Digital Commons Network^™

Early Detection Of Mandible Osteoradionecrosis Risk In A High Comorbidity Veteran Population, David Chamberlayne Wilde, Sagar Kansara, Logan Banner, Rickey Morlen, David Hernandez, Andrew Tsao Huang, Weiyuan Mai, Clifton David Fuller, Stephen Lai, Vlad Constantin Sandulache

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible is a devastating complication of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We sought to ascertain ORN risk in a Veteran HNSCC population treatment with definitive or adjuvant EBRT and followed prospectively.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospective cohort.

SETTING: Tertiary care Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical center.

METHODS: Patients with HNSCC who initiated treatment at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center (MEDVAMC) are prospectively tracked for quality of care purposes through the end of the cancer surveillance period (5 years post treatment completion). We retrospectively …

A Need For Further Education On Buprenorphine In Pain Medicine, Jamal Hasoon, Anvinh Nguyen, Ivan Urits, Christopher Robinson, Omar Viswanath, Alan D Kaye

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

With the ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States there has been a strong transition towards utilizing multi-modal analgesia, interventional procedures, and non-opioid medications when managing acute and chronic pain. There has also been an increased interest in utilizing buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a novel long-acting analgesic with partial mu-opioid agonist activity that can be utilized for analgesia as well as opioid use disorder. Buprenorphine also has a unique set of side effects as well pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties that require special attention, especially if these patients require future surgical interventions. Given the increased interest in this medication we believe that …

Social Behavioral Impairments In Syngap1-Related Intellectual Disability, Hajer Naveed, Maria Mccormack, J Lloyd Holder

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Introduction: Developmental synaptopathies are neurodevelopmental disorders caused by genetic mutations disrupting the development and function of neuronal synapses.

Methods: We administered the validated Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2) to investigate the phenotypic presentation of social-behavioral impairments for the developmental synaptopathy-SYNGAP1-related Intellectual Disability (SYNGAP1-ID) (n = 32) compared with a phenotypically similar disorder Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMD) (n = 27) and healthy controls (n = 43). A short form SRS-2 analysis (n = 85) was also conducted.

Results: Both SYNGAP1-ID and PMD had significantly elevated total and subcategory T-scores, with no significant score differences between SYNGAP1 …

Renewed Calls For Abortion-Related Research In The Post-Roe Era, Sophie L Schott, April Adams, Ryan J Dougherty, Taylor Montgomery, Folasade C Lapite, Faith E Fletcher

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Nearly 50 years after Roe versus Wade, the United States Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs versus Jackson Women's Health Organization unraveled the constitutional right to abortion, allowing individual states to severely restrict or ban the procedure. In response, leading medical, public health, and community organizations have renewed calls for research to elucidate and address the burgeoning social and medical consequences of new abortion restrictions. Abortion research not only includes studies that establish the safety, quality, and efficacy of evidence-based abortion care protocols, but also encompasses studies on the availability of abortion care, the consequences of being denied an abortion, and …

Neuroanatomical Correlates Of The Late Positive Potential In Youth With Pediatric Bipolar Disorder, Alessio Simonetti, Marijn Lijffijt, Sherin Kurian, Johanna Saxena, Delfina Janiri, Marianna Mazza, Giulio Carriero, Lorenzo Moccia, Benson Mwangi, Alan C Swann, Jair C Soares

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The late positive potential (LPP) could be a marker of emotion dysregulation in youth with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). However, the neuroanatomical correlates of the LPP are still not clarified.

OBJECTIVE: To provide cortical and deep gray matter correlates of the LPP in youth, specifically, youth with PBD.

METHODS: Twenty-four 7 to 17 years-old children with PBD and 28 healthy controls (HC) underwent cortical thickness and deep gray matter volumes measurements through magnetic resonance imaging and LPP measurement elicited by passively viewing emotional faces through electroencephalography. T-tests compared group differences in LPP, cortical thickness, and deep gray matter volumes. …

Examination Of Varying Pair Programming Strategies In Computer Science Laboratory Environments, Lily Sisouvong

