Digital Commons Network^™

Transgender Women With Suppressed Testosterone Display Lower Burden Of Coronary Disease Than Matched Cisgender Men, Jordan E Lake, Han Feng, Ana N Hyatt, Hongyu Miao, Paula Debroy, Nicholas Funderburg, Kate Ailstock, Adrian Dobs, Sabina Haberlen, Jared W Magnani, Joseph B Margolick, Kate Mcgowan, Frank J Palella, Mallory D Witt, Shalender Bhasin, Matthew J Budoff, Wendy S Post, Todd T Brown

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Context: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in transgender women (TW) may be affected by gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and HIV, but few data compare TW on contemporary GAHT to well-matched controls.

Objective: We compared CVD burden and biomarker profiles between TW and matched cisgender men (CM).

Methods: Adult TW on GAHT (n = 29) were recruited for a cross-sectional study (2018-2020). CM (n = 48) from the former Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study were matched 2:1 to TW on HIV serostatus, age ±5 years, race/ethnicity, BMI category and antiretroviral therapy (ART) type. Cardiac parameters were measured by CT and coronary atherosclerosis by coronary …

In-Class Activity - “Gender And Voting”— Intersection Of Voter Participation And Priorities For Different Gender Groups, Bernadette Ludwig

Civic Engagement & Voting Rights Teacher Scholars

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Classroom Volume 11 July 2024 - Athlos And Arete, Students Affairs And Services Pakistan

Student Affairs and Services (SAS) - Beyond the Classroom Archives

• Global Orientations Week
• AKU Sports Olympiad 2024
• Open Discussion with Student Executive Council
• Meeting Between Vice Provost and AKUSA
• Mini Marathon for Heart Health
• AKU Rowing Club hosts inaugural Rowing Regatta
• Workshop on Supporting Student Well-Being
• Promoting Gender Equality at AKU
• IED Students and MC Residents Connect
• Student Representative attends ICM Conference
• First-Ever TEDx Event at AKU
• Managing Stress for PGME Residents
• Suicide Prevention Day Event
• Student Meeting with Leadership
• Mental Health Symposium
• Farewell Celebration for the EN-RN Class of 2024
• International Self-Care Day Celebration
• Trivia Night
• Branding Yourself with Dr. Fahad Mirza
• Conflict Resolution Workshop
• BScN 2024 Tours Heritage …

Spatial And Abiotic Effects Of Urbanization On Small Mammal Communities, Bri Casement

Master's Theses

Urbanization, the phenomenon of increasing human population density and artificial structures, is known to decrease the richness, abundance, and diversity of native wildlife populations, fragment natural areas, and increase human and human-commensal animal interactions with wildlife. Dynamics of species persistence in habitat fragments is often understood in the framework of island biogeography theory (IBT), with habitat fragments being analogous to oceanic islands. Despite the conceptual similarities between oceanic islands in IBT and urbanized habitat fragments (fragment size, fragment age, and distance to immigration sources), there are important differences. In urban fragments, the matrix is not completely impassible, habitats within fragments …

Exploring The Impact Of Neonatal Transport On The Health Of Black Preterm Infants And Psychosocial Challenges Faced By Parents In Relation To Social Determinants Of Socioeconomic And Racial Inequities, Karen Faye Warren

Theses and Dissertations

Neonatal transport is a unique aspect of preterm birth. This descriptive, exploratory dissertation study used a multiple-case study design, and mixed methods approach to describe the trajectory of Black preterm outborn infants and their mothers from birth, through transport to a referral center through NICU hospitalization until discharge, for a detailed analysis of each case. The specific aims were 1) Describe each infant's transport trajectory, including baseline characteristics of the community hospital of birth (size, level of care, birthing resources), transport characteristics (mode, distance, personnel), and infant health from birth to arrival of regional referral neonatal intensive care unit; 2) …

