Digital Commons Network^™

Risk Factors And Clinical Outcomes Of Abnormal Placental Localization: A Comprehensive Retrospective Analysis, Bessy Varghese, Alia Abdulla Abdullatif, Yusuf Khaled Hadi, Noor Ammar Alkhuzaei, Khawla Al Sendy, Marwa Abdulrahman Juma Salem, Youstina Georges, Amala Sunder

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate maternal and neonatal complications associated with various types of placental abnormal localization. Methods: This retrospective study analysed obstetric and neonatal outcomes associated with placental abnormal localization at Bahrain Defence Force Hospital over a 12-month period (January–December 2022). Women were categorized into four groups based on placental localization: placenta previa with accreta, placenta previa with increta, minor previa, and major previa. Maternal demographics, obstetric history, and fetal outcomes were collected. Statistical analysis included Fisher's exact test for categorical variables, the Kruskal-Wallis test for non-parametric variables, and one-way ANOVA for parametric variables. A p-value of Results: A total …

An Examination Of The Effect On Health Protective Behaviour Of Diabetes And Obesity Awareness And Personal Characteristics In Adults: Structural Equation Modeling, Ayşe Soylu, Pinar Şahin

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: The World Health Organization has reported that obesity-related diabetes cases are increasing rapidly. The aim of this study was to examine the effect on health protective behaviour of diabetes and obesity awareness and personal characteristics in adults. Method: This descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted with 1241 participants. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Diabetes and Obesity Awareness Scale and Health Protective Behaviour Scale. Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS vn.23 and IBM AMOS vn.24 software. STROBE was used in reporting. Results: Of the total participants, 45.4% had no diabete and obesity awareness and in …

Brief Geriatric Assessment (Bga): An Evidence-Based Tool For Improving Care Of Older Adults, Assim M. Alabdulkader

Saudi Medical Journal

The Brief Geriatric Assessment is an approach for rapidly identifying high-risk older adults and guiding timely interventions in busy clinical settings. Unlike the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, albeit the gold standard, which is resource-intensive, the Brief Geriatric Assessment offers a scalable alternative by using validated, time-efficient tools to screen for common geriatric syndromes. This narrative state-of-the-art review synthesizes the evidence and best practices regarding the concept, structure, and clinical application of the Brief Geriatric Assessment. It compares the Brief Geriatric Assessment and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment from theoretical and practical perspectives and outlines how the former can be integrated into healthcare settings, …

Sleep Disorder Phenotypes And The Risk Of Incident Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis With Mendelian Randomization Validation, Fang Yan, Lihua Fan, Yunhu Chen

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To quantify how specific sleep-disorder phenotypes are related to incident heart failure (HF) using a meta-analysis of cohort data and to probe causal relevance via 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods: Fourteen cohorts comprised of participants without HF at baseline were pooled (49,501 exposed; 337,317 controls). A random effects meta-analysis produced pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A bidirectional two-sample MR was used to evaluate the causal effects of sleep phenotypes on HF. Results: Overall, sleep disorders were linked to a higher incidence of HF (pooled HR 1.46; 95% CI 1.30–1.63; pp < 0.001), whereas insomnia was not independently associated with HF (pooled HR 1.11; 95% CI 0.75–1.62; p = 0.609). The …

Experiences Of Lgbtqia+ Medical Students: Gaps And Challenges During Preclinical Education., Samantha Temucin, Natalie Florescu, Paige Varin, Leeann Tanaka, Robert Bettiker, Erin N Harrop, Kendrin Sonneville

PCOM Scholarly Works

Background

While attempts to diversify the physician workforce are ongoing, limited research exists exploring the experiences LGBTQIA+ medical students during their preclinical training. The purpose of this study is to examine how interpersonal interactions, campus climate, and the availability of campus support influence the well-being of LGBTQIA+ medical students across U.S. medical schools during their preclinical education.

