Digital Commons Network^™

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: 48219 Beyond The Zip Code, Justin Darragh, Adhithi Keerthana Athikumar, Muaaz Akhtar, Dania Zeidan, Nathaniel Edwards, Trina Alimi, Jonah Brand, Beatrice White

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Access To Education And Nutritious Foods, Maurgan Lee, Kailey Carner, Tarek Atasi, Michael Mclellan, Alec Brook, Ashley Schehr, Namitha Bhat, Syed Kaushik

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Observation And Reflection Of Education, Transportation, And Food Insecurity At Detroit, Sindi Roko, Kaylee Chan, Sarah Noonan, Alfonso Vaziriyan-Sani, Jelani Shadd, Ritika Tiwary, Samir Khan

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Reflection On Neighborhood Environment And Economic Instability As Barriers To Health, Charity Godbold, Sarah Syeda, Zachary Houslander, Sydney Kelly, Jason Fahmy, Eliezer Ponce De Leon, Jessica Wang, Omar Tayeb

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

Observation And Reflection Of Neighborhood And Community 2026: Systemic Barriers In 48203—Poverty, Food Deserts, And Inadequate Infrastructure—Directly Impact The Health And Futures Of Its Residents., Kerestin Aziz, Sanjana Aiella, Brady Bak, Maanas Sharma, Catherine Hofley, Silas Stewart, Ahmed Marabeh, Samantha Hoey

Patient Education Projects

No abstract provided.

A Smoking-Related Plasma Protein Score And Smoking-Related Cancer Risk And Mortality In The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study, Meng Ru, Christopher Douville, Aghiles Guenoun, Hana Zahed, Christie M Ballantyne, Kenneth R Butler, Josef Coresh, David J Couper, Panagis Galiatsatos, Marc J Gunter, Ron C Hoogeveen, Mattias Johansson, Corinne E Joshu, P Martijn Kolijn, Christina M Lill, Jiayun Lu, Michael T Marrone, Giovanna Masala, David C Muller, Anna E Prizment, Raul Zamora-Ros, Nilanjan Chatterjee, Adrienne Tin, Elizabeth A Platz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Self-reported smoking may not fully capture individualized risk of smoking-related cancer, but circulating proteins may reflect biological consequences of smoking. Thus, we developed a score based on smoking-related proteins and evaluated its association with smoking-related cancer.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 10 563 participants aged 47-70 years in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. Plasma proteins were measured using the SomaScan Platform (SomaLogic Operating Co, Inc). The score was constructed from proteins associated with current smoking, pack-years, or recent quitting identified by linear regression and elastic net regression. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios and …

Seasonal Body Composition And Neuromuscular Changes In High School Wrestlers: Medicine Balls For Fatigue Testing, Courtney Mccall Condie Carroll

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This study examines the effects a single wrestling season has on high school athletes’ body composition, muscle quality, membrane capacitance, and neuromuscular performance, and whether instrumented medicine balls are sensitive enough to serve as a field test for chronic fatigue. Twenty-five high school wrestlers (males=18, females=7) were recruited and assessed pre-season (Pre), mid-season (Mid), and end-of-season (Post). Outcome measures included body mass, fat-free mass, fat mass (via bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy), echo intensity (EI, via B-mode ultrasound) of the vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps brachii (BB), and countermovement rotational and backward-overhead throws with medicine balls instrumented with accelerometers.  Repeated measures ANOVA …

Identifying And Addressing Burnout Among Nurses In Cache Valley And The Surrounding Salt Lake Metropolitan Area, Teegan Alma Martinez

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Background: Nursing burnout has emerged as a critical issue within modern healthcare systems, with widespread implications for nurse well-being, patient safety, and organizational performance. Characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, burnout affects an estimated 30% to 60% of nurses, particularly in high-acuity settings. The persistence of burnout highlights the need to better understand its contributing factors, consequences, and effective strategies for mitigation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and contributing factors of nursing burnout, evaluate its impact on nurses and patient care, and identify effective interventions. Additionally, this study aimed …

Caregiver Experiences During Mealtime In Families Of Children With Feeding Disorders In The Borderland, Chyanne Reveles

