Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Evolution Of Global Warming Discourse: A Twitter-Based Analysis Across The United States, United Kingdom, And India, Trevor Christensen

Honors Projects in Data Science

Global warming has gained increasing attention over the past decade, with public discourse intensifying on social media platforms, particularly on Twitter. This increased discussion stems from political controversies surrounding climate change and the rise in extreme weather events. This study explores the evolution of global warming discourse on Twitter, with a focus on the United States, United Kingdom, and India. This research used a dataset of historical tweets ranging from 2010 to 2023 containing the keyword "global warming." Using natural language processing (NLP) techniques such as emotion analysis, word cloud visualization, and topic modeling (LDA), approximately twenty-eight million tweets were …

Effective Professional Education And Training Program In A Long-Term Acute Care Hospital, Matthew Hamilton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The determinants contributing to successful professional development programs in long-term acute care (LTAC) facilities, which enhance clinical staff performance and healthcare outcomes, remain unclear. Guided by Bandura’s social learning theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore clinicians’ perspectives on the key determinants of an effective professional education and training program in an LTAC hospital in a Northeast U.S. metro area. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 clinicians who were recruited from an LTAC facility. Thematic analysis, following Saldaña’s framework, identified institutional barriers, financial constraints, time limitations, and unmet training needs as major challenges. Participants emphasized the …

Impact Of Medication Opioid Use Disorder (Moud) Programs In Emergency Departments, Mechelle A. Zima

Nursing Capstones

The purpose of this paper is to provide a discussion of how a medication opioid use disorder (MOUD) programs integrated into the emergency department (ED) can improve patient’s outcomes compared to standard ED discharges. This study utilized a systematic literature review using PubMed, CINAHL and Google Scholar. The initial literature search identified 594 articles. After applying the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 18 articles were selected. Inclusion criteria included peer reviewed articles that focused on opioid use disorder (OUD) patients treated in the ED with OUD medications while exclusion criteria involved articles with OUD patients treated in ED without OUD …

From Unrealistic To Functional Optimism In Illness Perception: A Psychometric Comparison Across 10 Countries, Elisa Kern De Castro, Oscar Lecuona, Maria João Figueiras, Cristina Quiñones, Kamlesh Singh, Shoshana Shiloh, Michaela Schippers, Ana Kinkead, Raquel Rodríguez-Carvajal

All Works

People's perceptions of illness and its risks influence health behaviors, including risk management and precautionary measures. Illness perception often involves unrealistic optimism, reducing infection risk perception. However, crises disrupt self-regulation and optimism due to uncontrollable situations. This study examines optimism's link to risk and illness perception during the first COVID-19 wave in 10 countries, with 7254 participants (48.1% women, mean age = 40, SD = 14.8). We used Bayesian structural equation modeling for psychometric stability and one-way ANOVAs for country comparisons. Multiple regression analyses examined the impact of optimism and demographic variables on illness perception. Significant cross-country variations emerged in …

Factors Related To The Incidence Of Hypertension Among People Above 18 Years At The Cibatu Public Health Center, Bekasi Regency, Verizka Azra, Yustiyani Yustiyani, Minsarnawati Minsarnawati, Catur Rosidati

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Hypertension is a non-communicable disease that still becomes a public health issue. The percentage of hypertension cases at Cibatu Public Health Center increased from 31.7% in 2021 to 37% in 2022. Based on a preliminary study, hypertension was found to be the most common non-communicable disease at Cibatu Public Health Center. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the incidence of hypertension among individuals aged 18 years and older at Cibatu Public Health Center, Bekasi Regency, in 2024.We conducted a cross-sectional study in May involving 121 respondents. This study used standardized questionnaires that had been validated in previous research, …

Exploring The Non-Communicable Disease Burden In Indonesia – Findings From The 2023 Health Survey, Akifa Laila Rusyda

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

The present study rigorously examines the correlation between obesity, high-risk dietary consumption, and unhealthy lifestyles with the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Indonesia. The study employed a cross-sectional study design using secondary data from the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey, analyzing 38 units (n) representing Indonesia's provinces in 2023. The correlation analysis, conducted using Pearson's test with a significance level of 95% (α<0.05), revealed significant regional disparities in the prevalence of NCDs, dietary consumption, and lifestyle factors across Indonesia. Moreover, the findings reveal a statistically significant positive correlation between obesity, high-risk food consumption, and lifestyle risk factors with the prevalence of several NCDs, including diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. These results underscore the potential impact of our research on public health in Indonesia. The results highlight also the urgent need for targeted public health initiatives, such as policies promoting healthier food choices, controlling the food environment, encouraging physical activity, and supporting smoking cessation to mitigate the growing burden of NCDs in Indonesia.

