Digital Commons Network^™

Designing For Diversity: Identifying Determinants To Guide Personalization Of Ehealth Tools, Jasper Faber, Sander Hoef Van Der, Sofie Willems, Jos Kraal

IASDR Conference Series

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) refers to the co-occurrence of health conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. It disproportionately affects low socioeconomic (SEP) populations, and traditional healthcare often fails to support lasting lifestyle changes. While eHealth interventions are promising many lack personalization for high-risk, low-SEP groups. To bridge this gap, we developed the HealthBox, a tailored eHealth tool combining tele monitoring and digital coaching to promote healthier habits and reduce chronic disease risk. A key step was understanding user diversity to guide personalization strategies. In this first-phase study, we conducted semi- structured interviews with nine …

An Illustrated Guide To Edible Flora In The Neo-Plasticene: From Empirical Research To Sensory Speculation Through Design, Hsiu-Fang Cheng, Rung-Huei Liang

IASDR Conference Series

As micro plastics gradually infiltrate the physiological structures and sensory characteristics of edible plants, this study combines empirical research and speculative design to construct an illustrated guide of edible flora in the “New Plastic Age”, which we herein conceptualize as the Neo-Plasticene. Through AI-assisted narrative and visual generation, the guide simulates potential morphological and sensory mutations in plants subjected to pollution stress—articulating intermediary species positioned between nature and artificiality, defined by their latent transformation and persistent edibility. This project addresses the perceptual challenge of slow ecological mutation by proposing the guidebook as a design medium for future food narratives and …

A Pseudo-Haptic Approach To Alleviate Cognitive Fatigue In Virtual Reality Strength Training, Rintaro Ichida, Yuuta Tanaka, Naoto Yoshida

IASDR Conference Series

We investigated two pseudo-haptic feedback techniques for virtual reality (VR) strength training aimed at modulating perceived weight and cognitive fatigue. Both methods visually amplified the motion of a real dumbbell relative to users’ physical movement: a nonlinear transformation that preserved spatial alignment at the start and end of each motion, and a constant gain that uniformly scaled displacement without endpoint consistency. Experimental results showed that the constant gain approach led to greater reductions in perceived weight compared to the nonlinear method, particularly during the early stages of training, while the nonlinear method had only marginal effects. The constant gain technique …

Climate Change Influence On The Distribution Of Four Plant Medicinal Species From The Sierra Norte Of Oaxaca, Mexico, Irene Bautista Juárez, José Luis Villaseñor, Monserrat Vázquez-Sánchez, Wenceslao Santiago-García, Faustino Ruiz-Aquino, Mario Ernesto Suárez-Mota

Neotropical Biodiversity

The Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, México, because of its high biodiversity, is a good candidate for studying the possible effects of climate change on its flora distribution. Currently, several modelling tools have been developed to facilitate the prediction of present and future species distribution. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of climate change on the distribution of four locally important medicinal plant species from the Asteraceae family (Heterotheca inuloides, Laennecia filaginoides, Pinaropappus roseus, and Tagetes lucida). The analysis was done using the maximum entropy algorithm under three different time periods: the present, 2050, and …

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, December 2, 2025, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Diet-Derived Thiaminase On Survival, Growth, And Liver Transketolase Activity In Two Strains Of Lake Trout (Salvelinus Namaycush), Christian A. Therrien, Peter M. Baker, Shawn R. Garner, Patricia C. Wolfe, Sarah Matesic, Katie A. Edwards, Chris C. Wilson, Heidi K. Swanson, Bryan D. Neff

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

The consumption of invasive, high-thiaminase prey fishes can cause thiamine deficiency, which has been hypothesized to be a major barrier for lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) restoration in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Here, we compared the effects of diet-derived thiaminase on survival and performance-related traits between two strains of lake trout that differ in historical exposure to thiaminase. Juvenile lake trout from the Seneca Lake (higher historical exposure to thiaminase) and Slate Islands (lower historical exposure) strains were reared in a common garden environment and received either an experimental diet containing bacterial derived-thiaminase or a control diet. Six months after the …

