Digital Commons Network^™

Motionteller: Multi-Modal Integration Of Wearable Time-Series With Llms For Health And Behavioral Understanding, Aiwei Zhang, Arvind Pillai, Andrew Campbell, Nicholas C. Jacobson

Computer Science Senior Theses

As wearable sensing becomes increasingly pervasive, a key challenge remains: how can we generate natural language summaries from raw physiological signals such as actigraphy - minute-level movement data collected via accelerometers? In this work, we introduce MotionTeller, a generative framework that natively integrates minute-level wearable activity data with large language models (LLMs). MotionTeller combines a pretrained actigraphy encoder with a lightweight projection module that maps behavioral embeddings into the token space of a frozen decoder-only LLM, enabling free-text, autoregressive generation of daily behavioral summaries.

We construct a novel dataset of 54,383 ⟨actigraphy, text⟩ pairs derived from real-world NHANES recordings, and …

Race, Resources, And American Adolescents’ Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Chineze Nkemeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

During the COVID-19 pandemic, African American adolescents experienced reduced access to needed resources and may have suffered poorer mental health outcomes as a result. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association between race and the availability of mental health resources, food, medical health resources and mental health outcomes among African American adolescents in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to their White counterparts. The theoretical framework that grounded this study was the Socio Ecological Model. Secondary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey database were analyzed. These …

Seasonal Vertical Migration Of Large Polar Copepods Reinterpreted As A Dispersal Mechanism Throughout The Water Column, Katie Jones, Giuliano Laudone, Katrin Schmidt, Barbara Niehoff, Astrid Cornils, Wilhelm Hagen, Hauke Flores, Céline Heuzé, Nahid Welteke, Sabrina Dorschner, Matthias Woll, Robert G. Campbell, Carin J. Ashjian, Cecilia E. Gelfman, Katyanne M. Shoemaker, Rebecca Jenkins, Benoit Lebreton, Gael Guillou, Clara J.M. Hoppe, Serdar Sakinan, Fokje L. Schaafsma, Nicole Hildebrandt, Giulia Castellani, Simon Belt, Allison A. Fong, Angus Atkinson, Martin Graeve

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Seasonal vertical migration of large lipid-rich copepods is often described as a mass descent of animals when primary production ceases, with important implications for mesopelagic food webs and global carbon sequestration. This view ignores the existence of surface-resident individuals, but here we show that non-migrants can form a substantial part of the populations of polar migrant species. In the Central Arctic Ocean, the biomass-dominant Calanus hyperboreus was evenly distributed throughout the water column from November 2019 to March 2020, with ~20% of subadults and adult females remaining in the upper 200 m and ~41% migrating to 1000–2000 m. These vertical …

Effect Of Application Of Epiphytic Yeast Meyerozyma Guilliermondii Squcc-33y And Tamarindus Indica Leaf Extract On Alternaria Alternata-Induced Post-Harvest Black Mold Rot Of Tomato Fruits, Samiya Saleh Al-Maawali, Abdullah Mohammed Al-Sadi, Zahra Al-Kharousi, Rahil Said Al-Badi, Issa Hashil Al-Mahmooli, Rethinasamy Velazhahan

Journal of Agricultural and Marine Sciences

Black mold rot of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill) fruits, incited by Alternaria alternata, is a major constraint in tomato production worldwide. The fungus invades unripe fruits in the field, remains dormant and then cause symptoms as the fruits begin to ripe. In this study, the effectiveness of the antagonistic yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii SQUCC-33Y and Tamarindus indica leaf extract was assessed for controlling post-harvest black mold fruit rot of tomato. Greenhouse and field tests revealed that pre-harvest application of M. guilliermondii at weekly intervals starting from fruit set to harvest stage significantly reduced the development of post-harvest fruit rot when challenge-inoculated …

Exploring The Functional Potential Of Beetroot And Green Apple Pomace: Characterization, Polyphenolic Extraction And Application In The Bakery Product, Fathima Zenha

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Pomace is a by-product from the juice processing industry that contains around 30-50% of the whole fruit or vegetable. The peel, pulp, seeds, and stem are still a rich source of nutrients, polyphenols, and bioactive compounds. This study was proposed to explore the potential of green apple pomace (GAP) and beetroot pomace (BP) for the extraction of polyphenolic compounds and fortification of bakery products. For a comprehensive characterization, the pomaces were processed into powders of three different particle sizes (≤250, 250-500, and ≥500 μm). The nutritional composition analysis concluded that GAP is a rich source of content (29.06 g/100 g), …

Proceedings From The Sixth Annual Society For Sports Neuroscience Conference, Neurosports Editorial Staff

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Proceedings from the Sixth Annual Society for Sports Neuroscience Conference

The Aga Khan School Of Nursing

University press releases and calendars

No abstract provided.

