Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Resilience And Coping Strategies Among African American College Athletes, Angela R. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined the relationship between resilience-type coping strategies, stress, and positive well-being among 110 NCAA Division I African American college athletes. This study utilized seven validated scales: Minority Stress Scale (MSS-37), Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experience (COPE-28), Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI-28), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS=10), Coping Schemas Inventory-Revised (CSI-R), WHO Positive Well-Being (WHO-5), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT-Sp-12). These scales measured levels of social support (emotional and informational support), hopefulness/optimism (freedom from worry), active/coping/flexibility/resourcefulness (goal setting, peaking under pressure, coachability, and confidence), good emotional-regulation and self-awareness (coping with adversity and concentration), finding meaning …

Stopping The Transference: Family Resilience Concerning High Adverse Childhood Experience Through A Genogram Study Of Southern Appalachian Storytelling Culture, Brittany Shay Teague

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of multi-generational Appalachian storytellers and their culture to discover if there was a decrease in Adverse Childhood Experiences and increase resilience across generations. Vygotsky's Communication Theory, which emphasizes child development through language and communication, and Masten’s Resilience Theory, which emphasizes that children can develop resilience with the assistance of their caregivers, guided this study. The research questions asked were as follows: How do they describe the impact of storytelling and genograms on resilience and intergenerational transference?  How do they describe the importance of storytelling? How would they describe …

A Phenomenological Analysis Of African American Clergy And Congregation Weight Loss Interventions, Linda Fay Carper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological study examines the lived experiences of Houston African American clergy regarding their roles and effectiveness in leading weight loss interventions within their faith-based communities. The research addresses the gap in peer-reviewed literature on the impact of Houston-area African American faith-based leadership on the success of weight loss initiatives. Grounded in the Transtheoretical Theory, the study explores clergy perceptions of decisional balance, self-efficacy, and processes of change to inform future health interventions. Ten purposive participants, meeting the inclusion criteria of being clergy leaders in Houston-based congregations with at least 50% African American membership, shared their insights. Data were collected …

Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions About Strategies To Teach Reading Comprehension, Carol Judd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examined the challenges teachers faced in teaching reading comprehension to secondary students within the study school. Reading comprehension is a key skill for academic success, yet many students struggle to understand complex texts in subjects such as history, science, and mathematics. The purpose of this research is to assess how teachers perceive the integration of reading strategies in core content areas and the impact of professional development on their teaching practices. The conceptual framework used to guide this study was the social cognitive theory of self-efficacy, which suggests that teachers' beliefs in their abilities to implement effective strategies …

The Proteomics Of T-Cell And Early T-Cell Precursor (Etp) Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: Prognostic Patterns In Adult And Pediatric-Etp All, Fieke W Hoff, Lourdes Sriraja, Yihua Qiu, Gaye N Jenkins, David T Teachey, Brent Wood, Meenakshi Devidas, Shaina Shockley, Mignon L Loh, Evangelia Petsalaki, Steven M Kornblau, Terzah M Horton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of T-cell lymphocytic leukemia (T-ALL) are better for children (>90%) compared to adults (~57%). The early T-cell precursor (ETP) T-ALL subtype is prognostically unfavorable in adults, but less significant in pediatric T-ALL, and the diagnosis and prognosis of "near"-ETP is controversial. We compared protein and RNA expression patterns in pediatric and adult T-ALL to identify prognostic subgroups, and to further characterize ETP and near-ETP T-ALL in both age groups.

Methods: Protein expression was assessed using RPPA methodology for 321 target proteins in 361 T-ALL patient samples from 292 pediatrics and 69 adults, …

Enhancer Reprogramming Underlies Therapeutic Utility Of A Smarca2 Degrader In Smarca4 Mutant Cancer, Sasikumar Kotagiri, Nicholas Blazanin, Yuanxin Xi, Yanyan Han, Md Qudratullah, Xiaobing Liang, Yawen Wang, Poonam Pandey, Hira Mazhar, Truong Nguyen Lam, Anand Kamal Singh, Jing Wang, Yonathan Lissanu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Genomic studies have identified frequent mutations in subunits of the SWI/SNF (switch/sucrose non-fermenting) chromatin remodeling complex including SMARCA4 and ARID1A in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Genetic evidence indicates that the paralog SMARCA2 is synthetic lethal to SMARCA4 suggesting SMARCA2 is a valuable therapeutic target. However, the discovery of selective inhibitors of SMARCA2 has been challenging. Here, we utilized structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to develop YD23, a potent and selective proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) targeting SMARCA2. Mechanistically, we show that SMARCA2 degradation induces reprogramming of the enhancer landscape in SMARCA4-mutant cells with loss of chromatin accessibility at enhancers of genes …

