Digital Commons Network^™

Environmental Repercussions Of The Strange Fruit: The Implications Of Our Enslavement On Modern Black Experiences With Nature, Indya Woodfolk

Honors Theses

When I was nine years old my dad often took me hiking at “Rosaryville State Park” in Maryland. Sometimes we would ride bikes, other times we would walk the trail and become mesmerized by the sounds and sights of nature. We would run down the path, play iSpy, or tell stories and sing songs. The trail led to an open field with acres of land in the distance. The only presence there was my dad, the trees, and me. We would take out our 7/11 sandwiches, sit on the ground, and enjoy our time together. It wasn't until I was …

The Socioeconomic & Environmental Factors Influencing Prevalence Of Zoonotic Pathogens In Rats: A Meta-Analysis, Katelyn Wing

Honors Theses

Background/Question/Methods

Global rat populations are increasing at an alarming rate across the world. In turn, this increases the risk of human-rat interactions and the potential spread of zoonotic pathogens and parasites. Rats are the second most common host of disease and can have detrimental effects in urban ecosystems. Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus are the two most abundantly distributed species of rats and are the target organism for this study. The aim of this study is to understand the connection between environmental and socioeconomic factors that influence the rate of zoonotic disease in rats. We developed two hypotheses to gain …

Does Adhd Strengthen The Relationship Between Depression/Anxiety And Avoidance?, Ryan Wigginton

Honors Theses

Objective: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a diagnosis often

comorbid with depression and anxiety-related disorders. Research is also indicative of a relationship between ADHD, depression, anxiety, and avoidance-related behaviors. I hypothesize that the relationship between ADHD and avoidance will be moderated by symptoms of depression and anxiety in neuro-typical college students that have not received a clinical mental health diagnosis. Method: 101 college students at the University of Richmond attended a baseline visit with a research assistant and completed baseline scale measures for symptoms of ADHD, depression, generalized anxiety, and avoidance. I used multiple regression and Hayes’ PROCESS program to analyze …

The Effect Of The Black Lives Matter Movement On American Attitudes, Isabelle Warren

Honors Theses

The present research focuses on changing attitudes towards Black Lives Matter (BLM)

and racism. Black Lives Matter was founded in 2013, but came to a political and social forefront following the death of George Floyd in the summer of 2020. Based on research that large-scale movements have the capability of creating long term attitudinal changes, this research seeks to address the significance of BLM on attitudes in undergraduate students. Participants were recruited from University of Richmond Introduction to Psychology courses over the Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022 semesters. They completed a survey assessing their attitudes towards …

Stigma And Anxiety As Barriers To Help-Seeking Among University Of Richmond Students, Allison Walters

Honors Theses

There is a growing need for mental health services in the United States due to increased rates of psychopathology. Emerging adults, ages ranging from 18 to 24 years, experience high rates of psychopathology and thus have a strong need for available mental health treatments (Eisenberg et al., 2007). Despite this need and the efficacy of mental health treatment as a whole, there are many barriers to treatment utilization, including stigma. This study examines level of anxiety and stigma as barriers to help-seeking using data collected through the Healthy Minds Survey at the University of Richmond. Moderation analyses revealed that anxiety …

Analysis Of Test Anxiety In Human Anatomy And Physiology I Students At The University Of Mississippi, Anne Piazza

Honors Theses

Student anxiety, specifically test anxiety, is common hindrance to student performance in various courses including Human Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Mississippi. Through a sequence of three surveys we collected demographic information, anxiety data related to the course, and test anxiety in general We researched factors that could potentially influence student anxiety such as at what point in the semester the student is evaluated, when students feel the most stressed, outcomes on previous evaluations, and perceived outcomes of the course. We also examined what effect the anxiety has on the student such as lowered performance, lowered test scores, …

Depression Is Associated With Myocardial Infarction Within A Two-Year Period Among Adults In China, Lydia W. Li, Greta Cheng, Hongwei Xu, Zhenmei Zhang, Jinyu Liu, Yeates Conwell

