Digital Commons Network^™

Neoadjuvant Or Concurrent Atezolizumab With Chemoradiation For Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Randomized Phase I Trial, Jyoti Mayadev, Dmitriy Zamarin, Wei Deng, Heather A. Lankes, Giulio Pesci, Hayeon Kim, Junzo P. Chino, Barbara Banbury, Ned Sherry, Elad Sharon, Sharad A. Ghamande, Catherine Ferguson, Loren Mell, Laura Holman, Cara Mathews, David O'Malley, Alexander Olawaiye, Elizabeth Hopp, Charles Leath, Larry Copeland, Robert Mannel, Roisin O'Cearbhaill, Carol Aghajanian, Russell J. Schilder

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Combined immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and chemoradiation (CRT) is approved in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) but optimal sequencing of CRT and ICB is unknown. NRG-GY017 (NCT03738228) was a randomized phase I trial of atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1) neoadjuvant and concurrent with CRT (Arm A) vs. concurrent with CRT (Arm B) in patients with high-risk node-positive LACC. The primary endpoint was the fraction of expanded tumor-associated T-cell receptor (TCR) clones in blood at day 21 as a surrogate measure of anti-tumor immune response. Secondary objectives were safety and feasibility, 2-year disease-free survival (DFS), and predictive value of PD-L1 expression. Forty …

Familial Income Status, Food Insecurity, And Oral Health In Adolescents In The Prepandemic Era, Gersom I. Jimeenz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Oral health and hygiene present a significant public health problem that can cause short- and long-term effects among families with adolescents. This quantitative, correlational research design study aimed to investigate associations between food security (FS) levels and familial income status to oral health and hygiene among adolescents aged 13-19 throughout the United States. This study used the health belief model to determine if the perceived susceptibilities, severities, benefits, and barriers can lead to self-efficacy and cues to action among adolescents who experience varying familial income levels. Controlled variables included age, sex, and race. Data were derived from the National Health …

Alleviation Of Liver Fibrosis By Inhibiting A Non-Canonical Atf4-Regulated Enhancer Program In Hepatic Stellate Cells, Li-Xian Yang, Chuangye Qi, Si Lu, Xiang-Shi Ye, Parnaz Merikhian, Du-Yu Zhang, Tao Yao, Jiang-Sha Zhao, Ying Wu, Yongshi Jia, Bo Shan, Jinghai Chen, Xiaozhou Mou, Jia You, Wenbo Li, Yu-Xiong Feng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Liver fibrosis is a critical liver disease that can progress to more severe manifestations, such as cirrhosis, yet no effective targeted therapies are available. Here, we identify that ATF4, a master transcription factor in ER stress response, promotes liver fibrosis by facilitating a stress response-independent epigenetic program in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Unlike its canonical role in regulating UPR genes during ER stress, ATF4 activates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene transcription under fibrogenic conditions. HSC-specific depletion of ATF4 suppresses liver fibrosis in vivo. Mechanistically, TGFβ resets ATF4 to orchestrate a unique enhancer program for the transcriptional activation of pro-fibrotic EMT genes. …

Bridging Taste And Health: The Role Of Machine Learning In Consumer Food Selection, Saroj Adhikari, Brandon R. Mcfadden

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Navigating the modern food landscape is complex, often leading consumers to make suboptimal dietary choices due to information, time constraints, and psychological vulnerabilities. Machine learning (ML) presents a promising solution to enhance the contemporary grocery shopping experience by providing personalized dietary recommendations tailored to individual preferences and characteristics. Traditional methods of dietary guidance cannot account for nuanced consumer characteristics and preferences. In contrast, ML algorithms can incorporate specific information about individuals and continuously adapt to provide personalized recommendations, considering factors like historical eating habits, socio-demographics, nutritional requirements, etc. This paper explores the potential value of ML in enhancing personalized dietary …

Advancing Monogenic Diabetes Research And Clinical Care By Creating A Data Commons: The Precision Diabetes Consortium (Predict), Michael E Mccullough, Lisa R Letourneau-Freiberg, Rochelle N Naylor, Siri Atma W Greeley, David T Broome, Mustafa Tosur, Raymond J Kreienkamp, Erin Cobry, Neda Rasouli, Toni I Pollin, Miriam S Udler, Liana K Billings, Cyrus Desouza, Carmella Evans-Molina, Suzi Birz, Brian Furner, Michael Watkins, Kaitlyn Ott, Samuel L Volchenboum, Louis H Philipson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Monogenic diabetes mellitus (MDM) is a group of relatively rare disorders caused by pathogenic variants in key genes that result in hyperglycemia. Lack of identified cases, along with absent data standards, and limited collaboration across institutions have hindered research progress. To address this, the UChicago Monogenic Diabetes Registry (UCMDMR) and UChicago Data for the Common Good (D4CG) created a national consortium of MDM research institutions called the PREcision DIabetes ConsorTium (PREDICT). Following the D4CG model, PREDICT has successfully established a multicenter MDM data commons. PREDICT has created a consensus data dictionary that will be utilized to address critical gaps in …

