Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Motionteller: Multi-Modal Integration Of Wearable Time-Series With Llms For Health And Behavioral Understanding, Aiwei Zhang, Arvind Pillai, Andrew Campbell, Nicholas C. Jacobson

Computer Science Senior Theses

As wearable sensing becomes increasingly pervasive, a key challenge remains: how can we generate natural language summaries from raw physiological signals such as actigraphy - minute-level movement data collected via accelerometers? In this work, we introduce MotionTeller, a generative framework that natively integrates minute-level wearable activity data with large language models (LLMs). MotionTeller combines a pretrained actigraphy encoder with a lightweight projection module that maps behavioral embeddings into the token space of a frozen decoder-only LLM, enabling free-text, autoregressive generation of daily behavioral summaries.

We construct a novel dataset of 54,383 ⟨actigraphy, text⟩ pairs derived from real-world NHANES recordings, and …

Antifungal Efficacy And Flexural Strength Of Silver Nanoparticles Reinforced Cad/Cam And Heat-Cured Pmma Polymers: An In-Vitro Study, Himanshi Aggarwal

All ETDs from UAB

Background: PMMA denture base resins have high propensity for C. albicans growth. Previous studies have found that silver nanoparticle (SNP) addition into conventional PMMA resin improves fungal resistance without interfering with its flexural strength. Recently, CAD/CAM dentures have become highly popular, but they are also prone to fungal in-growth. However, little is known about the effect of addition of silver nanoparticles in CAD/CAM printed PMMA resin material. Objective: To compare the effect of the addition of cytocompatible concentration (1 µm/ml) of SNP on the antifungal efficacy and flexural strength of CAD/CAM printed and heat-cured PMMA polymers. Materials and methods: A …

Nurse Led Staff Education Program For Workplace Stress Reduction, Ebony Sudduth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project evaluated the impact of a staff education program aimed at increasing healthcare workers' awareness of workplace stress dangers among teammates in an outpatient hemodialysis center. The identified practice issue was limited knowledge about the facilitators, adverse outcomes, and resources related to occupational stress in healthcare. Lack of education regarding the risks of work-related stress presents a critical concern in nursing practice, significantly affecting caregiver well-being and patient outcomes. Nurses, particularly in high-pressure environments such as hemodialysis centers, often experience unrecognized and unmanaged emotional and physical demands, leading to chronic stress and burnout. Hemodialysis nurses are especially susceptible …

Targeting Eya1 Phosphatase Activity In Mll-Rearranged Leukemia, Lola Badmus

Dissertations

MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) leukemia is an aggressive subset of acute leukemia, accounting for up to 10% of adult and 70% of infant AML and ALL cases. These leukemias are driven by MLL fusion proteins, which recruit epigenetic cofactors to dysregulate gene expression, leading to poor prognosis and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Previous lab work identified EYA1’s role in leukemogenesis, establishing it as a therapeutic target in MLL-r leukemia. EYA1, is a transcriptional coactivator and protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP). Originally a gout medication, benzbromarone (BBR), was identified in an NCI Diversity Set screen as an EYA1-specific PTP inhibitor. BBR provides a tool …

Lower Cross Syndrome In Female Rowers, Mary M. Goodhew

Honors Projects

Rowing is a full-body sport that requires technique, strength and speed, yet allows athletes to compete at all ages. The rowing stroke is completed sitting down with the hip flexors in a shortened position and lower back muscles activated. The combination of short and overactive muscles leads female rowers to be susceptible to lower cross syndrome and back pain. This study examined the prevalence of LCS in female rowers and the effect of PNF stretching of the hip flexors on the LCS. LCS was examined using a posture assessment and Thomas tests. A Biodex isokinetic dynamometer hip extension and flexion …

Association Between Health Insurance, Antiretroviral Treatment, And Hiv Preexposure Prophylaxis In Men Aged 20–85 In Virginia, Lauren Elizabeth Maxwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV prevention and treatment disparities persist among men in Virginia, particularly in racial and ethnic minority groups. This study examined how insurance type and demographic factors influence prescriptions for antiretroviral treatment (ART) and preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Addressing these disparities is critical to advancing public health equity and reducing HIV rates. The purpose was to assess whether age, race, ethnicity, region, and insurance type are associated with the type of oral HIV medication prescribed. Guided by the HIV prevention and care cascade frameworks, the study focused on access and adherence. Using a cross-sectional quantitative design, the study analyzed secondary data from …

