Digital Commons Network^™

Loneliness, Social Isolation, And Their Connection To Overall Health Across The Lifespan, Paige Miller

Senior Honors Theses

Due to recent circumstances, the incidence of loneliness and social isolation has skyrocketed. Fortunately, there have already been countless studies examining the longer-term implications of these two factors on health. Loneliness and social isolation have been found to impact cardiovascular health, stress response, immune function, resilience, mental health, attachment, spiritual health, and many other determinants of health. A variety of research was examined outlining the psychological implications of loneliness and social isolation. These factors also influence physiological processes and can exacerbate a variety of diseases. After presentation of this evidence, a collection of possible interventions will be discussed, and their …

Intracorporeal And Extracorporeal Anastomosis For Robotic-Assisted And Laparoscopic Right Colectomy: Short-Term Outcomes Of A Multi-Center Prospective Trial, Robert K. Cleary, Matthew Silviera, Tobi J. Reidy, James Mccormick, Craig S. Johnson, Patricia Sylla, Jamie Cannon, Henry Lujan, Andrew Kassir, Ron Landmann, Wolfgang Gaertner, Edward Lee, Amir Bastawrous, Ovunc Bardakcioglu, Sushil Pandey, Vikram Attaluri

Department of Surgery Faculty Research

Background: Studies to date show contrasting conclusions when comparing intracorporeal and extracorporeal anastomoses for minimally invasive right colectomy. Large multi-center prospective studies comparing perioperative outcomes between these two techniques are needed. The purpose of this study was to compare intracorporeal and extracorporeal anastomoses outcomes for robotic assisted and laparoscopic right colectomy. Methods: Multi-center, prospective, observational study of patients with malignant or benign disease scheduled for laparoscopic or robotic-assisted right colectomy. Outcomes included conversion rate, gastrointestinal recovery, and complication rates. Results: There were 280 patients: 156 in the robotic assisted and laparoscopic intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) group and 124 in the robotic …

Self-Perceived Leadership Behaviors Of Collegiate Athletic Trainers And Strength And Conditioning Coaches: A Case Study, James Thomas Daley

All Theses And Dissertations

The purpose of the case study was to examine the self-perceived leadership characteristics, behaviors, and communication styles of professionals within the pillars of the high-performance sport model, specifically athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning coaches, to gain perspective on their ability to influence student-athletes and colleagues at the NCAA DIII level. A qualitative case study format allowed the researcher to engage with a small sample of participants and explore the differences and similarities between the participant groups. Participants were selected based on their primary job title and setting at over 80 institutions of higher education that participate in NCAA Division …

Does Mass Drug Administration Of Azithromycin Reduce Child Mortality?, Samwel Gatimu, Rachel Kimani

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Child mortality remains prevalent in low-income and middle-income countries, with the sub-Saharan Africa region accounting for the largest under-5 mortality rates. Although under-5 mortality rates have significantly decreased, most countries in sub-Saharan Africa with high mortality rates are unlikely to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of at least as low as 25 deaths per 1000 livebirths by 2030.

Implementing Geriatric Frailty Screening In Acute Care, Christine Longley

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: Frailty is a syndrome of age-related physiologic decline characterized by an increased burden of symptoms and higher susceptibility to adverse health, including higher functional decline rates, pressure ulcers, falls, and delirium. In the general medicine unit of this project, geriatric patients were not screened for frailty.

PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In hospitalized patients 65-years-of-age and older (P), how does implementing a geriatric frailty screening tool (I), compared to standard assessments (C), influence frailty identification and personalized plans of care (O) over eight weeks (T)?

Evidence: Literature supports screening for frailty in the hospitalized …

Growing Faba Beans On The South Coast Of Western Australia, Sarah Belli, Carla Milazzo, Emma Pearse, King Yin Lui, Grace Williams, Jeremy Lemon

Grain and other field crops published reports

Editors: Megan Abrahams, Andrew Blake and Vanessa Stewart (DPIRD)

Foreword

Thirty-three years ago I started work in Esperance on broadleaf crops. One of the best things my boss set up for me was arranging visits with several lupin farmers so I could follow their crops from seeding, through the growing season, to harvest. It was a great way to quickly get an idea of the choices farmers make and the reasons why.

