Digital Commons Network^™

In Their Own Voices: The First-Year College Experiences Of Upward Bound Alumni At Four-Year Postsecondary Institutions, Norma Romero

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Upward Bound (UB) projects provide educational support services to high school students in order to address inequalities in college access for low-income (LI) and first-generation students (FGS). However, access alone does not eradicate systemic barriers to positive collegiate experiences and degree attainment. As a federally funded program, UB regularly collects mandated outcome data; however, little is known about the specific academic, social, and emotional supports these programs provide. Especially lacking are in-depth qualitative studies that follow students into college and focus on students’ own stories. To address this gap in research, this study used in-depth interviews to capture the stories …

Let The Children Come To Me: Accommodating And Embracing Catholic High School Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Hani Zubi

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Current state and federal legislation mandate public schools to provide a vast array of educational services for students with disabilities. Catholic high schools are, for the most part, exempt from laws requiring them to provide those same services. Although many Catholic schools attempt to assist students with disabilities, the students they are willing to accept and accommodate generally have learning disabilities categorized as mild to moderate, who may not need the scope and breadth of services available to them in public schools. However, they are bound by their identity as Catholic to include and embrace all members of the community. …

Temporal Association Between Abdominal Weight Status And Healthy Aging: Findings From The 2011–2018 National Health And Aging Trends Study, Furong Xu, Jacob E. Earp, Geoffrey W. Greene, Steven A. Cohen, Ingrid E. Lofgren, Matthew J. Delmonico, Mary L. Greaney

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Background/objectives: The longitudinal effect of abdominal weight status (AWS) defined by waist circumference (WC) on healthy aging has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the temporal association between WC-defined AWS and a comprehensive assessment for healthy aging. Subjects/methods: This study utilized data from 5211 respondents aged 65+ who participated in the National Health and Aging Trends Study from 2011 to 2018. Mixed effects regression models were used to examine the association between baseline AWS and the annual change rate in healthy aging score (HAS) via interaction terms (AWS*round) adjusting for confounding …

Serum Acylglycerols Inversely Associate With Muscle Oxidative Capacity In Severe Copd, Rongsong Li, Alessandra Adami, Chih-Chiang Chang, Chi-Hong Tseng, Tzung K. Hsiai, Harry B. Rossiter

Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with altered metabolism and body composition that accompany poor outcomes. We aimed to determine whether metabolic derangements in COPD are associated with skeletal muscle deconditioning and/or physical inactivity, independent of pulmonary obstruction.

Methods: We characterized serum metabolites associated with muscle oxidative capacity or physical activity in 44 COPD patients (FEV1=61±4%predicted) and 63 current and former smokers with normal spirometry (CON) (FEV1=93±2%predicted). Medial gastrocnemius oxidative capacity was assessed at rest from the recovery rate constant (k) of muscle oxygen consumption using near-infrared spectroscopy. Step counts and physical activity (average …

Clinical Outcomes Post-Implantation Of Multifocal And Toric Intraocular Lenses, Elizabeth Martha Law

Other Faculty of Health Theses

In order to increase spectacle independence following cataract surgery and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation; correction of spherical refractive error, astigmatic error and presbyopia should all be given careful consideration. There are many premium IOLs, including multifocal intraocular lenses (MIOLs) and toric intraocular lenses (TIOLs), available to surgeons. In order to select the appropriate IOL to meet a patient’s lifestyle and expectations, clinicians must fully understand the characteristics of MIOL and TIOL designs. To date, there remain unanswered questions pertaining to MIOLs and TIOLs and by rigorous comparison of such lenses, this thesis aims to address some of the gaps in …

Development And Characterisation Of An Immunocompetent Three-Dimensional Oral Mucosal Infection Model, Samantha Gould

