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The Relationship Between Positive and Negative Experiences with Sport Culture and Psychiatric Symptoms in Collegiate Athletes
No full textAlthough mental health professionals have indicated their interest in understanding the relationship between sport culture and mental health, this relationship has yet to be examined using psychometrically validated scales. In this study, the Semi-Structured Interview for Consideration of Sport Culture in Therapy Scale (SSICSCTS; see Donohue et al., 2006) was administered to 59 Club and National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) athletes. This scale assesses how athletes experience importance (Sport Culture Importance Scale; SCIS) and negative experiences (Sport Cultural Problems Scale; SCPS) in sport culture. Participants were also assessed for psychiatric symptomology using a well-established scale, i.e., the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R; Derogatis, 1994). MANOVA results indicated no significant differences between NCAA and Club athletes on SCIS or SCPS scores. As hypothesized, regression analysis revealed that the SCPS significantly predicted SCL-90-R Global Severity Index (GSI) scores, while SCIS was not a significant predictor. These findings suggest that negative experiences with sport culture may contribute to poorer mental health outcomes, whereas the perceived importance of sport culture does not appear to have a significant impact in mental health symptom severity
The Miseducation of Taylor Cummings: An Autoethnographic Analysis of Belonging in The United States Education System and A Vision Towards Healing and Consciousness
No full textThis autoethnographic study examines my lived experiences navigating the U.S. education system as a Black girl becoming a Black woman. From an African-centered perspective (Asante, 1990) this study critiques how belonging and motivation are conceptualized through Eurocentric frameworks that lead to conceptual incarceration, epistemicide, and the miseducation of Black students. Using Blackgirl Autoethnography (Boylorn, 2016) and Intuitive Inquiry (Anderson, 2004; Romanyshyn, 2007), I constructed a Life Timeline (Bau, 2024) from archival artifacts, academic and medical records, personal journals, and conversations with family and educational mentors. This allowed for a deeper understanding of how institutional exclusion, religious indoctrination, and psychological misorientation shaped my understanding of identity, motivation, and belonging. Data were analyzed using The Soundtrack of My Life (Payton, 2023), functioning as a hermeneutic and analytical tool. Through lyrical interpretation, I examined how music gave voice to emotional truths, ancestral memory, and unspoken resistance. Findings reveal that institutional belonging often required fragmentation of self, while a true sense belonging emerged through (re) connection with self, my cultural heritage, and deep, soul work—most notably through an episode of psychosis reinterpreted as a spiritual awakening. This study calls for a (re)conceptualization of motivation and belonging as intuitive, communal, and rooted in African-centered onto-epistemologies. In doing so, it urges Educational Psychology to expand its frameworks to affirm the spiritual, emotional, and cultural dimensions of Black life
The Investigation into The Relationship Between Strength and Running Economy
No full textThe purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference between the running economy of endurance runners who regularly practice strength training versus those who do not. Twenty-five endurance runners participated in this study (15 strength trained (STR), 10 non-strength trained (NON)). Participants completed two lower limb strength tests and one running economy test. Participants were measured for height, body mass, and lean leg mass. Modified Reactive Strength Index (mRSI) was measured with a countermovement rebound jump using Vald force decks. Relative Peak Vertical Force (relative PVF) was measured with an isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) test. Running economy (RE) was determined by having athletes run at a preferred speed and measuring oxygen uptake (VO2) during a 10-minute run. Results for RE, relative PVF, or mRSI between groups were not statistically significantly different; NON (31.74±6.57; 29.75±4.65; 0.40±0.19) and STR (33.34±4.99; 29.56±3.11; 0.41±0.15) respectively. Additionally, there were positive correlations between strength measures and both RE (mRSI: r=0.402, p=0.046; relative PVF: r=0.545, p=0.005) and preferred running velocity (mRSI: r=0.467, p=0.019; relative PVF: r=0.506, p=0.01). We determined that the inclusion of strength training has no negative effect on RE. Furthermore, stronger athletes performed better than non-strength training endurance athletes. Therefore, the inclusion of strength training may be beneficial for endurance athletes to incorporate into their training regimens
Musical Language and Communication: Students Connect Music Streams to Literacy, Mathematics, Science, And Movement
