Digital Commons Network^™

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Somatic Symptoms, And Athletic Injury Among Collegiate Student-Athletes, Samuel Aswegan

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Probiotic Supplementation In Ruminants: A Sustainable Alternative For Enhancing Health, Milk Production, And Rumen Function, Jovahna Williams

Research Papers

This paper examines the effects of probiotic supplementation on ruminant animals, with emphasis on several key areas including ruminant animal health, milk production, rumen microbial profile, microbial protein synthesis and diversity, and patterns of rumen fermentation. As global interest in economically and biologically sustainable alternatives to antibiotics continues to grow, probiotics have emerged as promising candidates for improving livestock productivity while promoting animal and consumer welfare.

The primary objectives of this paper are to evaluate the specific effects and benefits of different probiotic strains in ruminants, to assess their potential as replacements for traditional growth-promoting substances such as fermentation enhancers …

Comparisons Of Major Healthcare Systems In Europe And The United States Through The 20th And 21st Century, Isaac Shaw

Research Papers

This paper examines how healthcare systems have been created in four countries, the USSR (and then Russia post 1991), Poland, Germany and the United States, how they changed throughout the decades, their efficacy, as well as focusing on aspects such as funding, budget allocation, care quality, and the overall structure of the system. These cases were chosen to give a contrast between the development and subsequent abandonment of the Soviet Semashko system which proposed an entirely state ran and centralized program that was imposed on other Soviet Bloc Countries and the United States’ decentralized employer led health insurance system. Germany …

Molecular Interactions Between The Shellfish Pathogen Vibrio Coralliilyticus Re22 And The Probiont Phaeobacter Inhibens S4sm, Jessica Coppersmith

Open Access Dissertations

Oyster larvae aquaculture is an important industry, both economically and environmentally, helping to create sustainable food systems by supplying seed oysters to farms, and also to restoration projects aimed at building coastal resilience and improving water quality by rejuvenating wild populations. However, oyster larvae are highly susceptible to rapid mortality events, crashes, which can seriously impact the industry. One source of these crashes in hatchery systems is vibriosis, caused by pathogenic species of Vibrio bacteria that are ubiquitous in temperate coastal waters, and with rising surface water temperatures their prevalence and virulence are increasing. To prevent these larval crashes from …

Searching Effectively: Basic Principles And Practical Tips For Better Results, Roy E. Brown

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

This handout updates Doing a Good Search: Basic Rules and Search Tips, originally published in 2024. It outlines the basic principles of doing a good search, from identifying a topic and formulating a clear question to selecting and searching at least two databases. It also includes information on Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), subject headings, and Google Scholar. New to this iteration of the document are best practices for using artificial intelligence in literature and evidence searches.

Remember: Searching is an iterative process, which involves repeated cycles of refinement. Your approach will shift depending on the specific question you're trying …

To Manufacture And Sell: The Erosion Of Gun Manufacturers' Immunity Under Plcaa's Predicate Exception Extending Liability For Cartel Violence, Jessica Spurling

Penn State Law Review (2003 - Present)

No abstract provided.

Closing The Gap: Resolving The Circuit Split On Prior Pay In Equal Pay Act Claims, Jessica Shoemaker

Penn State Law Review (2003 - Present)

No abstract provided.

Burdened By The Algorithm: Credit Reporting Agencies Should Bear The Burden Of Proving Reasonable Procedures In The Age Of Ai, Alexandra Klemme

Penn State Law Review (2003 - Present)

No abstract provided.

A Serum Biomarker Panel And Miniarray Detection System For Tracking Disease Activity And Flare Risk In Lupus Nephritis, Chenling Tang, Gongjun Tan, Aygun Teymur, Jiechang Guo, Arturo Haces-Garcia, Weihang Zhu, Richard Williams, Jing Ning, Ramesh Saxena, Tianfu Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Lupus nephritis (LN) leads to end stage renal disease (ESRD), and early diagnosis and disease monitoring of LN could significantly reduce the risk. however, there is not such a system clinically. In this study we aim to develop a biomarker-panel based point-of-care system for LN.

