9667 research outputs found
Sort by
Navigating the politics of education: Leading schools during challenging times
No full textTeachers, principals, and superintendents have been placed in an unfortunate and unexpected political position. Due to increased misinformation on the nature and origin of varying political issues, educators often have to address and confront parents and community members who have likely seen headlines about these brewing “local battles” (Kingkade et al., 2021). Normally, educators would approach these topics thoughtfully with a purpose to help each of their students to realize their potential as effective citizens and fulfilling responsibilities in the community by cooperating with parents to improve the public schools (Texas Administrative Code, 1998). However, these themes have become polarizing and educators are feeling a mounting pressure to make pedagogical decisions to please school leaders and the school community (Walker, 2018; Dunn, Sondel, & Baggett, 2019)
Occupational Therapy Toolkits Empower the Transition From Foster Care to Adulthood
No full textAging out of the foster care system is correlated with adversities that can impact the transition to adulthood. Transition services aid in the journey to adulthood, but youth and young adults with a history of foster care express concerns about the lack of support for essential life skills needed for success. Limited research exists, but growing evidence supports occupational therapy (OT) as a means of helping youth and young adults transition from foster care to adulthood. The population of interest was youth and young adults associated with THRU Project who have lived experience in foster care; henceforth, they will be referred to as the youth. The aim of the doctoral capstone experience (DCE) and project was to develop digital tools and resources, termed OT Toolkits, for THRU Project. These OT Toolkits are designed to enhance independence in daily activities, aligning with the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) OT model.THRU Projec
Engagement in nutrition education provided on Instagram versus Facebook among low-income caregivers of preschoolers
No full textPoor diet quality in preschool-aged children is increasing in prevalence, leading to childhood obesity and comorbidities in adulthood. Social media often shares nutrition information that features foods of low nutritional value compared to fruits and vegetables (F/V). This study used qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the influence of social media on F/V intake in low-income families as well as satisfaction with social media over an eight-week period. Social media content was developed to promote F/V intake among low-income families of preschoolers using Health Belief Model concepts. Data was collected through Facebook and Instagram by assessing engagement through likes, comments, and shares. F/V intake were assessed in four participants (n=4) through a pre- and post-assessment survey and a post-assessment social media satisfaction survey. Overall, F/V intake of the families did not change. More studies are needed to assess whether social media can influence F/V intake for low-income families
The effects of the chemotherapeutic drug carboplatin on DNA: A chromatographic and theoretical investigation
No full textPlatinum-based anticancer drugs are the mainstay of the chemotherapy regimens designed to cure most cancers. One such complex currently in use, carboplatin, has shown significant antitumor activity. However, like all platinum-based antineoplastics, it also has considerable toxicities and can become less effective as cancer cell lines develop resistance to it. This research was conducted to better understand how carboplatin interacts with DNA to assist in oncology treatment protocols and to help innovate next-generation platinum-based antitumor drugs with less toxicity and less drug resistance. Modifications to the DNA dinucleotide phosphate 2'-deoxy-guanylyl-2'-deoxy-guanosine (dGpdG or GG) in the presence of carboplatin with varying drug-to-DNA ratios and concentrations were analyzed by reverse-phase High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC). Interactions of carboplatin near guanine were theoretically explored by density-functional theory (DFT) in Gaussian molecular modeling software.
The findings of this study have highlighted the importance of the higher concentrations of carboplatin needed for the formation of drug-to-DNA adducts, which can disrupt cancer cell replication. This understanding could potentially guide the development of more effective cancer treatments in the future
TWU STEMM Camp 2024
No full textThis manual was created for use with high school level summer biology camps at TWU. This manual contains materials related to microbiology, public health, anatomy, physiology, and pre-health skills. All work contained within this manual is the original work of Karen Goodwin and Christy Hill, except as otherwise explicitly stated with appropriate credit and citation
Understanding Black males’ access to and perception of academic discourse in an academic probation course
No full textThe purpose of this study was to describe how Black males access and perceive academic discourse when situated in an academic probation class. Recognizing time management, test preparation, and other learning and study strategies as hidden features of the curriculum, the academic probation course addressed these features through explicit instruction to support academic success. Academic discourse was defined as the “discourse that academics use when they publish for other academics” (Elbow, 1991, p.145), meaning academic discourse is reading, writing, and speaking at the university level, including the behaviors and experiences associated with its delivery (Fairclough, 2001; Gee, 1989).
The qualitative multiple case study occurred at a small, four-year private university near the heart of a mid-sized metropolitan city in North Texas. Participants consisted of six Black males on academic probation, 18 years old or older.