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Oral mucosal models are valuable tools for studying oral infection. Existing models have been implemented to study pathogen tissue invasion and resultant damage. These models fail to incorporate an innate immune component such as macrophages, essential for study of host response to infection. Macrophages exist within a regulatory to inflammatory polarisation spectrum, whereby the local microenvironment determines their activity, contributing to the overall behaviour of a tissue. Three-dimensional oral mucosal models were formed using primary (POK) or immortalized (HaCaT) keratinocytes seeded upon a human gingival fibroblast (HGF) embedded type-1 collagen matrix. Later, HaCaT based models (3DOMMs) were further developed to …

A Concept Analysis Of Compassion In Healthcare Practice, Sarah Tobin

Other Faculty of Health Theses

The subject of compassion is frequently discussed in healthcare literature but despite this, is potentially poorly understood and lacks consensus in definition. This study sought to clarify what exactly is meant by the term compassion in a healthcare context and how this is defined in both the literature and, crucially, by the behaviour and experience of healthcare staff and the experience of service users. In order to establish a definition of compassion the hybrid approach to concept analysis based on the method described by Schwartz-Barcott and Kim (2000) was adopted, this model combines comprehensive literature review with a fieldwork element …

Lps From Subgingival Plaque And The Periodontal Pathogen Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Its Effect On M1 And M2 Macrophage Responses And Potential As A Biomarker, Alex Strachan

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Chronic periodontitis is an inflammatory disease which, in response to a dysbiotic biofilm results in tissue destruction and ultimately tooth loss. The mechanisms which initiate the disease are poorly understood, as are the effectors which cause periods of exacerbation and remission experienced by sufferers of the disease. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an archetypal microbial molecular pattern that instigates an immune response from macrophages (MΦ), key orchestrators of host immune response. Repetitive exposure Is also demonstrated to induce a quiescent state known as endotoxin tolerance, thought to be a protective mechanism but which may also confer protective benefits to potential pathogens. Several …

Beyond Scaring Them Straight: Assessing Alternative Measures Of Persuasion In Road Safety Campaigns, Clara Alida Cutello

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Worldwide, young drivers are involved in more road traffic collisions than any other age group. Comprehensive driver training and various forms of pre- and- post-test road safety interventions (RSIs) are in place, but young drivers continue to be involved in more at-fault, fatal collisions than older, qualified drivers. The evidence base to date is mixed regarding why young drivers are at a heightened risk of collision and so this thesis aims to provide further understanding about the factors underpinning young drivers’ engagement in risky driving. An evaluation of a young driver RSI, found that young males were less likely than …

Hot Food Takeaways Around Schools: Can Fast Food Be Healthier?, Claire Louise Turbutt

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Obesity is the greatest global health challenge facing this generation; over half of the adult population are overweight or obese. Calls for food environment interventions include recommendations for restriction or banning of new fast food retailers (FFRs). The Takeaway Toolkit was published by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and aimed to alter consumption of unhealthy takeaway food through reformulation and behavioural insights. A systematic review assessing evidence on FFRs in the environment around schools in the United Kingdom (UK) was completed and published. This revealed a research gap around food environment interventions. A study was designed to investigate “the …

The Neurotoxic Effects Of Manganese And The Novel Protective Role Of Drp1 In The Autophagy Pathway, Carolina Sportelli

Other Faculty of Health Theses

The precise pathological mechanism of Manganese (Mn) is not yet known however prior evidence suggests a prominent role of mitochondrial dysfunction. Relevant to Parkinson’s disease, Mn is known to bind to α-synuclein and increase its aggregation. Autophagy is also implicated in neurodegeneration however little is known about the effects of Mn on this pathway. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effects of Mn on autophagy, α-synuclein aggregation and mitochondrial function in multiple paradigms. The effects of inhibiting the mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 were also assessed in these cellular contexts following Mn exposure. Acute exposure to sub-lethal Mn …

