississippi, Madeline Burdine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Drawing upon 12 in-depth qualitative interviews, this research examines how straight-presenting people in Mississippi define what it means to be supportive of queer people in their own words. It also shows how they distinguish what is (and is not) homophobic and what their understanding of homophobia does (or does not do) for them or the queer people in their lives. Whether they were raised within a homophobic home or a more open-minded home, interviewees use their upbringings to frame their current support for queer people. Interviewees also work to establish themselves as open-minded towards queer people by distancing themselves from …

Development Of A Rapid Bacterial Quantification Method Based On Droplet Microfluidics, Shawn Bliss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The capacity to identify bacteria quickly and accurately is critical for applications such as medical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and food safety. For instance, sepsis diagnosis requires blood cultures that take as long as 1-5 days, preventing timely intervention and increasing mortality rate. Here, we propose the joint use of microfluidics and a machine learning algorithm for rapid bacterial cell capture and quantification. The combination of high-throughput droplet microfluidics and a support vector machine (SVM) enables analysis and quantification of bacterial samples within as short as 4 hours. We have performed successful encapsulation of pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli, …

The Contribution Of Pope Francis’ Integral Ecology To Global Ethics, Salvatore Enzo Del Brocco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The defense of the dignity and inviolability of human life has always gained prominence in the doctrine of the Catholic Church. With Pope Francis' concept of integral ecology, Catholic bioethics is expanded to a broader understanding. His vision of integral ecology, global bioethics, and solidarity emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of caring for one another and the planet. It calls us to recognize our common humanity and to work together for the common good by facing the numerous emerging problems of our times, which threaten the dignity of human life and the future life of the …

The Moral Legitimacy Of Ethics Consultation, Jason Lesandrini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the moral legitimacy of ethics consultation in healthcare. It delves into the historical development of ethics committees and the shift towards ethics programs, addressing clinical and organizational ethics challenges. The work explores the field of clinical ethics, its professionalization, and the role of ethics consultation services, highlighting their expanding scope and complexity. The discussion includes the formation of professional standards for ethicists and the development of graduate programs in bioethics. Central to the dissertation is the question of whether ethics consultation is morally legitimate, a query yet to be adequately answered. The text scrutinizes various models and …

Perinatal Ethics: The Role Of Ethics Consultation Around Parental Dilemmas Before And After Birth, Giulia Adele Dinicola

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation, “Perinatal Ethics: the Role of Ethics Consultation around Parental Dilemmas Before and After Birth,” aims to examine the nuances of clinical ethics consultations in the field of perinatal ethics. Perinatal ethics entails ethical quandaries that emerge during a life-changing shift in prospective parents’ lives: pregnancy, childbirth, and the first days to months of their child’s life. Although pregnancy and childbirth often come with happy and joyful memories; this is not always the case. When fetal anomalies are diagnosed either with prenatal screening tests, or when maternal health complications develop during pregnancy, or when delivery-related emergencies occur during childbirth, …