Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating Bone Fracture Healing Utilizing Doppler Imaging Modes, Shear Wave Elastography, X-Ray And Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry In A Rabbit Model, Priscilla Machado, Rachel Blackman, Ji-Bin Liu, Flemming Forsberg, Traci Fox

JCHP Collaborative Capstone and Research Exchange

Abstract

The healing of a bone fracture is a complex, multistage process consisting of inflammation in the local tissue, angiogenesis, callus formation, and eventually, remodeling and restoration of the bone to its original morphology. It is estimated that 5-10% of fractures do not heal properly and exhibit non-union of the fractured bone segments, with long-term complications compared to properly healed fractures. There is great clinical benefit in the ability to have early detection of impending non-union fractures, and diagnostic ultrasound can be used to image formation of the callus in a healing fracture through the use of different imaging modes. …

Localization Of The Multidrug Efflux Pump, Cdr1, In The Fluconazole-Resistant Ent2 Mutant Candida Albicans Strain, Ty Moyer, Sean Chadwick, Scott Gygax, Paula Mccourt

JCHP Collaborative Capstone and Research Exchange

Abstract

Deletion of the ENT2 gene in Candida albicans causes the mutant strain to exhibit fluconazole resistance despite having susceptibility prior to this mutation. It was hypothesized that the gain of resistance was sourced by the disruption in endocytic functions, specifically the inability to properly recycle the drug efflux pump, Cdr1. To fully analyze this mutation's effects on the endocytic functions of C. albicans, the Cdr1 protein was tagged in a wild type strain with green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its localization was examined via fluorescence microscopy. To examine Cdr1 protein localization in the ent2 mutant strain, tagging of …

Design And Validation Of A Multiplex Qpcr Assay For The Diagnosis Of Bacterial Vaginosis, Morgan G. Shriver, Richard Sunday, Zi-Xuan Wang, Scott Gygax

JCHP Collaborative Capstone and Research Exchange

Abstract

Current diagnostic criteria and treatment options for bacterial vaginosis (BV) commonly result in the misdiagnosis and/or mistreatment of the active infection, as well as subsequent reinfection with BV. This project aims to design and validate a multiplex qPCR assay as a means to accurately detect and quantify populations of dysbiotic Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Megasphaera Type 1 & Type 2, Bacterial vaginosis-associated bacterium 2 (BVAB2), as well as the commensal Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus jensenii, and Lactobacillus gasseri in vaginal specimen for the accurate diagnosis of BV. As these bacterial species are generally unable to be …

Engineered Car19 T-Cells To Demonstrate In Vitro Antileukemia Activity, Khushi Shah, Gian Zhang, Michael Milone

JCHP Collaborative Capstone and Research Exchange

Abstract

The Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells, also known as CAR T-cells, are a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment. They are engineered Tlymphocytes and recombinant receptors for specific antigens. They are mainly responsible for redirecting specificity, activation, and function of T lymphocytes and other immune cells in a single molecule. It attaches to the cancer cells, thereby leading to the destruction of the tumor. The CAR Tcells are made up of different domains, which include Antigen Binding Domain (CD19), Hinge, and Transmembrane Region, followed by Co- Stimulatory Domain (CD28) and T-cell Activation Domain (CD3). The Antigen Binding Domain recognizes the specific …

Capa: Quality Control Testing Of Laboratory Plates, Div Galdi, Bryn Mallon

JCHP Collaborative Capstone and Research Exchange

Abstract

The purpose of a Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) investigation is to identify and address errors, deviations, and compliance issues to ensure the integrity, reliability, and quality of research and biomanufacturing. In the biotech industry, where identifying and rectifying root causes of errors is key to ensuring quality data and preventing future errors, CAPA plays a crucial role. The Jefferson Biotechnology (JBT) lab was asked to investigate the sterility of a biotech supplier’s microbiological agar plates, when a client reported contamination in their agar plates, suspecting contamination prior to sleeve opening. By attempting to reproduce our client's results through …

Empowering Students With 5s Organizational Skills For Research Laboratory Optimization, Paula Mccourt, Phd

JCHP Collaborative Capstone and Research Exchange

Abstract

5S (Sort, Set-in-order, Shine, Standardize and Sustain) is a cost-effective organizational methodology frequently employed by biotech research labs and biomanufacturing to streamline optimization of production. Educational research labs offer experiential learning opportunities and serve as ideal environments for implementing 5S principles within undergraduate and graduate biotechnology curricula. In the Jefferson Biotechnology Program, the newly updated “Lab Design and Stewardship (BT303/503)” lecture and laboratory course, now integrates the 5S methodology into biotech student skill development. Participants in the BT303/503 course are instructed to improve workspaces within the biotechnology laboratory to bolster safety, efficiency, and inventory and equipment management. Through a …

