Digital Commons Network^™

One Is The Loneliest Number: The Impact Of Social Isolation On Blaberus Discoidalis, Jaden Jackson

Student Theses and Dissertations

Isolation in humans and its consequences has been documented by researchers as early as the 1700s (McNeil et al., 1984). More recently, interest in the impact of social isolation has been renewed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the studies covering social isolation and the COVID-19 pandemic rely on self-report measures obtained through questionaries or interviews. Studying social isolation experimentally is difficult due to risk factors associated with isolating one from conspecifics. This is particularly true when studying humans. Animal models of social isolation are important as they allow for implementation of necessary controls needed to establish …

Overcoming Traumatic Barriers To Maximize The Potential Of College Students Facing Mental Health Challenges, Ashley Blanche

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to explore gaps in knowledge and support for young adults with trauma, with the goal of improving their mental health and academic success. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate how past trauma contributed to mental health challenges that affected the academic success of disadvantaged undergraduate students aged 18–25 in Mississippi. The problem to be addressed in this study was the lack of mental health consciousness in the college community as it related to past trauma in disadvantaged college students aged 18-25. This study’s theoretical framework was based on Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory, linking adverse …

Enhancing Disaster Response Through Mental Health Resilience: A Force Field Analysis, Veronica Portillo-Bradford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Having a post-disaster program in place can offer survivors and emergency responders support, resource navigation, and resiliency planning. Human services workers in the field aid in disaster recovery and crisis prevention. The problem is that rural Nevada is already limited on resources and workforce with respect to mental and behavioral health response and recovery services. The purpose of this study was to identify unknown gaps within mental and behavioral health services in rural and frontier Nevada, in order to focus on advocating to enhance community resilience-related services post-disaster and potentially bolster resilience and disaster response preparedness. The framework for the …

Qualitative Content Analysis: A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners To The Method, Theories, Epistemology, Ontology, And Rigour, Ingela Bohm, Joachim Sundqvist

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative content analysis (QCA) is a flexible method of analysis, applicable within many epistemologies and on many kinds of data. This makes it suitable as a general introduction to qualitative methods, but students and other beginners sometimes have trouble grasping the associated concepts and ways of thinking. To facilitate their first foray into this new territory, we propose a five-step process of QCA that does not presuppose any foreknowledge of concepts such as levels of abstraction or what coding and categorizing can look like in practice. In our step-by-step guide, we also depart from some staples of QCA, such as …

Engaging The Somali Diaspora: A Case Study Of One Agency’S Community Programming Approach, Farhia Abdi

The Journal of Social Encounters

This case study investigates how a local community agency engages with the Somali diaspora to design and implement culturally responsive services, such as the Settlement and Integration Program. It also explores the potential of fostering meaningful dialogue with community members to inform the development of culturally sensitive programming. The research question guiding this study was developed by findings from previous research, which highlighted the significance of community engagement, sustained dialogue, and the necessity for agencies to design clearly defined programs. These programs should prioritize active participation from community members in both the creation and implementation of tailored initiatives.

What Is Known About The Fish Intake Of People Living In Disadvantaged Communities In The Uk? A Scoping Review, Sarah Gale, Roseline Aboluwade, Louise Hunt, Clare Pettinger

School of Health Professions

Fish provides essential nutrients, including protein, omega-3 fatty acids (oily fish) and other micronutrients, and may be seen to have a prominent role in protecting against non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular disease. Recent UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey analysis suggests people are not meeting their weekly fish intake recommendation of at least two portions per week, of which one should be oily. Lower socioeconomic groups are more likely to eat poor-quality diets, with low fish intake, resulting in poor health outcomes. The aim of this scoping review was to examine the factors influencing fish consumption in people living within ‘disadvantaged …

Interleukin-6 (Il-6) Mediated Pathways In Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (Nafld) And Its Implications On Magnesium And Zinc Mineral Deficiencies: A Scoping Review, Marianne Koleng, Leann Nguyen

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

The prevalence and incidence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is rising. In the United States alone, the prevalence of NAFLD is currently 38% and there has been a 50% increase over the last three decades. The present study investigated the role of ultratrace mineral deficiencies, specifically magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn), and if so, what nutritional interventions could be made to ameliorate or protect against the development of NAFLD. The role of trace and ultratrace minerals in pro-inflammatory cytokine pathways contributing to NAFLD, specifically Interleukin-6 (IL-6), were investigated. IL-6 is produced by hepatocytes and plays a crucial role in …

