Digital Commons Network^™

Barriers In Immigrant Mental Healthcare: Women, Children And Fathers, Alisa Pickett

Honors Theses

The American Psychological Association has identified immigrant families as a vulnerable population, whose access to mental healthcare is impacted by numerous barriers (DeAngelis, 2023). Within these communities there is a need for mental health resources, but due to the many barriers these communities face they are often left without care. In this literature review, I will identify the mental health needs, and the barriers that each member of the family (e.g., mothers, children, and fathers) uniquely faces. The discussion will review how these barriers are currently being addressed, specifically looking at changes within practices, use of logotherapy, and changing the …

Examining The Microbial Diversity Of A Generalist Ant Along An Urban-Rural Gradient, Abdol-Munim Abazid

Honors Theses

After sampling the exoskeleton microbiomes of 225 ants from 3 different locations along a rural-urban gradient in the Chattanooga area, a photo library was collected and microbial diversity and morphospecies evenness of each location was determined. It was determined that there was no significant difference in either microbial diversity or morphospecies evenness between sites along the rural-urban gradient, even after adjusting data to be between only rural and urban areas. Urbanization was quantified using % impervious surface; however, a future study could quantify urbanization by other means, such as soil nutrient composition. Additionally, it was determined that there was no …

Criminal Law And Procedure, Lauren E. Brice, Michelle C. F. Derrico

University of Richmond Law Review

It has been another busy year in the General Assembly and in the appellate courts of Virginia, especially with the recently expanded Court of Appeals. Areas in which the General Assembly made significant changes are now filtering to the appellate courts for interpretation. There have been a number of significant opinions in retroactivity of statutes, probation violations, and mental health.

Taxation, Craig D. Bell

University of Richmond Law Review

This Article reviews significant recent developments in the laws affecting Virginia state and local taxation. Its Parts cover legislative activity, judicial decisions, and selected opinions from the past year. Part I of this Article addresses taxes administered by the Virginia Department of Taxation (the “Tax Department” or “Department”). Part II covers local taxes, including real and tangible personal property machinery and tools, license taxes, and other discrete local taxes.

The overall purpose of this Article is to provide Virginia tax and general practitioners with a concise overview of the recent developments in Virginia taxation that are most likely to impact …

The Current State Of Abortion Law In Virginia Leaves Victims Of Domestic And Sexual Violence Vulnerable To Abuse: Why Virginia Should Codify The Right To Abortion In The State Constitution†, Courtenay Schwartz

University of Richmond Law Review

All people must have access to safe and legal reproductive health care—especially victims of sexual and domestic violence who can and do become pregnant because of the violence they experience. This year, the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. In doing so, the Supreme Court held that the Constitution does not protect the right to an abortion. Though abortion access is currently protected in Virginia, this could change with each new General Assembly session. To guard against the danger that this poses to …

From Blue Skies To Gray Areas: Examining Privacy And Property Law In The Age Of Drone Technology, Cheng-Chi (Kirin) Chang

Richmond Journal of Law & Technology

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the legal frameworks governing the use of drones in both the United States and the European Union, and the privacy and property rights issues that arise from their use. The article emphasizes the importance of balancing the benefits of drone technology with the protection of individual rights. The regulatory frameworks governing drones are compared between the two jurisdictions, highlighting key similarities and differences. Furthermore, the article delves into the legal challenges surrounding drone usage and property rights, offering several solutions to address privacy concerns. In conclusion, the article highlights the need for a …

Using A Toxic Aging Coin To Assess Hexavalent Chromium-Induced Neurotoxicity., Samuel Thomas Vielee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We are facing an aging crisis, with 20% of the U.S. population projected to be geriatric (65+) by 2030 and live another 40+ years. Age-related diseases accompany a growing geriatric population, emphasizing the need to understand their etiology. Environmental pollutants compound this crisis by: 1) geriatrics are more susceptible, exacerbating age-related diseases and comorbidities, and 2) they accelerate biological aging, inducing age-related diseases at younger ages. We address this crisis using a ‘toxic aging coin’ approach; heads examines how age impacts toxicity, tails examines how chemicals accelerate aging. This thesis applies the heads side for Cr(VI)-induced neurotoxicity across ages. We …