No full textThis dissertation discusses how music and literacy claim many of the same skills, ways music may be used as a motivational tool to help promote strategies for skill development, and how teachers working in teams have the innovation to generate strategic learning. By combining music symbolism with the literacy curriculum, one can create a set of elementary school lessons that integrate musical melody with the facets of literacy, mathematics, science, and movement to formulate beneficial opportunities for student engagement and learning. Students cultivate learning by using the elements of rhythmic literacy, such as identifying beat values in conjunction with their literary equivalent. Important music skill sets that are educationally meaningful for students to develop include identifying rhythmic values and observing how to problem-solve or evaluate note values by words per measure. Combining technology with the concepts mentioned above renders the music skill sets interactive and engaging. The tool of technology is crucial in the sonic-inspired classroom environment to enhance perspectives of music and literacy learning. Students creating song prose in their learning environment with these resources are motivated to engage in discourse and to educationally collaborate by creating group music themes while clapping to the beat of their practice prose. The culminating activity of this project involved students creating their rhyme, using ABA (chorus-verse-chorus) form, incorporating their knowledge of rhythmic literacy with non-locomotor movements, and engaging in group projects, to include the advancement of inspiring ideas of collaborative spoken, rhythmic sound levels. Methodological approaches include research and design of music and movement by Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, Zoltan Kodaly, Orff Schulwerk, and Gunild Keetman. Such approaches to music-meaning may promote the development of identifiable classifications for describing and interpreting one’s musical experience, however, differing confounding variables may affect study results, such as the extent to which students gather information
Beyond Monuments: The Built Environment of Las Vegas and Los Angeles in the Twentieth Century
No full textUsing Las Vegas and Los Angeles as case studies, this dissertation examines how aspects of the built environment have become emblematic of the cities where they reside, and more generally, of the modern American West. It explores how the public has interacted with and been affected by that urban built environment in the twentieth century. This history of the modern West examines how casino resorts and wedding chapels in southern Nevada and freeways and film studios in southern California became emblematic of an urban West. Drawing on urban, suburban, social, cultural, environmental, and public histories, this dissertation shows how these structures came to serve as monuments in their design, their size, their economic impact, and their place in popular culture and public memory. I argue that these structures are more accurate representations of historical processes than traditional monuments are. Still, like monuments, these structures have a more complex and compelling history than is outwardly visible to the public. This dissertation allows us to better understand the history of the modern urban West by revealing the ideological foundations on which these structures, and their host cities, were built. It examines how and why these structures were planned and constructed, the roles they have played in the growth and development of their respective metropolises, and the ways in which the public has known and interacted with them
Empowering Educators to Improve Social Emotional Behaviors Among K-8 Students: Quality Improvement Project
No full textSocial and emotional learning (SEL) encompasses essential skills for effectively managing and expressing emotions. Studies have shown that SEL strengthens early education while supporting students\u27 lifelong success by fostering positive behaviors within and beyond the classroom. In school settings, occupational therapists (OTs) aim to empower children to thrive as students and as social beings through targeted interventions and educational support for parents and teachers. In private school settings, limited access to occupational therapy services may impact teachers\u27 ability to implement SEL strategies effectively.This capstone project addressed gaps in teachers\u27 knowledge and confidence in applying the Zones of Regulation SEL curriculum at Cornerstone Christian Academy & Tykes Preschool (CCA) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Quality Assurance Questionnaires were administered to K-8 teachers to assess their competence, confidence, and consistency in implementing the Zones of Regulation program. Through an occupational therapy perspective, the quality improvement project integrated teacher education sessions with collaborative consultation and classroom-based interventions. Educators who received targeted support demonstrated meaningful improvement in SEL curriculum usage which revealed how interprofessional collaboration strengthens instructional confidence and SEL curriculum delivery
Torque Efficacy of Cadmus Bracket Design using Clear Aligners