Retention Of Respiratory Therapists: A Systems Thinking Approach, Jerin G. Juby, Dmgt, Rrt

JCHP Collaborative Capstone and Research Exchange

Abstract

Respiratory therapists are an integral part of the healthcare workforce in the United States. The healthcare workforce shortage accelerated by the COVID global pandemic has impacted respiratory therapy departments across the nation, with organizations struggling to hire and retain staff. The prevailing approaches in combating this are linear in nature and do not consider the complexity of the system. This mode of thinking does not adequately consider the characteristics and influences of the containing system, the many elements within the problematic organizational system, or their interdependencies and interactions. This study frames retention as a complex system problem wherein organizations …

Communicating Increased Salinity In The St. Johns River, Kailan Sindelar Ph.D.

DHI Digital Projects Showcase

Poster presented at the 2024 DHI showcase.

Unveiling The Ezpeleta Affair: Using Ai To Explore Cervantes’S World, María Ángeles Fernández Cifuentes Ph.D., Alexis Skidmore

DHI Digital Projects Showcase

Poster presented at the 2024 DHI showcase

Unveiling Intergenerational Trauma: Colorism, Emotional Intelligence And Domestic Violence In Jamaican Households, Lydia-Rose D. Hanson

DHI Digital Projects Showcase

Poster presented at the 2024 DHI showcase

Jacksonville Jazz Festival Economic Impact Study, Andrew Hopkins, The Public Opinion Research Lab

DHI Digital Projects Showcase

Poster presented at the DHI showcase

Natural Products Ireland: From Bioactives To The Bioeconomy - A Systems-Based Approach, Gaia Scalabrino

Oxford ICSB

Natural Products (NP) are on the rise across the world, driven by economic, environmental, health and societal needs. An increasing focus has been placed on the role of boglands within climate change as peatlands store 1/3 of the world’s soil carbon and provide water storage. With our project ‘Unlocking Nature’s Pharmacy’ we aim to increase public awareness and drive Ireland towards a bioeconomy where Natural Product Science (NPS) plays a key role. At the NatPro Centre, the Trinity Centre for Natural Products Research, we use systems-based approaches (SBA), for example looking at the bogs of Ireland, to identify innovative bio-based …

Cold-Water Extract Of Nerium Oleander Leaves Inhibits Cancer: From Bench To Bedside, Thomas Efferth, Luay J. Rashan, Nadire Özenver, Joelle C. Boulos, Mona Dawood, Wynand P. Roos, Katrin Katrin, Ioannis Ioannis, Ludger A. Wessjohann, Heinz-Herbert Fiebig

Oxford ICSB

Nerium oleander is a well-known medicinal plant used in the Mediterranean region and traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) against a variety of diseases, including cancer. We investigated a cold-water extract of N. oleander leaves for their anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo. The cytotoxicity testing in the Oncotest panel of tumor cell lines and concomitant COMPARE analysis showed a high degree of similarity to mitosis-inhibiting compounds. We verified this hypothesis by treating tumor cells transfected with a tubulin-GFP fusion cDNA construct and confocal microscopy as well as a biochemical tubulin polymerization assay. N. oleander showed a similar inhibition of tubulin …

The Problem With Interpreter Education Programs, Lauren Gebstadt

Liberty University Research Week

The field of interpreting is ever-growing, and with this, there are always problems that interpreter education programs can address. The following research is aimed towards interpreter education, commonly known as Interpreter Education Programs (IEPS). Due to mass amounts of research proving surface-level preparation in the context of coping mechanisms, this study is aimed to explore if extensive education in IEPs can decrease the presence of vicarious trauma in the field. This topic does not only apply in the contexts of mental health interpreting but can also apply to medical and legal settings. The following theoretical research utilizes an online questionnaire …

Implementing Hand Hygiene Programs Into The K-12 Education Curriculum To Decrease The Incidence Of Respiratory Illnesses, Sophia Brat

Liberty University Research Week

Pediatric patients are hospitalized for a variety of reasons, one of the most common reasons for hospitalization is to assess, monitor, and treat communicable diseases. The most common communicable diseases that are seen among the pediatric population are respiratory illnesses including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus, and streptococcal pharyngitis. From October of 2022 to April of 2023, 2,762 children were hospitalized for influenza alone. In addition, research has shown that these illnesses play a large role in chronic absenteeism among school-aged children. Approximately 5 to 7.5 million children are chronically absent from school, which indicates that they miss at least …

The Effect Of Post-Translational Modifications Of Irs-1 On Insulin Sensitivity, John Zelenka

