Digital Commons Network^™

A Qualitative Evaluation Of The Phoenix Project: A Strengths-Based, Trauma-Informed Care Intervention For African American, Transitional Age, Young Adults Living In San Francisco’S Public Housing Community, Lena Miller

Doctoral Dissertations

A QUALITATIVE EVALUATION OF THE PHOENIX PROJECT: A STRENGTHS-BASED, TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE INTERVENTION FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN, TRANSITIONAL AGE, YOUNG ADULTS LIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO’S PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITY

Abstract

Persistent community violence has had a profound and destructive impact on many urban communities throughout the country. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from community violence is becoming an increasingly frequent diagnosis of African American youth and young adults residing in San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Point (BVHP) community (San Francisco Department of Public Health, 2012). The Phoenix Project was designed to specifically address and heal symptoms of trauma and facilitate resilience among youth and young …

Analyzing The Longevity Of Sperm Within The Female Japanese Quail By Assessing Sperm Penetration Of The Perivitelline Layer Under Optimal And Suboptimal Conditions., Garret G. Ashabranner, Joey L. Bray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

After mating, birds have the ability to store semen within the female reproductive tract. The sperm storage tubules will store and subsequently release semen to travel up the oviduct. Sperm cells that make the trek up the oviduct have a chance to fertilize the ovum. These sperm cells will bind to the perivitelline layer of the ovum and hydrolyze a hole in the perivitelline layer, where it has the possibility to fertilize the female sex cell. Analyzing the number of penetration points on the perivitelline layer is an effective way to analyze reproductive efficiency. Many environmental factor has its effect …

Domain Specific Computing In Tightly-Coupled Heterogeneous Systems, Anthony Michael Cabrera

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Over the past several decades, researchers and programmers across many disciplines have relied on Moores law and Dennard scaling for increases in compute capability in modern processors. However, recent data suggest that the number of transistors per square inch on integrated circuits is losing pace with Moores laws projection due to the breakdown of Dennard scaling at smaller semiconductor process nodes. This has signaled the beginning of a new “golden age in computer architecture” in which the paradigm will be shifted from improving traditional processor performance for general tasks to architecting hardware that executes a class of applications in a …

Aging Effects On Arterial Mechanics And Matrix Remodeling, Jie Hawes

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Large elastic arteries are a composite structure composed of cells and extracellular matrix proteins. Passive arterial mechanical behavior is determined by the composition of extracellular matrix proteins, in particular elastin and collagen. Elastin provides reversible elasticity to the large elastic arteries during cyclic loading and dampens the pulsatile flow from the left ventricle, reducing the workload on the heart and protecting the end organs. Disorganization and insufficiency of elastin alters the passive mechanical behavior of the large arteries. The arterial wall responds to changes in elastin organization or amount through matrix remodeling. Aging causes elastin fragmentation and degradation which changes …

Biomedical Applications Of Polarimetry, Nathaniel Owen King

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Non- or minimally-invasive data collection is highly desirable for gathering the broad base of information that facilitates moving technology to the point of care. Polarimetry has been making this transition for years. Early forms of polarization-sensitive optics involved custom multiplexing a series of images to generate a single image, but today’s snapshot polarimeters are readily commercially available.

The research presented in this dissertation advances three areas of polarimetric imaging: First, this research develops a reflectance-based measurement for tracking changes in the alignment of dynamically loaded soft tissue, specifically tendon. This work highlights a range of mounting angles across which signal …

Microrna Gene Expression States Underlying Individual Variation In Aging And Lifespan In Isogenic C. Elegans, Holly Kinser

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Average lifespan differs greatly between species, but lifespan among same-species individuals is also highly variable. While much effort has been devoted to uncovering longevity-associated traits and lifespan-extending perturbations in humans and model organisms, how differences in lifespan arise between individuals is unknown. Studies of human identical twins demonstrate that surprisingly little of the variation in lifespan between individuals can be explained by genetics and shared environment. Furthermore, even genetically identical C. elegans reared in highly homogeneous environments display a degree of variability in lifespan similar to that of outbred human populations. Thus, longevity must be determined at least in part …

Wnt/_-Catenin Mediated Regulation Of Murine And Human Cardiac Electrophysiology And Arrhythmogenesis, Gang Li

