Digital Commons Network^™

Cystic Fibrosis Pathogens Persist In The Upper Respiratory Tract Following Initiation Of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor Therapy, Yasmin K. Hilliam, Catherine R. Armbruster, Glenn J. Rapsinski, Christopher W. Marshall, John Moore, Junu Koirala, Leah Krainz, Jordan R. Gaston, Vaughn S. Cooper, Stella E. Lee, Jennifer M. Bomberger

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) for most affected individuals but the effects of treatment on sinus microbiota are still unknown. Changes to the airway microbiota in CF are associated with disease state and alterations to the bacterial community after ETI initiation may require changes to clinical management regimens. We collected sinus swab samples from the middle meatus in an observational study of 38 adults with CF and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) from 2017 to 2021 and captured the initiation of ETI therapy. We performed 16S and custom amplicon sequencing to characterize the sinus microbiota pre- …

Canine Parasites In Southern Nevada Urban Dog Parks: Paravec Study, Miklo Azrael A. Alcala

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

While dogs are one of humans’ greatest companions, they also serve as hosts for a multitude of parasites. Urban dog parks serve as environments where the transmission of diseases is likely to occur. Exposure to infective agents, contained within the soil, intermediate hosts (e.g., rodents, rabbits), and feces, can directly affect the health of dogs and their owners. Other factors that can further influence canine health include age, previous diagnoses of parasites/diseases, and migration. Many dog owners visit dog parks to encourage socialization and exercise. Such activities are meant to improve health, but unawareness of microbiological organisms can lead to …

An Examination Of The Impact Of College Health And Wellness Courses On Mental Health – Two Paper Format: A Literature Review And A Comparison Of The Impact Of Two College Health And Wellness Courses On Affect, Perceived Stress, And Cognitive Distortions, Robin Phipps Woodall

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To compare the impact of two 15-week health and wellness courses on mental health measures in college students. Participants: College student volunteers were recruited after enrolling in one of two 15-week health and wellness courses. Methods: The control course (N=19) had an ethical emphasis, and the experimental course (N=21) had a cognitive behavioral emphasis. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and pre- and post-tests of the Perceived Stress Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-General Form, and the Cognitive Distortion Questionnaire. Pre- to Post-Changes were analyzed using a mixed model repeated measures ANOVA between the two courses. Results: Both courses …

Assessing Chronic Exposure To Glyphosate Using Urine Analysis, Jianna Gimenez

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The herbicide glyphosate is the most heavily used agricultural chemical in the world, and exposure has been linked to carcinogenic and reproductive effects, although this remains controversial. Glyphosate has a short biologic half-life, challenging the assessment of associations between chronic exposure and potential health effects. Long-term glyphosate exposure has often been evaluated using a single urine sample, potentially resulting in exposure misclassification and resulting in systematic underestimation of the association between glyphosate exposure and health outcomes. To determine the minimum number of urine samples required to accurately characterize chronic glyphosate exposure during pregnancy, we collected and analyzed 453 urine samples …

Elucidating The Roles Of Septin Proteins In Thermotolerance And Cell Wall Integrity In Cryptococcus Neoformans, Stephani S. Martinez Barrera

All Dissertations

Cryptococcus neoformans is a globally distributed fungal pathogen responsible for causing cryptococcal meningitis in immunocompromised individuals. This pathogenic yeast must adapt to changes in temperature upon entering the human host. Septin proteins are conserved filament-forming GTPases that assemble as higher-order complexes at the cell cortex to support cytokinesis and morphogenesis in fungal and animal cells. In C. neoformans, four septin homologs (Cdc3, Cdc10, Cdc11, and Cdc12) assemble at the mother-bud neck, contributing to cytokinesis through poorly understood mechanisms. C. neoformans strains lacking the septins Cdc3 or Cdc12 are viable at 25°C, but fail to proliferate at 37°C, and are …

Anemia As A Convoluted Cause Of Pediatric Drug-Induced Erythema Multiforme: A Case Report, Maulidina N. Tasyakuranti, Seno Pradopo, Tania Saskianti, Lily A. Shoaib, Ardianti M. Dewi

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

Objective: Drug-induced erythema multiforme (DIEM) is an acute, immune-mediated dermatologic disease due to adverse reactions to certain drugs. Typically DIEM will resolve in 10-14 days. Yet hematological factors can result in more severe DIEM and slows healing. This case reporting DIEM and highlighting anemia as the convoluted cause.

