Digital Commons Network^™

Lovastatin Potentiates The Function Of Α7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, Dmytro Isaev, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Murat Oz

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background/Objectives: Statins are currently one of the most commonly used cholesterol-lowering drugs. In recent years, in addition to their well-known effects on the cardiovascular system, statins have been shown to exert beneficial effects in the progression of various neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Methods: In this study, the effects of lovastatin on the function of α7-nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors expressed in rat hippocampus and Xenopus oocytes were investigated. Results: In whole-cell patch clamp studies in hippocampal neurons, 21-day chronic (20 mg/kg), but not acute (20 min), lovastatin treatment caused significant potentiation of choline (a selective agonist for α7 nACh receptors)-induced currents …

Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scoring Implementation In A Critical Access Hospital, Jasmine A. Hobbs

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Mechanically ventilated patients who are boarding in rural emergency departments face an increased risk of inconsistent sedation management due to the lack of standardized protocols and the extended transfer times to higher levels of care. The variability in sedation practices can lead to both under- and over-sedation, which negatively affects patient comfort, safety, and clinical outcomes. Research suggests that sedation protocols incorporating the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) can shorten mechanical ventilation duration and improve clinical outcomes. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a targeted educational intervention on improving nursing knowledge and comfort with the RASS …

Mitochondria-Er Contact Sites (Mercs) In The Cell Cycle: Molecular Architecture And Functional Remodeling Across Cellular States, Eduardo Silva-Pavez, Bruno Torres-Gonzalez, Michelle Sotomayor, Benjamín Cartes-Saavedra, Dorian V. Ziegler, Yessia Hidalgo-Fadic, Ulises Ahumada-Castro

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Mitochondria–endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contact sites (MERCS) are nanoscopic, dynamic platforms integrating metabolism, signaling, and stress responses to regulate cell fate. These nanoscopic interfaces remodel continuously to meet the demands of proliferating, quiescent, and senescent cells. We synthesize evidence that MERCS actively coordinate local Ca2+ signaling, non-vesicular lipid transfer, and proteostasis to shape mitochondrial function and cellular homeostasis. We discuss how MERCS architecture changes across the cell cycle and during arrest, distinguishing adaptive from maladaptive remodeling, and consider therapeutic potential in aging and age-related disease.

Expert Recommendations To Strengthen Chikungunya Outbreak Surveillance And Reporting For Traveler Health Protection, Daniel C. Payne, Karoun H. Bagamian, Jeffery Goad, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Michael A. Johansson, Moritz U. G. Kraemer, Eyal Leshem, Francesca F. Norman, Alfonso J. Rodríguez-Morales, Henrik Salje, Stephen Thomas, Scott C. Weaver, Lindsey A. Laytner, Rebecca Sturgis, Suzanne K. Scheele, Davidson H. Hamer

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Chikungunya, a debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by chikungunya virus, has surged dramatically in the past two decades. Chikungunya outbreaks can intensify rapidly, with infections posing a significant endemic health burden in tropical/subtropical areas and for travelers. Health professionals require timely and accurate outbreak information to adequately protect travelers and assess chikungunya risk. However, detection is often insufficient in the areas most susceptible to outbreaks, leading to diagnostic and reporting delays. Consequently, travelers are often unaware of increased chikungunya infection risk at their destination. We assessed chikungunya surveillance and reporting resources, and we developed expert recommendations for traveler health protection. Because …

Examining The Ligands, Location, And Function Of Toll-Like Receptor 10, Kiefer Keanu Tam

Master's Theses

Toll-like receptors are a class of innate immune pattern recognition receptors that detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns and regulate downstream inflammatory responses. Toll-like receptor 10 remains the only human TLR whose ligand specificity, cellular localization, and immunological function are not fully defined. Emerging evidence suggests that TLR10 may play an anti-inflammatory role and can heterodimerize with TLR2 to modulate immune signaling. Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that stimulation with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis promotes TLR2-TLR10 heterodimerization and trafficking to the cell surface. In this study, we expanded our ligand panel to include additional gram-positive bacteria, particularly anti-inflammatory probiotic species, to further …

