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Dance Intervention for Stroke Rehabilitation: Restoring Occupational Performance Through Creative Movement
Get PDFThousands of individuals are affected by cerebral vascular accidents, (CVA), also known as strokes in the United States each year, (CDC, 2023). Cerebral vascular accidents are one of the leading causes of death among the elderly population in the U.S. each year, (NIH et al., 2023). The deficits caused by a CVA can be global, from hemiparetic limbs and sensory loss to psychosocial impacts on an individual and their support system. In occupational therapy, the goal is to regain as much function and independence as possible for the individual who has experienced a CVA. Although many evidence-based intervention tools are used in occupational therapy for CVA recovery, dance is a new and fast-growing intervention tool that shows promising potential for use with this neurologic population. Using guidance from models such as the functional group model, the biomechanical frame of reference, and motor learning theory along with the scholarship of discovery, this doctoral capstone was completed in an outpatient therapy setting to create and evaluate an intervention program for using dance in occupational therapy to rehabilitate the CVA population. This doctoral capstone served the dual function of gaining advanced clinical practice skills by working with the CVA population of individuals who have had a CVA to enhance the student’s knowledge for the dance program creation and evaluation. Participants with a CVA diagnosis and other neurologic diagnoses and comorbidities attended an 8-week community dance class program where socialization, community reintegration, fitness, and neurologic rehabilitation were emphasized. Overall, this capstone project helped to increase the amount and level of services provided for the stroke population in Appalachia, increase community reintegration, and improve functional independence and role participation for its participants
A Kind of Burr: The Fantastic Lucio in Measure for Measure
Get PDFThe purpose of this document is to detail the process of developing the role of Lucio in West Virginia University’s spring 2023 production of William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. This document looks at the process and methods with which I crafted my role, as well as the research I used to build a well-defined world of the play. It will explain the rehearsal process, including text analysis and design aspects which affected the creation of the role, focusing on clarity through the use of scansion and interpretations of the references in the text. To conclude, I discuss my personal experience with Shakespeare, and how this process helped me understand the significance of Shakespeare’s work
Effectiveness of Peer Support Groups for Mothers at Risk for Postpartum Depression
Get PDFMotherhood requires a role transition, new maternal responsibilities, and changes in everyday life, which can impact the mother’s mental health, possibly leading to postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can, in turn, create additional challenges for the mother in engaging in her daily routines and occupations. Therefore, a peer support group for mothers at risk for postpartum depression was developed in hopes of improving the mothers’ management of routines, ultimately improving maternal mental health. The effectiveness of the peer support group was measured through quantitative and qualitative online self-report surveys, where the mothers reported their current mental health status, self-efficacy, and occupational engagement. After multiple rounds of recruitment, the implementation of the peer support group program, and the distribution of all surveys, a total of two participants were included in the study. The quantitative and qualitative data revealed that peer support groups focused on the routines of mothers and babies can positively impact mental health, maternal self-efficacy, and satisfaction in occupational performance. Challenges of the program included obstacles to participant attendance and participant follow-through with survey completion
The Influence of Faculty Mentorship on Graduate Student Development through the Lens of Self-Efficacy
Get PDFThis exploratory sequential mixed-methods case study explores the relationship between perceived self-efficacy and faculty mentorship with biomedical sciences graduate students. The intent of the study was to understand the extent at which faculty mentorship contributes to self-efficacy development in the population of biomedical sciences doctoral students enrolled at a mid-Atlantic R1 institution. Data collected consisted of a survey assessing perceived self-efficacy and mentoring, interviews and documents. Data analysis explored themes related to the perceived academic and professional development of the students through their responses. The research highlights the significance of the mentor-mentee relationship and influence of the mentor on the professional and academic development of the graduate student. The study provides implications for practice related to the graduate student training process and discussions of strategies that promote graduate student persistence
Development and Application of Functional Immune Assays to Understand Disease in Wild Smallmouth Bass Populations
