Digital Commons Network^™

Transfer Articulation And Transfer Agreement Success: Student Transfer From Community College To Locally Governed, Public, 4-Year Universities In Tennessee, Kathi Horne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to investigate the success of students who use transfer articulation agreements to transfer from any of the 13 community colleges in Tennessee to one of the state’s public, four-year, locally governed institutions to complete a bachelor's degree. Data were collected from five 4-year public universities across the state of Tennessee. The Tennessee Promise initiative was created to allow students the opportunity to begin postsecondary college careers at little to no cost. When combined with either the Tennessee Transfer Pathways or transfer articulation agreements, the goal was to create a seamless transition from …

Species Data And Vector Modeling: Evaluating Datasets For Improved Models Of Ixodes Ricinus Tick Distribution In Europe Under A Changing Climate, Steven Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To increase capacity for monitoring and surveillance of tick-borne diseases, publicly available tick distribution and climate change datasets are required to create accurate predictive distribution models. It is difficult, however, to assess model accuracy and utility when using incomplete datasets.  The more recent development of comprehensive tick databases for Europe and availability of climate change scenarios from multiple IPCC Assessment Reports allows for improved modeling efforts. Multiple tick datasets were combined and three climate change projections were compared by predicting current and future distributions of Ixodes ricinus ticks in Europe using the MaxEnt species distribution model. Overall, much of Europe …

A Comparison Of The Mental Health Of Police Officers And Correctional Officers In Rural Appalachia, Sierra Thomas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of mental health among police officers and correctional officers within rural Appalachia. The main goal of this research was to better understand how the occupational demands of working in the criminal justice field can impact one’s mental health over time. Several research questions were explored, including the prevalence of various mental health problems, associated stressors, the structure of support among officers, and the perceptions of mental health treatment services. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 21 police and correctional officers located in rural Appalachia. Results provided a better understanding of …

Domestic Violence Against Men: Their Report Decision Making Process, Ngozi Aleke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Little or nothing is really known about a man’s victimization in a domestic violence situation. Generally domestic violence is viewed from the lens of a women with the typical idea that women are the victim while men, the perpetrators of violence. Overtime, this societal perception is beginning to subside as researchers have proven that men are also victims of domestic violence (Straus, Gelles, & Steinmetz,1980). Despite this revelation, not much is known about male victimization as most men prefer not to report their victimization. This study seeks to examine the reasons for not reporting victimization and the effect of this …

K-5 Elementary Alternative Program: A Case Study, William E. Scheuer Iv

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to examine how the K-5 elementary alternative program All Students Can Thrive (ASCT) used student-centered learning practices to influence the whole child. There is a lack of research on K-5 elementary alternative programs, such as ASCT, and specifically those that integrate student-centered learning practices to influence the whole child. Literature does not contain universally accepted interventions that are effective in the elementary alternative setting to help students return to the mainstream classroom setting better prepared to display appropriate behaviors when a student is removed from a mainstream classroom setting due to disruptive behaviors. …

Examining The Politicization And Framing Of Hea 117 In The Us Between 2019 And 2021, Elise S. Ahn

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

In 2019, the U.S. Department of Education (DED) began increasing its enforcement of the Higher Education Act, Section 117 statute, which provides instructions for institutional reporting regarding foreign and contracts. The three questions guiding this article include: What were DED’s stated premises for the investigations? How was international engagement characterized in the notices? And finally, what traits, characteristics, and/or qualities were attributed to different actors? After providing an overview of Section 117, this article examines the notices of investigation issued by DED between 2019 and 2021 to better understand how the Agency discursively characterized malign and/or undue foreign influence utilizing …

Latinx Parents’ Experiences Accessing Their Children’S Instruction And Resources Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic, Elisa Coy Clark

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study is to build awareness of the Latinx school parents’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. This case study also explores how one’s cultural intuition can help advocate for the Latinx parents and their school children during a novel time. To find this information, I interviewed 7 parents and found the emerging themes that helped answer these two questions. In this case study I found that school families encountered a language barrier, struggled with computer literacy, were expected to help provide instruction, and that some parents were able to support their children after receiving teacher support. …