Methods: The patient was advised to stop the previous oral anti-inflammatory drugs. Progressive black-desquamative ulcers on lips followed by blood encrustation of a 3-year-old boy were managed with saline debridement and antihistamines, topical corticosteroid, oral analgesic, combined with antibiotic ointment. The prolonged healing process of DIEM urged a complete blood count to …

Inflammatory Markers In Systemic Immune-Inflammatory Index And Inflammatory Response Index To Predict Early Pregnancy Loss, Nihal Çallıoğlu, Derya K. Gül, İlke Ö. Arslan, İpek Geyikoğlu, Ergül Demirçivi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To uncover the predictive value of systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) on early pregnancy loss. Methods: A total of 535 individuals were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. The early pregnancy losses (EPL) group included patients between 18-35 years old who experienced EPL. The control group comprised healthy pregnant women who gave birth at ≥37 weeks. Results: The EPL group had significantly lower plateletcrit ( p =0.04), platelet distribution width (PDW, p <0.0001), and RDW ( p <0.0001) and higher monocyte ( p <0.0001) and SIRI ( p <0.0001) values than the control group. The hemoglobin, white blood cells, platelet count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, mean platelet volume, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and SII values were not significantly different between the EPL and control groups ( p >0.05). The cut-off value for the SIRI that offers the best sensitivity/specificity balance was 1.48 (sensitivity of 63%; specificity of 63%) in the …

Association Between Time From Surgery To Radiation Therapy And Multimodality Treatment Outcomes In Hpv+ Head And Neck Cancer: A Multi-Institutional Cohort Experience, Muneeb Niazi, Ryan Miller, Ryann Kolb, Wenyan Ji, Alicia Lozano, Monica Ahrens, Alexandra Hanlon, Max Pickles, Andrew Song, Voichita Bar-Ad, Neil Hockstein, Sujung Park, Adam Raben, Gaurav Shukla

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Purpose: Oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers (OPSCCs) are traditionally managed with surgery and, if indicated, adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy. NCCN recommends keeping the time from surgery to the start of RT (TSRT) within 6 weeks to avoid possibly compromising patient outcomes. HPV+ OPSCCs behave more favorably than HPV- OPSCCs. We hypothesized that TSRT beyond 6 weeks may not portend poorer outcomes for the former. Methods: We identified nonmetastatic, high-risk HPV+ OPSCCs treated with multimodal therapy at 2 institutions. Prolonged TSRT was defined as >6 weeks and was evaluated for association with recurrence-free survival (RFS). Radiation treatment time …

Unveiling Facilitators And Barriers Of Breastfeeding Initiation And Continuation And Designing Culturally Tailored Intervention For African American Mothers, Nadia Boahemaa Kyeremeh

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the determinants of breastfeeding initiation and continuation among African American women in the United States and evaluates the effectiveness of an intervention using WordPress to disseminate culturally relevant breastfeeding information to African American women. First, secondary data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) was used to test factors influencing breastfeeding initiation and continuation among White and Black women. The results showed that the foreign-born (vs. US-born) status, residing (vs. non-residing) with grandparents, and strong (vs. weak) cultural identity were positively associated with breastfeeding initiation and continuation across racial groups. Based on the secondary …

Acculturation, Well-Being And Identity Of Oromo Immigrants, Hawi M. Wako

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between racial and ethnic identity, acculturative stress, and well-being for first generation Oromo immigrants. Studies regarding immigration, acculturative stress, identity, and well-being have primarily centered on Hispanics, Asians, and Caribbean individuals, but there has been a lack of attention toward Black African immigrants, including Oromo immigrants. The lack of inquiry into Black African immigrants, especially Oromo immigrants, creates a perception that all immigrants are the same, leading to a generic approach toward immigrant interventions and falls short of meeting the unique mental health needs of specific African communities.

Immigrants must …

The Effects Of An Acute Dose Of Cannabidiol On Health And Two-Mile Time Trial Performance, Elyssa Bell

Master's Theses

As more studies exploring the therapeutic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in both clinical and non-clinical populations continue to increase, there is a renewed interest in the ability of CBD to affect performance. In fact, many anecdotal reports in the media and online suggest that CBD may improve performance. Unfortunately, very few studies support these claims and research in the area is limited. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of an acute dose of CBD on anxiety symptoms, GI distress, heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), blood lactate (BL) rate of perceived …

The Benefits Of Biofouling – Promoting The Growth Of Benthic Organisms To Enhance Ecosystem Services, Kailey Nicole Richard, Kelli Z. Hunsucker, Travis J. Hunsucker, Geoffrey Swain

