Digital Commons Network^™

Curatorial Statement For Oral Histories Collection, Chandler D. Smith

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Oral Histories

This curatorial statement includes details about the conception and execution of the LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive Oral Histories collection project by library faculty and staff. Updated version posted on April 29, 2026.

Dental Microwear And Diets Of Late Miocene Primates From Rudabánya, Hungary, Peter S. Ungar, Anna K. Wilcox, David R. Begun

School of Dentistry Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study focuses on a dental microwear texture analysis of European pliopithecids and dryopithecins from the Miocene primate site of Rudabánya, Hungary. The goal is to determine whether these taxa, found in part together in the same deposits, differed in their food preferences, or at least consumed, on a daily basis, in a manner that might have facilitated sympatry. Materials and Methods: Here we report on a molar surface texture analysis of all available fossil primates from Rudabánya that preserve antemortem microwear. This includes both Anapithecus hernyaki (n = 14) and Rudapithecus hungaricus (n = 5, including one from …

Quality Improvement Project Enhancing Nursing Faculty Competency In Dimensional Analysis: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Kimberly Mcdonald

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Medication dosage calculation errors remain a persistent concern in nursing education and practice, often tied to inconsistent teaching methods that leave students unsure and underprepared. Dimensional analysis (DA) has been shown to improve accuracy and confidence in solving dosage problems, yet many faculty have not received structured training in this method. To address that gap, a quality improvement (QI) project introduced a six-week DA training program for nursing faculty in a pre-licensure program. The initiative was guided by the Roy Adaptation Model and Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory, with change supported through Kotter’s 8-Step Model and the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework. Using a quasi-experimental, …

09.22.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award
• MIG Application Opportunity
• 10th Annual Advancing MS Conference

Retracted: Idea Density And Grammatical Complexity As Neurocognitive Markers, Diego Iacono, Gloria Feltis

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Language, a uniquely human cognitive faculty, is fundamentally characterized by its capacity for complex thoughts and structured expressions. This review examines two critical measures of linguistic performance: idea density (ID) and grammatical complexity (GC). ID quantifies the richness of information conveyed per unit of language, reflecting semantic efficiency and conceptual processing. GC, conversely, measures the structural sophistication of syntax, indicative of hierarchical organization and rule-based operations. We explore the neurobiological underpinnings of these measures, identifying key brain regions and white matter pathways involved in their generation and comprehension. This includes linking ID to a distributed network of semantic hubs, like …

Enhancing Students’ Self-Confidence From Disharmonious Families Through Group Guidance With Sociodrama Technique, Drajat Edy Kurniawan, Almadia Qosita Janah Saputri

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

Adolescence is a developmental phase full of challenges, particularly for students from disharmonious family backgrounds who are vulnerable to low self-confidence. This study aims to enhance students’ self-confidence through group guidance services using the sociodrama technique at a public junior high school in Yogyakarta. The research employed a quantitative approach with a one-group pretest–posttest design. The subjects consisted of six eighth-grade students identified as coming from disharmonious families and having low self-confidence. The instrument used was a self-confidence scale that included indicators of belief in one’s abilities, courage to express opinions, and ability to face challenges. Data were analyzed using …

Total Synthesis Of The Marine Cytotoxic Mansouramycin And Derivatives, Aditya Dantu, Gabriella L. Madrigal, Neel Gondi, David Osazee, Ahmad Amro, Whard Alsabbagh, Shizue Mito

Research Colloquium

Purpose: Isoquinolinequinones are a group of organic compounds which are composed of an isoquinoline fused to a quinone ring. This class of molecules is known to exhibit a wide variety of biological activities, including cytotoxic and antitumor properties. Among the many families of isoquinolinequinones are the Caulibugulones and Mansouramycins, which exhibit anticancer properties and are thus desirable subjects for cancer-related research. They are obtained by isolation from marine bryozoan Caulibugula intermis and marine Streptomyces sp respectively, however these compounds are difficult to extract. Thus, organic synthesis is being explored as a method of obtaining them; this project focuses on the …

Simulation Strategies For Safer Student Medication Administration: A Quality Improvement Project, Rochelle D. Beaver

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Medication administration is an essential skill for nurses, but there are few opportunities for students to practice this skill to prepare for clinical practice. Literature shows that best practice to bridge the gap is simulation. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to implement an evidence-based simulation activity for students. The problem is that not all faculty are trained to teach via simulation. The aim of the project is to increase the nursing faculty’s competence in facilitating a medication administration simulation activity focusing on pre-briefing and debriefing utilizing evidence-based standards from International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning. …

