Digital Commons Network^™

Medicaid Expansion And Frequent Mental Distress Among U.S. Adults: Staggered Did Using Brfss, 2011 To 2024, Abimbola Adegoke, Kola Adegoke, Olajide Alfred Durojaye, Deborah Dawodu, Abiodun Isola Aluko, Akorede Adekoya, Kenneth A. Knapp

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allowed states to expand Medicaid eligibility, potentially improving access to care and reducing psychological distress among lower-income adults. However, evidence on population-level mental health effects remains mixed, and conventional two-way fixed-effects difference-in-differences (DiD) estimates can be biased under staggered adoption. This study estimates the effect of Medicaid expansion on frequent mental distress (FMD) among non-elderly adults, with emphasis on lower-income adults. We used Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2011 to 2024 and restricted the sample to adults aged 18 to 64 years. FMD was defined as ≥14 days of poor mental health …

Acute Traumatic Aortic Injury: What The Radiologist Needs To Know, Kristina Ramirez-Garcia, Catalina Jaramillo, Emma Ferguson, Jason Au, Erika Odisio, Gustavo S Oderich, Daniel Ocazionez, Cihan Duran, Thanila Macedo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Acute traumatic aortic injury (ATAI) is a rare but life-threatening consequence of blunt trauma that requires prompt diagnosis and accurate imaging assessment. This review presents an imaging-based approach to ATAI, with emphasis on computed tomography angiography (CTA) as the first-line modality for diagnosis, grading, treatment planning, and follow-up. CTA enables the detection of both direct and indirect signs while also allowing for the assessment of lesion severity, extent, and associated findings that may influence management. Familiarity with common mimics and anatomic variants improves diagnostic confidence and helps avoid false positive interpretations. Careful protocol optimization, including multiphasic acquisition, bolus timing, and …

Three-Dimensional Imaging Of Neuronal Activation Patterns In Chronic Neuropathic Pain And Opioid Pharmacology, Madeline Martinez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Chronic neuropathic pain severely diminishes quality of life, yet the supraspinal neural circuits that sustain pain perception and mediate analgesic relief remain incompletely characterized. While peripheral and spinal pain pathways are well established, relatively few studies have mapped pain- or opioid-related neuronal activation across the entire brain. This dissertation employed activity-dependent genetic labeling (TRAP2/Ai9), whole-brain tissue clearing, light sheet microscopy, and graph-theoretic network analysis to characterize brain-wide activation patterns across chronic pain and analgesic conditions in mice.

In Chapter 1, we mapped supraspinal neuronal activation in a bilateral spared nerve injury model of chronic neuropathic pain. Although no individual region …

Engineering Of Genetically Encoded Programmable Calcium Channel Inhibitory Binders, Xiaoxuan Liu, Sher Ali, Tien-Hung Lan, Decheng Wang, Brendan Mckee, Tatsuki Nonomura, Siyao Liu, Feng Zhao, Michael X Zhu, Yun Huang, Qing Deng, Guolin Ma, Yubin Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Store-operated Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channels, composed of STIM and ORAI, are essential for immune and developmental processes, and their dysregulation underlies channelopathies such as Stormorken syndrome. Here, we report the engineering of genetically encoded CRAC channel inhibitory binders (CRABs) derived from the ORAI C-terminal tail. Guided by deep mutational scanning, we optimize a membrane-anchored CRAB variant that potently inhibits Ca2+ influx and NFAT signaling, and rescues thrombocytopenia-like phenotypes in a zebrafish model of Stormorken syndrome. To enable tunable inhibition, we further design oligomeric, optogenetic (Opto-CRAB), and chemogenetic (Chemo-CRAB) variants, providing graded and real-time control of CRAC activity. Chemo-CRAB further …

Can Music-Based Interventions Improve The Prelinguistic Skills Of Young Children On The Autism Spectrum? A Systematic Review, Blythe Serrano

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Many children on the autism spectrum have difficulty developing prelinguistic skills

such as joint attention, purposeful vocalization, and gesture, which are strongly

related to later expressive and receptive language development. This systematic

review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of music-based interventions in

supporting the development of these foundational prelinguistic skills in young

children on the autism spectrum. Five databases were searched, yielding a total of

