Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Alkali-Heat-Modified Rice Residue Glutenin On Stability Of W/O/W Double Emulsions, Guo Yuanbo, Xue Jing, Zhang Cheng, Wang Zhixiao, Fu Xiangjin, Long Zhao

Food and Machinery

Objective: To achieve the application of rice dreg glutelin in emulsions system. Methods: This paper selected alkali-heat modified rice dregs glutenin and span80 as emulsifiers to prepare W/O/W double emulsions by one-step emulsification method, and investigated the effect of protein concentration on the stability of double emulsions to provide the theoretical reference for the preparation of stable double emulsions by one-step emulsification. Results: When the protein mass fraction increased from 0.5% to 2.5%, the large particle size peak disappears in emulsion, the apparent viscosity and viscoelasticity of emulsions were improved, the centrifugal stability and storage stability were enhanced, enhanced dual …

A Method For On-Site And Rapid Detection Of Trace Cadmium In Rice Based On Colloidal Goldlateral Chromatography, Wang Ranran, Yao Li, Yao Bangben, Chen Wei, Chen Zhaoran

Food and Machinery

Objective： A colloidal gold test strip method that can achieve on-site and rapid detection of cadmium elements in rice was established. Methods： Based on lateral immunochromatographic technology, the colloidal gold test strip was systematically optimized for a series of parameters that affect the detection performance. Results： The visual detection limit of cadmium in rice was reached at 10 ng/g with the colloidal gold test strip. In practical applications, the sample pretreatment process is simple, low concentration acid can be directly extracted and diluted for test strip detection. Conclusion: The colloidal gold test strip was suitable for on-site rapid screening ofcadmium …

Design And Experiment Of Light Angle Adjustable Device For Measuring Sugar Content Of Citrus By Near Infrared Spectroscopy, Zeng Xianming, Han Longbo, Wen Tao, Dai Xingyong

Food and Machinery

Objective: To solve the problem of insufficient spectral information obtained by the fixed illumination angle of the near-infrared spectroscopy to detect the sugar content of fruits. Methods: A light angle adjustable device for the diffuse transmission near-infrared spectroscopy was designed to detect the sugar content of citrus based on the simplified model of the remote motion center of the light source. The device had carried out the structural performance analysis and the test of the citrus sugar under different illumination angles. Results: The adjustment range of the light angle of the device was set to 0°～60°. The displacement deviation between …

The Effect Of Grape Seed Extract Nanoparticles/Pullulan Coatings On The Quality Of Salmon Fillets, Guo Yajuan, Fan Jungang, Li Jianzhen

Food and Machinery

Objective： This study aimed to improve the preservation properties of pullulan （PUL） coating and prepare preservation materials with sustained-release properties. Methods： GSE nanoparticles were prepared by grape seed extract （GSE）, chitosan and γ-polyglutamic acid. GSE nanoparticles of different quality were added to the PUL coating solution to prepare GSE nanoparticles/PUL coatings. The preservation properties of GSE nanoparticles/PUL coatings on salmon fillets were evaluated. Results： Compared with untreated fish fillets, the total number of bacteria in fish meat was reduced, and lipid oxidation and protein decomposition were delayed by 1.08% GSE nanoparticles/PUL coating. In addition, after fish fillets were treated …

Reply To: Beyond Microbial Carbon Use Efficiency, Feng Tao, Johannes Lehmann, Ying-Ping Wang, Lifen Jiang, Bernhard Ahrens, Kostiantyn Viatkin, Stefano Manzoni, Benjamin Z. Houlton, Yuanyuan Huang, Bruce A. Hungate, Serita D. Frey, Michael W. I. Schmidt, Markus Reichstein, Nuno Carvalhais, Philippe Ciais, Umakant Mishra, Gustaf Hugelius, Toby D. Hocking, Xingjie Lu, Zheng Shi, Ronald Vargas, Yusuf Yigini, Christian Omuto, Ashish A. Malik, Guillermo Peralta, Rosa Cuevas-Corona, Luciano E. Di Paolo, Isabel Luotto, Cuijuan Liao, Yi-Shuang Liang, Vinisa S. Saynes, Xiaomeng Huang

Faculty Publications

In their commentary, Xiao et al. cautioned that the conclusions on the critical role of microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) in global soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in a paper by Tao et al. (2023) might be too simplistic. They claimed that Tao et al.’s study lacked mechanistic consideration of SOC formation and excluded important datasets. Xiao et al. brought up important points, which can be largely reconciled with our findings by understanding the differences in expressing processes in empirical studies and in models.

