Digital Commons Network^™

Contributions Of Pathobiological And Translational Science To Understanding And Managing Ischemic Heart Disease: Progress, Impediments, And Future Directions, L Maximilian Buja

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Key pathobiological components of ischemic heart disease have been identified as follows: (1) In 1970 to 1973, myocardial infarct size was found to be the primary determinant of prognosis after acute myocardial infarction (AMI); (2) in 1973 to 1989, vulnerable coronary artery plaques were found to predispose individuals to coronary plaque disruption and thrombosis, causing major AMI; (3) in 1972, timely coronary reperfusion was demonstrated to limit the size of evolving AMI but with risk of reperfusion injury; and (4) in 1986, myocardial conditioning was found to be a clinically significant modulator capable of delaying AMI progression. Promising cardioprotective strategies …

Early Structural Valve Deterioration And Cusp Tear Leading To Acute Heart Failure In A Second-Generation Trifecta Glide Technology Heart Valve, Akiyoshi Yamamoto, Kenji Kuwaki, Hidekazu Furuya, Yasunori Cho

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

This report highlights a case of early structural valve deterioration with a cusp tear in a second-generation Abbott Trifecta Glide Technology bioprosthetic heart valve. A 70-year-old man had undergone aortic valve replacement with a Trifecta Glide Technology valve 30 months earlier for severe bicuspid aortic valve stenosis. He suddenly developed acute heart failure with dyspnea resulting from severe aortic valve regurgitation, with a cusp tear in the Trifecta Glide Technology valve, as demonstrated by transthoracic echocardiography. The patient was successfully treated with urgent repeat aortic valve replacement.

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia And Patent Foramen Ovale In A Patient In The Setting Of Covid-19, Laura Sarmiento, Riyad Kherallah, Guilherme Vianna Silva

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is a rare condition characterized by positional dyspnea and hypoxemia, with symptoms presenting in the upright position and improving when recumbent. Hypoxemia in platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is defined as a drop in Pao

Drosophila Models Uncover Substrate Channeling Effects On Phospholipids And Sphingolipids In Peroxisomal Biogenesis Disorders, Michael F Wangler, Yu-Hsin Chao, Mary Roth, Ruth Welti, James A Mcnew

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Peroxisomal Biogenesis Disorders Zellweger Spectrum (PBD-ZSD) disorders are a group of autosomal recessive defects in peroxisome formation that produce a multi-systemic disease presenting at birth or in childhood. Well documented clinical biomarkers such as elevated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) are key biochemical diagnostic findings in these conditions. Additional, secondary biochemical alterations such as elevated very long chain lysophosphatidylcholines are allowing newborn screening for peroxisomal disease. In addition, a more widespread impact on metabolism and lipids is increasingly being documented by metabolomic and lipidomic studies. Here we utilize Drosophila models of pex2 and pex16 as well as human plasma …

Recurrent Carotid Paragangliomas In A Syndromic Patient With A Heterozygous Missense Variant In Dna Methyltransferase 3 Alpha, Ryan J German, Blake Vuocolo, Liesbeth Vossaert, Lisa Saba, Robin Fletcher, Matthew L Tedder, Bekim Sadikovic, Jennifer Kerkhof, Michael Wangler, Carlos A Bacino

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

We report a 40-year-old African American female with a novel variant in exon 8 of DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3A), (NM_022552.4: c.905G>C, p.G302A) who presented with a history of recurrent carotid paragangliomas, mediastinal mass, intellectual disability, dysarthria, cholelithiasis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dysmorphic features. We interpret this novel variant as likely pathogenic and causative for the patient's syndromic features of Heyn-Sproul-Jackson syndrome. Heyn-Sproul-Jackson syndrome is a condition caused by gain-of-function genetic changes in DNMT3A. Paragangliomas have also been observed in non-syndromic patients with genetic alterations in DNMT3A. We describe a patient with clinical features of Heyn-Sproul-Jackson syndrome such as …

The Role Of Telehealth In Sepsis Care In Rural Emergency Departments: A Qualitative Study Of Emergency Department Sepsis Telehealth User Perspectives, Nicholas M. Mohr, Kimberly A. S. Merchant, Brian M. Fuller, Brett Faine, Luke Mack, Amanda Bell, Katie Dejong, Edith A. Parker, Keith Mueller, Elizabeth Chrischilles, Christopher R. Carpenter, Michael P. Jones, Steven Q. Simpson, Marcia M. Ward

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Sepsis is a leading cause of hospitalization and death in the United States, and rural patients are at particularly high risk. Telehealth has been proposed as one strategy to narrow rural-urban disparities. The objective of this study was to understand why rural emergency department (ED) staff use provider-to-provider telehealth (tele-ED) and how tele-ED care changes the care for rural patients with sepsis.

