Digital Commons Network^™

Spatial Epidemiology: An Empirical Framework For Syndemics Research, Shikhar Shrestha, Cici X C Bauer, Brian Hendricks, Thomas J Stopka

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Syndemics framework describes two or more co-occurring epidemics that synergistically interact with each other and the complex structural social forces that sustain them leading to excess disease burden. The term syndemic was first used to describe the interaction between substance abuse, violence, and AIDS by Merrill Singer. A broader range of syndemic studies has since emerged describing the framework's applicability to other public health scenarios. With syndemic theory garnering significant attention, the focus is shifting towards developing robust empirical analytical approaches. Unfortunately, the complex nature of the disease-disease interactions nested within several social contexts complicates empirical analyses. In answering the …

Microorganism Profiles Of Penile Prosthesis Removed For Infection, Erosion, And Mechanical Malfunction Based On Next-Generation Sequencing., Paul H Chung, Joon Yau Leong, Caleb D Phillips, Gerard D Henry

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is an emerging technology that may allow for more sensitive and sophisticated microbial testing of the microbiota of penile prostheses (PP).

AIM: To describe the microorganism profiles of PP explanted for infection, erosion, and mechanical malfunction using NGS.

METHODS: All patients who underwent PP removal by two physicians at two institutions were identified. Differences in alpha diversity (ie, number of species detected, species diversity across samples) and microbiome compositional profiles (Bray-Curtis community dissimilarities) across samples were assessed using ANOVA and PERMANOVA, respectively.

OUTCOMES: Number of species detected, species diversity across samples, and microbiome compositional profiles.

RESULTS: …

Usability Of Health-Related Websites By Filipino-American Adults And Nursing Informatics Experts, Kathleen Begonia

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Filipino-Americans are an understudied minority group with high prevalence and mortality from chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Facing barriers to care and lack of culturally appropriate health resources, they frequently use the internet to obtain health information. It is unknown whether they perceive health-related websites to be useful or easy to use because there are no published usability studies involving this population. Using the Technology Acceptance Model as a theoretical framework, this study investigated the difference between website design ratings by experts and the perceptions of Filipino-American users to determine if usability guidelines influenced the perceived ease …

2022-01-18_Michiganoverview_Covidschooloutbreak, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Outbreak Reports

The School Outbreak Data page was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 data page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173_102480---,00.html.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services from data self-reported by local health departments. Data is updated every week.

K-12 School-Related Outbreak Reporting: In accordance with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists' outbreak definition, a K-12 school-associated COVID-19 case (confirmed or probable) is defined as a student, teacher, or staff member physically present in the school setting or participated in a school sanctioned extracurricular activity within 14 days prior to illness onset (or a positive test result) OR …

Mapk4 Promotes Triple Negative Breast Cancer Growth And Reduces Tumor Sensitivity To Pi3k Blockade, Wei Wang, Dong Han, Qinbo Cai, Tao Shen, Bingning Dong, Michael T Lewis, Runsheng Wang, Yanling Meng, Wolong Zhou, Ping Yi, Chad J Creighton, David D Moore, Feng Yang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

About 15-20% of breast cancer (BCa) is triple-negative BCa (TNBC), a devastating disease with limited therapeutic options. Aberrations in the PI3K/PTEN signaling pathway are common in TNBC. However, the therapeutic impact of PI3K inhibitors in TNBC has been limited and the mechanism(s) underlying this lack of efficacy remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that a large subset of TNBC expresses significant levels of MAPK4, and this expression is critical for driving AKT activation independent of PI3K and promoting TNBC cell and xenograft growth. The ability of MAPK4 to bypass PI3K for AKT activation potentially provides a direct mechanism regulating tumor sensitivity …

2022-01-10_Michiganoverview_Covidschooloutbreak, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Outbreak Reports

The School Outbreak Data page was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 data page: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98163_98173_102480---,00.html.

This report is created by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services from data self-reported by local health departments. Data is updated every week.

