Digital Commons Network^™

Detecting Cognitive Decline In High-Functioning Older Adults: The Relationship Between Subjective Cognitive Concerns, Frequency Of High Neuropsychological Test Scores, And The Frontoparietal Control Network, Justin E. Karr, Jonathan G. Hakun, Daniel B. Elbich, Cristina N. Pinheiro, Frederick A. Schmitt

Neurology Faculty Publications

Objective: Neuropsychologists have difficulty detecting cognitive decline in high-functioning older adults because greater neurological change must occur before cognitive performances are low enough to indicate decline or impairment. For high-functioning older adults, early neurological changes may correspond with subjective cognitive concerns and an absence of high scores. This study compared high- functioning older adults with and without subjective cognitive concerns, hypothesizing those with cognitive concerns would have fewer high scores on neuropsychological testing and lower frontoparietal network volume, thickness, and connectivity.

Method: Participants had high estimated premorbid functioning (e.g., estimated intelligence ≥75th percentile or college-educated) and were divided based on …

Using Digital Pathology To Analyze The Murine Cerebrovasculature, Dana M. Niedowicz, Jenna L. Gollihue, Erica M. Weekman, Panhavuth Phe, Donna M. Wilcock, Christopher M. Norris, Peter T. Nelson

Neurology Faculty Publications

Research on the cerebrovasculature may provide insights into brain health and disease. Immunohistochemical staining is one way to visualize blood vessels, and digital pathology has the potential to revolutionize the measurement of blood vessel parameters. These tools provide opportunities for translational mouse model research. However, mouse brain tissue presents a formidable set of technical challenges, including potentially high background staining and crossreactivity of endogenous IgG. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and fixed frozen sections, both of which are widely used, may require different methods. In this study, we optimized blood vessel staining in mouse brain tissue, testing both FFPE and frozen fixed …

Estrogen’S Sex-Specific Effects On Ischemic Cell Death And Estrogen Receptor Mrna Expression In Rat Cortical Organotypic Explants, Amanda L. Trout, Christopher J. Mclouth, Jenna Westberry, Tomoko Sengoku, Melinda E. Wilson

Neurology Faculty Publications

Estrogens, such as the biologically active 17-β estradiol (E2), regulate not only reproductive behaviors in adults, but also influence neurodevelopment and neuroprotection in both females and males. E2, contingent upon the timing and concentration of the therapy, is neuroprotective in female and male rodent models of stroke. In Vivo studies suggest that E2 may partially mediate this neuroprotection, particularly in the cortex, via ERα. In Vitro studies, utilizing a chemically induced ischemic injury in cortical explants from both sexes, suggest that ERα or ERβ signaling is needed to mediate the E2 protection. Since we know that the timing and concentration …

Indigenous Knowledge As Federal Policy, Sara C. Bronin

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

In 2024, the federal historic preservation agency unanimously voted to adopt a policy supporting the full recognition and integration of Indigenous Knowledge in the preservation field. Indigenous Knowledge can be described roughly as the body of observations, knowledge, practices, and beliefs developed by Indigenous Peoples through their interaction and experience with the environment. The policy acknowledges that Indigenous Knowledge is valid, sound, and self-supporting, and that designated representatives of Indian Tribes, Alaska Native villages, and Native Hawaiian organizations should be recognized as subject-matter experts with regard to properties of religious and cultural significance to them. Indigenous Knowledge has not been …

2024-2025 Lynn University Academic Catalog, Lynn University

Academic Catalogs

The 2024-2025 Academic Catalog initially published as a web-only document.

This is a PDF version, created by the Department of Marketing and Communication.

A Case Of One Step Forward And Two Steps Back? An Examination Of Herbicide-Resistant Weed Management Using A Simple Agroecosystem Dynamics Model, Srinadh Kodali, Chris Flores-Lopez, Isabelle Lobdell, Branson Kim, James C. Russell, Lane Michna, Benjamin L. Turner

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Global herbicide-resistant weed populations continue rising due to selection pressures exerted by herbicides. Despite this, herbicides continue to be farmers’ preferred weed-control method due to cost and efficiency relative to physical or biological methods. However, weeds developing resistance to herbicides not only challenges crop production but also threatens ecosystem services by disrupting biodiversity, reducing soil health, and impacting water quality. Our objective was to develop a simulation model that captures the feedback between weed population dynamics, agricultural management, profitability, and farmer decision-making processes that interact in unique ways to reinforce herbicide resistance in weeds. After calibration to observed data and …

