Digital Commons Network^™

Comparative Analysis Of Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography And Cardio-Specific Markers For Early Detection Of Cardiotoxicity In Patients With Breast Cancer, Begimaia Akbalaeva, Salman Khan, Priti Singh, Mukhtar Ansari, Muteb Alanazi

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Objectives: Breast cancer (BC) treatment often involves cardiotoxic chemotherapy, leading to potential cardiac dysfunction. Early detection of cardiotoxicity is crucial for timely intervention and improved patient outcomes. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) and cardiospecific markers in detecting early signs of cardiotoxicity in BC patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods: The study included 45 women (mean age, 55.8±12 years) diagnosed with HER-2 positive BC. They were treated with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide for the first four cycles (group-1), docetaxel and Trastuzumab for the second four cycles (group-2), and Trastuzumab for the third four cycles or more subsequent …

Evaluating Depression In Adults Undergoing Substance Abuse Treatment: A Program Evaluation Of Intensive Outpatient Program, Chidochomoyo E. Zvirawa

Dissertations

Problem: Depression and substance use disorders (SUDs) frequently co-occur, complicating recovery outcomes. Despite screening recommendations, depression remains underdiagnosed in many SUD treatment settings.

Methods: This mixed-methods program evaluation examined depressive symptoms among adults in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8). Depression screenings were conducted at intake, four weeks, and eight weeks. Eight participants meeting inclusion criteria were assessed. Data included demographics, treatment engagement, and PHQ-8 scores.

Results: PHQ-8 scores significantly declined from baseline (M = 11.75, SD = 6.52) to eight weeks (M = 5.13, SD = 5.05), t(7) = 2.76, p = .028, indicating …

Motivating Students To Move And Therefore Honor God With Their Bodies, Shari Jurgens

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Abstract

This qualitative content analysis investigated the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation necessary for male and female colleges students to engage in physical activity, including spiritual aspects. Survey questions were used to collect data from 80 college students from the suburbs of Chicago, ages 18-24, 43 males and 37 females. Data analysis included coding of the student comments and results showed that males are motivated by the extrinsic motivators of competition and social engagement and the intrinsic motivators of enjoyment and stress relief while females are motivated by the extrinsic motivator of appearance and the intrinsic motivators of spirituality, enjoyment and …

Does Schooling Improve Cognitive Abilities At Older Ages? Causal Evidence From Nonparametric Bounds, Vikesh Amin, Jere R. Behrman, Jason M. Fletcher, Carlos A. Flores, Alfonso Flores-Lagunes, Hans-Peter Kohler

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

We revisit much-investigated relationships between schooling and health, focusing on schooling impacts on cognitive abilities at older ages using the Harmonized Cognition Assessment Protocol in the Health & Retirement Study (HRS) and a bounding approach that requires relatively weak assumptions. Our estimated upper bounds on the population average effects indicate potentially large causal effects of increasing schooling from primary to secondary; yet, these upper bounds are smaller than many estimates from the literature on causal schooling impacts on cognition using compulsory-schooling laws. We also cannot rule out small and null effects at this margin. We do, however, find evidence for …

Accessibility Challenges Encountered By People With Disabilities And Older Residents Of Rural Areas, Sidney Ackerman, Ariana Aghevli, Jenna Aguilar, Nicholas Alfano, Yousef Altayeb, Michael Bennett, Alexander Bergendorf, Margaux Bouret, Maria Canazart, Samantha Campbell, Jonah Carter, Michelle Chen, Morgan Coghlan, Chloee Copper, Fiona Crenshaw, Gabi Durkin, Defne Ekici, Ryan Ficarra, Mckinzie Hammond, Lauren Hedges, Aidan Jones, Shreya Krishnan, Roey Kuo, Allison Lisota, Mary Maffei, Gianna Marzen, Matthew Mauermann, Ayron Milgrom, Rohit Mukherjee, Amanda Munsell, Sunita Nhemafuki, Matthew Ottenweller, Joe Pierzakowski, Tejasi Raghuprasad, Urja Raipancholia, Neha Rajeev, Allie Ranaldi, Sarah Sammon, Maria Sequeria, Nicole A. Stepp, Bekah Spors, Justine Talbert, Sveni Thalor, Erin Thomas, Pablo Torres, Matthew Williams, Bradley S. Duerstock, Yilun Li

Undergraduate Coursework

No abstract provided.