Transepithelial Electrical Impedance Increase Following Porous Substrate Electroporation Enables Label-Free Delivery, Justin R. Brooks, Tyler C. Heiman, Sawyer R. Lorenzen, Ikhlaas Mungloo, Siamak Mirfendereski, Jae Sung Park, Ruiguo Yang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Porous substrate electroporation (PSEP) is a promising new method for delivering molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids into cells for biomedical research. Although many applications have been demonstrated, fundamentals of the PSEP delivery process are not yet well understood, partly because most PSEP studies rely solely on fluorescent imaging for evaluating delivery and quantifying successful outcomes. Although effective, only utilizing imaging alone limits our understanding of the intermediate processes leading to intracellular delivery. Since PSEP is an electrical process, electrical impedance measurements are a natural addition to fluorescent imaging for PSEP characterization. In this study, we developed an integrated …

A Brief History Of Kappa Delta Pi, Psi Chapter, Stephen J. Fortgang, Becky W. Hawbaker

Faculty Book Gallery

The Psi Chapter at the Iowa State Teachers College (ISTC) was the twenty-third KDP chapter, installed on August 7th, 1923. Mabel I. Payne, the Secretary/Treasurer of the National KDP organization was in attendance as the installation officer. Eight other chapters were installed that year, and by its 25th anniversary in 1936, KDP had grown to 106 chapters nationally. Early members of the Psi Chapter included the State Teacher’s College President Homer Seerley as an honorary member and Dr. E. O. Finkbender of the Department of Education, who became the chapter counselor.

Six Week Chronic Pain Group's Impact On Relationship To Pain And Mental Health Symptoms, Samuel Sperling, Lcsw

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

Introduction

A study published in May of 2023 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that “new cases of chronic pain occur more often among U.S. adults than new cases of several other common conditions, including diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure”.

Given the increasing needs for behavioral health services within the primary care landscape and the workforce shortage, it’s imperative that we consider ways to address the growing gaps in care for patients, especially those suffering with chronic pain.

This six-week group explored the impact of pain interventions (e.g., Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychoeducation and Mindfulness) …

Hydrogen Peroxide-Dependent Oxidation Of Erk2 Within Its D-Recruitment Site Alters Its Substrate Selection, Anthony E. Postiglione, Laquaundra L. Adams, Ese S. Ekhator, Anuoluwapo E. Odelade, Supriya Patwardhan, Meenal Chaudhari, Avery S. Pardue, Anjali Kumari, William A. Lefever, Olivia P. Tornow, Tamer S. Kaoud, Johnathan Neiswinger, Jun Seop Jeong, Derek Parsonage, Kimberly J. Nelson, Dukka Kc, Cristina M. Furdui, Heng Zhu, Andrew J. Wommack, Kevin N. Dalby, Ming Dong, Leslie B. Poole, Jeremiah D. Keyes, Robert H. Newman

Michigan Tech Publications

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) are dysregulated in many pervasive diseases. Recently, we discovered that ERK1/2 is oxidized by signal-generated hydrogen peroxide in various cell types. Since the putative sites of oxidation lie within or near ERK1/2’s ligand-binding surfaces, we investigated how oxidation of ERK2 regulates interactions with the model substrates Sub-D and Sub-F. These studies revealed that ERK2 undergoes sulfenylation at C159 on its D-recruitment site surface and that this modification modulates ERK2 activity differentially between substrates. Integrated biochemical, computational, and mutational analyses suggest a plausible mechanism for peroxide-dependent changes in ERK2-substrate interactions. Interestingly, oxidation decreased ERK2’s …