With today’s busy lives, most farmers would be hard pressed to have the luxury of visiting many other farmers multiple times to learn how to grow a crop. …

Determinants Of Preconception Care Among Pregnant Women In An Urban And A Rural Health Facility In Kenya: A Qualitative Study, Joan Okemo, Dorothy Kamya, Mukaindo Mwaniki, Marleen Temmerman

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Preconception care (PCC) is a form of preventive health care that is offered to women and couples before conception, with the aim of improving their health status and mitigating various risk factors that could con- tribute to poor maternal and child health outcomes. The levels of PCC utilization are still low globally, especially in developing countries and in rural areas. Little is known regarding PCC use in Kenya that could help in addressing this shortfall. This study aimed to qualitatively assess the determinants of PCC in urban and rural settings in Kenya.

Methods: A qualitative approach was …

Microbiota From Specific Pathogen-Free Mice Reduces Campylobacter Jejuni Chicken Colonization, Ayidh Almansour, Ying Fu, Tahrir Jatli Alenezi, Mohit Bansal, Bilal Alrubaye, Hong Wang, Xiaolun Sun

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Campylobacter jejuni, a prevalent foodborne bacterial pathogen, is mainly transmitted from poultry with few effective prevention approaches. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of microbiota on C. jejuni chicken colonization. Microbiota from specific pathogen-free (SPF) mouse stools were collected as SPF-Aerobe and SPF-Anaerobe. Birds were colonized with SPF-Aerobe or SPF-Anaerobe at day 0 and infected with C. jejuni AR101 at day 12. Notably, C. jejuni AR101 colonized at 5.3 and 5.6 log(10) C. jejuni CFU/g chicken cecal digesta at days 21 and 28, respectively, while both SPF-Aerobe and SPF-Anaerobe microbiota reduced pathogen colonization. Notably, SPF-Aerobe and SPF-Anaerobe …

Implementation Of A Wechat-Based Smoking Cessation Program For Chinese Smokers, Ting Luo, Mirandy S. Li, Donna Williams, Jackson Fritz, Stephen Phillippi, Qingzhao Yu, Stephen Kantrow, Liwei Chen, Yongchun Chen, Kaylin Beiter, Tung-Sung Tseng

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: Although smoking prevalence has recently declined, the smoking prevalence in China remains high. Extensive research has demonstrated ways that social media can assist in quitting smoking. WeChat is the most commonly used social media platform in China but has not been used for smoking cessation. A process evaluation of a novel WeChat-based smoking cessation intervention was conducted to measure its efficacy of content delivery, participant satisfac-tion, engagement, and likelihood of recommendation to others. Methods: A three-week, three-arm, single-blind randomized control trial was established. WeChat was used to recruit 403 participants and to deliver intervention messages and process evaluation surveys …

Scope Of Artificial Intelligence In Gastrointestinal Oncology, Hermant Goyal Md, Syed A.A. Sheraz, Rupinder Mann, Zainab Gandhi, Abhilash Perisetti Md, Muhammad Aziz, Saurabh Chandan, Jonathan Kopel, Benjamin Tharian Md, Neil Sharma Md, Nirav Thosani

PCI Publications and Projects

Simple Summary

Diagnostics To Support Elimination Of Lymphatic Filariasis-Development Of Two Target Product Profiles, Kimberly Y. Won, Gary J. Weil, Et Al

Open Access Publications

As lymphatic filariasis (LF) programs move closer to established targets for validation elimination of LF as a public health problem, diagnostic tools capable of supporting the needs of the programs are critical for success. Known limitations of existing diagnostic tools make it challenging to have confidence that program endpoints have been achieved. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) established a Diagnostic Technical Advisory Group (DTAG) for Neglected Tropical Diseases tasked with prioritizing diagnostic needs including defining use-cases and target product profiles (TPPs) for needed tools. Subsequently, disease-specific DTAG subgroups, including one focused on LF, were established to develop TPPs …

Biofilm Formation And Virulence Of Shigella Flexneri Are Modulated By Ph Of Gastrointestinal Tract, I-Ling Chiang, Yi Wang, Satoru Fujii, Brian D Muegge, Qiuhe Lu, Phillip I Tarr, Thaddeus S Stappenbeck

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Inspire : Vol 4, Issue 11, Department Of Medicine

