Digital Commons Network^™

Unplugging For Wellness: Psycho-Behavioral Impact Of Social Media Detox In Medical Students, Hazhmat Ali, Deemah Shalan, Lubna Ahmed, Ahmed Abdulazeez, Bira Ahmed, Mohammed Khamo

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Social media detoxification has emerged as a strategy for enhancing well-being. This study investigates the effects of social media detox on the psychological well-being and academic performance of students. A total of 361 medical students participated in this study. After obtaining formal consent, the participants completed a structured survey administered in a controlled setting. The survey included sections on demographics, patterns of social media use (e.g., time spent, platforms accessed, and primary motivations), and standardized psychological assessment scales. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26. Most students (75.9%) reported using multiple social media …

Exploring The Relationships Between Emotional Intelligence, Perceived Organizational Support, Job Satisfaction, And Intent To Stay Among Minnesota School Nurses, Kristin K. Coudron

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

School nurses face escalating job demands driven by increasing student health complexity, chronic condition management, and expanding public health responsibilities. Often serving as the sole healthcare professional within a school or district, they work in settings characterized by high autonomy, variable organizational support, and growing concerns about job satisfaction and retention. Limited empirical research has examined how personal and organizational resources jointly relate to school nurses’ intent to remain in practice. Guided by the Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) theory and the National Association of School Nurses School Nursing Practice Framework, this quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional study explored relationships among emotional intelligence, …

Sanctuary: Counter-Oppressive Relationships With Farmed Animals As An Ecopsychological Imperative, Kelsey Bomboy

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Consumers are intentionally shielded from and often misled about the process of breeding, raising, and slaughtering animals for consumption. By confining most farmed animals to warehouses in rural areas while the majority of humans are sequestered in urban areas, we have effectively created a world where humans do not have to contend with the sense of interconnectedness that arises when witnessing and being witnessed by a farmed animal. Within industrial slaughterhouses, the physical act of killing is minimized to just a fraction of the workers, so that even those who are responsible for rendering a once living being will never …

Art As Activism: Emotional Expression And Collective Empowerment Among Muslim Participants Creating Protest Posters, Menhal Sheikh

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

Muslim Americans are among the most underserved populations in mental health care in the United States. In the wake of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, many Muslim Americans have experienced intensified psychological distress, including anxiety, grief, and a heightened sense of helplessness, while continuing to show up in the streets in protest. This mixed-methods study examined whether the collective process of protest poster-making leads to emotional expression among Muslim American participants. Eleven Muslim American participants across two groups in the San Francisco Bay Area completed a pre and post Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) to measure changes in affect, …

Loneliness And Social Isolation: Finding Connection Through Art, Elijah K. Wong

Art Therapy | Master's Theses

This study explored whether creativity might help alleviate feelings of loneliness and social isolation. The COVID-19 pandemic was an extraordinary event that significantly impacted people's emotional, physical, psychological, and social health globally. To gain insight into these impacts, the research focused on participants’ creative activities and their experiences of loneliness during and after the pandemic. The aim was to find possible links between making and viewing art and reducing feelings of loneliness and loneliness-related experiences. Ten participants were surveyed and asked about their artistry, their time during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their sense of belonging to a community. This investigation …

When Probiotics Guidelines Differ: A Practical Guide For Clinicians And Researchers, Geoffrey A Preidis, Hania Szajewska, Marla Cunningham, Howard Bauchner, Daniel J Merenstein

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Many professional organizations publish clinical practice guidelines for the use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disorders. Generally, no two guidelines align perfectly, and some differ markedly. These discrepancies occur because clinical practice guidelines are not purely mechanical outputs of data synthesis. They are shaped by structured interpretation, value judgments, and predefined thresholds for uncertainty. These elements become particularly visible when effect sizes are small, heterogeneity is high, and outcomes vary in clinical relevance-as is the case with probiotic research. This article examines why discordance among probiotic guidelines is predictable and provides practical guidance for clinicians who must decide among conflicting recommendations …

Interplay Of Autophagy And Mtor Signaling On Amyloid-Beta, Samuel Wycoff

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ), a process thought to result from an imbalance between Aβ production and clearance. Autophagy, a major intracellular degradation pathway regulated by the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for restoring Aβ homeostasis, although its precise role in Aβ metabolism remains unclear. This study investigated how pharmacological modulation of autophagy and mTOR signaling influences Aβ levels in both in vitro and in vivo models.

