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2025 Soars Conference Program, Unf Office Of Undergraduate Research

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Program for the 2025 Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Relationship Between Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Inflammatory Biomarkers, And Hospital Length Of Stay Among Covid-19 Patients., Alice Aghamie Osuji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COVID-19 has put immense pressure on healthcare facilities, especially in managing patients with comorbidity. This study addressed the association between two important coinfections, congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and their effect on hospital length of stay (LOS) among COVID-19 patients. The study also explored the predictive role of the inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP) in prolonged hospitalization, also considering the influence of age and race. This study applied the Biopsychosocial Model and Chronic Care Model (CCM) to examine health outcomes and resource use. A retrospective cohort research design was used to examine medical records of …

The Emotions Of Uncertainty: Science, Politics, And The Social Dynamics Of Decision Making, Alisa N. Rogers

Sociology ETDs

This dissertation examines how social and emotional factors influence attitudes toward science and decision making regarding science-based policy recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic. I examine boundary work practices among the public as they evaluate experts during the pandemic and the social sources of information people used to construct knowledge. Then I examine the social and emotional factors that participants indicated influenced their own attitude formation and decisions to act regarding public health recommendations during the pandemic. I find that emotions influence each element of the decision process: information gathering, information evaluation, attitude formation, and decisions to act. Affective commitment and …

Higher Education Leaders’ Perspectives About Communication Challenges During Crises, Carey-Ann Marie Balkwill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem was that while impact and problems of crisis communication have been identified in the literature, little is known about the perspectives of leaders in higher education when facing communication issues in times of crisis. Guided by crisis communication theory and leadership theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore higher education leadership team members’ perspectives of communication challenges in times of crisis. Four research questions guided the study on the perspectives of higher education leadership team members about (a) how their own leadership and communication changed during a crisis, (b) how internal communications evolved during …

A Rare Case Of Pott's Puffy Tumor In An Adult With Paranasal Osteoma And Pachymeningitis, Brian G. Nudelman, Jeffrey Valencia Uribe, Nicole Nudelman, Ann-Katrin Valencia, Kenneth Poon

Student Publications

Pott's puffy tumor (PPT) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of frontal sinusitis, most commonly seen in children and adolescents. We report an unusual case of PPT in a 63-year-old man with a history of intranasal cocaine use, complicated by pachymeningitis. The patient presented with severe right eye pain, periorbital swelling, erythema, and purulent discharge. Initial imaging revealed right orbital cellulitis and erosive paranasal sinus disease, with a suspected frontal subgaleal abscess. Brain MRI confirmed the diagnosis of PPT, demonstrating acute-on-chronic pansinusitis, frontal bone osteomyelitis, subperiosteal phlegmon, and associated pachymeningitis.

The patient was managed with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, with …

How To Kill A Human: Creating An Immersive Learning Game, Théo Caldwell, Nathan Bonnell

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

How to Kill a Human is an experiment in teaching through gameplay. The environmental crisis facing the planet, though denied by many, is a collection of well-documented historical environmental catastrophes. The purpose of this project was to design a method of relating the impacts of environmental systems on human health, highlighting the dangers of ill planned human tampering, by presenting hypothetical environmental catastrophes and then relating them to documented historical disasters. In pursuit of this goal, we designed a semi-collaborative game for three to six players with a suggested age rating of 10+, ideal for teaching individuals of middle school …

Primary Place To Go For Health Care And Its Association With Hpv Prevalence In Us Adults: Results From Nhanes 2013-2016, Amy L. Mcveety, Miyuki Sun

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Background: While access to health care is a known risk factor for many infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted infections, little research has investigated the relationship between access to primary care services and prevalent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Given HPV’s prevalence in the general population and lack of available treatments, it is necessary to understand possible risk factors to identify areas for intervention. This study uses primary place to go for health services as a proxy measure for access to care, in order to understand which sources of health care are serving patients with the highest prevalence of HPV infections and …

Intersectional Experiences Of Stem Students With Disabilities, Sandy Heath, Jade Metzger, Tarah Loy-Ashe

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities experience barriers to accessing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers during academic preparation for these careers. This pilot project explored the experiences of postsecondary STEM students who have a disability. The six students interviewed gave their insights into the need to further diversify who has access to STEM careers by describing that cultural and structural barriers posed more of a barrier than the course content during their STEM education. Academic preparation often starts in early childhood education with exposure to STEM topics and continues through postsecondary education. The implications impact both the individual student and society. …

Modified Interferon-Gamma (Ifn-G) Receptors (Ifngr) To Enhance Cell-Based Immunotherapy, Eric Tran, Myungkyu Jang

Technology Transfer - Patents

No abstract provided.

