Digital Commons Network^™

Therapeutic Landscape Of Early Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease Translated Into Everyday Practice For Geriatric Providers., Melissa J Bailey-Taylor, Paula Morrow, James Hendrix, Katherine E. Galluzzi, Golnosh Sharafsaleh

PCOM Scholarly Works

Alzheimer's disease (AD) accounts for 60-80% of all dementia cases. Recent advances in diagnostic biomarkers of early symptomatic AD (ie, mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to AD) and amyloid-targeting therapies (ATTs) have the potential to improve outcomes for patients with AD. Two ATTs (donanemab and lecanemab) are currently approved and available for use in the US. Both ATTs can slow disease progression as well as cognitive and functional decline in patients with early symptomatic AD. Treatment with ATTs is associated with specific safety concerns such as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. Therefore, the benefit versus risk profile needs to be …

Development Of Poly(Lactic Acid)/Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer/Cellulose Composites Using Cellulose Extracted From Hemp Biomass For Plastic Packaging Applications, Supanicha Alapon, Natthanich Thongmee, Wikoramet Teeka, Pattara Somnuake, Sirirat Wacharawichanant

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Poly(lactic acid)/ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM)/cellulose composites using cellulose derived from hemp biomass (CHB) were investigated in this research. Morphology, chemical structures, functional groups, and crystallinity of CHB were characterized, observing a size of 135 ± 32 μm from SEM images with high purity and crystallinity from FT-IR and XRD spectroscopy. The optimized CHB was incorporated at 1 phr, 3 phr, and 5 phr into PLA/EPDM blends at 90/10 w/w. The polymer composites were prepared using an internal mixer, and samples were produced by compression molding for mechanical and thermal testing. The results indicated that the EPDM phase dispersed as droplets in …

Synergistic Ph-Shift And Heat Treatment For The Recovery Of Protein Isolates From Ham Processing Brine: Evaluation Of Protein Ingredient Quality, Structure, And Functional Properties, Anim Ujong, Carlos Álvarez, Brijesh K. Tiwari, Shay Hannon, Uma Tiwari

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Ham processing generates significant volumes of brine, a saline wastewater with untapped potential. This study compared three protein recovery methods: direct centrifugation, moderate heat treatment (75 °C), and a combined pH-shift-mild heat (PSMH) approach (65 °C). Both the PSMH method and moderate heat precipitation produced protein concentrates with the highest initial protein contents (62.15%–62.81%), which increased to 91.65%–95.59% purity after desalting, with NaCl levels reduced to <1.5%. Amino acid analysis revealed that PSMH-derived proteins had the highest total amino acid content (96.58 g/100 g). Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis confirmed improved recovery of muscle proteins, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that moderate heat treatment reduced the α-helix/β-sheet ratio. Proteins recovered using PSMH exhibited the highest water and fat binding capacities and maintained solubility across a broad pH range. They also exhibited strong foaming ability, although they showed slightly lower foam stability than proteins recovered by other methods, and they demonstrated emulsifying properties that were optimal under mildly alkaline conditions. Overall, PSMH presents a sustainable and efficient strategy for recovering functional proteins from ham brine for use in food and feed applications.

Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy And Machine Learning For Chlorogenic Acid Quantification In Coffee, Deborah Herdt, Felix Wühler, Thomas Kunz, Victoria Schiwek, Sarah Kühnemuth, Brian Gibson, Matthias Rädle

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

To predict chlorogenic acid (CGA) concentration in coffee during roasting, a machine learning algorithm was applied to mid-infrared (MIR) data. A total of 44 roasting samples between 140 and 220 °C, along with an unroasted control, were dry-heated in an eddy current roaster and subsequently ground and measured. CGA concentrations were predicted from MIR spectroscopy data using a multilayer perceptron (MLP) regressor and validated against a high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector reference. The algorithm performed spectral preprocessing and selected relevant wavenumber regions. The MLP-based model achieved a high coefficient of determination, outperforming classic peak evaluation, indicating that automated …

Development Of An Active Crosslinked Nanocomposite Film Based On Gelatin-Ethyl Cellulose, Trans-Cinnamaldehyde, And Silver Nanoparticles For The Preservation Of Sliced Meat, Elham Sarmast, Shiv Shankar, Stephane Salmieri, Sahra Amel Rahmouni, Monique Lacroix