Navigating Through A Pandemic (The Unknown): The Effects Of Synchronous Learning For Online And In Person Students On Achievement Scores In Reading And Math In A Private Catholic School In South Texas, Israel Martinez Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

In the Spring of 2020, a wide world pandemic, specifically COVID-19, slammed the door on what we defined as normal life. COVID-19 and its associated pandemic exposed more explicitly great inequities such as access to devices, platforms, and/or places to do schoolwork outside schools in education systems (Fullan, 2020). It also interrupted international travel, it devastated economic growth, and it disrupted schooling globally (Harris & Jones, 2020). In the Summer of 2020, a Catholic school in South Texas set a plan in place to provide a 100% synchronous way of learning for students in elementary grades 1 through 8 to …

Grapefruit Peel Biochar Applications For Immobilizing Copper And Lead In Soil, Michael Alfredo Navarro

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the efficacy of grapefruit peel (GP) derived biochar materials (two pyrolysis temperatures 450°C and 800°C) as a potential adsorbent to immobilize heavy metal (copper and lead) in a local sandy loam clay soil. A batch adsorption test with heavy metal concentrations at 50 mg L-1, and 100 mg L-1 revealed that soil itself had the highest immobilization percentage compared to the GP biochars. A soil column experiment was conducted to determine how much the GP biochar samples and the tested soil will exhibit adsorptive characteristics for heavy metals when 50 ml of 50 mg L-1 copper or …

Synthesis Of Bioactive Heterocycles, Shaila Akter Shetu

Theses and Dissertations

The Discovery of a variety of heterocyclic drugs for the treatment of cancer and other diseases (e.g, neglected tropical diseases) is a medical breakthrough and inspiring for the research community as a whole. A wide range of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic anticancer drugs are synthesized using various methods. Among them, β -lactams stand out as a novel class of antibiotics that has different types of biological as well as anti-cancer properties. β -lactam has become a premier and active research subject towards the development of revolutionary anti-cancer drugs. In recent years, a large amount of investigations have been done to …

“An Exercise In International Extortion”: Operation “Intercept” And Nixon’S 1969 War On Drugs, Justin M. Reid

War, Diplomacy, and Society (MA) Theses

When the former senator and vice president assumed the Oval Office in January 1969, President Richard M. Nixon inherited a nation in crisis with drugs playing a central role. At a campaign stop a few months earlier, Nixon announced to a packed convention center in Anaheim, CA, that if elected president he would end the flow of the illicit drugs coming into the United States “decimating a generation of young Americans.”

True to his word, Nixon moved aggressively after his election victory to refocus the federal drug enforcement bureaucracy on drug source control, blaming Mexico as the main culprit. On …

Cost Utility Of Supporting Family-Based Care To Prevent Hiv And Deaths Among Orphaned And Separated Children In East Africa: A Markov Model–Based Simulation, Marta Wilson-Barthes, Paula Braitstein, Allison Delong, David Ayuku, Lukoye Atwoli, Edwin Sang, Omar Galárraga

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Purpose: Strengthening family-based care is a key policy response to the more than 15 million orphaned and separated children who have lost 1 or both parents in sub-Saharan Africa. This analysis estimated the cost-effectiveness of family-based care environments for preventing HIV and death in this population.

Design: We developed a time-homogeneous Markov model to simulate the incremental cost per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted by supporting family-based environments caring for orphaned and separated children in western Kenya. Model parameters were based on data from the longitudinal OSCAR’s Health and Well-Being Project and published literature. We used a societal perspective, …

Secondhand Smoke Exposure Is Independently Associated With Stroke Among Non-Smoking Adults In West Africa., Akinkunmi Paul Okekunle, Osahon Jeffery Asowata, Adekunle G. Fakunle, Onoja Matthew Akpa, Fred S. Sarfo, Albert Akpalu, Kolawole Wahab, Reginald Obiako, Morenikeji Komolafe, Philip Adebayo

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide, but little is known about the contribution of secondhand smoke exposure (SHSE) to stroke epidemiology among indigenous Africans.

