Digital Commons Network^™

Editorial: The Governance Of Artificial Intelligence In The “Autonomous City”, Federico Cugurullo, Sarah Barns, Vincent J. Del Casino, Natalie M. Gulsrud, Tan Yigitcanlar, Xiaoling Zhang

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Sex Differences In Perceptions Of Sleep Inertia Following Nighttime Awakenings, Cassie J. Hilditch, Sean Pradhan, Gregory Costedoat, Nicholas G. Bathurst, Zachary Glaros, Kevin B. Gregory, Nita L. Shattuck, Erin E. Flynn-Evans

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Study Objectives: The influence of biological sex on sleep inertia symptoms is currently unknown. We investigated the role of sex differences in the subjective experience and objective cognitive manifestation of sleep inertia following nighttime awakenings. Methods: Thirty-two healthy adults (16 female, 25.91 ± 5.63 years) completed a 1-week at-home study with one experimental night during which sleep was measured by polysomnography and participants were awakened during their habitual sleep time. Participants completed a psychomotor vigilance task, Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), visual analog mood scales, and a descending subtraction task (DST) prior to sleep (baseline) and at 2, 12, 22, and …

A Live Fuel Moisture Climatology In California, Jack R. Drucker, Angel Farguell, Craig B. Clements, Adam K. Kochanski

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

In this study, observations of live fuel moisture content (LFMC) for predominantly sampled fuels in six distinct regions of California were examined from 2000 to 2021. To gather the necessary data, an open-access database called the Fuel Moisture Repository (FMR), was developed. By harnessing the extensive data aggregation and query capabilities of the FMR, which draws upon the National Fuel Moisture Database, valuable insights into the live fuel moisture seasonality were obtained. Specifically, our analysis revealed a distinct downtrend in LFMC across all regions, with the exception of the two Northernmost regions. The uptrends of LFMC seen in those regions …

Effect Of Scapular Retraction On Lower Trapezius, Infraspinatus, And Deltoid Muscle Electromyographic Activity During The Side-Lying Abduction Exercise, Masaaki Tsuruike, Todd S. Ellenbecker

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background The lower trapezius (LT) muscle, which stabilizes the scapula posteriorly during arm elevation, has been interesting to both clinicians and researchers for its importance in throwing-related shoulder rehabilitation and injury prevention. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the electromyographic activity of the LT and other relevant muscles during scapular and shoulder activities in the side-lying position. Methods Twenty collegiate baseball players volunteered to participate in this study. Electromyographic (EMG) output of the lower trapezius, infraspinatus, posterior deltoid, middle deltoid, serratus anterior, and upper trapezius muscles were collected. All the subjects performed isometric resistance exercises in four …

Presentation, Management, And Outcomes Of Cauda Equina Syndrome Up To One Year After Surgery, Using Clinician And Participant Reporting: A Multi-Centre Prospective Cohort Study, Julie Woodfield, Ingrid Hoeritzauer, Aimun A.B. Jamjoom, Josephine Jung, Simon Lammy, Savva Pronin, Cathal J. Hannan, Anna Watts, Laura Hughes, Richard D.C. Moon, Stacey Darwish, Holly Roy, Phillip C. Copley, Michael T.C. Poon, Paul Thorpe, Nisaharan Srikandarajah, Gordan Grahovac, Andreas K. Demetriades, Niall Eames, Philip J. Sell, Patrick F.X. Statham, Mohamed Abdelsadg, Motaz Ms Abulaila, Usman Ahmed, Qasim Ajmi, Rafid Al-Mahfoudh, Chadi Ali, Meriem Amarouche, Amin Andalib, M Arora, M Arora, Mariam Awan, Mirza A Baig, Antony Bateman, Iwan Bennett, Imran Bhatti, Peter Bodkin, Lalasa Bommireddy, George Bonanos, Anouk Borg, Alexandros Boukas, James Bourne, Rachael Brennan, J Brown, K Brown, Oliver Burton, Christopher Busby, Neil Chiverton, Simon Clark, Phillip C. Copley, S Cudlip, Y Cunningham, R Dardis, Stacey Darwish, B Davies, Andreas K. Demetriades, S Deore, C Derham, M Dherijha, G Dobson, J Duncan, A Durnford, Aze Durst, Ew Dyson, Niall Eames, Ellie Edlmann, A Edwards-Bailey, A Elserius, B Elson, V Fadelalla, Dm Fountain, A Gardner, A Ghosh, Jr Gill, Sa Glasmacher, R Gordon, Gordan Grahovac, R Grenfell, A Habeebullah, N Haliasos, T Hammett, Cathal J. Hannan, Cs Hill, Ingrid Hoeritzauer, D Holmes, K Hossain-Ibrahim, Laura Hughes, M Hussain, S Hussain, R Ibrahim

