Digital Commons Network^™

Whatever It Takes: A Literature Review Exploring The Psychological Cost Of Actor Training And How Drama Therapy Can Help, Kelsey Burke

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This review examines the literature as it relates to the psychological and emotional impact of professional training programs for student-actors. Special attention is paid to student-actors’ developmental stage, mental health and trauma history, possible exposure to sexual harassment in rehearsal or classroom settings, specific acting techniques taught, and power dynamics between student-actors and acting teachers. Also examined is data on the potential effects that the application of trauma-informed drama therapy approaches could have on this population. This is followed by a proposed outline for a supervision-style class for student-actors led by a drama therapist intended to introduce drama therapeutic principles …

Recognizing The Unique Health Care Needs Of Pregnant Afghan Refugees, Catherine Mcelroy

Senior Honors Theses

Healthcare providers in the US, specifically in areas of high refugee resettlement, have recently been overwhelmed by the recent influx of Afghanistan refugees. This increased demand has exposed the lack of culturally competent care that healthcare workers are able to provide, leading to the question: How can healthcare providers in the United States (US) recognize the unique health care needs of pregnant Afghan refugees? This research paper addresses the question through the collection of previous research surrounding medical care for pregnant Afghan refugees already in databases. First, background information was obtained about the situation from which pregnant Afghan women are …

The Effect Of Running On The Onset And Development Of Osteoarthritis, Jordan Hekman

Senior Honors Theses

Osteoarthritis is a prominent and debilitating form of joint disease characterized by pain and deterioration of the articular cartilage and other tissues in the affected joint. Research has identified a variety of risk factors for osteoarthritis, including age, obesity, gender, previous injury, and occupation. The relationship between running and osteoarthritis is a topic of particular interest because of the prevalence of running as a simple and physiologically beneficial form of exercise. Increasing evidence suggests that recreational running has at worst no effect and at best a protective effect on joint and articular cartilage health in contrast to high-intensity professional/elite-level running …

Barriers And Facilitators To Anti-Retroviral Therapy Adherence Among Adolescents Aged 10 To 19 Years Living With Hiv In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Londiwe D. Hlophe, Jacques L. Tamuzi, Constance Shumba, Peter S. Nyasulu

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) significantly affects adolescents globally, with the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) reporting a high burden of the disease. HIV testing, treatment, and retention to care are low among adolescents. We conducted a mixed-method systematic review to assess anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence; barriers and facilitators to ART adherence and ART outcomes among adolescents living with HIV and on ART in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We conducted searches in four scientific databases for studies conducted between 2010 and March 2022 to identify relevant primary studies. Studies were screened against inclusion criteria and assessed for quality, and data was …

Zooming Out: A Retrospective Analysis Of Nontraditional Learning Modes' Effect On High School Graduation And Dropout During The 2020-2021 Covid-19 School Year, Jonah F. Klein-Collins

Economics Honors Projects

This paper examines the impact of nontraditional learning modes, such as online education, on high school graduation and dropout rates during the 2020-2021 Covid-19 school year. Using school-level data from the Illinois Report Card for 2012-2021, a difference-in-differences framework is used to estimate the average treatment effect of two groups: schools that used virtual learning modes for only part of the year and those that used it for nearly the entire year. The study reveals that virtual learning had a negligible effect on four-year graduation rates. However, schools that used virtual learning for only part of the year witnessed a …

Rattus Norvegicus As A Biological Detector Of Clandestine Remains And The Use Of Ultrasonic Vocalizations As A Locating Mechanism, Gabrielle M. Johnston

Master's Theses

In investigations, locating missing persons and clandestine remains are imperative. One way that first responder and police agencies can search for the remains is by using cadaver dogs as biological detectors. Cadaver dogs are typically used due to their olfactory sensitivity and ability to detect low concentrations of volatile organic compounds produced by biological remains. Cadaver dogs are typically chosen for their stamina, agility, and olfactory sensitivity. However, what is not taken into account often is the size of the animal and the expense of maintaining and training the animal. Cadaver dogs are typically large breeds that cannot fit in …

The Intersectionality Of Race And Gender And Its Relationship To School Belonging And Student Mental Health, Kennedi Boatner

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Measuring Disparities In Fresh Fruit And Vegetable Access And Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation In East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Andrew W. Meche

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Glycolytic Inhibitors As Leads For Drug Discovery In The Pathogenic Free-Living Amoebae, Jillian Milanes

All Dissertations

The free-living amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, can cause a rare yet usually lethal infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Because of poor diagnostics and limited treatment options, the mortality rate associated with the disease is >97%. Due to our finding that glucose is critical for trophozoite growth in culture, we have been interested in exploiting amoebae glucose metabolism to identify new potential drug targets. We have characterized the first enzyme of the glycolytic pathway, glucokinase (Glck), from N. fowleri and two other pathogenic free-living amoeba, Acanthamoeba castellanii and Balamuthia mandrillaris. We have assessed their biochemical properties and …

Mathematics Library News, Aaron Lercher

Faculty Publications

Mathematics Library News is an LSU Libraries newsletter for members of the Mathematics and Experimental Statistics Departments, published roughly once each semester.