Objective: To evaluate the association of SHSE with stroke among indigenous Africans. Methods We analyzed the relationship of SHSE with stroke among 2990 case-control pairs of adults who had never smoked (identified in the SIREN study) using conditional logistic regression at a two-sided P < 0.05.

Results: Multivariable-adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval; 1.25 (1.04, 1.50; P = 0.02) revealed SHSE was positively associated with stroke independent of stroke subtypes.

Conclusion: …

High Local Control And Low Ocular Toxicity Using Ultra-Low-Dose “Boom-Boom” Radiotherapy For Indolent Orbital Lymphoma, Sanjna Shelukar, Christian Fernandez, Zeynep Bas, Lydia Komarnicky, Sara E. Lally, Carol L Shields, Adam Binder, Pierluigi Porcu, Onder Alpdogan, Ubaldo Martinez-Outschoorn, Wenyin Shi

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Background: The first line definitive treatment for early-stage indolent B-cell lymphoma is radiation therapy (RT). Due to the sensitivity of orbital structures to radiation, ultra-low-dose RT (4 Gy in 2 fractions, "boom-boom") has and been utilized as an attractive option for orbital lymphoma. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the outcome and toxicity of "boom-boom" RT for indolent orbital lymphoma with an emphasis on ophthalmologic toxicity.

Methods: This is a retrospective case series with 17 patients with orbital lymphoma who received boom-boom RT at a single tertiary referral center between January 2017 and June 2022. Medical records, imaging and radiation …

Combined Neuroendocrine And Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Sinonasal Tract: A Morphologic And Immunohistochemical Analysis And Review Of Literature, Shweta Agarwal, Annemieke Van Zante, Michaela L. Granados

Pathology Research and Scholarship

Sinonasal malignancies constitute 3% of head and neck cancers, with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) the most common histology. Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC) are rare, with a subset showing neuroendocrine carcinoma and a non-neuroendocrine component. The pathogenesis of these combined tumors is largely unknown, and TP53 driver mutations may play a role. A database search for combined NEC was performed across two institutions (UNM and UCSF) spanning 15 years. Excluding NUT midline carcinoma, 3 cases met inclusion criteria. All were morphologically NEC + SCC and underwent a comprehensive immunohistochemical evaluation. Tumors demonstrated two components histologically: moderately to poorly differentiated SCC and high-grade …

Analyzing Business-Focused Social Networks In Hiring: The Influence Of A Job Candidate's Network On A Recruiter's Hiring Recommendation, Hannah V. Kibby

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Social media has altered the ways in which people interact. Business-focused social media profiles, such as those on LinkedIn, can act as a proxy for a traditional resume. However, these websites differ from a traditional resume in that information presented is sometimes informal, personal, and irrelevant to the member’s career. Furthermore, HR employees are able to view a job candidate’s social network. This research investigates the influence of a recruiter’s knowledge of an applicant’s professional network on the recruiter’s perception of the applicant’s trustworthiness and hence their willingness to take risk in the hiring relationship. A review of the literature …

Seeing The Big Picture: System Architecture Trends In Endoscopy And Led-Based Hyperspectral Subsystem Intergration, Craig M. Browning

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Early-stage colorectal lesions remain difficult to detect. Early development of neoplasia tends to be small (less than 10 mm) and flat and difficult to distinguish from surrounding mucosa. Additionally, optical diagnosis of neoplasia as benign or malignant is problematic. Low rates of detection of these lesions allow for continued growth in the colorectum and increased risk of cancer formation. Therefore, it is crucial to detect neoplasia and other non-neoplastic lesions to determine risk and guide future treatment. Technology for detection needs to enhance contrast of subtle tissue differences in the colorectum and track multiple biomarkers simultaneously. This work implements one …

