Digital Commons Network^™

3d Geology Of Lauderdale And Tipton Counties, Tennessee: A Geostatistical Approach, Valarie Joyner Harrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The surface and subsurface geology of Lauderdale and Tipton counties were mapped using seismic reflection line data, borehole data, water well data, previously mapped faults, and Lidar DEM imagery. Geologic structure contour maps, isopach maps, cross sections, and a 3D geologic model were made of Tipton and Lauderdale counties. These maps, cross sections, and 3D model include the tops of the Eocene upper Claiborne Group, Eocene Memphis Sand, Cretaceous strata, and Paleozoic strata. The post-Eocene near-surface geology was also mapped, which includes Pleistocene loess, Pliocene and Pleistocene terrace alluvium, and Holocene floodplain alluvium. The resulting geologic maps and cross sections …

Studying The Trends Of Domestic Violence In The South Asian Communities Of Shelby County, Ketaki Nandkishor Saokar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Abuse in South Asian countries is a significant problem, in large part due to cultural characteristics that support patriarchal views. Unfortunately, little is known about South Asian individuals once they move to the United States. One of the primary research questions was determining the most common form of domestic violence for a South Asian population living in the US, and the role of patriarchal views for DV experiences. Primary data were collected on basic demographics, religious background, country of origin, alcohol use, frequency of abuse, and patriarchal beliefs using Qualtrics. Data were collected between May and October 2022. Multiple imputations …

The Influence Of Self- And Other-Oriented Persuasive Messages On The Intention To Engage In Health-Oriented Behavior Change, Kierstynn Arielle Hunter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Although there is research investigating the influence of self- and other-oriented persuasive messages on health-oriented behavior change, little exists on the influence of these messages on mask-wearing behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, much of the research on persuasive health messages uses advertisements and other textual presentations of these persuasive messages, and little research exists on vocal presentations. This study examined how the vocal presentation of these self- and other-oriented persuasive messages can influence an individual’s self-reported likelihood of engaging in mask-wearing. Analyses showed that hearing a self-oriented persuasive message led participants to give reasons to wear a mask that …

Dopaminergic Modulation Of Discounting Of Delayed Punishment, Grace L. Minnes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Effective decision-making involves careful consideration of all potential positive and negative outcomes. Importantly, negative outcomes often occur later in time, leading to underestimation, or “discounting,” of these consequences. The Delayed Punishment Decision-making Task (DPDT) was developed to study sensitivity to delayed vs immediate punishment during cost/benefit decision-making in rats. Rats choose between two levers, one resulting in a small, single-pellet reward with no foot shock punishment, and the other resulting in a larger, three-pellet reward followed by a mild foot shock punishment. This punishment is preceded by a systematically increasing delay as the blocks progress (0, 4, 8, 12, 16 …

Evaluating Executive Functions In A Proposed Animal Model Of Adhd: Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats, Joshua Lee Potter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Evaluating animal models of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is crucial for expanding the breadth of knowledge of the disorder. Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHRs) have been used for several years as an animal model of ADHD, and routinely provide new information about aspects of the disorder that contribute to behavioral and pharmaceutical treatment interventions. Twelve male and 12 female SHRs as well as 12 male and 12 female Wistar-Kyoto rats (i.e., control strain for the SHR) were acquired and tested on a series of operant tests starting postnatal day (PND) 70. These tests consisted of measures of motor and executive function …

Impact Of Socioeconomic Status On Reproductive Behavior Among Bangladeshi Women, Israt Jahan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Sexual and reproductive health-related illness is a matter of concern in developing countries like Bangladesh. It mostly affects women because of their unawareness, lack of knowledge, and poor socioeconomic status. In poor communities and developing countries, another important risk factor for death and disability is unsafe sex. Proper family planning and healthy sexual and reproductive life can reduce mortality and morbidity of both children and mothers. Improvements in women’s socioeconomic status can increase awareness and knowledge about sexual and reproductive life and reduce health-related problems and death. Therefore, this study will examine the impact of socioeconomic status (educational attainment, working …

The Moderating Relations Of Mindful Self-Care And Role Stressors With Stress And Burnout In School Psychologists, Nikita Pike

