Digital Commons Network^™

Beyond The Exam Room: Pediatricians Advocating Through State Aap, Heidi Sallee, Kelly Kreisler, Thuylinh Pham

Grand Rounds

1. Evaluate the current political climate and effects on child health at a National and State level.
2. Identify key child health policy issues for the states of Missouri and Kansas.
3. Use different forms of advocacy to share personal expertise.
4. Partner with state AAP Chapters to improve child health outcomes locally.

Developing Pharmacy Education: Review Of Virtual Reality Technology In Improving Clinical Training And Learning Skill Development, Samer Imad Mohammed, Mohammed Khudhair Hasan, Mohammad Yawuz Jamal

BioMed Visions Journal

Incorporating modern technology into education is becoming imperative. Numerous pharmacy institutions are incorporating virtual reality (VR) technology training into their curricula to enhance educational experience. This review examines the current state, historical evolution, and application of VR programs in pharmacy education and training. The review also provides details about the main challenges and limitations associated with the use of this technology. The VR technology, including virtual laboratories and simulations, significantly improves clinical training and educational outcomes. The utilization of VR in clinical teaching encounters numerous barriers, including ethical concerns and technological constraints, as well as other restrictions in its execution …

Postoperative Duodenal Stricture In A Neonate With Duodenal Atresia – Innovative Approach And Lessons Learned, Raniah I. Alnaser, Dr Mussalam L Alobaidy, Dr Fawaz A. Alassaf, Dr Mohammed N. Abed

BioMed Visions Journal

Background and aim: Duodenal atresia (DoA) is a congenital condition that is characterized by complete or incomplete duodenal obstruction. This condition needs urgent surgical intervention that carries risks of postoperative complications especially in low-birth-weight babies and with associated comorbidities. The success rate of the surgical procedure was reported to be higher than 90%. This case study details a neonate’s clinical course reporting the challenge in the management of delayed stricture and malnutrition after the primary surgery.

Case presentation and results: A female neonate was born at 38 weeks of gestation with 2.6 kg weight. During the immediate postnatal period, she …

Anoikis Resistance And Metastasis Of Ovarian Cancer Can Be Overcome By Cdk8/19 Mediator Kinase Inhibition, Mehri Monavarian, Resha Rajkarnikar, Emily Faith Page, Asha Kumari, Liz Quintero Macias, Felipe Massicano, Nam. Y. Lee, Sarthak Sahoo, Nadine Hempel, Mohit Kumar Jolly, Lara Ianov, Elizabeth Worthey, Abhyudai Singh, Igor Roninson Ph.D., Eugenia Broude Ph.D., Mengqian Chen Ph.D., Karthikeyan Mythreye

Faculty Publications

Anoikis resistance, or evasion of cell death triggered by matrix detachment, is a hallmark of cancer cell survival and metastasis. We showed that repeated exposure to suspension stress followed by recovery under attached conditions leads to development of anoikis resistance. The acquisition of anoikis resistance was associated with enhanced invasion, chemoresistance, and immune evasion in vitro and distant metastasis in vivo. This acquired anoikis resistance was not genetic, persisting for a finite duration without detachment stress, but was sensitive to CDK8/19 mediator kinase inhibition that could also reverse anoikis resistance. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that CDK8/19 kinase inhibition induces bidirectional transcriptional …

“It Seems Like A Never-Ending Job”: Voices Of Female Caregivers Of Older Adults In The Rural Communities, Lalani Nasreen, Bhagyashree Katare, Evans Appiah Osei, Siqi Yang, Sampada Wagle, Julian L. Gallegos, Abidemi Mary Ajuwon

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Rural female caregivers of older adults face significant caregiving challenges that puts them at high risk for poor self-care and wellbeing. Limited studies have examined the self-care needs of caregivers from a gender equity and social perspective.

Objective: Our study aims to explore the self-care needs and preferences of rural female caregivers and underlying key processes contributing toward their health and well-being. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used for the study. A purposive sample of (n = 20) rural female caregivers was obtained. In-depth individual interviews were conducted for data collection. Each interview was about 45- 60 min …

Rab5c Increases Endothelial Release Of Vwf By Regulating Vesicle Trafficking, Paula Reventun, Pablo Toledano-Sanz, Maria Delgado-Marin, Maria Viskadourou, D Brian Foster, Paul S De Vries, Maria Sabater-Lleal, Nunzio Alcharani, Claudia Gonzalez-Cucharero, William O Osburn, Alanna C Morrison, Alisa S Wolberg, Nicholas L Smith, Marios Arvanitis, Charles J Lowenstein

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Abnormal levels of VWF (von Willebrand Factor) are a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding. Genome-wide association studies for VWF have identified novel candidate genes that may regulate VWF levels in humans, including RAB5C (RAS-associated protein RAB5C). We hypothesized that RAB5C regulates VWF release from endothelial cells.