Publications and Research

We examined whether baseline depression is associated with MI within a two-year period among adults aged 45+ in China and whether the association varies by sociodemographic characteristics. Two-year longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of people aged 45+ in China were analyzed (N = 15,226). MI within the 2-year period was coded dichotomously. Baseline depression, assessed by the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, was used as a dichotomous and a continuous variable. After adjusting for medical conditions, lifestyle and sociodemographic characteristics, the odds of having an MI within the 2-year period were 46% greater for respondents with …

Medical Residency Competencies: Informatics, Library, And Evidence Based Practice, Deborah J. Rhue, Jonathan Eldredge

Posters and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Manure Treatment Technology Adoption And Feedlot Runoff Monitoring Opportunities, Juan Carlos Ramos Tanchez

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Livestock products contain valuable nutrients that enhance human health, and their production generates positive local and national economic impacts. The livestock sector also deals with large quantities of environmentally important nutrients in manure. The purpose of this thesis is to further the aims of researchers and educators working at the intersection of livestock production and the environment to identify and promote best practices for livestock production and manure management that are economically and environmentally sustainable.

The second chapter explored options to evaluate nutrient flows in feedlot runoff at the pen scale. Pen scale monitoring is an important consideration for research …

A Multimodal Intervention For Weight Loss In Primary Care, Amber Smith

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Obesity is a worsening pandemic that requires immediate action. It is recommended that primary care providers screen patients for obesity and provide multimodal behavioral interventions to their patients to treat and prevent obesity (USPSTF, 2018). The purpose of this evidenced-base practice (EBP) project is to implement a multimodal intervention for weight loss in adults within primary care. Five search engines were utilized, and 16 articles were ultimately selected as evidence. The evidence supported self-monitoring and close follow-up while in active weight loss. The Iowa Model for EBP to promote quality care was used as the framework to guide the project …

When Covid Struck The Personal Librarian Program Came To The Rescue, Jonathan R. Wilson

ETSU Faculty Works

The COVID pandemic changed life as we know it and transformed how we taught classes and acquired knowledge. And The ETSU Sherrod Library, with the help of Jonathan Wilson, Distance/ Online Service Coordinator addressed these challenges by developing The Personal Librarian (PL) program for students.

Native Hawaiian Caregivers' Cultural Perspectives Of Pediatric Asthma Management, Donna-Marie Palakiko

Dissertations

Asthma remains the leading cause of chronic respiratory illness among Native Hawaiian children 0 to 17 years in Hawai'i. The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) established asthma management guidelines which includes medical assessment and monitoring, education in partnership with the caregiver, control of environmental triggers, and medication adherence (National Asthma Education Prevention Program [NAEPP], 2007).
However, these guidelines do not consider the worldview, health beliefs, and cultural practices of caregiver, child, and family.

The purpose of this study was to describe how Native Hawaiian caregivers manage pediatric asthma, to understand which strategies are considered cultural practices, and to …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Human Resource Management Practices Of The American Auto Industry, Connor Bradley

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the human resource management practices of the American auto industry. The information used in this study was based on interviews with twelve employees from four different companies. For the sake on anonymity, the four companies were referred to as Auto, Dealer, Financial, and Marketing. The interview questions covered topics related to the potential changes made to human resource management practices such as workplace location, communications, talent acquisition and retention, employee training and development, employee engagement, workplace safety, labor relations, benefits and compensation, and …

A Case For Improved Financial Literacy Education In The United States, Nicholas Kinsella

Honors Scholar Theses

The purpose of this paper was to analyze what financial literacy is and explain in detail the shortfalls that the United States is currently facing in their financial literacy education. This paper will lay out the movement of states and colleges including more personal finance curriculum in their graduation requirements, why a financial literate population is important to topics such as managing student loan debt, retirement planning, professional development, and mental health among others. It will then conclude covering ways to improve current financial literacy education strategies with technology, experiential learning, and transparency.

