Digital Commons Network^™

The Pan-Microbiome Profiling System Taxa4meta Identifies Clinical Dysbiotic Features And Classifies Diarrheal Disease, Qinglong Wu, Shyam Badu, Sik Yu So, Todd J Treangen, Tor C Savidge

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Targeted metagenomic sequencing is an emerging strategy to survey disease-specific microbiome biomarkers for clinical diagnosis and prognosis. However, this approach often yields inconsistent or conflicting results owing to inadequate study power and sequencing bias. We introduce Taxa4Meta, a bioinformatics pipeline explicitly designed to compensate for technical and demographic bias. We designed and validated Taxa4Meta for accurate taxonomic profiling of 16S rRNA amplicon data acquired from different sequencing strategies. Taxa4Meta offers significant potential in identifying clinical dysbiotic features that can reliably predict human disease, validated comprehensively via reanalysis of individual patient 16S data sets. We leveraged the power of Taxa4Meta's pan-microbiome …

Large Scale Plasma Proteomics Identifies Novel Proteins And Protein Networks Associated With Heart Failure Development, Amil M Shah, Peder L Myhre, Victoria Arthur, Pranav Dorbala, Humaira Rasheed, Leo F Buckley, Brian Claggett, Guning Liu, Jianzhong Ma, Ngoc Quynh Nguyen, Kunihiro Matsushita, Chiadi Ndumele, Adrienne Tin, Kristian Hveem, Christian Jonasson, Håvard Dalen, Eric Boerwinkle, Ron C Hoogeveen, Christie Ballantyne, Josef Coresh, Torbjørn Omland, Bing Yu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Heart failure (HF) causes substantial morbidity and mortality but its pathobiology is incompletely understood. The proteome is a promising intermediate phenotype for discovery of novel mechanisms. We measured 4877 plasma proteins in 13,900 HF-free individuals across three analysis sets with diverse age, geography, and HF ascertainment to identify circulating proteins and protein networks associated with HF development. Parallel analyses in Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study participants in mid-life and late-life and in Trøndelag Health Study participants identified 37 proteins consistently associated with incident HF independent of traditional risk factors. Mendelian randomization supported causal effects of 10 on HF, HF risk …

Perceived Neighborhood Disorder And Type 2 Diabetes Disparities In Hispanic, Black, And White Americans, Min Ying Yu, Alfredo J. Velasquez, Belinda Campos, Jennifer W. Robinette

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Approximately 32 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, and that number continues to grow. Higher prevalence rates are observed among certain subgroups, including members of marginalized racial/ethnic groups as well as residents of disordered neighborhoods (i.e., those with more trash and vandalism). Institutionalized discriminatory practices have resulted in disproportionate representation of marginalized racial/ethnic groups in disordered neighborhoods compared to non-Hispanic Whites. These neighborhood disparities may partially contribute to health disparities, given that signs of neighborhood disorder often relate to a general withdrawal from the neighborhood, minimizing opportunities for both physical and social engagement. Yet, research suggests variability across …

Barriers To Care For Children With Cerebral Palsy In The Rural State Of Maine: A Mixed-Methods Study, Rayne L. Whitten, Anya K. Cutler, Alexa K. Craig

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Guidelines on orthopedic hip surveillance in children with cerebral palsy have been published to minimize the effects of cerebral palsy and maximize quality of life. Researchers aimed to identify barriers to cerebral palsy care and to assess adherence to national hip-surveillance guidelines among a small subset of children with cerebral palsy who live in a rural state.

Methods: Parents of children with cerebral palsy were interviewed, and thematic analyses were performed on the recorded transcripts. Patient-specific data about imaging and demographics were manually extracted from the electronic health record to perform a mixed-methods analysis.

Results: Twenty-one parents were interviewed, …

Toward Standardization, Harmonization, And Integration Of Social Determinants Of Health Data: A Texas Clinical And Translational Science Award Institutions Collaboration, Catherine K Craven, Linda Highfield, Mujeeb Basit, Elmer V Bernstam, Byeong Yeob Choi, Robert L Ferrer, Jonathan A Gelfond, Sandi L Pruitt, Vaishnavi Kannan, Paula K Shireman, Heidi Spratt, Kayla J Torres Morales, Chen-Pin Wang, Zhan Wang, Meredith N Zozus, Edward C Sankary, Susanne Schmidt

