Digital Commons Network^™

Environmental Pollution And Early-Life Metabolic Programming, Lisa Koshko

Wayne State University Dissertations

Substantial evidence demonstrates that parental pollutant exposures can induce harmful health effects in the offspring, including the predisposition to Type II Diabetes. As rates of Type II Diabetes continue to rise in younger populations, a crucial gap lies in understanding the role of parental influence in the etiology of later-life metabolic disease. Therefore, the central goal of this work was to determine how early life exposure to smoking level benzene, an endocrine-disrupting air pollutant, affects the metabolic health of offspring, and to identify potential developmental mechanisms involved in disease susceptibility. This goal was achieved using two models of early life …

Proceedings Of The Tenth Annual Indiana Stem Education Conference: Generational Advances Through Stem Education, William S. Walker Iii, Lynn A. Bryan, S Selcen Guzey

Indiana STEM Education Conference

The Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Indiana STEM Education Conference are edited by the Center for Advancing the Teaching and Learning of STEM (CATALYST, https://www.education.purdue.edu/catalyst/) at Purdue University. The theme for the 2025 conference is Generational Advances through STEM Education. This year’s conference provides opportunities to learn about effective STEM education strategies, curriculum, and resources to engage students by considering the advances and impact of STEM.

Association Between Risk Factors And Major Cancers: Explainable Machine Learning Approach, Xiayuan Huang, Shushun Ren, Xinyue Mao, Sirui Chen, Elle Chen, Yuqi He, Yun Jiang

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background: Cancer is a life-threatening disease and a leading cause of death worldwide, with an estimated 611,000 deaths and over 2 million new cases in the United States in 2024. The rising incidence of major cancers, including among younger individuals, highlights the need for early screening and monitoring of risk factors to manage and decrease cancer risk. Objective: This study aimed to leverage explainable machine learning models to identify and analyze the key risk factors associated with breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers. By uncovering significant associations between risk factors and these major cancer types, we sought to enhance the …

Editorial: Enhancing Nutrient Profile, Safety, And Sustainability With Fermentation Technology, Oluwafemi Ayodeji Adebo, John Gieng, Xi Feng

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Tourette Syndrome Research Highlights From 2024 [Version 3; Peer Review: 2 Approved, 1 Approved With Reservations], Andreas Hartmann, Per Andrén, Cyril Atkinson-Clement, Virginie Czernecki, Cécile Delorme, Simon Morand-Beaulieu, Nanette Mol Debes, Kirsten Müller-Vahl, Peristera Paschou, Natalia Szejko, Apostolia Topaloudi, Kevin J Black

2020-Current year OA Pubs

We summarize research reports from 2024 relevant to Tourette syndrome, which the authors consider the most important or interesting. This working draft aims to submit this content for publication around the beginning of 2025 in the yearly Tourette Syndrome Research Highlights series on F1000Research. The authors welcome article suggestions and thoughtful feedback from readers, who can add a comment by clicking on the rectangular comment box icon to the left of the LOG IN link at the top of this page. For private comments, you can reach us by email ( [email protected] or [email protected]).

Grand Challenges For Human Factors And Ergonomics, Waldemar Karwowski, Gavriel Salvendy, Mica Endsley, William Rouse, Paul Salmon, Kay Stanney, Andrew Thatcher, Tony Andre, Jessie Yang, Hasan Ayaz, Ahmet Cakir, Vince Duffy, Colin Drury, Qin Gao, Yinni Guo, Peter Hancock, William S. Marras, Patrick Rau

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Contemporary society faces a growing set of complex global issues representing significant human health, well-being, and sustainability threats. Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) has a critical role to play in responding to these issues; however, there remain a set of grand challenges that require resolution. This paper presents and discusses six grand challenges for HFE and related key research thrust areas for each of the challenges. The grand challenges are (1) Evolution in Societal Thinking; (2) Future of Human Work in Industry 5.0; (3) Climate Change and Sustainability; (4) Future of Education and Training; (5) Future of Personalized Health, and …

Vascularized Iliac Crest Bone Graft For The Reconstruction Of Anterior Vertebral Corpus Defects: A Literature Review And Cadaveric Feasibility Study, Jonathan L Jeger, Casey J Martinez, Maria Shvedova, Alec Simoni, Alanna Rebecca, Sebastian Winocour, Alexander E Ropper, Michael Bohl, William J Casey, Maziyar Kalani, Edward M Reece