Methods: Immunoassay screening combined with genomic expression databases and machine learning techniques was used to identify a biomarker panel of LN. A quantitative biomarker-panel mini-array (BPMA) system was developed and the sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and stability of the were examined. The performance of BPMA in disease monitoring was validated with machine models using a …

Prevalence Of Insecticide Resistance Gene In Aedes Albopictus Populations Of Central Illinois, Merylann Akinyi Ochieng

Masters Theses

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is a significant vector for diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika. Its increasing resistance to insecticides poses a critical challenge for vector control efforts. This study investigates knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) genes, specifically V1016G and F1534C, which are associated with pyrethroid resistance. Aedes albopictus populations from Central Illinois were analyzed using allele-specific PCR techniques to address three primary objectives: (1) determining whether V1016G and F1534C mutations are present in these populations, (2) determining which mutation is more widespread, and (3) investigating how resistance gene …

I Can’T, I’M On-Call: The Psychological Effects Of On-Call Duty On Graduate Assistants In Residence Life, Dyjerlynn T. Peter

Masters Theses

Graduate Assistants (GAs) face various demands such as conducting research, completing coursework, holding assistantships, and other personal responsibilities. GAs working in housing and residence life (HRL) departments face unique challenges, especially those who serve as crisis responders for students who live on-campus. This study examines the mental health challenges faced by graduate assistants in housing and residence life who live on-campus and serve in on-call roles at higher education institutions. It explores the effects of vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout, offering key findings, trends, and recommendations while sharing personal stories of GAs balancing on-call duties with graduate studies.

Time To Reassess: Campus Programming In The First Six Weeks And Its Impact On Belonging For First-Time Students, Joe Smith

Masters Theses

Research has shown that a student’s first six weeks of college have a strong impact on the rest of their college experience. Because of this, institutions concentrate programming efforts in the first six weeks of the academic year to increase the likelihood of positive outcomes for their first-time students. However, little research has been done on this topic in recent years. This quantitative study sought to examine first-time student event attendance in the first six weeks of the academic year and its impact on sense of belonging, which has been shown to be an important factor of the college experience. …

Buscando El Paraíso: Imposter Syndrome Amongst First-Generation Latino/A/X Students At Predominately White Institutions, Luis Fernando Paniagua

Masters Theses

As more first-generation Latino/a/x college students enter universities across the United States, it is essential to understand the various challenges this population may face. One major challenge these students may face is the psychological phenomenon known as imposter syndrome. This study was conducted to understand the causes of imposter syndrome in first-generation Latino/a/x college students as they attend a predominantly White institution (PWI). Using a semi-structured phenomenological design, data was collected from six participants at a medium-size PWI in the Midwest. Qualitative analysis revealed that there is a connection between Latino/a/x students and imposter syndrome being developed both prior to …

Investigating The Pathways Between Social Factors, Physical Activity, And Mental Health On Cognitive Efficiency In Young Adults, Emma Hurston-Gates

Masters Theses

Cognitive health is important across the life span and cognitive functions, particularly executive functions, are positively correlated with subjective well-being and success in adulthood (Loprinzi, 2013). The present study aimed to investigate how social factors, mental health, and physical activity impacts cognition in young adults. Young adults aged 18-30 (N = 134) answered questionnaires regarding levels of physical activity, social support, social participation, anxiety, depression, and overall well-being. Participants completed Trail Making Tasks A and B to measure their cognitive efficiency (i.e., combined processing speed, psychological flexibility, visual search, and attention). Across all samples, one of the most consistent …

Assessing Ecological And Food Web Responses To Small-Scale Stream Restorations In Urban And Agricultural Streams, Sydney Mcandrews