Sequencing Of Kaposi’S Sarcoma Herpesvirus (Kshv) Genomes From Persons Of Diverse Ethnicities And Provenances With Kshv-Associated Diseases Demonstrate Multiple Infections, Novel Polymorphisms, And Low Intra-Host Variance, Vickie A Marshall, Elena M Cornejo Castro, Charles A Goodman, Nazzarena Labo, Isabella Liu, Nicholas C Fisher, Kyle N Moore, Ananthakrishnan Nair, Taina Immonen, Brandon F Keele, Mark N Polizzotto, Thomas S Uldrick, Yunxiang Mu, Tanuja Saswat, Laurie T Krug, Kevin M Mcbride, Kathryn Lurain, Ramya Ramaswami, Robert Yarchoan, Denise Whitby

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recently published near full-length KSHV genomes from a Cameroon Kaposi sarcoma case-control study showed strong evidence of viral recombination and mixed infections, but no sequence variations associated with disease. Using the same methodology, an additional 102 KSHV genomes from 76 individuals with KSHV-associated diseases have been sequenced. Diagnoses comprise all KSHV-associated diseases (KAD): Kaposi sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), KSHV-associated large cell lymphoma (KSHV-LCL), a type of multicentric Castleman disease (KSHV-MCD), and KSHV inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS). Participants originated from 22 different countries, providing the opportunity to obtain new near full-length sequences of a wide diversity of KSHV genomes. …

A Comparative Study And Machine Learning Enabled Efficient Classification For Multispectral Data In Agriculture, Priyanka Gupta, Shruti Kanga, Varun Narayan Mishra

Baghdad Science Journal

Reliable and accurate crop maps are required for food security from regional to global scale. The increased availability of satellite imagery leads to a “Big Data” problem while producing crop maps. Now, cloud-based platforms have gained a lot of attention for crop classification over large regions. The main goal of the research is to analyze crop classification using various machine learning (ML) such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), Gradient Tree Boosting (GTB), Random Forest (RF), Decision Tree (DT) as well as Classification and Regression Trees (CART) on Google Earth Engine platform. The aim is to explore the Google Earth Engine’s …

Investigating The Mediating Effect Of Social Support In Team Sport Participation On Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes, Olivia Schmitke

Theses and Dissertations

Peer and non-familial adult supportive relationships are a critical part of healthy adolescent development, positively influencing psychological, behavioral, and social domains (e.g., Panza et. al., 2020). Extracurricular sports activities are a source of peer (e.g., teammates) and adult (e.g., coaches) relationships and are associated with favorable impacts on mental health which may be an impactful protective factor given the rise of mental health crisis in youth today. The present study aimed to clarify the relationship mechanisms underlying the benefits of sports participation by examining and effecting social support has on mental health outcomes in adolescents engaged in sports. In doing …

Bridging The Nature-Cultural Heritage Gap: Evaluating Sustainable Entanglements Through Cemeteries In Urban Asia, David Ocon, Wei Ping Young

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The expanding footprint of urban Asian settlements and increasing living standards have put pressure on cemetery sites. Public health narratives and the sanctity associated with death matters in Asian urban landscapes have fed into the rhetoric of cemeteries as undesirable heritage spaces. Often lacking protection, many cemeteries have been exhumed, cleared, and relocated to allow room for new developments and infrastructure, risking the survival of this quiet element of the urban cultural patrimony. Within an Asian context, synergies between nature and cultural heritage preservation are not prevalent in major cities like Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok. …

Gamified Bodies And The Illusory Meaning Of Muscle, Orlando Woods

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This paper foregrounds the agency of the body to explore how it is “gamified” in the pursuit of a desired self-image. Gamified bodies are those that are tricked into metabolising in ways that suit the representational aspirations of the self. The aspirations that I consider in this paper are those of muscle, and how individuals trying to build muscle pursue various metabolic tricks to try and overcome, or otherwise suppress, the in-built agency of the body. Exploring and understanding these tricks contributes to feminist understandings of the body generally, and of muscle specifically, and its unruly nonconformity to the gendered …

Insourcing The Smart City: Assembling An Ideo-Technical Ecosystem Of Talent, Skills, And Civic-Mindedness In Singapore, Orlando Woods, Tim Bunnell, Lily Kong

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This article examines an alternative model of smart city formation, one based on the principle of insourcing technical competencies and capabilities to those responsible for city governance. This model counters the logic of technological outsourcing upon which many assumptions and critiques of the smart city rest, and thus reveals ways in which a more generative discourse can be forged. Drawing on a series of in-depth interviews with senior stakeholders from public and private sector organizations, we develop a case study of Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative. Through coordinated efforts to reorganize the public sector’s technological functions, develop nation-wide skills upgrading programs, …

