Digital Commons Network^™

Trauma-Informed Conversational Agents For Mental Health: Understanding User Perspectives And Experiences, Xintong Lu, Shion Guha, Rachel Pfafman, Jessica Pater, Courtney L. Washington, Fayika Farhat Nova

Health Services and Informatics Research

Introduction:

Mental health conversational agents (MHCAs) offer scalable, accessible psychological support yet raise concerns about safety and appropriateness for trauma, exposed users. While trauma-informed care (TIC) principles, emphasizing safety, trust, empowerment, collaboration, peer support, and cultural sensitivity, are well-established in clinical practice, their application and user interpretation in chatbot contexts remain unexplored. This study aimed to explore (1) how users conceptualize trauma-informed care in the context of mental health chatbots and (2) what factors can help us predict whether users perceive their chatbot interaction as trauma-informed.

Methods:

A 59-item web-based survey (REDCap) assessed demographics, technology proficiency, adverse life experiences, chatbot …

Evaluation Of Corneal Infections Using A Smartphone Macro Lens For Synchronous Telemedicine, Joseph A. Anaya, Julia Yu, Marisa A. Schoen, Dilru C. Amarasekera, Cherie A. Fathy, Sophia Lam, Christopher J. Rapuano, Zeba A. Syed

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of synchronous telemedicine consultation with a corneal specialist using a macro lens attachment to a smartphone to evaluate corneal infections.

METHODS: Patients aged 18 years or older who presented to the Cornea Clinic at Wills Eye Hospital between June 2020 and March 2021 with a corneal infection were examined by two fellowship-trained cornea specialists. One examiner (CJR) performed face-to-face (FTF) slit-lamp evaluations, whereas another examiner (ZAS) performed synchronous telemedicine visit (STV) evaluations via a smartphone with a macro lens of 7× magnification (Olloclip; Foothill Ranch, CA, USA) held by trained study coordinators. Agreement between examinations …

Publisher Correction: Whole Genome Sequence Analysis Of Pulmonary Function And Copd In 44,287 Multi-Ancestry Participants, Wonji Kim, Xiaowei Hu, Kangjin Kim, Sung Chun, Peter Orchard, Dandi Qiao, Ingo Ruczinski, Aabida Saferali, Francois Aguet, Lucinda Antonacci-Fulton, Pallavi P Balte, Traci M Bartz, Wardatul Jannat Anamika, Xiaobo Zhou, Junyi Duan, Jennifer A Brody, Brian E Cade, Martha L Daviglus, Harshavadran Doddapaneni, Shannon Dugan-Perez, Susan K Dutcher, Christian D Frazar, Stacey B Gabriel, Sina A Gharib, Namrata Gupta, Brian D Hobbs, Silva Kasela, Laura R Loehr, Ginger A Metcalf, Donna M Muzny, Elizabeth C Oelsner, Laura J Rasmussen-Torvik, Colleen M Sitlani, Joshua Smith, Tamar Sofer, Hanfei Xu, Bing Yu, David Zhang, John Ziniti, R Graham Barr, April P Carson, Myriam Fornage, Lifang Hou, Ravi Kalhan, Robert Kaplan, Tuuli Lappalainen, Stephanie J London, Alanna C Morrison, George T O'Connor, Bruce M Psaty, Laura M Raffield, Susan Redline, Stephen S Rich, Jerome I Rotter, Edwin K Silverman, Ani Manichaikul, Michael H Cho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This corrects the article "Whole genome sequence analysis of pulmonary function and COPD in 44,287 multi-ancestry participants", 28.

The Role Of Project Managers And Pmp Principles In Improving Operational Efficiency In Healthcare Organizations, Karan Thakkar

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

Healthcare organizations operate in increasingly complex, regulated, and resource-constrained environments while managing a growing volume of projects tied to digital transformation, process improvement, regulatory compliance, and infrastructure development. Despite the project-intensive nature of healthcare operations, many organizations do not formally employ trained project managers or consistently apply Project Management Professional (PMP) principles; project responsibilities are frequently absorbed by clinical or administrative leaders whose primary expertise lies outside formal project management. This qualitative study examined how the project manager role and PMP principles contribute to operational efficiency in healthcare organizations. The study was conducted as a qualitative document analysis and thematic …

How Do Us States Define Person-Centered And Family-Involved Care In Assisted Living Regulations, Paula Carder, Lindsey Smith, Jennifer N. Bunker, Cassandra L. Hua, Erh-Chi Hsu, Isabelle Boun, Olivia M. Ainsworth, Kali S. Thomas, Eric Jutkowitz

