Digital Commons Network^™

Nutritional Status, Social Determinants Of Health And Clinical Outcomes In Critically Ill Children, Yash Desai, Andrea Marroquín, Paola Hong-Zhu, Nicole Knebusch, Stephanie Vazquez, Marwa Mansour, Thomas P Fogarty, M Hossein Tcharmtchi, Fernando Stein, Jorge A Coss-Bu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Childhood malnutrition remains a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) are at a higher risk of worsening nutritional status with adverse clinical outcomes. The burden of malnutrition is strongly linked to various well-defined social determinants of health, including race, socioeconomic status, and geography, as these factors influence household food insecurity. This study aimed to analyze the interrelationships of nutritional status, social determinants of health, and health outcomes in critically ill children.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 6418 critically ill children admitted to PICU from January 2014 to December 2017. Demographic …

Attitudes And Barriers Toward Antiretroviral Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Among Infectious Disease Providers, Hongmei Wang, Cecilia M Torres, Thomas P Giordano, Bich N Dang, Dong Liang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Effective HIV treatment and prevention rely heavily on patient adherence to the prescribed regimen. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), which involves measuring medication concentrations in blood circulation, offers an objective method to evaluate toxic or ineffective drug levels. TDM is not routinely used in HIV treatment in clinical practice. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to survey infectious disease providers’ attitudes and barriers toward therapeutic drug monitoring for antiretroviral therapy in people living with HIV. Materials and

Methods: A 15-item online survey was distributed to infectious disease providers in the Greater Houston area, including physicians, pharmacists, and mid-level practitioners …

Adipose Progenitor Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Suppress Macrophage M1 Program To Alleviate Midlife Obesity, Qing Zhou, Jia Gao, Guorao Wu, Chenwei Wang, Yan Yang, Teng Huang, Yi Wang, Tiantian Yue, Zhichao Gao, Hao Xie, Fei Xiong, Ke Xiang, Tuying Yong, Wanguang Zhang, Tongtong Zhang, Wen Kong, Cai Chen, Shu Zhang, Qilin Yu, Xuemei Fan, Shiwei Liu, Yanjun Liu, Cong-Yi Wang

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Among different age groups, middle-aged individuals are particularly susceptible to obesity, with a 22% higher risk of all-cause mortality. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we identify adipose progenitor cells (APCs) in the white adipose tissue (WAT) of middle-aged subjects as potential causes of midlife obesity. Specifically, the extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from APCs display an impaired ability to mitigate the inflammaging of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) in middle-aged individuals. Mechanistically, these EVs, lacking miR-145-5p, fail to suppress the expression of L-selectin in ATMs, thereby facilitating their M1 program via the NF-κB signaling pathway. In contrast, EVs …

Prevalence And Determinants Of Preterm Birth Among Women Of Reproductive Age In Kenya: A Multilevel Analysis Of The 2022 Demographic Health Survey, Kobi V. Ajayi, Obasanjo Bolarinwa, Toluwani E. Adekunle, Oluwatobi Abel Alawode, Nanyangwe Siuluta, Sinegugu Shongwe, Edyta Mccallum

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Preterm birth (PTB) is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. It’s a major public health issue, with over 15 million cases globally each year. Sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, has a high share of PTB, but there’s limited research about it in Kenya. This study looked at how common PTB is in Kenya and what factors increase the risk. Using data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, the authors analysed 7,291 women aged 15–49. They used statistical methods to find patterns and identify factors linked to PTB. The study found that 7.14% of women in …

Prolonged Symptom Relief From Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (Aka Lightning Crotch) With Chiropractic Treatment For Low Back Pain, Camila Irizarry Porrata, Jessy Johnson, Venkateswara Gogineni, Eric Kirk

Aurora GME

No abstract provided.

