Digital Commons Network^™

Building Academic-Community Partnerships To Reduce Rural Health Disparities, Latoya J. O'Neal, Marcia Brown, Biswadeep Dhar, Noemi Reyes, Brittany Blake, John Diaz, Karla Shelnutt

Journal of Extension

Rural health disparities are increasing in the United States. Academic–community partnerships between Extension and faith-based organizations present a unique opportunity to improve health outcomes in rural areas. The main objective of this study was to identify the perceived barriers, needs, and strategies for implementing effective and sustainable health promotion programs through Extension and faith community partnerships. We conducted semi-structured interviews with Extension professionals and faith community leaders (N = 15). Our results suggest that academic–community partnerships could leverage shared needs, resources, and strategies to serve as a model for reducing health disparities among low-income, minoritized adults residing in rural …

Survey Increases Understanding Of United States Sweetpotato Producer Clean Seed Needs, Lorin Harvey, Mark Shankle, Rachael Carter, Kelsey Harvey

Journal of Extension

A needs assessment of sweetpotato producers across the United States was conducted as part of a strategic planning process to enhance the applicability of research and education. A national survey and a 2-day grant-planning workshop were also used to engage stakeholders to develop a USDA–NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative Proposal to improve and promote clean seed programs. Ninety-five U.S. sweetpotato producers completed the survey, representing more than 73,000 acres of production. Therefore, the survey respondents are estimated to account for nearly half of U.S. sweetpotato production, underscoring the importance and relevance of the results.

Adapting And Delivering An Extension Diabetes Self-Management Support Program To Serve The Hispanic Community, Camden Bryan, Samantha Kanny, Christina Dietz, Danielle Mcfall, Michelle Parisi, Michelle Stancil, Johanna Bruen, Rhonda Matthews, Windsor W Sherrill

Journal of Extension

Expanding Extension education programs to serve the Hispanic community will be important as this population continues to grow. The rate of diabetes is higher among the Hispanic population than the non-Hispanic population; however, the barriers to implementing a health education program and recruiting participants are plentiful. This paper highlights the work conducted by the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service, in partnership with organizations across South Carolina, to adapt and deliver the Health Extension for Diabetes program to the Hispanic community. It offers insights into effective strategies for program adaptation, recruitment, and delivery that agents can use to overcome barriers and increase …

Dose-Dependent Toxicological Effects Of Carbon Tetrachloride (Ccl4) In Male Wistar Albino Rats (Rattus Norvegicus): Biochemical, Hematological, And Histopathological Assessment, Rasha Ibrahim Salman

Muthanna Medical Journal

Laboratory animals, especially rodents, are essential models for biomedical research, and especially for studies of disease mechanisms. The current study was carried out at Al-Kut animal facility of College of Science, University of Wasit, Al-Kut, Iraq under controlled experimental conditions in a systematic evaluation of the physiological, biochemical and histopathological responses of laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus). Fifty male Wistar albino rats were used and divided into five groups of 10 animals each and treated with different doses of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), a well-established hepatotoxic agent (purity ≥ 99%), for 8 weeks. The environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, …

Histamine–Dao Axis In Migraine: Pathophysiology, Genetic Insights, Clinical Evidence, And Therapeutic Implications, Norhan Bassim Jassim, Abdulkadir M. N. Jassim

Muthanna Medical Journal

Migraine is a common neurological illness marked by recurring headache episodes, followed by other neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms. While the precise pathophysiology of migraine is not fully elucidated, increasing evidence indicates that disruptions in histamine metabolism may significantly contribute to the onset of migraines. Diamine oxidase (DAO) is a crucial enzyme that facilitates the extracellular breakdown of histamine, especially inside the gastrointestinal system. Decreased DAO activity can result in histamine buildup, potentially provoking migraine attacks via the stimulation of the trigeminovascular system and the facilitation of neurogenic inflammation. Recent investigations reveal that a significant percentage of migraine patients demonstrate reduced …

New Problems And Results Of Grass Breeding In The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, Frantisek Bures