Liberty University Research Week

Over 500 million people worldwide, including 36 million Americans, are affected by type II diabetes, a metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Complications associated with this disease include but are not limited to retinopathy, cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, and nephropathy. One of the major causes of insulin resistance stems from the protein IRS-1’s insensitivity to activate downstream events when insulin binds to its receptor. Although there are numerous proteins that downregulate IRS-1 through serine phosphorylation, p300, a broad histone acetyltransferase responsible for the regulation of hundreds of transcriptions factors, can also inhibit IRS-1 through acetylation. Recent studies revealed that …

Educationally And Practically Beneficial Enzymatic Organic Chemistry Lab Experiments, Garen Hamner

Liberty University Research Week

Organic Chemistry laboratories serve to introduce students to a variety of procedures, topics, and reactions that are representative of the fields students are pursuing. Whereas the lecture material for the class is systematized according to national standards, the lab section provides flexibility in which the professors choose which experiments they deem best prepare their students. For premedical students, introduction to enzymatic reactions in a lab setting would instill greater understanding and appreciation of their use. This research analyzes the current scientific and educational literature and proposes enzymatic reactions that could be employed in an Organic Chemistry laboratory class at Liberty …

Public Health Implications Of Armed Conflict In Nigeria, Rachel Dibal Simon Karu

Liberty University Research Week

Introduction: Armed conflict is inimical to the health of those affected by it. Nigeria has a long-standing history of armed conflict amidst a battered system. Armed conflict in Nigeria has led to maiming and death and has negatively affected the quality of life of the citizens. It has also affected the delivery of healthcare services and other social determinants of health. Armed conflict in Nigeria has reduced vaccination rates and maternal healthcare utilization and has led to food insecurity in the affected areas. The impact of armed conflict on population health is of grave concern for this nation with the …

Effect Of Sleep Deprivation On Perceived Exertion In Endurance Athletes: A Critically Appraise Topic, Colton Mcguire

Liberty University Research Week

Context: Many studies have been conducted in order to determine the effects of sleep deprivations on athletes due its effects on performance. These studies focus on objective performance measures but have less commonly used a subjective measure of performance in the athletic population is used, called “perceived exertion.” Therefore, the purpose of this Critically Appraised Topic was formulated in order to find out the hypothetical question of “In endurance athletes, what is the effect of normal sleep compared to that of sleep deprivation when looking at perceived exertion?” Methods: Keywords and Boolean modifiers were used in sources such as PubMed, …

Exploring Soap Thickeners: A Comparative Study Of Sodium Chloride To The Alternate Benefits Of Carrageenan And Xanthan Gum, Amanda Kolandjian

Liberty University Research Week

This research aims to explore the impact of thickening agents when formulated in hand soaps. Sodium chloride is the most used additive for soap to create a thicker consistency. It is however known to possibly dry the skin and cause irritation. The focus of this proposal is on comparing the most used ingredient to thicken soap, sodium chloride, with carrageenan and xanthan gum as potential alternatives to thickening. Both carrageenan and xanthan gum provide moisturizing effects along with their ability to thicken solutions. An investigation into the structural properties of these additives will be conducted to better understand how each …

The Effects Of Hop Stabilization Training On Athletes With Chronic Ankle Instability: A Critically Appraised Topic, Michael Pells

Liberty University Research Week

This critically appraised topic analyzes the utilization of hop-stabilization training (also known as plyometric training) when applied to the rehabilitation of athletes dealing with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is increasingly common among athletes due to a high prevalence in ankle sprains causing joint/ligament laxity which leads to altered biomechanics in the lower extremities. Altered biomechanics and reoccurring sprains are the hallmark sign of CAI in athletes. Hop stabilization training tends to be common in ankle injury prevention, but current research literature is limited concerning how hop stabilization interventions can affect the altered biomechanics of athletes who …

Improving Self-Efficacy In Flight Nurse Practitioners In Preparation For The Role Of The Law Enforcement Tactical Nurse Practitioner, Gregory Wamack

Liberty University Research Week

Current evidence demonstrates that the number of nurse practitioners working in the prehospital setting is growing. Additional training beyond formal nurse practitioner curriculums is necessary to increase the nurse practitioner's self-efficacy, knowledge, and skills for operational tactical conditions. Evidence also demonstrates that the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) course is the national tactical care and training standard. The purpose of this evidence-based pilot study was to increase the tactical self-efficacy of nontactical civilian flight nurse practitioners (FNPs). The clinical question was in the nontactical civilian flight nurse practitioner, does receiving education through the Tactical Combat Casualty Care course increase their …