Implementing Exercise Is Medicine At Byu, Destiny Rose H. Romero

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Exercise has been proven for millennia to have significant health benefits, both preventative and curative. Many modern diseases and ailments can be prevented, alleviated, or even cured with increased physical activity. Unfortunately, the United States health system has yet to effectively integrate exercise into mainstream medical models. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is working to solve this disconnect through their global health initiative Exercise is Medicine (EIM). Most relevant to BYU is their EIM-On Campus program, which incorporates principles of exercise medicine into colleges and universities. This thesis first explores the dynamics of the health system that inhibit …

The Bone Is Not Alone: Skeletal Muscle Is A Novel Source Of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23, Kylie Heitman

All ETDs from UAB

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health issue often accompanied by various pathologies. Hyperphosphatemia contributes to a range of complications, including vascular calcification, systemic inflammation, anemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, and skeletal muscle atrophy. Phosphate homeostasis is tightly regulated through a combination of renal excretion and its storage in bones, with fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 playing a central role in this regulation. Produced primarily by osteocytes in response to elevated serum phosphate, FGF23 helps maintain phosphate balance by promoting renal phosphate excretion and inhibiting the synthesis of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. Dysregulation of FGF23 is associated both …

Evaluating Impacts Of Improved Flooring On Enteric And Parasitic Infections In Rural Households In Kenya: Study Protocol For A Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial, Katherine E. Halliday, Stella Kepha, Hugo Legge, Elizabeth Allen, Robert Dreibelbis, Lynne Elson, Beatrice K. Kakoi, Carlos Mcharo, Sharon Muli, Jacinta Mwongeli, Doris Njomo, Margaret M. Njoroge, Victoria Ochwal, William E. Oswald, Martin Rono, Tuva K. Safari, Ulrike Filinger, James Wambua Kaluli, Charles S. Mwandawiro, Rachel L. Pullan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Introduction Earthen floors are often damp or dusty and difficult to clean, providing an ideal environment for faecal pathogens and parasites. Observational studies have revealed associations between household flooring and health outcomes, but robust experimental evidence is scant. This study will evaluate the impact of an improved household flooring intervention on enteric infections, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections and tungiasis through implementation of a cluster-randomised trial in two rural settings in Kwale and Bungoma Counties, Kenya. Methods and analyses 440 clusters (households) across both sites are allocated to control or intervention group, in which a low-cost, sealed, washable, cement-based floor is …

From Lockdown To Learning: Understanding Motivation Shifts In High School Students Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kelly Lindberg

University Honors Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic induced profound disruptions to the educational landscape, significantly impacting high school students' motivation to learn. This thesis explores how these disruptions affected students' intrinsic and extrinsic motivations through the lenses of three motivational theories: Self-Determination Theory, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and Expectancy-Value Theory. By examining changes in the learning environment, social connections, and mental health before, during, and after the pandemic, this study identifies key factors that shaped changes in students' academic engagement. The shift to online learning during the pandemic, combined with social isolation and increased mental health challenges, diminished students' intrinsic motivation and weakened their …

Causal Effects Of Schooling On Memory At Older Ages In Six Low-And-Middle-Income Countries: Nonparametric Evidence With Harmonized Datasets, Vikesh Amin, Jere R. Behrman, Jason M. Fletcher, Carlos A. Flores, Alfonso Flores-Lagunes, Iliana Kohler, Hans-Peter Kohler, Shana D. Stites

Upjohn Institute Working Papers

Higher schooling attainment is associated with better cognitive function at older ages, but it remains unclear whether the relationship is causal. We estimate causal effects of schooling on performances on the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD) word-recall (memory) test at older ages in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa. We used harmonized data (n=30,896) on older adults (≥50 years) from the World Health Organization Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health. We applied an established nonparametric partialidentification approach that bounds causal effects of increasing schooling attainment at different parts of the schooling distributions under …

Review Of Bronchiectasis Among Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Children And Young People (0-18 Years Old), André Schultz, Anne Chang

Journal of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease that often commences during childhood. The disease is often under-recognised but can have a significant lifelong impact and shorten survival. This review discussed bronchiectasis in the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. The review includes section on disease prevalence, risk- and protective factors, prevention diagnosis and treatment, the role of the health system, government initiatives and future directions.

