Clinical Athletic Trainers Decrease Orthopedic Physician Clinical Burden, A Barloon, K Meadows, A Pennuto, K Petrachaianan, N Glass, M Hogue

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction/Context: More than half of physicians in the United States are reporting symptoms of burnout. These symptoms lead to increased risk to patient safety and overall physician health. The use of Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) is increasing in popularity, especially in Orthopedic clinics. ATCs in the clinical setting have been shown to allow physicians to focus on patient care and less on clerical and documentation tasks. The goal of this study is to assess if ATCs in the physician practice setting influence physician work-life integration, burnout, and work engagement. Methods/Intervention: Approval obtained by IRB at University of Iowa. An observational, …

Assessing The Need For Harmonized Marine Debris Monitoring And Equity To Support Participation In The Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations By Caribbean Sids, Kristal Ambrose

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

This research addresses the challenge of marine plastic pollution with particular reference to Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Marine plastic pollution is of particular significance to these states since they suffer from a disproportionate incidence of plastic pollution on their coasts. In line with the region's need to protect its marine environment and subsequently its economy from the grave impacts of plastic pollution, this work assesses marine debris monitoring within Caribbean SIDS, and the barriers faced and considerations needed for unified monitoring efforts that support policy development. Additionally, the research examines microplastics on the beaches of Caribbean SIDS, and …

Effects Of Altering Physiologically Relevant Cholesterol Levels And Media Types On Porin Gene Expression In Klebsiella Pneumoniae And The Resulting Impact On Antibiotic Resistance, Megan R. Camden

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative, non-motile bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. K. pneumoniae is a rising threat in the clinical setting, as there has been a large increase in the presence of antibiotic resistant isolates. While much research is conducted on laboratory and clinical strains of bacteria, not much is known regarding the impact that human physiology can have on bacterial gene expression, and in response, to antibiotic susceptibility. The goal of this study is to determine if physiologically relevant cholesterol levels and media types impact porin gene expression and antibiotic resistance in K. pneumoniae. To accomplish this, …

The Angiogenic Potential Of Ph-Neutral Borophosphate Bioactive Glasses, Bradley A. Bromet, Nathaniel P. Blackwell, Nada Abokefa, Parker Freudenberger, Rebekah L. Blatt, Richard K. Brow, Julie A. Semon

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Borate bioactive glasses have gained attention in recent years due to their therapeutic and regenerative effects in vivo. However, borate bioactive glasses release alkaline ions, increasing the local pH and creating a toxic environment for cell culture studies. A partial compositional substitution of phosphate for borate can create a pH-neutral glass that does not significantly affect the local pH while still releasing therapeutic ions. In the present study, a series of Na-Ca-borophosphate bioactive glasses with different borate-to-phosphate ratios was evaluated in vitro and in vivo for cytotoxicity and angiogenic effects. Compared to more basic borate glasses, the pH-neutral glasses supported …

Spatiotemporal Analyses Of Pelagic Sargassum : Biodiversity, Morphotypes And Arsenic Content, Kristie Alleyne

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

Pelagic sargassum blooming in the Tropical Atlantic has been linked to the mass shoreline inundations observed over the last decade in Caribbean and West African countries. Since the onset in 2011, affected countries have and continue to experience multiscale impacts across fisheries, tourism, nearshore coastal ecosystems, maritime transport and public health. Impacts associated with influx events have generated significant economic damage across the region. Moreover, clean-up efforts in response to mass shoreline strandings placed further strain on national economies and in some instances amplified the negative environmental effects caused by inundations.