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

School psychologists take on many tasks and responsibilities in their practice, whether that be in the schools, clinics, or private practices. In this role, they risk experiencing ongoing stress which can result in feelings of burnout. Although previous literature on this topic has mentioned methods of coping with stress and burnout, there has been little research on the impact of mindful self-care methods and types of stress, such as role stressors, on levels of stress and burnout in school psychologists. This research examined the moderating effects of mindful self-care and role stressors on the relation between stress and burnout in …

Examining The Role Of Solitary Drinking In Alcohol Misuse And Functional Impairment Among Post-9/11 Veterans In The Context Of Ptsd, Brooke E. Buckley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Post-9/11 veterans are at increased risk for developing PTSD and alcohol misuse. Many studies have examined the relationship between PTSD, alcohol misuse, and functional impairment and a few studies have examined the context in which drinking takes place. However, research has yet to examine solitary drinking in the context of PTSD. Using prospective data, the study tested the following hypotheses in a sample of post-9/11 veterans with PTSD via regression analyses: greater severity of PTSD would predict more time spent drinking alone (as a proportion of all drinking occasions), as would greater alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences, and a higher …

Experimental And Computational Analysis Of Aerogels And Aerogel-Composites Under Different Environmental Conditions For Biomedical And Space Applications, Sagar Ghimire

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Aerogels are highly porous and lightweight materials with a unique combination of physical and chemical properties that can be customized to fit the parameter space desired, for the application at hand. The number of applications that have enlisted the use of aerogels have grown substantially in recent years ranging from biomedicine to aerospace. This work investigates the interaction of aerogels and aerogel composites with its environment namely interaction with two types of incident waves: pressure waves and UV radiation. In the first case, the effect of aerogel porosity and stiffness on ultrasound wave propagation in an aqueous and a non-aqueous …

Genetic Diversity Fuels Gene Discovery For Tobacco And Alcohol Use, Gretchen R. B. Saunders, Xingyan Wang, Fang Chen, Seon-Kyeong Jang, Mengzhen Liu, Chen Wang, Shuang Gao, John Blangero, Joanne E. Curran, Ravindranath Duggirala

School of Medicine Publications

Tobacco and alcohol use are heritable behaviours associated with 15% and 5.3% of worldwide deaths, respectively, due largely to broad increased risk for disease and injury1,2,3,4. These substances are used across the globe, yet genome-wide association studies have focused largely on individuals of European ancestries5. Here we leveraged global genetic diversity across 3.4 million individuals from four major clines of global ancestry (approximately 21% non-European) to power the discovery and fine-mapping of genomic loci associated with tobacco and alcohol use, to inform function of these loci via ancestry-aware transcriptome-wide association …

The Subcortical And Neurochemical Organization Of The Ventral And Dorsal Attention Networks, Pedro Nascimento Alves, Stephanie J Forkel, Maurizio Corbetta, Michel Thiebaut De Schotten

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Attention is a core cognitive function that filters and selects behaviourally relevant information in the environment. The cortical mapping of attentional systems identified two segregated networks that mediate stimulus-driven and goal-driven processes, the Ventral and the Dorsal Attention Networks (VAN, DAN). Deep brain electrophysiological recordings, behavioral data from phylogenetic distant species, and observations from human brain pathologies challenge purely corticocentric models. Here, we used advanced methods of functional alignment applied to resting-state functional connectivity analyses to map the subcortical architecture of the Ventral and Dorsal Attention Networks. Our investigations revealed the involvement of the pulvinar, the superior colliculi, the head …

Covid-19 Alcoholic Cirrhosis And Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Cirrhosis Outcomes Among Hospitalized Patients In The United States: Insight From National Inpatient Sample Database, Devika Kapuria, Karthik Gangu, Prabal Chourasia, Aniesh Boba, Anthony Nguyen, Moon Ryu, Mark Peicher, Mario Flores, Harleen Kaur Chela, Ebubekir S Daglilar, Abu Baker Sheikh, Rahul Shekhar

