Digital Commons Network^™

Charting The Microbiome Biodiversity Of The Appalachian Highlands Region: A Novel Study, Shivam Patel, Sean Fox Dr.

Appalachian Student Research Forum

The rapid expansion of medical discoveries has been met with growing number of deaths from nosocomial multidrug-resistant bacteria. The dramatic rise of these antibiotic-resistant microorganisms has been placed on the World Health Organization’s watchlist as one of the biggest threats to the future of healthcare. There continues to be a shortage of effective antibiotics with the rise of these “superbugs”. With the growing number of deadly pathogens, the future of medicine relies on scientific findings of novel compounds to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. The Appalachian Highlands Region holds the potential for discovering these new compounds. As the most biodiverse temperate forest …

Do Heavy Smoking And Early Onset Of Smoking And Heavy Alcohol Intake Increase The Chance Of Heart Condition?, Adedeji Adenusi, Olamide Asifat, Sheryl Strasser, Yan Cao, Shimin Zheng

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally since the turn of the century. One major risk factor is tobacco smoking with a particular risk associated with early initiation/greater duration. Research also indicates that alcohol use can offer both risk or protective cardiovascular benefits depending on consumption characteristics (intensity, frequency, dose, type). The purpose of this study is to examine the early onset of smoking, heavy smoking, and alcohol behavior as they relate to CVD risk. Methods: Using the data from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N=56,136), logistic regression analysis were conducted to …

The Effect Of Heavy Alcohol Consumption On Coronary Heart Disease Among U.S. Adults: Using The 2020 Brfss Annual Survey Data, Olajide Olagunju, Sheryl Strasser, Yan Cao, Shimin Zheng Ph.D.

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Background: Evidence supports a significant non-linear relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease-specific mortality among US adults. Epidemiologic investigations presume that the J/U-shaped distribution is the sum of the detrimental effect of high consumption on other causes of death and the protective effect on coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality. Studies demonstrated that heavy alcohol consumption reduces the risk of CHD. However, results have been inconsistent among heavy drinkers. In this study, we investigated the association of heavy alcohol consumption with CHD among different subgroups in the US.

Methods: Data from the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) …

Clinic Capacity To Provide Patient-Centered Contraceptive Care To Adolescents In The U.S. South: Impact Of Rurality And Clinic Type, Kristen Surles, Kate Beatty, Liane Ventura, Jordan Brooke De Jong, Michael Grady Smith, Amal Khoury

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Introduction: Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and health departments (HDs) are essential in providing contraceptive care and ensuring reproductive autonomy for adolescents. Through offering adolescent-specific services and by training providers in adolescent-specific care and patient-centered contraceptive counseling, clinics can ensure access to high quality contraceptive care for adolescents. Despite the significant decrease in adolescent pregnancy rates, rates remain high in the South and in rural counties, suggesting that clinics in these areas may not have the capacity to provide adolescent-specific services and patient-centered counseling. This study compares the capacity to provide adolescent-specific and patient-centered contraceptive services in rural and urban …

Investigation Of The Adenosine A(2a) Receptor On The Enhanced Rewarding Effects Of Nicotine And Dopamine D2 Receptor Signaling In A Novel Heritable Model Of Drug Abuse Vulnerability, Seth E. Turney, Loren D. Peeters, Olivia A. Jennings, Liza J. Wills, Russell W. Brown

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Investigation of the adenosine A(2A) receptor on the enhanced rewarding effects of nicotine and dopamine D2 receptor signaling in a novel heritable model of drug abuse vulnerability

Seth E. Turney, Loren D. Peeters, Olivia A. Jennings, Liza J. Wills, Russell W. Brown

Many years ago, our laboratory along with a collaborator established that neonatal treatment of the dopamine (DA)D2-like receptor agonist quinpirole (NQ) to rats induces an increase in DAD2 receptor sensitivity throughout the animal’s lifetime, which has validity to schizophrenia (SZ) and a number of clinical conditions. These clinical conditions, which include SZ but also bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, …