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Vertebral body defects pose a significant challenge in spinal reconstructive surgery. Compression fractures of the vertebral corpus are typically treated with vertebral augmentation procedures. There are significant risks associated with the introduction of foreign material in the spine, including infection and pseudarthrosis. Vascularized bone grafts (VBGs) have become a popular alternative for spinal reconstruction in the last decade thanks to their robust blood supply and autologous nature. VBGs have been described predominantly for the reconstruction of posterior vertebral defects. The objective of this study is to describe a novel procedure for the reconstruction of vertebral corpus defects in the …

High Diversity Of Dietary Flavonoid Intake Is Associated With A Lower Risk Of All-Cause Mortality And Major Chronic Diseases, Benjamin H. Parmenter, Alysha S. Thompson, Nicola P. Bondonno, Amy Jennings, Kevin Murray, Aurora Perez-Cornago, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Anna Tresserra-Rimbau, Tilman Kühn, Aedín Cassidy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Higher habitual intakes of dietary flavonoids have been linked with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and major chronic disease. Yet, the contribution of diversity of flavonoid intake to health outcomes remains to be investigated. Here, using a cohort of 124,805 UK Biobank participants, we show that participants who consumed the widest diversity of dietary flavonoids, flavonoid-rich foods and/or specific flavonoid subclasses had a 6–20% significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality and incidence of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, respiratory disease and neurodegenerative disease. Furthermore, we report that both quantity and diversity of flavonoids are independent predictors of mortality …

Providing Safe Gastric Feedings In Pediatric Patients On High Flow Nasal Cannula Respiratory Support, Olivia Joyce Chan

Yale School of Nursing Digital Theses

Purpose: HFNC is used to manage pediatric respiratory distress, but concerns aboutgastric air insufflation and aspiration risk lead to delayed feedings. There is no standardized practice guiding gastric feedings in children on HFNC. This project developed and implemented a decision tree to guide clinical decision-making for gastric feedings for children on HFNC. Methods: A HFNC feeding safety decision tree was developed following literature review and implemented in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The primary outcome evaluated HFNC flow rates when starting gastric feeds. Secondary outcomes include adverse events (AEs), physiologic distress, and PICU/hospital LOS. Data were analyzed using Chi-Square …

Legal Barriers To Maternal Healthcare Equity, Ashley Keith

Akron Law Faculty Publications

In examining contemporary maternal healthcare inequity in clinical care delivery, we must study the critical role played by the legal institutions in creating and perpetuating this problem. Comprehensive systems within the United States require legal advocacy and judicial enforcement to take shape and maintain their structural integrity. Healthcare in this country is no different. Legal institutions helped form and further, both intentionally and inadvertently, the racial disparities that we currently battle. Legal history plays an integral role in understanding why racial disparities in maternal mortality persist. One way for legal professionals to contribute to the ongoing efforts to achieve maternal …

Effectiveness, Acceptability, And Cost-Effectiveness Of Digital Health Interventions For Diabetes Self-Management In Adults With Or Without Hypertension: An Umbrella Review Protocol, Min Zhang, Jiahui Ge, Xinrong Yu, Tian Wang, Fenglan Wang, Madalo Gloria Kalero Kuchawo, Li Ge

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: This review will synthesize evidence on the effectiveness, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of digital health interventions in implementing and maintaining effective self-management among adults (≥ 18 years) with diabetes, with or without comorbid hypertension. Introduction: Diabetes and hypertension are becoming the most challenging global health burdens. Growing evidence underscores the effectiveness of digital health interventions for diabetes and hypertension. However, it is unclear whether these strategies can be recommended to improve diabetes self-management among adults with or without hypertension in primary health care. Inclusion criteria: We will include systematic reviews (with or without meta-analysis) examining the effectiveness, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness …

The Central Role For Troponin C Amino-Terminal ⍺-Helix In Vertebrate Thin Filiment Ca²⁺-Activation, Yun Shi, Lauren A. Blackwell, Ryan K. Schroy, B. Max Cleland, Cristina M. Risi, Michelle S. Parvatiyar, Jose R. Pinto, Vitold E. Galkin, P. Bryant Chase

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Troponin C (TnC) is the Ca²⁺-sensing subunit of troponin that is responsible for activating thin filaments in striated muscle, and, in turn, for regulating the systolic and diastolic contractile function of cardiac muscle. The secondary structure of vertebrate TnC is mainly composed of α-helices, with nine helices named sequentially, starting from the amino terminus, from N to A–H. The N-helix is a 12-residue-long α-helix located at the extreme amino terminus of the protein and is the only helical structure that does not participate in forming Ca²⁺-binding EF-hands. Evolutionarily, the N-helix is found only in TnC from mammalian species and most …