Crayfish As A Biological Reservoir For The Amphibian Skin Pathogen Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis, Kyra Goyette

Liberty University Research Week

Fungi are ubiquitous in nature and are essential for the overall health of ecosystems, affecting everything from water quality to the health of the organisms. Although many fungi play beneficial roles in nature, some fungi such as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) can cause disease in the members of the ecosystem. As potential carriers of Bd, crayfish are a possible mobile microhabitat that enables Bd to persist and spread throughout aquatic ecosystems. One way to test the overall health of an aquatic environment is to measure Bd levels in potential carriers. In a previous study, we surveyed an aquatic ecosystem where Bd …

The Relationship Between Imposter Syndrome, Household Income, And Level Of Education, Miebaka Favour Roberts

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Imposter syndrome has been documented in the literature as a challenge across all professional fields, for men and women. Imposter syndrome is defined as a state of high-performing individuals attributing achievements to luck and contingency rather than skill and merit. Those experiencing imposter syndrome often live in fear of being exposed as a fraud or losing credibility. Methods: The current study applies the Literature Matrix Method by Judith Garrad to aggregate and synthesize literature for three factors: Imposter Syndrome, household income, and educational level. Further, inclusion criteria for search terms included publication year (2019-2023), document type (Peer-reviewed), and language …

Assessing Natural And Synthetic Red Food Dye, Victoria Maclean

Liberty University Research Week

Colorants have been a part of our world for a long time. They have been used in textiles, medicines, hair products, cosmetic products, and specifically food. Food coloring is an important sensory cue to how we expect foods and drinks to taste. There are synthetic and natural dyes that help us gain the bright color we associate with our food. Natural dyes are made from vegetables, fruits, plants, and sometimes insects. Synthetic dyes are made from the synthesis of chemicals compounds. Customers and vendors look for a dye that is vibrant, heat and light stable, low cost, provides health benefits, …

Researching And Comparing The Properties Of Anthocyanins With Fd&C Blue No 1, Kendall Boyle

Liberty University Research Week

Colorings and dyes are used to enhance the physical appearance of these items to make it more enjoyable for the human consumer. Vegetables and plants have been known to naturally dye clothing and food since the beginning. These natural dyes also had the ability to provide numerous health benefits that positively impact the human body system. Despite this, society has moved to synthetic dyes for lower cost, more supply and demand, and stronger pigmentation. Synthetic dyes tend to be brighter and more enjoyable to the eyes. Unfortunately, synthetic food dyes negatively impact human health in the process. This proposal will …

Preventing Asl Interpreter Burnout Through The Use Of Self-Care, Grace Hodge

Liberty University Research Week

The interpreter shortage is drastic, especially around mental health counseling, due to compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. Burnout in the field of interpreters is a considerably big issue, and strategies are needed to mitigate negative affects. This topic is crucial to the field of interpreting because interpreters are needed in all areas of life. dDeaf people exist in all industries, including mental health, making the need for qualified interpreting professionals necessary as dDeaf individuals seek equivalent experiences to their hearing counterparts. Discussed is the importance of interpreting in the field of interpreting as well as the different roles …

Forefoot Gait Retraining As An Intervention For Patellofemoral Pain: A Critically Appraised Topic, Tanner Bohan

Liberty University Research Week

Context: Running is a popular and accessible athletic activity, but many individuals are deterred by the pain and injury associated with it. Gait retraining, particularly transitioning to a forefoot strike (FFS), has gained popularity as an intervention for patellofemoral pain, a common running-related injury. This critically appraised topic aims to investigate the impact of running gait retraining to FFS patterns on the incidence and management of patellofemoral pain. Methods: A computerized search was conducted in October 2023, focusing on terms related to patellofemoral pain, gait, and forefoot. Inclusion criteria encompassed articles from the last 10 years, studies with human subjects, …

African Plants In Jamaican Farms And Gardens, Thera Edwards

Oxford ICSB

Plants of all growth forms and regeneration strategies were introduced to Jamaica by European slavers and by Enslaved Africans. Some species such as Tamarind used to purify drinking water on ships arrived through purposes of practicality while others that such as yam and plantain were transported as food supplies on the ships or by the Enslaved Africans as tubers for planting in their countries of destination. Tuber crops proved to be invaluable in hurricane prone islands such as Jamaica as the underground tuber was left undamaged by the high winds of the storms. Other crops such as Plantain while not …

Medical-Dental Staff Topics, 1991 January, Advocate Health - Midwest

Historical Documents - Combined

St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI: An issue of "Medical-Dental Staff Topics". This was an internal publication for ASLMC staff members reporting on news, research, events, and staffing updates. Includes a staff calendar and information on continuing education opportunities.