Digital Commons Network^™

An Epidemiological Analysis Of Influenza Virus In The Context Of Covid-19 Pandemic, Mustafa Gençeli, Özge Metin Akcan, Talha Üstüntaş, Ebru Sümen, Sinan Saylık, Emine Özdemir, Ahsen N. Saylık, Methiye Doğan, Arif İ. Solak, Fatih Ercan, Mehmet Özdemir, Abdullah Akkuş, Hanife T. Çağlar, Ahmet O. Kılıç, Sevgi Pekcan

Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Objective: The global health interventions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally altered the transmission of communicable diseases. This study examines changes in influenza virus epidemiology within the Turkish public health system across different phases of the pandemic. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 3,585 pediatric patients (aged 0–18 years) diagnosed with influenza between January 2018 and June 2023. We stratified the cohort into three periods based on admission dates: pre-COVID-19, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the post-COVID-19 period. Results: We observed a statistically significant increase in the mean age of patients during the pandemic period (p<0.001). The incidence of influenza B decreased significantly during the pandemic compared to other periods (p<0.001). The post-pandemic period was characterized by higher viral co-infection rates and increased hospitalization frequencies (p<0.001), though the duration of hospitalization decreased during the pandemic (p<0.001). In the post-pandemic phase, the typical November surge was less pronounced, with peak incidence shifting to January. Conclusion: The pandemic significantly altered influenza epidemiology, shifting viral subtype prevalence, incidence rates, co-infection patterns, seasonal trends, and mortality risks.

Impact Of Food Insecurity On The Management Of Children With Food Allergy: A Scoping Review, Kiranjit Atwal, Kate Maslin

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Child health and development are affected by food insecurity, which is an increasing phenomenon globally. The rates of food allergy are also increasing, and the multifaceted burden is well documented. The higher costs of allergen-free food, essential to food allergy management, may compound the levels of food insecurity, but evidence is still emerging. This scoping review was conducted with the aim to understand the impact of food insecurity on the management of children living with food allergy by mapping the current types of evidence, key concepts, and research gaps. Following JBI methodology, evidence about children aged ≤18 years living in …

Examining Associations Between Socioecological Factors And Addiction Cycle Domains In Separate Community And Treatment- Seeking Samples, Kara Link

Psychology ETDs

The Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment (ANA) is a multimodal clinical assessment framework designed to capture the heterogeneity of addictive disorders and inform personalized treatment. The ANA is grounded in three neurofunctional domains aligned with the Koob and LeMoal addiction cycle stages: incentive salience (IS; binge/intoxication), negative emotionality (NE; withdrawal/negative affect), and executive function (EF; preoccupation/anticipation). In addition to these primary domains, the ANA also proposes ancillary assessment domains thought to be related to these neurofunctional domains. However, the ANA developers do not provide a rationale for including these ancillary measures in the framework nor hypothesize about their relevance to the ANA …

A Characterization Of Fat Acceptance Across Identities In A College Sample, Brynn Liabraaten

Psychology ETDs

Weight stigma is a class of discrimination in which those who are of higher weight face biases and discrimination. This can lead to worse outcomes ranging from poor mental health to societal barriers. Fat acceptance is the idea that all people, regardless of weight, deserve respect and equal treatment. The study of fat acceptance is in its infancy in the field of psychology, and there is little research addressing what kinds of people may be more or less fat accepting. The present study utilized a college sample to create a characterization of which intersecting identities and characteristics may correlate with …

The Concept 'Pollination' And Bee Pan-Trap Color And Uv Reflectance Determine The Taxonomic Compositions Of Bee Taxa Captures Across An Elevation Gradient And Seasons In The Jemez Mountains Of New Mexico, Esther A. Burton, Kelly B. Miller, Paul J. Watson, David C. Witherington, Steven Poe, David Lightfoot

Biology ETDs

This thesis examines the pollinator concept and tests how sampling methods shape bee communities. Chapter 1 provides a conceptual and philosophical analysis, arguing that pollination is a process and that pollinators are context-dependent functional roles rather than fixed taxonomic categories. It traces the concept’s development from natural history to ecological theory, introduces a dual-goal model separating plant reproduction from visitor foraging, and proposes a classification framework based on evidentiary certainty and pollination potential to resolve ambiguity in pollination research.