No full textIntroduction: Clear aligner therapy (CAT) is an alternative option for clinicians to use for orthodontic treatment as opposed to fixed appliances. Many patients prefer clear aligner therapy due to its esthetic looks, removability, ease of oral hygiene, and comfort. Clear aligner companies boast to clinicians that it can be used more efficiently and effectively than fixed appliances in many orthodontic cases. Although these claims have been made, there is a lack of evidence to prove that clear aligner therapy is more efficient or effective. This research will focus on torque control. This project is designed around a new, pre-manufactured attachment named CADMUS. The research will help improve the design, test its capabilities, and retrieve evidence showing that clear aligner therapy can be used efficiently and effectively in torque control. This pre-manufactured novel attachment is designed to provide the clinician with the option of fixed appliance using its patented slot design while simultaneously providing versatile attachment for clear aligner therapy. The clinician has the option to switch between the two modalities easily depending on the needs of the case in that specific moment. Since the attachment is newly designed, no data exists on the effectiveness of how it performs as an attachment for use in clear aligner therapy.Objective: The objective of this research is to provide data that shows how effective the pre-manufactured attachment can be used for torque control using clear aligner therapy. The research will test common treatment options for use as comparison. It will be an in-vitro simulation of negatively torquing a flared central incisor. Materials and Methods: 3D printed study models will be made for testing. 15 degrees of positive torque is added to UL1. 6 stages at 2.5 degrees for each stage to negatively torque the UL1 back into the arch. 8 different groups will be tested and compared including 2 groups of CADMUS brackets. The groups are Scallop, Straight line, 1.5mm extended, Horizontal rectangular – flat trim, Vertical rectangular – flat trim, Power ridge, CADMUS half bracket, and CADMUS full bracket. Several diagnostic areas will be identified to place radiopaque silicon nitride ceramic bearing balls to help with DICOM statistical data capture. A CBCT scan of each study model is taken at each stage. Intraoral scans will be taken pre and post treatment. Digital data will be analyzed. Results: The study evaluating torque control in orthodontic aligners found significant differences between bracket designs. Measuring torque in degrees across 112 data points, it is determined the CADMUS single wing design yielded the highest average torque per stage (2.48 degrees) and the most favorable crown-to-root ratio (1.13), indicating superior performance. Conversely, the Power Ridge design demonstrated the lowest average torque (1.49 degrees) and the least favorable ratio (3.8). A one-way ANOVA confirmed statistically significant differences (P \u3c 0.05) between groups, highlighting the impact of bracket design on torque efficacy. Conclusions: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the CADMUS bracket system in achieving torque movement during orthodontic aligner therapy, yielding key conclusions. Primarily, the CADMUS bracket, particularly the single-wing design, demonstrated superior performance compared to other control groups. Exhibiting 99% of planned torque movement, it surpassed the next best non-CADMUS option, the 2mm trimline, which achieved 87%. This enhanced performance was further substantiated by a more favorable crown-to-root ratio of 1.13 for the CADMUS single wing, compared to 1.65 for the 2mm trimline, indicating more efficient and controlled force application. While overall torque movement showed statistically significant differences between groups, root movement, although positive, did not reach statistical significance due to the study\u27s limited sample size. Secondly, this research reinforces the importance of attachments in orthodontic aligner therapy, particularly when prescribing torque movements. This finding aligns with existing literature, further validating the clinical utility of attachments in achieving predictable and effective tooth movement. Finally, the study corroborated previous findings regarding the impact of trimline location on aligner therapy, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of this factor in treatment planning. This investigation contributes to the ongoing development of more efficient orthodontic systems. By combining the benefits of fixed and clear aligners, the CADMUS system represents a promising advancement, potentially streamlining treatment and enhancing patient outcomes. Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to solidify these findings, particularly regarding root movement
Enhancing Documentation Proficiency: Feasibility of Integrating EHR Go & Unfolding Case Studies in Occupational Therapy Education