Masters Theses

Urban and agricultural streams across the Midwestern United States are vulnerable to elevated pollution, eutrophication, habitat simplification, and losses of sensitive species. Instream habitat restoration is increasingly used to mitigate the impacts of rapid land-use change. This study synthesizes habitat and biological responses from a 2020 urban stream restoration in the Saline Branch (Urbana, Illinois) and evaluates food web responses from both the Saline Branch and a 2010 restoration in Kickapoo Creek (Charleston, Illinois), an agricultural stream. In the Saline Branch, four years of fish and three years of habitat and macroinvertebrate pre-restoration surveys were compared to three years of …

Prevalence Of Cannabis Use Disorders And Associated Factors Among Privately Insured Adults With Epilepsy, Katarzyna Czerniak, Youngran Kim, Refugio Sepulveda, Sahiti Myneni, Robert Addy, Ross Shegog

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: As cannabis is increasingly used as a treatment option for epilepsy, people with epilepsy (PWE) may be at higher risk of developing cannabis use disorder (CUD). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CUD among privately insured PWE in the United States using IQVIA's 2022 PharMetrics® Plus for Academics health plan claims database.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using 2022 IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus for Academics health plan claims data containing longitudinal view of inpatient and outpatient services, prescription and office/outpatient administered drugs, costs and detailed enrollment information. Individuals with epilepsy aged 18 years and older were included. …

Sustaining Substance Use Recovery Housing For People Taking Medications For Opioid Use Disorder: Diverse Funding, Strategic Partnerships, And Charging Rent, I Niles Zoschke, Kathryn R Gallardo, Danielle Gillespie, Hannah L N Stewart, Serena A Rodriguez, Sheryl A Mccurdy, J Michael Wilkerson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Opioid use disorder is a U.S. epidemic, and recovery housing plays a critical role by providing stable, supportive environments that promote long-term recovery. However, little is known about the sustainability of recovery homes, particularly those serving people taking medications for opioid use disorder.

Methods: We applied thematic analysis to interviews with 29 staff and operators from 10 recovery homes serving people taking medications for opioid use disorder across five Texas cities.

Results: Operators relied on diverse funding sources, leveraged strategic partnerships and professional certifications, and planned to charge rent when public funding ended. Staff and operators balanced financial sustainability …

Dental Care Trajectories Among Formerly Incarcerated Older Adults In The United States, Alexander Testa, Luis Mijares, Mateus Renno Santos, Vahed Maroufy, Dylan B Jackson, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Rahma Mungia, Ana C Neumann

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

A growing body of research has documented an association between prior incarceration and lower dental care use, yet the longitudinal impact of prior incarceration on dental care patterns over time among older adults remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate whether prior incarceration is associated with differing trajectories of dental care use among older adults in the United States. Data were drawn from the 2012-2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative longitudinal survey of older adults in the United States (n =  5,893). Group-based trajectory modeling was used to estimate dental care use patterns over …

Assessing Sun Protection Policies In Texas School Districts Located In Counties With The Lowest And Highest Melanoma Risk: Content Analysis And Cross-Sectional Study, Nabeel Ahmad, Brooke Bartley, Stephanie Zhang, Madison M Taylor, Karl Schrader, Kehe Zhang, Hung Quoc Doan, Cici Bauer, Kelly C Nelson, Jennifer Cofer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction

School policy can encourage sun safe habits, such as wearing hats and applying sunscreen. However, sun safety policies (SSP) have not been formally assessed for Texas independent school districts (ISDs), particularly in counties with the highest melanoma incidence relative risk (RR). This study aims to assess the presence, strength, and intent of SSPs across Texas ISDs located in counties with the highest and lowest melanoma incidence. We also identify factors correlated with stronger SSP.

