Digital Commons Network^™

Dermatologic Manifestations Of Rheumatic Disease: Malignant Cutaneous Tumors, Divya Shan, Julianna S. Kang, Allison Cinats, Julia R. Nunley, Beth Rubinstein

Open Textbooks and Course Materials

This OER is a part of the Dermatologic Manifestations of Rheumatic Disease project, which provides overviews of the identification, diagnosis, and workup for different rheumatologic diseases, focusing on providing examples from persons of color (POC). This work seeks to fill gaps and exclusionary practices in medical education practices and resources and diagnostic frameworks in regards to the skin of color. This lack of representation bodes significant repercussions on the ability of future physicians to deliver equitable care for an increasingly diverse US population. Each module consists of a similar Powerpoint format, which includes key objectives, hypothetical disease cases, an overview …

Dermatoses Of The Breast During Lactation, Divya Shan, Sindhuja Koppu, Valerie Coleman, Gauri Gulati, Kimberly Salkey

Open Textbooks and Course Materials

Dermatoses of the Breast during Lactation is a PowerPoint-based learning module that focuses on skin diseases of the breast and nipple that occur during lactation. It is a tailored resource for medical learners that provides an overview of the diagnosis, workup, and management of dermatoses of the breast that occur during breastfeeding, with a focus on providing examples in skin of color. The goal of this module is to provide students with the ability to differentiate the wide range of breast and nipple lesions that can arise during lactation and gain awareness of the skin conditions that present in breastfeeding …

Mind Wandering In Daily Life: A National Experience Sampling Study Of Intentional And Unintentional Mind Wandering Episodes Reported By Working Adults Ages 25 – 50, Paula C. Lowe

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Numerous researchers have investigated thinking that drifts away from what the individual was doing, thinking that is known as mind wandering. Their inquiries were often conducted in university lab settings with student participants. To learn about mind wandering in the daily life of working adults, this experience sampling study investigated intentional and unintentional mind wandering episodes as reported by working adults, ages 25–50, living across the United States. In this age frame, work and family responsibilities have increased in complexity and overlap. Using a smartphone app, participants were randomly notified to answer experience sampling surveys six times a day for …

Exploring The Intersection Of Dementia And Violence Risk Assessment, Jamie S. Klugiewicz

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This is a mixed-method study exploring Designated Forensic Psychologists’ (DFPs) experiences with the violence risk assessment (VRA) of individuals diagnosed with dementia. DFPs (N = 23, 69.6% female, 87% White) completed an online survey investigating the frequency of VRA and dementia, potential change in VRA method in response to dementia, application of existing VRA instruments, and perceived benefit of tailored guidelines and VRA instruments. Most in this sample (84.2%) endorsed cases involving VRA and dementia that typically comprised 5% or less of lifetime cases. The presence of dementia had a variable impact on the approach to VRA, and thematic analysis …

Family Excommunication And Fleeing Nones: Religion, Nonreligion, And Estrangement In Therapy, Jonathan Ludi Leitch

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Religion fractures families, and therapists working with clients in search of healing have so far had little empirical guidance on how to help. This phenomenological study is the first to explore the experiences of nonreligious Americans using therapy as a way to address religion-related family estrangement. Seventeen participants, all self-identifying as nonreligious but raised in Christian families, were interviewed about their therapy experiences. Most had seen individual therapists and preferred an individual focus but appreciated systemic conceptualizations and interventions. Nondirective, evidence-based, and, when appropriate, trauma-informed approaches were found to be most helpful. Nonreligious, especially non-Christian, therapists were usually but not …

Growing Therapeutic Horticulture In The Field Of Clinical Psychology, Kelli Woodson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The connection between nature and well-being has been recognized across cultures for centuries. One way in which people have facilitated this connection over the years has been through their interactions with plants and the practice of horticulture. Research over the years has further substantiated a connection between horticultural practices and overall well-being. However, a significantly disproportionate amount of this research has been conducted within the field of clinical psychology, despite the notable clinical implications. The current dissertation aims to address this gap in the current literature by exploring this connection from the lens of clinical psychology. More specifically, the current …