INSPIRE – Department of Medicine Archives

Content

• Message from the Chair
• Medicine at National and International Forums
• In-depth- featuring Professor Dr. Fateh Ali Tipoo
• Featured Faculty- Dr Sara Ahmed “…turn your challenges into opportunities and make a difference in someone's life …”
• Faculty’s –Favorite poem
• What are Academics Around the World Reading This Month?
• Publications

Texture Consumption Patterns Of 8- To 12-Month-Old Infants: A Reflection Of Typical Feeding Development, Amy Delaney, Megan Van Hoorn, Sarah Staskiewicz, Mary B. Feuling, Stephanie Pladies, Naveen K. Bansal, Praveen S. Goday

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose: The lack of age-appropriate expectations for the acquisition of feeding skills and consumption of textured food in early childhood inhibits early and accurate identification of developmental delay in feeding and pediatric feeding disorder. The objective of this study was to describe texture intake patterns in a cohort of typically developing infants between 8 and 12 months of age, with the aim of informing future research to establish targets for feeding skill acquisition. Method: Using cross-sectional methodology, we studied the presence of liquid and solid textures and drinking methods in the diet, consumption patterns by texture and drinking methods, and …

The Effects Of Omega-3 Pufa Infusions During Late Gestation On Developmental Pathologies In The Intrauterine Growth Restricted Fetus, Taylor A. Lacey

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Low birthweight due to intrauterine growth restriction is associated with metabolic disorders after birth. Our 1^st study assessed deficits in skeletal muscle glucose metabolism and pancreatic β cell function in IUGR fetal sheep. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of daily intravenous infusions of the anti-inflammatory ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), as a means of improving deficits previously observed in the IUGR fetus by targeting fetal systemic inflammation. The presence of systemic inflammation in IUGR fetuses was evident by increased total circulating populations of total leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. However, these were …

Law Library Blog (November 2021): Legal Beagle's Blog Archive, Roger Williams University School Oflaw

Law Library Newsletters/Blog

No abstract provided.

The Cnn Hip Accelerometer Posture (Chap) Method For Classifying Sitting Patterns From Hip Accelerometers: A Validation Study., Mikael Anne Greenwood-Hickman, Supun Nakandala, Marta M. Jankowska, Dori E Rosenberg, Fatima Tuz-Zahra, John Bellettiere, Jordan A. Carlson, Paul R. Hibbing, Jingjing Zou, Andrea Z. Lacroix, Arun Kumar, Loki Natarajan

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

INTRODUCTION: Sitting patterns predict several healthy aging outcomes. These patterns can potentially be measured using hip-worn accelerometers, but current methods are limited by an inability to detect postural transitions. To overcome these limitations, we developed the Convolutional Neural Network Hip Accelerometer Posture (CHAP) classification method.

METHODS: CHAP was developed on 709 older adults who wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer on the hip, with ground-truth sit/stand labels derived from concurrently worn thigh-worn activPAL inclinometers for up to 7 d. The CHAP method was compared with traditional cut-point methods of sitting pattern classification as well as a previous machine-learned algorithm (two-level behavior …

Associations Between Genetic Variants In The Vitamin D Metabolism Pathway And Severity Of Covid-19 Among Uae Residents, Fatme Al-Anouti, Mira Mousa, Spyridon N. Karras, William B. Grant, Zainab Alhalwachi, Laila Abdel-Wareth, Maimunah Uddin, Nawal Alkaabi, Guan K. Tay, Bassam Mahboub, Habiba Alsafar

All Works

Vitamin D has many effects on cells in the immune system. Many studies have linked low vitamin D status with severity of COVID-19. Genetic variants involved in vitamin D metabolism have been implicated as potential risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study investigated how genetic variations in humans affected the clinical presentation of COVID-19. In total, 646 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were divided into two groups: noncritical COVID-19 (n = 453; 70.12%) and a critical group (n = 193; 29.87%). Genotype data on the GC, NADSYN1, VDR, and CYP2R1 genes along with data on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were …

Diagnostics To Support Elimination Of Lymphatic Filariasis-Development Of Two Target Product Profiles, Kimberly Y. Won, Katherine Gass, Marco Biamonte, Daniel Argaw Dagne, Camilla Ducker, Christopher Hanna, Achim Hoerauf, Patrick J. Lammie, Sammy M. Njenga, Rahmah Noordin, Kapa D. Ramaiah, Reda Ramzy, Ronaldo G.Carvalho Scholte, Anthony W. Solomon, Ashley A. Souza, Jordan Tappero, Emily Toubali, Gary J. Weil, Steven A. Williams, Jonathan D. King

