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2024 May 9 - Tennessee Weekly Drought Summary, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Weekly Drought Summaries

No abstract provided.

Improving Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates In Immunosuppressed Pediatric Patients With Rheumatic Disease., Julia G. Harris, Jordan T. Jones, Leslie Favier, Emily Fox, Michael J. Holland, Amy Ivy, Cara M. Hoffart, Maria Ibarra, Ashley M. Cooper

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Patients with rheumatic diseases are at a high risk of invasive pneumococcal disease due to immunosuppression. We conducted a quality improvement project, and the first aim was to increase the percentage of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and mixed connective tissue disease that is up to date on pneumococcal vaccinations from 9.6% to 80% within one year. Subsequently, the second aim was to increase the percentage of patients on immunosuppression with systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, juvenile dermatomyositis and systemic vasculitis that is up to date on pneumococcal vaccinations from 62.6% to 80% within one year.

METHODS: …

Congress Could Soon Spell The End Of Employment Arbitration—But It’S Not All Good News For American Workers., Lewis L. Maltby, Theodore J. St. Antoine

Other Publications

Employment arbitration has become a dirty word on Capitol Hill. Congressman Hank Johnson claims that arbitration allows employers to "stack the deck against the little guy" for the 60 million employees bound by arbitration agreements. The Economic Policy Institute calls it an epidemic that is "undermining decades of progress in labor rights."

Stepping Into Relief: Conquering Rheumatoid Arthritic Foot Pain With Podiatric Management, Natalie Diaz, Marshall Solomon, Inocencio Cuesta

Posters

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic multifactorial autoimmune disease that causes progressive joint destruction along with causing cutaneous manifestations such as nodules. RA negatively impacts life by producing pain, impairing quality of life and biomechanical function of the lower extremities.

Laryngeal Tuberculosis Mimicking Laryngeal Candidiasis, Claire Walters, Maranda Saigh, Eytan Keidar

Posters

Tuberculosis (TB) from the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and candidiasis from the fungus Candida albicans are both opportunistic pathogens with the ability to instigate infections within the larynx with similar clinical features, yet vastly different diagnostic parameters and treatment regimens.

Here, we highlight a case of an Indian woman on immune-modulating drugs who presented with severe laryngeal symptoms initially presumed to be laryngeal candidiasis but was later discovered to be laryngeal tuberculosis.

Perception Of African Immigrants Living In The United States Towards Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment Hesitancy, Akinwale O. Obatayo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

About 80% of active tuberculosis (TB) cases are caused by untreated latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), with most being foreign-born United States residents. Despite the availability of preventive therapies, African immigrants living in the United States are hesitant to accept LTBI treatment. Although researchers have explored LTBI treatment hesitancy among foreign-born United States citizens, no study has explored the perspectives of African immigrants living in the United States. This generic qualitative study explored the perception of African immigrants living in the United States on LTBI treatment hesitancy. Participants’ inclusion criteria include those 18 years and older with a positive TB test, …

Pandemic Impact On Feedback Environments Among Remote And Traditional Office Workers, John Bryan Gianneschi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on feedback-seeking, a critical component of employee self-regulatory behavior, has heavily relied on conventional offices, laboratories, and classrooms. Researchers have called for studies in varied workplaces and remotely situated work locations, but opportunities were constrained by organizational limits on deploying workers beyond organizational offices. The COVID-19 pandemic’s forced dispersal of office workers to work remotely from their homes overcame these organizational limits. This quantitative survey study compared 232 employee ratings of feedback environments and leader-member exchange relationships to assess their relative effectiveness among employees dispersed by the COVID-19 pandemic to remote locations with those of employees remaining in conventional …

Dimensions Of Emotional Intelligence As Predictors Of Emotional Labor Strategies Among Ems Professionals, Joseph Mctaggart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emergency medical service professionals face frequent demands of emotional labor, requiring them to regulate their emotions to best provide patient care in critical situations and handle emotional upset in the public they serve. Surface acting (faking emotions to meet work expectations) is associated with outcomes like burnout, increased turnover intent, and reduced job satisfaction. Emotional intelligence has been identified as a factor influencing emotional labor strategies; however, more research is needed. This research examined the extent to which dimensions of emotional intelligence (self-emotion appraisal, others’ emotion appraisal, use of emotion, and regulation of emotion) predict emotional labor strategies among emergency …