Deciphering The Dark Cancer Phosphoproteome Using Machine-Learned Co-Regulation Of Phosphosites, Wen Jiang, Eric J Jaehnig, Yuxing Liao, Zhiao Shi, Tomer M Yaron-Barir, Jared L Johnson, Lewis C Cantley, Bing Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics offers a comprehensive view of protein phosphorylation, yet our limited knowledge about the regulation and function of most phosphosites hampers the extraction of meaningful biological insights. To address this challenge, we integrate machine learning with phosphoproteomic data from 1195 tumor specimens spanning 11 cancer types to construct CoPheeMap, a network that maps the co-regulation of 26,280 phosphosites. By incorporating network features from CoPheeMap into a second machine learning model, namely CoPheeKSA, we achieve superior performance in predicting kinase-substrate associations. CoPheeKSA uncovers 24,015 associations between 9399 phosphosites and 104 serine/threonine kinases, shedding light on many unannotated phosphosites and …

Evaluation And Surgical Management Of Pediatric Cutaneous Melanoma And Atypical Spitz And Non-Spitz Melanocytic Tumors (Melanocytomas): A Report From Children's Oncology Group, Michael R Sargen, Raymond L Barnhill, David E Elder, Susan M Swetter, Victor G Prieto, Jennifer S Ko, Armita Bahrami, Pedram Gerami, Arivarasan Karunamurthy, Alberto S Pappo, Lynn M Schuchter, Philip E Leboit, Iwei Yeh, John M Kirkwood, Melinda Jen, Ira J Dunkel, Megan M Durham, Emily R Christison-Lagay, Mary T Austin, Jennifer H Aldrink, Casey Mehrhoff, Elena B Hawryluk, Emily Y Chu, Klaus J Busam, Vernon Sondak, Jane Messina, Susana Puig, Andrew J Colebatch, Carrie C Coughlin, Kristen G Berrebi, Theodore W Laetsch, Sarah G Mitchell, Brittani Seynnaeve

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop recommendations for the diagnostic evaluation and surgical management of cutaneous melanoma (CM) and atypical Spitz tumors (AST) and non-Spitz melanocytic tumors (melanocytomas) in pediatric (age 0-10 years) and adolescent (age 11-18 years) patients.

Methods: A Children's Oncology Group-led panel with external, multidisciplinary CM specialists convened to develop recommendations on the basis of available data and expertise.

Results: Thirty-three experts from multiple specialties (cutaneous/medical/surgical oncology, dermatology, and dermatopathology) established recommendations with supporting data from 87 peer-reviewed publications.

Recommendations: (1) Excisional biopsies with 1-3 mm margins should be performed when feasible for clinically …

Sap30, A Novel Autophagy Regulatory Gene In Neuroblastoma, Anup S Pathania, Anjana Murugan, Areem Zahid, Haritha Chava, Don W Coulter, George A Calin, Kishore B Challagundla

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neuroblastoma (NB), a devastating pediatric cancer originating from neural crest cells crucial for nervous system development, poses a significant therapeutic challenge. Despite chemotherapy being the primary treatment, approximately 70% of high-risk NB cases develop resistance. Autophagy is vital for neuronal development, balance, and differentiation of neural stem cells into mature neurons. However, the intricate mechanisms governing autophagy and the pivotal genes orchestrating its regulation in NB remain largely elusive. In this study, we first identified Sin3A Associated Protein 30 (SAP30) as a novel regulator of autophagy in NB. Silencing SAP30 inhibits autophagy and disrupts starvation-induced physiological autophagy in NB cells. …

Assessing Vascular Biomarkers And Their Association With Hypertension In Paediatric Chronic Kidney Disease, Samira Z. Sayed, Engy R. Mohamed, Mohamed T. A. Ali, Lamia H., Mohamed H. Mahgoob

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the correlation between children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and endothelial dysfunction biomarkers, including asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), as well as blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. Methods: This case-control study included children who were divided into 2 groups: children with CKD at different stages and healthy controls. The study was performed from November 2021 to October 2022 at El-Minia University hospitals and the general outpatient paediatric clinic at Minia University, Minya, Egypt. Blood pressure measurements were taken, and levels of ADMA, Ang-2 and VEGF-A were …

Acute Self-Harm Ideation As Presenting Adverse Event Associated With Adalimumab Treatment Of Severe Scalp Psoriasis, Julian Cortes, Reid Oldenburg

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

We report a 34-year-old woman with severe scalp psoriasis presented to a dermatology clinic in San Diego, USA, in 2023. She developed acute self-harm ideations and major depressive symptoms shortly after initiating adalimumab treatment. The patient had a history of major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, all well-controlled with multiple medications. Following the administration of adalimumab, she experienced intrusive thoughts of self-harm and exacerbation of depressive symptoms, prompting immediate discontinuation of the drug. The patient's symptoms resolved completely 3 weeks after discontinuation. This case highlights the potential psychiatric risks associated with adalimumab therapy for psoriasis, especially in patients …

