Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing The Impact Of Interprofessional Education On The Attitudes And Interprofessional Competencies Of Health Care Professionals: A Mixed Methods Study, Jessica L. Stadick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to assess health care professional’s interprofessional collaborative competencies and attitudes towards working in teams and to examine if differences exist between professionals who have completed formal interprofessional education (IPE) and those who have not. This study was guided by the Interprofessional Learning Continuum Model.
Background. IPE is the foundation of interprofessional collaboration. Research has shown that IPE is an effective strategy to prepare health care professionals for collaborative practice; however, preventable medical errors that result from poor collaboration continues to plague the health care system. Thus, more research is needed to better …

Cross-Sectional And Longitudinal Effects Of Glycemic Status On Body Composition, Bone, And Lipid Profile In Men Aged 20 To 66 Years: A Population-Based Study, Khaleal Almusaylim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are significant public health challenges in the United States. Pre-diabetes and T2D are a multi-factorial disease characterized by genetic or environmental factors or a combination of both. There has been an upward trend over time in the prevalence of both pre-diabetes and T2D. Few epidemiological studies exist regarding the effect of baseline glycemic status on changes in body composition, bone health, and lipid profiles. To fill this critical gap, the purpose of this research was to examine both cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in glycemic status with changes in body composition, bone mass and density, …

Identifying An Optimal Bald Eagle Monitoring Program For Southwest Alaska National Parks, Rebecca Kolstrom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Southwest Alaska Inventory and Monitoring Network includes bald eagle monitoring as part of their Vital Signs Monitoring Plan. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Wrangell – St. Elias National Park and Preserve monitor bald eagles annually, albeit slightly differently among parks. Since monitoring decisions involve multiple objectives and stakeholders, there was a need for a structured approach to identify an optimal monitoring program. We used a structured decision making process and an iterative, four-round Delphi Process to collect information about long-term bald eagle monitoring from experts. We collected information …

Natural Sunlight Photodegradation Of Halogenated Disinfection Byproducts In Water, Ibrahim Abusallout

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) presence in wastewater effluents and receiving waters may impact the quality of drinking water during water reuse practices. Natural solar photolysis is one of the biogeochemical processes that may lead to decreased DBPs concentrations in water. The purpose of this dissertation is to determine the fate of chlorinated, brominated and iodinated DBPs in surface water by natural sunlight photolysis and investigate the use of solar-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for removal of DBPs in water. Total organic halogen (TOX) was used to measure total chlorinated- (TOCl), brominated- (TOBr) and iodinated-DBPs (TOI) in water. The first objective was …

Assessing Listeria Risk During Different Stages Of Ice Cream Manufacturing And Storage, Neha Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Listeriosis is a life-threatening infection caused by foods contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Some of the major ice cream recalls in recent years reaffirm the ability of this food-borne pathogen to survive in diverse dairy processing environments and cause cross contamination. Inspection reports revealed certain lapses in implementing adequate hygienic practices for Listeria persistence in the processing environment, leading to cross contamination of ice cream. The higher levels of cross contamination of raw ice cream mix might result in random heat-injured cells when exposed to minimum heat treatment (69°C for 30 min). Evidence about the presence of injured cells in ice …

The Efficacy Of Protein Supplementation On Attenuating Muscle Atrophy Following Disuse In The Collegiate Population, Leah Kroeger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of a protein supplementation protocol through a period of muscular disuse in maintaining muscle mass, strength, jump force production, and cross-sectional area in the collegiate population. Two groups of healthy collegiate participants underwent two weeks of unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS), during which the control group consumed a normal diet and the treatment group received an additional 75 g of protein supplementation. Lean mass, strength, and force production were measured between dietary intakes at baseline and following immobilization. Muscle area was lost between both groups following ULLS (treatment, - 282.8 …

Effects Of Oats And Distiller’S Dried Grains Fibers On Fortification Of Asian Noodles – Evaluation Of Glycemic Response, Noodle Quality And Nutritional Composition, Kara Konst

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to develop Asian wheat noodle formulations enriched with oat flour and corn DDG at 10, 20 and 30 % wheat flour replacement levels and to evaluate the effects of this fiber and protein enrichment on the glycemic response of human subjects. We hypothesized that the addition of high-fiber oats and high-fiber, high-protein DDG will have synergistic effects in lowering the glycemic response in human subjects. In this study, steamed instant Asian noodles were prepared with DDG(D) and oats(OF) in combination with all-purpose wheat flour(W) in the following flour blends: (W:D) 90:10, (W:OF) 90:10, (W:D) …

Land Cover Changes Within And Around Protected Areas In Côte D’Ivoire From 1986 To 2017: A Case Study Of The Mabi-Yaya-Songan-Tamin Reserved Forests, Olena Boiko