Methods

Eleven components of SSPs from 102 ISDs were evaluated in this cross-sectional study by examining school district websites, official documents, social media, media appearances, …

Impact Of Pre-Transplant Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Use On Post-Transplant Outcomes In Hcc: A Systematic Review And Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis, Mohammad Saeid Rezaee-Zavareh, Yee Hui Yeo, Tielong Wang, Zhiyong Guo, Parissa Tabrizian, Stephen C Ward, Fatma Barakat, Tarek I Hassanein, Shravan Dave, Veeral Ajmera, Sherrie Bhoori, Vincenzo Mazzaferro, David M H Chascsa, Margaret C Liu, Elizabeth S Aby, John R Lake, Miguel Sogbe, Bruno Sangro, Maen Abdelrahim, Abdullah Esmail, Andreas Schmiderer, Yasmina Chouik, Mark Rudolph, Davendra Sohal, Heloise Giudicelli, Manon Allaire, Mehmet Akce, Jessica Guadagno, Clara Y Tow, Hatef Massoumi, Paolo De Simone, Elise Kang, Robyn D Gartrell, Mercedes Martinez, Ricardo Paz-Fumagalli, Beau B Toskich, Nguyen H Tran, Gabriela Azevedo Solino, Dra Mariana Poltronieri Pacheco, Richard S Kalman, Vatche G Agopian, Neil Mehta, Neehar D Parikh, Amit G Singal, Ju Dong Yang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background & aims: Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prior to liver transplantation (LT) has been reported; however, ICIs may elevate the risk of allograft rejection and impact other clinical outcomes. This study aims to summarize the impact of ICI use on post-LT outcomes.

Methods: In this individual patient data meta-analysis, we searched databases to identify HCC cases treated with ICIs before LT, detailing allograft rejection, HCC recurrence, and overall survival. We performed Cox regression analysis to identify risk factors for allograft rejection.

Results: Among 91 eligible patients, with a median (IQR) follow-up of 690.0 (654.5) …

Risk Of Post-Acute Symptoms Among Adults: A Comparison Study Of Severe Covid-19, Pneumonia, And Influenza, Caroline M Schaefer, Trudy Millard Krause, George L Delclos, Raymond S Greenberg

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken to assess the relationship between initial disease severity of COVID-19 and the risk of post-acute symptoms. The COVID-19 cohort was compared against influenza and pneumonia cohorts to assess whether risk of post-acute symptoms differed.

Methods: Administrative health claims data were obtained for commercially insured and Medicare Advantage covered adults (≥ 18 years) with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosed in 2020 (n=121,205), and similar cohorts of influenza (n=20,844) and pneumonia (n=29,052) patients diagnosed prior to the pandemic. Post-acute symptoms were assessed at four weeks, three and six months following initial diagnosis.

Results: Among the patients …

Protocol For The Houston Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program, Alexander Testa, Eresha Bluth, Latanya Monroe, Karlton Harris, Sarah Beth Abbott, Mary E Aitken, Erin E Fox, Brian Heckler, Lillian S Kao, Ruosha Li, Susannah Meg Michael, Heidi M Mcpherson, Marisol Nieves, Christian P Owen, Kevin Rix, Hema Sarvani Jalaparthi, Vanessa Schick, Shreela V Sharma, Carlie Stratemann, Anne Marie V Thompson, Jack Tsai, Zixi Yang, Sandra Mckay

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Firearm violence is a leading cause of injury and mortality in the United States. Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) are a promising public health strategy designed to reduce recurrent violence by engaging patients during hospitalization and connecting them to support services after discharge. This protocol describes the design and implementation of the Houston Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (Houston-HVIP), which will be evaluated by a randomized controlled trial conducted at a Level 1 trauma center in Houston, Texas. The study plans to enroll individuals aged 16-35 who present with gunshot wounds (GSW) at the Level 1 trauma center. Participants are randomized …

Hazardous Work Exposures And Working Conditions And The Risk Of Serious Injury Among Latino Day Laborers In Houston, Texas (2014–2021), Maria Eugenia Fernandez-Esquer, Cesar Leonardo Pinzon-Gomez, Celeste Monforton, Yuan Li, Vahed Maroufy, Martha Ojeda, Anabel Rodriguez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Latino day laborers (LDLs) are frequently exposed to workplace hazards that increase their risk of an injury. The purpose of this study was to assess the relative influence of worker and workplace characteristics on serious injuries reported by LDLs at four different time points. We examined the influence of demographic characteristics, hazardous chemical exposures and working conditions using data from four cross-sectional surveys conducted between 2014 and 2021.

