Digital Commons Network^™

Long-Term Growth Hormone Effects In Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mahmoud N. Almutadares, Nour M. Gazzaz, Naseem Y. Alyahyawi, Nuha M. Alrayes, Eman A. Mazi, Fahad F. Mansouri, Kholoud A. Hothan, Hanaa A. Hamadallah, Esraa M. Bukhari, Ahlam A. Mazi

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To assess the long-term effects and mortality rates associated with GH therapy in patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). Prader-Willi Syndrome is a rare genetic disease characterized by growth hormone (GH) deficiency among other endocrine disorders. Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out on 4 databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. The search was based on two keywords: “Growth hormone” AND “Prader-Willi Syndrome”. Outcome data included height-standard deviation score (SDS), weight SDS, body mass index (BMI)-SDS, insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF1), mortality, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and blood glucose. Results: A total of …

A Tri-Stage Interval-Neutrosophic Linguistic Decision Framework For Designing Intangible Cultural Heritage Food Education Programs In Primary Schools, Donghao Jin

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Mortality Among Transgender Persons: A Taiwan Matched-Population And Sibling-Comparison Cohort Study, Chih-Wei Hsu, Yang-Chieh Brian Chen, Liang-Jen Wang, Mu-Hong Chen, Yao-Hsu Yang, Chih-Sung Liang, Po-Yen Chen, Edward Chia-Cheng Lai

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Transgender persons have been reported to experience excess mortality, but evidence is dominated by Western cohorts and seldom addresses familial confounding.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide, retrospective cohort study using two prespecified comparison designs: matched population controls (1:4, matched on legal sex and birth date) and within-family cisgender sibling comparisons. Transgender persons were identified by ≥2 psychiatrist-recorded gender identity disorder diagnoses during 2001-2021; cohort entry required age ≥6 years. Participants were followed until death or December 31, 2022. We compared all-cause, external-cause (suicide and accidents), and internal-cause mortality using Cox regression adjusted for sociodemographics and medical comorbidity.

Findings: Among …

Concerns Regarding The Standard Deviation Of Individual Responses For Assessing Treatment Response Heterogeneity, Aaron R Caldwell, David B Allison, Andrew W Brown, Gary L Gadbury, Thirupathi Reddy Mokalla, R Drew Sayer, Andrew D Vigotsky

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The estimation of treatment response heterogeneity (TRH) is increasingly important as medicine moves toward personalized approaches. While various statistical methods have been proposed to quantify TRH in parallel-group trials, the standard deviation of individual responses (SDIR) has gained prominence within physiological research. This method is intended to quantify individual response variation by comparing standard deviations of change scores between intervention and control groups. We acknowledge that SDIR represents an improvement over many other flawed approaches that often involve responder counting. However, SDIR has critical limitations: 1) it cannot overcome the fundamental problem of causal inference because the correlation between potential …

Attitudes Of New York State Pediatric Dentists Toward Treating Hasidic Patients, Gideon Turk Dmd, Michelle Goldstein Dmd

The New York State Dental Journal

Purpose: This survey investigated variations in practices among pediatric dentists and dental residents in New York State concerning the treatment of Hasidic, Haredi or Ultra-Orthodox Jewish (HHUOJ) patients.

Methods and Results: The 16-question survey was distributed to 641 AAPD pediatric dentists and residents via email. Results were analyzed across six variables using the Mann-Whitney U Test. Statistically significant differences were observed in the responses to 14 of 16 questions.

Conclusion: The study revealed statistically significant variations in various aspects related to the treatment of HHUOJ patients, suggesting the need for further education among providers in New York State.

Hospitalizations As An Outcome Measure In Courage-Als, Stacy A Rudnicki, Timothy M Miller, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Genomic And Metabolic Network Characterization Of Fusarium Species, Hend Hussain Mueenuddin

Theses

Fusarium covers the wide genus of fungi with over 400 species that are key in agricultural and medical practice. The purpose of the current study was to perform a comprehensive genomic profiling of the 19 Fusarium species that were captured in the National Centre of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. The study was made to make a comparison of the data, based on the descriptive statistics of every species, with graphical representation images enabling clear demonstration of the numbers. The study indicated that the chromosomal numbers were in the range of 0-15, the gene count was roughly 11000 -19000, while that …

Screening For Potential Plant Growth‐Promoting Rhizobacteria (Pgpr)-Assisted Phytoremediation To Mitigate Lead Toxicity In Uae Soils, Zeinab Mohamed Abdalla

