Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Tabletop Role-Playing Games As Autism Psychotherapy: A Video-Cued Multivocal Clinical Ethnography, Adina Rubin-Budick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study is a video-cued multivocal ethnography that analyzed the clinical reasoning and perspectives of psychotherapists using Tabletop Role-Playing Games (TRPG) as a therapeutic treatment for children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum conditions. With a growing number of TRPG therapists nationwide using this modality in their clinical practices, this study aimed to develop a clearer understanding of the ways in which their therapeutic orientation, gaming practices, and knowledge of Autism Spectrum Conditions informs their use of TRPG psychotherapy with Autistic clients.

Research that focuses on clinical decision-making and the knowledge that informs clinical interventions and technique generally refers …

Culture Care Values And Beliefs Of Puerto Rican Adults Related To Suicide: An Ethnonursing Study, Griselle Estrada

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a public health issue among the growing U.S. Latinx population; however, Latinx subgroups are diverse and represent different cultural backgrounds. Puerto Ricans are the second largest Latinx subgroup in the nation. Although research points to possible mental health vulnerabilities among Puerto Ricans when compared to other Latinx subgroups, there is a dearth of research exploring cultural influences that can impact suicide prevention efforts for Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. mainland. AIMS: This study aimed to explore the culture care values, beliefs, and needs of Puerto Rican adults pertaining to suicide and its prevention. METHODS: The …

The Health And Health Care Needs And Experiences Of Mexican Heritage Individuals In A Nonmetro Location: An Ethnonursing Study, Karla Adu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The population of Mexican heritage individuals has grown significantly in nonmetro, emerging communities. The purpose of this study was to explore the health and health care needs and experiences of this population in the Midwest. Methods: Leininger’s Culture Care Theory and Ethnonursing Research Methods were used as the guiding theory and methodology for the qualitative study. Interviews were conducted with 27 informants. Recordings were transcribed and analyzed according to Leininger’s phases of data analysis. Results: Three themes emerged from the data: 1. living a better life in a nonmetro community with and for family, 2. barriers to understanding …

Speciated Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry In Combination With Thor’S Hammer Metaspike Technology For The Assessment Of Low-Level Biomarkers For Human Health Evaluation, Ashley Ebert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Our research team has been focused on quantifying important biological analytes in human blood samples to delineate the biochemical processes underlying certain states of dysfunction and evaluate treatment efficacy. These efforts have been guided by laboratory measurements with the input of medical experts. Speciated isotope dilution mass spectrometry (SIDMS) explained in detail in EPA Method 6800 has been successfully applied in the quantification of an important biomarker analyte for immune function and detoxification processes: glutathione. Past research has proven the molecule a biomarker for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the form of the reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio, and literature has …

Empowering Lung Cancer Survivors In Post-Treatment Survivorship Care Using Participatory Action Research, Kelly Filchner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: To explore the experiences of lung cancer survivors (LCS) and their informal and professional caregivers with post-treatment care and to empower them to implement action-based study findings.

Participants & Setting: Participants were recruited using purposeful and snowball sampling from an NCI-designated cancer center in Northeastern US.

Methodological Approach: This study used a participatory action research (PAR) four-phase design. Phase one was a focused ethnography; phase two utilized a core group of participants to decide an action to be implemented in phase three; and phase four evaluated the action for the completion of one PAR cycle.

Findings: Twenty-eight categories, eight …

The Relationship Between Urban Green Space Perception And Use Within The Adolescent Population: A Focused Ethnography, Rachel Lyons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Greenspace is beneficial for improving adolescent mental health, yet we still do not understand the connection between the built environment and subjective mental wellbeing. We also lack understanding of how this population uses greenspace and how they feel when in it. Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was threefold: to understand why adolescents use greenspace, to identify how they use greenspace, and to explore how they feel when they are in greenspace. Methods: participated in a focused ethnography that utilized auto photography for photo elicitation. Braun and Clark's (2006), six phases of thematic analysis were used to guide …

The Ethical Imperative Of Inclusion In Healthcare Innovation: Scaling And Sustaining Digital Health Equity, Lukas E. Chandler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the harm of digital health exclusion. Excluded groups could not benefit from virtual care due to device access gaps, broadband connectivity, and digital and language literacy levels. A lack of engagement with historically excluded populations in digital health innovation is an ethical harm and a maleficent form of social exclusion. Digital tools in healthcare delivery represent more than just a strategy for promoting health equity; they signify an opportunity to address health inequities in the health technology design process.

