Digital Commons Network^™

Vital Gospel Nutrients, Dale G. Renlund

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

Instead of sharing “spiritual Twinkies,” or shallow teachings, teachers can provide deep spiritual nourishment to students. Four spiritual principles, or “staples,” are essential to help students grow strong in faith: (1) nurturing students’ testimonies of Jesus Christ and the gospel, (2) fostering students’ personal relationships with teachers, (3) facilitating students’ confidence in addressing gospel questions, and (4) preparing students’ hearts to feel the Spirit.

Full Issue

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

No abstract provided.

Environmental Justice Beyond 2°C, Clifford Villa

Faculty Scholarship

In the last four decades, average temperatures have risen significantly across the United States, with Alaska and New Mexico among the fastest warming states. Since 1970, average temperatures in New Mexico have risen 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit (°F)—or nearly 2 degrees Celsius (°C). The international scientific community has urged world leaders to contain global warming above pre-industrial levels to 1.5°C ideally, and to 2°C at worst. Current trajectories, however, suggest we may shoot past 2°C of global warming this century and enter a world of 3-4°C or beyond... The “trade offs” and “letting go” as we confront the looming 4°C world …

Assessment Of Some Hematological Parameters In Sickle Cell Disease During Steady State And In Vaso-Occlusive Crisis, Huda Abedalameir Hussain, Zainab Wahab Al Maaroof, Abbas Fadhil Hasson

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Sickle cell disease is a monogenetic disorder resulting in early mortality and widespread organ damage, including pulmonary, cardiac, and splenic dysfunction, as well as cerebral infarcts and avascular osteonecrosis. It results from a single point mutation causing the replacement of the amino acid glutamic acid by valine. Chronic hemolysis can affect sickled red cells, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress, which contribute to the occurrences of vasoocclusion.

Objectives: To measure hematological parameters and their relationship to the development of vasoocclusion.

Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 80 Iraqi subjects, including 40 cases with sickle cell disease diagnosed …

Correlation Between Biofilm Formation And Antibiotic Resistance In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolated From Various Clinical Specimens, Ali Kareem Ali, Lamees A. Abdul-Lateef

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is a Gram-negative nosocomial pathogen implicated in various human infections, primarily associated with healthcare services. Biofilms are known for their resistance to antimicrobial agents.

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the correlation between biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance in isolates.

Materials and Methods: The samples were collected from (110) patients admitted to two main hospitals in Hilla city: Al-Hilla General Teaching Hospital, and Mergan Teaching Hospital. The specimens were collected from various clinical sites such as wounds, ears, and urine.

Results: Out of (70) positive cultures cultured on Cerimide agar medium, only 15 (13.6%) specimens showed …

Impact Of Physical Activity And Body Size On Serum Level Of Anti-Müllerian Hormone In Women In Babylon Province, Murtadha D. Mohsin, Ban J. Edan

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a glycoprotein produced by granulosa cells and has gained recognition as the most dependable serum biomarker for assessing ovarian reserve. AMH levels serve as an indicator of the quantity of primordial follicles and their likely response to external gonadotropins. Obesity may impact female fertility through direct harm to oocyte health and differentiation or by indirectly interfering with the pituitary-hypothalamic axis, leading to dysfunctional oogenesis.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the role of physical activity and body size on serum AMH levels in women.

Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on …

Detection Of Newly Identified Phylogenetic Lineages In Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Isolates In Iraq, Hiba J. Hamza, Huda H. Al-Hasnawy, Mohammed R. Judi, Hider M.H. Al-Shirifi

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains have been classified into eight distinct phylogenetic clusters as per a novel quadruplex PCR method. However, the exact phylogenetic relationship among these bacterial lineages is still uncertain. Objectives: The current study employed the Clermont phylotyping method to enhance the understanding of phylogenetic clusters of E. coli and evaluate antibiotic resistance in uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains in Iraq. Materials and Methods: A total of forty-two UPEC isolates were evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility using a disk diffusion test, while the innovative Clermont phylotyping method was employed for the phylogenetic classification of the isolates. …

Exploring The Role Of Nanoparticles In Combating Microbial Infections: A Mini Review, Khaldoon Jasim Mohammed, Abdulhakeem Dahham Hussein, Sundus Jassim Muhammad

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Drug-resistant organisms are on the rise globally, and therefore studies for new forms of antimicrobial agents. Among them, nanoparticles find much utility in drug delivery and possess effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant strains. Such an approach is a successful one for public health since it has relative advantages in eradicating microbial infections.