A Case Study Of Practitioner Perceptions On The Online Transition Of Student Support Services At A Mississippi Community College, Christopher M. Bagwell

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

The study explored how practitioners perceived the transition to online student support services at a Mississippi community college during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study utilized the qualitative research approach of a single case study to gather data. Data was collected through open-ended surveys designed to acquire and interpret perceptions on an array of research questions. Forty-one administrators and staff participated in the study. The researcher employed hierarchical coding to narrow the data into themes. Subsequent rounds of coding and peer review were conducted to develop two principal themes of technology and institutional/personal preparedness. Kotter’s Change Model was utilized to evaluate …

Effects Of Expiratory Muscle Strength Training On Oropharyngeal Swallow Physiology In Persons With Obstructive Sleep Apnea (Osa): A Pilot Study, Ankita Murlidhar Bhutada

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by frequent narrowing of the upper airway during sleep. The estimated prevalence of swallowing impairments (dysphagia) in OSA patients ranges up to 80% and comprises approximately 50% of the caseload of practicing speech-language pathologists in the United States. Despite the high prevalence of dysphagia, there is a paucity of evidence supporting behavioral intervention(s) for ameliorating swallowing impairments in OSA. This pilot study assessed oropharyngeal swallowing physiology in persons with OSA and the feasibility and acceptability of a behavioral dysphagia intervention that specifically targets upper airway musculature – Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST). A total …

Sros In The State Of Alabama: Primary Functions And The Perception Of Meaningful Work, Adam Andrews

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

In response to mass school shootings and other violent acts committed on school grounds, some school systems have turned to introducing or expanding police presence on school campuses. However, police and school culture, expectations, and norms are not always compatible and are sometimes even at odds with each other. Excessive force by School Resource Officers (SROs); law-enforcement officers who work in the school setting, has prompted calls for police reform or complete SRO removal from school campuses. This research project sought to identify the activities of SROs in the state of Alabama, explore the level of meaning SROs perceive in …

Evaluation Of Therapies For Treatment Of Hyponatremia, Laura Fischer Pharmd Candidate, Jennifer Sposito Pharmd, Blake Burton Pharmd, Bcps, Jamie Gaul Pharmd, Bcps

Parkview Pharmacy Department

Poster presentation completed at ASHP Midyear Clinical Conference & Exhibition.

Objective: Characterize the use and assess the efficacy of tolvaptan and urea in the treatment of patients who were admitted to the hospital with chronic hyponatremia.

Impact Of Specialty Pharmacy Services On Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates In A Large Inflammatory Bowel Disease Population, Jessica Offerle Pharmd, Tara Jellison Pharmd, Mba,Fashp, Michele Walters Pharmd, Bcps, Bcidp, Toni Zahorian Pharmd, Bcacp

Parkview Pharmacy Department

Poster presentation completed at ASHP Midyear Clinical Conference & Exhibition.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of clinical specialty pharmacy services and education on compliance with vaccine recommendations in subjects with IBD.

Continued Use Of Proton Pump Inhibitors And Risk For Recurrence Of Clostridium Difficile Infection-A Retrospective Study, Cecilia Schowe Pharmd Candidate, Breia Leavell Pharmd Candidate, Cole Luty Pharmd

Parkview Pharmacy Department

Poster presentation completed at ASHP Midyear Clinical Conference & Exhibition.

Objective: To determine if the continued use of proton pump inhibitors leads to an increased risk of recurrent Clostridium difficile infections.

Evaluation Of Rituximab Use At Parkview Health, Sarah Stopczynski Pharmd Candidate, Jesse Christman Pharmd, Bcop, Kristen Christman Pharmd, Bcps, Jamie Gaul Pharmd, Bcps

Parkview Pharmacy Department

Poster Presentation completed at ASHP Midyear Clinical Conference & Exhibition.

Objective: Characterize the use of rituximab at Parkview Health by differentiating between inpatient and outpatient use as well as evaluate indications for use, incidence of documented infusion reactions, and biosimilar use.

