Digital Commons Network^™

A Contextual Analysis Of Life Stories From Older Adults Participating In A Telephone Reminiscence Program, Eliana Likorama

Honors Scholar Theses

Life satisfaction, loneliness, and mental health & well-being are important factors to consider when working with the older adult population. This population is predisposed to many risk factors for mental health problems such as coping with a serious illness, losing a loved one, living alone, cognitive deficits, and more. Reminiscence is one simple, flexible, and cost-effective intervention that can be utilized to promote the mental health and well-being of older adults. Reminiscence is defined as the cognitive process of recalling the past. Numerous studies have shown beneficial effects of reminiscence in older adults: increased self-esteem, enhanced quality of life, increased …

Alpha 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Expression In The Hippocampus Of Patients With Schizophrenia, Shruti Varshney, Ananya Nethikunta, Minjal Patel, Mary Kosciuk, Randel L. Swanson, Venkat Venkataraman, Robert Nagele, Eric Goldwaser, Nimish K. Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Schizophrenia (SZ) is a heterogenous psychiatric condition characterized by disruptions in cognition, social activity, affect, and perception often associated with a varied combination of positive and negative symptoms. The pathophysiology behind SZ remains poorly elucidated. Earlier reports have cited the importance of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR) in the hippocampus and the receptor’s association with auditory sensory gating and cognitive function. Specifically, variations in the expression and functionality of α7nAChR can be linked to auditory hallucinations experienced by patients with SZ and several therapies have been researched that target α7nAChRs. However, there are very few primary research …

A Genetic Association Study Of Circulating Coagulation Factor Viii And Von Willebrand Factor Levels, Paul S. De Vries, Paula Reventun, Michael R. Brown, Adam S. Heath, Jennifer E. Huffman, Ngoc Quynh Le, Allison Bebo, Jennifer A. Brody, Gerard Temprano-Sagrera, John Blangero

School of Medicine Publications

Coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and its carrier protein von Willebrand factor (VWF) are critical to coagulation and platelet aggregation. We leveraged whole-genome sequence data from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program along with TOPMed-based imputation of genotypes in additional samples to identify genetic associations with circulating FVIII and VWF levels in a single-variant meta-analysis, including up to 45 289 participants. Gene-based aggregate tests were implemented in TOPMed. We identified 3 candidate causal genes and tested their functional effect on FVIII release from human liver endothelial cells (HLECs) and VWF release from human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Mendelian randomization was …

Improving Initial Management Of Acute Musculoskeletal Pain In The Emergency Department, Cynthia Y. Norris

Cohort XII

Background/Problem Statement: Acute musculoskeletal pain is one of the major chief complaints amongst Emergency Department (ED) visits each year. In the United States, approximately 41.9 million annual ED visits are musculoskeletal pain related (Fontánez, et al., 2021). Yet, data statistics demonstrate at least 40% of patients reported their pain remained unchanged during their presentation to an ED (Bussey et al., 2020).

Aims/Methods: At University Medical Center, site of the quality improvement project, a total of 91,455 ED annual visits were reported in the latest data reports (El Paso County Hospital District 2022 Annual Report, 2022). This paper chronicles the implementation …

Cultures Represented In Everyday Life: Japanese And American Values And Culture, Andrea Korbel

University Honors College

Culture is an important factor in a country because of how it displays the values of the people within it. Japan is a homogenous society that has been around since 600 B.C., the culture created since early in age. While only having been officially founded in 1776, America has also grown to have a culture of its own, heavily due to it being a vast melting pot of a country. Both countries hold aspects of culture and their values within society that are similar and different. This paper examines parts of everyday life that the culture and values of the …

The Effects Of Mediterranean Diet On The Epileptic Population With Depression, Celina Navarro

Cohort XII

Background: People with epilepsy often develop depression during the course of their disease progression. This condition is multifactorial, often related to the unpredictability of their disease, the lack of control on their symptoms, and the medications they use to treat their seizures. Mental health services continue to be insufficient for our growing border region, and patients with epilepsy, often will lack the proper mental health management due to mental health provider shortage. Multiple medications can be used to successfully treat depression in the general population, however people with epilepsy often will struggle as anti-seizure drugs can interact with antidepressants. Also, …

Reaching Gold: Diagnosing And Individualizing Care Using Gold Abe Guidelines, Martha Flores

Cohort XII

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains the fifth leading cause of disease-related deaths worldwide, resulting in an annual cost of $3.5 billion in the United States due to COPD exacerbations. COPD treatment necessitates a multifaceted approach that includes collecting complex, subjective, and objective patient information. A ten-day patient assessment log was completed in an outpatient pulmonary clinic to evaluate any shortcomings in the current practice, revealing that the current evaluation of breathlessness involved gathering subjective reporting with binary yes/no responses, leading to variability in diagnosis and treatment.