Theses

This study investigates the potential of lead (Pb)-tolerant actinobacteria that possess 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACCD) activity and plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits to serve as a biological tool for enhancing the growth of corn (Zea mays L.) under Pb stress. The primary objective of this research was to isolate and characterize novel, Pb-tolerant, rhizosphere-competent actinobacteria and to evaluate their efficacy in mitigating Pb toxicity, reducing its uptake, and promoting biomass accumulation in corn grown in contaminated soil. A total of 43 actinobacterial isolates were obtained from Pb-contaminated rhizosphere soil and screened for Pb tolerance, rhizosphere competence, ACCD activity, and PGP traits. …

Paclobutrazol Enhances Tall Fescue Salt Tolerance Via Physiological And Root System Architecture Modulation, Shugao Fan, Xindi Sun, Guohao Liang, Zhuanzhuan Ma, Jincheng Hao, Jiawei Wu, Ying Zhao

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Salinity represents a major global constraint on crop productivity. Promoting the cultivation of tall fescue in saline environments offers not only nutritional advantages for livestock but also enhances its potential for ornamental use. In this mesocosm study, we examined the effects of paclobutrazol (PBZ) on tall fescue performance under salt stress, focusing on key physiological traits to evaluate salt tolerance.

Results: Under high salt stress, paclobutrazol application increased the total number of lateral roots by 85%, from 18.39 to 34.04, and widened their growth angle by 24%, from 24.10° to 29.88°, fundamentally enhancing topsoil exploration. This reconfigured root system …

Harnessing The Power Of Amphoterically Modified Chitosan Coagulants For Enhanced Polyester Microplastic Fibre Removal From Water, Nimesha Thathsarani, Mohadeseh Najafi, Mehdi Khiadani, Muhammad Rizwan Azhar, Masoumeh Zargar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Microplastic fibre (MPF) is the dominant type of microplastic present in water treatment plants’ influent. Coagulation–flocculation followed by sedimentation effectively removes microplastics during pre-treatment; however, conventional inorganic coagulants produce high sludge volume, causing secondary pollution. Chitosan offers a greener alternative but is limited by poor solubility and low molecular weight. In this study, two amphoteric modifications were successfully incorporated into Chitosan, including CMC-CTA, synthesised by modifying carboxymethyl Chitosan (CMC) with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTA); and CMC-g-PDMC, synthesised by grafting poly[(2-methacryloyloxyethyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride] (PDMC) onto CMC. Their coagulation performance for MPF removal was assessed by turbidity measurement. The effects …

Testing If Vitamin K1 Reduces The Progression Of Non-Severe Calcific Aortic Stenosis: Design And Rationale Of The Prevention Of Aortic Stenosis Progression Phylloquinone Ossification Reduction Trial (Passport), William A. Courtney, Jarryd Walker, Aindreas Dorai-Raj, Tom Gilbert, Adil Rajwani, Jamie W. Bellinge, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Graham S. Hillis, Carl J. Schultz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims Calcific aortic stenosis (CAS) is the most common heart valvulopathy in high-income countries. There is no known treatment for CAS other than replacement of the valve in severe, symptomatic disease. Observational studies and a small openlabel randomized trial have reported that vitamin K1 supplementation may reduce the progression rate of calcification and obstruction in CAS. Methods and results 3PASSPORT(ACTRN12622000447752) will be a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating if nutritional supplementation with 10 mg of vitamin K1 can reduce the rate of valvular calcification and haemodynamic progression in CAS. Patients identified to have mild or moderate CAS based …

Development And Characterization Of Sustainable Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites With Date Palm Agro-Residues As Reinforcement, Ansar Kareem

Dissertations

Aluminum Matrix Composites (AMCs) are extensively used in various industrial applications owing to their exceptional mechanical, material, and tribological properties. This led to the development of AMCs with every possible aluminum alloy as matrix, incorporated with various reinforcement materials to achieve desired material properties. There has been an increasing trend in the utilization of agricultural and industrial waste products as reinforcement material in AMCs. Date palm trees produce huge quantity of agricultural waste in different forms. Usually, these wastes are burned or disposed of in landfills which cause environmental pollution. Date palm agro-wastes can be incinerated to produce date palm …

Selective Sharing And Social Bonding: A Qualitative Study Of Online Health Information Behaviour Among Older Adults In Shanghai, Minzhi Ye, Yan Liu

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

The health information landscape has been revolutionised by the advent of social media, significantly affecting older adults’ access to and interaction with online health information. In this study, we examine how older adults interact with health information on social media. In total, 30 participants aged 60 years and older from Shanghai were interviewed, focusing on their health information-seeking behaviour, perceptions, and subsequent actions using a semi-structured, in-depth interview approach. Furthermore, in this study, we employed grounded theory to analyze the data, and the results revealed that older adults utilise a comprehensive cognitive process for evaluating health information. Information-sharing decisions among …

Structural-Level Stigma Within Emergency Food Assistance Programs: Perspectives From Delaware And Pennsylvania, Mckenna M Halverson, Evyn Y Appel, Valerie A Earnshaw, Raquelle Powell, Grace Sands, Nithila Chrisostam, Shreela V Sharma, Allison Karpyn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

To characterize the ways in which structural stigma manifests within emergency food program settings.

