Digital Commons Network^™

Rapid Acceleration Of Kras-Mutant Pancreatic Carcinogenesis Via Remodeling Of Tumor Immune Microenvironment By Pparδ, Yi Liu, Yasunori Deguchi, Daoyan Wei, Fuyao Liu, Micheline J Moussalli, Eriko Deguchi, Donghui Li, Huamin Wang, Lovie Ann Valentin, Jennifer K Colby, Jing Wang, Xiaofeng Zheng, Haoqiang Ying, Mihai Gagea, Baoan Ji, Jiaqi Shi, James C Yao, Xiangsheng Zuo, Imad Shureiqi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) is a precursor of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which commonly occurs in the general populations with aging. Although most PanIN lesions (PanINs) harbor oncogenic KRAS mutations that initiate pancreatic tumorigenesis; PanINs rarely progress to PDAC. Critical factors that promote this progression, especially targetable ones, remain poorly defined. We show that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-delta (PPARδ), a lipid nuclear receptor, is upregulated in PanINs in humans and mice. Furthermore, PPARδ ligand activation by a high-fat diet or GW501516 (a highly selective, synthetic PPARδ ligand) in mutant KRASG12D (KRASmu) pancreatic epithelial cells strongly accelerates PanIN progression to PDAC. This …

Burden, Clinical Characteristics, Risk Factors, And Seasonality Of Adenovirus 40/41 Diarrhea In Children In Eight Low-Resource Settings, Godfrey Guga, Sarah Elwood, Caroline Kimathi, Gagandeep Kang, Margaret N. Kosek, Aldo A M Lima, Pascal O. Bessong, Amidou Samie, Najeeha Talat Iqbal, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: The application of molecular diagnostics has identified enteric group adenovirus serotypes 40 and 41 as important causes of diarrhea in children. However, many aspects of the epidemiology of adenovirus 40/41 diarrhea have not been described.
Methods: We used data from the 8-site Etiology, Risk Factors, and Interactions of Enteric Infections and Malnutrition and the Consequences for Child Health and Development Project birth cohort study to describe site- and age-specific incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and seasonality.
Results: The incidence of adenovirus 40/41 diarrhea was substantially higher by quantitative polymerase chain reaction than enzyme immunoassay and peaked at ∼30 episodes …

Ka Tam-Is: Acceptability And Opportunities Of Coco Sugar In Tagkawayan, Quezon, Trisha Mae M. Fernandez, Baby Joy E. Camacho, Princess Lyra D. Sanchez, Franklin A. Sta. Ana, Eric C. Ramos

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

Coconut Cocos nucifera is one of the Philippines' most important crops and exports. One of the products produced from coconut is the coco sugar. When Tagkawayan Vendors Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TVMPC) was given a coco sugar processing plant, they began producing coco sugar.. Coco sugar is extracted from the natural sap of coconut palm. The sap is dried and packed without further processing. In liquid form, it is also known as coconut palm sugar or coconut palm sap. This study aims to measure the acceptability of coco sugar in terms of appearance, aroma, taste, sweetness, and texture. The study used a …

Utilization Of Green Mussels (Perna Viridis) Shell Powder's Fire Retardant Property As An Additive For Water-Based Paint, Michael Angelo E. Arellano, Justine Kate T. Orquia, Samantha Reigne O. Rosales, Jenelle Chynna B. Yu

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

Huge production of green mussels (Perna viridis) has been contributing excessive waste to the environment. Despite several researches on the mechanical properties of mussel shells being employed to improve thermal properties of flame retardants due to its calcium carbonate composition, there are limited studies utilizing these shells as a flame-retardant additive for construction purposes, in this case, for paint. This study aimed to determine whether green mussel shell powder can be used as an additive for water-based paint to enhance its fire retardancy. This study devised an experimental design based on Taguchi Orthogonal Array with four three-level factors to find …

Pick ‘N Pops Co.: When Pili Meets Chicken, Alyza Mae Q. Colina, Paolo Miguel N. Dy, Juliah Minerva A. Molet, Jude Ll. Paglinawan, Pauline B. Prieto