Changes In Primary Care Availability In Appalachia, Whitney Beckett

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was a groundbreaking moment in the United States healthcare system. It affected many different aspects of the system, including access to primary care professionals. Primary care professionals provide a key role in American’s health, especially when it comes to preventative care. With one-third of Americans experiencing barriers to such access, a solution is desperately needed to increase said access. These barriers are especially profound in low-income, underserved areas such as the Appalachian regions of Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The ACA attempted to increase access via Medicaid expansion; however, not all States expanded their …

Empirical Insights Into Survivorship Care: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Coc Accredited Hospitals In Kentucky, Amanda M. Beckett

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

ABSTRACT

Background:

Cancer survivorship care programs play a vital role in supporting cancer survivors and improving their quality of life. Understanding the landscape of survivorship and the potential barriers is key to optimizing care delivery.

Methods:

The primary purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore existing cancer survivorship care programs offered by Commission on Cancer (CoC) accredited hospitals in Kentucky. Data from the Markey Cancer Affiliate Network (MCCAN) from 2022 through 2023 was analyzed. Variables included hospital characteristics such as rural code, types of survivorship services offered, and reported barriers to these services.

Results:

Analysis of n=19 CoC facilities …

Environmental Justice In West Louisville, Ky, Ashley Wright

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

It is evident that West Louisville and Rubbertown are experiencing environmental exposures and related health impacts. It is important for environmental justice (EJ) areas like West Louisville and Rubbertown to gain increased awareness, due to EJ areas commonly being overlooked and forgotten about because of unjust treatment and lack of involvement. Furthermore, all of the data used for this project was publicly accessible. Community residents and the general public can access these data sources to identify which facilities are emitting toxins, as well as specific hazardous substances that are being released, the location of hazardous sites, cleanup status, and more. …

Improving Black Maternal Outcomes In Christian County, Ky: A Social Marketing Approach To Perinatal Provider Change, Ariel A. Arthur

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Compared to other states in the country, Kentucky has historically poor population health outcomes. While the statewide maternal mortality rate is 16.1 per 100,000 live births, this statistic belies the stark racial disparities that exist. In 2018, the pregnancy-related death rate for Black women was 40.2 per 100,000 live births compared to 13.1 for White women. This pattern is persistent even after controlling for socioeconomic status, prenatal care, and other protective factors. Research shows that institutional and interpersonal racism when receiving obstetric care contributes to poor childbirth and postpartum outcomes for Black women. Additionally, geography and rural status may compound …

Implementation Of A Postpartum Depression Program In A Rural Kentucky County, Abby Cecil

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

This paper aims to describe the process of implementing a Postpartum Depression (PPD) prevention program in low-income women residing in rural communities. The paper describes the process of recruiting women in this population, where and how the program will be integrated into an existing clinic, and how the program will be sustained. PPD is a significant global public health problem that can be prevented and treated. The ROSE program (Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials for new mothers) is a series of classes that provide informational and social support to prevent PPD. This evidence-based program has been previously successful in reducing …

Increasing Hpv Vaccination In Two Appalachian Counties, Autumn Rice

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

In response to the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the evidence-based Making Effective HPV Vaccine Recommendations training program will be implemented in the Southeast Kentucky AHEC region over the course of three years. The implementation of the Making Effective HPV Vaccine Recommendations program has three specific aims:

Aim 1: Effectively implement and deliver the Making Effective HPV Vaccine Recommendations program to immunization providers in the Southeast Kentucky AHEC region

Aim 2: Increase provider self-efficacy for making strong recommendations for HPV routinely

Aim 3: Increase the number of recommendations for the HPV vaccine among adolescents of Bell and Harlan Counties in Kentucky …

Child Language And Happiness Behaviors: Evaluating The Effects Of Caregiver Coaching, Ashlen Grubbs

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Caregivers of young children who have or are at risk for disabilities may struggle supporting their child’s language development. This study used a tailored rapid coaching intervention to teach a caregiver different naturalistic language interventions that can be used with their child during play. Evidence-based naturalistic skills for increasing child communication were chosen to teach the caregiver based on baseline levels of skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored RCI (training and coaching) with caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. Like other studies, this study involved evaluating child-level communication but extended child measures …

Supporting Children’S Eating Behavior In A Preschool Classroom, Olajumoke Leshi

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Food selectivity, commonly observed in young children, has a significant effect on their health outcomes, and this poses a major challenge for parents and caregivers. This proposed study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a teaching package comprising prompting, shaping, and reinforcement strategies in enhancing exploratory eating behaviors among preschool children displaying food selectivity in a classroom setting. The study seeks to answer the research question: does the delivery of a teaching package consisting of prompting, shaping, and reinforcement result in an increase in exploratory eating behaviors (touch, smell, taste) by young children displaying food selectivity? This study will use …