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

For the marine industry biofouling has a negative reputation. On ship hulls, the accumulation of these unwanted plants and animals can lead to increased drag, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Offshore platforms are also subject to biofouling which can result in corrosion and hydrodynamic loading, thus shortening their lifespan. While the harmful impacts of biofouling are commonly reported throughout the literature, biofouling can also benefit both aquatic and human populations. Common biofouling organisms act as natural filtration systems, thus improving water quality. Many of the same flora and fauna serve as a food source, and structures could be designed …

Testing The Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Mindful Self-Compassion Group Workshop Among Individuals With Eating Disorders: A Pilot Study., Brenna Mary Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background. Shame and self-criticism are mechanisms shown to influence eating disorders (EDs). Self-compassion has been theorized to target shame and self-criticism and is a protective factor against EDs. One intervention shown to increase self-compassion and reduce shame and self-criticism is the Mindful Self-Compassion program (MSC). However, MSC has yet to be tested among individuals with an ED diagnosis. The current study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of MSC delivered in a live, online format among individuals with an ED. Methods. Sixty-one participants completed baseline questionnaires measuring ED symptoms, trait self-compassion, self-criticism, and shame. Participants also answered questionnaires at …

Exploring Medicaid Stigma In Kentucky., Malea Hoepf Young

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Health insurance is only one of many factors involved in becoming and staying healthy, but the importance of having coverage in the U.S. cannot be overstated. Medicaid provides health care coverage for millions of Americans, with enrollment increasing dramatically after the Affordable Care Act allowed states to expand eligibility. While there is a great deal of research on the impacts of Medicaid expansion on newly eligible adults, there is little research on negative attitudes towards people using Medicaid, or on Medicaid stigma. This study used qualitative methods to conceptualize stigma around Medicaid through discussions with individuals using Medicaid and enrollment …

Sympathetic Baroreflex Sensitivity Is Enhanced In Postmenopausal Women, Shane J. Mcginty, Evan L. Matthews, Jody L. Greaney, J. Kevin Shoemaker, Megan M. Wenner

Department of Kinesiology Scholarship and Creative Works

The sympathetic nervous system is critical for regulating blood pressure (BP) via the arterial baroreflex and sympathetic transduction in the peripheral vasculature. These mechanisms interact, and both may be altered with aging and impacted by menopause. Although age-related decreases in sympathetic transduction have been demonstrated in women, it remains unclear whether sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is impaired in postmenopausal women (POST). We tested the hypothesis that sympathetic BRS would be enhanced in POST compared with premenopausal women (PRE). We examined beat-by-beat BP and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in 19 PRE (22 ± 2 yr, 22 ± 3 kg/m^{2 …}

Docosahexaenoic Acid And Pregnancy: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of The Association With Improved Maternal And Fetal Health, Kiran Bilgundi, Gollapalle Lakshminarayanashastry Viswanatha, Kowshik Muttur Purushottam, Jeena John

Open Access archive

This study aimed to investigate the effects of prenatal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on pregnancy outcomes through a systematic review and meta-analysis. We hypothesized that prenatal DHA intake through supplements will improve pregnancy outcomes. Detailed literature search was performed using online databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar till November 2022, to identify the randomized controlled trials (RCT) with maternal intake of DHA supplementation during the latter half of pregnancy compared to the placebo/control. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, nine RCTs involving 5710 subjects were included. This meta-analysis showed that DHA supplementation (450-800 mg/day) was associated with …

The Adaptation Wedge: Capacity-Building Scenarios For India’S Cities, Jagan Shah

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

The increasing frequency and severity of floods, heat waves, and storm surges impacting global cities, combined with the growing morbidity in public health, necessitates prompt and effective climate action. Adaptation and mitigation require adequate and appropriate institutional, technical, and societal capacities—all of which are in short supply in most low- and middle-income country cities that are experiencing growth while suffering vulnerabilities. Although national governments are alerted to climate risk and the imperatives of planning, financing, and managing climate transitions, their responses to capacity constraints and approaches to capacity building display neither urgency nor scale. We use a scenario-building methodology to …

Quality Improvement Project: Fall Prevention Among Older Adults In Snf Through Staff Education And Hourly Rounding, Reshmi Abraham

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Falls among elderly individuals in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) pose a widespread and significant healthcare challenge, often resulting in severe injuries, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare expenses. Despite the current efforts to prevent falls, they still occur frequently, underscoring the importance of effective interventions for prevention. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project focuses on quality improvement (QI) in healthcare. It aims to reduce fall rates among older adults in SNF by providing staff education and implementing scheduled hourly rounding. This approach aligns with existing research, emphasizing the importance of proactive patient monitoring and improved staff knowledge in …

