Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Postpartum Recovery After Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Qualitative Study, Zeinab El-Dirani, Sergio A. Silverio, Eleni Niarchou, Elana Payne, Pauline Dunne, Melanie Nana, Catherine Williamson, Mary F. Higgins, Eileen O'Brien, Joan Devin, Aisling Walsh, Angela C. Flynn

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Introduction: Hyperemesis Gravidarum affects 0.3–3.6% of women during pregnancy and has a significant impact on maternal health. Investigation of both the immediate and longer-term effects remains a high research priority. However, there is limited research on postpartum recovery after hyperemesis gravidarum. Aim: To explore the postpartum recovery experiences of women who had hyperemesis gravidarum. Methods: A large descriptive qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews to explore the postpartum experiences of women who had hyperemesis gravidarum within the previous 5 years in Ireland. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Forty-one women participated, and four themes were identified: (1) …

Health And Environmental Consequences Of Blue Light Exposure And Mitigation Strategies: A Review, Dr Hani Alkhatib, Brian Norton

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Blue light is a natural component of the visible spectrum that has a fundamental role in regulating circadian rhythms, visual performance, mood, and daytime alertness. In modern environments, however, exposure patterns have shifted due to widespread use of artificial lighting and digital devices. Artificial blue light exposure can be mistimed relative to the biological night. This literature review examines the consequences of inappropriately timed artificial blue light exposure. Specifically, the review covers: (i) the spectral biology of blue light and its role in circadian entrainment; (ii) the timing-, intensity-, and duration-dependent effects on human sleep, ocular health, mood, and metabolic …

Imperfections And Scars: The Aesthetics Of Curated Decay In Urban Conservation: The Aesthetics Of Curated Decay In Urban Conservation, Ioana Moldovan, Connell Vaughan, Michael O’Hara, Silivan Moldovan, Ioana Cecălășan

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This paper explores the value of imperfections and curated decay in the conservation of architecture and public art as vehicles of cultural memory. While conventional heritage practice treats physical degradation as a threat, newer conservation ethics argue for embracing material impermanence within an aesthetics of care. We examine how acknowledging patina, weathering, and even structural decline can become an act of care, maintaining the “spirit” and authenticity of a place. The theoretical framework integrated the aesthetics of imperfection, including concepts like the Japanese wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in the incomplete and impermanent, critical heritage theory (which questions whose memories and …

Immigration Federalism And The Promise Of State Constitutions, Joanne Gottesman

Lewis & Clark Law Review

This Article explores state constitutions’ promises and pitfalls for immigrant rights advocacy. This is a particularly urgent endeavor, given the anti-immigrant measures of President Trump’s second term and a U.S. Supreme Court that is willing to reverse longstanding precedent. Even cases like Plyler v. Doe, with its guarantee of free public education to undocumented children, could be vulnerable. While U.S. Supreme Court opinions protecting immigrant rights are the gold standard because they apply nationwide, state courts and state constitutions provide critical alternative avenues for relief that should not be overlooked.

This Article considers some state constitutional provisions that may help …

Management Of Newborns Born To Mothers With Positive Syphilis Testing During Pregnancy: A Community Hospital Experience, Jeffrey Johnson Md, Phd, Jonathan T. Berback Mph, Cic, Tibisay Villalobos Md

Fellows and Residents

No abstract provided.

Implementing The Lung Donor (Lundon) Acceptability Score In U.S. Donor Management And Transplant Decision-Making: A Multi-Aim, Mixed-Methods Protocol, Nikki E. Rossetti, Su-Hsin Chang, Yan Yan, Graham Jaensch-Frie, Charles R. Liu, Nahom Y. Seyoum, Meghna Katta, Arvind Kumar, Zhizhou Yang, Christian Oncken, Christy Hamilton, Kyle Stumbaugh, Brendan Heiden, Sarah Peskoe, Varun Puri, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in transplantation science, a persistent shortage of donor lungs continues to limit access to life-saving lung transplants. The Lung Donor (LUNDON) Acceptability Score is a validated tool that predicts donor lung utilization and post-transplant recipient outcomes, but integration into practice remains limited. This study will evaluate determinants of LUNDON score adoption, its impact on clinical decision-making, and develop tools to support its implementation.

METHODS: This is a multi-aim mixed-methods pre-implementation study that will be conducted across U.S. Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) and lung transplant centers. Aim 1 will identify barriers and facilitators of LUNDON score adoption through …

Examining The Current And Potential Impacts Of Erosion, Flooding, And Permafrost Thaw On Small Businesses In The Lower Kuskokwim Basin, Alaska, Dela Yao Agbagba

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

Temporal Analysis Of Supraglacial Drainage Systems On The Greenland Ice Sheet From 2009-2017 Using Very High-Resolution Satellite Imagery, Field Measurements, And Climate Models, Natalie Gallegos Nunez

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

No abstract provided.