Do We Need To Add The Type Of Treatment Planning System, Dose Calculation Grid Size, And Ct Density Curve To Predictive Models?, Reza Reiazi, Surendra Prajapati, Leonardo Che Fru, Dongyeon Lee, Mohammad Salehpour

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Generalizability and domain dependency are critical challenges in developing predictive models for healthcare, particularly in medical diagnostics and radiation oncology. Predictive models designed to assess tumor recurrence rely on comprehensive and high-quality datasets, encompassing treatment planning parameters, imaging protocols, and patient-specific data. However, domain dependency, arising from variations in dose calculation algorithms, computed tomography (CT) density conversion curves, imaging modalities, and institutional protocols, can significantly undermine model reliability and clinical utility.

Methods: This study evaluated dose calculation differences in the head and neck cancer treatment plans of 19 patients using two treatment planning systems, Pinnacle 9.10 and RayStation 11, …

Dna Damage Response Signatures Are Associated With Frontline Chemotherapy Response And Routes Of Tumor Evolution In Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer, Benjamin B Morris, Simon Heeke, Yuanxin Xi, Lixia Diao, Qi Wang, Pedro Rocha, Edurne Arriola, Myung Chang Lee, Darren R Tyson, Kyle Concannon, Kavya Ramkumar, C Allison Stewart, Robert J Cardnell, Runsheng Wang, Vito Quaranta, Jing Wang, John V Heymach, Barzin Y Nabet, David S Shames, Carl M Gay, Lauren A Byers

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: A hallmark of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is its recalcitrance to therapy. While most SCLCs respond to frontline therapy, resistance inevitably develops. Identifying phenotypes potentiating chemoresistance and immune evasion is a crucial unmet need. Previous reports have linked upregulation of the DNA damage response (DDR) machinery to chemoresistance and immune evasion across cancers. However, it is unknown if SCLCs exhibit distinct DDR phenotypes.

Methods: To study SCLC DDR phenotypes, we developed a new DDR gene analysis method and applied it to SCLC clinical samples, in vitro, and in vivo model systems. We then investigated how DDR regulation is …

Variation In Response To Phosphorus Among Sweetpotato (Ipomoea Batatas L.) Cultivars, Jeffrey Cole Denis Gregorie

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Phosphorus (P) is essential for plant growth and is often a major limiting nutrient in agriculture. In sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas), studies on the role of P on storage root yield have been limited because of the lack of response and inconsistent results across cultivars and years. Growing evidence shows that current phosphate (Pi) fertilizer rates can be reduced while maintaining productivity. Newly published molecular evidence shows differential expression of phosphate starvation response genes among sweetpotato cultivars, further supporting the hypothesis of cultivar-specific Pi sensitivity. The research herein sought to characterize root system architecture and yield response to Pi …

March 20, 2025, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

2023 Llmp Weather Overview, Bob Craycraft, Amanda Mcquaid

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Do We Need To Add The Type Of Treatment Planning System, Dose Calculation Grid Size, And Ct Density Curve To Predictive Models?, Reza Reiazi, Surendra Prajapati, Leonardo Che Fru, Dongyeon Lee, Mohammad Salehpour

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Generalizability and domain dependency are critical challenges in developing predictive models for healthcare, particularly in medical diagnostics and radiation oncology. Predictive models designed to assess tumor recurrence rely on comprehensive and high-quality datasets, encompassing treatment planning parameters, imaging protocols, and patient-specific data. However, domain dependency, arising from variations in dose calculation algorithms, computed tomography (CT) density conversion curves, imaging modalities, and institutional protocols, can significantly undermine model reliability and clinical utility.

Methods: This study evaluated dose calculation differences in the head and neck cancer treatment plans of 19 patients using two treatment planning systems, Pinnacle 9.10 and RayStation 11, …

Women's Empowerment In Apcnf: A Critical Examination Of Feminist Goals In Agroecology, Anvitha Ravipati

Student Scholarship

This paper delves into the critical issues surrounding agroecology, with a specific focus on the intersection of ecology, polity, society, and economy. In the context of the Anthropocene era, the global threat of climate change poses significant challenges such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and disruptions in food production. The paper highlights the predicted impacts of climate change on food security, particularly in the tropics, emphasizing the need for social and environmental justice in mitigation and adaptation efforts. Furthermore, it discusses the concept of political agroecology as a lens to address sociological and political aspects within the realm …

