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Purdue Pharma: Appalachia\u27s Worst Nightmare
Get PDFThis thesis describes the legal implications of Purdue Pharma’s vital role that implicated them in the opioid crisis after their release of the renowned drug, OxyContin. Purdue Pharma released the infamous drug in 1995 and the world of drugs and addiction has never been the same. Thousands of oxycontin-related deaths, pharmacies and medical professionals found liable, and countless lawsuits against the powerful company. This research expands on these lawsuits, the implications of these against Purdue Pharma, and the improvements made in the pharmaceutical company to prevent a disaster such as the opioid crisis from repeating itself
Meal Preparation and Cooking Group Participation in Mental Health: A Community Transition
No full textThis qualitative retrospective case study describes the impact of meal preparation and cooking groups on one individual’s transition to independent community living after experiencing severe mental illness and long-term institutionalization. The study was guided by the transformative worldview that focuses on empowering the individual and combating oppression in marginalized populations. Over 200 documents were analyzed from the participant’s medical records and were categorized into three data sources; Providers Progress Notes, Occupational Therapy Progress and Evaluation Reports, and Client’s Daily Goal Setting Sheets. The emergent themes illustrate that meal preparation and cooking groups were a significant component of recovery and discharge for the participant. Secondary themes illustrate challenges and barriers for the participant in relation to the cooking group experience. This study seeks to challenge the prevailing stigmas surrounding long-term psychiatric clients by focusing on one individual’s recovery after long-term, sustained participation in meal preparation and cooking groups
Decoding the Flavor of Kentucky\u27s Native Pawpaw Fruit
Get PDFThe objective of this research was to decode the flavor of Asimina triloba, or the pawpaw fruit, to identify and quantitate the aroma-active compounds that are present. Gas chromatography – olfactometry (GC-O) was applied on capillary GC columns with various means of extraction. The volatile compounds present were extracted using both headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) for 30 minutes at 23°C and 50°C, and solvent extraction using methylene chloride. The sample extracts were analyzed with both gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography – olfactometry (GC-O). To eliminate potential artifacts that were observed when using HS-SPME at 50°C, the study focused on analyzing the SPME samples performed at 23°C and solvent extraction for characterization of the aroma compounds within the pawpaw fruit. Throughout this study, forty-four aroma-active compounds were observed. Of the forty-four compounds, fifteen were identified for the first time within the pawpaw fruit. Acetaldehyde, diacetyl, eugenol, homofuraneol, delta-octalactone, gamma-octalactone, and vanillin are a few of the recently identified odor-active compounds. It was observed that these odor-active compounds had high flavor dilution (FD) factors. The esters within the pawpaw alongside these high intensity aroma-active compounds contribute to the unique aroma associated with the pawpaw fruit. The odor has often been described as tropical, creamy, sweet, and a mixture of banana, mango, and pineapple-like. In addition, some of these flavor compounds were quantitated and comparisons were made to different cultivars as well as during the ripening stage. These results identified one marker compound (3-hydroxy ethyl butyrate) as a potential way to distinguish Mango pawpaw cultivar from others. Overall, this work provides a good foundation for future pawpaw researchers who may try to understand the flavor differences of various pawpaw cultivars
Individual capture history affects site use and defensive behavior of foraging eastern copperheads at a recreational site
Get PDFTo maximize energy available for foraging or reproduction, optimality theory suggests individuals allocate energy toward defensive behaviors equivalent to risk of predation. In this framework, repeat encounters with humans that do not reduce individual fitness could result in a decreased defensive response toward humans in subsequent encounters. I investigated the role individual experience played in shaping the defensive behaviors and frequency of site use of foraging of eastern copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) at Koomer Ridge Campground in the Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky. Since 2015 this site has been used for ongoing, annual mark-recapture studies of the foraging ecology of copperheads as they predate emerging annual cicadas (Neotibicen tibicen tibicen). Using a standardized behavioral trial for vipers, I tested whether copperhead defensive behavior toward humans was influenced by long-term capture history, within-season site-use history, body size, sex, and soil temperature. Model averaging results indicated that intensity of copperhead behavioral response to humans increased with number of years an individual had been recaptured, but no other explanatory variables significantly influenced behavior. The frequency at which an individual foraged at Koomer during the field season was positively, significantly related to the number of years they had been recaptured. These results indicate that copperheads with longer capture histories are coming to the site to forage more frequently and are more willing to defend their foraging opportunities. My study suggests that free-ranging copperheads are able to modulate their foraging and defensive behavior based on previous experience with humans, leading to some individuals becoming more tolerant