Methods: A total of 740 LDL were randomly recruited from public job hiring locations (known as "corners") in Houston Texas to participate in surveys conducted as part of injury risk reduction …

Improved Depression Symptoms Among Low-Income Mexican Americans Participating In A Community-Clinical Diabetes Intervention, Minjae Lee, Joseph H Conroy, Zihan Yang, Sein Lee, Paul G Yeh, Juliana Z Lopez, Natalia I Heredia, Lisa A Mitchell-Bennett, Maribel Sifuentes, Belinda M Reininger

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and comorbid depression face complex disease management. Salud y Vida, a diabetes management intervention for Mexican Americans in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, may mitigate depression through social support and community-clinic referrals.

Methods: In a cohort study, 292 Salud y Vida participants completed the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) at baseline, month 6, and month 12. A PHQ-9 score of ≥5 indicated mild depression and activated a mental health referral. Using SAS 9.4 with significance set at < .05, we conducted multivariable longitudinal negative binomial regression to assess changes in depression level.

Results: The proportion of participants with a PHQ-9 ≥5 decreased from 36% at baseline to 18% …

Effects Of Cognitive Dual-Tasking On Biomechanics And Muscle Activity During Gait Initiation And Sit-To-Walk In Young Adults, Angeloh Stout, Kaye Mabbun, Ke'vaughn Waldon, Marvin Alvarez, Stacy Nguyen, Miguel Barcellano, Sandra Cuenca, Chuan-Fa Tang, Aanand D Naik, Gu Eon Kang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cognitive dual-tasking on gait initiation and sit-to-walk. Twenty-eight healthy young adults performed gait initiation and sit-to-walk under two conditions: while engaging in serial subtraction (dual-task) and without any additional task (single-task). Motion data were collected using a 10-camera optoelectronic motion capture system, synchronized with force plates and surface electromyography. We analyzed spatiotemporal parameters, center of mass displacement, center of pressure trajectory, and lower limb muscle activation patterns. We found that dual-task conditions significantly affected both gait initiation and sit-to-walk patterns, increasing the duration of transitions and mediolateral center of …

A Comparison Of The Effect Of Remimazolam And Midazolam On Recovery And Preserved Memory Function For Patients With Dental Extraction Anxiety, Quan Jing, Weijia Wang, Limeng Wu, Lejunzi Wang, Boru Yuan, Yan Wang, Chengbin Wang, Lin Liu, Lei Guan, Riyue Yu, Yuelun Zhang, Daniel I Sessler, Yuguang Huang, Kuo Wan, Lijian Pei

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Remimazolam is an ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine, which has been indicated to be effective in endoscopic surgery and general anaesthesia. Research on its use in outpatient dental procedures remains limited. This triple-blinded randomized clinical trial was designed to determine whether the quality of postoperative recovery is better with continuous intravenous remimazolam administration compared with midazolam administration for impacted wisdom tooth extraction in patients with dental anxiety.

Patients and methods: This study was a randomized, parallel triple-blinded, superiority trial conducted between 30 April 2022 and 24 June 2024. Participants aged ≥18 years who exhibited dental anxiety and who were eligible for impacted …

Navigating The Nexus Of Food Insecurity, Anxiety, And Depression In The Face Of Climate Change: A Longitudinal Study In Rural Kenya, Michael Goodman, Lauren Raimer-Goodman, Heidi M Hagen Mcpherson, Dawit Woldu, Shreela Sharma, Ryan Ramphul, Fridah Mukiri, Agnes Maigallo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: This study aims to address critical gaps in understanding the bidirectional relationships between food insecurity, anxiety, and depression in Meru County, Kenya. By employing a cross-lagged panel analysis, we seek to clarify these temporal dynamics, contributing to the design of targeted interventions that integrate food security and mental health in the context of climate change.

