Digital Commons Network^™

An Artemisia Scoparia Extract Attenuates Glucocorticoid-Induced Lipolysis In Adipocytes, Innocence Harvey, Jacqueline M. Stephens

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Objective: Prescription glucocorticoid (GC) use is widespread across developed countries for the treatment of several inflammatory conditions. Elevated GCs are known to promote lipolysis and metabolic disorders. An extract of Artemisia scoparia (SCO) has been shown to reduce lipolysis and promote metabolic health but has not been investigated in the context of excess GCs. Our aim was to examine the effects of SCO on GC-induced lipolysis. Methods: Mature adipocytes were pretreated with vehicle or SCO, then exposed to either the synthetic GC dexamethasone (DEX) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). Medium was collected and assayed for glycerol and fatty acids …

Obesogens And Obesity: State-Of-The-Science And Future Directions Summary From A Healthy Environment And Endocrine Disruptors Strategies Workshop, Jerrold J. Heindel, Jessica A. Alvarez, Ella Atlas, Matthew C. Cave, Vaia Lida Chatzi, David Collier, Barbara Corkey, Douglas Fischer, Michael I. Goran, Sarah Howard, Scott Kahan, Matthias Kayhoe, Suneil Koliwad, Catherine M. Kotz, Michele La Merrill, Tim Lobstein, Carey Lumeng, David S. Ludwig, Robert H. Lustig, Pete Myers, Angel Nadal, Leonardo Trasande, Leanne M. Redman, Matthew S. Rodeheffer, Robert M. Sargis, Jacqueline M. Stephens, Thomas R. Ziegler, Bruce Blumberg

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

On September 7 and 8, 2022, Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptors Strategies, an Environmental Health Sciences program, convened a scientific workshop of relevant stakeholders involved in obesity, toxicology, or obesogen research to review the state of the science regarding the role of obesogenic chemicals that might be contributing to the obesity pandemic. The workshop's objectives were to examine the evidence supporting the hypothesis that obesogens contribute to the etiology of human obesity; to discuss opportunities for improved understanding, acceptance, and dissemination of obesogens as contributors to the obesity pandemic; and to consider the need for future research and potential mitigation …

Current Discoveries And Future Implications Of Eating Disorders, Bing Feng, Jerney Harms, Emily Chen, Peiyu Gao, Pingwen Xu, Yanlin He

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behaviors and can sometimes be fatal. Eating disorders are also associated with distressing thoughts and emotions. They can be severe conditions affecting physical, psychological, and social functions. Preoccupation with food, body weight, and shape may also play an important role in the regulation of eating disorders. Common eating disorders have three major types: anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED). In some cases, EDs can have serious consequences for an individual’s physical and mental health. These disorders often develop during adolescence or early adulthood and affect …

Measuring In Vivo Adipose Tissue Kinetics In Humans Using The Deuterium (2h)-Labeling Approach, Dereck Kibodeaux, Jonathan Savoie, Eric Ravussin, Mark Fitch, Marc K. Hellerstein, Ursula White

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

White adipose tissue is a highly plastic organ that is necessary to maintain whole-body energy homeostasis. The adipose tissue mass and changes in the fat mass or distribution are regulated by changes in the synthesis and breakdown (i.e., turnover) of adipose cells and triacylglycerols. Evidence suggests that the manner and magnitude of subcutaneous adipose tissue expansion (i.e., hypertrophy vs. hyperplasia) and turnover can influence metabolic health, as adipogenesis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity and related diseases. Despite the potential role of adipose turnover in human health, there is a lack of knowledge about the in vivo kinetics …

Current Status Of Us Soil Test Phosphorus And Potassium Recommendations And Analytical Methods, Sarah E. Lyons, Jason D. Clark, Deanna L. Osmond, Md Rasel Parvej, Austin W. Pearce, Nathan A. Slaton, John T. Spargo

Faculty Publications

Soil testing is the foundation of fertilizer recommendations in the United States. Fertilizer recommendations have primarily been developed by land-grant universities with limited coordination among programs. The individual state approach to develop fertilizer recommendations has resulted in discrepancies in recommended soil sampling protocols, soil analysis methods, and fertilizer recommendations at similar soil nutrient levels. A national survey was developed to summarize the status of soil testing and fertility work in the United States to inform future collaborative efforts among states and regions and identify opportunities to harmonize recommendation guidelines. Topics included relevant funding, multi-state collaborations, state soil-test recommendations and related …

Association Between Maternal And Infant Screen Time With Child Growth And Development: A Longitudinal Study, Chelsea L. Kracht, Leanne M. Redman, Jayne Bellando, Rebecca A. Krukowski, Aline Andres

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Sedentary screen time is an early, modifiable risk factor for obesity and poor child development. Objectives: To examine the relationship between maternal and infant screen time with child growth and development. Methods: Pregnant women were recruited for a cohort study related to maternal and infant development. Screen time was assessed in mothers during pregnancy, and subsequently in children at 3 months, 12 months, and 24 months of age. Child anthropometry was measured, and nuclear magnetic resonance quantified child fat mass. Fat mass index (FMI) was calculated. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III were used to assess child development. Linear …

Monarch, Philip Walzer (Editor)

Monarch Magazine

Summer 2023 issue of Monarch, the Old Dominion University Magazine.

