Digital Commons Network^™

The Factors Associated With Confidence In Using The Internet To Access Health Information: Cross-Sectional Data Analysis., Kasi Lou Van Heel, Anna Nelson, Daniel Handysides, Huma Shah

HPD Articles

BACKGROUND: Confidence in health information access is a measure of the perceived ability to obtain health information. One's beliefs or perceived ability to access health information is particularly important in understanding trends in health care access. Previous literature has found that access to health information is lowest among society's most vulnerable population groups. These groups include older, less educated, and low-income populations. While health confidence has previously been used as a scale to measure health outcomes, additional research is needed describing the demographic factors associated with users' confidence in health information access. This may be a key component of health …

A Voting-Based Machine Learning Approach For Classifying Biological And Clinical Datasets., Negar Hossein-Nezhad Daneshvar, Yosef Masoudi-Sobhanzadeh, Yadollah Omidi

HPD Articles

BACKGROUND: Different machine learning techniques have been proposed to classify a wide range of biological/clinical data. Given the practicability of these approaches accordingly, various software packages have been also designed and developed. However, the existing methods suffer from several limitations such as overfitting on a specific dataset, ignoring the feature selection concept in the preprocessing step, and losing their performance on large-size datasets. To tackle the mentioned restrictions, in this study, we introduced a machine learning framework consisting of two main steps. First, our previously suggested optimization algorithm (Trader) was extended to select a near-optimal subset of features/genes. Second, a …

Predictors Of Medical Students’ Perceptions Of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy For Use In Medical Practice, Karina Wang, Yiqun Sun, Brenda Nava, Luke Sampiere, Robin J. Jacobs

HPD Articles

Background Psilocybin use, along with other psychedelics, has seen an increased interest among professionals in the medical community due to its potential therapeutic benefits for psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders (SUD), and palliative care. While it is certain that more research is necessary as psychedelic-assisted therapy becomes more prevalent, it will most likely be future physicians at the forefront of this neoteric care. Currently, physicians receive minimal training because of psilocybin’s contextual information and its current enlistment as a Schedule 1 drug per the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Schedule 1 drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with …

Disruption, Transformation, Resilience, And Hope: The Experience Of A Belizean Community During Covid-19 Lockdown, Jean D. Kirshner Dr.

The Qualitative Report

This qualitative research explored the lived experience of teachers, school administrators, parents, and children in Belize, Central America during the COVID-19 lockdown. Through field notes, correspondence, and interviews, a narrative approach was leveraged to convey the impact of two years away from classrooms and from each other. Both the trauma and loss of this disruption on global literacy, along with three forces that nourished the capacity for resilience, were examined.

Transient Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Post-Covid-19 Infection., Colleen N. Gorman, Tori E. Abdalla, Yasmina Sultan, Spencer A. Grabois, Ellen G. Wood

HPD Articles

Anti-ovarian antibodies (AOAs) have been linked to autoimmune premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). This report details a case in which a patient experienced transient POI after a COVID-19 infection and tested positive for AOA. After treatment with oral contraceptives and subsequent high-dose oral corticosteroids, the patient underwent fertility treatment with in vitro fertilization (IVF). A total of 23 oocytes were retrieved. Two euploid blastocysts and three untested blastocysts were successfully created. This report hypothesizes the connection between autoimmune POI, AOA, and COVID-19. Conflicting data have been reported linking COVID-19 and ovarian injury. However, it is suggested that COVID-19 transiently impacts the …

A Review Of Cpr Augmentation Devices, Moshe Bengio, Glenn Goodwin, Alexander Scumpia

HPD Articles

The study aims to assess cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outcomes in cardiac arrest patients when using CPR augmentation devices, such as the ZOLL ResQCPR system (Chelmsford, MA) or its components ResQPUMP and ResQPOD, which are manual active compression-decompression (ACD) device and impedance threshold device (ITD), respectively. The analysis included a Google Scholar-based literature review that took place between January 2015 and March 2023 and included recent publications with PubMed IDs or widely cited articles to assess the effectiveness of the ResQPUMP and ResQPOD or similar devices. This review also includes studies quoted by ZOLL, but those were not considered in our …