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

This study aimed to develop a novel bioactive biobased packaging film combining gelatin (G) and ethyl cellulose (EC), cardanol and glycerol as plasticizers, trans-cinnamaldehyde (TCA) as a crosslinker/bioactive compound, and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as bioactive agents. The degree of crosslinking, mechanical and thermal properties, water solubility (WS), and water vapor permeability (WVP) of the films were analyzed. Molecular interactions within the film matrix were determined by FTIR spectroscopy. The G-EC film, in a 1:2 weight ratio, exhibited improved physicochemical properties compared to the pure G film, with a low WS (7.8%). The incorporation of TCA and AgNPs—to form bioactive nanocomposite …

Biochemical Processes, Chemical Compositions, And Nutrient Profiles Of Germinated Barley Grains After Steeping With Thiolated And Aminated Spent Brewer's Yeast Hydrolysates, Elahe Abedi, Brian Gibson, Philip C. Wietstock

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

The present study investigated the effect of steeping solution containing a thiol- and amino-functionalization of hydrolyzed brewers' spent yeast hydrolysate (HBSY) on the enzymatic and nutritional profile of germinated barley. Thiol- and amino-functionalized HBSY (GSN) resulted in significantly elevated activities of α-amylase (35.5 U/g), β-amylase (41.2 U/g), protease (29.9 U/g), cysteine protease (12.6 U/g), lipase (4.8 U/g), and phytase (3.4 U/g) compared to control samples germinated in water (GW) (α-amylase: 23.5 U/g; β-amylase: 12.4 U/g; protease: 8.4 U/g; cysteine protease: 2.6 U/g; lipase: 2.1 U/g; phytase: 1.06 U/g). Higher cysteine protease activity was associated with increased β-amylase activity, consistent with …

Characterization Of Nutritional And Flavor Profiles Of Aromatic Black Rice, India, Babli Waribam, Raju Sasikumar, T. Selva Kumar, Phani Kumar Garlapati, Sandeep Janghu, S. Chakkaravarthi, Paul Mansingh, Vidisha Tomer, Amit K. Jaiswal

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Chakhao is an indigenous aromatic black rice variety from Manipur, India, valued for its distinctive flavor, high anthocyanin content, and associated health benefits. Despite its geographical indication status, limited information exists on how regional cultivation conditions influence its compositional attributes. This study characterizes and compares the nutritional composition, mineral content, volatile profile, and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) composition of Chakhao sourced from five major cultivation regions in Manipur. Proximate analysis quantified moisture, protein, ash, fiber, fat, and carbohydrate content, whereas GC-MS/MS and ICP-MS were employed to profile volatile compounds, FAMEs, and mineral elements. Carbohydrates were the predominant macronutrient (73.88%–74.21%), …

Investigation Of Different Aeration Strategies For The Production Of Kombucha With Defined Co-Cultures, Marie Ludszuweit, Leon Bender, Gayatri Mehta, Martin Hageböck, Brian Gibson, Martin Senz

Research Outputs: 2025-Present

Kombucha fermentation is a complex process influenced by many different process parameters and the dynamics of the microorganisms present. Since no universally established standards exist for large-scale production of kombucha, manufacturers still need to acquire the knowledge to establish controllable and reproducible processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which the kombucha fermentation process can be influenced by varying the oxygenation regime and the initial pH value. For this purpose, co-culture fermentations with the yeast Zygosaccharomyces bailii and the acetic acid bacterium Komagataeibacter hansenii were carried out under defined conditions, varying the type and intensity …

Green Synthesis And Optimized Annealing Temperature Effects On Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Mango Peel Extract, Supamas Wirunchit, Natchayaporn Sakulpeeb, Woradech Meedech, Sutee Chutipaijit, Wantana Koetniyom

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This study presents the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using mango peel extract (MgE) as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. Phytochemical extraction was performed with deionized water, ethanol, and methanol for 1 h to 5 h, with deionized water at 4 h yielding the highest flavonoid content. Using zinc nitrate as a precursor, 25 mL of MgE successfully facilitated the synthesis of ZnO-NPs (ZnO-25MgE). It was found that annealing temperature at 400℃ for 6 h produced pure ZnO. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy …

Play-Based Learning In Private International Preschools In Cairo: Teachers' Perspectives, Kesha L. Stovall