Joseph Bushra V. Main Line Health Inc

2025 Decisions

USDC for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Sustained Release Of Antifibrotic Nintedanib From Polymer Microparticles Reduces Dosing Frequency While Reducing Inflammation In Murine Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Emmanuel Einyat Opolot, Filip Goshevski, Rahul Chaudhary, Horst A. Von Recum, Amar B. Desai

Faculty Scholarship

Purpose: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a life-threatening, progressive lung disease with limited therapeutic options, often resulting in poor patient outcomes. Current treatments, such as Nintedanib (NTB) and Pirfenidone (PFD), require frequent administration, leading to adverse effects and low patient adherence. The purpose of this study was to investigate a sustained-release drug delivery system utilizing microparticles (MPs) composed of insoluble beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) polymers to enhance the bioavailability and extend the release of NTB and PFD. Methods: A multidisciplinary approach, including in silico modeling, in vitro assays, and in vivo studies, was employed to assess the efficacy of β-CD-polymer MPs as …

Sociodemographic Differences In Logins And Engagement With The Electronic Health Coach Messaging Feature Of A Mobile App To Support Opioid And Stimulant Use Recovery: Results From A 1-Month Observational Study, Lindsey M Filiatreau, Hannah Szlyk, Alex T Ramsey, Erin Kasson, Xiao Li, Zhuoran Zhang, Patricia Cavazos-Rehg

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Mobile health apps can serve as a critical tool in supporting the overall health of uninsured and underinsured individuals and groups who have been historically marginalized by the medical community and may be hesitant to seek health care. However, data on uptake and engagement with specific app features (eg, in-app messaging) are often lacking, limiting our ability to understand nuanced patterns of app use.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to characterize sociodemographic differences in uptake and engagement with a smartphone app (uMAT-R) to support recovery efforts in a sample of individuals with opioid and stimulant use disorders in the Greater …

Sealing Ability Of White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Mixed With 2.25% Sodium Hypochlorite Gel Used For Repairing Furcal Perforations In Primary Molars: An In Vitro Study, Mawia M. Karkoutly, Saleh B. Al Kurdi, Nada Bshara

Arabian Journal of Pediatric Dentistry

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the sealing ability of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and 2.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) gel mixture in repairing furcal perforation in primary molars using methylene blue dye penetration.

Materials and methods:
It was an in vitro experimental study. Sixty human primary molars were randomly divided into four groups (n = 15). Group 1 (MTA + distilled water (DW)): Furcal perforations were repaired with MTA and DW mixture. Group 2 (MTA + NaOCl gel): Furcal perforations were repaired with MTA and 2.25% NaOCl gel mixture. Group 3 (Positive control): Furcal perforations left untreated. Group 4 (Negative …

Geographic Divergence Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus St5-Scc Mec I In The Aftermath Of A Major Earthquake And Tsunami: Impact Of A Plasmid Harboring Heavy Metal Resistance Genes, Jose R W Martínez, Manuel Alcalde-Rico, Estefanía Jara-Videla, Jinnethe Reyes, Lina P Carvajal, Sandra Rincon, Rafael Ríos, Lorena Diaz, Ana Quesille-Villalobos, Roberto Riquelme-Neira, Lina Rivas, Ahmed M Moustafa, Blake Hanson, Eduardo A Undurraga, Jorge Olivares-Pacheco, Patricia García, Rafael Araos, Paul J Planet, César A Arias, Jose M Munita

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major public health menace. The global spread of MRSA is characterized by successive waves of epidemic clones dominating specific geographical regions. The acquisition of genes encoding resistance to heavy metals (HMRGs) is thought to be a key feature in the geographic divergence of MRSA. However, the cause-effect relationship between the presence of HMRGs and the divergence of MRSA clones remains to be clarified. In this study, we assessed the role that HMRGs may have played in the evolutionary divergence of the MRSA ST5-SCCmecI lineage in Latin America. We conducted a genomic characterization …

