Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing The Relationship Between Racism In Medicine, Medical Mistrust And Cardiovascular Disease Among Black American Adults., Osayande Agbonlahor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) persists as the leading preventable cause of death and disability among Black Americans in the United States. Structural and psychosocial factors such as racism have been highlighted as a fundamental cause of persistent cardiovascular health disparities in the U.S. This study examined the associations between racism in medicine, medical mistrust and CVD among Black Americans using the Minority Stress Theory as a theoretical framework. This study evaluates the sociodemographic differences in the quality of care received among Black Americans. Data from the Health Information National Trends Survey, 2022 and the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Provider and Systems …

Mental Health Counseling For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study Of Client Perspectives., Kathleen Nagle Barnett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental illness is three to four times as prevalent among individuals with intellectual disabilities compared to those without intellectual disabilities (Munir, 2016). There is a body of research supporting the efficacy of mental health counseling to decrease symptoms and behaviors in individuals with intellectual disabilities, but scarce research exists which describes the experiences of these individuals. This interpretive phenomenological analysis was designed to gather information about how individuals with mild intellectual disabilities experience the four common components of psychotherapy that contribute to change (from Lambert, 1992; Thomas, 2006) – client and extra therapeutic factors, relationships factors, expectancy, and model / …

Alabaster Glory., Chloe Cheng

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alabaster Glory includes three installations in the gallery space: 望(wàng), 盛(chéng), and 余(yú). These components represent three stages of human life: the beginning, living on this earth, and the end. The core concept behind the three stages is the relationship between the creator (God) and creations, referring to humans that live in this broken world containing suffering, chaos, crime, conflict, or the personal experience of an inner void.

Alabaster Glory invites viewers to walk through the space first to encounter a magnitude of infant heart forms placed by a window, which intends to evoke curiosity about their quantity and symbolism. …

Conceptualizing An Islamic Character Education Program., Norma Nangju

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Character education, specifically faith-based character education, can provide a social, emotional, and academic benefit for students. Through this study, I wanted to take the first step: to design an Islamic character education program collaboratively with all stakeholders of the school. This study used participatory action research as a methodology. The first purpose was for administrators, teachers, parents, students, and community members at an Islamic school in Louisville, KY to collaborate to brainstorm the goals of a character education program at HIRA Institute using the Nominal Group Technique. The second purpose was, based on these goals, how can the strategies of …

The Lived Experience Of Nurses In Caring For Patients With Covid-19, Jessica Barre

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Limited research exists about the experiences of nurses’ caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic post hoc. To understand nurses’ realities of caring for patients with COVID-19, I aimed to understand the lived experience of nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 in the United States. A qualitative design with a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was used. Sixteen participants were recruited via purposive sampling, augmented with snowball sampling. Data were collected through unstructured interviews and were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Nurses’ experiences of caring for patients with COVID-19 in the U.S. were consolidated into four themes: “a living …

Pathology And Osteological Observations Of Early Pliocene Rhinoceros, Teleoceras Aepysoma (Perissodactyla, Rhinocerotidae) From Gray Fossil Site, Tennessee, Thomas Scaife

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rhinoceroses were an important part of North America’s Paleogene and Neogene ecosystems, with Teleoceras aepysoma being one of the last representatives of this family. Specimens of T. aepysoma from the Gray Fossil Site (GFS) possess distinct/peculiar pathologies: including a pair of fused ribs and ankylosed phalanges. A qualitative description of the pathologies in the GFS T. aepysoma, including new material, was conducted to accurately identify pathologies and make interpretations about the life history of the GFS rhinos. Analysis suggests that rheumatoid arthritis is common in the lower limb bones of GFS rhinos. Additionally, the rib and toe pathologies are more …