A Β-Hydroxybutyrate Shunt Pathway Generates Anti-Obesity Ketone Metabolites, Maria Dolores Moya-Garzon, Mengjie Wang, Veronica L Li, Xuchao Lyu, Wei Wei, Alan Sheng-Hwa Tung, Steffen H Raun, Meng Zhao, Laetitia Coassolo, Hashim Islam, Barbara Oliveira, Yuqin Dai, Jan Spaas, Antonio Delgado-Gonzalez, Kenyi Donoso, Aurora Alvarez-Buylla, Francisco Franco-Montalban, Anudari Letian, Catherine P Ward, Lichao Liu, Katrin J Svensson, Emily L Goldberg, Christopher D Gardner, Jonathan P Little, Steven M Banik, Yong Xu, Jonathan Z Long

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is an abundant ketone body. To date, all known pathways of BHB metabolism involve the interconversion of BHB and primary energy intermediates. Here, we identify a previously undescribed BHB secondary metabolic pathway via CNDP2-dependent enzymatic conjugation of BHB and free amino acids. This BHB shunt pathway generates a family of anti-obesity ketone metabolites, the BHB-amino acids. Genetic ablation of CNDP2 in mice eliminates tissue amino acid BHB-ylation activity and reduces BHB-amino acid levels. The most abundant BHB-amino acid, BHB-Phe, is a ketosis-inducible congener of Lac-Phe that activates hypothalamic and brainstem neurons and suppresses feeding. Conversely, CNDP2-KO mice exhibit …

Improving Fertilizer Efficiency In Containerized Nursery Production Through Substrate Temperature Management Techniques, Ashley R. Edwards

LSU Master's Theses

Resource efficiency, particularly regarding mineral nutrients, is a critical factor in the long-term success of the nursery industry. Fertilizer release is controlled by water and temperature in container-grown ornamental nursery production systems. Thus, it was hypothesized that pragmatic management of substrate temperature and moisture could extend the longevity of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) in a container system. This study was conducted to determine the effect of irrigation scheduling, container color, and stratified substrates on substrate temperature and the subsequent use and longevity of CRF in a crop production setting. ‘Limelight’ Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) liners were planted in either black …

Full Issue, Volume 12, Number 3, Donna J. Peterson, Scott Cummings, Elizabeth Gregory North

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Politics, Money, And Humanity: Measuring The Cost Of American Cold War Intervention, Sean Do

Historical Perspectives: Santa Clara University Undergraduate Journal of History, Series II

No abstract provided.

Thirty Productive Years And A Very Promising Future: The Annual Letter Of The Center For Social Development, Michael Sherraden

Center for Social Development Research

In the 2025 annual letter of the Center for Social Development (CSD), Founding Director Michael Sherrraden discusses the integration of the Washington University Social Policy Institute with CSD, summarizes developments at the center, introduces the new team of experts, shines a light on some of the accomplishments during the past year, and offers a vision for the future.

Do Schools Have The Capacity To Provide Free Meals To Every Student?, Michah W. Rothbart, Jeehee Han, Zac Reeves

Center for Policy Research

Over 20 million students nationally attend schools that offer universal free meals (UFM). Advocates argue that UFM increases school meal participation, decreases stigma, and reduces administrative costs for schools. Similarly, Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) distributes breakfast to students after the bell, which increases participation and potentially decreases stigma. However, student participation remains far from universal. This brief summarizes the findings from a study using data from New York City (NYC) public schools between 2011-2014 to analyze the effectiveness of UFM and BIC at increasing student school breakfast and lunch participation in capacity-constrained schools. The authors find that both UFM …

Measures Of Joint Kinematic Reliability During Repeated Softball Pitching, Erin Pletcher, Mita Lovalakar, Takashi Nagai, Chris Connaboy

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: Three-dimensional motion analysis is often used to evaluate improvements or decrements in movement patterns in athletes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of joint flexion/extension angles of the pitching elbow and bilateral knees and hips in softball pitchers. Methods: Fourteen softball pitchers (17.9 ± 2.3 years) were tested in one session consisting of four sets of five consecutive fastballs and a second session of two sets of five fastballs. The magnitude of systematic bias and within-subject variation was calculated between pitches. An iterative intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) process was used to determine intra- and inter-session …

