Digital Commons Network^™

Trends And Associated Characteristics For Chagas Disease Among Women Of Reproductive Age In The United States, 2002 To 2017, Chioma Ikedionwu, Deepa Dongarwar, Manvir Kaur, Lisa Nunez, Annabella Awazi, Jere' Mallet, Ka Shena Kennedy, Michelle Cano, Chinwe Dike, Jessica Okwudi, Justice Stewart, David Igwegbe, Flora G. Estes, Kiara K. Spooner, Jason L. Salemi, Hamisu M. Salihu, Omonike A. Olaleye

Faculty Publications

Background: American trypanosomiasis, commonly referred to as Chagas disease, is caused by a single cell protozoan known as Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). Although those affected are mainly in Latin America, Chagas has been detected in the United States (US), Canada and in many European countries due to migration. Few studies have explored the epidemiology of Chagas within the US or changes in disease burden over the past decade. The objective of this study was to explore the trends and associated characteristics for Chagas disease among hospitalized women of reproductive age in the US. Methods: We analyzed admissions data including socio-demographic …

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors As Multitarget-Directed Epi-Drugs In Blocking Pi3k Oncogenic Signaling: A Polypharmacology Approach, Kasturi Ranganna, Chelliah Selvam, Amruthesh Shivachar, Zivar Yousefipour

Faculty Publications

Genetic mutations and aberrant epigenetic alterations are the triggers for carcinogenesis. The emergence of the drugs targeting epigenetic aberrations has provided a better outlook for cancer treatment. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are epigenetic modifiers playing critical roles in numerous key biological functions. Inappropriate expression of HDACs and dysregulation of PI3K signaling pathway are common aberrations observed in human diseases, particularly in cancers. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) are a class of epigenetic small-molecular therapeutics exhibiting promising applications in the treatment of hematological and solid malignancies, and in non-neoplastic diseases. Although HDACIs as single agents exhibit synergy by inhibiting HDAC and the PI3K …

Temporal Trends Of Gestational Malaria In The United States, Justin Alexander, Deepa Dongarwar, Emmanuella Oduguwa, Larianna Varnado, Adesola Adenote, Jade Bailey, Chibueze Ezeudu, Patrice Nelson, Alexis Shavers, Abimbola Telufusi, Kiara K. Spooner, Jason L. Salemi, Omonike A. Olaleye, Hamisu M. Salihu

Faculty Publications

Background: Although regarded as rare in the United States (US), increased global traffic and importation of malaria from endemic countries may lead to a rise in gestational malaria in the US. Methods: This multi-year retrospective study analyzed trends in diagnosed cases of gestational malaria from 2002 to 2017 using joinpoint regression models. We also assessed the association between gestational malaria and selected maternal-fetal adverse outcomes. Results: Mothers diagnosed with gestational malaria tended to be older, and the majority of diagnosed cases (52.9%) were among Non-Hispanic (NH) Blacks. Diagnosed cases of gestational malaria are on the rise in the US. Mothers …

National Income Inequality And International Business Expansion, Nathaniel C. Lupton, Guoliang Frank Jiang, Luis F. Escobar, Alfredo Jiménez

Faculty Publications

We examine the extent to which host country income inequality influences multinational enterprises’ (MNE) expansion strategy for foreign production investment, depending on their specific strategic objectives. Applying a transaction cost framework, we predict that national income inequality has an inverted U-shaped relationship with foreign production investment. As inequality increases, MNEs accrue lower transaction costs arising from interactions with various local actors, leading to higher probability of investment. As income inequality increases further, its effect on location attractiveness will become negative, as its attraction effect is increasingly offset by additional monitoring, bargaining, and security costs owing to the more fractious nature …

Impact Of Mass Distribution Of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (Llins) In Mozambique, 2011 To 2025: Retrospective And Prospective Modelling Of Child Mortality And Lives Saved, Erica Wetzler, Jorge A. H. Arroz, Chulwoo Park, Marta Chande, Figueiredo Mussambala

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Impacts Of Building Characteristics, Social Psychological And Cultural Factors On Indoor Environment Quality Productivity Belief, Chien Fei Chen, Selin Yilmaz, Anna Laura Pisello, Marilena De Simone, Amy Kim, Tianzhen Hong, Karol Bandurski, Mateus V. Bavaresco, Pei Ling Liu, Yimin Zhu

