Digital Commons Network^™

Contributions Community Health Centers In The Delta Have Made During The Pandemic And Their Future, Ajah Tiyanna Singleton

Honors Theses

Community health centers that are located in the Mississippi Delta serve as critical points of contact for residents pertaining to medical care. The framework for the services provided locally, and nationally, originate from the now Delta Health Center in Mound Bayou, MS. The care that providers within these institutions have transformed over the course of the pandemic, and the aid rendered to patients have enabled residents to maintain their current level of health. Analyzing the various services provided during this time will allow for stakeholders to determine the next steps for these institutions as the imminent transition into a COVID-19 …

A Trained Eye: Optometrists' View Into Primary Care, Louis C. Magee Iii

Honors Theses

The aim of this thesis is to explore and present the auxiliary responsibilities of doctors of optometry, particularly those involved with primary health care such as screening for serious diseases. This idea was approached by researching the technological capabilities of optometrists, the diseases and conditions they commonly detect, as well as the barriers preventing some people from receiving proper eye care. The importance of optometrists as primary care providers is steadily rising alongside their capabilities. There are many instances within a routine eye exam in which an optometrist is able to detect and recommend treatment of a serious disease. Also …

Computational And Spectroscopic Studies Of New Sulfur-Containing Dipole-Bound Anions, Nicholas Allen Kruse

Honors Theses

Sulfur and Nitrogen are essential ingredients in both life-supporting and light-harvesting molecules. Their presence also usually leads to the delocalization of electrons and large dipole and quadrupole moments. Such molecules are sometimes able to form negative ions through the electrostatic binding of an excess electron. These so-called multipole-bound (dipole-bound, quadrupole-bound, etc.) anions have been shown to be important in radiation damage in biology and electron transport processes. Here, we present our recent computational and experimental results studying the creation of new multipole-bound anions.

The Long-Term Health And Developmental Impacts Of Children Born At Low Birth Weight, Kathryn Grace Kelly

Honors Theses

The state of Mississippi currently has the highest incidence of low birth weight (LBW) births in the United States. LBW is a negative birth outcome which can lead to suboptimal pediatric health and development. The primary goals of this thesis are to identify the long-term outcomes associated with LBW and to present potential interventions to address LBW. A combination of literature review and quantitative data analysis were used to inform the objective of this thesis. A variety of physical health, behavioral health, and other long-term issues were found associated with LBW. The consequences of LBW place LBW children at a …

Ipseity Vol. 1: An Artful Exploration Of Identity Formation In Emerging Adulthood, Lauren Alexis Taylor

Honors Theses

Ipseity is a multi-edition coffee-table style book that integrates digital and print design and incorporates handmade elements and processes such as die-cuts, letterpress printing, gold foiling, hand-sewn bindings, and embroidery. Its design is rooted in minimalism, yet the handmade aspects, eye-catching color palette, and bold illustrations make reading Ipseity a visual and tactile experience. The design utilizes typography and flat-color illustrations in a consistent layout, with a strong emphasis on the handmade elements and craftsmanship throughout the book. It is not only a publication to read and ponder, but it is an artful object with a physical presence to be …

College Students Fail To Identify Nutrition Misinformation On Social Media, Helen Mary Katool

Honors Theses

Social media has become a part of everyday life in our society and has the capability to reach billions, across age groups. Research has shown that there is a direct link between the widespread access to social media and the amount of misinformation that is circulating. In fact, unqualified and uneducated individuals share believable but inaccurate nutrition posts. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if college students can distinguish the difference between nutrition misinformation or factual nutrition information when presented on social media. Male and female college students (>18 years old) from two classes (nutrition and …

Rising From The Ashes: An Analysis Of How One Infamous Promotional Event Caused A Company's Ruin And A Concept On The Future Of Influencer Experiences, Janis B. Kruger

Honors Theses

This thesis and its research focuses on the topic of modern influencer marketing through digital media. Throughout the thesis, traditional marketing tactics and the power of influence is discussed, and then it moves into the topic of modern advertising and the role that modern social media influencers play in reaching the consumer. The methodology behind influencer marketing is explained and consumer behavior is analyzed. The 2017 Fyre Festival promotional event is then used as an example to dissect this marketing tactic and how the event impacted the future of influencer marketing. Finally, a modern-day, hypothetical campaign based on the concept …