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study examines the lived experiences of caregivers of children with pediatric feeding disorders (PFDs) in the Paso del Norte Region using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Pediatric feeding disorders require sustained medical, social, and emotional demand, often placing caregivers in complex decision-making roles. Understanding how cultural beliefs and context shape caregiving practices is essential to improving services provided by speech-language pathologists and other service providers. The qualitative research approach used facilitated the discovery of themes surrounding the lived experience of the caregivers of children with feeding disorders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom with caregivers residing in the U.S.-Mexico border …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Pfas Induced Protein Dysfunction: Implications For Neurodegenerative Risk, Daisy Lee Wilson

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants with widespread human exposure and well-established links to adverse health outcomes. However, despite increasing epidemiological and experimental evidence, the molecular mechanisms underlying PFAS-induced neurotoxicity remain incompletely defined. This dissertation investigates PFAS toxicity across biological scales, integrating protein biophysics with neuronal cell models to elucidate pathways relevant to neurodegeneration. At the molecular level, we demonstrate that PFAS disrupts the structure and function of globular proteins, including the impairment of α-lactalbumin's calcium-binding capacity and of β-lactoglobulin's retinol binding, through concentration-dependent conformational destabilization. By applying these findings to a neuronal model, we show that …

Diffuse Marrow And Orbital Fat Signal Abnormality Mimicking Infiltrative Disease: A Case Of "Flip-Flop" On Mri, Mehdy Haidar, Alexander Pietroski, Kamil Abu-Shaban, Anant Krishnan

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Clinical History A 68-year-old male with a history of left tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma treated 5 months ago and reportedly negative recent PET and CT scans of the neck and body with eye pain with possible but uncertain remote history of trauma was sent in for imaging of the orbits. The patient has a feeding tube and was recently hospitalized and discharged for tube obstruction. Imaging Findings Orbital imaging revealed diffuse signal alterations involving the orbital and scalp fat, and marrow, characterized by low signal intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI. In particular on the STIR sequence, …

Paucilactobacillus Wasatchensis Gas Production In Cheddar Cheese Through Symbiotic Amino Acid Metabolism With Lactococcus Lactis Starter Cultures, Niharika Mishra

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Cheese is popular for its rich sensory notes and desirable physical attributes; however, the late blowing gas defect in cheddar cheese disrupts its appearance and can undermine its commercial value, for example if the late gas defect is severe, the block can crumble upon cutting, increasing cutting losses from 10% (non-defective) up to 50% (Donnely et al., 2014).

Paucilactobacillus wasatchensis cannot survive pasteurization (McMahon, D. J., et al., 2020); therefore, it enters the cheese as a contaminant during the cheesemaking process. Cheesemaking occurs in three stages: (1) curdling of milk by acidification through starter cultures, (2) separation of curd from …

Characterizing Metabolic Flux Of Plant Secondary Metabolites From Diverse Animal-Source Foods To Humans, Muhammad Ahsin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

There is a popular saying: “You are what you eat.” But does this also mean, “You are what your food eats”? This dissertation explores that question by examining how farming practices shape the nutritional quality of meat—and what, if anything, those differences mean for the people who consume it. While modern livestock production and nutrition research often emphasize protein and fat, this work tests the idea that animals function as biological mediators, linking soil and plant conditions to human diets through the chemical composition of meat and milk. To evaluate this hypothesis, we tracked health-relevant plant compounds— phytonutrients—across the soil–plant–animal–human …

Impact Of Inhibiting Mitochondrial Calcium Uptake On Calcium Homeostasis And Postmortem Metabolism In Porcine Muscle, Fatema Rahaman Mishu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

After harvesting the animal, pork muscle continues to undergo changes as it turns from muscle into meat. During this early period, the muscle uses up energy and produces acid, which lowers pH and can affect important quality traits such as color and how well the meat holds water. A key driver of these early changes is calcium, a natural mineral inside muscle cells that helps control contraction and energy use. In this study, we tested whether mitochondria (the cell’s “powerhouse”) help control calcium after harvest and, in turn, influence early postmortem changes in pork. We used a research compound (DS16570511) …

The Rodent Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (Rends): Effects Of Age On Self-Administration Of Inhaled Nicotine In Female Rats, Daniel Santos Da Silva

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Smoking tobacco is the leading avoidable cause of death and drives many health problems. Nicotine, the main chemical in tobacco products, keeps people using it. This study used the Rat Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (RENDS), an inexpensive and freely shared, to examine e-cigarette use in adolescent and adult female rats by exploring four phases of nicotine delivered and not delivered to understand use patterns among ages. Our study found that both adolescent and adult female rats chose to inhale nicotine when given the opportunity, showing drug-seeking behavior. Overall, nicotine use was similar between ages. These results could help inform therapies, …

