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Background: Achilles tendinopathy is a common debilitating running related injury. Achilles tendon loading force has been hypothesized as a contributor to Achilles tendinopathy. Loading force through the Achilles tendon during running is impacted by many factors such as footwear and foot strike pattern. Achilles tendon biomechanical (Achilles tendon cross-sectional area, thickness, echogenicity, stiffness, and T2*) responses to loading forces are variable and measurable in vivo. These responses impact the physiologic function of the tendon. Aims: 1) To evaluate baseline Achilles tendon biomechanical characteristics associated with a runner's habitual foot strike pattern. 2) To evaluate single running bout Achilles tendon biomechanical changes to varied forces in runners while maintaining their habitual foot strike pattern. This will be accomplished using minimalist and cushioned running shoes. Methods: 29 recreational runners were recruited. Runners completed two separate 5.3 km running sessions wearing alternating shoe types (cushioned and minimalist) at a pace of 3.15 m/s. Prior to running each day, participants had 32 retroreflective markers placed upon them for motion analysis collection. Additionally, participants had their Achilles tendon imaged via ultrasound pre and post run. On a separate day 24 of the participants underwent an ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI imaging session of their Achilles tendon. Results: Achilles tendon stiffness was 20% greater in non-rear foot strike runners when compared with rear foot strike runners (p = 0.0166). Achilles tendon CSA, thickness, echogenicity, and T2* were not different between running groups (p > 0.05). Both foot strike pattern groups experienced significant Achilles tendon CSA and thickness decreases from pre to post run in minimalist and cushioned shoes (p < 0.05). Both running groups in cushioned shoes and the non-heel strike runners in minimalist shoes experienced significant increases in Achilles tendon echogenicity from pre to post run. Only non-rear foot strike runners had a significant increase in Achilles tendon stiffness while running in cushioned shoes (p = 0.03). Conclusions: The Achilles tendons of non-rear foot strike runners were significantly stiffer than those of rear foot strike runners. This Achilles tendon characteristic may be attributable to differences in Achilles tendon loading force while running but needs further research. Both groups of runners experienced multiple single running bout Achilles tendon changes as measured via ultrasound. Although loading forces varied within groups in different shoes and between foot strike pattern groups, all Achilles tendon changes were similar regardless of loading forces from pre to post run.

Annually in the United States, over one million students do not complete high school. Furthermore, more than 80% of those students fall behind at the beginning of Grade 9, leaving behind costs for society, including relying upon public assistance (Hughes et al., 2018; Letgers and Balfanz, 2010). Gaining a proper education is essential for children, determining a child's adult life, including higher earning potential, improved health, and a longer lifespan (Hahn and Truman, 2015; McKee and Caldarella, 2016). To conduct this study, the researcher used a qualitative methodology exploring the perceptions of eight returning adult education students between the ages of 18 and 24 in one Virginia school division. The researcher conducted one-on-one interviews to determine the participants' perceptions of why they dropped out of high school and the rationale, and why they returned to an adult education program to continue their education. Findings from this study showed that returning adult education students experience a variety of life experiences and rationale when making the decision to drop out of school prior to earning a high school diploma or GED credential. The findings identified from the collected data in this study resulted in five implications for school personnel. School personnel must equip the parent(s) and the student(s) with strategies and resources that will help high school students maintain overall school success, both now and in the future. Those strategies and resources should be geared towards helping identifying students who are at risk of becoming high school dropouts. / Doctor of Education / Gaining a proper education is essential for children, determining a child's adult life, including higher earning potential, improved health, and a longer lifespan (Hahn and Truman, 2015; McKee and Caldarella, 2016). The decision to dropout of school is linked to adverse individual and social consequences (Lee-St. John et al., 2018). Students who fail to graduate from high school experience health issues and a poorer quality of life (Letgers and Balfanz, 2010). To conduct this study, the researcher used a qualitative methodology exploring the perceptions of eight returning adult education students between the ages of 18 and 24. The researcher conducted one-on-one interviews to determine the participants' perceptions of why they dropped out of high school and the rationale, and why they returned to an adult education program to continue their education. Findings from this study showed that returning adult education students experience a variety of life experiences and rationale when making the decision to drop out of school prior to earning a high school diploma or GED credential. The findings identified from the collected data in this study resulted in five implications for school personnel. School personnel must equip the parent(s) and the student(s) with strategies and resources that will help high school students maintain overall school success, both now and in the future. Those strategies and resources should be geared towards helping identifying students who are at risk of becoming high school dropouts.

The purpose of this qualitative study focused on the experiences of first-generation students attending a technical college in rural West Tennessee. The results of this study may identify barriers faced by students from these special populations and may also provide insight into the support systems that motivate these students to persevere. Although significant research has been conducted on first-generation and underrepresented students attending community colleges and four-year universities, there is a gap in the published literature pertaining to the lived experiences of students attending technical colleges, especially those living in rural areas. First-generation college students face many challenges as they strive to integrate and acclimate to the college campus environment, such as having poor study skills or habits, lack of peer support, and fear of the college environment. In addition, the lack of specific social and cultural capital contributes to their inability to navigate the college experience and complete their degree or certificate attainment. This research involved interviews with 17 students attending a technical college in rural West Tennessee. Participants discussed their experiences while enrolled at the technical college, backgrounds which included prior educational experiences, any barriers they faced, and identified support systems that increased their academic success. The findings indicate additional campus programs and initiatives may be needed at the technical colleges, especially those in rural areas, to help low-income students with their educational outcomes.

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Inhibiting inflammatory processes or eliminating inflammation represents a logical role in the suppression and treatment strategy of cancer. Several studies have shown that anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have promise as anticancer agents while reducing metastases and mortality. NSAIDs are seriously limited by side effects and their toxicity, which can become cumulative with their long-term administration for chemoprevention. The huge development in nanotechnology allows the drugs to exhibit novel and significantly improved properties compared to the large particles of the respective bulk compound, leading to more targeted therapy and reduced dosage. The overall aim of this thesis is to add to our understanding of cancer prevention and treatment through studying the genotoxicity mechanisms of NSAIDs agents in lymphocytes. In this study, the genotoxicity mechanisms of NSAID in bulk and nanoparticles forms a strategy to prevent and minimise the damage in human lymphocytes. Aspirin nano (ASP N) caused a significant decrease in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage compared to aspirin bulk (ASP B). Also, ibuprofen nano (IBU N) showed a significant reduction in DNA damage compared to ibuprofen bulk (IBU B). Micronuclei (MNi) decreased after ASP N, ASP B and IBU N in prostate cancer patients and healthy individuals, and the ibuprofen bulk showed a significant increase of MNi formation in lymphocytes from healthy and prostate cancer patients when compared to untreated lymphocytes from prostate cancer patients. In order to study the geno-protective properties of these drugs, the protective effect of NSAIDs and the quantification of the DNA repair capacity in lymphocytes was studied. ASP N was found to increase the DNA repair capacity and reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation significantly more than ASP B. Finally, the role of NSAIDs on some key regulatory signal transduction pathways in isolated lymphocyte cells was investigated by studying their effect on ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated kinase (ATM) and ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3-related kinase (ATR) mRNA. ATM mRNA significantly increased after treatment with ASP B, ASP N and IBU N. ATR expression also increased after treatment with IBU B and IBU N, but was only significant with IBU N. These findings indicate that a reduction in particle size had an impact on the reactivity of the drug, further emphasising the potential of nanoparticles as improvement to current treatment options.

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