Method

Medical students self-identifying as LGBTQIA + and enrolled in either Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) institutions in the U.S. in 2024 completed an online, 136-item survey. Participants were asked about preclinical medical school experiences, perceptions of their …

On Edible Food Recovery: Integration Of Local Agriculture Into Santa Clara County Food Recovery Networks, Anna Keenan, Caitlin Delamora, Jenna Martinez, Vansh Malik

Environmental Studies and Sciences Senior Capstone

Santa Clara County (SCC) produces over 50 million pounds of surplus food, yet 31% percent of county residents are reported to be at risk of food insecurity, lacking reliable access to proper, affordable nutrition. Additionally, SCC produces approximately 40,000 tons of food waste annually. Food waste decomposes in landfills, producing greenhouse gas emissions, posing a pressing public health and environmental issue. California’s food waste law (SB 1383) addresses this challenge. We aimed to provide actionable insights that enable local farmers to donate more surplus produce, identifying ways to divert food loss from local farms to recovered food hubs, turning potential …

Addressing Failing Water Systems: A Qualitative Protocol For Intervention Research On Water Insecurity, Patrick Thomson, Melissa Beresford, Jobayer Hossain, Cara Jacob, Carolina Jordão, Oswaldo Medina-Ramírez, Sophie Neems, Daniel Salcedo Serrano, Dave White, Amber Wutich

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

It is increasingly acknowledged that high income countries do not enjoy universal drinking water coverage, with pockets of water insecurity persisting close to areas that have had high-quality, centralized water provision for half a century or more. The reasons behind this are complex, and effective ways to improve water security in these areas defy simple prescriptions. Nuanced measures that disaggregate the different facets of water insecurity are especially important as we attempt to understand and, crucially, improve water security in high-income countries.In this paper, we describe a qualitative protocol for assessing water insecurity at the household level in a study …

Comparative Assessment Of Uav-Based Tseb And Field-Calibrated Aquacrop For Evapotranspiration On The Arid Coast Of Peru, Roxana Peña-Amaro, José Huanuqueño-Murillo, Lia Ramos-Fernández, Abel Ramos-Ayala, David Quispe-Tito, Lena Cruz-Villacorta, Elizabeth Heros-Aguilar, Edwin Pino-Vargas, Alfonso Torres-Rua

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Precise estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) is essential for sustainable water management in arid agroecosystems, particularly for high-water-demand crops such as rice. This study integrated very-high-resolution UAV thermal–multispectral imagery with a Two-Source Energy Balance model (UAV–TSEB) and a field-calibrated AquaCrop model to quantify daily ET and its components under continuous flooding on the arid Peruvian coast during the 2024–2025 season. A network of 24 drainage lysimeters provided an independent observational benchmark (ET_lys); to represent the treatment-level response, lysimeter observations were aggregated as the mean across the 24 units for each UAV campaign. Thirteen UAV surveys supplied radiometric surface temperature …

Reform, Resistance, And Reluctant Change: The Southern Hookworm Epidemic In Progressive Era Georgia, 1909-1915, Hannah Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the early twentieth century, the campaign against hookworm disease in the American South became one of the most ambitious public health initiatives in United States history. Led by the Rockefeller Sanitary Commission for the Eradication of Hookworm Disease (1909–1915), reformers sought to diagnose, treat, and ultimately eliminate a parasitic infection believed to contribute to widespread poverty, poor health, and low educational attainment in the rural South. This dissertation examines the hookworm eradication campaign in Georgia to explore how national public health reform intersected with local culture, education, race relations, and regional identity. Drawing on Georgia newspapers, Rockefeller Sanitary Commission …

Evaluating Strategies For Reducing Rates Of Adult Obesity In The United States Through Childhood Education And Exercise, Ameer M. Abdelkrim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Obesity is a growing national public health crisis, impacting millions of adults and children in the U.S. Untreated obesity causes or aggravates diseases across multiple body systems. The societal impacts of obesity include an avoidable strain on the national healthcare system, with obesity and its comorbid conditions raising healthcare costs. Proactive policy and practices, with strict oversight, are essential for achieving a reduction in obesity rates. One proactive strategy that may be effective is early-age intervention, including enhanced physical activity and nutrition education for U.S. children. This study evaluates adolescent-intervention strategies for reducing rates of adult obesity. The employed methods …

Teachers' Lived Experiences Addressing The Benefits And Challenges Of Screen Based Technology Use In The Classroom: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Amanda M. Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The researcher explored Title I elementary school teachers’ lived experiences in addressing the challenges and benefits of screen based technology (SBT) use in classroom spaces. Guided by Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural learning theory, a transcendental phenomenological approach was utilized by the researcher to explore the unique nuances of different learning spaces, buildings, and educational contexts. As SBT has become indispensable to modern education practitioners, teachers must balance the benefits to student learning with screen fatigue, reduced interpersonal interaction, and access disparities. The central research question states: How do Title I elementary school teachers describe their lived experiences in addressing SBT use …