Impact Of Rainfall On Air Temperature, Humidity And Thermal Comfort In Tropical Urban Parks, Juan A. Acero, Philip Carl Kestel, Hieu T. Dang, Leslie K. Norford

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Urban areas in hot and humid tropical regions are frequently exposed to uncomfortable thermal levels. A well-developed urban heat mitigation strategy is increasing vegetation infrastructure, even though the impact differs based on regional climate. In this study we have evaluated the impact of rainfall on air temperature, humidity and thermal comfort inside a large urban park in Singapore, based on measurement campaigns. A comparison between the park and an urban site is presented. Results show that rainfall significantly reduces air temperature and improves thermal comfort levels, not only right after the rain event but also in the after-event dry period. …

Of Light And Shadows: Buddhism, Cinema, And The Question Of Diffused Religion In Modern China, Teng-Kuan Ng

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

While the scholarship on premodern Chinese Buddhism has explored the tradition’s rich diffusion throughout various realms of sociocultural life, the study of modern Chinese Buddhism leans heavily towards its monastic, institutional, and overtly “religious” forms. This split mirrors the logic of modern secularization, whereby religion should be rationally differentiated from the broader social fabric, institutionalized, and delimited within its own discrete functional sphere. This article rethinks the putative rupture between Chinese Buddhism’s past and present incarnations. Through the prism of cinema, a technology that arrived on Chinese shores at the same moment as the Western concept of religion, I illuminate …

Evaluating Urban Fire Vulnerability And Accessibility To Fire Stations And Hospitals In Austin, Texas, Akhil Mandalapu, Kijin Seong, Junfeng Jiao

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Anthropogenic climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of fires. Despite their widespread consequences, current research has largely overlooked urban fires and their associated vulnerability. This study seeks to identify patterns of fire vulnerability, map out areas with high fire vulnerability and limited access to fire stations and hospitals, and ultimately determine the factors contributing to increased fire incidents. Principal Component Analysis was used to develop a fire vulnerability index comprising variables capturing health status and socio-environmental factors. Enhanced 2-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) analysis was conducted to determine relative accessibility to resources such as hospitals and fire stations. …

Us Military Foreign Disaster Relief: Challenges And Proposed Mitigations, James M. Ward

Journal of Strategic Security

Climate Change will increase the frequency and intensity of disasters necessitating United States Department of Defense (DoD) intervention. The US Congress and DoD have produced reports and demanded action for climate change-related security concerns, but have largely left foreign disaster relief capacity unaddressed. The DoD does not have dedicated force structure for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR), potentially compromising mission readiness and operational effectiveness as well as jeopardizing U.S. foreign interests. Proposed mitigations for the status quo include bolstering international organizations, expanding the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) capacity to respond to disasters, and creating dedicated DoD …

The Handbook Of African Intelligence Cultures. Ryan Shaffer, Editor. London: Rowman & Littlefield, 2023., Edward M. Roche Ph.D., Jd

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Application Of Multilayer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network (Mlp-Ann) Algorithm For Pm2.5 Mass Concentration Estimation During Open Biomass Burning Episodes In Thailand, P. Paluang, W. Thavorntam, W. Phairuang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Open biomass burning (OBB) is the main cause of air pollution in Northern Thailand, where PM2.5 concentrations exceed Thailand's air quality standards annually during the January–April (dry season). The air emissions from databases that detail the pollutants discharged into the atmosphere from specific sources of air pollution are crucial for monitoring air pollution. However, this data has been poorly studied in Thailand. This study estimated ground-level PM2.5 concentration in Northern Thailand using the Multilayer Perceptron Artificial Neural Networks (MLP-ANN) model, integrating the in-depth data as input variables. The 10-fold cross-validation approach was applied to validate the model's performance. The meteorological …