K-12 School-Related Outbreak Reporting: In accordance with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists' outbreak definition, a K-12 school-associated COVID-19 case (confirmed or probable) is defined as a student, teacher, or staff member physically present in the school setting or participated in a school sanctioned extracurricular activity within 14 days prior to illness onset (or a positive test result) OR …

Channelopathy-Causing Mutations In The S45A/S45B And Ha/Hb Helices Of KCa2.3 And KCa3.1 Channels Alter Their Apparent Ca2+ Sensitivity, Razan Orfali, Young-Woo Nam, Hai Minh Nguyen, Mohammad Asikur Rahman, Grace Yang, Meng Cui, Heike Wulff, Miao Zhang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Small- and intermediate-conductance Ca²⁺-activated potassium (K_Ca2.x and K_Ca3.1, also called SK and IK) channels are activated exclusively by a Ca²⁺-calmodulin gating mechanism. Wild-type K_Ca2.3 channels have a Ca²⁺ EC₅₀ value of ∼0.3 μM, while the apparent Ca²⁺ sensitivity of wild-type K_Ca3.1 channels is ∼0.27 μM. Heterozygous genetic mutations of K_Ca2.3 channels have been associated with Zimmermann-Laband syndrome and idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension, while K_Ca3.1 channel mutations were reported in hereditary xerocytosis patients. K_Ca2.3_S436C and K_Ca2.3_V450L channels with …

Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste On Caries Prevention In Children, Samantha Richardson, Kelly Vaughan

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Are Hydroxyapatite Toothpastes The Answer To Fluoride Free Patients?

Richardson, Samantha 1 and Vaughan, Kelly 2

Dental Hygiene Program, Virginia Commonwealth University

Abstract:

Objectives/Aims: With the rising trend to become more clean with our ingredient lists, we are facing more patients refusing fluoride treatments and fluoridated toothpastes. This trend has been prevalent in our younger generations due to parents only wanting the purest natural ingredients for their children and now declining fluoride application. The goal of this literature is to find a safe alternative toothpaste that will be just as effective as fluoride.

Methods: This review of literature has been …

Representation Matters: An Examination In To How The Patient Experience Is Impacted By The Inclusion Of Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity Questions On A Health History Intake Form, Meghan N. Digneit

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The disclosure of one’s sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) status is an extremely personal decision subject to a variety of internal and external factors. The disclosure of this status in the healthcare setting is an important topic that continues to be subject to discussion, research, education, and mutual understanding between the patient and provider. The purpose of this DNP project is to explore how answering SOGI questions on a general intake form impacts patient attitudes regarding the impending visit. This was a mixed-methods research study that included demographic questions, nominal data in the form of yes/no questions, and two …

Psilocybin Psychotherapy With Acceptance And Commitment Therapy: A Potential Treatment For Social Anxiety Disorder, Elliot Sandberg

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Individuals diagnosed with social anxiety disorder are in need of a more effective therapeutic intervention. Due to the nature of SAD, individuals tend to not seek care for their treatment, leading to the continuation of avoidance behaviors that significantly impact their daily existence. Psilocybin psychotherapy has the potential to lead to significant changes in the personality structure of individuals as well as reducing anxious responses to their environment in a relatively short period of time. Acceptance and commitment therapy can serve as the ideal therapeutic backing to psilocybin as it emphasizes mindfulness and psychological flexibility, both of which aid in …

Underlying Factors Of Laboratory Safety Behaviors In College Students Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior And Risk Perceptions, Michele M. Crase

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Laboratory safety in academic settings has long been a concern for colleges and universities worldwide. Education and training for lab safety is often a one size fits all process. That is, the same training given to faculty and staff is also given to students. However, students are generally younger, less educated and less experienced than faculty or staff. To better understand the students’ educational needs related to lab safety, it was important to understand their attitudes toward safety behaviors and perceived risks of hazards in a lab. To confound matters, the COVID-19 pandemic added another level of concern regarding personal …

Role Of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 (Aldh2) In The Decrease In Coronary Angiogenesis In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Identifying Novel Signaling Pathways, Bipradas Roy

