Freeze-Dried, Not Frozen: Lyophilized Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles And Therapeutic Function In Neuroinflammatory Models, Janet R Ashley, Aidan M Collier, Scott D Olson, Charles S Cox

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer a promising acellular therapy for immune modulation, but clinical translation is hindered by variability and storage constraints. Lyophilization (freeze-drying) could enable shelf-stable EV therapeutics, although its effects on biological activity remain incompletely defined.

Study design: We compared the immunomodulatory effects of frozen and lyophilized EVs from bone marrow (BM), adipose tissue (AD), and umbilical cord (UC) MSCs using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated rodent splenocytes and microglial models and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Variables included batch scale (small vs large), cytokine priming, and MSC source. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) secretion was measured …

The Perceptions And Applications Of Cluster Sets In Strength And Conditioning, Tsuyoshi Nagatani, Shayne Vial, Kristina L. Kendall, Paul Comfort, Jiahao Yang, G. Gregory Haff

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

It is well documented that cluster sets, a modified set structure with additional rest between individual repetitions or groups of repetitions, can be used to modulate exercise-induced fatigue during resistance training. While practical guidelines exist, it remains unclear to what extent strength and conditioning (S&C) professionals utilise this programming tactic. The aim of this study was to examine S&C professionals’ perceptions of cluster sets and their application in practice. A secondary aim was to assess the alignment between cluster set programming tactics used in the field and evidence-based recommendations from the scientific and coaching literature. Forty-six S&C professionals (age: 40.0 …

Sex And Gender Differences Between Experiences Of Discrimination And Physical Health: A Systematic Review, Saam Honarvar, Maryam Ajose, Bronwyn Sutherland, Alejandra Fernandez, Shakia T Hardy, Miguel Ángel Cano, Samaah Sullivan

Library Staff Publications

Background: Despite a plethora of previous research on experiences of discrimination and physical health outcomes, there has been less attention to sex/gender differences, although some research suggests a greater stress-related biological and behavioral impact on women.

Methods: Five databases were reviewed up to May 2023 using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. We included studies that examined self-reported experiences of discrimination and physical health outcomes among adults (aged 18+) in the United States if results were either stratified by sex/gender or tested a sex/gender-by-discrimination interaction term.

Results: A total of 3,397 articles were extracted, and 50 …

Barriers To Mental Healthcare In Rural Agricultural Communities, Monica Salonga

Research Honors

Mental health diagnoses have become increasingly concerning in the United States (US). In 2024, 60 million adults in the United States experienced a mental illness, and over 14 million adults stated they had suicidal thoughts (Reinert et al., 2025). The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports around 4,000 suicide-related deaths in the United States every year (CDC, 2025). One population that suffers from disproportionate rates of suicide is farmers and farm families. Farmers are ranked #4 in the United States regarding suicide rates (Miller & Rudolphi, 2022). Between 2003 and 2018, there were 1,935 suicide-related deaths committed by farmers (Miller …

How The Itod Framework Guided The Integration Of Ai Ethics Teaching Into A Medical Humanities Course, And Lessons To Learn, Joshua Owolabi

PCOM Scholarly Works

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How the ITOD Framework Guided the Integration of AI Ethics Teaching into a Medical Humanities Course, and Lessons to Learn

Abstract

Large Language Model-Assisted Research Question Development In Public Health: A Case Study In The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic), Qi Zhang, Bidusha Neupane, Priyanka Patel, Futun N. Alkhalifah, Yi He, Leslie Hodges

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Objective:

To assess the feasibility of using large language models (LLMs) to develop research questions about changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages.

Design:

We conducted a controlled experiment using ChatGPT-4 and its plugin, MixerBox Scholarly, to generate research questions based on a section of the USDA summary of the final public comments on the WIC revision. Five questions weekly for three weeks were generated using LLMs under two conditions: fed with or without relevant literature. The experiment generated 90 questions, which were evaluated using the FINER criteria (Feasibility, Innovation, Novelty, Ethics, …

From Screens To Stress: Public Health Implications Of Cancer Worry In A Digitally Connected World, Shreya Mathur, Ethan Burns, Michael Pokojovy, Tzu-Liang Bill Tseng, Sunil Mathur

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Aims:

This study examines how digital information environments, genetic testing experiences, health behaviors, and psychological distress influence cancer-related worry among adults in the United States. It further considers the public health implications of elevated or reduced cancer worry for prevention and risk communication.

Methods:

Data were drawn from a nationally representative survey of 6,252 U.S. adults. Measures included reliance on social media for health decision-making, smoking status, history of genetic testing, and psychological distress. Multivariable analyses assessed associations between these factors and levels of cancer worry.

