Digital Commons Network^™

Multilingual Museums: A Proposal To Increase Linguistic Diversity In Contemporary Art Museums, Jennifer Cha

Master's Projects and Capstones

The U.S. population is becoming more ethnically, racially, and linguistically diverse. It is estimated that by the year 2050, the U.S. will shift to a majority-minority population, meaning that the total minority population will become the majority of the U.S. population. But while the U.S. is diversifying, the current museum visitorship demographic is not representative of or on track to measure up to these changes in the future. If museums are valuable civic spaces with several associated health, social, and educational benefits, and a large percentage of the population have low-English proficiency and cannot access the information, then there is …

Perceptions And Clinical Applications Of Feedback Type If Dental Hygiene, Elmer Eleazar Gonzalez

Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

Purpose/Objectives: The study assesses whether or not feedback type and feedback delivery method play a significant role in students’ learning and clinical performance. The study explores Ego Stroking Sandwich feedback and Non-Sandwich feedback as the feedback types and Instructors feedback vs. Scoring guide feedback as the feedback delivery method. Students’ perceptions and clinical applications were considered as part of the study.

Methods: Eleven participants were included in the study. One group was the Ego Stroking Sandwich type feedback (n=5) and the other was the Non-Sandwich Type feedback (n=6). Each group performed two dental impressions (a maxillary and a mandibular) while …

Development Of Chloroquine-Containing Hpma Copolymers For Drug Delivery, Fei Yu

Theses & Dissertations

Abstract

Development of Chloroquine-containing HPMA Copolymers for Drug Delivery

Fei Yu, Ph.D.

University of Nebraska Medical Center, 2018

Supervisor: David Oupický, Ph.D.

Synthetic polymers have been extensively explored for improved delivery of anticancer agents. Polymers can be designed as either carriers of existing drugs or as polymeric drugs with intrinsic pharmacological activity. Advantages of such polymeric drugs include common positive features of polymer-drug conjugates, such as targeted delivery of drugs, altered pharmacokinetic and biodistribution, improved drug safety, but also favorable pharmacological activities due to multivalent receptor-ligand interactions.

Chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are safe drugs that have been in clinical …

Delineation Of New Mechanisms Of Dna Double Strand Break Repair, Songli Zhu

Theses & Dissertations

DNA damage is frequently induced in cells by both endogenous and exogenous agents. DNA damage, particular double strand breaks (DSBs) may lead to genomic instability, and the progression of cancer, aging, neurodegeneration, and other human diseases. The cell employs two major DSB repair pathways, including homologous recombination (HR) and Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), but the detailed mechanisms of DSB repair remain to be further revealed.

In the first part of this study, we characterized a plasmid-based assay to investigate NHEJ repair in Xenopus egg extracts. Our data argued for a preference for the precise repair by the NHEJ machinery and …

Effects Of Class Ii Correctors And Functional Appliances On The Periodontal Health Of The Mandibular Incisors – A Prospective Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (Cbct) Study, David C. Duevel

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of Class II correctors and functional appliances on the dentoalveolar support of the mandibular incisors during orthodontic treatment. Twenty six patients who were treated with a Forsus^TM, Herbst, or MARA participated this study. Lateral cephalometric radiographs, limited field-of-view CBCTs, and periodontal measurements were collected both the day of appliance activation and day of appliance deactivation. Ten hard tissue measurements on all four mandibular incisors were collected at each time point on CBCT images. Bone thickness increased at 6 and 9 mm apical from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) on …

Development Of The University Of New Mexico Spectrometer For High-Resolution Fission Product Yield Data, Richard Emery Blakeley

Nuclear Engineering ETDs

Well-defined fission product yield data has been of increasing interest in various applications within the nuclear industry. With this need in mind, a fission fragment mass spectroscopy system was designed and developed at the University of New Mexico in collaboration with the Los Alamos National Laboratories with a stated goal of attaining a mass resolution of ≤ 1 % (FWHM/centroid) for light fragments and near 1 % for heavy fragments. The mass spectrometer utilized in this work consists of a transmission time-of-flight detection system to measure fission product velocity and an axial ionization chamber to measure the fission product energy, …

Under Pressure: Tailored Cpr With Stress Management For Formerly Incarcerated Individuals, Amanda Lee

Master's Projects and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to increase rates of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training and bystander response to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). This was accomplished by providing a short, one hour adapted CPR course with a stress management component targeting common barriers (e.g. psychological concerns) to bystander response for formerly incarcerated individuals at the Delancey Street Foundation.