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

As lymphatic filariasis (LF) programs move closer to established targets for validation elimination of LF as a public health problem, diagnostic tools capable of supporting the needs of the programs are critical for success. Known limitations of existing diagnostic tools make it challenging to have confidence that program endpoints have been achieved. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) established a Diagnostic Technical Advisory Group (DTAG) for Neglected Tropical Diseases tasked with prioritizing diagnostic needs including defining use-cases and target product profiles (TPPs) for needed tools. Subsequently, disease-specific DTAG subgroups, including one focused on LF, were established to develop TPPs …

Data Management Report November 2021, Tennessee. Department Of Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities

Compliance & System Data/Reports

This monthly report provides data on various aspects of the department's activities and programs.

Persistence And Transfer Of Foodborne Pathogens To Sunflower And Pea Shoot Microgreens During Production In Soil-Free Cultivation Matrix, Wenjun Deng, Gina M. Misra, Christopher A. Baker, Kristen E. Gibson

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Microgreens are an emerging salad crop with properties similar to those of sprouted seeds and lettuce. This study aimed to determine bacterial pathogen persistence during microgreen cultivation and transfer from soil-free cultivation matrix (SFCM) to mature microgreens. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Javiana and Listeria monocytogenes were inoculated onto biostrate mats as well as peat SFCM and sampled (day 0). Next, sunflower and pea shoot seeds were planted (day 0) and grown in a controlled environment until the microgreen harvest (day 10). On day 10, SFCM and microgreens were sampled to determine the pathogen levels in the SFCM and the …

Dry Pet Food Flavor Enhancers And Their Impact On Palatability: A Review, Shilpa S. Samant, Philip Glen Crandall, Sara E. Jarma Arroyo, Han-Seok Seo

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Pet foods are a vital component of the global food industry. Pet food's success depends on its acceptance by both consumers (the pets) and purchasers (the pet owners). Palatability tests using panels of both trained and untrained pets are often used to measure the preference and acceptability of pet foods. Human perception of pet foods is usually determined by descriptive sensory analysis. Since dry pet foods (also known as kibbles), while being the most popular, are the least palatable, palatants as a flavor enhancer are generally added to dry pet foods to increase their acceptability to pets. Pet foods can …

Whipping Up An Online Research Profile: How To Promote & Manage Your Research For Improved Science Communication, Neyda V. Gilman, Jennifer K. Embree

Library Scholarship

Creating and sustaining an online research profile can serve as an effective strategy for promoting and sharing one’s own work, finding and connecting with other researchers that have complementary research interests, and increasing the visibility and potential impact of one’s own research to the public overall. This workshop will introduce and discuss both new and traditional online research profile tools, such as ORCiD, Publons, Academia.edu, Twitter, etc., and will provide participants with a hands-on opportunity to work with these tools in small groups.

Bone Turnover In Pregnancy, Measured By Urinary Ctx, Is Influenced By Vitamin D Supplementation And Is Associated With Maternal Bone Health: Findings From The Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis Study (Mavidos) Trial, Elizabeth M. Curtis, Camille Parsons, Kate Maslin, Stefania D'Angelo, Rebecca J. Moon, Sarah R. Crozier, Fatma Gossiel, Nicholas J. Bishop, Stephen H. Kennedy, Aris T. Papageorghiou, Robert Fraser, Saurabh V. Gandhi, Ann Prentice, Hazel M. Inskip, Keith M. Godfrey, Inez Schoenmakers, M. Kassim Javaid, Richard Eastell, Cyrus Cooper, Nicholas C. Harvey, N. K. Arden, A. Carr, M. Clynes, E. M. Dennison, M. Z. Mughal, S. J. Woolford

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background The pattern of change in maternal bone turnover throughout pregnancy is poorly characterized. Objectives We investigated changes across pregnancy in a marker of maternal bone resorption, urinary C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), the influence of gestational vitamin D supplementation, and associations between CTX and maternal postnatal bone indices. Methods MAVIDOS (the Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis Study) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 1000 IU cholecalciferol/d compared with placebo from 14 weeks of gestation to birth. Maternal second-void urinary α- and β-CTX were measured (ELISA) at 14 and 34 weeks of gestation; DXA was performed within 2 …

The Bioaccumulation Testing Strategy For Manufactured Nanomaterials: Physico-Chemical Triggers And Read Across From Earthworms In A Meta-Analysis, R. D. Handy, N. J. Clark, J. Vassallo, C. Green, F. Nasser, K. Tatsi, T. H. Hutchinson, D. Boyle, M. Baccaro, Den Brink N Van, C. Svendsen

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

How to use chemical triggers and invertebrate tests in the lower tiers of a bioaccumulation testing strategy.