Subtitled: The Launch of a New Era

Incarceration Experiences And Post-Release Drug Addiction Recovery Among Previously Incarcerated Women With A Drug Addiction, Chiao-Yu Yang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Aims: This dissertation research explores incarceration experiences among adult women with drug addiction histories. It aims to enhance our knowledge of the meaning of incarceration and the prolonged influence of the experience on women’s drug addiction recovery, filling knowledge gaps regarding women, substance use, and incarceration. Methodology: The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with twenty-two (22) formerly incarcerated women in the Northeast and Midwest United States. A phenomenological approach was used to explore the meaning of incarceration to the participants; the deprivation model of imprisonment, the life course theory, intersectionality, and the therapeutic jurisprudence perspective guided the analysis. Findings: Women with …

The Effect Of Safety Net Generosity On Maternal Mental Health And Risky Health Behaviors, Lucie Schmidt, Lara D. Shore-Sheppard, Tara Watson

Economics: Faculty Publications

Single mothers are more likely to experience mental health problems and stress-related negative health behaviors, but a more generous safety net may improve these outcomes. We use a simulated safety net eligibility approach that accounts for interactions across safety net programs and relies on changing policies across states and time to identify causal effects of safety net generosity on psychological distress and risky behaviors of single mothers. Results suggest that a more generous safety net is protective of maternal mental health: a $1000 increase to the simulated potential combined cash and food benefit package reduces severe psychological distress by 8.4 …

Sleep And Behavioral Problems Among Preschool Children: Correlations From Pakistan Urban, Seema Zainulabdin Lasi, Somal Kayani, Noreen Afzal

Human Development Programme

The study was undertaken to explore patterns, habits, and problems for sleep in preschool children of urban Karachi, Pakistan. Two schools participated with a sample size of 297 preschool children. A cross-sectional study design was implemented. The mean age of children was 4.6 ± 0.71 years, and the male/female ratio was 49:51. The average daily sleep duration (nocturnal + daytime nap) was 9.51 ± 1.21 hours. At least one sleep problem was reported in 73% of children, the most frequently found sleep problems were, bedtime and wakeup resistance (25.6%), sleepy or tired during the day (46%), complains of growing pains …

Enhancement Of Tki Sensitivity In Lung Adenocarcinoma Through M6a-Dependent Translational Repression Of Wnt Signaling By Circ-Fbxw7, Kai Li, Zi Yang Peng, Rui Wang, Xiang Li, Ning Du, Da Peng Liu, Jia Zhang, Yun Feng Zhang, Lei Ma, Ye Sun, Shou Ching Tang, Hong Ren, Yi Ping Yang, Xin Sun

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that specifically target mutational points in the EGFR gene have significantly reduced suffering and provided greater relief to patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The third-generation EGFR-TKI, Osimertinib, has been successfully employed in clinical treatments to overcome resistance to both original and acquired T790M and L858R mutational points. Nevertheless, the issue of treatment failure response has emerged as an insurmountable problem. Methods: By employing a combination of multiple and integrated approaches, we successfully identified a distinct population within the tumor group that plays a significant role in carcinogenesis, resistance, and recurrence. Our research suggests that addressing …

Anatomical Changes Of Intervertebral Disc With Age: Mri Study Using Quantitative Measure, Zahraa Tabоo, Eman Sheet, Waleed Kasim

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

BACKGROUND: The intervertebral cartilage supports the human body structurally. It absorbs shock and allows movement between adjacent vertebrae1. This framework deteriorates with age, a physiological consequence of                  the normal aging process.OBJECTIVE:To assess alterations that occur between vertebrae of the spinal column from L1 to L5 and to study                 the changes in vertebral height, occurrence of osteophytes in the lumbar spine vertebrae as well as                     the prevalence of ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and other signs of degeneration according to the age and sex.PATIENTS AND METHODS:  The cross sectional study was performed  by  examining (600) patients suffering from a sharp pain in               the …