Postpartum Depression: A National Crisis Calling For Federal Support, Sarah A. Stallsworth

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States, yet it remains significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated. Despite decades of research illuminating its prevalence and detrimental consequences, federal intervention has been limited.  States retain responsibility to address the issue and possess inconsistent and limited legislation.  The purpose of this paper is to propose adding PPD screening as a National Performance Measure (NPM) within the Title V Maternal and Child (MCH) block grant. MCH is a longstanding and resourceful program that provides states funds to address maternal mental health needs. This proposal suggests leveraging a PPD NPM …

Mapping Rna Structure Assembly And Remodeling In Biomolecular Condensates, Ritwika Bose, Erik W Bergstrom, Sovanny R Taylor, Steven Boeynaems, Joshua A Riback, Furqan M Fazal, Anthony M Mustoe

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Biomolecular condensates concentrate RNA and protein machinery that facilitate RNA processing, ribonucleoprotein assembly, and gene regulation. Some evidence supports that condensates can modulate RNA folding, but measuring RNA structure within native condensates remains an unsolved challenge. Here we introduce RAID-MaP, a strategy that combines APEX proximity labeling with dimethyl sulfate (DMS) chemical probing to measure RNA structure within defined subcellular compartments. We applied RAID-MaP to resolve late stages of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) folding within the granular component (GC) of the nucleolus, revealing that both the 18S and 28S rRNAs feature widespread differences in structure compared to assembled ribosomes consistent with …

The Effects Of Asymmetric Cervical Muscle Fatigue On Cervical Proprioception, Stepping, And Standing Postural Sway, Maryam Homafar

LSU Master's Theses

Background: The cervical spine contributes critically to proprioception and postural control through its dense mechanoreceptor population. The acute effects of asymmetrical cervical muscle fatigue on proprioception, gait, and balance remain understudied, especially considering its widespread occurrence in multiple populations.

Objective: To investigate the acute effects of asymmetrical cervical muscle fatigue on cervical proprioception, stepping ability, and standing postural sway in healthy young adults.

Methods: Eighteen of 25 healthy participants, who met the inclusion criterion of baseline cervical joint position error (CJPE) below 4.5° for left and right rotational directions, completed pre-fatigue and post-fatigue assessments with eyes closed, including CJPE test, …

Waterway: A Steam-Based Therapeutic Device System, Mingyuan Dong

Masters Theses

Across history and global cultures, water has played a central and often spiritual role in practices of care, from cleansing rituals to saunas and steam therapies. Yet, within contemporary product design, water is typically treated as a utility rather than as an experiential material capable of shaping perception, attention, and well-being. This thesis, Waterway, investigates how water, specifically in its steam state, can be designed as both a therapeutic medium and a ritualized experience that engages the body and mind.

Waterway proposes a steam-based wellness system that addresses physical pain and somatic discomfort while cultivating slower, more attentive interaction. Rather …

Promising Efficacy Of Avapritinib In Pdgfra Ecdna–Amplified Glioblastoma, Sydni Rosenfeld, Artem Berezovsky, Indrani Datta, Andrea Transou, Susan Irtenkauf, Laura Hasselbach, Ana C. Decarvalho

Medical Student Research Symposium

Background: Avapritinib, a selective inhibitor of mutated class III receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), shows promise in PDGFRA-altered pediatric glioma. We studied its efficacy in a glioblastoma (GBM) model (HF3253) containing two PDGFRA alterations: constitutive activation via an indel mutation and extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) amplification. We hypothesized that Avapritinib would preferentially improve survival in PDGFRA-amplified tumors.

