Digital Commons Network^™

Consensus Guidelines For The Monitoring And Management Of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy In The United States, Laura A Adang, Joshua L Bonkowsky, Jaap Jan Boelens, Eric Mallack, Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas, John A Bernat, Annette Bley, Barbara Burton, Alejandra Darling, Florian Eichler, Erik Eklund, Lisa Emrick, Maria Escolar, Ali Fatemi, Jamie L Fraser, Amy Gaviglio, Stephanie Keller, Marc C Patterson, Paul Orchard, Jennifer Orthmann-Murphy, Jonathan D Santoro, Ludger Schöls, Caroline Sevin, Isha N Srivastava, Deepa Rajan, Jennifer P Rubin, Keith Van Haren, Melissa Wasserstein, Ayelet Zerem, Francesca Fumagalli, Lucia Laugwitz, Adeline Vanderver

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic mutations in the ARSA (Arylsulfatase A) gene. With the advent of presymptomatic diagnosis and the availability of therapies with a narrow window for intervention, it is critical to define a standardized approach to diagnosis, presymptomatic monitoring, and clinical care. To meet the needs of the MLD community, a panel of MLD experts was established to develop disease-specific guidelines based on healthcare resources in the United States. This group developed a consensus opinion for best-practice recommendations, as follows: (i) Diagnosis should include both genetic and biochemical testing; (ii) …

Social Media And Dermatology During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Analyzing User-Submitted Posts Seeking Dermatologic Advice On Reddit, Vivek V Shukla, Benjamin A Carper, Namasivayam Ambalavanan, Matthew A Rysavy, Edward F Bell, Abhik Das, Ravi M Patel, Carl T D'Angio, Kristi L Watterberg, C Michael Cotten, Stephanie L Merhar, Myra H Wyckoff, Pablo J Sánchez, Neha Kumbhat, Waldemar A Carlo, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health And Human Development Neonatal Research Network

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

HYPOTHESIS: Increased social distancing was associated with a lower incidence of extremely preterm live births (EPLB) during the initial COVID-19 pandemic period.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study at the NICHD Neonatal Research Network sites comparing EPLB (22

RESULTS: EPLB and EPIS percentages did not significantly decrease (1.58-1.45%, p = 0.07, and 0.08-0.06%, p = 0.14, respectively). SDI was not significantly correlated with percent change of EPLB (CC = 0.29, 95% CI = -0.12, 0.71) or EPIS (CC = -0.23, 95% CI = -0.65, 0.18). Percent change in mean gestational age was positively correlated with SDI (CC = 0.49, 95% CI = …

Paying A Heavy Price: Costs Of Care For People With Severe Obesity In Nursing Homes, Luisa Fernandez, Bianca Shieu, Alison Trinkoff, Nicholas Castle, David G Wolf, Steven Handler, John A Harris

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and objectives: The prevalence of resident obesity in nursing homes has increased dramatically from 22% to 28% between 2005 and 2015. To provide care for people with obesity, nursing homes have changed their admissions, staffing, and equipment, but underlying these changes are increased resources and financial costs of care. The purpose of this study is to describe nursing home organizational aspects of caring for older adults with obesity, with a focus on economic factors, from the perspective of nursing home staff and leadership.

Research design and methods: This qualitative study used descriptive approaches; data were collected through semistructured telephone …

The Frailty Trajectory's Additional Edge Over The Frailty Index: Retrospective Cohort Study Of Veterans With Heart Failure, Javad Razjouyan, Ariela R Orkaby, Molly J Horstman, Parag Goyal, Orna Intrator, Aanand D Naik

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Diverse Mentoring Connections Across Institutional Boundaries In The Biomedical Sciences: Innovative Graph Database Analysis, Toufeeq Ahmed Syed, Erika L Thompson, Zainab Latif, Jay Johnson, Damaris Javier, Katie Stinson, Gabrielle Saleh, Jamboor K Vishwanatha

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: With an overarching goal of increasing diversity and inclusion in biomedical sciences, the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) developed a web-based national mentoring platform (MyNRMN) that seeks to connect mentors and mentees to support the persistence of underrepresented minorities in the biomedical sciences. As of May 15, 2024, the MyNRMN platform, which provides mentoring, networking, and professional development tools, has facilitated more than 12,100 unique mentoring connections between faculty, students, and researchers in the biomedical domain.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the large-scale mentoring connections facilitated by our web-based platform between students (mentees) and faculty (mentors) across institutional …