Methods: We studied the effect of RAB5C on vesicle trafficking in human endothelial cells. We performed CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) interference targeting 2 genetic variants linked to altered VWF levels and evaluated RAB5C expression by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We silenced RAB5C or overexpressed RAB5C wild-type, …

Measles Outbreak In Anbar Province During 2023-2024. Demographic Distribution And Vaccination Status, Rafi Alani, Mohammed Dawood

Iraqi National Journal of Medicine

Background: This is the first public study covering all cities in Anbar Province regarding the measles outbreaks occurred in 2023 and 2024. Aim: To estimate the demographic distribution of measles among infected children (age, gender, residence) in Anbar Province and to study the effectiveness of the measles vaccine for each patient on infection. Methods: A retrospective analytic cross-sectional study was conducted across all sectors of Anbar Province. The patients included those who were admitted, diagnosed, and treated in various hospitals during the measles outbreak in 2023, and 2024 years. The data was recorded in files of the Anbar Public Health …

Socioecological Stressors During Covid-19 Among Urban Refugee Youth In Kampala, Uganda: A Qualitative Descriptive Analysis, Sikky Shiqi Chen, Carmen H. Logie, Frannie Mackenzie, Moses Okumu, Robert Hakiza, Brenda Katisi, Daniel Kibuuka Musoke, Aidah Nakitende, Isha Berry, Bay Bahri, Peter Kyambadde

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Limited studies have examined pandemic-related stressors among urban refugee youth in low and middle-income humanitarian countries (LMICs), such as Uganda. We explored the lived experience of COVID-19-related stressors among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda. We analyzed qualitative data (text messages, WhatsApp chats, photos) collected in an interactive mobile health intervention with 346 refugee youth aged 16–24 in Kampala. Findings revealed stressors across socioecological levels: individual (e.g., financial-related distress), social (e.g., limited social interactions), community (e.g., food insecurity), and policy (e.g., unprecedented lockdowns). Findings can inform social work organization pandemic preparedness strategies for economic empowerment and social cohesion with youth.

Medulloblastoma Stem Cell Programs: Molecular Roadmaps Of Disease Progression, Jamie Zagozewski, Parthiv Haldipur, Kathleen J Millen, Tamra E Werbowetski-Ogilvie

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Over the last decade, an unprecedented number of sequencing studies have characterized the molecular landscape of pediatric brain cancers, including the highly heterogeneous tumor medulloblastoma (MB). Extensive MB profiling has enabled a much deeper understanding of the primitive neurodevelopmental programs that are hijacked during tumor progression. However, we have yet to successfully target and fully eradicate the putative stem and early progenitor cells that drive MB tumorigenesis. This goal will require better human models that faithfully recapitulate oncogenic events, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms governing cell fate decisions in the primary and metastatic compartments, and comprehensive validation studies of …

A233: Digital Empowerment And Governance Innovation For Smart Sports Community Development In Urban China, Li Liu, Xuekai Qi, Jie Wu, Wei Shen

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Smart sports communities are emerging as a crucial component of China’s National Fitness Strategy, driven by digital empowerment and governance innovation. This study examines the historical evolution of urban community sports and investigates how technological innovations enhance governance, management, service efficiency, and user experience in the development of smart sports communities. Method: This research employs an empirical case study in the Yangtze River Delta region, encompassing 25 grassroots communities across cities such as Nanjing, Jiaxing, Shanghai, Hefei, and Wuhu. A historical analysis of policy documents, academic research, and media reports provides longitudinal insights into the transformation of urban community sports …

A270: Exerciser Adoption Of Personalized Workout Plan In Ai-Powered Fitness Apps: The Technology Affordance Perspective, Yike Jiao, Zhao Du, Ziyan Deng

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

With the proliferation of artificial intelligence in the sports industry, AI-powered fitness apps that offer personalized fitness services are becoming increasingly prevalent. The personalized workout plan, a popular feature of AI-powered fitness apps, is being added to a growing number of fitness apps and embraced by a rapidly expanding user base. Personalized workout plans are tailored to exercisers’ fitness goals, demographics, body features, preferences, and skill levels. Although this feature is expected to enhance exerciser engagement and improve their satisfaction, scholarly works investigating the factors that drive and hinder exercisers from adopting it remain scarce. Based on the technology affordance …