Open Access Master's Theses

Pair programming is a technique within the computer science space in which two programmers are paired on one computer to solve a related programming task. This technique is often practiced in both the industry and the academic setting, as it has a consistent history of positively impacting working professionals and students regarding personal experience and performance in programming. As a result, there has been a large focus within the computer science education field on how and why pair programming is a successful technique. More specifically, what traits of pairing students together make pair programming successful. At the University of Rhode …

Variable Selection And Estimation In Bayesian Causal Mediation Analysis, Shuang Wang

Open Access Master's Theses

Causal mediation analysis has emerged as a valuable tool in various fields, allowing for decomposing total effects into direct and indirect effects. However, identifying the mediation effects relies on assumptions of no unmeasured confounding in the exposure-mediator, exposure-outcome, and mediator-outcome relationships. Moreover, there is often an interest in examining the effects of a mixture of exposures on the outcome, which poses challenges in determining the appropriate set of confounding variables. Therefore, we proposed a Bayesian mediation analysis that simultaneously selects common confounding variables associated with the two exposures, mediator, and outcome, by employing spike and slab group lasso using MCMC …

Using A “Bystander Bounty” To Encourage The Reporting Of Workplace Sexual Harassment, Jessica Fink

SMU Law Review

Sexual harassment has become a fact of the modern workplace—something that society laments and regrets, but that rarely shocks the conscience when it comes to light. In fact, both the least and most surprising aspect of workplace sexual harassment is the number of individuals who are aware of it occurring. For every Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, and Louis C.K., there have been countless observers who knew about their depravity and who did nothing to stop their behavior. In this way, one obvious approach for reducing harassment at work seems clearly to involve mobilizing these bystanders—encouraging those who witness this misconduct …

The Role Of Stigma In The Barriers To Mental Health Treatment In The Arab Culture., Maria Zafaran

Capstone Showcase

Mental illness is a complex issue that affects individuals worldwide, including those in Arab culture. Unfortunately, mental illness stigma often prevents individuals from seeking help, leading to negative consequences. However, several approaches can be implemented to decrease the stigma of mental illness among Arabs. The stigma of mental illness in the Arab region is a persistent issue. This stigma can and often leads to barriers to treatment for individuals seeking treatment. The research found in this literature review supports the existence of multiple stigma related barriers of families, religion, and acculturation, that can make it particularly difficult for Arab individuals …

“Try Getting A Reservation At Dorsia Now, You Fucking Stupid Bastard!” Hegemonic Masculinity In Slasher Films, Samantha Jackson

Capstone Showcase

This thesis aims to analyze and address the prevalence of hegemonic masculinity in the slasher subgenre of horror films. The research consisted of a content analysis of what the internet deemed the ‘best’ ten slasher films of all time. The content analysis was based upon R.W. Connell’s (2005) theory of hegemonic masculinity which stated the existence of hierarchical standards for masculinity that men are expected to achieve. Hegemonic masculinity was categorized into four themes. The themes were sexist ideology, sexual behavior, and physical and emotional violence. The research indicated that emotional violence occurred at the highest rate among the sample …

Incorporating Mini Lessons On The Hidden Curriculum In Communication Classrooms, Sophie Downing, China C. Billoette Verhoff

Communication: Faculty Scholarship

The hidden curriculum (HC) consists of the implicit and embedded knowledge rooted in college curricula and found throughout students’ experiences navigating higher education (e.g., understandings of professional email etiquette, knowledge about graduate school applications and funding opportunities, and often taken-for-granted programs such as Title IX and disability accommodations). In this semester-long activity, we propose that communication instructors integrate HC mini-lessons to share important information that mitigates social capital and knowledge disparities, facilitates student reflection on their own experiences with the HC, and fosters classroom community. Through considering one’s positionality as an instructor, incorporating strategic HC mini-lessons, and seeking student feedback, …

An Examination Into The Physical And Sexual Abuse Of Children In Juvenile Detention Centers, Claudia Cornejo

Public Interest Law Reporter

No abstract provided.

Sanctioned Abuse: Corporal Punishment, Restraint And Seclusion Of Children In Public Schools, Jasper Gingrich

Public Interest Law Reporter

No abstract provided.

Punishing Poverty: The Inequalities Of Cash Bail And The Move Towards Reform, Emily L. Salamone

Public Interest Law Reporter

No abstract provided.