Get PDFOver recent decades, the scientific community has observed a disconcerting trend – a decline in the health and stability of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) populations across the Chesapeake Bay watershed with growing economic and ecological implications. Disease, declines, and death have been observed in multiple locations, particularly in the Susquehanna and Potomac drainages with the adults disproportionately affected in the Potomac River basin and young-of-year in the Susquehanna River basin. There has not been a single or consistent cause to the declines or mortality events. More likely, it is believed immunosuppression relating to a complex mixture of stressors has been occurring. To address this multifaceted challenge, the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Leetown Research Laboratory initiated a comprehensive and collaborative investigation taking into account multiple aspects related to fish health including immune function, histopathology, health assessment indices, gross observations, gene expression, contaminant analysis, land use analysis, and water quality parameters. This dissertation seeks to begin to unravel the complexities surrounding smallmouth bass health declines by employing an interdisciplinary approach that combines immune function with various other facets of fish health that were also currently under investigation. This dissertation contains chapters that describe 1.) the development of three functional immune assays for wild-caught smallmouth bass, 2.) the utilization of these assays to assess immune function at eight total sites with varying degrees of land use and chemical inputs, and 3.) the use of contaminant data and immune gene transcript counts to further understand immune function
Isabella: An Eternal Badass An Actor’s Exploration on Healing, Forgiveness, and Learning to Embrace the Messiness through Isabella in William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure
Get PDFThis thesis not only delves into the acting methods used to portray Shakespeare\u27s Isabella in West Virginia University\u27s spring 2023 production of Measure for Measure, but also examines the innovative approach of interpreting the character through the perspective of an older actor. It will examine acting techniques such as Meisner, Fitzmaurice Voicework®, yoga, and chakra work, detailing their influence on character development. From audition to performance, this document will track my journey, capturing personal insights through journal entries, sound bites, and images that helped in shaping a more mature Isabella. Additionally, it explores how actors navigate personal challenges during character exploration, emphasizing the importance of emotional safety and balance both on and off the stage
Anti-Listeria of H2O2-Peroxyacetic acid Anti-Listeria Efficacy of a Hydrogen Peroxide-Peroxyacetic acid Mixer in Bacterial Buffered Solution and on Bell Peppers
Get PDFThis study aims to 1) evaluate the efficacy of H2O2-peroxyacetic acid (PAA) mixer to inactivate Listeria monocytogenes in 0.1% buffered-peptone-water; 2) evaluate the reduction and mitigation of cross-contamination on peppers. For the study-1, aliquots of 1.0-ml mixer solutions (0.25, 0.50 and 0.84%) were added to the first 3-well of 8-strip-deep-well microplates. Then, the 0.1 ml of 10-fold dilution the Nalidixic-acid-resistant (NaL) L. monocytogenes was added and mixed immediately with a multichannel pipette. After exposure for 0, 5, 15, 30, and up to 120-s, 1 ml of 2×D/E neutralized solution was added to terminate the reaction followed by spread-plating onto tryptic soy agar plus 200 ppm NaL and incubated at 35oC for 48 h. For the study-2, 5 inoculated red peppers were triple-washed with 15 uninoculated green peppers with 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.18% H2O2-PAA and analyzed using MPN-method. L. monocytogenes counts were 10CFU/ml after exposing to 0.25, 0.50, and 0.84% H2O2-PAA solution for 120, 90 and 60 s, respectively and fit the Linear and Weibull Models. Applying 0.05 to 0.18% of H2O2-PAA reduced L. monocytogenes by 2.03 to 3.32 log10MPN/g and transferred cross-contaminated cell counts by 2.36 to 3.17 log10MPN/g, with no differences (P \u3e 0.05) compared to the water only treatment. Results suggested that applying allowable concentrations (0.08 to 0.15%) of H2O2-PAA during triple-wash does not show promising anti-Listeria activity on peppers. Future studies are needed to determine the minimum concentrations of the H2O2- PAA-mixer required to effectively reduce and mitigate microbial cross-contamination of Listeria monocytogenes on peppers
Implant Overdenture Abutment Loosening under Hyperbaric Conditions
Get PDFObjectives: To investigate the effect of various hyperbaric air pressures on the loosening of LOCATOR® (ZEST Anchors, LLC, Escondido, CA USA) overdenture abutments.
The pressure conditions tested are meant to simulate scuba diving conditions in edentulous patients that are restored with implant-retained tissue-supported overdentures. Another sub-goal of this study is to determine whether or not there is a difference in LOCATOR® loosening when the sample is exposed to six cycles/dives as opposed to one cycle/dive.
Methods: 36 ZimVie Tapered Screw Vent Implants with a 3.5mm diameter implant platform, and a 2.5mm diameter (and 1.5mm deep) internal hexagon were placed into resin blocks. LOCATOR® abutments were torqued to 30 N-cm with a digital torque meter. The implants were divided into three different hyperbaric pressure groups: the control (1 atm), 2.8 atm, and 4 atm. Each pressure group was subdivided into two groups: a one cycle (one scuba dive) group and a six cycles group (equivalent to six separate dives). A total of 6 implants were randomly assigned to each group: 1 atm and one cycle, 1 atm and six cycles, 2.8 atm and one cycle, 2.8 atm and six cycles, 4 atm and one cycle, and 4 atm and six cycles. LOCATOR® loosening was evaluated by obtaining the reverse torque values (RTVs) with a digital torque meter, then subtracting this from the initial tightening torque. The mean loss of torque for all groups were calculated, and a two-way ANOVA test was utilized to complete the statistical analysis.
