Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Novel Piperidone And Bispidine Derivatives: A New Approach In Cancer Therapy, Lereen Khaled Youssry

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide. As a result, scientists have been trying to find novel therapeutic approaches that target specific metabolic pathways selective to tumor cells. In this study, two novel piperidone and bispidine derivatives, organic molecules that target polyamine metabolism, were synthesized, and their potential cytotoxic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects were investigated. Polyamines are naturally occurring metabolites that were reported to be in excess at cancer cells and were accounted for tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Accordingly, the novel piperidone and bispidine derivatives were expected to disrupt tumor growth and progression via up-regulation of key …

Impact Of Primary Care Healthcare Providers Patient Electronic Medical Records Completion Rates Using Speech Recognition Dictation, Pepper Losely

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Completion of electronic medical records (EMRs) is an ongoing problem for providers, facilities, and insurance reimbursement. Current completion of EMRs lack standardized processes to make EMRs completion easier for providers with their busy workday and allow optimal time for patient care.

PICOT: For healthcare providers at primary clinics (P) will implementing speech recognition dictation (SRD) for data entry into the electronic medical records (EMRs) (I) compared to the current practice of manually typing all data causing long medical record turnaround times (c) improve medical record completion within 30 days (O) over 10-weeks (T).

Evidence: Evidence that was …

Cultural Humility, Holistic Admission Review, And Multicultural Experiences Among Newly Admitted Nursing Students, Janna Michelle Hackett

Nursing ETDs

This study explored the impact of Holistic Admissions Review (HAR) on demographic characteristics, multicultural experiences, and cultural humility (CH) levels among newly admitted pre-licensure nursing students. Fostering CH and diversity among healthcare providers may help reduce health disparities. Traditional admissions methods may not identify candidates with traits supporting CH development, whereas HAR considers diverse backgrounds and experiences. Two groups were surveyed: one admitted through HAR and the other through traditional methods. No significant differences in CH scores were found, but significant differences were found in age, living abroad, and volunteering with diverse populations. Students admitted through HAR were younger and …

A Comparative Analysis Of Dosimetric Effects: Reusing Vs. Generating New Dwell Times In Ring And Tandem Hdr Treatment Simulations, Brandy N. Kossow

Masters Projects

Purpose

This study intended to retrospectively compare the dosimetric effects of dwell times used in ring and tandem high-dose radiation (HDR) procedures in cervical and endometrial cancer patients. Specifically, whether reusing dwell times from the initial treatment to subsequent treatments creates a clinically significant dosimetric impact on a subject's treatment course.

Methods

Ten samples were picked for this retrospective study. The plans used in the actual treatment of each sample were compared to a newly created treatment plan reusing the exact dwell times used in the initial treatment in subsequent treatments. For each sample, the doses for individual constraints were …

Parents’ Experience Of The Effects Of Racism On The Psychological And Physical Health Of Teenagers With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Akane Nakamura

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many children and adults in the United States experience developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, leading to bias, marginalization, and economic hardship. Racism exacerbates these issues for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), increasing depression, isolation, and health disparities. The purpose of this study was to explore parents' perspectives on the impact of racism on the psychological and physical health of teenagers aged 13–18 years with moderate IDD in the Northwestern United States. Disability critical race theory provided a lens for examining how race and disability intersect to create barriers for these teenagers. The research method was qualitative. Phenomenology …

Comparison Of Leveling A Deep Curve Of Spee With Extractions Versus Non-Extraction: A Biomechanical Perspective, Mitchell James Muller

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Introduction: This study evaluated and compared orthodontic forces from different archwire designs and materials used to correct a deep curve of Spee. Methods: A three-dimensional orthodontic force tester (OFT) was used to measure forces and moments exerted by archwires on brackets from central incisors to first molars. Two setups were tested: one with a full dentition from central incisor to first molar, and another simulating bicuspid extractions with the first premolar removed. Dentoform models representing a deep curve of Spee were created using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) data. The setup employed 0.022 × 0.028-inch zero-prescription brackets secured with elastomeric ligatures. …