METHODS: We conducted a qualitative interview study between February 15, 2022, and May 22, 2023, with participants from upper Midwest rural EDs and tele-ED hub physicians in a single tele-ED network that delivers provider-to-provider consultation for sepsis …

Challenges Of The Opposition In Cameroon Multipartism, Chick Edmond, Nkenglefack Dessailly Forku

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

The main goal of this study was to explore the challenges faced by Cameroon opposition political parties and how these challenges affect presidential electoral outcomes since 1990. We employed both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data for the study. The research design was the case study design, and the sampling technique was nonprobability sampling (precisely purposeful sampling). We employed the constructivist research philosophy to show that reality resides in the different views of people. Consequently, it finds out that the opposition in Cameroon lacks credibility and vision to achieve victory in presidential elections. They also face challenges of suppression, …

Dismantling Terrorism Through Prosecutions: A Case Study Of Atomwaffen Division, Seamus Hughes, Brooke Buxton, Camden Carmichael, Mackenzie Harms

Reports, Projects, and Research

Since 2017, the Department of Justice has prosecuted 20 members of the Atomwaffen Division in the United States for a variety of federal crimes. Through a series of targeted arrests Atomwaffen has been largely dismantled in the United States, with many of its remaining members transitioning to other white supremacy groups or leaving the movement entirely. The prosecution of Atomwaffen provides a unique opportunity to review the types of mostly non-terrorismrelated federal charges brought against a distinct U.S.-based terrorist organization and the legal consequences of being a violent adherent to the ideology. For this study, researchers reviewed more than 2,800 …

Structural Diversity Of Axonemes Across Mammalian Motile Cilia, Miguel Ricardo Leung, Chen Sun, Jianwei Zeng, Jacob R Anderson, Qingwei Niu, Wei Huang, Willem E M Noteborn, Alan Brown, Tzviya Zeev-Ben-Mordehai, Rui Zhang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Reproduction, development and homeostasis depend on motile cilia, whose rhythmic beating is powered by a microtubule-based molecular machine called the axoneme. Although an atomic model of the axoneme is available for the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Trauma-Informed Care In Occupational Therapy Education, Cristina H. Scionti, Mary Shotwell, Donnamarie Krause

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Students bring their life histories, including traumatic experiences, to their learning and education. Potentially up to 75% of the student body of occupational therapy programs may have experienced a traumatic event, which often leads to occupational disruption and challenges in academic performance. Thus, it is critical for occupational therapy educators to mitigate the impact of trauma by identifying the barriers and facilitators to occupational participation in education for occupational therapy students affected by trauma. Despite the high prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), research shows that few health professions education programs, such as occupational therapy, attend to ACEs or utilize …

Reimagining Education For Ot And Ota Intraprofessional Collaboration: A Virtual Pilot Program, Katelyn Brady, Heather Beth Johnson, Alexandra Stellmach

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Intraprofessional knowledge and skills are essential to the field of occupational therapy. Despite the importance, not all occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) educational programs provide collaborative intraprofessional experiences to students who are expected to collaborate effectively in practice. Therefore, increased intraprofessional experiences are needed to support entry-level OT practitioners. The purpose of this project was to create an intraprofessional pilot program that included three intraprofessional events to provide an opportunity for collaboration between OT and OTA students and enhance their understanding and confidence with intraprofessional collaboration prior to practice. The pilot program was implemented and evaluated using …

Exploring Student Experiences And Perceptions Of Digital Storytelling In Occupational Therapy Education: A Comprehensive Analysis And Evaluation, Alexis M. F. Morin, Justin R. Eck