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Patients with co-morbidities like cirrhosis are at risk of worse outcome from COVID-19 infection. Given limited prior studies, we evaluated outcomes associated with COVID-19 infection in alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhotic (CC+) versus cirrhotic without COVID-19 (CC-). We performed retrospective analysis of 822,604 patients including 28,610 COVID-19 patients from the National Inpatient Sample database with alcoholic and NASH cirrhosis enrolled between 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020, with univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Primary outcome was mortality and secondary outcomes was mechanical ventilation, vasopressor use, length of stay, hospitalization expense and predictors of mortality. In-hospital mortality was three time …

Prevalence Estimates Of Trafficking In Persons Using Statistical Definitions: A Cross-Sectional High-Risk Community Survey In Cape Town, South Africa, Rumi Kato Price, Annah K Bender, Floriana H Milazzo, Edna G Rich, Nicolette V Roman, Sheldon X Zhang, Erica L Koegler

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVES: Current research on trafficking in persons (TIP) relies heavily on legal and prosecutorial definitions. A public health approach has called for population-level assessment; however, identification of TIP victims lacks a standardised operational definition. This study applied the Prevalence Reduction Innovation Forum (PRIF) statistical definitions, developed by the US Department of State, to a community survey in Cape Town, South Africa.

DESIGNS: A high-risk sampling strategy was used. TIP screening questions from two instruments were matched with PRIF domain indicators to generate prevalence estimates. Sensitivity, specificity and receiver operating characteristics analyses were conducted to assess the performance of the two …

Reducing Readmission (And Mortality) For Older Patients & Survivors Of Life-Threatening Conditions: A Study Using The Staarr Protocol, Akhenaten Amun

Symposium of Student Scholars

Readmission rates for patients admitted for heart failure, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, a myocardial infarction, a hip or knee arthroplasty, or coronary artery bypass surgery tend to have high readmission and mortality rates within 30 days of their discharge from a hospital. Starting in October 2012, the Healthcare Reimbursement Reduction Program enforced penalties on Medicare reimbursements for hospitals with readmission rates, for patients with the conditions above, were higher than averages based on facilities with similar characteristics and patient populations. Teach-back and verify (Klingbeil & Gibson, 2018), interdisciplinary teams that engage in patient care and support (Reiter-Palmon et al., …

Opioid Use Disorder In The Active Service: Incidence Rates And Behavioral Health Considerations, Brian A. Moore, Sophie Vincent, Michael Schlenk, Anne White

Symposium of Student Scholars

Military service members experience occupational specific injuries that often result in chronic pain, and comorbid behavioral health concerns that may be exacerbated by opioid use. Despite the vast amount of research examining substance use in the military, there is a dearth of literature examining the incidence of opioid use disorder (OUD). The present epidemiological study aims to examine the incident rate trends of OUD diagnoses among active duty service members between 2016 and 2021. The present study utilized data drawn from the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database (DMED) to conduct a retrospective cohort study and calculate the incidence rate of OUD …

Interventions To Decrease Readmission Rates In Lvad Patients, Karolina Jackson

Symposium of Student Scholars

Interventions to Decrease Readmission Rates in LVAD Patients

Karolina Jackson

WellStar School of Nursing, Kennesaw State University

NURS 4417: Advanced Clinical Practicum

Lynnda Campbell

October 21, 2022

Abstract

Background: Patients who have undergone implantation of a left ventricular assistive device are at a higher risk for readmission- whether that be due to driveline dressing infections, thrombosis, bleeding at the site of implantation, or electrolyte imbalances. These readmission rates in the LVAD population can be decreased through appropriate intervention methods. Literature Review: This study’s main purpose was to discover interventions healthcare facilities and core LVAD staff can implement in practice to …

Effects Of Educational Weight Loss Interventions On Knee Arthroplasty For Obese Patients, Ashley Tomasetto, Emily Anderson, Grace Hodgson, Annabelle Hudgins, Katelin Hartley

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Obese patients (BMI > 30) with osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery are at an increased risk for operative failure, higher pain level, lengthier recovery time, and decreased mobility post-surgery.

Objective: To analyze and synthesize existing evidence to determine the efficacy of educational weight loss interventions prior to TKA on adult obese patients’ recovery time, pain level, and mobility post-surgery. Weight loss intervention education was provided to obese patients aged 35-55 years in the form of nutrition and exercise programs to encourage weight loss. The study group was compared to patients who did not receive this pre-surgical education.

