Digital Commons Network^™

Mindfulness Meditation As A Treatment For Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Gad), Punit Patel

Capstone Showcase

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves dysregulation of worry for more than 6 months. Symptoms include fatigue, insomnia and irritability. Medications such as SSRIs may cause constipation, lower libido and cause withdrawal symptoms when discontinued. Alternative therapies like mindfulness meditation teach patients breath awareness and to redirect unwanted negative thoughts to positive ones. This paper examines the efficacy of mindfulness meditation treatment (I) for managing symptoms of anxiety (O) in adult patients with mild-moderate GAD (P) in comparison to stress management education (C).

The Efficacy Of Adding Eicosapentaenoic Acid To Statin Monotherapy In The Prevention Of Acute Coronary Syndrome In Patients With Coronary Artery Disease, Carlo Escudero

Capstone Showcase

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic medical condition caused by the buildup of plaque within the coronary artery endothelium. If left untreated it can progress to an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) which can lead to myocardial ischemia and death. Statins are lipid lowering agents used in clinical practice for the medical management of CAD. However, incidence of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events still occurs despite optimal statin therapy. Currently eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has been promoted to be effective when added to statin therapy in lowering the incidence of CV events in patients with hypercholesterolemia. This paper will address …

Murdoch Murdoch: A Case Study In Threats To Ontological Security In Far-Right Propaganda, Julian Morein

Capstone Showcase

Adapting the Ethnographic Discourse Analysis method developed by Stanton Wortham and Angela Reyes this thesis traces the language employed in the ethno-nationalist web series Murdoch Murdoch. While not as widely known as other examples of the burgeoning landscape of far-right internet content such as news sites like InfoWars or Brietbart, Murdoch Murdoch can still reveal crucial details about how far right propaganda seeks to radicalize its viewers. This thesis argues that Murdoch Murdoch uses its visual and discursive indexicals to present a near absolute dichotomy between a Positive Self that consists of white ethno-nationalism, and a Negative Other that …

Burying Bertha: Race And The Ungraveable Body In Jane Eyre, Cornelia D.J. Pearsall

English Language and Literature: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Bioenergetic Modulation Of Retinal Progenitor Cell Glycolysis To Drive Invasion For Photoreceptor Replacement, Jei Espinal

Theses and Dissertations

Given the limited regenerative capacity of the mammalian retina, cell-replacement strategies are necessary. To replace photoreceptors lost to disease or trauma and restore visual function, laboratories throughout the world are researching photoreceptors replacement strategies using subretinal transplantation of retinal progenitor cells (RPCs). A major obstacle to the advancement of photoreceptor cell-replacement strategies includes low rates of invasion and integration of transplanted cells into the host retina. Currently, there is a limited understanding of how RPC glycolysis may facilitate invasion. To further understand RPC glycolysis-driven invasion, the current investigation involved the bioenergetic modulation RPCs for glycolysis analysis and invasion modeling. The …

We Live In A Society: Violence And Radicalization In The Internet Manosphere, Emily Price

Capstone Showcase

In a world of incels, pick-up artists, and other Men’s Rights Activists, friction between the so-called Manosphere and contemporary feminist thought has led to documented violence with regards to American mass shootings. Starting with the violent outbursts of disaffected young men, I will work backwards to the point of contact between the man and the Manosphere. This piece seeks not to draw a connection between radical MRAs and violence – the mass shooters draw that connection themselves in their manifestos by outlining their dissatisfaction with society as it is, and particularly with what they perceive as a politically correct and …

The Grizzled Wolf And The Mauled Lamb: An Interpretation Of Animal Language In Melville’S Translation Of Ovid's "Tereus, Procne, And Philomela", Dylan Rossin

Capstone Showcase

An analysis of animal language in Ovids's "Tereus, Procne, and Philomela" shows that the women have power in this story despite what an initial reading might show.

The People’S Princesses: Feminist Theory And Uk Media Representations Of Lady Diana Spencer And Meghan Markle, Mackenzie Myer

Capstone Showcase

This paper analyzes how Lady Diana Spencer and Meghan Markle were and are treated by members of the UK media force through the lens of feminist theory.