Domoic Acid In Canadian Pacific Waters, From 2016 To 2021, And Relationships With Physical And Chemical Conditions, R. Ian Perry, Nina Nemcek, Melissa Hennekes, Akash Sastri, Andrew R.S. Ross, Hayleigh Shannon, Ryan B. Shartau

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Domoic acid, a phycotoxin produced by species of the marine diatom Pseudo-nitzschia, can cause deleterious impacts to marine food webs and human health. Domoic acid and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. were surveyed from 2016 to 2021 in the Pacific waters of Canada to assess their occurrences, concentrations, and relationships with physical and chemical conditions. Domoic acid was common, occurring in measurable concentrations in 73% of the 454 samples. It occurred in all regions (west coast of Vancouver Island, Salish Sea, Queen Charlotte Sound /Hecate Strait, deep oceanic NE Pacific), in all years and all seasons. Median concentrations were highest along the west …

Early Resveratrol Treatment Mitigates Joint Degeneration And Dampens Pain In A Mouse Model Of Pseudoachondroplasia (Psach), Jacqueline T Hecht, Alka C Veerisetty, Debabrata Patra, Mohammad G Hossain, Frankie Chiu, Claire Mobed, Francis H Gannon, Karen L Posey

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH), a severe dwarfing condition associated with early-onset joint degeneration and lifelong joint pain, is caused by mutations in cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). The mechanisms underlying the mutant-COMP pathology have been defined using the MT-COMP mouse model of PSACH that has the common D469del mutation. Mutant-COMP protein does not fold properly, and it is retained in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) of chondrocytes rather than being exported to the extracellular matrix (ECM), driving ER stress that stimulates oxidative stress and inflammation, driving a self-perpetuating cycle. CHOP (ER stress signaling protein) and TNFα inflammation drive high levels of mTORC1 …

Transcript: The Future Of Ivf Post Dobbs, Rebecca Feinberg

Journal of Law and Health

The following is a transcription from The Healthcare and Privacy Law Consequences Following Dobbs presented at Cleveland State University College of Law by The Journal of Law & Health on February 17, 2023. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and to reflect updates in the relevant law since the time of transcription.

Xaluritamig, A Steap1 × Cd3 Xmab 2+1 Immune Therapy For Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Results From Dose Exploration In A First-In-Human Study, William K. Kelly, Daniel C. Danila, Chia-Chi Lin, Jae-Lyun Lee, Nobuaki Matsubara, Patrick J. Ward, Andrew J. Armstrong, David Pook, Miso Kim, Tanya B. Dorff, Stefanie Fischer, Yung-Chang Lin, Lisa G. Horvath, Christopher Sumey, Zhao Yang, Gabor Jurida, Kristen M. Smith, Jamie N. Connarn, Hweixian L. Penny, Julia Stieglmaier, Leonard J. Appleman

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

ABSTRACT : Xaluritamig (AMG 509) is a six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate 1 (STEAP1)-targeted T-cell engager designed to facilitate lysis of STEAP1-expressing cancer cells, such as those in advanced prostate cancer. This first-in-human study reports monotherapy dose exploration for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), primarily taxane pretreated. Ninety-seven patients received ≥1 intravenous dose ranging from 0.001 to 2.0 mg weekly or every 2 weeks. MTD was identified as 1.5 mg i.v. weekly via a 3-step dose. The most common treatment-related adverse events were cytokine release syndrome (CRS; 72%), fatigue (45%), and myalgia (34%). CRS occurred primarily during …

Nutritional Challenges Of Substituting Farmed Animals For Wild Fish In Human Diets, Sebastian A. Heilpern, Rafael M. Almeida, Kathryn J. Fiorella, Alexander S. Flecker, Demetra Williams, Peter B. Mcintyre

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Wild fisheries provide billions of people with a key source of multiple essential nutrients. As fisheries plateau or decline, nourishing more people will partially rely on shifting consumption to farmed animals. The environmental implications of transitions among animal-sourced foods have been scrutinized, but their nutritional substitutability remains unclear. We compared concentrations of six essential dietary nutrients across >5000 species of wild fishes, aquaculture, poultry and livestock species, representing >65% of animals consumed globally. Wild fishes are both more nutrient-dense and variable than farmed animals; achieving recommended intake of all nutrients with farmed species could require consuming almost four times more …