Would You Offer Your Heart To The Wolf With The Red Roses? The Lived Experience Of Women In Relationships With Violent And Incarcerated Men, Amber R. Silverwood

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Relationships with incarcerated individuals can be complex and complicated for the partner outside the prison walls. These relationships are seldom discussed and are poorly studied overall, with minimal information available about the people who start romantic relationships with people in prison. This study aimed to better understand the lived experiences of the women who engage in romantic relationships with men and specifically examined romantic relationships that started after their partner was incarcerated. The participants for this study were located on the website Reddit, in a designated subreddit for women in such relationships. In total, nine women responded and spoke candidly …

Metabolic Impact Of Feeding Prior To A 60-Min Bout Of Moderate-Intensity Exercise In Females In A Fasted State, Kayla M. Ratliff, Chad M. Kerksick, Jessica M. Moon, Anthony M. Hagele, Johnathan L. Boring, Kylie Walden, Connor J. Gaige, Richard A. Stecker, Kyle L. Sunderland, Petey W. Mumford

Faculty Scholarship

Background: The metabolic impact of pre-exercise feeding of protein or carbohydrate on fat oxidation and energy expenditure rates, especially, in females, is poorly understood.

Methods: Recreationally active females (n = 15, 32 ± 10 years, 164.8 ± 5.6 cm, 63.5 ± 9.3 kg, 23.4 ± 3.2 kg/m2) completed four testing sessions in a randomized, double-blind, crossover fashion after fasting overnight. Participants ingested isovolumetric and isoenergetic solutions containing either 25 g of whey protein, casein protein, carbohydrate (CHO), or a non-caloric placebo (PLA). Participants then completed 60 min of treadmill exercise at 15% below ventilatory threshold 30 min after ingestion. …

Increasing Organizational Value Of A Private Healthcare Education Academy, Diana Skaff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Amid the dynamic changes and innovations of the healthcare field, healthcare providers seek educational activities that enhance their growth and decrease their knowledge gap. Healthcare education organizations responsible for providing high-quality healthcare education, have opportunities to differentiate their programs to acquire, attract, activate, and retain healthcare providers. Grounded in the five forces of competition and the value chain theories, this mixed method formative program evaluation aimed to improve the business development program by developing a differentiation by quality strategy that will increase its competitive advantage. Participants included three decision-makers and nine leaders in a healthcare education organization in the Kingdom …

Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs’ Narratives On Collective Action For Economic Empowerment And Gender Parity, Elizabeth Oyanu Ujah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While entrepreneurship has offered some potential for empowering subordinated women in urban areas of Nigeria, a literature gap exists on urban Nigerian women entrepreneurs' narratives to understand better how their collective action may further support economic empowerment and gender parity. The purpose of this qualitative, narrative inquiry study was to understand how women entrepreneurs in urban Nigeria view their work to gain economic empowerment and gender parity through collective action. The narrative inquiry method was used to address the problem and answer the research question using interview data from 10 urban female Nigerian entrepreneurs. This study was framed by two …

Local Stakeholders' Involvement In Community Development Projects In Kenya, Charles Wanjue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Local residents can provide valuable input on the design, implementation, review, and assessment of development projects, but many community development organizations do not involve these individuals in decision-making. There was inadequate knowledge about why community members are not engaged in community development projects in Kenya. With this study, I sought to improve the understanding of why community members are not fully involved in implementing and managing community development projects in Kenya. Stakeholder theory served as the theoretical foundation for this study. Data were collected through interviews with 13 management and program staff members working with an NGO in Kenya. The …

Sun Exposure And Protective Behaviors Among U.S. Hispanic Farmworkers, Claudia Marie Delgado Cebollero