Reducing Storage-Related Bias In Reproductive Vitamin D Research: Towards A Stable And Reliable Biomarker Of Ovarian Vitamin D Status, Evelin E Lara-Molina, Jason M. Franasiak, Almudena Devesa-Peiro, Marina López-Nogueroles, Alberto Vázquez, David Amorós, Agustín Ballesteros, Antonio Pellicer, Patricia Sebastian-Leon, Patricia Diaz-Gimeno

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Background/Objectives: One of the main reasons for discrepancies in the role of vitamin D in ART could be the measurement of the conventional biomarker 25(OH)D₃. It is known that this value is affected by multiple factors, such as tissue origin, assay variability, classification criteria, and potential storage-related degradation. In this study, we investigate 24,25(OH)₂D₃ as a new biomarker to improve vitamin D assessment in women’s reproductive health, particularly regarding oocyte development. Methods: A prospective cohort study including 35 oocyte donors undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation, who were recruited between October and November 2017, was conducted. Vitamin …

Examining The Association Between User Fee Exemptions And Maternal Healthcare Utilization In Northern Ghana, Martina Hilton-Ansah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract In Ghana, the user fee exemption policy, implemented in 2008, provides free maternal health services, which are a key component of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Grounded in the Health Access Livelihood Framework, the purpose of this study was to determine the association between the user fee exemption policy and the utilization of antenatal care, facility-based delivery, and postnatal care in Northern Ghana, while controlling for sociodemographic factors. A quantitative approach was employed using secondary data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys, encompassing women of reproductive age (15–49 years; N = 6,948). Logistic regression was used to …

The Triangular Interaction Between Dietary Polyphenols, Gut Microbiota, And Metabolic Syndrome, Emily Bayliss

Senior Honors Theses

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing global health concern characterized by peripheral insulin resistance as well as impaired insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiome, specifically gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbiome, is a critical modulator of the pathophysiology of T2DM. Dietary polyphenols, a diverse group of bioactive compounds that are abundant in plant-based foods, have recently gained attention for their potential to attenuate metabolic disorders through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as through modulating the composition and activity of gut microbes, thereby attenuating dysbiosis. However, the diabetic state …

Using Gnotobiotic Mice To Decipher Effects Of Gut Microbiome Repair In Undernourished Children On Tuft And Goblet Cell Function, Yi Wang, Hao-Wei Chang, Jiye Cheng, Daniel M Webber, Hannah M Lynn, Matthew C Hibberd, Clara Kao, Ishita Mostafa, Tahmeed Ahmed, Michael J Barratt, Jeffrey I Gordon

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Studies have implicated perturbations in the postnatal development of the gut microbiome as a contributing factor to childhood undernutrition. Compared to a standard ready-to-use supplementary food, a microbiome-directed complementary food (MDCF-2) designed to repair these perturbations produced superior improvements in ponderal and linear growth in clinical trials of Bangladeshi children with moderate acute malnutrition. Here, "reverse translation" experiments are performed where intact fecal microbiomes collected from trial participants before and at the end of treatment are introduced into female gnotobiotic mice just after delivery of their pups. Pups received diets designed to resemble those consumed by children in the trials …

Global, Regional, And National Burden Of Cardiovascular Diseases And Risk Factors In 204 Countries And Territories, 1990-2023, Global Burden Of Cardiovascular Diseases And Risks 2023 Collaborators, Benjamin A. Stark, Nicole K. Decleene, Emily C. Desai, Johnathan M. Hsu, Catherine O. Johnson, Laura Lara-Castor, Kate E. Legrand, Prof Bhoomadevi A, Mohammad Amin Aalipour, Hasan Aalruz, Bedru J. Abafita, Ukachukwu O. Abaraogu, Mohammad Abavisani, Nasir Abbas, Madineh Abbasi, Mohammadreza Abbasian, Hedayat Abbastabar, Abdallah H.A. Abd Al Magied, Samar Abd Elhafeez, Prof Ahmed Abdelalim, Omar M. Abdelfattah, Prof Reda Abdel-Hameed, Mahmoud Abdelnabi, Prof Wael M Abdel-Rahman, Parsa Abdi, Wakgari Mosisa Abdisa, Daba Abdissa, Arman Abdous, Mujahid Abdullah

