Digital Commons Network^™

Study Protocol For A Stepped-Wedge Cluster (Nested) Randomized Controlled Trial Of Antenatal Colostrum Expression (Ace) Instruction In First-Time Mothers: The Ace Study, Cassandra Cuffe, Roslyn Giglia, Matthew N. Cooper, Julie Hill, Desiree Silva, Anita M. Moorhead, Valerie Verhasselt, Joshua R. Lewis, Deborah Ireson, Jill R. Demirci, Talea Cotte, Kathryn Webb, Frances Patey, Therese A. O’Sullivan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Although many mothers initiate breastfeeding, supplementation with human-milk substitutes (formula) during the birth hospitalization is common and has been associated with early breastfeeding cessation. Colostrum hand expressed in the last few weeks before birth, known as antenatal colostrum expression (ACE), can be used instead of human-milk substitutes. However, evidence is lacking on the efficacy of ACE on breastfeeding outcomes and in non-diabetic mothers. Methods and Planned Analysis: This multicenter stepped-wedge cluster (nested) randomized controlled trial aims to recruit 945 nulliparous pregnant individuals. The trial is conducted in two phases. During Phase 1, control group participants are under standard care. …

The Gut Microbiome Modulates Associations Between Adherence To A Mediterranean-Style Diet, Abdominal Adiposity, And C-Reactive Protein In Population-Level Analysis, Amy Jennings, Tilman Kühn, Nicola P. Bondonno, Sabina Waniek, Corinna Bang, Andre Franke, Jan Kassubek, Hans-Peter Müller, Marcus Both, Katharina S. Weber, Wolfgang Lieb, Aedín Cassidy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Adherence to a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern is likely to have variable effects on body composition, but the impact of gut microbiome on this relationship is unknown. Objectives: To examine the potential mediating effect of the gut microbiome on the associations between Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMed) scores, abdominal adiposity, and inflammation in population-level analysis. Design: In a community-based sample aged 25 to 83 y (n = 620; 41% female) from Northern Germany, we assessed the role of the gut microbiome, sequenced from 16S rRNA genes, on the associations between aMed scores, estimated using validated food-frequency questionnaires, magnetic resonance imaging-determined visceral …

Co-Designing An Online Treatment Decision Aid For Men With Low-Risk Prostate Cancer: Navigate, Penelope Schofield, Amelia Hyatt, Alan White, Fiona White, Mark Frydenberg, Suzanne Chambers, Robert Gardiner, Declan G. Murphy, Lawrence Cavedon, Jeremy Millar, Natalie Richards, Barbara Murphy, Ilona Juraskova

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To develop an online treatment decision aid (OTDA) to assist patients with low-risk prostate cancer (LRPC) and their partners in making treatment decisions. Patients and methods: Navigate, an OTDA for LRPC, was rigorously co-designed by patients with a confirmed diagnosis or at risk of LRPC and their partners, clinicians, researchers and website designers/developers. A theoretical model guided the development process. A mixed methods approach was used incorporating (1) evidence for essential design elements for OTDAs; (2) evidence for treatment options for LRPC; (3) an iterative co-design process involving stakeholder workshops and prototype review; and (4) expert rating using the …

Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Wield Enterobactin-Derived Catabolites As Siderophores, Zongsen Zou, John I Robinson, Lindsey K Steinberg, Jeffrey P Henderson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) secrete multiple siderophore types to scavenge extracellular iron(III) ions during clinical urinary tract infections, despite the metabolic costs of biosynthesis. Here, we find the siderophore enterobactin (Ent) and its related products to be prominent components of the iron-responsive extracellular metabolome of a model UPEC strain. Using defined Ent biosynthesis and import mutants, we identify lower molecular weight dimeric exometabolites as products of incomplete siderophore catabolism, rather than prematurely released biosynthetic intermediates. In E. coli, iron acquisition from iron(III)-Ent complexes requires intracellular esterases that hydrolyze the siderophore. Although UPEC are equipped to consume the products of completely …

The Stability Of The Deadlift Three Repetition Maximum, Stuart N. Guppy, Tsuyoshi Nagatani, Wayne C. K. Poon, Kristina L. Kendall, Jason P. Lake, G. Gregory Haff