Trends And Shifts: Migration, Reverse Missions, And African Catholic Priests In Iowa City, Usa, Kefas Lamak

Journal of Global Catholicism

This study uses ethnographic research to examine the work and self-conception of African-trained priests in a city in the American state of Iowa. This phenomenon is part of a broader trend and shift as African-trained priests take up positions as pastors and missionaries throughout Europe and America. The article argues that the movement of African priests to the West in recent years should be understood as “reverse mission” because of its similarities to Western missionary activity in third world countries in earlier historical periods. This study mainly focuses on Iowa City, where the researcher interviewed five African priests serving in …

Thriving In Theory, Missing The Mark: U.S. Organic Farming IndustryʼS Systemic Malfunctions And How Danish Organic Farming Policy Could Help Solve These Issues, Bailey Webster

San Diego Journal of Climate & Energy Law

Section one of this Article explains the overall framework of the U.S. organic farming industry, including certification, labeling, education, and funding. Section two explains the background and structure of Danish organic farming, administered by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries of Denmark. Section three addresses and analyzes current issues afflicting the U.S. organic farming industry. Section four explores a prominent organic farming case, Center for Food Safety v. Perdue. Additionally, this Article details the comparison between the U.S. and Danish organic farming policies that are most relevant to issues in the U.S. industry. Lastly, and most importantly, this …

Impact Of Risk-Based Therapy On Late Morbidity And Mortality In Neuroblastoma Survivors: A Report From The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, Danielle Novetsky Friedman, Pamela J Goodman, Wendy M Leisenring, Lisa R Diller, Susan L Cohn, Rebecca M Howell, Susan A Smith, Emily S Tonorezos, Suzanne L Wolden, Joseph P Neglia, Kirsten K Ness, Todd M Gibson, Paul C Nathan, Lucie M Turcotte, Brent R Weil, Leslie L Robison, Kevin C Oeffinger, Gregory T Armstrong, Charles A Sklar, Tara O Henderson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Early efforts at risk-adapted therapy for neuroblastoma are predicted to result in differential late effects; the magnitude of these differences has not been well described.

Methods: Late mortality, subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs), and severe/life-threatening chronic health conditions (CHCs), graded according to CTCAE v4.03, were assessed among 5-year Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) survivors of neuroblastoma diagnosed 1987-1999. Using age, stage at diagnosis, and treatment, survivors were classified into risk groups (low [n = 425]; intermediate [n = 252]; high [n = 245]). Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of SMNs were compared with matched population controls. …

Exploring How Sino-Business Culture Informs United States Business Negotiation Practice, Chase Peterson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Numerous scholarly works have explored the intricacies of negotiating with China. This paper aims to add value to previous research by providing insights deduced from cross-cultural communication with individuals from the People's Republic of China (PRC), while emphasizing the advantages of adaptation of Chinese business culture by U.S. negotiators. The United States Institute of Peace observed several biases among U.S. negotiators including a tendency to accept initial solutions prematurely, as well as a lack of understanding regarding counterparts' objectives and contextual circumstances (Quinney 2002). The strengths of Chinese business culture help remedy these tendencies and inform Western negotiators how different …

Romani American History: Historical Absences And Their Consequences, Ann Ostendorf

History Faculty Scholarship

American historians have created an historical absence by ignoring Romani people’s presence in evidence from the past. The origins of this “absence-ing” are multifaceted and interrelated, but fundamentally stem from the continued influence of out-of-date and unprofessional ways of thinking and knowing. Examining and understanding “absence-ing” requires a consideration of the nature of the discipline of history as well as a history of the missing historicization of Romani Americans. The consequences of the “absence-ing” of Romani people from American histories have negatively and distinctively influenced four different groups of people: historians of the Americas; historians of Romani people in Europe; …

Things I'Ve Learned From Doing Cosplay: An Investigation On Incorporating “Atypical” Creative Practices Into Art Education, Yvonne Liang

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the pedagogical value of cosplay through a focused case study and autoethnography, highlighting its influence on identity formation and community engagement among youth. The autoethnographic component provides a personal perspective, enriching the empirical data collected from participants in a cosplay workshop. The case study delves into how cosplay encourages skill development, creativity, and emotional resilience, facilitating a supportive and dynamic learning environment for young adults. Insights from this research demonstrate the significant benefits of integrating cosplay into art education, suggesting it can greatly enhance student engagement and promote diverse educational experiences. This study contributes to the understanding …