Wild-type SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were treated with a panel of autophagy-modulating compounds, and extracellular Aβ secretion was quantified alongside the …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices (Kap) Of Parents Regarding The Prevention And Control Of Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia In Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study, Omnia Soliman

Theses and Dissertations

Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) remains a major public health challenge in Egypt, where its persistently high and rising prevalence carries substantial consequences for child growth, cognitive development, immunity, and long-term health outcomes. Globally, approximately 40% of children aged 6–59 months are affected by anemia (World Health Organization, 2025), and Egypt mirrors this burden, with national data showing a worsening trend in recent years. In Egypt, national strategies have traditionally focused on biomedical interventions such as iron supplementation and food fortification, while less attention has been directed toward behavioral and household-level determinants, particularly parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related …

Nature-Based Therapy In The Uae: Leveraging Ecosystems To Alleviate Depression And Anxiety, Aya Abdul Karim Al-Taani, Mahmoud Mohammad Al-Gharaibeh, Ahmed A. Al-Taani

All Works

This review synthesizes current evidence on the relationship between natural ecosystems and mental health outcomes with a particular focus on arid and rapidly urbanizing contexts such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It introduces the Multi-Ecosystem Therapeutic Framework for Arid Urban Environments, which moves beyond generalized "nature exposure" models by systematically linking distinct environmental systems to mental health outcomes through identifiable psychological, physiological and social mechanisms. The framework is structured around three interconnected components: ecosystem types (urban green spaces, desert landscapes, mountain environments and blue spaces), mediating mechanisms (including psychological restoration, stress reduction, physical activity and social interaction) and mental …

Analysis Of U.S. Army Body Composition Policies: Implementation Effectiveness And Recommendations For Policy Enhancement At Brooke Army Medical Center, Michael L. Rizzo

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Manuscripts

US Army body composition policies (AR 600-9 and recent directives) are essential for military readiness, injury prevention, and force health protection, yet implementation gaps persist, particularly with the 2026 Department of Defense (DoD)-mandated waist-to-height ratio (WHtR < 0.55) transition. This DNP project evaluated policy implementation effectiveness at Brooke Army Medical Center using the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Logic Model and CFIR 2.0 framework. Analysis of 2022–2025 de-identified administrative data and 16 stakeholder questionnaires identified ≥10 implementation gaps, including low awareness of new standards and workload impacts. The project developed 8 evidence-based recommendations and an implementation roadmap to improve compliance, optimize resources, reduce administrative burden, and strengthen military readiness.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Variability In Prediction Of Target Organ Injury: The Ship Ahoy Study, Coral D Hanevold, Jang Dong Seo, Stephen R Daniels, Bonita E Falkner, Michael A Ferguson, Joseph T Flynn, Julie R Ingelfinger, Philip R Khoury, Marc B Lande, Kevin E Meyers, Mark Mitsnefes, Joshua Samuels, Elaine M Urbina

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Ambulatory hypertension is associated with elevated left ventricular mass index (LVMI), cardiac dysfunction, and increased arterial stiffness in adolescents. Whether the addition of measures of BP variability improves the prediction of subclinical cardiovascular target organ damage (TOD) over mean BP measures is not known.

Methods: We assessed clinic and ambulatory BP (ABP), anthropometrics, and TOD in 397 adolescents. ABP means standard deviation (SD), BP, and heart rate (HR) dipping were calculated; coefficients of variability (CV) were calculated (SD/mean) to assess ABP variabilities. Measures of TOD included LVMI, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), LV systolic shortening, LV diastolic function (e'/a'), and …

Characterization Of Regulation Of Ace2 And Morphogenesis (Ram) Pathway Components In Aspergillus Fumigatus, Devi Naga Jyothi Bale

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Aspergillus fumigatus CotA is a conserved protein kinase and predicted orthologue of Cbk1, a terminal kinase of the Regulation of Ace2 and Morphogenesis (RAM) network. In our previous study, disruption of CotA resulted in carbon source dependent invasive growth with the mutant exhibiting preferential growth on glucose but severely impaired growth on alternate carbon sources. This pathway in other fungi has been implicated in the regulation of morphogenesis, stress responses, and virulence, but this study is the first one to characterize it in the pathogenic filamentous fungus.  In yeast, the RAM network includes the CotA ortholog, Cbk1, and associated proteins, …

