Digital Commons Network^™

Everything But The Kitchen Sink: An Analysis Of Bacterial And Chemical Contaminants Found In Syringe Residue From People Who Inject Drugs, John A Wildenthal, Drew J Schwartz, Nathanial S Nolan, Lingxia Zhao, John I Robinson, Erin Jones, Raagini Jawa, Jeffrey P Henderson, Laura R Marks

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk of severe wounds, invasive infections, and overdoses. To date, there are few data on the bacterial and chemical contaminants PWID are exposed to when using illicitly manufactured fentanyls and stimulants.

METHODS: Previously used injection drug use equipment was recovered in St Louis, Missouri, by harm reduction organizations over a 12-month period. Syringe residue was analyzed for bacterial contaminants by routine culturing followed by whole genome sequencing of single bacterial isolates. Chemical adulterants in syringe residue were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTS: Bacteria were cultured from 58.75% of 160 syringes …

Perspectives From Public Health Practitioners And Advocates On Community Development For Active Living: What Are The Lasting Impacts?, Natalicio Serrano, Laurel Schmidt, Amy A Eyler, Ross C Brownson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Evidence suggests differential impacts of community development, including gentrification and displacement. Public health practitioners and advocates are key stakeholders involved in the community development process related to active living, yet little is known about their perceptions of its impacts. We explored the perspectives of relevant leaders of public health departments and key community and advocacy organizations on community development, gentrification, and displacement.

APPROACH: Purposive key informant interviews.

SETTING: CDC State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) funding recipients.

PARTICIPANTS: CDC SPAN recipient leadership (n = 10 of 16) and advocacy organizations they partnered with (n = 7 of 16).

METHOD: …

Researching Covid To Enhance Recovery (Recover) Pediatric Study Protocol: Rationale, Objectives And Design, Rachel S Gross, Deanna M. Barch, Andrew C. Heath, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: The prevalence, pathophysiology, and long-term outcomes of COVID-19 (post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 [PASC] or "Long COVID") in children and young adults remain unknown. Studies must address the urgent need to define PASC, its mechanisms, and potential treatment targets in children and young adults.

OBSERVATIONS: We describe the protocol for the Pediatric Observational Cohort Study of the NIH's REsearching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative. RECOVER-Pediatrics is an observational meta-cohort study of caregiver-child pairs (birth through 17 years) and young adults (18 through 25 years), recruited from more than 100 sites across the US. This report focuses on two of …

Buffered Lugol's Iodine Preserves Dna Fragment Lengths, P M Gignac, D Valdez, A C Morhardt, L M Lynch

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Museum collections play a pivotal role in the advancement of biological science by preserving phenotypic and genotypic history and variation. Recently, contrast-enhanced X-ray computed tomography (CT) has aided these advances by allowing improved visualization of internal soft tissues. However, vouchered specimens could be at risk if staining techniques are destructive. For instance, the pH of unbuffered Lugol's iodine (I

Ddr2-Regulated Arginase Activity In Ovarian Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Promotes Collagen Production And Tumor Progression, Favour A Akinjiyan, Zainab Ibitoye, Peinan Zhao, Leah P Shriver, Gary J Patti, Gregory D Longmore, Katherine C Fuh

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Ovarian cancer has poor survival outcomes particularly for advanced stage, metastatic disease. Metastasis is promoted by interactions of stromal cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME), with tumor cells. CAFs play a key role in tumor progression by remodeling the TME and extracellular matrix (ECM) to result in a more permissive environment for tumor progression. It has been shown that fibroblasts, in particular myofibroblasts, utilize metabolism to support ECM remodeling. However, the intricate mechanisms by which CAFs support collagen production and tumor progression are poorly understood. In this study, we show that the fibrillar collagen receptor, …

Educating Future Generations Of Surgeons Across Borders: Novel Global Linked Hybrid Live Cadaveric Peripheral Nerve Surgical Training Course, Abdus S Burahee, Liron S. Duraku, Caroline A. Hundepool, Kyle R Eberlin, Amy Moore, Christopher J. Dy, Shalimar Abdullah, Vaikunthan Rajaratnam, J. Michiel Zuidam, Dominic M. Power

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate a novel, multi-site, technology-facilitated education and training course in peripheral nerve surgery. The program was developed to address the training gaps in this specialized field by integrating a structured curriculum, high-fidelity cadaveric dissection, and surgical simulation with real-time expert guidance.