The Effects Of Post Activation Potentiation Using Accommodating Resistance, Brennan Sweet

Doctorate in Kinesiology

Post activation potentiation is the short increase of power output following a heavy exercise. This effect could be due to several mechanisms, the most popular are increased sensitivity of actin and myosin to calcium or alpha motoneuron reactivity. The idea behind using the accommodating resistance is that eccentrics get lighter throughout the movement to avoid sticking points whilst changing the strength curve of the exercise. This may cause a greater stretch reflex and create more force from the weakest position of the movement because of the eccentrics being quicker also known as. Using accommodating resistance may also be less fatiguing …

Evaluation Of Social Worker Knowledge Of Human Trafficking At The Oregon State Hospital: A Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis Of Education, Training, And Victim Identification, Jamie Sue Pryde

Dissertations and Theses

The prevalence of human trafficking continues to increase worldwide, and the implementation of human trafficking education and victim identification within institutions is slow to catch up. The Oregon State Hospital is a psychiatric in-patient hospital that currently does not provide human trafficking education or a screening tool for staff and does not know how to provide treatment to trafficked victims. Interviews were conducted with employed social workers at the Oregon State Hospital to obtain a baseline understanding of their previous education, training, and knowledge of human trafficking to aid in the creation of a trafficking screening tool. Results indicate participants …

Staff Education To Improve Nurses’ Knowledge On Medication Administration Error Prevention, Francoise Tabe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project aimed to enhance nurses’ knowledge on medication administration error prevention through targeted education interventions. Medication administration errors are a significant concern in health care, leading to patient harm and reduced quality of care. This project addressed the gap in nursing knowledge regarding strategies to prevent these errors, with the goal of improving patient safety and outcomes. The practice-focused question explored in this project was the following: How does implementing an education program affect nurses’ knowledge and practices related to medication error prevention? The purpose of this doctoral project was to educate nurses on best practices for …

Acoustic And Hemodynamic Analysis Of Phantoms: Roughness And Flow Dynamics, Ethan Erik Olof Sundberg

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether different vascular phantoms, with and without a surrogate arm, could serve as effective analogs to the human brachial artery for assessing endothelial dysfunction, an early indicator of cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is characterized by plaque buildup and endothelial damage, which precede more severe clinical events and are often detectable through changes in vascular function. A 40” water tower was used to simulate diastolic pressure, enabling water flow through each phantom. Strain gauge pressure transducers were placed at both ends of the phantoms to measure pressure drop, while a microphone captured …

Occupational Stress: Lifestyle And Health In Blue- And White-Collar Workers In The United States, Carice T. Craffey

Dissertations and Theses

ABSTRACT

Occupational Stress: Lifestyle and Health in Blue- and White-Collar Workers in the United States

by

Carice Craffey

Advisor: Catherine M. Schooling, Ph.D.

Background: Heart disease and diabetes are leading causes of death in the United States and globally, particularly heart disease in men. Employment conditions can contribute to illness and death. Occupational or job stress (OS) is a potential contributor to heart disease and diabetes, but its conceptualization and role for men and women remain unclear. To address this gap, I conceptualized OS, then examined the role of OS in heart disease and diabetes.

Methods: I used a literature …

Utilizing Maxillofacial Injury Severity Score (Mfiss) In Postmortem Head Gunshot Imaging For Surgical Planning And Preventative Treatment Assessment, Kamryn Johnston

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Gunshot injuries to the head present a complex challenge in both clinical and forensic contexts. This study uses the Maxillofacial Injury Severity Score (MFISS) – a system used by surgeons to assess traumatic head injuries on a 0 – 4 scale– to evaluate postmortem imaging. By applying the MFISS to postmortem cases, this research aims to reverse engineer trauma manifestation to explain initial ballistic injury in head gunshot (GSWH) victims to be translated into current clinical practice, particularly reconstructive surgery and preventative care. This study hypothesizes that applying the MFISS to postmortem head gunshot imaging will provide valuable data for …

Targeting Nmdar Signaling In Retinopathy Of Prematurity: A Novel Antibody-Based Strategy, Sanjana Chekuri

