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Comforting Touch as a Co-Occupation Between Hospice-Care Clients and Their Caregivers
No full textPatients in hospice undergo occupational challenges daily, and occupational therapists are underutilized in this setting due to a misunderstanding of occupational therapy’s (OT) role in end-of-life care. One way that OTs can allow these clients to live with dignity before death is through the use of a comforting touch program. Comforting touch is meant to be used as a non-strenuous means to still enjoy worthwhile companionship with their loved ones. The OT doctoral student created a 4-week comforting touch program as their capstone project to be implemented with a hospice-care client and their caregiver. The student adapted the Relative Mastery Measurement Scale (RMMS) as a pre/post-survey to assess the caregiver’s level of efficiency, efficacy, and satisfaction. Results showed an increase in both factors at the conclusion of the program. Though the program showed a positive increase in these metrics, the program would need to be further explored. Limitations of the study include a small sample size due to time constraints and a low amount of participants that fulfill program criteria.Hope HealthCar
Dancing in the void: Electronic dance music festival attendance as a path to enchantment
No full textThis study explores the transformative potential of contemporary electronic dance music festivals within the context of prevailing societal trends under neoliberalism, including secularism, individualism, hyperconsumption, and hyperproductivity. By synthesizing existing literature from sociology, philosophy, and cultural studies, alongside personal interviews with ravers, the study sheds light on the unique qualities of rave culture, offering insights that may inform efforts to foster well-being and community in an increasingly fragmented and alienating world. In exploring concepts of liminality, postsecularism, and communitas, the research seeks to elucidate how EDM festivals serve as catalysts for experiences of collective effervescence. By analyzing various facets of the modern EDM festival landscape, including the persistence of the subculture's original tenets of peace, love, unity, and respect (PLUR), perceived moments of sacredness, communal engagement, and anti-productive immersion in the present moment, the research identifies psychologically-beneficial elements of rave culture that could be integrated into broader societal contexts
The Ebbs and Flow of Bipolar, 2024
No full textAs a former biology pre-medicine student, I have found scientific illustrations the most beneficial for understanding and retaining information. When researching imagery related to Bipolar Disorder, I noticed a lack of work that depicted the anatomy of the disorder. Several images illustrated a subject with confused emotions or two conjoining figures. While acknowledging a patient's emotional state is crucial, I believe it is equally essential to consider the neurobiology of the disorder. One potential downside of the desensitization towards mental health and mood disorders is that we often use these conditions in casual conversation to relate to others. However, this casual use can trivialize the severity of these illnesses and the experiences of those who are diagnosed. I intended to create a comprehensive scientific drawing that precisely depicted the science and significance of the condition.
I referenced PET scans of a young patient with Bipolar Disorder. The brain scans showed brain activity through the emotional switches. I illustrated the mood switches, depression and mania, with a black-and-white digital sketch. While closely referencing the brain scans and studies, I also referenced several vintage scientific illustrations and illustrators like Georg Dionysius Ehret and Orra White Hitchcock. I aimed to create a scientifically accurate piece that is also aesthetically pleasing and visually appealing.