Co-Exploring Meaning In Everyday Life For People In Mental Health Recovery: A Photovoice Study, Siw H. Tønnessen, Ottar Ness, Trude G. Klevan

The Qualitative Report

Research on mental health recovery points to an interdependent relationship between experiences of meaning and experiences of recovery; meaning in everyday life promotes recovery, and recovery promotes meaning in everyday life. In this study we address the following question: What do people with mental challenges find meaningful in their everyday life? To explore this question, we offered disposable cameras to people with mental health challenges and asked them to photograph whatever makes their life meaningful. As part of the collaborative procedure of the study, a competence group contributed to different stages of the research process and the visual data were …

Researcher’S Reflexivity In A Study Of Gender And Vulnerable Children In Eswatini Schools, Dr Ncamsile D. Motsa

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative researchers come into the research field embodied with all their background experiences and interpretations of the phenomenon they are studying. These all have a bearing on the study undertaken. Reflexivity therefore becomes imperative, not only in the knowledge and data generating process, analysis, and interpretation but also in legitimizing qualitative studies. This paper explores the significance of reflexivity as a critical and crucial strategy in qualitative studies. I do this by unpacking the partial, positioned, and effective perspectives that I brought into research that sought to explore vulnerable children’s gender constructions in three (3) rural schools in Eswatini. In …

The Length Of Hospital Stay Of Patients With Venous Thromboembolism: A Cross-Sectional Study From Jordan., Haneen Amawi, Rasha M Arabyat, Sayer Al-Azzam, Toqa Alzu'bi, Hamza Tayseer U'Wais, Alaa M Hammad, Ruba Amawi, Mohammad B. Nusair

HPD Articles

Background and Objectives: Venous thromboembolism is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide. Treatment with anticoagulation therapy is essential and requires a delicate approach to select the most appropriate option to improve patient outcomes, including the length of hospital stay (LOS). The aim of this study was to determine the LOS among patients with acute onset of VTE in several public hospitals in Jordan. Materials and Methods: In this study, we recruited hospitalized patients with a confirmed diagnosis of VTE. We reviewed the electronic medical records and charts of VTE admitted patients in addition to a detailed …

Editorial To The Ijms Special Issue On Sglt2 Inhibitors Vol. 1, Anastasios Lymperopoulos

HPD Articles

No abstract provided.

Human Cytomegalovirus (Cmv) Infection Associated With Decreased Risk Of Bronchogenic Carcinoma: Understanding How A Previous Cmv Infection Leads To An Enhanced Immune Response Against Malignancy., Selena Rashid, Amalia Ardeljan, Lexi R. Frankel, Matthew Cardeiro, Enoch Kim, Brittany M. Nagel, Kazuaki Takabe, Omar Rashid

HPD Articles

INTRODUCTION:  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes a long-lasting, asymptomatic infection that reportedly has both advantageous and deleterious effects on tumor progression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between CMV infection and the incidence of bronchogenic carcinoma.

METHODS: The study was conducted using a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant national database to identify patients both with and without histories of CMV infection using International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10 and ICD-9) codes. Access to the database was granted by Holy Cross Health, Fort Lauderdale for the purpose of academic research with standard statistical methods used to analyze …

Does Training With A Simulation Stethoscope Facilitate The Acquisition Of Cardiopulmonary Knowledge And Confidence In Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students, Archana Vatwani, Melissa Morris, Cheryl J. Hill, Alicia Fernandez-Fernandez

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not training with a computerized stethoscope could impact Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student cardiopulmonary assessment knowledge and confidence. Methods: Eighty-seven (87) DPT students in years 2 (DPT2s, n=39) and 3 (DPT3s, n=48) participated after previously completing a cardiopulmonary course. All subjects took a baseline test and confidence survey for cardiopulmonary skills. Two weeks later, DPT2s attended a 1-hour lab session with simulation stethoscopes and did a post-test and survey. Test scores and confidence data were compared within DPT2s, and for DPT2s vs DPT3s. Results: After training, DPT2 …

