Digital Commons Network^™

Identifying The Feasible Maximum Contaminant Level For Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances That Ensures Health And Safety While Maintaining Affordability And Equity Of Drinking Water And Implementation Of That Maximum Contaminant Level Within California By The State Water Resources Control Board, Jennifer Aguilar

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a large group of man-made substances that do not occur naturally in the environment and are resistant to heat, water, oil, grease, and stains. PFAS has been used since the 1940s in a variety of commercial products including non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, paper products, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, industrial firefighting foams, and products that resist grease, water, and oil. While 97% of the U.S. population has been shown to have some level of PFAS within their blood, long term exposure to PFAS is potentially harmful to health. Individuals who are exposed regularly have been …

Swimming In Sh*T: Quantifying Lagoon Flushing Impacts On Fecal Indicator Bacteria In Surf Zones Of Three Beaches On The East End Of Long Island, Ny, Brody C. Eggert

Pomona Senior Theses

This thesis investigates how lagoon flushing influences fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentrations—specifically enterococcus bacteria—in the surf zones of East Hampton and Southampton, New York. Focusing on the coastal lagoons of Georgica Pond, Sagg Pond, and Mecox Bay, the study analyzes how episodic inlet openings and environmental conditions affect enterococcus levels at adjacent recreational beaches. Using over 700 observations from the Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) database, I construct a series of statistical models ranging from ordinary least squares to mixed effects frameworks; this thesis shows my process in developing this model. My analysis reveals that open inlets between …

Rwanda's Natural Remedies: A Fresh Look At The Fight Against Malaria, Leandre Nsabimana Ndisanze

Pomona Senior Theses

Malaria remains one of the most devastating parasitic diseases globally, disproportionately affecting sub-Saharan Africa, where Rwanda continues to face high transmission rates and rising resistance to conventional interventions. Despite decades of control efforts, the emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum and insecticide-resistant Anopheles mosquitoes threatens to reverse recent gains. This research responds to the urgent need for sustainable and culturally relevant alternatives by exploring the therapeutic potential of Rwandan traditional medicinal plants. These indigenous remedies, long used by local healers, offer an underexplored reservoir of bioactive compounds that may provide the basis for novel antimalarial drugs.

The central hypothesis of this …

Evaluation Of Lyte’S Pilot Health And Wellness Coach Training Program, Lauren Allyson Von Lawn

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Breast cancer survivorship presents ongoing physical, emotional, and social challenges that often extend beyond clinical treatment. While survival rates continue to improve, many survivors lack adequate post-treatment support, particularly in underserved communities. The Living Your Truth Empowered (LYTE) Foundation developed and piloted a Health and Wellness Coach Training Program to address these gaps by preparing individuals—including survivors, advocates, and community members—to provide evidence-based, holistic support. This 16-week cohort-based program, funded through a City of Hope Healthy Living Community Benefits Grant, integrates the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) standards with curriculum content focused on: behavior change, cultural humility, …

Birthing While Black: The Color Of Care And Black Women’S Lived Experiences Giving Birth In The United States, Portia Cowlings

Theses and Dissertations

Black women in the United States face disproportionate maternal health outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Despite advancements in healthcare, the United States continues to report the highest maternal mortality rates among high-income developed nations, with Black women experiencing rates up to three times higher than their White counterparts. This phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of Black women in the United States to understand how they navigate the continuum of maternal healthcare, from preconception through postpartum. Guided by the social determinants of health (SDOH) theoretical framework, childbirth was examined through four interconnected …

Facilitated Group Care For Maternal And Child Health Model Fidelity: A Scoping Review, Ashley Gresh, Phoebe Parker, Anne Batchelder, Jalana Lazar, Christina X. Marea, Camilla Bjelland, Rohan D. Jeremiah, Giovanna Cristina Machado-Kayzuka, Hayden Geibel, Dhruvi R. Patel, Esnath Kapito, Kathleen F. Norr, Crystal L. Patil

