Digital Commons Network^™

High Spatial And Temporal Resolution Census Data Reveal Communities At Risk Along The Wildland-Urban Interface (Wui) In California, Usa, Shenyue Jia, Slade Lazeweski, Jessica E. Viner, Wesley Ho, Brian Hoover

Institute for ECHO Articles and Research

We tracked census tract level population change along California's wild land-urban interface (WUI) during the past decade (2010-2019), an ecological sensitive region transitioning from developed land to wilderness. Our results from Mann-Kendall analysis, a method employed for monotonic trend detection showed that about one-third (29.1%) of census tracts in California’s WUI have seen a significant population increase from 2010 to 2019, affecting 12.7% population in California. The population increase along WUI is largely driven by the sixteen counties in the San Francisco Bay Area (10) and Southern California (6). We also found that higher proportion of WUI residents in Bay …

Intervention To Modify Perceptions Of Homelessness, Sophie Srivastava, Vincent Berardi, David Frederick

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

As public opinion is known to impact policy formation, assessing how the public misperceives the homeless population is important to prevent non-informed policies from being adopted. This study focused on correcting misperceptions about the homeless as a means to garner support for public policies that are known to improve the lives of homeless individuals and those with mental illness. The research study implemented two forms of virtual interventions (refutation texts and personal anecdotes from homeless individuals) plus a control and assessed support for various policies before and after the trial. The goal of the study was to determine which intervention …

Changes In Western U.S. Streamflow Extremes Under Climate Change, Rama Bedri

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

We are analyzing streamflow extremes in Western U.S. rivers due to climate change. Global warming causes natural disasters to reach extreme points and affects river volumes, snowfall, and precipitation amounts. We analyze the data for 17 stations in the Colorado River Basin, whose rivers provide Southern California’s drinking water supply. Disruptions in streamflow due to climate change affect the region’s water availability and make it difficult to predict future trends. We compared historical streamflow data to eight possible climate scenarios. The different scenarios are Warm Dry, Cool Wet, Average, and Other at emission levels of RCP 4.5 and 8.5. First, …

Health Sciences Research Building, Circa 1960, Uab Archives

Images of the Month from UAB Archives

Image ID: P7.2.7, #0356

Health Sciences Research Building, circa 1960

Mutual Recognition Of Covid-19 Vaccine To Restore Normal Social Activities And Redistribute Vaccines For The Next Stage Of The Pandemic, Chenyu Sun, Scott Lowe, Qin Zhou, John Patrick Nanola Uy

Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Muscle-Specific Cellular And Molecular Adaptations To Late-Life Voluntary Concurrent Exercise, Cory M. Dungan, Camille R. Brightwell, Yuan Wen, Christopher J. Zdunek, Christine M. Latham, Nicholas T. Thomas, Alyaa M. Zagzoog, Benjamin D. Brightwell, Georgia L. Nolt, Alexander R. Keeble, Stanley J. Watowich, Kevin A. Murach, Christopher S. Fry

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Murine exercise models can provide information on factors that influence muscle adaptability with aging, but few translatable solutions exist. Progressive weighted wheel running (PoWeR) is a simple, voluntary, low-cost, high-volume endurance/resistance exercise approach for training young mice. In the current investigation, aged mice (22-mo-old) underwent a modified version of PoWeR for 8 wk. Muscle functional, cellular, biochemical, transcriptional, and myonuclear DNA methylation analyses provide an encompassing picture of how muscle from aged mice responds to high-volume combined training. Mice run 6–8 km/d, and relative to sedentary mice, PoWeR increases plantarflexor muscle strength. The oxidative soleus of aged mice responds to …

Covid-19 And Its Impact On Minority-Owned Banks, Salvador Contreras, Amit Ghosh

School of Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

Employing a difference-in-differences framework, we examine the effect of COVID-19 on various performance metrics of minority-owned banks relative to peer banks. We find little evidence of worsening performance of minority-owned banks, except for Asian-owned banks. In some instances, minority banks show improved performance. We find a decline in nonperforming single-family residential loans for Hispanic-owned banks. Moreover, minority banks have disbursed more Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans than their matched non-minority counterparts. Their resilient performance indicates that minority banks are well positioned to aid in the ongoing economic recovery.

Laissez-Faire, Social Networks, And Race In A Pandemic, Roland Pongou, Guy Tchuente, Jean-Baptiste Tondji

School of Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

We study the effects of race, network centrality, and policies that tolerate some level of virus spread (laissez-faire) on COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes in the United States. Our analysis uses unique data on nursing home networks and calibration-based estimates of states' preferences for health relative to short-term economic gains. Our findings suggest that laissez-faire policies increase deaths. Nursing homes with a larger share of Black residents experience more deaths, but they are less vulnerable to laissez-faire policies, especially when not central in social networks. Our findings highlight significant interactions between COVID-19 policies, race, and network structure among US seniors.