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how play-based learning is practiced and contextualized in private, international preschools in Cairo, Egypt through the perspective of teachers. It calls upon both historical and contemporary theories of play and play pedagogies ranging from the times of Plato and Al-Farabi to the 21st century with Montessori and Dewey. Using a contemporary theory of play presented by Stuart Lester and Wendy Russell as a guiding framework, it examines how play and play-based learning are implemented, shaped and even challenged in a Cairene context. These contexts include sociocultural factors such as parents’ expectations and aspirations, institutional barriers, teacher development …

Simulation Scenario Builder, Jami Monico

Instructional Materials: Graduate Medical Education

Simulation Scenario Builder is a structured Excel‑based tool designed to guide educators through the complete development of clinical simulation experiences. Organized according to the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice™, this builder ensures consistency, quality, and standardization when creating simulation activities for learners in health professions education. The file includes linked resources, fillable planning sections, and templates for scenario design, prebriefing, debriefing, learner preparation, assessment, fidelity planning, and evaluation.

Selenium And Liver Steatosis And Fibrosis: Opposing Direct And Steatosis-Mediated Associations In A Large Cohort, Neda Rehan, Jubilee Benedict, Rehan Qayyum

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background and Aims

Epidemiologic studies have reported conflicting associations between selenium exposure and liver disease. Whether selenium exerts opposing direct and steatosis-mediated effects on liver fibrosis is unknown. To evaluate the associations of blood selenium with elastography-defined hepatic steatosis and fibrosis and to determine whether hepatic steatosis mediates the relationship between selenium and fibrosis.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of adults aged >= 18 years in NHANES 2017-2023. Hepatic steatosis was assessed using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and fibrosis using liver stiffness measurement (LSM). Blood selenium was categorized into quartiles. Survey-weighted multivariable linear regression and structural equation modeling …

Social Health Programming During Adolescence Is Associated With Increased Serum Levels Of Carotenoids, Vitamin A, And Vitamin E In Young Women: An Observational Cohort Study, Rebecca Drakowski, Matthew Vanormer, Laura Ebers, Katie Mayhan, Anum Akbar, Colman Freel, Taija Hahka, Rebekah Rapoza, Corrine K. Hanson, Keyonna King, Aaryn Mustoe, Melissa K. Thoene, Ann Anderson-Berry

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

Over 85% of young women in the United States do not meet fruit and vegetable intake recommendations, placing them at risk for low antioxidant nutrient intake. Social health programming (SHP) can improve dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, but it is not known how SHP impacts serum levels of specific antioxidant nutrients. This observational cohort study assessed the effect of participation in SHP through Girls Inc., Omaha, on serum carotenoid, retinol, and tocopherol levels for 12–29-year-old women. Serum nutrient levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography and nutrient intake from diet was measured using three 24 h dietary recalls (ASA24 …

Application Of Current Enteral Nutrition Support Recommendations To Infants Born Less Than 750 Grams Or Less Than 25 Weeks' Gestation: A Critical Review, Mar Romero-Lopez, Mamta Naik, Teresa Hartman, Ann Anderson-Berry, Melissa Thoene

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

Clinicians face a paucity of evidence-based recommendations for provision of enteral nutrition in infants born < 750 g or < 25 weeks' gestation, termed "nano-preterm." Current enteral nutrition recommendations for extremely low birth weight infants may not be broadly applicable to nano-preterm infants due to physiological and developmental differences, while others may be appropriate. Key enteral nutrition-related considerations include: the unique anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, altered metabolic capacity, availability of maternal milk and use of alternative substrates, detailed methods of initiation and advancement of enteral feeding, methods of human milk fortification, targeted requirements for macronutrient and micronutrients, and the safety and efficacy of enteral nutrition support management to optimize the growth and development of the nano-preterm infant. This comprehensive review focused on enteral nutrition provision in nano-preterm infants, thoroughly evaluating available literature and identifying knowledge gaps about the unique physiology and metabolism of the nano-preterm infant as it pertains to enteral nutrition. Ultimately, prospective multicenter research is needed to establish evidence-based guidelines to promote optimal growth and development while minimizing complications of extreme prematurity.

