Digital Commons Network^™

Defining A Factor-Induced Signaling Signature For Endothelial Tubulogenesis, Sprouting, And Pericyte Recruitment, Prisca Kuanting Lin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Endothelial cells (ECs) form the inner lining of blood capillary walls. Our laboratory has developed a serum-free, defined Factor system that allows for human ECs to sprout, form lumens and tube networks, recruit pericytes, and induce capillary basement membrane deposition in 3D extracellular matrices. We have shown that the Factor system drives morphogenesis through the activation of multiple signaling pathways; however, we do not know if all factors in the Factor system are needed to induce maximal EC morphogenesis. If so, we have yet to identify why the Factors are critical to the model other than that they induce activation …

Investigating Cassava Susceptibility To Xanthomonas Induced Bacterial Blight Using Disease Phenotyping And Genome Engineering Strategies, Kiona Rajene Elliott

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

In nature, plants regularly contend with bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens, which employ strategies that promote pathogen fitness and subsequently elicit disease in the host. Xanthomonads are a group of bacterial phytopathogens that induce disease in an extensive range of host plants. Mechanisms underlying pathogen disease promotion have been understudied in food staple crops such as cassava. Cassava is a starchy root crop susceptible to cassava bacterial blight (CBB) a disease caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis (Xpm). Xpm and other bacterial pathogens use effector molecules to manipulate host genes that promote disease susceptibility. Xpm has specialized effector …

Circadian Disruption And Colorectal Cancer Incidence In Black Women, Lauren E Barber, Trang Vopham, Laura F White, Hemant K Roy, Julie R Palmer, Kimberly A Bertrand

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Animal and experimental studies suggest circadian disruption increases colorectal cancer risk, but evidence in humans is limited. We examined night shift work, chronotype, and residential position within a time zone, proxies for circadian disruption, in relation to colorectal cancer risk.

METHODS: Participants in the Black Women's Health Study, a prospective cohort of 59,000 Black American women established in 1995, reported history of night shift work and chronotype on follow-up questionnaires. Residential position within a time zone was estimated using participant addresses at each questionnaire cycle. Number of colorectal cancer cases and follow-up duration varied by analysis depending on timing …

Estimating Body Weight And Body Condition Score Of Mature Beef Cows Using Depth Images, Yijie Xiong, Isabella C.F.S. Condotta, J. A. Musgrave, Tami M. Brown-Bandl, J. Travis Mulliniks

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Obtaining accurate body weight (BW) is crucial for management decisions yet can be a challenge for cow–calf producers. Fast-evolving technologies such as depth sensing have been identified as low-cost sensors for agricultural applications but have not been widely validated for U.S. beef cattle. This study aimed to (1) estimate the body volume of mature beef cows from depth images, (2) quantify BW and metabolic weight (MBW) from image-projected body volume, and (3) classify body condition scores (BCS) from image-obtained measurements using a machine-learning-based approach. Fifty-eight crossbred cows with a mean BW of 410.0 ± 60.3 kg and were between 4 …

Nonpharmacologic Measures To Maintain Or Increase Bone Density In Patients At Risk For Osteoporosis: An Integrative Review, Katie Saporsky

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Osteoporosis is a major phenomenon, impacting a large proportion of the population of the United States. Effective prevention and mitigation strategies for this condition and its related complications are necessary to promote health and well-being for the aging population. Current pharmacologic agents used to combat osteoporosis bring the risk of adverse effects, resulting in poor patient adherence. Nonpharmacologic methodologies, specifically weight-bearing exercise, targeted nutrition, and whole-body vibration, have proven to be successful in increasing bone mineral density and mitigating the risk of osteoporosis and its related complications. Implementing these methodologies results in increasing bone mineral density, strength, and well-being.