The Role Of Ionic Liquids In Gold Nanorod Synthesis, Noah Grovich

Honors Theses

The term cancer is used to define a large set of medical conditions that result from uncontrolled cell proliferation. The severity of cancer ranges depending on several factors, but it is one of the leading causes of death in approximately 60% of the world. Current treatment options are often not efficacious and face many limitations especially regarding limiting the secondary damage to healthy cells. Gold nanorods have shown to be a potential solution for effectively overcoming many of these barriers, but their employment is limited due to toxicity concerns stemming from the use of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in their synthesis. …

Cultural Memory Conflicted In Post-Conflict Peru: Constructing Heroes And Villains La Hora Final And La Casa Rosada, Reed Peets

Honors Theses

Building on this same theoretical platform, this project uses two critically-acclaimed contemporary cinematic representations of the internal armed conflict—La hora final and La casa rosada—as reflections of the ways in which the Peruvian cultural products of today are leveraged to reorchestrate collective understandings of the past.

Probing Myosin Ensemble Mechanics In Actin Filament Bundles Using Optical Tweezers, Omayma Alazzam, Janie Watts, Dana N. Reinemann

Faculty and Student Publications

Myosins are motor proteins that hydrolyze ATP to step along actin filament (AF) tracks and are essential in cellular processes such as motility and muscle contraction. To understand their force-generating mechanisms, myosin II has been investigated both at the single-molecule (SM) level and as teams of motors in vitro using biophysical methods such as optical trapping. These studies showed that myosin force-generating behavior can differ greatly when moving from the single-molecule level in a three-bead arrangement to groups of motors working together on a rigid bead or coverslip surface in a gliding arrangement. However, these assay constructions do not permit …

Leadership Approaches To Teacher Collaboration During Periods Of Crisis, Kristine Scallon

Doctorate in Education

Teacher collaboration is a complex and dynamic phenomenon that educational scholars have examined for four decades. This study argues for the expansion of leadership approaches that foster and sustain teacher collaboration, specifically during periods of crisis. Drawing on mixed-methods data collected in a Midwest public school district amidst the disconcerting ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had been impacting educational systems for just over two years, this dissertation also considers concurrent systemic crises, including racial and gender inequalities, civil unrest, political elections, ideological divides, economic instability, natural disasters, and gun violence.

The conceptual framework that guided this study reflected leadership …

Efficacy Of Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol For Hiv-Related Neuropathic Pain, Kaia Horne

Honors Theses

Despite the availability and success of antiretroviral therapeutics, ~30% of patients living with HIV experience neuropathic pain that is often intractable. The mechanisms are not known, but there is evidence to support a role for the HIV virotoxins, Tat and/or gp120, which can damage or degenerate neurons and peripheral nerves. One mechanism by which Tat and gp120 promote nerve damage involves the stimulation of proinflammatory cytokine production from immune cells which can damage or kill bystander cells. Notably, compounds found in Cannabis exert anti-inflammatory effects and many studies report HIV patients to consume more marijuana than seronegative individuals. When people …

Digital Mental Health Intervention Plus Usual Care Compared With Usual Care Only And Usual Care Plus In-Person Psychological Counseling For Orthopedic Patients With Symptoms Of Depression Or Anxiety: Cohort Study, Ashwin J Leo, Matthew J Schuelke, Devyani M Hunt, J Philip Miller, Patricia A Areán, Abby L Cheng

Open Access Publications

BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety frequently coexist with chronic musculoskeletal pain and can negatively impact patients' responses to standard orthopedic treatments. Nevertheless, mental health is not routinely addressed in the orthopedic care setting. If effective, a digital mental health intervention may be a feasible and scalable method of addressing mental health in an orthopedic setting.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare 2-month changes in mental and physical health between orthopedic patients who received a digital mental health intervention in addition to usual orthopedic care, those who received usual orthopedic care only (without a specific mental health intervention), and those who received in-person …

Implementation Of A Vector Correlation Strain Tracking Algorithm For Use With Quantitative Polarized Light Imaging, Ethan Meitz

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Independent Study

Full field strain mapping of collagenous tissue typically uses fiducial markers; however, fiducial markers have limited spatial resolution and obstruct light traveling to the sensor when used in conjunction with optical techniques such as Quantitative Polarized Light Imaging (QPLI) [1]. To overcome the limitations of fiducial markers, Quinn et al. proposed a new optical strain tracking method for QPLI that relies on image texture that arises from polarimetry outcomes to calculate strain [1]. Using a modified definition of correlation, image texture generated from QPLI data was tracked between frames to measure deformation. Based on their pseudocode, we implemented the strain …