2023 Commencement Program, Seattle University

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

A Mixed Methods Study Of How Elementary Teachers Cope Mentally, Physically, And Spiritually While Teaching In A Pandemic, Chavon Tyrra Bryant

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine coping strategies for teachers in elementary schools who taught during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers experienced mental, physical, and spiritual challenges throughout the pandemic, and this study shared how teachers coped. Through this study, 48 teachers serving in three different elementary schools in North Carolina completed ten 4-point Likert scale response items. The survey tool's validity was established using the Lawshe content validation index. Interviews were conducted, in addition to a focus group session. Resilience theory, a framework for improving a teacher's ability to adapt successfully when under stress or adversity, …

Catatonia And Cancer Care: Not Just A Psychiatric Diagnosis, Lisa Norman, Diana Nichols

APRN Week 2023

Lisa Norman and Diana Nichols pictured.

Ipad: An Intervention To Increase Advanced Care Planning Documentation, Rinata Simien, Dwayne More

APRN Week 2023

Rinata Simien pictured.

The Opportunity Of Now: Adopting Open Educational Resources In The Sociology Classroom And Beyond, Robert D. Francis, Carleigh E. Hill, Jenise Overmeier

Sociology Faculty Scholarship

There is no better time than now fort sociologists to adopt open educational resources (OER), and sociology as a discipline is well positioned to lead. Adopting OER takes seriously the well-documented financial challenges faced by many students, supports classroom and campus goals of equity and inclusion, and allows for increased instructor flexibility. However, OER are not without their difficulties and limitations. This conversation article suggests four ways for instructors to begin or advance their utilization of OER. Ask your librarian, start with an open textbook, join the existing OER conversation, and incorporate OER within one's broader commitment to inclusive and …

School Curriculum: The Sigmatic Harm To Students And The Responsibility Of Congress To Act Again

Florida A & M University Law Review

When Brown was decided, the Supreme Court felt that it could not trust the States to encourage and facilitate equality on its own, which was proven true in the subsequent, decades-long resistance against integration following the Brown II mandate. Once again, the States cannot be trusted to move towards equality and away from backward community norms and bias without federal intervention. This is currently being exemplified by states like Florida—explicitly banning public schools from teaching Critical Race Theory. The Supreme Court does not seem willing to extend Brown any further, but the federal government may encourage and facilitate curriculum equality …

The American Dream Belongs To All Of Us: Latinos And Jamaican Americans Experience Cultural Genocide By American Assimilation

Florida A & M University Law Review

Racism in the United States has had a detrimental effect on the Latino and Jamaican experience in this country; affirmative action can be used to promote acculturation rather than assimilation. Part I of this article will explore the origins of the American Experiment as the creation of a country with freedom and democracy and how the benefit of those rights has never been given to racialized minorities without a struggle and fight. Part II explores Supreme Court cases that deal with discrimination issues in America and highlights how the solution to the forced assimilation of diverse cultures cannot be found …

Trauma-Informed Policing: The Impact Of Adult And Childhood Trauma On Law Enforcement Officers, Todd J. Clark, Caleb Gregory Conrad, André Douglas Pond Cummings, Honorable Amy Dunn Johnson

Case Western Reserve Law Review

No abstract provided.

Memes To Cope And Communicate, Priscilla (Nox) Ngo

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

The study’s objective was to observe the benefits of creating meme imagery around the participant’s stressors and how it affected the participants’ mood. This mixed-method study also looked into the meme’s ability to communicate their experience of their stressor to others to test whether it would be useful in a therapeutic setting. In order to measure affect change, the researcher utilized the PANAS (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) before and after the meme creation process. The researcher tested communication through utilization of inter-raters to observe the created meme and respond upon what they believed the participant was going through. This …

Re-Examining Productive-Skills Anxiety Constructs In Online Instructional Contexts Involving Thai Undergraduates Following The Covid-19 Pandemic, Teaka Sowaprux, Chatraporn Piamsai

PASAA

This study reexamines various foreign language anxiety (FLA) predictors that may be applicable to the Southeast Asian and Thai contexts beyond the dimensions initially validated by Horwitz et al. (1986) and Cheng (2004). This study explores two frameworks, namely, the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) (Horwitz et al., 1986) that measures classroom speaking anxiety, and the Second Language Writing Anxiety Inventory (SLWAI) (Cheng, 2004) that samples writing anxiety across three factors (i.e., somatic anxiety, avoidance behavior, and cognitive anxiety). The present study sought to understand how the online classroom apparatus during the context of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the …

