Digital Commons Network^™

Systems Neuroimmunology: Current Bottlenecks, Research Priorities And Future Directions, Harini Iyer, Christophe Benoist, Staci D Bilbo, Lisa M Boulanger, Michael D Burton, Brian P Daniels, Aleksandra Deczkowska, Martin F Flajnik, Mélanie G Gareau, Peter M Grace, Javier E Irazoqui, Susanna Rosi, Irene Salinas, Anne Schaefer, Caroline L Sokol, Dionna W Williams, Robyn S Klein

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Strategies to advance the field of neuroimmunology by embracing its complexity via inclusion of its multidisciplinary properties were discussed at a meeting in Cold Spring Harbor. Attendees proposed fostering of open communications and funding of collaborations across disciplines, and the recognition that our understanding of the neuroimmune system requires interdisciplinary science.

Reducing Igg Accumulation Via Neonatal Fc Receptor (Fcrn) Blockade Relieves Neuropathic Pain, Nathan T Fiore, Kendal F Willcox, Dorsa Dayani, Younus A Zuberi, Cobi J Heijnen, Peter M Grace

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Preclinical and clinical studies have established that autoreactive immunoglobulin G (IgG) can drive neuropathic pain. We recently demonstrated that sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury (CCI) in male and female mice results in the production of pronociceptive IgG, which accumulates around the lumbar region, including within the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord, facilitating the development of neuropathic pain. These data raise the intriguing possibility that neuropathic pain may be alleviated by reducing the accumulation of IgG. To this end, we tested whether biologic inhibition or genetic deletion of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) would attenuate mechanical hypersensitivity (allodynia) and …

Optimal Surveillance For Detecting Sarcoma Lung Metastasis – A Systematic Review, Neha Malik, Kate Krause, Emily Z Keung, Heather G Lyu, Heather Lillemoe, Christopher Scally, Keila Torres, Kelly Hunt, Mary Austin, Christina L Roland

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Accurate diagnosis of lung metastasis for patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) can impact overall survival, but there is considerable variability in imaging utilized to detect metastasis. Chest x-ray (CXR) or computer tomography (CT) scan of the chest are the most common studies in current practice.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed. Databases were searched from inception to January 3, 2024. Articles were reviewed to determine if CXR or CT chest was associated with improved overall or recurrence-free survival in patients with STS. Articles were also reviewed for data on cost-effectiveness of CXR versus CT chest. The quality …

Elder Mistreatment Within Stroke Family Caregiving, Carina Katigbak, Wesley R Browning, Sean Savitz, Carolyn E Z Pickering

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This secondary data analysis sought to identify characteristics associated with mistreatment among chronic stroke survivors who transition to dementia. We examined baseline data from a multi-time series survey study (n = 453; where caregivers of those with stroke n = 107, and those without stroke, n = 346) on caregiving experiences influencing dementia family caregivers’ abusive or neglectful behaviors. Inferential statistical analysis indicated that baseline mistreatment rates were similar across stroke and non-stroke subgroups, though this finding was not significant. Caregiver depression was significantly associated with mistreatment. Multi-morbidity, prescription medication use, and limited mobility were more common among stroke …

Overview Of Mechanisms Related To Citrulline Malate Supplementation And Different Methods Of High-Intensity Interval Training On Sports Performance: A Narrative Review, Hadi Nobari, Laya Samadian, Saber Saedmocheshi, Pablo Prieto-González, Christopher Macdonald

Kinesiology

Regular exercise is a practical non-pharmacological approach to maintaining physical and mental health through rehabilitation and prevention of chronic diseases due to its cardiovascular, cardiorespiratory, neurological, and neuromuscular benefits. Despite awareness of the benefits of exercise, a “lack of time” has proven to be the most common impediment to regular activity. Thus, a time-efficient and potentially enjoyable training modality with growing popularity is high-intensity interval training (HIIT). HIIT incorporates intermittent bouts of work and recovery intervals performed at an intensity close to maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). HIIT is considered to have equivalent or superior benefits compared to moderate-intensity continuous training …

Evaluating The Health Performance Of Mass Housing Projects In Egypt Lighting Design Of Dar Masr Project, New Damietta, Hala Mohamed Raslan, Huda El-Baz M.