Institute on Aging Publications

Introduction: A large share of assisted living (AL) residents have a diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment, and these individuals can benefit from person-centered care and family-involved care. This study examines whether and how states’ AL licenses address these topics.MethodsThis research analyzed a national database of 249 unique licensing requirements that govern 35,602 ALs in all states and associated regulations, including those that govern memory care (MC) services. We reviewed each regulation for the presence of person-centered or family involved care and then used content analysis of license requirements with at least one relevant policy to identify key categories and …

Investigation Of Electrochemical Transport, Gate Leakage, And Transconductance Behavior In Pedot:Pss Organic Electrochemical Transistors, Vinay Bhudhraja, Bilal Khan, Abijeet Mehta

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Organic Electrochemical Transistors (OECTs) are promising candidates for low-voltage bioelectronic systems due to their high transconductance, mixed ionic–electronic transport, and compatibility with flexible substrates. In this work, we investigate the electrochemical transport, gate leakage, and transconductance behavior of screen-printed PEDOT:PSS OECTs, with emphasis on the relationship between ionic coupling and output characteristics. Key electrical and electrochemical parameters—including drain current modulation, transconductance evolution, gate current behavior, and capacitance–voltage response—were systematically analyzed to elucidate the mechanisms governing device operation. The results reveal clear trade-offs between parasitic resistance, volumetric electrochemical capacitance, and effective gate control, which in turn influence signal integrity and amplification …

Comparative Analysis Of Leaflet Materials, Stent Materials, And Stent Cell Density For Bileaflet Transcatheter Mitral Valve Design, Joseph Chibuike Nwokeafor, Joshua D. Hofmeister, Breandan B. Yeats, Lakshmi Prasad Dasi, Charanjit S. Rihal, Juan A. Crestanello, Leigh Griffiths, Mohamad A. Alkhouli, Hoda Hatoum

Michigan Tech Publications

Background: The biomechanical performance of bileaflet transcatheter mitral valves (TMVs) depends on complex interactions between leaflet material behavior and stent design. However, the contributions of leaflet materials and constitutive models, stent materials, and stent geometry to valve function and durability remain poorly understood. Methods: A parametric finite element study was conducted using a CAD model of a bileaflet TMV subjected to physiological pressure loading. Five leaflet material models were evaluated: 3 glutaraldehyde-fixed tissues—bovine pericardium (BP; FBP1, FBP2) and porcine pericardium (PP; FPP)—and 2 unfixed tissues—bovine (UBP) and porcine pericardium (UPP). BP was modeled as a linear elastic (FBP1) and Ogden …

Pregnancy In Type I Interferon Receptor (Ifnar2) Knockout Sheep Challenges The Accepted Paradigm For Pregnancy Recognition In Ruminants, Christopher J. Davies, Evan K. Peterson, Aaron J. Thomas, Andrea L. Giles, Young-Min Lee, Irina A. Polejaeva, Heloisa M. Rutigliano

Veterinary Clinical and Life Science Faculty Publications

The effects of type I interferons, including interferon tau (IFNT), previously thought to be the signal for pregnancy recognition in ruminants, are mediated by the type I interferon receptor (IFNAR), a heterodimer comprised of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2. The genes encoding IFNAR were disrupted in fetal fibroblast cells using CRISPR/Cas9 and lambs were produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Subsequently, a herd of IFNAR2^+/− sheep was developed and used to produce IFNAR2^−/− lambs. Functional knockout of IFNAR was confirmed by failure of fibroblast cell lines from IFNAR2^−/− sheep to respond to interferon alpha or IFNT in a …

Decorin Promotes Nascent Proteoglycan Retention In Cartilage Matrix By Strengthening Collagen Ii-Aggrecan Integration, Thomas Li, Gabriela Canziani, Yuchen Liu, Neil Patel, Biao Han, Mingyue Fan, Annie Porter, Bryan Kwok, Chao Wang, Qing Li, David E. Birk, Renato V. Iozzo, Irwin M. Chaiken, X. Lucas Lu, Robert L. Mauck, Lin Han

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM), a hydrated collagen II-aggrecan composite, undergoes dynamic turnover during both normal homeostasis and disease-associated remodeling. This study elucidates a crucial role for decorin in promoting the retention and stability of nascent aggrecan within this matrix. By applying bio-orthogonal click-labeling, we demonstrate that loss of decorin accelerates the release of nascent aggrecan under both physiological and inflammatory conditions, without affecting its preferential localization to the pericellular matrix. Conversely, supplementation with exogenous decorin mitigates inflammation-induced loss of nascent aggrecan, supporting its potential as a therapeutic target. At the molecular level, decorin exhibits strong binding affinity for aggrecan, and …

