Digital Commons Network^™

A Qualitative Case Study Exploring The Relationship Between Nutritional Awareness, Behavioral Outcomes, And The Prevention Of Early Risk Factors Of Hypertension And Cardiovascular Disease In Elementary School Students: Perceptions Of Parents And Educators In Hull-Daisetta Independent School District, Shante Monique Espree

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the relationship between nutritional awareness and observed behavioral outcomes among elementary school students, with a secondary focus on how these factors may contribute to early risk indicators for hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This study was situated within Hull-Daisetta Independent School District (ISD), Texas and centered on the perspectives of both parents and educators. The theory guiding the study was the Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986) as it emphasizes the role of observational learning, social influence, and behavior change in health-related interventions. This framework supported the exploration of how nutritional awareness shapes …

A Phenomenological Study On Korean Christian Immigrants’ Searching For Wholeness, Hyunjin Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Wholeness is a way of living that integrates life’s paradoxes into a cohesive whole, and biblically it is living in harmony with God, others, and oneself. While both scientific and biblical perspectives affirm spirituality and virtues as central to wholeness, existing empirical models often fall short of capturing its full scope within Christian and cultural contexts. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to gain deeper insights into the common essence of Christian wholeness by exploring the lived experiences of wholeness among Korean Christians living in the United States of America. Twelve participants engaged in in-depth interviews and focus groups, and data …

Capitalizing On Crisis: A Statistical Analysis Of Federal Funding And The Surge In White-Collar Criminal Activity During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Lee R. Gibson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new era that has forever changed how people work, communicate, and socialize. The pandemic also brought one of the most significant influxes of financial assistance to individuals, businesses, educational institutions, and state and local governments that has ever been seen. This massive infusion of cash, which was orchestrated and managed by the federal government, was instituted in a manner that provided quick relief with little ability for oversight, resulting in every assistance program experiencing high rates of fraudulent activity. This project aims to understand if the levels of white-collar crime increase during a disaster, …

Parents As First Teachers Living In Their Home Environment: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Dana Lynne Horne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of parents as their child’s first teachers and how these experiences influence their child’s early educational development for Head Start parents at a school in Virginia. The central phenomenon of the study was generally defined as the multidimensional lived experiences of parents of children ages 0 to 6, living in unstable or substandard housing, and navigating the roles of caregiver, teacher, and advocate within complex social-cultural ecological environments. The theory guiding this study is Bronfenbrenner’s (1974) sociocultural environmental framework. This study focused on understanding Head Start Program parents’ …

The Impact Of Nutritional Education On Hemoglobin Levels In Adolescent Cross-Country Runners, Phillip L. Hardy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Iron deficiency and anemia have been documented in adolescent endurance athletes, particularly female runners, due to increased physiological demands during growth and sustained training stress. However, limited research has examined seasonal hemoglobin progression in high school cross-country athletes while simultaneously examining outcomes during participation in structured nutrition education. Therefore, the purpose of this longitudinal quantitative study was to examine hemoglobin levels, dietary iron intake, and nutrition knowledge among adolescent cross-country runners across a competitive season during participation in a four-session, nutrition education program delivered from August 2025 through November 2025. Participants included 44 high school runners from northwest Georgia who …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Public High School Female Principals: A Phenomenological Study On Their Career Paths, Yuxin Carcamo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of public high school (PHS) female principals across 12 PHSs in southern California. The lived experiences were generally defined as educational leadership career paths. The theory guiding this study was social cognitive theory. This theory guided the study by providing a framework to explore how intrapersonal, workplace, and job factors influence PHS female principals’ career paths. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of PHS female principals on their leadership career paths? Data were collected through interviews, focus group interviews, and observations of 12 …

An Exploration Of The Prioritization And Application Of Self-Care For Mental Health Therapists Working Within Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Mental Health Organizations: A Phenomenological Study, Elizabeth Lynn Leyva