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundCauda equina syndrome (CES) results from nerve root compression in the lumbosacral spine, usually due to a prolapsed intervertebral disc. Evidence for management of CES is limited by its infrequent occurrence and lack of standardised clinical definitions and outcome measures.MethodsThis is a prospective multi-centre observational cohort study of adults with CES in the UK. We assessed presentation, investigation, management, and all Core Outcome Set domains up to one year post-operatively using clinician and participant reporting. Univariable and multivariable associations with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and urinary outcomes were investigated.FindingsIn 621 participants with CES, catheterisation for urinary retention was required …

Well-Being, Changes To Academic Behavior, And Resilience Among Families Experiencing Parental Immigration Imprisonment, Caitlin Patler, Gabriela Gonzalez

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

While the deleterious impacts of parental incarceration are well documented, we know less about the experiences of children with parents imprisoned by immigration authorities. We draw from 62 multigenerational and multiperspective interviews conducted in California with school-age children experiencing parental immigration imprisonment (PII), and their nondetained caregivers. We find that children experiencing PII report feelings and behaviors suggestive of significant psychological distress, which leads to changes in engagement and behavior at school. While some children access academic support and counseling, often following advocacy from nondetained parents or interventions by teachers, others do not receive such support. Many children conceal their …

The Importance Of Multimodal Play And Storytelling In Medtech For Children: A Case Study Of Co-Designing A Mixed Realities Play Kit To Prepare 4 To 10-Year-Olds For An Mri Scan, D Yamada-Rice, S Love, J Thompson, S Thompson, H Mcquillian

School of Art, Design and Architecture

This article examines the research and development of a mixed realities play-kit to prepare children for an MRI scan to be undertaken without the need for a General Anaesthetic. The kit uses three different types of play; augmented, virtual reality and physical to help children become familiar with the look of an MRI scanner, the noises it makes, the role of the radiographer, what to expect when they go to hospital and to practise staying still. We reflect on the initial multimodal research methods that were used to bring children into the first stages of the design and development process. …

Covid-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Against Hospitalisation And Death Of People In Clinical Risk Groups During The Delta Variant Period: English Primary Care Network Cohort Study, Heather J. Whitaker, Ruby S.M. Tsang, Rachel Byford, Carole Aspden, Elizabeth Button, Praveen Sebastian Pillai, Gavin Jamie, Debasish Kar, John Williams, Mary Sinnathamby, Gemma Marsden, William H. Elson, Meredith Leston, Sneha Anand, Cecilia Okusi, Xuejuan Fan, Ezra Linley, Cathy Rowe, Silvia Darcangelo, Ashley D. Otter, Joanna Ellis, F.D. Richard Hobbs, Victoria Tzortziou-Brown, Maria Zambon, Mary Ramsay, Kevin E. Brown, Gayatri Amirthalingam, Nick J. Andrews, Simon De Lusignan, Jamie Lopez Bernal

Peninsula Medical School

No abstract provided.

Establishing A Benchmark For Opioid Consumption After Cesarean Birth, Laura Senn

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Quantitative Measurement Of Protac Intracellular Accumulation, Xin Yu, Jin Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In recent years, Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) technology has emerged as one of the most promising approaches to remove disease-associated proteins by utilizing cells' own destruction machinery. To achieve successful degradation of a protein of interest (POI), the heterobifunctional PROTAC molecules must penetrate into the cells first, followed by target engagement and formation of the POI-PROTAC-E3 ligase complex. Based on this understanding, the assessment of cell permeability and in cell target engagement are of great importance to evaluate the efficacy of PROTAC candidates. PROTAC molecules can be classified as non-covalent and covalent, and covalent PROTACs can be further divided into …