Effects Of Feeding Probiotics To Pre-Weaned Dairy Calves, Sara Tomis

Honors Scholar Theses

Pre-ruminant calves are particularly susceptible to pathological and environmental stressors that may have negative effects on their health and growth. Supplementing probiotics to this vulnerable population may have positive implications for the dairy industry, as probiotics may encourage improved growth rates and enhanced health in dairy neonates. However, there is variation in existing literature with regard to effectiveness. This study seeks to explore the impact of dietary probiotic supplement on health and growth parameters in pre-weaned dairy calves. Holstein and Jersey calves (n=30) were assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups, receiving either 0 or 5 grams of probiotic containing …

Efficacy And Safety Of Larotrectinib In Patients With Trk Fusion-Positive Thyroid Carcinoma, Steven G Waguespack, Alexander Drilon, Jessica J Lin, Marcia S Brose, Ray Mcdermott, Mohammed Almubarak, Jessica Bauman, Michela Casanova, Anuradha Krishnamurthy, Shivaani Kummar, Serge Leyvraz, Do-Youn Oh, Keunchil Park, Davendra Sohal, Eric Sherman, Ricarda Norenberg, Josh D Silvertown, Nicoletta Brega, David S Hong, Maria E Cabanillas

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Objective: Larotrectinib is a highly selective tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitor with demonstrated efficacy across various TRK fusion-positive solid tumours. We assessed the efficacy and safety of larotrectinib in patients with TRK fusion-positive thyroid carcinoma (TC).

Methods: We pooled data from three phase I/II larotrectinib clinical trials (NCT02576431, NCT02122913, and NCT02637687). The primary endpoint was the investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1. Secondary endpoints included duration of response (DoR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Data cut-off: July 2020.

Results: Twenty-nine patients (median age: 60; range: 6-80) …

An Examination Of The Underutilization Of Mental Health Resources In Collegiate Student-Athletes, Kathleen Olivia Glover

Masters Theses

Previous and developing literature indicates that collegiate student-athletes, while more susceptible to psychological problems, are underutilizing mental health resources. This project examines the aforementioned problem through the use of extensive student-athlete mental health literature to identify themes that are affecting student-athlete’s likeliness of seeking psychological services. Throughout the themes, the need for additional support from student-athlete stakeholders is presented. A workshop series to guide increased mental health literacy in student-athlete stakeholders to create opportunities to recognize signs of mental illness and form cultures that encourage the utilization of psychological services is constructed. It is anticipated that by including stakeholders in …

Improving End Of Life Care: Symptom Assessment And Education For Informal Hospice Caregivers (A Quality Improvement Project), Erika Buchholz

DNP and Student Works

In the setting of COVID-19, more individuals experience the dying process in their home rather than at hospice facilities. Currently, there are limited resources to help informal caregivers identify signs and symptoms of death and dying. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) is a standardized assessment tool that can be offered in the hospice setting. This quality improvement (QI) project aims to increase utilization of the ESAS tool among caregivers with loved ones enrolled in hospice.

The Effects Of Twitter Posts Regarding Covid-19 Information On The Viewer’S Perception Of Credibility: A Study On Misinformation, Grace T. Long

Honors Theses

In the current age, social media plays a large role in daily life. Although there have been massive advancements through social media, there have also been disadvantages due to its prominence. One such disadvantage is the dissemination of misinformation through social media platforms, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many aspects affecting the social media posts we find credible. This study investigated the different evaluations of COVID-19 credibility ratings in groups with varying political affiliations (conservative and liberal) and primary news sources (social media and newspaper). Misinformative posts along with true posts were used to garner credibility ratings and …

The Role Of Free Radicals In The Activation Of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors In Murine Microglial Cells, Eliana John

Honors Theses

Regulation of cellular processes is important for proper functioning. Environmental factors, including stress, can interfere with cellular regulation. One of the diseases caused by cellular regulation disturbance is cancer and mutations in EGF-related genes highly correlate with worse outcomes in cancer. The Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) pathway is involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Phosphorylation of the receptors activates this pathway, leading to cell growth and regulation. This study examines the impact of oxidative stress on EGF pathway activation. Previous studies using breast cancer lines have indirectly shown a decrease in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) activation …

Bumpy Stem Is An Arabidopsis Choline/Ethanolamine Kinase Required For Normal Development And Chilling Responses, Christina Rabeler, M. Chen, Nicholas J. Kaplinsky