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of vision loss in premature infants, caused by high-oxygen therapy exposure postnatally for lung development. During this period, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression is suppressed, inhibiting normal blood vessel growth. When premature infants transition back to a normal-oxygen environment, the metabolic demands of the retina exceed oxygen availability, inducing a state of relative hypoxia. This hypoxia triggers the upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), which in turn drives the overexpression of VEGF and erythropoietin (EPO), leading to pathological neovascularization. N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (NMDAR) is a highly expressed excitatory receptor in the brain …

Audiologic Management Of Individuals With Advanced Cochlear Otosclerosis: A Systematic Review, Sophie Silvermintz

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This systematic review evaluates the efficacy and outcomes of cochlear implantation (CI) in adults diagnosed with far-advanced cochlear otosclerosis. This synthesis of audiological outcomes, surgical complexities, and patient-reported quality-of-life (QoL) measures is the first systematic analysis of peer-reviewed studies on this topic. By completing a comprehensive analysis of CI's viability in managing severe-to-profound mixed or sensorineural hearing loss attributed to CO, it is anticipated that CI will be considered an option for persons experiencing the significant communication challenges presented by CO when traditional approaches to management have been ineffective.

Eleven peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria, examining key outcomes including …

Path Dependency And The Politics Of U.S. Health Reform, Sophia Spadafore

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study examines the impact of path dependency on health reform efforts in the United States, specifically analyzing how past policy decisions constrain subsequent reform possibilities. Utilizing the theoretical framework of historical institutionalism, the study investigates two significant cases—the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965 and the The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010—to illustrate how successful healthcare reforms embed institutional arrangements that limit future policy innovation. Through a comparative case study approach grounded in legislative records, historical texts, and scholarly analyses, the research highlights that major healthcare reforms in the U.S. have consistently been structured …

Development Of An Evidence-Based Mentorship Program To Support Historically Underrepresented Communication Sciences And Disorders Undergraduate Students Applying For Graduate Programs In Speech Language Pathology And/Or Audiology, Leannmarie Senat

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Introduction and Background

The professions of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) and Audiology have had a long-standing history of racial, ethnic, and linguistic disparities among practitioners. In recent years, despite the increase in diversity of the United States population, and research that shows the benefits of increased diversity in healthcare, this lack of representation persists.

Purpose

The current pilot study describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of an evidence-based mentorship program aimed at supporting historically underrepresented undergraduate students in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) at Brooklyn College (BC) to prepare participants who plan to apply for graduate programs in SLP and Audiology. …

Bimodal Hearing Vs. Bilateral Hearing: Presenting A Review Of Existing Literature To Assist Audiologists With Determining The Optimal Hearing Modality, Eliana Dachman

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

While guidelines exist for cochlear implant candidates, there are no specific established guidelines for bimodal users who are considering a 2nd cochlear implant. The objective of this paper is to critically review the literature addressing the question of comparative performance outcomes for bimodal hearing (one hearing aid in combination with a cochlear implant) and bilateral cochlear implants (two cochlear implants). The inclusion criteria were publications comparing bimodal and bilateral cochlear implant performance on speech perception, localization, and subjective quality. Fifteen qualifying papers were identified and analyzed. The results indicate that there are possible advantages to bilateral cochlear implants when assessing …

Morphological Variation And Change In The Lateral Ventricles And Caudate Nucleus Across Schizophrenia Types: A Metric Analysis, Devin Venezia

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Schizophrenia is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that alters cognitive function, perception, and behavior. The disorder affects one percent of the global population and is characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, cognitive function, and emotional expression (Hany et al., 2024). While previous research involves three-dimensional (3D) renderings of subcortical structures that demonstrate schizophrenic-specific morphology (Narr et al., 2001; Zhang et al., 2023), the variation expressed by different schizophrenia subtypes require greater focus. This research study explores the structural variations in the lateral ventricles and the caudate nucleus across different schizophrenia subtypes, emphasizing potential sexbased differences. This study hypothesized …

How Do Health Insurer Practices Affect Health Equity For Gay And Bisexual Men And Transmasculine Individuals? A Qualitative And Health Policy Assessment, Alexa D'Angelo