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Group care is a transformative model of prenatal, postnatal, and well-child care. The Centering-based group care model has three core components: health care, interactive learning, and community building. It has been implemented in 33 countries with associated improved maternal and child health outcomes. Maintaining fidelity to the model is essential for its effectiveness. However, to date no standardised measure of fidelity to the group care model exists. This review aimed to explore how fidelity is measured in group care and identify common themes to understand what is essential to maintain fidelity. We used the scoping review framework by Arksey & …

Risk And Protective Factors For Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Sids) In Low-Resource Communities In Kolkata India: A Mixed Methods Exploratory Study Of Semi-Structured Interviews And Survey Data, Susan Samreth, Alexandra Leader, Jillian Kiely, Turja Chakrabarti, Rupa Kapoor

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and infant sleep practices are widely documented and studied in high-resource countries. Knowledge of SUID/SIDS occurrence, risk factors and protective factors in low or middle-resource countries such as India is lacking. This was an exploratory study using a mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) approach to better understand infant sleep practices and the various factors that may influence them amongst caregivers in 5 low-income communities in Kolkata, India. Twenty-eight and 22 caregivers of infants < 12 months old were recruited using a convenience sampling approach to participate in semi-structured interviews (phase 1) and a survey (phase 2), respectively. This research was conducted in partnership with Pratit International, a locally based NGO dedicated to providing comprehensive health care to disenfranchised communities in Kolkata. Analysis of qualitative and quantitative data found that infant caregivers frequently described risk factors (e.g., bedsharing, soft sleep surface, infant sleep position, objects in sleep area, environmental smoke exposure, low rates of pacifier use) and protective factors (e.g., breastfeeding, routine immunization/prenatal care, low rates of caregiver substance use) that have been associated with SIDS in high resource communities. Qualitative data revealed that certain caregivers' reasons for infant sleep position were rooted in cultural beliefs. Prenatal and postnatal sleep education given by a healthcare professional were limited and awareness of safer sleep advice in the community was low. These study findings suggest the need to provide safer sleep education resources in a culturally appropriate manner and can help guide future research on potential interventions such as the baby box.

Patterns Of Exclusive, Dual And Poly Tobacco Products Use Among Cancer Survivors In The United States, Ateeqa Ijaz, Miranda E. Gehris, Paul T. Harrell, Aditya Chakraborty, Rime Jebai, Wei Li, Olatokunbo Osibogun, Seyedeh Yasaman Alemohammad, Ziyad Ben Taleb, Ebbie Kalan

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Purpose

Identifying tobacco products use (TPU) patterns among cancer survivors (CSs) is critical to optimize survivorship care. This study examines exclusive cigarette/e-cigarette, dual (two tobacco-products) and poly (≥ 3 tobacco-products) use among CSs (vs. no cancer history) and its sub-types: smoking-related-cancers (SRCs) vs. non-smoking-related cancers (NSRCs) while also exploring socio-demographic factors.

Methods

The study analyzed 86,551 adults from the 2021–2023 National Health Interview Survey, including 10,846 (9.7%) CSs. Participants were categorized and analyzed based on their CSs status and TPU patterns. Weighted logistic regression models assessed the relationship between TPU and CSs status while adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics.

Results

CSs …

The Role Of Doulas In The Health Care Continuum For Pregnant People With Substance Use Disorder: Perspectives Of Patients, Doulas, And Healthcare Providers, Dashaunda Taylor, Derek A. Chapman, Caitlin E. Martin, Cynthia C. F. Romero, Gerard Moeller

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objectives/Goals: The goals of this research are to 1) determine the prevalence of perinatal doula services use in Virginia, with a focus on individuals with substance use disorders (SUD), 2) evaluate awareness of doulas among pregnant and postpartum people with SUD, and 3) assess provider knowledge and interaction with doulas for the care of this population. Methods/Study Population: Both quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to evaluate patient and healthcare provider knowledge regarding doula services and the patient–doula–healthcare provider relationship. Surveys and semi-structured interviews will be administered to doulas, pregnant and postpartum women, and healthcare providers in this mixed-methods …

Assessment Of Primary Malignancy Risk Following Initiation Of Biologic Therapy In Psoriasis Patients, Chunghwan Ro, Ana Ormaza Vera, Waleed Adawi, Alexander Yap, Clinton W. Enos

