Digital Commons Network^™

Mechanisms Of How Sarcopenia Affects Functional Outcomes In Acute Ischaemic Stroke, Dong-Seok Gwak, Jinyong Chung, Dawid Schellingerhout, Hyerin Oh, Sang-Wuk Jeong, Ji Sung Lee, Dong-Eog Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sarcopenia, a common geriatric condition characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, can negatively affect functional outcomes in acute ischaemic stroke; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that sarcopenia affects post-stroke outcomes, mediated through its impact on dysphagia, early neurological deterioration, or post-stroke recovery, particularly in patients with motor deficits. To explore this hypothesis, we included 600 consecutive elderly (≥65 years) patients with acute (< 1 week) ischaemic stroke and assessed: (i) the relationships sarcopenia has with dysphagia, early neurological deterioration and various phases of recovery after stroke (in-hospital, post-discharge [up to 3 months], and chronic [3 months to 1 year]) and (ii) whether either presenting symptoms or lesion locations modify the impact of sarcopenia on stroke outcomes. Temporal muscle thickness, a marker of sarcopenia, was measured by brain magnetic resonance imaging and dichotomized into low versus high temporal muscle thickness at the 25th percentile cut-off point. Logistic regression analysis, mediation analysis and statistical brain mapping were conducted. Mean age was 75.3 ± 6.1 years and 303 (50.5%) were male. Low temporal muscle thickness (< 5.1 mm) was independently associated with dysphagia (adjusted odds ratio 1.89 [95% confidence interval 1.06–3.37], P = 0.03), early neurological deterioration (adjusted odds ratio 2.75 [95% confidence interval 1.61–4.71], P < 0.001) and post-discharge recovery (adjusted odds ratio 0.56 [95% confidence interval 0.34–0.94], P = 0.03) but not with in-hospital or chronic recovery. In addition, dysphagia, early neurological …

Detrimental Effects Of Space Flight On The Lumbar Spine May Be Correlated To Baseline Degeneration: Insights From An Advanced Mr Imaging Study, Rakan Bokhari, Daniel G Bisson, Maryse Fortin, Marie Vigouroux, Juan Pablo Cata, Ken-Pin Hwang, Melissa M Chen, Guillermo Ceniza-Bordallo, Jean A Ouellet, Pablo M Ingelmo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Pain in lower back is a common condition reported by astronauts, both during and after space missions. Investigating the alterations in the spine and the mechanisms driving these changes is essential for a deeper understanding of how microgravity impacts the human spine. This knowledge could also open pathways for therapeutic or preventive interventions. Nevertheless, there is a limited evidence regarding changes in intervertebral discs (IVDs) due to space travel.

Materials and methods: In this study, 2 astronauts were enrolled in a space travel. Before the space flight, a lower back magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was performed. We repeated …

Fatty Pancreas On Eus: Risk Factors, Correlation With Ct/Mri, And Implications For Pancreatic Cancer Screening, Ramez M Ibrahim, Shantanu Solanki, Wei Qiao, Hyunsoo Hwang, Ben S Singh, Irina M Cazacu, Adrian Saftoiu, Matthew H G Katz, Michael P Kim, Florencia Mcallister, Manoop S Bhutani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and objectives: Fatty pancreas (FP), traditionally perceived as a benign finding, has been undergoing scrutiny lately due to growing evidence linking it to various disease states, including increased risk for pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods: A retrospective study of patients who underwent EUS at a single institution from August 2007 to October 2023, conducted by one endosonographer with more than 25 years of experience. Focusing on individuals identified with FP during EUS, we compared these findings with corresponding findings on computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MRI) conducted within 3 months or 1 year prior to or following EUS.