Can Endothelin-1 Help Address The Diagnostic And Prognostic Challenges In Multimorbid Acute Heart Failure Patients?, Bianca-Ana Dmour, Minerva Codruta Badescu, Cristina Tuchiluș, Corina Maria Cianga, Daniela Constantinescu, Nicoleta Dima, Ștefania Teodora Duca, Awad Dmour, Alexandru Dan Costache, Maria-Ruxandra Cepoi, Adrian Crișan, Sabina Andreea Leancă, Cătălin Loghin, Ionela-Lăcrămioara Șerban, Irina Iuliana Costache-Enache

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The management of acute heart failure (AHF) is becoming increasingly complex, especially in patients with multiple comorbidities. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a vasoconstrictive peptide, is an important mediator of neurohormonal activation, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiac remodeling-key processes involved in the pathogenesis of AHF. The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic performance of ET-1 in multimorbid AHF patients, compared to established markers such as amino terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI). We conducted a single-center prospective study including 76 patients; 54 with AHF and 22 serving as controls. Upon admission, all patients …

Internship As An In-Vivo Technician At The Institute For Antiviral Research, Ashlynn Clark

Student Research Symposium

The Institute for Antiviral Research (IAR), located at Utah State University, specializes in evaluating antiviral agents and vaccines against a wide array of human pathogenic viruses, such as influenza, enterovirus, West Nile virus, yellow fever, zika virus, polio, and SARS-CoV-2, utilizing in vivo and in vitro models.

Protective Efficacy Of A Yellow Fever Virus Rna- Based Vaccine In A Hamster Model, Abby Sherman

Student Research Symposium

• Yellow Fever virus (YFV) remains a concern as of 2023, 34 countries in Africa and 13 countries in South America are endemic, with a case fatality rate of 11% shown in preliminary data.^[3]

Ectoparasite Fauna Of Imported Ornamental Fishes In Oman, Gilha Yoon

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

The movement of live aquatic animals crossing international borders is a regular activity for economic, social, and public resource development. A survey was carried out to investigate the prevalence of parasites translocated with imported ornamental fishes. Exotic diseases from imported fish have a potential hazard of biosecurity. A sample of 138 imported ornamental fish originating from Thailand and Sri Lanka were collected from pet shops around Muscat governorate and examined for ectoparasites. Parasitological examination was based on a visual macro and microscopic examination of fish’s exterior. The findings of the current survey of imported ornamental fish revealed that 50.72% of …

Can The Irrigation Of Soils With Amoxicillin-Enriched Water Cause The Proliferation Of Bacteria Resistant To Antibiotics Among Culturable Heterotrophic Aerobic Soil Bacteria?, Adhari Al-Kalbani, Daniel Blackburn, Buthaina Al-Siyabi, Mohamed Al-Kasbi, Ahmed Al-Busaidi

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

This study investigated the short-term impact of irrigation with Amoxicillin solutions on the presence of the amoxicillin-resistance trait among culturable soil heterotrophic aerobic bacteria. The microcosm experimental design consisted of 15 days of incubation of 10 g soil samples irrigated daily with distilled water containing increasing doses of amoxicillin (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000 µg g-1 of soil day-1). The hypothesis was that continuous daily addition of antibiotics would increase the proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in soils. After the incubation period, the total and antibiotic resistance heterotrophic aerobic bacteria communities were assessed through serial dilution of soil suspensions, followed …

First Report Of Dermatophilus Congolensis Infection In Native Omani Cattle., Mahmoud El-Neweshy, Julanda Al Mawly, Haytham Alieldin Ali

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Skin lesions were reported in a group of quarantined Omani native cattle for exportation purpose during January 2018. The skin lesions were reported in 17 animals out of 140 and were scattered over the head, neck, back and perineal region of the animals. Lesions varied from paint-brush matted hairs to wart-like lesions that are up to 2 cm in diameter. Skin scraping samples were obtained from the living animals and were directly stained with gram stain. Histologically, there was severe multifocal exudative dermatitis with hyperkeratosis. Dermis was infiltrated with neutrophils, mononuclear cells, and numerous branching filaments coccoid bodies. Bacterial culture …