Food-Form Delivery Of Spore-Forming Probiotics As An Alternative To Gavage In Animal Models, Aubreyona Faith Migliori Skalka

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Western dietary patterns are characterized by nutrient-poor, calorie-rich diets and have been linked to poor health outcomes and gut inflammation phenotypes. Probiotics are often taken to support gut health, but many beneficial bacteria do not survive transport through the digestive system to produce any effect. Spore-forming bacteria, such as Bacillus coagulans, are more resilient due to their hardy outer coat which aids in survival through many obstacles encountered in the gastrointestinal tract, including acidic stomach conditions. In research studies, probiotics are usually given to mice through a procedure called oral gavage, where a tube is used to deliver the …

Health Disparities In El Paso's Low-Income Hispanic Communities: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of Acculturation, Obesity Metrics, And Socio-Cultural Determinants, Karen Del Rio

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Health disparities among low-income Hispanic immigrants in the United States are shaped by complex interactions between acculturation, structural inequality, and socio-cultural determinants that behavioral and epidemiological models have not fully explained. This dissertation examines the relationship between acculturation and obesity-related outcomes among uninsured and low-income Hispanic adults of Mexican descent in El Paso, Texas, using a three-article, sequential, explanatory, mixed-methods design grounded in Latina/o Critical Race Theory (LatCrit).Article 1 presents a systematic review of 20 peer-reviewed studies examining acculturation and obesity among Mexican Americans, finding consistent evidence that longer U.S. residence is associated with increased BMI and obesity prevalence, mediated …

The 2026 Mda Award Winners: Recognizing Outstanding Service, David Foe

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article lists the recipients of the 2026 MDA awards, highlighting their contributions to the dental profession and public health. Notable winners include Dr. Christopher Smiley, recipient of the Meritorious Award for a lifetime of achievement in dental journalism and leadership, and Dr. Charles Burling, honored as Dentist Citizen of the Year for his community service. The feature also recognizes educators, legislative advocates, and volunteers in the Donated Dental Services (DDS) program who provide care to vulnerable populations.

Developmental Assets And Risk-Related Restraint And Resistance Orientations Among Emerging Adult College Students: Examining Protective Associations, Summer N. Beck

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Background: Although developmental assets are well established as protective factors during childhood and adolescence, less is known about their role during emerging adulthood, a period when the prevalence of several types of risk behaviors peak. For the U.S. college student, campus can provide ideal conditions for supporting the extended transition to adulthood. However, that same environment may increase exposure to health risk behaviors. This study examined associations between developmental assets and the risk-related restraint and resistance orientations involving sexual activity, alcohol, and illicit drugs among emerging adult college students. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with a sample …

Investigating The Influence Of Dietary Phytogenics And Postbiotics On Horizontal Transmission Of Histomonas Meleagridis In Commercial Turkey Poult Hens, Diego Fernando Cortes Velez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Histomonas meleagridis is a parabasalid protozoan and the causative agent of histomonosis, or blackhead disease, in turkeys. Withdrawal of the last remaining in-feed arsenical from the market in 2015 led to the re-emergence of the disease. As a result, there is a need to investigate alternatives, such as dietary inclusion of postbiotic and phytogenic compounds, to reduce H. meleagridis transmission and disease severity in commercial turkey flocks. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the influence of dietary inclusion of three different combinations of postbiotic and phytogenic compounds on H. meleagridis transmission in turkey poult hens. A thesis introduction …

Plasma Metabolites After 10-Weeks Of Glucose Vs Fructose-Sweetened Beverages In Subjects With Overweight/Obesity, Mélanie Guirette, Danielle E Haslam, Jiantao Ma, Peter J Havel, Kimber L Stanhope, Olga Ilkayeva, Christopher B Newgard, Nicola M Mckeown, Mark A Herman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

To identify metabolites as potential biomarkers of fructose vs glucose consumption and related metabolic changes, we conducted exploratory metabolomic profiling of fasting blood samples from participants in a double-blind, parallel-arm trial involving 31 male and female adults with overweight or obesity, both before and after supplementation with glucose- or fructose-sweetened beverages. Orthogonal Partial Least Square Discriminatory Analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to identify metabolites that could discriminate between the 2 intervention groups. Changes in 16 metabolites (5 of which are branched-chain amino acid catabolic pathway metabolites) and the branched chain keto acid (BCKA) composite score showed nominal (FDR adjusted P-value …

