Digital Commons Network^™

The World Wide Web Of Women: A Case In Favor Of Global Feminist Coalitions In The Information Age, Hannah S. Phillips

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this thesis is to argue that online feminist coalitions can be both locally specific and globally accessible. Postcolonial feminist theorist Chandra Talpade Mohanty in her 1984 article “Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses,” argues that there is no real evidence to classify all women as a “Woman” because cultural differences and imbalances of power create a myriad of experiences that cannot be homogenized. However, Mohanty is not arguing that women do not have individual experiences with gender injustice. On the contrary, all women have experiences with gender injustice; these experiences are simply all not the …

Hiv-1 Tat And Neuroendocrine Aging: Potential Benefits Of Neurosteroid-Based Therapy To Attenuate Premature Age-Related Comorbidities In The Era Of Antiretroviral Therapy, Alaa Nader Qrareya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary objectives of this dissertation are to assess the interaction between human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) trans-activator of transcription (Tat) protein and neuroendocrine status on the pathology of Tat/age-related comorbidities and to investigate the potential benefit of hormonal therapy in attenuating Tat/age insults. The advent of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has increased longevity among people living with HIV (PLWH). However, cART cannot fully eradicate viral reservoirs within the central nervous system (CNS). Therefore, ~50-60% of virally-suppressed PLWH experience neurological and psychological sequelae called “neuroHIV”. Moreover, PLWH are more vulnerable to developing premature age-related comorbidities. In PLWH, hypogonadism is common …

Affording The Value Of Technology: Normalcy And Moral Frameworks, Mitchell Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is often held that technology is value neutral. That is, technology is merely a means to an end and has no intrinsic moral worth. However, as some theorists have demonstrated, this view of technology may be mistaken. One theorist, Michael Klenk, offers what he calls an “affordance theory of embodied values” as one principled way of understanding how technological artifacts embody moral values. Under this view, artifacts embody affordances, or possibilities for action. These affordances are then judged in order to assess the moral status of the artifact which embeds them. In this paper, I develop one problem with …

Buscando Perdón: Validation And Considerations For A Spanish Translation Of The Forgiveness Reconciliation Inventory, Mario David Sobrino

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With influences from both cultural norms and commonly held spiritual beliefs, members of the Latinx population are vulnerable to enabling unhealthy interpersonal relationships that primarily benefit others while potentially harming their own wellness. A Spanish translation (called the Inventario del Perdón y Reconciliación [IPR]) for the Forgiveness and Reconciliation Inventory (FRI) was created to identify its validity and reliability as a potential clinical resource for Spanish speaking mental health counseling clients dealing with the emotional difficulties of forgiveness and unjust cultural expectations within their relationships. Factor analysis on the IPR reported comparable yet slightly reduced psychometric properties to the FRI. …

The Relationship Between Relational Dynamics And Social Justice Identity Among Collegiate Student Athletes, Keon Stewart

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Student athletes are positioned to utilize relationships with teammates, coaches, and communities to advocate for social change. According to the literature, their connections to these individuals and environments contribute to their expressed social justice related behaviors and even further enhance their social justice identity development. The current study was developed in an effort to identify the extent of relationships between student athletes and their social justice identity and other demographic factors that might impact their overall expression of social justice identity and behaviors. The study consisted of 133 (42 females, 91 males) current student athletes participating in competitive sports across …

The Effects Of High Intensity Isometric Contractions And Low Intensity Isometric Contractions With And Without Blood Flow Restriction On Blood Pressure And Discomfort, Robert William Spitz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To investigate the effects of high intensity exercise and low intensity exercise with and without blood flow restriction on changes in blood pressure and discomfort.

Methods: 179 participants (18-35 years) were randomly assigned to one of four groups. The control group (CON, n=44) only completed the two testing sessions. The training groups completed only one of the following conditions: 1) 4 sets of a two-minute contractions at 30% maximal voluntary contraction (LI, n=47); 2) 4 sets of a two-minute contractions at 30% maximal voluntary contraction with a 12cm cuff inflated to 50% of arterial occlusion pressure (LI + BFR, …

The Efficacy Of Mental Health Stigma And Discrimination Reduction Initiatives Among Bipoc: A Meta-Analysis Of Outcome Studies, Janita M. Springfield

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: An under-utilization of mental health care services among BIPOC exists, and one of the leading drivers of this barrier is stigma. Given a plethora of research on reducing the stigma associated with mental health issues, the present meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of SDR interventions among BIPOC. Method: The present meta-analysis was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to establish complete and accurate reporting of information. A systematic review yielded a total of seven articles meeting the predetermined inclusion criteria. Effect sizes were computed for all studies …

Medication Use And Adherence In Rheumatoid Arthritis, Jennifer Marie Toth Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background/Objectives

Adherence can impact the effectiveness of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) in treating rheumatoid arthritis. If rheumatoid arthritis reaches the end-stage, joint replacement may be needed. Unplanned readmissions after joint replacement is a Medicare quality measure. The first objective of this study was to determine the optimal adherence threshold for TNFis in rheumatoid arthritis. Using that threshold and the traditional 0.8 threshold, the second objective was to find the relationship between adherence to TNFis and opioid use in rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, prediction of unplanned readmissions in patients who had a knee or hip arthroplasty was the final objective.