An Intuitionistic Fuzzy Hypergraph Model Enhanced ‎By Forest-Of-Walks Dynamics For Medical Image ‎Segmentation, Brinthaguru Thangaraj, Karthick Palanisamy

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The process of accurately segmenting Urolithiasis and pulmonary nodules from medical images presents significant difficulties because of three main factors which include nonuniform intensity distribution and the presence of weak object borders and the uncertainty caused by anatomical structure overlaps. The study introduces F-Zinhger as a solution to these problems through its application of the Forest of Walks technology. The method uses superpixels as fundamental elements which form a multi-scale hypergraph that establishes hyperedges through three criteria: intensity similarity, spatial proximity, and Z-intuitionistic fuzzy hesitation to capture complex contextual connections. The system incorporates a random walk-based label propagation system. The …

A Hybrid Geospatial And Remote Sensing Methodology For Drought Vulnerability Assessment In Semi-Arid Ecosystems, Kaifi Fakhir Chomani

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) faced significant drought challenges due to global and environmental changes, necessitating drought assessments. Advanced techniques of remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) were combined in this research to perform drought vulnerability zonation for KRI. Average annual rainfall, Average number of rainy days, Average annual temperature, slope, elevation, normalised difference water index (NDWI), normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), land surface temperature (LST), and temperature condition index (TCI) were selected as contributing parameters for drought vulnerability assessments. The considered parameters were weighted using pairwise comparison, and thematic maps were created to …

Cross-Domain Antimicrobial Resistance In Poultry Farming: A One Health Assessment Of Antimicrobial Use And Multidrug Resistance In Kiambu County, Kenya, Ann Kangai Munene, Peter Muiruri Mwangi, Lilly Caroline Bebora, Christine Minoo Mbindyo, John Muthini Maingi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background and Aim: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major One Health threat driven by inappropriate antimicrobial use (AMU) in humans, animals, and the environment. Poultry production is recognized as a key reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, yet few studies in Kenya examine AMU and AMR across interconnected human–animal–environment domains. This study assessed AMU patterns among poultry farmers in Kiambu County and characterized phenotypic resistance in Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. isolated from humans, chickens, and chicken environments. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to September 2024, involving 102 poultry farms. Farm demographics and AMU data …

Mapping Robusta Coffee (Coffea Canephora) Cropping Systems In Uganda: A Two-Step Pixel And Sub-Pixel Based Approach With Sentinel-2 Data, Getachew Kebede, Bester Tawona Mudereri, Onisimo Mutanga, Tobias Landmann, John Odindi, Natacha Motisi, Fabrice Pinard, Henri E.Z. Tonnang, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Coffee is a highly valued commodity and a widely consumed beverage, playing an important role in global trade. However, coffee farming landscapes are increasing transitioning into smaller-scale agricultural setups. This transformation highlights the critical need for accurate classification and mapping of coffee cropping systems (CS), especially in countries like Uganda, where dense vegetation and complex terrain present substantial challenges to traditional land survey methods. Moreover, understanding the spatial distribution of Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) CS is essential for developing site-specific management strategies, guiding extension services, and informing evidence-based policy decisions. To address this gap, the present study aimed to enhance …

Roles Of Cytokines In Modulating Trypanosoma Brucei Rhodesiense Infection Outcomes In Vervet Monkeys, Clarah Jebet, John Kibuthu Thuita, Daniel Masiga, Benedict Owino Orindi, John Oidho, Mark C. Field, Enock Matovu, Vincent Owino Adung’A

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Introduction:

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, is categorized as acute due to rapid disease progression but presents varying clinical outcomes. Although the mechanisms underpinning differential clinical progression are poorly understood, both host and parasite factors are implicated. Therefore, we sought to elucidate roles of primate host factors in mediating varying T. b. rhodesiense infection outcomes.

