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Military Veterans And Yoga Teacher Training: A Phenomenological Review, Stephen L. Rego

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study aimed to discover the experiences of military veteran graduates of two Veterans Yoga Project (VYP) cohorts. The theory guiding this study was phenomenological inquiry, founded by Husserl and expanded by Hegel, Heidegger, and van Manen, as it explored the lived experiences and potential intersection of wellness in military veterans. The candidates for participation were recruited from the VYP MRYTT yoga training program 2021 Cohort 1, providing 16 graduates, and 2022 Cohort 2, providing 23 graduates. This study discovered 1) the lived experiences of yoga teacher training (YTT) in military veterans, 2) a conceptualization of military veterans’ …

Ex-Vivo Hippocampus Segmentation Using Diffusion-Weighted Mri, Haoteng Tang, Siyuan Dai, Eric M. Zou, Guodong Liu, Ryan Ahearn, Ryan Krafty, Michel Modo, Liang Zhan

Computer Science Faculty Publications

The hippocampus is a crucial brain structure involved in memory formation, spatial navigation, emotional regulation, and learning. An accurate MRI image segmentation of the human hippocampus plays an important role in multiple neuro-imaging research and clinical practice, such as diagnosing neurological diseases and guiding surgical interventions. While most hippocampus segmentation studies focus on using T1-weighted or T2-weighted MRI scans, we explore the use of diffusion-weighted MRI (dMRI), which offers unique insights into the microstructural properties of the hippocampus. Particularly, we utilize various anisotropy measures derived from diffusion MRI (dMRI), including fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity, for …

Leveraging Systems Thinking For Global Environmental Health, Martha M. Mcalister

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Environmental health inequities such as household air pollution, inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene, and chemical pollution persist globally and have myriad consequences on individual and societal well-being. Unfortunately, while billions of dollars and countless hours of research have been applied towards addressing these issues in development, humanitarian, and environmental justice contexts, attempts to reduce the environmental burden of disease can seem successful at first, but then backslide to pre-intervention conditions (or worse). This is indicative of policy resistance, a tendency of complex systems that makes it very difficult to enact change if the “rules” of the system are misunderstood. There …

Embedding Information Literacy Practices In An Upper Division Chemistry Lab Class At A University In The United States Of America, Christopher Randles, Matilynn Lamm, Katy A. Miller

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This poster discusses the implementation of information literacy into an upper division inorganic chemistry lab and the strategies employed to develop students’ information literacy in the laboratory course.

Multidisciplinary Clinical Care At Unm For Ultra-Rare Muscular Dystrophy Mimicking Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Type 1, Bret J. Gardner, Cynthia Olivas, Meeta Cardon

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Muscular dystrophies are rare, degenerative disorders resulting in physical disability of varying severity. Differentiating types is often challenging given similar clinical presentations. This difficulty is apparent in the case of diagnosing one ultra-rare type: Muscular Dystrophy, Hearing Loss, and Ovarian Insufficiency (MDHLO). At UNM, we diagnose and care for our patients with muscular dystrophy through a multidisciplinary clinic at Carrie Tingley Hospital Outpatient Center, partially funded by a grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

Traumatic Brain Injury And Psychopathic Traits In Justice-Involved Adult Males, Michaela M. Milillo, Tessa Cappelle, Gerard J.B Clarke, Craig S. Neumann, J Michael Maurer, Nathaniel Anderson, Carla L. Harenski, David Arciniegas, Jean Decety, Michael Koenigs, Kent A. Kiehl

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

This is an original study that investigates correlates of traumatic brain injury (TBI; i.e., severity, total number of TBIs, age at first TBI) and psychopathic traits (i.e., antisocial or interpersonal qualities) in justice-involved adult males who were incarcerated at the time of their participation. Our results show higher levels of psychopathic traits in individuals with TBI versus those without, which suggests a greater need to target TBI in the treatment of justice-involved populations.

FUNDING This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01MH109329 R01DA026964, R01DA026505, R01MH071896, R01DA020870, R01MH070539; PI: Kent A. Kiehl, Ph.D.).