2nd Gcc Marine Biotechnology Conference: Emerging Opportunities And Future Perspectives, Sergey Dobretsov

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

2nd GCC Marine biotechnology conference was held at Sultan Qaboos University, 31 October - 1 November 2017. The conference was organized by the Center of Excellence in Marine Biotechnology, SQU. The conference focused on four major themes, including Genetics and biodiversity, Marine biofouling and its prevention, Marine natural products, and Aquaculture and fisheries. In total, 160 delegates from 23 different countries were registered for this conference and 106 delegates attended the conference. One plenary lecture and three keynote addresses were given, 39 oral and 30 poster presentations were made. The final session reviewed national and regional issues and identified some …

Bacterial Infection In Farmed Barramundi Juveniles, Lates Calcarifer, Buthaina Al-Khaziri, Adil Al Sulimani, Najla Al Mandhari, Gilha Yoon, Azhar Al-Busaidi

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

In 2016, Barramundi, Lates calcaifer juveniles imported from Thailand to the aquaculture station at Sultan Qaboos University exhibited remarkable external clinical signs of losing scales, severe muscle necrosis, and ascites. Fin rot was also observed in the diseased fish. The mortality reached more than 90 % and it was assumed that certain bacterial species were associated with the diseased fish. The objective of the present study was to investigate the infection route of disease, revealing the causative agent and finding the most effective antibiotic treatment. The suspected pathogen vehicle was mosquito larvae in the outlet of the culture tank as …

Genetic And Environmental Factors Affecting 305-Day Mature Equivalent Milk Yield Of Holstein Friesian Cows In The United Arab Emirates, Mohamed Elnour Elboshra, Tagelsir Eisa Ali, Ali Ahmed Hassabo

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

The main objective of this research was determining the effect of sire of cow, year and season of freshening, lactation number, and their different interactions on 305-day mature equivalent (ME) milk yield of Holstein Friesian cows in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It also aimed to estimate sire and error variance and heritability of 305-day ME milk yield. The data was collected from AL Salamat Dairy Farm in Al Ain. The average size of the herd was 1000 animals during the experimental period. The Dairy Comp 305 computer program was used for compiling the data. The data under the study …

Substance Abuse On Vulnerable United States And Russian Populations, Avery Wuollet, Emyli Sandrock, Mallory Loerts, Rylyn Murphy

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

The National Institute of Health states that 39.5 million people in the world are affected by drug abuse. According to the National Institute of Health, a total of 18,013 overdose deaths in Russia, while nearly 108,000 people have overdosed in the United States as of 2024, according to The National Institute of Drug Abuse. This is prevalent due to poor policies, the presence of street drugs, and the stigmas surrounding this problem. This research will entail the different effects drug abuse has on both users and the community. The research will also compare the risks of engaging in drug abuse …

A Review Of Observations Made On Select Parameters Of The Camel Immune System, Eugene H. Johnson, Khalid R. Al-Habsi, Rashid M. Al-Busaidi

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Despite the camel’s long historical interaction with man there is only a limited number of studies available pertaining to the immunobiology of this species. This is unfortunate as the camel has evolved into an animal capable of not only surviving under extreme environmental conditions but also into one that is relatively resistant to a great number of infectious diseases. Accordingly, it is of interest to understand the various components operative in the camel immune system, as a potential basis of manipulating the immune response of other domesticated animals to respond to disease-causing agents in a similarly effective fashion. Recent research …

Handling Practices During Distribution Of Kinnow-Mandarins (Citrus Nobilis X Citrus Deliciosa) Used For Preparation Of Fresh-Squeezed Juices And Their Effects On Microbiological Safety, M. Ghosh, A. Ganguli, M. Kumar