Methods: …

The Evaluation Of Prevention Measures Against Hospital-Acquired C. Difficile, Lauryn Glover

Symposium of Student Scholars

Today, many hospitals struggle with the increase in hospital-acquired infections, but more specifically the spread of Clostridioides Difficile (C. Difficile) infections among patients. It has caused not only a burden on the patient’s health but has also created a financial burden on hospitals. Due to the spread of C. Diff infections in the hospital setting, many hospitals are implementing strategies to combat the spread of C.Diff. One essential prevention method starts with healthcare workers. Hospital staff is required to use hand sanitizer and frequent handwashing to prevent the spread of disease to their patients. The overall purpose of this research …

Nursing Education And Identification Of Sex And Human Trafficking Victims, Kirstie Mayes, Jenn Lum, Jess Griggs

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background

Human trafficking is a global pandemic that affects boys and girls of all ages– this is a hidden population that allows healthcare providers to intervene due to the likelihood that they are brought into care. Currently no national standard exists to help with the identification of victims.

Objectives

The purpose of our evidence-based project is to determine whether an increase in education has a positive outcome on the identification of victims within a healthcare setting.

Methods

The student team reviewed current literature from databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, and the National Library of Medicine to determine the impact of …

Impact Of Alarm Management Classes In Reducing Alarm Fatigue, Elizabeth Laegen

Symposium of Student Scholars

Alarm fatigue is becoming a more and more common problem for nurses working in inpatient hospital units, especially critical care units. Monitoring systems, ventilators, vital signs monitors, and other electronic devices designed to detect critical or pending critical values and alterations in patients have become more of a nuisance than the lifesaving systems they were designed to be. With alarms sounding frequently for what are typically nonactionable alerts, nurses to have developed a decrease in sensitivity to all alarms, regardless of importance. Research of alarm fatigue has shown that while the significance of the problem is clear and studies have …

In Adult Icu Patients With Central Lines, Does Improved Staff Adherence To The Clabsi Prevention Clinical Practice Guidelines Reduce The Incidence Of Clabsis?, Job Waihiga

Symposium of Student Scholars

A central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is a serious infection that occurs when bacteria or viruses enter the bloodstream through the central line. Background: This project is important because central line-associated bloodstream infections increase hospital mortality rates, lengths of stay, and 30-day readmission rates. They also impose heavy financial burdens on hospital systems. Furthermore, out of all the nosocomial infections, central line-associated bloodstream infections have the highest and most recent incidence rates in this adult ICU unit. Purpose: This project aims to identify an intervention to improve staff adherence to the CLABSI prevention bundle and decrease the rate of …

Reducing Noise Levels In Intensive Care Units Using Noise Monitoring Technology, Kayla Kloes

Symposium of Student Scholars

Intensive care units require many medical procedures, activities, machines, and staff that contribute to high levels of noise. These high noise levels have been found to cause adverse psychological and/or physiological health effects related to sleep disturbances, increased anxiety, and increased stress. These health effects may lead to decreased patient satisfaction. The purpose of this proposal is to explore the effectiveness of the SoundEar 3-300 device in decreasing levels of noise and as a result, increasing patient satisfaction. The current research indicates that the SoundEar 3-300 device is successful at reducing hospital noise levels. This device allows for the measurement …

Can Non-Pharmacological Interventions Effectively Reduce Anxiety And Pain In Chronic Pediatric Patients?, Kiara Harvey

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

Pediatric anxiety and pain have been historically poorly managed. The failure of providers to adequately address medically-induced anxiety and pain in pediatric patients has been shown to prevent them from proactively seeking medical care in the future and has been linked with both altered brain development and increased risk of opioid abuse. Furthermore, poorly managed pain leads to sustained levels of cortisol and exposes patients to several long-term health risks like hypertension. Because non-pharmacological interventions are often preferred by providers, patients, and their caregivers, this research question poses an exploration of the efficacy of non-traditional methods in alleviating procedure-related …