Evidence suggests that influx events are likely to continue …

Combatting The Marine Litter Crisis In The Windward Islands : Examining Source-To-Sea Pathways And Fostering Multi-Scale Solutions, Roxanne Elizabeth Donna Graham

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

This research investigates the intricate and all-pervasive challenge of combatting marine litter in small island developing states (SIDS), specifically in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) with a focus on the understudied Windward Islands located in the south-east of the Caribbean. Notably, this research is a ground- breaking and innovative effort in several respects, marking the first time a study of such magnitude and depth has been conducted and published for the WCR and the Windward Islands in particular. This pioneering work thus not only fills a significant gap in the existing literature but also sets a benchmark for future studies …

The Problem Of Abandoned, Lost, And Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear In Eastern Caribbean Small-Scale Fisheries : Understanding The Challenges, Defining Solutions, Tricia Lovell

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

/="/">Abandoned, lost, and otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG—also termed derelict fishing gear) is a complex and significant global challenge for which strong, robust, and holistic governance is required. ALDFG is considered the most dangerous form of marine debris, as it is designed to capture marine organisms and can do so long after it has become derelict. While there has been an increasing body of work in academic literature on the scale, impact, and management of ALDFG, significant knowledge gaps still exist about how this challenge is affecting the small-scale fisheries of the Eastern Caribbean. This research has been designed …

Extending Aerial Surveys Beyond Target Marine Mammal Species: An Application Of Strip Transect Methodology To Humpback Whale And Dugong Abundance Estimation In Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia, Jennah Tucker

Theses : Honours

Aerial surveys are commonly used to estimate abundance of marine mammal populations, to detect trends over time and inform conservation management. Estimating abundance in areas critical to a species’ survival and reproduction is important to assess that population’s status and its vulnerability. Aerial surveys allow relatively large areas to be covered over short periods of time which can be important for highly mobile species with wide-ranging movement patterns such as marine mammals. While aerial surveys are often designed for specific target species, information on additional non-target species is often recorded, as surveys are generally infrequent due to expense and logistical …

Experiencing Short Heat Waves Early In Development Changes Thermal Responsiveness Of Turtle Embryos To Later Heat Waves, Anthony Breitenbach, Rosario A. Marroquín-Flores, Ryan T. Paitz, Rachel M. Bowden

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Although physiological responses to the thermal environment are most frequently investigated using constant temperatures, the incorporation of thermal variability can allow for a more accurate prediction of how thermally sensitive species respond to a rapidly changing climate. In species with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), developmental responses to incubation temperature are mediated by several genes involved in gonadal differentiation. Kdm6b and Dmrt1 respond to cool incubation temperatures and are associated with testis development, while Foxl2 and Cyp19A1 respond to warm incubation temperatures and are associated with ovary development. Using fluctuating incubation temperatures, we designed two studies, one investigating how conflicting thermal …

Molecular And Enzymatic Resistance Of Culex Tarsalis To Pyrethroid And Organophosphate Insecticides, William Mortola

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Culex tarsalis, a vector for diseases like West Nile virus, is evolving resistance to pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides used for agriculture and vector control in Northern California. Common mechanisms of resistance in other Culex species include the target-site mutations kdr and ace-1 and increased levels of detoxification enzymes (esterases, GSTs, and oxidases). This study contained two parts: Pyrethroid Individual study and an Organophosphate Preliminary study. For the Pyrethroid Individual study, the goal was to compare the prevalence of kdr mutations and detoxification enzymes between pyrethroid susceptible and resistant Cx. tarsalis individuals in Northern California. For the Organophosphate Preliminary study, the …

The Effect Of Gibberellic Acid Concentration On Gentiana Andrewsii Germination, Laura Spies

Honors Program Theses

Closed Bottle Gentian, Gentiana andrewsii, is an herbaceous flowering plant found in wetland prairies. The seed is difficult to germinate, so it is not on the native seed market. This study determines the optimal concentration of gibberellic acid for this species. The results were accessed based on the morphology changes, germination rates, and survivorship after transplanting. The 50 ppm concentration of gibberellic acid resulted in the highest rate of Gentiana andrewsii germination. The number of seedlings in the experimental group exhibited only slight differences between concentrations. Transplant data shows more significant advantages in determining an optimum concentration. The 50 ppm …

Identification Of A Dna Polymerase Alpha Gene Sequence In Thermomyces Lanuginosus Fungus, Nathan Williams

