Digital Commons Network^™

Rna Sequencing Reveals Inflammatory And Metabolic Changes In The Lung And Brain After Carbon Black And Naphthalene Whole Body Inhalation Exposure In A Rodent Model Of Military Burn Pit Exposures, Allison M. Haaning, Brian J. Sandri, Henry L. Wyneken, William T. Goldsmith, Joshua P. Nixon, Timothy R. Nurkiewicz, Chris H. Wendt, Paul Barach, Janeen H. Trembley, Tammy A. Butterick

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan were exposed to emissions from open-air burn pits, where plastics, metals, and medical waste were incinerated. These exposures have been linked to deployment-related respiratory diseases (DRRD) and may also impact neurological health via the lung-brain axis. To investigate molecular mechanisms, adult male rats were exposed to filtered air, naphthalene (a representative volatile organic compound), or a combination of naphthalene and carbon black (surrogate for particulate matter; CBN) via whole-body inhalation (six hours/day, three consecutive days). Lung, brain, and plasma samples were collected 24 h after the final exposure. Pro-inflammatory biomarkers were assessed using …

Combination Of Irreversible Electroporation And Clostridium Novyi-Nt Bacterial Therapy For Colorectal Liver Metastasis, Zigeng Zhang, Guangbo Yu, Qiaoming Hou, Farideh Amirrad, Sha Webster, Surya M. Nauli, Jianhua Yu, Vahid Yaghmai, Aydin Eresen, Zhuoli Zhang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) poses a significant challenge in oncology due to its high incidence and poor prognosis in unresectable cases. Current treatments, including surgical resection, systemic chemotherapy, and liver-directed therapies, often fail to effectively target hypoxic tumor regions, which are inherently more resistant to these interventions. This review examines the potential of a novel therapeutic strategy combining irreversible electroporation (IRE) ablation and Clostridium novyi-nontoxic (C. novyi-NT) bacterial therapy. IRE is a non-thermal tumor ablation technique that uses high-voltage electric pulses to create permanent nanopores in cell membranes, leading to cell death while preserving surrounding structures, and …

Demystifying The Nuances Of The Lipid Patient: A Guide For Primary Care Providers, Merle Myerson, Kyle Gillett, James O'Hara, Richard Potter, Neil Skolnik

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

Atherosclerosis, a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States (US), is driven by complex factors, including the cumulative burden of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and other atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins. Lipid management in US primary care aims to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events through screening and LDL-C lowering to risk-based goals. However, lipid screening and ASCVD treatment is often inadequate, with few patients meeting LDL-C goals in clinical practice. Primary care providers have a vital role in identifying patients most at risk of ASCVD to prevent ASCVD events and improve patient outcomes. There are multiple different …

Rnai Knockdown Screen Reveals Genes Required For Non-Professional Phagocytosis In Drosophila Melanogaster, Elinor Romaguera

Summer Research Internship Program

No abstract provided.

Intersecting Risks: Food Insecurity, Cigarette Smoking, Rurality And Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis In The U.S., Tessa Peterson

Summer Research Internship Program

No abstract provided.

Contributions Of Occupational Therapy In Sport Provider Training Using A Health-Promoting Environment For Positive Youth Development, Jennifer Papenfuse Otd, Otr/L, Chc, Camille Skubik-Peplaski Phd, Otr/L, Faota, Shirley P. O'Brien Phd, Otr/L, Faota

Student Journal of Occupational Therapy

Rising youth public health disparities can be attributed to the social determinants of health that influence health and wellness. Youth sport providers can be influential in creating healthier environments that facilitate positive youth development and social emotional learning, thus positively impacting life-long health behaviors choices and public health. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of an education module developed by an occupational therapist on sport’s providers perceptions of their capacity to implement positive youth development programming and to create a health-promoting environment.