Using Short-Form Videos To Get Clinical Trial Newcomers To Sign Up: Message-Testing Experiment, Sisi Hu, Ciera E. Kirkpatrick, Namyeon Lee, Yoorim Hong, Sungkyoung Lee, Amanda Hinnant

Journalism Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Recruiting participants for clinical trials poses challenges. Major barriers to participation include psychological factors (eg, fear and mistrust) and logistical constraints (eg, transportation, cost, and scheduling). The strategic design of clinical trial messaging can help overcome these barriers. While strategic communication can be done through various channels (eg, recruitment advertisements), health care providers on the internet have been found to be key sources for communicating clinical trial information to US adults in the social media era.

Objective: This study aims to examine how communication source (ie, medical doctors and peers) and message framing of TikTok videos (ie, psychological and …

The Interconnectedness Of Indigenous Health: Local, National, And International Influences, Courtney Claussen

Theses and Dissertations

Indigenous Peoples have always understood the interconnectedness of health. There are many Indigenous-specific health determinants that positively or negatively impact prevalent health conditions. Each of the products in this three-part portfolio highlight health determinants that directly or indirectly contribute to the health of Indigenous Peoples. Key topics within each product include Cultural Protocol, culturally safe practices, food security and access, type 2 diabetes, and localized health approaches. The products also highlight the historical and current impacts of colonization on Indigenous health. Each product interconnects to consider the variable ways Indigenous-specific health determinants impact Indigenous populations. In the first product, I …

Linking Risk Preference, Women’S Empowerment, Farm Investment And Household Well-Being, Samuel Olusesi Olumide

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A nuanced understanding of intra-household dynamics can inform the design of more effective empowerment and agricultural investment policies. By integrating household risk preferences and empowerment dynamics, this work offers valuable insights into the complex mechanisms driving household welfare and provides a framework for future interventions to promote gender equality and economic development in rural settings. This thesis addresses three core hypotheses: first, that the spouses of risk-seeking male heads are more likely to be disempowered compared to those of risk-averse male heads; second, that households with risk-seeking male heads and disempowered spouses are likely to invest more in farming activities; …

Preschool Executive Control And Adolescent Dietary Outcomes: Highlighting The Role Of Context, Marla Lopez

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

Research has identified executive control (EC) as an important predictor of dietary outcomes among youth. Executive control in preschool age has been shown to predict important outcomes across development for youth, indicating that good, foundational EC abilities are associated with successful development in later life. Dietary outcomes across adolescence, an important transitional period for establishing healthy eating behaviors, are understudied. Therefore, the current study sought to link two critical developmental periods, examining how preschool EC is associated with dietary trajectories across adolescence. Further, the study aimed to identify how contextual factors, specifically indices of socio-economic status and the home and …

Investigating Associations Between Activity And Performance Traits Across Three Breeds Of Swine Using NuTrack, Dalton R. Obermier

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

Feed costs are the largest contributor towards the variable costs of pork production. To decrease feed cost while not sacrificing output requires an improvement in feed efficiency (FE). A potential approach to expand available phenotypes associated with FE is with activity tracking, yet the relationship between activity and performance is not well defined in swine. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify associations between activity and feed intake traits. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) was collected on 1,766 purebred boars of three genetic lines (Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire) using FIRE (Osborne Industries, Inc., Osborne, Kansas) at a testing …

Enriching The Pcos Lifestyle, Callie Coleman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder affecting approximately 4 – 20% of women worldwide. It is associated with insulin resistance, fertility problems, and an increased susceptibility to chronic conditions through multiple inflammatory pathways. Women with PCOS are also at increased risk for disordered eating. The Mediterranean diet is associated with decreased inflammation and risk of chronic conditions, and intuitive eating principles are associated with decreased disordered eating patterns. The purpose of this study was to determine if a six-week nutrition education workshop incorporating information and skills related to both the Mediterranean lifestyle and intuitive eating principles can improve …

The Frequency And Predictive Factors Of Change In Alcohol Consumption During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Results From A Multi-Country Longitudinal Study, Carolien Verhei, Nadja Alexandrov, Erica I. Lubetkin, Gouke J. Bonsel, John N. Yfantopoulos, Mathieu F. Janssen, Stephanie C.E. Schuit, Suzanne Polinder, Pleunie P.M. Rood, Juanita A. Haagsma

