194341 research outputs found
Sort by
The Effect of Music-Based Mindfulness on Attention and Anxiety in East Asian International Students Experiencing Acculturative Stress
No full textEast Asian international students face unique challenges related to acculturative stress while studying in the U.S., yet they often underutilize mental health services. Music-based mindfulness—combining mindfulness techniques with the therapeutic features of music—may offer an accessible intervention by using music as an engaging auditory stimulus to support attention regulation and reduce anxiety.This study investigated the short-term effects of music-based mindfulness on anxiety and attention in East Asian international students experiencing acculturative stress. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to either a 20-minute music-based mindfulness session (incorporating Western music and instruments) or a 20-minute mindfulness psychoeducation session. Acculturative stress and trait anxiety were measured pre-session; state anxiety and state attention were assessed pre- and post-session using self-reports and a task-based attention test.Results indicated significant reductions in state anxiety for both groups, with the music-based mindfulness group showing a larger effect size. Self-reported attention improved in the experimental group with a significant effect, while the control group showed no change. Both groups improved on task-based attention, possibly due to practice effects. No significant between-group differences were found, though qualitative feedback suggested music-based mindfulness was more engaging and relaxing.Findings highlight the potential of music-based mindfulness to support present-moment awareness and reduce anxiety through rhythmic and continuous auditory cues. This study contributes to the understanding the role of music in mindfulness and suggests implications for culturally responsive mental health support in higher education. Future research should explore long-term effects and optimize musical elements for therapeutic impact.</p
Advanced Heterogeneous Recurrence Analysis of Complex Spatial Temporal Dynamics with Biomedical Applications
No full textModern healthcare increasingly relies on analyzing biomedical sensor data, yet modeling such data is difficult because many physiological systems exhibit nonlinear, nonstationary behaviors. Classical time- and frequency-domain methods support many applications but assume linearity or stationarity but miss the nonlinear dynamics driving complex physiological processes. Deep learning can capture such patterns, but its dynamic representations are opaque and offer limited interpretability. Recurrence analysis (RA), grounded in nonlinear dynamics, provides an alternative by tracing returns in state-space to reveal periodic, intermittent, and chaotic behaviors. However, existing RA approaches underrepresent heterogeneity across modalities and scales, insufficiently capture within- and cross-dynamic variability, and impose heavy computational burdens due to pairwise state comparisons.This dissertation advances a recurrence-based framework that addresses these challenges in three parts. (1) Advanced Dynamic System Characterization: heterogeneous recurrence analyses for quantifying nonlinear dynamics in spatial and spatiotemporal systems. (2) Rapid Recurrence Quantification: a deep-learning-aided surrogate that amortizes pairwise comparisons to enable near-real-time RA. (3) Quantification-Guided High-Fidelity Synthesis: a conditional generative model constrained by recurrence structure to produce faithful, controllable signals for augmentation, evaluation, and robustness testing.Together, these methods capture nonlinear and nonstationary dynamics, account for heterogeneous modalities and scales, and deliver calibrated, interpretable metrics. They support diagnosis and prognosis, enable real-time monitoring, and help reveal disease mechanisms. Recurrence-constrained synthesis enhances robustness and efficiency through data augmentation. Overall, this framework offers a principled, interpretable foundation for modeling complex biomedical systems and bridging nonlinear dynamics with clinical translation.</p
Harnessing the Immunomodulatory Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Applications in Transplantation and Type 1 Diabetes
No full textType 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic islet β-cells. While islet transplantation can restore insulin production, long-term success remains limited by immune rejection and the toxicity of systemic immunosuppression. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their extracellular vesicles (EVs) possess immunomodulatory properties and can protect β-cells from immune-mediated damage.This dissertation investigates strategies to potentiate and mechanistically define the immunomodulatory properties of human umbilical cord–derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) and their secretome to develop cell-based and cell-free therapies capable of protecting islets against immune attack. We utilized scalable methods to enhance UC-MSC potency, including calcitriol, all-trans retinoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and thermal conditioning, which increased regulatory T cell expansion and activation. UC-MSCs were further engineered with rapamycin-loaded nanocarriers, enabling intracellular retention, controlled release, and suppression of activated T cell proliferation. When aggregated with human islets, engineered UC-MSCs formed uniform perislet coatings without impairing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and, in diabetic mice, prevented graft rejection and sustained normoglycemia.Clinical-grade UC-MSC secretome was processed to enrich for EVs. UC-MSC EVs expanded and activated regulatory T cells, inhibited CD8+ T cells, induced CD4+ and CD8+ T cell exhaustion, polarized macrophages toward an M2-like phenotype, and preserved β-cell function in human in vitro systems of inflammation and immune attack. EVs transferred mitochondria to islets and T cells, protecting against mitochondrial damage and supporting T cell immunoregulation. Additionally, EVs delivered coordinated microRNAs targeting key immunoregulatory pathways.This work establishes a mechanistic and translational framework for advancing UC-MSC– and EV-based immunomodulatory therapies for T1D and transplantation
