Digital Commons Network^™

News You Need: Annual Session, Board Updates, And Regulatory News, David Foe

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This comprehensive news section provides essential updates for Michigan dentists, including details on the 2026 Annual Session highlights and the launch of the "HERM-E" AI member assistant. It features critical regulatory reminders concerning mandated reporting for child abuse and neglect. The document also covers oral cancer prevention, dental therapy scholarship updates, and the appointment of new members to the Michigan Board of Dentistry. Additionally, it lists upcoming House of Delegates meetings and resources for donated treatment, ensuring members are informed on professional responsibilities.

Rural Health In Pike County: A Richard & Magnolia Community Health Needs Assessment, Victoria Bracey

Honors Theses

Rural communities across the United States suffer from poor health outcomes due to lack of resources and other compounding factors that make access to quality healthcare difficult. Mississippi is a predominantly rural state, and in the southwestern region of Mississippi lies the community of Magnolia and the community of Richard within Pike County. To better understand the health needs of Pike County, a community health needs assessment was conducted. This study aimed to assess the needs of Pike County in southwest Mississippi through the use of a community health needs assessment using focus groups. Two focus groups, with a total …

Human Osteosarcoma Cell Line That Overexpresses Cd4/Ccr5 Or Cd4/Cxcr4 To Study Hiv-Host Interactions, Harry Baffour Awuah

Biotechnology Theses

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) entry into host cells occurs through interactions between the viral surface envelope glycoprotein (Env) and the host receptor CD4, and co-receptors CCR5 or CXCR4. However, understanding these interactions in membrane contexts remains limited due to low receptor and coreceptor densities in commonly used cell models. To address this, we developed cellular systems with elevated CD4 expression and either CCR5 or CXCR4. Human osteosarcoma cells (HOS), which lack endogenous surface expression of HIV receptor (CD4) and co-receptors (CCR5 or CXCR4), were engineered via lentiviral transduction to overexpress CD4 and either CCR5 or CXCR4. Cells were …

Impact Of Gender Trends On Plastic Surgery Fellowship Match: Implications For Surgical Education, Irene Helenowski, Emily Miller, Bridget Foley, Victoria Hodkiewicz, Christopher Kujalowicz, Parinaz Jila Siemers, Bianca Di Chiaro, Eleanor Bucholz

Biostatistics Collaborative Core: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Background:

No prior study has evaluated gender trends within the plastic surgery subspecialty fellowship match. The purpose of this study is to examine gender trends across fellowship trainee demographics to assess and characterize existing disparities between male and female plastic surgeon counterparts.

Methods:

A review of the new board diplomates listed in the annual newsletter to diplomates of the American Board of Plastic Surgery from 2015 to 2019 was used to identify physicians who pursued various plastic surgery subspecialties. Fellowship match data, including sex, practice type, and prior residency training, were obtained from publicly accessible institutional and private practice websites, …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Supporting Caregivers Of Children And Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes, Ania G. Millan

Student Capstone Papers

Caregivers of children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) often experience increased stress, occupational imbalance, and challenges related to maintaining their own health and wellness while managing their child’s complex daily care needs. Despite the significant impact caregiving responsibilities may have on daily routines, self-care, and overall quality of life, occupational therapy’s (OT) role in supporting caregivers within endocrinology settings remains underrecognized. The purpose of this capstone project was to explore caregivers’ perceptions of their health and wellness and examine the differences and similarities between caregivers’ and occupational therapy practitioners’ (OTPs) perspectives regarding OT’s role in supporting caregivers of …

Differential Effects Of Veratridine And 5-Fluorouracil On Ubxn2a-Targeted Mortalin And Rictor Proteins In Patient-Derived Colorectal Cancer Cells, Kate S. Schraufnagel

Honors Thesis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, particularly in patients with metastatic CRC and/or those who have developed resistance to conventional chemotherapy. There has been a significant rise in early-onset CRC (EOCRC) incidences in patients under age 50. Due to lack of screening, these patients are commonly diagnosed in the later stages where there is a lack of effective therapies. This highlights the need for targeted therapies that address the molecular drivers of tumor progression and treatment resistance. UBXN2A is a tumor suppressor protein that regulates key oncogenic pathways in CRC, including Mortalin-2 (mot-2)-mediated p53 suppression and …