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And The Leading Causes Of Death In Adults- The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study On Christian Adults, Chantel Monet Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Prior research has examined the varying frequencies, risk factors, and impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on various populations. There is little to no empirical research, however, on the frequencies, risk factors, and impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Christians specifically. As a result, it is uncertain if psychological practices, policies, or existing psychoeducation is applicable to Christians impacted by ACEs. Through a quantitative survey method design, this study examined the relationship between ACEs, health risk factors, disease conditions, and physical health, as studied in the original ACE study, in a sample of Christian adults. Specifically, a sample of …

Kangaroo Care Impact On Maternal Health: An Integrative Review, Alexis Ann Lawson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Health care should progress and change as the needs of the population change. As light is shed on the mothers’ experiences during the postpartum period, there is an increasing need to find and implement evidence-based interventions to promote their health and wellness. As a vulnerable population, postpartum women require appropriate treatments and interventions to avoid postpartum complications. Three key themes of postpartum health and well-being that directly and significantly impact mothers are postpartum depression, maternal and infant attachment, and exclusive breastfeeding. This integrative review addressed the correlation between each of these themes and how kangaroo care, upright skin-to-skin contact, impacts …

The Cause-Effect Relationship Between Student Engagement And Numerical Scores In Residential Higher Education Facs Courses, Chelsea Jade Milks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The presence of student engagement is believed to increase student achievement. Student achievement can be measured by school attainment, student attitudes, retention rates, course depletion, and numerical grades. Studies have examined the effect of student engagement on student achievement in online and blended modalities, but minimally in face-to-face learning. Researchers have inspected the relationship between student engagement, achievement, and program retention in residential Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) programs, with the belief that greater engagement in these programs can improve retention and achievement scores. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine the relationship between student engagement and …

Prenatal Educational Strategies To Increase The Duration Of Breastfeeding: An Integrative Review, Kayla Caryl Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for infants, many women in the United States of America do not breastfeed their infants. Infants should be breastfed for the first 6 months of life. Not only does this benefit the baby, but the mother as well. While prenatal education has been linked with improvements in breastfeeding rates, little research has been completed on which educational strategies are most effective. The purpose of this integrative review is to determine effective prenatal educational strategies for increasing the duration of breastfeeding. The strategies reviewed were single methods, multiple methods, and education with continued …

Does A Telehealth Education Program Improve Lifestyle Behaviors Of Individuals With Prediabetes?, Loretta A. Richardson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Chronic conditions are a considerable burden on the healthcare system, and one that is becoming increasingly prevalent is diabetes. Prediabetes is a condition that has become more common and diagnosed in many patients before an actual diagnosis of diabetes. Healthcare professionals strive to empower individuals to make lifestyle changes to prevent diabetes from occurring by informing individuals on how to manage prediabetes. For individuals that do not make the necessary changes to lower their hemoglobin A1c to below the standards of less than 5.6%, a diagnosis of diabetes occurs. It is estimated that five per 1000 individuals are diagnosed with …

Short-Term Responses Of Soil Carbon, Nitrogen, And Microbial Biomass To Cover Crop Mixtures And Monocultures, Igor Alexandre De Souza, Amanda B. Daly, Jorg Schnecker, Nicholas D. Warren, Adalfredo Rocha Lobo Jr., Richard G. Smith, Andre Fonseca Brito, A. Stuart Grandy

Faculty Publications

Increasingly, cover crops are being adopted for the purpose of improving soil health, yet the timescale and magnitude by which living annual cover crops might modify soil chemical and biological aspects of soil health is not well understood. At the same time, there is growing interest among farmers in cover crop mixtures due to perceptions that species-rich cover crop communities will enhance soil health relative to monocultures. In a field experiment in southeast New Hampshire, we investigated how groups of cover crops grown as monocultures and mixtures for specific seasonal niches (winter/spring, summer, and fall) influenced levels of soil nitrogen …

Baseline Features And Reasons For Nonparticipation In The Colonoscopy Versus Fecal Immunochemical Test In Reducing Mortality From Colorectal Cancer (Confirm) Study, A Colorectal Cancer Screening Trial, Douglas J Robertson, Jill Elwing, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: The Colonoscopy Versus Fecal Immunochemical Test in Reducing Mortality From Colorectal Cancer (CONFIRM) randomized clinical trial sought to recruit 50 000 adults into a study comparing colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality outcomes after randomization to either an annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or colonoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To (1) describe study participant characteristics and (2) examine who declined participation because of a preference for colonoscopy or stool testing (ie, fecal occult blood test [FOBT]/FIT) and assess that preference's association with geographic and temporal factors.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study within CONFIRM, which completed enrollment through 46 Department of Veterans Affairs …