METHODS: A collaboration between the Global Nerve Foundation and Esser Masterclass facilitated the program, which was conducted across three international sites. The curriculum was developed by a panel of experienced peripheral nerve surgeons and included both text-based and multimedia resources. Participants' knowledge and skills were assessed using pre- and postcourse questionnaires.

RESULTS: A total …

Cryptosporidium Infection Of Human Small Intestinal Epithelial Cells Induces Type Iii Interferon And Impairs Infectivity Of Rotavirus, Valentin Greigert, Iti Saraav, Juhee Son, Yinxing Zhu, Denise Dayao, Avan Antia, Saul Tzipori, William H Witola, Thaddeus S Stappenbeck, Siyuan Ding, L David Sibley

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Cryptosporidiosis is a major cause of severe diarrheal disease in infants from resource poor settings. The majority of infections are caused by the human-specific pathogen

Hyperbaric Oxygen Augments Susceptibility To C. Difficile Infection By Impairing Gut Microbiota Ability To Stimulate The Hif-1Α-Il-22 Axis In Ilc3, José L Fachi, Laís P Pral, Helder C Assis, Sarah Oliveira, Vinícius R Rodovalho, Jefferson A C Dos Santos, Mariane F Fernandes, Valquíria A Matheus, Renata Sesti-Costa, Paulo J Basso, Marina Flóro E Silva, Niels O S Câmara, Selma Giorgio, Marco Colonna, Marco A R Vinolo

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is a well-established method for improving tissue oxygenation and is typically used for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions, including infectious diseases. However, its effect on the intestinal mucosa, a microenvironment known to be physiologically hypoxic, remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that daily treatment with hyperbaric oxygen affects gut microbiome composition, worsening antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. Accordingly, HBO-treated mice were more susceptible to

A Proposed Innovative Learning Spaces For A State University Library In The Philippines, Delna Liwaden-Galut, David A. Cabonero

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The library plays a significant role in providing a welcoming, inviting, and appealing library environment to attract learners to use its resources and services. Consequently, the learning preferences of learners prompted the shift from information commons to learning commons in higher education. With an emphasis on the social dimensions of learning, the learning space represents a transformative change that extends beyond the reach of the traditional library. The library can maximize the learners' potential by making it truly an extension of the classroom. This research is guided by the following research questions: 1. What are the teachers’ and librarians’ perceived …

Mapping Success: Swot Analysis Of Roots Millennium University Libraries In Pakistan, Muhammad Kabir Khan, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Aleem, Arslan Sheikh, Mohamad Noorman Masrek

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Purpose - The primary goal of this research is to measure the present status of Roots Millennium University Libraries in view of its user’s points of view about the utilization of libraries and their services.

Research Design – Quantitative research was used in this study and data was collected from students through a survey using a structured questionnaire.

Findings - This study evaluates the internal and external conditions of Roots Millennium libraries through SWOT analysis. The undergraduate student’s opinions were taken into consideration to know the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of Roots Millennium University libraries. The investigators evaluated the …

Exploring Social Networking Trends Among School Students From Class 4th To 8th Of Kendriya Vidyalaya Dholpur, Rajasthan, Neerja Ms, Narender Chauhan Dr, Manisha Rani Ms

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The primary goal of this study was to determine how 4th to 8th-grade students used social networking sites and how much they knew about various social networking sites. A questionnaire with open ended and closed questions was distributed to the students of targeted school of Kendriya Vidyalaya Dholpur, Rajasthan. A survey in the form of a random questionnaire was conducted to 160 students. Of them, 121 completed it; the other students were unable to do so but provided verbal responses. Of the students, 111 utilized SNSs; just 10 did not use these websites. Workshops on the benefits and drawbacks of …

Robotics And Artificial Intelligence In Libraries, Prince Chibuzor Eke, Nkechi Mercy Egesimba, Nnam Mills Ezebuike

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This research was borne out of the desire to discover the robotics and artificial intelligence technology which is rapidly spreading in libraries as modern tools for innovation. Conventionally, robotics and artificial intelligence involves programming computers to do things which if done by humans, would say to require intelligence. The application of robotics and artificial intelligence in library has become pervasive. They include expert systems for reference services, book reading and shelf-reading robots, virtually reality for immersive learning among others. Meanwhile, the incorporation of robotics and artificial intelligence in libraries can be perceived to alienate librarians from their users, it will …