Results/Findings:

Reliance on social media for health decisions was associated with greater cancer worry, …

Nurses' Perspectives On Caring For Critically Ill Children During A Measles Outbreak: A Case Report, Cara Everard Gallegos, Melissa Gale Robinson, Brittny Ayola, Lacey Kovar, Nicole Roehrig

Covenant Nurses Week 2026

No abstract provided.

Mental Health Effects Of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome In Adult Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Survivors Hospitalized During Or After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Brooke M. Leggiero

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Introduction: Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) is "new or worsening problems in physical, cognitive, or mental health status arising after a critical illness and persisting beyond acute care hospitalization.” This study examined the prevalence of PICS mental health conditions in adult ARDS survivors hospitalized between 2020 and 2025 and differences in mental health conditions between those hospitalized during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study enrolled adult survivors hospitalized between 2020 and 2025 who required mechanical ventilation and were at least 1 month removed from the intensive care unit (ICU). Individuals with prior brain injury were excluded. …

Hyphema Associated With Water Bead Projectile Toys: A Retrospective Comparative Study, Aashri I. Aggarwal, Priya K. Singh, Diego E. Arias, Peter A. Netland

Department of Ophthalmology Faculty Publications

Purpose: Superabsorbent water beads can be used in projectile toy guns. We aimed to characterize water bead-related hyphema and compare the prevalence with other causes of traumatic hyphema.

Methods: In this 10-month retrospective review, we identified 35 consecutive patients with traumatic hyphema presenting to the emergency department. Cases were grouped by injury mechanism, water bead-related compared with all other causes. Clinical data on initial presentation and subsequent visits were compared.

Results: In the patients with traumatic hyphema, 8 (23%) cases were due to water bead trauma. Bead-related cases involved significantly younger patients (16 ± 9 years) compared with other cases …

A Phenomenological Analysis Of Sense Of Belonging Among Community College Educators, Muhammad Owais Aziz

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the complex phenomenon of sense of belonging (SB) among diverse health professions educators (HPEs) and non-health professions educators (non-HPEs) at a Canadian community college. SB, as a dynamic construct shaped by an individual's perception of being valued and respected, is influenced by personal preferences and by complex interactions with the individual's surroundings. To better understand SB and foster a more inclusive environment for diverse educators, it is necessary to investigate SB among these educators. This qualitative study used eleven semi-structured interviews and seven steps of data analysis. The results of this study can inform strategies, policies, …

Examining The Physiological Stress-Reducing Effects Of Virtual Nature Exposure And Slow Breathing, Jesse Benefiel

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In a time of excess stress, it is essential to examine accessible stress-reduction methods. Research has demonstrated that virtual nature exposure and slow breathing can independently reduce stress, but the literature is lacking with regard to their combined effects. The present study aimed to replicate independent effects of breathing and nature on stress and to test for potential effects, including whether their combination would produce an interaction effect. Using a 2 Environment (Natural v. Control) by 2 Breathing (Slow v. Normal) between-subjects design, 63 participants completed a modified color-word Stroop task to induce stress and were then exposed to either …

Investigation Of A Global Mouse Methylome Atlas Reveals Subtype-Specific Copy Number Alterations In Pediatric Cancer Models., Melanie Schoof, Tuyu Zheng, Martin Sill, Roland Imle, Alessia Cais, Lea Altendorf, Alicia Fürst, Nina Hofmann, Kati Ernst, Dominik Vonficht, Kenneth Chun-Ho Chan, Tim Holland-Letz, Andreas Postlmayr, Ryo Shiraishi, Wanchen Wang, Alaide Morcavallo, Michael Spohn, Carolin Göbel, Judith Niesen, Levke-Sophie Peter, Franck Bourdeaut, Zhi-Yan Han, Yanxin Pei, Najiba Murad, Fredrik J. Swartling, Jessica Taylor, Monika Yadav, Garrett R. Gibson, Richard J. Gilbertson, Matthias Dottermusch, Rajanya Roy, Kornelius Kerl, Rainer Glass, Jiying Cheng, Martin A. Horstmann, Gerrit Wolters-Eisfeld, Haotian Zhao, Dominik Sturm, Viveka Nand Yadav, Louis Chesler, Simon Haas, William A. Weiss, Paul A. Northcott, Lena M. Kutscher, Ana Guerreiro Stucklin, Olivier Ayrault, Julia E. Neumann, Daisuke Kawauchi, David T W Jones, Kristian Pajtler, Ana Banito, Stefan M. Pfister, Ulrich Schüller, Marc Zuckermann