A qualitative descriptive approach was used in this study allowing for purposive sampling, inductive …

Relationship Between Participation In Employee Wellness Programs And Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Health Care Workers, Ana Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee wellness programs are available in many health care organizations but remain underutilized by health care workers. Low employee participation in these wellness programs can negatively impact employees’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which, in turn, may adversely influence patient care and overall health outcomes. Despite this, little is known about which factors, such as perceived barriers and benefits, job category, or work shift, are associated with participation. This study addressed that gap by exploring how these variables relate to employee engagement in wellness programs and their potential impact on HRQoL. Guided by the health belief model, this study examined …

Cocoa Polyphenols Modulate The Mouse Gut Microbiome In A Site-Specific Manner, Abby D. Benninghoff

Browse all Datasets

Background/Objectives: Dietary modulation of the gut microbiome is a promising strategy for mitigating gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Cocoa powder is rich in polyphenols, including (-)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin, which have been associated with beneficial effects on gut health and microbiome modulation. Importantly, changes in the bacterial populations associated with the gut mucosal layer may have different health impacts compared to changes in cecal or fecal microbiomes. This study investigated the effects of cocoa polyphenol supplementation on microbiome composition across the cecal, fecal, and mucosal compartments in a mouse model of colitis. Methods: …

The Relationship Between Hand Grip Strength And Cognitive Function In Middle-Aged And Elderly People In China: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Based On Charls Data, Haiwei Li, Jing Zhang, Peipei Cheng, Liwei Guo, Xuemei Sui M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This study explores the relationship between hand grip strength (HGS) and cognitive function in China’s middle-aged and elderly population. We employed a cross-sectional design using data from 4535 participants aged ≥ 45 years from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study national dataset. The relationships between HGS and various dimensions of cognitive function, as well as the association between HGS and cognitive impairment, were investigated using ordinary least squares regression models and logistic regression models. Dose–response relationships between HGS and cognitive impairment were modeled using restricted cubic spline curves. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness …

Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review Of Genomic Risk Factors, Diagnostic And Pharmacotherapeutic Strategies, Zohor Azher

Saudi Toxicology Journal

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impairments in social communication and delayed language development, repetitive behaviors, and sensory processing abnormalities. The genetic background of ASD remains incompletely understood due to significant genetic heterogeneity and complexity. This review aims to present current insights into the genetic landscape of ASD, focusing on both common and rare genomic variations. We describe candidate genes associated with ASD, as they are involved in synaptic function and neuronal signaling, making these findings potential therapeutic targets. This review emphasizes the importance of integrating comprehensive clinical assessments with advanced genetic investigations to enhance …

Epigenetic Profiling Of Cell-Free Dna In Cerebrospinal Fluid: A Novel Biomarker Approach For Metabolic Brain Diseases, Kyle Sporn, Rahul Kumar, Kiran Marla, Puja Ravi, Swapna Vaja, Phani Paladugu, Nasif Zaman, Alireza Tavakkoli

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Due to their clinical heterogeneity, nonspecific symptoms, and the limitations of existing biomarkers and imaging modalities, metabolic brain diseases (MBDs), such as mitochondrial encephalopathies, lysosomal storage disorders, and glucose metabolism syndromes, pose significant diagnostic challenges. This review examines the growing potential of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) derived from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) epigenetic profiling as a dynamic, cell-type-specific, minimally invasive biomarker approach for MBD diagnosis and monitoring. We review important technological platforms and their use in identifying CNS-specific DNA methylation patterns indicative of neuronal injury, neuroinflammation, and metabolic reprogramming, including cfMeDIP-seq, enzymatic methyl sequencing (EM-seq), and targeted bisulfite sequencing. By synthesizing current …

Mental Health In Prisons: Examining Variations In Disorders Across Custody Levels, Ariel Bysiek

Dissertations and Theses

The United States has a significantly large prison population with the number of people currently in a correctional facility being 1.9 million. Concern has been increasingly growing related to treatment of individuals in prison, particularly when it comes to solitary confinement. Many people believe that solitary confinement is unnecessarily cruel and debilitating to AIC's mental health. Studies have found contradicting information as to whether solitary impacts mental health. Part of the reason for this contradiction stems from the lack of measurement systems that are appropriate for AICs. The measures used in studies are meant for the general population, not individuals …