Department Dermatology Faculty Publications

Limited evidence exists regarding the long-term oncologic safety of biologic therapies, particularly interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors (IL-17i) and IL-23i, in the management of psoriasis. This propensity-score-matched retrospective-cohort study assessed the risk of developing a primary malignancy within 10-years following exposure to an FDA-approved biologic among psoriasis patients compared to biologic-naïve controls. After propensity-score-matching, 32,230 biologic-exposed patients were further grouped into cohorts of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi, n=16,011), IL-23i (n=5,604), IL-12/23i (n=3,856), and IL-17i (n=5,467). During a 10-year period, TNFi-treated patients had a reduced risk of developing any primary malignancy compared to biologic-naïve psoriasis patients [HR 0.80(0.73-0.87)]. Similarly, a lower incidence …

Modeling Non-Normal Distributions With Mixed Third-Order Polynomials Of Standard Normal And Logistic Variables, Mohan D. Pant, Aditya Chakraborty, Ismail El Moudden

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Continuous data associated with many real-world events often exhibit non-normal characteristics, which contribute to the difficulty of accurately modeling such data with statistical procedures that rely on normality assumptions. Traditional statistical procedures often fail to accurately model non-normal distributions that are often observed in real-world data. This paper introduces a novel modeling approach using mixed third-order polynomials, which significantly enhances accuracy and flexibility in statistical modeling. The main objective of this study is divided into three parts: The first part is to introduce two new non-normal probability distributions by mixing standard normal and logistic variables using a piecewise function of …

Therapy-Based Strategies To Support Tummy Time In Infants Post-Hospital Discharge: A Scoping Review Protocol, Ketaki Inamdar, Sonia Khurana

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Tummy time is essential for infant development, yet many caregivers face significant challenges with adherence due to behavioral and contextual barriers. While numerous tummy time interventions exist, a limited understanding of their behavioral components hinders effective replication and implementation. This scoping review aims to identify multidisciplinary interventions used to promote tummy time in infants aged 0–12 months, evaluate their impact on adherence, developmental and health outcomes, and examine the behavior change techniques employed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology, a comprehensive search will be conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science Core Collection, …

The Impact Of Ultra-Processed Foods On Cardiovascular Diseases And Cancer: Epidemiological And Mechanistic Insights, Olorunfemi Oyewole Babalola, Ebenezer Akinnusi, Paul Olamide Ottu, Kpomah Bridget, Godspower Oyubu, Samuel Ayomikun Ajiboye, Sakariyau Adio Waheed, Amafili Chibuzo Collette, Hameedah Oluwatoyin Adebimpe, Chibuzo Valentine Nwokafor, Ebenezer Ayomide Oni, Precious Olayinka Aturamu, Opeyemi Iwaloye

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are increasingly recognized as contributors to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer due to their adverse compositional and mechanistic effects. UPFs, distinguished by their high content of unhealthy fats, sodium, refined sugars, and synthetic additives, significantly increase dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity, which are key risk factors for CVDs. Chronic consumption leads to systemic inflammation, gut microbiota dysbiosis, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Additives such as artificial sweeteners and sodium nitrites in UPFs are associated with carcinogenesis through mechanisms involving genotoxicity and promotion of inflammatory microenvironments. This review critically evaluates existing epidemiological, mechanistic, and clinical evidence …

Developing A Culturally Sensitive Nursing Framework For Muslim Patients Practicing Ramadan: Focusing On Fasting Benefits And Islamic Dietary Recommendations, Amreen Mahmood Munshi

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Muslims practice Ramadan, a month-long period of fasting from dawn to dusk, yet many healthcare providers lack knowledge of its principles and practices. Hospitals lack formal education on caring for fasting Muslim patients, leading to a knowledge deficit in cultural competence and sensitivity of Islamic practices. Purpose: This paper proposes a research design for a nurse education program on Ramadan fasting to promote cultural competence and sensitivity in nursing care. The proposed research aims to educate nurses on Islamic practices, particularly Ramadan, to bridge the cultural competency gap. The literature review also explores the health benefits of …

Culturally Sensitive Nursing Care And Its Impact On Abuse Disclosure Among Immigrant-Origin Populations​, Jaspal Uppal