Facilitators & Barriers To Self-Management Of T2d In Elderly Black African And Afro-Caribbean People, Dionne Ashaloy Anglique Henry

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Self-management helps to reduce the rate of morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs associated with uncontrolled diabetes due to various complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy. Ageing increases the risk of developing health conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and there is a global increase in the number of people living longer. Older adults who are from ethnic minority backgrounds in the United Kingdom (UK) are placed at a greater disadvantage, as their financial situation, employability, and social networks are gravely lower than that of their White Counterparts. Additionally, there is a paucity of research focusing on the …

”I Want You To Be Superior To Others!” - Parents’ Experience Of Using Tcm Remedies For Their Teenagers, Ching-Yu Chan, Jun-Dai Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purposes: The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of parents in regarding providing the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) remedies that promotes the height growth for adolescent children.

Methods: This study adopted a qualitative research approach, interviewed parents of children aged 10–20 who were in pre-adolescence or adolescence and have experience using " TCM growth-promoting remedies." One-on-one, in-depth interviews were conducted to capture their experiences. The interview content was transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results: A total of 10 parents were interviewed in this study, with an average age of 45±4 years, and the age at …

Diet And Dermatology: A Pilot Study Of Skin Health Education Among Adolescents, Smaran Marupudi, Jared Hensley, Kaitlyn Ybanez, Chloe C. Harris, Michelle Nwaeri, Natasha Quailes, Roberto J. Fraga, Jacqueline Moreno, Blake Martin, Aun Bangash, Maci D. Oestreich, Jennifer V. Escamilla, Amin Ibrahim, David Sta. Maria, Shiza Khan, Maria Villegas

Research Colloquium

Background: While the role of nutrition in overall health is widely acknowledged, its impact on skin health is often overlooked in adolescent education. Integrating diet-focused messaging into dermatology outreach may promote a more holistic understanding of skin wellness. This study evaluated the feasibility and early outcomes of a brief educational station on diet and skin health delivered as part of a broader dermatology event for high school students in a predominantly Hispanic community.

Methods: Students from a public health professions high school rotated through a “Diet & Skin Health” station within the Sun Smart Leaders workshop, a multi-station dermatology education …

High Phosphorus Diets And Bone Health: A Hidden Risk​, Sean Corcoran, Daniela Ramos, Mohammed Razzaque

Research Colloquium

Background: As fast food, high in phosphorus content, becomes a staple in the American diet, the population increases its dietary phosphorus intake above the recommended amount. According to the NIH guidelines, adults over 19 years and older are 700mg per day (NIH, 2021, Wickham). For context, a meal consisting of a big cheeseburger, medium fries, and a can of soda contains around 600mg of phosphorus (Arquette, 2014). Although phosphorus is essential for bone health as it is part of the structural component of bones, consuming excess amounts of phosphorus has been linked to vascular calcification, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and …

Playful Learning Journeys: Exploring The Perceptions And Knowledge Of Lecturers/Tutors And Student Teachers, Frank Twum, Samuel Kweku Hayford, Dandy Dampson, Johnnie Kojo Hayford

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This paper investigated the perceptions and knowledge of play-based learning (PBL) by lecturers/tutors and student teachers. Ninety lecturers/tutors (68 males, 22 females) and 363 student teachers (191 males, 172 females) participated in the study. While both lecturers/tutors and student teachers favored PBL, they had some concerns. Lecturers/tutors acknowledged the benefits of PBL, including its enhancement of memory, conceptual development, and motor skills in children. However, nearly two-thirds found it time-consuming. Student teachers were of the view PBL promoted positive student experiences. However, more than half felt PBL offered limited opportunities for their own learning during lessons. Both groups demonstrated knowledge …

Wernicke’S Encephalopathy With Classic Triad And Normal Mri In A Young Woman Following Rapid-Sequence Bariatric And Biliary Surgery, Hugo Zamarron, Nina Mourao, Roberto A. Cruz Saldana

Research Colloquium

Background: Wernicke’s encephalopathy is a life-threatening neurological disorder caused by thiamine deficiency, most commonly associated with alcoholism. However, postoperative nutritional deficiencies in young patients undergoing bariatric procedures are increasingly recognized. This case is unique due to the rapid succession of bariatric and cholecystectomy surgeries, development of classic Wernicke’s symptoms with a normal MRI, and diagnostic delay due to overlapping differential diagnoses including intracranial hypotension and myelopathy.