Wayne State University Dissertations

Coronary endothelial cell (CECs) damage and rarefaction of coronary microvasculature are implicated in diabetes-induced heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), a reactive aldehyde that is increased in diabetic hearts, contributes to CEC dysfunction and cardiotoxicity. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) 2, a mitochondrial enzyme that detoxifies 4-HNE and confers cardioprotection. However, ALDH2 activity is decreased in diabetic hearts, which results in the augmentation of 4HNE-induced cardiotoxicity. Thus, we hypothesize that activation of ALDH2 in CECs reduces 4-HNE-mediated cell signaling aberrations and preserves coronary angiogenesis. We employed cell culture studies and animal models to test our hypothesis. In our cell …

Assessing Patient Safety Culture In United States' Hospitals, Abdulmajeed Azyabi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Patient safety is founded on continuous learning because there is an urgent need to report and learn from errors, accidents, near misses, and adverse events. The traditional approach to patient safety, based on forming mortality committees and investigating accidents, will no longer be effective. Frameworks, surveys, and assessment tools have been developed over the last decade to assist organizations in measuring and understanding their culture. This a retrospective cross-sectional study included 67,010 respondents from Agency for Health care Research and Quality (AHRQ) 2018 comparative database was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). This research explored whether the …

What Can Aphasia Tell Us About How The First-Acquired Language Is Instantiated In The Brain?, Mira Goral

Publications and Research

Recent neurolinguistic theories converge on the hypothesis that the languages of multilingual people are processed as one system in the brain. One system for the multiple languages is also at the core of a translanguaging framework of multilingualism—a framework that focuses on each speaker’s complete linguistic repertoire rather than on the separate languages they know. However, evidence from neuroimaging studies suggests at least some nonoverlapping activations of the first-acquired language (L1) and other (non-L1) languages of multilingual people, especially when the age of acquisition and/or levels of proficiency differ across the languages. Neurolinguistic studies of acquired language disorders have demonstrated …

I’M Not A Tragedy: Speaking Up About Ableist Microaggressions, Kasandra Marguerite Colwell

Communication Senior Capstones

Have you heard of ableist microaggressions? Let me tell you about them, as someone who has experienced them. I have a bi-lateral dislocating knee condition that I was born with. I can walk, but sometimes I need additional stability or reduction of pain while getting around, in which case I tend to use a cane. I have had many othering interactions while using a mobility aid in public, whether that be a knee brace, a cane, or crutches. While it often seemed the stranger didn’t mean any harm, the question is how many invasive questions and comments from strangers can …

Using The Protection Motivation Theory To Understand The Mental Health Impact Of Surviving Covid-19, Kaprea Johnson, Angel Spence, Yousef Sherif, Dana Brookover, Adrienne White

Adultspan Journal

Due to the widespread effects of COVID-19, mental health professionals need to understand the lived experiences of survivors. Data were collected from YouTube videos (N = 52), which contained firsthand perspectives from COVID-19 survivors. Survivors understood the high stakes of COVID-19, reported the dual threat to physical and mental health, entered “survival mode,” and had both positive and negative reflections on the experience. Implications for mental health professionals and future research directions are included.

The Influence Of Extracellular Matrix On Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cell Properties, Daneeya Na Nan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a crucial tissue connecting teeth to surrounding alveolar bone, withstanding the mechanical forces of mastication, speech, and deglutition. The extracellular matrix (ECM) of the PDL plays a critical role in maintaining PDL cell stability and function in response to external forces. Mechanotransduction, the process by which cells convert mechanical signals into biochemical signals, is essential for PDL cells to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli. The ECM is a critical mediator of mechanotransduction, as it is responsible for transmitting mechanical forces to cells and regulating cellular responses to mechanical stress. Matricellular proteins, such as periostin …

Stat6 Suppression Prevents Bleomycin-Induced Dermal Fibrosis, Hua Sun, Ashish Damania, Megan L Mair, Eniola Otukoya, Yi-Dong Li, Katherine Polsky, Yuying Zeng, Jeremiah A Alt, Martin J Citardi, David B Corry, Amber U Luong, John Morgan Knight

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Unified airway disease, including concurrent asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), is a common, but poorly understood disorder with no curative treatment options. To establish a murine model of chronic unified eosinophilic airway inflammation, mice were challenged with Aspergillus niger, and sinonasal mucosa and lung tissue were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and gene expression. Inhalation of A niger conidia resulted in a Th2-biased lung and sinus inflammation that typifies allergic asthma and CRS. Gene network and pathway analysis correlated with human disease with upregulation of not only the JAK-STAT and helper T-cell pathways, but also less expected pathways governing …

