Digital Commons Network^™

Prevalence And Predictors Of Cesarean Delivery In A Tertiary Hospital In Taraba State, Nigeria, Olateju Alao Bamigbala, Ayodeji Oluwatobi Ojetunde, Maza Tanko

Tanzania Journal of Science

A cesarean section (CS) is a surgical technique in which a baby is delivered through an abdomen and uterine incision following fetal viability. It is imperative to identify the factors that influence the use of CS to reduce the needless use of this life-saving procedure and increase its availability for those who need it most. Therefore, this study assesses the prevalence and predictors of cesarean delivery in a tertiary hospital in Taraba state, Nigeria. Information of pregnant women who came for delivery to Federal Medical Center, Jalingo, Taraba state Nigeria from August 2021 to August 2023 was collected. Binary Logistic …

The Psychology And Impact Of Cheating, Jackson Smith, Hagar Ahmed, Michael Burrough, Isaac Britland, Barish Mertkolu

ENGL 1102 Showcase

This anthology discusses cheating as an idea, and its effects in a variety of different social spaces, digital and physical. We talk about how and why cheating occurs, as well as what is done to prevent it. Additionally, we discuss what more can be done to mitigate the effects that cheating has as it becomes more widespread due to advances in technology. The first topic discussed is how the architecture of educational institutions can affect cheating in school. The next topic discusses the variety of ways that players in casual and competitive eSports cheat, and what is done to prevent …

Restoring Functions Of Christian Worship: An Examination Of The Impacts Of Biblical Musical Meditation On Anxiety, Laurie P. Brooks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Based on diagnostic interview data from the National Comorbidity Study Replication (NCS-R), an estimated 31.1% of U.S. adults experience anxiety at some time in their lives. This project outlines a mixed-methods research that examines the impact of music and Scripture, and illustrates the experiences of multiple individuals experiencing situational anxiety. For fifteen minutes, for seven days, the three groups listened to a cycle of three songs that depicted calming instrumental music, general worship music with promising themes, and positive lyrics or songs with lyrics based on Scripture. The three groups received varying treatments of music while completing a modified version …

Virtual Reality As An Adjunct To Behavior Therapy: A Systematic Literature Review, Alya Alharrasi

Honors Theses

The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that by 2030, mental disorders will become the primary source of global disease burden [1]. Anxiety-related disorders, including specific phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and various forms of general or specific anxiety, are the most rapidly growing mental health disorders worldwide [2]. In the United States (US), over 1 in 10 American youths are experiencing depression, resulting in a severe impact on their personal, academic, or professional encounters and social engagements [3]. Similarly, anxiety disorders affect up to one-third of the US population during their lifetime [4].

Due to the growth of mental health …

Injectable And Rapidly Expandable Thrombin-Decorated Cryogels Achieve Rapid Hemostasis And High Survival Rates In A Swine Model Of Lethal Junctional Hemorrhage, Syed Muntazir Andrabi, S.M. Shatil Shahriar, Al-Murtadha Al-Gahmi, Benjamin L. Wilczewski, Mark A. Carlson, Jingwei Xie

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Effective therapies are urgently needed to stabilize patients with marginally compressible junctional hemorrhage long enough to get them to the hospital alive. Herein, we report injectable and rapidly expandable cryogels consisting of polyacrylamide and thrombin (AT cryogels) created by cryo-polymerization for the efficient management of lethal junctional hemorrhage in swine. The produced cryogels have small pore sizes and highly interconnected porous architecture with robust mechanical strength. The cryogels exhibit rapid shape memory properties and prove to be resilient against fatigue. These cryogels also show high water/blood absorption capacity, fast blood clotting effect, and enhanced adhesion of red blood cells and …

Impact Of Topical Capsaicin Cream On Thermoregulation And Perception While Walking In The Cold, Alice L. Held, Jessica L. Moler, Alejandro M. Rosales, Andrew C. Engellant