The Evolution Of Revenge: Genre, Feminist Theory And Jennifer’S Body, Sophia Birks

Capstone Showcase

The representation and proliferation of violence against women in media, when applying genre theory, reflects the social climate of rape culture and the social response to sexual violence. Looking at the Rape-Revenge genre through the scope of Feminist Theory, the only way to reintroduce female agency into a trauma led narrative is to reclaim the tropes used to perpetuation female exploitation and a popular culture ambivalent to male on female violence. Within this subversion and deconstruction, a genre benefiting from female trauma finally includes an honest artistic retelling of that female experience. With the intention of the creator in line …

Observing Influenza A Through The Basis Of Discretized Fractional Derivatives In Sir Models, Justin Tai, Denver Mccollum

Capstone Showcase

We begin by understanding the fundamentals of fractional calculus and how it is used as a basis when applied to SIR models. In this particular case, we shall use fractional order of discretized differential equations for our SIR Model to examine the biological processes of the epidemic by Influenza A.

Modeling Gene Expression With Differential Equations, Madison Kuduk

Capstone Showcase

Gene expression is the process by which the information stored in DNA is convertedinto a functional gene product, such as protein. The two main functions that makeup the process of gene expression are transcription and translation. Transcriptionand translation are controlled by the number of mRNA and protein in the cell. Geneexpression can be represented as a system of first order differential equations for the rateof change of mRNA and proteins. These equations involve transcription, translation,degradation and feedback loops. In this paper, I investigate a system of first orderdifferential equations to model gene expression proposed by Hunt, Laplace, Miller andPham in …

Table Of Contents, University Of The Pacific, Mcgeorge School Of Law

University of the Pacific Law Review

No abstract provided.

Congress Should Decline Ill-Advised Legislative Proposals Aimed At Evergreening Of Pharmaceutical Patent Protection, Christopher M. Holman

University of the Pacific Law Review

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents, University Of The Pacific, Mcgeorge School Of Law

University of the Pacific Law Review

No abstract provided.

Killing With Kindness: When Hunters Want To Let You Know They Care, Erica Von Essen, Michael Allen

ETSU Faculty Works

‘Care’ is a term that hunters increasingly apply to diverse practices pertaining to their interactions with wildlife. In this article, we investigated the extent and durability of hunters’ use of care language, including appeals made to sentiment, relation, compassion, embodiedness and situated morality. After establishing the use of such language in contemporary hunting media, we discuss two case studies of contemporary sport hunting that tease out dimensions of care. These case studies show how hunters’ appeal to care is deeply problematic and oppositely, how these hunting forms bring out new relations and scopes of care with wildlife unanticipated by critics. …

Organic Farming And Incidence Rates Of Select Health Outcomes: An Evaluation Of The Usda Certified Organic Program, Aja Croteau

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Medical studies over the past few decades have shown increasing evidence that exposure to pesticides is associated with numerous health conditions, specifically Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, leukemia, asthma, and depression. Pesticides are widely used across the United States to ensure an affordable and bountiful food supply, but many of the chemicals used pose notable health risks. Numerous programs exist to measure and monitor pesticide exposure from agriculture, but researchers and public health experts remain uncertain of the efficacy of regulatory programs on reducing the amount of pesticide used and on protecting citizens from exposure. Organic agriculture, which uses significantly fewer pesticides than …

Exploration And Implementation Of Neural Ordinary Differential Equations, Long Huu Nguyen, Andy Malinsky

Capstone Showcase

Neural ordinary differential equations (ODEs) have recently emerged as a novel ap- proach to deep learning, leveraging the knowledge of two previously separate domains, neural networks and differential equations. In this paper, we first examine the back- ground and lay the foundation for traditional artificial neural networks. We then present neural ODEs from a rigorous mathematical perspective, and explore their advantages and trade-offs compared to traditional neural nets.