Perinatal Buprenorphine Effects On Offspring Growth, Opioid Withdrawal, And Brain Morphology In Rats, Parker Barnes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Opioid use disorder (OUD) impacts 5.6 million people in the US. Buprenorphine (BUP) is a commonly prescribed opioid medication used to treat OUD, including in pregnant women. However, opioid use during pregnancy is associated with poorer infant outcomes including reduced fetal growth, neurodevelopmental deficits, and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Recent clinical data suggests that providing mothers with a lower dose of BUP may result in fewer negative outcomes in infants. Here, a preclinical rodent model of low-dose perinatal BUP exposure was used to study offspring health outcomes in the neonate, juvenile, and adolescent offspring. Dams were given clinically relevant …

The Role Of The Speech-Language Pathologist With Survivors Of Traumatic Brain Injury From Intimate Partner Violence And Providers’ Knowledge Of This Role, Nicolle Mcadams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Intimate partner violence occurs globally at alarming rates. Many experience adverse health impacts such as traumatic brain injury. Healthcare providers do not know the role of the speech-language pathologist, or the rehabilitation needs of survivors.

Aims: This scoping review aims to identify speech-language pathology services for survivors of intimate partner violence with a resulting traumatic brain injury, and knowledge of healthcare providers on the rehabilitation needs of this population. A search was completed in May to October 2023, resulting in a total of 13 articles reviewed.

Main contributions: Speech-language pathologists lack knowledge to provide services to intimate partner violence survivors …

The Greater Implications Of Self-Perceptions Of Aging Among Younger Adults: Results From The Socially Nutritious Volunteer Training Program, Ashlyn Cobble

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rapidly growing rate of the older adult population has created a need to better understand younger adults’ self-perceptions of aging and current trends of ageism. The purpose of this secondary data analysis research project was to determine changes, if any, in participants’ self-perception of aging after the Socially Nutritious facilitator or nutrition ambassador volunteer training, which aims to develop knowledge and skills related to aging trends, older adult nutrition, preventing ageism, and communication and educational considerations when working with older adults. Findings indicate that participants with more frequent interactions with older adults had a more positive perception of their …

Design And Validation Of A Test For Teachers: Measuring Knowledge Of Trauma, Jennifer B. Bilbrey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research and interest in trauma-informed pedagogy have grown substantially. Trauma-informed pedagogy includes knowledge of trauma symptoms, associated behaviors, and environmental and instructional trauma-informed strategies. Various scales measure attitudes and experiences with trauma-informed practices; however, the literature suggests a lack of validated tests measuring teachers' knowledge of trauma. Reliable and valid tests measuring knowledge are critical when determining the professional development needs of both pre-service and in-service teachers. This multi-phase study aimed to fulfill this need by creating the Teachers’ Knowledge of Trauma (TKOT) test. With the guidance of literature and qualitative data from eight early childhood professional peers, a 50-item …

Radon Environmental Health Literacy In Northeast Tennessee, Kawther Al Ksir

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the multifaceted issue of radon exposure and its connection to lung cancer, focusing on knowledge gaps and proposing mitigation strategies. Despite extensive research, inconsistencies persist in understanding the health impacts, public awareness, and effective mitigation of radon, particularly in regions like Tennessee that are disproportionately burdened by high radon levels. This work addresses this gap by integrating findings from three distinct studies: a scoping review, a cross-sectional survey, and a policy analysis.

The review examined national literature about residential radon exposure, revealing variations in exposure levels and conflicting evidence regarding the risk of lung cancer. The cross-sectional …

Role Of Arabidopsis Ltp12 In Environmental Stress Response, Bikram Giri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) constitute a pervasive class of small proteins implicated in many biological and physiological processes, including seed development, germination, cuticle formation, and abiotic stress responses. In this study, we explored the role of Arabidopsis LTP12 protein in mitigating environmental stresses. To address this, we analyzed the T-DNA knockout mutant ltp12, focusing on its responses to salinity and osmotic stress. Utilizing antioxidant enzyme assays, phenotypic analyses (including water loss, chlorophyll content, seed germination rates, root length, and relative water content), and lipid profile analysis via Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), we found that ltp12 mutants showed reduced catalase and …

