Digital Commons Network^™

Maximizing Dietary Knowledge And Behavior Through A Teens As Teachers Approach, Anaderi Iniguez, Erica L. Doering, Elizabeth H. Weybright

Journal of Extension

The teens as teachers model is a promising approach to impact teen behavior. The current study evaluated dietary knowledge and behavior among teen teachers participating in a 4-H youth development program (N = 46; Mage = 15.5 years; 67% female; 48% Hispanic; 38% White Non-Hispanic, 14% Other). A paired sample t test was conducted on pre-and post-program surveys to identify significant improvements in dietary knowledge and behaviors. Findings suggest teens as teachers is generally effective in promoting healthy dietary knowledge and behavior. We recommend this approach be disseminated within Extension 4-H youth development healthy eating active living programming.

Who Do Farmers Trust? Identifying Farmer Support Systems During Times Of Stress And Suicide Risk, Anna M. Scheyett, Laura P. Johnson, Maria Bowie, Andrea Garcia

Journal of Extension

Farmers experience high stress and elevated suicide risk. Using surveys distributed at a regional agricultural exposition, our study identified those who are closest to farmers and trusted during times of high stress, and how to communicate stress-related information to farmers. We found farmers were most likely to trust spouses, other farmers, friends, and faith leaders and preferred information from other farmers, agricultural publications, social media, churches, and Extension offices. Farmers and non-farmers differed significantly in views on these questions. This work identifies potential partners for Extension programming on farmer stress, highlighting the importance of including farmers in program development/delivery.

Discovery Of Inhibitors Of Inhibitors Of Apoptosis Proteins And Novel Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors As Potential Anticancer Agents, Najah Ghazi Albadari

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The global impact of cancer as a significant public health concern is undeniable. According to the annual report by the American Cancer Society, projections for 2023 estimate 1,958,310 new cancer cases and 609,820 cancer-related deaths in the US. Recent years have seen significant progress in cancer treatment; however, existing therapies face several challenges. Cytotoxic agents-based chemotherapy often has low therapeutic index and encounters drug resistance shortly after initiation, while immunotherapies exhibit low response rates that vary between patients. As a result, there is a pressing need for the development of novel and effective cancer treatment. The work presented here focuses …

Benefits And Concerns Of Expanded Carrier Screening: What Do Pregnant Latina Women In Texas Think?, Embedzayi Madhiri, Haocen Wang, Melodie Tedross, Victoria Vidal, Christine Young, Denise Martinez, Wei-Ju Chen, Patricia Robbins-Furman, Robin Page, Nora Montalvo-Liendo, Lei-Shih Chen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) recommends carrier screening for all pregnant women regardless of race or ethnicity. In recent years, the ACMG broadened the guidelines to include expanded carrier screening (ECS) which can screen for 112 conditions. This study seeks to explore the perceptions of pregnant Latina women about the benefits and concerns related to ECS use. Partnering with prenatal clinics in Texas, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 32 pregnant Latina women in their second or third trimester of pregnancy. NVivo 8 was used to conduct content analysis and emergent coding of the data. Participants …

Microbial Products Linked To Steatohepatitis Are Reduced By Deletion Of Nuclear Hormone Receptor Shp In Mice, Ryan Mifflin, Jung Eun Park, Mikang Lee, Prasant Kumar Jena, Yu-Jui Yvonne Wan, Hazel A Barton, Mirjavid Aghayev, Takhar Kasumov, Li Lin, Xinwen Wang, Robert Novak, Feng Li, He Huang, Leah P Shriver, Yoon-Kwang Lee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Deletion of the nuclear hormone receptor small heterodimer partner (Shp) ameliorates the development of obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in mice. Liver-specific SHP plays a significant role in this amelioration. The gut microbiota has been associated with these metabolic disorders, and the interplay between bile acids (BAs) and gut microbiota contributes to various metabolic disorders. Since hepatic SHP is recognized as a critical regulator in BA synthesis, we assessed the involvement of gut microbiota in the antiobesity and anti-NASH phenotype of Shp−/− mice. Shp deletion significantly altered the levels of a few conjugated BAs. Sequencing the 16S …

Feasibility Of Stress Research In Premature Infant–Maternal Dyads During And After Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Hospitalization, Kathryn J. Malin, Kristin Kruschel, Kaboni W. Gondwe, Joanne Lagatta, C. Sue Carter, Hossein P. Nazarloo, Yvette P. Conley, Rosemary White-Traut

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background:

Stress from preterm infant admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is associated with infant and maternal physiologic changes, including endocrine and epigenetic alterations. Little is known about the mechanisms connecting NICU stress to biologic changes, and whether preterm infant and maternal stress are reciprocal. As a preliminary step, feasibility and acceptability of measuring indicators of stress are required.

