Digital Commons Network^™

“For Haitian Culture, Being Older [Is] A Blessing”: Perceptions Of Aging, Elderhood, And Dementia In A Haitian Born Sample, Melissa K. Eustache

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates how first-generation Haitian immigrants in the United States understand and interpret dementia within the intersecting contexts of culture, migration, and biomedicine. While dementia is constructed as a pathological “loss of self” and a public health epidemic, in American biomedical and popular discourse, this study examines how Haitian-born individuals—socialized within a non-Western cultural and spiritual framework—make sense of cognitive decline and impairment in ways that diverge from Western biomedical narratives. Guided by theoretical orientations from medical anthropology, including Mark Nichter’s idioms of distress, Margaret Lock’s local biologies, and neuroanthropology, this research explores how cultural models of illness, aging, …

Vibrato In The Singing Voice: A Survey Of Vibrato Practices In The Studio For Teachers And Coaches, Anna Alyce Tarver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Historically variable in its terminology, “vibrato” was not used until the nineteenth century. Coaches and teachers recognize it as a signature of healthy, expressive singing, except in some stylistically appropriate contexts. However, it continues to raise questions. Little data has been reported on vibrato outside of general characteristics. Only a few sources exist examining the knowledge and skillset of teachers of singing. This survey aimed to gain information on what instructors and coaches are told about vibrato in comparison to what they experience in the voice studio. An anonymous mixed-method survey was distributed to 201 professional voice teachers and coaches; …

Chronosort: Revealing Hidden Dynamics In Alphafold3 Structure Predictions, Matthew J. Argyle, William P. Heaps, Corbyn Kubalek, Spencer Gardiner, Bradley C. Bundy, Dennis Della Corte

Faculty Publications

Protein function emerges from dynamic conformational changes, yet structure prediction methods provide only static snapshots. While AlphaFold3 (AF3) predicts protein structures, the potential for extracting dynamic information from its ensemble predictions has remained underexplored. Here, we demonstrate that AF3 structural ensembles contain substantial dynamic information that correlates remarkably well with molecular dynamics simulations (MD). We developed ChronoSort, a novel algorithm that organizes static structure predictions into temporally coherent trajectories by minimizing structural differences between neighboring frames. Through systematic analysis of four diverse protein targets, we show that root-mean-square fluctuations derived from AF3 ensembles can correlate strongly with those from MD …

A Scalable Cybersecurity Model For Academic Makerspaces, William Faircloth

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Academic makerspaces have become integral hubs of innovation on university campuses, providing students with access to industrial-grade operational technology (OT) such as 3D printers and CNC machines. However, the security posture for these spaces has overwhelmingly focused on physical safety, creating a significant cybersecurity gap. This oversight leaves networked OT vulnerable to cyberattacks, which threaten student intellectual property, expensive equipment, and the integrity of the broader institutional network. This research addresses this critical vulnerability by developing and implementing a secure and scalable cybersecurity model at the Old Dominion University Computer Science Makerspace, founded on two core principles: robust network segmentation …

A Role For Gut Mycobiome And Altered Fungal-Bacterial Interactions In Women With Endometriosis†, Chandni Talwar, Ashirbad Guria, Kristi Hoffman, Scott Biest, Patricia Jimenez, Ramakrishna Kommagani

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Endometriosis is a gynecological pathology prevalent in reproductive age women in which the inner uterine wall (endometrium) grows outside as ectopic lesions. The inflammation resulting from these growing implants closely associates with disease severity, causing chronic pain and infertility. Emerging studies have found altered bacterial communities in endometriosis and a causal role for gut bacteria in endometriosis. However, the role of the gut mycobiome, i.e., the fungal component of the microbiome in endometriosis is a current knowledge gap that needs to be addressed. In this study, utilizing the stool samples from women with endometriosis, we found that the gut fungal …

The Efficacy Of Topical Paromomycin-Gentamicin Versus Topical Paromomycin Alone In The Treatment Of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Tareq Alshaikh, Mohammed Jihad, Awwad Jomaa

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common protozoal skin infection worldwide. Multiple treatments for CL have been developed to address issues related to resistance, availability, and safety. Topical treatments have shown promise by reducing unnecessary systemic exposure and providing a viable local therapeutic option. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted of all literature published before 28 February 2025 through PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and EBSCO, comparing topical paromomycin–gentamicin (PG) with topical paromomycin alone (PR). Two studies involving a total of 774 patients were included. Relative risks (RRs) from both studies were pooled using a fixed-effect meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed …

Interfacial Gap Prediction In Laser Welding Of Pure Copper Overlap Joints Using Multiple Sensors., Hyeonhee Kim, Cheolhee Kim, Minjung Kang

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this study, a novel approach was proposed for predicting the interfacial gap in copper overlap joints by using deep learning and multi-sensor fusion. In this method, an image sensor, a spectrometer, and optical sensors tomography (OCT) sensors were used to develop and validate deep learning models under various gap conditions. The results revealed that the variation in melt pool dimensions, changes in keyhole behavior, intensity variations at specific wavelengths, and keyhole depth derived from the OCT data could be used to accurately predict the interfacial gap. Among the proposed models, a binary gap classification model achieved the highest accuracy …

Mapping Intellectual Property Abuses In The Pharmaceutical Field, S. Sean Tu, Ana Santos Rutschman

Faculty Publications

This Viewpoint details intellectual property abuses in the pharmaceutical industry involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.

Mapping Respiratory Health Digital Interventions In South And Southeast Asia: A Scoping Review, Laura Evans, Jay Evans, Paul Barach, Adina Abdullah, Zakiuddin Ahmed, Respire Collaboration

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The growing burden of respiratory disease, particularly in Asia, where mortality is higher and awareness and policy engagement lag, could be mitigated through rapidly advancing digital health tools that offer opportunities for improved management, prevention, and personal health empowerment. We aimed to map the existing evidence, technologies, opportunities, and gaps related to respiratory digital health interventions in South and Southeast Asia and propose relevant recommendations.

METHODS: We used a scoping review methodology, where we searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PakMediNet, and MyMedR along with grey literature databases (ProQuest Thesis and Dissertations, Digital Health Atlas, …

Deconstructing Tycoon 2fa: A Static Analysis Approach To Threat Intelligence And Automated Defense, Daniel A. Austin Jr

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

It's gotten much easier to be a cybercriminal. We're seeing a boom in "Phishing-as-a-Service" (PaaS) platforms, which sell advanced phishing attacks as a ready-to-use product. This means almost anyone can now get the tools to launch sophisticated attacks, even if they don't have a lot of technical skill.

This research dives into one of the most prominent threats, the Tycoon 2FA phishing kit. This kit is dangerous because it's designed to bypass Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) using what is known as an Adversary-in-the-Middle (AiTM) attack.

This paper covers how I built and tested a set of Python-based tools to perform "static …

Inspiring The Next Generation Of Dentists: The Impact Of Role Modelling In Dental Education, Casper Jonker, Shaan Mirza

Peninsula Dental School

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Freezing And Freeze-Thaw Cycles On Equine Serum Insulin Concentration: A Pilot Study, Molly Wallace, Shea Porr, Lydia O'Sullivan

Honors College Theses

Insulin dysregulation is a key component of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), and is often a predisposing factor to conditions such as laminitis and hepatic lipidosis. Diagnosis of EMS is most often reached through a combination of glucose and insulin measurements in equine serum. Achieving an accurate result of insulin concentration is vital for diagnosis, making proper sample handling essential. The aim of this project was to evaluate the effect of repetitive freeze-thaw cycles on equine serum insulin concentrations. Serum was collected from 10 university-owned horses and split into four treatment groups: Unfrozen, Once Frozen, Twice Frozen, and Thrice Frozen. Unfrozen …

Executive Summary: Multi-Departmental Resilience And Stress Reduction Program, Joy Adeyemi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Background: Primary care nursing faces an escalating burnout crisis threatening patient safety and organizational sustainability. Internal data reveals 68% of primary care nurses report high emotional exhaustion scores on the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), significantly exceeding the national average of 45%. Annual voluntary turnover of 28% results in direct replacement costs exceeding $750,000, with associated increases in absenteeism (15% higher) and overtime costs (22% higher) compared to regional benchmarks. Purpose: This quality improvement project implemented a comprehensive multi-departmental resilience and stress reduction program to reduce nurse burnout, improve retention, and enhance patient safety outcomes in a primary care setting serving …

Strategies To Improve Employee Retention And Organizational Performance In Healthcare, Paula Faye Guillory

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of effective strategies to improve employee retention and organizational performance is a concern for healthcare leaders. Without such strategies, organizations may incur costs through recruitment and training, reduce productivity due to workflow disruption and knowledge gaps, damage employee morale by increasing workloads for remaining employees, and harm the organization’s reputation, potentially affecting patient relationships, hindering growth, and eroding any competitive advantage. Grounded in Penrose’s resource-based view theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore the effective strategies healthcare leaders use to improve employee retain and organizational performance. Participants were six leaders of healthcare organizations located in …