Ash/Isth 2026 Guidelines For Anticoagulant Prophylaxis In Pediatric Patients At Risk Of Venous Thromboembolism, Marisol Betensky, Muayad Azzam, Rachel Bercovitz, Rukhmi V. Bhat, Tina Biss, Brian Branchford, Leonardo R. Brandão, Anthony K.C. Chan, E. Vincent S. Faustino, Qais Hamarsha, Julie Jaffray, Sophie Jones, Hassan Kawtharany, Bryce A. Kerlin, Jana Khawandi, Grace Krider, Nicole Kucine, Riten Kumar, Christoph Male, Paul Monagle, Marie-Claude Pelland-Marcotte, Leslie Raffini, Chittalsinh M. Raulji, Sarah E. Sartain, Clifford M. Takemoto, Cristina Tarango, C. Heleen Van Ommen, Maria C. Velez, Sarak Vesely, John Wiernikowski, Suzan Williams, Hope P. Wilson, Gary Woods, Reem A. Mustafa

Journal Articles: Pediatrics

High-quality data on anticoagulant prophylaxis for pediatric VTE prevention are scarce. Key research priorities include the development and validation of subgroups-specific VTE risk assessment models, and evaluation of the safety and efficacy of risk-stratified anticoagulant prophylaxis strategies across different pediatric subgroups.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant cause of morbidity in children, particularly among hospitalized patients and those with chronic medical conditions. There is a lack of consensus on anticoagulant prophylaxis strategies.

OBJECTIVE: These evidence-based guidelines from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) are intended to support patients and health …

Screen Time Use, Reading Achievement, And Thinking Maps: A Correlational Study Of Fifth-Grade Students, Morgan Brooke Unger

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study was the fixation of screen time among fifth-grade students at a kindergarten to Grade 12 private school in South Florida. By the time children reach age 12, 69% of adolescents own a smartphone. The purpose of this study was designed to determine (a) the relationship between screen time use and reading achievement among fifth graders, (b) the relationship between parents’ awareness of their child’s screen time use and their child’s actual screen time use, and (c) how well fifth-grade students’ Thinking Maps illustrate the problems associated with screen time fixation at a kindergarten to …

Effect Of Employees’ Breakfast Choices On Energy Levels In The Hispanic Population Working In Healthcare In South Florida, Jennifer Rivas

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the effect of employees’ breakfast choices on perceived energy levels among Hispanic healthcare workers in South Florida. As breakfast consumption has been widely associated with cognitive function, productivity, and metabolic stability, this research focused on understanding how specific breakfast patterns influence daily energy in a population that plays a critical role in regional healthcare delivery.

A qualitative survey was developed by the researcher and was used to collect data from Hispanic employees working in a variety of healthcare settings. Participants completed a structured survey assessing breakfast habits, nutritional quality, frequency of consumption, and …

Balancing Care And Chaos: A Phenomenological Study On The Emotional And Mental Health Challenges Of Emergency Department Nurses, Shantilee Green

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of emergency department nurses related to emotional and mental health challenges, coping with stress, and ways to provide them with better workplace support. Emergency department nurses are required to work 12-hour shifts in a high-stress environment with a significant patient load and an inadequate patient-to-nurse ratio. Emergency department nurses are exposed daily to patient events that can be traumatic and affect their mental and emotional health, and nurses may find it challenging to cope with the resultant stress.

The researcher created an interview protocol of 14 questions to …

Examining Reframing Behavior Implementation: Teacher Perspectives And Discipline Patterns In Middle School, Francisco J. Hidalgo

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined teacher-reported implementation of the Reframing Behavior (RB) Initiative at a middle school in North Central Florida. The districtwide training occurred in the 2024-2025 school year. The RB Initiative provides educators with opportunities to reframe how they address disruptive behaviors among students perceived as problematic, who may receive numerous disciplinary actions. Disciplinary actions can affect students’ academic and social lives. Using a convergent mixed methods design, the study addressed four research questions and examined implementation fidelity, teacher perceptions, school-wide discipline patterns, and teacher experiences with RB implementation.

The researcher surveyed 19 teachers and interviewed four teachers. The …

The Continuity And Fluidity Between Emergent Literacy Skills And Literacy Acquisition, Shiesha D. Otokina

Theses and Dissertations

This research study was undertaken because emergent literacy skills are crucial in helping children develop their reading abilities. Research suggests that early intervention is a key strategy for closing the achievement gap, and that early literacy skills develop as early as when children begin to communicate verbally and nonverbally. Studies show that the larger a child's vocabulary is, the quicker they learn to read.This study examined the significance of reading development and a child’s ability to acquire reading skills across the stages of reading acquisition.

