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2026

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Allied Health Professions (Ahp) Engagement With And Leadership Towards Actionable Carbon Reduction Interventions To Meet The Nhs Net Zero Agenda:: A Consensus Study, Frances Slowie, Linda Hindle, Louise Davey-Hewins, Sarah Cooper, Clare Pettinger Jul 2026

Allied Health Professions (Ahp) Engagement With And Leadership Towards Actionable Carbon Reduction Interventions To Meet The Nhs Net Zero Agenda:: A Consensus Study, Frances Slowie, Linda Hindle, Louise Davey-Hewins, Sarah Cooper, Clare Pettinger

School of Health Professions

Background: Climate change is one of the greatest threats to human health. The UK health and care system is responsible for 4%–5% of the country’s carbon footprint. Following an ambitious commitment to ‘Delivering a Net Zero NHS’, there is an ongoing urgent drive to advocate for proactive sustainability measures across the workforce healthcare practice areas. As the third largest workforce within the NHS, allied health professionals (AHPs) are crucial players in this net zero commitment. Implementing suitable carbon reduction strategies requires leadership and more clarity on the practical steps that AHPs can take specific to their unique skill set. Objective: …


Corn Yield And Tissue-Potassium Response To Potassium Fertilization, Wyatt A. Rongey Jul 2026

Corn Yield And Tissue-Potassium Response To Potassium Fertilization, Wyatt A. Rongey

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Potassium (K) deficiency is an increasingly important yield-limiting factor for irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) in Arkansas, where below optimum soil-test K (STK) acreage is increasing and visible K deficiencies or hidden K hunger threaten yield and profitability. Improving K management for modern, high-yielding hybrids require refining soil-test-based fertilizer recommendations and defining growth-stage-specific tissue-K sufficiency ranges that diagnose deficiency before irrecoverable yield loss occurs. This research aimed to i) quantify corn grain yield and yield component responses to K fertilization across a wide range of STK levels; ii) determine the frequency and magnitude of agronomically and economically meaningful yield responses …


Evaluation Of Loading, Release, And Bioavailability Of Resveratrol Encapsulated In Porous Starch, Yu-Yun Wang Jul 2026

Evaluation Of Loading, Release, And Bioavailability Of Resveratrol Encapsulated In Porous Starch, Yu-Yun Wang

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Resveratrol (Res) is a polyphenolic compound found in grapes, red wine, and berries, with health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties. The poor stability and bioaccessibility of Res after consumption by humans require the development of delivery systems. Among many delivery systems, porous starch (PS) is a safe, cost-effective, and high in adsorption capacity encapsulation material for drugs and bioactive compounds sensitive to environmental factors like light and heat. Porous rice, corn, and potato starch have different granule sizes, pore volumes, and surface areas. However, the impact of these encapsulation capabilities remains unclear among the three porous starches. …


Alternative Methods To Improve Livestock Performance While Grazing Low-Quality Forages., Ivan Raynard Thomas Jr Jul 2026

Alternative Methods To Improve Livestock Performance While Grazing Low-Quality Forages., Ivan Raynard Thomas Jr

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stocker cattle producers in the southeastern part of the U.S. heavily depend on traditional forages such as bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon] pastures during the warm season for grazing. Summer annual forages offer stocker cattle operations a valuable alternative source of forage. These forages have high yield potential and can help extend the grazing season. This is particularly beneficial during the summer months when traditional forage sources may be limited. Warm-season annual grasses may experience a decrease in crude protein concentrations during late summer and early fall. As a result, it may be necessary to find alternative sources of crude protein or …


Evaluation Of A High Protein Low Oligosaccharide Soybean Meal In Poultry Production, Kasey Matusik Jul 2026

Evaluation Of A High Protein Low Oligosaccharide Soybean Meal In Poultry Production, Kasey Matusik

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of feeding a high protein, low oligosaccharide soybean meal to optimize poultry nutrition by the effects of feeding the soybean meal to roosters, broiler chickens, and turkeys. Two research objectives were evaluated to determine whether high protein, low oligosaccharide soybean meal would have increased nutritional value. The first objective assessed the metabolizable energy (ME) content of a high protein, low oligosaccharide soybean meal compared to a conventional soybean meal. Using roosters, broiler chickens, and turkey poults, three bioassays were conducted to evaluate the ME of the soybean meal. Results demonstrated …