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The Egyptian government has recently established many governmental mass housing projects to meet the housing needs nationwide. These projects are characterized by their unified repetitive design that rarely consider geographic, climatic and social variations from one site to another. The study objectives are to examine the health performance of mass housing projects; “Dar Misr” as an example. Dar Misr consists of 150,000 units distributed over 15 different cities, and is fully finished with unified electrical installations and preinstalled luminaires. The study examines the health performance of the project’s lighting design, both natural and electrical light, using the “WELLV2 rating system …

Associations Of Parental Perceived Health With Child Movement Behaviors Within Two-Parent Households, You Fu, Hayley Almes, Nora Constantino, Doria Schmidt, Ryan D. Burns

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

This study aimed to examine how perceived parental mental and physical health status was associated with child physical activity, screen time, and sleep. Participants were 6- to 17-year-old minors (N = 20,156; 47.9% female) from the 2022 US National Survey of Children’s Health. Dependent variables were children’s physical activity frequency, screen time, and sleep. Independent variables were parents’ physical and mental health status. Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model, two adjusted path models were constructed. One for parent mental health associating with parental physical health, another for parent physical health associating with parental mental health–both further associating with child movement behaviors. …

Joint Angular Kinematics And Gross Motor Function In Typically Developing Healthy Children, Monday Omoniyi Moses, Ngozi Florence Onuegbu, Prince De-Gualle Deku, Mary Abena Nyarko, Lydia Boampong Owusu, Abigael Omowumi Emikpe, Emmanuel Babatunde John, Rahul Soangra, Abiboye Cheduko Yifieyeh, Nicholas Akinwale Titiloye

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the interactions between joint angular kinematics and gross motor function in typically developing healthy Ghanaian children. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 150 (69 (46.0%), 3.25 ± 0.08-year-old boys and 81 (54.0%), 3.25 ± 0.06-year-old girls) 2–4-year-old children were recruited. Joint angular kinematic variables [left hip flexion (LHF), left hip extension (LHE), right hip flexion (RHF), left knee flexion (LKF), right hip extension (RHE), left knee extension (LKE), right knee flexion (RKF), left ankle dorsi-flexion (LADF), right knee extension (RKE), right ankle plantar flexion (RAPF), left …

The Financial Stresses That Affect Athletic Training Students: A Qualitative Investigation, C Kuehner-Boyer, E León Zaragoza

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: A recent survey examining barriers that affect athletic training students found that financial-related barriers created significant stress for students in professional athletic training programs. The need to work while attending a professional athletic training program was the highest reported barrier with 54.82% of respondents indicating that this was a barrier for them during their program. Beyond the overall reporting rate, the need to work while completing a professional athletic training program was indicated by athletic training students to be the barrier that they encountered the most frequently with respondents reporting that this was a stress for them between monthly …

My Art Is Garbage, Beth Shepherd

The Goose

In “My Art is Garbage,” I describe three recent art projects where garbage is both a theme and an artistic medium used to critique the overuse of and inability to reuse or safely dispose of plastics we use every day. The first work, Untitled (Plastic Film Balls), uses non-recyclable single-use household plastic made to form an installation of shimmering balls and alludes to the environmental footprint of the artworld. Plastic Shores, a series of monotype prints, reminds us that plastics in the environment are deleterious to species that we see every day. Finally Plastic Pests, a series …

Force And Gait Mechanics At Reduced Body Weight On A Lower Body Positive Pressure Treadmill, Julia Paige Phillips, Eesha Gudiseva, Silvio Polly Da Costa Valladao, Thomas Andre

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(7): 239-250, 2025. Lower body positive pressure treadmills (LBPPT) have gained increasing attention due to their potential applications in sports training, rehabilitation, and biomechanics research. However, there is limited understanding of how differing body weight percentages influence gait and force production. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between force and gait parameters at different body weight percentages on a LBPPT. Twenty-seven healthy participants completed a series of walking, jogging, and running trials at three different body weight conditions: 100%, 90%, and 75%. Gait parameters, including cadence, stride length, stance time, and ground reaction force, …

Equipping Exercise Science Students With Motivational Interviewing Skills For Real-World Client Interactions, Jessica A. Albers

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a widely recognized communication technique originally developed to treat addictive behaviors. Its application has expanded to various health domains, including exercise science, where it is used to enhance client motivation and adherence to health behaviors. However, despite its proven efficacy, exercise science students often struggle to see the relevance of MI to their future careers, particularly outside of roles focused on health coaching. This teaching and learning resource aims to bridge the gap between MI theory and its practical application for exercise science students. This resource aims to equip students with the communication tools necessary for …

Inclusive Space For Everyone Door Sign (Printable 8.5 X 11 Inch), Joan H. Robinson

Open Educational Resources

This is a printable 8.5 x 11 inch door sign for faculty, staff, and administrators to let people know it is an inclusive space for everyone. For improved visibility, print with a color printer and cut along the dotted line.