This study compared student scores in the experimental and control groups to determine whether the …

Prevention Beyond Deterrence, Benjamin A. Barsky

Faculty Scholarship

This Article reconceptualizes preventive justice—the public safety paradigm that seeks to prevent harm before it occurs. Scholars have long documented how cities have advanced this paradigm through largely punitive measures, notably variants of broken windows policing, which posit that aggressive misdemeanor enforcement deters more serious crime. Yet in the aftermath of the 2020 George Floyd protests, and as underscored recently in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, these measures have faced a legitimacy crisis—prompting calls for nonpunitive responses to nonviolent incidents.

This Article establishes a preventive justice approach that advances health and safety without emphasizing crime deterrence. It draws on …

Promises Fulfilled: 114-Year-Old Alelia Murphy’S Life Of Faith And Resilience, Jacqueline B. Koonce

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

Alelia Murphy was the oldest living person in the United States, turning 114 in July 2019 until her death in November 2019. She and her family credit her longevity to her faith in God. This premise is explored through her words as she stated she had not seen everyone she needed to see and compared that statement to Simeon from the Bible who did not die until he saw the Messiah. Alelia Murphy also had not seen everything. She was seeing the relative success of her much admired, former President Barack Obama, and she had just met me, her great …

A Pilot Study Assessing The Oral Microbiome In Women Of Menopausal Age: Do Oral Nitrate–Reducing Bacteria Play A Role?, Katie Muddiman, Amazon Doble, Abish Stephen, Raul Bescos Garcia, Charlotte Illsley, Tomas Nicholas, Sally Hanks, Lisa Du Toit, Zoe Brookes

Peninsula Dental School

Introduction The links between oral health and female ageing are poorly understood, but many changes occur in the oral cavity of menopausal women that affect quality of life, and few current oral health interventions consider gender as part of their approach. The aim of this pilot study was to test the hypothesis that the oral microbiome and microenvironment change during female ageing and are thus worthy of further consideration both experimentally and clinically. Methods This observational pilot study retrospectively assessed women aged 18 to 89 years (n = 60) attending a UK primary care dental school facility for blood pressure …

An Evidence Review Of Technology Enabled Social Care In The Uk: Report For Cornwall Health Determinants Research Collaboration, Sheena Asthana, Michael Loizou, Marius Varga, Oliver Beer, Rory Baxter, Kieran Green

School of Nursing and Midwifery

The Urgent Need for a Shift from Crisis Intervention to Prevention. As highlighted by the Chief Medical Officer, demographic ageing—particularly acute in coastal areas like Cornwall—necessitates a fundamental shift in care models to allow individuals to live as independently as possible. Currently, the potential of digital technologies to support this aim is not being realised. To maintain wellbeing and reduce demand on statutory services, the system must pivot from reactive crisis management to a greater focus on prevention. While technology can play a pivotal role, it will only succeed if integrated into interoperable, data-driven systems that facilitate early intervention and …

Are There Ecological Consequences Of Urban Adaptation? A Test Of Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics In A Terrestrial Isopod (Oniscus Asellus), Aaron Yilmaz, Grace Bellino, Ryan A. Martin

Faculty Scholarship

Urbanization affects many aspects of the environment with the potential to alter both ecological and evolutionary processes. However, while examples of urban evolution are accumulating, tests of urban eco-evolutionary dynamics are rare. We carried out a reciprocal transplantation experiment using the terrestrial isopod Oniscus asellus to test how adaptation to the urban heat island influenced ecological processes. As isopods are important decomposers, we asked if leaf-litter decomposition differed among reciprocal transplant treatments and used a separate laboratory experiment to isolate the effects of temperature on rates of isopod leaf consumption. We found that leaf-litter decomposition was greater in urban habitats, …

Impact Of A Revised Educational Training Process On Improving The Efficiency Of Primary Care Mental Health Integration (Pcmhi) Referrals, Demesia Brown

DNP Projects

Timely access to mental health care remains a challenge for new Veterans entering primary care at the Meridian Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). Although a Microsoft Teams warm hand-off referral system to Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) was available, referrals were inconsistently initiated, limiting use of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) and reducing opportunities for same-day access. This quality improvement project examined whether revising the educational training process for CBOC staff would improve referral efficiency and increase same-day PCMHI encounters for new Veterans. Guided by Orem’s Self-Care Framework, the intervention consisted of monthly educational sessions from June to December …