Reduced Slow Wave Sleep Is Associated With Increased Risk Of Short Stature In Children: A Cross-Sectional Study, Zhaohua Chen, Yuan Shi, Fei Lei, Xujun Feng, Lu Tan, Taomei Li, Junying Zhou, Yuanfeng Sun, Jiamin Liao, Yun Li, Zhoulong Yu, Jian Jiao, Yanyan Wang, Larry D. Sanford, Michael V. Vitiello, Ye Zhang, Rong Ren, Xiangdong Tang

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Objective: Although growth hormone was shown to be specifically released during slow wave sleep (SWS), no population-based evidence has demonstrated the association between sleep quality and childhood height. To address this gap, our study aims to investigate the relationship between SWS and height of children.

Methods: We analyzed polysomnography data and z-scores for height in 2527 suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) children (537 non-OSA children and 1990 OSA children) collected over the past 16 years. Different grades of z-scores for height and SWS were classified by the quartile method, and the lowest z-scores for height quartile defined short stature as …

Phenotype Specific Nuclear Lamina Remodeling In Hipsc Derived Cardiomyocytes Bearing Tnnt2 Sarcomeric Variants, Isabella Leite Coscarella, Olalekan H. Usman, Lili Wang, Maicon Landim-Vieira, Lillian Wirstiuk, Amber N. Brown, Diego A. R. Zorio, Brian K. Washburn, Cynthia Vied, Bjorn C. Knollmann, Christopher Solís, Vitold E. Galkin, P. Bryant Chase, J. Travis Hinson, Jerome Irianto, Jose Renato Pinto

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

[Summary] Cardiomyocytes endure physical stress from the myocardium environment while generating their own mechanical strains. The force generated by sarcomeres is transmitted both longitudinally to adjacent sarcomeres and laterally to the cytoskeleton via intermediate filaments. This mechanical stimulus impacts other organelles, including the nucleus, thus playing a vital role in sensing and signaling nuclear adaptations. However, there is limited understanding of how changes in cardiac contractility affect nuclear mechanics. Here, we sought to investigate the effects of hyper- and hypo-contractility in nuclei of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) bearing TNNT2 pathogenic variants associated with hypertrophic (HCM) or dilated …

Countries As Laboratories: Reflections On Sierra Leone’S Amended Anti-Human Trafficking Law, Andrea L. Dennis

Scholarly Works

Sierra Leone’s improved anti-trafficking laws align with global norms, but enforcement remains weak due to socio-economic realities and Western deterrence mismatches, limiting effective prosecution despite recent legislative reforms.

The Hidden Cost Of Venture Capital, Emilie Aguirre

Faculty Scholarship

Founders, employees, consumers, and even funders increasingly expect businesses to pursue social goals alongside financial performance. Yet even the most committed firms have found it difficult to maintain social performance over time. Scholars in economics, management, and law have put forth several explanations for this “mission drift,” including inappropriate governance, poor management, lack of genuine commitment, and threat of takeovers. Puzzlingly, research to date primarily focuses on later-stage firms, even though the events and decisions that take place in a firm’s early stages can critically impact retention of its social performance.

Drawing from over five years of qualitative field research …

Association Of Socio-Demographic Factors, Perinatal Characteristics, And Hospital Maternity Practices With Breastfeeding Outcomes In The Uae, Zainab Taha, Farid El Ktaibi, Rafiq Hijazi

All Works

Breastfeeding (BF) rates remain suboptimal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite global and national efforts. This study examined the association of socio-demographic factors, perinatal characteristics, and hospital maternity practices with breastfeeding outcomes in the UAE. In this cross-sectional study, 1,815 participating mothers with children below the age of 2 answered structured questions related to socioeconomics, hospital practices, and BF. Multivariate analysis showed that a non-Emirati nationality and vaginal birth were significantly associated with higher initiation rates (AOR = 6.19, 95% CI 1.96–19.54 and AOR = 2.65, 95% CI 1.35–5.21, respectively), timely initiation (AOR = 0.48, 95%CI 0.35–0.66, respectively), longer …

Edible Algae Reduce Blood Pressure In Humans: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomised Controlled Trials, Patricia Casas-Agustench, Sandra Mínguez, Zoe Brookes, Raul Bescos

School of Health Professions

BACKGROUND: Edible algae contain bioactive compounds such as peptides, fucoidan, polyphenols, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants that may benefit cardiovascular health, particularly in lowering blood pressure (BP) regulation. Certain species, including Nori and Kelp, are also rich in inorganic nitrate, known for its BP-lowering effects. However, the relationship between algae consumption and hypertension remains controversial. This study evaluated the effects of edible algae on BP in humans, considering factors such as algae type, format, dosage, intervention duration, health status, and baseline BP.