Formalizing The Faustian Bargain Within The Healthcare Domain: An End-Of-Life Approach., Rachel Appel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A Faustian Bargain refers to an individual making a “deal with the devil,” exchanging something moral or sacred for an unattainable earthly good. The Faustian Bargain has been used to describe a ubiquitous social dilemma inherent to human civilization: exchanging individual liberty for public goods (e.g., security) provided by societal leaders and governments (Ostrom, 1980). Research on Faustian Bargains often examines tradeoffs between outcome utility (i.e., value derived from the outcomes of a decision) and procedural utility (i.e., value derived from being involved in the decision process (e.g., Frey et al., 2004). Much of the research on Faustian Bargains has …

The Experiences Of Leaders Who Transitioned To Leading A Virtual Team During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenological Study., Jason W. Oliver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic led to organizations rapidly transitioning their workforces to virtual work settings. This sudden shift brought about many challenges to organizations and their employees. In this study, a phenomenological research approach was used to describe the lived experiences of leaders who transitioned to managing a virtual team during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also explored how leaders adapted their leadership practices and leveraged people and technology when transitioning to managing a virtual team. The findings revealed seven themes that highlighted both benefits and challenges of virtual leadership and work. Leaders recognized the need for intentionality in their actions …

Educator Perceptions Of The Care And Instruction Of Trauma Exposed Students In A Small, Urban, Christian School., Mitzi L. Phelan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is the endeavor of this research project to investigate how a gap in understanding and communication of an advisory program’s fundamental purpose could potentially impact the thoughts and beliefs of teachers in shaping their perceptions of an advisory program’s efficacy. To this end, the purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of twelve teacher-advisors in two high schools in Shelby County, Kentucky to understand their concepts of an advisory program’s efficacy. Using convenience sampling, twelve teacher-advisors participated in semi-structured interviews, providing insight into three research questions regarding teachers’ beliefs, intentionality, and challenges of implementing a …

A Study Of Group Effectiveness In A Virtual Reality Environment., Dalton Clay Sparks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Virtual Reality (VR) technology has revolutionized the study of team effectiveness, yet many studies in this domain lack a comprehensive approach, focusing narrowly on performance metrics. This thesis investigates VR team effectiveness by integrating traditional Team Effectiveness frameworks with VR-specific dynamics. Utilizing Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Group Style Inventory (GSI), this study assesses teams within a VR environment, specifically a multiplayer submarine simulation game, IronWolfVR. Fifteen groups, totaling 45 participants, were observed for their collaborative gameplay, incorporating physiological measures (Heart Rate and Electrodermal Activity), team coordination dynamics, and various survey-based assessments (demographics, System Usability Scale, Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, and …

From "Smart Talk" To "Living Well": Commonplaces And Their Role In Narratives Of Rare Disease., Caitlin E. Ray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As healthcare becomes more complex, automated, and bureaucratic, patients often suffer from a lack of resources, agency, and visibility when seeking medical care. Rhetoric and Composition, specifically the subfield of Rhetoric of Health and Medicine (RHM), is interested in studying and intervening into such issues. One way to challenge our current understanding of healthcare is to consider how the rare disease patient experience reveals the gaps, limitations, and assumptions of illness and health. I argue here that through rare diseases, rhetoricians of health and medicine can better understand the representation, advocacy, and patient experience within healthcare, and potentially lead to …

Prevalence Of Lifestyle Cardiovascular Risk Factors And Estimated Framingham 10-Year Risk Scores Of Adults With Psychotic Disorders Compared To Controls At A Referral Hospital In Eldoret, Kenya, Edith Kwobah, Nastassja Koen, Ann Mwangi, Lukoye Atwoli, Dan Stein

Brain and Mind Institute

Introduction: Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol use, suboptimal diet, and inadequate physical activity have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. There are limited data on these risk factors among patients with psychosis in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: This study aimed to establish the prevalence of lifestyle cardiovascular risk factors, and the 10-year cardiovascular risk scores and associated factors in patients with psychosis compared to controls at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.