Chapter 2 applies these ideas empirically by evaluating how pan-trap color and ultraviolet (UV) reflectance influence bee assemblages across elevation and …

Reassembling Riparian Ecosystems: Stream Restoration Effects On Vegetation, Arthropods, And Aquatic-Terrestrial Connectivity, Katelyn P. Driscoll

Biology ETDs

Riparian areas exist at the aquatic-terrestrial interface and provide disproportionate ecosystem services, yet multiple stressors have degraded these zones globally. Stream restoration seeks to reverse degradation, but rigorous evaluation of treatment effectiveness remains limited. I conducted a before-after-control-impact (BACI) study in the southern Rocky Mountains to evaluate two stream restoration treatments—beaver dam analogs (BDAs) and plug-and-ponds (P&Ps)—across three dimensions of riparian ecosystem response. Using Bayesian analysis, I quantified treatment effects on functional diversity and composition of riparian plant communities. Using generalized linear mixed models, I evaluated restoration effects on riparian arthropod abundance, richness and guild composition across lateral gradients and …

How Can Dramatic Play Address Masking In Autistic Adolescents?: A Literature Review, Victoria Sebastian

Expressive Therapies Theses

This literature review investigated the current research available on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adolescents aged 13-18, and the prevalence of masking within this population. It examines the impact current interventions and social standards have on the stigma that leads to masking behaviors, and the significant effects this has on adolescents' mental health. This study uses an integrative review, as described by Torraco (2016), to draw on empirical studies, systematic reviews, and theoretical frameworks. Connecting the growing research in the dramatic play- one of the drama therapy core processes- with the current therapeutic frameworks. From this research, dramatic play was …

A Hospital Spiritual Care Volunteer Program: Embodying Vocation And Decreasing Social Isolation And Loneliness In Adults Sixty-Five And Older, Stacy L. Auld

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Social isolation and loneliness have become familiar terms since the COVID-19 pandemic, but the problem did not start there. We have seen a steady rise in the number of people who face social isolation and loneliness over the past fifty years, and now research shows that this problem is impacting people’s health, especially in adults sixty-five and older. These social diagnoses are being addressed by public policy and in health care settings, but they should also be addressed by United Methodist clergy in their care for their parishioners. Therefore, I am writing this dissertation to my clergy colleagues to raise …

Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (Hie): Outcomes Of Therapeutic Hypothermia, Gospodin Stefanov

Advocate GME

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Acute Hypoxia Exposure, With Exercise, On Bone Metabolic Biomarkers, Alyssa Bailly

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Hypoxic environments, resulting from decreased atmospheric partial pressure of oxygen, reduce oxygen availability in the blood and tissues, leading to a mismatch between supply and demand. This elicits several physiological adaptations and may influence bone metabolism. Although evidence suggests that hypoxia can modulate bone remodeling through hypoxia-inducible pathways, findings remain mixed, with most data derived from chronic hypoxic exposures in animal and cell culture models. Exercise, an essential stimulus for bone health, may exacerbate hypoxic stress; however, the skeletal response to acute hypoxic exposure combined with exercise remains unclear. We propose that intermittent exercise in hypoxia may increase negative markers …

Efficacy And Equity In Type 2 Diabetes Care: Comparing Glp-1 Therapy And Dietary Interventions Through Clinical, Social, And Ethical Lenses, Makayla Bogle

Honors Projects

Objective: Explores the clinical and sociocultural dimensions regarding type 2 diabetes (T2DM) care, comparing GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) therapy and dietary interventions for adults with T2DM. Part I consists of a narrative literature review examining clinical outcomes such as glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and weight management for the two compared treatment methods. Part II conducts a narrative literature review examining the structural and social determinants that influence access to diabetes treatments. The review evaluates how social determinants of health (SDOH) shape the real-world implementation of both GLP-1 RA therapies and dietary interventions. The discussion highlights differences in measurable clinical …

Undergraduate Commencement Exercises Program, May 16, 2026

Bryant University Commencements

No abstract provided.