Purpose:

This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of research examining perceptions and biologic markers of stress in premature infant–maternal dyads during and after NICU hospitalization.

Methods:

We evaluated study feasibility using a longitudinal descriptive design. Acceptability was measured …

Examining Teachers’ Perceptions Of Preparedness To Teach In Low-Income Schools Upon Completing A Master Of Arts In Teaching Degree, Aisha Collins

Dissertations

Recent teacher shortages after the 2020 to 2022 COVID pandemic disruption of education systems have increased interest in Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) targeting teacher candidates who obtained earlier degrees in fields other than education. This mixed methods research project employed surveys and semi-structured interviews to examine perceptions of early career teachers who completed a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) preparation program in a midwestern U.S. urban, low-income setting. These MAT EPP program completers described their views of their preparation program, including the EPP’s perceived strengths and areas for improvement framed by Danielson’s four domains of teaching responsibility: Planning and …

New Teacher Induction Programs: Effective Support Through Mentoring Programs And Coaching Practices, Katrina Morris

Dissertations

With the current teacher shortage and the numerous reported accounts of new teachers feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and ill prepared, the United States is in a dangerous situation that could result in even more of a teacher shortage if leaders do not find a way to better support new teachers and decrease the teacher attrition rate in the nation’s schools. This study involved an analysis of first-year teachers’ experiences with the new teacher induction program in District A (a pseudonym). Participants of this study were new teachers to District A, both novice and experienced teachers new to the district; building administrators; …

The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Students In The School Setting: The Adaptations Needed For Tiered Supports, Eleni M. Gajewski

Dissertations

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on students in the school setting and identify necessary adaptations needed, particularly through a tiered system of support. The research aims for two primary objectives by employing a constructivist framework utilizing mixed methods for data collection. Firstly, it aims to provide districts with a foundation for understanding the social-emotional and academic consequences of the pandemic on students. Secondly, its purpose is to empower districts to leverage this comprehensive evaluation as a proactive approach to cater to the diverse needs of all students. This includes responding to the challenges posed …

Bisexuality, Biphobia, And Its Effects On Sexual Identity, Religious Identity And Mental Health: Examining Clinical Implications, Diana Ramirez

Dissertations

Bisexuality is a sexual orientation, sometimes known as “bi,” that includes sexuality in which certain people are attracted to more than one sex and gender. Bisexuality differs from other sexual- and gender-nonconforming experiences (McInnis et al., 2022). According to Ross et al. (2018), bisexuality is frequently described as an invisible sexual orientation, and only in the last 20 years has research on biphobia and bisexuality increased (McInnis et al., 2022). Experiences unique to bisexuality include bisexual invisibility from a societal level (Dyar et al., 2015), bisexuals are more prone to experience sexual orientation instability (Bostwick et al., 2014), and bisexual …

Post-Pandemic Student Attendance, Becki Delloyd

Dissertations

Student attendance has been a national concern since the start of compulsory education in America; however, since the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance plummeted to never- before-seen attendance rates. Nationally, by the end of the 2021-2022 school year, nearly one in three students were absent 10% or more of the school year (Attendance Works, 2023). My 39-question survey conducted in two vastly different states between April and May of 2023 corroborated the national data and resulted in nearly one in three students being absent 10 or more school days in a year. Through my study, I explored parents’ perceptions of post-pandemic K–12 …

Self Portraits: How The Arts May Be The Key To Equitable And Authentic Engagement For Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Student Populations, Betsy Sostak

Dissertations

As the linguistic and cultural diversity across America’s classrooms steadily increases, educators are searching for ways to meet the needs of their students. The linguistic and cultural resources our students bring are a tremendous asset, yet our country has not been able to fully realize the potential of a diverse population. While multilingual students are often perceived to lack background knowledge, connections to school, and linguistic resources, the arts have the capacity to increase engagement, connect to diverse cultural backgrounds, and transcend language barriers. In this study, I explore the ways in which educational equity may be achieved to a …

