Digital Commons Network^™

Therapeutic Role Of Bioactive Peptides Derived From Hemoglobin, Priya Antony Pereppadan

Dissertations

Bioactive peptides are peptide fragments derived from the proteolytic cleavage or maturation of functional proteins that have shown promising therapeutic potential in addressing major health challenges, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and pain management. Diabetes is characterized by high blood glucose levels due to insufficient insulin production or utilization. There are several therapeutic targets for managing diabetes, and one key target is dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) due to its role in glucose metabolism. In hypertension, angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) is critical for regulating blood pressure by forming angiotensin II, and its inhibition represents an established treatment strategy. Additionally, the …

New Policy Tools And Traditional Policy Models: Better Understanding Behavioural, Digital And Collaborative Instruments, Michael Howlett, Sarah Giest, Ishani Mukherjee, Araz Taeihagh

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The study of policy tools has been undertaken for several decades. This work has isolated and examined many different types of instruments or levers utilized by governments to implement their policies and examined in detail how they are arranged into mixes, packages, or portfolios of tools. However, recent developments in society and technology have highlighted the potential to use new or previously underutilized policy instruments for both traditional tasks and to address new challenges associated with emerging technologies and other contemporary issues. These tools include social media platforms, collaboration, behavioral insights, and data-driven approaches to policy-making and policy design using …

Upper-Level Undergraduate Pre-Healthcare Students’ Journeys To Graduation And Health Professional Graduate Programs, Holly L. Sisson

Dissertations

Despite decades of research on undergraduate student retention and persistence, only a handful of researchers, such as Dumke et al. (2018) and Stull et al. (2021), have looked specifically at pre-health students preparing for graduate health professional programs and the complex challenges these students face while trying to achieve their goals. Very little research focused on upper-level undergraduate students pursuing graduate health professional programs, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, or similar graduate health professional programs excluding medical school. To help fill this gap, my study focused on the experiences of pre-healthcare students as they navigated their undergraduate …

April 2025, Swosu Bulldog Wellness Committee

SWOSU BULLDOG WELLNESS

Practice mindfulness!

Here are some strategies for a healthier Spring

April word search

Community Perspectives On Maternal Dietary Diversity In Rural Kenya, Mozambique And The Gambia: A Precise Network Qualitative Study, Mai-Lei Woo Kinshella, Shilla Dama, Onesmus Wanje, Rosa Pires, Helena Boene, Papa Jagne, Hawanatu Jah, Angela Koech, Grace Mwashigadi, Violet Naanyu

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Pregnant and lactating women in sub-Saharan Africa are vulnerable to micronutrient inadequacies, with risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Adequate intakes of diverse foods are associated with better micronutrient status and recommended by the World Health Organization as part of healthy eating counselling during antenatal care. However, our understanding of community knowledge of dietary diversity within the context of maternal diets is limited. We used a descriptive qualitative approach to explore community perceptions of dietary diversity during pregnancy and lactation, as well as influencing factors in sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 47 in-depth interviews were conducted between May and October 2022 …

Micro-Costs, Kiel Brennan-Marquez, Brendan S. Maher

Faculty Scholarship

The modern world is filled with tiny attentional impositions (cognitiveasks) that inflict small mental burdens (micro-costs) on virtually everyone, everywhere, all the time. Micro-costs make life worse, and everybody knows it. They sap collective energy; they lead to worse decisions; they exacerbate inequality; and they contribute to an overall sense of "mismanagement" in the world, a sentiment that readily pairs with destructive political impulses.

Yet the law has essentially ignored micro-costs-until now. In what follows, we construct a theory of micro-costs that gives the phenomenon analytic shape and charts a path forward for reform. Drawing on the insights of philosophy, …

Diet And Survival After A Diagnosis Of Ovarian Cancer: A Pooled Analysis From The Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium, Christina M Nagle, Torukiri I Ibiebele, Renhua Na, Elisa V Bandera, Daniel Cramer, Jennifer A Doherty, Graham G Giles, Marc T Goodman, Gillian E Hanley, Holly R Harris, Allan Jensen, Susanne K Kjaer, Alice Lee, Valerie Mcguire, Roger L Milne, Bo Qin, Jean Richardson, Naoko Sasamoto, Joellen M Schildkraut, Weiva Sieh, Kathryn L Terry, Linda Titus, Britton Trabert, Nicolas Wentzensen, Anna H Wu, Andrew Berchuck, Malcolm C Pike, Celeste Leigh Pearce, Penelope M Webb, Multidisciplinary Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Group And Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Prognosis after a diagnosis of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer is poor. Some studies have suggested modifiable behaviors, like diet, are associated with survival but the evidence is inconsistent.