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study investigated the stability of three repetition maximum (3RM) strength during the deadlift. Eleven participants performed four testing sessions comprising a one repetition maximum test and 3RM tests separated by 48 h. Preparedness was assessed before each testing session using countermovement jumps and by measuring barbell velocity during each set of deadlifts. Trivial statistically significant differences were determined for the 3RM between T1 and both T2 (p = 0.012; ES [95% CI] = −0.1 [−0.58, 0.41]) and T3 (p = 0.027; ES [95% CI] = −0.09 [−0.57, −0.43]). No significant differences were noted between T2 and T3 …

Smooth Muscle Contractile Responses To Bile Acids In Mouse Ileum Require Tgr5 But Not Asbt, Diana S Chang, Krishnakant G Soni, Geoffrey A Preidis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Many disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) are more prevalent in women than men and feature alterations in gastrointestinal motility and bile acid homeostasis. Mechanisms by which bile acids regulate gastrointestinal motility are poorly characterized. We recently validated an adapted tissue bath technique using everted mouse ileum, which revealed differential contractile responses to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and deoxycholic acid (DCA). Here, we aimed to determine whether these responses are dependent on host sex, the plasma membrane bile acid receptor TGR5, or the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter ASBT.

METHODS: Ileal segments from male and female mice were everted and suspended …

Diagnosis And Management Of Shrimp Allergy, Bin Brenda Su, Warren Blackmon, Chun Xu, Christopher Holt, Nathaniel Boateng, Darren Wang, Vibha Szafron, Aikaterini Anagnostou, Sara Anvari, Carla M Davis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Shrimp allergy, the most common food allergy in the United States, affects up to 2% of the population. Its etiology is multi-factorial with the combination of genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. This review summarizes the latest diagnosis and management strategies for shrimp allergy. Currently, the double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge is the gold standard for diagnosis. Moreover, mainstream and experimental management strategies include food allergen avoidance, the FDA-approved omalizumab, and oral immunotherapy. Herein, we emphasize the urgent need to develop more effective diagnostic tools and therapies for shrimp allergy.

Development Of A Mini Pig Model Of Peanut Allergy, Akhilesh Kumar Shakya, Brittany Backus, Lazar D Nesovic, Malini Mallick, Olivia Banister, Carla M Davis, Sara Anvari, Harvinder Singh Gill

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of peanut allergies is increasing, emphasizing the need for an animal model to enhance our understanding of peanut allergy pathogenesis and to advance diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions. While mice are frequently used as model organisms, their allergic responses do not fully mirror those observed in humans, warranting the exploration of a higher animal model. The porcine gastrointestinal system closely resembles that of humans, and exhibits allergy symptoms akin to human responses, making pigs a promising model for peanut allergy research.

METHODS: In this study we compared two allergen sensitization protocols involving either topical allergen application after …

Understanding Primary Care Physician Perspectives On The Diagnosis And Management Of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Qualitative Study, Natalia I Heredia, Jemima C John, Sonia Singh, Jessica P Hwang, Larkin L Strong, Maya Balakrishnan, Lorna H Mcneill

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are well suited to manage patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the limited, existing research suggests inadequate knowledge about the natural history, diagnostic methods, and management of NAFLD. The purpose of this qualitative study is to further understand the knowledge and practices for the diagnosis and management of NAFLD among PCPs. We conducted in-depth interviews with PCPs in the Greater Houston area, addressing current clinical practices used for diagnosing and managing NAFLD, as well as the perceptions of the PCPs regarding the burden of NAFLD on patients. We recorded interviews, transcribed them, coded transcripts, …

Profile Of Caregiving Activities And Association With Physical Health Among Dementia Spousal Caregivers, Jinmyoung Cho, Laura P Sands, Alan B Stevens, Heather G Allore, Molly J Horstman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and objectives: This study aims to identify patterns of caregiving intensity and assess associations between caregiving intensity and multidimensional physical health indicators and health behaviors among spousal caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia.