Chronic Stressors, Obesity Pathogenesis, And The Moderating Effect Of Internalized Weight Stigma; A Quantitative, Illinois Study, Karyn Byrne

Dissertations

The obesity epidemic is a ‘wicked’ problem with a complex web of determinants and outcomes. While generally higher for minoritized populations, prevalence rates manifest in surprising, nonlinear patterns. There is no consensus regarding treatment protocols or mitigation efforts, except that current efforts remain largely ineffective. Much research evidence that a profusion of determinants of health support obesity pathogenesis through various physiological processes and mechanisms, including the allostatic load, mitochondria functioning, the gut microbiome, and epigenetics. Intervening to support markers of the allostatic load (immunity, inflammation, and metabolic health) may provide a more effective treatment outcomes than traditional approaches, which tend …

The Impact Of Covid-19 Remote Schooling On Home And School Partnerships, Katharine Ellison

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic created significant disruptions to the conventional educational system, necessitating a widespread transition to emergency remote learning modalities by most educators and students. The primary objective of this inquiry was to gain valuable insight into the effects of the rapid innovation that occurred at home and at school throughout this period, with the aim of enhancing and guiding future home–school partnerships. The research questions were designed to explore the perceptions held by both elementary parents and elementary educators on how pandemic remote schooling affected home–school connection and family’s understanding of learning content and process. The study also involved …

Investigating The Factor Structure And Measurement Invariance Of The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (Ede-Q) Among Cisgender Gay Men And Lesbian Women From The United States, Emilio J. Compte, F. Hunter Mcguire, Tiffany A. Brown, Jason M. Lavender, Stuart B. Murray, Matthew R. Capriotti, Annesa Flentje, Micah E. Lubensky, Mitchell R. Lunn, Juno Obedin-Maliver, Jason M. Nagata

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Although the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is one of the most widely used self-report assessments of eating disorder symptoms, evidence indicates potential limitations with its original factor structure and associated psychometric properties in a variety of populations, including sexual minority populations. The aims of the current investigation were to explore several previously published EDE-Q factor structures and to examine internal consistency and measurement invariance of the best-fitting EDE-Q model in a large community sample of cisgender gay men and cisgender lesbian women. Methods: Data were drawn from 1624 adults (1060 cisgender gay men, 564 cisgender lesbian women) who participated …

A Hybrid Machine Learning And Natural Language Processing Model For Early Detection Of Acute Coronary Syndrome, Joshua Emakhu, Egbe Etu Etu, Leslie Monplaisir, Celestine Aguwa, Suzan Arslanturk, Sara Masoud, Imokhai Theophilus Tenebe, Hashem Nassereddine, Mohamed Hamam, Joseph Miller

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Predicting the associated risks of patients with chest pain using electronic health record data can help identify those needing more tailored care. This study proposes the development of a reliable prediction framework to serve as a diagnostic support tool for preventing misdiagnoses among patients with clinical concerns for ACS. Data were collected from an urban, demographically diverse hospital in Detroit, Michigan, for patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with primary chief complaints of chest pain from January 2017 to August 2020. This study incorporated term frequency-inverse document …

Impacts Of Marine Heatwaves On Top Predator Distributions Are Variable But Predictable, Heather Welch, Matthew S. Savoca, Stephanie Brodie, Michael G. Jacox, Barbara A. Muhling, Thomas A. Clay, Megan A. Cimino, Scott R. Benson, Barbara A. Block, Melinda G. Conners, Daniel P. Costa, Fredrick D. Jordan, Andrew W. Leising, Chloe S. Mikles, Daniel M. Palacios, Scott A. Shaffer, Lesley H. Thorne, Jordan T. Watson, Rachel R. Holser

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Marine heatwaves cause widespread environmental, biological, and socio-economic impacts, placing them at the forefront of 21st-century management challenges. However, heatwaves vary in intensity and evolution, and a paucity of information on how this variability impacts marine species limits our ability to proactively manage for these extreme events. Here, we model the effects of four recent heatwaves (2014, 2015, 2019, 2020) in the Northeastern Pacific on the distributions of 14 top predator species of ecological, cultural, and commercial importance. Predicted responses were highly variable across species and heatwaves, ranging from near total loss of habitat to a two-fold increase. Heatwaves rapidly …

