Digital Commons Network^™

Developing Resiliency Body Armor Through Psychological And Spiritual Means: How U.S. States' Icac Personnel Cope With Secondary Traumatic Stress, Jameson Lee Denagel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Global online child sex abuse and exploitation is rising due to the immense accessibility of the internet, and it takes specially trained and devoted investigators to combat the problem. However, combating these heinous crimes can create traumatic events for investigators, resulting in secondary traumatic stress. This quantitative correlative study examined the psychological and spiritual coping strategies to develop a resiliency body armor concerning Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force personnel (ICAC-TF) working on child sexual exploitation investigations. The theoretical framework combined the concepts of Resiliency Theory, psychology body armor, and spiritual body armor to create resiliency body armor. The study …

The Relationship Between Meaning, Basic Psychological Needs, And Motivation At Work: A Self-Determination Perspective, Cory Anne Trevena

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the following dissertation, I explored the predictive influence of meaning in life on autonomous motivation at work and psychological well-being in the presence of the three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness identified by self-determination theory. The first hypothesis for this correlational study was that meaning in life would distinctly predict autonomous motivation at work beyond autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The second hypothesis for this study was that meaning in life would distinctly predict psychological well-being beyond autonomy, competence, and relatedness. I conducted a multiple regression analysis on the data collected from 94 working adults recruited using …

Exploring The Barriers Colleges Face Implementing Positive Psychology Interventions To Reduce Depression, Anxiety, Or Stress In College Students, Margaret U. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to understand the barriers that colleges face implementing positive psychology interventions (PPIs) to reduce depression, anxiety, or stress (DAS) in college students. The problem was the lack of utilizing PPIs to reduce DAS in college students, despite increased reports of symptoms among this population. Several research studies have supported the use of PPIs to reduce. DAS in college students. However, no prior research was identified regarding barriers to initiating these interventions. The three research questions that guided this study were fueled by previous empirical studies that revealed three barriers to implementing …

Building Hope In Outreach Ministry, Preston W. Boerner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Churches and faith-based organizations may discover their role in fulfilling the Great Commission seems to be overshadowed by their efforts to provide other forms of relief and support. Central Florida, like many different regions in the United States, is facing an epidemic of homelessness and addiction. Natural and manmade disasters also present urgent and existential threats. The researcher believes that building true and lasting hope in Jesus is key to facing these challenges in the long term. He hypothesized that intractable barriers may create hopelessness and shift the focus of ministry away from inspiring hope. He conducted purposive interviews and …

Exploring The Mediating Effects Of Beliefs Toward Mental Illness On The Relationship Between Religiosity And Self-Stigma Of Seeking Help, Grace-Ann Gibby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is well-known that mental health concerns are common worldwide. Despite the increased research and strategic programs designed to improve mental healthcare systems, there are still persistent gaps in the accessibility and utilization of these services globally. The struggle to improve mental healthcare is even more difficult in developing countries. As a developing country, Bahamian society has insufficiently addressed mental healthcare. Mental health concerns have been categorized as a number one priority for The Bahamas, and a strong effort for the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health is highly recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2017). Statistics show …

Relationship Between Use Of Online Dating Apps And Mental Well-Being In Young Adults, Kyndal A. Burdin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Technology and social media use are steadily becoming the preferred way to form and maintain relationships. A large majority of young adult populations investing time and energy into dating applications to meet romantic partners. Research has identified that there are many benefits, but also many risks, to using technology. It is important to identify the potential negative outcomes that dating app users may face and inform mental health professionals who can create proper preventive measures and treatment plans when working with clients. This study addresses the gap in the literature about some of the potential relationships between negative mental health …

The Relationship Between Parental Regard And Youth Athlete Performance And Contingency Of Self-Worth, Alysia M.K. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Youth athletic participation is important for the socioemotional development of children, such as lowering the risk of antisocial behaviors, increasing prosocial behaviors, improving physical and mental health, and lowering the risk of obesity. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to explore the relationship between the youth athletes’ perception of how their parents regarded them and their self-worth and perception of their athletic performance, which was explored from the perception of the former youth athlete. The variables were operationalized by utilizing the following instruments: the Parental Conditional Positive Regard Scale (PCPRS), the satisfaction of sporting experience using Turman’s (2006) …