Neuroprotective Effects And Metabolomic Studies Of Oxyresveratrol In Rotenone-Induced Neuroblastoma Sh-Sy5y Cytotoxicity For A Preventive Approach To Parkinson’S Disease, Nureesun Mahamud

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a long-term degenerative brain disorder. In 2022, WHO reported that PD prevalence has doubled over the last 25 years, causing disability and death more quickly than any other neurological disease. Although PD is still not curable, several studies showed some bioactive substances are linked with a lower risk of developing PD. Oxyresveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in various plants, is the bioactive component previously reported the pharmacological activities such as antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. However, the specific molecular mechanisms and pathways involved in its effects are currently limited. This study aimed to examine the neuroprotective mechanisms …

Parental Barriers Toward Seeking Mental Healthcare For Saudi Children At Risk Of Adhd, Amani Kappi

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder commonly diagnosed in childhood. Underdiagnosis and undertreatment of ADHD can lead to the development of other mental illnesses and disruptions in social functioning in adulthood. Therefore, parents can play a crucial role in proactively seeking mental healthcare for children who are at risk for or who have a clear diagnosis of ADHD. Studies in the United Kingdom and the United States highlight many barriers that prevent parents from seeking mental healthcare for their children, such as negative attitudes towards the mental healthcare system and stigma towards mental illnesses.

Cultural differences …

Nsu College Of Psychology Graduate Student Catalog 2022–2023, Nova Southeastern University

College of Psychological Services / College of Psychology Postgraduate Student and Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Human Dopamine Transporter Threonine 261 And Serine 262 In Amphetamine Regulation Of Transporter Function And Surface Expression, Sina Abdollahi

Theses and Dissertations

Amphetamine (AMPH) has been used clinically and recreationally around the world for years. A 2021 study reports a 67.5% rise in AMPH use from 2010-2017 across all fifty states. Study also shows that 30% of patients with AMPH-induced psychosis end up with primary psychosis over time. AMPH works by inhibiting monoamine (Norepinephrine (NE), Serotonin (5-HT), and Dopamine (DA) reuptake followed by triggering transporter mediated monoamine release and consequently increases monoamine concentrations in extracellular synaptic space. AMPH also works as a substrate for monoamine transporters, enters the neuron, and once its inside the neuron, it will prevent the storage of monoamines …

Evaluation Of The Kitchen Microbiome And Food Safety Behaviors Of Predominantly Low-Income Families, Christina K Carstens, Joelle K Salazar, Shreela V Sharma, Wenyaw Chan, Charles Darkoh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Bacterial pathogens in the domestic environment present a risk to residents, particularly among susceptible populations. However, the impact of consumer demographic characteristics and food handling methods on kitchen microbiomes is not fully understood. The domestic kitchen bacterial communities of ten predominantly low-income families in Houston, TX, were assessed in conjunction with a cross-sectional food safety survey to evaluate differences in household and surface-specific microbiomes and bacterial foodborne pathogen presence. Three kitchen surfaces within each household, including the sink drain, the refrigerator handle, and the counter, were environmentally sampled and metataxonomically evaluated via targeted 16S rRNA sequencing. Disposable dish sponges were …

Alterations In Synaptic Structure And Tau Phosphorylation In Alheimer's Disease, Courtney K. Walker

All ETDs from UAB

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in individuals over the age of 65. Of the two hallmark pathologies of AD, tau neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) correlate more strongly with cognitive decline than do Aβ plaques. NFTs form in the entorhinal cortex (EC) and appear in anatomically connected regions over time as disease progresses. This tau spreading may occur via synaptic connections. Most excitatory synapses occur on dendritic spines, which house the postsynaptic machinery. Spines are actin-rich, plastic structures that change their size and shape in response to synaptic activity in a process that is dependent on actin …