Effects Of Differentiated Physical Education Learning On Physical Fitness And Active Lifestyle Among Junior High School Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Asep Akbaruddin, Sumbara Hambali, Wahyu Saputra, Mochamad Fajar Permana

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Low levels of physical fitness and physical activity among junior high school students remain a significant concern in physical education. Differentiated instruction offers a potentially effective approach by tailoring learning activities, levels of difficulty, and instructional experiences to students’ readiness, interests, and abilities. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of differentiated physical education instruction on physical fitness and active lifestyles among junior high school students. Methods: A quantitative approach employing a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control-group design was adopted. A total of 90 junior high school students participated in the study, with 45 assigned to the experimental group and …

Health Horizons Journal, Volume 1, Issue 1

Health Horizons Journal

The Health Horizons Journal was founded in the fall semester of 2025 at Clemson University in order to establish a student-led journal that connects the Clemson community with global health content and empowers student researchers. The mission of this journal is to provide students with an opportunity to publish their research and promote access to scholarly work through open-access publication. This journal is dedicated to publishing at no cost to authors and providing submitting authors from any institution at the undergraduate or graduate levels with equal consideration.

Improving health outcomes on a global scale begins with interdisciplinary collaboration and the …

The Commercialization Of Wellness: Gray Market Peptides & Cancer, Bryan M. Burt

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

No abstract provided.

“It Feels Like Your Life Hinges On Me”: Lived Experience Of Being Next Of Kin To Someone Who Self-Harms, Kenneth Haugjord, John-Kåre Vederhus, Tore Dag Bøe, Kristine Dahl

The Qualitative Report

Through previous research, attention has been drawn to the burden experienced by next of kin to someone struggling with self-harm, yet less attention has been given to how they experience and make sense of the relational and existential complexity of this role in their everyday lives. We asked how next of kin experienced and made sense of caring for a loved one who self-harmed. We conducted in-depth interviews with fourteen next of kin, including parents, partners, and siblings, and analyzed the data through reflexive thematic analysis within an interpretive qualitative framework. Our analysis generated an overarching theme, "It Feels Like …

Asking Questions Of The Data: Operationalizing The Disruptive Aims Of Poststructural Discourse Analysis, Maxxine Rattner

The Qualitative Report

I wrote this paper to support qualitative researchers in accessibly engaging with poststructural discourse analysis. In it, I detail how I flexibly adapted this methodology to meet my study’s aims. I begin by outlining poststructural understandings of discourse and explaining why a researcher may choose a poststructural discourse analysis for a study’s theoretical and methodological framework. While published poststructural discourse analyses commonly draw upon Foucauldian concepts to guide analysis, in this paper I share a more expansive approach. I demonstrate how developing and asking questions of the data can be one way to analyze diverse texts for the presence of …

Interpretative Repertoires Of Resilience Among Beginning Teachers In Chile, Paula Villalobos-Vergara, Diego Palacios, Joel Alvarez Ruf, Rodrigo Vergara Ortuzar

The Qualitative Report

In this study, we analyze how beginning teachers in Chile construct meanings around resilience during their first year of professional induction, within a context of intensified teachers’ work and limited institutional support. Drawing on a socioecological perspective and Critical Discursive Psychology, we developed a qualitative design focused on interpretative repertoires. Ten beginning teachers from various subject areas, educational levels, and regions participated, with each being interviewed at two time points, six months apart. Through an abductive analysis, we identified three affective–discursive repertoires. The first construct enters the profession as a generational tension, in which innovation is associated with youth, while, …

Epidemiological, Clinicopathological, And Molecular Features Of Melanoma In Oman: A Single-Institution Study, Boris Itkin, Zahida Niaz, Khadiga Mohammed, Tauseef Ali, Syeda Sara Tajammul, Zubair Ahmad, Prashant Ajit Deshpande, Muhammad Rashid Hanif, Maha Al Shaibi, Mohammad Al Hosni

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: Published data on melanoma in Oman are scarce. This study aimed to describe epidemiological, clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of melanoma patients in a single institution in Oman. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with a histopathological diagnosis of invasive melanoma who were assessed at Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Centre, Muscat, Oman, between July 2021 and February 2025. Data on patient demographics, comorbidities, melanoma type, localisation, stage, key histopathological and molecular characteristics were extracted from electronic clinical charts and quantitatively described. Results: A total of 31 patients were included. The median age at diagnosis was 52.9 years …