Methods/Aims: The binary evaluation fell short of the recommendations of the Global …

Hypertension And Treatment Modalities: What Does The Current Evidence Say?, Luis R. Tellez

Cohort XII

Background/Problem Statement: The significantly elevated rates of cardiovascular (CV) disease observed among individuals with mental health conditions might stem from suboptimal handling of cardiovascular risk factors. In this project, I sought to address one aspect of cardiovascular risk: hypertension in patients 18-74 years of age, marked with a blood pressure >140/90 mmHg in a psychiatric inpatient setting. A tenday review of patient care revealed that hypertension management provided to patients under our service was inadequate and might be improved by adopting and implementing more consistent and systematic protocols for medication administration.

Aims/Methods: At the onset of my project, I undertook …

On Solid Ground: A Quality Improvement For Fall Prevention, Jessica Vergara

Cohort XII

Background/Problem Statement: Falls among older adults are a significant concern, affecting up to 30% of individuals aged 65 and older annually. Multiple risk factors contribute to falls, including age, comorbidities, medications, and environmental hazards. Despite the common belief that falls are inevitable with aging, this project emphasizes the preventability of falls through multidisciplinary management and proactive engagement in fall prevention programs.

Aims/Methods: The initiative focuses on implementing the Matter of Balance (MoB) program within an institutional setting. MoB has shown favorable effects on fall-related concerns. The study employs a comprehensive outreach strategy targeting older adults at risk of falling, those …

Improvement Of Patient Outcomes Through The Use Of Intensivist Nurse Practitioners, Leigha Fish

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing DNP Capstone Projects

This mixed retrospective and prospective cohort study aimed to compare mortality outcomes and associated factors between two cohorts of patients diagnosed with respiratory failure: on-call physicians and Interventional Nurse Practitioners (INPs). The analysis involved 143 patients, 82 in the on-call physician cohort and 61 in the INP cohort. Contrary to initial expectations, the two cohorts had no significant difference in mortality rates (p = 0.143). However, significant differences were observed in critical variables affecting mortality, including Time from Admit to Procedure Performance (p = 0.029), ICU Length of Stay (p = 0.013), and Ventilator Days (p = 0.048), with INP-managed …

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Commencement: May 2024, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of The Impact Of Neighborhood Environments On Alzheimer’S Disease And Alzheimer’S Disease-Related Dementias (Ad/Adrd), Darashagam Nahal

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

There is an increased interest in understanding the impact of neighborhood environments on cognitive functioning, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). Surprisingly, there has yet to be a comprehensive review that consolidates the findings from studies conducted in this specific field. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively investigate the influence of eight neighborhood environments on AD/ADRD. The seven key neighborhood environments that are investigated in this study include: i) socioeconomic status, ii) food environments, iii) physical activity resources, iv) social cohesion, v) crime, vi) non-crime safety, and vii) healthcare services. This research conducts a …

Une Library Services Quarterly Report May 2024, Une Library Services

Quarterly Reports

Highlights of accomplishments of the University of New England's Library Services department.

Performing Presidential Age: "It's About How Old Your Ideas Are", Valerie Barnes Lipscomb

English Sarasota Manatee Campus Faculty Publications

During a February surprise appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, President Joe Biden whipped out his trademark aviator sunglasses and traded quips with Meyers about a supposed conspiracy with Taylor Swift, much to the delight of the younger live audience. The next day, reviews were mixed about whether the president was trying too hard or did in fact manage to look hipper. To look younger. While US presidential nominees have been consciously performing their campaigns for decades, during this cycle, considering age as a performance has been especially prominent. Commentators and critics have specifically addressed the careful staging of …

Restricting Bioenergetic Efficiency Enhances Longevity And Mitochondrial Redox Capacity In Drosophila Melanogaster, Analisa L. Taylor, Olga Dubuisson, Pritika Pandey, Elizabeth R.M. Zunica, Bolormaa Vandanmagsar, Wagner S. Dantas, Alyssa Johnson, Christopher L. Axelrod, John P. Kirwan