Rising Cost Of Medicare And Its Effect On Recipients 65 And Older, Williesa Toomer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rising cost of Medicare is a growing concern for recipients. Beneficiaries are often forced to implement a host of strategies to meet rising out-of-pocket expenses. This qualitative study was conducted to address a research gap in methods used by senior citizens to manage rising Medicare coverage costs. Garmezy’s resilience theory was used to contextualize the rising costs of Medicare premiums and copays and strategies used to manage healthcare needs. The purposive sample of 12 socioeconomically diverse respondents included eight women and four men ranging in age between 65 and 77, for an average age of 70.2 years. Participants completed …

Perceived Social Support And Stress: A Study Of 1st Year Students In Ireland, Lavinia Mclean, David Gaul, Rebecca Penco

Articles

Social support is consistently associated with positive outcomes for students, in terms of wellbeing and academic achievement. For first year students, social support offers a way to deal with stressors associated with the challenge of transitioning to university. The current research was conducted with a range of first year students (n = 315) early in their first semester in university. Both male and female students reported moderate levels of social support and perceived stress, while those with higher levels of social support reported lower levels of stress. Gender differences were apparent in both the levels and sources of social …

Relación Entre La Depresión Y La Demencia [Relationship Between Depression And Dementia], Maria Del Pilar Santacruz-Ortega, Maria Fernanda Cobo-Charry, Silvia Mejia-Arango

School of Medicine Publications

La alta asociación entre la depresión y la demencia en el adulto mayor ha motivado a investigar la clase de relación que existe entre ellas. El objetivo de esta revisión narrativa fue describir la relación entre la depresión y la demencia, para lo que se revisaron las bases de datos Medline, Science Direct, Dialnet, Redalyc entre 2000 y 2021, con los descriptores verbales “demencia” AND “depresión” AND “relación” AND “adulto mayor” OUT “depresión de cuidadores” para ubicar los documentos candidatos y luego elegir la muestra final conformada por 67 artículos publicados, que fueron revisados por tres jueces para la selección. …

Exercise-Induced Myokines Downregulates The Ace2 Level In Bronchial Epithelial Cells: Implications For Sars-Cov-2 Prevention, Vaishali Bhardwaj, Mart Dela Cruz, Deepika Subramanyam, Rohit Kumar, Sandeep Markan, Beth Parker, Hemant K Roy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The Covid-19 pandemic has emerged as the leading public health challenge of our time (20th century). While vaccinations have finally blunted the death rate, concern has remained about more virulent forms highlighting the need for alternative approaches. Epidemiological studies indicate that physical activity has been shown to decrease the risk of infection of some respiratory viruses. Part of the salutary effects of exercise is believed to be through the elaboration of cytokines by contracting skeletal muscles (termed myokines). The objective of this study was to investigate whether exercise-induced myokines would mitigate the SARS-CoV-2 infectivity of the bronchial epithelium through …

Changes In Study Approaches, Self-Efficacy, And Mental Health In Allied Healthcare Students During The Covid-19 Crisis, Elaina J. Dalomba, Tore Bonsaksen, Mary Jan Greer, Saji Mansur

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

There is growing concern about student mental health, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis. Mental health factors impact self-efficacy and study behaviors, thus there is a need to explore changes in these factors during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to explore changes in allied healthcare students’ approaches to studying, self-efficacy and positive mental health before and during the COVID-19 crisis. The Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students, General Self-efficacy scale, Mental Health Continuum – Short Form were given to graduate students (n=26) prior to, and one year into the pandemic. Repeated measures analyses of variance were performed. …

The Impact Of International Doctoral Capstone Experience On Occupational Therapy Clinicians' Current Practice, Sarbinaz Bekmuratova, Lisa Bagby, Anna Domina, Angela Patterson, Keli Mu

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of an international doctoral capstone on occupational therapy clinicians’ current practice. The study used a cross-sectional descriptive online survey design with qualitative elements with 26 occupational therapy graduates. All participants identified as female and the majority were 25-34 years old. Participants reported that the international doctorate capstone experience positively impacted their cultural competence and professional growth. Qualitative outcomes supported these findings through three themes on culture, building rapport with patients, and professional growth. This study suggests that an international doctoral capstone experience is an important way for occupational therapy students …