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened the need for digital transformation in higher education, emphasizing the importance of incorporating digital pedagogy. This study explored student experiences and perceptions of digital storytelling, a multimedia-based narrative technique, as an innovative assessment method in occupational therapy education. First-year, first-semester entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy students created digital stories on mental health topics and completed self-reflection papers. A retrospective qualitative descriptive method was employed, analyzing 14 consented self-reflection papers. Emerging qualitative themes revealed that digital storytelling enhanced students' understanding of occupational performance impacts, led to the development and utilization of transferrable skills for clinical practice, and …

Improving Self-Regulated Learning Among Occupational Therapy Students, Pola Ham

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Many occupational therapy students, particularly first-generation students, face significant academic and social challenges in higher education that affect their self-regulated learning (SRL). SRL involves goal setting, self-monitoring, strategy implementation, and reflection. The rigorous academic demands, combined with the unique challenges experienced by many first-generation students, exacerbate these difficulties, particularly in developing SRL skills, which are essential for academic and professional success. While first-generation students often lack these skills due to a variety of factors, many occupational therapy students also struggle to develop these skills, regardless of background. This narrative review examines the role of SRL in occupational therapy education and …

The Re-Design Of Level I Fieldwork To Foster Professional Competence And Career Adaptability, Cara A. Lekovitch, Ann Marsico, Ketki Raina

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Professional competence and career adaptability are essential for preparing students to meet modern healthcare demands. However, there is a paucity of evidence to guide teaching and learning of these constructs in the context of Level I fieldwork (FW). This paper details a Level I FW program re-design using a professional competence framework to foster adaptability. The re-design’s impact was assessed through student surveys before and after their participation (n = 53) compared to a historical cohort one-year senior (n = 60) using the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale – Short Form. Significant improvements were found in total and concern, curiosity, and confidence …

Demographic Factors As Predictors Of Academic Performance In First- And Second-Year Occupational Therapy Students, Eileen Du Plooy, Daleen Casteleijn, Denise Franzsen, Gopika Ramkilawon

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Significant disparities in academic performance that may be associated with specific demographics can be utilized for supporting diverse student cohorts. Strategies can be developed for students to enhance equity and inclusivity in undergraduate occupational therapy education to ensure student success. This study aimed to determine the predictive demographic factors influencing academic performance among first- and second-year undergraduate occupational therapy students at a university in South Africa. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was utilized, and the sample included 129 first- and second-year students. Data were collected retrospectively from university records and student dashboards. Key demographic and academic variables were analyzed, including personal …

Harnessing Social Media For Occupational Therapy Graduate Program Recruitment, Rebecca Ozelie, Annika Knuth

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The occupational therapy (OT) profession faces a national enrollment decline, with many United States graduate programs struggling to fill seats. As social media use continues to rise among young adults, OT programs may benefit from leveraging digital platforms to enhance visibility and attract qualified applicants. This study explored how prospective students engage with OT program social media accounts and what content influences their admissions decisions. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 161 current or incoming OT graduate students from programs across the United States were surveyed about their social media habits during the admissions process. Results revealed that 69.5% of participants …

How Identities Shape Belonging In Occupational Therapy Education: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Student Belonging, Quinn P. Tyminski, Rowhea Elmesky

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Belonging is defined in a variety of ways but most often refers to an individual’s feelings of acceptance, inclusion, support, and respect within a certain environment. Belonging is an innate human need and contributes to success in academic and professional settings. Within occupational therapy (OT) education, minimal attention has been paid to the specific concept of belonging with no research focused on long-term qualitative explorations of student belonging for students with historically minoritized identities (HMIs). Thus, the goal of the present study was to better understand how students with multiple HMIs experienced the phenomenon of belonging in OT education. Utilizing …

Effective Implementation Of Ebook Guide Supports Student Success In Occupational Therapy Anatomy Education, Karissa Legleiter, Barb Puder, Rhea R. Kimpo

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

EBooks have been proven to be a successful supplemental resource in cadaveric anatomy laboratory sessions. However, the implementation of the eBook and its impact on student performance, especially in occupational therapy (OT) anatomy laboratory sessions, has not been well documented. This study shows that providing students with an eBook guide enhances student learning and increases eBook usage. For lab sessions, an eBook guide directed students to eBook specific figures and text that related to that session’s material. In alignment with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, providing eBooks as well as a guide gave students multiple avenues to learn …