The Shared Experiences Of The Effectiveness Of Christian Mindfulness Meditation For Adult Evangelical Christians In Florida Experiencing Ptsd Symptomatology, Loraine Yvonne Pennant

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mindfulness meditation, though secular in origin, is a distinct Christian principle found in the Bible and are practices that Christians in general subconsciously subscribe to especially in times of traumatic stress. When adapted to reflect Christian principles, this practice should retain the basic concepts of mindfulness meditation while safeguarding the integrity of the biblical tenet. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and describe the shared experiences of the effectiveness of Christian mindfulness meditation of adult evangelical Christians in Florida suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder symptomology. A gap in literature exploring the topics of Christian rumination (meditation) and …

Relationship Between Attachment, Spirituality, And Moral Injury Among Military Veterans, Amy C. Minor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Extensive research indicates a convergence of emotional and neurobiological symptomatology between insecure attachment and moral injury among military veterans indicating a relationship may exist between attachment and moral injury. This quantitative correlational study aimed to investigate the relationship between attachment, moral injury, and intrinsic religiosity, addressing a gap in the research. This study included 42 United States residing participants all confirmed prior active military deployment to a war zone. Data was collected utilizing a single online survey to assess adult attachment, intrinsic religiosity, moral injury, and a demographic questionnaire. Bivariate correlations revealed that insecure anxious attachments positively correlated with intrinsic …

2024-10-16 Seattle Reign Eliminated From Playoff Contention With Loss To Utah, Keagen Brooks-Torres

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.

Molecular Mechanisms Of Biofilm Formation In Helicobacter Pylori, Kartika Afrida Fauzia, Wiwin Is Effendi, Ricky Indra Alfaray, Hoda M Malaty, Yoshio Yamaoka, Muhammad Mifthussurur

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Biofilm formation in

METHODS: We conducted a literature review analysis of the published articles on the

RESULTS: The results showed that biofilm formation starts as adhesion and progresses through micro-colonies, maturation, and dispersion in a planktonic form. Moreover, specific genes modulate each phase of biofilm formation. Few studies have shown that mechanisms, such as quorum sensing and diffusible signal factors, enhance coordination among bacteria when switching from biofilm to planktonic states. Different protein expressions were also observed between planktonic and biofilm strains, and the biofilm architecture was supported by exopolysaccharides, extracellular DNA, and outer membrane vesicles.

CONCLUSIONS: This infrastructure …

Do Linear Clearings In Boreal Peatlands Recover? Comparing Taxonomic, Phylogenetic, And Functional Plant Diversity, Ellie M. Goud, Scott J. Davidson, Anna Dabros, Kimberly Kleinke, Megan A. Schmidt, Maria Strack

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Land-use changes and anthropogenic disturbances are major threats to biodiversity, affecting ecosystem function and recovery. In boreal Alberta, Canada, petroleum development has led to extensive landscape fragmentation, notably through linear clearings created for seismic exploration that remove surface vegetation and microtopography. Despite partial recovery on forested seismic lines, peatland recovery is often arrested, impacting wildlife and carbon dynamics. Restoration efforts employ silviculture techniques to create microtopography and foster tree growth, but the efficacy of restoration treatments in restoring peatland plant diversity remains uncertain. We compared taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of understory plant communities across treated and untreated seismic lines, …

Critical Reflections On Salamander. A Response To “Land Education And Young People Working Toward Salamander”, Jay Odenbaugh, Stacy Meyer

Democracy & Education

In this response, we examine what it means to center Indigenous perspectives, how we can avoid overly individualistic approaches to examine the well-being of students, and how SALAMANDER might be implemented with younger students.