A Projectile Concussive Impact Model Produces Neuroinflammation In Both Mild And Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury., Lindsay T Michalovicz, Kimberly A Kelly, Travis J. A. Craddock, James P O'Callaghan

HPD Articles

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability and is experienced by nearly 3 million people annually as a result of falls, vehicular accidents, or from being struck by or against an object. While TBIs can range in severity, the majority of injuries are considered to be mild. However, TBI of any severity has the potential to have long-lasting neurological effects, including headaches, cognitive/memory impairments, mood dysfunction, and fatigue as a result of neural damage and neuroinflammation. Here, we modified a projectile concussive impact (PCI) model of TBI to deliver a closed-head impact with variable severity …

Accommodations Needed For Asd Patients During Dental Care, Krystal Eischen Olsen

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This project aimed to investigate caregiver perspective regarding dental provider care for visits for their child[ren] with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a developmental disorder that affects communication, sensory processing, and behavior. ASD can cause problems regarding oral health care and treatments due to the overwhelming sensations experienced by the patient, resulting in refusal behaviors regarding prevention, maintenance, diagnosis, and treatment of oral health care needs (Zhou et al., 2020). Dental providers aren’t extensively trained on treatment or support techniques recommended for this population, leading to a drop-off in patient care and a lack of caregiver training or support …

A Review Of Healthcare-Related Decisions Faced By Women At Risk For Hereditary Breast Cancer, Rathika Manikandan, Ilan Nedjar

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Hereditary breast cancer is defined as cancer that results from pathogenic mutations that are generationally inherited. In the U.S., hereditary cancer accounts for 5-10% of all cancer cases. Furthermore, approximately 264,000 newly diagnosed breast cancer cases are linked to pathogenic mutations. Pathogenic mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, and other genes are linked to a higher lifetime risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer; women with these pathogenic mutations have lifetime risk of breast cancer up to 85% and lifetime risk of ovarian cancer up to 54% . Previvors are defined as individuals with an identified pathogenic mutation prior to a …

A Review Of Treatment Options For Women Facing Hereditary Breast Cancer, Ilan Nedjar, Rathika Manikandan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes, which produce proteins that aid repair damaged DNA. Women who carry a pathogenic mutation in BRCA1/BRCA2 genes have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Furthermore, BRCA1/BRCA2 pathogenic mutations are associated with more aggressive breast cancer types (i.e., triple negative) and higher recurrence rates (10.5%) than for breast cancer of non-carrier patients. Consequently, BRCA1+/BRCA2+ breast cancer patients require a specialized treatment approach. The objective of this literature review is to summarize the various treatment options offered to BRCA1+/BRCA2+ breast cancer patients. Peer reviewed articles were found through multiple databases such as PubMed and …

A Simple Method To Assess Porphyrin Basicity Using Competition Studies, Pranav Madadi, Ofek Gur, Ayush Desai

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Competition studies of three freebase porphyrins (H2OEP, H2OETPP, and H2TPP) were carried to assess their basicities. These porphyrins were selected because they are a good representation of natural occurring ones. In each experiment, the resultant UV-vis spectra were obtained by mixing and analyzing two porphyrins in a double-sided cuvette in which one was protonated using either trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) or hydrochloric acid (HCl) while the other was kept as a freebase. After mixing, the two porphyrins “compete” available protons, thus the most basic of them will acquire most of the protons. By adjusting the ratios of dications and freebases we …

A Search For A Solution To Antibiotic-Resistance: Uncovering Phage From Soil Samples That Bind To A Type Iii Secretion System Of Yersinia Pestis, Shruti Patel, Ritika Vonguru, Kenya Reid, Jewel Mousa, Megha Kurian

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has recently become a major global health concern, requiring new methods to successfully combat these highly resistant microbes. One promising alternative to traditional antibiotics is phage therapy, where bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) are utilized to target and kill bacteria. This study primarily focuses on discovering phages that are effective against Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis), the bacteria responsible for bubonic and pneumonic plague. One distinctive aspect of Y. pestis is its utilization of a type III secretion system (T3SS), a needle-like structure used to inject host cells with toxins that lead to infection. …