The Effects Of Body Mass Index On Fertility And In Vitro Fertilization, Morgan R. Kidd

Honors College Theses

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most widely used type of assisted reproductive technology for treating infertility arising from a number of conditions. As obesity rates continue to climb in the United States, infertility has been discovered to have a direct correlation. Individuals that fall below or above the healthy body mass index range are found to have disrupted regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, resulting in diminished reproductive health. Those that are diagnosed as infertile due to conditions caused by the effects of low body mass index or high body mass index may seek assisted reproductive technologies to intervene in achieving …

Increased Backbone Rigidity Of Artificial Transcription Factors, Jasmine Glover, Emma Otey, Joanna K. Kwao, Nicholas Truex

Senior Theses

Programming DNA-binding proteins is an effective strategy for developing therapeutics that regulate gene expression. These proteins can directly bind to DNA to activate or repress transcription of specific genes. Zinc finger proteins are a class of DNA-binding proteins commonly found in eukaryotic organisms. Their DNA-binding function is derived from unique amino acid sequences within each domain that recognizes specific nucleotides, allowing each finger to selectively recognize three DNA base pairs. Adjoining of multiple domains in tandem allows recognition of a specific DNA sequence. Artificial transcription factors can be made of multiple zinc finger domains arranged in tandem and engineered to …

Understanding The Experiences Of Black Women Becoming Single Mothers By Choice Using Assisted Reproductive Technology, Jessica Chantal Prepetit

Theses & Dissertations

The term Single Mothers by Choice (SMBC) refers to women who choose to have a child without a partner. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), ovarian reserve decreases with a woman’s age. Women are born with approximately 1 million eggs; this number decreases over time. When a woman reaches 35 years of age, which is considered advanced maternal age, their egg count and quality decline. These factors of low ovarian reserve can place a woman in a category of infertility. Also, a woman may unknowingly suffer from uterine abnormalities that may hinder a successful pregnancy. As women …

Patient Views On Blood-Based Biomarker Tests For Alzheimer's Disease In Primary Care, Andrea Russell, Abigail Vogeley, Rebecca Lovett, Rachel O’Conor, Stephanie Batio, Jeimmy Hurtado, Morgan Bonham, Julia Benavente, Adam Brickman, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

INTRODUCTION Blood-based biomarkers could offer accessible, cost-effective detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in primary care. This study examined patient attitudes toward AD biomarker testing.

METHODS Crosssectional surveys were conducted with 572 adults from Chicago-area clinics. Participants received brief education on biomarker tests before completing the survey.

RESULTS Most participants (83.8%) were unfamiliar with biomarker tests; 1.8% previously completed testing. After brief education, most (94.5%) supported offering tests to patients with memory complaints, and 85% were willing to complete testing if recommended by their clinician. Facilitators included tests informing clinical care, coverage by insurance, and education in advance. Barriers included cost …

Ready, Set, Play! Empowering Caregivers Through Adaptive Playground Resources, Makenna Thigpen, Angela Blackwell, Brianne Harryman

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This doctoral capstone project addressed the need for accessible, caregiver-friendly education to support inclusive play opportunities for children of diverse abilities. Guided by occupational therapy frameworks emphasizing participation, environmental supports, and family-centered care, this project involved collaboration with the local Parks and Recreation Department to better understand community needs and existing inclusive playground resources. Through this partnership, the project supported efforts to promote awareness and accessibility of inclusive play spaces within the community.

