Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of External Debt On Environmental Degradation Indicators: Case Studies Of Oic Countries, Fandy Fadillah, Nur Dhani Hendranastiti

International Journal of Islamic Economics and Business Sustainability

The current climate problem has a real impact on human life in which humans have also contributed to exacerbating this problem. One activity that can contribute to environmental degradation is through debt, including external debt, that can be used as financing instrument for development projects that exploit resources. On the other hand, the use of debt can also be advantageous for environment if it is used for financing green projects. The use of external debt becomes more debatable for OIC countries, as Islam has particular rules in how debt can be used. Hence, this study aims to observe the existence …

Enhanced Transdermal Immunization Via Solid-In-Oil Nanodispersions Incorporating Dendritic Cell-Targeting Peptide, Md Samiul Islam, Md. Shahin Ekka Sarker, Yoshirou Kawaguchi, Rie Wakabayashi, Noriho Kamiya, Muhammad Moniruzzaman, Masahiro Goto

Publications and Research

Transdermal immunization represents a promising needle-free alternative to conventional vaccination. However, efficient antigen delivery and robust immune activation remain major challenges. In this study, a solid-in-oil (S/O) nanodispersion system comprising a dendritic cell-targeting peptide (HR8), ovalbumin (OVA), and an adjuvant was developed for transdermal immunization. The HR8 peptide along with OVA was successfully incorporated into an S/O nanodispersion with an optimal hydrodynamic diameter of particles (< 200 nm) and exhibited stable physical properties for up to 90 days. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated enhanced antigen delivery with insignificant skin irritation in C57BL/6N mice. Moreover, in vivo transdermal immunization studies demonstrated that the addition of the HR8 peptide enhanced OVA-specific IgG responses (~1.5-fold). Notably, the HR8 peptide also promoted an approximately 2.5-fold increase in IgG2c levels, suggesting a shift toward a more T helper type 1-biased immune response, as reflected by an increased IgG2c/IgG1 ratio. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the incorporation of HR8 peptide into an S/O nanodispersion enables efficient transdermal antigen delivery and improved immunogenicity, highlighting its potential as a simple, non-invasive, and patient-friendly immunization strategy.

The Impact Of Age, Health, And Education On Public Attitudes Towards Covid-19 Vaccines In Ireland, Kate Buckley, Aisling Burke, Chloe Holland, Clodagh O'Flynn

International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences

Abstract:

Introduction: Studies have revealed that age, health status and 3^rd level education influence public attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that influence the public’s attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine two years post-pandemic.

Methods: Ethical approval was obtained for the study. A total of 241 participants who provided informed consent were surveyed anonymously using closed-ended, open-ended and Likert Scale questions. Associations between specific demographics and vaccination attitudes were established using SPSS software.

Results: A higher percentage of 25–34-year-olds and 35–44-year-olds regretted receiving COVID-19 vaccines (46.6% and 37.5% …

The Impact Of Abortion Laws On The Rights Of Future Generations In Climate Change Litigation, Laura Chiu

Florida Journal of International Law

In their own respects, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea (Korea), and India are three vastly different countries, and their differences are also apparent within their respective legal systems and the legal protections, or lack of, in place on abortion. Throughout the years, these three countries have shifted in three distinct directions with their abortion laws. The United States has regressed in its protection of the right to an abortion. Korea has recently decriminalized abortion for the first time in 2021. And India has continued to pass increasingly progressive abortion laws and abortion rulings over the years …

African American Mother Counselors' Lived Experiences During The Dual Pandemics Of Covid-19 And Structural Racism, Shanti Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and structural racism in 2020 created compounded personal and professional stressors for African American mothers who are professional counselors, yet little was known about how they appraised these stressors and selected coping strategies. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe what it means to be an African American mother and professional counselor making decisions about coping strategies to manage personal and professional stressors during the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and structural racism in 2020. Guided by Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology and informed by the Transactional …

Demographic And Socioeconomic Factors Related To Visceral Leishmaniasis Infection In South Sudan, Duncan Ochieng Ochol

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Visceral leishmaniasis, a severe parasitic disease that is invariably fatal, is characterized by frequent outbreaks, and is associated with poverty. South Sudan is among the countries with the highest burden of visceral leishmaniasis. However, few studies have investigated factors associated with visceral leishmaniasis in the country. This study investigated demographic (age, gender, marital status, education level and occupation) and socioeconomic factors (transport, access to health services and residence) that may be associated with visceral leishmaniasis infection in South Sudan. The study was anchored on the socioecological model conceptual framework, which describes the interaction between individual and their social environment and …