Investigation Of The Apoptotic Effect Of Cardamom Oil On Laryngeal Cancer Cell Line (A Non-Randomized In Vitro Study), Sara Abdelwahed, Mariam Zaki

Dentistry

Aim: To evaluate the apoptotic effect of Cardamom oil on laryngeal cancer cells in comparison to Doxorubicin which could give insight for a new approach of therapy for Head and Neck cancer. Methods: A subcultured Hep-2 cell line was placed into five study groups: a control group, a group exposed to Cardamom oil for 24 hours, another group subjected to Cardamom oil for 48 hours and the other two groups treated with DOX for the same time intervals. The percentage of cell viability was measured using MTT assay. Apoptosis analysis was assessed using Flow Cytometry represented by dot plots. Apoptosis …

Physicochemical Properties Of Ah Plus Bioceramic Sealer, Bio-C Sealer, And Adseal Root Canal Sealer, Shehabeldin Mohamed Saber Prof.Dr.

Dentistry

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties of two newly introduced premixed calcium silicate-based root canal sealers (AH Plus Bioceramic Sealer and Bio-C Sealer) compared to a resin-based root canal sealer (ADseal root canal sealer). Methods: Solubility, pH analysis, calcium ion release, and film thickness of each sealer were evaluated following ISO guidelines. The data were examined using the two-way ANOVA test. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction (XRD) examination was performed to investigate the crystalline phase of each type of sealer. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis was done for the chemical elemental analysis of each sealer. Results: The …

Comparison Of Different Dental Restorative Materials On Orthodontic Brackets Performance In Class V Lesions. (In Vitro Study), Shadwa Kabil, Mohamed Zayed, Shymaa Rhoym

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Different Dental Restorative Materials On Orthodontic Brackets Performance In Class V Lesions. (In Vitro Study), Shadwa Kabil, Mohamed Mostafa Zayed, Shaimaa Rhoym

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Adaptation Of Conventional Versus Digitally Fabricated Auricular Prosthesis: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Sara Fikry, Fatma Mohei El Mogei Dr, Mohamed El Khashab Prof, Amal Rekabi Prof

Dentistry

Aim: This study aimed to compare digitally fabricated auricular prostheses to conventional prostheses, regarding adaptation to defect site in patients with auricular defects.

Subjects and methods: Fifteen patients were recruited for auricular prosthetic reconstruction. Endosseous implants were placed, then patients were assigned into two groups. In control group, ear models were processed on stone cast obtained from conventional impression. In intervention group, computed tomography and optical scanning were combined to obtain a virtual model with digital analogues over which ear models were designed and printed. Ear models of both groups were seated, and adaptation was measured on the patient using …

A Facile Auto-Combustion Pathway For Creating Mn- And Fe-Doped Tio2 Nanostructures And Their Photocatalytic Activity, Gharieb Meselhy

Dentistry

Using a combination of two fuels, an auto-combustion method was used to synthesize pure TiO2 and doped TiO2 with different concentrations of iron(III) (Fe) and manganese(II) (Mn) (1, 3, 5, and 7 mol%). The as-prepared materials were characterized using different techniques, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The XRD results showed that both pure TiO2 and all doped TiO2 samples had the anatase phase, indicating the crystalline nature of all the as-prepared nanomaterials. Crystal violet decolorization under UV irradiation was used to …

Indirect Composite Color Stability And Surface Roughness After Finishing, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Sarah Adel Botros, Nermeen Hamada Hassan

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Two-Year Clinical Performance Of The Indirect Resin Composite Restorations In Endodontically Treated Teeth With Different Cavity Preparation Designs: A Randomized Clinical Trial., Hend Sayed Ahmed, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Shehab Saber, Olfat Hassanien, Hoda Fouda, Maha Elbaz, Ahmed Abuelezz

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Marginal Adaptation And Fracture Resistance Of Virgilite-Based Occlusal Veneers With Varying Thickness, Farid Emad, Amr Rizk, Jylan El-Guindy, Ahmed Abdou, Reem Ashraf, Citra Kusumasari

Dentistry

Statement of problem CAD/CAM occlusal veneers have been developed for minimally invasive prosthetic restoration of eroded teeth. Marginal adaptation and fracture resistance are crucial for the long-term survivability and clinical success of such restorations. Virgilite-based lithium disilicate glass-ceramic is a newly introduced material with claims of high strength. However, constructing occlusal veneers from this material of varying thickness has not been investigated. Purpose The current study aimed to assess the impact of CAD/CAM occlusal veneer thickness and materials on marginal adaptation and fracture resistance. Materials and methods Thirty-two occlusal veneers were constructed and divided into two groups (n = 16) …