332 results. Five articles ultimately met criteria for inclusion. Results of these studies

were mixed, with studies in which the intervention was delivered by a professional

rather than a caregiver yielding more positive results. Additional …

Physical Therapy Patient Exercise Adherence Intervention, Carter D. Booe, Dean Clark, Ernesto Duenez, Aiden Haworth, Nathan Jaeger, Gabe Tross, Emery Wolfe

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Non-adherence to prescribed home exercise programs significantly undermines the efficacy of physical therapy (PT), with research indicating only approximately 35% of patients fully adhere to regimens. This issue contributes to suboptimal recovery and places a staggering financial burden on the healthcare system, estimated at $100 billion to $300 billion annually. The Physical Therapy Home Exercise Adherence Trial (PT-HEAT) evaluates the effectiveness of a 14-week behavioral education intervention designed to improve patient adherence outside the clinical setting.

Utilizing the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model, this protocol involves PT staff administering a motivational-volitional screener, followed by trained student aides delivering targeted …

Continuous Light And Pinealectomy: Two Models Of Melatonin Deficiency Revealing Distinct Interactions With Vitamin D Deficiency On Blood Parameters, Rebaz Sedeeq Shekh, Ismail Mustafa Maulood

Polytechnic Journal

Modern lifestyles reduce sunlight exposure and increase artificial light at night, potentially promoting vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and melatonin (MEL) suppression. The two hormones regulate immunity, erythropoiesis, and platelet (PLT) indices, but their combined hematological effects are not well characterized. We investigated the independent and combined effects of VDD and MEL deficiency on leukocyte profiles, erythrocyte indices, and PLT parameters in albino rats using two 12-week models (n = 8/group): continuous light (CL)-induced MEL suppression (Control, CL, VDD, and CL + VDD) and pinealectomy (Px)-induced MEL deficiency (Sham. Px, VDD, Px + VDD). Complete blood counts (CBCs) and inflammation-related ratios …

Physical Therapy Patient Exercise Behavior Pre-Program Results, Emery Wolfe, Dakota Metzler, Michael Garvert, Caiden Hoffman, Maurice Ochoa, Evie Thompson, Mataya Clark, Aidan Haworth, Noah Morenz, Madison Powell, Josh Sohm, Alanna Hallacy

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This project aims to address a major problem in the physical therapy industry: the “home adherence gap” which is the routine failure to follow through with prescribed exercise at home. Research shows that only about 35% of patients routinely follow through with exercises prescribed for them to do on their own. By focusing on behavior modification and education rather than just physical instruction, this intervention aims to improve long-term recovery, and reduce need for procedures like injections and surgeries. The focus of this study was to measure the ability of the clinic staff to implement a behavior modification program. Once …

An Occupation-Based Support Group For Underserved Adults Living With Lymphedema, Amivi Amega

Student Capstone Papers

Lymphedema is a chronic condition that can significantly impact physical function, psychosocial well-being, and participation in meaningful occupations. Although traditional management primarily focuses on physical symptom reduction, gaps remain in addressing long-term participation and quality of life, particularly among underserved populations. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop an occupation-based support group manual designed to support both the physical and psychosocial needs of adults living with lymphedema.

This project was informed by a needs assessment and expert feedback from Certified Lymphedema Therapists, enhancing clinical relevance and applicability. The manual integrates principles from the Model of Human Occupation and …

Pediatric Sleep: The Priority We Cannot Keep Snoozing On, Jennifer Q. Tuazon, Lee Ann Hoffman, Amanda M. Buono

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone poster presents the development of online learning modules designed to support pediatric occupational therapists in addressing sleep as a foundational occupation. The project provides practical, evidence-based resources to help clinicians recognize sleep-related concerns, implement targeted strategies, and determine when referrals may be appropriate. The goal is to enhance clinical confidence while supporting participation, occupational performance, and quality of life for children and their families.

Life Skills For Individuals In A Juvenile Detention Center, Carrington Brown

Student Capstone Papers

This capstone project involved the development, implementation, and evaluation of a life skills program for justice-involved youth in a juvenile detention setting. Guided by a needs assessment, the program targeted financial literacy, job readiness, professionalism, and soft skills through structured sessions incorporating education, interactive activities, and group discussion. Findings from pre- and post-surveys and qualitative feedback indicated improved knowledge, confidence, and readiness for community reintegration, supporting the value of rehabilitative, occupation-based programming.