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tropical forests mitigate climate change, provide habitat for the most biologically diverse terrestrial communities, and yield ecosystem services that support human wellbeing. These forests are some of the most threatened ecosystems because of the increasing human impact on the environment. Côte d’Ivoire has one of the highest deforestation rates in sub-Saharan Africa, and the expansion of agriculture to produce cash crops, such as cocoa and rubber, is presented as the primary reason for forest loss. These changes are apparent even within the boundaries of the protected areas, which raises concerns about the effectiveness of the protection strategies. This project illustrates …

Effect Of Mineral Ions On The Functional Properties Of Starch Films, Aliza Sigdel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Essential minerals are indispensable inorganic micronutrients that modulate vital physiological functions at the molecular level. Their deficiency, though required in small amounts, impairs health significantly. Their supplementation through diet is prudent and carbohydrates standout as favorable choice. Carbohydrates, starches and polysaccharides, exhibit unique chemical structures and functionalities, and interact with mineral ions in several ways. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of mineral ions on the physicochemical properties, tensile strength and in vitro starch digestion of starch-films. Corn starch and potato starch along with Fe2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions have been chosen as model starch …

Understanding Emotional Intelligence And Its Relationship To Clinical Reasoning In Nursing Students: A Mixed Methods Study, Heidi M. Meyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to explore emotional intelligence (EI) and its relationship to clinical reasoning in senior bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) students to gain a better understanding of how emotions are used in clinical learning experiences. This study was guided by the Four Branch Ability Model of EI.
Background. The current complex healthcare environment requires nursing students to be prepared to effectively reason in emotionally charged situations. The concept of EI and its beneficial effects in nursing are becoming more evident in the literature. However, it is still not well understood what the …

A New Lens: Psychological Ownership As An Element To Promoting Organizational Change, Tyler Carlson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Much of the change management literature has focused on change from the perspective of the organization as a whole. However, researchers have begun to explore the impact change has on employees, as well as employee perceptions of organizational change. The current study explored the role psychological ownership has in the context of organizational change, by using it is as a moderator between employee openness to organizational change (EOOC), and organizational commitment, job stress, and turnover intentions. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between EOOC and organizational commitment, a significant negative correlation between EOOC and job stress, as well as turnover …

In-Silico Design And Synthesis Of Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators Targeting Ovarian Cancer, John Apraku

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The established records of the safety of Ormeloxifene along with its favorable bioavailability and ability to inhibit rapid cell proliferation in the endometrium during embryonic implantation has made it one of the best drug candidates for controlling undesirable rapid cell growth such as endometriosis and cancerous tumor conditions. Recent studies have confirmed the effectiveness of Ormeloxifene to suppress and inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition process as evidenced by repression of N-cadherin, slug, snail, vimentin, MMPs, β-catenin/TCF-4 transcriptional activity and induce the expression of pGSK3b. Recently conducted studies have revealed the dynamic binding of ormeloxifene with β-catenin, GSK3b, CDK4, and other downstream EGFR. …

Menstrual Cycle And The Vascular Properties Of Remote Preconditioning, Shelby Rachel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: A promising therapeutic intervention to counteract endothelial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is ischemic preconditioning (IPC). Limited data from ovariectomized animal models shows that estrogen deficiency abolishes the cardioprotective effects of IPC, whereas estrogen replacement restores protection. This suggests that alterations in female sex hormones, particularly estrogens, that occur naturally during the menstrual cycle is likely to influence the vascular protective properties of IPC. The aim of the present study was to identify how changes in female sex hormones that occur naturally during the menstrual cycle interfere with IPC to provide vascular endothelial protection in women. METHODS: Nine healthy premenopausal eumenorrheic …

Level Of Satisfaction Among Food Pantry Clients, Staff/Volunteers, And Directors And Its Association With Client Choice In Food Pantry Layouts, Myranda Dunmire

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: Food insecurity is an issue in rural communities, particularly among food pantry clients. Food pantries may not provide clients with the opportunity to choose their own foods (client choice), and instead may just give a set amount and type of foods. Client choice is important in regards to client health status as well as perceptions of autonomy and quality of life. Although client choice can be promoted in food pantries, it may be difficult to grasp the process of food pantry transitioning and how well changes such as these may be perceived by clients or food pantry personnel. We …

A Sustainable Future In The Implementation Of Clinical Pharmacogenomics, Nicholas Keeling

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The sustainability of clinical pharmacogenomics requires further study of clinical education on the topic, its effects on clinical workflow, and the responsibilities of different providers for its delivery. Tools from the discipline of implementation science were utilized herein to help achieve the purposes of the three studies. The broad purpose of this dissertation is to advance the work of clinical pharmacogenomic implementation through a more rigorous convergence with implementation science.