A Perfect Storm In Advanced Aids: Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome From Pneumocystis Jirovecii And Mycobacterium Avium Complex Coinfection, Abdel Martinez, Abelardo Rodriguez, Conrad Chouinard, Fatimah Bello

School of Medicine Publications

Advanced HIV infection is associated with profound immunosuppression, predisposing patients to opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). PJP can cause severe respiratory disease, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), while disseminated MAC may contribute to systemic illness and pulmonary complications. Concurrent infection with both pathogens is uncommon but may precipitate severe pulmonary failure. A man in his 40s presented with unintentional weight loss, fatigue, oral thrush, and progressive dyspnea. On arrival, oxygen saturation was 86% on room air, requiring high-flow nasal cannula. Laboratory evaluation revealed profound immunosuppression (CD4 7 cells/mm3, HIV RNA 123,000 …

Health And Health Care In Intentional Communities, Lyman Tower Sargent

Communal Societies

No abstract provided.

Curriculum Integration Of High-Consequence Infectious Disease Preparedness In Nursing Education, Shinu Joy, Corri Levine, Kimberly Rumsey

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Infectious threats with pandemic potential are occurring more frequently, emphasizing the need to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals for safe, effective management of complex cases. The health system serves as one of 13 federally funded Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers (RESPTCs) and the only one in the Health and Human Services (HHS) Region 6. The on-site Biocontainment Care Unit (BCU) is designed to care for patients with high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs). The Special Pathogens Excellence in Clinical Treatment, Readiness, and Education (SPECTRE) Program supports this mission by providing comprehensive training for professionals and students in the recognition, …

Bridging The Gap In Science Research: Preparing Students For College- Level Research In The Sciences, Victoria Helwig, Yaoguang Li

UConn Library Presentations

Many first-year students enter college unprepared to fully engage with scientific literature and academic library resources. Drawing on experiences from academic librarians working with STEM students, this session explores common gaps in science research skills, including navigating databases, identifying scholarly sources, and understanding the structure of scientific literature. Participants will be introduced to practical strategies and classroom-ready activities to better prepare students for college-level research. Discussion questions: What science research skills do students struggle with most when entering college? How can high school instruction better support these skills? Where can librarians and educators collaborate to support student success?

From Fields To Flu: Mapping H5n1 Zoonotic Risk In California Rice Fields, Mariati Messinger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 threatens agriculture, wildlife, and public health in California, where flooded rice fields in the Central Valley provide surrogate wetland habitat for migratory waterfowl and may create ecological interfaces for viral spillover into poultry systems. This quantitative ecological study examined whether county-level rice acreage, Lesser Snow Goose activity, and their interaction were associated with poultry HPAI H5N1 outbreak incidence during complete winter seasons available for analysis. Guided by One Health and disease ecology frameworks, secondary data from USDA, eBird, PRISM, and public surveillance sources were analyzed for 36 county-winter observations using negative binomial regression, logistic …

Analysis Of Communicable Disease Trends In Children: Babylon Governorate, Iraq From 2022 To 2024, Sahar Hassan, Kareem Jebur Dhaidan

Al-Ameed Journal for Medical Research and Health Sciences

Background: Infectious diseases are a great challenge to the health of children globally. This paper provides an epidemiological scenario and patterns of these diseases among children in the Hilla Babylon Governorate, Iraq, and specifically, the re-emergence of meals.

Methods: The retrospective study was carried out on 7851 medical records of children aged below 15 years between the period of January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024. The registry of Babylon Maternity and Children Hospital was used to extract data. Data were analyzed in terms of trends and distributions by age, sex and time using descriptive statistics and inferential tests.

Results: …

Evaluating An Educational Intervention On Penicillin Allergy De-Labeling Among Graduate Nursing Students, Allison Desmond

DNP Projects

Background
Approximately 10% of patients report a penicillin allergy; however, up to 90% of these individuals are not truly allergic. Inaccurate penicillin allergy labels contribute to inappropriate antibiotic use, increased healthcare costs, and antimicrobial resistance. Education on penicillin allergy testing remains limited among future Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs).