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Individuals With Low Literacy And Perinatal Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Eliza Kleban, Ashleen Lee, Aminata Koroma, D Taylor Hendrixson, Joshua Duncan, Mark J Manary, Kevin B Stephenson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: Perinatal depression is common in sub-Saharan Africa, yet treatment gaps are substantial. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective but relies on written materials.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a culturally adapted CBT intervention delivered by lay counselors to women with perinatal depression in rural Sierra Leone.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This study was an individually randomized, outcomes assessor- and investigator-blinded, clinical trial of an adapted CBT intervention vs enhanced usual care. The trial was conducted in 6 government-run antenatal clinics in Pujehun District, Sierra Leone, which has limited infrastructure, low literacy, high maternal undernutrition, and no perinatal mental …

Maternal Fish Intake In The Year Prior To Conception And Birth Defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011, Dorothy Kim Waller, Zeyu Miao, Renata H Benjamin, Richard Finnell, Nithya Lakshmi Mohan Dass, Eirini Nestoridi, Marcia C De Oliveira Otto, Julie Peterson, Tunu Ramadhani, Mark A Canfield

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Epidemiologic data on the association between maternal fish intake and birth defects are sparse. Our objective was to assess associations between maternal fish intake and 52 different birth defects, most of which have not been assessed previously.

Methods: Using logistic regression, data was analyzed for 29,242 mothers of infants with birth defects and 10,973 mothers of control infants who participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) and delivered between 1997 and 2011. We focused on associations between mothers who reported high fish intake of 2 or more servings of fish per week for the year prior to …

Preterm Birth Increases Susceptibility To Hyperglycemia-Induced Kidney Injury With Sex-Specific Differences In Structural And Molecular Responses, Rachel K Dailey, Aleksandra Cwiek, Logan C Hamil, Sage Timberline, Ayyappa Kumar Sista Kameshwar, Masako Suzuki, Jaya Isaac, Kimberly Deronde, Mark Conaway, Kevin M Bennett, Edwin J Baldelomar, Matthew R Hoch, Kimberly J Reidy, Jennifer R Charlton

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth increases the long-term risk of diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), yet its impact on diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is unclear. We previously showed that male preterm mice with diabetes develop early features of DKD, including reduced podocyte density, decreased renin expression, activation of angiogenesis pathways, and impaired endothelial-podocyte signaling. Here, we examine whether preterm birth similarly accelerates DKD progression in female mice and compare structural and transcriptomic outcomes in the females to the prior male cohort to assess sex-specific differences.

METHODS: Preterm mice were delivered by Caesarean section at 19 days post conception (dpc) and term …

Seroprevalence Of Helicobacter Pylori Infection Among Asymptomatic Patients Served By A Safety-Net Healthcare System, Aaron P Thrift, Peyman Dinarvand, Luis Juarez, Jourdan Brown, Daniel Avila, Jennifer Mistica Zafiro Garcia-Villanueva, Lisa C Danek, Hammad Mahmood, Thomas Porter, Ann Gotschall, Noreen F Pirzada, Jaime J Rueda, Lee B Lu, Afroze Ali, Ijeoma Anyakorah, Sanjana J Bhattarai, Anees Fatima, Jessica Garcia, Hung V Nguyen, Bharat Joshi, Malvika Juneja, Misba S Lateef, Najda Mujtaba, Preethi V Nambi, Jay S Orr, Huma Rahman, Stephanie Nguyen, Amna Waqar, Yanyan Chen, David Y Graham, Hashem B El-Serag, Mimi C Tan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background & aims: Helicobacter pylori screening and eradication is a cost-effective strategy for primary gastric cancer prevention in high-risk populations outside the United States. There is a paucity of population-based H pylori seroprevalence data available in high-risk U.S. groups, particularly data for low-income, uninsured patient populations.