Characterizing Appropriate Use Of Octreotide Continuous Infusions For Gastroesophageal Bleeding, Austin Harris Pharmd, Curtis Stump Pharmd, Luke Keller Pharmd, Bcps, Bcccp

Parkview Pharmacy Department

Poster Presentation completed at ASHP Midyear Clinical Conference & Exhibition.

Objective: To characterize the appropriate use of octreotide infusions for gastroesophageal bleeding at a community hospital system to pursue guideline-driven standardization of care.

Evaluation Of Intravenous Loop Diuretic Use In Acute Decompensated Heart Failure In A Community Hospital, Catherine Eichler Pharmd, Cole Luty Pharmd, Kris Howard Pharmd, Aacc

Parkview Pharmacy Department

Poster presentation completed at ASHP Midyear Clinical Conference & Exhibition

Objective: To characterize the use of intravenous loop diuretics in patients hospitalized with fluid overload secondary to acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) within the heart failure service of a community hospital

Medication Use Evaluation Of Angiotensin Ii, Kevin Baumgartner Pharmd, Dustin D Linn Pharmd, Bcccp, Michael Todt Pharmd

Parkview Pharmacy Department

Poster presentation completed at ASHP Midyear Clinical Conference & Exhibition

Background: Angiotensin II is a vasopressor agent used for septic shock and has been found to effectively raise the blood pressure in patients who did not respond to other conventional high dose vasopressors. Angiotensin II’s wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) of $1800 per vial creates a significant financial burden for health care institutions. A limited warranty manufacturer program replaces angiotensin II vials in patients not achieving an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) of at least 10 mmHg or to >65mmHg within the first 3 hours of initiation.

Objective: Evaluate compliance …

Impact Of Pharmacist-Led Direct Oral Anticoagulant Monitoring On Appropriate Medication Use, Bhavika Patel Pharmd, Kenneth Wiley Pharmd, Bcacp, Alicia Sawmiller Pharmd, Bcacp

Parkview Pharmacy Department

Poster presentation completed at ASHP Midyear Clinical Conference & Exhibition.

Background: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are the preferred treatment for patients with venous thromboembolism and atrial fibrillation and are an attractive alternative to vitamin K antagonists in multiple indications for long-term anticoagulation. Although DOACs require less frequent clinical monitoring than vitamin K antagonists and their standardized dosing is often more convenient for patients, these medications still require monitoring. Medication adherence, monitoring renal function, hepatic function and drug interactions are important safety concerns for managing patients on DOAC therapy. Previous studies have shown pharmacist can impact monitoring, dosing and adherence to …

The "Therapeutic Relationship:" Emergence, Eclipse, And Transformations Of A Social Technology., Ulrich Koch

Clinical Research and Leadership Faculty Publications

This essay situates the history of "the relationship" as a therapeutic technology within the broader context of changing social relations in the twentieth-century United States. More specifically, it outlines the emergence and subsequent diffusion of practices that aim to cultivate a social bond between therapist and patient that may serve as a psychotherapeutic tool. The article highlights the transformations of this technology as its institutional and epistemic foundations became challenged. Initially conceived as an "artificial" social relation designed to help with "personal adjustment," the therapeutic relationship was soon also deployed by non-experts and became a model for more healthful social …

Innate Lymphoid Cells In Depression: Current Status And Perspectives, Amit Kumar Madeshiya, Anilkumar Pillai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The recent discovery of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) has provided new insights into our understanding of the pathogenesis of many disease conditions with immune dysregulation. Type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) induce type I immunity and are characterized by the expression of signature cytokine IFN-γ and the master transcription factor T-bet; ILC2s stimulate type II immune responses and are defined by the expression of signature cytokines IL-5 and IL-13, and transcription factors ROR-α and GATA3; ILC3s requires the transcription factor RORγt and produce IL-22 and IL-17. ILCs are largely tissue-resident and are enriched at barrier surfaces of the mammalian body. …