No full textObjective: This capstone project evaluated the feasibility of integrating EHR Go and Unfolding Case Studies (UCS) into the first-year curriculum of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program. The goal was to enhance students’ SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) note documentation proficiency and critical thinking skills through simulation-based learning and increased exposure to real-world documentation expectations and examples. Feedback from 33 clinicians at Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospital – Siena Campus informed the workshop design, and OTD faculty and graduate assistants at UNLV provided input on curriculum integration feasibility.Methods: A quasi-experimental, non-equivalent groups pretest-posttest design was used. Prior to the intervention, 33 clinicians participated in a documentation needs assessment to guide workshop development and content priorities. Twelve first-year OTD students voluntarily participated in a documentation workshop featuring EHR Go and UCS. The intervention included timed SOAP note writing, case-based scenarios, and feedback from instructors and peers. Pre- and post-intervention surveys measured students’ confidence in documentation, and SOAP note assignments were graded using a standardized rubric to assess objective proficiency. Scores were compared within the workshop group and against the remainder of the cohort (n = 15) who did not attend the workshop. Additionally, a SOAR analysis and staff interviews were conducted to evaluate curricular relevance and implementation feasibility. Findings: Clinician feedback emphasized the need for structured documentation training and validated the workshop’s content focus on clinical reasoning and EHR literacy. Statistically significant improvements in documentation confidence were observed for workshop participants in the Objective (p = .037), Assessment (p = .015), and Plan (p = .008) sections. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests showed that SOAP note scores improved significantly among participants (W = 0.0, p = .002, r = .88) and non-participants (W = 6.0, p = .003, r = .76), though workshop participants achieved a greater mean improvement (ΔM = 2.58 vs. 1.90). An independent samples t-test found no statistically significant difference between groups, t(25) = -1.20, p = .243, but a moderate between-group effect size (d = -0.46) suggested meaningful trends in favor of participants. Qualitative feedback further supported the workshop\u27s effectiveness and curricular value, while faculty and graduate assistant responses confirmed that the workshop’s learning activities could feasibly be integrated into existing first-year coursework with appropriate support. Conclusion: The integration of EHR Go and UCS into the UNLV OTD curriculum was feasible and showed promising benefits for enhancing SOAP note proficiency and fieldwork preparedness. Findings support continued use of simulation-based documentation training to bridge academic instruction and clinical documentation demands
On the Special Cases of Carmichael’s Totient Conjecture
No full textEuler’s totient function, φ(n), is the arithmetic function defined as the number of positive integers less than or equal to n that are relatively prime to n. In his 1922 paper [3], Professor R. D. Carmichael conjectured that for each positive integer n, there exists at least one positive integer m̸ = n such that φ(m) = φ(n).In this thesis, we consider some relevant literature and explore Carmichael’s totient conjecture for particular values of φ(n) = k. Our main consideration will be the set X_k = {n ∈ N : φ(n) = k}. In identifying X_k for k = 2^t, 2p^s, 2^2p, and 2pq, we find that Carmichael’s conjecture holds for those select cases, provide an algorithm, and some related results. The conjecture remains an open problem in number theory [10, 24]
Rebuilding Father-Child Bonds: Group Therapeutic Writing for Fathers Transitioning From Incarceration
No full textThis project was a group therapeutic writing (TW) workshop that was an addition to the existing program at Hope for Prisoners (HFP) to facilitate self-awareness of father-children relationship for fathers who are previously incarcerated. This doctoral capstone project assessed the impact of a group therapeutic writing workshop led by the occupational therapist capstone student on emotional awareness, self-reflection, and communication skills among previously incarcerated fathers. The program aimed at helping fathers who were incarcerated in rebuilding relationships with their children by enhancing confidence, self-awareness, and emotional expression. The four-week therapeutic writing program provided the emotional and relational needs of participants by promoting both emotional growth and supportive peer interactions through shared writing exercises. Participant feedback revealed that structured writing exercises allowed fathers to explore their emotions, reflect on their experiences, and express thoughts they may have struggled to communicate in the past. Challenges such as scheduling conflicts, parole restrictions, and emotional barriers impacted participation levels. Additionally, the age of their children played a role in relationship rebuilding, with older children demonstrating greater hesitation in reconnecting. This project highlighted the potential of TW as an intervention for formerly incarcerated fathers navigating the complexities of reentry and fatherhood. Future research should explore longer and more-in depth writing programs to further assess their effectiveness in strengthening father-child relationships and supporting successful reintegration