Ready. Set. Prevent: Turning Risks Into Results, Demi Goolsby, Keyuanna Mcgee, Jeannie Ricks, Jimesha Walker, Manuel Zuniga

MSN Research Projects

Hypertension remains a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in Mississippi. Despite the availability of evidence-based clinical treatment guidelines, rates of uncontrolled and undiagnosed hypertension remain disproportionately high. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which nurse practitioners in Mississippi are aware of and incorporate the updated 2025 American Heart Association (AHA) hypertension guidelines and the PREVENT cardiovascular risk stratification tool into clinical practice. A non-experimental, descriptive, quantitative design using survey methodology with convenience sampling was employed. Online scripting via social media platforms was utilized to recruit licensed …

Estrogen Deprivation During Primate (Papio Anubis) Pregnancy: Impact On Systemic Microvascular Flow And Cardiovascular Development And Function After Birth In Offspring, Sifa Turan, Jeffery S. Babischkin, Graham W. Aberdeen, Gerald J. Pepe, Eugene D. Albrecht

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Suppressing estradiol (E₂) during baboon pregnancy lowers offspring skeletal muscle capillary density, vital for insulin-mediated glucose uptake, and induces insulin resistance. We examined whether E₂ deprivation also impairs microvascular flow and cardiac function.

Methods

Offspring of untreated baboons, letrozole-treated baboons, or letrozole plus E₂ (maternal s.c. injections during the second half of gestation) underwent contrast-enhanced microbubble ultrasonography to quantify microvessel flow and echocardiography to assess cardiac performance.

Results

Letrozole reduced maternal serum E₂ by 95% (p <  0.01). In letrozole offspring, microbubble flux rate (β) fell 55% (p <  0.02), replenishment was 5 s slower (p <  0.03), and microvessel flow declined 40% (p = 0.05); all were restored by added E₂. Indices of systolic (isovolumic contraction), diastolic (isovolumic relaxation), global performance (Tei index), and cardiac output were unchanged.

Conclusion

Prolonged gestational E₂ deprivation programs a reduction in microvascular flow without altering cardiac function; maternal E₂ prevents this, supporting E₂'s role in …

Ornithine Metabolism In Retinal Pigment Epithelium And Retina And Implications In Gyrate Atrophy, Artjola Puja

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) is a mitochondrial enzyme that regulates ornithine metabolism by converting ornithine to pyrroline-5-carboxylate, a precursor for proline and glutamate synthesis. Deficiency of OAT causes systemic ornithine accumulation and leads to gyrate atrophy (GA) of the choroid and retina, a hereditary disorder characterized by progressive chorioretinal degeneration and irreversible vision loss. Chorioretinal atrophy typically starts at the mid-peripheral retina and progresses toward the macula. Although elevated ornithine is considered toxic to the eye, how ornithine is metabolized in ocular tissues and why OAT deficiency causes selective, region-specific vulnerability remain unclear. We combined ex vivo and in vivo stable …

Polyfluoroalkyl Substances And Altered Glucose Homeostasis In Adolescents Following Bariatric Surgery, Elizabeth Costello, Brittney O Baumert, Zhenjiang Li, Vishal Midya, Shudi Pan, Justin R Ryder, Thomas H Inge, Todd M Jenkins, Stephanie Sisley, Stavra A Xanthakos, Anita Courcoulas, Douglas I Walker, Nikos Stratakis, Damaskini Valvi, Scott M Bartell, Angela L Slitt, Rohit Kohli, Sarah Rock, Michele A La Merrill, Sandrah P Eckel, Max T Aung, Rob Mcconnell, David V Conti, Lida Chatzi

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objectives: Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for severe obesity and associated metabolic comorbidities. Exposure to polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) before bariatric surgery may attenuate improvements in glucose metabolism and explain some of the heterogeneity in post-surgery outcomes.

Design: This is an observational cohort study.

Methods: Adolescents (n = 186) enrolled in the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery study were included. Eight-PFAS congeners were measured in plasma before surgery. Linear and logistic regressions were used to examine cross-sectional associations between log2-transformed PFAS (ng/mL) and fasting glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Linear mixed …