Digital Commons Network^™

Processes, Experiences, And Impact: A Summary Report On Community-Led Humanitarian Violence Against Children And Youth Survey (Hvacs) Results Dissemination In Uganda, Gloria Seruwagi, Peter Kisaakye, Stella Muthuri, George Odwe, Francis Obare Onyango, Yohannes Dibaba Wado, Dagim Habteyesus, Chi-Chi Undie

Humanitarian Task Force

The Uganda Humanitarian Violence Against Children Survey (HVACS), completed in 2022 in refugee settlements in Uganda, was the first of the Baobab Research Programme Consortium’s (RPC’s) series of studies to be implemented. As a landmark study, and the first-ever HVACS, it provided critical insights into the state of Violence Against Children (VAC) in refugee settlements in Uganda. Baobab conducted a collaborative radio dissemination activity in Uganda that was designed to take place during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) commemorated between 25 November and 10 December 2023, aligning with the global theme “Invest to prevent violence against …

Exploring The Value And Replicability Of Integrating Refugees And Host Community Members Into Research Activities In Refugee Settings, Stella Muthuri, Dagim Habteyesus, Gloria Seruwagi, Yohannes Dibaba Wado, George Odwe, Peter Kisaakye, Francis Obare Onyango, Chi-Chi Undie

Humanitarian Task Force

The Population Council leads the Baobab Research Program Consortium (RPC) in partnership with Population Council-Kenya and the African Population and Health Research Center. One of the successes of the RPC has been its intentional engagement of refugees and host community members in various aspects of its research and intervention implementation activities, including community entry and engagement, training workshops, and data collection. The Baobab RPC’s 2022–23 annual review included a recommendation to review the experience of including refugees and host community members in data collection training workshops, and to assess the value and viability of replicating this approach. While the approach …

Metabolic Syndrome And Obesity Among Marginalised School-Going Adolescents In Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Hina Sharif, Sana Sharif Sheikh, Tooba Seemi, Hira Naeem, Unab Khan, Shah Sumaya Jan

Department of Family Medicine

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors which increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MetS among adolescents living in slums aged 11-18 years in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: Data were collected from 689 adolescents attending five schools in two slum areas of Karachi, Korangi and Baldia, from February 2023 to March 2023. Measurements of weight, height, waist circumference, and blood pressure were obtained from the study participants. Blood samples were collected to assess fasting plasma glucose, High density lipoprotein HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels as …

Teacher, Student Support Staff, And School Leader Perceptions About Utilizing A Block Of Time Daily To Meet The Academic, Social-Emotional, And Behavioral Needs Of Students, Olivia P. Cammon-Stevenson

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study aimed to explore school practitioners' perceptions regarding the allocation of time during the school day to address the overall needs of high school students. The Researcher utilized Abraham Maslow’s Theory of Needs and the Whole Child Approach to show the need for a holistic approach to support and intervention. The MTSS framework applied in this study illustrated the benefits of using a tiered approach. The lack of information on successful research-based models and school practitioner voice for high school intervention blocks is a problem. Three questions framed this study: What are the perceptions of teachers, school …

Selam Medirashachin (Safe Arrival) Project: Addressing The Risk Of Trafficking, Violence, And Sexual Abuse Among Newly Arriving Migrant Girls In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Annabel Erulkar, Eyasu Hailu

Adolescents and Young People

Rates of urbanization in Ethiopia are significant and, increasingly, young females are among those who migrate from rural to urban areas. Previous research in Addis Ababa showed that, compared to boys and young men, young female migrants are more likely to migrate to cities without the accompaniment of immediate family members. and often move in with people with whom they have only loose affiliation or live on their own. Previous Population Council research on the experience of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) revealed that girls’ migration from rural to urban areas of the country may be perilous. This is …

Soft Skills Training For Rohingya And Host Community Youth In Cox’S Bazar, Bangladesh, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Abdullah Al Mahmud Shohag, Ishtiak Morshed, Sigma Ainul, Md. Irfan Hossain, Mohammad Muktadir Hossain, Sharif M.I. Hossain, Ubaidur Rob