Impact Of Institutional Memory Loss On Novice Labor And Delivery Nurses’ Quality Of Care Delivery, Anthea Irene Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The social phenomenon institutional memory loss (IML) negatively impacts patient safety and quality of care. As experienced labor and delivery (L&D) nurses retire, incoming novice nurses lack expert knowledge and are challenged with a more complex patient population. Unresolved, the vulnerabilities from IML will impact the healthcare organization’s competitive edge and hamper progression of the sustainable development goals regarding maternal, infant, and child health. IML in the labor and delivery unit has not been covered in the current literature. In this phenomenological study the perspectives of labor and delivery nurse managers on the impact of IML on care delivery of …

Developing Business Strategies For Native American Businesses, Jessica Lynn Burghart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was the focus of this research was that Native American businesses face numerous obstacles in successful and sustainable enterprises like professional training, lack of funding, shortage of professionals, and lack of tribal support. This has caused many businesses to close and has affected the economy of various tribes. The purpose of this qualitative, modified Delphi study was to determine how a panel of Native American business leaders view the desirability, feasibility, and importance of forward-looking solutions to the problems that Native American business owners face when trying to sustain their businesses. The research question addressed forward-looking solutions …

Clinical Characteristics And Outcomes In Patients With Coronary Artery Aneurysms (Caa) Presenting With Acute Coronary Syndrome (Acs) Or Cardiomyopathy, Advaitha Misra, Mathangi Keshavan, Ersida Zerdelija, Zain Abidi, Alexandra Corrado, James Benke, Hassan Dalloul, Anton Salwan

Posters

Coronary artery aneurysms and ectasia are rare conditions with an incidence estimated at < 1% [1]. It is defined as either a focal or diffuse dilation of a coronary segment of at least one and a half times the adjacent normal segment [2,3].The most common etiology is atherosclerosis, although a variety of other culprits are implicated in its pathogenesis, such as vasculitidies and connective tissue disorders [3,4,5]. Its management is largely driven by the etiology of the coronary artery segment dilation and the presentation of disease at the time of diagnosis. Management strategies employ a judicious combination of medical therapy, percutaneous and surgical interventions. The presence of coronary artery aneurysm or ectasia has been associated with poor long-term outcomes [6,7,8]. Complications from coronary artery aneurysm influence management, largely guided by clinician judgment and limited published data. Given the paucity of evidence in the management of these conditions, we present a case series of three patients with coronary artery aneurysm or ectasia with varying presentations and their corresponding management. We aim to contribute to the growing body of evidence for the management of this elusive cardiac condition.

Case Report: Diagnosing & Treating Triple Negative Breast Cancer During Pregnancy, Sydney Mefford, Chloe Page

Posters

Pregnancy associated breast cancer (PABC) is rare and can be seen in every 1 in 3000 pregnant patients. It is associated with a high morbidity rate, especially in cases of Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC).

Prevalence has increased as society grows to have pregnancies at later ages. Risk is elevated for 1 year after delivery of baby.

Seeing Double An Atypical Presentation Of Rcvs, Lauren Kassab, Alexander Ismail, Jonathan Doty

Posters

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is a syndrome characterized by reversible, multifocal narrowing of the cerebral arteries and a thunderclap headache (reaching a peak intensity within one minute). A less severe headache, or lack thereof, is rare (1). Additional neurologic symptoms are typically dependent on the sequelae of focal intracranial stenosis, including ischemia, PRES, and IPH. Common precipitants are cannabis, SSRIs, alcohol, cocaine, and eclampsia. Depending on the inciting cause, presentations can also widely vary over a course of months - years. Diagnosis can be pervasive, as noninvasive vascular imaging has an 80% sensitivity (2). Definitive diagnosis is made with …

Jamestown Canyon Virus Meningoencephalitis: A Case Report, Amy Ishbia, Hannah Guide, Matthew Sierra, Jonathan Doty

Posters

Jamestown Canyon virus is a rare mosquito-borne orthobunyavirus that typically is asymptomatic or causes mild symptoms. However, it can rarely cause severe neuroinvasive disease [2,5]. The primary hosts include white-tailed deer, although moose, elk, and bison can also be hosts [2].

Typically, cases are seen between April and September, with a bimodal distribution peaking in spring and late summer [2].

Number of cases in the U.S. in 2024: 16 total cases, 11 neuroinvasive [1]. Number of cases in the U.S. between 2011-2023: 308, with 10 deaths, 206 neuroinvasive. One case was reported from Alpena, MI, where our patient resided [1].

