Digital Commons Network^™

A Case Of Fournier’S Gangrene: A Rare, Lethal Skin Infection, Aditi Chokshi, Laura Ziton

HPD Articles

Fournier’s gangrene (FG) is a rare form of necrotizing fasciitis that is characterized by fascial necrosis of the genitalia or perineum. FG typically results as a complication of genital or anorectal abscess, pressure sore, or surgical site infections. Many patients present with no symptoms, whereas other patients may present with non-specific symptoms such as pain or erythema in the genital or perianal regions. We present a case of FG in a 76-year-old male. Our patient presented initially with only complaints of perianal and groin pain. Upon imaging and skin examination, a diagnosis of Fournier’s gangrene was made. However, due to …

Piloting A Digital Campaign To Promote Awareness Of The Louisiana Teleprep Program Among Sexual And Gender Minority Young Adults., Manuel A Ocasio, Isabel M. Fernandez, Steven Cortese, Kathryn Kampa

HPD Articles

Despite the proven efficacy of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in preventing HIV acquisition, PrEP is underutilized by sexual and gender minority young adults in the 13 states in the United States "South." In this paper, we describe the process we used to develop a digital campaign to promote awareness and engagement of sexual and gender minority young adults in the Louisiana Department of Health's TelePrEP Program and provide campaign performance metrics. In Phase 1, we conducted formative research that informed campaign development and strategy. In total, 109 sexual and gender minority young adults completed a survey of PrEP constructs (e.g., facilitators, …

Alcohol Use And High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Members Of A Latino Migrant Worker Community In Central Florida, Jesus Sanchez, Jodi-Ann Hibbert

HPD Articles

Background: Latino and Latina migrant workers constitute a vast amount of the agricultural workforce within the United States. A few studies indicate that a significant segment of the Latino migrant worker population in the United States is at high risk for alcohol abuse and related high-risk behaviors. Information about the prevalence of alcohol use and abuse and its association with high-risk sexual behaviors is needed to design effective prevention strategies in this underserved population.

Aims: To assess the association between alcohol use and high-risk sexual behaviors in this population.

Methods: Cross-sectional data was obtained from March 2018 through December 2019 …

A Combination Of Caffeine, Teacrine, And Dynamine Improves The Neurophysiological And Performance Measures Of Electronic (E)-Gamers, Cassandra Evans, Jose Antonio, Amani Khan, Alexandra Vanderkley, Maria Berrocales, Jose Rojas, Samir Sakaria, Joseph Petruzzelli, Juan Carlos Santana, Jason Curtis, Tony Ricci, Jaime L. Tartar

HPD Articles

Introduction: Video games require precise motor skills, quick reaction times, and cognitive engagement. The tremendous growth of the electronic (e)-gaming industry has increased the demands for cognitive supplements (e.g., nootropics) to help e-athletes gain a competitive edge. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of combined caffeine + TeaCrine + Dynamine measures of neurophysiological and first-person shooter game performance in e-gamers. Methods: Using a randomized double-blinded, crossover design, we assessed the effects of an acute, singledose treatment of caffeine (200 mg) vs. caffeine (200 mg) + TeaCrine (10 mg) + Dynamine (50 mg) (CTD) vs. Ppacebo …

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs And Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment For Pain Management In Patients With Osteoarthritis: A Literature Review, Veenah K. J. Francis, Jennifer M. Jost, Allyson Jack, Timothy Johnson, Sarah Klein, Jake Darbhanga, Adam Hurwitz, Rohit S. Mehra, Holly B. Waters

HPD Articles

The pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA) involves the destruction of articular cartilage and the overgrowth of bone with lipping and spur formation. Nerve endings in the joint capsule and adjacent tissues play a major role in the pain mechanisms of osteoarthritis. This often requires patients to seek pain control measures beyond over-the-counter drugs, such as local anesthetics. Osteopathic manipulation treatment (OMT) is a conservative, non-pharmacological treatment that can be used to help treat chronic pain associated with OA. Other non-pharmacologic therapies include weight loss, exercise, physical therapy (PT), and assistive devices. However, pharmacologic management may be added synergistically to control flares …

Proceedings From The Third Annual Society For Neurosports Conference, Neurosports Editorial Staff

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Proceedings from the Third Annual Society for NeuroSports Conference