No. 42: Remittance Practices, Digital Technologies And The Ghana-Canada Migration Corridor, Naomi Sunu, Sujata Ramachandran

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

Migrant remittances have been recognized as vital resources for the well-being of recipient households and communities, as well as for sustainable development in the Global South. However, these flows can be impeded by limitations in the infrastructure, financial systems, and regulatory environments of both sending and receiving countries, as exemplified by the high costs associated with remitting to sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, the use of less secure but more affordable informal remittance channels persists. Driven by the rapid growth of fintech technologies in recent years, including mobile money and web-based platforms, the digitalization of remittance-sending and receiving processes has the potential …

Academic Senate - Agenda, 6/3/2025, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Co-Designing A Digital Nutrition Intervention For Individuals With Severe Mental Illness Using The Behaviour Change Wheel, Ciara O'Sullivan, Tara Coppinger, Indika Dhanapala, Alison Merrotsy

Publications

Title: Co-Designing a Digital Nutrition Intervention for Individuals with Severe Mental Illness Using the Behaviour Change Wheel

Purpose: This study aims to develop a digital nutrition intervention for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) residing in high-support mental health hostels, using a theoretically informed co-design approach.

Design/methodology/approach: This study will employ a participatory, mixed-methods approach, incorporating Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) to ensure user-centred intervention design. The Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) guides the selection of intervention functions, Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) and delivery methods. The study will consist of three phases: (1) Preparation, (2) Co-Design, and (3) Finalisation.

Findings: Data …

Covid-19 & Healthcare (Re)Privatization? A Comparative Analysis Of High And Medium Per Capita Gdp Countries, Kristina Donders, Kaitlyn Matthews, Brittany Reyes, Frank. H. Rizzo

Working Papers Series

This paper examines whether the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated healthcare privatization in high- and medium-GDP countries. Drawing on political economy theories of path dependence and privatization, we analyze changes in public and private healthcare expenditures in eight countries: Canada, Chile, Denmark, Georgia, Luxembourg, Norway, the Philippines, and South Korea—comparing data from 2019 and 2022. Using World Bank indicators on healthcare financing, GDP, aging populations, and food insecurity, we find that although healthcare expenditures generally increased during the pandemic, this increase was primarily in public, not private, spending. Case studies of Georgia and South Korea reveal that local economic and demographic pressures, …

Pelvic Pain Symptoms And Inflammation Among Adolescents And Adults With And Without Endometriosis, Amy Shafrir, Ashley Laliberte, Britani Wallace, Allison F. Vitonis, Christine B. Sieberg, Marzieh Ghiasi, Larry I. Magpantay, Marta Epeldegui, Andrew Schrepf, Sawsan As-Sanie, Kathryn L. Terry, Stacey A. Missmer

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

We evaluated inflammatory markers among 389 surgically confirmed endometriosis cases and 505 controls from the Women's Health Study: From Adolescence to Adulthood (A2A) cohort. Participants reported dysmenorrhea, acyclic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and pain with bowel movements. Using multiplex assays, we measured their levels of plasma interleukin (IL)-1β, -6, -8, -10, and -16, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and -4, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and interferon gamma-induced protein (IP)-10. For each symptom, we computed biomarker-level geometric means (GMs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using multivariate linear regression among the endometriosis cases and controls, with interactions with …

Rooted In Research, Jeremy Gasowski

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

A Review Of The Persistent Burden Of Post-Covid Headaches In Children, Hajir Karim Abdul-Husseein

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

This review focuses on the problem of the headache occurrence in children after COVID. Studies indicated that headaches and fatigue are common long-term symptoms in school-age children following COVID-19 infection. The prevalence of persistent post-COVID headaches in children varies between 5% and 25.4%, often lasting for at least 3 months. Exploration of potential pathophysiological mechanisms of post-COVID headaches in children includes the trigemino-vascular system, viral-induced inflammation, immune system dysregulation, and compromised cerebral blood flow. Age-related immune responses and the expression of receptors like ACE2 may also play a role in pediatric headache development. The features of post-COVID headaches in children …