Methods
A quantitative quality improvement project using a pretest-posttest design was conducted among second- and third-year Doctor of Nursing Practice–Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) students enrolled in Pharmacology II or Advanced Practice Nursing III at a Midwestern liberal arts college. Participants completed a 15-minute voiceover PowerPoint educational intervention on penicillin allergy testing and …

Urban Climatic And Health Impacts Of Aerosols, Yuezhi Li

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Aerosols, also known as particulate matter (PM), strongly influence the climate and pose considerable risks to human health. As short-lived climate forcers, aerosols alter the Earth’s radiative budget by absorbing and scattering incident solar radiation, thereby affecting global and regional temperatures, atmospheric circulation, cloud formation, and precipitation patterns. From a public health perspective, exposure to particulate matter, particularly fine and ultrafine particles, has been associated with a wide range of adverse outcomes, including respiratory diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and premature mortality. In addition, aerosols can transport pathogens and represent a critical pathway for the transmission of airborne infectious diseases. Despite contributing …

Clinicopathologic Spectrum Of Renal Disease In Sars-Cov-2 Infection And Post-Covid-19 Vaccination, Naya Williams, Mohammed S. Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

Both SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination have been associated with renal complications. In the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection, kidney injury is primarily attributed to a complex interplay of systemic immune dysregulation and vascular damage. Severe infection triggers a cytokine-mediated inflammatory response characterized by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, resulting in systemic hemodynamic instability, increased capillary permeability, and renal hypoperfusion, ultimately leading to acute tubular injury. In addition, virus-induced endothelial activation promotes a prothrombotic state, microvascular injury, and further impairment of renal perfusion. Collectively, these processes converge to produce acute kidney injury (AKI) and, in severe or prolonged cases, may contribute …

Academics’ Views On Integrating Climate Change In Nursing And Midwifery: A Mixed Methods Study, Seda Guney, Seda Sarikose, Tuba Sengul, Nurten Kaya

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Climate change is a major global health challenge requiring integration into nursing and midwifery education [1]. Yet, evidence on educators’ awareness, concern, and curricular engagement remains limited [2].

Purpose: This study explored academics’ awareness and worry about climate change and their perspectives on integrating related content into nursing and midwifery curricula.

Design and Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design guided by the Sustainability in Global Nursing framework [3] was used. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently (March–August 2025). The quantitative phase involved 160 faculty members from nursing and/or midwifery programs completing an online survey that included the Climate …

Advancing Equity In Hiv Prevention And Care For Women: A Nurse-Led Model In Ontario, Roya Haghiri-Vijeh, Karen Campbell, Molly Bennerman, Grace Chiutsi, Tamara Barnett, Ramesh Venkatesa Perumal, Mia Biondi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Cisgender and transgender women experience persistent inequities in HIV prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, often compounded by systemic barriers and stigma (Threats et al., 2021; Sanchez et al., 2025). Nurse-led, women-centered models of care offer promising strategies to address these gaps, yet evidence on their implementation remains limited (Relf, 2022).

Purpose: This study explored barriers and facilitators to HIV/STBBI prevention and treatment within women-led, nurse-facilitated models of care in Ontario, Canada, to inform the co-design of inclusive, trauma- and violence-informed approaches.

Methods: Guided by community and service provider advisory boards, five stakeholder groups were engaged: women with lived/living experience, AIDS …

Assessing The Impact Of A Pharmacy Driven Adult Clostridioides Difficile Screening, Anya Sawhney, Jarrod W. Kile Rphd, Brooke Broczkowski Pharmd, Eric Young Md, Kathryn Zaffiri Mph, Golda Peysakhova Pharmd

Research Scholars

No abstract provided.

Sepsis Not Present On Admission Mortality Analysis: Insights From Squad Virtual Nurse Monitoring, Adelaide Weir, Courtney Moore Md, Lorraine Valeriano Bsn, Rn, Cnrn, Michael Blawn Bsn, Rn, Deborah Santos Bsn, Rn, Jessica Maher Adn, Rn, Ccrn, Timothy J. Friel Md, Matthew Mccambridge Md, Dana Peluso Lpn, Bs

Research Scholars

No abstract provided.