Methods: A sample of 297 patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar mood disorder; and 300 controls matched for age and sex …

The Impacts Of Gentrification On Physical Activity Within Hispanic Communities, David Canola

University Honors Program Senior Projects

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (2018) underscore the importance of physical activity (PA) for improved health and sleep patterns. However, meeting these guidelines poses challenges for Hispanic/Latino communities due to inadequate resources. Arredondo el al. (2016) reported that only 65.4% of Hispanic/Latinos meet the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines. To shed light on the reasons behind the limited PA in this population, it is crucial to understand the effects of gentrification. Oxford (2023) defines gentrification as the enhancement of an area, attracting a higher social class. This study employs a mixed-method design, incorporating open-ended interviews, informal conversations, and photo voice …

An Examination Of The Casel Social And Emotional Learning Standards In Middle School, Nicole Cramer

Dissertations

In this mixed-methods study the researcher analyzed teacher perceptions of social and emotional learning and whether students in subgroup populations including Black students, students receiving free and reduced lunch, and students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) attained social and emotional competency at the same level as peers not in the aforementioned subgroups.

The researcher used the CASEL competencies (self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills) to define social and emotional learning data in the study. The researcher used descriptive statistics and a t-test from data collected in a student self-reported survey to determine whether subgroup populations achieved SEL …

Submandibular Salivary Gland Vulnerability: Unveiling Aflatoxin B1-Induced Toxicity And Rosmarinus Officinalis 'S Protective Role, Mohamed Shamel, Mahmoud Al Ankily, Mohamed Mansy, Robert Fua Angeles

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Minority Reports: Registering Dissent In Science, Haixin Dang

Philosophy Faculty Publications

Consensus reporting is valuable for presenting unified scientific evidence to the public. When a consensus does not exist, I argue that scientists ought not to default to majority reporting in its place. Majority reporting has several epistemic drawbacks because it can obscure underlying justifications and lines of evidence, which may be in conflict or contested. I argue that minority reporting, in conjunction with majority reporting, is an epistemically superior mechanism for scientists to report on the full range of reasons and evidence available within a group. This paper addresses several objections, including worries over group cohesion, fringe reporting, and elite …

Child With Developmental Delay And Pathological Myopia: Poretti–Boltshauser Syndrome, Arshad Mehmood, Javeria Raza Alvi, Ahmad Bilal, Sameen Qureshi, Shaila Ali, Tipu Sultan

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Poretti–Boltshauser syndrome is rare genetic disorder of brain malformation with ocular findings due to mutation in LAMA1 gene. We report a case of five years old girl who presented with high myopia, delayed language and motor development with otherwise normal neurological examination. Brain imaging findings were consistent of Poretti–Boltshauser syndrome with cerebellar dysplasia and cyst (CDC). However, cerebellar ataxia and retinopathy were not found in our index case.

An Economic And Regulatory Analysis Of Gene Therapy Products Authorized By The Us Food And Drug Administration And The European Medicines Agency, Buthainah Ghanem

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Background: Gene therapy has recently emerged as an alternative for preventing and treating disease. Concerns have been expressed about the clinical value and the high cost of gene therapies.

Objective: This study assessed the authorization process of gene therapy products by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), evaluated the post-marketing safety signals reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), and assessed the cost-effectiveness analysis of three gene therapies axicabtagene ciloleucel(axi-cel), lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel), and tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel).

Research Design: For aim 1; data was collected using regulatory information from the FDA and the …

U-Glide Program Fall 2023, Unf Office Of Undergraduate Research, Unf Graduate School

Undergraduate – Graduate Learning, Inquiry, and Distinctive Experimentation (U-GLIDE) Symposium Programs

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Maximal And Minimal Mouth Opening On Mandibular Flexure Via Scanning, Kangyeong Lim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Mandibular flexure during mouth opening affects prosthodontic outcomes, but digital scanner research is limited.

Methods: Seventy dental students (35 males, 35 females) had two impressions taken: one with maximum and one with minimum mouth opening.

Results: First molars showed higher deviations than premolars. Females had larger deviations, though not statistically significant.

Conclusion: First molars exhibit greater flexure than premolars.