Objectives: This study aims to pool data from studies conducted around the world to evaluate the relationships among dietary indices, foods, and nutrients from food sources and survival after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Methods: This analysis from the Multidisciplinary Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Group within the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium included 13 studies with 7700 individuals with ovarian cancer, who completed food-frequency questionnaires regarding their prediagnosis diet. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) …

Implementing Occupational Therapy Services To Enhance Reentry For Justice Involved Individuals In The Kalamazoo Region, Lexis Rich

Capstone Projects

Within the criminal justice system, there are difficulties and concerns regarding the high rates of recidivism involving the transition from incarceration to community. Formerly incarcerated individuals enter the reentry process with possible mental health conditions, increased social isolation, low self efficacy and difficulties navigating a new way of life. Occupational therapy can help address the difficulties and mental health concerns with incorporating meaningful occupations, however, services are not offered in many regions due to limited awareness of its value. The purpose of this project was to implement occupational therapy services for Region 8 of the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) …

Spirituality In Daily Living: A Program Focused On Enhancing Spiritual Well-Being For Older Adults, Amanda Murray

Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone experience explored the role of occupational therapy in promoting spiritual and religious engagement among older adults. Within occupational therapy, spirituality is often overlooked or only considered in the context of illness or major life transitions, with limited attention given to proactively supporting spirituality in everyday life. To address this gap, a seven-week program was developed to integrate spirituality into daily habits and routines while also introducing new opportunities for spiritual engagement. Additional initiatives focused on raising awareness of supportive tools and resources to help maintain religious engagement amid potential physical and sensory changes experienced by older adults. …

Enhancing Support For Refugee Women: Supplemental Resources For Service Providers Through An Occupational Therapy Lens, Nabilah Salwa

Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone experience (DCE) focused on developing comprehensive, occupational therapy (OT) -informed resources to support refugee women and young adults. The primary goal was to equip community leaders—particularly those working with Treetops Collective in Grand Rapids (GR), Michigan—with practical, culturally sensitive tools to better serve refugees and New American members. Refugee women face many barriers to occupational participation due to intersecting cultural, linguistic, and systemic challenges. While existing literature highlights general needs within refugee communities, there is a lack of tailored, practical resources to guide service providers in daily practice.

In response to this gap, resources were created with …

Enhancing Health And Wellness Initiatives For Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Anna Cole

Capstone Projects

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often experience lower levels of physical activity and higher rates of obesity and sedentarism when compared to their neurotypical peers (Ferreira et al., 2022; Shin & Park et al., 2012). Research has shown that regular exercise and cooking programs can improve strength, aerobic capacity, emotional well-being and independent living skills among individuals with IDD (Bouzas et al., 2018; Pastula et al., 2012; Pestana et al., 2018). Ready for Life is a non-profit organization that offers inclusive post-secondary education and adult day programming to promote autonomy and well-being for individuals with IDD. While exercise …

Growing South Dakota (Spring 2025), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

[Page] 2 Keeping South Dakota's food supply safe
[Page] 6 Controlling environmental listeria
[Page] 8 Inaugural 2+2 vet program class graduates
[Page] 10 Faculty honored for excellence
[Page] 12 New leader for agronomy, horticulture, plant science
[Page] 14 Students spend spring break in South Africa
[Page] 16 Hadacek offers advice to fellow graduates
[Page] 17 Park Interpretation and Management Club starts
[Page] 18 On the front lines with invasive species
[Page] 22 Director Karla Trautman retires
[Page] 24 Helping navigate precision ag
[Page] 26 Growing bigger, better beef
[Page] 28 Jackrabbits Then and Now

Changes In Household Composition And Their Effects On The Academic Achievement Of Orphans And Vulnerable Children Affected By Hiv In Rural Zambia, Mei Tan, Nan Li, Ackim Mungo, Philip E. Thumac, Elena L. Grigorenko

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

The African kinship system facilitates the movement of children and adults between households to mitigate hardship, yet few studies have documented membership changes in rural African households over time and addressed the effects of these household dynamics on the developmental outcomes of children. We used a household inventory instrument to document the number of changes in household membership experienced by 93 households in rural Zambia between two timepoints (∼2 years apart). We then used multilevel models to evaluate the effects of migration and household change on the academic learning of the children affected by HIV residing in these households, positing …

Detection And Quantitation Of A Drug And Pesticides In Food Products Of The Uae (Dates And Camel Milk) By Liquid Chromatographic Techniques, Afnan Wael Alanqar

