Digital Commons Network^™

Epidemiology Of Lower Extremity Amputations In The United States: An Analysis Of The Global Burden Of Disease Database From 1990 To 2019., Peter B Spencer, Cameron J Sabet, Gabrielle Dykhouse, Taylor J Manes, Phillip C Mckegg, Ambrose Loc T Ngo, Ayah Ibrahim, Jack Weick

Surgery Articles

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity amputations (LEAs) are medically, psychologically, and functionally devastating. The objective of our study was to evaluate region- and sex-specific differences of unilateral and bilateral LEAs across the United States (US) from 1990 to 2019.

METHODS: The Global Burden of Disease database was used to analyze years lived with disability (YLDs), prevalence, and incidence rates per 100,000 people for LEAs in the US from 1990 to 2019. Data were stratified into four US Census Bureau-defined regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Differences between regions and sexes were assessed, with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05.

RESULTS: From 1990 to …

Community Firearm Violence And Dental Care Use In Middle Adulthood, Alexander Testa, Luis Mijares, Daniel Semenza, Richard Stansfield, Ian Silver, Dylan B Jackson, Ana Neumann, Jeff R Temple, Rahma Mungia

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Prior research links violence inside the home to reduced dental care utilization, yet little is known about how community firearm violence affects dental care behaviors. The current study used data from wave V (2016-2018) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), linked to census tract-level fatal and nonfatal shooting data from the American Violence Project for the 100 largest cities in the United States. The analytic sample included 1925 respondents aged 33-42. The primary outcome was self-reported dental care use in the past year. Firearm violence exposure was categorized as 0, 1, or 2 + …

Systemic Resilience: Covid-19 And Healthcare Quality In Acute Myocardial Infarction At Tertiary Medical Centers – A Nationwide Study From Taiwan, Shih-An Liu, Sheng-Hui Hung, Chih-Hung Ku, Yan-Ru Wang, Ching-I Chang, Pa-Chun Wang

Journal of Health Research

Background: The COVID-19 was a pandemic once in a century. This study aimed to review the quality of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care during the COVID-19 pandemic from a national perspective.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using Joint Commission of Taiwan (JCT)’s national Taiwan Clinical Performance Indicator (TCPI) system AMI care data, in correlation with Taiwan Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 epidemiological information. The time frames of the current study were categorized into four periods, based on the four levels of epidemic prevention and response established by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC). Quality indicators among different periods were …

Trophic Niche Overlap Between Native And Alien Fish Species: A Challenge For The Aquatic Ecosystems, Rana Manzoor Ahmad, Abdul Majid Khan, Mariya Basharat, Muhammad Rizwan, Neelam Shahzadi, Muhammad Imran

Journal of Bioresource Management

The different physiological and biological challenges are introduced not only on land but also in aquatic ecosystems due to increasing climatic changes and human needs. One of these challenges is the introduction of invasive alien species to the native freshwater ichthyofauna. These species not only disturb the ecological balance of the native water bodies but can also be a vector for parasitic diseases. The current study is designed to disclose the trophic niche overlap among exotic (Cyprinus carpio and Oreochromis mozambicus) and indigenous fish species (Labeo calbasu and Cirrhinus mrigala) from Head Baloki (Ravi River), Punjab, …

Environmental Controls On Planktonic Community Variability And Ecosystem Responses In The Romanian Black Sea, Cristina Tabarcea, Elena Bișinicu, George-Emanuel Harcotă, Aurelia Țoțoiu, Oana Vlas, Elena Pantea, Luminita Lazar

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This study examines the structure, distribution, and environmental influences on planktonic communities in the Romanian Black Sea, based on data collected from Black Sea national monitoring stations in June 2023. We assessed the qualitative and quantitative composition of phytoplankton, microzooplankton, mesozooplankton, macrozooplankton, and ichthyoplankton, alongside key environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient concentrations (nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, and silicate). The results highlight the dominance of dinoflagellates within the phytoplankton community, while copepods constitute the most abundant mesozooplankton group. Species from the Codonellidae family mainly represent microzooplankton diversity, while macrozooplankton is largely dominated by the scyphozoan Aurelia …

