Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Exploring The Relationships Between Collegiate Sport Coaches’ Creative Productivity And Factors Of Creative Potential, Sean Flanders

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sport coaches are perceived as problem solvers who engage in creativity to handle the spontaneity of competitive activity and generate winning results. However, while creativity in athletes has been researched, little has been investigated regarding coaches. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine different aspects of creativity – person, process, press, and product – among collegiate team sport coaches in the United States. Specifically, how personality traits, ideational fluency, remote association ability, years of coaching experience, and work climate related to creative product impact and frequency. A modified creativity personality test was found to be positively …

A Replication And Extension Of A Prediction Tool Identifying Need For Treatment Among Opioid Exposed Infants, Loni Parrish

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The incidences of maternal opioid use and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) have increased by nearly 400% over the past decade. Isemann and colleagues (2017) developed prediction tools (TiTE/TiTE²) to differentiate, within the first two days of life, between infants who will require pharmacotherapy for NOWS from those infants who will not require pharmacotherapy for NOWS. The goal of the current experiment was to replicate and extend their prediction model. The present experiments successfully replicated Isemann et al., (2017) results and also established alternative cutoff values for requiring treatment that provide better balance between all four metrics. Moreover, …

Changes In Countermovement Jump And Sprint During A Congested Match Schedule In Female Youth Soccer Players, Joanne Spalding

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Youth soccer players are required to play multiple matches within a short period of time. Participation in congested match schedules like youth soccer tournaments can result in fatigue and a decline in physical performance. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in countermovement jump height variables and sprint time to determine if physical performance was altered. Fourteen youth female soccer players performed countermovement jump testing pre, post-match, and post-tournament, and sprint testing pre and post-tournament. Jump height differed significantly (p

The Experiences And Well-Being Of Mexican Immigrant Women Living In Traditionally Non-Latinx Communities In Western North Carolina, Melinda Bogardus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

North Carolina has, in recent decades, experienced significant growth in its Latinx, and more particularly Mexican immigrant population. As a traditionally non-Latinx state, or a state without a long-standing, large Latinx population, many communities and healthcare and service providers within North Carolina still lack knowledge, resources, and skills needed to serve and support Latinx immigrant populations well. Guided by interpretive description, this qualitative study on Mexican immigrant women in Western North Carolina sought to gain knowledge and understanding of what it is like for them to live in a traditionally non-Latinx region and how immigration has affected their well-being. Asking …

Behavioral And Neurobiological Evidence Of Epigenetic Transmission In The Neonatal Quinpirole Rodent Model Of Schizophrenia, Wesley Gill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Quinpirole is a dopamine D2 receptor agonist that if administered to rats from postnatal day (P)1-21 results in increased dopamine D2 receptor sensitivity throughout the animal’s lifetime. This increase in receptor sensitivity is consistent with schizophrenia. This model has additional consistencies with human schizophrenia, including sensorimotor gating deficits, enhanced behavioral and neurobiological responses to nicotine, and protein alterations consistent with the disorder. In this study, a second generation of the neonatal quinpirole (NQ) rodent model was created to investigate if long term changes caused by NQ treatment would be passed to offspring. NQ treated rats were mated and their offspring …

Listeners’ Attitudes Towards Young Women With Glottal Fry, Natalie Foulks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify employers’ perceptions of young women using glottal fry and the impact on hirability.

Methods: A survey was created using the online survey tool, REDCapÒ, and sent to employers across the southern United States. The survey contained three voice samples consisting of a non-glottal fry voice, a glottal fry at the end of sentences voice, and a continuous glottal fry voice, fourteen semantic differential scales derived from hiring constructs, and open-ended questions on hirability.

Results: Employers perceived individuals using glottal fry as more negative than the individual who used no glottal fry. …

Association Of Perfluorinated Chemicals With Endocrino-Carcinogenetic, Obesogenic And Metabolic Health And With Markers Of Chronic Inflammation And Oxidative Stress, Ogbebor Enaholo Omoike

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

First, this study examined the association of perfluorinated chemicals with 1) cardio-metabolic health outcomes and 2) the association of phthalates with cardiometabolic health outcomes, and 3) cardio-metabolic health outcomes while assessing the possibility of additive interactions between perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and phthalates. Second, association with markers of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress were explored. Finally, this study examined the association of these chemicals with estrogenic cancers- Breast cancer, prostate cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer.

Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between PFCs and the cardio-metabolic …

A Protocol Driven Stroke Code's Impact On Door-To-Needle Times, Jesse Osborne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is most effective the faster it is able to be administered to a patient that has been affected by stroke. A Stroke Code is a strategy that acute care facilities implement to reduce the time from diagnosing a stroke to administering tPA. The purpose of this study was to determine if the initiation of a Stroke Code in an acute care hospital reduces the door-to-needle time for patients affected by a stroke. In particular, does a Stroke Code reduce door-to-needle times. The research was conducted using data from April 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 (pre-Stroke …

The Impact Of State-Level Laws On Syringe Service Program Access And Risk Environment Of People Who Inject Drugs (Pwid), Samuel Pettyjohn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Understanding concentrated areas with high rates of opioid use disorder (OUD) allows for improved placement of Narcan access points through syringe services programs (SSPs). People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) have lower risk of contracting infectious diseases the closer they are to SSPs. Tennessee law prohibits SSPs within 2000ft of a school or park, impacting the placement of SSPs in non-urban areas. Testing factors related to SSP siting placement within a system dynamic model can better determine the relationship between PWID risk environment and SSP access and utility.

Methods: We identified areas of greatest need for harm reduction interventions within …

Using Active Learning Techniques To Improve Oral Health Literacy Among Children In Vulnerable Populations., Sarah Maria Downes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the effectiveness of an active learning approach in improving oral health literacy and attitude about science among at-risk students in the age range of third to sixth grades. This is done by designing and implementing a novel Oral Health Outreach module and video. Active learning components include engaging PowerPoint, oral hygiene discussion and demonstration, and finally a biofilm simulation, which utilizes glow-in-the-dark paint, dentoform models, and black lights that allow students to visualize the importance of plaque removal. Student comprehension of oral health concepts increased by an average of 52.4% on post-tests (n=61, p

Factors Of Dysphagia In The Overdose Population Post Extubation., Renee Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Post-extubation dysphagia (PED) has been studied in depth in a variety of populations including elective heart surgeries, trauma, critical illness, traumatic brain injury, and those requiring mechanical ventilation, but has not been researched in the overdose population (OD). This study aims to research factors of PED in the OD population. A retrospective study was conducted and found 24 participants who fit the inclusionary requirements. Correlation statistics were run between age and duration of intubation, age or duration of intubation and gender, and between intubation duration, age, and scores on Penetration-Aspiration Scale (P/A) (thin by cup and thin by straw). The …

Novel Inference Methods For Generalized Linear Models Using Shrinkage Priors And Data Augmentation., Arinjita Bhattacharyya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Generalized linear models have broad applications in biostatistics and sociology. In a regression setup, the main target is to find a relevant set of predictors out of a large collection of covariates. Sparsity is the assumption that only a few of these covariates in a regression setup have a meaningful correlation with an outcome variate of interest. Sparsity is incorporated by regularizing the irrelevant slopes towards zero without changing the relevant predictors and keeping the resulting inferences intact. Frequentist variable selection and sparsity are addressed by popular techniques like Lasso, Elastic Net. Bayesian penalized regression can tackle the curse of …

The Role Of Inter-Enlargement Propriospinal Neurons In Locomotion Following Spinal Cord Injury., Courtney Therese Shepard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation is to explore the functional role of two anatomically-defined pathways in the adult rat spinal cord before and after spinal cord injury (SCI). To do this, a Tet^On dual virus system was used to selectively and reversibly silence neurons with cell bodies at spinal segment L2 and projections to spinal segment C6 (long ascending propriospinal neurons, LAPNs) and neurons that originate in the C6 spinal segment and terminate at L2 spinal segment (long descending propriospinal neurons, LDPNs). This dissertation is divided into five chapters. Chapter One provides background information regarding spinal cord injury, locomotion, …

Converting Threats Into Opportunities Predicting Medical Error Reporting Behavior., Whitney Thomas Rogers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Medical errors are a public health epidemic and a major threat to patient safety. Estimates suggest they may be responsible for 210,000 - 440,000 preventable deaths per year. This would make medical errors the third leading cause of death in the United States. The societal burden of medical errors is steep, with the economic impact near $1 trillion. The purpose of this study was to use a theory-driven approach to better understand the reporting behavior of healthcare professional. Increased error reporting leads to heightened awareness of the precursors or conditions generating errors, which can then be corrected. In its most …

A Novel Approach To Hiv Prevention: Understanding Multi-Level Influences On Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) Uptake And Outreach Among African Americans., Suur Debrah Ayangeakaa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined and provided basis for addressing factors related to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) engagement, outreach, and uptake among high-risk African American youth groups in Louisville, KY. This qualitative dissertation study was designed through the lens of an interpretive framework of social constructivism which holds that multiple realities and interpretations exist and are socially constructed through the lived experiences of individuals and their interactions with others. Thus, lived experiences of various African American youth groups in Louisville as well as key informants of AIDS service organizations (ASOs) across the U.S. (including Louisville) were explored to develop a deeper understanding …