As part of the project, educational video resources were developed to increase caregiver knowledge of inclusive playground equipment, play strategies, and environmental modifications. Content focused on promoting …

Setting Research Priorities For The Use Of Digital Technology In The Self-Management Of Heart Health: The Results Of The James Lind Priority Setting Partnership, Lis Neubeck, Simon Nichols, Nicola Straiton, Louise J. Dunford, Amitava Banerjee, Susan Dawkes, Donna Fitzsimons, Maria Hayes, Alistair Lawson, Abigail A. Lyons, Mary Mcauley, Jill Mclaggan, Richard Mindham, Nicholas L. Mills, Rakesh Modi, Alice Pearsons, Amanda Pitkethly, Fiona E. Strachan, Coral L. Hanson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: There are wide inequalities in access to cardiovascular care, and risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity are often not well managed. We aim to identify the most important questions about how digital technologies can help people and their carers prevent cardiovascular disease and improve access to care. Methods and results: A priority setting partnership that aimed to generate a top 10 list of research priorities for the use of digital technology in the prevention and management of heart disease and heart conditions in the UK and Ireland, with equal input by people with lived …

A Critical Narrative Review Appraisal Of The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines: Scientific Strengths, Conceptual Gaps, And Overlooked Dimensions Of Sustainability And Health Equity, Dimitrios Papandreou, Azza Alsuwaidi, Zainab Taha, Constantinos Giaginis, Georgios K. Vasios, Eleni P. Andreou

All Works

The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines introduce an important shift in public health nutrition, emphasizing minimally processed foods, higher protein intake, greater inclusion of full-fat dairy, and a food-based advice centered on “real food” consumption. While several of these recommendations align with accumulating evidence, particularly the discouragement of ultra-processed foods and added sugars, substantial concerns remain regarding their internal coherence, population-level applicability, risk of misinterpretation, as well as environmental footprint. This critical narrative review evaluates whether the scope, emphasis, and framing of the new guideline components are proportionate to the strength, consistency, and context of the underlying evidence. Using a novel framework …

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

Comparative Literature M.A. Essays

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

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

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways

No abstract provided.

Patenting The Unexpected, Sean B. Seymore

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

Unexpected discoveries have transformed human existence. They’ve revolutionized science and spawned entire new fields of research. While unexpected discoveries seem inventive and worthy of patent protection, they don’t formally align with traditional patent theory. The bedrock principle that an invention begins with the conception of an idea in the inventor’s mind and ends with implementation doesn’t apply to unexpected discoveries. This misalignment is most acute for pharmaceuticals, where the discovery of new uses for old drugs has tremendous social and economic importance. Since a drug can inherently treat multiple conditions in a patient—even those unknown to the patient, doctor, or …

Natural Language Generation In Healthcare: A Review Of Methods And Applications, Mengxian Lyu, Xiaohan Li, Ziyi Chen, Jinqian Pan, Cheng Peng, Sankalp Talankar, Yonghui Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: This study presents a systematic review of natural language generation (NLG) methods and applications in the medical domain, providing quantitative and qualitative analyses to answer four key research questions regarding methods, evaluation, applications, and challenges of NLG in healthcare.

Methods: We searched PubMed, ACM Digital Library, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, Embase, and ACL Anthology for NLG-related studies in healthcare from 2018 to 2024. Out of 3,988 research articles, 113 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed across data modality, model architecture, evaluation metrics, and application domain.

Results and conclusion: NLG in healthcare has grown substantially, with annual …

Predictors Of Total Hip Arthroplasty Among Patients With Chronic Comorbidities: A Multivariate Analysis Of A Medically Underserved Region, Blake C. Martin, Manoj Peiris

School of Medicine Publications

Background

THA is a common orthopedic procedure that is expected to increase in the coming years. Obesity and osteoarthritis are major factors that increase the risk of individuals requiring THA. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a distinctive health professional shortage area with high rates of obesity, arthritis, and diabetes. This study aims to examine the relationship between chronic medical conditions and the need for THA in this at-risk, medically underserved population.