A276: A Grounded Theory Study: Could Outdoor Hiking Foster Meaningfulness In Life For Urban Gen-Z?, Weikang Liao, Li Li

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Urban Generation Z (youth born between 1995 and 2009 in cities) has grown up in highly digitized and urbanized environments, facing contemporary challenges such as social alienation and a lack of meaning in life. While outdoor hiking is recognized as a stress-relief activity, its specific mechanisms for fostering meaning in life among Generation Z remain unclear. Existing studies predominantly focus on the physical and mental health benefits of outdoor activities, neglecting the dynamic construction of meaning in life and particularly overlooking the unique characteristics of this generational cohort. This study aims to uncover the distinct pathways through which urban Generation …

A305: The International Communication Path Of Table Tennis Sports Presentation, Mingchen Xu, Xiyu Zhao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Table tennis carries a unique mission of cross-cultural communication. In 1971, the "Ping-Pong Diplomacy" with the strategic wisdom of "a small ball turning a big ball" set a classic model for sports public diplomacy. As a carrier of national cultural symbols, the international communication of table tennis should rely on major events to tell the table tennis story to achieve presentation and Presentation. As a key for event communication, in table tennis events, is driven by the synergy of three-dimensional elements: "competitive core + technological extension + commercial drive". Specifically, through the organic combination of visual and auditory elements and …

A041: “Sports Yuan”: The Body Expression Of Young Women's Digital Participation In Sports, Zongrui Ye

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

With the rise of social media and the popularity of outdoor sports, more young women are sharing sports-related photos and videos online, giving rise to the “sports goddess” phenomenon. This trend has sparked debate, being seen as a reflection of modern women’s active and healthy lifestyle, yet criticized for excessive image focus, deviating from true sports spirit. This research aims to analyze the bodily expression behind the phenomenon and its impact on sports culture, using self-presentation theory and power-disciplinary theory to explore how social media shapes women’s self-expression. This study uses theoretical analysis based on Erving Goffman’s self-presentation theory and …

A051: Spatial Distribution Pattern And Influencing Factors Of Ice And Snow Tourism Resources In Shandong Province, Yu Zhang, Xinlong Zhao, Yan Wang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

At present, most studies focus on the three provinces in Northeast China, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and Inner Mongolia, where the basic conditions of ice and snow tourism are relatively superior, while the spatial distribution characteristics of ice and snow tourism in Shandong Province are relatively scarce. In view of this, this study adopts ArcGIS spatial analysis technology to deeply explore the spatial distribution characteristics of ice and snow tourism resources in Shandong Province, and comprehensively analyze its influencing factors, aiming to provide theoretical suggestions and evidence-based policy references for optimizing the spatial layout of ice and snow tourism resources in …

A107: Multidimensional Influencing Factors And Psychosocial Mechanisms Of Eating Disorders In Female Athletes, Yajing Zhao, Peizhen Zhang, Lumeng Yang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Eating disorders (ED) are prevalent mental health conditions that significantly threaten the physical and psychological well-being of female athletes. The risk of ED is driven by the interplay of multiple factors, including sport-specific training environments, psychological vulnerabilities, and sociocultural pressures. Although existing research has identified several independent risk factors, a systematic understanding of the sport-related psychosocial mechanisms remains insufficient. This study aims to synthesize empirical evidence from the past five years to elucidate the multidimensional pathways of ED in female athletes, with a particular focus on intervention targets from a sport psychology perspective. A systematic literature review was conducted, retrieving …

A133: Self-Aggrandizing In Badminton Teaching Short Videos Affects Learning Willingness, Mingxiang Yi, Yuanjing Huang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Based on the new era of digital sports development, self-media platforms have become an important carrier of sports teaching communication; however, few studies have investigated the relationship between self-aggrandizing behavior during sports teaching on self-media platforms and platform users' learning intention. In this study, we take Jittery self-media platform as an example to explore the chain path that creators' boasting behavior (H1) positively affects users' learning intention (H2) by enhancing users' trust (H3), and to verify the mediating effect of trust in the relationship between boasting behavior and learning intention, as well as the two-way influence between badminton short video …