Exploring Educator Psychological Capital Through Participation In A Coordinated School Violence Prevention Approach, Stephanie Lorraine Neff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study is a description of how educators’ participation in a coordinated approach to violence prevention contributed to employee wellness and school climate. Using principles of psychological capital (PsyCap) theory, archival focus group and interview data were used to describe educator experiences during implementation of a 3-year coordinated approach to school violence in a mid-sized public school district. Findings of the analysis revealed consistent references to feelings of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism throughout the study, but with slight shifts in frequency each year based on both internal (i.e. skill development, relationship-building), and external (i.e. administrative support, policy directives, broader …

Benefits And Challenges Of Collaborative Networks Addressing Food System Disruptions During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Dikshya Dahal, Tania Schusler

School of Environmental Sustainability: Faculty Publications and Other Works

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted food systems with disproportionate impacts on marginalized social groups, which in the USA included racial and ethnic minorities, working class families, immigrants, seniors, and people with disabilities, among others. The pandemic also greatly affected the operations of nonprofit organizations, which play important roles in disaster response. We explored how social networks supported non-profit organizations’ efforts to address increased food insecurity and food-related business disruptions during the pandemic in the Chicago region, IL, USA. We used mixed methods including a Social Network Analysis (SNA) of 48 organizations and their reported partners plus focus group discussions with representatives …

Lipoprotein(A) And Heart Failure Among Black And White Participants In Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study, Framingham Offspring Study, And Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis: The Pooling Project, Sarah Nomura, Weihua Guan, Yixin Zhang, Geoffrey H Tison, Hiroaki Ikezaki, Margaret R Diffenderfer, Ching-Ti Liu, Ron C Hoogeveen, Christie M Ballantyne, Ernst J Schaefer, Michael Y Tsai

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: This study investigated Lp(a) (lipoprotein(a)) levels with heart failure (HF) incidence overall and ejection fraction (EF) subtypes among Black and White participants in a pooled analysis of MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), FOS (Framingham Offspring Study), and ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study).

Methods: This study was conducted among 16 771 White and Black participants in ARIC (N=10 347), MESA (N=4150), and FOS (N=2274). Baseline was time of Lp(a) measurement (ARIC Visit 4: 1996-1998; MESA Visit 1: 2000-2002; FOS Cycle 6: 1995-1998). HF with reduced EF (HFrEF) was defined as EF < 50% and ≥50% as HF with preserved EF (HFpEF). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate associations between Lp(a) (log-transformed continuous, dichotomized at ≥30 mg/dL and ≥50 mg/dL, and quartiles) and HF (overall, HFpEF, HFrEF) in the overall population and stratified by race. Analyses were replicated excluding prior history of myocardial infarction.

Results: There were 2759 HF cases (HFpEF N=859; …

Beyond The Surface: Mapping Dde's Metabolic Footprint On Adolescent Obesity, Zhenjiang Li, Shudi Pan, Brittney O Baumert, Jiawen Carmen Chen, Jesse A Goodrich, Hongxu Wang, Sarah Rock, Justin Ryder, Damaskini Valvi, Todd Jenkins, Stephanie Sisley, Xiangping Lin, Scott M Bartell, Thomas H Inge, Stavra Xanthakos, Brooklynn Mcneil, Anna R Robuck, Catherine E Mullins, Sandrah P Eckel, Rob S Mcconnell, Michele A La Merrill, Douglas I Walker, David V Conti, Lida Chatzi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Bariatric surgery is an intervention for severe obesity, leading to significant weight loss and metabolic improvements. However, the release of lipophilic chemicals accumulated in adipose tissue during weight loss presents a unique clinical challenge and research opportunity. Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) is a persistent organic pollutant increasingly recognized as obesogen, while the biological mechanisms through which DDE influences body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference remain underexplored.

Objectives: We aimed to identify metabolic signatures mediating the association between DDE exposure and weight loss by plasma and adipose tissue metabolomics.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study involving 60 adolescents with severe obesity …

Case-Based Learning For Dysphagia Continuing Education: Participant Perceptions On Facilitators And Barriers, Kalea Jones, Sarah Szynkiewicz, Grayson Hill, Courtney Broadfoot, Kendrea L. Garand, Memorie M. Gosa

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

Case-based learning (CBL) is a valuable approach to healthcare education, fostering deeper learning, clinical reasoning, and decision-making skills, especially in complex medical conditions such as dysphagia. For speech-language pathologists who manage dysphagia, a CBL approach provides interactive hands-on learning opportunities. We examined the benefits and challenges of a CBL approach to dysphagia continuing education using participant feedback. Twenty participants who attended the Alabama Dysphagia Collective Conference in September 2023 in Tuscaloosa, AL completed a Likert-style survey evaluating attitudes and opinions toward a CBL conference design. Participants also provided open-ended feedback on the facilitators, barriers, clinical practice implementation, new skills learned, …

Modifying Electronic Medical Record Workflows To Improve Protein Provision To Enterally Fed Icu Patients, Catherine Karlak

2025 Swedish FISH (Fostering Interdisciplinary Solutions in Healthcare) Conference

No abstract provided.