Digital Touchpoints: Investigating Contact Page Accessibility And Visual Authenticity Within Medical Tourism Health Websites, Alicia Mason, Elizabeth Spencer, Kristen Livingston, Treyton Meyers, Sakshi Bhati, Himika Akram

Faculty Submissions

This study examines two critical digital touchpoints on medical tourism provider (MTP) websites: (1) the accessibility of contact pages which often function as entry points for inquiries, scheduling, and pre-travel coordination, and (2) the authenticity of visual imagery used to shape expectations about care environments, personnel, and technological capacity. A sample of 105 MTPs across all six World Health Organization regions were analyzed using quantitative web accessibility testing and qualitative visual analysis. Results indicate pervasive accessibility errors on contact-page touchpoints and extensive reliance on inauthentic imagery to depict patients, providers, and medical technologies. Together, these practices may distort user expectations …

Theoretical And Practical Foundations Of Healthcare System Digitalization, Sanjarbek Bekturdiev Sharifboyevich Phd, Muxlisa G‘Ulom Qizi G‘Ofurova

Technical science and innovation

The digital transformation of healthcare represents a key direction in improving the accessibility, quality, and efficiency of medical services. This study examines the main components of eHealth, including telemedicine, electronic health records, cloud technologies, and mobile applications, as well as the role of international organizations in promoting national digital health strategies. Particular attention is given to the current state of digital healthcare in the Republic of Uzbekistan, where significant progress has been made in developing infrastructure and implementing information systems, although challenges related to integration, standardization, and regulatory support remain. The work identifies the main trends in the development of …

Provider Admission Visit To Implement Medication Deprescribing In Hospice, Shaunda A. Bueno

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

A large portion of healthcare spending is focused on patients with multiple chronic illnesses, and most of these patients are on numerous medications, commonly referred to as polypharmacy or hyper-polypharmacy. Furthermore, hospice-eligible patients have at least one disease process that is considered life-limiting with a life expectancy of less than six months, and often have multiple medical conditions with complicated treatment regimens known as multimorbidity. The high incidence of multiple comorbidities for hospice patients, combined with advanced age and the incidence of polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy, has also caused an increased treatment burden for patients and caregivers. To address this issue, …

Bridging The Gap: Addressing Educational And Psychosocial Needs In Cancer Care At Gilda’S Club Middle Tennessee, Hayden Goode

OTD Capstone Projects

Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee is a nonprofit organization that provides psychosocial support to individuals and families impacted by cancer. This project aimed to address educational and psychosocial needs through two targeted initiatives grounded in health promotion, client-centered care, and community engagement. The first initiative focused on improving awareness of pelvic floor health in men affected by cancer. An accessible educational handout was developed to increase understanding of pelvic floor anatomy, common symptoms, toileting norms, and available resources, including pelvic floor therapy. The second initiative involved facilitating an expressive arts workshop for Gilda’s Club members to explore the lived experience of …

Physical Therapy Assessment Of Work Capacity Gaps In Transition-Aged Youth With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Katelyn Malick, Delaney Roberts, Rachel Ray, Marla Smith, Rhonda Haitz, Anne Woodruff Jameson

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) experience disproportionately low employment rates despite expressing a strong desire for community integrated employment. This study examined whether discrepancies exist between the current work capacity of adolescents and young adults with IDDs and the physical exertion demands of their desired careers, and explored the role of physical therapy (PT) in addressing these gaps. Forty-five participants (ages 14–24) in the Nebraska EmployABILITY project identified their top career choice. PT‑assessed current work capacity was compared to the physical exertion requirements of the selected job using a standardized exertion scale. Differences were analyzed using the Wilcoxon …

"I Wasn't Broken": Addressing Stigma Associated With Dementia While Walking The Talk For Dementia, Kate Irving, Fernando Aguzzoli Peres, Walter D. Dawson, Jonathan Adrián Zegarra-Valdivia, Lingani Mbakile-Mahlanza, Sherril B. Gelmon

Institute on Aging Publications

INTRODUCTION:Walking the Talk for Dementia (WTD) convenes people from every continent and multiple perspectives, including people with lived experience, in a 40- km walk followed by a 2-day symposium. The aim is collective reflective dialogue about dementia stigma without the burden of professional hierarchies.

