Digital Commons Network^™

The Association Of Cancer-Preventive Lifestyle With Colonoscopy Screening Use In Border Hispanic Adults Along The Texas-Mexico Border, Paul Gerardo Yeh, Audrey C. Choh, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, Joseph B. Mccormick, David R. Lairson, Belinda M. Reininger

School of Medicine Publications

Purpose: The relationship between engaging in two domains of cancer-preventive behaviors, lifestyle behaviors and colonoscopy screening, is unknown in Hispanic adults. Accordingly, the study examined the association between lifestyle and colonoscopy screening in Hispanic adults along the Texas–Mexico border, where there is suboptimal colorectal cancer prevention.

Methods: Lifestyle behavior adherence and compliance with colonoscopy screening schedules were assessed using 2013–2023 data from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohorta populationbased sample of Hispanic adults living along the Texas–Mexico border. The 2018 World Cancer Research Fund scoring system characterized healthy lifestyle engagement. Multivariable logistic regression quantified the association between lifestyle behaviors and colonoscopy …

Loma Linda Nurse - Vol. 34, Loma Linda University School Of Nursing

Loma Linda Nurse

FEATURES

4 | Jordan Robison Profile

6 | LLUSN Mission Service— A Living Legacy

10 | Steps to a New School

12 | Entry Level Master’s at Murietta

LLUSN HIGHLIGHTS

14-21 | ALUMNI NEWS

22-27 | ACADEMICS

28-33 | HOMECOMING

34-37 | FACULTY UPDATES

Factors Associated With Medication Adherence Among Patients With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd), Linh Nguyen, Yen-Chi L Le, Hannah Reygaerts, Todd R Johnson, Cesar A Soutullo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioral health condition that impacts 5% to 8% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide. The symptoms of ADHD are effectively managed with medication, yet patients with ADHD may inconsistently take their medication. We assessed medication adherence among patients with ADHD and identified factors associated with medication adherence that may be utilized to optimize adherence.

Method: This is a retrospective, observational study among patients aged 4 years and older with a diagnosis of ADHD at primary care and multispecialty outpatient clinics during May 2021 to May 2023. We assessed sociodemographic characteristics, stratified by …

A Risk-Averse Data-Driven Distributionally Robust Optimization Method For Transmission Power Systems Under Uncertainty, Mehrdad Ghahramani, Daryoush Habibi, Asma Aziz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The increasing penetration of renewable energy sources and the consequent rise in forecast uncertainty have underscored the need for robust operational strategies in transmission power systems. This paper introduces a risk-averse, data-driven distributionally robust optimization framework that integrates unit commitment and power flow constraints to enhance both reliability and operational security. Leveraging advanced forecasting techniques implemented via gradient boosting and enriched with cyclical and lag-based time features, the proposed methodology forecasts renewable generation and demand profiles. Uncertainty is quantified through a quantile-based analysis of forecasting residuals, which forms the basis for constructing data-driven ambiguity sets using Wasserstein balls. The framework …

Temporal Eating Patterns And Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Assessed From Mobile Food Records Of Australian Adults, Janelle D. Healy, Satvinder S. Dhaliwal, Christina M. Pollard, Amelia J. Harray, Lauren Blekkenhorst, Fengqing Zhu, Deborah A. Kerr

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objective: Temporal eating patterns and ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption have independently been associated with obesity and non-communicable diseases. Little is known about the temporal patterns of UPF consumption, as data is challenging to collect. Temporal data can be extracted from mobile food records (mFRs). The aim of this study was to identify the temporal eating patterns of those consuming UPFs using an mFR. Methods: A combined sample of 243 young (18–30 years) and 148 older (>30 years) adults completed a 4-day mFR. The time of eating was extracted from the mFR image metadata. UPFs were identified using the NOVA …

Effect Of Sdf Application Versus Diode Laser Irradiation On Incipient Carious Lesion’S Progression In Primary Molars: A Randomize Clinical Trial, Islam Yehia, Noha Samir Kabil, Basma Gamal

Dentistry

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of two different preventive measures a) Silver diamine (SDF) application, b) Diode laser irradiation, on caries progression of incipient carious occlusal lesions in primary second molars. This clinical trial included two equal study groups of patients, for applying; Group I: SDF application, Group II: Diode laser irradiation, the included second primary molars for intervention were selected with incipient carious lesions graded by International Caries Detection & Assessment System (ICDAS)with scores (0,1,2). The involved molars were followed up for 3, 6, 12 months and ICDAS scores were graded to check for caries progression …

