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Teachers’ Life Experience Of Trauma And Its Impact In The Classroom, Casey Voelz

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine if teachers’ lived experiences of trauma impact practices, relationships, and responses to student behaviors in the classroom. The common themes could allow colleges, school districts, and school leaders to reflect, develop, or improve access to therapeutic interventions and teacher self-discovery in the areas of self-awareness, self-regulation, and emotional intelligence. This qualitative study involved obtaining data from the Indiana Department of Education. The Indiana Department of Education provided email addresses for superintendents for public schools in Indiana. Superintendents received an email requesting teacher participation. If approved, teachers received the ACE survey. From …

The Impact Of Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) On Avian Occupancy And Vegetation Structure, Kenneth Wilson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Invasive species, particularly wild pigs (Sus scrofa), pose a significant threat to native ecosystems through both direct and indirect impacts. Wild pigs are large-bodied omnivorous species that can consume a wide variety of plants and animals and are known for destructive foraging behaviors, which likely threatens avian communities through habitat alteration and can impact the long term structure of ecosystems where they are present.

In chapter 1, we used a combination of avian point count surveys, vegetation assessments, and camera trap surveillance to quantify how the occupancy of breeding birds in bottomland hardwood forests changed in relation to …

Online Self-Directed Learning About Covid By Custodial Fathers In The U.S., Susan Bradley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The COVID pandemic was a time of unprecedented need for self-directed learning due to a conflagration of factors. These included the rapid global spread of the virus, leading to over 1.8 million deaths worldwide in 2020 alone according to the World Health Organization. In addition, traditional authorities such as the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control, along with individual health practitioners and institutions, failed to calm the panic due to a lack of agreement about recommended protections and treatments.

Simultaneously, due to COVID’s strain on the healthcare system, people were urged to refrain from visiting their doctors …

Design And Synthesis Of Therapeutic Molecules Targeted At Metabolic Pathways Of Cancer And Lipid Signaling In Fungal Diseases, Jennifer Uzoamaka Nnaemeka

All Theses

Cancer remains a leading cause of global mortality, with 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths recorded in 2022 (WHO, 2024). While advancements like nanoparticles and monoclonal antibodies offer new treatments, they often cause severe toxicity to normal cells. This study introduced novel thiamin-based compounds targeting enzymes critical for cancer cell proliferation. These compounds were synthesized via a three-step process involving tosylation, SN2 coupling with phenolic compounds, and subsequent reactions to form thiamin-like-phenol derivatives. Yields ranged from 50-70%, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) confirmed their structures. Anticancer activity was assessed by the National Cancer Institute. Separately, drug-resistant fungal infections, …

Soybean Cyst Nematode (Heterodera Glycines Ichinohe) Virulence Assay Against Resistance Sources In Nebraska, Pratibha Karki

Department of Plant Pathology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe), one of the major yield-limiting pathogens of soybean, is currently found in 60 counties of Nebraska that produce more than 90% of the state’s soybean. Often, yield loss occurs without any above-ground symptoms, which makes it difficult to manage. The primary management option is the use of SCN-resistant varieties. Several soybean plant introductions serve as resistance sources against SCN. Unfortunately, the single source, PI 88788, is used in approximately 90% of resistant varieties and its prolonged use has increased the virulence status of SCN in the U.S. A study was conducted to assess …

Novel Mouse Models To Study The Role Of T Cells In Cardiac Autoimmunity, Meghna Sur

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Myocarditis patients can chronically develop dilated cardiomyopathy and autoreactive T cells could contribute to the disease pathogenesis, but defining their antigen specificity remains a major challenge. To fill this gap, we generated T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic (Tg) mice specific to cardiac myosin heavy chain (Myhc)-α 334–352 and made a few observations. First, we unexpectedly noted both CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing TCRs specific to Myhc-α 334–352. Second, while Tg T cells from myocarditis-resistant C57BL/6J mice did not respond to Myhc-α 334–352, those from immunized mice responded, indicating that in vivo priming is necessary to break tolerance. Third, upon …

Troubling Paradise: Exploring The Experiences Of National Student Exchange Participants To The University Of HawaiʻI At Mānoa, Allison Yap