Medium: Scientific Illustration, digital print on handmade paper
Format: each print 6 x 8.5
Assessing Mentorship Programs' Effectiveness in Reducing Imposter Syndrome Among Stem Research Students
No full textImpostor syndrome (IS) is the feeling of inadequacy despite evidence of competence, affecting high achievers who credit success to external factors. Particularly prevalent in STEM research students, IS limits career opportunities and is more common in women and ethnic minorities and people of color. Personality traits often contribute to IS. This paper will discuss the mentorship programs which support to combat selfdoubt, fostering a growth mindset. Trusted mentors help internalize successes. Synthesizing best practices for mentorship programs tailored to STEM research students is crucial for institutional adoption. These programs provide guidance, validation, and help students navigate IS-associated challenges, enhancing career and education outcomes. Additionally, assessing the effectiveness of mentorship programs in reducing IS among STEM research students is imperative for understanding their impact and ensuring their efficacy. (Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Junalyn Navarra-Madsen
Wellness Program Development for Mothers in Domestic Violence Shelters
No full textDomestic violence can be physical, emotional, sexual, financial and/or verbal abuse which is used to exert power and control over another individual. Per the NIH (2023), an estimated 10 million individuals are affected by family and domestic violence every year in the United States and approximately 1 in 4 women will experience intimate partner violence at some point during their life. Individuals who have experienced domestic violence experience disruptions in routines and deficient ability to effectively engage in important daily occupations. Research in this area is limited, specifically when assessing and improving overall wellness and quality in mothers affected by domestic violence. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project is to provide a six-week wellness curriculum for mothers to improve their perceived wellness and quality of life.Mosaic Family Service
Soccer for Everyone: A Program Guide as an Advocacy Tool for Inclusivity
No full textInclusive sport teams provide numerous benefits to children with and without disabilities. This occupational therapy doctoral capstone project focused on advocacy for the inclusion of children with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities in soccer and the development of an evidence-based program guide for running an inclusive soccer team. This program guide included relevant background information, stretching guides, soccer skill stations with options to grade them up and down, scrimmage guidelines, social-emotional lessons, and appendices with example schedules was created for this capstone project. Players, parents, coaches, and volunteers expressed positive reactions to this program guide. This capstone project demonstrated the positive impact an inclusive soccer team has on children with disabilities and their families. There is a need for the creation of more inclusive soccer teams in North Texas, and this capstone project addressed that need by creating a desired resource that is easily accessible for interested parties.Fort Worth Youth Soccer Associatio
“Were you silent or were you silenced?”: Interrogating contemporary representations of black women in the British monarchy and royal court
No full textThis study investigates the representation of Black British women of the royal institution
historically and in the present and the effects of these representations on the ways Black women
are perceived. It also explores the ways Black women royals have responded to these
representations. The study analyzes the mediated messages crafted by the British press as they
focus on three royal women: Queen Charlotte (1761-1818), Marchioness Emma Thynn (2013-
2019), and Duchess Meghan Markle (2018-present). Using an intersectional media analysis,
historical artifacts, modern retellings of history, and various articles published in the UK in both
mainstream and tabloid press during the years listed, this dissertation scrutinizes coded
messaging and language that frames and categorizes these women as tropes and schemas. The
research includes reviews of the history of stereotypes and schemas used as an erasure strategy
against Black women, as well as the impact that media has on perceptions of Black women. The
findings of this analysis indicate that the misogynoir tactics of whitewashing and overshadowing
the experiences of these women shed light on the ways that the British monarchy has
transformed their racist ideologies to meet modern expectations. Due to these tactics, Thynn and
Markle have adapted strategies of Black feminist activism and resistance to reclaim their stories
and reshape how Black women are represented
Identifying the modulators of protein arginylation
No full textProtein arginylation is emerging as an important regulator of developmental and physiological processes. Arginylation, catalyzed by Arginyltransferase 1 (ATE1), is the post-translational conjugation of arginine to proteins bearing acidic N-terminal amino acids such as aspartate or glutamate [1]. This facilitates their degradation via the N-degron pathway of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). Recent studies in our lab and others have shown that ATE1 is required for the removal of specific fragments associated neurodegeneration [2, 3] and that the loss of ATE1 is associated with disruption of fat metabolism and resistance to diet-induced obesity [4]. Thus, the modulation of ATE1 holds promise for treating these increasingly common human diseases. The N-degron pathway of the UPS recognizes proteins bearing either N-terminal hydrophobic or N-terminal basic amino acids such as arginine. These N-terminal amino acids function as degradation signals called N-degrons.
