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Exploring Health Disparities Among Black American Women of Reproductive Age
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationBlack American women are at a unique and complex intersection in that they make up a racial and gender minority demographic in the United States. Within the literature, there is some evidence of health disparities among Black American women of reproductive age, suggesting greater risk for cancer, chronic conditions, health risk behaviors, and mental health. However, most of the literature surrounding this population focuses on maternal health outcomes such as maternal mortality and morbidity, leaving a gap in the literature regarding other health disparities that affect this population. Using secondary data analysis of cross-sectional public health surveys, this work found significant evidence of health disparities faced by Black American women of reproductive age. These findings add to the current literature which lacks emphasis on areas outside of maternal health among this population and inform future directions for public health research, clinical practice, and health policy. Guided by the NIMHD Research Framework, this work established that individual, interpersonal, community, and societal-level factors significantly influence health outcomes and perpetuate disparities among Black American women of reproductive age
Confessional
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationCONFESSIONAL is an all-day installed performance work confronting concepts of performer agency, exploitation, and casual sex through an electroacoustic experience rooted in noise and transgressive performance art. This work challenges participants by blending the boundaries between sex and art, inviting them into an environment where these realms intersect uncomfortably yet provocatively. The work fosters a space that prompts participants to explore personal limits, critically question the relationship between art and intimacy, and navigate a context unfamiliar to many, reflecting on queer casual sex and the layered objectification experienced within transsexual spaces.The work consists of two main physical components: a network of repositionablecontact microphones and a cardboard box used as a communal instrument and proxy for thehuman body. Throughout the day, participants receive evolving instructions that guide their physical interactions with the box, suggesting both performative and metaphorically sexual acts without explicit depiction. This shifting guidance is designed to heighten immersion, challengingparticipants to examine the extent of their engagement with each suggested action. As theyperform potentially uncomfortable or confrontational acts, participants may face internalquestions such as: “How far am I willing to go? What insights might discomfort yield? Is theresomething here that resonates with me, even if I might initially resist it?” Participants are trusted to follow the instructions precisely, underscoring the importance of boundaries even in exploratory and performative acts: a form of control over the spaces we inhabit, both physically and conceptually. Though intentionally confrontational, the work cultivates a meaningful connection between participants and their artistic experiences, inviting them to push beyond their comfort zones in a transformative and impactful exploration of art, identity, and agency
Beyond the Ring: a Multi-Method Analysis of Activity At the Creighton Island Shell Ring
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationShell rings found along the Georgia Bight are the result of the deliberate deposition of marine shell by Indigenous peoples during the Late Archaic period (cal 3000 to 1000 BC). Ring interiors were intensely used and inhabited prior to the shifting environmental conditions that precipitated the abandonment of the rings before the end of the Late Archaic. Archaeological evidence from the Woodland (cal 1000 BC to AD 800) and Mississippian (cal AD 800 to AD 1580) periods suggests that post-Late Archaic Indigenous groups utilized some shell rings while avoiding others. There is also evidence for either activity at or intentional avoidance of shell ring exteriors during and after the Late Archaic period. The focus of this research is the Creighton Island Shell Ring (9MC87), a shell ring located in the Georgia back-barrier. Recent archaeological investigation at the ring has found indications for post-Late Archaic activity within the ring interior. This research utilizes shovel testing, pedestrian survey, material analysis, oyster measurement, radiocarbon, and oxygen isotope analysis to explore potential Late Archaic and post-Late Archaic activity in the ring exterior. This investigation is further informed by a brief discussion of the role of monumentality and memory in framing shell rings as persistent places and an analysis of the environmental history of the Holocene Georgia Coast. This research presents new understandings regarding activity at shell rings while also supporting lines of evidence that are outliers to present views on the timing of terminal Late Archaic shell ring abandonment and Georgia coast shellfishing practices during the terminal Late Archaic and Early Woodland transition
I Don’t Feel Noways Tired: Why Black Teachers Will Persevere through the Anti-Truth Movement
No full textThe current anti-truth context, in which discussions of race and racism in K-12 schools are rendered illegal, is just the latest iteration of anti-Black legislation that impacts schools. In this article, we historicize the contemporary moment by using BlackCrit and fugitive pedagogies to discuss how Black teachers have navigated discussions of race and racism with Black students through previous anti-Black contexts, noting that we believe contemporary Black teachers will continue in this rich tradition, despite current legislation
Merging the Theory of Matrix Weights with Variable Lebesgue Spaces
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationWe extend the theory of matrix weights to the variable exponent setting. The theory of matrix Aₚ weights has attracted considerable attention beginning with the work of Nazarov, Treil, and Volberg in the 1990's. We first extend the definition of Aₚ weights to the variable exponent setting, denoting these classes by Aₚ(.). We prove convolution operators converge on matrix weighted, variable Lebesgue spaces. As an application, we prove a version of the H = W theorem for matrix weighted, variable Sobolev spaces. Next we prove a reverse Hölder inequality for scalar Aₚ(.) weights and apply this result to prove right and left-openness of matrix Aₚ(.) weights. Lastly, we prove Goldberg's auxiliary maximal operator is bounded on variable Lebesgue spaces
Combatting Ageism: Evaluating the Impact of an Age-Positive Training in Healthcare
No full textDSW Capstone ReportIntroduction/Background: Ageism, defined as stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination based on age, is a pervasive issue with detrimental effects on the wellbeing of older adults. Ageist attitudes among healthcare workers can lead to both over- and under-treatment of older adults. This project assessed whether an evidence-informed training program about aging and ageism could improve attitudes towards older adults among healthcare employees.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was utilized to evaluate the impact of a one-hour workshop adapted from the “Ending Ageism Together” training developed by Changing the Narrative. A total of 167 employees from a large healthcare system in the intermountain west participated in the training. Among them, 126 participants completing the pretest, 107 completing the first posttest, and 64 completing the second posttest 30 days later. The Expectations Regarding Aging (ERA-12) scale and two knowledge-based questions were used to assess changes in ageist beliefs and knowledge.