Screening For Adverse Childhood Experiences In Primary Care., Mary Ameh

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) include childhood exposure to abuse or violence, a parents' divorce, mental illness, substance use disorder, and are identified as risk factors for negative life outcomes. While ACEs screenings are commonly used in mental health and pediatric settings, screening for ACEs in primary care settings is less prevalent. The purpose of this project is to integrate screening for ACEs into a primary care setting and make appropriate referrals for follow-up, thus reducing potential negative life outcomes. The process was designed for a primary care practice located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Part one assessed level of awareness …

The Importance Of Positive Interaction Within Assistance Work In Appalachia, Ada Sloop, Bethesda O'Connell Drph, Nicole Intagliata

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Central Appalachia experiences disproportionate rates of poverty. Historical exploitation has resulted in a lack of trust in others. Appalachia Service Project (ASP) utilizes interpersonal interactions as a way to market their free home repair services to a hesitant region. This study is an extension of a qualitative project about the link between housing repairs and health. The purpose is to highlight the impact that positive interaction with ASP has on willingness to receive assistance through service organizations in rural East Tennessee. Twenty-eight phone interviews were recorded through Zoom and thematic analysis was done using NVivo software. Twenty-four (86%) of those …

Improving Coordinated Mental Health Care Through An Enhanced Referral Process: A Quality Improvement Project, Courtney Burleson, Lisa M. Haddad

Appalachian Student Research Forum

As the incidence of major depressive disorders continues to rise, the need for depression screening in primary care is imperative. The objective of this quality improvement (QI) project is to increase depression screening and enhance the current referral process in an urban primary care setting in the southeast United States. To achieve a projected increase in identified depression within the current and future adult patient population, workflow processes have been restructured to incorporate consistent depression screening using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and -9 (PHQ-9). Revised clerical workflow processes include initiating PHQ-9 questionnaires for all new patients, while clinical workflow …

Racial Disparities Associated With Colon Cancer Screening In A Nationally Representative Sample; A Cross-Sectional Study, Yordanos Tafesse, Manik Ahuja

Appalachian Student Research Forum

TITLE: Racial disparities associated with colon cancer screening in a nationally representative sample; A cross-sectional study

AUTHOR INFO

Yorandos Tafesse MD¹

Manik Ahuja PhD, MA¹

Author Affiliations:

¹College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, United States

Colon cancer impacts nearly 2 million individuals in the U.S. each year. Early detection of colon cancer using colonoscopy can reduce the risk of mortality. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends routine screening for colon cancer for all adults 50 to 75 years of age. Colon cancer screening behavior is different across a …

National And Tennessee Trends In The Prevalence Of Obesity And Overweight Among High School Students Using Yrbs Data 1999-2019, Francis Onakpoma, Sheryl Strasser, Yan Cao, Shimin Zheng

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Background: Adolescent obesity and overweight in the US continue to be a serious public health issue. Youth obesity and overweight are associated with increased health risks and healthcare utilization costs and have steadily climbed since the 1990s. The national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is administered bi-annually to a representative sample of high school students enrolled in public and private schools throughout the US and is publicly accessible for study. The purpose of this study is to examine risk trends of youth obesity and overweight over 20 years (1999-2019) on a national scale, as well as specifically within the State …

Low Birth Weight And Its Associated Risk Factors In The United States Using National Survey Of Children Health Data 2016-2020, Olamide Asifat, Adedeji Adenusi, Sheryl Strasser, Yan Cao, Shimin Zheng

Appalachian Student Research Forum

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is defined by the World Health Organization as birth weight of less than 2500g, and it is one of the leading causes of infant morbidity and mortality globally. LBW is indicative of poor prenatal care and nutrition in pregnancy, impacting on non-communicable disease risk burden throughout life. The main objective of this study was to examine the association between maternal socio-demographics and lifestyle behaviors with birth outcomes to elicit risk patterns among mothers of infants of LBW in the United States.Methods: National Survey of Children Health data for the years 2016-2020 were used in …

The Effects Of A High Caloric Diet And Ctrp3 Over-Expression On The Myometrium Of The Mouse Uterus, Cori Gilmer, Allan Forsman Phd