Keywords: Mandibular flexure, deformation, mouth opening, digital, intraoral scan, three dimensional(3D), prosthetic

A Cancer-Specific Study On The Differentially Expressed Protein-Protein Interactions Of Fumarate Hydratase, Sydney Lac

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Fumarate hydratase (FH) is an enzyme used in the Krebs Cycle to convert fumarate to malate, and it is controlled by the FH gene. In this paper, we will investigate its role in Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (UCEC) and how FH-deficient cells affect tumorigenesis. It is well-established that FH has been extensively studied in connection with renal cell carcinoma, skin and uterine leiomyomas, pheochromocytoma, and paraganglioma. However, we aim to construct an interaction network of significant genes related to the FH gene under conditions of FH deficiency in the Kreb Cycle. Creating an interactive network that illustrates the interconnectedness of …

Characterizing The Regulation Of Candida Albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis In The Context Of Host Macrophages, Hannah Wilson

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Candida albicans is a commensal fungus that resides on the skin, mucosal surfaces, and in the gut of an estimated 80% of individuals. Though generally harmless, C. albicans is capable of causing uncomfortable mucosal infections as well as deadly disseminated infections depending on the immune status of the host. Although antifungal therapeutics exist, the mortality rate associated with disseminated disease still lingers around 50%. Further, C. albicans is the fourth most common cause of all bloodstream infections and continues to present as a major clinical issue with less than satisfactory treatment options. For this reason, it is imperative to understand …

Masthead, Editorial Board

The University of New Hampshire Law Review

No abstract provided.

Interpreting Parenting Plans As Contracts, William B. Reingold Jr.

The University of New Hampshire Law Review

When parents are divorced or separated, a parenting plan serves as a legal instrument to govern the means by which they raise their children. Most parents are able to compromise and reach an agreed-upon parenting plan without resorting to a trial or court intervention. These agreed-upon parenting plans are, in a manner of speaking, contracts that these parents must abide by. But too often parenting plans are not treated or considered in the same way we perceive ordinary contracts. They should be. This essay examines the interplay between courts reviewing agreed-upon plans, the best interest standard, and basic contract interpretation.

Reviving The Greenbook In The Context Of Failure To Protect: Assessing Risk Of Harm In Domestic Violence Situations To Best Assist Battered Mothers And Their Children, Nikki Viavant

UC Law SF Journal on Gender and Justice

This paper examines the typical responses and approaches our child welfare agencies and juvenile courts take when handling dependency cases involving families experiencing domestic violence that fall under California Welfare and Institutions Code section 300(b). All too often, when a child is exposed to domestic violence, their mothers, survivors of the domestic abuse, are adjudged to have acted negligently for “failing to protect” their children adequately from domestic violence. Unfortunately, jumping rashly to this jurisdictional finding results in the removal of countless children from their battered yet otherwise fit mothers, and, in some instances, can ultimately lead to the termination …

Opportunity That Transforms Lives: Exploring The Lived Experience Of Graduates From A New Community College In The Dominican Republic, Sally Joslyn Peña Martinez

Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of graduates from a recently established community college in the Dominican Republic (DR). The study sought to understand from graduates' perspective the influence of completing an associate degree at the first Dominican Community College, Instituto Técnico Superior Comunitario (ITSC), and if their experience was transformative. Enrolling in higher education initiates a potentially transformative journey, consciously or unconsciously (Taylor et al., 2000). These changes stem from personal reflections on new experiences, forming new beliefs and assumptions that infill life with new meaning (Brookfield, 1984; Mezirow, 1978). This phenomenon is evident in community college students …

A Framework For Flourishing: Belonging, Confidence, And Connectedness In Academic Libraries, Kathleen Anne Langan

Dissertations

Academic libraries support students to be successful in their lives post-graduation by adopting more human-centered missions, visions, and measurable outcomes Support and success in this sense means developing programmatic outcomes that bolster the concepts of human flourishing – potential and purpose – that drive students toward happiness in their personal, professional, and civic lives. Students are more than learners, they are whole persons with social, emotional, and life-long goals that go beyond classroom learning, and academic performance. Currently, academic libraries rely heavily on measuring the value they add to institutions of higher education (IOHE) through library initiatives for academic support, …

Are Sheep And Plants The Future Of Solar? Oberlin College Agrivoltaic Project, Sydney Rosensaft

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Finding Peace With Puberty: The Importance Of Increasing Puberty-Related Dialogue In Athletics, Amber Borofsky

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.