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cardiac arrhythmias affects millions of Americans and can lead to sudden cardiac death, accounting for more than 300,000 deaths annually. Despite the vast knowledge available for cardiac disease and associated arrhythmias, very few effective therapies exist. Current interventions include cardioverter defibrillators and antiarrhythmic drugs targeting ion channels or the _-adrenergic pathway. In most acquired and inherited arrhythmias, molecular signaling pathways are perturbed. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism of how these signaling pathways regulate cardiac electrophysiology. Therefore, a better understanding of major signaling pathways governing cardiac development or dysregulated in cardiac disease could lead to novel therapeutics for …

Structural Organization And Chemical Activity Revealed By New Developments In Single-Molecule Fluorescence And Orientation Imaging, Tianben Ding

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Single-molecule (SM) fluorescence and its localization are important and versatile tools for understanding and quantifying dynamical nanoscale behavior of nanoparticles and biological systems. By actively controlling the concentration of fluorescent molecules and precisely localizing individual single molecules, it is possible to overcome the classical diffraction limit and achieve 'super-resolution' with image resolution on the order of 10 nanometers.

Single molecules also can be considered as nanoscale sensors since their fluorescence changes in response to their local nanoenvironment. This dissertation discusses extending this SM approach to resolve heterogeneity and dynamics of nanoscale materials and biophysical structures by using positions and orientations …

Convex Relaxations For Particle-Gradient Flow With Applications In Super-Resolution Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy, Hesam Mazidisharfabadi

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) techniques have become advanced bioanalytical tools by quantifying the positions and orientations of molecules in space and time at the nanoscale. With the noisy and heterogeneous nature of SMLM datasets in mind, we discuss leveraging particle-gradient flow 1) for quantifying the accuracy of localization algorithms with and without ground truth and 2) as a basis for novel, model-driven localization algorithms with empirically robust performance. Using experimental data, we demonstrate that overlapping images of molecules, a typical consequence of densely packed biological structures, cause biases in position estimates and reconstruction artifacts. To minimize such biases, we develop …

Do Ground Layer Microhabitats In Old-Growth Pine Savanna Influence Recruitment Of Longleaf Pine?, Matthew Blanchard

LSU Master's Theses

Savanna tree populations typically share two demographic characteristics, high mortality of juvenile stages and low mortality of established trees. Juvenile savanna tree species escape demographic bottlenecks when they reach a safe size and annual mortality becomes low. Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) is the dominant tree species in pine savannas of the southeastern United States. The seeds and juvenile seedlings experience bottlenecks to recruitment to a safe size, the grass stage. Low intensity, frequent savanna fires facilitate establishment of seedlings, but also kill juvenile seedlings that have not grown sufficient above ground biomass. We hypothesized that juvenile seedlings escape the …

Development Of Artificial Intelligence Approach To Nowcasting And Forecasting Vibrio Prevalence In Coastal Waters, Peyman Hosseinzadeh Namadi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V.p) is an epidemiologically significant pathogen that poses high risks to the human health and shellfish industry, calling for predictive models for management interventions. This study presents an Artificial Intelligence(AI)-based approach to predicting and reducing the risks. The AI-based approach involves the identification of environmental indicators and their optimum variation ranges favoring V.p prevalence, the development of nowcasting and forecasting models for predicting V.p prevalence, and the creation of remote sensing algorithms for mapping concentrations of V.p and its environmental indicators by synergistically combining the Deep Neural Network (DNN) modeling technique, Genetic Programming (GP) method, R …

Transition Metal Complexes Of Pyridyltriazole And Bipyridine Ligands, Sen Gao

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Four Ni(II) complexes have been obtained with the pyridyltriazole ligand, bpt, or the bis(pyridyltriazole) ligand, m-xpt, in chapter 2. This work was carried out as a comparison with the previously established coordination chemistry of copper(II) with bpt and m-xpt. Initially, the reaction between Ni(II) and bpt only produced one mononuclear compound, [Ni(bpt)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ (1). In order to study the formation of Ni-bpt and Ni-m-xpt complexes in solution, mixtures of Ni(NO₃)₂ and ligand (m-xpt or bpt) were prepared in different ratios and …

Na Compound Fertilizer Promotes Growth And Enhances Drought Resistance Of Desert Plants, Xiangrui Zhou, Lijun Yue, Chunmei Wang, Suomin Wang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

