Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Internet Livestream Religious Engagement And Social Support And Health-Related Quality Of Life, Kimberly Ann Mccowan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractReligious engagement is essential in terms of offering protective factors for mental and physical health. However, religious engagement has changed, and religious affiliation has decreased over the last decade. This change in religious practice is represented by a decline in religious engagement via disaffiliation of traditional brick and mortar forms of religious activity, with an emerging phenomenon of religious engagement on the Internet. This engagement leads to a gap within the literature regarding Internet-centric religious behaviors. The study aimed to fill this gap by increasing societal understanding of religious engagement behaviors on the Internet. Social support was used to explain …

Using Distributed Leadership At The Middle School Level To Improve Academic Outcomes For Students With Disabilities, Kalisha Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The achievement gap between students with disabilities and their nondisabled peers continues to be a major issue in most school systems across the United States, with this gap expanding as students move from elementary to middle school. Using the distributed leadership framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore middle school principals’ perspectives on leadership practices within their instructional leadership teams that improved the academic achievement of students with disabilities. Researchers have demonstrated that distributed leadership is embodied through the collaboration of school leaders, followers, and their situation to influence organizational and instructional changes. The research question …

Cognition, Neurocognitive Disorder, Psychotropic Group Of Medication, And Fall Among Canadians Aged 65+ Years, Victoria Elaki Momoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the high incidence of fall among the elderly in residential care, this problem has been minimally explored and reported. This study examined the association between (cognitive performance, dementia, four groups of psychotropic medication-hypnotics, antidepressants, antianxiety medication, and antipsychotics) and fall among Canadian elderly in residential care. A multi–variate logistic regression was used for the analysis. The Social Cognitive Theory was used to interpret the findings of an analysis on 180,231 Canadian residents from 2018–2019. Cognitive performance at intact level (OR=1.114, p<0.001), cognitive performance at moderate level (OR=1.192, p<0.001), dementia diagnosis (OR=1.075, p<0.001), antipsychotics (OR=2.571, p<0.001), antidepressants (OR =1.486, p<0.001) and antianxiety prescription (OR=3.284, p<0.001) increased the odds ratio of fall. However, cognitive performance at severe level (OR=0.898, p<0.001), no dementia diagnosis (OR=0.001, p<0.001) and hypnotics prescription (OR=0.389, p<0.001) decreased the odds ratio of fall. Findings indicate that cognitive performance at the intact and moderate levels, antianxiety, antipsychotic and antidepressant medications and dementia were strong predictors of fall among the elderly in residential care in Canada. A limitation of the study was that the dataset used captured data from 7 out of 13 Canadian provinces and territories therefore, limiting external validity. The potential positive social change impact of this study is that it would guide caregivers, enhance fall prevention practices and decrease fall occurrence in this population.

Body Satisfaction And Self-Efficacy As A Predictor For Obesity Among African American College Women, Sacha Nicole Morris-Dorsey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women have the highest rates of obesity when compared to any ethnic group in the United States, and the rates of obesity among this population are expected to continue to increase. In this study, social cognitive theory was used to predict the connection between body satisfaction, self-efficacy, and obesity in 18–24-year-old African American women attending college. The data were analyzed using multiple regression, while controlling for demographic variables, to determine if body satisfaction (Body-Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults) and self-efficacy (The Eating Self-Efficacy Scale) predicted obesity among African American women in college. Thirty-three participants completed the survey. …

Associations Of Fast-Food Zoning Policy And Cardiovascular Disease In African American Communities, Starrlett Pena-Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major public health concern, causing one in every four deaths in the United States. Despite availability of effective disease management, African Americans bear the burden of incidence and mortality as CVD prevails as the primary cause of disparities in life expectancy, stroke, and heart failure. This cross-sectional study investigated fast-food restaurant (FFR) availability and socioeconomic status (SES; income, occupation, and education) to predict CVD risk scores in African Americans residing in Jackson, Mississippi. The social construction of target populations theory was used to inform this study. Using hierarchical multiple linear regression, a secondary data analysis …