Effects Of Herbal Adaptogen Feed-Additive On Growth Performance, Carcass Parameters, And Muscle Amino Acid Profile In Heat-Stressed Modern Broilers, Elizabeth S. Greene, Clay Maynard, Casey M. Owens, Jean-Francois Meullenet, Sami Dridi

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Heat stress has strong adverse effects on poultry production and, thereby, threats its sustainability, which energized scientists to search for innovative and effective solutions. Here, we undertook this study to evaluate the effects of in-feed herbal adaptogen (stress response modifier) supplementation on growth performances, meat quality, and breast amino acid profile in chronic cyclic heat-stressed broilers. Day-old male Cobb 500 chicks (n = 720) were randomly assigned, in environmental chambers (n = 12, 24 pens), to three diet-treatments: a three-phase corn-soybean based diet fed as such (Control, C), or supplemented with the herbal adaptogen at 500 g/1000 kg …

Low-Cost Peer-Taught Virtual Research Workshops For Medical Students In Pakistan: A Creative, Scalable, And Sustainable Solution For Student Research, Ronika Devi Ukrani, Ayesha Niaz Shaikh, Russell S. Martins, Syeda Sadia Fatima, Hamna Amir Naseem, Mishall Ahmed Baig

Medical College Documents

Background: Pakistan has not been a major contributor to medical research, mainly because of the lack of learning opportunities to medical students. With the increase in online learning systems during COVID-19, research related skills can be taught to medical students via low-cost peer taught virtual research workshops.
Aim of the study: To assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive low-cost peer-taught virtual research workshops amongst medical students in Pakistan.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study assessed the effectiveness of five virtual research workshops (RWs) in improving core research skills. RWs for medical students from across Pakistan were conducted over Zoom by medical students …

Essays On The Impacts Of Extreme Natural Events On Health, Moumita Ghorai

Dissertations

This dissertation comprises three chapters that examine how extreme events impact health outcomes such as short-term illness, body mass index, probability of pre-term birth, and mortality. The study reveals the severe consequences of these events and shows that certain groups within a particular country are affected disproportionately.

The first chapter examines whether National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), India’s flagship workfare program, mitigates adverse health outcomes of a drought. This paper contributes to a growing area of research on adaptations to climate change. Using Indian Human Development Survey (2004-2005 and 2010-2011), a nationally representative panel data set, and high resolution …

The Impact Of Master's Level Status On Athletic Training Programs' Planning And Implementation Of Interprofessional Education Curricula: A Causal-Comparative, Predictive, Correlational Study, Zachary Ryan Hobson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if a significant difference in the extent of interprofessional education (IPE) implementation exists between recently-transitioned and established Master of Athletic Training (MAT) programs, as well as if a significant difference in the extent of IPE implementation exists between MAT programs’ didactic curriculum and clinical education. Additionally, this study evaluated if the number of years a program has been at the MAT status is predictive of successful IPE implementation. The researcher used the 10-item form of the Interprofessional Education Assessment and Planning Instrument for Academic Institutions to collect data on IPE implementation from …

Analysis Of The 16s Rrna For The Identification Of Microbial Communities In The Rhizosphere Of Cultivated Date Palms Trees Under Salt Stress Condition In The Uae Ecosystem, Azra Issa Shamim

Theses

Increasing soil salinity is an emerging global issue, generating land degradation, affecting agricultural production and further affecting quality of ground water. In arid environment with water scarcity, saline ground water has been regularly used for irrigation purpose in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) plantation, without knowing its impact on their root-associated bacterial communities. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of saline water irrigation on date palm root-associated bacterial community compositional structure and their diversity. Plant root samples were collected from date palm farms located in Abu Dhabi Emirate, irrigated with either saline, or non-saline water. Overall, we …