A Socioecological Model for Understanding Racial Inequities in Child Maltreatment Case Outcomes
No full textChild maltreatment is substantiated at higher rates in low-income communities of color, with disproportionality most pronounced for Black children, who are twice as likely as non-Latino White children to enter foster care due to substantiated maltreatment. Most research has focused on individual-level risks without accounting for systemic factors, including structural racism. Using a broader contextual lens, maltreatment outcomes can be viewed as shaped by individual, family, and community factors. Structural racism is linked to poverty, higher crime, and limited health care access, creating conditions in which maltreatment occurs. This study examined contextual and systemic contributors to racial inequity using a multilevel model that included family-level variables (poverty, caregiver mental health, caregiver substance use) and county-level variables (poverty, mental health resources, incarceration rates). Two publicly available datasets from the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Health were used, with a sample of 618,720 Black maltreatment cases across 67 Florida counties (2017–2021). Hierarchical logistic regression assessed the odds of substantiation as a function of family and community variables. Family-level factors, especially caregiver mental health and substance use, were the strongest predictors, while community-level factors were not significant. Overlap between levels may explain these patterns, suggesting structural inequities shape caregiver risks. Findings underscore the need for culturally informed, intersectional, strengths-based approaches that recognize both risks and resilience in Black families to promote equitable child welfare outcomes.</p
Navigating Sexuality and Resilience: A Multi-Method Study on Black Queer Women Living With HIV
No full textThis study investigates the evolving nature of sexuality among Black women living with HIV (BWLWH) and explores how Black queer women in this population experience and cope with microaggressions. Black queer women living with HIV (BQWLWH) experience numerous oppressive systems in their day-to-day life, including but not limited to racism, sexism, HIV-related stigma, homophobia, classism, and ableism. However, there is little literature on the impact of intersectional marginalization on the mental and HIV-related health outcomes of BQWLWH. Qualitative interviews were administered to further discuss the role of structural oppression, coping mechanisms, and resilience strategies that BQWLWH have utilized to navigate systems of oppression. Additionally, a quantitative analysis was utilized to understand how sexuality changes over time for BWLWH and how various factors (e.g., education, income, microaggression) impact and influence identity synthesis and acceptance. For the qualitative component, a thematic analysis was utilzed to interpret data and identify recurring patterns and themes (n = 20). For the quantitative component, it was analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE; n = 260). This study’s findings reveal the complex, intersecting challenges faced by BQWLWH, including frequent experiences of racism, sexism, homophobia, and HIV-related stigma. These forms of discrimination - anticipated, enacted, and internalized - were linked to psychological distress but also prompted adaptive coping, particularly through faith and spirituality. While quantitative data showed stability in sexual identity over time, qualitative accounts highlighted fluidity and evolution in participants’ self-identification. Participants shared experiences of exclusion from families, healthcare, and both Black and LGBTQ+ communities, yet also described resilience through reflection, spirituality, and advocacy. These results underscore the need for trauma-informed, culturally responsive interventions that support the well-being and agency of BQWLWH.</p
Intergenerational and Cultural Drivers of Depressive Symptoms in Hispanic Sexual Minority Youth
No full textAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events occurring within the first 18 years of life. ACEs disproportionately impact Hispanic individuals compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. These early adversities are associated with long-term negative effects on mental health and impaired parenting behaviors that can transmit risk across generations. As such, the elevated burden of parental ACEs within Hispanic communities may be a contributing factor to persistent mental health disparities among Hispanic youth. This risk may be especially pronounced among Hispanic sexual minority youth (HSMY), who face higher rates of depressive symptoms relative to their nonHispanic White peers and who may be burdened by both ethnic and sexual minority stressors. This dissertation’s purpose will be to: (1) examine the relationship between parental ACEs and youth depressive symptoms, (2) determine whether acculturation differences between caregivers and their youth and the sexual minority identity of the youth affect this relationship, and (3) explore how marginalized identities may intersect with cultural values and contribute to depressive symptom development among HSMY. This study will use secondary data from samples of HSMY and Hispanic non-SMY and primary data from qualitative interviews with HSMY to accomplish its purpose. </p