METHODS: Qualitative reflections during and immediately following the walk were analyzed using content analysis to identify common themes.

RESULTS: Three themes demonstrate an evolution of perspectives about dementia and stigma: “meeting the person not the label”, “a community in solidarity”, and “I wasn’t treated like I was broken, and I wasn’t broken.”

DISCUSSION: WTD created an …

Adipocytes Signal To Recruit Specific Mrnas From Surrounding Cells To Restore Expression Deficits, Clair Crewe, Snigdha Tiash, Yun-Ling Pai, Marjori Russo, Saket Awadhesbhai Patel, Yi-Cian Zheng, Alex Larkin, Chun-Kan Chen, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized, membrane-delimited, particles released by cells that carry signaling macromolecules. A major pathway of EV production is potentiated by neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (SMPD3/nSMAse2), an enzyme that generates ceramide from sphingomyelin. In our attempt to study this pathway in adipocytes of male mice, we discover that the elimination of SMPD3 from adipocytes in vivo triggers a signal to surrounding immune cell-like preadipocytes to release EVs that carry SMPD3 mRNA. This results in a widespread increase in SMPD3 mRNA in purified null adipocytes without a change in the transcripts of other enzymes involved in ceramide metabolism. These results …

Health Insurance Literacy Among College Students At The University Of South Carolina, Emma J. Smith, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Robin Dawson

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the health insurance literacy skills of graduate college students and undergraduate college students.

Methods: A cross-sectional research design incorporated a 20-item questionnaire to examine college students’ knowledge of common health insurance terms and definitions, as well as their perceived understanding of health insurance. Descriptive analyses were conducted of participant demographics, health insurance literacy scores were summarized, and common health insurance policies were tested through a readability checker.

Results: The majority of students were between the ages of 18-25 and undergraduate students. More than half of the participants were female, and more …

Pilot Study: Consistency Matters: Session Frequency And Body Weight Loss Outcomes In Outpatient Nutrition Care, Christopher D. Boss

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The current study examines the association between number of counseling sessions and weight change over a 14 month period in overweight and obese adults as seen by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in an outpatient, insurance-based, telehealth, private practice setting. The  aim of this research is to contribute evidence on frequency of care recommendations to help guide policy. It is hypothesized that the most effective weight-loss outcomes can be achieved when counseling is delivered consistently and frequently. The impact of this study has potential to support the expansion and coverage of Registered Dietitian Nutritionist services to address a population with rising …

Efficacy Of Glp-1 And Gip/Glp-1 Receptor Agonists On The Body Weight Management Of Obesity, Paige D. Timbrook

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Obesity is a major epidemic across the United States, and weight loss through diet and physical activity alone is not sustainable. Treatment with tirzepatide and semaglutide have proven to be effective for obesity management in the short-term, but more research is needed to understand how certain types of medications impact weight loss over time. In this study, we recruited 42 adult participants with or without Type II diabetes who were 21 years and older, taking only one GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist at a time, had a beginning body mass index of 30 or greater or a beginning body mass …

Acute Nitrate Ingestion On Blood Pressure And Lower Body Power In Healthy Females, Sydney N. Brennan, Ryan Tran, Logan J. Dore, Henry C. Nafzger, Justin M. Foster, Kyle S. Geppert, Trevor J. Molnar, Renee M. Skiera, Rylee M. Perlmutter, Mikayla A. Yue, Michael Egiazarian, Christopher B. Sottile, Graciela K. Simpson, Layla A. Busquets, Abigial F. Ballhagen, Adam Pennell, Rachel Tan

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Dietary nitrate supplementation can improve blood pressure and contractile function of type II (fast twitch) muscle fiber contraction and force production. However, limited data are available for  women and dosing guidelines for women. The purpose of this study is to investigate if nitrate ingestion, provided as nitrate-rich beetroot juice, improves blood pressure and countermovement jumps and cycling sprint performance compared to nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo in women. Eight recreationally active women have been assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to three experimental conditions to receive: (1) 2 x 70 ml of concentrated nitrate--depleted beetroot juice placebo (PL; 0.10 mmol …