Methods: The CPR course was adapted based off a literature review on the learning needs and preferences of this population. Data collection included:1) instructor evaluation of skills based on oral and simulation examination by students (adapted from the standard American Heart Association …

Battlefield Mementos Care Of And Restitution Of Japanese 'Good Luck Flags' And Cultural Heritage Objects From War In Museum Collections, Andrew Armstrong

Master's Projects and Capstones

In World War II one of the most common objects found on the battlefield in the Pacific Theater was that of the Japanese Yosegaki Hinomaru or “Good Luck Flag” These objects were some of the most looted items from the war and soon found themselves in the possession of veterans of World War II and their families. In the past few decades as these veterans pass, increasing numbers of veterans and their families attempt to return the flags to Japan, or museums in the United States, believing they are the most suited to care for such objects. However this presents …

Integration Of A Commercial Smart Thermostat To The Aggregated Load Control Simulation Framework, Jee Won Choi

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

As part of an effort to achieve a better balance between the power demand and supply, load (demand) control simulation framework is previously developed. In the framework, HVAC load is used as a control resource, driven by the thermostat logic modeled within the framework. However, it has not been proved, whether a com- mercial thermostat is able to perform modeled thermostat’s features. Therefore, it is desired to integrate a commercial thermostat to the framework, to verify its capabil- ity of participating and performing the Demand Response (DR) scheme developed. A ‘Nest Learning Thermostat’ is selected as a commercial thermostat. Nest …

An Evaluation Of Deferred Time-Out, Abigail Kennedy

Theses & Dissertations

Although substantial research has shown time-out to be an effective treatment for children’s problem behavior, time-out resistance (i.e., failure to go to time-out, escape from time-out, as well as negative vocalizations and aggression occurring between the time-out instruction and the completion of time-out) has the potential to decrease time-out’s suppressive effect, increase use of more intrusive and effortful administrative methods and escape contingencies, and negatively affect parental adherence. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of deferred time-out (DTO) on time-out resistance in a clinic and home setting. In addition, this research provided a preliminary evaluation …

Acquiring Knowledge About The Use Of A Newly Developed Electronic Fetal Heart Rate Monitor: A Qualitative Study Among Birth Attendants In Tanzania, Sara Rivenes Lafontan, Johanne Sundby, Hussein Kidanto, Columba Mbekenga, Hege L. Ersdal

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

In an effort to reduce newborn mortality, a newly developed strap-on electronic fetal heart rate monitor was introduced at several health facilities in Tanzania in 2015. Training sessions were organized to teach staff how to use the device in clinical settings. This study explores skilled birth attendants’ perceptions and experiences acquiring and transferring knowledge about the use of the monitor, also called Moyo. Knowledge about this learning process is crucial to further improve training programs and ensure correct, long-term use. Five Focus group discussions (FGDs) were carried out with doctors and nurse-midwives, who were using the monitor in the labor …

Modulating Hallmarks Of Cholangiocarcinoma, Cody Wehrkamp

Theses & Dissertations

How are cholangiocarcinoma cells different from non-malignant cholangiocytes?

All of the hallmarks of cancer apply- those reported in this dissertation include cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and evasion of growth suppression. My studies began with testing how apoptosis might be regulated through embelin, a small molecule reported to sensitize cells to apoptosis by blocking XIAP. My data however revealed that embelin reduced the proliferative capacity in cholangiocarcinoma cells, but did not increase cell death. Malignant cells exhibit dysregulation of microRNA processing and expression. Hence, my studies seeking ways that cholangiocarcinoma eludes apoptosis transitioned to the oncomiR miR-106b, which is overexpressed in …

Health-Related Perception And Responsibility Behavior Among Individuals With And Without Chronic Illness, Danielle Dohrmann

Theses & Dissertations

Few studies have examined perceptions of responsibility attribution and well-being, and health responsibility behaviors in individuals with none, one, and multiple chronic illnesses. Adults (N = 421) in medical clinics completed questionnaires for this cross-sectional descriptive study. The Revised Causal Dimensional Scale measured responsibility attribution whereas sub-sections of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program evaluation measured well-being perception and the health responsibility behavior of communication associated with a clinic visit. Chi-square, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallace tests were used to examine demographic characteristics and group differences. Individuals with multiple morbidities and of advanced age perceived their illnesses as more stable and rated …

Examining Barriers To Sexual And Reproductive Health Services For Adolescents And Young Adults In Nebraska, Marisa Rosen

Theses & Dissertations

Despite recent declines in unintended pregnancy rates among adolescent and young adult women, barriers to family planning services and contraception continue to exist for young women living in the United States. Various initiatives have been implemented over the years from programmatic interventions to enactment of policies around family planning, yet more work needs to be done to help adolescent and young adult women successfully prevent unintended pregnancy. The Contraceptive Access Project (CAP) is a multi-component initiative in Nebraska to reduce unintended pregnancy among women aged 15-24. This dissertation comprises three separate studies each of which contributes to the overall objective …