Tobacco Product-Derived Aldehydes: Effects On Circulating Angiogenic Cells & Implications For Cardiovascular Disease., Jordan B. Lynch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Tobacco smoke is the most significant modifiable risk factor in CVD development and contains numerous toxic compounds, including aldehydes, which have been linked to CVD. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and crotonaldehyde have been identified as significant contributors to cigarette-induced health effects, but the mechanism of these effects is not well understood. These aldehydes are also found in aerosols produced by e-cigarettes (e-cigs). The goal of this dissertation was to explore the systemic, hematological, and endothelium-related effects of exposure to tobacco products and constituent aldehydes and to identify potential mechanisms of injury. …

Development Of Rationally Designed Live Attenuated Vaccines For Lassa Fever And Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis., Dylan Macgregor Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lassa Virus (LASV) and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV) are two single stranded RNA viruses belonging to the Arenavirus and Alphavirus families, respectively. Both are emerging pathogens without approved vaccines or treatments. VEEV is an important biothreat pathogen because it has been weaponized and is extremely infectious as an aerosol. VEEV causes biphasic febrile illness that can progress to a viral encephalitis with low mortality, but high morbidity. LASV causes a viral hemorrhagic fever, Lassa Fever (LF), which is endemic in West Africa, and responsible for between 100-500k annual infections with a 1-2% overall mortality rate. ML29 and VEEV TC-83 …

Mechanistic Insight Of The Role Of Nherf1 In Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury., Adrienne M. Bushau-Sprinkle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background. Acute kidney injury (AKI) develops in 30% of patients who receive cisplatin, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent. We previously showed that NHERF1 loss resulted in increased susceptibility to cisplatin nephrotoxicity. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to elucidate mechanisms of susceptibility to cisplatin-induced AKI, specifically the effects of NHERF1 loss on tubule cell metabolism, tubule cell mitochondrial function, and alterations in oxidative state and/or renal handling of cisplatin. Methods. 2-4 month male wild type (WT) and NHERF1 knock out (KO) mice were treated with either vehicle control or cisplatin (20 mg/kg dose IP) for 4, 24, and 72 …

Dual Role Of Antimicrobial Peptide Cathelicidin In Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease., Fengyuan Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Patients with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) have high morbidity and mortality in its severe forms. One of the major features in different forms of ALD is the altered gut microbiota. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a crucial role in maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis. LL-37 (known as CRAMP in mouse) is the sole member of the human cathelicidin family and has piqued great research interest for its dual role in modulating microbiota and the immune response in metabolic diseases. Inflammasome activation is an important component of the liver pathophysiology in ALD and requires two signals for its full activation to induce the …

The Emerging Oral Pathogen, Filifactor Alocis, Disrupts Neutrophil Functions To Enhance Survival And Dysregulate Inflammation., Irina Miralda Molina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Periodontitis is an irreversible, chronic inflammatory disease where pathogenic microbial communities accumulate in the gingival crevice. Advances in culture-independent techniques have facilitated the identification of new bacterial species in periodontal lesions, such as the Gram-positive anaerobe, Filifactor alocis. Neutrophils are a major component of the innate host response, and the outcome of their interaction with F. alocis may be a determinant of oral health status. While neutrophil functions typically protect the host against periodontal disease, oral pathogens have adapted to evade or disarm neutrophil microbicidal functions while promoting mechanisms that drive inflammation, which also provides a source of nutrients …

Tobacco Smoke Exposures And Fertility-Related Outcomes Among Females Seeking Fertility Care, And The Interaction With N-Acetyltransferase 2 (Nat2).., T'Shura S. A. Ali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of harmful substances and is one of the leading preventable causes of mortality and morbidity in the United States. Past studies examining tobacco smoke exposures on fecundability and pregnancy outcomes are inconsistent. NAT2 is an important enzyme in the metabolism of xenobiotic substances found within tobacco smoke. This preconception cohort study examines associations between active smoking and secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) on fecundability and spontaneous abortion (SA), and explores a possible interaction with NAT2 acetylator status. A total of 223 women seeking fertility care were followed for up to 2.3 years. Preconception tobacco smoke exposures were …

Managing Stress In A Constantly-Changing Workforce, Lorri Burch-Hubbard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When staffing reductions occur in the workplace, staff left behind may face increased stress, may not be given the support they need to manage the feelings caused by the reduction. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of stress caused by staffing reductions has on medical technologists (MT), medical technicians (MLT) and respiratory therapists (RT), and to identify any common methods of stress management used by those staff who remain in the organization.