Non-Invasive Arterial Blood Pressure Measurement And Spo2 Estimation Using Ppg Signal: A Deep Learning Framework, Yan Chu, Kaichen Tang, Yu Chun Hsu, Tongtong Huang, Dulin Wang, Wentao Li, Sean I. Savitz, Xiaoqian Jiang, Shayan Shams

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Monitoring blood pressure and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation plays a crucial role in healthcare management for patients with chronic diseases, especially hypertension and vascular disease. However, current blood pressure measurement methods have intrinsic limitations; for instance, arterial blood pressure is measured by inserting a catheter in the artery causing discomfort and infection. Method: Photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals can be collected via non-invasive devices, and therefore have stimulated researchers’ interest in exploring blood pressure estimation using machine learning and PPG signals as a non-invasive alternative. In this paper, we propose a Transformer-based deep learning architecture that utilizes PPG signals to conduct …

The Bridge Newsletter Winter 2023, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

The Bridge Newsletter

-Gary White’s work on world water crisis

-Yan teams up for renewable infrastructure grant

-Sustainable futures: New life for unusable waste

-‘Engineering our Future’ by ASCE president, alumna

An Exploration Into Health Equity Discourse In Mississippi: Organizational Commitments And Practitioner Perspectives, Thuy-Vy Lillian Pham

Honors Theses

This thesis takes a sociological approach to examine healthcare workers' beliefs and medical organizations’ solidarity statements related to diversity and equity and how these discourses aligned and/or diverged. Through interviews with healthcare providers in Mississippi and content analysis of solidarity statements, the study finds that discussions on health disparities more frequently addressed socioeconomic inequality rather than systemic racism, diverging from organizational statements. This emphasis may partly stem from the demographics of the study participants, who were predominantly White—which also reflected the staff where they worked. Additionally, while healthcare workers recognized structural issues related to health disparities, they often showed hesitancy …

Diver Perceived Value And Satisfaction On The Mississippi Gulf Coast, Ka'lon Duncanson

Honors Theses

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is known for its coastal beauty and the tourism that comes from the recreational activities associated with the water. However, there appears to be an underserved segment of the tourism industry. The coast provides opportunities for local scuba divers to take part in a range of diving activities, but there is minimal support for this tourism activity in Mississippi. There is a need for greater understanding about what local divers value in their diving experiences and how this might lead to greater satisfaction with this activity. Along with overall perceived value, the argument is made that …

Investigating The Relationship Between Consistent Workout Regimen On Quality Of Life Among Crossfitters In South Mississippi, Christian Glass

Honors Theses

Robust literature exists to support the utility of CrossFit in improving metabolic and cardiovascular well-being. However, a metaphorical chasm exists not in the study of the physiological effects of CrossFit but in the psychological effects, namely quality of life (QOL). This thesis aimed to offer an installment into this gap by investigating trends among a population of 81 CrossFitters in south Mississippi. To best fulfill this task, a quantitative study was conducted using a 32-item survey composed of a mixture of questions from the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL- BREF) to assess reported quality of life …

Nurses’ Perceptions Of Ppe Compliance Among South Mississippi Medical- Surgical Nurses, Jenna Roush

Honors Theses

Utilizing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) appropriately is critical in protecting nurses and patients from contracting infectious diseases. Poor compliance with PPE is associated with increased hospital-acquired infections and directly impacts infection control measures. This thesis delves into the perceptions of PPE compliance and awareness among medical-surgical nurses in South Mississippi. A quantitative study utilizing a 28-item survey was implemented. Likert-style and open-ended survey questions were completed by n=28 participants. Univariate analysis was used to determine compliance among each PPE item, awareness and confidence of PPE items, and whether there was a lack of training or a PPE shortage. Based on …

Predicting In-Hospital Mortality After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Using Administrative Data And Machine Learning, Theyab Alhwiti, Summer Aldrugh, Fadel M. Megahed