Impact Of Pandemic-Driven Parental Fear On Childhood Immunization Rates: Examining Attitudes Toward Vaccination During Crisis Periods In Türkiye, Özüm Erkin, İlknur Göl

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of parents’ fear of coronavirus on their attitudes towards the vaccination of their children.

Methods: The study was conducted with 2,350 parents who were selected by using the snowball sampling method. The questionnaire included a personal information form, the Public Attitude towards Vaccination Scale – Health Belief Model, and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale.

Results: The scores of the study group from the sub-dimensions of the Public Attitude towards Vaccination Scale Health Belief Model were as follows: 17.39 ± 2.92 perceived susceptibility, 16.74 ± 3.19 perceived severity, 21.10 ± …

Development Of A Reference Standard To Assign Bacterial Versus Viral Infection Etiology Using An All-Inclusive Methodology For Comparison Of Novel Diagnostic Tool Performance, Coburn Allen, J Kate Deanehan, Yaniv Dotan, Matthew A Eisenberg, Andrew M Fine, Jonathan Isenberg, Ann Kane, Dani Kirshner, Todd W Lyons, Yasmin Maor, Ami Neuberger, Daniel G Ostermayer, Sharona Paz, Oded Scheuerman, Shachaf Shiber, Victoria A Statler, Michal Stein, Renata Yakubov, Shirly Yanai, Roy Navon, Lior Kellerman, Tanya M Gottlieb, Eran Eden

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Diagnostic test evaluation requires a reference standard. We describe an approach for creating a reference standard for acute infection using unrestricted adjudication and apply it to compare biomarker tools.

Methods: Adults and children with suspected acute infection enrolled in three prospective studies at emergency departments and urgent cares were included. Adjudicators, blinded to C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and MeMed BV (MMBV), labeled each case (bacterial/viral/non-infectious/indeterminate). Initial adjudication involved 3 adjudicators. Reference standard cohorts were defined: Microbiologically confirmed (3/3 adjudicators concur with high confidence and a concordant microbiological finding), unanimous (3/3 adjudicators concur with high confidence), suspected (3/3 adjudicators concur with …

The Effects Of Prescribed Medications On Depressive Symptoms And Neurocognitive Performance In People With Hiv, Asante R Kamkwalala, Avery Matthews, Ankita Garg, Upal Roy, Qing Ma, Maile Karris, Erin Sundermann, Ronald J Ellis, Patricia K Riggs, Mattia Trunfio, Jennifer Blanchard, David J Moore, Leah H Rubin, Scott L Letendre

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Alterations in brain function and structure, such as depression and neurocognitive impairment, continue to occur in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PWH) taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). The lifespan of PWH has improved but the healthspan remains worse than people without HIV, in part because of aging-related diseases. As a result, polypharmacy is common and increases the risk of drug-drug interactions and adverse reactions.

Methods: This cross-sectional project investigated the relationship between 7 medication-related metrics (including anticholinergic burden), depressive symptoms, and neurocognitive performance in 491 PWH at a single center in the United States. All participants were taking …

Compensating Regulatory Losers, Todd S. Aagaard

Faculty Publications

Every change in government regulation creates benefits and burdens that fall unequally on the population. This unequal distribution raises the question of whether fairness requires compensating those who bear regulatory costs—what is known as the “compensation problem.” The extensive body of scholarship addressing the compensation problem tends to focus only on the burdens of regulatory compliance and ignores the burdens of injuries left unaddressed by regulation. The effect of this differential treatment is to treat past regulatory windfalls as permanent entitlements and to omit from the analysis equally deserving regulatory losers who have suffered the consequences of unregulated harms. This …