Analyses Of Morphological Effects Of Cryopreservation On Plasmodium Yoelii Sporozoites, Lauren J. Topley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Malaria is a vector-borne disease and is a major global public health threat caused by the genus Plasmodium. Of the five species that infected humans, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum contribute the highest rates of morbidity and mortality. Research efforts to develop antimalarial drugs and effective vaccines is imperative to the prevention of future cases. Plasmodium has three reproductive stages: sporogonic, liver, and blood. Sporozoites are injected into the human host from an infected female Anopheles mosquito, which travel to the liver to initiate liver stage malaria. Since few sporozoites are successful, the liver stage is a bottleneck of the …

Investigation Of Subcellular Damage And Long-Term Non-Cancerous Cardiovascular Effects Following Whole-Body Photon Irradiation, Nousha Afshari

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Current radiobiological models focus primarily on nuclear DNA damage and fail to fully explain radiation-induced noncancerous health effects. This dissertation investigates whether non-nuclear subcellular structures contribute to radiation-induced biological damage through experimental biomarker analysis and computational microdosimetry. The central hypothesis posits that whole-body photon irradiation results in subcellular non-nuclear damage, specifically increased circulating mitochondrial DNA concentrations, that correlates with radiation dose and long-term noncancerous effects such as cardiovascular disease.

Specific Aim 1 measured mitochondrial and nuclear DNA concentrations in banked blood samples from 72 Chinese rhesus macaques that previously received whole-body photon irradiation ($0-10$ Gy) from Cobalt-60 or LINAC sources. …

Cannabis And Covid: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis Of Their Impact On Mental Health-Related Hospital Visits In Rural Arizona (2016-2023), Jennifer Megan Suter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Arizona’s rural communities face shortages in mental health care services. In 2020, the nearly simultaneous onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the legalization of recreational cannabis introduced overlapping public health stressors that may have disproportionately affected these vulnerable populations. However, their combined impact on rural mental health remains understudied. This three-manuscript dissertation employed interrupted time series analyses to assess how these events influenced monthly hospital visits for schizophrenia, psychosis, cannabis-induced psychosis, and suicidal behaviors among rural Arizona adults aged 21 and older. A total of 16,468 records from the Arizona State Inpatient and Emergency Department Databases (SID and SEDD) met …

Low-Magnitude High-Frequency Mechanical Vibration Enhances Osteogenesis In Human Pdl Cells Through Piezo1 Ion Channel, Mina Oh

Master's Theses (2009 -)

ABSTRACT LOW-MAGNITUDE HIGH-FREQUENCY MECHANICAL VIBRATION ENHANCES OSTEOGENESIS IN HUMAN PDL CELLS THROUGH PIEZO1 ION CHANNEL Mina Oh, D.M.D Marquette University, 2025 Introduction: Low-magnitude high-frequency (LMHF) mechanical vibration has been shown to enhance osteogenesis in various osteogenic tissues and cells, including periodontal ligament (PDL) cells, however its effectiveness remains relatively low. The Piezo1 mechanosensitive ion channel plays a critical role in mechanotransduction, however its specific involvement in the LMHF-induced osteogenesis is unknown. This study aims to elucidate the role of Piezo1 in mediating osteogenic responses in human PDL cells subjected to LMHF mechanical vibration. Materials and Methods: Human PDL cells were …

The State Of School-Based Ot Practice Regarding Concussion-Related Vision Disorders, Kimberly Meany, Emily Behnke, Ariks Lanctot, Audrey Maynard, Samuel Szarowicz

Masters Projects

Purpose: More than 830,000 pediatric patients yearly are affected by a concussion (Rosenbaum, 2020). Occupational therapists can support a child's performance in the classroom. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the current practice of occupational therapists treating those with a concussion in the school setting. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand school-based occupational therapy practice regarding concussion-related vision disorders.