Recommendations For The Diagnosis And Management Of Cln3 Disease (Batten Disease) Using The Delphi Consensus Methodology, Jonathan W Mink, Jonathan D Cooper, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: CLN3 disease, also called Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (JNCL), or Batten disease, is an ultra‑rare, neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder generally affecting individuals during the first decade of life. There can be a delay in diagnosis or misdiagnosis due to a lack of awareness, and when the most common presenting symptom of visual loss is attributed to more common conditions affecting vision. METHODS: We used a previously published Expert Mapping Tool (EMT) to identify multidisciplinary professionals with diagnostic or clinical management expertise, as well as patient advocates with experience of CLN3 disease. A systematic literature review of published evidence using …

Framing The Pressure: Mental Health Representation In Olympic Athletes Through The Weight Of Gold, Daniel B. Gearin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how the HBO documentary The Weight of Gold constructs meaning around athlete mental health through narrative and visual framing. Grounded in framing theory, the purpose of this research is to identify the key themes presented in the film and analyze how cinematic techniques shape audience understanding of mental health in Olympic athletes. The rationale for this study stems from a gap in existing research, as most scholarship focuses on psychological outcomes rather than how media representations construct those meanings. Using a qualitative approach, the study applies thematic analysis to 17 scenes of the documentary, supported by a …

Characterization Of Alkaline Treated Raffia Palm Fibres As Reinforcement In Polymer Composite, Ipilakyaa Daniel, Tile Emmanuel, Nyior Bem, Gundu Terfa

Engineering and Technology Journal

The characterization of raffia palm fibre (RPF) for reinforcement in polymer composite for specialized applications was studied. The fibres were treated with NaOH solution and subjected to a tensile strength test. The fibres were also subjected to spectroscopy using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The study found that the alkaline-treated RPF presented a tensile strength of 195 MPa and Young’s modulus of 91.76 MPa. The strain at maximum stress in the fibre was found to be 2.125%. FTIR spectra of treated raffia palm fibres revealed that the fibres are characterized by O-H …

Design And Implement The Innovative Drugstore For Health Care Services Based On Health Mobile Applications And Advanced Iot, Yusur Al - Saffar, Sabah Gitaffa, Abbas H. Issa

Engineering and Technology Journal

The health care problems are errors in taking medication, improper storage of the medication, irregularly taking the medication on time, and not knowing the side effects of taking medication with different foods. This work aims to find an integrated system that works on informing people of the medicine they take, the exact dose of the medicine at all times, keeping the medicine from spoiling, alerting the patient to the side effects of the medicine, and creating tables for taking the history of taking medicines. This assists doctors when going to the hospital in emergency cases. The innovative drugstore is built …

20th Annual Research In The Capitol [Program], March 9, 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. University Honors Program. Iowa State University. Honors Program. University Of Iowa. Honors Program.

Research in the Capitol Programs

Program of research presentations given at the Capitol by students from the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa.

The Echo: March 9, 2026, Taylor University

2025-2026 (Volume 113)

No abstract provided.

The Comparison Of Fresh And Dry Duckweed (Lemna Minor L.) On Metal (Cr6+, Cd2+, And Zn2+) Removal From Wastewater, Rahin Islam, Noah Smith, Ben Jang, Lin Guo

Student Publications

Heavy metals contaminating the environment is a global concern. Duckweed (Lemna minor) is a promising plant for the phytoremediation and biosorption of metal-contaminated water. Although studies have shown that duckweed can remove multiple metals, there is limited research comparing the efficiency of fresh and dried biomass for wastewater treatment. To evaluate the performance of both forms, fresh and dried duckweed were exposed to metal solutions containing varying concentrations of Cr6+, Cd2+, and Zn2+ (5 mg/LCr6+ +1mg/LCd2+ 10mg/LZn2+;10mg/LCr6+ +5mg/LCd2+ +50mg/LZn2+; or 50 mg/LCr6+ +25mg/LCd2+ +250mg/LZn2+)for a duration of 168 h. Metal uptake in fresh duckweed followed zero-order kinetics for Cr6+, Cd2+, …

Quantifying Location-Based Variability Of Regional Brain Metabolism Using Microsamples From Apoe Knock-In Mice, Jason G. Wells, Esteban G. Colman, John C. Price

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is an important lipid transporter in the brain. There are three different ApoE variants: ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4. Each of these variants either contribute to or protect against Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The Hippocampus (HC) and the Entorhinal Region (ER) of the brain consistently develop AD pathology first. We hypothesize that ApoE variants affect lipid and protein metabolism in these regions more strongly than in others. Differences in the regional regulation and the ApoE-isoform impacts of these metabolic pathways remain unknown.