Baseline Features And Reasons For Nonparticipation In The Colonoscopy Versus Fecal Immunochemical Test In Reducing Mortality From Colorectal Cancer (Confirm) Study, A Colorectal Cancer Screening Trial, Douglas J Robertson, Jason A Dominitz, Alexander Beed, Kathy D Boardman, Barbara J Del Curto, Peter D Guarino, Thomas F Imperiale, Andrew Lacasse, Meaghan F Larson, Samir Gupta, David Lieberman, Beata Planeta, Aasma Shaukat, Shanaz Sultan, Stacy B Menees, Sameer D Saini, Philip Schoenfeld, Stephan Goebel, Erik C Von Rosenvinge, Gyorgy Baffy, Ildiko Halasz, Marcos C Pedrosa, Lyn Sue Kahng, Riaz Cassim, Katarina B Greer, Margaret F Kinnard, Divya B Bhatt, Kerry B Dunbar, William V Harford, John A Mengshol, Jed E Olson, Swati G Patel, Fadi Antaki, Deborah A Fisher, Brian A Sullivan, Christopher Lenza, Devang N Prajapati, Helen Wong, Rebecca Beyth, John G Lieb, Joseph Manlolo, Fernando V Ona, Rhonda A Cole, Natalia Khalaf, Charles J Kahi, Divyanshoo Rai Kohli, Tarun Rai, Prateek Sharma, Jiannis Anastasiou, Curt Hagedorn, Ronald S Fernando, Christian S Jackson, M Mazen Jamal, Robert H Lee, Farrukh Merchant, Folasade P May, Joseph R Pisegna, Endashaw Omer, Dipendra Parajuli, Adnan Said, Toan D Nguyen, Claudio Ruben Tombazzi, Paul A Feldman, Leslie Jacob, Rachel N Koppelman, Kyle P Lehenbauer, Deepak S Desai, Mohammad F Madhoun, William M Tierney, Minh Q Ho, Heather J Hockman, Christopher Lopez, Emily Carter Paulson, Martin Tobi, Hugo L Pinillos, Michele Young, Nancy C Ho, Ranjan Mascarenhas, Kirrichai Promrat, Pritesh R Mutha, William M Pandak, Tilak Shah, Mitchell Schubert, Frank S Pancotto, Andrew J Gawron, Amelia E Underwood, Samuel B Ho, Priscilla Magno-Pagatzaurtundua, Doris H Toro, Charles H Beymer, Andrew M Kaz, Jill Elwing, Jeffrey A Gill, Susan F Goldsmith, Michael D Yao, Petr Protiva, Heiko Pohl, Tassos Kyriakides

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

IMPORTANCE: The Colonoscopy Versus Fecal Immunochemical Test in Reducing Mortality From Colorectal Cancer (CONFIRM) randomized clinical trial sought to recruit 50 000 adults into a study comparing colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality outcomes after randomization to either an annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or colonoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To (1) describe study participant characteristics and (2) examine who declined participation because of a preference for colonoscopy or stool testing (ie, fecal occult blood test [FOBT]/FIT) and assess that preference's association with geographic and temporal factors.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study within CONFIRM, which completed enrollment through 46 Department of Veterans Affairs …

The Validity Study Of A Channel-Based Demand Estimation Anp Model, Yasamin Salmani, Fariborz Y. Partovi

Management Department Faculty Journal Articles

This paper suggests a solution for validating an ANP model in multi-channel retailing proposed by Salmani et al. (2018) through its application in the pet consumables industry. The purpose of the proposed ANP model is to develop a measurement for estimating the demand proportion attributed to each established sales channel. Utilizing an ANP model, channel selection customer criteria as well as the interrelations between channel structures in a multi-channel setting are quantified. This paper applies a survey-based study to collect data from random pet consumable customers. Using a compatibility measurement, per-channel proportions of demand found by ANP are compared with …

Unmet Needs And Coping Strategies Of Older Underserved Veterans During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Trenton M. Haltom, Joyce Tiong, Tracy L. Evans, Nipa Kamdar, Gala True, Mark E. Kunik