Modes In Heavy Metal Music, Richard W. Young Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Modality is quite commonplace in heavy metal music, including some of the less common modes such as Phrygian and Locrian. This thesis provides musical examples and analyses of heavy metal music based on theories of scholars such as Brett Clement and Nicole Biamonte and demonstrates how modes are used in conjunction with other musical elements such as meter, tempo, instrumentation, and timbre to paint the text and color the sound. The primary focus of repertoire is selected works from the 1970s and early ’80s by early metal pioneers Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, and Scorpions. Other brief examples from Metallica, Yngwie …

Jesse Calvin Gilbert V. State Of Nevada, 140 Nev. Adv. Op. 33 (May 9, 2024), Ciara Clark

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

An investigatory motive does not invalidate an inventory search if the search would have occurred in the same manner absent the motive, and the circumstances were not fabricated as a pretext. Accordingly, the Supreme Court of Nevada affirmed the district court’s decision denying Appellant’s motion to suppress, finding the inventory search reasonable under the totality of the circumstances.

Supercontinuum Generation With A Ti: Sapphire Laser And Photonic Crystal Fiber, Joseph Lange

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

A broad spectrum of visible light was produced by focusing the 50-fs, 800-nm, 5-nJ pulses from an unamplified Ti:sapphire laser into a 20-cm-long photonic crystal fiber. A prism pair was used to compensate for material dispersion of the system. Different focusing methods were investigated including beam telescopes and lenses of various focal lengths. A 3X beam expander telescope near the laser output and a 3-cm focal length achromatic lens after the prism pair were found to work best for coupling the light into the fiber which has a core diameter of 1.7 μm.

Casi: A Framework For Cross-Timepoint Analysis Of Single-Cell Rna Sequencing Data, Yizhuo Wang, Christopher R Flowers, Michael Wang, Xuelin Huang, Ziyi Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has been widely used to study the differences in gene expression at the single cell level, providing insights into the research of cell development, differentiation, and functional heterogeneity. Various pipelines and workflows of scRNA-seq analysis have been developed but few considered multi-timepoint data specifically. In this study, we develop CASi, a comprehensive framework for analyzing multiple timepoints' scRNA-seq data, which provides users with: (1) cross-timepoint cell annotation, (2) detection of potentially novel cell types emerged over time, (3) visualization of cell population evolution, and (4) identification of temporal differentially expressed genes (tDEGs). Through comprehensive simulation …

The Ecology And Genetic Diversity Of Buckleya Distichophylla (Santalaceae), Montana Hill

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Piratebush (Buckleya distichophylla) is a native, rare, shrub found along the Blue Ridge mountains in North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Research on its ecology and genetic diversity is limited due to its rarity; only one population on Poor Mountain has been studied extensively in the past. To determine if there are ecological differences between populations of B. distichophylla, research on sex distribution, floral visitors, individual length, leaf area, and amount of light that reached each specimen were conducted and then compared between a population located on Dragon’s Tooth Trail and a population on Poor Mountain, both located …

Impact Of Fluid Restriction On Pulmonary Function During Exercise, Kylie Moulin

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Exercise performance is impaired by dehydration and, separately, can be negatively impacted in scenarios where there is pulmonary expiratory flow limitation (EFL). Interestingly, there may be an interaction between dehydration and pulmonary function. Previous work has suggested that resting pulmonary function is impaired by mild dehydration through the collapse of small/unsupported airways. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of fluid restriction on EFL presence and other pulmonary dynamics such as operating lung volumes. METHODS: 12 healthy active adults (8 M and 4 F) aged 20 ± 2 years performed a VO_2Peak test on a …

Navigating Global Influence: A Qualitative Exploration Of Funding Dynamics And Stakeholder Engagement In Sexual And Reproductive Health Organizations In Nepal, Jenisha Mainali

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This paper investigates the dynamics of power and influence within transnational advocacy networks (TANs) operating in the realm of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) through qualitative interviews with eight SRHR advocates from Nepal. The research explores the collaborative processes and dialogues and relationship between non-governmental organizations (NGOs) receiving funding from the Global North and international nonprofits. By analyzing the thematic results derived from the interviews, two themes emerged, one being the Duality of Funding Relationship and Domestic Challenges being the other. The findings reveal that participants utilize various communication channels, such as email, WhatsApp, phone calls, and Zoom …

The Dry Bloodletting: A History Of The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorders In Military Service Members, Kevin Johnson

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This work is a close look at how veterans of war have been treated medically for ailents of the mind. This work looks closely at the many therapies and pharmaceutical remedies that have been perscribed to veterans with the advent of the field of psycology at the trun of the century. Sources included the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), multiple clinical trials and white papers, records from the VA, etc. The reader should walk away with a better understanding of how the path towards healing invisble wounds has been mired with revictimization and controversy.