Transforming Place-Based Management Within Watersheds In Fiji: The Watershed Interventions For Systems Health Project, Stacy D. Jupiter, Aaron P. Jenkins, Joel Negin, Shylett Anthony, Ponipate Baleinamau, Rachel Devi, Sikeli Gavidi, Alice Latinne, Kini Koto Mailautoka, Sangeeta Mangubhai, Kelera Naivalu, Timoci Naivalulevu, Vilisi Naivalulevu, Nabeela Nasim, Sikeli Naucunivanua, Sarah Nelson, Ingrid Qauqau, Anaseini Ratu, Mereia Ravoka, Jacqueline Thomas, Andrew Tukana, Paul Van Nimwegen, Ama Wakwella, Amelia Wenger, Donald Wilson, Pierre Horwitz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Watersheds offer opportunities for place-based interventions to transform systems health via preventative versus reactive approaches to management that achieve multiple co-benefits for public and environmental health. The Watershed Interventions for Systems Health in Fiji (WISH Fiji) project embraced participatory knowledge co-production and action-oriented research to identify risks to public and ecosystem health, prioritize interventions to address risks, and monitor responses of the system to interventions. We used screening filters and local knowledge to collaboratively identify five watersheds for action with high prior incidence of water-related diseases (Fiji’s “three plagues” of leptospirosis, typhoid and dengue) and high risk to downstream environmental …

Antenatal Care Utilisation And Receipt Of Its Components In Nigeria: Assessing Disparities Between Rural And Urban Areas—A Nationwide Population-Based Study, Emmanuel O. Adewuyi, Asa Auta, Mary I. Adewuyi, Aaron Akpu Philip, Victory Olutuase, Yun Zhao, Vishnu Khanal

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction Antenatal care (ANC) is crucial for positive pregnancy outcomes, but it is underutilised in Nigeria, suggesting unmet needs, and potentially contributing to the country’s high burden of maternal and neonatal mortalities. This study comprehensively assesses ANC utilisation and receipt of its components in Nigeria, focusing on disparities between rural and urban areas. Methods We used the data disaggregation approach to analyse the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018. We estimated ANC utilisation, assessed the receipt of ANC components, and identified factors associated with eight or more (≥ 8) ANC contacts nationally and across rural and urban residences. Results Nationwide, …

Readability And Suitability Of Local Disaster Preparedness Materials In Predominantly Hispanic Border Communities: A Case Study Of Cameron County, Texas, Katarzyna Sepielak, Dawid K. Wladyka

Sociology Faculty Publications

Community awareness is a key component of disaster resilience and numerous agencies developed a plethora of preparedness materials. Previous studies evaluated national-level resources and social media content indicating that these efforts are not effectively reaching vulnerable populations, as the information is provided at or above the secondary education level. However, the local-specific content has been mostly overlooked in the analyses, subsequently neglecting the needs of areas with specific demographics and hazards, like predominantly Hispanic border communities. Thus, this study turns to local preparedness and mitigation materials, rather than general internet searches or national level documents. We analyze information provided on …

Asynchronous Movement Patterns Between Breeding And Stopover Locations In A Long-Distance Migratory Songbird, Theodore J. Zenzal Jr., Andrea Contina, Hannah B. Vander Zanden, Leanne K. Kuwahara, Daniel C. Allen, Kristen M. Covino

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

The species-specific migratory patterns and strategies of many songbirds remain unknown or understudied, as research in animal ecology is biased toward the breeding period, with the fewest studies on the migratory period across taxa. Identifying large-scale spatiotemporal migratory patterns is challenging, as individuals within a species may vary in their migratory behavior and strategies. The Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) is a Nearctic-Neotropical migrant that is relatively well studied during the breeding season, but its species-wide migratory patterns remain understudied. Our aim in studying Yellow Warbler movement ecology was to characterize temporal migration patterns during fall migration. We sought …

Spatial And Temporal Variability In Nutritional Physiology Of Pyropia Perforata, Matthew S. Elliott

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The red alga, Pyropia perforata, commonly referred to as nori, is ubiquitous in intertidal communities throughout coastal California and offers high nutritional value to marine herbivores. However, California rocky shores are dynamic ecosystems, with dramatic abiotic and biotic shifts resulting in environmental heterogeneity. Research has shown that seaweed nutrient physiology is impacted by environmental heterogeneity, yet there is sparse data on how internal nitrogen and total protein content change as a result of environmental heterogeneity. Here, I studied the impacts of seasonality, geography (spanning 4° of latitude from Northern to Southern California), and the onset of environmental heterogeneity on internal …

Examining Internesting Habitat Use Of Northwest Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtles (Dermochelys Coriacea), Christina I. Mauney

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Understanding the spatial ecology of highly migratory marine animals is essential for effective conservation strategies, particularly in the face of climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressures. This study investigates the nesting characteristics, habitat use, and behavior of leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in the Northwest Atlantic population nesting at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (SPNWR) in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.