Acute Toxicity Study Of Novel Melanoma Actives In Mice, Trisha Seal, Samaya Danthurthy

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Although there have been promising advances in melanoma drug discovery, the average overall survival of patients with late-stage metastatic melanoma is approximately 3 years, which suggests a need for identifying new melanoma targets. We previously reported a discovery of melanoma actives acting via binding and down regulating human nuclear ribonuclear protein H1/H2 (hnRNP H1/H2), which is a novel target with unknown toxicity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to study the safety of novel anti-melanoma compounds 2155-14 and 2155-18 in mice. The methodology of the study involved injecting male and female Balb/C mice three times a week for three …

An Impartial Supreme Court? Evaluating The Role Of Public Opinion In Supreme Court Rulings, Alexis Lass

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Susceptibility to public opinion is a phenomena faced by most political leaders, whether that be in City Halls or the United States’ Senate. Regardless, when separation of powers was conceptualized and the Supreme Court of the United States was created, the intent was to have a particular branch that didn’t make the law, but interpreted it, impartially, with a lack of partisanship opinion. In recent years, researchers have noticed a pattern of Supreme Court rulings aligning perfectly with public opinion, making field experts and citizens alike, question the integrity of the institution. The current study seeks to better understand the …

Are Students In Broward County, Fl, Who Get Less Sleep More Likely To Experience Depressive Symptoms?, Kelly Nyman, Alissa Lopez, Lauren Herrera

Undergraduate Student Symposium

It is commonly known that sleep can significantly affect overall health in both physical and mental states, but can getting less sleep be an attributing factor to high school students experiencing symptoms of depression? In this study, we will determine whether less sleep is associated with feelings of sadness or hopelessness which are common symptoms of depression. Finding a link between the two could allow us to implement sleep education programs that would lower rates of depression in high school students. Using data collected from the 2019 YRBSS from Broward County, Florida, data was run comparing high school students who …

An Examination Of The Social Reponse Of Children With Autism, Shriya Reddy, Shreeya Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) lack the ability to engage with others and make correct social predictions. Therefore, they misinterpret cues and exhibit incorrect social responses. The study’s aim was to compare the response of children with neurotypical development and children with ASD when presented with a friendly social interaction stimulus. Neurotypical children and children with ASD were recruited from public events and educational programs. Data were collected using Tobii Pro Nano eye-tracking device to measure eye movement while children’s autism risk was assessed with the MCHAT tool. Eye-tracking data were analyzed using Tobii Pro lab and statistical data …

An Optimal Strategy For Using Mixture-Based Combinatorial Library Data To Find T-Cell Epitopes, Sofia Celis

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Positional scanning libraries are well established in their use for peptide sequence identification and binding site optimization. Their use in identifying T cell stimulatory peptides has also previously been explored. Here we present a retrospective analysis on the results of mixture based positional scanning libraries of T-cell stimulatory peptides done before 2019 in order to identify an optimal strategy for using mixture based combinatorial library data to find T cell epitopes. The screening of positional scanning libraries against CD4+ and CD8+ T cell clones was analyzed using biometrical analysis approaches of various kinds in order to evaluate their relative effectiveness …

Analysis Of Errors In Ecgs Data Captured By Patients Using At-Home Device Compared To Qualified Healthcare Professionals, Colin Pulickathadam

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 17.3 million deaths per year. General at-home care has been proven to improve patient outcomes and decrease hospitalization rates. The purpose of this presentation is to present pilot data results comparing the electrocardiogram (ECG) readability from patients and their caregivers, who conducted at-home ECGs in the experimental group, versus data on ECG readability from patients at routine office visits, where a qualified healthcare professional takes the ECG readings as the control group. The pilot data involves a sample of 20 patients’ 105 ECG records analyzed using SPSS with …