Methods: Orthotopic xenografts derived from HF3253 PDGFRA ecDNA(+) (n=19) and ecDNA(-) (n=10) cells were treated with 40 mg/kg Avapritinib (5 days/week). To validate the role of PDGFRA expression, wild-type PDGFRA was overexpressed in ecDNA(-) cells, generating high PDGFRA levels with minimal ligand-independent activation in vivo. …

Evidence-Based Approaches To Managing Adolescent Aggression, April Dade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Improving Graft-Versus-Host Disease Documentation Through Provider Education On An Epic-Based Gvhd Documentation Flowsheet, Emily Shearon

Doctoral Projects

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a common and serious complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Accurate documentation of GvHD severity and management is essential for clinical decision-making, interdisciplinary communication, and regulatory reporting to organizations such as the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) and the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). Despite the availability of structured documentation tools within the electronic health record (EHR), their utilization is often inconsistent. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether a targeted provider-focused intervention could improve completion rates of a standardized GvHD documentation flowsheet …

In Silico Molecular Docking Study Of Antidiabetic Bioactive Compounds From Brotowali (Tinospora Cordifolia) Targeting Glut4 In Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus, Gita Euaggelion Tarigan, Surya Dwira

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and impaired glucose uptake. Despite the availability of pharmacological therapies, limitations such as adverse effects and high costs highlight the need for alternative therapeutic candidates. Tinospora cordifolia has been widely reported to contain bioactive compounds with antidiabetic potential; however, comparative evaluation of their interaction with glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) remains limited.

This study aimed to identify the most promising bioactive compounds from Tinospora cordifolia targeting GLUT4 using an in silico molecular docking approach, followed by pharmacokinetic and toxicity (ADMET) prediction. Molecular docking was performed using …

Evaluating The Association Between Chronic Health Conditions And Caregiver Burden For Male Dementia Caregivers, Dareion D. Hill-Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Beyond Stabilization: Biological Healing, Structural Exclusion, And The Recovery Gap After Border-Fall Trauma At The U.S.-Mexico Border, Julia Robinson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This honors thesis examines the biochemical, ethical, and public health consequences of insufficient post-operative follow-up care for undocumented immigrants injured in border falls. Discussing pathways of inflammation resolution, wound healing, and bone remodeling, this thesis argues that recovery depends on tightly regulated molecular and cellular processes that are highly vulnerable to disruption without continued monitoring and rehabilitation (Loi et al., 2016; Maruyama et al., 2020). When follow-up care is absent, these processes can be predicted to derail, leading to infection, impaired healing, and permanent disability (Chung & Sohn, 2025; Howard et al., 2020; Kruidenier et al., 2018). Framed through principles …

Predictive Models Of Student Mental Health: The Correlation Between Academic Burnout And Depression In The Higher Education Environment, Hyejoon Song

Masters Theses

Importance: Over 80% of U.S. college students report significant emotional difficulties, and 58% endorse academic burnout as a persistent concern, yet institution-specific data at faith-integrated universities such as Liberty University remain scarce, limiting evidence-based programmatic response.

Objective: To examine the correlation between academic burnout and depressive symptomatology at Liberty University, identify the most predictive individual burnout item via Random Forest machine learning, and characterize distinct student risk profiles via KMeans clustering. Design, Setting, Participants: Cross-sectional survey (IRB-FY24-25-1491, Exempt) of 236 Liberty University students (mean age 36.9 ± 14.3 years; 84.0% female; 61.0% graduate-level), 2025–2026 academic year.

Main Outcome and Measures: …

The Ramification Of Mutations In Sonic Hedgehog Gene On The Occurrence Of Deformities In The Course Of The Embryonic Development Stage, Umalbaneen Hilal Hadi, Safa J. Al-Yassiri

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) is one of the most significant genes regulating embryonic development in mammals, playing a pivotal role in cell differentiation, tissue fate determination, and regulating lateral symmetry of the embryo. The results of this research show that any mutation whether, a loss of function or a change in the regulation of gene expression in SHH gene leads to severe and highly complex consequences for embryonic development.as a result for that, severe disorders of CNS development SHH is a morphogen essential for germline formation and neuronal differentiation. Mutations in this gene result in failure to develop properly the cerebellum, …

Barriers To Physical Activity Among Community College Students, Erica Keels

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceived barriers, motivators, and student-identified strategies related to physical activity among students enrolled at a community college located in Northwest Florida. Guided by the Social Ecological Model (SEM), Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Health Belief Model (HBM), and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study employed a qualitative descriptive design to examine students’ lived experiences and perceptions that influence their physical activity behaviors. Data were collected through an online open-ended survey administered to students aged 18 years and older. A total of 134 students initially accessed the survey, and 126 eligible participants …

