Digital Commons Network^™

First Portfolio: Introduction To Psychology (Psych 181), Chelsea A. Witt

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This course portfolio analyzed student learning in Introduction to Psychology, Psych 181 at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. This course is often taken by first year students of various backgrounds and majors; this course is a pre-requisite for many other psychology courses. In general, the course covers basic psychological concepts in the realm of biopsychology, developmental psychology, social and personality psychology, cognitive psychology, and clinical psychology. Student enrollment for this section is capped at 200. This portfolio outlines my course goal, objectives, and assessments of those goals. There is also a reflection throughout regarding how well students feel supported and …

Providing Culturally Competent Eldercare For Asian Americans, Britney Ngo

Honors Theses

As the Asian American elderly population continues to grow, it is important to acknowledge cultural factors that may impact their behavior, attitudes, preferences, and decisions in the context of eldercare. Cultural competency acknowledges and considers these factors while providing care that includes biophysical factors of healthcare as well as non-medical dimensions of care such as language and culture.

This thesis seeks to address the applications of providing culturally competent eldercare to Asian Americans and offer future recommendations to care settings that have limited resources by utilizing a multidisciplinary review of literature accompanied by interviews with representatives from On Lok, a …

S-Equol: A Novel Therapeutic For Hiv-1 Induced Gut Dysbiosis, Mason T. Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

HIV-1 infection affects approximately 38 million people around the world. The advent of cART has greatly improved the quality of life of infected individuals; however, roughly 50% of these individuals will still experience HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Additionally, the gut microbiome has been reported to be dysbiotic in HIV-1 infected individuals, regardless of adherence to cART. Current research has pointed to the gut-brain-microbiota axis as a potential target to treat both cognitive deficits and microbial changes. The present study investigated S-equol (SE) as a potential therapeutic for HAND by modulating the gut microbiome. The study included 21 HIV-1 Tg …

Pharmacological Extension Of Lifespan Via Mitochondrial Uncoupling In Drosophila Melanogaster, Analisa Taylor

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Physical Activity/Sport Performance And The Benefits Of Virtual Reality- A Systematic Review, Madeline Rushing

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Socializing Targets Of Older Adults’ Sns Use: Social Strain Mediates The Relations Between Older Adults’ Sns Use With Friends And Well-Being Outcomes, Yue Qi Germaine Tng, Hwajin Yang

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Studies have yielded mixed findings regarding the relation between older adults’ social networking site (SNS) use and well-being. Drawing on socioemotional selectivity theory, we sought to examine whether older adults’ SNS use with different socializing targets (i.e., family vs friends) would differentially predict global, social, and mental well-being outcomes indexed by life satisfaction, loneliness, and depressive symptoms, respectively. Furthermore, we examined whether social support and social strain would mediate, in parallel, the relations between SNS use and well-being outcomes. We recruited healthy, community-dwelling older adults (ages 60–93 years, N = 69). Using the PROCESS macro, we found that SNS use …

International Student Mobility And Internationalization Of Higher Education In Hungary And China: A Comparative Analysis, Feifei Wang, Yi Wang

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Global competition is currently reshaping higher education worldwide. Hungarian and Chinese higher education institutions are increasingly channeling resources to higher education development to promote the internationalization of higher education. There have been few studies specified differences between Hungarian and Chinese higher education internationalization. Over the past few years, both Hungarian and Chinese governments have started to prioritize raising international student mobility to enhance countries’ competitiveness at the global level. This article outlines the definition of higher education internationalization to provide a comprehensive understanding of this term. This article also briefly describes the background of higher education in Hungary and China …

An Exploratory Study Of Technology Use By Older/Senior Men For Enrichment, Communication, And Social Connectedness, Emerson Campbell Hardy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

More older adults are moving toward options for digital connection; keeping up with and learning technology is challenging. Older adults’ perceptions of the difficulty of learning to use technology may contribute to their hesitancy to adopt technology options (Barnard, Bradley, Hodgson, & Lloyd, 2013). The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to explore the experiences of older/senior men learning and using technology for enrichment, communication, and social connectedness; and (2) to identify learning experiences and/or supports that aided these older/senior men in building knowledge, confidence, and comfort in technology use.