Results: Significant improvements were found with the total score on the ERA-12 and on the three ERA-12 scales (physical health, mental health, and cognitive function), with sustained improvements 30 days after the training. Participants also reported improved knowledge about aging, with many identifying changes in their attitudes and behaviors regarding ageism. Qualitative feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants acknowledging increased awareness of their own biases and commitments to reducing ageist behaviors.
Discussion: The findings suggest that targeted educational interventions can significantly reduce ageism among healthcare employees, contributing to better care for older adults. This training model provides a promising framework for addressing ageism in healthcare, although future research with more diverse samples and control groups is needed to strengthen the evidence. Policymakers and healthcare organizations should consider mandating similar ageism reduction training to foster an age-inclusive workplace and enhance patient outcomes. Limitations include the lack of a control group and the overrepresentation of older and female participants, which may limit generalizability
How Parents Communicate with Adolescents About Alcohol Use: Implications for College Use and Alcohol-Related Consequences
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationParental communication about alcohol use plays a critical role in shaping college drinking behaviors, yet the specific effects of different message types remain underexplored. Given the heightened risk of heavy drinking during the first semester of college, this study aimed to validate a measure of alcohol-specific communication (ASC), confirm its factor structure, and examine how distinct ASC strategies predict drinking initiation, frequency, problematic alcohol use, and alcohol-related consequences in the first semester. Additionally, the moderating roles of prior drinking experience and peer injunctive norms were assessed. Study 1 piloted the ASC measure to establish validity. Study 2 employed a longitudinal design, recruiting students before college entry and following them for 15–22 weeks. Participants reported on their high school ASC experiences, as well as high school and college drinking initiation status, weekly alcohol use, problematic drinking (AUDIT; α = .89), alcohol-related consequences (BYAACQ; α = .94), and peer norms (INRF; α = .89). Additional measures included parental warmth (PBI; α = .89), parental monitoring, and parental alcohol use. Factor analyses supported the ASC measure’s structure, and results revealed distinct effects on alcohol use. Parental stories/disclosures in high school predicted greater college drinking consequences among those who had already initiated alcohol use or had alcohol-approving peers. Peer-oriented messages in high school were associated with fewer college alcohol-related consequences, whereas risk-oriented messages were linked to increased problematic drinking among students with alcohol permissive college peers. Findings highlight the critical role of parental messaging in mitigating risk during the transition to college. Implications for prevention and future research are discussed.Keywords: parent communication, alcohol-specific communication, college drinking, alcohol use, peer norms, alcohol use consequences, problematic drinkin
Substance Use and Sleep Disorder Comorbidity: Impacts on College Students' Mental Health
No full textElectronic Thesis or DissertationSubstance use, sleep disturbances, and serious mental illness (SMI) are critical and interrelated public health concerns among college students. This dissertation investigates the associations between substance use risk (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis), sleep quality, and SMI using data from the Spring 2022 American College Health Association–National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA III), comprising responses from 69,131 students across 129 U.S. institutions. The study addresses four key research questions: (1) What is the relationship between substance use risk and SMI? (2) How do sleep disturbances predict SMI? (3) Are sleep disturbances associated with substance use risk? (4) Does difficulty falling asleep (DFA) mediate the relationship between substance use risk and SMI?Serious mental illness was measured using the Kessler-6 (K6) scale, substance use risk via the ASSIST-derived Substance-Specific Involvement Scores (SSIS), and sleep disturbances using five indicators: sleep onset latency (SOL), early awakening (ELA), daytime fatigue (DFT), difficulty falling asleep (DFA), and restorative sleep (RSP). Analytical methods included bivariate Chi-square tests, logistic regression, and mediation analysis using Hayes’ PROCESS Macro (Model 4).Findings showed that moderate and high-risk substance use were significantly associated with increased odds of SMI. For instance, high-risk alcohol users had 3.38 times higher odds of SMI (95% CI: 2.86–3.99), while high-risk cannabis and tobacco users had 3.33 (95% CI: 2.63–4.21) and 2.67 (95% CI: 2.06–3.46) times higher odds SMI (95% CI: 2.86–3.99), while high-risk cannabis and tobacco