Methods:

Here, we assessed the roles of selected host cytokines in disease progression using a tsetse-mediated infection in a non-human primate (NHP) vervet monkey model that closely mimics HAT and natural infection. We quantified eight cytokines, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-6, …

Impact Of Environmental Microparticles On Insect Olfaction, Steve B.S. Baleba, Danube K.N. Wandji, Yves H. Tchiechoua, Komi Mensah Agboka, Iman B. Hassaballa, Victor O. Omondi, Beatrice T. Nganso, Saliou Niassy, Souleymane Diallo, Merid N. Getahun

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Terrestrial insects underpin key ecosystem services, including pollination, herbivory regulation, decomposition, nutrient cycling, and disease control. These functions depend on chemical communication that guides insects to food, mates, hosts, shelters, and oviposition sites while helping them avoid threats. Environmental microparticles, such as micro- and nanoplastics, tyre wear particles, soot, mineral dust, and agricultural residues, are now widespread across air, soil, vegetation, and indoor environments, exposing insects through contact, deposition, and ingestion. Growing evidence shows that these particles disrupt insect olfaction by adsorbing volatile compounds, blocking antennal sensilla, and interfering with receptor and neuronal processes. These disruptions impair foraging, mating, oviposition, …

Synergistic Impact Of A Colorectal Bundle On Surgical Site Infections In Children, Allen J. Huang, Nicholas A. Long, Owen N. Ferriola, Joan C. Bruce, Douglas J. Fox Iii, Erin M. Morris, Jeannette M. Joly, Carleen V. Cuevas, Akemi Kawaguchi, Kuojen Tsao

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Development Of A 3d-Printed Hemodynamic Model To Characterize Doppler Signatures Of Obstructed Tapvr, Michael R. Turner, Maher R. Saadeh, Holly D. Bauser-Heaton, Vahid Serpooshan

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

A Community-Informed Survey Identifying Research Priorities For Sex Chromosome Aneuploidies, Matthew Fein

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Mosquito Arboviral Infections Detected Through Xenosurveillance In Africa: A Focus On West Nile, Rift Valley Fever, And Chikungunya Virus Infections, Mxolisi Mgongoma, Armanda Bastos, Abel Ramoelo, David P. Tchouassi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This systematic review and meta-analysis comprehensively evaluated the mosquito arboviral infections with West Nile virus (WNV), Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), and chikungunya virus (CHIV), detected through xenosurveillance, reported in mosquito vectors across Africa in the last 25 years (2000–2024). The study analysed xenosurveillance data from 45 studies conducted with over 115,000 mosquito specimens, and incorporated moderator analyses to assess the influence of trap type, seasonality, regional location, settlement type, and screening methods on virus detection rates. The estimated pooled prevalence of WNV was 1.18% (95% CI: 0.60–3.43%), with higher rates observed in Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex pipiens, particularly in …

Pathways, Outputs And Impact Of Nih-Supported Bioinformatics And Genomics Graduate Trainees In Africa, Daudi Jjingo, Andrew Walakira, Suhaila Hashim, Cisse Cheickna, Ronald Galiwango, Caleb Kibet, Florence N. Kivunike, Gerald Mboowa, Fredrick Elishama Kakembo, Babajide Ayodele, Jean Baka Domelevo Entfellner, Santie De Villiers, Karen Wambui, Segun Fatumo, Tinashe Chikowore, John Mukisa, Alfred Ssekagiri, Nicholas Bbosa, Julius Mulindwa, Samuel Kyobe, Mike Nsubuga, Grace Kebirungi, Eric Katagirya, Savannah Mwesigwa, Ibra Lujumba, Rogers Kamulegeya, Samuel Kirimunda, Stephen Kanyerezi, Shahiid Kiyaga, Ivan Sserwadda, Davis Kiberu, Daniel Masiga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Global biomedical and health research is increasingly relying on genomic and computational approaches, largely driven by the increasing volumes of nucleic acid sequencing. Concurrently, epidemiological studies and clinical records are generating enormous amounts of data amenable to disease modeling, machine learning, and artificial intelligence techniques. Bioinformatics and data science expertise is therefore essential for improved population health. Accordingly, in 2012, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) in partnership with the Wellcome Trust, and with support from the African Society for Human Genetics, initiated the H3Africa (Human Heredity and Health in Africa) consortium. One of its key goals was to …

Effects Of Temperature On The Life-History Traits Of Myzus Persicae And Its Efficiency In Transmitting Potato Virus Y (Pvy) In Potato Crops, Bonoukpoè M. Sokame, Henri E. Tonnang, Heidy Gamarra, Pablo Carhuapoma, Jan Kreuze, Leah R. Johnson, Ali Arab, Peter A. Armbruster, Oswaldo C. Villena