Methods …

Why And How Do Sports Consumers Engage With Non-Fungible Tokens (Nfts)?, Seomgyun Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The advent of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) heralds a new era for digital collections. Based on blockchain items and a tradable market, the National Basketball Association (NBA) Top Shot program, for example, provides several digital assets containing moments of NBA highlights. By the second quarter of 2021, NBA Top Shot had attracted one million consumers and produced more than $800 million in sales. Following its success, several other North American sports leagues entered the NFT sector, such as the National Football League’s All Day and Major League Baseball’s Candy programs. As new and complementary avenues for fan engagement, sport-related NFTs have …

New Pharmacist Practitioner Experiences Of Listening And Responding To Patient-Driven Misinformation, Saara Zakkiya Nasruddin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background/Objectives

The infodemic, layered with partisan politics and unsubstantiated medical claims, placed pharmacists in a position to not only have to actively stay up-to-date on developing COVID-19 information but also COVID-19 misinformation. While pharmacists are taught which sources to trust for guidance on public health concerns, it is unclear how new pharmacist practitioners (NPP) were prepared and able to handle patient-driven misinformation. The primary objective of this study is to describe NPP experiences of handling COVID-19-related misinformation presented by patients.

Methods

The study included semi-structured interviews over Zoom with a sample population of St. John’s University (SJU) and University of …

The Effects Of Google Smart Compose On The Process Of Open-Ended Writing, Sijan Shrestha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recently, a lot of new natural language models have been developed which help individuals with writing. One of the widely used tools is Google’s Smart Compose which is a text-predictive system that helps individuals to write by reducing the need for repetitive typing. Though this tool has been well established and used by a lot of people, there is a lack of studies on its impact on open-ended writing.

In this thesis, we investigate the effect of Google’s Smart Compose in open-ended writing. To do this, we built a custom software that collects data while the users are writing on …

Navigating To The Top: Career Success Experiences Of Black Women Senior Leaders In Higher Education, Gladys R. Peters

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The career advancement for Black women in higher education is not the same as their counterparts. Gender equity practices fail to challenge homogenous professional communities limiting how race and gender influence leadership advancement for Black women career trajectories. Black women who occupy positions of institutional influence and authority as senior leaders have largely been overlooked in in higher education research. Using a qualitative exploratory approach, this multiple case study explored the lived experiences of 10 Black women presently working in senior leadership roles in four-year public institutions of higher learning. This study sought to contribute to a deeper understanding of …

The Effects Of Blood Flow Restriction On The Vasculature And Tolerability During A 2-Week Intervention, Daphney Michelle Stanford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Blood flow restriction (BFR) has been used to delay muscle atrophy, but it is unclear how this impacts the vasculature. Purpose: Determine the effect of BFR on upper body vasculature. Methods: 40 participants were randomized into control (CON) or BFR. For BFR, 80% of arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) was applied daily (5/week) for 5 cycles (5min inflation, 3min deflation) on the dominant arm. Vascular assessments occurred at baseline (Pre), week 1 (Mid), and week 2 (Post). A cuff on the forearm inflated over 110% AOP for 5min while brachial artery diameter and tissue saturation index (TSI, %) were continuously measured. …

The Presence And Prevalence Of Underqualified High School Science Teachers In Mississippi, Shelby Ann Watson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With growth in STEM postsecondary programs and careers positioned as a national priority, ensuring that K-12 science classrooms are staffed with highly qualified teachers is an important step towards building student interest in STEM and preparing students for STEM careers. However, previous studies of out-of-field teaching have indicated that schools and districts across the country are hiring large numbers of underqualified teachers to fill high-needs positions, such as secondary science and mathematics. Complicating the issue is the fact that data regarding teacher shortages, vacancies, and underqualified teaching are often incomplete or inaccessible. Prior studies have found that underqualified teaching is …

Development Of Metformin Hydrochloride Oral Taste-Masked Sprinkle Formulation For Pediatric Use, Hawra Alhusaini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to develop a child-centered metformin hydrochloride (HCL) oral formulation by successfully masking its bitter taste and facilitating ease of administration. Hot-Melt Extrusion (HME) technology was used to extrude filaments containing metformin HCL with varying ratios of Eudragit® Polymers. Eudragit® E PO was used as a main excipient for its pH-dependency. Since it is only soluble in acidic pH up to pH 5.0, it would not release the drug in the saliva environment, which has a pH of approximately 6.8. Eudragit® RL PO and RS PO were added later on in order to further control …