Dental Services Access And Oral Health Improvement In Gypsy, Romany And Traveller Communities: A Scoping Review, Martha Paisi, John Rowe, Joelle Booth, Lorna Burns, Janine Doughty, Afsha Musa, Robert Witton

Peninsula Dental School

BackgroundGypsy, Romany, and Traveller (GRT) populations experience poor oral health, with a recognised unmet need for care compounded by multiple barriers to accessing dental services. This scoping review aims to identify and map the available evidence, as well as gaps in the literature, relating to oral health improvement and access to care among GRT populations in Europe.MethodsStudies published in English relating to oral health improvement and/or access to care among GRT populations were included. Electronic databases searched comprised Embase (Ovid), Scopus (Elsevier), Web of Science (Clarivate), and Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source (EBSCOhost). In addition, a grey literature search was …

Icare System Implementation For Phlebitis Prevention: A Quality Improvement Study, Rini Rachmawaty, Agussalim Bukhari, Elly Wahyudin, Indra Gaffar, Sarah Bernadette L. Balena, Gulzar Malik

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Healthcare-associated phlebitis remains a critical challenge in Indonesian hospitals, where incidence rates reach 31.7%, dramatically exceeding the national benchmark of less than 1%. A major contributing factor is poor adherence to integrated clinical pathways, particularly concerning incompatible intravenous drug combinations such as ceftriaxone administered with calcium-containing solutions.

Objective: We aimed to reduce phlebitis incidence through implementation of an online integrated clinical pathway compliance system (iCare System) among patients with high-volume, high-risk, high-cost conditions at provincial government hospitals in South Sulawesi.

Methods: This prospective quality improvement study was conducted at Indonesian regional hospital, located in Makassar, between April and July …

Higher Mortality And Distinct Complications After Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion In Dialysis Patients, Despite Improvements Over Prior Decade: A National Inpatient Study, Mitchell K. Ng, Leonidas E. Mastrokostas, Paul G. Mastrokostas, William A. Green, Joshua Mathew, Gregorio Baek, Yasmine Eichbaum, Yulia Lee, Morgan Hitchner, Jonathan Dalton, Adam Fano, Alec Giakas, Rajendra Singh, Brendan Reitman, Afshin E. Razi, Daniel R. Fassett, Alan S. Hilibrand, Alex R. Vaccaro, Christopher K. Kepler, Gregory D. Schroeder, Andrew P. Alvarez

Rothman Institute Papers

Introduction: Dialysis patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) face elevated perioperative risk due to complex comorbidities. This study aimed to (1) identify associations between dialysis status and perioperative complications after ACDF, (2) quantify differences in length of stay (LOS), hospitalization costs, and discharge disposition, and (3) provide a contemporary national benchmark for outcomes in this high-risk population. Materials and Methods: The 2016–2022 National Inpatient Sample was queried for adult elective ACDF cases. Dialysis dependence was identified through International Classification of Diseases-10 codes for end-stage renal disease with hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Demographics, comorbidities, complications, LOS, costs, and discharge …

Keeping It Simple - Petersburg Firm Finds Savings, Satisfaction With Dental Direct, Richard F. Roadcap Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Performance Evaluation Of The Xpert® Hcv Test On Fingerstick Blood In A Prospective Observational Clinical Study At Clia-Waived Sites In The United States, Jennifer R Havens, L Madeline Mccrary, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: A major barrier to hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination in the United States is the lack of a point-of-care test to confirm the presence of HCV RNA. The purpose of this clinical trial was to evaluate the performance of the Xpert® HCV test at CLIA-waived sites in the United States.

METHODS: Participants at risk and/or with signs/symptoms of HCV infection provided fingerstick blood that was tested on the Xpert® HCV test and venous blood tested using the cobas® HCV and Elecsys® Anti-HCV II tests. Fingerstick blood was collected at CLIA-waived sites by individuals self-trained on collection procedures.

RESULTS: Participants …

The Best Of Both Worlds: How Combining A Large Language Model And A Rule-Based Algorithm Makes Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Surveillance More Efficient, Joshua Nordman, Claire Najjuuko, Nicholas Jeschke, Rachael E Snyders, Maria Cristina Vazquez Guillamet, Hilary Babcock, Patrick Reich, Andrew Atkinson, Jonas Marschall, Abby Sung, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) surveillance is critical for patient safety. Many healthcare systems use electronic algorithms to flag candidate infection events but still require manual chart review to confirm CAUTI cases. We evaluated the use of a large language model (LLM) to enhance CAUTI surveillance.