Adolescents and Young People

The Population Council, in collaboration with Research, Training and Management International (RTMI) and Underprivileged Children’s Education Program (UCEP), pilot tested a soft skills training intervention in two Rohingya camps and a vocational training center in the host community in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh in 2022. As a follow-up to the pilot program, the Council along with its partners rolled out soft skills training in four Rohingya camps and a vocational training center in the host community in 2023. The purpose of this training was to improve the personal, social, and financial management skills of Rohingya youth, which would be of use …

New York City’S Puerto Rican Population Experienced A Sharp Decline Between 2012 And 2022 While The Dominican Population Increased, Laird W. Bergad

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

This report reveals that the Puerto Rican population of New York City has declined sharply since 2012 while the Dominican population of the City has increased. Using data from the 2012, 2017 and 2022 American Community Survey’s one-year samples, this study shows that there was an overall decline of the Puerto Rican population of -19% between 2012 and 2022. Over the same period of time, the Dominican population rose 9.4%.

Loex 2024 Conference Report: Naperville, Il, Anri Brod, Kristy Lueshen

LOEX Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Tackling The Nitty-Gritty In Teaching Search Strategies: A Visualized Approach From A Human Cognition Perspective, Yuqi He

LOEX Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Ubiquitous Filter Feeders Shape Open Ocean Microbial Community Structure And Function, Anne W. Thompson, Györgyi Nyerges, Kylee M. Brevick, Kelly Sutherland

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The mechanism of mortality plays a large role in how microorganisms in the open ocean contribute to global energy and nutrient cycling. Salps are ubiquitous pelagic tunicates that are a well-known mortality source for large phototrophic microorganisms in coastal and high-latitude systems, but their impact on the immense populations of smaller prokaryotes in the tropical and subtropical open ocean gyres is not well quantified. We used robustly quantitative techniques to measure salp clearance and enrichment of specific microbial functional groups in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, one of the largest ecosystems on Earth. We discovered that salps are a previously …

World Transit Research February 2024 Newsletter, Institute Of Transport Studies Monash University

World Transit Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Diversity On The Altiplano: Geochemical Perspectives On 3,000 Years Of Potting Practices In The Lake Titicaca Basin, Elizabeth Klarich, Abigail Levine, Andrew P. Roddick, Jennifer Zovar, Cyrus Banikazemi, Laure Dussubieux, Colette Gabler

Anthropology: Faculty Publications

Potters in the Lake Titicaca basin produced a wide variety of ceramic styles over the last 3000 years. Archaeologists have drawn on this variety across space and time to track processes such as the development of multi-community polities during the Late Formative (200 BC-AD 600), the origins and expansion of Tiwanaku (AD 600–1000), the creation and maintenance of political boundaries during the Late Intermediate period (AD 1000–1400), and the strategies of Inca conquest and consolidation (AD 1400–1534). We report on LA-ICP-MS research into Titicaca ceramics and clays conducted at the Field Museum’s Elemental Analysis Facility (EAF), and present the first …

Mousetrap Cars, Mentor Guide, Mikayla Cerney

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Mental Health Resource Guide Grafton County, Suzanne Meattey

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Mental Health Resource Guide Hillsborough County, Suzanne Meattey

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Diagnostic Accuracy Of Intraoperative Frozen Section For Margin Evaluation Of Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Javaria P. Ali, Bakhtawar Allauddin Mallick, Khushbakht Rashid, Umair Arshad Malik, Atif Ali Hashmi, Shamail Zia, Muhammad Irfan, Amir Khan, Naveen Faridi

Section of Internal Medicine

Objectives: Intraoperative frozen-section evaluation is a valuable technique for detecting positive margins intraoperatively for oral squamous cell carcinoma. We conducted this study to determine the diagnostic accuracy of frozen section in detecting margin status and the effect of tumor grade and stage on diagnostic accuracy.
Results: A total of 251 biopsy-proven cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma were included in this study. The tissue specimen resected during surgery was sent to the laboratory for frozen section evaluation. The frozen section results were then compared with the permanent section results to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, …

Construction Software: Use, Selection, And Performance In Low-Bid Contracting, David R. Cazares

