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Preoperative Clinical Practice Guidelines For Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery, Marjorie Badong Yumul

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University College of Nursing This is to certify that the doctoral study by Marjorie B. Yumul has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Patricia Schweickert, Committee Chairperson, Nursing Faculty Dr. Diane Whitehead, Committee Member, Nursing Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2025 Executive Summary: Clinical Practice Guideline Preoperative Clinical Practice Guidelines for Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery by Marjorie B. Yumul MS, University of the Philippines Manila, 2003 BS, La Concordia, …

Board Of Directors Quarterly Meeting - Open Session Book 06/12/2025, Uc Law Sf

2025 Board of Directors Agenda and Materials

No abstract provided.

Acute Effects Of Blood Flow Restriction During Low-Load Exercise And Recovery On Blood Flow And Performance, Shay B. Richards

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Use of blood flow restriction (BFR) during strength training with light loads has been used to induce similar muscular benefits as traditional strength training with heavy loads. Safe and effective recommendations for the use of BFR relies on an understanding of how different methods of BFR alter blood flow during rest and exercise. The purpose of this study was to compare blood flow during exercise and recovery between continuous BFR (CONT), intermittent BFR (INT), and no BFR (NBFR) as a control. Methods: 16 participants (8 male, 8 female) participated in this study on three different days, separated by at …

Exploring Consequences Of The Double Empathy Problem Across The Autistic Trait Spectrum: First Person Accounts, Cammy C. Peck

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, individuals on the autism spectrum were believed to have deficits in empathy. However, recent research suggests that empathy-related issues occur on both sides of the communication dynamic. This concept known as the Double Empathy Problem (DEP), posits that the perceived lack of empathy is not exclusive to autistic individuals; rather, neurotypical (NT) individuals also experience difficulty empathizing with autistic individuals (Milton, 2012). Milton et al. (2022) describes this as a "breakdown in mutual understanding". Such mutual misunderstanding can have adverse consequences for both autistic and neurotypical individuals. To our knowledge, no studies have directly examined these consequences in relation …

The Effect Of Personalized Profiles On Generating Customized Content In Artificial Intelligence Augmentative And Alternative Communication Devices, Rachel Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), several augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices have begun incorporating AI with the purpose of accelerating and improving message transmission for users. The results have shown that AI can significantly reduce a user's keystrokes, but the generated responses may lack personalization. The objective of this study was to investigate whether integrating a personalized profile containing user information enhances the perceived accuracy and personalization of AI generated messages. Various methods of collecting profile information and differing levels of information within the profile were evaluated. One hundred eighty-one neurotypical English-speakers with no history of language disorder …

Board Of Directors Quarterly Meeting - Notice And Agenda 06/12/2025, Uc Law Sf

2025 Board of Directors Agenda and Materials

No abstract provided.

Loss Of Neuropeptide F (Npf) Signaling Reduces The Strength Of Circadian Rest-Activity Rhythms But Not Feeding-Fasting Rhythms, Katelyn Ann Wendt

Master's Theses

The circadian system governs crucial physiological and behavioral processes, dictating activities like movement, hormone release, and sleep patterns over a 24-hour cycle. Disruptions to these rhythms can lead to various health problems, including cardiometabolic dysfunction. Research has demonstrated the presence of circadian rhythms of feeding behavior in diverse organisms, but the specific molecules involved are not yet identified. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) influences metabolic activity in mammals, and its counterpart, NPF, affects locomotor activity and feeding in Drosophila melanogaster. Our study aims to investigate whether NPF, its receptor (NPFR), and NPF-expressing cells play a role in regulating circadian rest-activity and feeding-fasting …

Associations Between 24-Hour Movement Compositions And Cardiometabolic Health In Children And Adolescents: A Five-Part Compositional Analysis Using Data From The International Children’S Accelerometery Database (Icad), Zoë A. Marshall, Adam Runacres, Pedro Curi Hallal, Russ Jago, Soyang Kwon, Kate Northstone, Russell R. Pate, Jardena Puder, John J. Reilly, Luis B. Sardinha, Niels Wedderkopp, Ester Van Slujis

Faculty Publications

Objectives The benefits of physical activity (PA) and the negative impacts of sedentary time (SED) on health in youth are well established. However, uncertainty remains surrounding how PA and SED jointly influence cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors. The aim of this study was to determine the joint influence of SED, light-, moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA (LPA, MPA and VPA), and sleep on CMR factors using five-part compositional analyses.