Staff Education Introducing Music Therapy For Older Adults With Depression, Yvette Negnemboh Takwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Improve Early-Stage Chronic Kidney Disease Patient Education, Yoel Madruga Reyes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Beyond Crisis: Patient Access And Sustainability, Miguel A. Mendoza

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Critical systems underwent drastic workflow adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these operational alterations persist today, while others have been reduced or eliminated. This is a qualitative study on the operational, technological, and human-centered challenges experienced by healthcare organizations providing primary care services in Southwest Ohio during and immediately after the pandemic. This flexible research design implements in-depth, semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals leading primary care operations to capture a longitudinal perspective on pandemic-era service delivery, and the legacy systems still in place today. Thematic analysis revealed seven themes that determine the effectiveness of care delivery models. Social Determinants …

Mitochondrial Ca2+ Uniporter (Mcu) Variants Form Plasma-Membrane Channels, Iuliia Polina, Jyotsna Mishra, Michael Cypress, Maria Landherr, Nedyalka Valkov, Isabel Chaput, Bridget Nieto, Brian Rhee, Ameneh Ahrari, Nathan Demichaelis, Kye-Im Jeon, Ulrike Mende, Peng Zhang, Bong Sook Jhun, Jin O-Uchi

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

MCU, originally known as CCDC109A, is widely recognized as the gene responsible for encoding a pore-forming subunit of a Ca2+-selective channel, mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter complex (mtCUC). While MCU expression is typically highly mitochondrial-specific, we report here a protein variant derived from the MCU gene, termed MCU-S, which lacks the mitochondria-targeting sequence (MTS) and forms a Ca2+-permeable channel outside of mitochondria. The mRNA of MCU-S was ubiquitously expressed in all cell types/tissues tested, with particularly high expression in human platelets. MCU-S protein formed Ca2+ channels at the plasma membrane, which exhibited similar channel properties to those observed in mtCUC. MCU-S channels …

Effect Of Covid-19 Treatments On Kidney Function Within Type 2 Diabetic Iraqi Patients, Esraa Abd Al-Karim Marouf

Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Recent studies have shown that the use of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids (especially dexamethasone) in individuals with COVID-19 can help prevent respiratory damage and death by modifying the inflammatory injury that occurs in the lung. This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of the use of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids on the level of diabetes and kidney function in patients with COVID-19. The study was conducted at Al-Shifa Hospital for quarantine in Ramadi city on 160 patients with COVID age range (40-70 years), some of whom had diabetes and the other did not have diabetes. They were treated with corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, …

Movement-Stabilized Three-Dimensional Optical Recordings Of Membrane Potential Changes And Calcium Dynamics In Hippocampal Ca1 Dendrites, Kevin C Gonzalez, Satoshi Terada, Asako Noguchi, George N Zakka, Cliodhna O'Toole, Giuliana Bilbao, Luke Reynolds, Anna Jász, Borbála Kertész, Zoltán Szadai, Alissa Shen, François St-Pierre, Franck Polleux, Attila Losonczy, Balázs Rózsa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Local dendritic computations are thought to critically influence neuronal signaling and plasticity yet remain largely unexplored in vivo due to challenges in stably imaging small structures at ultrafast timescales. We developed a 3D real-time motion correction platform for movement-stabilized, ultrafast two-photon voltage imaging. By co-labeling CA1 pyramidal neurons with voltage and calcium indicators, we simultaneously measured somato-dendritic and electro-calcium coupling at multiple dendritic sites. We characterized isolated dendritic spikes and distance-dependent backpropagation of naturally occurring and photostimulation-evoked bursts and single spikes. We found that bursts backpropagated more reliably than single spikes, validated that somato-dendritic coupling decreases with distance from soma, …

Factors Associated With Vaping Frequency Among University Students, Oluwatosin Marylyn Oduneye

