Digital Commons Network^™

A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Former Adult Drug Users’ Sobriety Journey After Graduating From A Faith-Based/Spiritual Drug And Alcohol Recovery Program, Laurine Voltaire

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to investigate the lived experiences of former adult drug users and their sobriety journeys after graduating from a variety of faith-based or spiritual drug and alcohol recovery programs. The research included a systematic review and narrative synthesis of existing literature on faith-based and spiritual recovery programs to address the gap concerning the lived experiences of former users and an evaluation of the strategies and techniques vital for facilitating recovery. The guiding theoretical framework CHIME-D delineated the essential definitive characteristics such as connectedness, hope, identity, meaning of life, empowerment, and overcoming difficulties that …

Exploring The Influence Of Police Officers Lived Experiences On Implementing Community Oriented Policing Of Marginalized Populations, Herman "Tracy" Williams Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The oppositional relationship between the police and communities characterized as marginalized populations aptly describes an adversarial dynamic that hinders the effective implementation of guardian-focused, community-oriented policing. Fears of crime, claims of police bias, dehumanization, and perceptions of social disorder frequently breed socioeconomic decline in these communities. These conditions often contribute to citizens of marginalized communities viewing police officers as traditional policing warriors versus the roles of police as guardians who assist and protect the public. The problem is that the lack of cooperation and mutual distrust in interactions between the police and communities leads to external friction and internal organizational …

Exploring Joint Manifestations In Rasopathies: A Prospective Survey, Lavinia Dobrea

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

RASopathies, a group of genetic diseases, affects approximately 1 in 1000 people worldwide. Despite advances documented in medical journals, there is limited understanding about the impact of various joint problems on activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QOL) among those afflicted. This study was conducted, utilizing a qualitative phenomenological methodology, to better understand the lived experiences of people with RASopathies impacted by joint problems. Participants were selected from RASopathy communities by employing purposeful sampling to ensure population representation. Data was obtained through online surveys and virtual interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring themes, and data …

Associations Between Deficit Accumulation Frailty And Baseline Markers Of Lifestyle In The Us Pointer Trial, Mark A Espeland, Yitbarek N Demesie, Kayloni Olson, Samuel N Lockhart, Sarah E Tomaszewski Farias, Maryjo L Cleveland, Christy C Tangney, Lucia Crivelli, Heather M Snyder, Michele K York, Laura D Baker, Rachel A Whitmer, Rena R Wing, Katelyn R Garcia, Kathryn E Callahan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Multidomain lifestyle interventions may have the potential to slow biological aging as captured by deficit accumulation frailty indices. We describe the distribution and composition of the 49-component frailty index developed by the U.S. POINTER clinical trial team of investigators and assess its cross-sectional associations with sociodemographic factors and markers chosen to be representative of behaviors targeted by the trial's multidomain interventions.

METHODS: We draw baseline data from the 2 111 volunteers enrolled in U.S. POINTER who were ages 60-79 years and at increased risk for cognitive decline. Frailty components were grouped into 9 domains. Associations that frailty index scores …

Discontiguous Recurrences Of Idh-Wildtype Glioblastoma Share A Common Origin With The Initial Tumor And Are Frequently Hypermutated, Malcolm F Mcdonald, Sricharan Gopakumar, Tareq A Juratli, Ilker Y Eyüpoglu, Ganesh Rao, Jacob J Mandel, Ali Jalali

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Glioblastoma is the deadliest primary brain tumor, largely due to inevitable recurrence of the disease after treatment. While most recurrences are local, patients rarely present with a new discontiguous focus of glioblastoma. Little is currently known about the genetic profile of discontiguous recurrences. In our institutional database, we identified 22 patients with targeted exome sequencing of pairs of initial and recurrent IDH-wildtype glioblastoma. Recurrences were classified as contiguous or discontiguous based on the presence or absence of T2 FLAIR signal connection to the initial site of disease on MRI. Exome analysis revealed shared driver and passenger mutations between discontiguous recurrences …