Emollients To Prevent Eczema In High-Risk Infants: An Integrative Review, Julie Armstrong, Nicole K. Rosinski, Alissa V. Fial, Selorm Ansah, Kristin Haglund

Library Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this integrative review was to assess the research on topical emollients to prevent atopic dermatitis (AD) also known as eczema, in infants at high risk for this condition. Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder. Skin barrier dysfunction plays a prominent role in its development. Topical emollients have been hypothesized to enhance the skin barrier and prevent AD.

Methods:

Searches were conducted in September 2021 in PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science using key word search terms dermatitis, atopic, emollients, petrolatum, and infant, newborn. Inclusion criteria were articles written in English …

Whole Exome Sequencing Identifies Potential Candidate Genes For Spina Bifida Derived From Mouse Models, Chunyan Wang, Steve Seltzsam, Bixia Zheng, Chen-Han Wilfred Wu, Camille Nicolas-Frank, Kirollos Yousef, Kit Sing Au, Nina Mann, Dalia Pantel, Sophia Schneider, Luca Schierbaum, Thomas M Kitzler, Dervla M Connaughton, Youying Mao, Rufeng Dai, Makiko Nakayama, Jameela A Kari, Sherif El Desoky, Mohammed Shalaby, Loai A Eid, Hazem S Awad, Velibor Tasic, Shrikant M Mane, Richard P Lifton, Michelle A Baum, Shirlee Shril, Carlos R Estrada, Friedhelm Hildebrandt

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Spina bifida (SB) is the second most common nonlethal congenital malformation. The existence of monogenic SB mouse models and human monogenic syndromes with SB features indicate that human SB may be caused by monogenic genes. We hypothesized that whole exome sequencing (WES) allows identification of potential candidate genes by (i) generating a list of 136 candidate genes for SB, and (ii) by unbiased exome-wide analysis. We generated a list of 136 potential candidate genes from three categories and evaluated WES data of 50 unrelated SB cases for likely deleterious variants in 136 potential candidate genes, and for potential SB candidate …

An Evaluation Of Seasonal Maternal-Neonatal Morbidity Related To Trainee Cycles, Ayamo Oben, Paula Mcgee, William A Grobman, Jennifer L Bailit, Ronald J Wapner, Michael W Varner, John M Thorp, Steve N Caritis, Mona Prasad, George R Saade, Dwight J Rouse, Sean C Blackwell, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health And Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND:

The existence of the “July phenomenon” (worse outcomes related to the presence of new physician trainees in teaching hospitals) has been debated in the literature and media. Previous studies of the phenomenon in obstetrics are limited by the quality and detail of data.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate whether the months of June to August, when transitions in trainees occur, are associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidity.

STUDY DESIGN:

Secondary analysis of an observational cohort of 115,502 mother–infant pairs that delivered at 25 hospitals from March 2008 to February 2011. Inclusion criteria were an individual who had a singleton, nonanomalous …

Predictive Performance Of Newborn Small For Gestational Age By A Us Intrauterine Versus Birth Weight-Derived Standard For Short-Term Neonatal Morbidity And Mortality, Nathan R Blue, Lisa Mele, William A Grobman, Jennifer L Bailit, Ronald J Wapner, John M Thorp, Steve N Caritis, Mona Prasad, Alan T N Tita, George R Saade, Dwight J Rouse, Sean C Blackwell, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health And Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (Mfmu) Network

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective:

The use of birth weight standards to define small for gestational age (SGA) may fail to identify neonates affected by poor fetal growth since they include births associated with sub-optimal fetal growth. Our objective was to compare intrauterine versus birth weight-derived standards to define newborn SGA to predict neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Study Design:

This was a secondary analysis of a multi-center observational study of 118,422 births. Liveborn singleton, non-anomalous newborns born at 23–41 weeks were included. Those with missing gestational age estimation or without a 1^st or 2^nd trimester ultrasound to confirm dating, birth weight, or …

A Socio-Ecological Model To Assess Tuberculosis In Migrant Farmworkers In The Us-Mexico Border Region, Amit U. Raysoni

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The migrant and seasonal farmworker toiling in the fields and orchards of the United States of America surmounts innumerable problems daily. Some of these problems pertain to the overall health of the farmworker in addition to the various occupational hazards that he or she faces. This research paper focuses on Tuberculosis infection—both latent and active—in the migrant farmworkers in the United States with a special focus on the US-Mexico border. Using the Socio-Ecological Model as a theoretical framework, the TB health issues faced by this group are studied. The various determinants of health at every level of the Socio-Ecological Model …

Hemophilia A: Strategies For Improving Long-Term Holistic Management, Adherence, And Quality Of Life, Miguel A Escobar, Cindy Leissinger, Guy Young

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Hemophilia A is a rare inherited bleeding disorder characterized by a deficiency in factor VIII. The evolution of currently approved prophylaxis therapy in hemophilia A will be reviewed, including the clinical value of prophylaxis, real-world experience with prophylaxis, and patient quality-of-life factors that must be considered when choosing treatment options for these patients.