Association Of The Use Of Combination Therapy Self-Management Of Prediabetes And Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus In Adults, Celestina Reed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes is a long-lasting chronic health condition that encompasses three types: Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. The disease affects how the body breaks down food into energy. It is an insulin-deficient disease and causes heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. Investigators of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Diabetes Association evaluated patient treatment preferences to determine the upsurge in patient health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and optimum health. The literature revealed that patients' preferences consisted of therapies and achievable goal setting using the health belief model (HBM) framework. This quantitative research aimed to …

The Implementation Of Advanced Digitalization In The Oil And Gas Industry, Ensieh Rezafar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe immature advanced digitalization in the oil and gas industry can limit access to the potential value of mature progressive digitalization. Oil and gas leaders must expedite the implementation of advanced digitalization to increase organizational proficiencies and reduce costs and losses. Grounded in Pettigrew and Whipp’s dimensions of strategic change theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies some leaders in the oil and gas industry used to implement advanced digitalization. The participants were seven leaders in two oil service companies in North America involved in the successful implementation of progressive digitalization. Data were collected …

Cost-Saving Strategies For Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Managers, Rosalie Rivera

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) managers deal with increased costs while facing declining budgets to meet treated water standards. Biological disinfection processes comprise 65% of a typical WWTP's energy use and are of significant concern to WWTP managers. Grounded in the resource-based view theory and Six Sigma DMAIC approach as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative embedded single case study was to explore strategies WWTP managers use to lower water disinfection costs. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with four plant managers of the same organization in the central region municipalities of Florida who successfully implemented strategies to lower …

Strategies For Achieving Sustainability Of Small Business Restaurants, Tanisha Thomas-Beard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many small business restaurant owners perform unprofitably and fail within 5 years of opening. Small business restaurant owners are concerned about sustainability as approximately 50% of small businesses that start up do not last beyond the fifth year. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies small business restaurant owners use to grow and maintain profitability to sustain business beyond 5 years. The participants were five small business restaurant owners in the Southeastern region of the United States who sustained their business beyond 5 years. The data were analyzed using …

The Perception And The Perceived Readiness Of Individuals While Working Remotely During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Argyro Tsampis-Tripodis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAt the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, some individuals were sent home to work remotely to honor social distancing measures. Individuals were challenged to create a workspace, obtain the technology needed, and create a balance between work and private life. Emotional distress may have been caused by overlapping work into personal life or psychological problems due to social distancing for some individuals. The current research aimed to understand the lived experiences of the individuals sent home to work remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic. A transcendental phenomenon methodology captured the insights, adaptations, and perspectives of individuals working remotely during the Covid-19 …

Relationship Between Ceo Gender, Hospital Size, And Urban, Rural Location, Levinda Walpole

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leadership diversity concerning gender is important in the health care sector because diversity encourages problem solving from different perspectives. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine whether there was a relationship between CEO gender and the size of nonprofit hospitals and rural/urban location of hospitals in Texas. The independent variables were hospital bed size, which was categorized according to various groupings, and rural/urban areas in Texas. The dependent variable was gender (male and female). The theoretical framework that grounded this study was the perspective of organizational culture and the leader’s role based on the competing values framework. …

Services For Homeless Veterans: A Study Of Access To Benefits, Sheryl Maddox Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHomelessness among veterans in the United States is a multifaceted social and health concern that has continued to increase despite immense efforts to minimize and eliminate this issue. Numerous organizations have dedicated resources; however, many veterans do not use benefits and resources that are available to them, and homelessness remains a health and social concern. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe how individual and interpersonal barriers, community factors, organizational structure, and existing policies for assistance are perceived by support staff that work with veterans with mental disorders who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. …

Gestational Weight Gain, Level Of Education, And Infant Mortality Among African American Women, George Lee Amanambu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

African American (AA) women in Mississippi have a higher burden of infant mortality, especially those with low income and educational levels, as compared to other regions of the country. However, it is unknown if abnormal gestation weight gain (GWG) is contributing to this increased burden. This quantitative cross-sectional study examined the association between GWG (25-35lbs), level of education, income, and infant mortality among AA women with normal prepregnancy body weight who were between 30 to 47 years old in the state of Mississippi from 2016 to 2018. Biopsychosocial and ecosocial models were used as the theoretical foundation to design …