METHODS: A systematic search of Medline-Pubmed, Scopus and Cochrane databases was conducted through December 2024. Randomised controlled …

Dyscluded': Women's Experiences Of Mothering Autistic Children As Described In Their Stories', Juliet Hall

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

My research, grounded in feminist research practices, uses an auto/biographical approach to explore the experiential knowledge of women mothering autistic children. It arose from a yearning for discovery. I use women’s stories to increase understanding of this experience to disrupt deeply embedded discourses and to benefit others with shared experiences.

There is a substantial body of knowledge on the experience of parent’s raising autistic children, however this tends to focus on a specific aspect of their autism journey. It is often presented in a gender-blind way. Much of it fails to acknowledge the implications of sociocultural expectations on mothers and …

University Students' Understanding And Utilization Of Food Labels: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sharifa Alblooshi, Linda Smail, Asya Aldayyani, Falak Zeb, Alia Ibrahim

All Works

Introduction: This study is aimed at investigating Zayed University students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding food labels and at identifying key predictors of food label use through logistic regression analysis.Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study used a validated questionnaire to elicit data on KAPs regarding the use of nutritional information and food labels. This study was conducted from January to May 2023 in the UAE among students from Zayed University. A total of 1153 students aged 18 and above from Zayed University participated in the study. They were recruited using snowball sampling. Descriptive statistics were obtained using the Statistical Package …

Prevalence, Phenotype, And Correlates Of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Symptoms In The Gulf Cooperation Council: An Underserved Region, Bernou Melisse, Hassan Fakhri, Lynne Kennedy, Maria J. Figueiras, Munirah Alshebali, Hala Abu Taha, Carine El Khazen, Dalal Alkazemi, Sandra Mulkens

All Works

Introduction: Prevalence estimates and correlates of ARFID in non-Western samples are lacking. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of ARFID symptoms, identify its phenotypes, and explore its correlates in a community sample from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Method: Participants were parents of children aged 4–13 years (n = 87) and individuals of ≥ 14 years old (n = 433). They completed the Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Interview-ARFID-Questionnaire (PARDI-AR-Q), the Nine Item ARFID Screen (NIAS) and the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Multiple regression analyses were performed with body mass index or its standard deviation score, comorbid psychopathology, EDE-Q …

In The Clear: Timber Harvest Informs Elk Summer Nutrition And Resource Selection In A Densely Forested Landscape, Trevor C. Weeks

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

As wildlife and habitats face unprecedented challenges in the form of landscape conversion, shifting disturbance regimes, and climate change, it becomes increasingly important for land and wildlife managers to find avenues for collaboration as they seek to maintain habitat to support robust wildlife populations. Timber harvest may provide one such avenue for collaboration. It has been shown to increase the quality and quantity of ungulate nutritional resources by reverting stands to early successional stages. Additionally, timber harvest may allow for a more precise application of such effects, as managers choose where and how to harvest timber. However, the exact effects …

Tactile Kinaesthetic Methods Without Abdominal Pressure Promoting Gastrointestinal Passage In Preterm Infants: A Scoping Review, Natalie Hurst, Jos M. Latour, Christian F. Poets, Christoph E. Schwarz

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: Tactile kinaesthetic stimulation (TKS) might support enteral feeding and meconium excretion in preterm infants, but volvulus has been linked to abdominal massage. Aim: To map the evidence and to identify knowledge gaps on TKS in preterm infants. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in August 2024 using four databases. Results: Ten studies (totaling 268 infants weighing 1000–2500g at birth) met inclusion criteria. All studies utilized whole-body TKS, involving stroking and movement with moderate to gentle pressure, administered 1 to 3 times daily by staff. Starting TKS in the first days of life seemed to improve meconium excretion, while later …

Association Of Helicobacter Pylori Infection With Pediatric Asthma In Palestine, Alaa Hrizat, Amal A Shahin, Banan M Mafarjeh, Mohammad A Atawneh, Kamel Gharaibeh, Nisreen Rumman, Mutaz Sultan

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Purpose: Significant debate exists on the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and childhood asthma. We aimed to explore this association in a cohort of children in Palestine while estimating the prevalence of H. pylori in this population. Methods: We conducted a prospective case-control study among children aged 6–15 years in Palestine, including 44 asthma cases diagnosed by pediatric pulmonologists and 99 age-matched healthy controls recruited through cluster sampling from schools. H. pylori status was determined using a stool antigen test. Asthma severity was assessed using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Data on recent antibiotic use, …