Genetic Control Of Sweetness And Acidity In Blackberry, Carly Godwin, T. Mason Chizk, Carmen John, Lacy Nelson, Renee Threlfall, John R. Clark, Margaret L. Worthington

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction The global blackberry (Rubus subgenus Rubus) industry has experienced rapid growth during the past 20 years. Even so, many industry stakeholders report complaints from consumers and grocers stating that blackberries are often too tart or not sweet enough for their palate. Studies have shown that most consumers prefer sweet blackberries with relatively low acidity, but little research has been conducted to understand the genetic control of these traits in Rubus.Methods The objective of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to sweetness and acidity in autotetraploid blackberry using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). A panel consisting …

Cognitive Representation And Its Relationship With The Performance Of The Side Kick And Back Kick Skills Among Taekwondo Juniors Aged 12–14 Years, Hind Basim Eidan, Intisar Awaid Ali

Modern Sport

Taekwondo is considered one of the athletic activities that contribute significantly to the holistic development of the individual by fostering the acquisition of knowledge and experience. Contrary to the common misconception that it is merely a form of combat or physical confrontation; taekwondo involves movements that engage both physical and mental activity. This interplay supports the balanced and comprehensive development of the practitioner, thereby enhancing individual efficiency and performance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive representation and the performance of the side kick and back kick skills among junior taekwondo athletes aged 12 …

The Impact Of An Ai-Supported Smart Hiit Program On Cardiovascular Fitness And Physical Performance, Maysaa Redha Ghanem

Modern Sport

In recent years, there has been growing interest in training programs that enhance physical fitness and overall health. Among the most prominent is High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), which has demonstrated effectiveness in improving cardiovascular efficiency and boosting physical performance within a relatively short period. With rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), it has become possible to develop smart training solutions that rely on the analysis of biometric and physiological data to deliver personalized programs tailored to individual needs. AI algorithms can analyze users' biological and physical data and generate training regimens based on physiological responses, opening new avenues for improving …

Concordance Of Management Of Early And Locally Advanced Esophageal And Esophagogastric Junction Tumors With National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines, Kanchan Gupta, Melissa Kratz Rn, Msn, Aocn, Sean Quinlan-Davidson Md, Savitri Skandan Md

Research Scholars

No abstract provided.

Creation Of Bacteria In Tongue Diagnosis Based On Fractal Methods, S. Pavithra, G. Jayalalitha

Baghdad Science Journal

Bacteria play a vital role in helping with digestion and protecting against harmful infections. However, the Gram-negative bacteria in Tongue will have some disadvantages in the human body. These can be diagnosed by employing the fractal concept. Bacteria's irregular shape and Complex nature can be quantified using fractal dimensions that exhibit self-similarity at different scales. The fractal measurement procedure deliberates the dissimilarity and surface complexity of the tongue-inclusive spot on the tongue. An image of the tongue is analyzed by the HarFa Fractal Method. The Sobel improved Box counting Method is employed to enumerate the outgrowth of Bacteria in Tongue. …

Nicomachen Ethics, Aristotle

Hannah Arendt Marginalia - All

Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1962Call #: B430.A5 O7

Contains marginalia, underlining, marginal lining and endpaper notes.

PDF Information: 247 pages – 94mb

Food Literacy Program Among Adults In A Primary Care Setting, Marie K. Williams

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice problem: The increase in preventable chronic diseases is associated with food illiteracy, which arises from a lack of understanding of nutritional value and dietary guidelines (Silva et al., 2023).

PICOT: (P) In adult primary care patients aged 30-75 years, (I) does the implementation of evidence-based food literacy program (C) compared to standard practice (O) improve food literacy (T) in eight weeks?