Cytokine Data For Cytokine Profile Assessment From Peruvian Pinniped (Arctocephalus Australis And Otaria Byronia) Plasma, Mykenzee Munaco, Milton Levin, Michael Adkesson, Susana Cárdenas-Alayzad, Dimitrios G. Giarikos, Amy C. Hirons

SECLER Data

Large colonies of two vulnerable, sympatric pinniped species, Peruvian fur seals (Arctocephalus australis Peruvian subpopulation; PFS) and South American sea lions (Otaria byronia; SASL), reside and reproduce in Punta San Juan, Peru (PSJ) where they are exposed to stressors such as contaminants and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. The use of cytokines as immune biomarkers can be indicative of an animal’s health and function by allowing for the assessment of an individual's cytokine balance as type I helper T cells (Th1) or type II helper T cells (Th2) dominant. Utilizing archived pinniped plasma samples from 2009-2019 …

Weight Cutting In Female Ufc Fighters, Cassandra Evans, Charles Stull, Gabriel Sanders, Anthony A. Ricci, Duncan French, Jose Antonio, Corey Peacock

HPD Articles

It is common practice for fight sport athletes to use a variety of weight manipulation strategies to compete in desired weight classes. Although numerous studies have highlighted rapid weight loss (RWL) strategies and the magnitude of weight loss, few have focused specifically on weight loss in female fighters. The purpose of this study was to provide descriptive information on professional UFC female fighters engaging in RWL in all women’s UFC weight divisions: strawweight (52.2 kg): flyweight (56.7 kg); bantamweight (61.2 kg); featherweight (65.8 kg).

Knowing Me, Knowing Them: Using Penned Illustrations With Known Participants, Lewis Barrett-Rodger, Sally Goldspink, Hilary Engward

The Qualitative Report

In practice-based studies, participants are often known to the researcher as part of their professional realm. This can result in the researcher bringing preconceptions of the participants to the study, which may influence the findings. In this paper, we demonstrate how researchers can utilise reflexivity and imaginative curiosity to expose often unconsidered presuppositions about such participants using penned illustrations. We suggest that penned illustrations of known participants should be undertaken to unpack preconceptions of the known participants creatively and imaginatively. This paper provides an applied demonstration of how penned illustrations can be used in a hermeneutic phenomenological study, along with …

Constructing The Life Skills Education Experiences Of Maldivian Adolescents: Exploring Personal Narratives Of Transition, Challenge, And Becoming, Aishath Nasheeda Dr., Steven E. Krauss Dr., Haslinda Abdullah Dr., Nobaya Ahmad Dr.

The Qualitative Report

Life skills have been shown to help young people cope with challenges and facilitate their transition into adulthood. Few studies have explored life skills programs from the lived experiences of youth themselves. Using a retrospective narrative analysis approach, this study uses social construction and social learning theories to investigate how young people construct their experiences of life skills education in the context of their embedded social environments, including their relationships with family, school, and peers. The study incorporates a series of in-depth, face-to-face, and social media-based interviews with two young adults from the Maldives who had very different experiences …

Culture Sensitivity And Information Access: A Qualitative Study Among Ethnic Groups, Huan Chen, Sylvia Chan-Olmsted, My Thai

The Qualitative Report

Fairness has been touted as one of the most important issues for responsible AI as sophisticated AI-powered systems increasingly impact human lives. At the same time, access to information is essential in today’s knowledge economy and fundamental to American democracy. However, certain groups of the population might be excluded or lack access to participate fully in public discourse/economy because their cultural background presents obstacles to accessing or comprehending uniformly disseminated information without consideration of cultural relevance. The current study is the first study of a large research project on AI fairness and information access designed to explore how different minority …

Novel Anti-Melanoma Compounds Are Efficacious In A375 Cell Line Xenograft Melanoma Model In Nude Mice, Sadeeshkumar Velayutham, Ryan Seerattan, Maab Khalid Sultan, Trisha Sea, Samaya Danthurthy, Baskaran Chinnappan, Jessica Landi, Kaitlyn Pearl, Aveta Singh, Keiran S. M. Smalley, Julia Zaias, Jun Yong Choi, Dmitriy Minond

HPD Articles

Despite the successes of immunotherapy, melanoma remains one of the deadliest cancers, therefore, the need for innovation remains high. We previously reported anti-melanoma compounds that work by downregulating spliceosomal proteins hnRNPH1 and H2. In a separate study, we reported that these compounds were non-toxic to Balb/C mice at 50 mg/kg suggesting their utility in in vivo studies. In the present study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of these compounds by testing them in A375 cell-line xenograft in nude athymic mice. Animals were randomized into four groups (n = 12/group): 10 mg/kg vemurafenib, and 25 mg/kg 2155-14 and 2155-18 thrice …