Construction Management

The qualitative research included in this study evaluates the use, selection, and perceived gaps of current construction software suits in low-bid contracting. In addition, the data aims to provide merit to the correlation between construction software use and company performance. The intended stakeholders of this study include entrepreneurs in software development and construction, along with researchers looking to gather knowledge pertaining to this niche industry. Through a Google Forms questionnaire distributed via email, participants provide insight on the current status quo. The study’s responses show clear trends in the types of software currently in use and the subsequent reasons for …

Quantifying Turning Tasks With Wearable Sensors: A Reliability Assessment, Angela R. Weston, Prokopios Antonellis, Peter C. Fino, Carrie W. Hoppes, Mark E. Lester, Margaret M. Weightman, Leland E. Dibble, Laurie A. King

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Objective

The aim of this study was to establish the test–retest reliability of metrics obtained from wearable inertial sensors that reflect turning performance during tasks designed to imitate various turns in daily activity.

Methods

Seventy-one adults who were healthy completed 3 turning tasks: a 1-minute walk along a 6-m walkway, a modified Illinois Agility Test (mIAT), and a complex turning course (CTC). Peak axial turning and rotational velocity (yaw angular velocity) were extracted from wearable inertial sensors on the head, trunk, and lumbar spine. ICCs were established to assess the test–retest reliability of average peak turning speed for each task. …

Deep Learning-Based H-Score Quantification Of Immunohistochemistry-Stained Images, Zhuoyu Wen, Danni Luo, Shidan Wang, Ruichen Rong, Bret M Evers, Liwei Jia, Yisheng Fang, Elena V Daoud, Shengjie Yang, Zifan Gu, Emily N Arner, Cheryl M Lewis, Luisa M Solis Soto, Junya Fujimoto, Carmen Behrens, Ignacio I Wistuba, Donghan M Yang, Rolf A Brekken, Kathryn A O'Donnell, Yang Xie, Guanghua Xiao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a well-established and commonly used staining method for clinical diagnosis and biomedical research. In most IHC images, the target protein is conjugated with a specific antibody and stained using diaminobenzidine (DAB), resulting in a brown coloration, whereas hematoxylin serves as a blue counterstain for cell nuclei. The protein expression level is quantified through the H-score, calculated from DAB staining intensity within the target cell region. Traditionally, this process requires evaluation by 2 expert pathologists, which is both time consuming and subjective. To enhance the efficiency and accuracy of this process, we have developed an automatic algorithm for …

Immune Evasion, Infectivity, And Fusogenicity Of Sars-Cov-2 Ba286 And Flip Variants, Panke Qu, Kai Xu, Julia N Faraone, Negin Goodarzi, Yi-Min Zheng, Claire Carlin, Joseph S Bednash, Jeffrey C Horowitz, Rama K Mallampalli, Linda J Saif, Eugene M Oltz, Daniel Jones, Richard J Gumina, Shan-Lu Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 requires the reassessment of current vaccine measures. Here, we characterized BA.2.86 and XBB-derived variant FLip by investigating their neutralization alongside D614G, BA.1, BA.2, BA.4/5, XBB.1.5, and EG.5.1 by sera from 3-dose-vaccinated and bivalent-vaccinated healthcare workers, XBB.1.5-wave-infected first responders, and monoclonal antibody (mAb) S309. We assessed the biology of the variant spikes by measuring viral infectivity and membrane fusogenicity. BA.2.86 is less immune evasive compared to FLip and other XBB variants, consistent with antigenic distances. Importantly, distinct from XBB variants, mAb S309 was unable to neutralize BA.2.86, likely due to a D339H mutation based on modeling. BA.2.86 had …

From Primary Myelofibrosis To Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, Bcr::Abl1+ B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia, And Back To Primary Myelofibrosis: An Illustration Of Dynamic Clonal Evolution, Devin Wang, Wataru Kamata, Fengxi Ye, M James You

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The simultaneous detection of BCR::ABL1 and JAK2 V617F was rarely reported and their clonal relationship and dynamic clonal shift were not characterized. Here, we described a unique case with the initial presentation as JAK2 V617F+ primary myelofibrosis, followed by the emergence of BCR::ABL1+ chronic myeloid leukemia. The patient then developed BCR::ABL1+ B-lymphoblastic leukemia. Treatment for B-lymphoblastic leukemia prompted a regression to the state of primary myelofibrosis. In light of these observations, we proposed a clonal evolution model for this case.