Genomic And Metabolomic Investigation Into Xenic Cyanobacterial And Algal Cultures From Northern Mississippi, Alexis Dawn Wagner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cyanobacteria are well-known for their production of a vast array of secondary metabolites. Cyanobacteria are found in marine, aquatic, and terrestrial environments. Due to their production of an abundance of natural products, cyanobacteria may have significant applications in biotechnological, industrial, agricultural, and pharmacological fields. Although they have many beneficial implications, they are also known producers of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). These HABs can exude toxins into the marine environments, while decomposition of their biomass can create hypoxic zones. These HABs can lead to ecosystem destruction, wildlife death, and human health impacts. In order to better understand the metabolic capabilities and …

Factors Influencing Physical Therapy Career Choice, Ryan M. Babl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The physical therapy (PT) profession has a tradition of growth driven by interest and societal needs. Recent discrepancies in workforce modeling suggest looming issues impacted by declining application rates. Modern facilitators and barriers for entering the PT profession need exploration to assist key stakeholders in making informed decisions in recruitment.

Study Purpose: To explore how factors identified to influence individual’s choice of entering a healthcare career impact self-perceived likelihood of applying to an entry-level graduate PT program.

Methods: A univariant correlational research design was used to examine the extent of the relationship between predictive factors and students’ self-perceived likelihood …

Livestock Wastewater And Air Quality Management Using Microalgae, Capacitive Deionization, And Biofilters, Augustina Kwesie Osabutey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wastewaters play a significant role in the negative impact of phosphorus on the environment, such as eutrophication. However, phosphorus is a limiting nutrient essential for life which has gained global attention on productive technologies for phosphorus recovery. Several technologies have been developed for phosphorus removal and recovery from wastewater to help alleviate phosphorus loss to the environment. Capacitive deionization technology, which was earlier developed for water desalination and ion removal, is actively being explored for its ability to remove phosphorus from wastewater. This review describes capacitive deionization technology (CDI) and its various types. Significant attention is given to the use …

Evaluation Of Precision Ingredient Inclusion On Production Efficiency Responses In Finishing Beef Cattle, Santana R. Hanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Two randomized complete block design feedlot experiments were conducted over the course of two years. These experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of 1) evaluate the observed-to-expected ratio for ingredient inclusion using no commodity inclusion assistance technology or using commodity inclusion assistance technology; and 2) evaluate the influence that varying degrees (highly variable at random or 0.454 kg asfed tolerance for each ingredient) of accuracy on ingredient inclusion have on growth performance, carcass traits, efficiency of dietary NE utilization, and ingredient inventory management in finishing beef cattle. Experiment 1 used single source Black Angus heifers (n = 60; initial …

Effectiveness Of Atmospheric Cold Plasma In Inactivating Microorganisms, Nadee Shanika Kaluwahandi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the food processing industry, Cold Plasma (CP) is an emerging green process with a number of potential applications. Cold plasma has mostly been used to reduce microbial counts in foodstuffs and biological materials as well as in different levels of packaging, particularly in cases where there is thermal sensitivity. Recent studies have demonstrated that CP technology is being developed for use in the food and agriculture industries. The primary focus is on the interactions between reactive species and food-borne microbes to inactivate them. The literature review discusses both proven and potential applications for cold plasma in food processing, as …

Rye Cover Crop Termination Timing Influenced Early Corn Growth, Gene Expressions, And Yield In A No-Till System, Janet Moriles-Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Beliefs And Factors That Influence Intentions To Initiate Antihypertensive Medications, Omokhodion Alfred Eriakha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Primary nonadherence (PMN) to antihypertensives constitutes a problem for all stakeholders regardless of whose perspective is taken. Understanding patient beliefs and utilizing a theory could help move the needle in favor of antihypertensive medications initiation.

Objectives: To determine the predictive ability of an integrated model of the theory of planned behavior and health belief model on intention to initiate an antihypertensive medication and to rank the identified factors of intentions to initiate antihypertensive medications in order of relative importance.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate beliefs and factors that determine intention to initiate antihypertensive medications. The sample …

The Effect Of Work Accommodations On The Risk Of Relapse In Physicians And Nurses With Co-Occurring Substance Use And Mental Health Disorders, Corbin Watson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Accessing reasonable work accommodations may be difficult for healthcare professionals with impairments, particularly those who suffer from mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUD). The use of workplace accommodations by medical professionals who also have MHSUD may experience barriers to their accommodations. The article explores (1) the difference between the types of work accommodations and (2) the types of barriers healthcare professionals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders experience and how they impact their risk of relapse. Implications for physicians, nurses, and counselors are discussed.