Enhancing In Vitro Digestibility And Volatile Profile Of Sorghum Proteins Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Drying, Nafisa Sadaf, Arda Tuhanioglu, Safoura Ahmadzadeh, Ali Ubeyitogullari

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The goal of this research was to use supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) drying as a novel approach to generate sorghum protein concentrates with enhanced functional characteristics. Sorghum protein concentrates were extracted from white whole-grain sorghum flour and dried in two ways: freeze-drying and SC-CO2 drying. The dried proteins were characterized for their volatile compound content, in vitro digestibility, and amino acid composition. A more porous structure was observed for the SC-CO2-dried sorghum proteins compared with their freeze-dried counterparts. In the SC-CO2-dried samples, the levels of alcohols, esters, and organic acids were significantly lower than those in the freeze-dried ones, whereas …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Persons Living With Hiv Who Are Homebound Due To One Or More Comorbidities Within A Southern State Using Photovoice, Anthony Alyn "Deek" Cunningham

All ETDs from UAB

At the end of 2022, there were 1,109,418 adults and adolescents with HIV in the United States and the six dependent areas of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Palau, and the US Virgin Islands (CDC, 2024). Due to ongoing advances in medications and treatments, people who have been diagnosed with HIV are living longer and healthier lives, making this a chronic health condition. Yet, there are gaps in the literature that focuses on this population growing older and aging in place. This dissertation investigated the lived experiences of individuals fifty years and older …

Student Hunger: Addressing Food Insceurity Among Community College Students In Washington State, Steffi Huynh

MAGIS: Student Development Journal

On average, more than half of community college students in the United States struggle with food insecurity, which is significant considering that community colleges enroll nearly half of the student population that begins college (Cohen & Brawer, 2003; Goldrick-Rab et al., 2017). Food insecurity occurs when one experiences uncertain availability or limited access to adequate foods (Fincher et al., 2018). Community college students’ health, well-being, and academic success are at a greater risk than students at four-year institutions, especially considering the diverse demographic of community college students (Goldrick-Rab et al., 2017). As the impacts of food insecurity are being recognized …

Early Bronze Age Fauna From Tel Lod, Edward F. Maher Maher

'Atiqot

The excavations at Tel Lod yielded a small zooarchaeological assemblage, primarily dating to Early Bronze Age IB (Strata VII–IV); the material from the latest occupation (Strata III–II) dates to late EB IB or the EB IB/EB II transition. The fauna of both phases is dominated by domestic stock, comprising sheep, goats, cattle and pigs, which were used both for primary products, such as meat, and secondary products, such as dairy, wool, hair, traction and for breeding. Wild animals, such as boar, gazelle, deer and hare, were also occasionally exploited.

مصادر ومستويات القلق لدى طلبة مساق الجمباز في كليات التربية الرياضية بالجامعات الأردنية, Firas Salem Al- Dolat

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدفت الدراسة التعرف إلى مصادر ومستويات القلق لدى طلبة كليات التربية الرياضية في الجامعات الأردنية الرسمية لمساق الجمباز تبعاً لمتغيرات (الجنس، والجامعة). استخدم الباحث المنهج الوصفي، وتكونت عينة الدراسة من (350) طالباً وطالبةً يمثلون جامعات (الأردنية، واليرموك، ومؤتة، والهاشمية). صمم الباحث استبانة لقياس مصادر القلق أداة لجمع البيانات، واشتمل على (53) فقرة موزعة على خمس مجالات هي: (المجال التعليمي، ومجال الامكانات، ومجال ادارة الكلية، ومجال الحوافز، ومجال الطلاب)، وتم أيضاً استخدام مقياس حالة وسمة القلق. ولتحليل البيانات تم استخدام (المتوسطات الحسابية والانحرافات المعيارية، وتحليل التباين الأحادي واختبار شيفيه للمقارنات البعدية. أظهرت النتائج بأن مستوى مصادر القلق النفسي لدى طلبة مساق …

قلق المستقبل المهني وعلاقته بالثقة بالنفس لدى طلبة الصف العاشر, Malak Hamad Ali Irshaid