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Capsaicin, a chili pepper extract, can stimulate increased skin blood flow (SkBF) with a perceived warming sensation on application areas. Larger surface area application may exert a more systemic thermoregulatory response. Capsaicin could assist with maintaining heat transport to the distal extremities, minimizing cold weather injury risk. However, the thermoregulatory and perceptual impact of topical capsaicin cream application prior to exercise in the cold is unknown. METHODS: Following application of either a 0.1% capsaicin or control cream to the upper and lower extremities (10 g total, 40-50% body surface area), 11 participants in shorts and a t-shirt were exposed to …

The Effects Of Virtual Group Study On Class Views And Performance, W. Matt Denning, Robert S. Thiebaud, Lindy M. Rossow

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

Peer-to-peer teaching improves academic performance. During the worldwide pandemic, peer-to-peer teaching was unavailable, and feelings of isolation and loneliness increased. This study investigated the impact of virtual peer-to-peer group study on student performance and class views in a virtual, undergraduate exercise physiology course. Sixty-nine college-aged adults were randomly assigned to study with a virtual group or individually for two instructional units. Students switched groups after the first unit. For virtual group study, students met virtually for at least one hour outside of class to study course content. Those assigned to the individual study did not study virtually with classmates. Unit …

Analyzing Drosophila Melanogaster Circadian Rhythms Using Dam3 And Shiny-R Analysis, Maria Eduarda Couto Dourado, Kimberly D. Rowland

Student Publications and Presentations

Circadian rhythms are changes in behavior over a 24-hour period, that most animals experience. Light and darkness have the biggest influence on the behavior change. (U.S. DHHS). Flies reared in dark environments even more than 300 generations still have circadian rhythms (reference). This study analyzes data from the DAM, which allows us to study circadian rhythms in flies after various treatments and conditionings. Flies exposed to a dark environment for a week after two treatments were analyzed for any changes to their normal patterns. Comprehending the circadian rhythms of Drosophila is essential for grasping the molecular and genetic foundations of …

Designing, Implementing And Testing An Intervention Of Affective Intelligent Agents In Nursing Virtual Reality Teaching Simulations—A Qualitative Study, Michael Loizou, Sylvester Arnab, Petros Lameras, Thomas Hartley, Fernando Loizides, Praveen Kumar, Dana Sumilo

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Emotions play an important role in human-computer interaction, but there is limited research on affective and emotional virtual agent design in the area of teaching simulations for healthcare provision. The purpose of this work is twofold: firstly, to describe the process for designing affective intelligent agents that are engaged in automated communications such as person to computer conversations, and secondly to test a bespoke prototype digital intervention which implements such agents. The presented study tests two distinct virtual learning environments, one of which was enhanced with affective virtual patients, with nine 3rd year nursing students specialising in mental health, during …

The Grizzly, April 18, 2024, Marie Sykes, Nicolas Ungurean, Andrew J. Perez, Ellie Burns, Kathy Logan, Kate Horan, Sidney Belleroche, Renee Washart, James Rapp

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Tensions High at Congressional Town Hall • Tree Planting Ceremony to Honor Damiano Rotolo • Ursinus Hosting "Out of Darkness" Walk • Phi Kap's LLS Fundraiser • Expert Tips on Graduate School Planning: What You Need to Know • First Year Review on First-Year Housing • Every REP Matters • ReLAXing is Not an Option

Analysis Of The Neurophysiological Responses Of Lumbricina: An Invertebrate Model For Stem Education, Ragan Adkins, Bryce Allen, Michael Fultz

2024 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Invertebrates, specifically lumbricina, can serve as a model system for science education when studying neuron viability and the impact of various drugs on conduction velocity within the nervous system. Earthworms prove to be ideal candidates due to their easily stimulated and measurable large axon bundles. Earthworms are also inexpensive, noncontroversial, and easily sedated, making them suitable for STEM learning. Each earthworm underwent a standardized anesthetization procedure with an ethanol and water mixture before being placed on a nerve bath. They were then stimulated by an electrode to gather a control action potential. By measuring the speed at which …