Challenges And Opportunities In Dry Aging: Producer Perspectives And Valorization Of Dry- Aged Waste Products, Peyton Scout Arnold Jul 2026

Challenges And Opportunities In Dry Aging: Producer Perspectives And Valorization Of Dry- Aged Waste Products, Peyton Scout Arnold

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite the projected increase in the dry aging market, producers may be hesitant to incorporate dry aging practices. This thesis aims to identify primary concerns faced by producers in implementing a dry aging program. Semi-structured interview surveys were conducted via Qualtrics (N = 100). Results indicated that an “advanced” level of dry aging knowledge correlated with a higher importance in the use/sale of dry aged products (P = 0.02). Cost, demand, and sourcing were the top three concerns of producers practicing dry aging. Those considering implementation were concerned with cost, processing parameters, safety, demand, and sourcing. No significant differences were …


Towards Audio-Driven Photorealistic Avatars For Teleconsultation: A Development And Evaluation Framework Under Constrained Bandwidth Environments, Fnu Himanshu Jul 2026

Towards Audio-Driven Photorealistic Avatars For Teleconsultation: A Development And Evaluation Framework Under Constrained Bandwidth Environments, Fnu Himanshu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Telehealth can improve access to healthcare services, especially for patients in rural and underserved areas. Many telehealth services use video communication to provide real-time interaction and a visible connection between patients and healthcare providers. However, video communication requires continuous transmission of audio and video data. When network conditions are limited or unreliable, audio and video interruptions can reduce communication quality. This thesis explores an audio-driven photorealistic avatar as a possible visual communication layer for teleconsultation without requiring continuous webcam video transmission. It develops two connected frameworks: the Audio-Driven Photorealistic Avatar Communication Framework and the Evaluation Framework. The Audio-Driven Photorealistic Avatar …


Permanent Winter Hay-Feeding Stations Concentrate Soil Nutrients In Kentucky Pastures, Alan J. Franzluebbers, Jeffrey W. Lehmkuhler, Matt H. Poore, Arjun Kafle, Rodolfo Zentella, Tommy Yankey, S. Ray Smith, Gregory Halich Jul 2026

Permanent Winter Hay-Feeding Stations Concentrate Soil Nutrients In Kentucky Pastures, Alan J. Franzluebbers, Jeffrey W. Lehmkuhler, Matt H. Poore, Arjun Kafle, Rodolfo Zentella, Tommy Yankey, S. Ray Smith, Gregory Halich

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Distribution of soil nutrients as a function of centralized winter hay-feeding stations can lead to inefficient nutrient utilization and environmental quality concerns, but distributions have not been adequately characterized across a diversity of soils. We investigated spatial distribution of soil nutrients and organic matter fractions on three farms with concrete feeding pads for winter hay feeding. Soils were silt loam at the Princeton and Oran Little Research Stations and silty clay loam and silty clay at the Eden Shale Farm in ≥20-year-old tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) pastures in Kentucky. An anticipated impact zone of 0.7–1.0 ha around the winter hay-feeding …


Bodies In The Beds: How Reits, Private Equity Firms, And County Hospitals Monetize Nursing Home Residents As Real Estate Acquisitions, Daniel L. Hatcher Jul 2026

Bodies In The Beds: How Reits, Private Equity Firms, And County Hospitals Monetize Nursing Home Residents As Real Estate Acquisitions, Daniel L. Hatcher

All Faculty Scholarship

Nursing home residents have become monetized targets of real estate acquisitions. Established in 1960, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) were envisioned as allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate without owning properties. That seemingly innocuous investment idea has led to the growth of a behind-the-scenes empire of little-understood conglomerates of REITs buying up nursing homes and other healthcare facilities across the country. Capitalizing on tax-exempt income incentives, exploiting “triple-net” leasebacks, funneling profits through subsidiaries, and shielding ownership and assets from the liability of operations, the corporatized owners extract cash from facilities and leave harm in their wake. And to …