Effect Of Acid-Containing Drinks On Surface Roughness And Bacterial Accumulation Of Different Types Of Denture Base Materials, Sara Fikry Dr, Ayman Amin, Eman Khedr, Fatma Makkeya

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Design Of A Maintenance Protocol Based On Bipolar Neutrosophic Analysis For Severe Depression, Karina Alejandra Álvarez Lino

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Severe depression has been one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and maintains a high risk of relapses even after successful treatment, especially in medium-sized cities in Latin America. Therefore, this study focused on the design of a clinical maintenance protocol based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), aimed at young adults residing in Ambato, Ecuador, who had previously received Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). To this end, a bipolar neutrosophic analysis of depression was conducted to determine the attributes that impact the identified patients and define the design of the proposal. The designed protocol was structured into eight group sessions, …

Risk Prediction In Dental Implants With Bone Substitutes Using A Hybrid Neutrosophic-Logistic Model: Managing Uncertainty In Clinical And Biomechanical Variables, Mónica Sofía Pallo Sarabia, Darwin Josue Cubi Masaquiza, Favio Nicholas Zúñiga Calderón, Luis Acosta Rueda

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Predicting risk for bone substitutes when using dental implants is a complicated task as no one can determine all clinical and biomechanical factors that will/may contribute to a successful treatment outcome. Yet the discipline has been establishing various means of prediction through traditional logistic regression. However, many do not acknowledge the unknowns--potential developments of one's biological response or biomaterial characteristics. This work seeks to adjust this issue through a novel approach to traditional logistic regression and neutrosophic logic, which, combined, can calculate levels of certainty, indeterminacy and uncertainty from one dataset. In this example, for example, the variables used for …

Neutrosophic-Logistic Hybrid Model To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of Penitentiary Policies And Their Impact On Criminal Recidivism In Ecuador, Ignacio Fernando Barcos Arias, Jennifer Angelina Almagro Triana, Ariana Michelle Mazacón Campoverde, Jason Guayaquil Cobo

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study aims to develop a hybrid model that combines neutrosophic logic with logistic regression to evaluate the effectiveness of prison policies in Ecuador and their impact on criminal recidivism. The central problem lies in the inefficiency of the Ecuadorian prison system, characterized by high levels of intra-prison violence, deficiencies in rehabilitation and social reintegration programs, and a rising recidivism rate among inmates. This situation is exacerbated by the employment discrimination that ex-offenders face when reintegrating into society, which limits their opportunities and encourages the repetition of criminal behavior. The methodology applied was a mixed approach, with a non-experimental cross-sectional …

Structural Equilibrium In Universities: Quality, Finance And Sustainability From An Empirical Perspective: An Integrative Analysis With Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps, Claudio Ruff, Herminia Gavilán, Juliana Vassileva, Bastián Gutiérrez

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study explores the structural relationships between institutional financial health and academic quality in Chilean higher education institutions (HEIs) by applying multivariate tools such as the dynamic HJ- Biplot and fixed-effects regression models for panel data, complemented by neutrosophic cognitive maps (NCMs). Using data from the 2016–2023 period, differentiated institutional trajectories are analyzed based on their membership in free tuition policies, university type (CRUCH, private), and financial structure. The results show that variables such as student retention, physical infrastructure, and academic training significantly influence key financial indicators such as liquidity, leverage, and operating margin. NCMs reveal degrees of indeterminacy in …

Contributions Of Educational Investment To International Student Mobility: A Multivariate And Neutrosophic Analysis Of Educational Service Quality In Oecd Data, Alexis Matheu Pérez, Roberto Cortés, Alain Carrier, Carlos Sebrango

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This article examines the impact of educational investments in higher education on student international mobility from 39 OECD countries between 2013 and 2020 through multivariate statistical analyses and neutrosophic modeling of the SERVQUAL Neutrosophic Model. The findings, based on principal component analysis, biplot conclusions, and multiple linear regressions, suggest that there is a complicated, mixed relationship between investment per student, investment as a percentage of higher education, and part-time employment. However, findings establish that educational investments (in unconditional numbers) have a direct nexus to international mobility, linking biometrics to positive human well-being efforts, sustainability of academic disciplines, and responsible, relative …