Design: Cross-sectional survey. Participants were licensed OTs practicing in the US, working in a school-based or related pediatric setting, with more than two years of pediatric experience, holding at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited …

Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment Adherence Among Black/African American People Living In Houston, Texas, Napoleon Ayibo Wokoma

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early detection and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is crucial in preventing active TB and supporting elimination efforts. However, adherence to LTBI treatment is challenging, especially among racial and ethnic minorities, with Black/African Americans showing particularly low rates. A quantitative retrospective chart review was conducted to examine sociodemographic factors affecting LTBI adherence in Black/African American individuals and to evaluate various adherence strategies. Using the health belief model, 435 deidentified secondary data records were analyzed from the Houston Health Department from 2012 to 2022, covering both native and foreign-born Black/African American patients undergoing LTBI treatment. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including …

Electrochemical Properties Of Rhodium-Plated Esthetic Orthodontic Archwires, Michael Hoy

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Objective: Esthetics are becoming more important to patients with increased desire for ceramic brackets as they go through orthodontic treatment. Despite ceramic brackets offering an esthetic option for patients, traditional metal wires are still most commonly being used. Very little research on rhodium plated wires, specifically the American Orthodontics Iconix Aesthetic Arch Wire, exists in the literature with no tests of corrosion through electrochemical testing. The objective of this research is to analyze how rhodium plating affects the electrochemical properties of nickel-titanium (NiTi) orthodontic wires. Methods: Rhodium-plated NiTi orthodontic wires (Iconix Aesthetic; American Orthodontics) and non-plated NiTi orthodontic wires (NT3 …

Faculty Perceptions Of The Affective Domain In Entry-To-Practice Respiratory Therapy Education: An Exploratory Descriptive Qualitative Study, Jackie W. Davis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Background: The affective domain of learning is one of the three learning domains that comprise Bloom's Taxonomy of learning. The respiratory therapy profession places a great emphasis on the development and assessment of all three learning domains in entry-to-practice respiratory therapy education. While the cognitive and psychomotor domains receive significant attention, the affective domain of learning is often given less attention due to its complexity and lack of definition in the profession. Purpose: An exploratory descriptive qualitative study focused on exploring the affective domain of learning in entry-to-practice respiratory therapy education, specifically how the domain is defined, and …

First Quantitative Investigation On The Dosimetric Perturbation From Dental Hardware In Spot-Scanning Proton Arc (Sparc®) Therapy And Planning Strategies In Head Neck Cancer Patient Population, Evan Harbert

Masters Projects

Purpose

There has been a tremendous interest in applying Spot-scanning Proton Arc (SPArc^®) to benefit head and neck cancer (HNC) patient population. However, the dental hardware materials effects on the beam distribution are not well understood, and placing spots through the dental hardware may cause an unnecessary degradation of target coverage if the material components differ from the nominal plan. The purpose of this study is to provide a quantitative dose perturbation analysis of the uncertainties caused by dental hardware and introduce a SPArc^® planning strategy to mitigate such impacts.

Methods and Materials

A published in-house developed …

The Role Of Self-Reported Health Ratings In Identifying Hospitalization Risk Among Older Adults: An Integrated Review And Secondary Analyses Of Medicare Claims Data, Mary B. Prybylo

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study examined how Self-Reported Health (ratings), a person’s own evaluation of their overall health, relates to hospital admissions and emergency department utilization. It further assessed the extent to which demographic characteristics, Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF) scores (used to estimate healthcare expenditures based on clinical complexity), and the number of chronic conditions influence SRH rating and the likelihood of hospitalization.

Problem and Aim: The growing population of older adults places greater demands on healthcare services, leading to increased financial strain and a need for improved care strategies. Primary care teams, particularly those managing older adults, require effective assessment …

Comparison Of Shear Bond Strength Of New And Rebonded Symetri™ Clear Ceramic Brackets, Ciara Schwarz

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the shear bond strength of the Symetri™ Clear brackets bonded initially to enamel versus after rebonding. An additional aim was to see how a generic debond pliers compares to the Symetri™ Debonding pliers in terms of shear bond strength and bracket morphology after debond. Methods: Sixty extracted premolars and nine extracted canines were collected and stored in 1% Chloramine T solution. The canines were used for a pilot study to test methodology. The premolars were randomly assigned to one of three Groups: Group 1 (single bond), Group 2A (debond with Symetri™ …