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Copy number alterations (CNAs) are hallmarks of cancer, yet investigation of their oncogenic role has been hindered by technical limitations and missing model systems. Here we generated a genome-wide DNA methylation and CNA atlas of 106 genetic mouse models across 31 pediatric tumor types, including 18 new models for pediatric glioma. We demonstrated their epigenetic resemblance to human disease counterparts and identified entity-specific patterns of immune infiltration. We discovered that mouse tumors harbor highly recurrent CNA signatures that occur distinctly based on the tumor subgroup and driving oncogene and showed that these CNAs share syntenic regions with the matching human …

Assessing And Advancing Pandemic Emergency Preparedness In New York City's Hospitals: A Strategic Management Toolkit Integrating Policy Analysis, Risk Assessment, And Stakeholder Insight, Irrem Jamal

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines pandemic emergency preparedness in New York City hospitals, which were severely strained during COVID-19, revealing critical gaps between documented plans and operational readiness. Using a multimethod approach combining a survey of 20 stakeholders across city hospitals, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis of policy frameworks and after-action reports, the study identifies a persistent "documentation-execution paradox": while 80% of respondents confirmed clear pandemic plans, only 45% expressed confidence in staffing adequacy, 55% in surge planning realism, and just 45% confirmed regular drills. Qualitative analysis revealed workforce as the single greatest yet most underinvested vulnerability, supply chain fragility rooted in …

Modeling Accreditation Standards And Evaluation Methods To Inform Strategic Planning In Public Health Education, Debra Rich

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Public health has long benefited from the relationship between postsecondary education, accreditation, and government employment. Assessment and accreditation are important tools in postsecondary education to ensure fiscal responsibility, professional competencies, and quality assurance. The competency standards implemented in post-secondary education are not under the direct control of the federal government; however, policy amendments aimed at specific accreditation criteria could result in changes to public health curriculum and create eligibility barriers for students who rely on federal financial support. The Central Washington University Public Health program has provided educational support in professional public health for decades, and there is an increased …

Effects Of The Menstrual Cycle Phase On Rpe, And Symptom Characteristics In Pre-Professional Female Soccer Players, Emily Potts

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Hormonal fluctuations across the distinct phases of the menstrual cycle have been shown to influence physiological and psychological responses to exercise, with some evidence suggesting phase-dependent changes in symptom presentation and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE); however, findings remain inconsistent, and few studies have examined these relationships across an entire competitive season in female soccer players. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in RPE and menstrual symptoms across cycle phases, as well as the relationships between RPE and symptom reporting in pre-professional female soccer players. A total of 22 female soccer players (age 22± 1.85) were recruited …

Self-Calibrating Uav Navigation: Reinforcement Learning Approaches For Horizontal Trajectory Estimation, Shirin Nasr-Esfahani, S. Jagannathan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Accurate unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) trajectory estimation is essential for autonomous navigation, particularly in GPS-denied environments. Visualodometry and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) approaches require precise camera intrinsic parameters, which are typically obtained through predefined or offline calibration. Instead, in this work, we propose a reinforcement learning (RL)-based self-calibration framework that estimates camera intrinsic parameters directly from monocular video sequences, without requiring prior knowledge of the camera, environment, or calibration targets. This intrinsic parameter estimation is then leveraged to achieve robust UAV trajectory estimation using only video data. We formulate the problem as a sequential decision-making task, where an RL …

Neurotensin Drives Theca Cell Migration During Ovulation In Primates, Jessica S. Miller, Megan A. G. Sage, Thomas E. Curry Jr., Diane M. Duffy

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Theca cells are a critical steroidogenic cell type of the ovarian follicle and corpus luteum. The ovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge (or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)) stimulates theca cell relocation from the stroma surrounding the dominant follicle to full integration into the developing corpus luteum. Luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin also stimulates granulosa cells to produce local mediators of ovulation, including the peptide neurotensin (NTS). To determine if hCG-stimulated NTS regulates theca cell relocation within the ovulatory follicle, vehicle or an NTS receptor antagonist was injected into a macaque dominant follicle, and ovaries were removed 48 h after hCG administration. Additional …

Microarray Analysis Of Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With Emphasis On Cardiovascular Genes Revealed Differentially Expressed Genes, Song Lu, Li Ping Li, John V. White, Xiaoying Zhang, Ifeyinwa Nwaneshiudu, Adaobi Nwaneshiudu, Nectaria Ntaoula, John Gaughan, Dimitri S. Monos, Wan-Lu Lin, Charalambos C. Solomides, Emilia L. Oleszak, Chris D. Platsoucas

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Background/Aim: We examined gene expression profiles in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) lesions vs. normal aortas by cDNA microarray and real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Materials and Methods: Phosphorus (32P)-labeled cDNA from AAA specimens (mean AAA size 6.65 cm) and normal aortas were hybridized with a 588-gene microarray primarily of the cardiovascular system. The results were validated by qRT-PCR.