Theses

In this thesis the detection and quantification of the traces of multi-residue pesticides in 26 date fruits samples as well as the presence of the anthelmintic drug thiabendazole in pasteurized commercial camel milk consumed in the United Arab Emirates is examined. The main objective of this thesis is two folds; first is to determine whether a selected 12 pesticides of 8 different chemical groups- in the case of date fruits- and the drug thiabendazole-in case of camel milk- exists in the randomly collected samples of corresponding matrices. Second, is to quantify these compounds and compare their amount to the established …

Performance Comparison Of Iot-Powered Indoor Hydroponic Systems And Outdoor Traditional Environment, Saleha Alharthi

Theses

Traditional agriculture faces challenges, including high water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and fluctuations in environmental conditions. The research aims to develop alternative sustainable solutions to address issues related to traditional farming. Hydroponics provides opportunities to grow different types of vegetables indoors, where conventional agriculture is challenging. This thesis presents a comparative study of soil-based and hydroponic arugula cultivation using the nutrient film technique (NFT). The proposed methodology focuses on maintaining high similarity in the implementation of components across systems to ensure fair comparison. This thesis utilized distinct approaches. The first approach compared an outdoor soil-based system with an indoor hydroponic …

Exploring Biostimulant Efficacy Under Limited Fertilizer And Water In Utah's Watermelon Production, Evan Christensen, Milena Maria Tomaz De Oliveira, Prakriti Nepal, Youping Sun

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

The western U.S. has recently experienced some of the driest conditions on record, and Utah has been in a multi-year drought (2019-2023) that affected the agricultural sector, including vegetable producers. While vegetables are not a primary agricultural crop in Utah, they are still an important part of the horticultural economy with 763 farms growing 6,138 acres. As the fourth largest acreage vegetable crop in Utah (almost 10% of the acreage) watermelon and related crops in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae (nearly 36% of total vegetable acreage) are important to vegetable growers. Watermelon is a water-intensive crop and requires an adequate supply …

Characterization Of Tnsalp Expression And Activity In Porcine Utero-Placental Tissues, Claire Stenhouse, Nirvay Sah, Katherine M. Halloran, Robyn M. Moses, Makenzie G. Newton, Joe W. Cain, Heewon Seo, Guoyao Wu, Gregory A. Johnson, Fuller W. Bazer

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Abstract: Tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) regulates postnatal phosphate homeostasis, but its role in utero-placental phosphate availability remains poorly understood. Gilts were bred and hysterectomized on Day 60 or Day 90 of gestation (n = 6/day). Phosphate was less abundant in allantoic and amniotic fluids on Day 90 compared to Day 60. TNSALP protein was immunolocalized, and enzymatic activity was quantified and localized in endometrial and chorioallantois tissues. Day had no effect on TNSALP activity in the chorioallantois. In contrast, endometrial TNSALP activity was lower on Day 90 compared to Day 60. Phosphate abundance in allantoic fluid correlated positively with …

Separation And Quantification Of Mycotoxins In Floral Tissue Of Hemp (Cannabis Sativa) Infected With Fusarium Graminearum, Isabelle A. Kagan, Henry S. Smith, Rachel R. Schendel, Nicole Gauthier

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: The fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum produces mycotoxins when it infects grains. This pathogen also infects hemp (Cannabis sativa L. containing less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol or THC). The presence of trichothecene mycotoxins like deoxynivalenol (DON) has not been reported in floral tissue of hemp infected with F. graminearum. The object of this study was to develop a method to extract three trichothecene mycotoxins—DON, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON)—from hemp floral tissue, and to quantify the mycotoxins by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet detection. Results: Standards of nivalenol (NIV), DON-3-glucoside (D3G), DON, 3-ADON, and 15-ADON were separated from each other …

Associations Between Cardiovascular Disease And Utilization Of Dental Preventive And Periodontic Services, Amirhossein Fakhre Yaseri

Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary artery disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke, remains a leading cause of global mortality, with approximately 20.5 million deaths in 2021. Despite advancements in medical science, CVD prevalence continues to rise, underscoring the need for preventive approaches and increased awareness. CVD is closely associated with oral diseases, and poor oral health is linked to worse cardiovascular outcomes. This study investigates the association between CVD and the utilization of dental preventive and periodontal services using data from the Dental Experience and Research Exchange (DERE) database, which aggregates clinical data from dental practices across the U.S. …

The Effects Of Acute Nutrient Intake On Raw Segmental Bioelectrical Impedance Values And Fluid Shifts In Premenopausal Women, Callie Unrein