The Impact Of High-Fidelity Urinary Catheterization Simulation On Occupational Therapy Students In A Graduate Curriculum: A Pilot Study, Haley Blaney, Reagan Schonhard, Maddie Spring, Rachael Eads, Claire Donahue

Masters Projects

The most recent estimate of the annual incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI) in the United States is approximately 54 cases per one million people. Occupational therapy (OT) students may not feel adequately prepared to treat and educate clients with SCIs about bladder management if they are not exposed to real-life scenarios during their graduate curriculum. Using high-fidelity simulations (HFS) offers a high level of interactivity and realism for the learner, often using human patient simulators and taking place in realistic, mock clinical settings. This study aims to examine the effects of a HFS on OT student's confidence with urinary …

Classroom Occupational Performance Issues For A High School Student Following A Concussion: A Case Study, Cortney Day, Hannah Hall, Holly Treber, Clare Belkowski, Janel Ritt

Masters Projects

Abstract

Background: This study aims to understand any occupational performance issues experienced by a high school student in the classroom following a concussion. Concussion symptoms can include difficulty with vision and cognition, impacting a student’s ability to pursue their education. This information may lead to improved management of students following a concussion in support of their academic participation.

Methods: Using purposive sampling, researchers recruited potential participants by contacting athletic trainers affiliated with Grand Valley State University (GVSU) throughout the local Grand Rapids, MI area. Researchers first obtained written permission to recruit on campus from the principals of the …

Nurse Leader Onboarding, Jennifer Dawn Mcinerney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

he objective of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to investigate the impact of a structured 30-60-90-day onboarding program, incorporating a competency-based checklist aligned with the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) nurse leader competencies, on nurse leader satisfaction. Nurse leaders, often promoted for their clinical skills, frequently lack the necessary support and training for their new roles, leading to high turnover rates. This project aimed to address this gap by developing and implementing a nurse leader education module, which was introduced to 23 nurse leaders over four sessions. A pre-/posttest survey was used to measure changes in satisfaction …

Enhancing Diagnostic Reliability Through Centrifuge Validation And Staff Education: Quality Management Initiative In A Clinical Laboratory, Chris Agoki

MSMLS Capstone Projects

Abstract

This capstone project aims to enhance diagnostic reliability in a clinical laboratory by validating centrifuge performance and implementing an adult education-based training program within a quality management framework. Twenty archived, de-identified whole blood samples were analyzed to compare the performance of a new centrifuge with an existing model, focusing on plasma volume, hemolysis index, and Tacrolimus concentration.

The study demonstrated statistical and clinical equivalence between the devices, supporting the implementation of the new centrifuge. A staff training program, grounded in andragogical principles and guided by transformational leadership and Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model, was developed to integrate validation practices into …

Impact Of A Mentorship Program On School Nurse Confidence, Shanna Groom

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The prevalence of chronic health conditions in children has risen in recent years. As a result, school nurses are now expected to manage medically fragile students while also responding to acute and emergent health issues. This increasing complexity adds extra demands to school nurses, emphasizing the need for strong clinical decision-making skills and confidence. Mentorship programs have been proven to increase the confidence of nurses and are a core essential of the national standards and framework for school nurses. The problems addressed by this project were the lack of a mentorship program in a large school district for newly hired …

Exploring The Validity Of Vocabulary Assessments In Racially, Dialectically, And Socioeconomically Diverse Preschool Populations, Lauren Betzer

LSU Master's Theses

Recent research has advocated for interactive assessments of vocabulary over more traditional, static assessments, as interactive assessments are more sensitive to linguistic and cultural diversity. Static vocabulary assessments, such as the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), probe existing knowledge, while interactive assessments, such as the Quick Interactive Language Screener (QUILS), examines a child’s language in a wholistic manner by assessing previously learned vocabulary knowledge, syntactic knowledge, and processing when learning a new concept. It remains unclear which assessment more accurately captures children's vocabulary knowledge throughout the Deep South—a region characterized by its unique cultural and linguistic environment, which includes the …

Community Health Workers: Key To Decreasing Food Insecurity In Pregnant Individuals, Linda Waggener Dnp