Gender Dynamics In The Management Care Of Internally Displaced Persons: The Boko Haram Insurgency, Evelyn Kikelomo Ikuenobe Otaigbe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Boko Haram asymmetric insurgency and warfare have decimated the Northeastern region of Nigeria and its neighboring environs of Chad, Niger, and Benin. The purpose of this study was to explore the peculiar socioethnic and cultural challenges encountered by female victims of Boko Haram terrorism at internally displaced persons camps in Abuja, Nigeria, including challenges in functioning, relocating, and acclimating back into society. A phenomenological approach was applied to understand participants’ lived experiences. Data collection occurred through interviews and observation. Data analysis involved the synthesis of narratives, and generation of themes. Among the emergent themes were poor feeding; lack of …

Perceptions Of Law Enforcement Officers Regarding Their Interactions With Persons In Mental Health Crises., Monica Roundtree

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Law enforcement officers are guided by principles to protect and serve the community in general; this includes persons with mental health illnesses. These officers are often the sole community resource responding to calls involving persons in mental health crises. However, many officers lack the knowledge and skills to effectively interact with this group. This quantitative study addressed how law enforcement officers perceive that a selected policy, procedure, or strategy is effective for interacting with a person experiencing a mental health crisis. The theoretical framework for this study is the procedural justice theory. A convenience sample of 100 sworn law enforcement …

An Examination Of The Impact Of Police Chaplain Programs And Spirituality On Police Officers’ Mental Health, Samuel Protel Maxwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Spirituality has been a fundamental aspect of treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in many officers. PTSD affects a high percentage of officers and many of whom live a highly stressful and traumatic life even outside of work. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the impact of police chaplain programs and spirituality on police officers' mental health. The research question asked how a police chaplain program and spirituality impacted police officers. This study's theoretical framework was Pargament's theory. Qualitative research with a narrative analysis design was chosen to collect data from semi-structured interviews. The 10 participants, including six …

Organizational Strategies And Best Practices For Telehealth Delivery During Covid-19, Maria D. Mejia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizational Strategies and Best Practices for Telehealth Delivery during COVID-19

Viewpoints Of Classroom Teachers On Educational Issues Of Students With Interrupted Formal Education, Farah Merzier-Baudin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMost research on students with interrupted formal education (SIFE) and English language learners (ELLs) documents their struggle with higher attrition rates and behavioral issues in high school. This qualitative study was conducted to examine high school teachers’ perspectives working with SIFE/ELLs in the classroom. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory (SCT) indicated that students benefit from classrooms with high social interaction among all classroom participants and appropriate scaffolding of learning materials. Although SCT and most research focused on the students’ perspectives, this research focused on teachers’ perspectives. Data were collected from semistructured, open-ended interviews with 20 participants who teach or work with SIFE/ELLs. …

Impact Of Type 2 Diabetes And Hypertension On Allocation Of Grant Funds In Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rhonda Mullins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited resources exist for managing the increasing cases of hypertension and type 2 diabetes, which underlines the need to continuously review reimbursement plans to ensure care affordability for chronic illness. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether a correlation existed between the number of patients with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and demographic characteristics (independent variables) seen at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and the allocation of grant funds from Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) (dependent variable) from 2016 – 2020 among adults 18 years old and older in the United States. Guided by the Transaction Cost …

Health Education Needs For Mortality Surveillance In Machakos County, Kenya, James S. Mwanza

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Reporting mortality information is the primary data source from which evidence can be drawn to monitor disease trends and inform public health policy to improve population health. Still, only two-thirds of expected annual deaths are reported globally. Health education and promotion play a significant role in empowering communities to uptake public health services such as mortality surveillance. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to understand health workers’ (HWs’) perspectives regarding the need for health education to support mortality surveillance in Machakos County, Kenya. The capabilities, opportunities, and motivation for the behavior change model guided the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to …

An Association Of The Transgenerational Implications Of Redlining And Obesity On Pediatric Type Ii Diabetes, Carlin Dexter Nelson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

s the prevalence and incidence of childhood obesity has increased, so has the number of cases of pediatric Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although made unconstitutional in 1968, the transgenerational implications of redlining can be observed in disinvestments resulting in neighborhood detraction. Utilizing the 2019–2020 National Children’s Health Survey, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between obesity, T2DM, and neighborhood detraction elements as well as assessed indicators of T2DM in non-institutionalized children 6 through17 years of age (N = 34,725). The social determinants of health perspective served as the conceptual framework for the study. Results indicated …