Case Presentation: A 22-year-old woman with class III obesity underwent sleeve gastrectomy in July 2022, followed by significant weight loss and persistent intractable vomiting. Due to suspected gallbladder disease, she underwent a cholecystectomy in …

Aspiration Pneumonitis Mimicking Pneumonia: Diagnostic Reassessment And Antibiotic Stewardship In A Case Of Cerebral Palsy-Associated Dysphagia, Hernan Guanajuato, Jose Campo Maldonado

Research Colloquium

Background: Aspiration pneumonitis, an acute chemical lung injury following the inhalation of gastric contents, is frequently misdiagnosed as bacterial pneumonia. Misclassification often leads to unnecessary antibiotic use. Early recognition and accurate diagnosis are critical to avoid overtreatment and associated risks.

Case Presentation: A 21-year-old male with a history of cerebral palsy with quadriplegia, epilepsy, oropharyngeal dysphagia (status post PEG tube), and bedbound status presented to the ED following a witnessed aspiration event. During oral pleasure feeding, he choked, became transiently cyanotic, and had a brief coughing episode after vomiting. Family also reported a one-week history of intermittent cough, subjective …

Investigating Cucurbitacin D'S Efficacy In Ameliorating Benzo[A]Pyrene-Induced Hepatic Injury, Mohammed Sikander, Shabnam Malik, Daniel Zubieta, Anyssa Rodriguez, Fathi T. Halaweish, Murali Yallapu, Meena Jaggi, Subhash Chauhan

Research Colloquium

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasingly linked to various co-morbidity factors, notably smoking, which introduces benzo[a]pyrene—a potent carcinogen known for its role in liver damage. Cucurbitacin, a triterpene with diverse biological activities, exhibits antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, yet its hepatoprotective effects remain inadequately explored. In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective activity of cucurbitacin D, a novel analog, against benzo[a]pyrene-induced liver injury in human HepG2 cells. To evaluate its protective effects, we conducted proliferation, clonogenicity, migration, invasion assays, alongside Western blotting and qPCR analyses. The DCFDA assay was employed to measure intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in liver cells. …

Symbiotic Aspergillus Terreus Alleviates Drought And Waterlogged Stress In Zea Mays L., Hazrat Ali, Fayaz Asad, Naveen Dilawar, Vasila Sharipova, Imtiaz Ahmad, Abida Zeb

Turkish Journal of Botany

The interaction concerning rhizospheric fungi and plants is essential for enhancing plant resilience in the face of abiotic stress conditions. This study investigated the effects of the rhizospheric fungus Aspergillus terreus on maize (Zea mays L.) growth under both drought and waterlogging conditions. Our findings confirmed that inoculation with A. terreus mitigated the adverse effects of drought and waterlogging conditions on maize growth. Plants treated with Aspergillus terreus (A. terreus) exhibited enhanced root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight as well as enhanced chlorophyll content in plants compared to control, under stress-related conditions. Compared to the control group, A. …

Board Of Trustees Plumbers And Pipefitters Local V. Jones Lang Lasalle Americas Inc

2025 Decisions

USDC for the District of Delaware

The Coffee Hag: The Early Years, Kellian Clink

Library Services Publications

Patti Ruskey started the Coffee Hag in 1992 and was the proprietor for 15 years. Across from Ardent Milling, down the block from the Reconciliation Park, it has been a community center for more than 30 years now, a place for coffee and vegetarian food, but also a venue for artists, writers, musicians and a safe place for LGBTQ folks. This is the story of the Hag during Patti’s tenure.

Next-Generation Biotechnology And Breeding Strategies For The Development Of Biotic Stress-Resistant Sugar Beet, Songül Gürel, Mehmet Cengi̇z Baloğlu, Pinar Baloğlu, Mehmet Kolçak, Ferhat Ulu, Ömer Can Ünüvar, Mehmet Örgeç, Özge Kaya, Ramazan Polat, Cemi̇le Köseoğlu, Yasemi̇n Çeli̇k Altunoğlu, Hati̇ce Korkmaz Güvenmez, Ekrem Gürel

