Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Impact Of Cat Nutrition On Consumer Purchases: An Examination On Feline Microbiome, Health, And Owner Responses, Cassidy Curry

Honors College Theses

The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome plays a critical role in feline health, influencing conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), kidney disease, and other digestive disorders. Diet is a major factor affecting microbial balance, yet many cat owners lack sufficient knowledge of feline nutrition. This may lead to suboptimal feeding practices that negatively impact microbiome stability. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between an owner’s nutritional knowledge and their pet food purchasing decisions. Specifically, it examined feeding schedule, food type and consistency, supplement use, and veterinary engagement. A 13- question survey was administered to 84 Murray State University Honors College …

The Significance Of Vaccine Education In Vaccination Status, Emma Webb

Honors College Theses

In recent years, more of the general population of the United States has become skeptical about vaccines and overall vaccination numbers have declined. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccines have become somewhat of a controversial topic due to varying opinions about the adverse reactions and effectiveness of vaccines. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a correlation between a person’s overall knowledge of vaccinations and a person’s vaccination status by asking a series of questions about the science used in vaccines and identifying the participant’s vaccination status in regards to influenza and Covid-19. This study also asked …

Unpacking Developmental Programming: A Conceptual And Historical Analysis In The Context Of Dohad, Andrea Gretchev, Heide S. Temples, Gillian England-Mason, Deborah Dewey, Sara M. Sarasua, Christopher Farrell, Vivian Haley-Zitlin

Publications

The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) paradigm posits that early environmental factors may influence a child’s development and long-term health outcomes. Developmental programming (DP) is central to this paradigm, whereby specific early life exposures during critical periods of development are associated with changes to physiological and metabolic pathways, potentially predisposing individuals to disease. However, no standard definition of DP exists, and various terms have been used to describe similar processes. This analysis aimed to develop a conceptual definition for DP to inform interdisciplinary research, education, and practice. Walker and Avant’s eight-step method was employed to analyze the literature, …

Transcultural Headache Medicine: A Framework For Integrating Cultural Contexts Into Headache Science And Care - A Call To Action From The International Headache Society., Mario F. P. Peres, Giancarlo Lucchetti, Homero Vallada, Ivy L. Riso, Georgia K. Westenhofen, Marcelo Moraes Valença, Juliana Ramos De Andrade, K. C. Brennan, Morris Levin, Tsubasa Takizawa, Zhao Dong, Yonggang Wang, Wanakorn Rattanawong, Henry Riyanto Sofyan, Massimo Leone, Freda Dodd-Glover, Hsiangkuo Yuan, Abdulrazaq Albilali, Taoufik Alsaadi, Leonardo Caixeta, Anna P. Andreou, Peter J. Goadsby, Antoinette Maassenvandenbrink, Sait Ashina, Rami Burstein, Patricia Pozo-Rosich, Fayyaz Ahmed, Shuu-Jiun Wang

Department of Jefferson Headache Center Papers and Presentations

Headache disorders are among the most disabling neurological conditions, affecting over 1.5 billion people globally. Despite advances in pharmacological therapies, major inequities persist due to underdiagnosis, undertreatment and limited access to effective care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Social determinants of health, including cultural meanings, language and health beliefs, are increasingly recognized as key drivers of disparities in burden, diagnosis and treatment outcomes. Traditional medicine, used by more than 80% of the global population, remains first-line care in many regions and continues to influence therapeutic choices in high-income settings. Major systems such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Unani and …

Development Of A Dendritic Cell Model To Unravel The Secrets Of Cards Toxin, Lizbeth Gomez

Posters - 2026

Dendritic cells (DCs) are derived from hematopoietic stem cells of the bone marrow. They are the most efficient antigen presenting cell, presenting antigens to T cells to initiate clonal expansion and differentiation of the T cells into memory and effector cells. Thus, activating the effector functions of T cells in cell-mediated and humoral immune responses (2). Community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin is produced by Mycoplasma pneumoniae that causes acute and chronic lung infections (4). Dendritic cells play a key role in the immune response to respiratory mycoplasmas (3). However, the mechanism underlying in DC and CARDS toxin interactions are …

Hemodialysis Access-Related High-Output Heart Failure: From Mechanisms To Multidisciplinary Management, Chukwuemezie Mamanu, Estefania Oliveros, Yevgeniy Brailovsky