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality and are among the foremost causes of disability globally. CVD burden has continued to increase in most countries since 1990, with trends driven by changing exposures to harmful risk factors, population growth, and population aging. Objectives: We report estimates of global, national, and subnational CVD burden, including 18 subdiseases and 12 associated modifiable risk factors. We analyzed change in CVD burden from 1990 to 2023 and identified drivers of change including population growth, population aging, and risk factor exposure. Methods: The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study, a multinational …

Examining The Relationship Between School Location, Neighborhood Resources And Advancement Courses Offerings, Eudarius Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study addresses a critical gap in educational equity research by examining how neighborhood-level factors intersect to shape access to rigorous academic programming, a key gateway to postsecondary success. Integrating geospatial visualization and hierarchical linear modeling within a critical geography framework, the study investigates how structural inequalities—rooted in race, poverty, and place—influence advanced course-taking opportunities across the Memphis metropolitan region. Data sources included the U.S. Department of Education’s Common Core of Data (CCD) for district-level enrollment and school type, the U.S. Census and American Community Survey (ACS) for demographic and socioeconomic indicators, and the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) …

Single Compost Application Benefits For Organic Dryland Wheat Production, Shikha Sharma, Matt Yost, Earl Creech, Jennifer R. Reeve, Astrid R. Jacobson, Idowu Ademola Atoloye

All Current Publications

This research highlights the long-term value of compost in dryland wheat systems, where water scarcity and declining soil fertility limit productivity. A single, high-rate compost application (22 tons per acre) can improve soil moisture content, organic carbon content, aggregate stability, and microbial activity. All these benefits contributed to higher and more stable wheat yields, even more than two decades after application. These changes help to make the compost-treated wheat more resilient during dry years. While composting incurs a high upfront cost, its long-term benefits can significantly reduce the need for repeated fertilizer or soil amendments, offering cost and labor savings …

Netherton Syndrome: A Systematic Review Of The Challenges Of Diagnosis And Treatment, Maximus S. Reese, Ryan Nguyen, Noor Chughtai, Philip J. Haynos, Salma Alkhatib, Shantanu Amin, Ethan Speer, Jared Nichols

Student Publications

Netherton syndrome is an autosomal recessive genodermatosis caused by biallelic mutations in the SPINK5 gene, a gene that codes for lymphoepithelial Kazal-type-related inhibitor 1 (LEKT1) protein. This disorder is characterized by erythroderma, ichthyosis, hair shaft abnormalities, and immune dysregulation. While there is increasing research and recognition of Netherton syndrome, much remains unknown, with limited knowledge of the history, manifestations, and responses to therapies. The purpose of this study was to review case reports of Netherton’s to draw conclusions from patient demographics, symptoms, treatment, and outcomes. A systematic review of 30 case reports and clinical studies on Netherton syndrome was conducted, …

A Comparison Between American And Hong Konger Regulatory Efforts Of Cryptocurrency Exchanges In The Light Of The Bankruptcy Of Ftx Trading Ltd., Patrick Johnson

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Antioxidant Status And Lipid Profile Of Experimental Rats Fed Animal Fat And Costus Afer Plant (Ker Gawl) Part Diets, Folake Lucy Oyetayo, Bukola Oluwagbemiga, Damilola Abosede Ojo

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

Costus afer is an ethnomedicinal plant used in Africa for the management of hyperglycemia. Influences of Costus afer plant parts on key indicators linked to hyperlipidemia and antioxidant enzyme status were determined in this study. HPLC analysis displayed quercetin (67.84 μg/g) as the most dominant phenolic in the leaf. Seven rats were placed on commercial diet as control while forty-two rats placed on beef fat (tallow)/Animal fat diet (AFD) for two-weeks were randomly assigned into six dietary groups (2–7) of seven rats each viz; Group 1 normal diet, Group 2 animal fat diet (AFD), while Groups 3–7 pre-fed AFD rats …

Physico-Chemical Study Of Interaction In The “Urea – Glycine – Water” System, Suvonkul E. Nurmonov, Saydullo Kh. Azimov

CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

A comprehensive physicochemical study of the aqueous “urea – glycine” system was conducted to establish the mechanisms of intermolecular interaction and stability parameters for the development of modified liquid nitrogen fertilizers (LNF). Isomolar series, visual-polythermal analysis, X-ray phase analysis (XRD), single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD), IR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis (DTA/TGA) methods were applied. It was found that the interaction of components in solution leads to the formation of molecular associates stabilized by hydrogen bonds. The XRD and SC-XRD methods confirmed that no new individual chemical compounds are formed in the solid phase. It was proven that the addition of glycine …

Engaging Ukrainian Tf-Cbt Therapists In A Practice Skills Course To Support Their Wellbeing, Elisabeth Pollio, Esther Deblinger, Beth Cooper, Maike Garbade, Julie P Harrison, Elisa Pfeiffer

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Background: Burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) are common among therapists working with trauma-exposed clients, which can negatively impact them professionally and personally. The shared trauma of war exposure may put therapists at greater risk. To help support their wellbeing, an eight-session course was offered to Ukrainian therapists following training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). This course involves therapists personally utilizing the PRACTICE skills taught to clients in TF-CBT for professional and personal benefit.

Objective: The objective was to gather preliminary evidence on the potential impact of implementing the course with Ukrainian therapists providing TF-CBT during a period of …

Development And Evaluation Of Rhizoqol, A Quality-Of-Life Caregiver-Reported Survey For Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata, A Rare Peroxisomal Disorder, Mousumi Bose, Tahra C. Anglade, Chelsea I. Donlon, Adrian L. Kerrihard, Hila F. Berger, Ariel S. Berkowitz, Shawn A. Ritchie, Tara M. Smith

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by symptoms such as respiratory dysfunction, seizures, orthopedic issues, and neurodevelopmental delay. Potential therapeutics for RCDP warrant the development of clinical outcome assessments to assess the efficacy of treatment and the well-being of patients. Our study aimed to develop a valid quality-of-life (QOL) caregiver-reported survey instrument, RhizoQOL, to be used as a supportive endpoint in RCDP clinical trials. Methods: Development of the RhizoQOL survey tool included three RCDP caregiver focus groups to elicit concepts to serve as potential domains in a QOL survey instrument for RCDP, pilot survey development …

The History Of Celiac Disease Legislation, And How Public Perception Can Impact Its Future, Cassandra Smith

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Alzheimer's Care: Impact Of Staff Education On Behavioral Outcomes, Laura Caton Rn

Nurse Residency

Would additional staff training and education in Alzheimer’s patient interactions compared to minimal/or no staff training and education in Alzheimer’s patient interactions lead to reduced behavioral events in bedside nursing?

Improving Functional Outcomes Through Increased Mobility Frequency In Rehabilitation, Anita Mantais Adn, Rn

Nurse Residency

In older adults in a Rehabilitation and Skilled facility, how does increased frequency of physical therapy and mobility interventions compared to standard or less frequent physical therapy affect functional independence and mobility outcomes during their stay or at discharge?

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report – Kerman High School, Anne Dykstra

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This project reviewed the agricultural education program at Kerman High School. The report highlights both program strengths and areas requiring further development, including student retention, pathways, and facility improvements. Based on the findings, the research identified additional course offerings and curriculum updates to enable the program to improve in the coming years.

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report – San Marcos High School, Stephanie Navarrete

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This project report includes documentation required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The supporting documents include information to prove that San Marcos High School is meeting the requirements. This document also provides an overview of San Marcos High School agriculture program.

Molecular Pathway Dysregulation In Chronic Liver Disease: Metabolic And Mechanotransductive Drivers Of Hepatic Pathophysiology, Samantha Harvat

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents a rapidly growing cause of chronic liver injury, yet the molecular interactions linking metabolic stress, inflammation, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain incompletely defined. This thesis integrates transcriptomic analyses across multiple GEO datasets to identify coordinated metabolic, inflammatory, and mechanotransductive pathways that collectively drive disease progression.