Frontier: Land, Architecture, And Abstraction, Jacob Boatman

Masters Theses

The abstraction of land is a colonial process by which physical land is transformed into a conceptual or symbolic entity. This transformation occurs through various economic, architectural, and cultural practices that imbue land with abstract values, meanings, and functions beyond its physicality. This includes the division of land into parcels for economic transactions, the design and construction of built environments that shape human interactions with the land, and the cultural narratives and representations that ascribe significance to particular landscapes. Through abstraction, colonial powers devalue indigenous perspectives and relationships to the land, reducing them to mere obstacles in the path of …

Polygenic Liability For Anxiety In Association With Comorbid Anxiety In Multiple Sclerosis, Kaarina Kowalec, Arvid Harder, Casandra Dolovich, Kathryn C Fitzgerald, Amber Salter, Yi Lu, Charles N Bernstein, James M Bolton, Gary Cutter, John D Fisk, Joel Gelernter, Lesley A Graff, Sara Hägg, Carol A Hitchon, Daniel F Levey, Fred D Lublin, Kyla A Mckay, Scott Patten, Amit Patki, Murray B Stein, Hemant K Tiwari, Jerry S Wolinsky, Ruth A Marrie

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Comorbid anxiety occurs often in MS and is associated with disability progression. Polygenic scores offer a possible means of anxiety risk prediction but often have not been validated outside the original discovery population. We aimed to investigate the association between the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item scale polygenic score with anxiety in MS.

METHODS: Using a case-control design, participants from Canadian, UK Biobank, and United States cohorts were grouped into cases (MS/comorbid anxiety) or controls (MS/no anxiety, anxiety/no immune disease or healthy). We used multiple anxiety measures: current symptoms, lifetime interview-diagnosed, and lifetime self-report physician-diagnosed. The polygenic score was computed …

Use Of A Blood Biomarker Test Improves Economic Utility In The Evaluation Of Older Patients Presenting With Cognitive Impairment, William J Canestaro, Randall J Bateman, David M Holtzman, Mark Monane, Joel B Braunstein

2020-Current year OA Pubs

More than 16 million Americans living with cognitive impairment warrant a diagnostic evaluation to determine the cause of this disorder. The recent availability of disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is expected to significantly drive demand for such diagnostic testing. Accurate, accessible, and affordable methods are needed. Blood biomarkers (BBMs) offer advantages over usual care amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in these regards. This study used a budget impact model to assess the economic utility of the PrecivityAD

Influence Of Parental Nativity And Perceived Neighborhood Environment On Physical Activity And Screen Time Of United States Youth, Natalia I Heredia, Ethan T Hunt, Kevin Lanza

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed how parental nativity and perceived environment are associated with physical activity and screen time of U.S. children and adolescents.

METHODS: Data originated from the 2020-21 U.S. National Survey of Children's Health. We conducted multivariable Poisson regression to assess the cross-sectional association of parental nativity and perceived neighborhood environment variables on parental reports of youth meeting national physical activity and screen time guidelines. We tested interactions of parental nativity and neighborhood environment variables on both outcomes. Analyses were conducted using STATA v17 and p < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.

RESULTS: The sample of 24,928 children and 30,951 adolescents was 11.6 years of …

Trends In Fatal Opioid-Related Overdose In American Indian And Alaska Native Communities, 1999-2021, Cici Bauer, Ghada H Hassan, Ric Bayly, Jack Cordes, Dana Bernson, Cedric Woods, Xiaona Li, Wenjun Li, Leland K Ackerson, Marc R Larochelle, Thomas J Stopka

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Opioid-related overdose mortality rates have increased sharply in the U.S. over the past two decades, and inequities across racial and ethnic groups have been documented. Opioid-related overdose trends among American Indian and Alaska Natives require further quantification and assessment.

METHODS: Observational, U.S. population-based registry data on opioid-related overdose mortality between 1999 and 2021 were extracted in 2023 using ICD-10 codes from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research multiple cause of death file by race, Hispanic ethnicity, sex, and age. Segmented time series analyses were conducted to estimate opioid-related overdose mortality growth …

Life-Space Mobility, Transportation, And The Companionship Network Of Members Of A Hispanic Senior Center, Rebecca L Mauldin, Rupal Parekh, John P Connolly, Stephen P Mattingly, Aiman Mushtaq, Kayo Fujimoto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Companions (i.e., friends who spend time together) are important for the well-being of older adults. Senior centers in the United States are places for older adults to participate in group activities and form and maintain companionships. However, differences in mobility and transportation may affect the ability of older adults to leverage senior center activities into actual companionships.