The Role Of The "Indulgent Mindset" As A Modulator For Neuropsychiatric Biomarkers And Self-Reported Mental Wellbeing, Riva Ranier, Anika Anika, Sarah Simon, Ethan Chau, Emma Monte, Madison Retzloff, Johann Luna, Susan Helm

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

The Role of the "Indulgent Mindset" as a Modulator for Neuropsychiatric Biomarkers and Self-Reported Mental Wellbeing

Objective: Limited understanding persists regarding how an "indulgent mindset" about food shapes neuropsychiatric outcomes. Building on the "milkshake study" demonstrating that mindset modulates ghrelin response independent of nutritional content, this pilot study examines whether an indulgent mindset intervention affects neuropsychiatric biomarkers and mental wellbeing.

Methods: Women ages 19-65 (n=35; intervention n=17, control n=18) completed a 6-month randomized trial with baseline and post-intervention assessments including 3-day food diaries, mental wellbeing questionnaires, and comprehensive metabolomics (Iollo panel across mental health, metabolic health, gut microbiome, brain health, …

Statistical Inference Is Not Moral Reasoning: The Case Against Ai On Hospital Ethics Boards, Elan J. Haronian

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

As generative AI becomes more integrated in healthcare, it seems inevitable that AI will eventually be used on hospital ethics committees. However, before implementation, their roles need careful consideration. Although AI promises to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and reduce human workloads, there are important ways in which it is limited, especially when human emotion and connection are crucial, as in clinical ethics boards.

In this paper, I highlight several problems preventing AI from being useful on hospital ethics boards. These include issues of opaque reasoning (the “black box” problem), liability, transparency, privacy, and consent. While there are proposed frameworks for …

Computer, Diagnose This Paper: Ai Tools For Student Health Information Research, Brandon Kennedy

Library Class: Lunch & Learn

Discover how to harness the power of artificial intelligence to navigate the rapidly expanding landscape of medical literature in this bite sized 30-minute session. You will learn how to utilize relevant AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Consensus to enhance your ability to develop effective search strategies and interpret information while strictly adhering to academic and ethical standards. Perfect for students who want to incorporate AI within their research workflow.

Investigating Best Practices In Diagnostic Reasoning And Differential Diagnosis: Implications For Occupational Therapy, Frank Czuba Drot, Otr/L, Laila Atra-Yassin Ots, Cassidy Green Ots, Shaylynn Krause Ots, Stephanie Petersen Ots, Alisa Robinson

Research Days

Diagnostic Reasoning and Differential Diagnosis (DD) are increasingly vital in occupational therapy (OT) practice as direct access legislation expands evaluative responsibilities for occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs). Despite this need, little research has explored how OTPs understand and apply diagnostic reasoning in clinical contexts. This study examined processes, strategies, and perceived barriers and facilitators influencing OTPs’ engagement in diagnostic reasoning and DD across diverse settings. A national online survey of licensed OTPs collected quantitative and qualitative data on knowledge, confidence, training, interprofessional collaboration, and clinical behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, weighted analyses, z-scores, and thematic analysis. Results …

Expert Insights: Identifying Knowledge Gaps In Driver Rehabilitation And Community Mobility Beyond Acote Standards, Luther King, Madysen Gaus, Arthur Katzmann, Lia Shomaly, Keniya Smith, Tina Tindall

Research Days

Driver rehabilitation is an underrepresented specialization within occupational therapy despite its critical role in supporting individuals with physical, cognitive, or visual impairments to drive safely and maintain community mobility. The literature reveals limited inclusion of driver rehabilitation in OT curricula, minimal fieldwork exposure, and scarce driver rehabilitation programs, resulting in fewer certified specialists. Barriers to program development include insufficient funding, lack of institutional support, and limited equipment access. Consequently, new graduates lack knowledge, confidence, and competence in this specialty area, reducing service availability for clients who rely on driving for independence and participation. Addressing these gaps through enhanced education, fieldwork …

Crossword, Lily Cashen

Osmosis Magazine

No abstract provided.

Can Headphones Cause Hearing Loss?, Zoe Moskowitz

Osmosis Magazine

No abstract provided.

Repetition, Rhythm, And Recovery: The Health Benefits Of Fiber Arts, Talia Longo

Osmosis Magazine

No abstract provided.