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: The focus on social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impact on health outcomes is evident in U.S. federal actions by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minorities and communities of color heightened awareness of health inequities and the need for more robust SDOH data collection. Four Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) hubs comprising the Texas Regional CTSA Consortium (TRCC) undertook an inventory to understand what contextual-level SDOH datasets are offered centrally and which individual-level SDOH are collected in structured fields in each …

Experiences Of Family Communication And Cascade Genetic Testing For Hereditary Cancer In Medically Underserved Populations-A Qualitative Study, Erica M Bednar, J Alejandro Rauh-Hain, Jose J Garcia, Norma De Aguinaga, Mary Anne Powell, Sylvia L Peral, Roni Nitecki, Kirsten Jorgensen, Natasha L Rudy, Karen H Lu, Charles A Leath, Isabel C Scarinci

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

UNLABELLED: We sought to explore the intrafamilial communication and cascade genetic testing (CGT) experiences of patients with hereditary cancer from diverse, medically underserved populations and their relatives. Participants included patients receiving oncology care at an urban, safety net hospital in Texas or comprehensive cancer center in Alabama and their first-degree relatives. In-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews were completed wherein patients shared their experiences with genetic counseling (GC), genetic testing (GT), and communicating their results to relatives. Relatives shared their experiences receiving information from the patient and considering CGT. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and themes were identified. Of 25 participating patients, most …

Impact Of Opioid-Free Analgesia On Pain Severity And Patient Satisfaction After Discharge From Surgery: Multispecialty, Prospective Cohort Study In 25 Countries, Tasman Collaborative

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.

METHODS: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview …

An Evolutionary Perspective On Complex Neuropsychiatric Disease, Jon M Mcclellan, Anthony W Zoghbi, Joseph D Buxbaum, Carolina Cappi, James J Crowley, Jonathan Flint, Dorothy E Grice, Suleyman Gulsuner, Conrad Iyegbe, Sanjeev Jain, Po-Hsiu Kuo, Maria Claudia Lattig, Maria Rita Passos-Bueno, Meera Purushottam, Dan J Stein, Anna B Sunshine, Ezra S Susser, Christopher A Walsh, Olivia Wootton, Mary-Claire King

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The forces of evolution-mutation, selection, migration, and genetic drift-shape the genetic architecture of human traits, including the genetic architecture of complex neuropsychiatric illnesses. Studying these illnesses in populations that are diverse in genetic ancestry, historical demography, and cultural history can reveal how evolutionary forces have guided adaptation over time and place. A fundamental truth of shared human biology is that an allele responsible for a disease in anyone, anywhere, reveals a gene critical to the normal biology underlying that condition in everyone, everywhere. Understanding the genetic causes of neuropsychiatric disease in the widest possible range of human populations thus yields …

Dreams, Synchrony, And Synchronicity, Terry Marks-Tarlow

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Advance Publication Archive

No abstract provided.

Wildfire And Asylum: A Terrapsychological Approach To Backyard Pilgrimage, Jacob Kaminker

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Advance Publication Archive

This paper offers a conceptual framework and embodied practice of finding ones’ psychological roots through mythological re-emplacement. The author utilizes the lenses of depth psychology, terrapsychology, ritual and pilgrimage. The method also focuses on experiences of awe in nature as a catalyst for transpersonal experience. This deeply personal account offers a model for the reader’s own symbolic engagement with the physical, natural and historically rich world around them.

Bioethics And A Theology Of Vulnerability, Carrie Oneil-Smith

Obsculta

This essay looks at how a theology of vulnerability can contribute to ethical decision-making in an increasingly secular society. Relationality, power dynamics and scriptural justifications are considered, as well as early contributions made to this nascent field of Christian thought. This essay was written for a class on Health Care Ethics taught by Dr. Mary Ann Kish.

Public Health For Dummies, Snigdha Sahai, Devaki C. Yellappa

Books

Public Health for Dummies is a guide that aims to demystify the world of public health with a touch of humor, a splash of raw honesty, and a generous dose of practical insights. This book is not just a roadmap for aspiring public health professionals; it’s a celebration of the diverse ways in which public health impacts our daily lives, whether we realize it or not. Public health often gets overshadowed by the glamorous fields of clinical medicine or high-tech health innovations. But behind the scenes, it is the unsung hero that ensures clean drinking water, advocates for vaccination campaigns, …

Patient Perceptions Of Audio-Only Versus Video Telehealth Visits: A Qualitative Study Among Patients In An Academic Medical Center Setting, Ryan Kruis, Elizabeth A. Brown, Jada Johnson, Kit N. Simpson, James Mcelligott, Jillian Harvey