World Class Supply Chain 2022: Creating A Sustainable Future, Michael Haughton

Business Faculty Publications

The Sixth Annual World Class Supply Chain Summit on May 4th, 2022 was a landmark in at least threes ways: First, it marked a return to having the annual summit in-person following the COVID-driven cancellation of the 2020 summit and the virtual delivery format of the 2021 summit. Second, the 2022 summit’s hybrid format (simultaneous in-person delivery in Milton, Ontario and online delivery to delegates who attended virtually) required the summit planning team to creatively deploy teleconferencing tools that characterise the pandemic-era. Third, for the very first time, we scheduled a Student Forum segment in which students presented material from …

Vasovagal Syncope During Venipuncture:Alleviating Symptoms Through Leg Muscle Tension And Moving Toes Sequentially, Velina Andrewski

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Venipuncture is a common medical procedure and is considered safe and routine. However, intermittent cases occur where patients develop symptoms of lightheadedness, nausea, weakness, and occasionally a full syncopal episode due to needle phobia, blood phobia, and pain associated with venipuncture. Vasovagal Reactions (VVR) or Vasovagal Syncope (VVS) during a venipuncture procedure can be distressing for the patient, the clinician, and disruptive to clinic routines. This paper examines whether techniques such as simple leg tensing and wiggling of toes can reduce or abort VVR/VVS completely as the patient undergoes venipuncture. Clinicians were instructed in techniques to use if the patient …

Stabilization Of Phenanthrene Anions In Helium Nanodroplets, Siegfried Kollotzek, Farhad Izadi, Miriam Meyer, Stefan Bergmeister, Fabio Zappa, Stephan Denifl, Olof E. Echt, Paul Scheier, Elisabeth Gruber

Faculty Publications

It has been debated for years if the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon phenanthrene exists in its anionic form, or, in other words, if its electron affinity (EA) is positive or negative. In this contribution we confirm that the bare phenanthrene anion Ph^- created in a binary collision with an electron at room temperature has a lifetime shorter than microseconds. However, the embedding of neutral phenanthrene molecules in negatively charged helium nanodroplets enables the formation of phenanthrene anions by charge transfer processes and the stabilization of the latter in the ultracold environment. Gentle shrinking of the helium matrix of phenanthrene-doped HNDs …

Associate Degree Nurses Caring Behaviors During High-Fidelity Simulation: A Basic Qualitative Study, Crystal Bowman

General Submissions: Presentations (Oral and Poster)

Despite validation of the importance of caring behaviors in nursing, questions remain about how to teach these behaviors Teaching and evaluating caring behaviors with nursing education programs are challenging due to the subjective nature of the experience. Caring as a factor that influences patients and organizational outcomes is underestimated. There is a lack of scientific analysis to support how caring nursing behaviors are taught and then transferred to the bedside of a patient. The use of simulation as a teaching methodology has historically been focused on the technical and procedural aspects of nursing education but has begun to shift to …

Plant Based Polyphenols Decrease Cell Migration And Inhibit Proliferation Of Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells, Mary Gathoni

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most highly malignant tumors of the digestive tract. Both the incidence and death rate of pancreatic cancer have increased since 2000. The disease has a poor prognosis with a relative 5-year survival rate of 10%. Pancreatic cancer-related mortality can be mainly attributed to lack of early diagnosis, tumor metastasis, lack of effective treatment strategies and drug resistance. There has been a mounting interest on the use of plant-based compounds such as polyphenols in cancer treatment therapies. This is mainly due to their low toxicity and fewer side effects compared to the conventional chemotherapeutic options …

Eckley Summer '22 Scholars Announced, Kailee Galloway

News and Events (Discontinued Series)

No abstract provided.