Perifollicular Hypopigmentation In Systemic Sclerosis: Associations With Clinical Features And Internal Organ Involvement, Melody P Chung, Christopher A Mecoli, Jamie Perin, Carrie Richardson, Zsuzsanna H Mcmahan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether perifollicular hypopigmentation in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with demographics, distinct clinical features, and autoantibody profiles.

METHODS: Patients with SSc were prospectively enrolled, with a standardized data form used to collect anatomic distribution of perifollicular hypopigmentation. Associations between hypopigmentation and features of SSc were assessed.

RESULTS: Of 179 adult patients with SSc, 36 (20%) patients had perifollicular hypopigmentation. Of these 36 patients, 94% (n = 34) were female and 33% (n = 12) had limited cutaneous SSc. In univariable logistic regression, Black race (odds ratio [OR] 15.63, 95% CI 6.6-37.20,

CONCLUSION: Perifollicular hypopigmentation is observed in …

Diagnosing Mild Tbis With Fluid Biomarkers, Elizabeth J. Perkins

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Upon head trauma, neurons within the brain can become stretched and injured. Continuous mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) without proper healing can lead to chronic neurological symptoms. This is especially problematic in contact sports and military personnel. The purpose of this literature review is to take an in depth look at fluid biomarkers that could aid in the diagnosis of a concussion at a point of injury. Databases were used including PubMed, Clinical Key, Embase and Access Medicine. The studies chosen were published within the last 7 years, applicable to the topic and absent of pronounced bias. The 19 works …

Obstetrical Morbidity And Mortality In Women Of Color, Shacara Pratt

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Non-Hispanic black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancyrelated complications when compared to their Caucasian equivalents, however more than half of these deaths are considered potentially preventable.The purpose of this research and systematic literature review is to analyze why obstrictrical morbidity and mortality is significantly higher amongst women of color, and determine if racial disparities play a role. Healthcare measures used to reduce or prevent maternal morbidity and mortality are also accomplished in this article. A comprehensive literature review was performed using electronic databases, including CINAHL, PubMed, Clinical Key, Cochrane Library, and Dynamed Plus. Results …

Antimicrobial Stewardship And Its Effects On Resistant Organisms, John D. Seifert

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Antimicrobial stewardship has been found to have an impact on resistant organisms, but it has been unclear the importance of how strong those recommendations should be and if more strict or numerous guidelines equals fewer or less resistant organisms. “Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), an organizational or system-wide health-care strategy, is designed to promote, improve, monitor, and evaluate the rational use of antimicrobials to preserve their future effectiveness, along with the promotion and protection of public health. (Majumder et al., 2020)” In reviewing recent peer-reviewed research it can be shown that medical facilities that utilize antimicrobial stewardship guidelines when prescribing antibiotics have …

Anxiety Treatment In Health Science And Medical Students, Rachel Sperl

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of Probiotic Supplementation For Weight Loss In Overweight And Obese Adults, Kelsie Tescher

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to assess current studies investigating the efficacy of using probiotic supplementation to promote weight loss in the overweight and obese adult populations. Three databases were used including PubMed, ClinicalKey, and Embase with a time frame of 15 years. A total of 17 studies met the research criteria and were therefore reviewed. Body weight loss and decrease in BMI were used as measurements of efficacy. Studies used were peer reviewed, randomized-control trials, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. Current research shows insufficient evidence to support the use of a specific genus and/or species of probiotic to promote …

Multimodal Pain Management To Reduce Opioid Use After Cholecystectomy, Danielle Tretbar

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this research and systematic literature review is to determine effective pain management options for patients undergoing a cholecystectomy procedure while decreasing the use of postoperative narcotics. In this review, the databases searched included PudMed, Clinical Key and Dynamed Plus. A variety of key terms were used when searching. Studies chosen from this search were peer reviewed and included randomized control trials, systematic reviews and met analyses. Excluded studies did not particularly research the drug classes of interest or they dealt solely with different surgical pain interventions during the procedure. The research presented shows the use of gabapentinoids, …

Non-Pharmacologic And Alternative Management Of Chronic Pain In Multiple Sclerosis, Kylie Patian

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Chronic pain associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) is prevalent in many phenotypes. Pharmacologic therapy of this pain often fails to provide analgesia. This research is intended to determine which nonpharmacological interventions may be recommended for treatment of chronic extremity pain in individuals with MS. This research was primarily conducted through a comprehensive literature review of publications within the past five years on three databases, PubMed, EMBase, and CINAHL. Additional resources were added from “similar” sections of the databases, directly from included studies, and when used to inform background information, for a total of 26 resources. Studies were excluded if not …