Turkish Journal of Botany

Sugar beet is a high-sucrose crop primarily used for sugar production, and it is now gaining attention as a promising source for bioethanol production and cattle feed. This crop is also utilized for the extraction of pectin and the production of molasses. Despite its utilization across a wide range of industries, abiotic and biotic stress factors greatly reduce the productivity of the cash crop sugar beet. In this paper, we focus on the development of biotic stress-resistant sugar beet plants through various classical and biotechnological applications. In recent decades, omics technologies, next-generation sequencing, gene editing/silencing, and overexpression techniques have been …

Floral Trait Diversity Supports Multiple Pollination Systems Across Urban Habitats In One Of The World's Greenest Cities, Ana Paula Sales De Araujo Franco, Maxwell Da Rosa Oliveira, Evaldo Benedito De Souza, Ingrid Lohani Degering Brand, Marcus Paulo Goncalves Rosa, Bruno Henrique Dos Santos Ferreira, Maria Rosângela Sigrist

Turkish Journal of Botany

Green cities comprise a variety of habitats subject to different levels of anthropogenic pressure, ranging from completely unvegetated areas to vast green spaces such as linear parks. In this scenario, cities can support different ecological processes and ecosystem functions, which vary qualitatively and quantitatively between different habitat types along the urbanization gradient. Specifically, green spaces and ruderal plants can support pollination services in urban ecosystems, providing food resources (e.g., nectar, pollen, oil), reproduction supports (copulation sites), and nesting sites for pollinators. As a result, plant species and their floral resources are important for pollinator diversity and the maintenance of the …

Medical Guidelines For Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, Frederick S. Kaplan, Mona Al Mukaddam, Genevieve Baujat, Alberto Hidalgo Bravo, Matthew Brown, Amanda Cali, Tae-Joon Cho, Corrie Crowe, Carmen L. De Cunto, Patricia L. R. Delai, Robert J. Diecidue, Elisabeth Marelise W Eekhoff, Lisa Friedlander, Clive S. Friedman, Zvi Grunwald, Nobuhiko Haga, Edward C. Hsiao, Richard Keen, Joseph A. Kitterman, Charles Levy, Vrisha Madhuri, Rolf Morhart, J. Coen Netelenbos, Christiaan Scott, Eileen M. Shore, Michael Zasloff, Keqin Zhang, Robert J. Pignolo

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Faculty Papers

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an ultra-rare genetic condition characterized by congenital malformations of the great toes and progressive heterotopic ossification (HO) in specific anatomic patterns. Present management summarized here is focused on early diagnosis, assiduous avoidance of injury and iatrogenic harm, symptomatic amelioration of painful flare-ups, and optimization of residual function. Twenty-one members of the International Clinical Council on FOP (ICC) and seven consultants from 15 countries, chosen for their clinical expertise in FOP, developed this summary statement. Further advances in therapeutics will be based on rigorous clinical trials to assess novel and emerging treatment and prevention strategies. A …

Ground-Based Modeling Of Deep-Space Risks To The Spleen And Intestine In Mice, Edith Nathalie Pineda Sotomayor

Theses and Dissertations

Deep-space missions, such as those planned for the cis-lunar space and Mars, pose unique challenges to astronaut health due to prolonged microgravity (MG) exposure and low-dose chronic irradiation (CIR). Understanding the impact of these stressors on secondary lymphoid tissues, such as the spleen and intestine, is crucial for ensuring crewmembers' well-being, given the impracticality of conducting this research with human samples. Using a ground-based facility, we exposed C57BL/6 female and male mice to CIR (1.74 Gy at a dose rate of 0.0029 Gy/h) and/or simulated MG (SMG) via hind limb unloading (HLU) for one month. Spleen and intestinal tissues were …

Outcomes Of Liver Transplantation In Patients With Severe Obesity, Alejandro Cracco, Mackenzie Donoho, Siddharth Desai, Meera Gupta, Alexandre Ancheta, Malay B. Shah, Xiaonan Mei, Francesc Marti, Roberto Gedaly

Surgery Faculty Publications

Background. – This study aims to evaluate the impact of obesity on post–liver transplant outcomes stratified by low- and high-performance status. Methods. – Patients undergoing liver transplantation between 2006 and 2023 were identified in the United Network for Organ Sharing data set. Patients with severe obesity body mass index ([BMI] ≥40 kg/m²) and super obesity (BMI >50 kg/m²) were compared with those with lower BMI on perioperative and long-term outcomes stratified by preoperative performance status. Results. – Severe obesity has a significant negative impact on perioperative and long-term outcomes on the low-performance group (LPG). This effect …