English Proficiency As A Predictor Of Academic Performance In The Context Of Non-English As A Medium Of Instruction, Siti Nurul Azkiyah, Yenny Rahmawati, M. Shohibussirri, Yunita Faela Nisa, Neneng Sunengsih, Amirul Mukminin

PASAA

Many studies acknowledge that English proficiency contributes to academic performance, eventually affecting one’s career. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate whether English proficiency (EPT) could predict students’ academic performance at a state Islamic university in Indonesia. A quantitative approach was used, in which the data of students’ EPT and their Grade Point Averages (GPAs) were collected from 4,959 bachelor’s degree seeking students from various faculties. These data were taken from the university’s information center and then analyze using regression analysis to estimate if EPT significantly predicted GPA, whose finding was statistically significant (R2 = [.016], F (1, 4958) = [82.885], …

Exploring Efl Preservice Teachersʼ Sense Of Self-Efficacy In Teaching: An Indonesian Case, Caecilia Tutyandari

PASAA

A sense of self-efficacy is an essential factor in preservice teachers' professional growth. This paper aims to explore pre-service English language teachers' sense of self-efficacy in teaching, which includes their perceptions of their teaching abilities and concerns during teaching practicum. Accordingly, this study employed a mixed methods approach with a cohort of final year students of the English language education department as the respondents. It was conducted in a university-based teacher education program in Indonesia with an online survey and interview as research instruments to collect the data. The data gathered were examined separately with descriptive statistical analysis and thematic …

Peer-To-Peer Energy Trading In Smart Residential Environment With User Behavioral Modeling, Ashutosh Timilsina

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Electric power systems are transforming from a centralized unidirectional market to a decentralized open market. With this shift, the end-users have the possibility to actively participate in local energy exchanges, with or without the involvement of the main grid. Rapidly reducing prices for Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs), supported by their ease of installation and operation, with the facilitation of Electric Vehicles (EV) and Smart Grid (SG) technologies to make bidirectional flow of energy possible, has contributed to this changing landscape in the distribution side of the traditional power grid.

Trading energy among users in a decentralized fashion has been referred …

How Class Matters: Examining Working-Class Children’S Home Technology Environments From A Developmental Perspective, Vikki Katz, Brianna Hightower

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

Social class is seldom engaged by scholars as a lens for investigating variations in children’s digital technology engagement. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 33 working-class children in a postindustrial community, we examine how social class shapes these children’s digital technology experiences. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory of child development guides our examination of children’s views on digital technology integration into their interactions with proximal influences (i.e., parents, siblings, and friends) and distal influences that indirectly shape their technology environments by affecting their parents’ circumstances. We find that working-class children’s experiences share key commonalities with both their lower- and higher-income peers, consistent with …

Propaganda Of Car Ecotourism In Glacier National Park, Hanna Y. Mohammed

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This paper discusses the promotion of car ecotourism and its impact on Glacier National Park. Coinciding with the creation of the park's flagship Going-to-the-Sun Road from 1921 to 1932, both the state and the private sector presented the image of the newly commodified automobile as a vehicle to explore nature with. Historically, national parks have served the interests of the middle and upper classes, by suppressing marginalized communities, primarily through forced relocation in order to clear the lands for creation of the parks. The public's conception of the “wilderness” drastically changed during the time the car was commodified, as nature …

Altered Stories, Altered Lives: An Exploration Of Post Traumatic Growth From A Narrative Perspective With A Strengths Based Focus, Andrea Jones

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

Complex trauma is prevalent, underrecognized, and difficult to treat. Left untreated, the ongoing negative consequences impact individuals, families and society. Literature indicates traditional modes of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder have high attrition rates and are ineffective for approximately 30% of clients (Schouten et al., 2018). Art Therapy provides the opportunity to offer effective, well tolerated treatment for ongoing adverse consequences of trauma symptoms and recontextualization of the trauma due to the highly nonverbal nature of trauma memory (Hass-Cohen et al., 2014). A nested mixed methods design (Neubauer et al., 2019) combining arts-based research with pre and posttest survey analysis …