Vitamin D Is Glucoprotective In Aging Males But Not Females, Olivia Z B Ginnard, Maria Morales, Ji Youn Youn, Yong Xu, Stephanie R Sisley

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Vitamin D supplementation is linked to many beneficial health outcomes in the geriatric population, such as decreased mortality, epigenetic aging, and fracture risk. Conversely, type 2 diabetes is strongly linked to vitamin D deficiency in older adults. However, there is a discrepancy between clinical trials in adults on the efficacy of vitamin D treatment in prediabetes and diabetes. In addition, human data indicates there may be sexual dimorphism in the effect of vitamin D deficiency on dysglycemia that is more pronounced in men. These incongruities may be due to our limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms of vitamin D in …

The Inner Workings Of The Flipped Classroom, Kimberly Y. Resendiz

Honors Theses

This paper will be exploring what a flipped classroom is; specifically how teachers use the flipped classroom. First, it is important to note that the flipped classroom is a relatively new method that has popped up as early as the early 2000s. In general, this method allows for teachers to switch the environments in which learning the concepts and doing an activity are switched. The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of the four pillars of the flipped classroom, as well as the benefits and challenges STEM teachers face when using flipped classrooms. I have collected data …

Validation Of A Two-Item Short Form Of The Perceived Health Competence Scale, Devika Nair, Jacquelyn S Pennings, Hayden B Bosworth, Kenneth E Freedland, Sunil Kripalani, Elisa J Gordon, Gurjeet S Birdee, Justin M Bachmann

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Perceived health competence is a construct encompassing individuals’ confidence in managing their health and health-related behaviors. The 8-item Perceived Health Competence Scale (PHCS-8), developed to measure this construct, has established psychometric properties including test-retest reliability and predictive validity for health behaviors and clinical outcomes. We aimed to validate the 2-item Perceived Health Competence Scale (PHCS-2), an abbreviated version of the PHCS-8, for use in clinical and research settings where respondent burden is a primary concern. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a psychometric validation study using pooled data from 482 participants across two cohort studies conducted in an integrative medicine clinic. Participants …

Staff Education Project To Improve Management Of Depression, Maryjane Henshaw

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

I designed this Doctor of Nursing Practice staff education project to enhance the ability of primary care nurses at a mental health outpatient clinic to manage depression in patients who are non-compliant with treatment. Currently, nurses lack structured training in recognizing and addressing depression, which contributes to inconsistent care, increased relapse and readmission rates, lower patient satisfaction, and greater healthcare utilization. This project aimed to provide evidence-based education to close a critical gap in practice that affects care quality, continuity, nurse confidence, and patient outcomes. The guiding practice-focused question was: In primary care nurses at a mental health outpatient clinic, …

Implementing Evidence-Based Strategies For Falls Prevention, Gregory Njong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Older adults are particularly susceptible to post-fall injuries and loss of independence. This project was implemented to decrease the number of resident falls within a long-term care setting by enhancing the knowledge and daily routine of direct-care personnel. Falls remain one of the most frequent and severe safety concerns. Although policies on fall prevention are in place, workers often inconsistently incorporate risk evaluation and fail to identify all the causes of a fall. The purpose of this project was to determine whether a structured educational program could raise the level of knowledge about fall-prevention and provide safer care practices. The …

Strategies To Provide Organizational Support To Neurodivergent Employees On Work Teams, Keila Yaremis Molina González

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective strategies for supporting neurodivergent employees can lead to decreased productivity, talent loss, and stifled innovation, ultimately harming a company's operational efficiency. Industry training managers who struggle to improve productivity, retention, and innovation may find their businesses facing instability as a result. . Grounded in attribution theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective strategies used by industry training managers to support neurodivergent employees to increase productivity, talent retention, and innovation. The participants were nine industry training managers who had implemented supportive strategies. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, public websites, and …

Hospital-Acquired Infections Evidence-Based Standards Of Hand Hygiene, Terry Hosch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain a challenge for healthcare organizations despite being preventable. Implementing and monitoring evidence-based hand-washing standards can help reduce the spread of germs and HAIs. The cost of HAIs continues to rise, affecting finances, patient length of stay, and outcomes. HAIs add $28 billion to $45 billion annually to U.S. healthcare costs. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine and evaluate HAIs (dependent variable) and hand hygiene compliance (independent variable), as well as the impact on healthcare organizations' financial performance, patient length of stay, and outcomes. The study employed Donabedian's theoretical framework, which comprises …