Biology Faculty Works

Phospholipid biosynthesis is a core metabolic pathway that affects all aspects of plant growth and development. One of the earliest step in this pathway is mediated by choline/ethanolamine kinases (CEKs), enzymes in the Kennedy pathway that catalyze the synthesis of the polar head groups found on the most abundant plant phospholipids. The Arabidopsis genome encodes four CEKs. CEK1-3 have been well characterized using viable mutants while CEK4 encodes an essential gene, making it difficult to characterize its effects on plant development and responses to the environment. We have isolated an EMS-induced allele of CEK4 called bumpy stem (bst …

Improving Provider Confidence And Knowledge Of Sexual Assault Treatment Through Education And Guideline Implementation, Tera Sabatino

DNP and Student Works

Sexual assault is a pervasive public health concern that disproportionately affects women and can have long-term effects in every aspect of a woman's life (Nathan & Ferrara, 2020). While acute treatment of sexual assault has been standardized, follow up care for victims has not. This project was created to improve OB-GYN provider confidence and competence when treating sexual assault victims in the clinic. Education as well as treatment guidelines and tips were used as an option to fill this care gap. Objectives of the project included improving knowledge of sexual assault and treatment through education as well as improving standardized …

The Legality Of The European Union’S Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism And The Limitations Of World Trade Organization Rules On Effective Climate Action, Delaney Smith

Honors Theses

In July 2021, the European Union proposed the creation of a carbon border adjustment mechanism, a trade mechanism that would levy a carbon price against imported goods. This mechanism, the first of its kind, has the potential to address weaknesses in the EU’s existing domestic cap and trade system and create a financial incentive for other nations to reduce their carbon emissions. However, legal experts have raised concerns that this mechanism may violate the rules of the World Trade Organization. If another member state raises a complaint against the measure, the European Union will be forced to navigate the World …

Antioxidant Activity Of Nutmeg Mace (Myristica Fragrans) Graded Extract, Ghina Siti Nurhayati, Dimas Danang Indriatmoko, Erwi Widi Kristiadi, Anisa Fitriani, Tarso Rudiana

Chimica et Natura Acta

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) contains essential oils and can be applied in industrial scale because it has medicinal benefits such as stimulating the heart system, stomachache, rheumatism, muscle pain, toothache, eliminating toxins in the liver, flatulence, and antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity of the nutmeg mace graded extract. The research methods include plant determination, sample preparation, extraction by maceration method, phytochemical test, and antioxidant test using the DPPH method. The yield of Mace Nutmeg extract obtained was 30.3% n-hexane, 8.79% ethyl acetate, and 3.79% methanol and the IC50 value of each mace nutmeg extract, …

Aktivitas Antioksidan Dan Sitotoksik Terhadap Sel Kanker Hela Dari Ekstrak Daun Vernonia Amygdalina (Asteraceae), Shabarni Gaffar, Muhammad Yudha Nugraha, Ersanda Hafiz, Hesti Lina Wiraswati, Tati Herlina

Chimica et Natura Acta

Vernonia amygdalina atau dikenal sebagai daun afrika merupakan salah satu tanaman obat yang berpotensi untuk dikembangkan sebagai nutraceutical, seperti antidiabetes, antimalaria dan antikanker. Penelitian ini bertujuan menentukan aktivitas antioksidan dan aktivitas sitotoksik ekstrak daun V. amygdalina terhadap sel kanker serviks HeLa, serta menentukan kelompok senyawa yang terdapat dalam ekstrak daun V. amygdalina dengan aktivitas sitotoksik dan antioksidan tertinggi melalui penapisan fitokimia. Metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah ekstraksi dan fraksinasi menggunakan pelarut metanol, etil asetat, dan n-hexana. Semua fraksi diuji aktivitas antioksidannya menggunakan metoda DPPH dan aktivitas sitotoksiknya terhadap sel kanker serviks HeLa menggunakan metode MTS, serta penapisan fitokimia …