Methods Data were pooled from 16 cohort studies comprising 22 474 children and adolescents from the International Children’s Accelerometery Database. PA was measured using hip-mounted accelerometers with sleep self-reported. CMRs included body mass …

The Relative Strength Of Help-Seeker Stereotype, Help-Seeking Self-Stigma, And Self-Esteem In Predicting Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Help, Souad Torjani Azim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing prevalence of mental health issues among college students is a critical concern. Disorders such as depression and anxiety are becoming more common, with depression notably a major risk factor for suicide—the second leading cause of death in this age group. Despite this troubling trend, significant barriers to accessing mental health services remain. While research has explored various factors contributing to students’ reluctance, such as stigma, distrust in the mental health system, lack of social support, and mental health literacy, none to date has examined the relative strength of help-seeker stereotype, help-seeking self-stigma, and self-esteem in predicting attitudes toward …

Small Business Leaders’ Strategies To Improve Employee Retention By Increasing Flexible Work Arrangements, Allen M. Looney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee retention is a critical challenge for small business leaders in the finance and insurance sector. These leaders are concerned with identifying effective strategies to retain employees to avoid turnover costs and maintain operational stability. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to identify and explore effective flexible-work-arrangement (FWA) strategies that small business leaders in the finance and insurance sector used to retain employees. The participants included six small business leaders in the finance and insurance sector in the Southeast United States with successful experiences using such strategies. Data were collected from semistructured …

Enzymatic Characterization Of Bacterial Enzymes And Inhibitors As Potential Antibiotics With New Mechanisms Of Action, Emma Helene Kelley

Dissertations

Bacteria have become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, therefore there is an urgent need for new drug classes of antibiotics to help fight antibiotic infections. To this end, our research is focused on inhibitors of dizinc metalloenzymes N-succinyl-L,L-diaminopimelic acid desuccinylase (DapE), an enzyme in the lysine biosynthesis pathway, N-acetyl-L-ornithine deacetylase enzyme (ArgE), an enzyme in the arginine biosynthesis pathway, and sodium-dependent NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Na+-NQR) enzyme, a respiratory complex enzyme as promising drug targets. DapE, ArgE, and Na+-NQR and are only present in bacteria, including ESKAPE pathogens that can cause potentially deadly infections, thus inhibitors of DapE, ArgE, and Na+-NQR offer …

A Spatial Modeling Framework For Identifying Multidimensional Risk Factors Of Colorectal Cancer, Johnna K. Berryhill

Student Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and preventable cancers, yet significant disparities in screening, incidence, and late-stage diagnosis persist across different geographic and socioeconomic contexts. This thesis presents a spatial modeling framework for identifying multidimensional risk factors associated with CRC outcomes across various geographic scales. Using county- and census-tract-level data from national and state sources, the study integrates demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, built environment, and behavioral predictors to analyze geographic variability in CRC risk factors. Advanced spatial modeling techniques, including Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and Geographically Weighted Random Forest (GW-RF), are employed to capture spatial heterogeneity in these …

Building A Collaborative Culture Among A Remote Staff In K-12 Virtual Schools, Jamie L. Droegemeier