Literature research showed the negative impact stress can have on individuals when it is not addressed, such as decreased work performance, health issues, and even the …

Health And Academic Achievement In College And University Students, Amber Beane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative correlational study was to investigate the relationship between academic achievement and health in a national sample of college students using quantitative data analysis. Specifically, the researcher analyzed the relationship between three health-promoting behaviors (physical activity, strength training, and fruit and vegetable consumption), three negative health behaviors (cigarette, e-cigarette, and opioid use) and obesity with GPA.

Cross-sectional data on student health collected from the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment II (ACHA-NCHA-II) and completed by 426,650 college students from 650 U.S. colleges during the semesters between 2015 and 2019 formed the foundation for …

Examination Of Perceptions Of Weight Loss And Weight Loss Methods, Andrew Seiber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine individuals’ perceptions of weight loss and weight loss methods. Respondents were employees and customers attending health/wellness events at local supermarkets in June, July, and August 2019. Participants completed a survey to assess their understanding and perceptions of weight loss and methods used to achieve weight loss. The majority of participants were white females, 60 years or older with a college degree and a Body Mass Index (BMI) classified as overweight or obese. Data revealed most participants had a variety of misconceptions relating to weight loss and weight loss methods that were obscure …

Rural-Urban Variations In Meals On Wheels Programs, Lea C. Florence

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Older adults are living longer than ever before. By 2060, the U.S. population aged 65 or older is projected to reach 98 million. As adults age, the prevalence of chronic diseases and disabilities increases. The need for Meals on Wheels (MOW) services is growing alongside the aging population. Yet, little is known about the geographic variation of services. Little is documented about the organizational capacity of MOW organizations in terms of geography. The current policies supporting home-and community-based services, including MOW, may be insufficient to support all older adults in all types of communities. An analysis of the More Than …

The Benefits Of Alternative Therapies On Adult Mental Health, Sara Bryan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the following descriptive pre and post study was to collect and analyze data to determine if there are benefits to alternative therapies on adult mental health. Three types of alternative therapies were studied: aromatherapy, recreation therapy, and yoga. A literature review was conducted and pre and post questionnaires were administered. Frequencies and averages were run which showed that participants were mostly Caucasian, with an average age of 31 years and most diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Participants showed decreased levels of anxiety and depression after attending both aromatherapy and yoga classes. Participants showed decreased anxiety levels after …

Attrition In A Holistic Job Skills Training Program: A Qualitative Study, Jeaniece Silas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Today thousands of individuals and families are unemployed or underemployed and are seeking ways to combat poverty and become employed. One way that individuals seek to gain employment is by attending job skills training and adult education programs. However, there are barriers that hinder those individuals from successfully completing the programs. The purpose of this study is to explore the experience of applicants of a nonprofit job skills training program called FaithWorks and explore the reasons why applicants were not able to continue and, or complete the program. This study was conducted, through qualitative interviewing of four participants (N=4) utilizing …

The Moderating Effect Of Social Support On The Impact Of Perceived Loneliness On The Mental Health Of Long-Term Care Nursing Home Residents, Lindsay Nicole Stivers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study is to examine the moderating effect of social support on the impact of loneliness on anxiety and depression in long-term care residents in nursing homes. Recent research suggests that a relationship exists between loneliness and rates of depression and anxiety in long-term care nursing home residents. The present study seeks to examine the buffering effect of social support and utilize the findings to provide suggestions for policy, practice, and research. A binary logistic regression and a series of multiple linear regressions were conducted to examine the relationships between the variables. The present study’s sample …

A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Vision Loss: Investigating The Lived Experiences Of Adventitiously Blinded Adults, Jennifer Perry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to share the lived experiences of four adventitiously blinded individuals. The researcher interviewed participants regarding the events surrounding their vision loss. The researcher used a descriptive phenomenological method to analyze the results.

Through analysis, seven themes emerged as essential experiences for experiencing adventitious vision loss: Medical Dysfunction, Others’ Reactions, Ancillary Losses, Rehabilitation, Sensory Enhancements, Benefits of Vision Loss, and Participants’ Advice.

The study indicated that participants’ experiences are influenced by how others in society understand blindness. Suggestions included providing a greater awareness to the public for blindness, its effects, and its available rehabilitation options.

Effect Of Creatinine Point-Of-Care Testing On Turnaround Time For Computed Tomography Exams With Intravenous Contrast, Shannon Haltom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Emergency departments often have a stigma of long wait times. They face multiple challenges related to the flow of patient care due to the variety of factors that affect care and treatment. In order to support patient-centered care, the purpose of this project was to determine if point-of-care testing of creatinine decreases turnaround time for computed tomography exams with intravenous contrast in the emergency department. A mixed methodology of consecutive sampling and retrospective data collection was used. In all, 128 ratio data elements were reviewed, including a retrospective review of 64 charts from September 2018 and a consecutive sample …