The Association Between Pre-Existing Medical Conditions And Trigger Finger Release In A Medically Underserved Region, Blake C. Martin, Manoj Peiris, Michael D. Sander

Research Colloquium

Background: Trigger finger is a relatively common condition that may affect daily activities. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a health professional shortage area with a unique patient population. Our primary objective in this study was to analyze patients with various pre-existing medical conditions and determine if there was an association with the risk of trigger finger release surgery.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review using the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) UTHealth electronic database utilizing medical charts from January 1, 2018, to January 1, 2025. We collected and analyzed medical charts of patients who were diagnosed …

Chronic Conditions And Osteoporosis Risk: Insights From Penalized Logistic Modeling, Blake C. Martin, Juan Lopez Alvarenga

Research Colloquium

Background: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a rural area with underserved, unique communities that may influence the health of the population. The primary objective of this study was to analyze factors associated with osteoporosis in individuals in the RGV to determine if the number of pre-existing medical conditions had an association with the frequency of osteoporosis. We hypothesized that individuals with more pre-existing medical conditions would be associated with an increased frequency of osteoporosis.

Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review from January 1, 2018, to January 1, 2025, using the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) …

A Case Study Of Long-Term Disease Burden In A Rural Community Near An Open Burn Facility, Arundhati Bakshi, Liana Baconguis, Md Abdullah Al-Mamun, Qingzhao Yu, Jennifer Richmond-Bryant, Stephania A. Cormier

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Open burning and open detonation (OB/OD) of explosive and hazardous wastes creates various toxic waste products, including particulate matter, that is released into the atmosphere and capable of generating significant health impacts upon exposure. The last commercially run OB/OD thermal treatment facility in operation in the United States is located near the rural community of Colfax in central Louisiana. To evaluate the community’s concerns about the potential health impacts from air pollution due to the facility’s regular open burning of explosive and hazardous wastes, we examined the disease burden in Colfax compared to the surrounding parish and state. In a …

Allosteric Control Overcomes Steric Limitations For Neutralizing Antibodies Targeting Conserved Binding Epitopes Of The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Protein: Exploring The Intersection Of Binding, Allostery, And Immune Escape With A Multimodal Computational Approach, Mohammed Alshahrani, Vedant Parikh, Brandon Foley, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Understanding the atomistic basis of multi-layer mechanisms employed by broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein without directly blocking receptor engagement remains an important challenge in coronavirus immunology. Class 4 antibodies represent an intriguing case: they target a deeply conserved, cryptic epitope on the receptor-binding domain yet exhibit variable neutralization potency across subgroups F1 (CR3022, EY6A, COVA1-16), F2 (DH1047), and F3 (S2X259). The molecular basis for this variability is not fully understood. Here, we employed a multi-modal computational approach integrating atomistic and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, binding free energy calculations, mutational scanning, and dynamic network analysis to elucidate …

Effect Of Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy And Lactation On The Development Of Infants Born To Tanzanian Women Living With Hiv: A Secondary Analysis Of A Randomised Controlled Trial, Temiwunmi Shobanke, Alfa Muhihi, Nandita Perumal Phd, Nzovu Ulenga, Fadhlun M. Alwy Al-Beity, Christopher P. Duggan, Wafaie W. Fawzi, Karim P. Manji, Christopher R. Sudfeld

Faculty Publications

Background Infants born to pregnant women living with HIV (WLHIV) are at greater risk for morbidity and mortality and may also have poorer developmental outcomes as compared with infants who are not exposed to HIV. Nutrition interventions in pregnancy may affect developmental outcomes.

Objectives This study evaluated the effect of maternal vitamin D supplementation on infant development outcomes.

Design We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of maternal vitamin D supplementation from June 2015 to October 2019.

Setting Antenatal care clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Participants Pregnant WLHIV and their offspring.

