Digital Commons Network^™

An Exploration Of The Experiences And Factors Influencing Physical Activity In People With Parkinsons, Heather Hunter

School of Health Professions Theses

Abstract:Background: Physical activity plays a crucial role in enhancing the well-being and quality of life of people with Parkinsons. Despite substantial evidence supporting its benefits, people with Parkinson’s struggle to maintain an active lifestyle. This thesis explored the perspective of people with Parkinsons on their engagement in physical activity.Methodology: This research employed a person-centred approach, comprised of three sequential phases. Phase One: A systematic review utilising the JBI approach of meta-aggregation synthesised the best available qualitative evidence of people with Parkinson's' views and preferences regarding physical activity interventions. Phase Two: Constructive Grounded Theory was used to explore the beliefs, attitudes, …

The Role Of A Pelvic Orthotic In The Management Of Chronic Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain: A Feasibility Study And Validation Of A Novel Body Perception Measure, Bradley Halliday

School of Health Professions Theses

Chronic pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) affects an estimated 10% of post-partum women and is typically recalcitrant to conservative management. One novel option to manage this is a customised Dynamic Elastomeric Fabric Orthosis (DEFO), however, currently non studies have evaluated the clinical and cost-effectiveness or acceptability of this orthotic in post-partum women. Further, the mechanism of action of this orthotic is unknown. One mechanism may be to impart an effect on the disturbed body perception, which preliminary evidence has demonstrated is affected in women with PPGP. Current understanding is limited by an absence of research into women with PPGP and …

The Role Of Oral Nitrate Reducing Bacteria In Cardiovascular Health: Impacts Of Diet And Exercise, Craig Clarke

School of Health Professions Theses

This thesis investigated the important role of oral bacteria in blood pressure regulation and vascular function through the NO3--NO2--NO pathway following exercise or dietary interventions. Study 1 examined the effect of antibacterial mouthwash on the oral microbiome and nitrate metabolism in vegetarians and omnivores. Notable alterations in bacterial composition were observed after mouthwash administration, including reductions in the Prevotella genus (from 27.7% to 9.6%, P = 0.001) and Actinomyces genus (from 9.5% to 5.7%, P = 0.001), along with decreases in Prevotella melaninogenica (from 18.1% to 6.2%, P = 0.001) and Rothia dentocariosa (from 0.09% to 0.04%, P = 0.001). …

More Than A ‘Decorative Frill’: Meaningful Engagement With Feminism In International Law, Nienke Grossman, Jaya Ramji-Nogales

Articles

No abstract provided.

Exosomes And Encapsulated Exomirs In Breast Cancer: Theragnostic Applications And Clinical Implications, Muhammad Imran Sajid, Shafia Bukhari, Hamid Ilyas, Rubina Malik, Minahil Fatima, Rakesh Kumar Tiwari, Surya M. Nauli, Khawaja Husnain Haider

Pharmacy Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Exosomes, released by cells, are small vesicles that have emerged as critical theranostic tools in breast cancer due to their unique ability to transport diverse biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, and RNAs, including microRNAs (ExomiRs). These vesicles are critical in modulating the tumor microenvironment, driving processes like cancer proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. Exosomal microRNAs such as ExomiR-21, ExomiR-1246, and ExomiR-155, with their profound influence on the gene expressions in the recipient cells, are the unsung heroes in tumor progression and immune modulation. This chapter delves into exosome's dual diagnostic and therapeutic potential in breast cancer. It highlights their …

Religious Liberty, Public Accommodations, And Non-Discrimination: A Rapidly Emerging Injustice, Gordon Babst

Political Science Faculty Books and Book Chapters

The decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., suggested to many that the scope of religious liberty was in a principled, logical way expanded to include free expression rights of corporate entities. It is concerning that many champion the decision as a basis for expanding religious exemptions to non-discrimination law as regards public accommodations, especially since the same reasoning that is being used with respect to the contemporary target of discrimination based in religious belief—American citizens who happen to be in a sexual minority—would apply by analogy, as it once did explicitly, to racial minorities. Unfortunately, given the …

Introduction To Contemporary Facets Of Injustice, Gordon Babst

Political Science Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Injustice itself is too infrequently the subject of direct rumination, with one notable exception being Judith Shklar’s The Faces of Injustice. The chapters in this volume consider some contemporary injustices, revealing their presence in ways that help to explain current issues that range from inequities in food access to the dangers of Christian nationalism, from better understanding how to conceptualize international law, to income disparity and the tax code.