Results: A total of 35 out of the 588 genes were differentially expressed, with either log2 ratio of AAAs/controls ≥1 (upregulated; 20 genes) or ≤−1 (downregulated; 15 genes) in AAA lesions vs. normal aorta, and 25 of these were significantly …

Evaluating The Relationship Between Motor Symptoms And Levodopa Dosage In Parkinson’S Disease, Frank Ferrari

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) has a clear lack of dosing guidelines or standard treatment protocols, leaving physicians to develop individualized treatment plans to handle the needs of PD patients. The long-term progressive nature of Parkinson’s requires consistent care and updates to medication regimens. This puts significant strain on the healthcare systems tasked with treating them. With an increasing number of Parkinson’s patients and a plateau of professionals to care for them, patients may soon experience decreased physician availability, longer wait times, and worse quality of life outcomes. This study evaluated the relationship between PD motor symptoms, measured through the MDS-UPDRS Part …

Studies Towards Chemical Synthesis Of Homogeneous Prion Glycoprotein, Baotong Tian

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders initiated by conformational misfolding of the prion protein (PrP), which generates pathogenic conformers that propagate via templated conversion and accumulate as aggregates. Glycosylation can modulate the PrP folding energy landscape, thereby biasing folding trajectories and the distribution of resulting conformational states. Bank vole PrP contains two N-linked glycosylation sites, and disentangling the contributions of site occupancy versus glycan structure requires homogeneous, site-defined glycoforms. In contrast, biosynthetic expression typically produces heterogeneous glycoform ensembles due to multistep Golgi processing, precluding independent control of glycan identity at each site. Here we report a chemical synthesis strategy of …

Health Insurance As A Mediator Of Neighborhood Deprivation And Pediatric Cancer Survival: An Analysis Of State Cancer Registry Data, Emma Hymel, Cheng Zheng, Jenna Allison, Kendra L. Ratnapradipa, Edward S. Peters, Sarah H. Nash, Mei-Chin Hsieh, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

INTRODUCTION: To develop interventions to reduce neighborhood-level disparities in pediatric cancer outcomes, it is necessary to understand their underlying mechanisms. It has been suggested that individual-level health insurance is a mediator of neighborhood deprivation and pediatric cancer survival.

METHODS: This study was a population-based longitudinal study of children with cancer from 2000 to 2020 in the Iowa Cancer Registry and Louisiana Tumor Registry. Neighborhood deprivation was measured using the Area Deprivation Index. Log-binomial regression models were used to identify predictors of health insurance status at diagnosis. Cox regression models were used to assess the association between health insurance status at …

Planning A Clinical Practice Guideline Revision For A Core Set Of Outcome Measures In Adults Undergoing Neurologic Physical Therapy, Part 2: Determining Stakeholders' Uptake And Recommendations, Jane E. Sullivan, Kristen Potter, Marghuretta D. Bland, Elizabeth Anderl, Wendy Romney, Zeynep Gulen Erkoc, Jennifer Moore

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Objective: To determine the uptake and recommendations for revision of the 2018 Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG): Core Set Outcome Measures for Adults with Neurologic Conditions Undergoing Rehabilitation.

Design: Online Survey

Setting: Online with participants from multiple settings.

Participants: Licensed physical therapists (PT) or physical therapist assistants (PTA) or a non-PT supervisor of PTs and/or PTAs.

Interventions: N/A.

Main Outcome Measures:  An online survey was developed to determine respondents' knowledge, perceived benefits, challenges, gaps, and modifications made to the 2018 CPG as well as to ascertain respondents' recommendations for the CPG revision. Data were analyzed descriptively by respondent role (clinician, educator/researcher, …

Clinico-Epidemiological Profile Of Iron Deficiency Anemia Among Egyptian Primary School Aged Children: A Hospital Based Study, Rabab Fathy Abdelhamid, Noha Essam, Mona Mohamed Taalab