Managing Values-Based Purchasing In School Nutrition Programs, Laura Lee Benavidez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School nutrition managers face the challenge of balancing values-based purchasing (VBP) with maintaining student participation and budgetary stability. While VBP integrates sustainability, environmental impact, and animal safety, these priorities may sometimes compete with traditional goals, such as cost efficiency and meal accessibility. Grounded in program evaluation theory, the purpose of this mixed methods explanatory sequential study was to examine how school food service managers implement VPB, integrating procurement and nutrition transparency while managing participation and costs. The quantitative phase focused on participation trends, cost structures, and procurement metrics across diverse school districts to establish a foundation for understanding VBP’s measurable …

Enhancing The Acidic Activity Of D-Lyxose Isomerase By Molecular Modification Methods, Li Qiaoling, Hu Yang, Zhou Huiling, Yu Xun, Wen Li, Wu Hao

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To improve the activity of D-lyxose isomerase under acidic conditions.［Methods］ Solvent -accessible surface bioinformatics analysis was performed on surface residues of D-lyxose isomerase derived from Caldanaerobius polysaccharolyticus,and six mutation sites,i.e.,K2D,K2E,K8D,K8E,K18D,and K 18E,were designed.Mutants were constructed and subjected to recombinant inducible heterologous expression in Escherichia coli.The recombinant mutant enzymes were isolated and purified using a nickel affinity chromatography column.In vitro comparative experiments were conducted to evaluate the catalytic conversion of D-fructose to D-mannose by the recombinant mutant enzymes at acidic pH 5.5 and near -neutral pH 6.5.［Results］］ The recombinant mutant enzymes K 8D and K 8E showed significantly improved catalytic …

Interaction Between Casein And Tlr 4 On Neutrophil Surface Based On Molecular Dynamics, Tang Yang, Jiang Fei, Zhang Bo, Wen Li, Xie Yufei

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To explore the activation effect of casein (CN) on neutrophils and its interaction with TLR 4 receptors on the neutrophil surface.［Methods］ The zebrafish model is adopted to study the activation effect of CN on neutrophil migration,with such methods as 3D model construction,molecular docking,and molecular dynamics simulations employed to study the interaction between TLR 4 receptors and CN subtypes.［Results］］ Treatment of 3 dpf zebrafish with 1 mg/mL of CN solution for 2 h can induce neutrophil migration and accumulation inside the body of the zebrafish.All subtypes of CN can form stable complexes with TLR 4.It is speculated that the key …

Differences In Odor Compounds Between Roasted And Microwaved Walnut Oils Compared By Arrow-Spme-Gc-Ms Combined With Stoichiometry Method, Xu Xiaoxue

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To compare the effects of roasting and microwave conditions on odor compounds in walnut oil.［Methods］ Identification of odor compounds in roasted walnut oil (140 ℃ roasting for 15 and 30 min;160 ℃ roasting for 15 and 30 min ) and microwaved walnut oil (700 W for 1,3,5,and 7 min ) is performed by gas chromatography -mass spectrometry (GC-MS).［Results］］ A total of 74 odor compounds are identified,and the mass fraction of odor compounds gradually rises with increasing roasting temperature and microwave time.Aldehydes and heterocycles are the most dominant odor compounds in walnut oil.The 3-methyl butanal,pentanal,phenylacetaldehyde,2,3-butanedione,2,3-pentanedione,2-pentylfuran,and 2-ethyl -6-methylpyrazine are determined to …

Effect Of Sio 2 Low-Temperature Refining Pretreatment On Quality Of Pumpkin Seed Oil Extracted By Critical Fluid, Zhao Lina, Li Jin

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To solve the problem that pumpkin seed oil (PSO ) prepared by critical fluid extraction contains more impurities,this paper employs two types of SiO2 to refine the PSO at low temperature and study the influence of them on the quality characteristics of the oil.［Methods］ Gas chromatography,high performance liquid chromatography,and ultraviolet spectroscopy are adopted to analyze and compare the quality difference of PSO prepared from two critical fluids and the influence of low -temperature refining treatment of SiO2 on PSO quality characteristics.［Results］］ The results show that the fatty acid content and composition of PSO extracted by two critical fluids are …