Faculty Publications

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) plays a key role in determining occupants' productivity at work; however, analyses of the interconnected factors among building physical, attitudinal, social and demographic components in one study are lacking. To fill this research gap, this study investigates these interconnected factors' influence on occupants’ IEQ-productivity belief, defined as a personal, subjective evaluation of the linkage between the impacts of five IEQ aspects (the quality of indoor temperature, air, natural and electric lighting, and acoustics) and productivity. A cross-sectional survey data was collected in university offices from six countries (Brazil, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Taiwan and the U.S.). Results …

Chain-Selective Isotopic Labeling Of The Heterodimeric Type Iii Secretion Chaperone, Scc4:Scc1, Reveals The Total Structural Rearrangement Of The Chlamydia Trachomatis Bi-Functional Protein, Scc4, Thilini O. Ukwaththage, Samantha M. Keane, Li Shen, Megan A. Macnaughtan

Faculty Publications

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Scc4 is an unusual bi-functional protein from Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) that functions as a type III secretion system (T3SS) chaperone and an RNA polymerase (RNAP)-binding protein. Both functions require interactions with protein partners during specific stages of the CT developmental cycle. As a T3SS chaperone, Scc4 binds Scc1 during the late stage of development to form a heterodimer complex, which chaperones the essential virulence effector, CopN. During the early-middle stage of development, Scc4 regulates T3SS gene expression by binding the σ66-containing RNAP holoenzyme. In order to study the structure and association …

Early Intracellular Trafficking And Subsequent Activity Of Programmed Cell Death In Channel Catfish Macrophages Infected With Edwardsiella Ictaluri, Lidiya P. Dubytska, Ronald L. Thune

Faculty Publications

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. The development of Edwardsiella-containing-vacuoles (ECV) and the ability of Edwardsiella ictaluri to survive and replicate within macrophages suggests a unique process relative to normal phagosomal/lysosomal maturation and programed cell death. Developing ECV showed that endosomal membrane markers Rab5, EEA1, and Rab7 were all detected in both the wild type (WT) and an E. ictaluri type-3 secretion system (T3SS) mutant, 65ST. Co-localization with Lamp1, however, was significantly lower in the WT. The host cell endoplasmic reticulum marker, calnexin, co-localized to 65ST ECV significantly more than WT ECV, while Golgi vesicle marker, giantin, …

Psychological, Addictive, And Health Behavior Implications Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Michael J. Zvolensky, Lorra Garey, Andrew H. Rogers, Norman B. Schmidt, Anka .. Vujanovic, Eric A. Storch, Julia D. Buckner, Daniel J. Paulus, Candice Alfano, Jasper A. J. Smits, Connall O'Cleirigh

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Microbiological, Physicochemical, And Immunological Analysis Of A Commercial Cashew Nut-Based Yogurt, Christopher P. Mattison, Kayanush Aryana, Kristen Clermont, Eric Prestenburg, Steven W. Lloyd, Casey .. Grimm, Richard L. Wasserman

Faculty Publications

Nut-based milks and yogurts are gaining popularity, but may not offer the same benefits as dairy yogurts to consumers. Cashew nuts often cause severe allergic reactions, and cashew nut allergens are stable to several types of processing. To compare its characteristics to dairy yogurt and characterize the effects of fermentation on the Ana o 1-3 cashew nut allergens, a commercial yogurt made from cashew nuts (Cashewgurt) was evaluated for microbiological, physiochemical, and immunological properties. Average counts for lactobacilli and Streptococcus thermophilus were greater than 10 million colony forming units per milliliter, indicating the capacity to provide a health benefit. Cashewgurt …

A Coded Aperture Microscope For X-Ray Fluorescence Full-Field Imaging, D. P. Siddons, A. J. Kuczewski, A. K. Rumaiz, R. Tappero, M Idir, K. Nakhoda, J. Khanfri, V. Singh, E. R. Farquhar, M. Sullivan, D. Abel, D. J. Brady, X. Yuan

Faculty Publications

The design and construction of an instrument for full-field imaging of the X-ray fluorescence emitted by a fully illuminated sample are presented. The aim is to produce an X-ray microscope with a few micrometers spatial resolution, which does not need to scan the sample. Since the fluorescence from a spatially inhomogeneous sample may contain many fluorescence lines, the optic which will provide the magnification of the emissions must be achromatic, i.e. its optical properties must be energy-independent. The only optics which fulfill this requirement in the X-ray regime are mirrors and pinholes. The throughput of a simple pinhole is very …