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most prevalent cause of anemia among Egyptian children and is associated with a range of hematologic and non-hematologic complications, some of which may be irreversible. This study aims to evaluate the clinical profile and identify factors associated with severe IDA in primary school–aged children.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 420 primary school–aged children diagnosed with IDA who attended the outpatient clinic of Salamoun El-Qumash Family Medicine Centre. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. All participants underwent a thorough clinical examination and laboratory evaluation, including a complete blood count and …

Serum Magnesium Level And Carotid Artery Calcification And Stiffness In Dialysis Patients: Single Center Cross-Sectional Study, Kareem Ahmed Elbosaty, Alaa Abd Elaziz Sabry, Gehad Ahmad Saleh, Nehal Atef Elshabrawy

Mansoura Medical Journal

Introduction Vascular calcification is common among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on regular dialysis, either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Magnesium is suggested to play a role in inhibiting that process. Recently, Mg started to be considered one of the factors that protect against vascular calcification and consequently decrease CVD mortality rate in CKD patients. Many recent studies support that role although the mechanism of that protective effect is not clear. But it is supposed to be a combination of both passive and active mechanisms. The passive one occurs through interference with calcium phosphate deposition and hydroxyapatite inhibition by phosphate binding. …

Polymeric Micelle In Drug Delivery And Nanotechnology: Preparation Methods And Multifunctional Application, Abhishek Sanjay Patil, Savita Ullegaddi, Nagesh C, Suma N

Manipal Journal of Medical Sciences

Nanomedicine, an emerging discipline, integrates nanotechnology with pharmaceutical and biomedical science to develop new drugs and imaging compounds with improved efficacy and safety profiles. One of the most important aspects of this field is the creation of new nano-drug delivery systems (NDDS), which harness the power of nanomaterials to bypass such conventional limitations as poor solubility and instability. One form of NDDS, micelles, have been identified as a viable option, providing a safe and effective means of encapsulating hydrophobic natural products. Self-assembling amphiphilic block copolymers, micelles form a core-shell structure that shields the encapsulated drug from degradation while allowing controlled …

Microsponge Technology: A Comprehensive Review Of Advanced Drug Delivery - From Formulation Science To Therapeutic Applications, Akash Pawar, Nagesh C, Sunil Attimarad, Suma Naduvinamani, Savita Ullegaddi

Manipal Journal of Medical Sciences

Microsponge technology has emerged as a promising drug delivery system due to its unique porosity structure, linked pores and large surface area. These features allow effective drug loading, encapsulation, and sustained drug release, making microsponges suitable for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. Their structural integrity provides controlled release profile and prevents deep penetration, localizing drugs in the epidermis. Its versatility allows incorporation into topical and oral forms, addressing limitations of traditional systems such as unwanted side effects, greasiness, or odor. Multiple fabrication methods including liquid–liquid suspension polymerization and quasi-emulsion techniques produce robust, cost-effective microsponges. Standard evaluation includes particle size, drug loading, …

Does Utilization Of Education In The Rural North Carolina Christian Community Reduce Vitamin D Deficiency, Alyssa Dedmon

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent and underrecognized health issue, especially office workers who are exposed to less midday sun. Education and awareness may help address this risk.

Purpose: This project aimed to evaluate whether education on light therapy and vitamin D supplementation improves knowledge related to prevention and management of deficiency.

Methods: Participants from a rural North Carolina church community completed a pre-test, viewed an educational video, and completed a post-test to assess changes in knowledge. The intervention addressed risk factors, cultural influences, and treatment options.

Results: Participants demonstrated strong baseline knowledge, with modest improvements post-intervention, particularly in …

The Effectiveness Of Cardiovascular Disease Education In The African American Church With African American Women, Aricka H. Thurman

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Cardiovascular disease in African American women is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and in rural communities due to the lack of awareness and prevention of the disease. Many African American women are the foundations of their homes and community, and any signs of weakness, including sickness, deteriorates which is why many do not seek attention until it is too late. Educating African American women on the importance of preventive and medical care is essential.

Regardless of the associated stigma of the African American woman and their “superpower” and that they can do “all things” …

Reducing Stigmatism In Suboxone Users, Jessica S. Lovelace

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose: To assess the impact of an evidence-based educational intervention to decrease provider stigma of patients on buprenorphine for opioid use disorder in a primarily rural primary care setting.

Methods: This quality improvement project used a pre- and post-intervention design to assess knowledge, attitudes, stigma, and confidence to care for patients with opioid use disorder of four providers from four rural health care facilities. The providers completed a survey before and after a 60-minute educational intervention that covered topics such as medication for opioid use disorder, patient-centered communication, and evidence-based prescribing practices for OUD. Providers were also assessed 8 weeks …