Digital Commons Network^™

Oral Microbes And The Formation Of Cerebral Abscesses: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study, Raul Bescos, Holly Roy, Ewen Mccoll, Umar Rehman, Elizabeth Cray, Louise A. Belfield, King David Nweze, Kevin Tsang, William Singleton, Peter Whitfield, Zoe Brookes

Peninsula Medical School

Objective: Intracranial abscesses are relatively uncommon, but can result in significant mortality and morbidity. Whilst many potential causes of brain abscesses are recognised, in many cases the origin of infection remains clinically unidentified. Our objective was to investigate the role of bacteria found in the oral cavity in the development of brain abscesses. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using data from 87 patients admitted to a single UK neurosurgical unit with brain abscesses over a 16-year period. Using microbiological data obtained from abscess sampling and peripheral cultures, species of bacteria were categorised in patients where no primary source of …

Calloway County Bicentennial Celebration: A Panel Discussion

Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal Archive

Calloway County Bicentennial Celebration: A Panel Discussion

Bill Mulligan, Bobby Smith Bryant, Gina Winchester, Randy Patterson, and Pat Seiber

"The Dash In-Between": The Life And Lnfluence Of Ned Mcwherter, 46th Governor Of The Great State Of Tennessee

Jackson Purchase Historical Society Journal Archive

"The Dash In-Between": The Life and Influence of Ned McWherter, 46th Governor of the Great State of Tennessee

Gail Perkins Barton

Spectral Music; Why Create Compositions With Such A Limited Palette?, Iain Mason

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

Spectral Music: Why create compositions with such a limited palette? The question I am trying to answer is why the composers within the spectral movement of classical music created their compositions with such a limited and challenging palette of sounds. With the extreme wealth of musical knowledge and a rich tapestry of sounds and movements within the classical and contemporary musical world, why was it that the composers in question who I will be investigating; Gerard Grisey, Kaija Saaraiho, and James Tenney chose to write music with a limited palette of sounds? The music to generalise is made up from …

Towards Quantum Computing For Audio And Music Expression, Paulo Vitor Itaboraí

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This research delves into the initial approaches of the use of emerging Quantum Computing technologies in music practice, anchored on preliminary studies on Quantum Representation of Audio (QRA). The approach is interdisciplinary, and attempts to explore the object - QRA - both from a technical scope and an artistic scope. A systematic review unifies diverse QRA techniques, spotlighting the need to bring accessibility to these techniques and terminologies (dense in theoretical physics formalism) for a computer music and/or artistic audiences, in a didactic manner. In this review, some additional techniques initially only discussed for representing images are translated into audio. …

Trial By Jury And English Political Radicalism C.1792 – 1825, Richard John Marshall

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This thesis explores the jury trial in English radical thinking, politics and political culture during the age of revolution. Its significance for radicals and the wider political nation has been underappreciated by scholars, as the ballast stabilising the British constitution and polity. I argue that juries served as a counterweight to repression and surrogate site of power for the underrepresented middling sorts: as jurors checking the power and social dominance of corrupt elites. Radicals recognised the power inherent in independent juries, campaigning to defend their verdicts and bolster their powers. The jury played a critical role in the rhetoric of …

A Chronicle Of Place: Three Novellas And A Critical Dissertation On Compositional Process With A Contextual Analysis Of Annie Proulx's 'Barkskins' And Michael Cunningham's 'The Hours', Helen Chamberlain

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This thesis is presented in two parts: a work of fiction in the form of three interconnected novellas exploring settler colonialism of Native north-east America (New England), with a critical dissertation as supplement. The research encompasses four main areas: archival; contextual; experiential and the primary field of practice research. Of particular importance to the research was field work conducted in the U.S., which included meetings with Wampanoag educators and artists, and interviews and archival research at the Plimoth Patuxet Museum. The research has been informed by the work of several writers, both historical and contemporary. Primary and secondary historical sources …

Engaging Youth At Risk Of Violence In Services: Messages From Research, Nick Axford, John Tredinnick-Rowe, S Rybczynska-Bunt, Lorna Burns, Finlay Green, Tom Thompson

Peninsula Medical School

Addressing youth violence is a public health priority given its prevalence, harms and costs to society. Services designed to prevent or reduce youth violence exist. However, their effectiveness depends on youth engaging with them. To our knowledge, there is no overview of the evidence on how to support this process. This article therefore aims to identify key messages from the scientific literature about how services can best engage youth at risk of involvement in violence. We undertook a rapid review of the evidence on youth engagement in services, prioritising English language studies published from 2010- which included youth aged 10–14 …