Interventions Daily 3000 IU …

Artificial Intelligence In Head And Neck Cancer: Towards Precision Medicine., Jacob Hagen, Logan Hornung, William Barham, Supratik Mukhopadhyay, Ada Bess, Kevin Contrera, Kevin Contrera, Devraj Basu, Vlad Sandulache, Guillaume Spielmann, Sagar Kansara

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Simple Summary: This review was conducted to highlight current and potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the care of patients with head and neck cancer, the barriers to its clinical implementation, and the relative scarcity of research in this field. While AI has demonstrated success in other areas of oncology, its role in head and neck cancer remains limited, with progress slowed by technical, ethical, and logistical challenges. Nevertheless, integrating AI with multiomics approaches presents a promising opportunity to advance precision medicine in this patient population. The findings presented in this manuscript may encourage further multi-institutional studies aimed at …

Artificial Intelligence In Head And Neck Cancer: Towards Precision Medicine, Jacob Hagen, Logan Hornung, William Barham, Supratik Mukhopadhyay, Adam Bess, Kevin Contrera, Devraj Basu, Vlad Sandulache, Guillaume Spielmann, Sagar Kansara

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Over the past 20 years, the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) have gained significant interest. While AI has been implemented to various degrees in several disciplines, its unique applications in head and neck cancer (HNC) remain underdeveloped. This narrative review examines the existing body of literature regarding the use of AI in HNC. Studies to date have demonstrated AI’s utility across multiple phases of the HNC treatment continuum. Despite its promise, integrating AI into clinical practice faces several challenges, including concerns about system integrity, generalizability, privacy, and bias. In this review, we address these challenges and offer insights into future …

Digitized Endocasts And Brains: A Perspective On Measurements And Historical Analyses Of The Evolution Of 172 Fossil And Extant Amniote Specimens, Harry J Jerison, Catherine M Early, Andrew A Farke, Ashley C Morhardt

2020-Current year OA Pubs

This perspective paper is intended to stimulate future research and discussion of brain evolution in amniotes by sharing 172 digitized endocasts of extinct and extant species spanning 60 million years. Using 3D digital surface scans of physical (

Artificial Intelligence In Head And Neck Cancer: Towards Precision Medicine, Jacob Hagen, Logan Hornung, William Barham, Supratik Mukhopadhyay, Adam Bess, Kevin Contrera, Devraj Basu, Vlad Sandulache, Guillaume Spielmann, Sagar Kansara

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Over the past 20 years, the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) have gained significant interest. While AI has been implemented to various degrees in several disciplines, its unique applications in head and neck cancer (HNC) remain underdeveloped. This narrative review examines the existing body of literature regarding the use of AI in HNC. Studies to date have demonstrated AI’s utility across multiple phases of the HNC treatment continuum. Despite its promise, integrating AI into clinical practice faces several challenges, including concerns about system integrity, generalizability, privacy, and bias. In this review, we address these challenges and offer insights into future …

09.15.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• NIH Common Forms
• ORED Field Fest

Aphasia In South Asian Languages (Asal) Project: A Protocol Of Connected Speech Tasks For Investigating Cross-Linguistic Grammatical Profiles In Aphasia For South Asian Languages, Arpita Bose, Sakshi Bhatia, Lakshmi Venkatesh, Sayantani Banerjee, Gurujegan Murugesan, Sunila John, Sakshi Upadhyay, Manaswita Dutta, Mythili Menon, Danielle Fahey, Multiple Additional Authors

Speech and Hearing Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background

Languages vary in their syntactic (e.g. word order in sentences), lexical (e.g. presence of specific word classes), and morphological (e.g. inflectional or derivational forms of words) properties. This cross-linguistic variation in language typology influences the manifestation of agrammatic symptoms. However, most theoretical models of agrammatism are based on English and a few European languages, limiting their generalizability. This narrow focus neglects the rich syntactic, lexical and morphological variations available in languages globally. Clinically, the lack of language-specific characteristics of agrammatic impairments limits translational potential for precise and improved diagnosis. The Aphasia in South Asian Languages (ASAL) project addresses this …

Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery: The Noninvasive Presurgical Evaluation, Deepankar Mohanty, Michael Quach

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Drug-resistant epilepsy is a debilitating condition that afflicts individuals across all demographics, including children. The only recourse for many of these individuals is neurosurgery to reduce seizure burden, by either resecting or ablating the cerebral source or modulating it with a stimulator device. In either case, a thorough presurgical evaluation is required to identify brain regions of interest and construct an appropriate surgical plan. The scope of this evaluation has grown rapidly over the years as new and refined techniques have emerged. The aim of this article was to condense the most salient points regarding investigational tools used commonly …

Resolution Of Physics And Deep Learning-Based Protein Engineering Filters: A Case Study With A Lipase For Industrial Substrate Hydrolysis, Spencer Gardiner, Peter Dollinger, Filip Kovacic, Jörge Pietruszka, Daniel Ess, Karl-Erich Jaeger, Gunnar F. Schröder, Dennis Della Corte