Methods

This investigation employed a retrospective chart review encompassing patient records from January 1, 2018, through January 1, 2025, using the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley electronic …

Length And Framing Of Anti-Junk Food Ads Impact Inclinations To Consume Junk Food Among Normal Weight, Overweight, And Adults With Obesity, Ross C. Hollett, Brennen Mills, Stephanie L. Godrich, Julia Butt, Gina S.A. Trapp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Unrestricted junk food advertising increases the risk of short-term junk food consumption among viewers. We aimed to estimate the impact of junk food and anti-junk food advertisements differing in length and framing on junk food consumption inclinations. Methods: Adult participants (N = 505) were exposed to a randomly selected junk food advertisement or anti-junk food advertisement and reported their immediate craving and consumption intentions. These responses were separately analysed for two groups based on Body Mass Index (BMI): participants classified as within the normal range (18.5–25), and a combined group with BMI values indicating either overweight (25+) or obesity …

Umbilical Cord Milking Versus Early Cord Clamping In Late Preterm And Term Neonates Who Are Non-Vigorous At Birth: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial (Cordmilk Trial), Zubair H. Aghai, Sangappa M. Dhaded, S Yogeshkumar, Sunil S. Virnekar, Benjamin L. Leiby, Vinita Jain, Yvonne E. Vaucher, Nitin Chouthai, Meenakshi Girish, Seema Parvekar

Conference Presentation Abstracts

No abstract provided.

The Bronco Well: An Educational Podcast For Pediatric Caregivers’ Wellbeing & Quality Of Life, Molly Veldheer

Capstone Projects

Pediatric caregivers of children with increased and complex physical, cognitive, and emotional needs are an often-overlooked population. Though their children may be involved in many essential services including occupational therapy, the needs of these caregivers largely go unmet. Occupational therapists are equipped to provide valuable care and education to the entire family and not just their pediatric clients. In efforts to fill the unmet needs, this occupational therapy-based podcast was created as resource for pediatric caregivers about pediatric caregivers. The development of this capstone considered the time, energy, and financial strains that are often placed on pediatric caregivers and determined …

Occupational Therapy & Zoo Exhibit Design: Embedding Accessibility Within, Jacqui Randall

Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed at the Indianapolis Zoo. Zoos and museums infrequently contract, but very few employ an occupational therapist to assist with exhibit design development. An occupational therapy consultant could assess exhibit accessibility and provide potential solutions to make them more accessible and inclusive for individuals with disabilities. The goal of the project was to create a list of refined recommendations to make the oceans building more accessible and incorporate more multisensory experiences when it is renovated in the spring of 2027. Also, the Accessibility and Sensation Among Zoo Exhibits and Interactives: Checklist and Application Guide was …

Developing And Implementing Pediatric Pelvic Health Education Groups For Autistic Youth Focused On Toilet Training, Sasha Poland

Capstone Projects

Occupational therapists (OTPs) have a crucial role in treating pelvic health conditions as toileting is an activity of daily living. However, pelvic health research is primarily focused through a physical therapy lens and doesn’t always address challenges pertaining to children, and even more so neurodivergent youth. Furthermore, there is a gap in the literature in how specifically OTPs can assist in providing pelvic health care to all individuals including neurodivergent youth. The goal of this doctoral capstone was to create and provide educational sessions to educate parents, educators, and BCBAs on the role of pelvic health OT in solving their …

Sensory Processing At A Children’S Advocacy Center: Staff Education And Resource Development To Support Trauma-Informed Care, Hayley Jackson

Capstone Projects

This capstone addresses a critical gap in understanding sensory processing within trauma-informed care for children who have experienced sexual abuse. Occupational therapy (OT) offers a unique perspective for supporting children’s sensory processing and regulation needs; however, OT is not utilized in Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) settings. This project aimed to enhance understanding of OT's scope within trauma-informed care, provide education on sensory-based strategies, and develop resources to support regulation in clinical, home, and school settings. Project objectives were achieved through the development of caregiver and educator handouts, a SMART room sensory binder, a visual schedule binder, SMART movement cards, and …

Beyond Baby: How Occupational Therapy Supports Families In The Prenatal And Postpartum Period, Taylor Maysonet

Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project focuses on the role of occupational therapy in maternal and infant health, supporting families during the prenatal and postnatal period. While occupational therapy has a strong foundation in promoting health, independence, participation and roles and routines, there remains a gap in community awareness of available support for families during this life transition. Many caregivers report feeling underprepared, overwhelmed, and disconnected from resources that could support their physical, emotional, and occupational wellbeing.