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Turf grass species are among the topics of forage grass breeding in Czechoslovakia at present. Breeding goals, however, are highly differentiat­ed, and testing methods have to be adjusted to that diversity of purposes. Agrostis tenuis Sibth., 'Golf variety, is a perennial turf grass which forms short stolons. Tiller formation has been 263/dm2 on average over several years. Its colour is deep green, and the grass is unpretentious in terms of nutrition and soil. Mean root expansibility is 6.9 per cent, mean tensile strength 3,249 kg/cm2, and aver­age compressive strength 112,768 gcm/cm3. Frequent deep mowing is well tolerated. Variety 'K 7' …

The Environment And Population Differences In Anjan Grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris) In Western India, S C. Pandeya

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cenchrus ciliaris (anjan or buffel grass) is a gregarious fodder species with high nutritive value. The species is an inhabitant of drier sandy areas throughout Africa, Canary Island, Madagascar and eastwards to India, where it mostly occurs in western parts of the country, constituting the States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Hayana and the adjoining portions of Punjab, U ttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh ( called here in as Western India). In Western India, Cen­chrus ciliaris (Cc) variously dominates the nat­urally occurring grazing lands exhibiting great morphological variations with respect to habit. and spike characters. The ecoclimate of Western India is arid …

Soil And Crop Productivity Under On-Farm Vermiculture-Based Farming System At Smallholder Rates In The Sub-Humid Tropics, Felix Matheri, Edward Karanja, David Bautze, Milka Kiboi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Introduction – Vermiculture-based manures such as vermicompost and its byproducts like vermiculture are gaining importance as viable alternative soil amendments. This is practically feasible, especially in subsistence farming, by replacing common organic and synthetic inputs that are often costly and inaccessible to farmers. However, the effectiveness of vermiculture tea as a sole amendment or in combination with other inputs has not been tested under field conditions. Moreover, its longterm impact on soil and crop productivity has not been established. Methods – We conducted an on-farm field study in farmers' fields to evaluate the effects of sole vermiculture tea (Vermi), in …

Donated Dental Services Expansion, Dara Lashley

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

Holding Hands, Alexis Notarianni, Md

The Medicine Forum

My patient had already received the medications we reach for when patients are in pain and afraid — antiemetics, analgesics, and anxiolytics. The nasogastric tube was in place. What remained was not another intervention, but the simple act of being there.

My patient had been healthy until just months earlier, when his life changed abruptly. In the two hundred days since, illness had altered nearly every part of his body. Now he lay in bed in pain, breathing through a tracheostomy, receiving nutrition from a feeding tube. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he reached out and took my hand. …

Radiation-Induced Biliary Strictures Leading To Recurrent Pyogenic Liver Abscesses: A Case Report, Rhea Ratan, Md, Beatriz Torre, Md, Rishi Pawa, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction

Radiation-induced biliary damage, including strictures, stenosis, cholangitis, and posthepatic cholestasis, is a rare complication of radiation therapy reported most frequently in the context of hepatobiliary cancers and other upper abdominal mal ignancies.^1-3 This complication often occurs with a delayed presentation, with a variable latency period ranging from months to as late as decades after treatment.^1-4 Histologic examination demonstrates segmental bile duct wall thickening, cholestasis, fibrosis, and features consistent with radiation injury.^1,5 Most reported cases involve the common bile duct and major hepatic ducts, where endoscopic and percutaneous interventions remain feasible. These are identified during surveillance imaging, …

Diet And Dysphagia: Balancing Aspiration Risk With Quality Of Life, Margot Noyelle, Md, Kenna Hawes, Md, J. Marco Cipriaso, Md, Megan Cecchine, Md

The Medicine Forum

Nil per os (NPO) diets are often prescribed for patients who have dysphagia to prevent aspiration pneumonia, but recent studies have questioned the efficacy of such strict recommendations. This case report describes the care provided to a 73-year-old woman with chronic dysphagia who described her inability to eat or drink as the “single greatest agony” of a months-long hospitalization. This report highlights the ethical challenges of determining diet orders for patients with dysphagia.