Species Delineation, Phylogeography And Conservation Of Temperate Perches (Actinopterygii: Percichthyidae) From An Endemism And Climate Change Hotspot, Michael P. Hammer, David L. Morgan, Stephen J. Beatty, Mark G. Allen, Peter J. Unmack, Sean J. Buckley, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Jon Murphy, Mark Adams

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Context: The south-western corner of Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes a freshwater fauna with a high proportion of endemic species. The temperate perches comprise nearly half of the obligate freshwater fishes of the region, representing important components of local ecosystems and are of significant conservation concern. Aims: Provide a spatially comprehensive molecular genetic assessment of species boundaries and major substructure for all local members of the family to better understand the interplay of ecology and environment across a common landscape. Methods: Nuclear markers (allozymes) and matrilineal (cytb) datasets were generated to infer genetic groupings and any instances of …

Religiosity And Attitudes Toward Suicide Among Filipinos, Marc Eric S. Reyes, Therese Angelie C. Daluping, Omar Joseph Sj. Dela Cruz, Sigmund Gabriel A. Estremadura, Jonah Emmanuel D. Gavino, Elaine G. Villanueva, Alvin L. Jacob Iii

Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia

Religiosity is generally negatively associated with attitudes toward suicide. Religious individuals typically have more negative attitudes toward suicide than individuals with lower levels of religiosity. This is partly due to the belief that suicide goes against many religious teachings that revere life as a sacred gift from God. Hence, using a cross-sectional, predictive design, we aimed to investigate the link between religiosity and suicide attitudes and how much religiosity predicts different suicide attitudes. Using non-probability convenience sampling, 1148 Filipino participants aged 18–65 completed an online test battery: Centrality of Religiosity Scale Interreligious form-20 and Attitudes Toward Suicide Scale. Results revealed …

Initial Changes In Ground Beetle (Carabidae: Coleoptera) Assemblages After Creating Gaps Of Varying Sizes In Mature Northern Hardwoods Forests In Wisconsin, Robert A. Haack, Robert E. Acciavatti, Toby R. Petrice, Robert L. Davidson, Terry F. Strong

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Managers of northern hardwood forests in the Great Lakes region create gaps in the forest canopy of various sizes during harvesting to achieve different silvicultural objectives. Single-tree harvesting favors recruitment of shade-tolerant tree species by creating small gaps in the canopy, whereas group selection creates larger gaps that can favor shade-intolerant tree species. We evaluated changes in carabid beetle abundance and diversity in harvest-created gaps of five sizes (gap diameters of 6, 10, 20, 30, and 46 m) and uncut forests in northern Wisconsin where sugar maple (Acer saccharum) was the dominant tree species. Gaps were cut during …

A Content Analysis Of Prison/Custodial Suicide In Bangladesh, Anisur Khan, Rasel Hussain

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Suicide is the leading cause of death in prisons and custodial settings globally. International studies have consistently shown that prisoners and detainees are at a higher risk of suicide compared to the general population. Despite Bangladesh having a large prison population, there is no scholarly work on suicide within these settings. Against this backdrop, this study explored online newspaper content analysis capturing the characteristics of prison and custodial suicide in Bangladesh from 2014–2024. A total of 20 suicide cases were identified during this period. The data were arranged based on year-wise trends, age, sex, type of custody, nature of criminality, …

Predictors For Different Levels Of Covid-19 Vaccination Among Immigrant And Non-Immigrant Adults, Cheryl Zlotnick, Orit Cohen Castel

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Overview: This study contributes to the literature by examining a comprehensive operationalization of vaccination status among working-age (21-49 years), immigrant and non-immigrant adults.