Artificial Intelligence Teamwork For Agricultural Information Service Delivery In A Changing World: A Paradigm Shift, Taiwo Bosede Ajayi Dr, Onaade Ojo Dr, Modupe Atinuke Otuyalo, Wosilat Omolara Oyeniyi, Oluwole Ibiyem Ogunyemi Dr, Rufus Dirinfo Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

As the global agricultural landscape faces unprecedented challenges driven by climate change, population growth, and shifting consumer demands, there is a pressing need for innovative solutions to ensure food security and sustainable agricultural practices. This paper explores the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in reshaping how agricultural information is developed, disseminated, and utilized to enhance service delivery. AI-powered technologies, including machine learning, data analytics, and automation, are revolutionizing agriculture by providing real-time insights, optimizing resource allocation, and improving decision-making for farmers, policymakers, and stakeholders across the agricultural value chain. This research delves into the multifaceted applications of AI in …

Promoting Traditional Festivals Using Digital Resources: The Need For Tourism Development Through E-Democracy, Grace Ugwonna, Anthony Chikadibia Ugwonna

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Inclusion and rural service delivery are critical and fundamental in a democracy. Amidst this, poverty and poor service delivery characterize the rural communities despite the many indigenous heritages that can be propagated for economic gains. The Sustainable Development Goal(s) (SDG) of lifting 100 million people out of poverty by 2030 may not be feasible without thinking of viable alternatives to its actualization through local content. This paper examines the economic and social impact of indigenous festivals in Adaba community of southeastern Nigeria and how digital resources and e-democracy can be used for its propagation. The study used a Descriptive phenomenological …

Web 3.0 Tools Employed In Private High School Library Media Centres In Zimbabwe: The Case Of Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Elton Tafataona Moyo, Takawira Machimbidza

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study was carried out to gain insight into the Web 3.0 technologies used by high school library media specialists in private schools around Bulawayo Metropolitan Province in Zimbabwe. The study adopted the interpretivist paradigm with a qualitative approach and a multiple-case study research strategy. The population of this study comprised of school library media specialists from ten private high schools in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Data were analysed using content analysis. Findings reveal that school library media specialists use a cocktail of Web 3.0 tools which include WhatsApp, Google Classroom, Facebook, Zoom, wikis, …

Intrinsic Motivators For Participation And Persistence In Intercollegiate Athletics, Kevin Saal

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Since its inception, intercollegiate athletics’ conflicting existence vacillates between a history of rich, co-curricular and developmental experiences for young people, and a multi-billion-dollar industry transformed by limitless commercialization, expense and exploitation. The “professionalization” of intercollegiate athletics and blurring of motivational factors influencing participation and persistence threatens its holistic academic and developmental purpose (Duderstadt, 2000, p. 78). This dissertation provides a review of motivational theories, in addition to summarizing numerous contextually relevant intrinsic and extrinsic regulators impacting human behavior. Through a quantitative research methodology this study proposes research broadly investigating intrinsic motivation, seeking to develop a better understanding and establish …

Colonizing Queerness, Jeremiah A. Ho

All Faculty Scholarship

This Article investigates how and why the cultural script of inequality persists for queer identities despite major legal advancements such as marriage, anti-discrimination, and employment protections. By regarding LGBTQ legal advancements as part of the American settler colonial project, I conclude that such victories are not liberatory or empowering but are attempts at colonizing queer identities. American settler colonialism’s structural promotion of a normative sexuality illustrates how our settler colonialist legacy is not just a race project (as settler colonialism is most widely studied) but also a race-gender-sexuality project. Even in apparent strokes of progress, American settler colonialism’s eliminationist motives …

Reproductive Rights And Medico-Legal Education Post-Dobbs: A Fireside Chat, Michael S. Sinha, Anna Krotinger, Maya A. Phan, Louise P. King

All Faculty Scholarship

The Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was a pivotal moment that reshaped the landscape of abortion policy and delivery of abortion care in the United States. To create a space for critical reflection on the implications of Dobbs for the teaching and learning of abortion care in both medical and legal education, the authors engage in a dialogue highlighting the varied perspectives of professionals and professionals-in-training in both the medical and legal professions. As new attacks on reproductive autonomy continue at both state and federal levels, we foreshadow a tumultuous landscape for abortion policy …