Dissertations and Theses

In the U.S. there continue to be stark disparities in health that affect LGBTQ+ communities. These disparities include those related to mental health, sexually transmitted infections, along with chronic illnesses and some cancers. Higher health needs across diagnostic categories mean that LGBTQ+ individuals require access to the healthcare system both to prevent conditions disproportionately affecting the community, and to treat conditions as they arise. In the U.S., access to healthcare often requires either reliable insurance coverage or another payer to cover costs associated with care. Thus, health insurance status and coverage of care, along with coverage regulations and health policies …

Assessing The Relationship Between Combat Exposure, Wartime Service, And Barriers To Substance Use Disorder Treatment In Post 9/11 Veterans., Robert Near

Dissertations

Substance use disorders (SUDs) represent a critical public health concern, particularly within military and veteran populations. The complex interplay of mental health challenges, combat exposure, and the unique stressors associated with military service contribute to a heightened vulnerability among veterans. Research from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) underscores the prevalence of these issues, indicating that approximately 1 in 10 veterans from the Iraq or Afghanistan wars treated by the VA are diagnosed with a SUD (Veterans Affairs, 2023). Additionally, veterans from all eras show a higher propensity for binge drinking when compared to the general population, further …

The Rose That Grew From Concrete: Exploring The Romantic Experiences Of Black Men With Histories Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Tatyana Nichelle Smith

Dissertations

Contemporary research typically characterizes Black heterosexual relationships by dismal marriage and divorce rates, largely ignoring the reality of how Black men develop attachments with their romantic partners and therefore continuing to perpetuate deficit perspectives of Black men (e.g., the cause of conflictual romantic relationships and “broken” Black families). What may be less understood about these relationships is the influence of childhood trauma, such as childhood sexual abuse, and Black men’s experiences of gender role conflict. Research shows that Black men’s experiences of childhood sexual abuse and socialization about masculinity have important implications for how they come to view themselves and …

Topodino: Self-Supervised Topological Representation Learning For Neuronal Morphologies, Yasser Binbisher

Master's Theses

Neuronal cell types are categorized by transcriptomic identity, yet their morphological heterogeneity defies this classification. In response, researchers have adopted unsupervised graph representation learning as a tool to reveal morphological variation within single-class transcriptomic types. However, the complex geometry of neuronal morphology—especially long axons and dense dendrites—challenges graph neural networks, which struggle with message propagation across extended structures. To mitigate this, current approaches enforce sub-sampling on neuronal graphs and omit axons entirely, sacrificing critical biological features for computational efficiency. To overcome this trade-off, this thesis introduces TopoDINO, a self-supervised, topology-aware representation learning model designed to preserve the full hierarchical organization …

The Compassionate H.E.A.R.T. Of Relationship-Centered Care, Dustin Willis

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The patient-provider interaction (PPI) represents a critical dimension of healthcare delivery that significantly influences clinical outcomes, yet the nuanced dynamics of compassionate care remain operationally elusive. This dissertation presents the Compassionate H.E.A.R.T. (Helping Ease, Alleviate, & Relieve Therapeutically) framework—a novel theoretical model for understanding and enhancing relationship-centered care—and examines its validity, reliability, and therapeutic impact.

Through four interconnected studies, this research explores the multifaceted nature of compassionate care. First, a comprehensive literature review excavates the landscape of patient-provider interactions, highlighting terminological inconsistencies, incomplete theoretical frameworks, and methodological challenges in measuring these ethereal qualities. Second, the Compassionate H.E.A.R.T. model is introduced, …

Sunlight Exposure And The Risk Of Mortality And Breast Cancer Incidence, Noor Nadhim

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: Prolonged sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer. However, multiple sunlight-related health benefits have been identified. The overall impact of sun exposure on mortality is not clear. Sunlight could be associated with breast cancer risk via stimulating vitamin D photosynthesis; however, evidence has been mixed. Objectives: To investigate the association of time spent outdoors in daylight (in warmer and cooler months, and the total [annual]) and UV irradiance using the residential locations of participants with the risks of mortality (all-cause and cause-specific: cancer, cardiovascular [CVD], and non-cancer non-CVD) and primary invasive breast cancer.

Methods: This research …

Nursing Advocacy In Maternal Health For Women With Sickle Cell Disease, Jodian Lyn

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths among Black women in the U.S. are preventable. Racial disparities, biases, and discrimination negatively impact maternal health, by contributing to higher stress levels, affecting pregnancy outcomes. The maternal death rate for Black women with sickle cell (SCD) is 629, Black women without SCD is 12, and the general population 6 per 100,000. The voices of these women are often missing in research.