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Mitochondria are essential for survival and as such, impairments in organelle homeostasis significantly accelerate age-related morbidity and mortality. Here, we determined the contribution of bioenergetic efficiency to life span and health span in Drosophila melanogaster utilizing the mitochondrial uncoupler BAM15. Life span was determined in flies fed a normal diet (ND) or high fat diet (HFD) supplemented with vehicle or BAM15. Locomotor function was determined by negative geotaxis assay in middle-aged flies fed vehicle or BAM15 under ND or HFD conditions. Redox capacity (high-resolution respirometry/fluorometry), citrate synthase (enzyme activity), mtDNA content (qPCR), gene expression (qPCR), and protein expression (western blot) …

The 20th Texas Silver-Haired Legislature Legislative Report, Texas Silver-Haired Legislature

Texas Silver-Haired Legislature

The 20th Texas Silver-Haired Legislature Legislative Report from the Legislative Session May 6-9, 2024 at the Capitol Building in Austin, Texas.

Mindfulness And Prosocial Behavior: A Study Of The Light Triad Of Personality Traits, Jake Goedert

University Honors Program Senior Projects

This study examined the relationship between mindfulness and a constellation of prosocial features known as the Light Triad. The past twenty years of psychological research has seen many studies confirming the benefits of mindfulness regarding the psychological health of individuals, but little research has been done to suggest the potential social benefits imparted by mindful qualities of awareness. In this study, 80 Northeastern Illinois psychology students were recruited through NEIU’s SONA platform and were presented with five separate questionnaires designed to assess prosociality (humanism, faith in humanity, and Kantianism), mindfulness, self-compassion, self-care competency, and felt purpose in life. This study’s …

Effects Of Age And Gender On Perceptions On Victims Of Financial Exploitation, Kathleen Hillman

Honors Theses

A report by the Center for Victim Research shows that younger adults are more often victims of general and identity fraud (Irvin-Erickson & Ricks, 2019, p. 9); however, research conducted on financial exploitation focuses heavily on older adults. However, a recent study by Gunderson and colleagues (2021) found that older and younger adults are highly susceptible to financial exploitation. The purpose of the current study is to determine if perceptions of vulnerability to financial exploitation vary by the age of the victim. A sample of undergraduate participants will be recruited from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga through an online …

Implications Of Learning Styles As A Tool On Universal Course Design, Laura Sacchetti

Instructional Design Publications

Creating an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all learners helps ensure the educational benefits can be enjoyed by the largest population possible. The theory of learning styles was developed as a response to the belief that learners respond better to educational stimulus that serves to their unique strengths. Learning styles cater to the strengths of each learner, whereas Universal Course Design accommodates all learners' needs. When used together, this symbiotic relationship can benefit learners in several ways. The implications of learning styles on Universal Course Design should be investigated to best determine its validity and usefulness in the classroom.

Impact Of Socioeconomic Inequalities On Racial/Ethnic Disparities In Adrd Incidence Rate In South Carolina, Noor Nishan

All Theses

none

The Effect Of Gentle Yoga On Average Daily Step Count, Francesca D'Agrosa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While walking is a widely accessible form of exercise that is highly effective at increasing overall wellness (Kadir et al., 2019; Zhao et al., 2015) and is a recommended form of physical activity for overweight and obese individuals, studies still indicate low step counts and levels of physical activity in people with obesity (Shultz et al., 2011). Sedentary overweight individuals may avoid walking for several reasons, including physiological and/or biomechanical factors that make walking more difficult. This study attempted to explore and address these avoidant behaviors by employing a single-case ABAB reversal design to implement bi-weekly gentle yoga sessions over …

Graduate List - May 2024, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Lists

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of A Virtual Simulation Program As A Novel Approach To Improve Clinical Judgment In Prelicensure Nursing Students, Monica Millard

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Problem: Limited clinical placement opportunities for practicing decision-making skills have widened the academic-practice gap. Research shows a disturbing decline in entry-level competency among newly graduated registered nurses. Innovative strategies like virtual patient simulation may foster decision-making skills and prepare prelicensure nursing students for practice. However, research is lacking in examining virtual patient simulation (VPS) as an effective approach for developing clinical judgment in prelicensure nursing students. The American Association for Academic Nursing has determined that clinical judgment is an essential nursing attribute. Moreover, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing developed the Next Generation National Council Licensure Exam based …

Examining The Risks And Resilience Of Older Adults Living With Hiv/Aids: Qualitative Community-Based Participatory Research Studies In Southern Nevada, Brandon Ranuschio