In Vivo Orf Overexpression Screening Identifies Ccn4 As A Regulator Of Glioblastoma Growth Validated Across Multiple Models, Pushan Dasgupta

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite current multimodal therapies for glioblastoma (GBM), its prognosis remains grim. Thus, a tremendous need exists to identify new genetic drivers that may serve as potential therapeutic targets in glioblastoma (GBM). We describe an in vivo overexpression screening strategy to identify drivers of glioblastoma where we have leveraged TCGA datasets to conduct a functional genomics screen of prioritized open reading frames (ORFs) that are overexpressed and/or amplified in GBM. To interrogate these potential drivers within a more relevant physiological context, the screening was accomplished in vivo in an orthotopic patient-derived glioma stem-like cell (GSC) model. Among 5 positive "hits" from …

Right Ventricular–Pulmonary Artery Coupling Predicts Early Myocardial Strain Improvement In Sglt2 Inhibitor-Treated Hfref, Mohammad Ali Hammad, Ramy Magdy Elgamal, Arwa Mohsen Abouelkhir, Osama Abouelfetouh Elshaer, Mohamed Shokry Fahmy, Reda Nabil Dawoud, Reda Biomy, Mohamed Kamal Salama

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Background: While sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors clearly benefit left ventricular recovery in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), their rapid effects on right ventricular (RV) function remain poorly characterized. This prospective observational study investigated the timeline and markers of biventricular changes shortly after SGLT2 inhibitor initiation.

Methods:In this prospective observational study, 50 adults with HFrEF (LVEF

Results:After 3 months, NT-proBNP levels decreased significantly (1116.5 vs 913.5 pg/mL, P

Conclusions: In this prospective observational study without a control group, SGLT2 inhibitor initiation was associated with coordinated biventricular improvements within three months in HFrEF patients. The baseline TAPSE/PASP ratio …

Psychogastroenterology: An Introduction For Behavioral Health And Healthcare Professionals, Jerrod Brown Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., M.S., M.S., Jeremiah B. Schimp Phd, Ma, Lpcc, Leanne Skehan Dcn, Msacn, Mph, Mba, Cns, Ches, Shelley Mydra Dmft, Lmft, Jonathan Ward Dc, Phd(C), Ms, Dibcn, Tiffany Flaten Cns, Ldn

Nutritional Neurocriminology Today

Although often difficult to discuss with clients, gastrointestinal (GI) issues affect an estimated 60 to 70 million Americans (American Gastroenterological Association, 2022). Yet only about 25% of those experiencing these conditions receive treatment. This is troubling because GI issues frequently co-occur with clinically significant consequences for physical health, psychological well-being, daily functioning, and overall quality of life. Designed for behavioral health and healthcare professionals, this brief article introduces the field of psychogastroenterology, with emphasis on symptoms, stigma, diagnosis, and treatment. Key topics include the gut-brain axis, common digestive health conditions, and the mental health implications associated with gastrointestinal disorders.

Acute And Inpatient Occupational Therapy Practice For People With Chronic Conditions Who Are Experiencing Homelessness, Emily K. Simpson, Anne K. Mokate, Elizabeth A. Gibbs, Nina K. Duric

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Despite having high rates of chronic illness, people experiencing homelessness (PEH) in the United States face barriers to healthcare access that result in unmet health needs and poor health outcomes.  The objective of the study was to identify the barriers to service experienced by occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) in acute and inpatient settings in providing services to PEH and to describe education strategies to reduce those barriers. Methods: Researchers employed a cross-sectional design with OTPs (n=292) with experience treating PEH. Results: Barriers to treatment for OTP included lack of education, need to prioritize acute concerns, and inadequate institutional resources. …

Living Through Misinformation: An Autoethnography Of Autism In Chinese Communities, Joy Lu

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

This critical autoethnographic essay examines how misconception, misinformation, and disinformation shape understandings of autism within Chinese communities and produce tangible harm for autistic individuals and their families. Drawing on lived experience, advocacy work, digital observation, and cross-cultural analysis, it explores how language, medical practices, social media, and professional authority sustain persistent misrepresentation.