Spatially Dissecting Drivers Of Inter- And Intra-Tumoral Heterogeneity In Kenyan Breast Cancer, Mustapha Abubakar, Shahin Sayed, Hela Koka, Scott Lawrence, Karun Mutreja, Xing Hua, Petra Lenz, Samuel Anyaso-Samuel, Rosemary Kamau, Beryl Ooro Jul 2026

Spatially Dissecting Drivers Of Inter- And Intra-Tumoral Heterogeneity In Kenyan Breast Cancer, Mustapha Abubakar, Shahin Sayed, Hela Koka, Scott Lawrence, Karun Mutreja, Xing Hua, Petra Lenz, Samuel Anyaso-Samuel, Rosemary Kamau, Beryl Ooro

Pathology, East Africa

Despite growing evidence on the impact of intra-tumoral heterogeneity (ITH) in breast cancer (BC), its biological drivers and clinically relevant mitigation strategies remain poorly characterized, particularly in low-resource settings where spatial profiling is rarely applied. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive, multiplatform spatial profiling study of BC in a Kenyan population. Using the NanoString GeoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiler, we quantified 44 protein markers across 707 spatially defined, PanCK-segmented Areas of Illumination (AOIs) from 31 tumors. All tumors exhibited measurable ITH, with one-third showing marked heterogeneity. Sixteen patients exhibited two or more intrinsic subtypes within their tumors, three of …


Medadl: High-Throughput Information Extraction Of Functional Status From Electronic Health Records To Advance Frailty Assessment In Older Adults, Sunyang Fu, Zhiyi Yue, Jennyly T Nguyen, Huipeng Liu, Jaerong Ahn, Vanessa Ramirez, Jude Des Bordes, Hongfang Liu, Min Ji Kwak, Nahid J Rianon Jul 2026

Medadl: High-Throughput Information Extraction Of Functional Status From Electronic Health Records To Advance Frailty Assessment In Older Adults, Sunyang Fu, Zhiyi Yue, Jennyly T Nguyen, Huipeng Liu, Jaerong Ahn, Vanessa Ramirez, Jude Des Bordes, Hongfang Liu, Min Ji Kwak, Nahid J Rianon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Functional status is essential for assessing frailty and planning care in older adults but is often under-documented in the structured fields of electronic health records. Manual chart review can capture functional status information but is labor-intensive and time-consuming. In this study, we developed and validated a scalable natural language processing (NLP) model to extract functional status information from unstructured electronic health record (EHR) notes.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 110 older adults seen at a geriatric osteoporosis clinic. A large language model-augmented symbolic NLP pipeline (MedADL) was developed to extract activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities …


A Systems Analysis Of Autonomous Uav Swarm Spraying For Precision Agriculture, Ryker Davis Jul 2026

A Systems Analysis Of Autonomous Uav Swarm Spraying For Precision Agriculture, Ryker Davis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in civilian sectors, particularly for precision agriculture and targeted aerial spraying, has rapidly evolved from passive monitoring to advanced, autonomous, multi-agent coordination. While deploying UAV swarms offers a promising solution to the payload and battery endurance limitations of single drone operations, realizing field-scale coverage introduces significant logistical and safety challenges. To evaluate the trajectory and viability of swarms, this study synthesizes bibliometric trends, operational simulation, and safety reporting analysis. First, because physical testing of complex swarms poses financial and safety risks, we developed an agent-based and discrete event simulation to evaluate autonomous spraying …


Evaluation Of Thresholds For Adult Tarnished Plant Bug, Lygus Lineolaris (Beauvois), In Thryvon® Cotton, William Anderson Fletcher Jul 2026

Evaluation Of Thresholds For Adult Tarnished Plant Bug, Lygus Lineolaris (Beauvois), In Thryvon® Cotton, William Anderson Fletcher

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tarnished plant bug (TPB) is the most economically damaging insect pest of Mid-South cotton. TPB reduces yield is reduced by damaging squares, terminal growth, and small bolls, resulting in reduced yield. Currently, cotton grown in the Mid-South averages 1-6 insecticide applications per year for control of TPB. The introduction of ThryvOn® cotton technology provides a new management strategy for TPB control. ThryvOn® technology produces the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein Mpp51Aa2, which has insecticidal activity on TPB. A field study was conducted at five locations in 2024 and seven locations in 2025 across the Mid-South to evaluate different threshold levels for …


Nh 4-H Dog Show Scoresheet, Extension Jul 2026

Nh 4-H Dog Show Scoresheet, Extension

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.