A Yeast-Based Oral Therapeutic Delivers Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors To Reduce Intestinal Tumor Burden, Olivia N Rebeck, Miranda J Wallace, Jerome Prusa, Jie Ning, Esse M Evbuomwan, Sunaina Rengarajan, Lemoyne Habimana-Griffin, Suryang Kwak, David Zahrah, Jason Tung, James Liao, Bejan Mahmud, Skye R S Fishbein, Erick S Ramirez Tovar, Rehan Mehta, Bin Wang, Mark G Gorelik, Gautam Dantas, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Engineered probiotics are an emerging platform for in situ delivery of therapeutics to the gut. Herein, we developed an orally administered, yeast-based therapeutic delivery system to deliver next-generation immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) proteins directly to gastrointestinal tumors. We engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii (Sb), a probiotic yeast with high genetic tractability and innate anticancer activity, to secrete "miniature" antibody variants that target programmed death ligand 1 (Sb_haPD-1). When tested in an ICI-refractory colorectal cancer (CRC) mouse model, Sb_haPD-1 significantly reduced intestinal tumor burden and resulted in significant shifts to the immune cell profile and microbiome composition. This oral therapeutic platform …

N-Glycosylation In The Serpin Domain Of The C1-Esterase Inhibitor In Hereditary Angioedema, Zhen Ren, John Bao, Shuangxia Zhao, Nicola Pozzi, H. James Wedner, John P. Atkinson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Hereditary angioedema is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by defects in C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH), resulting in poorly controlled activation of the kallikrein-kinin system and bradykinin overproduction. C1-INH is a heavily glycosylated protein in the serine protease inhibitor (SERPIN) family, yet the role of these glycosylation sites remains unclear. To elucidate the functional impact of N-glycosylation in the SERPIN domain of C1-INH, we engineered 4 sets consisting of 26 variants at or near the N-linked sequon (NXS/T). Among these, 6 are reported in patients with hereditary angioedema and 5 are known C1-INH variants without accessible clinical histories. We systematically evaluated their …

Molecular Determinants Of Condensate Composition, Alex S Holehouse, Simon Alberti

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Cells use membraneless compartments to organize their interiors, and recent research has begun to uncover the molecular principles underlying their assembly. Here, we explore how site-specific and chemically specific interactions shape the properties and functions of condensates. Site-specific recruitment involves precise interactions at specific sites driven by partially or fully structured interfaces. In contrast, chemically specific recruitment is driven by complementary chemical interactions without the requirement for a persistent bound-state structure. We propose that site-specific and chemically specific interactions work together to determine the composition of condensates, facilitate biochemical reactions, and regulate enzymatic activities linked to metabolism, signaling, and gene …

Rsk1 Is An Exploitable Dependency In Myeloproliferative Neoplasms And Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Tim Kong, Angelo B A Laranjeira, Christopher T Letson, Layow Yu, Shuyang Lin, Jared S Fowles, Daniel A C Fisher, Sherwin Ng, Wei Yang, Fan He, Jingxian Liu, Alexander B Kim, Maggie J Cox, Mary C Fulbright, Stacey L Rentschler, Li Ding, Grant A Challen, Stephen T Oh, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Myeloid malignancies are heterogenous disorders characterized by distinct molecular drivers but share convergence of oncogenic signaling pathways and propagation by ripe pro-inflammatory niches. Here, we establish a comprehensive transcriptional atlas across the spectrum of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) through RNA-sequencing of 158 primary samples encompassing CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and CD14+ monocytes. Supported by mass cytometry (CyTOF) profiling, we reveal aberrant networks of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling and NFκB-mediated hyper-inflammation. Combining ATAC-Seq, CUT&Tag, RNA-seq, and CyTOF, we demonstrate that targeting of ribosomal protein S6 kinase A1 (RSK1) suppresses NFκB activation and diminishes pro-inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis …

Sex Differences In Response To Diet Enriched With Glutathione Precursors In The Aging Heart, Aude Angelini, Grecia Garcia Marquez, Anna Malovannaya, Marta L Fiorotto, Alexander Saltzman, Antrix Jain, Joann Trial, George E Taffet, Katarzyna A Cieslik