Bibliometric Analysis Of Research Trends Related To Human Immunodeficiency Virus., Madyson E. Johnson, Kaitlyn R. Coffman, Valerie Rivas, Elizabeth Barrett

ATU Scholars Symposium

Human immunodeficiency virus poses major health burden across the globe including the United States of America and has its zoonotic origin from the Simian Immunodeficiency viruses of sooty mangabey monkey and chimpanzee in Africa. Epidemiological trends indicate that even though the mortality rates for HIV are falling globally, the rates of new cases have been rising since 2010 in several countries including the USA. An estimated 0.5% of the human population is currently infected with the virus with countries like USA, India, Nigeria and South Africa carrying the highest burden of the disease. Host receptors such as CD4 and coreceptors …

Achieving Sustainability In Nigerian Households: Investigating Factors Impacting Energy Efficiency Practices, Hussaini Mato, Yahaya Hassan Labaran, Dipanjan Mukherjee, Gaurav Saini, Mahmoud Murtala Farouq

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The looming global energy crisis of the 21st century is predicted to worsen as building energy consumption is expected to rise by 50% by 2060. Investing in energy-efficient technologies and reducing carbon emissions is essential to combat this crisis. To this end, this paper delves into the complex issue of energy-efficient building practices in Nigerian households and how they can help curb carbon emissions. Using a statistical method known as the Relative Impor- tance Index (RII), we analyzed nine key factors that influence a building’s energy efficiency. The research revealed that government oversight, support, and financial and technical assis- tance …

Cloning The Yersinia Enterocolitica Alkaline Phosphatase For An Affinity Chromatography Ligand, Flavio E. Arellano

ATU Scholars Symposium

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme responsible for the dephosphorylation of extra-cytoplasmic molecules. Conversion to a neutral molecule enhances their ability to pass through cell membranes. When microbes such as Yersinia enterocolitica are ingested, they are exposed to large changes in pH level. These changes range from ~pH6.5 in the oral cavity to pH 2 in the stomach and pH 8 in the mid-intestine. The ability of microorganisms to survive this change in pH it largely dependent on their ability to change which proteins are expressed at differing pH levels or their ability to modify those proteins to meet the …

A Bivalent Self-Amplifying Rna Vaccine Against Yellow Fever And Zika Viruses, Peter Battisti, Matthew R. Ykema, Darshan N. Kasal, Madeleine F. Jennewein, Samuel Beaver, Abbie E. Weight, Derek Hanson, Jasneet Singh, Julie Bakken, Noah Cross, Pauline Fusco, Jacob Archer, Sierra Reed, Alana Gerhardt, Justin G. Julander, Corey Casper, Emily A. Voigt

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Student Research

Introduction: Yellow fever (YFV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses cause significant morbidity and mortality, despite the existence of an approved YFV vaccine and the development of multiple ZIKV vaccine candidates to date. New technologies may improve access to vaccines against these pathogens. We previously described a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC)-delivered self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccine platform with excellent thermostability and immunogenicity, appropriate for prevention of tropical infectious diseases.

Methods: YFV and ZIKV prM-E antigen-expressing saRNA constructs were created using a TC-83 strain Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus-based replicon and complexed with NLC by simple mixing. Monovalent and bivalent vaccine formulations were injected intramuscularly …

Comparing Parasitism And Resistance To Flow In Two Populations Of Elimia Virginica, Morgan G. Hicok, Abbie Tomba, Kate Green

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Snails are important in freshwater ecosystems as primary consumers and are good indicators of the stability of a habitat. Trematodes are parasitic flatworms that infect freshwater snails and can cause changes in metabolic function and growth. Flow rates and water levels are now more variable due to climate change, increasing stress and dislodgment in the snail population. This study investigates how parasites, shell morphology, and native flow environment influence resistance to disturbance. Elimia populations were sampled for differences in parasitism, shell morphology, and ability to withstand high flow environments in two different rivers. Sample sites at the Potomac River were …

An Intranasally Administered Igm Protects Against Antigenically Distinct Subtypes Of Influenza A Viruses, Ashwin Kumar Ramesh, Jwala Priyadarsini Sivaccumar, Xiaohua Ye, Luona Yang, Hailong Guo, Chen-Ni Chin, Sha Ha, John W Shiver, William R Strohl, Yan Xu, Haijuan Du, Tongqing Zhou, Ningyan Zhang, Kai Xu, Xinli Liu, Tong-Ming Fu, Zhiqiang An