The Effects Of Anti-Parkinsonian Medications On Bone Mineral Density: A Systematic Review, Mícheál Ó Breasail, Motaz B. El-Leissy, Karan P. Singh, Matthew Smith, Jakub Mesinovic, Marc Sim, Andrew Evans, David Blacker, Saman Heshmat, Neil Mahant, Christian Girgis, Peter R. Ebeling, Ayse Zengin Jul 2026

The Effects Of Anti-Parkinsonian Medications On Bone Mineral Density: A Systematic Review, Mícheál Ó Breasail, Motaz B. El-Leissy, Karan P. Singh, Matthew Smith, Jakub Mesinovic, Marc Sim, Andrew Evans, David Blacker, Saman Heshmat, Neil Mahant, Christian Girgis, Peter R. Ebeling, Ayse Zengin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

IntroductionParkinson's disease (PD) is associated with elevated fracture risk, particularly at the hip. Antiparkinsonian medications have also been associated with increased fracture risk; although their direct effects on bone mineral density (BMD) remains unclear.ObjectiveInvestigate whether antiparkinsonian medications influence BMD.MethodsA systematic search of four databases (Embase, MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science) was conducted up to 24/11/2025 using terms related to PD, antiparkinsonian medications and bone.ResultsA total of 748 records were identified, with 543 screened following deduplication. Fourteen studies underwent full-text review, of which seven met inclusion criteria. Three studies assessed bone mineral content or surrogate measures at non-standard sites (hand …


The Impact Of Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy On Cognitive Outcomes In Offspring: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Berihun Dachew, Tusa, Getinet Ayano, Kim Betts, Amanuel Gebremedhin, Daniel Rudaizky, Gizachew A. Tessema, Rosa Alati Jul 2026

The Impact Of Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy On Cognitive Outcomes In Offspring: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Berihun Dachew, Tusa, Getinet Ayano, Kim Betts, Amanuel Gebremedhin, Daniel Rudaizky, Gizachew A. Tessema, Rosa Alati

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose To synthesis the available research on the association between hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP) and adverse cognitive outcomes in children. Methods PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycInfo were searched from inception to February 2026 to identify relevant studies. Effect estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and pooled using inverse variance–weighted random-effects meta-analysis. Results Thirty-nine observational studies published between 1982 and 2026, covering over 12.5 million mother-offspring pairs, were included in the final analysis. The findings indicate that HDP were associated with a 39% increased risk of Intellectual Disability (ID) (OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.30–1.47) …


Healthcare Professionals’ Experiences And Perspectives On Self-Management Education For Breast Cancer Survivors In Australian Primary Care: A Qualitative Study, Meng Yuan Li, Tao Wang, Daniel Terry, Haiying Wang, Isabella Zhao, Jing Yu Tan Jul 2026

Healthcare Professionals’ Experiences And Perspectives On Self-Management Education For Breast Cancer Survivors In Australian Primary Care: A Qualitative Study, Meng Yuan Li, Tao Wang, Daniel Terry, Haiying Wang, Isabella Zhao, Jing Yu Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Breast cancer has been recognised as a chronic condition, with survivors experiencing long-term physical and psychosocial effects following treatment. Supporting breast cancer survivors to self-manage their health can optimise health-related quality of life and reduce symptom burden. Self-management education (SME) has been advocated at the policy and programme level in Australian primary care, but its uptake is often limited. This study explores healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) experiences and perceptions of SME in primary care, aiming to identify factors influencing its implementation and to support survivorship care for breast cancer survivors in Australia.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted involving …


Muscle–Tumor Crosstalk In Exercise Oncology: Exercise-Induced Myokines And Cancer Cachexia, Amirhossein Ahmadi Hekmatikar, Francesco Bettariga, Álvaro López Llorente, Diego Fernández-Lázaro, Katsuhiko Suzuki, D. Maryama Awang Daud Jul 2026

Muscle–Tumor Crosstalk In Exercise Oncology: Exercise-Induced Myokines And Cancer Cachexia, Amirhossein Ahmadi Hekmatikar, Francesco Bettariga, Álvaro López Llorente, Diego Fernández-Lázaro, Katsuhiko Suzuki, D. Maryama Awang Daud