Anticoagulation Options For Cranial Procedures: A Comparative Review Of Aspirin, Plavix, And Aggrastat., Harendra Kumar, Aishwarya Boini, Mpuekela Tshibangu, Bikona Ghosh, Fatima Shaheen, Andrew M Joseph, Juliana Cazzaniga, Monica Karas, Cesar E Jara Silva, Jonathan Quinonez, Samir Ruxmohan

HPD Articles

Anticoagulation therapy is critical to avoiding thrombotic events in patients following cranial surgery. Although Aspirin, Plavix, and Aggrastat are used as anticoagulants for this purpose, there is no consensus on which agent is the most effective and safe. In this comparative study, we analyze the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of these three anticoagulants in the context of cranial surgeries. This review focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of each anticoagulant, such as its pharmacokinetics, indications, contraindications, and possible consequences. The outcomes of this study will help physicians choose the best anticoagulant for their patients based on individual …

The Effect Of Acute Aerobic Exercise On Measures Of Stress And Inflammation In Healthy Young Adults, Julien Tartar, Anthony Ricci, Jonathan Banks, Hannah Murphy, Cassandra Evans, Jose Antonio, Jaime Tartar

Faculty Articles

Introduction: While the effects of long-term measures of inflammation and stress are well studied, less is known about the effects of an acute exercise challenge on exercise in young healthy individuals. Methods: This was a randomized crossover design (mean age = 19.25, SD = 1.45)that measured biomarkers of stress (cortisoland salivary alpha amylase, sAA)and inflammation (IL-1β, CRP)in an exercise and control condition. In the exercise condition, participants walked or ran on a treadmill at 75-85% of their maximum heart rate for 40minutes. Under the control condition, participants stood for 40 minutes to control for orthostatic effects. Biomarkers were quantified from …

Intravenous Dexmedetomidine Use In Total Hip Arthroplasty May Lead To Elevated Rates Of Hypotension., Christopher T. Holland, Andrew J. Meyers, Zachary C. Lum, Hailee Tougas, Mauro Giordani, John P. Meehan

HPD Articles

Purpose Enhanced recovery protocols for total hip arthroplasty (THA), using opioid-sparing techniques have become widely used. Reports of novel additions to multimodal pain control regimens have been published, however, a paucity of literature exists on the use of intravenous dexmedetomidine. In this study, we analyzed our experience with intravenous dexmedetomidine and hypothesized that it would reduce postoperative opioid use. Secondary outcomes were also examined, including post-operative hypotension, hemoglobin, length of stay, and discharge disposition. Methods All patients who underwent primary THA at a single tertiary-level center between January 1, 2016, and September 1, 2019, underwent investigation. Diagnosis, surgical approach, anesthetic …

Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome Masquerading As Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Case Report., Andrew Lurie, Lohitha Guntupalli, Veenah Stoll, Anthony Moon

HPD Articles

Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) syndrome is a rare upper gastrointestinal problem characterized by narrowing the angle between the aorta and SMA. While the syndrome describes small bowel obstruction as a result of compression at the proximal duodenum, the nonspecific abdominal findings often obscure this diagnosis initially. We present a case of a 21-year-old female with persistent upper abdominal pain of unclear etiology, which was later diagnosed as SMA Syndrome and referred for surgical management. Nonspecific abdominal symptoms in a young female with weight loss and ambiguous laboratory and physical exam findings should increase the index of suspicion for SMA syndrome …

Tutors And Their Feedback In Online Tutorials: The Case In A Distance Teaching University, Made Yudhi Setiani, Charles Scott, Susanti Susanti

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this study was to analyze the extent to which tutors provided feedback in online tutorials at Indonesia Open University (Universitas Terbuka or UT), as well as tutors' constraint in providing that feedback. This qualitative study used both content analysis of 20 online tutorial classes to see tutors’ feedback and in-depth interviews with the tutors. The results of the study showed that only some tutors in the online tutorial classes provided feedback on discussions and assignments and that some tutors did not provide any feedback. The analysis of the feedback derived from the types of feedback coined by …