The historical focus of healthcare ethics on bedside decision-making issues largely explains why the field lacks concerted …

The Art Of Surviving: Alchemy Of Healing Trauma In Relation To Identity: A Self Study., Rebecca Morgan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis explores trauma’s physical and psychological aspects concerning identity as an artistic practice. Through exploring materials, subject matter, and media, my approach to trauma is based on personal and socially engaged experiences and my attempt to re-conceptualize that experience through the language of contemporary art. Extensively this work is governed by childhood memories and the critical aspect of being raised as a female in a patriarchal society. Being raised female comes with a certain number of expectations and requirements. This work creates a physical and spiritual connection between trauma and the identity of what is female. Discussing these …

Investigating The Pi3k/Akt/Atm Pathway, Telomeric Dna Damage, T Cell Death, And Crispr/Cas9-Mediated Gene Editing During Acute And Chronic Hiv Infection, Sushant Khanal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection initiates major metabolic and cell- survival complications. Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is the current approach to suppress active HIV replication to a level of undetected viral load, but it is not a curative approach. Newer and sophisticated gene editing technologies could indeed be a potent antiviral therapy to achieve a clinical sterilization/cure of HIV infection. Chronic HIV patients, even under a successful ART regimen, exhibit a low-grade inflammation, immune senescence, premature aging, telomeric DNA attrition, T cell apoptosis, and cellular homeostasis. In this dissertation, we investigated CD4 T cell homeostasis, degree of T cell apoptosis, an …

Correctional Career Pathways: A Reentry Program For Incarceration, Taylor M. Dula

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For the past several decades, the United States led the world in incarceration rates. With nearly 2.3 million people being held in state or federal prisons or local jails in 2019, incarceration rates in the United States are over four times higher than in other developed countries. Disparities exist by gender, race, ethnicity, and other special populations. Males are 13 times more likely to be incarcerated than females. Additionally, black males are 5.7 times and Hispanic males are 2.8 times more likely to be incarcerated than white males. Individuals who experience incarceration have poorer mental and physical health outcomes. People …

The Impact Of Pegylation On Cellular Uptake And In Vivo Biodistribution Of Gold Nanoparticle Mri Contrast Agents., Nagwa El-Baz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have become a pivotal platform for the delivery of pharmaceutical and diagnostic agents as well as for general therapeutic purposes. Despite their potential for use in biomedicine, their interaction with serum proteins is crucial as it could change their biological profile due to the formation of a protein corona, which can affect their delivery to target tissues in the body. Grafting the GNPs with polyethylene glycol (PEG) is widely used in research to decrease opsonization of the particles by serum proteins and decrease the uptake by the reticuloendothelial system. Here in this dissertation, we have developed a …

Examining The Effects Of Npra Antagonist Anantin On Sci-Induced Ployuria., Lindsey Zipperer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polyuria, or the over production of urine, is a prevalent condition that significantly impacts the quality of life in individuals suffering from a spinal cord injury (SCI). Post-SCI induced polyuria is thought to have been associated with altered levels of vasopressin (AVP), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA). In the present study, the function of NPRA was analyzed in the rat contusion model using anantin, an NPRA antagonist. A daily dose of either 100 µg of anantin or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally immediately following the SCI surgery and continued until termination, 4 weeks post injury (wpi). …

Investigating The Income Academic Achievement Gap: An Exploration Of The Roles Of Mindfulness And Self-Concept Clarity In Low-Income College Students., Natalie Burke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to examine whether linguistic patterns previously associated with trait mindfulness and self-concept clarity in low-income college students’ application essays are associated with academic performance and psychosocial variables. The aims of the study were as follows: 1) Explore relations between linguistic markers that have been previously associated with higher mindfulness/self-concept clarity and GPA and 2) Explore relations between linguistic markers that have been previously associated with higher mindfulness/self-concept clarity and anxiety/depression. Participants were 54 undergraduate students in the Cardinal Covenant program (a scholarship program for students from low-income families) who began college in the …

A Mixed Methods Assessment Of Menstrual Hygiene Management And School Attendance Among Schoolgirls In Edo State, Nigeria., Madeline Tomlinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Menstrual hygiene in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited and has been linked to many health, educational and social effects. However, the prevalence, details, and impact of menstrual hygiene management have not been well characterized in rural and peri-urban settings across Nigeria. The overall purpose of this research was to investigate menstrual hygiene management (MHM) among adolescent schoolgirls in peri-urban areas of Edo State, Nigeria; and to determine the educational consequences associated with poor MHM. MHM was measured using previously validated questions that were adapted after a formative assessment of MHM within the Edo State community. We used a mixed methods …

Alpha, Beta-Unsaturated Aldehydes: The Underrepresented Markers Of Disease., Saurin Sutaria

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids is a widely recognized metabolic process that creates a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds including aldehydes. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species in cancer cells promote random lipid peroxidation, which leads to an increase in a variety of aldehydes. Many of these volatile aldehydes are exhaled and are of interest as potential markers of disease. Chapter 1 presents a review of reported aldehydes in the exhaled breath of lung cancer patients. alpha,beta-Unsaturated aldehydes, detected primarily when derivatized during exhaled breath preconcentration, are underreported in the reviewed articles. Chapter 1 concludes with our hypothesis …