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Comparative Effectiveness Of Radiofrequency Or Microwave Ablation And Chemotherapy For The Treatment Of Large (>5 Cm) Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumors, Artem Boyev, Nirav Thosani, Putao Cen, Jennifer M Bailey-Lundberg, Julie Rowe, Curtis J Wray

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and objectives

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) >5 cm is problematic, as patients are often outside transplantation criteria, and cirrhosis compromises curative resection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate survival following treatment with ablation compared to chemotherapy in large HCC.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) Participant User File from 2004 to 2017. Patients with HCC >5 cm in diameter treated with ablation versus chemotherapy alone were compared. Inverse probability-weighted propensity scores were used to model treatment assignments in the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

A total of 14,783 HCC …

Une Com Spring Research Bulletin May 2026, Une Com Research & Scholarship

Osteopathic Student Research Symposia

Bulletin including abstracts from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine’s 2026 inaugural Spring Research Update and Lightning Talk event.

Polyhydroxybutyrate (Phb) From Biofloc Systems Enhances The Growth And Immune Performance Of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia, Menaga Meenakshisundaram, Jimmy B. Mboya, Felix Sugantham

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This study characterised polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)-producing bacteria from the culture water of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) in biofloc ponds and investigated the influence of PHB on the growth and immune performance of GIFT. Out of 40 bacterial isolates, Bacillus infantis, Exiguobacterium profundum, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus hirae showed positive results for PHB against fluorescent stains. The PHB yield in the range of 5%–95.45% (w/w) was recorded, with the highest from K. pneumoniae (95.45% w/w). The experimental treatments included a basal diet as a control (C), a basal diet with PHB (5 g kg⁻¹) from …

Wright State University's Celebration Of Student Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities From Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Wright State University

Celebration of Undergraduate & Graduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Materials

The student abstract booklet is a compilation of abstracts from students' oral and poster presentations at Wright State University's Celebration of Student Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities on April 1, 2026.

Exploring The Impact Of Gut Dysbiosis In Osteoarthritis And The Potential Role Of Microbiota Modulation, Hayden Washatko

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability among older adults worldwide, characterized by pain, swelling, reduced range of motion, and declining physical function. Current treatments are largely symptomatic rather than disease-modifying and include NSAIDs, acetaminophen, corticosteroid injections, and, ultimately, joint replacement. Emerging evidence suggests a possible link between gut microbiota composition and joint health through the gut-joint axis, whereby gut dysbiosis may increase intestinal permeability, allowing proinflammatory mediators to enter systemic circulation and contribute to synovial joint inflammation. The purpose of this literature review was to examine the potential role of prebiotic and probiotic supplementation in the management of …

Exploring Student Academic And Grief Functioning After Loss: Perceptions And Influence Of Faculty Responses To Student Bereavement, Vivian Hale

Honors Theses

Bereavement is a common yet underrecognized experience among college students, with many experiencing the death of a loved one during their academic careers. The university environment can present unique challenges that may impede the grieving process. Thus, faculty members may play an important role in shaping students’ academic and emotional outcomes following a loss. Understanding how students are affected by their faculty’s response to loss is critical for identifying strategies to support bereaved students within the academic environment. This study builds on previous research demonstrating that bereaved college students experience academic and emotional challenges while specifically examining the role of …

Effects Of “Zero Sugar” Energy Drinks On Microbial Proliferation In Relation To The Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Madison Hines

Honors Theses

Energy drinks have rapidly increased in popularity and availability in recent years. With the rise of high-caffeine beverages, complications due to caffeine consumption have become more common in younger populations. The aim of this study was to use controlled laboratory methods to determine the effect of energy drinks on a variety of organisms commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The diverse and dynamic nature of microbes in the gut makes conditions of the GI tract difficult to replicate in a laboratory setting. As an alternative, isolates of bacteria commonly found as normal flora in the GI tract were plated …

Detection And Quantification Of Allergen Cross-Contact In Shared Frying Oil Using Targeted Mass Spectrometry, Francisca Asigri

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cow’s milk and egg allergies are prevalent IgE-mediated food allergies that pose significant public health concerns worldwide. Although strict avoidance remains the primary management strategy, unintended exposure can still occur through allergen cross-contact, particularly in commercial and industrial food operations that utilize shared frying oils. The objective of this study was to identify and quantify allergen transfer in shared frying oil and assess the robustness of existing targeted mass spectrometry methods (LC-MS/MS) for detecting milk and egg proteins in heated oil matrices.