Sustainable Solutions For Food Security In Djibouti: A Renewable Energy Initiative, Michaëlle Arielle Kouakep Tsoh, Tsoh Ekassi Gilbert, Thierry Césaire Kenmogne, Brice Pinga Tcheugoué, Justin Kouamo

Revue Marocaine de Droit, d'Economie et de Gestion (Moroccan Journal of Law, Economics and Management)

According to the World Bank Group, East African countries have fragile food systems and low agricultural production. Djibouti is among the most undernourished countries in Africa and is severely affected by freshwater scarcity. Households regularly face climatic shocks and high electricity costs. This literature review characterizes Djibouti’s food systems and food security situation, identifies and analyzes renewable energy technologies implemented to improve food security in the local context, and presents renewable technologies as sustainable solutions to food insecurity. The results show that rural households are more likely to be food insecure and that the Djiboutian government promotes sustainable energy solutions. …

Serum Igf-1 And Igfbp-3 In Preschool Children With Adjudicated Sepsis: A Retrospective Case–Control Study, Wei Pan, Wenwen Zhang

Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Objective: Sepsis in children is accompanied by marked inflammatory and metabolic perturbations. Conventional markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) reflect inflammation but do not capture broader endocrine–metabolic responses. We therefore examined serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in preschool children with retrospectively adjudicated sepsis and explored their in-sample discriminatory ability within this dataset. This study was exploratory and was not designed to validate clinically actionable biomarkers. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case–control study of 73 children aged 4–6 years with retrospectively adjudicated sepsis and 80 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. For …

Balancing Diagnostic Accuracy And Antimicrobial Stewardship In Neonatal Sepsis, Jeslyn Tengkawan, Mmdeah Hapsari, Dimas Tri Anantyo, Helmia Farida, Adhie Nur Radityo, Moh Syarofil Anam, Seda Yilmaz Semerci

Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Objective: Neonatal sepsis continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, particularly in developing countries. The rising rate of antimicrobial resistance underscores the urgent need for reliable, practical sepsis prediction tools to optimize antibiotic use. The Sepsis Prediction Score (SPS) integrates clinical and laboratory parameters and has shown a positive impact in simplifying clinical decision-making. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the SPS in predicting late-onset sepsis (LOS) in a tertiary referral hospital in Indonesia. Methods: This diagnostic study used a cross-sectional design and was conducted at Dr. Kariadi General Hospital, using medical records …

Late-Onset Cobalamin C Deficiency Associated Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome – Diagnostic Pitfalls: A Case Report, Martha Stampfli, Sibylle Tschumi, Giacomo Simonetti, Corinne Benchimol, Gabriela Oesch, Alexander Lämmle, Matthias Baumgartner

Journal of Child Science

Introduction: Cobalamin C (cblC) deficiency represents a rare but treatable and potentially underrecognized cause of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) in both pediatric and adult populations. It is a multisystem disorder with heterogeneous clinical manifestations. TMA occurs in 10-25% of affected individuals. Case presentation: A ten-year-old girl presented with vomiting and abdominal pain, followed by generalized status epilepticus and hypertensive crisis. Neuroimaging was unremarkable. Laboratory evaluation demonstrated severe renal impairment (creatinine 506 µmol/L), microangiopathic hemolysis and thrombocytopenia. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) was suspected and treated with eculizumab and intermittent hemodialysis. Genetic analysis identified biallelic pathogenic variants in the MMACHC gene, confirming …

Development Of The Toileting Habit Profile Questionnaire -2nd Revision; Assessing Sensory-Based Toileting Difficulties, Isabelle Beaudry-Bellefeuille, Eduardo Ramos-Polo

Journal of Child Science

Background: Childhood functional defecation disorders (FDD), including functional constipation and non-retentive fecal incontinence, are classified as disorders of gut–brain interaction and are increasingly recognized as a public health concern. FDD are commonly associated with challenging toileting behaviors and reduced participation in age-appropriate toileting routines, which may contribute to both the onset and maintenance of symptoms. Identifying factors underlying toileting participation difficulties is essential for effective intervention planning. Occupational therapy practitioners have developed expertise in addressing participation challenges in daily activities, including toileting, and in identifying sensory integration issues that may interfere with engagement. Aim: This paper introduces the Toileting Habit …

Physical Development Of Children Born From Adolescent Mothers: A Descriptive Evaluation Compared To World Averages, Sebahat Aydos, Aysel Köksal Akyol