Methods : We conducted 30-minute semi-structured interviews with 18 emergency food program clients in Pennsylvania and Delaware between August and December of 2024. The discussion guide included open-ended questions regarding client experiences of structural stigma, with an emphasis on issues of access and quality. Demographic data and household food insecurity (Hunger Vital Sign) were also captured. A hybrid inductive and deductive coding approach was used to analyze the data.

Results : Structural stigma is a persistent issue within emergency food program environments, impacting both participant access …

Mitigating Food Insecurity-Related Stigma: A Review Of Intervention Strategies, Evyn Y Appel, Mckenna M Halverson, Valerie A Earnshaw, Tania Cruz Cordero, Maya Rozin, Raquelle Powell, Grace Sands, Nithila Chrisostam, Sarah E Katz, Shreela V Sharma, Allison Karpyn

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: To characterize intervention strategies addressing food insecurity-related stigma implemented in federal nutrition programs (e.g. SNAP, WIC) and emergency food programs (e.g. food pantries, food cupboards) within high income countries.

Methods: Six databases (PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts, Dissertations and Theses Global) and the Internet were searched through September 2024. Data on study characteristics and stigma intervention characteristics were extracted with a structured template. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used.

Results: The review found 46 intervention strategies across 18 articles. The majority of articles were based in the United States (89.9%) with the remaining portion from …

Ai Recipe Blog Is Evaluated Similarly To A Recipe Blog Created By Nutrition And Dietetic Students, Katie N. Kraus, Stacy L. Bevan, Sarah Moore Smith, Maeci H. Armstrong, Brooke Campbell Jeppesen, Catherine Fish, Heidi J. Wengreen

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

With the growing use of AI, it is important to know target audiences’ perceptions of its use. A convenience sample of students were invited to take an online survey in which they were randomly assigned to Group 1 (evaluated a student-generated blog; n = 456) or Group 2 (evaluated an AI-generated blog; n = 492). The results of independent t-tests and chi-squared tests indicated no group differences in ratings of ease of recipe preparation, time to prepare the recipe, utilization of common ingredients, and frequency of intended use of the blog. The student-generated blog was rated higher on budget …

Evaluating Interactions Between National And Subnational Governments In The Czech Republic For Physical Activity Policy Development And Implementation, Michael Pratt, Juliana Mejía-Grueso, Eugen Resendiz, Aleš Jakubec, Zdeněk Hamřík, Deborah Salvo, Andrea Ramírez Varela, Josef Mitáš

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Most countries now have physical activity (PA) policies but translating them into action at national and subnational levels remains poor. To better understand the disconnect, the "Interaction between National and Local Government Levels in Development and Implementation of Physical Activity Policies Tool" (INTEGRATE-PA-Pol) was developed by the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!).

Methods: The Czech Republic was chosen as a European pilot site based on existing research capacity and relationships. The INTEGRATE-PA-Pol tool was translated and adapted for use in the country. This questionnaire-based tool has 8 components assessing government levels, political system, and sectors across the 5 …

N Y State Dent J November 2025

The New York State Dental Journal

In the November 2025 issue, the reader will find the following feature articles:

• "Attitudes of New York State Pediatric Dentists Toward Treating Hasidic Patients"
• "A Qualitative Assessment of the Role of Dental Specialists in U.S. Opioid Epidemic"
• "Revolutionizing Dental Operatories"
• "An Update on Non-Cigarette Nicotine-Containing Products and the Periodontal Patient"

This issue includes regular columns with regional news impacting the New York membership including: editorial and legal columns, association activities, component news, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.