Methods: This social network analysis was conducted to characterize the companionship network among members of a senior center in relation to their life-space mobility and transportation resources. An exponential random graph model was estimated to identify mobility- and transportation-related correlates of the …

Rural Veterans With Hiv And Alcohol Use Disorder Receive Less Video Telehealth Than Urban Veterans, Alan Z Sheinfil, Giselle Day, Annette Walder, Julianna Hogan, Thomas P Giordano, Jan Lindsay, Anthony Ecker

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is highly prevalent among Veterans with HIV. Rural Veterans with HIV are at especially high risk for not receiving appropriate treatment. This retrospective cohort cross-sectional study aimed to investigate patterns of mental health treatment utilization across delivery modality among Veterans diagnosed with HIV and AUD. It was hypothesized that rural Veterans with HIV and AUD would receive a lower rate of mental health treatment delivered via video telehealth than urban Veterans with HIV and AUD.

Methods: A national Veterans Health Association administrative database was used to identify a cohort of Veterans diagnosed with HIV and …

Statistical And Practical Considerations In Planning And Conduct Of Dose-Optimization Trials, Ying Yuan, Heng Zhou, Suyu Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration launched Project Optimus with the aim of shifting the paradigm of dose-finding and selection toward identifying the optimal biological dose that offers the best balance between benefit and risk, rather than the maximum tolerated dose. However, achieving dose optimization is a challenging task that involves a variety of factors and is considerably more complicated than identifying the maximum tolerated dose, both in terms of design and implementation. This article provides a comprehensive review of various design strategies for dose-optimization trials, including phase 1/2 and 2/3 designs, and highlights their respective advantages and disadvantages. In …

Excess Risk Of Chronic Health Conditions In Hispanic Survivors Of Adolescent And Young Adult Cancers, Amy M Berkman, Eunju Choi, John M Salsman, Susan K Peterson, Christabel K Cheung, Clark R Andersen, Qian Lu, J A Livingston, Michelle A T Hildebrandt, Susan K Parsons, Michael E Roth

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: There is a growing population of survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers (age 15-39 years at diagnosis). Studies in AYA cancer survivors have identified racial and ethnic disparities in long-term outcomes. To understand the extent to which a cancer diagnosis exacerbates pre-existent health disparities within a minoritized population, comparisons should be made to those of the same race or ethnicity without a cancer history.

Methods: Self-reported data from the National Health Interview Survey (2009-2018) were used to identify Hispanic AYA cancer survivors and Hispanic age- and sex-matched controls. SES factors (marital status, income, education, insurance) and prevalence …

A Delphi Panel To Build Consensus On Assessing Disease Severity And Disease Progression In Adult Patients With Hypophosphatasia In The United States., K M Dahir, Eric T. Rush, S Diaz-Mendoza, P S Kishnani

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an inborn error of metabolism with a variable presentation. We conducted a modified Delphi panel to obtain expert consensus on knowledge gaps regarding disease severity and progression in adult patients with HPP.

METHODS: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) with experience managing adult patients with HPP were recruited to participate in a 3-round Delphi panel (round 1: paper survey and 1:1 interview; rounds 2-3: email survey). Panelists rated the extent of their agreement with statements about disease severity and progression in adult patients with HPP. Consensus was defined as ≥ 80% agreement.

RESULTS: Ten HCPs completed round 1; nine …

Authenticating Social Media Evidence In Chinese Criminal Procedure Law -- A Comparative Study, Yage Huang

Maurer Theses and Dissertations

Authentication requires the proponent to provide sufficient proof that the proposed social media evidence is, indeed, what it is claimed to be. The rapid proliferation of social media evidence has posed significant challenges for its authentication. This dissertation explores the authentication challenges for social media evidence in a comprehensive manner.