Age-Associated Spinal Stenosis In The Turquoise Killifish, Su-Hyeon Cho, Seongsin Lee, Jae-Il Park, Yoon La Yang, Song-Rae Kim, Juhee Ahn, Hoibin Jeong, Hye-Yeon Jung, Nayoung Gwak, Kil-Nam Kim, Yumi Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aging triggers spinal degeneration, including common spinal stenosis, which causes back and leg pain in older individuals, significantly impacting their quality of life. Here, we explored aging traits in turquoise killifish spines, potentially offering a model for age-linked spinal stenosis in humans. Aged turquoise killifish exhibited body shape deformation and increased vertebral collapse, which was further accelerated by spawning. High-resolution CT scans revealed suppressed cortical bone thickness and hemal arch area in vertebrae due to spawning, and osteophyte formation was observed in both aged and breeding fish populations. Scale mineralization mirrored these changes, increasing with age but being suppressed by …

Screening, Identification And Biological Characteristics Of Lactic Acid Bacteria Inhibiting Vibrio Parahaemolyticus, Yu Chen, Yang Lu, Guan Feng, Zhang Jie, Yuan Yong-Jun

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to enrich the functional lactic acid bacteria resource bank and to search for excellent starting strains of lactic acid bacteria with the antagonistic ability of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Methods: Lactobacillus strains with broad-spectrum bacteriostatic potential were screened by Oxford cup bacteriostatic test, and their biological characteristics were discussed by growth and metabolic performance, gastrointestinal fluid tolerance, salt tolerance, antibiotic sensitivity and bacteriostatic spectrum. Results: Six strains of lactic acid bacteria were screened by using V. parahaemolyticus as indicator bacteria. They were classified into L. paracasei, L. fermentus and L. plantarum by morphological, physiological and biochemical …

Rutin Detection By Electrochemical Sensor Based On Fe3O4@Tio2@Au, Zhou Hong-Yan, Song Yun

Food and Machinery

Objective: A novel electrochemical sensor with high sensitivity was developed for the quantitative analysis of rutin in tartary buckwheat. Methods: A layer of titanium dioxide was loaded on the surface of ferric oxide nano materials (Fe₃O₄) to prepare core-shell Fe₃O₄@titanium dioxide (Fe₃O₄@TiO₂) nano composites, and nano gold (Au) was loaded on its surface for preparing a new type of Fe₃O₄@TiO₂@Au nanocomposites. Then an electrochemical sensor was constructed for quantitative analysis of rutin. The optimal working conditions of the sensor were …

Effects Of Ethanol And Methyl Jasmonate Fumigation On The Quality Of Bamboo Shoots During Storage, Xu Jing-Yang, Ji Ning, Wang Rui, Zhang Ni, Liu Ren-Chan, Wang Si-Yuan, Deng Yun-Bing

Food and Machinery

Objective： This study aimed to provide a basis for the post-harvest storage and preservation of fresh shoots from bamboo (Chimonobambusa quadrangularis). Methods: Fresh bamboo shoots were fumigated with 500 μL/L anhydrous ethanol and 0.1 mmol/L MeJA, and distilled water was used as blank control (CK) to determine the storage period, i. e. temperature (1.0±0.3) ℃ and relative humidity (90±5)%. The respiratory intensity, hardness, browning index, soluble protein, and activity of PAL, POD, PPO and APX were detected. The quality differences of fresh bamboo shoots during storage were analyzed using principal component analysis. Results: Combined fumigation treatment can reduce …

Optimization Of Complex Enzymatic Extraction Process Of Steroidal Glycosides From Cynanchum Auriculatum Royle Ex Wight And Its Hepatoprotective Activity, Song Wan-Yu, Dai Jing, Feng Jin, Li Chun-Yang, Ma Yong-Qiang