Buy Better: How Food Policy Councils Leverage Procurement To Improve Food Worker Conditions, Frank Sarfo, Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern, Jonnell A. Robinson

The Lender Center for Social Justice

Food system workers; farm laborers, grocery clerks, restaurant staff, and food processors are the backbone of our everyday meals, yet their voices are largely missing from the councils that shape local food policy. Despite being essential to food security and community health, these workers face low wages, poorworking conditions, and limited protections. Food Policy Councils (FPCs), which aim to advance equity and sustainability in food systems, rarely prioritize labor issues. The study, drawing on national survey data and interviews with over 25 FPC leaders, finds that structural constraints, internal conflicts, limited capacity, and weak connections with labor organizations prevent meaningful …

Theory Of Mind Across Cultures: Psychological Implications, Lewis Hancock, Simon Dein

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

Theory of Mind (ToM) refers to a set of social and cognitive abilities that we use to infer and understand other people’s mental states. This paper begins by outlining ToM, its component skills, and what research methods have been used to measure it. It then summarises research on how culture and other social factors such as language, parenting, and socio-economic status can impact its development, in particular differences in age of mastery of various aspects of ToM. Mental disorders characterised by deficits in ToM – in particular ASD – are also discussed and used to elucidate its nature and development. …

The Anchor: November 2025, Hope College

The Anchor: 2025

The Anchor began in 1887 and was first issued weekly in 1914. Covering national and campus news alike, Hope College’s student-run newspaper has grown over the years to encompass over two-dozen editors, reporters, and staff. For much of The Anchor's history, the latest issue was distributed across campus each Wednesday throughout the academic school year (with few exceptions). In recent years The Anchor moved to monthly print issues and a more frequently updated website. The Anchor is now published in print twice per academic semester. Occasionally, the volume and/or issue numbering is irregular.

Screening And Identification Of Antioxidant Peptides From Sea Cucumber Gonad Proteins And Their Activation Of Superoxide Dismutase, Zhiqin Zhang, Jingxuan Wang, Yongke Deng, Yugui Wang, Peipei Dou, Hongbing Fan, Xiangquan Zeng, Xinguang Fan, Lili Zhang, Haimei Liu, Qin Zhao

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

The gonad is one of the major byproducts of sea cucumber. Four novel antioxidant peptides (NPWGQ, PGHPF, VPYPR and ATGPQGPAGQRGPAGPTGPTGPAG) were isolated and identified from sea cucumber gonad proteins through enzymatic hydrolysis and antioxidant activity-guided fractionation, bioinformatics approaches and in silico screening. These peptides demonstrated great free radical (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS))-scavenging activity and notable superoxide dismutase (SOD)-activation capacity. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation data suggested that these peptides could form strong binding with SOD through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions. Among these peptides, NPWGQ displayed the most potent antioxidant and SOD-activating effects. Through searching …

The Performance, Energy And Nutrient Utilization, And Bone Mineralization Of Broiler Chickens Fed Corn-Soybean Meal-Based Diets With Reduced Metabolizable Energy, Calcium, And Available Phosphorus Supplemented With Exogenous Enzymes, Megan M. Bauer, Tuoying Ao, Jacqueline P. Jacob, Michael J. Ford, Anthony J. Pescatore, Ronan F. Power, Sunday A. Adedokun

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

This study evaluated the performance and energy and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens fed corn-soybean meal-based diets supplemented with a naturally fermented enzyme complex containing xylanase and phytase. This was evaluated using 300 one-day-old male Cobb broiler chicks in a randomized complete block design with five dietary treatments replicated 10 times with 6 chicks per replicate. The treatments consisted of a positive control (PC) group containing commercially recommended energy and nutrient levels, a negative control (NC) group with reduced metabolizable energy, calcium, and available phosphorus, and three levels of exogenous enzyme supplementation to the NC diet at 150, 200, 250 …

The 10-Year Status Of Pediatric Gastroenterologists' Perception Of Their Roles In The Management Of Childhood Obesity., Sara Karjoo, Senthilkumar Sankararaman, Fotini Tania Mitsinikos, Marwa Abu El Haija, Sheela Mahendra, Ayesha Baig, Ruba A. Abdelhadi, Ruben E. Quiros-Tejeira, Timothy Sentongo

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

In 2013, a survey of NASPGHAN members on their involvement in managing pediatric obesity revealed that most pediatric gastroenterologists viewed their roles as primarily supportive, focusing on the management of obesity-related gastrointestinal comorbidities. This 10-year follow-up survey, which targeted pediatric gastroenterology programs and practices, found similar perceptions, along with an increased interest in learning about obesity pharmacotherapy. Additionally, most programs and practices reported limited access to dedicated dietitians, a lack of funding, and a desire for greater institutional support for multidisciplinary programs addressing obesity. Notably, none of the funded programs cited philanthropy as a source of funding. These findings underscore …