Protocols For Postpartum Hemorrhage, Jackleen Chambers

Symposium of Student Scholars

The occurrence of postpartum hemorrhages (PH) within the healthcare system are on the rise. The detrimental effects that can occur are extremely serious and require an intervention of education and proper training. Labor and delivery units experience traumatic PHs due to lack of proper training regarding early warning signs and correct technical interventions needed for a quick turnaround. This project will use research from scholarly articles to take a closer look at statistical evidence based on the outcomes of being prepared versus underprepared. The project will discuss various methods on how to better prepare nurses to care for hemorrhagic situations. …

Postpartum Depression For Mothers With Early Fetal Death Or Stillbirths, Callie Goldman

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background: Many times, prevention of early fetus death and stillbirths is possible; however, some mortality events are spontaneous or unavoidable. While existing research reveals the likelihood of postpartum depression for mothers following birth, few studies address the potential for postpartum depression of mothers of stillbirth or demised fetuses. The purpose of this study is to determine how mothers can be better prepared for the hardship of losing a baby during childbirth, while going through common difficulties, such as postpartum depression, following birth. Methods: A mixed method approach will be conducted to gather qualitative (interview) and quantitative (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale …

Impact Of Alarm Fatigue In Critical Care Nurses On Patient Outcomes, Addie Mctyre

Symposium of Student Scholars

Background

Critical care units are equipped with extensive amounts of patient monitoring equipment that sound alarms to alert nursing staff to changes in the patient’s condition. The constant beeping of alarms can result in a phenomenon known as alarm fatigue, when nursing staff becomes accustomed to the continuous sound of alarms and either tune it out or ignore it completely. This can result in poor patient outcomes. The purpose of this project is to propose techniques to decrease false alarms to reduce the overall number of alarms during a shift. This will lead to a reduction in the occurrence of …

Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Spasticity Interventions, Zola Lopeman

Symposium of Student Scholars

Muscle spasticity is a common spinal cord injury sequela that causes muscle stiffness, spasms, and painful involuntary contractions. Spasticity can result in difficulty walking, deformed joints, lack of head control, and impairment performing activities of daily living. Spasticity is dynamic and often requires a multifaceted approach to manage symptoms and achieve patient goals. The leading treatment for spasticity is oral Baclofen. Additional treatment methods include electrical stimulation and phenol injections. Oral baclofen is frequently prescribed in combination with these.

Research suggests SCI induced spasticity can cause changes in the muscle. Thus, it is important to assess neural and muscle impacts …

Improving Discharge Planning In The Nicu, Jessica Fleming

Symposium of Student Scholars

The birth of a child is an exciting time for parents. They spend months preparing for the arrival of their baby, but parents aren’t prepared for complications that can occur at birth. Events such as early arrival or respiratory issues can result in a newborn being admitted to the NICU. This can create stress and anxiety for parents. Once a child is admitted to the NICU, it is important that discharge planning and education begin promptly, to alleviate parental distress, prepare them to care for their child upon discharge, and improve patient outcome, but some NICUs struggle to provide and …

Burnout Among Emergency Room Nurses: Evaluating The Intervention Of Scheduled Breaks, Hannah Hastings

Symposium of Student Scholars

Burnout among bedside hospital nurses has contributed to a nationwide shortage of nurses. Nurses stand as one of the pillars of the American medical system, and a shortage of nursing staff contributes to a strain on this system and decreases the quality of patient care. Emergency Department nurses serve as the point of care initiation for many patients, and burnout rates are high in the ED. The purpose of this project is to investigate the effects of taking 30 minute breaks in the Emergency Department on nursing staff burnout. This project is supported by current literature including two studies on …

Reducing The Risk Of Chemotherapy Exposure, Miranda Susman

Symposium of Student Scholars

Concerns about antineoplastic drugs (ANPDs), also known as chemotherapy, began in the early 1970s by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Although ANPDs are used as a standard treatment for cancer, these drugs are considered hazardous due to their adverse health effects. About eight million healthcare workers are exposed to ANPDs and therefore essential that we continue to educate on ways to reduce the risk of exposure to occupational and home health hazards. The overall purpose of this study is to determine if additional education and use of surface wipe samplings reduce the risk of exposure. A literature …