Objective: The aim of this mini-review is to discuss the role of nanoparticles and their functions on microbial infections, especially regarding their antimicrobial activity.

Method: This review involves the conduct of a systematic review of the literature through publications in different databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences, …

Biomarkers And The Identification Of Kidney Damage In Patients With Diabetes Mellitus, Hanan Hamid Ramadhan, Rasha Naseer Mohammed

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

The condition of diabetic renal disease is the most prevalent manifestation of chronic kidney disease and renal failure worldwide. It acts as the major diabetes complication and is characterized by the excretion of abnormal urinary albumin, impairment of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and diabetic glomerular renal lesions. It is also associated with microvascular complications in diabetes mellitus.

The exact pathogenesis is complicated and unexplained. The pathogenesis pathways initiated and sustained in the kidney by increased glucose levels. They are enhanced by numerous different factors that involve several metabolic variables (excess of carbonyl, fatty acids, and oxidative stress) and hemodynamic variables …

Training The Concept Of Innovate In Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) Is Both Creative And Cognitively Stimulating, Deirdre Yeater, Kathleen M. Dudzinski, Dawn Melzer, Andrew R. Magee, Michaela Robinett, Gonzalo Guerra, Kimberly Salazar, Terri Bolton, Heather Manitzas Hill

Psychology Faculty Publications

Creative or novel behaviors in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) can be indicators of flexible thinking and problem solving. Over 50 years ago, two rough-tooth dolphins demonstrated creative novel behaviors acquired through reinforcement training in human care. Since this novel training, a variety of species have been trained to respond to this conceptual cue. The current study assessed the creativity of 12 bottlenose dolphins (5 females, 7 males) housed at the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS) in Roatan, Honduras. Individual differences were found across four constructs measured for creativity: fluency, flexibility, elaboration, and originality. Variability in performance occurred across test …

Contributing Factors And Interventions For Increased Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection (Clabsi) Rates During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review, Brittney Perry

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this literature review is to determine the contributing factors of CLABSI rate increases during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify interventions which restored CLABSI rates to pre-pandemic levels to guide healthcare professionals’ actions during the next pandemic. Background: In the first two decades of the 21^st century, CLABSI rates were reduced in United States hospitals by innovating safer patient care practices. However, there was a significant increase in the annual CLABSI rate in 2020 and 2021, increasing the average length of stay, mortality rate, and cost to the U.S. healthcare system. Methods: An extensive search of CINAHL …

Financial Issues And Trends Among Testicular Cancer Patients: A Review Of Patient-Reported Outcomes, Treatments, And Employment, Staphana Valery Edouard

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The present study reviewed existing literature on the effects of treatment and recovery costs on the multidimensional wellness of testicular cancer (TC) survivors. Peer-reviewed and scholarly articles were systematically searched and analyzed to determine the extent and impact of the overall financial effects of a TC diagnosis. This study aimed to uncover evidence indicating the possible decline in overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL) due to the potential deleterious effects on TC survivors’ financial well-being.

We found that TC survivors’ HRQoL is affected due to the damages of high out-of-pocket treatment costs, possible loss of employment, disability, and any other …

Recognizing Risk Factors Of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia In Neonates ≥ 24 And ≤ 32 Weeks Of Gestational Age, Hannah Tatro

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung condition that is diagnosed among neonates who are on oxygen therapy for longer than 28 days. BPD causes insufficient gas exchange due to prematurely developed lungs and is the most common condition that causes morbidity of prematurity. Many risk factors contribute to the development of this condition and relate to care from the delivery room to the first few days of life.

Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to examine risk factors related to the development of BPD in neonates from the gestational ages of 24 to 32 weeks.

Methods: …

Health Behaviors Predicting Risk Of Obesity In Us Adults: What Does A Healthy Lifestyle Look Like?, Jacqueline Vernarelli, Jessica R. Kiel, Christopher D. Coleman, Satya S. Jonnalagadda

Public Health Faculty Publications

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between lifestyle factors and body weight in a nationally representative sample of US adults and to evaluate the association between a novel “Healthy Habits Composite Score (HHCS)” and risk of obesity.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included data from 4870 adults who participated in the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The HHCS was developed based on 4 factors: diet, physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep, all of which were measured during the NHANES. A “healthy lifestyle” was defined as meeting ≥3 of the 4 established criteria. Data …

The Pathophysiology Of The Death Of Jesus The Christ, C. Thomas Black

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Centuries-long speculation continues regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of the Savior. Over the past century, the Savior’s tribulations between the Last Supper and his death on the cross have been scrupulously examined from a medical viewpoint. In this article I review many of these studies and, using current medical acumen, propose additional inferences and explanations based on scriptural, medical, and historical accounts. The evidence suggests that at some point between Gethsemane and his last moments on the cross, the Lord’s body was pushed beyond the limit that a normal mortal could endure. The Lord did, however, endure and completed …

Defining "Healthy" On Food Labels: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back, Alexia Brunet Marks

Publications

Few definitions of the mid-twentieth century have survived into the twenty-first century. It is worth asking, then, why the definition of "health," articulated seventy-five years ago by the World Health Organization, has endured into the present. The 1948 definition reads as follows: "[h]ealth is a state of complete physical, mental[,] and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Aspirational in tone, the definition resonates with the surge among consumers towards healthier foods and overall well-being. However, in addition to wartime and pandemic concerns, today's threats to achieving "health" include climate change and a rise in diet-related …

Alopecia As An Early Clinical Marker For Azathioprine Induced Myelosuppression: A Case Report, Nilanjana Dutta , Final Year Mbbs, Dr. M Suresh Babu , Professor, Dr. Subramanian Ramaswamy , Professor, Dr. Mahabaleshwar Mamadapur , Assistant Professor

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Azathioprine is a pro-drug and is metabolized by the TPMT enzyme in the body. In South Asians, Azathioprine is known to cause alopecia and bone marrow suppression in patients with TPMT enzyme deficiency. In India, the prevalence of TPMT mutation varies from 1.2- 10%. A new mutation was detected in 2014, NUDT15 whose incidence varies from 8.5-16%. Patients with mutation in both TPMT and NUDT15 develop myelosuppression faster. In our case, alopecia manifested as the first clinical feature of Azathioprine myelosuppression. Physicians need to recognize early clinical clues (alopecia) to avoid the impending development of myelosuppression and to look for …

Alkaptonuria Presenting With Back Pain: A Diagnostic Dilemma, Arnav Salar, Dyuksha Arora, Mahabaleshwar Mamadapur

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Alkaptonuria is a rare inborn error of metabolism due to a deficiency of homogentisate 1,2 dioxygenase, resulting in homogentisic acid accumulation in tissues. It is characterised by homogentisic aciduria, ochronosis, and arthritis. We hereby discuss a 46-year-old male who presented with progressive lower back pain and polyarthralgia for ten years, initially diagnosed as ankylosing spondylitis. Characteristic skin pigmentation, ochronosis, and radiological findings led to the correct diagnosis of alkaptonuria. This case highlights the importance of considering alkaptonuria as a differential diagnosis for chronic back pain and arthritis, mainly when sacroiliac joints are spared, and ochronosis is present. While no cure …

Chronobiology Of Meal Timing In Early-Stage Hypertension: Effects On Renal And Vascular Function, Natalie J. Bohmke

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Previous research determined that a Western-style meal acts as a stressor to the kidney and contributed to impaired blood pressure and vascular function. Despite an understanding of acute postprandial physiology in humans, studies have not investigated the impact of the time of day of meal consumption on physiology. Methods: Ten participants with elevated or stage-one hypertension underwent a randomized crossover trial with a controlled feeding intervention of a Western-style meal in the morning or the evening. Participants completed a run-in day to standardize diet followed by the experimental day. On day 2, participants completed ambulatory blood pressure, core temperature, …

From Temporary Nurse Aide To Certified Nurse Aide: Examining Temporary Nurse Aides’ Perceptions Of Situated Learning As Preparation For The National Nurse Aide Assessment Program Examination, Amy Taloma

Theses and Dissertations

The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) staffing shortages in Long Term Care (LTC) facilities. To address these shortages, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) authorized LTC facilities to employ Temporary Nurse Aides (TNA). The American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) developed free online training for individuals which is much shorter than traditional nurse aide training and does not require hands-on skill training or a clinical practicum. The Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) ended in October 2022. As a result, TNAs are no longer authorized to work in LTC Facilities …

Evaluation Of Cervical Dentin Removal After Orifice Shaping In Maxillary Premolars: A Micro Ct Study, Abdulaziz Mallik

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The research aims to compare the volume and percentage of pericervical dentin removed by Gates Glidden Drills, ProTaper SX, and a 20-06 Rotary File.

Methods: A total of 24 extracted two-rooted maxillary first premolars were divided into three groups (n=8) and were coronally flared using either Gates-Glidden Drills, ProTaper Gold SX, or a 20-06 Brasseler Endosequence CM Rotary File. Pre- and post-flaring micro-CT scans were obtained. The dentin volume of the buccal canals was measured from the chamber floor and 2 mm apically in the buccal canal only. Data were analyzed using the ANCOVA test to compare dentin removal …

Fitbit Engagement In An Health Physical Activity Intervention For Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Secondary Analysis Of The Impact Randomized Controlled Trial, Jessica Gomez Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Wearable devices allow for objective remote and real-time data collection and have been increasingly popular among the general public and in mHealth activity (PA) interventions. Despite this, our knowledge of feasibility and efficacy for using wearable devices to increase PA among a particularly vulnerable population—young adult cancer survivors age 18-39 (YACS)—is limited. Engaging in physical activity while undergoing cancer treatment contributes to reduced risk for recurrence and secondary cancers, and can also help to manage treatment side effects. However, there are a multitude of barriers to PA engagement among cancer survivors, with YACS in particular demonstrating low rates of PA. …

Community Informant And Mental Health Provider Perspectives On Access To Mental Healthcare For Lgbtqia+ Communities In Virginia, Chariz Seijo

Theses and Dissertations

The existing literature on mental health disparities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) populations suggests members of LGBTQIA+ populations are at greater risk of mental health disorders than cisgender and heterosexual individuals. The COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated mental health disparities for many, including LGBTQIA+ populations. Combined with mental health provider shortages and anti- LGBTQIA+ bills across the country, inequities in mental healthcare are a significant concern. This qualitative study was designed to gather unique perspectives of key community informants and mental health providers on their experiences with mental healthcare provision to LGBTQIA+ communities in Virginia. …

Obesity Knowledge And Bmi In Caregiver-Adolescent Dyads: A Descriptive Comparative Pilot Study, John Sykes, John Sykes

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of obesity and associated health risks and costs continue to increase. The majority of these health and cost ramifications manifest in adulthood, making it imperative to intercept the problem during childhood. Unfortunately, an overwhelming majority of the research surrounding adolescents and obesity to date involves subjects that are already overweight or obese, and the focus of those interventions are on secondary and tertiary prevention. Focusing on primary prevention of childhood obesity could ultimately decrease the incidence, prevalence, and disease-related burden to society. It is posited that the 20% difference in obesity prevalence between adults and children …

Established Colonization Of Sneathia Vaginalis In A Mouse Model, Kailyn E. Turcios-Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

Sneathia vaginalis (Sv) is a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. Sv can traverse the fetal membrane and damage epithelial cells in vitro by producing a pore-forming cytotoxin, cytopathogenic toxin A (CptA). To further understand the transition of Sv from normal flora to a pathogen, an animal in vivo model needs to be created to observe the preliminary ascending infection before we begin to study the effects on pregnancy. Experimentation was conducted to optimize mouse breed, bacteria administration methods, and other variables that arise when working in vivo. The C57BL/6 mouse strain displayed the most consistent …

Investigating The Impact Of Chronic Inflammatory Pain On Ethanol Consumption In Mouse Models., Joshua L. Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic pain affects nearly 20% of Americans annually and for many alcohol provides a convenient and legally acquired palliative. Population-based studies have suggested a link between increased alcohol use and reduced pain, but chronic or excessive alcohol use potentiates the risk to develop alcohol dependence and neuropathy. However, sex differences in chronic pain and alcohol abuse are still not well understood. In the present study, we investigated whether chronic inflammatory pain using the inflammatory agent Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) model could alter ethanol consumption in male and female C57BL/6J mice. We observed that only CFA-treated male mice increased their ethanol …

Exploring The Role Of Senescence In Disuse-Induced Bone Loss And Therapeutic Strategies For Prevention, Steven J. Meas

Theses and Dissertations

Both age-related and disuse-related bone loss result in decreases in bone mineral density, cortical thickness, and trabecular thickness and connectivity. Disuse induces physiological changes in bone similar to those seen with aging. This study compared age- and disuse-related bone loss using C57BL/6J mice of various ages that were hind-limb unloaded (HLU). In male and female mice, HLU induced a bone phenotype between those of 6-month-old and 22-month-old control mice. Gene analysis suggested that HLU leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, while aging primarily downregulates cell cycle processes. Although, the specific response to HLU appeared to be dependent on age. The study identified …

Enhancing Chemotherapeutic Efficacy Of Doxorubicin Through Combination Therapy With Rapamycin And Sildenafil, While Providing Cardioprotection In Breast Cancer Models, Rebecca Mathew

Theses and Dissertations

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a common chemo-drug for breast cancer, but it causes severe cardiotoxicity. This study explores combining Sildenafil (Sild) and Rapamycin (Rapa), which inhibit phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) and mTOR, respectively, to boost DOX’s anticancer, but provide cardioprotection. Triple negative human (MDA-MB-231) and murine (4T1) breast cancer cells were treated with DOX (1 µM) with/without Rapa (100 nM) and Sild (10 µM) for 24-72 hours to analyze cell death, cell viability assays and protein expression. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer (SKBr3) spheroids were treated with the same concentrations of DOX and/or AG825 (5µM) with/without Rapa and/or Sild for …

Transforming Children's Oral Health: The Impact Of Oral Healthcare Policies On Virginia Medicaid Dental Health Outcomes., Anita M. Kumar

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: Transforming Children's Oral Health: The Impact of Oral Healthcare Policies on Virginia Medicaid Dental Health Outcomes.

Objectives: This dissertation uses Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) administrative files at the individual and provider level from fiscal years (FY) 2011 to 2021 to systematically study the effect of recently implemented oral health policies (EBD guidelines on sealants, CMS updated quality measures, expansion of Medicaid oral healthcare for qualifying pregnant women) on oral health outcomes of Virginia Medicaid-enrolled children.

Methods: The studies employ a difference in differences regression methods (negative binomial, Poisson, and logistic) to examine the effects of oral health …

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury In Yucatan Minipigs: Assessing Changes In Approachability And Mechanical Nociception Following Diffuse Central Fluid Percussion Injury, Mark D. Pavlichenko

Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major healthcare concern affecting millions. Symptoms of TBI include sensory sensitivity and social changes that may persist long-term. Due to similarities in cytoarchitecture, metabolism, and inflammation, higher order minipig models are advantageous for translational TBI research, however, there remains a shortage of information regarding their behavioral and sensory sequelae following injury. Therefore, in this study, we assessed changes in sociability and somatosensation in adult male and female Yucatan minipigs for up to one-week following a sham or central fluid percussion injury (cFPI). Specifically, the voluntary human approach task (VHAT) and the forced human approach …