Faculty Publications

Computational enzyme design remains a powerful yet imperfect tool for optimizing biocatalysts, especially when targeting non-natural substrates. Using design tools we investigated Pseudomonas aeruginosa LipA, a lipase with a flexible lid domain crucial for substrate binding and turnover, aiming to enhance its hydrolysis of the industrially relevant substrate Roche ester. We generated an initial set of single-point mutations based on structural proximity to the active site and evaluated their effects using a computational pipeline integrating molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and ensemble-based energy scoring. While we identified several active variants, attempts to rank them by activity …

Goal-Oriented Aesthetic Treatment (Goat): A Systematic Framework For Three-Dimensional Facial Aesthetic Assessment — Part 1: Vertical Dimension, Heng-Ming Chang, Yao Chen, Kwok-Hing Ho, Kai-Long Wang, Chih-Wei Wang

Taiwanese Journal of Orthodontics

Facial aesthetics is a multidimensional concept that requires an integrative assessment of the sagittal, vertical, and transverse planes to achieve balance and harmony. Among these, the vertical dimension plays a crucial role in determining facial proportions, occlusal function, and overall aesthetic perception. This review introduces the Goal-Oriented Aesthetic Treatment (GOAT) framework as a systematic approach to evaluating the vertical aspects of facial aesthetics, providing a structured methodology for clinical assessment and treatment planning. A comprehensive evaluation of the vertical dimension encompasses several key parameters, including facial pattern classification, vertical proportions, lip competency, and overbite analysis. Traditional cephalometric indices, such as …

Modeling Musculoskeletal Combat Casualty Care: Nato Trauma System Performance In Large Scale Combat Operations, Mark P. Cote, Kaitlyn E. Holly, Roman J. Schoenfeld, Matthew R. Bryan, Malina O. Hatton, Mitchel B. Harris, Tracey P. Koehlmoos, Andrew J. Schoenfeld

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the current North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) trauma system will be effective in the setting of Large-Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). We sought to model the efficacy of the NATO trauma system in the setting of LSCO. We also intended to model novel scenarios that could better adapt the current system to LSCO.

METHODS: We developed a discrete-event simulation model for patients with combat musculoskeletal injuries treated within the standard NATO system. The primary outcome of the model was survival. The model's health states were characterized as stable, hypovolemia, sepsis, shock, or death. The model simulated …

Biomechanicalperformanceofimplant-Tooth-Supportedprostheses:Anumerical3dfiniteelementanalysis, Basma Refaat Fayad, Islam Heiba Dr, Al Hassan Diab

Dentistry

Objective:Toassessthebiomechanicalbehaviourofimplant-tooth-supported(hybrid)pros-theses,comparedwithanimplant-implant-supportedprosthesis,utilisingtwodifferentprostheticmaterials,employingfiniteelementanalysis(FEA).Method:Threedigitalmodels,derivedfromaCBCT-scannededentulousmandible,weredesigned:twohybridconfigurations(M1:distalimplant-firstpremolar;M2:mesialimplant-firstmolar)andanimplant-implant-supportedprosthesis(M3).Abiomechanicalmodellingworkflowwascarriedout(Mimicsforsegmentation,3-Maticforbone/mucosallayerrefinement,ExocadDentalCADandSolidWorksforimplants,abutmentandprosthe-sisintegration,andANSYSformeshingandFEA).Assumingisotropic/elasticmaterialproperties,zirconiaandpolyetherketoneketone(PEKK)wereselectedasprostheticmateri-als.Modelsweresubjectedtoastaticverticalload(100N).vonMisesstressandtotaldefor-mationwereanalysedtoevaluatestructuralresponses.Results:M3demonstratedthemostfavourablebiomechanicalprofile,exhibitingthelowestvonMisesstressmagnitudesalongsidethehighestoveralldeformation.Inhybridmodels(M1,M2),stressmaximawerelocalisedatthepontic−toothconnectorregionsand,inM1-PEKK,reached261MPainthescrew.Corticalboneandpreparedteethexhibitedhigherstressindis-tallyanchoredhybridsystems(M1)comparedtomesiallysupporteddesigns(M2),regardlessoftheprostheticmaterial.Comparativeanalysisrevealedthatzirconia-basedprosthesesgen-eratedhigherstressconcentrationsinbone(≤35MPa)comparedtoPEKK,whereasthePEKKprosthesisitselfexhibitedgreaterstructuraldeformation(70mminM1-PEKK).Conclusion:Hybridimplant-tooth-supportedprosthesescanactasareliablealternativetoimplant-implantonesandeliminatecantileverextensions;however,theiruseshouldbereservedforcarefullyselectedcasestoavoidbiomechanicalincompatibilities.