Appalachian Student Research Forum

One of the major healthcare issues found almost worldwide, especially in the United States, is the obesity epidemic. Obesity is known to have deleterious effects on many body/organ systems. C1q TNF-related protein-3 (CTRP3) is effective at preventing high-fat diet-induced fatty liver. With these two factors taken into consideration, this study explores the possible effects of a high caloric diet on the muscle wall of the uterus, i.e., the myometrium, and how over-expression of CTRP3 may modify those effects. We hypothesize that consumption of excessive amounts of fat and sugar will have detrimental effects on the dual layers of the mouse …

National Politics Forged Through International Competition, Benjamin Underwood

Scholars Week

The Olympics, being arguably the largest stage for athletics in the world, invites much crosswise country competition and national pride. Politicians may use the monumental stage for recreation to craft their own politically charged statements about their country as a whole. For my project, I examine Mexico’s history of performance in the Olympics, then observe political statements and speeches from specifically three Mexican presidents during significant political, social, economic or Olympic performance years. These political statements are recorded in academic articles, political news articles, and some YouTube videos about Mexican Olympic performance. There are three significant years in which I …

Comparative Book Review: “Leading Through A Pandemic” And “Work Smart Now”, Ghenwa Mahmoud Al Hakim

Arab Economic and Business Journal

This article provides comparative review of two books “Leading Through a Pandemic: The Inside Story of Humanity, Innovation, and Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Crisis” and “WORK SMART NOW How to jump start productivity, empower employees and achieve more” written by professional authors in the field of leadership and successful management practices. These books were chosen for being highly effective in contributing added value knowledge to the literature of leadership practices, whether in the context of crises or normal conditions. The review was commenced with description of the chapters of the books and clarifying its infringements to the readers …

Blockchain Technology For Reshaping Stock Exchanges: A Qualitative Exploratory Study In Palestine, Asia Aburidi

Arab Economic and Business Journal

Purpose: This research aims to explore how to reshape stock exchanges by using blockchain technology with an emphasis on the case of the Palestine Exchange. Design/methodology/approach: This research gathered primary data from semi-structured and open-ended interviews. Online interviews were conducted to get information from professionals and academics interested in blockchain. The sample for this research was determined using convenience sampling and a snowball sampling approach. The data was analyzed using the deductive content analysis method. Findings: The research revealed that implementing blockchain is appropriate for third-world countries because it does not necessitate the construction of buildings or infrastructure. Additionally, …

Fast Moving Consumer Goods Sector In India – Tending Towards Oligopoly?, S. Anupama, Dhanisha Dharmajan, Rajiv Nair

Arab Economic and Business Journal

We study the performance of the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, in India. It is the fourth largest sector in India. Macroeconomic factors, modern production techniques, robust logistics facilities, efficient distribution networks and superior marketing capabilities have given the sector an edge over the other sectors. Firm performance is determined by considering liquidity, solvency and profitability ratios and also by employing common size statements, and comparative statements. We find that the sector appears to be overly dependent on the performance of a few firms. We further find that firm performance is not related to non-commercial factors such as CSR.

Using Digital Storytelling To Assess Patient Experience With Management Of Diabetes In Everyday Life (Model) Study Intervention, Arati Joshi

Longitudinal Scholar's Project

African Americans are disproportionately affected by obesity-associated diabetes compared to their White counterparts. While social determinants of health may contribute to their poor health outcomes, studies have shown that pragmatic primary care-based interventions can be effective in improving the management of obesity-associated diabetes. The Management of Diabetes in Everyday Life (MODEL) is a pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness trial of three approaches (health coaching, text-messaging, and enhanced usual care) to supporting medically underserved African American patients with uncontrolled diabetes in improving their self-care decisions. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of the MODEL program participation on the …

A Multi-Stage Process To Develop Quality Indicators For Community-Based Palliative Care Using Interrai Data, Dawn M. Guthrie, Nicole Williams, Cheryl Beach, Emma Buzath, Joachim Cohen, Anna Declercq, Kathryn Fisher, Brant E. Fries, Donna Goodridge, Kirsten Hermans, John P. Hirdes, Hsien Seow, Maria Silveira, Aynharan Sinnarajah, Susan Stevens, Peter Tanuseputro, Deanne Taylor, Christina Vadeboncoeur, Tracy Lyn Wityk Martin

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Individuals receiving palliative care (PC) are generally thought to prefer to receive care and die in their homes, yet little research has assessed the quality of home- and community-based PC. This project developed a set of valid and reliable quality indicators (QIs) that can be generated using data that are already gathered with interRAI assessments-an internationally validated set of tools commonly used in North America for home care clients. The QIs can serve as decision-support measures to assist providers and decision makers in delivering optimal care to individuals and their families.