The American University: Attitudes about Safety and the Impact of Gun Regulations on Campus
Get PDFAn ultimate goal of American universities is to provide a safe and secure environment for all who attend and operate there, but what safety looks and feels like to the individual can vary to a great degree. There are many factors that campus safety departments consider when designing their campus safety policies and regulations. One way universities in the U.S. have chosen to regulate campus safety is by allowing concealed carry (CC) on their campuses. No evidence was found in the state of Kentucky that explains if a CC policy is warranted or being pursued by faculty, staff and students however a recent KY House Bill 542 (2023) would have made it unconstitutional to not allow CC on Kentucky college campuses. Without gauging the culture and opinions of all three populations on a college campus, research cannot improve upon current policy or affect change in a positive direction. Through a campus-wide anonymous survey instrument designed for this study and for a particular Kentucky university campus, results show that there are in fact strong opinions about personal safety, perceptions of campus safety and campus carry with variations among the three groups surveyed. The quantitative method of study was utilized and the instrument was uniquely designed in Qualtrics for accuracy
Placental co-culture model reveals Listeria monocytogenes utilization of monocytes for vertical transmission
Get PDFListeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic pathogen that can cross the protective placental barrier and infect the fetus, leading to congenital disabilities or death. Extracellular L. monocytogenes infection of the placenta has been well studied; however, the bacteria have not been observed translocating this barrier intracellularly. As an intracellular pathogen, L. monocytogenes could infect phagocytic cells that can be transported across the placental barrier. A novel cell co-culture system comprised of BeWo and HPVEC cell lines was established to model the human placental barrier. Barrier integrity was confirmed using immunostaining of tight junctions and a FITC-dextran permeability assay. The model was then used to observe L. monocytogenes use of the “Trojan horse” method for vertical transmission. Human monocyte THP-1 cells were exposed to L. monocytogenes (MOI 100) for one hour to ensure infection. The co-culture model was exposed to varying treatments including the L. monocytogenes-infected THP-1s for two hours to allow translocation. Upon exposure to the infected cells, the placental model experienced a five-fold increase in barrier permeability. Hemocytometer counts revealed a significant increase in cell translocation with treatments that included THP-1s infected with L. monocytogenes. Model exposure to monocytes infected with L. monocytogenes resulted in an increase in sICAM-1 expression (~3-fold) and an increase in cell cytotoxicity by ~20%. Immunostaining of co-culture models exposed to L. monocytogenes-infected monocytes revealed severe disruption of occludin and claudin-1 tight junctions. This study demonstrates Listeria usage of the Trojan horse mechanism to reach and translocate the human placental barrier. Thus, Listeria infection can utilize both extracellular and intracellular forms of the pathogen to breach the placental barrier
Darkness and Light: The Connection Between Personality and Conspiracy Beliefs
No full textConspiracy theories are becoming a large part of the modern cultural zeitgeist. Past research has shown connections between conspiracy belief systems and several types of personality traits, from the Big 5 Personality Traits to HEXACO. Connections have also been found between Conspiracy Beliefs and the Dark Triad of Personality—Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy. However, no published studies have examined Conspiracy Beliefs in connection to the Light Triad of Personality—Humanism, Kantianism, and Faith in Humanity. The present study examined both Light and Dark Triad traits as potential predictors of Conspiracy Beliefs. Eastern Kentucky University students (n=144) completed surveys on these beliefs and traits. Results indicated that Dark Triad traits were significant positive predictors of Conspiracy Beliefs. Interestingly, Light Triad traits showed no significant connection with Conspiracy Beliefs but were negatively correlated with Dark Triad traits. This suggests that while Light Triad traits negatively predict Dark Triad traits, they are not predictive of Conspiracy Beliefs. The results present an interesting question—Do Conspiracy Believers feel that exposing others to those theories is for the greater good?