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts on people with diabetes, a group with high morbidity and mortality. Factors like race, age, income, Veteran-status, and limited or interrupted resources early in the COVID-19 pandemic compounded risks for negative health outcomes. Our objective was to characterize the experiences and needs of under-resourced Veterans with type 2 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews (March through September 2021) with U.S. military Veterans with diabetes. Transcripts were analyzed using a team-based, iterative process of summarizing and coding to identify key themes. Participants included Veterans (n = 25) who …

Benefits Of Implementing A Daily Safety Brief At The Baystate Children’S Hospital, Stephanie Adam Rn, Joanne Beachy Md, Charlotte Boney Md

Research and Education Celebration 2023 - Nursing Research Posters

No abstract provided.

Isolation Of Bovine Milk-Derived Exosomes Via A Polyester Capillary- Channeled Polymer (C-Cp) Fiber Stationary Phase, Jerisa Pimentel, Carolina Mata, R. Kenneth Marcus

Chemistry Summer Research Program

No abstract provided.

Invited Review: Adrenocortical Function In Avian And Non-Avian Reptiles: Insights From Dispersed Adrenocortical Cells., Rocco V. Carsia, Patrick J. Mcilroy, Henry B John-Alder

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Herein we review our work involving dispersed adrenocortical cells from several lizard species: the Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus), Yarrow's Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus jarrovii), Striped Plateau Lizard (Sceloporus virgatus) and the Yucatán Banded Gecko (Coleonyx elegans). Early work demonstrated changes in steroidogenic function of adrenocortical cells derived from adult S. undulatus associated with seasonal interactions with sex. However, new information suggests that both sexes operate within the same steroidogenic budget over season. The observed sex effect was further explored in orchiectomized and ovariectomized lizards, some supported with exogenous testosterone. Overall, a suppressive effect of testosterone was evident, especially in cells …

The Protective Effects Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae On The Growth Performance, Intestinal Health, And Antioxidative Capacity Of Mullet (Liza Ramada) Fed Diets Contaminated With Aflatoxin B1, Sara A.I. El-Mokhlesany, Mostafa A. Ibrahim, Asem A. Amer, Mahmoud S. Gewaily

Faculty Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Development Of An Occupation-Based Program For Hispanic Women With Breast Cancer, Tara Licon, Leslie Khan-Farooqi, Mary Ann Smith

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Currently, available programs for breast cancer patients do not consider the specific needs of Hispanic women or their preferred occupations. The goal of the capstone project was to develop an occupational therapy (OT) program that is personalized to Hispanic women with breast cancer at every stage of their recovery. The program was informed by lifestyle redesign. After reviewing the literature and conducting a needs assessment the capstone student created a program titled ‘Beautiful, Bold, Breast Cancer’ which contains five detailed treatment sessions.

Intention To Change Lifestyle Behaviors In 10- To 14-Year-Old Children With Obesity., Mallory Swanson

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Background: Pediatric obesity is a multifaceted disease that affects 19.7% of children. Obesity increases the risk of long-term health morbidity and costs billions of dollars annually for the United States healthcare system.

Purpose: The objective of this quality improvement project was to utilize the 5210 Healthy Children Campaign to facilitate behavior change in obese children. Potential outcomes include fostering health promotion and disease prevention, improving patient outcomes, decreasing morbidity and mortality, and easing the healthcare burden.

Methods: Intervention took place at Growing Kids Pediatrics and was conducted through four educational sessions involving the obese child and at least one caregiver. …

More Than Mere Lip Service: A Mansfield Rule For Well-Being, Cecilia A. Silver

Michigan Law Review Online

Law firms’ watchword is well-being. “Never in history have organizations around the world devoted so much attention and capital to improving employee mental health and well-being. It is lamentable that these investments are not always providing a good return regarding improved outcomes.” In the legal arena, a 2021 report from the Institute for Well-Being in Law echoed this sentiment, determining that while 99 percent of law firms have some type of well-being program, these measures did little to nothing to address internal, structural issues that perpetuate the lack of attorney well-being.