Methods: Three studies constitute the whole of this dissertation. The first is a scoping review that provides a broad characterization of the methods utilized in available peer-revieliterature focusing on …

Continuous Production Of Raloxifene Hydrochloride Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Using Hot-Melt Extrusion Technology, Derick Muhindo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to utilize a continuous process for the production of Raloxifene Hydrochloride (RX-HCl) loaded NLC formulations for extended drug release using hot-melt extrusion technology coupled with probe sonication, and also to evaluate the in vitro characteristics of the prepared NLCs by particle size, PDI, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, drug loading, and in vitro drug release profile. Preparation of the NLCs using HME technology involved two main steps, first formation of a pre-emulsion after extrusion and then size reduction of the pre-emulsion using probe sonication to obtain the NLCs. Process parameters for the extrusion process like …

Effect Of Sulfobutyl Ether Β-Cyclodextrins On Oral And Dermal Pharmacokinetics Of Drugs, Vijay Kumar Shankar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Silymarin is an extract of Milk Thistle, major constituents are taxifolin, silychristin, silydianin, silybin A, silybin B, isosilybin A and isosilybin B. The in vitro, preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated silymarin possesses hepatoprotective, anticancer, hypocholesterolemic, cardioprotective effect and dermatological beneficial effect (treatment of UV induced erythema, melanoma, non-melanoma skin cancer, rosacea, melasma, vitiligo and psoriasis) both individually and collectively. Solubility enhancement of silymarin constituent is utmost important to increase bioavailability and to improve drug developability property. The solubility of silymarin in water was enhanced by SBE-β-CD by conventional and heating method, heating method was found to be more efficient …

The Role Of Dunc13 In Ethanol Tolerance, Yusuke Wachi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although the effects of ethanol on presynaptic activity have been studied, the molecular mechanisms and the changes in gene expression which are responsible for inducing ethanol tolerance are unclear. Munc13-1 is an active-zone protein that is essential for presynaptic vesicle fusion. This protein interacts with vesicle fusion machinery at presynaptic active zones in the mammalian brain. The C1 domain of Munc13-1 binds diacylglycerol (DAG), which helps membrane localization of this protein and promotes vesicle fusion, facilitating synaptic vesicle release. Previously, it was shown that ethanol binds to the C1 domain of Munc13-1 in vitro at concentrations below 100 mM (Das …

An Exploration Of Relationships Between Parenting Stress And Primary Headache Disorders, Yelena Louise Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stress is the most commonly reported trigger for headache and stress affects headache both directly through resulting physiological changes and indirectly through its effects on lifestyle and coping behaviors. However one form of stress that has been neglected within headache is parenting. Parenting stress is defined as the imbalance between parents’ perceptions of available resources and their perceived demands of parenthood. Many variables have been established as predictors of parenting stress (e.g. demographic variables child behavior maternal depression) though fewer studies have examined its effects on health. Given that headache and parenthood share similar demographic distributions and risk factors exploration …

Acute Exercise And Creativity: Embodied Cognition Approaches, Emily M. Frith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation manuscript is the culmination of three years of research examining several unique, exercise-induced mechanisms underlying creativity. This collection of work addresses historical and current empirical concepts of creativity in a narrative review, providing recommendations for future research. Several reviews follow this introduction, highlighting the proposed effects of exercise on creativity, putative mechanisms for creativity, and the effects of exercise and embodied manipulations on creative behavior. Multiple experiments utilizing moderate-intensity exercise as a theoretical stimulus for higher-order cognitions were conducted to investigate associations between exercise and creativity, which lead to the final dissertation experiment. The dissertation experiment was the …

Developing Zebrafish As An In Vivo Model To Screen Compounds For Anti-Cancer Activity In Human Breast Cancer, Trisha Dhawan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Breast Cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer; 1:8 women are at risk of developing BC in her lifetime. Cancer metastasis causes the majority of deaths in BC patients. Moreover, side effects of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs (TCD) impair the quality of life of these patients. Discovery and development of safe and effective new therapies is imperative for the treatment of BC and targeting metastasis. The goal herein is to further expand the applicability of in vivo xenotransplantation of human BC cells in transgenic zebrafish to screen potential chemotherapeutics for toxicity and efficacy. For xenotransplantation, MCF-7, BT-474, and MDA-MB-231 BC …

Weight Teasing Among Obese Youth: Social Functioning Outcomes Following A Pediatric Weight Management Intervention, Joseph Mitchell Magness

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of excess weight and obesity among children and adolescents in the United States continues to increase. Aside from the different effects weight has on a person’s physical and psychological well-being, obese youth often experience poorer social functioning than normal weight peers. Weight teasing is among those highlighted social difficulties. Pediatric weight management program interventions have been shown to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) across domains for obese youth. However, few studies have examined the impact of weight management interventions on social quality of life for those with a history of weight teasing. The present study aimed to …