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Common features of the aging heart are dysregulated metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis. Elevated oxidative stress is another hallmark of cardiac aging that can exacerbate each of these conditions. We hypothesize that by increasing natural antioxidant levels (glutathione), we will improve cardiac function. Twenty-one-month-old mice were fed glycine and N-acetyl cysteine (GlyNAC; glutathione precursors)-supplemented or control diets for 12 weeks. Heart function was monitored longitudinally, and the exercise performance was determined at the end of the study. We found that the GlyNAC diet was beneficial for old male but not old female mice, leading to an increase of Ndufb8 expression (a …

Nrdp Comments On Bp-Atlantic Richfield (Bp-Ar’S) Draft Materials Management Plan And Associated Documents At Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Of The Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site, Jim Ford

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Phase I Study Of Bms-986299, An Nlrp3 Agonist, As Monotherapy And In Combination With Nivolumab And Ipilimumab In Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors, Blessie E Nelson, Shaun O'Brien, Rahul A Sheth, David S Hong, Aung Naing, Xiaoping Zhang, Amy Xu, Lora Hamuro, Rasika Suryawanshi, Derrick Mckinley, Ruslan D Novosiadly, Sarina A Piha-Paul

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: BMS-986299 is a first-in-class, NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin-domain containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome agonist enhancing adaptive immune and T-cell memory responses.

Materials and methods: This was a phase-I (NCT03444753) study that assessed the safety and tolerability of intra-tumoral BMS-986299 monotherapy (part 1A) and in combination (part 1B) with nivolumab, and ipilimumab in advanced solid tumors. Reported here are single-center results.

Results: 36 patients were enrolled, with breast (31%), colorectal (17%), and head and neck (14%) being the more commonly enrolled cancers. Most patients (58%) had received prior immunotherapy. Therapy was well-tolerated, with G1-G2 fever (70%), neutrophilia (36%), and leukocytosis …

Nursing Knowledge In Cardio-Oncology: Results Of An International Learning Needs-Assessment Survey, Anecita Fadol, Geraldine Lee, Valerie Shelton, Kelly C Schadler, Asma Mohammed Younus, Mary Stuart, Lisa Nodzon, Edith Pituskin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: With early detection and improvements in systemic and local therapies, millions of people are surviving cancer, but for some at a high cost. In some cancer types, cardiovascular disease now competes with recurrent cancer as the cause of death. Traditional care models, in which the cardiologist or oncologist assess patients individually, do not address complex cancer and cardiovascular needs. Nursing disciplines should be an integral part of holistic assessment in cardio-oncology care. To learn what educational needs nurses perceive important for provision of competent cardio-oncology nursing care, we undertook an international survey, aiming to understand their learning needs and …

Empirically Validating A Computational Model Of Automatic Behavior Shaping, Vincent Berardi, Tian Lan, Ariane Guirguis, Uri Maoz

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Mobile sensing technology allows automated behavior shaping routines to be incorporated into health behavior interventions and other settings. In previous work, a computational model was built to investigate how to best arrange automatic behavior shaping procedures, but the degree to which this model reflects actual human behavior is not known.

Purpose

To translate a previously developed computational model of automatic behavior shaping into an experimental setting.

Methods

Participants (n = 54) operated a computer mouse and attempted to locate a hidden, randomly-placed target circle on a blank computer screen and clicks within some threshold distance of the target …

Perceived Anxiety Symptoms Of Board-Certified Behavior Analysts Who Work With The Autism Population, Elyra Gonzalez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increase in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses has led to a rise in mental health issues among board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs). Burnout has been identified as the primary cause of emotional exhaustion, poor work-life balance, and stress. Despite this, direct interviews with BCBAs are limited. Previous research has indicated that BCBAs face high demands in their work; however, their mental health has not been thoroughly evaluated. Cognitive appraisal theory was used to demonstrate that the perceived symptoms are associated with anxiety, not just burnout. Semi-structured interviews with 10 BCBAs were conducted to gain direct feedback on their view of …

Improving Staff Knowledge And Compliance With Productivity Standards, John Voight

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project addressed gaps in financial literacy and productivity compliance among assistant nurse managers in an acute care setting. The intervention involved a targeted educational program to enhance knowledge, confidence, and accountability regarding financial productivity standards. Using a pre-and post-test survey methodology, the project assessed the effectiveness of the training in improving familiarity with productivity principles, resource management skills, and adherence to organizational goals. Results demonstrated significant improvements across all metrics. The proportion of participants reporting high familiarity with financial productivity standards increased from 35% to 80%, while confidence in resource management rose from 25% to …

