Digital Commons Network^™

Increased Nitrate Intake From Beetroot Juice Over 4 Weeks Changes The Composition Of The Oral, But Not The Intestinal Microbiome, Rebeka Fejes, Joana Séneca, Petra Pjevac, Martin Lutnik, Stefan Weisshaar, Nina Pilat, Romy Steiner, Karl Heinz Wagner, Richard J. Woodman, Catherine P. Bondonno, Jonathan M. Hodgson, David Berry, Michael Wolzt, Oliver Neubauer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Inorganic dietary nitrate, metabolized through an endogenous pathway involving nitrate reducing bacteria, improves cardiovascular health, but its effects on the oral and intestinal microbiomes of older adults with treated hypertension are unknown. Our study investigated the effects of nitrate from beetroot juice on the oral and intestinal microbiomes of this population. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial was conducted with 15 participants (age range: 56–71 years), who consumed nitrate-rich or nitrate-depleted (placebo) beetroot juice for 4 weeks. The oral microbiome analysis revealed an increase in Neisseria and a decrease in Veillonella relative abundance (for both, PERMANOVA p < 0.001), with no significant changes in the intestinal microbiome composition. Our findings suggest that an increased dietary nitrate intake from a vegetable source may selectively modulate the oral microbiome and promote an increased abundance of nitrate-reducing species, which was previously associated with improved cardiovascular health outcomes.

Encapsulating Student Perspectives: Investigating Students’ Voice In Urban Secondary Education, Treyvon L. Harlin

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACTEncapsulating Student Perspectives: Investigating Students’ Voice in Urban Secondary Education by Treyvon L. Harlin February 2025 Advisor: Ben Pogodzinski, Ph.D. Major: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Degree: Doctor of Philosophy The research in this dissertation focuses on the implication of student voice in historically marginalized secondary schools throughout the metropolitan area of Detroit, Michigan. Research initiatives conducted by Delpit (2006), Holmes & Crossley (2004), and Levitan (2018) have shown that students, especially those of marginalized populations, must have a sense of safety, feel valued and that their opinions matter to have buy-in with academic objectives and a school’s vision. Unfortunately, …

Usability Testing Of A Bystander Bullying Intervention For Rural Middle Schools: Mixed Methods Study, Aidan Midgett, Diana M. Doumas, Claudia Peralta, Matthew Peck, Blaine Reilly, K.B. Butler

Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Targets of bullying are at high risk of negative socioemotional outcomes. Bullying programming in rural schools is important as bullying is more prevalent in those schools compared to urban schools. Comprehensive, school-wide bullying programs require resources that create significant barriers to implementation for rural schools. Because technology-based programs can reduce implementation barriers, the development of a technology-based program increases access to bullying prevention in rural settings. Objective: We aimed to conduct usability testing of a bystander bullying intervention (STAC-T). We assessed usability and acceptability of the STAC-T application and differences in usability between school personnel and students. We were …

Police Records And Rural Crime In 1940s Ireland: The Challenges Of Using Historical Documents As Primary Sources In Sociological Research, Clay Darcy

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

No abstract provided.

Legalist Realism, Mark A. Drumbl

FIU Law Review

This article explores the scholarly footprint of Professor Megan Fairlie. This is a footprint of 'legalist realism'. Professor Fairlie was greatly concerned with legalism, in other words, the centrality of due process, the rights of the defendant, and human dignity in trials of individuals accused of the most heinous crimes. She was committed to put the law in international criminal law. And her view was one of realism, notably, that the structure of international institutions must be mindful of power politics, and expectations and ambitions ought to recognize the limitations and possibilities of politics in order to retain legitimacy and …

Beyond Policy: Overcoming Challenges In Prosecuting Gender Persecution At The International Criminal Court, Yvonne M. Dutton, Milena Sterio

FIU Law Review

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Diabetes Education Content Experienced By Blind And Nonblind People With Diabetes, Nazanin M. Heydarian, Qusay Hussein, Zully Guerra, Bhumi Patel, Allyson S. Hughes, Julia E. Blanchette, Yessenia Castro

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

This survey sought to examine disparities in diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) to illuminate gaps underlying morbidity and mortality disparities experienced by blind people with diabetes and develop a pathway for improved health care delivery and health outcomes. Blind participants were more likely to report getting DSMES on strategies to promote treatment adherence and noncompliance with medical regimen; yet, blind and nonblind participants did not differ on primary care provider visits or amount of time spent in diabetes education. These findings suggest that DSMES content may differ for blind versus nonblind participants.