Delayed Presentation Of A Retained Colonic Segment In A Child With Intestinal Failure On Teduglutide, Rachel C Bordelon, Sarah J Varalla, Varaha S Tammisetti, Mohamed M Shahin, Amanda Tchakarov, Essam Imseis, Allison L Speer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Teduglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) analogue that was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of pediatric (>1 year) intestinal failure due to short bowel syndrome in 2019. GLP-2 analogues promote rapid intestinal adaptation, increasing the absorptive capacity of residual intestine after surgical resection to aid the achievement of enteral autonomy or reduce parenteral nutrition requirements. Despite relatively few reported side effects, there is a theoretical risk of proliferative complications. Here we present an intriguing case of a pediatric patient found to have a decade-long retained, discontinuous segment of colon from a …

Replication-Competent, Tumor-Specific Immuno-Gene Vectors Allow For Exchange Of Transgenes And Lead To Viral Persistence Following Iv Administration, Lee S Rosen, Christian Ottensmeier, Maria Hawkins, Aung Naing, Guru Sonpavde, Brian A Van Tine, Eileen E Parkes, Sean M O'Cathail, Rui-Ru Ji, Matthew Thomas, Andrea Stacey, Maria Stella Sasso, Oliver Rosen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Enadenotucirev (EnAd) and successor transgene-armed Tumor-Specific Immuno-Gene (T-SIGn) vectors are replication-competent, blood-stable viral vectors that traffic to tumor sites following intravenous (IV) administration. Following initial proof of mechanism for this immunotherapy modality, there is a need to identify a safe dosing approach, understand whether transgenes affect tolerability, and determine how to measure exposure and pharmacodynamic effects.

Methods: Safety data from multiple phase 1 trials were aggregated to assess various dosing regimens and toxicities, including those that may be associated with transgene arming. Viral delivery to tumors, peripheral viral persistence, transgene expression, and cytokine responses were also assessed and compared …

Prevalence Of Obesity With Confirmed Excess Adiposity In Us Children And Adolescents, Alexandra B Palmer, Kyung Hyun Lee, Rashedeh Roshani, Elizabeth Frankel, Miryoung Lee, Mohammad Y Anwar, Heather M Highland, Kristin L Young, Mariaelisa Graff, Joseph B Mccormick, Susan P Fisher-Hoch, Joyce P Samuel, Jennifer E Below, Kari E North, Penny Gordon-Larsen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Missing The Target: A Scoping Review Of The Use Of Percent Weight Loss For Obesity Management, Diana Sherifali, Megan Racey, Donna Fitzpatrick-Lewis, Michelle Greenway, Sanjeev Sockalingam, Jun Wada, Soo Huat Teoh, Ian Patton, David Macklin, Elizabeth F C Van Rossum, Luca Busetto, Deborah Bade Horn, J D Patricia Nece, Morgan Emile Gabriel Salmon Leguede, Nicole Pearce, Carel Le Roux, Jamy Ard, Angela S Alberga, Lee Kaplan, Arya M Sharma, Sean Wharton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: To co-create comprehensive targets for obesity management, we need to understand the genesis and current use of percent weight loss targets in research. The goals of our scoping review are to (1) synthesize the literature on percent weight loss targets for adults with obesity and (2) discuss the percent weight loss targets in context with their health benefits.

Methods: We searched Cochrane, MEDLINE, and EMBASE for English language, pharmaceutical, and/or behavioral intervention studies in adults with obesity where the explicit aim of the study was weight reduction defined as a percent of body weight. Reviewers screened citations and extracted …

Fontan Circulation And Transplantation: Considerations For The Complex Candidate., Drishti Tolani, Sharon Chen, Edo Bedzra, Kurt R. Schumacher, Shahnawaz Amdani

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

The Fontan operation has transformed survival for patients with single ventricle congenital heart disease, but the long-term durability of this physiology remains limited. Fontan circulatory failure (FCF) is a progressive, heterogeneous condition associated with multiorgan dysfunction, lymphatic failure, and elevated post-transplant risk when not recognized early. With increasing survival into adulthood, heart transplantation has emerged as the definitive "fourth stage" of palliation. However, referrals for advanced therapies are often delayed, with many patients presenting in advanced stages of decline. This review synthesizes current evidence on the pathophysiology of Fontan failure, outlines consensus indications for transplant evaluation, and highlights pre-transplant strategies …

Hypertension Prevention Program And Its Effects On Blood Pressure Levels Among Young Adults In A Christian Community In Southwest Michigan, Cindel Hollancid

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background

Although the majority of patients who present are adults over the age of 40 years old; with blood pressures ranging from 140/88 – 190/110 and many times higher readings, it was intriguing and important to assess whether a direct intervention, teaching young adults ages 18 – 39 years the benefits of lifestyle choices would be beneficial as a preventative measure to implement for hypertension reduction patterns as one ages. According to Hinton et al. (2019), hypertension affects 1 in 8 adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years old and is thus common among young people; with the …