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Methods Of Elementary Special Education And General Education Co-Teachers Who Foster The Use Of Behavioral Management Strategies For Students With Emotional Behavioral Disorders, Tanekal White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the methods and strategies that special education and general education co-teachers use to foster behavioral management for students with emotional behavior disorders (EBD) in the interrelated resource, inclusive co-taught, and EBD self-contained settings. The theories guiding this study are Bandura’s self-efficacy theory (SET) and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory (SCT). Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy helped explore teachers’ effectiveness in instilling behavioral and instructional strategies, that induce success for students with EBD. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory was used to examine the importance of students with EBD being educated alternative ways that ensures compensation for unwanted …

The Emotional, Physical, And Mental Effects Of Physiological Entrainment And Heart Coherence In The Choral Ensemble, Nicole M. Mattfeld

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite endless studies on the benefits of music related to stress reduction and decreased anxiety, there is more in-depth research in the holistic health realm, which has yet to be applied, especially to music educators. Scientists have made groundbreaking discoveries in the last decade, proving that music can heal the nervous system; and guide one’s body into a state of physical and emotional coherence. This study gathered existing research and applied it through the lens of the choral music educator. Guided by the founders of the HeartMath Institute and additional scientific pioneers, this mixed-method study identified methods of holistic health …

Accessing Cancer Care Through A Community Diagnostic Clinic, Joy Lynn Bartholomew

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Access to diagnostic centers, innovative cancer research and best clinical practices is limited outside metropolitan areas and academic institutions. Cancer patients in rural communities are a marginalized population faced with unique barriers to high quality care from early detection through screening, streamlined diagnostics, and participation in clinical trials. One-stop clinics (OSC) in the community setting may lessen the diagnostic interval (DI), reduce the economic burden of unnecessary imagining or procedures, minimize sociodemographic discrepancies, and positively affect time to treatment and clinical trial participation. The first step is to better understand the community cancer population and their diagnostic journey. Next, an …

Understanding Perceptions Of Lived Transition Experiences Of Supplemental Instruction Leaders At A Historically Black University, Cecil Wayne Mayhall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand perceptions of lived transition experiences for supplemental instruction (SI) leaders at a large public historically Black research university in the Southeastern United States. Using the transition theory of Schlossberg et al. as a theoretical framework, this study attempted to answer the central research question: How do supplemental instruction (SI) leaders at a large public historically black research university in the Southeastern United States perceive their lived transition experiences? Sub-questions attempted to address participants' perception of the situation, self, support, and strategies when moving in, through, and out of, the SI …

School Structure As A Mechanism For Crime Deterrence, Daniel Glenn Hennigan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

An examination of the relationship between school structure and community strength will be conducted. School structure will be categorized based on the organizational structure of the institution. Schools are conceptualized and categorized as Kindergarten-12th grade (K-12th), 9th-12th grade schools (9th-12th) and Combination schools. Combination Schools are defined as any school that does not meet the criteria of either K-12th Grade or 9th-12th Grade, generally 6th-12th, 7th-12th or 8th-12th. Community strength will be examined through property crime rates, violent crime rates and individual crime statistics. Analyses will also include proportional or ratio examinations per 1,000 students. A literature review will be …

Perceived Parental Narcissism: The Adult Child's Search Of Romantic Attachment Through Self-Compassion, Deanna A. Bishop

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Narcissistic personality disorder is defined by a strong desire for admiration and apathetic responses to others’ emotional needs making bonding in any relationship difficult (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Healthy bonding within a family environment can be hindered by the lack of empathetic response and agentic behaviors that are characteristic of this personality type (Shaw, 2014). By virtue of innocence and dependency, children are the most vulnerable. The literature illustrates that emotional abuse and neglect, like parental narcissistic abuse, disrupts secure attachment between the parent and the child and can also prevent the child from learning healthy coping mechanisms, such as …

Promoting The Use Of Suicide Prevention Mobile Applications Among Clinicians To Reduce Suicide & Suicidal Behaviors In Adults Aged 18-45, Papetua Jepkoech Kimutai