Data collection included semi-structured interviews, observations, and student documents to enable comparison and cross-checking of data over time. Two cycles of open coding produced a codebook and developed themes across the six cases. Individual cases represented each participant’s perceptions of and access to their discursive practices, while cross-case comparisons examined and described common themes across the multiple cases.
The study confirmed the participants' view of the benefits of college as providing a foundation for acquiring and negotiating the secondary academic discourse of the university. The participants accessed content through various tools, mainly their cell phones, allowing them agency and ease of connecting home and community practices to academic literacy. The study also suggested that participants’ awareness and practice of time management skills were critical to their access to academic discourse
Occupational Therapy and Type 2 Diabetes
No full textDiabetes has been categorized as a public health emergency, which is complicated by barriers to necessary selfmanagement; including inadequate communication with physicians and poor disease knowledge. Occupational therapists offer unique services by integrating many different elements of rehabilitation with an understanding of illness and psychosocial elements, as well as a knowledge of how to analyze and adapt to one’s environment (Ellexson, 1985). The methodology is an online questionnaire conducted through Prolific and participants are patients with T2D, consisting of two subsamples; those who have seen an occupational therapist and those who have not. This poster aims to analyze how outcomes differ for patients who have worked with an occupational therapist or who have one on their care team compared to those without. We also aim to analyze occupational therapy alliance and correlates such as treatment adherence, perceived benefit, perceived burden, well-being, anxiety, depression, diabetes self-efficacy, HbA1c levels and coping strategies. (Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Alannah Rivers
Supporting Culturally Responsive Food Initiatives with Tarrant Area Food Bank
No full text"Introduction: Nearly 13% of the U.S. population experienced food insecurity (FI) in 2022. Food banks and food pantries are one way to mitigate food insecurity, but they may only sometimes meet the needs of guests from diverse cultural backgrounds. This occupational therapy doctoral capstone project investigated what food banks are currently doing to promote cultural sensitivity in services and implemented a cultural awareness policy within Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB).
Methods: This project employed a unique approach, combining a comprehensive literature review with surveys conducted at TAFB. The literature review provided insights into how food banks address cultural sensitivity and their impact on populations. The surveys, on the other hand, aimed to expand TAFB’s cultural foods lists into a Food & Culture Guide specifically for Hispanic, Latino, and Asian cultures.
Results: Food banks promote cultural sensitivity by providing culturally tailored nutrition education and culture-specific foods, restructuring leadership, and forming innovative partnerships with community members and food providers. Survey results revealed protein and produce to be the most requested culture-specific food items.
Discussion: The findings from this project suggest several best practices that food banks can adopt to promote cultural sensitivity. These include building social capital, involving populations of interest in program design, and using cultural relevancy frameworks to create or modify educational materials. The survey results underscore the importance of culturally relevant food in maintaining and promoting healthy food occupations for individuals experiencing food insecurity from diverse cultural backgrounds. This project models how occupational therapy concepts can be applied in non-traditional practice settings, offering solutions to address food insecurity. Furthermore, it sets an example of the role of future occupational therapy practitioners in a non-traditional setting by holistically addressing social determinants of health with a client-centered lens and applying evidence-based practice."Tarrant Area Food Ban
Plants vs Microbes: The Antimicrobial Effects of Native Plants
No full textAlthough often traditionally used in an attempt to cure or as a preventative treatment, the true antimicrobial effects of plants are not often certain. With the growing incidence of antibiotic resistance, finding new ways to treat things such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has growing importance. This research’s aim is to assess whether certain native plants, which have been used as therapies have antimicrobial properties against representative bacteria, Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Bacillus megaterium). Using parts from the selected plants and taking into account how traditional medicine is commonly taken, aqueous extracts were prepared in ultra-pure water at a 4:1 ratio of water to plant material. Prior to testing for inhibition of mouse cytomegalovirus (a herpesvirus model which would allow future studies on intravaginal infection), extracts were tested for toxicity on mouse macrophage cells to ensure any viral inhibition was not due to death of cells. (Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Laura Hanson
Perceptions of Chronic Stroke Survivors on Arm Recovery Following High-Dose, High-Intensity Therapy: Preliminary Qualitative Data
No full textThis capstone project underscores the significance of intensive and high-dose therapy in improving arm function and quality of life among chronic stroke survivors participating in the SUPER study. The primary goal of the SUPER study was to investigate the potential of high-quality, high-intensity, and high-dose therapy in reducing disability, enhancing arm function, and enhancing overall quality of life for stroke survivors. The aim of this capstone project was to gather firsthand perspectives from participants engaged in the SUPER study, with the aim of assessing its relevance for future initiatives. Through tailored interventions and personalized care, the SUPER program aims to empower individuals as they strive to regain functional independence and mobility following a stroke.UT Health Stroke Institut