Niche Specialization And Community Niche Space Increase With Species Richness In Filter-Feeder Assemblages, Irene Sánchez González, Garrett W. Hopper, Jamie R. Bucholz, Megan E. Kubala, Jeffrey D. Lozier, Carla L. Atkinson

Faculty Publications

Ecological theory posits that higher species richness should be associated with greater exploitation of resources and niche packing resulting from either increasing species niche overlap or specialization of species' niches. Research evaluating niche theory in animals tends to focus on organisms among functional feeding guilds, while resource partitioning might be more critical within functional groups. Freshwater mussels (Family: Unionidae) are a diverse and imperiled group of animals that are ideal models to test niche occupancy due to their functional similarity as filter-feeders and their occurrence in spatially and temporally stable multispecies aggregations. We evaluated the relationship between species richness and …

Effect Of Sleep Restriction On Insulin Sensitivity And Energy Metabolism In Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Crossover Trial, Prachi Singh, Robbie A. Beyl, Jacqueline M. Stephens, Robert C. Noland, Allison J. Richard, Anik Boudreau, R. Caitlin Hebert, Eric Ravussin, Josiane L. Broussard, Marie Pierre St-Onge, Kara L. Marlatt

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sleep restriction (SR) on insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism in postmenopausal women. Methods: In a randomized crossover trial, 14 women underwent four nights of habitual sleep (HS, 100% normal sleep) and SR (60% of HS) while following a eucaloric diet. Outcomes included the following: (1) insulin sensitivity by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, defined as the glucose infusion rate (GIR); (2) resting metabolism and substrate oxidation by indirect calorimetry; and (3) glucose, insulin, and C-peptide concentrations following a standard meal test. Results: Nine postmenopausal women (mean [SD], age 59 [4] years, …

Learning About Our Vices From Devices: A Model Of Individual Learning With An Application To Consumer Food Waste, Danyi Qi, Brian E. Roe, John W. Apolzan, Corby K. Martin

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

We formulate an empirical learning model suitable for understanding individual behavioral responses to personal devices and sensors. We estimate this model using data collected about personal decisions of food selection, intake, and waste during a study in which users photographed their meal selections and plate waste over the course of a week with a cell phone. We found substantial learning-by-doing effects in plate-waste reduction: Those who document greater plate waste in their photographs waste less on subsequent days. Further, we identified that participants reduced plate waste by learning to eat more rather than by learning to select less food.

Effect Of Exercise Training On Insulin-Stimulated Glucose Disposal: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Candida J. Rebello, Dachuan Zhang, John P. Kirwan, Adam C. Lowe, Carlante J. Emerson, Chelsea L. Kracht, Lori C. Steib, Frank L. Greenway, William D. Johnson, Justin C. Brown

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Background and objective: The effect of exercise training on whole-body insulin sensitivity has not been systematically summarized. We aimed to summarize the data from randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of exercise training on insulin action, in adults. Subjects: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched until January 2021. Randomized controlled trials lasting ≥4 weeks, including adults, and evaluating the effect of exercise on insulin-stimulated glucose disposal measured using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, were included. Methods: Three reviewers extracted summary data from published trials. The primary outcome was insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. Standardized weighted mean differences (SMD) in glucose disposal between …

Aphasia-Friendly Reading Comprehension Training To Enhance Nutritional Literacy, Alexandra Elliott Schell

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This study aimed to establish the impact of exposure to controlled, aphasia-friendly articles about dietary mindfulness on the nutritional literacy of people with aphasia. The student researcher evaluated five participants from the Butler Aphasia Community to determine their level of reading impairment, the severity of their aphasia, and baseline nutritional knowledge. Participants attended two pretest sessions, two reading sessions, and one post-test session. They were exposed to eight nutritional articles, four in an aphasia-friendly format and four in a traditional format, and evaluated on reading speed and comprehension. During their final session, the student researcher re-administered the assessment of nutritional …

Being Mindfully Pluralistic: The Effects Of Mindfulness Meditation On Student Perceptions Of Religious Pluralism, Meet A. Patel

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This study explored the relationship between mindfulness meditation practice and student perceptions of religious pluralism. One hundred and eleven Butler University students were recruited using SONA, an online psychology research participation management system, and in-person presentation/professor encouragement in the PWB Mindfulness in Everyday Life course. The study was conducted via a survey shared with the PWB class and SONA participants. I predicted that participants who consistently practice mindfulness meditation would have stronger perceptions that promote the values of respect, relationships, and common action that are associated with religious pluralism. Specifically, I predicted that participants who have consistently (at least 7 …