Improving Health Literacy And Self-Management In Adults With Heart Failure: A Nurse-Led Virtual Intervention In Outpatient Support Groups, Vivian Efosa Osunde

Doctoral Projects

Heart failure is a leading cause of morbidity and hospital readmissions, with limited health literacy contributing to poor self‑management and adherence challenges. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a nurse‑led, virtual education-intervention designed to improve health literacy, self‑care behaviors, and medication adherence among adults with chronic heart failure who participate in an outpatient support group. A quality improvement design was used. Convenience sampling yielded nine adult participants with a documented diagnosis of chronic heart failure who attended at least one virtual support group session. The intervention consisted of …

The Formation Of Indian Health Services Within Imperial And Settler-Colonial Contexts, Jillian E. Grisel

American Studies ETDs

This dissertation examines the Indian Health Services as a Cold War biosecurity apparatus, showing how infectious disease was weaponized to dismantle treaty obligations, reorganize tribal lands into “service areas,” and reclassify Indigenous nations as surveilled populations. Against this carceral health economy, Indigenous nations refused. From the 1969 Alcatraz occupation to the 1976 Puyallup takeover of Cushman Indian Hospital, Native activists reclaimed health facilities as sovereign spaces, insisting that care is not a discretionary service but a treaty right grounded in land and kinship. Methodologically, I combine historical-legal analysis of congressional debates, Public Health Service reports, and IHS data with counter-archives …

Spring Undergraduate Commencement: May 16, 2026, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Spring Undergraduate Commencement program from May 16, 2026.

Spring Graduate School Commencement: May 16, 2026, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Spring Graduate School Commencement program from May 16, 2026.

Improving The Assessment And Treatment Of People With Low Back Pain, Kayla Krueger

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Low back pain (LBP) is a significant and continually growing public health problem. While some people recover from an initial episode, a proportion will develop chronic or recurrent LBP that limits their ability to perform daily functional activities. The variable and often function-limiting course of LBP underscores the clear need for improved methods of assessment and treatment. One way to improve the assessment and treatment of LBP is to develop a more comprehensive understanding of factors that contribute to LBP. In this dissertation, we investigated two categories of factors that may contribute to a person’s LBP: (1) spinal movement impairments …

From Skilled Labor Pipeline To College-Prep Track: A Study Of Admissions, Access, And Intent In A Massachusetts Vocational High School, Jennifer Ferland

Educational Studies Dissertations

This mixed methods study examined the effectiveness and equity of vocational high school admissions in Massachusetts, focusing on an oversubscribed regional vocational high school and its largest urban comprehensive feeder school. Although vocational schools were created to provide equitable, high‑quality career and technical education, and to prepare students for skilled employment, most vocational students now pursue postsecondary academic pathways, contributing to shortages in the trades. At the same time, traditional admissions criteria—focused on grades, attendance, and behavior—have historically limited access for English Learners, students with disabilities, low‑income students, and students of color. The purpose of this study was to investigate …

Review Of Sustainable Development In The Baked Food Industry : Innovations From Raw Materials, Processing To Packaging, Wang Yujia, Ma Shunzhang, Feng Muyu, Hou Dianzhi, Zhou Sumei

Food and Machinery

From the orientation of the global baked food industry toward health and sustainable development in recent years, this paper systematically reviews the innovations and progress across three core dimensions: raw material substitution, process optimization, and packaging improvement. First, regarding raw materials, conventional wheat flour is replaced with ingredients such as whole-grain flours and plant-based food by-products. Natural functional additives and novel protein sources (e.g., plant proteins, insect proteins, and microbial proteins) are developed to enhance the nutritional and health value of products and realize the efficient utilization of resources. Second, in the core process, techniques such as dough mixing, fermentation, …

Research Progress On Strain Identification And Wall-Breaking Technologies Of Wall-Broken Ganoderma Lucidum Spore Powder And Its Industrial Prospects, Han Lingxian, Liang Zengenni, Ji Hainan, Zhao Chan, Zhang Mengling

Food and Machinery

Ganoderma lucidum spore powder consists of reproductive cells released during the mature stage of the fungus and concentrates the core nutrients and bioactive components of Ganoderma lucidum. Recent advances in the field of wall-broken Ganoderma lucidum spore powder were systematically summarized, with a focus on four core directions: the permitted scope and identification techniques of Ganoderma strains for health foods, optimization of wall-breaking processes and quality control, safety evaluation, and functions and mechanisms. Combined with policy orientation and market demand, future development suggestions were proposed, including strengthening strain management at the source, establishing a full-chain quality system, deepening mechanism research, …