Characterization Of The Role Of Tobacco Deacetylase Enzyme Sip-428 In Mediating Environmental Stress, Zahra Barati

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abiotic stress poses a significant threat to crop productivity and food security. In this study, we focused on understanding the role of SIP-428, a SABP2-interacting protein, in mediating plant responses to environmental stresses. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing SIP-428 were subjected to salinity and drought stress. The overexpression of SIP-428 led to diminished growth under both stress conditions, indicating a negative impact on stress tolerance. Specifically, SIP-428 overexpression resulted in a reduction in catalase activity, while peroxidase activity remained unaffected. These findings suggest that SIP-428 plays a negative regulatory role on the catalase activity during abiotic stress, which may contribute to …

Changes In Young Adults’ Perspective On Ageism After Participating In A Virtual Nutrition Education Program With Older Adults, Julianne Hensley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The growing older adult population has led to increased ageist tendencies among younger generations. Previous research suggests that ageism is associated with cognitive and physical decline among older adults. This mixed-methods research project examined changes in ageist perceptions among graduate student facilitators and undergraduate nutrition ambassadors after participating in a training that included information about healthy aging, addressing ageism, and communicating with older adults. Results from a secondary data analysis of pre-test/post-test data and thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with facilitators of Socially Nutritious, a virtual nutrition education program for older adults, indicate that ageist perceptions decreased after the …

Healthcare Provider’S Perceptions On Feeding Difficulties And Educational Practices In Infants With Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (Nows), Katelyn White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined healthcare professionals’ perceptions on feeding difficulties experienced by infants with NOWS, the involvement of SLP in care, knowledge and experience levels of professionals, and trends in education and follow up care. A 34-question survey was developed to obtain data from participants involved in the care of exposed infants using the secure webbased RedCap™ platform. Nonparametric inferential statistics and descriptive analysis were used to interpret data. Feeding difficulties in infants exposed were reported by all respondents with SLP involvement reported by 42.2%. Results found that 51.9% of respondents were confident in their ability to educate families about feeding …

Exploring Available Information On The Gut-Brain Axis And Alzheimer’S Disease For Clinicians Making Dietary Recommendations: A Scoping Review, Megan Gibson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease that requires interprofessional collaboration. Pharmacological options are currently ineffective, increasing the need for preventative strategies to combat the rise of AD. Considerations of gut-targeted interventions have increased as a key component in the prevention of AD, based on the understanding that the state of the gut microbiome can impact cognitive function through the pathway known as the gut-brain axis.

Methods: This scoping review explored information on the gut-brain axis in persons with AD. A comprehensive search was conducted in November 2023. Forty reviews and 13 human studies were analyzed.

Results: There …

Evaluating A Current Athlete Assessment Program, David Fish

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this dissertation is to evaluate the effectiveness of a questionnaire designed to assess coaches’ perceptions of an athlete monitoring program. There are four reasons for this examination of perceptions: 1) it may serve as a check for understanding of how the coach takes in the information presented to them, 2) identify any gaps in the knowledge of the coach which the sport scientist may help to fill, 3) can serve to open a dialog with the coach for ways in which the information may be better tailored to help them improve their decision-making, and 4) the …

The Role Of Impulsivity In Relation To The Co-Occurrence Of Binge Eating And Binge Drinking, Hannah Holst

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Binge eating and binge drinking often co-occur, but the role of impulsivity in accounting for this relationship is under-investigated. Existing research acknowledges shared risk factors, yet the specific impact of impulsivity is a critical gap. Impulsivity, characterized by impulsive decision-making, is known in addictive behaviors. This research with a sample of college and community participants assessed binge eating, binge drinking, and impulsivity. Overall, binge eating and binge drinking were uncorrelated, contrary to previous research. However, impulsivity was associated with both binge eating and binge drinking. Gender differences were also noted, along with differences between the community and college samples. The …