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: Telehealth utilization surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering expanded health care access. Audio-only visits emerged as a crucial tool for patients facing technology or connectivity barriers to still use telehealth. This qualitative study aims to better understand patient perceptions of audio-only versus video telehealth visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how patients perceive the role of each in their overall health care. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 adult patients seeking care at an academic medical center located in the Southeast region of the United States. Patients had experienced both an audio-only and video telehealth visit within the …

Wildfire And Asylum: A Terrapsychological Approach To Backyard Pilgrimage, Jacob Kaminker

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper offers a conceptual framework and embodied practice of finding ones’ psychological roots through mythological re-emplacement. The author utilizes the lenses of depth psychology, terrapsychology, ritual and pilgrimage. The method also focuses on experiences of awe in nature as a catalyst for transpersonal experience. This deeply personal account offers a model for the reader’s own symbolic engagement with the physical, natural and historically rich world around them.

Perceptions Of A State-Level Hpv Vaccine Mandate And Exemption Option In Rural Virginia: A Qualitative Study, E. Marshall Brooks, Kendall Fugate-Laus, Ben Webel, Shillpa Naavaal

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States; yet, despite the availability of safe and effective HPV vaccines, only half of eligible adolescents have completed the vaccine series. School-entry requirements are one proven strategy to increase vaccination rates among children and youth and reduce the burden of HPV-related cancer. This study investigated community perceptions of an HPV vaccine school-entry mandate in Virginia and the consequences of a low threshold exemption option included in the legislation. We conducted 40 interviews with community members including 15 interviews with parents, 19 with healthcare providers, and 6 with …

Describing Trends In Virginia's Dentist And Dental Hygienist Workforce: Challenges And Opportunities, Shillpa Naavaal, Yetty Shobo, Barbara Hodgdon

Dental Public Health and Policy Publications

Purpose: Regular assessment of the dental workforce is essential to improve the population's oral health. This analysis aimed to understand the trends in the distribution of dentists and dental hygienists (DHs) in Virginia.

Methods: Annual survey data (2013-2022) of dentists and DHs from the Virginia Department of Health Professions Healthcare Workforce Data Center was used to examine the trends in provider distribution by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and geography across Virginia.

Results: In 2022, there were 5,720 dentists and 5,290 DH licensees in Virginia. In the dentist workforce, there was a high representation of those aged ≥60 years …

Dreams, Synchrony, And Synchronicity, Terry Marks-Tarlow

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This essay presents the dreams of a long-term patient over the course of treatment in order to explore the transpersonal potential of the relational unconscious—those open channels of unconscious communication between people. At a key moment, the patient brings in the therapist’s own childhood dream, serving to break a period of impasse and reset the therapy. Dreams and their interpretation reveal the essence of fractal consciousness, by which a sliver of experience can shed light on the whole of the psyche. A fractal model of understanding suggests open boundaries between self/other and self/world at multiple levels. The deep intimacy of …

Cave Signs: Assessing Mammoth Cave National Park's Access For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing, Katelyn Lane

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This project evaluates the accessibility of cave tours in Mammoth Cave National Park for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community (DHHC). The study was advertised to the DHHC with the use of flyers through the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, First Baptist Church Bowling Green’s Deaf Ministry, WKU social media, and directly to visitors who contacted the park seeking services. Willing participants either joined a group tour or reserved their own cave tour, requesting necessary accommodations. Following these tours, a survey was given inquiring about participants’ general experience with Mammoth Cave, whether all their needs …

Site-Specific Space Use And Resource Selection By Black Vultures (Coragyps Atratus) In The Southeastern Usa, Betsy Evans, John S. Humphrey, Eric A. Tillman, Michael L. Avery, Bryan M. Kluever

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

North American populations of Black Vultures Coragyps atratus have increased and expanded their distribution in the southern and eastern USA. In conjunction with these patterns has been a rise in human–vulture conflicts. To improve our understanding of space use patterns and better inform management, we evaluated the movements of Black Vultures (n = 23) in the southeastern USA using a long-term GPS tracking database. Our specific objectives were to: (1) quantify home-range sizes in relation to season and geographical study location and (2) examine within-home-range resource selection to identify landscape and anthropogenic factors influencing roost and diurnal space use. …

Characterizing Feral Swine Movement Across The Contiguous United States Using Neural Networks And Genetic Data, Rachael M. Giglio, Courtney F. Bowden, Ryan K. Brook, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Timothy J. Smyser