Effects Of Third Trimester Alcohol Exposure (Ttae) On Oligodendrocyte Development In The Mouse Brain, Estrella Villicana, Luis E. Paez-Beltran, Bianca L. Myers, C Fernando Valenzuela, Tou Yia Vue

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

Background: Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) occurs when an expecting mother consumes alcohol at any stages of pregnancy. PAE will lead to children to develop fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which are a group of conditions that can include a wide range of behavior problems, cognitive impairments and distinctive physical features. Oligodendrocyte Precursor cells (OPCs) are glial cells and they’re responsible for generating oligodendrocytes which myelinate neuronal axons to allow proper conduction of action potentials. Decrease myelination in the brain is a prominent feature of PAE both studies in humans and animal models. We hypothesize that third trimester pups exposed to …

Formative Stages Of Administering A Comprehensive Neurodevelopmental Battery At Unm For A Large Multi-Site National Study, Lidia Enriquez Marquez, Jillian Kotulski, Alexandria Wiesel, Lawrence Leeman, Ludmila Bakhireva

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) is a multi-site research study (25 sites) designed to prospectively examine brain and behavioral development beginning prenatally through mid-childhood. The study incorporates repeated Child Cognitive Systems, such as the Early Regulation in Context Assessment (ERICA) and the NIH Infant and Toddler Toolbox (NBT). The HBCD pilot phase focused on optimizing a pragmatic behavioral coding scheme to facilitate data acquisition in infants (3 months) and toddlers (≤36 months).

Department Of Family & Community Medicine Transdisciplinary Evaluation And Support Clinic (Teasc), Martin Gonzales, Toni Benton, John Phillips, Gail Thaler, Helene Silverblatt, May Goldenberg, Clark Hardgrave, Amber Seik, Pat Beery, Shelly Marek, Liz Donsbach, Rae Romero

Brain & Behavioral Health Research Day

This poster submission highlights the success and impact the Transdisplinary Evaluation and Support clinic (TEASC) has had in providing healthcare and behavioral requirements of adolescents and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Over the past three decades, the TEASC has successfully implemented a consultative model to address the complex needs of individuals with I/DD, catering to both teens and adults. This innovative team model offers statewide consultative services, extending support to individuals, their families, and their support teams. TEASC employs a variety of interdisciplinary clinical initiatives to provide clinical expertise throughout the state. The TEASC Evaluation involves in-person consultations …

An Exploration Of The Role Of Culture In Social Media Advertising And Consumer Purchase Decision In The Saudi Arabia Fashion Market: A Qualitative Study, Lamis Aldawish, Dulekha Kasturiratne, Jonathan Lean, Christopher Phillips, Jinghan Wang

Plymouth Business School

No abstract provided.

Black Male Initiatives’ Effect On Black Male Persistence And Graduation, Eric Devon Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Courtesy Stigma And Mental Health: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of The Mothers Of Registered Sex Offenders, Kimberly Ann Ingold

Theses and Dissertations

While there is a plethora of research exploring how registered sex offenders are negatively affected by the registry, little research has examined how the consequences of the registry affect their family members. More specifically, the mothers of registrants have received even less study even though mothers typically receive blame for their child’s outcomes - including delinquency and criminality. The current paper examines if, and how, the mothers of registrants experience courtesy stigmatization from their child’s arrest and conviction along with how that affects their personal relationships, finances, and mental health. The study utilizes a mixed-methods research design, as 178 women’s …

Vietnam Wacs: An Exploration Of Women’S Military Service During The Sociopolitical Upheaval Of The Vietnam War Era, Carmen M. Latvis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Women’s military service has often been relegated to the footnotes of history in the larger discussion of war and military service. Despite this, women have served the United States through every major conflict since the Revolutionary War with no expectation of recognition or reward. Such service raises questions regarding patriotism, gender roles, and citizenship. This research explores those questions during the Vietnam War era, one of the most defining moments in American society and culture and argues that women’s military service was shaped during those turbulent years through persistent quiet integration, defining political intervention, and military necessity. An investigation of …

Exposure To Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) Within Rural And Underserved Communities, Lauren T. Sparks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It can be difficult for residents of rural and underserved communities to express their own experiences involving adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ACEs cause negative health outcomes to those who are exposed to physical, mental, or behavioral abuse. These negative outcomes can affect the individual’s mental health; therefore, it is crucial to create recovery mechanisms for communities that are in dire need of resources. The purpose of this qualitative study was to research the exposure of ACEs throughout three rural and underserved states: Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Each of these states had exposure scenarios which was determined based on the distributed …

A Qualitative Study: Teacher Perceptions About How They Are Prepared To Teach Students With Multiple Learning Disabilities In An Inclusive Classroom Setting, Tondra E. Hart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of teachers in Georgia and how the pre-service training received by them prepares them for an inclusive classroom, including students with multiple learning disabilities. Educators who are teaching in an inclusive classroom are defined as having completed the required education and pre-service training to teach both students with disabilities and students without disabilities. The central question for this study was: How do teachers perceive they are prepared to teach students with multiple learning disabilities in an inclusive classroom setting? The study used a qualitative phenomenological research …