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف المقال الكشف عن علاقة قلق المستقبل المهني بالثقة بالنفس لدى طلبة الصف العاشر، وتكوّنت عينة الدراسة من (150) طالب وطالبة من طلبة الصف العاشر، واستخدمت الدراسة مقياس قلق المستقبل المهني، ومقياس الثقة بالنفس، واتّبعت الدراسة المنهج الوصفي، وتوصّلت الدراسة إلى أنه بلغ الوزن النسبي لمحور قلق المستقبل المهني (65.37%) متوسط، بينما الوزن النسبي للثقة بالنفس بلغ (71.09%) مرتفع، وتوجد علاقة ذات دلالة إحصائية عند مستوى دلالة (0.05 ≥ α) بين قلق المستقبل المهني والثقة بالنفس، وكذلك توصّلت الدراسة إلى عدم وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية عند مستوى الدلالة (α ≤ 0.05) بين متوسطات درجات طلبة الصف العاشر على مقياس …

Toward Personalized Digital Experiences To Promote Diabetes Self-Management: Mixed Methods Social Computing Approach, Tavleen Singh, Kirk Roberts, Kayo Fujimoto, Jing Wang, Constance Johnson, Sahiti Myneni

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes affects nearly 34.2 million adults and is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Digital health communities have emerged as avenues to provide social support to individuals engaging in diabetes self-management (DSM). The analysis of digital peer interactions and social connections can improve our understanding of the factors underlying behavior change, which can inform the development of personalized DSM interventions.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to apply our methodology using a mixed methods approach to (1) characterize the role of context-specific social influence patterns in DSM and (2) derive interventional targets that enhance individual …

Complex Tissue Regeneration In Lophuromys Reveals A Phylogenetic Signal For Enhanced Regenerative Ability In Deomyine Rodents, Brennan Riddell, Molly Mcdonough, Adam Ferguson, John M. Kimani, Thomas R. Gawriluk, Chi Peng, Stephen G. Kiama, Vanessa O. Ezenwa, Ashley W. Seifert

Biology Faculty Publications

Identifying why complex tissue regeneration is present or absent in specific vertebrate lineages has remained elusive. One also wonders whether the isolated examples where regeneration is observed represent cases of convergent evolution or are instead the product of phylogenetic inertia from a common ancestral program. Testing alternative hypotheses to identify genetic regulation, cell states, and tissue physiology that explain how regenerative healing emerges in some species requires sampling multiple species among which there is variation in regenerative ability across a phylogenetic framework. Here, we interrogate tissue healing across eleven rodents and show that brush-furred mice (Lophuromys zena) are capable of …

Nutritional, Phytochemical, And Antimicrobial Properties Of Carica Papaya Leaves: Implications For Health Benefits And Food Applications, Rajni Choudhary, Ravinder Kaushik, Ansab Akhtar, Suvendu Manna, Jyoti Sharma, Aarti Bains

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Papaya leaves (PLs) are known for their therapeutic benefits and traditional use in treating inflammation, infections, and various health conditions. Rich in bioactive compounds, PLs are studied for their potential applications in functional foods. This study analyzed their nutritional, phytochemical, structural, thermal, and antimicrobial properties to evaluate their role as a health-promoting ingredient. METHODS: Phytochemicals were quantified spectrophotometrically and identified via GC-MS. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and FRAP assays. Mineral content was determined using ICP-OES. Structural and thermal properties were evaluated using FTIR, XRD, and calorimetry, and antimicrobial activity was tested via the agar well diffusion method. …

Teachers' Perspectives Of Mandated Health Education Curriculum Goals In Grades K-3, Ashley Baker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study addressed the challenges faced by many Grades K–3 teachers in north central Georgia in consistently implementing mandated health education curriculum goals (Villegas et al., 2021). The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perspectives on the barriers to consistent health education delivery in elementary schools. The study was guided by the concerns-based adoption model, which provided a framework for understanding how teachers navigate changes in curriculum and instruction. The key research questions focused on identifying the specific challenges teachers encounter in implementing health education and their perceived needs for support. Semi structured interviews were conducted …

Impacts Of Climate Change On Members Of Shallow Water Antarctic Communities, Hannah Elise Oswalt

All ETDs from UAB

Human-derived CO2 emissions have lowered the ocean’s pH and increased global temperatures. Low seawater pH can decrease the calcification, growth, and survival of calcifying invertebrates. Furthermore, low pH changes macroalgal growth and stress, possibly altering palatability to consumers. Global warming has decreased sea ice coverage, profoundly influencing photosynthetic organisms by altering subsurface irradiance. Shallow, hard-bottom communities along the Western Antarctic Peninsula are characterized by large macroalgal forests that shelter large numbers of mesograzers. Amphipods and macroalgae have a community-wide mutualistic relationship where macroalgae provide refuge from predatory fish while amphipods remove competing epiphytes. To understand how climate change could impact …