Increasing Physical Activity To Improve Health Through Primary Care Clinics In Rural Nebraska, Jill Reed

Theses & Dissertations

Addressing the lack of physical activity (PA) in rural adults is vital because of the role it plays in the risk for many chronic diseases. The purpose of the study was to explore the feasibility of conducting a 12-week intervention to increase PA behavior in inactive rural adults recruited from a primary care clinic. Subjects were randomized to the intervention (n=30) or control (n=29) group and wore a Fitbit to track PA. The intervention group completed action plans and received weekly motivational text messages to improve PA behaviors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with study participants (n=10) and a focus group …

One Great And Noble Source: The Development Of Democratic Thought In Early America, 1776-1787, Kelly Coats

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

It had been a long summer, filled with hot and muggy forecasts with temperatures ranging from the low 60s to the high 90s. One can imagine what it must have felt like, anywhere between forty and fifty men crowded into the small chamber at Independence Hall in Philadelphia over the course of the summer which was described by many to be “hot and oppressive.” For the past four months and change, delegates to the Federal Convention had come together to accomplish what, at the beginning of the summer, seemed to be an impossible task: to form a new government. Perhaps …

Consolidation: Race, Politics, And Suburbanization In The Newport News-Warwick Merger, David Le Moal

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The Hampton Roads area of Virginia changed dramatically during the 20^th century as it transformed from rural farmland to suburban sprawl. Two cities in the region, Newport News and Warwick, employed a policy known as consolidation. While many cities throughout the United States utilized consolidation in the post-war era, the merging of Newport News and Warwick illustrates how consolidations manipulated and altered the landscape of the city. The modern city of Newport News is split between a large, prosperous, suburban area mainly populated by whites, and a small urban, declining, urban area mainly populated by blacks. The Newport News/Warwick …

Pupillometry As A Test Of Infant Word Recognition, Amy Vinyard

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Pupillometry holds great promise as a tool for infant language research but has not yet been used to probe word recognition. The goal of the described study was to design a functioning method that can later be used to test the possibility of using pupil dilation as a gauge of word recognition in 11-month-olds. To do this, we used the methods of an existing study (The Role of Accentual Pattern in Early Lexical Representation, Vihman, Nakai, DePaolis, & Hallé 2004) with modifications. Our method ran a one-sided head turn preference paradigm with the addition of an eye tracker for pupil …

An Exploration Of A Mentoring Program On The Experiences Of African-American Students At A Predominately White Institution, Cierra Davis

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Many African-American college students face struggles that make a successful college career and retention difficult or impossible. Financial struggles, lack of preparation, racial climate on campus and nationally and absence of faculty of color plague the lives of students. Being an African-American student at a Predominately White Institution (PWI) can pose additional challenges. Many minority students report experiencing various acts of prejudice including lack of nurturing and resources to help them adjust successfully. Students also report the absence or scarcity of minorities in the faculty, curriculum and population as a barrier to connection, knowledge and support. Considering the important role …

Evaluating Rater Effects In The Context Of Ethical Reasoning Essay Assessment: An Application Of The Many-Facets Rasch Measurement Model, Madison A. Holzman

Dissertations, 2014-2019

Performance assessments are an often desired type of assessment due to their potential for alignment between the assessment and reality. However, due to the rater-mediated nature of scoring (Eckes, 2015), performance assessments have psychometric challenges that cannot be ignored in testing and assessment work. Specifically, performance assessment scores are prone to rater effects, or systematic differences in how raters evaluate performance assessment products (Myford & Wolfe, 2003). The purpose of this project was to evaluate ethical reasoning essay scores for rater effects. The Many-Facets Rasch Measurement (MFRM) model was used to evaluate ethical reasoning essay scores for rater leniency/severity effects, …

Rhetoric In Film: Three Explorations Of Influence In Documentaries And Digital Stories, Emily Knapp

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

This thesis is made up of three distinct articles, two written with the intention of publication while the third consists of a digital story and subsequent reflection on the process of creation. The first article serves to answer the question “Do documentary films inspire activism?” by analyzing data gained after surveying 266 members of the James Madison University community. The results suggest that viewers are moved to emotion when witnessing struggle but that they are moved to action when said action directly impacts their own life. The second article is a rhetorical analysis of the 2013 documentary film Blackfish. …

A Literature Review Of Pharmacotherapy Treatment Outcomes For Comorbid Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Stimulant Use Disorder: Methamphetamine Type, Abigail L. Christensen

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.