Hippocampal Δfosb Expression Is Associated With Cognitive Impairment In A Subgroup Of Patients With Childhood Epilepsies, Chia-Hsuan Fu, Jason C You, Carrie Mohila, Robert A Rissman, Daniel Yoshor, Angela N Viaene, Jeannie Chin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, and is often comorbid with other neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Patients with recurrent seizures often present with cognitive impairment. However, it is unclear how seizures, even when infrequent, produce long-lasting deficits in cognition. One mechanism may be seizure-induced expression of ΔFosB, a long-lived transcription factor that persistently regulates expression of plasticity-related genes and drives cognitive dysfunction. We previously found that, compared with cognitively-intact subjects, the activity-dependent expression of ΔFosB in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) was increased in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and …

Educating Providers And Nurses On Human Trafficking, Valerie Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human trafficking is a global public health problem. Victims of human trafficking experience higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases, reproductive damage, sexual violence, infertility, and mental and behavioral issues. To help end human trafficking, which is potentially deadly, raising awareness about this topic is essential for victim survival. A gap in practice among staff at a community health center regarding recognition of victims of human trafficking and procedures for potential victims was identified. An education program focused on increasing knowledge and awareness was developed to close this gap. Guided by Watson’s theory of human caring, a 30-minute educational session followed …

Perceptions Of Teachers In A Private Residential Juvenile Treatment Facility, Douglas E. Stevenson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem for this study was the lack of research about what teachers consider to be the successes, the risks, and the potential dangers of working in a school prison setting. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate teacher perceptions about successes, risks, and potential dangers of teaching in a prison school setting. This research study was guided by Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory, which presents a framework for the study of human motivation and personality. The research question examined teachers’ perspectives about the successes, the risks, and dangers of working in a private residential juvenile treatment facility. …

Exploring Educators' Perception Of Remote Instructional Collaboration In Liberian Higher Education Classrooms, George Wah Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public higher education institutions in Liberia have employed various mitigating measures to improve instruction quality and increase learning outcomes; however, little was known about remote instructional collaboration as a strategic approach in Liberian higher education classrooms. This qualitative study, based on Everett Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation theory, explored the Liberian educators’ perceptions of and disposition to RIC in public tertiary classrooms in Liberia. Seeking Liberian educators’ perception of and disposition to remote instructional collaboration in public tertiary classrooms drove this investigation. Two groups of 17 educators based in the United States and Liberia were interviewed using a semi-structured protocol facilitated …

African American Men’S Lived Experiences Of Stigma Regarding Use Of Mental Health Services, Leon M. Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAfrican American men are disproportionately more likely to live with untreated mental health challenges; the incidence of mental illness in African Americans is, per capita, 30% higher than among non-Hispanic Whites. African American men experience significant barriers and deterrents to psychological help seeking, which are primarily due to internalized stigma. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and describe African American men’s experiences that influenced internalized stigma regarding seeking and using traditional mental health services. The theoretical framework included the theory of social stigma and minority stress theory. Nine purposively selected African American men from the Mid-Atlantic …

Employees’ Engagement Experiences In Private-Sector Companies In Urban Jamaica, Colleen Rose-Marie Bancroft

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Marginal and fluctuating employee engagement levels continue to be a concern among organizations, evidenced by the quest for dynamic solutions and the investigative work observed in the literature. The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning of engagement for employees working in two urban, private-sector companies in Jamaica. A qualitative approach, with a hermeneutic phenomenological design was used to complete the study using the lens of self-efficacy theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted via Zoom with 12 employees and their engagement experiences were analyzed. The results indicate that organizational systems, working conditions, and shared values (organizational and national culture) …

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Cannulation Timing In The Pediatric Myocarditis Population: An Exploratory Analysis From The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry, Maria E Gutierrez, Marc Anders, Danielle Guffey, Susan W Denfield, Shriprasad R Deshpande, Satish K Rajagopal, Ravi R Thiagarajan, Peta M A Alexander, Javier J Lasa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Children presenting with acute myocarditis may experience rapid clinical deterioration requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); however, our understanding of best practices and timing of ECMO initiation are lacking. We explored the relationships between pre-cannulation factors and survival in this high-acuity patient population.