Student Theses and Dissertations

The rise of full-time virtual K-12 schools presents unique challenges for administrators in cultivating a collaborative staff culture among remote staff members. Collaboration among educators is essential for trust, professional development, and student achievement; however, existing research primarily focuses on traditional school settings. The problem addressed in this study is the difficulty K-12 virtual school administrators face in fostering collaboration among staff who work in different locations, potentially affecting instructional quality, job satisfaction, and student outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to identify the best practices K-12 virtual school administrators had implemented to build a collaborative culture …

Impact Of A Dance Education For Secondary School Students, Kimeka T. Williams

Student Theses and Dissertations

As the education system has grown, so has arts education, but not with great ease (Fegley, 2010). Dance education and associated curriculums are designed to allow students an opportunity to express themselves through creative movement. The Kennedy Center stated that arts integration is “an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate learning through an art form. Students engage in a creative process which connects an art form and another subject area meeting evolving objectives in both” (Silverstein & Layne, 2014). Kassing (2013) states that today, the dance scene is quite different from how it was a century ago. …

Let's Talk About Sex, Baby! Gender Roles In Parent-Child Sexual Communication, Alexandra Henrici

Dissertations and Theses

Parent-child sexual communication remains a fruitful avenue to increase safe sex behaviors, which are currently in decline by today's adolescents. Historically, mothers have reported engaging in parent-child sexual communication more than fathers do. Previous scholarship suggests this difference could be due to traditional gender role beliefs or conflicts with traditionally masculine attributes. Using social cognitive theory and social role theory, this study conducted a cross-sectional survey on parents of children aged 9 through 16. Positive relationships existed between outcome expectations, self-efficacy, and level of detail in sexual and reproductive health conversations between parents and children. Though no statistical difference was …

Balancing Health Information-Seeking Through Retrieval-Augmented Generation-Based Llm Chatbot, Gargi Nandy, Srishti Gupta, Farhad Mohammad Afzali, Eric Peeples, Betsy Pilon, Chun-Hua Tsai

Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Faculty Publications

Family caregivers play a vital role in supporting children with chronic health conditions, such as neonates diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). However, navigating complex medical information can be overwhelming due to the quantity and quality of available literature. This study leverages Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)-based Large Language Models (LLMs) to develop a chatbot that integrates peer-reviewed scientific literature and provides personalized, simplified summaries for caregivers. A user study involving six caregivers and five healthcare providers demonstrated the chatbot’s ability to enhance clarity, improve comprehension, and deliver essential medical information concisely. Our findings highlight the potential of RAG-based LLMs to enhance caregivers’ …

Balancing Health Information-Seeking Through Retrieval-Augmented Generation-Based Llm Chatbot, Gargi Nandy, Srishti Gupta, Farhad Mohammad Afzali, Eric Peeples, Betsy Pilon, Chun-Hua Tsai

Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Faculty Publications

Family caregivers play a vital role in supporting children with chronic health conditions, such as neonates diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). However, navigating complex medical information can be overwhelming due to the quantity and quality of available literature. This study leverages Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)-based Large Language Models (LLMs) to develop a chatbot that integrates peer-reviewed scientific literature and provides personalized, simplified summaries for caregivers. A user study involving six caregivers and five healthcare providers demonstrated the chatbot’s ability to enhance clarity, improve comprehension, and deliver essential medical information concisely. Our findings highlight the potential of RAG-based LLMs to enhance caregivers’ …

Teacher Perspectives On The Impact Of School-Based Mental Health Services On Academic Performance, Attendance, And Behavior, Carol Ingram

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative instrumental case study explores teacher perspectives on the impact of school-based mental health services on student academic performance, attendance, and behavior in a northern Mississippi school district. Understanding their influence on key student outcomes is crucial given the increasing integration of school-based mental health services in educational settings. Framed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) five core competencies, this study examines how school-based mental health services support these competencies through teachers' insights. Data were collected using criterion sampling, focusing on eight high school teachers through focus groups, individual interviews, and a review of the …

Exploring K-12 Educators Remaining In The Profession In Louisiana Public Schools: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Brittany Benoit