Ten female leatherbacks were studied during the internesting interval of the 2020 and 2021 nesting seasons. The study’s objectives were to examine leatherback nesting characteristics, delineate critical internesting habitats, and characterize behaviors during the internesting interval. Data collection included …

Do Public Accommodations Laws Compel “What Shall Be Orthodox”?: The Role Of Barnette In 303 Creative Llc V. Eleni, Linda C. Mcclain

Faculty Scholarship

This article addresses the U.S. Supreme Court's embrace, in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, of a First Amendment objection to state public accommodations laws that the Court avoided in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission: such laws compel governmental orthodoxy. These objections invoke West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette 's celebrated language: "If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith …

Offsetting, Paul Govind, Donna Houston, Michelle Mei Ling Lim, Andrew Mcgregor, Emily O'Gormon, Sandie Suchet-Pearson, Jonathan Symons

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In Australia, the State of the Environment 2021 report (hereafter, SOE) revealed an unprecedented rate of biodiversity loss. 1 Yet development projects that will reduce biodiversity further continue to receive legal approval. Indeed, shortly after the release of the report, a new outer ring road was approved for construction in the state of Western Australia. 2 Land clearing undertaken as part of the project will result in significant loss of existing habitat for critically endangered western ringtail possums and endangered black cockatoos. This destruction was legitimized through the state government’s commitment to undertake “biodiversity offsetting,” whereby the loss of possum …

Participatory Mapping Of Tree Equity, Preferences, And Environmental Justice In Portland, Oregon, Kate Gregory, Idowu Ajibade

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this study, we examine community lived experiences, preferences, and narratives about tree equity in Portland, Oregon. Using an environmental justice framework combined with participatory mapping, focus group discussions, and semi-structured interviews, we examine values, perceptions of canopy cover, and everyday relationships with trees across different racial and socio-economic backgrounds. Results show that participants from neighborhoods with histories of investment and privilege had different lived experiences compared to those with histories of disinvestment and marginalization. While participants overall valued trees, concerns about tree-related risk and safety varied in ways that reflected racial and class identities. Furthermore, memories and historic knowledge …

Ombuds Programs: How Alternative Dispute Resolution Improves The Lives Of Native Long-Term Care Residents, Brett Newberry

Journal of Dispute Resolution

Many Americans will spend at least some time in a long-term care facility. During their stay, every resident should receive competent care and maintain the highest possible quality of life. Long-term care ombuds programs exist to help achieve these goals. Long-term care ombuds (“LTCOs”) advocate for individuals living in long-term care facilities and for improvements to the long-term care system. Tribal long-term care ombuds are a subset of LTCOs who connect with and advocate for Native residents living in long-term care facilities. LTCOs help facilitate dispute resolution between residents, facilities, and family members, and work to improve resident care. The …

Modelling Postfire Recovery Of Snow Albedo And Forest Structure To Understand Drivers Of Decades Of Reduced Snow Water Storage And Advanced Snowmelt Timing, A. Surunis, K. E. Gleason

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Forest fires darken snow albedo and degrade forest structure, ultimately reducing peak snow–water storage, and advancing snowmelt timing for up to 15 years following fire. To date, no volumetric estimates of watershed-scale postfire effects on snow–water storage and snowmelt timing have been quantified over decades of postfire recovery. Using postfire parameterizations in a spatially-distributed snow mass and energy balance model, SnowModel, we estimated postfire recovery of forest fire effects on snow–water equivalent (SWE) and snowmelt timing over decades following fire. Using this model, we quantified volumetric recovery of forest fire effects on snow hydrology across a chronosequence of eight sub-alpine …

Core-Designated Courses, Saint Mary's College Of California

Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.

Majors And Minors, Saint Mary's College Of California

Academic Catalog

No abstract provided.