Self-Efficacy And Student Experiences In A Corequisite Developmental Math Course, Jessica Edmiston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover the role of self-efficacy in a corequisite developmental math course for college students at a community college in South Central Texas. In this study, a student’s math self-efficacy in a college developmental math course was generally defined as how one’s belief in one’s capacity in math influences the necessary behaviors to perform certain attainments in mathematics. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. The central research question was how self-efficacy influences the experiences and perceptions of students in prerequisite developmental math courses. The methodology was a transcendental phenomenological study …

Cyber Defense Planning In Tabletop Exercises And Consideration Of A Fractured Flaw Theory For Security Applications, Patrick K. Kilroy Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cybersecurity threats endanger every part of American life. Security and emergency preparedness professionals plan and prevent cyber-attacks using tabletop exercises. The tabletop exercises establish the risks and protection strategies for multiagency threats, thus, various agencies and industrial partners must work together in these training events. The purpose of this grounded study will be to develop criteria for selecting tabletop participants and explore the risks of participation. An additional consideration is the impact of the sponsoring agencies' agenda on the value of the outcome for the participants. There is sufficient evidence to justify the investigation of these issues. Failing to include …

Military Veteran Career Transition Coaching Experiences: Navigating The Shift From Military Service To Civilian Employment, Miguel A. Ingle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Shifting from a structured military culture is regarded as a critical juncture in the lives of military veterans. Veterans face career adaptation, identity conflict, and social integration challenges separating from the military, yet current military transition programs fail to address these challenges. Research on veterans’ transition has overlooked how career transition coaching benefits veterans’ reintegration into civilian careers, leaving a gap in understanding veterans’ challenges and successes with career transition coaching. Addressing veterans’ transition challenges is crucial for developing programs that facilitate their successful integration into civilian careers. This multiple-case qualitative study employed interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) to address this …

Preparing The Next Generation For Faith Ownership By Training Fathers In The Biblical Worldview, John D. Embrey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Several modern factors increase families’ difficulty training children in the Christian faith. Time commitments outside the home have increased, and a decline in faith practice has made parents less comfortable and confident with knowledge of the Christian faith. These factors fueled an increase in teenagers leaving the Christian faith as they moved into adulthood and a decline in the number of adults with a biblical worldview. The underlying assumption of this DMIN project is that if fathers are trained with a biblical worldview and mentoring skills, they will become more comfortable and prepared to share their faith with their children …

A Phenomenological Study Of Church Polity And Its Impact On Pastoral Leadership And Congregational Health, Travis L. Biller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is reported that deacon-led churches produce conflict and high pastoral turnover (Harbuck, 2018; Payne, 1996). The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how a church governance structure impacts a pastor’s ability to lead, the health of the church, and pastoral retention. The experiences of pastors from deacon-led churches were evaluated for clusters of meaning and compared with the experiences of pastors who serve under an elder-led model of leadership. Nine interviews were conducted—five pastors from deacon-led churches and four from elder-led churches. This study approached the phenomenological design from an interpretive, or hermeneutical approach to understand the …

Ministry Satisfaction Of Volunteers Within The Environment Of The Local Church: The Role Of Servant Leadership And Organizational Commitment, Sheena Denise Hunley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In churches, it is imperative to attract, engage, and retain volunteers effectively to accomplish its mission. The impact church leaders have on volunteer satisfaction is undoubtedly far from well explored within the local church. This exploratory, qualitative case study examined the quality of church leadership’s influence on ministry satisfaction and sustained serving over time in lay volunteers. The case study took place in a non-denominational church located in East Tennessee. A central research question asked, how do lay volunteers experience satisfaction within the environment of local church and its leadership? Three research questions examined the areas of volunteer satisfaction and …

Exploring Perceptions Of School Climate At The Middle School Level Through The Implementation Of A School-Wide House System: A Case Study, Mallory Graham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to explore the perceptions of school climate as influenced by the implementation of a school-wide house system for staff and students. The theories guiding this study were Maslow’s theory of motivation and the theory of self-determination. The central research question for the study considers ways in which stakeholders, faculty, and staff implement a house system with the goal of creating a positive school climate. The intrinsic case study was situated at a middle school in southwest Virginia that had fully implemented a school-wide house system, and the sample consisted of five 8th …

Moderated Mediated Model Of Religiosity, God Image, And Self Compassion, Amanda Strivings

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Religious engagement can be a protective factor as well as contribute to negative mental health outcomes in religious populations. Early experiences in the parent-child relationship influence how individuals view God, which influences how they emotionally experience and engage with religion. Previous research has explored the relationships between religiosity, view of God, and self-compassion. This study explored the influence of three separate views of God on the cross-generational maintenance of religiosity and as sociocultural factors that influence self-compassion within the context of religiosity. Results supported several direct and indirect relationships. The analysis included one simple mediation model to explore the mediating …