Hgf-Mediated C-Met Signaling In Human Corneal Epithelial Cells., Kate Tarvestad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vision is often regarded as the primary sense of humans. The cornea is the main refractive tissue that permits light through to the retina, allowing a clear image. When the cornea sustains damage, it opens a pathway for infection and blindness through fibrotic processes. Healing the corneal tissue is critical for vision restoration and pain alleviation. Growth factors and their cognate receptors are currently under investigation as tools to restore proper corneal physiology. We hypothesize that manipulating the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/ c-Met signaling pathway is one route to promote quality corneal healing. This thesis investigates the signaling, trafficking, and …

Models And Algorithms For Trauma Network Design., Sagarkumar Dhirubhai Hirpara

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trauma continues to be the leading cause of death and disability in the US for people aged 44 and under, making it a major public health problem. The geographical maldistribution of Trauma Centers (TCs), and the resulting higher access time to the nearest TC, has been shown to impact trauma patient safety and increase disability or mortality. State governments often design a trauma network to provide prompt and definitive care to their citizens. However, this process is mainly manual and experience-based and often leads to a suboptimal network in terms of patient safety and resource utilization. This dissertation fills important …

Bayesian Methods For Graphical Models With Neighborhood Selection., Sagnik Bhadury

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Graphical models determine associations between variables through the notion of conditional independence. Gaussian graphical models are a widely used class of such models, where the relationships are formalized by non-null entries of the precision matrix. However, in high-dimensional cases, covariance estimates are typically unstable. Moreover, it is natural to expect only a few significant associations to be present in many realistic applications. This necessitates the injection of sparsity techniques into the estimation method. Classical frequentist methods, like GLASSO, use penalization techniques for this purpose. Fully Bayesian methods, on the contrary, are slow because they require iteratively sampling over a quadratic …

The Impact Of Volatile Organic Compound Exposure On Subclinical Biomarkers Of Cardiovascular Injury., Breandon Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pollution has been identified as the leading environmental cause of non-communicable disease and premature deaths globally. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gaseous chemical constituents of pollution derived from a variety of sources, including industrial solvents and byproducts, automobile exhaust, tobacco smoke, cleaning supplies, and personal care products. VOCs are also abundant at various Superfund and Hazardous Waste Sites. Emerging data suggest that VOC exposure is associated with several adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). VOCs and their metabolites can potentially damage the endothelial lining of blood vessels, resulting in perturbed vascular function and vascular inflammation. We hypothesize that VOC …

Metabolic Foundations Of Exercise-Induced Cardiac Growth., Kyle Fulghum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Regular aerobic exercise promotes physiological cardiac growth, which is an adaptive response thought to enable the heart to meet higher physical demands. Cardiac growth involves coordination of catabolic and anabolic activities to support ATP generation, macromolecule biosynthesis, and myocyte hypertrophy. Although previous studies suggest that exercise-induced reductions in cardiac glycolysis are critical for physiological myocyte hypertrophy, it remains unclear how exercise influences the many interlinked pathways of metabolism that support adaptive remodeling of the heart. In this thesis project, we tested the general hypothesis that aerobic exercise promotes physiological cardiac growth by coordinating myocardial metabolism to promote glucose-supported anabolic pathway …

The Role Of Mmp-3 In Copper Oxide Nanoparticle-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation And Fibrosis., Yuanbao Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Copper oxide nanoparticles (Nano-CuO) are wildly used in medical and industrial fields and our daily necessities. However, the biosafety assessment of Nano-CuO is far behind their rapid development. This study was to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying Nano-CuO-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, especially to determine whether Nano-CuO exposure could dysregulate MMP-3, an important mediator in pulmonary fibrosis, and its roles in Nano-CuO-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Aim 1 was to investigate whether exposure to Nano-CuO caused MMP-3 dysregulation in lung epithelial cells and the role of MMP-3 in Nano-CuO-induced alteration of cell junction-associated proteins. The potential mechanisms that might be …

Defining The Impact Of Clinically Modeled Hindlimb Stretching, Exercise, & Inactivity On Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury., Greta Cesarz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating, life altering event that affects approximately 282,000 Americans. The most obvious side effect of SCI is paralysis due to damage to the spinal cord that disrupts ascending and descending pathways as well as central pattern generating circuitry. In addition to paralysis, patients suffer from other debilitating side effects including altered cardiovascular function, autonomic dysreflexia, neuropathic pain, spasticity, and contractures. In contrast to humans, rodents display spontaneous locomotor recovery following incomplete SCI due to in-cage activity/training. Previously, our laboratory has studied the effect of lack of in-cage training by utilizing custom designed rodent wheelchairs. …