This was an exploratory qualitative study utilizing in-depth interviews. …

Student Nurses' Career Preferences For Working With People With Dementia: A Longitudinal Cohort Study, M Hebditch, S Daley, W Grosvenor, Et Al

Peninsula Medical School

BACKGROUND: Internationally there are too few suitably skilled registered nurses to meet the demands for dementia care. Research has established low preferences in undergraduate nursing students for working with older people. However, there is limited research on preferences for dementia care. Understanding career preferences is one component of ensuring future workforce capacity. OBJECTIVE: To assess student nurses' preferences during undergraduate training in relation to working with people with dementia. METHODS: Data from a longitudinal survey collected at two UK universities were analysed (n = 488). Measures included career preferences, demographics, participation in a dementia educational intervention, and measures of attitude, …

Social Support And Psychological Distress Among The Bedouin Arab Elderly In Israel: The Moderating Role Of Gender, Sarah Abu-Kaf, Ora Nakash, Tsahi Hayat, Michal Cohen

School for Social Work: Faculty Publications

In Israel, as in other developed countries, mental health problems are common among older adults who are members of disadvantaged ethnic minorities that are experiencing cultural and social changes. The main goals of the current study were: (a) to examine gender differences in the levels of psychological distress and social support among Bedouin elders, and (b) to examine the moderating role of gender in the associations between social support indices and psychological distress. We used a cross-sectional design, and independent t-tests and hierarchical linear regression analysis were performed. The study was conducted in homes and in social clubs and community …

The Role Of Palmitoleic Acid In Regulating Hepatic Gluconeogenesis Through Sirt3 In Obese Mice, Xin Guo, Xiaofan Jiang, Keyun Chen, Qijian Liang, Shixiu Zhang, Juan Zheng, Xiaomin Ma, Hongmei Jiang, Hao Wu, Qiang Tong

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hepatic gluconeogenesis is a crucial process to maintain glucose level during starvation. However, unabated glucose production in diabetic patients is a major contributor to hyperglycemia. Palmitoleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid (16:1n7) that is available from dietary sources. Palmitoleic acid exhibits health beneficial effects on diabetes, insulin resistance, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome. However, the mechanism by which palmitoleate reduces blood glucose is still unclear. SIRT3 is a key metabolism-regulating NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase. It is known that fasting elevates the expression of SIRT3 in the liver and it regulates many aspects of liver’s response to nutrient deprivation, such as fatty …

Midlife Vascular Factors And Prevalence Of Mild Cognitive Impairment In Late-Life In Mexico, Miguel Arce Renteria, Jennifer J. Manly, Jet M. J. Vonk, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Alejandra Michaels Obregon, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Rebeca Wong, Sandra Barral, Giuseppe Tosto

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its subtypes and investigate the impact of midlife cardiovascular risk factors on late-life MCI among the aging Mexican population.

Method: Analyses included a sample of non-demented adults over the age of 55 living in both urban and rural areas of Mexico (N = 1807). MCI diagnosis was assigned based on a comprehensive cognitive assessment assessing the domains of memory, executive functioning, language, and visuospatial ability. The normative sample was selected by means of the robust norms approach. Cognitive impairment was defined by a 1.5-SD cut-off per cognitive domain using …

Prediction Model Of 30-Days Postoperative Pneumonia In Elderly Patient Undergoing Abdominal Surgery, Noto Dwimartutie, Harini Oktadiana, Gurmeet Singh, Wifanto Saditya Jeo, Kuntjoro Harimurti

Jurnal Penyakit Dalam Indonesia

Introduction. Physiologic changes in respiratory tract in elderly increase incidence of post-operative pneumonia. Post-operative pneumonia in non-thoracic surgery was found higher in abdominal surgery. This study aimed to develop a prediction model of 30-day post-operative pneumonia in elderly patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Methods. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using elderly patient’s medical records who underwent abdominal surgery in Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was used to determine Odds Ratio (OR). Model’s calibration performance was determined by Hosmer-Lameshow test and its discrimination performance was determined by calculating area under the curve (AUC).