Methods: We used data from a cross-sectional study of a largely underserved, immigrant, and minority patient population. Inclusion criteria included asymptomatic individuals 30-65 years of age without prior H pylori testing or treatment. Consented patients completed a study survey and a blood draw to screen for H pylori using IgG serology. We calculated seroprevalence …

Hepatopulmonary Syndrome As Presentation Of Pediatric Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis, Shruti Sakhuja, Stacey S Beer, Kalyani R Patel, Alexiss M Williams, Nhu Thao Galvan, John A Goss, Krupa R Mysore

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Childhood obesity is rising and leading to serious co-morbidities, among which is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) predisposing individuals to cirrhosis. We describe a young 11-year-old Hispanic male who presented with hepatopulmonary syndrome secondary to cirrhotic portal hypertension from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), necessitating liver transplantation. Despite lifestyle modifications post-transplantation, the patient experienced persistent weight gain and recurrence of steatosis, emphasizing challenges of managing pediatric MASLD. The burden of childhood obesity is increasing and impacting children significantly earlier than previously believed. Our case is one of the few to report the severe complications of MASH in a young, pre-teen …

Antibiotics Aren’T Enough, Andrew R Dinardo, Christoph Lange

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Case Series: Joubert Syndrome And Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Jonathon Schening, Stephanie Leon-Paredes, Eric Chiou, Vibha Szafron, Anthony Olive, Sara Anvari

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Joubert syndrome (JS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by developmental abnormalities, particularly in the brainstem and cerebellar vermis, alongside multisystem manifestations such as kidney and liver anomalies, polydactyly, cleft lip or palate, and tongue defects. The underlying ciliopathy causing JS may also contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms and immune dysregulation via Wnt signaling and impaired epithelial maintenance. Dysmotility including Hirschsprung disease has been documented at increased rates in JS and in other ciliopathies. Our case series highlights how JS patients frequently exhibit feeding intolerance, vomiting, and poor growth, which may raise suspicion for an underlying gastrointestinal condition, such as eosinophilic …

Risk Factors For The Development Of Food Allergy In Infants And Children: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Nazmul Islam, Alexandro W L Chu, Falana Sheriff, Farid Foroutan, Gordon H Guyatt, Romina Brignardello-Petersen, Paul Oykhman, Alfonso Iorio, Ariel Izcovich, Katherine M Morrison, Yetiani Roldan Benitez, Rachel J Couban, Dorota Borovsky, Yiming Zhang, Leonardo Ologundudu, Keerthana Pasumarthi, Syed Fahad Farooq, Kyle Tong, Wang-Choi Tang, Haseeb Faisal, Muhammad Faran Khalid, Mohammad Saad Asif, Shannon French, Susan Waserman, R Sharon Chinthrajah, Hugh A Sampson, S Shahzad Mustafa, Jay A Lieberman, Kirsi M Järvinen, Sally Bailey, Philippe Bégin, Scott H Sicherer, Jennifer Gerdts, Melanie Carver, Lynda Mitchell, Kelly Cleary, Matthew J Greenhawt, Julie Wang, Aikaterini Anagnostou, Marcus S Shaker, Anita Chandra-Puri, Patricia C Fulkerson, Robert A Wood, Derek K Chu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Importance: The incidence and risk (predictive) factors for early life food allergy development remain uncertain.

Objective: To estimate the incidence and quantify risk factors for food allergy development.

Data sources: MEDLINE and Embase were systematically searched to January 1, 2025. Data were analyzed from June 1, 2025, to November 25, 2025.

Study selection: Incidence estimates included studies confirming food allergy via food challenge. Risk factor analyses included cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies in any language assessing children younger than 6 years using multivariable analyses.

Data extraction and synthesis: Paired reviewers independently extracted data. Random-effects meta-analyses pooled incidence and adjusted odds …

Plasma Proteins Associated With Psychosocial Factors And Heart Disease: The Jackson Heart Study, Sara N O'Brien, Madeline G Gillman, Michael D Green, Daniel E Cruz, James S Floyd, Susan Hankinson, Daniel H Katz, Xiaojuan Liu, Michelle C Odden, Bruce M Psaty, Alexander P Reiner, Jerome I Rotter, Stephen S Rich, Robert E Gerszten, Amil Shah, Mario Sims, Usman A Tahir, Lesley F Tinker, Alexis C Wood, Bing Yu, Anthony S Zannas, Laura M Raffield, Láshauntá M Glover

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Knowledge of proteomic mechanisms explaining the link between psychosocial stress and cardiovascular disease is limited. This study aimed to (1) identify plasma proteins associated with psychosocial factors and (2) assess associational pathways between psychosocial factors, identified proteins, and incident cardiovascular disease events in a discovery cohort, JHS (Jackson Heart Study), and 2 replication cohorts, the CHS (Cardiovascular Health Study), and the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis).

Methods: JHS participants from exam 1 (2000-2004) with SomaScan 1.3k platform proteomics data were included (n=2143, mean age=55.3). Depressive symptoms and perceived stress scores were measured via the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies …