Digital Commons Network^™

The Human Vaginal Microbiota: From Clinical Medicine To Models To Mechanisms, Samantha Ottinger, Clare M Robertson, Holly Branthoover, Kathryn A Patras

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The composition of the vaginal microbiota is linked to numerous reproductive health problems, including increased susceptibility to infection, pregnancy complications, and impaired vaginal tissue repair; however, the mechanisms contributing to these adverse outcomes are not yet fully defined. In this review, we highlight recent clinical advancements associating vaginal microbiome composition and function with health outcomes. Subsequently, we provide a summary of emerging models employed to identify microbe-microbe interactions contributing to vaginal health, including metagenomic sequencing, multi-omics approaches, and advances in vaginal microbiota cultivation. Last, we review new in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models, such as organoids and humanized …

Study Design And Methods: Us Study To Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention To Reduce Risk (Us Pointer), Laura D Baker, Heather M Snyder, Mark A Espeland, Rachel A Whitmer, Miia Kivipelto, Nancy Woolard, Jeffrey Katula, Kathryn V Papp, Jennifer Ventrelle, Sarah Graef, Marcus A Hill, Scott Rushing, Julia Spell, Laura Lovato, Deborah Felton, Benjamin J Williams, Mina Ghadimi Nouran, Rema Raman, Tiia Ngandu, Alina Solomon, Sharon Wilmoth, Maryjo L Cleveland, Jeff D Williamson, Katherine L Lambert, Sarah Tomaszewski Farias, Claire E Day, Christy C Tangney, Darren R Gitelman, Olivia Matongo, Terrianne Reynolds, Valory N Pavlik, Melissa M Yu, Ashley S Alexander, Richard Elbein, Ann Marie Mcdonald, Stephen Salloway, Rena R Wing, Susan Antkowiak, Martha Clare Morris, Maria C Carrillo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: The U.S. study to protect brain health through lifestyle intervention to reduce risk (U.S. POINTER) is conducted to confirm and expand the results of the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) in Americans.

METHODS: U.S. POINTER was planned as a 2-year randomized controlled trial of two lifestyle interventions in 2000 older adults at risk for dementia due to well-established factors. The primary outcome is a global cognition composite that permits harmonization with FINGER.

RESULTS: U.S. POINTER is centrally coordinated and conducted at five clinical sites (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03688126). Outcomes assessments are completed at baseline and …

Preparing Community Health Workers To Empower Latino(A)S With Diabetes: A Real-World Implementation Study, Laura Porterfield, Zuleica Santiago Delgado, Premal G Patel, Michael L Goodman, Kendall M Campbell, Elizabeth M Vaughan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the delivery of diabetes self-management education (DSME) to Latino(a) adults by community health workers (CHWs).

Methods: Investigators developed an evidence-based, bilingual (Spanish/English) diabetes education curriculum and trained 10 CHWs on its content. CHWs then implemented the curriculum in 6-month diabetes group visit programs for low-income Latino(a)s with type 2 diabetes in nonacademic 501(c)3 community clinics. Investigators evaluated efficacy of the training through successful implementation, measured by participant group visit acceptance and attendance.

Results: Participants (n = 70) reported high levels of program satisfaction (3.8/4.0), improvement in quality of life (9.7/10), meeting …

Utility Of A Low-Cost 3-D Printed Microscope For Evaluating Esophageal Biopsies, Daniel G Rosen, Evandro Sobroza De Mello, Sadhna Dhingra, Sanford M Dawsey, Joe Knapper, Richard Bowman, Sharmila Anandasabapathy

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

In this manuscript we assessed the utility of a low-cost 3D printed microscope to evaluate esophageal biopsies. We conducted a comparative analysis between the traditional microscope and our 3-D printed microscope, utilizing a set of esophageal biopsy samples obtained from patients undergoing screening endoscopy. Two pathologists independently examined 30 esophageal biopsies by light microscopy and digital images obtained using a low-cost 3D printed microscope (Observer 1 and 2). The glass slide consensus diagnosis was compared to the findings of 2 additional pathologist who independently just reviewed the digital images (Observer 3 and 4). The intra-observer agreement was substantial to almost …

Circulating Immune Signatures Across Clinical Stages Of Chronic Pancreatitis: A Pilot Study, Rasmus Hagn-Meincke, Phil A Hart, Dana K Andersen, Santhi S Vege, Evan L Fogel, Jose Serrano, Melena D Bellin, Mark D Topazian, Darwin L Conwell, Liang Li, Stephen K Van Den Eeden, Asbjørn M Drewes, Stephen J Pandol, Chris E Forsmark, William E Fisher, Dhiraj Yadav, Søren S Olesen, Walter G Park, Consortium For The Study Of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, And Pancreatic Cancer (Cpdpc)

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: This pilot study seeks to identify serum immune signatures across clinical stages of patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP).

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of prospectively collected serum samples from the PROspective Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis for EpidEmiologic and Translation StuDies-study. CP subjects were categorised into three clinical stages based on the presence/absence of metabolic complications: (1) CP with no diabetes and exocrine pancreatic dysfunction (EPD), (2) CP with either diabetes or EPD, and (3) CP with diabetes and EPD. Blinded samples were analysed using an 80-plex Luminex assay of cytokines/chemokines/adhesion molecules. Group and pairwise comparisons were performed to …

Hvaldimir: Russian Beluga Spy Whale, John Granicke

Undergraduate Research Symposium

In April of 2019, a beluga whale was found off the coast of Norway. The whale’s presence there is perplexing, as beluga whales are not often seen in the area. What is even more strange is the fact that the whale was wearing a mysterious harness and seemed to be tame. Nobody has officially claimed ownership of the whale, and nobody really knows why the whale is in Norway. Most importantly however, nobody knows what the whale's real mission is. Conspiracy theorists have proposed that the whale, dubbed Hvaldimir, is a trained Russian spy who escaped and abandoned his mission. …

Examining Immune Markers As Determinants Of Cognitive Difficulties Among Perinatally Infected Youth With Hiv, Addie Halbrook, Jacob Bolzenius, Julie Mannarino, Robert Paul

Undergraduate Research Symposium

This research explores the relationship between immune markers and cognitive performance in perinatally HIV-infected youth. While the use of antiretroviral therapy has greatly improved the mortality rate among children with perinatal HIV, these children still experience various health consequences, including cognitive difficulties. Previous studies have reported that children with perinatal HIV have worse cognitive performance in domains of learning, memory, processing speed, executive function, and motor function when compared to their HIV-uninfected peers. However, there is substantial heterogeneity in cognitive performance reported across studies, possibly due to significant heterogeneity in psychosocial and demographic backgrounds. This study aims to investigate whether …

Commonwealth Times 2024-01-31

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Food Waste From Campus Dining Hall As A Potential Feedstock For 2,3-Butanediol Production Via Non-Sterilized Fermentation, Alicia Caldwell, Xueqian Su, Qing Jin, Phyllicia Hemphill, Doaa Jaha, Sonecia Nard, Venkataswarup Tiriveedhi, Haibo Huang, Joshua Ohair

Biology Faculty Research

Food waste is a major issue that is increasingly affecting our environment. More than one-third of food is wasted, resulting in over $400 billion in losses to the U.S. economy. While composting and other small recycling practices are encouraged from person-to-person, it is not enough to balance the net loss of 80 million tons per year. Currently, one of the most promising routes for reducing food waste is through microbial fermentation, which can convert the waste into valuable bioproducts. Among the compounds produced from fermentation, 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) has gained interest recently due to its molecular structure as a building block …

Resisting Internalized Stigma (Ris): Acceptability And Feasibility Of A Cognitive Behavioral Stigma Intervention For Early Psychosis, Francesca Maria Crump

Theses and Dissertations

The clinical high-risk state for psychosis (CHR-P) was created to help identify individuals experiencing early signs of psychosis to help forestall worsening symptoms. CHR-P individuals may experience stigma that may stem from internal or external processes, including from receiving specialized care. Research has demonstrated associations between internalized stigma and psychosocial and functional outcomes, which underscores the need for interventions to help mitigate the impact of stigma while balancing the need for treatment. To date, there is only one stigma intervention specifically designed for individuals designated as CHR-P, which is psychoeducational in nature. Based on the recent call to action that …

‘Rounding Up’ Roundup: One Last Hope For Glyphosate Regulation, Gabrielle Argimón-Cartaya

University of Miami Law Review

Since 1974, Bayer’s Roundup remains the world’s most popular herbicide and pervades United States farmland and food production. However, in 2015, Roundup landed centerstage in an international and presently unsettled debate over whether its active ingredient, glyphosate, causes cancer. Environmental groups regularly call for the de-registration of glyphosate due to the plethora of ailments, ecological harm, and weed resistance resulting from glyphosate use. Dissenting experts, however, believe that strict bans would devastate agriculture because of global dependence and the lack of any popular alternatives. Faced with mounting litigation, silence from the highest court, and unreliable regulators, Bayer continues to effect …

The Lumberjack, January 31, 2024

Cal Poly Humboldt's Student Newspaper

The student newspaper of Humboldt State University.

January 31, 2024, Faculty, Illinois Wesleyan University

2023-2024

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Mayors In Achieving Brunei Darussalam’S Wawasan 2035, Lessons From China, Brice Tseen Fu Lee, Ayidana Asihaer, Juan Pablo Sims

Journal of Strategic and Global Studies

Brunei Darussalam's national vision, WAWASAN 2035, sets forth ambitious goals for the nation's development, emphasizing a centralized governance paradigm. However, the potential of decentralized governance, as exemplified by China's mayor-led districts, offers a compelling model for achieving national aspirations. This research explores the feasibility and potential benefits of introducing mayors in Brunei's districts, drawing insights from China's successful decentralized governance structure. By fostering inter-district competition and allowing for localized policy tailoring, Brunei can enhance its adaptability and responsiveness to local nuances. Drawing from China's experiences, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of how Brunei might optimize its governance structure to …

Development Of Monitoring Systems Using Computer Vision Techniques For Precise Fish Farming, Abinaya N.S

Theses and Dissertations

Fish farm is a biosystem with diversity and uncertainties demanding, an intelligent manual monitoring process, which is labor-intensive, invasive, costly, discontinuous, and persistent. The proposed work aims to develop Computer Vision (CV) -based monitoring techniques for precise fish farming to address these problems. Three major monitoring operations namely (i) Fish behavior analysis, (ii) Fish Classification (FC) and (iii) Biomass estimation have been investigated.

Fish schooling activity has been monitored using an overhead vision camera. Problems associated with fish occlusion are addressed using the weighted K-means clustering technique which provides an accurate estimation of fish school locations. Temporal variations of these …

Dynamic Prognosis Prediction For Patients On Dapt After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation: Model Development And Validation, Fang Li, Laila Rasmy, Yang Xiang, Jingna Feng, Ahmed Abdelhameed, Xinyue Hu, Zenan Sun, David Aguilar, Abhijeet Dhoble, Jingcheng Du, Qing Wang, Shuteng Niu, Yifang Dang, Xinyuan Zhang, Ziqian Xie, Yi Nian, Jianping He, Yujia Zhou, Jianfu Li, Mattia Prosperi, Jiang Bian, Degui Zhi, Cui Tao

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) in conjunction with recent updates in dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) management guidelines emphasizes the necessity for innovative models to predict ischemic or bleeding events after drug-eluting stent implantation. Leveraging AI for dynamic prediction has the potential to revolutionize risk stratification and provide personalized decision support for DAPT management. METHODS AND RESULTS: We developed and validated a new AI-based pipeline using retrospective data of drug-eluting stent-treated patients, sourced from the Cerner Health Facts data set (n=98 236) and Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database (n=9978). The 36 months following drug-eluting stent implantation were …

Seeding A Movement: Indigenous Food Sovereignty, Mariaelena Huambachano

University of Miami Law Review

For many Indigenous peoples, well-being is bound up with and inseparable from the natural world. But since colonialism, Indigenous traditions and access to traditional foods or foodways have been disrupted, imperiling their health and well-being. In this Article, I discuss the role of Indigenous cosmovision/worldview and Indigenous Food Sovereignty in achieving environmental justice. Specifically, in this Article, I discuss that despite, or perhaps because of, efforts to deny Indigenous peoples’ access to healthy and culturally appropriate foods, Indigenous Food Sovereignty took a rise of preciousness in informing natural regenerative food systems, and ultimately, “holistic/collective well-being.”