Heated oil spikes were developed by incorporating non-fat dry milk (NFDM) and whole egg powder (WEP) into oil …

Start With What They Know: Using Motivational Interviewing To Create A Cooking Class, A Culinary Intervention For Teens (Autistic And Non-Autistic), Gwendolyn S. Tedder

LEND Trainee Presentations

Autistic teens are at greater risk for having heart disease and diabetes as adults. Food particularity, sensory issues, fixed mindset, and anxiety over trying new things can slow down their interest in preparing food for themselves. Nurturing basic cooking skills and gently encouraging trying new foods would provide more nutritional options to teens as they move into adulthood. A cooking class preceded by Motivational Interviewing (MI) developed further interest in preparing food afterward in teens, both autistic and non-autistic, and in trying new foods for autistic teens with food concerns.

Digital Assessment Of Subtractive And Additive Cad/Cam Fabrication Methods On The Fit And Accuracy Of Lithium Disilicate Veneers, Sara Fikry Elshafei Dr, Islam Heiba Dr, Basma Fayyad, Maha Nagy

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Dean's Report- Spring 2026, Marina K. Holz

GSBMS Dean’s Report

No abstract provided.

Ten Tips On How To Optimize Nutrition In Children With Chronic Kidney Disease Or On Dialysis., Nonnie Polderman, Vanessa Shaw, Caroline E. Anderson, An Desloovere, Louise Mcalister, Christina L. Nelms, Fabio Paglialonga, Pearl Pugh, Leila Qizalbash, Evelien Snauwaert, José Renken-Terhaerdt, Jetta Tuokkola, Larry A. Greenbaum, Rukshana Shroff

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Optimal nutrition is central to growth and development in all children, and is particularly relevant in those with chronic illnesses. This document provides 10 practical, evidence-informed tips on the assessment and management of the nutritional prescription in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and those receiving dialysis. The 10 tips synthesize work of the Paediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce, an international team of pediatric renal dietitians and pediatric nephrologists who develop clinical practice recommendations for the nutritional management of children with kidney diseases. We describe a comprehensive, three-dimensional nutritional assessment (anthropometry, dietary intake, biochemical markers) and regular monitoring tailored to age, …

The Woah Global Wildlife Health Collaborating Centre Network (Woah-Wildnet): A Coordinated And Transformative Approach To Global Wildlife Health Challenges, David T.S. Hayman, Steve Unwin, Kelly Bateman, Casey Barton Behravesh, Charlotte Berg, Jemma Bergfeld, Cristina Casalone, Claire Cayol, Erin Davis, Sunday Ekesi, Johan Esterhuizen, Merid Getahun, Federica Giorda, Keith Hamilton, Damien O. Joly, Christa Kühn, Jean Claude Manuguerra, Daniel Masiga, Anita Michel, Paolo Mulatti, Misheck Mulumba, Annah Njui, Richard Paley, Antonio Fernández, Sascha Knauf, David P. Tchouassi, Youming Wang, Nathalie Vachiery, Jandouwe Villinger

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Introduction Wildlife health is integral to functioning, complex ecosystems [1], directly and indirectly influencing the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment [2–4]. Healthy wildlife populations are essential for ecosystem services and are at the heart of the One Health approach [3,4], which aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems through multisectoral and transdisciplinary collaboration [5]. Despite its importance, wildlife health initiatives often operate in silos, limiting capacity to address transboundary threats such as emerging diseases, pollution, and environmental changes. Anthropogenic changes, including habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, and unsustainable harvesting, exacerbate wildlife health …

Effect Of Ginseng On Obesity And Neurogenesis, Hayden L. Withers, Claudia A. Grillo, Lawrence P. Reagan, Natalia Maciejewska, Sai V. Nallu, Jennifer L. Woodruff

Senior Theses

Obesity and major depressive disorder are two conditions with high comorbidity as well as overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms, including neuroinflammation, metabolic/endocrine dysfunction, and impaired hippocampal neurogenesis. Panax ginseng, a medicinal herb, is known to demonstrate anti-inflammatory and metabolic regulatory properties. Ginseng has demonstrated its effective antidepressant-like effects within preclinical studies, but its potential to restore neurogenesis in the context of obesity-induced depression is not clear. Within this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were tested in either a high fat diet (HFD) or control diet (Cont) for 12 weeks and then was treated subsequently with daily intraperitoneal injections of either ginseng or saline …