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sun exposure increases the risk of sun-related illnesses and skin cancer among U.S. Hispanic farmworkers. Reinforced by the health belief model, the purpose of this study was to determine the association between socio-demographic factors (i.e., age, educational attainment, gender, income, and marital status) and skin cancer with the level of sun exposure (sun’s effect on skin, sunburn reported) and protective behaviors (use of cap/visor, use of sunscreen) among adult Hispanic farmworkers in the United States. The study included Hispanic farmworkers aged 21 or older (N = 112) who responded to the 2015 National Health Interview Survey. Ordinal logistic regression showed …

Exploring Leadership Skills Needed To Implement Mergers And Acquisitions In Ghana, Akwasi Effah-Adu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There has been consideration of increased investment in the banking industry in Ghana through mergers and acquisitions. Data shows that the financial performance of the merged banks does not support the investment in the industry, at least within the first 3 years after the merger or acquisition. Grounded in Burn’s transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the leadership skills used to implement the successful merger of two commercial banks in Ghana. Data were collected from eight senior officers using semistructured interviews, a review of relevant publications, and a reflective journal. The data …

Critical Retention Issues Related To Social Skills In Ghanaian Universities, Samuel Essah-Hienwo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The specific problem addressed through this study is the need for more research examining the potential of poor social skills to influence low retention levels in Ghanaian universities. Reasons for low student retention in Ghanaian universities, including students with inadequate social skills to complete their degrees, were explored in this qualitative study. The first research question asked about the lived experiences of university students in Ghana as they relate to the extent of social development skills in higher education, and the second question asked about the lived experiences of university students in Ghana surrounding decisions to leave or stay in …

Perceived Barriers To Cervical Cancer Screening Among Hispanic Women, Damaris Perez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHispanic women are among the ethnic groups with higher cervical cancer rates in the United States. This mixed-method study was conducted to explore perceived barriers and self-efficacy-related factors to cervical cancer screening in foreign-born Hispanic women in Florida. The theory of planned behavior was applied to determine if behavioral intentions influence access to cervical cancer screening. The inclusion criteria included Hispanic women 18 years old and older without a hysterectomy history. Quantitative data were collected through a self-administered survey. A total of 84 individuals completed the survey. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine if sociodemographic factors are …

Analysis Of Collective Bargaining And Macroeconomic Effects: Evidence From Ghana, Francis John Mozu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Frequent labor strikes are a problem in Ghana that often interrupt the production of goods and the provision of services including health and education. The strikes primarily result from wage disputes that appear to arise from inflation and low real wages. Although there have been studies on collective bargaining and macroeconomic conditions in Ghana, there is a lack of research on the relationship between inflation as well as real wages, and collective bargaining labor strikes. This quantitative correlational study involving secondary data analysis was undertaken to help solve the problem by addressing the lack of evidence on the statistical significance …

Offshore Wind Industry Leaders’ Operations And Maintenance Management Strategies, Heather Louise Shimp

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The difficulties offshore wind leaders have in managing operations and maintenance (O&M) costs threaten the ability to operate offshore wind farms profitably, diversify the energy supply, and reduce dependence on imported fuels. Grounded in the frameworks of Lean Six Sigma and McKinsey 7-S, the purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to explore offshore wind farm leaders’ strategies to manage O&M costs in Europe. The participants were six offshore wind leaders who implemented strategies to successfully manage O&M costs for offshore wind farms located in Europe. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, participant observation, and reviewing public and participant-supplied documents. …

Perspectives On Instructional Barriers To Inclusion At Primary Schools In Jamaica, Marcia Hillary Peak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractInclusive education, which is a global practice in schools, recognizes the rights of all children to equal educational opportunities, including those with special needs or disabilities; however, educators in low-income countries like Jamaica struggle with its implementation. This basic qualitative study explored teachers’ and principals’ perceptions toward instructional and curricular barriers to inclusion in primary level schools. The theory supporting this study is Bronfenbrenner’s development ecology model. Research questions focused on educators’ perspectives of instructional barriers to inclusion. Twelve participants from seven mainstream schools in a single region were interviewed. Data were analyzed using open coding to determine patterns, and …

