Neurodevelopmental Trajectories As An Explanatory Mechanism For Adverse Mental Health Outcomes Following Child Maltreatment, Casey Burton Corso

Theses and Dissertations

Affecting one in every seven children in the United States, child maltreatment (CM) is a major public health issue associated with a myriad of adverse outcomes (e.g., alcohol and drug abuse, mental illness, interpersonal violence, sexual risk taking, etc.). While any subtype of CM (e.g., physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect) increases the likelihood of subsequent psychopathology, heterogeneity in psychiatric sequelae of CM is associated with different CM subtypes. Elucidating the underlying mechanisms of this heterogeneity is vital for improving intervention and treatment of CM, and research aimed at accomplishing this is a critical need. One possible explanatory …

Mathematical Modeling Of Phage-Bacteria Population Dynamics, John Lawrence D. Palacios

Theses and Dissertations

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria. Lytic phages cause the bacterial cell to burst, killing the bacteria. These types of phages can be used to treat patients with antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. As a step in developing successful treatment protocols, we aim to understand the population dynamics of phages and bacteria using an in vitro model. We model the dynamics using the Campbell model, which consists of a delay differential equation (DDE), as a base model. We extended the model by including the emergence of phage resistance. We then compared the DDE model with a parallel ordinary differential …

T Cell Polarization Regulates The Inflammatory Response And Tissue Regeneration At The Peri-Implant Interface, Derek Avery

Theses and Dissertations

Unresolved healing and localized chronic inflammation are common occurrences after biomaterial implantation, resulting in unfavorable clinical outcomes such as implant failure or fibrous encapsulation. T cells are adaptive immune cells found in lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, bone marrow, and around biomaterials, significantly impacting the degree of inflammation and wound healing. T cells are vital for inflammatory cytokine production and modulation of innate immune cells, including neutrophils and macrophages. T cells can be differentiated into two primary subsets, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, playing distinctive roles in various pathologies and disease states. While T cells have been characterized well …

Using Asset-Based Community Development To Increase Student Engagement And Improve Student Experience In Schools, Jacqueline Hopkins

Theses and Dissertations

The following is a dissertation in the three-paper dissertation format. The first section will give background information on the issue of alienation in schools and how asset-based community development (ABCD) could be an effective tool for educators to combat alienation and disengagement, especially with students with marginalized identities. This first section will also show the significance of the three papers as a whole and how they connect to one another. The first paper is the conceptual literature review, the second paper is an empirical study of the ABCD model in schools, and the dissertation will end with a practitioner's article …

How Ebony Transcends In The Ivory Tower: Unveiling Transformational Black Women Forging Leadership Paths In Historically White Institutions, Lauren N. Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

Considerable literature has amplified the perceived challenges and deficits of Black women as they advance in their careers within historically white institutions (HWI). As a result, there is a notable absence of anti-deficit explorations of the inherent abilities and strengths that contribute to Black women’s professional mobility. Grounded in anti-deficit achievement framework and Black feminist leadership, this study aimed to illuminate the assets and factors that influence the professional ascension of seven, current/former senior-level Black women in a HWI within the Southeastern region of the U.S. By adopting a qualitative, phenomenological framework, this study provides in-depth insights into the participants’ …

Longitudinal Analysis Of Maternal Depression, Physical Work Demand, And Working Hours Before, During, And After Pregnancy On Offspring Blood Pressure Trajectories, Medhin Tsegaye Haile

Theses and Dissertations

Overall Abstract

Background: Pediatric high blood pressure (BP) is a growing global concern, with 1 in 7 adolescents in the U.S. experiencing elevated BP or hypertension. Maternal lifestyle factors, including depressive symptoms, physically demanding work, and work hours during pregnancy, may influence offspring BP trajectories. However, prior studies often focus on single time points or specific age groups, limiting understanding of long-term effects. This study investigates the associations between maternal depressive symptoms, physically demanding work-related factors, and work hours before, during, and after pregnancy with offspring systolic blood pressure (SBP) trajectories from early childhood to adolescence.