users had 3.33 (95% CI: 2.63–4.21) and 2.67 (95% CI: 2.06–3.46) times higher odds, respectively. Sleep disturbances, especially DFA and ELA, were also significant predictors of SMI. DFA was strongly associated with substance use risk, with high-risk users more likely to report poor sleep initiation. Mediation analysis revealed that DFA partially mediated the effect of substance use risk on SMI, accounting for 40% of the effect for tobacco, 35% for alcohol, and 27% for cannabis.These findings underscore the importance of integrated campus interventions targeting substance use and sleep health. Programs that promote sleep hygiene alongside substance use prevention may reduce SMI risk and improve overall student well-being. Future research should examine these relationships longitudinally and explore psychosocial moderators to inform tailored intervention strategies
Implementing an Educational Training Program for Advanced Practice Providers on Ultrasound-Guidance for Vascular Access to Achieve Improved Clinical Outcomes
No full textDNP ProjectBackground: The integration of advanced practice providers (APPs) into critical care medicine (CCM) has increased in recent years, requiring APPs to perform more invasive procedures. Currently, there is a lack of standardized education for APPs on these invasive procedures including central venous catheter (CVC) and arterial catheter placement without formal education, specifically the use of ultrasound-guidance. Many professional organizations, including the Society for Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), asserts that clinicians should be properly educated on and use real-time ultrasound when performing all vascular access procedures. With advances in technology, simulation-based methods have been integrated into medical education, These methods have been shown to create better outcomes when the goal relates to the acquisition of a new technical skill. A quality improvement (QI) project was developed and implemented, over a ten-week period, to establish an evidence-based standardized simulation-based medical education (SBME) program on ultrasound-guidance for vascular access (UGVA) for pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) APPs. The focus was to improve APP perceived self-confidence using ultrasound technology and increase UGVA attempts and first attempt success rates.
Methods: This was a quality improvement project designed to provide standardization of UGVA training based on the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s guidelines for best practice.
Results: Eleven CICU APPs participated in the SBME program. Participants (n=11) mean scores pre-intervention ranged from 1.91 to 3.27 (SD ± 0.54 – 1.43) and the post-intervention scores ranged from 3.73 to 4.45 (SD ± 0.5 – 0.98). All post-intervention mean scores were consistently higher than the pre-intervention scores, (p < 0.05). The paired-sample T-test showed t-values that ranged from -2.665 to -6.829, p values ranged from 0.00 – 0.024. The differences in mean scores pre- to post-intervention, were statistically significant, p < 0.05. While all UGVA competencies showed increase, seven of the ten UGVA competencies showed a statistically significant increase above the predicted threshold of 20% and 25% (p <0.05).
Discussion: SBME has been proven successful for procedural training and should be applied to APP training. This quality improvement initiative successfully developed and implemented a standardized evidence-based SBME intervention that significantly improved UGVA competency among pediatric CICU APPs. For APPs to proficiently use UGVA, educational curricula included formalized instruction with simulation-based training. After the development and implementation of the program APPs were afforded the proper technical training necessary to build CCM competencies. Limitations included this was a single center project with a small sample of APPs. Future efforts should be focused on the application of this project to other critical care areas, providers and other centers
Pseudocorax (Chondrichthyes, Lamniformes, Pseudocoracidae) in the Upper Maastrichtian phosphates of Khouribga Province, Morocco
No full textOpen Access ArticleA new species of Pseudocorax (Lamniformes, Pseudocoracidae), Pseudocorax heteroserratus
n. sp., is described from the upper Maastrichtian phosphates of Morocco. This novel taxon
is recognized by a large sample of isolated teeth collected from the upper Couche III layer at
the Sidi Chennane quarry in the Oulad Abdoun Basin, Khouribga Province, Morocco.
P. heteroserratus is differentiated from other Pseudocorax species by bearing a mesiodistally
elongated tooth base, broad crown, and highly variable serrations. The variability in number
and extent of serrations along the carinae ranges from completely absent to fully serrated and
finely to coarsely serrated, raising speculation on broader Pseudocorax phylogenetics and as to
whether the genesis of serrations within Pseudocorax occurred in a singular progressive event
or rather from two distinct events. The morphological variability within the new species
highlights the importance of large sample sizes in selachian odontological studies using
isolated teeth