Illness Perceptions And Health-Promoting Behaviors: The Buffering Role Of Resilience In Adults With Congenital Heart Disease, Taylor Rose Eldridge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are one of the most prevalent genetic abnormalities, impacting the lives of millions of children, teens, and young adults. Conservative diagnoses estimate that 2.4 million children and adults are living with CHD in the United States (Gilboa et al., 2016). CHD requires consistent cardiac support with multiple surgeries and hospitalizations expected throughout the lifetime, which significantly impacts psychological health. Specifically, patients present with a host of extra-cardiac conditions that impact their quality of life. With advancements in medical technology, mortality rates continue to improve for this population; however, individuals face a number of consequences that impact …

Best Practices In Professional Learning Communities That Influence Teacher Self-Efficacy, Silian Molly Hornsby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined best practices in professional learning communities (PLCs) that influence teacher self-efficacy. Participants were primary and intermediate teachers and teacher leaders from a large suburban elementary school in Texas. Participants had to have at least 1 year of teaching and PLC experience. The semistructured teacher and teacher-leader interviews were recorded and transcribed in real time using Otter.ai software. After members checked the transcription, the transcription was uploaded into the NVivo software for coding and identifying common themes. The findings were separated into themes based on the study’s research questions. Research question 1 explored what teachers and …

Assessing Nurses' Knowledge Of The Prevention Of Pressure Injuries, Olive Kaine Tariah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Pressure injuries are rated as the third most costly health problem, with deaths of about 60,000 in the United States due to complications annually and with a high mortality rate from complications. Incidences of pressure injury differ in various clinical settings, although the incidence rate ranges from 4% to 38% in hospitalization and mortality. Secondary complications among older individuals are approximately 68%. Pressure ulcers are injuries caused by unrelieved pressure, shear, friction, or a combination of all these to the skin or underlying tissues. Pressure ulcers develop from a prolonged tissue compression between a bony prominence and an external …

Cross-Institutional Collaboration And Exhibit Making: “On The Gold Mountain: Chinese Mining History And Heritage Of Idaho” At The Idaho Museum Of Mining And Geology, Jordan Kathleen Bennett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Gold Rush, which brought many new immigrant communities to the American West, made a permanent impact on American culture by prompting the development of many Western towns. However, the Chinese immigrant mining population in the Boise, Idaho area has had little museum representation despite the more than 300,000 Chinese people who emigrated to the US between the 1840s and 1880. To rectify this, the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology (IMMG), in collaboration with members of the Payette National Forest, the Asian American Comparative Collection, Boise State University/US Army Corps of Engineers, and the University of Denver, developed an …

Effects Of Compassion Fatigue On Surgical Staff Productivity, Marcy I. Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Compassion fatigue is a psychological phenomenon affecting many healthcare professionals; however, many professionals are unaware of compassion fatigue or its signs and symptoms. Individuals suffering from compassion fatigue may experience mental and physical side effects and a decline in their work productivity. This quality improvement project was aimed at determining if implementing Vintapatr’s compassion fatigue education and management program would improve perceived levels of compassion fatigue and reduce operating room turnover time. The researcher utilized a descriptive correlational design to identify the relationship between compassion fatigue levels and operating room turnover times. This quality improvement project was implemented at a …

The Relationship Between Nutrient Intake And Performance Recovery In Ncaa Softball Athletes, Derionne Brooks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collegiate athletes are faced with the challenge of maintaining optimal performance outcomes in spite of their demanding training schedules. As a result, athletes rely on recovery strategies such as nutrition and adequate sleep to optimize their recovery in these shortened windows. This study aimed to explore the relationship between dietary intake, sleep, and athletic performance in female collegiate athletes (N=27) using dietary recalls analyzed using the Nutrition Data System for Research, self-reported sleep data, and data collected using PERCH devices. Twenty-seven current members of a collegiate softball team participated in the data collection throughout their fall season (August – December). …