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the height of the HIV pandemic in the 1980s, medical interventions have significantly increased the life expectancy of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and made HIV/AIDS a livable, chronic health condition. Because of this, PLWH have been living longer lives and thriving with the help of HIV sector healthcare and service providers. However, with their longer life expectancy, older PLWH have been experiencing other health challenges. One such challenge is the risk of developing HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND), which is a condition that affects up to 50% of PLWH at some point in their lifetime, with middle-aged and older …

The Impact Of Educating Interprofessional Healthcare Workers On The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Cardiac Acute Care Setting, Jennifer L. Taosuvanna

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The acute care setting has been a vastly growing practice area for the occupational therapy profession. Occupational therapists assist clients in the acute care setting with activities of daily living retraining and functional transfer training to increase independence. Each client demonstrates a different discharge course from the acute care setting and occupational therapists play a key role in assisting the clients the most appropriate rehabilitative setting. All professionals in the acute care setting work cohesively to provide clients with the best outcome.

The doctoral project explored the importance of interprofessional healthcare worker education about occupational therapy practices in the acute …

Effects Of Chronic Diabetes And Attentional Focus On Performance And Learning Of A Novel Stabilometer Balance Task, Rebeca Carolina Armagnac Gonzalez, Yinny H. Lee, Alicia Marie Letkiewicz, Meiko Nagano Mamauag

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background and Purpose: Chronic diabetes is a prevalent systemic disease that impairs physical functioning and often leads to increased risk of falls. Adopting an external focus of attention during motor skill practice has been shown to improve learning outcomes, however, it has not been examined in this population. We examined how attentional focus instructions (internal vs. external) affect balance performance and learning in older adults with and without diabetes.

Methods: Fifty-three older adults (27 with diabetes, 63.7±7.0 years) participated in the randomized, pre-post intervention study. The balance training involved 50 practice trials of a stabilometer task that was novel to …

Increasing Nursing Aide Knowledge On Benefits Of Light For Sundowning Syndrome, Grace Hilfiker, Julie Masters

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

In this study, the knowledge of nursing aides on the benefits of light for sundowning syndrome was investigated. While dementia and sundowning syndrome is discussed during nursing aide training in the state of Nebraska, there is no discourse focused on how light plays beneficial role in lessening the symptoms of sundowning syndrome for those who are afflicted with dementia. This study asked what the current knowledge base surrounding dementia and sundowning syndrome is of nursing aides in the state of Nebraska. The aim was to justify adding a focus on concrete methods to use when caring for patients with dementia …

Using Additional Measures Of Handgrip Strength To Predict Aerobic Capacity In Wheelchair Users, Eric Naugle

All NMU Master's Theses

Manual wheelchair users have been shown to have low physical capacity and impaired ability to perform activities of daily living. Current tests and protocols for assessing physical capacity in wheelchair users have specific boundaries. Measuring handgrip strength (HGS) with electronic handgrip dynamometers has been shown to be a reliable measure of muscle function and a convenient assessment of overall muscle strength. This study aimed to determine the correlation of maximal HGS, HGS rate of force development, HGS fatigability, HGS isometric control, and HGS asymmetry to a six-minute wheelchair propulsion (6MPT) test in ambulatory young adults. Thirty-four recreationally active ambulatory individuals …

Use Of Cre-Lox Mice As A Model For Ependymogenesis, Poorva Bagchee

Honors Scholar Theses

Stem cells in the lateral ventricles of the brain undergo a process of development within the ventricular-subventricular zone. In early development neuroepithelial cells divide to form more neuroepithelial cells or convert to radial glial cells (RGCs). These RGCs, or stem cells, then divide to form neurons or other glial cells such as ependymal cells, which form a single-layered ependyma along the ventricular wall. These stem cells divide in two ways: symmetrically, producing two ependymal cells or asymmetrically, yielding one neural stem cell and ependymal cell. To further study this process the Cre-lox system in mice will be used. By breeding …

Analyzing The Impact Of Implicit Bias In Pharmacy And Healthcare-Related Professions, Jessica Bylyku

Honors Scholar Theses

American healthcare is a broad, complicated field of study and work. Those who work in healthcare may possess or be affected by implicit biases, which complicates matters more. Implicit bias is the unconscious mental tendency to create automatic associations with a particular group of people.1 As such, implicit biases have the potential to become explicit biases in the form of stereotyping, microaggressions, prejudice, and ultimately discrimination. Researchers believe implicit biases may have a biological basis in human brains, and several theories implicate bias in decision-making processes. The implications of bias have promoted researchers to perform many studies about effects on …