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

In the Philippines, street foods have been one of the “go-to” foods of thrifty Filipinos. Around September 2021, Pick ‘N Pops Co. was formed to provide an inexpensive yet quality food product, aiming to help farmers and poultry suppliers in Legazpi City. One of the main ingredients of the product is chicken gizzard, which is considered as the healthiest part of the chicken. On the other hand, as native Bicolanos, the proponents also desire to promote their culture by using Pili as one of the ingredients not only because of its abundance in the region, but also for its exceptional …

Evaluation Of Nutritional Adequacy In Food Packs Distributed In Pasig City During The Covid-19 Pandemic, John Howard Niles F. Cantos, Althea Mickey L. Dimaculangan, Flobert P. Rangasa

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

As a government support plan to address food security concerns in the event of imposed lockdowns, food pack distribution was consistently administered by the local government of Pasig City during the months of March, July, and November 2020. This flawed short-term solution, however, may potentially sacrifice the diet quality of the city residents if the distributed food products are nutritionally inadequate. In investigating this concern, the nutrient contents of the food packs in terms of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and energy were measured through the iFNRI Menu Eval Plus software. The obtained values were divided over the recommended nutrient intakes for …

Adolescents' Voice On Help-Seeking Behavior For Mental Health Problems: A Qual Inquiry Of Kagayanon Senior High School, Ezekiel Timothy L. Go, Kriselle Franz B. Lauro, Misaki O. Nakamura, Russell Boyd M. Paclar, Melin D. Saculingan, Brett Arman P. Tagalongan

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

Mental health problems have been rising over the years. Even adolescents are not exempt due to physical, social, and emotional changes that adolescents experience during the unique and formative period. Unfortunately, suicide cases in Cagayan de Oro are increasing drastically, especially during the onset of the pandemic, leading the city Mayor to direct some government officials in addressing the problems of suicide. However, studies and literature discussed that many individuals, including adolescents, show reluctance to seek professional help for their mental health problems despite the need to improve their well-being. This study aims to understand the students' help-seeking behavior and …

Statistical Modeling Of Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Id 120 And Id 121 Senior High School Students Of De La Salle University - Integrated School Manila, Angelo M. Alberto, Julliehanna Rita C. Dadios, Mel Phillip D. Manapol, Jasmine Cate S. Ongpeng, Johann Colin A. Recto

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

Medical researchers worldwide have been called to duty during the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to develop effective vaccines. However, the dissemination of information and its resulting perceptions have incurred hesitation among Filipinos. Although there have been numerous studies on vaccine perceptions (VP) and how social media plays a role, there is a lack of investigation within a certain demographic, particularly the youth. As such, this study investigated the level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among ID 120 and ID 121 senior high school students from De La Salle University - Integrated School (DLSU-IS) Manila due to social media exposure (SME) and …

Dude, Pantry Chong!: Perception Of First-Time Senior High School Voters Of A.Y. 2020-2021 From Universities In Metro Manila On The Abrupt Emergence Of Community Pantries During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Noelle Avril Y. Arreza, Justine Rane D. Lobo, Zeeriel Nathalie Joy S. Pejo, Jan Andrea P. Terre

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

The Philippines has been no exception to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. In counteracting the transmission of the virus, rigorous statewide lockdowns were enforced; however, this resulted in the decline of economic activity. In the face of this hardship, Filipinos established “community pantries” — food banks established to alleviate the crisis of the ordinary Filipino. Some accuse it as an anti-government act and others claim it as a demonstration of Bayanihan spirit. With that, this study aimed to understand the characterization of the perceptions of the first-time SHS voters in Metro Manila regarding the abrupt emergence of the community …

The Meaning Of And Space For Women Empowerment In The World Of Male-Dominated Sports: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Cayenne Gabrielle B. David, Amie Provido, Jose Mari Luis T. Palileo, Jackie G. Galo, Liezl Rillera Astudillo

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

Women empowerment among athletes has been one of the significant factors in female sports engagement. The objective of this research is to uncover how female athletes who participate in male-dominated sports experience empowerment. The researchers utilized the Snowball technique to interview eight women university athletes with at least one year of experience in the sports of basketball or football for this qualitative study. Topics such as how athletes interpret empowerment and how they experience empowerment on a personal level were covered in semi-structured interviews. To assess the data, they analyzed through IPA techniques. According to the findings, women athletes define …