Single-Case Experimental Designs For Behavioral Neuroscience, Paul L. Soto

Faculty Publications

Single-case experimental designs (SCEDs) are commonly used in behavior analytic research but rarely used in behavioral neuroscience research. The recent development of technologies that allow control of the timing of neurobiological events such as gene expression and neuronal firing enable the fruitful application of SCEDs for the study of brain-behavior relations. There are at least 3 benefits expected from applying SCEDs to study how neurobiological events affect behavior. First, SCEDs entail direct within- and across-subject assessments of reliability, likely increasing the probability of replication across studies and encouraging a search for the causes of replication failure when they occur. Second, …

Psychometric Analyses Of The Eating And Food Literacy Behaviors Questionnaire With University Students, Kwadernica C. Rhea, Melissa W. Cater, Kevin Mccarter, Georgianna Tuuri

Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study developed and validated a questionnaire to measure young adults’ perceived food literacy and behaviors toward food and created an explanatory model. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Large southeastern US university. Participants: A total of 1,896 students, aged 18–30 years, were recruited. Data from 1,813 were analyzed. Variables Measured: Health and nutrition, taste, food preparation, planning and decision-making, and convenience. Analysis: Exploratory factor analysis, test-retest reliability, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were performed. Results: Exploratory factor analysis returned 5 factors with acceptable internal structure. Test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from 0.63 to 0.92. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested that a …

Utilization Of Deep Learning For Subphenotype Identification In Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury, Kumardeep Chaudhary, Akhil Vaid, Áine Duffy, Ishan Paranjpe, Suraj Jaladanki, Manish Paranjpe, Kipp Johnson, Avantee Gokhale, Pattharawin Pattharanitima, Kinsuk Chauhan, Ross O’Hagan, Tielman Van Vleck, Steven G. Coca, Richard Cooper, Benjamin Glicksberg, Erwin P. Bottinger, Lili Chan, Girish N. Nadkarni

Faculty Publications

Background and objectives Sepsis-associated AKI is a heterogeneous clinical entity. We aimed to agnostically identify sepsis-associated AKI subphenotypes using deep learning on routinely collected data in electronic health records. Design, setting, participants, & measurements We used the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database, which consists of electronic health record data from intensive care units in a tertiary care hospital in the United States. We included patients ≥18 years with sepsis who developed AKI within 48 hours of intensive care unit admission. We then used deep learning to utilize all available vital signs, laboratory measurements, and comorbidities to identify …

Potential Link Between Compromised Air Quality And Transmission Of The Novel Corona Virus (Sars-Cov-2) In Affected Areas, M. G. Manoj, M. K. Satheesh Kumar, K. T. Valsaraj, C. Sivan, Soumya K. Vijayan

Faculty Publications

The emergence of a novel human corona virus disease (COVID-19) has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. One of the mechanisms of airborne transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) amid humans is through direct ejection of droplets via sneezing, coughing and vocalizing. Nevertheless, there are ample evidences of the persistence of infectious viruses on inanimate surfaces for several hours to a few days. Through a critical review of the current literature and a preliminary analysis of the link between SARS-CoV-2 transmission and air pollution in the affected regions, we offer a perspective …

Determination Of Sulfite And Antimicrobial Residue In Imported Shrimp To The Usa, Murshida Khan, Julie A. Lively

Faculty Publications

Incorrect usage of grow out and post-harvest products in shrimp aquaculture can lead to problems such as residue from veterinary drugs and melanosis prevention. These residues can be a serious concern for human health during handling and consumption of the shrimp. In an effort to determine if banned antimicrobial drugs were present in commercial shrimp, imported shrimp from India, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh and Ecuador were purchased from retail stores in Baton Rouge, LA, USA and screened for the presence of veterinary drug residues (oxytetracycline, nitrofurantoin, chloramphenicol, fluoroquinolone and malachite green) using ELISA test kits. Additional screening with the …

The Effects Of Family Transitions On Depressive Symptoms: Differences Among Young Adults With And Without Childhood Symptoms Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Rhiannon A. Kroeger, Debra Umberson, Daniel A. Powers, Danequa L. Forrest