We measured brain protein turnover rates in ApoE knock-in mice labeled with deuterated water. Using a laser …

Horizontal Gene Transfer In Neisseria, Wen Ting Dong

Theses

Antibiotics are a special category of drugs that help treat bacterial infections by killing bacteria or hindering their growth and replication. Antibiotics are greatly significant in modern medical practices, providing an effective treatment for bacterial infections as well as enabling organ transplants, open surgeries, and chemotherapy to be possible. Unfortunately, cases of antibiotic resistance were observed shortly after the introduction of antibiotics. The appearance and spread of these resistant strains poses a significant threat to public health safety. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates there are 2,868,700 antibiotic-resistant bacterial and fungal infection cases per year in the United States, …

A Case Of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease With Multiple Bilateral Spontaneous Retroperitoneal Hemorrhages, Masato Mizuta, Tatsuya Suwabe, Yuki Oba, Akinari Sekine, Masayuki Yamanouchi, Hiroki Mizuno, Eiko Hasegawa, Takehiko Wada, Makoto Fukuda, Motoaki Miyazono, Naoki Sawa, Yoshifumi Ubara

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

We experienced a 45-year-old male with ADPKD who developed spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhages with hypertension in the right subcapsular renal space without trauma. After his condition worsened with conservative management, he was treated by renal transarterial embolization (TAE). Over the next eight years, he experienced bilateral bleeding at three different sites and underwent repeated endovascular treatment with renal TAE to stop the bleeding. After the fourth occurrence, the patient underwent hemodialysis. Although renal cysts and urinary tract bleeding occur frequently in ADPKD, retroperitoneal hemorrhage is rare; however, TAE is both effective and a good way to preserve renal function.

Perspectives On Food Sovereignty In Chicago, Camden Bruce Blowers

Capstone Projects – Politics and Government

The research question for this project focuses on food sovereignty. “How do individuals working with food in Chicago identify their role in promoting food sovereignty?” is a research question that expands with some nuance into the question of “who” individuals are in terms of political orientation. When asked to identify political ideology and economic ideology, the values can be greater quantified. Using mixed-methods, this paper critically assesses perspectives of individuals working with food in Chicago. The online survey enumerates the individual perspectives, food culture, and sociopolitical interactions of food sellers, producers, and advocates. Ten interviews further establish 1) the sociopolitical …

Penile Prosthetic Infections: What Can Be Learned From Orthopedics?, Kenneth B Mathis, Alisina Shahi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Clinical And Economic Impact Of Vascular Access Teams Utilizing An Ic-Ecg-Based Tip Confirmation System For Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters., Gustavo Rc De Freitas, Sanjay A Patel, Shigeki Fujitani, Yusuke Terasaka, Angel A Sarabia Collazo, Andrew Barton, Leanne Ruegg, Amanda Griffin, Matthew O'Brien, Idal Beer

Heart and Vascular Articles

INTRODUCTION: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are commonly used in clinical practice. Historical PICC placement methods (e.g. fluoroscopy-guided placement or blind insertion with confirmatory chest X-ray) have many limitations and are associated with longer wait times, treatment delays, and potential risks to patient safety. One such way of addressing some of these issues is the use of dedicated systems that integrate ultrasound vessel selection and PICC insertion, magnetic catheter tip navigation, and intracavitary electrocardiogram-based tip confirmation (IC-ECG). The uptake of these systems has been slow in some parts of the world. This narrative review aims to assess the clinical and …

Aging In The Shadows: Szekler Cemeteries And The Case For Recognizing Elderly Populations In Bioarchaeology, Katie M. Mcgrath

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The study of aging in past populations lies at the intersection of bioarchaeology and paleodemography, offering insight into both biological processes and lived social experience. Despite this potential, older adults are often rendered “invisible” in skeletal assemblages due to methodological and cultural biases. This thesis addresses this gap through a rare, community-based study of aging among the Székely population of Transylvania. By integrating osteological analysis of individuals (11th–19th centuries) from the archaeological Papdomb church cemetery with demographic data derived from the modern cemetery headstones (ca.1850–present), this research examines patterns of aging, longevity, and elder visibility across a culturally and spatially …