Acetaminophen Influences Musculoskeletal Signaling But Not Adaptations To Endurance Exercise Training, Brandon Roberts, Alyssa Geddis, Alexandra Ciuciu, Marinaliz Reynoso, Nikhil Mehta, Alyssa Varanoske, Alyssa Kelley, Raymond Walker, Rigoberto Munoz, Alexander Kolb, Jeffery Staab, Marshall Naimo, Ryan Tomlinson

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Acetaminophen (ACE) is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug with various applications, from pain relief to fever reduction. Recent studies have reported equivocal effects of habitual ACE intake on exercise performance, muscle growth, and risks to bone health. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of a 6-week, low-dose ACE regimen on muscle and bone adaptations in exercising and non-exercising rats. Nine-week-old Wistar rats (n = 40) were randomized to an exercise or control (no exercise) condition with ACE or without (placebo). For the exercise condition, rats ran 5 days per week for 6 weeks at a 5% …

A Revamped Rat Reference Genome Improves The Discovery Of Genetic Diversity In Laboratory Rats, Tristan V De Jong, Yanchao Pan, Pasi Rastas, Daniel Munro, Monika Tutaj, Huda Akil, Chris Benner, Denghui Chen, Apurva S Chitre, William Chow, Vincenza Colonna, Clifton L Dalgard, Wendy M Demos, Peter A Doris, Erik Garrison, Aron M Geurts, Hakan M Gunturkun, Victor Guryev, Thibaut Hourlier, Kerstin Howe, Jun Huang, Ted Kalbfleisch, Panjun Kim, Ling Li, Spencer Mahaffey, Fergal J Martin, Pejman Mohammadi, Ayse Bilge Ozel, Oksana Polesskaya, Michal Pravenec, Pjotr Prins, Jonathan Sebat, Jennifer R Smith, Leah C Solberg Woods, Boris Tabakoff, Alan Tracey, Marcela Uliano-Silva, Flavia Villani, Hongyang Wang, Burt M Sharp, Francesca Telese, Zhihua Jiang, Laura Saba, Xusheng Wang, Terence D Murphy, Abraham A Palmer, Anne E Kwitek, Melinda R Dwinell, Robert W Williams, Jun Z Li, Hao Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The seventh iteration of the reference genome assembly for Rattus norvegicus-mRatBN7.2-corrects numerous misplaced segments and reduces base-level errors by approximately 9-fold and increases contiguity by 290-fold compared with its predecessor. Gene annotations are now more complete, improving the mapping precision of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomics datasets. We jointly analyzed 163 short-read whole-genome sequencing datasets representing 120 laboratory rat strains and substrains using mRatBN7.2. We defined ∼20.0 million sequence variations, of which 18,700 are predicted to potentially impact the function of 6,677 genes. We also generated a new rat genetic map from 1,893 heterogeneous stock rats and annotated transcription start sites …

The Experiences Of Stress And Resilience On The Allostatic Load Of Transgender And Gender Non-Binary Individuals During Secondary School: How Their Experiences Can Inform Best Practices, Kimberly Skye Ferina

Theses & Dissertations

Transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender non-binary (TGNCNB) students face many challenges in secondary school that increase their allostatic load and can lead to allostatic overload. Various aspects of their identity cultivate stress, compounded by variables that impact them throughout the day. TGNCNB youth are at a greater risk of bullying and harassment than their cisgendered peers and are at a greater risk of employing harmful mitigating behaviors and suicidal ideation. TGNCNB youth spend most of their day in the school setting, and there is limited research on this population that identifies what schools can do to support this population better. …

Colorectal Cancer Murine Models: Initiation To Metastasis, Ramesh Pothuraju, Imran Khan, Maneesh Jain, Michael Bouvet, Mokenge Malafa, Hemant K Roy, Sushil Kumar, Surinder K Batra