Purification, Enzymatic Properties, And Stabilizer Screening Of Acid Protease From Trichoderma Reesei, Wu Yao, Yu Huashun, Chen Rui, Yang Zhaoshi, Li Ming, Gao Jie, Zhang Yan

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To purify and study the enzymatic properties of acid protease from the Trichoderma reesei strain, and to screen the stabilizer formula. [Methods] The acid protease is purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, and anion exchange column chromatography. Then, its molecular weight is determined by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and its enzymatic properties are studied. Finally, the stabilizer formula of acid protease is optimized, with an investigation into its effect on acid protease storage stability. [Results] For the purified acid protease, its specific enzyme activity is 4 849 U/mg, purification fold is 3.28 times, and relative molecular weight is …

Screening And Identification Of Tannin-Degrading Strains And Analysis Of Their Probiotic Functional Characteristics, Duan Wenjing, Yu Chong, Tian Yuan, Zhang Shumei, Su Ting

Food and Machinery

[Objective] Microbial strains with tannin-degrading capabilities were screened from natural samples, and their probiotic properties were systematically evaluated. [Methods] Three Lactobacillus plantarum strains (Y1, Y20, Y22) and Meyerozyma caribbica Y3 exhibiting high tanninase activity are selected. Probiotic characteristics including growth characteristics, antioxidant capacity, bile salt tolerance, and cholesterol degradation efficiency are investigated. Safety profiles were determined through hemolytic activity assays and standard antibiotic susceptibility testing. [Results] The experimental data reveal that M.caribbica Y3 demonstrates remarkable antioxidant activities, with a superoxide anion scavenging rate of 95.25 % in cell supernatants and a hydroxyl radical scavenging rate of 63.43 % in extracts …

Qualitative Analysis Methods Of Zen And Don In Maize Based On Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, Traditional Machine Learning, And Lstm, Gao Man, Qian Chengjing, Ding Ziyuan, Luo Yunjing, Zhai Chen

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To establish a rapid and accurate detection and analysis method for mycotoxins. [Methods] Based on near-infrared spectroscopy, qualitative models for the contents of zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol (DON) in maize were established.144 naturally contaminated maize samples were used, and near-infrared spectra were collected from two sample preparations, namely maize powder and toxin extract. Five pretreatment methods were applied to process the original spectra, and two characteristic wavelength screening methods were selected to further extract effective information from the spectra. Pollution classification models for ZEN and DON were established using three machine learning algorithms, namely k-nearest neighbor classification algorithm, least …

Rapid Detection Of Total Anthocyanin Content In Black Rice Based On Lab Color Modes, Zhang Xun, Li Yinjun, Ding Hua, Liu Jiao, Li Yanyi, Gui Fuhao, Yang Jie

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To develop a method for the rapid detection of anthocyanin content in black rice. [Methods] This study adopts smartphone software "ColorMax" to obtain color parameters of anthocyanin standard solutions and black rice sample solutions in specific conditions. A relationship curve between color parameters of anthocyanin and its concentration is established and applied to the detection of black rice samples. [Results] The detection range of the proposed method is from 3.33 to 12.50 μmol/L, with the standard curve correlation coefficient (R2) of more than 0.99. The proposed method is employed to detect the anthocyanin content in 27 black rice samples, …

Determination Method Optimization For Residual Solvent In Flaxseed Oil, Shi Xincai, Zhou Qin, Wuri Guga, Li Yifan, Ai Jimu

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To optimize the determination method for residual solvent in flaxseed oil. [Methods] Test flaxseed oil samples are separated using a methyl polysiloxane capillary column containing 6 % cyanopropyl-phenyl by headspace gas chromatograph (HS-GC). [Results] The linear correlation coefficient of solvent No.6 is 0.999 9, and the average spiked recovery rate is 91.0 % to 102.3 %. The original interference peak of flaxseed oil does not appear within the time range of the target peak of solvent No.6. Additionally, other common vegetable oils do not have interference peaks with large peak areas. [Conclusion] HS-GC can be used to determine the …

