Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

In-Vitro Assessment Of Cb1/Cb2 Receptor Binding And Function, Joey M. Davis

Honors Theses

Cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 are G protein-coupled receptors that have a variety of physiological effects on the human body. Many natural product agonists and antagonists are presumed to interact with the cannabinoid receptors and are therefore heavily studied in drug discovery. Assays are used to study the binding of compounds to these receptors. However, a limited number of these assays are efficient in determining the functional activity of ligands associated with CB1 and CB2. Of those, many use radioactivity which is both expensive and potentially dangerous to the researcher. In this study, we first validated the assays already found …

An Evaluation Of The Treatment Of Asthma In The State Of Mississippi Using Hedis Quality Control Measures, Kyle Kantor

Honors Theses

Introduction: Asthma is an inflammatory condition of the lungs that can have significant impacts on a patient’s quality of life. Asthma attacks can be very uncomfortable and even deadly in some cases. The objective of this study is to evaluate the treatment of asthma in the state of Mississippi and to describe the disparities between demographics to help healthcare providers identify patients who might be at risk for poor treatment and help those patients receive quality healthcare. Methods: The data was retrospectively collected from January to December 2014 Mississippi Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services claims data. This study is …

Study Of Pharmaceutical Tablets Using Raman Mapping, Kyle Joseph Pauly

Honors Theses

Covalent bonds are the strongest type of bonds holding molecules together. Based on the pattern of bonding of the molecule, the atoms associated with the bond will vibrate at a specific frequency. Utilizing vibrational spectroscopy, such as Raman spectroscopy, these unique vibrational frequencies can be used to detect the presence of analytes over a selected area. Furthermore, the intensities of the vibrational modes can be tracked to comparatively quantify the concentration of analytes at various locations. This is a method of great importance due to its ability to compare pharmaceutical tablets synthesized with different techniques. Here, the presence and concentration …

Characterization Of A Plasmid-Based Dna Vaccine For Simian Immunodeficiency Virus, Priya Sanipara

Honors Theses

Described as one of the world’s worst pandemics, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infects millions of people each year and is the cause for AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Despite the development of vaccines for numerous infectious diseases such as polio, small pox, and influenza, a vaccine for HIV remains elusive due to the virus’s high mutation rate and ability to evade the immune system. HIV causes depletion of CD4+ lymphocytes, resulting in a weakened immune system. However, the development of a plasmid-based DNA vaccine approach may help revolutionize vaccine development for HIV due to its ability to confer cellular and humoral …

An Educational Audiology Model For Mississippi: Telepractice For Direct Service Provision, Sally Autry

Honors Theses

Hearing loss among school-aged children is becoming increasingly prevalent (CDC, 2019). Having hearing loss in a classroom setting can negatively affect a child’s language development, academic achievement, and social communication. Educational audiology plays a vital role in the academic success of children with hearing loss by providing a full range of audiology services to students, as part of a multidisciplinary team, to facilitate listening, learning, and communication access. By performing specialized assessments, monitoring personal hearing instruments, recommending, fitting, and managing hearing assistive technology, providing support services, and advocating on behalf of students with hearing loss, educational audiologists help to bridge …

Correlation Of Inflammation In Arthritis With The Myelination In The Brain, Anna Spears

Honors Theses

This study was conducted to investigate whether the influence of arthritis has an effect on the cerebral white matter. The project was performed at the South Oxford Campus, where diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data was obtained from the Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland Sample (NKI- RS). Image processing was conducted using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Brain Software Library in which we obtained raw data to formulate Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC), Axial Diffusivity (AD), Radial Diffusivity (RD), and Fractional Anisotropy. A one way Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to determine the significant difference between the history of arthritis on each of …

The Raphe-Hippocampal Tract And Its Age Differences: Diffusion Tensor Imaging And Probabilistic Tractography Study, Ashley Sekul

Honors Theses

The raphe-hippocampal tract links the raphe nuclei to the hippocampus and is responsible for the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. The hippocampus is key in regulating emotional and stress responses. This study utilized diffusion tensor imaging which uses Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to provide scans of the brain for analyzing differences in the raphe-hippocampal tract as one ages. In this specific study, 491 samples were visually analyzed to gather data about the fractional anisotropy of the raphe nuclei in both male and female brains ranging from 6 to 85 years old. Through the ranking of images, some were discarded, and …

Examining The Possibilities Of Telehealth In Tallahatchie County, Taran Carrasco

Honors Theses

This thesis aims to analyze Tallahatchie County and determine the feasibility of establishing a telehealth program in the county. Telehealth is an evolving aspect in the medical field that incorporates technology with healthcare. This thesis used sociotechnical theory to explain how the feasibility of telehealth could be made more likely as the technology is used over time.Through interviewing UMMC telehealth directors, Tallahatchie Wellness center workers, and citizens of Charleston, this study aims to gauge professional and personal opinions on how feasible it would be to implement telehealth into the Charleston community, as well as how positively telehealth would be accepted …