“Connecting Better And Wider”: A Constructivist Grounded Theory And Situational Analysis Exploration Of Community Resilience In The Anthropocene Among The Transition Network, Deanne M. Boisvert, Caroline Suransky

The Qualitative Report

For decades qualitative researchers have used grounded theory methodologies in their investigations. Although the grounded theory literature is extensive, less well documented are qualitative studies which incorporate complementary grounded theory approaches into their designs; or studies that validate the use of grounded theory strategies for applied research projects. This paper seeks to add to both margins of the grounded theory literature. First, it provides a detailed methodological account of how constructivist grounded theory and grounded theory situational analysis were used in a Ph.D. study exploring how ecologically concerned networks understand community resilience and respond to current and anticipated challenges of …

Exploring Chemovar-Specific Cannabis Extracts Quantification And Evaluation Of Cytotoxic Compounds For Targeting Glioblastoma Multiforme, Ashraf Duzan, Mufeed Basti, Travis Cesarone, Waldemar Debinski, Daniel Todd

HPD Articles

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) represents one of the most aggressive and metastatic brain tumors, with a dismal success rate of less than three percent after five years, particularly in tumors with active immune checkpoints. This necessitates the development of targeted endogenous agents for precise GBM treatment. Previous experiments utilizing Chemovar Specific Cannabis Extractions (CSCEs), fractionated with polar solvents and quantified using Liquid and Gas Column Chromatography combined with Mass Spectrometry (LC/GCMS), have shown reduced viability and motility in human GBM cell lines. However, the complexity of the botanical substance has hindered the personalization of standard cannabis medicines for GBM due to …

The Implementation Of A Career-Readiness Program For Youth In A Group/Foster Care Setting, Brianie Clarke, Brianie Clarke

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

The transition from high school to any form of postsecondary education is often a challenging experience in and of itself. For individuals who are a part of the foster care system, it is increasingly difficult to traverse this transition due to decreased access to resources and support. Throughout this capstone experience at the group home, A Kid's Place, I created a career readiness program that focused on gauging what each individuals’ interests are, curating a realistic career pathway/plan that would aid in the accomplishment of their goals, and created resourceful materials that would prepare participants to begin their own postsecondary …

Time To Transform: Challenges And Opportunities For Teaching Practice During Covid-19 And Beyond, Muhammad Abid Malik Mam, Hina Amin Ha, Saleha Ali Sa

The Qualitative Report

Teaching practice is one of the most significant components of a teacher education program that prepares prospective teachers for a fast-changing and technology-infused world. However, in many developing countries like Pakistan, it has remained stuck in the traditional methods (face-to-face, without proper utilization of technology) which made it vulnerable during COVID-19. This study explores teaching practice methods and strategies used by Pakistani universities before and during COVID-19. It further identifies the causes behind its deficiencies to prepare prospective teachers for the challenges of the current era. Using semi-structured interviews, data was gathered from nine teaching practice supervisors from nine different …

Simplifying Qualitative Case Study Research Methodology: A Step-By-Step Guide Using A Palliative Care Example, Elizabeth M. Miller Mrs, Joanne E. Porter Professor, Michael S. Barbagallo Dr

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative case study research can be a helpful methodology when conducting health research. However, it can be overlooked or dismissed as a possible methodological choice due to different epistemological positionings by case study theorists and often confusing and contradictory definitions and terminology. Much has been written about case studies, but it takes time to wade through volumes of often philosophically and methodologically dense material to locate a theorist who presents case study research at a depth the novice researcher can understand. Case study research literature may offer a condensed summary of processes but often needs more theoretical detail. Therefore, discerning …

Perceptions Of Mental Health Among Pakistani Women With Micro-Finance Loans: An Interpretive Descriptive Study, Farhana Irfan Madhani, Catherine Tompkins, Susan Jack, Carolyn Byrne

The Qualitative Report

Mental health has gained significant recognition and importance as a crucial aspect of overall well-being. An individual's mental health is influenced by the intersection of individual, social, cultural, and systematic sources of stress and resilience. It is important to include subjective conceptualizations of mental health and well-being to develop culturally sensitive approaches to mental health promotion. This qualitative study aimed to understand how urban-dwelling women living in Pakistan who are micro-finance loan recipients conceptualize the meaning of mental health. Using interpretive description methodology, data were collected and analyzed through in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted in Urdu with a purposeful sample of …