This qualitative study, using Hermeneutic Phenomenological approach, explores the lived experiences of Black women with SCD during pregnancy. Data analysis was completed using an interpretive framework to elucidate the essence of the lived …

Tobacco, Alcohol, And Poverty In Lao Pdr Based On National Survey Analysis, Robert M. Semakula

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Tobacco and alcohol use are among the most prevalent and harmful addictive behaviors globally, including in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). In Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, substance use patterns are shaped by cultural, social, economic, policyrelated, and environmental factors. This study aimed to: (1) explore associations between different patterns of alcohol and tobacco use among men and women in Lao PDR, and (2) investigate the effect of poverty on the relationship between alcohol and tobacco use. We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2013 Lao National Adult Tobacco Survey (N = 9,706), a nationally representative sample …

Intersecting Inequities: Latinx Access To Mental Health Services, Melissa Thorson

Dissertations

This study examined barriers to mental health service utilization among Latinx populations using data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Through the theoretical frameworks of Minority Stress Theory and Toxic Stress Theory, the study investigated the relationships between age, language proficiency, socioeconomic status, and mental health service access among different Latinx subgroups. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, multiple regression, and mediation analyses on a sample of Latinx adults (N = 9,852). Results indicated associations between age and English proficiency (χ² = 145.23, p < .001, Cramer's V = 0.38), with 45% of adults aged 50 and older reporting limited English proficiency. Socioeconomic analysis revealed that 32% of older Latinx adults reported family incomes below $20,000, with insurance status partially mediating the relationship between income and service utilization (indirect effect = 0.15, 95% CI [0.08, 0.23]). differences in utilization rates emerged among Latinx subgroups (F(6, 1243) = 8.76, p < .001, η² = 0.12), with Mexican-origin individuals showing higher utilization (10%) compared to Puerto Rican individuals (2-3%). Age and socioeconomic status demonstrated interaction effects (β = 0.18, p < .01), while language proficiency moderated the relationship between age and service utilization (β = 0.24, p < .001). These findings suggest that barriers to mental health service utilization among Latinx populations are complex and interconnected, requiring multilevel interventions that address linguistic, cultural, and socioeconomic factors simultaneously. Implications for healthcare policy and service delivery are discussed, emphasizing the need for culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate mental health services.

Self-Reported Audiological And Vestibular Symptoms Associated With Lyme Disease, Daniella A. Bryan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background:

Lyme disease, an infectious vector-borne illness, is carried by the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, which harbor the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, affecting hundreds of thousands of people in the United States annually. Lyme disease has a multitude of clinical presentations and overlaps with other complex illnesses, making diagnosis and treatment a medical challenge. This distinct bacterium can migrate into any organ system through the mediums of soft tissue, the lymphatic system, and the circulatory system. Despite its prevalence and range in symptomatology, minimal research has been conducted to identify distinct audiological and vestibular symptoms associated with a Lyme …

Localization Of Music In Perceived Motion In Cochlear Implant Users, Madeleine Beyer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Spatial perception contributes to music perception and enjoyment, yet it remains understudied in cochlear implant (CI) users. Spatial effects in music are often achieved through panning, a tool which redistributes an audio signal level between or among several outputs, creating a perceived sound localization. CI users typically perform worse than normal hearing (NH) listeners on tasks of horizontal localization and music perception when manipulating the actual location of the sound. However, despite the common use of panning in daily use and consumption of music, no previous studies were conducted to examine how panning impacts the listening experience for CI users. …

Survey Of The Diagnostic, Rehabilitative, Educational, And Inter-Professional Changes In The Profession Of Audiology, Leah Joshowitz

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: The profession of audiology has undergone dramatic changes since its inception. A survey of audiologists working in a variety of settings was conducted to gain insight into their perspective on how the scope of audiology practice has changed overtime. Participants responded to an open-ended questionnaire with questions ranging from queries about the expansion of knowledge base in topics such as advanced diagnostics, technological advances, national regulations, educational requirements, and inter-professional collaborations. The implications of the findings regarding the evolution of the current scope of practice and how it can be altered are discussed below.

Methods: An open-ended questionnaire was …