Student Theses and Dissertations

School systems across the United States and worldwide face significant challenges due to a shortage of qualified teachers. These conditions negatively affect student outcomes and place additional financial burdens on school systems. Teacher shortages often lead to larger class sizes and increased workloads for existing educators, further exacerbating the issue. Addressing teacher retention is crucial to improving educational quality and stability within school systems. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the experiences and perceptions of relationships that influenced K-12 Louisiana Public School educators to remain in the profession. Guided by Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, the research emphasized intrinsic factors that contributed to …

Impact Of Trap-Neuter-Return Programs On Municipal Spending, Natalie Maria Hanna

Student Theses and Dissertations

Trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs are an effective way to reduce the number of free-roaming cats without relying on euthanasia by preventing further reproduction. Despite substantial research into the effectiveness of TNR, few studies explore the financial implications of implementing TNR at the municipal level. The purpose of this research was to identify if there is a relationship between the implementation of TNR and municipal spending on animal services by analyzing annual budgets and financial reports pre- and post- TNR implementation in a single municipality alongside shelter data in the same time period. Findings in this research suggest that implementing a TNR …

Examining Teachers’ Perceived Effectiveness Of Marzano’S Teaching Strategies For Enhancing Student Engagement In Secondary Level Ela Classes, Casey Chantel Grinder

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interview questions and a teacher questionnaire to explore 10 secondary ELA teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of Marzano’s strategies on student engagement. Participants included experienced teachers with a minimum of five years of classroom instruction—who had received formal training in the Marzano framework provided by their school district. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, the study examined five central themes: implementation of Marzano’s strategies, impact on student academic competence, student engagement and motivation, challenges and barriers, and support mechanisms used by educators. These themes provided a comprehensive lens to better understand how the Marzano …

Functional Characterization Of Uncharacterized Essential Genes In The Oral Pathogen Streptococcus Mutans, Courtney Dover

Student Theses and Dissertations

Streptococcus mutans is a pathogen associated with the formation of dental caries, and its genome contains many uncharacterized genes, including some which are classified as essential genes. These genes are required for the growth of the organism. Characterizing the function of these genes is important for understanding the organism, as well as identifying potential antimicrobial targets. This project used a CRISPRi (CRISPR interference) system to repress seven experimentally uncharacterized genes within the S. mutans genome and investigated the effects of their repression via RNA-seq transcriptomics, phylogenetic analysis, and TEM. The gene annotated as SMU_393 was then prioritized for further analysis …

Role Of Gut-Liver-Brain Axis In Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Of Parkinson’S Disease, Raveena Dhanani Ratnayake

Student Theses and Dissertations

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), such as depression, and anxiety, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often precede motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD), highlighting the need for early biomarkers and mechanistic insights. Gut-microbiome-related metabolites, including secondary bile acids, influence lipid homeostasis and mitochondrial function, impacting neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. This study examines metabolic alterations in PD, focusing on lipid metabolism, bile acids, acylcarnitine, and amino acids. Our findings showed significant changes in lipid metabolism, transsulfuration pathway, bile acids, acylcarnitine, and amino acids in PD severity and NPS. Specific lipid subclasses were linked to NPS, cognitive impairment, and motor impairment. Given the limited …

Perceptions Of Teacher Recruitment And Retention Programs That Focus On Financial Incentives In Rural Georgia School Systems, Ronald Hill

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the perceptions of teacher recruitment and retention programs in rural Georgia, emphasizing the role of financial incentives. Rural school districts face persistent challenges in maintaining a stable educator workforce, largely due to low retention rates. Using Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, this study examines how salary as a function of job satisfaction influences teachers' decisions to enter and remain in the profession. Through a qualitative case study, interviews with 24 rural Georgia educators, document analysis, and member checking were conducted to assess perceptions of recruitment and retention. The findings highlight the critical impact of salary, with competitive pay being …