Aging In Westborough: A Community Needs Assessment, Ceara Somerville, Caitlin Coyle, Mary Krebs, Holly Stockdale

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report describes research undertaken by the Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA) within the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Town of Westborough. The goals of this project were to investigate the needs, interests, preferences, and opinions of Westborough’s residents age 55 or older by engaging the community regarding their experiences and needs relevant to the Council on Aging’s (COA’s) objective to identify and serve the needs of all Westborough citizens 55 and older. The contents of this report are meant to inform the Town of Westborough, the Westborough COA, …

Predictors And Barriers To Vaccination Among Older Syrian Refugees In Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of A Multi-Wave Longitudinal Study, Berthe Abi Zeid, Tanya El Khoury, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Marwan F. Alawieh, Zeinab Ramadan, Sirine Anouti, Sawsan Abdulrahim, Stephen J. Mccall

Faculty Publications

Background:

Vaccination is important to prevent morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 among older Syrian refugees. We aimed to elucidate the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Syrian refugees aged 50 years or older in Lebanon and to understand their main reasons for not receiving the vaccine.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional analysis of a five-wave longitudinal study, conducted through telephone interviews between Sept 22, 2020, and March 14, 2022, in Lebanon. For this analysis, data were extracted from wave 3 (Jan 21–April 23, 2021), which included a question on vaccine safety and on whether participants intended to receive the …

Predictors For Student Success On The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (Nbdhe), Jennifer S. Sherry

Ed.D. Capstone Reports

The primary focus of this research was to determine if any link exists to pre-entry grade point average (GPA), science-based didactic dental hygiene course GPA, and graduation GPA and success on the National Board of Dental Examinations, Inc. (NBDHE).

Results were gathered through NBDHE score reports from Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s (SIUC) dental hygiene program as well as GPA and course grades from the SIUC Registrar’s office for graduates from the Class of 2012-2022. Pre-entry GPA, graduation GPA, and individual science-based didactic dental hygiene courses were evaluated by using the course grades “A, B, or C” as “pass” and “D …

Does The Type Of Chronic Heart Failure Impact In-Hospital Outcomes For Aortic Valve Replacement Procedures?, Talha Mubashir, John Zaki, Sin Yeong An, Ismael A Salas De Armas, Yafen Liang, Travis Markham, Han Feng, Mehmet H Akay, Angelo Nascimbene, Bindu Akkanti, George W Williams, Fabricio Zasso, Maria Patarroyo Aponte, Igor D Gregoric, Biswajit Kar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: This study assessed in-hospital outcomes of patients with chronic systolic, diastolic, or mixed heart failure (HF) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was used to identify patients with aortic stenosis and chronic HF who underwent TAVR or SAVR between 2012 and 2015. Propensity score matching and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine outcome risk.

RESULTS: A cohort of 9,879 patients with systolic (27.2%), diastolic (52.2%), and mixed (20.6%) chronic HF were included. No statistically significant differences in hospital mortality were noted. Overall, patients with diastolic HF …

The Effects Of Circadian Rhythm Disruption On The Behavior, Lifespan, And Fertility In Drosophila Melanogaster, Isaiah Thomas

University Honors Program Senior Projects

Circadian disruptions can have adverse behavioral and/or physiological effects on organisms, impacting their overall health and reproductive fitness. The circadian biology of Drosophila melanogaster was disrupted through exposure to excessive nighttime light. Locomotor, lifespan, and fecundity/fertility assays were used to quantify the negative effects of artificial-light-at-night (ALAN) in Oregon-R and w1118 wildtype flies. Control flies were kept in a 12:12 hr. light-dark cycle (LD) while the experimental flies were kept in a 12:12 hr. light-dim-light cycle (LDim) of 4 lux to mimic exposure to ALAN, a form of photopollution. The data showed significant behavioral differences in the active-rest phases of …

Program And Proceedings: Nebraska Academy Of Sciences 1880–2023, 143rd Anniversary Year, One Hundred-Thirty-Third Annual Meeting, April 21, 2023

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

Program

Aeronautics and Space Science

Humans Past and Present

Applied Science and Technology Section

Biology

Biomedical Sciences

Chemistry

Earth Sciences

Environmental Science

Physics

Science Education

2023 Maiben Lecture: Jason Bartz

2023 Friend of Science Award: Ray Ward and Jim Lewis

Environmental Drivers Of Stress In Red Pandas (Ailurus Fulgens) : Behavior And Space Use Changes In Response To Redesigned Naturalistic Enclosures, Alexis Michelle Lawson