Faculty Publications

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is tied to higher levels of depression, but the social factors that shape these associations are not well understood. This study considers whether family transitions affect depressive symptoms differently for young adults with and without childhood symptoms of ADHD at subthreshold or diagnostic levels. Between-within regression analysis of nationally representative longitudinal survey data shows that transitions into cohabitation and parenthood affect depressive symptoms differently for young adults with and without childhood symptoms of ADHD. Specifically, within-person effects indicate that transitions into cohabitation and parenthood are tied to decreases in depressive symptoms, but only for young adults without …

Relationships Between Emotion, Acceptance, Food Choice, And Consumption: Some New Perspectives, Witoon Prinyawiwatkul

Faculty Publications

Food is more than just a source of nutrients—it also provides basic pleasure as well as aesthetic experiences. A number of studies have reported that acceptance, food choice, and consumption are affected by a large number of factors, including both intrinsic and extrinsic factors and cues, as well as consumer characteristics. Food-elicited emotions are becoming a critical component in designing products that meet consumers’ needs and expectations. Several studies have reported emotional responses to food and their relationships to product acceptability, preference, and choice. This Special Issue brings together a small range of studies with a diversity of approaches that …

Aroma, Quality, And Consumer Mindsets For Shelf-Stable Rice Thermally Processed By Reciprocal Agitation, William R. Dixon, Blanca E. Morales-Contreras, Manoch Kongchum, Zhimin Xu, Dustin Harrell, Howard R. Moskowitz, Louise Wicker

Faculty Publications

Food engineering, food chemistry, and consumer segmentation were used to evaluate ready-to-eat rice. The aromatic Louisiana Clearfield Jazzman (CJ) and Thai Jasmine (TJ), and a non-aromatic parboiled (PB) rice were hydrated during the first 10 min of processing with reciprocal agitation followed by static retort processing. The aroma compound, 2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP) was more heat-stable in CJ than TJ rice but decreased 15-fold compared to the rice cooker method. Pareto analysis indicated that rice type and agitation had the main effect on amylose and total starch and chroma and hue. Color differences of rice agitated during hydration and between rice cooker …

A Community-Based School Nutrition Intervention Improves Diet Diversity And School Attendance In Palestinian Refugee Schoolchildren In Lebanon, Zeina Jamaluddine, Jowel Choufani, Amelia Reese Masterson, Reem Hoteit, Nadine R. Sahyoun, Hala Ghattas Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background:

School feeding programs have the potential to supply children with healthy school food, alleviate short-term hunger, and improve children's educational outcomes.

Objectives:

We linked community kitchens to a subsidized school snack intervention and assessed the impact of this intervention on nutritional (diet diversity, hemoglobin, and anthropometry) and educational (attendance and academic performance) outcomes of Palestinian refugee schoolchildren.

Methods:

We collected data from 1362 students (aged 5-15 y) and their parents at baseline, and at an 8-mo follow-up in 2 control and 2 intervention schools. We conducted linear, logistic, and negative binomial regression analyses to assess changes in outcomes of …

Honoring Navajo Traditions: Franc Newcomb's Time Among The Navajo, Roy R. Behrens

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Case Against Prosecuting Refugees, Evan J. Criddle

Faculty Publications

Within the past several years, the U.S. Department of Justice has pledged to prosecute asylum-seekers who enter the United States outside an official port of entry without inspection. This practice has contributed to mass incarceration and family separation at the U.S.–Mexico border, and it has prevented bona fide refugees from accessing relief in immigration court. Yet, federal judges have taken refugee prosecution in stride, assuming that refugees, like other foreign migrants, are subject to the full force of American criminal justice if they skirt domestic border controls. This assumption is gravely mistaken.

This Article shows that Congress has not authorized …

Framing The Second Amendment: Gun Rights, Civil Rights And Civil Liberties, Timothy Zick

Faculty Publications

Gun rights proponents and gun control advocates have devoted significant energy to framing the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. In constitutional discourse, advocates and commentators have referred to the Second Amendment as a "collective, ""civic republican," "individual," and 'fundamental" right. Gun rights advocates have defended the right to keep and bear arms on "law and order" grounds, while gun control proponents have urged regulation based on "public health, " "human rights, " and other concerns. These frames and concepts have significantly influenced how the right to keep and bear arms has been debated, interpreted, and enforced. This Article …