Epidemiology Of Children With Adhd In Rural Versus Metropolitan Settings, Miranda Nygaard

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Attention deficient disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD) is an increasing psychiatric disorder affecting children across the world. With significant debate on diagnosis, ADHD is commonly underdiagnosed in children, even today. Approximately 4.6 million children are diagnosed with ADHD, but more than two thirds of these children are untreated. Primary care providers remain the responsible stakeholders for assessing, diagnosing, and treating children with ADHD appropriately. This literature review is aimed to investigate the correlation between the assessment and early diagnosing of ADHD among children in rural settings compared to that of the metropolitan/urban communities. Providing children with ADHD symptoms an early diagnosis, …

Evaluation Of Early Primary Care Implementation Of Point Of Care Ultrasound In Outcomes Of Patients With Dyspnea As Compared To Standard Diagnostic Exams, Mcglinchey Chase

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this systematic literature review is to evaluate the applicability of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) in rural primary care. More specifically, the review seeks to evaluate the use of POCUS regarding outcomes in patients with dyspnea. Six of the most common and potentially life-threatening causes of dyspnea were chosen to review. They are asthma, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, pneumothorax, and pulmonary embolism. In this review, a literature search was performed using the following electronic databases: PubMed, Cochran Review, and Google Scholar. Only articles since 2011 were selected for review with the majority being …

Monotherapy Vs. Polypharmacy: Snris For The Management Of Mood Disorders And Chronic Pain, Rachel Levy

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Chronic pain and mood disorders represent two of the most common disorders managed by primary care providers. Chronic pain management is costly, not only with direct medical costs but through loss of work and productivity. The incidence of mood disorders continues to increase, and disorders such as anxiety and depression coexist with chronic pain in many patients. Meanwhile, polypharmacy presents an increased risk for drug-drug interactions and patient harm. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to explore the potential of reducing polypharmacy in individuals with depression and chronic pain through monotherapy via serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). A literature …

Vitamind D Concentrations And Covid-19 Outcomes, Bennett A. Leitch

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Now, with over five million deaths the pandemic continues to cloak the globe. As of November 2021, 49.1% of the world population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination according to ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations. In the United States, the CDC reported 57.6% of the population is fully vaccinated. With much of the population unvaccinated, potential protective factors are needed to help diminish infection. This literature review aimed to investigate a correlation between low serum vitamin D concentrations and outcomes of COVID-19 infections. A total of 27 research articles …

Incidence Of Coronary Artery Disease And Testosterone Replacement Therapy, Stephen Leard

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

In the United States, males see a decrease in testosterone levels around the age of 40, potentially leading to a condition known as hypogonadism. Testosterone administration is the leading treatment for symptomatic hypogonadism. Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) has increased in popularity amongst practicing healthcare providers. This literature review aims to investigate differences in incidence rates of cardiovascular events in males receiving testosterone therapy compared to untreated males with hypogonadism. Given the conflicting evidence regarding the association between exogenous testosterone and cardiovascular risk, published studies and meta-analysis were reviewed to prove this relationship. A comprehensive literature review was performed using electronic …

The Genetic Link To Postpartum Depression, Kelsey Krueger

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Postpartum depression affects an estimated 12% of women following delivery and it is believed that 50% of those women will go undiagnosed. It is well accepted in the scientific community that genetics play a role in the development of many mental health disorders. Recent research has demonstrated that this may also be the case with postpartum depression. There is a 50% incidence rate among women who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with postpartum depression (Guintivano et al., 2018). A literature review was conducted focusing on the research of epigenetics within the last five years, specifically investigating DNA methylation and single …

Biomarkers In The Detection Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Karen Kenny

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive form of dementia that affects memory, cognition, and functional ability. Although there are diagnostic tests being used to aid in the clinical diagnosis of AD, the only definitive method of diagnosis is through post-mortem biopsy of the brain. The purpose of this project and literature review is to investigate the most effective biomarkers when clinically evaluating AD. The main biomarkers of investigation include positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), and blood-based biomarkers. The role of the apolipoprotein E (APOE4) gene as a genetic influence on AD was also evaluated within this …

Ketamine Use In Refractory Depression, Mckenzie K. Kemmet

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Despite pharmacological advancements, depression continues to be considered the third leading cause of disability in the world. Although depressive symptoms may decrease within a few weeks after beginning typical antidepressants, there are still about one-third of individuals that fail to respond and do not achieve recovery. The symptoms not resolved by antidepressant therapy ultimately leads to decreased quality of life, decreased productiveness of the individual, increased hospitalizations, higher health care costs, and increased rates of suicide. As a result, the clinical use of ketamine in refractory depression is increasing because of the antidepressant properties found in a multitude of studies. …