DESIGN: Retrospective review of a large international registry. Primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge, stratified by incident cardiac arrest (CA) prior to ECMO and time to cannulation after intubation.

SETTING AND SUBJECTS: The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry was queried for patients less than or equal to 18 years old receiving ECMO support for myocarditis between 2007 …

Identifying And Examining Key Themes Emanating From The U.S. Legislative Tobacco Policy Subsystem, Arnon Dayak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Americans’ continuously increasing tobacco use in the form of smoking presents an ongoing and rising negative health impact on this leading cause of preventable death. Despite existing U.S. federal level tobacco regulation through the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FSPTCA), U.S. tobacco use remains ubiquitous demonstrating existent ineffectiveness of tobacco control legislation. Unknown underlying attributing factors present critical information gaps which, when exposed, could improve tobacco regulation. Using a case study approach, the question, “What key themes are aligned with legislative subsystem actors when voting on the FSPTCA” was examined. Multi-source data streams using existing secondary datasets including …

Relationship Between An Entrepreneur’S Self-Efficacy, Self-Leadership, And Startup Sustainability In Nigeria, Juliet Ehimuan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Self-efficacy and self-leadership have been identified as important indicators of business sustainability. Business owners and investors are concerned about sustainability because most businesses fail within the first five years. Grounded in self-efficacy and self-leadership theories, the purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to examine the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy, self-leadership and startup sustainability. The participants were 156 entrepreneurs who completed the entrepreneurial self-efficacy scale and the abbreviated self-leadership questionnaire delivered via email. The multiple linear regression analysis results indicated the model was able to significantly predict startup sustainability, F(2, 129) = 432.47, p < .001, R2 = .87. Self-efficacy provided a significant contribution to the model (t = 8.424, p = < .001, β = .914). In contrast, the contribution of self-leadership was not significant (t = 0.185, p = .853, β = .20). A key recommendation is the utilization of mentoring programs and structured leadership internships that enhance self-efficacy by providing startup leaders with exposure to more seasoned corporate leaders, and successful peers who have had similar experiences to theirs. The implications for positive social change include the potential development of training and capacity-building programs that can be provided to entrepreneurs and other startup leaders to enhance their ability to sustain their startups, leading to more successful businesses, job creation, and economic growth.

Stressors And Depression Among Adolescents With Co-Rumination As A Moderator, Angela Grosso-Burke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stress, depression, and co-rumination have been a focus of scholars in recent years. Although studies have considered the relationship among stressors, depression, and co-rumination, little is known about the moderating effects of co-rumination. This study aimed to address the gap in the literature by examining moderating effects of co-rumination on relations between stressors and depression, along with further moderating effects of sex, race, and grade. The current study examined mean-level race, sex, and grade differences in the relation among stressors (total, family, peer, physical appearance, sport/physical activity, school) and depressive symptoms in adolescents. Analyses were conducted to determine the relationship …

Occupational Burnout Factors Among Correctional Mental Health Providers, Morgan Gruhot

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout rates of correctional employees are higher than employees in the general public. The purpose of this study was to identify how occupational factors impact burnout rates among correctional mental health workers. Grounded in the job-demands theoretical model, this study compared burnout rates among mental health staff within county jails and state prisons. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Occupational factors were measured using the Areas of Work life Survey and Pandemic Experience and Perception Survey. Data was analyzed using IBM SSPS software to address multiple a priori directional research questions. Research questions considered how occupational factors …

Filipino Americans’ Attitudes And Experiences With Mental Health And Help-Seeking Behaviors, Kelsey Guerrero

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Filipino Americans suffer from mental illness at an alarming rate and have a low rate of seeking mental health treatment. Because Filipino Americans are underrepresented in social science research, psychologists do not understand how to resolve this issue within the Filipino American population. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to describe the experiences with mental health and treatment of Filipino Americans. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model theory and Latane’s social impact theory served as the theoretical foundation for the study. A sample of 12 Filipino Americans was interviewed using a semistructured interview design. Participants were asked 10 questions addressing their …