Formulasi Sediaan Obat Kumur Kombinasi Ekstrak Daun Jambu Biji (Psidium Guajava L.) Dan Daun Pandan Wangi (Pandanus Amaryllifolius Roxb.), Fitria Dewi Sulistiyono, Almasyhuri Almasyhuri, Ridwan Febryan Mukrim

Chimica et Natura Acta

Karies gigi merupakan salah satu penyakit infeksi yang terjadi pada gigi dan dapat merusak struktur gigi. Bakteri yang sering menjadi penyebab karies pada gigi yaitu Streptococcus mutans. Sediaan obat kumur adalah salah satu bentuk sediaan cair untuk merawat gigi yaitu dengan cara berkumur. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menentukan mutu dari sediaan obat kumur kombinasi ekstrak daun jambu biji dan daun pandan wangi. Ekstrak daun jambu biji dan pandan wangi diektraksi dengan metode maserasi menggunakan pelarut etanol 96%. Sediaan obat kumur dibuat sebanyak 4 formula, dengan perbandingan ekstrak daun jambu dan pandan wangi konsentrasi formula I 35% (17,5:17,5), konsentrasi formula …

Treatment Of Water Contaminated With Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Pahs): A Review Of Various Techniques, Constraints, And Field Procedures, Godswill Sambo, Syahidah Akmal Muhammad, Hassan Pyar, Fozy Binhweel

Chimica et Natura Acta

Clean water is vital in the creation of energy and sustenance of life. However, the pollution of water and the absence of potable water are global problems resulting from agricultural and industrial activities. We have witnessed significant growth in the pollution of water by organic compounds like PAH. Experts have made an effort to establish favorable techniques for the treatment of PAH polluted water. These techniques are either thermal, biological, physical or chemical. Bioremediation, chemical oxidation, solid-phase extraction, coagulation, photocatalytic degradation and adsorption using graphenes, mesoporous silica and agricultural wastes are techniques that are already in use in the field …

Prenatal Exposure To A Climate-Related Disaster Results In Changes Of The Placental Transcriptome And Infant Temperament, Jessica Buthmann, Dennis Huang, Patrizia Casaccia, Sarah O'Neill, Yoko Nomura

Advanced Science Research Center

Maternal stress during pregnancy exerts long-term effects on the mental well-being of the offspring. However, the long-term effect of prenatal exposure on the offspring’s mental status is only partially understood. The placenta plays a vital role in connecting the maternal side to the fetus, thereby serving as an important interface between maternal exposure and fetal development. Here, we profiled the placental transcriptome of women who were pregnant during a hurricane (Superstorm Sandy), which struck New York City in 2012. The offspring were followed longitudinally and their temperament was assessed during the first 6–12 months of age. The data identified a …

The Development And Internal Evaluation Of A Predictive Model To Identify For Whom Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Offers Superior Relapse Prevention For Recurrent Depression Versus Maintenance Antidepressant Medication, Zachary D. Cohen, Robert J. Derubeis, Rachel Hayes, Edward R. Watkins, Glyn Lewis, Richard Byng, Sarah Byford, Catherine Crane, Willem Kuyken, Tim Dalgleish, Susanne Schweizer

Peninsula Medical School

Depression is highly recurrent, even following successful pharmacological and/or psychological intervention. We aimed to develop clinical prediction models to inform adults with recurrent depression choosing between antidepressant medication (ADM) maintenance or switching to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Using previously published data ( N = 424), we constructed prognostic models using elastic-net regression that combined demographic, clinical, and psychological factors to predict relapse at 24 months under ADM or MBCT. Only the ADM model (discrimination performance: area under the curve [AUC] = .68) predicted relapse better than baseline depression severity (AUC = .54; one-tailed DeLong’s test: z = 2.8, p = …

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusions' Role In The Moral Development Of A College Student, Travis Eugene Smith Jr

Masters Projects

This paper explores the moral development of the college student and how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs affect those students' development. A university has an obligation to provide an education to the students and help build the character development of the individual as well. Part of that education journey is focused on the moral development of the students. This project takes Kohlberg's moral development theory and explores how a university should address that development. Kohlberg clearly states that college students should be focused on building up their social welfare awareness. Using DEI Principles and programs can bring an abundance of …