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Raw bioimpedance measures—impedance (Z), resistance (R), reactance (Xc), and phase angle (PhA)—are emerging tools to assess hydration, cellular integrity, and muscle quality. While multifrequency bioimpedance analysis (MF-BIA) can detect acute physiological shifts, its sensitivity to nutrient intake, especially across hormonal phases in women, remains underexplored. Purpose: This study investigated how essential amino acids (EAA), carbohydrates (CHO), and water (CON) influence postprandial segmental bioimpedance and fluid distribution in healthy women, and whether these responses vary by menstrual hormone phase. Methods: Twenty-two recreationally active women (18–40 years) underwent serial MF-BIA (InBody 970) assessments during high- and low-hormone phases, randomized to one …

Use Of Electrical Household Appliances And Risk Of All Types Of Tumours: A Case-Control Study, Shabana Noori, Abdul Aleem, Imrana Niaz Sultan, Afrasiab Khan Tareen, Hayat Ullah, Muhammad Waseem Khan

Biological Engineering Student Research

Introduction: The use of electrical appliances using extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) has increased in the past few years. These ELF MF are reported to be linked to several adverse health effects. However, only a couple of studies have been conducted on the association between risk of tumours and use of electronic devices using low frequency (LF) EMF. Methods: We studied the use of common household electrical appliances and suspected risk of tumours in a multi-hospital-based case-control study. In total, 316 patients were included in the final analysis. Results: The study results showed a below unity risk for …

The Pharmaceutical Applications Of Poisonous Compounds Found In Datura Stramonium, Ruby M. Raffaldt

Senior Theses

Datura stramonium is a plant that is known for its toxicity. However, a facet of this plant’s noxious chemicals, namely its tropane alkaloids, can be used medicinally. The aim of this paper was to compile knowledge on the botanical, chemical, and medicinal properties of Datura stramonium L with a focus on atropine, scopolamine, and anisodamine; three tropane alkaloid compounds with the ability to be both a poison and a medicine. Information was compiled using pre-existing studies, articles, and literature reviews on D. stramonium. For each of the three alkaloids, their biosynthetic pathways, targets, administration, distribution, metabolism, and excretion were discussed. …

From Pregnancy To Postpartum: A Longitudinal Analysis Of Maternal Depressive Symptoms And Hemoglobin Concentration In Uttar Pradesh, India, Abdullah Nurus Salam Khan

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Perinatal depression and maternal anemia impact maternal health, pregnancy outcomes, and infant growth in low- and middle-income countries. This study examines the prevalence and risk factors of these conditions during pregnancy and postpartum in rural Uttar Pradesh, India. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted among 475 pregnant women recruited during early pregnancy (≤20 weeks gestation) and followed through late pregnancy (≥27 weeks) and postpartum (< 42 days of childbirth). The outcome variables were, i) depressive symptoms, assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and ii) hemoglobin concentrations, measured using HemoCue Hb 301 analyzer from capillary blood. Multivariable linear regression examined associations of the outcome variables with sociodemographic, obstetric, nutritional, interpersonal, and perinatal factors. Path analysis evaluated direct and indirect paths influencing postpartum hemoglobin. Results: Prevalence of probable depression (EPDS score≥13) peaked in early pregnancy (24%) and declined in late pregnancy (17%) and postpartum (4%). Mean hemoglobin declined from early (10.5 g/dL) to late pregnancy (9.7 g/dL), and partially recovering in postpartum (10.4 g/dL). Household food insecurity was associated with higher depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum (early pregnancy:β=2.61, p=0.011; late pregnancy:β=2.84, p< 0.001; postpartum:β=1.40, p=0.023). Psychological intimate partner violence was associated with greater depressive symptoms in early pregnancy (β=3.19, p=0.001). Receiving more antenatal visits was associated with decrease in depressive symptoms in late pregnancy (β=-0.46, p=0.001) and hemoglobin at postpartum (β=-0.11, p=0.070). Consumption of more food groups was associated with increase in depressive symptoms (β=0.63, p=0.004) and hemoglobin in late pregnancy (β=0.10, p=0.026). Iron folic acid (IFA) consumption was associated with increase in hemoglobin in late pregnancy (β=0.01, p< 0.001) and postpartum (β=0.004, p=0.031). Experiencing postpartum health complications was associated with increase in depressive symptoms (β=0.41, p=0.013) and decrease in hemoglobin concentrations (β=-0.18, p=0.036). Antenatal hemoglobin concentrations mediated the associations of IFA supplementation and dietary diversity with postpartum concentrations. Conclusion: Perinatal depression was associated with socioeconomic vulnerabilities, food insecurity, and intimate partner violence, while hemoglobin concentrations were associated with maternal nutrition and perinatal care. Integrating mental health services and comprehensive nutrition interventions into antenatal and postpartum care can improve psychological and physical well-being of mothers during and after pregnancy.