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Suicide among adults aged 18-45 has increased significantly and has become a challenge to public health worldwide. The purpose of this scholarly project was to promote the use of suicide prevention mobile applications by clinicians to reduce suicide and suicidal behaviors among adults (18-45 years old). Safety Plan suicide prevention mobile app was used in addition to the standard method of preventing suicide. A quasi-experimental design was conducted to promote a suicide prevention mobile app in clinical practice. The clinician participants included three family nurse practitioners (FNPs) and five psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs)The data were collected using pre …

Biblically-Based Songs: Agents Of Healing For Women Overcoming Rejection, Michal Rivera

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine how biblically-based songs can serve as aids to women who have overcome or are overcoming rejection. The research employs a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, in which interviews, in vivo coding, reflection, interpretation, and biblical analysis explore how biblically-based songs provide or have provided aid to Christian Hispanic Women. Interviews question women about their experiences and how they cope with rejection, the importance of the Word of God, and biblically-based songs, capturing the history and healing process and transformation of the participants. Worship leaders and worship ministries will be educated, exhorted, and challenged in …

Perceived Career Barriers Among Women Working In Public Transportation Based On Leadership Development Training And Race: A Causal-Comparative Study, Tamika Gunn White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative study investigated differences in perceived career barriers among women engaged in leadership development training programs and those who were not, with a specific focus on their racial backgrounds. The research targets women within the public transportation workforce, utilizing a convenience sample comprising individuals willing and able to provide insights into the issue of perceived career barriers among women in this sector. Purposive inclusion criteria encompass self-identifying as a woman, reporting ages between 25 and 65, and current employment in the public transportation sector. The Perception of Barriers Scale assessed career- and education-related barriers. The data collection procedure …

Bridging The Governance Gap: Addressing Board Turnover And Team Building In Northern California Special Districts, Karin R. Freese

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The turnover of publicly elected or appointed board members in Northern California’s special districts poses a significant challenge to effective governance, impacting these local governments' strategic capabilities and mission accomplishment. Despite extensive research on governance, there is a notable gap concerning the effects of turnover and the role of formal training in building effective governance teams in special districts. This qualitative multiple-case study addresses this gap by investigating the governance dynamics following board turnover, focusing on the perspectives of both board members and general managers. Employing a flexible design, the study integrates interviews, document analysis, and archival data to examine …

Military Members Mental Health And Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Mediating Role Of Mental Toughness, Maureen Kenyon James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military members’ mental health has been in the spotlight for many years. Although Australia and the United States have strong, robust forces, exposure to this high-stress environments can take its toll. This study is important to keep our armed forces in top mental and physical health and look after them post-service. We need to know what can protect mental health and how to minimize the risks to health and well-being. The purpose of this study is to ask the question, “To what extent are Adverse childhood experiences related to military members' mental health status, and is this relationship mediated by …

A Phenomenology Of Post-Adoption Experiences Of Adoptive Parents, Omowunmi Omotade Ehikhametalor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study aimed to describe the post-adoption experiences of adoptive parents in Jamaica. Studies carried out in other jurisdictions are valuable but do not capture the unique experiences of adoptive parents in Jamaica; therefore, this current study sought to fill the research gap. This study's theoretical framework comprises Schlossberg’s transition theory, attachment theory, and parent effectiveness training (PET). Data were collected from a stratified purposive sample of twelve participants using a brief demographic survey, in-depth interviews, and participant journaling. The data were analyzed using Moustakas’ model, and four themes emerged, namely: the inception of adoptive parenthood, the journey …

Studying The Dynamics Of Neuromodulators In The Brain By Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging, Pingchuan Ma

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Neuromodulators in the brain are fundamental to neuronal functions and animal behaviors in health and diseases. The modulatory actions of neuromodulators highly rely on their spatiotemporal dynamics. Recent research has demonstrated the importance of both sustained and transient change in neuromodulators, likely due to tonic and phasic neuromodulator release. However, no traditional methods could simultaneously record both types of dynamics. Fluorescence lifetime of optical reporters could offer a solution because it both allows high temporal resolution and is impervious to sensor expression differences across chronic periods. Nevertheless, no fluorescence lifetime change across the entire classes of neuromodulator sensors was previously …

Exploring The Homeostatic Functions And Driving Forces Of Lymphatic Outflow Pathways From The Central Nervous System, Zachary Matthew Papadopoulos