Evidence: Using a validated food literacy questionnaire effectively measures improvements in food literacy. Customized programs that fill knowledge gaps are essential for enhancing overall food literacy. Intervention: Customized educational tools were provided to participants based on their knowledge …

Unmasking A New Dialect Of Deception: Leveraging The Federal Trade Commission To Combat Deceptive And Exploitative Corporate Policies, Hani Baltagi

Cleveland State Law Review

Corporate social responsibility initiatives have transformed fair labor policies into powerful marketing tools, but the gap between the public promise to embrace ethical labor practices and actual corporate compliance with such practices has widened. This has the effect of not only impeding the average consumer’s purchasing decision, but perpetuating—if not catalyzing—labor exploitation across the world. The existence of this paradigm thus necessitates additional, heightened intervention by none other than Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The FTC’s three-pronged test for deception—previously created to combat other forms of deceptive practices—provides an accountability framework for deceptive marketing claims that utilize unfollowed, self-adopted corporate fair …

2025 Deerfield Fair 4-H Animal Shows Premium Book, Extension

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Choline-An Essential Nutrient With Health Benefits And A Signaling Molecule, Brianne C. Burns, Jitendra D. Belani, Hailey N. Wittorf, Eugen Brailoiu, G. Cristina Brailoiu

College of Pharmacy Faculty Papers

Choline has been recognized as an essential nutrient involved in various physiological functions critical to human health. Adequate daily intake of choline has been established by the US National Academy of Medicine in 1998, considering choline requirements for different ages, sex differences and physiological states (e.g., pregnancy). By serving as a precursor for acetylcholine and phospholipids, choline is important for cholinergic transmission and the structural integrity of cell membranes. In addition, choline is involved in lipid and cholesterol transport and serves as a methyl donor after oxidation to betaine. Extracellular choline is transported across the cell membrane via various transport …

Global Training In Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Addressing Growing Challenges In Ibd, Jalpa Devi, Anuraag Jena, Adil Hassan, Rushali Lohia, Ignacio Catalan-Serra, Vishal Sharma, Shaji Sebastian

Open Access Articles Funded by the University of Nebraska Open Access Publishing Agreements or the former UNO Open Access Fund

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is increasing in incidence globally, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) facing a rapid surge in disease burden. However, the availability of structured training programs for IBD care remains highly unequal. This review evaluates the current global landscape of IBD workforce training, with an emphasis on identifying gaps and proposing solutions to enhance multidisciplinary preparedness. The IBD care team extends beyond gastroenterologists and includes surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, IBD nurses, dietitians, and mental health professionals. Yet, structured training pathways and credentialing mechanisms are scarce outside of high-income countries. Key barriers include limited access, financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure, …

Biochemical And Proteomic Analyses Explain The Role Of Thiourea In Improving Tolerance Against Cadmium Toxicity In Maize, Mustafa Yildiz, Hakan Terzi̇, Nurgül Sönmez

Turkish Journal of Botany

Thiourea (TU), a sulfur-containing compound, is recognized for its ability to ameliorate the deleterious impacts of metal ions on plant growth. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanisms by which TU regulates metabolic activities in maize (Zea mays L.) under cadmium (Cd) stress remain largely unexplored. This study seeks to clarify how TU (35 μM) mitigates or enhances tolerance to Cd toxicity (50 μM) through physiological and proteomic methods. Cd exposure resulted in inhibited plant growth, leaf chlorosis, and lipid peroxidation; however, the addition of TU reduced Cd toxicity by decreasing Cd accumulation and modulating antioxidant enzyme activity. The global proteome profile was …

Factors Associated With Maternal Health Care Utilization In Liberia, West Africa, Isaac Nyumah Yah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Extant literature reports increased uptake of maternal health care utilization in Liberia in the era following the 14-year civil war that ended in 2004. The purpose of this secondary quantitative data analysis study was to examine the relationship between women’s place of residence, women’s earnings spending autonomy, and maternal health care utilization of women ages 15–49 in Liberia. Maternal health care utilization in this study is measured by women’s visits to government hospitals for antenatal care. Maternal health care utilization indicates whether women who were pregnant within the 3 years before the 2019–20 Demographic Health Survey in Liberia attended any …

From Surviving To Thriving: The Oxygen Mask Approach For Middle Management, Lydia Marque

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Middle managers in healthcare experience high levels of stress, heavy workloads, and burnout. At a large medical center in Northern California, middle managers reported low perceptions of organizational support for well-being despite an abundance of available resources.