Peaking Today, Taking It Easy Tomorrow: Daily Performance Dynamics Of Working Long Hours, Lieke L. Ten Brummelhuis, Charles Calderwood, Christopher C. Rosen, Alison S. Gabriel

Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Underlying the “ideal worker” image that pervades many organizational cultures is the assumption that working longer hours equates to higher performance, despite recovery research that suggests that long work hours might actually impair future work performance. In an effort to reconcile these differences in how long work hours are thought to relate to job performance, we develop and test a conceptual model in which daily boosts in same-day performance associated with working longer hours could be offset by lower next-day performance. More specifically, we examine if working a longer day than usual reduces sleep, which has the potential to diminish …

A Case Study Using The Transparency Framework And Artificial Intelligence To Promote Effective Writing And Student Success In A Writing-Intensive Course, Elizabeth A. Brown, Maria Kronenburg, Ashlee Steeley, Diana Tagbor

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

Program evaluation data suggest that undergraduate students struggle with writing in a clear and concise manner and appropriately citing. Faculty implemented the plan-do study-act cycle to pilot the Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) project framework and to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and discuss approaches to using AI, along with the TILT framework, in a writing-intensive course to identify the pros and cons of using ChatGPT in an online classroom. The TILT framework reinforces adult learning by helping students clearly understand the assignment's purpose and establish a clear relationship between assignment and students' professional lives. Faculty encouraged …

Examining Low-Income Caregivers' Knowledge And Comprehension Of The Dental Caries Process, Melissa Sullivan, Denise C. Mckinney, Deanne Shuman, Qi Zhang

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose Dental caries among young children remains a public health concern in the United States (US). Children of caregivers with low oral health literacy (OHL) tend to have greater unmet dental needs and poorer oral health status. The purpose of this study was to examine the understanding of pediatric dental terms associated with the dental caries process among low-income caregivers.

Methods This study included 14 caregivers with children enrolled in a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in the Southeastern US. Through structured phone interviews, the validated Oral Health Literacy Inventory for Parents (OH-LIP) was used …

Sex Differences In Inter-Temporal Decision Making And Cortical Thickness Of The Orbitofrontal And Insula In Young Adult Cannabis Users: Evidence From 1111 Subjects, Alan N. Francis, Joan A. Camprodon, Francesca Filbey

School of Medicine Publications

To test for sex differences in the impact of cannabis use on decision-making and brain correlates, we employed cortical thickness (CT) analysis of brain regions involved in intertemporal decision-making namely bilateral orbitofrontal cortex(OFC) and insula in young adult nondependent cannabis-users(CU) and non-users(NU) and their scores on delay discounting task. Neuroimaging analyzes of previously collected data were performed on 608CU and 503NU. CT analysis was performed on MRI images. OFC and insula thickness, scores on the delay discounting test were compared between groups and correlated. Controlling alcohol-use and intra-cranial-volume, CU exhibited sex differences in CT. The bilateral insula was significantly thinner …

Nesting Population Trend Of The Leatherback Sea Turtle In Bocas Del Toro Province And Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé, Panama For The Period 2002–2022, Sonia Gutiérrez Parejo, Susan E. Piacenza, Raúl García, Cristina Ordóñez, Roldán A. Valverde

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Sea turtle biologists have made sustained efforts to understand the global status of leatherback sea turtle populations. However, despite progress in assessments, demographics, and ecology, key uncertainties persist in tracking leatherback population trends. Trend analyses have historically focused on nesting beaches, with nest counts providing a widely used index for population abundance. Here, we analysed 20 years of annual nest abundance at four main nesting beaches (Soropta, Bluff, Playa Larga and Chiriquí) in Bocas del Toro province and the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé, Panama, which constitute the largest nesting leatherback sea turtle population in Central America. We conducted daily nest counts during …

General Kernel Machine Methods For Multi-Omics Integration And Genome-Wide Association Testing With Related Individuals, Amarise Little, Ni Zhao, Anna Mikhaylova, Angela Zhang, Wodan Ling, Florian Thibord, Andrew D. Johnson, Laura M. Raffield, Joanne E. Curran, John Blangero

School of Medicine Publications

Integrating multi-omics data may help researchers understand the genetic underpinnings of complex traits and diseases. However, the best ways to integrate multi-omics data and use them to address pressing scientific questions remain a challenge. One important and topical problem is how to assess the aggregate effect of multiple genomic data types (e.g. genotypes and gene expression levels) on a phenotype, particularly while accommodating routine issues, such as having related subjects' data in analyses. In this paper, we extend an existing composite kernel machine regression model to integrate two multi-omics data types, while accommodating for general correlation structures amongst outcomes. Due …