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the prioritization and application of self-care for mental health therapists working within Mississippi Gulf Coast community mental health organizations. The theory guiding this study was Milton Rokeach’s belief system theory, which examined the significant impact of beliefs, attitudes, and values on decision-making regarding clinician self-care in personal and professional realms. The central research question for this study asked how mental health therapists in community mental health organizations described their experiences of prioritizing and applying self-care during and outside of therapy practice. There were three subquestions to support the central research …

Impact Of The Menstrual Cycle On Female Endurance Athletes' Performance, Julia M. Monk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Background: During different phases of the menstrual cycle, a female endurance athlete will experience some physiological and fatigue variables. This study aims to analyze whether the differences in variables, specifically an increase in heart rate and fatigue, impacts endurance performance. Method: 20 endurance-trained, runners performed a maximal treadmill test in each of the phases of the menstrual cycle: early follicular phase (days 2–3, ± 1 day), mid-follicular phase (days 10–12, ± 1 day), and luteal phase (days 21–22, ± 1 day). Heart rate was measured before, during, and immediately after the test as well as time to exhaustion and the …

A Phenomenological Study On The Experiences Of Educators As Mentors For Homeless And Highly Mobile Students In A Rural Community, Tracy Dawn Mcpheron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to explore how educators perceive an implemented mentoring program in which they will serve as mentors of homeless and highly mobile students in a rural school district. The mentoring program will include educators working as mentors to students coded as homeless through the McKinney-Vento Act for Homeless Education. The educators participating in the mentoring program will be the participants in this study. The participants will include middle school (6th-8th grade) through high school (12th grade), teachers, counselors, librarians, the district’s homeless liaison, and the federal programs coordinator for an East Tennessee school …

A Phenomenological Study Of Pastoral Perspectives Of Conservative Churches Effectively Serving The Disability Community, John D. Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study explored the experience of pastors leading conservative churches engaging with and serving persons with disabilities and their families. It focused on six theologically conservative churches providing special needs ministry, with at least three distinct scheduled ministry opportunities staffed by lay leadership, meeting a minimum of quarterly, and overseen by a paid staff member. This research sought to understand the perspectives of the pastors leading these churches, focusing on their personal experiences with disability, vision implementation, and leadership development. This study explored these pastors’ leadership through the lens of Transformational Leadership Theory and whether their style demonstrates transformational …

Health Behaviors Of First-Generation College Students Affected By Acculturation, Angel Camacho Castro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative narrative ethnographic study was to understand how acculturation affects health behaviors and wellness of first-generation college students at a state university on the West Coast of the United States. The theory guiding this study was social constructivism theory, proposed by Lev Vygotsky, who claimed behaviors are constructed by social interactions around social settings. This research focused on how students navigated the changes in inherited cultural values of health behaviors and wellness practices affected by mainstream and college cultures. The dissertation investigated challenges first-generation college students faced in an environment that often conflicted with family values …

Heart Rate Variability In The Context Of Mental Health And Substance Use, Sage M. Lopez

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) has been linked to various areas of cardiovascular disease and mortality in previous research. Within this area, certain mental illnesses and use of psychoactive substances have been associated with low HRV and its health implications. Little research exists that examines the combined effects of mental illness and psychoactive substance use. The current research aims to understand if there is a compounding negative effect of these two factors when studied in tandem. Using a three-phase study design, HRV was analysed at baseline and at physiological relaxation, with participants being included under certain mental health, substance use, or …

Advancing Rheumatology In The Middle East: Mrc 2025 Abstracts, Martin Lee, Ahmed Zayat, Beena Hameed, Elsadeg Sharif, Fahda Al Okaily, Fehaid Alanazi, Francis Kynaston-Pearson, Khalid A. Alnaqbi, Mahmood Hachim, Mayam Al Nesf, Mira Mirashli, Mohammed Tariq, Ravi Gutta, Reem Abdwani, Saadeya Naji, Shamma Lootah, Tareq Al Araimi, Waleed Hafiz, Suad Hannawi