Research design and methods: Using data from 152 spousal caregivers aged 65 and older, the intensity of their caregiving experience was measured as the number and frequency of health- and medical-related helping activities for their care recipient. Multidimensional health indicators included self-reported fatigue, sleep disturbance, physical functioning, pain interference, general health, and the number of chronic conditions from the electronic health records. Self-reported …

Management Of Depression/Anxiety In Patients With Chronic Liver Disease, Mauro Garcia-Altieri, Keila Carrera-Mejias, Ruben Hernaez

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

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Health, Salud, : Individualizing Behavioral Needs In A Multicultural World, Madeline Rock, Dustan Watkins, Elizabeth M Vaughan, Craig A Johnston

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Diversity within the United States continues to increase, making it imperative that health care providers understand the impact of cultural background on health behaviors and perceptions. These practices promote trusting patient-provider relationships, improve outcomes, and increase patient satisfaction. In this article, we discuss the 3 largest ethnic or racial minority groups in the United States, Hispanics, African Americans, and Asians, and the intersection of culture and health care through the lens of these distinct communities. We also offer behavioral recommendations to increase awareness and knowledge regarding vast cultural variations within our communities while embracing cultural humility.

Delivering Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Care In Parkinson's Disease: An International Consensus Statement, Jennifer G Goldman, Daniele Volpe, Terry D Ellis, Mark A Hirsch, Julia Johnson, Julia Wood, Ana Aragon, Roberta Biundo, Alessandro Di Rocco, Glenn S Kasman, Robert Iansek, Janis Miyasaki, Victor M Mcconvey, Marten Munneke, Serge Pinto, Karen A St Clair, Santiago Toledo, Michele K York, Ronnie Todaro, Nicole Yarab, Kristin Wallock

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder impacting everyday function and quality of life. Rehabilitation plays a crucial role in improving symptoms, function, and quality of life and reducing disability, particularly given the lack of disease-modifying agents and limitations of medications and surgical therapies. However, rehabilitative care is under-recognized and under-utilized in PD and often only utilized in later disease stages, despite research and guidelines demonstrating its positive effects. Currently, there is a lack of consensus regarding fundamental topics related to rehabilitative services in PD.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the international Parkinson's Foundation Rehabilitation Medicine Task Force was …

Protein Quality Malnutrition, Mark J Manary, Donna R Wegner, Kenneth Maleta

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Protein quality refers to the evaluation of a food or a diet based on its amino acid composition, protein digestibility, and protein bioavailability. When these parameters are specified, either through direct measurement or estimation, the amino acids provided by the diet are compared to those required by a healthy individual, and based on this comparison, an adequacy ratio or score is assigned. Two widely used protein quality scoring systems are the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) and the digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS), neither of which account for the dietary source of the protein. In malnourished children, metabolic …

Delayed Macrophage Targeting By Clodronate Liposomes Worsens The Progression Of Cytokine Storm Syndrome, Kunjan Khanna, Emily Eul, Hui Yan, Roberta Faccio

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Excessive macrophage activation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines are hallmarks of the Cytokine Storm Syndrome (CSS), a lethal condition triggered by sepsis, autoimmune disorders, and cancer immunotherapies. While depletion of macrophages at disease onset protects from lethality in an infection-induced CSS murine model, patients are rarely diagnosed early, hence the need to characterize macrophage populations during CSS progression and assess the therapeutic implications of macrophage targeting after disease onset. In this study, we identified MHCII

Anti-Patents, Roy Baharad, Stuart Minor Benjamin, Ehud Gutte

Faculty Scholarship

Conventional wisdom has long perceived the patent and tort systems as separate legal entities, each tasked with a starkly different mission. Patent law rewards novel ideas; tort law deters harmful conduct. Against this backdrop, this Essay uncovers the opposing effects of patent and tort law on innovation, introducing the "injurer-innovator problem." Patent law incentivizes injurers --often uniquely positioned to make technological breakthroughs--by allowing them to profit from licensing their inventions to competitors. Yet tort law, by imposing liability for failures to invest in care, forces injurers to incur the cost of implementing their own innovations. When the cost of self-implementation …

2023-2024 Charter Schools Office Annual Report, Grand Valley State University

Annual Reports (GVSU Charter Schools Office)

No abstract provided.