Methods: We utilized …

Cellular Metabolism Is A Viable Therapeutic Target For Radiation-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis, Josly Pierre-Louis Odoom

Theses and Dissertations

Herein, we provide evidence for cellular metabolic reprogramming as a driver of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF). We are the first to identify a distinct metabolic signature for RIPF in a cohort of patients with radiographic sequela. We also used a RIPF mouse model to detect the metabolic pathways that enrich during pathogenesis. Our previous work highlighted the importance of lactate, a derivative of the glycolysis end-product pyruvate. Consequently, we took a special interest in the effects of radiation on the glycolysis pathway. We learned that radiation accelerates and reprograms glycolysis to an anabolic state in a pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2)-dependent …

Examining Parent Behavior And Adolescent Outcomes In A Pediatric Obesity Intervention, Madison W. Weinstock

Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric obesity is a major public health concern that affects over 14.4 million children and adolescents in the United States. Multiple short- and long-term health complications are associated with obesity. Therefore, effective treatment methods are needed in order to ameliorate the effects of said complications, particularly among adolescents. This dissertation investigated potential associations between parent eating behaviors and the outcomes of adolescents enrolled in a pediatric weight loss trial (TEENS+; PI: Bean, R21HD084930). The TEENS+ intervention offered a comprehensive behavioral weight intervention for parent-adolescent dyads. Given the well-established importance of parents in the development of an adolescent’s health behavior, this …

Life After Discharge: Predicting Longitudinal Trajectories Of Community Integration And Global Functioning In Black Individual With Traumatic Brain Injury, Chimdindu Ohayagha

Theses and Dissertations

The onset of traumatic brain injury (TBI) begins a chronic health pathway that contributes to various impairments and comorbidities across the lifespan. Common consequences of TBI include mental health issues, cognitive impairments, and reduced functional independence, all of which impact how an individual integrates into their community. Community integration is a primary goal for rehabilitation after TBI. Studies show that racially/ethnically minoritized individuals have a higher incidence of TBI, higher rates of mortality, and report poorer functional and community integration outcomes. Limited studies have explored longitudinal outcomes of community integration in a Black-only sample of individuals with TBI. Additionally, no …

Functional Monitoring For Run-Time Assurance Of A Real-Time Cyber Physical System, Matthew W. Gelber

Theses and Dissertations

As cyber-physical systems (CPS) become more integrated into everyday life, the security of these systems must also be considered during their development due to their ever-increasing importance. With the growth of physical components in the system, more autonomous control requirements, and increased dependence on proper functionality, verifying system safety and correct operation becomes increasingly difficult. CPS have become more complex through the combination of additional hardware and the resulting interconnected software in many layers, each requiring unique security solutions. One example of such a safety-critical CPS embedded system is the Flight Control System (FCS) of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). …

Essays On The Impacts Of Macra 2015 And Market Dynamics On Quality, Billing, And Fraud In The U.S. Healthcare System, Mahmoud Manouchehri Amoli

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents a comprehensive examination of the impacts of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) and market dynamics on the quality, billing practices, and incidence of fraud within the U.S. healthcare system. It is a compilation of three essays that each delves into a specific facet of the healthcare landscape altered by MACRA's introduction and the evolving market conditions.

Chapter 2 analyzes how MACRA has transformed Medicare Part B physicians' practices by introducing the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs). The study provides empirical evidence on the shift in billing …

The Patient Experience Of Language Discordance And Interpreter Services In The Emergency Department, Keri L. Baker

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Clear communication is critical to the interaction of a patient and medical provider. For non-English speaking patients, language discordance, described as the lack of proficiency in a shared language, with the medical team results in a poor patient experience and poor patient outcomes. The predominant solution to language discordance is the use of interpreter services, however these services are underused in the emergency department (ED). Studies examining underuse of interpreter services have primarily focused on the clinician and little is known about the patient’s influence on the use of interpreter services.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Spanish-speaking …

Continuous Flow As A Process Intensification Tool For The Preparation Of Pharmaceutically Relevant N-Heterocycles, John W. Tomlin Jr

Theses and Dissertations

Continuous flow as a process intensification tool for the preparation of pharmaceutically relevant N-heterocycles