Queer Community In Charlottesville, Virginia: Contradictions, Ambivalence, And Fragmentation, Cecelia Parks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Charlottesville, Virginia, is a small city full of contradictions, especially with regard to queer community. In this article, I explore those contradictions by examining five queer Charlottesville residents’ experiences of queer community through oral history interviews. Specifically, I try to understand how narrators’ ambivalence about the existence of queer community in Charlottesville and the necessity of such community has changed since the 1970s. These five narrators see and feel some aspects of queer community in Charlottesville but feel disconnected from queer community in others; for example, they highlight the well-attended Pride festival but do not feel like they know many …

Service-Learning: A Key To Effective Communication For Radiologic Sciences Students, Chelsea Palmer Stephens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many healthcare entities across the globe are moving away from the idea of only treating patients’ diseases to a model of focusing on the overall well-being of patients. Because of this change, healthcare academia must also focus on this change when helping educate clinical practitioners. One major proponent of this type of care is effective communication between the practitioner and the patient. In order to help students grow in this vital attribute, educators must think outside the normal realm of academia and incorporate experiential learning strategies. One method that is often used to place students in an active environment with …

Evaluation Of Feed Additives And Delivery Method For Receiving And Finishing Cattle, Thiago Lauro Maia Ribeiro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trace minerals (TM) and vitamins are essential to improve production output and efficiency in beef cattle. The first experiment was conducted to investigate if the delivery method of TM and Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast culture influence growth performance and hepatic TM content of receiving steers. The second experiment evaluated the effect of supplemental protected B - vitamins to finishing steers. Experiment 1 used Charolais x Angus steers calves (n = 192; 256 ± 14 kg) in a 49-d receiving experiment. Within 36h of weaning, steers were weighed, allotted to 24 pens (n = 8 steers/pen; 8 pens/treatment) and randomly assigned to …

In-Vivo Assessment Of A Direct-Fed Microbial On Lactation Performances, Blood Biomarkers, Ruminal Fermentation And Microbial Abundance In Transition To Mid-Lactation Holstein Cows, Marcela Bulnes Lopez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The transition period is a crucial stage in the lactation cycle and can lead to significant metabolic changes in cows. The use of nutritional interventions, such as direct-fed microbials, may assist cows during the transition from pregnancy to early lactation, reducing the occurrence of metabolic disorders and improving overall health. The primary goal of this study was to assess the effects of a commercial rumen-derived directfed microbial (DFM) product (Galaxis™ Frontier (GF) Native Microbials Inc., CA, USA) on various factors such as performance, blood biomarkers, rumen fermentation, and bacterial population in dairy cows during the transition period up to 100 …

Farmers’ Preference And Willingness To Accept Carbon Payment Programs: Evidence From South Dakota, Pramisha Thapaliya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is crucial to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Agricultural soil carbon sequestration holds great potential in reducing GHG emissions. No-till, conservation till and cover crops are some of the widely recognized carbon-sequestering agricultural conservation practices. However, farmers need to adopt these carbon-sequestering practices to realize the potential of agricultural soil carbon sequestration. Carbon payment or market programs are voluntary mechanisms that could incentivize farmers’ adoption of conservation practices that sequester carbon. However, there is limited knowledge of farmers’ preferences and willingness to accept (WTA) carbon payments for enrollment in such programs. This study investigates …

Stem And Pre-Health Students’ Diminishing Online Conversation Volume Regarding Majors And Careers Within The Field: Why Higher Education Should Care, Susan Roh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the STEM and pre-health online mention volume change regarding STEM and pre-health majors, careers, and universities, with the data collection period encompassing August of 2018 through June of 2021. We evaluated if the mention sentiment shifted between academic year periods. The data gathered for this study was procured in collaboration with Campus Sonar and the social-listening tool of Brandwatch, which allowed for specifications of the data collected. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine the means of the majors, careers, and universities mentions and mean sentiment volumes. Changes in not only online conversation …

Development Of Novel Cellular Assay Model And Therapeutic Deep Eutectic Solvents To Optimize The Activity Of Anticancer Agents, Nizam Uddin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the major burden behind chemotherapeutic treatment failure. It is the principal mechanism by which cancer cells evade chemotherapeutic treatment. As a result, aggressive cancer cells survive and continue uncontrolled cell division. Multidrug resistance affects survival rate of almost all types of cancer patients and death toll rises at an alarming rate. There are seven different mechanisms for evolving MDR. The most common mechanism in efflux activity of overexpressed ABC transporters. MRP1 is a prominent ABC transporter that pumps out a wide variety of anticancer drugs from the cells and thereby reduces intracellular drug concentrations and develops …