Effects Of Ndbi With Just-In-Time Programming Of Vsds On Communication Of Children With Asd, Jenna M. Rogers

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a prominent neurological and developmental disability that often requires communication support, such as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Visual Scene Displays (VSDs) are an AAC support that directly immerses in the user’s life, using images from real environments the user has or may experience. Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI) is an evidence-based approach to early intervention that targets social communication during naturalistic routines, including those who rely on AAC support to communicate. Despite recent research indicating that combining NDBI and AAC is a promising approach (Pope et al., 2024), no studies to date have examined …

2026 Research Day Program, Lincoln Memorial University

Research Day

This program contains abstracts and presentation summaries from LMU's 2026 Annual Research Day conference.

Menstrual Cycle Hormonal Fluctuations And Non-Contact Acl Rupture Risk In Female Athletes: A Literature Review, Alexa K. Larson

Honors Thesis

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common and debilitating injuries in athletic populations, with female athletes experiencing significantly higher rates of non-contact ACL rupture compared to males, often while participating in the same sports. Hormonal fluctuations associated with the menstrual cycle have been proposed as a potential intrinsic risk factor influencing injury susceptibility. The purpose of this literature review was to examine current research investigating how menstrual cycle-related hormonal fluctuations may influence the risk of non-contact ACL rupture in female athletes. A comprehensive search of PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL databases identified fourteen peer-reviewed studies that met the …

Structural Basis Of Anthocyanin-Mediated Modulation Of Il-2, Il-17, And Tnf-Α: A Docking And Molecular Dynamics Study, Andrey Bogoyavlenskiy, Adolat Manakbayeva, Timur Kerimov, Igor Yershov, Madina Alexyuk, Pavel Alexyuk, Vladimir Berezin, Vyacheslav Dushenkov

Publications and Research

Anthocyanins are naturally occurring flavonoid pigments widely distributed in plants and are recognized for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their potential immunomodulatory effects remain poorly characterized, particularly regarding their direct interactions with key signaling cytokines. In this study, a set of selected anthocyanins was investigated using a hierarchical computational workflow targeting three major pro-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Molecular docking analyses identified primulin and antirrhinin as the most favorable binders, forming stabilizing hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions within predicted cytokine interaction interfaces. To further assess the stability of these …

Multicenter Evaluation Of Ceftazidime/Avibactam In Pediatric Patients Across The United States: Real-World Insights Into The Management Of Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections, Taylor Morrisette, Christine R Lockowitz, Valerie Yuenger, Evan E Facer, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance among gram-negative pathogens is a global threat, with children particularly vulnerable due to limited treatment options and age-specific clinical outcomes data. Ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) is effective against resistant gram-negative bacteria and demonstrates high success rates in adults; however, pediatric data remain limited. This study examined CZA use in children across United States medical centers.

METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study included pediatric patients (< 18 years) who received ≥48 hours of CZA for suspected or confirmed gram-negative infections between February 2015 and October 2023. The primary outcome was clinical success, defined as occurrence of all 3 components: (1) absence of all-cause mortality within 30 days of CZA initiation, (2) absence of microbiologic and clinical recurrence within 30 days of CZA discontinuation, and (3) resolution or improvement of infection-related signs and symptoms during CZA therapy without modification of therapy due to clinical failure. Secondary outcomes included adverse events attributable to CZA and resistance development to CZA.

RESULTS: One-hundred patients were included, with most receiving CZA for targeted therapy (67%). The median (IQR) age and weight were 9.8 (1.9-15.9) years and 24.2 (12.2-49.9) kg, respectively. Nearly all patients (88%) had …

Mechanisms Of Synergy Between Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field (Nspef) And Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Discharge (Cap) In Pancreatic Cancer: The Role Of Ros-Mediated Oxidative Stress And Apoptosis, Zobia Minhas

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a highly lethal malignancy characterized by poor prognosis and resistance to conventional therapies. Novel treatment strategies are needed to overcome this resistance. Non-thermal physical modalities, including nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) and cold atmospheric pressure plasma discharge (CAP), have emerged as potential anticancer approaches; however, the mechanisms underlying their combined effects remain unclear.