Digital Divide In Latin America: A Multivariate And Neutrosophic Delphi Analysis For Inclusion And Public Policy, Cristian Cornejo Gaete, Viviana Tartakowsky Pezoa, Claudio Ruff Escobar, Jaime Zañartu Reyes

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study examines access to digital connectivity in Latin America, highlighting both progress and persistent structural inequalities. In the context of the pandemic, the internet has consolidated its position as an essential tool for daily life, highlighting deep gaps between countries, urban and rural areas, and different socioeconomic groups. Using the graphical multivariate HJ-Biplot method, complemented by a Neutrosophic Delphi approach to model indeterminacies in digital inclusion policies, the research question is addressed: How are Latin American and Caribbean countries grouped according to their level of access to digital connectivity, considering socioeconomic, age, ¿and geographic differences? The hypothesis guiding this …

Predictive Model Of School Dropout In Higher Education Through Learning Analytics With Neutrosophic Plithogenic Hypotheses, David Núñez, Purificación Galindo-Villardón

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Higher education dropout rates are an international problem, as many people abandon their studies, especially in the early years. This problem affects institutions, causing significant losses. In this context, it is essential to consider methods that allow for predicting dropout rates and taking rapid and effective measures. Objective: The main objective is to analyze prediction models using Learning Analytics, integrating neutrosophic plithogenic hypotheses, to identify early the risk of dropout in higher education. This provides institutions with useful tools to implement actions that help retain more students, considering uncertainty and complex interactions between academic and non-academic factors. Methodology: The method …

Prediction Of Therapeutic Response To Probiotics In Inflammatory Bowel Diseases With Neutrosophic Regression, Carlos Castañeda Guillot, Ronelsys Martínez Martínez, Yohan Manuel Mancha Alfonso

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Therapeutic prediction response to probiotics in the field of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been a struggle for the gastroenterology field of studies. However, as IBD increases in the general population and varying reports of treatment response due to heterogeneous use of probiotics suggests greater predictive need. In addition, based on the multitude of articles currently published correlating the gut microbiome with disease pathology, there remains a theoretical gap in the literature. That is, the application of neutrosophic statistics to simulate the uncertainties experienced by biological information and later clinical real world data. This article seeks to fill that gap …

Resolving Contradictions In Public Policies On Child Begging: An N- Alectic Approach, Esther Maricela Coello Avilés, Kevin Luis Flores Vega, Keyla Nayely Casquete Cedeño

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This project fills a wicked problem gap with policy assessments relative to child begging—a condition that keeps children in a vulnerable state within the confines of the urban setting—and the literature gap exists because while prior researchers aimed to review child begging policy assessments, none have done so from an dialectic, multidisciplinary, moral and social intersectional perspective. Filling the literature gap relevance is about contribution to the field because many of these policies stem from an otherwise noble cause to either imprison or render assistance to vulnerable children yet fail when a poorly socioeconomic population's public safety gets in the …

Determination Of The Socio-Emotional Consequences Of Visible Pigmentary Alterations Using Neutrosophic Owa-Topsis, Varna Hernández Junco, Zenia Batista Castro, Regla Cristina Valdés Cabodevilla, Vivian González Aguilar, Leslie Cardet Carballosa

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study addresses the socioemotional consequences of visible pigmentary disorders such as vitiligo and melasma, a problem that profoundly affects individuals' quality of life. The relevance of this research lies in the growing need to understand how these dermatological conditions influence self-esteem, social interactions, and psychological well-being, especially in diverse cultural contexts. Although existing literature has explored these impacts, it lacks approaches that integrate the uncertainty and subjectivity inherent in human experiences. To fill this gap, a PRISMA-based systematic review was conducted, analyzing articles from PubMed, Scielo, and Scopus (2015–2025), and the neutrosophic OWA-TOPSIS method was employed, which combines weighted …

Hap-Covid: Hybrid Model Integrating Machine Learning And Neutrosophic Statistics To Estimate Mortality Risk In Covid-19 Comorbid Patients, Daniel Iturburu-Salvador, Lorenzo Cevallos-Torres, Rosangela Caicedo-Quiroz, Irma Naranjo-Peña, Rosa Hernández-Magallanes, Rosa Gonzáles-Quiñones