A135: 6-Week Intermittent Fasting And Aerobic Exercise: Effects On Body, Cardiovascular, And Sleep In Masked Obese Men, Boran Zhang, Meng Li, Runsheng Nie, Yuting Fu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Masked obesity (MO), defined by normal BMI with elevated body fat percentage, poses elevated health risks. This randomized trial compares combined intermittent fasting (IF) and aerobic exercise (AE) with single-modality interventions in young males, assessing body composition, cardiovascular function, and sleep quality to establish optimal evidence-based interventions. A total of 36 participants were randomized into three groups (n=12 each): (1) intermittent fasting combined with aerobic exercise (IF+AE), (2) IF-only, and (3) AE-only. Baseline assessments included body composition (weight, fat/lean mass, waist-to-hip ratio), cardiovascular markers (carotid intima-media thickness [CIMT], ejection fraction), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The IF+AE group alternated …

A183: Research On The Path Of The Digital Development Of Sports Culture, Hanxiao Wu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

The party's 20th report proposed to build a sports power and promote cultural confidence and self-improvement. Campus sports culture needs to borrow digital technology innovation breakthroughs: through intelligent technology to promote the Chinese sports spirit into virtual events, wisdom teaching scenarios, combined with AI and big data implementation physical training and two-way conduction of core values, build "digital technology can assign movement practice-cultural gene deepening spiritual identity" synergy mechanism, for sports power and cultural confidence provide operational innovation path. To study the path of digital development of sports culture on the comprehensive development of teenagers by means of literature, expert …

A211: Ai-Driven Strategic Frameworks For Sport Event Propagation Under Media Affordance Theory, Wenqian Yao, Jingwang Zhang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

The advancement of intelligent technology has transformed interaction models across communication ecosystems, encompassing production, dissemination, and consumption. Exemplified by the Paris Olympics’ 180+ intelligent communication domains, “AI + Sports” has emerged as an industry paradigm. This study employs media affordance theory to analyze AI’s transformative role in sports communication and associated ethical challenges, offering insights for cultivating a robust digital sports ecosystem. Method: This study investigates the application pathways of artificial intelligence in 20 major sports events held between 2000 and 2024. Data on application frequency, audience feedback, and other relevant metrics w collected to analyze the impact patterns of …

A228: Preservation And Dissemination Of Taijiquan Culture In Digital Perspective, Songqi Wang, Bin Yan

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

One of China’s most iconic cultural traditions has increasingly gained: Taijiquned global recognition: Taijiquned. However, rapid digitalization has significantly changed young people's cultural preferences and participation habits, posing challenges to traditional methods of cultural preservation, which often fail to resonate with youth, creating a noticeable disconnect. This study examines the potential of digital communication—especially short videos, livestreaming, and social media—to preserve and disseminate Taijiquan culture through interactive, youth-oriented methods. Specifically, it empirically explores whether digital media strategies effectively improve younger generations’ cultural awareness, participation motivation, and cultural identity, aiming to provide practical insights for digital heritage protection. A randomized controlled …

Protocol For The Development Of The Who Gestational Weight Gain Charts, Thais Rangel Bousquet Carrilho, Olufemi Taiwo Oladapo, Jennifer A. Hutcheon, Giovanna Gatica-Domínquez, Kathleen M. Rasmussen, Monica C. Flores-Urrutia, Richard Kumapley, Ӧzge Tunçalp, Dang Bahya-Batinda, Amel A. Fayed, Annick Bogaerts, Aris T. Papageorghiou, Cinthya Muñoz-Manrique, Dayana Rodrigues Farias, Eric Ohuma, Harshpal Sachdev, Hayfaa A. Wahabi, Helena J. Teede, Molin Wang, Nandita Perumal Phd

Faculty Publications

Introduction Gestational weight gain (GWG) is an important indicator of maternal nutrition to be monitored during pregnancy. However, there is no evidence-based tool that can be used to monitor it across all geographic locations and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) categories. The WHO is undertaking a project to develop GWG charts by pre-pregnancy BMI category, and to identify GWG ranges associated with the lowest risks of adverse maternal and infant outcomes. This protocol describes all the steps that will be used to accomplish the development of these GWG charts.