Oral Microbes And The Formation Of Cerebral Abscesses: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study, Holly Roy, Raul Bescos, Ewen Mccoll, Umar Rehman, Elizabeth Cray, Louise A. Belfield, King David Nweze, Kevin Tsang, William Singleton, Peter Whitfield, Zoe Brookes

Peninsula Medical School

Objective: Intracranial abscesses are relatively uncommon, but can result in significant mortality and morbidity. Whilst many potential causes of brain abscesses are recognised, in many cases the origin of infection remains clinically unidentified. Our objective was to investigate the role of bacteria found in the oral cavity in the development of brain abscesses. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using data from 87 patients admitted to a single UK neurosurgical unit with brain abscesses over a 16-year period. Using microbiological data obtained from abscess sampling and peripheral cultures, species of bacteria were categorised in patients where no primary source of …

Gender-Based Hiv Epidemic, Care Retention, And Medication Adherence In South-South Nigeria, Iniobong U. Akai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWomen 15-24 years of age globally have a 60% higher rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection than men and account for over half of the population of people living with HIV worldwide. In Akwa Ibom State (AKS), Nigeria, more women than men are infected and living with HIV despite being the minority. The socioecological model and HIV treatment cascade framework formed the theoretical foundation for the study. The purpose of the study was to explore the impact of gender on the drivers of the HIV epidemic in AKS using data from the AKS AIDS Indicator Survey. I examined the …

Strategies Information Technology Leaders Used In Implementing Remote Work During The Covid-19, Jouliana Kamal Barghouth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the imposed lockdown in many countries due to the spread of COVID-19, many leaders were forced to adopt online technologies in transitioning employees to remote work. Leaders not adopting online technologies or remote work during a pandemic are highly susceptible to business closure. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies information technology (IT) leaders in Kuwait used to successfully transition employees to remote work during the pandemic. The participants were six IT leaders from a single multinational IT organization who contributed to strategy development during the pandemic to …

Improving Nurse-Patient Communication Through Motivational Interviewing In A Step-Down Unit, Ana G. Becker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPatient satisfaction is an essential component in assessing the quality of nursing care. Often monitored through patient satisfaction surveys, this doctorate in nursing practice project (DNP) was developed to improve the problem of low Press Ganey nurse-patient communication scores for a medical-surgical step-down unit. The aim of the project was to develop a staff education program for the purpose of introducing motivational interviewing as an intervention to improve nurse-patient satisfaction scores. Lewin’s change model, Knowles’ adult learning theory, and the analysis, design, develop, implement, and evaluate (ADDIE) model were used to guide the development of the DNP project. Conducted over …

A Clinical Practice Guideline For Managing Behavioral Problems In Persons With Dementia, Ken J. Brinker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAs the baby boom generation ages, the demand for effective nursing care for patients diagnosed with dementia has greatly increased. The challenges associated with dementia include a patient’s inability to focus, pay attention, and follow conversations. Patients often become forgetful, angry, frustrated, and aggressive with family members and caregivers. The medical providers and administrators at a long-term care facility needed assistance in developing a clinical practice guideline for managing behaviors demonstrated by patients with dementia. The project question centered on the identification of current evidence supporting a clinical practice guideline for nursing practice for unpredictable behaviors demonstrated by residents diagnosed …

Perceived Multicultural Self-Efficacy As A Predictor Of Competency In Social Justice Advocacy Among U.S. School Counselors, Damon D. Chambers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School counselors who engage in advocacy work may experience barriers when attempting to challenge oppression; hence, they need specific skills to advocate efficiently and effectively. Despite the trend in conceptual articles surrounding school counselor advocacy, little is known about how school counselors’ multicultural self-efficacy predicts school counselors’ social justice advocacy practices. This study addressed this gap in the literature by exploring factors related to school counselor social justice advocacy; that is, multicultural self-efficacy. Multicultural self-efficacy and advocacy competence have had an integral role in fostering school counselors’ abilities to identify and support the needs of diverse student populations within the …

Impact Of Race And Socioeconomic Factors On Infant Mortality Between Non-Hispanic Black And White Women, Chukuma Clifton Chijioke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract This quantitative retrospective study with a correlational design examined the impact of race and socioeconomic factors on the high infant mortality (IM) among non-Hispanic Black women compared to non-Hispanic White women in one midwestern US state county. Though the IM in the U.S. has consistently decreased, a disparity exists between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White women. Non-Hispanic Black women are twice as likely to experience infant deaths as non-Hispanic White women. This study utilized secondary data derived from vital records maintained by the county public health department. The research was grounded in the ecological model. Logistic regression was used …