How Do Native And Improved Grasses Affect Above‐Ground Production And Soil Organic C?, Walter D. Willms, X. Hao, Guodong Han, Mengli Zhao, H. Douwes

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Intensive Grazing Leads To Degradation And Spatial Homogenization Of Topsoils In Two Major Steppetypes In Inner Mongolia, P. R. China, M. Wiesmeier, M. Steffens, A. Kölbl, I. Kögel-Knabner

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Overview Of Cartogram Algorithm, Chen Yi, Yunfang Zhao, Xiaomin Du

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Cartogram is a type of visualization method for effectively presenting the geographical information distribution of the statistical data, which has a wide range of usage in many fields. The concepts, classifications and generation methods of the Cartogram were described. Different generation algorithms of it were summarized, considering the continuity and regularity features. Besides, from the two aspects of both statistical and geographical distortions, three evaluation indexes were proposed: an index that evaluated whether the area sizes represented the true attribute values; and one which represented the degree of the regional shape distortions; and last but not the …

Turning Everyday Activities Into Play: Building Relationships And Fostering Connections For Adopted And Foster Children, Marissa E. Siu, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott

Summer 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Turning Everyday Activities into Play is a program that was created for foster children, adopted children, and individuals who work with this population in the community. This program uses everyday activities to foster the connection between children and adults. The goal of this program is to use the power of play to support regulation and build stronger bonds and relationships by turning everyday activities into play.

Moderation Of Effects Of Anxiety On Verbal And Visuospatial Short-Term Memory In Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rachael Arowolo

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit developmental differences in a number of domains, including memory. Short-term memory (STM) has been studied in children with ASD but the findings have been mixed. Children with ASD are also at increased risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Anxiety has been found to impact short-term (STM) and other cognitive functions in typically developing children. Limited research suggests that trait anxiety is associated with poorer STM in school-aged children with ASD. Given that STM develops throughout early childhood, understanding the impact of anxiety in younger children with ASD may be beneficial in providing the …

Does Touching A Bible Mitigate The Negative Effects Of Ostracism?, Emily Katlyn Johnson

Student Theses and Dissertations

Ostracism – being ignored or excluded by an individual or a group – leads to many negative consequences that can impact individuals behaviorally, physiologically, and cognitively. Considering these consequences, research over ostracism has turned to how individuals can cope with this painful experience. The current study investigated combining religion and touch to cope with ostracism. Participants first played Cyberball, where they were either included or ostracized, and then completed the Need Satisfaction Scale. Afterwards, the participants received a fake error message and were told that they needed to complete the questionnaire again on paper. During this process the touch condition …

Racism In Healthcare, Elizabeth Dwyer

Black History at UNM

Living with the daily experience of racism can have direct, adverse effects on the health and wellbeing of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Dr. Tracie Collins, former Dean, UNM College of Population Health, and current Secretary of Health of New Mexico, and Dr. Felisha Rohan-Minjares, Professor, UNM’s Department of Family and Community Medicine, explain how bias and racism impact health, treatment, and outcomes.

Disintegrating The Enemy: The Pla’S Info-Messaging, Jacqueline N. Deal

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

The DoD can exploit weaknesses in Chinese military attempts at political warfare, or “enemy disintegration,” most recently observed in PLA media on the subject of the pandemic. Targeted information efforts will signal the United States’ refusal to be intimidated, expose untruths in Chinese government messaging to its citizens, and reassure relevant third parties of US military resolve.

Technology And Strategic Surprise: Adapting To An Era Of Open Innovation, Audrey Kurth Cronin

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Technological revolutions affecting state power are either open or closed. The precursor to the digital age is not the twentieth century, with state-controlled programs yielding nuclear weapons, but the late nineteenth century, when tinkerers invented the radio, airplane, and high explosives—all crucial to subsequent wars. To avoid strategic surprise, the US government must take a broader view of how today’s open innovation is changing society and adapt.