Naming The Invisible: Exploring Implicit Design Thinking In Occupational Therapy Curricula, Dominique C. Sherratt, Mary Butler, Shoshannah Kiriam, Ben Sellar

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy inherently involves the application of design and co-design skills within professional practice, yet there is limited evidence about how these skills are taught to students. This study used a qualitative descriptive design to explore the perspectives of occupational therapy educators in Australia and New Zealand on how and where design and co-design skills are integrated within occupational therapy curricula. Educators were purposively sampled from the Australian and New Zealand Council of Occupational Therapy Educators (ANZCOTE), with additional participants recruited through snowball sampling. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with occupational therapy educators. Interviews were conducted and analyzed using the …

Theory-Driven Design, Theory-Integrated Learning: A Multimodal Approach To Teaching Occupational Adaptation, Anna B. Galloway, Lorrie A. George-Paschal, Linda Struckmeyer, Sara F. Israel, Nancy Krusen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study explored the effectiveness of a multimodal instructional module for teaching Occupational Adaptation (OA) theory. Implemented across three entry-level occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) programs, faculty designed and implemented asynchronous preparatory lectures, a face-to-face experiential lab, and guided discussions of the learning experiences. Researchers employed a convergent mixed-methods design, integrating qualitative and quantitative data. Students (n=108) completed a pre- and post-knowledge exam, the Relative Mastery Scale (RMS), and a Learning Experience Questionnaire. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed statistically significant differences in pre-and post- knowledge scores and RMS ratings across all sites, with no differences based on university. Qualitative analysis yielded …

Navigating The Future Of Ot Education: Student Insights On Integrating Course-Specific Ai Chatbots, Laura E. Landon, Nicole Grames, Maggie Gannon, Addison Jarus, Annie Trezza

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education has garnered much attention, prompting educators to thoughtfully examine its implementation within their curricula. This study explores the perceptions of occupational therapy (OT) students regarding the future integration of a novel, course-specific Anatomy AI chatbot: an innovative tool uniquely developed by our internal team to provi¬¬¬de personalized support and resources tailored specifically to the anatomy curriculum. The researchers sought to understand the desired features of a course-specific Anatomy AI chatbot and the factors that influenced student willingness to adopt this technology in their learning experience. Findings revealed that 79% of participants …

Reading Between The Lines: Exploring Reading Trends And Metacognitive Strategy Use In Ot Education, Whitney Henderson, Christine Davis, Christen Leach, Theresa Hallenen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Impact Of High-Fidelity Simulation Experiences On Student Confidence In A Controlled Academic Environment, Jillian K. Pindar, Peyton Belton, Madison Griffin, Abbi Hancock, Lucero Limones, Kristi Self, Elizabeth K. Schmidt

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

A quasi-experimental one group pretest-posttest design was utilized with 19 first-and-second-year doctoral occupational therapy students at a university in Tennessee to evaluate confidence, performance, benefits, challenges, and recommendations from an acute care simulation experience. Student confidence was evaluated using a researcher-developed survey immediately before and after a high-fidelity simulation using a pre-programmed mannequin and standardized script. A performance assessment evaluated students' skills during the simulation. The post-test survey included open-ended questions on perceived benefits, challenges and recommendations. Overall, students demonstrated increased confidence in vital sign monitoring and modification (heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate), medical equipment identification, and safe patient …

Factors Influencing Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program Offer Acceptance Across Student Demographics, Megan Hoover, Mckenna Johnson, Colleen Bullen, Elizabeth K. Schmidt, Jackson M. Miller

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This research study aimed to identify key factors influencing Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students' acceptance of program offers. An online survey was developed based on relevant literature and study objectives and validated through expert review. A total of 281 students, including a sub-set of students from underrepresented backgrounds (n=70), across the United States completed the survey. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, Chi-square tests with Bonferroni correction, and multinomial logistic regression including demographic variables and factors moderately to strongly influencing program acceptance. Qualitative responses were analyzed using content analysis. Key findings reveal geographic location, application process, cost …