Becoming A Badass: Developing Positive Embodiment In Women, Nicole O'Connor

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Becoming a Badass: Developing Positive in Embodiment in Women Nicole O’Connor Abstract Almost everyone hates their bodies (normative discontent), but women and girls are most likely to engage in extreme behaviors to adjust their appearance. The United States’ history as a heteronormative, white supremacist, patriarchal, capitalist society contributes to myths about weight and health leading to anti-fat bias and harm on fat bodies. A focus on body image has limited the scope of research and Niva Piran’s Developmental Theory of Embodiment offers an alternative framework for healing normative discontent. As a woman living in a large body, the author interviewed …

International Society Of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Coffee And Sports Performance, Lonnie M. Lowery, Dawn E. Anderson, Kelsey F. Scanlon, Abigail Stack, Guillermo Escalante, Sara C. Campbell, Chad M. Kerksick, Michael T. Nelson, Tim N. Vandusseldorp, Douglas S. Kalman, Bill I. Campbell, Richard B. Kreider, Jose Antonio

Faculty Scholarship

Based on review and critical analysis of the literature regarding the contents and physiological effects of coffee related to physical and cognitive performance conducted by experts in the field and selected members of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), the following conclusions represent the official Position of the Society:

(1) Coffee is a complex matrix of hundreds of compounds. These are consumed with broad variability based upon serving size, bean type (e.g. common Arabica vs. Robusta), and brew method (water temperature, roasting method, grind size, time, and equipment).

(2) Coffee’s constituents, including but not limited to caffeine, have neuromuscular, …

Bishop Healy Committee E- Newsletter (Summer 2023), Bishop Healy Committee, College Of The Holy Cross

Bishop Healy Committee Newsletter

This e-publication is the newsletter for Holy Cross ALANA alumni created by the Bishop Healy Committee of the Holy Cross Alumni Association (HCAA). Read student testimonials and alumni highlights, learn how to get involved through volunteering and mentorship, and stay up to date on campus news and events.

Featured articles include Commencement, Financial Literacy Workshop, LASO Noche Latina, upcoming events, a student highlight, engagement opportunities and HC community updates.

Studies Of The Role Of Mtorc1 In Modulating Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Function, Isaac Adediji

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling impacts intestinal inflammation by modulating the production of cytokines in both intestinal epithelial cells and macrophages. Recent evidence revealed that THP-1-derived macrophages with elevated mTORC1 activity (THP-1shTSC2 macrophages), exhibited increased proinflammatory cytokine production when stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) compared to counterpart macrophages with repressed or baseline mTORC1 activity. Furthermore, it has been shown that mTORC1 governs intestinal barrier function as evidenced by elevated transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and para/transcellular permeability in Raptor-depleted Caco-2 cells (cells with repressed mTORC1 activity) compared to Caco-2 cells with elevated or baseline mTORC1 activity. The present study …

Designing A Conceptual Framework To Align Learning Objectives To The Interprofessional Education Collaborative Core Competencies: A Narrative Review, Norman C. Belleza, Maureen E. Johnson

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction: Early placement of interprofessional education (IPE) in academic curricula may foster foundational learning to shape student attitudes, knowledge, and skills and better prepare practice-ready clinicians for future team-based collaboration. The purpose of this narrative review was to investigate and analyze the current use of IPE in OT and PT higher education.

Methods: Three databases, Academic Search Complete, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and ERIC, were searched from 2017 to 2022. Inclusion criteria were articles with full text availability, published within the 5 year search time range from the time of the narrative review process, peer reviewed studies, …

Sharksrx Newsletter Summer 2023, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Sharks Rx

No abstract provided.

Design And Implementation Of A Community-Based Mother-To-Mother Peer Support Programme For The Follow-Up Of Low Birthweight Infants In Rural Western Kenya, Jemma Wright, Florence Achieng, Linda Tindi, Manasi Patil, Mwanamvua Boga, Mary Kimani, Hellen Barsosio, Dan Juma, Helen Nabwera, Laura Kiige

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Background: Globally, low birthweight (LBW) infants (

Methods: Key informant interviews were conducted with 10 mothers of neonates (infants days) from two rural communities in western Kenya. These data informed the identification of key characteristics required for mother-to-mother peer supporters (peer mothers) following up LBW infants post discharge. Forty potential peer mothers were invited to attend a 5-day training programme that focused on three main themes: supportive care using appropriate communication, identification of severe illness, and recommended care strategies for LBW infants. Sixteen peer mothers were mentored to conduct seven community follow-up visits to each mother-LBW infant pair with fifteen …

Aeroponic System Optimization For Butterhead Lettuce Growth And Future Sustainability Using Flow Blurring Atomization, Taylor J. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The global population has grown by 6 billion people over the last century and is trending toward 9.7 billion people by the year 2050. Agriculture accounts for 70% of global fresh water usage. Technology must be developed to accommodate the increase of food production demanded by the growing global population and the subsequent increase in water usage. Aeroponic technology is a water-efficient vertical farming technology that can reduce water usage by 90% by suspending plant roots in air within a controlled chamber and supplying atomized droplets of a water-nutrient solution directly to the roots.