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Exercise-induced myokines, such as IL-6, irisin, and myostatin, play crucial roles in mediating systemic adaptations and modulating tumor progression. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on how regular moderate-intensity exercise affects the myokine network within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of solid tumors. Results from the 86 included studies indicate that structured training (aerobic: 45–65% VO2 max; resistance: 45–70% 1RM) enhances the expression of beneficial myokines that support immune surveillance, reduce inflammation, and improve muscle–tumor cross-talk. IL-6 demonstrates a dual modulatory effect on inflammation and immunity; irisin contributes to tumor apoptosis, while myostatin downregulation supports muscle integrity and metabolic balance. Evidence suggests …


Diversity And Inclusivity In Australian Dementia Prevention Research: A Mixed Methods Review, Olivia E. Giameos, Maddison L. Mellow, Diana Karamacoska, Aaron Davis, Paul A. Gardiner, Eddy Roccati, Kaarin J. Anstey, Nicolas Cherbuin, Jessica M. Adsett, Nikki Anne Wilson, Kylie Radford, Louise Lavrencic, Perminder S. Sachdev, Simone Reppermund, Suraj Samtani, Annabel P. Matison, Zara A. Page, Philip J. Batterham, Sophie C. Andrews, Alex Bahar-Fuchs, Michelle K. Lupton, Andrew Pipingas, Adrienne Withall, Belinda M. Brown, Helen Macpherson, Hannah A.D. Keage, Britt Burton, James C. Vickers, David W. Dunstan, Ashleigh E. Smith Jul 2026

Diversity And Inclusivity In Australian Dementia Prevention Research: A Mixed Methods Review, Olivia E. Giameos, Maddison L. Mellow, Diana Karamacoska, Aaron Davis, Paul A. Gardiner, Eddy Roccati, Kaarin J. Anstey, Nicolas Cherbuin, Jessica M. Adsett, Nikki Anne Wilson, Kylie Radford, Louise Lavrencic, Perminder S. Sachdev, Simone Reppermund, Suraj Samtani, Annabel P. Matison, Zara A. Page, Philip J. Batterham, Sophie C. Andrews, Alex Bahar-Fuchs, Michelle K. Lupton, Andrew Pipingas, Adrienne Withall, Belinda M. Brown, Helen Macpherson, Hannah A.D. Keage, Britt Burton, James C. Vickers, David W. Dunstan, Ashleigh E. Smith

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Minoritized communities are disproportionately impacted by modifiable dementia risk factors but are underrepresented in dementia research globally. In Australia, the number of dementia prevention cohort and intervention studies has rapidly increased in the past two decades, yet the representation of minoritized groups has not been synthesized. The aims of this mixed-methods review were to summarize the demographic characteristics of participants involved in Australian dementia prevention-focused cohort and intervention studies. A systematic search of published literature, funded grant outcomes, and clinical trial registrations was conducted in October 2023 and updated in February 2025 to identify any Australia-based cohort or intervention studies …


The Moderating Effect Of Dietary Fiber And Protein On The Relationship Between Symptoms Of Depression And Anxiety And Cognitive Decline, Samantha L. Gardener, Hilal Salim Said Al Shamsi, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Kevin Taddei, Colin L. Masters, Ralph N. Martins, W. M.A.D. Binosha Fernando Jul 2026

The Moderating Effect Of Dietary Fiber And Protein On The Relationship Between Symptoms Of Depression And Anxiety And Cognitive Decline, Samantha L. Gardener, Hilal Salim Said Al Shamsi, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Kevin Taddei, Colin L. Masters, Ralph N. Martins, W. M.A.D. Binosha Fernando

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Depression and anxiety often co-occur with Alzheimer's disease, exacerbating the associated cognitive impairment. This study examined moderating effects of dietary protein and fiber intake on relationships between depressive and anxiety symptoms, and cognitive decline.

Methods: Cognitively unimpaired (n = 553; 39.4% male, 70.6 ± 9.6 years) provided baseline fiber and protein intake, and had repeated cognitive testing and symptoms of depression/anxiety measured (baseline and up to eight follow-ups over 144 months). Moderation and simple slope analyses were employed in the cohort as a whole and following stratification by sex.