Urinary Glyphosate Concentrations Among Pregnant Participants In A Randomized, Crossover Trial Of Organic And Conventional Diets, Carly Hyland, Meredith Spivak, Lianne Sheppard, Bruce P. Lanphear, Michael Antoniou, Maria Ospina, Antonia M. Calafat, Cynthia L. Curl

Public and Population Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Consumption of an organic diet reduces exposure to a range of agricultural pesticides. Only three studies have examined the effect of an organic diet intervention on exposure to the herbicide glyphosate, the most heavily used agricultural chemical in the world. Despite its widespread use, the primary sources of glyphosate exposure in humans are poorly understood.

Objective: Our objective was to examine the effect of an organic diet intervention on urinary glyphosate concentrations among pregnant individuals.

Methods: We conducted a 2-wk randomized crossover trial in which 39 pregnant participants living near (≤ 0.5 km) or far (> 0.5 km) from …

Pharmacy Matters - July 2023, University Of Mississippi. School Of Pharmacy

Pharmacy Matters Newsletters

Featured stories: "Haines Receives National AACP Award," "University Awarded New NIDA Contract," "Pharmacy School Maintains Top 20 Status in Federal Research Funding," "Support a Student, Sponsor a Coat," "PharmD Students to Benefit from Polk Scholarship," "School Presents Faculty, Research Awards," "Alumnus Works to Change Lives Through Local Pharmacies"

Protecting Wa Crops Issue 31 - July 2023, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Protecting WA Crops

Protecting WA Crops Issue 31 - July 2023 contents:

• New project to reduce Rhizoctonia impact in low and medium rainfall zones
• Meet Crop Protection team member – Dr Ahmed Saad

An Analysis Of Socio-Economic, Lifestyle, And Health Care Determinants Of National Life Expectancies, Annie Feldman

Proceedings of the Jepson Undergraduate Conference on International Economics

Life expectancy is an important indicator of a population’s health and anticipated life-quality. Life expectancies have continued to rise in recent history, but there is great variance between countries. This paper analyzes potential reasons for country variation in the average human lifespan. Regression analysis is performed on data from 156 countries to infer explanations of observed variance. In this model, I chose factors from past research that have been highly significant. When selecting variables, I considered socio-economic, lifestyle, and health care financing measures. To explain national life expectancies, I tested variables including education, income, urban-to-rural living, alcohol and tobacco consumption, …

Utilizing Mhealth To Increase Follow-Up In Latinx Adults With Hyperlipidemia., Jessica Raymond Richards

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Background: Management of hyperlipidemia (HLD) is crucial to the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of death in the United States (US) and Latinx adults (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2019). The main difficulty affecting monitoring of lipid levels in patients diagnosed with HLD is lack of adherence to follow-up appointments.

Purpose: The purpose of this Quality Improvement (QI) project is to evaluate the impact of culturally competent translated short message service (SMS) texts to increase adherence follow-up on a Latinx population served at the Kentucky Racing Services Health Center (KRSHC).

Intervention: …

Improving Post-Stroke Dysphagia Screening In The Intensive Care Unit., Chelsea Bills

Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers

Background: Dysphagia screening is a critical aspect in the care of patients experiencing acute stroke and dysphagia may often determine life or death following a stroke event. Inconsistent nurse dysphagia assessment and documentation were identified in the Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit project organization.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to explore the impact of an educational program on stroke nurse dysphagia screening and nursing self-efficacy in the ICU.

Methods: Fifteen nurses completed a modified General Self-Efficacy Scale survey which measured nurse perceptions of change in their own self-efficacy to perform dysphagia screenings; dysphagia screening rates and rates of dysphagia …

Toolbox: Students With Challenging Behaviors, Yuen Ching Tam

Occupational Therapy Student Capstones

No abstract provided.

Partnering Law And Biodiversity For Healthy Coastal Communities: Restorative Ocean Farming, Tara A. Pierce

UC Law Environmental Journal

This article argues that states should take immediate, incremental steps toward supporting Restorative Ocean Farming (ROF). The health of our coastlines, for both the human and nonhuman communities, depends on high marine biodiversity, a goal which ROFs support. Presenting vast amounts of evidence that ROFs have an incredible amount of ecological and socio-economic benefits, ROFs also provide one step in the critical paradigm shift of improving ocean and coastal policy by taking a more holistic approach. This includes an emphasis on bioregional cooperation to ensure the highest ecological and social benefits. Waiting on federal legislation is waiting too long. However, …