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Immigrant-origin patients often face many systemic barriers when accessing healthcare. Factors such as language barriers, fear of deportation, limited trust in healthcare providers, and lack of culturally sensitive care make it hard for patients to disclose abuse. These challenges contribute to poor health amongst vulnerable populations which highlights the importance of using culturally sensitive and trauma-informed care. Objective: This research aims to test whether culturally adapted, trauma-informed nursing care improves disclosure of abuse and access to support services. The objective is to strengthen safety and trust between healthcare providers and patients through culturally sensitive care. Method: A quantitative quasi-experimental …

The Impact Of Diabetes Education & Post Discharge Interventions For African American Adults At Risk For & After Myocardial Infarction, Trinity L. Billingsley

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Cardiovascular disease or CVD refers to a multitude of conditions that affect both the heart and blood vessels. Being the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease claims 919,032 lives; the risk of death becomes more likely when accompanied with comorbidities like diabetes (CDC, 2024). While heart disease is a leading cause of death across all populations, it accounts for a larger proportion of deaths in African American, or AA, adults at 22.6% compared to White adults at 18.0% and Hispanic adults at 11.9%, highlighting persistent racial disparities in cardiovascular outcomes (CDC, 2024). Diabetes as a comorbidity …

Exploring Dominican University Nursing Student’S Perceptions Of Economic Barriers To Accessing Essential Women’S Health Products, Annabelle E. Burke

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Access to essential feminine hygiene products, including menstrual supplies and hygiene items, is a growing economic and public health issue. Rising product prices and reliance on costly disposable products contribute to financial strain for many women. Period poverty is the lack of access to menstrual products, education, and hygiene facilities due to financial constraints, and it negatively affects women’s physical and mental health, particularly among students and low-income populations. Research shows that limited access to menstrual products affects dignity, sanitation, and emotional well-being and is compounded by social stigma and cultural silence surrounding menstruation (Brinkley & Niebuhr, 2023). Findings from …

Educating Nurses On Culturally Competent Intimate Partner Violence Care, Nicole Lee

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Medical Misinformation About Vaccines On Parents Of Pediatric Patients, Mya Izabela B. Emelia

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

Empowering Birth: Comparing Nurse-Led Holistic And Pharmacologic Pain Relief Approaches​, Jessica C. Moore

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Childbirth is often described as one of the most meaningful experiences in a woman’s life. During this time, effective pain management is essential not only for reducing discomfort, but also for improving maternal satisfaction and minimizing unnecessary obstetric interventions. While childbirth is frequently approached as a purely physical process, it is inherently holistic, influenced by cultural, social, psychological, and emotional factors.

Growing evidence highlights the value of incorporating and educating patients and providers on non-pharmacologic strategies such as breathing techniques, massage, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, positioning ,ambulation, and continuous emotional support.

For example, a study in Sweden that found that a group …

Knee Health Is A Major Determinant Of Mobility Across The Healthspan, Brandon M. Peoples, Kenneth Harrison, Michael A. Samaan, Christopher B. Mobley, David T. Redden, Jaimie A. Roper

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Knee health constitutes a pivotal determinant of locomotor function and overall mobility throughout the healthspan. Impairments in knee function lead to a series of biomechanical and physiological alterations that pose substantial public health challenges and economic burdens worldwide. This review synthesizes evidence that delineates the complex and multifaceted relationship between knee health and mobility, emphasizing the interplay across various domains in adult populations. Knee health is conceptualized as a dynamic, interconnected system whereby structural integrity, neuromuscular mechanisms, biomechanical adaptations, and functional mobility are intricately interrelated through cascades of mechanistic processes operating across different temporal stages. A comprehensive understanding of these …

The Impacts Of Dietary And Educational Intervention In Addressing Adult Obesity In The Mexican Population, Matthew C. Servin

CMC Senior Theses

Mexico’s obesity epidemic has been an ongoing issue for the past few decades, with multiple studies attributing this to the disparities in accessing healthy food and health education. Designing a solution to Mexico’s adult obesity crisis will focus on studying the effects of an intervention plan that addresses these obesogenic factors. This proposed study will assess how a token system and health education sessions may impact the risk of obesity in the adult Mexican population. This study also will consider any limitations that arise when only one of the two intervention methods are used. As these interventions are implemented over …