Revolutionizing The Immaculate Conception: The Limitations Of Medieval Theology And The Advancements Of John Duns Scotus, Emily G. Knoppe

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Although in the modern era, the Immaculate Conception is a controversial doctrine that prompts conflict primarily between Catholic and non-Catholic groups, during the medieval period Roman Catholics were greatly divided on the topic. Opposition to the belief hinges not only on its lack of scriptural basis and complicated theology, which some deem as placing Mary outside of the need for Christ’s redemption, but also on the fact that it was not declared dogma until 1854 by Pope Pius IX. In this thesis, I first consider how Augustine of Hippo’s original sin theology laid the foundation for avid rejection of the …

From The Battlefield To The Asylum: The Social Construction Of Disability In Italy, 1900 - 1950, Brandie Crisp Robb

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The Italian social construction of disability reflects a complex interplay between social, religious, political, and religious influences present during the first half of the twentieth century. While Western European and American disability discourse remained similar, those influences unique to Italy resulted in the formation of two distinct disability discourses during the early twentieth century: that of the heroic physically disabled veteran who sacrificed everything for the good of Italy, and the eugenically unfit Italian associated with dependency and uselessness. By combining a theoretical framework that includes critical disability theory with historical methodology, the following thesis demonstrates how the emerging disability …

Threshold: Stories & Graphic Memoir, Emily Kay Lewandowski

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Threshold: Stories & Graphic Memoir, a collection of fiction and graphic memoir, explores the in-between stages of loss and grief. Both the fiction and graphic memoir pieces utilize the technique of the “narrative echo,” coined by John Gardner, to stylistically explore and interrogate these stages of in-betweenness. The final piece in this collection, “I Hope You Find Me On Mars,” is a queer expansion of Octavia Butler’s trilogy Lilith’s Brood. Each piece uses unique voice and styling to contribute to the larger literary community by interrogating manifestations of identity, queerness, and grief.

Characterization Of The Overexpression Of Reca Homologs Rad51 And Dmc1 In Tetrahymena Thermophila, Jianna M. Cox

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

RecA homologs, Dmc1 and Rad51, work to repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) within the cell through the recombination of homologous sections of DNA. Dmc1 works to repair programmed DSBs through meiotic recombination, while Rad51 functions to repair both meiotic and non-meiotic DSBs, the latter repaired through the process of homologous recombination repair (HHR). Chemotherapeutics, exogenous agents, work to form DSBs in cancer cells, attempting to inhibit the cell’s growth. A hyper recombinant phenotype is often seen in cancer cells due to the overexpression of RAD51, leading to drug resistance, the persistence of cancers, and an overall poor patient outcome. …

Livelihood Adaptive Strategies And Marginalization In Decision-Making: A Study Of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (Glof) Vulnerable Communities In Northern Pakistan, Sobia Shah

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study examines livelihood adaptation strategies and the dynamics of marginalization in decision-making within communities vulnerable to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in Gilgit-Baltistan, Northern Pakistan. Grounded in a vulnerability framework encompassing exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, it addresses two objectives: identifying household and community-level adaptation strategies to GLOF risks and analyzing structural drivers of marginalization in adaptation decision-making. A mixed-methods design was used, combining a systematic review of GLOF measures in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region with a household survey of 150 respondents in Hassanabad and Hoper valleys. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) assessed how socio-demographic, economic, institutional, and …

Balancing Performance And Efficiency: An Autoencoder Approach To Api-Based Malware Detection, Selma Bouraoui

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The constant evolution of malware presents a critical challenge to today's interconnected world. It poses an increasing threat on different scales, spanning from individuals, organizations to critical infrastructures such as government’s security. Hackers continuously develop new techniques to evade detection methods. When confronted with the high volume and variety of malware, conventional approaches tend to struggle to perform in robust, accurate and timely manner. This thesis explores the application of deep learning methods to improve malware detection and classification techniques. By analyzing API call sequences, the proposed approach leverages Autoencoders to compress high-dimensional malware data into more optimized representations that …