Results: Fiber intake moderated the relationship between change in depressive …


Mab-Dqa: Addressing Query Aspect Importance In Document Question Answering With Multi-Armed Bandits, Yixin Xiang, Yunshan Ma, Xiaoyu Du, Yibing Chen, Yanxin Zhang, Jinhui Tang Jul 2026

Mab-Dqa: Addressing Query Aspect Importance In Document Question Answering With Multi-Armed Bandits, Yixin Xiang, Yunshan Ma, Xiaoyu Du, Yibing Chen, Yanxin Zhang, Jinhui Tang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Document Question Answering (DQA) involves generating answers from a document based on a user’s query, representing a key task in document understanding. This task requires interpreting visual layouts, which has prompted recent studies to adopt multimodal Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) that processes page images for answer generation. However, in multimodal RAG, visual DQA struggles to utilize a large number of images effectively, as the retrieval stage often retains only a few candidate pages (e.g., Top-4), causing informative but less visually salient content to be overlooked in favor of common yet low-information pages. To address this issue, we propose a Multi-Armed Bandit–based …


Co-Production Of A Mobile Application For Parents Of Acutely Ill Children Under Five: ‘Ipoorly Child Symptom Checker’, Sarah Neill, Amy Rathbone, John Downey, Monica Lakhanpaul, Damian Roland, Matt Carey Jul 2026

Co-Production Of A Mobile Application For Parents Of Acutely Ill Children Under Five: ‘Ipoorly Child Symptom Checker’, Sarah Neill, Amy Rathbone, John Downey, Monica Lakhanpaul, Damian Roland, Matt Carey

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Acutely-ill children under five years are increasing users of urgent and emergency care with no increase in acuity of presenting illnesses. This raises concerns about parents' knowledge and confidence in assessing the severity ofsymptoms of acute illness, despite the abundance of digital information available.Method:Weco-designedtheiPoorlychildsymptomcheckerappusingexperience-basedco-designmethodology with seven parents and seven health professional patient and public involvement representatives. The prototype was iteratively developed on a no-code platform, then released for testing on android and iOS app stores for six weeks. The app was downloaded 603 times and 60% of users completed the embedded evaluation form. Results: System usability scale items were all …


Thiol-Based Neuroprotective Copolymers Acutely Restore Redox Metabolism And Mediate Vasogenic Edema In A Mouse Model Of Traumatic Brain Injury, Evan T. Curtis, Brandon Z. Mcdonald, Aria W. Tarudji, Aaron M. Priester, Anthony J. Convertine, Forrest M. Kievit Jul 2026

Thiol-Based Neuroprotective Copolymers Acutely Restore Redox Metabolism And Mediate Vasogenic Edema In A Mouse Model Of Traumatic Brain Injury, Evan T. Curtis, Brandon Z. Mcdonald, Aria W. Tarudji, Aaron M. Priester, Anthony J. Convertine, Forrest M. Kievit

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Effective pharmaceutical interventions for treating the secondary damage associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are limited due to poor delivery into the brain, insufficient target engagement, and an incomplete understanding of the pathophysiological changes that occur post-impact. Thus, nanoparticles (NP), which have an enhanced permeation and retention-like effect within the perturbed blood-brain barrier, have grown as a potential candidate for treating TBI. We have investigated the antioxidant capacity of thiol-based NP, termed neuroprotective copolymers (NPC3), and their ability to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation products (LPOx). Here, we assessed the efficacy of NPC3 for alleviating the secondary …


Soilless Substrates As A Critical Control Point For Mitigating Food Safety Risks Within Hydroponic Leaf Lettuce Production, Eric Nuertey Tetteh Jul 2026

Soilless Substrates As A Critical Control Point For Mitigating Food Safety Risks Within Hydroponic Leaf Lettuce Production, Eric Nuertey Tetteh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The effect of hydroponic soilless substrates and microbial biocontrol agents on the persistence of foodborne pathogens in indoor lettuce production is variable depending on substrate type, pathogen species, and biocontrol formulation. This study addressed key gaps by first characterizing the ability of different substrates to support Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes survival and then evaluating the ability of pine biochar and Bacillus subtilis to suppress pathogen persistence in selected substrates under controlled conditions. In the first experiment, the persistence of Salmonella and L. monocytogenes was evaluated in four soilless substrates: rockwool (RW), low density foam (LDF), peat moss (PM) and coco …