A Comparison Of Shear Bond Strength Of Denture Teeth To Denture Base Using Different Means Of Retention: An In Vitro Pilot Study, Dima Taha El Baba, Paul Boulos

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: The objective of this work is to evaluate the shear bond strength between denture base resin and three different acrylic artificial denture teeth. The latter was subjected to three different surface modifications on the ridge lap area and compared to unmodified acrylic artificial denture teeth.

Methods: In this experimental in vitro study, twenty-four maxillary central incisor acrylic teeth were used from each of three manufacturers; namely Major®, Ivoclar® and Myerson®. The teeth were additionally divided into four test groups with six specimens in each: a control group, a chemical retention group, a mechanical retention group, and a …

Geographic Disparities In Birth Outcomes: County-Level Investigation On Pm2.5 And Low Birth Weight In The United States, Eunice Y. Park, Ranju Mainali

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

Exposure to air pollution adversely affects health and is highly associated with birth outcomes. This study analyzes the relationship between air pollution and low birth weight (LBW; less than 2,500 g at birth) at the county level in the United States. Using the latest publicly available data from the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps across 3,027 counties and equivalents, simple and quantile regression analyses were conducted to test the association between the average daily density of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and LBW. The LBW data were from 2016 to 2022 from the National Center for Health Statistics and PM2.5 data …

Intelligence Architectures And Machine Learning Applications In Contemporary Spine Care, Rahul Kumar, Conor Dougherty, Kyle Sporn, Akshay Khanna, Puja Ravi, Pranay Prabhakar, Nasif Zaman

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies has initiated a paradigm shift in contemporary spine care. This narrative review synthesizes advances across imaging-based diagnostics, surgical planning, genomic risk stratification, and post-operative outcome prediction. We critically assess high-performing AI tools, such as convolutional neural networks for vertebral fracture detection, robotic guidance platforms like Mazor X and ExcelsiusGPS, and deep learning-based morphometric analysis systems. In parallel, we examine the emergence of ambient clinical intelligence and precision pharmacogenomics as enablers of personalized spine care. Notably, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and polygenic risk scores are enabling a shift from …

Awareness And Perception Of Artificial Intelligence In Counselling Practice Among Counsellors-In-Training, Margaret Kehinde Soetan, Ayorinde Emola Akinnusi

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

This study investigated awareness and perception of artificial intelligence in counselling practice among counsellors-in-training. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. The population consisted of all counsellors-in-training (CITs) in Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo. Two hundred (200) counsellors-in-training were randomly selected from Degree three (3) and four (4) as sample for the study. Structured questionnaire was used as instrument to collect data for the study. It was validated by experts in Test and Measurement. Reliability of the instrument was ascertained by using Cronbach’s Alpha statistics mean which yielded a coefficient of 0.83. Data collected was analysed by …

The Impact Of Public Relations Strategies On The Effectiveness Of Epidemic Management In Jordan: A Case Study Of Covid-19, Hazem Jamil Al-Rahahleh

Middle East Journal of Communication Studies

This study aimed to explore the impact of public relations strategies on the effectiveness of epidemic management in Jordan, using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study. The study employed the descriptive-analytical method, which is based on the systematic description and interpretation of social and media phenomena. The findings revealed that public relations play a pivotal strategic role in managing health crises by building public trust, preparing communication plans, and formulating awareness messages in coordination with relevant authorities. The study recommended the need to enhance the training of public relations personnel in managing communication during health crises, to continue diversifying …

High Energy Consumption Characterizes Abnormal Brain State Transitions In Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Sam S. Javidi, Qirui Zhang, Ankeeta Ankeeta, Michael R. Sperling, Joseph I. Tracy

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients experience shifts between non-seizing and seizing brain states, but the structural networks underlying these transitions remain undefined and poorly characterized. We detected dynamic brain states in resting-state fMRI and constructed linked structural networks utilizing multi-shell diffusion-weighted MR data. Leveraging network control theory, we interrogated the structural data for all possible brain state transitions, identifying those requiring abnormal levels of transition energy (low or high) in TLE compared to matched healthy participants (n's = 25). Results revealed three transitions requiring significantly higher energy in TLE; no abnormally low-energy transitions were observed. In HPs, transitions relied on …