Methods: The development efforts took part in multiple …

Editorial: Accelerating Genetic Gains In Pulses, Aditya Pratap, Shiv Kumar, Patricia L. Polowick, Matthew W. Blair, Michael Baum

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Single And Mixture Probiotic Supplements On Growth, Digestive Activity, Antioxidative Status, Immune And Growth-Related Genes, And Stress Response Of Juvenile Red Sea Bream (Pagrus Major), Ronick Spenly Shadrack, Ishikawa Manabu, Shunsuke Koshio, Saichiro Yokoyama

Faculty Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

2022 Imagining Community Symposium Program, University Of Dayton

2022 Imagining Community Symposium

No abstract provided.

Navigating Covert Exploitation: Treatment Considerations For Counseling Human Trafficking Survivors, Lindsey Holper

Counselor Education Capstones

Human trafficking is a pervasive form of modern-day slavery. Despite increased resources being devoted to fighting these atrocities, human trafficking numbers are rising (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2018). Unfortunately, due to the covert, criminal nature of exploitation, research regarding human trafficking and its impact on survivors has been limited. This literature review seeks to aid mental health counselors in their treatment of human trafficking survivors by garnering an understanding of the complex mental health needs of trafficking survivors by exploring biological, genetic, and psychosocial influences that increase their susceptibility to the development of mental health concerns. This …

Vol.49 N.37 April 7th 2022, Voice Media Ventures

Black Voice News

No abstract provided.

Microbial Platform For Vaccine Production For Low And Medium Income Countries (Lmics): 2 Case Studies, Salome De Magalhaes, Almir Yamanie, Neni Nurainy, Eli Keshavarz-Moore

Microbial Engineering II

Please click Download on the upper right corner to see the full description.

Issue 391: April 7-21, 2022, The Local Voice

The Local Voice

16th Anniversary Edition

Taylor University Receives $5 Million Gift From Sweetwater Founders Chuck And Lisa Surack, Taylor University

2022 Website News Stories

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of The Be Brave Mentoring Program For Black Greek Letter Organization Members: A Mixed-Methods Study, Timothy D. Queen

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Timothy D. Queen on April 7, 2022.

Spartan Daily, April 7, 2022, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2022

Volume 158, Issue 28

Building Resilient Higher Education Communities: Lessons Learned From Pandemic Teaching, Christian Williams, Carmen Veloria, Debra Harkins

Pedagogy and the Human Sciences

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many educators grappling with uncertainties about the future of higher education while feeling exhausted from the stress and pressure to deliver quality education in unprecedented ways. While learning to incorporate new technology into remote, hybrid, and flipped classrooms, educators also find themselves responding to the psychosocial needs of students more than ever before. Yet the lack of established promising practices coupled with limited training and support on how to support students’ emotional well-being creates confusion and self-doubt. This conceptual article explores teacher experiences of teaching during a pandemic, missed opportunities, and highlights the need to …

Research And Relationship-Based Curriculum – Exploration Of How Research And Relationship Experiences In Undergraduate Education Impact Students’ Employability, Graduate Education Intention, And Entrepreneurial Acumen, Michelle Pipes

Dissertations

After decades of shrinking financial research support (Smith, 2004), continuously rising tuition and student debt (Beal et al., 2019), and the induction of numerous alternatives (Garrett, 2021), traditional higher education is struggling to provide the value that students are demanding (Woodall et al., 2014). Student engagement has been positively linked to increased retention (staying in school until completion of a degree) and reduced dropout (leaving school and not returning) rates (Finn & Rock, 1997; Reschly & Christenson, 2012), both of which contribute to how students perceive the value of higher education (Alves, 2011). The purpose of this study was to …