Background: The commonly used outcome, obtained any vaccination versus not, tends to overestimate COVID-19 vaccination utilization, distorting the associations found with covariates/predictors. More recent studies have used a three-variable COVID-19 status outcome of any, partial or complete vaccinations. However, they lacked a theoretical framework and focused on older and non-immigrant populations. This study examined working-age immigrants and non-immigrants, used the three-variable operationalization of COVID-19 vaccination, and was guided by Andersen’s Behavioral Model with its three factors …

Systematics And Phylogeography Of Mundochthonius Chamberlin, 1929, In The Pacific Northwest (Chelicerata, Pseudoscorpiones), Amanda Rai Montoya-Cowan

Dissertations and Theses

Understanding the processes that drive genetic divergence and species formation is central to evolutionary biology. Invertebrates with low dispersal ability, such as pseudoscorpions, are especially prone to cryptic diversification due to their occupancy of niche microhabitats and sensitivity to landscape barriers. Despite their ecological roles as predators and bioindicators, pseudoscorpions remain one of the least studied arachnid groups, with limited taxonomic resolution and few integrative studies. This research focuses on the genus Mundochthonius in the Pacific Northwest, particularly M. pacificus, a morphologically conserved species whose true diversity and distribution remain poorly understood.

Field surveys guided by a GIS-based habitat …

Prairie Soundscape, Rebecca J. Romsdahl

The Cicadian

This series of soundscapes represents dawn and dusk. Morning Cacophony was recorded at 6:00 AM, May 2023 on the Tympanuchus Reserve near Crookston, MN — a rare remnant prairie never plowed. Voices of the prairie: sedge wren, bobolink, greater prairie chicken, sandhill crane, red-winged blackbird, clay-colored sparrow. Night Chorus was captured at 2:00 AM, June 2024 on restored grassland at Bluestem Preserve near Moorhead, MN — once farmland, now thriving prairie. Nocturnal symphony: whip-poor-will (song + warning call), coyotes, treefrogs, grasshopper sparrow, soft wind, gentle rain.

Analysis Of Health Policy Impacts On Adolescent Tobacco And Alcohol Consumption In Asean: An Ecological Descriptive Study, Marzalyla Putri Hendriansyah, Syifa Azzahra Setiawan, Sabrina Aprilia Putri, Falah Nur Chusniati, Rizka Maulida

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

The prevalence of tobacco and alcohol consumption among adolescents in Southeast Asia remains a public health concern despite the introduction of several national policies. This study assessed the relationship between policy implementation and consumption trends of tobacco and alcohol in selected ASEAN countries. Using a descriptive ecological design, we analyzed secondary data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) and policy documents from official government sources. We observed a rise in tobacco consumption in Indonesia (+4.2%) and Brunei (+5.5%), while Thailand experienced a slight increase (+0.3%). Conversely, alcohol consumption decreased marginally in Indonesia (-0.7%) and Brunei (-0.8%), but increased …

Gene Expression Of Anthocyanin Pigments In The California Native Plant Leptosiphon Parviflorus: Interactions Between Flower Color Morphology And Abiotic Stressors, Weston Gonor

Master's Theses

For plants to survive in harsh conditions imposed by abiotic stressors, they must develop mechanisms of adaptation. One of the common types of adaptation seen in plants is the production of anthocyanin pigments, which have been shown to protect plants from UV radiation, metabolic stress, and drought. In this study, we used the flower color polymorphic species Leptosiphon parviflorus to investigate the role of anthocyanin pigments in protecting plants from abiotic stress. To accomplish this, RNA samples were taken from flower, leaf and root tissue of different flower color morphs of Leptosiphon parviflorus (Polemoniaceae) grown in high magnesium and water …

Origin And Maintenance Of The Andean Bird Fauna, Elkin A. Tenorio

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The origin and maintenance of the tropical montane diversity have been evaluated over multiple decades using various techniques and perspectives. Despite major progress in understanding phylogenetic relationships, diversification patterns, distributional data, and general ecology in the Andean biota, large gaps in our understanding remain, particularly in the synthesis across scales. To fill these gaps, I aimed to explore patterns and processes that underlie species diversification in birds of the tropical Andes of South America by combining different approaches using phenotypic, phylogenetic, and genomic data in multiple temporal and spatial scales.

In the first chapter, I examined the macroevolutionary patterns of …

Bio-Acoustical Statistical Signal Processing For Detection, Classification, And Population Estimation In Wildlife Monitoring, Yue Liang

Doctoral Dissertations

Sound is a primary way for many animal species to communicate, forage, navigate, and assess their environment. As a result, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), the recording and analysis of animal vocalizations, has become a valuable, non-invasive alternative to visual surveys. However, the massive volume of acoustic data generated annually, often reaching hundreds of terabytes, presents a significant challenge for efficient analysis. Since manual inspection of every frame in such data is infeasible, it is essential to develop automated detection and classification tools.