Associations Of Subclinical Hypothyroidism And Thyroid Autoimmunity With Insulin Resistance Independent Of Adiposity: An Analysis Of Nhanes, Iman Taher Hussein

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

A thyroid–inflammation–insulin pathway has been proposed in which thyroid dysfunction promotes inflammation and thereby reduces insulin sensitivity, but adiposity-adjusted population evidence is limited. This cross-sectional analysis examined whether subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and thyroid autoimmunity are associated with insulin resistance independently of body mass index (BMI), and whether C-reactive protein (CRP), the only inflammatory biomarker available, is associated with either, using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2012 data. Non-pregnant adults aged 18–60 years with fasting glucose < 126 mg/dL and normal free thyroxine were included; SCH was defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 4.5–10 mIU/L, and insulin resistance was quantified by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Linear regression of log HOMA-IR accounted for the complex survey design (strata, clusters, weights) and was adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and survey cycle, with sensitivity and interaction analyses. Among 2,434 adults (89 with SCH), no association with HOMA-IR was detected for TSH (β = 0.009 per mIU/L; 95% CI -0.014 to 0.032), SCH (β = -0.035; 95% CI -0.186 to 0.115), or thyroid peroxidase …

Veterinary Vaccine Registration: Global Regulatory Standards, Harmonization, And Approval Challenges, Dhithya Venkateswaran, Trong Tung Nguyen, Quynh Anh Nguyen, Hongyao Lin, Roypim Suntisukwattana, Waranya Atthaapa, Angkana Tantituvanont, Dachrit Nilubol

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The global demand for veterinary vaccines is growing due to the rising incidence of transboundary animal diseases and the increasing recognition of animal health as a cornerstone of public and environmental well-being. Central to this effort is a robust and well-defined vaccine registration process, which ensures that products entering the market meet established standards of safety, quality, and efficacy. Despite progress, the veterinary regulatory landscape remains fragmented, with varying protocols, timelines, and expectations across countries and regions. This review critically examines global regulatory frameworks and key data requirements involved in veterinary vaccine development and approval, including the roles of key …

Comment On “Advancing Lipid Management: Saudi Heart Association Position Statement On Pcsk9-Targeted Therapies In The Primary And Secondary Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease”, Ali Faris Altebainawi

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

No abstract provided.

Ribosomal Biogenesis In Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Less-Attended Process With Profound Implications For Oncogenesis And Therapeutic Vulnerability, Muhammad-Redha Abdullah-Zawawi, Nadiah Abu, Nurul Syakima Ab Mutalib, Farah Azima Abdul Muttlib, Hafiza Alauddin

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Beyond Chronological Age: Performance Status And Clinical Frailty Predict Survival In Saudi Geriatric Lymphoma Patients: A Competing Risk Analysis, Musa Fares Alzahrani, Ghazi S. Alotaibi, Sarah S. Sewaralthahab, Fatima A. Alshalati, Ibrahim N. Alrumaih, Badraa A. Muharib, Kazi Nur Asfina, Saleh Ahmed Alkholaif, Shaden A. Albassam, Saleh Abdullah Aljanah, Shahad A. Al Hemidin, Ahmed Y. Jamal, Fadi S. Alakeel, Walid A. Alkeridy, Farjah H. Algahtani, Aamer Aleem

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic impact of performance status, frailty, and treatment intensity on survival outcomes in a geriatric lymphoma cohort using a competing risk framework. In Saudi Arabia, despite a growing aging population, there is a lack of literature detailing frailty or survival dynamics for geriatric lymphoma patients.
Methods: We conducted retrospective cohort study in Tertiary center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Geriatric patients (≥ 60 years) diagnosed with lymphoma during 2011–2024 were analyzed. Baseline demographics, laboratory parameters, pathology, and frailty status were extracted. Survival dynamics were modeled using cumulative incidence functions to isolate lymphoma-related mortality (LRM) from age-related competing …

Growth, Methodological Evolution, And Clinical Maturity Of Artificial Intelligence Research In Major Medical Journals, 2018–2025: A Longitudinal Bibliometric Study, Abdulraoof Alsaeedi, Norah Alqarni, Ibrahim Rozi, Mohamed Ibrahim