Assessing Social Humanoid Interaction Across Levels Of Trust, Persuasion, And Empathy, Expert Panel Survey Validation, Nitya Alaparthy, Brigitte Wodrich

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Social humanoids present a wide range of opportunities regarding interactions with humans with the purpose of using artificial intelligence systems to aid with day-to-day activities. Humanoids can be programmed to provide high levels of intelligence for task fulfillment such as assisting caregivers/patients, washing human limbs autonomously, assisting with lift-and-transfer patients, and even delivering blood samples. Additional tasks include carrying objects, opening doors, operating telehealth consultations, providing demonstrations, coaching, and serving companionship for any patients. Researchers are assessing the interactions between social humanoids and patients across levels of trust, persuasion, and empathy. This project aims to explore such interactions in the …

Assessment Of Brain Function And Putting Performance Of Collegiate Golfers, Marissa Bonsangue

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a noninvasive method for assessing brain activity. Significant correlation has been indicated between performance outcome and brain wave measures. During a putting sequence, a golfer requires significant focus to successfully perform the skill, therefore certain brain wave frequencies are more apparent. Male and female golfers (n = 11) from a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Program were asked to complete 10 putts at 5 varied hole distances (total- 50 putts) on an outdoor putting surface. EEG was recorded in 4-second epochs and assessed to the extent of power spectral density (PSD). Each epoch was classified …

Assessment Of Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus Polyphemus) Activity And Faunal Diversity Associated With Tortoise Burrows Using Trail Cameras At Three South Florida Natural Areas, Reginald Kempson Iii, Indaya Byer, Grace Mikus, Emma Pinard, Hiba Ali

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is a protected keystone species found in our area. The excavated burrows they create are shelter for hundreds of commensal species during wildfires and extreme heat. Nine motion-activated trail cameras (three at each site) were mounted outside burrows in three local natural areas (Fern Forest (FF), Military Trail (MT), and Deerfield Island Park (DI)). Pictures and videos of animals were recorded at burrow entrances intermittently over an 11-month period between January 2022 and November 2022. Cameras were left in the field between 15-30 days at a time before retrieval and exchange of SD …

Association Between School Mental Health And Suicide Prevention Education Policies And Adolescent Suicide Attempts, Sonia Rao

Undergraduate Student Symposium

In the past ten years, the intensity and complexity of declining mental health has been on the rise among high school students. This increasing trend may impact the rates at which students consider or even attempt suicide. In 2019, 10,520 of high school students in the United States reported attempting suicide out of which 8,749 (83.2%) needed medical attention. The current ecological study investigates the association between state-level mental and emotional health education and suicide prevention education policies to suicide attempts among high school students. Secondary data collected from the CDC’s Youth Behavior Risk Surveillance System (YRBSS) and National Association …

Associations Between Minority Status, Culture, And Mental Health Help-Seeking, Ariana Ali, Zahra Aziz, Samhita Doranala, Shannon Parma M.S.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Many cultural attitudes foster a stigma towards mental health. Mental health stigma within minority cultures often leads to limited mental health-related conversations within households, due to the “taboo” nature of the topic. Lack of familial openness can influence an individual’s attitudes and behaviors toward mental health care. This study aims to investigate whether differences exist between minority and White students and mental health help-seeking behaviors and perceived cultural openness to mental health.

A cross-sectional study was conducted as part of a mental health literacy project at a private university in South Florida. We examine the relationship of cultural and familial …

Associations Between Parent Country Of Origin And Mental Health Help-Seeking, Samhita Doranala, Shannon Parma, Zahra Aziz, Ariana Ali

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Mental health stigma is a barrier to help-seeking behaviors. Cultural attitudes and beliefs and about mental health can both influence and perpetuate that stigma. Research suggests that a family ethnic origin may contribute to mental health stigma. This study aims to investigate the relationship between parent country of origin and mental health help-seeking knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behavior.

A cross-sectional study was conducted as part of a mental health literacy pilot project at private university in South Florida. Parent country of origin (U.S. vs. non-U.S.) was used to examine the likelihood of participants (n=246) to report on seven attributes related …