Results: Ninety-one patients …

Exposure Therapy Consortium: Outcomes Of The Proof-Of-Principle Study, Jasper A J Smits, Jonathan S Abramowitz, Rebecca A Anderson, Joanna J Arch, Daniel Badeja, Snir Barzilay, Amanda N Belanger, Thomas Borchert, Emma Bryant, Alane S Burger, Laura J Dixon, Christina D Dutcher, Hayley E Fitzgerald, Bronwyn M Graham, Anke Haberkamp, Stefan G Hofmann, Jürgen Hoyer, Jonathan D Huppert, David Johnson, Baraa Q Kabha, Alex Kirk, Jürgen Margraf, Peter M Mcevoy, Bryan Mcspadden, Jill Newby, Michael W Otto, Santiago Papini, E Marie Parsons, Andre Pittig, Roxana Pittig, Winfried Rief, Svenja Schaumburg, Kiara R Timpano, Lena Waltemate, Andre Wannemüller, Cornelia Weise, Exposure Therapy Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: This paper reports on the outcomes of a proof-of-principle study for the Exposure Therapy Consortium, a global network of researchers and clinicians who work to improve the effectiveness and uptake of exposure therapy. The study aimed to test the feasibility of the consortium's big-team science approach and test the hypothesis that adding post-exposure processing focused on enhancing threat reappraisal would enhance the efficacy of a one-session large-group interoceptive exposure therapy protocol for reducing anxiety sensitivity.

Methods: The study involved a multi-site cluster-randomized controlled trial comparing exposure with post-processing (ENHANCED), exposure without post-processing (STANDARD), and a stress management intervention (CONTROL) …

Correspondence To Letter To The Editor On “Genomic Biomarkers To Predict Response To Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab Immunotherapy In Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Insights From The Imbrave150 Trial”, Sung Hwan Lee, Sun Young Yim, Ji Hoon Kim, Sunyoung S Lee, Ahmed O Kaseb, Peng Wei, Ju-Seog Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Exercise And Nutrition To Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes (Enicto), Kathryn H Schmitz, Justin C Brown, Melinda L Irwin, Kim Robien, Jessica M Scott, Nathan A Berger, Bette Caan, Andrea Cercek, Tracy E Crane, Scott R Evans, Jennifer A Ligibel, Jeffrey A Meyerhardt, Tanya Agurs-Collins, Karen Basen-Engquist, Jennifer W Bea, Sheng F Cai, Brenda Cartmel, Vernon M Chinchilli, Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Christina M Dieli-Conwright, Loretta Dipietro, Shawna E Doerksen, Sharon L Edelstein, Joanne Elena, William Evans, Leah M Ferrucci, Julia Foldi, Sarah Freylersythe, Helena Furberg, Lee W Jones, Ross Levine, Chaya S Moskowitz, Cynthia Owusu, Frank Penedo, Borsika A Rabin, Elena Ratner, Margaret Rosenzweig, Talya Salz, Tara Sanft, Matthew Schlumbrecht, Guillaume Spielmann, Cynthia A Thomson, Ashley H Tjaden, Martin R Weiser, Shengping Yang, Anthony F Yu, Frank M Perna, Enicto Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chemotherapy treatment-related side effects are common and increase the risk of suboptimal outcomes. Exercise interventions during cancer treatment improve self-reported physical functioning, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, but it is unclear whether these interventions improve important clinical outcomes, such as chemotherapy relative dose intensity. The National Cancer Institute funded the Exercise and Nutrition to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes (ENICTO) Consortium to address this knowledge gap. This article describes the mechanisms hypothesized to underpin intervention effects on clinically relevant treatment outcomes, briefly outlines each project's distinct research aims, summarizes the scope and organizational structure of ENICTO, and provides an overview of the …

Efficacy Of A Smartphone Application Assisting Home-Based Rehabilitation And Symptom Management For Patients With Lung Cancer Undergoing Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy: A Prospective, Single-Blinded, Randomised Control Trial (Popper Study, Chao Lv, Fangliang Lu, Xiugeng Zhou, Xiang Li, Wenhua Yu, Chune Zhang, Kaishen Chen, Songtao Du, Chao Han, Jia Wang, Yuzhao Wang, Shaolei Li, Liang Wang, Yinan Liu, Shanyuan Zhang, Miao Huang, Dongdong Song, Dachuan Zhao, Bing Liu, Yaqi Wang, Xinrun Cui, Zhiwei Zhou, Shi Yan, Nan Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy can affect patients' pulmonary function and quality of life significantly. No optimal protocol combining patient-reported outcome-based symptom management and postdischarge rehabilitation programme has yet been established. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a novel smartphone app designed for home-based symptom management and rehabilitation.