Publications and Research

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had multiple health and behavioral effects in the general population worldwide, including effects on nutritional and lifestyle behavior such as alcohol consumption. This study aimed to determine the frequency of and predictors for change in alcohol consumption two years after onset of the COVID-19 pandemic among participants from the general population of six countries. Methods: Longitudinal study design with 4999 participants (47% male; aged 18–75 years) from a general population cohort from six countries: Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (US). Measurements: Three web-based surveys at …

Autophagic Signaling Promotes Systems-Wide Remodeling In Skeletal Muscle Upon Oncometabolic Stress By D2-Hg, Yaqi Gao, Kyoungmin Kim, Heidi Vitrac, Rebecca L Salazar, Benjamin D Gould, Daniel Soedkamp, Weston Spivia, Koen Raedschelders, An Q Dinh, Anna G Guzman, Lin Tan, Stavros Azinas, David J R Taylor, Walter Schiffer, Daniel Mcnavish, Helen B Burks, Roberta A Gottlieb, Philip L Lorenzi, Blake M Hanson, Jennifer E Van Eyk, Heinrich Taegtmeyer, Anja Karlstaedt

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: Cachexia is a metabolic disorder and comorbidity with cancer and heart failure. The syndrome impacts more than thirty million people worldwide, accounting for 20% of all cancer deaths. In acute myeloid leukemia, somatic mutations of the metabolic enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 cause the production of the oncometabolite D2-hydroxyglutarate (D2-HG). Increased production of D2-HG is associated with heart and skeletal muscle atrophy, but the mechanistic links between metabolic and proteomic remodeling remain poorly understood. Therefore, we assessed how oncometabolic stress by D2-HG activates autophagy and drives skeletal muscle loss.

METHODS: We quantified genomic, metabolomic, and proteomic changes in …

Effect Of Male Partners' Involvement And Support On Reproductive, Maternal And Child Health And Well-Being In East Africa: A Scoping Review, Richard Fletcher, Faye Forbes, Abel Fekadu Dadi, Getachew Mullu Kassa, Casey Regan, Anna Galle, Addisu Beyene, Rebecca Liackman, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background and Aims: East African countries have high rates of maternal and childmortality and morbidity. Studies have shown that the involvement of male partners inreproductive health can benefit maternal and child health (MCH). This scoping reviewaims to provide an overview of the evidence across East Africa that describes malepartner involvement and its effect on maternal, reproductive, and child well‐being.

Methods: Ten databases were searched to identify quantitative data on male'sinvolvement in East Africa. Studies reporting qualitative data, “intention to use” dataor only reporting on male partner's education or economic status were excluded.Studies were organized into five a priori categories: antenatal …

Nano Curcumin As A Photosensitizer For Photodynamic Therapy Treatment Of Oral Lesions, Sudip Pokhrel

Graduate Masters Theses

The capability of curcumin and its analogs to inhibit various processes involved in cancer development and progression has been extensively studied. Curcumin is also a photoactive compound, which can be activated with blue light to initiate photochemistry. Motivated by this and its inherent anti-cancer properties, we examined the practicality of using a commercially available nano-cumin formulation as a photosensitizer for the photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment of oral cancers. Despite the significant limitation of curcumin in only absorbing blue light, which lies outside the optical window and suffers from poor penetration depths, we meticulously investigated its potential. Our systematic examination using …

Differences In Bilinguals And Multilinguals Diagnosed With Alzheimer's Disease, Nathalie Rios Carreon

University Honors Theses

Alzheimer’s Disease does not have a cure but there are different things that can be done to manage the disease. Keeping your brain healthy is important to keep cognitive reserve (CR) strong and intact. One way to keep CR intact is to speak more than one language. Previous research done shows that monolinguals typically get diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease 4 to 5 years earlier than bilinguals and multilinguals. Using existing articles it was found that this new research was similar to research already done. Speaking more than one language keeps the brain healthy in many different ways. Research suggests that …

Emergency Sheltering And Autism, Rrose Lamay

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

While research is abundant on the individual topics of caring for vulnerable populations in a disaster, Autism Spectrum Disorder. There is little guidance available that ties these together and deals directly with the emergency sheltering of minors on the autism spectrum. The information gap extends to preparedness for caregivers of children on the spectrum, shelter workers, and community members. This vulnerable population is known to have specific needs during disasters when mass sheltering is needed. These needs could be addressed by the development of a comprehensive literature review, a survey, and a coinciding guide. The literature review discusses preexisting academic …