Creative Technologies For Behaviour Change, Joana Galvao Gomes Da Silva

Other Faculty of Health Theses

This thesis presents innovative uses of technology to support motivation, using motivational interviewing (MI) and functional imagery training (FIT) scripts developed specifically for remote delivery. MI scripts aimed to develop discrepancy, evoke solutions and promote self-efficacy. FIT scripts included multi-sensory mental imagery exercises at key points in the MI scripts. Four methods of delivery were developed: a human video-counsellor, a NAO robot programmed with Choregraphe software, a video robot counsellor for comparison with the human video-counsellor, and a life-sized two dimensional 'holographic' projection. Four empirical studies tested these developments in participants wanting to become more physically active. Study 1 (N=18) …

An Evaluation Of The Incremental Value Of Computed Tomographic Biomarkers In Cardiovascular Risk Prediction, Chun Lap Pang

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Predicting cardiovascular events is an important subject in the developed world as it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Identifying those at risk of developing cardiovascular disease is key as there are treatments available to reduce the risk of future events. The most well-known prediction tool is the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), a multivariate cardiovascular risk prediction model. The Framingham cohort identified some of the most fundamental risk factors that shape modern cardiovascular prevention, however, it is not a perfect model. The imperfect nature of cardiovascular risk prediction based on FRS forms the starting point of this research …

The Skills-Maintenance, Competence Paradigm For The Evolving Role Of A Paramedic, Tristan Henderson

Other Faculty of Health Theses

The UK paramedic profession has undergone significant development since professional regulation almost twenty years ago. Improvement planning within the NHS has also driven change. The result is a large and developing paramedic skill set. The skills performed and incidents attended by paramedics are highly variable in relation to the frequency with which they will be encountered as well as the procedural complexity. This consideration, in the context of the literature around clinical skills practice, competence, confidence and perception of performance invites inquiry in relation to competence of paramedics, as well as their ability to recognise practice issues. The aims of …

Deconstructing, Contextualising And Assessing Management And Leadership Qualities In Dental Professionals: An Ethnographic Study Of Principles In Practice, Sally Hanks

Other Faculty of Health Theses

This study acknowledges the requirement for leadership in dental training and professional standards to improve patient safety, the quality of care and the shaping of culture. Leadership development requires authentic learning outcomes whose meaning and related constructs of leadership are fully understood. The literature is missing empirical studies at operational level; this study addresses that gap. The innovative blended methodology, embedding case study, recording and observation of dentists, and use of the think aloud technique optimised the co-construction of knowledge via the zones of maximum complexity in Video Reflexive Ethnography (VRE) and proximal development in Activity Theory. This bottom-up, context …

Evaluation Of An Orthotic Intervention For The Management Of Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain (Pgp), Lee Cameron

Other Faculty of Health Theses

The overall aim of the thesis was to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel orthotic intervention, a customised Dynamic Elastomeric Fabric Orthosis (DEFO), in the management of both antenatal and post-partum pelvic girdle pain (PGP). In the first instance the fabric, from which the DEFO was constructed, underwent testing to determine if the different colour fabrics available possessed the same underlying fabric stiffness and elastic hysteresis to ensure that each orthotic was standardised. Laboratory testing identified significant differences in both fabric stiffness and elastic hysteresis, between colours. The findings of this study enabled standardisation of the intervention by using a …

Advanced Glycation End Products As A Biomarker For Accelerated Ocular Ageing And Glaucoma, Leanne Smewing

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have a large impact on the healthy ageing population and those diagnosed with pathology. Studies have linked AGEs to glaucomatous optic neuropathy, however there is little consensus on the role AGEs play in glaucoma development. Furthermore, it is known that diet is an exogenous source of AGEs, however it is not clear how dietary AGE (dAGE) influences tissue-bound levels in the body. The overarching theme of this thesis was to assess the impact of AGE level, measured both through diet and tissue-bound levels in the skin (skin autofluoresence, SAF), on retinal vessels and the cornea …

Skype On Wheels: Implementation Of Video-Calls To Reduce Feelings Of Loneliness And Social Isolation For Older People Living In Care, Sonam Zamir