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Globalization has led to the frequent movement of species out of their native habitat. Some of these species become highly invasive and capable of profoundly altering invaded ecosystems. Feral swine (Sus scrofa × domesticus) are recognized as being among the most destructive invasive species, with populations established on all continents except Antarctica. Within the United States (US), feral swine are responsible for extensive crop damage, the destruction of native ecosystems, and the spread of disease. Purposeful human-mediated movement of feral swine has contributed to their rapid range expansion over the past 30 years. Patterns of deliberate introduction of …

Bayesian Integrated Species Distribution Models For Hierarchical Resource Selection By A Soaring Bird, Ryo Ogawa, Guiming Wang, L. Wes Burger, Bronson Strickland, J. Brian Davis, Fred L. Cunningham

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Migratory birds exhibit seasonal geographic range (hereafter, range) dynamics during the annual cycle. Few studies have examined how migratory birds select their habitats for range occupancy at the species level and space use at the individual level simultaneously. We hypothesized that environmental variables directly related to fitness components would affect the range occupancy probabilities of migrants, whereas environment variables related to movements and flights would affect the space use intensities of migrants. We built Bayesian integrated species distribution models (ISDMs) to evaluate the effects of climate conditions, wind conditions, and landcover compositions on the seasonal range dynamics of American white …

Impact Of Opioid-Free Analgesia On Pain Severity And Patient Satisfaction After Discharge From Surgery: Multispecialty, Prospective Cohort Study In 25 Countries, Tabish Chawla, Aliya Aziz, Anoosha Marium, Ayesha Akbar Waheed, Faiqa Binte Aamir, Faiza Qureshi, Hammad Ather, Iqra Fatima Munawar Ali, Izza Tahir, Maha Ghulam Akbar, Ronika Devi Ukrani, Sajjan Raja, Sehar Salim Virani, Shahryar Noordin, Saif Ur Rehman, Shalni Golani, Syed Roohan Aamir, Syed Musa Mufarrih, Usama Waqar, Maliha Taufiq

Section of General Surgery

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.
Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview …

Development Of A Positive Urinalysis Criteria Using A Machine Learning Approach, Kari Flicker, Jessica Parrott, Tammy Speerhas, Turaj Vazifedan, Theresa Guins, Jeffrey Bobrowtiz, Anne Mcevoy, Jade Eves, Debra Conrad, Benjamin Klick

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a commonly encountered diagnosis at pediatric urgent care (UC) centers. The urinalysis (UA) is usually the initial study in UC settings used to guide decisions regarding initiating empiric antibiotics and/or pursuing urine culture. However, studies in pediatric UC settings examining the ideal threshold for a positive result are lacking.

Methods: UA result data were extracted from the records of 6,327 pediatric patients, which were collected as part of a previous QI project. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of positive urine cultures. Decision trees for a positive UA result for both clean …

Global Deaf And Disability-Led Partnerships For Accessible Emergency Response And Humanitarian Action, Alina A. Engelman, Joe Booze, Alexia Izquierdo

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Disability-serving non-profit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a critical role in fostering care networks and supporting humanitarian action for disabled people before and during emergencies, particularly in the absence of targeted philanthropic and governmental support. However, relatively few NGOs serving disabled people are led or operated by people with disabilities, especially by disabled women. This analysis, based on survey and interview data with leadership, explores the impact of two disability-led operations. Findings have profound implications for how social work practice can center disability justice both in preparing for and responding to emergencies. This paper assesses the needs and impact of two …

Students Participating As Ambassadors For Research In Kentucky (Spark): A Health Equity Undergraduate Research Training Program, Ariel A. Arthur, Rebecca L. Delacerda Allen, Fidelis Y. Sesenu, Maxwell Groznik, Carrie B. Oser, Justin X. Moore, Jessica R. Thompson, Alexis N. James, Madeline Dunfee, Philip A. Kern, Nancy Schoenberg

Center for Health Equity Transformation Faculty Publications

The Students Participating as Ambassadors for Research in Kentucky (SPARK) program provides novel health equity research training and targeted mentorship for undergraduates, particularly those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral research and workforce. SPARK aims to address inadequate diversity in the medical and scientific research fields by providing comprehensive research mentorship and skill-building. Unlike most existing research training programs that are brief, focus on laboratory research, or are limited to graduate students and junior faculty, SPARK delivers a 16-month intensive behavioral and population health science training, equipping students with needed tools to conceptualize, plan, execute, and analyze their …

Project Hydration: A Clean Drinking Water Solution For Washington, D.C., Djenaba Diallo, Matthew Liu, Miqueas Ramirez De La Rosa, Syieda Tomlinson, Zaniya Willson