This thesis investigates and develops several statistical signal processing and machine learning techniques to address this challenge. The …

Evaluating Unoccupied Aerial Systems (Uass) For The Monitoring Of Unmarked Moose In New Hampshire, Usa, Lily Hall

Master's Theses and Capstones

Accurate estimates of wildlife densities are important for understanding population dynamics and informing management decisions. Recent technological developments such as improvements of unoccupied aerial systems (UASs) and sensors provide novel pathways to estimate wildlife densities. However, these methods require critical evaluation of efficacy. In this research, we evaluated the capability of UASs to predict moose (Alces alces) density across a large landscape (~12,000 km2) in northern New Hampshire, USA using longwave infrared imagery via UAS sampling. In Chapter 1, our objective was to account for imperfect detection by creating a sightability model for unmarked moose that includes covariates expected to …

Characterizing Fish Communities Using Traditional And Emerging Monitoring Approaches In San Diego County Estuaries, Natalie Katherine De Wet

Theses

Fish communities are essential to estuarine health, playing key roles in food webs, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem functioning. However, the persistence of native fish populations is increasingly threatened by the cumulative impacts of coastal development, pollution, and climate change. Rapid, effective monitoring of species distributions is a priority, enabling timely conservation and management. However, the study of any ecosystem is limited by time, resources, and the consideration that research of a system can damage the ecosystem under study.

This research aimed to characterize fish species richness and evaluate the benefits and limitations of different estuary monitoring approaches. Specifically, this study …

Analisis Potensial Kejadian Luar Biasa Dbd Berdasarkan Kasus Dbd 5 Tahun Terakhir 2019-2024 : Studi Ekologi Di Kota Lubuklinggau Provinsi Sumatera Selatan, Sely Anggraini, Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, Fitria Fitria, Nadia Putri

Jurnal Epidemiologi Kesehatan Indonesia

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is an endemic disease in Indonesia, with a high potential for outbreaks, particularly in tropical and densely populated regions such as Lubuklinggau City. This study aimed to assess the outbreak potential of DHF in Lubuklinggau by analyzing the five-year trend of minimum and maximum case numbers (2019–2023) and comparing them with 2024 data using the epidemic threshold approach. A descriptive ecological study design was employed, with all primary health centers (puskesmas) in the city as units of analysis. Data sources included annual DHF surveillance reports from the District Health Office, field observations, demographic data from the …

Lung Cancer Mortality Trends In Brazil: Implications For Health Policy And Resource Allocation, Mariana Oliveira Santos, Rafael Almeida Costa, Camila Ferreira Barbosa

Muthanna Medical Journal

Background: Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality in Brazil, with patterns shaped by historical tobacco use, environmental exposures, and disparities in healthcare access. While overall smoking prevalence has declined markedly, the impact on mortality rates varies by sex and region.

Objective: To analyze national trends in lung cancer mortality in Brazil from 1996 to 2023, assess sex- and region-specific patterns, and discuss implications for public health policy and resource allocation.

Methods: This ecological time-trend study used age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) for lung cancer (ICD-10 codes C33–C34) obtained from the Mortality Information System (SIM/DATASUS) and population data from …

Low Economic Level And The Risk Of Overweight Among Indonesian Junior And Senior High School Students, Ariyanto Nugroho, Purwo Setiyo Nugroho, Amarin Yudhana, Sri Sunarti

Kesmas

Overweight and obesity among Indonesian adolescents have emerged as a pressing public health issue, reflecting global trends. This study examines the relationship between economic status and overweight prevalence among junior and senior high school students in Indonesia, using secondary data from the Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS). This study analyzed data from 9,977 students aged 11–18 years through a cross-sectional design and binary logistic regression, adjusting for dietary habits, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Overall, 14.7% of students were overweight; the prevalence was notably higher among low-income students (27.4%) compared to high-income groups (14.2%). Students from lower economic backgrounds were …