Infants’ Resting-State Functional Connectivity And Event-Related Potentials: A Multimodal Approach To Investigating The Neural Basis Of Infant Novelty Detection, Dana Kanel, Santiago Morales, Kathryn Altman, John E. Richards, Anderson M. Winkler, Daniel Samuel Pine, Nathan A. Fox, Courtney A. Filippi

School of Medicine Publications

Individual differences in how the brain responds to novelty are present from infancy. A common method of studying novelty processing is through event-related potentials (ERPs). While ERPs possess millisecond precision, spatial resolution remains poor, especially in infancy. This study aimed to balance spatial and temporal precision by combining ERP data with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. Twenty-nine infants (15 female) underwent resting-state fMRI (Mage = 4.73 months) and electroencephalography (EEG) during a three-stimulus auditory oddball task (Mage = 5.19 months). The mismatch response (MMR) and P3 were computed from ERP data, and resting-state functional connectivity …

Forecasting Covid-19 Cases, Hospital Admissions, And Deaths Based On Wastewater Sars-Cov-2 Surveillance Using Gaussian Copula Time Series Marginal Regression Model, Hueiwang Anna Jeng, Norou Diawara, Cynthia Jackson, Rekha Singh, Kyle Curtis, Raul Gonzalez, David Jurgens, Sasanka Adikari

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Modeling efforts are needed to predict trends in COVID-19 cases and related health outcomes, aiding in the development of management strategies and adaptation measures. This study was conducted to assess whether the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in wastewater could serve as a predictor for forecasting COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths using copula-based time series modeling. SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in wastewater in Chesapeake, VA, was measured using the RT-qPCR method. A Gaussian copula time series (CTS) marginal regression model, incorporating an autoregressive moving average model and Gaussian copula function, was used as a forecasting model. Wastewater SARS-CoV-2 viral loads were correlated with …

Machine Learning Models For Pancreatic Cancer Survival Prediction: A Multi-Model Analysis Across Stages And Treatments Using The Surveillance, Epidemiology, And End Results (Seer) Database, Aditya Chakraborty, Mohan D. Pant

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Pancreatic cancer is among the most lethal malignancies, with poor prognosis and limited survival despite treatment advances. Accurate survival modeling is critical for prognostication and clinical decision-making. This study had three primary aims: (1) to determine the best-fitting survival distribution among patients diagnosed and deceased from pancreatic cancer across stages and treatment types; (2) to construct and compare predictive risk classification models; and (3) to evaluate survival probabilities using parametric, semi-parametric, non-parametric, machine learning, and deep learning methods for Stage IV patients receiving both chemotherapy and radiation. Methods: Using data from the SEER database, parametric models (Generalized Extreme Value, …

Engineering Ethics Education Bingo 1.0, Shannon Chance, Mike Murphy, Celina P. Leão, M. Tobosaru, Mary Nolan

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This paper introduces Engineering Ethics Education (EEE) Bingo 1.0, an active learning tool designed to support ethics education among engineering educators. Drawing inspiration from game-based learning, EEE Bingo provides a playful yet purposeful framework for exploring diverse pedagogical approaches in engineering ethics. The game stimulates discussion and reflection on the alignment between ethical issues and suitable teaching methods, promoting greater pedagogical awareness and collaboration. This paper outlines the motivation behind the game, its structure and rules, and illustrative examples. EEE Bingo encourages critical engagement with teaching strategies, reinforcing the importance of contextualized, interdisciplinary, and reflective ethics education.

Accreditation Considerations In Engineering Ethics Education: Bridging Global Standards And Local Practices: Bridging Global Standards And Local Practices, Louise O'Gorman, Alison Gwynne-Evan, Leah Ridgeway, Marek Rebow, Shannon Chance

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Accreditation can drive curricular innovation and change in engineering and can have a role in encouraging students' development of ethics-related competencies. Despite engineering educators' competence in the technical aspects of design and research, there can be an element of discomfort in planning and delivering lessons relating to ethics that span social justice, diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability, and ethical theories. Because engineering accreditation can encourage and/or require the inclusion of ethical content in accredited engineering courses, the recently published Routledge Handbook of Engineering Ethics Education dedicated an entire section to the topic. This paper critically assesses the handbook's accreditation section …

Laugh, I Nearly Cried: A Qualitative, Reflexive Thematic Analysis Of The Impact Of Humour In Psychotherapy From Client And Therapist Perspectives, Elina Broholm