Altered Narratives: How Women Changed History In The Post-Civil War South, Emma Connolly

Capstone Showcase

This project examines the rise and fall of various women’s organizations in the approximately half century following the American Civil War, focusing specifically on how these organizations strove to alter the historical narrative of the war and the Confederacy. By examining the broader trend of Ladies’ Memorial Associations and the resulting creation of the United Daughters of the Confederacy – a memorial group still active today – it becomes clear how and why the narrative of the Civil War differs so drastically between the north and the south. Through an examination of the origins of these women’s movements, as well …

Effect Of Epinephrine On Outcomes In Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest, Ian Lumsden

Capstone Showcase

Abstract

Introduction

Epinephrine administration during cardiac arrest has been the standard of care for decades. In the United States, epinephrine administration has been recommended by the American Heart Association since the first cardiac arrest guidelines were published in 1974. However, epinephrine use became the standard of care with strong medical rational but with limited data on outcomes. The intent of this research is to review available literature and determine if in (P) an adult population in non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (I) treatment with epinephrine administration (C) compared to cardiac care without the administration of epinephrine (O) results in improved survival …

Oral Contraceptives As Possible Acl Injury Prevention Method, Haley Schweizer

Capstone Showcase

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are an upsetting setback for many athletes that require a long and costly recovery process. The injury rates are four times greater in women than men. Preventative measures that help to prevent ACL injuries are limited to stretching and strengthening. Therefore, this review aims to investigate if oral contraceptive [I] usage provides a possible new avenue for prevention of ACL injury [O] in young female athletes (ages 18-30) [P] compared to those that do not take oral contraceptives [C].

Methods: A literature review was performed though PubMed, Google Scholar, SCOPUS Database, and ClinicalKey …

Beneficial Roles The Sacred Can Play In Mental Illness, Katelyn Harper

Capstone Showcase

Religion and Spirituality are prevalent in and essential to one’s identity. This thesis seeks to answer the question what beneficial roles can the sacred play in mental illness? Believing in the sacred can provide additional support to those with a mental illness through a process called sacred coping. One’s sacred beliefs can be incorporated into previously established interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), to provide a more tailored treatment option. In some cases, these interventions are more beneficial than traditional interventions. Barriers to the topic of acknowledging the sacred in relation to one’s mental illness include the decline in having …

Defining, Differentiating, And Describing The Development Of Psychopathy, Kelly Haines

Capstone Showcase

Psychopathy is a popular phenomenon in the media today, with varying research on what the disorder truly entails. Psychopathy is described as a personality disorder that is categorized by antisocial behavior, lack of remorse and empathy, and egotistical traits. There are many similarities found between psychopathy and other similar disorders, such as sociopathy and antisocial personality disorder. ASPD is the clinical diagnosis that psychopathy and sociopathy both fall under. There are many different theories and areas of research taken into account for the development of psychopathy. The nature vs nurture debate has been closely aligned with this subject of research. …

Is It Yanny Or Laurel: How Executive Function Capacity Impacts The Perception Of An Ambiguous Stimulus, Emily Schneider

Capstone Showcase

Yanny vs. laurel took the nation by storm in May 2018 due to its divisive nature of a simple sound. This audio clip was recorded by a high school student listening to a human voice on a dictionary website saying the word laurel, but many people could only hear yanny..The present study was conducted to investigate if one’s executive function capacity, specifically their task switching ability, would explain why people interpret an ambiguous stimulus, such as yanny vs. laurel, the way that they do. while also looking at other optical and auditory illusions of the same nature. To do this, …

Faith-Based Intervention: Bridging The Religiosity Gap, Mariah Williams

Capstone Showcase

MARIAH WILLIAMS

Faith-Based Intervention: Bridging the Religiosity Gap

Religion and Spirituality (RS) has been suggested to play a positive role in the recovery process for severe mental illness. Although there is still a lot of controversy with the relationship of RS in the mental health field, previous research shows that RS promotes a healthier lifestyle, fosters a personal sense of community, and provides unique coping mechanisms for those who are in the recovery process. These findings further suggest that the need for faith-based intervention into recovery has become crucial for patients who have an intrinsic belief system. However, because there …