Maternal Health And Sociodemographic Characteristics Influence Infant Growth To 24 Months In The Tunza Mwana Cohort: A Prospective Cohort Study, David Taylor Hendrixson, Mark J Manary, Et Al. Jul 2026

Maternal Health And Sociodemographic Characteristics Influence Infant Growth To 24 Months In The Tunza Mwana Cohort: A Prospective Cohort Study, David Taylor Hendrixson, Mark J Manary, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Upstream pathways influencing child growth are complex. Weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) reflects both ponderal and linear growth and can identify children at high mortality risk. Using data from a prospective cohort of 326 mother-child pairs in Kenya, we evaluated whether associations between maternal exposures and child growth outcomes in early and later childhood. Growth trajectories were examined using locally weighted scatterplot smoothing and piecewise linear mixed-effect models with a knot at age 3 months. Poisson regression models examined associations between maternal characteristics and child underweight (WAZ <  -2) and stunting (LAZ <  -2) before and after 3 months. Mean WAZ increased to a peak at 3 months before declining steadily through 24 months. Lower maternal education (adjusted β [aβ] -0.18; 95% CI: -0.24, -0.13), household crowding (aβ -0.2; 95% CI: -0.28, -0.11), lower wealth quintile (aβ -0.04; 95% CI: -0.06, -0.02) and multiparity (aβ -0.16; 95% CI: -0.23, -0.1) were associated with lower monthly rate of change in WAZ prior to age 3 months. Younger maternal age was associated with an increased monthly rate of change in WAZ (aβ = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.18) before 3 months and decreased monthly WAZ (aβ -0.02; 95% CI: -0.03, -0.01) after 3 months. Preterm birth was associated with increased risk of underweight in both periods (aRR 2.77; 95% CI: 1.39-5.50). Maternal mental health, intimate partner violence and adverse childhood experiences were not significantly associated with child growth. Maternal nutritional, socio-economic and household-level factors shape early growth, emphasising the need for cross-sectoral programs to support growth.


Advancing Dimensional Models Of Psychopathology In Cancer: Insights From Applying The Hierarchical Taxonomy Of Psychopathology (Hitop), Darren Haywood, Jai Carmichael, Miriam K. Forbes, Roman Kotov, Robert F. Krueger, Aidan G.C. Wright, Susan L. Rossell, David Castle, Wendy Lam, Maryam Lustberg, Colin E. Vize, Anna Ugalde, Phyllis Butow, Nicolas H. Hart Jul 2026

Advancing Dimensional Models Of Psychopathology In Cancer: Insights From Applying The Hierarchical Taxonomy Of Psychopathology (Hitop), Darren Haywood, Jai Carmichael, Miriam K. Forbes, Roman Kotov, Robert F. Krueger, Aidan G.C. Wright, Susan L. Rossell, David Castle, Wendy Lam, Maryam Lustberg, Colin E. Vize, Anna Ugalde, Phyllis Butow, Nicolas H. Hart

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Cancer survivors, defined as those living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis, experience more than double the prevalence of psychopathology when compared to the general population. Categorical diagnostic systems, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), remain dominant in psycho-oncology despite concerns about reliability, validity, and clinical utility for this population. Dimensional frameworks, such as the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP), offer a more precise alternative; however, they have not yet been widely applied in cancer survivors. Accordingly, the objective of this research was to examine the applicability of HiTOP to cancer survivors. Methods: Data …


Effects Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea On Circulating Immune Cells Profiles: Evidence From Nhanes Dataset And Mendelian Randomization, Yajie Jia, Xiang Gao, Shenglong Xu, Jingli Shi, Haifeng Hou, Yanru Li, Demin Han Jul 2026

Effects Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea On Circulating Immune Cells Profiles: Evidence From Nhanes Dataset And Mendelian Randomization, Yajie Jia, Xiang Gao, Shenglong Xu, Jingli Shi, Haifeng Hou, Yanru Li, Demin Han