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Objectives: Food insecurity (FI) in pregnant individuals (PI)s is a global threat to birthing individuals and fetuses with potential immediate and intergenerational impacts on family and community. Community Health Workers (CHWs) facilitate support including food resources for FIPIs. The Family Fresh Rx (FFRx) program, within Food as Medicine (FaM) model provides fresh fruits and vegetables, optimize nutrition, and mitigates threats to health. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Quality Improvement (QI) project’s two objectives were CHWs’ FFRx program and referral process satisfaction evaluation through a pre, post, and four-week post refresher presentation (RP) modified System Usability Scale (mSUS) …

Speak Now With The Courage To Confront: An Educational Intervention To Address Bullying, Dominique Desiree Gomez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Background: Nurse-to-nurse bullying is a critical issue within the nursing profession, impacting close to half of all nurses. This phenomenon, articulated by the phrase "nurses eat their young," detrimentally influences employee retention, job satisfaction, morale, and ultimately, patient care. Furthermore, nurse-to-nurse bullying significantly affects the well-being of nursing professionals, particularly targeting novice nurses. This targeting raises substantial concerns regarding their retention, as many consider leaving the profession within their initial years of practice due to experiences of bullying. The educational intervention project titled “Speak Now with the Courage to Confront” is designed to mitigate bullying among novice nurses through …

Educating Healthcare Providers To Prevent And Mitigate The Effects Of Zoom Fatigue, Andrea Lima

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Zoom Fatigue (ZF), or physical and neuropsychological responses to excessive videoconferencing (VC), increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like burnout, ZF can compromise patient safety by causing decreased job satisfaction, social isolation, disrupted focus, and difficulty empathizing with patients. This Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement project aimed to assess feelings about VC, raise awareness of the adverse effects of overuse, and empower primary care providers (PCPs) to improve their work experiences. A group of on-site PCPs at a tertiary care medical center in the Southwest, who continued holding exclusive virtual team meetings after the pandemic, was asked to complete the 15-question Zoom Exhaustion …

Conflicting Social Information And Its Impact On Sentence Comprehension In Young Adults With Dld: An Eye Tracking Study, Ansley Davis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Individuals must recognize linguistic and non-linguistic social cues to resolve contextual ambiguities in their conversations. When the linguistic and social cues match, sentence processing is facilitated. However, conflicts between linguistic and social stimuli (i.e., incongruency) can lead to prediction errors which slow sentence processing. Limited research has explored the social cognition conflict resolution skills in individuals with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) despite their documented emotion processing deficits. This study considers the role of social prediction processing in adults with DLD as they engage in a social cognition conflict resolution task.

Young adults with DLD (n=29) and typically developing (TD) peers …

Staff Education On Colorectal Cancer Screening To Improve Knowledge And Usage, Mary Tessie Thullah Bangura

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Executive Summary: Staff Education Project Staff Education on Colorectal Cancer Screening to Improve Knowledge and Usage

Staff Education Project: Staff Education To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, And Motivation In Supporting Medication Adherence, Giovanna Happy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication nonadherence among individuals with psychiatric disorders remains a significant barrier to recovery, ranging from 40% to 60%. Contributing factors include fear of side effects, stigma, cognitive limitations, and complex regimens. This staff education project addressed challenges through the implementation of a structured, evidence-based intervention to improve adherence-supportive practices among 14 outpatient psychiatric nurses. A preimplementation needs assessment revealed inconsistent application of adherence strategies and low staff confidence. The project’s objective was to evaluate whether a structured education program could improve nurses’ knowledge by 15%, confidence by 15%, and willingness by 3.5 points on a Likert scale to promote medication …

Examining The Association Between The Timing Of The First Antenatal Check; Number Of Antenatal Care (Anc) Visits During Pregnancy With Maternal Mortality In Nigeria, Kanayo Omonoju

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal mortality is growing at an alarming rate in Nigeria, ranking the second highest Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) globally. This cross-sectional study examined the association between the timing of the first antenatal check and the number of Antenatal Care (ANC) visits during pregnancy and its impact on maternal mortality using the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2018 among a study population of women 15 - 49 years old. The theoretical framework for this study was grounded in the socioecological model. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine if there are relationships between timing of first antenatal check, the number …