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Engineering broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the hemagglutinin (HA) of Influenza A virus (IAV) is a promising approach for intervention of seasonal flu. However, HA plasticity often leads to resistant strains that compromise mAb potency as bivalent IgGs. Here we hypothesize that multimerization of anti-IAV antibodies as IgMs can enhance coverage and neutralization potency. Here, we construct 18 IgM antibodies from known broadly neutralizing IgGs targeting different IAV HA epitopes and evaluate their breadth and potency of neutralization against distinct H1N1 and H3N2 IAVs. The IgM version of receptor binding site-specific IgG F045-092 shows increased breadth and antiviral potency …

Pediatric Liver And Kidney Transplant Recipients Demonstrate Greater Serological Response To Sars-Cov-2 Vaccination Than Adults, Tobias Laue, Maria Pilar Ballester, Lily Meoli, Carl Grabitz, Eva Uson, Lorenzo Dantiga, Valerie Mclin, Montserrat Pujadas, Ângela Carvalho-Gomes, Ivan Sahuco, Ariadna Bono, Federico D'Amico, Raffaela Viganò, Elena Diago, Beatriz Tormo Lanseros, Elvira Inglese, Dani Martinez Vazquez, Annelotte Broekhoven, Marjolein Kikkert, Shessy P.Torres Morales, Sebenzile K. Myeni, Mar Riveiro-Barciela, Adriana Palom, Nicola Zeni, Alessandra Brocca, Annarosa Cussigh, Sara Cmet, Maria Desamparados Escudero-García, Matteo Stocco, Matteo Stocco

Peninsula Medical School

Background. Adult solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) have decreased responsiveness to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination and higher incidence of infection, but there are few data on the serological response in pediatric SOTR. The aim of this study was to determine serological response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in pediatric liver (LT) and kidney transplant (KT) recipients and compare it with adult SOTR. Methods. A European, prospective, multicenter study was performed. Samples were taken at 7 and 32 wk following COVID-19 vaccination and serological endpoints were measured by ELISA. Results. A total of 42 pediatric (16 post-LT and …

The Attitudes And Perspectives Of Laboratory Professionals On The Use Of Machine Learning Combined With Maldi For Viral Identification: A Qualitative Study, Grace Johnson

Honors Projects

The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) with machine learning (ML) has been proposed by numerous studies as a novel approach for viral identification. However, the development and implementation of this instrumentation is still in its early stages, and laboratory professionals' perspectives on its feasibility, accuracy, implementation, and effect on current laboratory operating procedures remain underexplored.

This study aimed to investigate laboratory professionals’ attitudes and opinions regarding the use of MALDI-TOF-MS coupled with machine learning for viral identification, focusing on perceived benefits, barriers, and factors that would affect participants’ opinions on implementation.

A qualitative descriptive research …

Global Access Needs Innovations For Producing Affordable Monoclonal Antibodies And Cell Culture-Based Vaccines With Easy To Use Delivery Technologies, Vijay Yabannavar

Cell Culture Engineering XIX

Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

An Ode To Keats, Makaylah J. Chambers

Master's Projects

This essay is an introduction to a tv pilot script inspired by John Keats.

Middle Bronze Age Ii Burials At Sasa, Upper Galilee (Tomb 1 And Graves 37, 39), Patricia Smith

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

Roman-Period Burial Caves On The Slopes Of Mount Carmel: An Anthropological Study, Yossi Nagar

'Atiqot

No abstract provided.