School of Psychology Theses

Humour in psychotherapy is commonly occurring, yet seldom discussed as a resource in the training and education of therapists, nor considered from the perspective of clients in therapy. This qualitative study explored how clients and therapists perceive the impact of humour in psychotherapy on the therapeutic alliance, experience, and process. 12 clients and eight therapists contributed their perspectives on humour’s impact on the therapeutic experience, considering both its helpful and unhelpful contributions. Not all humour is equal, and special consideration was given to how different humour styles may impact psychotherapy. Reflexive thematic analysis from 20 semi-structured interviews suggested that humour …

Exploring The Relationship Between Attachment State Of Mind, Emotional Development And Distress In Adults With Intellectual Disabilities – A Pilot Study, Amy Pantridge

School of Psychology Theses

BackgroundAttachment theory and emotional development are increasingly considered important for understanding distress in people with intellectual disabilities, yet no prior studies have empirically explored relationships between these constructs.MethodAdults with intellectual disabilities and informants were recruited from UK community organisations. Participants completed an attachment measure (AAP), brief cognitive measure, and questionnaire on perceived emotional support. Informants completed a distress measure (HoNOS-LD), emotional development measure (SED-S), and provided feedback on the SED-S. ResultsNo significant relationship was found between attachment and emotional development, though some specific associations emerged. Unresolved attachment was common. Discrepancies were observed between informant-reported and participant-reported data. Informants found elements …

Micro(Nano)Plastics In The Fish Gastrointestinal Tract: A Mini Review And Relevance To One Health Perspective, Farhan R. Khan, Nathaniel Clark, Elvis Genbo Xu

School of Biomedical Sciences

Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) research in the piscine gastrointestinal tract has been a significant area of study. Understanding the environmental presence of microplastics, their potential for both localised and systemic effects, and their role as a gateway for MNPs and associated chemicals to enter the tissues and the food web, including the human food chain, is crucial. The fish gut, as a critical intersection between environmental, biotic, and human health, aligns with the One Health concept. We review the likely uptake mechanisms and toxicological damage caused by ingesting MNPs and their associated chemicals in fish, contextualised within the realms of digestive physiology …

Multiplex Lateral Flow Test Sensitivity And Specificity In Detecting Influenza A, B And Sars-Cov-2 In Adult Patients In A Uk Emergency Department, Rahul Batra, Edward Blandford, Raghavendran Kulasegaran-Shylini, Matthias E Futschik, Abbie Bown, Matthew Catton, Hermione Conti-Frith, Alexandra Alexandridou, Rebecca Gill, Clara Milroy, Sean Harper, Holly Gettings, Maryann Noronha, Hooi-Ling Harrison, Sam Douthwaite, Gaia Nebbia, Paul E Klapper, Sarah Tunkel, Richard Vipond, Susan Hopkins, Tom Fowler

School of Biomedical Sciences

BACKGROUND: Rapid identification of individuals with acute respiratory infections is crucial for preventing nosocomial infections. For rapid diagnosis, especially in EDs, lateral flow devices (LFDs) are a convenient, inexpensive option with a rapid turnaround. Several 'multiplex' LFDs (M-LFDs) now exist, testing for multiple pathogens from a single swab sample. We evaluated the real-world performance of M-LFD versus PCR testing in detecting influenza A, B and SARS-CoV-2) in the ED setting.

METHODS: After preliminary evaluation of an M-LFD (SureScreen) with laboratory-grown virus and PCR-negative clinical samples, it was evaluated in a real-world setting at the ED of St Thomas' Hospital (London, …

Does The Use Of Audits Decrease The Infection Rate In A Medical Care Setting?, Kylie Borchert, Kristel K. Bakker

Annual Research Symposium

Nosocomial infections are a significant health concern in medical settings. Reports of low compliance rates with hand hygiene standards, guidelines of which are outlined and mandated by the CDC and WHO, are frequent. Factors contributing to nonadherence include lack of knowledge and an unclear understanding of correct techniques (4). Evidence shows that improved hand hygiene can reduce infection rates (1), especially when healthcare providers are included in interventions that aim to improve compliance (4).

Tintin: A Unified Hardware Performance Profiling Infrastructure To Uncover And Manage Uncertainty, Ao Li, Marion Sudvarg, Zihan Li, Sanjoy Baruah, Chris Gill, Ning Zhang

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hardware performance counters (HPCs) enable the measurement of microarchitectural events, which are crucial for tracking and predicting program behavior. High-fidelity measurement and precise attribution are essential for accurate profiling. However, existing profiling tools have fundamental challenges in both aspects. In measurement, numerous events compete for limited hardware monitoring resources; while for attribution, applications have diverse requirements, but systems provide limited support. Existing tools mitigate the former limitation through event multiplexing, but this approach introduces non-trivial errors. The latter limitation, however, remains largely unaddressed. This paper introduces Tintin, an HPC profiling infrastructure with a modular three-component design that addresses both challenges. …