The Role Of Generative Adversarial Networks In Bioimage Analysis And Computational Diagnostics., Ahmed Naglah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Computational technologies can contribute to the modeling and simulation of the biological environments and activities towards achieving better interpretations, analysis, and understanding. With the emergence of digital pathology, we can observe an increasing demand for more innovative, effective, and efficient computational models. Under the umbrella of artificial intelligence, deep learning mimics the brain’s way in learn complex relationships through data and experiences. In the field of bioimage analysis, models usually comprise discriminative approaches such as classification and segmentation tasks. In this thesis, we study how we can use generative AI models to improve bioimage analysis tasks using Generative Adversarial Networks …

Understanding The Role Of Faculty Advising In Graduate Allied Healthcare Profession Programs As Practitioners Transition To Professor, Lillie Marie Barnett Thomas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Individuals in allied healthcare professions continue to see growth in all areas, including clinical practice and higher education. Leaders at the university level, alongside leadership within allied healthcare accreditation bodies for disciplines like athletic training, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology, maintain the need to grow the professions through master’s and doctoral degree programs. With the growth, many working practitioners move from clinical practice to academia with little to no experience or understanding of higher education and all the responsibilities of the job. This quantitative research study used a purposive sampling of allied healthcare professionals across the United States …

Species Data And Vector Modeling: Evaluating Datasets For Improved Models Of Ixodes Ricinus Tick Distribution In Europe Under A Changing Climate, Steven Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To increase capacity for monitoring and surveillance of tick-borne diseases, publicly available tick distribution and climate change datasets are required to create accurate predictive distribution models. It is difficult, however, to assess model accuracy and utility when using incomplete datasets.  The more recent development of comprehensive tick databases for Europe and availability of climate change scenarios from multiple IPCC Assessment Reports allows for improved modeling efforts. Multiple tick datasets were combined and three climate change projections were compared by predicting current and future distributions of Ixodes ricinus ticks in Europe using the MaxEnt species distribution model. Overall, much of Europe …

Assessment Of Veteran Satisfaction With Telehealth Services During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Rhonda Kay Howard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

With the advent of the COVID-19 public health emergency in the United States, many U.S. veterans were unable to maintain their usual office visits due to safe access concerns. Patients were strongly encouraged to maintain their healthcare needs at home by utilizing online technology resources like telehealth services with their healthcare providers. Providing excellent healthcare services for veterans during COVID-19 became a challenge for primary care providers at many veteran healthcare organizations. Since little was known about the satisfaction of veteran clients with healthcare management using virtual care during the pandemic, this formative program evaluation was designed to survey …

The Correlation Between Transformational Leadership And Mental Health Clinician Burnout, Rebekah E. Shutter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mental health clinicians working in a hospital setting are at a high risk of experiencing burnout due to the stressful demands of their caseloads, compassion fatigue, limited resources, and unsupportive leadership. While there is ample research regarding the cause and effect of burnout on clinicians there is a gap in the literature when it comes to the impact leadership has on mental heath clinician burnout. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study is to determine if and to what extent there is a correlation between Transformational Leadership and mental health clinician burnout. Participants for this study consisted of 200 mental …

Analyzing Concept Mapping Integration Into A Bsn Curriculum Using The H-Pepss Survey, Tina Michelle Mathers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: This project’s foundational focus was on improving nursing students’ preparedness for their profession and patient care. Data supports that nursing graduates face challenges at the patient bedside, which often cause injury or harm. These deficits are known as preparation-to-practice, failure-to-rescue, and transition-to-practice gaps that occur despite the integration of preceptorship and residency programs. Through the integration of concept mapping into an established curriculum, an analysis of student patient safety perceptions in a pre- and postsurvey was completed. Method: This quality improvement project received approval from the institutional review board. The project was a quasi-experimental, nonrandomized, single-blinded design measuring first-semester …

Improving Hypertension Self Management In African American Men, Elizabeth C. Felix

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hypertension is a cardiopulmonary condition linked to genetic, environmental, and social factors. Left untreated, it can lead to fatal conditions such as heart disease. In the United States, African Americans experience disproportionately high rates of hypertension, earlier onset of symptoms, greater severity, and higher related mortality rates. African Americans also statistically have more difficulty self-managing their hypertension than other demographics. The aim of this project was (a) to identify, define, and measure perceived barriers to self-management of hypertension among African American men and (b) to target these barriers and increase patient engagement through personalized intervention plans. The researcher recruited 24 …

Trends In Health Outcomes Before And After Long Term Care Federal Regulations Limited Antipsychotic Medication Use: A Secondary Data Analysis, Karen Robson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trends in resident falls did not significantly change, although trends in serious injury from falls declined ten years after regulations restricted antipsychotic medications in long-term care facilities. Trends in functional and continence status worsened after the regulations were implemented.