Previously, we discovered that ATE1 is required for the degradation of TDP43247, a specific fragment of the human Transactive response DNA Binding Protein 43 (TDP43) associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other forms of dementia [2, 3]. In our efforts to identify modulators of ATE1, we generated a dual-fluorescent reporter sensitive to its activity. For this, the green fluorescent protein (GFP) was expressed bearing an N-degron derived from TDP43247 (247-DLIIKGISVHISNAEPK-263)[2, 3]. This reporter was named “Ndeg-GFP” for N-terminal degradation signal-GFP. N-deg-GFP is rapidly and efficiently arginylated by ATE1, causing its destabilization through the UPS. Ndeg-GFP is expressed in a linear fusion with mCherry-Ub using the ubiquitin reference technique which allows co-translational cleavage by intracellular de-ubiquitylases (DUBs) [5]. This generates both a stable mCherry-Ub and Ndeg-GFP, whose stability is inversely related to ATE1 activity. Ratiometric GFP/mCherry fluorescence allows for a quantitative measurement of in vivo ATE1 activity and controls for off-target effects that cause changes in transcription, translation, or overall cell fitness. Activators of ATE1 decrease the GFP/mCherry ratio, whereas inhibitors increase this ratio.
We have utilized this dual-fluorescent reporter system across various settings to investigate modulators of ATE1 activity. Our endeavors include screening phytochemicals and small molecule compounds to discern their impact on ATE1-mediated protein degradation. Additionally, we have explored diverse number of environmental conditions to ascertain the response of ATE1 to stress. Our data suggest that ATE1 plays a critical role in cell fate determination during pathological conditions. Moreover, we have also outlined several strategies that employ our reporter system that can help uncover novel insights into the spatial, temporal, and contextual regulation of ATE1. These initiatives aim to uncover modulators of ATE1, potentially offering therapeutic targets for diseases associated with ATE1, such as obesity or neurodegeneration [6]
The journey and experiences of female Hispanic nurse leaders
No full textThis study aimed to understand the experiences and perspectives of female Hispanic nurse leaders. Healthcare research suggests a diverse nursing leadership team is critical to delivering high-quality patient care. There is an evident gap in the literature regarding ethnic minority nursing leaders, especially Hispanic women. A phenomenological hermeneutic design was used to describe the lives of Hispanic female nurse leaders through their lens. The study objectives were to 1) Explore the perceptions of being a Hispanic female nurse leader, 2) Describe the trajectory to leadership for Hispanic female nurse leaders, and 3) Gather recommendations from female nurse leaders to guide the journeys of future Hispanic nurses pursuing leadership roles.
Paul Ricoeur’s philosophical underpinning guided the semi-structured interviews of fifteen Female Hispanic nurses in formal leadership roles. Ricoeur’s Theory of Interpretation was used to analyze the text through three phases: naïve reading, environmental explanation, and phenomenological interpretation. The environmental analysis uncovered three themes that described the world in which leaders lived: family, culture, and healthcare organization. The phenomenological interpretation identified four phenomenological themes: weaving my life fabric, my inner dialogue, weight on my shoulders, and paving the way.
The results of this study highlight the critical need for a diverse and inclusive nursing leadership team. By taking proactive steps to ensure equal opportunities, reducing barriers to career advancement, and developing supportive strategies, organizations and communities can address the challenges in attracting and retaining qualified ethnic minority nurses into leadership positions
Enhancing Nursing Education and Patient Safety: Exploring the Impact of the "Room of Horrors" Simulation Project
No full textPatients frequently encounter harm during hospital stays, with those with diabetes particularly susceptible to medication errors and glycemic complications. The 'Room of Horrors' (ROH) project aims to bolster nursing students' critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills concerning patient errors in hospital environments. Through simulated scenarios, ROH engages students in error identification, rectification of unsafe conditions, and intervention prioritization. The project's significance lies in its potential to enhance clinical competency and patient safety by integrating theoretical knowledge with practical application. Evaluation of nursing students' satisfaction and confidence in learning will be conducted using the National League for Nursing (NLN) Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning tool. Results are pending. (Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Cecilia Wilson