Digital Commons Network^™

Empowering Kidney Transplant Recipients: The Role Of Occupational Therapy For A Successful Transition Into Emerging Adulthood, Courtney Heller

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

The transition into adulthood for kidney transplant recipients includes both the move from pediatric to adult healthcare settings and developmental shifts to pursue milestones associated with early adulthood. This period is marked by immense change and vulnerability where AYA kidney transplant recipients are at a heightened risk for negative health outcomes. There is a need to improve policies, protocols, and cement best practices to equip and empower young transplant recipients to thrive into adulthood with their gift of life.

Growing Through The Senses: A Sensory Garden Approach To Support Emotional Regulation And Sensory Awareness In Young Adults With Visual Impairments, Deanne Nguyen

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Young adults with visual impairments are at a greater risk of experiencing mental health challenges. Encounter unique challenges that impact emotional, social, and personal development.

Enhancing Response Through Occupational Therapy: Neurodiversity & Mental Health Training For First Responders, Haley De Los Santos

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Problem Statement: Lack of specific training protocol in the following areas; complex neurological, physiological, cognitive, and physical diversity. First responders are not adequately trained respond to complex, diverse calls within the community.

From Plan To Practice: Enhancing Lifestyle Management Through Effective Carry Over Strategies Using Occupational Therapy Perspective, Josephine Hernandez

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Explore and build on existing knowledge of occupational therapy’s role in lifestyle management techniques through embodied experience. Explore evidence-based research on embodied interventions with multidisciplinary care. Explore and exercise advocacy skills within a multidisciplinary team. Explore and apply marketing and outreach initiatives for increased community awareness of resources.

Form And Function : Ot In The Beauty Industry, Sheng Kaitlan Vang

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

This capstone project purposes to address the high risk of musculoskeletal injuries among cosmetologists by integrating occupational therapy (OT) principles to promote ergonomic awareness and safe body mechanics by embedding injury prevention education into cosmetology training using the CEAS framework.

Play For All: Addressing Barriers And Promoting Equity In Sports Participation For Children With Disabilities, Kayla Swank

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Whether a child has a physical, cognitive, or invisible disability, there are many situations in which they aren’t given equal access to participate in team sports, individual sports, or physical activity in general.

Reclaiming Your Body, Reframing Your Mind: An Ot Perspective On Postpartum Exercise Participation, Abigail Waisner

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

Perinatal Mental Health conditions affect up to 84% of birthing women. These include: Depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, Bipolar Disorders, and Psychosis. These mental health challenges may be influenced by stress, lack of sleep, role changes, family history, social determinants of health, etc.

Acute Toxicity Of Arsenate And Arsenite In Two Scleractinian Coral Species: Acropora Cervicornis And Orbicella Faveolata, Cailey Dorman

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Inorganic arsenic (As), specifically arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)) are well-documented toxicants to a range of marine organisms. However, their specific impacts on coral reef species remain largely unstudied. This study is the first to assess the acute and subacute toxicity of inorganic arsenic on two threatened scleractinian coral species, Acropora cervicornis and Orbicella faveolata. Corals were exposed for 96 hours to five analytically verified concentrations and a negative control of either arsenate or arsenite. Toxicity was evaluated through three endpoints: mortality (LC50), coral condition (EC50), and photosynthetic efficiency (IC50). The lethal concentrations to result in 50% mortality (LC50) …

Spatio-Temporal Variability Of San Francisco Bay Plume From Space, Piero L. F. Mazzini, Cassia Pianca, L. Fernando Pareja-Roman, Kelly L. Cole, Ryan K. Walter, Renato M. Castelao, Elias J. Hunter, Robert J. Chant

Physics

As brackish turbid waters exit San Francisco Bay, one of the largest estuaries in the U.S. West Coast, they form the San Francisco Bay Plume (SFBP), which spreads offshore and influences the Gulf of the Farallones (GoF), an ecologically significant region in the California Current System that is also home to three National Marine Sanctuaries. This paper provides the first observationally based investigation of the spatio-temporal variability of the SFBP, using a plume tracking algorithm applied to more than two decades (2002-2023) of ocean color data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor onboard satellites Aqua and Terra. The …