A Natural Remedy: Nbccpt Approach In School For Adhd Diagnosed, Kiran Patel

Capstone Showcase

Nature-based child centered play therapy (NBCCPT) is a non-directive approach that can be practiced by the counselor in a natural environment consisting of natural tools. The approach allows a child to lead a therapy session without the counselor’s input. Such an approach can be beneficial for children with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), especially in a school setting. Therapy in school can aid families that cannot afford outpatient therapy as well as allow counselors to track the child’s therapy progress. In school, counselors can utilize an outdoor garden to conduct NBCCPT with the help of five stages, planning, preparing, planting, …

Protective Factors In Education For Gender And Sexual Minority Youth, Linda Riad

Capstone Showcase

My research explores the question: What protective factors in education promote psychological well being among Gender and Sexual Minority (GSM) youth? There is extensive research on the risk factors GSM youth face at disproportionate rates compared to their peers such as victimization, depression, suicide attempts, and suicide ideation. It is vital that the education system provides resources for the GSM population to ensure a safe environment for students in order to promote well being and academic achievement. School counselors and psychiatrists can utilize therapy practices that target the specific needs of GSM youth. Broader protective factors include support programs, self …

The Effect Of Deep Pressure Therapy On The Health Of Individuals With Developmental Disorders, Kaitlin Faulcon

Capstone Showcase

Many individuals with Autism (ASD), Anxiety, and other disabilities seek out tactile input, in the form of Deep Pressure Therapy, to calm themselves during stressful situations. First developed in Eastern culture and massage, Deep Pressure Therapy evolved into a mainstream technique used by various populations, including neurotypicals. Weighted blankets, compression vests, and other materials are useful in treatment but have their limitations as well. These garments and tools provide tactile input that positively impacts the individuals' biological functions, self-reported anxiety, and other essential factors. Other sensory treatments like exercise and swaddling provide similar effects but not specific to the deep …

Why Adolescent Athletes Are More Susceptible To The Effects Of Stress On Injury Vulnerability: Linking Stress-Induced Neurological Restructuring To Behavioural Outcomes And Possibility For Injury, Shannon Ryan

Capstone Showcase

Nearly 8.6 million injuries occur each year overall, with approximately 65% consisting of adolescent athletes (Sheu 2016). This literature review serves to explain the pathway in which stress can increase injury vulnerability in adolescent athletes and why adolescents are more vulnerable. Based on previous biology, neuroscience, and psychology research, a comprehensive background on the stress-injury vulnerability relationship has been developed. Injury vulnerability is the likelihood of sustaining an injury and can be increased due to the neurobehavioral outcomes of stress induced restructuring of the brain. The major brain regions affected by stress-induced neuroanatomical restructuring include the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal …

Adapting Implicit Stereotype Expectation Through Perspective Distancing, Cheyenne Perez

Capstone Showcase

Investigated within this study is how stereotype expectations might be affected when violated or reinforced, and how distancing the self from the expectation via a different perspective can allow for recognition that it can be wrong and even changed. This research is motivated by an interest in how stereotype expectations develop throughout life and experiences, and how the tendency to defend them when challenged can hinder understanding of other views. In a real world setting, placing a person in a distanced perspective could allow for change in their personal expectations and become less prejudiced/more accepting. Within the lab setting, this …

Depression In Adolescence: Risk Factors, Prevention, And Intervention - An Argument For Trauma-Informed Care In The Community, Beauty Davis

Capstone Showcase

BEAUTY DAVIS

Depression in Adolescence: Risk Factors, Prevention, and Intervention - An argument for trauma-informed care in the community

Depression is an unfortunately common mental illness that can lead to negative life outcomes such as substance abuse, suicide, lower quality of life, and anxiety. The stage of adolescence is known as a pivotal, transitional time of life as there are many changes in an individual’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. The research reviewed throughout this paper discusses risk factors that contribute to the development of depressive symptoms in adolescence. Observing how genetic, physiological, environmental, and social components contribute to …