Methods: The app was developed based on three modules: a symptom reporting system with alerts, aerobic and respiratory training exercises, and educational material. Four core symptoms were selected based on a questionnaire survey of 201 patients and three rounds of Delphi voting by 30 experts. The authors screened 265 patients …

Building Community-Engaged Capacity To Advance Telerehabilitation Services For Patients With Chronic Disease And/Or Disability, Ka-Chun Siu, Brad Dexter, Andrew Lindemeier, Karen Hux, Dipika Aggarwal

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

Purpose:

This report was developed to capture insights from clinicians, patients, and families who have experienced or delivered telehealth services over the past four years. The rapid rise of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic presented both challenges and opportunities, but as the initial surge subsided, its continued application in physical therapy has become less clear. This report explores what has worked well in telerehabilitation, identifies ongoing challenges, and provides actionable recommendations to bridge gaps in service delivery. By reflecting on these experiences, this work aims to inform the development of sustainable models that will advance clinical practice, improve patient outcomes, …

Quantile Regression Based Method For Characterizing Risk-Specific Behavioral Patterns In Relation To Longitudinal Left-Censored Biomarker Data Collected From Heterogeneous Populations, Minjae Lee, Belinda M Reininger, Kelley Pettee Gabriel, Nalini Ranjit, Larkin L Strong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

There are many studies aimed at promoting positive lifestyle behaviors to reduce lifetime risk of cancer and related diseases. However, assessing these modifiable behaviors through statistical modeling is challenging because of the multidimensionality of interrelated measurements that may dramatically differ between at-risk individuals. Taking into account this heterogeneity while considering the multidimensionality of behavior changes is fundamental to tailoring interventions to their needs. Biomarkers that identify high-risk individuals may help validate proximal measures, but the number of validated methods that link biomarkers to multiple behavioral measurements by determining their dynamic relations with disease risks is limited to just a few, …

Advanced Fruit Quality Assessment Using Deep Learning And Transfer Learning Technique, Walid Abdullah

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

Ensuring the quality of fruits is essential for consumer satisfaction and food industry standards. Accurately identifying and classifying high-quality fruits is essential for maintaining good health and nutrition. The subjective and labor-intensive nature of traditional techniques of evaluating quality highlights the need for automated solutions. This study utilized transfer learning with Four pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) models—MobileNetV2, ResNet50, VGG16, and EfficientNetB0 —to detect the quality of five fruits: apple, banana, strawberry, orange, and mango. All models were trained and tested with a public labeled fruit images dataset, and their performance was evaluated in terms of accuracy, precision, recall, and …

Enhancing Software Effort Estimation In Healthcare Informatics: A Comparative Analysis Of Machine Learning Models With Correlation-Based Feature Selection, Muhammad Abid, Sama Bukhari, Muhammad Saqlain

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

Software effort estimation is one of the most crucial processes in the management of software projects predominantly related to the healthcare industry. It involves the prediction of efforts needed to develop and endorse different software applications. To render clinical projects on time within the budget range, flawless projection with efficient planning is incumbent. This paper discloses the techniques that utilize machine learning models for ameliorating software effort estimation by using biomedical datasets, including Breast Cancer Wisconsin, COVID-19, Sleepy Drivers EEG Brainwave, Heart Disease Prediction and Food Nutrition. All of these datasets are cleaned and prepared by handling missing values, converting …

Effect Of Malt Barley Cluster Farming On Food Security In Amhara Region, Ethiopia, Betelhem Tsedalu Adane, Irene Susan Egyir, Edward Ebo Onumah, Ama Asantewah Ahene-Codjoe, Taeyoon Kim

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Cluster farming is the practice of merging neighbouring farms into a unified production unit to grow specific crops collaboratively. This is a promising method to enhance food security by improving agricultural productivity through coordinated resource use and enabling access to inputs, technologies, and markets. Despite this benefit, no empirical studies have examined how malt barley cluster farming affects smallholder farmers’ food security. This study adopts descriptive and econometric analysis, including the endogenous switching regression model (ESRM) and control function approach to account for selection bias and endogeneity in estimating the causal effect of malt barley cluster farming. Cross-sectional data were …

Food Finding Ability Does Not Predict Annual Survival In Winter Resident Birds, Aidan Hand

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Small non-migratory birds in temperate locations face many challenges to survive the winter. They must be able to find enough food, which is in decreased supply, to fuel the energetic demands of staying warm. Prior work has demonstrated that birds show individual variation in their foraging behaviors that could contribute to the discovery of new foraging patches, such as novel environment exploration. A better ability to discover new food sources could increase a bird’s chance of surviving the winter by increasing its access to new food patches. To test this hypothesis, we used radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled bird feeders to …