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

An Extensive Exploration Of Generalist Microbotryum Species Through Host Interactions., Emilee Walters

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

The Microbotryum species complex is a group of fungi, commonly known as anther smuts. Anther smuts are plant parasites that must invade a host plant in order to fulfill their life cycle. As the Microbotryum fungus grows, it sterilizes the host plant, such that infected plants produce fungal teliospores instead of pollen on the male reproductive organs and female reproductive structures do not mature. Microbotryum usually exists as a specialist species, however, there is evidence that several species of anther smuts can exist as generalist species. Comparisons of the infection process and the resulting response of both parasite and host …

Factors Influencing Colostrum Avoidance In Developing Countries: Insights From A Literature Review, Muhammad Zeeshan Aslam, Jonathan Johnson, Marina Baig, Abeer Musaddique

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Introduction: Colostrum is a thick, sticky, clear and yellowish-coloured milk produced after the first few hours of birth until day 3. It consists of vitamin A, proteins, lipids, potassium, and maternal antibodies, including lactoferrin, immunoglobulin, growth factors and antimicrobial factors. Colostrum avoidance is the practice of squeezing out, pumping, and discarding the first milk. Various studies have reported colostrum avoidance worldwide, but its prevalence is higher in developing countries. Every day, approximately 3000 to 4000 infants die due to diarrhea and respiratory infections in developing countries, and one of the leading causes is colostrum avoidance. Infants are unable to take …

Dalbavancin Use At A Health System Network In Compliance With A Standard Plan Of Treatment For Infective Endocarditis And Osteomyelitis, Nicholas Lombardi, Anthoula Kritikos, Jacky Ye, Victor Cohen

Doctoral External Publications

Dalbavancin is a lipoglycopeptide approved for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and soft tissue infections caused by gram-positive microorganisms.

Used off-label in the management of infective endocarditis in IV drug users, as well as in osteomyelitis infections.

Extremely long half-life of greater than a week.

Potential cost-effective option for susceptible gram-positive infections and increased patient compliance.

Impact Of Order Set Implementation On Institutional Management Of Clostridioides Difficile In Adult Patients, Nicole Henry, Olivia Campbell, Heather Daly, Katelyn Quartuccio, Melanie Lintala

Doctoral External Publications

In February 2022, the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) updated their practice guidelines, in accordance with the Infectious Diseases Society of America, to include fidaxomicin as the preferred agent in patients with initial (non-fulminant) or first recurrence of C. difficile infection (CDI).

Health system protocols were updated to include polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for patients with suspected CDI followed by confirmation via toxin enzyme immunoassay (EIA).

In the appropriate clinical context, PCR+/EIA+ test confirms active CDI and warrants antibiotic treatment.

PCR+/EIA- test indicates likely colonization and may preclude the need for treatment.

A CDI order set was implemented …

Responding To The Workforce Crisis: Consensus Recommendations From The Second Workforce Summit Of The American Society Of Pediatric Nephrology., Danielle E. Soranno, Sandra Amaral, Isa Ashoor, Meredith A. Atkinson, Gina-Marie Barletta, Michael C. Braun, Joann Carlson, Caitlin Carter, Annabelle Chua, Vikas R. Dharnidharka, Keri Drake, Elif Erkan, Dan Feig, Stuart L. Goldstein, David Hains, Lyndsay A. Harshman, Elizabeth Ingulli, Alexander J. Kula, Mary Leonard, Sudha Mannemuddhu, Shina Menon, Zubin J. Modi, Marva Moxey-Mims, Arwa Nada, Victoria Norwood, Michelle C. Starr, Priya S. Verghese, Darcy K. Weidemann, Adam Weinstein, Jodi Smith

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

IMPORTANCE: Pediatric patients with complex medical problems benefit from pediatric sub-specialty care; however, a significant proportion of children live greater than 80 mi. away from pediatric sub-specialty care.

OBJECTIVE: To identify current knowledge gaps and outline concrete next steps to make progress on issues that have persistently challenged the pediatric nephrology workforce.

EVIDENCE REVIEW: Workforce Summit 2.0 employed the round table format and methodology for consensus building using adapted Delphi principles. Content domains were identified via input from the ASPN Workforce Committee, the ASPN's 2023 Strategic Plan survey, the ASPN's Pediatric Nephrology Division Directors survey, and ongoing feedback from ASPN …

The Learning Crisis: Three Years After Covid-19, Tomasz Gajderowicz, Maciej Jakubowski, Alec Kennedy, Christian Christrup Kjeldsen, Harry Anthony Patrinos, Rolf Strietholt

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruptions to education, with school closures affecting over one billion children. These closures, aimed at reducing virus transmission, resulted in significant learning losses, particularly in mathematics and science. Using data from TIMSS 2023, which assesses fourth and eighth-grade achievements across 71 education systems, this study analyzes the impact of school closure duration on learning outcomes. Mixed-effect models estimate deviations from pre-pandemic trends, adjusting for demographic factors. Results show a global average decline of 0.11 standard deviations (SD) in student achievement, with longer closures linked to more severe losses. The effects on low performers, girls, and …

Delineating Genetic Influences On Neurodegenerative Disorders And Infectious Diseases Through Advanced Computational Methods, Xiaowei Zhuang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Genetics plays a critical role in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders and pathogen evolution in infectious diseases. For example, identifying genetic variants associated with a disease phenotype uncovers functional pathways that could lead to potential drug targets and therapeutic interventions. In addition, tracking the genetic evolution of pathogens enables early detection and warning of infectious disease outbreaks. In both applications, given the large amount of genetic data, advanced computational methods, including longitudinal and multivariate models, could significantly boost the statistical power and capture interrelationships among traits, environmental factors and genetic influences. This dissertation focuses on four applications of …

Evaluating The Duckweeds Lemna Minor And Spirodela Polyrhiza As Alternative Aquatic Hosts For The Spread Of The Bacterial Wilt Pathogen, Ralstonia Solanacearum, Irelynn Smith

Honors Theses

Ralstonia solanacearum is a plant pathogen that causes bacterial wilt disease in major crops such as tomatoes and potatoes. Recently, this bacterium was discovered in floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) and Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pennysylvanicum), two previously unsuspected aquatic plants. Duckweed is an aquatic plant with a high level of resilience and short doubling time. Common duckweed (Lemna minor) has previously demonstrated its capability as a versatile high-yield infection model for other types of pathogenic bacteria. Given this newfound branch of aquatic hosts and the fact that duckweed is a common pond weed previously identified in several ponds located nearby infected …

(R2102) Chaos Measure In A Discrete Sir Epidemic Model With Constant Recovery, Sonia Aneja, Itendra Kumar, Sada Nand Prasad

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

A discrete SIR epidemic model with constant recovery and bilinear incidence rate is investigated for emergence of regular and chaotic behaviour in the context of non linear dynamics and different viable settings. The Euler’s discretization method is employed to transform the continuous epidemic model into discrete model which has been used as the study model. Attention is paid to various bifurcation plots obtained by varying certain system parameters while keeping other parameters constant. Bifurcations indicate regular evolution followed by chaos. Regular and chaotic attractors have been drawn in the process. As part of chaos measure, numerical studies are extended to …

Medication Use Evaluation Of Fecal Microbiota Spores (Live-Brpk) For The Prevention Of Recurrent Clostridioides Difficile Infection., Haley Michaud Pharmd, Trent Towne Pharmd, Bcps, Sarah Ferrell Pharmd, Bcpps, Bhavika Patel Pharmd, Noah Budi Pharmd

Pharmacy Residency

Presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. New Orleans, LA

This medication use evaluation found that infectious diseases providers were more likely to prescribe advanced treatments such as fidaxomicin or fecal microbiota compared to other specialties. Of the 93.1% of patients seen by Infectious Disease, 62.9% (n=17) of those patients were prescribed fecal microbiota spores (live-brpk) (VOWST). Of the 29 eligible patients, 41.4% (n=12) were identified as missed opportunities.