Impact Of Restorative Yoga On Mental Health And Cognitive Function In Doctoral Physical Therapy Students, Carly Ritter

Doctorate in Kinesiology

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students experience high academic stress, often impacting mental health. Restorative yoga may reduce stress, regulate the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis response, and support cognitive function. This study examined its effects on mental health and cognitive function in DPT students. Forty-four students were randomly assigned to restorative yoga or control groups in a double-blind design. Participants completed the Stroop Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-8), and a demographic survey at baseline and after 6 weeks. The yoga group practiced twice weekly; controls maintained regular activity, excluding yoga. ANOVA and correlation analyses …

Bosr Reference List, Bureau Of Sociological Research

Bureau of Sociological Research: Affiliated Materials

This document contains citations of articles and presentations that have used data collected by BOSR.

Two Essays On Health And Health Behavior In China, Jiamin Tan

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

This thesis consists of two empirical studies on elderly mental health and on health behaviors. The first study investigates the long-term impact of childhood hunger on mental health in later life, using data from two nationally representative surveys in China. The study finds that childhood hunger exposure significantly increases the risks of depression and anxiety in later life. These effects are most pronounced among individuals exposed after age 5, suggesting that autobiographical memory formation plays an important role beyond socioeconomic and health pathways. The findings further indicate these impacts can be mitigated through economic interventions, such as welfare programs, and …

M6a Rna Methylation In Psychiatric Disorders: An Emerging Epitranscriptomic Axis, Ambrose Loc Ngo, Linda Nguyen, Niki Gharavi Alkhansari, Huiping Zhang

Student Publications

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most prevalent internal modification in eukaryotic messenger RNA (mRNA) and plays a vital role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. In recent years, m⁶A has emerged as a pivotal epitranscriptomic signal involved in neural development, synaptic remodeling, and the molecular pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms underlying the deposition, removal, and recognition of m⁶A by dedicated methyltransferases, demethylases, and RNA-binding proteins. We further explore how these dynamic modifications influence neuronal differentiation and memory formation. Recent studies have linked aberrant m⁶A regulation to psychiatric …

Pollen Loads Of Insects Caught In Cultivated Fields Of Oilseed Pennycress, Frank Forcella, Ellinor Sheik, Michael Zavada, Mark Bernards

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Although many insects are known to be associated with the floral canopies of oilseed pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), those that carry the crop’s pollen are unknown. During early spring of 2024 insects associated with pennycress flowers in Illinois and Minnesota were captured in sweep nets, frozen, sorted by species, and sonicated to remove pollen. Pollen grains were counted, and pollen loads per individual insect were calculated. Members of the orders Diptera, Hemiptera, and Hymenoptera accounted for 66%, 16%, and 14% of the 850 insects examined, but these same orders were responsible, respectively, for 18%, 3%, and 78% of the …

Community Building In Group Antenatal Care: A Scoping Review And Conceptual Framework, Anne Batchelder, Celeste Chavez, Ashley Gresh, Hayden Geibel, Crystal Patil, Nancy Glass

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

In US-based studies, group antenatal care (GANC) is associated with lower risk for prematurity and low birth weight and improved mental health; and resulted in higher satisfaction with care for clients and providers.^1,2 Evidence from recent clinical trials globally found that GANC improve key outcomes, including facility birth, antenatal and postpartum care attendance, quality of care, breastfeeding, and health literacy.^3–8 In GANC, cohorts of 8-12 pregnant clients attend their ANC visits together. Centering-inspired GANC models adhere to three core components: healthcare in a group space, interactive learning, and community building.^8–10 However, community building is poorly understood.

The …

Housing Challenges Affecting Well-Being Of Migrant Families In Canada: A Qualitative Study, Shela Hirani

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Immigrant and refugee families are vulnerable to cultural stereotyping and socioeconomic hardships when they migrate to a new country. Immigrants and refugees make up around 22.3% of the Canadian population. New immigrants and refugees face unique barriers that render them vulnerable to inadequate and unsafe housing conditions. Access to adequate and affordable housing has been strongly linked with all aspects of health and well-being amongst immigrants and refugee populations. There are significant knowledge gaps and limited empirical studies on the housing challenges of immigrant and refugee families, specifically in the province of Saskatchewan which has a noticeable increase in …