Results. Of …

Accessibility Of Mental Health Services Within The American Deaf Community, Hali E. Hartman

Student Works

The prolonged state of silence in which members of the American Deaf community dwell daily may be causing them to experience elevated levels of adverse mental health effects (Gryglewicz et al., 2017). To increase the accessibility of mental health services for suffering deaf individuals, anti-discrimination laws have been enacted throughout history (“Americans With Disabilities Act,” 2022; Horton et al., 2012; Schniedewind et al., 2020; Vernon, 2006). Despite such strides, more should be done to improve existing resources. Increasing the number of deaf professionals working in mental healthcare settings and educating hearing providers on the language and culture of the Deaf …

Insomnia Among Covid-19 Patients During Isolation Treatment In Inpatient Room Of Indonesian Health Care Facilities, Tamara Nur Budiarti, Arina Dery Puspitasari, Alfian Nur Rosyid, Diah Indriani, Soenarnatalina Melaniani, Fatimatuz Zahra Oviary Satryo, Lily Aina, Nanda Ardianto, Melinda Putri Amelia Rachman, Fauzul Meiliani

Media Kesehatan Masyarakat Indonesia

Insomnia was a problem of Covid-19 patients often moaned because the physical and psychological condition of patients are weak. This study aims to analyze the association between respondent’s characteristics, social factors, and medication adherence with insomnia when Covid-19 survivor become isolated patients. This study used a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional design. The study was conducted in August 2021. The population of this study was all Covid-19 survivors. The sample of this study was part of Covid-19 survivors with a total number of 191. Data were collected by an online questionnaire via google form and analyzed by chi-square test. Almost all …

Complexities Of Concealable Stigma: Identity Management In The Workplace, Tyra Vason, Donna Chrobot-Mason

Dismantling Bias Conference Series

No abstract provided.

Microgreens Grow Kit: A Novel Pilot Study To Improve Nutrition Awareness, Ben Haslund-Gourley, Chris Para, Swaksha Rachuri, Sascha Enders, Rayna Marshall, Vibhuti Mishra, Simone Udeh, Jessica Nwabeke, Annette Gadegbeku

Transformative Medicine

Obesity and associated non-communicable illnesses including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke have steadily increased in prevalence over the last decade. Previous studies identified the involvement of individual, family, and community support intervention strategies used to prevent and manage obesity. Additionally, education on nutrition from the early stages of development is crucial for obesity prevention and control. Therefore, new preventative methods are needed to further engage and educate individuals and communities about health-conscious diets. Microgreen cultivation utilizes a reduced cost, low-footprint, recyclable, weather-independent, and transportable method to provide less nutrition-privileged communities with exposure to healthy foods within one …

Changes In The Body Posture Of Elder Women Under The Influence Of Various Nordic Walking Training Programs, Monika Wiech, Krzysztof Prusik, Zbigniew Ossowski, Jakub Kortas

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background:‪One of the effects of involution is the change in the body posture. Muscles lose their flexibility and strength, causing the typical changes in body posture of the elderly. Hyperkyphosis is a typical feature of the posture, which leads to serious health problems. The aim of the study was to analyse changes in the body posture of elderly women who took part in diversified Nordic walking training.Material and methods:‪The study group comprised 90 elderly women divided into two experimental groups and control. The main method was an experiment. The tested women took part in a 6-month Nordic walking training cycle. …

The Effect Of Aging Consumers’ Characteristics On Store Selection And Food Shopping: A Review, Vimal Chandra Verma, Nadine Khair, Norbert Meiners

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

The human population is aging faster and faster than in the past. As a result, it can be demographically proven that there will be more people older than 60 worldwide in the next 35 years. According to the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA’s) India Aging Report 2017, the proportion of people over 60 could increase from 8% in 2015 to 19% in 2050. The Indian government in particular states in its report that there will be 340 million people over 60 by 2050, creating new challenges due to specific characteristics and needs. However, this often overlooks the group of older …