Genetically Engineered Food, Food Security, And Climate Change, Joanna K. Sax

Faculty Scholarship

Malnutrition is the leading cause of death and disease worldwide. Climate change is an existential crisis. We need to feed people and address the role of agriculture in climate change – at the same time. This is problematic, as agriculture inherently creates issues that contributes to climate change. Utilizing science, through genetically engineered crops, is one way to close the harm gap between food security and climate change. This essay addresses the controversial issue of genetically engineered crops with the complicated issues of food security and climate change by analyzing three main issues: (1) how the science of genetically engineered …

Evaluation Of Risk Perception Of Smoking After The Implementation Of California’S Tobacco 21 Law, Joanna K. Sax, Neal Doran

Faculty Scholarship

Decreasing smoking initiation remains a public health priority. In 2016, California, in the United States, enacted the Tobacco 21 law, which raised the minimum age for the purchase of tobacco products from age 18 to age 21. This paper evaluates whether the enactment and implementation of the Tobacco 21 law changed how young adults perceive the risk(s) of smoking. Data were drawn from a cohort of emerging adults (n = 575) in California who were non-daily smokers at enrollment and followed quarterly for 3 years. Data were collected during 2015–2019. Piecewise multilevel regression models were used to test for changes …

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Amber N. Edinoff, Tanner L. Hegefeld, Murray Petersen, James C. Patterson, Christopher Yossi, Jacob Slizewski, Ashley Osumi, Elyse M. Cornett, Adam M. Kaye, Jessica S. Kaye, Vijayakumar Javalkar, Omar Viswanath, Ivan Urits, Alan David Kaye

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that causes significant functional impairment and is related to altered stress response and reinforced learned fear behavior. PTSD has been found to impact three functional networks in the brain: default mode, executive control, and salience. The executive control network includes the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and lateral PPC. The salience network involves the anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula, and amygdala. This latter network has been found to have increased functional connectivity in PTSD. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a technique used in treating PTSD and involves stimulating specific portions of the brain …

Combination Olanzapine And Samidorphan For The Management Of Schizophrenia And Bipolar 1 Disorder In Adults: A Narrative Review, Hannah W. Haddad, Elena Boardman, Brooke Williams, Rama Mouhaffel, Adam M. Kaye, Alan David Kaye

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychotic disorder characterized by positive symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thoughts, and negative symptoms like lack of effect or motivation. Bipolar 1 disorder (B1D) is a psychiatric illness characterized by recurrent manic episodes in alternation with depressive episodes and interspersed periods of euthymia, ultimately resulting in psychological distress and impairment of daily functioning. Effective treatments are needed for both schizophrenia and B1D to reach the treatment goals of reducing the debilitating symptomology, improving social functioning and quality of life, and increasing the chances of recovery and more favorable long-term outcomes. To date, olanzapine is …

Opicapone, A Novel Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase Inhibitor, For Treatment Of Parkinson's Disease "Off" Episodes, Amnon A. Berger, Ariel Winnick, Jonathan Izygon, Binil M. Jacob, Jessica S. Kaye, Rachel J. Kaye, Elisa E. Neuchat, Adam M. Kaye, Edward S. Alpaugh, Elyse M. Cornett, Andrew H. Han, Alan David Kaye

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder and the leading cause of disability. It causes significant morbidity and disability through a plethora of symptoms, including movement disorders, sleep disturbances, and cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. The traditional pathogenesis theory of PD involves the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Classically, treatment is pursued with an assortment of medications that are directed at overcoming this deficiency with levodopa being central to most treatment plans. Patients taking levodopa tend to experience "off episodes" with decreasing medication levels, causing large fluctuations in their symptoms. These off episodes are disturbing and …

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors And Associated Bleeding Risks: A Narrative And Clinical Review., Amber N. Edinoff, Keerthiga Raveendran, Marc A. Colon, Bennett H. Thomas, Katie A. Trettin, Grace W. Hunt, Adam M. Kaye, Elyse M. Cornett, Alan David Kaye

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a major cause of disability worldwide and is associated with serious lasting impairment. A leading hypothesis of the pathophysiology of MDD is the monoamine deficiency hypothesis which suggests that depression is caused by depletion of serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine in the central nervous system. Serotonin is the most widely studied neurotransmitter in the pathophysiology of depression, with studies showing that reduced central serotonin synthesis leads to depressive symptoms in individuals at risk for depression. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) inhibit serotonin reuptake and subsequently increase the amount of serotonin available in synapses. Common side effects …