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Lymphatic drainage from the central nervous system (CNS) has been noted and described for several hundred years, yet its physiological roles have remained unclear. The fluid homeostasis of the CNS has long stood as an area of scientific interest due to primary disorders including hydrocephalus. However, the early days of neuroimmunology leaned on the lack of lymphatic vasculature in the CNS as a contributing explanation for ‘immune privilege’ in the CNS. As a result, the importance of lymphatics in CNS homeostasis has remained poorly understood and controversial. Following a renaissance in interest in the contribution of lymphatics to CNS homeostasis, …

Cytoplasmic And Mitochondrial Calcium Influences Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival To Axon Injury, Sean Mccracken

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Retinal Ganglion Cell (RGC) death is the final outcome in optic neuropathies like glaucoma and traumatic optic nerve injury, which represent the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. There are currently no treatments for these diseases targeting RGCs directly, and mechanisms underlying RGC death are unclear. Calcium ion (Ca2+) dysregulation occurs in almost all neurodegenerative conditions, including glaucoma, which has been studied in rodents using a robust injury model of traumatic axon injury, optic nerve crush (ONC). However, the impact of homeostatic Ca2+ regulation in RGCs response to glaucoma or ONC is unknown. Furthermore, while some mechanisms that regulate Ca2+ …

Kinetic Modeling Of Bacteria Removal From Suspensions By Magnetic Nanoparticle Capture And Magnetic Separation, Bowen J. Houser

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the kinetic modeling of bacteria removal from suspensions using magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) capture and magnetic separation. Functionalized magnetic nanoparticles, especially those coated with polydopamine (pDA), were employed to bind with various bacterial species in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), apple juice, whole blood, and its components. By analyzing the capture efficiency and kinetics of capture across different bacterial species and mediums, we developed mathematical models describing the capture kinetics of bacteria by the pDA-MNPs. Experimental results demonstrated that pDA-coated MNPs achieved high capture efficiency with certain Gram-positive species like Staphylococcus aureus, and one Gram-negative species, Neisseria perflava; however, capture …

Il-12 Encoding Ondv Synergizes With Car-T Cells In Orthotopic Models Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Amanda Rosewell Shaw, Daisuke Morita, Caroline E Porter, Eric Tu, Greyson W Biegert, Sonia Agrawal, Nicholas Durham, Malcolm K Brenner, Masataka Suzuki

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Systemic administration of oncolytic viruses (OVs) is a promising approach for targeting metastatic solid tumors, but their anti-tumor activity is limited by pre-existing neutralizing antibodies against common human viruses. Therefore, investigators have developed OVs derived from non-human host viruses. Successful implementation of this strategy requires that the viral vector selectively infects and replicates within human cancer cells. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an avian paramyxovirus that, as NDV-based OVs (oNDVs), has demonstrated safety and activity against multiple human tumors in clinical trials. Their use as a single agent, however, is insufficient to cure tumors. Similarly, chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells …

Age-Related Tfeb Downregulation In Proximal Tubules Causes Systemic Metabolic Disorders And Occasional Apolipoprotein A4-Related Amyloidosis, Jun Nakamura, Takeshi Yamamoto, Yoshitsugu Takabatake, Tomoko Namba-Hamano, Atsushi Takahashi, Jun Matsuda, Satoshi Minami, Shinsuke Sakai, Hiroaki Yonishi, Shihomi Maeda, Sho Matsui, Hideaki Kawai, Isao Matsui, Tadashi Yamamuro, Ryuya Edahiro, Seiji Takashima, Akira Takasawa, Yukinori Okada, Tamotsu Yoshimori, Andrea Ballabio, Yoshitaka Isaka

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

With the aging of society, the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a common cause of death, has been increasing. Transcription factor EB (TFEB), the master transcriptional regulator of the autophagy/lysosomal pathway, is regarded as a promising candidate for preventing various age-related diseases. However, whether TFEB in the proximal tubules plays a significant role in elderly patients with CKD remains unknown. First, we found that nuclear TFEB localization in proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) declined with age in both mice and humans. Next, we generated PTEC-specific Tfeb-deficient mice and bred them for up to 24 months. We found that TFEB …

Epilepsy Therapies Symposium | Do We Really "Outgrow" Seizures?, Adam Ostendorf, Genna J Waldman, Lara Jehi, Mohammed Ilyas, Dean Naritoku, Alica M Goldman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Initiation and maintenance of antiseizure therapy can be relatively straightforward in most patients. Depending on epilepsy type, patients may be more or less likely to enter remission or a resolution of their epilepsy and the International League Against Epilepsy developed clinically guiding definitions in this regard. The mechanisms by which resolution or remission are achieved are poorly understood which complicates clinical decision making and risk estimate for future seizure relapse. The impetus for the maintenance of medical therapy in a seizure-free patient is also age-dependent. In children, one ought to consider the unknown effects of antiseizure medications on the developing …

