• Addressing Fear-Avoidance Beliefs in a Veteran with Sub-Acute Low Back Pain Who Is Non-Ambulatory

      Ferrari, Sofia; Taylor, Leslie F. (2021)
      Purpose: The aim of this case report is to discuss physical therapy management of a 59-year-old male veteran with sub-acute low back pain and elevated fear-avoidance beliefs about walking. Case Description: The patient is a 59-year-old male who was referred to physical therapy for evaluation and treatment of "Sciatica, right side." The patient was non-ambulatory for one month preceding his first physical therapy visit. His primary impairments on initial evaluation were elevated fear-avoidance beliefs, lower quarter weakness, and impaired gait mechanics. Interventions: Physical therapy management included strategies to address fear-avoidance beliefs in combination with gait training and lower quarter strengthening. Strategies used to manage fear-avoidance beliefs included patient education with cognitive restructuring, graded exposure in vivo, one-on-one patient care, and development of a therapeutic relationship. Outcomes: Fear-avoidance beliefs, disability, and gait were assessed at initial evaluation, 5 weeks, and 8 weeks (discharge). All outcome measures exceeded a minimal clinically important difference from initial evaluation to discharge. Conclusions: The patient demonstrated improvements in all functional outcome measures and was ambulating independently after eight weeks of physical therapy interventions aimed at reducing fear-avoidance behaviors.
    • Administration Building, 1977

      1977
      Administration Building, 1977
    • Administration Building, 1977

      1977
      Administration Building, 1977
    • Administration Building, Undated

      1910
      Administration Building, Undated. Possibly 1910s?
    • Administration Building, Undated

      1960
      Administration Building, undated. Possibly early 1960s.
    • Administration of a microparticulate Zika vaccine using dissolving microneedle patches

      Kale, Akanksha; D'Souza, Martin (2021)
      Zika is an infectious disease transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. It can lead to Guillain-Barré Syndrome. If transferred from mother to fetus, Zika can cause microcephaly. However, there is no approved treatment or vaccine available for Zika. Hence, we aim to develop a microparticulate vaccine for Zika and to investigate transdermal route for administration using microneedle patches to provide pain-free and needle-free immunization. PLGA microparticles (MP) encapsulating antigen (Zika PRVABC59) and adjuvants were formulated using double emulsion solvent evaporation. The size and zeta potential of MP were 573.4±10.18nm and -22.6±0.503mV. The encapsulation efficiency was 55-70%. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the MP were spherical. SDS-PAGE confirmed that the process did not affect antigen integrity. In vitro release study showed sustained release of antigen. MP were immunogenic and non-cytotoxic in vitro in dendritic cells. Subsequently, the vaccine MP with or without adjuvant MP were either injected IM or using microneedle patches via transdermal route to mice. Mice immunized with particulate vaccine produced significantly higher IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibody titers than the control group a robust humoral response as well as a balanced Th1/Th2 response. Antibody titers after transdermal immunization were comparable with titers after intramuscular immunization. Thus, this study established the feasibility of transdermal microneedle-based vaccine for Zika.
    • Adult Siblings Of Individuals With Developmental And Psychiatric Disabilities: Relationship Quality, Coping, And Plans For The Future

      Rice, Margarita Velez
      The following study examines the experience of adult siblings of individuals who have developmental and psychiatric disabilities. Using a mixed methods research design, the researcher evaluated 84 self-reports of adult sibling relationship quality, coping strategies, and responses to qualitative questions regarding relational characterizations and expectations for the future planning and care for brothers and sisters with special needs. This study identified significant correlations between warm sibling relationships and coping strategies. A thematic analysis of the qualitative responses revealed themes that created complementarity to the quantitative findings and indicate directions for future research.
    • The Advanced Placement Program and Gifted Learners: A Comparative Study of Success

      Clark, David; Moore, George W.; Slate, John R. (2012-02-22)
      Given the growing number of districts that have adopted the Advanced Placement program as the sole means for serving their Gifted students at the secondary level, it was surprising to us that no published empirical quantitative studies were located in which the effectiveness of Advanced Placement (AP) courses in meeting the learning needs of exceptional studies was examined. Moreover, because AP courses are open to all students, whether identified as Gifted or not, no empirical data are available which suggests that exceptional learners in these courses benefit any more or less than the rest of the student body enrolled in them. In this study, we examined differences between AP course enrollment, test participation rates, and test scores in students identified as Gifted compared to non-identified students. Using archival data from one large urban school district in the Southwest, Gifted students had statistically significantly higher rates of course enrollment, higher rates of test participation, and overall test success when compared to non-indentified students, with effect sizes ranging from small to large by topic (.19 to .52).
    • Advocacy and Leadership Development through Honor Society Membership: Implications for Counseling Professional Identity

      C. Peeper McDonald; Yvonne Varner-Kirkland; Caroline Fernandes
      Chi Sigma Iota (CSI), the International Counseling Honor Society for professional counselors, counselor educators, and students was established in 1985 in recognition for outstanding achievement as well as outstanding service within the counseling profession. This poster exemplifies the exceptional advocacy and leadership developmental work being implemented by the Mercer University (MU) Upsilon Alpha Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) Chapter.
    • Aerial Shot of Campus around Groover Hall, circa 1964

      1964
      An aerial view of campus, 1964. (Pictured: Groover Hall, Connell Student Center, Penfield Hall, etc.)
    • Aerial Shot of Campus around Roberts Hall, 1948

      1948
      Aerial shot of campus, possibly 1948. Buildings include Penfield Hall, Porter Hall Gymnasium, Shorter Hall, Old Laundry, Roberts Hall, Groover Hall, Ware Hall, Wiggs Hall, and Dining Hall.
    • Aerial Shot of Campus, late 1950s

      1950
      Aerial shot of campus, probably late 1950s. Includes current site of Mercer Village (2018).
    • Aesthetics, The Purpose Of Education, And The Process Of Schooling / By Claire Amy Schultz.