Retention Of Female Sophomore Students Who Participate In Recreational And Wellness Program, Angie Jane Reay

Student Theses and Dissertations

The study evaluated the relationship between female sophomore students' participation in campus recreational sports, retention at the university, and graduation rates. The purpose is to identify the potential influence of participation in recreational activities on persistence toward graduation. Alexander Astin’s Theory of Student Involvement and Vincent Tinto’s Theory of Student Departure provide the theoretical framework to show the importance of student involvement in higher education. The quantitative binary logistics regression explored the relationship in variables (Creswell & Creswell, 2018) between female sophomore students participating in recreational sports and those not participating. The finding revealed evidence that supports Astin’s and Tinto’s …

The Urologist’S Role In Bowel Management Of Adult Spina Bifida: A Narrative Review, Malcolm Sundell, George E. Koch, Melissa Kaufman

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background and Objective: Urologists are central to the coordinated care of patients with spina bifida (SB), and efforts to optimize bladder management and protection of the upper tracts are well established. However, the urologist’s role in treating this population often extends to the management of bowel dysfunction which may be less defined. The methods available to the urologist for bowel management range from lifestyle modifications to medical and surgical therapy, with many patients requiring combinations of multiple strategies to combat conflicting symptoms of constipation and fecal incontinence (FI). This narrative review aims to compile a detailed algorithm of management options, …

Factors Affecting Superoxide Dismutase Activity In Railway Workers In Jakarta, Indonesia, Vera Winata, Muhammad Ilyas, Aria Kekalih, Suryo Wibowo, Muchtaruddin Mansyur

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal of Indonesia

Introduction. Railway workers are exposed to many occupational health risk factors that may cause oxidative stress. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity is one of the response biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from July-October 2021. Eighty-four participants were included in this study. Data about participants’ characteristics, physical activity intensity as measured by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) version 2, and stress levels as measured by Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory were collected using Google Forms. The physical examination yielded data on blood pressure, ear condition, and waist circumference. Blood Superoxide dismutase activity and HbA1c levels were determined using …

Boarding Of Older Adults: A Concerning Trend In The Emergency Department, Julie Van Baardwijk, Eric Tharmathurai, Ariba Khan

Journal of Geriatric Emergency Medicine

Emergency department (ED) boarding (EDB) is the practice of holding admitted patients in the ED due to a lack of hospital beds. We identified one ED in our health system with a high rate of EDB. We sought to identify factors associated with EDB in this hospital by comparing it to a similar hospital in our health care system.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study comparing two community hospitals in our healthcare system. Boarding was defined as a patient waiting ≥8 hours in ED for disposition. One hospital, located in a rural area with 55beds was chosen as it was …

Exploring The Relationships Between Health Literacy And Hba1c In A Rural Border Region, Stephen Jaime

Dissertations

Aims/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the relationships between select sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, individual health literacy levels, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels among Hispanic patients with diabetes living in a rural border region.

Background: The frequency of complications from diabetes can increase as HbA1c levels rise, causing the person with diabetes to be at greater risk for blindness, amputation, or renal failure. Unfortunately, people of Hispanic background are at higher risk of developing diabetes compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Many people living in rural towns that border Mexico are of Hispanic background, increasing their risk of developing …

The Impact Of Regional Tourism Development On The Food Tourism Industry: Case Study Of Tourism Village Assistance Policy In Indonesia And The Influence Of Regional Disparity On Its Effectiveness, Uliannisa Rozdianda, Yohanna M. L. Gultom

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study aims to identify the impact of the development of tourist areas on culinary businesses by taking the case of the program for the construction of facilities and infrastructure supporting tourism villages which was implemented starting in 2017 and looking at the influence of regional disparities on the effectiveness of assistance which is then compared between the regions of Java-Bali and outside Java-Bali. Using the Difference-In-Differences (DID), the study analyzed the impact of the support program on 115 tourism villages, comparing them to other tourism villages in the same sub-district that did not receive support. The results show that, …

Digital Echoes: The Influence Of Internet And Social Media On The “Ideal” Conception Of Motherhood In Indonesian Stunting Programs, Sari Damar Ratri

Masyarakat: Jurnal Sosiologi

This article examines how information about childhood care available on social media affects the construction of ideal Indonesian mothers. Specifically, I pay closer attention to how women's roles and experiences in stunting prevention campaigns are portrayed and enacted online in the context of the digital socialization of these programs. Based on online ethnographic research from 2021-2023, which examined social media accounts of healthcare professionals and mothers, this article explores the construction of “ideal” motherhood within the digital realm of stunting programs. As health care professionals’ social media accounts carried messages and embodied the authoritative power of medical knowledge, they helped …