Physician Decision Making Under Uncertainty In A Post-Dobbs America, Molly J. Walker Wilson, Michael S. Sinha

All Faculty Scholarship

Following the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization and a series of restrictive state laws post-Dobbs, physicians in many states now face difficult choices between evidence-based practice and criminal penalties. Previously, when deciding whether to provide abortion care, concern for the health of the patient was paramount. Now, fear of criminal penalties drives decision-making for physicians practicing in many areas of the country, including our home state: Missouri. For certain life-threatening complications, termination of pregnancy is warranted, but since Dobbs, physicians have been delaying these potentially lifesaving procedures for fear of criminal repercussions. Behavioral research on …

Infinite Queerness And American Settler Colonialism, Jeremiah A. Ho

All Faculty Scholarship

In Silent Covenants: Brown v. Board of Education and the Unfulfilled Hopes For Racial Reform, the late Derrick Bell refined his theory of racial progress in the United States by merging his interest convergence and racial sacrifice theses into a theoretical “two-sided coin” he called “racial fortuity.”¹  Bell’s original interest convergence thesis posited that racial progress for Blacks would only occur if their interests in obtaining equality for themselves and the interests of the dominant White establishment in granting such equality “converged.”²  This theory famously underpinned Bell’s interpretation of Brown and the Supreme Court’s eagerness to overturn …

Changing Demographics In Career & Technical Student Organizations, Elizabeth Hunt Galloway

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The state of Georgia’s demographics has consistently changed in the last twenty years. Since 2010, the population of Georgia has steadily increased by 1% (Georgia Population by Year, County, Race, & More, 2023). A mirror of the state population increases occurred in the school system with 1% growth each year between 2010 and 2022 (Georgia Population by Year, County, Race, & More, 2023). The demographics of the state of Georgia has changed along with the population with an increase in Hispanic and Black population while the White population has decreased (Hauer, n.d.). The need to increase membership in Career Technical …

Listen Up: Perceptions Of Audiobooks By Teachers, Librarians, And Parents, Megan Bright

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Reading is a critical component of education. From learning to read, to eventually reading to learn, students and teachers rely upon texts to help make sense of the world around them. Methods and tools vary, but teachers, librarians, and parents can all agree that reading is a fundamental skill their students need. However, students are sometimes told to limit their use of audiobooks in favor of reading with their eyes. These limitations may prevent students from finding the books they love and also limit students’ opportunities to use books to learn about the world around them. This study sought to …

Examining Stigma In Rural Mental Health Care Settings: A Mixed Methods Approach, Lainie Krumenacker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

More than half of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime (CDC, 2021), yet stigma towards mental health affects both patients and providers. Although programs exist to address stigma, improve cultural competency among providers, and educate families on the importance of support, facilities are often limited on programs they provide due to allocation of resources and funds. Without a shift in treatment and programing, stigma will continue to impact patient care and outcome.

This study explored stigma among mental health providers in rural communities, while exploring potential differences in treatment among patients due to race. Mental …

Take My Perspective, Please: Perspective Taking’S Impact On Insecure Attachment And Phubbing, Connor Brown

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Phubbing is defined as the act of ignoring another individual (e.g., significant others, friends) by devoting attention to one's phone (Chotpitayasunondh & Douglas, 2018). Previous literature indicates that insecurely attached (anxious and avoidant) individuals are more likely to phub than others (Sun & Miller, 2023a). This study examined correlations between attachment styles and phubbing, finding that avoidant attachment was not significantly correlated with phubbing, while anxious attachment was. As well as examining the correlation between phubbing and perspective taking, results indicate that there was not a significant correlation. The primary interest of this study sought to investigate perspective taking as …

Lung Lymphatic Endothelial Cells Undergo Inflammatory And Prothrombotic Changes In A Model Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Anjali Trivedi, Tyler M Lu, Barbara Summers, Kihwan Kim, Alexander J Rhee, Sean Houghton, Derek E Byers, Raphaël Lis, Hasina Outtz Reed