Results: Pressure change was not found to have a statistically significant effect on LOCATOR® loosening (and/or loss of torque). However, the number of cycles did significantly affect the loss of torque, with a confidence of 99%.
Conclusions: Based on the statistical analyses, and eventually a two-way ANOVA test, there was no statistically significant effect of pressure on the loss of torque. That is, the LOCATORS® did not loosen more with pressure or loosen less with pressure. Yet, all groups did exhibit torque loss.
When it comes to the number of cycles, there was a statistically significant effect between one and six cycles. For the 1 atm pressure, increasing the cycles from 1 to 6 caused a 1.54 field increase in loosening; for the 2.8 atm pressure, increasing the number of cycles caused a 1.38-fold increase in loosening; and, for the 4 atm pressure, increasing the number of cycles caused a 1.67-fold increase in loosening. The LOCATOR® loosening exhibited can be a result of the exposure to pressure. This exposure of pressure involves both the compression and decompression that occur to and from the pressure tested
A Critical Event Narrative Analysis of African Women Immigrant Entrepreneurs in the United States: Impacts Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Get PDFThis doctoral research presents a qualitative critical event narrative study focused on African Women Immigrant Entrepreneurs (AWIE) in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aims to explore the unique challenges, coping mechanisms, and resilience strategies of AWIE by examining their experiences before, during, and after the pandemic. The research is driven by three guiding questions: (1) How do AWIE describe their experience before the pandemic? (2) During the pandemic? (3) After the pandemic? This inquiry provides a comprehensive narrative, capturing the challenges and successes experienced in the pre-pandemic environment, documenting the immediate impacts of the pandemic on their entrepreneurial journey, and identifying key operational changes and long-term effects due to the pandemic.
The study is significant because it shines a light on an understudied demographic at the intersection of gender, race, and immigration status, potentially experiencing compounded impacts of the crisis. By highlighting their survival strategies, the study offers valuable lessons for other entrepreneurs, business support organizations, and policymakers. The findings contribute to the broader literature on immigrant entrepreneurship, gender studies, and crisis management in a business context.
AWIE, as defined in this study, are female entrepreneurs who have migrated from African nations to the United States, integrating African cultural heritage with the dynamics of the United States business environment. They often face a \u27Triple Disadvantage\u27 due to their gender, racial background, and immigrant status, adding layers of complexity to their entrepreneurial journey. This research delves into these challenges and the strategies AWIE employs to navigate the socio-economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. It seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of their experiences, chronicling their journey during this crisis and offering insights for future research and policy interventions
Structural and functional consequences of PDE6 prenylation in rod and cone photoreceptors
Get PDFPhosphodiesterase-6 (PDE6) serves as a pivotal component in the phototransduction pathways of both cone and rod photoreceptors. In cones, PDE6 consists of tetrameric subunits: inhibitory (γ\u27) and catalytic (α\u27). The catalytic subunit, PDE6α\u27, contains a C-terminal prenylation motif. Deletion of this motif is associated with achromatopsia (ACHM), a form of color blindness. The mechanisms underlying the disease and the roles of PDE6 lipidation in vision remain elusive. Meanwhile, rod PDE6 is composed of α and β catalytic subunits and γ inhibitory subunits, with alterations in the C-terminal prenylation motif of PDE6β linked to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) pathology. In this comprehensive investigation, we explored the functional and structural implications of PDE6β prenylation in rods and PDE6α\u27 prenylation in cones. Using genetically modified mouse models, the prenylation motif in both cases is disrupted. In cone PDE6, the absence of the prenylation motif in PDE6α\u27 led to altered membrane association, impacting cone sensitivity to light and response kinetics. Intriguingly, despite normal expression and assembly, unprenylated PDE6α\u27 accumulated in the inner segment and synaptic terminal, influencing outer segment morphology and length. The preservation of cones in the ACHM model indicates potential for gene therapy to restore vision in patients with analogous PDE6C mutations. Turning to rod PDE6, the PDE6βC853S mutation disrupts PDE6β prenylation. This resulted in persistent rod function reduction, with partial mislocalization of PDE6 subunits in mutant rods, highlighting the role of PDE6β prenylation in retaining assembled protein in the outer segment. Interestingly, outer segment level of rod PDE6 protein decreased in the absence of prenylation, although reduced levels alone could not account for the observed functional impairment, as seen in rd1/+ heterozygous mice. Collectively, our study underscores the critical roles of PDE6 prenylation in both cone and rod photoreceptors. The findings provide deeper insights into the interplay between protein structure, localization, and function in the context of retinal disorders. These insights hold promise for advancing targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating vision loss associated with ACHM and RP pathologies