School of Business

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is the gold standard treatment for patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis. The utility of existing risk prediction tools for in-hospital mortality post-TAVR is limited due to two major factors: (a) the predictive accuracy of these tools is insufficient when only preoperative variables are incorporated, and (b) their efficacy is also compromised when solely postoperative variables are employed, subsequently constraining their application in preoperative decision support. This study examined whether statistical/machine learning models trained with solely preoperative information encoded in the administrative National Inpatient Sample database could accurately predict in-hospital outcomes (death/survival) post-TAVR. Fifteen popular binary …

Primary Bulbar Conjunctival Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Clinical-Pathologic Report And Literature Review, Rebecca Z Lin, Augustine R Hong, George J Harocopos

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: To enhance the characterization of primary bulbar conjunctival basal cell carcinoma (BCC) clinically and histologically, via report of a case and review of the relevant medical literature.

OBSERVATIONS: We report the case of a 73-year-old man with no history of skin cancer who presented with a bulbar conjunctival nodule without connection to the eyelid or caruncle, originally thought to represent a pyogenic granuloma. After one month without improvement on topical prednisolone, excisional biopsy was performed, with routine histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The tumor was found histologically to be primary conjunctival BCC. Immunostaining exhibited negative Ber-EP4 and S100, mostly negative CK7 …

Transformational Leadership Training For Leaders, Kristie M. Gilliland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of transformational leadership training on improving a leader’s skills and knowledge in performing daily operations and interacting with frontline staff, decreasing attrition. Ineffective leadership contributes to staff dissatisfaction, poor performance, and attrition. The literature supports transformational leadership is effective in leading teams of nurses and contributes to staff autonomy, staff satisfaction, decreased attrition, and improved patient outcomes. A quasi-experimental research study was completed on a leadership team in a managed care organization. Fourteen leaders with anywhere from 1 to more than 6 years of leadership experience were evaluated. Lewin’s change …

Project: Mhealth Applications For Educating Community Nurses, Nkemdilim Stacy Egbo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hypertension is a chronic health condition linked to high morbidity and mortality rates in America and around the world. Hypertension care in developing and underdeveloped countries requires quick intervention. The proliferation of smart technologies and mobile health applications offer some leverage for the alternative management of hypertension, but evidence related to effectiveness in Nigeria are limited. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of m-Health apps on hypertension self-management through nurses’ education in Southern region of Nigeria, as well as their self-confidence or efficacy using the Hypertension Evaluation of Lifestyle Management assessment. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was …

A Case Study Of The Political Determinant Of Health On The Public Health Crisis Of Malaria In Nigeria, Bisola M. Olumegbon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Globally, there were about 229 million cases of malaria in 2022. The sub-Saharan African region accounted for 92% of the reported cases and 94% of deaths. Nigeria had the highest number of malaria cases and deaths, representing 27% of global cases. This scholarly project was a case study guided by the political determinants of health. Triangulation of data using thematic analysis was used to identify the political determinants of malaria in Nigeria and to understand how the concept of interaction contributes to the persistence of the disease. The analysis involved a deductive and inductive approach based on the literature …

Evaluation Of Cardiovascular Risk Compliance For Primary Prevention: A Quality Improvement Project, Rachelle S. Campbell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association clinical practice guidelines recommend a cardiovascular risk assessment every 4–6 years in ages 40–75 to prevent cardiovascular disease. This DNP project aimed to improve awareness, compliance with cardiac risk assessments, and stratification of high and low-risk patients. This quality improvement project utilized the Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based model to create the inquiry question and foundational plan for implementing the clinical practice guideline, calculating the cardiac risk score, and creating a clinical workflow process. A retrospective chart audit was guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method to collect pre- and postintervention data on …

Educational Robotics And Computational Thinking In Elementary School Students, Sonia D. Jordan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the role of educational robotics in fostering computational thinking in elementary settings, both in classrooms and extracurricular programs. Among growing concerns over K–12 students’ computational thinking deficits, the research evaluated the impact of Lego EV3 and VEX IQ platforms. Data was sourced from lesson plans, student work surveys, and teacher interviews and then subjected to thematic analysis using a qualitative approach. The participants were Texas educators engaged in robotics instruction, even though specific robotics statistics are absent in the Texas Education Agency. Instructional strategies varied from hands-on experiences to translating mathematical concepts into robotic actions. A key …