Experiences And Perceptions Of Hospital Social Workers Regarding Discharge Planning And Readmission, Kenshara Cravens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services created the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program in 2010 to decrease the problem of hospital readmissions. This program reduces hospital reimbursements from Medicare or Medicaid when patients with specific diagnoses are readmitted within 30 days of discharge. This generic qualitative study explored hospital social workers’ experiences and perceptions of the impact of discharge planning on hospital readmission. Meleis’s transitions theory provided the conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 10 female medical social workers. Data analysis entailed categorizing and classifying the data into emerging themes to answer the research …

Assessing The Impact Of Domestic Violence Upon The Lives Of African American Women, Meleh Duarto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Domestic violence is a public health problem in the United States. It can be associated with physical, mental, emotional, and psychological problems for the victims. African American (AA) women experience this type of violence more than any other ethnicity or race. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to identify and report AA women’s lived experiences of domestic violence. Even though research devoted to understanding domestic/intimate partner violence’s consequences is limited, this problem has devastating consequences for AA women. This problem needs immediate attention. Likewise, there is limited empirical research done on the topic: Why do African Americans experience …

Clinical Counseling Supervisors’ Perspectives Of Gatekeeping During Prelicense Supervision, Marquita R. Garrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThis interpretive phenomenology qualitative study explored the clinical counseling supervisors’ perceptions of gatekeeping during the supervision of postgraduate prelicense counselor trainees, specifically around problems of professional competence (PPC). This study aimed to address a gap in research surrounding gatekeeping relative to the specific needs of postgraduate prelicense counselor trainees. Exploring the gaps in gatekeeping, specifically around PPC regarding ethics and multiculturalism in clinical supervision, might increase the necessity for professionalism and recommendations for continuity across state lines. Data were collected from nine participants through Zoom interviews and analyzed using an interpretive phenomenological approach. Selection criteria included clinical counseling supervisors with …

Organizational Leadership Culture And Gender Inequality In The C-Suite, Rocelia Hornbuckle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women in the automotive industry often struggle to advance into top leadership positions. More specifically, culture and gender inequality affect senior-level and higher women leaders trying to achieve a position in the C-Suite in automotive manufacturing organizations. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of senior-level and higher women seeking a C-Suite position. The research questions addressed the lived experiences of women who strive to be promoted to C-Suites positions. Three sub-questions were used to evaluate participants' perceptions, leveraging them to increase awareness of the cultural and gender inequality affecting the representation of women …

Public Company Ceo Strategies For Navigating A Global Economic Shock, Trevor Lee Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Covid-19 has been the most significant economic shock of the 21st century, evidenced by the S&P 500 index plunging over 30% in early 2020. Business leaders who fail to prepare for black swan events are at a high risk of failure. Grounded in Taleb’s black swan theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies some public market CEOs use to defend share price returns during economic shocks. The participants were five CEOs of five publicly traded companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange who generated positive investor returns since the pandemic began. Data were collected …

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease And Metabolic Syndrome: The Role Of Gender Differences And Menopausal Status Of Women, Kimberly Kushner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are few studies that investigate the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) predominantly in menopausal women. This quantitative study investigated the association between MetS and NAFLD while controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, and menopausal status of women. The theoretical framework that helps establish and guide the research was the diffusion of innovation (DOI). A multivariable logistic regression was conducted using secondary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. There is a statistically significant association between MetS, and NAFLD after controlling for age (OR = 2.96, 95% CI = 2.319–3.778, p < 0.001). However, ethnicity was not statistically significant. After further controlling for gender, the relationship remained statistically significant and exhibited a decrease in risk for females compared to males (OR = -.734, 95%CI = .387–.596, p < 0.001). Lastly, focusing on women only, and further controlling for menopausal status, the association between MetS and NAFLD was still statistically significant (OR = 2.227, p < 0.001). Mexican Americans, other Hispanics, and Non-Hispanic Black women were at higher risk (95% CI 1.102–7.039, 1.321–5.351, and 1.255–3.013, respectively). Implications for positive social change include adopting proactive and preventative strategies that can improve the quality of life for vulnerable patients and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with MetS and NAFLD.