University Counseling Center Therapists' Perspectives Of Counseling About Nutrition, Ana Lucia Pacheco

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined university counseling center therapists' perspectives on discussing nutrition in therapy. Despite the established link between nutrition and mental health, minimal research has explored how therapists approach these discussions. This study used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to analyze semi-structured interviews with 10 university counseling center therapists from the Mountain West region. Four overarching themes emerged: a deficit view of nutrition, perceived utility, ethical practice, and holistic care. Therapists unanimously recognized the connection between nutrition and mental health and primarily discussed nutrition with clients presenting with eating disorders or disordered eating, those who express interest, or as part of …

Tracking The Kinetics Cellular Glycolysis And Glutaminolysis Pathways Using Vibrational Spectroscopy, Combined With Multivariate Statistical And Machine Learning Approaches For Data Mining, Zohreh Mirveis, Nithin Patil, Hugh Byrne

SAML-25 Workshop on Statistical and Machine Learning

Understanding dynamic metabolic processes within living cells is crucial for gaining insights into cellular function and disease mechanisms. The kinetics of glycolysis and glutaminolysis pathways play significant roles, as alterations in their activity have been linked to various disorders, including cancer and mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder. These pathways therefore hold potential as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and therapy. However, real-time monitoring of their kinetics remains challenging due to the lack of suitable non-invasive techniques. Current gold-standard fluxomics approaches, such as mass spectrometry, are destructive to cells and thus unsuitable for time-resolved studies. In this study, we evaluate …

Development Of Antimicrobial Formulations From Natural Extracts And Zinc Nanoparticles, Mia Keane, Lily Jaiswal, Shiv Shankar

Level 3

No abstract provided.

A Literature-Informed Nutrition Patient Communication Toolkit For Hashimoto’S Thyroiditis, Kieren Ritter

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

This project is intended to help bridge the gap in nutrition education and treatment for the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT). Current research was synthesized and converted into a communication tool for adults diagnosed with HT. The toolkit was based on 33 articles, from three databases, that passed the inclusion and exclusion criteria for analysis. The education toolkit was intended to be practical and valuable for below a high school reading level. The aforementioned articles reviewed the effects of dietary changes on HT with vitamin D, selenium, gluten removal, dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet and Autoimmune Protocol, and …

United Through Reading: Longitudinal Evaluation 18-Month Findings, Erica M. Hawvermale, Cassidy J. Cooper, Bonnie Chapman Beers

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This report details the findings from the first eighteen months of a longitudinal evaluation of United Through Reading's (UTR) programs and services across four outcome areas: 1) child literacy, 2) child wellbeing, 3) adult wellbeing, and 4) family connection.

Special Issue, Nanolab Research Centre Student Articles, Preface And Contents, Furong Tian

Level 3

No abstract provided.

Development Of Antimicrobal Formulations From Natural Extracts And Silver Nanoparticles, Ellen Hoey, Lily Jaiswal, Shiv Shankar

Level 3

No abstract provided.

Utah Strawberries: Consumer Consumption And Purchasing Preferences, Makaylie Langford, Kynda R. Curtis

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is the first of two discussing the results of a study on consumer preferences and willingness to pay (pricing) for fresh strawberries. The study was conducted on the Logan, Utah, campus of Utah State University (USU) in August 2024, and participants were recruited via campus emails, flyers, and social media posts targeted at the greater Logan community. A total of 116 study participants completed a sensory taste test of organically, locally, and conventionally grown strawberry samples, followed by a survey that included questions about their demographics, shopping habits, and familiarity with, as well as beliefs about, various …

The Relationship Between Food Label Comprehension And Consumer Dietary Choices, Marline Denis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor dietary choices and limited understanding of nutritional information are ongoing public health concerns that contribute to the rise of chronic illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. This quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study investigated the associations between health literacy and food label comprehension with consumer dietary choices and adherence to dietary guidelines among individuals aged 16 and older in the United States. Guided by the Nutrition Label Literacy (NLL) framework, this study explored whether components such as basic nutritional knowledge, numeracy skills, health motivation, and label usage predict healthier food choices. Age, education, and gender were included as covariates. …

Ghaf Microgreen: A Novel Funvtional Food With Improved Nutritional Content Using Nanoparticles-Seed Priming, Hamda Ahmed Alhindaassi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Providing enough food for a growing global population is not only a significant issue for the future but also millions of people worldwide suffer from hidden hunger. Microgreens are renowned for their dense nutrient profile, and higher vitamin levels, minerals, and antioxidants than mature plants. Despite the burgeoning interest in microgreens, the availability of diverse and locally relevant varieties remains limited in many regions, including the UAE. This gap in the availability of indigenous microgreens presents an opportunity to explore alternative sources of nutritious greens tailored to the local environment. Among the indigenous flora of the UAE, the Ghaf (Prosopis …

Dementia Care: The Role Of Experiential Learning In Nursing Education, Jeannie Simpson

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

The escalating global prevalence of dementia necessitates enhanced educational strategies to prepare nursing students to care effectively for individuals living with dementia. Traditional methods in nursing education predominantly focus on pharmacological treatments and basic caregiving strategies, often neglecting innovative approaches like the Music & Memory® program, Virtual Dementia Tour®, and Montessori dementia. By including these innovative approaches, future nurses will be better equipped to develop and implement person-centered care for individuals living with dementia to improve their quality of life. The integration of these approaches will also meet the growing demands of dementia care, aligning with global health mandates.