Late Local Recurrence Of Gastric Cancer After Preoperative Radiochemotherapy: Three Case Reports And Literature Review, Mateusz M. Gajek, Magdalena Szymala-Cortez, Jerzy Wydmański

Pacific Journal of Health

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks as the fifth most common cancer type, contributing significantly to cancer-related mortality. This paper presents three cases of patients treated with preoperative radiochemotherapy (preopRTCT) at the National Cancer Center who experienced recurrences of GC after 15, 11 and 19 years. In all cases follow-up ended years before recurrence. Relapse was diagnosed late and treatment outcome was poor. We believe that extending the follow-up period for gastric cancer patients beyond the initial treatment is necessary especially for younger patients with large tumors. Late recurrences, often diagnosed at advanced stages, require differentiation from second primary malignancies, a process …

From Farm To Fork, And Beyond: The International Politics Of Food Standards, Julia E. Srnec

The Downtown Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal Written and Peer-Reviewed by Mandel Honors College Students at Cleveland State University

Food safety standards are incredibly politically charged due to how much they can differ between countries and how implementing new standards in a country can impact the economy of those depending on the exports of food products. The political division regarding food safety standards can begin to be understood once the impacts on national and international economics, as well as the consequences of regulations beyond the economy, are considered. Nongovernmental organizations such as the World Health Organization help to mitigate conflict over trade policy disagreements, however some divisions persist.The use of non-tariff barriers on the imports of food-related goods can …

Association Between Bmi Z-Score And Postoperative Complications In Pediatric Neuromuscular Scoliosis Surgery, Alexander K Mihas, Dion Birhiray, Chun Wai Hung, Lorenzo R Deveza, Dallas Vanorny, Frank Gerow, Darrell Hanson, Benny Dahl

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Study Design

Single-center retrospective review.

Objective

To investigate the association between BMI Z-scores and postoperative complications in pediatric patients with neuromuscular scoliosis undergoing spinal instrumentation.

Methods

Pediatric patients who underwent spinal instrumentation for neuromuscular scoliosis from July 2012 to June 2016 with a minimum 2-year follow-up were included. BMI and BMI Z-scores were calculated, and patients were stratified into CDC-defined BMI-for-age percentiles: underweight (< 5th percentile), normal (5th to < 85th percentile), overweight (85th to < 95th percentile), and obese (≥95th percentile). Logistic regression assessed associations of BMI, BMI Z-score, and BMI groups with postoperative complications.

Results

In total, 147 patients were included. Average follow-up was 3.2 ± 1.4 years. The most common diagnosis was cerebral palsy (39.5%). Complications occurred in 65 (44.2%) patients: 32 (21.8%) had a surgical site infection (SSI), …

The Role Of Pet-Parenting Attitudes In Shaping Consumer Behavior Toward Preventive And Wellness-Oriented Pet Care, Jin Hua Jian, Chee Vui Wong, Jiangwei Yang

Jesselton Journal of Educators and Scholars

The increasing tendency to view pets as family members has transformed consumer behaviour in contemporary pet care markets, particularly in relation to preventive and wellness-oriented consumption. This study examines how pet-parenting attitudes shape consumer decision-making and expenditure on preventive pet care in an emerging urban context. Grounded primarily in Consumer Culture Theory, with the Theory of Planned Behavior as a supporting lens, the study adopts a quantitative approach using survey data collected from 400 urban pet-owning households. The findings indicate that pet-parenting attitudes exert a significant positive influence on preventive and wellness-oriented pet care expenditure. This influence operates both directly …

Flisser, Miriam, Philip Chan

Bronx Jewish History Project

Miriam Flisser was born in Europe right after World War II to Jewish partisan parents. They fled danger and arrived in New York as refugees, settling in the Bronx. She grew up in safe, lively neighborhoods like Mott Haven and Pelham Parkway, speaking Yiddish at home until she learned English from kids on the street. Her dad was a skilled kosher butcher who later bought apartment buildings; the family kept a warm, traditional Jewish home.

Miriam excelled in Bronx schools, went to Bronx Science, then NYU’s Bronx campus and Albert Einstein Medical School (graduating a year early). She became a …