A Review Of Chronic Pectoralis Major Tears: What Options Are Available?, Joshua R Giordano, Brandon Klein, Benjamin Hershfeld, Joshua Gruber, Robert Trasolini, Randy M Cohn

HPD Articles

Rupture of the pectoralis major muscle typically occurs in the young, active male. Acute management of these injuries is recommended; however, what if the patient presents with a chronic tear of the pectoralis major? Physical exams and magnetic resonance imaging can help identify the injury and guide the physician with a plan for management. Nonoperative management is feasible, but is recommended for elderly, low-demand patients whose functional goals are minimal. Repair of chronic tears should be reserved for younger, healthier patients with high functional demands. Although operative management provides better functional outcomes, operative treatment of chronic pectoralis tears can be …

The Plastic Pandemic: Examining Surgical Face Mask Degradation In The Marine Environment In Times Of Covid-19, Christopher J. Mayer

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The development and use of single-use plastics skyrocketed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. With the support of world governments, manufacturing companies exponentially increased their output of personal protective equipment (PPE), and wearing surgical grade face masks became a ubiquitous aspect of reopening public society as they proved to significantly reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Over the course of the pandemic, however, environmental researchers began taking note of the improper disposal and increased waste of face masks and other pandemic-associated PPE throughout a wide range of environments.

This study assessed metrics of degradation of black …

Quality Control Of 11 Cannabinoids By Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography Coupled With Mass Spectrometry (Uplc-Ms/Ms), Ashraf Duzan, Desiree Reinken, Mufeed M Basti

HPD Articles

OBJECTIVE: Cannabinoid extraction from

METHODS: In this study, we developed rapid, sensitive, selective, accurate, and validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the quantification of cannabinoids. The methods are for determining 11 cannabinoids in cannabis (hemp) extracted in oil form, and we investigated the accuracy of the labeling and thermal stability regarding the cannabinoids on 17 oil cannabis samples.

RESULTS: In the UPLC chromatogram, we see a good resolution and there is no matrix effect and the accuracy were 98.2% to 102.6%, and the precision was 0.52%-8.18%. The linearity of the calibration curves in methanol was with a regression

CONCLUSION: The …

The Current - Volume 34 Orientation And Sports Edition, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Micromanagement In Clinical Supervision: A Scoping Review., Jihyun Lee, Solmoe Ahn, Marcus A. Henning, J M Monica Van De Ridder, Vijay Rajput

HPD Articles

Micromanagement in clinical supervision in health professions education generally refers to supervision characterized by unproductive excessive control and attention to detail. It can affect autonomy, competence, well-being of learners, teamwork, and ultimately patient care. Despite its potential negative impact on learners and patients, no comprehensive review of this phenomenon has been conducted. This scoping review aims to explore the breadth of extant literature concerning micromanagement in clinical supervision in health professions education and map the body of research on the topic. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis: Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR). We searched eight …

Management Of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence With Single-Incision Mini-Sling (Altis®): 36 Month Multicenter Outcomes., Le Mai Tu, Edward Gheiler, Craig E. Hanson, Mark Jalkut, Rebecca Mccrery, Mitesh Parekh, Mohamad Parva, Ty Erickson

HPD Articles

PURPOSE: To assess noninferiority of the safety and effectiveness of the Altis® Single Incision Sling (SIS) with standard midurethral transobturator and/or retropubic slings through 36 months in a prospective, longitudinal, nonrandomized US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 522 cohort study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult females with confirmed predominant stress urinary incontinence (UI) through cough stress test (CST) or urodynamics and failed two noninvasive incontinence therapies. Effectiveness endpoints included objective dryness, negative CST, adverse events, and revision/resurgery through 36 months. The primary effectiveness endpoint was reduction from baseline in 24-h pad weight of ≥50% at 6 months, as requested by the …

Nutrient Supplementation For Pre- And Post Acl Operation & Rehabilitation In Female Basketball Players, Mackenzie Steele, Joshua Munoz

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Understanding how nutrition and dietary protocols can help female athletes in the process of “returning to sport” after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair surgery should be discussed amongst interprofessional post-operational care teams. Amongst athletes, female counterparts experience ACL injuries at a higher incidence rate than males, this is due to a variety of biological factors while returning to sport at a lower rate. Due to this, it is important to analyze and evaluate the data available from sports journals on the effects diet and supplements may have on the musculoskeletal system. ACL grafts are often taken from a donating …