This research employs a qualitative research methodology, including theoretical and analytical methods, to examine the theoretical approaches, statutory provisions, and recent judicial rulings related to the authentication of social media evidence within the legal frameworks of China and the United States. Through a comparative analysis, this study reveals significant commonalities …

Comptroller's Handbook: Liquidity, United States: Department Of The Treasury: Office Of The Comptroller Of The Currency (Occ)

Documents

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Trauma Informed Care For Indigenous Victims Of Human Trafficking: A Qualitative Discussion Of Best Practice, Nina Munson

University Honors Theses

Human trafficking is a major issue that every community and nation faces. Within the United States, Indigenous communities are especially at risk of victimization in relation to a history of systemic violence and consequent neglect. Therefore, the need for culturally competent care is crucial. This study seeks to address how culturally sensitive approaches to trauma-informed care can be developed and implemented by various providers to effectively support Native American victims of human trafficking in accessing assistance services. In order to evaluate the problem, a literature review was conducted, paired with qualitative interviews from relevant stakeholders. The findings demonstrated a significant …

The Inform (International Framework For Rehabilitation Medics) Project To Strengthen The Medical Specialty, Man Hung, Himani Patel, Samantha Lee, Justin Nguyen, Amir Mohajeri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

(1) Background: This study examines vitamin D’s impact on dental caries to inform prevention strategies, given its critical role in bone and calcium regulation, vital for dental health. (2) Methods: Data from 18,683 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2016 were analyzed. NHANES collects U.S. population data through interviews, physical exams, and tests, including vitamin D levels and dental health assessed using both the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and the presence of untreated dental caries. Vitamin D levels were measured according to serum 25(OH)D concentrations, and the analyses adjusted for confounders such as …

Cultural Hybridization In The United States: The Case Of Chicanos/Mexican-American Music, Jeffrey R. Craig

Senior Theses

How do immigrant communities in the United States maintain aspects of their culture when they have to navigate between an American culture and their own? This study will center Chicanos, who fit this description by being Mexicans who have to navigate between having roots in Mexico and a new cultural environment in America. More specifically, an analysis of corrido music (and their corresponding music videos) produced by a Chicano band in the 21st century will be important to understanding how a hybrid identity is communicated through that medium. Lyrics, Slang, Styles of Dress, Instruments and Rhythms will be used as …

The Legal Nature Of Cyberbullying: A Comparative Study Between The American And The Jordanian Laws, Alaeldin Mansour Maghaireh Dr.

UAEU Law Journal

The research is aimed to highlight the emerging phenomenon of cyberbullying in Jordan by analysing some of the main legal aspects of cyberbullying and relevant laws. It analysed whether the nature of the phenomenon constitutes a crime, and therefore, must be explicitly stated in the relevant laws, or it is only a bad social phenomenon that can be addressed within the school environment, and therefore no need for legislative provisions to prohibit it. The research showed the gravity of the psychological and physical effects of cyberbullying and its diversity forms and methods. Also, it underscored the paucity of the legal …

Multiple Job Holding, Job Changes, And Associations With Gestational Diabetes And Pregnancy-Related Hypertension In The National Birth Defects Prevention Study, Amel Omari, Miriam R Siegel, Carissa M Rocheleau, Kaori Fujishiro, Kristen Van Buren, Dallas Shi, A J Agopian, Suzanne M Gilboa, Paul A Romitti

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We used National Birth Defects Prevention Study data to investigate associations between working patterns shortly before and during pregnancy and gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related hypertension. We analyzed working patterns (multiple-job holders, job changers, single-job holders) during the three months before and during pregnancy for 8140 participants who delivered a live-born child without a birth defect. "Multiple-job holders" worked more than one job simultaneously, "job changers" worked more than one job with no overlap, and "single-job holders" (referent) worked one job. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate associations between working pattern and each outcome, adjusting for maternal age and educational …

A Comparative Analysis Of Deaf Entrepreneurs In China And The United States, Wei Wu

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

This paper compares the challenges that Deaf business people face in the US and China. The goal is to understand the experience of Deaf people in each country and to see what each country can learn from the other. To understand the experience of Deaf people in these countries, I will first look at the history of disability in each country and the challenges Deaf people face with gaining employment or becoming entrepreneurs. Then, I compare the cultural attitudes of each country towards Deaf people and the policy frameworks each country uses to create opportunities for Deaf people. Finally, this …

The Impact Of Purchasing Power Parity (Ppp), Infrastructure, And Decentralization On Pandemic Restrictions, Liam Hansen, Veronica Taraskina, Jennifer Weng

Working Papers Series

This research compares a country's mandate to shift to remote work between the federal and regional levels in comparison to PPP. We focus on how economic factors determine a country's ability to move to remote work and at what level of government the decision is made. The findings suggest that while there was variation in which level of government issued work-from-home requirements, there were strong trends for most mandates to come from the federal level. Moreover, an overwhelming majority of countries issued such federal mandates regardless of PPP. We then compare PPP per capita and the stringency of public transportation …