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Ethnic Background As A Determinant Of Thyroid Cancer Risk: A Decade-Long National Cohort Study Reveals Divergent Epidemics In Saudi Arabia, Nizar A. Khamjan

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To analyze and compare temporal trends, demographic characteristics, and stage at diagnosis for thyroid cancer (TC) between Saudi and non-Saudi populations in order to identify potential population-specific etiological drivers. Methods: We conducted a national retrospective cohort study of TC cases in Saudi Arabia from 2013–2022. To assess population-level trends, we computed age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) and multivariable Poisson regression alongside piecewise regression models for comparative analysis. Results: Among 14,159 total cases, TC incidence increased disproportionately in Saudi nationals, rising from 884 to 1,677 (90%), significantly outpacing the 184 to 275 (49%) increase observed in non-Saudis. The incidence rate ratio …

Comparison Of The Predictive Value Of Crp/Albumin, Crp/Prealbumin, And The Clinical Frailty Scale For Mortality In Geriatric Intensive Care Patients, Natali T. Aksoy, Bülent B. Güven, Sümeyya M. Soyalan, Dilek Metin Yamaç, Tuna Ertürk, Süheyla Abitağaoğlu

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP)/prealbumin and CRP/albumin ratios, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) scores, and short-term (first 3 days) and long-term (28 days) mortality in geriatric patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Methods: After obtaining ethical approval and informed consent, 213 patients aged 65 years and older were included. Patients discharged within 24 hours, those discharged and readmitted during the study period, those receiving routine albumin replacement, and patients with cirrhosis or undergoing chronic dialysis were excluded. Demographic characteristics, admission diagnoses, chronic comorbidities, frailty scores at admission, and laboratory values, including albumin, prealbumin, and CRP …

Tumor-Associated Neutrophils In Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Predicted By Clinicopathologic Characteristics And Peripheral Blood Markers, Weiwei Hong, Xie Xiong, Chen Fang, Chuanhong Luo, Xiaoying Qian, Xinyuan Yao, Xin Ye, Biao Yu, Bingbiao Zhou, Dengying Chen, Chengsi Shu, Yong Wang, Yong Li

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: The process of analyzing tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) types is complex. This study explored the relationships among clinicopathological characteristics, peripheral blood markers, and TANs. Methods: Clinical information was retrospective gathered for 115 patients in our hospital from May 2019 to May 2021, and multiplex immunofluorescence staining was utilized to access the expression of TANs and analyze the potential relationship between TANs and clinicopathological features or peripheral blood markers. Results: Among the 115 patients, the proportion of female patients within the neutrophils (N1)-low group was notably greater compared to the N1-high group (87.5% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.022). In nonsmoking patients, …

Clinical Role Of Hematologic Inflammatory Markers In The Diagnosis Of Missed Abortion, Mustafa Bakırcı, Çağlayan Ateş, Ethem S. Yalvaç

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic value of hematological and biochemical inflammatory markers in distinguishing missed abortions from healthy pregnancies during the first trimester. Methods: This retrospective case-control study was conducted between May 2022 and May 2024, included 61 women diagnosed with missed abortion by ultrasound and 100 healthy pregnant women who acted as controls. The following inflammatory markers were calculated from routine blood and biochemistry results: neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and C-reactive protein-albumin ratio (CAR). Intergroup comparisons and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed. Results: The …

Integrative Approaches To Gut Microbiota: Biomarkers, Dysbiosis, And Therapeutic Potential, Zeyad M. Alharbi

Saudi Medical Journal

The human gut contains bacteria, viruses, and archaea that influence health depending on age, diet, and location. An individual harbours about 150 bacterial species. An imbalance of these microorganisms, known as dysbiosis, can negatively impact health. Commensal bacteria maintain microbial homeostasis by building short chain fatty acids. The 2-way communication channel that connects the gut and the brain is referred to as the gut-brain axis. Dysbiosis of the gut leads to some autoimmune diseases. A decline of beneficial bacteria causes the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Gut dysbiosis increases intestinal permeability, allowing toxins and cytokines to enter the bloodstream and damage …