Intergenerational Mobility Of Education In Thailand: Effects Of Parents’ Socioeconomic Status On Children’S Opportunity In Higher Education, Natthani Meemon, Ning J. Zhang, Thomas T. H Wan, Seung Chun Paek

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

As a result of the government investment in education opportunity, there has been a remarkable expansion of higher education over the last 50 years in Thailand. Nevertheless, it still remains questionable whether the expansion is accompanied by ensuring equality of opportunity in higher education. Thus, this study, employing the concept of intergenerational mobility, examined both cross-sectional and long-term effects of parents’ socioeconomic status on children’s opportunity in higher education with the nationwide socioeconomic data of 2005 and 2017. The results indicated that although the higher education opportunity increased by approximately 30% during the 12-years period, parents’ socioeconomic status still played …

Alzheimer's And Patient Caregiver Burnout: A Review Of The Literature, Madeline Hekeler

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

The term “silent epidemic” is fitting for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as its negative impact is widely felt but rarely discussed. Burnout among AD caregivers has become an epidemic of its own as caregivers experience an increase in health risks, stress, and financial burden. This literature review focuses on caregiver burnout and how imperative it is that caregivers are better supported in their role. Researchers have developed instruments to assess and intervene in caregiver burnout that have shown effectiveness among caregivers and their families.Nevertheless, further longitudinal research is warranted regarding more effective interventions, including stress management and social support mechanisms.

Opinions Of The Students Of The University Of The Third Age On Selected Health Behaviors And Social Support – A Comparative Analysis, Ewa Kupcewicz, Malgorzata Kusmierczyk, Barbara Wilk, Monika Opanowska, Marcin Pasek

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: In the reflection on old age, the issue of activating the elderly and incorporating them into social life in order to counteract social exclusion and all forms of discrimination is clearly marked. The study aimed at getting to know the opinions of the students of the University of the Third Age on preferred health behaviors and social support. Material and methods. The study group involved 130 students of the University of the Third Age. The vast majority were women (90%, n=117), and the mean age was 65.4±5.9 years. The study used a questionnaire containing questions about sociodemographic data, selected …

Perceptive Ability Of Female Students Of The University Of The Third Age And Its Links With Physical Fitness And Mood, Joanna Piotrowska, Monika Guszkowska, Ewa Kozdron, Ewa Niedzielska, Anna Les, Bartlomiej Krynicki

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the speed and failures of perception and attention among female students of the University of the Third Age (U3A) and their links with physical fitness and mood. Material/Methods: The study involved 114 women aged between 50 and 88 years old (M = 68.17) participating in U3A lectures at the University of Physical Education in Warsaw. Perception ability was investigated using Ciechanowicz and Stańczak’s Attention and Perception Test. Physical fitness was assessed with the Fullerton Fitness Test and the Romberg manoeuvre to evaluate the ability to maintain balance. The participants were also …

The Role Of Physical Activity In Supporting Treatment Of Coxarthrosis Symptoms In Elderly Patients, Malgorzata Kawa, Malgorzata Kowza-Dzwonkowska, Agnieszka Schenk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Next to degenerative changes of the spine, osteoarthritis of the hip is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system in people after the age of 65. The purpose of this study is to compare and evaluate the analgesic effectiveness treatments with exercises on a bicycle ergometer in osteoarthritis of the hip in patients. Material/Methods: The study involved 30 persons with degenerative disease of the hip referred to 10-day rehabilitation with a weekend break. In Group A 14 patients were subjected to treatments with local cryotherapy and laser therapy; in Group B 16 this treatment together exercises …

The Quality Of Life Profile Among Students Of The University Of The Third Age, Ewa Kupcewicz, Malgorzata Kusmierczyk, Barbara Wilk, Agnieszka Zajaczkowska, Aleksandra Zakrzewska