Physicochemical And Functional Properties Of Different Varieties Of Spring And Winter Peas Of South Dakota, Prakriti Dhakal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Peas are a good source of nutrients for both humans and animals, and they are the world's second most significant and sustainable legume. There have been studies on different kinds of pea grown in other parts of the world, but there is no information on the compositional and functional characteristics of pea varieties grown specifically in South Dakota. The objective of the study was to evaluate the proximate composition and functional properties of various pea varieties and determine if the pea variety impacted cookie properties. The proximate composition (moisture, protein, starch, and amylose), functional capacities (water holding, oil holding capacity, …

Feeding Isoacids To Swine: Inclusion Level And Interactions With Dietary Fiber And Protein, Angie Patricia Benavides Infante

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In animal production, research is continually being carried out into implementing new feeding strategies, such as incorporating new alternative ingredients or additives that improve the quality of the diet, reduce the cost of diets, or have effects on intestinal health. The inclusion of branched-chain volatile fatty acids has been investigated in ruminants, and it has been found that a diet supplemented with BCVFA increases fiber digestibility as well as increases cellulolytic bacteria in the rumen. There is little information about the possible effects on pigs supplemented with BCVFA. According to this, the first study aims to evaluate the optimal inclusion …

The Relationship Of Macronutrient Intake With Growth In Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Jessica L. Freeling

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Child growth, a sensitive metric of overall health, results from the intricate interplay of nature and nurture. While the importance of nutrition in child growth is well established, growth trajectories exhibit substantial individual variability, influenced by sex and age, and often characterized by nonlinear patterns. Inadequate nutrition or disease can hinder growth, with potential for recovery upon proper nutrition or acute disease resolution. However, chronic disease or persistent malnutrition may lead to permanent growth perturbation. Notably, before the advent of insulin, chronic stunting and wasting were hallmarks of Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), though the specific impacts under modern standard …

Plant Available Water Drives Semi-Arid Forage Quality And Quantity In A Common Garden Greenhouse Experiment, Parker J. Witt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rangeland forage nutrition and biomass production are integral components of sustainable livestock grazing systems and are controlled by soil quality and precipitation. I examined the effects of precipitation on growth and nutrition of three forage species in four different soils that span the longitudinal moisture gradient in South Dakota. I grew little bluestem (Schizachyrum scoparium), western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), and smooth brome (Bromus inermis) in soils representing the eastern tallgrass/mid-grass prairie (Brookings, 700 mm avg. precipitation.), an eastern mid-grass prairie (Highmore, 550 mm avg. precipitation.), a western mid-grass prairie (Cottonwood, 450 mm avg. precipitation.), and a western mid-grass/short-grass prairie (Sturgis, …

The Influence Of By-O-Reg+ Beef, An Oregano-Based Essential Oil Supplement, On Growth Performance, Carcass Traits And Meat Quality Of Finishing Beef Steers, Bergin Mackenzie Debruin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis was to determine the influence of an oregano-based essential oil (OEO; By-O-Reg+ Beef), on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of beef steers finished in an all-natural program. Yearling steers were allotted to 16 pens (n = 8 pens per treatment, 8 steers per pen). Treatments included: 1) control (CON) fed no oregano-based essential oil and 2) group fed 4 g/steer daily of By-O-Reg+ Beef. Steers were harvested on day 149 of the feeding period. Standard carcass data was collected and instrumental color (L*, a*, b*) was recorded. Strip loins were collected from a …

Quality & Credibility Ff Adhd Information On Social Media And Adhd Help-Seeking Intentions, Saara Zakkiya Nasruddin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: There is an increased prevalence of adult Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and stimulant prescription use in the United States, especially when compared to years prior to 2020. Due to accessibility and popularity of ADHD on social media, many individuals gain information on ADHD from these sources. People may view information on social media as credible due to its ability to provide connection, community, and empowerment. However, content analyses of ADHD information on social media show the quality of content on social media is poor. These content analyses utilized outdated quality evaluation tools that are not specific for social media. Principles …