China’S Infiltration Of The U.S. Higher Education System, Joshua Harden

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

The People’s Republic of China has established numerous methodologies for power projection. A portion of this process is its assertion and coercion of higher education to spread communist ideology and Sino-centric narratives to either directly or indirectly press the goals of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). China’s assertion of soft power in higher education highlights an acute risk to the stability of a democratic government as its principles are slowly eroded. The CCP utilizes the internationalism of higher education, foreign exchange students, and the development of higher education institutions abroad to facilitate the ideological change of a nation’s image. The …

The Reapplication Of Natural Law, Dylan Coombs

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

This research seeks to analyze the constitutional crisis our nation is facing and provide a specific remedy. More precisely, this paper will examine what the public policy implications are of Judges returning to natural law originalism. The two policy recommendations that will be argued for are stronger natural law jurists picked by the President, and a more rigorous confirmation process by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The central research question is, will nominating judges who hold a natural law jurisprudence produce a more logically consistent jurisprudence than originalism when interpreting the constitution?

Energy Security: Exploring Opportunities For The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (Imec) And Italian/Eu/Nato Efforts To Foster Collaboration With Africa, Devin Burnat, Mary Prentice Ph.D., Umberto Bosna

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

This research demonstrates the strategic importance of the port of Trieste located in northern Italy, overlooking the Adriatic Sea to energy security, trade, global infrastructure investments, and international collaborations. This port has become an important maritime gateway of Central and Eastern Europe and it can serve to connect India in Asia, and the Middle East. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), connects India, the Middle East, and Europe, in Northern-Eastern Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni envisions Trieste as a strategic hub to advance Italy’s interests across the Mediterranean and Europe, aligning with the Mattei Plan for Africa and potential ties …

The Death Penalty In The Bible: What Does God’S Word Say?, Caily Shriver

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

The death penalty is widely debated among Christians, as various verses are used to support both sides of this argument. Although this topic can be controversial, the Bible shows that God said, “Thou shall not murder” when he gave Moses the Ten Commandments and that Jesus tells Christians to love their neighbor. Christians need to have a more unified view on this issue because many Christians on the opposing side of the death penalty essentially claim that the Bible contradicts itself. Such a belief destroys the Bible’s credibility and our credibility as Christians because our beliefs come from God’s Word. …

Classical Worldview And Secular Materialism: Natural Law And The Political Ideals Of Modernity In The Formation Of Consequential Public Policy, David W. Bolton

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

Historically, morality has been rooted in and expressed through a religious lens. Early views on morality were often formed under the auspices of the reward/penalty social contract displayed in historical religious texts. Questions arise. If morality did not have a basis in religion, from where would its ideals and structure be provided for otherwise? How does one evaluate the standards and effectiveness of secular morality? In this paper, the major factors exposing the failures of modern secular materialistic liberalism will be explored: freedom of choice and modern liberal politics; God’s existence as a cardinal assumption of all philosophy and the …

Climate Change And Galamsey In Northern Ghana: Security Implications For The Sahel, Deborah Mawusi Ameh

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

The impact of both climate change and galamsey (illegal small-scale mining) on the Ghanaian economy is manifold ranging from personal to state insecurity. Sharing a border with the Sahel and its associated problems regarding state capacity and instability, this paper sought to understand how the twin internal issues (climate change and galamsey) within the northern part of Ghana would impact the already unstable Sahelian region. Using the Human Needs Theory (HNT), and a qualitative approach of rigorous content analysis, this paper was able to understand the push factors accounting for the overindulgence in galamsey such as economic distress and lack …

Water Quality Assessment Using A Novel Iraqi Water Quality Index For Euphrates River Between Karbala And Babylon Provinces As A Case Study, Baraa Majid Khlaif, Jinan S Al-Hassany

Baghdad Science Journal

Many parts of the world are facing water scarcity problems due to the limitation of water resources coinciding with the increasing population. Rivers are vital freshwater systems that are critical for the sustenance of life. This work deals with the monitoring and assessment of water quality of the Euphrates River between Karbala and Babylon provinces from ten sites near the discharge of industrial facilities, drainage of agricultural lands, wastewater and other facilities, samples were taken monthly and the results were converted into four seasons, it's divided into two seasons (dry-wet). Various physico-chemical and microbial analyses were performed based on standard …