Enhancing Intraprofessional Collaboration In Occupational Therapy: Evaluation Of An Online Course For Canadian Ot And Ota Students, Teresa R. Avvampato, Dianna Fong-Lee, Mark Hall, Marcia Finlayson

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

An environmental scan conducted in 2022 highlighted a need for enhanced preparation for collaboration between occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapist assistants (OTAs) in Ontario, Canada. In response, an online course was developed to disseminate knowledge needed for effective OT-OTA intraprofessional collaboration (IntraPC) in the Canadian context. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the online course to improve perceived preparedness among Canadian OT and OTA students for OT-OTA IntraPC. Participants were Master’s-level OT students and diploma-level OTA students studying in Canada (N = 136), who were invited to complete the course by their program instructors. …

Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy Student Fieldwork Readiness In The Acute Care Setting, Jackie Dusing, Lisa Borrero, Elizabeth Horrall Stith, Kristina Watkins

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapy student readiness for Level II fieldwork is necessary for preparing novice clinicians and is challenging to assess, as it requires applying didactic knowledge in real-world clinical settings. There is currently a gap in the literature regarding student perceptions of their readiness for Level II fieldwork, especially in the acute care setting. The aim of this qualitative study is to better understand Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students’ perceptions of readiness for Level II fieldwork in an acute care setting. This basic interpretive qualitative research study utilized a purposeful sampling with students completing their Level II fieldwork in various …

Comparing Occupational Therapy Students’ And Occupational Therapy Assistant Students’ Perceptions Of An Intraprofessional Class Session, Robyn Wu, Diane Tom, Domenique Embrey, Joyce M. Fries

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Intraprofessional education between occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students can be a valuable component of the entry-level curriculum. Comparisons of OT vs. OTA students’ perceptions are sparse, yet this information may yield important insights about intraprofessional learning needs. This mixed methods study explored student perceptions of a three-hour joint OT/OTA class session conducted via video conferencing. Learning activities were grounded in shared leadership and two-way feedback and included collaboration on a client case. A total of 172 anonymous post-class feedback surveys were received from 121 OT students and 57 OTA students over three academic years. The study …

Fieldwork Supervision, Motivation And Competency Among Norwegian Community-Based Occupational Therapists, Even E. Edvardsen, Tore Bonsaksen, Sissel Horghagen, Cathrine Arntzen, Unni Sveen, Astrid Gramstad, Ruca E. K. Maass, Linda Stigen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Occupational therapists’ supervision of students remains a critical component during occupational therapy education. This study aimed to examine supervision practice, motivation, and competency among community-based occupational therapists in Norway, exploring organizational and personal factors associated with formal and perceived supervision competency, willingness to serve as fieldwork educators, and collaboration with educational institutions. A cross-sectional survey was distributed among occupational therapists in community-based practice in Norway. A total of 617 occupational therapists participated in the study. Free-text responses were thematically analyzed and interpreted. Differences between fieldwork educators and non-fieldwork educators’ training, recency of being fieldwork educators, willingness to assume the role …

Women Spinning On The Edge: Finding And Redefining The “Spinster” In The Witches Of Discworld, Kathryn Ann Fitzmaurice

Masters Theses

The word “spinster” has undergone a series of evolutions over the past seven hundred years, first coined to describe the occupation of women engaged in the spinning of plant and animal fibers into thread and yarn in the Middle Ages and later a legal marital status designation used until the 21^st century. The connotation associated in social contexts became pejorative. This project’s tracing of the word spinster is used to set up the broader scope looking at how the spinster can be viewed as an archetype, what we can learn through the lenses of gender and feminist theory, and …

Margaret Collins Weitz Papers (Ms109), 1945-2015: A Finding Aid, Suffolk University Archives And Special Collections

Suffolk University Archives and Special Collections: Finding Aids and Research Guides

The papers of Professor Emerita Margaret Collins Weitz of the Humanities and Modern Language Departments at Suffolk University relate to her scholarly research in the fields of women’s studies, French women, French culture and history, women in the French Resistance during World War II, and human rights. The collection also documents her extensive teaching career at Suffolk University in the Humanities and Modern Languages Departments and at Harvard University. The research collection includes interviews, published articles and books, conference materials, original research related to her publications, and class notebooks.