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Background: Older people in care may be lonely with insufficient contact if families are unable to visit. Face-to-face contact through video-calls may help reduce loneliness, but little is known about the processes of engaging older people living in care in using video-calls. Aims: 1-To explore how to normalise the use of video-calls within the care environment, 2-To examine how video-call communication for older people might reduce loneliness and social isolation. Sub aims: 3- To identify the barriers and facilitators to using video-calls within a care environment for older people, care staff and social contacts, 4-To explore how staff and social …

Influenza A Virus Infection And Innate Immunity In An Established Murine Alveolar-Like Macrophage Model, Connor Wood

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Influenza is both a seasonal and occasional pandemic respiratory infection in humans, with the most vulnerable of society at the highest risk. With vaccine efficiency dropping and resistance against treatments, better understanding of the host-viral interactions is required to find novel therapy targets. Much of the current understanding for the host-viral interactions comes from epithelial cells or imperfect macrophage models. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are crucial in the first stages of infection, but due to limited availability, true functional experiments have been impossible. By using the novel AM-like macrophage, Max Plank Institute (MPI) cells, which are available in practically unlimited numbers, …

Metagenomic Identification And Characterisation Of Emerging And Re-Emerging Viruses Causing Disease In Febrile Patients., Emma Louise Wise

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Emerging infectious diseases (EID) significantly impact public health and have the potential to cause pandemics. Outbreaks of EID have increased in recent decades, with RNA viruses responsible for a substantial proportion of them. Outbreaks are more likely to occur in areas with high biodiversity, poor sanitation and public health infrastructure, and limited resources for EID control. Furthermore, clinical symptoms of many viral infections overlap, making them challenging to diagnose correctly. Metagenomic sequencing (metagenomics) negates the need for targeted detection assays, generates virus genome information and can detect novel or genetically divergent viruses. Through combining targeted PCR-based assays with untargeted metagenomics, …

Prison Space, Social Control And Relationships In A Post-Soviet Women’S Prison, Arta Jalili Idrissi

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This thesis attempts to capture, at the macro, meso and micro levels, the ideological rupture, which has emerged after the breakdown of the Soviet project in Latvia, and in particular its effect on penality and women’s imprisonment. This rupture has been conceptualized as a ‘clash of the titans’, which is the ongoing struggle between a Soviet legacy that refuses to die and an increasingly dominant neoliberal regime. While the breakdown of Soviet hegemonic power signaled a victory for democracy and market economics, the spread of western liberal democracies has been a challenge for post-Soviet societies. While democratic traditions took centuries …

Digital Porosity And Its Impact On The Mediation Of Networked Images, Claudia Pilsl

Other Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Theses

This doctoral research examines digital porosity and how this effect of the Internet influences the mediation of networked images. This practice research is informed by the hypothesis that digital porosity affects the communication of data with it the perception of context and chronological order of events. Digital porosity, intended as a loose analogy to the kind of porosity depicted by Benjamin and Lacis (1925) in their description of everyday life in ‘Naples’, is a neologism that I devised to describe one of the consequences of the Internet since web 2.0. As the area afflicted by digital porosity is potentially large, …

Thermal Efficiency Of Courtyards For Residential Buildings In Iraq, Omar Al-Hafith

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates adopting the courtyard pattern in Iraq to provide a thermally efficient architectural solution that contributes towards solving the housing challenges in the country. As a result of more than three decades of wars and instability, the country suffers from having a large housing shortage and a major production shortfall. This shortage is estimated at around 1.0 million housing units, which is equivalent to one-quarter of the total housing stock in the country. The current housing production is around 30000 housing units per annum only, which, therefore, does not alleviate the housing needs in the country. The country …

Role Of Mirnome In Meningioma Tumours: Identification Of Potential Molecular Biomarkers And Therapeutic Targets For High-Grade Meningioma, Caterina Negroni