Generation Of Coastal Area Dems Using Oblique Stereo Imagery From Non-Metric Cameras With Sfm Techniques, Mona Hajiesmaeeli, F. Antonio Medrano, Philippe Tissot

I-GUIDE Forum

This study focuses on the the development of a method to create Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) for forecasting coastal inundation, a critical tool in the face of rising sea levels and extreme weather events. The study utilizes oblique stereo imagery captured with non-metric cameras, focusing on the area adjacent to Horace Caldwell pier in Port Aransas, Texas. The methodology involves the strategic placement of two Amcrest Ultra4K non-metric cameras on an elevated structure at the pier entrance. These cameras, positioned 8 meters above the ground and 20 meters apart, capture images at varying nadir angles high oblique (65 degrees), oblique …

An Introduction To The Time-Independent Schrödinger Equation And Methods To Solve It, Vu Giang, Alex Gnech

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

The Time-Independent Schrödinger Equation is a linear elliptic PDE that describes quantum-mechanical systems. Its significance in the science of submicroscopic phenomena, particularly quantum mechanics, is as central as Newton’s laws of motion are to classical mechanics. This study uses various methods, including novel neural networks and finite difference schemes, to solve the one-dimensional two-body equation.

The Horrific Anxiety Of Resurrection: A Study Of Uncanny Mirroring In The Gothic, J.R. J. Rizzo

Locus: The Seton Hall Journal of Undergraduate Research

The overall theme of this paper surrounds the anxiety when coming face-to-face with the uncanny. More broadly, it seeks to unite the field of psychoanalysis and the horror genre in a symbiotic relationship. It is my belief, that within the heart of horror lies the mycelium of the uncanny. That is, where horrific themes and devices are, so too lives the uncanny.

Teaching Occupational Adaptation Using Constructs Of The Model, Linda R. Struckmeyer, Anna B. Galloway

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background. Quality, evidence-based health care practice and research is guided by theory; therefore, theory should be one of the first courses in health care professional curriculums. Signature andragogical methods of case-based learning, small and large group discussion, active learning, and self-reflection developed the teaching and learning activities to teach the occupational adaptation (OA) model in this study.

Methods. A mixed-methods design of qualitative open-ended questions and quantitative survey were used to measure student understanding and application of theoretical concepts. The lab assignment integrated andragogical methods, the use of the Relative Mastery Measurement Scale (RMMS) for individual and social adaptation, and …

Choosing Wisely® In Academia, Strategies For Clinical And Classroom Curricula, Jennifer Tokash, Glen Gillen, Virginia Koenig

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Incorporating evidence-based practice (EBP) into occupational therapy (OT) program curricula is best practice and mandated by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The Choosing Wisely® campaign, founded by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and adopted by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), provides 10 recommendations for evidence-based OT. This project focused on the Choosing Wisely® campaign's incorporation into OT program curricula. A 40-min educational program focusing on the history of Choosing Wisely®, its adoption by the AOTA as a specialty society partner, and strategies to bridge the campaign's evidence-based recommendations from classroom to clinical experience were …

Outdoor Educational Opportunities And Movement Breaks Effect On Mental, Social, Emotional Health Of Adolescents, Nathaniel Ballard

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper examined research intent on the purpose of studying how educational leaders may support the mental, social, and emotional health of adolescents through incorporating outdoor educational opportunities and movement breaks in the classroom. The qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches used, delve into the ways of incorporating movement in the classroom through brain breaks, utilizing outdoor education opportunities, and the effects technology can have. These concepts and tools can work together to support the mental, social, and emotional health of adolescents as well as to promote greater academic growth. However, they must be utilized appropriately for intended success. The …

Monocyte And Macrophage Functions In Oncogenic Viral Infections, Juliana Echevarria-Lima, Ramona Moles