John W. Tomlin

Thesis Defense: 17 January 2024

Committee: B. Frank Gupton, Ph.D. (Advisor), Suzanne M. Ruder, Ph.D. (Chair), Heather R. Lucas, Ph.D., James K. Ferri, Ph.D., Matthew C.T. Hartman, Ph.D.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University

© 2024 John W. Tomlin Jr All Rights Reserved

Abstract

Essential medicines must be produced in large quantities to accommodate large global demand. The preparation of these active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) must therefore strive to be both cost-effective …

Mechanistic Analysis Of Four-Way Dna Junctions And Cytokine-Binding Aptamers For Therapeutic Interventions, Roaa S. Mahmoud

Theses and Dissertations

DNA is inherently dynamic and topologically diverse and can fold into many different structures. Besides the canonical Watson-Crick structure, other higher-order structures such as G-quadruplexes (G4), i-motifs (iM), and four-way DNA junctions are possible. Although these high-order DNA structures are known to form transiently, they are important due to the crucial roles they play in many cellular processes including DNA replication, recombination, and repair. Among these DNA structures, 4-way junctions (also known as Holliday junctions, HJ) which are formed during the repair of double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) and interact with proteins have garnered significant attention due to their central role …

Enhancing Accessibility : A Pilot Study For Context-Aware Image-Caption To American Sign Language (Asl) Translation, Oluwafolahanmi Adedamola Aluko

Theses

Since the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the explosion of Generative AI, much work has been done around image captioning, providing wildly accurate captions from still images, and more recently videos [3]. Alt-Text has improved dramatically with efforts to enhance context and sentiment captured during automated captioning. This thesis attempts to expand on a section on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and its relevance to promoting accessibility and context-awareness in the premise of the American Sign Language (ASL) application. This thesis explores what it means to give full context about a caption or image to the end user, including sentiments, …

Polyvictimization In Context: Identifying Patterns Of Peer, Dating, And Community Violence Among Black Early Adolescents, Carine Leslie

Theses and Dissertations

Early adolescents exposed to multiple forms of victimization (“polyvictimization”) may experience a number of detrimental psychosocial outcomes. Some person-centered research has identified victimization subgroups among adolescents but have not examined the overlap of peer, dating, and community victimization among Black early adolescents living in economically disadvantaged urban communities. Thus, this study empirically identifies victimization profiles in a sample of Black early adolescents to ascertain the patterns and correlates of polyvictimization. The present study aimed to (a) identify subgroups of Black early adolescents based on their frequency of peer, dating, and community victimization using latent profile analyses, and (b) evaluate the …

An Ecocritical Approach To Fyodor Abramov's Story "What Do The Horses Cry About", Badegül Can Emir

Khazar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Human's destructive behaviors toward the environment also harm animals. Fyodor Abramov's story, “What Do The Horses Cry About”. focuses on this issue. While this story reflects the world through the eyes of an animal, it reveals people's changing behaviors towards animals. The study tries to read the changing attitude of man toward nature in the modern age on the axis of Fyodor Abramov's story called “What Do The Horses Cry About”. On the other hand, it tries to understand how the relationship between the human and other living things has penetrated the fiction of the story. It shall be emphasized …

Newly Redesigned Digital Commons Website, Alice Sherwood

TMC Library Newsletter (2015-)

The Digital Commons @ TMC has a new redesigned website. The new website will match the design of the main library website. Additionally, the labels peer-reviewed and journal series have been changed to "Open Journals."