      Schultz, Claire Amy
      Abstract Claire Amy Schultz Aesthetics, the purpose of education, and the process of schooling Under the direction of Vincent W. Youngbauer, Ph.D. In the American education system, approaches in schooling methods are closely tied to pragmatic and positivistic theoretical paradigms, relying on universalized and generalized curricula, where the performance of an individual is displayed in quantifiable terms. High-stakes testing and other quantitative performance measures limit pedagogical practices and curriculum theory, resulting in the economy managing curricula. A purpose of this qualitative research project is to initiate and contribute to a conversation about the purpose of education and the process of schooling. This study developed a theoretical framework with aesthetic and antiaesthetic lenses to examine students’ perceptions of schooling and education. The process of schooling and the purpose of education are discussed in this research through a hermeneutical heuristic in the context of the developed theoretical framework of aesthetics. Data were collected using an open-ended survey instrument. Follow-up interviews with participants helped to clarify some of the responses from the initial survey data. The results of this research indicated that the student participants conflate schooling and education. Economic concerns were most prevalent in the data collected, suggesting that the purpose of education and the process of schooling are for the narrow purpose of obtaining employment. This research examines this link and offers insight to shifting the curriculum theories that drive the current trends of pragmatism and positivism in education toward an aesthetic viewpoint.
    • African American Clergy Engaging In Pastoral Care And Counseling And Affirmative Counseling With Sexual Minorities

      Estelhomme, Cherry D.
      This qualitative research study will look at how African American Pastors and clergy members offer effective Pastoral Care and Counseling and Affirmative Counseling regardless of their theological understanding of homosexuality and same-sex marriage, in the context of Biblical interpretation, morality, and civil rights. In the African American community, clergy members are frequently viewed as the binding agent that holds all things together, including influencing family stability and areas of social concern. These clergy members have been tasked with counseling parishioners who are dealing with some of the most complex questions and patterns of thought, including political issues of social, racial, and economic equality. African American clergy members tend to preach scriptural texts from a literal point of view especially regarding sexual morality and have traditionally been strongly opposed to same sex marriage (Robertson, & Avent, 2016). These same ethnic minorities were accused of perpetrating the same discrimination that has held down their own disadvantaged racial communities. (Brown, 2007). However, for many of these clergy members, the debate has not always been about civil and/or legal rights, instead the argument against same-sex marriage had more to do with Biblical interpretation and moral standings (Barnes, 2013; Waweru, 2009). Keywords: African American, clergy, Pastor, The Black Church, marriage, same-sex marriage, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Affirmative Counseling/Therapy, interracial marriage, homosexual, homosexuality, homophobic, heterosexual, heteronormative, heterosexist, gender, pastoral care, race, religion, theology, Biblical interpretation, morality, civil rights, race relations.
    • African American Millennial College Students' Appraisal Of Failed Attempts At Pursuing Student Leadership Opportunities / By Michael Gary.

      Gary, Michael
      Millennials college students report more mental health problems. Research about Millennial college students often neglects the experiences of Millennials college students of color. African American Millennial college students’ experience mental health issues as their third major cause of death by suicide, with the leading predictor being depression. The study explored the lived experiences and coping responses of African American Millennial college students who have faced failed attempts at obtaining student leadership positions, as well as the appraisal processes students utilize while going through this experience. The researcher employed a qualitative method to explore this phenomenon by conducting a thematic analysis using data collected via a semistructured interview questionnaire to determine (a) In what way do African American Millennial college students appraise the lived experience of a failed attempt at a student leadership position? and (b) How do African American Millennial college students at one Historically Black College or University describe their coping responses to a failed attempt at a pursuing a student leadership position? 1. The researcher inquired about Millennials' (a) Character and Desire to Achieve; (b) Experience and Reaction to Not Being Selected; (c) Reaction about Process and Purpose for Student Leadership Roles; (d) Personal Retrospect: Ability to Cope and Express Oneself; (e) Reaction/Response to Loss or Failure; (d) Actualization and Self-Evaluation; and (f) Emotional Support and Closure. The themes that emerged were: (a) Passionate, Outgoing, and Persistent; (b) Disappointed and Self-Deprecating; (c) Desire to Advocate, Inspire, and Influence; (d) Feels Defeated, Doubtful, Inadequate, and Discouraged; (e) Copes Reclusively in Order to Refocus and Move-On; (f) Self-Actualization Leads to Evaluation, Expression, and Blame; and (g) Lacks Emotional Support and Desires Closure. The students were passionate about pursing leadership positions, yet ended up with feelings of anger, hurt, disappointment, incapability, and sadness. Nonetheless, the students did not convey behaviors of entitlement. Participants reported working to resolve feelings of depression and anxiety by withdrawing from campus life (avoidance coping) to gain perspective regarding their failed attempt, which suggests anxiety and depression are prominent among African American Millennial college students.
    • African Americans and Southern Food

      Addison, Sydeny; Bryan, Kailey; Carter, Taylor; Del Tufo, J.T.; Diallo, Aissatou; Kinzey, Alyson (2013-05-30)
      African American foodways, or soul food, developed in the South and have become a distinctive cuisine.
    • Albert Henry Newman Collection

      Newman, Albert H., 1852-1933
      One small fliptop archival box.