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Meningioma is the most common intracranial tumour, accounting for one third of all primary brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumours. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), meningiomas are classified as grade I, II, and III based on the histological features of tumours, with higher grades associated with greater morbidity and mortality. In most cases, meningioma can be managed by surgery alone; however, adjuvant treatment may be required in case of recurrent or higher-grade tumours. To date, chemotherapy has proven ineffective in treating meningioma patients, highlighting the need to identify novel molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets, establishing effective non- …

Investigation Of Drp1 Inhibition As Potential Therapy In Pesticide-Based Models Of Parkinson's Disease, Jennifer Rhea Pinnell

Other Faculty of Health Theses

In this study I explored the impact of Drp1 inhibition on pathology in two different pesticide-based models of Parkinson’s disease, and found that paraquat induced autophagy blockade in vitro, which was abrogated by inhibition of Drp1 function through siRNA knockdown or expression of the Drp1K38A dominant negative. Rotenone and paraquat are two pesticides implicated in the pathophysiology and progression of Parkinson’s disease, a hypokinetic neurodegenerative disorder which results in motor and cognitive changes in patients. Previous studies confirmed pesticide-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta in animal models, however further research was necessary to explore the …

An Exploration Of Religious Practice As A Valued Occupation, Patricia Eyres

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Background: Religion touches our everyday lives. Some have a deeply held faith while others engage infrequently in rites of passage such as marriage or funerals, but religion is a common worldwide phenomenon. Globally, millions of people engage in religious practice or religious ‘doing’ daily, but occupational science has not explored this common occupation widely, and occupational therapists continue to struggle to consider religious practice within the occupational needs of their clients. Within increasingly multi-cultural and multi-faith communities, it is imperative that the occupation of religious practice is better understood and considered within practice. Method: An auto/biographical overarching research orientation is …

Social Work Students Managing Emotions: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Utilising Poetry And Prose As An Autoethnographic Turn, Beth Moran

Plymouth Institute of Education Theses

This thesis reports on research exploring how student social workers experience, express and manage the emotional content of practice learning in a relational context. It considers how social/supervisory support promotes emotional management for student social workers. Student respondents reflect on a variety of placement experiences ranging from a third-sector advice centre; a service supporting people who are homeless; local authority child protection services; a hospital discharge team and statutory adult mental health teams. Their responses reveal organisational interventions with a wide range of people from children and families to adults engaging with health and social care services. New knowledge is …

Quantum Cascade Laser-Based Reflectance Spectroscopy: A Robust Approach For The Classification Of Plastic Type, Anna P.M. Michel, Alexandra E. Morrison, Beckett C. Colson, William A. Pardis, Helen K. White

Chemistry Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Toward Best Practice Methods For Delirium Biomarker Studies: An International Modified Delphi Study, Ingrid Amgarth-Duff, Annmarie Hosie, Gideon Caplan, Meera Agar

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Delirium is a serious and distressing neurocognitive condition common in people with advanced illness. The understanding of delirium pathophysiology is limited and largely hypothetical. To accelerate empirical understanding of delirium pathophysiology, robust scientific methods for conducting and reporting delirium biomarker studies are urgently needed. The aim of this study was to develop international consensus on the core elements of high‐quality delirium biomarker studies.

Methods: A three‐round modified Delphi survey was conducted from February to August 2019. Participants were international researchers experienced in conducting delirium studies from a range of settings (hospital, university, research centres). Round one commenced with open‐ended …

Exploring Enablers And Barriers To Accessing Health Services After A Fall Among People With Intellectual Disability, Portia Ho, Caroline Bulsara, Shane Patman, Jenny Downs, Anne-Marie Hill

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Adults with intellectual disability experience high rates of falls making falls prevention an important health need. The purpose of the study was to seek perspectives of older adults with intellectual disability and their caregivers to (a) explore the experiences of older adults with intellectual disability when seeking healthcare services after a fall and (b) identify enablers and barriers when taking up evidence-based falls recommendations.

Method: A qualitative exploratory study was undertaken as part of a prospective observational cohort study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample. Data were analysed thematically using Colaizzi's method.

Results: Seventeen interviews were conducted …