Food and Machinery

Objective: Response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction process of steroidal glycosides from Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight by complex enzymatic method, and its effects on alcohol dehydrogenase activity and human hepatoma cell HepG2 were analyzed. Methods: Four experimental factors; enzymolysis duration, temperature, compound enzyme dose and pH were used as responses to a single-factor experiment of the Response Surface Methodology on the steroidal glycoside yields, using perennial C. auriculatum as the target material. The alcohol-induced hepatocyte damage model of HepG2 was used to investigate the contents of ALT, LDH, and GSH and changes in cell shape. Results: …

Research Progress In Nutritional Composition And Biological Function Of Grape Seed Extracts, Zhou Xiang-Hui

Food and Machinery

Grape seed extracts, due to its strong antioxidant activity, is commonly used as a nutritional supplement or dietary supplement. It can be used to prevent metabolic diseases such as inflammation, tumors, and atherosclerosis. This article provides an overview of the nutritional composition and biological functions of grape seed extracts, summarizes the latest research findings on the bioactive ingredients in grape seed extracts in terms of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, and anti-atherosclerosis effects, and discusses the shortcomings and future research directions in grape seed extracts research.

Why Humans Kill Animals And Why We Cannot Avoid It, Benjamin L. Allen, Christopher Bobier, Stuart J. Dawson, Peter J S Fleming, Jordan Hampton, David Jachowski, Graham I H Kerley, John D. Linnell, Kelly Marnewick, Liaan Minnie, Mike Muthersbaugh, M Justin O'Riain, Dan Parker, Gilbert Proulx, Michael J. Somers, Keifer Titus

Animal production and livestock research articles

Killing animals has been a ubiquitous human behaviour throughout history, yet it is becoming increasingly controversial and criticised in some parts of contemporary human society. Here we review 10 primary reasons why humans kill animals, discuss the necessity (or not) of these forms of killing, and describe the global ecological context for human killing of animals. Humans historically and currently kill animals either directly or indirectly for the following reasons: (1) wild harvest or food acquisition, (2) human health and safety, (3) agriculture and aquaculture, (4) urbanisation and industrialisation, (5) invasive, overabundant or nuisance wildlife control, (6) threatened species conservation …

Analysis Of Chloramphenicol, Sulphamethoxazole, And Sulfanilamide Drugs By Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography With Fluorescent Detector, Tariq Y. Mahmoud, Aziz L. Jarallah, Isam S. Hamza

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

This study proposed to analyze chloramphenicol (CPA), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and sulfanilamide (SNA) drugs by reverse-phase liquid chromatography method in the form of pharmaceutical preparations and synthetic mixture. For this method, column C18-ODS (25 cm x 4.6 mm) was used with an isocratic elution mobile phase composed of methanol and 2% orthophosphoric acid, fluorescent detector (Ex= 310 nm, Em= 440 nm). It was found that the time of retention for CPA, SMX, and SNA was 8.99 ± 0.02, 10.76 ± 0.2, and 8.21 ± 0.2 min, respectively. The suggested method has been validated for limit of detection, limit of quantitation, linearity, …

Hyaluronic Acid Gel Effectiveness As An Adjunctive Treatment In Patients With Perio Dontal Disease, Ban Zuhair Ahmed

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Both hard and soft periodontal components require hyaluronic acid (HA) for extracellular matrices to function properly. HA is crucial to understanding how inflammation and wound healing work. Different amounts of HA are found in periodontal tissues, including non-mineralized tissues like gingiva and periodontal ligament, and lesser levels in mineralized tissues like cementum and alveolar bone. Preliminary research indicates that HA can control periodontal tissue regeneration and treat periodontal disease. In both deeper periodontal tissues and marginal gingiva, HA helps to relieve symptoms. Aims: This research aimed to detect the influence of hyaluronic acid 1% gel as an adjunctive therapy …

Influence Of Il-1ss, Anti-Cdtb And Histamine In Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Khalid Mahdi Salih, Ola Amer Jasim

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common gut disorder that affects approximately 11% of the global population and negatively affects the quality of life of patients and imposes a significant socioeconomic burden. A control-based study was conducted on 42 Iraqi patients with IBS who presented at private clinics for gastrointestinal diseases (GIDs), along with 20 healthy individuals matched in age and gender to act as a control group. The study aimed to determine the frequency of IBS among Iraqi patients, as well as the influence of biomarkers on the disease's initiation, type, and severity such as IL-1ß, anti-Cytolethal distending toxin …