Pegylated Nanostructured Lipid Carries For Amphotericin B Ocular Delivery, Prit Manish Lakhani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Chapter II focuses on formulation of an optimized and robust amphotericin B ocular formulation with prolonged precorneal residence and ocular tissue concentration at par or superior to the marketed preparations. Additionally, demonstrating stability of amphotericin B formulations in presence of preservative in comparison to marketed preparation, making it an ideal choice of formulation for multi-dosing. As mentioned earlier, we optimized PEGylated nanostructured lipid carriers (PEG-NLC-AmB) for ocular delivery of amphotericin B. The formulations could be autoclaved with at least one-month stability and in vivo ocular biodistribution was statistically insignificantly different compared to AmBisome®. To accomplish the aim, strategies such …

Whistle Before You Work: Defining Paid Labor In The New Deal State, 1938-1947, Thomas Porter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis traces the conceptualization of work from the passage of the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) through the Portal-To-Portal Pay Act of 1947. I argue that the FLSA created a new framework for industrial laborers to define what constituted work. This enables an understanding of work as defined by those in mines and on the industrial plants floor, allowing those who were closest to toil and exertion to create their own definitions. By 1946, Congress heeded to the complaints of the military and capitalists and codified their definition of work and the work week. This restricted the broadly …

Effect Of Solvent Interaction & Soluble Microneedles On Skin Permeability To Drug Molecules, Abhijeet Maurya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Skin forms a formidable barrier protecting the human body from external environmental rigors and excessive loss of water; maintaining equilibrium. The barrier properties of the skin can be attributed to its unique macromolecular organization and morphology. As a route for drug administration, skin presents a large surface area and can be used for both systemic and localized targeted drug delivery applications offering several advantages over conventional drug therapy; avoidance of first pass metabolism, patient compliance, sustained or controlled delivery for an extended period, to name a few. However, the organized structure of the skin, since intended to prevent entry of …

Novel Applications Of Hot-Melt Extrusion Technology In Trans-Buccal And Topical Drug Delivery Systems, Nicole Mendonsa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the buccal route of administration can avoid the first pass effect, the bioavailability of drugs that are metabolized in the liver can be increased through this route. Few studies have been conducted using oleic acid as a permeation enhancer in any trans-buccal dosage form. The objective of this study was to develop a buccal tablet using two concentrations of oleic acid for a model drug (Ondansetron) via melt extrusion technology and investigate the effects of oleic acid on the physicochemical properties of the tablet. Formulations consisting of the active drug (ondansetron hydrochloride), polymers and oleic acid were prepared by …

Testing A Modified Model Of Stress Process For Understanding Quality Of Life Among Informal Caregivers And Assessing Their Formal Service Use, Nilesh V. Gangan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Informal caregivers provide timely care to family members who are disabled or have a chronic condition that requires close monitoring or constant assistance. To provide adequate support to informal caregivers there is a need to assess ways to improve their quality of life (QOL) and understand how formal services can be improved. This dissertation strives to extend the knowledge available for policy makers by examining the factors that can be targeted by policy makers to improve QOL of informal caregivers as well as the factors that enable the use of formal services provided to support informal caregivers. The psychometric properties …

Am I In The Right Place?: Writing Center Consultations As Socioacademic Integrative Experiences For Community College Transfer Students, Rachel E. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Community college transfer students experience unique pressures and challenges and studies have revealed the need to critically investigate the transfer receptivity of resources and services available at four year receiving institutions. Studies have also shown that blending social and academic integrative techniques in programs and services targeting transfers students are more effective for increasing retention and persistence than exclusively social or academic efforts. The overall purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine writing center consultations at two regional campuses serving community college transfer at a large university in relationship to socioacademic integration. The results of this study revealed …

Explication Of Moral Disgust: Assessing Physiological And Behavioral Responses To Disgust Eliciting Videos, Sarah Michelle Scott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Results indicate a significant self-reported disgust response among core animal reminder and contamination domains whereas the moral domains elicited both anger and disgust. Physiologically no change was measured in skin conductance; heart rate decrease in response to animal reminder contamination community and autonomy video clips. Significant behavioral avoidance was demonstrated when presented with the core and animal reminder video clips. Further when measuring facial muscle activation the levator labii was significantly activated in response to the core video clip but no others. The current study highlights the difficulty in establishing characteristic responses to disgust stimuli especially within the moral domain. …

Knowledge, Assertiveness, Competence: Using A Self-Determination Theory Framework To Explain Sexual Satisfaction In College Students, Tanja Seifen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexual satisfaction has been shown to be related to many positive factors such as high relationship satisfaction enhanced physical and psychological health and increased overall well-being. Despite making up 27% of the sexually active population in the United States young people (ages 15-24) but are typically not taught about the benefits of sexual satisfaction or how to have a pleasurable sexual experience. Due to their high risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies most education and research on young people’s sexuality focuses on risk behaviors and prevention. The goal of this study was to take a positive outlook …