The Evaluation Of Tetflupyrolimet In Rice (Oryza Sativa), Dalton Ryan Whitt

Theses and Dissertations

The evolution of resistance to many herbicide modes of action (MOA) threatens the utility of synthetic herbicides. Barnyardgrass control in rice has become increasingly difficult due to resistance to common herbicides, and no novel MOA has been introduced in 30 years. FMC Corporation recently discovered tetflupyrolimet (Dodhylex™ active), a Group 28 herbicide that inhibits dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. In 2023 and 2024, studies were conducted at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, MS, to evaluate tetflupyrolimet for midsouthern U.S. rice production. The first study evaluated barnyardgrass control and rice tolerance with single and sequential applications of tetflupyrolimet with clomazone and …

Genetic Algorithm Optimization To Maximize Sensitivity Of Triboelectric Mems Accelerometers, Yu Tian, Benyamin Davaji, Shahrzad Towfighian

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Scholarship

A genetic algorithm is used to optimize the sensitivity of a triboelectric MEMS accelerometer fabricated using CMOS-compatible processes. The optimization focuses on the structural parameters of an awl-shaped serpentine microspring (ASSM) connected to the proof mass. Constraints are defined by microfabrication standards and the available chip area. Three different constraint problems are considered, and the algo- rithm yields designs with maximized sensitivity in each case. Simulations under various sinusoidal vibration scenarios show that the optimized designs significantly outperform the previous version, achieving a 2.72× improvement at 1000 Hz and up to 20× at 500 Hz.

The Interplay Of Biomarkers And Psychosocial Variables In Ipv Perpetration, Arturo L. Cantos, María L. Mondolfi, K. Daniel O'Leary

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Relevant biopsychosocial factors, including testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) levels, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and difficulties in emotion regulation, have been implicated in IPV perpetration. However, further research is needed to clarify how biomarkers and psychosocial variables interact. The authors herein predicted that emotion regulation difficulties would moderate the association between ACES and IPV perpetration. The sample consisted of 30 IPV perpetrators aged 18 to 51 (M = 30.80, SD = 8.43) and 30 control non-perpetrator participants aged 18–35 (M = 24.13; SD = 4.28). All participants provided saliva samples to assess T and C levels and completed a sociodemographic …

Demographic And Clinical Predictors Of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease And Advanced Fibrosis In The United States, Gail Fernandes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD; formerly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-related liver fibrosis) is a growing public health problem in the United States. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of MASLD-related advanced fibrosis in the United States and assess whether type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) were independent risk factors for MASLD-related advanced fibrosis. This study was a quantitative cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2011 to 2020, grounded in the social ecological theory. Participants (N = 21,829) were included if they were ≥18 years, excluded if …

Staff Education To Promote Medication Adherence In Hypertension, Amie Sankoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A primary care medical clinic experienced an increase in hospital readmission for hypertensive patients, as evidenced by a consistent lack of standardized patient education on medication adherence and a notable increase in readmission rates for uncontrolled hypertension. Hypertension is a significant public health problem associated with an elevated risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. The gap in practice identified was a lack of knowledge among the medical staff in teaching patients about hypertension medication adherence. The practice-focused question was: Does educating primary care medical staff on the importance of medication adherence in hypertension improve knowledge, as evidenced by …

Staff Education On Blood Glucose Monitoring Protocols For Assisted Living Facility Staff, Musa Ahmed Mugenyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At the practice site, older residents face inconsistent and untimely blood sugar assessments, contributing to avoidable complications such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and hospitalizations. Many caregivers lack standardized training in blood glucose monitoring, which poses a significant risk to residents with diabetes or prediabetes. To address this practice problem, a staff education program on blood glucose monitoring protocols was initiated. The practice-focused question was the following: Will staff knowledge and confidence increase after participating in an education program on monitoring blood glucose levels? As part of the education program, staff received evidence-based instruction on proper techniques for blood glucose testing, recognizing …

Generational Health Professional Perceptions About Artificial Intelligence Impact On Clinical Work, Karima Lalani, Kerryn Butler-Henderson, David T Marc, Susan H Fenton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Whilst the evidence-base related to artificial intelligence (AI) has been growing in relation to its use and impact on healthcare, there is a lack of evidence related to the health workforce impact and no research examining the generational perceptions in relation to the health workforce and AI. This paper presents the results of a survey, which found generational differences in perceptions about the impact of AI on clinical jobs. Gen Z and Millennials were more likely to agree with statements that AI will improve their clinical decision-making skills/abilities, accomplish clinical tasks more quickly, and cause unemployment in their professional occupation. …