A Mixed Methods Approach To Understanding What Knowledge Alabama K-12 In-Service Educators Hold In Regard To School-Based Trauma-Informed Practices, Katherine Busch

All ETDs from UAB

Childhood trauma is prevalent in epidemic proportions, with data showing 40%-90% of individuals experiencing one or more childhood traumatic events that permanently changes neurobiology and stress response. These stress responses can manifest in behaviors that lead to problems in schools, including behavior issues, special education referrals, suspensions or expulsions, and decreased academic achievement. In adulthood, these traumatic stressors increase the odds of engaging in risky behaviors and developing chronic health conditions. Schools can be places of healing, promoting resilience and utilizing trauma-informed practices to help children and educators. Emerging studies show promise in the benefits of school-based trauma-informed practices, but …

Targeting Streptococcus Mutans Diadenylate Cyclase For The Prevention Of Dental Caries, Edwin Miguel Rojas

All ETDs from UAB

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the primary etiological agent involved in the initiation and progression of dental caries. S. mutans forms robust biofilms on the tooth surface, and current preventative treatments, such as oral rinses, eliminate both pathogenic and commensal oral species. Therefore, there is an urgent need for therapeutics which selectively inhibit S. mutans biofilms while keeping the oral microbiome intact. The diadenylate cyclase (DAC) enzyme in S. mutans plays a key role in biofilm formation. DAC converts adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP), a secondary messenger involved in several cellular pathways. Increased levels of c-di-AMP have shown …

Theory-Based Nutrition Education To Improve Food Security In Postsecondary Students, Tara Kelly

All ETDs from UAB

The high prevalence of food insecurity among college students is a public health concern that requires well designed interventions to address. College students experiencing food insecurity are more likely to practice diet-related behaviors that contribute to poor health, yet this population lacks the necessary knowledge and skills to make adequate behavior changes. The purpose of this present dissertation is to (1) assess preliminary data collected to inform the development of a theory-based nutrition education intervention; then (2) evaluate the feasibility of this novel intervention design and (3) its effectiveness at improving college students’ food security and factors that may impact …

Development Of A Lifestyle Wellness Assessment For Obesity Treatment-Seeking Adults, Katie M. Ellison

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity is strongly associated with, and effective at, preventing and managing cardiometabolic disease but proponents of Health at Every Size® approaches challenge the importance of weight loss for improving health. While some patients want to lose weight, there is evidence that others desire to focus on improving broader aspects of health and wellness such as metabolic, fitness, and psychosocial health. Clinicians may benefit from a comprehensive understanding of the multifactorial benefits of obesity treatments to effectively capture overall patient wellness. However, existing wellness assessments are often either not comprehensive, unreliable, or subject to time, space, or cost constraints in clinical …

Teachers' Perspectives Of Mandated Health Education Curriculum Goals In Grades K-3, Ashley Baker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study addressed the challenges faced by many Grades K–3 teachers in north central Georgia in consistently implementing mandated health education curriculum goals (Villegas et al., 2021). The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perspectives on the barriers to consistent health education delivery in elementary schools. The study was guided by the concerns-based adoption model, which provided a framework for understanding how teachers navigate changes in curriculum and instruction. The key research questions focused on identifying the specific challenges teachers encounter in implementing health education and their perceived needs for support. Semi structured interviews were conducted …

A Survey On Food Ingredient Substitutions, Hyunwook Kim, Revathy Venkataramanan, Amit P. Sheth

Publications

Diet plays a crucial role in managing chronic conditions and overall well-being. As people become more selective about their food choices, finding recipes that meet dietary needs is important. Ingredient substitution is key to adapting recipes for dietary restrictions, allergies, and availability constraints. However, identifying suitable substitutions is challenging as it requires analyzing the flavor, functionality, and health suitability of ingredients. With the advancement of AI, researchers have explored computational approaches to address ingredient substitution. This survey paper provides a comprehensive overview of the research in this area, focusing on five key aspects: (i) datasets and data sources used to …

Migration, Trauma, And Tweeback: Perspectives On Russian Mennonite Identity In Elina Penner’S Novel Nachtbeeren, Berit Jany

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, a group of about 2.5 million Russia Germans immigrated to Germany, benefiting from the German law that recognizes citizenship to ethnic Germans who arrived in the territory as late ethnic Germans resettlers. Including their children, this subset of Germany’s population now numbers about 3.5 million, and about 350.000 Russia Germans have a Mennonite background. Of the 500.000 Plautdietsch-speaking people worldwide, about 200,000 of them live in Germany. In her debut novel, Nachtbeeren, the author Elina Penner illuminates the everyday life of German Mennonites from the Soviet Union and the successor …