Honors Program Theses

With cell growth being the main focus of our research, we chose to study DNA polymerase alpha. DNA polymerase alpha is likely to be involved in cell growth as it is the enzyme that starts DNA replication. Control of this enzyme might lead to decreased cell growth in cancer or increased cell growth in damaged spinal cord tissue. We chose the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus for the study of the enzyme due to the ability to compare the enzyme’s activity during fungal growth at different temperatures. Thermomyces exhibits rapid growth at high temperatures and slow growth at low temperatures. Studying …

Monitoring Archaeal Persistence In Cultivation, Payton Hall

Honors Program Theses

It was previously thought that microbes in the domain Archaea were only found in extreme environments such as hot thermal vents at the bottom of the ocean and hypersaline environments, but as scientists began to use environmental DNA to survey soil, they detected archaea from the phylum Thaumarchaeota in relatively benign environments including farm fields, forests, and prairies. In spite of their widespread global distribution, relatively few of these species have been grown in laboratory culture. It is now known that Thaumarchaeota play an important role in the nitrogen cycle because they can generate energy through ammonia-oxidation. To increase the …

Evaluation Of Methods To Analyze Microbial Composition In Soils, Joseph Correa

Honors Program Theses

DNA testing has become a vital tool for studying microbes in their natural environments, but there is a lack of standardization in the protocols for extracting environmental DNA. Cave systems provide a special and unique area to research how life thrives in extreme environments. Many parts of caves receive no sunlight and very little nutrients yet harbor microbial communities. Previous work in our lab developed a DNA extraction protocol that works with a wide range of microbial species and with different soil types. I updated this protocol by adding a pre-lysis rinse step and tested whether it performed better with …

A Picture Worth A Thousand Words: Factors Influencing Disability Accommodations, Alicia E. Martin

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Because not all disabilities look the same it is difficult to label a person with disabilities just by looking at them. Given that our knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions impact how we interpret our world and our willingness to act, people, including professors, may be biased toward providing accommodations for those with easily recognizable disabilities and biased against those with non-recognizable disabilities, and this may impact the disabled person’s ability to learn. This thesis aims to address whether professors’ disability-related attitudes, perceptions of accommodation reasonableness, and willingness to provide accommodations differ when the disability is recognizable (student is pictured in a …

Is The Area Postrema Resistant To The Anesthetic Effects Of Ms-222?, Austin T. Csiszar

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

MS-222 is a common fish anesthetic that dampens neural activity by inhibiting neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels (Na_v) required for action potentials. Previous experiments conducted by our lab’s primary investigator using fluorescence calcium imaging in zebrafish neurons resulted in the observation that neurons in the area postrema (AP), a circumventricular organ located in the dorsal hindbrain, displayed prominent fluorescence intensity during MS-222 induced sedation. I used the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCaMP6s to conduct fluorescence calcium imaging with the goal of recording neural activity in the larval zebrafish area postrema and optic tectum to compare the anesthetic effects of …

Inferring Exposure To Harmful Pseudo-Nitzschia Blooms From Ocean-To-Estuary Gradients In Domoic Acid Concentrations In Humboldt Bay Bivalves, Natasha Hope Ficzycz Winnacott

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) result from outbreaks of any of several different species of toxin-producing phytoplankton and that can have major detrimental effects on marine ecosystems and pose severe health and economic threats to human communities. Of particular concern along the United States West Coast are HABs of pennate diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia that produce the potent neurotoxin domoic acid (DA). The coastal ocean between Cape Mendocino, CA, and Cape Blanco, OR is a hotspot for Pseudo-nitzschia spp. HABs. Such blooms impact coastal fisheries and pose a potential threat to aquaculture operations in Humboldt Bay, California’s second largest estuary and largest …

The Effects Of Aquatic Programs On Students With Disabilities Fitness And Skill-Based Outcomes; A Meta-Analysis, Delaney Hughes

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The purpose of the meta-analysis was to determine the impact of aquatic-based interventions on health-related fitness and skill-based outcomes for children with disabilities. PRISMA guidelines were used to complete the procedures of the meta-analysis. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria and results indicate that overall, aquatic programming likely positively affects students with disabilities and health-related fitness outcomes. Recommendations provide direction for future studies to help improve intervention results.