Repeated-Measures Latent Profile Analyses Of Intervention Fidelity To A Teacher-Delivered Intervention Program For Children At Elevated Risk For Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Katrina A. Markowicz

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers have difficulty delivering Tier-2 intervention programs for preschoolers at elevated risk for socioemotional and behavioral disorders with high intervention fidelity (Durlak, 2010; Sutherland et al., 2018). Several proximal factors that impact program fidelity have been identified, which may undermine program effects (Domitrovich et al., 2008; McLeod et al., 2022; Sutherland et al., 2018). Therefore, researchers have identified strategies, such as practice-based coaching, to improve intervention fidelity and support teachers (Hemmeter et al., 2015; Synder et al., 2015). Most of the field's knowledge of these topics is limited to variable-centered approaches (Fettig et al., 2022; Low et al., 2016). However, …

Correlates Of Coffee And Energy Drink Use Among Individuals With Severe Alcohol Use Disorder, Enkelejda Ngjelina

Theses and Dissertations

Research on caffeine consumption among college students and young adults has primarily focused on caffeinated energy drinks (EDs) and their combination with alcohol, demonstrating a strong association with heavy and problematic alcohol use. However, little attention has been directed toward older adults. Furthermore, studies have shown that regular ED consumers are more likely to meet the criteria for alcohol dependence compared to their peers. Despite this association, little is known about ED consumption among individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), particularly those undergoing treatment, and even less is understood about other caffeine sources such as coffee. This study aimed to …

Systemic Contributors To Health Equity: A Conceptual Framework And Moderation Analysis, Rachel Regal

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a line of research exploring systemic factors that influence health and health equity across the lifespan. A linking document prefaces two-manuscripts as follows. Manuscript 1, A Model for Enhanced Trauma-Informed Care: An Asset-Based, Transdisciplinary Approach to Health Equity, presents a synthesis of literature on multisystem resilience, social determinants of health, and adverse / positive childhood experiences to build an alternative framework to promote healing and health equity using an asset-based approach within enhanced trauma-informed systems of care and educational models. By adopting this enhanced framework, the counseling field and others can be responsive to emerging trends and …

The Genetic Architecture Of Cervical Change During Pregnancy: From Modeling To Mechanism — Does The Cervix Mediate Maternal Risk For Spontaneous Preterm Birth?, Hope M. Wolf

Theses and Dissertations

This project leverages clinical data and biospecimens from a prospective longitudinal cohort of pregnant women to study the genetic and phenotypic relationships between cervical shortening and the duration of pregnancy. Sonographic cervical length (CL) was measured throughout pregnancy in a cohort of 5,160 Black/African American women in Detroit, Michigan. Maternal DNA samples were sequenced with a next-generation low-pass whole genome platform. The heritability of cervical change during pregnancy and its genetic correlation with gestational age at delivery (GAD) were estimated using Genome-Wide Complex Trait Analysis. These estimates suggest that cervical change is heritable (h²CL = 51%) and highly polygenic trait. …

Feasibility Of Using Somatosensory Input On Pediatric Patients Receiving Dental Treatment, Liara D. Vinson

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The aim of this randomized, cross-over designed feasibility study is to evaluate patient anxiety, patient cooperation, and patient acceptance of a vibrating weighted vest used during the restorative treatment compared to when no device is used.

Methods: Children aged 5 to 15 years, needing at least two appointments for restorative treatment requiring local anesthesia under basic behavior guidance techniques were recruited. Patients were randomly allocated to wearing a vibrating weighted vest at one of the appointments. At both appointments, behavior was evaluated using Frankl scores and anxiety was evaluated at the beginning and at the end of …

Towards The Automation Of Post-Processing Of Additive Manufacturing Using Collaborative Robots, Logan Schorr

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the incredible potential that collaborative robots have, they are underutilized in several industries that could benefit greatly. These specialized fields, such as additive manufacturing, face challenges that can be solved with the use of robotics, including advanced computer vision, end-effector tooling, and process refinement. My research aims to utilize collaborative robots in an effort to solve the above stated problems, for the specific fields of additive manufacturing. Specifically within this field is the automation of post-processing; this is normally completely manual, as the tools for automation are not sufficiently developed to handle the flexibility required for additive manufacturing. This …

Effects Of Exergaming On Health And Fitness Outcomes For Students With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis, Jordan Mauch

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

While research on VR gaming and Exergaming is in its infancy, both are interventions that have demonstrated positive results such as promoting physical activity participation and positive attitudes towards physical activity in children and adolescents. Exergaming has also been shown to be effective in increasing physical activity in children, and children with disabilities may find exergaming to be an enjoyable alternative to traditional physical activity due to increased accessibility and the focus on both gross and fine motor skills. In studies of VR and/or exergaming with participants with cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder, researchers reported increases in motor function …