Keywords: Conspiracy Belief, Dark Triad, Light Triad, Personality, Conspiracy Theorieshttps://encompass.eku.edu/swps_undergraduategallery/1325/thumbnail.jp
Therapeutic/Expressive Writing and Resilience Promotion for Nurses to Reduce Burnout Syndrome
No full textAbstract
COVID-19 accelerated the rate in which nurses are leaving the profession because of the severe nursing shortage, extended working hours, and exceptionally ill patients. This evidence-based DNP project used therapeutic/expressive writing and group resilience discussion with Women’s Care Center (WCC) nurses at Baptist Health Richmond, to improve resilience acuity and reduce symptoms associated with burnout syndrome. A demographic and two pre-intervention surveys were completed by WCC nurses in the hospital relaxation room or skills lab. The Connor-Davidson RISC© Scale 25 was used to determine resilience scores for day and night shift nurses. The Maslach Burnout Inventory© Survey for Medical Personnel was also used to assess emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal achievement (PA). Participants (N =18) pre-intervention resilience mean for the morning nurses and evening nurses respectively, (N= 11) mean (M = 82.3) and (N= 7) mean (M = 74.8). Both day and night shift nurses’ scores ranged from 74 to 90; indicating the intermediate range, which is consistent with 50% of the population. Burnout mean for the day shift nurses, EE (M = 28.4), DP (M = 6.0), and PA (M = 39.82). Burnout mean for night shift nurses, EE (M = 32.14), DP (M = 13.43), and PA (M = 37.0). Resilience mean was decreased in night nurses compared to day nurses. Burnout means for night nurses were higher for emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and lower for personal achievement, showing overall higher levels of burnout.
Keywords: resilience, burnout syndrome, nurses, therapeutic writing, group discussionshttps://encompass.eku.edu/swps_graduategallery/1143/thumbnail.jp
Senior Companion Program Training on ADEI
No full textAs the United States population continues to age, the prevalence of depression and isolation in older adults demonstrates a need for program intervention. Research states that prevalence of depressive symptoms measured at 43.9% in homebound older adults and 28.1% in semi-homebound older adults (Xiang & Brooks, 2017). In addition to this increase in the older population, within the next 15 years, people of color will make up 1-in-3 older Americans, and the LGBTQ+) older population will double in size to at least 4 million (Diverse Elders | Diverse Elders Coalition, n.d.). As the aging population continues to diversify, the implementation of a cross-cultural performance framework is necessary to acknowledge cultural differences, promote allyship activities, and engage in rapport-building conversation (Feitosa et al., 2022). There is a community need for services and supports for homebound older adults and individuals with disabilities so that they can maintain independent living. The Senior Companion Program (SCP) addresses this need by placing a volunteer with said individuals to assist with daily living tasks and provide socialization—the goal of the program is to prevent premature institutionalization, reduce depression symptoms, and improve the client\u27s quality of life. Studies show that older adults who participate in diverse social activities have better self-rated health (Zaitsu et al., 2018). To promote diversity in social activities, the SCP trains volunteers on the concepts of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI). The training consists of the following areas: cultural competency, valuing diversity, power and privilege, and social barriers that affect seniors.https://encompass.eku.edu/swps_graduategallery/1146/thumbnail.jp