Macrolichen Inventory Of The Horse Mountain Botanical Area, Six Rivers National Forest, California, Usa, Sarah Norvell Conway

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Macrolichen diversity and community composition was determined for an area of high botanical interest in the Coast Ranges of Northern California – the Horse Mountain Botanical Area (HMBA) in Six Rivers National Forest. The Coast Ranges have been suggested to have high epiphytic macrolichen diversity, yet detailed site-specific macrolichen surveys are lacking for the area. Here we present comprehensive data on macrolichens of the HMBA integrated with environmental metadata at the landscape level. Twenty 0.4 ha sampling plots were positioned across the varying habitats of the HMBA and macrolichens were intensively sampled from all substrata. Out of 888 total collections, …

Diversity And Distribution Of Bryozoans Of The Northern To Central Rocky Outer Coast Of California, Ismael Chowdhury

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The phylum Bryozoa is one of the most diverse groups of marine invertebrates, with a global distribution that spans marine and fresh waters. This study analyzes the Bryozoa in infralittoral communities on rocky surfaces from northern California (Point Saint George) to central California (Estero Bay), spanning 940 kilometers and encompassing 12 rocky intertidal sites. Although recent studies on bryozoan taxonomy and phylogeny have increased due to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high throughput sequencing, there is still a lack of studies on species found in shallow waters at intertidal depths, particularly in the northeastern Pacific. This study aims to expand …

Using Multiscale Ensemble Habitat Models To Identify Wildfire Risk To Habitat For An Iconic Forest Species, Logan Baker Hysen

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Large and severe wildfires, exacerbated by climate change and human behavior, are occurring more frequently in many forests across the western United States. While wildfire is a natural part of most terrestrial ecosystems, rapidly changing fire regimes have the potential to alter habitat beyond the adaptive capabilities of species. Spatial assessments of wildfire risks to species habitat may allow managers to pinpoint locations for management activities. To illustrate this, I spatially assessed wildfire risk within habitat that supports the nesting activity of the federally threatened northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) in the California redwood coast ecoregion. To …

Seasonal Growth, Movement, And Survival Of Juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus Kisutch) Utilizing Restored Rearing Habitat, Monica S. Tonty

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The Scott River supports the most robust population of threatened Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch remaining in the Klamath River basin. Even in the Scott River, low quality and restricted extent of juvenile rearing habitat limits the Coho Salmon population to a small fraction of historic abundance. To support persistence and recovery of Scott River Coho Salmon, the Scott River Watershed Council (SRWC) has constructed a portfolio of restoration projects to improve juvenile rearing habitat, including beaver dam analogs (BDAs). The Scott River BDAs were the first implemented anywhere in California. This study compares juvenile Coho Salmon responses associated with production …

The Benefits Of Physical Education Programs For Students In Special Education Programs With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Deborah A. Mok

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Researchers have reported that exercise has had positive results on decreasing many behaviors for children with ADHD. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a structured physical education program for students in grades K-4 with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on academic performance. This study utilized a single subject withdrawal design. Four participants attending a special day class in grades K-4 in Northern California participated in this study. Results of this study demonstrated that 30 minutes of structured physical activity had a positive impact on decreasing the number of off-task behaviors for all four of the …

Defining And Exploring Animal Sentience, Andrew N. Rowan, Joyce M. D'Silva Mrs, Ian J.H. Duncan, Nicholas Palmer

Animal Sentience

One of the commentaries on the target article notes that "animal sentience" is difficult to define operationally. This response to the commentaries develops a working, usable definition of animal sentience and examines the relationships between animal emotions and sentience.