Viloxazine, A Non-Stimulant Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor, For The Treatment Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A 3 Year Update., Hannah W. Haddad, Paul B. Hankey, Jimin Ko, Zahaan Eswani, Pravjit Bhatti, Amber N. Edinoff, Adam M. Kaye, Alan David Kaye

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood. Current treatment options for ADHD include pharmacological treatment (stimulants, non-stimulants, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics), psychological treatment (behavioral therapy with or without parent training, cognitive training, neurofeedback), and complementary and alternative therapies (vitamin supplementation, exercise). Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants are the primary pharmacological therapy used in treatment; however, these stimulant drugs carry a high potential for abuse and severe psychological/physical dependence. Viloxazine, a non-stimulant medication without evidence of drug dependence, is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that has historically been prescribed as an anti-depressant medication. The extended-release (ER) form …

Buprenorphine And Its Formulations: A Comprehensive Review., Salomon Poliwoda, Nazir Noor, Jack S. Jenkins, Cain W. Stark, Mattie Steib, Jamal Hasoon, Giustino Varrassi, Ivan Urits, Omar Viswanath, Adam M. Kaye, Alan David Kaye

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Buprenorphine, a novel long-acting analgesic, was developed with the intention of two purposes: analgesia and opioid use disorder. Regarding its pharmacodynamics, it is a partial agonist at mu receptors, an inverse agonist at kappa receptors, and an antagonist at delta receptors. For the purpose of analgesia, three formulations of buprenorphine were developed: IV/IM injectable formulation (Buprenex®), transdermal patch formulation (Butrans®), and buccal film formulation (Belbuca®). Related to opioid dependence, the formulations developed were subcutaneous extended release (Sublocade®), subdermal implant (Probuphine®), and sublingual tablets (Subutex®). Lastly, in order to avoid misuse of buprenorphine for opioid dependence, two combination formulations paired with …

Midazolam Nasal Spray To Treat Intermittent, Stereotypic Episodes Of Frequent Seizure Activity: Pharmacology And Clinical Role, A Comprehensive Review., Elyse M. Cornett, Meskerem A. Nemomsa, Bailey Turbeville, Matthew A. Busby, Jessica S. Kaye, Aaron J. Kaye, Joohee Choi, Giovanni F. Ramírez, Giustino Varrassi, Adam M. Kaye, Alan David Kaye, James Wilson, Latha Ganti

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

An intranasal formulation of midazolam, Nayzilam, has been FDA-approved to treat intermittent, stereotypic episodes of frequent seizure activity. Nayzilam is easy to administer and can quickly treat seizures that occur outside of the hospital. The intra-nasal route of administration allows non-medical personal to administer the drug which makes it more accessible and user-friendly in the event of a seizure. Many studies have indicated quick cessation of seizures with Nayzilam compared to rectal diazepam, which has been the standard of care treatment. Nayzilam has been proven to be safe and effective for acute seizures in children, deeming it a revolutionary alternative …

Phenothiazines And Their Evolving Roles In Clinical Practice: A Narrative Review., Amber N. Edinoff, Grace Armistead, Christina A. Rosa, Alexandra Anderson, Ronan Patil, Elyse M. Cornett, Kevin S. Murnane, Adam M. Kaye, Alan David Kaye

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Phenothiazines, a diverse class of drugs, can be used to treat multiple mental health and physical conditions. Phenothiazines have been used for decades to treat mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, mania in bipolar disorder, and psychosis. Additionally, these drugs offer relief for physical illnesses, including migraines, hiccups, nausea, and vomiting in both adults and children. Further research is needed to prove the efficacy of phenothiazines in treating physical symptoms. Phenothiazines are dopaminergic antagonists that inhibit D2 receptors with varying potency. High potency phenothiazines such as perphenazine are used to treat various psychiatric conditions such as the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, the …

Aduhelm, A Novel Anti-Amyloid Monoclonal Antibody, For The Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease: A Comprehensive Review., Hannah W. Haddad, Garett W. Malone, Nicholas J. Comardelle, Arielle E. Degueure, Salomon Poliwoda, Rachel J. Kaye, Kevin S. Murnane, Adam M. Kaye, Alan David Kaye