Timely Follow-Up Care After Discharge To Lower The Readmission Rate Among, Kenneth Bernard Reddix

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Timely follow-up care can avert patient readmission for older adults at risk of increased morbidities and mortalities. The target primary care clinic in the southwestern United States served a majority Hispanic population, whose readmission rates were higher than those of White or Black patients nationally. This quality-improvement (QI) project involved the evaluation of whether a new clinical practice guideline to require timely follow-up care was conducive to lowering patient readmission rates among Hispanic older adults 65 years of age and older. The practice-focused question concerned whether primary care providers’ use of a follow-up protocol within 7 days of discharge improved …

Chemical Emergency Preparedness: Chempack & Its Contents, Grace Feigl

All Other Contributions

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Perceived Efficacy Of Support Groups As A Secondary-Organization Stress Intervention Measure For Hospice Nurses, Sade A. Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation investigated the perceived efficacy of support groups as a secondary organizational intervention measure for hospice nurses. Workplace stress is a common issue in hospice care that impacts workers negatively. It results in declining mental, physical, and social wellness. While research indicates significant benefits of support groups, they are not commonly applied in hospice care. Support groups have been widely used in mental health for years to share information and experiences and discuss problems. This dissertation interviewed eight participants using a qualitative case study approach. The participants were recruited from an online hospice nurse group on Facebook. The information …

Intimate Partner Violence And The Black Church Culture: A Place Of Judgement Or Healing, Indea J. Hamlin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study will discover how Black clergy and lay leaders in urban communities respond to Black women who report intimate partner violence. Semi- structured interviews will take place in urban churches or secure locations within the communities. Six male and six female church pastors, clergy, and lay leaders will be selected as participants for the study, which will capture their firsthand experiences, levels of awareness and belief about the prevalence of IPV in urban communities, and their preparedness to address this form of violence against Black women. Thematic analysis will be employed to generate codes, uncover any themes …

A Phenomenological Research Study Of The African American Male And Grief: The Need To Communicate, Theresa E. Ellis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This is a dissertation on death, grief, and the communication styles of African American males after the loss of a loved one. It will speak to the limited amount of literature reviews surrounding death, culture, race, gender, and the social determent of death. This dissertation will issue a summation of the limitations of older studies and how to fill the need to conduct newer studies. This dissertation offers suggestions on the need to encourage future researchers to take up the mantle and use their lived experiences on death, grief counseling, mental health counseling, and how spiritual counseling can be used …

Investigating The Correlation Between Racially Based Trauma And The Imposter Phenomenon In High-Achieving Black Women, Tarra Lynn Winfield Ray

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigates the imposter phenomenon, racially based trauma, and how the two correlate among high-achieving Black women. High achieving for this writing refers to Black women who attend college or graduate school, those in professional positions that require a degree, advanced degree, or professional licensure (i.e., corporate executives, medical doctors, attorneys, mental health clinicians, etc.), and entrepreneurs. Many current studies have focused on the unique and complex experiences that high-achieving Black women face while working to achieve goals and gain success. Many of these women have experienced racially based trauma, and many endorse the simultaneous experiencing of the imposter …

Experience Of Underrepresented In Medicine Faculty In Career Advancement At A U.S. Medical School: A Phenomenological Study, Johnson George

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study aims to gain insight into the experiences of Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) faculty members who have gone through the individual promotional plan (IPP) in preparation for promotion to senior ranks at a medical school. The study focused on the experiences of 12-15 medical school faculty members who met the criteria and experienced individual promotion plan consults with a leader in faculty affairs. This study will guide Lev Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory and Rappaport’s empowerment theory. Vygotsky's approach emphasizes the importance of language and community in teaching skill sets, while Rappaport's theory empowers individuals to take ownership of …

The Stigmatization Of Mental Health Illness And Mental Health Care Use Among Police Officers, Denia Aretta Roberts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the stigma attached to police officers' mental health and how it affects their willingness to seek assistance. The research aimed to understand the role stigma plays in officers' mental health outcomes and investigated the systemic deterrents that prevent them from accessing the essential mental health services. Interviews conducted with former police officers disclosed that toughness and emotional restraint are cultural norms for perpetuating the cycle of silence, which many of the officers did in order to make it throughout their career without “repercussions”. The results underline the need to establish safe and non-judgmental conditions in police …