Comparative Analysis And Dynamic Response Of Abs Under Uv Light Degradation Using Shock Tube, Greer Lauber

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the dynamic response of acrylonitrile-butadlene-styrene (ABS) when exposed to UV light. Impact-Resistant Easy-to-Form ABS sheets were tested using a Shock Tube. Three samples were tested at no UV light exposure and three were tested after 15 days of being exposed to rapid UV degradation rays. All samples were tested at a shock wave equivalent to 400 psi. The results showed that the UV damaged samples experienced a decrease in strength and energy absorption in comparison to the non-UV damaged samples. The average peak load for the non-UV degraded was 1261.89 Newtons and …

Evaluating The Barriers Of Entry That Small Commercial Farmers Face And The Implications Of Such Barriers On Rural Communities, Lauren C. Chandler

Honors Theses

The research proposed in this thesis will identify the barriers of entry that

small farmers face when entering the Agricultural Industry. The proposed research will also seek to discover how having these barriers in place affects rural communities. This thesis conducts a literature review of the topic, sets the context for the research to be done, and proposes a research project to further investigate the topic. The proposed research will be done through administering a survey to stakeholders, and then interviewing a small sample of those surveyed to get a comprehensive look at the effects of agribusiness on rural communities. …

Lessons From The Aisles: A Collection Of Short Stories, Drew Jones

Honors Theses

This thesis is a collection of short stories, each set in a separate aisle of Walmart. By exploring the relationships and conflicts of these characters, I hope to illustrate that life’s complexity can be shown in a place as simple and mundane as Walmart.

Comprehensive Review Of Accounting: A Case-By-Case Study, Cristina Trefry

Honors Theses

This thesis was prepared to investigate a variety of accounting scenarios to further learn and challenge student’s notion of accounting. These accounting scenarios were in the form of 11 case studies done over the course of September 2020 to April 2021. These case studies highlighted a wide variety of accounting concepts, and even challenged students to a case competition highlighted in cases 6 through 10. These case studies not only challenged students to think about accounting concepts in a different light, but also to learn more about the field they are going into through personalized cases. These personalized cases allowed …

Employing A Public Policy Evaluative Framework: An Analysis Of Domestic Theme Park Development, Anthony Gray Houser

Honors Theses

The intention of the thesis is to examine the relationship between the development of the Walt Disney Company’s theme parks and public policy. Using the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California and the Walt Disney World Resort outside of Orlando, Florida as case studies, this thesis will execute a comparative analysis to better understand the relationship between the Walt Disney Company’s theme parks and public policy. Using an evaluative framework, this thesis will provide a deeper understanding of how public policy affected the development and the current operations of these theme parks. The driving research question in this thesis is, ‘what …

Implementation Of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (Eras) Guidelines: A Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Approach, Christopher N. Stoner Bsn, Rn, Alex R. Priest Bsn, Rn, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Crna, Aprn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background Enhance Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols are multimodal transdisciplinary care guidelines that can improve clinical outcomes and cost savings. Although surgical practices currently vary significantly among healthcare institutions, perioperative outcomes and safety appear to improve with ERAS pathways. This scoping review evaluates patient outcomes and satisfaction in adult patients during their first week postoperatively while utilizing ERAS pathways.

Methods This scoping review includes a variety of peer-reviewed and published academic journals within the last five years to guarantee the information surveyed is current. Even though this scoping review focuses on the interdisciplinary method to executing ERAS pathways, studies demonstrating …

What Uintah Basin Leaders And Residents Can Do To Strengthen The Impact Of Girls And Women In Their Area, Angie Kleven, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

This idea sheet is based on a 2022 gathering of 30 leaders in the Uintah Basin. Girls and women face challenges unique to the area in which they live, and the goal of this gathering was to identify those barriers and determine strategies and initiatives that local leaders and residents can implement to address them. This document includes recommendations in the following areas: education and sports, health and wellbeing, home and family, business and economics, culture and religion, and community engagement.

A Guideline Recommendation Implementing Inferior Vena Cava Ultrasound To Guide Hemodynamic Resuscitation Of Septic Adults During Air Medical Transport, Marin E. Peterson

DNP and Student Works

Sepsis is present in one out of every three hospital deaths (CDC, 2020). Primary and time-sensitive interventions for sepsis include intravenous fluid and vasopressor administration for hemodynamic resuscitation, but inappropriate administration can lead to complications and poorer patient outcomes (Schmidt & Mandel, 2020). In the early stages of care, air medical transport clinicians frequently transport septic patients from small, rural hospitals to hospitals with higher levels of care. These clinicians could utilize inferior vena cava (IVC) ultrasound to guide optimal hemodynamic resuscitation. Therefore, an IVC ultrasound guideline was created for sepsis management during air medial transport to improve patient outcomes.

The Effectiveness Of Inter-American Commission’S Reports On Capital Punishment Petitions Against The United States: Where Do We Go From Here?, Alexandria Faura

Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review

No abstract provided.

America’S Cash Bail Crisis: Learning From Our Common-Law Roots, Jake Feiler

Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review

No abstract provided.