Sionx Coating Regulates Mesenchymal Stem Cell Antioxidant Capacity Via Nuclear Erythroid Factor 2 Activity Under Toxic Oxidative Stress Conditions, Neelam Ahuja, Kamal Awad, Su Yang, He Dong, Antonios Mikos, Pranesh Aswath, Simon Young, Marco Brotto, Venu Varanasi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Healing in compromised and complicated bone defects is often prolonged and delayed due to the lack of bioactivity of the fixation device, secondary infections, and associated oxidative stress. Here, we propose amorphous silicon oxynitride (SiONx) as a coating for the fixation devices to improve both bioactivity and bacteriostatic activity and reduce oxidative stress. We aimed to study the effect of increasing the N/O ratio in the SiONx to fine-tune the cellular activity and the antioxidant effect via the NRF2 pathway under oxidative stress conditions. The in vitro studies involved using human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to examine the effect of …

Metabolism, Fibrosis, And Apoptosis: The Effect Of Lipids And Their Derivatives On Keloid Formation, Chen-Yu Li, Ru-Xin Xie, Shi-Wei Zhang, Jiao Yun, Ai Zhong, Ying Cen, Jun-Jie Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Keloids, pathological scars resulting from skin trauma, have traditionally posed significant clinical management challenges due to their persistence and high recurrence rates. Our research elucidates the pivotal roles of lipids and their derivatives in keloid development, driven by underlying mechanisms of abnormal cell proliferation, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix deposition. Key findings suggest that abnormalities in arachidonic acid (AA) synthesis and non-essential fatty acid synthesis are integral to keloid formation. Further, a complex interplay exists between lipid derivatives, notably butyric acid (BA), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), and the regulation of hyperfibrosis. Additionally, combinations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with BA …

Epigenetic Regulation In Cancer, Minzhi Gu, Bo Ren, Yuan Fang, Jie Ren, Xiaohong Liu, Xing Wang, Feihan Zhou, Ruiling Xiao, Xiyuan Luo, Lei You, Yupei Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Epigenetic modifications are defined as heritable changes in gene activity that do not involve changes in the underlying DNA sequence. The oncogenic process is driven by the accumulation of alterations that impact genome's structure and function. Genetic mutations, which directly disrupt the DNA sequence, are complemented by epigenetic modifications that modulate gene expression, thereby facilitating the acquisition of malignant characteristics. Principals among these epigenetic changes are shifts in DNA methylation and histone mark patterns, which promote tumor development and metastasis. Notably, the reversible nature of epigenetic alterations, as opposed to the permanence of genetic changes, positions the epigenetic machinery as …

Identification Of A Novel Cg307 Sub-Clade In Third-Generation-Cephalosporin-Resistant, Selvalakshmi Selvaraj Anand, Chin-Ting Wu, Jordan Bremer, Micah Bhatti, Todd J Treangen, Awdhesh Kalia, Samuel A Shelburne, William C Shropshire

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite the notable clinical impact, recent molecular epidemiology regarding third-generation-cephalosporin-resistant (3GC-R) Klebsiella pneumoniae in the USA remains limited. We performed whole-genome sequencing of 3GC-R K. pneumoniae bacteraemia isolates collected from March 2016 to May 2022 at a tertiary care cancer centre in Houston, TX, USA, using Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies platforms. A comprehensive comparative genomic analysis was performed to dissect population structure, transmission dynamics and pan-genomic signatures of our 3GC-R K. pneumoniae population. Of the 178 3GC-R K. pneumoniae bacteraemias that occurred during our study time frame, we were able to analyse 153 (86 %) bacteraemia isolates, 126 …

Neurologic Morbidity And Functional Independence In Adult Survivors Of Childhood Cancer, Stefanie C Vuotto, Mingjuan Wang, M Fatih Okcu, Daniel C Bowers, Nicole J Ullrich, Kirsten K Ness, Chenghong Li, Deo Kumar Srivastava, Rebecca M Howell, Todd M Gibson, Wendy M Leisenring, Kevin C Oeffinger, Leslie L Robison, Gregory T Armstrong, Kevin R Krull, Tara M Brinkman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between neurologic late effects and attainment of independence in adult survivors of childhood cancer treated with central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapies.