Analysis of human liver biopsy datasets (GSE126848 and GSE89632) revealed consistent suppression of glycolysis, β-oxidation, and oxidative phosphorylation across MASLD and MASH samples, accompanied by modest compensatory TCA cycle activation. These alterations reflect impaired metabolic flexibility, mitochondrial stress, and increased ROS susceptibility. Concurrently, cytokine-network enrichment demonstrated activation …

Factors Associated With Emergency Hospitalization Of Kidney Disease Patients In A National Hospital Kenya., Dorcus Miyombe

MSc in Advanced Practice Nursing

Introduction: Emergency hospitalizations among End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) is a major global health burden, with low- and middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), experiencing the highest rates of morbidity and mortality. Limited resource, economic burden, and insufficient health infrastructure were the main challenges. Emergency hospitalizations at Kenyatta National Hospital remains high due to systemic gaps and poor continuity of care. Prerenal, intrarenal, post-renal injuries, as well as any combination of these, are the primary causes of ESKD. There are stipulated guidelines for ESKD patients’ management however, realization of these goals has not been achieved leading to hospitalization KDIGO …

Community Health Promoters’ Experiences In Mitigation Of Cardiovascular Diseases In Lari Sub-County - Kiambu County, Kenya, Emily Njeri Muchina

MSc in Advanced Practice Nursing

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a rising public health issue in low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya, where there is an escalation of their deaths and preventable risk factors. Community health promoters (CHPs) have a crucial role in the prevention of CVDs. Yet, low knowledge of CVD prevention and low detection of CVD risk factors characterise most underserved communities in Kenya. Little has been documented about CHPs' experiences in mitigating CVDs despite the presence of multilevel barriers and facilitators that can shape their experiences.

Aim: To gain an in-depth insight into the experiences of CHPs in mitigating CVD …

The Forever Fight Against Forever Chemicals: Analyzing Loopholes In California’S Pfas Ban For Consumer Products, Jake B. Goldman

UC Law Journal

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals used for their unique qualities in manufacturing across numerous industries. PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” persist in the environment for long periods of time and cause serious health risks to consumers. Given mounting research on PFAS and their adverse health effects, the California legislature passed four laws banning the chemicals in specific consumer products.

This Note argues that three new California laws requiring manufacturers to replace PFAS with “the least toxic alternative” are inadequate because they are ambiguous. This ambiguity will invite litigation and create business challenges by …

Optimal Anthropometric Discharge Criteria From Treatment Of Wasting: Meta-Analysis Of Individual Patient Data From 34 Studies, Lilia Bliznashka, Sandhya Chaudhary, Susan Rattigan, Sheila Isanaka, Ruth Adah, Tahmeed Ahmed, Nur Alam, Rodrigue Alitanou, Paluku Bahwere, Helen Nabwera

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: Community-based treatment of acute malnutrition saves lives, but recovered children remain at risk of relapse post-discharge. Strategies to reduce this risk may include modification of anthropometric discharge criteria.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy of anthropometric indices to reduce post-discharge relapse risk.

Methods: We searched PubMed from inception to June 2022. We included studies that enrolled children aged 0–59 mo successfully treated for severe or moderate acute malnutrition (SAM or MAM), assessed anthropometry at discharge, and had ≥1 follow-up assessment ≤6 mo post-discharge. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for anthropometric indices at discharge over multiple cutoffs were …

Food Access And Food Insecurity Among Early Childhood Educators And Staff Prior To And During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Rahel Mathews, Leah Pylate, Will Davis, Elizabeth Thorne, Jamila Taylor, Shecoya White, Bennett Pope, Emma Bryant

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Emerging research indicates that 40% of early childhood education (ECE) workers experience food insecurity. The purpose of this study was to describe the food insecurity and food access of Head Start teachers and staff in Mississippi before the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand how COVID-19 affected food access. A mixed-methods design was employed using cross-sectional surveys, at two different time points, and three focus groups. Three Head Start centers from the Mississippi Coast participated. Approximately 52% of teacher and staff respondents experienced food insecurity before COVID-19; during the pandemic, their level of food insecurity worsened from low to very low …