Masters Theses

Electronic cigarette use among university students is a growing public health concern, with approximately 20-25% reporting current use. Despite extensive research on vaping initiation, factors associated with vaping frequency among established users remain understudied. This study examined stress-coping mechanisms, peer influence, and health risk perceptions as predictors of vaping frequency, guided by Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). A quantitative cross-sectional survey was administered via Microsoft Forms to 399 university students aged 21-25 with recent vaping experience, recruited nationally through campus flyers and online platforms. Multiple linear regression was conducted in SAS OnDemand for Academics, with stress-coping, peer influence, and health …

Repurposing Semaglutide As An Adjunctive Treatment For Cocaine Use Disorder: Protocol For A Randomised Controlled Trial, Luba Yammine, Francesco Versace, Charles E Green, Heather E Webber, Jin Ho Yoon, Absalon D Gutierrez, Samuel J Leonard, Michael F Weaver, Joy Schmitz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a significant public health concern in the USA, with considerable prevalence and mortality and no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pharmacotherapies. Recent advances in addiction science emphasise the need for novel, mechanism-based treatments. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, have shown promise in modulating reward-related behaviours and may offer therapeutic benefits for CUD. We present a study protocol evaluating semaglutide, as an adjunct to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), as a novel approach for treating CUD.

Methods and analysis: This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolling 75 treatment-seeking adults with CUD. Participants will …

Exploring The Impact Of Cultural Beliefs On Death Anxiety: A Qualitative Study To Inform Healthcare Education And Practices, Sharon Sonnilal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A hermeneutic phenomenological approach framed this qualitative study, examining how cultural beliefs, spiritual traditions, and relational contexts shape death anxiety and meaning-making among adults from diverse backgrounds. Terror Management Theory and Culturally Sensitive Grief Treatment guided the conceptualization of death anxiety as a culturally mediated and relational phenomenon rather than an isolated psychological response. A purposive sample of 13 adults aged 18 and older represented diverse cultural, racial, gender, and spiritual identities. Recruitment occurred via Instagram, and participants completed an open-ended demographic and narrative survey. Participants who provided rich survey narratives received invitations to complete semi-structured Zoom interviews to deepen …

Inadequate Access To Healthcare In Low-Income Hispanic Communities In Brooklyn, Joanna Marie Garcia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative research was to understand healthcare disparities using the Solar and Irwin conceptual framework and to shed light on healthcare disparities as the reason low-income Hispanic patients, male and female, from the ages of 20-90 in Brooklyn, New York, received inadequate access to healthcare. Healthcare disparities represented a critical issue in providing adequate patient care for adult Hispanic patients within the United States healthcare system. Research into healthcare disparities has been conducted; however, detailed information about the causes of the disparities was lacking, especially concerning inadequate access to healthcare in low-income Hispanic communities. This qualitative research …

Increasing Near-Miss Reporting: An Evidence-Based Approach, Rosalud H. Sanchez-Lozada

Doctoral Projects

Near-miss events, defined as errors intercepted before reaching the patient, offer valuable opportunities for learning and prevention, particularly in high-acuity intensive care units (ICUs). Despite the availability of electronic reporting systems and national emphasis on patient safety, near-miss reporting remains inconsistent in many critical care settings. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project evaluated the impact of a structured educational intervention on near-miss reporting within a cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) at a large academic medical center. A single-group pre–post design was used to examine changes in reporting trends following a three-week intervention that included staff education, leadership …

Imbalance In Wnt: Retinoic Acid Signaling Dysregulates Hox Gene Expression: Implications For Cancer Stem Cell Heterogeneity And Crc Patient Survival, Brian Osmond, Chi Zhang, Pascal K. Kataboh, Caroline O. B. Facey, Lynn M. Opdenaker, Bruce M. Boman

Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Faculty Papers

How HOX transcription factors play a role in the stem cell (SC) origin of cancer is unclear. Our goal is to determine how dysregulation of HOX gene expression promotes colorectal cancer (CRC) development through aberrant SC regulatory mechanisms. We investigated retinoic acid (RA) and WNT signaling because they regulate HOX expression and both pathways are dysregulated in cancer. Previously, we reported WNT and RA pathways are functionally linked, and in CRC, APC mutation generates a WNT:RA imbalance leading to incomplete differentiation and SC overpopulation. We hypothesize that aberrant WNT- and RA-signaling dysregulates HOX expression that contributes to the SC origin …