Effect Of Arm Movement On Lower Body Muscle Contributions To Standing Long Jump Performance, Abigail Douglas

Masters Theses

Previous jumping studies have proven that jumping with arm motion enhances performance compared to jumping without arm motion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of arm motion on the muscle contributions of the lower extremities during the standing long jump using muscle-actuated modeling informed by experimental data. Specifically investigating how arm motion enhances performance at the muscle level and how the muscle contributions of the lower extremities differ in jumps with and without arm motion. Three male and three female participants performed three jumps with arms and three jumps without arms. The longest jumps with and …

Matter Of West Pierre Assoc. Llc V. Harvey

All Decisions

In this consequential decision, the Appellate Division, First Department, reversed a lower court's ruling and allowed a tenant to challenge the legality of her rent. The tenant's lease began in 2020, after the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA) became effective, but the alleged unlawful rent increase dated back to 2014. The court held that applying the HSTPA to this case was a prospective application, not a retroactive one, and therefore, the tenant could examine the entire rent history under HSTPA's Part F. The court granted the tenant's motion for discovery and reinstated her rent overcharge counterclaim.

The Trophic Ecology Of The Snipe Eel Avocettina Infans (Anguilliformes: Nemichthyidae) In The Deep-Pelagic Gulf Of Mexico, Emma N. Schindler

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The Nemichthyidae (snipe eels) are ubiquitous in the deep-pelagic waters of tropical and temperate latitudes, and in some ecosystems are among the dominant fishes. In the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the nemichthyid species Avocettina infans is one of the dominant large predators. This prompted the current study, where an extensive sample set was utilized to characterize the abundance of the family in total, and the vertical distribution and trophic ecology of A. infans specifically. The nemichthyid abundance from 0 – 1500 m was estimated at 1,106.58 individuals per billion cubic meters, the largest portion of which was …

Improving Medication Adherence In Patients With Uncontrolled Hypertension, Suzanne Cockrell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

The project’s purpose was to improve medication adherence and blood pressure with an educational packet. The project was necessary due to patient’s elevated blood pressure readings during visit encounters. Implementation occurred at a clinic in Central Texas and included established patients ages 18 or older with uncontrolled hypertension and employed staff members. The Health Belief Model provided a framework to form a hypertension educational packet. The packet was provided at varying locations within the clinic and via staff handouts. Visual aids were intentionally selected to depict the damaging effects of hypertension, hypertension monitoring, and guidance on medication reminder apps. The …

Proactive Planning For Contextual Fit: The Role Of The Implementation Premortem, Guillermo M Wippold, Kaylyn A Garcia, Ariel Domlyn, Dylan Wong, Maria E Fernandez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Implementation failure is a major barrier to program success. It is widely acknowledged that context matters-individual, community, and organizational norms, values, environment, and priorities influence successful program implementation. A mismatch between how the program was intended to be delivered and the constraints of the context in which it was delivered is a major cause of implementation failure. The barriers to implementation are usually understood after a program has failed. Although there are tools that can help accommodate for, or overcome, contextually-driven sources of implementation failure, there remains a significant gap - a tool and structured approach to analyze data …

A Multi-Measurement Study Of The Relation Between Deliberation And Volition, Guillaume P. Pech, Emilie A. Caspar, Elisabeth Pacherie, Axel Cleeremans, Uri Maoz

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Historically, voluntary action and volition more generally have been investigated through the lens of meaningless decisions. Importantly, these findings have been used in the debate about key notions like free will and moral responsibility. However, more recent claims have challenged the possibility of generalizing findings from a meaningless context to a more meaningful one. The current study investigates the markers of volition, specifically comparing meaningful and meaningless decisions. In an effort to maximize their monetary gain, 50 participants repeatedly deliberated between two options, making either rewarded choices—hard-deliberation decisions (where the options differed along two dimensions) or easy-deliberation decisions (where the …

Educating Primary Care Professionals On The Management And Treatment Of Dementia Patients, Rosemarie Ashmeade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement staff education program addressed the delayed treatment of patients with dementia at the outpatient project facility. Patients with depression were treated according to protocol; however, the practitioners were not recognizing that some of these patients with depression had dementia and required a different plan of treatment. This knowledge gap had the potential to result in delayed diagnosis, inadequate patient support, and less favorable patient outcomes. This evidence-based education program was developed to increase healthcare practitioners’ competency in recognizing dementia and providing early referral and treatment. I determined the effectiveness of the educational intervention by analyzing the data …