This study simultaneously tests six droplet …

Parenting During A Pandemic: Understanding The Impact Of Covid-19 On Early Childhood Development, Jessica A. Manes

Senior Theses

The early years of a child's life are crucial for their development, shaping their ability to process information, communicate, and form their identity. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted essential elements necessary for optimal early childhood development, including quality education, nurturing environments, and social stimulation. This study explored how parents in South Carolina perceived the pandemic's impact on their children's development. Five themes emerged from the study. Firstly, remote work due to pandemic protocols significantly affected the parent-child relationship. Secondly, the family's socioeconomic status influenced their ability to cope with and protect their children from the pandemic's impact. Thirdly, isolation resulting …

Arcadia Magazine, 2023-07

Alumni Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Implementation Of The Pressure Injury Prevention Protocol To Reduce The Incidence Of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries In A Va Medical Surgical Unit, Nekia Whitlow

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: The clinical gap in service addressed in the DNP project was hospital-acquired pressure injuries. A hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) is a local injury to the skin and underlying tissue during an inpatient hospital stay. The injury is caused by pressure, shear, or both (The Joint Commission (TJC), 2022). The development of a HAPI can result from other factors, such as advanced age, immobility, perfusion issues, nutritional status, illness severity, and chronic conditions (Rondinelli, Zuniga, Kipnis, et al., 2018). Immobile or sedated patients in the intensive care units are the most at risk because they have medical conditions that prevent …

La Mosca - Summer 2023, Clay Cofre

La Mosca

Contributions by: Ilsa Tucker, Mark Behringer, Mason, Timothy Garrison, S.R., Rachel A. Hale, Thalia Piseaux, Philip Kostov, Ja-Hee, Maribel Cruz, David Wales, Jennifer Terry, Megan Benitez, Amina Murati, J.J. Posey, Sophia Leonard, Indigo, Cyn, yarrow yes woods, Jaritza, Scott Andrews, Cean Gamalinda, Michael Cainghug, Hana Urban, Stephanie Ruelas, Ayushi Kumar, Jasmine Rodriguez, Clay Cofre, Emily Flood, Zebulon B. Hurst, jake stephen james, Sergey Turzhanskiy, I Cofre, Dessi Vaevski

Effects Of A School-Based Gardening, Cooking, And Nutrition Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial On Unprocessed And Ultra-Processed Food Consumption, Matthew R Jeans, Matthew J Landry, Sarvenaz Vandyousefi, Erin A Hudson, Marissa Burgermaster, Molly S Bray, Joya Chandra, Jaimie N Davis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: School-based gardening and nutrition education interventions report improvements in dietary intake, notably through fruit and vegetables. However, gardening, cooking, and nutrition randomized controlled trials are limited in evaluating dietary quality, and none have examined processed food consumption to date.

OBJECTIVES: The study examined the effects of Texas Sprouts (TX Sprouts), a gardening, cooking, and nutrition education intervention, compared with control on unprocessed and ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption in predominately low-income Hispanic children.

METHODS: TX Sprouts was a school-based cluster randomized controlled trial that consisted of 16 elementary schools randomly assigned to either the TX Sprouts intervention (n = 8 …