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The lymphatic vasculature regulates lung homeostasis through drainage of fluid and trafficking of immune cells and plays a key role in the response to lung injury in several disease states. We have previously shown that lymphatic dysfunction occurs early in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by cigarette smoke (CS) and that this is associated with increased thrombin and fibrin clots in lung lymph. However, the direct effects of CS and thrombin on lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in COPD are not entirely clear. Studies of the blood vasculature have shown that COPD is associated with increased thrombin …

A Critical Evaluation Of "Leakage" At The Cochlear Blood-Stria-Barrier And Its Functional Significance, Kevin K Ohlemiller, Noël Dwyer, Veronica Henson, Kaela Fasman, Keiko Hirose

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The blood-labyrinth-barrier (BLB) is a semipermeable boundary between the vasculature and three separate fluid spaces of the inner ear, the perilymph, the endolymph and the intrastrial space. An important component of the BLB is the blood-stria-barrier, which shepherds the passage of ions and metabolites from strial capillaries into the intrastrial space. Some investigators have reported increased "leakage" from these capillaries following certain experimental interventions, or in the presence of inflammation or genetic variants. This leakage is generally thought to be harmful to cochlear function, principally by lowering the endocochlear potential (EP). Here, we examine evidence for this dogma. We find …

Active Transfer Learning For Audiogram Estimation, Hossana Twinomurinzi, Herman Myburgh, Dennis L Barbour

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Computational audiology (CA) has grown over the last few years with the improvement of computing power and the growth of machine learning (ML) models. There are today several audiogram databases which have been used to improve the accuracy of CA models as well as reduce testing time and diagnostic complexity. However, these CA models have mainly been trained on single populations. This study integrated contextual and prior knowledge from audiogram databases of multiple populations as informative priors to estimate audiograms more precisely using two mechanisms: (1) a mapping function drawn from feature-based homogeneous Transfer Learning (TL) also known as Domain …

Membrane Potential Hyperpolarization: A Critical Factor In Acrosomal Exocytosis And Fertilization In Sperm Within The Female Reproductive Tract, Paula A Balestrini, Valeria Sulzyk, Martina Jabloñski, Liza J Schiavi-Ehrenhaus, Soledad N González, Juan J Ferreira, Matías D Gómez-Elías, Pablo Pomata, Guillermina M Luque, Dario Krapf, Patricia S Cuasnicu, Celia M Santi, Mariano G Buffone

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Hyperpolarization of the membrane potential (Em), a phenomenon regulated by SLO3 channels, stands as a central feature in sperm capacitation-a crucial process conferring upon sperm the ability to fertilize the oocyte.

Recruiting A Prospective Community Cohort To Study Alzheimer's Disease And Structural And Social Determinants Of Health Among Adults Racialized As Black: The Arches Cohort, Alexis I B Walker, Jean-Francois Trani, Christian F Banks, Samantha A Murphy, Wenqing Zha, Monique M Williams, Gregory S Day, Yiqi Zhu, Beau M Ances, Carl V Hill, Darrell L Hudson, Ganesh M Babulal

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: This ongoing, prospective study examines the effectiveness of methods used to successfully recruit and retain 238 Black older adults in a longitudinal, observational Alzheimer's disease (AD) study.

METHODS: Recruitment strategies included traditional media, established research registries, speaking engagements, community events, and snowball sampling. Participants were asked to complete an annual office testing session, blood-based biomarker collection, optional one-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and community workshop.

RESULTS: Within the first 22 months of active recruitment, 629 individuals expressed interest in participating, and 238 enrolled in the ongoing study. Of the recruitment methods used, snowball sampling, community events, and speaking …

Transcriptomic Profiling Of Thymic Dysregulation And Viral Tropism After Neonatal Roseolovirus Infection, Andrei Belean, Eden Xue, Benjamin Cisneros, Elisha D O Roberson, Michael A Paley, Tarin M Bigley

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Herpesviruses, including the roseoloviruses, have been linked to autoimmune disease. The ubiquitous and chronic nature of these infections have made it difficult to establish a causal relationship between acute infection and subsequent development of autoimmunity. We have shown that murine roseolovirus (MRV), which is highly related to human roseoloviruses, induces thymic atrophy and disruption of central tolerance after neonatal infection. Moreover, neonatal MRV infection results in development of autoimmunity in adult mice, long after resolution of acute infection. This suggests that MRV induces durable immune dysregulation.

METHODS: In the current studies, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) to study …