The Impacts Of Gut-Supporting Feed Additives On The Growth Performance, Gut Health, Blood Chemistry, And Immune Status Of Broiler Chickens Exposed To Different Stressors, Richard A. Adefioye

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of different feed additives in mitigating stress in broiler chickens. Experiment 1 used 504-day-old male by-product Cobb breeder chicks with 8 treatments replicated 9 times with 7 birds per replicate cage, structured as a 2x4 factorial arrangement of treatments. All birds were on the experimental diets for 20 days. There were 2 levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge [no challenge vs. LPS challenge at 1 mg/kg BW) and 4 types of feed additives [no additive, 0.05% PostB, 0.1% PostB, and 0.1% Tynagen^TM]. In experiment 2, 672-day-old male by-product Cobb breeder chicks …

Evaluation Of The Efficiency Of Passive Self-Ligating Versus Conventional Brackets In The Alignment Of Mandibular Crowded Teeth (A Comparative Study), Noha Ibrahim Abdelrahman Professor

Dentistry

Aim: Is to compare the efficiency of passive self-ligating versus conventional brackets in the alignment of crowded mandibular teeth. Materials and methods: A randomized clinical trial with Fifty participants visiting the clinic of the Orthodontic Department and fulfilling the eligibility criteria were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly allocated to group A (Conventional brackets) or group B (Damon Q metal passive self-ligating brackets). The amount of mandibular crowding was assessed by Little’s irregularity index. Subjects in both groups were recalled for follow-up every four weeks till completion of alignment. Results: There was no significant difference in baseline irregularity in …

Invitro Evaluation Of Forces Delivered By Aligners Fabricated Using Positive Air Pressure Versus Negative Air Pressure., Islam Tarek Abbas Hassan Ahmed Prof, Nada Hamed, Dina Elghoul, Ahmed Zaki, Iman El-Abbasy

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Promoting Caregiver Mental Health Literacy: A Pilot Study Of The Online Program “Mental Wellness At The Lake”, Erika Baylis

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The mental health needs of children are growing in the United States. Caregiver’s mental health knowledge and attitudes about help-seeking can impede the awareness of help-seeking behaviors. The Baylis Model is a framework for caregivers to increase their mental health knowledge. This research is a pilot study to provide elementary caregivers with mental health knowledge to increase their awareness to access treatments for their children. Participants completed a pre-test to determine mental health knowledge to begin the study. A total of 14 families completed a 10-module course (Mental Wellness At The Lake) on canvas, a web-based learning management system. Throughout …

Building Technology Breaks Into Classroom Instruction To Reduce Media Multitasking And Increase Learning, Lisa Decicco

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The current study was designed to investigate the impact of media multitasking on learning outcomes in the classroom. The goal was to develop an instructional intervention that reduces the negative effects of media multitasking on learning outcomes by incorporating technology breaks into the instructional design. High school students in an all-girls school took part in three learning sessions, each with a different instructional strategy related to media multitasking in the classroom: Condition 1: Instruction as Usual; Condition 2: No access to technology; Condition 3: Technology Breaks. Students completed a pre and post-test knowledge-based assessment to measure their retention of the …

Sex Differences In Cognitive Distortions In Individuals With Fibromyalgia, Corey Adams

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Chronic pain is a significant problem in both clinical practice and research, which does not occur equally in all groups of people. Of the 2% of adults with fibromyalgia in the United States, 3.4% of them are women. Understanding these differences may be useful in informing treatment (Jahan et al., 2012). One such area is distorted thinking, which can have a negative impact on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and pain sensitivity (Varallo et al., 2021). This study examined how cognitive distortions may play a role in the disparities seen between men and women diagnosed with fibromyalgia. This study used a …

The Braidwood Exploit: On The Rfra Declaratory-Judgment Class-Action And Title Vii Employer Liability, Sachin Pandya, Marcia L. Mccormick

Faculty Articles and Papers

This Article identifies a distinctive legal strategy for using the Religious Freedom Restoration Act ("RFRA') to obtain an exemption for for-profit businesses to Title VII liability for their religiously motivated discrimination against gay and transgender employees and job applicants. The litigation strategy involves a declaratory judgment class action against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under RFRA. We primarily show how this strategy tries to exploit a key ambiguity in the compelling interest inquiry in RFRA and pre-1990 Free Exercise Clause doctrine, i.e., how to specify the size of the set of persons other than the RFRA claimant who would likely …