Genome-Wide Association Study Of Bladder Cancer Reveals New Biological And Translational Insights, Stella Koutros, Lambertus A Kiemeney, Parichoy Pal Choudhury, Roger L Milne, Evangelina Lopez De Maturana, Yuanqing Ye, Vijai Joseph, Oscar Florez-Vargas, Lars Dyrskjøt, Jonine Figueroa, Diptavo Dutta, Graham G Giles, Michelle A T Hildebrandt, Kenneth Offit, Manolis Kogevinas, Elisabete Weiderpass, Marjorie L Mccullough, Neal D Freedman, Demetrius Albanes, Charles Kooperberg, Victoria K Cortessis, Margaret R Karagas, Alison Johnson, Molly R Schwenn, Dalsu Baris, Helena Furberg, Dean F Bajorin, Olivier Cussenot, Geraldine Cancel-Tassin, Simone Benhamou, Peter Kraft, Stefano Porru, Angela Carta, Timothy Bishop, Melissa C Southey, Giuseppe Matullo, Tony Fletcher, Rajiv Kumar, Jack A Taylor, Philippe Lamy, Frederik Prip, Mark Kalisz, Stephanie J Weinstein, Jan G Hengstler, Silvia Selinski, Mark Harland, Mark Teo, Anne E Kiltie, Adonina Tardón, Consol Serra, Alfredo Carrato, Reina García-Closas, Josep Lloreta, Alan Schned, Petra Lenz, Elio Riboli, Paul Brennan, Anne Tjønneland, Thomas Otto, Daniel Ovsiannikov, Frank Volkert, Sita H Vermeulen, Katja K Aben, Tessel E Galesloot, Constance Turman, Immaculata De Vivo, Edward Giovannucci, David J Hunter, Chancellor Hohensee, Rebecca Hunt, Alpa V Patel, Wen-Yi Huang, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Manuela Gago-Dominguez, Pilar Amiano, Klaus Golka, Mariana C Stern, Wusheng Yan, Jia Liu, Shengchao Alfred Li, Shilpa Katta, Amy Hutchinson, Belynda Hicks, William A Wheeler, Mark P Purdue, Katherine A Mcglynn, Cari M Kitahara, Christopher A Haiman, Mark H Greene, Thorunn Rafnar, Nilanjan Chatterjee, Stephen J Chanock, Xifeng Wu, Francisco X Real, Debra T Silverman, Montserrat Garcia-Closas, Kari Stefansson, Ludmila Prokunina-Olsson, Núria Malats, Nathaniel Rothman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Genomic regions identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for bladder cancer risk provide new insights into etiology.

OBJECTIVE: To identify new susceptibility variants for bladder cancer in a meta-analysis of new and existing genome-wide genotype data.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data from 32 studies that includes 13,790 bladder cancer cases and 343,502 controls of European ancestry were used for meta-analysis.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Log-additive associations of genetic variants were assessed using logistic regression models. A fixed-effects model was used for meta-analysis of the results. Stratified analyses were conducted to evaluate effect modification by sex and smoking status. …

Estrogen-Related Receptor Signaling In Skeletal Muscle Fitness, Danesh Sopariwala, Hao Nguyen, Vihang Narkar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Skeletal muscle is a highly plastic tissue that can alter its metabolic and contractile features, as well as regenerative potential in response to exercise and other conditions. Multiple signaling factors including metabolites, kinases, receptors, and transcriptional factors have been studied in the regulation of skeletal muscle plasticity. Recently, estrogen-related receptors (ERRs) have emerged as a critical transcriptional hub in control of skeletal muscle homeostasis. ERRα and ERRγ - the two highly expressed ERR sub-types in the muscle respond to various extracellular cues such as exercise, hypoxia, fasting and dietary factors, in turn regulating gene expression in the skeletal muscle. On …

The Meaning Of Caring For Patients With Cancer Among Traditional Medicine Practitioners In Uganda: A Grounded Theory Approach, John Baptist Asiimwe, Prakash B. Nagendrappa, Esther C. Atukunda, Grace Nambozi, Casim U. Tolo, Martin Ogwang, Mauda M. Kamatenesi

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) are a critical part of healthcare systems in many sub-Saharan African countries and play vital roles in caring for patients with cancer. Despite some progress in describing TMPs’ caring experiences in abstract terms, literature about practice models in Africa remains limited. This study aimed to develop a substantive theory to clarify the care provided by TMPs to patients with cancer in Uganda. This study adhered to the principal features of the modified Straussian grounded theory design. Participants were 18 TMPs caring for patients with cancer from 10 districts in Uganda, selected by purposive and theoretical sampling …

Incorporating Social-Emotional Learning Into Middle School Classrooms, Jessica Wolles

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This article is how the implementation of social-emotional learning in a middle school can improve behavior, academics, mental health, and social awareness amongst adolescents. This paper examines research from twenty research articles to communicate the need for social-emotional learning to be implemented in a middle school. This article outlines the school improvement plan for implementing a social-emotional learning curriculum.

Is It Safe To Have Sexual Intercourse During Pregnancy? A Commentary Paper, Misbah Zafar, Mehreen Aslam

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Sexuality is an expression of love, care, and intimacy between couples but pregnancy, and the early postnatal period can have a significant impact on sexual health. Numerous physiological and psychological changes take place during pregnancy^[1]. These changes may have a deep influence on the sexual lives of married couples in a variety of ways. ^[2]

The degree of sexual health awareness, myths, rituals, and beliefs about sexual activity during pregnancy are some of the contributing factors which promote or hinders the sexual relationships during pregnancy ^[3]. The most common fear related …