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To quantify changes in the volume, methods, and clinical maturity of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) research in major medical journals from 2018 through 2025.
Methods: We conducted a longitudinal bibliometric study of PubMed-indexed records from 99 leading clinical and general medical journals. The search was conducted on July 2026. Records were deduplicated and classified as empirical AI/ML research, evidence synthesis, AI discourse, or unclassified. Empirical studies were categorized by model family and clinical maturity. Journal-year Poisson generalized estimating equations used total substantive publications as an offset and clustered observations by journal.
Results: Among 6,891 unique publications, …

Barriers To And Needs For The Implementation Of Artificial Intelligence In Radiation Therapy Planning In Saudi Arabia. A Cross-Sectional Survey, Abdulaziz Alshaikh, Ghadah Alqarni, Abdulaziz Alghamdi, Khalid Alrabiah, Nasser Al-Rajhi, Mohammed Aldehaim

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess radiation oncology physicians' perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) in radiation therapy planning in Saudi Arabia and identify barriers to and support needs for its implementation.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed through the Saudi Association of Radiation Oncology email list to 142 physicians from April to May 2026. We analyzed responses using descriptive statistics and exploratory 2-sided Fisher exact tests comparing residents with nonresidents.
Results: Forty-three complete responses were analyzed (response rate: 30.3%). A total of 33 (76.7%) respondents agreed or strongly agreed that AI would improve planning accuracy and efficiency. Nineteen (44.2%) reported no workplace …

Artificial Intelligence In Gastrointestinal Precision Medicine: A Critical Appraisal Through The Lens Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Abdulrahman G. Alharbi, Abdulrahman A. Aljabri

Saudi Medical Journal

Artificial intelligence (AI) now supports many facets of gastrointestinal and hepatic care, from lesion recognition during endoscopy to the interpretation of large molecular datasets. This review first outlines AI's broader role across gastroenterology and hepatology, and then uses inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as a case study for AI-assisted multiomics integration. The review applies a consistent evidentiary framework that distinguishes exploratory, retrospective, and prospective study designs. Retrospective genomic and image-based studies report promising discriminative performance for risk classification and lesion detection, but this evidence remains largely exploratory or retrospective, whereas prospective randomized evidence is currently strongest for AI-assisted endoscopic polyp detection. …

Association Of Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog Mutation With The Prognosis Of Colorectal Cancer In Arab Countries And Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mohammed Ageeli Hakami, Hassan Abdullah Albargy

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To quantify the potential impact of Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) mutation on survival outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients from Arab countries, particularly in Saudi Arabia. As a chief cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide, CRC shows a rising incidence across Arab countries. Among molecular drivers, KRAS mutation plays a pivotal role in tumor initiation, resistance to therapies, and disease progression. Nonetheless, the prognostic influence of KRAS mutation in Arab populations remains inconclusive.
Methods: Key databases were searched to find appropriate publications. Eligible studies evaluated KRAS mutation’s association with overall survival (OS) in CRC patients from Arab nations. Hazard ratios …

An Occupational Revolution: Reclaiming What Matters, Carol Lambdin-Pattavina, Wendy B. Stav, Nicole Quint, Sandee M. Dunbar

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Intentional use of the word occupation to describe why, what, and how we do as occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants is central to maintaining our professional identity and to centering occupation in everyday practice. Throughout occupational therapy's history, using occupation, as opposed to words such as task or activity, has fallen both in and out of favor in practice and education in the United States. Some argue that task and activity, while not reflective of the nuances of the word occupation, including meaning and purpose, are more accessible to external audiences than occupation, which is often confused with …

Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions Of Sexuality And Intimacy Education: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jennifer H. Barnett, Amanda K. Giles

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Sexuality and intimacy are meaningful activities within the scope of occupational therapy (OT), encompassing valued roles and occupations that contribute significantly to a person’s health, well-being, and identity. Despite acknowledgement of their importance, many occupational therapists overlook these areas during routine assessment and intervention because of feelings of insufficient knowledge, comfort, and confidence. This study used a cross-sectional design to electronically survey 149 occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) students across their first, second, or third year of education to determine their perceptions of sexuality and intimacy education. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed via codebook …