Cell and Molecular Biology Publications

Monocytes and macrophages are part of innate immunity and constitute the first line of defense against pathogens. Bone marrow-derived monocytes circulate in the bloodstream for one to three days and then typically migrate into tissues, where they differentiate into macrophages. Circulatory monocytes represent 5% of the nucleated cells in normal adult blood. Following differentiation, macrophages are distributed into various tissues and organs to take residence and maintain body homeostasis. Emerging evidence has highlighted the critical role of monocytes/macrophages in oncogenic viral infections, mainly their crucial functions in viral persistence and disease progression. These findings open opportunities to target innate immunity …

An Emerging Multi-Omic Understanding Of The Genetics Of Opioid Addiction., Eric O Johnson, Heidi S Fisher, Kyle A Sullivan, Olivia Corradin, Sandra Sanchez-Roige, Nathan C Gaddis, Yasmine N Sami, Alice Townsend, Erica Teixeira Prates, Mirko Pavicic, Peter Kruse, Elissa J Chesler, Abraham A Palmer, Vanessa Troiani, Jason A. Bubier, Daniel A Jacobson, Brion S Maher

Faculty Research 2024

Opioid misuse, addiction, and associated overdose deaths remain global public health crises. Despite the tremendous need for pharmacological treatments, current options are limited in number, use, and effectiveness. Fundamental leaps forward in our understanding of the biology driving opioid addiction are needed to guide development of more effective medication-assisted therapies. This Review focuses on the omics-identified biological features associated with opioid addiction. Recent GWAS have begun to identify robust genetic associations, including variants in OPRM1, FURIN, and the gene cluster SCAI/PPP6C/RABEPK. An increasing number of omics studies of postmortem human brain tissue examining biological features (e.g., histone modification and gene …

Fear, Distress, And Dissociation: Correlates Of Physiological Hyporeactivity After Interpersonal Victimization, Natalia Kecala

Dissertations

Background and Objective: Despite consistent findings of high reactivity to trauma cues in PTSD, there exists a consistent subset of physiological nonresponders who exhibit more complex and severe posttraumatic symptomatology. Research has identified different patterns of defensive reactivity representing Fear (core) and Distress (complex) PTSD symptoms. However, no studies have directly compared responders and nonresponders on physiological and clinical symptoms posttrauma.

Method: 66 adult women who had experienced first-degree sexual or physical assault within the last month were categorized using heart rate reactivity (HRR) to two personalized trauma scripts. Participants exhibiting negative HRR to both scripts were classified as nonresponders …

Advancing Stem Cell Technologies For Conservation Of Wildlife Biodiversity., Ashlee M Hutchinson, Ruth Appeltant, Tom Burdon, Qiuye Bao, Rhishikesh Bargaje, Andrea Bodnar, Stuart Chambers, Pierre Comizzoli, Laura Cook, Yoshinori Endo, Bob Harman, Katsuhiko Hayashi, Thomas Hildebrandt, Marisa L Korody, Uma Lakshmipathy, Jeanne F Loring, Clara Munger, Alex H M Ng, Ben Novak, Manabu Onuma, Sara Ord, Monique Paris, Andrew J Pask, Francisco Pelegri, Martin Pera, Ryan Phelan, Benyamin Rosental, Oliver A Ryder, Woranop Sukparangsi, Gareth Sullivan, Nicole Liling Tay, Nikki Traylor-Knowles, Shawn Walker, Antonia Weberling, Deanne J Whitworth, Suzannah A Williams, Jessye Wojtusik, Jun Wu, Qi-Long Ying, Thomas P Zwaka, Timo N Kohler

Faculty Research 2024

Wildlife biodiversity is essential for healthy, resilient and sustainable ecosystems. For biologists, this diversity also represents a treasure trove of genetic, molecular and developmental mechanisms that deepen our understanding of the origins and rules of life. However, the rapid decline in biodiversity reported recently foreshadows a potentially catastrophic collapse of many important ecosystems and the associated irreversible loss of many forms of life on our planet. Immediate action by conservationists of all stripes is required to avert this disaster. In this Spotlight, we draw together insights and proposals discussed at a recent workshop hosted by Revive & Restore, which gathered …