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) on immune cell profiles by utilizing both the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset and a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) method. Methods: We included 20,732 participants from the NHANES to explore the relationship between symptom defined OSA and peripheral immune cells. Additionally, we conducted a two-sample MR analysis to investigate the effect of OSA on 35 summarized peripheral immune cell properties and 731 immunophenotypes. To ensure the robustness of findings in MR analysis, we conducted a sensitivity analysis. Results: The NHANES dataset and MR analysis …


Neuroprotective Effects Of Sorghum Polyphenol In Alzheimer’S Disease: In Vitro And In Silico Analyses, Rasheed A. Abdulraheem, Ralph N. Martins, Rajapandiyan Krishnamoorthy, Mohammad A. Alshuniaber, Prashant Bharadwaj, Zhaoyu Li, Ranil Coorey, Vijay Jayasena, Stuart K. Johnson, W. M.A.D.Binosha Fernando Jul 2026

Neuroprotective Effects Of Sorghum Polyphenol In Alzheimer’S Disease: In Vitro And In Silico Analyses, Rasheed A. Abdulraheem, Ralph N. Martins, Rajapandiyan Krishnamoorthy, Mohammad A. Alshuniaber, Prashant Bharadwaj, Zhaoyu Li, Ranil Coorey, Vijay Jayasena, Stuart K. Johnson, W. M.A.D.Binosha Fernando

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objective: Accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) senile plaques in the human brain is a major hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which manifests as progressive decline in memory and cognitive functions and currently lacks effective disease-modifying therapies. Emerging evidence demonstrates that polyphenol-rich plant foods are potential complementary therapies for AD. Methods: In this study, we investigated crude polyphenol extracts (CPEs) and purified polyphenol extracts (PPEs) from three sorghum genotypes for their ability to inhibit Aβ42-induced toxicity in MC-65 cells. Thioflavin T fluorescence, cell viability, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress assays, and Western blotting, along with RNA sequencing and computational analyses, were used to …


The Contribution Of Adolescent Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors To Vascular Stiffness And Cardiac Remodelling In Young Adults, Anne E. Barden, Lawrence J. Beilin, Nick S.R. Lan, Amro Sehly, Girish Dwivedi, Rae-Chi Huang, Brendan Adler, Trevor A. Mori Jul 2026

The Contribution Of Adolescent Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors To Vascular Stiffness And Cardiac Remodelling In Young Adults, Anne E. Barden, Lawrence J. Beilin, Nick S.R. Lan, Amro Sehly, Girish Dwivedi, Rae-Chi Huang, Brendan Adler, Trevor A. Mori

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: Early identification of abnormalities in vascular and cardiac structure offers an opportunity for intervention to reduce future cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study examined factors contributing to increased CVD risk from adolescence to young adulthood. Methods and results: Raine Study participants (n = 716) classified as low- or high-CVD risk using cluster analysis at 17 years were re-studied at 27 years. Outcomes at 27 years were vascular stiffness assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left ventricular (LV), right ventricular (RV), and left atrial (LA) myocardial strain and respective ejection fractions (EF) assessed by cardiac …


The Effect Of Cyp1a2 Gene Polymorphisms On Caffeine Pharmacokinetics And Exercise Performance In Male Recreational Athletes, Chloe Masters, Ajmol Ali, Claire Badenhorst, Martin Dickens, Kay Rutherfurd-Markwick Jul 2026

The Effect Of Cyp1a2 Gene Polymorphisms On Caffeine Pharmacokinetics And Exercise Performance In Male Recreational Athletes, Chloe Masters, Ajmol Ali, Claire Badenhorst, Martin Dickens, Kay Rutherfurd-Markwick

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study examined the effects of caffeine consumption on endurance exercise performance, and the influence of CYP1A2 gene polymorphisms in caffeine pharmacokinetics and exercise performance. The data sets of two randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled crossover study design experiments have been merged. Thirty-eight recreationally active male participants provided saliva samples for CYP1A2 genotyping (AA homozygotes n = 19; AC heterozygotes n = 19) and completed either a 10-km run or 40-km cycling time trial of 60-min following a single dose of 6 mg·kg−1 caffeine (CAF) or placebo (maltodextrin; PLA) throughout which heart rate (HR) and time to completion (TTC) were …