The Aga Khan University's Economic Impacts In Pakistan

University press releases and calendars

No abstract provided.

Productivity Of Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) And Availability Of Phosphorous Under Different Sources Of Phosphorous, Walelign Demisie, Tesfu Mengistu, Tigist Abrham

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Common bean is the most widely grown nutritious pulse in the world and is favored by small-scale farmers in Ethiopia to ensure food security. However, the crop yield is low due to the lesser availability of phosphorous (P) in soil caused by P fixation (formation of insoluble compounds due to reaction of P with other minerals), and use of mineral fertilizers at a rate less than recommended because they are unaffordable for the poor farmers. Thus, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different source of P on productivity of common bean and availability of P. An …

Effect Of Artemia Nauplii, Microencapsulated Diet And Their Combination On The Growth Of Koi Carp (Cyprinus Carpio Var. Koi) Fry, Mohamed Khalfan Alwahaibi, Wenresti G. Gallardo, Ahmed Al Souti, Mohammed Al Qarni

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Koi carp (Cyprinus carpio var. koi) is an ornamental and economically important freshwater fish. Despite its global trade, knowledge on the suitable diet for optimum growth remains limited. To address this gap, we investigated the effect of microencapsulated diet, Artemia, and their combination on the weight gain of koi carp fry reared in glass tanks for six weeks at temperatures ranging from 29.5°C to 35.8°C. A total of 900 koi carps were randomly assigned to three treatments receiving different feed types at the same feeding time. Koi carp fry fed microencapsulated diet exhibited significantly higher (P < 0.05) final weight (0.42 g), weight gain (0.27 g) and specific growth rate (5.08%) compared to those fed Artemia nauplii only or the combination of both feeds. These results suggest that feeding koi carp with microencapsulated diet significantly improves the growth of koi carp fry in indoor tanks.

Effect Of Temperature And Salinity On The Survival Of Early Larval Stage Of Scalloped Spiny Lobster, Panulirus Homarus, Mohamed Al-Wahaibi, Wenresti Gallardo, Jupit Donoso, Michel Claereboudt

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

The scalloped spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus, is one of the most valuable and highly demanded seafood species. Due to its limited supply from the wild and its high value, commercial aquaculture of this species has gained considerable attention. However, information on the basic water quality requirements is yet to be explored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of different levels of culture temperature and salinity on the survival of early larval stages of the scalloped spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus. Stage-one larvae were obtained from an egg-bearing broodstock and hatched at a temperature and salinity of 26 °C and …

Microbial Characteristics Of Cook-Chill Sandwiches: Technical Note, Ameer S. Al-Rawahi, Ismail M. Al-Bulushi, Mohammed H. Al-Rizeiqi, Lyutha K. Al-Subhi

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Ready-To-Eat (RTE) foods such as sandwiches challenge food safety due to the initial microbial load of ingredients, unhygienic practices and improper temperature during handling and storing. Microbial load in RTE foods such as sandwiches is limited in Oman. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize RTE Cook-Chill Sandwiches (CCS) by microbiologically assessing the safety and quality of the products. Sixty CCS of eggs, chicken, tuna and meat sandwiches were collected from different cafés and supermarkets in Muscat, Oman. Microbial characteristics were evaluated by enumeration of the total bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and Salmonella sp. The CCS had Total Bacterial Counts (TBC) of 6.0, …

Chemical Composition Of Omani Red Seaweeds (Gelidium Omanense And Melanothamnus Somalensis) And Their Phytochemicals As Extracted By Different Organic Solvents, Abdullah Al-Nassri, Ahmed Al-Alawi

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Seaweeds are divided into three categories: green, brown, and red. Each group of seaweeds consists of several families that have differences in composition. Even at the genus level, there are differences in some ingredients, although in general composition, they are nearly the same. Environmental conditions, availability of nutrients, and maturity stage are the main reasons for composition differences. This study aimed to determine approximate composition, mineral profile, protein quality and phytochemical properties of Melanothamnus somalensis & Gelidium omanense seaweeds. Both seaweeds are very abundant in Oman and seaweed Gelidium omanense is one of the unique seaweeds to Oman. Five organic …

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, June 4, 2025, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

2025-06-04 How Farm-To-Food Access Is Making Our Food System More Equitable, Leila Bunker

The Spectator Online

No abstract provided.