Information Security Strategies To Thwart Cybersecurity Attacks In The Financial Services Industry, Donovan Anthony Miles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Financial markets and industries are vulnerable to ransomware attacks. Information technology (IT) security subject matter experts (SMEs) are concerned about ransomware cyberattacks on critical infrastructure that threaten their customers’ financial privacy and the institution’s reputation, causing severe financial losses and diminishing productivity. Grounded in the diffusion of innovation theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies IT security SMEs use to increase the implementation of existing solutions to thwart cybersecurity attacks in the financial services sector. The participants were six IT security SMEs in the financial industry in the Northeast United States who were responsible for …

Methionine Restriction Enhances Platinum-Based Chemotherapy-Induced Immunogenic Cell Death In Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Mallory Thompson, Laura Sipe Ph.D.

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

When cancer cells are treated with chemotherapy, they can release Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) as they die that can alert and engage the immune system, a process known as an immunogenic cell death (ICD). The dying cancer cell can release certain molecules, including ATP or calreticulin, that immune cells first recognize as abnormal before initiating an anti-tumor response. However, not all chemotherapies cause the release of these beneficial signals as they kill the cell. This study aims to determine whether a specific deprivation technique, called methionine restriction, enhances the ICD process and DAMP expression when used in conjunction with chemotherapy …

Quality Improvement Project: Improving Interdisciplinary Care In Nursing Education Through Simulation, Anna Williams

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Interprofessional education (IPE) is essential in preparing nursing students for effective teamwork and communication in clinical practice and is supported by the literature as improving these outcomes. However, limited faculty training in interprofessional simulation design contributes to reduced IPE opportunities within nursing curricula. A needs assessment at the project site identified a lack of structured, hands-on training for simulation faculty, resulting in decreased faculty confidence and limited implementation of IPE simulations. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether a structured training intervention improved simulation faculty self-efficacy in developing and implementing IPE simulations. Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory guided …

Quality Improvement Project : Educating Critical Care Nurses On Braden Scale And Sskin Care Bundle To Impact Pressure Injuries, Andrea Garrett

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) increase patients' risk of infection, prolonged hospitalization, death, and healthcare costs. The Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) has shown that implementing a standardized skin assessment process and a care bundle helps prevent skin injuries. A critical care unit (CCU) at an acute care 339-bed hospital in Southaven, MS, has seen an increase in HAPIs. This quality improvement project aimed to educate CCU nurses about the Braden Scale and the SSKIN care bundle to impact pressure injuries in the CCU within 8 weeks. Education on the Braden Scale and the Skin, Sensory, Keep Moving, Incontinence, …

A Functional Nutrition Literature Review For Brain Fog And Adhd-Like Symptoms In Adults, Natalie Elisani Aldahondo-Matos

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ADHD-like symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating, mental fatigue, and problems with executive functioning, are increasingly recognized in adults. Although medication is commonly used to manage ADHD, there is growing interest in whether nutrition may also play a role in supporting brain function and attention. Several nutrients involved in brain health including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, magnesium, iron, and choline  have been suggested as potential contributors to cognitive performance and attention. However, the research examining the connection between diet and ADHD symptoms is still limited and sometimes shows mixed results.

The purpose of this project was …

Spartan Daily, April 28, 2026, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2026

Volume 166, Issue 38

Assessing The Feasibility Of Integrating Occupational Therapy Services Within A Pediatric Primary Care Setting For Children 0-3 Years Old., Amanda L. Wilbert, Cristina Dumitrescu, Kim Karr

Post Professional Occupational Therapy Doctoral (PPOTD) Student Capstone Projects

The objective of this capstone project was to assess the feasibility of implementing occupational therapy (OT) services within a pediatric primary care office using a manualized service delivery approach. Occupational therapy is inherently grounded in parent coaching and education, positioning the profession to play a critical role in supporting families and promoting early identification of developmental risk. This project aimed to address a documented gap in the inclusion of OT within pediatric primary care by exploring how OT services can support parenting skills and monitor children identified as at risk for developmental, behavioral, or psychosocial concerns. The project was conducted …