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Aphids are highly sensitive to temperature changes and play a crucial role in transmitting plant viruses, accounting for the transmission of more than 50% of viruses that cause disease in crops. Among them, Myzus persicae is a major global pest, affecting over 400 plant species and transmitting more than 100 plant viruses, including potato virus Y (PVY), which poses a severe threat to potato crops. This study examines how temperature influences the life-history traits of M. persicae and its efficiency in transmitting PVY. Our research revealed that temperature significantly affects developmental duration, survival, and fecundity of M. persicae. The aphids …

The Career Choices Of Final Year Nursing Students In The United Kingdom: A Qualitative Study., Kevin Hambridge, Frazer Underwood, Gosia Bettache, Matt Carey, Halil Kaya, Lisa Burrows, Rachel Tims, Christian Brailsford

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the career choices of final year under-graduate nursing students in the United Kingdom. Background: Worldwide there is a decreasing number of nurses and in the United Kingdom there is a decreasing amount of nursing students. There is sparce evidence relating to the career's choices of nursing students and reasons for those choices. Obtaining a deeper comprehension of these choices may aid healthcare employers, in partnership with universities, to design the future nursing workforce. Design: A qualitative design was used. Methods: Twenty-one final year under-graduate nursing students from across a range of …

Next-Generation Virtual Environment Training For Cybersecurity In The Maritime Logistics Industry: A Position Paper, Tyler Cheng, Rory Hopcraft, Kimberly Tam, Ji-Jian Chin

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The maritime logistics industry is the most dependent on it in the modern world, yet it is not well protected against cyber risks. Recently, the maritime industry has been transitioning into industry-specific tech, and threats of cyberattacks are increasing as the adoption of technology and automation continues. One of the most effective methods to protect industries and ships from such security incidents, is to train seafarers to mitigate and handle such incidents. However, to the best of our knowledge, we did not find anything that addresses this gap. This article will present the idea and benefits of using virtual environments …

Exploring The Acceptability Of Integrating Dietitians Into Primary Care Dental Services For Children, Lauren Hallewell, Raul Bescos, Zoe Brookes, Tracey Parkin, Robert Witton, Patricia Casas-Agustench

School of Health Professions

BACKGROUND: Dental caries is a common childhood non-communicable disease strongly associated with high sugar intake. Beyond oral health, a poor diet can affect children's growth, development, and overall well-being. While dietary advice is central to preventive dental care, some primary care dental clinics have introduced body mass index (BMI) assessments and further dietary advice to address wider nutritional concerns in children. However, these efforts are often constrained by limited nutrition training, time constraints and concerns about sensitivity. Integrating dietitians into primary dental care may help overcome these barriers by enhancing dietary guidance, supporting broader nutritional needs and facilitating structured BMI …

From Predictions To Explanations: Explainable Ai For Autism Diagnosis And Identification Of Critical Brain Regions: 18th International Joint Conference, Biostec 2025, Kush Gupta, Amir Aly, Emmanuel Ifeachor, Rohit Shankar

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmentalcondition characterized by atypical brain maturation. However, the adaptationof transfer learning paradigms in machine learning for ASD researchremains notably limited. In this study, we propose a computeraideddiagnostic framework with two modules. This chapter presents atwo-module framework combining deep learning and explainable AI forASD diagnosis. The first module leverages a deep learning model finetunedthrough cross-domain transfer learning for ASD classification. Thesecond module focuses on interpreting the model’s decisions and identifyingcritical brain regions. To achieve this, we employed three explainableAI (XAI) techniques: saliency mapping, Gradient-weighted Class ActivationMapping, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis.This framework demonstrates that …

Biocompatibility Of Silver And Hydroxyapatite Antimicrobial Nanocoatings On Titanium Alloy Dental Implants With Human Gingival Fibroblasts, S Morgan, R D Handy, V M Salih, R N Salaie, C J Tredwin, A Besinis

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

OBJECTIVES: Peri-implantitis compromises soft and hard tissues around dental implants, often leading to implant failure. Antibacterial nanocoatings offer a promising infection control strategy, but maintaining biocompatibility is essential. This study investigated, through a range of assays and analytical techniques, the biocompatibility of antimicrobial silver and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocoatings applied to titanium implants with human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs).