The Impact Of Vdr-Foki Polymorphism In Iraqi Patients With Prostate Cancer And Prostate Benign Hyperplasia, Asmaa Amer Almuktar, Luma Hassan Alwan Al Obaidy, Amal Mohammed Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

The polymorphism in the vitamin D receptor gene FokI position is used to evaluate the polymorphism impact on the levels of vitamin D, testosterone and prolactin hormones in the sera of patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia vs. healthy controls. The vitamin D receptor gene Fok1 restriction site was amplified and examined by TaqMan RT-PCR technique. It was found that the TT genotype played a protective effect in 70% and 50% in prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia patients respectively. While, the CC genotype was found to be 100% disease-attributed genotype in both prostate cancer and benign prostate …

Effects Of Ascorbic, Citric, And Humic Acids On Maize Stem And Leaf Anatomy, Jazran Jard Kadhum, Jalal Hameed Hamza, Muazaz Azeez Hasan, Maythem Al-Amery, William Serson, Mahmoud F Seleiman, Martin Battaglia, Hail Z Rihan

Baghdad Science Journal

Anatomical changes in internal tissue of stem and leaf when seed and plant treated with acids to enhance growth and development in maize was studied during the spring seasons of 2019 and 2020. Randomized complete block design was used with three replications. Main plots received foliar nutrition treatments, including ascorbic acid (AA), citric acid (CA), and humic acid (HA) at concentrations of 100 mg L^–1, alongside HA at 1 ml L^–1, with distilled water as the control. Sub-plots underwent corresponding treatments for seed soaking. Results indicated variations in vascular bundle size among treatments, with foliar CA …

Record Of Rare Eelgoby, Taenioides Mordax (De Vis, 1883) In The Nareri Lagoon, Sindh, Northern Arabian Sea, Narmeen Saleem, Sarfaraz Aman Siya, Nadeem Ahmed Panhwar, Sher Khan Panhwar

Baghdad Science Journal

Over five decades, eastern eelgoby, Taenioides mordax (De Vis, 1883) remained native to Cairns to Townville (Queensland) and Sydney to Newcastle (New South Wales) Australia. In this study, two specimens, measuring 19.8 cm in total length and weighing 20.25 grams, were collected from Nareri lagoon, Badin, Sindh. The specimens were collected with an encircled small gillnet installed over the night in shallow water. The body shape of the eelgoby is elongated, scaleless, tiny eyes, mouth upturned with large-sharp canine teeth 12/10 on the upper and lower jaws, respectively. The single continuous dorsal fin, anal fin connected with caudal fin and …

Integrin Alpha2 And Integrin Beta3 Polymorphisms Are Risk Factors For Infertility In Iraqi Infertile Females Under In Vitro Fertilization Program, Rabab A. Yousif, Asmaa M. Salih Almohaidi

Baghdad Science Journal

The current study was designed to investigate the impact of the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP), rs5918 (T > C), of integrin beta 3 genes (ITGB3) and rs1801106 (G > A) of integrin alpha 2 genes (ITGB3) in peripheral blood samples of Iraqi female; 71 infertile females under IVF protocol (divided into two subgroups, 29 success implantation and 42 failure implantation) and 50 fertile females as control. From March 2021 to August 2021, blood samples were taken from the patients and control groups at Roh al-Hayat center in Baghdad, Iraq. The genotyping of SNPs was carried out by using high-resolution melting real-time polymerase …

Going With The Flow: Successful Stream Reconstruction Lessons, Chris Leek, Summer Elmore, Jacob Burskey

Purdue Road School

The West Fork Blue River Stream Mitigation Reconstruction project required unique coordination efforts between INDOT EWPO, the designer, and the district. The field team will share the valuable lessons that emerged over the course of the reconstruction, including the value-added benefits of having on-site environmental observation, the need to adjust to site conditions and permitting hurdles, and vital communication strategies for collaborating with stakeholders.

Human-Animal Chimeras: An Omen For Disaster Or An Answer To Our Prayers?, Catherine A. Zimmermann

Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development

(Excerpt)

Part I of this Note discusses the purpose of chimera research, various ethical arguments, and the current perception of chimera research in the United States to address aspects of the proposed legislation. Chimeras are unique in that they have both human and animal cells. Taking this into account, I also discuss the current regulatory structure and legal protections which provide a framework for the regulation of chimera research. I explain and analyze the law regarding the NIH moratorium and explore factors that have led the United States to consider lifting the moratorium while examining different legal perspectives which explain …