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study aims to utilize a hybrid predictive model to evaluate the mortality risk in COVID-19 patients with comorbidities. It is challenging to make clinical decisions while dealing with SARS-CoV-2 because of the high death rate related to chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), renal failure, heart disease, and cancer. To overcome this obstacle, a Monte Carlo algorithm-based simulated database was created, with clinical variables represented by Bernoulli and truncated normal distributions. Several prediction models, including Decision Trees, Naive Bayes, and Neutrosophic Statistics, were trained using this database. While the neutrosophic model permitted risk categorization …

Exploring Impacts Of Diversity Ideologies On Allyship (Intergroup Responsiveness), Fiona Nguyen

Dissertations and Theses

Colorblindness and multiculturalism are widely studied diversity ideologies that reflect prominent attitudes about how diversity should be understood and managed, as they can help predict individual behavior. Colorblindness proposes that distinct group identities should be ignored, and can be used to exclude minoritized groups and downplay racial minorities' experiences, whereas multiculturalism embraces and values group differences, can foster inclusive environments for minority groups, and leads to positive intergroup outcomes such as reduced prejudice. Despite much research dedicated to exploring the intergroup outcomes of diversity ideologies, few studies have examined their impacts on specific interpersonal interactions, particularly allyship. Research has defined …

Sex Worker Stigma, Morality And Ambivalent Sexism, Emily Kate Kinzel

Dissertations and Theses

Sex worker stigma has received limited attention in psychological research. Although stigma is often theorized to relate to moral concerns, the relationship between stigma and moral concerns has not been empirically established. This study aims to address these gaps by developing a measurement tool for attitudes towards sex workers--specifically an implicit association test (IAT)--and explore the relationships between sex worker stigma, moral concerns, and ambivalent sexism. Mock policy questions on the criminalization and punishment of sex workers were also included to approximate behavioral intentions of participants. A cross-sectional correlational study of 168 community members found evidence that both moral concerns …

Designing Equity-Focused Pedagogy In Mathematics Teacher Preparation With Digital Data Tools, Nadia Stoyanova Kennedy, Boyan Kostadinov, Sandie Han

Publications and Research

This study examines the implementation of a course module that integrated computing and data analysis. The module aimed to engage prospective mathematics teachers in the practice of working with datasets and analyzing data to investigate questions related to local Brooklyn schools, as well as to gain deeper insight into the students and communities where they conduct their field experiences. Throughout the module, teacher candidates explored issues such as student learning opportunities, achievement gaps, school segregation, educational (in)equity, and other social justice concerns through readings, data analysis, and direct engagement. They shared and reflected on their findings with peers, deepening their …

Tutoring Online During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Use Of Critical Incidents To Improve Practice, A.E. Dreyfuss, Jose Armando Sanchez Diaz, Barakat Adigun, Helen Baraki, Thalyia Thompson

Publications and Research

Developing expertise in the practice of online tutoring is presented by peer tutors who provided support to students with synchronous sessions with the onset of COVID-19. The experiences and learning of peer tutors were probed through the use of critical incidents (Flanagan, 1954), and how weekly training meetings provided support to them, creating a collaboration among the tutors and the training manager.

Evolution Of Agricultural Emissions Calculations In Australia: Methodological And Calculator Refinements And Their Impact On Western Australia’S Agricultural Carbon Footprint, Christophe D'Abbadie

Climate Science Published Reports

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting is fundamental to positioning Australian agricultural products competitively in global markets, enabling supply chain stakeholders to make informed decisions, and understanding the trade-offs between market demands, policy requirements, consumer expectations, and intergenerational responsibilities.

Recent methodological refinements to emissions methodologies have enhanced the accuracy of GHG accounting in Western Australian (WA) agriculture. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has collaborated in these improvements through collaborative research with universities and federal agencies and advocacy for Western Australia-specific emission factors.