Fabp4 And Metabolite Profile In Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Mice Model Treated With Moringa Oleifera Ethanol Leaf Extract, Cenia P. Hanifah, Ifa Sulistiyorini, Vanessa A. Sumirat, Neni Anggraeni, Mirasari Putri, Mohammad Ghozali, Mas Rizky A.A Syamsunarno

Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research

Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction resulting from a dysregulated host response to infection, induces changes in blood cells and metabolic alterations. Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), a lipid chaperone predominantly expressed in adipose tissue, is modulated in sepsis and may contribute to metabolic and immunologic changes. Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) leaf extract (MOLE) is known to modulate immune system activity, but its potential for treating acute inflammatory conditions like sepsis remains unclear. This study investigates the ability of MOLE to modulate metabolite and hematological profiles in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis in mice. Thirty-five male Swiss Webster mice (Mus musculus) were …

War And Ip, Peter K. Yu

BYU Law Review

This Article examines wartime and postwar protection of intellectual property rights, with a focus on the Russo-Ukrainian War that broke out in February 2022. It begins by showing that armed conflicts are not new to the international intellectual property regime and that this regime already contains robust structural features and carefully drafted safeguards, limitations, and flexibilities to protect intellectual property rights holders during wartime. The Article then explores the international intellectual property obligations of countries that are parties to an armed conflict as well as those that are not directly involved but have imposed sanctions on belligerent states. This Article …

Principal Perceptions On The Digital Divide, Equity, And Learning Barriers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kristina Ana Chittick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Poor Oral Health Is Associated With Inflammation, Aortic Valve Calcification, And Brain Volume Among Forager-Farmers, Benjamin C. Trumble, Matthew Schwartz, Andrew T. Ozga, Gary T. Schwartz, Christopher M. Stojanowski, Carrie L. Jenkins, Thomas Kraft, Angela R. Garcia, Daniel K. Cummings, Paul L. Hooper, Daniel Eid Rodriguez, Kenneth Buetow, Bret Beheim, Andrei Irimia, Gregory S. Thomas, Randall C. Thompson, Horus Team, Margaret Gatz, Jonathan Stieglitz, Caleb E. Finch, Michael Gurven, Hillard Kaplan

ESI Publications

Poor oral health is associated with cardiovascular disease and dementia. Potential pathways include sepsis from oral bacteria, systemic inflammation, and nutritional deficiencies. However, in post-industrialized populations, links between oral health and chronic disease may be confounded because the lower socioeconomic exposome (poor diet, pollution, low physical activity) often entails insufficient dental care. We assessed tooth loss, caries, and damaged teeth, in relation to cardiovascular and brain aging among the Tsimane, a subsistence population living a relatively traditional forager-horticulturalist lifestyle with poor dental health, but minimal cardiovascular disease and dementia. Dental health was assessed by a physician in 739 participants aged …

Effects Of Temperature On Economic Preferences: A Cross-Cultural Laboratory Study Of Prosocial Behavior, Nikita Tkachenko

Master's Theses

In light of the pressing issue of climate change, our study investigates the implications of rising temperatures on social and economic behaviors through a laboratory experiment conducted among students at university sites in Mexico, India, Kenya, Colombia, and the United States. This paper examines the influence of temperature differences and exposure length on economic decision-making among students at university sites in Mexico, Kenya, and the United States. Analyzing data from the dictator game, we explored how temperature, both ambient and wet bulb, and session length affect prosocial behavior. Our results suggest a link between temperature measures and prosocial behavior, with …

A Healthful Plant-Based Diet Is Associated With Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk Via Improved Metabolic State And Organ Function: A Prospective Cohort Study, Alysha S. Thompson, Catharina J. Candussi, Anna Tresserra-Rimbau, Amy Jennings, Nicola P. Bondonno, Claire Hill, Solomon A. Sowah, Aedín Cassidy, Tilman Kühn

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Plant-based diets are becoming increasingly popular due to favourable environmental footprints and have been associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Here, we investigated the potential mechanisms to explain the lower T2DM risk observed among individuals following plant-based diets. Methods: Prospective data from the UK Biobank, a cohort study of participants aged 40 to 69 years at baseline, was evaluated. Associations between healthful and unhealthful plant-based indices (hPDI and uPDI) and T2DM risk were analysed by multivariable Cox regression models, followed by causal mediation analyses to investigate which cardiometabolic risk factors explained the observed associations. Results: …