Journal of Child Science

Background: Adolescent motherhood is a globally prevalent phenomenon that has been the subject of scientific research for many years. However, comprehensive scientific studies focusing on the physical development of children born to adolescent mothers remain quite limited. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the height, weight, and head circumference development of infants and children born to adolescent mothers with the World Health Organization Multicenter Growth Reference Study (WHO MGRS) data. Methods: The study sample consisted of 2,209 infants and children born to adolescent mothers in Turkey, whose records were extracted from the Infant/Child Follow-up Data Set of …

Cultivating Narratives: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Higher Education Student-Led Farms And Gardens, Maximilan Sherard, Marc T. Sager

Publications

Despite extensive research on community agriculture, little attention has been paid to student-led farms or gardens (SFGs) in higher education contexts. SFGs represent a unique site for community agriculture due to their diverse stakeholders, academic affiliations, and the institutional policies they navigate. This study examines online promotional materials from 42 SFGs located on land-grant higher education campuses across the United States. Using critical discourse analysis, we (1) map these organizations’ practices and (2) identify competing discourses about community and agriculture within their promotional narratives. We identify and explain four core practices (membership, growing, distribution, and purpose) and connect these practices …

When Muscle Matters: Skeletal Muscle Mass And Surgical Outcomes, Lauren G. Schumacher

Summer Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

Objective: The goal of this project was to explore the relationship between skeletal muscle mass and postoperative complications in order to evaluate how muscle-based surgical risk assessment could lead to actionable preoperative plans for adult surgical patients.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using ScienceDirect and Research Rabbit to identify studies examining skeletal muscle and surgical outcomes. Full text studies involving adult surgical patients and evaluating skeletal muscle characteristics were included, while studies involving pediatric, non-surgical populations, lacking postoperative follow-up, or published before 2020 were excluded. Five total studies consisting of meta-analyses, retrospective cohort studies, a systematic review, and a …

Examining Clinical Educators’ Readiness For Artificial Intelligence In Medical Education: An Exploratory Qualitative Study, Tim Murphy, Ginger Vaughn, Rob E. Carpenter, Benjamin Mckinney, Rochell Mcwhorter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

Artificial intelligence (AI), treated in this study as an umbrella term for AI-enabled clinical and educational technologies rather than as a single platform, is reshaping medical education, including how diagnostic skills, treatment planning, and patient care are taught. This study examines AI integration in medical education through the perceptions and readiness of clinical educators. Guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, the study explores factors influencing AI adoption in medical training, including performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions. In this exploratory study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 clinical educators in the south-central …

Working Out Loud Resilience In Cooperative Extension: Results From An Internal Pilot Program, Lyndi M. Buckingham-Schutt, Debra Sellers, Barbara Dunn Swanson, Jody Catherine Gatewood

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This study evaluates Working Out Loud (WOL) Resilience, a program designed to enhance resilience through peer-to-peer learning, targeting social isolation and self-determination. The WOL Resilience pilot program, delivered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach facilitators, included 29 participants and 5 facilitators over 8 weeks. Participants engaged in weekly sessions focusing on 8 resilience attributes. Evaluation included baseline, midpoint, and post surveys; facilitator feedback forms; and interviews. Results showed improvements in resilience attributes from baseline to post-program and indicated high program acceptability and positive behavioral changes. The peer-to-peer learning model proved beneficial for participants and feasible for delivery through Extension …

Using Needs Assessments To Hear The Voices Of Extension Non-Clients, Odunayo O. Omotilewa, Omolola A. Adedokun

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Using data from the University of Kentucky (UK) Extension statewide community needs assessment, this study uncovers the Extension education needs of Kentuckians who are not familiar with the Extension program. Typically, the Extension program development and evaluation model begins with a needs assessment to identify and prioritize community needs, issues, and/or opportunities that can be addressed through targeted educational programming/outreach. As such, needs assessments amplify and empower the voices of community members, especially those who may not be familiar with Extension, and uncover their self-reported need for practical education and assistance. This study investigates differences in Extension education needs between …