The essay argues that this misinformation is not merely the result of ignorance, but a socially reinforced and institutionally supported system of knowledge. By situating personal encounters within broader cultural and structural contexts, it highlights the interconnected roles of language, power, and exclusion in shaping autistic lives. It …

Assessing Indoor Heat Vulnerability And Cooling Strategies In Three Mobile Home Communities In Boulder, Colorado, Usa, Mehdi P. Heris, Skye Niles, Alana Wilson, Megan Mccurdy, Amy Lacourse, Nick Lankau

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Extreme heat is an increasing public health and environmental threat shaped by both physical and social factors. This study assesses the vulnerability of mobile homes and their residents at three mobile home parks in Boulder, Colorado. We examined indoor temperature, housing conditions, and social and personal risk factors of the households. We monitored indoor and outdoor temperatures using 27 indoor and 5 outdoor temperature data loggers, comparing mobile homes with air conditioning, swamp coolers, and passive cooling designs. This work provides a detailed analysis of indoor temperature patterns and demonstrates how evaluating trends yields insights into the performance and effectiveness …

Group-Based Psychoeducation For Dissociative Disorders: Reducing Ptsd And Dissociative Symptoms While Enhancing Emotion Regulation And Adaptive Capacity, Laura Hawkins, Stephanie A. Johnson, Sarah Chipps, Aimee Mccann, Kim Foreman, Dayeon Heo, Dongjuan Xu, Rebecca Braughton, Abidemi Mary Ajuwon

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Finding Solid Ground (FSG) program, delivered through psychoeducational groups, as an adjunct to individual therapy for adults with dissociative disorders (DDs). Method: In this naturalistic study, seventy-two adults with DDs were recruited to participate in a 31-week FSG psychoeducational program across multiple outpatient sites while continuing individual psychotherapy. Participants completed assessments at baseline, midpoint, and endpoint, measuring dissociative symptoms, PTSD symptoms, emotion regulation, and adaptive capacities. Analyses examined changes over time and controlled for demographic variables. Results: Forty-seven participants completed all assessments (70% retention). The sample was predominantly female (81%) and White …

Intouch Week Of June 8, 2026, New York Medical College

InTouch

• As COPD Rates Rise in Women, Clinical Trial Representation Lags
• Student Spotlight: A Look at Reimbursement Trends for Emerging Technologies
• Student Spotlight: Doneal Bromberg Receives Prestigious ASTRO Medical Student Fellowship

Impact Of Dolutegravir-Based Regimens On Patient Satisfaction And Quality Of Life Among People Living With Hiv: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mustapha Muhammed Abubakar, Christabel Ogechukwu Okoye, Ruth Jeminiwa, Ifeanyi Kanayo Ifeorah, Lotanna Ezeja, Yusuf Dauran, Sahabi Musa, Silas Usen Joel, Abdurrahman Murtala Bello, Amauche Pearl Ngige, Gabriel Ezenri, Abdulmuminu Isah, Ifunanya Ikhile, Blessing Onyinye Ukoha-Kalu

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Background: Despite the global scale up of dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimens as the preferred first-line therapy for persons living with HIV (PLHIV), no comprehensive evidence exists on its effect on patient-reported outcomes such as Quality of Life (QoL) and patient satisfaction (PS). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide the first comprehensive quantitative synthesis of the effect of DTG-based regimens on QoL and PS among PLHIV.

Method: We conducted literature search on PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane Library databases for peer-reviewed, primary studies published from January 2015 to January 2025. Studies using validated tools to evaluate QoL and PS …

Show Me The Money: Finance Models In Epilepsy Practice., Deepti Zutshi, Emily Klatte, Maysaa Basha, Leisha Osburn, Eric Segal, Nina Garga, Rohit R Das

Medical Education Articles

Healthcare models and the finances associated with such models are complex. Patients with epilepsy (PWE) receive care in a variety of settings, and each is associated with differing reimbursement, financial levers, as well as unique strengths and weaknesses. As the financial climate of healthcare system changes rapidly in the setting of an aging population, physician shortages, and increasing costs of healthcare delivery, it is important for clinicians to understand the financial aspects of caring for PWE. In this review, we examine basic concepts in healthcare economics and then review the financial aspects of care in an academic context, a private …

Feasibility Study Of A Behavioral Lifestyle Intervention For Hispanic/Latino Patients With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, Natalia I Heredia, Jessica P Hwang, Maria E Fernandez, Jiachen Lu, Cici X Bauer, Lorna H Mcneill

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) can lead to longer-term adverse health outcomes if left unmanaged, including liver failure and liver cancer. Hispanic adults have the highest rates of MASLD of any U.S. racial/ethnic subgroup. The most effective treatment is weight loss, through healthy dietary changes and increased physical activity. This study conducted 2022-2023 aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability (primary), as well as exploratory effectiveness outcomes, of a behavioral lifestyle intervention for Hispanic patients with MASLD.