Methodological refinements have improved the accuracy of WA agricultural emissions estimates by 6% overall, providing …

Ideate-Lung02: A Phase 3 Study Of Second-Line Ifinatamab Deruxtecan In Patients With Relapsed Small Cell Lung Cancer, Taofeek K Owonikoko, Lauren Byers, Ying Cheng, Hidetoshi Hayashi, Luis Paz-Ares, Maurice Pérol, Haichuan Hu, Meng Qian, Cecilio Roi Garcia, Juliette Godard, Mei Tang, Charles M Rudin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) have poor prognosis and limited treatment options beyond first-line therapy. B7 homolog 3 (B7-H3) is minimally expressed in normal tissues but highly expressed in SCLC. Ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd), a B7-H3-directed antibody-drug conjugate, has demonstrated promising efficacy and a manageable safety profile in various tumours, including SCLC. IDeate-Lung02 is a global, randomized, open-label Phase 3 study of ~540 patients with relapsed SCLC. Adults with one prior line of platinum-based systemic therapy, ECOG performance status 0-1, and ≥1 measurable lesion (per RECIST 1.1) are eligible for study participation. Patients with asymptomatic untreated or previously treated …

Multiomic Random Forest Toxicity Modeling Of Radiation Esophagitis, Saurabh S Nair, Ramon M Salazar, Ting Xu, Alexandra O Leone, Zhongxing Liao, Laurence E Court, Joshua S Niedzielski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and purpose: Radiation esophagitis (RE) is a major dose-limiting toxicity resulting from radiotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Multiomic features may provide additional predictive value for high-grade RE compared to traditionally used clinical and dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters. We aimed to investigate the utility of multiomic features in improving RE toxicity prediction models.

Materials and methods: Of the 179 NSCLC patients considered, 27 patients (15.08 %) were found to have toxicity ≥grade 3 RE per CTCAE v5.0. A total of 343 CT- and PET- based radiomic and dosiomic features were extracted. Four toxicity prediction models were created using clinical …

Quantitative Evaluation Of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient In A Large Multi-Unit Institution, Joshua P Yung, Yao Ding, Ken-Pin Hwang, Carlos E Cardenas, H Asher Ai, Lucas Mccullum, Natalie A West, Clifton D Fuller, R Jason Stafford

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and purpose: Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and their calculated apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has grown with applications across multiple anatomical sites and settings across diagnostic and oncologic therapy settings, necessitating characterizing its quantitative performance across multiple scanners. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the quantitative accuracy of DWI and their calculated ADC values across a fleet of MRI systems using a NIST-traceable diffusion phantom.

Materials and methods: Three NIST/QIBA DWI phantoms were imaged with protocols provided with the phantom on a multi-vendor fleet of 23 clinical MRI scanners. User-directed regions-of-interest …

A Comparative Study Of Clinically Used Fast Monte Carlo Dose Engines For Proton Therapy, Sherif M Gadoue, Narayan Sahoo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Several fast Monte Carlo (MC) codes have been implemented and used to simulate proton transport and calculate patient doses in proton therapy. The resulting dose is typically compared to full MC codes, rather than other fast MC codes.

Purpose: The primary goal of this study was to compare the gamma pass rates (GPRs) of dose calculation from different fast MC codes to evaluate the accuracy of the computation and modeling among these codes.

Methods: Two GPU codes and one CPU MC code were commissioned to model our clinical proton beamline at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The …

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts As Mediators Of Tissue Microenvironment Remodeling In Cancer, Fernanda G Kugeratski, Emily J Kay, Sara Zanivan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a multifunctional cell population of solid tumors that substantially remodel the tumor microenvironment (TME). The combination of single-cell and spatial technologies with elegant mouse models and analysis of patient samples is enabling unprecedented advances in the characterization of CAF origins, heterogeneity, and functions within the TME. As such, the field is now evolving to delineate tissue-specific subpopulations of CAFs, their markers, and the biological context in which each subset presents with a tumor-promoting or a tumor-restraining function. In this timely review, we discuss recent advances in CAF biology in the context of emerging areas of interest …

Shsp Dean's Newsletter, Fall 2025, Robert W. Amler

SHSP Dean’s Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Portfolio And Appendix Chris M. Larson, Chris M. Larson

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Abstract:

This is a collection of assignments and reflections of my work throughout the course of the Masters in Social Work program at the University of Montana. Included are assignments reflecting on the Indian Child Welfare Act, housing, barriers to care for Non-White and female veterans within the VA clinic, the quality of care in nursing homes, American Drug policy, confidentiality in the YWCA, training on interventions based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, cost benefit analysis of in home care programs, and a proposal for my practicum site Missoula Aging Services. It has reflections on the five elements of advanced practice, …