Near-Freezing Point Concentration Of Orange Juice Based On Absorption Membrane Distillation, Ge Sheng, Chen Dong, Liu Jizhou, Cao Xu

Food and Machinery

[Objective] Aiming at the issues such as solute loss during the freeze-point concentration of heat-sensitive liquid materials, a near-freezing point concentration device based on absorption membrane distillation is designed and fabricated. The feasibility of the device is verified using orange juice as the research subject. [Methods] A mathematical model of the device is established. Using orange juice as the feed liquid and lithium bromide solution as the absorption solution, this paper calculates and analyzes the variation laws of the concentration rate and energy consumption ratio of concentration with factors such as membrane pore diameter, membrane tube wall thickness, mass concentration …

Effect Of Young Apple Pectin Coating On Preservation Of Winter Jujube, Wang Zaolan, Xia Wenhui, Hou Manwei, Song Hui, Li Jiaxue, Wang Fei, Xue Jia

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To research the preservation effects of young apple pectin (YAP) coating treatment on winter jujubes during storage. [Methods] Dali winter jujubes were used as the experimental material, and they were coated with 1 % (mass fraction) YAP, commercial citrus pectin (CP), and commercial apple pectin (AP). The quality and physiological indicators of the winter jujubes during storage were measured and analyzed. [Results] The weight loss, decay rate, reddening rate, and ascorbic acid loss in the pectin-coated groups are all lower than those in the control group, with the YAP treatment group showing the most significant effects, particularly in reducing …

Effects Of 1-Methylcyclopropene And Sulfur Dioxide On Ripening, Softening, And Antioxidant Properties Of Bayberry In Modified Atmosphere Packaging, Shi Xiaomeng, Zhang Jingjin, Lin Qi, Zhang Huiyun, Bao Yuanyuan

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To explore the effects of different modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) treatments on the preservation of Dongkui bayberry during storage. [Methods] Dongkui bayberry from Shiping County, Yunnan Province is taken as the test object and stored in different MAP bags to determine and analyze the ripening, softening, and antioxidant properties during postharvest storage. [Results] Compared with the control group, during storage at 4 ℃, the combined treatment of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) + sulfur dioxide + poly (butylene itaconate) (PBI) physically activated fresh-keeping bags can effectively maintain the quality and high antioxidant properties of bayberry. After 14 days of storage, this combined …

Optimization Of Extraction Process Of Suopiyin And Its Antioxidant And Hypoglycemic Activities In Vitro And In Vivo, Li Yaqing, Chu Xiaoqin, Cui Mengyao, Li Jing, Jia Nini, Jiang Dayuan

Food and Machinery

[Objective] Based on classical prescriptions of Xin'an Medicine, a functional food was developed to help exert antioxidant effects and maintain healthy blood glucose levels. [Methods] Based on the results of single-factor experiments, an orthogonal design was applied to optimize three factors in the extraction process, namely the solid-liquid ratio, extraction time, and number of extraction cycles. The extraction yields of total polysaccharides and total flavonoids were used as evaluation indices to determine the optimal extraction process. The in vitro antioxidant activity of Suopiyin was evaluated using the scavenging rates of DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl (·OH) radicals. The in vitro hypoglycemic …

Effect Of Pepsin Limited Enzymatic Hydrolysis From Wheat Bran Protein On Lipid Lowering In Vitro, Zheng Wenjing, Bai Yang, Liu Cong, Jiri Gala, Wang Jilite, Zhang Yanxia, Li Yuxin

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To elucidate the lipid-lowering effect of wheat bran protein from the Hetao region and provide a scientific basis for its deep processing and high-value utilization. [Methods] This paper employs wheat bran protein from the Hetao region as the raw material to prepare pepsin limited enzymatic hydrolysates (P1, P3, P6, and P 12), and investigates their effect on lowering lipid. [Results] Different enzymatic hydrolysates vary in vitro lipid-lowering effects, and the higher mass concentration of samples means a better effect. The cholesterol micelle solubility inhibition rate of 5 mg/mL wheat bran enzymatic hydrolysate P 1 is (45.47±0.36) %, significantly higher …