An Overview Of The Brazilian Chrysomelidae (Insecta: Coleoptera): The Most Species-Rich Beetle Family In Brazil, Adelita M. Linzmeier, Luciano De A. Moura, Cibele S. Ribeiro-Costa, Daiara Manfio, Federico Agrain, Maria L. Chamorro, Geoffrey Morse, Renato Regalin, Lukáš Sekerka

Biology: Faculty Scholarship

The leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) are one of the most species-rich family of herbivorous beetles with about 45,000 species worldwide. Based on the contributions of chrysomelidologists to the Taxonomic Catalog of the Brazilian Fauna - CTFB, the family comprises 6,079 species in 562 genera of which 951 species are endemic to Brazil, standing out as the most diverse, representing 4.8% of the Brazilian fauna and 17.1% of the beetle species. Chrysomelidae has twelve subfamilies with nine reported to Brazil: Galerucinae, the richest with 1,916 species in 202 genera, followed by Cassidinae, Eumolpinae, Cryptocephalinae, Chrysomelinae, Bruchinae, Criocerinae, Lamprosomatinae and Sagrinae - this …

Suitability Of 210pbex, 137cs And 239+240pu As Soil Erosion Tracers In Western Kenya, Sophia M. Dowell, Olivier S. Humphrey, Charles J.B. Gowing, Thomas S. Barlow, Simon R. Chenery, Job Isaboke, William H. Blake, Odipo Osano, Michael J. Watts

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Land degradation resulting from soil erosion is a global concern, with the greatest risk in developing countries where food and land resources can be limited. The use of fallout radionuclides (FRNs) is a proven method for determining short and medium-term rates of soil erosion, to help improve our understanding of soil erosion processes. There has been limited use of these methods in tropical Africa due to the analytical challenges associated with 137Cs, where inventories are an order of magnitude lower than in the Europe. This research aimed to demonstrate the usability of 239+240Pu as a soil erosion tracer in western …

Drug-Resistant Epilepsy And Ketogenic Diet Therapy – A Qualitative Study Of Families’ Experiences, Jennifer H. Carroll, Tracey Parkin, J. Helen Cross, Mary Hickson, Emma Williams, Val Aldridge, Avril Collinson

School of Health Professions

Background: A diagnosis of drug-resistant epilepsy is life changing for a family. Ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) can offer hope when other treatments have failed. However, it often requires a significant change in daily routine and dietary habits. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore families’ experiences of epilepsy and KDT. Methods: Parents of a child aged ≤18 years with epilepsy, currently or recently treated with KDT, were recruited from the UK and internationally via UK Ketogenic Diet (KD) centres, charities, and social media. Semi-structured interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, anonymised, coded using Nvivo (V12), and inductive thematic analysis undertaken. …

Guide To The Alan Bersin Papers, Alan Douglas Bersin

Special Collections

The Alan Bersin papers consist of records collected by Bersin during his tenure as the Superintendent of San Diego City Schools and the Secretary of Education for the State of California. The vast majority of the records are in the form of correspondence, memoranda, meeting minutes, reports, and newspaper articles. These records delve into the workings of Bersin's office, planning behind such programs as the Blueprint for Student Success, the Institute for Learning, Special Education, and Charter Schools. Correspondence, news articles, and court cases document reaction to those programs from the public, labor unions, and the San Diego Board of …

Investigation Of The Ecological Interactions And Host Specificity Of Verticillium Nonalfalfae, A Proposed Biological Control Agent Against The Invasive Tree-Of-Heaven (Ailanthus Altissima), Kristen H. Pierce

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a highly invasive tree species with a cosmopolitan distribution, including an expansive range in North America. In the U.S., tree-of-heaven has established populations in more than 40 states and is considered among the most notorious of invasive plant species. The discovery of Verticillium nonalfalfae and V. dahliae causing acute wilt and mortality of Ailanthus in the mid-Atlantic in the 2000s has resulted in numerous studies evaluating the utility of these fungi as potential biocontrol agents. Recent efforts to commercialize V. nonalfalfae have raised additional questions about its widespread use and factors influencing long-term efficacy. …

Implementation Of A Diabetes Mellitus Self-Management Program, Rebecca Johnston

DNP Projects

Type 2 diabetes is prevalent nationwide, increasing the risk of various complications including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and amputations. The literature review highlights a potential correlation between inadequate education and a lack of control of glucose in individuals diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement project was to improve knowledge of Diabetes Type 2 self-management, in turn improving the outcomes of patients who were newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and patients who had a Hemoglobin A1c >7%, as well as management of weight in these patients. …