DC Health and Academic Prep Program (DC HAPP)

Water pollution is a global issue that has been ongoing since 1800 (NOAA,2024). Water pollution occurs when harmful substances, mostly chemicals or microorganisms, contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, creating harmful water quality and rendering it toxic to humans and the environment. D.C. has faced ongoing challenges with lead contamination in its drinking water. As of 2024, D.C. Water still has tens of thousands of lead service lines (D.C. Water, 2024). Lead is a poisonous metal in small amounts in the earth's crust. On May 8, 2024, D.C. issued a boil water advisory due …

Conducting Research With Highly Portable Mri In Community Settings: A Practical Guide To Navigating Ethical Issues And Elsi Checklist, Francis X. Shen, Susan Wolf, Frances Lawrenz, Donnella S. Comeau, Barbara J. Evans, Damien Fair, Martha J. Farah, Michael Garwood, S. Duke Han, July Illes, Jonathan D. Jackson, Eran Klein, Matthew S. Rosen, Efraín Torres, Paul Tuite, J. Thomas Vaughan

Articles

Highly portable and accessible MRI technology will allow researchers to conduct field-based MRI research in community settings. Previous guidance for researchers working with fixed MRI does not address the novel ethical, legal, and societal issues (ELSI) of portable MRI (pMRI). Our interdisciplinary Working Group (WG) previously identified 15 core ELSI challenges associated with pMRI research and recommended solutions. In this article, we distill those detailed recommendations into a Portable MRI Research ELSI Checklist that offers practical operational guidance for researchers contemplating using this technology.

The Impact Of Dissolved Organic Matter On Photodegradation Rates, Byproduct Formations, And Degradation Pathways For Two Neonicotinoid Insecticides In Simulated River Waters, Josephus F. Borsuah, Tiffany L. Messer, Daniel D. Snow, Steven D. Comfort, Shannon Bartelt-Hunt

UK CARES Faculty Publications

The influences of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on neonicotinoid photochemical degradation and product formation in natural waters remain unclear, potentially impacting the sustainability of river systems. Therefore, our overall objective was to investigate the photodegradation mechanisms and phototransformation byproducts of two neonicotinoid pesticides, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, under simulated sunlight at the microcosm scale, to assess the implications of DOM for insecticide degradation in rivers. Direct and indirect photolysis were investigated using twelve water matrices to identify possible reaction pathways with two DOM sources and three quenching agents. Imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and potential degradants were measured, and reaction pathways identified. The photodegradation …

Advancing Genomics To Improve Health Equity, Ebony B. Madden, Lucia Hindorff, Vence Bonham, Tabia Akintobi, Esteban Gonzalez Burchard, Kellen E. Baker, Rene L. Begay, John D. Carpten, Nancy J. Cox, Valentina Di Francesco, Denise Dillard, Faith Fletcher, S. Malia Fullerton, Nanibaa' Garrison, Catherine Hammack-Aviran, Vanessa Hiratsuka, James E.K. Hildreth, Carol Horowitz, Chanita A. Hughes-Halbert, Michael Inouye, Amber Jackson, Latrice Landry, Rick Kittles, Jeff T. Leek, Nita A. Limdi, Nicole Lockhart, Elizabeth Ofili, Eliseo Perez-Stable, Maya Sabatello, Lorjetta Schools, Jennifer Troyer, Ben Wilfond, Genevieve Wojcik, Judy Cho, Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, Eric Green

Law Faculty Scholarship

This perspective article examines the relationship between human genomics research and health equity, highlighting persistent disparities in the design, participation, and implementation of genomic science. Although genomics has substantial potential to improve disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, the benefits of genomic advances have not been equitably distributed across populations. Historically, genomic research has disproportionately relied on datasets derived from individuals of European ancestry, resulting in limited generalizability of findings and the risk of exacerbating existing health disparities. Drawing on insights from a National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) workshop and a targeted literature review, the authors identify key challenges and …

Information Impact On Home-Based Palliative Care Admissions, Donna Rugh

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Patients appropriate for Home-Based Palliative Care services are fragile with increased risk for mortality and hospital readmissions. Utilization of Home-Based Palliative Care skilled nursing services have been proven to decrease these risks and improve quality of life. Information deficits negatively impact nurse clinical decision making during the admission process, potentially misguiding the nurse resulting in a non-admission to service. This project focused on the impact of both nurse education and clinical information sharing at admission. Pre and post data was compared to examine the impact of these interventions on non-admissions rates for the reasons of “no skilled need” or “not …