See also: 11 x 17 inch door sign.

Understanding The Relationship Between Food And Connection To God, Angela M. Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A person’s relationship with God is a personal one, as is the choice of the food we eat. Today we see more and more people struggle with unhealthy relationships with food. And our relationship with food affects more than just our physical health. Food and diet can play a role in how we hear from God. The present qualitative study aimed to understand the relationship between food and connection to God. Specifically, this study aimed to explain lived experiences with food and if diet affected connection to God. A total of twelve Christian, adult men and women participated in 1:1 …

Understanding The Relationship Between Nutrition Knowledge And Factors Influencing Food Choices: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kirsten Ann Blatchford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nutrition knowledge plays an important role in addressing the prevalence of nutrition-related diseases among college students. Along with nutrition knowledge levels, there are a variety of factors that shape how college students make their food choices each day. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between nutrition knowledge and factors influencing food choices among 267 college students at Liberty University. College students are a vital target population as their newfound autonomy can shape dietary habits long-term. Nutrition knowledge levels and food choice factors of Liberty University undergraduate students were evaluated using an electronic questionnaire. The …

Meditation Or Medication: Comparing Meditation To Phosphatidylserine In The Reduction Of Salivary Cortisol In Collegiate Tennis Players Post Exercise, Elizabeth Ann Novian Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a glycerophospholipid made in the body that is a part of the cell membrane (Carter & Greenwood, 2015; McArdle et al., 2019). PS reduces cortisol levels in the body (McArdle et al., 2019). Meditation is a “consistent self-care practice…that allows for developing loving awareness of current thoughts and feelings” (Valluri et al., 2024. Definition section, para. 1). Sadimi et al. (2021) used mindfulness meditation and found cortisol reductions were high. Meditation (MED) has not been compared to PS in reducing cortisol. Cortisol is increased in the body in response to the reception of stress input, such as …

A Mechanistic Exploration Of How Neighborhood Crime Exposure Relates To Neonatal Brain Function, Early Externalizing Behaviors, And Callous-Unemotional Traits, Rebecca Brady

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Pregnancy through early childhood is a period of tremendous neural and behavioral development. Neuronal birth and migration occur prenatally and result in the formation of neonatal functional and structural networks. These early brain networks are a building block for postnatal development wherein infants rapidly learn a variety of new skills, including socioemotional skills such as emotion regulation and moral understanding. During the acquisition of these skills, even typically developing toddlers can act aggressively or impulsively; however, toddlers with high levels of externalizing behaviors are more likely to develop clinical externalizing disorders later in childhood and adolescence. As such, it is …

Classification Of Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder And Major Depressive Disorder With Comorbid Traits And Deep Learning Algorithms, Xiangning Chen, Yimei Lu, Joan Manuel Cue, Mira V Han, Vishwajit L Nimgaonkar, Daniel R Weinberger, Shizhong Han, Zhongming Zhao, Jingchun Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Many psychiatric disorders share genetic liabilities, but whether these shared liabilities can be utilized to classify and differentiate psychiatric disorders remains unclear. In this study, we use polygenic risk scores (PRSs) of 42 traits comorbid with schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BIP), and major depressive disorder (MDD) to evaluate their utilities. We found that combining target specific PRS with PRSs of comorbid traits can improve the classification of the target disorders. Importantly, without inclusion of PRSs from targeted disorders, we can still classify SCZ (accuracy 0.710 ± 0.008, AUC 0.789 ± 0.011), BIP (accuracy 0.782 ± 0.006, AUC 0.852 ± 0.004), …

Learn By Doing: A Cure Approach To Teaching Exercise Testing And Prescription, Zakkoyya H. Lewis

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

The purpose of this paper is to outline a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) for exercise testing and prescription. The CURE is a non-human research study aimed to evaluate whether readily available fitness applications (apps) follow the Frequency-Intensity- Time-Type (FITT) principle for exercise prescription. The CURE is intended to be incorporated into an in-person introductory level course over the final month of the term. Through the project, students will develop a research question and hypothesis, conduct a literature review of related research, appraise fitness apps, and congregate the results. The overall structure of the CURE is a mini-lecture from the …

Use Of Simulation In Dietetic Internships: A Qualitative Exploration Of Program Director Attitudes And Motivations, Theresa B. O'Reilly, Amy J. Nwora, Megan Whelan, Mary-Pat Maciolek