Methods: A cross-lagged panel analysis was conducted using data from 362 adult participants in a community-based empowerment program (2023) in Meru County, Kenya. Participants completed self-report measures of food insecurity, anxiety, and depression at two time points, 11 weeks apart.

Results: Food insecurity (T1) …

Prediction Of Preterm Birth Among Infants With Orofacial Cleft Defects, Katherine L Ludorf, Renata H Benjamin, Mark A Canfield, Michael D Swartz, A J Agopian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To develop risk prediction models for preterm birth among infants with orofacial clefts.

Design: Data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry for infants with orofacial clefts born between 1999-2014 were used to develop preterm birth predictive models. Logistic regression was used to consider maternal and infant characteristics, and internal validation of the final model was performed using bootstrapping methods. The area under the curve (AUC) statistic was generated to assess model performance, and separate predictive models were built and validated for infants with cleft lip and cleft palate alone. Several secondary analyses were conducted among subgroups of interest.

Setting: …

Effect Of Digital Health Coaching On Self-Efficacy And Patient-Reported Outcomes In Individuals With Acute Myeloid And Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Jennifer Marvin-Peek, Valerie Shelton, Kelly Brassil, Bryan Fellman, Austin Barr, Kelly Sharon Chien, Danielle Hammond, Mahesh Swaminathan, Nitin Jain, William Wierda, Alessandra Ferrajoli, Courtney Dinardo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Promotion of self-efficacy can enhance engagement with health care and treatment adherence in patients with cancer. We report the outcomes of a pilot trial of a digital health coach intervention in patients with leukemia with the aim of improving self-efficacy.

Methods: Adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were randomized 1:1 to a digital health coach intervention or standard of care. The primary outcome of self-efficacy was measured by the Cancer Behavior Inventory (CBI) score.

Results: A total of 147 patients (37 AML, 110 CLL) were enrolled from July 2020 to December …

Corrigendum: Phenotypic Variation In Disease Severity Among Hospitalized Pediatric Patients With Covid-19: Assessing The Impact Of Covid-19 In The Epico Study, María Camila Sossa-Alarcón, Mónica Paola Gutiérrez, Natalia Becerra, Luz Yessenia Ortegon, María Camila David, Melisa Naranjo Vanegas, Gabriela Friedrich, Pablo Vásquez-Hoyos, María Lucía Mesa-Rubio, Luis Miguel Navarro-Ramirez, Sergio Moreno-Lopez, Olga Lucía Baquero, Luz Marina Mejía, Juan Gabriel Piñeros, Sonia Restrepo-Gualteros, Carlos Álvarez-Moreno, Alejandro Díaz-Díaz, Iván Gutierrez-Tobar, Andrés Camilo Mesa, William Ricardo Bachiller Tuta, Clara Esperanza Galvis Diaz, Martha Africano, José Manuel Nieto, Paola Marsela Pérez Camacho, Claudia Beltrán-Arroyave, Rosalba Vivas Trochez, Irati Gastesi, Cinta Moraleda, Alfredo Tagarro García, Blanca Herrero, Lourdes Calleja, Carlos Grasa, Paula Rodriguez, Susana Melendo, Antoni Soriano-Arandes, Irene Gómez Pastrana, Sonsoles García García, Victoria Fumado, Andrea Ramírez Varela

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This corrects the article "Phenotypic Variation in Disease Severity Among Hospitalized Pediatric Patients With COVID-19: Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 in the EPICO Study", 1607246.