In Code We Trust: Blockchain’S Decentralization Paradox, Sangita F. Gazi

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

This Article explores blockchain technology’s decentralization and governance challenges. It interrogates the tension between the idea of a trustless, decentralized economy at the core of blockchain’s promise and the realities of power concentration and information asymmetry. Examining the ramifications of the Crypto Winter of 2022 on trust and governance within the blockchain ecosystem, the Article also underscores a critical paradox within blockchain ecosystems. It argues that despite the foundational ethos of decentralization and open participation, the governance structures of major blockchain networks manifest significant centralization, challenging the narrative of an egalitarian, user-driven evolution. The current state of blockchain’s centralities fundamentally …

Netchoice, Regulatory Competition, And The Real Battle Behind Social Media Regulations, Tao Huang, Assistant Professor Of Law

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

Regulating online social media platforms has been a fiercely debated issue for years. The NetChoice case decided by the US Supreme Court 2023 Term arises from a circuit split regarding Florida and Texas laws that regulate social media content moderation. Most discussions on regulation of social media content moderation have focused on whether social media platforms are speakers (editors) or carriers (conduits), and whether their moderation practice constitutes editorial judgment (i.e., protected speech). This Article argues that this framing of the debate ignores another more important role of social media platforms—as regulators. Platforms, when they enact and enforce their content …

Sensory Processing And Anxiety In Bipolar Disorder, Lyric Arvizu

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Past research suggests that individuals with bipolar disorder often experience differences in sensory gating and sensory processing, and similar patterns have been observed in anxiety disorders. Given that anxiety is highly comorbid with bipolar disorder, the present study examined how these conditions relate to self-reported sensory processing differences. A total of 132 participants (88 female), including 43 with bipolar disorder, were included in the final sample. Anxiety symptomatology was measured via the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Form Y. Sensory processing questionnaires included the Sensory Gating Inventory (SGI) and the Adult Sensory Processing Scale (ASPS). Correlations, t-tests, a multivariate analysis of …

Capacity Building In The Irish Brewing And Distilling Sector For Raw Materials Utilisation, By-Products Management, And Environmental Impact Assessment, Ekene C. Umego

Doctoral

The Irish brewing and distilling sector has shown a consistent increase in number, production output, sales, and export value in the last decade. This has implications for raw materials requirements, assessment, and by-products management for the sustainability of the sector. As a result, the main aim of this research study was to evaluate the status of raw materials use and assessment within the Irish brewing and distilling sector, explore by-products management options and valorisation initiatives, and analyse the environmental impact of Irish whiskey production. The first approach was a survey study to collect data on major raw material inputs use …

The Jury Does Not Always Need Help From Lay Opinion Witnesses, Taurus Myhand

Scholarly Works

Who is the “reasonable person”? There is little doubt that every competent legal professional, both in law practice and in the academic setting, has spent a great deal of time attempting to define the reasonable person. “Reasonableness is largely a matter of common sense.” In police encounters, the definition is certainly important to the outcome of questionable police conduct. How the reasonable person is defined often determines whether a police officer has infringed on an individual’s Fourth Amendment guarantee to be secure in their person against unreasonable searches and seizures. As the narratives of the news media shape how some …

Current Higher Education Legal Issues And The Roles Of Legal Leadership On Campus, Louis H. Guard, Joyce P. Jacobsen, Patricia E. Salkin

Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

How To Teach A Course On Land Use And Anti-Jewish Discrimination, Michael Lewyn

Scholarly Works

In 2022, I was asked to teach a one-week mini-course within a broader course on "Structural Barriers and the Pursuit of Equity," a course focusing on various forms of structural discrimination. The course is typically taught by over a dozen professors from various parts of Touro University, each of whom teaches for a week on a different topic. I chose to teach on issues related to land use law (because my scholarship focuses on that area) and in particular how land use law has been used by and against traditionally observant Jews (because that is the religious tradition I am …