Who Will Do The Good Works?: The Troubling Case Of Secularization And The Failure Of The Welfare State In England And Perú, Gabrielle Anna Schust

Honors Theses

This study examines the contribution and impacts of the social service works done by nuns in the UK in the 1950s and 1960s, and in Perú within the last five years. Specifically, it investigates the relationship between nuns as providers of social services and other providers such as the government. Drawing on existing literature on theories of secularization, and a close examination of the historical evolution of the British and Peruvian welfare state apparatuses, this study contextualizes the social service work of nuns in contemporaneous social, economic, and political circumstances. It finds that the population of nuns is on a …

Assessment Of Antebrachial And Carpal Muscle Activity During Smartphone Use: Is “Selfie Wrist” A Real Phenomenon?, Monica Stacy

Honors Theses

Reports in the media by celebrities have sparked an interest in a phenomenon being called “selfie-wrist,” in which smartphone users develop symptoms traditionally associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). There has been no research to date which investigates the claims of “selfie wrist.” The primary aim of this study was to address the validity of “selfie wrist” claims. The secondary aim of this study was to further investigate the effects of texting on musculoskeletal health, taking into account the differences between texting one-handed versus two-handed, and the effect of using a grip device while texting.

The experiment consisted of an …

Does It Get Any Worse Than Acne? It Does, Actually. An In-Depth Review Of Accutane’S Regulatory History., Bridget A. Betts

Honors Theses

Isotretinoin, most often recognized by the brand name Accutane®, is regarded by many patients and prescribers as the miracle cure for acne. Its unsurpassed efficacy is paired with serious risk of adverse events and birth defects, which poses ethical questions regarding its safety and necessity. Its regulatory history established precedent in Food and Drug Administration Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies and brought awareness to the sharp dangers of teratogenic drug use.

This medication came as a breakthrough solution to patients that suffered years of unsuccessful regimens for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Some question the risk-benefit evaluation of such a …

Detection And Characterization Of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol And Novel Synthetic Cannabinoid Metabolites Using Human Liver Microsomes, Seema Murugan

Honors Theses

Marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids are the most commonly used and trafficked illicit drug. ∆⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary active compound in marijuana. Synthetic cannabinoids were created as a method to study the effects of cannabinoids on the endocannabinoid system, which consists of endogenous cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and the synthetic and degrading enzymes responsible for the synthesis and degradation of endocannabinoids. Cannabinoids activate the same receptors as endocannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids gained popularity as recreational drugs due to their ability to avoid detection. Synthetic cannabinoids have been found to have a greater binding affinity to the cannabinoid CB₁ receptor …

Assessment Of Orofacial Myofunctional Profiles Of Undergraduate Students In The United States, Rachel Yockey

Honors Theses

Background: Previous research indicates a high prevalence of orofacial myofunctional disorders in the general population. It was further reported that orofacial dysfunction may have wide ramifications, such as teeth displacement, articulation errors, swallowing difficulties, middle ear infections, and frequent colds. The purpose of this study was to examine orofacial myofunctional profiles of undergraduate students in the United States.

Method: The English version of the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S) was used to assess 55 undergraduate university students (age range:18 to 23 years). In addition, each participant completed a standard hearing screening, as well as a hearing history questionnaire.

Results: In our …

Exploring Paramedic Students’ Level Of Preparedness For Disaster Response In Hajj 2019, Nawaf Albaqami

Theses & Dissertations

Objectives: 1) to gain further understanding of the paramedic students' level of preparedness before their clinical training at Hajj. 2) To shed more light on what paramedic students need when responding to a disaster. 3) To determine the need to recommend a change in the current practice with respect

Method: The data collection for this study was a cross-sectional survey using the REDCap electronic data capture tools. It was a convenience sample of 40 respondents. For the analyses, descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used, and the Mann Whitney U test.

Results: The main findings in this study were …

The Escape Pod: Utilizing Escape Room Methodologies To Train Public Health Volunteers On Open Point-Of-Dispensing Operations, Melanie R. Thompson

Theses & Dissertations

Mobilizing Points-of-Dispensing (PODs) during a mass dispensing of medication event at a local health department will require a large amount of personnel, both staff and volunteers. Training the volunteers prior to this type of event is ideal to ensure that POD operations flow quickly and properly. This project aimed to create an affordable and fun training that engaged volunteers and other interested stakeholders while increasing their knowledge of POD operations. Methodologies used in commercial escape rooms were employed in this training to enhance the participants’ understanding of POD operations. Participants to worked in groups to solve puzzles and challenges in …

2020-05-08_Michigandaily_Covidmap, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Daily Michigan COVID-19 Update

The "WHERE WE STAND WITH COVID-19" map was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated daily at 3p.m., Monday - Saturday.