Mcdonald’S Corporation Case Analysis Fall 2025, Madalynn Janousek

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

McDonald’s Corporation has experienced rapid growth and expansion across the United States and globally, entering diverse markets despite evolving regulations, dietary trends, and consumer preferences. The company’s marketing strategies and ability to adapt have been strongly influenced by the leadership of its CEOs over time. Most recently, CEO Chris Kempczinski has been tasked with guiding the company through a post–COVID-19 market marked by staffing shortages, economic pressures, declining customer service, and rising consumer expectations. While McDonald’s continues to hold a significant share of the market, it must invest in improved customer service, innovative marketing, and healthier menu options to remain …

Undocumented Eldercare, Llc, Kit Johnson

Faculty Articles

Americans are aging. Within five years, 20% of the U.S. population will be over the age of 65. In the next 25 years, the number ofcitizens over the age of 80 is expected to triple.

Many older Americans, particularly the oldest, need help with daily lifeeverything from dressing and showering to cooking and cleaning. Assistance, however, is hard to come by. At-home caregivers are expensive. Institutional settings, also expensive, are routinely understaffed.

Thousands of noncitizens provide eldercare in home and institutional settings. Many of these noncitizens have work authorization pursuant to Temporary Protected Status (TPS), an immigration program that President …

Strengthening Ecosystem Sustainability And Climate Resilience Through Integrative Nature-Based Solutions In Bontioli Natural Reserve, West African Drylands, Issaka Abdou Razakou Kiribou, Kangbéni Dimobe, Sintayehu W. Dejene

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Natural reserves in the West African drylands play a critical role in sustaining livelihoods and preserving ecological integrity. However, these ecosystems face growing threats from climate variability and anthropogenic pressure. This study assesses the potential of Nature- based Solutions (NbSs) to enhance climate resilience and mitigate human-induced degra- dation in Bontioli Natural Reserve (BNR), one of the region’s key biodiversity hotspots. We employed an integrated approach combining ecological assessments, climate and anthro- pogenic pressures analysis, and participatory governance framework. Generalized additive modeling (GAM) is applied to assess the long-term vegetation response to climate stressors. A conceptual framework that integrates climate …

Assessment Of Bio-Security Knowledge, Attitude And Hygienic Practices Among Smallholder Chicken Farmers In Southern Mozambique, Noémia André Mugabe, Jamal Kussaga, Abdulsudi Issa-Zacharia

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The production of broiler chickens in intensive systems struggles to maintain hygiene in production, despite contributing to combating malnutrition, generating employment, and increasing family income, especially in developing countries. Using a structured questionnaire survey, a cross-sectional study was carried out among 395 smallholder farmers to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to farm biosecurity in urban and peri-urban areas of Mozambique and determine the factors affecting KAP (knowledge, attitude, and practice) levels. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) (IBM version 27). The findings indicate that education level and training significantly influence (p < 0.001) food safety in terms of biosecurity knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Smallholders who attended food safety training exhibited positive attitudes (95.5%, mean score of 89.71 ± 10.1) in contrast to those who did not participate in training (74.8%, mean score of 79.91 ± 9.68). Additionally, washing hands with soap before and after using the toilet and wearing protective clothing during chicken husbandry were significantly associated with education level (χ² = 15.345, P = 0.018); those with informal education were 34% less likely to have a negative attitude toward food safety compared to those with high education. A significant correlation (p < 0.01) was observed between residence area, training, and biosecurity knowledge, attitude, and practice. Because smallholders lack training, hygiene expertise, and biosecurity practices on their farms, this study concluded that they pose a risk to public health and food safety. To maintain consumer health and guarantee food safety, farmers should properly dispose of waste, including dead chickens, and receive continuous training in excellent biosecurity measures on the farm

Antibiotic Use And Antimicrobial Resistance: Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Among Smallholder Chicken Farmers In Southern Mozambique, Noemia Andre Mugabe, Jamal Kussaga, Abdulsudi Issa-Zacharia