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of Quality Standards For Practicing Credentialed Sonographers And Their Interpretation Of An Advanced Ultrasound Practitioner Credential To Increase Patient Safety Outcomes, Leah Klatt Carroll

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate whether advanced sonographer certification in the Diagnostic Medical Sonographic profession (general, vascular, and obstetrics) would support the national quality initiatives of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that involve accurate diagnosis, patient safety, and lessening medical diagnosis errors. The research question(s) focused on sonographers and their perceptions of an advanced credential for qualified sonographers that could offer career advancement opportunities, adherence to patient safety, and increased quality initiatives in ultrasound departments in the United States. Consenting participants derived on a volunteer basis through the National Society of Diagnostic …

The Lived Experiences Of Undergraduate Students' Use Of Social Media And How It Relates To Their Perceived Happiness: A Phenomenological Study, William R. Longwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem in this study is that undergraduate students' use of social media may influence their perceived happiness. The aim of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand undergraduate students’ lived experiences with social media and how it is related to their perceived happiness. The theory guiding this study is Festinger’s theory of social comparison. Participants perceived happiness was explored based on their lived experiences of using social media and how it related to their perceived happiness. Data collection methods included journal prompts, individual interviews, and focus groups, as these methods proved the most useful in this qualitative study for …

Increasing The Awareness Of Healthcare Violence Risk To Improve Safety In A Community Hospital, Allyson Dalton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020) identified the current incident rate for nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses, resulting in days out from work due to intentional injury within the healthcare industry. This statistic was revealed to be 10.4 per every 10,000 full-time employees. This figure is notably five times higher than the non-healthcare worker rate of 2.1 per every 10,000 full-time employees (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020). The purpose of the identified scholarly project is to evaluate the overall impact the integration of a Violent Risk Assessment and utilization of resourceful safety measures have on raising awareness and …

A Composition Of Strategic Harmony: The Role Of Hymnic Elements In The Compositional Strategy Of Amos, Moegagogo S. Solomona

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Scholarship on the book of Amos has oft leaned in favor of a multilayered composition of the prophetic book, citing either post-exilic motifs or unusual thematic transitions as evidence. While most of the book of Amos is typically ascribed to the prophet himself, the attribution of certain portions to the work of later redactors brings into question the integrity of the message Amos seeks to convey, especially regarding a united theological message. Proponents of redaction claim that the portions in question would not have been part of the original composition due to their contents displaying post-exilic themes. Such a reconstruction …

Media, Politics And Law Enforcement: How The Current Political Climate And Media Coverage Are Leading To Fewer Law Enforcement Officers In The Field, Allen Denver Denny Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory has been used extensively in the business field to explain job satisfaction of employees. This study applied Maslow’s theory to law enforcement by examining how the media and political rhetoric is impacting the support officers receive from the communities that they serve as well as the agencies that they work, and how this support is impacting the number of officers leaving the profession. The study sampled law enforcement officers located in western and central North Carolina and involved both large urban agencies and small rural agencies. The Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) survey was used …

Phenomenological Study Of Resiliency Among Native Americans, Mary K. Laungayan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand what resilience factors, if any, contribute to the reversal of adverse reactions to intergenerational trauma, in Native Americans. The study will attempt to use the data collected to determine an implementation of support that will build a scaffolding of resilience that can benefit Native American Children. The theory guiding this study is the resiliency theory, which conceptualizes positive variables that guide behaviors in individuals who have been exposed to historical trauma and experienced, Adverse Childhood Effects (ACEs) (Zimmerman, 2013). Using an exploratory qualitative design, this study worked to gather data from …

Physician Assistant Students' Attitudes Toward Satisfaction And Self-Confidence In Learning Of Summative Standardized Patient Simulations In Relationship To Their Prior Healthcare Experience Hours And The Number Of Formative Assessments: A Quantitative Predictive Correlational Study, Juanita W. Skillman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, non-experimental, predictive correlational study aimed to determine if there is a relationship between the criterion variable of physician assistant students' attitudes of satisfaction and self-confidence in learning among the linear combination of the predictor variables of prior healthcare experience hours and the number of formative assessments before the summative assessment. The experiential learning theory guided this study and is valuable to physician assistant programs because the data obtained on students' perceived attitudes is crucial to improving future student simulation experiences in which competencies are measured and compared against outcomes standards set by accreditation bodies. The study included 136 …