Study Of Scio-Demographic And Medical Issues Related To Tuberculosis In Baghdad, Iraq 2012-2016, Ali Kareem Durib, Loqman Juma Tawfiq, Z.A. Hassan

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Objective: The present study aimed at investigating socio-demographic issues of gender, living place, marital status, education and type of Tuberculosis, and medical issues, such as new smear positive cases, causes, treatment and new pulmonary positive cases in Baghdad City, Iraq for 2012-2016.

Methodology: A descriptive “retrospective” design was employed throughout the present study from the period of November 12^th 2017 to February 13^th 2018 in order to investigate socio-demographic and medical issues related to Tuberculosis. A convenient sample of (11680) registered patients with tuberculosis in Baghdad, Iraq for the period of 2012-2016. These patients were males and females …

Impact Of Genetic Polymorphism On Pulmonary Function And Individualized Treatment Plan In Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Hayder Ghali Wadi Algawwam, Affan Ezzat Hasan

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Less than 10% of people infected with M. tuberculosis develop the disease, suggesting that there are individual differences in susceptibility to tuberculosis. Defective genes could impact the host's immune response toward any infection, including pulmonary TB. Numerous genetic risk loci like HLA-G, MMP-1, IFN-γ, TLR-2, MCP-1, NRAMP-1 and many others have been discovered by recent genome-wide association studies, which indicate a high polygenic heritability for tuberculosis.

Aim: The aim of this review is to shed light on the potential effect of host genetic polymorphism on the degree of impairment in pulmonary function tests in individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Conclusion: …

Molecular Characterization Of Bla Oxa-51 Gene Among Acinetobacter Baumannii Isolates In Babylon Province, Huda H. Al-Hasnawy, Alya A. Rahi, Baraa H. Hadi

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii, identified as an ESKAPE pathogen, is part of a group of bacteria known for their high antibiotic resistance and significant role in nosocomial infections. Objectives: The objective of the current study is to investigate the genetic sequences of the blaOXA-51 gene in A. baumannii isolates. Materials and Methods: 600 specimens were collected during the period from September 2022 to December 2022 from three hospitals in Babylon Province/ Iraq. Results: In the present study, 20 (3.33%) out of 600 isolates from (urine, Burn, blood and wound)in percentage 6(30%), 5(25%), 5(25%), and 4(20%) respectively. The identification …

Potential Antidiabetic Activity Of Ficus Carica: The Concept Of Antioxidant Properties In A Rat Model, Hawraa Abdul-Jabbar I. Shwayekh, Reyadh H. Al-Mosawi, Alaa Jafear Mahrath

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: The benefits associated with a healthy diet can be attributed to higher concentrations of antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables such as flavonoid-polyphenolic compounds, tocopherols, and carotenoids.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of Ficus Carica and the histopathological study in striptozotocin (STZ) induced T2DM in rats and compare the effect of the plant with sitagliptin.

Materials and Methods: Forty apparently healthy male Wister rats weighing between 180 and 250 grams were used in the current investigation, which began in December 2023. To create type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2 DM), rats were fed …

Formulation And Characterization Of Poloxamer-Based Mucoadhesive Vaginal In Situ Gelling System Of Miconazole Nitrate, Omar Mohammed Alwan, Iman Sabah Jafar

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Vaginal candidiasis is the most prevalent illness among women and is mostly caused by Candida albicans, which causes most clinic visits. Objectives: The present study aimed to formulate and improve miconazole nitrate-containing thermosensitive bioadhesive gel for vaginal drug delivery to achieve better therapeutic effectiveness and patient compliance in the management of vaginal candidiasis. Materials and Methods: Miconazole nitrate (MN) was prepared as a (2%) vaginal gel by using 18% poloxamer (PLX) 407, 2% PLX 188 as thermoresponsive polymers, and Carbopol (CP) 934 and CP 940 as bioadhesive polymers. The prepared formulations were assessed for parameters such as gelation …