Evaluating The Impact Of A Community-Based Prenatal Education Program On Maternal Knowledge And Intentions In Utah, Aaron T. Hunt, Jenna Dyckman, Kaylee Cox

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Maternal and infant health in the U.S. has worsened, with rising rates of maternal mortality, gestational diabetes, postpartum depression, and infant mortality. Prenatal education is a proven strategy to improve outcomes, yet many expecting parents rely on unvetted information or lack access to reliable resources. To address this gap, a pilot prenatal education program was implemented through Utah State University Extension to improve knowledge, attitudes, and intentions related to breastfeeding, nutrition, mental health, and other key topics. The program consisted of 3 1-hour, evidence-based workshops incorporating lectures and interactive activities. A retrospective pre-post survey was completed by 28 pregnant participants …

Geomapping With Python: An Innovative Data Visualization Technique, Tirna Purkait, Dipti Dev

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Regional Food Systems And Food Security In Rural Mississippi And Italy, Reinhard M. Knerr, Athan M. Gregory, Anne Cafer

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

In the Mississippi (MS) Delta, more than 40% of residents are food-insecure despite predominantly agricultural land use. We hypothesized that limited social networks and non-navigable food market systems constrain MS producers, limit market viability, and hinder regional food sovereignty. This ethnography compared rural Italian and Mississippian food systems through semi-structured interviews of food producers, processors, and marketers. We described differences in social networks between groups that led to differential capacities to share capital and to overcome producer and labor constraints. We also described key differences in governmental and Extension support of local food systems. Finally, we provided suggestions for addressing …

Reflections On Participation In Collective Impact Initiatives: Through The Lens Of Extension Practitioners, Omolola A. Adedokun, Marian Jaitto-Jeffrey, Jacqueline Corum

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Collective Impact (CI) continues to gain recognition as a useful model for guiding the development, implementation, and evaluation of cross-sectoral efforts addressing complex social issues, including substance use recovery and workforce development. However, application of CI in Extension is very scant, and evaluation of its implementation, process, and outcomes remains a persistent challenge. Hence, the need for rigorous process and outcome evaluations of CI initiatives to build the literature base. Using a mix of focus group and survey methods, this process evaluation study examined Extension professionals’ experiences in two CI initiatives, with a specific focus on their perceptions of the …

Culturally Responsive Evaluation In Extension Programs For Indigenous Youth, Sara M. Tomis, J.C. Bunch, Amy Harder, T. Grady Roberts

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Indigenous communities, deserving and in need of salient Extension services, experience disparity in programming and culturally responsive evaluation because of historic and current social and financial barriers. An exploration of culturally responsive evaluation practices in Extension programs serving Indigenous youth audiences is warranted to identify areas for improvement. A focus group of Extension professionals was conducted to investigate evaluation practice within a federally funded Extension program. Findings indicated that Extension professionals were committed to operating and evaluating in ways that respected Indigenous culture, but improvements in culturally responsive practice are needed among both university and federal partners.

Exploring Immune Priming In The Species Exaiptasia Diaphana, Torrence Campos

Biology Theses

Vibrio coralliilyticus is a pathogen that infects various coral species across several reef ecosystems and causes mortality within a span of a few days. With increasing temperatures, the pathogen becomes more virulent towards coral. Probiotics such as MCH1-7 have previously been used to treat infected corals before and after exposure to V. coralliilyticus. In this study, we will be using a species of sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana in place of coral to evaluate the effects of two V. coralliilyticus strains ATCC BAA-450 and OFT6-21. It was determined that BAA-450 was more virulent. It led to immediate stress and higher mortality. …

The Hope College Department Of Biology: The First 50+ Years, Christopher C. Barney

Faculty Publications

The Hope College Department of Biology was founded in 1899 with the appointment of the first Professor of Biology at Hope, Samuel Mast. During the first 50+ years of the Biology Department, there were eight total faculty members in the department, including Frances Koeman, the first female faculty member in the natural sciences. Four faculty members, Mast, Frank Patterson, Oscar Thompson, and Teunis Vergeer were primarily responsible for developing the department’s curriculum and programs, with Mast and Vergeer also carrying out published research. The department was housed primarily in Van Raalte Hall and the Science Building (now Lubbers Hall) for …