Assessing And Mapping Of Provincial Risks Of Covid-19 Using Regression-Based Significant Factors In The Philippines, Pauline Dela T. Roca, Jasper Victor Y. Miranda, Shirl Angelee R. Ocampo, Timothy F. Olvina

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a highly contagious fatal viral disease, has infected millions of people and led to substantial losses of human lives worldwide. The Philippines was considered a COVID-19 high-risk country because of the numerous surges, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces (‘NCR Plus’ bubble). In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 on health and well-being, this research was conducted to identify the significant correlates of COVID-19 relative risks and cases in the Philippines in 2020 and 2021, using multiple linear regression model, negative binomial regression model, and principal component analysis. It also …

In Vitro Antimitotic Activity Of Orthosiphon Aristatus (Cat’S Whiskers) Using Allium Cepa Root Assay, Jensen Justice Y. Pimentel, Eric Joshua Stangeland, Leah D. Madrazo

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

Researchers have been investigating other potential treatments for cancer, especially knowing that cancer is a huge health issue in the world. Some of these potential treatments are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and even medicinal plants. One plant that may have potential anticancer properties as a medicinal plant is Orthosiphon aristatus. So far, the in vitro studies that were conducted on O. aristatus are MTT assay, cell migration assay, caspase inhibition assay, colony formation assay, nuclear condensation by Hoechst 33342 stain, and mitochondrial membrane potential by Rhodamine 123 Stain. There have been limited studies in assessing the antimitotic activity of O. aristatus …

Current Status Of Seaweed Research In The Philippines, Aames Juriel B. Morales, Ashley Mae A. Pineda, Julianna Margaux T. Magabo, Jm Ajegram A. Esperanza, Mark Christian Felipe R. Redillas

DLSU Senior High School Research Congress

Seaweeds are large, multicellular marine algae that are ecologically and economically important. In the Philippines, different species are being cultivated and exported as they serve as food or as sources of natural products such as carrageenan. However, the seaweed industry in the country has fallen behind others. Neighboring countries like Indonesia are now leading the global seaweed market. This may be due to factors such as rising abiotic stressors, poor crop management, economic issues, and most especially, a poor research field. Thus, this study utilizes bibliometric analysis to determine the status of the Philippine seaweed research field. A keyword search …

Beta-Alanine Supplementation And Anaerobic Performance In Highly Trained Judo Athletes, Mateusz Halz, Magdalena Kaszuba, Jonatan Helbin, Sara Krzysztofik, Aleksandra Suchanecka, Adam Zając

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction. Previous studies have shown that several weeks of beta-alanine (BA) supplementation increases anaerobic work capacity and decreases muscular fatigue, but limited research was conducted on elite martial arts athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic BA supplementation on high-intensity intermittent upper and lower-body performance in highly-trained judo athletes. Material and Methods: Sixteen elite judo athletes (21.8 ± 2.5 years old) were randomly assigned to receive either BA (4 g/d over the first 2 weeks and 6 g/d in the last 2 weeks) or placebo for 4 weeks. Before and after BA supplementation, …

Montmorency Cherry Juice Consumption Does Not Improve Muscle Soreness Or Inhibit Pro-Inflammatory Monocyte Responses Following An Acute Bout Of Whole-Body Resistance Training., Devin Drummer, Kelly Pritchett, Gina M. Many, Blaise Dondji, Kathleen Connor, Jerusalem Tesfaye, Mark Young, Robert C. Pritchett

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(6): 686-701, 2022. Montmorency Cherry Juice (MCJ) may­­­ improve acute exercise recovery by attenuating inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of MCJ on monocyte responses following resistance exercise have not been explored. Seven resistance-trained males (age: 22.9 ± 4.1 yrs; height: 1.8 ± 0.1 m; weight: 81.7 ± 13.2 kg) participated in this study. Participants completed a placebo-controlled crossover design, drinking either MCJ or placebo beverages, 7 days prior to completing an acute bout of unilateral resistance exercise. Statistical significance was assessed using a within-subjects repeated measures ANOVA; alpha level p ≤ 0.05. …

A Mixed Methods Approach To Exploring Relationships Among Professional Preparation, Professional Development, And The Implementation Of Sex Education In Mississippi, Joyee Washington