Adapting A Mobile Health Intervention To Improve Prep Adherence Among Young Black Msm In Fulton County, Georgia, Kassidy Maust

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in the southern United States, particularly in Fulton County, Georgia, face disproportionately high rates of HIV and unique structural barriers to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and adherence. Sustained adherence among YBMSM remains low due to intersecting structural, social, and behavioral barriers. To address these disparities, this paper presents an adapted implementation of the evidence-based M-Cubed (Mobile Messaging for Men) mHealth intervention. Prior studies of M-Cubed and similar mHealth interventions have shown promising outcomes in increasing PrEP adherence among Black MSM populations. The adapted intervention integrates culturally tailored messaging specific to behaviors …

Laser-Induced Graphene Sensor For The Electrochemical Detection Of Acetaminophen, Abdellatif Ait Lahcen, Mazhar Sher, Sikander Ameer, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Here we present a simple and efficient method for fabricating laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes for the electrochemical detection of acetaminophen (AAP), a crucial analgesic and antipyretic that can become toxic at elevated concentrations. Unlike conventional sensors that require intricate chemical modifications, the fabricated LIG-based sensor eliminates the need for functionalization, offering a streamlined sensing solution. The LIG electrodes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, which confirmed the formation of a highly porous graphene network with excellent purity and conductivity. Cyclic voltammetry analysis with a ferricyanide redox probe revealed a large electroactive surface area of 1.21 …

Air Pollution Exposures And Cognitive Function Among Older Americans, Clarisse Nyondo Okoma

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Background: New findings indicate that environmental factors, such as air pollution, could contribute to cognitive decline among older adults. Nonetheless, extensive longitudinal studies in the U.S. investigating this connection are few and far between.

Objective: This study assessed the relationship between long-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and cognitive function in older adults in the United States.

Methods: We examined data from the Health and Retirement Study (2010-2018), which included 234,250 observations from adults aged 50 and older. Cognitive performance was evaluated based on immediate and delayed word recall, a 27-point cognitive summary score, backward from 20, and …

Implementing An Opioid Overdose Education And Naloxone Distribution (Oend) Program Among Law Enforcement Officers In Lee County, Ky, Keelie Jolly

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

This grant proposal describes an implementation strategy for introducing an OEND training program among law enforcement officers (LEOs) to reduce opioid overdose deaths. The goal of the project is to increase LEOs' awareness and knowledge of opioid overdose and Naloxone administration and usage of Naloxone.

Rct Pre-Post Training Analysis Of The Vipcorps Maternal Mortality Prevention Course With A Focus On Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv), Rose A. Wood

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Maternal mortality rates rob families across the U.S. of a mother figure, and each death is preventable. The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate of high-earning countries. This study assesses the effects of the VIPCorps program, a course on the top 3 risk factors of maternal mortality, on improving knowledge and attitudes towards victims of IPV. Students in helping professions at the University of Kentucky (n = 223) were recruited via on campus advertising and remotely allocated to either the VIPCorps program or a mock maternal mortality training control. Generalized linear modeling was used to estimate the difference in …

Exploring The Role Of Bingocize® Workshops In Enhancing Health And Well-Being In Older Adults, Kaitlyn Gray

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

As the population of older adults grows, the need for better health and well-being also grows, making it necessary to implement effective strategies for healthy aging to improve the length and quality of life of older adults (CDC, 2024). This study evaluates the effectiveness of a Bingocize^® Workshop in improving the physical health of older adults. Bingocize^®, a unique program combining bingo with exercise, is designed to increase physical activity. Eleven (11) participants aged 68.55 ± 6.235 attended a ten-week workshop, two times per week focusing on physical exercises tailored to their abilities. The primary objective was …

Exploring The Challenges And Interventions For Type 1 Diabetes In Young Children, Patra Chisom Ezeamii, Nenrot Gopep, Ho-Jui Tung

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

Domestic Violence And Mental Health: A Complementary Perspective, Olayemi Aloba, Jacob Gakpo, Katie M. Mercer

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.