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite significant advancements in prevention and treatment, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Animal models, including xenografts, syngeneic, and genetically engineered, have emerged as indispensable tools in cancer research. These models offer a valuable platform to address critical questions regarding molecular pathogenesis and test therapeutic interventions before moving on to clinical trials. Advancements in CRC animal models have also facilitated the advent of personalized and precision medicine. Patient-derived xenografts and genetically engineered mice that mirror features of human tumors allow for tailoring treatments to specific CRC subtypes, improving treatment outcomes and quality of life. To …

Promoting Nutrition Literacy In Children: A Case Study Of A Community Partnership Between A University And An Elementary School, Candise Branum

Foley Library Scholarship

Background: Health literacy outreach is commonplace within public and hospital libraries but less so in academic libraries, where it is often viewed as not integral. Academic health science libraries may collaborate with public libraries to provide public health information literacy programming or “train the trainer” sessions, but examples of academic health science librarians leading community health initiatives are still limited.

Case Presentation: This case report discusses a collaborative project between Gonzaga’s Foley Center Library, the School of Nursing and Human Physiology, and a local elementary school to promote health literacy for students and their families, led by an Academic Health …

Impact Of Health Literacy On Patient Outcomes, Stella Collins, Abbie Mosset, Ellie Vincent, Michele Shaw

NURS 404/406 Research & Info Management

Research Question: How does health literacy impact patient outcomes?

Business As Usual: Organizational And Market Responses To The Natural Environment And Magnification Of Inequality, Taylor Martin Holdaway

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Climate change is a multifaceted and insidious grand challenge facing the world. Natural disasters and extreme weather conditions, made more common by climate change, will cause enormous ecological, human, and economic damage across the globe. Businesses, organizations, and markets are critically implicated in climate change due to their culpability for greenhouse gas emissions and their roles in building or hindering adaptive capacity and mediating transfers of wealth resulting from climate change. In my dissertation, I investigate how individuals, businesses, and markets respond to climate-related disasters and extreme weather conditions and how these processes contribute to patterns of inequality in the …

Uncovering Transkingdom Connectivity Through Mapping Host-Microbiota Interactions, Nicole Sonnert

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Our microbiota, the trillions of microbes that constitutively colonize every outward-facing surface of our bodies, have diverse impacts on human physiology, yet the molecular bases for these effects remain mostly unknown. Classical pathogens often invade host tissues and modulate immune responses through interactions with human extracellular and secreted proteins (the ‘exoproteome’). Commensal microbes may also facilitate niche colonization and shape host biology by engaging host exoproteins; however, direct microbiota-exoproteome interactions remain largely unexplored. We developed and validated a novel technology, BActerial Selection to Elucidate Host-microbe Interactions in high Throughput (BASEHIT), that enables proteome-scale assessment of human exoproteome-microbiome interactions. Using BASEHIT, …

Analysis Rabl3 Variants And Its Link To Pancreatic Cancer, Elaine Vanterpool, Brenden Henley

Student Posters

No abstract provided.

​ Analysis Of Men1 Variants In Angiofibroma, Elaine Vanterpool, Wendolyn Johnson

Student Posters

No abstract provided.

​ Analysis Of Men1 Variants In Angiofibroma, Elaine Vanterpool, Wendolyn Johnson

Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Admissions Magazine Spring 2024, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Admissions Magazine

Altitude: Students Take A Giant Leap Forward

• Science That Works
• Education At A Higher Altitude: At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daring to Think Big and Push Boundaries Is A Way Of Life
• A Crash Course In Safety
• The Perfect Fit
• Seizing the Moment
• Broadened Perspectives
• The Perfect Bond
• Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite
• A Well-Balanced Education
• Mechanical Engineering Major Looks to Make Environmental Impact
• Molecular Level Science
• Not An Optical Illusion
• Asia Campus Lab Advances Uncrewed Systems Training
• A Giant Leap Forward
• Getting His Hands on the Future
• An Additive Experience
• Space Launch System
• The M-Star Program
• A Giant Leap …

Increasing Efficiency In The Treatment Of Depression And Anxiety, Claire Davidson, Claire Isert, Anna Seely, Michele Shaw

NURS 404/406 Research & Info Management

Research Question: What are the impacts on memory loss in elderly populations with a history of anxiety/depression medication use?