Dissertations

The state of Mississippi has led the nation in high rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents, despite mandating sex education in public schools for over a decade (SIECUS, 2011; SIECUS, 2016; SIECUS, 2017). Although studies conducted among Mississippi sex educators in the K-12 setting have shown that teachers receive very little to no professional development and desire more training, there is little supporting evidence to understand the position of professional development relative to sex education implementation in the state (Kolbo, Werle, Ismail, Arrington, Harbaugh, & Esters, 2015; Arrington, Ismail, Werle, Esters, Frederick, Ellis, & Kolbo, 2018). …

The Covid-19 Experience: An Intensive Care Nursing Perspective, Adrianna Watson

Dissertations

In December 2019, a new virus reared its head and within a matter of months demanded the attention of the world as health care was challenged to full capacity. Frontline healthcare workers struggled to care for the patient after patient with limited knowledge of pathophysiology, risk of contagion, and resources. As the waves of patients became increasingly critical, the task of everyday human connection and care, as well as extraordinary life-saving measures, fell upon the shoulders of intensive care nurses. Little is known about how these nurses understand their experiences caring for patients with the novel coronavirus, or how their …

Sprouting Systems, Abaigeal Aydt, Cassidy Smith

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

After taking a class at UNL about environmental awareness, two honors students paired up to start a hydroponics club at a local Lincoln school. In reaching out to the LPS director of sustainability, they were paired up with Prescott Elementary School. Over the course of a semester, they developed a club that got a hydroponic grow tower functioning for the school and taught students about nutrition and sustainability. This club is only in its beginning stages, but the impacts that it is making around the school can already be seen.

The Impact Of Social Determinants Of Health On Hypertension, Lakenya Forthner

Doctoral Projects

ABSTRACT

Nearly 43% of African American men have Hypertension (HTN). HTN is a major reversible health problem for young adult, African American males. Identifying health behaviors to enhance longevity is essential due to the “excess burden of preventable, chronic diseases and premature death among African American men. The “role of social determinants of health (SDOH) on outcomes, and the possible role these determinants play in disparities have largely been ignored” (Haggart, 2018, pp. 2, 8).

Interventions that address SDOH must take a multicomponent approach. Evidence has been established that adhering to a healthy lifestyle reduces the burdens and risks associated …

A Quality Improvement Project: Streamlining The Post-Surgical Process In Total Knee And Hip Replacements With An Evidence-Based Guidance And Practice Protocol, Bianca Bullie

Doctoral Projects

ABSTRACT

The rates of total joint replacements, such as total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA), are on the rise in the United States and are expected to rise further in the next 20 years (Singh et al., 2019). Implementing an ERAS protocol coupled with current orthopedic practices will decrease a vast number of postoperative issues such as length of hospital stays, the financial burden on the facility, and overall patient satisfaction. The DNP project proposed a multidisciplinary protocol to standardize the care of patients undergoing THA or TKA and identified if this surgical process would be adopted …

Improving Compliance With Treatments For End-Stage Renal Disease Patients On Hemodialysis, Susan Blakeney

Doctoral Projects

According to Blumrosen et al. (2020), the dialysis population cost expenditure is greater than “seven percent of the Medicare budget at nearly $40 billion a year” even though this population is “less than one percent of the Medicare population” (p. 1436). Additionally, the renal disease population is growing in the United States and internationally which contributes to rising healthcare costs around the globe (Levin, 2018).

The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to identify the factors or reasons hemodialysis patients miss treatments or only stay for partial treatment. Hemodialysis patients are required to have treatments three …

Implementing A Self-Management Glucose Monitoring Pathway To Improve Glycemic Control, Brian Kozaczka

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Introduction: Nationwide and locally in Los Angeles, CA, uncontrolled diabetes remains a complex chronic condition within the primary care setting. Chronically uncontrolled diabetes is costly for patients and health care systems due to high morbidity and mortality rates. As payor sources move in the direction of providing payment based on core measures and value-based care, chronic illness programs designed to improve these outcomes must be developed, implemented, and sustained. The Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in which this quality improvement project was conducted represents the largest of 11 comprehensive care, family practice FQHCs in the South-Central Los Angeles area.