The Need For More Inclusive Deliberation On Ethics And Governance In Agricultural And Food Biotechnology, Catherine Kendig, Theresa Selfa, Paul B. Thompson, Raymond Anthony, Wenda Bauchspies, Gwendolyn Blue, Ashmita Das, Rebecca Harrison, Chris Henke, Shan Jin, Jennifer Kuzma, Forbes Lipschitz, Kurt Lichter, Morgan Ruelle, Timothy Silberg, Bruno Takahashi

Sustainability and Social Justice

An inclusive and socially legitimate governance structure is absent to address concerns over new agricultural biotechnologies. Establishing an agricultural bioethics commission devoted to inclusive deliberation on ethics and governance in agricultural and food biotechnology is urgent. Highlighting the social and ethical dimensions of current agricultural bioengineering disputes in the food system, we discuss how a nationally recognized policy forum could improve decision-making and increase public understanding of the issues. We clarify ways the concepts that are used to categorize food and frame governance of food affect consumer choices, and how dissemination of information and the mode of dissemination can contribute …

Disability, Race, And Health Beyond The Carceral State, Benjamin Barsky, Craig Konnoth, Michael A. Stein

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Hospital Practices That Support Breastfeeding In The United States, Jane Lazar Tucker

Open Access Dissertations

Breastfeeding is the optimal form of infant nutrition and has many health benefits for mothers as well as infants (CDC, 2022a; Victora et al., 2016). Though rates of breastfeeding have improved in recent years, disparities in breastfeeding persist among Black and Hispanic women compared to White women (Beauregard et al., 2019; Chiang et al., 2021), despite similar intentions to breastfeed across all racial/ethnic groups (Hamner et al., 2021). Hospital practices that support breastfeeding, such as the baby being placed skin-to-skin immediately after delivery or staying in the room with the mother throughout the hospital stay, are known to predict breastfeeding …

Effects Of Western Diet Or Exercise Exposure In A Novel Rat Model Of Late-Onset Alzheimer’S Disease, Jennifer M. Mattar

Open Access Dissertations

Sporadic, late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) accounts for a staggering 98% of cases yet does not arise from a single genetic mutation. Rather, an extensive body of research has revealed that LOAD is likely the result of complex interactions between genetics and several lifestyle factors. There exists a substantial gap in understanding the mechanisms behind LOAD development and the impacts of lifestyle on disease progression. Enhanced rodent models may help elucidate mechanisms by which LOAD develops. This longitudinal study introduces a novel rat model of LOAD (CrAβ), created using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to express humanized Aβ. The effects of a …

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Nutriton-Focused Steam Summer Program For Urban Youth, Jacquelyn Potvin

Open Access Dissertations

Background: Youth from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse families are at increased risk for academic challenges and nutritionally inadequate diets. Summer programs offer an opportunity to foster interest and engage students in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) education while addressing summer learning loss. Nutrition education early in life can help youth develop healthy dietary behaviors that they carry into adulthood. Project stRIde: Science and Technology Reinforced by Innovative Dietary Education was a summer program for 4-6th grade youth from racially and ethnically diverse and low-income families. The goal of the program was to engage youth in nutrition-centered …

Mechanistic And Toxicokinetic Analysis Of Perfluoroalkyl Substances: Proteomics Approach And The Role Of Fatty Acid Binding (Fabp), Seyed Mohamad Sadegh Modaresi

Open Access Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent chemicals used in many industries, known for their resilience and resistance to degradation. The extended half-lives of PFAS in the human body result in bioaccumulation, with serum half-lives for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) estimated at 3.4, 4.6, and 7.1 years, respectively. PFAS primarily accumulate in the liver, hypothesized due to their resemblance to fatty acids and their binding with liver fatty acid-binding proteins (LFABP), affecting lipid metabolism and leading to liver toxicity. Although extensive research has been performed on long-chain PFAS over the past decade, …

Advancing Clinical-Community Partnerships To Address Pediatric Food Insecurity, Nader Hamdi

Open Access Dissertations

Background: Children and families experiencing low income in the United States are at a greater risk of food insecurity (FI) and suboptimal diet quality than the general population. Childhood FI, which is associated with numerous poor health and developmental outcomes, has become so pervasive that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends universal FI screenings. Routine FI screening in clinical settings presents opportunities for clinic-community partnerships to connect families experiencing FI with food access and nutrition education (FANE) programs. A variety of FANE programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education (SNAP-Ed), are administered at the federal level to …