Quinoline-Based Compounds Can Inhibit Diverse Enzymes That Act On Dna, Jujun Zhou, Qin Chen, Ren Ren, Jie Yang, Bigang Liu, John R Horton, Caleb Chang, Chuxuan Li, Leora Maksoud, Yifei Yang, Dante Rotili, Abhinav K Jain, Xing Zhang, Robert M Blumenthal, Taiping Chen, Yang Gao, Sergio Valente, Antonello Mai, Xiaodong Cheng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

DNA methylation, as exemplified by cytosine-C5 methylation in mammals and adenine-N6 methylation in bacteria, is a key epigenetic process. Developing non-nucleoside inhibitors to cause DNA hypomethylation is crucial for treating various conditions without the toxicities associated with existing cytidine-based hypomethylating agents. This study characterized fifteen quinoline-based analogs, particularly compounds with additions like a methylamine (9) or methylpiperazine (11), which demonstrate similar low micromolar inhibitory potency against human DNMT1 and Clostridioides difficile CamA. These compounds (9 and 11) intercalate into CamA-bound DNA via the minor groove, causing a conformational shift that moves the catalytic domain away from the DNA. This study …

Health Equity Innovation In Precision Medicine: Data Stewardship And Agency To Expand Representation In Clinicogenomics, Patrick J Silva, Vasiliki Rahimzadeh, Reid Powell, Junaid Husain, Scott Grossman, Adam Hansen, Jennifer Hinkel, Rafael Rosengarten, Marcia G Ory, Kenneth S Ramos

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Most forms of clinical research examine a very minute cross section of the patient journey. Much of the knowledge and evidence base driving current genomic medicine practice entails blind spots arising from underrepresentation and lack of research participation in clinicogenomic databases. The flaws are perpetuated in AI models and clinical practice guidelines that reflect the lack of diversity in data being used. Participation in clinical research and biobanks is impeded in many populations due to a variety of factors that include knowledge, trust, healthcare access, administrative barriers, and technology gaps. A recent symposium brought industry, clinical, and research participants in …

'If I Can't Dance, I Don't Want To Be Part Of Your Revolution(S)': On Being Together In And Outside Of The Academy, Tracey Collett, Gayle Letherby

Peninsula Medical School

We have both, independently and with others, long been interested in collaboration within an institution that publicly supports such work whilst often working against it. Thus, in our daily working practices, we challenge (alone, with others and together) traditional definitions and myths of working, learning and being in higher education. In this article, through a focus on our relationship both in and outside of the academy, we critique and respond to the socio-political challenges of academic work. Through auto/biographical stories, we first show the general expectation on us (and others) to dance to ‘the dominant societal tune’ and second, focus …

Mobility Necropolitics And Harmless Islanders, Jinhyoung Lee

Kritika Kultura

This article critically discusses the wartime mobilization policies implemented by the Japanese Empire on the Korean peninsula during the Pacific War (1941-1945) in terms of mobility necropolitics, a framework that combines mobility studies and Achile Mbembe’s notion of necropolitics. In particular, by examining the lives of the Korean islanders on the imaginary Julan island in Kim Sa-ryang’s novel Bada-ui Norae [Songs of the Sea] (1943-1944) through Giorgio Agamben’s concepts of “harmless” and “desubjectivation,” this paper seeks to excavate a postcolonial moment in colonial Korea. In the “death worlds” of the dead and those who will die on the battlefields, “harmless …

Zainichi, Mobility, And Jeju Island: On The Representation Of Island In The Novels Of Kim Sok-Pom And Lee Yangji, Myungsim Yang

Kritika Kultura

During the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945), about a quarter of Jeju residents moved to Japan to escape their hardships, as Jeju Island’s industry was inferior to the inland area. In light of this, about 60% of Osaka Zainichi Koreans are deemed from Jeju Island. Against this backdrop, the meaning and symbol of Jeju Island, respectively, are well embodied in novels written by Jeju people who moved to Japan. For them (i.e., Koreans living in Japan), Jeju Island is not only their homeland but also a place where they have painful memories. In addition, Jeju Island means their own identities itself …