Writing Standards-Based Lesson Plans To Standards For Technological And Engineering Literacy, Scott Bartholomew, Thomas Loveland, Vanessa Santana

Faculty Publications

While written lesson plans may seem like a lot of work, with little purpose or benefit to new teachers, a well-written lesson plan is quite valuable for many reasons. The process of writing lesson plans at the beginning of one’s teaching career can be very time-consuming (Arnett-Hartwick and Cannon, 2019); however, the development of sequenced lessons that result in effective learning must be organized and articulate, not done haphazardly. Designing a lesson through a written document can help a teacher see the pattern, flow, and implications of a lesson and how it will help all students; this can be especially …

Financial Socialization: A Decade In Review, Ashley B. Lebaron, Heather H. Kelly

Faculty Publications

The financial socialization individuals receive is associated not only with their future financial wellbeing but also relational, mental, and physical wellbeing. This paper is a review of the literature on financial socialization, especially papers published between 2010 and 2019 in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues. We first review family financial socialization theory and then review empirical documentation for the theory, organized by (a) family socialization processes (e.g., parent financial modeling, parent-child financial discussion, and experiential learning as three primary methods of financial socialization) and (b) financial socialization outcomes (e.g., financial attitudes, financial knowledge, financial behaviors, and financial wellbeing). …

Building Capacity In Dissemination And Implementation Science: A Systematic Review Of The Academic Literature On Teaching And Training Initiatives, Rachel E. Davis, Danielle D'Lima

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The field of dissemination and implementation (D&I) science has grown significantly over recent years. Alongside this, an increased demand for training in D&I from researchers and implementers has been seen. Research describing and evaluating D&I training opportunities, referred to here as 'capacity building initiatives' (CBIs), can help provide an understanding of different methods of training as well as training successes and challenges. However, to gain a more detailed understanding of the evidence-base and how D&I CBIs are being reported in publications, a field-wide examination of the academic literature is required. METHODS: Systematic review to identify the type and range …

Rethinking The Role Of Aging Pastors In Ministry, Petr Cincala

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Association Of Patient-Centered Medical Home Designation And Quality Indicators Within Hrsa-Funded Community Health Center Delivery Sites, Nathaniel Bell, Rebecca Wilkerson, Kathy Mayfield-Smith, Ana Lòpez-De Fede

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) adoption is an important strategy to help improve primary care quality within Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) community health centers (CHC), but evidence of its effect thus far remains mixed. A limitation of previous evaluations has been the inability to account for the proportion of CHC delivery sites that are designated medical homes.

METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study using HRSA Uniform Data System (UDS) and certification files from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the Joint Commission (JC). Datasets were linked through geocoding and an approximate string-matching algorithm. Predicted probability scores were …

Association Between Dietary Inflammatory Index And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, Wenhui Fu, Hualian Pei, Nitin Shivaooa, James R. Hébert, Tao Luo, Tian Tian, Dilibaier Alimu, Zewen Zhang, Jianghong Dai

Faculty Publications

Background Diet and inflammation have both been studied in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) and T2DM. Methods Subjects were adults enrolled in the baseline study of the Xinjiang multi-ethnic natural population cohort and health follow-up study from January to May 2019. The study involved 5,105 subjects (58.7% men) between 35 and 74 years of age. The DII score was calculated from a data obtained via a food frequency questionnaire consisting of 127 food items. Results Logistic regression analyses were used to …

Why Parents Say No To Having Their Children Vaccinated Against Measles: Social Determinants Of Parental Perceptions To Vaccine Hesitancy, M. Lelinneth B. Novilla, Michael C. Goates, Mallory Showalter, Lynneth Kirsten B. Novilla, Tyler Leffler, Russell B. Doria, Michael T. Dang, Katelyn Aldridge

Faculty Publications

Background: Although national and state immunization coverage rates are high, the resurgence of measles points to local pockets of under-vaccination that correspond with higher non-medical exemptions and lower parental confidence on vaccines. The reported geographic clustering of vaccine hesitancy, particularly against MMR, points to social drivers that shape parental perceptions and decisions on immunization.

Objectives. To analyze: (1) why parents delay or refuse vaccination, specifically MMR; (2) social context of vaccine hesitancy and perceived reliable sources of vaccine information between vaccine-hesitant and vaccine-compliant parents/guardians; (3) role of families in countering vaccine hesitancy; (4) strategies at the public health, primary care, …