Victims Unknown: An Evaluation Of The Way Louisville, Kentucky Communicated About Aids At The End Of The 20th Century, Alexander M. Vernon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This is thesis examines the way that printed news sources reported on AIDS during the height of the epidemic in Louisville, Kentucky. It compares between mainstream and grass-roots sources to work to identify shortcomings in reporting, and how reporting on a public health crisis can be improved upon in the future. It uses an intersectional framework to deconstruct why certain news sources reported on specific demographics of the population, across racialized and gendered lines. Chapter One analyzes the epidemic and then contextualizes the language that was used. Chapter Two focuses on mainstream local newspapers, while also defining demographics of AIDS …

Evaluation Of The Etiology Of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (Rpl): An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study Exploring Obstetrician Gynecologist Clinical Provider Behaviors And Factors Contributing To Incomplete Evaluations, Emelia Grant

Doctor of Philosophy in Translational Health Sciences Dissertations

Background: More than 50% of patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) are left without explanations for their losses. However, current research suggests that up to 90% of these individuals could receive explanations through evidence-based laboratory testing. Professional guidelines vary in their recommendations for laboratory testing and RPL evaluation, which can contribute to delayed or fragmented care and untreated maternal disease. Inequities in access to genetic testing further complicate the diagnostic landscape of RPL since payor policies often determine which tests are covered, leaving many patients without access due to financial constraints.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate current practices of …

Identification Of Lncrnas Involved In The Host Response To Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Infection, Mahgol Behnia

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is an enveloped positive-sense RNA virus in the alphavirus genus of the Togaviridea family, that causes encephalitis in humans and equids. Currently no FDA-approved vaccine or treatment is available for human use, emphasizing the importance of studying host-VEEV interaction. lncRNAs are regulatory RNAs involved in modulation of antiviral pathways during viral infections. Here we report differential lncRNAs expression in primary mouse astrocytes and neurons during non-pathogenic (TC-83) but not pathogenic (TrD) VEEV infection. We further demonstrated that suppression of four lncRNAs increased TC-83 replication, with lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 15 (Snhg15) increasing TC-83 …

Timigp: A Computational Framework To Determine The Tumor Immune Microenvironment Associated With Prognosis And Immunotherapy Response, Chenyang Li

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Accumulating evidence has suggested that the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) drastically impacts cancer patients’ clinical outcomes, including prognosis and immunotherapy response. However, understanding TIME remains challenging due to its complexity and heterogeneity. In this dissertation, we introduce TimiGP (Tumor Immune Microenvironment Illustration based on Gene Pairs), a computational framework designed to address this challenge. Leveraging single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) and bulk gene expression data alongside clinical information, TimiGP constructs a cell-cell interaction network that elucidates the relationship between immune cell function and relevant clinical outcomes, such as prognosis and treatment response. With immunological insights, these cell-cell interactions also facilitate the development …

Global, Regional, And National Burden Of Hiv/Aids, 1990–2021, And Forecasts To 2050, For 204 Countries And Territories: The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2021, Austin Carter, Magdalene K. Walters, Deepa Jahagirdar, Edmond D. Brewer

Open Access archive

Background: As set out in Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, the target date for ending the HIV epidemic as a public health threat is 2030. Therefore, there is a crucial need to evaluate current epidemiological trends and monitor global progress towards HIV incidence and mortality reduction goals. In this analysis, we assess the current burden of HIV in 204 countries and territories and forecast HIV incidence, prevalence, and mortality up to 2050 to allow countries to plan for a sustained response with an increasing number of people living with HIV globally. Methods: We used the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and …

Risk Factor Patterns For Elder Abuse Among United States Indigenous Peoples: Native Elder Maltreatment Survey Secondary Data Analysis, Maylynn Riding In

Theses and Dissertations

Elder abuse is a significant public health issue, with findings indicating that 9% to 10% of older adults in the United States experience abuse. This figure is likely mirrored among Indigenous Peoples residing within tribal boundaries, although specific data is scarce. This study aims to fill the gap in understanding the prevalence and risk factors associated with elder abuse among United States Indigenous Peoples (USIP) through a secondary data analysis of the Native Elder Maltreatment Survey (NEMS). The NEMS employs two key instruments: the Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test (HS EAST), which is validated for community use, and the Native …