Loma Linda Nurse - Vol. 31, Loma Linda University School Of Nursing

Loma Linda Nurse

FEATURES

4 | The Next Chapter for LLUSN

8 | 50 Years of West Hall

10 | Dr. Shawn Collins Named New Dean

12 | Dr. Gloria Huerta Named New Associate Dean

14 | Adventist Nursing Theory with Dr. Patricia Jones

LLUSN HIGHLIGHTS

16-23 | ALUMNI NEWS

24-27 | ACADEMICS

28-32 | HOMECOMING

33-35 | FACULTY UPDATES

Investigation Of The Toxicology Of Phytoecdysteroids And Their Mammalian Metabolites Using An Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Cell Line, Connor Moriarty

Master’s Theses - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Objective: To evaluate the toxicological effects of a phytoecdysteroid and their mammalian metabolites through in vitro experiments using the MCF-7 cell line. Turkesterone levels of 11 commercially available turkesterone supplements were measured using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Methods: The phytoecdysteroid 20-hydroxyecdysone (20HE) underwent two chemical reactions to synthesize two mammalian metabolites; 14-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone (14DO) and poststerone. These reactions were accomplished by zinc-mediated reduction and Jones oxidation, respectively. The structure of the products was confirmed via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The turkesterone supplements were investigated using a HPLC on a Kinetex 2.6 μm C18 column, …

1st Place Contest Entry: Examining Students’ Perception Of & Experiences In Stem Course Office Hours, Gabriella Dauber

Kevin and Tam Ross Undergraduate Research Prize

This is Gabriella Dauber's submission for the 2024 Kevin and Tam Ross Undergraduate Research Prize, which won first place. It contains their essay on using library resources, their bibliography, and a summary of their research project on students’ perception of and experiences in their STEM course office hours.

Gabriella is a fourth-year student at Chapman University, majoring in Biological Sciences. Their faculty mentor is Dr. Cassandra Zalman.

The Impact Of Using Embedded Learning Assistants In Mathematics Courses, Lyyne Y. O'Dell

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This study’s purpose was to determine whether the use of course-embedded learning assistants compared to sections that did not use course-embedded learning assistants in intermediate algebra courses impacted student performance at a community college. The sample was composed of 5,738 students who were enrolled in an intermediate algebra course between fall 2016 and fall 2019. The study’s research methodology was considered causal-comparative, and a non-probability, convenient, and purposive sampling technique was used for all students using archived pre and post-test scores for all participants, then by student demographics African American and socioeconomically disadvantaged students. Statistically significant treatment effects were observed …

Icnirp Statement On Short Wavelength Light Exposure From Indoor Artificial Sources And Human Health, Sharon Miller, Christian Cajochen, Adele Green, John Hanifin, Anke Huss, Ken Karipidis, Sarah Loughran, Gunnhild Oftedal, John O'Hagan, David H Sliney, Rodney Croft, Eric Van Rongen, Nigel Cridland, Guglielmo D'Inzeo, Akimasa Hirata, Carmela Marino, Martin Röösli, Soichi Watanabe

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Concerns have been raised about the possibility of effects from exposure to short wavelength light (SWL), defined here as 380-550 nm, on human health. The spectral sensitivity of the human circadian timing system peaks at around 480 nm, much shorter than the peak sensitivity of daytime vision (i.e., 555 nm). Some experimental studies have demonstrated effects on the circadian timing system and on sleep from SWL exposure, especially when SWL exposure occurs in the evening or at night. The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has identified a lack of consensus among public health officials regarding whether SWL from …

The Impact Of The Gut-Brain Axis On Alzheimer’S Disease, Elissa Wakim

Best Integrated Writing

Elissa’s review for the Graduate Biomedical Review focuses on the links between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain; the gut-brain axis and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. As a student in the Microbiology and Immunology Masters Program Elissa was particularly interested in the gut microbiota and their connection to neurodegenerative disease. She tidily reviewed the literature and wrote a fascinating and compelling piece of work.