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Animal welfare encompasses the physical and mental state of an animal, as well as how that animal is cared for. Recently, zoological settings have shifted from strictly housing animals to improving the welfare of the animal such that the goal of captivity is for residents to thrive. This is especially crucial as global wildlife numbers and biodiversity continues to decrease due to anthropogenic impacts such as poaching, mining, habitat destruction, fragmentation. Further confounding this issue is climate change, air pollution, invasive species, ocean acidification, and more. In particular, the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is an endangered species whose declined 50% …

Effects Of Time, Temperature, And Cooking Vessel On Antioxidant Potential, Ph, And Degrees Brix In The Processing Of Black Garlic, Victoria Gargano

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Garlic, from the allium family, is known to contain organosulfur compounds. These compounds contain antioxidants, which provide a plethora of potential health benefits. Black garlic is created by processing regular garlic at temperatures ranging between 60-90°C, with high humidity for upwards of one month. The process of making black garlic alters these components, potentially increasing the antioxidant capacity. This end product yields a garlic that is a deep black color with a sweet flavor, pungent aroma, and a soft malleable texture. Black garlic is increasing popularity within the culinary world with more products making it to market shelves. PURPOSE: To …

A Comparison Of Approaches To Closing The Achievement Gap In Public, Charter, And Catholic Urban High Schools In New York State, Kiante' Eli Jones

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Throughout the history of the United States there have existed gaps in the educational achievement outcomes of different groups of students. One of the most well-known and persistent achievement gaps is seen in the academic performance of Black versus White students, which is also known as the Black-White student achievement gap (BWSAG). The BWSAG is manifest in data such as grades, standardized test scores, course selection, school dropout rates, and college completion. This study examines how three schools with significant Black student populations, including an urban traditional public school, a Catholic school, and a charter school narrow the BWSAG among …

Public Opinion On Compensating Different Types Of Wrongful Convictions, Sishi Wu

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

People who are wrongfully convicted are a unique vulnerable group. However, not all exonerees get compensated for their time in prison. This research explores public opinion on compensating wrongful convictions from erroneously rejected affirmative defenses and from false guilty pleas. Using a randomized survey experiment of 1,000 US adults, this research found that (1) most respondents supported wrongful conviction compensation, regardless of wrongful conviction types and plea status. (2) Wrongful conviction types matter. People supported compensating exonerees in the self-defense case as much as in the wrong person case. The amount of compensation people gave in the mistaken self-defense case …

A Comparison Of Optical Measurement Methods For The Growth Of S. Cerevisiae, Jackson Black

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Genetic engineering of living organisms provides the opportunity to express and harvest different proteins from cell surfaces. Yeast (S. cerevisiae) is one such organism and is capable of being grown on an industrial scale. Cellular concentration is an important parameter to monitor while fermentation processes are underway, in order to control the environment inside the growth medium and maximize yields. Spectrophotometry is a conventional method for measuring concentration, but is limited by a narrow absorbance range, and the need for on-site periodic sampling. A continuous method of measurement, as provided by Bug Labs BE2100 non-invasive biomass monitor, would …

Needs Assessment, Rosemonique Hernandez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Seniors' needs are not being met. In California, 54.6% of elders need assistance in routine care, and 20.9% of elders need assistance in personal care (Kietzman & Chen, 2022). The causes are elders cannot take care of themselves, individuals are neglected, and limited insurance or finances. The outcomes are physical health decline, institutionalization in a nursing facility, and premature death. Health Projects Center is a non-profit organization that offers community programs to assist seniors to live and age in their homes independently. The capstone project is a needs assessment to determine if the clients are receiving services from the Multipurpose …

Effects Of Triptorelin On Global Deoxyribonucleic Acid Methylation In Skeletal Muscle In Male Adolescent Rats, Max Boland

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate how treatment with triptorelin, a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist, to block puberty in adolescent male rats affects their epigenetic regulation via global DNA methylation changes in skeletal muscle and to determine if physical activity has an effect on DNA methylation status during treatment. Twenty-four male, Sprague-Dewey rats were randomly assigned to different groups: 12 treated with 1 μg of triptorelin daily (PB group) while the other 12 received an equivalent volume of saline as a placebo (control, CON) for four weeks. In order to determine the interaction with physical activity, six PB …

A Cross Sectional Comparison Of The Mental Health, Sleep, And Anaerobic Power Of Cannabis Users, Cannabidiol Users, And Non Users, Taylor Tamanaha

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences among groups of individuals who regularly use cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), or who are non-users with respect to mental health, sleep, and anaerobic power measures. A total of 24 participants (21 males and 3 females) were recruited and placed into groups based on their regular cannabis/CBD or non-cannabis/CBD use. The cannabis user group was using cannabis at least three times per week for the past 8 weeks (CA; n=8), the CBD user group was using CBD at least three times per week for the past 8 weeks (CB; n=8), …