Evaluation Of Enolase1 And Il-9 As Biomarkers To Determine Stratifying Severity Of Vaginal Candidiasis In Iraqi Women, Shams I. Ali, Teeba H. Mohammad

Baghdad Science Journal

Vaginal candidiasis is an opportunistic fungal infection of the lower female reproductive tract caused by Candida species. This study aimed to investigate the roles of Enolase 1 and Interleukin-9 in the pathophysiology of vaginal candidiasis and examine their correlations with anthropometric and lipid profile parameters. A total of 120 participants were enrolled, including 80 patients with VC and 40 healthy controls. Patients were classified into Candida albicans and non-Candida albicans groups based on clinical and microbiological criteria. Serum and vaginal secretions levels of ENO-1 and IL-9 were measured using ELISA, while lipid profiles were assessed spectrophotometrically. Both ENO-1 and IL-9 …

Prenatal Care Access And Pregnancy Outcomes Among Black Women Ages 15–44 In Cook County, Illinois, Deandrea Heggins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal health disparities affecting Black women in the United States remain a persistent public health concern due to inequities in prenatal care access and adverse birth outcomes. Prior research has shown that socioeconomic conditions, insurance coverage, and systemic barriers influence prenatal care utilization and maternal outcomes; however, limited research has examined how Medicaid coverage, household income, preterm birth, and birth weight are collectively associated with prenatal care access among Black women in Cook County, Illinois. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationships among these factors and access to prenatal care among Black women ages 15–44 …

Exercise Behavior Determinants Of The United States Military And Veterans, Ira Seth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite organizational policy and access to physical activity facilities, the U.S. Department of Defense has observed an increase in the prevalence of service members classified as overweight or obese. Guided by the social-ecological model, this quantitative study investigated the work-related exercise determinants within the U.S. military community. Voluntarily recruited current and former service members from Stars and Stripes completed the Office Exercise Behavior Determinant Scale and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, along with demographic and biometric questions, to identify physical activity behavior and potential barriers. Findings revealed statistical significance related to exercise duration and military variables (e.g., occupation, race/ethnicity), as …

Cross-Sectional Associations Of Metabolically Healthy Obesity, Lifestyle Factors, And Steatotic Liver Disease In Adults From The Fels Longitudinal Study, Ariana L Garza, Audrey C Choh, John Blangero, Cici X Bauer, Stefan A Czerwinski, Miryoung Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To examine the associations of metabolic health and obesity phenotypes with liver fat accumulation and hepatic steatosis in adults.

Methods: We analyzed 676 non-Hispanic white adults (18-95 years; 55.8% female) from the Fels Longitudinal Study using a cross-sectional design. Participants were classified into metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) phenotypes. Metabolically unhealthy status was defined as the presence of ≥1 metabolic dysfunction, consistent with prior epidemiological definitions; secondary analyses using ≥2 were also performed. Obesity was defined using DXA-derived body fat percentage. Liver fat (%) was …

Luteolin Mitigated Neuroinflammation And Glial Activation In Oxaliplatin-Induced Central And Peripheral Neuropathy In Rats, Nourhan Gamal El-Rahmany, Omar Alshazly, Mamdouh F. A. Mohamed, Amira Abd El-Rhman

Baghdad Science Journal

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the potential of luteolin to mitigate the neurotoxic effects of OXL. Oxidative injury, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction are the cardinal factors in OXL-triggered neuropathy. LUT modulates sensory and motor behavioral changes induced by OXL. Notably, LUT treatment significantly (p≤ 0.05) increased antioxidant activity by increasing paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels, attenuating oxidative damage. Additionally, LUT inhibited neuroinflammation by repressing the levels of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), while significantly increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and downregulating the relative gene expression level of mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 …