Barriers To Effective Public Secondary Education In Rural Areas In Haiti, Marjorie Calixte-Hallworth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The limited access to public secondary education in rural regions of Haiti has impacted children who want to pursue their education beyond the primary level. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of informed Haitian educators and other educators who were knowledgeable about the lack of access to public secondary education in rural Haiti, specifically through the framework of polarities of democracy theory. Data were gathered by conducting semistructured interviews with 20 educators who were situated in both Haiti and the United States. NVivo 14 was used to organize, code, and analyze the data. Thematic …

Jamaican College Administrators’ Perceptions Of Providing Accommodations For Students With Disabilities, Tracey Ann Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was explored in this study was that many students with learning disabilities are enrolled in Jamaican teachers’ colleges but were not provided with accommodations. The purpose of the study was to determine the perceived and barriers that Jamaican college administrators experience in facilitating the accommodation of students with disabilities. The conceptual framework for this study was social exclusion theory, which helped analyze the insufficiencies in integrating persons with disabilities. The research questions addressed Jamaican college administrators’ perceptions of barriers in providing accommodations for students with learning disabilities. A basic qualitative design was used for this study. Data …

Improving Access To Diagnostic Medical Services For Children With Autism: Caregiver Perspective, John Nkemakolam Nkwocha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe rising prevalence of autism among children in the United States has remained a challenge to caregivers, researchers, and healthcare providers. Medical diagnostic services struggled with inaccurate outcomes, misdiagnosis, inaccessibility, long waitlists, poor coordination, and a lack of expertise and knowledge for early intervention. There are limited studies on problems associated with diagnosing children with autism and the caregivers’ perspective on improving the services. In this qualitative phenomenological study, 10 caregivers’ perspectives on barriers to accessing medical diagnostic services, treatment, and management of children with autism and possible improvement of the services were explored. Resilience and health utilization models provided …

Development Of Machine Learning Based Approach To Predict Fuel Consumption And Maintenance Cost Of Heavy-Duty Vehicles Using Diesel And Alternative Fuels, Sasanka Katreddi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One of the major contributors of human-made greenhouse gases (GHG) namely carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (NOX) in the transportation sector and heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) contributing to about 27% of the overall fraction. In addition to the rapid increase in global temperature, airborne pollutants from diesel vehicles also present a risk to human health. Even a small improvement that could potentially drive energy savings to the century-old mature diesel technology could yield a significant impact on minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. With the increasing focus on reducing emissions and operating costs, there is a need for efficient and …

Extension Of The Ergot Alkaloid Gene Cluster, Samantha Joy Fabian

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Specialized metabolites produced by fungi impact human health. A large portion of the pharmaceuticals currently on the market are derived from metabolites biosynthesized by microbes. Ergot alkaloids are a class of fungal metabolites that are important in the interactions of environmental fungi with insects and mammals and also are used in the production of pharmaceuticals. In animals, ergot alkaloids can act as partial agonists or antagonists at receptors for 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin), dopamine, and noradrenaline as ergot alkaloids have chemical structures similar to those neurotransmitters. Therefore, they affect insects and mammals that consume them and can be used to produce drugs …

Energy Digital Twins In Smart Manufacturing Systems, Anna Billey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this thesis, an Energy Digital Twin for smart manufacturing systems was developed and evaluated. In particular, the study focused on bidirectional parameter communication between the physical and the virtual part with the aim of optimizing the energy used in the manufacturing process. Rising costs and the environmental impacts related to energy consumption have grown in importance worldwide. There are elevated concerns in sectors like manufacturing, leading to an urgent quest to reduce energy consumption. A recent advancement in Industry 4.0 technology, the Digital Twin, represents a promising smart technology and tool that researchers are investigating to help reduce energy …

Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Analysis With Physical Sub-Models, Samuel Abimbola Ogunfuye

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ever-increasing explosions occurring globally at a rapid rate and in diverse situations have re-established the fact that novel, faster, and more accurate approaches must be developed to analyze and possibly curb these explosions and avert their future occurrences. Experimental endeavors and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations as compared to engineering models generally require enormous time, and resources, as well as a high-level of expertise and technicalities. This might, however, delay prompt analysis and the ability to draw conclusions, thereby causing setbacks in recommending safety measures for different situations and conditions. Therefore, robust models which are accurate and fast to give …

Interpretation Of The Tandem Mass Spectrum Of The Novel Psychoactive Substance 5f-App-Pinaca, Px-2, Christopher S. Poulos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Designer drugs and novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) are continuously entering the black market and causing serious health problems among users. NPSs present an especially difficult challenge to forensic chemists and toxicologists because they are not well characterized and often involve families of structurally related analogs. In crime laboratories, mass spectrometry is commonly used as a part of an analytical scheme to characterize and identify unknown analytes. Towards this end, tandem mass spectra of questioned analytes are often compared to reference spectra of standards that are either collected contemporaneously with the analyte or collected previously and stored in a database. However, …

Health-Related Quality Of Life And Disease Severity Among Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Rowida Mohamed

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: Predicting the survival of patients with Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains challenging due to the remarkable heterogeneity of the disease prognosis. Therefore, developing reliable prognostic tools is of utmost importance in IPF management. Nomograms currently represent the most accurate and discriminatory tools for predicting outcomes, with superior performance compared to the commonly used integer score approach. Therefore, developing a valid local nomogram to predict mortality among patients with IPF is warranted. Additionally, IPF is characterized by a high symptom burden significantly impacting Health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Accurately measuring HRQoL in IPF is crucial as it guides treatment decisions …

Rumen And Urine Amine/Phenol-Metabolome Of Beef Steers With Divergent Residual Feed Intake, Taylor S. Sidney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Cattle production is one of the most important agricultural industries in the United States. Despite its overall production efficiency, the industry is facing considerable adversities to its long-term sustainability due to population growth, decreased land availability, and the increase in global warming. Since feed efficiency imposes an immense influence on the cost of production for animals and is a major cost determinant for profitability, the improvement of feed utilization through the understanding of animal-to-animal variation in feed efficiency is pertinent to increase farm productivity and profitability. Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency and is defined as …

The Mental Health Outcomes Of First-Generation Collegiate Clients Compared To Their Non-First-Generation Peers, Cassandra Rose Homick

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Numerous research studies have investigated the mental health concerns and needs of college students. However, there is a need for additional research to understand the unique presenting mental health concerns of first-generation college students at university counseling centers in the US. The current study was a non-experimental exploratory research study that utilized secondary data analysis to examine and compare the sociodemographic profiles, mental health needs, and presenting problems of first-generation students compared to their non-first-generation peers at university counseling centers (UCCs) in the US. In Part One of the study, comparisons were drawn between first-generation and non-first-generation collegiate clients on …

Examining The Relationship Of Race On Students’ Perceptions Of Safety And Concealed Campus Carry On A University Campus, Whitney H. Mascaro

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Previous literature suggests that students who feel unsafe in their academic settings experience harmful academic, social, and psychological ramifications. With an alarming increase in school shootings, violence, and media coverage, the political discourse surrounding gun violence and strategies to ensure safety on college campuses has become increasingly polarized. States like Texas, Georgia, and Colorado have passed bills allowing students to carry concealed handguns on university campuses. At the time of this study, the state legislature in West Virginia passed a similar bill known as the Campus Self-Defense Act (Senate Bill 246, 2021). College students who identify as Black, Indigenous, People …