College And Career Readiness Of Students With Autism In The Dallas/Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, James Daniel Hobbs

Student Theses and Dissertations

Autism is a spectrum disorder involving individualized disabilities in social interactions, self-expression, and behavior control. Those diagnosed typically exhibit challenges in at least two of these areas. Many individuals with autism are identified through evaluations in public schools. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, public schools must provide disabled students with a free and appropriate public education through special education. In Texas, autism is one of 13 disabilities that qualify a student for special education services. Once in special education, students receive an individualized education plan, which includes goals for life after high school. The Texas Education Agency tracks …

Social Perception Of Bipolar Disorders On Employment Outcomes, Mary E. Henson

Student Theses and Dissertations

An important component to quality of life in those living with bipolar disorders is employment. Employment gives people an opportunity to provide for themselves and others, granting them the ability to live bountiful lives. For those with mental health diagnoses, it also provides them with economic access to affordable treatment. Literature agrees that many people with these diagnoses, specifically people with bipolar disorders, are less likely to be employed and maintain employment. It is likely that a lack of employment is due to stigma faced from employers and colleagues. Many studies have investigated internal stigma of bipolar disorders, but there …

Effects Of Intensity During Wingate Anaerobic Testing On Pedal Power Asymmetry In Recreationally Active Individuals, Balqees Mraiyan

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the differences between three different intensity levels during a Wingate Anaerobic test (WAT) on the pedal power asymmetry and descriptive variables in recreationally active individuals. Six recreationally active volunteers completed a counterbalanced design of three separate WAT at different intensities. Test intensities consisted of a low resistance (5%), traditional resistance (7.5%), and a high resistance (8.7%) of each individual’s body mass in kilograms (kg). Descriptive data (age, weight, height, blood pressure, and heart rate) were also collected. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) examined the differences between each intensity level across all four sprints with …

Nurses’ Role In Reducing Mental Health Stigma In Healthcare, Olufunmilayo Elizabeth Adeloye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project implemented a targeted educational intervention to reduce mental health stigma among healthcare providers. Mental health stigma, often resulting in misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and decreased patient engagement, represents a significant barrier to effective nursing practice. The project’s practice-focused question examined whether an educational program could improve provider knowledge and attitudes toward mental illness. Using the ADDIE model (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation), a needs assessment at a family practice and behavioral healthcare clinic identified gaps such as judgmental perceptions, avoidance behaviors, and lack of empathy among providers. An extensive literature review supported the …

The Promotion Of Physical Activity For Use In Alzheimer's Disease Prevention Trials In Adults With Down Syndrome: Results From A 12-Month Randomized Trial., Lauren T. Ptomey, Brian C. Helsel, Richard A. Washburn, Robert N. Montgomery, Ron Krebill, Jessica C. Danon, Joseph R. Sherman, Daniel Forsha, Amy Bodde, Amanda N. Szabo-Reed, Anna M. Gorczyca, Joseph E. Donnelly

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of death in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) may prevent or delay the onset of AD. Therefore, we evaluated the potential effectiveness of a remotely delivered home-based group exercise (≈8/group) to increase daily MVPA and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with DS to a level that may be associated with delaying AD in adults with DS.

METHODS: Adults with DS ((n = 81, age ≈27 years 55% female) without dementia were randomized (2:2:1) to a 12-month intervention, which included 40-min exercise sessions scheduled once (remote low …

The Rogue Private Company And National Defense Emergencies, Gavin Small

Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy Sidebar

This Note explores two overlapping challenges in the United States constitutional and political system. First, the United States increasingly relies on private companies for technologies necessary for national defense. This has given outsized power to a few unelected corporations and people who might have their own incentives that misalign with those of the United States. This is particularly dangerous in an emergency situation where the United States government, not a private company with its own interests, should be making decisions regarding national security. As an example, this Note focuses on the massive role that the company SpaceX plays in the …