You Get The Jury You Get And You Don’T Throw A Fit, Taurus Myhand

Scholarly Works

The proliferation of deepfake videos has resulted in rapid improvements in the technology used to create them. Although the use of fake videos and images is not new, advances in artificial intelligence have made deepfakes easier to make and harder to detect. Basic human perception is no longer sufficient to detect deepfakes. Yet, under the current construction of the Federal Rules of Evidence, trials judges are expected to do just that. Trial judges face a daunting challenge when applying the current evidence authentication standards to video evidence in this new reality of widely available deepfake videos. This article examines the …

Climate Nationalism, Gabriel Weil

Scholarly Works

Climate change is a global commons problem. The costs of emissions in any given country are mostly borne by foreigners. Absent strong measures to overcome this dynamic, pursuit of national self-interest will lead people and countries to underinvest in decarbonization, relative to what's best for the world as a whole. And we do see such underinvestment. Many countries are not on track to meet their Paris Agreement pledges, and those pledges, even if met, are not ambitious enough to meet the headline temperature stabilization goals of the agreement. This is the fairly banal pursuit of national interest in the climate …

A Conservative Attack On Urbanism - And Why It Fails, Michael Lewyn

Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

Disparate Impact And Synagogue Location, Michael Lewyn

Scholarly Works

Because anti-density regulations seem likely to have a negative impact upon Sabbath-observant Jews, one might think that such regulations violate the Fair Housing Act (FHA) disparate impact doctrine. The purpose of this article is to show why FHA claims in this type of situation are unlikely to succeed: first by explaining the law governing the disparate impact doctrine, and then by applying that law to a hypothetical case involving Orthodox Jews.

Tribal Authority To Issue Search Warrants To Non-Tribal Entities Or On Non-Indian Land Within Reservation Boundaries, Ivy K. Chase

American Indian Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Native Fight For Hunting Rights: The Crow Tribe And Herrera V. Wyoming, Jacob Lewis

American Indian Law Review

No abstract provided.

The “Arm” That Saves You Might Also Strangle You: The Impact Of Sovereign Immunity On Economic Arms Of Tribes And How It Could Affect Others’ Willingness To Contract With Them, Josh Pumphrey

American Indian Law Review

No abstract provided.

Thinking Artfully With Matter: A Posthuman Enquiry Into The Pedagogical Values Of Sketch-Booking., Melanie Potier

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

Becoming attentive to art practices in terms of what they can do rather than what they are, the writing generates a more tentative-artful engagement with how sketchbooking processes engender more response-able relationship with the world. Exploring the relation between sensation and thought, this exemplification of the speculative potential of force and form, emerges as a powerful resistance to the constraints of the neoliberal education system. Practicing art as immanent doing, Erin Manning’s theory of incipient movement works to develop concepts, such as research-creation, event-time, artfulness and thought in motion, which find expression through the mundanities and ordinary occurrence of the …

Sealed Justice: Federal Courts' Inconsistent Record-Sealing Rules And Their Impact On Judicial Transparency, David S. Ardia

Faculty Publications

Public access to court records is a cornerstone of democratic governance, enabling public oversight of the judiciary and fostering confidence in the rule of law. Despite a strong presumption in favor of openness under both the First Amendment and common law, the sealing of federal court records has become widespread, often with minimal judicial scrutiny. Re-cent investigations have revealed that excessive court secrecy shields government and corporate misconduct, conceals vital public-safety information, and erodes public confidence in the courts.

This Article presents the first comprehensive analysis of the local rules governing sealing in all 94 federal districts, reviewing more than …

Wellness And The Tax Law, Leigh Z. Osofsky

Faculty Publications

The tax law has long provided extensive subsidies for “medical care.” These subsidies cost the government hundreds of billions of dollars a year. The definition of medical care, which is at the heart of these subsidies, originated many decades ago at a time when there was little to no conception of wellness.

Times have changed in the medical world. Medical science now emphasizes that wellness practices, like exercise, meditation, and social connection, have an important impact on physical as well as mental health, including by playing a significant role in preventing and treating disease. Under the tax statute, medical care …