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia affecting millions of individuals, including family members who often take on the role of caregivers. This debilitating disease reportedly consumes 8% of the total United States healthcare expenditure, with medical and nursing outlays accounting for an estimated $290 billion. Cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists have historically been the most widely used pharmacologic therapies for patients with AD; however, these drugs are not curative. The present investigation describes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, presentation, and current treatment of AD followed by the role of the novel monoclonal antibody, Adulhelm, in …

Rimegepant For The Treatment Of Migraine., Amnon A. Berger, Ariel Winnick, Austin H. Carroll, Alexandra Welschmeyer, Nathan Li, Marc Colon, Antonella Paladini, Giovanni F. Ramírez, Jamal Hasoon, Elyse M. Cornett, Jaehong Song, Giustino Varrassi, Adam M. Kaye, Alan David Kaye, Latha Ganti

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Migraine is a common form of primary headache, affecting up to 1 in every 6 Americans. The pathophysiology is an intricate interplay of genetic factors and environmental influence and is still being elucidated in ongoing studies. The trigeminovascular system is now known to have a significant role in the initiation of migraines, including the release of pain mediators such as CGRP and substance P. Traditional treatment of migraine is usually divided into acute and preventive treatment. Acute therapy includes non-specific therapy, such as NSAIDs and other analgesics, which may provide relief in mild to moderate migraines. 5-HT1 agonists may provide …

Inhibition Of Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilm By Variovorax Paradoxus, Esther Gomez

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the leading causes of fatal nosocomial infections. Often, S. aureus can grow as a biofilm which protects the population from the surrounding environment. Strains of S. aureus are resistant to virtually all known antibiotics on the market. Variovorax paradoxus is a soil microbe with many unusual metabolic activities. It has been previously observed that, V. paradoxus can inhibit the growth of S. aureus when in co-culture. In this work we report on inhibition of S. aureus biofilm formation by V. paradoxus due to a suspected inhibitory soluble factor.

Guide On Multisectional Responses For The Protection Of Migrants, Refugees, And Internally Displaced Persons During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Diego Rodriguez-Pinzon, Claudia Martin

Research Reports & White Papers

The Guide on Multisectoral Responses for the Protection of Migrants, Refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons during and after the COVID19 pandemic is an initiative of the Department of Social Inclusion of the Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity of the Organization of American States (OAS) that offers a situational analysis and promotes a dialogue on proposals to address the particular needs of migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons in the face of the emergency generated by COVID-19. It also seeks to define proposals with a post-pandemic perspective that provide multisectoral responses to address the needs of vulnerable populations.

This …

Why The U.S. Founders' Conceptions Of Human Agency Matter Today: The Example Of Senate Malapportionment, Susan D. Carle

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

This Article links the U.S. founders’ ideas about “human agency”—i.e., their understandings of the link between the individual and the social and political structure—with how they designed the Constitution and, in particular, how they designed the U.S. Senate as a non-majoritarian institution. I mine primary sources to show that although the founders struggled with many dis- agreements in drafting the Constitution, they shared an amalgam of historically received ideas about human agency derived from both liberal and civic republican traditions. I identify five such ideas and then parse which of them continue to pertain today. I argue that although contemporary …

Successful Management Strategies For Addressing Information Technology Project Scope Changes, James Wesley Artemus Iii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inadequate scope management strategies fail to prevent project failures. Information technology (IT) project leaders who lack strategies to prevent project failures negatively impact their business goals and delivery schedule. Grounded in the theory of constraints, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies IT project leaders use to manage project scope and prevent project failures. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of company documents from 3 participants in a small IT consulting company. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: understanding project scope changes, performance techniques, and communication. A key recommendation …

Factors That Determine Utilization Of The Canadian School-Based Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Programs, Diane Gloria Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world and is the known causative agent of many HPV-associated cancers in both males and females. HPV vaccination rates in Canada are significantly lower than other developed countries and this finding is poorly understood as Canadian adolescents have access to free-of-charge HPV vaccines through school-based vaccination programs. This quantitative descriptive study used an online survey to collect data from 992 eligible respondents. This study identified predisposing, enabling, and need factors characterized by the Andersen behavioral model of health services use which facilitate or impede the use of …