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Intensive production systems face challenges in treating individual chickens due to the large number of animals, resulting in the indiscriminate use of antibiotics as the only alternative. The use of antibiotics in poultry production has adverse effects on humans, as prolonged consumption of contaminated meat can lead to the development of antibiotic resistance in intestinal bacteria. A cross-sectional survey involving 395 smallholder farmers was conducted through face-to-face interviews to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic use in urban and peri-urban areas of Southern Mozambique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. The findings revealed that 60% of respondents …

Artificial Intelligence-Driven Near-Infrared Spectrophotometry Model For Rapid Quantification Of Anti-Nutritional Factors In Soybean (Glycine Max.), Noberto Jose Palange, Tonny Obua Tonny Obua, Julius Pyton Sserumaga, Enoch Wembabazi, Mildred Ochwo-Ssemakula, Ephraim Nuwamanya, Isaac Onziga Dramadri, Moses Matovu, Richard Edema, Phinehas Tukamuhabwa

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Anti-nutritional factors can impact soybean nutrient bioavailability when consumed by monogastric animals. However, conventional methods available for quantifying anti-nutritional factors such as phytate and trypsin inhibitors in feeds are laboratory-intensive, time-consuming, expensive, and error-prone. This study developed near-infrared spectrophotometry (NIRS)-based models to quantify phytate and trypsin inhibitors in soybean. Thus, a set of 190 soybean genotypes assayed through conventional wet chemistry was used as a reference for model development and cross-validation. Using a benchtop NIR instrument (DS2500), spectra readings between 400 and 2500 nm were taken from each soybean sample. Mean values for phytate and total trypsin inhibitors (TTI) were …

Advancing Sustainable Practices: Integrated Pedological Characterization And Suitability Assessment For Enhanced Irish Potato Production In Tsangano And Angónia Districts Of Tete Province, Mozambique., Tamara Jose Sande, Balthazar Michael Msanya, Hamisi Juma Tindwa, Alessandra Mayumi Tokura Alovisi, Johnson M. Semoka, Mawazo Shitindi

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a critical crop for food security and economic growth in Tsangano and Angónia Districts, Central Mozambique. Challenges like inconsistent yields and variable quality are often linked to suboptimal soil conditions, which limit production. This study aimed to classify and evaluate the suitability of soils for potato cultivation in Tete Province, where detailed soil assessments remain limited. Four pedons—TSA-P01 and TSA-P02 in Tsangano and ANGO-P01 and ANGO-P02 in Angónia—were examined for bulk density, texture, pH, organic carbon, and nutrient content using a combination of pedological methods and laboratory soil analysis. To determine each site’s potential for …

Fermentation, Handling And Claimed Therapeutic Effects Of Dhanaan: An Ethiopian Fermented Camel Milk, Tiruha Habte Karssa, Jamal B. Kussaga, Teresa Lemsaddek Lemsaddek, Jovin K. Mugula

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Dhanaan is a spontaneously fermented camel milk that is popular in the Somali regional state of Ethiopia and plays a sig- nificant role in the livelihoods of pastoral communities. This study aimed to investigate traditional fermentation methods of dhanaan in these communities. Four districts, namely, Gursum, Shabelle, Degehabur, and Birqot, were purposively selected on the basis of camel rearing, camel milk production, and consumption. A cross-sectional survey of traditional fermentation methods, handling, utilization, and the claimed therapeutic effects of dhanaan was conducted using both open- and closed- ended questions in the districts. The traditional preparation of dhanaan involves spontaneous fermentation …

Ganglioside Gd2 Contributes To A Stem-Like Phenotype In Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma, Antonella Mannini, Mirella Pastore, Alessia Giachi, Margherita Correnti, Elena Spínola Lasso, Tiziano Lottini, Benedetta Piombanti, Ignazia Tusa, Elisabetta Rovida, Cédric Coulouarn, Jesper B Andersen, Monika Lewinska, Claudia Campani, V Lokesh Battula, Bin Yuan, Massimo Aureli, Emma V Carsana, Caterina Peraldo Neia, Paola Ostano, Alessia Tani, Daniele Nosi, Anna Vanni, Laura Maggi, Luca Di Tommaso, Giuseppina Comito, Stefania Madiai, Annarosa Arcangeli, Fabio Marra, Chiara Raggi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND & AIMS: GD2, a member of the ganglioside (GS) family (sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids), is a potential biomarker of cancer stem cells (CSC) in several tumours. However, the possible role of GD2 and its biosynthetic enzyme, GD3 synthase (GD3S), in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) has not been explored.