The Role Of B Cells In Promoting Lipid Absorption By Promoting Lacteal Development, Kenny Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The absorption of dietary lipids in the gut is necessary to maintain the metabolic tone of tissues. Inflammation in the gut can cause defects in lipid absorption, which can result in tissue wasting, otherwise known as cachexia. Cachexia is commonly observed in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and cancer patients. The underlying cause of cachexia is unknown, and there are currently no effective therapeutic options available to treat it. Lymphatic drainage in the small intestine (SI) is specialized to promote the transport of dietary lipids into circulation. Lacteals are blunt-ended lymphatic vessels localized to the central axes of villi in …

Evaluation Of A Comprehensive Set Of Normal Tissue Complication Probability Models For Patients With Head And Neck Cancer In An International Cohort, Suzanne P M De Vette, Maria I Van Rijn-Dekker, Lisa Van Den Bosch, Kylie Keijzer, Hendrike Neh, Hung Chu, Yan Li, Mark L Frederiks, Hans Paul Van Der Laan, Jolien Heukelom, Peter Van Luijk, Arjen Van Der Schaaf, Roel J H M Steenbakkers, Nanna M Sijtsema, Katherine A Hutcheson, Clifton D Fuller, Johannes A Langendijk, Amy C Moreno, Lisanne V Van Dijk

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/purpose: Normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models can be used to guide radiation therapy (RT) decisions by estimating side-effect risks pretreatment to minimize (late) side-effects. Recently, a comprehensive individual toxicity risk (CITOR) profile of NTCP models addressing common side-effects in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients was developed. This study investigates the generalizability of these models in an international setting, with different treatment approaches and side-effect assessments, promoting their integration into more widespread clinical practice.

Materials/methods: From a prospective registry study, 407 HNC patients were included who were treated with definitive RT with or without systemic therapy between 2015 and …

Guidelines For The Management Of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions: Many Options, Too Few Solutions?, Yifan Wang, Michael P Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Institute For Global Health And Development : Issue 10 - April 2025, Institute For Global Health And Development

IGHD Newsletters

• Challenges and Opportunities for Poliovirus Eradication in Pakistan
• IGHD Participates in Workshop on Societal Impacts of Extreme Heat
• IGHD Participates in Roundtable in Pakistan’s Climate Prosperity Plan (CPP)
• Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta Receives International Pediatric Association Lifetime Achievement Award
• Pakistan Urged to Make Bold Nutrition Pledges at N4G Summit 2025
• Dr. Jai Das Speaks at AKDN Webinar on Climate Change and Community Health

Adolescent Sleep Health, Mental Health, And Cardiovascular Disease Risk In Adulthood, Prince Nii Ossah Addo

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality are major public health issues among adolescents in the United States (U.S.). Mental health and substance use challenges are also common among adolescents, particularly those with sleep problems. Although exposures in adolescence have been evidenced to significantly impact future health, little is known about how adolescent sleep health, mental health, and substance use influence future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We, therefore, examined the association between sleep health in adolescence and CVD risk in adulthood and assessed whether the association is mediated by depressive symptoms and substance use in adolescents. Further, we explored the …

Child-Caregiver Relational Closeness And Child Mental Health In Nonparental Care Settings, Amanda Stafford Mcrell

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines child-caregiver relational closeness and child mental health within nonparental care systems in Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMICs). Five key factors impacting the well-being of orphaned, separated, and vulnerable children in LMICs are explored using the Positive Outcomes for Orphans (POFO) dataset: child maltreatment, social support, child-caregiver relationships, and nonparental care systems. First, I examined the relationship between maltreatment, social support, and mental well-being. Findings showed that maltreatment was associated with lower mental well-being, where social support (emotional support, tangible support, positive social support) was associated with greater mental well-being, even in the concurrent presence of maltreatment. Second, …

Literature Review Of Fuzzy Set Theory: Applications And Methodologies, Mohammed Jasim Mohammed

Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences

This paper represents a comprehensive literature survey of the research published in the Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences (JEAS) on applications and methodologies of fuzzy set theory. The review traced how fuzzy logic has been evolving in decision-making, optimization, and modeling uncertainties in published articles such as economics, management, and engineering. The categorization of fuzzy methodologies into various domains such as fuzzy linear programming, fuzzy regression, fuzzy control systems, and fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making relies heavily on the study of existing research. An analysis revealed an increasing trend of investigations highlighting the interplay of fuzzy logic with artificial intelligence, statistical …