Effectiveness Of An Educational Program To Enhance Medication Adherence Knowledge For Licensed Vocational Nurses In An Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic, Imelda Okoli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project focused on the practice problem of a knowledge deficit of licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) related to evidence-based medication adherence strategies for psychiatric patients. The practice-focused question addressed how effective an education would be for improving medication adherence knowledge, confidence, and practice readiness among LVNs in an outpatient psychiatric clinic. It is important to address this practice gap because insufficient knowledge of medication adherence could limit LVNs’ ability to engage patients and foster higher medication adherence. Participants were nine LVNs working in an outpatient psychiatric facility who attended face-to-face education sessions. LVNs completed a pretest, followed by …

Amputation Trends Among People Who Use Drugs In The Context Of Philadelphia’S Increasingly Xylazine Adulterated Drug Supply, Rose Laurano, Monika Pogorzelska-Maziarz, Traci C. Green, Sara Beachy, Kristin L. Rising, Jeffrey K. Hom, Megan K. Reed

Jefferson Center for Connected Care Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Xylazine-adulterated fentanyl has rapidly spread across the United States and has been increasingly detected in overdose deaths in Philadelphia, PA through medical examiner reports, clinical testing, and widescale drug checking. Xylazine use has been associated with wounds which may lead to amputation, but the extent of this outcome has not been explored.

METHODS: Utilizing the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes, we conducted a de-identified retrospective analysis of data for patients identified with opioid related disorders (ICD-10 code F11) admitted to four different hospitals in Philadelphia, PA between 2018 and 2023. Exposure to xylazine use …

2025 August 7 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Hindrance Demands And Work Engagement: The Moderating Role Of Resilience, Adoré Davis

Master's Theses

The coronavirus pandemic decreased work engagement globally due to increased hindrance demands. Many organizations were motivated to increase work engagement, which is positively correlated with beneficial organizational outcomes. The intention of this study is to examine if personal resources like resilience moderate the relationship between hindrance demands and work engagement. Hindrance demands are refined from job demands and hindrance stressors, which are stressors that impede progress in employees. Resilience is a personal resource correlated with pro-social behavior, internal locus of control, and higher levels of empathy. Resilience as a personal resource has mainly been studied as a predictor of work …

No Room For Complacency, Ishrat Husain Dr.

Faculty Research - Newspaper and Magazine Articles

Recent external developments have been quite favorable for Pakistan , some of them quite unexpected. Pakistan’s emerging importance after May skirmishes with India, President Trump’s soft pronouncements coupled with warm welcome to the top leadership, the souring of US- India relationship, a fairly good deal on reciprocal tariffs, upgrading of credit ratings, prospective investment in ‘ massive oil reserves “ and minerals etc have created some euphoria. But this exuberance should be tampered with the past experience that relationships with big powers are transactional in nature and not permanent . High wire acts are fraught with perilous risks . We …

Enhancing Digital Health Development Through Speech Act Theory: Application To Peripartum Depression Management, Alexandra Zingg, Tavleen Singh, Michael Truong, Sahiti Myneni

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The peripartum period is a time of complex transition into motherhood when women may develop peripartum depression (PPD). Digital information sources can help prevent and monitor symptoms through social support and mental health knowledge. However, few studies have characterized the content and form of peer interactions in PPD online forums to inform interventions. In this paper, we present preliminary work using a dataset of 55,301 interactions to inform our digital health development. We combine manual coding for speech acts, behavioral theory mapping, and user engagement modeling to conceptualize dynamic digital education modules for PPD. Results reveal "Expressive" speech act, where …

Towards Data-Driven Science Literacy: Extracting Psycholinguistic Markers In Vaping-Related Online Peer Interactions, Michael Truong, Ahmed Abdelhameed, Tavleen Singh, Kirk Roberts, Sahiti Myneni

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Social media debates on e-cigarettes raise public health concerns due to evolving evidence and conflicting guidelines. We analyzed 25,127 vaping-related comments to explore how users discuss vaping-related topics. Our analysis revealed 25 topics grouped into three parent topics: positive effects of vaping, negative effects of vaping, and vaping-related news & information. Significant differences were observed in psycholinguistic characteristics with high emotional exchanges as positive and negative effects of e-cigarettes are debated. Our results can inform interventions promoting science literacy and misinformation resistance.