Using Preformed Particle Gels To Control Transport In Geothermal Reservoirs: Mathematical Modeling, Philip Winterfeld, Baojun Bai, Yu Shu Wu

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We are developing swellable Preformed Particle Gels (PPG), which can control preferential fluid and heat flow through fracture networks to increase the performance of EGS reservoirs. Part of this development is a mathematical model and numerical simulator to simulate PPG treatments by considering coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical effects, and gel swelling kinetics and plugging efficiency, from which an optimized gel treatment design and operation can be achieved. The starting point for our mathematical model is the TOUGH2-CSM formulation and code. The TOUGH2-CSM fluid and heat flow formulation is based on the TOUGH2 one for multiphase, multicomponent, and multi-porosity systems, with the latter …

Delayed Tooth Eruption As An Early Clinical Indicator Of Genetical Tooth Agenesis: A Family-Based Study Of Cases With Whole-Exome Sequencing, Yu-Chen Jeng, I-Ting Chen, Hui-Ching Cheng, Hsin-Yu Huang, Chao-Kai Hsu, Yu-Fen Yen

Journal of Dental Sciences

Delayed tooth eruption is frequently considered a benign developmental variation but may represent an early sign of genetically driven tooth agenesis. We evaluated a 22-month-old female presenting with markedly delayed eruption (only eight primary teeth) and a positive family history of ectodermal features. Given the inconclusive early radiographic findings, whole-exome sequencing (WES) was utilized. WES revealed the proband carried a heterozygous EDARADD variant (NM_080738:c.328G>T; p.Asp110Tyr). Subsequent familial segregation analysis identified an additional heterozygous WNT10A variant (NM_025216:c.637G>A; p.Gly213Ser) within the broader family. The EDARADD variant alone was associated with varying presentations from normal dentition to delayed eruption. Furthermore, the …

Parallel Multi Objective Shortest Path Update Algorithm In Large Dynamic Networks, S. M. Shovan, Arindam Khanda, Sajal K. Das

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

The multi objective shortest path (MOSP) problem, crucial in various practical domains, seeks paths that optimize multiple objectives. Due to its high computational complexity, numerous parallel heuristics have been developed for static networks. However, real-world networks are often dynamic where the network topology changes with time. Efficiently updating the shortest path in such networks is challenging, and existing algorithms for static graphs are inadequate for these dynamic conditions, necessitating novel approaches. Here, we first develop a parallel algorithm to efficiently update a single objective shortest path (SOSP) in fully dynamic networks, capable of accommodating both edge insertions and deletions. Building …

J-Necora: A Framework For Optimal Resource Allocation In Cloud-Edge-Things Continuum For Industrial Applications With Mobile Nodes, Marco Pettorali, Francesca Righetti, Carlo Vallati, Sajal K. Das, Giuseppe Anastasi

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) landscape, where the Cloud-to-Things Continuum (C2TC) paradigm is now a reality, industrial applications need to cope with highly heterogeneous network and computing resources. Moreover, many industrial applications also involve Mobile Nodes (MNs). Efficient allocation of network and computing resources to meet the stringent requirements of such applications is often a very challenging task. In this paper, we propose J-NECORA (Joint NEtwork and COmputing Resource Allocation), a comprehensive analytical framework to derive the optimal joint allocation of network and computing resources in the C2TC, that guarantees the application requirements, even in the presence of …

Correction: Yolo-Based Miner Detection Using Thermal Images In Underground Mines (Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, (2025), 10.1007/S42461-025-01249-6), Cyrus Addy, Venkata Sriram Siddhardh Nadendla, Kwame Awuah-Offei

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the original published article, Figure 3 appears with the Fig. 1 caption, Figure 1 appears with the Fig. 2 caption, and Figure 2 appears with the Fig. 3 caption. The article has been updated to correct this error.

Safenav: Safe Path Navigation Using Landmark Based Localization In A Gps-Denied Environment, Ganesh Sapkota, Sanjay Madria

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

In battlefield environments, adversaries frequently disrupt GPS signals, requiring alternative localization and navigation methods. Traditional vision-based approaches like Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and Visual Odometry (VO) involve complex sensor fusion and high computational demand, whereas range-free methods like DV-HOP face accuracy and stability challenges in sparse, dynamic networks. This paper proposes LanBLoc-BMM, a navigation approach using landmark-based localization (LanBLoc) combined with a battlefield-specific motion model (BMM) and Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). Its performance is benchmarked against three state-of-the-art visual localization algorithms integrated with BMM and Bayesian filters, evaluated on synthetic and real-imitated trajectory datasets using metrics including Average Displacement …