Methods: Participants were recruited from a federally qualified health center. Self-administered questionnaires assessed demographic, psychosocial and behavioral variables. Staff measured height …

Auricular Point Acupressure Self-Management (Apa-Sm) Program For Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Among Rural Populations: A Protocol For A Pragmatic, Randomized Controlled Trial, Jennifer Kawi, Jane Bolin, Hulin Wu, Jungkyung Min, Rupsikha Bora, Sarah Pace, Idara N Akpan, Alee Lockman, Tonychris Nnaka

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a leading cause of incurred personal healthcare costs and disability in the USA. It disproportionately affects rural populations, who are more likely to be uninsured, lack access to a regular healthcare provider and experience a higher prevalence of CMP. As a result of reduced access to non-pharmacological care, there is greater reliance on opioids. The Auricular Point Acupressure - Self-Management (APA-SM) program is a simple, needleless, evidence-based therapy that empowers individuals to self-manage their pain. Preliminary studies, including a recent UG3 pilot testing, demonstrated feasibility, safety and significant improvements in pain and function. Guided …

Outcomes In Single Versus Two-Stage Surgical Stabilization Of Complex Bilateral Chest Wall Injury: A Single-Center Experience., Alexis A Schweibinz, Jaya S Varre, Anna Graham, William B Devoe

Surgery Articles

INTRODUCTION: Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) continues to show benefit for severe chest wall injury (CWI) with improvement in morbidity and mortality following stabilization. Complex bilateral injuries pose a clinical and technical challenge. Currently, there is no formal recommendation for an approach to repair such injuries, whether that be bilateral SSRF within the index case or staged repair. We sought to describe our institutional experience with this subset of patients, identify factors that may influence the decision to pursue single- versus two-stage procedures, and assess the potential benefit of combined bilateral SSRF during the index operation.

METHODS: A retrospective, …

Norm Dust Intake: Comparison Of Personal Air Sampling And Bioassays, Gregory S. Hewson, Martin I. Ralph, Marcus Cattani

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Intake of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), particularly the inhalation of thorium-bearing dust in mineral sand operations, has traditionally been assessed via personal air sampling (PAS). However, data from bioassay studies suggest that the actual intake determined via PAS may be underestimated. This review integrates thorium intake estimates derived from historical bioassay datasets, such as urine, faeces, lung counting, and thoron-in-breath tests, with historical PAS data. The findings indicated that bioassay-based predictions of intake were consistently greater, with mean bioassay-to-PAS intake ratios ranging from 2.6 to 4.2. The contributing factors to this discrepancy include biokinetic model uncertainties, potential dust sampler …

Recent Antibiotic Exposure And Response To Treatment Of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Daniel Horton, Charu Verma, Sanika Rege, Stephen Crystal, Tobias Gerhard, Alicia Iizuka, Matthew Iozzio, Dawn Koffman, Lauren Parlett, Julianne Varga, Carlos Rose, Brian Strom

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) has been tied to microbiome disruption and antibiotic exposure. Gut microbiota may affect how adults with rheumatoid arthritis respond to methotrexate. We tested if exposure to antibiotics was associated with response to methotrexate for JIA.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using national US public and private insurance claims data (2001-2023). We included children ages 1-17 continuously enrolled for ≥ 10 months and diagnosed with JIA who initiated methotrexate monotherapy or, for comparison, tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) monotherapy without prior disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) exposure. Antibiotic exposure during the 10-month baseline period was …

Sleep-Circadian Modulation Of Autophagy And Glymphatic Function: Failure Of Coordinated Brain Clearance In Parkinson's Disease, Shamaila Zafar, Jay S. Schneider

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Parkinson's disease (PD) involves α-synuclein accumulation and progressive neurodegeneration. This review proposes that PD reflects failure of sleep-circadian regulated brain clearance network integrating intracellular autophagy and extracellular glymphatic transport across neurons, glia, and blood-brain-barrier. Disruption of sleep-architecture and circadian-timing desynchronizes these processes, impairing protein clearance and promoting pathology. This framework positions sleep-circadian dysfunction as an upstream mechanism, suggesting that restoring sleep-circadian regulation may improve protein clearance and support disease-modifying strategies.