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy For Point-Of-Care Bioanalysis: From Lab To Field, Vineeth Puravankara, Aravind Manjeri, Young Ho Kim, Yasutaka Kitahama

Open Access archive

In the ever-evolving landscape of biomedical diagnostics, the early diagnosis of a disease is important for not only a patient but also the public health of a country. In this regard, the detection of pathogens as well as the analysis of biomarkers from body fluids, for preventive healthcare at a very low concentration have been the subject of intense research lately. Despite the availability of numerous analytical tools, detecting trace concentrations of analyte with high specificity remains a formidable challenge. Driven by the advances in micro-nanofabrication tools, photonics, and nanotechnologies, a variety of optical techniques that utilize nanostructures or nanoparticles …

Neural Correlates Of Socially Rewarding Memories In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Kyle P. Blidy

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Significance. Memory disturbances for emotional content are central to PTSD, yet most research focuses on trauma memories. Recent evidence suggests that enhancing access to positive memories could improve mood, affect regulation, self-esteem, and integration of trauma memories. However, the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying positive memory encoding in PTSD are poorly understood. No study has examined memory for positive social items in PTSD, which is important because PTSD entails social withdrawal and reduced accessibility to positive memory. Additionally, positive memories embedded in a social context have enhanced subjective value and strengthening their accessibility may confer greater benefits to wellbeing compared to non-social …

“The Company At St. Anne’S” And “The God’S Gardeners”: What C.S. Lewis And Margaret Atwood Teach Us About Caring For Our Planet, Anne-Frédérique Mochel-Caballero

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

At first sight, That Hideous Strength (1945) by C.S. Lewis and the MaddAddam trilogy (2003, 2009, 2013) by Margaret Atwood seem to have little in common. Yet, despite differences of time and place, and approach of the authors, there are startling and generative similarities between the two communities they depict, the Company at St. Anne’s and the God’s Gardeners. In considering the groups' opposition to reductionist technocracy and a shared set of principles, Atwood's MaddAddam trilogy seems to be carrying on the heart of Lewis' dystopic That Hideous Strength as effective ecological and ethical speculative fiction.

The Wart, The Wizard, And The Cathedral: Applying C.S. Lewis's Intertextuality Theory To T.H. White And J.K. Rowling, G. Connor Salter

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Applying C.S. Lewis' metaphor of authors being cathedral-builders to understand intertextual writing (combining influences with innovation) provides a fascinating lens to understand T.H. White's Arthurian work. Exploring how White's The Once and Future King influenced J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series (particularly her characters Vernon and Dudley Dursley) provides a particularly interesting example of how fantasy authors use intertextuality to create original works.

A Bleak, Barren Take: A Response To “Women And Fertility In The Lord Of The Rings”, Clare Moore, Leah Hagan

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

A response to Dylan Henderson's article on "Women and Fertility in The Lord of the Rings" (#142), highlighting some of the problematic ecocritical and gender essentialist premises of his argument.

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Biology

No abstract provided.

Antimetastatic Effect Of Nanodiamond-Conjugated Quercetin Against Colon Cancer: An In Vivo Study, Firli Rahmah Primula Dewi, Sephia Tiara Marviella, Sri Puji Astuti Wahyuningsih, A'Liyatur Rosyidah, Vuanghao Lim, Lionel Lian Aun In, Amy Yi Hsan Saik, Bimaji Ariyogo, Mee Lee Looi

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Quercetin (Q) is a compound that can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the colon; however, to do so, a high dose is needed, requiring a drug delivery system to target cancer endothelial cells directly. This study investigates the potency of nanodiamond-conjugated quercetin (NDQ) as an anticancer drug against colon cancer in Rattus norvegicus induced by N-methyl N-Nitrosourea (MNU). Materials and methods: This study is experimental-based and was designed using a six-group treatment method, namely normal control (KN: not treated by MNU, nanodiamond (ND), or Q); negative control (K–: treated by MNU); positive control (K+: treated by MNU …