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The quality of life is determined by numerous factors, among others, social, biological and psychological ones, whereas satisfaction with life and good self-esteem related to health are one of its main measures. The purpose of the paper was to determine the quality of life of the Third Age University students. Material/Methods: The study group involved 130 students of the University of the Third Age in Kętrzyn and Szczytno. The vast majority were women (90.00%; n = 117), and their mean age was 65.4 ±5.9 years. The study used the author's questionnaire containing questions about socio-demographic data and the WHOQoL-BREF …

On The Continued Misinterpretation Of Stereotype Threat As Accounting For Black-White Differences On Cognitive Tests, Dana H. Tomeh, Paul R. Sackett

Personnel Assessment and Decisions

Steele and Aronson (1995) showed that stereotype threat affects the test performance of stereotyped groups. A careful reading shows that threat affects test performance but does not eliminate Black–White mean score gaps. Sackett et al. (2004) reviewed characterization of this research in scholarly articles, textbooks, and popular press, and found that many mistakenly inferred that removing stereotype threats eliminated the Black– White performance gap. We examined whether the rate of mischaracterization of Steele and Aronson had decreased in the 15 years since Sackett et al. highlighted the common misinterpretation. We found that the misinterpretation rate dropped from 90.9% to 62.8% …

Hiv-Related Stigma, Sexual Identity, And Depressive Symptoms Among Msm Living With Hiv: A Moderated Mediation Modeling Analysis, Tianyue Mi, Guanghua Lan, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D., Zhiyong Shen, Yuejiao Zhou

Faculty Publications

Depression is one of the biggest health issues among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV, where sexual identity might play an intricate role. Yet, findings of the relationship between sexual identity and depression were mixed and few studies explored its underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to examine the association between sexual identity and depression, and the potential mediating role of HIV-related stigma and moderating role of age. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 203 MSM living with HIV in Guangxi, China. Participants provided information on sexual identity, depression, HIV-related stigma, and background information. Descriptive statistics, bivariate …

The Association Between Alzheimer's Disease-Related Markers And Physical Activity In Cognitively Normal Older Adults, Steve Pedrini, Pratishtha Chatterjee, Akinori Nakamura, Michelle Tegg, Eugene Hone, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Christopher C. Rowe, Vincent Dore, Victor L. Villemagne, David Ames, Naoki Kaneko, Samantha L. Gardener, Kevin Taddei, Binosha Fernando, Ian Martins, Prashant Bharadwaj, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Colin L. Masters, Belinda Brown, Ralph N. Martins, Aibl Research Group

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Previous studies have indicated that physical activity may be beneficial in reducing the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between habitual physical activity levels and brain amyloid deposition and AD-related blood biomarkers (i.e., measured using a novel high-performance mass spectrometry-based assay), in apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carriers and noncarriers. We evaluated 143 cognitively normal older adults, all of whom had brain amyloid deposition assessed using positron emission tomography and had their physical activity levels measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). We …

Physical Activity As A Pro-Health Behaviour In The Opinion Of Adult Women, Maria Lipko, Anna Darmas

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: This study aims at determining opinion of participants of strengthening and relaxation classes on health determinants and their influence on adoption of particular forms of physical activity. Material/Methods: Participants of the study were 113 women aged 40 to 55, among whom 70 participated in such strengthening and relaxation courses as yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi and 43 women were inactive (control group). A survey prepared by the authors of this paper was used. Results: According to the participants, the most crucial factors influencing health are proper nutrition, adoption of physical activity and keeping proper body weight. Active women are …

Influence Of Nordic Walking Training On Static And Dynamic Body Balance Among The Elderly, Zbigniew Ossowski, Marek Wawryniuk, Vida Janina Česnaitienė

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Regression of body balance function is one of the main risk factors in falls among the elderly. The aim of this article was to evaluate changes in static and dynamic body balance levels among people over 65 years under the influence of Nordic Walking training. Material/Methods: The research was conducted with participation of 21 people over 65 years old. The training lasted throughout a period of 6 months. Frequency of exercises was twice a week. Evaluation was conducted using 8-Foot Up-and-Go from the Senior Fitness Test and a single leg balance test from the EUROFIT test for adults. Results: …