Community College Student Success During Covid-19 Pandemic Based On Class Modality, Rebecca Aslinger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this non-experimental, quantitative, comparative study was to determine whether there were significant differences in Introduction to Education grades as measured by GPA among community college students between 2018-23 with the change of class modality due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This study examined differences in Introduction to Education grades as measured by GPA at three community colleges from 2018-23. Archival data were used for this study. The population for this study consisted of all students enrolled in the Introduction to Education course at three institutions. Both in-person and online classes were examined during the time before, during, and …

Kaupa Letters: Volume 12, Issue 2, Korean American University Professors Association

KAUPA Letters

No abstract provided.

From Resistance To Host Response: An Integrative Study Of C. Difficile Infections, Amber Consul

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major healthcare challenge, causing severe gastrointestinal illness and significant mortality. Understanding the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, epidemiology, and immune response in CDI is critical for developing effective treatments and prevention strategies.

This dissertation encompasses three complementary studies. The first study investigates the genetic mechanisms underlying cephalosporin resistance in C. difficile strain 630 through differential gene expression analysis. The second study provides a descriptive epidemiological analysis of C. difficile ribotypes in a Las Vegas patient population, highlighting differences between healthcare-associated (HA-CDI) and community-associated (CA-CDI) cases. The third study integrates serum analyte profiling and transcriptomic analysis …

Suboptimal Attainment Of Global Goals Of Human Rights, Universal Health Coverage And Sustainable Development Goals In Gaza During 2023–2024, Mohammed Alkhaldi, Bhavana Akilan, Maha Hoteit, Mohamed Elhadidy, Suzanne Morrison

All Works

The Israel military occupation, ongoing for over 75 years, has profoundly impacted the health and well-being of Palestinians. Despite longstanding calls for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and sustainable development, the response of global health systems and organizations to crises such as the recent large-scale military assault on Gaza in October 2023 has been inadequate. There is a critical need to examine why these global health approaches have failed and how they can be restructured to address the unique challenges in Gaza effectively. This analysis aims to analyze the shortcomings of global health strategies in the context of the Gaza crisis …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors Regarding Water Quality, Nitrate Contamination, And Related Health Issues Among Nebraska Healthcare Professionals, Jessenia Hincapie

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Nitrate contamination in drinking water is a public health concern, particularly in agricultural regions. Healthcare professionals often address water quality issues but may lack sufficient knowledge regarding the health effects of nitrate contamination. This study evaluates whether Nebraska healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes about nitrate contamination predict their behaviors in addressing this issue.

Methods: A survey was administered to healthcare professionals across Nebraska to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding nitrate contamination in drinking water. A total of 462 respondents participated. Generalized linear regression analysis was employed to assess the impact of knowledge and attitudes regarding nitrate contamination …

The Effects Of Livestock On Mosquito Diversity And Abundance In Hidalgo County, Taylor Nicole Moya

Theses and Dissertations

Mosquitoes are detrimental to animals and threaten humans. More information is needed on how farm animal presence may impact mosquito abundance and diversity at farms. My goal in this study is to determine if there is any correlation between animal abundance or diversity on a farm and the abundance and diversity of mosquitoes collected. Hidalgo County, Texas, has a subtropical desert climate, ideal for mosquitoes. I hypothesized that the mosquito abundance and diversity indices would increase as the livestock abundance or diversity increases. Adult mosquitoes were collected using two CO2-baited light traps per farm from Spring 2022 to Fall 2022. …

Self-Rated Interprofessionalism Between Allied Health Professionals, Courtney Andrews

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Preventable deaths due to medical errors are a significant cause of death in the United States. Decreased communication and collaboration has been cited as a potential reason for these preventable medical errors. Interprofessional practice (IPP) is a service delivery method where medical professionals from different disciplines intentionally work together in order to provide collaborated and collective care for patients. Interprofessional education (IPE) training programs are becoming more common in healthcare education, and have been cited as one way to improve IPP among healthcare providers. However, gaps exist in the literature regarding how to best structure and implement these programs so …