Government Health Spending And Life Expectancy: Evidence From Cities And Districts In Indonesia, Kurnia Sari, Budi Hidayat, Amal Chalik Sjaaf, Mardiati Nadjib

Kesmas

Life expectancy is widely recognized as a fundamental indicator of population health, and its improvement is often linked to government health spending, particularly in decentralized health systems. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between local government health expenditures and life expectancy in decentralized Indonesia. Data from 492 cities and districts, spanning from 2015 to 2019, were analyzed using a two-way fixed effects regression model to control for time-invariant district characteristics and common temporal shocks. The findings indicated that a 10% increase per capita in government health expenditure was associated with a 0.01% increase in life expectancy. This association was …

Epidemiological-Based Study Of Sars-Cov-2 In Faisalabad, Sana Ullah, Muhammad Waseem Khan, Qurat-Ul- Ain, Khushbu Farva, Niaz Muhammad Khan, Hayat Ullah

Biological Engineering Student Research

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) raced around the world across different populations; there needs to be a consolidated effort to understand the divergence of the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2. Population-based epidemiological characteristics studies measure the extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a country. The current research study was designed to report epidemiological data from Pakistan. For this purpose, 246 SARS-CoV-2-infected patients were included in the study. For SARS-CoV-2 confirmation, viral samples were collected from all the study participants; SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by viral nucleic acid detection using a nucleic acid detection kit. After SARS-CoV-2 confirmation, all the study participants …

Assessment Of Bat Species (Mammalia: Chiroptera) In Canubas Cave, Kibawe, Bukidnon, Philippines, Jurriel Mari D. Alce, Jasmine Rouida M. Abenes, Leo Gabriel Cervantes, Matthew Eli K. Llacer, Von Zhyrus P. Oche, Ian Jay P. Saldo, Jhovel Roy D. Calo

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

Bats, flying mammals, are essential to ecosystems, playing vital roles in pollination, seed dispersal, and insect control. Despite their ecological importance, no prior bat research exists for Canubas Cave, Kibawe, Bukidnon. This study aimed to assess the bat species at the site, documenting their morphometric data, diversity and richness indices, and conservation statuses. A purposive sampling design was implemented by setting up mist nets inside and outside the cave. A total of 13 individuals were identified, comprising three species from two families: Rousettus amplexicaudatus and Eonycteris spelaea (family Pteropodidae, fruit bats), and Miniopterus schreibersii (family Miniopteridae, bent-winged bats). Based on …

The Shorthorn: November 20, 1974

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1970s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: April 6, 1973

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1970s

No abstract provided.

The Shorthorn: April 4, 1973

The Shorthorn Newspaper Collection: 1970s

No abstract provided.

Spatial And Temporal Epidemiology Of Suicides Among Alaska Native People, Deborah Hull-Jilly

Counseling

Alaska has one of the highest suicide rates among Indigenous populations in the United States. This study used data from the Alaska Violent Death Reporting System (AKVDRS) and applied spatial, temporal, and space-time analyses to identify unusual concentrations—or clusters—of suicide among Alaska Native people. This research identified one low-risk rural cluster and ten high-risk spatial clusters: six in urban boroughs and census areas (BCAs) and four in rural BCAs. Space-time analysis revealed eight clusters, most lasting an average of five years, with one emerging during the final three years of the study period. The study identified notable differences in mental …

Imsa Summer Symposium 2025, Student Inquiry And Research (Sir)

Summer Symposium

For nearly four decades, IMSA has worked to advance the human condition through educational innovation. The Summer Symposium is our annual showcase for the research projects that were conducted in IMSA’s experiential learning programs between May and August. These programs include Student Inquiry and Research (SIR), IN2 Business Internships, and the Student Research and Experiential Learning Opportunity (SRELO) program.

Cover Design

Luke Berryman

Summer Symposium 2025, Student Inquiry And Research (Sir)

IMSAloquium Event Booklets

For nearly four decades, IMSA has worked to advance the human condition through educational innovation. The Summer Symposium is our annual showcase for the research projects that were conducted in IMSA’s experiential learning programs between May and August. These programs include Student Inquiry and Research (SIR), IN2 Business Internships, and the Student Research and Experiential Learning Opportunity (SRELO) program.