The State of Michigan is working around the clock to test and treat COVID-19 patients. Below is the most recent data healthcare experts across the state have compiled.

The image contained a map, indicating total cases by county, and also provides statistics on Total Confirmed Cases, Total COVID-19 Deaths, Daily Confirmed Cases, and Daily COVID-19 Deaths. There …

2020-05-08_Michiganoverview_Covidbedppe, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Hospital Data

The webpage was obtained from Michigan's Coronavirus Cumulative Data page, under the link Data About Places. Data is self-reported by hospitals daily to the EM Resource System per MDHHS Director Robert Gordon's Emergency Order.

Contains the tables Statewide Available Bed Tracking for COVID-19, COVID-19 Metrics, Statewide Available PPE Tracking for COVID-19 (Statewide Available PPE and Bed Tracking), as well as the tables PPE Days On Hand and Patient Census.

2020-05-08_Michiganoverview_Covidsymptoms, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Syndromic Surveillance System Data

The Syndromic Surveillance System Data report was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 dashboard, from under the link "​Coronavirus Symptoms": https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated daily.

Syndromic Surveillance System data is obtained from approximately 183 facilities participating in syndromic surveillance (132 Emergency Departments (ED), 51 Urgent Cares) across the State of Michigan. The reporting is based on individuals who present at EDs and may not be representative of the overall population. The coronavirus-like symptoms query searches visit free-text (chief complaint, triage notes, and clinical impression) for fever or …

2020-05-08_Michiganoverview_Covidstats, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Cumulative Michigan COVID-19 Data

The COVID Overview page was obtained from Michigan's main COVID-19 page: https:/www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163-520743--,00.html. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated daily at 3p.m., with COVID-19 results included as of 10 a.m.

Note on cumulative counts: This report is provisional and subject to change. As public health investigations of individual cases continue, there will be corrections to the status and details of referred cases that result in changes to this report.
Note on the deaths: Deaths must be reported by health care providers, medical examiners/coroners, and recorded by local health departments …

Coronavirus Update 5-8-20, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont came out with guidance for reopening colleges and universities. The good news is that the recommendations are in line with the discussions and planning that are already taking place among Sacred Heart’s task forces that are preparing for the fall semester and beyond in the wake of the coronavirus.

2020 County Health Rankings Tennessee Data And Updated Substance Abuse 2005-2019, Kelsey L. Grabeel, Jenny Moore

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

2020-05-08 Daily Unm Global Health Covid-19 Briefing, Christophe G. Lambert, Shawn Stoicu, Ingrid Hendrix, Lori D. Sloane, Anastasiya Nestsiarovich, Praveen Kumar, Nicolas Lauve, Ryen Ormesher, Lauren Tagliaferro Epler, Jenny Situ, Aly Raboff, John Powell, Alexandra Yingling, Cristian Bologa, Tudor I. Oprea, Gregory Mertz, Douglas J. Perkins

HSC Covid 19 Briefings

Executive Summary:

UNM drug repurposing. NM cases. Doctors Without Borders. SNAP benefits online. NM 7th highest unemployment. Virtual LemonAid tonight. New N98 masks. Healthcare supply chain challenge. EMS lack resources. Infection risk in healthcare workers. COVID-19 on medical education. Human disinfectant chambers. Evidence of seroconversion. Dangers of considering herd immunity. Wastewater-based surveillance. More youths infected. Reconstructing ship spread. Pharmacoepidemiologic analysis. Clinicopathologic characteristics. Cancer treatment impact. Reduced voluntary psychiatric admission in Italy. Operating room management. Humidifiers reduce transmission. Phone contact tracing ethics. Call for patient database. Immunity certification program. Guidelines on tracheostomy, IBD, nose bleeding, pituitary tumors, and hematopoietic stem cells …

Factors Which Influence The Education Of Local Anesthesia In Dental Hygiene, Angela D. Cook, Angela D. Cook

Dental Hygiene ETDs

ABSTRACT Dental hygienists, like most students, learn according to formal curriculum that is defined by goals, competencies, and required subject matter for examinations.¹ They also learn through an intense socialization process known as “the hidden curriculum”. The “hidden curriculum” is not defined in student textbooks nor classroom lectures, but is demonstrated through case studies, research, and an experience shared between colleagues.¹ The purpose of this study was to assess the determining factors that influence what dental hygiene instructors are teaching hygiene students on the use of articaine when administering dental blocks, and to assess if the “hidden curriculum” …