Psychological Manipulation And Cluster-B Personality Traits Of Cult Leaders, Jennifer Henderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cults, thousands of which exist in the United States, present a societal problem due to their ability to rob followers of free will, sever familial ties, and even incite violence, such as the case of the Manson Family. Their leaders' manipulation of followers can be dangerous, resulting in emotional and physical abuse. There is a lack of meaningful literature on how personality traits may affect cult leaders’ abilities to recruit and maintain members. The purpose of this study was to examine how Cluster-B personality traits (narcissism, borderline, antisocial, and histrionic) relate to cult leaders’ abilities to manipulate. The qualitative case …

Clinical Vaccination Education Guideline For The African American Community, Margaret Chinedum Nwoji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractVaccination hesitancy is high among African Americans and other people of color. The practice gap addressed in this project was the lack of a culturally sensitive clinical guideline for vaccination education relevant to the African American community. The practice-focused question was answered by developing an evidence-based Clinical Vaccination Education Guideline for the African American Community (CVEGAAC) that was validated by a group of four content experts using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation tool. The content experts scored each of the domains above 90%, implying that the CVEGAAC is of high quality and ready for implementation. The end users …

Staff Education To Promote Probiotic Breastfeeding Therapy, José Diaz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Preterm birth is the leading cause of death in children under 5. In addition, there are 22 million babies born underweight each year which also contributes to the infant mortality rate. Some reasons for the inability to thrive and survive are the infants' immature system, allostatic load inadaptability, and undiversified and underdeveloped microbiota. Human breast milk (HBM) provides lifesaving nutrients, which prevents necrotizing enterocolitis and mortality. In addition, probiotic supplementation helps reduce late-onset sepsis, morbidities, and mortality. A literature review provided substantial evidence that HBM and probiotics can improve an infant's microbiota, thus improving thrivability and survivability. Probiotics offset the …

Perceived Factors Of Intimate Partner Violence On Women Diagnosed With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Angela M. Halcovich

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent diagnosis, and many human and social services professionals strive to understand its components, to ensure that they serve the population properly. However, little is known about how PTSD may influence women’s vulnerabilities to and future experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV). Emphasizing relationship coaching, which provides tools to foster healthy relationships, within the therapeutic curricula on rehabilitation for women with PTSD may result in reduced chances to experience IPV as women integrate back into their everyday life after being diagnosed and treated for PTSD. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to …

A Novel Digital Digit-Symbol Substitution Test Measuring Processing Speed In Adults At Risk For Alzheimer Disease: Validation Study, Anthony Campitelli, Sally Paulson, Josh L. Gills, Megan D. Jones, Erica N. Madero, Jennifer Myers, Jordan M. Glenn, Michelle Gray

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Assessing cognitive constructs affected by Alzheimer disease, such as processing speed (PS), is important to screen for potential disease and allow for early detection. Digital PS assessments have been developed to provide widespread, efficient cognitive testing, but all have been validated only based on the correlation between test scores. Best statistical practices dictate that concurrent validity should be assessed for agreement or equivalence rather than using correlation alone.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the concurrent validity of a novel digital PS assessment against a gold-standard measure of PS.

Methods: Adults aged 45-75 years (n=191) participated in this study. …

Association Of The Bb Genotype Of The Abo Gene With The Risk Of Acute Myocardial Infarction In Hospital-Based Study, Farzana Abubakar Yousuf, Iqbal Azam Syed, Asal Khan Tareen, Khawar A. Kazmi, Jibran Sualeh Muhammad, Mohammad Perwaiz Iqbal

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Objectives: The ABO gene locus has been identified to be associated with myocardial infarction in patients with coronary heart disease. The primary focus of this hospital-based study was to explore the relationship of ABO blood groups and ABO genotypes with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: In a comparative cross-sectional study, an equal number of adult AMI patients and healthy controls (n=275 in each group; age range 30-70 years, both males and females) were recruited from the Aga Khan University and NICVD, Karachi, with informed consent. The blood samples were analyzed for ABO blood groups and other biomarkers. …