Journal of Dietetic Education

The use of simulation holds promise for the future of dietetics education for its use as an alternative for up to 30% of the 1,000 supervised practice hours for the training of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Even more so, simulation is a teaching tool. When done well, simulation can challenge students in a safe environment where they can receive constructive feedback from expert guides and meaningfully reflect on their learning. The purpose of this study was to interview dietetic internship (DI) program directors on their attitudes and motivations on the use of simulation in their programs, targeting the heavily program-congested states …

The Misalignment Of Incentives In Academic Publishing And Implications For Journal Reform, Jennifer S Trueblood, David B Allison, Sarahanne M Field, Ayelet Fishbach, Stefan D M Gaillard, Gerd Gigerenzer, William R Holmes, Stephan Lewandowsky, Dora Matzke, Mary C Murphy, Sebastian Musslick, Vencislav Popov, Adina L Roskies, Judith Ter Schure, Andrei R Teodorescu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

For most researchers, academic publishing serves two goals that are often misaligned-knowledge dissemination and establishing scientific credentials. While both goals can encourage research with significant depth and scope, the latter can also pressure scholars to maximize publication metrics. Commercial publishing companies have capitalized on the centrality of publishing to the scientific enterprises of knowledge dissemination and academic recognition to extract large profits from academia by leveraging unpaid services from reviewers, creating financial barriers to research dissemination, and imposing substantial fees for open access. We present a set of perspectives exploring alternative models for communicating and disseminating scientific research. Acknowledging that …

Effects Of Initial Foot Position On Neuromuscular And Biomechanical Control During The Stand-To-Sit Movement: Implications For Rehabilitation Strategies, Woohyoung Jeon, Ashley Dalby, Xuanliang Neil Dong, Chung-Hyun Goh

Health & Kinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Initial foot position (IFP) is one of the important movement strategies that influence neuromuscular and biomechanical control during sit-to-stand (STS) movements. Similarly, stand-to-sit (StandTS) is vital in rehabilitation settings for evaluating strength and balance control during descending movements. Understanding how IFP impacts changes in biomechanical and neuromuscular movement control factors during StandTS can provide valuable insights for designing effective rehabilitation programs.

Methods: Twelve healthy young adults participated in this study, examining three symmetric IFPs: (1) REF (reference); (2) wide: each foot was shifted outwards by 30% from REF; (3) TO (toes-out): symmetric toes-out angle of 30° from REF. Kinematic …

Higher Amounts Of Habitual Physical Activity Changes The Relationship Between Hot Flashes And Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease Risk, Sarah Witkowski, Tint Tha Ra Wun, Jo Sophia Brunzelle, Sara Buszkiewicz, Lorna Murphy, Randi L. Garcia, Lynnette Leidy Sievert

Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications

The menopausal transition is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hot flashes (HF), a cardinal symptom of menopause, have been associated with increased CVD risk, particularly in perimenopausal women. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is an indicator of endothelial function and a subclinical CVD risk factor. Lower FMD has been associated with more HF. As moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is recognized to reduce CVD risk, our goal was to determine whether higher levels of MVPA change the relationship between HF and FMD in perimenopausal women. Healthy perimenopausal women had HF measured objectively using sternal skin conductance for 24 …

Behavioral And Neural Effects Of Distributing Visual Attention Across Location And Feature Space, Mert Özkan

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Visual attention refers to the mechanisms by which relevant visual information, such as location, simple features (e.g., color, orientation), and objects, is selected and prioritized for further processing. The current dissertation investigates capacity limitations on spatial and feature–based attention in early visual processing and behavioral performance. Specifically, I examined whether attention could be efficiently tuned across narrow and broad ranges of locations and colors, or even be split across noncontiguous locations in the case of spatial attention. I used several behavioral paradigms and frequency–tagging methods in electroencephalography (EEG) to illustrate the effects of narrowing or broadening the attentional focus on …

Life Span Policies And Macroeconomic Transition Will Help The 21st-Century Brain Health Revolution In Developing Countries, Cyprian Mostert, Chinedu Momoh, Manasi Kumar, Shehzad Ali, Kendi Muchungi, Gloria Chemutai, Cynthia Smith, Dominic Trepel, Harris Eyre, Lukoye Atwoli

Brain and Mind Institute

In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued the Intersectoral Global Action Plan for Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders for 2022 to 2031, emphasizing important connections between brain health, population well-being, and economic growth. A year later, the WHO followed up with strategic guidelines aimed at enhancing brain health outcomes in developing countries. However, critical gaps remain. Our policy forum paper advocates for policies that target brain health across all stages of life, starting with measures to reduce the consumption of alcohol, sugar, and tobacco. Additionally, we propose the integration of school meal programs and social pension schemes as essential …