Incidence Of Urinary Tract Infections, Etiological Agents, And Antibiotic Susceptibility Among Pregnant And Non-Pregnant Women In Amedi Region, Iraq, Nabi Qadri Saeed, Nedim Çakir, Mahde Saleh Assafi

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

Urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection caused by bacteria from the digestive tract entering the urinary tract. It is more prevalent in women and remains the most common bacterial infection in humans. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in pregnant women, identify and diagnose uropathogenic bacteria, and examine the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolated bacteria. A total of 283 urine specimens were collected from pregnant and non-pregnant females of different ages who visited Amedi hospital between October 2020 and January 2021. The samples were cultured and incubated on Blood agar and MacConkey agar …

Knowledge And Attitude Towards Covid-19 And Associated Mental Health Status Among Students Of Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, M Mazharul Islam, Ronald Wesonga, Iman Al Hasani, Afra Al Manei

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

This study examined the COVID-19-related knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19 and associated mental health status during COVID-19 among the students of Sultan Qaboos University in Oman using an online cross-sectional survey conducted from 26 March - 25 April 2021 among the students of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, including multiple logistic regression analysis, were used for data analysis. Of the 1,951 respondents, 60% were females with a mean age of 22 years. About 13% were tested COVID-19 positive and 3.6% were tested positive. Overall, students demonstrated a high level (81%) of knowledge and a positive …

Role Of Nanotechnology In Diagnosing, Safeguarding, And Treating Covid-19, Rohini M. De Silvaa, Kenneth Hulugallaa, Panchali Ranasinghe, Gareth R. Williams, K.M. Nalin De Silva

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is arguably the worst health crisis the world has faced in the 21st century, and the World Health Organization declared this a “public health emergency of international concern” during the beginning of the pandemic and continued for a significant period of time. Considering the public health risk and the delay in introducing a suitable medical intervention to eradicate this virus, many reserachers embarked on different technologies to develop a cure. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising weapon in the fight against COVID-19 and other similar viral diseases. The unique qualities of nanomaterials make them excellent for a …

Global Dynamics And Sensitivity Analysis Of A Vector-Host-Reservoir Model, Ibrahim M. Elmojtaba, Santanu Biswas, Joydev Chattopadhyay

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

The role of animal reservoir in the disease dynamics is not yet properly studied. In the present investigation a mathematical model of a vector-host-reservoir is proposed and analyzed to observe the global dynamics of the disease. We observe that the disease free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if the basic reproduction number ( ) is less than unity whereas unique positive equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if and transcritical bifurcation occurs at . Our numerical result suggests that the biting rate plays an important role for the propagation of the disease and the recovery rate has not such important contribution …

Isolation Of Aristolochic Acids From Aristolochia Bracteolata And Studies Of Their Antioxidant Activities, Saleh Al-Busafi, Munir Al-Harthi, Bushra Al-Sabahi

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

The isolation and structural elucidation of aristolochic acid-A and aristolochic acid-D from Omani Aristolochia bracteolata plant is reported. Antioxidant activities of these two natural products were evaluated for their capacity to reduce Mo(VI) to Mo(V). The study revealed that aristolochic acid-D is more active than vitamin C while aristolochic acid-A has activity similar to vitamin C.

Research Trends : Natural Products As Pest, Microbial Disease An Tumour Control Agents, M.O. Fatope, Salma M. Z. Al-Kindi, Abdulrahman O. Abdulnour

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

The zeal to conquer human, agronomic, and veterinary diseases or pests has always sustained research interests directed at finding new medications from under explored biodiversity. The adoption of bioassay methods, which correlate with prevention, inhibition and reversal of diseases or elimination of pests, in screening natural products for bioactive compounds is critical to the discovery of new medications. This article focuses on areas of natural products chemistry that connect academia with industry. It discusses the technical skills needed to find bioactive compounds from microbes, marine invertebrates, plants and insects, highlighting the mode of action of selected bioactive compounds and bioassay …

The Dialogue Dilemma: The Role Of Patient-Clinician Communication For Low-Income People Who Smoke And Manage Multiple Conditions, Monique T. Cano, Michael R. Lindstrom, Ricardo F. Muñoz

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Adults from low-income backgrounds who smoke face significant health disparities related to tobacco use, often at disproportionately high rates. These individuals are more likely to endure multiple mental and physical (MP) health conditions, which can negatively influence their self-rated health (SRH). The quality and effectiveness of patient-clinician communication (PCC) can influence how patients perceive their own health. Understanding how PCC influences SRH among low-income adults who smoke and suffer from multiple MP conditions is essential for clinical care as multimorbidity is on the rise. This study examines how PCC may influence the health perceptions of low-income adults who smoke …

Dr. Stephanie Langel: Understanding Fetal Immunity, Madelyn Cook

Discussions

No abstract provided.