METHODS: We analyzed 919 potential CAUTI cases flagged by the electronic surveillance algorithm at Barnes-Jewish Hospital from 2021 to 2024. These cases were previously classified as 291 CAUTIs and 628 non-CAUTIs by trained infection preventionists (IPs). Several approaches for applying the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) CAUTI definition after extracting clinical data from …

Efficacy Of Monoclonal Antibody Treatment On Lowering Infectious Disease Burden In U.S. Elderly Patients, Lyndsey M. White, Daniel Johnson, A'Niya Jackson, Laiba Majid

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Older adults in the United States experience a high burden of infectious diseases due to age related immune decline, reduced vaccine responsiveness, and increased comorbidities. Monoclonal antibody therapies are an important strategy for lowering this burden because they provide immediate and highly specific immune protection. This review evaluates the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies in reducing infectious disease severity in elderly populations and examines how neutrophils and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps interact with antibody based treatments. Throughout the review, these therapies have been shown to be successful against multiple infectious diseases, and clinical findings suggest that hospitalized elderly or …

Investigating The Role Of The Gut Microbiome In Modulating Immune Responses To Infections, Abhinav Muthiraparambath, Matthew Guzie, Matthew Lim, Aryan Sharma, Julia Mendez, Irelis Orlando, Archi Patel

OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference

Increasing evidence links the gut microbiome to immune regulation, homeostasis, and infectious outcomes. Although gut dysbiosis is associated with impaired immune responses, the mechanisms linking microbial imbalance to immune dysfunction and diseases remain under-investigated. This study aims to investigate how changes in the gut microbiome contribute to immune dysfunction and disease progression, and whether biomarkers can improve the prediction of disease outcomes and therapeutic responses. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies explaining the relationship between gut microbiome dysbiosis and immune dysfunction. This was conducted by searching select words such as ‘Gut microbiome’, ‘Gut dysbiosis’, and ‘microbial …

Systemic Infection Of Beauveria Bassiana In A Stranded Endangered Green Turtle Chelonia Mydas: A Case Report, Ming-An Tsai, I-Chun Chen, Tsung-Hsien Li

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the most frequently encountered marine turtle species in Taiwan. This study describes the postmortem findings of a juvenile green turtle with injuries to the right foreflipper that was rescued off the Taiwan coast and died after 3 months in rehabilitation. Necropsy revealed large, yellow, multifocal caseous lesions involving the right foreflipper, spleen, liver, kidneys, and lungs. Fungal infection of Beauveria bassiana was confirmed by culture, morphological and molecular characterization, phylogenetic analysis, and histopathological examination. This report provides evidence that B. bassiana is associated with a systemic fungal infection which can be fatal …

Loss Of Atp-Dependent Citrate Lyase Drives Left Ventricular Dysfunction By Metabolic Remodeling, Shijie Liu, Seth T Gammon, Lin Tan, Yaqi Gao, Kyoungmin Kim, Mahmoud H Elbatreek, Adrian Arrieta, Ian K Williamson, Rebecca L Salazar, Janet Pham, Angela Davidian, Radhika Khanna Neicheril, Benjamin D Gould, Heidi Vitrac, Alia Sadiq, An Q Dinh, Evan C Lien, Francisca N De Luna Vitorino, Joanna M Gongora, Sara A Martinez, Melanie T Odenkirk, Anna K Boatman, Jessie R Chappel, Lawrence S C Czer, Evan P Kransdorf, David J Lefer, Blake M Hanson, Benjamin A Garcia, Erin M Baker, Matthew G Vander Heiden, Philip L Lorenzi, Heinrich Taegtmeyer, David Piwnica-Worms, James F Martin, Anja Karlstaedt

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Metabolic adaptation and maladaptation are hallmarks of the failing heart and may be a target for therapeutic interventions. For example, sustained glucose oxidation during cardiac stress is associated with increased activity and abundance of ACL (ATP-dependent citrate lyase, Acly), which produces acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) from citrate and CoA and supports de novo lipid synthesis. However, our understanding of how ACL supports cardiac metabolic adaptation and its potential to modulate disease pathophysiology has not yet been investigated.

Methods: We used human heart tissue samples from healthy donors and patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Next, we used CRISPR (clustered, regularly interspaced …

Development Of Novel Plasminogen Activators From Fragments Of Streptokinase Enzyme, Vijay G Mr

Theses and Dissertations

Thrombotic disorders such as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis remain major causes of mortality and disability worldwide, creating a continuing need for effective, safe and affordable thrombolytic therapy. Streptokinase is one of the most widely used plasminogen activators because of its activity, low cost and broad availability. However, its wider clinical utility is limited by high immunogenicity, allergic reactions, neutralizing antibody formation and poor suitability for repeat administration. This thesis aimed to develop novel streptokinase-derived plasminogen activators by identifying smaller functional fragments that retain thrombolytic activity while potentially reducing immunogenicity.

A literature-guided fragment-based strategy was …