Archeota, Fall 2018, Jennifer Castle, Sarah Thornton, Courtney Hopkins, Anna Belle Rosen, Havilah Steinman, Erin Fussell, Julieta Garcia

Archeota

This is the Fall 2018 issue of Archeota, the official publication of the SJSU SAASC

Creating A Culture Of Learning: Improving Patient Mobility In A Medical-Surgical Unit, Camille Cabalsa

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

PROBLEM: Hospitalization, especially among older adults aged 65 or over, can result in decreased mobility and functional decline. This decreased mobility can lead to accelerated bone loss, falls, increased length of stay, and delirium. In this medical-surgical unit, a pattern reflecting lack of adequate patient mobility has persisted over one year.

CONTEXT: Northwest (NW), a 42-bed community hospital medical-surgical unit- part of an integrated regional health care delivery system, has not been maximizing the mobilization of their patients for the past year based on internal data.The improvement project described in this paper focused on creating a culture of continuous …

Development Of A Step Counting Algorithm Using The Ambulatory Tibia Load Analysis System For Tibia Fracture Patients, Arad Lajevardi-Khosh, Ben Tresco, Ami Stuart, Sarina Sinclair, Matt Ackerman, Erik Kubiak, Tomasz Petelenz, Robert Hitchcock

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Introduction: Ambulation can be used to monitor the healing of lower extremity fractures. However, the ambulatory behavior of tibia fracture patients remains unknown due to an inability to continuously quantify ambulation outside of the clinic. The goal of this study was to design and validate an algorithm to assess ambulation in tibia fracture patients using the ambulatory tibial load analysis system during recovery, outside of the clinic. Methods Data were collected from a cyclic tester, 14 healthy volunteers performing a 2-min walk test on the treadmill, and 10 tibia fracture patients who wore the ambulatory tibial load analysis system during …

Mothers’ Voices: A Narrative Study Of The Experiences And Perspectives Of Mothers Raising School Age Children With Disabilities In One Of Zimbabwe’S Urban Areas, Emillia Masaka

Special Education ETDs

This narrative study examined (1) how women raising school age children with disabilities in one of Zimbabwe’s urban areas, articulated and conceptualized (a) their children’s disabilities and (b) their experiences as mothers of children with disabilities and (2) how their social status, marital status, age, ethnicity, and/or race intersected with their experiences of raising children with disabilities. A localized understanding of how mothers view their children’s disabilities was important because it influences results of any interventions their children might receive. Eight participants volunteered to have three interviews each, with me. Utilizing the social construction of disability, intersectionality, and thematic analysis …

Boom And Bust: How Private Detention Centers Wreak Economic Havoc On The Counties That Turn To Them For Stability, Max W. Parrott, Reynaldo Leanos Jr.

Capstones

In 2015, a riot broke out at a federal prison in a small Texas town not far from the U.S.-Mexico border. Prisoners tore through the kevlar tents of their dorms and a fire broke out, rendering the private prison uninhabitable. The facility was an economic engine for the impoverished, Rio Grande Valley county, so when the facility closed, it left the county $2 million short of its estimated budget, with $78 million in unpaid bonds and 400 fewer jobs for a population of about 21,000 people. This summer, three years after experiencing near economic collapse, Willacy County rushed back into …

Strong Recommendation Towards Hpv Vaccination, Danielle Bogue

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Risk of future HPV related cancers remains high in individuals unvaccinated against HPV, leading to too many people dying from this preventable cancer. However, primary care providers’ strong recommendation to vaccinate and family education about HPV and vaccine efficacy have a positive impact on a family’s decision to vaccinate. The setting for this project was a Midwest suburban family healthcare practice. This process was implemented by providing the guardian with a handout, a short video on HPV, a question and answer period with the provider, and ended with the provider giving a strong recommendation towards HPV vaccination. Of the 35 …

Emphasizing The Importance Of Cultural Identity Of Second Language Learners In Lesson Plans, Sreyasi De

Master's Projects and Capstones

A sky rocketing trend of one in three United States residents is estimated to be either an immigrant or the child of an immigrant by 2065. How well immigrants and second-generation immigrants are inhabiting in United States is of great significance to the state of being happy, healthy, prosperous, and full of energy and resonance of the United States in general. While economic, political, and social aspects of immigration are frequently contemplated for policy-making, comparatively small investigations have examined the cultural identity of the immigrants. In the review of literature, topics of intercultural competence, cultural competence, and culturally responsive teaching …

Would You Do Cognitive Trainings Again: A View From Participants With First Episode Of Schizophrenia, Mehgan Sierra

Master's Projects and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to identify if individuals with first episode of schizophrenia would utilize computerized cognitive trainings after the study. Using this information, we can identify better ways to support individuals with first episode of schizophrenia in utilizing cost-effective interventions to improve cognition such as attention, memory, and problem solving among ages 18-35 individuals.

Methods: One-hour semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve participants in community-based programs who completed cognitive trainings in the Prodromal Assessment Research and Treatment (PART) lab at UCSF. Fifteen participants who completed their post-testing or dropped out of the study were given …