The Relationship Between The Nervous System And Dna Expression(A Review), Maha Raad Hashim Al-Sammarraie, Yasir Khaleel Almusawi, Mukaram D. Shikara

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Medical Sciences

Neurotransmitters travel through synapses mediated by neurons. The DNA inside the neurons does not replicate since it arrests in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, which explains the absence of replication as DNA replication occurs during the S phase, which is preceded by the G1 phase. Experiments have shown that environmental factors can influence the DNA code and have been tried in both plant and animal kingdoms over the last two centuries with great success, leading to the belief that environmental factors can prompt the brain to send signals (neurotransmitters) to somatic cells. The next question will be: "Is …

Hepatitis B Virus And B-Cell Lymphoma: Evidence, Unmet Need, Clinical Impact, And Opportunities, Maya Rosenberg, Maria Poluch, Colin Thomas, Paola Sindaco, Alan Khoo, Pierluigi Porcu

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Nearly a billion people worldwide are infected with the hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and about a third of them have chronic infection. HBV is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, including acute and chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Screening and control of primary HBV infection through vaccination represent a major advance in global public health, but large sections of the world population, in both developed and underdeveloped countries, remain unscreened and unvaccinated. In addition to being a global cause of liver disease, an important role of HBV in lymphoma has also emerged. First, the high risk of HBV …

Co-Infection And Co-Localization Of Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus And Epstein-Barr Virus In Hiv-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma: A Case Report, Peter Julius, Guobin Guobin, Stepfanie Siyumbwa, Jane Musumali, For Yue Tso, Owen Ngalamika, Trevor Kaile, Fred Maate, Phyllis Moonga, John T. West, Peter Angeletti, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Kaposi sarcoma (KS), a multifocal vascular neoplasm frequently observed in HIVpositive individuals, primarily affects the skin, mucous membranes, visceral organs, and lymph nodes. KS is associated primarily with Kaposi sarcomaassociated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection. In this case report, we present a rare occurrence of co-infection and co-localization of KSHV and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in KS arising from the conjunctiva, which, to our knowledge, has not been reported previously. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization (EBER-ISH) were utilized to demonstrate the presence of KSHV and EBV infection in the ocular KS lesion. Nearly all KSHV-positive …

Cystic Fibrosis Year In Review 2022, Jeeyeon Kim, Benjamin Lyman, Adrienne P. Savant

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Remarkable medical advancements have been made for people with cystic fibrosis (CF) in recent years, with an abundance of research continuing to be conducted worldwide. With concern for limitations in access to highly effective CFTR modulators, as well as the recent Coronavirus Disease-19 pandemic, there has been a consistent effort to understand and improve CF screening, disease burden, diagnosis, and management. Our aim in this review is to present articles from 2022 with an emphasis on clinically relevant studies. We hope this will serve as a broad overview of the research published in the past year.

Recovery A Lifelong Journey: What It Means To Get Clean And Stay In Long-Term Recovery, Nicole E. Willis Cooper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study will be to describe long-term recovery (LTR) from drug addiction for African American (AA) recovering addicts (RAs) who have ten or more years in recovery and are members of Narcotics Anonymous (NA). The theory guiding this study is the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) (Stages of Change) (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1977) as it describes the process of how individuals change their habitual behavior/s by transitioning through five stages of change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance,). TTM indicates that positive behavioral change is an ongoing process which is significant to understanding these factors in relation to …

The Connection Of The Pulpit And Church Growth Within Churches Of Christ In Texas, Jacob Daniel Hawk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The numerical decline of church attendance in America has been a grave concern for decades, but it was only enhanced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Churches of Christ (COC), a nondenominational religious group born from the Restoration Movement, are not immune to this crisis, having experienced substantial decay within their own fellowship. However, a specific question has not been considered critically. Do COC grow numerically based on the preaching and pastoring of the lead minister? Can dynamic preaching and passionate pastoring repeal the trend of numerical decline? The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore if a potential connection …