METHODS: The stem-like subset of two iCCA cell lines was enriched by sphere culture (SPH) and compared to monolayer parental cells (MON). GS profiles were evaluated by chromatography, after feeding with radioactive sphingosine. Membrane GD2 expression was evaluated by FACS, and the expression of enzymes of GS biosynthesis was analysed by RT-qPCR. The …

Nutrition Curriculum Module 10 Banana Food Detectives, Unm Prevention Research Center

Module 10 Nutrition Curriculum

No abstract provided.

Nutrition Curriculum Module 10 Banana Let's Get Cooking, Unm Prevention Research Center

Module 10 Nutrition Curriculum

No abstract provided.

Nutrition Curriculum Module 12 Cabbage Let's Get Cooking, Unm Prevention Research Center

Module 12 Nutrition Curriculum

No abstract provided.

Exploring Perceptions Of Occupational And Physical Therapy Faculty Of Entry-Level Graduate Programs Post Covid-19: A Mixed Methods Study, Chelsea S. Reji, Anne M. Moscony, Dianna Lunsford

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study aimed to explore graduate-level occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) faculty’s perspectives on their academic responsibilities, well-being, and the needs of students following the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers hypothesized that a decrease in job satisfaction and overall well-being would be evident, indicating burnout syndrome in the faculty participants. A mixed-methods approach was utilized. Potential participants were recruited from websites of graduate-level OT and PT programs via email. Participants were included if they were currently teaching in a graduate-level OT or PT program, teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, and working full-time. Data were collected through Google Forms from …

Ip, At, And Aaas: What Intellectual Property Can Teach Antitrust About The War On Amazon Basics, Kristen Osenga

Law Faculty Publications

Amazon is magical. Search the online marketplace for pretty much anything you can imagine—not to mention all the things you never imagined; you will likely find what you were searching for and be able to have it delivered in two days or less. The magic is not just in Amazon’s vast array of innovative consumer products but also in its providing access to goods that are unavailable locally. An extreme example of Amazon’s ability to supply goods that were not locally available may be found in the pandemic lockdowns of 2020, when neighborhood stores were out of toilet paper and …

Living The Good Life In The Anthropocene, Danielle Stokes

Law Faculty Publications

The Stockholm Resilience Centre has concluded that the number of “planetary boundaries” we are crossing has increased from three in 2009, when the Centre’s researchers first introduced the concept, to six in 2023. Crossing these boundaries means humans are changing basic attributes of planetary systems to the point of risking the future of civilization. And the distinction between “safe” and “just” planetary boundaries raises questions regarding how to conceptualize the “good life.” In this latest in a biannual series of essays, members of the Environmental Law Collaborative explore conceptions of the “good” as well as the various elements necessary to …

Group And State-Specific Estimation In Animal Movement Models Using A Bayesian Approach, Anita Bhandari Sharma

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This research study investigates statistical approaches for modeling the movement patterns of white-tailed deer in Louisiana using GPS tracking data. We start by classifying the latent behavioral states using a hidden Markov model (HMM) and then integrate those inferred states into a state-dependent step selection framework to evaluate the land cover preferences. Standard HMMs, however, assume the same movement patterns for all animals, overlooking the differences due to characteristics such as sex, age, breeding season, etc.

To address this limitation, we extend the modeling framework to incorporate the group-level structure defined by similar characteristics or conditions to assess whether such …

Diet Quality Mediates The Relationship Between Chronic Stress And Inflammation In Patients With Metabolic Syndrome, Junghee Kang, Debra K. Moser, Terry A. Lennie, Misook L. Chung, D. Travis Thomas, Martha J. Biddle

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background 

Chronic stress is associated with promotion of inflammation and development of metabolic syndrome, as well as deterioration of diet quality. Inflammation can be modified by changes in dietary intake.

Objective 

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that diet quality mediates the relationship of chronic stress with inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Methods 

Participants with metabolic syndrome (n = 73, 62 ± 12 years old, 71% female) completed questionnaires on chronic stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10) and diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-2020). The Perceived Stress Scale-10 was dichotomized. The Healthy Eating Index-2020 score was used as …