How Elementary School Principals Manage Their Workload, Cynthia Ann Mccabe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Elementary school principals in a suburban, Mid-Atlantic public school system may face challenges when balancing their workload. This problem is significant as an elementary school principal’s workload could contribute to ineffective leadership. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how these principals balance their workload and obtain their perceptions of the administrative support required to meet the daily challenges of their job. The conceptual framework is Gronn’s distributed leadership model which is based on the purposeful sharing and disseminating of leadership responsibilities. The research questions explored how elementary school principals describe the challenges they have in balancing …

Employee Retention Strategies In Selected Small And Medium Enterprises In Nigeria, Ijeoma Omeoga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe lack of employee retention strategies in Nigeria’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can have adverse business outcomes. Business leaders are concerned about employee retention strategies since they can help reduce turnover and retain experienced employees. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies business leaders use to retain their experienced employees. The participants were four business leaders of four SMEs in Nigeria who successfully implemented strategies that helped retain their experienced employees. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of organization policy documents. Through thematic analysis, four …

Faculty-Student And Student-Student Connections Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic, Fatma Ouled Salem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic expedited the shift toward distance education by forcing institutions to adapt to the limitations of social distancing mandates. This resulted in a general sense of disconnection and isolation, compounding the other adverse effects of the pandemic. Since faculty-student and student-student connections are consistently identified as best practices in distance counselor education, the aim of this descriptive phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of counselor educators during the COVID-19 pandemic relating to faculty-student and student-student connections. A phenomenological framework was used to suspend presuppositions of the phenomenon and to describe the lived experiences of participants. In-depth …

Providing Diabetes Education To Improve Staff Nurses' Knowledge, Marcia A. Patterson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that affects over 34.2 million or 10.5% of the U.S. population and ranks as the seventh leading cause of death. Tennessee's diabetes prevalence rate is ranked 45th overall in the nation, with 14.9% of the population affected, and in the local area for this project, the rate is greater than 15%, creating a public health concern. Despite its prevalence, there is still a wide gap in knowledge among nurses on diabetes management. The practice-focused question for this project addressed whether a staff education program would improve nurses' knowledge regarding diabetes. The significant gap …

Mitigating Supply Chain Disruptions In Retail Discount Department Stores, Anthony T. Patton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supply chain disruptions can have adverse effects on business outcomes. Retail industry supply chain leaders are concerned with supply chain disruptions because supply chain disruptions can lead to dissatisfied customers and loss of profits. Grounded in game theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies four retail industry supply chain leaders in Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana implemented to mitigate the effects of supply chain disruptions. Data were collected using semistructured virtual interviews with four retail industry supply chain leaders and a review of company documents. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged: (a) choosing appropriate inventory …

Teachers’ Use Of Game-Based Technology Assessment Tools In United Arab Emirates Middle Schools, Simone Saad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Using technology in the 1:1 classroom has been a focus of scholars and has become the educational standard for many schools, especially those in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, researchers have demonstrated that even though access to laptops is no longer an issue in many schools, there remains low integration of engaging activities in the 1:1 classroom. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of adopting and incorporating game-based technology assessment tools at two middle schools in Abu Dhabi, UAE, both of which are 1:1 schools. The purpose of this basic qualitative project study was to better …

Strategies For Revitalized Immigrant-Owned Small Businesses To Sustain Growth Following Emergencies, Goi Jooyul Yol

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic revealed obstacles for immigrant small business owners (ISBOs) to sustain growth. ISBOs need strategies for growth sustainability following emergencies because United States immigrant-owned small businesses accounting for 28% of the main street businesses, declined by 36% in revenues between January to April 2020 due to the pandemic. Grounded in the entrepreneurial ecosystem framework and business continuity management model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies four South Dakota ISBOs used to revitalize their businesses to ensure sustainable growth after the COVID-19 emergency. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews and reviews of organization …

Business Sustainability Among Women Entrepreneurs In Ghana, Gabriel Yaw Asante

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women entrepreneurs in Ghana are not prepared for entrepreneurship and face individual and contextual barriers that include social, cultural, economic, political, demographic, institutional, and technological perceived support. Guided by the institutional theory, the purpose of this qualitative exploratory multiple case study was to explore business strategic information that women entrepreneurs in Ghana need to learn to make their business sustainable beyond 5 years. Ten successful women entrepreneurs from 5 industries in Ghana, who had the training, experience, and information on the causes of business failure and had applied that information to gain business sustainability beyond 5 years, were recruited. Data …

How Public Health Expenditure Affect Health Outcomes In Cameroon, Gilbert Njinju Ayimaleh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most African governments, and Cameroon in particular, have identified the reduction of infant mortality and life expectancy in Africa as a critical priority. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals set a target objective of reducing infant mortality by 60% from 1990 to 2015 in less-developed countries. Good health contributes significantly to the attainment of sustainable development and health outcomes. Despite Cameroon’s progress in achieving health-related Millennium Development Goals regarding reducing infant mortality and increasing life expectancy, the country is still worse in respect to health outcomes compared to other Sub-Saharan Countries like Nigeria and Ghana thus more need to be …