A Comparison Between The Wolves Of Brandenburg, Germany And Minnesota, Usa: History, Technology, And Culture, Jacob W. Depper

Honors College Theses

The conservation of the wolf as a species depends on a good understanding of its history. The wolves of Minnesota, USA were almost completely extirpated from the state by the mid 20^th century. In Brandenburg, Germany wolves were completely extirpated from the state by the end of the 19^th century. This paper looks at the history of these two wolf populations during two different time periods; between 1965 and 2000 in Minnesota and between 1990 and 2020 in Brandenburg. Through a comparative approach this paper also looks at the almost complete eradication of the wolves in the respective …

A Test Of The Sexually Selected Egg Color Hypothesis In Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia Sialis), Annabelle Mckie-Voerste

Student Theses and Dissertations

The broad array of colors represented in avian eggshells has promoted extensive investigations into its evolutionary significance. Although many hypotheses exist that explain conspicuous egg colors, including egg recognition against brood parasitism, protection from UV rays, and thermoregulation, they fail to adequately explain the adaptive function of vivid blue eggs. The Sexually Selected Egg Color Hypothesis (SSECH) states that blue-green eggshell coloration is a post-mating, sexually selected signal that conveys female quality, and male birds that observe more pigmented eggs would increase their care accordingly, resulting in higher quality chicks. Using a population of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) in northeast …

Exploring The Effects Of Geographic And Landscape Variation On Avian Communities And Species, Joseph Youtz

Student Theses and Dissertations

Ongoing and intensive anthropogenic change has modified the globe across multiple scales, yet the influence of these modifications on wildlife communities and individuals remain region and species specific. Here I explored the influence of a biogeographical pattern as it relates to climate and geography, and the effects of historic habitat loss and fragmentation on a diverse avian community. I first explored the adherence to Bergmann’s rule within a migratory songbird, the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), across all life stages and time. The pattern was present from the young nestling stage through adulthood, although contemporary eggs followed a reverse relationship with …

Acupuncture For Symptom Management In A Menopausal Population: An Exploration Of Mechanism And Experience, Cheryl L. Wright

Dissertations

This early phase study examined the effects of a series of ten standard-protocol acupuncture treatments over four weeks in 12 healthy, but symptomatic, menopausal women. In addition to measuring two biologic markers that may shed light on the physiologic impact of acupuncture, symptom experience data were collected.

Leveraging Aqueous Humor Dynamics And Ocular Biometrics For Improving Therapeutic Outcomes In Glaucoma, Vikas Gulati

Theses & Dissertations

Glaucoma laser and incisional surgical treatments are associated with a known risk of complications. The ability to better predict treatment outcomes and individualize treatment recommendations can enhance the benefit to risk ratio of a treatment option. The work presented in this dissertation explores the interplay of biometrics, race and aqueous humor dynamics and their influence on treatment outcomes. In the first chapter, we demonstrate that pre-operative aqueous humor dynamics (higher aqueous flow, lower outflow facility and lower uveoscleral outflow) are predictive of greater intraocular pressure lowering after selective laser trabeculoplasty. The second chapter describes significant race-based differences in aqueous humor …

Development Of Cholesterol Modified Rnai Polyplexes For Breast Cancer Therapy, Zhen Ye

Theses & Dissertations

Not available.

Next Generation Aryl Hydantoins As Antischistosomal Agents, Derek A. Leas

Theses & Dissertations

Schistosomiasis, also known as “snail fever,” is both an acute and chronic disease spread by trematode flukes from the tropical parasitic worm genus Schistosoma. The flukes are spread via diseased freshwater snails, which release the parasites into the water column where they find a new human host. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99 million people were treated for schistosomiasis in 2017. The primary treatment used to combat schistosomiasis is the drug praziquantel (PZQ), but due to high drug pressure and widespread administration, its effectiveness has eroded because of rising drug resistance. Furthermore, PZQ is active against adult but …

Urinary Bile Acid Indices As Diagnostic And Prognosic Biomarkers For Liver Diseases, Jawaher Alamoudi

Theses & Dissertations

Hepatobiliary diseases result in the accumulation of toxic bile acids (BA) in the liver, blood, and other tissues which may contribute to an unfavorable prognosis. We compared the urinary BA profile between 300 patients with hepatobiliary diseases vs. 103 healthy controls. Also, we investigated the use of the urinary BA profile to develop survival models to predict the prognosis of hepatobiliary diseases. The urinary BA profile, a set of non-BA parameters, and the adverse events of liver transplant and/or death were monitored in patients with cholestatic liver diseases for up to 7 years. The BA profile was characterized by calculating …