Structured Telehealth Community Health Worker-Clinician Feedback And Diabetes Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Elizabeth M Vaughan, Xiaoying Yu, Amber B Amspoker, Aanand D Naik, Ashok Balasubramanyam, Craig A Johnston, Christi M Ballantyne, Salim S Virani, H Shelton Brown, Kristina Mena, Laura R Porterfield

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: Community health workers (CHWs) improve chronic disease management in underserved populations, but scalable integration strategies are limited.

Objective: To evaluate whether a multidimensional intervention incorporating telementored CHWs and a structured participant-CHW-clinician feedback loop can improve diabetes outcomes.

Design, setting, and participants: This 12-month randomized clinical trial was conducted at 3 institutionally and geographically diverse community clinics in Texas between September 1, 2023, and April 30, 2025, and included low-income, uninsured White Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes identified through clinic databases. Data were analyzed between May 1 and July 31, 2025.

Intervention: Individuals were randomized 1:1 to the intervention …

Development And Preliminary Validation Of Orca-Pd, An Online Rapid Cognitive Assessment For Parkinson Disease: Mixed Methods Study, Avigail Lithwick Algon, Sarah Brisman, Chi-Ying R Lin, William Saban

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Traditional in-person neuropsychological tests for Parkinson disease (PD) lack accessibility, scalability, and PD specificity. Mobility impairments hinder access to in-person assessments, and long waiting times for expert evaluation limit scalability. Common tools for cognitive screening, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, are generic and not specific to PD.

Objective: The goal of this study was to address these challenges by leveraging the internet. This study aimed to develop a sensitive tool to detect cognitive impairments in early- to mid-stage PD in an accessible and scalable manner.

Methods: We developed the Online Rapid Cognitive Assessment for Parkinson's Disease (ORCA-PD), a …

Notch1 Acts As A Tumor Suppressor That Induces Early Differentiation In Head And Neck Cancer, Chenfei Huang, Shhyam Moorthy, Qiuli Li, Kazi M Ahmed, Kalil Saab, Defeng Deng, Jiping Wang, Xiayu Rao, Jiexin Zhang, Yuanxin Xi, Jing Wang, Zhiyi Liu, Noriaki Tanaka, David A Wheeler, Eve Shinbrot, Rami Saade, Curtis R Pickering, Tong-Xin Xie, Adel K El-Naggar, Abdullah A Osman, Kunal Rai, Patrick A Zweidler-Mckay, John V Heymach, Lauren A Byers, Faye M Johnson, Vlad C Sandulache, Jeffrey N Myers, Pedram Yadollahi, Mitchell J Frederick

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Inactivating NOTCH1 mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) were described over a decade ago, suggesting a tumor suppressor function - unlike its oncogenic role in other tumors. Today, much debate persists regarding a putative oncogenic role in HNSCC as well, with reports that NOTCH1 signaling drives tumor growth and a cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype. In this work, comprehensive experiments unequivocally demonstrate that NOTCH1 is a tumor suppressor in HNSCC regardless of mutation or activation status and that it reduces CSC frequency. We developed a signature of NOTCH1 activation showing the pathway is associated with very early …

Opposing Regulation By Rev1 Of Dna Polymerase Zeta Activity On Damaged Versus Undamaged Dna, Rachel Bezalel-Buch, Carrie Stith, Alena V Makarova, Sara K Binz, Peter M Burgers

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The Rev1 deoxycytidyl transferase functions as a scaffold protein for DNA polymerase ζ (Pol ζ)-mediated translesion synthesis (TLS). Biochemical studies with yeast enzymes indicate that Rev1 plays a dual regulatory role in TLS, stimulating Pol ζ activity at sites of damage but inhibiting its activity on undamaged DNA. An evolutionary conserved N-terminal alpha-helical motif (M1), located 10-20 amino acids upstream of Rev1's single BRCT domain, is required for the inhibitory activity of Rev1 on undamaged DNA. Mutations in the M1 motif result in a stimulation of Pol ζ replication activity on both undamaged and damaged DNA. Yeast cells carrying a …

Open Versus Locked Unit To Safely Foster Dementia Wandering, Marie Cummings Rn

Nurse Residency

How would the inclusion of a locked medical-surgical unit for patients with dementia who exhibit wandering behavior prevent elopement, reduce involuntary holds and restraint use, and high rates behavioral codes that are experienced on open units such as Mid Coast Hospital’s medical-surgical unit?