METHODS: Silver and hydroxyapatite nanocoatings were applied to the surface of titanium alloy specimens using electroplating, deposition and sintering techniques. The biocompatibility of the nanocoatings with HGFs was assessed by measuring cell metabolic activity (alamarBlue), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, collagen production (Sircol assay), …

The Rna-Binding Protein Hur Modulates The Expression Of The Disease-Linked Ccl2 Rs1024611g-Rs13900t Haplotype, Feroz Akhtar, Joselin Hernandez-Ruiz, Ya-Guang Liu, Roy G. Resendez, Denis Feliers, Liza D. Morales, Alvaro Diaz-Badillo, Donna M. Lehman, Rector Arya, Juan Carlos Lopez-Alvarenga, John Blangero, Ravi Duggirala, Srinivas Mummidi

School of Medicine Publications

CC-chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases associated with monocyte/macrophage recruitment, such as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), tuberculosis, and atherosclerosis. The rs1024611 (alleles: A>G; G is the risk allele) polymorphism in the CCL2 cis-regulatory region is associated with increased CCL2 expression in vitro and ex vivo, leukocyte mobilization in vivo, and deleterious disease outcomes. However, the molecular basis for the rs1024611-associated differential CCL2 expression remains poorly characterized. It is conceivable that genetic variant(s) in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with rs1024611 could mediate such effects. Previously, we used rs13900 (alleles: C>T) in the CCL2 …

Associations Of Blood Pressure Level And Variability With Cortical Thickness: A Cross-Sectional Analysis From The Maracaibo Aging Study, Romeo De Leon, Shana Garza, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Kristina Vatcheva, Sokratis Charisis, Claudia L. Satizabal, Luis J. Mena, Joseph H. Lee, Joseph D. Terwilliger, Eron Manusov

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Although high blood pressure (BP) level and variability are associated with Alzheimer's Disease (AD), their relationship with cortical thickness in brain regions that are associated with AD is unclear. Furthermore, the role of 24-hour BP has not been examined. We investigated the associations of office and ambulatory BP measures with cortical thickness in brain regions implicated in AD.

Methods: We performed a cross sectional analysis of 304 participants without dementia from a population-based study with office and 24-hour BP and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. We considered cortical thickness values derived from 10 regions throughout the frontal, parietal, and …

Reduced Threat-Related Neural Efficiency: A Possible Biomarker For Pediatric Anxiety Disorders, Julia O. Linke, Reut Naim, Simona P. Haller, Parmis Khosravi, Beck Scheinberg, Meghan E. Byrne, Anita Harrewijn, Ellen Leibenluft, Melissa A. Brotman, Anderson M. Winkler, Daniel Samuel Pine

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: Pediatric anxiety disorders are common and predict adult psychopathology, yet current treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), produce lasting remission in less than 50% of affected youths. To support the search for improved, mechanistically grounded interventions, this study evaluated neural efficiency, defined as similarity in functional connectivity between a threat task and rest, as a potential biomarker. The study evaluated neural efficiency in relation to anxiety diagnosis and treatment response.

Methods: The authors compared 103 youths with an anxiety disorder diagnosis (mean age, 12.5 years [SD=2.91], 62% female) to 103 youths with no psychiatric diagnosis (mean age, 13.4 years …

Repurposing Of Fda-Approved Drugs Identifies Glipizide As A Potent Hmg-Coa Reductase Inhibitor: A High-Throughput Virtual Screening And Molecular Dynamics Approach For Targeting Hypercholesterolemia, Parvej Ahmad, Eswara N. Hanuma Kumar Ghali, Sahir S. Alvi

School of Medicine Publications

Purpose:

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Several inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-R), the key hepatic cholesterogenic enzyme, are prescribed to treat hypercholesterolemia and ASCVD. Statins, the established HMG-R inhibitors, exhibit promising cholesterol-lowering effects; however, their long-term use has prompted significant concerns, necessitating the search for additional therapeutic candidates with strong HMG-R inhibitory activity. Therefore, this study aims to find potential HMG-R inhibitor/s that may help reduce excess cholesterol levels via targeting HMG-R activity.

Methods: In this study, 1285 FDA-approved small molecules were assessed for their HMG-R inhibitory potential using …

Breaking The Resistance: A Narrative Review Of The Evolution From Traditional Drugs To Precision Therapies In Epilepsy, Tirath Patel, Fathimathul Henna, Ashfaq Ahmed, Ayesha Ahmad, Noor Ul Huda, Syed Aaraiz Ul Hassan, Aiman Muhammad, Amna Javed, Maryem Filal, Nikhilesh Anand

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, affecting approximately 50 million individuals globally. While conventional antiseizure medications (ASMs) control seizures in 70-80% of patients, about 30% experience drug resistance or intolerable side effects, necessitating alternative approaches.

Objective: To critically compare the efficacy, safety, and accessibility of conventional and emerging therapies for epilepsy, particularly in the context of treatment-resistant cases and global disparities in care.

Methods: This narrative review synthesized evidence from 120 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025. Literature was retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus using predefined search terms related to epilepsy …