Autolyzed Brewer's Yeast Enhances Growth And Intestinal Health In Early Life Stages Of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus L.), Sheu Odu-Onikosi, Taofik Momoh, Ben Eynon, Nicola Pontefract, Victor Kuri, Holger Kühlwein, Daniel Merrifield

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The early life stages of fish are critical for determining the overall productivity and sustainability of aquaculture operations. This study investigated the effects of dietary autolyzed brewer's yeast (ABY) on the growth performance and intestinal health of Nile tilapia fry (Oreochromis niloticus). A 35-day feeding trial with 480 Nile tilapia fry across 12 experimental tanks tested the effects of diets supplemented with 1, 2, and 4 g/kg of ABY, with a control diet for comparison. The results indicated that the diet which had 1 g/kg ABY supplementation (ABY1) significantly enhanced the weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) while reducing …

Effects Of Dietary L-Tryptophan On Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, And Protein Metabolism In Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus), Israt Mishu, Lindee Mason, Ahmed Mustafa

Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

This research examines the impact of dietary L-tryptophan supplementation on growth performance, feed efficiency, and protein metabolism in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under stress and non-stress settings. This experiment evaluated essential growth metrics, encompassing weight gain, length gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and protein energy retention. Nile tilapia were categorized into four experimental groups: a control group on a commercial diet, a control group supplemented with L-tryptophan (0.33%/kg feed), a stress-induced group receiving cortisol (0.02%/kg feed), and a stress-induced group receiving both cortisol (0.02%/kg feed) and L-tryptophan supplementation (0.33%/kg feed). The findings indicated that Ltryptophan supplementation significantly enhanced …

Towards Achieving The Un Sustainable Development Goals: The Role Of Ai In Municipality Services, Thabit Sultan Mohammed, Karim Mohammed Aljebory, Ahmed Thabit Sultan

Mesopotamian Journal of Computer Science

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure global peace and prosperity by 2030. However, progress has been hindered by challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, funding shortages, political instability, and data limitations. Municipal services, crucial to achieving the SDGs, provide essential functions like waste management, healthcare, and public safety. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers innovative solutions to enhance these services, improving urban sustainability and fostering public-private collaboration. This research examines AI's role in municipal services, analyzing its applications, benefits, challenges, and future potential through case studies and expert …

A Study Of Glyphosate, Pesticide Mixtures, And Metabolic Health Outcomes: Integrating Epidemiologic, Mechanistic, And Ecological Evidence On Environmental Drivers Of Metabolic Health, Sarah Otaru

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Glyphosate, the most extensively used herbicide worldwide, has become a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. Although initially considered safe due to its specific biochemical target in plants, emerging evidence suggests that chronic, low-level human exposure may disrupt metabolic processes. Simultaneously, the global rise in metabolic disorders such as metabolic syndrome (MetS), obesity, and type 2 diabetes, has created a pressing need to identify novel, potentially modifiable environmental contributors. This dissertation investigates the relationship between glyphosate and metabolic health through a triangulated framework that integrates individual-level epidemiological analysis, systematic synthesis of mechanistic evidence, and ecological evaluation of pesticide mixtures.

The first study employed …

Technological Development Of In-Cell Nmr: Microfluidic, Metabolomic, And Fluxomic Approaches, Nicholas Sciolino

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

In the fields of structural biology, metabolomics, and fluxomics, there is a driving, technique-based concern when it comes to high-resolution spectrometry and its marriage to biological and physiological relevance. Sample preparation often involves cellular perturbation, lysate separation schemes, combinations with non-biological reagents, and timeline slack. Conceptually, the farther we get from the cell, the greater the potential disparity between what exists in vivo and our in vitro manipulations. This is particularly true when seeking to collect data on transfected targets of interest, and on sensitive metabolic equilibria that occur on the order of minutes. The question remains: if we are …

Towards A Framework To Integrate Smart Urban Agriculture Into City Planning In Egypt, Heba Adel Ahmed Hussein

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study discusses challenges facing the expansion of urban agriculture in Egypt, investigates overcoming these challenges using smart solutions, and proposes a framework to integrate smart urban agriculture (SUA) into Egyptian cities’ plans. The proposed framework provides an insight into the aspects that should be considered before, during, and after transformation to SUA. This study could serve as a basis for the integration of smart agriculture into urban planning theories and practices, and as an inspiration for urban planners, designers, landscape architects, policymakers, and decision-makers to create strategies for promoting digital transformation in Egyptian cities.