Odor Characteristic Discrimination Of Northeast Chinese Fermented Soybean Paste Based On Sensory Analysis , Electronic Nose , And Gc-Ims, Ji Shenglong, Li Meishan, Li Fenglin, Chen Fuyu, Wei Deng

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To explore the differences in volatile flavor profiles and discriminate odor characteristics among four kinds of commercially available fermented soybean paste.［Methods］ A comprehensive analysis of the differences in volatile flavor profiles and odor characteristics of four types of fermented soybean paste is conducted by sensory profile,electronic nose,and gas chromatography -ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS ).［Results］］ The main volatile organic compounds (VOCs ) in the four types of Northeast Chinese fermented soybean paste are esters,acids,aldehydes,ketones,and heterocyclic volatiles such as pyrazines,furans,and pyrroles.Sour and putrid aromas are the core odors contributing to the "pungent odor" of fermented soybean paste.CJ1 exhibits a more intense …

Preparation Of Potato Protein Fiber By Trypsin Method And Its Structural And Functional Properties, Zhou Xiangjun, Li Miao

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To investigate the preparation of potato protein fiber (PPF) based on enzymatic method,and further analyze their structural and functional properties.［Methods］ PPF is prepared from potato protein isolate (PPI) through enzymatic hydrolysis with trypsin (Tyr) and acid -heat treatment.The effects of protein mass concentration,heating time,Tyr activity,and heating temperature on the fluorescence intensity of PPF are studied.Structural properties of PPF are characterized by infrared spectroscopy,fluorescence spectroscopy,etc.With curcumin (Cur) as an encapsulated object,the encapsulation efficiency,loading capacity,thermal stability,and antioxidant activity of PPF -Cur complexes are investigated.［Results］］ During the fibrosis process of PPF,the β-sheet content increases from 28.12% to 32.29%,and the α-helix content increases …

Extraction , Purification , And Structural Characteristics Of Polysaccharide From Roasted Beans Of Coffea Arabica, Shen Xiaojing, Ye Renfeng, Gong Shuchun, Wang Hongsheng, Jiang Weiwei

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To study the composition and structural characteristics of polysaccharides from roasted beans of Coffea arabica.［Methods］ Roasted beans of C.arabica were used as raw materials.The hot water extraction combined with alcohol precipitation method was optimized using the response surface methodology to extract polysaccharides.The crude polysaccharide was purified using the Sevag method,macroporous resin,cellulose column,and gel separation technology.Total sugar,total phenol,total flavonoid,and monosaccharide compositions were analyzed using the phenol -sulfuric acid method,Folin -Ciocalteu assay,NaNO2-AlCl3-NaOH method,and ion chromatography,respectively.The structural characteristics of the polysaccharides were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM ).Additionally,the in vitro antioxidant activity of the polysaccharides was evaluated.［Results］］ …

Legislative Research On Health Taxes On High Sugar And High Salt Foods Based On Foreign Experience, Wang Linzhi, Wang Chunyang

Food and Machinery

The health hazards of high sugar and high salt foods have led to an increasing chronic disease burden globally,which has become a major challenge in public health.By analyzing the legislative practices of health taxes in countries including Mexico,Chile,and the United Kingdom,it is identified that foreign health taxes have the advantages and disadvantages of a single,comprehensive,and tiered tax rate model.The public consumption behavior changes,health benefits,and negative issues are also evaluated.Given this,the necessity and feasibility of health tax legislation for high sugar and high salt foods in China are further explored.A health tax legislative framework is proposed,involving tax system elements,procedural rules,and supporting …

Moderate Processing Of Wheat Based On Milling Procedures, Zhang Peijie, Ren Guangyue, Liu Wenchao, Fan Huiping, Zhang Debang

Food and Machinery

［Objective］ To investigate the production procedures for moderately processed wheat flour,with the aim of improving milling efficiency,reducing raw material loss,and enhancing flour quality.［Methods］ The milling process was conducted by regulating key steps (wheat conditioning,sifting,bran milling,and roll spacing adjustment ).Flour quality was comprehensively evaluated based on flour yield and flour characteristics to determine the optimal moderate processing procedure.［Results］］ The roll spacing adjustment -non-conditioning process yielded the highest flour output (72.05 g/100 g),representing an increase of 8.96% compared to the control group and 14.24% compared to the non -conditioning process.Moreover,the protein content of flour obtained through the roll spacing adjustment -non-conditioning method …