Synaptic Dysfunction Induced By Glycine-Alanine Dipeptides In C9orf72-Als/Ftd Is Rescued By Sv2 Replenishment., Brigid K Jensen, Martin H Schuldi, Kevin Mcavoy, Katelyn A Russell, Ashley Boehringer, Bridget M Curran, Karthik Krishnamurthy, Xinmei Wen, Thomas Westergard, Le Ma, Aaron R. Haeusler, Dieter Edbauer, Piera Pasinelli, Davide Trotti

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

The most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an intronic hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene. In disease, RNA transcripts containing this expanded region undergo repeat-associated non-AUG translation to produce dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), which are detected in brain and spinal cord of patients and are neurotoxic both in vitro and in vivo paradigms. We reveal here a novel pathogenic mechanism for the most abundantly detected DPR in ALS/FTD autopsy tissues, poly-glycine-alanine (GA). Previously, we showed motor dysfunction in a GA mouse model without loss of motor neurons. Here, we demonstrate that mobile …

Difference In Stigma Between Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, And Binge Eating Disorder, And The Effect Of Eating Disorder Symptomology On Stigma In College Students, Ashley A. Matkins

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Background: Eating disorders (ED) are mental illnesses characterized by unhealthy eating and exercise habits. These disorders are common in college students and, like other mental illnesses, eating disorders are highly stigmatized.

Objectives: This study evaluated how college students perceived anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, and the effect of eating disorder symptomology on stigma.

Methods: Participants were randomized to receive one of three vignettes depicting an ED. The study used the Universal Stigma Survey (USS), the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ), and demographic questions to evaluate stigma, symptomology as well as their familiarity with, and diagnosis of eating …

The Correlation Between Personal Stressors, Anxiety And Caffeine Consumption Among Jmu Faculty, Erica B. Larocca

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

This study investigates the relationships between caffeine consumption, stress and anxiety among faculty at James Madison University. This was examined using a mixed methods study with a sample of twenty undergraduate faculty members from all Academic Colleges besides the College of Education. Quantitative data serves to provide descriptive statistics as well as data from the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale and the Caffeine Expectancy Scale. Qualitative data serves to learn about the motivations and habits surrounding caffeine, and about the stressors and anxieties specific to faculty members. Anxiety and caffeine are reported to have an association (p=0.656). It was found that …

Revealing The Impact Of Singing In An Aphasia Group, Ava L. Barton

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Aphasia is an acquired, neurogenic language disorder that affects an individual’s ability to express and comprehend language to varying degrees. Individuals with aphasia are restricted in their ability to communicate effectively and as a result, experience decreased quality of life and marked psychosocial consequences. There are numerous interventions that target the language symptoms associated with aphasia. However, social groups, such as book clubs, address both the language and psychological needs of individuals with aphasia. This project explored spontaneous moments of singing that occurred within an aphasia book club. Twenty-four moments of singing were identified and analyzed from six previously recorded …

Assessing The Health Literacy Levels Of Diabetic Patients Located In Rural Southeast Kansas, Meghan Murray

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

Data shows that limited health literacy is prevalent throughout the United States. This data has also found a correlative relationship between limited health literacy and poor health outcomes. An individual’s health literacy level affects many areas of their health, including their ability to effectively manage chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. Awareness of an individual’s health literacy level allows for targeted interventions and a potential improvement for a patient’s health outcomes. The Newest Vital Sign (NVS) is a validated screening tool that allows for the identification of a patient’s likely health literacy level. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing …

British Eugenics Failure And Success, Angela Gallagher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The historical narrative of eugenics often focuses on those eugenic societies and movements that ‘succeeded’ in part or in full in achieving a eugenic society. Less studied are those societies that failed, whether due to social backlash or internal incoherence. The British Eugenic Educational Society as the foundational point of eugenics, has therefore been overlooked as a result of it’s perceived lack of contribution to eugenic thought and its failure to pass eugenic legislation. Founded by Francis Galton, the originator of the philosophy of eugenics, the British Eugenic Educational Society should have been successful given it’s reputation and the numerous …

Exploring The Relationship Between Dietary Self-Monitoring With A Mobile App And Weight Change, Jason Payne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Approximately 70% of the adult population in the United States has overweight or obesity and increased risk for developing chronic diseases. Dietary self-monitoring adherence using a paper diary is associated with weight loss; however, few studies have examined this association with dietary self-monitoring apps. Objectives: 1) explore if an association exists between app-based dietary self-monitoring and weight change among adults with overweight or obesity and 2) explore the relationships between the frequency, consistency, and completeness of self-monitoring and weight change. Methods: Participants self-monitored dietary intake for 8 weeks using the app Calorie Counter by FatSecret. Participants were assigned …