METHODS: A total of 7881 survivors treated with cranial radiation therapy (n = 4051; CRT) and/or intrathecal methotrexate (n = 4193; IT MTX) ([CNS-treated]; median age [range] = 25.5 years [18-48]; time since diagnosis = 17.7 years [6.8-30.2]) and 8039 without CNS-directed therapy reported neurologic conditions including stroke, seizure, neurosensory deficits, focal neurologic dysfunction, and migraines/severe headaches. Functional independence was assessed using latent class analysis with multiple indicators (independent living, assistance with routine and personal …

Aneuploidy And Complex Genomic Rearrangements In Cancer Evolution, Toby M Baker, Sara Waise, Maxime Tarabichi, Peter Van Loo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mutational processes that alter large genomic regions occur frequently in developing tumors. They range from simple copy number gains and losses to the shattering and reassembly of entire chromosomes. These catastrophic events, such as chromothripsis, chromoplexy and the formation of extrachromosomal DNA, affect the expression of many genes and therefore have a substantial effect on the fitness of the cells in which they arise. In this review, we cover large genomic alterations, the mechanisms that cause them and their effect on tumor development and evolution.

Transcription-Replication Interactions Reveal Bacterial Genome Regulation, Andrew W Pountain, Peien Jiang, Tianyou Yao, Ehsan Homaee, Yichao Guan, Kevin J C Mcdonald, Magdalena Podkowik, Bo Shopsin, Victor J Torres, Ido Golding, Itai Yanai

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Organisms determine the transcription rates of thousands of genes through a few modes of regulation that recur across the genome1. In bacteria, the relationship between the regulatory architecture of a gene and its expression is well understood for individual model gene circuits2,3. However, a broader perspective of these dynamics at the genome scale is lacking, in part because bacterial transcriptomics has hitherto captured only a static snapshot of expression averaged across millions of cells4. As a result, the full diversity of gene expression dynamics and their relation to regulatory architecture remains unknown. Here we present a novel genome-wide classification of …

Phase I Study Of Sapanisertib (Cb-228/Tak-228/Mln0128) In Combination With Ziv-Aflibercept In Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors, Niamh Coleman, Bettzy Stephen, Siqing Fu, Daniel Karp, Vivek Subbiah, Jordi Rodon Ahnert, Sarina A Piha-Paul, John Wright, Senait N Fessahaye, Fengying Ouyang, Bulent Yilmaz, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Aung Naing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Sapanisertib is a potent ATP-competitive, dual inhibitor of mTORC1/2. Ziv-aflibercept is a recombinant fusion protein comprising human VEGF receptor extracellular domains fused to human immunoglobulin G1. HIF-1α inhibition in combination with anti-angiogenic therapy is a promising anti-tumor strategy. This Phase 1 dose-escalation/expansion study assessed safety/ tolerability of sapanisertib in combination with ziv-aflibercept in advanced solid tumors.

METHODS: Fifty-five patients with heavily pre-treated advanced metastatic solid tumors resistant or refractory to standard treatment received treatment on a range of dose levels.

RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were enrolled and treated across a range of dose levels. Forty were female (73%), median age …

A04: A Pilot Study On The Persistence Of Children's Online Sports Games, Haoye Shen, Xiaozan Wan, Meiyuan Chen, Mengke Kang, Hao Li, Yiang Yuan

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: In the post-epidemic era, children's physical activity has decreased sharply, and smart sports at home have gradually emerged, making online sports games an important path for children's sports participation. This pilot study was to explore the persistence of children's online sports game participation through exercise frequency recording and provided guidance for online sports game intervention programs. Methods: A total of 29 primary school children were enrolled, including 24 boys and 5 girls. Participants exercise autonomously through motion software. In this study, the movement of each participant was recorded through the background of the software system and exported to Excel. …