Factors Influencing The Adoption Of Agroecological Vegetable Cropping Systems By Smallholder Farmers In Tanzania, Essy C. Kirui, Michael M. Kidoido, Komivi S. Akutse, Rosina Wanyama, Simon B. Boni, Thomas Dubois, Fekadu F. Dinssa, Daniel M. Mutyambai

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Vegetable production is vital to smallholder farmers, who often struggle to overcome pests, diseases, and extreme weather. Agroecological cropping systems offer sustainable solutions to these issues but their adoption rates in Tanzania remain low. This study examines the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ adoption of selected agroecological cropping systems for vegetable production in Tanzania, which remains underexplored. Using a multistage sampling technique, cross-sectional data were gathered from 525 crucifer and traditional African vegetable farming households within the Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions. Multivariate probit regression analysis, which accounts for the simultaneous adoption of multiple systems, revealed several significant variables influencing adoption. The …

Status Of Abortion Curriculum In Genetic Counseling: Survey Of Graduate Programs And Recent Graduates In The United States, Gina Sanchez, S Shahrukh Hashmi, Erica Bednar, Sarah Horvath, Bhavik Kumar, Katelynn Sagaser, Claire N Singletary, Aarti Ramdaney

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Genetic counselors (GCs) are trained to help individuals navigate the medical and psychological implications of genetic test results, familial conditions, and ultrasound anomalies. Therefore, familiarity with reproductive options, including abortion, is vital. However, previous studies have found gaps in GCs' knowledge regarding abortion care and there are currently no recommendations regarding abortion curriculum. This study aimed to assess the state of abortion curriculum in genetic counseling graduate programs in the United States and to examine and compare the satisfaction levels of program representatives and recent graduates. Program representatives and recent graduates were invited to complete an anonymous survey evaluating the …

Frailty And Sleep In Adult Survivors Of Childhood Cancer: A Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Report, Lauren C Daniel, Margaret M Lubas, Huiqi Wang, Mariana Szklo-Coxe, Kirsten K Ness, Annalynn M Williams, Daniel A Mulrooney, Rebecca Howell, Wendy Leisenring, Yutaka Yasui, Leslie L Robison, Gregory T Armstrong, Eric J Chow, Kevin R Krull, Tara M Brinkman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Young adult survivors of childhood cancer exhibit rates of frailty similar to adults several decades older without a cancer history. Frailty has been associated with sleep disturbances in non-cancer populations, but the relationship has not been examined in childhood cancer survivors who are known to exhibit elevated rates of sleep problems.

Aims: Examine associations between frailty and poor sleep quality in long-term survivors of childhood cancer.

Methods: This study utilized data from 9044 participants (> 5 years from diagnosis, Mage = 40.8 years [SD = 9.5]) in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Survivors' frailty status, chronic health conditions (CHC), …

Undervaluing Nondrug Rewards Or Overvaluing Cocaine? Cocaine Demand Relates To Cocaine Use Severity More Strongly Than Anhedonia In Individuals With Cocaine Use Disorder, Cecilia Nunez, Jin H Yoon, Constanza De Dios, Vincent Dang, Scott D Lane, Jessica N Vincent, Joy M Schmitz, Margaret C Wardle

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a major public health issue, and greater cocaine use severity has been associated with worse treatment retention and outcomes. Therefore, greater understanding of processes that influence cocaine use is needed. Both anhedonia (i.e., undervaluation of non-drug rewards) and cocaine demand (i.e., cocaine valuation) are related to cocaine use severity and thematically related to each other at face value, but no studies have directly compared these outcomes to our knowledge. The current study represents a secondary analysis from a two-phase sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial (SMART) aimed at developing adaptive interventions for CUD. We examined the …

The Metabolic Basis Of Cancer-Related Fatigue, Robert Dantzer, Brandon Chelette, Elisabeth G Vichaya, A Phillip West, Aaron Grossberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Although we are all familiar with the sensation of fatigue, there are still profound divergences on what it represents and its mechanisms. Fatigue can take various forms depending on the condition in which it develops. Cancer-related fatigue is considered a symptom of exhaustion that is often present at the time of diagnosis, increases in intensity during cancer therapy, and does not always recede after completion of treatment. It is usually attributed to the inflammation induced by damage-associated molecular patterns released by tumor cells during cancer progression and in response to its treatment. In this review, we argue that it is …