Parenting Strategies For Adult Abuse Victims, Sarah Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological proposal is to describe adults with past childhood trauma’s parenting experiences in Missouri. Growing up in an abusive household, I saw how not to parent my children once I was older. Not everyone thinks this way. Children who grow up in an abusive household do not always develop resiliency. Due to these effects, the following proposal will look at how these adults are impacted when it comes to their parenting styles. Parenting is difficult, to begin with, let alone working through your issues. Generational abuse is a common occurrence. The main research question that will …

A Qualitative Study Of Dialogic Communication Of The American Aviation Sector On Facebook Users, Marian E. Tadrous

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem is that few recent studies have examined dialogic communication on social media platforms, especially Facebook. The purpose of this qualitative research is to explore the dialogic communication principles of the American aviation sector. The rationale for this research is that 99% of American aviation institutions have a Facebook platform to communicate with the public. These institutions must listen to the public's needs regarding the principles of dialogical communication. Examining aviation institutions' use of dialogical principles is a lens into the strengths and weaknesses of aviation institutions' messages on Facebook. Recent studies have shown a lack of research addressing …

Occupational Hazard Of Policing: A Phenomenological Study Of Moral Injury Among Law Enforcement Officers, Harley J. Lenart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The concept of moral injury is relatively new, and most of the attention has been aimed at military veterans. Moral injury is perpetrating, failing to prevent, bearing witness to, or learning about acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations. While awareness has increased in recent years, research on moral injury among law enforcement officers is limited. On average, during a 20-year career, police officers are exposed to 700 critical incidents, while average citizens may witness two. Law enforcement officers struggle with job burnout, depression, and suicide. Most law enforcement mental health studies focus on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), …

From Classrooms To Conflict: How Missionary Education Paved The Way To The Korean War, Douglas K. Sutherland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores the pivotal role of Protestant missionaries and humanitarian actors in Korea’s quest for a unified, independent nation, examining their influence on social, cultural, and political transformations through education. Beginning with the arrival of the first Protestant missionaries in the late 19th century, the study delves into their impact on Korean society by establishing schools and hospitals that introduced Western education and healthcare practices, challenging traditional Confucian norms and fostering a new intellectual and ideological landscape. These institutions became centers of modernity and nationalist ideologies, cultivating a generation of Korean leaders who played significant roles in the independence …

Improving The Clinical Diagnostic Criteria For Genetically Confirmed Adult-Onset Huntington Disease: Considering Nonmotor Presentations, Ciaran M. Considine, Clare M. Eddy, Samuel A. Frank, Sandra K. Kostyk, Mayke Oosterloo, Annie Killoran, Erin Furr Stimming, Matthias Dose, Travis Cruickshank, Thomas D. Bird, Louise Vetter, Astri Arnesen, James Valvano, Herwig W. Lange, Daniel O. Claassen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

BackgroundHuntington disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder. Given the focus on motor manifestations, nonmotor symptoms are frequently underappreciated in clinical evaluations, despite frequently contributing to primary functional impairment.Recent FindingsA diagnosis of motor-onset as the definition of manifest symptoms misrepresents the complex nature of HD presentation. Despite recent attempt to integrate nonmotor diagnostic criteria, practical guidelines are necessary to inform clinical diagnosis. We propose an HD diagnostic framework and staging system that prioritizes genetic testing, integrates motor and nonmotor symptom considerations in the determination of clinical disease onset and severity, and acknowledges the secondary role of clinically indicated diagnostic assessments, …

Keeping Kids Safe At Meals: Preventing And Responding To Choking, Mia Dustin, Savannah Daines, Stacy Bevan, Palak Gupta, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

All Current Publications

Introducing solid foods is an exciting developmental milestone, but it can also raise concerns about choking for parents and caregivers. Choking occurs when an object, such as food or a toy, blocks a child’s airway and prevents air from moving in and out of the lungs. This fact sheet offers practical guidance on how to prevent food-related choking, recognize the signs of a choking emergency, and what to do if a child is choking.