This study evaluated whether nsPEF enhances CAP-induced cytotoxicity and investigated the associated molecular mechanisms using the murine Pan02 pancreatic cancer cell line. Cell viability was assessed by WST-1 metabolic activity assays and electric cell–substrate impedance sensing (ECIS). Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were …

Ins-17 Acts As A Nutrient Deprivation Signal To Mediate Adult Iis-Regulated Associative Behaviors In C. Elegans, Emily J Leptich, Priyadharshini Vijayakumar, Edward W Pietryk, Meredith I Williams, Rachana Rajupalem, Rachel N Arey

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Insulin/Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling (IIS) is a pleiotropic signaling pathway that functions across tissues to coordinate phenotypic changes in response to nutrient status. Thus, the ubiquity of the IIS pathway hinders efforts to elucidate the mechanisms driving specific IIS-related phenotypes. Previous research in the nematode worm C. elegans has demonstrated that loss of function of the IIS transmembrane receptor (IR) ortholog, DAF-2, results in a doubled lifespan and enhanced learning and memory behaviors in young and aged animals. However, these findings are the result of reducing DAF-2 receptor function rather than modulating ligand-receptor interactions. In the current study, …

Dominant Clones Leverage Developmental Epigenomic States To Drive Ependymoma, Alisha S Kardian, Hua Sun, Siri Ippagunta, Nicholas Laboe, Srinidhi Varadharajan, Kwanha Yu, Hsiao-Chi Chen, Erik Emanus, Tuyu Zheng, Riley M Deneen, Jon P Connelly, Yong-Dong Wang, Jiangshan Zhan, Hengxi Liu, Kimberley Lowe, Taylor Bugbee, Rakesh Pathak, Amanda Bland, Sanya Mehta, Sophie Cochiolo, Amir Arabzade, Blake Holcomb, Kaitlin M Budd, Gabriele Kembuan, Tristen Wright, Emma Caesar, Maxwell Park, Amelia Hancock, David Gee, Joel Murdoch, Yi Xiao, Samuel K Mcbrayer, Thomas E Merchant, Jun Qi, Adam D Durbin, Lindsay A Schwarz, Li Wang, Andrew M Donson, Nicholas K Foreman, Sameer Agnihotri, Alfonso Lavado, Suzanne J Baker, David W Ellison, Hyun Kyoung Lee, Shondra M Pruett-Miller, Kelsey C Bertrand, Benjamin Deneen, Stephen C Mack

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

ZFTA–RELA is the most recurrent genetic alteration seen in paediatric supratentorial ependymoma (EPN) and is sufficient to initiate tumours in mice1. Despite its oncogenic potential, ZFTA–RELA (ZR) is observed nearly exclusively in childhood EPN, with tumours located distinctly in the supratentorial brain of the central nervous system1. We proposed that specific chromatin modules accessible during brain development would render distinct cell lineage programs at direct risk of transformation by ZR. To test this hypothesis, we performed combined single-nucleus assay for transposase-accessible chromatin and RNA (snMultiome) sequencing of the developing mouse forebrain compared with ZR-driven mouse …

Embodied Horror: Women And Medical Authority In Video Games, Jocilynn Denise Colombo

Comparative Literature M.A. Essays

Through a critical analysis of interactive horror, this paper argues that video games can function as ethical diagnostic narratives that uniquely expose systemic failures surrounding women’s bodies and medical authority. Focusing on Silent Hill 3 (2003) and Alice: Madness Returns (2011), I examine how these games render harm legible through player participation. By requiring players to move characters through hostile environments and make decisions within systems that simultaneously grant and restrict control, these games foster identification and complicity by positioning players directly within the structures they critique.

While feminist horror scholarship—notably from Julia Kristeva and Barbara Creed—has explored societal anxieties …

Global Trends In Bioterrorism And Biosecurity Research Publications (1997–2025): A Scopus Bibliometric Analysis, Festus Mulakoli, Samuel Gesaka, John Mbataru

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Bioterrorism and biosecurity preparedness are critical pillars of global public health protection and resilience of health systems worldwide. Although this field has grown over the past few decades, there remains limited clarity on how research efforts have evolved and where critical gaps persist, particularly regarding global collaboration and emerging biological threats. To address this, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to map publication trends, influential contributors, and collaboration networks in bioterrorism and biosecurity from 1997 to 2025. This study analyzed global research output, collaboration, and thematic evolution in bioterrorism and biosecurity and identified gaps relevant to preparedness and policy. …