Background: …

What Uv Is What You Get, Jaylin Chlosta, Cassidy Mills, Mason Peckar, Nicholas Schaertl

Student Work

Vitamin D deficiency affects people differently and causes multiple health problems. Supplements may help when UV exposure is insufficient to generate Vitamin D in the body.

Just Water Transitions At The End Of Sugar In Maui, Hawai'i, Chris Knudson, Alida Cantor, Kelly Kay

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

In December 2016, Hawai‘i saw its last sugar harvest on a 36,000-acre plantation in Maui. In the preceding decades, Native Hawaiians had struggled to regain their water rights from a failing sugar industry that had dewatered the island's streams for centuries. Now, with the end of sugar, Native Hawaiian and environmental groups are working to restore traditional practices and diversified agriculture—goals which hinge upon changing water management practices and rewatering Maui's streams. In this paper we combine frameworks from the water justice literature with a just transitions framework typically applied to energy landscapes in order to examine ‘just water transitions’ …

Training Packages For The Use Of Child Development Tools In Low/Middle-Income Countries: A Review, Maria Neocleous, Katelyn Hepworth, Vanessa Cavallera, Melissa Gladstone

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Background We are now moving beyond the focus of ’child survival’ to an era which promotes children thriving and developing rather than simply ’surviving’. In doing so, we are becoming more aware of the large variation of child development screening tools available globally, but in particular, those in low/middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods This narrative review identifies 24 child development tools used in LMICs. We aimed to identify information on training accessibility and training design, assessment methods and cost of training. For those tools with no training information identified or for any tools identified as providing online training, the tool author …

Physiological Costs Of Total Cholesterol In European Starlings Across An Urban To Rural Gradient, Courtney Linkous

Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses

Urban areas—characterized by high human densities and associated buildings and impermeable surfaces—are increasing globally and represents a leading threat to wildlife that is drastically altering the natural resources they are accustomed to. Prior studies suggest that living in urban habitats can cause wildlife to show increased cholesterol levels; in biomedical research, elevated cholesterol is linked to disease, but the consequence of elevated cholesterol in wildlife remains unclear. We measured total cholesterol in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)—an urban adapted species—across an urban and a rural site. We ask: (1) do urban starlings have elevated cholesterol, (2) does elevated cholesterol …

Shining A Light On Marginal Food Insecurity In An Understudied Population Comment, Angela D. Liese

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Quasi-Experimental Design And Outcomes Of A Graduate Clinician And Caregiver-Infant Coaching Intervention In A University Speech-Language Pathology Program, Shiree C. Harbick

Dissertations, 2020-current

Infants are born ready to learn language as one of their most critical developmental tasks, yet infants subject to environmental risk factors related to poverty and low maternal education have been shown to lag behind their peers in language development as early as 8 months of age. Research also indicates the quality of an infant’s language environment can significantly diminish the effects of these risk factors. This quasi-experimental clinical research study explored the effects of a preventive caregiver-infant coaching intervention delivered by graduate student clinicians in a university speech-language pathology program.

Developed based on a systematic review of preventive programs …

The Effect Of Acute Caffeine Withdrawal On Exercise Performance In Habitual Caffeine Users, Timothy D. Griest

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate how exercise performance is impacted by acute withdrawal from caffeine (CAF) in habitual users and if CAF ingestion will reverse the negative impact of withdrawal or have a net positive benefit. Methods: Ten recreational cyclists (age 39.1 ± 14.9 y; VO_2max 54.2 ± 6.2 mL/kg/min) who were habitual CAF consumers (394 ± 146 mg/d) completed four trials, each consisting of peak isokinetic torque testing and a 10-km time trial (TT). On each trial day, subjects consumed either 1.5 mg/kg CAF to prevent withdrawal or placebo (PLA) 8 hours before their …

The Child Development Act Of 1971: The Closest America Has Ever Gotten To Universal Child Care, Rory Cochran

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The significance of this thesis is on how a bill, the Child Development Act (CDA), and other complementary policies created a phenomenon of biracial and bigendered cooperation among socioeconomic boundaries to push for a reprioritization of children’s rights in the welfare system of the United States. Although the CDA never passed the White House desk its influence was significant on how national social activism influenced the interpretation of universal child care. The thesis sheds a light on the influence of women in politics, welfare, civil rights, Chicano, and children rights and their cooperation and appeasement in pushing for a national …