Esl Teachers’ Identities And Beliefs That Influence Their Teaching Of Students With Limited Or Interrupted Formal Education (Slife): A Qualitative And Phenomenological Study, Benita Azpeitia

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the beliefs and identities of ESL teachers, their personal and professional experiences and how those experiences shape their teaching of students who have limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE). Three experienced high school teachers were interviewed three times for 45 – 60 minutes for each interview. This study utilized semi-structured interviews, effective lesson plans selected by the participants, and a researcher’s journal. The participants recognized the complexities of SLIFE students and expanded on their teacher identities. The themes of ethnicity and language, guiding beliefs, personal experiences and teacher challenges emerged. The two most significant themes …

Examining How The Prevalence Of English Affects The Maintenance Of Spanish As A Heritage Language Among Second-Generation Latinx Students: A Phenomenological Study, Daniella Buenaventura

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This study was a phenomenological qualitative study that delved into the complex interplay between language, culture, and identity among second-generation Latinx high school students in an English-dominant environment. The research aimed to understand the impact of English prevalence on preserving Spanish as a heritage language and its influence on students' ethnic identities. Data collection was comprised of three semi structured interviews, a student assignment, and a researcher’s journal. Findings revealed that while students felt a strong connection to their Hispanic heritage and recognized the importance of maintaining Spanish, they also faced challenges of linguistic subordination and acculturative stress. The study …

Practical Static Binary Instrumentation Attacks Against Binary Stylometry, Justin Lee Carpenter

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Binary stylometry aims to find the features in a binary computer program and use them to identify the developers of the corresponding source code. Despite the noises in the code compilation process from the compiler, assembler, linker, and library functions, two existing studies based on machine learning for binary stylometry have reported high success rates (Alrabaee, Shirani, Wang, Debbabi, and Hanna 2018; Caliskan, Yamaguchi, Dauber, Harang, Rieck, Greenstadt, and Narayanan 2018). In this thesis, we first observe that both existing studies are based on a largely benign security model and assume that the binaries used in testing and prediction are …

From Montpelier To Fort Hill: James Mason And The Defense Of Slavery In Virginia, 1848-1861, Zachary D. Thompson

Masters Theses, 2020-current

In the mid-nineteenth century, the topic of slavery dominated American politics. Virginia, the state that fostered the ideals of the Revolution, traditionally followed the defense of slavery posited by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, known as the necessary evil defense. James Mason, a grandson of revolutionary figure George Mason, arrived in Washington, D.C. in 1848 and assumed his seat in the Senate, filling the seat after the death of Isaac Pennybacker. A former state delegate and member of the House of Representatives, James Mason carried with him to the Senate influences and relationships that spurred the Virginian to drift away …

The World After: Central Virginia In The Wake Of The Civil War, Harry Caldwell

Masters Theses, 2020-current

This thesis examines the situation in Central Virginia following the surrender of Appomattox. Its primary focus is on the Federal Provost Guard who were sent back into the region in the month following the Surrender. It begins in March 1865, introducing the world that the Provost will be thrown into that summer, and it will go month to month until January 1866, when the Provost have fully departed from the region and power was fully turned over to civilian authorities. This research is primarily built of the General Orders that were printed in the Lynchburg newspaper, The Daily Virginian, …

Increasing Social Communication With A Client Using Video Modeling, Christa Sutton

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Video modeling was a powerful and effective tool to gain skills and begin the generalization of those skills to other settings and situations. Communication between peers and adults was an important skill, which helps build and maintain relationships, solve problems, and accomplish tasks. One way to support learners in acquiring these skills was to implement peer video modeling. In the literature, peer video modeling has been shown to be an effective intervention for supporting skill acquisition for individuals with a variety of disabilities. However, using a peer that shares similar demographic characteristics and the same disability was an area that …

Assessing Cannabidiol As A Novel Therapeutic For Depression Among College Students, Noah Gustin

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The purpose of the current study was to assess the utility of cannabidiol (CBD) as a novel therapeutic for college students with mild-to-moderate depression. Participants completed a fourteen-week protocol: a four-week baseline, a four-week consumption phase, a two-week washout phase, and a second four-week consumption phase. Participants were randomly assigned to a CBD condition (150mg or 300mg). Study phases were counterbalanced such that if CBD was consumed in the first consumption phase, placebo was consumed in the second consumption phase, and vice versa. Participants completed weekly and monthly surveys used to assess depressive symptoms and secondary health-related measures. While graphical …

The Effects Of Various Array Sizes On The Skill Acquisition Of Auditory-Visual Conditional Discriminations, Ashlee Parks

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Common skills frequently taught to young learners in early childhood often include simple and conditional discriminations of stimuli. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of different array sizes presented to a learner when teaching auditory-visual conditional discriminations. An alternating treatments design was used to determine which array size led to the quickest and longest maintained skill acquisition. The researcher tested one participant’s ability to identify a shape from arrays of four, six, and nine. During baseline, the researcher observed low levels of responding in each array indicating this was not a skill the learner had in …