The objective of this project was to identify gaps within the interdisciplinary team during the prenatal and postpartum period. From there, I was able to …

A Topic Modeling Analysis Of Stigma Dimensions, Social, And Related Behavioral Circumstances In Clinical Notes Among Patients With Hiv, Ziyi Chen, Yiyang Liu, Mattia Prosperi, Krishna Vaddiparti, Robert L Cook, Jiang Bian, Yi Guo, Yonghui Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To characterize stigma dimensions, social, and related behavioral circumstances in people living with HIV (PLWHs) seeking care, using natural language processing methods applied to a large collection of electronic health record (EHR) clinical notes from a large integrated health system in the southeast United States.

Methods: We identified a cohort of PLWHs from the University of Florida (UF) Health Integrated Data Repository and performed topic modeling analysis using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to uncover stigma-related dimensions and related social and behavioral contexts. Domain experts created a seed list of HIV-related stigma keywords, then applied a snowball strategy to iteratively …

Advancing The Understanding Of Palliative Care In Singapore: Knowledge, Attitudes, Receptiveness, And The Moderating Role Of Media Information-Seeking Preferences, Su Lin Yeo, Angel Lee, Raymond Han Lip Ng, May O. Lwin, Yumin Lin

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Introduction: Despite the growing demand for palliative care, this specialized medical care remains severely underutilized, with almost 50% of countries worldwide lacking access. Given that misperceptions and stigma continue to hinder progress in healthcare policy, this study aims to examine the relationships between palliative care knowledge, attitudes, and receptiveness to better understand how public health communication can enhance awareness and understanding of the topic in Singapore. Applying the adapted knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) model, it further extends theory by examining the moderating role of media information-seeking between knowledge and receptiveness.Methods: Mixed-mode surveys involving 1,226 participants (926 online and 300 in-person respondents), representing …

Bridging Gaps: Enhancing Sleep And Health Disparities In Latino Families With Young Adults With Autism Using A Culturally Adapted Intervention, Antonio F Pagán, Alejandro L Pagán, Linda Hernandez, Matthew R Cribbet, Katherine A Loveland, Ron Acierno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The present study examined the effects of a culturally adapted intervention, ¡Iniciando! la Adultez, on sleep and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Latino young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their Spanish-speaking parents. The intervention targeted the transition to adulthood, a period associated with increased challenges in sleep and HRQoL, particularly for underserved Latino populations. Participants included 26 young adults and 38 parents who completed assessments at baseline and post-treatment. The results indicated significant improvements in several HRQoL domains for both groups, with young adults reporting enhanced emotional well-being, social functioning, and general health. Parents experienced notable improvements …

Exploring The Relationship Between Workplace Social Capital, Organizational Commitment, And Intent To Stay Among Clinical Nurses In The Acute Care Setting, Leigh Erin Griffis-Cogan

Theses & Dissertations

Background

The persistent nursing shortage, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent “Great Resignation,” continues to challenge healthcare systems nationwide. High turnover rates among acute care nurses negatively affect patient outcomes, organizational stability, and healthcare costs. Prior research highlights the importance of workplace factors, such as social capital and organizational commitment, in shaping nurses’ intentions to stay in their roles. However, limited studies have examined these relationships collectively within the acute care setting.

Purpose

The purpose of the quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine the relationships between workplace social capital, organizational commitment, and intent to stay among clinical nurses …

A Market Of Care Skills: Profiting From Professional Education And Practice, Yasmin Y. Ortiga

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Who profits from the commodification of care and how does such accumulation occur? Focusing on the case of the nursing care market, this paper shows how professional schools and local hospitals within source nations like the Philippines profit from nurses seeking the credentials to qualify for jobs overseas. While existing studies show how nursing skills are exploited and undervalued, this paper argues that it is the process of skilling itself that allows for the accumulation of profit, regardless of whether nurses leave their origin countries to work abroad. This study reveals how global care economies are tightly linked to local …