Effects Of Experiences Of Widowhood Practice On Young Widows’ Well-Being In Southeastern Nigeria, Ijeoma Josephine Edinoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Nigeria long-standing sociocultural norms dictate widowhood practice, which widows are expected to undergo when they lose their husbands. The impact of this ancient culture, which has continuously been encouraged from generation to generation to date, has been devastating for widows. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to investigate the effects of widowhood practices on the well-being of young widows in southeastern Nigeria. Feminist theory was the conceptual framework. Through semistructured, audio-recorded interviews conducted via Zoom, data were collected from 10 young widows between age 18 to 45 in the southeastern Nigeria. After the data were collected, Braun …

Thirty-Day Hospital Readmissions For Medicare Patients In Urban And Rural Counties Of North Carolina And Wisconsin Based On Gender And Race, Narda J. Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Thirty-day hospital readmissions continue to be an increasing problem for healthcare administrators due to quality and costs. This study was conducted to examine whether gender and race were related to 30-day readmissions in urban and rural counties of North Carolina and Wisconsin. Research questions included the dependent variable of 30-day acute hospital readmissions and the independent variables of race (Black and White) and gender (male and female). The framework was Donabedian’s quality of care model consisting of three components: structure, process, and outcomes. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services secondary data were gathered in 2022 from 595,294 patients in …

Staff Education To Increase Nurses’ Knowledge And Comprehension Of Psychiatric Advance Directives, Lenora Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychiatric advance directives (PADs) are binding documents through which a patient who has severe mental illness can specify their treatment preferences before becoming mentally ill in a crisis. PADs support patient autonomy, shared decision-making, and reduce the reliance on coercive or involuntary treatments. However, patient record reviews in this practice setting revealed that PAD documentation was not frequently practiced, and nurses were not even aware of or confident enough to assist patients in preparing these directives. This DNP project was designed to bridge this gap by implementing a formal staff education program that would improve the knowledge and awareness of …

Male Veteran Sexual Trauma Survivors' Experiences Of Military Culture And Institutional Betrayal, Karen James Lewis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The phenomenon of Military sexual trauma (MST) among male survivors is significantly underreported and lacking in scholarly research. The purpose of this qualitative generic study was to explore male veteran MST survivors’ perspectives on military culture and institutional betrayal. Cultural spillover theory provided the framework, emphasizing that a culture that legitimizes violence to achieve its goals has the potential to foster illegitimate violence within that culture. The primary research question in this study was: What are the perceptions and experiences of male veteran MST survivors on military institutional culture and MST? Six semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom with male …

Mta-Cooperative Prmt5 Inhibitors Are Efficacious In Mtap-Deleted Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Models, Xiaochun Zhang, Dana C Borcherding, Yang Lyu, Guangfeng Wang, Kevin He, Gorkem Oztosun, Ishita Sachdeva, Liuzhan Yang, Kuangying Yang, Angela C Hirbe, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are highly aggressive sarcomas with poor prognosis. The enzyme methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) is lost in ∼25% to 50% of MPNSTs, which is associated with loss of the tumor suppressor gene CDKN2A. Inhibition of PRMT5 was found to be synthetically lethal in cells with MTAP loss due to accumulation of the substrate methylthioadenosine (MTA), an endogenous PRMT5 inhibitor. TNG908 and TNG462 are clinical-stage MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitors that demonstrate selectivity for MTAP-deleted (null) cells over MTAP-proficient [wild-type (WT)] cells. Both compounds drive durable tumor regressions in various cancer xenograft models with MTAP loss.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: …

Systemic Risks In Insurance: The Case For A Specialised Resolution Framework, Nipuna Varman

National Law School Business Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Loss Of Serotonin 2a Receptor (5-Ht2ar) Activity Contributes To Aging Phenotypes And Ferroptotic Pressures In The Retinal Pigmented Epithelium (Rpe), Thomas E. Galbato

Dr. Joseph M. Moerschbaecher, III Graduate Research Day

No abstract provided.

Chronic-Plus-Binge Alcohol Exposure Promotes Vascular Stiffness And Diastolic Dysfunction In Aging Mice, Meagan Donovan

Dr. Joseph M. Moerschbaecher, III Graduate Research Day

No abstract provided.

Power, Partnership, And Prevention: Male Involvement In Cervical Cancer Screening In Sub‑Saharan Africa, Herriethsiah S. Noah

Dr. Joseph M. Moerschbaecher, III Graduate Research Day

No abstract provided.