Context: Baseline data indicated a perceived support score of 6.5 out of 10 on the Employee Interest Survey and a People Pulse Culture of Health score of 60 for assistant nurse managers (ANMs), both below regional benchmarks. These findings suggested inadequate engagement with organizational well-being resources.

Interventions: A six-month performance improvement initiative, guided by the ADKAR change model and …

Public Understanding Of And Engagement With Community Health Workers And Promotores De Salud: Findings From Two National Surveys, Elizabeth A. Rohan, Julie S. Townsend, Andrea Torres, Hope L. Thompson, Dawn M. Holman, Avid Reza, Felicia Solomon Tharpe, Erin Caple, Ashley Wennerstrom

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Community health workers (CHWs) can improve health by helping people navigate health care services and systems and connecting them to community services that address nonmedical factors such as food insecurity, housing, and transportation. While CHWs have long been part of the US public health system, there are no data, to our knowledge, on the public's familiarity and interactions with CHWs. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2022 Porter Novelli FallStyles and Estilos surveys, online market research surveys of the general public delivered in English (FallStyles) or primarily Spanish (Estilos). Each survey asked the same 4 questions on familiarity and …

Skin Care Excellence: Increasing Rn Skin Check Frequency To Prevent Hapis, Yu Jian Kwan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Background:
This quality improvement project was implemented in the Transitional Cardiac Unit (TCU), a 32-bed telemetry unit primarily serving older adults recovering from cardiac procedures. A microsystem assessment revealed a hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) rate of 1.49 per 1,000 patient days, exceeding the regional target of 0.82. Key barriers included limited skin assessment frequency, inconsistent documentation, and gaps in staff training.

Problem:
From June to December 2024, six HAPIs occurred in the TCU. Despite existing protocols requiring two-RN skin assessments at admission, transfer, and discharge, early detection of skin breakdown remained insufficient. Contributing factors included inconsistent surveillance, varied assessment skills, …

Graduate Student Paper: Aging In A Changing Japan: Gendered Adaptation To Changing Family Structure, Miki Izu, Clayton Chalmers

Asia Pacific Perspectives

Although Japanese seniors are very healthy, research shows that they are not very happy. Compared to seniors in other developed countries, Japanese elders have lower ratings of subjective well-being and are increasingly alone. This paper argues that changes to Japanese family life help explain why Japanese elders are struggling with low subjective well-being. Specifically, declining marriage rates and declining rates of elders living with their children (co-residency) have made it harder for elders to get the support they need. Moreover, the effect and the adaptations to these changes are not equal between men and women. While elderly Japanese men are …

Antibacterial Potential Of Tapanuli Orangutan (Pongo Tapanuliensis) Food In Batang Toru Forest Against Escherichia Coli And Salmonella Typhi, Herna Febrianty Sianipar, Wahyu Widoretno, Luchman Hakim, Rezi Rahmi Amolia, Fatchiyah Fatchiyah

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Diarrhea is a common disease affecting orangutans, primarily caused by Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi bacteria. To treat this disease, antibacterial food sources are essential as therapeutic agents for orangutans. The fruits consumed by Tapanuli orangutans include Campnosperma auriculatum, Agathis borneensis, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Castanopsis argantea, and Aglaia tomentosa. This study aims to examine the amino acid and phytochemical components with potential antibacterial properties in these five fruit species and their inhibitory effects on E. coli and S. typhi growth through cell lysis, observed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The samples were tested for amino acids, phytochemicals, vitamin C content, …