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

The objective of this study was to assess the microbiological safety of Kinnow-mandarins (Citrus nobilis X Citrus deliciosa) used for preparation of fresh squeezed juices by street vendors. One hundred and fifty Kinnow mandarin samples were collected from different points in the distribution chain from the same lot, washed and aliquots of the wash samples were analyzed for total aerobes, Staphylococcus, total and fecal coliforms, Salmonella and Shigella. Although, there was no notable increase in the total aerobic, total or fecal coliform counts, total staphylococcal counts increased significantly (P<0.05) during distribution to street vendors; seventy-two samples from the street vendors showed the presence of coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus, twenty-three of these produced enterotoxins B and C. Salmonella and Shigella were not detected in any of the samples. Sources of high numbers of enterotoxigenic S. aureus were traced to unhygienic manual handling by middle level buyers and by street vendors. The results of our study demonstrate the poor microbiological quality of Kinnow-mandarins, the possible entry points of contaminants in the distribution chain of these fruits and unhygienic vending practices. Appropriate intervention measures are needed to ensure safe fresh squeezed juices for consumers.

Animal Health In The Tropics, M.R. Jainudeen, A. R. Sheikh-Omar

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Most developing countries in Africa and Asia are located in the tropics (23° north and south of the equator). The poor productivity of ruminants in these countries is mostly due to inadequate nutrition, infectious diseases, low rates of reproduction, poor genotype, high ambient temperatures and socioeconomic constraints. In addition to infectious diseases which have long since been eradicated or brought under control in developed countries, there are diseases unique to the tropical environment. In the past, the diagnosis of most diseases was based on serological tests. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a rapid method of identifying viral and bacterial infections, …

Protecting Global Health Partnerships In The Era Of Destructive Nationalism, Maya Adam, Desiree Labeaud, Nokwanele Mbewu, Jennifer Gates, Randall Waechter, Mercy Borbor-Cordova, Lydiah Kibe, Sonia Alvarez, Annie Dori, Anil Bilimale, Meggie Mwoka, Jessica Deffler, Michele Spring, Avriel Diaz, Rachael Farquhar, Willy Dunbar, Comfort Phiri, Valerie Luzadis, Nicole Redvers, Cristina Alonso, Rosemary Rochford, Rachel Lowe, Kareem Coomansingh, Moses Laman, Rebeca Sultana, Sadie Ryan, Amaya Bustinduy, Anita Hargrave-Bouagnon, Shazia Ruybal-Pesántez, Zebedee Kerry, Trevor Kelebi, Samuel Mcewen, Leanne Robinson, Maritza Salazar Campo, Till Bärnighausen

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Protpen: A Pipeline That Combines Sequence- And Structure-Based Approaches To Predict Protein Functions, Diya Mathai

Theses

Proteins of unknown function represent a significant gap in our understanding of biological processes, with many organisms, especially prokaryotes, harboring large portions of their proteomes that remain uncharacterized. For example, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major human pathogen, a large proportion of proteins are categorized as unknown or hypothetical in function. The precise number varies across species, but studies have shown that up to 30–50% of proteins in bacterial proteomes can lack functional annotations. Addressing this gap is critical to understanding the biology and pathogenicity of such organisms. Recent advancements in computational tools, particularly those in sequence and structure-based prediction, offer …

Pediatric And Congenital Cardiac Services: An Innovative And Empowering Approach To Global Training And Equitable Care, Wyman W. Lai, Dominique Vervoort, David Bradley, Antonio G. Cabrera, Casey Culbertson, Alejandro Floh, Saurabh K. Gupta, Babar S. Hasan, Adrian Holloway, Jeffrey P. Jacobs, Kathy J. Jenkins, R. K. Kumar, L.A. Larrazabal, Colin J. Mcmahon, Daniel J. Penny, Alistair Phillips, Emilio Quezada, Craig A. Sable, Shubhika Srivastava, Sandra L. Staveski, Patcharapong Suntharos, David F. Teitel, Betsy Tirado, Brian C. Tran, Bistra Zheleva, Liesl Zuhkle, Anthony C. Chang

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Congenital heart disease is a leading cause of preventable death in children, with a disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income countries. Despite progress in treating congenital heart disease globally, significant challenges remain in accessing specialized cardiovascular care, particularly cardiac surgery, in low- and middle-income countries. This review examines current models of assistance and proposes a novel global training program to address these inequities. Key challenges identified include building program infrastructure, training health care providers, ensuring financial sustainability, and promoting local engagement. The proposed program, structured under a new international organization, will leverage emerging technologies to deliver accessible and rigorously assessed …