A Computational Approach in Comparing Emotional vs. Cognitive Aspect on Working Memory: Examining Anxiety-Related Differences
No full textThe effect of anxiety on working memory deficits has been extensively studied, with impairments particularly emerging when processing negative emotional information. These findings suggest that anxiety may alter the decision-making process by disrupting working memory. Additionally, traditional performance measures, such as reaction time (RT) and accuracy, provide limited insight into the cognitive processes underlying decision-making. To address this limitation, we applied Drift Diffusion Modeling (DDM), a method that estimates decision-making parameters reflecting the evidence accumulation process, allowing us to probe anxiety-related cognitive mechanisms of deficits in working memory. </p
Multifunctional Magnetoelectric Nanoparticles for Cancer Theranostics and Neurological Applications
No full textThis dissertation explores the synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications of magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENPs) with a focus on their potential in cancer therapy and neurological stimulation. MENPs, characterized by their ability to convert magnetic fields into localized electric fields, offer promising non-invasive alternatives for therapeutic interventions in oncology and neuroscience. The research begins with a detailed examination of the fundamental requirements for MENPs in biomedical applications, including biocompatibility, magnetic properties, and targeted delivery, that need to be addressed. A detailed synthesis method for producing highly efficient MENPs is presented, demonstrating their functionality in theranostic applications, particularly for treating solid tumors like pancreatic cancer.MENPs, when combined with magnetic fields, have shown potential to induce localized tumor ablation, paving the way for minimally invasive cancer treatments. Furthermore, the particles were found to be effective when used as a tumor specific contrast agent in MRI.In addition to their cancer applications, MENPs are also investigated for their role in neurological interventions, particularly in stimulating movement in vivo. By acting as nanoelectrodes on neuronal membranes, MENPs can wirelessly control neural activity, offering a breakthrough for brain-machine interfaces (BMIs), neuroprosthetics, and other potential therapeutics. The research highlights the ability of MENPs to induce specific motor responses without the need for implanted electrodes, demonstrating their potential for non-invasive neuromodulation.The dissertation concludes by discussing future directions, emphasizing the steps required for clinical translation of MENP-based cancer therapies and the further development of MENPs as a brain-machine interface tool. The findings underscore MENPs' transformative potential in modern medicine, offering new paradigms for treating both neurological disorders and cancer
Unveiled Voices: Women, Politics, and the Changing Sound of Iranian Protest Music
No full textThis thesis explores the transformative evolution of Iranian protest music, tracing its trajectory from the politically charged anthems of the 1970s to the innovative, digitally mediated expressions of dissent witnessed during the 2009 Green Movement and the 2022 “Women, Life, Freedom” protests. Grounded in both historical analysis and contemporary ethnographic research, the study investigates how musicians have continuously adapted protest music in response to shifting political landscapes. Drawing on a diverse range of sources, including archival recordings, interviews with musicians and activists, and a critical review of existing literature, my research highlights the ways in which protest music serves as a cultural artifact and a potent instrument of social mobilization.</p
The Effects of Intersecting Identity and Social Determinants of Health on Afro-Latina Maternal Morbidity and Infant Birth Outcomes in Florida
No full textLatinos are often treated as a homogeneous group in health research, overlooking the diverse racial identities within this population. Afro-Latinas and their infants face heightened risk for adverse outcomes due to intersecting marginalized identities. Guided by Intersectionality Theory, this dissertation examines maternal morbidities (gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy) and adverse infant outcomes (preterm birth, small- and large-for-gestational-age) among Afro-Latina mothers and their infants in Florida. It also assesses the impact of social determinants of health (SDoH), particularly neighborhood deprivation and prenatal care adequacy. Presented in a three-manuscript format, the dissertation includes: (1) a systematic review on Afro-Latina maternal and infant outcomes, (2) a population-based analysis of Florida Vital Statistics data from 2004–2022 across racial/ethnic groups (N=4,009,855), and (3) a focused analysis of Hispanic mother-infant dyads in 2022 (N=25,899). Logistic regression models estimated associations between racial/ethnic identity, health outcomes, and SDoH indicators (Area Deprivation Index, Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization). Findings revealed Afro-Latina mothers had unique risk profiles, more aligned with Black non-Hispanic than White Hispanic mothers. Hypertensive disorders were a consistent disparity, persisting after adjustment for SDoH. Iinfants of Afro-Latinas had lower odds of preterm birth and SGA than those of White non-Hispanic mothers. These results highlight how race, ethnicity, and structural inequities interact to influence outcomes. This work underscores the need for disaggregated data, inclusive methods, and intersectional public health approaches to improve maternal-child health equity among Afro-Latinas. </p