Methods and analysis This project will involve the analysis of individual …

The Impact Of Awareness Of Campus Health Services On Utilization Of Medical Care Among Residential Students At Liberty University, Catherine Pandagade

Masters Theses

College students represent the most prominent group of individuals when considering their lifestyles throughout aging. Therefore, this age group serves as a good opportunity for health education that could build positive health behaviors for life. Existing literature have said that the 18-25 year olds tend to have fewer resources and be often uninsured and have the highest rates of preventable diseases.2 Objective: The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of awareness and its subsequent effect on utilization of available health resources on campus among the student population of Liberty University. Additionally, the purpose of the research through …

Diet-Responsive Genetic Determinants Of Intestinal Colonization In The Yeast Candida Albicans, Musfirat Shubaita, Mazen Oneissi, Elena Lindemann-Pérez, Cecilia Fadhel Alvarez, Anne-Marie Krachler, Diana M Proctor, J Christian Pérez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dietary components influence microbial composition in the digestive tract. Although often viewed as energy sources, dietary components are likely to shape microbial determinants of intestinal colonization beyond metabolism. Here, we report that a dietary long-chain fatty acid enhances the yeast Candida albicans colonization of the murine gut partly by eliciting modifications to the fungal cell surface. Mice fed an oleic acid-rich diet were readily colonized by C. albicans and exhibited higher fungal load in feces compared with rodents fed an isocaloric control diet. Surprisingly, β-oxidation, a catabolic process to break down fatty acids for energy production, was dispensable for C. …

Repeated Mild Head Injury Establishes A Senescent Cranial Bone Marrow Niche That Impairs Brain Metabolism, Patrick J Devlin, Romeesa Khan, Trang H Do, Bryce E West, Janelle M Korf, Gary U Guzman, Chunfeng Tan, John Ahn, Rene Flores, Micheal E Maniskas, Sean P Marrelli, Anna Malovannaya, Erica Underwood, Rodney M Ritzel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) of any severity is associated with long-term systemic inflammation and increased risk of peripheral comorbidities, yet the mechanisms driving immune dysregulation and accelerated aging after repeated mild head impacts remain poorly defined. Here, we investigated the acute and chronic effects of repeated mild TBI (rmTBI) on distal and proximal bone marrow compartments in the femur and calvaria, respectively. Using a modified weight-drop mouse model delivering rotational and acceleration-deceleration forces (3 hits/week for up to 16 weeks), rmTBI produced no mortality, skull fracture, hemorrhage, or brain leukocyte infiltration. One day after three consecutive impacts, rmTBI induced robust …

Genomics Reveal Staphylococcus Aureus Persists During Long-Term Urinary Catheterization Despite Antimicrobial Therapy And Catheter Exchanges, Jesus M Duran Ramirez, Chelsie E Armbruster, Blake M Hanson, Jennifer N Walker

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Urinary catheters, the most frequently placed medical devices in the US, increase the risk of developing symptomatic catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) and asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) - the presence of bacteria in the urine - with those requiring long-term urinary catheters (LTUCs) at highest risk. While ASB and CAUTI are caused by a broad range of uropathogens, most remain understudied. We use whole-genome sequencing to investigate the understudied uropathogen, Staphylococcus aureus. Analysis of 153 longitudinal S. aureus isolates previously collected from urinary catheter or urine samples from 20 individuals with LTUCs (average of 8 longitudinal isolates/person) demonstrates that most strains …

Confluence, Vol. 4, Iss. 2, Full Issue

The Confluence

No abstract provided.

Co-Designing Health Education: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Interdisciplinary Collaboration Between Dpt Faculty And Interactive Media Students, Francois A. Prizinski, Charles Palmer, Jacki Kopack, Caitlin Mcgee

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Purpose: This study explored the impact of an interdisciplinary collaboration between Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) faculty and Interactive Media (IMED) students to co-design a gamified training module on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Problem: While interprofessional education (IPE) traditionally focuses on clinical disciplines, healthcare's increasing reliance on digital tools demands collaboration with non-clinical fields. Limited research exists on incorporating design and technology students into healthcare education to co-create meaningful instructional content.

Significance: The study applied the Double Diamond design model and Design Thinking pedagogy to guide a 6-week collaboration between DPT faculty and IMED students. A mixed-methods …

Learning Experiences From An Interprofessional, University-Based, Student-Led Healthcare Clinic In The Uk., Katharine Wood, Helen Frank, Konstantinos Papadopoulos

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Student-led clinics (SLCs) are increasingly being adopted in physiotherapy and occupational therapy degree programs. SLCs are an innovative practice-based learning model that offers unique learning opportunities while solving the challenges of sourcing appropriate placements. However, there is little recent evidence of their use in healthcare education in the UK. To address this literature gap, a synchronous online focus group with seven participants was conducted to explore the learning experiences of undergraduate occupational therapy and physiotherapy students who attended an inter-professional, non-elective, university-based SLC in the UK. A thematic analysis approach was used to identify three main themes: (1) Learning With, …

From Asylums To Hospitals To Prisons: The History Of Institutional Psychiatric Care In America, Mary E. Horton

History of Medicine Seminar

No abstract provided.